RTHK: Rare anti-government protests erupt in Cuba

Chanting "freedom" and calling for President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down, thousands of Cubans have joined street protests from Havana to Santiago in the biggest anti-government demonstrations on the Communist-run island in decades.

The protests on Sunday erupted amid Cuba's worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, its former ally, and a record surge in coronavirus infections, with people voicing anger over shortages of basic goods, curbs on civil liberties and the authorities' handling of the pandemic.

Thousands gathered in downtown Havana and along parts of the seaside drive, their shouts of Diaz-Canel step down drowning out groups of government supporters brandishing the Cuban flag and chanting "Fidel."

Special forces jeeps, with machine guns mounted on the back were seen throughout the capital, Havana, and the police presence was heavy even long after protesters had gone home.

"We are going through really difficult times," Miranda Lazara, 53, a dance teacher, who spontaneously joined the thousands of protesters who marched through Havana. "We need a change of system."

Diaz-Canel, who also heads the Communist Party, blamed the unrest on old Cold War foe the United States, which in recent years tightened its decades-old trade embargo on the island, in a televised speech on Sunday afternoon.

Diaz-Canel said many protesters were sincere but manipulated by U.S.-orchestrated social media campaigns and mercenaries on the ground, and warned that further provocations would not be tolerated, calling on supporters to confront such provocations."

Julie Chung, acting undersecretary of the U.S. State Department's Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, said it was deeply concerned by calls to combat in Cuba and stood by the Cuban peoples right for peaceful assembly."

Witnesses in Havana protests saw security forces, aided by suspected plain clothes officers, arrest around two dozen protesters. Police sprayed pepper spray and hit some protesters as well as a photographer working for Associated Press.

In one area of Havana, protesters took out their anger on an empty police car, rolling it over and then throwing stones at it. Elsewhere, they chanted "repressors" at riot police.

Some protesters said they went on to the streets to join in after seeing what was happening on social media, which has become an increasingly important factor since the introduction of mobile internet two and a half years ago, although connections were patchy on Sunday.

The Caribbean island nation of 11 million inhabitants where public dissident is usually restricted has seen a growing number of protests over the past year although nothing on this scale or simultaneously in so many cities. (Reuters)

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South Africa: Employers not complying with health and safety measures

The Department of Employment and Labour has bemoaned the low levels of compliance with health and safety measures by employers, as the country battles the third wave of COVID-19 infections.

In a statement, the department said failure to comply was partly evident in the face of rising claims being received by the Compensation Fund.

Some of those failures include proper screening of employees for COVID-19 symptoms when they present for duty and the provision of COVID-19 risk assessments. This also includes lapses in the provision of paper towels for drying of hands after washing, and general health and safety risk assessment.

The findings were made by the departments Inspector General, Aggy Moiloa, in a report that deals with inspections that were conducted from 5-7 July 2021.

Under the leadership of Minister Thulas Nxesi, the Inspection and Enforcement Services put together a programme to target high risk areas and hotspots for inspection. These were conducted across the country, with the exception of Limpopo, which has a cluster of COVID-19 cases affecting the inspectorate.

In general, we found 50% compliance in the private sector. This is a breakdown of 149 compliant against 151 non-compliant workplaces.

The public sector did not cover itself in glory at all with compliance as low as 25%, with the caveat that inspections were only conducted in KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape only (12 inspections with nine workplaces compliant). Anything below 80% should be a concern, said Moiloa.

In terms of the inspections, the breakdown for the provinces is:

KZN conducted most of the inspections, with 105.

KZN conducted most of the follow-up inspections, with 14 followed, by the Northern Cape with 13.

Limpopo did not conduct inspections due to COVID-19 cases in several labour centres affecting the inspectors there.

The Free State and North West conducted two inspections each, as per their plan.

The lowest levels of compliance were in the Northern Cape at 23%.



A total of 312 inspections were conducted in this period and of those, 12 were in public sector provincial inspections.

The highest number of inspections were directed at the Health Department, which showed 80% non-compliance.

A total number of 128 notices were served, broken down to seven prohibition notices (closure), 109 contravention notices and 12 improvement notices served nationally. Most of these notices were served by KZN and the Northern Cape, which collectively had the most inspections.

With regard to the pandemic, inspectors found that employers have not taken up some of the guidelines issued in the Consolidated Direction on Occupational Health and Safety Measures.

Meanwhile, the Compensation Fund (CF) has seen a steady rise in claims, which now total 25 010, with R78 million already spent on support, including medical aid claims, total temporary disablement, dependent benefits and funeral costs.

There is a direct correlation between what happens or does not happen in the workplace and the claims we get served with. Thankfully, we have the inspectors holding employers accountable. Without their service, this picture would likely be a lot worse.

Unfortunately, 76 of those claims received are for workplace fatalities, which could have been avoided if guidelines were followed as they should be, said CF Commissioner Vuyo Mafata.  SAnews.gov.za

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RTHK: China accuses US destroyer of trespassing

China's military said on Monday it "drove away" a US warship that illegally entered Chinese waters near the Paracel Islands on Monday, the anniversary of an international court ruling that Beijing has no claim over the South China Sea.

The USS Benfold entered the waters of the Paracels without the approval of the Chinese government, seriously violating China's sovereignty and undermining the stability of the South China Sea, the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command said.

"We urge the United States to immediately stop such provocative actions," the Southern Theatre Command said in a statement.

The U.S. Navy did not immediately comment.

The Paracels are among hundreds of islands, reefs and atolls in the resources-rich South China Sea contested by China, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, with Beijing claiming historic rights to resources within its so-called nine-dash line, or most of the region.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China had no historic title over the South China Sea.

It also said China had interfered with traditional Philippine fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal and breached the Philippines' sovereign rights by exploring for oil and gas near the Reed Bank.

In a written statement on Sunday, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said freedom of the seas was an "enduring" interest of all nations.

"Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea," Blinken said.

"The People's Republic of China continues to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway." (Reuters)

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South Africa: SAPS cautions against fake news

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City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Geoff Makhubo has passed away. This was on Friday confirmed by acting Mayor and Member of the Mayoral Committee, Councillor Eunice Mgcina. Cllr Makhubo passed on this morning, 9 July, after being in hospital for a while, she said. [read more: https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/joburg-mayor-mak... See more
South Africa: Premier condemns lawlessness in parts of Gauteng

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City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Geoff Makhubo has passed away. This was on Friday confirmed by acting Mayor and Member of the Mayoral Committee, Councillor Eunice Mgcina. Cllr Makhubo passed on this morning, 9 July, after being in hospital for a while, she said. [read more: https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/joburg-mayor-mak... See more
South Africa: NatJOINTS intensifies deployments in protest-hit KZN, Gauteng

The NatJOINTS has intensified deployments in all Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal areas affected by the violent protests that have seen properties damaged and looted over the weekend.

On Monday, the NatJOINTS [National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure] in a statement said it is receiving intelligence support from its Intelligence Coordinating Committee, which will assist in responding to the sporadic protests.

The committee comprises SAPS Crime Intelligence, Defence Intelligence, as well as State Security Intelligence.

NatJOINTS spokesperson, Colonel Brenda Muridili, said Gauteng police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four people since the break out of violent protests.

On Sunday morning, the police responded to a call from Alexandra Clinic, where they found a body with gunshot wounds. Later that day, the body of a security guard with assault wounds was found at Jeppestown.

The third body was discovered also on Sunday in the evening in Dobsonville, while the fourth body was discovered with gunshot wounds in Germiston. The cause of death for the security guard and as well as the body found in Dobsonville is part of investigations, she said.

In KwaZulu-Natal, there were reports of two people who have been killed in Inanda and Umbilo.

The circumstances leading to their deaths is under investigation, said Muridili.

The extent of damage to property and the looting of businesses will be determined at a later stage.

NatJOINTS said it is working around the clock to enhance operational capacity at provincial level in response to incidents in which people appear to be undermining the authority of the State, including the flouting of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) Regulations.

They issued a warning to those circulating inflammatory messages, inciting violence and lawlessness.

The possibility of criminal charges being instituted against such persons cannot be ruled out, particularly in the event of injury or death that may come as a result of any operational response by the security forces to these incidents of violence and opportunistic criminality, NatJOINTS said.

On Sunday, 62 suspects were arrested as police continued to respond to opportunistic criminality emanating from violent protests over the weekend in the two provinces.

Police said they are working closely with their respective local Metro Police Departments in Gauteng and in KZN in order to heighten visibility and remain on high alert in response to incidents.

SAPS and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department on Saturday night responded swiftly to sporadic incidents of looting of businesses and barricading of roads in Jeppe and Alexandra, arresting 25 suspects.

In the Jeppe policing precinct, police dispersed a group of about 300 people who had barricaded the M2 freeway. It is alleged that one group then headed to the Jeppestown where they looted a number of businesses. Seven suspects were arrested, four of whom were found inside one of the stores, while three were arrested for public violence and for being in possession of suspected stolen property.

In Alexandra, police arrested 18 suspects - 16 of them for public violence also linked to the shooting of a police officer who was rushed to hospital for urgent medical attention. Two other police officers sustained minor injuries, said the police.

The other two suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property and malicious damage to property. This came as police responded to information of a group of people from Alexandra who targeted and forced entry into businesses, and started looting.

This group of about 800 people is reported to have attacked police, resulting in the shooting of police officers who have now received medical attention, with only one in hospital in a stable condition.

Police also dispersed a group in Bramley, near Alexandra.

In the meantime, an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of a 40-year old man who was certified dead at a local clinic.

In KZN, where incidents of violent protests started on Friday, the number of arrests had increased to 37 by Sunday. - SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: SANDF to be deployed in Gauteng, KZN

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has commenced with pre-deployment processes and procedures of its members to areas hit by violent flare-ups in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The SANDF said this is in line with a request for assistance received from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure to assist law enforcement agencies deployed in the provinces to quell the unrest that has gripped both provinces in the last few days.

The deployment will commence as soon as all deployment processes are in place, the SANDF said in a statement.

The duration and number of deploying soldiers will be determined based on the assessment of the situation on the ground by the relevant law enforcement agencies.

The SANDF emphasised the objective of the deployment is to provide safety and a safe working environment for members of the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies while they carry out their Constitutionally mandated law and order duties.

SANDF deployment-related information updates will follow in due course.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Minister calls for renewed efforts to counter GBVF

The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has reiterated calls for increased vigilance and activism as the country battles gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

We will soon be presenting our Year 1 Report on the Implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence to President Ramaphosa.

What is clear is that even though government has committed an immense amount of resources to ending GBVF, men continue to abuse, rape and murder women.

The department calls on all South Africans to play their part in fighting this scourge and to unite in the fight against GBVF, Nkoana-Mashabane said on Monday.

The Minister said despite the reported high levels of GBVF, many incidents remain undocumented, underreported and are unaccounted for within national statistics.

The 2020/2021 sexual offences statistics are yet to be released by SAPS [South African Police Service], however, in 2019/2020 SAPS recorded 53 776 sexual offences; 42 664 of these were rape cases.

Whilst the final figure for the 2020/21 financial year has not been released, existing data has shown that the lockdown levels impacted on levels of reporting.

Together, the four 2020/21 quarterly crime statistics indicated a total of 46 447 sexual offences. According to the 2020/21 statistics, 9 518 people were raped between January and March 2021, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities said in a statement.

Seeking help

The Department of Social Development GBV Command Centre also showed a dramatic increase in the number of calls, SMSs and USSDs, with the number of overall calls increasing significantly from 54 849 in 2019/20 to 157 952 in 2020/21.

The number of GBV referred calls increased three-fold from the previous financial year.

This suggests that the lockdown levels impacted on womens ability to report incidences or seek help through regular channels, the department said.

The Department of Health reported a cumulative total of 36 363 new sexual assault cases at public facilities for the 2020/21 financial year.

This number is not the complete picture, as it only covers public facilities. These numbers might be difficult to comprehend, or may even seem unbelievable to some, the department said.

The department lamented cases where women opt to drop charges against abusers. The circumstances range from women who are pressured to drop rape and sexual assault cases by their friends to prevent a falling out amongst friends and family members, or women who wish to marry and leave their past behind or women who can no longer bear the emotional burden of a case that is being investigated for years.

The department calls upon all South Africans to play their part in fighting this scourge and to unite in the fight against GBVF.

We encourage everyone to be on the lookout for early warning signs of gender-based violence and report anything out of the ordinary to SAPS for further investigation, the department said.

Play your part

The department said action against GBVF can be taken in any of the following ways:

 Increase awareness and visibility: Incorporate GBVF key messages in all discussions, addresses in all aspects of your daily life.

 Utilise GBVF posters in your spaces.

 Partner with government, business, media houses, private sector in hosting GBVF events and heighten communications around GBVF.

 Leverage on other mega events such as sporting events, national days, themed days, conferences etc. to spread messages on ending GBVF.

 Host lectures, debates and discussions on GVBF on topics such as eradicating patriarchal attitudes.

 Host learner competitions on equality, justice and human dignity.

 Host engagements with men and boys to encourage positive masculinity.

 Utilise your social media platforms to condemn any form of GBVF.

 Report any act or sign of gender-based violence.

 Join www.for-women.co.za  a hub for survivors and victims who need help and corporates who can offer help.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: EMS, vaccine sites affected by violence amid safety concerns

The Gauteng Provincial Government says vaccination sites in those areas affected by sporadic acts of violence and lawlessness have had to be temporarily closed due to safety concerns by both the staff and members of the public.

In a statement on Monday, the provincial government said the current volatile environment has seen people of Gauteng struggling to get to their places of employment due to limited access and services being disrupted across the province.

To this end, some provincial government services including vaccination sites in the affected areas had to be temporarily closed due to safety concerns by both the staff and members of the public.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams are equally experiencing difficulty in responding to distress calls in communities due to limited access, it said.

The situation is being assessed by the provincial law enforcement agencies who are to be assisted by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

As Gauteng and the country are still in the midst of a deadly pandemic, the provincial government remains concerned at the potential spread of COVID-19 during such super-spreader events. Hospital admissions continue to increase and are placing a heavy strain on the healthcare system in both public and private sectors.

The provincial government has appealed to the people of Gauteng to act responsibly and desist from lawless acts that result in disruptions of much needed services by the citizens of Gauteng.  SAnews.gov.za

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RTHK: Cuba blames US policy for anti-government protests

Cuba on Monday blamed a US "policy of economic suffocation" for unprecedented anti-government protests, as president Joe Biden backed calls to end "decades of repression" on the communist island.

Thousands of Cubans took part in demonstrations Sunday, chanting: "Down with the dictatorship," as President Miguel Diaz-Canel urged supporters to confront demonstrators.

The anti-government rallies erupted spontaneously in several cities as the country endures its worst economic crisis in 30 years, with chronic shortages of electricity and food.

The only authorised gatherings in Cuba are usually events of the ruling Communist Party, but according to the data journalism site Inventario, a total of 40 demonstrations took place on Sunday.

Police used tear gas to disperse crowds, and at least 10 people were arrested, while officers used plastic pipes to beat protesters, AFP journalists witnessed.

Diaz-Canel on Monday blamed the uprising on the United States pursuing a "policy of economic suffocation to provoke social unrest in the country."

Cuba has been under US sanctions since 1962.

From Washington, Biden urged the government in Havana to "hear" its people's demands.

"We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime," Biden said in a statement.

"The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves," he added.

Mexico and Russia on Monday warned against using the unrest as a pretext for foreign interference.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador warned against an "interventionist" approach to the unprecedented Cuban protests, and offered to send aid.

Russia, for its part, warned against "outside interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state."

US-Cuba relations have been particularly fraught since then-president Donald Trump reinforced the blockade following an historic but temporary easing of tensions under Barack Obama between 2014 and 2016.

The tougher measures, left unchanged by Biden, and the effects of the coronavirus epidemic contributed to Cuba's economy declining 11 percent in 2020.

Public anger in the one-party state has been growing, driven by long food lines, worsening power shortages and a critical shortage of medicines.

The country of 11.2 million people is experiencing its toughest phase of the coronavirus pandemic, and on Sunday reported a new daily record of infections and deaths.

On Sunday, several hundred protesters marched through the capital Havana chanting, "We want liberty," as a heavy military and police deployment kept watch.

Social media showed scenes from protests around the country, but mobile internet -- only introduced in 2018 -- was largely cut off on Sunday afternoon.

Diaz-Canel delivered a combative television address on Sunday, saying: "The order to fight has been given -- into the street, revolutionaries!"

"We call on all revolutionaries of the country, all communists, to go out in the streets where these provocations occur... and to face them in a decisive, firm and courageous way."

The protests had started in the town of San Antonio de los Banos, a town 30 kilometers southwest of Havana, where several thousand protesters, mainly young people, took to the streets.

One local, on condition of anonymity, told AFP she was there because she was exasperated by "the situation with electricity and food."

Security forces arrived soon after, and the president later visited the town surrounded by party activists as residents heckled him, according to videos posted online.

Candido Abrines, a pro-government protester, told AFP he was standing his ground so "capitalism will never come back here again and (so) that these mercenaries paid by the Empire (the US) will never again take our streets, first they have to kill us all."

Government supporters also held counter-demonstrations in Havana.

An Associated Press video journalist was assaulted by some of them, and an AP photo journalist was injured by the police, the news agency said.

As US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan cautioned Havana against "any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters," thousands of Cubans and Cuban-Americans held support rallies in Miami.

"These young people today have finally said 'Enough is enough and we're going to do what our old folks couldn't do'," Cuban-American Yanelis Sales told AFP.

"Cubans, we are here with you from the United States."

Diaz-Canel has been president since 2018, succeeding Raul Castro, who took over from his brother who led the country for five decades from 1959. (AFP)

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HighT-Tech's innovative approach to catalyst development wins The Spinoff Prize 2021

London | New York | Darmstadt, 12 July 2021

The Spinoff Prize 2021, a Nature Research Award supported by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has been awarded to HighT-Tech, a spinoff* of The University of Maryland, College Park in the United States, for its next-generation discovery platform to address an important technical bottleneck in industrial catalyst development.

Following the pitch-slam competition against three other finalists as part of the 2021 Future Insight Days virtual event, HighT-Tech, proved itself as a company with world-class scientific foundations. The start-ups' approach and business plan to make catalysts from combinations of cheaper metals, which would still perform the same as conventional ones, won over the 2021 judges. Their technique to use alloys addresses the technical and expensive bottleneck the sector currently faces, significantly reducing the risk of technological or commercial failure. The wide scope use of catalysts for a broad range of applications, means that in the long term, HighT-Tech's technology could be applied to make materials for catalytic converters in cars, emission systems in power plants and a variety of chemical reactions that rely on expensive noble-metal catalysts, such as refining petroleum, therefore having a long-term sustainable impact on an important sector.

Richard Hughes, VP, Publishing, Nature Research Partnerships, said: "HighT-Tech perfectly demonstrate what The Spinoff Prize sets out to recognise - excellence in science and innovation, as well as smart entrepreneurship. The judges praised how well and how quickly the HighT-Tech team have transitioned from academic research to early-stage commercialisation. We encourage them to maintain this momentum, and look forward to their future success. On behalf of Nature Research and our judges, I congratulate HighT-Tech on their achievement."

Ulrich Betz, Vice President Innovation, Merck, further commented: "Innovation from academic researchers and their start-up companies provides important contributions to creating a bright future - the finalist pitches were a highlight of the recent 2021 Future Insight Days."

The Spinoff Prize was established by Nature Portfolio and Merck to showcase and celebrate global excellence in the commercialisation of research through the creation of spinoff* companies. Around 100 companies entered the competition, of which eight finalists were selected to progress, with ten additional spinoffs being commended as "ones to watch". Each was profiled in a special Nature supplement published in June. The winner receives a cash prize of 30,000.

*The term spinoff in this case refers to a company that has been formed specifically to commercialise the outputs generated from research conducted at a university or research institute.

###

About Springer Nature

For over 175 years Springer Nature has been advancing discovery by providing the best possible service to the whole research community. We help researchers uncover new ideas, make sure all the research we publish is significant, robust and stands up to objective scrutiny, that it reaches all relevant audiences in the best possible format, and can be discovered, accessed, used, re-used and shared. We support librarians and institutions with innovations in technology and data; and provide quality publishing support to societies.

As a research publisher, Springer Nature is home to trusted brands including Springer, Nature Portfolio, BMC, Palgrave Macmillan and Scientific American. For more information, please visit springernature.com and @SpringerNature

About Nature

Nature Portfolio's high-quality products and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences is dedicated to serving the scientific community.

Nature (founded in 1869) is the leading, international weekly journal of science. Nature Portfolio is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, and open access journals including Scientific Reports. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries.

Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with Nature Portfolio content, including news and comment from Nature, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. Nature Portfolio also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training and expert language and editing services. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @NaturePortfolio. Nature Portfolio is part of Springer Nature.

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of 17.5 billion in 66 countries.

The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company.

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South Africa: KZN, Gauteng public violence will be stemmed, says President Ramaphosa

As chaotic scenes played out in pockets of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, leaving many businesses gutted and looted by protesters, President Cyril Ramaphosa said it is of vital importance that calm and stability is restored without delay.

Many South Africans are at this hour counting the cost to their livelihoods and property, to their shops and businesses, to their safety and security. Many more South Africans are feeling anxious and afraid.

Parts of the country are reeling from several days and nights of public violence, destruction of property and looting of the sort rarely seen before in the history of our democracy, said the President.

He described what was being witnessed as opportunistic acts of criminality, with groups of people instigating chaos merely as a cover for looting and theft.

There is no grievance, nor any political cause, that can justify the violence and destruction that we have seen in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, he stressed.

While 489 people have been arrested in both provinces, the President fears that these events might spill over to the rest of the country.

In his televised address on Monday, President Ramaphosa condemned any act of violence that has claimed several lives.

We know the high costs of this violence to the property to livelihood and businesses. The loss of human life is the greatest cost of all, he said.

He has called out those individuals who seek to agitate violence and disorder along ethnic lines.

The President reminded citizens that the Constitution was the foundation for the rule of law of the country.

Many in our country and many people lay down their lives so that we can have this rule of law that guards against the abuse of power, protects the poor and the vulnerable.

He decried the disruptions that have prevented the sick from accessing medication from pharmacies, while food does not reach supermarket shelves, and healthcare workers cannot go to work.

In addition, he said the countrys vaccination programme has taken a knock, as the country battles the third wave.

We will soon be facing a huge array of food insecurity and medication insecurity in a few weeks, he warned.

The path of violence, of looting and anarchy, leads only to more violence and devastation. It leads to more poverty, more unemployment, and more loss of innocent life.

More security personnel

Top of the agenda was to prevent any further loss of life or injury, protect property and safeguard social and economic infrastructure.

We are therefore mobilising all available resources and capabilities to restore order.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the South African Defence Force (SANDF), the President has since deployed the army in support of the operations of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

In addition, government has employed the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) to intensify deployments in all the affected areas in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Meanwhile, police officers who are on leave will be recalled to boost their presence on the ground.

In addition to greater visibility and an intelligence-driven presence in potential hotspots, we will be prioritising the prosecution of suspects alleged to be involved in this violence.

The National Security Council, chaired by the President, will meet twice a day to coordinate all measures necessary to restore stability.

Let me be clear, we will take action to protect every person in this country against the threat of violence, intimidation, theft, and looting. We will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who perpetrate these actions and will ensure that they face the full might of our law.

Calm and peace

The Head of State has vowed to restore calm and order so that people can get on with the task of rebuilding this country and creating a better life for its people.

He rallied people to come together to restore calm and everyone to stand up for the rule of law and peaceful resolution of conflict.

Meanwhile, Ministers, senior officials in the economic and security clusters met with Business Unity South Africa.

We have agreed to work together to ensure the safety of drivers, cashiers, patients, and customers.

He urged people to exercise restraint and refrain from posting and circulating inflammatory messages on social media and spreading fake news that may create further panic.

Economic recovery

The President has called on everyone to commit themselves not only to peace but also to greater economic opportunity for all.

We are emerging now from a long period of uncertainty and stagnation. We have witnessed the effects of corruption and the erosion of the State, the terrible consequences of the abuse of power and neglect of duty.

He said South Africa rejects violence and chaos and will not be deterred from the task ahead.

Together, we will defeat those who seek to destabilise our country, who seek to reverse the gains we have made. We will stand as one people, united against violence, unanimous in our commitment to peace and the rule of law, he added.  SAnews.gov.za

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Minister that Filed Federal Lawsuit Against Speaker Pelosi and Vice-President Harris Over Prohibiting Free Speech at the U.S. Capitol Will Conduct Public Prayer and Demonstration on the Capitol Grounds on Tuesday, July 13 NEWS PROVIDED BY

Christian Defense Coalition

July 12, 2021



WASHINGTON, July 12, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rev. Patrick Mahoney will be holding the first public demonstration and prayer vigil at the Capitol since the January 6th insurrection.



Mahoney will be gathering on the corner of East Capitol and 1st Street NE at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 13 and then walk over to the Capitol grounds.



Rev. Mahoney will carry the event virtually through Facebook Live.



Here is a news link regarding Rev. Mahoney's federal lawsuit against the Speaker and Vice President: https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/christian-minister-sues-pelosi-harris-capitol-prayer-vigil



In a Sunday email sent to the U.S. Capitol Police, Rev. Mahoney said; "Although the fence is down, I want to make sure First Amendment activities are allowed back at the Capitol since the grounds are now open to all. I plan on doing a demonstration at the Capitol on Tuesday morning. It will be very small, perhaps just me with a sign, as I want to be very understanding of any new protocols that are being put into place. However, it would be clearly unconstitutional to open the Capitol grounds to tourists, visitors and Capitol Hill residents while prohibiting my peaceful First Amendment activities there." Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C. based Christian Defense Coalition states; "While we are thankful the fence was removed from the U.S. Capitol this weekend, it is both troubling and tragic that it took 6 months to return the 'People's House' back to the people.



"For 6 months, I was consistently prohibited from holding peaceful First Amendment activities at the U.S. Capitol. This included things such as: a Good Friday Service, a National Day of Prayer gathering and a 4th of July celebration as we prayed for America's freedoms.



"Although the fence is down, I want to make sure First Amendment activities are allowed back at the Capitol since the grounds are now open to all. It is critical for public free speech and prayer to once again be welcomed, celebrated and honored at the United States Capitol." For more information or interviews please call:

Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741



SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition



CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741



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Catholic League

July 12, 2021



NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the debut of "Benedetta" at the Cannes Film Festival:

Worldwide, there are upwards of 1 billion Protestants, 1.4 billion Catholics and 1.8 billion Muslims. While Catholics revere Our Blessed Mother the most, the majority of Muslims, and many Protestants, hold the Virgin Mary in high esteem.

Atheist film director Paul Verhoeven, who has a history of bigotry, both in print and on the screen, wants them to know that he has been thinking about them. His latest contribution to hate speech is "Benedetta," a movie designed to stick it to all of them, especially Catholics.

The film "was inspired by real events," which means it is not an accurate portrayal. No matter, Catholic bashers believe every bit of it. The movie is based on a book by Judith C. Brown, "Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy," which features 17th century lesbian nuns who have gone off the rails.

Given our gay-crazy world, where every perverse act is not only tolerated, but celebrated, it is not surprising to learn that "the audience at the Cannes press screening applauded the film's blasphemous nerve." Another film critic noted that at her screening, "the movie was received with shocked laughter and applause," yielding a "five-minute standing ovation."

What were they so happy about? Benedetta, the star nun, has visions of having sex with Jesus, "a lanky-haired, high-key jealous hottie." "When Benedetta orgasms," Rachel Handler writes, "she screams, 'My God!' and 'Sweet Jesus.'"

Benedetta and her lover, Sister Bartolomea, are shown "trading flirtatious remarks while audibly s****ing next to each other in the nunnery's toilets and, scenes later [this next part is revealing], as is the lesbian tradition, f***ing one another with a wooden figurine of the Virgin Mary carved very carefully into the shape of a dildo."

The Telegraph, an English newspaper, was delighted. "Could anything be more Verhoeven than using a wooden Mary as a sex toy?" When Verhoeven was asked if he thought the film was blasphemous, he denied that it was. It is also true that the Klan deny they are racists.

A critic cited in the New York Daily News called the movie a "blasphemous, sapphic nun fk fest that's horny, traumatizing, violent and unhinged." Handler, who liked the film, said it was "deranged on nearly every single level, a blasphemous, maximalist, hilariously erotic satire."

The only prominent media source that was truly critical was Variety. It called the film pornographic, saying that Verhoeven is more interested in "kink" than anything else. "Simply put, 'Benedetta' intends to offend," amounting to "just another entry in the tawdry nunsploitation genre."

Verhoeven is correct to say that not everyone will be offended by the movie. "Actually, I don't think the film will be scandalousat least not in Western Europe." He's right. Western Europe is a fully atomized secular oasis.

"Maybe Americans will be different," he notes, owing to "more puritanism" there. In other words, Catholics, Protestants and Muslims who are insulted by his insults are puritanical and need to become more tolerant of his intolerance.

Verhoeven is no stranger to the Catholic League. He spent two decades co-authoring an offensive book that he hoped would become a movie; it never made it to the big screen. But his work, "Jesus of Nazareth," did tell us what he really thinks.

Jesus was not the son of God, the Dutchman says, and his mother, the Virgin Mary, was probably raped by a Roman soldier, resulting in Jesus' birth. Moreover, Jesus never performed any miracles and Judas Iscariot was not responsible for Jesus' betrayal. And how does he know this? He doesn't. He feels that it may be true.

The hatred of Christians in many parts of the world these days results in torture, imprisonment and death. In Western Europe and North America, the Christian haters do not resort to violence: They just seek to disparage and silence them. That's why Verhoeven delights themhe appeals to the sickest appetites of these fully deracinated people.

Contact Verhoeven's agent, Marion Rosenberg: marion@marionrosenberg.com
China's migrating elephants move southeast

Xinhua) 10:01, July 11, 2021

KUNMING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The herd of 14 wild Asian elephants roaming southwest China's Yunnan Province has moved 10.5 km in the southeastern direction, authorities said.

The elephants entered Longwu Town in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture at 8:20 p.m. Friday and are safe, according to the headquarters in charge of monitoring their migration.

The male elephant that broke away from the herd was captured and sent back to its forest home in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture on Wednesday. It is in a good condition.

On Saturday, authorities dispatched 346 emergency and police staff, deployed dozens of vehicles and 23 drones and evacuated 2,259 local residents. The authorities also fed two tonnes of food to the elephants.

The herd of 15 wandering wild Asian elephants traveled about 500 km north from its forest home in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, before reaching the provincial capital Kunming on June 2.

The male elephant strayed from the herd on June 6, and moved around in the cities of Kunming, Anning and Yuxi, with an activity area of 140 square km and traversing a distance of 190 km. The animals were mainly fed by locals or foraged in villages.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Bianji)
BRI brings western China, global businesses closer

Xinhua) 08:05, July 12, 2021

(Photo/gs.people.cn)

LANZHOU, July 11 (Xinhua) -- At an ongoing trade fair in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, Uruguayan wine merchant Eduardo Rivero treated his guests to some nice wine produced at his chateau in Uruguay.

"Like my home back in Uruguay, Gansu is a major wine producer in China. I'm looking forward to exchanges and cooperation with local winemakers through the fair," said Rivero.

The 27th China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair opened Thursday, attracting representatives of business associations and commercial establishments from 19 countries, including Belarus, Nepal and Moldova.

Uruguay is one of the guests of honor at this year's event. Fernando Lugris, Uruguayan ambassador to China, said the growing market in western China has offered tremendous investment opportunities for Uruguayan enterprises.

"We see strong economic complementarity between Uruguay and Gansu Province. We will focus on cooperation on dairy products, olive oil and the meat industry this time," he said.

According to Lugris, Uruguay is the first country in the Southern Common Market to sign a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China, and is ready to tap into more business opportunities in western China.

Benefiting from the BRI and the operation of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, western China, which previously developed less rapidly than the eastern coastal area, is now on the frontier of opening-up.

At a forum held at the fair, Li Yanqiang, president of Beibu Gulf Port Group in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that the corridor, which connects about 10 western provincial-level areas like Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, saw 2,902 freight train trips in the first half of 2021, up 72 percent year on year. The number of categories of delivered goods has surged from some 30 in 2017 to more than 500 now.

"We have developed nearly 10 different kinds of national logistics hubs along the corridor, showing the great potential of the western Chinese market," said Li.

Better services in transportation and infrastructure have brought more foreign merchants and investors to western China. Marteza Akbari, a sales representative for Iranian carpet, displayed their exquisite carpets and handicrafts at the fair.

He said that his business remained bullish on the western Chinese market partly due to the improved logistics facilities.

"I hope the BRI will tap substantial business opportunities so that more foreign entrepreneurs like me can benefit in western China," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
China releases plan on modernizing primary-level governance

Xinhua) 08:06, July 12, 2021

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China's central authorities have released a plan on modernizing the system and capacity for primary-level governance.

The plan, issued by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, stresses upholding the full leadership of the Party over governance at primary level, and focuses on improving people's well-being.

Measures should be adapted to local conditions and implemented step by step, while power should be delegated to primary-level governments and their burden should be reduced, the plan says.

It calls for establishing in about five years a primary-level governance system led by the Party organizations, with law-based duty performance by the government, cooperation from various kinds of organizations, and participation from the public. The governance model should combine self-governance, rule of law, and rule of virtue.

By another 10 years, modernization of the system and capacity for primary-level governance should be basically achieved, and the benefits of primary-level governance system with Chinese characteristics should be fully demonstrated, the plan says.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Du Mingming)
'Fairer' G20 corporate tax plan OK'd

China Daily) 08:09, July 12, 2021

Finance ministers and central bank governors from G20 economies reached a historic agreement on a new global corporate tax reform plan over the weekend, endorsing a minimum levy on multinational corporations and a reallocation of profits between countries.

It marked a big step forward in the global tax reform process after years of discussions. After the G20 members finished meeting in Venice, Italy, on Saturday, they issued a communique calling the new framework "a more stable and fairer international tax architecture". However, the minimum corporate tax rate was not fixed.

Earlier this month, the global corporate tax reform initiative, which was designed as a two-pillar solution and proposed a minimum tax rate of 15 percent for large multinational corporations, won support from 132 countries and jurisdictions, including China. Experts expect the final plan could be approved at the next G20 meeting in October.

"This indicates that great progress has been made in the reform of the international corporate tax system," said Jeff Yuan, PwC Asia Pacific transfer pricing services leader.

"However, there are still uncertainties in the final plan, and we are not sure about the time for reaching a global consensus because a significant amount of political and technical work remains to be completed by October 2021, with key design issues still to be resolved."

China's strong economic fundamentals and institutional advantages can ensure that the country takes the lead in global tax reform, said Bai Yanfeng, a professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing.

Compared with some advanced economies, which may take longer to implement the new rules, China is able to take action more effectively. As China is becoming the world's largest single consumer market, the country will also maintain its advantages in attracting international capital, Bai said.

"The most important thing is to do our own things well. When China's enterprises are competitive enough and consumers from all over the world pay more attention to China-made products, we will be full of confidence in both market share and tax share," Bai said.

Yuan said a July 1 statement by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as the G20 communique made it clear that while implementing the new international tax rules, countries will remove digital services taxes and other similar measures imposed on companies. These removals will be good news for multinational enterprises, especially for high-tech businesses, Yuan said.

The new rules and their potential impacts still need deeper analysis. Multinational companies will need to conduct more impact analysis and scenario planning based on the information in the OECD's statement and revisit options on alleviating the potential impact of the new rules, he said.

Yi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, attended the G20 meeting on Friday and Saturday via video-conferencing. Yi disclosed that the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group, co-chaired by China's central bank and the US Treasury this year, is working on a draft plan on sustainable finance in the medium term.

This year, the group is focusing on tasks such as green finance and green industries, streamlining information disclosure and reporting standards related to the climate and environment as well as multilateral development supporting the Paris Agreement, according to a PBOC statement.

Yi called on G20 members to jointly improve standards for classifying and rating environmental, social and governance investments and improving climate information, which will help promote global green finance markets and foster low-carbon transition.

The G20 meeting also discussed central bank digital currencies for cross-border payments. It emphasized that no so-called "global stablecoins"a new type of cryptoasset designed to maintain a stable value relative to specified assetsshould commence operation, until all relevant legal, regulatory and oversight requirements are adequately addressed, according to the communique.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Du Mingming)
Stop undermining Hong Kong's rule of law under pretext of press freedom: commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry in HKSAR

Xinhua) 08:12, July 12, 2021

HONG KONG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday strongly disapproved and firmly opposed a statement by the so-called "Media Freedom Coalition," which accused judicial proceedings in Hong Kong, smeared the national security law in the HKSAR, and slandered the central government's policy towards Hong Kong.

"It is a gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, and is a blatant violation of the rule of law and judicial independence of the HKSAR," the spokesperson of the office said.

The Apple Daily is a "poisoned apple" that has long engaged in illegal acts of harming the country and destabilizing Hong Kong, seriously violating the journalistic ethics and jeopardizing the media environment of Hong Kong, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Relevant executives of the tabloid were suspected of colluding with external forces to endanger national security, and the action taken by the Hong Kong police force towards them in accordance with the law just serves them right, the spokesperson said.

The action is a legitimate effort to safeguard the rule of law in Hong Kong and is a common aspiration of the Hong Kong people, which has nothing to do with freedom of the press and speech.

It is surprising that some members of the coalition tried to whitewash the lawless media outlet and relevant people who aimed to create disorder in Hong Kong and China at large, and attempted to exert pressure on law enforcement and judicial authorities of the HKSAR, the spokesperson said.

"What they have done is an insult to the rule of law and a serious violation of the media ethics," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson stressed that press freedom is not an excuse for engaging in criminal acts, nor is it a fig leaf for external forces to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.

Some Western countries had a bad record in safeguarding human rights and press freedom, and certain media outlets in these countries fabricated fake news and staged farces by abusing press freedom and press privilege, the spokesperson said, noting that only a few members of the so-called coalition represent neither the vast majority of the international community nor the mainstream voice of international public opinion.

The spokesperson urged the so-called coalition to abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, stop endorsing anti-China, destabilizing forces in Hong Kong, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs under the pretext of press freedom.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Du Mingming)
PLA holds intensive drills in northwest plateau, tests new weapons, tactics

(Global Times) 08:49, July 12, 2021

Vehicle-mounted howitzers attached to an artillery detachment with a combined arms regiment under the PLA Army fires high explosive shells at mock remote targets during a live-fire training exercise in depopulated region in mid-June, 2021. The exercise focused on such training items as autonomous surveillance, reduced-crew operation, motorized mobilization. Photo/China Military

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army and Air Force recently held intensive exercises in plateau regions in Northwest China and put many newly commissioned weapons and equipment as well as advanced deployment tactics to the test, with analysts saying on Sunday the drills displayed that the new gears are combat-ready and reinforcements can reach the frontline quickly in rapid-reaction missions.

Deep in the Karakorum Mountains at an elevation of more than 4,500 meters, an artillery unit under a brigade attached to the PLA Xinjiang Military Command recently held a live-fire shooting examination with newly commissioned PHL-11 self-propelled multiple rocket launcher systems, as the rockets accurately rained down on their targets, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday.

A combined arms brigade attached to the Xinjiang Military Command recently tested out the PCL-161 self-propelled howitzers that just entered service in a live-fire drill also in the Karakorum Mountains, at higher than 5,000 meters in altitude, a separate CCTV report said on Saturday.

Another Xinjiang Military Command brigade fired PHL-03 long-range multiple rocket launcher systems in a recent exercise in a snowy plateau region and simulated eliminating hostile armored groups and artillery positions.

The weapons and equipment featured in these exercises are some of the newly commissioned ones that were covered in official media reports in May, and their involvement in live-fire drills indicates that they have generated combat capabilities quickly in the past two months, a Chinese military expert told the Global Times on Sunday, requesting anonymity.

The 81st Group Army from the Central Theater Command and the 72nd Group Army from the Eastern Theater Command also dispatched troops to plateau and desert regions for exercises, bringing howitzers, air defense missiles, drones and reconnaissance vehicles with them, CCTV reported on Saturday.

An airborne troop brigade of the PLA Air Force recently conducted parachute training in the northwest plateau region with Y-8 tactical transport aircraft, using newly developed, plateau-focused parachute kits and oxygen masks, according to another CCTV report on Sunday.

Warplanes of the PLA Western Theater Command Air Force also practiced emergency deployment in a strange airfield, as ground units rapidly maneuvered and stationed into the airfield through road, railway and airlift by Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, providing support to J-16 multirole fighter jets, media reported this weekend.

These drills display that the PLA can deploy troops and warplanes from other locations to the frontline very quickly in rapid-reaction missions when a situation arises, the expert said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
Mainland company signs COVID-19 vaccine sales deals with Taiwan enterprises

Xinhua) 09:08, July 12, 2021

SHANGHAI, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland company has signed agreements with Taiwan enterprises and a foundation on COVID-19 vaccine sales, according to an announcement the company released Sunday.

A subsidiary of Shanghai-based Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. will sell 10 million doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., and Yonglin Charity Foundation, according to the announcement.

In March 2020, Fosun inked an agreement with German company BioNTech for the research and development of mRNA vaccines and the exclusive commercial rights and interests on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Since Taiwan's epidemic outbreak in May, Fosun has made it clear that it is willing to provide the vaccines to Taiwan compatriots, but the Democratic Progressive Party authority did not approve negotiations for purchase until late June.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, has said cites, counties, non-governmental institutions and enterprises on the island which are willing to buy the vaccines can negotiate purchase in accordance with business rules.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Reception marks 20th anniversary of China-Russia friendly cooperation treaty

Xinhua) 09:09, July 12, 2021

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a speech at a reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Sunday attended a reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

In his speech, Wang said that in the past 20 years, under the guidance of the treaty, the China-Russia ties have withstood challenges and risks and reached historical highs.

The two countries should deepen political mutual trust, boost pragmatic cooperation, intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and strengthen strategic coordination to write a more exciting chapter in bilateral relations at a new historical starting point, said Wang.

Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov said that last month, the two heads of state issued a joint statement deciding to extend the treaty, setting more ambitious development goals for the cooperation between the two countries. He said Russia will work with China to do its utmost to achieve the new goals.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
China upgrades alert level, emergency response to brace for heavy rain

Xinhua) 09:11, July 12, 2021

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday night upgraded the alert level for rainstorms to orange and raised emergency response from level IV to level III, as heavy rain is forecast to batter parts of the country, the China Meteorological Administration said.

From 8 p.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday, heavy rainfall and rainstorms are expected in Beijing, Tianjin as well as parts of Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong provinces.

The southwestern part of Beijing and central part of Hebei are expected to see downpours of up to 280 mm of rain, said the administration, warning that parts of the aforementioned regions will also experience thunderstorms and strong winds.

Local meteorological authorities in Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong and other areas that might be affected were urged to activate or adjust their emergency response levels based on local conditions, while strengthening weather monitoring and forecast.

It was estimated that the heavy rain might cause floods in 14 small and medium-sized rivers, including the tributaries of the Qujiang in Sichuan and Hanjiang in Shaanxi.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters have dispatched three working teams to Shanxi, Hebei and Beijing to assist local authorities.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine widely accepted in S. Africa

Xinhua) 09:27, July 12, 2021

JOHANNESBURG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- South African government, political parties, labor and civil society have given thumbs up to the CoronaVac, also known as the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, which they said would bolster the country's fight against the pandemic.

South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) approved the use of CoronaVac in the country on July 3 to tackle COVID-19. The SAHPRA CEO Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela said they approved the use of the CoronaVac vaccine based on its safety, quality and efficacy of the data presented to them.

The Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane welcomed the CoronaVac as a "turning point and much needed relief for the country's vaccination rollout program".

"CoronaVac will boost the vaccine supply for country's vaccination rollout programme in addition to those we already receive from Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson," she said at a media briefing on Friday, "The approval came at a time when the demand for vaccines as more and more people are yearning to get vaccines."

She said the expansion of the vaccine roll out would allow the vaccination of people aged 35 to 49 years-old set to commence on August 1.

South Africa's opposition political party Economic Freedom Fighters welcomed the Sinovac vaccine calling on the government to make it available to the people soon.

The EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo said that "the EFF welcomes the approval of the Coronavac vaccine... for use against the deadly coronavirus in South Africa. The approval of the vaccine is long overdue... The EFF calls for immediate rollout of the Coronavac Vaccine."

Government officials expect the approval could boost the cooperation between the two countries.

President Cyril Ramaphosa told Xinhua last Tuesday that "when we have faced great difficulties, China has been one of those that has come to the fore. We have seen it with COVID-19 and now we are about to acquire vaccines from China. Now that the approval has been given, that strengthens the relationship between our two parties."

South African Communist Party (SACP) General-Secretary Blade Nzimande said the country looks for more cooperation in the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The efficacy of the CoronaVac vaccine to the COVID-19 variants that are dominant in South Africa and its safety are essential. We are therefore looking forward to deepening our party to party relations with the CPC and inter alia, scientific cooperation with China in our struggle to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and resolve underdevelopment," he said.

China's Embassy to South Africa promised to ensure that the country gets the CoronaVac vaccine to assist in the fight against COVID-19.

"The world is now still suffering greatly from COVID-19 and South Africa is facing the impact of a third wave of infections," said the embassy in a statement, adding that "We will continue to fully assist and accommodate the South African side to see that Chinese vaccines delivered to South Africa as quickly as possible, so as to help the South African people fight and eventually defeat the virus."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Chinese mobile money lending apps boost credit to Kenya's small entrepreneurs

Xinhua) 09:32, July 12, 2021

NAIROBI, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Grace Wangui wakes up every morning to beat the traffic jam as she goes to buy supplies for her greengrocery store in Umoja residential estate.

The 30-year old mother of two purchases fresh vegetables from vendors at Wakulima market, Nairobi's largest wholesale market for fresh produce in the morning.

However, Wangui cannot access credit from the banks due to a lack of formal employment or collateral.

Instead, she relies on the numerous Chinese owned mobile lending applications in Kenya such as Okash, Opesa and Credit Hela, which she can access through her smartphone.

"I typically make an application for a 5,000 shillings (46 U.S. dollars) loan after I begin my journey to buy vegetables. Within five minutes I received a message that the money had been sent to my phone," Wangui told Xinhua on Sunday.

Wangui has been using the Okash app to finance her daily operations since early 2020.

"The app has enabled me to have constant cash flow and pay my suppliers on time," she added.

Kevin Mutiso, chairman, Digital Lender Association of Kenya (DLAK) said that on average the sector provides short-term loans of about 36 million dollars per month in the east African nation.

Mutiso said that the proliferation of smartphones in the market has boosted their business as consumers can now apply for loans using their mobile devices any time and anywhere.

He revealed that mobile apps have the technology to assess the credit worthiness of loan applicants within a few minutes and this has revolutionized the credit industry especially for the small entrepreneurs who had been locked out of the formal financial channels.

According to DLAK, there are currently six million digital loan customers in Kenya.

Catherine Aloo, operates a small fish business in the bustling Mathare informal settlement located on the east of the capital, Nairobi.

Aloo said that she uses the Credit Hela app to access quick cash to meet her daily needs.

"Most of my customers take my fish on credit and pay at the end of the month, this leaves me cash strapped. So I depend on mobile loans as I wait for payment from my clients," she added.

The fishmonger noted that without assets to use as security to access a loan at a bank, she relies on digital mobile lending platforms for credit.

Gideon Okeyo, is a street vendor who sells belts for a living in Nairobi's upmarket Gigiri area.

Okeyo said that his business model is viable due to his access to mobile digital platforms that give short-term loans within a few minutes.

"I take a loan of 30 dollars in the morning and with the proceeds, I purchase leather belts from a wholesale shop in town which I sell to middle-class clients by evening so that I can repay the loan on the same day," he said.

Okeyo has been using the Opesa mobile app and he hopes to increase his credit limit by repaying his microloans on time.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Worries rise as Tokyo 2020 sailing athletes in same hotel with local tourists

Xinhua) 09:37, July 12, 2021

TOKYO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo 2020 sailing athletes are staying at the same hotel with local Japanese tourists, raising concerns about possible COVID-19 infections, Chinese Yachting Association president Zhang Xiaodong told Xinhua here on Sunday.

The Chinese yachting chief expressed her 'deep worry' about this situation, saying the Chinese team is negotiating with Tokyo 2020 organizers for enhanced COVID-19 precautions in this hotel.

"Although the teams from different countries are arranged on separate floors, local tourists still mix with Olympic athletes in the lobby and the restaurant," said Zhang.

"It may increase potential risks of COVID-19 infections," she added.

The residence of the sailing athletes is outside the Olympic Village as the Enoshima Yacht Harbour venue is located away from downtown Tokyo.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
China activates flood emergency response amid heavy rain forecast

Xinhua) 09:39, July 12, 2021

Aerial taken on June 6, 2021 shows rescuers participating in a flood-relief drill on the Wulie River in Shuangqiao District of Chengde, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo by Wang Liqun/Xinhua)

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday activated a Level-IV emergency response for flood control as heavy rain is expected to lash parts of the country, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters have dispatched three working teams to Shanxi, Hebei and Beijing to assist local authorities.

According to the country's meteorological department, downpours are expected in parts of north and northeast China, as well as some areas along the Yellow River and Huai River.

Parts of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei will see torrential rain, according to the forecast.

Authorities estimated that above-warning-level floods might occur in 14 small and medium-sized rivers, including the tributaries of the Qujiang in Sichuan and Hanjiang in Shaanxi.

China has a four-tier flood control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
China's super-sized shield machine ready to go into operation

Xinhua) 09:41, July 12, 2021

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China has manufactured a super-sized earth pressure balance shield machine, which is ready to be put into operation, according to China Railway Construction Corporation.

The shield machine, named "Jinxiu," rolled off the production line on Saturday.

Boasting a tunneling diameter of 12.79 meters, it is the largest of its kind developed by China with complete proprietary intellectual property rights, said the company.

With a total length of 135 meters and a weight of 3,000 tonnes, the machine will be used for the construction of the Jinxiu Tunnel, a part of the Chengdu-Zigong high-speed railway project.

The project, the first high-speed railway with a speed of 350 km per hour in southwest China's Sichuan Province, started in 2019.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Beijing poised for heavy rainstorms

Xinhua) 09:44, July 12, 2021

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese capital of Beijing is poised for the heaviest round of rainfall this year, pending Sunday evening.

The Beijing Meteorological Observatory on Sunday morning issued yellow warnings for both rainstorms and gale.

The accumulated rainfall is forecast to reach 60 mm to 100 mm on average between 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Tuesday. The western and northern areas of the city will see heavier rainfalls.

Mountainous areas are at risk of secondary disasters such as floods and mountain torrents, while water logging is expected in low-lying urban areas.

In view of the expected heavy rainfall, the Beijing municipal education commission issued a notice on Sunday, requiring all primary and secondary schools as well as kindergartens to close on Monday. Colleges and universities have been asked not to organize outdoor activities.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism issued a notice on Sunday morning, ordering all scenic spots in mountainous areas and rural bed and breakfasts (B&B) to be closed from Sunday noon.

Flood control safety inspections have been carried out in urban parks for evacuating tourists and protecting cultural relic sites and recreational facilities.

The municipal water affairs bureau has mobilized 15,000 people and dispatched 13 inspection teams to all districts of the city to assess flood control preparations.

The municipal fire and rescue department has made comprehensive preparations for round-the-clock service, with a 670-member professional rescue team and 7,454 servicemen put on duty.

The rainstorms are also forecast to affect north China's Tianjin Municipality. Tianjin on Sunday issued an orange warning of meteorological risk for geological disasters.

Mountain scenic spots and rural catering facilities have been ordered to be closed and people in high-risk areas relocated.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Sri Lanka receives 2 million doses of Sinopharm vaccines

Xinhua) 09:46, July 12, 2021

Staff members unload China's Sinopharm vaccines in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 11, 2021. Sri Lanka's Health Ministry on Sunday received 2 million doses of Sinopharm vaccines from China. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Health Ministry on Sunday received 2 million doses of Sinopharm vaccines from China, leading to a total of 7.1 million Sinopharm doses arriving in the country since March.

The vaccines arrived onboard two Sri Lankan Airlines flights which arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport early Sunday morning.

According to health officials, from these stocks, 100,000 doses each will be dispatched into Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Badulla, and Matale Districts, while 200,000 doses each will be dispatched to Colombo and Kurunegala Districts.

Meanwhile, 300,000 and 500,000 doses will be dispatched to Kalutara and Gampaha Districts respectively.

According to official statistics from the Health Ministry, nearly 3 million people have received the Sinopharm vaccines in Sri Lanka to date, making it the leading vaccine to be administered among the general public.

Out of the nearly 3 million people jabbed, over 1 million have received their second injections as well, Health Ministry statistics showed.

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that following the arrival of 2 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccines on Sunday, a further stock of 2 million doses was expected in the coming weeks.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week put forward a comprehensive mechanism to vaccinate a majority of the Sri Lankan population against the COVID-19 virus before September.

The President said the number of vaccines that will be received in the month of July will be made available to the public, giving priority to the districts identified as high-risk areas for the spread of COVID-19.

Sri Lanka is presently facing a third wave of the COVID-19 virus with authorities warning of a spread of the Delta variant.

The country has to date recorded 273,031 patients since the first local patient was detected in March last year, while 3,467 deaths have been reported.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Pakistani UN envoy terms CPC's founding as "seminal" event, pledges to work "hand-in-hand" with China

Xinhua) 09:49, July 12, 2021

People take selfies with the background of the decoration set up for the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

"Over 100 years, the CPC has led the Chinese people from the depths of poverty and despair to the heights of achievement," Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations said.

UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has said that the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1921 was a "seminal" event in the world history and Pakistan and China will continue to work "hand-in-hand" at the world body to advance the noble cause of peace and development.

In a recent video message to the UN community on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the CPC, Akram said he is "honored to convey our heartfelt felicitations to the Chinese people on the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China. The founding of the CPC in 1921 was a seminal event in world history."

"Over 100 years, the CPC has led the Chinese people from the depths of poverty and despair to the heights of achievement," the senior diplomat said.

Aerial photo taken on May 11, 2020 shows residential houses built for farmers in Lyuliang Township of Jinhu County, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

"China has undergone astounding transformation and national consolidation," he said, hailing poverty alleviation, infrastructure construction, trade upgrading, industrialization and technological breakthroughs as "unprecedented" achievements in the annals of history.

Noting that Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that China's success "is something we hope to emulate in Pakistan," Akram said that Pakistan supports China's efforts to safeguard world peace, reinvigorate multilateralism, preserve international order and advance global development.

Photo taken on April 10, 2021 shows a night view of the Lahore converter station of the Matiari-Lahore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan's eastern Punjab Province. (SGCC/Handout via Xinhua)

Pakistan's "time-tested friendship with China," and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is a major project of the Belt and Road Initiative, provide an enduring framework for the continued strengthening of bilateral ties, said the ambassador.

"And, our All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership remains a strong anchor for peace, progress and prosperity," he said, adding that "Pakistan will continue to work hand-in-hand with China at the United Nations to advance the noble cause of peace and development not only for our countries but for all developing countries."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
British report over Xinjiang wantonly interferes in China's internal affairs: Chinese Embassy

Xinhua) 09:54, July 12, 2021

Chen Fangying, a 24-year-old village teacher from southwest China's Guizhou Province, teaches English at Alimalik Village of Akto County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 12, 2021.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

"It is an attempt out of ulterior political motives to deliberately slander China's policy on Xinjiang and wantonly interfere in China's internal affairs," said a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Britain.

LONDON, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Britain on Saturday expressed outrage and firm opposition to a report published by a committee of the lower house of British parliament.

The report, which is "full of lies" about China's Xinjiang, represents a blatant interference in China's internal affairs, according to the spokesperson.

Responding to a question about the report "Never Again: The UK's Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond" issued by the Foreign Affairs Committee of Britain's House of Commons, the spokesperson said it is "nothing but a pack of disinformation."

"It is an attempt out of ulterior political motives to deliberately slander China's policy on Xinjiang and wantonly interfere in China's internal affairs," said the spokesperson.

There is no so-called "internment camps" in Xinjiang, the spokesperson said, adding that the vocational education and training centers set up in Xinjiang in accordance with laws are schools.

People practice making pasta during a vocational training class in Zhaosu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

This is part of the proactive and preventive de-radicalization and counter-terrorism measures aimed at tackling terrorism and religious extremism at the source, no different from Britain's Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP) or the de-radicalization centers in France, the spokesperson said.

There is no "forced labor" in Xinjiang, only voluntary employment and selecting jobs according to people's own volition, while lawful labor rights are protected, the spokesperson said.

The use of technological products and big data to improve social governance is a common practice of modern countries, the spokesperson said, noting that it does not target any specific ethnicity.

Workers are busy at the factory of Zhuolang Intelligent Machinery Co., Ltd. in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Thanks to the Chinese government's unremitting efforts, Xinjiang now enjoys social stability, ethnic harmony and rapid economic growth, while the political, economic, and social rights and freedom of religious belief of all ethnic groups in the region are fully guaranteed, the spokesperson said.

"It must be emphasized that Xinjiang affairs are China's internal affairs that no other country has the right to interfere in," said the spokesperson.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Chinese, DPRK FMs exchange congratulations on 60th anniversary of China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance

Xinhua) 10:09, July 12, 2021

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanged congratulations Sunday with DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

In his message, Wang pointed out that the treaty is the political and legal foundation for bilateral ties and is of great significance to promoting China-DPRK friendly cooperation and safeguarding regional peace and stability.

In recent years, Wang noted, under the strategic guidance of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping and General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Kim Jong Un, China-DPRK relations have entered a new historical period.

The two sides have strengthened strategic communication, deepened mutually beneficial cooperation and firmly supported each other in regional and international affairs, demonstrating the unbreakable China-DPRK friendship in the new era, Wang said.

Under the new circumstances, Wang said, the two sides should make joint efforts to uphold the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries so as to advance the steady development of China-DPRK friendly cooperative relations.

For his part, Ri said over the past 60 years since the treaty was signed, the DPRK and China have supported and cooperated with each other, actively pushed forward the cause of socialist construction in the two countries and made contributions to safeguarding world peace and security.

He said he firmly believes that under the guidance of the lofty will of the top leaders of the DPRK and China, the foreign ministries of the two countries will more actively carry out exchanges and cooperation and promote the continuous development of DPRK-China relations in accordance with the requirements of the new era and the wishes of the two peoples.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Shanghai unveils 10-year AI plan

Chinadaily.com.cn) 10:11, July 12, 2021

Photo taken on July 8, 2021 shows a 3D holographic projection at the 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in East China's Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

Medical diagnosis, elderly assistance among first application scenarios

Shanghai announced a municipal artificial intelligence plan on Thursday that will look into rule changes related to digital technology, promote the establishment of technical standards and regulations and form a mechanism for monitoring risks and issuing early warnings.

The entire plan, released during the 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in the city, will take a decade to carry out, but results from the first phase are expected in three years.

Such efforts will probably prepare for AI-related legislation, the International Innovation Center of Tsinghua University, Shanghai, said. It will execute the plan under the guidance of the Shanghai Municipal Artificial Intelligence Leading Group and the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission.

Wang Youqiang, the center's executive director, said the Field Experiment Plan for AI Application in Shanghai will initially cover four application scenarios: assistance for medical diagnosis, expansion of QR code applications, smart service for the elderly and facial recognition.

"There has been quite a lot of involvement by enterprises and industries in those realms, but our planwith AI projects being implemented in those areas and interacting with people's liveswill be a systematic, scientific and neutral attempt to discover common problems and attempt to formulate rules to avoid risks," Wang said.

"Through the implementation of those AI projects, we'll focus on major, urgent and frequent issues in the digital transformation of Shanghai and monitor the public's concerns on AI and digital technology."

The plan will use scientific measures to regulate the industry so that it produces safe, reliable and controllable products, help government agencies construct management rules and systems and enable users to properly use AI solutions with appropriate levels of self-protection, Wang said.

"Such AI governance rules may also be popularized in other regions of the country," he said. "And through the process, we may find model cases of digital transformation in the city with international demonstration effects to contribute Shanghai's wisdom and solutions to the world's AI development."

China's AI innovation ranked second in the world last year, behind the United States, and up from third the previous year, according to a report by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China and Peking University that was released on Thursday.

The report said China performed well in terms of infrastructure, its innovative environment, scientific and technological research and development, and industry and application, ranking in the top 10 worldwide for all four indicators.

One example of industry success is IntelliCloud, an AI startup established in Hefei, Anhui province, in 2018, that provides smart safety solutions for different scenarios and has more than a dozen AI-related software copyrights.

At the conference, it exhibited its smart safety management solution at a ski field in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, which integrates software, hardware, the internet of things and an AI sensing system. Zhangjiakou is one of the venues where the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be held.

"In a ski field covering 4 square kilometers across the mountains with abundant forests, our smart solution can realize autonomous inspection, leaving no blind zones around the clock to ensure fire prevention, spot illegal entry, guarantee safety on the ski lanes, and discover emergencies and issue first-aid alarms," Wei Hongfeng, IntelliCloud's CEO and chief scientist, said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Kuwait holds art event in solidarity with Palestine

Xinhua) 11:06, July 12, 2021

People take part in an art event in Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait, on July 10, 2021. Artists, activists and entrepreneurs in Kuwait held an art event on Saturday to raise money for and express solidarity with the Palestinian people. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Artists, activists and entrepreneurs in Kuwait held an art event on Saturday to raise money for and express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

"The unfortunate events that happened in Palestine inspired me to hold the event, through which we can show artworks and raise money for them by selling food and books," Tareq Qaddumi, organizer of the event, told Xinhua.

The event includes a large collection of traditional handmade products, food, and books about Palestine to reaffirm the Palestinian national identity, said Qaddumi.

"The art pieces here tell what is happening in Palestine," he said, stressing the need to remind people that the suffering of the Palestinians has not stopped.

Dozens of artists attended the event, selling their artworks in support of the Palestinians.

"I will sell some of my digital art prints today, and the proceeds will go to the fundraiser," an artist named Heba Haji told Xinhua.

Haji used to take part in such kind of art events in Jordan, but it is her first time to attend one in Kuwait and raise money for charity.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Global political party leaders stress importance of closer cooperation to build better world

Xinhua) 11:27, July 12, 2021

BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Many political party leaders around the world have lauded the governing experience of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and stressed the importance of closer inter-party cooperation worldwide for building a better world.

Following the CPC and World Political Parties Summit held via video link on Tuesday, they spoke highly of the crucial contributions China and the CPC has made to the cause of human progress, expressing their willingness to follow China's experience to shoulder the responsibilities to seek happiness for the people.

The summit is of "historic significance," said Jose Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain, as it enables parties with different ideas to reach consensus on the future of mankind, and will make important contributions to a better future of humanity.

Under the leadership of the CPC, China has made great contributions to world economic development and demonstrated its experience in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, he said, noting that the principle of peaceful coexistence upheld by China has paved the way for cooperative development of mankind.

Aleksandar Sapic, deputy president of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, said cooperation with China helped Serbia embark on the right path of development.

"The development of the Serbian economy would be unthinkable without the Chinese investments and our Chinese friends, not to mention the situation we were in during the COVID-19 crisis, and the first to help us were our Chinese friends," Sapic said.

Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Fatherland party of Ukraine, said that China, by its personal example of providing assistance to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, has shown that only joint efforts can successfully overcome global problems.

"The achievement of the goals of sustainable human development by the countries of the world requires a global political dialogue and the search for better development solutions," she said.

Romenio Pereira, secretary of International Relations of the Workers' Party of Brazil, said that holding this summit amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a demonstration of the strength of the CPC, which calls for unification of the peoples of the world to strive against poverty and inequalities, and for common development.

Noting China's great contribution to the world, Pereira said that countries seeking to decrease inequality should learn from the experience of the CPC.

Saadeddine El Othmani, Moroccan prime minister and secretary general of Morocco's Justice and Development Party, said that under the leadership of the CPC, China has become a tremendous country in such areas as science, technology and economy, to which the Chinese people and the CPC have devoted great efforts.

The CPC has established good relations with political parties of different political doctrines, which is very beneficial to international cooperation and world peace, Otmani added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Chinese mainland reports nine new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases

Xinhua) 11:33, July 12, 2021

A food courier delivers take-away food to a designated point in Ruili City of southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 8, 2021.(Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Sunday reported nine new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, all reported in Yunnan Province, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Monday.

Also reported were 18 new imported cases, of which four were reported in Fujian, three each in Inner Mongolia, Guangdong and Yunnan, two in Sichuan and one each in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Henan.

One suspected case that arrived from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai as well.

No new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported in the day.

A total of 6,815 imported cases had been reported on the mainland by the end of Sunday. Among them, 6,400 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 415 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 92,066 by Sunday, including 478 patients still receiving treatment, three of whom were in severe conditions.

A total of 86,952 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

There were four suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Sunday.

A total of 15 asymptomatic cases were newly reported, all of which were from outside the mainland. There were a total of 471 asymptomatic cases, of whom 465 were imported, under medical observation by Sunday.

By the end of Sunday, 11,951 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 212 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), while 55 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 15,249 cases, including 740 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 11,655 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, while 53 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 11,802 had been discharged in Taiwan.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Interview: CPC plays leading role in China's rejuvenation, development -- Azerbaijani deputy PM

Xinhua) 12:23, July 12, 2021

TBILISI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is determining factor behind China's great changes and remarkable achievements, said Ali Ahmadov, deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan and vice chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.

"The CPC has been playing a crucial role in China's rejuvenation and development cause. Without the CPC, there would not be a new China today," he said in a recent video interview with Xinhua.

"The clever integration of national macro-control and market regulation has created one of the most efficient economic management models in the world today," Ahmadov said.

The CPC has a strong political mobilization capacity of uniting all the social forces of China to commit to serving the people, which has consequently attracted firm support from the masses, he said.

The rapid development of China's economy, Ahmadov said, has fully proved the system superiority of the CPC, which enables the country to focus on accomplishing major tasks.

"The wise leadership of the CPC is the main reason for China's rapid economic development," and the great achievements of a country cannot be separated from the wisdom of its leaders, he noted.

President Xi Jinping's proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative has received wide support from people in China and across the world, he said.

"Azerbaijan fully supports this endeavor and is doing its utmost to implement it," he added.

Ahmadov hailed the friendship and cooperation between the New Azerbaijan Party and the CPC as "an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries."

As for the cooperation between the two countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Azerbaijani official described it as "a good example for countries around the world."

"We are very grateful to our Chinese friends for promptly providing the vaccines to Azerbaijan. Many Azerbaijani people, including me, have been vaccinated with the Chinese vaccines, which makes us feel more secure," he said.

"It is my firm belief that under the leadership of the CPC, China is bound to score greater achievements in the future," Ahmadov said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Taiwanese farmers reap home-bred pineapples in Fujian

Ecns.cn) 12:36, July 12, 2021

Taiwanese farmer Zeng Yingxuan shows the pineapples he has planted in Huxi Township, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, July 10, 2021. (Photo/Zhang Jinchuan)

A pineapple farm in Huxi Township celebrated its harvest on Saturday, attracting many fruit buyers. The pineapple farm was founded by the couple Wu Xiqi and Zeng Wenzi, who began to expand the planting since the successful trial planting in 2017. The couples younger brother also joined in the farm later.

Taiwan pineapple, also known as "eyeless pineapple", is one of the three famous fruits in Taiwan. Four pineapple varieties are planted in the farm currently.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Central China's Hunan to host int'l general aviation industry expo

Xinhua) 13:53, July 12, 2021

CHANGSHA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The Hunan International General Aviation Industry Expo has been scheduled in central China's Hunan Province between July 16 and 18, according to the organizers.

The provincial capital of Changsha and Hunan's industrial hub of Zhuzhou will jointly host the event, which is expected to cover fields involving the whole industry chain of general aviation.

Well-known air show teams will put on professional performances of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), model airplanes, powered parachutes, and ultralight aircraft during the expo.

The expo will be attended by key enterprises from home and abroad, including Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Aero Engine Corporation of China, Textron Aviation, Bell Helicopter and Pratt & Whitney, among others.

More than 300 domestic and foreign experts, scholars and business leaders, as well as diplomatic envoys and representatives of business associations from 17 countries will also attend the expo.

"Taking technical exchanges and economic cooperation between Chinese and the global general aviation industry as a core, the expo will aim to attract the latest technologies and key projects from all over the world," said He Jian, chairman of Hunan Sub-Council of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
The grapes of wealth: a glimpse into Xinjiangs agricultural industries

14:11, July 12, 2021 By Kou Jie ( People's Daily Online

Turpan is famous for its delicious grape.

If Xinjiang ever developed a vineyard rating system, 58-year-old Ablet Yunus orchard would be classified as one of the best. Clusters of juicy grapes spread out proudly through his vast plantation, each one bursting with Turpans summer sweetness. From bright soulful greens to deep emerald hues, the grapevines are a divine palette for the eyes, bringing a beauty that sprung from seeds blessed with the dazzling sunshine and fertile lands of Turpan.

Nestled among the Flaming Mountain and gurgling brooks, Yunus vineyard is a calling card of Turpan, one of Chinas largest grape growing and raisin producing areas. The region produces 52.84 percent of Xinjiangs grapes, accounting for over one fifth of Chinas grape production. There are over 38,000 hectares of vineyards and more than 500 kinds of grapes in Turpan, growing over 1.2 million tons of grapes in 2020.

Today, Turpan is not only famous for its delectable fruit, but also its booming e-commerce, grape-themed cultural events and ecological tourism, as well as its growing wine industry. Its grapes, raisins, wines, and grape-themed festivals have become representative of Xinjiangs agricultural upgrading.

The grapes of happiness

58-year-old Ablet Yunus is now an internet celebrity, known as Turpan grape uncle. (People's Daily Online/Kou Jie)

Yunus has grown grapes for over 25 years, and started with a small plantation of 0.2 hectares. The grape he used to grow was a local variety that was sour and hard to preserve, leading to an annual income of only 2,500 yuan.

No one wanted our fresh grapes because they were not very tasty. I had to dry my grapes into raisins, which were much cheaper than fresh grapes. I was really upset and wanted to give up the grape business at that time, said Yunus.

The lack of modern agricultural technologies also held back Yunus grape business. He recalled that decades ago, grapes in Turpan were grown in a very primitive and low-yield way. The leaves and vines grew and crawled around in a disorderly manner, while the grapes pressed into each other and easily became rotten.

The situation started to change when Turpan authorities introduced improved varieties and modern technologies to the locals in the 1990s, creating new hybrids between foreign varieties and local grapes. In just a few years, over 500 varieties of grapes were grown across Turpan, while Yunus, who joined study groups arranged by local authorities, has now become a specialist in growing Centennial Seedless, an American breed of sweet grape.

According to Yunus, technology and brand awareness are the secret weapons that have helped Turpan grapes earn their global reputation. With his vineyard of 0.4 hectares, he can now earn over 130,000 yuan per year, while his 60 students from across Xinjiang are now spreading his experience to help more grape growers.

It took me years to practice and bring forward new ideas on growing Centennial Seedless grapes and now I want to share my knowledge with my neighbours and friends, said Yunus.

34-year-old Zhu Huating, a social media influencer from Jiangsu Province, has helped Yunus promote his grape brand. (People's Daily Online/Kou Jie)

Live-streaming with her two partners in Yunus vineyard, 34-year-old Zhu Huating, a social media influencer from Jiangsu Province, has helped Yunus promote his grape brand. With the help of e-commerce, Turpans fresh grapes are now sold in every corner of China and even abroad, generating a higher income for the locals.

Due to the lack of publicity and modern logistic services, local grape growers used to dry their fresh grapes into cheaper raisins, as they can be kept for a longer time. Now thanks to online streaming, we can help the locals sell their fresh grapes at a higher price, said Zhu.

Today, thanks to the convenience brought by the highway system, grapes from Turpan can be sent to Xian within 36 hours. From Xian, the grapes can be dispatched to any corner of China within one day, providing grape growers like Yunus a bigger market for their goods.

With the help of modern technologies, Yunus perfectly trimmed and juicy grapes have now become a calling card of Turpan. Each year, he can grow around 20,000 tons of grapes on his vineyard, which can sell out within days. He is now an online celebrity, known by internet users as Turpan grape uncle.

Grapes in Turpan are huge and sweet, as sweet as my happy life, said Yunus.

Fruits of success

The wine industry has been designated as one of the ten crucial industries in Xinjiangs 14th five-year-plan (2021-2025).

Miles away from Yunus vineyard, a group of tourists from Zhejiang Province are tasting wine at Huoshanhong, one of Turpans 21 boutique wineries. In its underground wine cellar is Turpans pride, bottles upon bottles of vineyard gold. The wine is the quintessence of Turpans concentrated sunbeams, as well as an example of Xinjiangs upgraded agricultural industry.

Turpan has a long tradition of grape cultivation, but is still very new to wine production. It has the same latitude as Bordeaux, which gives the land plenty of sunshine. Turpan produces 50 million litres of wine annually. We have over 200 kinds of wine, and the number is expected to grow significantly in the next five years, said Chen Guangyao, vice mayor of Turpan.

According to Chen, the wine industry has been designated as one of the ten crucial industries in Xinjiangs 14th five-year-plan (2021-2025), while Turpan is expected to have 100 boutique wineries by 2023, garnering over 10 billion yuan by 2025.

We are now using the Internet to promote our wine. We have already trained over 200 social media influencers who are familiar with Turpans wine history and industry. We are planning to hold at least 100 online wine sales this year, said Chen.

At the Huoshanhong winerys holiday resort in Turpan, 192 barrel-shaped oaken huts are now open to the public, with a unique painting of Turpans nature and historical sites in each room. (People's Daily Online/Kou Jie)

In addition to the wine industry, Turpan has also made efforts to integrate its wine culture with the local tourism industry as a way to help increase the incomes of local residents. At the Huoshanhong winerys holiday resort, 192 barrel-shaped oaken huts are now open to the public, with a unique painting of Turpans nature and historical sites in each room. The booming cultural tourism sector attracted over 620,000 tourists to visit Turpan during the five-day Labor Day holiday in 2021, up 36.59 percent from 2020.

Jin Hong, a 48-year-old businesswoman from Zhejiang Province, invested over 10 million RMB to build a boutique hotel in Turpans Grape Valley in 2018. With its Uyghur-style decorations and furniture, as well as its fine wine and delicious grapes, the hotel has become a calling card, attracting visitors from across China.

The booming cultural tourism sector attracted over 620,000 tourists to visit Turpan during the five-day Labor Day holiday in 2021, up 36.59 percent from 2020.

According to statistics, Turpan now has 467 guest houses and 31 boutique hotels. Its cultural tourism industry has provided jobs for over 80,000 locals, many of whom are from low-income families.

Most of our clients are tourists who want to see authentic Uyghur culture and to taste Turpans specialty  grapes. Turpans booming cultural tourism sector has brought a lot of income to both locals and investors like me, said Jin.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
China continues to provide a better business environment for global enterprises

People's Daily Online) 15:17, July 12, 2021

A meeting convened in Beijing has sent out information indicating that Chinas business environment is getting increasingly better.

In rankings for 190 economies in the world, Chinas business environment rose to 31st place in 2020 from 91st in 2012, according to statistics released at the meeting held on July 10 by the Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 24, 2020 shows the Haizhu wetland and the Canton Tower in the distance in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Xie Huiqiang)

The number of business entities of various types in China stood at 144 million in 2020, compared with 55 million in 2012, the meeting revealed.

Over the past few years, China has taken effective measures to stimulate market vitality and creativity in the whole of society, bolstering the endogenous power driving economic growth.

The country has made major headway in carrying forward reforms of its administrative approval system, greatly reduced the number of items requiring administrative approval, and eliminated administrative permits, relieving the burden on market entities.

It has reduced the time needed for approving construction projects to within 120 work days, and cut 80 vocational qualifications concerning a total of 185 professions.

The country has built a unified governance platform backed by the Internet, gaining valuable experience such as "management in one unified network and the City Brain system for construction of smart cities.

Thanks to these efforts, a range of problems, including misplacement, abuse, or absence of government functions, has been effectively addressed.

China has remained the best global destination for investment for several years in a row. Last year, foreign direct investment into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, rose 6.2 percent, bucking the downward trend in global foreign investment.

Of the 144 million market entities that China has, 200,000 are high-tech enterprises and 180,000 are medium- and small- sized technological companies. Their expenditure on R&D accounted for 76.2 percent of entire spending.

In addition, Chinese applicants filed the highest number of international patent applications in the world through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Zhang Gong, head of the State Administration for Market Regulation, attributed the vigorous development of the market entities to their strong ability to adapt to changes in the market, the determination of entrepreneurs to forge ahead, and the hard work and wisdom of labor resources.

According to Wang Jun, head of the State Taxation Administration, the number of taxpaying enterprises reporting an increase in profits rose to 8.347 million last year from 5.527 million in 2016, an average annual increase of 10.9 percent.

Meanwhile, the average annual profit of key enterprise taxpayers which made a tax payment of more than 5 million yuan rose 7.4 percent; the return on net assets ratio of these enterprises increased from 7 percent in 2016 to 9.05 percent in 2020 and the debt-to-asset ratio decreased from 58.6 percent to 55 percent in the same period.

This indicates that the profitability of the key enterprise taxpayers and their resilience against risks are both becoming stronger, Wang said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
New batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines in bulk arrives in Indonesia

Xinhua) 15:57, July 12, 2021

JAKARTA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Another batch of COVID-19 vaccines in bulk produced by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac has arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten province, Indonesia, the country's Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Monday.

The Sinovac vaccines in bulk will later be processed by PT Bio Farma, Indonesia's state-owned pharmaceutical company, into ready-to-use vaccines.

The Indonesian government aims to accelerate the vaccination process to reach herd immunity and meet the target of two million COVID-19 vaccine injections per day in August, Budi added.

"The vaccination program, in addition to implementing health protocol disciplines and complying with government policies such as PPKM (community activity restrictions), will help to reduce the rate of transmission quickly and to control the pandemic," said Sadikin.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
The Great Complications Series

In 2001, a company that had previously been known more for its dazzling jewellery creations suddenly made its presence felt in the highest echelons of watch collecting. Harry Winston, in a daring initiative led by its timepiece-division CEO of the time, Maximilian Busser, premiered the first watch of the Opus project. Under the Opus aegis, Harry Winston worked with some of the finest independent watchmakers of this modern age, introducing their unique styles of watchmaking to a larger audience. The impact of Maximilian Busser and the Harry Winston Opus project can be compared to that of influential BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who brought fringe artists such as The Ramones, Joy Division, U2, Pulp, The Smiths, Nirvana, Blur and The Undertones into mainstream awareness. The first Opus featured the work of Francois-Paul Journe, who had established his own brand a scant two years earlier, and created for Harry Winston a triumvirate of highly complex timepieces  the Opus 1 Chronometer (a resonance double timezone watch), the Opus 1 Tourbillon and the Opus 1 Power Reserve.

Reference 57260  Vacheron Constantin

Over the years, the Opus series became the main argument for many in demolishing the vaunted status of the word complication. So many Opus creations, such as Opus 3 (Vianney Halter), Opus 5 (Felix Baumgartner) and Opus 7 (Andreas Strehler), Opus 9 (Jean-Marc Wiederrecht) and the stunning Opus X (Jean-Francois Mojon) displayed nothing more complicated than the time, and perhaps an indication of power reserve at the most. There is no doubt that any of these watches could compete and hold their own at the very highest level of haute horlogerie, despite lacking a traditional high complication.

Reference 57260  Vacheron Constantin

No discussion of watchmaking complications in the new millennium can be complete without discussing Jaeger-LeCoultres Hybris Mechanica series, the most ambitious and longest-running attempt at expanding the boundaries of horology. The word hybris (alternately hubris) is a reference to ancient mythology and the inconvenient habit that Greek heroes had of displaying excessive levels of pride before their gods, which more often than not led to tragic ends. The Hybris Mechanica was a challenge that JaegerLeCoultre issued to the rest of the watchmaking world; a challenge to do better and one that was seldom, if ever, met by the other historic houses of horology.

Grandmaster Chime 175th Anniversary Limited Edition  Patek Philippe

In 2003, Jaeger-LeCoultre presented the first timepiece of this series  the Atmos Mysterieuse  followed by the Master Gyrotourbillon 1 in 2004. Although the double- and triple-axis tourbillons from artisanal watchmaker Thomas Prescher had recently caused a sensation in the community of independent watchmaking enthusiasts, the Gyrotourbillon 1 was still noteworthy in terms of how a major watch brand with centuries of patrimony had ventured into such an unconventional realm considered risky by many observers.

Opus 1  Harry Winston

After a years hiatus, Jaeger-LeCoultre returned with the third instalment of the Hybris Mechanica series. The Reverso Grande Complication a Triptyque was presented in 2006 and demonstrated how avant-garde mechanisms could be harmoniously situated within the most classically designed cases. The next barrier to be broken was the line separating sporty watches from high complication, a feat accomplished by Hybris Mechanica 4, the Master Compressor Extreme Lab 1 of 2007. Each subsequent year had its own Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece that would redefine the limits of contemporary horology, bringing new innovations to the table.

Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010  Patek Philippe

Choosing the most outstanding timepieces in the Hybris Mechanica series is a bit like choosing your favourite Beyonce song: the range is embarrassingly rich and there is a very real likelihood that you end up paralysed with indecision. It is rather easier to address in isolation the individual mechanisms that made the Hybris Mechanica series such a complications juggernaut. The Gyrotourbillon, in all its five iterations, is indisputably at the top of the pyramid. Although not strictly a complication in the traditional (and narrow) definition of the word, the Gyrotourbillon  together with its sister mechanism, the Spherotourbillon  has nevertheless had an impact on the canon of modern watchmaking in a way that no complication has had. Despite merely being a flying tourbillon (it is testament to the impressive accomplishments of the JaegerLeCoultre Hybris Mechanica series that a flying tourbillon can be associated with the word merely), the rotating escapement of the Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon, the 11th Hybris Mechanica watch, is unprecedented in its construction. What is the point in reproducing a tourbillon in the conventional way, especially within the Hybris Mechanica series? Jaeger-LeCoultre showed that being good wasnt good enough. One had to go beyond.

 Hublot

The minute repeater itself, widely considered the apex-level complication, has also received several advancements in the Hybris Mechanica series, not the least being the articulated trebuchet hammers to optimise chime quality, gongs with square cross-sections (a feature that was subsequently adopted by a number of other striking watches) and the crystal gongs, featuring the integrated gong-and-crystal structure that was subsequently used to magnificent effect in the Chopard L.U.C Full Strike. While the field of complicated watches continues to evolve, the first two decades of the third millennium will go down in history as the era of some of the most creative watchmaking the industry has ever seen.

*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.

Order now
China's central authorities have released a plan on modernizing the system and capacity for primary-level governance.

The plan, issued by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, stresses upholding the full leadership of the Party over governance at primary level, and focuses on improving people's well-being.

Measures should be adapted to local conditions and implemented step by step, while power should be delegated to primary-level governments and their burden should be reduced, the plan says.

It calls for establishing in about five years a primary-level governance system led by the Party organizations, with law-based duty performance by the government, cooperation from various kinds of organizations, and participation from the public. The governance model should combine self-governance, rule of law, and rule of virtue.

By another 10 years, modernization of the system and capacity for primary-level governance should be basically achieved, and the benefits of primary-level governance system with Chinese characteristics should be fully demonstrated, the plan says. Enditem




HEFEI, July 9 (Xinhua) --Heavy downpours have lashed many localities in south China since July 4, heightening the risk of natural disasters and prompting local authorities to take safety measures.

In southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, several rounds of rainstorms have pushed up water levels in local small and mid-sized rivers. In Fengjie County, a landslide of about 100,000 cubic meters struck on Wednesday, with authorities managing to evacuate 69 people in advance thanks to the timely warning.

In Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, water levels exceeded the limits in two local reservoirs on Thursday, prompting authorities to open the floodgates to release water. Across the province, several reservoirs also saw their water levels rise significantly.

Central China's Hubei Province also experienced heavy rainfall. To help fight flooding, the provincial authorities have prepared anti-flood supplies in case disasters strike. The water levels in local rivers, lakes and reservoirs are currently stable.

More rainfall is expected to hit south China from Friday to Saturday, according to the National Meteorological Center. Enditem




BEIJING, July 12 -- According to a written statement by Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command, the US guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold trespassed into China's territorial waters of the Xisha Islands on July 12 without Chinese governments permission. As a response, the naval and air forces of the PLA Southern Theater Command conducted tracking and monitoring on the US destroyer and warned it to leave.

The spokesperson pointed out that the Xisha Islands are China's inherent territory, and the US militarys behavior has seriously violated Chinas sovereignty and security, and gravely undermined the regional peace and stability of the South China Sea. "The US action seriously goes against the international law and basic norms governing international relations, which is yet another ironclad proof that the United States has been pursuing navigation hegemony and creating militarization of the South China Sea. Facts have proved that the US is in every sense a 'security risk maker in the South China Sea', the spokesperson continued.

The spokesperson stressed that China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and urges the US side to stop provocations of this kind and strictly control its military activities in the air and at sea. "Otherwise, all consequences arising there from will be borne by the US side," the spokesperson warned.

The troops assigned to the PLA Southern Theater Command will always stay on high alert, firmly safeguard Chinas national sovereignty and security, and protect the peace and stability in the South China Sea, said the spokesperson in the end of the written statement.
By Zhang Jianhua

Vientiane, the capital of Laos, began a lockdown in late April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 25, the 5th medical expert team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to Laos arrived to aid the military and the people of Laos as scheduled.

"Before the arrival of Chinese experts, my wife has been declared no hope of cure by many doctors. This was a catastrophe for our family," the husband of the patient Sipa said. Sipa was diagnosed with cervical squamous cell carcinoma shortly after giving birth. Many local hospitals informed that she could not be treated due to the difficulty of the operation.

After learning that the Chinese medical team was stationed in the Lao Military Hospital 103 in Vientiane, the couple travelled all the way from Oudomxay Province in the northern mountainous area for treatment.

Ma Jiajia, a Chinese military doctor, led the surgery for Sipa on June 17. The surgery lasted about five hours and the intraoperative blood loss was only 50 ml. This is also the first free hysteroscopy for radical cervical cancer surgery in Laos. Sipa was able to ambulate just six hours after her surgery.

"The newborn baby can't live without a mother. Chinese experts give Sipa hope to live. Thanks to them!" Sipa's husband said gratefully.

Lao Military Hospital 103 is a general hospital, the construction of which is assisted by the Ministry of National Defense of China. "Since the beginning of 2019, the PLA has sent medical teams to Lao Military Hospital 103 continuously to promote in-depth cooperation and fulfill the purpose of serving the people," said Li Bing, Defense Attache of the Chinese Embassy in Laos. All the medical teams have been set up by the No.1 Affiliated Hospital of the Chinese PLA Air Force Medical University based on the needs of Lao Military Hospital 103.

According to Wang Wen, the leading officer of the 5th Chinese medical team, they immediately carried out a series of clinical teaching and academic exchange activities right after the quarantine in Vientiane. "We concentrated on helping Lao colleagues and serving the Lao soldiers and civilians at the same time."

The Chinese doctors medical technology has brought health benefits to many Lao patients.

Benping, a 54-year-old citizen of Vientiane who was severely troubled by tinnitus and shoulder joint pain, said, "After receiving acupuncture and ear acupuncture treatment, my tinnitus has been significantly reduced, my sleep has improved, and the shoulder joint pain has also been relieved."

Fifty-five-year-old Song Alun suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage. "My father woke up the day after the operation by Chinese medics. My father is the pillar of the family and the Chinese experts saved our family," his daughter said.

Souliphanh, director of Lao Military Hospital 103, introduced that within just over a month, Chinese military doctors had completed 28 complicated operations. Among them, one operation was the first in Laos, and three were the first in our hospital, all of which have been successful. He also hoped that with the help of the Chinese medical team, the level of diagnosis and treatment in the hospital could be further improved.

The director of the Department of Health of the Ministry of National Defense of Laos also sang high praise for the Chinese experts. They have demonstrated the good image of the Chinese army and the superb level of Chinese military doctors with practical actions. Together with the medical staff of Hospital103, they guaranteed the health of Lao soldiers and civilians, he stated.

"Under the background of COVID-19, the experts sacrificed their own interests for the greater good and fight on the frontline of improving the level of medical care in Laos. I believe they will continue to demonstrate the good image of Chinese military doctors with professional knowledge, responsible attitude and resolute actions," said Li Bing.
By Wu Shicun

On July 12, 2016, the so-called arbitral tribunal of the South China Sea issue, under Americas manipulation and at the request of the Aquino III administration of the Philippines, staged a farce of completely negating Chinas sovereign rights over the South China Sea by releasing its arbitration award. Five years have passed, and the international community has gradually seen through the nature of this event.

Thanks to the united efforts of China and other regional countries over the past five years, the South China Sea situation has made a fundamental turnaround, and the Chinese governments stance of no acceptance, no participation, no recognition is also widely confirmed and accepted by the international community.

According to international conventions including the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration, China after the war recovered the South China Sea islands that had been illegally occupied by Japan and drew and published worldwide The Location Map of South China Sea Islands that displayed a dotted line in the South China Sea. Making the right arrangements for Chinas territorial sovereignty over these islands was an integral part of the post-war international system and a major achievement of the world anti-Fascist war. The conclusion of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 and the establishment of the new international maritime order were also implemented under the UNs lead and guided by the post-war international system and the Charter of the United Nations.

Chinas historical rights and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established in the long course of history  they preceded the UNCLOS and are also independent of it. In 2006, according to UNCLOS, China submitted a written declaration to the UN Secretary-General, excluding disputes concerning, among others, maritime delimitation, historic bays or titles, and military activities from the compulsory dispute settlement procedures of UNCLOS, including temporary arbitration.

Yet the South China Sea arbitration tribunal not only turned a blind eye to all these but also circumvented the usual practices of international judicial and arbitral organizations and arbitrarily distorted the articles of UNCLOS. While denying every Chinese assertion on the South China Sea, it challenged the current international order and rules and damaged the authority and solemnity of the UN mechanism and UNCLOS.

Throwing the award into the garbage heap of history is an imperative step to establish the authority of international law and maintain the international order based on it.

First of all, sovereign equality is the cornerstone of modern international law. In the past five years, the international community has come to realize that countries that accuse China of violating international rules on the ground of its refusal to accept the arbitration award are typical examples of violating international law and trampling upon the sovereignty of other countries without any scruple.

In the past one or two years alone, the US has blatantly contravened the principle championed by the Charter of the United Nations that countries shall not use or threaten to use force in international relations by assassinating Irans senior military officer Soleimani. After that, it flagrantly sanctioned prosecutors of the International Criminal Court that participated in the investigation of its war crime and crime against humanity. Besides, Britain defied the International Court of Justices advisory opinion and refused to perform the UN General Assemblys resolution that it should return the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius by November 2019; and Japan decided to discharge the radwaste water at Fukushima directly into the sea to pursue its selfish interests in total disregard of global environmental security and human life.

Second, state approval is the precondition for international judicature and arbitration, and a nation, according to international law, has no obligation to respond to suit at court. Its not uncommon for a nation to not engage in judicial procedures in international practices. Even the US quitted the procedures in the case against Nicaragua after the court made a primary ruling and eventually stepped away from the international court.

Its clear that the South China Sea arbitration directed by the US, a country known for its violation of international law, is just another case in point of its unscrupulous, disguised distortion of the law and disruption of international relations.

Throwing the award into the garbage heap of history is the only choice to maintain lasting peace and stability in the South China Sea and cement the China-ASEAN community of shared future.

With the common efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the South China Sea situation has chilled and stabilized in the past five years with signs of good momentum. The international community, especially countries in the region, have increasingly realized that the arbitration award is nothing more than an excuse fabricated by the US to sow discord between China and ASEAN countries, roil the regional situation, and undermine the peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Keeping the South China Sea peaceful and stable is the common demand and serves the fundamental interest of China and ASEAN countries. China and ASEAN have the confidence, capability and wisdom to remove disturbances and stick to the dual-track approach and the principle of directly concerned countries settling relevant disputes through negotiation and consultation. We will keep up the good momentum of consultations over the code of conduct in the South China Sea and jointly keep the region peaceful and stable.

(The author is president of the National Institute of South China Sea Studies)
The U.S. statement on the South China Sea was extremely irresponsible as it aimed to provoke disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, sow discord among regional countries, and undermine peace and stability in the region, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said in the written statement that China continues to "coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea.

The U.S. accusations against China disregard historical and objective facts, violate and distort international law, and break its long-standing public commitment of not taking position on the South China Sea sovereignty issues, said Zhao at a regular briefing in Beijing, adding China is strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposed to this wrongdoing of the U.S. side.

Zhao stressed China does not accept or recognize the so-called arbitration regarding the South China Sea five years ago, which violates the principle of "consent of the nation," breaches the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international law, and therefore is illegal and invalid.

"It is very clear to those with discerning eyes that the South China Sea arbitration case is a political farce. The U.S. side, as the initiator and mastermind of the farce, just attempts to smear and suppress China," he added.

The spokesperson made it clear that the U.S. has conducted nearly 2,000 air and sea reconnaissance missions and more than 20 large-scale maritime military drills targeted at China since the beginning of this year. It has also abused bilateral military agreements with Cold War overtones to threaten to use force against China, which reveals its hegemony, he added.

"Who is indeed doing coercion and intimidation in the South China Sea? And who is threatening the freedom and safety of navigation?" asked Zhao. "The truth is self-evident."

China, as a founding signatory country to the UNCLOS, has always safeguarded its authority and integrity with concrete actions, he said, calling on the U.S. to join the convention first before using it to accuse others.

Thanks to concerted efforts by the regional countries, China included, the South China Sea has been smooth and safe for navigation, and it has not been heard that any vessel's passage is obstructed or its safety threatened, and the U.S. claim simply does not hold water, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.

He urged the U.S. to stop making trouble and respect China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea, which have been formed in the course of history and have sufficient historical and legal basis.

Zhao reiterated that China has always dealt with the issue through friendly negotiations and consultations, treated countries adjacent to the South China Sea on an equal footing, and it has exercised the utmost restraint in safeguarding its sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries have fully and effectively implemented the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and actively promoted the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea with important progress made on consultations, he said.

"The United States and countries outside the region should respect the efforts of the regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea."
Four additional bodies were recovered Sunday from the collapsed condominium near Miami, Florida, bringing the total death toll to 90.

Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told reporters Sunday morning that among the 90, 71 bodies had been identified. Thirty-one people are still listed as missing. Three young children were among those recently identified.

Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said Sunday that the recovery operation would last roughly two to three more weeks.

The search for survivors officially ended at midnight Wednesday, nearly two weeks after part of the 12-story Champlain Towers South building collapsed on June 24.


China's Ministry of Commerce said Sunday it "resolutely opposes" the addition of 23 Chinese entities to a U.S. economic blacklist over issues including alleged human rights abuses and military ties.

In a statement citing a spokesperson, the Chinese commerce ministry said the inclusion of the Chinese entities was a "serious breach of international economic and trade rules" and an "unreasonable suppression" of Chinese companies. The Chinese government "will take necessary measures to safeguard China's legitimate rights and interests," the statement said.

The U.S. Department of Commerce said on Friday it had added 14 companies and other entities to its economic blacklist, saying they had been "implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass detention, and high technology surveillance against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region."

Beijing denies the alleged abuses.
Koreans have the third-most powerful passport in the world, according to an annual index by the Swiss-based research firm Henley and Partners released on Sunday.

The firm ranks passports based on the number of countries people can visit visa-free. Koreans can travel to 191 countries without obtaining a visa beforehand, the same number as Germany.

Korea's ranking remains the same as last year.

Japan's passport continues to top the list, granting access to 193 countries, followed by Singapore with 192.

The research firm noted that the rankings do not take into account travel curbs for the coronavirus pandemic.
Kim wrote the bilateral pact "is displaying its stronger vitality in defending and propelling the socialist cause of the two countries... now that the hostile forces become more desperate in their challenge and obstructive moves," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged handwritten letters on Sunday to mark the 60th anniversary of their countries' mutual defense pact.

Xi was more restrained, saying, "I wish to lead bilateral relations to unceasingly rise to new levels to the benefit of the two countries and their peoples."

The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed in 1961 by North Korea founder Kim Il-sung and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. It stipulates that either side will offer military assistance in the event of an invasion, and since North Korea can do little for China, the treaty is essentially a survival guarantee for its North Korean client state.

There were no visits either way from senior officials to mark the event because North Korea has sealed its borders due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For the 50th anniversary in 2011, China sent a high-ranking Communist Party official to Pyongyang, while North Korea dispatched a senior politburo member to Beijing to attend celebrations that lasted more than a week.
Chinese company opens wind farm in Kazakhstan

From:ChinaDaily | 2021-07-12 09:34

SPIC will continue to provide clean, safe and economical energy worldwide

With Central Asia's largest wind power project, the Zhanatas 100-megawatt wind farm in Kazakhstan, beginning full operations on June 20 after its last turbine was connected to the power grid, its operator, State Power Investment Corp, is further expanding its global presence.

The company is one of China's top five power producers.

With the largest installed capacity of any project of its kind in Central Asia, the wind power project is expected to provide South Kazakhstan with 350 gigawatt-hours of clean power each year, equivalent to demand from one million households, it said.

With a total of 40 wind turbines, the project is expected to save roughly 110,000 metric tons of standard coal annually and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which plays an important demonstration role for Kazakhstan's environmental protection.

China has contributed significantly to the development of renewable energy in Kazakhstan. Two-thirds of the 1,500 MW new renewable energy capacity in the country was built with the help of Chinese partners over the past four years.

This is also one of the latest renewable energy projects with SPIC as an operator that was put into operation in the market outside China. By the end of May, SPIC's total power generation capacity abroad exceeded 6.1 GW, with clean energy like hydropower, wind power, photovoltaics and related fields like energy storage accounting for 70 percent of the total.

Power generation capacity under construction overseas reached 2.16 GW. The company has a presence in 46 countries and regions, 37 of which are participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, it said.

Wei Hanyang, a power market analyst at research firm BloombergNEF, said choosing renewable energy as the entry point is a wise choice. This will further facilitate SPIC's contribution to global clean energy.

Kazakhstan relies heavily on thermal power generation which accounts for more than 80 percent of total power generation in the country. Its southern regions, which see about 70 percent of total power demand in the country, are home to rich renewable energy resources.

The project has tackled the issue of how to make full use of renewable resources in terms of meeting the country's power demand and improving its unbalanced energy situation, an analyst said.

Under the framework of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Kazakhstan's Bright Path new economic policy, SPIC started cooperating with Visor International DMCC on wind power development.

The Zhanatas wind power project, with each wind turbine weighing about 300 tons and reaching nearly 150 meters tall, was selected as part of China-Kazakhstan production capacity cooperation in 2016 and began construction in 2019, SPIC said.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the first turbines entered operation in September 2020. A financing agreement was signed in October the same year.

Wang Ziyue, an analyst with BloombergNEF, said Kazakhstan is the best destination to develop wind power in Central Asia given its rich wind resources and substantial potential.
Foreign students see appeal of Yangpu Waterfront

By:Wang Jiaye | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-07-12 09:50

I've been in Shanghai for six years, though this is my first time to come to the Yangpu Waterfront. I feel it's very nice and I hope to come again, said Silem Abdselam, an Algerian student, as he walked along the riverside. This year, he will graduate from Shanghai University with a doctorate in Applied Mathematics.

Roughly a dozen foreign students from 9 countries who study at Shanghai University, including Silem, recently paid a visit to a traditional Chinese crafts exhibition featuring the country's intangible cultural heritages, and went on a stroll along the Yangpu Waterfront in the vicinity.

It was the first of a series of activities for expats in town, organized by the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center.

(Maoma Warehouse along the riverside in Yangpu District)

The tour started from the exhibition held at the Maoma Warehouse which used to be a cotton mill founded a century ago, and became an art space in 2019.

Bangladeshi girl Akter Liza took a careful look at the utensils on display, saying, I didn't know before that there were such kinds of works in China. They are really beautiful. The senior, majoring in human resource management, is preparing for her postgraduate education. I hope to keep staying in Shanghai.

(Foreign students are watching the exhibits.)

(Foreign students pose for a group photo in front of a Mongolian yurt.)

During the interactive session, they learned how to make straw patchwork from He Chaoying, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage.

(Foreign students are making straw patchwork.)

Flattening, stroking, clipping... It's not easy for beginners to make straw patchwork. But everyone was doing it earnestly and happily. Ahmed Abdeltawab Elsayed, an engineering doctoral student from Egypt was the first to complete his artwork.

(Ahmed Abdeltawab Elsayed shows his artwork, a cute rabbit.)

The activity took place one day before the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Foreign students arrived at the former site of S.M.R. Wharf on Qinhuangdao Road. Around the 1920s, more than 650 students including top CPC leaders Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and Nie Rongzhen, departed here for France, embarking on a voyage of saving the nation and its people.

(Foreign students are listening to the story about S.M.R. Wharf.)

(Foreign students pose for a group photo in front of a relief sculpture at the former site of S.M.R. Wharf.)

Yangpu Waterfront is one of the cradles of modern industrial civilization in China. UNESCO called it the largest riverside industrial belt in the world. In recent years, a large number of industrial relics have been renovated in the Yangpu riverside area, transforming the former industrial rust belt into a cultural and recreational belt for the people.

(Chung and Saciid Cabdi Isgoowe Subow pose for a photo at the riverside.)

Chung from Tonga is studying in her freshman year for a major in Business Administration. She said that there are many differences between Shanghai and her hometown, namely, technology makes life here very convenient while the natural scenery back home is amazing. Chung picked up a small flower along the riverside and put it behind her ear.

Taking Yangpu Bridge and blue sky as the background, Somali student Sacid Cabdi Isgoowe Subow photographed the remaining old wall of No.1 Lanzhou Road. He wants to share these photos with his compatriot, who went home last winter vacation and has been unable to return due to the pandemic, said Li Yin, counselor of the international students at the university.

Japanese student Jiyuhiro Amami is fluent in Chinese, in part due to studying the language in Japan for four years before he arrived in Shanghai. What impressed him most about the city is the warmth and friendliness of the people, saying that when I first came here, I didn't know how to buy tickets on the machine. People nearby offered to help me.

The People's Urban Planning Exhibition Hall was originally the site of the Xiangtai timber company. This semi-open wooden structure uses digital technology to tell the practical cases of Shanghai's construction of a beautiful city, and to show the past, present and future of Yangpu Waterfront.

(Foreign students learn about the development of the riverside industrial belt by watching short films and models in the sunken exhibition area.)

Liber Simon and Georgina Marcela come from Uruguay and both of them are postgraduate students in Global Studies. Liber admires the city's development concept, noting that it is amazing to see how the zone next to the river was built and the blend between history and modernity.

The activity was enjoyable, said Georgina, adding that the walk along the riverside gave them the chance to see the city's evolution.

(Foreign students and their counselor pose for a group photo with the organizing staff in front of the People's Urban Planning Exhibition Hall.)

Story by Wang Jiaye

Photos by Guo Shenglin and Wang Jiaye
New innovations for the 2021 Shanghai Book Fair

By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-07-12 17:28

A press conference for the upcoming 2021 Shanghai Book Fair was held on Monday, releasing some new highlights.

Scheduled to be held from March 11 to 17, this years event will be launched both online and physically. The offline fair will have three branch venues besides the main venue in the Shanghai Exhibition Center, respectively in Jingan, Hongkou and Huangpu district.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, therefore the Shanghai Book Fair will highly recommend and display excellent themed publications.

In terms of infrastructure and services, there will be many firsts. The 18th Shanghai Book Fair will open a special zone called Reading + Coffee culture in the main venue for the first time for visitors to relax and refuel. A dining zone has been especially set up with 7 internet-famous restaurants, preparing almost 30 characterized dishes.

A mascot has been designed for the first time, together with the launch of a cultural and creative products design competition.

It is also the first time that the book fair has introduced emerging physical bookstores at large scale, including To You Books, a pop bookstore in the city. E-commerce platforms like TikTok and JD.com will take part in the fair for the first time to do live streaming of book sales promotions.
Nurses make their rounds in the coronavirus unit at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. MIKALA COMPTON | Herald-Zeitung
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Thunderstorms this morning, then variable clouds during the afternoon with still a chance of showers. High 73F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Purdue President Mitch Daniels wrote a column for the Washington Post in 2018 titled, Government transparency has gone too far. In it, while he agreed that many open-door laws have benefited society, he claimed society may have gone overboard regarding what should be considered public knowledge.

Under open meeting requirements forbidding members of governing bodies to confer privately, he wrote, the result is furtive hallway conversations or executive committee meetings where the discussion might not technically fall into the category of exemptions that permit such meetings.

That is what the president has apparently been doing with Purdues board of trustees.

Board packets and advisory and deliberative information

Trustees meetings, which are typically held once a month, proceed in the same fashion each time. Items are brought to the boards attention, board members look through allegedly confidential packets full of advisory and deliberative information, they will briefly discuss the details they wish to highlight and then theyll quickly vote before they move to the next topic.

We requested the board packets for the June 11 meeting on June 5, and we were told by the boards corporate secretary the items would be sent after they have been approved.

They were never sent.

Purdue spokesperson Tim Doty said in an email Friday that the board members receive board packets that contain information on the meeting agendas well in advance, giving board members time to study the material and understand issues. So why cant we see them yet?

Theres no reason you cant be getting a copy at the same time as the trustees, Steve Key said in a phone call Thursday.

Key, the executive director of the Hoosier State Press Association, argued that the board must provide the public with all of the decision-making information it has.

Only rationale for withholding the board packet is the administration wants to control its message, he wrote in a June email. That isnt a statutory basis for denying access to the records. In fact, its the antithesis of the statutes intent.

Board meetings typically leave no room for public comment. Members vote without much discussion, as if they have already come to a decision beforehand. An email from Doty in June seems to confirm that suspicion: As soon as items are voted on or the meeting ends, we send out the news releases, he wrote in answer to our question about a vague agenda item.

That would indicate a decision was already made, Key agreed.

During that particular meeting, news releases were sent out at about the same time as items were voted on  not even after the meeting ended. But if news releases were already prepared before the meeting, when were those decisions made?

Executive sessions

The board usually holds an executive session 24 hours before each public meeting. The purpose of an executive session is to discuss confidential matters and should be used sparingly, according to state law.

They should not be held regularly, nor should they be a standing meeting on a governing bodys schedule, the public access laws handbook reads.

State law defines specific instances in which an executive session out of public view is justified. To hold an executive session, a government agency must cite the specific state statute that pertains to each item to be discussed in secret.

They have to let you know what items theyre gonna discuss behind closed doors, Key said.

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But the board seems to have found a creative way around this.

The trustees cite the same seven statutory exemptions listed in each notice of executive session (not counting special meetings) since at least June 2020, which is as far back as the boards website goes. Sometimes, the number of statutes listed is actually higher than the number of items on the meeting agenda itself. How could it be that the board is always discussing items pertaining to the same seven exemptions each month?

What seems more likely to us is that the board is discussing every item on the agenda in an executive session or other private conversations, coming to an agreement behind closed doors and simply finalizing its vote in front of the public.

Daniels wrote in his Washington Post column that government has been rendered less nimble, less talented and less effective, by an increased transparency. But why would more transparency make them less effective? Isnt that contrary to the spirit of open door laws for a public university supported by tax dollars?

In other words, the board is acting in the spirit of the philosophy Daniels espoused in his column.

Emails

If the board isnt discussing these items in its executive sessions, its most likely doing so via email or phone call.

Government took a serious wrong turn at the dawn of the email era when somebody decided that these online exchanges are documents, Daniels wrote. Im rarely on a conference call with other public university presidents that doesnt include someone reminding the group: No emails!

The board making decisions via email is technically not a violation of the law, since copies of emails and phone recordings do fall under the purview of public records and can hypothetically be requested by the public. But by adding levels of secrecy and hoops for information-seeking citizens to jump through, it goes against the spirit of what open door laws are supposed to do: Allow the public to monitor officials and hold them accountable.

The Exponent requested emails sent between board members, and from them to Daniels, regarding the discussion surrounding a controversial decision on requiring civics literacy made in June, but hasnt yet received any documents. The decision was controversial because of the large number of faculty members who were strictly against it, and the board made its decision against the vote of the University Senate. In fact, faculty from Purdues satellite campuses were unaware the decision affected them until a week before the meeting.

Open discussion of the topic was limited in the meeting, and the questions posed seemed to highlight only positive aspects of the proposals, as if the questions were scripted.

What were the real concerns trustees had? Who did they consult? Did anyone vote against the measure, in line with the facultys objections? We dont know any of that, because the process was apparently out of the public view.

We need more transparency

Perhaps Daniels and the trustees dont realize what Indianas open door laws say, or the image of secrecy they are projecting.

In our Thursday edition, we included a note about this editorial and the boards tendency toward secrecy. After noon, we discovered more information from the last two meetings had just been released on the board of trustees website. That information provided more detail on some, but not all, of the items discussed in the two meetings.

Its important to note that only those with a Purdue email can access this part of the website.

The board of trustees has repeatedly acted against the spirit of public access laws. We call on the board to be more transparent. Discuss, deliberate and debate in public. Make decisions in public. Finalize votes in public.

And please, give the public access to the same information thats apparently so readily available to you.

The Editorial Board is composed of The Exponents summer staff and written by its editor.
MUNSTER  Union truck drivers, route drivers, merchandisers, and other delivery personnel working at the Pepsi bottling plant in Munster are going on strike Monday after rejecting the company's final contract offer.

At the same time, union workers with production jobs inside the PepsiCo facility on Calumet Avenue are planning to report to work after agreeing to a new contract with the Purchase, New York-based beverage giant.

The separate bargaining units, both represented by Gary-based Teamsters Local 142, each voted on contract proposals Sunday morning, according to multiple Teamsters officials and members.

The union production workers at the Pepsi plant accepted the company's four-year contract offer, while the unionized Pepsi drivers opted to strike instead.

Harvey Jackson, Teamsters Local 142 vice president, said he's working to arrange the picket line so production Teamsters members at the Pepsi plant aren't having to cross in front of union drivers striking for a contract with different terms.

"Where we're going to be picketing at they probably won't have to go through. Unfortunately, with Pepsi's contracts, it's in there that they've got to go to work," Jackson said. "If one rejects, the other one still has to go to work."

Union officials and members confirmed worker-paid health insurance rates were the primary sticking point in negotiations between the Teamsters and Pepsi, and the failure to reach an agreement on the health insurance issue is what led to the strike.

According to Pepsi transport driver Tom Albano, a Teamsters member, the union wants worker-paid health insurance premiums capped at the current rate of $14 per week.

He said the company is looking to raise the workers' share by about $20 a week in each year of the contract to $81 per week by 2025.

"We shouldn't be paying for it in the first place. This is a multibillion-dollar company," Albano said. "And the raises the company is offering is not going to cover, or barely cover, what your increase is going to be in your health insurance."

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Albano, who is 62, said he probably could stomach the health insurance increase since this likely is his last contract before retirement. But he's willing to strike alongside the younger drivers who almost assuredly will get hit with continuing weekly premium increases in future years if they don't stand up to the company now.

Watch Now: Riding Shotgun with NWI Paramedics

"No one likes a strike. I don't like a strike. The company doesn't like a strike," Albano said. "But once you give up something, you ain't never gonna get it back from the company."

"So I'll be picketing. I don't care if it's raining, thundering, lightning, whatever. A strike is a strike and you have to show up."

Albano said the union also has issues with the company's forced overtime for production workers and minimal pay increases for drivers over the past decade, but chose to focus on health insurance because it's the most significant issue for most members.

"We didn't want to sit there and ask for five or six or seven different things because you know you're not going to get all that," Albano said. "Realistically, what's going to put the biggest dent in your paycheck weekly? It's going to be the health insurance contribution."

A request for comment about the Munster contract negotiations and Teamsters strike from PepsiCo's North America Beverages Media Relations Team was not returned Sunday.

Union workers at a plant manufacturing snack food products for Frito-Lay, a PepsiCo subsidiary, went on strike last week over similar issues in Topeka, Kansas.

ICYMI: Here are the most-read stories from the past week
CHICAGO  Federal prosecutors say former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich doesnt deserve a break from his 151-month prison term for public corruption.

Acting U.S. Attorney Tina Nommays office responded this weekend to a new appeal by Buncich to release him now because he is remorseful and too ill and elderly  at age 75  to commit more crimes.

David E. Hollar, an assistant U.S. Attorney, states in a 42-page brief, made public this weekend to the Chicago-based appeals court, that Buncich disgraced his office and deserves his punishment.

While an elected law enforcement officer, Buncich corruptly doled out towing assignments in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in personal gain, Hollar states.

Buncich had been a Lake County police officer since 1971. Voters first elected him sheriff in 1994. They re-elected him in 1998. After an eight-year break, they elected him again in 2010 and 2014.

Prosecutors said Buncich defrayed the high cost of running for office as the countys top law enforcement officer by shaking down businesses that towed cars for county police.

Watch Now: Riding Shotgun with NWI Paramedics

Buncich created a handpicked list of around 12 tow companies. Prosecutors said the companies felt compelled to buy annual political fund-raising tickets to maintain a profitable line of work with the sheriffs department.

Two firms alone  CSA of Lake Station and Samson of Merrillville  paid Buncich and his reelection campaign committee a total of $38,000 between 2009 and 2016.

Hollar states to the appeals court, there was plenty of evidence that companies had to pay Buncich to maintain their tows and that higher payments led to more tows."

A federal grand jury indicted Buncich in 2016. He faced a trial in Hammond the following year.

Buncich testified in his own defense and denied receiving bribes from towing firms.

He insisted he selected tow operators based on their equipment, response times and insurance.

PODCAST: Byline - Analyzing the fate of John Buncich

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Buncich admitted receiving cash from Samson multiple times, but claimed these were all legal campaign contributions that neither bought the company a place on the tow list or kept it there.

Buncich acknowledged he did not itemize this cash in his campaign account records, which he chalked up to sloppy work.

He proclaimed his innocence, arguing he was an honest citizen who worked 70 hours a week and served admirably in the sheriffs department for over 25 years.

A jury heard hours of video and audio recordings made of Buncich and his subordinates boasting they rewarded their friends and punished companies who refused to buy fundraiser tickets.

Jurors delivered six guilty verdicts against Buncich after a 14-day jury trial that ended Aug. 24, 2017.

WATCH NOW: Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops  Patrolling Lowell with Cpl. Aaron Crawford

The court held Buncich responsible for bribes that led to $108,650 in profits CSA and Samson gained through more than 2,000 tows they did for county police, and sentenced Buncich to 188 months in prison.

Defense attorney Kerry Connor successfully appealed to reduce Buncichs conviction from six to three felony counts.

Buncich returned to federal court in Hammond Aug. 5 last year and expressed remorse for his crimes. U.S. District Court Judge James Moody reduced Buncichs sentence to 151 months.

Conner is now appealing to reduce the latest sentence on grounds he should only be held accountable for the $38,000 he receives in bribes, not the $108,650 in profits the two companies reaped.

Federal prosecutors argue this new appeal should be denied.

The appeals court is expected to rule later this year.

Buncich is currently scheduled to remain at the federal prison in Springfield, Missouri until 2028.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Press Release

July 12, 2021 Drilon files reso to commemorate Phl victory at the Hague

A legacy of the late PNoy, the Hague ruling is a reminder of Filipinos' courage, Drilon adds Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon filed a resolution commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Philippine's historic legal victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague which ruled in favor of the Philippines days after the term of the late President Simeon Benigno Aquino III ended in 2016. "The Philippines' victory at the Hague should be a lasting reminder that the Filipino is never cowed or daunted, that false promises of economic largesse and military might will not serve to defeat what is right, and that our claims should be valiantly and relentlessly fought for, to ensure that future generations can benefit from the bounty of what is legally ours," said Drilon in filing Senate Resolution 769. "The monumental arbitral award, promulgated two weeks after the term of President Aquino, was hailed as a victory not just for the Philippines but also for other coastal states," he added. Considered as one of the legacies of the Aquino administration, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) rendered a landmark Award on12 July 2016 in favor of the Republic of the Philippines, rejecting the People's Republic of China's expansive claims to historic, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over the resources and area covered by its Nine Dash Line that encompasses almost the entirety of the South China Sea and encroaches on the maritime entitlements of other coastal states, including the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and extended continental shelf (ECS) of the Republic of the Philippines, as being incompatible with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the 19 Sea (UNCLOS). Five years after the issuance of the historic award, Drilon lamented that the country has failed to assert and fully leverage the same in bilateral or multilateral talks with China. "Despite the filing of diplomatic protests against China's most recent incursions into Philippine waters, statements have been made downplaying the arbitral award, serving to undermine the international victory which the Philippines has legally and peacefully secured before the PCA," Drilon said. In filing SR 769 on the ruling's fifth anniversary today, Drilon also urged the Philippine government to rally other nations in calling for compliance with the landmark award. "The Philippines should continue to call for adherence to international law, rally other coastal states in calling for compliance with the landmark award by the PCA, and maintain a peaceful and diplomatic assertion of the arbitral award, resolute in our conviction that the rule of law should be upheld and never compromised," the resolution states. The resolution stresses that China expansionist tendencies "have only grown bolder despite the Arbitral Tribunal's clear rejection of its broad claims." It cited as proof of expansionist tendencies, China's passage of its Coast Guard Law in January 2021 which allows the use of lethal force against anyone found in waters over which it claims jurisdiction, its operation of research stations in the Kagitingan and Zamora Reefs, its ongoing reclamation activities within the Philippine EEZ, and the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen by large Chinese vessels, the recent mooring of two hundred forty (240) People's Liberation Army Navy vessels in the Philippine EEZ. The resolution warns that the Philippines risks squandering the gains it has secured at the Hague "absent a coherent foreign policy that insists on the adherence to a rules-based international order." "International law is a mechanism which allows smaller states, despite lack of military prowess, to stand on equal footing with wealthier, more powerful states, which the Philippines has aptly and bravely utilized without having to incite war when it brought China to court in 2013," Drilon emphasized.
Press Release

July 12, 2021 12 senators seek investigation into troll farms TWELVE senators want an investigation into reports that public funds are oiling the operation of troll farms that spread fake news and misinformation on social media. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Nancy Binay, Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Emmanuel Pacquiao, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva signed Proposed Senate Resolution 768 asking the appropriate committee to conduct an inquiry on the alleged state-backed and state-funded spreaders of fake information that affect millions of Filipinos. "Filipinos should know why government spends public funds on troll farm operators disguised as 'public relations practitioners' and 'social media consultants' who sow fake news rather than on Covid-19 assistance, health care, food security, jobs protection, education, among others," reads the resolution. Pangilinan, who is the most trolled senator now, stressed that misinformation and fake news do harm to the country grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic. "Hindi natin pwedeng hayaang ginagamit ang pera ng taumbayan para manira at mang-harass ng mga taong pumupuna sa gobyerno. Masama ito sa demokrasya, lalo na sa papalapit na halalan sa susunod na taon (We must not let pass the use of taxpayers' money to malign and harass people who are critical to the government. This is dangerous for democracy, especially that elections are upcoming next year)," he said. Earlier, Lacson alleged that "a government undersecretary has been organizing internet troll farms across the country to target political rivals or those not aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte's administration." The Department of Finance also earlier awarded a P909,122 communications strategy consultancy contract to a public relations practitioner who was tagged by Facebook itself as the "operator behind a pro-Duterte fake account network which Facebook took down in March 2019." A social media troll is "someone who creates conflict on sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit by posting messages that are particularly controversial or inflammatory with the sole intent of provoking an emotional response from other users," the resolution said. The senators said the allegation should not be dismissed because of the Filipinos' heavy use of social media sites such as Facebook, making them vulnerable to the trolls' fake information. Advertising firms We are Social and Hootsuite, in their 2020 annual report, found that Filipinos spend an average of four hours and 15 minutes each day on social media - topping the world rankings for the sixth straight year. The Philippines is also highest in the world in internet usage with an average of 10 hours and 56 minutes. "Pagsisinungaling ang trolling. Masama ito lalo na dahil sa darating na halalan. Kung mahalal ang bagong presidente at ibang opisyal dahil sa pekeng impormasyon, magkakaroon tayo ng pekeng presidente at opisyal (Trolling is lying. It is evil, especially that we have an upcoming election. If people elect a president and other officials because of the fake information spread by paid trolls, then similarly we will have a fake president and fake officials)," Pangilinan said. "Dapat mag-invest sa totoong farms ng mga gulay at prutas, hindi sa troll farms (Invest in real farms of vegetables and fruits, not troll farms)," he added.
Crain, a senior at Hernando High School, will represent DeSoto County during the competition in Meridian, MS, later this month. She will be one of 29 Mississippi high school seniors competing for more than $28,900 in college scholarships on Thursday, July 22.
Omans ruler Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said landed Sunday in Saudi Arabia for his first trip abroad since ascending to the throne last year, as both countries beef up their economic ties.

The Omani ruler held talks with King Salman in the city of Noam, a futuristic desert city planned along the kingdoms Red Sea coast.

Both leaders oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council.

The visit comes within the framework of strengthening the historical and fraternal relations between the leaderships of the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

It also aims to expand the prospects of joint cooperation and ways to develop them in various fields for the interest and steady progress of the peoples of the two countries.

The two countries, the agency notes, are poised to strengthen the deep historical bonds between the two countries, and to explore new areas of cooperation  particularly in the fields of trade, infrastructure and development.

Trade volume between the two allies, according to Saudi authorities, amounted to about SR10.6 billion ($2.8 billion) in 2019, compared to SR9.37 billion in 2018.

The number of Saudi companies, institutions and individuals investing in Oman had reached 1,235, and the number of Omani companies in the Kingdom reached 320 by the end of the second quarter of the year, the kingdom has also indicated.

The two countries also look to integrate their respective visions, 2030 (Saudi Arabia) and 2040 (Oman), to create several promising investment opportunities in a number of sectors.

Sultan Haitham rose to power last year after the death of the long-ruling Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on July 12, 2021

2021/07/12

CCTV: On July 12 Beijing time, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a press statement on the fifth anniversary of the so-called arbitral tribunal ruling on the South China Sea. He claims that the rules-based maritime order is under great threat in the South China Sea and accuses China of continuing to "coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states", threatening freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. He said that the arbitral tribunal delivered a decision firmly rejecting China's expansive South China Sea maritime claims as having no basis in international law, adding that China and the Philippines, "pursuant to their treaty obligations under the Law of the Sea Convention, are legally bound to comply with this decision". He also reaffirms that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. He calls on China to abide by its obligations under international law, cease provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order. Does China have any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: The US statement disregards the historical merits and objective facts of the South China Sea issue, violates and distorts international law, and breaks the US government's long-held public commitment of not taking a position on the South China Sea sovereignty issue. It deliberately stokes disputes on territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, sows discord among regional countries and undermines regional peace and stability. This is extremely irresponsible. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the wrong act by the US side. I want to stress the following points:

First, China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea have been formed in the course of a long history. They are supported by abundant historical and legal basis and upheld by the Chinese government all along. No country raised any objection to this position until the 1970s. The US accusation that our maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have no basis in international law totally runs counter to facts.

Second, the South China Sea arbitration violated the principle of state consent and the arbitral tribunal exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of law. The arbitration has major fallacies in fact-finding and application of law and violates UNCLOS and international law. The award of the arbitration is illegal, null and void. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper. China does not accept or participate in the arbitration, nor does it accept or recognize the award. China's sovereignty and rights and interests over the South China Sea are not affected at all by the arbitration and China does not accept any claim or act based on it. Anyone with a discerning eye can easily see that the arbitration is a political farce which is initiated and manipulated by the US to smear and suppress China. The political agenda of the US to hype up the South China Sea issue by taking advantage of the 5th anniversary of the illegal award can't be more obvious.

Third, China always advocates friendly negotiations and consultations to settle the South China Sea issue, treats our South China Sea neighbors as equals and exercises maximum restraint when safeguarding our sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea. On the opposite, the US willfully sends large-scale advanced vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea for military reconnaissance and drills and illegally intruded into China's territorial waters and space and water and air space adjacent to islands and reefs. Since the beginning of this year, the US side has conducted close-in reconnaissance for nearly 2,000 times and over 20 large-scale military drills on the sea targeting China. What's more, the US abuses bilateral military agreements that smack of the Cold War to threaten to use force on China. This exposes its power politics logic and hegemonic practices. It is self-evident who is seeking coercion and intimidation and threatening freedom and security of navigation.

Fourth, China firmly upholds and practices international rule of law. As an original contracting party of UNCLOS, China always correctly understands and earnestly implements the Convention, and uphold its authority and integrity with concrete actions. The US poses as a defender of international law and keeps referring to the Convention and making an issue out of it. Why doesn't it accede to the Convention first? It claims to uphold "rules-based international order", but refuses to execute the judgement and advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and the resolution of the UN General Assembly. It is selective in applying international law and international order. The world's people see clearly the US' pragmatism, egoism and double standards.

Fifth, the South China Sea is one of the busiest sea lanes in the world and the lifeline of China's maritime trade. Some 30% of global trade in goods and each year about 100,000 merchant vessels transit through the South China Sea. With the joint efforts of countries in the region including China, passage through the South China sea has been smooth and safe for a period of time, and not a single vessel has ever reported that its navigation is hindered or safety threatened in the South China Sea. The US allegation of "freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea threatened is simply untenable.

Sixth, the South China Sea is the shared home for the countries in the region. It should not be a hunting field for the US to seek geopolitical self-interests. China and countries concerned have effectively managed differences through dialogue and consultation and continuously promoted practical cooperation. China and ASEAN countries fully and effectively implement the DOC and actively promote consultations on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" with major progress. The US and other countries outside the region should respect the regional countries' efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. China urges the US to stop abusing international law, stop the use of force or the threat of force and stop making provocations in the South China Sea. It should abide by international law underpinned by the UN Charter, and respect China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea instead of going further down the wrong path. China will continue to firmly defend its sovereignty, rights, interests and security in accordance with law, firmly protect the friendly, cooperative relations with regional countries, and firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Xinhua News Agency: As COVID-19 continues to spread across the world, especially as the emergence of variants made prevention and containment more difficult, the WHO has repeatedly called on all countries to accelerate vaccine rollout to curb the large-scale transmission of the virus. Can you offer more details on how many doses China has provided outside the country? How have Chinese vaccines helped with the global response, especially in developing countries?

Zhao Lijian: China has been actively implementing President Xi Jinping's pledge of making vaccines a global public good and upholding the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind to provide vaccines abroad in an open and inclusive manner. To date, we have provided more than 500 million doses and concentrates to over 100 countries and international organizations, one sixth of the total global output. Doses produced by Chinese companies for the WHO-led COVAX has rolled off the assembly line and will be delivered soon.

In providing vaccines overseas, China always coordinates needs at home and abroad, and overcomes difficulties to actively respond to countries' requests for vaccine cooperation and launch cooperation with them. China has provided more doses to developing countries than anyone else and has vaccine cooperation partners all over the globe. President Xi Jinping said at the Global Health Summit that "China supports its vaccine companies in transferring technologies to other developing countries and carrying out joint production with them". With the support of the Chinese government, Chinese vaccine companies have started joint production in many countries including the UAE, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Brazil, Turkey, Pakistan and Mexico, with producing capacity exceeding 200 million doses. Political leaders of many countries have spoken highly of the important contribution Chinese vaccines have made to their local fight. Foreign nationals who have received the Chinese jabs have also voted in favor of the vaccines.

As the pandemic continues to ebb and flow, the situation remains a grave challenge. China stands ready to work together in solidarity with all countries to contribute to an early full victory over the virus!

AFP: The tech companies Foxconn and TSMC are buying 5 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses each from China's Fosun Pharma. This comes after Taiwan had trouble in securing a direct deal with Fosun. What's the foreign ministry's view on this arrangement?

Zhao Lijian: This is not a question concerning foreign affairs. I would like to refer you to the competent authorities and relevant companies. I want to stress that we truly care about the welfare of our Taiwan compatriots and hope they can have early access to the direly-needed vaccine.

China Daily: On the sidelines of the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council, China, Belarus, Russia and Venezuela jointly hosted a video session with the theme of "Human rights in the West: lack of international control and response to violations of human rights", which revealed the human rights problems of western countries and the hypocritical nature of their human rights policies. Could you elaborate on China's position?

Zhao Lijian: Some Western countries like the US have been plagued by serious human rights problems such as racial discrimination, forced labor and gun violence, and committed crimes including genocide of indigenous communities, illegal military intervention and indiscriminate killing of civilians in other countries. Oddly, these countries, instead of conscientiously reflecting on and redressing their own problems, have been in the habit of lecturing others as if they were "defenders" of human rights, and even fabricating lies and rumors to vilify others. Facts have proved time and again that human rights is the last thing on their mind, and their real intention is to meddle in others' domestic affairs.

The most important issue that consumers need to realize with drug ads is that they are just that - advertisements. Human rights are not the "patent" of some individual country, still less can they be defined only by Western ideology and values. The key to measuring the human rights cause of a country is whether its people are satisfied. Those Western countries have serious racial and human rights problems, and committed crimes in history. I wonder what gives them the confidence to boss others around and tell them off. They should forsake their hypocritical double standard and political manipulation, and get their house in order first.

NHK: General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages yesterday with Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) of the DPRK on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. This year marks the time for extension of the treaty every 20 years. Can you confirm whether China has already extended the treaty with the DPRK side?

Zhao Lijian: What I want to tell you is that, according the stipulations of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the PRC and the DPRK, it remains in force unless agreement is reached on its amendment or termination.

The Paper: The permanent missions of Canada and Australia in Geneva recently held a video conference with the theme of strengthening international cooperation to oppose the use of arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations, saying that arbitrary detention aimed at coercing other countries is unacceptable. Do you have a comment?

Zhao Lijian: Speaking of arbitrary detention, the Meng Wanzhou incident is a textbook case in point. By detaining Ms. Meng, a Chinese citizen who hasn't violated any Canadian law, Canada is acting openly as an accomplice as the US works to suppress Huawei and other Chinese hi-tech companies. This is exactly arbitrary detention aimed at coercing other countries. The HSBC internal documents submitted recently by Ms. Meng to the Canadian court once again prove that the so-called fraud charges by the US against her is purely groundless fabrication out of thin air. This further exposed the nature of this incident, which is political persecution. This is not the time for empty slogans. Canada should clearly see its mistake, end the arbitrary detention of the Chinese national immediately and allow Ms. Meng to return to China safe and sound at an early date.

CNR: On July 10, Ethiopia's National Election Board announced the results of the parliamentary election held on June 21. The incumbent prime minister's Prosperity Party has won a majority in the federal parliament, putting it in a position to form cabinet. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China congratulates Ethiopia on its successful parliamentary election. Ethiopia is China's important strategic cooperative partner in Africa and a key participant in China-Africa cooperation under the BRI. China-Ethiopia cooperation, leading China-Africa cooperation, has delivered fruitful outcomes. With the concerted efforts from both sides, we believe our bilateral cooperation will surely achieve new progress and deliver more benefits to our peoples.

Global Times: According to reports, the US tops the latest Bloomberg's COVID Resilience Ranking while China takes the No. 8 slot. Do you have any response?

Zhao Lijian: Over the past few days, several of my colleagues and friends have asked me whether the Bloomberg report was misprinted. They also asked how the authoritative Bloomberg could have produced such a childish stunt. I see reports saying that in this so-called "Covid Resilience Ranking", in order to put the US at the top, Bloomberg even didn't scruple to remove such indicators as the number of confirmed cases and death toll, the most crucial factors in previous ranking. It also considered lockdown and entry and exit quarantine management policy as negative factors, which shows no respect for facts, science or life.

As we Chinese often say, people have their own judgment and are sharp-eyed. The so-called ranking makes black look white, and white look black, and perhaps it will call the dead alive. They will only be shrugged off by people around the world and offer something for small talk.

AFP: China's Olympic sail boat team has complained that they were put in the same hotel as regular tourists in Tokyo, exposing them to a higher risk of COVID-19 infection. Is China concerned about the precautions being taken by the Japanese Olympic authorities?

Zhao Lijian: I'm not aware of that. We hope Japan will host a successful Olympic Games. We hope and trust that the Japanese side can make proper epidemic arrangement for all delegations including Chinese athletes.

China News Service: The 47th Session of the Human Rights Council deliberated on the Third Cycle of Universal Periodic Review on the human rights conditions in Australia. The representative of China criticized human rights problems in Australia. Russia, Syria and the UN Refugee Agency also expressed their concerns. Australian media commented that "the strongest public criticism came from China". What is your take on that?

Zhao Lijian: China's criticism is the strongest because there is solid evidence for Australia's numerous human rights violations.

The systemic discrimination and hate crimes targeting African Australians, Asian Australians and other minorities as well as Muslims and Indigenous people are very serious in Australia. Historically, Australia committed genocide and forced labor against the Indigenous people, which led to massacre and enslavement. The Indigenous population ranged from 750,000 to one million before colonization. But it fell to 74,000 in the 1930s. The Indigenous people were deprived cruelly of their languages and cultural rights. From 1910 to 1970, the Australian government adopted the White Australia policy and assimilation policy. It established English residential schools where the Indigenous students were forced to go so that they were separated from their families and their groups. In the schools, the students were banned from speaking their Indigenous languages, which brought 110 out of the 300-plus languages to the verge of extinction. Australia forced the adoption of nearly 100,000 Indigenous children in white families or specialized institutions to cut their language and cultural ties with their original groups, making them a "stolen generation".

Even till this day, the Indigenous Australians are living in dire situations. From 2018, the average unemployment rate of the Indigenous people is around 20%, nearly four times that of the national average. The average life expectancy of Indigenous Australians is 7.8 to 8.6 years shorter than that of non-Indigenous people. The infant and child mortality rate is twice that of other groups. By March 2020, Indigenous people account for nearly 30% of the incarcerated in Australia, far higher than the proportion of Indigenous population.

In addition, Australia set up off-shore detention centers in third countries, where a large number of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers are forcibly detained for a long time or indefinitely with their basic human rights gravely violated. Australian troops committed serious war crimes in their overseas military operations in Afghanistan and other places. But they get away unpunished.

While turning a blind eye to its own human rights abuses, Australia points fingers at other countries' human rights conditions based on lies and rumors. This fully exposes Australia's hypocrisy on human rights issues. The Australian side should stop attacking and smearing other countries under the human rights pretext, do some soul-searching and resolve its own human rights issues well.
Karen, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for three years, explains how she is only just starting to properly manage her daily self-care, and how it interrupts her various daily routines. There are so many unpredictable issues surrounding self-management, and learning never stops, she says, while she accentuates all her doubts about self-care: What will happen, if I eat an apple instead of my usual cooked oatmeal when I bike to work? And, what if I take the car instead of the bike? What will happen to my blood sugar levels? And, if I have a flu or an infection, how will it then affect it? And then the carbohydrate counting, and the needles and all the stuff I have to carry around at all times! Karen considers herself a new beginner with the disease, which is why she has become an active member of five Danish communities on Facebook targeting type 1 diabetes in relation to food, exercise and specific self-care technologies. Karen has never been a keen user of any social media platform. She loves the fact that she can turn off her smartphone when she does not want to be disturbed. Upon diagnosis, at the age of 53 years, she found out about various communities on Facebook where she could learn more about the disease. Now she scrolls through them several times a day at her own pace in an effort to learn all she can about the disease and especially how she might prevent too many low blood sugar levels during and after exercise. She has just started working out again having been advised to do so by peers within an online community covering type 1 diabetes and exercise. Through uploaded photos in the Facebook community, Karen received a kind of embodied patient knowledge on how to attach a glucose monitor in a different way than she was initially taught to do at the clinic. The continuous glucose monitor stays attached to her body with a special type of adhesive, connecting to her insulin pump through a Bluetooth signal. Thanks to this new technique of attachment, the monitor stays attached to her body without either falling off or losing its signal to her insulin pump machine, problems which had previously caused her a lot of frustration as she felt insecure about the pace of changes to her blood sugar level during exercise. This type of tinkering with the technology at hand has been attended to by scholars examining how patients and healthcare professionals piece together various logics of care, all the while building forms of experimental knowledge (Pols 2013, Kingod 2020).

In the last decade or so, we have seen the emergence of a critical mass of social science and humanities scholars who have researched the multiple and diverse ways in which especially chronically ill patients, healthcare practitioners and software developers engage with the internet, social media, smartphone technologies, apps and electronic health records (Kingod et al. 2017). Researchers have been concerned with questions related to patients practices, health itineraries, purposes, motivations, expectations and ways of mobilizing digitalized devices. Although new apps continually surface in a sea of social media providing patients with ever more opportunities to interact with and surf through concerns of chronic living, Facebook is still the preferred social media platform in Denmark for connecting in disease-specific groups and communities.

For my PhD dissertation, I carried out online-offline fieldwork among people living with type 1 diabetes in Denmark focusing on their use of social media for sharing of knowledge on how to live with the disease in daily life. Through online and offline ethnography, I explored the boundaries of digital engagement for todays connected patients. Fieldwork took place in various parts of Denmark, where I peeked over the shoulders of my informants while they managed technologies such as smartphones, tablets and computers, while also handling complex digitalized self-care technologies that linked them into an online sea of embodied patient knowledge. I followed the people I met into various contexts of daily life to understand how social media has become a vital part of living with illness. The times where patients sat behind their computer screens as isolated individuals googling health information have been replaced by opportunities to engage and interact across space and time. Online support has become available worldwide at any time with smartphone technologies and downloaded social media apps, easily reachable by a grab in the pocket  just one click away.

M-patient knowledge

In Denmark about 32,000 people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which accounts for an estimated 10% of the overall diabetes population (both type 1 and type 2). Type 1 diabetes has long been recognized as a juvenile chronic illness; however, incidence has increased among adults. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic autoimmune illness diagnosed by high concentrations of glucose in the blood that result from autoimmune-mediated destruction of beta cells in the pancreas, which then fail to produce insulin. Daily insulin injections are necessary for people with type 1 diabetes to avoid the ketoacidosis produced when the body cannot metabolize sugar and must burn fat for energy. Without correct treatment it is a threat to health over time. At the same time, self-management is a 24/7 endeavor with many self-care practices resembling the work of a nurse, such as changing vials of insulin that go into the insulin pump, checking blood sugar levels by puncturing a fingertip with a small needle and interpreting the resulting number returned by a blood glucose measurement device, not to forget the counting of carbohydrates for every meal.

The kind of peer-to-peer knowledge that is shared and re-circulated within communities on Facebook can be thought of as what Pols (2014) has called patient knowledge, a kind of embodied knowledge of how to live with the disease. It is a form of knowledge that Karen and her peers cannot receive when attending their quarterly outpatient check-ups at the diabetes clinic. I learn about my numbers at the clinic, Karen says, but how to live with the disease in daily life, I learn from peers on Facebook.

This is why she reaches out to peers via social media while also lurking within several supplementary Facebook communities for adults with type 1 diabetes. She looks for advice and tips that could ease everyday life and make self-management more doable. Karen has no sense of how much she actually uses Facebook, and she laughs when I ask her about what time during the day, she usually presses the button on her app on the smartphone that would link her into Facebook. I even try to make her plot in the time spent on a very simple drawing of a timeline representing the 24 hours of a day. I feel a bit like having asked the stupidest question when Karen draws a large circle around the whole timeline. Karen reflects out loud: This is not easy. I use it a lot. Like when I take the bus to work, when I have a break at work, definitely when I have lunch, sometimes before, during, after exercise, and many many times at night when I again wake up drenched in sweat and feeling really weak, dragging myself to the fridge to drink a liter of orange juice. Then I sit there on the floor, with too much juice on my shirt because my body is trembling, and I start reaching for the chocolate bar in the drawer. At those times where I feel terrible about the disease controlling me and totally lost in all my binge eating, I reach out to supportive fellows. Just a thumbs up, a smiley or a nice I know how you feel message can make me feel good again.

Social media platforms became popular in the 2000s and Facebook is still the largest social media platform worldwide. Since Facebook launched its community pages function in 2010, disease-specific groups have turned into larger interactive communities. With smartphone technologies and a downloaded Facebook app, peer support has become reachable by one click on the smartphone screen. Facebook operates with fluid borders and Karen can both become a member of open larger communities, smaller closed groups as well as more intimate secret groups. In a very large American community, she reads a lot about how to avoid low blood sugar levels during exercise, while in the smaller Danish closed communities on type 1 diabetes she learns how to apply for assistive devices such as glucose sensors from the municipality. She recently became a member of a closed community for about 15 Danish women with type 1 diabetes where she learns about gender specific challenges such as how hormonal levels affect blood sugar levels. Social media platforms have not only become a popular space for social interaction, but also for learning more about how to live with a chronic disease and a valuable tool for gathering embodied knowledge between quarterly check-ups at the clinic. Facebook has become a facilitator of the many therapeutic itineraries that people with type 1 diabetes follow to live a better life with the disease. Many people are already on Facebook with personal profiles that easily links them into the various communities of support. Although several researchers have attended to the pitfalls and downsides of Facebook as a space filled with fake news, deep fakes and health misunderstandings, Karen is neither bothered by the big brother effect or that she has to sort through a huge amount of information to reach the right kinds of advice for her. She acknowledges that Facebook contains a lot of noise, but as she notes, she can always withdraw her membership status, close the app or even remove it if it becomes too much (Kingod & Cleal 2019).

Natasja Kingod is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen. She received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Copenhagen.

Chronic living: ethnographic explorations of daily lives swayed by (multiple) medical conditions is a series being published alongside the Chronic Living conference, as part of the VITAL project. The series is edited by Ayo Wahlberg, Jieun Lee, Anna Mann, Arseli Dokumaci, Natasja Kingod, Marie Kofod Svensson and Laura Heinsen.

References

Kingod, N., Cleal, B., Wahlberg, A., & Husted, G. R. (2017). Online peer-to-peer communities in the daily lives of people with chronic illness: a qualitative systematic review. Qualitative health research, 27(1), 89-99.

Kingod, N., & Cleal, B. (2019). Noise as dysappearance: attuning to a life with type 1 diabetes. Body & Society, 25(4), 55-75.

Kingod, N. (2020). The Tinkering M-Patient: co-constructing knowledge on how to live with type 1 diabetes through Facebook searching and sharing and offline tinkering with self-care. Health: (London. 24 (2).

Pols, J. (2013). The Patient 2. Many: About Diseases that Remain and the Different Forms of Knowledge to Live with Them. Science & Technology Studies, 26(2): 80-97.

Pols, J. (2014). Knowing patients: turning patient knowledge into science. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 39(1), 73-97.

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Today: Payloads - Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Rack 4 (ER4) International Subrack Interface Standard (ISIS) Drawer Check:

Following an Iceberg-1 noise reported by the crew in early July, the issue was determined to be caused by a loose ISIS drawer lid in the location just below the Iceberg-1 unit. The crew attempted multiple troubleshooting steps, but the noise persisted. Ground teams then commanded ER4 to idle mode to reduce the nuisance noise and Iceberg is considered to be performing nominally. Iceberg is a double locker equivalent designed for EXPRESS rack operation and provides additional cold stowage resources aboard the ISS. The units provide an operating range of +4C to -95C. Iceberg is similar to the Glacier and Polar units currently in use but provides additional volume to help reduce the number of EXPRESS rack locations needed.

Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Ellipsoids (InSPACE-4): The crew distributed particles within the sample vial and initiated four experiment runs. The particle distribution is being performed by an alternate method where only a fraction of the particles are dragged to the area of interest with the magnet. InSPACE-4 studies the assembly of tiny structures from colloids using magnetic fields. These structures change the properties of the assembled material, such as its mechanical response to or interaction with light and heat. Microgravity allows observation of these assembly processes free of confining sample walls and sedimentation and during timescales not possible using simulated microgravity. Results could provide insight into how to harness nanoparticles to fabricate and manufacture new materials.

Plant Habitat-04: In preparation for the start of the science run next week, the crew prepared the water refill bag and water reservoir for science operations. Microgravity Growth of New Mexico Hatch Green Chile as a Technical Display of Advanced Plant Habitat's Capabilities (Plant Habitat-04) demonstrates using the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) by growing peppers in space for the first time. An excellent source of Vitamin C, peppers are more difficult to cultivate than many possible space crops because they take longer to germinate, grow, and develop fruit. The investigation includes microbial analysis to improve understanding of plant-microbe interactions in space and assessment of flavor and texture, which vary based on the growth environment and care such as amount of watering.

Systems

Articulating Portable Foot Restraint (APFR) Pitch Knob Troubleshooting: The crew completed troubleshooting to determine if side loading is a contributing factor to the difficulty crew had adjusting the pitch knob of APFR S/N 1005 during recent Extravehicular Activities (EVAs). This APFR was retrieved and brought back inside of ISS during United States On-orbit Segment (USOS) EVA #76, the ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) 4B Install EVA. APFRs are commonly used during EVAs in order to restrain an EV crew member's feet at a work site.

Max Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization (CEVIS): The crew completed a Max CEVIS session today which is used by the medical community to evaluate astronauts' aerobic fitness. The test is performed every 90 days or upon the crew's arrival and departure from the ISS.

Crew Dragon On-Board Training (OBT): The crew completed a Crew Dragon deorbit, entry, and landing contingencies OBT. The crew routinely completes emergency OBTs in order to maintain their proficiency in the event of an ISS or crewed vehicle contingency.

Completed Task List Activities:

WHC Contingency Gather

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

CMG Maneuver to -XVV Yaw Bias Attitude

Recycle Tank Drain Support

BCC to Checkout Mode

Look Ahead Plan

Saturday, July 10 (GMT 191)

Payloads:

Crew Off-Duty

Systems:

Crew Off-Duty

Sunday, July 11 (GMT 192)

Payloads:

Crew Off-Duty

Systems:

Crew Off-Duty

Monday, July 12 (GMT 193)

Payloads:

CIR Manifold Bottle Exchange

EarthKAM Session Start

HRF1 Supply/Resupply

InSPACE-4

J-FROST Icepack Install

JAXA MDR HD Replace

LSG

Plant Habitat-04

SABL1 CO2 Controller Remove

Sidekick Charge

Time Perception

Systems:

CDRA Equipment Gather & Procedure Review

Emergency Mask OBT

CASA Acoustics Test

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Microgravity Science Glovebox Activation

EVA Wanted Poster Umbilical Interface Assembly (UIA) Biocide Filter

Plant Habitat-04 Water Fill

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain

INSPACE-4 Experiment Run Ops

Payload Laptop Terminal 3 64bit windows update preparation

Countermeasures System (CMS) Orthostatic Intolerance Garment (OIG) Fit Check

Payload Laptop Terminal 3 32bit windows update preparation

Station Support Computer (SSC) System Vent Cleaning

Vacuum Cleaner Audit and Inspection

EVA APFR Pitch Knob Troubleshooting

SpX-CREW DRAGON Deorbit Entry and Landing Contingencies Refresher

CMS Max CEVIS

SpX-CREW DRAGON Free Flight Contingencies and Emergencies Refresher

Polar Desiccant Swap

Sidekick Troubleshooting & Checkout

ER4 ISIS Drawer Inspection

Glacier Desiccant Swap

Iceberg Desiccant Swap

Food Physiology MELFI Sample Transfer

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This evenly layered rock photographed by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover shows a pattern typical of a lake-floor sedimentary deposit not far from where flowing water entered a lake. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

A new paper enriches scientists' understanding of where the rock record preserved or destroyed evidence of Mars' past and possible signs of ancient life.

Today, Mars is a planet of extremes - it's bitterly cold, has high radiation, and is bone-dry. But billions of years ago, Mars was home to lake systems that could have sustained microbial life. As the planet's climate changed, one such lake - in Mars' Gale Crater - slowly dried out. Scientists have new evidence that supersalty water, or brines, seeped deep through the cracks, between grains of soil in the parched lake bottom and altered the clay mineral-rich layers beneath.

The findings published in the July 9 edition of the journal Science and led by the team in charge of the Chemistry and Mineralogy, or CheMin, instrument - aboard NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover - help add to the understanding of where the rock record preserved or destroyed evidence of Mars' past and possible signs of ancient life.

"We used to think that once these layers of clay minerals formed at the bottom of the lake in Gale Crater, they stayed that way, preserving the moment in time they formed for billions of years," said Tom Bristow, CheMin principal investigator and lead author of the paper at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. "But later brines broke down these clay minerals in some places - essentially resetting the rock record."

Mars: It Goes on Your Permanent Record

Mars has a treasure trove of incredibly ancient rocks and minerals compared with Earth. And with Gale Crater's undisturbed layers of rocks, scientists knew it would be an excellent site to search for evidence of the planet's history, and possibly life.

Using CheMin, scientists compared samples taken from two areas about a quarter-mile apart from a layer of mudstone deposited billions of years ago at the bottom of the lake at Gale Crater. Surprisingly, in one area, about half the clay minerals they expected to find were missing. Instead, they found mudstones rich with iron oxides - minerals that give Mars its characteristic rusty red color.

Scientists knew the mudstones sampled were about the same age and started out the same - loaded with clays - in both areas studied. So why then, as Curiosity explored the sedimentary clay deposits along Gale Crater, did patches of clay minerals - and the evidence they preserve - "disappear"?

Clays Hold Clues

Minerals are like a time capsule; they provide a record of what the environment was like at the time they formed. Clay minerals have water in their structure and are evidence that the soils and rocks that contain them came into contact with water at some point.

"Since the minerals we find on Mars also form in some locations on Earth, we can use what we know about how they form on Earth to tell us about how salty or acidic the waters on ancient Mars were," said Liz Rampe, CheMin deputy principal investigator and co-author at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Previous work revealed that while Gale Crater's lakes were present and even after they dried out, groundwater moved below the surface, dissolving and transporting chemicals. After they were deposited and buried, some mudstone pockets experienced different conditions and processes due to interactions with these waters that changed the mineralogy. This process, known as "diagenesis," often complicates or erases the soil's previous history and writes a new one.

Diagenesis creates an underground environment that can support microbial life. In fact, some very unique habitats on Earth - in which microbes thrive - are known as "deep biospheres."

"These are excellent places to look for evidence of ancient life and gauge habitability," said John Grotzinger, CheMin co-investigator and co-author at the California Institute of Technology, or Caltech, in Pasadena, California. "Even though diagenesis may erase the signs of life in the original lake, it creates the chemical gradients necessary to support subsurface life, so we are really excited to have discovered this."

By comparing the details of minerals from both samples, the team concluded that briny water filtering down through overlying sediment layers was responsible for the changes. Unlike the relatively freshwater lake present when the mudstones formed, the salty water is suspected to have come from later lakes that existed within an overall drier environment. Scientists believe these results offer further evidence of the impacts of Mars' climate change billions of years ago. They also provide more detailed information that is then used to guide the Curiosity rover's investigations into the history of the Red Planet. This information also will be utilized by NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover team as they evaluate and select rock samples for eventual return to Earth.

"We've learned something very important: There are some parts of the Martian rock record that aren't so good at preserving evidence of the planet's past and possible life," said Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity project scientist and co-author at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "The fortunate thing is we find both close together in Gale Crater, and can use mineralogy to tell which is which."

Curiosity is in the initial phase of investigating the transition to a "sulfate-bearing unit," or rocks thought to have formed while Mars' climate dried out.

The mission is managed by JPL, a division of Caltech, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Colleagues in NASA's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division at Johnson and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, also are authors on the paper, as well as other institutions working on Curiosity.

Astrobiology

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It has been a week of heightened apprehension on the Mars Helicopter team as we prepared a major flight challenge for Ingenuity.

We uplinked instructions for the flight, which occurred Monday, July 5 at 2:03 am PT, and waited nervously for results to arrive from Mars later that morning. The mood in the ground control room was jubilant when we learned that Ingenuity was alive and well after completing a journey spanning 2,051 feet (625 meters) of challenging terrain.

Flight 9 was not like the flights that came before it. It broke our records for flight duration and cruise speed, and it nearly quadrupled the distance flown between two airfields. But what really set the flight apart was the terrain that Ingenuity had to negotiate during its 2 minutes and 46 seconds in the air - an area called "Seitah" that would be difficult to traverse with a ground vehicle like the Perseverance rover. This flight was also explicitly designed to have science value by providing the first close view of major science targets that the rover will not reach for quite some time.

Flying with our eyes open

In each of its previous flights, Ingenuity hopped from one airfield to another over largely flat terrain. In planning the flights, we even took care to avoid overflying a crater. We began by dipping into what looks like a heavily eroded crater, then continued to descend over sloped and undulating terrain before climbing again to emerge on a flat plain to the southwest.

It may seem strange that the details of the terrain would matter as much as they do for a vehicle that travels through the air. The reason has to do with Ingenuity's navigation system and what it was originally designed for: a brief technology demonstration at a carefully chosen experimental test site.

When we as human beings look at moving images of the ground, such as those taken by Ingenuity's navigation camera, we instantly have a pretty good understanding of what we're looking at. We see rocks and ripples, shadows and texture, and the ups and downs of the terrain are relatively obvious. Ingenuity, however, doesn't have human perception and understanding of what it's looking at. It sees the world in terms of individual, anonymous features - essentially dots that move around with time - and it tries to interpret the movement of those dots.

To make that job easier, we gave Ingenuity's navigation algorithm some help: We told it that those features are all located on flat ground. That freed the algorithm from trying to work out variations in terrain height, and enabled it to concentrate on interpreting the movement of the features by the helicopter's movements alone. But complications arise if we then try to fly over terrain that isn't really flat.

Differences in terrain height will cause features to move across the field of view at different rates, and Ingenuity's navigation algorithm still "assumes" the ground below is flat. It does its best to explain the movement of the features by changes in the helicopter's movements, which can lead to errors. Most significantly, it can result in errors in the estimated heading, which will cause the helicopter to fly in a different direction than intended.

Getting ready for a bumpy flight

The assumption about the ground being flat is baked into the design of the algorithm, and there is nothing we can do about that when planning the flights. What we can do is to anticipate the issues that will arise due to this assumption and to mitigate them to the greatest possible extent in terms of how we plan the flights and the parameters we give the software.

We use simulation tools that allow us to study the likely outcome of the flight in detail prior to carrying it out. For Flight 9, a key adaptation of the flight plan was to reduce our speed at the crucial point when we dipped into the crater.

Although it came at the cost of extending the flight time, it helped mitigate early heading errors that could grow into a large cross-track position error. We also adjusted some of the detailed parameters of the navigation algorithm that we have not had to touch so far in prior flights. And we carved out a much larger airfield than in prior flights, with a radius of 164 feet (50 meters). We ended up landing approximately 154 feet (47 meters) away from the center of that airfield.

In the week ahead, Ingenuity will send back color images that Perseverance's scientists are looking forward to studying. Captured in those images are rock outcrops that show contacts between the major geologic units on Jezero Crater's floor. They also include a system of fractures the Perseverance team calls "Raised Ridges," which the rover's scientists hope to visit in part to investigate whether an ancient subsurface habitat might be preserved there.

Finally, we're hoping the color images will provide the closest look yet at "Pilot Pinnacle," a location featuring outcrops that some team members think may record some of the deepest water environments in old Lake Jezero. Given the tight mission schedule, it's possible that they will not be able to visit these rocks with the rover, so Ingenuity may offer the only opportunity to study these deposits in any detail.

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Minister that Filed Federal Lawsuit Against Speaker Pelosi and Vice-President Harris Over Prohibiting Free Speech at the U.S. Capitol Will Conduct Public Prayer and Demonstration on the Capitol Grounds on Tuesday, July 13

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Christian Defense Coalition

July 12, 2021



WASHINGTON, July 12, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- Rev. Patrick Mahoney will be holding the first public demonstration and prayer vigil at the Capitol since the January 6th insurrection.



Mahoney will be gathering on the corner of East Capitol and 1st Street NE at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 13 and then walk over to the Capitol grounds.



Rev. Mahoney will carry the event virtually through Facebook Live.



Here is a news link regarding Rev. Mahoney's federal lawsuit against the Speaker and Vice President: https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/christian-minister-sues-pelosi-harris-capitol-prayer-vigil



In a Sunday email sent to the U.S. Capitol Police, Rev. Mahoney said;

"Although the fence is down, I want to make sure First Amendment activities are allowed back at the Capitol since the grounds are now open to all. I plan on doing a demonstration at the Capitol on Tuesday morning. It will be very small, perhaps just me with a sign, as I want to be very understanding of any new protocols that are being put into place. However, it would be clearly unconstitutional to open the Capitol grounds to tourists, visitors and Capitol Hill residents while prohibiting my peaceful First Amendment activities there."

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C. based Christian Defense Coalition states;

"While we are thankful the fence was removed from the U.S. Capitol this weekend, it is both troubling and tragic that it took 6 months to return the 'People's House' back to the people.



"For 6 months, I was consistently prohibited from holding peaceful First Amendment activities at the U.S. Capitol. This included things such as: a Good Friday Service, a National Day of Prayer gathering and a 4th of July celebration as we prayed for America's freedoms.



"Although the fence is down, I want to make sure First Amendment activities are allowed back at the Capitol since the grounds are now open to all. It is critical for public free speech and prayer to once again be welcomed, celebrated and honored at the United States Capitol."

For more information or interviews please call:

Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741



SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition



CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741


Investcorp, a leading global provider and manager of alternative investment products, has announced that Urs Rohner has been appointed as a member of its International Advisory Board (IIAB) as of July 1, 2021.

Commenting on the appointment, Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman at Investcorp, said: We are very pleased to welcome Urs Rohner to our International Advisory Board. Urs brings a wealth of knowledge and experience accumulated throughout a distinguished career at the highest levels of international finance. As we continue on Investcorps growth journey, and remain focused on achieving our ambitions, we are continually searching for the best and most strategic advisors from a diverse range of relevant practice areas to support us. I look forward to welcoming Urs to our board and am confident his input will prove invaluable.

Rohner added: Investcorp has established itself as a leader in the global alternatives investment sector. Since the launch of its global growth journey over 5 years ago, the firm has built an impressive footprint around the world both across geographies and asset classes, with over $35 billion in AUM. I look forward to collaborating with the broader international advisory board to help realise the full potential of the growth strategy it has embarked upon.

Rohner is an international banker and businessman with more than 25 years of experience in international financial markets, serving at the highest levels of corporate decision making. Rohner was most recently Chairman of the Board of Directors at Credit Suisse Group AG, where he also served as Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee and the Credit Suisse Research Institute, from 2011 until his departure in 2021.

Prior to joining Credit Suisse in 2004, Rohner served as Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG in Germany. He was previously a partner at Lenz & Staehelin, Attorneys at Law, Zurich.

Rohner also sits on the Board of Directors of GlaxoSmithKline plc. He was a member on the boards of various Swiss and international business associations, including the Board of Directors of the Institute of International Finance (IIF), the Board of the Institut International dEtudes Bancaires (IIEB), the European Banking Group (EBG) and the European Financial Services Round Table (EFR).

Investcorps International Advisory Board is chaired by Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman, and consists of: Prof Heizo Takenaka, Dr. Ute Geipel-Faber, Frances Fragos Townsend, Dr. Wolfgang Schussel, Deepak Parekh, Ana Palacio, Professor Frederick Ma Si-Hang, Dr Wolfgang Ischinger, Sir Michael Fallon, Dr Mohamed A. El-Erian and Prof Dr Ann-Kristin Achleitner.-- TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading financial institution, and Refinitiv, a London Stock Exchange Group business, have announced the launch of the 6th edition of Ethical Finance Innovation Challenge and Awards (EFICA). The Awards recognise companies and individuals who have developed ground-breaking solutions in Islamic finance industry.

The Award programme is presented in two categories, the Ethical Finance Initiative Award and the Islamic Finance Challenge Award.

Entries for the Ethical Finance Initiative Award recognises individuals and organisations that offer emerging and innovative ethical financial solutions or initiatives that have been successfully implemented and made a positive social impact for their stakeholders. Prize money of $120,000 will be distributed between the winner and the finalists of the award.

The Islamic Finance Challenge Award is focused on an innovative, technology enabled solution that aligns with the principles of Shariah. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank will consider partnering with the winner to further enhance and roll out the solution.

Dr Osaid Kilani, Global Head of Sharia, ADIB, said: The continuation of the EFICA initiative underlines ADIBs commitment of developing the Islamic finance industry and placing ethics and social benefit at the forefront of our thinking. Over the years, we have been heartened to see marked growth in the number of innovative ideas that are focused on finding new ways to address many social issues in Islamic finance industry.

Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance at Refinitiv an LSEG Business said: We are pleased to see how the award is now an industry standard for innovators in the Islamic finance world. After years of hard work and collaboration with ADIB, we are proud to acknowledge and celebrate innovative projects one more this year. Our commitment to EFICA comes in line with our long-term objectives to solve for social problems and address industry challenges in a continuous changing global economy.

Applications will be evaluated by an advisory board that includes Islamic financial experts, ethical banking practitioners and Islamic scholars. The selection criteria are based on the initiatives ethical aspects, impact on society, innovation, and the practicality of the application in Islamic financial industry.

Finalists will make a formal presentation of their initiatives to the audience at the Gala Lunch on the 2nd November 2021 at the Global Islamic Economy Summit held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo 2020 Dubai. The audience vote will determine the winner of the EFICA award.

EFICA was launched in 2013 with more than 450 applications and past winners have included Islamic Finance UK, Launchgood and Kaah International Microfinance Services.

ADIB is an active participant in the global conversation on ethics in finance. By placing a strong emphasis on simplicity and partnership, the bank aims to ensure that only appropriate products are offered, and that customers needs come before profit. -- TradeArabia News Service
IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) and Al Ain University (AAU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in an effort to further academic, educational, and professional initiatives for students in the UAE.

The MoU will assist in enhancing the learning experiences of students by offering access to expertise and facilities offered by AAU and IMA.

Hanadi Khalife, senior director of MEA & India operations at IMA, said: At IMA, we believe that in order for the finance and accounting profession to keep pace with the changing business environment and advances in technology, we must build the competencies needed by professionals at a grassroots level. This starts with bridging the skills gap among young minds before they even enter the workplace. Our partnership with AAU will equip students with an aptitude for finance and accounting to gain the ability to think strategically and the confidence to make smart decisions that impact business. The CMA certification will give them a realistic perspective of what to expect at the workplace while also empowering them to navigate the complex labyrinths of financial and business decision making with greater ease.

Prof Ghaleb Al Refae, President, Al Ain University, UAE, said: At AAU, we are always looking for opportunities to offer professional programmes to our students which complement their academic studies at the University. IMAs CMA certification programme is an industry-renowned and advanced-level certification for accounting and finance professionals in business. Through this partnership, we aim to provide a high-calibre educational opportunity to our students, thereby helping them to enhance their future career potential by enhancing their value to prospective employers.

As part of the agreement, IMA has committed to providing CMA scholarships to the top ten distinguished AAU students. IMA and AAU will also work together to support and enhance various research programmes for faculty members.

Most finance and accounting professionals work inside organisations, where expertise in decision support, planning, and control over value-adding operations are crucial elements of operational success. Earning the CMA designation will help them to master a comprehensive body of knowledge directly related to operational and strategic management as well as the skills and abilities required to build quality business practices inside organisations, continued Khalife.

For nearly 50 years, the CMA certification has been the global benchmark for management accountants and finance professionals. Globalisation and standardisation, combined with more stringent financial reporting requirements, have resulted in a dramatic change in the practice, rules, regulations, ethics, and execution of managerial accounting and financial strategy in all areas of an organisation.

IMAs CMA certification programme is an advanced-level assessment for accounting and finance professionals in business covering financial planning, performance and analytics, and strategic financial management. Achieving the CMA demonstrates professional expertise in financial planning, analysis, control, decision support, and professional ethics  skills that are in demand by organisations around the world. -- TradeArabia News Service
Over 8 in 10 professionals (81%) in the GCC have a positive outlook for the upcoming year, according to a new survey carried out by Bayt.com, a leading job site in the Middle East, with online market research company YouGuv.



The survey entitled Career Aspirations in the Mena has revealed that in the GCC, 66% reported setting future professional goals for themselves, which included finding a new job (59%), learning new skills (50%) and getting a higher salary (49%).



With career development in mind, around two-thirds of respondents (63%) believe they deserve to work in a higher-level position, and almost half the respondents (47%) are willing to move to another department or area of expertise to develop their skillsets and further their professional careers.



In addition, 45% of GCC respondents state they are willing to move into a different industry altogether to broaden their professional expertise.



The top three factors that were seen as important in an ideal job for GCC professionals were salary and benefits (76%), opportunities for career growth (50%) and job security (38%).



Interestingly, respondents are much more likely to prefer being an employee (48%) rather than owning a business (29%).

The reported reasons for seeking employment in the GCC are marked by the desire to consistently learn and gain experience, as indicated by 65% of respondents. This was followed by making money (55%), being financially independent (48%), and feeling useful to society (41%).



Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com said: It is exciting to observe that the majority of respondents to the Career Aspirations survey are optimistic about the coming year. This encouraging outlook will reflect positively on the regions hiring activity and the individual career progression. Bayt.com works with employers across the GCC region who rely on our technologies and data to master their talent management practices  and knowledge of employee aspirations and satisfaction will help enhance the hiring and job seeking processes even more.



Motivation levels at work



When it came to motivation levels in the workplace, nearly 6in 10 respondents (58%) reported feeling motivated at work. Only 18% reported not being motivated, while the remainder were neutral.



Possibly connected to motivation at work, the prevalence of mentors and role models featured highly in the findings, with over 4 in 10 respondents (43%) reporting that they have either a mentor or role model in their careers.



Though respondents revealed a positive indication of their motivation in the workplace, 59% reported that higher salaries and perks/benefits would increase motivation at work; this is followed by better work-life balance (46%) and an opportunity to express creativity/ showcase skills (43%).



Future personal ambitions



Overwhelmingly, the top personal goal for next year was reported to be saving more money, according to 7 in 10 respondents (70%). Other prominent goals included buying property (46%), spending more time with family (32%) and exercising more (27%).



Furthermore, 41% of respondents preferred to retire after the age of 60 and 18% chose retirement before 50, indicating that more professionals desire to stay in the workforce for a longer period of time.



The Career Aspirations survey aims to better understand the challenges and aspirations of Mena professionals. It covers aspects such as perceptions and attitudes towards current job, career aspirations, barriers to career growth, in addition to overall work environment and personal aspirations and concerns, said Zafar Shah, Research Director, Data Services at YouGov.- TradeArabia News Service
Those who have completed two doses of Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines need to take booster dose of a Saudi approved vaccine as a prerequisite to enter the Kingdom, a media report said.



This condition is contained in the updates of the regulations issued by the Saudi health authorities, it was announced by the King Fahd Causeway Authority, reported Saudi Gazette.



According to the updates of health regulations, those who have received two doses of Sinopharma and Sinovac vaccines should take



The booster dose should be of either any one of the approved vaccines such as Pfizer, Astrazeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna, the report said.



Another condition that needs to be followed is that a PCR test needs to be taken within 72 hours of arrival in the Kingdom.



The new move comes amid growing concern that Covid-19 vaccines being deployed across much of the developing world arent capable of thwarting the Delta variant and that has prompted some countries to look at offering third doses to bolster immunity against more-infectious virus strains.



According to reports, health authorities of countries such as United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have decided to offer the extra doses to some people already inoculated with vaccines from Chinese makers Sinovac Biotech and Sinopharm.
Arab Health and Medlab Middle East, the leading exhibitions for the healthcare and laboratory industries in the Mena region, generated AED767.7 million ($209 million) of new business deals during the live, in-person element of the show last month.



During the four-day showcase, the exhibitions welcomed 22,800 visitors from172 countries who connected with 1,700 exhibitors. A total of 61 countries were represented by exhibitors, which included 30 international pavilions.



Wouter Molman, Executive Vice President for Informa Markets, said: Arab Health and Medlab Middle East have been a resounding success this year and underscored the importance, and perhaps, more importantly, the demand, to host live and in-person events once again. Our overarching goal was to create a platform that was conducive to facilitating business deals by providing an opportunity to make connections, network and ultimately to support global healthcare recovery.



Deals completed during the event included a collaboration between American Hospital Dubai and Etisalat Digital to enhance the patient experience by utilising multiple digital technologies. The Ministry of Health and Prevention, the EHSE, the DHA and DoHalso signed a bulk purchase agreement for medicines and medical supplies.



Al Jalila Childrens Specialty Hospital (AJCSH) announced a high-profile agreement with Illumina Netherlands BV, the worlds leader in next-generation sequencing, to provide technical expertise, reagents and analysis tools and training to the group.



Elsewhere on the show floor, Gulf Medical University signed an MOU with GEOTAR-Med LLC, a leading company in Russia providing complex turnkey solutions for medical education, to develop, produce and advance exciting simulation equipment for education in healthcare professions.



At Medlab Middle East, a series of deals were completed, including G42 Healthcare who announced a partnership with Seegene, a global biotechnology company specialising in molecular diagnostics, to offer fully equipped mobile diagnostics and testing laboratories across the Mena region. Further announcements included Unilabs new diagnostic solutions deal with Roche Diagnostics.



Vincenzo Ventricelli, CEO, Philips Middle East, Turkey & Africa, said: Weve been very pleased with the positive feedback weve received during the show. Not only have customers been willing to come to the event, but they are also happy to engage, discuss, and make decisions in a face-to-face environment. This means business is being done faster and better.



As part of the online element of the show, 19,699 visitors attended from countries including Chile, Congo, Mauritius, Zambia, Bolivia, Costa Rica & Dominican Republic, totalling over 31 countries who were only represented online thanks to the virtual aspect of the exhibitions. A survey of online participants revealed that 47% of online attendees had never attended either show in the past.



These results underscore the importance of our online event by providing an opportunity for an even greater audience to participate. While the physical events remain a strong and impactful platform, which resulted in millions of dirhams worth of business generated at the in-person shows, the online element has so far facilitated over 46,300 unique connections from around the world," added Molman.



The events, which took place under the theme of 'United by business, driving the industry forward, was supported by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), Dubai Healthcare City Authority, Dubai Health Authority, and the Dubai Government.



As part of Informa Markets commitment to provide the highest hygiene levels at all events by ensuring attendees and staff safety, the event took place with protocols introduced via the companys Informa AllSecure health and safety mandate. The enhanced measures include 35 guidelines covering all aspects of cleaning and hygiene, social distancing measures, and the use of PPE, screening, and a track and trace in conjunction with local authorities.



The 2022 edition of the show, which returns as a co-located event for the healthcare and laboratory industries, will take place from 24  27 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre.  TradeArabia News Service
In week 26 of this year, worldwide air cargo volume decreased by 2% compared with the previous week. Worldwide capacity increased by 1%, according to WorldACD market data.

On a regional level, the origins Africa and Europe did best with a volume increase of 1% week-over-week, while Middle East & South Asia experienced the largest decrease in volume (-6%).

The average worldwide yield/rate in week 26 increased compared with week 25. -- TradeArabia News Service
Leading Saudi group Savola has announced that its key unit, Savola Foods Company, has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Bayara Holding, a privately held company with business operating out of the UAE and Saudi Arabia for SR975 million ($260 million).

Bayara is a leading manufacturer and distributor of branded healthy snacks (raw & roasted nuts, dates, seeds, dried fruits and confectionery) and cooking ingredients (herbs, spices and pulses).

Savola said the funding will be done through a combination of operating cash flows and available bank loans.

This acquisition is a continued activation of Savola Foods Companys announced strategy to enter attractive, value added categories with increasing appeal within the food sector, stated Savola in its filing to Saudi bourse Tadawul.

Ernst & Young Corporate Finance acted as Savola's financial advisor, it added.
DP World, UAE Regions next-generation service provider, World Security has kickstarted 2021 on a high note with projects in varied crucial sectors, ranging from retail, government institutions and the hospitality sector.



Some of their recently signed noteworthy projects include providing security manpower to Citymax Hotel in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Other projects include deploying security personnel at luxury retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons outlets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi malls and providing comprehensive security services including manpower and access systems for the Department of Finance in Dubai. World Security is also responsible for guarding the iconic Mohammed Bin Rashid Library located in Al Jaddaf.



With experts, who are equipped to deal with the diverse requirements and employ the best practices, the company ensures its clients can maintain operational efficiency through quality control and high-quality standard operating procedures. Owing to their exceptional service offerings over the last six months, the entity has become the preferred solutions provider for the hospitality sector.



Ayoub Al Mulla, Chief Operating Officer, World Security said: Considering the current scenario due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of having a secure space has become essential. Organisations, retail outlets and public spaces have realised the increasing need to invest in security services.



At World Security, we understand the need for safety and are equipped to offer a combination of services, including personnel and technology-enabled solutions to protect our customers interests. All our services are compliant with pertinent government regulations and this is precisely why our clients trust us and believe in the solutions we offer.



Additionally, with the world rapidly adopting technology due to its numerous benefits, we too are integrating smart security solution, alongside the traditional methods. Our 360-degree approach is unique to us and keeps us a step ahead of our competitors, Al Mulla added.  TradeArabia News Service
Bahrains Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) has called upon government and private organisations in all sectors to benefit from the registration service via the e-visa system on evisa.gov.bh.



The registered organisations should update their data to benefit from the provided services, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA).



The registration through the system enables organisations to apply for visit visas anytime after working hours, track the progress of the applications and benefit from the email notifications.








noon.com, the region's homegrown digital marketplace, held a vaccination drive for its fulfillment teams in KSA and the UAE, driving trusted customer excellence with safer deliveries across the region.

In January 2021 noon hosted multiple vaccination drives for its frontline operators, successfully administering vaccines to over 2,000 employees and counting. Noon has continued to enable vaccinations for its fulfillment team which now has a rate of over 2,000 team members with the double dose.

Over 2,000 of noons employees within the fulfillment team in KSA have now been vaccinated across the Kingdom, meeting the Saudi governments requirement for vaccinations within the workplace one month ahead of time. The requirement, issued by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), calls for all public and private sector workers to be vaccinated by August 1, 2021, bringing the Kingdom one step closer to its Vision 2030 goal.

Noons dedicated frontline operators in KSA and the UAE maintain a green health status that can be easily verified via the Tawakkalna app in KSA and the DHA app in the UAE. The apps, aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus, allow people to prove their health status when entering private sector establishments and public areas. It also offers assurance to noon customers of the health status of each frontline fulfillment worker.

Ahmed Gadouri, General Manager, noon, said of the vaccination drive: Maintaining safety at the highest level, both within the team and for our sellers and customers, is a top priority at noon. Our logistics and fulfillment team are our frontline - operations heroes working day and night to safely deliver packages to our customers, playing an integral role in solidifying our services across the region. Noon was born to serve and support the people of this region, all whilst driving innovation, accelerating the local digital economy, and providing a safe and reliable shopping experience to our customers.

The Saudi e-tailer recently announced expansion of its customer service operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, creating hundreds of jobs for local Saudi youth. The expansion will help improve noons customer experience and support the rapid growth of noons customer base in the Kingdom. Noon will hire, train, and empower young Saudis as part of the initiative to help boost employment, develop skill sets and drive the local economy further.

Noon.com, the digital marketplace, launched operations in KSA in December 2017. Since then, noon has grown to become the regions leading digital marketplace, topping app store charts and creating the biggest sale in the Middle East - Yellow Friday Sale. -- TradeArabia News Service
The Walt Disney Company Middle East and Alshaya Group have opened the Middle Easts first-ever Disney Store shop-in-shops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.



Featuring a brand new store design unique to Disney Stores, each of the six shop-in-shop includes a wide-range of products from your favourite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters and movies, all carefully curated for the region - including apparel, costumes, toys, and home goods.



John Hadden, Alshaya Group CEO, said: We all grew up with Disney and we all have a favourite character. We are delighted that Alshaya Group has been able to collaborate with The Walt Disney Company Middle East to bring the magic of Disney, not only to a new generation, but also to life-long fans. We look forward to introducing these exciting new shop-in-shops to the region and hope to welcome customers back time after time.



Vice President and General Manager, Disney Consumer Products Southeast Asia, India & Mena, Dan Dossa, commented: We are thrilled to see our Disney Store shop-in-shop concepts in the Middle East come to life and for the first time outside the Americas. At Disney, we are always looking for new ways to be closer to our fans, while delivering unforgettable retail experiences. With the help of Alshaya Group, these stores will connect children and families in the Middle East with their favourite Disney characters and stories, while allowing them to create new and long-lasting memories.



Three Disney Store shop-in-shops are now open across the UAE. The stores are located inside Debenhams at Dubais City Centre Mirdif and Abu Dhabis The Galleria Al Maryah Island, and inside Mothercare at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi. Residents also have a flagship store to look forward to which is set to open this summer inside Debenhams at Dubais Mall of the Emirates.



Reaching fans across the Middle East, a new flagship shop-in-shop is also open at The Avenues in Kuwait. Located inside Debenhams, the flagship is joined by two more locations, inside Mothercare stores at Fashion Way, Salmiya, and at Souk Sharq.



Over the next four weeks, an additional 26 locations are set to open across the region - in the UAE and Kuwait, as well as in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  TradeArabia News Service
Redtag, , leading value fashion and homeware brand in the Middle East, will launch its specialized, new outlet in City Centre Deira during Eid al-Adha holidays, to expand its dominant market presence in the UAE.



Located in the heart of Dubai, City Centre Deira is Majid Al Futtaim's first flagship mall in the region and a popular destination among shoppers. The three-level, plush shopping centre features over 1.2 million sq ft of retail space with 370 outlets, multiple restaurants, and a wide range of global and local experiences, all under one roof.



The upcoming full-concept store, located near West Court on the ground floor of City Centre Deira, will exemplify the brand's commitment to accessibility across segments. The store will blend Redtag's superior brand experience, including the popular anytime-anywhere exchange, personal stylists, and size assistance, with new offerings attuned to the expectations of premium shoppers. Exciting offers are being planned for the launch.



In addition, the outlet will feature Redtag's new Eid collection and showcase new add-ons to the range inspired by the "Queen of Stage" Myriam Fares. Launching just in time for Eid al-Adha, the new store will offer the perfect opportunity to indulge in a diverse selection of apparel, accessories and homeware, in a larger retail space compared to Redtags existing outlets.



Latesh Radhakishen, Head of Retail Operations at Redtag, said: The new, upcoming store at City Centre Deira is part of our "masstige" brand experience that not only combines the best of both premium and value fashion, but does so in a bigger, better and bolder way. It is Redtag's way of giving back to our loyal customer base in the UAE, where we have become a household name for all fashion and homeware needs."



"For Redtag, brand accessibility is a focal point. We want to reach customers in their favourite shopping centres and malls as part of our customer-centric expansion strategy. To that end, expanding our footprint into City Centre Deira, which has a long pedigree in Dubai's mall culture, is exciting. And the customers will share our excitement soon," Radhakishen added.  TradeArabia News Service
flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, will start its four-weekly service to Salzburg International Airport (SZG) from July 15 and resumes its operations to Naples Airport (NAP) from July 31, 2021.



Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: we are excited to connect Salzburg to the UAE with direct airlinks for the first time which will also offer passengers from the neighbouring region a more comfortable and convenient travel option. We continue to grow our operations in Europe and with the resumption of flights to Naples flydubai is able to offer greater choice this summer. We are seeing steady growth in passenger traffic as more countries ease travel restrictions. We will continue to grow our network in the months ahead.



Flights to Naples will be operated within the quarantine-free travel corridor that has recently been established between Italy and the UAE enabling passengers to travel between the two countries with less restrictions. Passengers need to present a negative COVID-19 test result at check-in taken no more than 48 hours before departure from the UAE. On arrival in Italy, all passengers over the age of two years will be required to take a rapid antigen test.



holidays by flydubai offers affordable travel packages for both destinations, with packages to Naples starting at AED2,369 ($644) and to Salzburg starting at AED2,769. Package prices are for economy class return flights and accommodation for three nights per person based on two adults sharing a room including breakfast. Travellers can customise their travel packages and add optional extras such as travel insurance, airport transfers or sightseeing tours.



Emirates will codeshare on both routes, offering travellers more seamless connections through Dubais international aviation hub to 168 destinations between both the Emirates and flydubai networks including Australia, China, Indian Ocean, Japan, South Asia, and the United States.



flydubai has grown its network to over 95 destinations including several seasonal summer routes such as Batumi in Georgia, Bodrum and Trabzon in Turkey, Mykonos and Santorini in Greece, Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and Tivat in Montenegro. flydubai recently announced the start of operations to Ankara in Turkey, Ljubljana in Slovenia and Warsaw in Poland.  TradeArabia News Service
Porsche Design Group and Steigenberger Hotels AG/Deutsche Hospitality have joined forces

to create a joint hotel brand.

As per the deal, Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels will be launched in selected international metropolises in the future. This unique hotel concept will be positioned in the Luxury Lifestyle Segment.

Functional design and a unique brand experience are about to merge at the very highest level, remarked Dr Jan Becker, CEO of Porsche Design Group, and Marcus Bernhardt, CEO of Steigenberger Hotels AG/Deutsche Hospitality, met at the Steigenberger Icon Hotel Frankfurter Hof to sign an agreement that heralds the creation of a joint hotel brand.

Such collaboration represents a significant step for both companies. Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts and Porsche Design share common values, stated Dr. Jan Becker.

We demand the highest standards of quality and exclusive design and strive for continuous development. Together we want to offer our guests a completely new hotel experience, he noted.

"Our two companies unite the very best of both worlds," added Marcus Bernhardt.

In 1963, Prof Ferdinand Alexander Porsche created one of the most iconic design objects in contemporary history: the Porsche 911.

Following his vision to take the principles and myth of Porsche beyond the automotive world, he created the exclusive lifestyle brand Porsche Design in 1972. His philosophy and design language can still be seen in all Porsche Design products today.

Albert Steigenberger opened the Europaischer Hof in Baden-Baden in 1930, a hotel which was to go on to become the founding myth of Steigenberger Hotels AG. A total of 160 hotels now operate under the Steigenberger name across three continents.

Deutsche Hospitality has formed part of the Huazhu Group since 2020. Huazhu is one of the largest hotel groups in the world. The companys portfolio extends to more than 7,000 hotels, and its H Rewards Bonus Programme currently boasts more than 174 million members.

"Porsche Design brings a unique design philosophy to the partnership. And there is scarcely any company in the hotel business other than Steigenberger which has brought so much quality, service and passion to bear over a period of more than 90 years," stated Bernhardt.

"With these strengths we create a new and exciting product which will encourage people to rediscover the hotel sector," he added.
Help India!



The Hindu-Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the July 3 district panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh. While the party believes the victory has put them on a strong foot for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh scheduled early next year, the Opposition and others believe otherwise.

Aas Mohammad Kaif | TwoCircles.net

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UTTAR PRADESH  The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is riding high after securing a massive victory in Uttar Pradesh District Panchayat elections. The Hindu Nationalist party, which has been in power in the Centre since 2014, won 67 out of 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is elated with the victory. The significance of the victory can be interpreted by the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself congratulated CM Yogi Adityanath. What makes this victory unique is the recent dissatisfaction amongst the public over the gross mishandling of the Covid-19 second wave as well as reports of infighting in the BJP. Also, the BJP win is shocking as the party faced a crushing defeat in the Zilla panchayat members election and it is these members who elect the Zilla Panchayat President. This development comes after the Samajwadi Party managed to win 812 members in the district panchayat but consequently converted into just 5 Zilla Panchayat Presidents. On the other hand, BJP with 603 members converted into an overwhelming 67 Zilla Panchayat Presidents. 17 of those 67 Zilla Panchayat Presidents were elected unopposed where either the opposition couldnt file their nomination or had their nominations rejected.

BJP couldnt break Baghpat

Baghpat in Western Uttar Pradesh gave the strongest statement during the elections. After the unilateral victory of the BJP in the elections, the biggest alarm bell for it was Baghpat. Despite allegations of misuse of government machinery, the BJP could not break the opposition in Baghpat. Under the leadership of Jayant Chaudhary of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the opposition countered every move made by the ruling party here. Controversially, the oppositions fake candidate reached to withdraw his nomination and on the election day, thousands of RLD supporters took to the streets to try and prevent, counter and demolish any act by the ruling dispensation. The entire state missed such readiness and commitment despite the possession of an overwhelming majority.

The Zilla Panchayat elections have often been termed as a display of money and muscle power, where the opposition now alleges that there has been a gross misuse of the government machinery at their disposal.

A long two-month gap between the election of the members and the election of the president enabled the BJP to use their resources towards an unlikely result. This time period witnessed opposition members being tempted to vote for the ruling dispensation when the time came and for those who did not give in to the temptation, cases were registered indiscriminately. The government machinery was hence crucial in allowing the BJP to retain a majority power share. In Western Uttar Pradesh alone, 13 out of the 14 President seats were won by the BJP surprisingly since in none of the districts the BJP crossed the majority member mark.

In Bijnor, BJPs Sakendra Pratap Singh got 30 votes and defeated the opposition candidate by 5 votes, whereas the BJP had only 8 Zilla panchayat members, a huge deficit from the majority mark. In districts such as Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Rampur, Amroha and the Meerut too the opposition was defeated despite a majority. In Saharanpur, disappointingly, the opposition with 35 members could not even file nomination for the Presidents post.

Baghpat was an exception amidst this government machinery crisis, although there were allegations of all kinds of conspiracies against the ruling party. Eventually, RLDs candidate Mamta Kishore defeated Babli Devi of BJP by 5 votes. Mamta Kishore received the support of 12 members while BJPs Babli Devi received 7 votes. The BJP tried to create a ploy too but failed due to a united opposition.

Former minister and RLD leader Kuldeep Ujjwal said that the conspiracy was so heightened that during the election, a woman reached the nomination office to collect her application and named herself Mamta Kishore. Interestingly, the administration accepted it without investigation even though the real RLD candidate Mamta Kishore was in Rajasthan. The real Mamta Kishore eventually denied this through video conferencing and RLD President Jayant Chaudhary announced he will reach Baghpat immediately on this matter. Seeing the matter deteriorating, the administration could not muster the courage to proceed. However, cases were eventually filed on many Zilla Panchayat members and investigations were started against some, but the opposition in Baghpat stood their ground and persisted.

Kuldeep Ujjwal opened up on his strategy in Baghpat and explained that he believes RLD emerged victorious in Baghpat because of their unique ability to fight against injustice.

The people from BJP planned to intimidate the elected members and we demonstrated our extraordinary ability not to be afraid and standing our ground. Our team of RLD decided that whenever a member is harassed, we will stand by him and we did so too, he told TwoCircles.net.

The Baghpat administration filed a case against Mehboob Alvi, a Zilla Panchayat member and also harassed his children. Consequently, hundreds of RLD workers sat in protest in support of them.

Similarly, in the case of another member Subhash Gurjar, an investigation was set up on his school. In addition to being threatened, neither he was afraid nor did we let him be afraid, Ujjwal said.

Ujjwal said that the RLD cadre had decided that they would stand together in the face of it. 500 workers were alerted at all times, wherever they received information about something wrong happening, they reached immediately, he said.

Kuldeep Ujjwal said that the administration went as far as reaching a member Fakhruddin with a JCB machine, and stood in front of the machine. On election day 25,000 people were on the streets. How can you break the trust of the people who voted? Sensing the mood of the people, the ruling party surrendered. Our strategy was of unity and it was successful, he said.

The strategic intelligence and strict demeanour displayed by the opposition in Baghpat wasnt witnessed elsewhere in the state. The ruling party managed to elect their Zilla Panchayat President in districts like Ghazipur with just 2 elected members. The Samajwadi Party with a majority of 812 members won the Presidents post in Etah, Etawah, Azamgarh, Sant Kabir Nagar and Ballia. In many districts across the state, the Samajwadi Party workers were disgruntled at the chain of events and attempted to protest only to be thrashed by the local administration.

However, there is a long ongoing trivia attached with the Zila Panchayat Elections in Uttar Pradesh. Every party which wins the majority Zilla Panchayat Presidents loses the incoming Assembly election. In 2010 the BSP had 51 Zilla Panchayat Presidents, and consequently, they won just 80 Assembly seats. In 2015, the Samajwadi Party had won 63 president posts resulting in just 47 assembly seats in the 2017 election. It will be interesting to see if fate plays a similar role for the BJP with 67 Zilla Panchayat Presidents.

Samajwadi Party chief and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the BJP has managed to win many Zilla Panchayat President seats but the public will disallow them from enjoying a similar majority in the Assembly elections.

Pawan Pandey from Ayodhya, a former minister in the Samajwadi Party government, told TwoCircles.net that he never witnessed such severe misappropriation of government resources towards the political goals of the ruling party. The administration has been openly biased and engaged in ensuring a win for the candidates of the ruling party. The members were intimidated, the leaders were tempted and false cases were brought against those who did not heed in. This is not a victory but power taken by force. In 2022, the people will evict them, he said.
In Cameron Park, California, Vultures Row Aviation is deep into the groud-up restoration of what will become the worlds only airworthy Vought F4U-1 Corsair. This early F4U variant, often referred to as a Birdcage Corsair due to its framed sliding canopy sectionwas the 297th production Corsair which Vought-Sikorsky completed at their factory in Stratford, Connecticut. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps as BuNo.02449, deploying to the South Pacific in May 1943, initially with VMF-112 on Guadalcanal. However, following reassignment that July, she joined the famed VMF-214 Swashbucklers, a unit which became known as Blacksheep Squadron after becoming an official Marine Corps Squadron in September 1943  with the legendary Gregory Pappy Boyington as its CO. During this time, BuNo.02449 was stationed at Fighter Strip 1, Turtle Bay, Espiritu Santo until a crash ended her combat career on October 1, 1943. The wreck lay where it fell for many years until acquired and recovered by an Australian, who eventually sold it to the owner of Vultures Row Aviation in late 2014. Its been under steady rebuild back to flying condition since that time

By May 2021, the entire center section was considered structurally complete, with work presently focused upon the flap spar area. The Birdcage Corsairs mid-fuselage section, like much of the aircraft, is unlike subsequent production models; it is undergoing assembly in its own jig, joining the nearly completed tail cone assembly. Vultures Row has manufactured new wing leading edge skins in-house on their Farnham roller and these are now in the process of being drilled to the early wet-wing sub-assemblies, also unique to early -1A and earlier Corsair production variants.

An early model Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 (without water injection) is nearing completion at Anderson Aeromotive; it features an unusual two-speed blower clutch system which differs to the later series engines. Vultures Row has also begun forming and installing the hydraulic lines, installing newly-manufactured wing fuel tank components, restoring the early, fabric-covered flap assemblies, and forming the aft cockpit scallop skins, unique to the Birdcage variant. Sticking to the highest level of authenticity, the distinct salmon-colored primer, as used in early Corsair production, is present throughout. Vought created this unusual color by mixing Indian Red Pigment paste with zinc chromate to ensure each part received two coats of primer.

July 2021 witnessed a major milestone with the Corsairs center section, as the team has completed the restoration/manufacture of all structural parts, and has begun final assembly. Vultures Row expects that it will take roughly two months to complete the task of permanently riveting these components in place.

Vultures Row is also looking to hire additional staff as well. Any interested parties should submit their information by email and follow up with a call.

We look forwards to following this one-of-a-kind restoration as it progresses, and cant wait to see this Corsair back in the air!
The defendants on trial include the current leader of the movement, Mohamed Badie. They are guilty of killing policemen and organising mass prison escapes. They are also alleged to have conspired with foreign militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. All the sentences were final.

Cairo (ASiaNews/Agencies) - The highest appeals court in Egypt yesterday upheld the life sentences for 10 leaders of the currently oulawed Muslim Brotherhood. Official state agency Mena reports the people who will have to serve life imprisonment include the current head of a movement that, at the beginning of the last decade, was leading the nation under President Mohamed Morsi.

In 2019, a Cairo criminal court found all ten defendants, including the group's supreme leader Mohamed Badie, guilty of charges related to killing policemen and organising mass jailbreaks during Egypt's 2011 uprising. A massive street demonstration culminated in the ouster of longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak and the rise to power of the Brotherhood.

According to the official news agency, the defendants were convicted of taking an active part in the escape of some 20,000 prisoners and of undermining national security by conspiring with foreign militant groups, including Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah. At the same time, the Appeals Court acquitted eight other mid-level leaders of the nation's oldest Islamist organisation, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the first instance.

All the sentences handed down are final. Yesterday's sentences are just the latest in a long line of life sentences for Muslim Brotherhood leaders, who have gone on trial several times since the group's crackdown in 2013 and the ouster of Morsi, who is considered the first president elected by "democratic" vote. He was one of the leaders of the movement, but his one-year rule proved divisive and provoked nationwide protests.

Tens of thousands of Egyptians have been arrested since 2013, many more have fled the country. Last month, the same Court upheld the death sentences of 12 people involved in a 2013 protest by Islamists, including several senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi led the army in 2013 in a military coup that led to Morsi's removal, amid protests by supporters of his government. The current head of state was first elected in 2014 and chosen for a second term in 2018.

The prosecutions and death sentences have attracted fierce criticism from human rights movements at home and abroad, who call them a mockery of justice.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Countries such as Tajikistan and Turkmenistan feel threatened by the advance of Afghan extremists. Russia's support and its control of the 'students of God'. Turkey is getting into the game by hiring ex-Isis militiamen.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Several Central Asian nations are ready to use mercenary groups to protect their borders threatened by the conflict in Afghanistan between the government army and the Taliban, reports the authoritative Russian newspaper Nezavisimaja Gazeta. In a July 10 article that most of the militiamen recruited by the governments of the region are refugees of Uyghur origin from China.

The Uyghurs are allegedly being used against the Taliban by Tajikistan and other nations belonging to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which emerged from the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s. As part of the CIS agreements, the Russian Federation's 201 military base is active on Tajik territory, but the Kremlin is only observing the situation for now.

From the 201 base, however, the Russian military has begun various preventive manoeuvres with Tajik troops: operations have taken place in the mountain ranges of Lokhur and Sambuli. The Russian Spetsnaz (special forces) of the Central Military District, who are also in charge of preparing the Uzbek military, are leading the activities. It is expected that these mixed forces will soon be deployed on the borders with Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan is the most lukewarm country in the fight against the Taliban, with whom it had made agreements at the time of the historic President Islam Karimov. Even his successor Savkat Mirziyoyev is not averse to taking on social models closer to those of the Taliban. With the recent law on religious freedom, Mirziyoyev has allowed Uzbek Muslims to profess more open forms of Islamic radicalism, including the possibility of wearing the hijab in public places. Uzbekistan, however, is also welcoming several Afghan soldiers fleeing the Taliban militias.

The situation is more uncertain in Turkmenistan, whose border with Afghanistan is in the hands of the Taliban. President Gurbangul Berdymukhamedov has decided to strengthen the military presence on the border, also by hiring private militias. Many of these armed groups are made up of Uyghur refugees.

Joint defence plans against the Taliban are also being discussed by the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). Its director Anatolij Sidorov is now permanently based in Dushanbe to monitor the Afghan-Taliban border and draw up joint response plans. For now, the only measure in place seems to be the use of Uyghur militias.

Russia is also trying to deal directly with the Taliban. A delegation of Islamic fundamentalists was welcomed in Moscow, despite the fact that it is an "extremist organisation" banned in the Federation. Many opponents are now demanding that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov be excluded from the electoral lists, in which he would be the leader of United Russia, President Vladimir Putin's party. Contact with extremists' is the reason also used to exclude all navalists from the elections.

Turkey is also reportedly preparing plans to meddle in Afghanistan. According to various Kurdish media, Ankara would like to engage the mercenary militia of the 'Syrian National Army', which includes various members of the former Isis. The mercenaries, Uyghurs or others, would thus be the key to the management of a very complex conflict, which goes beyond the borders of Afghanistan and involves the entire Central Asian region.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The administrators of the Cikadut cemetery asked a family to pay US$ 275 to bury a relative who died from COVID-19. The case came to light thanks to complaints posted on social media. For Father Rusbani, extortion is shameful.

Jakarta (Indonesia)  It is harder for Christians to obtain space for burials in public cemeteries. Unless they are willing to pay large sums of money.

The latest extortion case occurred a few days ago and involved a Christian family in Bandung (West Java), who were told to pay four million rupees (US$ 275) in order to be allowed to bury a relative who had died from COVID-19.

The family, who did not have that money, tried to negotiate with the administrators of the Cikadut public cemetery in order to get the money down to 2.8 million rupees (US$ 195), but to no avail. Those in charge of the cemetery said that non-Muslim families had paid more to bury their dearly departed.

The head of the local anti-COVID-19 task force Ema Sumarna described the demand imposed upon non-Muslim families as an illegal tax since funerals and burials for coronavirus victims are paid by the city administration.

West Java Governor Ridwan today issued a statement of apology and promised to report the case to the police, adding that Muslim families have also been subjected to this kind of racket.

The story became public only yesterday after a resident mentioned it on his social media, but similar cases have also occurred in other places in Indonesia.

Blackmail and corruption at the Cikadut cemetery go back a long way.

Koerniatmanto Soetoprawiro, professor of law at the Catholic University of Parahyangan in Bandung, explained that Cikadut started out as a Chinese cemetery. It has existed since Indonesia was under Dutch colonial rule.

Cikadut is a high-profile cemetery and has a most panoramic view, he explained. We can expect that in such an important place for Chinese people, illegal practices by those in charge will take place, he told AsiaNews.

But what worries him most is that this issue was not adequately addressed by local authorities until it made it onto social media.

Father Iwan Rusbani, a priest in Bandung, considers this very important. It is good that this story ended up on social media and was then picked up by mainstream media.

Extortion is shameful, especially when you ask for an extra and illegal payment at a time of mourning. It is even worse because it is done on a confessional basis.
The action breaks the deadlock with German supplier BioNTech. Taipei slams Beijing for undermining its ability to purchase the drug. Foxconn and TSMC have an agreement with Chinese distributor Fosun, but the doses for Taiwan will come directly from Germany.

Taipei (AsiaNews)  Taiwanese hi-tech giants Foxconn and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will donate 10 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech anti-COVID-19 vaccine to their government. The two companies announced their decision today in separate press releases.

Taiwan has failed so far to get the vaccine supplies it had ordered. By their action, Foxconn and TSMC end a dispute between Taiwan and mainland China over Taipei's purchase of anti-coronavirus drugs.

In May, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen blamed China for Taiwans failure to conclude a vaccine purchase agreement with BioNTech.

The problem is that the German pharmaceutical company sold the rights to develop and distribute the vaccine not only in mainland China, but also in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to China's Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group.

Taipei said it did not want to buy the vaccines from Fosun because it feared the doses were produced in China, therefore without certain safety standards. Beijing responded by accusing the Tsai administration of politicising the fight against the pandemic.

Beijing considers Taiwan a rebel province, and has never ruled out the use of force to take it.

The island has been de facto independent since 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist (Kuomintang) forces fled the mainland after losing the civil war against the Communists. At the same time, it maintained the claim that it was the heir to the Republic of China founded in 1912.

Foxconn and TSMC have specified that the purchase contract was signed with Fosun, but the vaccines will come directly from Germany.

The Taiwanese government has signed contracts to buy five million doses from Moderna and 10 million from AstraZeneca. It is also expected to receive 4.8 million doses through the World Health Organisation's COVAX programme. However, only 2.2 million doses have arrived so far, to which must be added 4.9 million doses donated by Japan and the United States.
by Shafique Khokhar

The People's Commission for Minority Rights warns that there are sufficient grounds to suspect that concentration of powers in the Ministry of Religious Affairs will increase the risk of abuses and illegal seizures, an already widespread problem.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  In Pakistan, an amendment to the Protection of Communal Properties of Minorities Ordinance (2002) could threaten minority property rights, this according to the People's Commission for Minority Rights (PCMR), a human rights advocacy group.

An amendment to the law adopted on 7 June is the main bone of contention. It transfers the power to sell, transfer, purchase and donate minority property from the federal government to the ministry concerned, i.e., the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.

In a statement, the PCMR slammed the ordinance for giving absolute power to an entity or a single person, expressing the fear that this change could lead to abuse of power and a loss of transparency.

The arbitrary nature of the legislation and the measures adopted in the amendment to section 6 of the Protection to Communal Properties Ordinance 2002 are sufficient grounds to suspect that concentration of powers in the Ministry of Religious Affairs will deprived minorities of their rightful use of their properties, said Peter Jacob, executive director of Centre for Social Justice.

Under the 2002 law, the National Commission for Minorities must be involved in the process of authorisation.

At present, there are reports of widespread abuse across the country, including land grabs with impunity and illegal seizure of property owned by Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews. With this amendment, any accountability by a broader body will be lost.

For this reason, the PCMR has asked the speaker of the Senate and the leaders of political parties not to approve this amendment; on the contrary, they should launch a complete review of the situation in order to arrive at a comprehensive law that truly protects the rights of minority communities.
by Dario Salvi

The Bishop of the Holy Land looks back over 60 years in a Christian community "in evolution". Having archived the Trump presidency and the Netanyahu era, there are no "positive glimmers". Goals include "strengthening the commitment to migrants", theological formation and unity, safeguarding the different peculiarities.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - A region experiencing "alternating hopes and disappointments" and a Church called to "keep the missionary experience alive". This is how Msgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, former auxiliary bishop and patriarchal vicar of Jerusalem of the Latins, retired due to age limit, but still active in pastoral work, describes the Israeli-Palestinian tensions and a Christian community in "evolution".

At the weekend, the prelate celebrated confirmations in a small parish on the border between Jenin and Nazareth, because the joy of proclamation overcomes "disappointment on the political level for a peace that has never materialized. The interview:

From the lightning war in Gaza to the end of the Netanyahu era, what prospects are opening up in the region?

We are living an alternation of hopes and disappointments, disappointments and hopes. Now we have a different government [led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett], which does not have new elements, but is nevertheless a factor for change. After the Trump presidency in the United States there are no positive signs, and the idea of a territory for two states no longer seems possible. A strong arbiter is needed, but the UN is weak and the US is too partial [even with Biden]. In Gaza the situation is the same as before, the people are tired of war, violence, of living in an open-air prison.

The Patriarchate's leaders visited the Christians in the Strip. What reality did you encounter?

We met the 1,234 members of the community, we know them one by one, and we admire their strength and courage. They are good at resisting, they told us they would like to leave, but there is no possibility, so they stay, trying to be "the salt and light of the world". Fortunately, Christians can work, thanks to the schools and hospitals, the center for the handicapped and Caritas, which represent a fundamental professional outlet.

In recent days, Patriarch Pizzaballa has made a series of appointments, which, after his term as apostolic administrator, he is now exercising in full. What perspective do they point to?

The patriarchate continues on a path of 'beautiful evolution', because changes bring positive elements. New vicars for Amman, Jerusalem, for the pastoral care of migrants, the Jewish community and Cyprus. We want to guarantee continuity to the mission in the land of Christ, infusing new elements in step with the ideas of Pope Francis: synodality, the year of St Joseph, the Holy Family travelling to the Arab countries. And again, to strengthen the commitment to migrants - Filipinos, Sri Lankans, Nigerians, Indians - who are increasingly numerous and whom we must care for.

What are the main objectives?

First of all, to improve the theological formation of lay people and seminarians, an aspect on which the new Patriarch insists a great deal. Unity, because even though Jordan, Gaza, Palestine, Cyprus and Israel are so different, we must work to strengthen ties while safeguarding their specific characteristics. Finally, greater cohesion among priests, especially local ones, who are the Church of Jerusalem.

After the blockade on Covid, what prospects are there for pilgrimages, a fundamental economic resource for Christians in the Holy Land?

We are waiting for you all! So far there is not great news, a few small groups have arrived, but nothing significant in terms of numbers. It will take months to get back into the rhythm, but what we hope is that future pilgrims will come with a new spirit. They are not just visitors, tourists, but must bear witness with a different lifestyle that is more in keeping with the journey being made.

On a personal level, how is this new chapter in your mission impacting you?

As always in the past, with great joy and enthusiasm. For a chapter that ends, a new one begins where I am freer in terms of official commitments, but where I keep my spirit of service intact. I have been in the region since the 1960s, yet I continue to study, to deepen my knowledge of the mission. Today [10 July] I have a confirmation in a small parish on the border between Jenin and Nazareth, the community is looking forward to this with great enthusiasm.

How would you weigh up your 60 years of life in the Holy Land?

On the political level, disappointment for a peace that never arrived. It was impossible to hope to solve all the problems, but it was legitimate to hope for an agreement. Instead, wars and intifadas follow one another and there is no end in sight. On a personal level, I feel bound to the land of Jesus and to the Church of Jerusalem, a reality that has suffered so much but remains an example of resistance and resilience.

Your Grace, do you have a project that you would like to see brought to completion?

My greatest wish is to see a broader and deeper knowledge of Catholic theological Christian thought and a new impetus to Arab patrology, a rich heritage that is yet to be discovered. We are only at 6 or 7% of the total number of known manuscripts and there are still many to be opened, discovered and studied.

How do you assess the dialogue with the Jewish and Muslim world?

It must continue and be more sincere. I would like it to be more loyal, a frank confrontation that does not conceal other aims, that can be freed from classical schemes. It must be beautiful, open and stimulating.

What is your final wish for the Latin Patriarchate and, more generally, for the Church of the Holy Land?

To keep the missionary experience alive. I myself spent six years in South Sudan and it was an unforgettable experience, which I cherish with much nostalgia and gratitude. I would like the whole Church of Jerusalem to have this missionary stimulus, going out to others. I admire the Pope's words when he speaks of the "Church going out" from the Upper Room. Here the Church was born and then went out to others, with the wounds of the passion still in one hand and a piece of bread in the other.
by mons. Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi*

As of today, a state of emergency against the pandemic is in force in Tokyo. Archbishop Kikuchi's indications: "We would have liked every parish to take charge of the spiritual needs of those arriving in Japan. But in today's situation the priority remains not to transmit the disease".

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - As of today the Tokyo metropolitan area is once again in a state of emergency to stop the new wave of Covid-19. The measure coincides with the period of the Olympics, which will open on 23 July and will see the competitions held without the presence of the public. In this situation, the archdiocese of Tokyo has also decided to adopt strict measures to ensure that the sporting event does not become another opportunity for the spread of the infection. The announcement was made in a message from Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi to the faithful of the archdiocese, published below.

In the text, the prelate explains that the provisions issued on 20 June remain in force in the Churches of Tokyo, which already envisage - among other things - the presence in the Churches for celebrations only of a limited number of people, spaced out and registered in the parish, the indication to the elderly and the sick to pray at home (with the dispensation from the obligation of Sunday precept), the invitation to move all parish meetings online, the presence of transparent barriers between the priest and the penitent for confession.

Kikuchi added an invitation to athletes and their staff who will be arriving in Japan to refrain from visiting churches, recalling that the guiding principle followed by the Church of Tokyo in the pandemic has always been "not to infect oneself and not to allow others to be infected". Finally, he underscored the importance of being close to those in need, with special attention to those who are dealing with the crisis created by the pandemic.

In its continued efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 infections, the government issued a fourth declaration of a state of emergency for a limited area. It was reported that Tokyo Metropolitan is included in the prescribed area, and the period will be from 12th July to 22nd August. Chiba Prefecture, on the other hand, will continue to be placed under a special designation that allows for intensive preventive measures against COVID-19.

The Tokyo Olympic games which starts on 23rd July and the Tokyo Paralympic games which starts on 24th August will be held in various places but mainly in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. With the declaration of a state of emergency, it is expected that the events will be held without spectators at venues especially in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. But at the same time, the gathering of the athletes and their support staff coming from all over the world raises concerns about causing further increase in number of coronavirus cases. For the past years, the Tokyo Archdiocese had originally been considering preparations so that each parish may be able to address the spiritual needs of the many people who would come to Japan for this international event. However, we have decided to cancel all plans and thus, will not take any special involvement in the Olympics and Paralympics. In addition, all those who will be coming to the Tokyo Metropolitan area during this period will be provided with information concerning the precautionary measures implemented against COVID-19 infection in the parishes and will be requested to refrain from visiting churches.

Since 30th January of last year, the Archdiocese of Tokyo has made a commitment that we will not be infected, nor will we allow others to be infected. Thus, we have implemented various precautionary measures and have taken seriously our responsibility to protect the lives of one another as we prevent the spread of infection to protect not only our own lives but also the lives of others. This time, with the fourth declaration of a state of emergency, we will continue our church activities while carefully implementing the precautionary measures as we have done before.

We will basically continue implementing the current STAGE 3 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AS OF JUNE 20, 2021.

We all know that the vaccination program is progressing. I myself have been vaccinated, as well as the Holy Father. But we basically have to decide for ourselves concerning this matter. In addition, we are not considering the idea of making it a criterion, that is whether one is vaccinated or not, for allowing participation in the Holy Mass.

This year started with the declaration of a state of emergency and later continued to a special designation that allows for intensive preventive measures against COVID-19. And being placed once again under a state of emergency has seriously affected many people, especially those concerning economic activities. The Disaster Response Team of the Archdiocese has introduced through online seminars some activities which were organized by parishes and other groups to support those in need. Let us keep in mind that it is an important duty for us to protect not only our own lives but also to protect all those who have received Gods gift of life. On top of that, as we take adequate measures against COVID-19 infection, let us do our best to respond to the concerns of those in need. In this difficult situation, may the merciful hands of our Lord through our outstretched hands be extended to the many people facing crisis in their lives.

Moreover, during these times of difficulties, let us put our trust in our Lord Jesus who promised us, I am with you always, until the end of the age and let us reaffirm our spiritual bond in the one body centered on the Lord.
Cases of COVID-19 in Maryland and around the country are way down from their winter peak, as are hospitalizations and deaths. Thats all thanks to the vaccines, which have proved highly effective in preventing severe disease, public health officials say. But the pandemic isnt over, and the level of threat depends on where you live, your vaccination status, and now, a much more transmissible version known as the delta variant.
As we continue our recovery, we must do all we can to help our small businesses innovate and diversify their operations, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said in a statement. This is another common sense step to support the continued recovery of this hard-hit industry, and we applaud todays decision.
During the first weeks of trial, Dr. Catherine Yeager, a psychologist, and Dr. Thomas Hyde, a neurologist, testified that Ramos suffered from severe mental conditions. Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis agreed and said she believes the 41-year-old is not criminally responsible because his conditions prevented him from understanding what he did was wrong and from being able to stop himself from doing it.
According to the documents, Chisala told officers he drove to Greens home on Proctor Avenue with his handgun. At that time, it wasnt loaded, and the magazines were in his pocket, he told police. After the two argued, Chisala went into the backyard of the home and loaded his weapon, the documents said. He walked back inside the house and placed the gun under Greens bed, and continued to argue with her, according to the documents.
The field of contenders seeking to become Marylands 63rd governor so far includes a dozen men and at least one woman who vary in age, race and life experience with some having served in elected office and some not. But theres one thing that most of the Democrats and Republicans in the field have in common: The vast majority arent from the Baltimore region. With the exception of author Wes Moore and businessman Mike Rosenbaum, who both live in Baltimore, the field of candidates for 2022 is so far dominated by the Washington suburbs. From Montgomery County alone, theres Comptroller Peter Franchot, former Attorney General Doug Gansler, former U.S. Education Secretary John King Jr., former Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez, and former Obama administration official Ashwani K. Jain. From neighboring Prince Georges County theres Rushern Baker, the ex-county executive and former state delegate who also ran for governor in 2018.
I am a 21 year-old college student and father. I have been out of work since January, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have been filing for unemployment benefits consistently since February. Yet, as I write this, I have still not been paid anything by Maryland unemployment. After reapplying in March, as the department instructed claimants to do, I still have not been paid, and unemployment insurance (UI) workers told me that because of me reapplying for benefits it will only take longer to receive payments. My child and I have been severely financially impacted by this unprofessionalism and lack of unity at UI. I have been waiting for benefits for months, and when I call, all they can say is you have been moved to the high priority list. Yet months still fly by. Now the governor wants to take away the federal bonus for unemployment benefits. Is the governor even concerned for his people getting the help they need? Or only businesses having the labor they need?
Archbishop William Lori recently sent out a letter to all in the archdiocese that gave me the impression that the bishops are not yet ready to make an official pronouncement of who exactly is really worthy of (or banned from) receiving communion in the Catholic Church. Hopefully, they wont get around to that unless they have the good fortune of reading the commentary first. It may influence their judgments.
In a recent Baltimore Sun commentary (Bishops debate over who is worthy of Eucharist when really, no one is  including them, July 9), the author chastises the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for emphasizing the fact that individuals need to meet certain conditions prior to receiving communion in Catholic churches. But his greater complaint appears to be that the bishops have displayed the audacity to defend Catholic doctrine in general. How should the bishops respond when some of the nations most visible devout Catholics persist in proudly and publicly rebuffing the Churchs core teachings? By ignoring the situation? Doing so implies that the bishops arent serious about what they claim to believe.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture can help. It can fund tried and true conservation practices through the existing Farm Bill. The project Senator Cardin proposed is an example of what needs to be done, but we need more. We need to invest hundreds of millions of dollars across central Pennsylvania. And these federal dollars should be bolstered by state investments.
Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 97F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and some clouds. Near record high temperatures. High 99F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
She was intrigued. She had participated in a similar letter-writing program corresponding with people in solitary confinement. So, Marinello became a volunteer. As the pandemic-ridden days dragged by, she reported how her week was and asked her pen pals how they were. Each envelope carried a new photo of her cat Peach, a 19-month-old orange shorthair. The photos, she was told, are now displayed in a mosaic on the wall of one of her pen pals.
During the vacation, Beck and his family shared a condominium with two other families. He sneaked into the young girls room and used a digital camera to take 11 sexually explicit photos of the girl, according to the release.
Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the creation of the two positions, but over the next several weeks will have to consider which other projects they would like to move forward with. Although final allocations will likely not be made until the fall, commissioners plan to hold several meetings to openly discuss how they plan on allocating the funds.
From 1953 to 1954, Mom and I lived at 40 Ward Avenue and our phone number was 1462J. The letter stood for a party line. It meant that you shared the phone number with other folks, and you had to take turns using the phone, which often was difficult because one of the parties sharing the line was often on the phone.
Four apartments were damaged as well as Avas Country Store, which is located in the same building, according to the report. The Red Cross is assisting the 12 people living there who were displaced by the fire.
Assistant public defender Brad Clark argued at the hearing that Hudson was very young and had no convictions or failures to appear before the court. Clark recognized that the charges were serious but said that there were conditions on which Hudson could be released to guarantee the communitys safety, like imposing a reasonable bond or releasing Hudson on home detention.
We are so excited to start this virtual series with John Shields, who is a huge customer favorite at Harford County Public Library, said Mary Hastler, the librarys CEO. He is an amazing chef who creates such outstanding dishes that will shine the spotlight on healthy eating and the importance of the agriculture and seafood industries to Marylands economy. The July programs will provide visits to interesting locations across the state and will focus on delicious foods that are uniquely Maryland.
Police said Jonathan Balchunas, 24, had been arguing with his father throughout the day on Sunday, and at one point put a gun to his fathers head and told him that if police came, he would shoot them too, Police Superintendent Col. Jerry Jones said at a news conference Monday. His father dialed the police.
I know the character of the man, Caldwell said. You take a man like that and youre then going to say he participated in a brutal crime of murder, knowing that being associated with that would send him to the pits of hell? ... If there was one man who would be willing to stand in the breach to help his country, it would be Christian.
If you are old enough to remember the hit comedy movie of 1980, Caddy Shack, then you will recall that a gopher infestation was threatening a golf course in Nebraska. The somewhat deranged groundskeeper was tasked with getting rid of the pest. His efforts at eradication include shooting, f
Lengthy lockdowns and a steep drop in tourism in 2020 halted the countrys financial recovery and swung Greece into recession, with the economy contracting 8.2% last year. The European Commission says it expects output to rebound by 4.3% this year and 6.0% in 2022 if tourism continues to recover and new lockdowns are avoided.
Last time I visited, two gentlemen at the bar noticed one of many burger accolades hanging on the walls, and wondered aloud what it means to serve a great burger. Not wanting to spy, I couldnt hear the whole conversation, but Ill tell you why Illinois Bar & Grill continues to make lists like this. Each burger is cooked to order on the restaurants well-worn griddle, and served with a cushy bun with loads of sauteed onions. Each burger is also topped with overlapping lines of ketchup and mustard, along with a few pert pickles. I still refuse to acknowledge the existence of the bars Chicago burger, which clocks in at a ridiculous 13 ounces, mostly because the -pound baby burger is just the right size.
A: Its what I wanted to do. I wanted to work for Marvel. I even sent stuff to DC (Comics). I was publishing anywhere I could. I just wanted to get through high school to get to art school. I got accepted to art school but then I was talking to my art teacher (at Evanston Township High School), who was a dour fellow, and he said artists have a hard life and the life of a cartoonist  thats going to be rough. He suggested a four-year college. I thought, Oh my God, and Im going on my dads dime  he was paying for the first two years  but what school would still accept me now? It was May. I went to my advisor and she opened this big book and ... Oh, OK, Southern Illinois University is still accepting. Because I was writing and drawing comics for newspaper at ETHS, she suggested journalism. I had already won two national awards for high school cartoonists from the journalism school at Columbia University. When I was done I handed my degree to my dad and said, OK, now Im going back to school to major in philosophy.
Nebraska is one of just two states to award a share of its electoral votes by congressional district. Bidens success in carrying the 2nd District, which includes Omaha and much of its suburbs, went beyond the single electoral vote he picked up. He flipped the district by 8.75 percentage points after Trump had won it in 2016  a larger swing than in any individual battleground state.
Bob Prary, who manages the Buck-Inn Bar in the town of about 600 people, said he saw at least six houses destroyed after Saturdays flareup. The fire was smoldering Sunday in and around Doyle, but he feared some remote ranch properties were still in danger.
A police report identified the man, known locally as a rapper, as Londre Sylvester, though the medical examiners office said it had not notified next of kin of his death Sunday. The police report said Sylvester suffered as many as 64 bullet wounds to his head and other parts of his body, however a full autopsy report detailing his injuries wont be released for weeks.
At least one officer also was taken to an area hospital for observation, but authorities did not say what happened to the officer or provide an updated condition for the officer.
Drake is accused of shooting a 26-year-old man in the 1800 block of South Paulina Street in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood about 6 p.m. The man suffered gunshot wounds in the neck and head. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the medical examiners office.
We want to set our principles from the get-go, that its important that we follow the data and the law when setting this map, Villegas said. We just want to make sure the data will guide us, so that Chicagoans get fairly represented.
Rabbi Lazer Hershkovich, who regularly provides spiritual care to Avantara patients and staff through his work with Chabad and F.R.E.E. of Niles and Chabad Cares, called the allegations beyond horrific. He stressed, however, that the vast majority of staff have a strong sense of caring, a strong sense of responsibility, based on his interactions with them.
CCTV: On July 12 Beijing time, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a press statement on the fifth anniversary of the so-called arbitral tribunal ruling on the South China Sea. He claims that the rules-based maritime order is under great threat in the South China Sea and accuses China of continuing to "coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states", threatening freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. He said that the arbitral tribunal delivered a decision firmly rejecting China's expansive South China Sea maritime claims as having no basis in international law, adding that China and the Philippines, "pursuant to their treaty obligations under the Law of the Sea Convention, are legally bound to comply with this decision". He also reaffirms that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. He calls on China to abide by its obligations under international law, cease provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order. Does China have any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: The US statement disregards the historical merits and objective facts of the South China Sea issue, violates and distorts international law, and breaks the US government's long-held public commitment of not taking a position on the South China Sea sovereignty issue. It deliberately stokes disputes on territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, sows discord among regional countries and undermines regional peace and stability. This is extremely irresponsible. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the wrong act by the US side. I want to stress the following points:

First, China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea have been formed in the course of a long history. They are supported by abundant historical and legal basis and upheld by the Chinese government all along. No country raised any objection to this position until the 1970s. The US accusation that our maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have no basis in international law totally runs counter to facts.

Second, the South China Sea arbitration violated the principle of state consent and the arbitral tribunal exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of law. The arbitration has major fallacies in fact-finding and application of law and violates UNCLOS and international law. The award of the arbitration is illegal, null and void. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper. China does not accept or participate in the arbitration, nor does it accept or recognize the award. China's sovereignty and rights and interests over the South China Sea are not affected at all by the arbitration and China does not accept any claim or act based on it. Anyone with a discerning eye can easily see that the arbitration is a political farce which is initiated and manipulated by the US to smear and suppress China. The political agenda of the US to hype up the South China Sea issue by taking advantage of the 5th anniversary of the illegal award can't be more obvious.

Third, China always advocates friendly negotiations and consultations to settle the South China Sea issue, treats our South China Sea neighbors as equals and exercises maximum restraint when safeguarding our sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea. On the opposite, the US willfully sends large-scale advanced vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea for military reconnaissance and drills and illegally intruded into China's territorial waters and space and water and air space adjacent to islands and reefs. Since the beginning of this year, the US side has conducted close-in reconnaissance for nearly 2,000 times and over 20 large-scale military drills on the sea targeting China. What's more, the US abuses bilateral military agreements that smack of the Cold War to threaten to use force on China. This exposes its power politics logic and hegemonic practices. It is self-evident who is seeking coercion and intimidation and threatening freedom and security of navigation.

Fourth, China firmly upholds and practices international rule of law. As an original contracting party of UNCLOS, China always correctly understands and earnestly implements the Convention, and uphold its authority and integrity with concrete actions. The US poses as a defender of international law and keeps referring to the Convention and making an issue out of it. Why doesn't it accede to the Convention first? It claims to uphold "rules-based international order", but refuses to execute the judgement and advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and the resolution of the UN General Assembly. It is selective in applying international law and international order. The world's people see clearly the US' pragmatism, egoism and double standards.

Fifth, the South China Sea is one of the busiest sea lanes in the world and the lifeline of China's maritime trade. Some 30% of global trade in goods and each year about 100,000 merchant vessels transit through the South China Sea. With the joint efforts of countries in the region including China, passage through the South China sea has been smooth and safe for a period of time, and not a single vessel has ever reported that its navigation is hindered or safety threatened in the South China Sea. The US allegation of "freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea threatened is simply untenable.

Sixth, the South China Sea is the shared home for the countries in the region. It should not be a hunting field for the US to seek geopolitical self-interests. China and countries concerned have effectively managed differences through dialogue and consultation and continuously promoted practical cooperation. China and ASEAN countries fully and effectively implement the DOC and actively promote consultations on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" with major progress. The US and other countries outside the region should respect the regional countries' efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. China urges the US to stop abusing international law, stop the use of force or the threat of force and stop making provocations in the South China Sea. It should abide by international law underpinned by the UN Charter, and respect China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea instead of going further down the wrong path. China will continue to firmly defend its sovereignty, rights, interests and security in accordance with law, firmly protect the friendly, cooperative relations with regional countries, and firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Xinhua News Agency: As COVID-19 continues to spread across the world, especially as the emergence of variants made prevention and containment more difficult, the WHO has repeatedly called on all countries to accelerate vaccine rollout to curb the large-scale transmission of the virus. Can you offer more details on how many doses China has provided outside the country? How have Chinese vaccines helped with the global response, especially in developing countries?

Zhao Lijian: China has been actively implementing President Xi Jinping's pledge of making vaccines a global public good and upholding the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind to provide vaccines abroad in an open and inclusive manner. To date, we have provided more than 500 million doses and concentrates to over 100 countries and international organizations, one sixth of the total global output. Doses produced by Chinese companies for the WHO-led COVAX has rolled off the assembly line and will be delivered soon.

In providing vaccines overseas, China always coordinates needs at home and abroad, and overcomes difficulties to actively respond to countries' requests for vaccine cooperation and launch cooperation with them. China has provided more doses to developing countries than anyone else and has vaccine cooperation partners all over the globe. President Xi Jinping said at the Global Health Summit that "China supports its vaccine companies in transferring technologies to other developing countries and carrying out joint production with them". With the support of the Chinese government, Chinese vaccine companies have started joint production in many countries including the UAE, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Brazil, Turkey, Pakistan and Mexico, with producing capacity exceeding 200 million doses. Political leaders of many countries have spoken highly of the important contribution Chinese vaccines have made to their local fight. Foreign nationals who have received the Chinese jabs have also voted in favor of the vaccines.

As the pandemic continues to ebb and flow, the situation remains a grave challenge. China stands ready to work together in solidarity with all countries to contribute to an early full victory over the virus!

AFP: The tech companies Foxconn and TSMC are buying 5 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses each from China's Fosun Pharma. This comes after Taiwan had trouble in securing a direct deal with Fosun. What's the foreign ministry's view on this arrangement?

Zhao Lijian: This is not a question concerning foreign affairs. I would like to refer you to the competent authorities and relevant companies. I want to stress that we truly care about the welfare of our Taiwan compatriots and hope they can have early access to the direly-needed vaccine.

China Daily: On the sidelines of the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council, China, Belarus, Russia and Venezuela jointly hosted a video session with the theme of "Human rights in the West: lack of international control and response to violations of human rights", which revealed the human rights problems of western countries and the hypocritical nature of their human rights policies. Could you elaborate on China's position?

Zhao Lijian: Some Western countries like the US have been plagued by serious human rights problems such as racial discrimination, forced labor and gun violence, and committed crimes including genocide of indigenous communities, illegal military intervention and indiscriminate killing of civilians in other countries. Oddly, these countries, instead of conscientiously reflecting on and redressing their own problems, have been in the habit of lecturing others as if they were "defenders" of human rights, and even fabricating lies and rumors to vilify others. Facts have proved time and again that human rights is the last thing on their mind, and their real intention is to meddle in others' domestic affairs.

The most important issue that consumers need to realize with drug ads is that they are just that - advertisements. Human rights are not the "patent" of some individual country, still less can they be defined only by Western ideology and values. The key to measuring the human rights cause of a country is whether its people are satisfied. Those Western countries have serious racial and human rights problems, and committed crimes in history. I wonder what gives them the confidence to boss others around and tell them off. They should forsake their hypocritical double standard and political manipulation, and get their house in order first.

NHK: General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages yesterday with Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) of the DPRK on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. This year marks the time for extension of the treaty every 20 years. Can you confirm whether China has already extended the treaty with the DPRK side?

Zhao Lijian: What I want to tell you is that, according the stipulations of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the PRC and the DPRK, it remains in force unless agreement is reached on its amendment or termination.

The Paper: The permanent missions of Canada and Australia in Geneva recently held a video conference with the theme of strengthening international cooperation to oppose the use of arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations, saying that arbitrary detention aimed at coercing other countries is unacceptable. Do you have a comment?

Zhao Lijian: Speaking of arbitrary detention, the Meng Wanzhou incident is a textbook case in point. By detaining Ms. Meng, a Chinese citizen who hasn't violated any Canadian law, Canada is acting openly as an accomplice as the US works to suppress Huawei and other Chinese hi-tech companies. This is exactly arbitrary detention aimed at coercing other countries. The HSBC internal documents submitted recently by Ms. Meng to the Canadian court once again prove that the so-called fraud charges by the US against her is purely groundless fabrication out of thin air. This further exposed the nature of this incident, which is political persecution. This is not the time for empty slogans. Canada should clearly see its mistake, end the arbitrary detention of the Chinese national immediately and allow Ms. Meng to return to China safe and sound at an early date.

CNR: On July 10, Ethiopia's National Election Board announced the results of the parliamentary election held on June 21. The incumbent prime minister's Prosperity Party has won a majority in the federal parliament, putting it in a position to form cabinet. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China congratulates Ethiopia on its successful parliamentary election. Ethiopia is China's important strategic cooperative partner in Africa and a key participant in China-Africa cooperation under the BRI. China-Ethiopia cooperation, leading China-Africa cooperation, has delivered fruitful outcomes. With the concerted efforts from both sides, we believe our bilateral cooperation will surely achieve new progress and deliver more benefits to our peoples.

Global Times: According to reports, the US tops the latest Bloomberg's COVID Resilience Ranking while China takes the No. 8 slot. Do you have any response?

Zhao Lijian: Over the past few days, several of my colleagues and friends have asked me whether the Bloomberg report was misprinted. They also asked how the authoritative Bloomberg could have produced such a childish stunt. I see reports saying that in this so-called "Covid Resilience Ranking", in order to put the US at the top, Bloomberg even didn't scruple to remove such indicators as the number of confirmed cases and death toll, the most crucial factors in previous ranking. It also considered lockdown and entry and exit quarantine management policy as negative factors, which shows no respect for facts, science or life.

As we Chinese often say, people have their own judgment and are sharp-eyed. The so-called ranking makes black look white, and white look black, and perhaps it will call the dead alive. They will only be shrugged off by people around the world and offer something for small talk.

AFP: China's Olympic sail boat team has complained that they were put in the same hotel as regular tourists in Tokyo, exposing them to a higher risk of COVID-19 infection. Is China concerned about the precautions being taken by the Japanese Olympic authorities?

Zhao Lijian: I'm not aware of that. We hope Japan will host a successful Olympic Games. We hope and trust that the Japanese side can make proper epidemic arrangement for all delegations including Chinese athletes.

China News Service: The 47th Session of the Human Rights Council deliberated on the Third Cycle of Universal Periodic Review on the human rights conditions in Australia. The representative of China criticized human rights problems in Australia. Russia, Syria and the UN Refugee Agency also expressed their concerns. Australian media commented that "the strongest public criticism came from China". What is your take on that?

Zhao Lijian: China's criticism is the strongest because there is solid evidence for Australia's numerous human rights violations.

The systemic discrimination and hate crimes targeting African Australians, Asian Australians and other minorities as well as Muslims and Indigenous people are very serious in Australia. Historically, Australia committed genocide and forced labor against the Indigenous people, which led to massacre and enslavement. The Indigenous population ranged from 750,000 to one million before colonization. But it fell to 74,000 in the 1930s. The Indigenous people were deprived cruelly of their languages and cultural rights. From 1910 to 1970, the Australian government adopted the White Australia policy and assimilation policy. It established English residential schools where the Indigenous students were forced to go so that they were separated from their families and their groups. In the schools, the students were banned from speaking their Indigenous languages, which brought 110 out of the 300-plus languages to the verge of extinction. Australia forced the adoption of nearly 100,000 Indigenous children in white families or specialized institutions to cut their language and cultural ties with their original groups, making them a "stolen generation".

Even till this day, the Indigenous Australians are living in dire situations. From 2018, the average unemployment rate of the Indigenous people is around 20%, nearly four times that of the national average. The average life expectancy of Indigenous Australians is 7.8 to 8.6 years shorter than that of non-Indigenous people. The infant and child mortality rate is twice that of other groups. By March 2020, Indigenous people account for nearly 30% of the incarcerated in Australia, far higher than the proportion of Indigenous population.

In addition, Australia set up off-shore detention centers in third countries, where a large number of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers are forcibly detained for a long time or indefinitely with their basic human rights gravely violated. Australian troops committed serious war crimes in their overseas military operations in Afghanistan and other places. But they get away unpunished.

While turning a blind eye to its own human rights abuses, Australia points fingers at other countries' human rights conditions based on lies and rumors. This fully exposes Australia's hypocrisy on human rights issues. The Australian side should stop attacking and smearing other countries under the human rights pretext, do some soul-searching and resolve its own human rights issues well.
Artists, activists and entrepreneurs in Kuwait held an art event on Saturday to raise money for and express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

"The unfortunate events that happened in Palestine inspired me to hold the event, through which we can show artworks and raise money for them by selling food and books," Tareq Qaddumi, organizer of the event, told Xinhua.

The event includes a large collection of traditional handmade products, food, and books about Palestine to reaffirm the Palestinian national identity, said Qaddumi.

"The art pieces here tell what is happening in Palestine," he said, stressing the need to remind people that the suffering of the Palestinians has not stopped.

Dozens of artists attended the event, selling their artworks in support of the Palestinians.

"I will sell some of my digital art prints today, and the proceeds will go to the fundraiser," an artist named Heba Haji told Xinhua.

Haji used to take part in such kind of art events in Jordan, but it is her first time to attend one in Kuwait and raise money for charity.
A Chinese mainland company has signed agreements with Taiwan enterprises and a foundation on COVID-19 vaccine sales, according to an announcement the company released Sunday.



A subsidiary of Shanghai-based Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. will sell 10 million doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., and Yonglin Charity Foundation, according to the announcement.

In March 2020, Fosun inked an agreement with German company BioNTech for the research and development of mRNA vaccines and the exclusive commercial rights and interests on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Since Taiwan's epidemic outbreak in May, Fosun has made it clear that it is willing to provide the vaccines to Taiwan compatriots, but the Democratic Progressive Party authority did not approve negotiations for purchase until late June.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, has said cites, counties, non-governmental institutions and enterprises on the island which are willing to buy the vaccines can negotiate purchase in accordance with business rules.
You are here: China

The Chinese capital of Beijing is poised for the heaviest round of rainfall this year, pending Sunday evening.

The Beijing Meteorological Observatory on Sunday morning issued yellow warnings for both rainstorms and gale.

The accumulated rainfall is forecast to reach 60 mm to 100 mm on average between 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Tuesday. The western and northern areas of the city will see heavier rainfalls.

Mountainous areas are at risk of secondary disasters such as floods and mountain torrents, while water logging is expected in low-lying urban areas.

In view of the expected heavy rainfall, the Beijing municipal education commission issued a notice on Sunday, requiring all primary and secondary schools as well as kindergartens to close on Monday. Colleges and universities have been asked not to organize outdoor activities.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism issued a notice on Sunday morning, ordering all scenic spots in mountainous areas and rural bed and breakfasts (B&B) to be closed from Sunday noon.

Flood control safety inspections have been carried out in urban parks for evacuating tourists and protecting cultural relic sites and recreational facilities.

The municipal water affairs bureau has mobilized 15,000 people and dispatched 13 inspection teams to all districts of the city to assess flood control preparations.

The municipal fire and rescue department has made comprehensive preparations for round-the-clock service, with a 670-member professional rescue team and 7,454 servicemen put on duty.

The rainstorms are also forecast to affect north China's Tianjin Municipality. Tianjin on Sunday issued an orange warning of meteorological risk for geological disasters.

Mountain scenic spots and rural catering facilities have been ordered to be closed and people in high-risk areas relocated.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported one new local COVID-19 case with an unknown origin on Sunday, taking the total tally to 11,951.

The CHP said the new patient, a 50-year-old porter of Hong Kong International Airport, was found to carry the L452R mutant strain, and the compulsory testing for airport personnel has been launched to identify the transmission chain.

Hong Kong's COVID-19 vaccination drive starting on Feb. 26 is ongoing.

More than 2.56 million residents have taken at least one shot of the vaccine as far, accounting for about 37.7 percent of the eligible population. Almost 1.78 million people have been fully vaccinated.
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Japan will start accepting applications for vaccination passports from July 26 for people who have been fully inoculated against COVID-19 to travel internationally, the top government spokesman said Sunday.

Whether to use such certificates for domestic economic activities as business circles request is under consideration by the Japanese government, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on an NHK TV program, adding that people should not be discriminated against or forced unfairly due to whether they have been vaccinated or not.

The vaccination certificates will be official records issued by municipalities. It will show information about an administered vaccine, the vaccination date and location, and personal information such as name and passport number.

Kato has said the certificates will be issued in paper form by the end of July, and the digital ones will be considered later.

The largest business lobby of Japan, the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, has suggested using the certificates for raising event attendance caps and for restaurant discounts in Japan.

The vaccination certificates are also introduced in the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for international travelers from their member states.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government is stepping up the vaccination rollout in Japan. The program started in February with health care workers and expanded to those aged 65 or older from April. Recently, inoculations for people under 65 have begun in some municipalities, and companies can apply vaccines for their employees.

However, some municipalities are forced to restrict accepting reservations due to a recent supply shortfall of vaccines, and new applications by companies have been suspended.

Suga has said that his goal is to complete inoculations for all eligible people in Japan who want to receive vaccines by November.
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Space tourism company Virgin Galactic completed its first fully crewed test flight of its spacecraft on Sunday, making a giant leap toward commercial suborbital spaceflight.

The mission, dubbed "Unity 22," was the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, and the 22nd flight test for the company's spacecraft VSS Unity.

It was also the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four mission specialists in the cabin, including founder of Virgin Galactic Richard Branson, who was testing the private astronaut experience.

The crew took off from the company's homeport of Spaceport America in U.S. state of New Mexico Sunday morning. The spacecraft, VSS Unity, achieved a speed of Mach 3 after being released from the mothership, VMS Eve, and reached space at an altitude of 53.5 miles.

One and a half hours after take-off, the spaceship touched down safely at Spaceport America.

The four mission specialists on board were Richard Branson; Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor at Virgin Galactic; Colin Bennett, lead operations engineer at Virgin Galactic; Sirisha Bandla, vice president of government affairs and research operations at Virgin Galactic. The two pilots were Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci.

The "Unity 22" mission focused on cabin and customer experience objectives, including evaluating the commercial customer cabin with a full crew, demonstrating the conditions for conducting human-tended research experiments, and confirming the training program at Spaceport America supports the spaceflight experience, according to the company.

"I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined," Branson tweeted after the flight.

Following this flight, the team will complete inspections of the vehicles and an extensive data review. Two additional test flights are planned before the company expects to commence commercial service in 2022.

Virgin Galactic is not alone in trying to build space flight business. Blue Origin is also planning a manned flight to space on July 20 that will include its founder Jeff Bezos.

Unlike SpaceX or Blue Origin, which put passenger capsules atop vertically launched rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a custom carrier aircraft that totes its rocket-powered spaceplane to an elevation where it is released. Then the rocket plane's motor ignites and blasts its way toward space.
You are here: World

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Rocket fire targeted the largest U.S. base in eastern Syria on Sunday, the latest in a string of hits targeting the facility recently, according to the state news agency SANA.

The shelling targeted the U.S. base located in the al-Omar oil field in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, sending smoke spiraling up in the sky, according to SANA.

The base has been targeted repeatedly by pro-Iran militias in the region.

On July 7, the same facility was targeted by weapon-laden drones.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack on Sunday is believed to have been carried out by the pro-Iran militia in the western Euphrates River region in Deir al-Zour.

The UK-based watchdog group said there is no report on human losses yet.

A day earlier, an explosion targeted the Koniko gas factory where another U.S. base is located in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour with no reports on losses, according to the observatory.
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A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Britain on Saturday expressed outrage and firm opposition to a report published by a committee of the lower house of British parliament.

The report, which is "full of lies" about China's Xinjiang, represents a blatant interference in China's internal affairs, according to the spokesperson.

Responding to a question about the report "Never Again: The UK's Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond" issued by the Foreign Affairs Committee of Britain's House of Commons, the spokesperson said it is "nothing but a pack of disinformation."

"It is an attempt out of ulterior political motives to deliberately slander China's policy on Xinjiang and wantonly interfere in China's internal affairs," said the spokesperson.

There is no so-called "internment camps" in Xinjiang, the spokesperson said, adding that the vocational education and training centers set up in Xinjiang in accordance with laws are schools.

This is part of the proactive and preventive de-radicalization and counter-terrorism measures aimed at tackling terrorism and religious extremism at the source, no different from Britain's Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP) or the de-radicalization centers in France, the spokesperson said.

There is no "forced labor" in Xinjiang, only voluntary employment and selecting jobs according to people's own volition, while lawful labor rights are protected, the spokesperson said.

The use of technological products and big data to improve social governance is a common practice of modern countries, the spokesperson said, noting that it does not target any specific ethnicity.

Thanks to the Chinese government's unremitting efforts, Xinjiang now enjoys social stability, ethnic harmony and rapid economic growth, while the political, economic, and social rights and freedom of religious belief of all ethnic groups in the region are fully guaranteed, the spokesperson said.

"It must be emphasized that Xinjiang affairs are China's internal affairs that no other country has the right to interfere in," said the spokesperson.
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Coronado, CA (92118)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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The Guardsmen became ill at the Stones Ranch Military Reservation on Route 1, Police Chief Michael Finkelstein said. He said what he hopes is the last patient was loaded onto an ambulance at 8:50 a.m. They were headed to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.
If the department werent  and I have every confidence in the department  but if they werent for whatever reason doing enough to rein in proposed rate increases, I think that would light a fire for even further legislative action to bring down the cost of health insurance, said Lesser, a strong proponent of health care reform.
Howroyd said he agrees with the Republicans that citizens input is important to the commissions discussions. But he said the hearing was advertised and canceling would not be fair to people who planned to attend. Also, the logistics of holding a hybrid meeting, including room availability, could not be resolved in time, he said.
There are six states  Wyoming, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and West Virginia (all red states in the last presidential election)  that have a lower than 50% vaccination participation. All of these states have rising COVID-19 rates with hospitalizations and unfortunate deaths to follow. Interestingly, in the United States as a whole, 80% of the people above age 65 have been vaccinated, whereas the younger folks in the 18 to 29 age group, its less than 40%. Those people unfortunately are experiencing much higher rates of infection. So Id have a question for the late Charles Darwin: Where would he be in todays political sphere? If his spirit exists, we would have to anticipate and allow him at least a wry smile.
He suggested Fiorellos extreme policies are out of step with moderate sensibilities of the Greenwich mainstream. The more her views become known on some of these issues, the less palatable they will be to some Republicans in town, Angland said. There are many Republicans  and Democrats  who believe in being fiscally prudent, but that doesnt necessarily entail the sort of positions on these hot-button issues that Rep. Fiorello has taken.
If the very people at that rally would listen to science and would wear a mask when asked, we may not need some of these continued emergency powers,' Duff said, but because they dont believe in health and science and they are doing everything possible to thwart any kind of common sense, a lot of this still becomes necessary.
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After the internal review, company leaders determined the harvest volume in Smithfield would be shifted to other existing U.S. facilities, Lombardo said. Harvest is the term the company uses for slaughtering animals for food consumption, said Andy Curliss, Smithfield Foods director of external affairs. The local plant can slaughter around 10,000 pigs a day, according to a 2019 Reuters story.
Joint task forces are expected to be up and running in 30 to 60 days after the White House or Pentagon call them into being, but it can easily take 120 days or move to fully staff them from the resources a commanding officer has on hand.
While the pharmacy doesnt serve patients outside the clinic, anyone, whether they are Native American or not, is welcome to enroll, Upper Mattaponi Chief Frank Adams emphasizes. In order to join, prospective patients are encouraged to call the clinic in advance or visit their location at 7864 Richmond-Tappahannock Highway. New patients must be transferred to the care of Dr. James Towe, who has been practicing family and primary care medicine in rural Virginia for nearly 25 years.
Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi explained all the precautionary measures taken by the education department for the smooth conduct of the exam. (PTI Photo)

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday upheld the state government's decision to conduct the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or the 10th standard exam for the current academic year on July 19 and 22.

The division bench, comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Hanchate Sanjeevkumar dismissed the petition by S V Singre Gowda, who had challenged holding of the exam on the grounds that the COVID-19 pandemic was not yet over.

He had argued that the government had cancelled the Pre-University College Second year exam.

Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi explained all the precautionary measures taken by the education department for the smooth conduct of the exam.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said that by dismissing the petition, the High Court has rewarded the state government's decision to conduct the exams, keeping in mind the interest of the children.

While announcing the exam dates last month, Kumar had said that the SSLC exams are crucial for students to select their academic stream.

The Karnataka government had successfully conducted the SSLC exam last year, as well during the peak of COVID, setting aside the apprehensions of the opposition members, parents, students and people at large.
The report also revealed that M/s. Designtech and M/s. Siemens utilized only the government contribution or `370.78 crore (10 per cent), which was in contrast to the original terms of the scheme. Representational Image (DC Image)

Vijayawada: The AP government has ordered a CID probe into the siphoning off of public funds by network companies in relation to the Siemens Project. The order was issued by G Jayalakshmi, principal secretary to government, on Sunday.

The order said it has been brought to the notice of the government that the forensic audit ordered by the AP State Skill Development Corporation has been completed and a report has been submitted by the corporation to the government on the Siemens Project.

It concluded that M/s Designtech and M/s Siemens reportedly diverted funds of `241,78,61,508 through various shell companies, the order said.

The report also revealed that M/s. Designtech and M/s. Siemens utilized only the government contribution or `370.78 crore (10 per cent), which was in contrast to the original terms of the scheme.

It has also been brought to the notice of the state government by central government agencies that a network of companies siphoned off funds from APSSDC through a bogus invoicing scheme pertaining to the Siemens Project.

Accordingly, APSSDC has submitted a report to the government and requested it to initiate further investigation into the matter through appropriate state government agencies.

The government, after a careful examination of the findings of the forensic audit report and the request of the managing director of APSSDC, decided to entrust the case to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh for a detailed investigation into the irregularities.

Accordingly, the additional director general of police, CID, called for further investigations into the matter, to do the needful in accordance with law, and submit a report to the government immediately.
People blamed negligence of GWMC officials and public representatives for the situation. (DC Image)

Warangal: Warangal city received heavy rainfall on Sunday morning inundating low-lying areas within Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC). Residents of many colonies are suffering as rainwater has entered their homes.

Certain citizens observed that the city looks more like a pond after the rains. They blamed negligence of GWMC officials and public representatives for the situation.

Resident of Srinagar Colony Santhosh Manduva said, "Officials have failed to address the issue of poor drainage system in several colonies, which is repeatedly resulting in them getting submerged during rains. Despite Warangal being a designated Smart City, its citizens suffer whenever it rains."

Meanwhile, GWMC has announced helpline numbers 1800-425-1980, 97019-99645 and 79971-00300 for citizens to complain in case of distress due to rains.

Warangal Urban district collector Rajeev Gandhi Hanumanthu and GWMC mayor Gundu Sudharani inspected several flooded areas in the city. They directed officials to initiate measures for draining out the floodwater.

Hanumanthu said, "Citizens can use helpline numbers mentioned to WhatsAPP photos of situation in their locality. DRF teams will immediately attend to the issue," he assured.
Clinical pharmacists are appointed in the private sector in the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers certified hospitals. Representational Image (AFP)

Hyderabad: Pharmacists are now eligible to work in state and central government hospitals, following the amendments in the Pharmacy Act by the Union ministry of health and family welfare.

The ministry has carried out amendments and regulations called Pharmacy Practice Amendment Regulations 2021. The demand had been raised by pharmacists from 2015.

They had pleaded that central and state government hospitals must have a clinical pharmacists department so that the medication dosage, antibiotic use, adverse effects of medicines and dispensation could be monitored.

The department would assist the physicians in explaining to patients on the proper method of taking medicines. Often doctors ask patients to come back with the medicines to the hospital and explain the complete dosage regime which is a time consuming activity for them.

Dr Saikumar Katam, president of the Doctor of Pharmacy Association, says, "India accounts for a whopping 5.2 million injuries annually with medication errors and adverse drug reactions. The need is to detect and manage adverse drug reactions, assisting physicians in individualizing the drug dosage regimen. There is an immense variety of medications in the market and clinical pharmacists become an essential resource."

Clinical pharmacists are appointed in the private sector in the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers certified hospitals.

Dr BK Reddy, senior pharmacist, explained, "We are now going to work with the state governments and stress that these posts are created and recruitment carried out according to these amendments. Clearance by the Union health ministry is a huge step as state governments will now have to comply."

They are mandated in these hospitals as certification demands of them to address issues of adverse reactions and report this to the Union health ministry. There are 224 pharmacy colleges of which 58 are in Telangana and 59 are in Andhra Pradesh. Some 36,000 students passed out till date from these colleges.
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is preparing to effectively cope with Covid-19 third wave by giving priority to administering the second dose Corona vaccine across the state.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday directed the officials to be prepared to face Covid-19 third wave by completing 100 percent vaccination in the state. Addressing the Spandana review meeting with district collectors and SPs on Covid-19, vaccination, agriculture, mega housing programme and others on Tuesday, Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the officials to conduct Rythu Bharosa Chaitanya Yatra from July 9 to July 23, to create awareness among farmers on agriculture related aspects like RBKs, CMAPP, e-cropping and many more.

He said he would visit the village and ward secretariats twice a week after a decline in Covid cases and also start a programme where MLAs and officials visit a village and ward secretariat every day at the zonal level. He told the district collectors to visit both the village and ward secretariats on a weekly basis and directed joint collectors, municipal commissioners and ITDA POs to visit four village and ward secretariats per week to know the ground-level reality. He said that an additional 200 services would be provided to the people through village and ward secretariats, taking to a total of 740 services.

Interacting with the officials, Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the authorities to brace up for the possible third wave. Since studies showed that children would be affected in the third wave, officials were instructed to be prepared with a good action plan, especially considering the treatment for children and to complete all works in the next two months. He instructed the officials to check whether all required infrastructure was in place including special wards for children. He told the officials to check on the quality of ICU beds in teaching hospitals and provision of medical care to infants and ensure that oxygen beds were available at CHCs and area hospitals and avail the services of paediatricians.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to prepare an action plan at district level for the next two months and implement it. He told them to ensure all the medicines in the government hospitals met the standards of WHO and GMP. Also, he stressed on providing training to nurses in giving treatment to children.

Asserting that vaccination was the only solution to Covid, the Chief Minister ordered the officials not to deviate from the prescribed vaccination policy as still there was a long way to go in vaccination. He said the second dose should be prioritised, as everything would go in vain if the second dose was not given at the right time. So far, 1,28,84,201 people had been vaccinated, where 96,25,316 got single dose vaccination and 32,58,885 completed the two-dose vaccination. He told the officials to focus on other categories, after completing the 90 percent vaccination for those over 45 years.

It has been decided to give lands as an incentive to set up 16 private multi and super specialty hospitals in each district centre and each corporation, where Rs 100 crore should be invested over a period of three years in setting up a hospital. These private hospitals should be located in various cities and towns rather than in one place and get them empanelled with Aarogyasri, he added and instructed the collectors to identify land for the construction of these hospitals within a week.

Further, the Chief Minister emphasised on continuing the economic activity in those districts where the curfew relaxations were given. He said the poor would suffer a lot, if the economic activity did not progress.

The Chief Minister directed the district collectors to monitor all the notified hospitals to ensure that quality food, infrastructure, medicines and sanitation were in place and told to review these aspects at least once in every 15 days. He said steps should be taken to provide free medical care under YSR Aarogyasri and develop 104 call centre as a one stop solution for the public, where they could receive services within three hours.

The officials informed that currently 322 hospitals were offering Covid treatment, where 3,196 ICU beds were still available of the total 4,592 ICU beds. Similarly, of the total 19,258 oxygen beds, 15,309 beds are available. The Chief Minister directed the officials to equip all those hospitals with a CCTV network and monitor.
Visakhapatnam: Nearly 5,000 personnel of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) began a two-day survey of 793 slums within the corporation limits on Sunday.

We have launched the survey on Sunday since most people stay at home on the day. We are collecting every detail of slum dwellers, their requirements, infrastructure facilities, health, and employment status of eligible youngsters from every slum, GVMC commissioner G. Srijana said.

She visited Vinayakanagar, Ambedkar Colony and other areas in 24th and 34th wards in zones three and four of the corporation to check progress of the survey.

Prior to 2005, there had been 450 slums in the Port City. With merger of Bheemili, Gajuwaka and Anakapalli into Visakhapatnam, their number has reached 793.

Slums had been completely neglected as there was no elected body for the corporation in the last decade. Now, the state government and council have decided to improve slums with provision of all basic facilities. We will make Vizag a slum-free city soon, GVMC mayor G. H. Venkata Kumari told Deccan Chronicle.

Sources within the corporation disclosed that there are 426 notified slums and 367 non-notified ones in the Greater Visakhapatnam area. It is estimated that there are up to 20,000 households and a population of up to one lakh living in them.

Slum dwellers occupy both private and government lands. We can have a clear picture only after completing the survey. We are conducting this survey in a transparent manner, the mayor pointed out.

Urban Community Development (UCD) wing of GVMC is nodal agency for the survey. Teams comprising five members each are visiting every slum, UCD project director Y. Srinivasa Rao stated.

We will prepare a detailed report on the slums based on survey inputs and place it before Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, mayor Venkata Kumari added.
The Supreme Court had directed the Kerala government to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation to Nambi Narayanan. (Photo: PTI/File)

Thiruvananthapuram: "Victims" of the 1994 espionage case -- former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan and two Maldives nationals who were arrested back then -- will also be heard prior to arriving at decision on the anticipatory bail plea of former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews, a court here said on Monday.

Mathews has sought anticipatory bail in the case registered by CBI against him and 17 other police officers for offences including criminal conspiracy and kidnapping and fabrication of evidence, under the IPC, in connection with arrest and detention of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 espionage case.

Principal District and Sessions Judge P Krishnakumar, who heard the matter via video conference, said, "Let them (Narayanan and the two women) be heard. They will be heard. Counsel for the victims are permitted to make submissions."

With the direction, the court listed the matter for physical mode of hearing on July 14.

Mathews had objected to the impleadment applications of Narayanan and the two women -- Mariyam Rasheeda and Fousiya Hasan -- all three of whom have opposed grant of any relief to him.

They have opposed his plea for anticipatory bail on the ground that he was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which had arrested them and allegedly subjected them to custodial violence.

In his anticipatory bail plea, Mathews has claimed he and senior Kerala Police officers were pressurised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to arrest Narayanan in the espionage case.

He had also claimed cases under the Foreigners Act and the Official Secrets Act were registered against Rasheeda based on the information received from the IB and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) that she had "undesirable connections with some ISRO scientists and her activities were prejudicial to interest and security of India."

Rasheeda was, thereafter, arrested on the instructions of a then senior IB officer, Mathews has claimed.

CBI, last week, had in the Kerala High Court opposed the joint anticipatory bail plea of two former Kerala Police officers, who were part of the SIT involved in the arrest of Narayanan, saying they falsely implicated him in a "concocted case" which led to delay in development of India's cryogenic technology.

It contended in the high court that the plea was moved by the retired Kerala Police officers -- S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt -- to "scuttle the due process of law" and it was "premature" and "not sustainable".

"It is just being filed with the sole motive to get away from the clutches of law," the agency had said and that it has reason to believe that once the relief was granted to them, they will not cooperate with the probe and "will derail the pace of the investigation."

The Supreme Court had on April 15 ordered that the report of a high-level committee on the role of erring police officials in the espionage case relating to Narayanan begiven to the CBI and directed the agency to conduct further investigation on the issue.

The three-member committee, headed by former apex court judge Justice (retd) D K Jain, was appointed by the top court in 2018 after acquitting Narayanan in the case.

The Supreme Court had also directed the Kerala government to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation for compelling Narayanan to undergo "immense humiliation".

The espionage case, which had hit the headlines then, pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries bytwo scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

The CBI, in its probe back then, had held that the then top police officials in Kerala were responsible for Narayanan's illegal arrest.

The case also had a political fallout, with a section in the Congress targeting the then Chief Minister late K Karunakaran over the issue, that eventually led to his resignation.
VIJAYAWADA: Telangana state police on Sunday stopped Jaggayyapet YSRC MLA Samineni Udayabhanu from going to Pulichintala dam to protest against the TS government using water in the project to generate hydroelectric power. However, the MLA crossed River Krishna from Muktyala in a boat and reached Madipadu from where he successfully reached the multipurpose Pulichintala project site. He condemned the Telangana government for violating KRMB directions and using water for power generation illegally.

Udayabhanu vented ire at being stopped by Telangana police. He said that because of Telangana state governments trespass, there was a heavy wastage of water and this was not an ideal situation before the start of the Kharif season.

The chief whip stated that water should be used as per the Bachawat Tribunal recommendations and rules framed in AP Reorganisation Act and KRMB. He said that the Pulichintala irrigation project was built as part of Jalayagnam when YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister. He slammed Telangana ministers like Prashant Reddy and Srinivas Goud for making inappropriate, objectionable and unsavoury remarks against Rajasekhara Reddy.

The MLA urged Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to rethink about the illegal drawls from the Krishna projects and consider an amicable solution. He deplored that on Saturday one TMC of water was wasted as it was released into the sea. He stated that a TMC of water can help cultivate 10, 000 acres of farmland and lamented that 7.5 TMC water has been wasted due to power generation by Telangana government which can be used to fulfil irrigation water requirements of 75,000 acres.

The legislator recalled that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had reiterated that the two states should be on friendly terms and minister KT Rama Rao should introspect about his recent statements on the issue. He said they would fight it out and ensure that Andhra Pradesh gets justice.
We now take our liberties and rights for granted, and the way of life it guarantees us as inherent. But what we now have has come after a long process of evolution, and many a time they flowed out of something else quite unintended. The Magna Carta is a case in point. In June, the entire English-speaking world celebrated the 806th anniversary of the Magna Carta, or Great Charter, that is synonymous with the fundamental rights and rule of law which are considered the cornerstones of modern democracy. Much of the world now believes that the Magna Carta came out of an eruption of a long-suppressed yearning among the common people for protection against the caprices of the monarch and the nobility. But it is not so.

It came out of an intra-elite struggle between 40 barons and their King. Englands King John had emptied the royal treasuries in a fruitless war with France, and the barons were no longer willing to meet his demands for higher taxes. The consequence was the Magna Carta to protect the barons from the Kings demands.

The demand to be judged by their peers was another protection. It was not meant for the ordinary people, but only for the barons. Thus, the Magna Carta was not quite a grand demand for equality, the basic freedoms and rule of law but just a narrow demand for restricting the rulers powers to ring fence the interests of the elite.

But the myth of the Magna Carta has endured, and it is often invoked whenever and wherever people struggled against injustice and freedom.

Mahatma Gandhi invoked it in South Africa when he fought for racial equality, and emancipators and freedom fighters like Nelson Mandela, Jawaharlal Nehru, Ho Chi Minh, Fidel Castro and Martin Luther King Jr have invoked it when they were being tried for sedition by oppressive rulers. Like those English barons, they too were arguing for limiting the oppressive and unjust powers of oppressive regimes, but now not just for themselves and their peers, but for all their fellow citizens. The story of modern democracy is about the long journey from the rights of a few to the rights of all.

Another myth that endures is that the twin notions of democracy and the rule of law somehow originated with the Magna Carta and its acceptance. The fact is that the King rejected the Magna Carta soon after it was presented to him. But King John avoided the consequences of the barons indignation by helpfully dying and thereby perpetuating the myth.

The first democracies long preceded the Magna Carta of 1215. Even as early as the sixth century BC, several independent republics existed in India as sanghas and ganas. The main characteristics of these sanghas and ganas were a raja, elected or hereditary, and a deliberative assembly. These assemblies met regularly and passed laws pertaining to finances, administration and justice. The raja and other officials obeyed the decisions of these assemblies. While these assemblies were mostly comprised of the nobility and landowners, in some cases they included all free men. But the Brahminical system prevailed in the sense that the monarch always had to be a Kshatriya. While the Licchavis, who held sway over the Kathmandu Valley in present-day Nepal and a major part of northern Bihar, were governed by an assembly of about 7,000 rajas who in turn were the heads of all the major families, others like the Shakyas, the clan to which Gautam Buddha belonged, had assemblies open to all people, rich or poor, and noble or common.

The greatest contribution to the evolution of democracy as a philosophy was in Athens, where great philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle lit up the public discourse with their brilliance and original thinking. Socrates and his pupil, Plato, deliberated and expounded on the role of a citizen within a community and laid down the foundations of the political philosophy that flourished in Athens and spread to most of the world over the next two and a half millennia. Aristotle, who counted among his students Alexander the Great, dwelt more on systems of government and who first qualified liberty as the fundamental principle of democracy.

This principle that whatever is decided by the majority is sovereign has always had to contend with the rights of the individual. In the United States of America, which was formed after a great debate among the founding fathers as a democracy, it was by majority will that slavery had flourished till the Civil War. It took another century before equal rights for black people became the majority will. This constant struggle for individual rights against the will of the collective has been the central story of the evolution of the modern democratic state.

Free India by contrast provided for all these rights and liberties from the beginning in its Constitution. The Magna Carta, because it sought to limit the powers of the ruler, perhaps still has a place in our hearts and minds, because of just that. To most of us citizens in democratic states, our life is also a constant struggle against the assertion of collective will to trample individual liberties or the rights of smaller groups.

The rise of democratic and elected parliaments in England and Scotland just 50 years after the Magna Carta is not a coincidence but the consequence of that demand to share power. It is from the Magna Carta that the English writ of habeas corpus evolved, safeguarding individuals and their freedoms against unjust and unlawful imprisonment with the right to appeal. It is from this emergence of petitions for the production of the body that parliaments in due course became to be increasingly used as a forum to address all the concerns and grievances of ordinary people.

Thus, whatever be the first intent of the Magna Carta, its consequences greatly expanded over the centuries into a charter, which guarantees individual liberties, equality and justice to all, irrespective of their race, religion and class. But that struggle is far from over. It goes on and only its forms change as human values and means change.
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FILE - In this June 21, 2021 file photo, Bassem Awadallah, a former royal adviser, leaves a state security court in a vehicle after the first session of his closed-door trial, in Amman, Jordan. Awadallah, a Jordanian American, alleges he was tortured and fears for his life in Jordanian detention, Michael Sullivan, a U.S. lawyer said Sunday, July 11, 2021, on the eve of a verdict in the high-profile sedition trial linked to a rare public rift in the kingdom's ruling family.
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Money laundering, mafia and drug cartel accusations in Arizonas cattle theft scandal By Rachel Alexander

The cattle ranching industry in Arizona is being torn apart due to corruption and crime. It has split longtime cowboys against each other. Much of it comes down to cattle rustling that has been allowed to thrive, with close to 3,000 heads of cattle stolen from at least 32 owners over the past few years. There may also be money laundering connected to the Mafia and Mexican drug cartels. The corruption became so bad the Arizona Department of Agriculture tasked an investigator to look into it a few years ago. He gave the results of his investigation, known as Operation Cow Posse, to Judicial Watch in 2019 as the scandal escalated. Cattle ranchers told him the scandal went all the way to the Arizona Legislature. They claimed that a powerful lobbyist helped launder millions of dollars from Pinnacle West, the parent company of electric company Arizona Public Service, through cattle growers bank accounts. People working at the Arizona Cattle Growers Association said they found files going back to 2006 showing the bank transfers. The investigator believes Pinnacle West wanted to pay off powerful people in the water industry, so they laundered the money through ACGA and its related entity, the Arizona Cattlemens Association, in order not to show the money coming directly from them. The investigator found over $10 million he says was laundered this way, and believes there were more incidents in the past. So far, little has been done, in part due to fear that the Mafia and Mexican drug cartels are involved, and in part due to corruption in government and law enforcement. But things may be changing, due to an email that Jacquelyn Hughes, the executive director of ACGA, sent to numerous people recently questioning the strange transfer of over $10 million. She said it was unusual that ACGA, from 2016-2018 was taking in and spending anywhere from $60,000 - $100,000 per month. When you consider that ACGAs primary source of revenue is membership dues and that our dues range from $75.00 - $450.00 per month, it is unclear both how ACGA came into this type of money and how it was spent. Even when considering annual convention revenue, the numbers do not add up. The scandal has resulted in multiple ongoing lawsuits, with ACGA in the middle of it. Under the leadership of Jay Whetton, who was elected president in 2018, the organizations structure changed in order to give regular members the ability to vote on leadership. This was done in response to accusations that the ACGA was run like a fraternity by country club cowboys who had ties to the Mafia and Mexican drug cartels. The change caused a deep division in the organization, with the old guard splitting off and forming their own group. The new executive committee forged ahead, and last August, held a meeting to discuss how the Mafia and Mexican drug cartels launder money in the cattle industry. Some of the cattle ranchers accused Emmett Sturgill, who was at the time first vice president of the ACGA and allegedly part of the old guard, of posting information from Operation Cow Posse, which included the names of 56 suspected cow thieves, on the internet in early November. At the same time, Sturgill accused them right back of posting the information and filed lawsuits against them. The ADA lost interest in the case, which some cattle ranchers believe was due to corruption, and so the investigator continued on his own, unpaid, for Judicial Watch. Sturgill and his allies attempted to retake control of the ACGA in early November but failed. The old guard objected to the investigation, complaining that it was not done by law enforcement. But the new leadership defended the investigation, saying the government and law enforcement were not doing anything about it. The Cattle Growers association in Mojave County resigned its affiliation with the ACGA in disgust at the continuous scandals, and prohibited Sturgil, who lives in the county, from being a member. The ADA issued a statement a few days ago defending its poor record on investigating cattle rustling, dismissing media reports by saying official reports of thefts werent filed. Some of the old guard claim the accusations of cow theft are made up, because certain ranchers want to discredit the government from inspecting cattle and move to a system of private inspectors like they have in Mexico, where corruption is rampant. But if this was true, then why did well-known Arizona cowboy Milo DeWitt, who lost over 400 head of cattle to theft, ask for assistance from the FBI, county sheriff, brand board and brand inspectors (who are under the ADA), the ADAs top investigator, Judicial Watch, and meet with investigators several times? Or what about attorney and judge Tom Kelly in Yavapai County, who lost over 100 cows with calves, and complained to two brand inspectors? It sounds like the ADA is mincing words. One cowboy characterized the problem this way, Cattle growers in Arizona have no legitimate advocates in the state legislature because the industry is split down the middle; some people siding with the old guard, many of whom are corrupt, and some with the new guard, but the truth is most ranchers dont really know the whole true story. After months of infighting and dealing with lawsuits, the immediate-past president and the first vice president, who was in line to be the next president, resigned their positions and also their membership. The ACGA will be holding its annual election of leaders in a few days. The future of the organization does not look hopeful. One longtime cattle rancher says the situation is impossible to fix, the FBI needs to step in and arrest the bad people. The longtime previous executive director of ACGA, Patrick Bray, a relative of the powerful lobbyist, had access to the bank accounts. Perhaps he can explain what went on with the money. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative . She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications.mericano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home
Pelosiville and the great Demo-Dump exodus

By Mark Alexander



Exodus, noun: a mass departure of people...

I read last week that Nancy Pelosi's hometown of San Francisco has a "zero waste goal" of keeping 80% of its human detritus out of landfills. I am sure this is gratifying to her suburban white-privileged supporters, but for those who are not in San Fran Nan's high-income class, Pelosiville has become the continental poop capital. That is a distinction it has held for three years now, and some blocks in this once fair city now look and smell like Calcutta.

When you aren't avoiding panhandlers and thugs, you've got to be careful not to step on hypodermic needles or in human waste.

After passing the city's largest tax increase ever to pay 19,000 employees more than $150,000 per year, the city managed to find enough left over to buy 260 tents for its downtown "safe sleeping villages" for vagrants  at a mere $60,000 each.

I know what you're thinking: "That is twice the cost of a one-bedroom apartment in San Fran, so those must be some big tents." Nope, those are your basic family-size sleepers, but Pelosiville's "homelessness department" expects to only pay $57,000 per tent next year.

That'll fix it!

Last year, while Pelosi was dodging poop and getting her hair done on the sly during the ChiCom Virus lockdown, her lap dog, Mayor London Breed, converted the town into an exit ramp.

According to the latest San Francisco quality of life poll, 80% of residents oppose the Democrats' "defund police" mandates that resulted in dramatic urban crime surges. More than 70% believe that quality of life has declined in the city  for the second year in a row.

Thus, predictably, 40% of residents say they would like to move away. In the inimitable words of Casablanca's Prefecture of Police, Captain Louis Renault, "I'm shocked  shocked  to find [a mass exodus] is going on here!"

Indeed, Zillow's latest "2020 Urban-Suburban Market Report" confirms the exodus is both real and historic.

And it's not just Pelosiville. All of California and New York, the nation's two largest Demo-state chokeholds, are experiencing significant urban flight.

On California's failures, Stanford's most revered historian, Victor Davis Hanson, wrote a prophetic analytical trilogy in 2019, which accurately predicted the current exodus. In "California's Rendezvous with Reality," he wrote:

Californians brag that their state is the world's fifth-largest economy. They talk as reverentially of Silicon Valley companies Apple, Facebook, and Google as the ancient Greeks did of their Olympian gods. Hollywood and universities such as Caltech, Stanford, and Berkeley are cited as permanent proof of the intellectual, aesthetic, and technological dominance of West Coast culture. Californians also see their progressive, one-party state as a neo-socialist model for a nation moving hard to the left. But how long will they retain such confidence?

However, Hanson noted:

California's 40 million residents depend on less than 1 percent of the state's taxpayers to pay nearly half of the state income tax, which for California's highest tier of earners tops out at the nation's highest rate of 13.3 percent. In other words, California cannot afford to lose even a few thousand of its wealthiest individual taxpayers.

Thus he concluded, "A California reckoning is on the horizon, and it may not be pretty."

In "California Has Become America's Cannibal State," he wrote:

For over six years, California has had a top marginal income-tax rate of 13.3 percent, the highest in the nation. About 150,000 households in a state of 40 million people now pay nearly half of the total annual state income tax. The state legislature sold that confiscatory tax rate on the idea that it was a temporary fix and would eventually be phased out. No one believed that.

He concluded: "What is Sacramento's message to those who combine to pay half the state's income taxes and have not yet left California? 'Be gone or we will eat you!'"

In part three, "America's First Third-World State," Hanson wrote:

Third World symptomologies are predictably corrupt government, unequal or nonexistent applicability of the law, two rather than three classes, and the return of medieval diseases. Third World nations suffer from high taxes and poor social services, premodern infrastructure and utilities, poor transportation, tribalism, gangs, and lack of security. Another chief characteristic of a Third World society is the official denial of all of the above, and a vindictive, almost hysterical state response to anyone who points out those obvious tragedies. Another is massive out-migration.

Explaining the lunacy of what has turned California into a Third World hellhole, he writes:

A polarity of importing massive poverty from south of the border while pandering to those who control unprecedented wealth in Silicon Valley, Hollywood, the tourism industry, and the marquee universities. Massive green regulations and boutique zoning, soaring taxes, increasing crime, identity politics and tribalism, and radical one-party progressive government were force multipliers.

He concludes:

If Dianne Feinstein dwelled in an East Palo Alto or Redwood City residence rather than in Pacific Heights, or if all the Pelosi grandchildren had to attend state public schools, then the architects of 21st-century California might have had to live with the consequences of their own dreams and been less eager to inflict their nightmares on the other 40 million Californians. But then again, such a radical divergence between a few insider elites and a massive underclass, with little in between, is perhaps what best defines "Third World."

Indeed.

And it is much the same in New York, where the nation's largest city is plagued with Democrat policies resulting in high taxes and plummeting quality of life, putting New York and neighboring New Jersey at the top of the list for the great Demo-dump exodus. This as Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the elder of the corrupt Cuomo brothers, who was busy cashing in while elders died, is proposing to save his state with a "temporary" $1.5 billion personal income tax increase on his state's highest earners.

Fleeing New Yorkers have cost the city alone an estimated $34 billion in lost income, prompting Manhattan Institute fellow E.J. McMahon to request, "Will the last high earner to leave New York please turn out the lights."

Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are still trying to reverse the state and local tax deduction limitations on federal returns for their wealthy benefactors  limitations signed into law by Donald Trump in 2017. But it is not tax deductions that are fueling the flight  it is that Demos have turned their cities into violent cesspools.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Pelosi, and Schumer want to drag all of America down their socialist rat holes.

The reality is that the exodus from these states, and other Demo-dominions, will result in higher concentrations of socialist crazies left behind.

Finally, some of the people fleeing California and New York are those hypocritical rich liberals, the self-anointed "intelligentsia" who lord over the leftist proletariat and are tolerated only for the graft they dispense to all manner of liberal causes and campaigns. Their arrival in conservative states like Texas and Tennessee is raising concerns that these "Leftugees" will poison the wells here. That is a threat which local conservative groups had best beware.

Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post.
DOLTON  Veteran firefighter Robert Morgan, who died unexpectedly on Wednesday while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, is being remembered as someone who embraced adventure and devoted his life to public service.

Morgan, 50, was found dead in his hotel room on Wednesday morning, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard said in a statement. A cause of death has not yet been determined.

Watch Now: Riding Shotgun with NWI Paramedics

"My son was a national and international traveler," said Sandra Morgan, Morgan's mother. "He was an adventurer. He loved zip-lining, bungee jumping, parachuting out of airplanes. He even got a chance to fly a plane once."

A Calumet City native who graduated from Thornwood High School and Western Illinois University, Morgan was equally passionate about serving others, his mother said.

Morgan was a social worker after college and was looking through job listings for his clients one day.

"He happened to see that Dolton was hiring (firefighters)," Sandra Morgan said. "He called me and asked me how would I feel about him becoming a firefighter. I told him, 'I wouldn't run into a burning building, that's your thing.'"

Morgan was set to observe his 21st anniversary in the department on July 17. He had served in a variety of capacities, including most recently as fire engineer.

"Today our hearts are heavy as our beloved Robert has made his transition," Henyard said in a statement. "Robert was a tireless worker and one of the most genuine persons within our administration. His contributions not only to the upward mobility of the Dolton Fire Department, but to the Dolton community at large were second to none."

Henyard said Morgan was scheduled to fly home Tuesday night and return to work on Wednesday morning.

"Fire Engineer Morgan has been a dedicated member of the Fire Department for 21 years, serving our residents proudly," Fire Chief Pete McCain said in a statement. "Bobby was a son, a father and a great friend. He was loved by all and will be missed by his first service family."

In addition to his mother, Morgan is survived by his daughter, Aliyah. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
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Gayageum player Park Soon-a / Courtesy of Park Soon-a Music





By Park Ji-won







For some, music is just something to enjoy. But for Park Soon-a, a 52-year-old player of the Korean traditional string instrument named gayageum, who was born in Japan as a third-generation ethnic Korean, largely referred to here as "Zainichi" Korean, and who learned the instrument in both Koreas, music is a way to find her identity and communicate with the world. It is also a means for her to comfort people who live in their home countries as aliens.







Park is a rare musician having living experience in the two Koreas as well as in Japan: she was born in Japan, spent years in North Korea to learn gayageum and chose to acquire South Korean citizenship to pursue her professional career as a gayageum player.







"As a Zainichi Korean, I've lived as a minority in all three countries. In Japan, I didn't have voting rights and wasn't part of the society. My life in North Korea was not very different. I went there to study gayageum and lived there for some 10 years," she told The Korea Times. "Due to my minority status, I was nobody. But now as a grown-up, I think it is the time to speak up about myself and share my experiences as well as the sufferings of others through music."







In the performance titled "Become Radiant," she is set to play tracks from her 2020 album "Chan: become radiant," during the Yeowoorak Music Festival, the largest-gugak-themed festival, held at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, Wednesday. Being recorded at the now-defunct Armed Forces' Gwangju Hospital, it aims to comfort the souls of the victims of the Gwangju massacre with her colleagues Yeo Seong-ryong (Percussion), Kang Hae-jin (Violin) and Kim Seong-bae (Bass).







Born in Osaka, Japan, Park started to learn the instrument as a hobby. She realized she was talented at the instrument after she won a competition to select a student to study in North Korea.







She never intended to become a musician. But as a minority, she didn't have many other choices. Having not much access to jobs as a second-class citizen, playing the gayageum was almost the only option she had.







"As a Zainichi Korean, who went to ethnic Korean school in the Zainichi community, I had to learn a traditional instrument as an after-school activity. I chose to learn gayageum when I was in the fourth grade and people said I am very good at it," she said. "I joined an audition to select a Zainichi student who would learn music at the Pyongyang University of Music and Dance in the North on the second grade in my high school in 1985. I was chosen. During every long school break, I traveled to the North and learned gayageum until 1997 all expenses paid. I was also a member of Geumgangsan Art Troup, a Zainichi art troupe founded in 1955 which was named by former North Korean leader Kim Il-sung, performing in North Korea and throughout Japan."







"Become radiant," a gayageum performance played by Park Soon-a during the Yeowoorak Music Festival / Courtesy of National Theater of Korea





While remaining "Chosen-seki,"  making her stateless which is the fate of many Zainichi Koreans  she learned the instrument in the late 20th century in the North when the country actively "reinvented" traditional instruments, expanding their sonic range, and used them for the country's various musical propaganda activities.







The gayageum was originally a 12-string instrument, but it was transformed into a 21-string instrument in the North while South Korea preserved the original form until it introduced a 25-string gayageum from the late 1990s.







"The two Koreas share the same tradition. But after the separation, North Korea accepted the musical styles of China and Russia under communism and largely changed its music style which is sometimes similar to classical music so to raise the people's morale. Pyongyang doesn't preserve so-called traditional music. However, South Korea has been preserving original forms of palace music and other traditional forms."







There was a time when she was seriously considering quitting music. For eight years between 1998 and 2004, she had been looking for ways to find another job in Japan.







But she realized there were not many options to pursue there. After years of trial and error, she concluded that she should continue pursuing a career as a professional gayageum player.







"I abandoned my Chosen-seki status. It was a huge decision because giving up the status was considered betrayal in the community. But I was certain about my decision that I wanted to learn traditional Korean music in South Korea. I came to South Korea, acquired South Korean citizenship, and studied it, thinking it would be my last chance to fulfill my yearning for learning," she said.







So, she came to South Korea in 2005. It then took some 10 years to acquire South Korean citizenship due to strict conditions she had to meet while she was studying at the Korean National University of Arts.







She said her experiences as a minority in the two Koreas and Japan helped her open her heart to marginalized people.


A sign for BlackRock hangs above its building in New York in this July 2018 file photo. Reuters-Yonhap



US firm set to bet on renewable energy projects here



By Park Jae-hyuk



IGIS Asset Management confirmed Monday that negotiations are underway with BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, to acquire IGIS Private Equity (IGIS PE), which specializes in investments in eco-friendly infrastructure.



BlackRock, which has $8.6 trillion in assets under management as of the end of last year, spearheaded the trend of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investments worldwide. CEO Larry Fink even sent a letter last year urging the heads of BlackRock's portfolio firms to pursue ESG management.



"It is true that BlackRock seeks to take over IGIS PE," an IGIS Asset Management spokesman told The Korea Times. "It is difficult for us to disclose more specifics at this moment, such as the amount of shares to be sold or their price."



BlackRock's Seoul office declined to verify the deal, saying the U.S. asset management firm's Korean subsidiary is not involved in the negotiations.



IGIS Asset Management holds a 49 percent stake in IGIS PE. The remaining 51 percent is owned by Taeryeo Construction Industry and other shareholders.



Founded in 2018 for IGIS Asset Management's business diversification, IGIS PE has been led by former Macquarie Capital Korea executives who have expertise in investments in waste disposal and new renewable energy facilities.



In 2019, IGIS PE established Korea Renewable Energy Development and Operation (KREDO) for its own power generation business and announced it would create a 200 billion won ($174 million) fund with Korea Electric Power Industrial Development to invest in solar power businesses and energy storage systems. Last year, it signed a contract with SM E&C for a 1.6-gigawatt offshore wind project in Sinan, South Jeolla Province.



According to industry sources, the series of eco-friendly businesses have drawn attention from BlackRock that has sought increased investments in environmental infrastructure projects in the Asian market. The investments prioritize ESG principles.



In a message delivered Sunday to the G20 finance ministers at the Venice International Conference on Climate, the BlackRock CEO urged the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to consider private capital in pursuing eco-friendly projects around the world.



"There is private capital that can be mobilized for the emerging markets, but we need to rethink the way the international financial institutions can support low-carbon investments at scale," he said.



Once it finishes acquiring IGIS PE, BlackRock is expected to use part of its $4.8 billion Global Renewable Power Fund III for its eco-friendly investments here. Korea Transportation Asset Management invested 200 billion won in the fund with the money it raised from five domestic institutions. BlackRock plans to use the fund for investments in wind and solar power projects around the world.



BlackRock is also trying to raise $500 million for its Climate Finance Partnership Fund to be used for eco-friendly power generation projects in emerging markets. Last week, the company announced it secured more than $250 million for the fund in commitments from a consortium of global institutional investors, governments and philanthropies.



The U.S. firm has indicated it will continue to enlarge its alternative investments in Korea by restructuring its local businesses.



"Investors' search for yield and increased portfolio diversification for overseas exposures have helped advance our Korea business remarkably in recent years, especially for alternatives and index strategies," BlackRock's Asia head Susan Chan said in March, when the company sold its onshore retail fund business to DGB Asset Management.


Tourists at Jeju International Airport on Saturday, two days before the Level 4 social distancing regulations take effect in the greater Seoul area. Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung



With Korea set to impose its toughest social distancing level for the next two two weeks from Monday, financial authorities are in a growing dilemma over whether to extend loan benefits to the self-employed and small business owners.



Under the Level 4 social distancing rules, more than two people cannot gather for outdoor activities after 6 p.m. in Seoul and its surrounding areas. Small business owners  particularly those running restaurants, cafes and pubs  will be hit hard by the heightened social distancing regulations.



The decision was made amid renewed fears of new infections, with the nation's daily COVID-19 caseload topping 1,000 for the fifth consecutive day since July 7.



This situation puts the Financial Services Commission and other authorities in a stalemate over their future policy direction. Ever since pandemic fears started engulfing the economy in March 2020, financial watchdogs have urged banks to delay receiving the interest and principal on loans from small business owners until the end of September.



But chances are that the timeline will be delayed further if the fourth wave of infections continues to weigh heavily on the economy. The bank industry estimates that loans offered to the self-employed and small- and medium-sized enterprises following the pandemic are worth a total 200 trillion won ($174.1 billion)



Representatives from the financial industry sector, however, said that it is not desirable for authorities to keep offering financial benefits to virus-hit groups in the name of helping them recover from the pandemic shock.



"Even if small business owners are in dire need of financial support during these coronavirus-induced economic doldrums, they should brace for the worst-case scenario after the pandemic subsides," an official from the industry said. "They will face a massive burden if they have to pay all the interest and principal back at one time after the pandemic comes to an end. Our view is that they need to start paying interest on their loans, as part of a step to hedge risks due to possible post-pandemic insolvency."








People shop at a nearly empty shopping mall in Seoul, Sunday, Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min



Plans for a second extra budget of 33 trillion won ($28.7 billion) may undergo dramatic revisions due to the heightened need for containment amid new COVID-19 caseloads exceeding 1,000 a day for about a week.



A strongest-ever two-week social distancing rule effective Monday prohibits the gathering of more than two people after 6 p.m. in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, practically banning all private gatherings after work.



Some say measures to boost consumption should be drawn down, since compensating for losses for small businesses and low-income earners take priority as strict distancing rules are likely to continue for at least two weeks.






"YOU:R:CODE" (2017) by Bernd Lintermann and Peter Weibel / Courtesy of ZKM Karlsruhe and Jonas Zilius



Visualized code reveals mountains of data behind our digitized daily lives



By Park Han-sol



In today's capitalist and industrial society, digital code consisting of 0s and 1s has largely been interpreted within the realm of technology and economy that remain behind the scenes. But although we do not witness this code directly, it defines such a large part of our daily lives through computers, smartphones, surveillance cameras and even QR code-based entry logs that record our every movement.



So, what would all this computer programming language that shapes the world we live in today look like if we decided to bring it forward to the visual realm, specifically to a museum?



The Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, addresses this question at the exhibition, "Open Codes. Networked Commons," featuring the works of 13 artists and teams that utilize code as a creative artistic material.



The exhibition series started in 2017 at the ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe in Germany, and has since then been organized and locally developed in India, Spain and China, before finally arriving in Korea this month.



Upon entering the gallery, attendees immediately lock eyes with their reflections in a mirror that is part of the installation, "YOU:R:CODE." As they head further down the hallway, their bodies begin to be digitally scanned, with their silhouettes soon rendered on LED screens as a collage of social media icons, genetic code and, finally, industrial barcodes. After having their physical bodies fully converted to digital data, they are then ready to enter the world of "Open Codes."





"The World as a Field of Data" (2018) by Peter Weibel and Christian Lolkes / Courtesy of ZKM Karlsruhe and Uli Deck



In one corner of the main exhibition space, "The World as a Field of Data," an installation made up of a total of 25 black-and-white screens hanging from the ceiling, represents the raw form of data sets that pervade our everyday lives. The cascading digital information is in fact real-time data fetched right from the internet, and includes those from cryptocurrency networks, sensors and open databases such as Wikipedia.



"You use computers and phones every day and your life is decided based on data, but you never actually see them. You never see what goes on behind the scene," said Christian Lolkes, curator and artist of the installation. "What you see on the monitors is the unprocessed data, the way it communicates from one computer to the other."



Another piece, "BITTERCOIN. The Worst Miner Ever," presents an interesting commentary on the recent craze over mining and earning bitcoins. The two Spanish artists, Cesar Escudero Andaluz and Martin Nadal, purposefully hacked an old calculator, a machine not made for fast calculations, and used it to mine the cryptocurrency, well aware of the fact that computing power is the most important variable in the competition.



Every two minutes, the calculator prints out a nine-centimeter-tall receipt that records all bitcoin transactions. The pile of receipts that will continue growing until the end of the exhibition in October will visualize the amount of physical resources required to mine the digital currency.



"The more the miner tries, the more paper gets printed out, and that process shows the idea of huge resource consumption (that results from) something you cannot touch or feel or see in any way," Lolkes explained.





"BITTERCOIN. The Worst Miner Ever" (2016) by Cesar Escudero Andaluz and Martin Nadal / Courtesy of ZKM Karlsruhe and Jonas Zilius
The old Seongnam Elementary School building has been reborn has Kil Hyun Art Gallery, an exhibition space and arts and crafts center since 2010, in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of Namhae County's official blog



By Park Han-sol



As the birthrate continues to plummet in Korea, hitting a new record low of 0.84 child per woman last year, schools in rural counties have been hit hard. It's not hard to find closed schools across the peninsula, after the young populations they once served dwindle and disappear.



South Gyeongsang Province has been no exception, with 584 former schools standing as of 2021. However, in recent years, more and more of these empty facilities have started transforming into other public cultural institutions  art galleries, libraries, with one even earmarked for an animal shelter. As a result, only 86 of these schools remain unused currently.



In Namhae, the old Seongnam Elementary School building, which had been abandoned since 1999, was reborn as Kil Hyun Art Gallery in 2010, named after its director, artist Kil Hyun.



"Even just a decade ago, I believed that Namhae remained as one of the most isolated regions in terms of culture," he told The Korea Times. "There was a movement to found a proper cultural institution in the region, and since my home was in Hadong (about 34 kilometers away from Namhae), I decided to come here and establish one myself."



The gallery, which retains many of the original features of the old school building from blackboards to wooden chairs and squeaky floorboards, has served as a platform for small-scale exhibitions as well as arts and crafts classes for local students and residents.



"There are four arts education programs running year-round for students, residents and senior citizens of the region. Their schedules are very similar to that of an actual school as they run from March to December, with around 20 attending each class."





The facade of the old Soungsan Elementary School has been transformed into a new camping-themed library, Gayasan-dokseodang Junglebook in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Gayasan-dokseodang Junglebook





"Bungalow" camping space of the Gayasan-dokseodang Junglebook / Courtesy of Gayasan-dokseodang Junglebook




North Korea's foreign ministry on Monday accused the United States of using humanitarian aid as a political tool for interfering in internal affairs and taking issue with human rights.







Kang Hyon-chol, a senior researcher at the Association for the Promotion of International Economic and Technological Exchange, made the case in an article published on the website of the North's foreign ministry.







"In actual practice, many countries have undergone bitter tastes as a result of pinning much hope on the American 'aid' and 'humanitarian assistance,'" Kang said.







"This vividly reveals that the American ulterior intention of linking 'humanitarian assistance' with 'human rights issue' is to legitimize their pressure on the sovereign states and achieve their sinister political scheme," he added.







Kang said the world is now facing severe economic difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused the U.S. of attempting to abuse the suffering and pain for "sinister political purposes."







An earlier report said the U.S. may consider sharing COVID-19 vaccines with North Korea if requested by the impoverished nation. The article appears to reflect the North's commitment to self-reliance and rejection of humanitarian aid if Washington brings up Pyongyang's human rights issue.







The North has been expected to receive around 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines through COVAX, but they have not been delivered to the country yet.







North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free but has taken relatively swift and tough measures against the pandemic, such as imposing strict border controls since early last year. (Yonhap)


People stand in line to receive a coronavirus test at a makeshift testing center near Seoul Station, Monday. Yonhap



President apologizes for imposing strictest virus curbs



By Lee Hyo-jin



The government is considering introducing a home treatment plan for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients amid growing concerns that the ongoing spike in infections especially in Seoul and its neighboring areas may lead to a shortage of hospital beds.



Unlike during the third wave of infections last winter when Korea suffered a shortage of ICU beds for critically ill patients, the country is currently facing a potential shortage of beds in residential treatment centers where patients with mild symptoms stay.



According to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of Sunday, over 75 percent of beds in such treatment centers in the capital area are occupied as the number of COVID-19 patients with asymptomatic or mild symptoms has continued to increase especially among people in their 20s and 30s.



A total of 33 residential treatment centers are being operated across Seoul, the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and the port city of Incheon, with 6,874 beds, among which only 1,624 are currently available.



As the daily caseload nationwide has remained above 1,000 for six consecutive days, with infections concentrated in the metropolitan area, the care system for patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms may face serious problems in the coming weeks.









"As there can be an unexpected increase in the number of infections, we are considering either to mobilize treatment centers in other regions outside the capital area, or review at-home treatment for asymptomatic patients who are living alone," health ministry spokesman Sohn Young-rae said at a briefing, Sunday.



According to Sohn, home treatment for COVID-19 is currently available for children aged 12 or under who are in need of care from their parents or guardians. The government is reviewing whether to expand the treatment for young asymptomatic patients of single-person households.



"For home treatment, medical workers constantly monitor the patients' condition through phone calls. We are considering whether it will be possible to operate this system more actively."



Since May 2021, 669 coronavirus patients, or 0.66 percent of the total number of patients have been treated at home, according to the health ministry.



But it noted that it does not plan to immediately expand the system, as "even if the patient is asymptomatic or is having mild symptoms, it is more effective to hospitalize them at facilities in order to prevent further virus spread."



The government also plans to additionally secure 5,354 hospital beds for patients with mild symptoms by the end of July, in cooperation with local governments in the capital area by mobilizing university dormitories and accommodation facilities at training centers of state-run institutions.





President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday, on COVID-19 response measures. Yonhap
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul / Yonhap



A South Korean missionary couple, who were abducted by an unidentified group in Haiti, have been released over the weekend after 17 days in captivity, the foreign ministry said Monday.



The two Korean citizens were set free at 12:06 p.m. on Saturday (Haiti time) and left the country the following day to return home via a third country, the ministry said. They remain in good shape.



Soon after learning that the couple were kidnapped on the outskirts of Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince on June 24, the ministry ran a task force, led by Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon, to ensure an early release of the couple.



Last month, First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun also had a phone call with Haiti's interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph to call for his support for their release. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Lee In-ho, in charge of Haiti-related affairs, has met with officials from Haiti's police and other authorities.



Instability has persisted in the Caribbean country, as around 150 armed gangs are known to be in operation, with ransoms seen as their primary source of revenue. According to a civic group estimate, more than 3,000 abduction cases took place in 2020 alone.



Since February 2019, Seoul has already recommended citizens withdraw from the country due to political instability, which further worsened after President Jovenel Moise was killed in an attack Wednesday.



There are about 150 South Koreans in Haiti, many of whom work in the sewing industry in the country.



"While it is asking citizens in Haiti to refrain from going outside and take extra care for their safety, the government is providing flight information to them and recommending they quickly leave the country to safe areas," the ministry said in a press release. (Yonhap)


President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga / Korea Times file



Japan lukewarm on summit ahead of Tokyo Olympics



By Kang Seung-woo



President Moon Jae-in has a hard decision to make on whether to visit Japan on the occasion of the Tokyo Olympics as the envisaged trip is drawing a mixed response.



Advocates for the President's participation in the opening ceremony of the quadrennial sporting event, which kicks off July 23, insist that he needs to go in order to break a deadlock in strained bilateral ties, but those critical of this say he should not travel to Tokyo as Japan is taking a lukewarm attitude toward a summit and not showing much resolve in addressing various disputes between the two countries.



Moon is making a last-ditch effort to normalize Korea's relations with Japan before his term ends in May 2022, as this could enhance trilateral cooperation with the United States. In that sense, the two neighboring countries have been in talks over Moon's attendance at the opening ceremony, which would lead to his first summit with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and a discussion about pending bilateral issues, according to the foreign ministry here.



However, Tokyo is seemingly unwilling to commit to a meeting, repeatedly leaking information on the negotiations to the media that deprecates a possible summit. Some media reported that any talks between Moon and Suga may last only 15 minutes due to time constraints.



"President Moon's attendance can be an opportunity to show his determination to improve Korea-Japan ties to neighboring countries as well as the Japanese people," Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said on Facebook, adding that the normalization of relations between the two was a task that Moon must resolve before leaving office.



"The worst-ever relationship between Korea and Japan has continued and the problem is that has weakened the nation's overall diplomatic capabilities as well as ties between Korea and the U.S."



Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, an independent lawmaker, also said on Facebook, "Moon should participate in the opening ceremony and hold a summit to make a breakthrough in the impasse."



The two countries have been engaged in a feud over historical and territorial issues, with the latter dispute resurfacing after the Olympic organizer identified Dokdo, Korea's easternmost islets, as Japanese territory on an online map showing the route of the torch relay, drawing a backlash from Korea urging Japan to revise the map, but to no avail.



The map issue is further enraging the Korean side as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned South and North Korean athletes from marching with a flag of the Korean Peninsula depicting Dokdo during the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics due to a complaint from Japan, which claimed it was a political act contrary to the Olympic spirit. Korea accepted the IOC's call at the time.



Under the circumstances, critics are urging Moon to ditch the visit.



"The Dokdo issue has not been resolved yet, so why is the President going to Japan?" Yoo Seong-min, a former four-term lawmaker and presidential hopeful from the PPP, said on Facebook.



"Despite our goodwill (at PyeongChang) and calls for a revision to the map, Japan has still described Dokdo as its territory, a sign of its territorial greed. I hope that Moon will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics unless the Dokdo issue is resolved."





Olympic banners adorn the main press center of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Monday. AP-Yonhap
The Industrial Heritage Information Center in Tokyo, which introduces 23 sites of the Meiji Industrial Revolution, seen in this June 14, 2020, file photo. Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



UNESCO has urged the Japanese government to faithfully implement its earlier promise to acknowledge the use of forced labor, including Koreans, at its World Heritage Sites during World War II, according to Korea's foreign affairs ministry, Monday.



UNESCO also expressed "strong regret" over Japan's failure to fulfill its promise. It is very rare for an international agency to use such a strong language and confirms that Japan is wrong to claim that it has kept its promises.



Japan was requested to acknowledge the forced mobilization of Korean workers after an expert panel from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) inspected the Tokyo Industrial Heritage Information Center in early June. The information center introduces 23 sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution that had been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2015.



Among the 23 sites is Hashima Island, also known as "Battleship Island" in Korea, where it is believed that between 500 and 800 Koreans were forced to work between 1943 and 1945  122 of them died.



Considering the outcry from Korea and other Asian countries over the designation of the sites linked to Japan's wartime atrocities, the committee called on Japan to come up with measures to allow an understanding of the "full history of each site." As Tokyo agreed to take such steps, the committee has been checking the level of progress every two years.



In a report issued by the panel on the committee's website, Monday, the experts concluded that the Japanese government "has not yet fully implemented" UNESCO's requests, saying they "strongly regret" that fact.



They said Japan has yet to establish a strategy that allows an understanding of the full history of each site. They said the center's information was "insufficient" to acknowledge Japan's use of forced labor and commemorate the victims.



"The committee expressed its deep regret that Japan did not faithfully implement its earlier promise  The international community has clearly confirmed that Japan's claim that it has faithfully kept its promise is not correct," an official with the foreign ministry told reporters.



The committee may keep issuing requests and increase pressure on Japan. But it may not be possible to remove the sites from the World Heritage Site list, the official said.








The foreign ministry on Monday extended a travel ban on six countries in the Middle East and other regions, and some parts of the Philippines, for another six months, citing prolonged security risks.







The extension will apply to Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Afghanistan and the southern region of the Philippine archipelago  the Zamboanga Peninsula, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi  the ministry said.







The measure will take effect from Aug. 1 to Jan. 31, 2022.







The designated regions are exposed to constant risks of terrorist attacks and political instability that will likely persist for a considerable period of time, the ministry said.







Travel to Iraq, Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan has been banned since 2007. Seoul imposed the ban on Yemen in 2011, Libya in 2014 and the islands in the Philippines in 2015. (Yonhap)


gettyimagesbank



By Jun Ji-hye



A drunk driving case of a Chinese diplomat posted in Gwangju has been transferred to the prosecution as the police concluded his case was not subject to diplomatic immunity.



The Gwangju Seobu Police Station said Monday the consul at the Chinese Consulate General in the city, who had been caught driving under the influence of alcohol, had claimed diplomatic immunity, which protects diplomats and their families against prosecution under the host country's laws.



But the police did not recognize the consul's drunk driving as related to official affairs, which is one of requisites for diplomatic immunity, and transferred the case to the prosecution the same day to be handled as a violation of the Road Traffic Act.



On June 20, the consul was found to have been driving his car while drunk for about 50 minutes from 1:30 a.m. on that day.



Police intercepted the consul in an underground parking lot of an apartment after a member of the public reported the Chinese national to police for suspected drunk driving.



At the time, the consul's blood alcohol content was 0.119 percent, which is high enough for the revocation of his driver's license. The legal limit in Korea is 0.03 percent.



After being arrested by police, the consul claimed diplomatic immunity by saying that his drunk driving was related to official duties as he was on his way back after meeting a Chinese national who had been hospitalized.



Police, however, concluded the consul's drunk driving was not related to his official affairs subject to diplomatic privilege after discussing the issue with the foreign affairs ministry, and sent the case to the prosecution.



Despite the police's conclusion, however, it is unlikely that the consul will see any actual legal repercussion.



Earlier in May, the wife of Belgian Ambassador to Korea Peter Lescouhier assaulted a clothing shop employee but avoided legal action as she maintained her diplomatic immunity.






Prosecutors on Monday sought a seven-year prison sentence for the wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk at an appellate trial over academic fraud and financial misconduct.







Chung Kyung-sim, whose husband was President Moon Jae-in's close aide and a former senior secretary for civil affairs, was sentenced in December by the Seoul Central District Court to four years in prison, a fine of 500 million won (US$436,000) and forfeiture of 140 million won.







The court found her guilty of forging a presidential citation from Dongyang University, where she is a professor, and a separate internship certificate to use for her daughter's college admissions.







Chung was also convicted of using insider information on WFM, a KOSDAQ-listed battery business, to earn profits and opening an account under a false name to conceal her assets.







Prosecutors asked the Seoul High Court Monday to hand Chung a seven-year prison sentence, a fine of 900 million won and forfeiture of about 160 million won, the same punishment they demanded during the initial trial.







Chung was immediately taken into custody after the December ruling.







Her husband, Cho, who resigned as justice minister in October 2019 just one month after taking office, was later indicted on a dozen charges, including bribery, in connection with their daughter's academic credentials and school scholarship, as well as his family's suspicious private equity investments. (Yonhap)


Lee Seok-joon, right, former minister for government policy coordination who is now an aide to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, submits Yoon's application to register as a preliminary presidential candidate at the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Yonhap



By Nam Hyun-woo



Running for the presidency requires not only qualifications and strong support  it requires money, and lots of it.



With the National Election Commission (NEC) beginning to receive registrations by preliminary candidates for the presidential election slated for March 9 next year, presidential hopefuls' have also begun seeking financing for their campaigns.



Those registered as preliminary candidates will enjoy several advantages in their election campaigns over those who are not, such as being able to hire camp staff and send out campaign leaflets. The registration for final candidacy will take place from Feb. 13 to 14, which will be followed by an official full-scale campaign period.



Among major candidates, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who is viewed as the leading opposition contender, submitted his registration to the commission Monday as an independent. Another opposition contender, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), also registered his election bid on the same day.



As registration begins, presidential hopefuls are now seeking to finance their costly presidential campaigns.



According to the NEC, the final candidates have to pay a total of 300 million won ($262,000) into an election trust, and those registering as preliminary candidates need to pay 20 percent of the total at the time of the registration.





Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, a leading presidential contender for the opposition bloc, speaks to reporters after visiting the memorial altar of former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choe Jae-hyeong's father at a hospital in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap



The NEC has set the spending cap for candidates in next year's presidential election at 51.31 billion won each, and will allow them to raise up to 5 percent of this, or 2.57 billion won, from individual supporters.



Those who are running in a party's primary can raise an additional 2.57 billion won from their supporter groups, meaning a total of 5.14 billion won through fundraising.



This is a disadvantage for Yoon, who is yet to announce whether or not he will join the main opposition PPP. Yoon is now covering the costs of running his campaign from his own pocket and with the help of volunteer workers.



Due to this, PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok said in an interview in April that "it is nearly impossible for independent contenders to withstand the preliminary period at their own expense or with individual supporters' donations."



He added, "Only former candidates Chung Mong-joon and Ahn Cheol-soo were able to maintain their campaign until the moment they withdrew their candidacy to form a single candidacy (with others)." Former lawmakers Chung and Ahn were billionaire businessmen before they turned to politics.





Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung speaks during a policy debate between primary contenders from the Democratic Party of Korea in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, July 7. Yonhap



Those who are running in the election as a party member will also have to take on huge costs.



Nine contenders who participated in the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) first round primary had to pay 100 million won each to the party. The six who passed the first round on Sunday have to pay an additional 300 million won for the next round.



Since the party does not cover primary contenders' cost for running their campaign offices and other expenses, the contenders have been busy raising funds through support groups.



On Saturday, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung said on Facebook that he raised more than 900 million won just a day after he opened a bank account to receive support funds. The total stood at 1.41 billion won as of Sunday 6 p.m., according to his supporters.



Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon also revealed that he raised 800 million won in just one day  his camp said the total fund stood at 1.44 billion won as of July 7.



While the DPK contenders are striving to rake in donations, the PPP began its primary, Monday, by starting receiving application for the preliminary rounds. The PPP will require 30 million won for those participating in the preliminary rounds, down from 100 million won during the previous presidential election.





Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choe Jae-hyeong reponds to reporters after announcing his bid to run in the presidential election next year at the Daejeon National Cemetery, Monday. Yonhap




The leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties agreed Monday to give the next round of COVID-19 relief aid to all citizens, not just select groups, their spokespeople said.







Song Young-gil, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), and Lee Jun-seok, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), reached the agreement during a meeting over dinner.







"The two leaders appear to have reached a consensus that (the handouts) should be given to the entire nation," Rep. Koh Yong-jin, a senior DP spokesperson, said.







Hwangbo Seung-hee, a senior PPP spokeswoman, added that the two parties are likely to look at ways to give extra aid to small business owners who have been hit hard by the pandemic.







The rival parties will determine when the handouts will be given to people in light of the overall coronavirus situation, they said.







Early this month, the government proposed an extra budget of 33 trillion won ($28.7 billion) to finance another round of COVID-19 relief aid packages for people in the bottom 80 percent income bracket and small business owners.







Song and Lee agreed at their meeting to quickly launch a consultative body involving the two parties and the government and task their chief policymakers with continuing discussions on the universal relief plan.







South Korea has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent days, leading the health authorities to impose a semi-lockdown on the greater Seoul area for two weeks starting Monday. (Yonhap)


Household trash bags and other industrial waste are being dumped at Sudokwon Landfill in Incheon. Korea Times file



By Ko Dong-hwan



Despite the Korean central government's months-long search for a city to oversee an alternative landfill to replace the current one in Incheon which is nearing the facility's maximum capacity, no city has stepped up.



The Ministry of Environment, the city governments of Seoul and Incheon and Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corp. that oversees the landfill site's collection of waste from Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province launched an ad in May looking for a city that would volunteer for the new landfill operation job. The ad ran until July 9, with qualifications for candidate cities eased from the previous ad. The ad, however, failed to find any candidate cities interested in the task.



The authorities had launched a similar ad in January which ran until April. Qualifications for candidate cities included having a site for an entirely new landfill facility with an area of at least 2.2 square kilometers with a ground area of at least 1.7 square kilometers to hold collected waste, a facility where construction waste and household trash can be sorted and consent from at least 70 percent of residents of the candidate city.






By Muhammad Nauman





I am presently employed as a researcher in Austria. I have spent five precious and peak years of my life in Daegu where I completed my Ph.D. from Kyungpook National University (KNU) in February 2020. I consider Daegu and South Korea as my second homeland where I have many fascinating memories.



The special feelings for Daegu and Korea are natural. I am still emotionally attached to my alma mater and trying my best to act as a bridge for international collaborations. It's not only my story but the story of almost all international students who study in Korea and then move to the world's highly-ranked research institutes and universities.



I know dozens of my friends and colleagues who graduated from different universities in Korea and now they are professors, researchers, and scientists in prestigious institutes and research centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Gulf countries, and almost every corner of the world. We have alluring memories of Korea and we proudly share those with our friends and colleagues in other countries.



For the last couple of months, there has been disturbing news coming from Korea through electronic and social media. A small group of residents is holding protests, distributing pamphlets, and running campaigns against a small mosque near the KNU East gate.



International students from all over the world in the vicinity of Kyungpook National University use this mosque for prayer purposes and a community meeting place. Being a part of that community for five years, I consider it my responsibility to clarify some confusion and misconceptions about the matter. International students from all over the world have been praying in the mentioned mosque for the last eight to ten years.



They are residents of different homes around KNU and have been living peacefully in the region for the last two decades. A sudden rise of such voices from a small group of local people has badly impacted the psychology and mental health of the international students in that region. Many of the students and researchers live along with their families and children and they said in an interview that such pamphlets and protests have impacted their children.



They feel concerned and fearful after such protests and slogans. These students and researchers come to Korea for a short period of time. They either return to their home countries, as most of them have jobs in their own countries, or they move to other countries and further their career.



Every sane individual considers these protests as a move of a small group of people having no relation to the state policy or general opinion of the majority of the population. But at the same time, it we cannot underestimate the role of social media and the exceptionally fast spread of information among the masses.



In the age of "big data," it's harder to control the famous "Chinese whispers" game where misinformation spreads among masses like "fire in a dry forest" and reaches every individual with a different twist. These problems created by a small group of people are extremely dangerous for the international image of South Korea. It deteriorates the nice peaceful image of Korea and creates misconceptions among the public.



A few months ago, there was a huge debate on whether Korea can be a possible replacement for Hong Kong as a financial hub of Asia or not? The anti-foreign sentiment was one of the demerits among the five reasons that presented Seoul and Busan as an unsuitable place for foreign firms to establish operations. Such actions from a small group of people will provide an unintentional supportive argument to those demerits.



Furthermore, Korea's tourism industry is a major contributor to the country's economic prosperity. It contributed 4.7 percent of GDP in 2018 and is expected to provide 1.4 million jobs or 5.3 percent of total employment. Such small incidents and their reflection in social media will also impact the tourism industry.



It's also worth mentioning that some of the individuals among the residents, human rights organizations, and professors of KNU, who believe in diversity and equity, are handling the matter quite nicely through dialogue and meetings. Logically it's impossible for a student to visit Korea and leave his or her culture and lifestyle in their country. Lifestyle and culture is an integral part of individual life and it accompanies an individual wherever that person goes.



We hope that the issue will be resolved through the proper intervention of government officials and departments and the physical and psychological safety and security of all international students and researchers in the country will be assured.





The writer is a former student and researcher in KNU and former vice president of the Pakistani Students and Scholars Association Korea (PSAK).




'Comfort woman' exhibitions must go on despite threats



A Japanese court ruled that it was unfair not to allow a "comfort woman" exhibition in Osaka to go ahead on the grounds of public safety. In the ruling last Friday, the Osaka District Court permitted the exhibition to open as scheduled, stating that the exhibition hall was allowed to showcase a "statue of peace" symbolizing victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery. With the decision, the exhibition's executive committee will open "After 'Freedom of Expression?'" Friday.



It is fortunate to see the exhibition open in Osaka, given that a similar exhibition in Nagoya was suspended Thursday following a small explosion at the gallery. A package was delivered to the gallery by mail, and something like a firecracker went off inside when a staff member tried to open it, according to press reports. No one was injured, but the organizer of the exhibit, which began last Tuesday for a five-day run, decided to close it over safety concerns.



We welcome the Osaka court's decision to defend freedom of expression and hope that such exhibits will never be halted again by violence. It is a fair and proper decision, considering that restricting freedom of expression must be considered very strictly even in the name of public safety. Japan's attempts to evade and distort historical facts is nothing new. A similar exhibition was held in Nagoya in 2019, but it was suspended after three days because of terrorist threats and complaints. Of course, Japan's right-wing nationalists should be blamed severely for the string of exhibition suspensions.



For that matter, however, the Japanese government cannot avoid criticism, either, for its seemingly irresponsible attitude. It's no secret that the Japanese authorities have not faced up to what happened in the past and confronted intimidating right-wing forces strongly enough. Given that comfort woman exhibitions have been suspended so often, the latest ruling in Osaka must give a valuable lesson to Japan at large: Violence should not be tolerated for whatever reason.


North Korean hackings pose threat to national security



It is appalling that the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), a state-run think tank on nuclear power, was exposed to an alleged hacking attack by North Korea in May. The National Intelligence Service (NIS), which briefed members of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee about the cyberattack, said no key data were stolen from KAERI's computer network. Yet, it is difficult to confirm if or which data were actually disrupted or stolen because hackers usually leave no trace of their attack.



"The authorities are investigating the case after KAERI reported it was exposed to the North for about 12 days," Rep. Ha Tae-keung, a committee member, said Thursday, citing the NIS. Worse still, according to the lawmaker of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), there are signs that Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) may also have been hacked by Pyongyang. KAI, the nation's sole fighter jet manufacturer, asked police to investigate the alleged attack last month.



The United States has also expressed serious concerns about hacking attempts by North Korea. "North Korea's malicious cyber activities threaten the United States. They threaten our allies and partners, countries around the world," Ned Price, a State Department spokesman, said during a press briefing Thursday. He said that the North poses a "significant cyber threat to financial institutions."



There have been previous reports of damage due to alleged hacking by the North. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in 2014 and the Ministry of National Defense in 2016 were also attacked by hacking groups presumably run by North Korea. The hacking attacks have diverse targets including cryptocurrencies and private information as well as national secrets. "It remains a cyberespionage threat. It retains the ability to conduct disruptive cyber activities as we've seen it in recent years," Price said.



The case allegedly involving KAI is all the more serious as it is the manufacturer of the advanced pilot trainer T-50 Golden Eagle, light attack aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles. No one can rule out the possibility that core technology for the prototype of the KF-21 fighter jet could have been stolen. Any possible leak of crucial data will deal a fatal blow to national security, let alone the loss of a huge amount of taxpayers' money poured into the project.



Despite the seriousness of the situation, the Moon Jae-in administration has failed to take appropriate measures. It should follow the suit of major countries such as the U.S. and Japan which have established "cybersecurity basic laws" to counter possible hacking attacks. Though the Moon government came up with a cybersecurity enforcement rule last December, it falls short of protecting the country from any intensive cyberattacks.



In May, some oil pipelines in the U.S. were paralyzed for many days due to hacking from overseas. We should learn lessons from the case and take preemptive steps to thwart any cyberattacks from the North. Fundamental measures should be taken to ensure cybersecurity.


By John Burton





President Moon Jae-in has signaled recently that he wants Korea to play a more prominent role on the global stage when it comes to climate change. He has already promised to cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions and is expected to announce later this year a more ambitious target to curb them in an effort to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.



Seoul has also announced that it will no longer provide state-backed funds to build highly polluting coal-fired power plants overseas, a significant step since Korea is one of the largest foreign investors in this energy sector.



But Moon and his successors will also need to turn their attention northward if they want to mitigate the local impact of climate change, because North Korea is an environmental disaster area.



The upcoming summer months are likely to once again reveal the vulnerability of North Korea to extreme weather caused by climate change, which has resulted in floods and droughts in the past. If severe weather patterns occur this year, they will only exacerbate the challenges that North Korea is already facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



It will also underscore that the two Koreas must cooperate in combating the environmental risks caused by climate change. The Korean Peninsula's relatively close geographical position to the Arctic weather system means that the impact of climate change it experiences is more serious than the global average.



The two Koreas now have separate goals when it comes to climate change. As a leading industrial power, South Korea is focusing on reducing its global carbon footprint by cutting emissions. In contrast, the emphasis in North Korea is on limiting the damage caused by climate change on agricultural production and minimizing the impact of related natural disasters, such as flooding.



Although it is not a major polluter due to its decrepit industrial base, North Korea's environmental crisis is partly of its own making. Deforestation, in particular, is a major problem since the lack of trees, which are cut down for fuel and firewood and to clear land for farming, contributes to flooding during the rainy season. Pyongyang has tried to solve the problem through land management and improving basic infrastructure, but with limited success.



Unlike other aspects of its policy, Pyongyang has been relatively frank about the environmental crisis it faces. It has assumed an unusually open approach when it comes to cooperating with international organizations, such as the U.N., on climate change issues.



Part of this has been motivated by North Korea's desire to receive financial and technical aid from overseas, while trying to burnish its international status by engaging in climate change diplomacy. But international sanctions and distrust over whether Pyongyang has used the assistance it has received effectively have blunted this ambition.



Since they share the same environmental fate, the climate change challenge should provide an opportunity for fruitful cooperation between the two Koreas. But there has not yet been any broad-based inter-Korean dialogue on the issue, while Seoul's related assistance to Pyongyang, such as providing reforestation funds or disaster relief, has been sporadic over the years.



Joint long-range planning on environmental issues would be of benefit to both Koreas since it would result in them working together to achieve the common goal of mitigating the impact of climate change.



Both should have strong motivation to do so. Climate change represents a serious existential threat to North Korea since its severe impact on agricultural production could represent a major contributory factor to the possible collapse of the Kim Jong-un regime. North Korea already came close to this situation in the 1990s during the Arduous March period when natural disasters caused partly by climate change helped bring widespread famine to the country.



Although many South Koreans might welcome a collapse, they also realize that the sudden downfall of the government in Pyongyang would impose a tremendous economic burden on them. Seoul prefers a soft landing approach.



Meanwhile, President Moon has faced obstacles in promoting inter-Korean projects, such as cross-border transportation links, from opponents both at home and abroad. Joint environmental projects under a Green Detente Initiative would likely be less controversial to implement. South Korea has already won praise for its global climate change diplomacy in providing assistance to developing countries.



Seoul could provide expertise to Pyongyang in advising on environmental protection land management policies. Assistance could also be provided to improve energy efficiency and investment in basic environmental technology. None of these measures would pose a national security risk to South Korea. Rather, they would increase the environmental security of both countries.



Climate change represents both a threat and an opportunity for the two Koreas. If handled correctly, inter-Korean cooperation on the issue would help establish trust and reduce tensions, improving the chances of peace on the Korean Peninsula.





John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant.


By John J. Metzler





Amid pomp, pageantry and proletarian parades, China's President Xi Jinping kicked off festivities celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CCP). The mass performances and political choreography, one of the things dictatorships seem to do so well, was held in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.



Dressed in the grey Mao-tunic reminiscent of times most Chinese would probably rather forget, Chairman Xi made a high octane nationalist speech to the 70,000 dutifully assembled faithful. But along with the usual political slogans and bromides, the speech went down a historic memory lane, "With the salvoes of Russia's October Revolution in 1917, Marxism-Leninism was brought to China  The founding of a communist party in China was an epoch-making event, which profoundly changed the course of Chinese history in modern times."



Indeed when founded in Shanghai in 1921, the CCP was a conspiratorial group which largely grew in prominence during the war against the Japanese occupation and later the civil war with China's Nationalist government. The CCP regime came to power in 1949.



Following that period, China faced the trials and tribulations of Mao Zedong's (Mao-tse tung) radical regime in which millions of Chinese died through the political crackdowns, ill-conceived industrialization campaigns, and rampant famines. The brutal excesses of the so-called Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) in which Mao's Red Guard zealots burned books, temples and became the Revolution's rigid "thought police," only then to be consumed by the fires of their own revolutionary excess and incompetence, were overlooked.



Not so surprisingly Xi Jinping praised the CCP's proletarian pantheon which ruled China through terror for the regime's first 30 years. "Let us take this moment to cherish the memory of comrades Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping," Comrade Xi intoned. He mentioned Chairman Mao a few times and interestingly also mentioned Liu Shaoqi, the once disgraced and purged CCP chairman.



Following Deng Xiaoping's reform era starting in 1978, China's economy began to change for the better as hardline socialist practices were shelved in favor of pragmatism, especially in farming and small business.



Yet Xi stated clearly, "We must continue to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context. Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology upon which our party and country are founded." He added, "We must uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics."



Specifically he added, "We will elevate our people's armed forces to world-class standards so that we are equipped with greater capacity and more reliable means for safeguarding our national sovereignty, security, and development interests."



Yet Xi warned ominously, "we will never allow any foreign force to bully, oppress, or subjugate us. Anyone who would attempt to do so will find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people." The less polite original version stated; "Anyone who dares to try, will find their heads bashed bloody against a great wall of steel."



Regarding Hong Kong which has increasingly faced Beijing's security crackdowns on its political rights, Xi stated, "While protecting China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, we will ensure social stability in Hong Kong and Macao." In other words, Obey, Comrades!



Taiwan the island democracy which has been routinely threatened and bullied by Beijing, received a clear message; "Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Communist Party of China ... No one should underestimate the resolve, the will, and the ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity."



Since it was the CCP being honored, let's look for a moment at the institution which has total suffocating control over the Chinese Mainland; "A century ago, at the time of its founding, the Communist Party of China had just over 50 members. Today, with more than 95 million members in a country of more than 1.4 billion people, it is the largest governing party in the world and enjoys tremendous international influence." In other words, approximately seven percent of the population maintains one party rule over 100 percent of China's people!



Matters not mentioned during Xi's address: The "events" in the Wuhan laboratory through which a global pandemic began that killed more than 4 million people, caused widespread economic destitution and still continues. Not a peep. The persecuted Uighurs in Xinjiang? Who?



Xi's far ranging speech outlined a troubling world vision for what he calls the China Dream. This dream is partially being made a reality by massive foreign investment, technology-sharing and trade. Have we noticed?





John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism  The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China."


Former Naver Chief Operating Officer Choi In-hyuk poses at the company's headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in this 2019 file photo. Courtesy of Naver



By Kim Jae-heun



Naver's union is asking the National Pension Service (NPS), the largest shareholder of the IT giant, to fire Choi In-hyuk from his CEO positions at Naver Financial and the Happybean Foundation.



The request came in response to the company's refusal to dismiss Choi from any of his positions, after he offered to resign only as chief operating officer (COO). Choi is involved in a recent scandal where an employee working under him committed suicide after experiencing bullying at work.



The union plans to utilize the stewardship code to hold a temporary shareholders meeting and bring in an item to remove Choi from all his positions.





Members of Naver's union protest in front of company headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, June 7. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
By Baek Byung-yeul







Doosan Digital Innovation (DDI) signed a partnership with Boston-based cybersecurity firm Cybereason to provide the latter's cybersecurity software tools in the Asia-Pacific region including Korea, the IT service arm of Doosan Group said Monday.







The tools to be provided by the Korean side include endpoint detection and response (EDR), managed detection and response (MDR), next-generation antivirus (NGAV) and anti-ransomware and -malware protection.







"With the partnership with Cybereason, DDI plans to provide response tools to cybersecurity threats to its customers, as private firms and public organizations are urged to respond quickly to rapidly increasing cyberattacks," DDI said.







The Doosan Group affiliate said it inked the partnership with Cybereason as the company has a unique technology that preemptively eliminates security risks through real-time early detection.







"Partnering with Cybereason puts future-ready cybersecurity products and services in the hands of organizations who need it," said Robert Oh, chief operating officer of DDI. "This global partnership allow us to offer these next-generation cybersecurity capabilities to DDI's internal and external customers."







Lior Div, CEO and co-founder of Cybereason, viewed the partnership will become a win-win for the two companies.







"Our strategic partnership with DDI highlights our mission to end sophisticated cyberattacks that are costing enterprises hundreds of millions of dollars a year," the CEO said. "By working closely with DDI throughout the region, we will provide enterprises with the needed expertise and solutions to reverse the adversary advantage and return defenders to the high ground, reducing the impact of cyberattacks on the business."






A Hyundai Motor worker checks a Sonata passenger car at the company's Asan production plant. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor
LG Innotek employees pose with printed and electronic versions of "2020-2021 LG Innotek Sustainability Report" that addresses the firm's efforts to abide by environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles. The report showed the firm reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45,000 tons from 2019 to 2020. Courtesy of LG Innotek



By Yi Whan-woo



LG Innotek reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 45,000 tons from 2019 to 2020 as part of efforts to enhance management based on environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles, the company said Monday.



The reduced amount is equivalent to planting 3.9 million trees and such eco-friendly efforts are noteworthy considering greenhouse gas emissions increases when sales rise.



During 2019-20, the company saw sales grow 20 percent.



LG Innotek, the electronics component affiliate of LG Group, accordingly received an A-, the second-highest of nine ratings given by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), for two-consecutive years on climate change protection and also for four-straight years on water security.



CDP is a U.K.-headquartered non-profit organization that helps companies and municipal governments publicize their sustainable development efforts.



The ESG efforts were addressed in the company's "2020-21 Sustainability Report."



"For us to become a lasting enterprise, we must fulfill social responsibilities by enhancing competitiveness in business," LG Innotek CEO Jeong Cheol-Dong was quoted as saying by the report.



The paper especially addresses the company's ESG vision, which has become a buzzword in the Korean business community in recent years.



"LG Innotek will continue to strengthen ESG management for sustainable growth," Jeong said.



The company expressed hope the report will help stakeholders better understand LG Innotek's ESG-related activities in accordance with global information disclosure standards.



Under the slogan, "Global No. 1 material and component company to build a better tomorrow," LG Innotek established the ESG Board Committee to oversee the achievement of eco-friendly goals.



The company is pursuing the development of renewable energy and expanding energy-efficient production facilities with a goal of "zero environmental impact."



That goal helped the company save 5.2 billion won ($4.53 million) in energy costs and reduce water consumption by 7 percent year-on-year.



When it comes to corporate governance, LG Innotek has been expanding shareholder-friendly policies such as reinforcing the transparency of its board of directors and the company more than doubled dividend payments from 2020 and introduced an electronic voting system at general meetings to enhance shareholder rights.


A warning sign alerts visitors of heat dangers in Death Valley National Park, Calif, July 11. An excessive heat warning was issued for much of the Southwest United States through Monday. AFP-Yonhap



Firefighters working in searing weather struggled to contain a Northern California wildfire that continued to grow Sunday and forced the temporary closure of a major highway, one of several large blazes burning across the U.S. West amid another heat wave that shattered records and strained power grids.



In Arizona, a small plane crashed Saturday during a survey of a wildfire in rural Mohave County, killing both crew members on board. The Beech C-90 aircraft was helping perform reconnaissance over the lightning-caused Cedar Basin Fire, near the tiny community of Wikieup northwest of Phoenix, when it went down around noon.



Officials on Sunday identified the victims as Air Tactical Group Supervisor Jeff Piechura, 62, a retired Tucson-area fire chief who was working for the Coronado National Forest, and Matthew Miller, 48, a pilot with Falcon Executive Aviation contracted by the U.S. Forest Service. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.



''Our hearts go out to the families of our brave wildland firefighters,'' an Arizona Bureau of Land Management spokesperson said in a statement.



In California, officials asked all residents to reduce power consumption quickly after a major wildfire in southern Oregon knocked out interstate power lines, preventing up to 5,500 megawatts of electricity from flowing south into the state.



The California Independent System Operator, which runs the state's power grid, said Saturday the Bootleg Fire took three transmission lines off-line, straining electricity supplies as temperatures in the area soared.



''The Bootleg Fire will see the potential for extreme growth today,'' the National Weather Service in Medford, Oregon, tweeted Sunday.



Pushed by strong winds, the blaze exploded to 224 square miles (580 square kilometers) as it raced through heavy timber in Oregon's Fremont-Winema National Forest, near the Klamath County town of Sprague River.



To the southeast, the largest wildfire of the year in California was raging near the border with Nevada. The Beckwourth Complex Fire  a combination of two lightning-caused blazes burning 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Lake Tahoe  showed no sign of slowing its rush northeast from the Sierra Nevada forest region after doubling in size between Friday and Saturday.





A firefighter sprays water while trying to stop the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, from spreading to neighboring homes in Doyle, Calif., July 10. Pushed by heavy winds amid a heat wave, the fire came out of the hills and destroyed multiple residences in central Doyle. AP-Yonhap
People take part in a demonstration against the government of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, July 11. AFP-Yonhap



Thousands of Cubans took to the streets from Havana to Santiago on Sunday in rarely seen protests, expressing frustration over economic conditions, the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations and what they said was government neglect.



President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who also heads the Communist Party, blamed the United States for the unrest in a nationally televised speech on Sunday afternoon.



Special forces jeeps, with machine guns mounted on the back, were seen in the capital, Havana, and Diaz-Canel called on supporters to confront "provocations."



Thousands of people gathered in downtown Havana and along parts of the seaside drive amid a heavy police presence. There were a few arrests and scuffles.



A Reuters reporter witnessed police pepper spray a few protesters and hit others with batons, but there was no attempt to directly confront the thousands chanting "Freedom" as they gathered and marched in the city center. Their shouts of "Diaz-Canel step down" drowned out groups of government supporters chanting "Fidel."



The protests broke out in San Antonio de los Banos municipality in Artemisa Province, bordering Havana, with video on social media showing hundreds of residents chanting anti-government slogans and demanding everything from coronavirus vaccines to an end of daily blackouts.



"I just walked through town looking to buy some food and there were lots of people there, some with signs, protesting," local resident Claris Ramirez said by phone.



"They are protesting blackouts, that there is no medicine," she added.



Diaz-Canel, who had just returned from San Antonio de los Banos, said many protesters were sincere but manipulated by U.S.-orchestrated social media campaigns and "mercenaries" on the ground, and warned that further "provocations" would not be tolerated.



There were protests later on Sunday hundreds of miles (km) to the east in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba, where social media video showed hundreds marching through the streets, again confirmed by a local resident.



"They are protesting the crisis, that there is no food or medicine, that you have to buy everything at the foreign currency stores, and on and on the list goes," Claudia Perez said.





Cuba's President Miguel Diaz Canel walks with his followers after an anti-government protest in San Antonio de los Banos, Cuba, July 11. Hundreds of demonstrators went out to the streets in several cities in Cuba to protest against ongoing food shortages and high prices of foodstuffs, amid the new coronavirus crisis. AP-Yonhap
[TW: mentions of depression, suicide, and child grooming]

Former EXO member Kris Wu is under fire for allegedly deceiving and seducing underage girls. Keep on reading for all the details.

Kris Wu Accused of Dating Numerous Girls at Once

Back in May 2021, Kris was accused of dating famous internet celebrity Xiao Yi Tong Xue, whose real name is Chen Ziyi, after CCTV footage of the two at a movie theater was leaked online. The idol allegedly rented out the whole theatre for their date.

The idol released a statement through his personal studio, saying the theater was suspected of infringing on Kris' privacy. They claimed that Kris was on an outing with friends, but the videos and photos were maliciously edited to only show Kris Wu leaving and entering the theater with a girl.

However, following the claims, Du Meizhu, an 18-year-old college student, claimed that Kris Wu dated her and soon ghosted her.

Internet celebrity Xiang Yunjie also released a statement saying that she and Kris had gotten to know each other and were attracted to one another.

Claims from numerous women led Kris Wu's studio to pursue legal action against these internet users.

Kris Wu Accused by Du Meizhu for Seducing and Deceiving Minors

On July 8, Du Meizhu took to her Weibo and accused Kris Wu of flirting with underage girls. After experiencing death threats and cyberbullying from Kris Wu's fans, the Chinese student claimed that she could not accept it after knowing the truth.

After revealing that she had been struggling with depression and suicidal tendencies for a month, she then revealed that Kris Wu has a separate WeChat number to text underage girls.

Du Meizhu then says that Kris Wu preys after girls born after 2000, as well as underage girls preparing for China's national college entrance exam. Out of respect for the girls, she did not mention any names. However, she states that she heard from other women who have had similar experiences and provided screenshots as evidence.

Du Meizhu stated that Kris Wu lures girls in under the premise that he is casting a leading lady for his music video or is looking to sign a new artist to his studio. He would then invite them to hang out, play drinking games with them, and get them drunk. Kris would also coax these underage girls into dating him.

However, he would then take photos of these underage girls at drinking parties and show them to people "as if they were merchandise." Du Meizhu stresses that she has no reason to illegally accuse Kris Wu just for attention as she is speaking out on behalf of the underage girls Kris has deceived.

Du Meizhu states, however, that Kris Wu's WeChat number and his alleged middleman's WeChat number have already been deactivated.

Kris Wu Threatens Legal Action Against Du Meizhu + Du Meizhu Responds

Following these accusations, Kris Wu released a statement through his studio announcing legal action. They state that they are shocked that Du Meizhu would go so far as to attract attention and strongly condemn her malicious slander.

They claimed that Du Meizhu has published many false statements concerning Kris Wu and forged fake WeChat screenshots to seriously damage Kris Wu's reputation.

On July 9, Du Meizhu released a statement claiming that all she wanted was Kris's apology. Furthermore, she revealed that she is preparing to file a case against the idol and will actively cooperate with them to unearth the identity of the owners of the Weibo and WeChat accounts.

In her statement, she also tags the police and the People's Daily, China's official newspaper.

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Alexa Lewis
ENHYPEN has broken the record for the highest first-week sales of a Japanese debut album of a K-pop boy group in history, which was set by EXO almost six years ago.

On July 6, the rookie group dropped their first single album in Japan and has since been selling thousands of copies in the country.

July 11 was the sixth day of sales and yet ENHYPEN has already set a new record for the highest first-week sales on the Oricon Chart for a debut album by a K-pop boy group.

ENHYPEN "BORDER: Transient" Claims the Record for Highest 1st Week Sales of a Japanese Debut Album of a K-pop Boy Group

On the Oricon Daily Chart for single albums on July 11, ENHYPEN's "BORDER: Transient" remained at No. 1 with a total of 5,556 copies sold.

"BORDER: Transient" becomes the boy group's longest-running album at No. 1 on the Oricon Chart, surpassing "BORDER: CARNIVAL," which stayed at the top spot for four days.

If the 5,556 copies are added to the group's album sales in the past five days, they have now sold almost 200,000 copies in only six days.

Overall, ENHYPEN's Japanese debut album has already sold 195,637 total copies from July 6 to July 11. This is more than twice the first-week sales of the group's "BORDER: CARNIVAL," which only sold 83,218 copies.

In addition to this, ENHYPEN's "BORDER: Transient" is now the Japanese debut album by a K-pop boy group with the highest first-week sales on the Oricon Chart.

The septet beat the record of 146,892 copies sold, which was set by EXO back in November 2015 with their Japanese debut single album, "LOVE ME RIGHT."

"BORDER: Transient" is also now the best-selling album by a fourth-generation K-pop boy group. Moreover, it is now the second-best-selling album by a K-pop boy group in history, following EXO's "LOVE ME RIGHT" with cumulative sales of 197,008 copies.

It remains to be unseen whether ENHYPEN's Japanese debut album can ultimately surpass EXO's "LOVE ME RIGHT" and be the all-time best-selling album by a K-pop boy group on the Oricon Chart.

Furthermore, ENHYPEN now joins EXO and SEVENTEEN as the only K-pop boy group to sell more than 100,000 copies of their Japanese debut album in the first week.

EXO's "LOVE ME RIGHT" sold 146,892 copies, while SEVENTEEN "WE MAKE YOU" sold 127,985 copies.

Additionally, ENHYPEN becomes the second K-pop boy group in history to sell over 190,000 copies of their Japanese debut album on the Oricon Chart, following EXO.

Congratulations to ENHYPEN on their continued success with "BORDER: Transient"!

ENHYPEN Enters YouTube Japan Chart with Two Versions of "Given-Taken" Music Video

Meanwhile, the rookie group recently landed two entries on the latest "Top Music Videos" list of YouTube Japan.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: ENHYPEN Makes History as 'BORDER: CARNIVAL' Gets Certified in South Korea and Japan

ENHYPEN's "Given-Taken" MV secured the No. 57 spot with 690,000 views. The music video for the Japanese version of the song also made it to the YouTube Japan chart.

ENHYPEN's "Given-Taken" MV (Japanese version) claimed the No. 63 spot with 506,000 views.

The new K-pop boy group has also entered the Top Artists list of YouTube Japan, taking the No. 79 spot with 1,390,000 views.

For more news updates about other K-Pop news, always keep your tabs open here at Kpopstarz.

Owned by Kpopstarz.

Written by Mhaliya Scott


Description

Salary $39,348.24 - $47,828.76 Annually Location Everett, WA Job Type Full-Time Department Human Services Job Number 2021-00211 Division Human Services Housing & Community Services Closing 7/21/2021 11:59 PM Pacific Description Join our Snohomish County Human Services Team!



We have a full-time temporary position with medical benefits in the Energy Assistance Program of our Housing and Community Services Division.



This position will work 100% with the Energy Assistance Program. This is a 6-month temporary assignment. The candidate selected may be able to stay longer in this position based on the needs of the program.



This position requires working in the office 2-3 days per week and 2-3 days remotely per week. Looking for a dynamic individual with excellent math skills, ability to determine income and program eligibility, work in a fast-paced environment, and work with a very diverse population.



This individual must have high-speed internet, a private office space when working remote and the ability to redirect communication professionally when encountering disgruntled customers and be able to consistently retain program-related information as expected for this position.



NOTE: Any references to weatherization tasks or acquiring certifications in this notice are not applicable to this position.



Human Services Department mission is to help all persons meet their basic needs and develop their potential by providing timely, effective services and building community.



The Human Services Department includes 230 diverse, friendly, and dedicated employees who benefit from outstanding benefits and competitive wages. Employees are appreciated and have the opportunity to make a real difference in our community. Snohomish County is thriving and is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a life-long career at Snohomish County.



BASIC FUNCTION



To interview low income clients and establish their eligibility for grant funded energy and weatherization programs. Process necessary documents for compliance with regulations. Job Duties STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES Assists clients in person and on the telephone in correctly completing forms; reviews forms for accuracy; requests additional information as needed; calculates eligibility and answers questions regarding eligibility.

Answers telephone; respond to questions or routes calls to correct party.

Reviews client files to ensure that all documents are signed and completed per contract compliance.

Provides information and referral to Community Service Agencies.

Enters information on the computer in specialized format, including application, program or financial data.

Receives and routes incoming mail; may deliver mail to Post Office and maintain mail log. STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES Provides client training in Energy Conservation.

Assists client in budget counseling.

Schedules phone interviews; assists elderly, handicapped and homebound clients with their eligibility.

Assists with appointment scheduling.

Performs related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications One (1) year of experience in Energy/Weatherization programs performing a variety of office work, interviewing and computer experience; OR , any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program experience preferred. Must pass job related tests. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS



LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program experience preferred.



SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS



A valid Washington State Driver's License is required for employment. Additional Information KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES Knowledge of: computers, data entry and standard software programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel

standard office practices and procedures and all related office work

standard human service client protocol including interview techniques, client confidentiality requirements, and professional conduct Ability to: perform mathematical computations

communicate effectively with a diverse population

learn and retain a complex series of rules and regulations to determine eligibility and benefits

explain complex rules, policies and procedures in a concise easy to understand manner

read, interpret and enter data accurately and rapidly

maintain an organized work setting, tracking forms and applications

work with minimum supervision in a fast paced setting meeting deadlines while coping with distractions and interruptions

accurately follow oral and written instructions

maintain accurate records and prepare required reports

maintain a professional demeanor while exercising good judgment SUPERVISION Employees receive direction from a technical Lead Energy & Weatherization Assistant III, and supervision from a Human Services Specialist III or administrator as assigned. Objectives, priorities and goals/deadlines are established by the supervisor. Employees plan and carry out successive steps and resolve problems in accordance with instructions, policies and accepted practices. WORKING CONDITIONS The work is performed in the usual office environment with occasional field work when assisting clients.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.

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Requirements

None




Req #16671

Monday, June 21, 2021

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a subscription-led and digitally focused media and marketing solutions company committed to empowering communities to thrive. With an unmatched reach at the national and local level, Gannett touches the lives of millions with our Pulitzer-Prize winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services. Our current portfolio of media assets includes USA TODAY, local media organizations in 46 states in the U.S., and Newsquest, a wholly owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom with more than 120 local news media brands. Gannett also owns the digital marketing services companies ReachLocal, Inc., UpCurve, Inc., and WordStream, Inc., which are marketed under the LOCALiQ brand, and runs the largest media-owned events business in the U.S., USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com.

At REACHLOCAL, A Gannett, Inc. company and part of the USA Today network, we offer a total digital marketing system for local businesses, comprised of web presence solutions digital advertising solutions. Our mission is to help local businesses around the world get more customers. We believe in working hard to deliver results for our clients and having fun while we build meaningful relationships with everyone around us. That is why we are one of the first digital marketing companies to achieve the Local Search Association (LSA) Certification and have been named a Facebook Marketing Partner, a select group of companies recognized for their ability to drive exceptional advertising and marketing results from Facebook.



Were looking to build our teams with B2B hunters for our DIGITAL MARKETING SALES CONSULTANT role.Bring your talent and we'll equip you with exceptional sales tools, technology and world class products. With our 6-week training program and 90-day onboarding plan you will have the tools and skills to succeed in your new role





A bit about us

REACHLOCAL is a refreshingly agile, vibrant, and fast-paced100% digital marketing company focused on small and medium sized business. We attract and bring together like-minded talented, passionate, and ambitious people who like to collaborate, have fun, and learn together. We keep it 'real' and will encourage you to think 'outside the box' and do what's right for our customers.

Helping local businesses grow through online marketing is our mission, and our people know they're here for a good cause, bringing this to life every day by providing exceptional solutions and services to partner with SMBs. Our client first approach coupled with a genuine desire to understand our clients' needs, expectations, and goals is the driving force behind who we are, what we do, how and why we do it.





As a Digital Marketing Sales Consultant, youll have an opportunity to sell a broad set of solutions from our extensive market-leading portfolio such as SEM, SEO, Social Media, YouTube, OTT/CTV, Targeted Display, Websites, Live chat and much more.

What we're looking for...

A sales professional who builds trust and likes to share in your clients' success

Experienced B2B hunter with digital/advertising sales experience

Well-crafted sales process/methodology

Outstanding communication, influencing, and negotiation skills

No fear approach to new business development through cold-calling and networking

Proven ability to build rapport and develop strong business relationships

CRM experience (e.g. Salesforce.com or similar)

Ethical with a high level of personal integrity and initiative

Digital marketing knowledge and experience (e.g. SEM, SEO, Display, Social etc.)

What's in it for you

Competitive salary coupled with uncapped residual commissions and quarterly bonuses

Fast paced industry that keeps it exciting

Award winning products and service that give you confidence you can deliver for our clients

A great work environment that allows you to build your own schedule

Full benefit package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K & more

Unlimited Vacation Days subject to performance

Monthly business expenses

What you will bring

B2B solution sales, new business development and cold-calling experience

A well-crafted sales process/methodology

Outstanding communication, influencing, and negotiation skills

No fear approach to new business development through cold-calling and networking

Proven ability to build rapport and develop strong business relationships

CRM experience (e.g. Salesforce.com or similar)

Ethical with a high level of personal integrity and initiative

Digital marketing knowledge and experience (e.g. SEM, SEO, Display, Social etc.)

You can find out more about our awesome products at https://www.reachlocal.com/us/en/digital-marketing-services.





If you think you tick all the boxes, have the right attitude, able to work autonomously, manage your own day and be part of a winning team this is the opportunity you've been waiting for! Send us your application today so you too can be part of our success story.





About REACHLOCAL, Inc. REACHLOCAL is headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA, with over 35 locations throughout the United States, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. ReachLocal is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings are welcome and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by state, federal or local law. It is the intent of the Company to comply with all applicable federal, state and local legislation concerning equal opportunity in employment.





This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee.



#Sales

#REACHLOCAL
ATTORNEY II

PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, an electric generation and transmission cooperative serving Alabama and Northwest Florida, is seeking an Attorney II in the Legal Affairs Department at the Headquarters Office located in Andalusia, Alabama. The purpose of this position is to assist in the coordination of the legal affairs of the Cooperative with primary emphasis on real property acquisitions, contractual issues and litigation. Candidates must possess a Juris Doctorate or Bachelor of Law Degree with zero to three years of experience in property law, contract law preferably with an electric utility or related industry. The candidate must be in good standing of the Alabama Bar Association. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively with others; provide research, factual information, counsel and guidance on legal questions or issues, follow precedents, and work independently on a day to day basis with general supervision from the Legal Affairs Manager.

Employment is subject to a negative drug test, background check and completion of a comprehensive application for employment. PowerSouth offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits program.

Interested persons who meet the above qualifications may apply on PowerSouth's website at www.powersouth.com/careers by July 21, 2021.

EOE, including disability/vets

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The Skokomish Indian Tribe is seeking to hire a Grant Writer. The incumbent collaborates with Administration and Department directors to identify appropriate contract/grant opportunities. Incumbent will utilize the Tribes grant policies, protocol and procedures to develop successful applications on behalf of the Tribe. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with staff, departments, community and representatives of federal, state, local, and other agencies to address relevant issues. Identifies and scope appropriate grant opportunities. Develops grant abstracts, narratives, Tribal Resolutions and budgets for presentation to the Tribal Council for approval. Bachelors Degree with a major study in public administration, education, social services or related field. Must have ability to prepare complex grant proposal packages and three years of recent experience writing grants $30.00 hourly 1 FTE. Closes July 16,2021. For a full job description and required application visit our website by clicking apply. CONFIDENTIALITY: All prospective employees will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Violation of this agreement can result in immediate dismissal. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE POLICY: The Skokomish Tribe is committed to providing a drug-free workplace for its employees, volunteers and the community it serves. By Skokomish Tribal policy, all positions require pre-employment drug testing. PREFERENCE: The Skokomish Tribes Indian Preference Policy applies to all positions. First preference will be given to qualified, enrolled Skokomish tribal members. Second preference will be given to qualified Native American applicants who provide proof of enrollment in a federally recognized tribe. Applicants not entitled to, or who fail to claim Indian Preference, will receive consideration without regard to ethnic/national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, disability status, or membership in the tribal organization.

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Videos



Duties



Summary This position is at the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Division of Financial Operations, Liquidation Support Branch, in Austin, Texas. This position serves as a Supervisory Accountant responsible for managing and directing the financial reporting and accounting functions for the Asset Management and Assistance Center (AMAC) liquidation operations. Learn more about this agency



Responsibilities As a Supervisory Accountant, you will: Manage and direct the day-to-day operations of the Liquidation Support Branch.

Assist the Division Director in oversight of the development and implementation of long-term management strategies and plans for the Liquidation Support Branch.

Manage the execution of the monthly, quarterly and yearly closing processes, including the performance of closing journal entries and reconciliations.

Oversee and report to the Division Director on the execution of internal control procedures within the Liquidation Support Branch.

Manage the compilation and review the adequacy and propriety of financial statement line items, fiduciary transactions, and related reporting. Ensure compliance with financial reporting standards.

Serve as a technical advisor on financial reporting matters related to liquidations to the Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, OCFO staff, and agency officials. Provide management officials with authoritative advice, explanations, and interpretations on such.

Oversee the maintenance of policies, procedures, and operational guidance for the financial systems and processes.



Travel Required Occasional travel - Once onsite work resumes, you may be expected to travel for this position to conferences and training. Supervisory status Yes Promotion Potential 14 Job family (Series) 0510 Accounting Similar jobs Accountants



Requirements



Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen.

Suitable adjudication of background/security investigation is required.

A probationary/trial period may be required.

A supervisory probationary period may be required.



Qualifications Specialized experience is the experience that has equipped you with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.



All applicants applying for the CU-14 level must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the CU/GS-13 level obtained in the private or public sector.



Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience:

1. Serving as an accountant performing accounting and/or financial reporting responsibilities;

2. Providing reports, corrective actions, or recommendations as a result of financial audits or internal control reviews;

3. Providing accounting related advice and recommendations to senior leaders; and

4. Leading or directing teams, workgroups, or projects.



You must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement.

Please note, all experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.



YOUR RESUME MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience and support your responses to the online questionnaire as described in the vacancy announcement. When describing your experience in your resume, please be specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Please ensure that your resume includes the grade (if you are a current or previous federal employee), month, and year that you began and ended for each position held or that position may not be credited toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. Full-time employment will be assumed unless otherwise stated on your resume. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating.



Your resume must also support your responses to the online questionnaire. Failure to provide support may result in a lower rating and/or you may be excluded from consideration. Your latest resume submitted for this vacancy announcement will be used to determine qualifications and supersedes previous submissions.



Education In addition to meeting specialized experience requirements, applicants much also meet basic education requirements. Transcripts are required at the time of application.



Basic Education Requirements are as follows : (A) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in Accounting (means accounting and/or auditing); or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in Accounting. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law;

OR

(B) Combination of education and experience, at least 4 full years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. Your background must also include one of the following:

(1) Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;

(2) A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through a written examination;

OR

(3) Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., 15 semesters hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement of paragraph A, provided that: (a) you have successfully worked at the full performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that you have demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency, and level of advancement that which is normally associated with successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal non-conformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, your education, training, and experience fully meets the specified requirements.



Transcripts are required at the time of application.



All education must be received by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with an education requirement) therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees received from schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may verify accreditation at the following website: (see application details) .



FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for federal employment. A third party equivalency evaluation must be submitted at the time of application for all foreign education to receive consideration.



Additional information SALARY: Pay will be set within the advertised pay range to align with the selectee's skills and experience and the requirements of the position.



Pay will be set using NCUA's compensation policy. The salary range shown is NCUA's Local Pay Rate (LPR) which includes the locality rate for the Austin, Texas geographical area. Please click here to review all salary ranges based on locality.



EXCEPTION: If you are a current non-supervisory NCUA employee and are selected for reassignment into a supervisory position, you may receive up to a 10% salary increase, not to exceed the National Pay Rate (NPR) of the pay grade. Management will consider your current salary in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the new position.



SELECTIVE SERVICE: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. You may register or check the status of your registration by visiting the Selective Service website at: (see application details) .



This position is not in the bargaining unit.



NOTE: Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES (political) employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the point of contact listed on this vacancy announcement.



Illegal drug use by individuals working for or on behalf of the federal government, whether on duty or off duty, is contrary to the efficiency of the service and in direct violation of the Controlled Substance Act and the Drug-Free Workplace Act.



Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCUA's current posture will not require employees to perform official travel or work onsite at NCUA offices any earlier than August 30, 2021. This date may be extended.



If it becomes necessary for NCUA to request on-site work, NCUA may solicit volunteers for the assignment. Management reserves the right to request employees to perform on-site work in exigent circumstances.



NCUA IS A COMPETITIVE SERVICE FEDERAL AGENCY.



NCUA uses E-Verify, a web-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.



More than the number of positions listed may be filled through this vacancy announcement Read more



How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. First, your application package will be reviewed for completeness (resume, completed assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation). You will not be considered if you fail to submit all the required documents as outlined in this vacancy announcement.



Second, if you have a complete application package, your resume will be reviewed to determine if you meet the basic qualifications and specialized experience requirements (see "Qualification" section). You must provide specific details in your resume as to how your experience meets the specialized experience.



Third, your resume and supporting documentation may be compared to your responses to the assessment questions. The numerical rating you receive is based on your responses to the questions. If upon review it is determined that your resume and supporting documentation do not support your responses to the questions, your numerical rating may be adjusted and you may be excluded from consideration for this position.



The self-assessment questions have been developed to evaluate your competency in the following areas: Financial Management

Leadership

Principles of Accounting

Writing



Reference Checks: Reference checks will need to be conducted prior to an offer of employment for the top candidate(s) for this position. The reference checks will need to be conducted with current and former supervisors, if applicable, as a part of NCUA's selection assessment process.



If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, please click here: (see application details)



Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Read more



Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance Not Required Drug test required No Position sensitivity and risk High Risk (HR) Trust determination process Suitability/Fitness



Required Documents To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes:

1. Resume

2. Other supporting documents: Cover letter, optional

College transcript(s) - This position has a positive education requirement. Transcripts are required at the time of application.

Most recent SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service)

DD-214, SF-15 Form, and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty for veterans for consideration under veteran hiring authorities.

Non-competitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction In Force separation notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

Most recent performance appraisal, optional CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES:

Current and former federal employees must submit a Notification of Personnel Action, or SF-50, that indicates grade, status, tenure, and the full performance level (FPL) of the position held. Please do not submit an SF-50 for a cash/time off award.



Note : Current permanent NCUA employees are not required to submit a Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50). The status will be confirmed by the Agency.



VETERANS:

If you wish to receive consideration under an applicable Veteran's authority such as VEOA, 30% or more disabled vet, VRA, etc., you must submit a copy of your Veteran's documentation including a DD-214 (member 4 copy preferred, however, the documentation provided must contain dates and character of service), along with a VA letter, SF-15 , etc., if applicable. If you are a current active duty service member, please submit an official statement of service from your command.



Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and is claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by, or by the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.



CTAP/ICTAP: Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof of their eligibility: Copy of agency notice;

Most recent performance rating; and

SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location or Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction In Force separation notice. Note: To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above on the rating criteria for this position. For additional information, click CTAP .



Benefits A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits . Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.



Fair & Transparent The Federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.



Equal Employment Opportunity Policy The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants Read more



Reasonable Accommodation Policy Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when: An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.

An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.

An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events. You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about disability employment and reasonable accommodations or how to contact an agency. Read more Legal and regulatory guidance Financial suitability

Social security number request

Privacy Act

Signature and false statements

Selective Service

New employee probationary period




F.H. Alexander inc. is a commercial building contractor which has been producing quality new construction and building renovations in the Upstate New York area since 1991. Project size ranges from $10,000 to $5,000,000, with up to six projects underway at any time. We are currently looking for a full time Administrative Assistant to join our team to help with the day-to-day operations of a General Contractor. Position Responsibilities: Obtaining and coordinating the distribution of bidding project documents

Assist with Bid Calling, Invitations to Bid and Distribution of Plans & Specs.

Develop and maintain project files, both electronic and hard copy.

Issuance, logging and tracking of contracts and subcontracts.

Accurate maintenance of Subcontractor and Vendor information

Assist with Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable.

Coordinate project information between field and office.

General office duties, including but not limited to: answering phones, filing, copying, faxing scanning and other duties as assigned by Management. Essential skills and experience Ability to multi-task, while maintain accuracy.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Strong customer service orientation.

Advanced user of Microsoft Office and basic computer skills.

Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with a wide cross section of individuals.

Team player with the ability to be efficient working alone. Please send resume to Accounting@FHAlexander.com (preferred) or fax to 518-877-0580 No phone calls.

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Data Center Technician Mesa , Arizona , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Jul 9, 2021 Role Number: 200265504 Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job, and there's no telling what you could accomplish. The people here at Apple don't just craft products - they build the kind of wonder that's revolutionized entire industries! It's the diversity of those people and their ideas that encourages the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it. Data Center Technician is responsible for installing, servicing and maintaining Apple IT Infrastructure in a 24/7 environment with rapidly shifting priorities while maintaining high availability of the infrastructure. Strong attention to detail and effective documentation skills are critical components of success in this position. Key Qualifications Experience supporting IT equipment or related IT experience

Working knowledge of physical IT infrastructure components

Experience operating macOS, Windows, Linux

Experience running diagnostics, firmware updates, to resolve hardware/software issues

Experience working with network protocols and concepts

Experience with Linux command line script

Experience troubleshooting optical connectivity issues

Experience using cable analyzer, smart network tester, and OTDR

Experience using an Incident/Change request application

Experience using network and data center planning tools

Experience installing in-cabinet, uplink and structured cabling solutions

Experience with network architecture design and installation

Experience with cross functional collaboration and coordination between teams and team members

Ability to interact with the internal customers as well as vendors

Ability to create and update technical documentations

Ability to support frequent standing, walking, lifting, and working at heights

Responsible for ensuring government regulatory compliance, OSHA, EHS and other similar programs with direction from their management team

Valid license to drive standard street-legal automatic transmission vehicles within local jurisdiction

Experience operating heavy-load movement equipment up to 50 lbs (pallet jacks, chassis lifts, etc.)

Flexibility to work non-business hours (shifts) that may include weekends and/or holidays

Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills Description As a successful Data Center Technician, your performance objectives include a strong desire and capability to learn, grow, and develop new skills. Empower a culture of safety, security, and compliance in all aspect of datacenter activities. Establish and enhance strong working relationships with various internal teams and external suppliers. Understand overall ticket management process. Perform power cycles, swap out failed components, handle storage media, and troubleshooting. Perform cable installations, hardware rack / stack installations, testing, and troubleshooting using standard data center processes. Physically assist in moving and racking equipment. Supporting deployment of on-site data center physical infrastructure including servers, NetDevices. Supporting parts/component replacement and physical hardware troubleshooting. Assist data center Inventory and Asset Management Team with shipping/receiving and inventory management to support high work volumes. Lead through change by bringing clarity, generating energy, and delivering success. Education & Experience Minimum 3 - 6 years of related experience Associates degree in computer science Preferred technical certifications BICSI Installer I or equivalent, Server+, Linux+, Network+, ITIL , Linux/Unix Certification or related experience Additional Requirements Works on assignments that are moderately difficult, requiring judgment in resolving issues and making recommendations

Receives little instructions on newly introduced assignments under minimal supervision

Ability to work extended hours (with accurate hydrations) within a Data Center environment typically within the heat range of 79 degrees Fahrenheit to upwards of 105 degrees Fahrenheit

Use of appropriate PPE such as safety shoes, safety glasses, gloves and facial covering in various environments with ranging temperatures as listed above

Ability to travel foreign and domestic








Director of Campus Ministry

College of Saint Mary strives to create a safe, inclusive educational environment where every person's worth and dignity is valued and nurtured. Applicants representing diverse backgrounds and experiences are highly encouraged to apply.



Are you an enthusiastic, caring, and dynamic campus ministry professional? You might be a perfect fit to direct CSM's Campus Ministry. This position serves the ministry needs of a diverse student population and supports the ministry efforts of the whole campus community.



Our Idea of a Perfect Candidate Is Someone Who:

Brings a pastoral presence and compassionate spirit to the College campus

Enjoys working with students in a ministerial role

Can find innovative ways of engaging a diverse body of students

Has a passion for leading others in their faith, spiritual growth, and justice advocacy



Our Ideal Candidate's Education and Experience Include:

Masters degree in theology, ministry, pastoral studies, or equivalent education

Pastoral ministry, preferably experience with college campus ministry

Leadership of spiritual and faith formation programming

Knowledge of and experience with different religious traditions and spiritual practices

Strong knowledge of the Catholic faith tradition, including Catholic Social Teaching



This Position Is Responsible For:

Developing and facilitating programming that will enhance students' spiritual development

Collaboratively facilitating service- and immersive learning opportunities

Leading prayer for occasional campus events

Providing ministry to people of various faiths and cultural traditions

Cultivating a vibrant campus ministry community

Creating and facilitating spiritual leadership programs for students



Why You Want to Be on This Team:

You would be a part of a Mission-centered team, who works together to serve our community.

You would enjoy some flexibility in your schedule.

CSM is committed to supporting the work-life balance of its faculty and staff.

EOE



recblid zexght50dn6gxwsas68vmg84xw9694








Sign On Bonus for External Candidates and Eligible Employees We're fast becoming the nation's largest employer of Nurse Practitioners; offering a superior professional environment and incredible opportunities to make a difference in the lives of patients. This growth is not only a testament to our model's success but the efforts, care, and commitment of our Nurse Practitioners. HouseCalls Nurse Practitioners conduct in-home health assessments on enrolled Medicare Advantage members. A HouseCalls Nurse Practitioner will complete visits on members within a geographic area of responsibility. The nature of the HouseCalls visit can vary and could include performing an annual health assessment, a post discharge visit, or visiting more complex members more than once per year. Positions are available for full time (35 hours and above), part time and per diem. Primary Responsibilities: Conduct in-home assessments on health plan members. Average visit is 45-60 minutes in length. Assessment is performed and completed electronically. HouseCalls Assessment includes: Past medical history Review of systems Physical examination Medication review Depression screening

Checking vitals, conducting a physical exam that includes monofilament test, urine dipstick, and foot exam (as appropriate)

Identify diagnoses to be used in care management and active medical management in the furtherance of treatment

Formulate a list of current and past medical conditions using clinical knowledge and judgment and the findings of your assessment

Communicate findings in your assessment that will be used to inform members PCP of potential gaps in care

Identify needs and opportunities to generate clinical referrals appropriately

Identify urgent and emergent situations and intervene appropriately

Educate members on topics such as disease process, medication, and compliance

Compliance with all HIPAA regulations and maintain security of protected health information (PHI) Youll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in. Required Qualifications: NP license and national certification (ANCC or AANP, or the ability to obtain national certification and/or NP license in state of assignment) active, unencumbered licensure free any open/unresolved disciplinary actions including probation or restrictions against privilege to practice. May be requested to obtain additional licensure supported by business

Family, Geriatrics, or Adult certification

You will be provisioned with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and are required to perform this role with patients and members on site, as this is an essential function of this role Preferred Qualifications: 1+ years of clinical experience in their highest level of education, clinical setting

Experience in gerontology, cardiology, internal medicine, or endocrinology

Home Health care or home visit experience Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Excellent administrative, organizational and verbal skills

Professional image and behavior

Solid communication skills with the geriatric or Medicare population

Proficient with electronic medical records, the internet and access to a personal computer

Ability to work independently

Detail oriented

Dependable and reliable

Ability to lift 30-pound bag in and out of car and up and down steps, as needed

Ability to obtain reliable transportation in order to complete home visit assessments

Ability to travel up to 10% within licensed states if requested (with notice, based on business needs)

Ability to navigate public transportation, if required

Ability to navigate stairs and a variety of dwelling conditions and configurations

Ability to sit, stand and kneel, as needed, to perform physical assessment Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make health care work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.(sm) Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment. Job Keywords: Nurse Practitioner, NP, Family, Geriatrics, Adult, Optum HouseCalls, Erie, Genesee, NY, New York


Magnolia, AR (71754)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High near 90F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.


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Restaurant deals include 10% off all sides with the purchase of a meal at Dinkys Ice Cream Parlor & Grill; a Southsiiide cocktail (Social Still Tomboy Bourbon, ginger liquor and cinnamon simple syrup) for $10 at Zest; grilled chicken and balsamic beet salad with grilled bread, a cup of soup and cookie for $12.95 at Cafe the Lodge; a spicy Asian pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and fries for $11 and How Gouda Is This Bacon Jam Burger with fries for $11 at F&A Grog House; and Montreal smoked meat tacos for $13 or $16 with a side of fries at The Flying V Poutinerie.
After two hearings in June and August 2019 where the plan was met with opposition by residents of the neighborhood, the zoning hearing board voted 2-1 to deny the application. In its written decision, the board concluded that the proposed use for the house was more like a halfway house because its requirements for residents to attend religious services or meetings and 12 step programs and meet with a recovery specialist are the province of halfway houses, according to the lawsuit.
As it stands now, most school districts in Pennsylvania, including those in the Lehigh Valley, have not made decisions on mask-wearing for the fall. But at least one  Philadelphia  has said it will require pupils to wear masks.
The attorneys general argue that the Postal Service cannot justify the rationale for the changes, which it says are necessary to strengthen its position in the package-delivery business in which it competes with commercial carriers such as FedEx and UPS. Thats at odds with the Postal Services congressional mandate to give the highest consideration to important letter mail, the comments say.
Any job a resident can perform qualifies. However, residents are allowed to limit their job applications to those that offer employment and wages similar to what they had before they became unemployed and are within a 45-minute commute if telework is not available.
Burley, ID (83318)

Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. High 97F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low near 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
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Sayre, PA (18840)

Today

Cloudy with occasional showers this afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sports

Matsuyama withdraws from British Open

LONDON, JUL 11 (AGENCIES) | Publish Date: 7/11/2021 1:41:37 PM IST

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama has withdrawn from The Open at Royal St Georges after his recent COVID-19 diagnosis and inability to practice properly in time for the years final major, the Japanese golfer said on Sunday.

Matsuyama has been self-isolating since testing positive during the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit on July 2. He is currently asymptomatic but subsequent PCR tests have continued to show positive results. read more

Im feeling fine but havent been able to practice in preparation for The Open, Matsuyama said in a statement released by the R&A ahead of the torunament, which begins on Thursday.

Combining that with the difficult travel to the UK, my team and I have decided its best to withdraw to ensure everyones safety.

I feel badly missing The Open and look forward to playing again at St Andrews next year. Id like to thank the many golf fans for their continued concern and support as I strive to return to the game I love as soon as possible.

Matsuyama, who in April became the first Japanese man to win a golf major, is considered a contender to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics on July 23 and is expected to compete in the golf competition at the Games from July 29.
International

S.African Prez calls for calm following Zumas incarceration

Johannesburg, July 11 (IANS) | Publish Date: 7/11/2021 1:38:36 PM IST

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for calm after some people looted shops and burnt trucks calling for the release of former leader Jacob Zuma.

President Ramaphosa says the impact of public violence against the road freight industry and damage to freeways that serve as economic arteries will be felt also by the people organizing and committing these crimes.

The President says the reasons allegedly advanced for the violence in KwaZulu-Natal cannot be used to legitimise vandalism and public violence, acting spokesperson in the Presidency, Tyrone Seale said on Saturday.

People burnt trucks and tyres on the N3, N2 and M7 and other key roads around the incarceration of the former President who was given 15-month sentence after defying the Constitutional Courts order which compelled him to appear and give evidence at the state capture commission in February, reports Xinhua news agency.

The South African police have arrested more than 20 suspects for violent protest which resulted in at least 25 trucks being torched in KwaZulu-Natal. On Friday the Free Zuma group blocked roads, burning cars and attacking motorists calling for the former Presidents release.

The police on Saturday said they have beefed up deployment to contain the protests.

A large number of people have already been arrested for incidents of criminality witnessed in the province yesterday and cases have been registered to trace and arrest those that still have to be arrested.

A number of incidents were witnessed today of people who are opportunistic and used todays protest to enrich themselves by looting shops and other businesses, said KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Jay Naicker. He stated that they will arrest those doing illegal gathering, not observing curfew regulations and looting shops.

Naicker said they have deployed police officers across the province to deal with protests.
According to an undercover inquiry, cows were hit with electric prods, and lambs and piglets were not stunned long enough before having their throats cut at a government-approved small slaughterhouse.

In a searing hot water tank, one piglet looked to be alive, and others were tossed in without being checked for signs of life.

Covert Investigation

The Animal Justice Project (AJP), which conducted the two-month investigation, urges the government to stop plans to utilize public funds to subsidize slaughterhouses under the new Agriculture Act and conduct an independent assessment of abattoirs.

Following the closure of several local abattoirs in recent years, ministers seek to help them.

The concealed cameras at G & GB Hewitt, a family-owned business in Cheshire, caught 200 hours of film, according to AJP, which shows terrible animal abuse and suffering, several violations of the law, and a failure of a government veterinarian to prevent cruelty.

However, a meat industry representative disputed the findings, claiming that animals may move and look alive after they have died.

In examinations over the last six years, the government's food watchdog, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), has judged the slaughterhouse "usually satisfactory."

Related Article: UK to Ban Boiling Lobsters Alive, Acknowledging Crustaceans Are Sentient Beings



Incident Report





According to reports, the covert filming captured the following: When cows and bulls had nowhere to go, employees hit them with electric prods, which is prohibited.

For more than 40 minutes, bulls were forcefully jabbed on the skulls, totaling 200 punches. They were stabbed 18 times in 15 seconds on another occasion.

At least 80% of the animals filmed were stunned for an inadequate time, rendering them pain and discomfort insensitive. Some of the stuns lasted only a second.

Because of the delays following stunning, most of the animals murdered had time to restore consciousness before their throats were slashed. No personnel was observed looking for evidence of consciousness in the animals.

After insufficient stunning, sheep and pigs were videotaped hanging while aware, kicking out, and gasping.

Animal Abuse

Cows were shouted at, beaten, and shoved, some of which were inhumane.

Pigs had their legs chopped off while they struggled around in chains, displaying signs of life.

The stunning apparatus failed on four of the eight days that were videotaped, creating confusion and suffering among the pigs and sheep.

According to investigators, the FSA official vet was not videotaped entering the stun or kill rooms, and he ignored workers who broke the guidelines.

Ineffective Safeguard

They said that the film showed that CCTV, which has been obligatory in all abattoirs in England since 2018, was not safeguarding animals as effectively as it should be.

"For the period of our recording, the vet will have missed pre-stun shocks on animals, bad handling, malfunctioning stun devices, insufficient stun times, and indicators of awareness. Corrective action should have been done if the vet had been watching CCTV at the time of the incidents, according to an AJP spokeswoman.

Former UK government deputy chief vet and former veterinary director at the FSA, Alick Simmons, claimed other occasions when apparent violations of the law were demonstrated, including a sheep pulled by its horns and severely lame animals.

Also Read: Notorious Poacher Who Allegedly Killed 70 Bengal Tigers Arrested by Police in Bangladesh

For more animal news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!














TO win the anti-corruption war, Zimbabweans must be empowered to hold office bearers both in the public and private sector to account, while plans are afoot to introduce anti-corruption curricula from ECD to tertiary education, President Mnangagwa has said.

He was speaking during a virtual commemoration of the 5th African Anti-Corruption Day yesterday, where he also launched the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Strategic plan for 2021 to 2023, a roadmap for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to fulfil its mandate.

This comes as the Second Republic has put in place multiple mechanisms to tackle the scourge of corruption, which remains one of the greatest threats to the country and Africas development.

President Mnangagwa said his administration will not shy away from taking corruption by the horns as it has the debilitating effects of retarding economic growth and development.

Corruption prevention programmes should be strengthened, he said.

These should include systems and compliance checks, the introduction of curricula on corruption, ethics and integrity in schools from ECD level right up to universities.

The African Anti-Corruption Day was held under the theme Regional Economic Communities: Critical factors in the implementation of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC).

As we commemorate this years African Anti-Corruption Day, let us redouble our efforts to end the scourge of corruption towards an Africa free of corruption, said President Mnangagwa.

To succeed, the fight against corruption requires a multi-stakeholder approach.

To this end, my Government stands committed to the establishment of democratic, transparent, accountable, strong, and efficient institutions in our great country. Our vision of an upper-middle-income economy status by 2030 will be achieved if we collectively condemn corruption in a frank manner.

Citizens must be empowered to actively demand accountability. The leadership across all sectors, political and economic spheres at all levels are challenged to be disciplined and execute their duties with integrity and professionalism.

The interests of our people and the nation must always come first.

Zimbabwe has taken concrete steps to tackle the bane of corruption, with the Second Republic strengthening bodies like the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to execute their roles with minimal hindrance.

Apart from ZACC, police and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit have also been mandated to go a gear up in the fight against corruption.

Today, I am pleased to be launching the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Strategic plan for 2021 to 2023 which is a roadmap for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to fulfill its vision of a citizenry and institutions that uphold integrity, good governance for a corruption-free Zimbabwe by 2030, said President Mnangagwa.

This comes after President Mnangagwa last year launched the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which will run until 2024 as part of the broader fight against corruption, with the national steering committee that comprises senior Government officials, legislators, public and private sector as well as civic society already in place.

The integrity pledges, which will be signed by senior officials and members of political parties, have been drafted.

Harnessing ICT, the President said, laws will be passed to strengthen anti-corruption legislation, while at the same time public entities are directed to put in place technology-based procedures and processes which curtail and reduce the use of discretionary power by public officials.

Those positions of authority in public and private sectors, as well as those in the civic society, in community-based organisations, are challenged always to uphold principles of good corporate governance, transparency and accountability, said the President.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is urged to expedite the amendment of the Whistle-blower and Protection Act to protect our citizens and motivate them to bring forward any suspected cases of corruption.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is extorted to increase the institutions capacity to recover ill-gotten wealth through the asset recovery unity. Collaborating with countries of origin should be increased to ensure the freezing of ill acquired assets and ensuring repatriation of the stolen or illegally acquired funds.

Perpetrators of corruption stand warned that they cannot hide, the long arm of the law will surely catch up with them. I am optimistic that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission strategic plan will go a long way to combating corruption and improving transparency, accountability systems in all sectors of the economy.

President Mnangagwa said Government will continue to support the work of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission as the main institution mandated by the Constitution to combat corruption.

I urge the National Prosecuting Authority, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and all the old the key stakeholders in the anti-corruption chain to work in unison professionally and effectively in the discharge of their mandate without any fear or favour, he said.

With corruption often going beyond borders, the President underscored the importance of creating synergies and collaborations on the African continent to root the malpractice which is estimated to cost the continent US$50 billion annually.

Corruption is indeed among the greatest threats bedevilling the African continent; it barricades sustainable socio-economic development and the betterment of livelihoods of our citizens, said President Mnangagwa.

The scourge of corruption is all-encompassing and rooted in both public and private sectors, as well as among non-state actors. It often manifests through the deliberate manipulation of rules and expropriation of public resources for personal or group use. The consequence of this maleficence is that the majority of the citizens are affected, while development is retarded or deferred. Herald


LAW enforcement agents have come under fire for alleged selective application of the law after allowing thousands of Johane Marange followers to hold their annual pilgrimage at Mafararikwa village in Bocha, Manicaland province, at a time when all public gatherings are banned as a COVID-19 containment measure.

The pilgrimage started on July 3 and ends on July 17 amid fears it could be a super spreader of the respiratory disease as the sect members are reportedly not observing World Health Organisation-prescribed safety measures nor do they believe in vaccination.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has since petitioned police to urgently disperse the gathering and arrest the leaders.

Under level 4 lockdown, which was imposed a fortnight ago, all gatherings are prohibited, with an exception of funerals, which are restricted to only 30 people.

In a letter dated July 12, and directed to Manicaland provincial police boss, ZLHR lawyers said they would take legal action against the State if the police failed to disperse the apostolic church members by end of day today.

The letter was copied to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe and Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga.

We have noted with concern complacency in enforcing COVID-19 lockdown measures in Manicaland by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), who have either failed or neglected to disperse members of the Johanne Marange in Mafararikwa village, the lawyers said.

The neglect of duty by the police comes at a time when the country is facing an unprecedented increase in COVID-19 cases.

The lawyers said if the police failed to disperse the church members by the end of day today, they would attribute all COVID-19 deaths and infections in Manicaland province to negligence by the police.

By yesterday morning, the Health and Child Care ministry situational reports showed that Zimbabwe had recorded 2 185 deaths and 67 765 infections since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March last year.

It is common knowledge that public gatherings are super spreaders and a threat to public health, ZLHR wrote.

It is sad to note that members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Manicaland have kept a blind eye and failed to enforce COVID-19 regulations by failing to disperse and arrest the Johanne Marange members who are attending a vigil at Mafararikwa.

The neglect by the ZRP is a health hazard with far-reaching consequences on the overall community health of Manicaland province. Members of the police have a duty to enforce the law impartially.

Hundreds of opposition activists and ordinary citizens have been arrested for violating safety regulations, but Zanu PF supporters have often been left to go scot-free.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was not aware of the ZLHR letter. I havent yet seen the letter you are talking about, so I cannot comment on the matter, Nyathi said.

Kazembe was not picking calls on his phone. However, while addressing a Press conference on lockdown enforcement last week, Kazembe said police would enforce adherence to COVID-19 regulations without fear or favour.

But rights activists have accused government of applying the law selectively for failing to arrest and prosecute Johane Marange apostolic sect leaders for violation of the COVID-19 regulations like they do to similar offenders.

They accused top government officials of deliberately protecting the apostolic church members from justice for political expediency.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor, the late Robert Mugabe, have attended Johane Marange sect church services on several occasions to garner political support.

We understand that the Apostolic and Zion Churches in Zimbabwe are a big constituency with a huge following and has become a favourite hunting ground for political parties when it comes to soliciting election votes, hence it has to be handled with care or else one may risk losing their political support and the subsequent votes during election time, said Itai Rusike, executive director for Community Working Group on Health.

Rusike said there was need to balance between freedom of worship and saving lives, especially in the during of a global pandemic.

In a related development, Marondera police yesterday impounded a Sable company bus believed to have come from South Africa after finding it offloading passengers and goods in the town at a time cross-border and inter-city travel is under a 14-day lockdown ban.

Ministry of Health and Child Care officials tested the passengers, with three registering COVID-19 positive results while the other 35 tested negative. The bus company is now facing criminal charges while the passengers have been taken to Mahusekwa Hospital for isolation. No to smuggling activities and spreading of COVID-19 pandemic, police said in a statement. Newsday
VEHICLES were smashed while people were injured at Christmas Pass in Mutare when violence, pitting suspected smugglers of second-hand clothes, broke out over control of illegal routes connecting to Mozambique.

Travellers could neither drive into nor out of Mutare as the warring groups vehicles temporarily blocked the road.

Police managed to arrest Mutare businessman Edward Muhamba and 10 others in connection with the violence that injured people and damaged several vehicles.

The 10 are: Simon Muzonzini (45), Occasion Chimwendo (33) Guthrie Masuku (39) Ronald Muvhuti (37), Dumisani Chapanduka (30), Rapahael Marange (32) Learnmore Simango (39), Blessing Mutenda (19), Tawanda Zimunya (18), and Abishel Chidziya (22).

According to information gathered by the police, the fight involved a group led by Muhamba and another one led by a man only identified as Dzingai, who is still at large.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the fracas saying the 11 were in police custody pending appearance in court.

I can confirm the arrest of Edward Muhamba and 10 others over violence that took place yesterday Along the Christmas Pass area and it spread to Penhalonga area.

A group of about 50 people clashed and vehicles were damaged. They were using stones, sticks and iron bars.

Police received a tip off and went to Meikles Allied Timbers Estate, Penhalonga where they only observed smashed glasses on the ground but the gangs had already left.

Some four hours later, police received another tip and went to Christmas Pass where they found the camps fighting, he said.

According to the police, an unregistered Land Cruiser was found full of stones and sticks. A mob of more than 50 male adults engaged in verbal insults and armed some with sticks, stones and metal rods.

There was also a brown unregistered Land Cruiser vehicle laden with stones and sticks. It was idling. One white Landcruiser vehicle, registration number AES 9888 had no driver but the keys were on ignition. Police also found an unregistered Scania lorry whose windscreen had been smashed, said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the two rival groups were fighting over control of illegal routes used to smuggle bales of second-hand clothes from Mozambique.

After observing and interviewing sources, it turned out that of the two warring parties; one was led by Edward Muhamba and another one by one Dzingai. Police gathered that the groups were fighting over a smuggling route of second hand clothes around the border area, between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, said Asst Comm Nyathi.

The vehicles found at the scene were towed to Penhalonga Police Station while the 11 were arrested. The recovered vehicles,according to the police, belong to Muhamba.

Asst Comm Nyathi said police had launched a manhunt for Dzingai, who reportedly fled the scene together with the members of his group. According to the police, Dzingai was reportedly injured in the fight.

Investigations are in progress and a manhunt for Dzingai has been launched. It is believed he is nursing injuries from a private hospital, said Asst Comm Nyathi.

On the same day, police received another tip off and arrested two armed men who were escorting trucks ferrying smuggled bales of clothes in Nyazura.

They recovered 553 bales of second hand clothes, 13 boxes of cellphones and packs of Mariana rice, which had been smuggled from Mozambique.

Anyway Chinyanga (39) and Stanely Dzemwa (50) who were using smaller cars, were arrested while the drivers of the two trucks fled.

The pairs vehicles had shattered windscreens after clashes with rival smugglers in Mutare but the pair refused to make a police report.

Last week, police also seized two trucks and 157 bales of clothing in Burma Valley but the drivers and their assistants escaped.

The arrests and seizures followed an investigative story by The Herald that exposed rampant smuggling of clothing bales and fuel through an undesignated point in Burma Valley.

Of late, control of the porous border near Mutare had reportedly been taken over by smuggling cartels.

The cartels had become powerful and so daring, to the extent of hiring earth-moving equipment to clear and periodically repair gravel roads passing into Mozambique through undesignated points.

Armed former security officers were hired to provided escort services. Herald
Strips of spikes used by police to stop vehicles refusing to obey orders to halt are fully legal and any court trying to ban them would be tantamount to legalising crime and disempowering police from maintaining law and order, the High Court has ruled.

The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe had sued police, seeking an interdict prohibiting officers from using the strips of spikes and smashing windscreens of private taxis to halt pirate taxis and kombis, saying that this conduct endangered the lives of the public and causes blatant unlawful and malicious damage to private property police are supposed to protect.

Police have implemented internal procedures that have limited the use of spikes and teargas and stopped the smashing of windscreens for traffic violations.

But spikes are seen as an effective way of halting a vehicle whose driver refuses to stop when ordered to, and a way of halting a vehicle using minimum force.

Police introduced spikes to replace the use of firearms, which could cause unintended injury or death.

Spikes deflate all tyres of a vehicle, bringing it to a halt, but without the risks entailed when police shoot at a vehicles tyres and miss. In most cases a driver seeing spikes across the road decides to obey the halt order given rather than try and escape.

Police needing to use spikes are now expected to follow procedures set out in the Police Weapons and Equipment Coin and I.S Manual (Methods and Frequency), a handbook for police officers, which provides instructions on how they should use their weapons and equipment.

In this regard, police only resort to spikes to deal with pirate taxis that are breaching important road rules, endangering many lives, and which refuse to halt.

It was on this basis that Justice Owen Tagu refused to grant the application by PAZ, finding that for the court to do so would be to sanitise crime and disempower the police from enforcing law and order.

To grant the application would be tantamount to legalising the actions of these errant motorists as the police would be incapacitated to deal with them, he said.

The court accepted the police argument that operators of pirate taxis, commonly known as mushikashika, were not just committing traffic offences but other crimes that could be classified as more dangerous.

Some of the crimes include drug abuse, harassment of commuters especially women, and theft and robberies committed by people in the unregistered vehicles, which are mostly driven by immature and unlicensed drivers.

Police also argued that the conduct of the pirate taxis had resulted in a spike of pedestrian deaths, as they are run over by vehicles fleeing police officers.

Police further argued that touts employed by errant drivers, assault and kill police officers when they try to impound their vehicles and arrest the violators.

Through its legal counsel, PAZ argued that police should be barred from practising this rudimentary and barbaric way of enforcing traffic offence law.

The organisation further criticised the police conduct which they said had caused harm to passengers of the public and private vehicles and in some cases, the death of victims.

To this end, it is their submission that PAZ had reasonable apprehension that the security of more passengers was endangered, private property would be damaged and there was no effective alternative remedy in the circumstances except approaching the court for relief. Herald
J&Js vaccine was highly anticipated because of its one-and-done formulation and easy-to-ship refrigeration. But early on, it was linked to another rare risk, of blood clots, and the company hasnt been able to produce as much as expected because of problems at a Baltimore factory that helps make the shots.
Fridays federal guidance also suggested that schools should try to keep three feet of social distance wherever possible, but noted that spacing rules should not get in the way of bringing all students back to in-person learning.
These are historically unsanitary conditions, and the information that we have been able to get from (the Office of Court Administration) and other agencies doesnt provide as much information about what theyve done in the non-public areas ... like these interview areas and the holding cells and everywhere else, said Lisa Ohta, the president of the Legal Aid Societys lawyers union.
The Gotham Comedy Club reopened with a bang on April 3 as native New Yorker Seinfeld volunteered his services for the first show. Weekend Update co-anchor Michael Che of Saturday Night Live fame is booked every Tuesday at Carolines through the end of July. And the Comedy Cellar already welcomed a whos who of comedy: Chris Rock, Amy Schumer and Ray Romano were among those onstage since the club returned at 33% capacity in early April (now back up to 100%).
I am mindful ... that you have served most of your time in prison so far during the worst pandemic in this country during the past 100 years, Engelmayer said. Im mindful that your experience in prison as a result of the pandemic, the preceding lockdown, the ensuing lockdown, and your own illness was frightful. Prison is supposed to be punishment, but it is not supposed to be trauma of that nature or close.
He was so broken hearted, his spirit was crushed, she said of Allen, who worked with Kenneth in construction. He had a known heart condition and his passages just shut down when that happened. They said all three of his valves shut down and were unable to be reopened  thats how hard his breath was sucked out of him.
One neighbor, who didnt give her name, said she was standing in her kitchen when the barrage of bullets was fired. I heard what I thought was fireworks, she said.
An NYPD officer was shot in the arm with a BB gun in Brooklyn Sunday night, cops said  the second pellet attack in as many days in the borough, cops said.
To be very clear, prosecutors in this case did not believe there was an agreement not to prosecute or immunity for the defendant at the time we moved forward on the case, and we do not believe it now, Steele shot back Sunday night, mentioning Baer by name.
The intense rollercoaster of emotions that we have experienced over the past 18 days has been indescribable, she wrote. We truly appreciate all of our family and friends for being by our side, rooting us on, and praying that we be reunited with our mom. We hope our mom is looking down on us with pride, knowing we fought our hardest to find her.
A 60-year-old woman who had met Sylvester outside the jail and a pedestrian who was walking in the area at the time were also shot, the Tribune reported. The unidentified woman was shot in the knee and the 30-year-old pedestrian sustained a graze wound to her mouth. Both were said to be in good condition.
The Lafayette resident said he had been stuck in standstill traffic for at least two hours due to a multi-car collision up ahead, so he jumped from Basin Bridge on a lark. The plan was that hed quickly swim to the shore, climb back up and meet his friend at the next exit, he said.
As for what to do with said balls, he plans to deploy some of them as landscape edging and make some into sculpture, he told the Detroit Free Press. A nearby church requested some to use in a bowling ball cannon at a pig roast, the newspaper said. His stepfather will also take some balls off Olsons hands to use as custom furniture legs.
According to WPVI, the boy was taken from the basement of his home around 11:30 p.m. Family members said they heard a struggle in the basement and that the boy was gone when they went to see what was happening. The family also found a bullet hole in the basement but said no one heard a gun being fired.
Around 3 a.m. on Saturday, the Union County Prosecutors Office called the Putnam County Sheriffs Office and said Rios and his captives might be nearby and driving a Silver 2018 Ford Fiesta. The car was found at the Bethel Inn & Suites, a motel off the interstate near where Uyar was later found. According to NJ.com, Rios cooperated with investigators and led them to Uyars body.
Abdelhamid is the founder of Womens Initiative for Self Empowerment, an international organization that teaches women self defense. She got the idea for the group after a man tried to remove her hijab. Shes also been a board member of Amnesty International USA.
Some of that property is taken as evidence and, in the case of weapons, can later be destroyed once a case is resolved, or in other cases, property such as a vehicle can be auctioned off. Unclaimed cash is deposited into the citys general fund.
I can speak directly to what it is to be a victim of gun violence, said Sliwa, who founded the Guardian Angels public safety patrol group more than four decades ago. I should have had a seat at the table.
We cant continue to respond to symptoms. Its time to respond to the underlying causes of violence in our city, Adams said. This president is making it clear that hes going to redefine the ecosystem of public safety, and that includes identifying the role of police, schools, families, resources, employment  this is where we need to go as a country  and I have to take my hat off to this president.
During the handover, McKenzie credited Miller with getting U.S. troops home safely and moving out millions of tons of equipment. That has rankled some Afghan security officials who complained that equipment that could have been left for Afghanistans security forces was taken.
The president said Cubans are demanding relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime.
We want to spread the word, Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. If youre worried next month about paying the rent, if youre worried about feeding your kids, if youre worried about anything  getting that money to fix your car that has been broken for so long  help is on the way.
Abbott has demanded new election laws in Texas, and could keep calling 30-day special sessions until a bill is passed. He also punished Democrats after their May walkout by vetoing paychecks for roughly 2,000 Capitol employees, which will begin taking effect in September unless the Legislature is in session to restore the funding.
The woman left the house immediately after the incident and ran to a neighboring home in the town of Neston, leaving her husband in agony, authorities said. The neighbor, who she wasnt close to, later told police that she banged on his door and said, Ive hurt him really bad, I think Ive killed him, according to prosecutors.
This is a country with resources, Sanon said in a YouTube video. Nine million people cant be in poverty when we have so much resources in the country. Its impossible  The world has to stop doing what they are doing right now. We cant take it any more. We need new leadership that will change the way of life.
Haiti was forced to pay reparations to France for the loss of the sugar plantations  and the value of the Africans that won freedom. The $90 million gold franc penalty, worth tens of billions in todays dollars, was so steep that it took them nearly 125 years to repay. Forbes magazine notes that the funds could have been used to develop the country and forestall its notoriety as the poorest country in the western hemisphere. In recent years, Haiti has demanded that France return the reparations in current dollars to compensate for slavery.
Monday was the first time the victim has spoken during the case. She accused Bell of grooming her beginning when she was 12, and alleged the actors messages were blatantly sexual by the time she was 15.
According to its main star Kelsey Grammer, the revival about slightly neurotic psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane will take the show in a whole new direction: Frasier will be even richer than before. And we may or may not see most of the original cast members.
We were  not only as a country, but as a world  let down and openly neglected, misinformed, he said of Trump and the task force he put together, according to Variety. We had truth and reason assaulted under what was in all terms an obscene administration. When my team and I would come home from test and vaccinations sites at night, particularly during testing under Trump, to maddening news  it felt like someone with a machine gun gunning down communities that were most vulnerable from a turret at the White House.
Floridas law, though, has made it difficult for cruise lines to sail with what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require for a ship to get its conditional sailing certificate without first performing a simulated sailing. If a ship states it is sailing with at least 98% crew and 95% passengers vaccinated, it can skip the test sailing. That was how Carnival chose to get back to business with its initial sailings, but that move was also met with customer dissatisfaction since it meant no children were allowed on board initially.
Pino said he was discouraged about the slowing vaccination rates, and called on people between 25 and 34 to get the shot. The struggle, he said, is in part due to that age group being healthy, but capable of spreading it to more vulnerable people without the vaccine.
After climbing the tall slip and slide stairs with her father shouldering her up each individual step Samantha Ceballo laughs on her way down the water slide with her father Claver Ceballo not far behind during the Soaked 2021 event, a kid-friendly community event to raise funds and awareness for the Special Needs Community of Central Florida at Vital Church of Oviedo in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Orlando Sentinel Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.) (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
The 2021 Mecum Summer Special is July 28-31 at 9400 Universal Blvd. in Orlando. Gates open daily at 8 a.m.; vehicle auctions begin at 1 p.m. July 28 and 10 a.m. July 29-31. General admission tickets cost $20 in advance online or $30 at the door and online after July 27. Children ages 12 and younger enter for free. Registering to bid costs $200 for standard credentials or $500 for gold perks, including preferred seating, expedited credential pickup and access to all Mecum auctions during a 12-month period. For more information, visit mecum.com.
Fear because we still have loved ones there, and we know whatever we do and say here can backfire to them, de la Torre said. But I am very proud of the people who said enough, we are going out, I dont care. This is a new generation. It is not my generation. They know there is more out there, and they know that living in fear and oppressed is not a way of living.
Im not surprised really, to be very honest, she said. He was arrogant. I dont know anything about him. He was just arrogant. He told me, I will not move. I am staying here. You cant make me move. This was the way he was. Im here. I can do what I want. I think he enjoyed it  until he got arrested.
When training ended in April 1961 and the fighters headed to Cuba, they realized they werent getting the help theyd been promised by the U.S. military, including aerial support and a navy armada, Diaz Arguelles said. Roughly 1,400 men were transported from a Nicaraguan port in rusty merchant cargo ships to the Bay of Pigs on Cubas southern coast, then had to climb down ropes in the dark to board 18-foot aluminum boats from Sears and reach the beach  while under fire, because Castro had learned of the invasion in advance.
Rosens attorney said his client was heading home to Toronto to see a cardiologist. Blackmon, who set bond at $20,000, said Rosen was free to go back to Canada while his case plays out, but that he was forbidden to get there by flying out of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. You cannot return to the Fort Lauderdale airport, Mr. Rosen, do you understand? Blackmon said.
Cabrera served in the military under Cuban president and dictator Fulgencio Batista, but after Fidel Castros regime came to power in 1959, Cabrera spent over 20 years as a political prisoner in his homeland. He was exiled to the U.S. in 1980 and later became an American citizen, his lawyer said.
Within the rubble, personal items are being collected and will eventually be returned to their owners or next of kin. The twisted steel rebar and shards of concrete that have been hauled away, under the escort of police, are being kept in storage for investigators who are gathering clues as to what made 12 stories plunge to the ground on June 24.
22-year old Johnny Kirk of Santa Rosa Beach, accused of killing an 80-year-old man at a park, was fatally gunned down by deputies early Monday after he opened fire at them, the Escambia County Sheriffs Office said. (Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office)
National Public Radio reported last week the Sacklers would give up ownership of the bankrupt drug company and pay roughly $4.2 billion toward the settlement fund from their private fortunes in installments spread over the next decade. Operating and sales revenues, along with certain insurance proceeds and other assets, will be combined with a contribution of $4.275 billion (over a series of years) from the Sackler family, who are the shareholders of Purdue, in exchange for releases from civil liability.
Just to clarify, the reason that Southwest Value Partners filed the eviction complaint is because I stopped acquiescing... and proceeded forward in partnering with Pat and others to allow the events to take place in the style of music that was appropriate for their culture, Tazioli said. I came to the conclusion that thats the right thing to do. Business-wise, it made sense. But more importantly, to me, its the moral side of the question.
This bill also authorizes students, without permission, to record class lectures, not only for educational purposes but also as evidence related to any complaint or to any civil or criminal offense, which may be reported by students to department deans or administrators. Many professors already record each online or person-to-person class and provide them to students for study purposes.
In reference to the statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith which Lake County rejected for its historical museum (What is the future for Confederate statue? July 9), I say why does it have to be relocated? Break it up, melt it down, destroy it in whatever manner is cost-effective. These statues were erected to glorify the Confederacy and that mindset has been perpetuated to this day, with people flying the Confederate flag on their properties and insurrectionists carrying it as they storm the halls of our Capitol.
The county has 13% of the states population  and has had 21.5% of the states cases and 17% of the deaths. Miami-Dade was the county that was the hardest hit with COVID in all of Florida. So its not surprising there are a lot of people in Miami-Dade, no matter what their political views, who said, Im going to get me that vaccine, Zelden said.
The straw poll results stressed the bind DeSantis is in when it comes to his political mentor. The FLorida governor has been gaining a national following promoting his total opposition to any COVID-19 measures, but Trumps continued hints that he will run for a third time in 2024 could stand in the way of a 2024 run.
Oswego, NY (13126)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 75F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Oswego, NY (13126)

Today

Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Water inflow into Iranian dams declines 47% yr/yr

07/12/21

Source: Tehran Times

Water inflow into the Iranian dams from the beginning of the current water year (late September 2020) up to July 9, has decreased by 47 percent compared to the previous year's same period, according to the Iran Water Resources Management Company's data.

As reported, the total volume of water inflow to the reservoirs of the country's dams in the mentioned period reached 27.29 billion cubic meters, while the figure stood at 51.7 billion cubic meters in the previous year's same period.

Based on the mentioned data, compared to the figures for the previous water year, the volume of water outflow from the country's dams has also decreased by 34 percent to stand at 28.86 billion cubic meters.

The total volume of water stored behind the country's dams is reported to be 25.56 billion cubic meters on July 9, while the figure stood at 36.11 billion cubic meters last year.

The capacity of Iran's dam reservoirs currently stands at 50.5 billion cubic meters.

The sudden increase in temperature in Iran and the decline of rainfalls across the country have caused severe drought in the current year so that the energy ministry is implementing new programs for managing water and electricity consumption.

Out of a total of 183 currently operational dams across Iran, 52 are related to the Caspian Sea catchment area, 12 are based in the Urumieh basin, 68 dams are located in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman watersheds, 34 dams are in the Central Plateau, 11 dams are in Sarakhs catchment basin, and another six dams are located across the eastern boundary basin (Hamoun).
( ) David Minchin joins Proactive London to confirm another notable helium gas show in the Tai-1 well. He goes on to explain why this will now be sidetracked due to a setback to the programme in Tanzania.

He explains that the delay caused by the loss of drill string in the midst of the drilling is unfortunate but that contingency plans have been implemented to sidetrack from above the lost pipe and continue drilling to test both the Red Sandstone gas show and priority target horizons beneath.
The investment bank said illiquidity and low transaction volumes could place a "significant limitation" on Bitcoin's potential as a medium of exchange in the Central American country

El Salvadors adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender later this year could cause problems for both the country and the cryptocurrency, according to analysts at JP Morgan.

According to a Bloomberg report on Sunday, the investment bank said in a report last week that a large amount of Bitcoin is tied up in illiquid entities, around 90% of which has not changed hands in over a year, which could present issues with its use as a medium of exchange by citizens of the Central American nation.

Analysts said daily payment activity in El Salvador would represent around 4% of recent transaction volume on the Bitcoin blockchain and over 1% of the total value of tokens that have been transferred between wallets in the last year.

As a result, JP Morgan said the low volume and illiquidity impact could potentially be a significant limitation on its potential as a medium of exchange.

Should the assessment prove accurate, the effort by El Salvadors president Nayib Bukele to make Bitcoin legal tender, which is said to be an attempt to decrease the countrys large unbanked population as well as lower the cost of remittances, could end up causing more harm than good.

JP Morgan flagged other challenges facing the adoption of Bitcoin in the nation, notable widespread scepticism of using the crypto as a medium of exchange, its high levels of price volatility and a demand imbalance for Bitcoin and US dollar conversions which they warned could present fiscal and balance of payments risk.

In late morning trading in London on Monday, Bitcoin was up 0.3% at US$33,835, giving it a market cap of US$634.5bn.
Most captain vacancies will be filled by internal promotions of first officers, who will then be replaced by new cadet pilots

( ) announced plans to hire 2,000 new pilots to crew aircraft deliveries over the next three years.

The budget carrier said the investment in new aircraft, such as the greener Boeing 737-8200 Gamechanger, has created an opportunity to take in new staff as it rebuilds from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most captain vacancies will be filled by internal promotions of first officers, who will then be replaced by new cadet pilots.

Training courses will take place this year so the new hires will be ready for Summer 2022 for positions all over Europe.

The Irish airline has partnered with Airline Flight Academy in Dublin for the courses.

Last year, the group said it would cut 3,000 jobs but the plan was scrapped after unions agreed to cut salaries of pilots and cabin crews to avoid redundancies.

Shares shed 4% to 15.66 on Monday late morning.
A glance at some of the day's highlights from the Proactive Investors newswire

MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:MXC, LON:MXC) hailed as a major milestone the recruitment of its first patient to a phase III trial of its cannabis-derived drug in patients hospitalised with Covid.

BATM Advanced Communications Limited (LON:BVC) said its Telco Systems subsidiary has launched a new suite of networking systems under the Edgility brand.

Argo Blockchain PLC (LON:ARB) said it has appointed Jean Esquier as vice president of technology & development and Theodore Papadakis as head of data centre operations.

Westminster Group PLC (LON:WSG) has been awarded a contract to supply security services to help protect the Tower of London.

Norman Broadbent PLC (LON:NBB) said its group chief executive Mike Brennan has resigned and will be leaving the company and board effective immediately after more than five years with the firm.

Voyager Life PLC (LON:VOY) has hailed as an important new deal its tie-up with Scottish independent pharmacy chain Inphaserve to which it will supply cannabidiol and hemp seed products.

Directa Plus (LON:DCTA) said research has been published supporting the use of its functionalised graphene as an antimicrobial in face masks.

Coro Energy PLC (LON:CORO) has inked a deal to acquire a portfolio of planned rooftop solar projects in Vietnam.

Helium One Global Ltd (LON:HE1) has confirmed another notable helium gas show in the Tai-1 which is now being sidetracked, due to a set back to the programme in Tanzania.

San Leon Energy Plc (LON:SLE) told investors it has now signed a new heads of terms agreement for the proposed reorganisation and consolidation of the Midwestern Leon Petroleum Limited vehicle which holds a stake in the OML 18 oil assets in Nigeria.

EQTEC PLC (LON:EQT), a gasification technology and engineering company, clarified its position in relation to North Fork Community Power LLC project in California. The AIM-listed company said it is the technology provider to the waste-to-energy project and has no role or scope in relation to project management.

Emmerson PLC (LON:EMKL) has appointed Rupert Joy as a non-executive director. Joy is an experienced diplomat and former ambassador and head of the EU delegation to Morocco. The appointment is designed to further strengthen Emmersons national profile and networks as it advances towards the construction of Africa's first commercial potash mine in Morocco.

Oriole Resources PLC (LON:ORR) has appointed of Claire Bay to the board of directors as executive director, exploration and development. Bay is a chartered geologist with over 13 years experience in the resources sector.

Cobra Resources PLC (LON:COBR) has appointed Jason Cherry as exploration manager. Since June 2021, Cherry has been in the field managing Cobra's aircore geochemistry programme at Wudinna in South Australia.

Inspired Energy PLC (LON:INSE) has changed its name to Inspired PLC to reflect the evolution of the company. The technology enabled service provider has three divisions: Inspired Energy, Inspired ESG and Inspired Software.

DeepVerge PLC (LON:DVRG), an environmental and life science group of companies, has appointed ex Ogilvy business director Niamh O'Kennedy as group marketing officer to lead its brand acceleration strategy.

Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (LON:FARN) sad it will host a webinar entitled 'Clever-1 as a target for macrophage-guided immunotherapy' on Monday 19 July 2021 at 8.30 am EDT (1.30pm BST, 3.30pm EEST), which can be accessed at the "Investors" section on Faron's website. It will feature a presentation by Dr Maija Hollmen, adjunct professor of tumour immunology, group leader and academy research fellow at the MediCity Research Laboratory at the University of Turku, Finland, and a presentation from chief executive Dr Markku Jalkanen on the potential of bexmarilimab, Faron's wholly-owned, novel precision cancer immunotherapy targeting Clever-1, which is currently in Phase I/II development as a potential monotherapy in patients with solid tumours who have exhausted all treatment options.

Savannah Resources PLC (LON:SAV, OTCMKTS:SAVNF) chief executive David Archer will provide a live investor update presentation via the Investor Meet Company platform on 22 July at 1pm BST for existing and potential investors. Questions can be submitted pre-event via the Investor Meet Company platform before or during the live presentation.

Belvoir Group PLC (LON:BLV) chief executive Dorian Gonsalves and chief financial officer Louise George will provide a live presentation followed by Q&A to retail investors via the Yellowstone Advisory platform at midday on 13 July.

Ncondezi Energy Limited (LON:NCCL) announced that a new corporate presentation is available on its website.

NextEnergy Solar Fund PLC (LON:NESF) notified that its annual general meeting will be held in Guernsey on 9 August at 10am BST. In light of the restrictions in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote by way of proxy instead of attending the AGM in person.
SML said that the conditions associated with the approval were expected

( ) said its Leigh Creek Copper Mine (LCCM) has been granted conditional approval for its Programme for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation on the Paltridge North deposit.

The Australian energy department gave the go-ahead subject to several items to be reviewed plus a deposit of A43.7mln and payment of A$81,000 to a native vegetation fund.

SML said that the conditions associated with the approval were expected and reflected in LCCM's application.

The bond requirement is larger than catered for in the company's financial modelling, it added, but is comfortable given the level of funding being sought to restart production and especially given the boost to likely profitability from the recent increase in the copper price and US/A$ exchange rate.

John Peters, SMLs managing director, said: "The conditional approval of the PEPR was as expected and is an important milestone in restarting full-time production at the Mountain of Light plant at Leigh Creek.

"Work will begin on fulfilling the conditions, some of which are already underway, and the company will report on its plans in due course.

 Increased forecasted Project profitability and planned exploration has significantly improved the Project's attractiveness and is assisting attempts to secure funding, especially as planned facility repayment is forecast to occur within two years of drawdown.
Traffic generally to the AIC site is rising, it said, adding that Month was a new record for monthly visits.

PLC ( ) remains the most searched trust on the Association of Investment Companies website, the trade body said today.

SMT has been the UKs best performer among the investment trust sector for each of the past one, five and ten years, according to Morningstar.

Over the past year, Scottish Mortgage, which has made huge gains on tech holdings in such as Amazon, Tesla and Tencent is up by 63%, by 406% over five years and an impressive 872% over a decade.

Second to SMT in the performance tables is Allianz Technology Trust, which over the past five years is up by 375% and by 761% over ten years.

Like SMT, the trust has done exceptionally well out of the tech boom, though curiously it ranks only twentieth in the AICs search list.

Allianz does not pay a dividend, which might be a reason as the AIC says that consistent dividend payers have grown in popularity during lockdown

Eleven of the 20 most viewed companies have increased their dividends for 20 or more years in a row.

New entrants meanwhile, included PLC ( 11th), ( 12th), ( 17th) and JPMorgan Global Growth & Income (LON:JGGIL 19th).

Traffic generally to the AIC site is rising, it said, adding that Month was a new record for monthly visits.
The medicines developer has locked down a key approval to test its own offering against a multi-billion-dollar drug in a 12-week observational study into neuropathic pain.

Zelira will test its proprietary product in a neuropathic pain study in the US.

Zelira Therapeutics (ASX:ZLD) (OTCMKTS:ZALDF) has secured Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for a pain observational trial to take place in the US.

The cannabinoid medicines developer is set to test its patent-protected product against a big pharmaceutical companys multi-billion-dollar revenue drug.

Approval from IRB means Zelira has navigated a regulatory approval path for the upcoming trial, with the first batch of results expected in 2022s first half.

Ultimately, its hoped the trial will measure how effectively Zeliras offering can treat neuropathic pain compared to a major, established pharmaceutical drug.

Zelira to conduct innovative trial

Zelira Therapeutics Chairman Osagie Imasogie said: We are very pleased with receiving our IRB approval.

We are even more pleased that we can conduct this innovative trial that we hope will provide additional safe and effective options for physicians and patients in the treatment of pain caused by neuropathy.

The observational study

With IRB approval in tow, Zelira will trial its patent-protected product during a US-based observational study, which is poised to run for 12 weeks.

Specifically, the healthcare stock will evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of its proprietary creation compared to a major drug from a big pharmaceutical company.

While the specific company is not named in todays release, big pharma is defined as a suite of multinational, highly successful pharmaceutical operations with economic, political or social influence.

It means Zelira is set to go head-to-head with a major recognised pharmaceutical body in the upcoming trial.

Zelira partners with Levin

Todays news comes just weeks after Zelira licensed its cannabinoid formulation to Levin Health Limited for an upcoming clinical trial.

During the study, Levin will use the medicinal cannabis company's ZTL-106 formulation for testing on retired athletes in a chronic pain treatment study at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

This trial will be sponsored by Levin, which will pay Zelira to design and manage the study, while both companies will share any commercialisation profits.

At the time, Zelira Therapeutics managing director Dr Oludare Odumosu said: Zelira is thrilled to partner with Levin Health on this innovative drug development project.

This collaboration demonstrates Zeliras world-class formulation and expertise in fast-tracking drug development.

This partnership also leverages Levin Healths mission to impact chronic pain treatment approaches.

"We look forward to creating and validating a proprietary product that will help treat chronic pain.
Okapi aims to deliver a JORC 2012 resource estimate for the Tallahassee Uranium Project in coming months and subsequently kick off a 10,000 metres drilling program.

The company will be well-funded with about A$6.3 million in cash upon completion of a placement with high-impact work programs to commence in 2H 2021.

( ) (FRA:26O) shares surged as high as 55% intra-day on Monday after signing a transformational binding agreement to acquire 100% of Tallahassee Resources, which holds a portfolio of large, high-grade uranium projects in the US.

Tallahassee has a 100% interest in mineral rights that cover about 7,500 acres in the Tallahassee Creek Uranium District of Colorado (Tallahassee Uranium Project) together with an option to acquire 100% of the Rattler Uranium Project.

The Tallahassee Uranium Project contains a JORC 2004 resource estimate of 26 million pounds of uranium (U3O8) at a grade of 540ppm U3O8, with significant exploration upside.

The Rattler Uranium Project includes the historical Rattlesnake open pit mine from which 285,000 tonnes of ore was mined between 1948 and 1954 at grades of 2,800ppm U3O8 and 10,000ppm vanadium (V2O5) for 1.6 million pounds of U3O8 and 4.5 million pounds of V2O5.

High-impact work programs to commence in 2H 2021

Okapi will pay the vendors of Tallahassee Resources 33.5 million new Okapi shares and 16.75 million options as consideration for the deal, subject to shareholder and statutory approvals.

The company has already received firm commitments from sophisticated and professional investors to raise about $2.84 million at 20 cents per share via a share placement.

Okapi will be well-funded with about A$6.3 million in cash and cash equivalents upon completion of placement with high-impact work programs to commence in 2H 2021.

Okapi executive director David Nour said: This is a transformational opportunity for Okapi to become one of the most prominent uranium developers in the world.

Through this acquisition, Okapi is perfectly placed to capitalise on the strengthening uranium market.

Uranium deposits and historical mines in the central-western portion of the Tallahassee Creek Uranium District.

The greater Tallahassee Creek Uranium District hosts more than 100 million pounds of U3O8 with considerable opportunity to expand the existing resource base by acquiring additional complementary assets in the district.

The Rattler Uranium Project is just 85 kilometres from the White Mesa Uranium Mill, the only operating conventional uranium mill in the US hence provides a near-term, low-capital development opportunity.

Rationale for the acquisition

US President Joe Bidens administration has embraced nuclear energy to achieve its goal of a net zero carbon economy by 2050.

Okapis strategy is to become a leader in North American carbon-free nuclear energy by assembling a portfolio of high-quality uranium assets through accretive acquisitions and exploration.

The acquisition of Tallahassee provides Okapi immediate leverage to several large, high-grade North American uranium projects, together with direct access to a team who has in-depth knowledge of, and experience operating in, the North American uranium sector.

Carbon-free energy

Major forecasters expect electricity demand will grow an incremental 55% by 2035 as electric vehicle penetration continues to accelerate.

Electric car registrations increased by 41% in 2020 with 10 million electric cars on the worlds roads at the end of 2020.

As electricity demand increases, so does the need for reliable, emission free base load power.

Electricity generation is the largest and fastest-growing contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Nuclear power is one of the few energy sources capable of delivering baseload carbon-free energy around the clock and currently accounts for 55% of carbon-free electricity in the US.

National, strategic uranium reserve

Owners and operators of US nuclear power reactors purchased the equivalent of about 48 million pounds of uranium in 2019 with less than 12% purchased from domestic sources while a combined total of 42% was purchased from Russia (15%) Kazakhstan (18%) and Uzbekistan (9%).

In late 2020, the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved, with bipartisan support, a bill that advances a federal initiative to establish a national, strategic uranium reserve.

Forward work plan - Tallahassee Uranium Project

Tallahassee Resources is working towards declaring a 2012 JORC Mineral Resource estimate for the Tallahassee Project in the coming months.

Tallahassee anticipates then embarking upon a circa 10,000 metres drilling program to:

Expand the existing resource base;

Improve confidence in the existing resource base; and

Acquire samples that can be used for initial metallurgical test-work.

Depending on the results of this work, initial conceptual mine design work may be undertaken to help determine the most appropriate work programs to implement thereafter.

Tallahassee also considers there are opportunities to acquire additional mineral rights in close proximity to those it currently holds, with such areas providing opportunity to:

Expand the resource base through either discovery of additional resources on previously underexplored property or through acquisition of properties that contain known mineralisation, including, in some cases, historical resources; and

Enhance the economics of developing a stand-alone mining operation by expanding the projects resource base.

Forward work plan - Rattler Project, Utah

Tallahassee intends undertaking initial reconnaissance work at Rattler in the coming months to endeavour to determine where historic drilling has been undertaken (based on ground disturbance).

If historical drilling data cannot be located, initial drilling programs are expected to target areas where high-density historical drilling is evident, as this is likely to correspond with trends of high-grade mineralisation.

Tallahassee also intends pursuing acquisition of additional mining claims in neighbouring areas.

Board appointment

The Tallahassee Uranium Project was previously under former ASX-listed explorer Black Range Minerals banner.

Between 2007 and 2014, Black Range carried out multiple drilling programs with more than 2,220 holes in the district for about 350,000 metres of drilling.

Black Ranges exploration work resulted in a JORC 2012 resource estimate within its landholdings of 90.4 million pounds of uranium oxide from ore grading an average 600 ppm uranium oxide.

Okapis purchase of Tallahassee Resources has been backed by previous founders and management of Black Range.

Former director and head of exploration in the US for Black Range, Ben Vallerine, will join Okapis board as a non-executive technical director.
The skillset of new chief exploration geologist Mark Burdett can assist the company to unlock the gold mineralisation potential of the historical central Victorian project.

( ) has appointed highly credentialed geologist Mark Burdett as chief exploration geologist for the Blackwood Gold Project in the goldfields of central Victoria.

This is the latest in a series of appointments as the company builds a team aimed at gaining maximum benefit from Blackwood.

The companys activities and the apparent strength of the project are creating interest from highly qualified geologists to join the team as they seek to contribute to the development plans.

Burdett is a highly credentialed geologist with a broad range of experience and skills in consulting and operational gold settings.

He is due to begin for Cauldron in August 2021 which aligns with the mobilisation of the underground drilling contractor.

Suitably qualified

Cauldron director Jess Oram said: Cauldron is very fortunate to attract the services of such a suitably qualified and motivated geologist to Cauldrons Blackwood Gold Project.

The combination of potential, opportunity and skill unleashed at the Blackwood Gold Project will help build the value of the project and along with it the company.

Burdetts experience

Burdett has completed gold-focused structural mapping of macro-fold systems and this is what sparked his interest in helping Cauldron unpick the structural gold puzzle at Blackwood.

This interest along with Burdetts skillset is expected to assist Cauldron as it seeks to unlock the potential gold mineralisation proved by historical production in the region.

Part of this puzzle is identifying and targeting the high-grade plunges downdip from the historical production from the Blackwood Project line of lode, the reef system that extends more than 3.5 kilometres in length and which is dotted with numerous shafts sunk in the 1860s.

Building team

The new recruit will join consultant Stewart Govett and new exploration manager Asha Rao, and together the team will build on the work Govett has done to compile and interpret the historic data which has laid the platform from which this technical combination can build.

Burdetts addition to the Cauldron team is important, with his rare combination of industry and academic methodologies in structurally controlled gold systems.

Upcoming approved program

In its upcoming approved program, the company aims to target high-grade plunges of gold mineralisation interpreted to lie below historical production at the Blackwood Project.

For the first time in a generation, Cauldrons technical team has the opportunity to view these historically isolated operations under one ownership.

Oram said: We are excited to build towards the upcoming underground drilling using the fantastic drill platform offered by the Tyrconnel and the project.

The Blackwood Gold Project is in Victorias highly productive Golden Triangle having exceptional opportunity to extend the ore shoots abandoned by past miners.

In addition, there is potential to discover new gold ore shoots lying proximal to the underground tunnel system left by historical mining activity.
Securities will remain in trading halt until Wednesday, July 14, 2021, or when an announcement is released to the market.

Recent drilling has validated the companys geological model with the strongest mineralisation.

( ) has been granted a trading halt by the ASX ahead of an announcement regarding a proposed capital raising.

The halt will remain in place until the start of regular trading on Wednesday, July 14, or until an announcement is released to the market, whichever occurs earliest.

Intersects broad zones

Earlier this month, the company demonstrated strong platinum group elements (PGE) potential at its Yarawindah Brook Nickel-Copper-PGE Project in Western Australia following recent diamond drilling at Yarabrook Hill and XC-29 prospects.

As expected from visual observations, drill holes YAD0017 and YAD0018 at Yarabrook Hill returned broad zones of anomalous PGE mineralisation with narrow intersections of highly encouraging palladium, platinum, nickel and copper.

Results have validated the companys geological model with the strongest mineralisation at the interpreted base of ultramafic section of the intrusion providing a clear target for follow-up exploration.

"Proof of concept"

Caspin chief executive officer Greg Miles said: The two holes at Yarabrook Hill demonstrate the bedrock sulphide PGE potential of the prospect and have provided the proof of concept we required before launching a large-scale drill program to target higher-grade concentrations of mineralisation.
The companys 900-metre RC campaign will target the shallow extents of Redback high-grade gold shoot along from the Wattle Dam mine.

Visible gold from previous drilling at the Redback deposit.

Resources Ltd ( ) has started its reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at Redback Gold Deposit of the Wattle Dam Project across the fertile Spargoville Shear Zone in Western Australia.

The companys 900-metre RC campaign targets the shallow extents of the Redback high-grade gold shoot.

Furthermore, the shallow program is designed to support an updated mineral resource estimate and potentially define near-surface mineralisation that may be amenable to open-pit mining.

The Redback high-grade gold shoot is traced from 40 metres to 250 metres below the surface, with recent diamond drilling returning high-grade intersections that include:

10 metres at 4.6 g/t gold from 170 metres including 2 metres at 10.2 g/t;

1-metre at 18 g/t and 8 metres at 3.9 g/t from 193 metres including 3 metres at 7.9 g/t;

16.3 metres at 9.3 g/t from 229 metres including 5.5 metres at 6.7 g/t;

5.8 metres at 17.9 g/t from 240 metres including 1-metre at 48.4 g/t; and

6 metres at 9.4 g/t from 257 metres including 3 metres at 7.2 g/t.

High-grade resource

Redback deposit has an inferred resource of 440,000 tonnes at 3.0 g/t gold for 42,900 ounces and is about 600 metres southeast of the previously mined high-grade Wattle Dam gold mine.

Notably, the local geology at Redback is similar to Wattle Dam mine with a high component of visible gold hosted within deformed ultramafic lithologies.

Gold mineralisation at Redback has been modelled as three subparallel and near-vertical domains, with recent re-interpretations comprising well-developed eastern and western structures which are connected by linking shears or mineralised domains.

Assays in 3-5 weeks

Maximus expects the RC drilling to be completed in less than a week, with all samples being dispatched to the Kalgoorlie analytical laboratory for assaying.

The company expects the assay results for each of the drill targets to be received within 3-5 weeks after the completion of the drill program.
Zelira Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ZLD) is a medicinal cannabis company focused on first-in-class human clinical trials for insomnia, autism and opioid reduction

Zelira Therapeutics to go head-to-head with big pharma in US clinical pain trial

Zelira Therapeutics (ASX:ZLD) (OTCMKTS:ZALDF) has secured Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for a pain observational trial to take place in the US.

The cannabinoid medicines developer is set to test its patent-protected product against a big pharmaceutical company's multi-billion-dollar revenue drug.

Approval from IRB means Zelira has navigated a regulatory approval path for the upcoming trial, with the first batch of results expected in 2022's first half.

Ultimately, it's hoped the trial will measure how effectively Zelira's offering can treat neuropathic pain compared to a major, established pharmaceutical drug.



Zelira to conduct "innovative trial"

Zelira Therapeutics Chairman Osagie Imasogie said: "We are very pleased with receiving our IRB approval.

"We are even more pleased that we can conduct this innovative trial that we hope will provide additional safe and effective options for physicians and patients in the treatment of pain caused by neuropathy."
On completing its ASX listing last week, Charger has handed over a $100,000 cash payment and 9.6 million Charger shares to Lithium Australia, valued at $1.92 million.

Charger has exercised its option to acquire 70% of three LIT assets - the Coates, Bynoe and Lake Johnston projects.

( ) ( ) (FRA:3MW) has become a substantial holder of newly listed Charger Metals NL ( ) after securing 9.6 million shares.

LIT now holds a 19.05% stake in Charger, after reaching substantial shareholder status on July 5.

Charger holds 70% of assets

Upon listing Charger has exercised its option to acquire a 70% stake in three of LIT's battery metals assets - the Coates, Bynoe and Lake Johnston projects.

Lithium Australia retains exposure to these battery materials projects by retaining a 30% free carried interest.

The Coates project is a WA-based nickel-copper-cobalt-platinum group elements (PGE) play, situated about 20 kilometres from s ( ) ( ) Julimar discovery.

The project comprises one granted exploration licence, one application and one retention licence, covering a combined 48 square kilometres.

Further east in Western Australia lies the Lake Johnston lithium, nickel and gold asset  Chargers most advanced project, with tenements covering around 25 square kilometres.

The most promising Lake Johnston target uncovered to date is the Lake Medcalf prospect, where LIT geologists identified a large zone of very strongly mineralised spodumene pegmatite at Bontempelli Hill.

In the Northern Territory, Charger holds a managing stake in the Bynoe lithium and gold asset  just 38 kilometres from Darwin.

The Bynoe Pegmatite field is one of the most prospective areas for lithium in the NT and has many similarities to Greenbushes in WA, one of the worlds largest spodumene deposits.

Retains exposure

Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said: "Lithium Australia retains significant exposure to raw materials through its equity in Charger, as well as its free-carried project interests.

The latter potentially provide access to raw materials that the Lithium Australia group of companies can further process.

Charger Metals specialised expertise will expedite a focused exploration effort, leaving Lithium Australia to concentrate on its core business: the ethical and sustainable supply of energy metals to the battery industry and the development of a circular battery economy.

We eagerly await exploration outcomes at the Coates, Bynoe and Lake Johnston projects.

Cathode material dispatched

On July 8 LITs subsidiary VSPC Ltd dispatched its second-generation lithium manganese ferro phosphate (LMFP) cathode power to potential customers after meeting industry performance and physical property specifications.

This comes at a time when battery and electric vehicle producers worldwide, among them BYD, VW and Tesla are transitioning to the use of lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) cathode material in lithium-ion batteries.

LIT says that lithium-ion batteries of both the LFP and LMFP type are cheaper and safer than those containing nickel and cobalt, and LMFP has up to 25% improvement in energy density over LFP.

VSPCs LMFP cathode material is available to established battery manufacturers and other potential customers for testing, on schedule with previously released plans.
The company has acquired 100% ownership of 29,500 hectares of contiguous mining concessions in the Huanuco Andean region of central Peru immediately adjacent to the company's Ayawilca project

Tinka CEO Graham Carman said the company considers the Silvia project to be "highly prospective for large copper skarn and porphyry deposits"

( ) (BVL:TK ) (OTCQB:TKRFF ) (FRA:TLD) said it has signed a definitive agreement with BHP World Exploration Inc Sucursal del Peru, and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Darwin Peru S.A.C., has acquired a 100% interest in the Silvia copper-gold-zinc exploration project in Peru with a one-time cash payment.

The Silvia project consists of 29,500 hectares of mining concessions believed to be prospective for large copper-gold-zinc skarn and porphyry copper deposits, lying immediately adjacent to the company's 100%-owned Ayawilca zinc-silver project in central Peru.

Tinka now controls over 46,000 hectares of contiguous mining concessions in central Peru, one of the worlds most prolific base metal belts, said the company.

The Silvia project lies around 80 kilometers (km) south and along strike of Antamina, one of the largest copper mines in Peru and the world's biggest skarn deposit - beneficially owned by BHP Group 33.75%, Glencore 33.75%, Teck 22.5% and Mitsubishi 10%. The project also lies immediately to the north of the Raura zinc-silver-lead-copper mine owned by Minsur.

Greenfield exploration by BHP at the Silvia project has identified copper-gold-zinc mineralization in outcropping skarns at two broad target areas both associated with coincident geophysical anomalies, said the company. Neither of these targets have been drill tested. Limestone belonging to the Jumasha Formation, the main host to the Antamina copper-zinc-silver skarn deposit, is widespread throughout the Silvia project area.

Terms of the Silvia acquisition

100% of the right and title of 35 granted mining concessions (plus two applications) to be transferred to Darwin

Darwin has made a one-time cash payment to BHP. No other milestone payments are required

BHP retains a 1% NSR royalty over the Silvia Project, which may be repurchased by Darwin

Darwin is required to keep all mining concessions in good standing, with BHP retaining the right of first refusal on any mining concession that Darwin wishes to relinquish

In a statement, Tinka CEO Graham Carman said the Silvia acquisition fits in very well with Tinka's vision of exploring for world-class base and precious metal discoveries in Peru.

Tinka considers the Silvia project to be highly prospective for large copper skarn and porphyry deposits, and we are thrilled to have acquired this exciting portfolio from BHP right next door to our flagship Ayawilca project. This acquisition triples the size of Tinka's mining concessions in central Peru, turning the company into one of the largest landholders in this highly mineralized belt, Carman noted.

The target limestone at the Silvia Project is the Jumasha Formation which hosts the giant Antamina skarn deposit, while the Ayawilca deposit is hosted by the Pucara limestone," he added.

The Tinka boss also noted that the company plans to move forward with the exploration for copper at the Silvia project while work progresses at the Ayawilca zinc-silver project on a preliminary economic assessment (PEA).

Given the close proximity to Ayawilca, Tinka's exploration team can access the copper targets at the Silvia project from our existing camp facilities, simplifying logistics and minimizing exploration costs, Carman said. "Tinka remains firmly committed to creating value through mineral exploration in Peru, and we believe that mining will continue to be a mainstay of the countrys economy and development in the future. We look forward to commencing our field programs at the Silvia Project as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Tinka pointed out that the Silvia project hosts two priority copper targets with outcropping skarn and coincident copper and geophysical anomalies at Silvia Northwest' and Silvia South'.

At Silvia Northwest, copper-gold-zinc mineralized skarns outcrop over several hectares within three zones (Area A, Area B, Area C) along a 3 km northeast trend associated with diorite and dacitic porphyry. High grade rock chip samples of skarn at Area A grade up to 1.9% copper, 0.9 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, and 3.9% zinc.

On the other hand, at Silvia South, copper-gold mineralized skarns outcrop over several hectares associated with monzodiorite porphyry with rock samples grading up to 1.4% copper and 0.3 g/t gold associated with magnetic anomalies.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
Approval at the federal level means that Numinus can now transition the study into the final stages of training staff, sourcing medication and recruit patients

Numinus and MAPS PBC will collect safety and efficacy data on MDMA-assisted therapy in the hopes of making it available for people suffering from PTSD in Canada

Numinus Wellness Inc ( ) ( ) ( ) announced it had received Health Canada approval for the MAPS-sponsored open label study of MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

MAPS, or the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, promoted research into MDMA-assisted therapy in the form of training programs and treatment protocols.

Approval at the federal level means that Vancouver-based Numinus can now transition the study into the final stages of training staff, sourcing medication and recruit patients.

Numinus and MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) will collect safety and efficacy data on MDMA-assisted therapy in the hopes of making it available for people suffering from PTSD in Canada.

"We are thrilled that Health Canada has issued its No Objection Letter allowing this important study to proceed and, in doing so, potentially advance Canada toward a legal, regulated system for MDMA-assisted therapy," said Payton Nyquvest, CEO of Numinus, in a statement.

"At Numinus, we are focused on expanding patient access to psychedelic-assisted therapies such as MDMA for PTSD, and we are gratified that our study will provide safety and outcome data to regulators to support integration of this treatment into mainstream mental health care."

Early data looks promising

Amy Emerson, CEO of MAPS PBC, added that it is critical to gain data on outcomes from a diverse group of clinical environments as research into MDMA-assisted therapy gains traction.

"Clinical studies conducted for the purpose of regulatory approval often address research questions focusing on safety and efficacy of the treatment. This collaborative demonstration study with Numinus will build upon MAPS-sponsored multi-site studies, which enrolled some Canadian participants and will provide new and comprehensive information about the effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy for populations with PTSD and concurrent disorders."

Earlier this year, in May, MAPS announced results from its Phase 3 randomized clinical trial confirming the efficacy and safety of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD under the MAPS protocol. The trial demonstrated that 88% of participants who received three controlled and supervised MDMA-assisted therapy sessions experienced a clinically significant reduction in symptoms, with 67% no longer qualifying for PTSD diagnosis in comparison to 32% of participants randomized to placebo, according to a statement from Numinus.

Numinus medical and therapeutic services director Dr Devon Christie will take the reins as the studys qualified investigator.

"Health Canada should be recognized for its ongoing leadership through its support of this study," Christie said. "At our Vancouver clinic, we have spent months establishing the physical, technical, clinical and human resource infrastructure needed to move the study forward and ultimately foster greater access to MDMA-assisted therapy."

Contact Angela at angela@proactivienvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
A glance at some of the day's highlights from the Proactive Investors US and Canada newswires

Inc ( ), a provider of vehicles to the rideshare and delivery gig economy sector, announced that it closed $15 million in debt financing with New York based Energy Impact Partners (EIP). The Los Angeles-based company said the financing is a significant step towards a 10,000 car and van expansion over the next 18-24 months. The firm added that the expansion is aimed at its existing seven North American markets, and beyond. EVmo noted that it plans to add electric vehicles (EVs) to its platform, taking the overall fleet composition of EVs to more than 20%. "Our strategic alliance with Energy Impact Partners will facilitate EVmos growth across major US markets. As many as 500 fleet units will be added to our platform and deployed immediately, including the addition of more EVs, improving our EV car mix to 20%, with the objective to ultimately be a fully EV company. With financing we will endeavor to deploy 10,000 vehicles over an 18-24 month period, EVmo CEO Stephen Sanchez said in a statement.

( ) reported that its CEO Zach Bradford will take part in the virtual conference and Fireside Chat Series on Wednesday, July 14, this year at 11.30am ET. Topics covered are expected to include the increasing Bitcoin mining hashrate capacity, positive impacts of decreasing Bitcoin difficultly, the impacts of Chinas bitcoin ban, as well as the companys carbon-neutral mining strategy. Also likely to be covered is regulation, mining difficulty rate fluctuation, and relocation of Chinese mining companies. Register HERE. In addition, CleanSparks executive chairman Matthew Schultz will be presenting at the Renmark Virtual Roadshow event on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 12pm ET. Information about that event and registration can be found HERE.

( ) said that, effective at the opening Wednesday, July 14, 2021, the warrants of the company will commence trading on TSX Venture Exchange. The company expects to list 10,649,000 warrants at a price of C$0.80 per share with an expiry date of July 6, 2023. The trading symbol will be CBR.WT.

Byrna Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:BYRN) ( ) announced that it has launched an underwritten public offering of 2,250,000 common shares. The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to 337,500 additional shares of common stock in the public offering. Byrna intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Recruiter.com Group Inc ( ) has announced the acquisition of the Technology Solutions business of Uncubed, a leading recruiting technology company. The purchase was closed on July 7 through an asset purchase agreement and was financed with restricted common stock, cash, and a promissory note. The transaction brings the software and team behind Uncubed's talent community and candidate engagement platforms to Recruiter.com, the company said. It also includes Uncubed's Finalist, an online marketplace for sourcing and screening diverse early-professional software and data candidates, and a tech-driven alternative to traditional offline campus recruiting.

( ) ( ) (FRA:NPAU) issued a progress update on its drug pipeline for the treatment of mental health disorders, which includes a non-hallucinogenic LSD compound. TD-0148A is a second-generation LSD derivative molecule that has been synthesized using BetterLifes patented manufacturing process. The firm believes TD-0148A can mimic the projected therapeutic potential of LSD without causing its undesirable psychoactive dissociative side effects. In the progress update, BetterLife said it expects to file an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) and start human trials in the first half of 2022.

Benchmark Metals Inc ( ) ( ) has outlined more details on how it aims to expand resources through drilling at its flagship Lawyers project in British Columbia. The company said it had recently completed a so-called 'classification block' model for the AGB, Dukes Ridge and Cliff Creek deposits, which indicates the current status of blocks, namely whether they are in the inferred category, or the indicated, or measured. The model then determines how many drill-holes are required to upgrade a block from one category to the next. Thus, across the three deposits, 37,000 metres of classification drilling is now planned.

TPCO Holding Corp - - (NEO:GRAM.U) ( ), a California-based vertically-integrated cannabis company, said it has extended its value product offerings with the introduction of Fun Uncle Cruisers with Live Resin full gram vape cartridges. Fun Uncle is a retro-stylized line of premium value cannabis, paying homage to marijuana's early heyday, with low prices reminiscent of the past. The Fun Uncle Cruisers with Live Resin are available in four strains at a uniquely affordable price of $36. Live resin is considered a premium cannabis ingredient valued for its retention of cannabinoid, terpene, and flavor profiles that delivers a full spectrum of effects.

Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:LKY) has received sample assay results from its ongoing work at the Wayka epithermal gold discovery at its 100%-owned Fortuna property in Ecuador. In a statement, the company said systematic sampling has returned up to 5.87 grams per ton (g/t) gold with an average of 3.06 g/t over 4 metres (m). Wayka lies along an elevated ridge that trends northeast with elevations ranging from about 3,600m to 3,700m above sea level and is bound to the East by the El Buitre Porphyry and to the West by the Emma Porphyry.

Micro Systems Inc ( ) ( ) has announced key details of the commercialization road map for its non-lethal Low Energy Cartridge (LEC) product line. The company said the road map will culminate with the official commercial launch at the 2022 SHOT Show in Las Vegas on January 18-21, 2022. s announcement follows the companys first and successful public live demonstration of the LEC system to a group of investors in the Whistler, British Columbia area on July 9, 2021.

Loncor Gold Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:LO51) has revealed significant assay results from a drilling program on its 84.68%-owned Imbo Project in the eastern part of the Ngayu greenstone belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Canadian gold exploration company reported that Borehole LADD017 drilled at its flagship Adumbi deposit, intersected 25.77 metres grading 6.24 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, including 9.29 metres grading 9.68 g/t Au and 5.50 metres grading 9.75 g/t gold, while borehole LADD012 intersected 13.45 metres grading 3.63 g/t gold and borehole LADD014 intersected 11.80 metres grading 2.97 g/t gold. Regular measurements of inclination and azimuth were taken at 30 metre intervals down the hole and all intercepted grades are uncut with maximum internal dilution equal to or less than 4 metres of intersected width, explained the company.

( ) ( ) (FRA:6F6) said its portfolio company, Stardust Solar, has become the first and only coast to coast authorized Canadian dealer of the highly sought after solar and energy services provider, SunPower. As an Authorized SunPower Dealer, Stardust will offer its SunPower solar solutions to residential customers including SunPowers DC solar panels and InvisiMount mounting hardware for faster installation and design. Victory Square (VST) builds, acquires and invests in promising startups, providing senior leadership and resources needed to fast-track growth. Resulting in rapid scaling scale and monetization.

Altamira Gold Corp ( ) (OTCPINK:EQTRF) has said it expects to start diamond drilling at the Mutum target at its Apiacas gold project in Brazil this month and is also expanding an induced polarization (IP) survey there by a further 2,400 metres (m). An initial IP study at Mutum for 20 lines (39,200m) has now been completed, which has significantly expanded a high chargeability anomaly to 4,400m of east-west strike length, from 800m previously, and it is still open to the east and west. Altamira said it will now expand the survey by another 2,400m to cover adjoining areas of historic alluvial gold mining, which is expected to be completed by mid-month.

oration ( ) (OTCMKTS:GBLEF) (FRA:5GE1) announced it has joined the European Raw Materials Alliance, a group of stakeholders committed to advancing the raw materials value chain in Europe. The Vancouver-based junior has an inherent interest in the network, having recently acquired the Rana nickel-copper-cobalt project in Norway. GEMC believes Rana represents one of the few drill-ready, low capex nickel opportunities globally, with strong mining potential and exploration upside.

Globex Mining Enterprises Inc, ( ) ( ) said it has sold its Tarmac Gold Property located in Dubuisson Township, Quebec to . for $1 million and a 1% Gross Metal Royalty. The property consists of 6 claims covering 94 hectares located entirely within Wesdomes Kiena Mine Complex and less than 2 kilometers northeast of the Kiena underground mine, all located beneath Lac De Montigny. Previous drilling by Globex in 1996 returned numerous gold intersections. Globex has maintained the property since the 1996 drilling program due to the evident economic potential. The property is surrounded on all sides by Wesdome claims, thereby positioning the company to facilitate the potential exploration and advancement of these claims.

( ) has said it will host a call to discuss the recent conclusions of its PURE EP 2.0 study, which enrolled 51 patients at Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. Davids Medical Center in Austin, Texas, Mayo Clinic Florida Campus in Jacksonville, Florida, and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. BioSigs leadership will present during the briefing, followed by a Q&A session. The Conference Call will be held on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 2.30pm Eastern Time via the following details: Toll-free dial-in number for U.S. callers: 877-407-8293; Toll dial-in number for U.S. and international callers: +1 201-689-8349; webcast: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1479482&tp_key=f08bc38a33. A replay will be available until August 9, 2021. To access the replay, please dial 877-660-6853 or 201-612-7415 in the US and +1 201-612-7415 for international callers. The conference ID# is 13721285.

Fabled Silver Gold Corp ( ) ( ) ( ) has revealed that its latest drill holes at its Santa Maria project in Parral, Mexico have uncovered a new high-grade gold mineral system with silver credits, which was open in all directions. The explorer reported results for two surface diamond drill holes from its now expanded 9,200 metre (m) program at the property, where so far 6,500m have been completed. One hole hit a width of 1.5m grading 10.85 grams per ton (g/t) gold and 129 g/t silver from a depth of 82.5m, while there was another intersection of 2.4m at 7.81 g/t of the yellow metal and 28.9 g/t silver from a depth of 85.5m.

Inc ( ) (FRA:87A) announced that it has begun to commercialize its enterprise software solution in the healthcare industry to help overcome many common supply chain challenges. That follows the recent announcement by the logistics technologies developer of a pharmaceutical industry initiative to provide tracking, tracing, and sustainability solutions for stakeholders in the sourcing, production, transportation, and distribution of medications.

Jack Nathan Medical Corp ( ) ( ) has said it is launching a new coronavirus (COVID-19) testing program in Mexico, starting this week. The healthcare firm, operating as , said it will be setting up COVID-19 testing centres in select Walmart parking lots, where it owns and operates medical clinics. The initial roll-out will include three testing centres, all opening this week. A total of 28 sites have been contractually agreed upon with Walmart. Of those, 11 additional facilities are scheduled to open in August 2021.

( ) (OTCMKTS:LMDCF) (FRA:LIMA) said its subsidiary, ELL Technologies Ltd, doing business as Everybody Loves Languages, has entered into a global alliance with StudentApply, an integrated admissions platform connecting international students and recruitment partners with the world's leading educational institutions. Everybody Loves Languages is striving to build a multilingual world through its innovative online technologies and solutions. The partnership will allow the language instructors at Everybody Loves Languages to refer their students to StudentApply. Students will then be guided through the application process and help them achieve their goal of studying abroad.

( ) (BVL:TK ) (OTCQB:TKRFF) (FRA:TLD) said it has signed a definitive agreement with BHP World Exploration Inc Sucursal del Peru, and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Darwin Peru S.A.C., has acquired a 100% interest in the Silvia copper-gold-zinc exploration project in Peru with a one-time cash payment. The Silvia project consists of 29,500 hectares of mining concessions believed to be prospective for large copper-gold-zinc skarn and porphyry copper deposits, lying immediately adjacent to the company's 100%-owned Ayawilca zinc-silver project in central Peru. Tinka now controls over 46,000 hectares of contiguous mining concessions in central Peru, one of the worlds most prolific base metal belts, said the company.

Versus Systems Inc ( ) ( ) has announced that it will be powering live in-stadium experiences and second-screen engagement for fans attending the Days of 47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo in Salt Lake City, Utah, from July 20-24, 2021. The worlds only Gold Medal Rodeo, powered by Versus, is the second stop on the World Champions Rodeo Alliance Triple Crown of Rodeo. We are excited to once again be setting the standard in technical innovation in the sport of rodeo, Tommy Joe Lucia, who is the general manager of the Days of 47 said in a statement. This will be a great new addition for our fans at the Days of 47 and will help us expand our Cowboy Games and Rodeo to all attendees and viewers. The top 10 finishers in total points will be awarded prizes at the conclusion of the event.

Numinus Wellness Inc ( ) ( ) ( ) announced it had received Health Canada approval for the MAPS-sponsored open label study of MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MAPS, or the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, promoted research into MDMA-assisted therapy in the form of training programs and treatment protocols. Approval at the federal level means that Vancouver-based Numinus can now transition the study into the final stages of training staff, sourcing medication and recruit patients.

Q BioMed Inc ( ) revealed that it has struck an exclusive license agreement with authorized Europe and Middle East distributor Clionix for the distribution and sales of the companys metastatic bone pain drug Strontium89. The New York-based biotech said that under the terms of the agreement, Clionix has received exclusive rights to distribute Strontium89 in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Romania, Egypt, Kuwait and Pakistan.

Whitehorse Gold Corp ( ) said it has received a Class 3 Quartz Mining Land Use Approval Permit from the Yukon government, and has commenced its 2021 exploration program on its Skukum Gold project. According to the company, the Class 3 Permit process took five months, down from the usual 8.5 months it traditionally takes. Whitehorse Golds relationship with the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the support it garnered was a prominent factor in the expedited permit.

CytoDyn Inc ( ) has announced that a clinical trial for its flagship drug candidate, leronlimab, has advanced from Phase 1b to a Phase 2 study. The leronlimab trial is being carried out in combination with carboplatin for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). The late-stage biotechnology company said the positive advancement confirms leronlimab will be administered with a 700 mg dosage for patients in the mTNBC trial and Basket trial for 22 solid tumor cancers, as well as compassionate use, emergency investigational new drug (eIND) and right-to-try patients. The trial has demonstrated safety with 350 mg, 525 mg and 700 mg dosages.

Ltd ( ) ( ) (FRA:GDT) has announced that, as part of its US mass marketing strategy to bring awareness to its Sekur solution, it is sponsoring 74 YouTube episodes of The Epoch Times, with hosts Roman Balmakov, Larry Elder and Joshua Philipp. The sponsorship is part of a blended marketing budget of US$700,000 announced by the company in May. GlobeX said the sponsored ads will describe Sekur's attributes as the leading Swiss-hosted privacy and security communications application, such as encrypted email and secure messaging, without any data mining. The ads also will cite Sekur's unique proprietary feature called Chats-by-invites, letting a Sekur user message a non-Sekur user, without the recipient having to download Sekur.

ImagineAR Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:GMS1) has announced that Clube Atletico Mineiro has integrated its new Augmented Reality SDK Platform into its mobile app and launched Galo AR to deliver global immersive fan activation and engagement. The company said the AR campaign that kicked off last week, featuring green screen videos of players delivered around the world, had over 12,000 interactions within 24 hours and a 3,000% registration increase per day.

Inc ( ) (FRA:0MB) and partner Rizobacter have announced that Rizonema, a biological seed treatment for nematodes and soil-dwelling insects, will be offered for use in row crops in Brazil, through an expanded distribution agreement. In a statement, Marrone Bio said multiple regulatory trials in Brazil have proven the efficacy of Rizonema on key nematode species in soybeans and corn. The company added that it will continue conducting field trials in the 2021 growing season to expand the product label for use in cotton and to include additional nematodes and soil-dwelling insects.

Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:JAM1) said it is accelerating its REBORN1 trial of its proprietary cannabinoid-based drug candidate QIXLEEF after receiving approval allowing the study to compare three other immediate release oral opioids. The pharmaceutical company told investors that the Central Ethics Committee approved the proposed protocol modifications to REBORN1, a head-to-head Phase 2 study looking at opioid treatment to manage breakthrough pain in people with cancer.

( ) ( ) (OTCQB: PLTXF) has announced the addition of vegan wine to the expanding product selection on its US e-commerce platform. The Vancouver-based company said it will enhance its product offerings by adding a curated selection of high-quality vegan wines by brands such as Rare Earth, Veuve Clicquot, Pino Cellars and Gravel Bar Winery. The new items are now available to order in the "Plant-Based Wine" section of the company's US e-commerce platform.

Snowline Gold Corp ( ) (OTCPINK:SNWGF), the Yukon-focused gold explorer, said Matthew Roma had become the company's new chief financial officer (CFO), while Natasha Tsai had stepped down to pursue other business opportunities. Roma, an accountant with over 10 years of financial management experience working mainly with junior mining companies, will also become the firm's corporate secretary.

Inc (CVE:ZAIR) (OTCPINK:MGXRF) (FRA:0E9) has said a new award has validated the green credentials of its unique energy storage technology. The company's Zinc-air Energy Storage System (ZESS) has picked up the 'Energy Tech Innovator' award at the WE3 summit, which is a collaboration between Texas-based research organization Zpryme and Smart Energy Water. The aim of the summit is to connect global thought leaders who are embracing change and is associated with the WE3 CleanTech Innovation Series.

Inc. ( ) (OTCPINK:GRNBF) (FRA:2TL) has said its board is proactively exploring the adoption of Automatic Securities Disposition Plans (ASDP) for its directors in the light of recent Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) guidance. Typically, an ASDP is an arrangement between an insider and a dealer or a plan administrator that involves the trading in securities of an issuer over a predetermined period and in accordance with a predetermined set of instructions for the purposes of good corporate governance, transparency, and to provide a legitimate mechanism for trading by an insider who is subject to the plan. Therefore, during this interim exploration period, the board of GreenBank have instituted a 90-day moratorium from the date of this news release on any directors sales at less than C$2.50 per share and furthermore, any sales above that price during the 90-day period may not constitute, in aggregate, more than 10% of the relevant director's holdings. Commenting on the Board's plans to explore ASDP plans for directors, David Lonsdale CEO of GreenBank said "We intend to adopt many of the very practical suggestions and recommendations put forward by the CSA , who have clearly given careful thought to helping directors of public companies balance their reasonable right to deal in their Company's shares whilst avoiding any suggestion that the Director may be acting on unpublished price sensitive information. We believe the Board's proactive initiative will benefit GreenBank, its directors, shareholders, and the investment community as a whole while complementing the Board's strategic work to grow the investments we've already made and deliver new exciting opportunities in future."

Mojave Brands Inc (CVE:MOJO) said it has arranged a private placement of up to 5.75 million units at a price of 12 cents per unit for gross proceeds of up to $690,000. Each unit comprises one common share and one common share purchase warrant having an exercise price of 15 cents per warrant and a term of 24 months from the date of closing of the private placement. The proceeds from the private placement will be used for working capital and paying down liabilities. The private placement is subject to regulatory approval and all securities issued will be subject to a four-month hold period. ( ) said it has received TSX Venture Exchange approval to close its non-brokered private placement previously announced on June 17, 2021. The company has received a total of $180,000. Falcon will issue 1.5 million units at a purchase price of 12 cents per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of 20 cents for a period of 36 months following the acceptance date. The shares and warrants are subject to a four-month hold period. The proceeds will be used for continued exploration on existing properties, outstanding payables and general working capital.

Corp ( ) said the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to its non-brokered private placement announced June 25, 2021, which will see the issue of 48,571,429 shares at a purchase price of 35 cents per share with 31 placees.

( ) said it has received TSX Venture Exchange approval to close its non-brokered private placement previously announced on June 17, 2021. The company has received a total of $180,000. Falcon will issue 1.5 million units at a purchase price of 12 cents per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of 20 cents for a period of 36 months following the acceptance date. The shares and warrants are subject to a four-month hold period. The proceeds will be used for continued exploration on existing properties, outstanding payables and general working capital.

. ( ) (FRA:OAY3) ( ) said it has granted 3,175,000 incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the company. The options are set for a period of five years, expiring on July 12, 2026, and each option will allow the holder to purchase a common share of the company at a price of $0.20. The options are subject to a 4 month hold period from the date of grant and to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

LQwD Fintech Corp. (CVE:LQwD) said that Shone Anstey, its chairman and chief executive officer, and his team joined Monica Hamm, manager, Client Success , to celebrate the company's new listing on TSX Venture Exchange and close the market on Friday, July 9, 2021. LQwDFinTech Corp. is a Canadian-based company developing software, which enables the setup of nodes and payment channels on the Bitcoin Lightning Network. The Lightning Network is a layer two technology that dramatically improves bitcoin's scalability, transaction fees, and settlement times.

( ) said the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation pertaining to a mineral claims purchase agreement dated March 22, 2021, between the ., Scandinavian Resource Holdings Pty. Ltd. and Chincherinchee Nominees Pty. Ltd., where the company has acquired a 10% interest in four exploration licences, located in the Rana mafic-ultramafic intrusion on the Ofoten Fjord of northern Norway, and a 1% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on the property. In consideration of the 10% interest and 1% NSR royalty on the property, the company will issue 3.3 million common shares to the vendor, subject to statutory and voluntary escrow provisions.

Corp ( ) said the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing the continuation of the company from Cayman Islands to Ontario as approved by the shareholders of the company on June 22, 2021. The company has advised the exchange that the change was effective July 6, 2021. In conjunction with the change in corporate jurisdiction, the Cusip number will be changed to 92919F 10 3 at the opening on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.

The International Speculator has said in its June 23, 2021, issue, 'buy' shares in ( ) up to 45 cents. Previously, the newsletter said buy on December 23, 2020, at 35 cents. It noted that on May 25, District announced the first drill results from its Tomtebo project in Sweden. The numbers were decent, with a headline intercept of 8.2 metres grading 14.8% zinc and lead, along with 66.2 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 1.7 g/t gold. It said that this is in line with previous mining at Tomtebo. The intercepts are not massive or extremely high grade, but District does not need that, since this is not a greenfields play, it added. The goal for District Metals is to steadily expand mineral resources below the area of old mining. The newsletter called this round of drill results an "excellent start" and it expects things might be a little quiet for the company over the summer. Management will certainly be back with more drilling soon, and the stock is holding up well around 45 cents. The newsletter concluded that that Tomtebo is shaping up the way it had hoped, and said District is one to tuck away and watch the tonnage grow.

Inc. (TSX:EXRO) ( ) has announced that each of the nominee directors listed in the Notice of Meeting and Management Information Circular dated June 7, 2021, were elected as directors of the Company at its Annual General Meeting of shareholders held on Friday, July 9, 2021, in Vancouver, British Columbia. All other matters put forward to shareholders at the meeting were also approved by the requisite majority of votes, including setting the number of directors at eight, the appointment of the company's auditors, approval of the company's stock option plan, adoption of new articles, and the creation of a class of preferred shares. At the meeting, 39,163,553 shares were voted, representing 32.563% of the company's issued and outstanding common shares.

. ( ) (OTCPINK:CBGZF) has announced that the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) has accepted for listing 10,649,000 common share purchase warrants of the company that were issued in connection with its bought deal prospectus offering, which closed on July 6, 2021. Each warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one common share in the capital of the company at a price of $0.80 per common share until July 6, 2023. The warrants are subject to the terms of a warrant indenture dated July 6, 2021, between the company and Computershare Trust Company of Canada as warrant agent. The warrants will be listed for trading on the TSX-V under the symbol CBR.WT on July 14, 2021.

( ) has posted its latest investor presentation and webinar featuring CEO Stephen Stewart, who provides a complete company update as it prepares to release the Opemiska's maiden NI 43-101 resource estimate. The webinar is viewable through the link following: https://www.javascript:void(0)youtube.com/watch?v=ZLNvJ25aZik

Virtual Investor Conferences, the leading proprietary investor conference series, has announced that the presentations from the July 8, 2021, Small Cap lnvestor Conference are now available for on-demand viewing at: Small Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference | Virtual Investor Conferences. A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group Inc's ( ) suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network. For more information about the program and to view a complete calendar of Virtual Investor Conferences, investors can visit www.virtualinvestorconferences.com
The pharmaceutical firm updated investors on a host of initiatives planned for the next 12 months

TD-0148A is a second-generation LSD derivative molecule that the firm believes can mimic the projected therapeutic potential of LSD without hallucinations

( ) ( ) (FRA:NPAU) issued a progress update on its drug pipeline for the treatment of mental health disorders, which includes a non-hallucinogenic LSD compound.

TD-0148A is a second-generation LSD derivative molecule that has been synthesized using BetterLifes patented manufacturing process. The firm believes TD-0148A can mimic the projected therapeutic potential of LSD without causing its undesirable psychoactive dissociative side effects.

In the progress update, BetterLife said it expects to file an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) and start human trials in the first half of 2022.

CEO Ahmad Dorourdian told shareholders that the company is pleased to be moving forward with its psychedelics programs that it hopes will deliver a better life to people struggling with their mental health.

Today, with 265 million people across the globe suffering from depression, there is an incredible unmet need for help, Doroudian said in a statement.

Psychedelics are a viable answer however they come with their drawbacks, namely they are expensive due to their regulated status, have unpredictable side effects, like hallucinations, and require being taken in the presence of at least one therapist. This makes it harder to treat depression in the majority of the affected population.

Doroudian said that TD-0148A has the potential to overcome those obstacles due to its non-hallucinogenic and non-regulated nature. It can be self-administered, which is much less burdensome on health and point of care systems and therefore more likely to be covered by insurers.

The company is also making progress on its anxiety medication TD-010, which is projected to be developed initially for the treatment of benzodiazepine dependency. It told shareholders that it plans to file its IND in 2Q 2022 and start clinical trials in 3Q of the same year.

There has been a rise in anxiety, panic, depression and manic conditions, and this has led to increased use of benzodiazepine drugs as patients seek to treat these issues, Doroudian said. Unfortunately, in some cases, the use of benzodiazepines can create dependency. TD-010 can help people overcome this and manage withdrawal symptoms to live a better life.

The CEO also added that BetterLife is making significant progress with its inhaled interferon alpha 2b (AP-003) program for the treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19) after striking two research agreements with Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and Canadas Western University.

Vancouver-based BetterLife recently raised over C$9 million to advance its initiatives.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
As an authorized SunPower dealer, Stardust will offer its SunPower solar solutions to residential customers

The company will also offer SunPowers DC solar panels and InvisiMount mounting hardware for faster installation and design

( ) ( ) (FRA:6F6) said its portfolio company, Stardust Solar, has become the first and only coast to coast authorized Canadian dealer of the highly sought after solar and energy services provider, SunPower.

As an Authorized SunPower Dealer, Stardust will offer its SunPower solar solutions to residential customers including SunPowers DC solar panels and InvisiMount mounting hardware for faster installation and design.

Victory Square (VST) builds, acquires and invests in promising startups, providing senior leadership and resources needed to fast-track growth. Resulting in rapid scaling scale and monetization.

California-based SunPower has been in the business since 1985 with over 360,000 homeowners using its systems. Victory Square calls SunPower's solar panels the most efficient, durable and best looking available in the industry, supported by one comprehensive warranty.

Stardust Solar now has more than eight distribution channels from coast to coast in Canada, and will use this opportunity to expand its foothold in the market.

"We are honored to represent SunPower across Canada. SunPower will be game-changing for our business and for homeowners," Mark Tadros, CEO of Stardust said in the statement. "Until now, Canadians werent afforded many options in their search for solar products, and education around solar power efficiencies, product choices, options and the solar lifestyle savings were minimal at best.

Stardust also has a network of solar training centers across North America, and has certified over 2,000 solar installers across Canada and the US.

With a growing list of franchise locations across Canada, Stardust is keen on educating homeowners about important key differences in solar products and their warranties, and offer choices when purchasing life-changing solar equipment including.

We congratulate Mark and his team at Stardust Solar on becoming the first authorized dealer of SunPower solar technology products across Canada, said Shafin Diamond Tejani, CEO of Victory Square. This strategic business decision positions our portfolio company to further capture market share and continue its month-over-month growth increase here in Canada and beyond.

Stardust plans to file its preliminary prospectus with the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) in the third quarter and be listed by the end of the year.

Contact the writer at georgia@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @MissInformd
An initial IP study at Mutum for 20 lines (39,200 metres) has now been completed, which has significantly expanded a high chargeability anomaly to 4,400 metres of east-west strike length, from 800 metres previously

Altamira's Mutum gold target is part of the Apiacas project area, which is 50 kilometres west of Altamira's Cajueiro gold project

Altamira Gold Corp ( ) (OTCPINK:EQTRF) has said it expects to start diamond drilling at the Mutum target at its Apiacas gold project in Brazil this month and is also expanding an induced polarization (IP) survey there by a further 2,400 metres (m).

An initial IP study at Mutum for 20 lines (39,200m) has now been completed, which has significantly expanded a high chargeability anomaly to 4,400m of east-west strike length, from 800m previously, and it is still open to the east and west.

Altamira said it will now expand the survey by another 2,400m to cover adjoining areas of historic alluvial gold mining, which is expected to be completed by mid-month.

In a statement, Michael Bennett, CEO of Altamira Gold, said he had been very "encouraged" by the survey results so far.

"The anomaly is located directly beneath the historic artisanal gold workings where one million ounces of gold was recovered in the last 40 years from the uppermost 20 metres of weathered material suggesting that the IP high chargeability anomaly is mapping the mineralised intrusive at depth.

"This anomaly is more extensive than we previously envisaged and suggests that a large mineralized system may be present at depth. We are looking forward to starting the initial drill program during July," he added.

The company has signed an initial 3,000m diamond-drilling contract with contractor Servdrill Perfuracao e Sondagem Ltda.

Altamira's Mutum gold target is part of the Apiacas project area, which is 50 kilometres west of Altamira's Cajueiro gold project which, itself, hosts an NI 43 101 indicated resource of 5.66 million tonnes at a grade of 1.02 grams per ton gold for a total of 185,000 ounces.

An estimated 1 million ounces of colluvial gold was historically recovered from the Mutum target, which suggests the presence of a significant underlying hard-rock deposit, noted the company.

Altamaria is focused on the exploration and development of gold projects within western central Brazil.

Contact the author at giles@proacriveinvestors.com
The Los Angeles-based company said the financing is a significant step towards a 10,000 car and van expansion over the next 18-24 months

EVmo Chairman Terren Peizer noted that the financing is truly remarkable as it was accomplished in the absence of an equity capital raise and is non-dilutive

Inc ( ), a provider of vehicles to the rideshare and delivery gig economy sector, announced that it closed $15 million in debt financing with New York based Energy Impact Partners (EIP).

The Los Angeles-based company said the financing is a significant step towards a 10,000 car and van expansion over the next 18-24 months. The firm added that the expansion is aimed at its existing seven North American markets, and beyond.

noted that it plans to add electric vehicles (EVs) to its platform, taking the overall fleet composition of EVs to more than 20%.

"We believe that our strategic alliance with Energy Impact Partners will facilitate EVmos growth across major US markets. As many as 500 fleet units will be added to our platform and deployed immediately, including the addition of more EVs, improving our EV car mix to 20%, with the objective to ultimately be a fully EV company. With further financing we will endeavor to deploy 10,000 vehicles over an 18-24 month period, EVmo CEO Stephen Sanchez said in a statement.

At the margin, every $10 million in debt and or equity capital raised should enable the company to purchase around 4,000 vehicles with an 85% to 15% car to van mix. This should translate to approximately $80 million in annual revenue for every $10 million of capital raised at the margin, said the company.

EVmo added that it anticipates scaling to 25% EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin.

Meanwhile, EVmo Board Chairman Terren Peizer noted that the financing is truly remarkable as it was accomplished in the absence of an equity capital raise.

We have continually said that we will lean on debt and other non-dilutive financing in addition to equity capital. This is a high EBITDA model that supports debt financing that we believe will create proportionately greater returns to shareholders, added Peizer.

ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management Inc, acted as placement agent for this debt financing.

"As part of Energy Impact Partners focus on mobility being an instrumental sector leading the energy transition, we are excited to announce our investment and partnership with EVmo, said Harry Giovani, who is the CEO and Managing Partner of EIP Credit Strategies. Through our financing, CEO Stephen Sanchez together with the EVmo team will be able to further scale the companys electric fleet  providing an essential and transformational product to the electric gig-economy.

EVmo rents vehicles to customers who are participating in the gig economy. This includes ridesharing, carsharing and e-commerce platforms. The type of vehicles on the company's platform ranges from electric passenger vehicles to well-equipped cargo vans that are used by e-commerce delivery providers.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
Victory Square (CSE: VST  OTC: VSQTF) portfolio company Stardust Solars CEO Mark Tadros joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has become the first and only coast to coast authorized Canadian dealer of the highly sought after solar and energy services provider, SunPower.

Tadros explains more about their company and what being an authorized SunPower Dealer will mean moving forward. He also talks about SunPowers DC solar panels and InvisiMount mounting hardware design that has a much more desirable sleeker look.
Benchmark Metals (CVE: BNCH  OTCQX: BNCHF) President Jim Greig joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has outlined their next drill program the flagship Lawyers Project in British Columbia.

Greig telling Proactive, the company is planning 37,000 metres of classification drilling spread over several targets. Those targets include AGB, Dukes Ridge and Cliff Creek deposits. The company is looking to convert inferred to indicated resources for inclusion in a feasibility study.
"I'm not an anti-vaxxer. I'm not a pro-vaxxer. I'm somebody that's looking at this thing and trying to figure it outI feel like a vaccination in a weird way is just generally kind of going against natureLike, I mean, if there is some disease out there -- maybe there's just an ebb and flow to life where something's supposed to wipe out a certain amount of people, and that's just kind of the way evolution goes. Vaccines kind of stand in the way of that. Do you follow what I'm saying? Does that make sense to somebody in medicine?"

Newsmax host Rob Schmitt

NO.

Everyone in medicine
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
By SA Commercial Prop News

A police officer arrests a looter inside a Cambridge Food store in Vosloorus on July 12 2021.



Following this weekends spate of unrest across the country, the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) strongly condemns the incidents of looting and malicious damage to retail property centers.

Violence and looting continued in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa warning that those behind the violent protests and anarchy would be arrested and prosecuted.

Maponya Mall and Jabulani Mall were looted today, and the Dobsonville Centre yesterday. All these centres are not far from police stations.

SAPOA further points out that this maliciousness and damage to infrastructure and other property, is only going to further exacerbate the countrys socio-economic challenges, the broader financial impact of the looting and property destruction undermines the countrys economic confidence and will in all likelihood result in a greater economic downturn.

Its deplorable, say SAPAO CEO, Neil Gopal, whilst people have the right to protest, they do not have the right to destroy property and steal. We recognise and respect the rights of every South African to protest peacefully and freely express their views on any matter of concern, our constitution affords us that right. However, these protesters must respect the rights of others.

Clearly our police services are being overwhelmed and are ill equipped to deal with the magnitude, scale and nature of the violence and destruction that is happening around us.

We are pleased that the Presidency has deployed the South African National Defence Force to help curb the situation, and for those who have been arrested to feel the full might of the law and be given punitive jail sentences that reflect our societys disdain of this criminal behaviour.

South Africa violence spreads in wake of Zuma jailing



Shops were looted overnight, a section of highway was closed and stick-wielding protesters marched through Johannesburg on Sunday, as sporadic violence following the jailing of former South African President Jacob Zuma spread.



The unrest had mainly been concentrated in Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where he started serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court on Wednesday night.

Zuma's sentencing and imprisonment have been seen as a test of the post-apartheid nation's ability to enforce the law fairly - even against powerful politicians - 27 years after the African National Congress (ANC) ousted white minority rulers to usher in democracy.


Sudhir Gupta, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur, has said that at the age of becoming a grandfather, Aamir Khan is looking for a third wife.

The politician, known for making bizzare comments, spoke to reporters on Sunday on the occasion of World Population Day.

"Aamir Khan left his first wife Reena Dutta with two children, Kiran Rao with one child and now, at the age of becoming grandfather, he is looking for a third wife," CNN-News 18 quoted the BJP leader as saying.

"Those who claim that people like Khan have no brains for job other than selling eggs' were correct," he added.

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, who have a son Azad, recently announced their separation. The two, in a video had asked everyone to pray for them and that both of them would happily co-parent their son.
Andhra Pradesh government on Monday relaxed coronavirus curfew restrictions uniformly across all the 13 districts from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The state government took this decision at a Covid review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday.

As per the new rules, all commercial establishments should shut down by 9 p.m. and curfew restrictions will begin from 10 p.m., lasting for eight hours till 6 a.m.

East and West Godavari districts will benefit from the latest relaxations as all other districts were already enjoying them.

Last Monday, Covid curfew was relaxed till 10 p.m. in all the other 11 districts, considering their Covid positivity rate being less than 5 per cent, unlike the Godavari districts.

The southern state is witnessing a lower number of infections on a daily basis. On Sunday, there were 2,665 Covid cases.
The central government on Monday deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh led to flashfloods in Kangra district, where 10 locals were reported missing and one has died.

In upper Dharamsala, at least 10 parked cars, largely of tourists, were washed away and houses were partially damaged in Bhagsunag.

Reviewing the ground situation in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on the phone, assuring him that an NDRF team will be deployed to handle any exigency.

He said the Centre will provide all assistance needed to tide over the crisis.

Dharamsala, nearly 250 kms from the state capital Shimla, recorded precipitation of 184 mm, the highest ever during this monsoon. The damage to property was reported in villages located in the vicinity of McLeodganj, the political, cultural and spiritual hub of the Tibetan diaspora.

Kangra Senior Superintendent of Police Vimukt Ranjan told the media that one body was recovered from the debris in Boh village in Shahpur subdivision of the district where 10 villagers reportedly went missing in flashfloods.

"We don't have exact information on casualties. The extent of casualty and damage to the property will be known after the rescue workers reach the site," he said.

Deputy Commissioner Nipun Jindal said all the access to the village has been snapped due to landslides.

Elsewhere in Kangra, three houses and five shops located along a seasonal rivulet in the Gaggal area were damaged by gushing water. The damage to property was largely due to encroachments on rivulets, officials told IANS.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director Manmohan Singh told IANS that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was recorded at many places in Kangra district. The rainfall was widespread across the state.

Palampur in Kangra district recorded 155 mm rain, the highest in the state, while it was 48 mm in Dalhousie, 10 mm in Shimla and 55 mm in tourist resort Manali.

The Chief Minister expressed grief over the loss of life and property due to heavy rain.

He directed the district authorities to ensure speedy relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. He urged local people and tourists to refrain from going near the river banks to avoid any untoward incident.

The Pathankot-Mandi highway has been blocked for traffic due to landslide at several places and minor damage to a bridge near Manali.

The weather bureau has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in the state till Wednesday.
Trinamool Congress Mongalkote block president Ashim Das was killed at Lakuria in Mongalkote area in West Bengal's East Burdwan district late on Monday night.

According to initial reports, the incident happened at 9.30 p.m. when Das was going home from Kashemnagar to Mongalkote on his motorcycle. On his way near Lakuria some people called him and when he stopped his motorcycle he was shot from very close range.

Ashim Das was rushed to the hospital where he died. The incident triggered panic among the people in the area. Senior police officers including the SP of East Burdwan district rushed to the spot to investigate the murder.

Though Trinamool Congress blamed it on the BJP but local BJP leaders claimed that it was a result of Trinamool Congress' internal differences.


BJP leaders, who were taken hostage with family members by protesting farmers in a house in a Punjab town, were rescued early Monday by police after an over 12-hour ordeal and with the intervention of the high court. Rescued leaders blamed the farmers for unlawful act in the pretext of protesting against the three farm laws enacted by the Central government. They blamed the state Congress government for supporting the farmers. The incident occurred in Rajpura town, some 40 km from the state capital, where state general secretary Bhupesh Aggarwal was taken hostage along with others in a house on Sunday evening. Aggarwal told the media that he along with other party leaders and workers assembled in the town a day earlier for a district-level party meeting at the Bharat Vikas Parishad building. The farmers reached the meeting venue and disrupted it. Later they decided to hold a meeting in a house and they assembled there. The farmers reached there and held them hostage by snapping the water and electricity supply. In a video on social media, protesters could be seen chasing and heckling local councillor Shanti Swarup and even tearing his clothes while he was being taken away by policemen. This incident occurred on Sunday. However, the police denied he was attacked. A police team led the Deputy Inspector General Vikramjit Duggal was at the spot to rescue and escort the hostage leaders to safety. The situation throughout the night remained tense. When the holed up leaders were rescued by the police they claimed that the farmers chased, abused and heckled them. Also their vehicles were pelted with stones. However, farmer leader Prem Singh Bhangu blamed Aggarwal for provoking farmers by using abusive language. He said the incident flared up when Aggarwal's bodyguard pointed a pistol at the peacefully protesting farmers. The BJP approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court late Sunday and sought its intervention for the safety of its leaders. Directing the state to ensure the persons alleged to be illegally detained "are provided safe exit with adequate security and no harm is caused to anyone of them", Justice Suvir Sehgal asked the state to summit the report on July 12 at 2 p.m. Reacting to attack on the party leaders, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma said: "This is an attack on democracy. There is complete lawlessness in Punjab as police have become mute spectators." The farmers in Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against the farm laws as they feel that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporate entities. They are boycotting the BJP leaders too. In October last, the vehicle in which BJP chief Ashwani Sharma was travelling was attacked by 30-40 people with bricks and sticks near the toll plaza in Hoshiarpur town. Also the police fired tear gas shells and used water cannons in January to disperse protesting farmers, who stormed the helipad and vandalised the stage where Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was to address a 'kisan mahapanchayat' to highlight the benefits of Centre's agriculture laws.






The police used water cannons to disperse Delhi BJP leaders and workers as they tried to cut the water connection to Delhi Jal Board chairman (DJB) Satyendar Jain's house on Monday to protest the alleged poor water supply in the city. The protesters also threatened to cut off the water supply to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence if the issue is not resolved within the next two days. Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta said that the water cannons were used on party leaders while they were protesting outside the residence of state Health Minister Satyendra Jain. water crisis ' title='Delhi water crisis '>Delhi water crisis Adesh Gupta said that despite tall promises of tap water in every household by government, almost every area in Delhi is facing water scarcity. Despite tall promises of tap water in every household by the government, almost every area in Delhi is facing water scarcity. And for the areas that are getting water supply, there are constant complaints about quality of water supplied, he added




Related Topics

Coronavirus pandemic

image copyrightGetty Images

It is possible to catch two Covid variants at the same time, experts are warning after seeing a double infection in a 90-year-old woman who became sick with the Alpha and Beta types first identified in the UK and South Africa.

The woman, who died in March 2021 in Belgium, had not been vaccinated.

Her doctors suspect she contracted the infections from two different people.

They believe it is the first documented case of its kind and, although rare, similar dual infections are happening.

Her case is being discussed at this year's European Congress on Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.

In January 2021, scientists in Brazil reported that two people had been simultaneously infected with two types of coronavirus, one of them a variant of concern called Gamma.

Researchers from Portugal, meanwhile, recently treated a 17-year-old who appeared to have caught a second type of Covid while still recovering from a different, pre-existing Covid infection.

The 90-year-old, who was infected with the two "variants of concern"  the most worrying new versions of coronavirus that experts are tracking  had been admitted to hospital after experiencing some falls, but later developed worsening respiratory symptoms.

What are Covid variants of concern?

Is there a limit to how much worse variants can get?

Laboratory tests on samples taken when she was admitted revealed she had Covid-19, caused by two different mutated versions of the pandemic virus, simultaneously  Alpha and Beta.

Lead researcher Dr Anne Vankeerberghen, from the OLV hospital in Aalst, Belgium, said: "Both these variants were circulating in Belgium at the time, so it is likely that the lady was co-infected with different viruses from two different people. Unfortunately, we don't know how she became infected.

"She was a lady who lived alone, but she got a lot of helpers coming in to care for her.

"Whether the co-infection of the two variants of concern played a role in the fast deterioration of the patient is difficult to say."

Viruses constantly evolve by mutating as they replicate. This creates new versions or variants.

Covid has undergone some important changes that may give it an advantage  for example, by increasing its ability to replicate or dodge some of our existing immunity from past infection or vaccination.

The most concerning ones are being closely monitored by scientists and are called variants of concern.

Currently, in the UK, it is the Delta variant that is spreading the most.

Experts are confident that existing vaccines offer good protection against it.

Scientists are designing new Covid vaccines that will be an even better match for new variants, and could be used as boosters.

Prof Lawrence Young, an expert in virology at the University of Warwick, said: "Detecting two dominant variants of concern in a single person is not a surprise  these could have been passed on by a single infected individual, or by contact with multiple infected people."

He said more studies were needed to determine whether such infections in any way compromise the efficacy of vaccination, or make for a worse case of Covid-19.
Colorado Springs, CO -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/12/2021 -- Western Fireplace has conveniently located Colorado fireplace stores across the state in Avon, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins. In addition to modern gas fireplace inserts, traditional appliances like wood-burning stoves are also stocked. Older wood-burning stoves used to emit smoke and particulates and were not certified, whereas the high-quality Lopi wood-burning stoves showcased at Western Fireplace Supply are all certified by the Environmental Protection Agency. The experienced teams of fireplace experts can help advise which size of unit is best suited to the unique space a homeowner is looking to install a stove in. One of the side-effects of installing a unit that is too big, apart from the obvious overheating within a small space, is the inability to run the stove hot enough to burn the fuel at the optimal temperature. When the stove is allowed to burn hot and does not have to be constantly managed to slow the burning, the glass door on the front of the stove is cleaned as the stove operates. If the stove is not able to burn at high heat, the door will not be cleaned and will start to blacken. The doors on the Lopi wood-burning stoves will never warp or flex as the cast iron frame fits an inch deep inside the door. In addition, the cast iron glass frame retainer maintains a permanent air-tight seal around the glass.



In terms of performance and quality, the Lopi stoves are the only stoves recommended by Western Fireplace Supply, there are no moving parts and so they also tend to be durable and reliable. Whereas wood-burning stoves can be used to heat an entire home or a smaller space, gas-burning stoves are more commonly purchased to economically heat one room within the home. Freestanding gas-burning stoves can be installed in almost any room, with the requirements of a gas line and the ability to vent the stove to the outside of the house. The team at Western Fireplace Supply is often able to install the gas line if there is not one already in place. Gas stoves can be turned on and off instantly, and most models can be controlled by a thermostat on the wall or a remote control unit. Small units are perfect for heating a small room or when zone heating is being used to minimize heating bills and improve efficiency. Zone heating is a strategy to choose to only heats certain areas within the home rather than heating every space. It can be limited by an open concept floor plan and is easier to achieve when rooms that are not extensively used can be isolated from the main living areas. An example of one of the smaller models of a gas stove is the Heat & Glo Tiara Petite gas stove, which has a single heat setting of 14,500 BTUs. With a durable cast iron construction, this efficient heater has detailed logs and an optional brick interior. Two larger models of the gas stove are also available, with the biggest model, the Tiara II, with heat settings of 26,000 to 36,000 BTUs, offered with three finishing options. Specifications for all of the models with dimensions can be found on the Western Fireplace Supply website, along with an overview of all the major product lines including fireplaces, fireplace inserts, stoves, and gas logs. In addition, all of their fireplace installers are extensively trained and certified, and licensed in gas line installation.



One of the recent reviews from Terry in Colorado Springs, in May 2021, states "Inspectors told us they love inspecting your work because it was quality and done right."



From traditional stoves with an injection of modern technology to sleek or see-through fireplaces which could become the focal point of a contemporary downtown apartment, Western Fireplace Supply have a wide range of fireplace design choices and custom fireplace options, Western Fireplace Supply stock wood burning stoves, pellet burning stoves, gas fireplaces, fireplace inserts, gas fireplace inserts, wood fireplace inserts, and pellet fireplace inserts, wood-burning fireplaces, gas logs. Their team of experts is able to help find the ideal heating solution or decorative fireplace for residential and commercial properties.



About Western Fireplace Supply

Operating since 1983, Western Fireplace Supply has seen many changes in fireplace design and technology in the decades since. They bring their depth of knowledge and the highest standards to offer a wide range of products including gas fire pit inserts, fireplaces, wood burning stoves, see-through fireplaces, gas fireplace inserts, fireplace vents, venting/chimney pipes, glass doors, and gas logs. Heating solutions are unique to each living space and customer. Their team of experienced professionals can help find the perfect wood burning stove for a cottage in the woods or a sleek Da Vinci custom fireplace for the most stylish and elegant apartment. More than just a showroom, Western Fireplace Supply has installers who are extensively trained and certified, they understand the complexity involved and place customer safety paramount. With three Colorado wood, pellet, and gas fireplace stores in Colorado Springs, Avon, and Fort Collins, Western Fireplace Supply has helped more people find heating solutions for their homes than any other Colorado fireplace store. To find out more and explore the website, please visit: http://www.westernfireplace.com/



Contact Details:



Avon Fireplace Store - Western Fireplace Avon

Colorado Fireplace & Fireplace Supplies

Western Fireplace Supply

910 Nottingham Road

Avon, CO 81620

970-827-9623



Colorado Springs Fireplace Store - Western Fireplace Colorado Springs

featuring Colorado Springs fireplace inserts

Colorado Fireplace & Fireplace Supplies

Western Fireplace Supply

1685 Paonia Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80915

719-591-0020



Fort Collins Fireplaces - Western Fireplace Fort Collins

Colorado Fireplace & Fireplace Supplies

Western Fireplace Supply

1408 Riverside Ave.

Ft. Collins, CO 80524

970-498-9679
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/12/2021 -- HTF MI Analyst have added a new research study on Title 2021-2030 Report on Global IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Sales Channel with detailed information of Product Types [ Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Frozen Embryo Replacement (FER) & Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)], Applications [Clone, Transgenic, Embryonic Stem Cell Isolation and Culture & Test Tube Baby] & Key Players Such as Vitrolife AB, EMD Serono Inc, Irvine scientific, Cooper Surgical Inc, Cook Medical Inc, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Genea Biomedx, Auxogyn, Inc, Oxford Gene Technology & Ovascience etc. The Study provides in-depth comprehensive analysis for regional segments that covers North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa with global outlook and includes Clear Market definitions, classifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures, development policies and plans. The facts and data are well presented in the IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and report using diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other pictorial representations with respect to its current trends, dynamics, and business scope & key statistics.



If you are a IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and manufacturer and deals in exports imports then this article will help you understand the Sales Volume with Impacting Trends.



Click to Get Sample PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3367604-2021-2030-report-on-global-ivf-market



Impact Analysis  Global IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Market Research

Analysts at HTF MI constantly monitor the IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and industry factors with impacts of current events; with this study an update of how industry players have tackled latest scenario and what key strategies have made significant difference is showcased.



Key Highlights from IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Market Study.



Revenue and Sales Estimation  Historical Revenue and sales volume is presented and further data is triangulated with top-down and bottom-up approaches to forecast complete market size and to estimate forecast numbers for key regions covered in the report along with classified and well recognized Types and end-use industry. Additionally, macroeconomic factor and regulatory policies are ascertained in IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and industry evolution and predictive analysis.



Manufacturing Analysis the report is currently analysed concerning various product type and application. The IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and market provides a chapter highlighting manufacturing process analysis validated via primary information collected through Industry experts and Key officials of profiled companies.



FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS: In order to better understand IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and market condition five forces analysis is conducted that includes Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, Threat of new entrants, Threat of substitutes, Threat of rivalry.



Competition  Leading players have been studied from IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Industry depending on their company profile, product portfolio, capacity, product/service price, sales, and cost/profit.



Demand & Supply and Effectiveness  IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and report additionally provides distribution, Production, Consumption & EXIM** (Export & Import). ** If applicable



Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3367604-2021-2030-report-on-global-ivf-market



Geographically, the following regions together with the listed national/local markets are fully investigated:

- APAC (Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India, and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka)

- Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania)

- North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico)

- South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Rest of South America)

- MEA (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa)



The Latest Trends, Product Portfolio, Demographics, Geographical segmentation, and Regulatory Framework of the IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Market have also been included in the study.



Market Growth by Applications: Clone, Transgenic, Embryonic Stem Cell Isolation and Culture & Test Tube Baby



Heat map Analysis, 3-Year Financial and Detailed Company Profiles of Key & Emerging Players: Vitrolife AB, EMD Serono Inc, Irvine scientific, Cooper Surgical Inc, Cook Medical Inc, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Genea Biomedx, Auxogyn, Inc, Oxford Gene Technology & Ovascience



Market Growth by Types: , Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Frozen Embryo Replacement (FER) & Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)



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Introduction about Global IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and



Global IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) [Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Frozen Embryo Replacement (FER) & Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)] in 2018

IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Market by Application/End Users [Clone, Transgenic, Embryonic Stem Cell Isolation and Culture & Test Tube Baby]

Global IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications

Global Global IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2025)

IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application

IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and (Volume, Value and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined.

Global IVF Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data

Key Raw Materials Analysis & Price Trends

Supply Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain Analysis

........and view more in complete table of Contents



Check Complete Report Details @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3367604-2021-2030-report-on-global-ivf-market



Thanks for reading this article; HTF also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research according to clientele objectives. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report like North America, Europe or Asia



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Mumbai, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/11/2021 -- JRE Private Limited is a renowned manufacturer of flexible hose assemblies and fittings and a representative of specialised equipment. The business represents various companies from England, Switzerland, Belgium, and Germany. The manufacturing division of JRE creates rubber, composite, PTFE, and stainless-steel hoses for many industries. JRE's manufacturing unit follows a quality management system that conforms to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 8001, CE, and ATEX. The manufacturer keeps upgrading its technology to build upon quality in its operations.



In the latest media interview, the spokesperson of JRE Private Limited revealed, "We make continuous efforts to achieve zero-defect products at our manufacturing unit. There is an effective monitoring and improvement process for our quality management system. We also deliver relevant training to our employees so that they perform more efficiently. Our focus is also on maintaining cost-effectiveness and R&D to ensure the complete satisfaction of our clients. Our production and supply of high-quality flexible connections are driven by innovation."



JRE manufactures and offers a wide range of products, including corrugated SS flexible hoses, thermoplastic composite hoses, cryogenic hoses, PVC hoses, dry break couplings, and break away couplings. Industries can also buy hydraulic hose fittings from JRE. These hydraulic hoses are of various types and find various applications, such as crude, hydraulic, fuel oils, lubricating oils, anti-freeze solutions, gasoline, water, and air. The manufacturer provides all the technical information and hose specifications to interested clients across several industries.



The spokesperson further asserted, "We now offer the medium pressure wire braid hose that has a cover made of black, oil abrasion and weather aging-resistant synthetic rubber. The tube is constructed of black, oil-resistant synthetic rubber, with single wire braid reinforcement. Our clients can also get the high-pressure wire braid hose that has double wire braid reinforcement. Apart from that, our range of hydraulic hoses includes the medium pressure textile braid hose and the low-pressure suction and discharge hydraulic hose."



JRE provides medium pressure thermoplastic hoses that feature a polyester tube, polyester yarn reinforcement, and polyurethane cover. These hydraulic hoses are perfect for gasoline, crude, fuel, and lubricating oil applications. Their temperature range is from -40C to +93C (-40F to +200F). If a client wants to buy flexible hose with a nylon tube, they can go for the high-pressure thermoplastic hoses. Some other types of hydraulic hoses that JRE manufactures are the high-pressure wire spiral hose, extra high-pressure wire spiral hose, and high-pressure wire braid hose.



About JRE Private Limited

JRE Private Limited provides high-quality flexible connections like hoses and quick release coupling in India and to its clients globally. The manufacturer's product range goes from specialised rubber hoses to marine loading arms, roof drain hoses, hose movers, hose racks, API couplers, and rubber and metallic bellows. JRE has a wide range of hoses, from 5 mm to 400 mm diameter, and a pressure range of up to 20,000 psi working pressure. These are suitable for most industries, including food, chemical, defence, pharma, and construction.



Contact Information:



JRE Private Limited

39, Mistry Building, 635 JSS Marg,

Mumbai  400002, India

Phone: 91-22-66368931 / 91-22-66368932

Email: info@jreltd.com

Website: http://www.jreltd.com/
NASA has released a beautiful close-up shot snapped by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope of the globular cluster NGC 6380.

Globular clusters are densely packed, spherical collections of hundreds of thousands or even millions of stars.

They are among the oldest known objects in the Universe and are relics of the first epochs of galaxy formation.

About 150-180 such clusters are known to exist around our Milky Way Galaxy.

One of them, NGC 6380, is located approximately 35,500 light-years away in the constellation of Scorpio.

NGC 6380 is not a particularly exciting name, but it indicates that this cluster is catalogued in the New General Catalogue (NGC), which was originally compiled in 1888, Hubble astronomers said.

This cluster has, however, been known by many other names.

NGC 6380 was originally discovered by the Scottish astronomer James Dunlop in 1826, and he rather immodestly named it Dun 538, they added.

Eight years later, in 1834, it was independently rediscovered by the British astronomer John Herschel and he  similarly immodestly  went on to name it H 3688.

The cluster was re-rediscovered in 1959 by the Armenian-Mexican astronomer Paris Pismis, who catalogued it as Tonantzintla 1  and who, to continue the pattern, also referred to it as Pismis 25.

In addition to its colorful history of rediscovery, up until the 1950s NGC 6380 was thought to be an open cluster, the astronomers said.

It was the British astronomer A. David Thackeray who realized that it was in fact a globular cluster.

Nowadays, this cluster is reliably recognized in widely available catalogues as a globular cluster, and referred to simply as NGC 6380.
Ketchikan: FREE Blueberry Vaccine Clinic July 11, 2021

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(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - In partnership with the Ketchikan Public Health Center and sponsored by the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council presents the first ever Blueberry Vaccine Clinic during the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Councils 46th Annual Blueberry Arts Festival, Saturday, August 7th, at the St. Johns Episcopal Church parking lot, 10am to 5pm. The FREE Blueberry Vaccine Clinic will have available all three COVID vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Anyone can get their first or their second vaccine at the clinic! Please bring your vaccine card if this is your second. Those interested in a vaccine may sign up prior to Blueberry Saturday to schedule a time, but it is not required as walk-ins are very, very welcome. Please find the QR code and link for sign up at ketchikanarts.org In June the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce (GKCC) received a $45,000 grant from the Alaska Chamber to incentivize vaccinations in Ketchikan. GKCC spent the bulk of the grant to purchase $100 gift cards from local Ketchikan businesses to be given away at several vaccine clinics since June 5th. As the original one-month grant timeline runs out, GKCC still has funds and $100 gift cards to disburse. In a new collaboration, GKCC will partner with the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council (KAAHC), to re-granting funds and gift cards and continue to encourage the Ketchikan community to be vaccinated from the COVID-19 virus. Each person that receives a COVID-19 vaccine during the Blueberry Vaccine Clinic will also receive a $100 gift card to a local Ketchikan business!!! In addition, each newly vaccinated person will be entered to win in hourly $100 CASH prize drawings from the Blueberry Mainstage located this year at the Market Cafe at the corner of Main and Dock streets. Every newly vaccinated persons name will be put back into the drawing for the Grand Prize of $2,000 drawn at 4:45 from the Mainstage. Everyone who has received a vaccine either at the Blueberry Clinic or prior, and can show their vaccine card, is eligible to be entered in the Grant Prize drawing!!!! Enter your name at the Blueberry Vaccine Clinic tent! Lastly, persons receiving vaccines on Blueberry Saturday will be encouraged to make some art while they are waiting. Artwork created at the Blueberry Vaccine Clinic will be combined with other artwork stations throughout the Blueberry Arts Festival to make a full installation to be exhibited at the Main Street Gallery. Related Information: FREE Blueberry Vaccine Clinic

Blueberry Arts Festival, Saturday, August 7th, 2021 10am - 5pm

St. Johns Episcopal Church parking lot Hosted by the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council

Sponsored by the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce In partnership with the Ketchikan Public Health Center Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews Source of News: Ketchikan Area Arts & Humanities Council

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First Cruise Ship Welcomed Back to Alaska Since 2019 "An important step toward Alaskas road to economic recovery Posted & Edited By MARY KAUFFMAN July 11, 2021

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(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer, and City of Ketchikan Mayor Bob Sivertsen joined community members in Ketchikan Friday at an event hosted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the trade association for the global cruise industry, as Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas became the first large cruise ship to return to Alaska following the suspension of cruise operations due to the pandemic. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer, and City of Ketchikan Mayor Bob Sivertsen joined community members in Ketchikan Friday morning to welcome the first cruise ship back to Alaska. Royal Caribbeans Serenade of the Seas arrived to the Ketchikan port Friday morning to serve as the states test cruise - with volunteer passengers - to demonstrate to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventionl (CDC) the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation protocols. Following Fridays simulated voyage, nNine large cruise ships are currently scheduled to operate in Alaska this year, with 78 sailings to take place through Oct. 21, 2021. All sailings must receive approval from, and meet the requirements of, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The event marked the return of cruise tourism to Alaska nearly two years since cruise ships last operated in the state. Prior to the pandemic, cruise passengers represented more than 60% of all mainland visitors to Alaska, and the industrys operations generated more than $3 billion to the Alaskan economy per year, supporting 23,000 local jobs. In Ketchikan Friday morning, Senator Murkowski welcomes the first large cruise ship, Royal Caribbeans Serenade of the Seas, to return to Alaska since the pandemic. U.S. Senator Murkowski, Alaska Lieutenant Governor Meyer and City of Ketchikan Mayor Sivertsen spoke at the event, as did representatives from CLIA, Royal Caribbean Group, and Patti Mackey, president and CEO of the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau. CLIA concluded the speaking program with a tribute to U.S. Senator Murkowski for her leadership in the passage of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, which was instrumental in facilitating the return of cruise tourism in Alaska this summer. Murkowski said, I am pleased to welcome the first large cruise ship of the 2021 season. Tourism is the lifeblood for hundreds of Alaska small businesses and thousands of employees. Ive been committed to help bring tourism back for the 2021 season and keep Alaskans afloat through the hardships created by the pandemic. It was an all-hands-on-deck effort to find a solution to the 2021 cruise ship season and bring a much-needed economic boost to our communities. I want to thank the other members of the delegation for working with me to get my legislation, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, across the finish line. This legislation made it possible to begin to bring cruise ships back to Alaska  so that our communities can have a productive tourist season. Today marks an important step toward Alaskas road to economic recovery from the pandemic. At the event, hosted by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Senator Murkowski was presented with an award in appreciation for her leadership in the passage of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act (ATRA). Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) presented Senator Murkowski with an award in appreciation for her leadership in the passage of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act (ATRA). Michael McGarry, Senior Vice President Global Government Affairs and North American Secretariat, CLIA said, CLIA and our ocean-going member lines have been hard at work to bring cruise business back to Alaska and to support a vibrant tourism economy, with enhanced health and safety measures. We would not be here today if not for the efforts of Alaskas elected officials, who moved mountains to ensure that communities throughout Alaska would not go a second summer without cruise tourism. On behalf of our members, we would like to share a special thank you to U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, whose commitment to serving her constituents was pivotal in bringing cruise tourism back to Alaska this summer. Alaska Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer said, The cruise ships are back, and we look forward to many more to come. This is the boost Alaska needs for our economy and businesses. This industry is critical to our state livelihood. Todays event is the result of the private sector and federal, state, and local governments working together. When we work together, good things happen for Alaska. City of Ketchikan Mayor Bob Sivertsen said, Having the ships return is like a late spring. As with spring it brings hope, joy and the anticipation of brighter days ahead. Ketchikan is ready for the hustle and bustle of a vibrant economy. We are excited to see our cruise partners back. Su Laxgayna, the New Path Dancers.

Some of the many community members welcoming the

first cruise ship back to Alaska. Russell Benford, Vice President, Government Relations, Americas, Royal Caribbean Group said, We are celebrating the much-anticipated return of cruising to Alaska today thanks to the determination and close collaboration of the cruise industry, policymakers and communities that are so reliant on tourism. Proud, resourceful Alaskan communities, which have endured almost two seasons without cruising, will once again welcome cruise visitors to this magnificent destination and Im sure Alaskan business owners look forward to reigniting the tourism economy and providing for their families. Patti Mackey, President and CEO, Ketchikan Visitors Bureau said, The arrival of Serenade in Ketchikan and the promise of additional ships sailing in Alaska this season is welcome news after a 21-month absence and the resultant economic disaster for Ketchikan's visitor industry businesses. The loss of both independent and cruise visitors in 2020 was devastating and only added to the impacts of the pandemic. We all owe Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and Congressman Young our thanks for breaking the logjam that kept ships from sailing and causing further damage to our community. In 2019, Alaska hosted over 1.3 million visitors by way of cruise ships. That number came to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated mandates, decimating Alaskan small businesses and Alaskas economy overall. The tourism industry in Alaska typically generates more than $214 million in state and municipal revenue, more than $1.4 billion in payroll, and $2.2 billion in visitor spending - all of which saw a significant decline during the coronavirus pandemic. Since cruise operations from U.S. ports were suspended in March 2020, it is estimated that more than 300,000 American jobs have been impacted or lost, with a corresponding loss of over $39 billion in economic activity. Nearly 70 percent of the industrys economic contributions in Alaska benefitted local small businesses in 2019  the highest percentage of any state in the country. Following the cancellation of the 2020 cruise season, the return of the first large cruise ship to an Alaskan port, with stringent measures in place and the support of health authorities, marks a significant milestone on the path to recovery for small businesses and communities in Alaska and across the country. Senator Murkowski is credited for working diligently to ensure that large cruise ships could return to Alaska to provide economic opportunity for communities and small businesses who rely heavily on tourism. Her legislation, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act (ATRA), which was signed into law on May 24, 2021, provided a temporary fix under the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), paving the way for cruise ships to resume operations and transport passengers between the State of Washington and the State of Alaska. Due to the Canadian prohibition on passenger vessels traveling through Canadian waters, without the ATRA large cruise ships sailing to Alaska would not have been able to sail to Alaska this summer as the PVSA required a stop in a foreign country. On the Web: Watch Friday's Cruise Ship Event in Ketchikan Source of News & Photos: Office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski

www.murkowski.senate.gov Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

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Ketchikan agent Gary Freitag retires By ANNE GORE July 11, 2021

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(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Gary Freitag, Alaska Sea Grants Marine Advisory Program agent in Ketchikan, retired in June after 13 years of providing educational and technical assistance and marine-related outreach for Southeast Alaska communities. His expertise, coupled with his passion for teaching and skill at making complex information understandable and interesting, has made him a valuable and respected resource for the region. Gary Freitag, Alaska Sea Grants Marine Advisory Program agent in Ketchikan from 2008 to 2021. Garys enthusiasm and passion will be missed, said Alaska Sea Grants Director Ginny Eckert. Freitags career in Alaska has spanned four decades. Prior to joining Alaska Sea Grant, he conducted research, evaluation and management of salmon aquaculture programs, first with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, then as Research Director at the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA). He also taught oceanography at the University of Alaska Southeast, and has served on the Pacific Salmon Commission Chinook Technical Committee since 1984 as a liaison between fisheries management and the fishermen and communities who depend on salmon. Freitag has contributed his knowledge and expertise to marine mammal necropsy and disentanglement, invasive species and baseline marine monitoring, salmon fishery forecasting, and remote underwater vehicle operation. He has given numerous public presentations on a wide range of topics from seaweed mariculture to marine mammals. One of the accomplishments he is most proud of is getting students excited about marine science. Ive had them come up to me after theyve continued their studies and gotten jobs doing ocean science, and they tell me they wouldnt be doing this work if it werent for me, Freitag said. Working with people and sharing his passion for marine science is one of Freitags strengths. His work has always been relevant and useful, informed by the needs of the people and communities where he works. Plus his enthusiasm is just really infectious said Sunny Rice, Alaska Sea Grants Marine Advisory Program agent in Petersburg. One example of an innovative project Freitag initiated was a collaboration with Allen Marine Tours to sample nearshore waters for invasive European green crab. Freitag worked with the small cruise company to train staff to conduct sampling in a remote bay. Observing the research was interesting for the tourists and produced valuable data for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Freitag is still involved in a similar collaboration with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Institute, training volunteer members of the community to monitor for invasive marine species. Gary Freitag examines a settlement plate for invasive marine species.

Photo by Deborah Mercy. Freitag developed an interest in the ocean as a child visiting the Jersey shore with his family. After completing degrees in chemistry and oceanography, he worked for NASA on an offshore remote sensing project in Norfolk, Virginia, where he honed his skills in marine geology, chemistry and archeology. After giving a presentation about that work, he was offered a job in Alaska collecting and analyzing sediment samples in Prince William Sound and Glacier Bay. When Freitag made a trip to Ketchikan to conduct seagrass surveys, he decided to stay. About working at Alaska Sea Grant, Freitag said, This has been the best job by far of any job Ive had. Because Freitags work reflects his personal interests and passions, he plans to keep doing a lot of the same stuff in retirement. Im going to try to relax a little more, but Im still planning on interfacing with students and schools, and I may teach a little too, he said. With characteristic light-hearted humor, Freitag added, The Pacific Salmon Commission told me Im not permitted to go anywhere. Freitag conducted his Marine Advisory Program work in Ketchikan with a passion for discovery, teaching, and sharing. His Alaska Sea Grant colleagues plan to continue to draw on his expertise. We might call him up now and then just to hear one of his wonderful stories, too, said Sunny Rice. Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews Source of News: SeaGrant Alaska

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Alaskas Congressional Delegation asks Biden Administration to defend American waters from Canadian mine contamination. Will it? July 11, 2021

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(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with Congressman Don Young (All R-AK), have sent a letter of concern to the Biden Administration regarding potential impacts from risky large-scale mines in Canada near transboundary waters that flow into Alaska. The letter, dated June 24, 2021 went to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and urges the Department of State and Canada to protect downstream communities from British Columbia (B.C.) mines potential negative impacts, in line with the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. In spite of decades of repeated efforts from both Republican and Democratic state and federal lawmakers, a proven record of failures in B.C., and repeated requests from sovereign Indigenous nations, B.C. has continued to heavily industrialize and put at risk the international salmon rivers vital to the Tongass National Forest. The ball is now in the Biden Administrations court. The letter highlights that seven years after Canadas worst environmental disaster, at Imperial Metals Mount Polley mine, Americans are still not protected from the potential downstream impacts of B.C.s large-scale mines. It also follows a report released on June 18, 2021 by the British Columbia government, highlighting that B.C. has failed to follow through on its commitments to prioritize human health and environmental safety in its mining regulations. Those commitments were made after the 2016 B.C. Auditor General reported that when it comes to the mining industry, B.C. is failing on every level to protect human health and the environment. We are very thankful that our congressional delegation continues to alert the Department of State regarding this complex international issue, especially as our wild salmon populations are struggling in the face of the climate crisis. But so far, these letters have fallen short to garner the attention of Secretaries of State. Thousands of Alaskans are united in asking to protect our coastal communities from B.C.  the bad neighbors next door  and we have been waiting, so far in vain, for our federal government to defend American interests and communities from existing and threatened Canadian mine contamination. President Biden has committed to initiatives like America the Beautiful and the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership. If those commitments are to have any real meaning, Secretary Blinken must take immediate action to prevent our vital international salmon rivers from being completely overrun with poorly regulated, polluting mines in Canada, said Salmon Beyond Borders Director Jill Weitz. Lawmakers representing all U.S. states bordering B.C. have asked B.C. Premier Horgan to address B.C.s shortcomings and to stop contaminating U.S. watersheds. Earlier this month, Senator John Tester submitted a letter to Secretary Blinken requesting that he engage with Canada regarding B.C. selenium leaching from Teck Coals (Teck Resources) mining operations along the Elk River in Canada and into Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River in Montana. Twenty-five Washington lawmakers sent a letter to B.C. Premier in May of 2021, and Alaska state lawmakers have done the same. Furthermore, in 2019, the Senate delegations from Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Montana  every state downstream of British Columbia  submitted a bipartisan, joint letter of concern to B.C. Premier John Horgan, expressing concerns that B.C.s industrialization of the headwaters of shared rivers will negatively affect shared resources. All sectors of Southeast Alaska, including Tribes, commercial and sport fishermen, business owners, municipalities, and hard working Alaskans, are united with the congressional delegations efforts to attract attention and action from the Department of State. What is missing from this renewed delegation letter is the signature of Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, said Weitz. Without it, B.C. and its mining industry continue to block action, claiming division amongst Alaskas elected officials. In all four states downstream  Washington, Idaho, and Montana as well  Canada is reluctant to correct its liabilities and is attempting to prevent the Department of State from taking action. Until B.C. is accountable for the ramifications of industrializing the headwaters of some of North Americas last remaining great wild salmon rivers, B.C. remains a liability to Canada, to the global markets, and to companies seeking to invest in responsible resource development. Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews Source of News: Salmon Beyond Borders

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by Dr Laksiri Fernando

Under the present international and national circumstances of each and every country, balancing human rights with human duties and responsibilities has become of paramount importance. Although this has been a theme from the beginning of human civilization, humans always have had a tendency to undermine the duties and responsibilities. The reason perhaps being that they gave priority to material needs and personal interests instead of overall moral values and ethical principles.

Now we have come to a crisis point with the coronavirus pandemic, global warming, natural disasters and environmental pollution. Even before, these moral issues were there in respect of universal poverty, malnutrition and class discrimination. No international leader however appeared to care much for these needs when they were in power.

The InterAction Council (IAC) consisting of a group of former statemen and leaders however came up with a Universal Declaration of Human Duties in 1997 which is much relevance today. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether this would be followed up by the IAC and others under the present circumstances.

Past Religious Discourses

Almost all religious leaders and most (ancient) philosophers emphasized the importance of human duties and responsibilities along with or separate from rights. Those were mainly the times of feudalism or similar social settings. Therefore one could cynically argue that those pronouncements were mainly to justify feudal societies, if not feudal exploitation.

However a closer look at those teachings show whether it was Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Greek philosophy, Judaism or Islam that the purposes were to advocate rightful/spiritual individuals and cohesive societies. Almost all of those leaders found something wrong with the existing societies. Different leaders of course gave different reasons and explanations. The teachings also differed depending on the times and circumstances. For example, Sigalovada Sutta of the Buddha differed from the Laws of Manu of Hinduism. Sermon of the Mount of Jesus differed from the Ten Commandments that Moses advocated. These differences also were in respect of duties and responsibilities.

It is difficult to discuss or compare all religious and premodern philosophical doctrines, in this short space, justifying the importance of duties and responsibilities. However the importance or the similarity between the Sigalovada Sutta (Buddhist) and the Sermon on the Mount (Christian) cannot be overlooked.

Both discourses started with general moral principles whether we fully agree with them or not. The Buddha talked about four vices in conduct, evil action in four ways, and six channels for dissipating wealth as preface to his main discourse. Altogether fourteen evil thingswere emphasized that people have an obligation to prevent from. See Narada Thera on Sigalovada Sutta.

The Christ talked about eight beatitudes before the main sermon. These were put forward as positive attributes. Blessed are (1) the poor in spirit, (2) who are meek in behavior, (3) the mourners, (4) who suffer from hunger, (5) who are the merciful, (6) those who are pure in heart, (7) the peacemakers, and (8) those who have been persecuted for righteousness sake. When he said blessed are those who suffer from hunger, the purpose was not to justify poverty,but to sympathize with the poor in unreasonable society. See Charles Gore for the Sermon on the Mount.

In most of these moral principles, which have now been abandoned by many disciples, both leaders came closer in principles and heart. In the Veludvara Sutta, Buddha said one should not do anything to others that one does not like done to oneself. Likewise, near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. This common principle is now identified as the Golden Rule.

Sigalovada Sutta

The Sigalovada Sutta is undoubtedly much pertinent to todays debates on rights and duties, emphasizing the reciprocity between different dutiesof duty holders. In advising Sigala about the real meaning of worshiping the six quarters,the Buddha explained the mutuality of duties between: children and parents; students and teachers; husbands and wives; friends and associates; employees and employers; religious leaders and their followers.

Interpreted from Narada Thera, most interesting today might be the following.

There are five ways a husband should minister duties to a wife: (i) by being courteous to her,(ii) by not despising her,(iii) by being faithful to her,(iv) by handing over authority to her,and (v) by providing her with adornments.

On the other hand, There are five ways a wife must minister duties to a husband: (i) by performing her duties well,(ii) being hospitable to relations and attendants, (iii) being faithful,(iv) by protecting what he brings,and (v) being skillful and industrious in discharging her duties.

Of course the duties were formulated based on the circumstances of those times. However, it is important to note that the duties of the husband came before the duties of the wife.

During the Modern Era

It was towards the end of the medieval period in Europe that the rights of individuals or groups (with some status) started to emerge. Magna Carta of 1215 was one example. It was the rebellious Barons against an authoritarian King/s that these rights were first articulated.

However it is a mistake to consider that modern philosophers and intellectuals were not concerned about peoples duties. In 1673, Samuel Pufendorf wrote his treatise, On the Duty of Man and Citizen. He was basing his arguments on what meant to be natural law and said more inhumanity to man has been done by man himself than any other causes of the nature. According to him, the first duty of man is to the God, and then to the natural laws governing the society. As a consequence, man has duties to himself, the fellow citizens and society.

When we normally refer to the modern origins of human rights philosophy, we refer only to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of the French Revolution (1789) or revised versions thereafter. However in 1795 there was a Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man and Citizen. The maintenance of society requires that those who compose it should both know and fulfil their duties, the document declared.

This second declaration which became the basis of a new French constitution after Robespierres terror and anarchy (before Napoleons reign), declared both rights and duties. On the rights side, liberty, equality, security and property were declared as before. On the duties side, first came the duties of the legislators (like our parliamentarians), and the government. To mention only two of the other duty propositions, it said (1) the obligations of each person to society consist in defending it, serving it, living in submission to the laws, and respecting those who are the agents of them, and (2) no one is a good citizen unless he is a good son, good father, good brother, good friend, and good husband.

I can go on and on referring to other declarations (of that time and after) and to philosophers like Emmanuel Kant, Emile Durkheim or Mahatma Gandhi. However the pertinent question is why did the drafters of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)in 1948 overlooked this side of human nature or necessity? I have previously mentioned that I asked this question from one of the UDHR drafters, John Humphrey, in 1988 at a UNESCO conference held in Malta. Unfortunately, he did not have a good answer except referring to Article 29 of the UDHR!

InterAction Council

In 1983, a former Prime Minister of Japan, Takeo Fukuda, initiated the InterAction Council (IAC). The other leaders who were in the forefront then and thereafter were Helmut Schmidt (Germany), Pierre Trudeau (Canada), Bill Clinton (US), and Malcolm Frazer (Australia). There were many others as members. As the IAC pronounced, The idea was that former world leaders would be free to reflect on their experiences, and look beyond the immediacy of current issues and the limitation of national interests, to focus on the long term structural factors driving the global agenda.

It was in 1987 that the Council convened an important meeting in Rome of religious leaders for a dialogue of religious kind (interreligious dialogue) to emphasize ethical principles necessary in the circumstances of cold war, ideological and religious animosities, globalization of extreme profit making efforts and the neglect of moral and ethical principles.

Conclusion

More pertinent to our discussion here is the InterAction Councils initiative during 1996 and 1997 to bring a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities which in fact was a great achievement.

During this era of globalization, the Council declared that Globalization also applies to the necessity for global ethical standards, since without ethics and self-restraint, humankind would revert to the Jungle. It identified the Golden Ruleas an ethical standard common to all major religions that makes a collective life possible.

Although the Declaration (another UDHR) was a great achievement, it was not properly followed up for reasons clearly not known. The InterAction Council is planning to have its (previously postponed) 37th Plenary Meeting on 1 and 2 December 2021 in Malta in association with the One Young World organization.

Considering the validity of human duties and responsibilities along with human rights under the present circumstances of coronavirus pandemic, global warming, environmental disasters, and increasing global poverty, it is hoped and suggested that the InterAction Council would give much emphasis in promoting those ethical principles in its forthcoming meeting.
Greenes attorney, James D. Ryan of North Palm Beach, on Monday issued this statement in response to the FTCs news release: Much of what the FTC claims Mr. Greene did is couched in the framework of what he supposedly knew or should have known. Regardless, the totality of Mr. Greenes circumstances led him to the conclusion that it was more practical to agree with the FTC than it would have been to split hairs.
Why: Inspectors spotted 19 violations (five high-priority), including seven live small flying insects in the kitchen, food storage, bar floor drains and sushi bar, and six live cockroaches crawling directly on wonton chips in an open container, on the sushi bar prep table, on a container with in-use utensils, on a container with seasonings in dry storage, and inside the oven at cook line. They also spotted 11 dead cockroaches on the floor beside soy sauce container and inside a closed container of flour on dry storage shelf. The restaurant was ordered to stop selling and toss its flour and wonton chips due to not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Kiko was allowed to reopen July 8, although the follow-up inspection found 11 dead roaches by table with condiments and clean utensils and near a shelf with cooked wonton and taco shells and 14 more live roaches behind stove and fryer station, on a clean pan and atop a reach-in cooler with containers of cooked wonton and tacos. Inspectors shut down Kiko again on July 9 when a third inspection found 21 more dead roaches and 21 live ones crawling under the prep table, sink and in soda machine empty ice bin behind sushi bar. The restaurant remains closed as of July 12 until it passes a final inspection.
Christian Emmanuel Sanons name has been cited by several of the people who are in custody in the case, the Herald learned, leading the national police to arrest him as part of the ongoing investigation into the leadership of the group of 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans suspected of carrying out the assassination.
Multiple sources in Haiti, requesting anonymity for their safety, have confirmed to the Herald that the detained men said they were hired by CTU, and several of the men indicated they had been in Haiti for at least three months, some longer. It is unclear if they knew or believed CTU leaders were aware of the assassination plot.
The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights, Biden said. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected. The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.
Cubas director general for U.S. affairs, Carlos F. de Cossio, dismissed her remarks in his own tweet: US State Department and its officials, involved to their necks in promoting social and political instability in #Cuba, should avoid expressing hypocritical concern for a situation they have been betting on. Cuba is and will continue to be a peaceful country, contrary to the US.
Dr. Citrin made a mockery of his Hippocratic oath by cutting and pasting the same symptoms and vital signs for most of his patients so he could fraudulently bill insurers millions of dollars, Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in a news release. Our Sober Homes Task Force will continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute those, like Dr. Citrin, who exploit people in drug recovery and put profit over patient care.
Eric Adams, Brooklyn borough president and the likely next mayor of New York, plus Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo are expected to attend the meeting Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans. They were not authorized to speak publicly about the meeting and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Planas said he believes Senate leaders, who run campaigns for candidates from their parties and decide how money will be spent, knew someone was buying ads for NPA candidates in hopes of siphoning votes away from Democrats. He said he doesnt believe that Artiles, who resigned from the Florida Senate in 2017 after he used the n-word against some of his colleagues, would have had the influence to raise $550,000 himself.
We still owe consideration to Haiti because of that support. In addition, roughly half of the 1 million Haitian-Americans live in Florida, most of them in South Florida. Links between here and there are numerous, to the point that South Floridians are accused in the plot to kill Moise.
I wanted to add my two cents to the woman who wrote that since June, the state DEO unemployment assistance system wont let her log on, and when she called, they told her they werent aware of any recent problems. I tried to get on the system to claim my weeks for the prior two weeks. It kept knocking me off, at the beginning when I hit the button to claim my weeks, or halfway through, or when I was finished and tried to submit, it happened again. Since more people are working, these problems should not still exist anymore. Gov. DeSantis has had time to fix this. Remember this when its time to vote.
The fight against drug trafficking along the south coast of Spain claimed the life of an member of the Customs Surveillance Service at the weekend.

Jose Luis Dominguez Iborra, from Algeciras, died in a helicopter accident which happened while the aircraft was following a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the Strait of Gibraltar, thirty miles east of Sotogrande, and close to the border between Cadiz and Malaga provinces.

The customs official who lost his life served as an aerial observer, and was accompanied by the pilot and co-pilot, who survived the accident. The flight crew managed to rescue the customs agent from the helicopter and revive him. However, when he reached land, the man's heart stopped again. More resuscitation manoeuvres were attempted by a mobile intensive care unit in Sotogrande port, but the man did not recover.

According to SUR sources, the reason for the aircraft crashing into the sea during the pursuit, in the early hours of Sunday, is still unknown. The helicopter was giving air support to a patrol boat that was pursuing a suspected drug-trafficking boat.

On Sunday morning, the Salvamento Maritimo coastguard service located the crashed helicopter and it was refloated using inflatable balloons by the Clara Campoamor recovery craft, at around 6.30pm.

Spains prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, offered his condolences to the family and friends of the customs official and added, Thank you to all the security forces and authorities that work every day to protect us from crime.

The Minister of Finance, Maria Jesus Montero, said "it is still premature to venture theories" about the cause of the crash.

The helicopter will be transferred to land and will be analysed to find the cause of the accident.
Cruise activity is intensifying in the Port of Malaga on the Costa de Sol. And, after more than 16-months, the city will welcome its first ship operating an international itinerary, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Tuesday, 13 July, the Aida Perla, which includes Gibraltar in its week-long tour of the Spanish Mediterranean, will dock in Malaga from 8am to 6pm.

The German shipping company, Aida, plans to visit the Costa del Sol on nine occasions from 13 July to 1 November, once every fortnight.

National cruise activity has already restarted in Malaga port after the arrival, on 15 June, of the TUI Cruises ship, the Mein Schiff 2.

The Port Authority said, The arrival of Aida Perla will be the first time, since the pandemic, that a ship will arrives on an international itinerary, since it also has a brief stopover in Gibraltar," and it reminded that all health protocols established by the authorities will be strictly adhered to.

This week it has also been confirmed that the British shipping company Marella Cruises has chosen Malaga as its base port to start two new itineraries next October. The Marella Explorer, which was officially named in the Port of Malaga in 2019, will offer a Continental Coasts cruise, which will include other ports on the Mediterranean coast, such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante and Almeria; and, in addition, the Spirit of Iberia tour will visit the ports of Valencia, Ibiza, Cartagena, Cadiz and Gibraltar.
A 36-year man, with Spina bifida, was rushed to hospital after an accident on Nerja's La Torrecilla beach on Sunday, 11 July.

The man, from Cantabria, was with his family on the shore, when for unknown reasons, his wheelchair tipped over and he fell into the water.

Two bathers in the area, who identified themselves as doctors, reportedly revived the man at the scene before he was flown to Malagas Regional Hospital by air ambulance.

Officials are investigating the circumstances of the accident.
A Local Police officer in Torre del Mal was injured after an 18-year-old moped rider refused to stop and smashed into the policeman.

Officers had spotted the moped travelling fast and without lights but when the foot patrol tried to pull the rider over, he allegedly ignored their orders, accelerated and headed straight towards them. One of the policemen managed to leap out of the way but the other officer was hit.

The 18-year-old rider tried to flee on foot, but was eventually stopped with the help of an off-duty Local Police officer from Valladolid town of Medina del Campo, who was on holiday in Velez-Malaga.

The injured officer was transferred to hospital but has now been voluntarily discharged. He is recovering at home from a knee sprain with ligament damage, and multiple cuts and bruises.

After the incident the moped rider tested positive for cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines and methamphetamines. He faces charges of reckless driving with contempt for the lives of others, driving without a licence and doing so under the influence of drugs.
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Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi...
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MBABANE - Members of the community under Lobamba Lomdzala Constituency have taken government to court over the ban on delivery of petitions to tinkhundla centres.

They want the court to declare the directive stopping with immediate effect the delivery of petitions to Members of Parliament (MPs) at constituency centres that was announced by Acting Prime Minister (PM) Themba Masuku on June 24, 2021, to be unlawful and of no force and effect. They also seek an order from the High Court interdicting and restraining security forces under governments authority, and anyone acting at their behest, from disturbing or preventing them or any person from delivering a written petition to their relevant Member of Parliament (MP).

Applicants

Applicants in the matter are Nathi Dlamini, who is in the money lending business, Azi Comfort Hlatshwako, a lawyer, and Mandla Dladla, who is also self-employed in the informal sector. They are all members of the community under Lobamba Lomdzala Royal Kraal. They said they went to court because they were affected by the directive banning the delivery of petitions to tinkhundla centres. In their papers, they blamed the directive stopping the delivery of petitions to tinkhundla centres for the riots that they alleged resulted in a number of deaths unprecedented in the country. They informed the court that it would be in the interest of the country to allow them to deliver the petition to their MP Marwick Khumalo. It need hardly be stressed that the whole country has experienced unprecedented spates of violent protests that have even caught the attention of the international community as a result of the first respondents (government) directive of June 24, 2021, they said.

Once the directive is declared unlawful, all other tinkhundla will be at liberty to deliver their own written petitions peacefully, they argued. The applicants told the court that government would suffer no prejudice by having the directive declared unlawful and set aside.

Decentralisation

They described an inkhundla as a local authority area inspired by decentralisation of State power and as an engine of development through which social services to the Eswatini community were developed. Nathi said tinkhundla centres were recognised by Section 80 of the Constitution and that the political system of Eswatini was exclusively modelled on the Tinkhundla System of Government. He told the court that the acting PMs directive was discriminatory in nature in that it was allegedly directed to those seeking to deliver petitions to their respective tinkhundla centres. It excluded other groups, be it religious or recreational gatherings. The Constitution is against any form of discrimination, Nathi said. He told the court that on July 3, 2021, together with other members of the community under Lobamba Lomdzala Constituency, they assembled at Mahlanya Sports Ground to deliver a petition of their demands to their MP, Khumalo.
MBABANE  We are being starved at the police stations where we are being kept.

This was one of the submissions made by alleged looters who are currently detained in various police stations around the country. It is alleged that the number of the suspected looters who are currently detained is in excess of 200. There is no food to feed all the inmates who are now kept at the police stations. We are starved at the police stations where we are kept and there are no applicable international conventions for the minimum treatment of prisoners at the police stations since a police station is not a prison institution, contended the alleged looters. According to the accused persons, they were purportedly informed that the police service had no budget or staff to provide food for prisoners.

Bail

These allegations are contained in the application filed by their lawyer Thulani Maseko on Friday, where they are jointly seeking an order to be admitted to bail by the High Court. The alleged looters decided to approach the High Court after they were reportedly not given an opportunity to apply for bail or enter any plea when they appeared at the different magistrates courts. Instead, the magistrates are said to have only remanded them in custody. The applicants also want the court to direct all judicial officers, before whom the alleged looters were produced to be interdicted from remanding them in custody without any charge. They are further praying for an order to interdict all judicial officers before whom they were produced from postponing bail applications or denying them the right to plead to the charge. Applicants in the matter are Wakhile Mndzebele, Nkosinathi Dlamini, Sandile Dlamini, Mukelo Dlamini and various other detainees.

In their application, the applicants further told the court that even the holding cells where they were being kept were already full, in particular those in Manzini and Matsapha, where most of the arrests took place. At the Matsapha Police Station on July 2, 2021, when our lawyers went to see some of us, they were told by the police officers that all the holding cells were full. The only holding cell which was available was one where a person of unsound mind was kept in isolation, submitted the accused persons. It was further their contention that the overcrowding in the holding cells was a breeding ground for COVID-19. This, according to them, was not only a threat to the Kingdom of Eswatini, but also to the rest of the world since this was a pandemic that was globally widespread. Giving background of the events leading to their arrests, one of the alleged looters, Mukelo Dlamini, narrated to the court that there was currently a constitutional and political crisis in the country.

He informed the court that there was a call for certain reforms in the set-up of the country.
MANZINI  The three Members of Parliament (MPs) who have been vocal in the call for change have disputed that PUDEMO pulled a heist on their quest.

The legislators said this in response to an article by our sister publication, the Times SUNDAY, wherein veteran journalist Bheki Makhubu was quoted as saying he believed that the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) had hijacked the current pursuit for political reforms in the country. The three MPs are Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza from Hosea Constituency, Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane from Siphofaneni Constituency and Mthandeni Dube from Ngwempisi Constituency. To this, the Hosea Constituency MP said, in his understanding, all the people calling for change were in support of what they (MPs) presented in Parliament as legislators. Mabuza said they (three MPs) were calling for change in a manner which the government would be accountable to the people. This, he said, would be achieved by first having an elected PM and an Executive of government that was accountable to the electorate.

He said: Whoever supports this change is with us. Even if it is a political party, they are with us because they are emaSwati first before they are members of an organisation. He emphasised that whatever PUDEMO was doing was part of their strategies in the quest to achieve what they were advocating for as representatives of the citizenry in Parliament. Mabuza reiterated that they did not hold the same view as Makhubu with regard that PUDEMO had taken over. He said in this call there was no leader, but it was a quest by the citizenry to achieve an accountable and independent government.

Privileged

The three MPs he is referring to were privileged to have the platform after they were elected by emaSwati to represent them in Parliament and they raised some of the things the public was seeking. The main goal is to achieve change and that is all that people want, inclusive of political parties, Mabuza said. The legislator said they (three MPs) and all other political parties in the country and civil society wanted an independent government just like in all other States  that which was accountable to the people. The government that we are advocating for, just like PUDEMO, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Swaziland and other political parties is one that has power to take decisions independently, he emphasised. Also, the Ngwempisi Constituency MP, Dube, disputed the insinuation that PUDEMO had taken over what they had initiated. He said people were advocating for what they all wanted.

Dissenting

He said in most instances, a dissenting voice was not appreciated as people were recently shot and killed for expressing what they wanted. Worth noting is that at the climax of pro-democracy protests a fortnight ago, some protesters were shot and killed as the demonstrations culminated in looting, vandalism and arson. Meanwhile, the Siphofaneni Constituency MP was in unison with his fellow legislators.
MBABANE  The controversy surrounding Eswatinis public relations company, Vuma Reputation Management, has taken a new twist.

Yesterday, social media was abuzz following a statement believed to have been issued by its under-fire founder Janine Hills, to the effect that she had taken a decision to abandon her 49 per cent shareholding in the company. This follows a post on her Twitter account @janinehills which states that the founder of Vuma Reputation Management was renouncing her stake in the company and all monies owed to her. This comes after Vuma Reputation Management came under-fire from some of the South African media and social media for supporting the Eswatini Government and allegedly telling a different narrative with regard to two South African journalists who were allegedly detained by the Eswatini police.

Hired

Vuma Reputation Management was hired by government through a process that was overseen by the former and late Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, to market Eswatini. The three-year contract was entered into by government and the Johannesburg-based company in 2019 and the government then, through the late PM, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo and Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg had stated that they wanted to position the country as a stable, peaceful investment destination. Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini confirmed late last night that a correspondent has been received to the effect that Vuma has stated the process to terminate the contract. As per any contract, provisions are available for either side to terminate, said Dlamini.

The company, which Hills resigned from in 2020, has been under attack for its association with the Eswatini Government, an administration that is being accused of failing to respect the constitutional rights of its citizens, something which has led to the current social and political unrest. The Johannesburg-based company is under the leadership of Palesa Madumo and Tshepo Sefotlhelo. I am renouncing my 49 per cent stake in Vuma and all monies owed with immediate effect, reads the post on Hillss Twitter page. She further stated that she had always stood for honesty, integrity, unity and equality for all. Meanwhile, social media, in particular Twitter, had been calling on both Madumo and Sefotlhelo to respond to the many tweets which they have been tagged in.

Welcomed

In one of the responses to Hillss tweet, some welcomed her decision to relinquish her shares, but stated that honesty and integrity required that she furnished the people of Eswatini with the details regarding Vumas contract with the government.
MBABANE  A food supply crisis is looming in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

This is due to violent protests which are currently taking place in neighbouring South Africa, where the kingdom procures most food items. The protests in the neighbouring country are allegedly linked to the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma and they began last week. Yesterday, the South African media reported how the protests had escalated from Durban to other towns such as Johannesburg. It was reported that in Johannesburg, shops were looted overnight (Saturday), a section of the M2 Highway was closed and stick-wielding protesters marched through the streets of Johannesburg yesterday, as sporadic acts of violence following the jailing of former South Africa President Zuma spread to the countrys main economic hub. This has come at a time when Eswatini had been already witnessing a limited supply of essential commodities such as food and fuel from South Africa due to fears by suppliers that their trucks would be set alight.

Looted

Already, 25 trucks were set alight in KwaZulu/Natal (KZN) over the weekend, while in Eswatini trucks from Checkers Shoprite and Southern Trading Company were also looted and burnt during recent pro-democracy protests. Another factor that is likely to worsen the situation is a threat by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) South Africa, which declared that it would close all the eight main entry points into the country. The entry points are Ngwenya, Matsamo, Mahamba, Lavumisa, Sicunusa, Mananga, Sandlane and Bulembu. The threat comes after the political organisation gave the authorities in Eswatini an ultimatum of seven days to respond to demands it tabled last week. The partys Head of International Relations Desk Commissar, Gardee Godrich, said this was not a threat but a commitment of a great march to the capital city of Mbabane. He said they were planning a great march from all the eight main entry points coming from South Africa into Eswatini. He said during those massive marches they would unleash not less than 10 000 of their members on each of the border posts.

He said they would do that in a short space of time, which would be less than a month. The aforementioned situation, if implemented, would worsen the food supply woes in Eswatini as most of the big retail shops import commodities from South Africa.

These outlets include Pick n Pay, Spar, Shoprite and Boxer. Mario Fernandez, Regional Manager of Lojaf Pick n Pay, said already they were experiencing difficulties in getting more stock from Johannesburg and Durban. He said already they could not get deliveries last Friday because the Ngwenya/Oshoek Border was closed for the better part of the day. The border was closed because some members of EFF South Africa were gathered at the border for a protest demonstration. They were there to deliver a memorandum where they gave the Eswatini Government the seven days to respond to their demands, failing which they would block all entry points into Eswatini. Fernandez said the border closure would not only affect Pick n Pay alone, but all the other retailers.
Driver Trett, a global construction consultancy, has appointed Mustafa Gun as the new country manager for Qatar and Kuwait, expanding his current role into the Qatar marketplace.

Gun has been with the company in the Middle East for over five years, spending the last year overseeing the growth of the Kuwait business, a press release stated.

With more than 15 years of industry experience working in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, Gun has undertaken various commercial, contractual and claims management roles and has held senior positions in the organisations he has worked for.

Driver Trett Managing Director and head of Middle East & Asia Pacific David Merritt said: Gun is a first-class talent and Im delighted that he has been appointed to lead our business in Qatar as well as Kuwait. Over the years he has demonstrated that he possesses not only the technical skills to lead from the front but also the leadership qualities to bring his impressive team of consultants and analysts with him.

"Guns insight into the Qatari, Kuwaiti and Turkish construction markets will be of huge benefit to the Driver Trett business as we continue to grow our regional operations.

Commenting on his appointment, Gun said: Driver Trett has been successfully operating in Qatar since 2010, and Kuwait since 2015, providing high quality dispute avoidance and dispute resolution services to the construction and engineering industry with our experienced local teams.

"As I take up the role of Country Manager for Qatar and Kuwait, I believe we will be able to assist our existing clients in both countries with increased flexibility, strengthening our presence in the region and supporting our continued growth with new clients.-TradeArabia News Service
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has revealed that two new films will be part of its participation at the Saudi Pavilion, which is hosted by the Saudi Film Commission, at the 74th edition of the Festival de Cannes 2021.

Well-known Egyptian screenwriter and producer Mohamed Hefzy will introduce his Ithra-commissioned film Sea of Sands (working title) alongside award-winning independent Saudi filmmaker Khalid Fahad's Valley Road, said Ithra in its press release.

Produced under the Ithra Film Productions banner, Sea of Sands and Valley Road are both scheduled for release in 2023. Ithra confirms that the cast and crew for both films will consist of aspiring Saudi talent. They follow the successful international release of the experimental 2018 film Joud, an unconventional meditation on the cycle of life, Ithra's first commissioned film.

Majed Z. Samman, head of Performing Arts & Cinema at Ithra and the producer of Sea of Sands and Valley Road, said: "We support the kingdom's growing film industry by nurturing homegrown talent and fostering cinema and filmmaking in Saudi Arabia. We are honoured to announce our next two projects at one of the world's prestigious film fairs as part of the Saudi Pavilion at Cannes Film Festival."

Egyptian Hefzy is well-known at Cannes, having had three films entered in the official selection at the festival, and most recently a fourth film announced in the Critics' Week section. A leading figure in the industry in the Middle East and Africa, he has written, produced and co-produced nearly 40 feature films in Egypt, the US, the UK and the Arab world.

His latest project, Sea of Sands, is a coming-of-age story centred around a young orphan Bedouin and a camel who form a special bond and embark on a journey across Saudi Arabia.

"Ithra has played a significant role in supporting independent filmmakers from Saudi Arabia at a critical time just as the kingdom's film industry begins to take shape," said Hefzy.

"I am thrilled to work with them and all the Saudi and Arab talent who will be joining this exciting project," he added.

The film is set to be filmed at various locations around Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Fahad's Valley Road follows the odyssey of Ali, an autistic young man who gets lost on the way to see a doctor in a nearby village. Ali finds himself alone in the middle of nowhere, where a series of obstacles and challenges cannot stop him from discovering the world ahead of him.

The project Joud was Ithra's first commissioned film. Described as an 'ancient poem for modern times', the critically acclaimed film uses an experimental story structure derived from a pre-Islamic form of poetry, the 'Qasida'. The dialogue-free film was shot in 16 locations across Saudi Arabia and screened at several international film festivals.

Apart from Ithra's commissioned films, the Center is also the driving force behind several initiatives supporting the kingdom's film industry. The Ithra Cinema, one of the few art house cinemas in the region, provides a purposeful and technological space for the kingdom's film talent to hone their skills and showcase their work. It is home to Saudi Film Production, Saudi Film Days and the Ithra Film Society, which presents a full programme throughout the year.

Ithra is also the cradle of the annual Saudi Film Festival, the kingdom's first film festival supporting local talent and focused on content development.

Furthermore, Ithra Film Productions has helped dozens of filmmakers bring their dreams to life. One of the largest film producers in the Kingdom, it has produced 20 films, of which 15 have received local, regional and international awards.

Ithra is also offering a unique learning experience through a training and shadowing programme, providing an opportunity for those passionate about filmmaking to craft their career in the field.-TradeArabia News Service
Innsbruck Tourismus, the official destination management organisation of the Innsbruck region of Austria, has introduced the Welcome Card Unlimited (WCU) with exciting promotions and offers to travellers from the Gulf region,



The move follows the announcement of opening the Austrian borders to GCC travellers from July 1.



The Welcome Card Unlimited, which guests staying for at least 2 nights can purchase as an upgrade for the complimentary Welcome Card, includes seven exciting attractions all less than an hour away from Innsbruck. This premium guest card entitles visitors to numerous offering across various services including, but not limited to, free public transportation across Innsbruck, indoor and outdoor activities, regional attractions, and discounts on lifts and cable cars.



The card also includes free cable car travel on the Bergbahnen Oberperfuss, the DreiSeenBahn in Kuhtai, the Olympiabahn in the Axamer Lizum and the Muttereralmbahn in Mutters. It also provides entry to seven of the most popular attractions in the surroundings of Innsbruck which include Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Stubai Glacier and Achensee Lake boat trip and others.



Travellers can purchase the Welcome Card Unlimited for 65.00 (AED284 or $77) for adults and 32.50 (AED142) for children aged 4 to 14. Purchasing the card is perfect to control holiday spending, and it will help save up to 130 if one chooses to visit all the top highlights.



The mentioned packages can all be purchased through selected travel agencies in the GCC.



Innsbruck is one of Austrias must see cities, and its known world-wide for its charming beauty. The capital of the Tyrol region is set in a spacious valley, with part of the city climbing up the walls of the Alps. The city itself is a collection of snow-covered medieval houses, narrow streets and classic European churches. It is also surrounded by marvellous natural scenery, rich in culture and is home to an array of fun-packed experiences.



After the successful management and control of the pandemic in Austria, the destination has finally announced that it will be opening up its borders to all nationals and residents with a valid Schengen Visa arriving from a third country including travellers from the GCC region. Now, all vaccinated travellers from the GCC are able to visit Austria without a quarantine period.  TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia has launched an initiative at Jeddahs Red Sea Operations Centre to provide tourist yachts with entry licenses in half an hour, a media report said.



The centre assists foreign yacht owners, and their local agents, in Arabic and English to receive licenses to cross into Saudi waters, reported Arab News.



Any request should include the yachts registration, its classification, and its marine radio certification, Hasan Al-Asmari, centre manager commander was quoted as saying in the report.



A list of the names of the onboard staff, safety and insurance certificates are also necessary for applying for a license. In 30 minutes, we reply to the request via email with the license approved.
HP: 1 crore saplings to be planted during state level Van Mahotsav 18 Jul 2021 | 7:41 PM Shimla, Jul 18 (UNI) A spokesperson of the Forest Department informed here today that to improve the green cover in the State, Forest Department is going to celebrate State Level Van Mahotsav. He said the State Level Van Mahotsav would be celebrated at Nirmand in district Kullu, which would be presided over by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. see more..

Agra hospital returns excess money from a patient after Yogi's intervention 18 Jul 2021 | 7:00 PM Lucknow, Jul 18 (UNI) A complaint against a private hospital in Janata Darshan programme of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath forced the hospital administration to return the extra money it had charged for the treatment of one Ashish Pathaks mother. see more..

Inflation broke backbone of public, corruption is throttling: Selja 18 Jul 2021 | 6:58 PM Chandigarh, Jul 18 (UNI) Haryana Pradesh Congress President Kumari Selja has alleged that corruption has reached its peak in municipal corporations, councils and municipalities. see more..

Bollywood actor Hema Malini visits Kheer Bhawani temple in Kashmir 18 Jul 2021 | 6:54 PM Srinagar, Jul 18 (UNI) Bollywood actor and BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Hema Malini visited Kheer Bhawani temple in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, official sources said here on Sunday. see more..
Chennai, July 12 (UNI) An all party meeting convened by Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday termed as an affront on the

Constitution, Karnataka's move to construct a new dam at Mekedatu

across River Cauvery in violation of the Supreme Court order.

This was one of the three resolution adopted at the meeting of leaders

of legislature parties held at the State Secretariat.

It said as per the Apex Court order Karnataka could not take up any

construction activity at Mekedatu without the consent of lower riparian

states.

'But Karnataka, by violating this, is now actively taking steps to construct

the dam at Mekedatu. This is strongly condemnable as the water

requirements of the farmers in Tamil Nadu will be affected", it said.

'Karnataka's act in violation of the Supreme Court order is an affront

on the Indian Constitution", the resolution said and urged the Union

Government not to accord any permission to Karnataka on the issue.

Another resolution said that all political parties have decided to extend

their full support and cooperation to the Tamil Nadu government in

stalling the efforts of the Karnataka government on the dam construction.

Another resolution said in the first phase, it has been decided that the

copies of the resolution would be submitted to the Centre by a delegation

of all parties and then take up all legal steps to expedite the case pending

before the Supreme Court.

UNI GV 1330
New Delhi, Jul 11 (UNI) India-based staff has been temporarily pulled out of the Consulate in Kandahar in the wake of intense fighting near the city but the Mission has not been closed, External Affairs Ministry (EAM) said today.

In a response to the media query, on the Indian Consulate in Kandahar, the Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: "India is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in Afghanistan. The safety and security of our personnel is paramount. The Consulate General of India in Kandahar has not been closed. However, due to the intense fighting near Kandahar city, India based personnel have been brought back for the time being."



"I want to emphasize that this is a purely temporary measure until the situation stabilizes. The Consulate continues to operate through our local staff members," Mr Bagchi further added.

Arrangements are being made to ensure continued delivery of visa and consular services through the Embassy in Kabul.

As an important partner of Afghanistan, India remains committed to a peaceful, sovereign and democratic Afghanistan, the Ministry said.

UNI GK
New Delhi, Jul 12 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the people killed due to lightning strikes in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Besides, an aid of Rs 50,000 will also be granted to the injured, he said.

Taking to Twitter, Mr Modi mourned the loss of lives in the lightning and announced an ex-gratia from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

According to the officials, the Prime Minister was briefed about the loss of lives and damage due to lightning in all the three states.

As many as 20 people died after being struck by lightning in Rajasthan on Sunday. The deceased belonged to Jaipur, Dholpur, Kota, Jhalawar and Baran.

More than ten people suffered injuries in separate incidents, the officials.

In Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj alone, 14 people lost their lives, while four people got burnt due to lightning. Four people died in Kaushambi and one in Pratapgarh districts. While lightning claimed four lives in Fatehpur, as many were killed in Kanpur dehat.

While Two each died in Unnao and Ferozabad due to lightning, one each in Aurriya, Hamirpur, Banda, Sonebhadra, Chandauli, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur and Mirzapur.



Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and directed the concerned district authorities to ensure relief to the affected families.



The CM has directed to immediately distribute the permissible relief amount to the families of the deceased and condolences have been expressed to the bereaved families. At the same time, instructions have also been given for the treatment of the injured.



Lightning has also claimed seven lives in different districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Of these, two people were from Sheopur district and two from Gwalior district. One person died in Shivpuri district along with one each in Anuppur and Betul districts, respectively.

UNI AKS SB 1301
Six reserves, 2 companies of police force deployed at tourist hotspots

Hamirpur (HP), Jul 12 (UNI) Department of Police have deployed six reserves and two companies of the police force from India Reserve Battalions located in different parts of Himachal Pradesh to the districts of Kangra, Kullu, Chamba and Lahaul and Spiti where a large number of tourists have already reached.

They are also likely to help the local authorities during the natural calamities caused by the heavy monsoon rains during the months of July and August this year.

This order will remain in force till August 31st, according to police sources.
UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

UW anthropology Associate Professor Melissa Murphy was interviewed for a Science article about Samuel Morton, the first physical anthropologist in the U.S., who built a collection of crania to study racial differences. Morton, a controversial figure, was featured in the article, titled A racist scientist built a collection of human skulls. Should we still study them? Murphy studied Mortons collection, located at the University of Pennsylvania, when she was a student there.

The Casper Star-Tribune and The Gillette News Record reported that UW students who report being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 have an opportunity to win a semesters tuition and fees, along with other prizes, including cash and a campus parking pass. Wyo4News published UWs announcement.

Tardigrades will begin to undergo experiments this week on the International Space Station. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published UWs release noting that the project -- the subject of study for UW molecular biologist Thomas Boothby -- is not just to understand how tardigrades survive in space, but also to take that knowledge and apply it to human health.

UW Professor Bryan Shuman was among authors of a study on how potential megafires in Colorado could affect the state because of severe conditions. Colorado Newsline published a Big Pivots article that noted the authors concluded that the frequency of fire in high-elevation forest has shrunk from once every 230 years, on average, in the last two millennia to about 120 years during the current century. The Vail Daily and The Aspen Times also published the article.

KUNC, a northern Colorado public radio station, interviewed Shuman about the hotter-than-usual summer weather experienced by Western states.

Techtelegraph published an Independent article that featured UW alumna Caitlin Long. The article, titled How Wyoming become the unlikely Bitcoin capital of America, noted how Long has become the leader in introducing bitcoin to the state.

Inside Higher Ed noted that UW is starting an M.S. degree program in environment, natural resources and society. The publication added the universitys newest offering in its latest roundup of nationwide degree programs.

UWs partnership in the Wyoming Innovation Center, which recently broke ground on its carbon research incubator in Campbell County, was mentioned in an article republished by The Sheridan Press, titled Effort on at all levels to transform Powder River Basin into nations Carbon Valley.

Sheridan Media published UWs release announcing that the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) at the university has partnered with the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming. WIND will provide infrastructure and support that will assist the Epilepsy Foundations advocacy and outreach across the state. Wyoming News Now and The Rocket Miner also published UWs announcement.

The UW School of Energy Resources Center for Economic Geology Research will host a public outreach meeting at the Integrated Test Center at Dry Fork Station in Gillette next month. Laramie Live published UWs release about the Wyoming CarbonSAFE Project.

The Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network at UW recently received a federal grant aimed at helping small businesses and workers. Oil City News published UWs release about the Portable Assistance Grant that will allow the SBDC Network to increase training and advising opportunities for businesses and workers affected by the downturn in the energy industry.
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USVI Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte, center, is pictured with, from left, Assistant Commissioner of Tourism Alani Henneman-Todman, and Lindsey Hanbidge, Kanchana Gupta and Siddharth Raghuraman of American Airlines.
Training Delivered to GHA Clinical Professionals Ahead of Abortion Legislation Coming into Effect

Following the outcome of the referendum on abortion, and in anticipation of the commencement of an abortion service at the GHA, the GHA has arranged for training to be delivered to clinical professionals in the GHA.

On Friday 9 July two CPD sessions were delivered at the GHAs School of Health Studies to the healthcare providers who will be providing the service and those who may be involved in referrals to and from the service who attended both in person and virtually.

The sessions are based on the fact that the GHA Department of Gynaecology at St Bernards Hospital will be the sole provider of this service in Gibraltar and focus on the aim to provide a choice of abortion methods, which are timely and safe depending on the personal health and circumstances of the individual woman and at all times within the legislative framework enacted in Gibraltar.

The morning session was opened by the Minister for Health. The CPD sessions were delivered by Mrs Chandrika Balachandar, GHA Consultant Gynaecologist who is the lead for the service. During the sessions Mrs Balachandar shared detailed information about the service framework and evidence-based local guidelines that have been adapted from external sources such as WHO, RCOG, BPAS and NICE to enable them to guide the people of Gibraltar about the service.

The Government has said it expects to commence the relevant parts of the Crimes (Amendment) Act later this week.

Mrs Chandrika Balachandar, Consultant Gynaecologist, said: The Gynaecology Department is humbled to have been given the responsibility to lead on this important and sensitive issue and to be trusted to be the sole provider of abortion services in Gibraltar. The service, once it commences, will give a practical application to the result of the abortion referendum allowing, in particular, for a woman to choose to terminate a pregnancy up to twelve weeks gestation. After 12 weeks, a woman can only have an abortion in certain limited circumstances. Outside of an emergency situation, two doctors will have to agree in good faith that the abortion is necessary. It must be noted that the earlier an abortion is carried out, the simpler and safer it will be and that getting support early on will also give the woman more time to make a decision if one is unsure whether to have an abortion or not once all the options are explained to her.

The Minister for Health, the Hon. Samantha Sacramento MP, said: I wanted the GHA to be fully equipped and fully understanding of the processes in place ahead of the commencement of the legislation. I am grateful to Mrs Balachandar and her team who have tirelessly worked with the Medical Director, Director of Nursing, other health professionals and my legal team to ensure that the GHA is able to offer a safe and legal service to Gibraltar.
The WCO and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have launched a new Project to improve the capacity of enforcement agencies to counter illegal shipments of plastic and hazardous waste in the cargo trade supply chain. The Project is part of the Container Control Programme (CCP), under which the two Organizations have established and provided training to dedicated Port Control Units (PCUs) and Air Cargo Control Units (ACCUs) at key seaports and airports.

PCUs and ACCUs are joint units bringing together Customs officers and other national law enforcement personnel from the Police, Drug Enforcement Agency, Environmental Agency, Air Security Agency, etc. In recent years, PCUs around the world have reported many plastic and hazardous waste seizures. In 2020, they intercepted more than 630 metric tons of waste. The new Project, known as the CCP Project on Countering Illegal Hazardous Waste Trafficking and enjoying financial support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), will address existing gaps in the effective enforcement of regulations on the movement of waste.

The Project was launched on 15 June 2021 with a kick-off meeting involving representatives from several international organizations. It gave participants an opportunity to learn about the findings of technical assessments undertaken by the CCP team jointly with the authorities in Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam and to discuss cooperation at the national, regional and international levels.

Mr. Stig Traavik, Director of the Department for Climate, Energy and Environment at Norad, opened the meeting and declared that by stopping shipments of hazardous waste, we can prevent hazardous materials ending up in places where they contaminate the environment and pose health risks to people. The CCP Project is a very important and timely initiative and Norad is proud to support it, as part of the Norwegian Development Program to Combat Marine Litter and Microplastics.

Besides providing technical assistance on illicit trade and border security in broader terms, CCP experts aim to encourage cooperation emphasizing both the human and environmental aspects of the illegal trade in plastic and hazardous waste as well its impact on national revenue and legal trade.

The CCP initiative complements efforts developed as part of the Asia-Pacific Plastic Waste Project (APPW), aimed at strengthening the capacity of Customs administrations to mitigate and appropriately respond to environmental threats in the Asia-Pacific region.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable.
Body of Missing Boater Found in Lake Barkley

By West Kentucky Star Staff

LYON COUNTY - Authorities in Lyon County have recovered the body of a missing boater.The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says the body of 31-year-old Dustin Fox of Princeton was recovered shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday near the mouth of Davenport Bay on Lake Barkley.Fox had been missing since Saturday afternoon, after witnesses said he was ejected from and struck by the boat he was in. There were no passengers on the boat.Conservation officers responded and found an unmanned vessel going around in circles near Davenport Bay.Lyon County Search and Rescue assisted KFW with the search and recovery efforts. An autopsy is planned, and the incident remains under investigation.
Calloway Collision Leaves Three Injured

By West Kentucky Star Staff

CALLOWAY COUNTY - A two-vehicle collision in Murray on Sunday sent three people to the hospital.Calloway County deputies responded to the accident at the intersection of US 641 and Radio Road.According to the sheriff's office, 27-year-old Tiffany Martin of Almo was driving north on US 641 while at the same time, a 17-year-old was attempting to turn onto US 641 from Radio Road. Deputies say the juvenile failed to yield to Martin's vehicle, causing the cars to collide.Both drivers and a juvenile in Martin's vehicle were taken to the Murray-Calloway County Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Marshall County's New K-9 Helps in Drug Bust

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MARSHALL COUNTY - A complaint of illegal drug sales at a hotel in Marshall County led to the arrest of a Mayfield man on Thursday according to the Marshall County Sherriff's Office. It was also the first time the agency was able to utilize one of their new K-9's in an investigation.The Sheriff's Office says deputies conducted their search with K-9 Conor who is certified in narcotics detection. They say Conor alerted them to the presence of narcotics on a vehicle that was parked outside as well as an entryway to a room of the suspect they were investigating.Deputies say they arrested Daniel Copeland of Mayfield after allegedly finding two ounces of methamphetamine in his room. Copeland was charged with trafficking a controlled substance and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.K-9 Conor is one of two new K-9 officers recently acquired by the Sheriff's Office following the retirement of Officer Fox last week.
Online Fundraiser For Lake Barkley Victim's Family

By West Kentucky Star Staff

LYON COUNTY - A fundraiser has been announced for the family of a Princeton man who was found dead in Lake Barkley over the weekend.The GoFundMe campaign has a goal of raising $10,000 for the family of 31-year-old Dustin Fox.Authorities found his body Sunday morning near the mouth of Davenport Bay on Lake Barkley."Dustin was an amazing, outgoing, hard working, loving husband and father that was taken from this world way too soon," the GoFundMe reads. "Dustin will forever be loved and never forgotten. I hope you rest easy, Dustin, and watch over your wife, kids, and family and friends during this tough time."Fox was reported missing Saturday afternoon after witnesses said he was ejected from and struck by the boat he was in.An autopsy is planned, and the incident remains under investigation.You can donate to the fundraiser by clicking here. On the Net:
There is no shortage of places to hear live music in Middle Tennessee, but Franklin First United Methodist is boasting one of the largest songwriters rounds in the region as it brings in notable writers and up-and-comers to not only share their music but the stories behind it.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-11 18:03:24|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a primary school in Rucheng County, central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A special symposium hosted by President Xi Jinping 10 months ago has remained an inspiring experience for Pan Jiuren, a deputy headmaster of a primary school in central China's Hunan Province.

Pan, a rural teacher for 28 years, raised several problems facing rural education, including the shortage of teachers, particularly well-trained ones, at the symposium held on Sept. 17, 2020, in the provincial capital Changsha.

"General Secretary [Xi] listened attentively when we raised the problems. Even now when I recall the meeting, it induces a feeling of warmth," Pan told Xinhua.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, summoned the meeting to solicit ideas from people at the grassroots for the 14th five-year plan (2021-2025) on the country's economic and social development, which was being drafted then.

From July to September in 2020, he hosted seven such symposiums, meeting ordinary citizens from various walks of life, including migrant workers, farmers, truck drivers and restaurant owners.

Ordinary people also contributed their wisdom to the drafting through more than 1 million comments online in August last year.

It has been one of the many examples of how the CPC Central Committee, with Xi at its core, tried to make the people's democracy sounder, more extensive and adequate.

"The very purpose of the CPC's leadership of the people in developing people's democracy is to guarantee and support their position as masters of the country," Xi said at a key gathering in 2014.

Deng Xing, a judge of the People's Court of Gongshan County, carries the national emblem on his back while walking with his colleagues on a bridge over the Nujiang River on their way to work in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 30, 2019. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)

WHOLE-PROCESS DEMOCRACY

Liu Zhengdong, senior partner of the Shanghai-based MHP Law Firm, still has fresh memories from the day when Xi visited the Gubei civic center in the city's Changning District on Nov. 2, 2019.

"We were having a heated discussion about a draft law," Liu recalled.

The civic center is one of the community-level contact stations set up by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC). Draft laws are sent down here so that ordinary citizens can discuss and have their opinions heard by lawmakers.

Over 1,300 opinions were collected through these offices last year, contributing to 16 pieces of legislation, said Tong Weidong, a legislative official with the NPC Standing Committee.

"People's democracy is a type of whole-process democracy. All major legislative decisions are made through due procedure and after democratic deliberation. It is a scientific and democratic decision-making process," Xi said.

The compilation of the Civil Code is a vivid epitome of "open-door legislation" and democratic legislation.

During the compilation process, the NPC Standing Committee deliberated the draft 10 times, solicited 10 rounds of public opinion, and organized three sessions for NPC deputies to discuss the draft. At the NPC annual session in 2020, over 100 amendments were made in light of opinions from various parties.

Xi chaired three high-level Party meetings from 2016 to 2019 to hear the reports on the compilation of the code and gave important instructions.

The NPC, China's national legislature, has displayed a broad representation of the people. Among the nearly 3,000 deputies to the 13th NPC, 15.7 percent are workers and farmers, up 2.28 percentage points over that of the 12th NPC.

At the 2021 NPC annual session, the deputies put forward 473 motions and nearly 9,000 proposals and opinions.

Mobile photo shows a hutong in Beijing, capital of China, Sept.17, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Chao)

PEOPLE'S CREATIVE VITALITY

On Feb. 1, 2019, when Xi walked into a "courtyard meeting hall" in a neighborhood of downtown Beijing, community workers and resident representatives were having a talk on renovating courtyards in hutongs, Beijing's traditional alleys.

Xi joined the discussion, hailing the courtyard meetings as a mechanism that enabled community members to discuss and decide their own affairs.

It is conducive to enhancing a sense of belongingness and ownership among the residents, as well as improving the precision and refinement of community governance and services, he said.

In order to better manage community affairs, provide services and help people decide their own affairs, sophisticated and willing residents were elected to participate in community governance.

Currently Beijing has more than 3,100 such courtyard meeting halls. Two downtown districts -- Dongcheng and Xicheng -- have seen thousands of elected residents running community affairs.

The "courtyard meeting hall" in Beijing has several similar models in other parts of the country, for instance, "a village chat booth" in east China's Zhejiang Province. These effective mechanisms have empowered ordinary people and served as a pillar of China's people's democracy.

The essence of the people's democracy is that people get to discuss their own affairs to reach the greatest common ground based on the wishes and needs of the entire society, Xi said.

Laurence J. Brahm, a senior international fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, said Chinese democracy is different from that in the West.

"It is a system of consensus-building. It is quiet, and in many ways, like Tai Chi," said Brahm. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-11 18:48:41|Editor: huaxia

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A Moldovan citizen living in Romania casts the ballot at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, July 11, 2021. Some 3 million voters of the Republic of Moldova are called on Sunday to cast their ballots in snap parliamentary elections, in which 20 political parties, two blocs and one independent candidate compete. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

BUCHAREST, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Some 3 million voters of the Republic of Moldova are called on Sunday to cast their ballots in snap parliamentary elections, in which 20 political parties, two blocs and one independent candidate compete.

Although the number of parties participating in the current elections greatly exceeded that of the previous ones in early 2019, local public opinion generally believes that the competition is mainly between the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), founded and led by Maia Sandu before she won the presidential election late last year, and the Electoral Bloc of Communists and Socialists (EBCS).

The 101 seats in the unicameral parliament will be mainly shared by the two political groups while only one or two of the other contenders are likely to enter the parliament, according to local analysts.

In order to enter parliament, the parties must garner more than 5 percent of the total votes and the electoral blocs 7 percent, while the threshold for independent candidates is 2 percent.

With 3.28 million people eligible to vote, 2,000 polling stations across the country opened at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will close by 9:00 p.m. (1900 GMT), according to the Central Election Commission. As many as 150 stations abroad are set to open between 7:00 a.m. and 9 p.m. local time.

The latest polls showed that the pro-Western PAS is credited with the most votes, followed the electoral bloc EBCS, which brings together the Party of Communists and the Party of Socialists, two parties favoring friendly ties with Russia.

The Sor Party and Renato Usatii Electoral bloc would be the other two contenders to pass the threshold of the parliament, according to the polls.

The Moldovan parliament is elected for a four-year term under normal circumstances. The previous parliament operated in 2019-2021 and was dissolved by President Maia Sandu on April 28, after two failed attempts to form a government in the country.

Local media said that Sandu has been pushing for an early parliamentary election soon after her election as president at the end of last year, as she believed that early elections could change the current parliamentary power balance that is unfavorable to her.

In the disbanded parliament, the socialists bloc EBCS was the largest party with 37 seats, while the PAS had 15 seats. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 02:46:41|Editor: huaxia

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Photo released by Virgin Galactic on July 11, 2021 shows the company's spacecraft VSS Unity rocket motor burn on "Unity 22". Space tourism company Virgin Galactic completed its first fully crewed test flight of its spacecraft on Sunday, making a giant leap toward commercial suborbital spaceflight. The mission, dubbed "Unity 22," was the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, and the 22nd flight test for the company's spacecraft VSS Unity. The crew took off from the company's homeport of Spaceport America in U.S. state of New Mexico Sunday morning. (Virgin Galactic/Handout via Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Space tourism company Virgin Galactic completed its first fully crewed test flight of its spacecraft on Sunday, making a giant leap toward commercial suborbital spaceflight.

The mission, dubbed "Unity 22," was the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, and the 22nd flight test for the company's spacecraft VSS Unity.

It was also the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four mission specialists in the cabin, including founder of Virgin Galactic Richard Branson, who was testing the private astronaut experience.

The crew took off from the company's homeport of Spaceport America in U.S. state of New Mexico Sunday morning. The spacecraft, VSS Unity, achieved a speed of Mach 3 after being released from the mothership, VMS Eve, and reached space at an altitude of 53.5 miles.

One and a half hours after take-off, the spaceship touched down safely at Spaceport America.

The four mission specialists on board were Richard Branson; Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor at Virgin Galactic; Colin Bennett, lead operations engineer at Virgin Galactic; Sirisha Bandla, vice president of government affairs and research operations at Virgin Galactic. The two pilots were Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci.

The "Unity 22" mission focused on cabin and customer experience objectives, including evaluating the commercial customer cabin with a full crew, demonstrating the conditions for conducting human-tended research experiments, and confirming the training program at Spaceport America supports the spaceflight experience, according to the company.

"I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined," Branson tweeted after the flight.

Following this flight, the team will complete inspections of the vehicles and an extensive data review. Two additional test flights are planned before the company expects to commence commercial service in 2022.

Virgin Galactic is not alone in trying to build space flight business. Blue Origin is also planning a manned flight to space on July 20 that will include its founder Jeff Bezos.

Unlike SpaceX or Blue Origin, which put passenger capsules atop vertically launched rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a custom carrier aircraft that totes its rocket-powered spaceplane to an elevation where it is released. Then the rocket plane's motor ignites and blasts its way toward space. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 03:14:20|Editor: huaxia

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SOFIA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- GERB-UDF coalition party leads in Bulgaria's early parliamentary elections by a narrow margin, according to exit polls announced by the Bulgarian National TV on Sunday.

According to Alpha Research Agency's exit poll, GERB-UDF is expected to have 23.5 percent of the votes, against 22.3 percent for There Is Such A People.

The exit poll by Gallup International said that GERB-UDF is leading the elections with 22.1 percent, and There Is Such A People takes 21.5 percent.

Alpha Research said the two formations would be followed by a coalition led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) with 14.1 percent, Democratic Bulgaria coalition also with 14.1 percent, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) with 11.7 percent, and "Rise Up! Thugs Out!" coalition with 5.5 percent.

According to Gallup International, BSP has got 15.1 percent of the votes, followed by Democratic Bulgaria with 13.7 percent, MRF with 12 percent, and "Rise up! Thugs out!" with 4.8 percent.

Boriana Dimitrova, manager of Alpha Research, said that several key questions, including who will be first and third, remain open.

The official results are expected to be released on Thursday.

Earlier on Sunday, after casting a ballot in a polling station in Sofia, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said he expected that the parties had learned their lesson from the previous elections and would act much more constructively and responsibly in forming a stable government. "This is their most important task," Radev said.

He said he hoped the next parliament "will give birth to an energetic, predictable and legitimate government," Radev said.

The same six formations entered the parliament after the previous elections, which were held on April 4 this year. However, they failed to form a government, so Radev dissolved the National Assembly and appointed a caretaker government.

Bulgarians all over the world went to polls on Sunday to vote in the country's early parliamentary elections.

More than 6.7 million voters are eligible to elect 240 lawmakers from 15 political parties and eight coalitions, according to official data. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 07:45:28|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for efforts to protect people's reproductive health rights as the world marks the World Population Day, which falls on July 11 annually.

"As we mark World Population Day, let us pledge to ensure the reproductive health rights of everyone, everywhere," said the UN chief in his message for the international day.

"The COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend our world, reaching one grim milestone after another. In addition to the millions of lives tragically lost, there has been a less visible toll: a shocking rise in domestic violence as women were forced into isolation with their abusers; empty maternity wards as women postponed motherhood; and unintended pregnancies due to curtailed access to contraceptive services," said the secretary-general.

"Our latest estimates indicate that COVID-19 will push 47 million women and girls into extreme poverty. Many girls who are out of school may never return," the top UN official continued.

"In every corner of the world, we are seeing a reversal of hard-won gains and an erosion of women's reproductive rights, choices and agency. With the onset of the pandemic, resources for sexual and reproductive health services were diverted," he said.

"These gaps in access to health rights are unacceptable. Women cannot be alone in this fight," the secretary-general added.

World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. It was inspired by the public interest in Five Billion Day on July 11, 1987, the approximate date on which the world's population reached 5 billion people. World Population Day aims to increase people's awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 09:57:35|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on July 4, 2019 shows visitors to the 25th China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair held in northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

LANZHOU, July 12 (Xinhua) -- At an ongoing trade fair in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, Uruguayan wine merchant Eduardo Rivero treated his guests to some nice wine produced at his chateau in Uruguay.

"Like my home back in Uruguay, Gansu is a major wine producer in China. I'm looking forward to exchanges and cooperation with local winemakers through the fair," said Rivero.

The 27th China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair opened Thursday, attracting representatives of business associations and commercial establishments from 19 countries, including Belarus, Nepal and Moldova.

Uruguay is one of the guests of honor at this year's event. Fernando Lugris, Uruguayan ambassador to China, said the growing market in western China has offered tremendous investment opportunities for Uruguayan enterprises.

"We see strong economic complementarity between Uruguay and Gansu Province. We will focus on cooperation on dairy products, olive oil and the meat industry this time," he said.

According to Lugris, Uruguay is the first country in the Southern Common Market to sign a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China, and is ready to tap into more business opportunities in western China.

Benefiting from the BRI and the operation of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, western China, which previously developed less rapidly than the eastern coastal area, is now on the frontier of opening-up.

A Japanese merchant introduces products to the guests at the 25th China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair held in northwest China's Gansu Province on July 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

At a forum held at the fair, Li Yanqiang, president of Beibu Gulf Port Group in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that the corridor, which connects about 10 western provincial-level areas like Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, saw 2,902 freight train trips in the first half of 2021, up 72 percent year on year. The number of categories of delivered goods has surged from some 30 in 2017 to more than 500 now.

"We have developed nearly 10 different kinds of national logistics hubs along the corridor, showing the great potential of the western Chinese market," said Li.

Better services in transportation and infrastructure have brought more foreign merchants and investors to western China. Marteza Akbari, a sales representative for Iranian carpet, displayed their exquisite carpets and handicrafts at the fair.

He said that his business remained bullish on the western Chinese market partly due to the improved logistics facilities.

"I hope the BRI will tap substantial business opportunities so that more foreign entrepreneurs like me can benefit in western China," he said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 11:06:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Many political party leaders around the world have lauded the governing experience of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and stressed the importance of closer inter-party cooperation worldwide for building a better world.

Following the CPC and World Political Parties Summit held via video link on Tuesday, they spoke highly of the crucial contributions China and the CPC has made to the cause of human progress, expressing their willingness to follow China's experience to shoulder the responsibilities to seek happiness for the people.

The summit is of "historic significance," said Jose Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain, as it enables parties with different ideas to reach consensus on the future of mankind, and will make important contributions to a better future of humanity.

Under the leadership of the CPC, China has made great contributions to world economic development and demonstrated its experience in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, he said, noting that the principle of peaceful coexistence upheld by China has paved the way for cooperative development of mankind.

Aleksandar Sapic, deputy president of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, said cooperation with China helped Serbia embark on the right path of development.

"The development of the Serbian economy would be unthinkable without the Chinese investments and our Chinese friends, not to mention the situation we were in during the COVID-19 crisis, and the first to help us were our Chinese friends," Sapic said.

Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Fatherland party of Ukraine, said that China, by its personal example of providing assistance to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, has shown that only joint efforts can successfully overcome global problems.

"The achievement of the goals of sustainable human development by the countries of the world requires a global political dialogue and the search for better development solutions," she said.

Romenio Pereira, secretary of International Relations of the Workers' Party of Brazil, said that holding this summit amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a demonstration of the strength of the CPC, which calls for unification of the peoples of the world to strive against poverty and inequalities, and for common development.

Noting China's great contribution to the world, Pereira said that countries seeking to decrease inequality should learn from the experience of the CPC.

Saadeddine El Othmani, Moroccan prime minister and secretary general of Morocco's Justice and Development Party, said that under the leadership of the CPC, China has become a tremendous country in such areas as science, technology and economy, to which the Chinese people and the CPC have devoted great efforts.

The CPC has established good relations with political parties of different political doctrines, which is very beneficial to international cooperation and world peace, Otmani added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 11:26:31|Editor: huaxia

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TBILISI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is the determining factor behind China's great changes and remarkable achievements, said Ali Ahmadov, deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan and vice chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.

"The CPC has been playing a crucial role in China's rejuvenation and development cause. Without the CPC, there would not be a new China today," he said in a recent video interview with Xinhua.

"The clever integration of national macro-control and market regulation has created one of the most efficient economic management models in the world today," Ahmadov said.

The CPC has a strong political mobilization capacity of uniting all the social forces of China to commit to serving the people, which has consequently attracted firm support from the masses, he said.

The rapid development of China's economy, Ahmadov said, has fully proved the system superiority of the CPC, which enables the country to focus on accomplishing major tasks.

"The wise leadership of the CPC is the main reason for China's rapid economic development," and the great achievements of a country cannot be separated from the wisdom of its leaders, he noted.

President Xi Jinping's proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative has received wide support from people in China and across the world, he said.

"Azerbaijan fully supports this endeavor and is doing its utmost to implement it," he added.

Ahmadov hailed the friendship and cooperation between the New Azerbaijan Party and the CPC as "an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries."

As for the cooperation between the two countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Azerbaijani official described it as "a good example for countries around the world."

"We are very grateful to our Chinese friends for promptly providing the vaccines to Azerbaijan. Many Azerbaijani people, including me, have been vaccinated with the Chinese vaccines, which makes us feel more secure," he said.

"It is my firm belief that under the leadership of the CPC, China is bound to score greater achievements in the future," Ahmadov said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 11:42:23|Editor: huaxia

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A health worker shows China-donated COVID-19 vaccines in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 25, 2021. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China is the world's largest vaccine supplier, having supplied more than 480 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the international community, provided vaccine assistance to nearly 100 countries, and exported vaccines to more than 50 countries.

With Chinese vaccines being administered worldwide, they have been found, according to multiple studies, highly effective in preventing infection, hospitalization, severe illness and death from the virus.

Here are some figures & facts:

Health workers transport a COVID-19 patient at San Jose Hospital in Santiago, Chile, May 15, 2020. (Photo by Jorge Villegas/Xinhua)

SANTIAGO -- China's CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine effectively prevented COVID-19 in Chile, with the adjusted vaccine effectiveness reaching 90.3 percent for the prevention of severe disease, according to a study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A nationwide mass vaccination campaign was conducted from Feb. 2 to May 1, and a cohort including approximately 10.2 million people aged 16 years and above was used, according to the study titled Effectiveness of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Chile published.

Among those who were fully immunized, the adjusted vaccine effectiveness was 65.9 percent for the prevention of COVID-19, 87.5 percent for the prevention of hospitalization, and 86.3 percent for the prevention of COVID-19-related death, the results of the study showed.

The CoronaVac, also known as the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, is an inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech.

CoronaVac uses an inactivated whole virus, compelling a recipient's immune system to attack the harmless form of the virus by producing antibodies to fight it off, thus leading to immunity.

A medical worker receives a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Sabiha Uzun Maternal Child Health Center in Ankara, Turkey on Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

LONDON -- Interim analysis of Phase 3 clinical trial of the CoronaVac vaccine in more than 10,000 participants in Turkey suggests the efficacy of two doses of the vaccine is 83.5 percent against symptomatic cases of COVID-19, according to a study published in The Lancet, a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal.

The randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in Turkey using the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech. The trial involved over 10,000 participants aged 18 to 59 years. They were randomly assigned to receive two doses of the vaccine (given 14 days apart) or a placebo.

The preliminary findings indicated that CoronaVac induced a robust antibody response, and no severe adverse events or deaths were reported among the participants. Most adverse events were mild and occurred within seven days of an injection, according to the study.

However, more research is needed to confirm vaccine efficacy in the long term, in a more diverse group of participants, and against emerging variants of concern, said the study.

CoronaVac uses an inactivated whole virus, compelling a recipient's immune system to attack the harmless form of the virus by producing antibodies to fight it off, leading to immunity.

The vaccine can be stored and transported at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and has been in Phase 3 trials since mid-2020 in Brazil, Indonesia, Chile, and Turkey, according to The Lancet.

"One of the advantages of CoronaVac is that it does not need to be frozen, making it easier to transport and distribute. This could be particularly important for global distribution, as some countries may struggle to store large amounts of vaccine at very low temperatures," said Murat Akova, lead author of the study and a professor at Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Ankara.

A woman receives a jab of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in Montevideo, Uruguay, March 1, 2021. (Photo by Nicolas Celaya/Xinhua)

MONTEVIDEO -- The COVID-19 mortality rate among Uruguayans aged 18 to 69 who were vaccinated with Sinovac vaccine fell by more than 95 percent, according to the latest Vaccine Effectiveness report from the Public Health Ministry.

Two weeks after receiving the second dose of the CoronaVac vaccine, developed by Chinese drugmaker Sinovac, mortality fell by 95.3 percent among the vaccinated population aged 18 to 49, and by 95.2 percent among those aged 50 to 69, showed the report.

Meanwhile, CoronaVac reduced hospitalization in intensive care units by 94.4 percent among those under the age of 49 and by 92.2 percent among people aged 50 to 69.

In addition, COVID-19 infections dropped 64.5 percent 14 days after receiving the second dose in people aged 18 to 49, and 61.5 percent in people between the ages of 50 and 69, the report said.

The ministry study monitors the "vaccine effectiveness and safety for SARS-CoV-2" by an interdisciplinary team.

A nurse prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac in Bangkok, Thailand, May 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK -- A new vaccination study conducted by Thailand's Chulalongkorn University has found that China's Sinovac vaccine has extremely high efficacy in boosting immune responses against COVID-19, according to media reports.

The study run by the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology of the Faculty of Medicine at the university showed that 99.49 percent of the recipients had developed antibody responses four weeks after their second shots, the Bangkok Post said, quoting the study results.

Three weeks after the first shot, around 66 percent of the recipients had developed immune responses, the report added.

The number of antibodies against the coronavirus was measured with Roche Elecsys Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay, a qualitative detection of total antibodies developed against the virus in people's blood samples before and after the vaccination period, said the research group.

The tests were conducted before injections, three weeks after the first shot and four weeks after the second injection.

A health worker (L) receives a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine during mass vaccination program for health workers as a main priority group in Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)

JAKARTA -- China's Sinovac vaccine against COVID-19 has appeared to be highly efficacious, as an overwhelming majority of vaccinated health workers were found protected from death and hospitalization, according to a Bloomberg report.

Pandji Dhewantara, an official of the country's health ministry, told a press conference that among the 128,290 health workers vaccinated with Sinovac vaccines and tracked from January to March, 98 percent of them were protected from death and 96 percent from hospitalization as soon as seven days after the second dose.

Dhewantara also said that 94 percent of the workers had been protected against symptomatic infection.

The Indonesian study compared vaccinated people against the non-vaccinated to derive the estimated effectiveness, said the report. The median age of the participants is 31 years old.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that another group of 25,374 people tracked showed the same effectiveness data for hospitalization and infection with the aforementioned group. Protection against death was 100 percent in the smaller group.

"We see a very, very drastic drop," in hospitalizations and deaths among medical workers, Sadikin was quoted as saying. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 14:39:18|Editor: huaxia

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A citizen rides in rain on a street in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, July 12, 2021. Heavy rainstorm has lashed the Chinese capital Beijing since 6 p.m. Sunday with precipitation up to 116.4 mm, according to the municipal flood control department. From 6 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday, Beijing registered average rainfall of 65.9 mm. Urban areas of the city reported higher average precipitation of 79.9 mm. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rainstorm has lashed the Chinese capital Beijing since 6 p.m. Sunday with precipitation up to 116.4 mm, according to the municipal flood control department.

From 6 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday, Beijing registered average rainfall of 65.9 mm. Urban areas of the city reported higher average precipitation of 79.9 mm.

A total of 203 meteorological stations in the city recorded over 50 mm of rain. Among them, 43 witnessed rainfall exceeding 70 mm.

Meanwhile, the districts of Fangshan, Mentougou, Changping, Haidian, Shijingshan, Yanqing and Huairou were hit by gales up to 9 grades, which means the wind speed topped 24.4 meters per second.

Flood safety inspections on Beijing's main bridge areas and road facilities have been carried out by 2,906 personnel, said the municipal flood control department.

The city's 57 rainwater pumping stations have been put into operation, with a cumulative drainage and storage capacity of 140,000 cubic meters.

Rainstorms are expected to continue in Beijing on Monday, with precipitation up to 75 mm, which will weaken late in the afternoon and end at night, forecast the weather department.

Beijing municipality has issued yellow alerts for rainstorm, lightning, gale and rain-triggered geological hazards.

The weather department alerted people to heavy rainstorm and potential geological hazards and asked them to keep away from rivers and disaster-prone areas.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 15:52:51|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Another batch of COVID-19 vaccines in bulk produced by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac has arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten province, Indonesia, the country's Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Monday.

The Sinovac vaccines in bulk will later be processed by PT Bio Farma, Indonesia's state-owned pharmaceutical company, into ready-to-use vaccines.

The Indonesian government aims to accelerate the vaccination process to reach herd immunity and meet the target of two million COVID-19 vaccine injections per day in August, Budi added.

"The vaccination program, in addition to implementing health protocol disciplines and complying with government policies such as PPKM (community activity restrictions), will help to reduce the rate of transmission quickly and to control the pandemic," said Sadikin. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 16:05:22|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on July 6, 2021 shows a venue of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and World Political Parties Summit at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

The CPC and World Political Parties Summit is of "historic significance," said Jose Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain, as it enables parties with different ideas to reach consensus on the future of mankind, and will make important contributions to a better future of humanity.



BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Many political party leaders around the world have lauded the governing experience of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and stressed the importance of closer inter-party cooperation worldwide for building a better world.

Following the CPC and World Political Parties Summit held via video link on Tuesday, they spoke highly of the crucial contributions China and the CPC has made to the cause of human progress, expressing their willingness to follow China's experience to shoulder the responsibilities to seek happiness for the people.

The summit is of "historic significance," said Jose Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain, as it enables parties with different ideas to reach consensus on the future of mankind, and will make important contributions to a better future of humanity.

Under the leadership of the CPC, China has made great contributions to world economic development and demonstrated its experience in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, he said, noting that the principle of peaceful coexistence upheld by China has paved the way for cooperative development of mankind.

Workers unload a container of China's Sinopharm vaccines at the Belgrade Airport, Serbia, Feb. 10, 2021. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua)

Aleksandar Sapic, deputy president of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, said cooperation with China helped Serbia embark on the right path of development.

"The development of the Serbian economy would be unthinkable without the Chinese investments and our Chinese friends, not to mention the situation we were in during the COVID-19 crisis, and the first to help us were our Chinese friends," Sapic said.

Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Fatherland party of Ukraine, said that China, by its personal example of providing assistance to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, has shown that only joint efforts can successfully overcome global problems.

"The achievement of the goals of sustainable human development by the countries of the world requires a global political dialogue and the search for better development solutions," she said.

A man takes photos of the decoration set up for the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Romenio Pereira, secretary of International Relations of the Workers' Party of Brazil, said that holding this summit amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a demonstration of the strength of the CPC, which calls for unification of the peoples of the world to strive against poverty and inequalities, and for common development.

Noting China's great contribution to the world, Pereira said that countries seeking to decrease inequality should learn from the experience of the CPC.

Saadeddine El Othmani, Moroccan prime minister and secretary general of Morocco's Justice and Development Party, said that under the leadership of the CPC, China has become a tremendous country in such areas as science, technology and economy, to which the Chinese people and the CPC have devoted great efforts.

The CPC has established good relations with political parties of different political doctrines, which is very beneficial to international cooperation and world peace, Otmani added. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 16:38:13|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Court of Nepal on Monday ordered the House of Representatives to be reinstated and directed the Office of the President to appoint leader of opposition party Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba as new prime minister by 5:00 p.m. local time Tuesday.

The court ordered Deuba to be appointed as prime minister in two days and a lower house session called in seven days.

The house was dissolved on May 22 by President Bidya Devi Bhandari over the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, but it was challenged by an alliance of the opposition parties and others at the Supreme Court. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 17:33:02|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Reza's type 2 diabetes has always worried him, but raging COVID-19 has become another source of distress alongside the difficulties of acquiring the drugs he needs for survival.

Since the U.S. sanctions have been affecting Iran's import of medicine from abroad, getting the everyday insulin shots has increasingly become a troublesome issue for Reza, who only wanted to be identified by his surname.

Due to the lack of much-needed medicine, the wellbeing and even his life, and those of many others like him, are put in danger, the 69-year-old Iranian man warned.

"You could say my life depends on them, especially on the insulin injections that I receive," Reza said, complaining that his children and loved ones sometimes have to travel far and wide to get his pills and shots.

Yet, with the advent of the coronavirus, now his family members are risking their own health by going to crowded drugstores at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is still rampant in the country.

Iran has reported over 3.37 million COVID-19 cases and more than 85,000 deaths since the country reported its first cases in February 2020. Today, the country is enduring a fifth wave of the pandemic driven by the spread of the Delta variant.

"Some even tell me that their loved ones have been infected with COVID-19 because they were trying to get them shots or medicines," he said, slamming the U.S. restrictions imposed on Iran for importing medicines as "beyond evil."

But not just those suffering from diabetes are experiencing these problems. Paria Abdollahi, an Iranian high school student diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) about four years ago, has to take pills in order to alleviate the symptoms over the past eight months.

"There are some ADHD pills that cannot be exported to Iran because of the sanctions and their effects are 10 times higher than the ones currently available in the country," she said.

This situation, she complained, has directly affected her ability to concentrate and study since she has not received proper medication.

She thus had to take replacement medicines and even these have gotten expensive.

Abdollahi's mother, a nurse, has seen many Iranians struggling to find the medicines they need. Some have to travel to the Iranian capital of Tehran to purchase overpriced pills.

"One single pill, not the entire tablet, might cost around 30 million Rial (roughly 120 U.S. dollars) ... and many of the sick are of the lower income classes," she said.

The effect of U.S. sanctions on Iran's medicine imports is nothing new but since the pandemic broke out, its negative impact has become much more severe.

On Thursday, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi termed U.S. sanctions as "a crime against humanity," noting that the negative results of unilateral sanctions on Iran's public health, amid the current pandemic and its consequences, have increased. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 18:57:11|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group on Monday detonated two power transmission towers in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, sparking anger among residents amid a continuous power shortage in Iraq's scorching summer, a provincial police source said.

"Daesh (IS group) planted bombs in two power transmission towers in Diyala province and detonated them, cutting off the electric power imported from neighboring (Iran)," the source Alaa al-Saadi told Xinhua.

"Iran's power line supplies electricity to about 50 percent of Diyala's cities and has been attacked by IS militants four times this year," al-Saadi added.

According to al-Saadi, many people demonstrated in the town of al-Salam and surrounding villages in the east of the provincial capital Baquba, about 65 km northeast of Baghdad, protesting the lack of electricity and demanding accountability from those responsible for the deterioration of the power shortage in Iraq.

Iraq has been witnessing a chronic power shortage since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, as the country's electricity plants generate a total of 19,000 megawatts, far less than the actual demand of over 30,000 megawatts.

Earlier, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held meetings to discuss the attacks attempting to sabotage power stations and transmission towers in several provinces of the country, and direct the army to strengthen the protection of power transmission lines.

The attacks came as Iraq is witnessing a hot summer with temperatures sometimes hitting about 50 degrees Celsius in central and southern provinces. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 19:49:39|Editor: huaxia

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People with visual impairments and people with dyslexia visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel, on July 11, 2021. A special meeting was held on July 11 at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Some exhibits selected from the museum's collection were displayed and made accessible to the visually impaired by various means including tactile graphics, audio description and Braille. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 20:46:27|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Four family members died of suspected poisoning in the central Uganda district of Luweero, police said Monday.

Issa Semwogerere, Savannah Region police spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that the dead include a couple aged 63 and 60 and their two grandchildren aged five and six.

"They were found dead in the house on Monday morning. We highly suspect it is poisoning but we shall wait for the final postmortem," he added.

Semwogerere said they had to break the door of the family house where they found the bodies in beds.

"We have also taken the food samples found in the house for examination," he added.

In March, one person died while several others were hospitalized after eating suspected poisoned food at a funeral in the northwestern district of Maracha. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 20:48:41|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Monday urged certain Western countries to abandon their hypocritical double standards and political manipulation on human rights issues and address their own problems on human rights.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing after China, Belarus, Russia and Venezuela recently co-hosted a virtual side event during the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). It exposed human rights problems in Western countries and their hypocrisy over human rights policies.

Some Western countries like the United States have been plagued by serious human rights problems such as racial discrimination, forced labor and gun violence, and committed crimes including genocide of indigenous communities, illegal military intervention and indiscriminate killing of civilians in other countries, Zhao said.

Instead of rectifying their own problems, Zhao said these countries have been in the habit of lecturing others as if they were "defenders" of human rights, and even fabricating lies and rumors to vilify others. Facts have proved time and again that human rights is the last thing on their mind, and their real intention is to meddle in others' domestic affairs.

Zhao emphasized human rights doesn't mean a "patent" for a few countries, and it is even less defined by Western ideologies and values. "The key yardstick for measuring a certain country's human rights hinges on whether its people are satisfied or happy about it."

In response to comments by Australian media reports that "the strongest public criticism came from China" at the 47th session of UNHRC when reviewing the third cycle of Australia's Universal Periodic Review, Zhao said China's criticism is the strongest because there is solid evidence for Australia's numerous human rights violations.

He cited systematic discrimination and hate crimes targeting African Australians, Asian Australians and other minorities as well as Muslims and indigenous people.

The Australian side should stop attacking and smearing other countries under the human rights pretext, do some soul-searching and resolve its own human rights issues well, Zhao added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 21:53:37|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on July 10, 2021 shows the venue of a drinking carnival in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin. A drinking carnival called "Craft Brew" was held Saturday on the Wisdom Mountain Hill Square in Xiqing District, attracting many young visitors to come and play. People can enjoy a dazzling collection of craft beer, coffee and food from all over the world during the carnival. (Photo by Sun Fanyue/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 22:24:03|Editor: huaxia

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Zhang Qingyu(1st, R) talks with her friends in Qingxi Village, Huangjian Township of east China's Anhui Province, July 10, 2021. "I'd like to skip these two days of separation if I could." Xu wrote on her social network account as she was about to end her service in Huangjian Township. Xu Xiaochan and Zhang Jianming, together with their daughter Zhang Qingyu, moved to Huangjian Township of Huangshan City in 2019 as the couple decided to join in a campaign to provide medical services for local villagers there. The medical service in rural area, lasting for two years, is part of a program in Anhui province to call for doctors working in big cities to serve in remote villages to help impoverished people. In the past two years, Xu Xiaochan and Zhang Jianming have set up standardized clinics in the village and made regular home-visit to villagers. The couple also trained follow-up successors for village clinics and promoted medical knowledge in the mountainous area. Through their efforts, the public medical services in the township have been improved a lot. On July 10, the last day of their work in the township, local people came to bid farewell to them as the couple witnessed many great events in the village. "Huangjian Township has become our second hometown." Xu Xiaochan said, "Our hearts stay with the villagers here." (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 22:38:11|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's state security arrested on Monday a suspected member of the Islamic State group in Akkar in northern Lebanon, a statement by the Lebanese army reported.

The arrested suspect has participated in the killing of two municipal policemen and the son of the mayor of the northern village of Kaftoun on Aug. 21, 2020, it said.

The suspect has been referred to concerned judiciary bodies for further investigations and other legal procedures, the statement added.

Caretaker Lebanese Interior Minister Mohammad Fahmi announced earlier this year that he had information about terrorist cells planning actions to jeopardize security in northern Lebanon. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 23:28:10|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- In a ridiculous statement posted on the website of the U.S. State Department recently, the so-called "Media Freedom Coalition" pointed accusing fingers to the lawful actions of the Hong Kong authorities against the local Apple Daily newspaper.

Washington is up to the same old tricks by interfering in China's domestic affairs under the guise of "press freedom." No matter what the pretext, nothing will halt Hong Kong's desire for stability and prosperity.

The Apple Daily -- a so-called "media outlet" -- has for years engaged in illegal activities that have seriously endangered China's national security and disrupted Hong Kong's development.

From publishing fake news and spreading hate speech, to hyping up "color revolutions" and instigating "Hong Kong independence" as well as violent and criminal behaviors, the daily is widely regarded as "a toxic apple" by the people of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong police arrested the directors of Apple Daily, who were suspected of colluding with external forces and jeopardizing national security. The arrests were not about "suppressing journalism" as claimed by the West. Instead, they were a legitimate move to safeguard the rule of law in Hong Kong and a response to the needs of residents who have long yearned for a return to normalcy in their city.

Behind the coalition's "strong concerns" about the newspaper are some of its members' malicious intention to use "press freedom" as an excuse for violence and criminal acts. But media organizations and related personnel are not free to act outside the law.

There is no doubt that the coalition's statement is part of a Washington-instigated smear campaign against China to contain the Asian country's development. For quite some time, anti-China elements in the United States have been meddling in China's internal affairs concerning Hong Kong and Taiwan, fabricating a "human rights crisis" in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and politicizing the coronavirus pandemic to attack China.

The global community needs to keep vigilant over Washington's habitual tactics of twisting facts and truth, creating biased narratives, and deliberately stirring up an ideological confrontation to influence global public opinion.

Michael Lueders, a well-known German writer, has revealed in his new book "The Hypocritical Superpower" that the U.S. government and its interest groups are apt at influencing and shaping public opinion by selecting information and polarizing the public's views.

The so-called coalition is neither a representative of the global majority, nor a reflection of the main voice in the international arena. Most importantly, its statement cannot shake China's resolve to implement the "one country, two systems" principle, maintain the rule of law in Hong Kong, and safeguard the country's sovereignty and security.

It is time for Washington to abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations and stop talking down to other countries. Finally, it has to stop interfering in Hong Kong's and China's internal affairs under the pretext of "press freedom." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 23:39:51|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that the presence of U.S. military forces in Central Asia "would not meet the region's security interests."

"If Americans with more than 100,000 troops have not been able to achieve anything inside Afghanistan over the past 20 years, what results are they going to achieve with significantly smaller presence outside Afghanistan" within Central Asia, Lavrov said at a press conference. (Russia-US-Central Asia)

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BEIRUT -- Lebanon's state security arrested on Monday a suspected member of the Islamic State group in Akkar in northern Lebanon, a statement by the Lebanese army reported.

The arrested suspect has participated in the killing of two municipal policemen and the son of the mayor of the northern village of Kaftoun on Aug. 21, 2020, it said. (Lebanon-IS)

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GENEVA -- Two Chinese pharmaceutical companies will provide 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines immediately to participants of the COVAX project, announced the global Vaccine Alliance Gavi on Monday.

The Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines have been approved earlier this year by the World Health Organization for emergency use. (WHO-COVID-19-Chinese vaccine)

- - - -

BERLIN -- Germany has banned and dissolved the country's largest motorcycle club, the "Bandidos MC Federation West Central" and its 38 sub-organizations, the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) said here on Monday.

Instead of just promoting motorcycle riding together, the club, whose members were prone to violence, was primarily concerned with its "criminal self-assertion against competing rocker groups and other organizations," the BMI noted. (Germany-Motorcycle club) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 23:54:15|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on July 8, 2021 shows a view of Tamar Park in south China's Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

The global community needs to keep vigilant over Washington's habitual tactics of twisting facts and truth, creating biased narratives, and deliberately stirring up an ideological confrontation to influence global public opinion.

BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- In a ridiculous statement posted on the website of the U.S. State Department recently, the so-called "Media Freedom Coalition" pointed accusing fingers to the lawful actions of the Hong Kong authorities against the local Apple Daily newspaper.

Washington is up to the same old tricks by interfering in China's domestic affairs under the guise of "press freedom." No matter what the pretext, nothing will halt Hong Kong's desire for stability and prosperity.

Jimmy Lai Chee-ying is taken by the police to the headquarters of Apple Daily for investigation in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

The Apple Daily -- a so-called "media outlet" -- has for years engaged in illegal activities that have seriously endangered China's national security and disrupted Hong Kong's development.

From publishing fake news and spreading hate speech, to hyping up "color revolutions" and instigating "Hong Kong independence" as well as violent and criminal behaviors, the daily is widely regarded as "a toxic apple" by the people of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong police arrested the directors of Apple Daily, who were suspected of colluding with external forces and jeopardizing national security. The arrests were not about "suppressing journalism" as claimed by the West. Instead, they were a legitimate move to safeguard the rule of law in Hong Kong and a response to the needs of residents who have long yearned for a return to normalcy in their city.

Photo taken on July 7, 2021 shows a view of the Hong Kong Island seen from Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

Behind the coalition's "strong concerns" about the newspaper are some of its members' malicious intention to use "press freedom" as an excuse for violence and criminal acts. But media organizations and related personnel are not free to act outside the law.

There is no doubt that the coalition's statement is part of a Washington-instigated smear campaign against China to contain the Asian country's development. For quite some time, anti-China elements in the United States have been meddling in China's internal affairs concerning Hong Kong and Taiwan, fabricating a "human rights crisis" in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and politicizing the coronavirus pandemic to attack China.

The global community needs to keep vigilant over Washington's habitual tactics of twisting facts and truth, creating biased narratives, and deliberately stirring up an ideological confrontation to influence global public opinion.

Michael Lueders, a well-known German writer, has revealed in his new book "The Hypocritical Superpower" that the U.S. government and its interest groups are apt at influencing and shaping public opinion by selecting information and polarizing the public's views.

Photo taken on July 8, 2021 shows a view of a ferris wheel and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

The so-called coalition is neither a representative of the global majority, nor a reflection of the main voice in the international arena. Most importantly, its statement cannot shake China's resolve to implement the "one country, two systems" principle, maintain the rule of law in Hong Kong, and safeguard the country's sovereignty and security.

It is time for Washington to abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations and stop talking down to other countries. Finally, it has to stop interfering in Hong Kong's and China's internal affairs under the pretext of "press freedom." 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-13 01:53:49|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, July 12 (Xinhua) --The chief of the United Nations (UN) human rights agency stressed on Monday that law enforcement officials must be held accountable for crimes against people of African descent and alternative approaches to policing should be applied.

Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, told the ongoing 47th session of the Human Rights Council that the murder of George Floyd in the United States on May 25, 2020, was a tipping point, which had shifted the world's attention to the human rights violations routinely endured by Africans and people of African descent.

In an interactive dialogue with the Human Rights Council on systemic racism, Bachelet said that her office had received information about at least 190 deaths of people of African descent by law enforcement officials. She said that 98 percent of these cases happened in Europe, Latin America and North America.

She urged the relevant states to acknowledge the systemic nature of racism and to show stronger political will to ensure racial justice.

Urging human rights-based policy making, Bachelet also encouraged states to carry out a human rights audit of policies and practices related to law enforcement.

To reduce crime and increase safety, she said, greater efforts should be made to recruit and include people of African descent in law enforcement, the criminal justice system and policy making. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-13 05:24:40|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, July 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday invited a group of mayors and police chiefs from across the country for a meeting at the White House, where they discussed actions that could be taken to tackle the surging gun violence crimes.

Also at the meeting held in the Roosevelt Room was Attorney General Merrick Garland, with whom Biden said he had spent "a long time" on curbing gun-related violence.

"Most of my career has been on this issue," the president claimed at one time during the meeting.

Biden said that the purpose of the meeting was to hear from local officials about what things have worked in their communities. He then went through his own approach, highlighting measures including stemming the flow of firearms, cracking down and holding gun dealers accountable for violating current law, and using the Department of Justice to crack down on illegal gun trafficking.

Biden stressed the importance of supporting local law enforcement, highlighting funding through his 1.9-trillion-dollar American Rescue Plan. He talked about hiring police and paying them overtime, and investing in community policing.

"We know when we utilize trusted community members and encourage more community policing, we can intervene before the violence erupts," Biden said.

Biden also talked about the importance of mental health programs and job training for young people, saying authorities should "support young people to pick up a paycheck instead of a pistol."

In addition, assisting those who have been incarcerated to reenter communities by means of providing housing and job support is another area that federal, state and local governments could work on, the president said. "If somebody gets out of jail right now after serving time, they get a bus ticket and 25 bucks, they end up under the same bridge they left. We know this will help."

Eric Adams, Brooklyn borough president and the likely next mayor of New York, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo were among the attendees of the meeting, along with police chiefs of the cities of Memphis, Chicago, and Wilmington, among other officials and violence experts.

Shootings and killings have been on the rise nationwide, with local politicians and police struggling to grapple with the skyrocketing violent incidents since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Push for Congress to pass police reform legislation, meanwhile, continued on more than one year after the brutal killing of black man George Floyd by a white former police officer.

Biden's administration unveiled a new national strategy on tackling gun violence on June 23, announcing measures including combating the illegal transfer of firearms, increasing funding for local law enforcement, investing in fact-based community violence interventions, expanding summer programming, employment opportunities, and other services and supports for teenagers and young adults, as well as helping formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter their communities. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-13 05:48:07|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD -- At least 36 people were killed on Monday when a huge fire broke out in a hospital treating coronavirus patients in Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar, official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.

The evening massive fire hit the quarantine center for coronavirus patients in al-Hussein Hospital in the provincial capital city of al-Nasiriyah, some 375 km south of Baghdad, INA said. (Iraq-Fire-Death)

----

TUNIS -- Tunisian Ministry of Health announced on Monday that China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine has been officially approved for marketing in Tunisia.

"The Ministry of Health has granted an exceptional and provisional marketing authorization in the Tunisian market for China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine," said a ministry statement. (Tunisia-Sinopharm-Approval)

----

TEHRAN -- Iran on Monday reported 20,829 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country's total infections to 3,394,279.

The pandemic has so far claimed 86,041 lives in Iran, up by 182 in the past 24 hours, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education reported. (Iran-COVID19)

----

GAZA -- Israel on Monday decided to ease the tight restrictions imposed two months ago on export, import and fishing in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said.

The Palestinian general authority of civil affairs said that Israel allowed the movement and travel from Gaza to Israel and the West Bank. (Palestine-Israel-Export) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-13 05:51:42|Editor: huaxia

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MONTEVIDEO, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou warned the public on Monday "not to claim victory" in the face of improved COVID-19 indicators.

Lacalle Pou asked that everyone be "careful" and "not believe that this (pandemic) has past," because "if we let our guard down, we might concede a goal."

For over four weeks, the South American country has seen improvement in its COVID-19 indicators, with a reduction in infections, active cases, deaths and intensive care unit admissions, after suffering the worst outbreak between April and May of this year.

"The ideal situation would be to reach a summer as open as possible in successive stages," Lacalle Pou said. "Perhaps in the coming months we can open up to some foreigners."

Last week, public shows, parties and other events were reactivated in the country, while in-person classes for secondary schools resumed on Monday, after the process was completed in primary schools in June.

As of Sunday, Uruguay had accumulated 376,579 COVID-19 cases and 5,815 deaths, according to Ministry of Public Health data. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-13 05:56:37|Editor: huaxia

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LA PAZ, July 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 24 people died and another 10 were injured after a public transportation bus plunged into a ravine more than 100 meters deep in the southern Bolivian department of Chuquisaca, police and medical workers said on Monday.

The director of the Traffic Operational Unit, Colonel Jose Luis Assaf, told reporters the number of fatal victims may rise due to the severity of their injuries.

According to Assaf, it was not clear what caused the accident near the community of Chataquila, where police and firefighters continued to work to rescue the injured and recover the bodies.

"We are waiting for specialized personnel and a crane to arrive, although the conditions of the site make access difficult," he said, adding the bus had the capacity to carry about 35 passengers.

Dr. Marcelo Valdivia of the Santa Barbara Hospital, where the injured were taken, confirmed the severity of the injuries.

The driver of the bus, which was traveling from Potolo to Sucre, has not been identified, but it is presumed he is among the victims still trapped beneath the wreckage. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 04:12:49|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police said on Sunday a group of unidentified gunmen attacked a town in northwest Nigeria's Kaduna state, kidnapping 11 people, including a traditional ruler.

Muhammed Jalige, a spokesman for Kaduna police, said in a statement the gunmen in great numbers "invaded Kajuru town" of the state in the early hours of Sunday. They shot sporadically and entered a traditional ruler's residence in the town, abducting the 85-year-old ruler and 10 of his family members.

Jalige urged local residents to remain calm and provide credible information to the police and other security services to prevent any potential attacks on innocent persons.

Nigeria has witnessed in recent months a series of gunman attacks across the country, resulting in many civilians killed and kidnapped. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 23:46:52|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Monday welcomed the proclamation by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) of the final results of Ethiopia's six general elections.

On Saturday, the NEBE announced that Ethiopia's ruling Prosperity Party won more than 400 out of 436 parliamentary electoral constituencies of the sixth Ethiopian general elections held on June 21.

"The chairperson takes this opportunity to warmly congratulate Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for the overwhelming victory of the Prosperity Party at the national and regional level," an AU statement issued on Monday quoted Mahamat as saying.

Chairperson of the 55-member pan African bloc commended the NEBE, political parties, civil society, and all other stakeholders for their collective efforts in ensuring largely peaceful, orderly, and credible elections, despite challenges relating to security, logistics and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Ethiopia's parliamentary government system, the prime minister who is the highest authority of the land is selected from the party that wins the majority seats at the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives (HoPR), the lower house of the Ethiopian parliament, and will be sworn in after parliamentary vote.

The AU had deployed an Election Observer Mission, chaired by the former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, to observe the election. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-13 00:27:11|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Monday launched the operation of the first-ever South Sudanese-owned mobile telecom company.

Kiir said the launch of Digitel Telecommunications will fast-track connectivity of areas previously not served by foreign-owned telecom companies operating in the country.

"To our people who live in remote areas who need mobile service, the government is determined to bring mobile services to your locations," Kiir said in Juba, adding that his government played a crucial role in ensuring Digitel operates in the country.

He revealed that remote areas like Maper in Rumbek North County of Lakes state and Pochala in Greater Pibor Administrative Area respectively are now connected to the mobile phone network.

The president assured that mobile connectivity to other remote areas like Boma in Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Kuron Peace Village in Kapoeta East will soon be completed.

"The government will explore options including tax exemption that will benefit importation of network equipment and telecommunication tools. These equipment will help increase the digital literacy program for our next generation ICT-driven economy," he said.

Kiir noted that South Sudan needs to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of digital technology.

Athiei De Chan Awuol, Executive Vice President for Digitel said that the company is committed to delivering digital services across the country.

"For us to launch our telecom services and products at 10 years of our independence anniversary shows that South Sudanese can contribute towards a bright future for ourselves, for our children and for the next generation," said Awuol.

He noted that the launch of Digitel demonstrates the commitment of South Sudanese to develop their country, adding that since 2011 the government has been working hard to attract foreign investors.

Digitel joins South African-owned mobile giant MTN, and Zain telecom, respectively, in the South Sudan market. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-13 03:06:14|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday that 326 illegal immigrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to Libya from July 4 to 10.

So far in 2021, a total of 16,026 illegal immigrants, including women and children, have been rescued, while 234 died and 510 went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to IOM.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

Rescued migrants end up inside overcrowded reception centers across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close them. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 15:01:22|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia reported 1,496 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 139,284, the country's health ministry said Monday.

A total of five more COVID-19 related deaths and 3,858 recoveries were reported in the past day, bringing the respective national tallies to 689 and 107,524, according to the ministry.

The ministry said 55.2 percent of the country's population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Mongolia launched a nationwide vaccination campaign in late February, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 percent of its population. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 15:08:16|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, July 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export logged a double-digit growth in the first 10 days of this month on the back of global demand recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic shock, customs office data showed Monday.

Outbound shipment amounted to 15.08 billion U.S. dollars in the July 1-10 period, up 14.1 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Korea Customs Service.

The export continued to increase since November last year amid the global demand recovery from the pandemic. The daily average shipment jumped 21.2 percent in the 10-day period.

Export for oil products, auto parts, cars, semiconductors and smartphones all expanded in double figures in the 10-day period, but computer shipment posted a double-digit reduction.

Shipment to the United States, the European Union (EU), the Middle East and Japan advanced in double digits, with export to Vietnam and China rising in single figures.

Import soared 33.3 percent over the year to 19.01 billion dollars in the July 1-10 period, sending the trade deficit to 3.93 billion dollars. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 17:33:54|Editor: huaxia

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Tokyo, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks finished higher Monday with the benchmark Nikkei increased over 2 percent after a three-day fall due to Japan's strong machinery orders data and increases in U.S. and European market late last week.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average increased 628.60 points, or 2.25 percent, from Friday at 28,569.02.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 40.95 points, or 2.14 percent, higher at 1,953.33.

Trading volume on the main section decreased to 1,035.77 million shares from Friday's 1,425.64 million shares.

After the Nikkei finished Friday at its lowest level since mid-May, the increases in the European markets and record highs on Wall Street last Friday stimulated a strong rising across a broad range of sectors of Tokyo stocks throughout the day.

Masahiro Ichikawa, the chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co, said, "A relative sense of security returned to the market after it overreacted negatively last week to concerns of a sluggish economic recovery (amid the coronavirus pandemic)."

Before the market opened, the Japanese government released the data of machinery orders, which rose 7.8 percent in May. The stronger-than-expected data fueled expectations of robust capital spending by firms and helped a solid start of the market.

Many market signals such as U.S. consumer price data, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony will come up later this week for investors to make trading decisions.

Machinery, metal product, and electric appliance sectors were leading the upward trend of the day. By the close of play, gaining issues outnumbered declining ones 2,010 to 149 on the First Section, while 33 finished unchanged.

Yaskawa Electric jumped 6.5 percent after the industrial robot maker reported Friday its operating profit more than doubled in the same period from a year earlier.

Bic Camera increased 4.7 percent after the electronics retailer announced a nearly 85 percent increase, year-to-year basis, in operating profit on Friday.

Among issues benefited by the strong machinery orders data, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ended 1.6 percent higher, and Panasonic jumped 2.4 percent. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 19:28:08|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Health Ministry on Monday received 26,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccines, the second batch of this vaccine that arrived in the country this month.

The vaccines were carried by a Qatar Airways flight from the United States and arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport early Monday morning.

Health officials said the doses were initially stored at the Katunayake Airport Cargo Village freezer facility and was then transported to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation Central Warehouse in Colombo by the corporation's freezer trucks.

State Pharmaceuticals Corporation General Manager Dinusha Dasanayake told journalists that with this current stock of vaccines, the total volume of Pfizer vaccines that had been brought into Sri Lanka so far stands at 52,000 vials.

State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana said the second batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines will be used to vaccinate people in the Mannar District, in the north.

He said the first batch of 26,000 doses that arrived last week was being administered to students going abroad and to a group of fishermen in Mannar who may interact with Indian fishermen. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 20:01:12|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Thailand decided on Monday to adjust its COVID-19 vaccination policy by mixing Sinovac vaccine with AstraZeneca vaccine, intending to enhance immunity against the virus amid rising new infections.

Instead of two Sinovac shots, the National Communicable Disease Committee has decided to give people the AstraZeneca vaccine as a second shot after their first Sinovac shot to raise their immunity against the Delta variant, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at a press conference.

Anutin noted that there will be an interval of three to four weeks between the first Sinovac shot and the second AstraZeneca shot.

Medical workers, who have been fully vaccinated, will also receive a third booster dose, using the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine, according to the deputy prime minister.

The Southeast Asian country is battling against a months-long surge in infections, with a fast spreading of the highly contagious Delta variant weighing on the already strained medical systems.

The government also decided to implement home isolation or community isolation programs for those who have been found infected but had slight symptoms or no symptoms, Anutin said.

To address the worsening situation, the country imposed tougher curbs in hard-hit regions, including the capital Bangkok and five nearby provinces. The measures, including a night curfew, a ban on gatherings of more than five people and non-essential travels, as well as closure of shopping malls, took effect from Monday and would last for at least 14 days.

On Monday, Thailand reported 8,656 new infections, marking the first drop of daily tally in a week. The total number of infections rose to 345,027. Cumulative deaths from COVID-19 climbed to 2,791, up by 80 over the past 24 hours.

As of Sunday, the country has administered more than 12.5 million doses of vaccine, with less than 5 percent of its nearly 70 million people fully vaccinated. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 21:33:25|Editor: huaxia

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SINGAPORE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat Monday called on ASEAN and China to fortify the foundations of existing partnerships, and nurture new areas of complementarities.

He said while delivering a keynote speech at the FutureChina Global Forum (FCGF) 2021 that the two sides should strengthen the rules-based multilateral framework for trade and investments.

"The ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a cornerstone agreement that has benefited all members," Heng said. "Let us work towards upgrading this agreement, to reduce non-tariff measures and address new priorities, especially for the digital economy."

He also called on the two sides to rebuild their aviation links and further liberalize the ASEAN-China Air Transport Agreement to boost the region's connectivity, as they prepare to resume cross-border travel.

"Beyond ASEAN and China, we must maintain the momentum for global trade liberalization, and build confidence in multilateralism," he said. "RCEP (the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), which was signed between ASEAN Member States, China, and four other major trading partners is an important next step."

Beyond FTAs, Heng said that ASEAN and China should explore new building blocks, including digital collaboration and sustainable development, to strengthen cooperation, to seek new sources of growth and address global challenges.

COVID-19 has accelerated the global shift to digital, and ASEAN and China must move swiftly to respond to this shift. Therefore, he called for piloting more city-to-city projects, and establishing Digital Economy Agreements at the country level.

More over, climate change is an existential challenge, and both ASEAN and China understand the urgency of the challenge, he said, noting that ASEAN and China can focus on catalyzing a green recovery, from investing in buildings that are more energy-efficient, to exploring cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind.

"China's Belt and Road Initiative or BRI is an important initiative, and a 'Green BRI' will be a major step in catalyzing green infrastructure," Heng said.

The FCGF 2021, organized by Business China, a non-profit organization that aims to strengthen ties between Singapore and China, commenced on Monday morning.

Held in a hybrid format for the first time, over 1,500 distinguished business leaders, public personalities, political leaders, and industry experts from Singapore, China, and the ASEAN region gathered at the forum, to discuss pertinent trends, opportunities, and lessons drawn from ASEAN and China, that will prepare the region for an increasingly volatile and complex "Never Normal" future.

The "Never Normal" is a term coined by business entrepreneur, advisor, and author Peter Hinssen as a "reality where change is constantly triggered by 'seismic shocks'," -- be it ecological, societal, or geopolitical in nature. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 22:07:12|Editor: huaxia

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BISHKEK, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan on Monday reported 1,330 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 140,978.

The Republican Headquarters for Combating COVID-19 also reported 763 more recoveries and 11 more deaths, bringing the total recoveries to 118,771 and the death toll to 2,113.

Kyrgyzstan started its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on March 29 using China-donated vaccines. In addition, the Central Asia country received Sputnik V vaccines from Russia in April.

Deputy Chairwoman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Zhyldyz Bakashova said at a briefing on Monday that the country would need to vaccinate 70 percent of the population in order to create herd immunity from COVID-19. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 22:32:30|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that the presence of U.S. military forces in Central Asia "would not meet the region's security interests."

"If Americans with more than 100,000 troops have not been able to achieve anything inside Afghanistan over the past 20 years, what results are they going to achieve with significantly smaller presence outside Afghanistan" within Central Asia, Lavrov said at a press conference.

He said the United States intends to maintain a military presence in the region in order to exert influence.

U.S. media reports claim Washington is in talks with Central Asian governments about basing troops in the region.

Lavrov stressed that the presence of foreign military bases on the territories of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member countries must be subject to approval by all participants.

The CSTO, a Moscow-led military alliance formed in 1992, consists of six former Soviet republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

"It is significant to note that none of these countries have submitted requests to the CSTO to hold consultations on this matter," he added.

Lavrov said the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan was "too hasty" as a huge amount of equipment was abandoned. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-13 02:06:42|Editor: huaxia

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SKOPJE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- North Macedonia and Albania signed on Monday a joint statement under which the two countries will join forces in preserving the Ohrid Region as one of the world's natural and cultural heritage, protected by UNESCO.

The joint statement was signed in Ohrid city by North Macedonia's culture minister Irena Stefoska and her Albanian counterpart Elva Margariti, according to the Media Information Agency (MIA).

The joint statement, according to Stefoska, opens a new chapter in the relations between the two countries in preserving the heritage of the Ohrid Region.

The minister also called on local authorities, public and civil society to play their part and work together to preserve the region.

The official meeting between the two ministers was held two years after the decision to include the Albanian part of the Ohrid Region in the world heritage list, under the protection of UNESCO.

Via a Facebook message, Margariti said that during these two years Albania has taken important steps to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid Region, despite the problems the country has faced with the devastating earthquake in November 2019 and the pandemic of COVID-19.

"Both countries agreed and are fully committed and responsible to implement a joint strategic plan for the recovery of this region, accompanied by a detailed action plan on the measures we will take to prevent any kind of risk which may threaten the wealth of this region, which is no longer just ours," Margariti said.

Lake Ohrid, one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, is located in the mountainous border between the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania.

North Macedonia's side of Lake Ohrid was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, while Albania's side of the lake was designated UNESCO world heritage status in 2019. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-12 15:40:49|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Charlottesville, U.S. state of Virginia, has removed several controversial statues from public space, nearly four years after a deadly white supremacist rally that shocked the historic college town and the country at large.

Crew members took down three monuments in Charlottesville on Saturday, including bronze statues of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Their stone bases were left in place temporarily and will be hoisted away at a later date, according to city officials.

"Removing the statues is one step towards dismantling white supremacy in our community, but there is so much more to be done," Charlottesville's city government said in a release posed on Twitter.

"You may feel anger, grief, relief, or even joy, all at the same time," the release said. "For some community members, this time may be a reminder of trauma already endured."

On Aug. 12, 2017, white supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, and members of other hate groups gathered in Charlottesville for a self-styled "Unite the Right" rally to protest against the city's decision to remove the statue of Lee, a commander of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, before clashing violently with counter-protesters.

After the confrontations were dispersed, an Ohio man espousing neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs deliberately drove a car into the crowd of counter-protesters who were marching peacefully, killing a woman and injuring 19 other individuals.

The incident drew more national attention after then-U.S. President Donald Trump said "both sides" were to blame for the violence and "there were very fine people on both sides." The remarks were roundly criticized by both Democrats and Republicans.

Joe Biden, who unseated Trump in the 2020 presidential election, has said he knew that he had to run for the White House after hearing the Republican's response to the Charlottesville rally.

"It was a wake-up call for us as a country," Biden said in August 2020 when accepting the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

"For me, a call to action. At that moment, I knew I'd have to run," said the veteran politician, who campaigned heavily on race issues that year. "At the time, I said we were in a battle for the soul of this nation."

In a statement on Saturday, the White House said it supports Charlottesville's move to take down the Confederate statues.

"As President Biden has said, there is a difference between reminders and remembrance of history," the statement read. "The president believes that monuments to Confederate leaders belong in museums, not in public places."

The petition to remove Lee's statue was filed in 2016, which was later approved by Charlottesville's city council.

However, the plans were put on hold after a lawsuit from opponents. The Virginia Supreme Court ruled in April that the city could remove the statues.

The city didn't complete procedural steps for the final removals until earlier the past week, while preparations to lift the statues off their pedestals began on Friday.

"Taking down this statue is one small step closer to the goal of helping Charlottesville, Virginia, and America, grapple with the sin of being willing to destroy Black people for economic gain," Nikuyah Walker, Charlottesville's first female African American mayor, told reporters and observers as a crane neared the Lee monument on Saturday.

Charles Weber, a local attorney who was a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Charlottesville, disagreed, telling local media that he believes "this act is not going to improve the life of anybody in the city."

Efforts to take down statues of Confederate figures gained much traction across the United States after the May 2020 death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man who lost his life during a police arrest in Minneapolis, state of Minnesota.

Floyd's death sparked massive demonstrations against police brutality and racism in the country.

At least 160 symbols honoring the Confederacy were removed in 2020, according to figures compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit U.S. group focusing on civil rights and public interest litigation.

"The statues come down in Charlottesville today, and that means a chapter comes to an end," Emily Gorcenski, a counter-protester at the "Unite the Right" rally in 2017, tweeted on Saturday. "But the story is far from over, and the statues were never really the story at all." Enditem
South Boston, VA (24592)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 88F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Showers and scattered thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Se ha superado la meta de 200 000 dosis de vacunas contra la COVID-19 aplicadas en Lima Metropolitana y Callao durante la primera #Vacunaton, informo el ministro Oscar Ugarte desde el centro de vacunacion de la Videna @LegadoOficialPE, en San Luis. #PongoElHombro ???? pic.twitter.com/suYl3ZPE57
The top official specified that "a president is not an arbitrator, and the National Elections Board is the only one which has the power to define (the results) ."
Speaking from Lima's district of San Bartolo, where he supervised a seawater desalination plant, the Head of State noted that the preparation of the first draft budget for 2022 is being completed and will be submitted to the next government for it to get its priorities straight.

In this regard, he mentioned the expansion of the water and sewage system in the upper part of Huaycan, which entailed an investment of S/131 million (about US$33 million), for the benefit of 36,000 inhabitants.

"I could go on with a list of projects that will be secured not only in Metropolitan Lima but in various regions, which will ensure water, sewage, and wastewater treatment services," he said.

The President reported that State-run water company Sedapal is about to sign a contract for the Nueva Rinconada project, which entails an investment of S/1.2 billion (about US$302 million), for the benefit of Lima's districts of Villa El Salvador, Villa Maria del Triunfo, and San Juan de Miraflores.
Presidente @FSagasti: Hasta el momento hemos inmunizado a mas de 140 000 personas en este primer #Vacunaton que se realiza en Lima Metropolitana y Callao. La vacuna es el escudo mas seguro contra la COVID-19. Acudan a su centro de inmunizacion mas cercano.#JuntosPorElVacunaton pic.twitter.com/ma9NW6pOiK
YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Government convened an extraordinary session today, e-gov.am reported.

The session will begin at 11:00 in closed format.

One item is on the agenda: the Cabinet will discuss approving the 2022-2024 state medium-term expenditure program and the 2022-2026 government debt burden reduction program.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, 12 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs ARMENPRESS that today, 12 July, USD exchange rate is up by 0.11 drams to 495.88 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 0.02 drams to 587.72 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.03 drams to 6.64 drams. GBP exchange rate is up by 3.28 drams to 687.24 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is down by 20.71 drams to 28792.9 drams. Silver price is down by 1.42 drams to 414.68 drams. Platinum price is up by 290.76 drams to 17377.77 drams.
YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS.A special Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The Government approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2022-2024 and the Debt Burden Reduction Program of the Government of the Republic of Armenia for 2022-2026, which seeks to ensure an average economic growth of 7% annually. The Government needs to build up the countrys economic potential, which in turn will take up the potential growth of the economy to a higher level. To this end, an effective investment policy should be implemented with the bulk of investment to be funneled towards the export sector, high technologies and infrastructure in order to achieve high capital efficiency. Increased labor and capital productivity is a prerequisite for ensuring high economic growth, which can be achieved through new technological solutions, a better business-investment environment and coordinated academic interventions. This calls for an average factor productivity growth of 5.3%.

Export is another factor conducive to that goal. The higher growth of investment will be followed by higher growth of exports of goods and services in the foreseeable future. These developments will reflect the impact of a significant improvement in the productive component. At the same time, the share of exports in GDP will be enhanced. Fiscal policy will be aimed at reducing the debt burden and promoting long-term economic growth. Given the above high economic growth target, the government plans to smoothly reduce the debt burden. Reducing the debt burden below the threshold of 60 percent, as suggested by fiscal rules, will help create a fiscal space to respond to possible shocks.

Nikol Pashinyan called everyones attention to a number of factors. First of all, we are legally bound to adopt a medium-term expenditure framework today. Second, we have to comply with the established procedure in the face of new realities. We will have to adopt the governments action plan in the near future. The government shall be guided by Civil Contract partys electoral program. Therefore, the 2022 state budget, the governments program and the relevant action plan must be based on the Civil Contract partys electoral platform.

No matter a government department is supervised by non-partisan officials or by people with political affiliation: all available resources should be used to implement the Civil Contract partys electoral program. That is what we have to do in the next 5 years. At the same time, I cannot rule out that new programs may come to complement the program.

According to the Acting Prime Minister, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework is a flexible instrument that should be adopted and start working today. Instructions have been given on the draft government program and the governments action plan. Finally, the 2022 budget must be formed according to that logic, Nikol Pashinyan said, noting that today we need to think about the implementation of measures under the pre-election program. In particular, at the previous discussion I instructed to ensure the construction of new schools and kindergartens. I expect that by the end of this year we will have approved at least a few dozen such projects, the Acting Prime Minister pointed out.

The Executive approved the draft law On Amending the RA Law on State Duty, which is supposed to streamline the foreign trade of goods of strategic importance (copper-molybdenum concentrate, ferromolybdenum). According to the bill, part of the proceeds generated from the exploitation of the subsoil shall be used to develop the manufacturing industry, build up strategic assets in the mining sector, and strengthen the industrial value chains. In particular, it is planned to expand the value chain in the field of copper processing by initially launching the production of high purity cathode copper, and then ensuring rapid development of the ecosystem of related products.

In order to develop environmentally clean and safe technologies amid the ongoing price hikes in the global market of non-ferrous metals, it was proposed to establish a state duty on copper, molybdenum ore and ferromolybdenum for the issuance of licenses, permits or certificates. The proposed licensing rates shall be applicable depending on the changing demand for these metals on the global marketplace.

Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan noted in this connection that the bill implies some implementation risks. We have a 100 percent consensus on goals, but we may face risks while implementing this tool. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the government is there to manage the risks and to take actions in the best interest of the country. I understand the potential risks. Nevertheless, all relevant legislative amendments should be developed and introduced as they are not at odds with the logic of anticipated risks, the Acting Premier concluded.

Hayk Grigoryan was relieved of the post of RA Investigative Committee Chairman. With another government decree, Argishti Kyaramyan was appointed chairman of the Investigative Committee.
YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hosted the National Hero of Armenia, Argentine-Armenian businessman, philanthropist Eduardo Eurnekian.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan said, ''Dear Mr. Eurnekian, I welcome you in Yerevan. Your visit, such meetings are always important, because you are one of the important investors in the Republic of Armenia, in particular, one of the most important investors in the Republic of Armenia from the Diaspora. Therefore, I think your investments also predetermine the general investment climate in the Republic of Armenia.

Our country has passed through very difficult challenges. Just a few days ago, in the June 20 elections, our government reaffirmed its mandate under the slogan "There is a future." And I hope that your work agenda and mood is aimed at restoring the economic optimism of our country and faith in the future. We value your personal role here a lot. 

Eduardo Eurnekian congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of the victory of ''Civil Contract'' Party in the elections and added, '' Mr. Prime Minister, I am very moved by your words. Unfortunately, the pandemic changed the agenda of all of us in terms of time, space and flights, but it seems that we are already overcoming it, and I am here.

Mr. Prime Minister, I did not want to delay it, I wanted to come as soon as possible, to congratulate you on your victory, because it is very important, and we supported your victory from the beginning.

We invest in different spheres in Armenia. And we plan to continue making large-scale investments in Armenia. We are currently negotiating with a bank. We see a good growth in the tourism sector in Armenia, and fortunately, we will soon offer a new investment project in the airport construction sector. My cousin Martin, who is currently in charge of all this, will come to Armenia very soon to contact the person you will indicate, of course, for discussing the investment plan.

We must be very pleased with the development in the wine and viticulture sector in Armenia that we have been able to predict, invest in and reform. Fortunately, today these wines are widespread throughout Europe.

I do not want to take too much time from you, Mr. Prime Minister, I am at your disposal.

Nikol Pashinyan and Eduardo Eurnekyan discussed the programs implemented by "Armenia International Airports" CJSC in Armenia. In particular, they touched upon issues related to the development, improvement of infrastructure, renovation and further operation of Yerevan "Zvartnots" and Gyumri "Shirak" airports, which were given to the company for concession management. The interlocutors also exchanged views on other business programs planned by companies owned by Eduardo Eurnekian in Armenia in the near future.
YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Bogdan Aurescu referred to the visit to South Caucasus by the EU Foreign Ministers in June.

''This must be the start of the renewed EU involvment in the region. We must think of all instruments available or new ones, such as deepening cooperation with the EU and promoting confidence-building measures'', ARMENPRESS reports the Romanian FM wrote on his Twitter page.

EU foreign ministers visited Armenia in late June. They were received by Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian. The high-ranking European diplomats noted that the purpose of the regional visit was to emphasize the importance of relations with the South Caucasian countries for the EU and the Eastern Partnership.
The court also ordered summoning a new session of the House of Representatives at 5 PM on July 18

Kathmandu: In a landmark verdict, Nepal's Supreme Court on Monday directed President Bidya Devi Bhandari to appoint Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister by Tuesday and reinstated the House of Representatives for a second time in five months.

A five-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana issued the verdict stating that President Bhandari's decision to dissolve the lower house upon a recommendation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was an unconstitutional act, delivering a major blow to the veteran Communist leader who was preparing for snap polls.

The bench issued a mandamus to appoint Deuba as the Prime Minister by Tuesday.

Deuba, 74, has served as the prime minister on four occasions; first from 1995 to 1997, then from 2001 to 2002, again from 2004 to 2005, and from 2017 to 2018. Currently, he is the Leader of the Opposition in the House.

The court also ordered summoning a new session of the House of Representatives at 5 PM on July 18.

Chief Justice Rana also said that the bench has concluded that party whip does not apply when lawmakers take part in the voting to elect new Prime Minister as per Article 76(5) of the Constitution.

The bench comprising four other senior most justices -- Dipak Kumar Karki, Mira Khadka, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai -- had concluded hearings in the case last week.

President Bhandari had dissolved the 275-member lower house for the second time in five months on May 22 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19.

Last week, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for mid-term elections despite the uncertainty over polls.

Welcoming the apex court verdict, senior leader of the Nepal Communist Party-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the judgement was commendable.

"The Supreme Court has done a commendable job. This has saved the political system that is in place. Since the court has directly asked to appoint Deuba as new prime minister, we have no role to play now," he said.

Under Madhav Nepal's leadership, 23 lawmakers of UML had put their signature in favour of Deuba's claim to the prime ministership.

Madhav Nepal also said that Parliament will now take all the decisions. "Parliament has been reinstated. We will now go to Parliament. All the decisions will be taken from Parliament now," he said. "The court's verdict has also raised moral questions on Oli's actions."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Oli's supporters, including youths and students affiliated to the ruling CPN-UML, took to streets here to protest against the apex court's verdict against the 69-year-old Communist leader.

Cadres of the National Youth Force affiliated to CPN -UML gathered in Maitighar Mandal near the court premises chanting slogans against the verdict.

"We are not bound to accept all the orders passed by the Supreme Court, beware!" read a banner carried by the demonstrators.

Oli's confidant and former minister Mahesh Basnet was also present at the protests, according to media reports.

As many as 30 petitions were filed against the dissolution of the House by the President. One of the petitions was filed by the Opposition parties' alliance with the signature of 146 lawmakers demanding reinstatement of the lower house of Parliament and appointment of Deuba as the prime minister.

Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

On February 23, the apex court reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, in a setback to embattled Prime Minister Oli who was preparing for snap polls.

Oli, who is currently heading a minority government after losing a trust vote in the House, has repeatedly defended his move to dissolve the House of Representatives, saying some leaders of his party were attempting to form a "parallel government".
Pfizer has downplayed the role former prime minister Kevin Rudd played in fast-tracking shipments of Covid vaccines to Australia.

The pharmaceutical giant said it was inaccurate to suggest any individual or third party had any role in the contractual agreements.

"The only two parties involved in these agreements are Pfizer and the Australian government," a company spokeswoman told AAP on Monday.

"All agreements and supply arrangements including dose planning are exclusively made with the federal government, and details of the agreement and discussions are confidential.

Pfizer has downplayed the role former prime minister Kevin Rudd played in fast-tracking shipments of vaccines to Australia. Source: AAP

"All discussions on supply and procurement with the federal government are led by Pfizer representatives in Australia."

Mr Rudd contacted Pfizer at the insistence of senior Australian business leaders based in the United States.

They were concerned Prime Minister Scott Morrison was not pushing hard enough and may have offended Pfizer by sending junior public servants into negotiations.

Mr Rudd met virtually with the global head of Pfizer on June 30 and asked whether the delivery of Australia's doses could be brought forward.

The pharmaceutical boss agreed to investigate what could be done.

Mr Rudd then wrote Mr Morrison a letter to brief him on the discussions, with a deal announced eight days later.

Pfizer has committed to delivering more doses to Australia sooner than expected, with one million doses to be rolled out each week from mid-July.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he chuckled when he read reports of Mr Rudd's involvement in the outcome.

"We received a letter from the individual in question ... and we said to ourselves, 'Well, no doubt that will be released when our current negotiations are announced publicly'. That is exactly what happened," he said.

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Mr Rudd contacted Pfizer at the insistence of senior Australian business leaders based in the United States. Source: AAP

Peter Dutton rips into Mr Rudd's claims

Defence Minister Peter Dutton ripped into Mr Rudd over his approach to Pfizer executives and the media reports that ensued.

"I suspect it wouldn't take our greatest detective within the Queensland Police Service to identify who leaked that self-serving letter," Mr Dutton told 4BC radio.

"Kevin claims credit for many things, it used to drive his Labor colleagues crazy."

The defence minister suggested Mr Rudd was inserting himself into the public debate because he was "bored to death in retirement".

The former prime minister said his letter was consistent with Pfizer's public statements.

"Mr Rudd has not claimed responsibility for decisions by Pfizer and - as he made clear to Mr Morrison - all negotiating powers rested with the federal government," a spokesperson said.

"Mr Rudd would definitely not seek to associate himself with the Australian government's comprehensively botched vaccine procurement program."

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Thousands of football fans flocked to Melbourne's Lygon Street to watch Italy beat England in the Euro 2020 final, following a nail-biting penalty shootout.

Early on Monday morning, fans packed into cafes and bars on the strip, affectionately known as Little Italy, to watch the match.

A projector was also set up in Piazza Italia, in the Argyle Gardens, where flares were lit as a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma sealed the game for Italy - its first European Championship win since 1968.

Victoria Police confirmed five people were arrested for letting off flares at the end of the match.

Police officers and the public order response team remain on the strip as the party continues.

"We know many fans will be looking to continue the celebrations or commiserations throughout the day but we are urging people to be respectful and responsible," Victoria Police said in a statement.

"Any anti-social behaviour or alcohol-fuelled violence will not be tolerated."

Victoria's Deputy Premier James Merlino, whose father Bruno was born in Italy, said he was "delighted" by the win.

"It was a win and a pretty exciting thing for the very vibrant, very large Italian community here in Victoria," he told reporters.

Mr Merlino said revellers were required to followed the public health advice and maintain some physical distance.

"Of course, there are times when exuberance, human nature, means that that's a bit more difficult to achieve," he said.
NSW has reported 112 new locally acquired cases, the highest number since the start of the latest coronavirus outbreak.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters at least 34 people were in the community whilst infectious, adding that number needed to be as close to zero as possible before coronavirus restrictions could be eased.

Of the new locally acquired cases, 64 are linked to a known case or cluster  41 are household contacts and 23 are close contacts  and the source of infection for 48 cases remains under investigation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging people again to stay home. Source: Getty

Ms Berejiklian said most of the cases were still concentrated in the Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool and Fairfield local government areas.

The vast majority of cases are in the Fairfield Local Government Area. Everybody in Fairfield should be staying at home unless they absolutely have to [leave], she said.

That is the message across everywhere in Greater Sydney, but in particular, when large numbers of the virus are circulating in one local government area, we must call that out.

"We need to call that out because that is where the virus is spreading the most. We really want to stress that, even if you regard yourself as an essential worker, especially in the Fairfield Local Government Area, do not leave home if you have symptoms.

"Do not go to work unless you absolutely know that you don't have the virus."

Nine Sydney suburbs of concern

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant told reporters there were nine suburbs of concern in Sydney's southwest.

The suburbs include Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton.

"I want to highlight that we are also seeing cases emerge among young adults in the 18 to 20-year-old age group in the Georges River, Bayside and Sutherland Local Government Areas and they are largely spreading it, again to echo the premier's words, to their closest friends and family," she said.

Story continues

Dr Chant added there are currently 63 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 18 people in intensive care, four of whom require ventilation.

Fourteen of those in hospital are aged under 35.

Dr Chant warned the Delta variant of the virus, which is circulating in Greater Sydney, dispelled the notion that the virus will not cause young people to become ill.

In the 24 hours before 8pm, NSW conducted 46,478 tests and administered 11,467 vaccines.

The latest figures come after the state reported 77 new cases on Sunday, with the premier warning it was "highly unlikely" the lockdown in Greater Sydney would end on Friday as planned.

When will Sydney's lockdown end?

Ms Berejiklian said with 34 cases infectious in the community for the entire duration of their illness, they did not have the answer for how long the lockdown in Greater Sydney would last.

She added however there had been a massive drop in mobility in the community and once health authorities can determine the impact of that, then they will be able to have a better idea of when the lockdown will end.

"Our priority is always about what life looks like once we get out of the lockdown and getting out of the lockdown as quickly as we can and providing less stress for our citizens as quickly as we can," she told reporters.

"I can't stress enough that is up to all of us. We have a collective responsibility to make sure we all do the right thing  we don't cut corners and it only takes a few people to do the wrong thing at the same time for us to be locked down for longer than we want to or longer than we need to."

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The 400-mile ride along the Erie Canalway Trail is back after COVID-19 forced it to shift to a virtual event in 2020.

Cycle the Erie Canal returned on Sunday. The tour began in Buffalo and stopped in Medina, Orleans County. It continued Monday to Fairport, a Rochester suburb.

This is the 23rd year for the ride, which is organized by Parks & Trails New York. There are cyclists from 34 states participating in this year's tour.

Parks & Trails New York acknowledged that it was a difficult decision to hold the week-long event. Usually, there are months of planning involved before the ride begins. That wasn't the case this year. And the ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions  Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted the state emergency in June  presented challenges.

There are COVID protocols in place for Cycle the Erie Canal participants. Riders must be vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before the tour started.

"Cycle the Erie Canal tour is a wonderful way to experience the Erie Canal," said Robin Dropkin, executive director of Parks & Trails New York. "It's fun, healthy, and good for the economy. We have cyclists aged 12 to 88 and they all get to experience what makes the Erie Canal and upstate New York so special."
The company's strategy appears to have changed within the last few years, but the past is hard to ignore for Bronson and two other legislators, Assemblymembers Deborah Glick and Danny O'Donnell, who co-signed the letter. The three lawmakers are openly gay.

"This move by the Thruway Authority strikes us as sending a message to LGBTQ+ individuals and families that it doesn't share the same commitment to their civil rights as New York state," Bronson wrote.

Another legislator, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, joined those criticizing plans to open Chick-fil-A restaurants at Thruway rest stops.

"Bigotry and discrimination are not New York state values," Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, said. "New York state has long worked to advance LGBTQ+ rights, but inviting a restaurant that is committed to blocking equality to open on state property will undermine our continuing efforts toward true equality."

The Thruway's plans call for tearing down and rebuilding 23 of the 27 service areas along Interstate 90 or I-87. The remaining four rest stops will be renovated. The project, which was awarded to Empire State Thruway Partners, will begin this month and continue for the next two years.
U.S. Rep. John Katko is asking Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for an update on plans to make Harriet Tubman the new face of the $20 bill.

In the letter, Katko, R-Camillus, wrote that honoring Tubman on the $20 bill is a "fitting tribute to her life and legacy" and noted that he was encouraged earlier this year when President Joe Biden's administration committed to placing the abolitionist and civil rights icon on paper currency.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in January that the Biden administration is "exploring ways to speed up that effort."

"It's important that our notes ... reflect the history and diversity of our country, and Harriet Tubman's image gracing the new $20 note would certainly reflect that," Psaki said.

Nearly six months have passed since Psaki's comments at a White House press briefing. In their letter to Yellen, Katko and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty are asking for an updated timeline on the redesign of paper currency.
DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP)  Indonesia on Monday ordered four foreign tourists to leave the resort island of Bali after violating health protocols as the country endures a devastating wave of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths.

A Russian who tested positive for the coronavirus upon her arrival in Bali last Thursday was recaptured that night after she escaped mandatory isolation at an appointed hotel, said Jamaruli Manihuruk, who heads the Bali regional office for the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.

She has been placed in an isolation facility in Balis capital, Denpasar, and will be deported as soon as she recovered from the virus, Manihuruk said.

Three others were accused of defying mask mandates in public after being found unmasked in a raid last Thursday in the Kuta tourist area to enforce health protocols and prevent more infections, he said.

The travelers from the United States, Ireland and Russia were placed in a detention room at the immigration office while waiting for their flights to their countries later Monday.
LOS ANGELES  Flame Technologies has announced the launch of a trading pair for its cryptocurrency Flame Token on Uniswap.

The Flame Token (XFL) is a blockchain-based utility token for the creator economy that is compatible with the ERC-20 standard of the Ethereum blockchain. Its maximum supply is 21 billion XFL.

The token is trading under the symbol XFL and can be swapped for USDC. The trading of Flame Token has now started in preparation for the launch of a Liquidity Provider Program where everyone will be rewarded for adding liquidity to the Uniswap USDC/XFL pool, the company said.

It is built on top of the social media platform Sharesome to enable "open, instant and low-cost payments" for goods and services on the platform. Sharesome is billed as a social discovery network for adult content creators and brands designed to connect all stakeholders in the adult industry.

The platform reports 1.6M monthly active users (MAU), 7,000 content creators, 500M monthly post views, and 1,200 active advertisers.

To read a white paper about Flame Token, click here.

To read the Flame Token Economy Paper, click here.

Robert Knapp, founder of Flame Technologies, remarked, "Social media has reshaped the way brands are being built and how they advertise. Today, everyone has the power to build a brand online, or even become a brand. This is called 'the creator economy,' but adult content creators are banned from participating. Sharesome gives this power back to adult content creators, who generate billions of dollars in revenue every year. Flame Token is the first social media bound token that is being used to untap the $100 billion potential of the adult industry. I am happy to announce that, after several years of building and growing Sharesome, we can now finally launch XFL on the blockchain.



Flame Technologies is based in Zug, Switzerland. The company has built a team of engineers, designers, researchers, blockchain specialists, marketers, and financial experts who work together to bring the XFL token to the NSFW social media site Sharesome and beyond. The company has obtained a no-action letter from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA. FINMA has assessed the business model as compliant with applicable laws and stated that there is no financial market licensing requirements for the issuance of the Flame Token. This means that the legal requirements are in place for the XFL Token to go live as planned.

Uniswap is a decentralized exchange protocol built on Ethereum. It is an automated liquidity protocol. There is no centralized party required to make trades. Prices are set automatically by smart contracts, and liquidity is provided by LPs (liquidity providers).
In each case, the plaintiffs are parents suing on behalf of children who suffer from severe neurological injuries that the lawsuits blame on their exposure to the chemical while they were in the womb or when they were very young.

Aside from nearby spraying, the lawsuits say the parent, relatives or others in frequent contact with the child worked in the fields or packing plants and became contaminated with the chemical that they passed on to the child.

Calwell filed related lawsuits last fall on behalf of farmworkers who his firm said spent years marinating in the pesticide.

The first of those related lawsuits blames chlorpyrifos for causing autism, cognitive and intellectual disabilities in a now-teenager born in 2003.

The teen's father worked spraying pesticides on farm fields and his mother packed what the lawsuit says was chlorpyrifos-covered produce in a facility surrounded by fields treated with the pesticide, often applied by aerial spraying.

Calwell similarly sued Monsanto for damages he alleged it caused to homes in Nitro, West Virginia, with its use of dioxin to make the defoliant known during the Vietnam War era as Agent Orange.

That case settled for $93 million, with Monsanto paying to decontaminate 4,500 homes, a fraction of those that he alleges in California will require more extensive decontamination followed by medical monitoring.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Fully vaccinated individuals have a level of protection from COVID-19 but those at high risk for serious illness should consider taking extra precautions right now, even if you have been fully vaccinated, Kim Showalter, Public Health Solutions Health Director, said in a press release. We wont know until next week if we are seeing a variant identified in the district but we do know the Delta variant is the predominant strain identified across the state at this time. If you have underlying health conditions that put you at increased risk for severe illness, please consider limiting your exposure to large groups of people right now and wear a mask when in public and unable to social distance.
BILLINGS  Fishing on the lower Yellowstone River has kicked in as flows have dropped and the water clarity is decent.
A Texas man was arrested Sunday as he checked in to a flight departing from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and charged with sexual assault of a minor on a flight from Austin to Bozeman on July 8.

Vincent Harry Kopacek, 76, of Fredericksburg, Texas, was arrested by FBI agents with the assistance of the Gallatin County Sheriffs Office and the Bozeman Yellowstone International Public Safety Office on one federal count each of attempted sexual abuse of a minor, abusive sexual contact, and assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction.

If convicted of the most serious crime, Kopacek faces a maximum 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.

On July 8, Kopacek was seated behind a 15-year-old girl on a flight from Austin, Texas to Bozeman. According to the criminal complaint and court documents, the girl was seated in a window seat, which was fully upright during the flight, and that Kopacek was sitting directly behind the girls seat. Kopacek allegedly reached his hand around the girls seat between her seat and the interior wall of the aircraft and touched the girls body. The victim documented the alleged abuse with her cell phone. The activity took place from prior to takeoff in Austin to before landing in Bozeman.
A Natrona County sheriff's deputy rescued two women on Saturday from the North Platte River after the raft they were riding on sank.

The women were part of a group of five people on the raft, which was punctured at some point as it drifted downstream.

None of the five were wearing life vests, according to the sheriff's office. One person swam to shore and two others managed to climb to an island in the river.

The two women, meanwhile, grabbed onto overhead tree branches on the island, but were not able to pull themselves out of the water due to the steep bank, swift current and their depleted energy, according to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff's Deputy Dexter Bryant arrived first on scene. He was followed by Sgt. Mark Bohr, who took up a downstream position with a throw rope.

One of the women told Bryant that she didn't think she'd be able to hold on much longer, according to the sheriff's office. The second said she feared her friend would drown if her friend let go of the branch.

Bryant acted quickly, removing his gear before putting on a life vest and swimming to the island. He pulled both women out of the water and onto to the island, the sheriff's office said.
"Not only does it protect deputies against complaints, it protects the public as well, so I think it's a win all the way around," Kirchmeier said.

Krile said Lincoln officers are required to use the body cameras whenever they're interacting with the public. Since Lincoln is a small department, she said officers have not had issues with overusing storage, despite using the cameras every day.

The officers here have been very excited about them and are religious about using them," Krile said. "The only drawback I can think of is as the department grows, we have to keep buying more cameras, which is another few thousand dollars for each one.

Both departments said it cost around $12,000 to get their cameras up and running. The Mandan Police Department is looking at a $182,449 package which includes 28 body cameras, upgraded in-car cameras, accessories, set-up, training and cloud storage for a five-year subscription. The department is asking for $36,918 in grant funding.

The Bismarck Police Department and the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department do not currently use body cameras.

Bismarck Police Chief Dave Draovitch said while the department would like to have them, they are not able to budget body cameras at this time.
The district is shaped like a hatchet with an oversize head, snaking from Cleveland to Akron, nearly 40 miles to the south. The population is 53% African American, and nearly a quarter of residents live in poverty. The winner of the primary in the solidly blue district will likely cruise to victory in November's general election.

A 53-year-old community college professor, Turner served on the Cleveland City Council, was a state senator and ran unsuccessfully for Ohio secretary of state before crisscrossing the country with Sanders during his 2016 and 2020 presidential bids.

Her signature phrase, Hello, somebody! became a campaign fixture, prompting crowds across the country to yell back with delight. But those who worked with Turner years ago in Cleveland remember her for another catchphrase, Do you feel me? which she first used addressing audiences of otherwise unresponsive young people.

As she talks to voters, Turner explains her support for universal health insurance coverage under Medicare for All by pointing to the experience of her mother, who was uninsured and died when she was just 42. Turner also says she wants student debt eradicated because she knows its sting: She and her son owe nearly $100,000 combined in loans she's still paying off.
This story has been updated:

HELENA Mont. (AP)  Wildlife officials said they shot and killed a Montana grizzly bear Friday that had pulled a California woman from her tent and killed her earlier this week in the middle of a small Montana town.

The bear was shot by federal wildlife workers wearing night vision goggles shortly after midnight, when it approached a trap set near a chicken coop about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from Ovando, where Leah Davis Lokan, 65, of Chico, California, was killed early Tuesday morning, said Greg Lemon with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The bear had raided the chicken coop overnight Wednesday, and officials set a baited trap nearby hoping to lure the animal back.

Based on the size of the bear, the color of the bear and the nature of the chicken coop raids, were confident weve got the offending bear, Lemon said.

On Thursday night, an Ovando woman came home and found her door ripped off and noticed large claw marks, Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles posted on Facebook. A short time later, the male grizzly bear was killed in the area.
Marshall said things went well for her at first. She enjoyed ranching and bonded with her small herd.

I had gotten close to them. Id see them (in the pasture), Id scratch their heads once in awhile. Now, theyre all gone, Marshall said. There was just nothing to feed them.

Normally, youd see people out haying around here, she added. Now, theres just nothing.

Marshall said she might start over in the cattle business if conditions change. Ill wait and see what happens, she said. I might get back into this.

Marshall said she was thankful for the support her brother gave her emotionally. Hes great, she said.

A man who represented a group of cattle sellers from Surrey said, Things are a little better here than they are out our way. Its terrible with the drought out where we are.

The seller, who asked not to be named, said of his group, Were each keeping five pairs. The rest were selling.

The group of sellers had found little help from government programs. They had one program, where I think we got $50 or $60 a head, but otherwise, nothing, he added, laughing ruefully.
Within days we have heard North Dakota has a serious shortage of workers, and that the governor is sending troops to the border to prevent people from coming into this country!

Every state has a worker shortage issue. At a recent Chamber of Commerce event, the lack of people for open jobs was noted as a top problem. Recently our state Director of Commerce, James Leiman, stated, My biggest worry is workforce. Any creative ideas would be of the utmost benefit to the state.

We also have churches teaching that we are to offer shelter and placement for persons suffering from war, gang related torture and death, and the inability to have sufficient income to support ones family.

We suggest a totally different public policy response than using our military to stop people at the border. Lets use the National Guard to provide a safe route to North Dakota, working with the partnership of churches and chambers of commerce to resettle people.

The federal government also needs to offer residents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico hope for their future. International policies need to be in place so suffering people no longer feel they have no other choice but to leave home for safe opportunities.
As executive stewards Christian business owners are called to weigh market forces and seek a profit, but we are also tasked with stewarding much more. []

The pandemic-era lockdowns caused immeasurable pain to countless businesses, with restaurants experiencing disproportionate levels of pain and suffering.

According to the National Restaurant Association, food-service industry sales fell by $240 billion in 2020 from an expected level of $899 billion, and by the end of 2020, more than 110,000 eating and drinking places were closed for business temporarily, or for good. Even now, as the economy re-opens, operational costs are soaring and labor supply is low.

In an essay for Christianity Today, Peter Demos of Demos Restaurants and Demos Family Kitchen offers a personal reflection on how his Christian faith has served as a close comfort and steadfast guide in navigating the business challenges of the past year.

I watched sales drop at each of our locations anywhere from 60 percent to 90 percent as we shifted from dine-in services to carry-out and delivery only, explains Demos. As a result, I had to lay off employees, something I had never been forced to do apart from closing a location.

Demos predicament is now all too familiar to American restauranteurs. But for Demos, whose restaurants stated purpose is to glorify God in all we do by serving others, the prospect of mass layoffs was not just a difficult financial reality. It presented unique questions for how he was supposed to weave his faith into executive leadership:

As a Christian, Ive always been open about how my faith drives everything I do and shapes how I run my business. The decision to dismiss employees was agonizing, but I wanted to come up with the most ethical and moral way to care for those who worked for us  Whats the most gracious way to cut employees in the middle of an economic crisis and a pandemic? None of us had been through this before, and there were no easy answers. We made sure to keep on the payroll a few individuals who needed to maintain health insurance to care for serious medical issues. We created a three-tier list of employees, ranked by skill level and attitude. We ended up having to lay off those on the bottom tier; thankfully we never had to move to the second tier. But I wanted to help those I had to let go. I looked for ways to offer support even after they were no longer on my payroll. I emailed them on a regular basis with information about ways to file for unemployment and other available benefits. But people were still angry even after we reached out to try to help. Some didnt believe the layoffs were necessary and disputed our motives, even going as far as calling us fake Christians.

Like most businesses across America, Demos restaurant continues to struggle with the unforeseen aftershocks of the pandemic, ranging from acute labor shortages to supply chain disruptions to the ongoing polarization and politicization around mask-wearing and other safety protocols:

Other employees returned only to quit once stimulus checks were received. Much like nearly every restaurant in America, we became and continue to be short-staffed. We are now encountering a staffing crisis of such proportions that we have been forced to re-close some locations or reduce hours at others. While we have hundreds of individuals apply to each job posting, despite offering pay 50 percent higher than minimum wage and exclusive sign-on bonuses, they simply do not show up to interview. The lack of willing workers has strained the entire industry and is now impacting our manufacturers and supply chains. Everything from aluminum lids for our to-go pans to chicken and ketchup packaging are running low. We have over 40 items currently on a watch list that may run out this week. We are talking daily and sometimes more with our distributors to stay on top of it and try to find substitutions, which is simply not always possible.

To navigate these challenges, Demos has kept in close counsel with other Christian business leaders and restauranteurs, which helped ground his struggle in the context of creative service and hopeful perseverance. While the industry norm was to dwell in fear, resentment, and scarcity-mindedness, his faith and trust in God gave him fresh perspective and helped him focus on gratitude.

I found that these [other Christian restaurant] owners tended to have more positive outlooks and recognized this was a season that God would see them through, he writes. When worry would rear its ugly head during the worst of the pandemic, I reminded myself that I trust a God who is in control, I would ask his forgiveness for my unbelief, and I would start being thankful for what he provided.

In the final chapter of his book, Work: The Meaning of Your Life, theologian Lester DeKoster writes about these same struggles, calling the art of executive stewardship an awesome obligation of economic life  one that Christians ought to embrace and inhabit with wisdom and humility.

Whatever work we do puts our selves into the service of others and at the same time sculpts the kind of self each is becoming, writes DeKoster.  But certain jobs unite work and wage (and price) in someones decision  Theirs is the gift for merging all economic variables into price tags and wage rates  and their choices are as sculpting of their own selves as any others.

As executive stewards we are called to lean into economic decisions with our consciences, balancing a host of factors toward an ideal that transcends earthly inputs and considerations.

The twin tracks of work and wage do not meet, and cannot be scientifically related, DeKoster writes. They are bridged by morality, not by mathematics. And it is in the self-sculpting choices of wage and price scales that managers must make the twin tracks merge  under the all-seeing eye of God. It is here that justice, as defined by the will of the Creator and revealed in his Word, comes to bear upon the economy.

Demos story offers just one possible approach. But as business owners continue to faithfully shepherd their enterprises away from the brink of economic collapse, his example points to a way of thinking and operating that can offer a stark contrast to the fears and economic assumptions of our post-pandemic age.

In the simple ways we weigh and steward executive decisions  wage rates, product quality, hiring and firing, layoffs, caring for those who fall on misfortune  we remind the world that business is not just about economic self-provision, but also about human fellowship, bound together by human persons with ethical obligations to each other.

I can see how our staff developed closer relationships as we weathered the storms of 2020 together, adapting and even expanding our business to shipping food nationwide, Demos concludes. And I can see signs of spiritual growth. A year like last year reminds us of our real bottom line: We believe it is our job to share the gospel through the business God gave us. It is his business, not ours.

Demos story reminds us that mastering the art of executive stewardship will not only lead to more fruitful businesses; it will lead to more abounding diversity and fellowship across the economic order. It creates economic value across civilization, but it does so by creating social and spiritual value in ways that are both unseen and eternal.
The Souvenir Part II" has been one of the clear standouts at the Cannes Film Festival. It played in the Directors Fortnight, which runs parallel to the Cannes official selection. It's a hushed, formally composed film that played down the Croisette from Cannes' central Palais.

Still, few movies here have spawned as much fawning over. Hogg's project has already attracted a wide array of admirers (Martin Scorsese is an executive producer of both films). But The Souvenir Part II, which a24 will release, only enhances Hogg's achievement.

Ive rediscovered a way of making films that I enjoyed when I was at film school before I got sucked into television," says the 61-year-old Hogg, who didn't make her feature directorial debut until 2007's Unrelated. It was the making of the film within the film within the film  I dont know how many inside boxes there are.

The hall-of-mirrors nature of The Souvenir only gets weirder. Tilda Swinton, an old friend of the director's, starred in Hogg's original 1986 short film, titled Caprice. In The Souvenir Part II, Byrne wears some of her mother's clothes from that time. After the first Cannes screening of the film, Swinton said emphatically, "It was a trip.
WKBW-TV has named a replacement to anchor the shifts that had been filled by Keith Radford and Madison Carter.

Pheben (pronounced Feb-in) Kassahun, who most recently worked as an evening anchor and multimedia journalist at WJHL in Johnson City, Tenn., begins working Monday at Eyewitness News. Her sign-off as a WJHL anchor on April 13 can be viewed online.

A native of Dallas and a 2015 graduate of the University of Arkansas, Kassahun is expected to make her on-air debut as soon as she becomes acclimated.

She will become the noon anchor, a position formerly held by Carter, and will anchor one of the two newscasts in the 5 p.m. through 6 p.m. time period, fulfilling one of Radfords roles.

Carter, who had been a reporter as well as the noon anchor, left in April for a station in Atlanta. Radford, who had anchored the 5:30 p.m. newscast solo and co-anchored the 6 p.m. newscast with Ashley Rowe as a part-timer, retired last month.

With Rowe expected to be on maternity leave in September, Kassahuns role could expand during Rowes absence.
Canisius College is still finalizing plans for the fall. Niagara University has decided vaccinations will be encouraged, but not required at this point for students, faculty and staff. Face masks, social distancing and daily health screenings are not mandatory at Niagara, but may be required for some areas, such as clinical placements for nursing students.

More than 19,000 University at Buffalo students have reported they have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

With the virus at an all-time low in Western New York and New York State, and with the high rates of vaccination in our campus community, UB will be fully in person in the fall, UB President Satish K. Tripathi said in a statement Friday.

Students and employees who are not vaccinated are to wear a mask at indoor and outdoor locations at UB, except in their residence hall rooms, personal workstations or while eating in university dining areas, according to the college.

Masks also are required for all passengers on UB buses and at health care settings such as Student Health Services and the Dental Clinic.

It's not just public universities requiring vaccinations.
He said rest stops on the tours in recent years have featured speakers offering remarks on various causes.

"Our focus is biking, and we don't care about your politics; we just want you to ride bikes and be your friend," Costello added. "Biking is good but it's not going to save the world."

Slow Roll began its tours in 2015 and by the next year attracted more than 25,000 riders over 25 Monday night events. The concept is for bicyclists to coordinate via a Facebook group, meet at a designated site and set out at a leisurely pace along a predetermined route. All riders are welcome, and its free.

Seamus Gallivan, spokesman for Walton, is a co-founder of the group. He acknowledged late Friday that Independent Health had relayed its "respectable concerns" and that conversations were expected to continue.

"It's nothing new for Slow Roll to be engaged in issues that matter in the city," he said. "But there is nothing afoul."

Gallivan said Walton is even selling raffle tickets for a fundraiser, but that her future as a Slow Roll board member is being discussed.

"That's something she's thinking about," he said.
"With our volunteers being largely from Delaware and Niagara (districts), when we go door-knocking on the East Side of Buffalo, some people don't open the doors," said Eve Shippens, a Buffalo teacher who serves as Walton's campaign field director. "They're like: 'This isn't people from our community knocking on our doors: We're not opening the door.' But when people did open the doors and have conversations, we found a lot of people who were energized over what India had to say."

Another sign that Buffalo's professionals class lined up behind Walton can be found in her campaign finance reports. Several of her donors are associated with think tanks or nonprofits aimed at tackling the city's problems.

Carl Nightingale, a professor of Africana and American studies at the University at Buffalo and co-secretary of the board at PUSH Buffalo, gave Walton more than any other donor: $5,200. Sam Magavern, senior policy fellow at the Partnership for the Public Good, gave $1,000. Robert Galbraith, senior research analyst at the Public Accountability Initiative, donated $130.

Nightingale did not return an email seeking comment and Magavern declined to comment. But Galbraith said he has known Walton for several years through her work on housing in the Fruit Belt and has always been impressed with her.
The challenge, they said, is crafting the right message to reach those reluctant to get the vaccine in a community where distrust of the government runs high. The key is getting the most accurate information about the vaccine's safety, delivered by family physicians and other trusted figures, to the public at large.

"It's slow going," said Eva Benedict, president and CEO of Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville. "We wish our numbers were higher."

'You can't force me to get the vaccine'

On March 1, just 12.2% of Allegany's 37,247 adults had received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while the statewide average was 14.8%.

Back then, officials said Allegany residents  who, on average, are older and poorer than the average New Yorker  had a hard time navigating the online system to register for vaccine appointments, especially made difficult by the limited availability of reliable broadband across large swaths of the county. Larger-scale vaccination clinics were few and far between in Allegany and officials complained the state was not sending enough doses to the county, where access to public transportation also is an obstacle.
Thousands of Cubans marched on Havanas Malecon promenade and elsewhere on the island Sunday to protest food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis, in one of biggest anti-government demonstrations in memory.

Many young people took part in the afternoon protest in the capital, which disrupted traffic until police moved in after several hours and broke up the march when a few protesters threw rocks.

Police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted Freedom, Enough and Unite. One motorcyclist pulled out a U.S. flag, but it was snatched from him by others.

We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. Thats why Im here, one middle-age protester told The Associated Press. He declined to identify himself for fear of being arrested later.

Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, along with a resurgence of coronavirus cases, as it suffers the consequences of U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.

An official in the Biden administration tweeted support for Sunday's demonstrations.
In Oregon, the Bootleg Fire exploded to 224 square miles (580 square kilometers) as it raced through heavy timber in the Fremont-Winema National Forest, near the Klamath County town of Sprague River. The fire disrupted service on three transmission lines providing up to 5,500 megawatts of electricity to neighboring California.

The largest wildfire of the year in California was raging near the border with Nevada. The Beckwourth Complex Fire  a combination of two lightning-caused blazes burning north of Lake Tahoe  grew by a third Sunday to 134 square miles (348 kilometers). However, firefighters working in temperatures that topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) were able to gain some ground, doubling containment to 20%.

Late Saturday, flames jumped U.S. 395, which was closed near the small town of Doyle in California's Lassen County. The lanes reopened Sunday, and officials urged motorists to use caution and keep moving along the key north-south route where flames were still active.

Do not stop and take pictures, said the fire's Operations Section Chief Jake Cagle. You are going to impede our operations if you stop and look at what's going on.
Don Plotz, a Navy sailor, immediately wrote to Benchley: I couldnt put it down until I had finished it. For I have rather a personal interest in sharks.

In vivid detail, Plotz recounted his experiences on a search and rescue mission in the Bahamas, where a hurricane had sunk the USS Warrington on Sept. 13, 1944. Of the original crew of 321, only 73 survived.

We picked up two survivors who had been in the water twenty-four hours, and fighting off sharks, Plotz wrote. Then we spent all day picking up the carcasses of those we could find, identifying them and burying. Sometime only rib cages  an arm or leg or a hip. Sharks were all around the ship.

Benchleys novel paid little attention to World War II, but the war anchored one of the movies most memorable moments. In the haunting, penultimate scene, one of the shark hunters, Quint, quietly reveals that he is a survivor of the USS Indianapolis disaster.
Four years ago, I wrote a plea on the editorial page for readers to register as organ donors, because my husband, Michael, was in need of a liver transplant due to liver cancer. Luckily, someone in New Jersey became an organ donor and my husband received that persons liver three years ago.

Mike is doing very well. His doctors say he is the poster child for liver transplant patients. He takes his anti-rejection medication every 12 hours, as directed. However, this medication makes him immunosuppressed, unable to fight off infections as easily as others can. After all he has been through, a Covid-19 infection could kill him.

We were eligible to get in line early and we each received our doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine in January and February of this year. However, we are not sure he is protected, as people who are immunosuppressed were not included in most clinical trials for the various vaccines.

Ironically, the very medicines that keep his new liver from being rejected likely keep the Covid-19 vaccine from doing its full job. His doctors cannot reassure him that he is protected and, at this time, there are no good tests to determine his level of antibodies to Covid-19.
Roswell Park designation

In a boon for first responders who are still suffering from cancers because of the 9/11 terror attacks, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has been named a member of the World Trade Center Health Program provider network. The federal program provides treatment to those with certified WTC-related health conditions at no cost to them.

Its a startling reminder that just two months before the 20th anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, brave men and women are still suffering. These are people who searched for survivors, cleared away rubble and have never been the same. Until now, those suffering from cancers had to travel to New York City for treatment. It shouldnt have taken this long to make this happen, but at least now, that problem has been eliminated.

Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo put it well at a ceremony last week. Following the Sept. 11 attack thousands of people stepped up, left their homes and families and answered the call to respond to a nation desperately in need, he said. Now these heroic first responders right here in Western New York can receive the world-class cancer care they deserve right in their backyard.
While watching Good Morning America, they had a report from our largest military base in Afghanistan, abandoned. A modern small city. They left motor vehicles, bikes and medical equipment. America spent billions of dollars on wars that lasted a total of 20 years, mostly based on lies.

We have cities in America where the water is not safe to drink. We have urban areas that do not have clinics with enough equipment to service the needs of the public. We have a large number of people living on the beach in California. We send billions to Israel every year that they do not have to pay back. They have universal health care, free college for their kids. I hear on the news Israel has state of the art research centers and are number one in stuff. If they are doing so well, why do they need our money?

Our leaders sold their souls to lobbyists who dont care about anything except their own interest.

America has crumbling infrastructure and failing health care and educational systems. Why are we sending money anywhere? More than 400 people were shot over the Fourth of July in America. Violent crime every year passes the total death of American troops in our wars over 20 years.
The Remarkable Story of Three Teenage Girls Who Seduced and Killed Traitors During WW II

Dicky Wafelbakker walks home, carrying a tureen of soup in her hands. It is April 13, 1945, in Nazi-occupied Holland, and soup kitchens have sprung up all over to help keep citizens alive during the devastating famine, created by the Germans, that is gripping the country. Wafelbakker is a 57-year-old retired journalist and childrens book translator who never married and lives alone. Shes also a Nazi sympathizer who recently created a list of names and locations of Jews who are hiding in the area and mailed it off to the German secret police. What she doesnt know, however, is that her letter was intercepted at the post office and passed on to members of the Dutch resistance.

Suddenly, two teenage girls sharing a bikeone peddling while the other sits side-saddle on the luggage rackride up beside her. Are you Dicky Wafelbakker? one asks. Wafelbakker tells them she is and walks on. For a few paces, the girls follow behind. Then one of them pulls out a gun and shoots Wafelbakker, killing her instantly. The two jump back on their bike and speed off, while Wafelbakker lies dead in the street, soup spilling everywhere.

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Many years later, I would observe Freddie and Truus Oversteegen arguing, over tea, about which one of them had actually pulled the trigger on Wafelbakker that day. The incident was one of the many liquidations the two carried out during their years in the Dutch resistance. The Oversteegen sisters had joined the underground army at the ages of just 15 and 17. Eventually, they met and became close friends with another member, Hannie Schaft, and the trio often worked together on dangerous assignments.

As a teenager, I once wrote a paper about these women, who hailed from my own hometown of Haarlem, a city 12 miles west of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Throwing myself into my research, I discovered that Truus Oversteegen was still alive. Brazenly, I called her up for an interview, and to my surprise, she invited me over. She shared her story with me, and a special bond grew between us. She introduced me to her sister Freddie, and for 20 years I had the honor of getting to know these two both as remarkable, courageous women, and as true friends.

At a time when they would have been experimenting with makeup and giggling about boys, World War II broke out they faced a question far beyond what should have been expected of them at this age: to adapt or to resist?

In 1940, a time when the three girls would have been experimenting with makeup and giggling about boys, World War II broke out and Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands. Immediately, they were deprived of their childhoods and faced a question far beyond what should have been expected of them at this age: to adapt or to resist?

During World War II, relatively few people were active in the Dutch resistance against the German occupiers. It is estimated that 90 percent of the Dutch population tried to continue to live their lives as normally as possible. Another five percent became collaborators. The remaining five percent were engaged in active resistance. Only a small part of this group took up weapons, and the majority of those who did were men. Hannie, Truus, and Freddie were among the very fewsomewhere between just 10 and 15Dutch women who joined them. As Hannie Schaft said when she first signed up with the armed resistance, she wanted to take on the Germans, with weapons, if necessary.

Truus, born in 1923, and her younger sister Freddie, born in 1925, grew up with their divorced mother Trijntje van der Molen and their little stepbrother Robbie. They were poor and living on welfare. Trijntje was an active member of the Dutch Communist Party, and frequently held party meetings at their tiny home. She found solace and courage in the Soviets fight against the rise of Hitler, and as early as 1934, Truus and Freddie gave up their beds so the family could offer shelter to five Jewish German refugees. They did this at great risk, as providing shelter to refugees was illegal in the Netherlands.

Hannie Schaft was born Jannetje Johanna Schaft in 1920. Like Freddie and Truus, she came from a socially committed and politically engaged family. Her father Pieter worked in education and was active in the Social Democratic Workers Party. Her mother, Aafje, also worked in education prior to raising a family. Hannie grew up very isolated, especially after the tragic death of her older sister Annie, a terrible blow from which the family never really recovered. Because ideals like justice, peace, and equality were instilled in her from an early age, Hannie decided to go to law school in Amsterdam, with a focus on international law. Her dream was to work for the League of Nations (the forerunner of the United Nations) in Geneva once the war was over to contribute to international peace and justice.

The three young women started out small with their resistance work and functioned independently in the early days. Hannie was introduced to the resistance in Amsterdam as a student, and Truus and Freddie found it via their familys ties to the Communist Party in Haarlem. Their earliest missions consisted of distributing illegal newspapers and flyers, gathering vital intelligence for the resistance, providing Jewish children with safe houses, and stealing identification papers for them. In the summer of 1943, the three met while working for an armed resistance group called the Raad van Verzet (Council of Resistance), or RVVa small cell of seven members.

Gradually, they took on more dangerous forms of resistance. They carried out acts of sabotage, attacking and bombing railways and other strategic locations. Most perilously, they would liquidate high-ranking Nazi officers, Dutch Nazi collaborators, and traitors. Liquidating is just a nice word for killing, Freddie once explained to me. The RVV would meet and appoint which particular Nazi target had to be eliminated. Then members would pair up in teams to carry out these assassinations. The girls would carry their guns in their purses or pockets, awaiting or following their targets, and sometimes shooting at them from their bicycles. Freddie would map out the exact whereabouts of the target in advance, which could take weeks of preparation. Truus was the practical leader, and Hannie the brains of their operation.

One advantage that the girls had over their male counterparts was that they could employ a resistance strategy using their femininity and sexual power as a secret weapon. Trembling with nerves, anxiety, and rage, they would stand in a noisy bar. Their eyelashes long and dark with mascara, their lips painted bright red, they would pretend to be Moffen girls (Kraut girlsDutch women who had relationships with German soldiers), giggle and flirt with a high-ranking Nazi officer, and coax vital intelligence out of him. Occasionally, they would invite their target for a romantic stroll, luring him into the nearby woods, where armed male members of their resistance cell laid in wait. As soon as the target arrived at the agreed-upon spot, he would be shot dead by their comrades.

On one risky mission, Hannie and Truus attacked a barber who had given information to the German intelligence agency for money, and later became an SS officer. The two women arrived together on bikes. Hannie shot first, but her gun failed. Truus then tried to kill him, but despite hitting the man in his head and his back, he survived. His fiancee, who was standing next to him, began screaming, and the military police were called.

"We were dealing with cancerous tumors in society that you had to cut out like a surgeon."

Truus and Hannie had to escape. They fled to a nearby cafe, where Truus pulled out her gun and shouted, Gentlemen, your attention please. Were coming in now, but when the Germans come in, weve been here all afternoon. If you do not behave the way we want you to, and were on our way to heaven, we will take a few of you with us. We do not intend to just give up. Then they ordered a drink to make their breath smell of alcohol and pretended to be drunk. When a high-ranking German soldier came rushing in, Truus threw her arms around his neck and shouted, Hey Heinz, come here. Her behavior was so annoying and vulgar to the soldier that he left.

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Truus told me that carrying out these actions was not easy on them. Freddie would get so nervous before their missions that she would almost eat her handkerchief. Truus didnt suffer from anxiety at the moment of the attack, but afterward she would faint or become overwhelmed and have a crying fit. Hannie was also very nervous, but she would carefully comb her red hair and apply powder and lipstick before a mission. As she explained to Truus, she wanted to die beautiful.

The three young women came from completely different backgrounds and had totally distinct characters. So, what did the clever auburn-haired Hannie, the down-to-earth tomboy and natural leader Truus, and the feminine and fierce Freddie have in common with each other, and what drove them? For one thing, they all honored the same ideal of a livable world and felt compelled by the inhuman conditions of the German occupation to take up arms against the enemy in order to fight injustice. They did what they did because it had to be done, as they often told me. They also all put their lives on the line, went to extraordinary lengths, and displayed exceptional bravery. Their main challenge, however, was to remain human in inhuman circumstances. Within their resistance cell, the three girls developed their own code of ethics. For example, they resolutely refused to carry out missions involving children, including the children of Arthur Seyss-Inquartan Austrian national who was the Commissioner of the Reich in the Netherlandswhom they were ordered to kidnap.

The three female combatants bravely carried out hazardous missions that were not only technically challenging, but also mentally difficult. I really dont regret what we did, Truus explained. We were dealing with cancerous tumors in society that you had to cut out like a surgeon. There was no legal system in place that would condemn the Nazis crimes against humanity, crimes that would later become known as one of the worlds largest genocides. For Hannie, Truus, and Freddie, there was no other solution than to resist, fighting fire with fire. That is the cruelty of war, explained Truus.

Their missions were so brazen and successful that eventually, the Nazis heard that a group of Dutch girls were carrying out assassinations and discovered that one of them had red hair. Hitler himself wanted her captured. As a result, Hannie cut her beautiful red hair, dyed it black, and wore fake glasses made of window glass to disguise her identity. All three girls had to go into hiding.

But for one of them, time just ran out. On March 21, 1945, Hannie was pulled over on her bike by German soldiers for a routine check because she was carrying illegal newspapers. On further examination, they discovered her gun and knew they had caught the woman theyd been looking for. She was arrested and thrown in prison. The barbers fiancee was brought in and identified Hannie as one of the women who carried out the attack she witnessed. On April 17, 1945, less than three weeks before the end of the war, Hannie Schaft was executed by German soldiers, in the dunes near the North Sea.

After the war, Hannie became the icon of female Dutch resistance. Her remains were eventually discovered and she was re-entombed in the presence of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands on November 27, 1945, as the ony female member buried at the honorary cemetery for fallen members of the resistance. To this day, every citizen in Holland learns about her life and resistance work in school, and every year there is a national commemoration service for her.

The Oversteegen sisters were lucky to survive the war, but were forever haunted by the demons of their past. They also both dealt very differently with their traumas. Truus became a sculptor and painter and achieved great successshe even created a statue of Hannie Schaft that stands in Haarlem. She also travelled extensively to do public speaking about the war and her role in the resistance.

Freddie lived a more secluded life, focusing on her family. Both sisters, however, had to fight to be recognized for their work in the resistance due to their ties to the Dutch Communist Party, and because they were women and not treated with the same reverence as male resistance fighters. Freddie, a true feminist, felt very strongly about this. Women dont count, she said. They still dont. That hasnt changed. Freddie also felt overlooked when compared to her older sister, who had received many awards for her resistance work, while Freddie was left unnoticed. It was only in 2014 that they were both given the Mobilization War Cross by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Despite the accolades, however, the fact remains that the sisters were traumatized and scarred for life as a result of what they had to do. Both suffered from severe nightmares, depression, and PTSD. For them, the war only stopped the day they diedTruus at age 92 in 2016, and Freddie a few years later in 2018, exactly one day before what would have been her 93rd birthday.

My relationship with these women had a profound impact on me, and has influenced my entire professional and personal life. Because of them, I went to law school and started my organization, Sophies Women of War, to highlight women all around the world who have dared to take the lead during times of conflict. But most of all, I see it as my mission to share the story of these three Dutch resistance fighters with the world, which I do via speeches, lectures, and the book I wrote about them and their ideals of justice, equality, and peace: Seducing and Killing Nazis: Hannie, Truus and Freddie: Dutch Resistance Heroines of WWII.

A few years before they passed away, a documentary was made about the sisters for Dutch television. How many people did you shoot? the interviewer asked the elderly Freddie at one point in the film. Sitting in a rocking chair and looking much younger than her 89 years, Freddie, with her white curly hair, trendy lilac hairband, blue tinted glasses, and fashionably colorful clothes, smiled kindly and patiently. Then, straightening her spine and lifting her chin slightly, she looked directly into the filmmakers eyes. I wont tell you the number of people I shot, she answered, sternly. I was a soldier. A child soldier, but a soldier, nevertheless. You should never ask a soldier how many people he shot. Her faintly crackly voice echoed in the room, then left a lingering silence.

All photos courtesy North Holland Archives except Truus and Freddie with Stenguns (Photo Collection of Dutch Resistance Museum); Last Photos of Hannie Schaft (Public Domain); Truus and Statue (National Hannie Schaft Foundation), Truus and Freddie in 2003 (Maarten Poldermans)

By Sophie Poldermans

Excerpted from Seducing and Killing Nazis: Hannie, Truus and Freddie, Dutch Resistance Heroines of WWII

This story originally appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of BUST magazine. Subscribe today!
DES MOINES, Iowa, July 12, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Dominion Energy today announced they have agreed to terminate the planned sale of Questar Pipeline Group to Berkshire Hathaway Energy. The decision has no impact on the sale of gas transmission and storage assets to Berkshire Hathaway Energy completed in November 2020. That sale represented approximately 80% of the original transaction value.

About Berkshire Hathaway Energy

From our roots in renewable energy, Berkshire Hathaway Energy has grown to a $127.5 billion portfolio of locally managed businesses that share a vision of being the best energy company in serving our customers, while delivering sustainable energy solutions. These businesses deliver low-cost, safe and reliable service each day to more than 12 million electric and natural gas customers and end-users throughout the U.S., Great Britain and Alberta, Canada. Our employees pride themselves in putting customers first in all they do, and as a result, our businesses consistently rank high among energy companies in customer satisfaction. Berkshire Hathaway Energy is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. Learn more at www.brkenergy.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. These statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can typically be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as "will," "may," "could," "project," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "continue," "intend," "potential," "plan," "forecast" and similar terms. These statements are based upon Berkshire Hathaway Energy Companys current intentions, assumptions, expectations and beliefs and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors. Many of these factors are outside the control of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expectations include the impact of natural disasters and weather effects on revenues and other operating uncertainties, uncertainties relating to economic, political and business conditions and uncertainties regarding the impact of laws and regulations, including laws and regulations related to environmental protection, changes in government policy and competition. The foregoing factors that could cause Berkshire Hathaway Energy Companys actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be construed as exclusive and should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect Berkshire Hathaway Energy Companys future results included in Berkshire Hathaway Energy Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at the Securities and Exchange Commissions website (www.sec.gov). Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Media Hotline: 515-242-3022

mediahotline@brkenergy.com
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 12, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jet Health, Inc., a leading regional provider of home health and hospice services, announced today the acquisition of Signal Home Health & Hospice, a San Antonio, Texas-based company. The acquisition marks Jet Healths seventh acquisition and furthers the Companys strategy to build a premier home health and hospice provider across the western and southwestern U.S.

Founded in 2010, Signal Home Health & Hospice primarily serves patients in the greater San Antonio area as well as adjoining counties, providing hospice services, skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social workers and home health aides.

"Jet Health got its start in Texas, and we have been looking for opportunities to build density in the state by acquiring quality providers. San Antonio is the second-largest market in Texas, and the Signal Home Health & Hospice acquisition provides us the ability to further expand our presence throughout the state. This acquisition further reflects Jet Healths attractiveness to sellers seeking buyers that can provide not just a fair purchase price, but also one that shares their culture and commitment to quality care," explained Stacie Bratcher, Jet Healths chief executive officer.

Signal Home Health & Hospice Owner Robert McDowell added: "I spent more than ten years building our company into a provider of quality home health and hospice services. Our strategy for success was simple  recruit and retain top-notch professionals who deliver excellent clinical care and service. It was critical that the company to whom I sold my business shared those values and would afford our team the opportunity to continue to execute this mission. As we conducted the acquisition process and spent time with Jet Healths leadership and diligence teams, it was clear that this was in fact the right choice."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Funding for the transaction was provided by Stifel Bank, SV Health Investors and Health Enterprise Partners. Stradling Yocca Carlson and Rauth acted as legal counsel to Jet Health. The transaction was facilitated by Agenda Health, a healthcare-focused Mergers & Acquisitions advisory firm, headquartered in Austin, Texas.

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About Jet Health

Fort Worth, Texas-based Jet Health, Inc. is a home health and hospice provider offering skilled nursing care, physical, speech and occupational therapy, medical social services, hospice and personal care services. The Company operates from locations in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho. Founded in 2016, Jet Health continues to build its business through organic growth, strategic acquisitions and de novo development in target markets. Jet Health leverages local brands and operating expertise and shares best practices across its companies while centralizing back office functions.

For more information, visit https://jethealthinc.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005082/en/

Contacts

At the Company: Jim Glynn, 949-356-6525, info@jethealthinc.com

Media Contact: Susan Turkell, 303-766-4343, sturkell@pairelations.com
FILE PHOTO: U.S. and North Korean national flags are seen at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore

By Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. humanitarian aid is a "sinister political scheme" to put pressure on other countries, a North Korean researcher said, after suggestions from U.S. allies such as South Korea that coronavirus vaccines or other help could promote cooperation.

North Korea's foreign ministry published the criticism of U.S. aid on an official website on Sunday, a clear indication that it reflects government thinking.

Kang Hyon Chol, identified as a senior researcher at the ministry-affiliated Association for the Promotion of International Economic and Technological Exchange, listed a series of examples from around the world that he said highlight a U.S. practice of linking aid to its foreign policy goals or pressure on human rights issues.

"This vividly reveals that the American ulterior intention of linking 'humanitarian assistance' with 'human rights issue' is to legitimise their pressure on the sovereign states and achieve their sinister political scheme," Kang wrote.

Among the examples he listed was declining American assistance to the government in Afghanistan, where the United States is due to withdraw the last of its troops in coming weeks.

"In actual practice, many countries have undergone bitter tastes as a result of pinning much hope on the American 'aid' and 'humanitarian assistance'," Kang said.

American officials have said they are supportive of humanitarian aid to North Korea but that no efforts are underway to provide direct assistance.

South Korea has vowed it would provide coronavirus vaccines if requested, and some analysts have argued that such foreign aid could provide an opening to resume diplomatic talks with the North, which has rebuffed most overtures from Seoul and Washington since 2019.

South Korea's unification ministry, which handles relations with the North, noted the article was not an official statement and said it would continue to seek ways to cooperate with Pyongyang to ensure health and safety in both Koreas.

North Korea has shown no public signs of interest in aid from South Korea or the United States, though it has accepted at least limited assistance from China and Russia.

(Reporting by Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin; editing by Robert Birsel)
Lina El Arabi, the emerging French actor of the Cesar-nominated A Wedding, is set to headline The Malediction (Leana), a horror-thriller which will mark the feature debut of Abel Danan.

The film is being produced by Leo Maidenberg, whose credits include Sisters in Arms and The Bunker Game. Xavier Gens, the producer of Mounia Meddours Cesar-winning film Papicha, is co-producing. Gens is also a director specialised in genre films with a track record including Frontiere (s). El Arabi was featured as a rising star at Toronto in 2017.

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Penned by Danan and Emma Lacoste, The Malediction takes place today, in a world that is slowly recovering from a mysterious epidemic. The movie is set in Paris and follows Yara, a 25 year-old young Moroccan woman who came to study in Paris and has not left her home for several months, as she is agoraphobic since childhood because of terrible family events. Her only contact is with her grandmother, Najiyah, by phone. One evening, a mysterious apparition disrupts her daily life, and forces her to relive her worst fears, pushing her to the edge of madness. Yara then thinks she is haunted by an evil presence and does not know if all this is due to her own imagination. She quickly understands that she will have to fend for herself, and survive at all costs.

The film is entirely filmed in Yaras small apartment and shows her visions and nightmares. Maidenberg cited Rosemarys Baby, Mother! and The Thing as references.

Danan previously directed the short horror film Canines which played at Gerardmer and starred Melissa George (Mulholland Drive) and Pauline Chalamet (The King of Staten Island and The Sex Lives of College Girls).

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The Malediction will be lensed by cinematographer Michel Abramowicz (Taken, The Thing and From Paris with Love). The shooting will start at the end of the year in Paris and Morocco.

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A British diver involved in rescuing a group of young footballers from a cave in Thailand has praised Colin Farrells diligent method acting approach to portraying him in a forthcoming film.

John Volanthen and Richard Stanton were part of a team of divers who saved 12 boys and their coach after they got trapped in the cave when it flooded in 2018.

Mr Volanthen and Mr Stanton will be played by actors Farrell and Viggo Mortensen respectively in Thirteen Lives.

John Volanthen (Victoria Jones/PA)

Mr Volanthen told ITVs This Morning he had spent a fair bit of time with Farrell via video call, adding that he has been impressed by his diligence.

So, over the time that he was filming, hes been training to run, he said.

I do quite a lot of running and, ultimately, at the end of the film, he ran the Brisbane Marathon in a very respectable time, which I think is quite diligent for a method actor.

He added that he had asked for Mr Bean to play him, but I was told by (director) Ron Howard in no uncertain terms he wasnt making that sort of movie.

Viggo Mortensen (Ian West/PA)

Mr Stanton said he had also had a lot of contact with Mortensen ahead of the films release.

He told This Morning: I was communicating with him for many months before filming started just so he could get my mannerisms and the way I talk, and obviously hes a very skilled actor and you see him assimilate your character until he becomes a better me than I am.

In 2019 Mr Stanton and Mr Volanthen were both presented with the George Medal for their roles in the rescue mission.

The boys, aged between 11 and 16 and members of the Wild Boars youth football team, had cycled with their coach to the caves to explore when they became marooned inside.
C-Level View | Feature

In Search of a Student Relationship Management System

A Q&A with Gerlie Jeltema

Finding the perfect student relationship management system implementation, or SRM, is getting more important for today's higher education institutions, but, it seems, that's not getting any easier to achieve. And there's a history to these systems to keep in mind through all your planning.

The student information system, or SIS, has been generally used in higher education institutions for decades, for the purpose of linking functions across the university, with the hopes of integrating student data and procedures. An SIS is mainly focused on the institution's systems of records and data, and it is largely used to support staff in their functional roles and internal responsibilities.

A CRM, or customer relationship management system, originally produced for the corporate and business sectors, emerged close on the heels of the SIS. These CRM systems have been modified, for years, and refitted for education users.

Finally, vendors have attempted to fill the need for a true student relationship management (SRM) system in higher education. An SRM is focused on the students as users and not only serves to record student data but also helps generate the institution's response to changing student needs.

But, we've rarely found an SRM system that serves us, "out of the box". Here, South Orange County Community College District's IT Director - Enterprise Systems Gerlie Jeltema talks with CT about her institution's search for an SRM implementation for SOCCCD.

"We've already had a series of business process analysis and journey map sessions with representatives from student services and instruction who serve our students in different aspects of their lifecycle."  Gerlie Jeltema

Mary Grush: Where does South Orange County Community College District stand in terms of a student relationship management system (SRM)? I've heard there's somewhat of a quest for an SRM at your institution.

Gerlie Jeltema: It's exactly that; it's still a quest. We don't have an SRM in place at this time, so I am managing an initiative to understand what we need from an SRM  and then we will select an SRM to implement (or even integrate more than one).

Grush: Certainly your institution already has a student information system. What is the difference between a student relationship management, or SRM system, and an SIS?

Jeltema: As far as I am concerned, the SIS is the primary means of managing student records, making sure that information about a student is accessible to the student, to our faculty when appropriate, and to our staff.

An SRM, for us, is intended as a means of managing student engagement: Based on information that we know about the student  that we store within our SIS  how do we best engage the student, throughout his or her entire life cycle, from when they first show an interest in our institution, to completion of their academic journey with us?

Grush: How long have SIS and SRM systems been around?

Jeltema: SIS systems have been around, it seems forever! For as long as there have been students attending an institution, there has been some form of SIS for managing their records. (Students were attending long before computers; then, these systems were paper-based.) But SRM systems are comparatively new, with regard to the institutional memory. They're practically in their infancy as far as the higher education space is concerned, initially fashioned after the customer relationship systems (CRM) found in commerce. The idea of creating an SRM system that reflects the uniqueness of the higher education environment is fairly recent.
HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals are excited to receive $15 million in state funding as part of Governor Tony Evers biannual state budget, announced Thursday, July 8. The funding will allow our hospitals to expand capacity by adding 22 new psychiatric beds.

The additional beds will enhance the existing units, creating a 33-bed adult unit at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and a dedicated 18-bed adolescent unit at HSHS St. Josephs Hospital in Chippewa Falls.

We have been committed to serving the behavioral health needs of our communities for 60 years, said Andy Bagnall, HSHS Wisconsin President and CEO. This expansion directly aligns with our mission and allows our inpatient services to meet a significant community need.

HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals Executive Director of Behavioral Health, Toni Simonson said securing this grant to expand the hospitals emergency mental health services is crucial.

I am so thrilled and appreciative of this funding, says Simonson. This is going to help us serve more community members during a time when mental health needs are rising at an exceptional rate.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is preparing to enter next year's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, quietly received his diploma from Alabama A&M University in May 2020, 12 years after he attended classes there.

Barnes came under criticism two years ago for saying that he had a degree even though he had not yet fulfilled all the requirements to receive one.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday that the Barnes campaign provided a copy of his year-old diploma.

Barnes received his Bachelor's degree in communications media specializing in performance. The diploma was dated May 1, 2020, and included signatures from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama A&M President Andrew Hugine, Jr.

Barnes attended Alabama A&M from the fall of 2003 to the spring of 2008.

In a statement, Barnes told the Journal Sentinel: "In 2008, I completed all my courses at Alabama A&M and walked in graduation ceremonies. However, due to a minor technical issue with my transcript, the diploma was never sent. Last year, I worked with the appropriate Alabama A&M officials to resolve the internal error and was awarded the diploma I earned back in 2008."
The adaptation of the komiks series Trese is a game-changer in more ways than one. These creatures and their stories have been around for centuries, but it was only in 2021 that we could finally see our tikbalang, manananggal, and nuno on a global streaming platform like Netflix.

RELATED: From ink to streaming: The road to building the Trese universe

Certainly, the Netflix adaptation of Trese is seen by many creators as a good step forward in making local komiks more well known to international audiences, as well as to Filipinos who might not have been previously familiar with local works, says Noel Pascual, writer of komiks series Patay Kung Patay and Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents.

Despite the abundance of creative talent in the Philippines and the wealth of source material from Luzon to Mindanao, the mindset that making komiks would never be anything beyond a side gig or passion project still exists. A real job meant having a stable income and benefits.

You hear all of these stories from other people, They quit their day jobs to pursue their passions, but we werent like that! We still have day jobs, shares Tan, now based in Billund, Denmark where he works for the in-house agency of LEGO. I think for people, its such an eye opener for them to hear Kajo's story of spending one hour a day on the thing that you want. Or for me, at the end of your work, writing at the end of the day.

The reissues of the first three "Trese books in time for the Netflix anime adaptation. Photos from AVENIDA BOOKS

In reality, you really have no choice. If you really wanted to, and you only had one hour a day, use it, says Baldisimo, still working in advertising and currently based in Davao. Unfortunately, were not like Japan where manga is an industry where you make books that earn you enough to actually hire five assistants. Whats the reality in the Philippines? Follow your passion while doing your job, because your passion cant feed your family.

Its been almost a month since the Netflix animated adaptation of Trese was released, a definitive milestone that can lead to more opportunities for people aspiring to work on a medium that has been one of the staples of storytelling through several generations (and includes two national artists: Francisco Coching and Larry Alcala).

But what is it with these stories that make creators want to explore these worlds, and draw in readers from generation to generation? CNN Philippines Life talked to fellow Filipino creators currently trudging the same path  starting from ashcans being sold in komikons and other local conventions, to developing worlds that fans have become invested in.

Mike Alcazaren, AJ Bernardo and Noel Pascual promoted the first issue of Patay Kung Patay in Komiket 2015. The series finale is set to be published and released within the year. PHOTO COURTESY OF NOEL PASCUAL

Noel Pascual is a mainstay in the indie circuit. Along with his frequent partner-in-crime, AJ Bernardo, they have amassed a following with their series Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents and Patay Kung Patay. When not writing comics, Pascual juggles research and writing gigs, and sometimes writes screenplays like Citizen Jake. This was also how he got his start for Patay Kung Patay, as he was originally hired by director Mike Alcazaren as screenwriter for the movie version, until it was decided to release it in its komiks version.

Meanwhile, Andrew Drilon, a writer-illustrator, rose to fame with Kare-Kare Komiks. Now based in New York, he also started with photocopied copies of his creations and attending komikons, eventually leading him to joining the anthology publication SIGLO: Freedom with Dean Alfar and Elbert Or.

Andrew Drilon. Photo from ANDREW DRILON/YOUTUBE CHANNEL

His works also gained the admiration of Gerry Alanguilan and Budjette Tan, both of whom he included in Kare-Kares acknowledgments. He shares, Gerry is a huge inspiration to me and was a big supporter of my work, and Im still heartbroken by his passing. Budj is lovely. He messages me to check up on my comics work every so often, its really sweet. Hes a font of encouragement.

After working for a local broadsheet, he dove into webcomics that he posted in Warren Ellis online forum, The Engine. Long story short, Kare-Kare Komiks became the 2016 National Book Award Winner for Best Graphic Literature in English.

Andrew Drilon's "Kare-Kare Komiks" is a 2016 National Book Award Winner for Best Graphic Literature in English. Photo from ANDREW DRILON

Worlds Collide

The approach to world building is what usually sets stories apart. Theres always that sweet spot that allows these creators to dive into their created worlds, whether things are intended for the long run or it just falls into place along the way.

One of the series that greatly influenced Trese was Warren Ellis and John Casadays Planetary. Its really paying homage and dissecting, interpreting, and rebooting certain characters from popular culture, shares Tan. I guess that also became the thinking behind Trese, its really taking what are the stories of the Pinoy that have lasted through these years, told from a police procedural point of view.

With Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents (CFCCA), I wanted to write something in the comedy-horror genre, says Pascual. The comics are inspired by various elements of Pinoy culture and life from movies Shake Rattle and Roll to local mythology and showbiz, to playing DOTA in the neighborhood cafe.

For Patay Kung Patay (PKP), Mike Alcazaren already had a complete story involving haciendas and zombies, and a revenge tale. AJ and I added to it while adapting it for the komiks medium, he adds. A script for the movie is also ready, if plans push through and producers are ready to back the project.

The covers of Patay Kung Patay and Crime-Fighting Call Center Agents. Photos from NOEL PASCUAL

The Legend of Caraboy was the first comic I did for Kare-Kare, and it came about because my writing group (The LitCritters) had a joke about how the quintessential Pinoy social-realist prose story was about a boy and a carabao in the rice fields, dreaming of a better future, says Drilon. I thought itd be funny to merge the boy and the carabao and do an unapologetically non-realist story  I absolutely enjoyed the reckless abandon of drawing it, [I was] chuckling with every panel.

And while the theme of these stories are familiar, it may not exactly be what readers get hooked on. Publisher Nida Ramirez, from the now-retired Visprint, and the new publisher of Trese, Avenida Books shares, Filipino folklore and mythology has a strong pull with the reading market because we grew up with these stories. They provide some sense of identity, because these characters are ours. But she is quick to point out that aside from the theme, the quality of the story is just as important.

Andrew Drilons first two ashcans, The Germinator and Subwhere were sold when he was in high school. Photos courtesy of ANDREW DRILON

These are stories that are told to us by our elders since childhood, its quite natural for creators to want to explore these ideas by having a more modern take on them or have them be starting points for their own spin of these tales, says Pascual.

Art imitating the horrors of life

It need not be deliberate nor explicitly expressed, but the worlds they create would always be reflective of society in one way or another.

All of the stories of Trese are based on life experiences and whats [in the] headlines, says Tan. Or they have happened so many times, it just makes sense to the story. He then shares that when the third book Mass Murders was released, the Ampatuan massacres just happened. While people were asking if it was based on these incidents, it was easy to explain that it was written beforehand. Historically, it has happened a lot of times. I just make that connection that you take from the headlines, and then try to figure out which supernatural or mythical character to use, he says.

Both Crime Fighting Call Center Agents and Patay Kung Patay present the slice-of-life stories in the Philippines, in the eyes of call center agents and showbiz reporters. But the depth comes in the social commentary. We would regularly talk about the plot and add details piece-by-piece to the surreal version of the Philippines thats in the komiks, shares Pascual.

As he was only carrying a student visa, the social-realist scene Drilon conceptualized became all too real. The year after I arrived in New York, Trump won the presidency. It cast a shadow over my daily life. I heard horror stories of people being sent away with very little justification, and I knew I had to watch my step, he shares. The fear was that if I so much breathed in the wrong direction, I could be deported. So I was extra careful to stay within the lines of my visa agreement.

Filipino folklore and mythology has a strong pull with the reading market because we grew up with these stories. They provide some sense of identity, because these characters are ours.

The situation prevented him from doing dedicated comics work, so aside from working on webcomics, he was also juggling odd jobs. Even then, there were scary moments like last year, at the height of the pandemic, when they made institutional moves against international students that put us all in a difficult position; some really vicious, targeted policies that felt aimed at mowing us down. Thankfully, the schools pushed back with lawsuits and most of us made it through, he shares.

Writing the Next Chapters

In 2010, Drilon teamed up with Joaquin Valdes, Misha Lecaros, and Mark Dantes for the film Dagim. The supernatural aspects of the story really spoke to me, and I was excited to do something in the realm of Trese but different, he says. I pulled a lot of research and fleshed out the entire tribe depicted in the film, assigning a mythological creature to each actor and taking care to balance out the big icons (manananggal, tikbalang, and tianak), with more obscure ones (baras, segben, danag.)

Slated to be released alongside its graphic novel, Black Clouds ballooned in the planning stage, leaving him unable to finish it before the movie release. His move to the U.S. led him to pursue a four-year course in painting with a special focus on figurative oils, a stark contrast to how he became a digital artist without having any formal arts training or education.

Andrew Drilon enrolled in The Art Students League of New York, taking a four-year course in painting specializing in figurative oils to further hone his craft. Photo courtesy of ANDREW DRILON

Im just spelunking for cool techniques and ideas to fold back into my chosen medium, Drilon says. Its one of the youngest art forms, and I feel like theres more we can do to expand our creative toolbox. That only happens if you look outside of the medium. Im a different artist now, so maybe Ill rethink the whole book. I want to flense off a lot of the narrative fat and execute it differently. Whatever happens, I think it will be better for the wait.

If Drilon had The Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology, Tan had The Soul Book.

It was a little footnote on the margins, and it was a short section and description of the Talagbusao, Tan says about the Big Bad of the Netflix adaptation. When we had reached Book 3, Alexandra had already gone through most of the usual suspects, so I thought maybe she goes up against a god this time. She kind of did it with Bagyon, since elementals and gods are under the same classification. I thought since I couldnt find any other writings about them, we can take creative freedom.

It took 15 years for stars to align, but those 15 years, grabeng synchronicity yun. Sulit, say Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, co-creators of the komiks series Trese. Photo courtesy of NETFLIX

When I write Trese, its pulling from many different sources. Its always at the back of my head, I wanna do my own Batman story, John Constantine, American Gods; but how do you make it as Pinoy as possible? It's really wanting to do and getting all of these influences and finding plotting out the right ingredients that you want to tell your own story, says Tan.

Its really just taking things from headlines and then trying to figure out if behind the scenes, there might be an aswang, engkanto, who knows what it might be, he adds. In general, weve heard of stories of certain political figures, so mostly, when theres a Mayor character, its like three different mayors that weve heard of!

The main plot of Patay Kung Patay is executed in a similar fashion. Its inspired by many different events, people, and political families. With its amalgam of personalities and events, were hoping that the readers can recognize the types of villains in the story who are all too common in Philippine society, says Pascual. The series has won plenty of awards in the local circuit, particularly with its profoundly executed covers that in itself spoke of the main themes in the story.

He adds, We also want the readers to be able to relate to various characters in the story and see some of their own struggles, great and small, mirrored in it. We also hope our stories function as an interesting, scary, and sometimes funny revenge tale on these various powers-that-be.

Opening doors for Filipino komiks and stories

According to FlixPatrol, Trese spent 19 days on Netflix Top 10 list for the Philippines. It also made it into the Top 10 in 18 other countries, like Qatar (10 days), United Arab Emirates (eight days), Nigeria (six days), Jamaica, Kuwait, Bulgaria (five days).

This has also greatly factored in with the sales of the books currently being distributed by Avenida Books. While it may take a couple more months to see the effects of the adaptation in book sales, they have released a total of 13,000 copies (Murder on Balete Drive - 5,000; Unreported Murders - 4,000, Mass Murders - 4,000) since taking over publishing.

Dont panic buy. We have more than enough stocks on hand for each volume, Ramirez says. Restocks get sold out quickly, as with the case of stores on Shopee and Lazada that lead to astronomically repriced copies from scalpers. That just means their allocation is used up and they are waiting for the next delivery. That usually takes around two weeks.

Avenida sells its books through their distributors: the physical and online stores of Mt. Cloud Bookshop (Baguio), Pandayan Bookshop, National Book Store, Fully Booked, Comic Odyssey, and Filbars Online, Secret HQ, and Komiket.

Ramirez shares that the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) held an online book fair last year called Aklatan. Through the help of Shopee and Lazada, publisher members were able to start their online shops. Last years Manila International Book Fair was only held online.

Despite these, she shares that the business still faces a lot of challenges. In most businesses, when your product sells, you keep your profit. In publishing, whatever you earn goes back in. You need funds for the reprints, because the more hot-selling the title is, the more reprints you need, Ramirez says. You need more funds for the next new titles, and you can only publish passion projects, the untested or those who have a niche market, when you have a stable of titles that consistently sell out.

For these, creators turn to Secret HQ and Komiket, the shop built by the same organizers of the regular conventions. Before the pandemic, local indie komiks could be mainly bought through these conventions, in bookstores, and comic book stores, says Pascual. Since there hasnt been a convention since early last year, a lot of indie komiks creators have placed their comics online through local platforms such as Penlab, and sometimes through international platforms such as tapas and webtoons.com.

The compilation of Tarantadong Kalbo's webcomics is published by Komiket Inc. Photo from TARANTADONG KALBO/FACEBOOK

Penlab also links readers to the respective sites or pages of komiks they currently have, so that fans can find physical copies. There are other publishers like Mervstore and Haliya Publishing, whose website looks exactly how youd find him during local conventions, and a pandemic-inspired twist.

But for creators and stories to further succeed, there are more things that Pascual feels could be improved. Hopefully, there would be venues online where readers can discuss komiks with each other similar to webcomics and manga and Western comics, he says.

There has been much discourse about Trese, from why it became the one being adapted into an anime series, particularly because of its being a copaganda, issues about pacing, dubbing, and whether or not its something to celebrate. For creators who revolve in the same industry, its but a precursor for things to come. After all, it was a short order of six episodes  much more could be done to address and improve if more opportunities arise from its reception.

When I was growing up, I was inundated with books and comics and shows from the U.S., U.K., and Japan  it dominated so much of my imaginative life. Because of that, there was always this feeling that my own culture was marginalized in the international exchange of stories, says Drilon.

Its instances like these that afford our stories to be seen on a larger scale. Hoping more come out into the mainstream, says Filipino-American novelist Jason Tanamor, whose book Vampires of Portlandia became his means of embracing his identity and heritage.

Filipino-American Novelist Jason Tanamor wrote Vampires of Portlandia, his means of embracing his identity and heritage Photo courtesy of JASON TANAMOR

Tanamor was born and raised in the US, as his parents fled the Marcos dictatorship in 1974. It wasnt until decades later when an aswang was depicted in the T.V. show Grimm, that he learned of the lore. All my culture growing up was American. I wanted to introduce Filipino culture to the mainstream. The book may not seem authentic; rather an Americanized version of a culture born in the Philippines, he says.

It took him nine months of extensive research to write the novel, his first of many that aims to support #OwnVoices, a movement started by Corinne Duyvis for an author from a marginalized or underrepresented group writing about their own experiences/from their own perspective, rather than someone from an outside perspective writing as a character from an underrepresented group.

If we can get more stories and people who can make differences, such as authors writing OwnVoices stories, I think well begin to see a shift in industries that can depict people of color in a more positive light, says Tanamor.

I find Trese on Netflix to be inspiring because, its the komik that could, in the sense that I know it was a labor of love between Budj and Kajo, committed to doing single issues on top of their families and day jobs, Drilon says. I like how its a sign of increasing global interest in Philippine culture. I hope it inspires more Filipinos to get their stories out into the world.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  A congressman from San Juan City admitted on Monday that he received two booster shots after receiving China's Sinopharm doses last year.

In a public event, San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora started his speech without a face mask, saying: "Kung nagtataka kayo bakit si Congressman Zamora ay hindi nagma-mask, sasabihin ko sa inyo. I have been vaccinated twice, twice over. Apat."

[Translation: If you were wondering why Congressman Zamora is not wearing any mask, I will tell you. I have been vaccinated twice, twice over. Four times.]

So far, the government has not given a go-signal for those fully vaccinated with two doses to take any booster shot, but Zamora reasoned that he received a "bootleg" COVID-19 vaccine brand which was also administered to President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Kung pareho pinagkunan namin, pareho kami bootleg," Zamora said, noting that it means he would not have a document or vaccination form that will allow him to travel to other countries.

[Translation: If we both got from the same source, that means we both received a bootleg vaccine.]

Zamora then went on to say that unlike the Philippines that accepts almost all brands, the US and European countries do not allow any Chinese-made vaccines. He said one can only enter if one got doses from Western brands like Pfizer, Moderna, or the single-shot Janssen vaccines.

The San Juan representative bared that he completed his Sinopharm dose last December  ahead of the government's vaccination program rolled out in March this year.

He said it was his doctors who advised him to take not one, but two booster shots since he is immunodeficient. He later told reporters that he got Pfizer as his booster shots.

His son, San Juan mayor Francis Zamora, said in a separate briefing that the congressman had a history of undergoing a heart bypass surgery and a kidney transplant. He also stressed that the lawmaker is 76 years old.

Currently, only seven COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers have doses authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration, according to its website. They are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Janssen, Bharat Biotech, Moderna and Sinovac. Sinovac is the only Chinese brand that received regulatory approval, but has the steadiest supply in the country.

Sinopharm previously received an EUA, but only for the donated batch used to inoculate Duterte, his close-in security group, and other public officials after the FDA granted a compassionate special permit in February.

READ: FDA approves emergency use of Sinopharm vaccine

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire reminded Zamora and his team of doctors against mixing and matching different vaccine brands.

"Gusto namin magpaaalala that mixing and matching and booster doses ay hindi pa nirerekomenda sa ngayon dahil hindi pa kumpleto ang mga ebidensya," Vergeire said in a briefing.

[Translation: We want to remind that mixing and matching and booster doses is not yet recommended for now because the evidence is not yet complete on their effectivity.]

Vergeire stressed that all medical professionals must adhere to protocols based on science and sufficient evidence.

CNN Philippines' Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
(CNN)  Poll of the week: A new Gallup poll finds that 59.2% of Americans say they're thriving. Additionally, 73% of Americans said they experienced enjoyment for a lot of the previous day.

The former is the highest rating Gallup has ever recorded on the measure dating back to when it was first taken more than 13 years ago. The latter is the highest since the coronavirus pandemic began early last year.

What's the point: The last year has been tough for a lot of Americans. Among other issues, the coronavirus dominated our lives, and there was a very contentious presidential election. But with the election in the rearview mirror and more people returning to their pre-pandemic routines, Americans are feeling a lot more optimistic.

A number of different measures show Americans are feeling better about themselves and the state of the country than they have in a while.

The Gallup measures I mentioned shouldn't be too surprising given what we've been seeing from Axios/Ipsos polling. More Americans have been saying that their emotional well being has improved in the last week than gotten worse in every survey since May. From when the question was first asked in March 2020 through April of this year, more Americans had said it had gotten worse than better in every survey.

This positivity goes beyond the personal and into the political.

Last week, an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist College poll found that 47% of Americans said the country was going in the right direction. That was within the margin of error of the 49% who said we were going in the wrong direction.

This 47% was the highest percentage who said the country was heading in the right direction in Marist polling since 2009, during the first year of the Obama administration. It's quite the turnaround from where former President Donald Trump was at this point in his presidency. Just 31% of Americans said the country was going in the right direction in a June 2017 Marist poll, while 61% said we were going in the wrong direction.

Of course, Marist is just one pollster.

When we look at the average of all polls, 43% of Americans agree that the country is going in the right direction compared to 51% who believe it is on the wrong track. Last year at this point, only 22% of Americans thought the country was going in the right direction. Four years ago, 34% said the country was heading in the right direction in an average of polls.

Although we would expect Democrats to be more optimistic now than then, it's notable that they are more positive about the direction of the country now than Republicans were four years ago. In the Marist poll, for example, 87% of Democrats now think the country is going in the right direction compared to 66% of Republicans in mid-2017. Likewise, far more independents say the country is going in the right direction (44%) than did four years ago at this point (23%).

The last time before President Joe Biden's administration that 43% of Americans said the country was going in the right direction in an average of polls was 2009.

Indeed, 43% believing the country was heading in the right direction is actually a really good percentage historically.

Last year, Charlie Cook of the Cook Political Report examined how many Americans thought the country was going in the right direction before each presidential election since 1980.

On average, 42% of Americans said the country was going in the direction in the years in which the incumbent party was reelected to the White House. A slightly higher 49% said the country was on the wrong track.

The percentages right now are very similar to these averages.

They are far different than the average 25% of Americans who believe the country was going in the right direction during the years in which the opposition party won the White House. On Election Day last year, only about 30% of Americans said the country was heading in the right direction.

Interestingly, perhaps the best way to know people are feeling more charitable than normal about the state of our politics is to look toward Congress. Even the notoriously disliked Congress has seen a bump in its approval ratings this year. For the first time since 2009, Congress' approval rating topped 30% this year.

Now, an approval rating in the low 30s isn't exactly high. Still, politics is often all relative.

The question is whether Americans will continue to feel the good vibrations. If they do, Biden and Democrats are likely to benefit. If feelings take a downturn, Democrats are probably in for a rough midterm.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'American optimism is highest in more than 10 years'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 1)  The number of guests who will be physically attending the President's sixth and final State of the Nation Address next month will still be limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Senate President Vicente Sotto III told reporters.

"It's the Palace [Presidential Security Group] that wants a non-full plenary hall," said Sotto on Tuesday, after his meeting with House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Sotto added that he will still ask who will be attending, but noted that the Senate, including the Secretariat, will be comprised of a maximum of 30 people.

The 2021 SONA will be held in July at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Last year, the pandemic forced Malacanang to scale down the annual address, including the long queue of VIP guests who walk down the red carpet at the North and South entrances of the House of Representatives plenary in their designer wear.

Even media personnel were not allowed inside the Batasan premises, as they were only allowed to tap into the broadcast feed of state-run Radio Television Malacanang for their coverage.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  The Department of Health on Monday warned medical workers who will administer COVID-19 booster shots that they can be held held liable for their action.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded doctors and health workers that vaccine emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration does not include the use of an additional dose.

"Kung ano ang nasa EUA, yan ang magiging gamit ng bakuna. Mag-ingat tayo dahil kapag may violations sa ganito, maaaring magkaroon ng sanctions," the official said in a media briefing.

[Translation: The vaccines should be used based on what's indicated in the EUA. Be careful because this is a violation. You may face sanctions.]

The warning came after San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora admitted that he has received two Pfizer booster shots after completing his Sinopharm vaccination, meaning he has received four vaccine shots despite the shortage of supplies in the country.

The DOH stood by its decision not to recommend booster shots yet due to vaccine shortage and lack of solid evidence that it is necessary to fully protect an individual against coronavirus.

Vergeire said that based on their survey on healthcare workers, who mostly received Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, completion of the two doses led to lower infection rate and no hospitalizations or deaths due to COVID-19.

"Sana isipin natin na hanggang wala pang ebidensya ang booster shots na ito, bigyan natin ng kumpyansa ang ating mga bakuna. Lumalabas na sa ngayon, ang real world studies na ang lahat ng ginagamit na bakuna dito sa ating bansa ay effective against hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths and even effective against symptomatic infections," the DOH spokesperson said.

[Translation: While we are waiting for evidence on booster shots, let us be confident in our vaccines. Based on real-world studies, all the vaccines used in the country are effective against hospitalizations, ICU admissions, deaths, and even symptomatic infections.]

Pfizer recently announced that it is seeing waning immunity from its vaccine and said it is picking up its efforts to develop a booster dose that will protect people from coronavirus variants.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  Metro Manila is on course to fully vaccinating half of its residents by September, an official said on Monday.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos said a conservative estimate of 107,000 COVID-19 shots are being administered daily in the capital region, so 50% of the 14.6 million total population could have completed their two doses in the next two months.

"Our projection is by the end of September, we will be having at least population protection. Majority of Metro Manilans will have two doses," he told CNN Philippines.

The Department of Health earlier said population protection is reached if 50% of the people, including the most vulnerable sectors, are vaccinated.

It also explained that protecting the population means the vaccination program will prioritize nine highly dense areas: Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davaocollectively known as NCR+8.

Over 12 million COVID-19 shots have been administered nationwide since the vaccination drive started in March, officials said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  The government has done everything in its power in affirming the landmark decision siding with the Philippines over its maritime dispute with China, Malacanang said Monday.

We have done all that we could, given the absence po of an enforcement mechanism under international law, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during his regular briefing.

He said the government took all possible steps to breathe life into the ruling, which marks its fifth anniversary today.

Kasama na po yung pagtatalumpati ng Presidente sa ating UN General Assembly na sinabi niya na kabahagi na po ng international law ang arbitral decision na yan, said Roque, referring to President Rodrigo Dutertes speech before the United Nations body in September last year.

[Translation: It includes the Presidents speech before the UN General Assembly where he said the arbitral decision is already part of international law.]

On July 12, 2016, a five-member arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled unanimously in favor of Manila and invalidated Beijings sweeping claims over the South China Sea  a decision the East Asian giant continues to reject.

READ: Remembering the 2016 Hague ruling: What has happened since then?

While the President has received praise even from his critics for his speech at the international assembly, he also drew flak for saying months later that Manilas arbitral win is just a piece of paper he can throw in a waste basket.

Duterte has likewise been consistently criticized for his amicable attitude towards China, despite its numerous transgressions in the West Philippine Sea.

This year, the Philippines has filed a string of diplomatic protests against China due to the presence of its militia vessels in the contested waters. Its latest filing was against Beijings imposition of a fishing ban in the South China Sea.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11)  Fishing trips in waters off Zambales used to be an exciting journey and a productive source of living for 42-year-old fisherman Noli Cocjin.

But gone are the days when every trip is met with excitement since he knows the challenges fishermen have to go through to bring home enough catch to earn for their families.

Foreign vessels equipped with more modern capabilities prevent small fishing boats like Cocjins from getting enough fish during each trip.

Cocjin said some fishermen try to avoid conflict with foreign fishing vessels by trying to go as far as Palawan and Mindoro.

"Dati po talaga dito lang po nahuhuli na malalaking isdabarilyete, Tuna, Blue Marlin. Kaya lang po sa katagalan ang dami nang nangingisda. Hindi lang po tayo, maski foreigner nandito rin po naubos po ng naubos," he said.

[Translation: We used to catch big fishes like tuna, blue marlin. But now, we have so many competition including foreigners. We can no longer catch these big fishes.]

Cocjin has been a fisherman in Zambales for 15 years. As much as possible he tries not to go to Scarborough Shoal, some 124 nautical miles west of his home province.

China seized the shoal in 2012 after a tense sea standoff with the Philippines. Beijing continues to defy an international tribunals ruling on July 12, 2016 that invalidated its claims to the area and nearly the entire South China Sea.

But some of Cocjins fellow fishermen brave the waters off Scarborough Shoal to make ends meet.

"Mas madali ka makahuli ng isda roon, kaso ngayon limitado na ang galaw mo doon. Even though pwede ka pa rin mangisda doon pero may control na po hindi kagaya ng dati," he said.

[Translation: It's easier to catch fish in Scarborough but your movement there is limited. They will allow you to fish in certain areas but it feels like you are being controlled.]

2016 Arbitral Award: enforceable or not?

A month after President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, an arbitral tribunal in The Hague handed down the Philippines victory in its case against China.

The landmark arbitration ruling rejected China's nine-dash claim to almost the entire South China Sea. It said there was no legal basis for the claim that Beijing said was based on historical rights. It also recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in areas within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf that are being claimed by China.

The 479-page award by the tribunal  created under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea  also found that China had caused severe harm to the marine environment.

But five years on, there seems to be differing views on how the Philippines can enforce the ruling.

"We don't have a consistent China policy and a strong West Philippine Sea policy right now because there are contradictions and inconsistencies coming from the government," international foreign policy expert Chester Cabalza told CNN Philippines.

Beijing repeatedly called the ruling baseless and Cabalza said China is emboldened to continue its activities in the South China Sea due to the Philippines failure to enforce the arbitral award.

"We fail because of our derecognition of the Hague ruling. We thought that the Duterte administration will fulfill its promise which we won in 2016," Cabalza said.

Experts: war is not only option vs. China

Throughout his presidency, Duterte has also repeatedly said that he cannot go to war against China in asserting the countrys rights in the West Philippine Sea.

"I cannot afford at this time to go to a war," Duterte said in a speech in May 2018.

"I'm walking on a tightrope actually. I cannot afford to be brave in the mouth against China," Duterte also said in a speech early this year.

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said that standing up for the nation's rights against China does not mean going to war.

"We urge our people to reject this Chinese narrative of war because it is only intended to sow fear which is the trademark of a bully," Del Rosario said in a statement in April 2021.

He also enumerated some options the Philippines can take, including reiterating the Philippine position at the next United Nations General Assembly in September 2021.

Del Rosario added the Philippines should welcome the positions of the United States, Japan, EU, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia and Indonesia against China's claims in the South China Sea.

The former DFA chief also wants Chinese officials to be criminally liable for destroying maritime resources.

The Philippines should also strengthen its defense capabilities, he said, urging Duterte to appoint retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio as advisor on the South China Sea issue.

DFA: 2016 Arbitral Ruling is final

Despite President's changing tune when it comes to the importance of the arbitral award, the Department of Foreign Affairs made it clear that the country's foreign policy on the West Philippine Sea is what Duterte articulated before the UN General Assembly in 2020  that the ruling is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon.

"The Award is final, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories. 

He said anniversaries are an occasion to take stock of the past, mark the gains of the present, look to the future and find ways to work together for mutual benefit since no singular advantage can be gained by violating it.

"We are also celebrating this, our gift to all countries without exception. It is a gift from a country thats not a power except for right in law. In 2012 we were David all alone, up against Goliath, amid hosts of indifferent spectators," he added.

Filipino fishermen like Cocjin, however, continue to wait for the benefits from that gift.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  Half of the Senate filed on Monday a resolution calling for an investigation into reports of funds from state coffers being used to finance alleged troll farms spreading misinformation and fake news online.

Senate President Tito Sotto, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon joined Senators Kiko Pangilinan, Nancy Binay, Leila De Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Ping Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva in filing Senate Resolution No. 768.

It orders the appropriate Senate committee to hold an inquiry in aid of legislation into the said reports, as troll farms proliferate such false content in social media platforms.

The resolution recalled how Lacson earlier alleged a government undersecretary has been mobilizing internet troll farms nationwide against political rivals or those not aligned with President Rodrigo Dutertes administration  something the Palace denied.

The senators also cited the Department of Finances award of a 909,000 communication strategy consultant contract to the suspected operator of inauthentic Facebook pages behind Dutertes online campaign in the 2016 polls.

The DOF has since defended the contract as legal and aboveboard.

The Senate resolution also mentioned a similar occurrence with the Foreign Affairs Department in 2017, where it had a similar social media consultancy contract with a known pro-administration blogger" accused of spreading fake news and hateful comments against the regimes critics.

Such instances illustrate that troll farms and the misinformation and fake news that they propagate may be state-backed and state-funded, read the resolution.

Filipinos should know why government spends public funds on troll farm operators disguised as public relations practitioners and social media consultants who sow fake news rather than on COVID-19 assistance, healthcare, food security, jobs protection, education, among others, it further said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) -- President Rodrigo Duterte criticized anew longtime ally Senator Manny Pacquiao, this time for claiming that 10.4-billion worth of pandemic funds have gone missing.

'Wag kayo maniwala diyan. 10 billion mawala? [Dont believe him. Theres a missing 10 billion?] That is a work of a...I have a term for that, it is not mine, I just borrowed it, but I think Pacquiao is punch-drunk, said Duterte on Monday night, describing the boxer-turned-senator as someone who has suffered repeated blows to the head for making such allegations.

The senator earlier accused the Department of Social Welfare and Development for failing to distribute billions of pesos in pandemic assistance. He also questioned the DSWD's deal with e-wallet application Starpay in the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program funds.

However, the DSWD maintained that the amount was accounted for. It added that Starpay was just one of the financial service providers it hired for the distribution of the second tranche of the SAP funds.

Duterte said Pacquiaos corruption allegations can never happen under his watch.

Papayag ba naman ang COA (Commission on Audit) niyan? At hindi lang yan, papayag ba kami? Papayag ba ang mga secretary ng mga departamento na may mawala na 10 billion? he said. That is a statement coming from a guy who is punch-drunk.

[Translation: Do you think COA will allow that to happen? And not only that, do you think we will allow it? Do you think the department secretaries will allow 10 billion to go missing? That is a statement coming from a guy who is punch-drunk.]

Pacquiao earlier accepted Duterte's dare to expose corruption in the government, after the senator claimed the current administration is more corrupt than its predecessor.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  President Rodrigo Duterte again advised his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to reconsider her rumored 2022 presidential plans, saying he wants to protect her from political opponents.

"My stand is I am against really the candidacy of my daughter. I want her spared from the vagaries of politics dito sa Pilipinas, lalo na itong mga (here in the Philippines, especially) personalities around in the likes of Trillanes, De Lima," Duterte said in his weekly national address on Monday.

Duterte was referring to his administration's fiercest critics -- former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and detained Sen. Leila de Lima.

The President sarcastically wished for Trillanes and De Lima to win if they decide to run in the 2022 elections.

"They can no longer be appeased for anything, they are also hungry for power. I wish that they would run and win so that we can see how they will run the government," said Duterte.

Duterte added that his recent statements about considering a vice presidential bid next year were ony made to threaten his political rivals.

"If it is good for the country, let's do it. If it will not contribute to the country, huwag na lang (never mind)," he said.

RELATED: Consider me for vice presidency at this time  Duterte

In the address, Duterte again discouraged his daughter from running for a higher office in the next polls, saying it is not the appropriate time.

"Run some other time. Mabastos ka lang. (You will just be treated rudely.) As a father, I would not want that to happen to my daughter," said Duterte.

In a closed-door meeting with Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia last July 9, the Davao City mayor had indicated that she was already "open" to seeking the presidency.

In his previous speeches, the Duterte patriarch had repeatedly discouraged his daughter from vying for the highest post in the land.
Today marks the 5th anniversary of the landmark Hague ruling on the West Philippine Sea.

Tristan Nodalo looks back at some of the key moments of President Dutertes policy towards China and how fishermen in contested waters struggle through the years.
(CNN) -- Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Sunday that the US government is not yet telling Americans who are fully vaccinated that they need a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, based on the current data, despite Pfizer saying it might be time for a third shot.

Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," Fauci told CNN's Jake Tapper that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration is saying right now, "given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot, a boost, superimposed upon the two doses you get with the mRNA (Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccine) and the one dose you get with (Johnson & Johnson)."

Fauci said that there are ongoing studies evaluating if and when the US will recommend booster shots.

"There's a lot of work going on to examine this in real time to see if we might need a boost. But right now, given the data that the CDC and the FDA has, they don't feel that we need to tell people right now you need to be boosted," Fauci said.

Drugmaker Pfizer said Thursday it is seeing waning immunity from its coronavirus vaccine and says it is ramping up efforts to develop a booster dose and will soon publish data about a third dose of its vaccine that could protect people from variants.

The company also said it would seek FDA emergency use authorization for a booster dose in August.

Hours after Pfizer issued its statement, however, the FDA and CDC issued a rare joint statement saying fully vaccinated Americans "do not need a booster shot at this time."

The two agencies said they, along with the National Institutes of Health, "are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary. This process takes into account laboratory data, clinical trial data, and cohort data -- which can include data from specific pharmaceutical companies, but does not rely on those data exclusively."

On Sunday, Tapper asked Fauci if he was worried that if the CDC and FDA change their recommendations and later recommend booster shots that it could undercut trust in the two federal agencies or lead some critics to accuse the agencies of "flip-flopping."

Fauci replied that the CDC and FDA make their formal recommendations "based on data that's evidence that proves we need to go in this direction."

"Before you get that data, there will always be people, well-meaning people and well-meaning companies will say, 'You know, the way we look at the situation it looks like you might need a booster so let's go ahead and give a booster.' But that's not a formal recommendation," Fauci said.

Fauci added, "Data evolves. You get more information as the time goes by. So when you get to the point, where you have enough information to make a firm recommendation, that is not flip-flopping. That is making recommendations as the data evolve."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Fauci says Americans who are fully vaccinated do not need booster shots at this time".
(CNN) -- Haitian authorities have arrested a man they say helped orchestrate the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, the country's police chief announced on Sunday.

Moise was killed Wednesday in his Port-au-Prince home, in an attack that has shaken a country already rattled by rampant violence and political instability.

The arrested suspect, identified as 63-year-old Christian Emmanuel Sanon, entered the country on a private jet in June, said Police Chief Leon Charles at a news conference.

Police did not say what Sanon would be charged with, or what his motives may have been, beyond saying he arrived with "political intentions."

Sanon is alleged to have been in touch with a Florida-based Venezuelan security firm to recruit 26 Colombian mercenaries and two Haitian-Americans. Their first assignment was to provide security for Sanon, but this mission is alleged to have evolved overtime.

Police have previously said a group of at least 28 people are suspected in the killing. At least 20 of those suspects have been detained, including two American nationals. Three suspects have been killed, while a mass manhunt is underway for the five suspects still on the loose.

Police said they received information on the operation from the detained Colombians.

After the assassination, Sanon was the first person one of the alleged assassins called, said the police chief.

Upon raiding Sanon's house, police said they found 20 boxes of 12 and 9 millimeter caliber ammunition, rifle and pistol holsters, 24 unused shooting targets, a cap labeled "DEA," two vehicles, and four Dominican Republic license plates.

Police said they also found correspondence with "different sectors in the country" but did not specify who or what.

It is not yet clear if Sanon, who police said was born in Marigot, Haiti, has retained legal representation to address potential charges, and he has yet to publicly comment on the allegations.

Charles said the Haitian police are working with intelligence authorities in the Colombian government to trace how the mercenaries got to Haiti, who they were working with in Colombia, and who financed the operation.

Authorities have described the group of suspects as "professional killers," consisting of members of the Colombian military. But even as more details begin to emerge of the people who allegedly killed Moise, little is known about the suspected masterminds and their motivation for the attack.

The arrest of Sanon follows the arrests of two Americans, identified by Elections Minister Mathias Pier, as James Solages and Joseph Vincent, both naturalized citizens from Haiti.

The US State Department said on Friday it was aware of the arrests, and was providing investigative assistance at Haiti's request.

A delegation with representatives from the State Department, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland security is being sent to Haiti, a White House official said Sunday. Officials are also reviewing a request from Haiti to send several hundred US troops to aid in stabilization efforts, said Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby on Fox News Sunday, though he declined to "get ahead of that process."

Colombia has also lent its assistance with security and investigation after the attack, sending a special police unit and national intelligence officials, as well as personnel from Interpol assigned to Colombia's police.

Power vacuum

It was 1 a.m. when the attackers stormed the President's private residence in Petion-Ville, a suburb of Haiti's capital, shooting Moise 16 times, according to former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. First lady Martine Moise, who was also shot in the attack, was evacuated to intensive care in a hospital in Miami.

The Caribbean nation of roughly 11 million people, many of them living amid poverty, now faces an even more uncertain future.

Moise's death takes place against a background of extreme violence in the capital Port-au-Prince which has claimed the lives of many citizens in recent weeks. Haiti was already dealing with political turmoil, a growing humanitarian crisis, and a worsening Covid-19 epidemic.

The assassination also leaves a huge power vacuum in Haiti, and no legal roadmap for Moise's succession. Its parliament is effectively defunct and two men are simultaneously claiming to be the country's rightful prime minister.

Parliament became dysfunctional in January 2020, when the mandates of two-thirds of the 30-member Senate chamber expired, leaving just 10 senators in office.

The supreme court president would normally be next in line to take over on an interim basis, but he recently died of Covid-19, judge Jean Wilner Morin, president of the national association of Haitian judges, told CNN.

Joseph made clear he was assuming leadership on Wednesday, when he declared a "state of siege" in Haiti, closed the country's borders and imposed martial law. Joseph has vowed to hold onto power until presidential and legislative elections are held in September.

But he has not been confirmed by parliament, which has not sat since 2020 -- and he was in the process of being replaced by Ariel Henry, whom the president appointed on July 5, shortly before his death.

"Claude Joseph is not prime minister, he is part of my government," Henry told the Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste on Thursday.

Pierre, the elections minister, has said Joseph would keep his role until the elections, which should take place as planned.

On Friday, the country's 10 remaining senators instead nominated one of their own number, Sen. Joseph Lambert, as Haiti's interim president -- a direct challenge to the current interim leadership.

But less than 24 hours later, Lambert appeared to pull back, saying on Saturday that his swearing-in had been postponed without giving a new date for the event.

US delegation meets rival contenders

Members of the US delegation met with rival contenders for the country's leadership on Sunday, according to Lambert and a source in Joseph's government.

In a tweet posted on Sunday, Lambert said he had discussed his own bid for the top job with the delegation, and they "have made an appointment this evening for the following steps."

According to the government source, the American representatives on Sunday asked Lambert to show patience in his pursuit of the presidency. Lambert did not respond to CNN's request for comment.

CNN has reached out to the US State Department for comment on the claims of both Lambert and the government source but has not received a response.

The government source also said the delegation later met with Joseph and Henry at the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

In their meeting with the US delegation, the two rival prime ministers were encouraged to look for a way to collaborate, the source said.

Henry did not comment publicly on Sunday's meeting and did not respond to CNN's request for comment.
(CNN) -- As Texas' battle over voting rights continues to unfold during the special session in Austin, the outrage stoked by former US President Donald Trump's false 2020 election claims was still on full display Saturday a few hours north at the major gathering of conservative activists where Trump will be welcomed as the star attraction Sunday.

Republicans are facing a set of highly competitive midterm elections in 2022 and still attempting to shape an agenda that will break through to voters. But the conversation at the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend reaffirmed once again that the core activists of the Republican Party have no intention of moving on from Trump or the false claims he has trumpeted that the 2020 election was fraudulent, even though there is no evidence of widespread voting fraud in last year's contest.

Normally, CPAC events serve as an audition arena for the next slate of future Republican presidential contenders. But there was scarcely a hint of that here this weekend as Trump's flirtation with another run for president in 2024 has effectively frozen the field -- with his Sunday speech serving as the main draw for attendees.

Blue flags adorning a truck in the parking lot bore the slogan "Trump Won." Exhibition booths overflowed with Trump hats, flags, and other "45" swag. One 2024 T-shirt pictured Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis but only standing next to Trump as his potential vice president. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who will speak Sunday before Trump, mentioned the former president within the first two minutes of her last CPAC speech and has allied herself so closely with him that GOP voters often say they'd like to see her as his No. 2 instead of Mike Pence in 2024.

At a gathering branded as "America UnCanceled," Donald Trump Jr. warmed up the crowd on Friday night with quick-witted condemnations of cancel culture and digs at Hunter Biden. But his biggest applause line wasn't even his own. During his speech, an attendee bellowed "Trump won!" eliciting a standing ovation and setting off a round of "Trump" chants.

During a midday Saturday panel that was intended to be a "tough love" assessment of the Republican Party, GOP donor Bubba Saulsbury acknowledged that it has been difficult to shift the attention of both donor and voters to future contests because they are still "livid" about the 2020 outcome.

"I know we need to talk about moving forward, but we've got to be honest with ourselves about where we've been and what happened," said Saulsbury, adding that every donor he's met "believes that there was some level of election fraud."

"Talking to all the donors -- they're apprehensive to donate to anything but election integrity right now, because their thoughts are, 'Why am I going to spend my money if it's not going to be a free and fair election?'" Saulsbury said.

Another Saturday headliner, GOP Rep. Jody Hice, who is challenging incumbent Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger -- the Georgia state official who infuriated Trump by overseeing three ballot counts confirming Joe Biden's victory in Georgia -- steered a panel about Covid-19 toward the topic of election security. When Hice was asked how he would ensure that Americans get the correct information about the Delta variant this fall, he pivoted back to 2020.

"I firmly believe this is the fight of our life politically," Hice told the crowd to applause. "If we lose election integrity, we lose everything. So that's my focus right now." He declined to provide any further comment to CNN.

Trump the headliner

On Sunday, the conference is set to open with two men who just recently addressed a QAnon-affiliated conference: Texas GOP Chair Allen West, who has announced plans to challenge Greg Abbott in the Texas governor's race, and Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert.

Also on the agenda: A presentation on the future of American elections, the second election fraud panel of the three-day conference.

The event also drew Proud Boys as well as the founder of the Oath Keepers, who was recently interviewed by the FBI about his role in the January 6 insurrection, according to the New York Times. He has not been charged with criminal wrongdoing.

Trump will essentially close out the conference Sunday afternoon, after the announcement of the results of CPAC's straw poll which is intended to measure voters' interest in the potential GOP White House contenders. One question includes Trump on a list of potential 2024 candidates; the other does not.

But no matter what Trump decides to do in 2024, his refusal to accept his 2020 election defeat is effectively shaping the GOP agenda nationwide a year and a half before the next set of elections.

Republican-led states across the country have put forward more restrictive voting laws, with lawmakers pointing to concerns about nonexistent widespread election fraud to defend the new measures. Laws have already passed in Florida and Georgia, and Texas lawmakers were engaged in a special session of the Legislature over the weekend, debating their own set of proposals that could make it harder to vote. During the 2021 legislative sessions, the Brennan Center for Justice tracked at least 389 bills to restrict voting that were introduced 48 states.

GOP lawmakers have also seized on the opportunity to push post-election audits, yet another way to undermine election confidence, raise money and curry favor with Trump. The so-called audit in Maricopa County, Arizona -- which continues to drag on -- has drawn Republican lawmakers from multiple states that have expressed interested in launching similar reviews. A Trump ally in Pennsylvania pressed forward with his plans for an election audit last week, sending requests to three counties for everything from their tabulation equipment to voter rolls.

During the CPAC conference white cards were circulating among some attendees with a "7-Pt. plan to restore Donald J. Trump in days, not years." After the violence at the Capitol on January 6, federal officials are paying more attention to those sorts of fringe theories.

CPAC organizers did not respond to CNN's request for comment about the cards.

Trump and his allies have encouraged the ludicrous claims that he could be reinstated as President next month. But they have gained enough traction to lead the Department of Homeland Security to issue a warning last month that Trump's "reinstatement" fantasies could lead to more violence this summer from right-wing extremists.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Trump's false election claims persist at conservative gathering in Texas".
(CNN)  A derelict plot on the banks of the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary, might seem like an unusual epicenter for a political earthquake.

But that was before Prime Minister Viktor Orban's populist government announced a controversial plan for a prestigious Shanghai university to open its first overseas campus there in 2024 -- which Hungarians would apparently pay for.

Now protests over the future of this nondescript site have galvanized Hungary's opposition, and united them in an attempt to topple Orban's ruling party at next year's general election.

Since Orban swept to power 11 years ago, there have been plenty of demonstrations in Budapest against his assault on democratic freedoms. The self-styled defender of Christian values in Europe has rolled back civil liberties, ranging from migrant and LGBTQ rights to media freedom, as well as judicial and academic independence.

Not that it's hurt Orban's political fortunes. His right-wing Fidesz party has enjoyed landslide election wins, with no serious political challenger outside Budapest.

But the proposed Fudan University campus has become a potent issue.

Its critics point to the huge cost to Hungary, warning that taxpayer money would be used to serve the interests of China's Communist Party. What's more, they say the campus would be built on land slated for affordable housing for around 10,000 Hungarian students.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Budapest last month to oppose the plan, carrying placards emblazoned with the word "treason" and slogans such as "Hungarian money for Hungarian universities."

Orban has made great political capital out of promoting "traditional" Hungarian values. The opposition now appears to be serving the populist leader a dose of his own medicine.

The Fudan University controversy is "about whether this small country of 10 million can finally decide its own fate, about whether we will really be a free nation," opposition leader and Budapest mayor, Gergely Karacsony, told demonstrators in the capital, according to local media reports.

"To an extent right now, the opposition has turned Orban's rhetoric against him," said Peter Kreko, director of Budapest-based think tank, Political Capital.

Kreko said Orban had adopted an image of himself as "the greatest defender of sovereignty -- from the United States, from Brussels, from Berlin."

Now the Prime Minister is effectively opening the door to Chinese interests -- and "that's hard to explain" to voters, he said.

"China's image in central eastern Europe is not very favorable," added Kreko. "This is something that can be easily exploited by the opposition."

Orban looks East

In a drastic move, six of Hungary's opposition parties are putting aside their political differences to run jointly against Fidesz in 2022's parliamentary election.

They include Karacsony's green party, Dialogue for Hungary, the former far-right party Jobbik, and young centrist party Momentum.

This opposition coalition is yet to announce its candidate for prime minister, though the pro-European Union (EU) Karacsony is considered the frontrunner.

In a joint letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 22, the opposition leaders said that, if elected next year, they would "immediately halt" the university project and another planned Beijing-backed railway link between Budapest and Belgrade.

Hungary and China agreed a 20-year, $1.9 billion loan deal for the railway, to be built by a consortium of Hungarian and Chinese firms.

But much like the university campus, the railway has been criticized in Hungary over a lack of transparency in government dealings with China.

The controversial business ventures are all part of Orban's "Eastern Opening" policy. In the wake of the global financial crisis and increasing tensions with the EU, the prime minister has increasingly sought to attract Chinese investment.

"I think Orban really deeply believes in the decline of the West, and that the East is on the rise," Kreko said of the Prime Minister's ideology. "And therefore, if you have to bet on who are the future leaders of the world, then it's better to turn to China, than to the United States."

So far, that policy has brought Hungary limited economic results. But it has created closer ties between the two countries. Hungary was the only member state to block an EU statement condemning China's new security law in Hong Kong, and it was the first EU country to approve Chinese vaccines.

A broad alliance

This is not the first time Hungary's opposition parties have joined forces. The same tactic paid off in 2019's municipal elections when Karacsony scored a shock win against the Fidesz-backed Budapest mayor.

Whether they can replicate that success at a national level is another question.

Were Orban to be defeated, it's no secret that EU lawmakers would largely breathe a sigh of relief, said Dermot Hodson, associate professor of political economy at Birkbeck College, University of London.

Last month, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Hungary "has no place" in the EU after the country passed a controversial new bill banning LGBTQ content in schools -- the latest in a long list of provocations to the bloc's core values.

For EU leaders, "Orban has been a real headache in many ways," said Hodson, describing Hungary as a "challenger government."

"Pushing back against the European Union, but wanting to stay within it, is a very damaging combination," he added.

After the recent protests, the government announced a public referendum on the university -- but said it would be held after the election.

Meanwhile, Hungary's parliament -- where Fidesz holds a supermajority -- voted in mid-June to donate state-owned land to a foundation in charge of the planned university campus.

On the same day, the parliament also passed its anti-LGBTQ law, prompting further protests in Budapest and outrage from EU leaders in Brussels.

The timing of the anti-LGBTQ legislation was "all part of an effort to divert the attention from the Fudan project," said Kreko. "Because the government feels this is something dangerous for their identity."

The law also served another purpose for Orban: It splintered the opposition alliance after Jobbik joined Fidesz in voting for it.

'Decline of the West'

A major sticking point for critics of the university plan is the cost -- reportedly more than the budget for Hungary's entire education system.

According to leaked documents obtained by investigative journalism outlet Direkt36, the project would cost an estimated 1.5 billion ($1.8 billion), mostly financed through a loan from a Chinese state bank.

The building work, on land originally slated for Hungarian student accommodation, would be carried out by a Chinese contractor, it added.

Critics have raised eyebrows over the nature of a deal under which Hungarian taxpayers would effectively be paying for Fudan to set up its campus.

According to the Direkt36 report, the so-called Fudan Hungary University would be established and maintained by a Chinese-Hungarian asset management foundation -- suggesting joint revenue from the project.

CNN contacted Fudan University for a comment on the loan, but had not received a reply at time of publishing.

The Hungarian government also did not comment on the reported cost of the loan in a lengthy statement to CNN.

However it did say that 6,000 to 8,000 students from "Hungary, China and other nations" would learn from 500 lecturers at the campus' economics, humanities, engineering and medical science facilities.

The Hungarian government added that Fudan University was already collaborating with five German universities, 24 Scandinavian universities and had an academic partnership with Yale University in the US. "If they manage to protect their national security interests, we are capable of that, too," it added.

Nonetheless, two-thirds of Hungarians who have heard about the project oppose the Fudan University plan, according to a poll by liberal think tank Republikon Institute.

And the university controversy could cut through to Orban supporters outside of Budapest, said Tamas Matura, assistant professor at Budapest's Corvinus University and founder of the Central and Eastern European Center for Asian Studies.

He pointed to Direkt36's investigation revealing the original student housing planned for the site would be scrapped.

"Average people who would love to send their children to the capital city to study at university" understand there is "a chance that their own children will have less access to cheap accommodation, because the Chinese have taken away that that opportunity," he said.

The Hungarian government told CNN in a statement that the proposed campus would "not be taking space away" from the planned student accommodation.

Matura said that Fudan was one of the world's best universities. But he also feared the Shanghai institution's deep financial pockets could draw the best professors and students from "under-financed" Hungarian universities.

Critics also fear academic freedom would be undermined by the university's allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party.

All of which comes against the backdrop of Orban's controversial university reforms, which critics say extend the ideological imprint of the ruling right-wing government.

Indeed the George Soros-backed Central European University (CEU) was "forced out" of Budapest, after a years-long assault on its academic freedoms by Orban's government. The university relocated to Vienna, prompting protests in the Hungarian capital.

Fudan is a "kind of second part of that political story unfolding," said Hodson. "This is a pushback on Orban's continuous assault on freedoms," he added, but pointed out that "there's a kind of progressive bastion in Budapest."

Hodson cast doubt on whether demonstrations in the capital could seriously dent Orban's re-election chances elsewhere in Hungary.

In protest at the university plans, Budapest's local authorities are renaming streets near the campus after prominent human rights causes about which the Chinese government is sensitive, including the Dalai Lama and the Uyghurs.

The Hungarian government called Budapest's move "infantile" in a statement to CNN. And China's foreign ministry called the behavior "contemptible."

These are literal signs of protest. The big question is whether this resistance in Budapest also points the way to meaningful change in Hungary.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Orban wants a Chinese university in Hungary. Opponents see a chance to turn his nationalist rhetoric against him'
He took office in 2015, right as the federal government released a report showing that Pennsylvania had the nations starkest spending gap between rich and poor school districts.

Soon after, lawmakers approved a modernized school-funding distribution formula, but Wolf had two challenges: boosting state aid and getting lawmakers to push more of the money through the new distribution formula.

Wolf said he was close in June to getting lawmakers to route all school aid through the new formula, a step that requires $1.1 billion to avoid reductions in other districts shares.

Instead, lawmakers approved $300 million  no small amount, but far short of the required funds. One reason Wolf thinks he might still secure that funding next year is the states flush coffers, thanks to heaps of federal coronavirus aid.

The state has never been, I dont think, at least in my lifetime that I know, in as good a financial shape, Wolf told the AP. So thats another thing that makes this possible. We can look at doing this kind of thing, even looking at a $1.1 billion expenditure. In our current financial situation, we can afford to do that.

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Adding to that burden is the fact that #MeToo was always more about celebrity-led allegations.

Primarily, its most lasting success was in heightening awareness around the trauma of sexual assault, not lessening the likelihood.

The goal should be to get men, who are the vast majority of abusers, to stop. Not merely to offer women a space to voice their feelings about being attacked. Offering that platform without any real movement otherwise, feels cruelly conciliatory.

The hashtag battle cry of #BelieveWomen isnt much solace when the manager controlling your hours at the fast-food outlet eyes you greedily up and down, or brushes your backside, because he knows you arent likely to report it.

For other women, the abuser might be the landlord, who holds the reins over whether her children have a home.

A very small percentage of accusations, single digits, are falsely reported. Although those 2 to 8% estimates are routinely misunderstood, cruelly believed to be higher, not because they are, but rather because so many cases devolve into he-said/she-said accounts.
Overall, there was 26% turnover reported in 2020. A sense of staffing levels has been hard to come by. The state hasnt provided clear employment data by region to the Post-Dispatch, despite a Sunshine request for the information. State legislators, who have been investigating the Childrens Division through the Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight, recently received data indicating the agency isnt keeping up with the speed of the revolving door.

As of May 4, 2021, one in five frontline positions allocated to judicial circuits statewide  mainly investigators and caseworkers  sat empty, or 317 out of 1,506 positions, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis of the data.

Of the 46 judicial circuits, a third of them had less than 75% of their frontline Childrens Division positions filled. Nearly one in three positions in each of the three circuits that cover St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County were vacant. In the 12th Circuit, covering Warren and Montgomery counties, 42% of positions were unfilled. Two other circuits  the 14th Circuit, comprised of Howard and Randolph counties, and the 42nd Circuit, where Shearin worked  tied for worst, with 53% of positions unfilled.
Current protocols will be strengthened for students' repatriation from Fiji where the contagious Delta variant is quickly spreading, says Director Tarivonda
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Shes looking for some glitz and glamour as her Zoom life soon ends and physical get-togethers have begun.

Consumers are purging more than their worn-out pandemic wear.

At the luxury resale site TheRealReal, with more than 22 million members, the total value of pre-owned goods sold this year through May was about $239 million, up by 53 percent from the same period in 2019, according to a company report.

Some are taking the opportunity to reinvent their personal style, said Jessica Richards, a trend forecaster and fashion director for the Accessories Council, a nonprofit trade group.

We saw a lot of consumers abandon their mindless shopping habits and instead focus on investment dressing. Less of being sick of their pandemic wardrobes but more wondering why they might own as much or what is the breadth of their closet, she said. Its now about streamlining and zeroing in on what their desired personal style image should be.

Not everybody is looking to abandon their COVID style, however.

In Lynchburg, 33-year-old Cameron Howe is ready to burn just about everything she has worn during the pandemic  except her impressive legging collection  as she transitions from a school career.
However, those who have been fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear masks within the building, Moore wrote.

All persons entering the courthouse shall be asked, along with the other required questions, whether they have been vaccinated, the order reads. If they have been, they do not need to wear a mask while in the building, but they still must observe social distancing and have their temperature taken, use hand-sanitizer.

According to Jon Zug, clerk of the Albemarle County Circuit Court, though the Supreme Court of Virginia order does grant flexibility to the courts, Judges Cheryl Higgins and Claude Worrell have not yet let the circuit court staff know if things will change soon.

I would expect some changes come the beginning of the next term that commences on Monday, Aug. 2, Zug said.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia similarly loosened COVID-19 precautions in May following a change in emergency orders and vaccination rates. The Charlottesville federal court no longer requires vaccinated people to wear masks or physically distance themselves.
AFTON  When Shipman resident Wisteria Johnson took to the stage Saturday, she led the crowd in spelling: V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.

What do we have? Johnson asked. The crowd exclaimed in response: Victory!

More than 100 opponents of the now-canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline gathered Saturday at the Rockfish Valley Community Center in Afton for a celebration one year in the making, the COVID-19 pandemic having delayed the festivities.

Dozens were grouped under white tents with overlapping chatter and music filling the air. The area was decorated with anti-pipeline paraphernalia, and many wore blue No Pipeline T-shirts.

Im sure you all remember what it felt like when you heard the news that the pipeline was canceled, Joyce Burton, with Friends of Nelson, said as she clutched a copy of the Nelson County Times with the headline that read, Atlantic Coast Pipeline canceled.

I just remember the disbelief; I had bruises on my arm from pinching myself. Im really excited that now, after a year, were finally able to reconnect with that feeling of relief we had back then, Burton said.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Three men have been arrested in connection with the death of a 7-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet inside her Utah home, authorities said.

The girl died at Heber Valley Hospital on Friday night, the Wasatch County Sheriffs Office said. The child's name was not released.

Christopher OConnell, 34, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of manslaughter and is facing other drugs and weapons charges. Two other men, Colin Howells, 36, and Trever Pinter, 21, were also arrested over alleged crimes not directly related to the girls death.

It was not immediately known if the three suspects had an attorney who could comment on their behalf.

Police found O'Connell near the apartment in Heber City, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of Salt Lake City, after the shooting, according to police records. Detectives said his speech was slurred and he had a handgun.

Howells and OConnell were inside Pinter's neighboring apartment Friday night, according to arrest documents. Officers found a bullet hole in the wall of the apartment that continued into the girls apartment, documents said.
Those four or five years were not fun for us, said Kuhr, noting how the federal cap also separated families that partially came before 2016 while the rest were stuck outside the U.S. even after being vetted by the government.

The separation of families  whether it be through work, living in separate countries or at the U.S.-Mexico border  is a significant stressor, Leon-Perez said.

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For Al Barzanji, the daily phone calls are the closest option she has to bridge the 6,000-mile divide standing between her husband and their five children in Harrisonburg. Over the past five years, the conversations clung to hope that the pain in being apart will soon be worth it. Other times, they were filled with desperation. Fear. Doubt.

Fera, do you think we did the right thing? her husband asks.

She always reassures him with a yes  because of the kids.

The oldest graduates from George Mason University with an engineering degree next spring. One is at James Madison University studying biology. Another is headed there in the fall. The two youngest are in high school.
This story has been updated.

The removal of the George Rogers Clark statue at the University of Virginia on Sunday was for some a symbolic first step toward repairing the harm the monument represented over the course of its 100-year history.

Workers strapped and adjusted the statue for about two hours before it was removed from its base, loaded onto a flatbed truck and taken to an undisclosed location.

Erected in 1921, the statue depicts Clark on a horse, attacking a Native American family while backed by three frontiersmen wielding rifle, pistol and powder. It was paid for by Paul Goodloe McIntire, who also commissioned the three statues that were removed by the city of Charlottesville on Saturday  those of Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson and one of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacagawea.

Zac Russell, a UVa undergraduate and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, said the George Rogers Clark statue almost deterred him from attending the university. To Russell, the statue symbolized a celebration of genocide of Native people.

To see it removed, Im just filled with joy, he said. That statue over the last 100 years has caused a lot of pain, so Im glad to see that the statue can no longer cause pain.
Yes. I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home.

No. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage.

I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it.

Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time.

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Assam: Rs 10-crore gene bank to boost Assam fish yield

July 12,2021 | Source: The Times of India

Assam has set a target to increase fish production to five lakh metric tonnes by creating a gene bank worth Rs 10 crore, said fisheries minister Parimal Shuklabaidya on National Fish Farmers Day on Saturday. Recognising unmatched hardships and perseverance of the farming community, Suklabaidya thanked the farmers for adopting latest technologies like Biofloc and Cage Culture to increase production. Assam is making steady progress in the fish farming sector since 2016 with production attaining 3.93 lakh metric tonnes. The fish production would increase up to five lakh metric tonnes with the creation of the gene bank, for which the government has spent Rs 10 crore, the minister said at Jungal Balahu Fish Farm at Raha in Nagaon district on Saturday.



The state government is implementing the five-year Gene Bank for Indigenous Fish (GBIF) project. Assam is the first northeastern state to attain self-sufficiency in fish seed production with 951.9 crore fish seed fry in 2019-20, and it is supplying these to the neighboring states. The project, which is being implemented through the College of Fisheries, Raha, under Assam Agricultural University, aims at conserving germplasm and restoring Assams endangered fish species. Unlike in the past, fishing is no longer a neglected sector with Prime Minister Narendra Modi according topmost priority to this sector, he said, adding that the led Government in Assam has been making concerted efforts to make use of the vast water resources of the state to increase fish production.



Suklabaidya said many youths who have come back to the state due to the Covid induced lockdown have taken up fish farming by constructing individual and community ponds with Government subsidy. Of the 12,000 individual and community ponds, 10,000 ponds have been constructed, he added. Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Kavitha Padmanabhan, said the fisheries sector in the district is making good strides and the district has attained self sufficiency on the fish production front.
West Bengal: Rising diesel price and dip in hilsa catch worry fishermen

July 12,2021 | Source: Telegraph India

Rising diesel price and a dip in the hilsa catch for the second year on the trot have left fishermen and the government worried because livelihoods of around 30,000 people are at stake. Because of the low yield, many fishermen are not taking their trawlers to the sea after one or two trips as diesel price has crossed Rs 90 a litre.



Affording fuel cost, the main investment to catch hilsa, is tough. Many trawler owners like me have stopped sailing our boats temporarily as the expense-and-profit ratio is not viable. The cost towards fuel increased by 22 per cent compared to last year and production of hilsa reduced by 35 per cent. It is a survival challenge, said Satinath Patra, secretary of the Sunderban Samudrik Matsyojibi Shramik Union, an association of sea-fishermen. Sources said a trawler carries around 2,400 litres of diesel in barrels to trawl the sea for five days. Diesel on Thursday sold for Rs 92.50 a litre in Calcutta.



One of my trawlers came back with hilsa worth Rs 1.5 lakh only. I could not recover my fuel cost. This isnt only my story but of everyone in this trade, said Patra, adding they would write to central and state governments seeking subsidised diesel for fishing. The situation is the worst this year with low hilsa catch and high diesel price, said Shyamsundar Das, secretary of the Digha Fishermens Association. Jayanta Pradhan, assistant director of fisheries in South 24-Parganas, said hilsa production is down by more than half compared to last year.



Since the hilsa fishing season is yet to be over, the fishermen are keeping their fingers crossed, expecting to recover the loss in their next trips to the sea. But, the rising riverbed level due to siltation, trapping of juvenile fish and excessive harvesting by some fishermen are possible reasons why the hilsa is elusive. According to experts, the Hooghly river meets the Bay of Bengal close to the Sunderbans in South 24-Parganas, and the confluence is the favourite place for the hilsa, which move from the ocean to the river stream around this season. Till Tuesday around 2,000 boats that went to catch hilsa on June 15, after the expiry of the government-mandated gap from April 15 to June 14 to promote hilsa breeding, from Namkhana, Kakdwip, Raidighi in South 24-Parganas and from Digha, Shankarpur and Contai in East Midnapore have returned with their catch. But, the quantity of the fish was so meagre that the fishermen were reluctant to disclose the figure. According to the members of the fishermen welfare outfit in Namkhana, till Tuesday the total hilsa catch has not reached even 100 tonnes, less than a quarter of the projected catch during June-July every year. Hope the situation improves, said Patra.
Nevertheless, after a few days of contemplation, Jordan and his business partners apologized and opted to rebrand their rum.

Cultures are complex

The reality is that adjudicating between cultural appreciation and appropriation is never simple, and that is because cultures are vast, complex, historically determined and ever-changing.

In the cases of both Kardashian and Jordan, I would argue that had either of them sought to establish true cultural appreciation for the cultures from which they were drawing, the accusations and inappropriate use of cultural symbols could have been avoided. This could have been achieved through long immersion and deep learning over the years about the history and current manifestations of the cultures.

Americans are increasingly living within fantastically diverse multicultural worlds. Sharing in each others cultures is not only good; when done right, it is important and helps build community.
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Rain showers this morning with some sunshine during the afternoon hours. High around 95F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Denton, TX (76205)

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Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then partly cloudy during the afternoon hours. High 94F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight. Low near 75F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
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The latest African country to attempt to open up its telecoms sector to competition is Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

According to Bloomberg, the country has said that it plans to offer a significant minority stake in state-owned operator Djibouti Telecom, which, apparently, is in the process of rolling out a 4G network, to a strategic partner. This is said to be part of a plan for the country to open up the sector and modernize its economy, though how much of Djibouti Telecom is to be sold off is not yet known.

While this move seems to mirror the recent attempt of Djiboutis neighbour Ethiopia to open up its telecoms sector (among other sectors), the differences between the two countries, in terms of size and opportunities, are fairly significant. Ethiopia is the second-most populous country in Africa after Nigeria, with a population estimated at around 118 million. Djibouti has a population of just under one million.

That said, Djibouti is positioned on one of the worlds busiest shipping routes. It also hosts landing infrastructure for twelve high-capacity undersea cables.

Significantly the Djibouti government has been quoted as assuring would-be investors that there will be the chance to expand into mobile money and data centres. Mobile money in particular has been a sticking point for investors in Ethiopia, where restrictions on new entrants have given the incumbent operator a clear run at a very big mobile money market.

It will be interesting to see whether new entrants have more luck in Djibouti.
Starlink - Elon Musk's wireless satellite internet service - finally received authorisation to operate in Mexico for 10 years. It will be from October 28, 2021, when users in the country will be able to start using it.

Starlink Satellite Systems Mexico lodged its request with the Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones, IFT) on 2 April this year, and received its licence on 28 May. As per the terms of its licence, Starlink must be operational within 180 days.

The ten-year concession is extendable for a further ten years, said the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband provider. The Mexican Republic it will offer a 1 Gbps browsing speed and, according to the firm, it is an ideal service to be used in rural areas, where there is little or no telecommunications infrastructure.

The company already offers service plans in the United States, for a monthly fee of 99 dollars and with browsing speeds of 1 Gbps.

However, the company guarantees that in the future the quality of its service will improve drastically so that its connection speed will increase up to 1Gb.

According to Reuters, Elon Musks satellite internet company could offer global coverage starting in September. The president of the company, Gwynne Shotwell, indicated that SpaceX could transmit the service from space.
Eastern Europe is in the data centre news again, thanks to a new deal planned for Poland and potential investment by a recently established fund in even more data centres across the region.

According to French press reports, French data centre firm Data4 has announced plans to invest more than 100 million ($118.6 million) within three years, and up to 200 million by 2025 in its first campus in Poland.

The campus will be situated on four hectares of land and will have 50MW of capacity when fully built out.

Data 4 is owned by AXA Investment Managers. It already owns 21 data centres in France, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain.

Slightly more tentative is the news, revealed on the Data Centre Dynamics website, that the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund (3SIIF), which is backed by a number of state-owned banks and focused on eastern Europe, may spend some of the more than 1 billion ($1.186 billion) it has at its disposal on digital infrastructure.

Among the investments it has made to date (it was was established in 2019) are a December 2020 investment in Estonian data centre firm Greenergy Data Centres. Around the same time it also acquired MCF Group Estonia, which is developing a large data centre outside Tallinn, which is due to come online this year. MCF Group is reported to be planning more such developments across the CEE region in the future.

While transport and energy are also target investment areas, 3SIIFs website says: There is a significant requirement for investment in digital infrastructure in order to service growing demand for digital services.

We shall see. The company specifically targets the so-called Three Seas Region and the 12 countries which border the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas, namely Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
Spanish telecommunications tower operator Cellnex has closed the acquisition of the Polish infrastructure company Polkomtel Infrastruktura for some 1.6 billion euros after receiving the green light from Poland's competition watchdog UOKiK.

The agreement, concluded with Cyfrowy Polsat Group, covers the acquisition of 99.9% of Polkomtel Infrastruktura, its telecommunications infrastructure subsidiary.

Bringing in around 7,000 towers to its portfolio and active equipment which includes 37,000 radio carriers covering all the bands used by 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, Cellnexs total reach in Poland hits more than 14,000 sites after finalising a deal with Polish operator Play in April.

The agreement involves an investment of c. 1.6 billion by Cellnex, plus an additional programme to roll out up to c. 1,500 sites, as well as investments in active equipment, mostly for 5G, for a further c. 600 million over the next 9 years. The transaction has been financed with available cash.

The Spanish company will operate voice and data transmission equipment, fibre backbone, and fibre-to-the-tower backhaul.

Cellnexs CEO Tobias Martinez said: This allows Cellnex to rapidly consolidate and reinforce its position in Poland following the recent acquisition of towers and sites from Play. It also exemplifies our commitment to evolving the traditional tower operator model towards an integrated telecommunications infrastructure management model, combining the operation of passive elements (towers) and active elements such as transmission equipment, radio links, and fibre-to-the-tower.

Cellnex and Cyfrowy Polsat have agreed on a 25-year service contract with subsequent renewals for 15-year periods.
Operator Africell, which already has a presence in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, has announced plans to deploy a brand-new 5G-ready network in Angola with the help of vendor Nokia.

In fact 5G is only part of the story. Nokia has announced that it has signed a deal to deploy its network technologies to Angolas new mobile telecommunications operator to help it to provide 2G, 3G and 4G services in the capital city Luanda.

However, for the new network in the capital, Nokia will deploy its AirScale Single Radio Access Network (S-RAN) across up to 700 sites not only to support 2G, 3G and 4G services concurrently, but also to be 5G-ready.

Nokia points out that its AirScale platform can be seamlessly upgraded to support 5G networks through a software update. In addition, Africell will deploy the Nokia AirFrame data centre solution to run any cloud-based application, along with the microwave transmission network Wavence to support advanced packet networking, and the NetAct network management system to enable consolidated network view for improved network monitoring and management. Nokias IP routers for access, aggregation, backhaul and core will also be part of the deployment plans.

Nokia will also deploy cloud-native Cloud Packet Core, 3G Core, Voice Core, and Registers for the voice and data core network software, which, it says, will enable Africell to achieve a high degree of flexibility for responding to changing customer demands by scaling the various network functions according to the traffic experienced.

As part of the core network solution, says Nokia, its Policy Controller provides scalability, flexibility and performance for Africells diverse range of services. Nokia also will leverage its services expertise for the network planning, optimization, installation and care.

African mobile technology company Africell confirmed earlier this year that it had finalised a deal that gives it a mobile telecommunications operators licence in Angola  making it the countrys fourth operator.
ATHENS, Ala. (AP)  A longtime Alabama sheriff accused on theft and ethics charges is set to stand trial nearly two years after he was indicted.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday for Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, who has continued to serve despite facing a dozen felony counts alleging he stole campaign donations, got interest-free loans and solicited money from employees.

Blakely, 70, has pleaded not guilty and announced plans to seek an 11th term in office if acquitted. While state law doesn't require the removal of a sheriff under indictment, a conviction would result in his automatic ouster from office.

In office since 1983, Blakely is currently the state's longest-serving sheriff. Court officials summoned roughly five times as many potential jurors as normal, about 500 people, because Blakely is so well known in the area, news outlets reported.

Prosecutors have tried to tie charges that Blakely took money from public and campaign accounts to claims that Blakely drinks and gambles in out-of-state casinos. While the defense argued that such evidence is aimed at harming the sheriffs reputation, a judge ruled previously that jurors would be allowed to hear it.
Turner, who previously specialized in repairing older buildings, said hes seen very dangerous damage in Florida buildings. Im surprised that (Surfside) is the first one that Ive seen this happen to," he said. "Im not surprised it happened; Im surprised its the first one.

In Boca Raton, officials are working quickly to establish a recertification process for older buildings, Councilman Andy Thomson said.

We have a number of high-rise condos on the beach, particularly. And I think thats what causes the most heartburn for people because of the potential of corrosion due to saltwater, Thomson said.

Steven Rogers lives at the Chalfonte condominiums in Boca Raton, where neither the city nor Palm Beach County requires building recertification. But Rogers, who was elected the condominium association president, said they're not waiting for either to set a policy.

The association hired engineers two years ago to inspect the two 22-story towers built in the late 1970s on the Atlantic Ocean. Rogers said he called engineers again after the Surfside collapse and told them he wants an inspection policy thats more stringent than Miami-Dades. The association is now making repairs with plans to do so every year.
We've seen how the campaign against Cuba was growing on social media in the past few weeks,'' Diaz-Canel said Monday in a nationally televised appearance in which his entire Cabinet was also present. That's the way it's done: Try to create inconformity, dissatisfaction by manipulating emotions and feelings.

In a statement Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden said Cuban protesters were asserting their basic rights.

"We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime,'' Biden said.

The U.S. urges the Cuban government to serve their people rather than enriching themselves,'' Biden added.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq on Monday stressed the U.N. position on the need for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly to be respected fully, and we expect that that will be the case.
MONTGOMERY  Former President Donald Trump repeated his support of U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks in the Alabama race for U.S. Senate, and took a jab at Brooks well-funded rival Katie Britt.

Britt said Saturday that its a sign of her campaigns momentum and fired back that she didnt need anyone to fight her battles.

Trump in a statement reiterated his support for Brooks and took jabs at senators, including U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Britt was Shelbys chief of staff but left to lead an influential business group.

Trump, in a statement, said Britt, is not what Alabama wants.

I see that the RINO Senator from Alabama, close friend of Old Crow Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, is pushing hard to have his assistant fight the great Mo Brooks for his Senate seat, Trump wrote in a statement, using the expression for Republican in name only.

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Britt posted a video Saturday that didnt mention Trump by name but said she was responding to a statement put out about her candidacy.

What I want to tell you is that doesnt scare me. Im here to fight for you, Britt said in a video posted on her campaigns Twitter account.
HUNTSVILLE  Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a longtime Alabama sheriff accused on theft and ethics charges, but news outlets and the public were barred from attending jury selection.

News outlets report that potential jurors reported for jury selection for the trial of Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, but the public and the media were barred from attending the proceedings at the Limestone County Event Center.

WHNT reported that a court bailiff for retired Judge Pamela Baschab told reporters attempting to access the proceedings that the judge wanted to make sure jurors were comfortable and wouldnt be bothered by media. The station said jury selection has been public in other high-profile trials in the area including that of a police officer accused of murder.

Blakely faces a dozen felony counts alleging he stole campaign donations, got interest-free loans and solicited money from employees.

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He has pleaded not guilty and announced plans to seek an 11th term in office if acquitted. While state law doesnt require the removal of a sheriff under indictment, a conviction would result in his automatic ouster from office.
A woman practices livestreaming on social media in a training course in Hanoi in July, 2021. Photo by VnExpress.

The Ministry of Information and Communications has proposed several regulations to tighten control on livestream activities on social media like Facebook and Youtube.

Cross-border social media must demand operators of accounts with 10,000 or more followers/subscribers in Vietnam to provide contact information to the ministry, a draft decree says.

It also requires websites and apps with 100,000 or more monthly frequent users to register with the ministry.

Only registered accounts can host livestream videos to sell goods and services.

The social media platforms will also be asked to block or remove flagged content within 24 hours upon "justified" requests by Vietnamese individuals and organizations affected by such content.

The ministry estimates that by the end of June, the top 10 Vietnamese social media platforms had a total of around 80 million users.

But the popularity of these platforms is low compared to foreign competitors like Facebook with 65 million users, Youtube (60 million) and TikTok (20 million).

These platforms have not fully abided by Vietnamese laws, the ministry says. A lot of the content is fake news, causing instability and frustration in the society and inequality between domestic and foreign companies.

Many individuals and organizations use these platforms to livestream and provide incorrect and offensive information about individuals and organizations, the ministry said.
People are seen at Hamad International Airport, in Doha, Qatar, January 11, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Ibraheem Al Omari.

Qatar has placed Vietnam in its yellow travel list of 87 countries and territories unvaccinated visitors from where need to undergo seven-day hotel quarantine on arrival.

Under updated travel policies that take effect Monday, visitors then have to take a PCR test on the sixth day.

Al Sharq newspaper reported however that people who got two shots of a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization are exempt from quarantine, and would take an anti-bodies test on arrival.

They must furnish a negative PCR test certificate from an accredited health center in the country of departure valid for 72 hours after arrival.

This also applies to visitors who are not vaccinated.

Qatar is resuming issue of family and tourist entry visas on Monday.

Egypt also updated entry rules, requiring vaccinated passengers from high-risk countries impacted by the highly transmissible Delta variant, including Vietnam, to undergo a rapid PCR test on arrival. Those testing positive will be transferred to a medical facility as a precaution.

Around four million of Vietnam's 96 million people have got shots, with nearly 280,000 of them getting both doses. The government targets vaccinating 70 percent of the population by April 2022.

With the country struggling to contain the Delta variant, several countries including Sri Lanka, Oman, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have banned entry from Vietnam.

Its containment of Covid was a global success story until late April until the fourth wave began.

It has recorded 26,930 cases so far.
The United States welcomes the recent release of journalist Nathan Maung, a United States citizen who was arrested on March 9 and imprisoned for months in a Burmese jail. Maung is the founder and editor-in-chief of the news website Kamayut Media. His Burmese colleague and website co-founder Hanthar Nyein remains in prison, charged with spreading misinformation, as the harsh crackdown against independent media in Burma continues.

Although Nathan Maung was freed and returned to the United States, another U.S. citizen, Daniel Fenster, remains incarcerated in Burma. Fenster works for Frontier Myanmar, a news and business magazine. He was on his way back to the United States for a family visit on May 24, when he was detained at the airport by Burmese authorities. At a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price called on Burmas military regime to allow Daniel Fensters safe return to the United States.

The detentions of the U.S. citizens are part of a wave of arrests of journalists in Burma following the military coup, which seized power on February 1, 2021. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, dozens of members of the press are behind bars, detained during raids by security forces at their offices, or while covering anti-regime street protests which swept the country following the coup.

Several Burmese journalists, including reporters Aung Kyaw, Zaw Zaw, and Min Nyo, were recently sentenced by military courts to prison terms of two and three years under an article in the penal code that criminalizes the dissemination of information that could cause disloyalty to the government on the part of security forces or civil servants.

In addition, military authorities revoked the licenses of news organizations and restricted access to the Internet.

State Department Spokesperson Price noted that a free and independent media is indispensable to building prosperous, resilient, and free societies.

We have seen the junta in recent days attempting to stifle freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, he declared. And they do that knowing that only by suppressing the will of the Burmese people might they be able to retain some semblance of control.

Mr. Price said, We will be pressing the case for all journalists who are wrongfully detained in Burma for doing nothing more than their job, ultimately knowing that their job is protecting the freedom of expression of the people of Burma.
United States Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced nearly 407 million dollars in new humanitarian assistance to Venezuelans suffering as a result of the economic crisis caused by the Maduro regime and its enablers, which has crippled Venezuelas economy, driven millions of its citizens to flee their country, and left millions more inside Venezuela in need of humanitarian assistance. She made the announcement in mid June during the virtual International Donors Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants.

Through the second half of the twentieth century, oil-rich Venezuela was one of Latin Americas most affluent countries, boasting one of the strongest economies in Latin America.

But over the last decade or so, due to mismanagement and corruption of the regime of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela has spiraled into an economic crisis. Today, one in three Venezuelans is food insecure, the medical system is near collapse, and there is no end in sight to the humanitarian suffering of the Venezuelan people. So, Venezuelans have fled the country in droves. Since 2015, more than 5.6 million out of a population of about 30 million have fled the country.

The newly announced funds will help support those Venezuelans who have fled to 17 countries across Latin America, as well as the communities hosting them. It will also go toward helping the 7 million Venezuelans who live within Venezuela and find themselves in desperate need of aid.

This new funding will provide the Venezuelan people with a wide range of lifesaving and essential assistance, such as food, healthcare, safe drinking water, emergency shelter, access to legal and protection services, and livelihood opportunities, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.

The funding will provide protection for vulnerable groups including women, youth, LGBTQI+, and indigenous people, and specialized assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, I reaffirm the commitment of the United States to assist Venezuela, refugees and migrants, the host communities that support them, and the most vulnerable still in Venezuela who are facing a worsening, complex humanitarian crisis. I also reaffirm our commitment to addressing the crisis through a peaceful, political solution, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. The United States remains steadfast in our support to the Venezuelan people in their struggle for the restoration of democracy and rule of law.
ELKO  Dangerously hot conditions continue as Elko experienced a seventh day of high temperatures reaching 100 degrees or higher, and the third day in a row of matching record highs.

Elko reached 104 degrees on Monday, following highs of 103 on Saturday and Sunday.

The high temperatures would need to persist for a few more days in order to break the record for 100-degree heat, however. The record is 12 days straight in 1917, from July 5-16.

The second-longest streak is eight days, which happened in both 1892 and 1978, according to the National Weather Services Elko office.

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The Elko area is under a heat advisory through Tuesday.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors, advised the weather service.

Highs should drop below 100 toward the end of the week, but only by a degree or two.

Elkos all-time high temperature is 107 degrees, set on July 4, 1981 and July 24, 1890.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  Tesla founder Elon Musk took to a witness stand Monday to defend his companys 2016 acquisition of a troubled company called SolarCity against a lawsuit that claims hes to blame for a deal that was rife with conflicts of interest and never delivered the profits he'd promised.

And to the surprise of no one, the famously colorful billionaire did so in the most personally combative terms.

I think you are a bad human being," Musk told Randall Baron, a lawyer for shareholders who was pressing Musk to acknowledge his mistakes in helping engineer the acquisition of SolarCity, a manufacturer of solar panels.

I have great respect for the court, Musk later added, but not for you, sir.

The long-running shareholder lawsuit asserts that Musk, who was SolarCitys largest stakeholder and its chairman, and other Tesla directors breached their fiduciary duties in bowing to Musks wishes and agreeing to buy the company. In what the plaintiffs call a clear conflict of interest, SolarCity had been founded by Musk and two of his cousins, Lyndon and Peter Rive.
The blaze, which was only 8% contained, increased dramatically to 86 square miles (222 square kilometers) as firefighters sweltered in 100-degree temperatures.

It was one of several threatening homes across Western states that were expected to see triple-digit heat through the weekend as a high-pressure zone blankets the region.

Pushed by strong winds, a wildfire in southern Oregon doubled in size to 120 square miles (311 square kilometers) Saturday as it raced through heavy timber in the Fremont-Winema National Forest near the Klamath County town of Sprague River.

The National Weather Service warned the dangerous conditions could cause heat-related illnesses, while Californias power grid operator issued a statewide Flex Alert from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday to avoid disruptions and rolling blackouts.

The California Independent System Operator warned of potential power shortage, not only because of mounting heat, but because a wildfire in southern Oregon was threatening transmission lines that carry imported power to California.
SEARCHLIGHT  The push for a new national monument about 60 miles south of Las Vegas has taken on added urgency, in the face of a new wind-farm proposal in the area.

The monument would be called Avi Kwa Ame, which is the Mojave Tribes term for Spirit Mountain. The 380,000-acre monument would connect the Mojave National Preserve on the California-Nevada border with the Colorado River plateau.

Neal Desai, senior program director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said the landscape is holy ground for many Native Americans.

This area is sacred to a dozen tribes, Desai explained. Its tied to the creation story. It is the area where the universe started for the Yuman tribes along the river.

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Opponents noted the area already has some federal protections. However, a national monument designation would preclude any future commercial development.

In recent weeks, town officials in Searchlight and Boulder City have endorsed the monument proposal.

In 2018, the Bureau of Land Management rejected a bid by a Swedish company to build the huge Crescent Peak wind farm.

Desai added he hopes the agency will also put a stop to the companys latest plans.
With the ending of extra unemployment benefits in 26 states, workers have started to sue states to ensure the extra weekly payments of $300 continue.

The states where judges ruled the payments must continue are:

Maryland until July 14 at the earliest.

until July 14 at the earliest. Indiana until September 6 when the scheme ends nationwide.

Ohio and Texas are also facing lawsuits with the latter having 30,000 workers suing the state.

There are expectations that there could be further lawsuits in other states after the lawsuits in Maryland and Indiana.

Why are the decisions being challenged in court?

Workers fear the end of extra benefits could throw millions of people into economic peril. In both Maryland and Indiana there are more than 500,000 unemployed residents according to the National Employment Law project (NELP).

The states were sued on the grounds that there is a state requirement to "cooperate with the US Department of Labor and maximize benefits for unemployed residents."

And it seems judges agree that the benefits must resume at least until the lawsuits are resolved. They said workers could suffer "irreparable harm" should aid not be given until then.

Both states are appealing the ruling.

"The state of Indiana took the appropriate steps to terminate its participation in federal pandemic unemployment program," Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb's office said in an emailed statement. "The agreement ended on June 19. The Governor and Department of Workforce Development will discuss an immediate appeal of the judge's order with the Attorney General."

Why are the extra benefits ending early?

Critics of the programmes say that these funds make it more profitable to stay at home rather than look for work. The benefits are scheduled to end nationally in September but the 26 states that requested an early termination say it will help get people back in the workplace.

But it is not clear whether the move has encouraged more people back into work.

The unemployment benefits are a part of President Biden's American Rescue Plan and are designed to lift the country out of the covid-19 depression.

The country is dealing with a swathe of job vacancies that are not being filled as quickly as lawmakers would like, with the Department of Labor reporting 9.21 million vacant jobs countrywide.
According to statistics published by John Hopkins University these are the five states with the highest and lowest rates of full vaccination, as of July 12 2021:

Top five states by fully vaccinated people

Vermont (60.26%)

(60.26%) Massachusetts (58.65%)

(58.65%) Connecticut (56.57%)

(56.57%) Rhode Island (55.54%)

(55.54%) Maine (54.96%)

Bottom five states by fully vaccinated people

Alabama (31.08%)

(31.08%) Mississippi (31.27%)

(31.27%) Arkansas (32.54%)

(32.54%) Wyoming (32.68%)

(32.68%) Louisiana (33.04%)

Overall vaccination of the whole US is 48.52%.

Why have these states got these vaccination rates?

One factor that correlates to a low vaccine take up is poverty. Of the five states with the lowest rates of vaccination, three of them, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, are in the top five states with the highest poverty rate according to the 2019 census data.

High rates of poverty mean a greater chance of poor access to medical services and of the states with the highest vaccination rates, three have poverty rates below the national average. The two outliers, Rhode Island and Maine, are extremely close to the national average.

Another factor is race. Despite making up 12.9% of the population, 8.9% of African-Americans are fully vaccinated. This is mirrored by Hispanic/Latino Americans where 15.2% are fully vaccinated out of 17.2% of the population. Although the differences between these numbers have tightened since March, the difference could help explain why some states have a low vaccination rate. Indeed, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana have some of highest populations of people of colour in the country.

Is there a link between the race and poverty?

According to the latest census data, Hispanic and black Americans have twice the poverty rate of their white compatriots.

There is also a history of distrust between black Americans and the government, especially in terms of healthcare after the reveal of the Tuskegee experiment. Black Americans were deliberately not treated for syphilis for decades, despite being told they were being treated with free healthcare.

These problems make these groups much less likely to get vaccinated and are at greater risk from covid-19.

President Biden announced extra help in March for minorities and last week introduced a new 'door-to-door' vaccination strategy for poor communities.

Moreover, it is crucial that these states and communities are convinced to get the vaccine as the data shows black Americans are twice as likely to die after catching covid-19 and Hispanic Americans 2.3 times more likely to die. With these bottom five states having high numbers of ethnic minorities it is important that more vaccines are delivered and issued.
As of Friday, China has provided 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and concentrates used for production to more than 100 countries and international organizations, accounting for one-sixth of global COVID-19 vaccine production, a Foreign Ministry official said.

Guo Xuejun, deputy director of the ministry's Department of International Economic Affairs, told Xinhua News Agency late Friday that China opposes vaccine nationalism and has actively supported other developing countries in their vaccine production and rollout.

These countries include the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Brazil, Turkey, Pakistan and Mexico, with a total production capacity of over 200 million doses, he said.

Of the 140 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, 84 proposed importing Chinese vaccines in the first half of this year, Guo said, adding that China has proactively responded to all these countries' demands and promptly provided vaccines.

"Our next step will be continuing to enhance our vaccine cooperation with various parties, further improve the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries, and make greater contributions to fighting the pandemic and promoting economic recovery," Guo said.

CoronaVac, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, has been found to be 83.5 percent effective in protecting against symptomatic infection and has had no reported cases of severe adverse events, according to interim data from phase three clinical trials in Turkey published in the journal The Lancet on Thursday.

The trials involved more than 10,000 participants and found the vaccine can induce a robust antibody response after two shots.

CoronaVac is an inactivated vaccine that uses a killed version of the whole virus to induce an immune response. It can be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and has been approved for emergency use by 22 countries, including Thailand, Brazil, Uruguay and Ukraine. Last month, the World Health Organization also validated the vaccine for emergency use.

"One of the advantages of CoronaVac is that it does not need to be frozen, making it easier to transport and distribute. This could be particularly important for global distribution, as some countries may struggle to store large amounts of vaccine at very low temperatures," said Murat Akova, lead author of the Lancet study and a professor at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey.

The interim study examined 10,029 participants aged 18 to 59 from Turkey who either received two doses of the vaccine or a placebo between Sept 14 and Jan 5. It found that the efficacy of the vaccine was 83.5 percent after two doses, and was 100 percent effective in preventing moderate and severe cases.

However, the team also acknowledged that although the vaccine can induce an antibody response in 90 percent of recipients, the response decreased with increasing age of recipients. The study included a short follow-up period and a relatively young and low-risk population.

So more research is needed to confirm its efficacy over the long term, and it should be conducted with a more diverse group of participants. The vaccine's ability to protect against emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 should also be examined, the study said.

As of Thursday, China's National Medical Products Administration said 22 COVID-19 vaccines had been approved for clinical trials in the country. Four vaccines have been granted conditional market approval and three have been authorized for emergency use in China.

Assistance welcomed

Since China began assisting other countries' COVID-19 inoculation efforts, heads of state and government of many nations have expressed appreciation for the help and some have even personally welcomed the delivery of the Chinese vaccines at the airport.

In February, Mozambican Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario extended warm greetings to the Chinese government and people on behalf of Mozambique. He said that, in the joint fight against the pandemic, China has shown brotherly friendship with the Mozambican people, and he thanked the Chinese government and people for their support.

The same month, Peruvian Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez said her country was delighted to receive the Chinese vaccine, which will help the country fight the pandemic.

In March, Dominican Vice-President Raquel Pena welcomed the vaccines at the airport and expressed gratitude for China's support and assistance, saying the vaccine will certainly provide an important guarantee for an early victory against the pandemic in the Dominican Republic.

The vaccine provided by China has saved lives and written a chapter of cooperation between China and the international community in the fight against the pandemic, she said, adding that China has played a praiseworthy role in the global anti-pandemic effort.
TBILISI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is the determining factor behind China's great changes and remarkable achievements, said Ali Ahmadov, deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan and vice chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.

"The CPC has been playing a crucial role in China's rejuvenation and development cause. Without the CPC, there would not be a new China today," he said in a recent video interview with Xinhua.

"The clever integration of national macro-control and market regulation has created one of the most efficient economic management models in the world today," Ahmadov said.

The CPC has a strong political mobilization capacity of uniting all the social forces of China to commit to serving the people, which has consequently attracted firm support from the masses, he said.

The rapid development of China's economy, Ahmadov said, has fully proved the system superiority of the CPC, which enables the country to focus on accomplishing major tasks.

"The wise leadership of the CPC is the main reason for China's rapid economic development," and the great achievements of a country cannot be separated from the wisdom of its leaders, he noted.

President Xi Jinping's proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative has received wide support from people in China and across the world, he said.

"Azerbaijan fully supports this endeavor and is doing its utmost to implement it," he added.

Ahmadov hailed the friendship and cooperation between the New Azerbaijan Party and the CPC as "an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries."

As for the cooperation between the two countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Azerbaijani official described it as "a good example for countries around the world."

"We are very grateful to our Chinese friends for promptly providing the vaccines to Azerbaijan. Many Azerbaijani people, including me, have been vaccinated with the Chinese vaccines, which makes us feel more secure," he said.

"It is my firm belief that under the leadership of the CPC, China is bound to score greater achievements in the future," Ahmadov said.
Picture by Qianli

For some time, the US has been making a big fuss about the origin of the novel coronavirus and has produced ridiculous lies about it - one of the most absurd was the lab leak theory that came out of nowhere. Those behind such conspiracy embrace the presumption of guilt, and trust me, they are good at finding evidence with a predesigned conclusion in hand. However, doing so is not making any sense at all, nor is it consistent with facts. It undermines the global fight against COVID-19, and is detrimental to the public.

Anti-intellectualism in the US is inconceivable

In the early days of the outbreak, The Lancet, the worlds top medical journal, published a statement signed by 27 prominent public health scientists across the globe, pointing out that conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumors, and prejudice that jeopardize our global collaboration in the fight against this virus.

The open letter has, unfortunately, brought trouble to Stanley Perlman, the famous American virologist from the University of Iowa. The Washington Post reported that in early June, he received a letter of threat that accused him of being Dr. Frankenstein  yes, the Frankenstein who made monsters.

This reminded me of a book I read  Anti-intellectualism in American Life. According to Richard Hofstadter, the distinguished historian and author of the book, anti-intellectualism is a resentment and suspicion of the life of the mind and of those who are considered to represent it; and a disposition constantly to minimize the value of that life. To put it simply, anti-intellectualism shows a lack of rationality. It refers to people who turn a blind eye to facts that contradict their views, and those who only believe in things they think are right.

Inconceivable cases of anti-intellectualism in America keep popping up  many Republicans believe that global warming is merely a hoax sponsored by the liberals and some foreign governments, so they refuse to even talk about it. To make matters worse, some in the US believe the coronavirus is simply another flu strain, so people can still gather, there is no need for masks, and no need to take the jab.

The truth is, there are widely shared conclusions among scientists on the origin of the virus that are against the so-called lab leak theory.

Massimo Galli, head of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Luigi Sacco Hospital in Milan, Italy said that the coronavirus is an unknown virus with no signs of genome engineering inside, and that the lab leak theory has no scientific basis.

Also, a team consisting of researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US recently published a report after analyzing 24,000 blood samples, which found that some Americans got infected with the coronavirus as early as mid-December, 2019.

Despite all these findings, one has to admit that, as a scientific matter, origin tracing is not something that can be completed within a short period of time. The lab leak theory obviously fits well with anti-intellectual imaginations. There are people buying the theory, and some are hyping it up out of their ulterior political agendas. As a result, the lab leak theory became rampant in the US for a while.

The lab leak theories for COVID-19 range from accidental to deliberate and even state-sponsored. These are easy claims to make, comprehensible to everyone, part of popular culture and catering to political discourse, said Dominic Dwyer, Australian immunologist and epidemiologist, and a member of the WHO team tasked with origin-tracing of the novel coronavirus.

In fact, anti-intellectualism not only underlines the absence of scientific spirit, it also signals the collapse of American political morality at a time when its social stratification becomes more rigid, domestic politics more polarized and the Cold War mindset is coming back. Externally, anti-intellectualism is manifested by compensation claims against China and the lab leak theory; internally, its evidenced by the fact that no political solutions are found for the Black Lives Matter campaign, racial discrimination against Asians and the rampant gun violence.

American scholar Francis Fukuyama wrote that in as early as 2014, he had lamented the deep-rooted corruption of American politics and the fact that the countrys governance bodies were becoming less effective. The situation only got worse after Trump entered the White House. It has since been deteriorating at an alarming speed and eventually reached a staggering level, and thats why the chaos like protesters raiding the Capitol could happen in January.

Lets play track & field instead of wresting

Ive noticed how much controversy there is recently in the US surrounding the lab leak theoryit shows how divided the American society is.

Christopher Ford, former Assistant Secretary of State, recently published a lengthy open letter to prove his innocence, but the letter can be summarized in one simple line  I didnt collude with the Communist Party of China.

According to Ford, during his tenure the US was engaged in a full-government competition against the security challenges China brought to the US and its allies. He also said that he went to the UK to press the British government to immediately give up on Huawais technologies.

But why would such a diplomatic elite be labeled by some in the US as a CCP spy?

Now in retrospect, American media believe its because some senior officials in the US State Department refuted the lab leak theory in the early days of the pandemic. It is widely perceived in the US that these officials sided with China, and that Ford is one of them.

Though filled with false accusations against China, Fords open letter demonstrated how the US State Department created the lab leak theory and scapegoated China. To put it simply, someone is trying to stick the lab leak label onto China despite the fact theres no scientific evidence for it.

It ironically attests to the fact that when some in the US say they are tracing the origin, they are actually fabricating the origin of the virus.

Peter Daszak, zoologist, member of the WHO team tasked with origin-tracing and President of the New York-based EcoHealth Alliance, dismissed the US intelligence reports as political, not scientific.

Then why some people in the US work so hard to hype up the scandal?

For the majority of the incumbent political leaders in the United States, their careers started in the Cold War era. The 78-year-old Biden, for example, entered politics in 1970, at a time when Americans liked to seek enemies for their global strategy. The political mindset of these people is clearly lagging behind as rules of the jungle, the Cold War mentality, and the zero-sum game still dominate their thinking. The insecurity that American hegemony may one day be replaced or threatened is forever lingering on their mind.

Under such outdated mindset, the US even eavesdropped on its European allies, nor to mention China, a country with a different ideology but is quickly catching up with its growing strength. Steven Bannon, once Trumps strategist, said that America only had a time window of five years to contain China. Anxiety has intensified since Biden took office when it became clear that the US could not completely contain the development of China.

This change in mentality is also perceived by people outside the country. Prof. Kishore Mahbubaniof the National University of Singapore said bluntly that the US had an indescribable fear of China after spending three months in the United States.

The World Health Organization has called for scientists to carry out their researches based on reliable evidence, because otherwise the world may not get an answer from the origin tracing effort. Polluting the working environment of origin tracing will clearly not help mankind understand how and where the virus started. Very unfortunately, some in the US are only into hyping the issue up and bundling it with Xinjiang and Taiwan, in the hope that China would bear the brunt of international pressure, Chinas image would be tainted and that the US could shift its domestic pressure elsewhere.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche, President of the Schiller Institute, a US think tank, said recently that to accuse China of making the novel coronavirus is a malicious effort and an old trick by the West to smear China.

But we live in a different time today, this global pandemic has taught us that the world is interconnected and mankind share the same destiny. Win-win cooperation should be the theme of this new era, and if there has to be competition, countries had better play the track and field type of game where one catches up with another and all countries progress together; instead of the wrestling game where countries attack one another.

By observing the performance of the Wuhan Institute of Virology that stands at the very center of this hoax, one will find a different type of philosophy:

According to The Daily Telegraph, when Peter Daszak, the zoologist I mentioned earlier, was on that trip to Wuhan, he was told by the institute that nobody even cared about the lab leak theory there, because they didnt want to fuel such groundless conspiracy theory. When asked about the theory in her interviews with foreign press, Shi Zhengli, a researcher with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, said that she was only concerned about the characteristics of the novel coronavirus and its latest strains.

As I write now, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US have exceeded 30 million, and the death toll has exceeded 600,000. These are not numbers, but human lives. This is by no means how the worlds leading power should look like.

I sincerely hope that instead of hyping up the lab leak theory, the US can show political courage, get rid of the fetters of old thinking, shoulder up the responsibility for its own people and work on improving its competitiveness.

Now it seems that the Chinese slogan of handle our own business well not only works for China itself, but also for the United States.

Contributed by Longyuan from Official WeChat account of Poquanle

[ Editor: WXL ]
When the COVID-19 pandemic still rages on with many countries and regions in dire need of vaccines, the CoronaVac vaccine developed by Sinovac has been widely supplied across the world, demonstrating encouraging results in the global fight against the virus.

To ease the bottleneck of the production capacity and reach broader recipients, China has cooperated with eight countries to manufacture vaccines locally.

Screenshot shows the article published on Daily News Egypt.

Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly was cited as saying that the country has already produced one million doses of the Sinovac vaccine domestically, according to a July 5 article from local media Daily News Egypt.

The production line in Egypt marks the first instance of China working with an African country in vaccine manufacture. Its expected to benefit the neighboring African and Middle Eastern countries after meeting Egypts own needs.

New evidence also emerged to reaffirm the safety and high efficacy of the vaccine developed by Sinovac.

A woman receives a jab of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in Montevideo, Uruguay, March 1, 2021. (Photo by Nicolas Celaya/Xinhua)

Last month, a statement released by Uruguays Ministry of Public Health said the Sinovac vaccine reduced COVID-19 infections and deaths among Uruguayan adults. The real-world data showed the shots cut deaths by 95.3 percent among the vaccine recipients aged 18 to 49, and by 95.2 percent among those aged 50 to 69. Meanwhile, it was 94 percent effective at preventing intensive care admissions.

As children and adolescents are always the key concern in vaccination drive, researchers have confirmed the safety and efficacy of CoronaVac for children as young as three in the early-stage human trials.

Screenshot shows the paper published on The Lancet.

CoronaVac was well tolerated and safe and induced humoral responses in children and adolescents aged 317 years, noted a June 28 paper published on The Lancet.

In the trial, a total of 552 young participants were given two doses of vaccine from Sinovac 28 days apart. Among the various age groups, more than 96 percent of trial participants were found to develop antibodies against the coronavirus in initial studies.

In terms of real-world application, Indonesia has recommended Sinovac vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, as Reuters reported on June 28.

The country seeks to extend inoculations amid a surge in infections, said the article, Task Force data shows children aged 0-18 account for 12.6 percent of Indonesia's total COVID-19 infections.

Vaccines are key to curb the pandemic. Globally, as of 5 July 2021, more than 183 million cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, including nearly 4 million deaths. According to the latest data from WHO, a total of 298 million vaccine doses have been administered worldwide to date.

When the whole world is in a race between infection and injection, Chinese vaccines serve as a promising solution to the pandemic for the easy accessibility, safety and high efficacy.

So far, China has provided vaccine aid to nearly 100 countries from 5 continents. More than 480 million doses of Chinese vaccines have been supplied to the international community, making China the largest supplier of vaccines in the world, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told at a regular press conference on July 2.

We also hope that all countries in the world that are able to do so will act as soon as possible, honor their commitments, and make their due contributions to promoting equitable distribution and application of vaccines for better global anti-epidemic cooperation, Wang said.

[ Editor: WXL ]
Digital RMB application in the future is displayed on a large screen at 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai World Expo center on July 8, 2021. With the theme of "Intelligent Connectivity, Inspirational Cities", the conference aimed to promote global exchange and cooperation, and enhance the common welfare of mankind. (Photo/ Zhang Hengwei)

Digital RMB application in the future is displayed at 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai World Expo center on July 8, 2021. With the theme of "Intelligent Connectivity, Inspirational Cities", the conference aimed to promote global exchange and cooperation, and enhance the common welfare of mankind. (Photo/ Zhang Hengwei)

Self-driving technology at the 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) attracts visitors, July 8, 2021. (Photo/ Zhang Hengwei)

A visitor experiences interaction at the 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai on July 8, 2021. (Photo/ Zhang Hengwei)

People experience artificial intelligence products at the 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in Shanghai, July 8, 2021. (Photo/ Zhang Hengwei)

[ Editor: WPY ]
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China. The 100 years of the CPC is the 100 years of adhering to its original aspirations and always serving the people. The Chinese wisdom and Chinese solution the CPC-led fight against poverty embodies provide valuable reference for developing countries poverty relief programs, and have broad global value. In the context of the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is significant for the world to better understand China and the CPC and to promote global sustainable development and the process of modernization by narrating poverty reduction in China and deepening the sharing of poverty reduction experiences between China and the rest of the world.

Supporting anti-poverty efforts in developing countries

The world today, with political multi-polarization, economic globalization, social informatization, and cultural diversification, has already become a community of a common destiny. Meanwhile, such problems as poverty, starvation, diseases, and social conflicts are still troubling humanity and hindering global prosperity and development.

China is always trying to promote the world's sustainable development. Since the introduction of the reform and opening-up policy, the CPC has elevated anti-poverty endeavors to a higher level of the whole party and country, and implemented large-scale, well planned and organized anti-poverty development, which successfully lifted 770 million rural poor out of poverty, contributed more than 70% to world poverty reduction rate, and accomplished the anti-poverty targets of the United Nations 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. In addition, China has always supported the anti-poverty efforts and socio-economic development of developing countries by means of direct aid, concessional loans, and infrastructural development, which provides a strong impetus for advancing global sustainable development.

Offering developing countries Chinese experiences to accelerate modernization

Modernization is a relentless pursuit of developing countries, while getting rid of poverty is the foundation and premise for the modernization of a country. After World War II, with the national liberation and independence of numerous developing countries, countries have regarded developing national economies and improving people's standards of living as a priority, modernization has thus been accelerated.

To promote national modernization, China has made many important explorations and contributions. The CPC has led Chinese people of all ethnic groups to accomplish a historic leap from being liberated to solving the problem of food and clothing shortage, from a basic to an all-round well-to-do society, and gone through the process of modernization that took Western countries hundreds of years to complete. Especially since 2020, China has overcome rapidly the negative effects of the pandemic and accomplished the poverty alleviation tasks as scheduled. The modernization of China is based on poverty reduction, with rural revitalization as a key project, and has deepened the understanding of the rules of national modernization, enriched modernization theories, and provided Chinese experiences to help accelerate the modernization of developing countries.

To explain to the world the CPCs achievement and experience in harnessing poverty

The biggest beneficiaries are the common people in every country with the promotion of international poverty reduction. Under CPC leadership, China has followed the historical trend of peaceful development and win-win cooperation, proactively provided development aid in various forms to Asian, African, and Latin American countries, regions, and international organizations, shared experiences of poverty reduction and development opportunities with the rest of the world, become an advocate, promoter and contributor in international anti-poverty campaigns, and built itself the image as a trustworthy, lovable and respectable country.

To promote international poverty alleviation and modernization, in international exchange and cooperation on poverty reduction, CPC achievement and experience in addressing poverty have to be clearly emphasized to reinforce dialogue and communication, which can be done in three aspects:

The first is equal consultation and promoting the sharing of governance experience. Strengthening the sharing of governance experience among countries is conducive to promoting international poverty alleviation and modernization. China and foreign countries can actively share their respective development experiences, discuss cooperation on global poverty alleviation and modernization on an equal and friendly basis, and promote global common development and progress.

The second is mutual respect and learning, and promoting communication, exchange and sharing between and among civilizations. China advocates respecting the cultural diversity of the world, calls for communication and mutual learning between different cultures to deepen mutual understanding. Countries should respect different cultures and recognize cultural diversity, develop measures according to local conditions, explore and develop anti-poverty solutions that fit local conditions, and build a better world where countries respect each other's differences and pursue common prosperity.

The third is to cooperate on building a community of shared future for humanity. Building such a community is a vision to promote global poverty alleviation and modernization. Duo to the epidemic, the process of global poverty reduction has suffered setback, which is detrimental to the world's sustainable development. The CPC has always been concerned about the wellbeing of the people of the world and actively contributed to building a world of common prosperity and free from poverty. At present, with less than 10 years to go until the realization of the United Nations 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development, countries need to further strengthen cooperation, work together to address the challenges of the pandemic, actively promote the anti-poverty campaign, get out of the gloom of poverty and backwardness, realize the aspirations of all peoples for a better life, and work together to build a future of solidarity, prosperity, and well-being.

Written by Wang Hongbo, Researcher of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, & Wang Sipei, Research Assistant of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies

Translated by Fei Jinglun

[ Editor: WXY ]
A total of 182 unmarked graves were found at the site of a former aboriginal residential school in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, which was the third time unmarked graves were found around this type of schools in one month in Canada.

People cannot help asking the following questions. How many more such cemeteries are there? How many aboriginal children have died as a result of inhuman abuse during the coercive assimilation process? When will the racist violations of aboriginal rights in Canada, the United States and other countries come to an end?

The crimes were too numerous to record

St Eugene's Mission School in Cranbrook was operated from 1912 to 1970 by the Catholic Church, in which many aboriginal children in the surrounding area were sent to be educated for white colonial assimilation. Like the 751 unmarked graves found at the site of Marieval Indian Residential School, these 182 newly discovered ones are also unmarked.

Bobby Cameron, president of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, said that the nameless cemeteries revealed the crimes against humanity and the demolition of the cemeteries is no doubt a cover-up of the truth that so many children were abused and killed.

In the aboriginal residential schools in Canada and the US, any of the aboriginal cultural activities were prohibited and aboriginal children were not allowed to speak their native languages. In many schools, students were called by numbers. Not only have they lost their cultural affiliation, but even their basic rights to live were completely ignored, and various abuses, including sexual abuse, frequently happened.

A report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 shows that, from the 1840s to 1990s, at least 150,000 aboriginal children had been forcibly sent to residential schools, in which many of them have been brutally abused, with at least 3,200 abused to death. Some experts believe that the number of deaths was severely underestimated. Even then survivors are always seriously traumatized mentally and physically.

The stolen generation

The tragedies of the aboriginal groups not only happened in Canada. In some countries that were established by white colonists, such as the US and Australia, a wide range of assimilation policies also have once been implemented to force indigenous people to accept the white culture. As a part of the cultural genocidal policies, the main purpose of the aboriginal residential school is to cut the connections between the aboriginal children and the aboriginal culture and society to shape their identification with the white culture and system.

The US has formulated a series of laws and policies since the 1819 Civilization Fund Act to promote the establishment of aboriginal residential schools all over the country. According to the researchers of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, at least 73 of the hundreds of aboriginal residential schools established then are still operating today.

A report by the Australian government in 1997 estimated that from 1900 to 1980, approximately 1/3 of aboriginal children were sent into residential schools in Australia, which are usually hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from their original places of residence. Moreover, only lighter-skinned aboriginal children would be sent to residential schools in order to promote white assimilation. The term the stolen generation was hence created to describe the victims of cultural genocidal policies.

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1948, which has listed cultural genocide as a crime of genocide. A report by the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 suggests that the reason why the aborigines hate the residential schools is because the schools real purpose is to conduct cultural genocide through assimilation in the name of educational institutions, which makes the aborigines no longer exist as specific legal, social, cultural, religious and ethnic entities.

Hard-to-eliminate racism

The Canadian government now faces several cases concerning aboriginal issues. According to data published by the governmental website, the Canadian federal government has paid more than 4 billion US dollars to the victims of the residential schools. However, this attempt to seek reconciliation with money cannot address the roots of racism in Canadian society today and many aborigines are still living in hardship.

The same is true in the US. In the case of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report about human rights by the United Nations, COVID-19-related hospitalization rate for American aborigines is five times that of non-Latino whites, and their mortality rate far exceeds the whites.

Many Canadians insist that some cultures and societies are superior to the others, therefore they have the rights to impose their will on anyone they consider inferior, Taylor Knox, a public historian, wrote in an article on the website of National Post in March this year that this idea is the root cause of the genocide against aboriginal people since the colonial era.

[ Editor: WXY ]
KHARTOUM, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government decided on Sunday to send a ministerial delegation to the eastern Red Sea State to address the security issues in the state where several people were just killed in attacks.

The ministerial delegation, including interior, transport, and health ministers as well as leaders of different security bodies, was instructed to travel to the state during an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok to discuss the security crisis there, according to a statement issued by the Council of Ministers.

Hamdok stressed the need to impose strict security measures on the ground and to arrest whoever proves to have been involved in the violence, said the statement.

He asked the delegation to immediately embark on talks with the state's political, security and community leaders, it added.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Izz-Eddin Al-Sheikh said joint forces will immediately head to the state to impose security for the citizens.

The security committee of Red Sea State said on Sunday that armed men attacked joint forces in the southern part of the state while two persons launched a drive-by grenade attack on a club, leaving several people killed and injured.

[ Editor: WPY ]
YAOUNDE, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian president Paul Biya has signed the treaty for the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), a specialized organ of the African Union (AU), state broadcaster CRTV reported on Sunday.

The treaty for the establishment of the AMA was adopted by the AU in February 2019. Last week, Cameroon Senate approved a bill that authorized the country's president to ratify the treaty.

The AMA should serve as the continental body that will govern the regulation of medicines and medical products on the African continent. It will regulate the access to safe, effective, good quality and affordable essential medicines and health technologies.

[ Editor: WPY ]
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the commissioning of Nord Stream 2 poses a direct threat to the energy security of the European Union countries, and also says that Germany's support in restoring country's territorial integrity and sovereignty is important for Ukraine, the presidential press service has said.

"The interlocutors paid special attention to the issue of Nord Stream 2. The President of Ukraine stressed that its commissioning poses a direct threat to the energy security of the EU," the report said.

Zelensky noted the importance of supporting Ukraine by the next Federal Government of Germany on the issue of restoring sovereignty and territorial integrity, promoting the EU's unity on European integration of Ukraine and Ukraine's membership in NATO.

The parties also discussed the further development of trade and economic cooperation and the establishment of a closer partnership.

"Germany is one of the most important trade and investment partners of Ukraine," the President said.

In addition, the parties discussed the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Zelensky stressed the importance of further practical support from the European Union, in particular Germany, in providing vaccines to the population of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky also noted that more than 60% of Ukrainians support Ukraine's accession to the EU. "During the Revolution of Dignity, Ukrainians had demonstrated their commitment to European values and readiness to uphold them," the report said.

The head of state informed about the security situation in Donbas, especially in the context of the concentration of Russian troops and armament along the Ukrainian state border.

"He also stressed the importance of intensifying the negotiation process to achieve peace in Donbas within the Normandy format and the Minsk process," the report said.

Zelensky thanked for the warm welcome and stressed that the most important thing for him is the friendly relations between Ukraine and Germany.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky asks Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov to convene an extraordinary plenary session, MP from the European Solidarity faction Oleksiy Honcharenko has said.

On his Telegram channel, the MP posted a corresponding scan of Zelensky's letter to the head of the parliament.

The President proposes to hold the extraordinary session of the parliament, at which five issues will be considered, including bills on the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes and on the specifics of reforming enterprises of the military-industrial complex.

Earlier, it was reported that in the last plenary week (from July 13 to July 16), several extraordinary plenary sessions may take place.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, July 13, will take part in the all-Ukrainian forum "Ukraine 30. Humanitarian Policy," which will be held in Kyiv for two days, according to the forum schedule published on the official website.

In addition to the President, Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, artistic director of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center Illia Khrzhanovsky, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy Svitlana Fomenko, Director at Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance Anton Drobovych, General Director of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center Maksym Yakover, and others will take part in the forum on July 13.

The first day of the forum will be devoted to the discussion of the tragedy in Babyn Yar and Holodomor (famine). The topic of the national communities of Ukraine will also be discussed.

On the second day of the forum (July 14), which will be dedicated to the topics of the language and indigenous peoples of Ukraine, Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko will take part in it. The rest of the speakers have not yet been reported.

Media accreditation for participation in the forum "Ukraine 30. Humanitarian Policy" will last until 14:00 on July 12.
Radicalized revanchist forces led by former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili are behind the unrest seen in Tbilisi on July 5 and 6, when over 50 journalists were beaten up by aggressive people, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said.

"It was yet another unsuccessful plot against the country prepared by anti-state and anti-church forces backed by Saakashvili and his supporters," Garibashvili said at a government meeting on Monday.

In the opinion of the prime minister, Saakashvili and his radicalized group were involved in both the LGBT pride parade in the center of Tbilisi on July 5 and the mobilization of opponents of the LGBT community.

"All that was done to create chaos, destabilization and civil confrontation in Georgia, which Saakashvili and his supporters tried to use to come to power. We prevented those attempts," Garibashvili said.

He also spoke about the Sunday demonstration of journalists who demanded his resignation.

"It was a classic anti-state, anti-church and anti-people action that demanded the resignation of both the government and Patriarch Ilia II. The action was organized by opposition television channels directly controlled by Saakashvili. Those channels and Saakashvili have one goal: to overthrow the incumbent authorities as soon as possible," Garibashvili said.

He extended condolences to the family of TV cameraman Alexander Lashkarava who died on Sunday after being beaten up by the crowd in the line of duty on July 5.

"Regretfully, certain radicalized forces have tried to use this tragic case to the benefit of their political goals," Garibashvili said.
Assessment of readiness for recognition of Ukrainian COVID certificates by EU states to be carried out soon  Ukraine's MFA

An assessment of readiness for the recognition of Ukrainian COVID certificates by EU member states will be carried out in the near future, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has reported.

"Now two types of certificates have been introduced: international for travel [will take effect after completion of the recognition procedure] and internal for use within the country, for example, attending public events. We have already launched beta testing of digital COVID certificates in the Diia application. In the near future, an assessment of the readiness for the recognition of our certificates by EU member states will be carried out, after which an official assessment from specialists of the European Commission and a process of concluding international agreements will take place," the Foreign Ministry said in its responses to popular questions about travel in 2021.

The ministry urges to follow the updates on the websites of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Health.

The ministry said that Ukraine is one of the first countries that began communication with the EU side on the introduction of COVID certificates. In parallel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, is negotiating bilaterally with countries on the mutual recognition of international certificates.

Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that there is no single system for all countries of the world or certain regions regarding digital or paper COVID certificates.

"We recommend familiarizing with the requirements for the form of a COVID certificate for entering the relevant country on the MFA portal at the link: https://tripadvisor.mfa.gov.ua/. Select a country on the interactive map and find out the details," the ministry said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that up-to-date information on the entry rules for citizens of Ukraine to different countries of the world is available on the same portal.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine promptly updates information on the restrictions and requirements on the online map of this resource. We recommend checking the conditions before starting your trip abroad [even if you have purchased a tourist ticket or tour] in order to avoid complications at the border," the ministry explained.

It is also indicated that if entry of citizens of Ukraine to the relevant state is possible provided an international certificate of vaccination against COVID-19, information on the list of recognized vaccines is also posted on the specified website.

"Look for the necessary information in the section 'Temporary Entry Regime for Citizens of Ukraine' for the country you are interested in," the Foreign Ministry added.
During his working visit to Germany, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky does not plan to discuss with Chancellor Angela Merkel the monetary issue of compensation to Ukraine for the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline project, press secretary of the head of state Serhiy Nykyforov said.

"The position of Volodymyr Zelensky is that Nord Stream 2 has long been not an economic issue, but a security issue. Therefore, I think there will be no talk of any economic compensation. The President of Ukraine is trying to stop the construction of Nord Stream 2. If we fail to do this, then we are talking about security guarantees, the return of temporarily occupied territories, and not monetary compensation," Nykyforov said at a media briefing following a meeting between the President of Ukraine and the Federal President of Germany on Monday, June 12.
During a working visit to Germany, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Ukraine's readiness to join the European Union and NATO amid the implementation of reforms in the spheres of legal proceedings and the fight against corruption, the presidential press service said on Monday.

The head of state said, "the implementation of the provisions of the bill on de-oligarchization, together with other legislative projects, will ensure the separation of big business and politics in Ukraine."

For his part, Steinmeier said that "the implementation of the anti-oligarchic law will provide more transparency and improve the business climate in Ukraine, which will increase the interest of German entrepreneurs to invest in Ukraine."

The interlocutors paid attention to the security situation in eastern Ukraine, as well as further practical support from the European Union and, in particular, Germany, in providing the population of Ukraine with vaccines.

During the meeting, the importance of the issue of preserving historical memory and restoring historical justice was also noted, which is being actively pursued in both countries.
Investments in the project for the creation and development of the International European University have exceeded $3 million, founder and vice-rector for scientific, pedagogical work and international relations of the university Alla Navolokina told the Interfax-Ukraine agency after a press conference at the agency on Thursday.

"Today, 850 foreign students from more than 40 countries of the world study at our university. We have already invested over $ 3 million. As part of the implementation of European education standards, students can choose freely more than 25% of subjects, not only in their professional field. Each student can choose from among seven faculties the directions that appeal to him. Even a medical student can study IT, design, or music. Even if only one student from the batch chooses a subject, we fully ensure its study. This is the uniqueness of our university," Navolokina said.

Navolokina stressed that the university is creating a unique system of teaching a person throughout his life - from 3 to 93 years. We have created a university of a new formation, the main principles of which are equality and student-centrism.

"The International European University seeks to bring Ukrainian education to a new quality level," Anatoliy Tolstoukhov, Doctor of Philosophy, Academician of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, Chairman of the Development Assistance Council of the International European University, said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

"Today, the process of consolidation of universities has begun in the world: along with schools, there will be much less of them. The specificity of our university is that at least two-thirds of students must be representatives of other countries. This means that we take responsibility for the presentation of Ukraine to the whole world, on the other hand, such a scheme allows us to enrich ourselves with the experience of world education in Ukraine," Tolstoukhov said.

The most important thing, according to Navolokina, is that students and instructors should feel at the university like at home. For this, we have created an innovative system for a student to choose his own individual educational trajectory. The vice-rector also noted that all instructors, students and junior staff at the university communicate fluently in English, which makes it possible to create a comfortable language environment in the learning process.

The International European University was founded in Kyiv in 2019. The university has its own educational building at 16a Mahnitohorska Street in Kyiv. Ukraine and Austria are its co-founders.

The university specializes in teaching foreign students and Ukrainians, studying in scientific and educational institutions in seven areas: business schools, architectural and engineering, language, medical, IT, law and art schools.
Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed the latest developments concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with a group of European Union (EU) foreign ministers in Brussels.

Shoukry shared the results of the recent United Nations Security Council meeting, held last Thursday, on the Ethiopian dam, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

During the meeting held over breakfast, Shoukry expressed Egypts appreciation of the EU statement last week criticising Ethiopia for commencing the second filling of GERD without reaching an agreement with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan, the statement added.

Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly demanded a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam within a specific a timeframe, Shoukry said.

Shoukry also affirmed the importance of outlining a roadmap to reach a just and binding agreement on the operation of the dam, endorsing a earlier call by the EU.

Last week the EU said "a jointly agreed clear roadmap is urgently needed, setting out the timeframe and specific aims of the negotiations for talks to resume as soon as possible, and to continue on a regular basis thereafter."

The EU also called upon the three parties to resume negotiations under the aegis of the African Union.

The Egyptian foreign minister has been in Brussels since Sunday to hand over a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the President of the European Council Charles Michel.

In media statements to Cairo-based Extra News on Saturday, Shoukry stated that Egypt was seeking to involve the EU in future negotiations over GERDs filling and operation policies along with the UN and US under the auspices of the African Union.

Shoukry's visit to Brussels follows a week he spent in New York where he engaged in talks over GERD with UN officials and state representatives in the Security Council before participating in the council's meeting on Thursday.

In the meeting with the EU foreign ministers, Shoukry tackled the latest developments in Palestine, asserting the need to revive international support to the peace process to reach a complete and just settlement.

Egypt continues its efforts to achieve peace and stability in this issue based on the two-state solution in addition to working on the reconstruction of Gaza and presenting humanitarian aid and development support in the Palestinian territories in cooperation with the Palestinian authorities, he added.

The top diplomats also discussed the latest developments in Libya where they agreed on the importance to hold the Libyan elections on 24 December 2021 without further delay and the necessity to clear Libya of foreign troops and mercenaries.

On Syria, the foreign ministers exchanged views, with Shoukry stressing on the illegal immigration file and Egypts efforts to stop the influx of migrants since September 2016 in addition to hosting six million migrants and refugees in the country.

Besides discussing the strategic bilateral relations between EU and Egypt, especially ways to boost European investments in the country, Shoukry showcased the latest positive steps taken in the human rights file on the political, economic, and social levels.

Following his meeting with the EU ministers, Shoukry held a series of individual meetings with the European ministers of foreign affairs and EU officials.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, he held a meeting with Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu to tackle the means to boost bilateral cooperation as well the latest developments in the GERD dispute.

Shoukry also held a meeting with the EU Commissioner for International partnership Julia Urpilamen to discuss bilateral cooperation and partnerships.

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Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Monday in Brussels with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ways to activate and develop the cooperation and partnership programs between Egypt and NATO, the Egyptian foreign ministry announced.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, the meeting involved a discussion about boosting cooperation between Egypt and NATO in fields including cyber security, counterterrorism, illegal immigration, and demining programs.

During the meeting, Stoltenberg welcomed the renewal of the Individual Partnership cooperation program between Egypt and NATO as part of the cooperation between NATO and the Mediterranean Dialogue Partner countries.

Launched in 1994, the Mediterranean Dialogue is a forum of cooperation between NATO and seven countries from the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean, including Egypt.

Shoukry and Stoltenberg also discussed the different security challenges in the region, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, the Sahel, the Sahara and the Horn of Africa.

The Egyptian foreign minister shared Egypts stances regarding the crises facing several countries in the region, as well as the Egyptian efforts in counterterrorism, asserting Egypts full commitment to supporting international efforts to fight terrorism and radical thought.

Sameh Shoukry has been in Brussels since Sunday to hand over a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the President of the European Council Charles Michel.

He has met a number of EU officials and European foreign ministers over the recent developments in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue as well as other regional matters.

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Egypts parliament  the House of Representatives  held a two-hour plenary meeting on Monday to take a final vote on a host of six legislations and three foreign agreements.

Parliament Speaker Hanafy Gebaly said the laws were discussed and revised by the House and the State Council and were up for a final vote on Monday.

A new three-month extension of the state of emergency in Egypt was finally approved by MPs.

A decree issued by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi (174/2021) stipulates that the state of emergency in Egypt be extended for an additional three months starting 1 am of 24 July, 2021.

Article two of El-Sisi's decree states that the military and police forces will take all the measures necessary to combat terrorism, preserve security in all of Egypt, protect all public and private property, and safeguard the lives of citizens in line with the 1958 emergency law.

MPs have also given the final approval to the amendments to the 1973 law on the measures regulating the dismissal of state employees. The amendments, drafted by MP Ali Badr, stipulate that state employees and civil servants with proven links to the Muslim Brotherhood group or to any terrorist-designated organisation will be automatically dismissed from the state's administrative units.

Amendments to the House's internal bylaws were also approved on Monday. The amendments, drafted by MP Alaa Abed, will entail modifying 27 articles of the House's internal bylaws and eliminating four others. Abed said the amendments of the House's internal bylaws, issued in 2016, were necessary to go in line with constitutional amendments passed in Egypt in April 2019.

Most significantly among the amendments is that MPs' salaries and financial rewards will no longer be exempted from taxes and fees.

The amendments also state that a political party having three seats  instead of 10 seats  in parliament will be allowed to be represented in the House's General Committee.

The amendments were also introduced to give the Senate, which was created in 2020, a say on legislations, agreements, and constitutional changes.

Also, amendments to the 1937 penal code to introduce harsher penalties for assault and sexual harassment crimes were approved on Monday. Under the amendments, drafted by leader of the parliamentary majority party of Mostaqbal Watan (the Nation's Future) Ashraf Rashad, Article 306 (paragraphs A & B) of the 1937 Penal Code will be changed.

The amended Article 306 (Paragraph A) states that whoever is convicted of assaulting others in public or private places in the form of sexual or pornographic gestures and insinuations, either in words or actions or virtually, will be sentenced to a prison term ranging from two to four years and a fine ranging from EGP 100,000 to EGP 200,000.



The article also states that whoever is found guilty of repeating the crime in terms of chasing and tracking victims will be sentenced to a prison term ranging from three to five years and a fine from EGP 200,000 to EGP 300,000.



The amended Article 306 (Paragraph B) stipulates an amendment to the Penal Codes Article 267, setting out that offenders whose circumstances allow them to have a professional, familial, or academic authority over a victim, or otherwise exercise any kind of pressure to allow them to commit their crime, will be sentenced to a prison term no less than seven years and a fine between EGP 300,000 and EGP 500,000.

The same penalty will be imposed if the sexual harassment crime was committed by two persons or more and one of them was holding a weapon.

MPs also approved legislative amendments allowing the General Authority for Arbitration and Cotton Tests to take charge of supervising all licensed cotton gins as well as handling of cotton on the market.

MPs also finally voted in favour of a draft law granting the Egyptian Group for Multi-purpose Stations the concession of setting up and operating a multi-purpose station at Alexandria's port (quays 55-62).

The House's agenda on Monday also included a final approval of two agreements on oil prospection. The two agreements allow the Ministry of Petroleum to sign contracts with Energy Egypt Limited Company to prospect for oil in Edko north of the Nile Delta, and with the Egyptian Holding Company for Natural Gas and Sea Dragon Energy Company to prospect for oil in south Dessouq in the Nile Delta.

MPs concluded Monday's plenary by finally approving a loan agreement between Egypt and a consortium of French banks.

Parliament Speaker Gebaly announced that the House's next plenary session will be held on 24 July.

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Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed cooperation in the fields of emigration and asylum as he met on Monday with European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson in Brussels.

Shoukry and Johansson discussed means to support the pathways of regular emigration, enhance the protection of emigrants and refugees and develop regional and international cooperation in these fields, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read.

Egypt has managed over the past five years to totally stop illegal emigration through the country into Europe across the sea, according to states officials.

In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said no illegal emigrants could enter Europe through Egypt since September 2016.

He noted that Egypt would not ask for anything in return from Europe or use this as a tool for political or economic blackmail. Shoukry headed to Brussels on Sunday morning to deliver a message from El-Sisi to the European Councils President, Charles Michel, and meet with senior officials at the European Commission.

Shoukry separately met on Monday with Michel to deliver El-Sisis message.

They discussed bilateral relations and regional issues on top of which was the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Libya, and the Middle East Peace Process, according to a statement by the ministry.

Shoukry earlier on Monday met over breakfast with a group of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.

On Sunday, Shoukry met with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, where he urged the Israeli government against any measures that may raise tensions with the Palestinians.

The top Egyptian diplomat affirmed the need to move urgently towards breaking the current stalemate between the Palestinians and Israel, so that a fair and comprehensive peace process between the two sides can be launched.

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President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Monday encouraged the optimal use of assets belonging to the public business sector in line with the principles of good governance.

He underlined the importance of ensuring the best management of assets to protect public funds and state-owned lands in cooperation with the ministries of public business sector and housing, a statement by the presidency read.

This came during a meeting he had on Monday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly; Minister of the Public Business Sector Hisham Tawfiq; and Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Assem El-Gazzar.

The meeting also dealt with following up on cooperation between the ministries of the public business sector and housing on making use of assets in the best way possible, the presidency added.

El-Sisi was also briefed on Egypt's efforts to survey the untapped assets in the public business sector as part of the government's strategy to achieve the best economic and investment returns from the states resources nation-wide, the presidency said.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry delivered on Monday a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to President of the European Council Charles Michel in a bilateral meeting in Brussels.

Shoukry delivered El-Sisis greetings to Michel and discussed fostering bilateral relations between Egypt and the European Union (EU).

Shoukry also explained in detail Egypts stance regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read. This comes only few days after the UN Security Council held a meeting to discuss the GERD issue.

The UNSC meeting was requested by Egypt and Sudan, both of whom seek a binding agreement with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the mega dam, a step Ethiopia has resisted.

The dispute over the dam escalated after Ethiopia announced early in July that it was commencing with the second stage of filling the dams reservoir, despite the two downstream countries rejection of the step without a binding agreement.

During the UNSC session, Egypt and Sudan expressed their concerns over the filling of the reservoir without an agreement, blaming the failure of negotiations on Ethiopias intransigence.

Shoukry and Michel also discussed a number of regional issues of mutual concern, at the top of which is the situation in Libya in light of the outcome of the Berlin 2 Conference.

They also reviewed the latest developments in the Palestinian issue and the overall situation in the Middle East.

The top Egyptian diplomat also discussed pushing forward cooperation with the EU into broader horizons in the various political, strategic and economic fields, the statement read.

Shoukry also expressed an aspiration to boost European investments in Egypt.

Shoukry has been in Brussels since Sunday morning, where he met with senior officials at the European Commission.

Earlier on Monday, Shoukry discussed cooperation in the fields of immigration and asylum with European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson in Brussels.

Shoukry and Johansson discussed supporting the pathways of regular immigration, enhancing the protection of immigrants and refugees, and developing regional and international cooperation in these fields.

Shoukry also met over breakfast with a group of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.

On Sunday, Shoukry met with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, where he urged the Israeli government against any measures that may raise tensions with the Palestinians.

The top Egyptian diplomat affirmed the need to move urgently towards breaking the current stalemate between the Palestinians and Israel, so that a fair and comprehensive peace process between the two sides can be launched.

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on Monday for exerting more efforts to promote the local production of electric vehicles, including public buses, the presidency said in a statement.

In a meeting with director of the Armed Forces Department of Motor Vehicles Kamel Wafai and MCV board chairman Karim Ghabour, El-Sisi ordered that these efforts be carried out in cooperation between the Ministry of Military Production and the private sector, following world-class standards of quality.

El-Sisi instructed the concerned authorities to enhance cooperation with highly-experienced state and privately-owned bodies to expand the use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs).

El-Sisi also emphasised the need to continue improving relevant infrastructure, including fuel stations and maintenance workshops.

The meeting also discussed the state's collaboration with the private sector to manufacture heavy-duty trucks that run on alternative fuels, especially natural gas and electricity, given their economic and environmental benefits.

Last year, Egypt announced plans to locally produce electric vehicles in cooperation with China.

In press remarks last July, Public Enterprise Minister Hisham Tawfik said the country plans to produce 25,000 electric cars annually, manufactured by Egypts El-Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Co., in cooperation with Chinas state-owned automobile manufacturer Dongfeng.

In May this year, Tawfik said Egypt will start manufacturing electric cars in 2022, with an initial capacity of 100 cars during the first year.

In a January meeting with Tawfik, El-Sisi stressed the importance of using the largest possible percentage of local components in the country's efforts to manufacture electric vehicles.

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Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Monday that the European Union may take measures that affirm its dissatisfaction with Ethiopias practices and unilateral moves with regards to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue.

Shoukry made the remarks after he met on Monday with EU officials in Brussels, as well as President of the European Council Charles Michel, Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg and other diplomats.

Shoukrys visit comes only few days after the UN Security Council held a meeting to discuss the GERD issue.

The UNSC session was requested by Egypt and Sudan, both of whom seek a binding agreement with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the mega dam, a step Ethiopia has resisted.

The dispute over the dam escalated after Ethiopia announced early in July that it was commencing with the second stage of filling the dams reservoir, despite the two downstream countries rejection of the step without a binding agreement.

In a phone call to Sada El-Balad, Shoukry said he has urged the EU to understand the existential nature of the GERD issue for Egypt and to work on convincing the Ethiopian side of the necessity to show flexibility.

The top Egyptian diplomat said the international community should live up to its responsibilities and send clear messages to the Ethiopian side of the necessity of changing its current approach.

Shoukry said that an EU statement last week criticising Ethiopia for commencing the second filling of the GERD unilaterally displayed much appreciation for the Egyptian-Sudanese stance.

The European Union, as an observer to the GERD negotiations, is ready to intensify cooperation to help resolve the current stalemate, Shoukry said.

The minister also noted that the European Council has the desire to use its available capabilities to support the negotiation path.

There is a willingness for the EUs role in the GERD talks to be transformed from an observer to a mediator, but this will require a decision by the African Union in consultation with the concerned parties, Shoukry noted.

It was a good opportunity, during the meeting with the ministers and the meetings with EU commissioners, to emphasise the justice of the Egyptian stance and the interest of every Egyptian citizen in this issue, Shoukry said.

The minister also noted that he stressed during the meetings that the GERD issue is a central one that must be resolved in order to avoid any kind of escalation or tension.

When asked about the possible future measures that can be taken by Egypt, Shoukry said the country would take the proper measures at the proper time.

The FM stressed that all Egyptian institutions coordinate and take appropriate measures at the proper time, affirming that Egypts policies are always characterised by responsibility and balance.

Shoukry said the state is keen to achieve stability and security and defend the interests of the Egyptian people.

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The European Union on Monday formally established a military mission for Mozambique to help train its armed forces battling jihadists in the north of the country.

A deadly insurgency by militants linked to the Islamic State group has ravaged the gas-rich Cabo Delgado province since late 2017, claiming some 3,000 lives and displacing 800,000 people.

Former colonial master Portugal is already providing training for Mozambican troops.

Lisbon's military instructors on the ground are expected to make up some half of the new EU mission, which will be headed by a Portuguese commander.

"The aim of the mission is to train and support the Mozambican armed forces in protecting the civilian population and restoring safety and security in the Cabo Delgado province," an EU statement said, without giving details on the overall size of the deployment.

"The mandate of the mission will initially last two years. During this period, its strategic objective will be to support the capacity building of the units of the Mozambican armed forces that will be part of a future Quick Reaction Force."

A senior European diplomat told AFP in June that other countries including France, Italy, and Spain are also expected to provide personnel for the mission.

The approval of the EU training mission comes as regional powers are also looking to bolster their support for Mozambique's fight to crush the insurgency.

Last month the 16 southern African countries in the SADC bloc approved the deployment of forces as Mozambique's government said it was open to foreign boots on the ground to battle the jihadists.

Rwanda said on Friday it would send a thousand troops.

The EU has several other training missions in Africa, including in Mali, Central African Republic, and Somalia.

The operation in Mali -- aimed at boosting the fight against jihadists -- has continued to operate despite concerns after the latest in a strike of military coups hit the country in May.

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EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday urged member states to consider imposing sanctions over the crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray, as the bloc looks to increase aid deliveries to the region.

"We should be ready to use restrictive measures where we believe they are justified," Borrell said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Tigray is plunging towards a cataclysmic humanitarian crisis as a brutal war between the government and rebels from the region has left hundreds of thousands of people facing famine.

Borrell said the EU wants to see a ceasefire declared by the government implemented on the ground, but warned that Tigray was instead being "cut off from the rest of the world".

"The situation in the Tigray region has never been as bad," Borrell said.

"In spite of the ceasefire announced by the government of Ethiopia, what we are seeing in Tigray, what we are afraid Tigray is going to suffer is a serious humanitarian crisis".

Borrell said that Brussels was now looking to organise an "air bridge" to help bring aid to the region, but conceded it would not reach the vast number of people in need.

Tigray has been the scene of fighting since Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent the army in early November to topple dissident regional authorities.

The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner accused them of orchestrating attacks on Ethiopian military bases.

After early successes and a premature declaration of victory, government forces were bogged down in a vicious and months-long battle with the Tigray Defence Forces, or TDF. The Ethiopian army was backed by troops from the neighbouring Amhara region and the army of Eritrea, which borders Tigray.

In late June, the TDF recaptured the capital Mekele, which had held by the Ethiopian army since 28 November.

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Jordan's State Security Court on Monday sentenced to 15 years' jail each two ex-officials accused of plotting to overthrow King Abdullah II in favour of his half-brother.

Prince Hamzah, Abdullah's half-brother, was not on trial but the indictment said that former royal court chief Bassem Awadallah and co-defendant Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, an ex-special envoy to Saudi Arabia, had conspired with him to topple the king.

The court convicted the pair of "incitement against the ruling system" and "sedition", an AFP reporter said.

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Israel said Monday it had expanded the fishing zone off Gaza and would allow additional imports into the blockaded Palestinian territory following "recent security calm".

Israel regularly restricts fishing and imports for Gazans in response to unrest, including during an 11-day conflict in May that saw Israel launch hundreds of air strikes on the enclave and its Islamist rulers Hamas fire thousands of rockets at Israel.

"In light of the recent security calm ... the fishing zone in the Gaza Strip will be extended from 9 to 12 nautical miles," said a statement from the Israeli military branch responsible for civil affairs in the Palestinian territories (COGAT).

The statement added that imports of medical equipment, fishing supples, certain industrial materials and textiles will also be allowed into Gaza.

Gazan agricultural products and textiles have been cleared for export, COGAT said, noting the new measures are contingent on "the continued preservation of security stability".

There has been sporadic unrest since a ceasefire ended the May conflict, with incendiary balloons launched from Gaza and Israeli reprisal air strikes, but no casualties have been reported.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007, the year Hamas took power in the strip.

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Saudi Arabia and Oman called on Monday for continued cooperation between OPEC and other allied producers to stabilise and balance the oil market, the Gulf states said in a joint statement.

Saudi Arabia, the biggest oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and Oman, a small non-OPEC producer, are both part of the OPEC+ alliance, which includes other nations such as Russia.

OPEC+ scrapped talks last week to adjust their agreement on oil output curbs after a dispute between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, another OPEC producer in the Gulf. The dispute halted plans to pump more oil into the market where crude prices have recently hit 2-1/2 year highs.

OPEC+ have said they will decide later on a date for a new meeting, without signalling whether a compromise had been reached.

Oman's leader, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, visited Saudi Arabia on Sunday on his first official overseas trip since assuming power 2020.

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Iran on Monday unveiled an Islamic dating application aimed at facilitating "lasting and informed marriage" for its youth, state television reported.

Called Hamdam -- Farsi for "companion" -- the service allows users to "search for and choose their spouse," the broadcaster said.

It is the only state-sanctioned platform of its kind in the Islamic republic, according to Iran's cyberspace police chief, Colonel Ali Mohammad Rajabi.

While dating apps are popular in Iran, Rajabi said that all other platforms apart from Hamdam are illegal.

Developed by the Tebyan Cultural Institute, part of Iran's Islamic Propaganda Organization, Hamdam's website claims it uses "artificial intelligence" to find matches "only for bachelors seeking permanent marriage and a single spouse".

Tebyan head Komeil Khojasteh, speaking at the unveiling, said family values were threatened by outside forces.

"Family is the devil's target, and (Iran's enemies) seek to impose their own ideas" on it, he said, adding that the app helps create "healthy" families.

According to Hamdam's website, users have to verify their identity and go through a "psychology test" before browsing.

When a match is made, the app "introduces the families together with the presence of service consultants", who will "accompany" the couple for four years after marriage.

Registration is free, as Hamdam has "an independent revenue model," the website said without explaining further.

Iran's authorities, including the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have warned several times against the country's rising age of marriage and declining birth rates.

In March, Iran's conservative-dominated parliament passed a bill titled "population growth and supporting families."

It mandates the government to offer significant financial incentives for marriage and to encourage people to have more than two children, while limiting access to abortion.

The law awaits approval by the Guardian Council, which is tasked with checking that bills are compatible with Islamic law and the constitution.

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The top US commander in Afghanistan is to hand over his command at a ceremony in the capital of Kabul on Monday, as America winds down its 20-year military presence and Taliban insurgents continue to gain territory across the country.

Gen. Scott Miller was poised to transfer authority to Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to confirm the developments.

McKenzie, also a four-star general, will operate from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. He will assume authority to conduct possible airstrikes in defense of Afghan government forces, at least until the US withdrawal concludes by Aug. 31.

The handover ceremony was taking place in the heavily fortified Resolute Support headquarters in the heart of Kabul, at a time of rapid territorial gains by Taliban insurgents across Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces, mostly funded by the United States and NATO, have put up resistance in some parts of the country, but overwhelmingly Afghan government troops appear to have abandoned the fight.

In recent weeks, the Taliban have gained several strategic districts, particularly along the borders with Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The Taliban control more than one-third of Afghanistan's 421 districts and district centers. A Taliban claim that they control 85 percent of the districts is widely seen as exaggerated.

After Miller's departure, a two-star admiral based at the US Embassy in Kabul will oversee the US military's role in securing the American diplomatic presence in Kabul, including defending the Kabul airport.

Miller's departure does not reduce the scope of the US military mission in Afghanistan, since McKenzie will assume the authorities now held by Miller to conduct airstrikes in defense of Afghan government forces under certain circumstances.

The conditions under which such strikes might be used are not clear, nor is it known for how long McKenzie will keep the strike authority.

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South Korea's energy ministry said on Monday it had signed a 20-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement with Qatar for the next 20 years starting in 2025.

South Korea's state-run Korea Gas Corp (036460.KS) will buy 2 million tonnes of LNG annually from Qatar Petroleum (QATPE.UL).

"This long-term contract is considered to have favourable contract conditions, which would help stabilise LNG supply as well as to significantly drop fees," the ministry said in a statement.

It did not provide financial details of the agreement.

The energy ministry added that KOGAS buys 9 million tonnes of LNG annually from Qatar through long-term contracts and a contract worth 4.9 million tonnes of LNG is expected to end in 2024.

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lithuania will open a new camp to house illegal migrants, the interior minister said on Monday, amid accusations from the Baltic state that Belarus is flying in migrants from abroad to send them illegally into the country.

"This week we will launch a camp in Dieveniskes, fit to house 500 people," said Interior Minster Agne Bilotaite after a meeting of the Lithuanian leadership to discuss the migration crisis.

The camp will be based around a disused school building and would be expanded later by building tents or temporary housing in the surrounding area, the minister's spokeswoman told Reuters.

It will be situated in a pocket of Lithuanian territory almost completely surrounded by Belarus, connected to the rest of the country by a 2.5km wide isthmus.

"The remoteness makes it is easier to ensure safety of people and the migrants", the spokeswoman, Lina Laurinaityte, said.

Some 1676 migrants have entered country illegally from Belarus this year, of these 1057 in July, according to Lithuania's border guard service. Around half of the migrants are Iraqi citizens.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Monday suggested the migrants were being used as a means of pressure on the EU, which has imposed a series of sanctions on Belarus since a disputed presidential election. read more

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said his country is now only guarding the border as much as it is "profitable" to it, and as much as it can afford. read more

Lithuania's main detention centre for migrants, in Pabrade, is full, and the migrants are being temporarily housed in sites scattered near the border area.

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Finland said on Monday it would pause decisions on deportations to Afghanistan to assess the deteriorating security situation.

Afghan officials have urged all European countries to stop deportations for three months, as security forces battle a wave of violence triggered by a Taliban offensive.

The Finnish Immigration Service said "the issuing of negative decisions that involve removal from the country to Afghanistan" had been paused on July 9.

No further decisions would be taken until an assessment was completed, the service said.

Immigration official Jaakko Purontie told local media asylum seekers would not automatically be given approval to stay, rather they would have to wait longer for a decision.

The service has about 350 applications pending for Afghans.

The strife-torn country is facing a crisis as the insurgents snap up territory across the countryside, stretching government forces and leading to a fresh wave of internally displaced families, complicated by a renewed outbreak of Covid-19.

On Friday, the Taliban claimed to be in control of 85 percent of the country after seizing key border crossings.

The spike in violence comes as the US and international forces are withdrawing from the country, and US President Joe Biden also said Friday that the US military mission would end on August 31 -- nearly 20 years after it began -- having "achieved" its goals.

But he admitted it was "highly unlikely" Kabul would be able to control the entire country.

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New ministers in Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government were sworn in on Monday after a reshuffle brought in a younger cabinet dominated by women aimed at focusing on economic recovery from the pandemic.

Sanchez sacked several heavyweights including Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo on Saturday and brought in seven new faces in his first major reshuffle since his left-wing minority coalition came to power in January 2020.

Sanchez, whose Socialist party has been lagging in opinion polls, said the new government would kick off a "new stage" in economic and social recovery.

Women now head 14 of Spain's 22 ministries, up from 12 in the previous cabinet. Sanchez has made feminism and gender equality a banner of his government.

The mean age of the ministers is now 50 instead of 55, in what Sanchez called a "generational renewal".

Economy Minister Nadia Calvino, a former director general of the European Commission's budget department, was elevated to replace Calvo as deputy prime minister.

Jose Manuel Albares, who up until now was Spain's ambassador to France, replaced Arancha Gonzalez Laya as foreign minister.

She was widely criticised for allowing Western Sahara independence leader Brahim Ghali to be treated at a hospital in Spain, angering Morocco which lays claim to the former Spanish colony.

Although the Polisario Front leader left Spain on June 2, diplomatic relations have remained tense.

Albares said he wanted to "further strengthen our ties" with Morocco, which he called "our great neighbour and friend in the south".

In May, the Socialists and their coalition partner, the far-left Podemos party, were routed in regional elections in Madrid by the conservative Popular Party (PP), which had campaigned on the need for looser pandemic restrictions.

The PP has surged ahead of the Socialists in opinion polls following that election.

Recent surveys suggest the PP and the far-right Vox together would win an absolute majority in parliament if a general election were held.

The government's decision in June to pardon nine Catalan separatists serving lengthy jail terms over their role in a failed 2017 independence bid has also drained support.

Spain suffered the largest contraction in Europe during 2020 as lockdowns wrecked its tourism-dependent economy.

It is set to receive up to 140 billion euros ($166 billion) from a European Union economic rescue fund in the next few years.

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Spanish companies are keen on expanding and investing in Egypt, as it is their top leading destination in Africa, with the support of the Government of Spain, said Spains Minister of Trade Xiana Mendez Bertolo.

Bertolo made her statements during a meeting held virtually on Monday with Egypts Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat to discuss areas of joint cooperation between Egypt and Spain, in light of the status of the current portfolio of projects and the possibility of future partnerships.

The Spanish minister also affirmed that Egypt is one of the most important foreign investment markets for Spanish companies, especially across the sectors of transportation, infrastructure, solar energy, and water treatment.

This meeting came within the framework of the periodic meetings the international cooperation ministry holds with multilateral and bilateral development partners in order to boost Egypts regional and global economic cooperation.

During the meeting, Al-Mashat discussed with Bertolo the possibility of launching an innovative mechanism for enhancing economic cooperation to promote economic growth and raise employment rates in both countries.

The two sides also explored the projects to be implemented within the framework of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that allocates 300 million for the strengthening of financial cooperation between Egypt and Spain.

Moreover, they discussed the status of the ongoing projects carried out within the framework of the joint cooperation between Egypt and Spain, which includes a cultural project that aims to develop and preserve Luxors archaeological sites; in addition to another project that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt by providing lines of credit; and an infrastructure development project focusing on the inauguration of sewage treatment plants in Giza, Assiut, and Aswan.

For her part, Spains minister applauded the Egyptian economys positive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed the wide horizons of future projects during 2021.

She added Egypts positive growth goes back to the financial and monetary structural reforms implemented before 2020, in addition to implementing major development projects across vital sectors such as renewable energy, water, and sanitation, as well as infrastructure.

The history of cooperation between Egypt and Spain dates back to the 1990s, as two cooperation protocols were signed. The first cooperation agreement was inked in February 1998, where Spain provided 225 million of development financing to Egypt. The second agreement was signed in 2008, via a MoU worth 250 million.

The portfolio of cooperation between both countries since 2012 amounts to 190 million covering various sectors such as water treatment, energy, housing, and SMEs.

The cooperation framework covers the offering of grants as well by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) to develop the health and tourism sectors. Both countries development agendas also focus on instilling empowering and inclusive communities for women and youth, as well as a transparent and just development ecosystem via Egypt's National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.

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Leiletkom Saida (Good Evening), a theatrical localising and adaptation of its acclaimed director Khaled Galal, based on Russian Anton Chekhovs short story The Chorus Girl, has kicked off a 15-night run hosted by the National Theatre on Sunday.

The National Theatre has a special magic. When we stand on its stage, we feel very proud. Nothing is like this theatre in the whole Arab world, stated Galal, who heads the Cultural Production Affairs Sector and the Artistic Creativity Centre, during the opening, which was attended by tens of viewers, including artists and officials of the Culture Ministrys Theatre Artistic House.

Running every night at 8 until 18 July, the light comedy Leiletkom Saida  which casts some of Galals Actors Studios talents, including Mohamed Aly Rezk, Mariam El-Sokkary, Passant Seyam, Marwa Eid, Alhan El-Mahdy, and Nadeem Hisham  will be paused during the Eid Al-Adha Muslim feast, before returning back on 29 July until 3 July.

Leiletkom Saidas crew includes decor and lighting designer Amr Abdallah, assistant director Ahmed Fouad, and executive director Ola Fahmy.

A performance of Leiletkom Saida was televised and released on YouTube amid the Culture Ministrys COVID-19 lockdowns Culture Between Your Hands initiative, last year, gaining 4,195 views since 23 July 2020.

The 1967-born, multi-awarded director Khaled Galal, who was among the honourees of Egypts 3rd World Youth Forum in late 2019, has directed and wrote numerous plays with the Actors Studios graduation projects Qahwa Sada, Sallem Nafsak, and Cinema Masr being among his most famous works, which were attended by hundreds of star artists, filmmakers, and VIPs.

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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UN resolution calls for reconciliation in Myanmar



AFP, , Monday 12 Jul 2021



The text itself calls for a 'constructive and peaceful dialogue and reconciliation, in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar, including Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic minorities'



The UN Human Rights Council on Monday adopted a resolution condemning human rights violations by Myanmar's military against the Rohingya and other minorities, and called for a process of reconciliation.



The resolution, brought forward by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, was approved without a vote in the Geneva-based council.



China, one of the 47 council members, said it could not join the consensus but nonetheless did not insist on bringing the text to a vote.



"Unfortunately, the humanitarian and human rights situation of Rohingya Muslims remains dire, and therefore requires a collective call by the council asking Myanmar to immediately halt human rights violations, and to uphold their fundamental rights," said Khalil Hashmi, Pakistan's ambassador to the UN in Geneva.



The text itself calls for a "constructive and peaceful dialogue and reconciliation, in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar, including Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic minorities".



It also voices "unequivocal support for the people of Myanmar and their democratic aspirations and for the democratic transition in Myanmar".



The resolution calls for the immediate cessation of fighting and hostilities, of the targeting of civilians and of all violations of humanitarian and rights laws.



It voices "grave concern" at continuing reports of serious human rights violations and abuses, including of arbitrary arrests, deaths in detention, torture, forced labour and "the deliberate killing and maiming of children".



Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paralysed since the military seized power from civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.



Thomas Andrews, the UN's special rapporteur on the rights situation in Myanmar, told the Human Rights Council last week that the military had carried out crimes against humanity since taking control, and slammed the international community for failing to "end this nightmare".



He decried the "widespread, systematic attacks against the people" since the coup five months ago.



Myanmar has experienced mass protests and a brutal military response since the coup.



UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet told the council last week that the situation in the country had "evolved from a political crisis to a multi-dimensional human rights catastrophe".



"Suffering and violence throughout the country are devastating prospects for sustainable development, and raise the possibility of state failure or a broader civil war," she warned.



Since the coup, nearly 900 people have been killed, while about 200,000 have been forced to flee their homes, according to UN numbers.



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/417061.aspx
Egypts FM discusses GERD, regional issues with European Council president



Ahram Online, , Monday 12 Jul 2021



Shoukry explained in detail Egypts stance regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam



Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry delivered on Monday a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to President of the European Council Charles Michel in a bilateral meeting in Brussels.



Shoukry delivered El-Sisis greetings to Michel and discussed fostering bilateral relations between Egypt and the European Union (EU).



Shoukry also explained in detail Egypts stance regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read. This comes only few days after the UN Security Council held a meeting to discuss the GERD issue.



The UNSC meeting was requested by Egypt and Sudan, both of whom seek a binding agreement with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the mega dam, a step Ethiopia has resisted.



The dispute over the dam escalated after Ethiopia announced early in July that it was commencing with the second stage of filling the dams reservoir, despite the two downstream countries rejection of the step without a binding agreement.



During the UNSC session, Egypt and Sudan expressed their concerns over the filling of the reservoir without an agreement, blaming the failure of negotiations on Ethiopias intransigence.



Shoukry and Michel also discussed a number of regional issues of mutual concern, at the top of which is the situation in Libya in light of the outcome of the Berlin 2 Conference.



They also reviewed the latest developments in the Palestinian issue and the overall situation in the Middle East.



The top Egyptian diplomat also discussed pushing forward cooperation with the EU into broader horizons in the various political, strategic and economic fields, the statement read.



Shoukry also expressed an aspiration to boost European investments in Egypt.



Shoukry has been in Brussels since Sunday morning, where he met with senior officials at the European Commission.



Earlier on Monday, Shoukry discussed cooperation in the fields of immigration and asylum with European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson in Brussels.



Shoukry and Johansson discussed supporting the pathways of regular immigration, enhancing the protection of immigrants and refugees, and developing regional and international cooperation in these fields.



Shoukry also met over breakfast with a group of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.



On Sunday, Shoukry met with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, where he urged the Israeli government against any measures that may raise tensions with the Palestinians.



The top Egyptian diplomat affirmed the need to move urgently towards breaking the current stalemate between the Palestinians and Israel, so that a fair and comprehensive peace process between the two sides can be launched.



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/417067.aspx
KYODO NEWS - Jul 12, 2021 - 22:06 | All, Japan

Solar power will overtake nuclear power as the cheapest source of energy for Japan in 2030 due to the latter's ballooning safety measure costs following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, a government estimate showed for the first time Monday.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry at an expert panel meeting estimated the cost of generating nuclear power will rise about 10 percent from its previous estimate in 2015, while the cost of solar power will drop as it becomes more widespread due to decarbonization efforts.

METI has traditionally emphasized the low cost of power generation as an advantage of nuclear power, but the government is aiming to make renewable energy the country's main energy source as part of its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a goal that will be reflected in the basic energy plan to be revised this summer.

The estimated cost of generating nuclear power, which stood at least at 10.3 yen per kilowatt in 2015, has now risen by over 1 yen to at least 11.5 yen due to the implementation of measures required under the country's new nuclear safety rules.

Conversely, the cost of solar energy for commercial use is expected to fall from the 12.7-15.6 yen range as estimated in 2015 to the 8-11.5 yen range, while solar energy for residential use is expected to fall from the 12.5-16.4 yen range to the 9.5-14.5 yen range as the price of panels and related equipment fall amid increased adoption.

The minimum estimates for both onshore wind power and LNG-fired power generation are also lower than that of nuclear power. Onshore wind power is expected to cost at least 9.5 yen, down from the previous estimate of 13.6 yen, while that from gas-fired power plants, whose carbon emissions are about half that of coal-fired power plants, is expected to fall from 13.4 yen to 10.5 yen.

Meanwhile, coal-fired power is estimated to rise from 12.9 yen to the 13.5-22.5 yen range as the cost of measures to curb carbon dioxide emissions increases.

The estimates are based on the assumption that power generation facilities will be built and operated on vacant plots of land, and do not include the cost of acquiring the land itself.

Figures are subject to change depending on how much renewable energy has been introduced in the future, fuel prices, and facility utilization rates, according to METI.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2021 - 22:08 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japanese prefectural governors on Sunday called on the central government to address a coronavirus vaccine supply shortage and implement a large stimulus to bolster pandemic-hit local economies.

In a policy proposal, the National Governors' Association also called for thorough antivirus measures during the Tokyo Olympics set to open July 23, including restricting activities of foreign athletes.

The governors released the proposal amid rising confusion at the frontline of inoculation due to supply shortages faced by many municipalities.

The governors said local governments were forced to suspend accepting appointments for the COVID-19 vaccination, as well as canceling appointments, after the state pressured local authorities to accelerate the pace of providing shots.

The proposal urged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government to recognize that its handling of the situation has caused confusion, even though local authorities have been trying to meet the government's goal of finishing inoculating all people in the country who want to receive shots by October or November.

The central government must distribute COVID-19 vaccine supplies necessary for municipalities and unveil delivery schedules for the future, it said.

"We have no choice but to limit the acceptance of appointments because supply is not meeting demand," said Ishikawa Gov. Masanori Tanimoto, one of 41 heads of the country's 47 prefectures who took part in an online meeting.

Such a situation "dampens people's expectations for early vaccination," Tanimoto said.

Some governors criticized the government's handling of workplace vaccinations as well.

"As a result of setting the first-come, first-served basis system, major companies started vaccination early while small and medium-sized firms were forced to suspend receiving appointments," Yamanashi Gov. Kotaro Nagasaki said.

The proposal also contains a request to implement a major economic stimulus package as local economies have been hard hit by the prolonged pandemic.

The governors urged the government to swiftly formulate a supplementary budget and carry out "bold economic measures" to support a wide variety of businesses.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 12, 2021 - 20:34 | World, All

Hong Kong action movie superstar Jackie Chan, also known as a pro-Beijing politician, has expressed eagerness to join the Chinese Communist Party, its tabloid Global Times reported Monday.

Since 2013, Chan has served as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the nation's top advisory body that provides the mainland government with feedback and advice on key policy issues.

Chan was quoted by the newspaper as saying at a forum last Thursday in Beijing, "I can see the greatness of" the ruling party and it "will deliver what it says, and what it promises in less than 100 years, but only a few decades."

"I want to become" a member of the party, he added, according to the Global Times.

The symposium invited Chinese film insiders to speak and share their views on the keynote speech by President Xi Jinping on July 1, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party.

The mainland's response to the novel coronavirus pandemic and protests in Hong Kong as well as the celebration activities for the centennial of the ruling party, headed by Xi, have shown how people in the territory should contribute to the party, the newspaper said.

Chan's remarks have "reflected Hong Kong elites' increasingly objective and rational understanding" of the party, the Global Times quoted experts as saying.

Under China's "one country, two systems" policy, Hong Kong was promised it would enjoy the rights and freedoms of a semiautonomous region for 50 years following its return to the mainland in 1997.

But Beijing has been recently taking strict actions against Hong Kong since large-scale protests sparked by a now-withdrawn bill allowing extraditions to the mainland morphed into a pro-democracy movement in 2019.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 6, 2021 - 16:40 | All, World, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan will provide Taiwan with some 1.13 million more doses of the AstraZeneca Plc coronavirus vaccine later this week, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday.

The latest donation, to be delivered Thursday after a request from Taiwan, follows an initial batch of about 1.24 million doses transferred to the island in early June.

The vaccine was developed by the British company and produced under license in Japan, according to the Foreign Ministry.

"As people in Taiwan face difficulties, we hope that the vaccine from Japan will contribute to preventing the spread of infections," Motegi said in a press conference.

Japan is also considering offering additional doses to Indonesia, where infections of the highly contagious Delta variant are spreading quickly, after delivering 1 million doses to the country last Thursday, Motegi said.

Japan has enough AstraZeneca doses for 60 million people and approved their use in May, but it does not intend to use them immediately due to rare cases of blood clots reported overseas.

Related coverage:

Japan to donate more COVID vaccine doses to S.E. Asia from July

1 mil. COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by Japan delivered to Vietnam
KYODO NEWS - Jul 12, 2021 - 15:11 | All, World, Japan

Japan and the United States have urged China to respect the ruling of an international tribunal rejecting Beijing's expansive claims in the South China Sea, as Monday marked five years since the landmark decision.

China's failure to comply with the ruling "undermines the rule of law as a fundamental value of the international community," Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in a statement released Monday.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China has no historic rights to resources in the South China Sea based on its expansive, self-proclaimed "nine-dash line."

The case was brought to the court by the Philippines and the decision invalidated China's claim to virtually the entire South China Sea.

Motegi said China's action not to comply with the ruling "is against the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law" including the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the rules-based maritime order in South China Sea is under greater threat than anywhere else, and called on China "to abide by its obligations under international law" and "cease its provocative behavior."

In a statement released Sunday, Blinken urged China to also "take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small."

The Japanese foreign minister said Japan "remains seriously concerned" about the situation in the waters and reiterated "strong opposition" to unilateral attempts to change the status quo of the region by force or coercion.

Motegi also said Japan "highly appreciates" the Philippines' renewed commitment toward a peaceful resolution of the disputes in the South China Sea, citing President Rodrigo Duterte's statement at the U.N. General Assembly last year.

The ruling was "beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon," Duterte told world leaders, adding, "We firmly reject attempts to undermine it."
Lucknow:

To revenge the loss Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat in recent byelection, the BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday called a meeting of all its MLAs and allies in Uttar Pradeshs capital Lucknow to ensure smooth passage of its ninth candidate in the Rajya Sabha.

Uttar Pradesh on Friday will decide on 10 of 31 Rajya Sabha seats. The BJP has fielded nine candidates. While, one each from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are contesting.

The BJP is sure of winning at least eight seats as it has 311 MLAs. All UP BJP-ally MLAs meeting was called by the party president to ensure winning the ninth seat.

The SP to stop Amit Shahs dream of bagging the ninth seat, party chief Akhilesh Yadav too had called all lawmaker meet. However, seven of his MLAs skipped the party meeting.

With seven SP MLAs skipping it party meeting, speculations are being made that BSP-SP may lose one seat. The SP in all has 47 MLAs in the state, so its sole candidate should win. But their skipping the meeting has become a worry for BSP chief Mayawati.

SP lawmakers are to support Mayawati's candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls as a pact between the leaders prior to Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats.

Mayawati to hit the magic number has to get 37 votes. BSP can hit the number only if the 10 SP MLAs. Congress has guaranteed her seven.

Seven SP lawmakers absenting from the party meeting were Akhilesh Yadavs uncle Shivpal Yadav, Naresh Agarwals son.

Yadav exerted that their candidates would win but he was upset over BJP fielding an extra candidate. If BJP had cared for democratic values, it would not had fielded the ninth candidate, said Yadav to his lawmakers.

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Chandigarh:

Former Punjab minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia on Monday demanded registration of a criminal case against state Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur for allegedly disclosing to the public the contents of a Special Task Force (STF) report, which was submitted to the high court in a sealed cover.

Majithia alleged that Sidhu and his wife had disclosed the contents of the report at a press conference here last week.

He also wondered how Sidhu and his wife had access to the report.

"There is no way a report in a sealed cover report can be accessed by a woman, who does not hold any official position in the government, and by a man, who has no capacity to access it. Only the registration of a case and a thorough investigation can unearth the larger conspiracy as well as the people behind it," he said.

Describing the "leak" of the STF report as the "gravest of criminal contempt", the Akali leader said the entire affair smacked of the worst kind of conspiracy and an attempt to make a mockery of the judicial process.

"It is unheard that a report, sealed on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has found its way into the hands of unauthorised persons with vested interests," he added.

At the press conference, Sidhu had sought the arrest of Majithia, accusing him of having links with drug peddlers, while claiming that he was aware of the findings of the STF report. Kaur had also addressed the media, along with her husband.

The Punjab minister had claimed that the "STF has made it clear that there is a substantial evidence of the role of Bikram Majithia in drug peddling, which needs to be probed. The Punjab government cannot ignore these facts".

Majithia said "all the players in this drama" needed to clarify as to what was the urgency, desperation or personal agenda to disclose the contents of a report, which was being monitored by the high court and on which the government was to submit a report after due perusal.
New Delhi:

The Home Ministry has conveyed to a parliamentary panel that Sikh youths are being trained at ISI facilities in Pakistan to carry out terror activities in India, and members of the community who are settled in Canada and other places are also being instigated against the country with false and malicious propaganda.

Top officials of the home ministry, led by the Union Home Secretary, told the Committee on Estimates, headed by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, that radicalisation of youths by terrorist groups through the misuse of internet and social media has emerged as a big challenge.

According to the report of the committee - ' Central armed police forces and internal security challenges-evaluation and response mechanism' - which was tabled in Parliament on Monday, there have been some developments on the Sikh militancy front.

The "commanders" of terror groups based in Pakistan are under pressure from ISI to further the Pakistani spy agency's terror plans not only in Punjab but also in other parts of the country, it said.

"Sikh youth are being trained at ISI facilities in Pakistan. Interdictions and interrogations have revealed use of jailed cadres, unemployed youth, criminals and smugglers by Pakistan-based Sikh terror groups for facilitating terror attacks," the report said.

Sikh youths based or settled in Europe, the US and Canada are also being misguided and instigated against India with false and malicious propaganda, but the situation is being watched closely by the central and state agencies and they are taking lawful action as and when required.

On the issue of new challenges which have emerged as a threat to internal security, the ministry, in a note furnished to the committee, voiced concern over radicalisation of youths by the terrorist groups through the misuse of internet and social media.

"The problem is further accentuated by the fact that the terror groups have started using secure social media platforms and proxy servers etc. to avoid detection by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

"Activities of radicalised people returning from conflict areas and threat of lone wolf attack are also a challenge," it said.

The ministry told the panel that India continues to remain the prime focus of Pakistan-based terrorist outfits, particularly the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and a faction of Indian Mujahideen besides groups like SIMI and Al-Unmah.

Separately, there are indications regarding revival of JeM in Pakistan and renewed efforts of the said outfit to cause harm to India. Besides, the IS and Al-Qaeda in Indian sub-continent have started posing new challenges to the existing security environment.

The ministry also said that violence by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) outfits continues to pose a threat to the internal security scenario in the country.

"Since its formation in September 2004, CPI(Maoist) has emerged as the most potent among the LWE outfits active in the country," the report said.

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New Delhi:

Apollo Hospitals on Thursday said that all CCTV cameras in the intensive care unit were switched off and all patients in the ward were shifted during the 75-day hospitalisation of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, popularly known as Amma.

One complete ICU was occupied by our former chief minister Jayalalithaa. So the hospital administration removed the (CCTV) because they did not want everyone to be watching, Prathap C Reddy, founder chairman of Apollo Hospitals told ANI on Thursday.

The hospital founder chairman added that all the patients on the floor were shifted to other floors because of security reasons.

Jayalalithaa was treated at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai at the time of her death. Amma died on December 5, 2016.

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New Delhi:

CBI Special Court granted bail to former Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh, his wife and others in a money laundering case on Thursday directing them to furnish a bail bond of Rs 50,000 along with surety of the same amount.

Delhi's Patiala House Court has fixed April 25th as the next date for scrutiny of the documents.

On February 16, the Enforcement Directorate had arrested Chandrasekhar under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly providing an amount of Rs 5.9 crore to Singh and his family members through his three personal bank accounts.

Also Read: ED files supplementary chargesheet against Virbhadra Singh

On a related note, Singh is accused of accumulating assets worth around Rs 6.03 crore which were disproportionate to his total income during his tenure as Union minister.

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New Delhi:

Whatsapp co-founder Brian Acton on Tuesday urged users that it was high time they deleted their Facebook accounts.

Brain took to Twitter asking users to delete their Facebook accounts, joining the online movement encouraging Facebook users to delete their profiles on the social media platform with the #deletefacebook hashtag.

The tweet comes at a time when Facebook has come under the close scrutiny of regulators and its stock price plunge following concerns over data privacy in the wake of revelations about Cambridge Analyticas misuse of user data.

Brian wrote, "It is time" followed by the hashtag #deletefacebook. The Verge approached Brian for a comment in support of his post, but he is yet to respond. WhatsApp declined to comment on the matter.

Facebook bought WhatsApp for USD 16 billion back in the year 2014. Jan Koum and Brian Acton were the co-founders of the instant messaging application company back then, until Brian, who is worth USD 6.5 billion decided to quit to start his own venture. Koum continues to lead the company.
New Delhi:

A suicide attack outside a mosque in Kabul killed at least 25 people and left 18 wounded, the Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman said.

The explosion, near a Shiite shrine in the west of Kabul, came at a time when people were celebrating the Nawruz holiday marking the start of the Persian new year.

The attacker was spotted by police before he entered a large gathering for the Norouz celebration in Kabul's Shakhi mosque, Mohammad Salem Almas, head of criminal investigations in the Kabul police, told the media.

The attacker detonated the explosives that he was carrying before entering the mosque, Almas said.

No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Afghanistan is home to a powerful Islamic State affiliate that has repeatedly targeted Shiites, who the Sunni extremists view as apostates deserving of death.

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New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to former Telecom Minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum money laundering case.

A bench headed by Justice SP Garg issued the notice asking all the accused to file a repy on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea within 14 days. The court has listed the matter to May 25 for further hearing.

The high court was hearing to the plea challenging a special court order acquitting Raja, Kanimozhi and others in the 2G spectrum money laundering case filed by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The CBI had moved its application on Tuesday, while the ED had filed an appeal against the special courts judgement in the case on Monday.

A special court on December 21, 2017, had acquitted Raja and Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum money laundering case. Special judge OP Saini while announcing the judgement then had said that the CBI and ED had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove the charges against 33 persons named in the case.

The special court along with Raja and Kanimozhi had acquitted 17 others including Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka of STPL, DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Aggarwal of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, film producer Karim Morani, and P. Amirtham and Sharad Kumar of Kalaignar TV.

The CBI had alleged that there was a loss of Rs 309.84 billion to the exchequer in allocation of licences for the 2G spectrum. The Supreme Court on February 2, 2012, had scrapped the allocation.

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New Delhi:

After a long span of silence, social activist Anna Hazare has started an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi yet again. Coinciding with the death anniversary of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Rajguru, the hunger strike is being carried out nearly seven years after his anti-corruption movement that shook the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. As the strike gathers ground, the question that arises is - will the protest give birth to another Arvind Kejriwal?

The protest venue is the same  Ramlila Lila Maidan. Only the ruling government at the Centre is different. Last time, it was the UPA government in power. This time, it is Narendra Modis BJP-led government. And familiar faces like Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Puducherry Governor Kiran Bedi along with core members of 2011 protest are not to be seen in the ongoing Hazares fight against corruption.

The 80-year-old Hazare sat on a hunger strike against corruption at the Ramlila Maidan in 2011. Thousands supported him. The anti-corruption crusader demanded proper investigation into corruptions cases in the country.

Hazare has been pressing for the setting up of the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states. He has also been demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report.

This time, however, prior to starting the protest, Hazare had categorically said that he did not want another Arvind Kejriwal and banned him from joining the protest.

The grand-old activist, learning lessons from the 2011 protest, which was supported by millions across the country, has taken several preventive measures to check that no person or group takes benefit of his anti-corruption protest to fulfil personal political agenda like Bedi and Kejriwal, who left the movement to join mainstream politics.

Also, Hazare, who is on protest to highlight farmers issues and to press for a lokayukta in every state, has a complete fresh team from across the country with grassroot connections.

The Ramlila Maidan protest this time is being organised by 20 fresh faces selected from 6000 volunteers from across the nation. All the volunteers have submitted an affidavit with Hazare stating that they will never join mainstream politics.

To ensure the Centre listens to their voices, Hazare has distributed roles and responsibilities for every volunteer. The 6000 volunteers will be with Hazare till the time protest lasts and ensure people in large numbers join the protest in Delhi. The team has also been given responsibility to motion the protest across the country and raise lokayukta and farmers issue.

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New Delhi:

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday could not take up a no-confidence motion for the 13th consecutive day. The members of parties like the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) protested for Cauvery issue, while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) protested and raised slogans demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh.

With the Lok Sabha unable to take up the notices of the no-confidence motion against the government for the fourth day, it has been adjourned till 12 PM. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till tomorrow after the TDP and TRS MPs raised loud slogans and demanded special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, in Andhra Pradesh, a state-wide 'bandh' and blockade of national highways has been called by the party workers for more affect over their demands.

LIVE updates:

# 12:08 PM: LokSabha adjourned till tomorrow.

# 11:34 AM: MP Naramalli Sivaprasad joined the protest dressed as a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan volunteer, carrying a wiper, demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh

TDP MPs protest in Parliament premises, demanding special status for #AndhraPradesh. MP Naramalli Sivaprasad joined the protest dressed as a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan volunteer, carrying a wiper. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/Z41VPjKl8G  ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2018

# 11:21 AM: Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow after TDP MPs walked up to the Well with placards, raising slogans, demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh

# 11:02 AM: Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon as loud slogans of 'we want justice' were raised as soon as proceedings began

Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow after TDP MPs walked up to the Well with placards, raising slogans, demanding special status for #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/JCGRkIOFhk  ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2018

# 11:00 AM: Rajya Sabha proceedings with Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu speaking on the occasion of World Water Day. "This year's theme is nature for water," he declares. This day also focusses on saving water  reduce, reuse and recycle, he says. I hope the House joins me in conserving water, he says. The House agrees by thumping the table.

# 10:52 AM: Unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi & Siddaramaiah are engaged in vote-bank politics & communal-disharmony politics. Tipu Sultan, known for tyranny & oppression of Hindus is black chapter in Karnataka's history. They may celebrate Tughlaq festival also: Ananth Kumar on RG's statement

# 10:35 AM: AIADMK MPs hold protest in Parliament premises over #Cauvery issue.

#10:25 AM: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs hold protest in Parliament premises demanding special status for Andhra

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New Delhi:

Hit by a series of protests over various issues, the Jawaharlal Nehru University administration has appealed to students and professors to restore normalcy in the campus and allow the institution to function without interruptions.

"Centres such as the School of Art and Aesthetics, Centre for French and Francophone Studies and Centre for Historical Studies have been locked down or blockaded by some agitating students. As a result, holding of JNU Entrance Examinations-related viva-voce, M. Phil/ PhD viva voce, classes, mid-semester examinations are facing enormous difficulties," JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar said in a statement.

The interests of student and teacher community have been damaged beyond repair, he said while appealing the community to restore normalcy in the campus.

"The JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) and Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) have combined their efforts by calling for total university strike that does not serve the interests of the JNU community and they are to be blamed for the prevailing chaos in the campus," the statement added.

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New Delhi:

US President Donald Trump is likely to unveil sanctions against China tomorrow, the White House hinted on Thursday.

The officials from the US Trade Representatives (USTR) said the US has solid proof of Beijing violating its commitments on property and technology-based transfers.

"Tomorrow the president will announce the actions he has decided to take based on USTR's 301 investigations into China's state-led, market-distorting efforts to force, pressure and steal US technologies and intellectual property," White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said on Thursday.

The administration is disappointed by the responses the United States has been getting from China. "We have strong evidence against China. These are deeply concerning to the administration and raise severe questions about China and its commitment to market-oriented practices that they promised to engage in," said the official.

The USTR scanned into four types of allegations: charges that China is putting pressure on companies to enter into joint ventures where they would transfer their technology to a Chinese company; US companies do not have the same technology to license their IP as a Chinese company.

"It's difficult to use the WTO that involves the informal pressure stakeholders have complained about. The idea that you can take this to the WTO isn't practical. To the extent we can get at these things at the WTO, we will do so. We're pursuing a number of cases against them right now. We'll use it where we can but we can't use it to address everything," the official said.

The administration disagrees on the fact that Chinas commitments have been completed. "All of us need to be aware of the history. It does raise a question about the history of the dialogue. That is something policymakers will have to take into account. The administration has been clear that China presents unique challenges," the official said.

The US and Chinas trade deficit stand on a humongous $500 billion. President Trump is looking to reduce the trade deficit and has been emphasising on the its importance since the very beginning of this presidential campaign.

Donald Trump thinks the trade deficit is against Americas national security interest, killing jobs in US and hurting its economy.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted request of the Centre to present a PowerPoint presentation to explain the technical details to the bench hearing the legal challenge to the Aadhar Law.

The Centre will make the PowerPoint presentation on the Aadhaar Law on Thursday.

The five-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra accepted the request from the Attorney General Venugopal KK Venogopal argued that UIDAI chief would be the best person to explain the technical details of the Aadhaar system and its safety.

The CEO of UIDAI can explain details in one hour through PowerPoint presentation, which can be argued for hours by lawyers, said Venugopal to the Supreme Court Bench.

UIDAI chief Ajay Bhushan Pandey, a PhD in computer science will answer all questions on Aadhaar to the bench, Venugopal added.

Two screens will be set up in the Apex Court that would let the bench and the petitioners to track the pointers. All doubts of petitioners and judges will be answered by UIDAI CEO, Venugopal added.

The Supreme Court has been hearing a batch of pleas that challenge the Aadhaar Law, arguing that it violated an individuals fundamental right to privacy.

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Kolkata: The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police carried out a major operation on The New Delhi (July 11, 2021). STF is said to have arrested three suspected terrorists of the terrorist outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Several suspicious materials have also been recovered from their possession.

According to media reports, the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police had received information today that some Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorists were in Haridevpur. The three suspected terrorists from JMB had been living in a rented house here for the past few months. A senior police official said, the trio was arrested from Haridevpur area of south Kolkata on Sunday afternoon after receiving intelligence inputs.

Talking to media after the operation, Kolkata Police STF Joint CP V Solomon Nesakumar said, "We have recovered jihadist literature and their Facebook accounts are also being scanned." At the same time, we have also found an important diary containing the names and numbers of JMB members. He added, "The investigation has started. We will produce the accused in court tomorrow."

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Kolkata: A Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police has arrested 3 Bangladeshi nationals suspected to be operatives of banned terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

As per reports, the three were picked up from a rented flat in Haridevpur on the western suburbs of the city on Sunday evening. Police said the three were staying in Kolkata for a few months on the pretext of medical treatment of a relative. "But they were actually raising funds and trying to recruit local Muslims for jihadi actions," said an officer of Kolkata Police special task force.

The culprits were identified as Mikhail Khan, Rabiul Islam and Naziur Rahman, all hailing from Gopalgunj, home district of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

An intelligence official in Dhaka reportedly said that the three would certainly have a connection with other JMB activists active in West Bengal and south India. "So it was necessary to launch follow-up operations based on leads these three may provide."

Uttar Pradesh's Salma sells her baby for 50000 and file fake case of kidnapping

Drunk father beats 6-year-old innocent, police takes action after video surfaced

Mother packed 10-day-old baby with bricks, yet newborn survived
AUSTIN, Texas -- A diagnostic tool called the MasSpec Pen has been tested for the first time in pancreatic cancer patients during surgery. The device is shown to accurately identify tissues and surgical margins directly in patients and differentiate healthy and cancerous tissue from banked pancreas samples. At about 15 seconds per analysis, the method is more than 100 times as fast as the current gold standard diagnostic, Frozen Section Analysis. The ability to accurately identify margins between healthy and cancerous tissue in pancreatic cancer surgeries can give patients the greatest chance of survival.

The results, by a team from The University of Texas at Austin and Baylor College of Medicine, are published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"These results show the technology works in the clinic for surgical guidance," said Livia Schiavinato Eberlin, an assistant professor of chemistry at UT Austin who leads the team that invented the pen, in collaboration with James Suliburk, head of endocrine surgery at Baylor. "Surgeons can easily integrate the MasSpec Pen into their workflow, and the initial data really supports the diagnostic accuracy we were expecting to achieve."

The most common type of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, spreads rapidly and is highly lethal, with a five-year survival rate of 9% for all stages. The most effective treatment option is surgical removal of the tumor.

Cancer surgeons face a dilemma: It's often difficult to tell good tissue from bad. If any cancerous tissue is left behind, there's a risk the tumor will regrow, potentially requiring the patient to undergo additional rounds of surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, and decreasing the chances of survival. On the other hand, removing too much healthy tissue, especially from vital organs, can also compromise a patient's health. Determining the margin between healthy and cancerous tissue is critical to a successful surgery.

For this study, the investigators first used the MasSpec Pen to analyze 157 banked human pancreatic tissues to develop and evaluate the technology in the laboratory for pancreatic cancer. Then, the investigators moved the system to the operating room at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston, which is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, where the surgeons tested the technology in 18 pancreatic surgeries. The pen has been tested in more than 150 human surgeries to date, including for breast and thyroid, and results of those additional tests will be submitted for publication soon.

Mary King, a graduate student and the study's first author, and other members of the Eberlin research group operated the mass spectrometer during surgery.

A typical surgery to remove a pancreatic tumor can take from 6 to 12 hours.

"Surgery of the pancreas is a very complex and detailed surgery that requires numerous intraoperative decisions over several hours that can have long-lasting effects on oncologic outcomes for patients with pancreas cancer," said George Van Buren, M.D., associate professor of surgery at Baylor and one of the surgeons who performed operations during the experiment. "The MasSpec Pen technology opens the door for real-time, precision medicine to be performed in the operating room at a level that has never been seen before."

These are the first published results of intraoperative use of the MasSpec Pen, in other words, on intact or just-removed tissue from patients during surgery. Preclinical research published about the technology in 2017 led to widespread enthusiasm and interest, including from writers in Hollywood who adapted the idea for a segment on the television program "Grey's Anatomy."

The researchers plan eventually to submit the design to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval as a medical device.

###

Banked tissue samples were provided by the Cooperative Human Tissue Network and Baylor.

This work was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Livia Eberlin receives support for research in her lab from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

King, Suliburk, Eberlin, Jialing Zhang and others are inventors in US Patent No. 10,643,832 and/or in other patent applications related to the MasSpec Pen technology licensed by The University of Texas to MS Pen Technologies Inc. and its subsidiary Genio Technologies. Zhang, Suliburk and Eberlin are shareholders in MS Pen Technologies Inc.

The University of Texas at Austin is committed to transparency and disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. The university investigator who led this research, Livia Schiavinato Eberlin, has submitted required financial disclosure forms with the university. Eberlin is a co-founder with an equity stake in MSP Technologies, an inventor-led startup formed to commercialize the MasSpec Pen technology, owned by the university.
Description

This program will first guide the participants through a centering meditation, and then move into gentle, easily accessible yoga poses linked with breath. Each class will end with a guided meditation to integrate the breath and bodywork just taught. Please see the calendar of events at www.freeportlibrary.info for the link to join this virtual program. Freeport Memorial Library 516-379-3274. Free
Government Innovation Awards

Last call for 2021 innovation nominations

The deadline for 2021 Government Innovation Award nominations is fast approaching. Don't miss this opportunity to spotlight outstanding government programs, industry partners and individual contributors; be sure to complete your submissions by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 15.

There are three award categories to consider:

Rising Stars . These are individual awards, recognizing early-career phenoms whose leadership, innovation and all-around extra effort are having a powerful and positive impact.

. These are individual awards, recognizing early-career phenoms whose leadership, innovation and all-around extra effort are having a powerful and positive impact. Industry Innovators . These awards recognize companies that are bringing innovative technology solutions to their government customers.

. These awards recognize companies that are bringing innovative technology solutions to their government customers. Public Sector Innovations. The centerpiece of the Government Innovation Awards program, this category honors transformative tech that is truly reinventing government at the federal, state or local level via a specific project or program. That potentially mission-critical impact can stem from a new technology itself or from the innovative ways established tech is being leveraged to make government function better.

So please be thinking about efforts across government that you believe are worthy of a Government Innovation Award, and get those nominations submitted today!
(Adds details)

PARIS, July 12 (Reuters) - The French government is set to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for health workers, BFM TV reported on Monday ahead of a televised speech to the nation by President Emmanuel Macron.

France has an entrenched anti-vaccination movement but authorities had banked on convincing enough people, including medical staff, to voluntarily get inoculated and curb the spread of the virus.

However, a slowdown in vaccination rates as the summer holidays approach and a sharp upturn in new infections due to the now-dominant Delta variant have forced the government to rethink.

BFM TV also reported Macron would say a health pass required to attend large scale events or to go clubbing will now be required for some other events, giving further incentive for people to get the jab.

France has gone from an average of more than 400,000 first injections per day at the end of May to about 165,000 per day now.

Macron is due to speak at 8pm local time (1800 GMT). (Reporting by GV De Clercq and Ingrid Melander; editing by Richard Lough)
NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A New York state Supreme Court judge has allowed a lawsuit filed in December against Normandy Real Estate Partners involving the Netflix studio site at 333 Johnson Avenue in Brooklyn to proceed to discovery and trial. The judge sustained the principal cause of action  breach of fiduciary duty of loyalty  brought by plaintiff 333 Johnson LLC.

Photo Credit: Anita Ng

333 Johnson partner and Sciame Construction (https://sciame.com/) founder Frank Sciame noted, "There is no doubt that with the judge allowing discovery, the truth will surface. The crux of Normandy's casethat Sciame Construction was not capable of building a Netflix Studiois tantamount to saying that Rolls Royce can't build engines."

The 333 Johnson site in Brooklyn, New York, is currently under construction and is slated to be the future location of a Netflix Studios complex. The verified complaint filed December 28, 2020 in state Supreme Court charges breach of fiduciary duty of loyalty and fraud in connection with the sale of the property. Plaintiff 333 Johnson was in a joint venture with defendant Normandy Real Estate Partners ("Normandy REP") as a minority partner for three and one half years. The joint venture's purpose was to develop and sell the 333 Johnson property in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. In the suit, the plaintiff alleges defendant Normandy REP deprived plaintiff of a deal with a value of $360 million dollars. The plaintiff was entitled to purchase Normandy's interest in the joint venture, and alleges Normandy concealed information about Netflix's lease of the property and induced plaintiff to waive that right. The same court had already ruled on a motion by the plaintiff for pre-lawsuit discovery as well as an order compelling the preservation of evidence. It was an unusual motion succeeding in a ruling that the plaintiff had sufficient information to file the lawsuit against Normandy, and the court ordered Normandy REP, Netflix Inc., and Steel Equity Management, LLC to preserve all relevant documents about the property and the allegations by the plaintiff.

Story continues

Prior to the sale, the property was improved with 160,000 square feet of interconnected buildings, with the potential for an additional 150,000 square feet. Prior to entering into the joint venture in 2015, plaintiffs invested substantial money and time to ensure that the property can be developed into a highly desirable project. They also created a strategic business plan to market the property. Some of the contributions 333 Johnson made to the joint venture were hiring architects and engineers, conducting market surveys of the area that generated tenant interest and lease offers and performing environmental assessments. At the end of this process, 333 Johnson partnered with Normandy REP to implement the business plan and develop the property for sale or lease. Per the agreement between 333 Johnson and Normandy REP, 333 Johnson was initially designated the managing partner of the entity.

According to the Complaint in fall 2018, Normandy REP abruptly brought a buyer to 333 Johnson and demanded a waiver of 333 Johnson's right of first offer, which was spelled out in the parties' joint venture agreement. The Complaint went on to note that defendant Normandy REP warned 333 Johnson not to interfere with the sale that would result in a small profit for the joint venture for a property the defendant described as "a broken-down warehouse in Brooklyn." The potential purchaser, Steel Equities, made an offer of $52.5 million, well below the value of the property if the Netflix lease had been in play.

The only reason 333 Johnson agreed to the sale was because Normandy REP did not disclose Netflix's desire to lease the entire site for sound studios, the lawsuit alleges. As noted in the court filing, Normandy clearly knew of Netflix' interest in the property because Normandy was already in discussion with Netflix over leasing Normandy properties in Manhattan. This included space at 888 Broadway which was owned and managed by a Normandy affiliate. It is alleged in the Complaint that Normandy REP arranged site access at the Brooklyn property for Netflix and its team of contractors, architects and engineers prior to the sale of the property to Steel Equities. On the exact day that the sale of the parcel closed (December 26, 2018) Steel Equities executed a lease with Netflix for the entire property as noted in the complaint. The first time 333 Johnson learned of the lease was when it was publicly announced in April 2019. At that same time New York State Empire Development offered $4 million in performance-based excelsior tax credits' linked to jobs that would be created at both 888 Broadway in Manhattan and 333 Johnson in Brooklyn.

"We could have realized more than $300 million from the Netflix lease had we not been cheated out of that opportunity by our former partner Normandy REP," said Jin Lee of 333 Johnson LLC. "We are delighted by the ruling and look forward to quickly proceeding to discovery and trial."

The Complaint seeks total damages in excess of $300 million and the trial is expected to be scheduled in early 2022.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/333-johnson-llc-announces-judge-allows-lawsuit-against-normandy-partners-over-netflix-brooklyn-site-to-proceed-to-discovery-and-trial-301331101.html

SOURCE 333 Johnson, LLC
New Orleans, Louisiana--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2021) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have only until July 13, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Array Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARRY), if they purchased the Company's securities between October 14, 2020 and May 11, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period") and/or pursuant to the Company's October 2020 initial public offering, December 2020 secondary public offering, or March 2021 secondary public offering. These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Array and would like to discuss your legal rights and how these cases might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email: (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit: https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqgs-arry/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class actions, you must petition the Courts by July 13, 2021 .

About the Lawsuits

Array and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period and/or in the Offering Materials issued in conjunction with the public offerings, violating federal securities laws. Specifically, the action alleges that the Company failed to disclose that increases in commodity and freight costs had been negatively impacting the Company's business and operations. On May 11, 2021, the Company disclosed that its first quarter 2021 results had missed profit analysts' expectations and withdrew its full-year 2021 outlook, due to increases in steel and freight costs, leading analysts to cut their ratings on the Company. On this news, shares of Array plummeted 46.1%, or $11.49 per share, to close at $13.46 per share on May 12, 2021.

Story continues

The first-filed case is Plymouth County Retirement Association v. Array Technologies, Inc., et al., 21-cv-2396.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit: www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/89872.
(Bloomberg) -- TikTok owner ByteDance Ltd. is working to ensure it complies with data security requirements before going public after meetings with Chinese government officials over the issue earlier this year, people familiar with the matter said.

The Chinese tech giant, whose apps also include TikToks Chinese twin Douyin and the news aggregator Toutiao, had kicked off initial preparations for an initial public offering of its domestic assets, Bloomberg News reported in April. Yet ByteDance has been proceeding cautiously given recent regulatory changes in China, the people said, even before the IPO of Didi Global Inc. in New York, which sparked a backlash in Beijing.

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported the March meetings with regulators and added that ByteDance had put its intentions to go public on hold indefinitely. But the company has not shelved its IPO plans and had not decided on specific timing, two of the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private information.

ByteDance meets regularly with Beijing regulators about a range of issues, including data security, and the March discussions were part of that ongoing process, according to one person. Founder Zhang Yiming did not attend the March meetings, the person said. A ByteDance representative declined to comment.

Companies seeking to raise capital in overseas markets are now facing greater scrutiny, after China on Saturday proposed new laws that will require virtually all firms heading for an IPO outside of China to undergo a cybersecurity review. Didi had gone ahead to list in New York in June, even though Bloomberg News reported regulators asked it as early as three months ago to delay the debut. Authorities have since commenced a cybersecurity probe into the firm and removed its services from Chinese app stores.

In its report, the Wall Street Journal said regulators never called outright for a delay to ByteDances possible share offering, but they were concerned about data-security compliance by its apps in the country.

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The Cyberspace Administration of China and the China Securities Regulatory Commission didnt respond to the Journals requests for comment.

Trading of ByteDances shares in private markets have held steady at about $330 billion over the past month, according to a person with direct knowledge, although asking prices for the stock have been higher.

ByteDance had been considering plans to raise at least several billion dollars from a listing of its Chinese assets, Bloomberg reported in April. At that time, it was choosing between Hong Kong and the U.S. as its listing venue. The company in March hired Shou Zi Chew from Xiaomi Corp. as its CFO, fueling speculation an IPO was imminent.

The company later issued a statement saying it didnt meet the conditions to go public and currently didnt have any such plans.

(Updates with more context about the March meetings from the third paragraph)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is looking to pilot its central bank digital currency (CBDC) in two months time.

BoG First Deputy Gov. Maxwell Opoku-Afari told local media the last phase before implementation of a digital cedi is expected to start by September, Modern Ghana reported Friday.

Speaking to media at a workshop organized by the Journalists for Business Advocacy, the deputy governor also said the success rate of the banks pilot would determine the next stages.

Related: BIS, IMF, World Bank Say Central Banks Must Consider Cross-Border Implications of CBDCs

No definitive timeline for the potential launch of a digital cedi has yet been given.

BoG Gov. Ernest Addison said in June the pilot will be such that a few people would be able to use the digital cedi on the mobile applications, CoinDesk reported at the time. Ghanas central bank says it is the first in Africa to say it was conducting work on a CBDC.

In February, Ghanas central bank linked arms with digital transformation consortium Emtech in order to launch a sandbox focused on blockchain, CBDCs and financial inclusion. The governor said the bank would continue to keep the sandbox in order to promote innovation.

Opoku-Afari also said its CBDC is fiat money, calling it cash on its own, according to the report.

Related: Bank of Thailand: Dont Use Crypto for Payments

Digital Currency is part of the central bank acknowledging the need for digital payment and digital delivery of financial services, the deputy governor said. This is formally to get into that space and be able to provide a platform on which we can add more value to digital transactions.

Related Stories
7,000 Leading Experts from over 100 Countries Gather to Present Research on Blood Clotting problems in Patients with COVID-19, Bleeding Disorders, Prevention and Treatment of Arterial and Venous Thrombosis, and More

PHILADELPHIA, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) will hold its 2021 Congress virtually from July 17-21. More than 7,000 scientists, researchers and physicians representing over 100 countries will attend to present, learn and exchange ideas on basic, translational and clinical research, and discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic advances in bleeding and clotting disorders.

ISTH Logo

"We are excited to connect clinicians, scientists and researchers from around the world with an interest in thrombosis and hemostasis as part of the Virtual Congress," said ISTH President Jeffrey Weitz, M.D. "Though we did not originally plan on hosting it online only, we are committed to continue to share the best and most innovative science in thrombosis and hemostasis especially for ISTH members who play a major role in the treatment and care of patients with COVID-19."

The Congress Chair Sriram Krishnaswamy, Ph.D., and members of the local organizing committee will host the Virtual Congress live from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Dr. Krishnaswamy and the local organizing committee will host plenary presentations and the Congress welcome ceremony on Saturday, July 17 from Philadelphia. Additional features of the scientific program include oral communications, late breaking abstracts, e-posters and recordings and virtual attendee interactions. The Virtual Congress will also include a virtual exhibition space for pharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device companies as well as partner organizations, and will feature supported symposia and presentation theaters on the most recent diagnostic and therapeutic innovations in the field.

"We are delighted to host the ISTH 2021 Congress virtually from Philadelphia and share the rich history and culture of this location with the scientists and clinicians around the world," said Krishnaswamy. "The program will represent the most up to date science that the fields of thrombosis and hemostasis have to offer."

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ISTH 2021 received more than 2,000 scientific abstracts, which will be presented as either online posters or oral communications. Abstracts cover the most important scientific topics in thrombosis and hemostasis such as arterial thromboembolism, coagulation and natural anticoagulants, diagnostics and OMICs, fibrinolysis and proteolysis, hemophilia and rare bleeding disorders, pediatric bleeding and clotting disorders, platelets and megakaryocytes, role of the hemostatic system in cancer, inflammation and immunity, thrombotic microangiopathies, vascular biology, venous thromboembolism, and women's health. Full abstracts can be viewed at abstracts.isth.org.

The ISTH 2021 program is available at isth2021.org/program. Learn more and register at isth2021.org.

Media Note: For assistance setting up interviews with ISTH Experts, or registering for ISTH 2021 as media, contact Andy Masten at andrew_masten@isth.org. For general information about the ISTH 2021 Virtual Congress, including the virtual press room, visit isth2021.org.

About ISTH

Founded in 1969, the ISTH is the leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to thrombosis and hemostasis. The ISTH is an international professional membership organization with more than 7,700 clinicians, researchers and educators in 120 countries working together to improve the lives of patients around the world. Among its highly regarded activities and initiatives are education and standardization programs, research activities, meetings and congresses, peer-reviewed publications, expert committees and World Thrombosis Day on October 13. The ISTH is dedicated to transformative scientific discoveries and clinical practices, the development of young professionals and the education of physicians, scientists and allied health professionals wherever they may live. Visit the ISTH online at www.isth.org.

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SOURCE International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
OTTAWA, ON, July 12, 2021 /CNW/ - In the fight against COVID-19, it is critical that as many Canadians as possible get vaccinated. That is why the Government of Canada is taking action to make sure every Canadian who wants a vaccine can get one, thereby closing the gap among populations with lower vaccine uptake.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced five new projects receiving funding through the Immunization Partnership Fund (IPF) to support vaccination efforts across Canada. These community-based projects will reduce barriers to vaccine uptake among communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic through evidence-based and culturally relevant vaccination strategies.

The African Arts & Culture Community Contributor Society will receive funding to empower Black community leaders in British Columbia as COVID-19 vaccine promoters, establish Black-led vaccine clinics, and develop culturally responsive vaccine resources.

The Mainline, a program of the Mi'Kmaw Native Friendship Centre, will receive funding to encourage vaccine uptake among people who use drugs and urban Indigenous peoples in Nova Scotia. This project will provide credible COVID-19 vaccine information to these communities and deliver low-barrier vaccine clinics and mobile services.

Regroupement des centres d'amitie autochtones du Quebec will receive funding to train the staff of three Quebec-area Friendship Centres to raise awareness of the importance of vaccinating against COVID-19 among the Indigenous population, with a special focus on youth, through culturally responsive outreach.

Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services Inc. will receive funding to implement a range of community-based COVID-19 education, promotion, prevention and outreach strategies to support vaccine uptake among urban Indigenous populations in Regina and surrounding communities.

Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre will receive funding to hold weekly COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinics at single room occupancy dwellings and homeless shelters for homeless or transient populations in Vancouver and New Westminster. This project will provide COVID-19 testing and vaccine education, promotion, and outreach to facilitate and encourage vaccine uptake among these populations.

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The Government of Canada is working closely with experts, provinces and territories, and other partners to encourage vaccine confidence and better understand the barriers people may face to getting vaccinated. The IPF is one tool to help people in Canada make informed vaccine choices through community mobilization and public outreach.

Quotes

"Vaccines are an important tool to protect Canadians against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is a small action that makes a big difference  which is why we're helping everyone in Canada get vaccinated against COVID-19. These projects are using tailored strategies to reduce vaccine access barriers and facilitate COVID-19 vaccine uptake among populations disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Supporting community-based solutions helps remove systemic barriers to vaccination and will protect more peopleand communities from COVID-19."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Health

Quick Facts

All project activities started in June 2021.





The Immunization Partnership Fund (IPF) supports projects that improve access to vaccines and encourage vaccine acceptance and uptake.





In 2020, as a response to Canada's COVID-19 vaccination efforts and building on the early momentum of the IPF, the Government of Canada invested an additional $64 million for projects to support COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Canada. This funding includes:

The IPF is one of several programs by the Government of Canada to work with communities to increase vaccine confidence and address barriers to getting vaccinated. This includes the Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge which will provide up to 140 grants for community-driven information campaigns to empower community leaders to spread the work on COVID-19 vaccines and public health measures.





The Ask the Experts campaign will run from June 15, 2021, to July 31, 2021. The ads will appear on TV, web sites, social media and in search engine marketing. Through a series of videos, the campaign answers a variety of questions such as the importance of getting the second dose of the vaccine, why people who are young and healthy need to get vaccinated, and how the vaccines work.





Through the IPF:

Associated Links

Backgrounder: New Projects Funded Under the Immunization Partnership Fund

Immunization Partnership Fund

Vaccination and Immunization

Canada.ca/Coronavirus

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

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OTTAWA, ON, July 11, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, have accepted a formal Request for Federal Assistance from the Province of Ontario for evacuation support in response to significant wildfires and heavy smoke threatening the community of Poplar Hill First Nation in Northwestern Ontario.

The Government of Canada will provide immediate evacuation resources through the deployment of Canadian Armed Forces personnel and assets stationed at CFB Winnipeg. This will assist members from the fly-in community of Poplar Hill First Nation to begin evacuating as early as this afternoon to a designated host community.

The Government Operations Centre is working to coordinate the federal response to the wildfire situation in Ontario. Officials are working closely with federal and provincial partners to coordinate this assistance.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada stands ready to assist the Province of Ontario and the residents of Poplar Hill First Nation, who are currently facing the threat of wildfires. Canadians can be assured that all levels of government are working together to deliver the required help. I strongly encourage impacted residents to follow the directions and advice of the local authorities and first responders. On behalf of all Canadians, I thank all first responders and CAF members working tirelessly to support Canadians in need."

- The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"The Canadian Armed Forces are always ready to protect Canadians when threatened by natural disasters. The wildfires near Poplar Hills First Nations are tragic and we are honoured to be able to assist them as requested. Our quick mobilization of Hercules aircraft will ensure the residents are safe from potential disaster."

-The Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence

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Associated Links

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

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The Israel Investment Fund Group (IIFG) has announced they have invested a whopping $2.3 billion in bitcoin (BTC).

The venture capital firm, based between Tel Aviv and Beverley Hills, California, shared a tweet on July 9, stating, As part of Portfolios diversification policy, we have invested 2.3 billion in Bitcoin. It is part of a global strategy to lead Israel to the future of the currency.

IIFG particularly invests in Israeli startups, early-stage companies, and tech assets. However, the private investment firm also manages Israels sovereign wealth fund.

Israeli forces seize Hamas crypto accounts

The IIFGs multibillion-dollar investment comes amid reports that Israeli security forces have begun targeting and seizing cryptocurrency accounts used by the Palestinian Hamas group.

These reports indicate that the Israeli Ministry of Defense uncovered a network of wallets containing BTC and other cryptocurrencies. They alleged that Hamas were using cryptocurrencies to raise funds for their military wing.

Testing begins on digital shekel

An ever-increasing number of countries are looking into the idea of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Some are further along than others. Many are still in the research stage, while others have already been recognized in legislation, such as in Ukraine. Others still, such as front runner China, is in the midst of its pilot program. At the time of the last update, issued back in May, Chinese private bank Zhejiang E-Commerce Bank had added itself to the pilot. Joining the ranks of six state-owned institutions, as well as online grocery services and food delivery units.

At the end of June, Israel also joined the list of nations that had entered the testing phase of their CBDC. Andrew Abir, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Israel, accidentally announced a pilot test of the digital shekel at a conference.

Deputy Governor Abir clarified shortly afterwards that he was not totally convinced about the CBDC. He referred to his previous estimation that the chance of having a CBDC within five years is 20%.

Even so, he said he was more optimistic than before, citing other countries activities regarding CBDCs as the reason. However, Abir still believes there is less than a 50% chance that Israel will have a digital shekel in five years.
Study finds that gay villages have seen a disproportionate amount of closures, boarded up storefronts and high rents compared to the rest of the LGBTQ+ business community.

Women entrepreneurs and business owners are significantly underrepresented in LGBTQ+ businesses with greater attention needed to develop more opportunities and support for intersectionality amongst the community.

Canada is lagging behind the US in recognizing LGBTQ+ businesses as a minority group for preferential spending, procurement and relief funds.

MONTREAL, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Lightspeed (TSX: LSPD) (NYSE: LSPD), the one-stop commerce platform for merchants around the world to simplify, scale and create exceptional customer experiences, today announced the results of a study on the impacts of COVID-19 on the LGBTQ+ North American business community.

Lightspeed POS Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Lightspeed POS Inc.)

Lightspeed commissioned the exploratory study to Carleton University's Sprott School of Business along with the support from Canada's LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC).This study is part of Lightspeed's overarching Community through Commerce initiative, which serves as a tactical, data-driven approach to better understand the businesses Lightspeed powers with its one-stop commerce platform. As such, Lightspeed sought to gather actual data that would support some of the assumptions made about the true impacts of COVID-19 on this community. As a next step in this initiative, Lightspeed will engage with local North American LGBTQ+ Chambers of Commerce to identify ways of helping merchants continue to build thriving businesses.

Lightspeed's inaugural Global Diversity and Inclusion survey revealed that 16.81% of its global employees identify as LGBTQ+ and 9 out of 10 report that they feel comfortable talking about their culture and background with their colleagues. 83% of survey respondents feel they can be their authentic selves in the workplace.

"Lightspeed was founded in 2005, in Montreal's gay village and its original members were all part of the LGBTQ+ community. The ethos of our business has always been about diversity and inclusion from the very start, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that this research was particularly important to us," said Dax Dasilva, Founder and CEO of Lightspeed. "Both in the US and in Canada, majority-owned LGBTQ+ businesses generate trillions of dollars of contributions to the total GDP. Given their importance and influence on our economies, we wanted to understand exactly how the pandemic has affected this community and start a conversation with businesses and chambers of commerce, to help us build even better tools for resiliency."

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Purpose of the study:

To assess whether there has been a disproportionately negative or positive impact from the pandemic on LGBTQ+ businesses and entrepreneurs.

To explore whether LGBTQ+ businesses, in responding to the COVID-19 crisis, have explicitly turned to or benefited from gay villages/neighbourhoods and/or similar community organizations.

To explore the options for investment and support that respondents perceive as necessary or helpful for post-pandemic recovery.

Key results:

According to qualitative data gathered from the study, gay villages saw a disproportionate amount of closures, boarded up storefronts and high rents compared to the rest of the LGBTQ+ led business community.

The types of businesses located in the villages are mostly retail, restaurants, bars and entertainment, which, according to Statistics Canada, were hardest hit during the pandemic.

Similarly in the United States, the National Restaurant Association reported that restaurant and food-service sales were $240 billion below their 2020 pre-pandemic forecasts.

110,000 eating and drinking establishments closed either temporarily or for good, and 2.5 million restaurant industry jobs disappeared.

Our study showed that villages were not seen to be fostering business and entrepreneurship or providing a community or resources for businesses outside of retail and hospitality.

Greater collaboration and partnership with Economic Development and the BIAs (Business Improvement Area) could bolster the opportunities in the gay villages.

There is an opportunity for villages to promote diversity within LGBTQ+ businesses in their services and outreach, and to become safe spaces and hubs of innovation.

Gay villages (areas or neighborhoods) are seen to have a strong social fabric, tight knit communities, with the potential to reach out to intersectional community members.

There is an opportunity for villages to reach out to and bring in young entrepreneurs and businesspeople, who value the community and opportunity to collaborate.

Women entrepreneurs and business owners are significantly underrepresented in LGBTQ+ businesses and greater attention is needed to develop more opportunities and support for intersectionality amongst the community.

Participants in the study were predominantly male (70%) reflecting nation-wide studies showing that 80% of businesses had majority male ownership in the United States (United States Census Bureau) and 79% in Canada (Statistics Canada).

The majority of respondents did not identify as intersectional (80%).

Study reveals that Canada is lagging behind the US in recognizing LGBTQ+ businesses for preferential spending, procurement and relief funds.

In the US, recognition is occurring at the city and state level, with strong movement toward federal recognition of LGBTQ+ businesses.

As of January 2021, New York City recognized LGBTQ-owned companies as minority-owned businesses , making them eligible for billions in city contracts, as well as access to consulting, mentorship, educational programs and other resources.

In Canada however, the federal government lags behind in recognition of the LGBTQ+ business community within the same categorization, which prevents them from benefiting from government funds.

Small businesses/new entrepreneurs want to have a range of finance options, including loans, grants and investment.

Intersectional business owners found it especially challenging to gain access to funding.

Methodology

This exploratory study focused on businesses in six North American cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.

There were two parts to the exploratory study:

Survey: The pilot survey was open to any senior executive or founder of a business that is majority owned by a self-identified member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Interviews: Structured interviews were conducted with leaders of the LGBT Chambers of Commerce, with leaders of similar advocacy organizations and with LGBTQ+ business leaders.

A wide range of businesses were included, varying in size and sector, mainly service and technology-based businesses.

The demographics presented in the findings may be reflective of our approach to participants through city business Chambers, with the Canadian Chambers as the main partners.

This study is replicable in more cities and across a greater number of industries.

The survey was available in both English and French with data being gathered from May 2021 and is current as of the publication date of this release.

"Our research team at Carleton University was pleased to undertake this exciting research. The findings of our exploratory study demonstrate the need to better understand the LGBTQ2S+ business community and the opportunities that exist to realize the full potential of LGBTQ2S+ entrepreneurs and businesses, which already make a significant contribution to the Canadian and American economies" said Dr. Dana Brown, Dean at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business along with Drs Alastair Summerlee, Adjunct Professor and Rick Colbourne, Assistant Dean, Equity and Inclusive Communities.

The study also confirmed trends that Lightspeed reported during its third quarter earnings regarding revenue growth in Australia which had recently re-opened its economy. Much like those findings revealed, LGBTQ+ respondents of our North American study said that they were intentionally buying local and supporting cities and neighborhoods to recover. This was also in line with our pan-European consumer behaviour results, which showed that Europeans have been returning to in-person dining and willing to pay more, tip more and prioritize local restaurants over chains.

The study remains open in order to capture evolving North American trends. Leaders/founders of LGBTQ+ majority owned businesses can participate anonymously by going to: https://carletonu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bIaKhXjubYRqzrM

It is also being extended to the UK where it will be led by the University of Southampton Center for Inclusive and Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation, in partnership with the Innovation Hub and Sprott School of Business at Carleton University.

About Lightspeed

Powering the businesses that are the backbone of the global economy, Lightspeed's one-stop commerce platform helps merchants innovate to simplify, scale and provide exceptional customer experiences. The cloud solution transforms and unifies online and physical operations, multichannel sales, expansion to new locations, global payments, financing and connection to supplier networks.

Founded in Montreal, Canada in 2005, Lightspeed is dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD). With teams across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the company serves retail, hospitality and golf businesses in over 100 countries.

For more information, see www.lightspeedhq.com

Follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter

About Carleton University

Carleton is a dynamic, research-intensive institution that engages in partnerships to address the world's most pressing issues. The university's corporate collaborations bring together world-class companies, researchers and a new generation of talent of more than 32,000 students to deliver innovations and results that are driving a more prosperous, sustainable future.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are identified by words such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current expectations of Lightspeed's management and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, including, among other factors, those risk factors identified in our most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Information Form, and in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available under our profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to Lightspeed's subordinate voting shares and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and, while forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that Lightspeed considers reasonable, actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by Lightspeed. Except as may be expressly required by applicable law, Lightspeed does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contacts:



Lightspeed Media Relations

media@lightspeedhq.com



Victoria Baker

Victoriab@nkpr.net

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SOURCE Lightspeed POS Inc.
SUDBURY, ON, July 12, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada's mining sector is an important pillar of Canada's economy. Marc Serre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will announce an important investment to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative and sustainable mining technologies, which will benefit the industry across Canada.

An in-person media availability will follow the announcement.

Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021



Time: 1:30 p.m. (ET)



Location: XPS  Expert Process Solutions  A Glencore Company

6 Edison Road

Falconbridge, Ontario

Notes for media:

Upon arrival, members of the media are asked to check in with staff at the designated COVID-19 screening/sign-in area by the event venue to provide contact tracing details. Attendees will be required to wear a face covering at all times and to remain at least two metres from others.

Members of the media should contact ISED Media Relations (mediarelations-mediasrelations@ised-isde.gc.ca) no later than July 12 at 5 p.m. (ET) to confirm their attendance.

The announcement will be live-streamed on the Canadian Science Facebook page.

Stay connected

Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED.

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.

Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 12, 2021) - NervGen Pharma Corp. (TSXV: NGEN) (OTCQX: NGENF) ("NervGen" or the "Company"), a clinical stage biotech company dedicated to creating innovative solutions for the treatment of nervous system damage, today announced the addition of three world-class scientists and clinical researchers to its Alzheimer's Disease Scientific Advisory Board. Drs. Martin Farlow, Reisa Sperling and Michael Weiner have agreed to join Drs. Jeffrey Cummings, Bruce Lamb, George Perry and Henrik Zetterberg on the Alzheimer's Disease Scientific Advisory Board to guide NervGen as it prepares for the Phase 1b clinical trial of its lead compound, NVG-291, in Alzheimer's patients that is slated to begin in 2022.

"The expansion of our Alzheimer's Disease Scientific Advisory Board with such impressive scientific and clinical leaders in the field speaks to the opportunity that our drug provides," stated Dr. Daniel Mikol, NervGen's Chief Medical Officer. "Given our NVG-291's multi-modal mechanism of action, including promotion of axonal regeneration, plasticity, remyelination, autophagy and an anti-inflammatory microglial phenotype, we have the opportunity to create a completely new treatment paradigm as a neurorestorative therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Whilst most therapies in development aim to slow progression of the disease, NVG-291 provides the potential to improve cognitive deficits by enhancing the nervous system's natural repair mechanisms."

Paul Brennan, NervGen's President & CEO, added, "We are very excited about adding the clinical expertise of Drs. Farlow, Sperling and Weiner to the team. We now have a full complement of world-class experts to guide both our Alzheimer's preclinical studies and clinical trials leveraging biomarkers, neuroimaging and cognitive testing. The combined knowledge of this advisory board will help us maximize the probability of success as we advance the development of NVG-291 in a Phase 1b Alzheimer's disease clinical trial, which is slated to start next year upon the successful completion of our ongoing Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers."

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 Dr. Martin Farlow is Professor of Neurology and Emeritus of Neurology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. He is also Associate Clinical Core Leader of the Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Center in Indianapolis and leads a large Alzheimer's and related dementias clinical trials site in the Department of Neurology, Co-PI for Discover and Pramlintide, site PI for ADNI and DIAN-OBS and Project Arm Leader for DIAN-TU. He was PI for the first pivotal trial of tacrine (first symptomatic drug for AD) and described the second mutation associated with familial AD that was used to create the first generally recognized transgenic model for AD (PDAPP Mouse Model). Dr. Farlow has led and/or contributed in various ways to over 230 clinical trials over the last 25 years, has authored 493 peer reviewed research papers and 509 abstracts. He is an active consultant to industry and serves on numerous Data Safety Monitoring Boards.

 Dr. Reisa Sperling is a neurologist focused on the detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) at the pre-symptomatic or "preclinical" stage of AD. Dr. Sperling is a Professor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Sperling is the co-Principal Investigator of the Harvard Aging Brain Study, and the NIH funded Alzheimer's Clinical Trial Consortium (ACTC). Dr. Sperling chaired the 2011 NIA-Alzheimer's Association workgroup to develop guidelines for the study of "Preclinical Alzheimer's disease." She co-leads the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's disease (A4) Study, the first trial aiming to prevent cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease in cognitively normal older individuals with biomarker evidence of early AD pathology. In 2020, she launched two new prevention trials in the AHEAD 3-45 Study with the ACTC. She has authored over 300 peer-reviewed research articles on neuroimaging markers and clinical trials in early AD. Dr. Sperling received the 2011 Derek Denny-Brown Award, the 2015 Potamkin Prize from the American Academy of Neurology, the 2018 Raymond Adams Lectureship Award from the American Neurological Association and was named one of the Most Disruptive Women to Watch in Healthcare in 2017.

 Dr. Michael Weiner has been conducting research for more than 50 years and is Principal Investigator of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), and the BrainHealthRegistry.org, an internet-based registry with the overall goal of accelerating development of effective treatments for brain diseases. Dr. Weiner's research largely focuses on treatment to slow progression in Alzheimer's disease, and on early detection and prevention. He completed his MD at State University of New York Upstate Medical Center Syracuse in 1965, his internship and residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital in 1967, and a residency and clinical fellowship in at Yale-New Haven Medical Center in 1968. He had various fellowships, earning Assistant Professorship at Stanford in 1974, and Associate Professorship at University of California, San Francisco in 1980 when he was one of the first to perform magnetic resonance spectroscopy on an intact animal. He subsequently pursued development of magnetic resonance imaging / magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a clinical tool. In 1983, he established the Magnetic Resonance Unit at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (which became the Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases in 2000, and VA Advanced Imaging Research Center in 2020). Since 1990, he's been a Professor in Radiology, Medicine, Psychiatry and Neurology at UCSF. Dr. Weiner has published 903 peer-reviewed articles, holds 19 separate research grants, and has received numerous honors. In 2010, he was named one of the "Rock Stars of Science" in GQ magazine and received the Gold Medal of Paul Sabatier University and the City of Toulouse, France. In 2011, he received the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Award for Research from the Alzheimer's Association; in 2013, the Potamkin Prize for Research in Picks Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and other Neurodegenerative Disorders from the American Association of Neurology and the American Brain Foundation; in 2014 the Distinguished Investigator Award from Academy of Radiology Research; in 2018, an Honorary Professorship Award from Australian Catholic University; and in 2019, a Docteur Honoris Causa Degree from Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France.

About NVG-291

NVG-291, a modulator of downstream activity of highly inhibitory molecules, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) present in the central nervous system, promotes repair mechanisms such as axonal regeneration; remyelination; plasticity; autophagy (a cellular self-cleaning mechanism that removes unnecessary or dysfunctional components); and a non-inflammatory phenotype in microglia cells, the innate immune cells of the brain. NVG-291 modulates the inhibitory activity of CSPGs by inhibiting the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) receptor which has been shown to impede repair following injury to the nervous system, whether as a result of trauma, such as in the case of spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury, or disease-specific mechanisms, such as multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's disease.

A Phase 1 trial of NVG-291 in heathy subjects is ongoing and, upon completion of the multiple ascending dose portion of the trial, NervGen intends to initiate a Phase 1b trial in Alzheimer's disease patients. Concurrently, the Company also plans to initiate Phase 2 trials in spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis with each of these trials planned to start in 2022.

About NervGen

NervGen is restoring life's potential by creating innovative solutions for the treatment of nervous system injury due to trauma or disease as a result of underlying inflammation and/or neurodegeneration. The Company is initially developing drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and Alzheimer's disease.

About Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia - a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that affects a person's ability to function independently.

Approximately 5.8 million people in the United States age 65 and older live with Alzheimer's disease. Of those, 80% are 75 years old and older. Out of the approximately 50 million people worldwide with dementia, between 60% and 70% are estimated to have Alzheimer's disease.

The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimer's disease will develop severe memory impairment and lose the ability to carry out everyday tasks.

Symptomatic medications are available that may temporarily improve cognition, including acetylcholinesterase and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor inhibitors. These treatments can sometimes help people with Alzheimer's disease maximize function and maintain independence for a time. Different programs and services can help support people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

There is no treatment that cures Alzheimer's disease or has a clinically meaningful benefit on disease progression. In advanced stages of the disease, complications from severe loss of brain function - such as dehydration, malnutrition or infection - result in death.

For further information, please contact:

Huitt Tracey, Corporate Communications

htracey@nervgen.com

604.362.6209

Nancy Thompson, Vorticom Inc.

nancyt@vorticom.com

212.532.2208

Follow NervGen on Twitter (@NervgenP) and LinkedIn (NervGen Pharma Corp.) for the latest news on the Company.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include, but are not limited to, the Company's current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements, or any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements, and the words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "trend", "indication", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "likely" or "potential", or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: the preclinical and clinical development of NVG-291; our belief that the multi-modal mechanism of action of NVG-291 offers the opportunity for a completely new paradigm to treat AD; the timing, objectives and study design of the ongoing and proposed clinical studies for NVG-291; the ability of our AD-SAB to provide us with the guidance we need to maximize the probability of success in our studies; and the creation of innovative solutions for the treatment of nerve damage and neurodegenerative diseases.

Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by the Company in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. In making forward-looking statements, the Company has relied on various assumptions, including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the accuracy of the Company's financial projections; the Company obtaining positive results in its clinical and other trials; the Company obtaining necessary regulatory approvals; and general business, market and economic conditions.

Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, a lack of revenue, insufficient funding, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance upon key personnel, the uncertainty of the clinical development process, competition, and other factors set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form, Prospectus Supplement, financial statements and Management Discussion and Analysis which can be found on SEDAR.com. All clinical development plans are subject to additional funding.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made in this news release. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and we have no intention and undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/89926
Provation MD enables Australian practitioners seamless capture of the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard indicators for safe and appropriate colonoscopies.

Provation MD sample electronic procedure note for a screening colonoscopy with endoscope images and anatomical diagram.

Provation MD sample electronic procedure note for a screening colonoscopy with endoscope images and anatomical diagram.

Minneapolis, MN and Sydney, Australia, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provation announced today that its gastroenterology (GI) procedure documentation solution, Provation MD, complies with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's effort to increase clinical accuracy and safety when documenting colonoscopy procedures.

Provation MD is a market-leading solution that is proven to improve operational and reporting efficiencies, procedure note accuracy, and overall physician and patient satisfaction. The solution allows endoscopists to efficiently and electronically create procedure notes to document all relevant procedure details and images. Provation MD currently serves over 150 Australian customers and is trusted by more than 80% of the top GI hospitals in the United States. Over 25 years, Provations international footprint has expanded from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand to the Middle East and Canada.

In January 2019, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, the Commission developed the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard. The Standard includes nine quality statements and a set of four clinical indicators for proper colonoscopy procedure care. The indicators include 1) adequate bowel preparation, 2) thorough colon examination, 3) adenoma detection, and 4) the presence of sessile serrated adenomas or polyps.

The Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard has been endorsed by ten key professional organisations and colleges including the Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP), the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA), the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), and the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ). By reporting on the Commissions indicators, Australian facilities can increase documentation standardisation for colonoscopies and improve quality patient care.

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Now, Australian GI practitioners utilising Provation MD can easily report on the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard indicators. Provation MDs Anticipatory Interface guides practitioners through an intuitive workflow navigation tree to offer appropriate selections for quick documentation, including fields for the Commissions requirements. Provation MD also features image management to associate relevant procedure images and electronic medical record (EMR) integration.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Cares purpose is to contribute to better health outcomes and experiences for all patients and consumers, and Provations purpose is to empower Providers to deliver quality health care for all. Both organisations are committed to ensuring practitioners have the best technology to document required data, so that patients can be accurately assessed and treated.

About the Commission

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is an Australian Government agency that leads and coordinates national improvements in the safety and quality of health care based on the best available evidence. By working in partnership with the Australian Government, states and territories, the private sector, clinical experts, and patients and carers, the Commission aims to ensure that the health system is better informed, supported and organised to deliver safe and high-quality care.

About Provation

Provation is a leading provider of health care software and SaaS solutions. Our purpose is to empower providers to deliver quality health care for all. We provide innovative solutions in clinical productivity, care coordination, quality reporting and billing. Celebrating 25 years, Provation serves thousands of hospitals, surgical facilities, anaesthesia groups, and medical offices, including 43 of the top 50 U.S. hospitals for gastroenterology (GI) and GI surgery. Our comprehensive portfolio spans the entire patient procedure, from pre-op through post-op recovery and follow-up, with solutions for physician and nursing documentation (Provation MD, Provation Apex, MD-Reports and Provation MultiCaregiver), patient engagement, surgical care coordination, quality reporting, and billing capture (Provation SurgicalValet), order set and care plan management (Provation Order Set Advisor and Provation Care Plans), and EHR embedded clinical documentation (Provation Clinic Note). Provation is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. For more information about our solutions, visit www.provationmedical.com.

Attachment

CONTACT: Tristan Galvan Provation 612.313.1548 tristan.galvan@provationmedical.com




MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 12, 2021 /CNW/ - Schneider Electric Canada, together with the France Canada Chamber of Commerce Ontario (FCCCO) is proud to announce Adrian Thomas as the newly elected President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada (EUCCAN). Thomas, who currently serves as the country president of Schneider Electric Canada is entrusted with continuing the growth of EUCCAN by reinforcing transatlantic cooperation between the European and Canadian business communities.

Schneider Electrics Adrian Thomas Elected President of European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada (EUCCAN) (CNW Group/Schneider Electric Canada Inc.)

"I am deeply honoured for the opportunity to join EUCCAN as their new President and build on the growth they've experienced in recent years," says Adrian Thomas, Country President of Schneider Electric Canada. "The EU and Canada both have an important role to play on the international stage and are uniquely positioned to drive this change with sustainability and innovation at the helm. I look forward to our collaboration as we strive to further strengthen relations between Canada and Europe."

Thomas brings over 20-years of experience in the electrical and automation industry in North America. He joined Schneider Electric Canada in 2016 as the leader of the Building segment, and has since held multiple leadership roles before his appointment to Canada Country President in 2020.

"I am proud to see Adrian serve as EUCCAN's President and be the flag bearer for the EU business community," says Honourable Madame Kareen Rispal, Ambassador of France to Canada. "He brings a wealth of experience and is well positioned to lead the EU business community towards green recovery post pandemic," added Sanjay Tugnait, President of France Canada Chamber of Commerce Ontario (FCCCO), and Global Managing Partner, Sustainability Practice, IBM GBS.

In addition to working with EUCCAN, Schneider Electric is a founding member of the FCCCO since its inception three years ago and has contributed strongly towards the Chamber's rapid growth. From being a part of FCCCO's Innovate & Create Conclave, Startup Competition, and most recently, Chief Sustainability Officer's Think Tank, Schneider Electric continues to be at the forefront of driving sustainability and innovation.

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About Schneider Electric

Schneider's purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values

https://www.se.com/ca/en/

Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Blog

About France Canada Chamber of Commerce Ontario (FCCCO)

The FCCCO is a prestigious non-profit organization. It has been established with a vision to enhance the ability of its members to make a significant contribution to the economic, cultural and social fabric of France and Canada.

Schneider Electric Canada Inc. (CNW Group/Schneider Electric Canada Inc.)

France Canada Chamber of Commerce Ontario (FCCCO) Logo (CNW Group/Schneider Electric Canada Inc.)

SOURCE Schneider Electric Canada Inc.

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2021 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Ocugen, Inc. ("Ocugen" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:OCGN). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Ocugen 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 May 26, 2021, Ocugen stated its plan to submit an Emergency Use Authorization ("EUA") application for COVAXIN, a COVID-19 vaccine, to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration ("FDA") in June 2021. Then, on June 10, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing that it "will no longer pursue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVAXIN" but would instead "pursue submission of a biologics license application (BLA) for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, COVAXIN." The Company's Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and co-founder further disclosed that "[a]lthough we were close to finalizing our EUA application for submission, we received a recommendation from the FDA to pursue a BLA path[,]" and that "this will extend our timelines[.]"

On this news, Ocugen's stock price fell $2.62 per share, or 28.14%, to close at $6.69 per share on June 10, 2021.

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.

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SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/655031/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-Pomerantz-Law-Firm-Investigates-Claims-On-Behalf-of-Investors-of-Ocugen-Inc--OCGN




FILE PHOTO: Workers assemble vehicles on the assembly line of the SEAT car factory in Martorell

By Joan Faus and Nathan Allen

MADRID (Reuters) -Spain will invest 4.3 billion euros ($5.1 billion) to kick-start the production of electric vehicles and batteries as part of a major national spending programme financed mostly by European Union recovery funds, the government said on Monday.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government-run plan would include the whole production chain, giving grants to companies with the goal of building the country's first battery plant and boosting manufacturing of electric vehicles.

"It is important for Spain to react and to anticipate this transformation in Europe's automotive sector," he said, adding the private sector could contribute a further 19.7 billion euros to the initiative from 2021 to 2023, according to government estimates.

After Germany, Spain is Europe's second-largest auto producer and the world's eighth biggest.

As the industry confronts a tectonic shift towards electric vehicles and greater technological integration, Spain is racing against Germany and France to overhaul supply chains and retool its manufacturing bases.

With the new investment, part of a 13-billion euro package earmarked for sustainable mobility, Sanchez expects the sector's contribution to economic output to reach 15% by 2030, from around 10% now.

The programme could spur the creation of up to 140,000 new jobs and boost the national economy by 1%-1.7%, the government projects.

It aims for the number of new electric vehicles registered to reach 250,000 in 2023, a big jump from the 18,000 registered in 2020, thanks to government-sponsored initiatives to buy cleaner cars and expand charging stations.

As one of the main beneficiaries of a 750 billion euro EU recovery scheme, Spain will get around 70 billion euros in grants until 2026 to help revive its economy, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis.

While few private sector bidders have publicly emerged to seek a slice of the funds, Volkswagen's Spanish brand SEAT and utility Iberdrola have formed an alliance to work on a bid.

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Their involvement would fit within a wider project they are planning, covering all elements of electric vehicle production from mining to battery production to the manufacturing of a finished vehicle at SEAT's assembly plant outside Barcelona.

($1 = 0.8422 euros)

(Reporting by Joan Faus and Nathan AllenAdditional reporting by Corina RodriguezEditing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark Potter)
BANGKOK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that will facilitate cross-border employment of MICE professionals, the teaching and training of MICE, and growth in ASEAN's MICE workforce, the Thai cabinet has approved an amendment to the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement of Tourism Professionals (ASEAN MRA-TP) that will benefit two more categories of workers - MICE professionals and event professionals. When the agreement was originally signed by ASEAN Tourism Ministers in 2012, the ASEAN MRA-TP covers only workers in two tourism categories - travel services and hotel services.

Thai Cabinet approves amendment to ASEAN pact. Boosting cross-border employment, training, and capacity-building in MICE

Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, said, "From 8 May 2013, the ASEAN MRA-TP required ASEAN member countries to implement action plans that will lead to the mutual recognition of tourism qualifications. Without the MRA-TP, a tourism professional's qualification is recognised only in his home country. With the MRA-TP, the qualification will be recognised by all ASEAN countries. The expanded agreement aims to boost the employment opportunities for qualified MICE professionals, enhance and harmonise the quality of MICE education, and to grow the region's MICE workforce. During its first 10 years, the agreement focused on travel and hotel services. Now, it will expand to also cover MICE and events. At the 23rd Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers in Brunei on 15 January 2020, ASEAN Tourism Ministers approved the protocol to amend the ASEAN MRA-TP on an ad referendum basis."

The signing of the protocol by individual countries was delayed from its original timeframe set in 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns in member countries and the delayed delivery of the agreement document. To date, the ad referendum has been signed by seven countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei.

To translate the expanded agreement into action, every ASEAN member country will be required to follow a common competency standard. Thailand and Indonesia have been tasked with the development of the competency standards for MICE - Thailand in events and incentive travel, and Indonesia, in conventions and exhibitions. This will take place over the next three years.

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Thai agencies involving in the implementation of the agreement are the Department of Tourism, which will act as the chief liaison, and TCEB, Thailand's lead agency for MICE, which will oversee the training of event professionals. The Department of Tourism will nominate TCEB to become a member of National Tourism Professionals Board (NTPB) so that the certification of tourism professionals can include both MICE and event professionals in the future.

"A vital economic driver for many countries, MICE has a bright future in ASEAN. TCEB believes that the liberalisation of trade and services and the improved mobility of qualified MICE professionals will benefit the region's event organisations and the industry as a whole. To enable a MICE professional to find successful employment throughout the region, we must start with a common standard and mutual recognition of qualifications. With close cooperation among member countries, I hope we can transform ASEAN into a world's leading destination for MICE by embracing the expanded ASEAN MRA-TP."

Related picture: https://we.tl/t-5ZZppZejvB

Thailand: Redefine Your Business Events

Experience the Extraordinary with Our Extra Care

About TCEB

A LEADING AGENCY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAILAND'S MICE INDUSTRY

Established in 2004, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB - the government agency under the supervision of the Prime Minister - has been assigned a role to promote, support and develop business events industry - corporate meetings, incentive trips, conventions, exhibitions, mega events and world festivals. Serving as a strategic partner, TCEB helps deliver creative ideas and solutions to bring success and fulfill the requirements of business events. The overarching goal is to drive Thailand to become a global MICE and mega events destination that can drive the country's strategic industries and national economy.

SOURCE Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)
- The rising concerns about an increase in cyber attacks and the need to eliminate the threats will invite substantial growth for cyber security as a service market

- The cyber security as a service market is extrapolated to expand at a CAGR of 12.5% between 2017 and 2025

ALBANY, N.Y., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --



Cyber Security as a Service Market: Growth Summary

The threat quotient over the internet has increased phenomenally over the years. According to a survey by RiskBased, data breaches exposed nearly 4.1 bn records only in the first 6 months of 2019. A study by Ponemon Institute stated that security breaches have expanded by 11 percent since 2018 and 67 percent since 2014. These statistics highlight the necessity to keep cybersecurity measures in place for avoiding any untoward cases of breaching. Such advancements lead to an increase in the growth rate of cyber security as a service market.

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Cyber security as a service or CSaaS is a service that safeguards and protects a company's information system from terrorism and warfare espionage. Instead of in-house employees, many companies choose to outsource these services. Outsourcing these services is affordable than hiring employees for the same. Thus, the benefits associated with the adoption of these systems will bring profitable growth for the cyber security as a service market.

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) has analyzed the cyber security as a service market from every perspective. The TMR experts, after performing a scrutinized research on various aspects expect the cyber security as a service market to expand at a CAGR of 12.5 percent during the forecast period of 2017-2025. The global market for cyber security as a service was valued at US$ 30.91 bn in 2016 and is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 87.59 bn by 2025, the end year of the forecast period.

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The use of other cyber security services such as managed cyber security services in organizations has increased greatly, which will bring tremendous growth prospects. Furthermore, the utilization of CSaaS services has increased substantially due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The reports of threats and breaches have increased due to the remote work mechanism adopted by numerous companies. Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported a 300 percent increase in reported cybercrimes. These aspects will bring profitable growth for the cyber security as a service market.

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Key Findings of the Report

Rising Adoption of Cyber Security as a Service in the Healthcare Sector to Accelerate the Pace of Growth

Healthcare cybersecurity needs to be strengthened as a breach may lead to the exposure of patient data in wrong hands. Many healthcare facilities have all the data of the patients on the cloud for easy access. As per a survey by HIPAA Journal, approximately 9.7 mn records in the healthcare databases were exposed in September 2020 alone due to breaches. Thus, to counter these attacks, adoption of CSaaS is necessary. These factors bode well for the growth of the cyber security as a service market.

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Adoption of CSaaS by Small and Medium Enterprises will lay the Foundation of Strong Growth

Large organizations usually set up the mechanisms to eliminate the threat of malware or breaches in advance but small and medium enterprises, sometimes do not have the proper mechanism to tackle these threats. These solutions are feasible and affordable for these enterprise types. Verizon's 2020 Data Breach Investigations found out that 43 percent of cyber attacks are targeted at small businesses. The rising threat of cyber attacks is urging many small and medium businesses to adopt CSaaS for protecting their valuable data.

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About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
Last month, a prominent Richmond-area continuing care residential facility allowed an unvaccinated health care provider to continue to work at the facility.

When she tested positive for COVID-19, the facility announced in late June that all health care residents had to be quarantined for 14 days, even those who were vaccinated. Residents planning to leave the facility to see family over the July 4 weekend or to visit with loved ones at the facility were denied that opportunity because of the decision of this health care worker to not be vaccinated and the policy of the facility to not mandate vaccinations.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, unvaccinated employees can be excluded from the workplace, even those who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical condition, if their presence poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others and cannot be eliminated or reduced with reasonable accommodation.

The ADA direct threat requirement is a high standard. The employer must show that an employee poses a significant risk of substantial harm to the individual or others.
The park sits on nearly 4 acres and has access to the Rappahannock River with a larger dock than what was there previously.

It has multiple wooden logs for children to play on, as well as a river-themed rock bed. There is artificial turf with rubber padding beneath it for soft landings for kids. Baroody was giddy when discussing the water jets that spring from the ground on demand.

You can touch a pedal and get some magic going, Baroody said. In the summer months, kids are going to have a great time with it.

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While all of that is complete, laborers are working on a restroom and constructing a stage for free concerts. There is ample seating and open space to sit.

Baroody didnt have an official cost for the stage and restroom. But he noted that when a new restroom opened at Hurkamp Park in 2018, the cost was approximately $150,000. He said the stage is a point of discussion for city officials and wont be completed in the first phase.

There is a concrete pad in the middle of an open area that will feature stage controls. The entire performance lawn and meadow area will remain closed for several months to ensure the grass and meadow mix grows.
Oregon is one exception: Democrats eventually withdrew their climate bill, but it was not guaranteed passage even before the GOP flight to Idaho.

In Texas, you could say Democrats won the first round with their walkout last month. When Republicans who control the legislature tried to rush a revised elections bill through at the final hour, Democrats walked out and the session ended and the bill died. But Abbott called them back last week for a special session and this one lasts a month. It will be much harder to run out the clock.

That's in part because lawmakers are people, too  with families to feed and mortgages to pay. Extended stays in other states tend to drain household budgets, not to mention political goodwill with voters. In some cases, they can be threatened with losing their state legislative pay or even potentially be sued, as Oregon's Democratic governor threatened to do to the absent GOP lawmakers. Abbott has already docked lawmakers' pay.

Abbott has other cards to play. He said Monday he would continue to call special sessions, until Democrats relent. He also threatened to arrest the lawmakers once they return.

WHY GO TO WASHINGTON?
As of Monday, 87% of the U.K.s adult population have had their first dose, and 66% have had both doses. At the same time infections have soared in recent weeks, running at over 30,000 new cases daily, driven by the delta variant.



BERLIN  With COVID-19 cases again on the rise, German officials said Monday said that authorities need a broader focus beyond the countrys infection rate to fully gauge the impact the pandemic is having on the health system and the kind of measures that should be taken.

For much of the past year the incidence rate  how many COVID-19 cases are confirmed per 100,000 people each week  has been key to the governments decisions over what restrictive measures to impose.

The relevance of that figure is increasingly being called into question by those who argue that a sharp rise in new cases  already seen in other European countries such as Britain and the Netherlands  doesnt necessarily mean many more seriously ill patients.
Virginia is halting admissions at five mental hospitals because they dont have enough staff to safely care for patients.

Alison Land, commissioner of behavioral health and developmental services, said Friday that she is closing admissions immediately at Central State Hospital near Petersburg, Eastern State Hospital near Williamsburg, Piedmont Geriatric Hospital in the Nottoway County town of Burkeville, Western State Hospital in Staunton and Catawba Hospital near Roanoke.

The temporary halt in admissions will allow the five hospitals to reduce the number of patients they are treating by attrition, rather than discharging them, until they have enough employees to care for them safely.

Despite our aggressive recruiting and retention strategies, state hospitals continue to lose staff while admissions continue to rise, Land said in a message on Friday. It is no longer feasible to operate all state beds in a safe and therapeutic environment.

The order represents a breaking point for Virginias behavioral health institutions, which have struggled to keep up with a surge in admissions of people in psychiatric crisis since the enactment of the so-called bed of last resort law in 2014 to prevent the release of people from emergency custody if they pose a threat to themselves or others.
The United States' top commander in Afghanistan handed over command to a U.S.-based successor on July 12 in another step toward ending the 20-year U.S. military engagement there, as Taliban militants make further territorial gains.

General Austin Scott Miller relinquished command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan in a Kabul ceremony to U.S. Central Command (CentCom) head Marine General Frank McKenzie, who will operate from Florida.

McKenzie will oversee possible air strikes to defend Afghan National Defense and Security Forces troops at least until the planned completion of the U.S. withdrawal on August 31.

The symbolic handover comes with the Taliban having captured around one-third of Afghanistans 423 districts since the start of the international military withdrawal on May 1, raising fears that the government in Kabul could collapse.

Militants gains have been particularly strong in northern Afghan areas bordering Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, reportedly prompting an exceptional visit by Taliban representatives to Ashgabat at Turkmenistan's request on July 10.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Taliban fighters were laying siege to the provincial capital of Ghazni in central Afghanistan on July 12, the latest city to be threatened by militants.



"The situation in Ghazni city is very critical...the Taliban use civilian houses as hideouts and fire upon the Afghan security forces, this makes the situation very difficult for the Afghan army to operate against the Taliban," said Hassan Rezayi, a member of Ghazni's provincial council.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced in April that American troops would withdraw by September 11. On July 8, Biden brought forward the deadline saying the pullout will be completed by August 31.

Inter-Afghan negotiations in Qatar between the Taliban and the government have faltered since they began last fall, with little or no progress.

Fighting is also continuing in the southern province of Kandahar, where the Taliban traditionally has had a strong presence, locals said.



"Afghan security forces, including special forces, are fighting the Taliban and trying to push them back," in Kandahar, said Hamidzai Lalay, a former lawmaker who is fighting with armed men against the Taliban in Kandahar.

Fawad Aman, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said the situation in Kandahar was "completely under control."



On July 11, the Taliban attacked Taloqan, the capital of Takhar Province, on the border with Tajikistan.

"The enemy's offensive attacks were repelled, and they suffered heavy and unprecedented casualties, as a result of which 55 enemy soldiers were killed and 90 were wounded," said Takhar Governor Abdullah Qarluq.

Qarluqs claims could not be confirmed.

The Defense Ministry said it conducted air strikes against Taliban positions on the outskirts of Taloqan, claiming it killed more than a dozen militants.

Last week, Taliban fighters entered the capital of the western province of Badghis, seizing police and security facilities and attempting to take over the governor's office before special forces pushed them back.

Meanwhile, in Laskar Gah, in the southern province of Helmand, three people were killed in a roadside bomb explosion on July 12, officials said. All three were members of the same family, officials said.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and TOLO News
ASHGABAT -- Taliban representatives have visited Ashgabat and held talks with Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry officials as the militants continue major offensives in northern Afghanistan, raising concerns in the neighboring former Soviet republics of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The Taliban's spokesman in Qatar, Mohammad Nayeem, told RFE/RL by phone on July 11 that the Taliban delegation visited Ashgabat at Turkmenistan's invitation.

According to Nayeem, the sides discussed "bilateral economic and political ties between the two nations, as well as issues of security and borders."

He did not elaborate.

Several sources close to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry told RFE/RL that the talks were held on July 10 and the Taliban delegation was led by the chief of the Taliban's political office in Qatar, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai.

"The Turkmen side, which invited the Taliban for talks, asked Taliban representatives to keep the talks in Ashgabat a secret. The Turkmen side did not want to irritate the official authorities in Kabul. The major issues discussed at the talks were about not attacking [Turkmen territory] and blocking the possible flow of refugees," one of the sources, who was not authorized to talk to the media, told RFE/RL.

Meanwhile, a senior official at a Turkmen security agency told RFE/RL earlier that more troops from an army garrison near the city of Mary were being sent to bolster border guard units along the Turkmen-Afghan border. Mary is about 400 kilometers north of Serhetabad, a major border crossing with Afghanistan.

In Ashgabat, some reservists were being summoned to military recruiting posts and being told to stay on alert for possible quick deployment, the official said. The orders are so far not nationwide and limited to Ashgabat, he said.

The Turkmen government, which is tightly controlled and highly secretive, has made no announcement of the Taliban delegation's visit to Ashgabat and increased security. Law enforcement officials, meanwhile, have increased warnings to average Turkmen against the use of virtual private networks, or VPNs, which are illegal but widely used to circumvent government restrictions on the Internet.

In Mary, whose population is believed to be around 100,000 people, local officials have begun organizing patriotic lectures for public service employees.

On July 10, Turkmen Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting reports by some Russian media about the ongoing situation within the country and the deployment of Turkmen troops along the border with Afghanistan.

"Thanks to the brotherly ties between the two neighboring countries and their peoples, the Turkmen-Afghan border is the border of friendship and cooperation," the Turkmen Foreign Ministry's statement said.

Turkmenistan shares an 800-kilometer border with Afghanistan, where the security situation has deteriorated sharply as Taliban fighters advance on provincial centers and even some border crossings.

Hundreds of Afghans, including soldiers and local police, have reportedly fled into other neighboring Central Asia countries.

Tajik officials last week announced they were sending an additional 20,000 troops to its border in response to the Taliban offensive. On July 5, the border guard service reported that more than 1,000 Afghan troops had crossed into Tajikistan over the previous 24 hours.

U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged that the withdrawal of U.S. forces will be completed by the beginning of September. With that deadline nearing, the Taliban has unleashed an offensive and now controls about one-third of the countrys 421 districts and district centers in Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, U.S. forces vacated their largest base in Afghanistan at Bagram, north of Kabul.

The rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces, and the Taliban battlefield successes, are stoking concerns that the Western-backed government in Kabul may collapse.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Sunny early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
JOHNSTON, Iowa  If Donald Trump runs for president again in 2024, it will not be with former Vice President Mike Pence as his running mate, Bob Vander Plaats believes. And Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds would make a great running mate, Vander Plaats says.

Vander Plaats, president and CEO of the Christian conservative organization The Family Leader, discussed the 2024 Republican presidential primary and those Christian conservative voters Friday during taping of this weekends episode of Iowa Press on Iowa PBS.

Reynolds is expected to run for re-election in 2022, but Vander Plaats suggested she would make a strong running mate for Trump  or whichever Republican presidential candidate secures the partys nomination in 2024.

Without question. As a matter of fact, I think she would be a great presidential candidate right now, Vander Plaats said. She has a lot of stock across the country of how she has led during COVID, how she has led through the racial unrest and a lot of other things. Iowa in many ways has been a model. I watched her on Laura Ingrahams (Fox News) show with five different governors and she just stood out.

So I think Gov. Reynolds  obviously its up to her, shes not going to run for president  but she would make a very compelling VP choice.
One potential difficulty Watts pointed to, not just for CICS, but for other providers as well, is the passage of Senate File 619 in Iowa that includes new language related to funding and reimbursement for mental health services.

"(The) legislature came in and changed the way we do business. We are going to have performance based contracts beginning in January so were having to look at how that impacts what we provide," Wood said.

In terms of specific services, Wood said that what CICS provides is roughly divided into three categories: urgent, emergent and routine with a big part of urgent being crisis intervention. Under those other banners are services such as support for housing and short-term rental assistance, family support, medication management and response training.

"Our goal is to have more crisis services available to meet with people before law enforcement gets involved," Wood said.
DES MOINES  Deidre DeJear, a Des Moines businesswoman and former candidate for Iowas top elections office, announced Monday she has formed a committee to explore a run for Iowa governor in 2022.

DeJear, a 35-year-old Democrat, planned to host an event later Monday in Des Moines before embarking on a tour of eastern Iowa cities.

DeJear is the second Democrat running or exploring a run for governor; Ras Smith, a state legislator from Waterloo, previously announced his campaign.

Republican incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds has not yet made an official announcement, but she is widely expected to run for re-election in 2022.

In recent years Iowa has experienced unprecedented challenges. We have been through a pandemic, a derecho, and many of our underlying economic struggles remain, DeJear said in a campaign press release. As Iowans, I know that we can face  and overcome  these challenges together. It doesnt matter if you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or someone who has given up on politics. Everyone deserves a listening ear and a seat at the table. In these divided times, its more important than ever to unite as Iowans.

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IOWA CITY  Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday that Iowa will cover the cost of troopers sent to Texas to fight crime along the U.S. border with Mexico, confirming the state would fund the mission after the release of agreements showing the effort would come at no cost to Texas."

Since Reynolds announced June 24 that she would join other Republican governors in sending forces to the border, her administration has argued Texas could later reimburse Iowa for expenses under a multi-state compact. However, Iowa's assistance agreements released to The Associated Press on Monday stated that Texas and Arizona asked other states to absorb the associated costs with this mission for the good of the country.

Iowa is donating this resource, according to the agreements, signed by the director of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management on July 2 and released by the department under the open records law.

Later Monday, Reynolds was asked at a news conference in Nebraska who would pay for the deployment, and she acknowledged the costs would fall to her state.
In the pandemic, we found that our food system and our food supply system, while it is incredibly efficient, is not resilient, Vilsack said.

When the spread of COVID-19 forced plants to shut down there were disruptions in the market, he said.

We have got to expand the amount of capacity, the processing capacity, in this country, Vilsack said. We can no longer rely on a handful of processing companies to do the job, to make the market competitive, to do right by farmers, to ensure as well that we have a resilient food supply system.

So were breaking new ground today in the Department of Agriculture. Were making available a minimum of $500 million that will be made available in grants, loans, guaranteed loans and assistance for planning and the organizing that goes into figuring out how to build and increase processing capacity in the United States.

The program will focus on beef, pork and poultry, Vilsack said. He said he believes that will leverage billions of dollars of additional investment.
Ranchers also have complained about a system that forces them to negotiate cattle sales with a few corporations that often don't pay them enough to make a profit, again raising issues of intense consolidation and the need to increase competition in the packing industry.

Vilsack said COVID-19 exposed a food system that was rigid, consolidated, and fragile. He said President Joe Biden is determined to shift the balance of power back to the people by investing in building better and fairer markets for producers and consumers.

The money, including the $500 million, comes from the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion aid package passed by Congress and signed by Biden in March. It will provide grants, loans, and technical assistance to help build new meat and poultry processing facilities. Vilsack said it is his hope to have projects in the works by early next year.

Vilsack said the USDA also plans to initiate a new rule that will make it easier for farmers to sue companies they contract with over unfair, discriminatory or deceptive practices, and will tighten the definition of what it means for meat to be labeled a Product of USA to exclude animals that have been raised in other countries but processed in the United States.
Editor's Note: This column is the second in a series that highlight the lives of three Black North Iowa farmers and their struggles.

In the past dozen years or so, America has lost something.

A tectonic shift from pride in the good created and punctuated by this nation, to the accentuation of all the people that we have been accused of wronging.

We have watched our history, good bad and indifferent, re-interpreted by radical factions in ways that convince our children and grandchildren to be embarrassed to be an American.

What gets lost in the proactive and systematic demonization of this nation as a whole, are the amazing and courageous individual stories that are found within every American family tree.

On a crisp, clear night in late winter 1844, Solomon Stratton entered this world on the dirt floor of the slave cabin occupied by his parents and siblings on the large Virginia plantation of Stratton Manor.

Solomon was a fraternal twin, but his sister, named Ella and his mother, Sarah Jane X (unknown slave surname), never saw the light of the next day.
The Danville-Pittsylvania County Habitat for Humanity has continued work during the pandemic, but the nationwide trend of rising lumber prices has slowed its operations.

Lumber prices have begun to fall but are still much higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. More people working from home launched a trend in home-improvement projects, which increased demand for materials, thus boosting the cost.

As people are returning to work at offices and plants, remodeling and building projects have dropped off, and the cost is now falling.

Habitat for Humanity  an affordable-housing advocacy nonprofit which partners with prospective homeowners and local companies to build homes from the ground up  has seen its own costs shoot up.

I am always a year or so ahead on writing grants to have the funds available to build these homes, so we ended up about $5,000 short in the budget, said executive director Kim Baldridge about the current project in Pittsylvania County. She had to write another grant proposal to cover the unexpected expense and will not know whether the organization will receive it until October.
Restoration of the old Callands Post Office, built in 1885, has been completed after a 2 1/2-year process.

An open house on July 18, from 1 to 3 p.m., will celebrate that renovation  at the buildings new location on Sago Road, a mile from where it had stood for 136 years.

It had been on property on Va. 57, across the parking lot from the present Callands Post Office, which was built in 1970.

During her three decades as postmaster of the Callands Post Office, from 1978 to 2009, Joan Nuckols saw the little wooden building get to be in worse and worse shape, she said. She used to wander through the inside of it now and then.

Area residents had been talking about restoring the building for the past several years, with Sandra Reynolds as a driving force, said Dale Aaron, who ended up coordinating efforts.

Work began in May 2019, when a bunch of us got together and said, We want to fix it. We dont want it to go away, said Pat Wells, of Martinsville.

The owner gave it to me, laughed and said, Have fun, because I dont think anybody thought we could accomplish it, Aaron said.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP)  Joe Cunningham  the former one-term Democratic congressman now running to unseat South Carolina Republican Gov. Henry McMaster  is pushing for medicinal and recreational legalization of marijuana, changes he says would offer health care options and spin off millions in tax revenue for state coffers.

This is going to be a game changer in South Carolina, Cunningham told The Associated Press last week, several days ahead of Monday's official rollout of his marijuana plan. There are so many reasons why we need to do this, and the time is now.

To Cunningham, legalization solves multiple problems: freeing up police to focus on violent criminals, providing a treatment alternative for those who are terminally or chronically ill, and generating millions for a state he says is dead last in areas where funding has been a struggle, like education and health care.

He would also expunge criminal records for low-level marijuana-related crimes, giving a second chance to people whose lives have been ruined over a bag of marijuana, Cunningham said.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP)  Wolf pups have been spotted again on Isle Royale, a hopeful sign in the effort to rebuild the predator species' population at the U.S. national park, scientists said Monday.

It's unknown how many gray wolves roam the island chain in northwestern Lake Superior. The coronavirus pandemic forced cancellation of the census that Michigan Technological University experts had conducted each winter for 63 years.

Remote cameras detected four pups on the park's eastern end in January, the researchers said in a new report. The sightings, and additional clues such as previously observed scats and tracks, suggest that two litters were born in the area last year and perhaps another on the western side.

Park officials said last fall that at least two pups likely were born in 2019.

The population was 12 to 14 during the last Michigan Tech survey in winter 2020. The latest births would indicate it is higher now, but some older wolves may have died.
Google Fiber is cutting the cable cord for its customers, whether they want it or not, and ending traditional TV service in Charlotte and the Raleigh-Durham area on Sept. 30, the company recently announced.

Google Fiber said it is making the change so it can focus on internet service, while giving customers the option to switch to streaming TV services to pick up their favorite channels.

Google Fiber customers will receive an upgraded whole-home Google WiFi mesh system for its internet service.

And in place of their TV boxes, people will get a Chromecast device with Google TV that streams content from services like YouTube TV (which is also owned by Google) or other services like fuboTV, Sling or Philo, and available apps such as Netflix and Spotify. Customers need separate subscriptions for those services. The device also has a section for live TV channels.

It is up to the customer to install the new devices, although they can contact Google Fiber if they need assistance. Some people on social media sites like Nextdoor have already voiced concerns about installing the product themselves.
RALEIGH  With a recent uptick in positive tests and COVID-19 cases, health officials in North Carolina say that the more contagious delta variant, first detected in India, is spreading rapidly throughout the state.

Where theres smoke, theres fire, said Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease expert at UNC-Chapel Hill. The fire is that delta is spreading among the unvaccinated.

Both the average number of new cases and the percentage of positive tests are starting to increase slightly, according to data from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases increased by 12% from the last week in June to the first week in July. Hospitalizations have also increased by 8% over the last week.

The delta variant comes as COVID-19 metrics had been decreasing rapidly for several months. Meanwhile, vaccines have become widely available, but vaccination rates have stagnated. Among those 18 or older in North Carolina, 56% have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Whats most troubling is that more than 99% of new cases since May are among people who have not been vaccinated.
This bill is narrowly tailored to offer medical marijuana to those with legitimate medical needs, Nickel said.

As a primary reason for legalization, the bill says modern medical research has found that cannabis and cannabinoid compounds are effective at alleviating pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with several debilitating medical conditions.

Rabon, a cancer survivor, has said SB711 would not serve as a gateway to recreation marijuana use.

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Recreational marijuana use is not something we want in our state, Lee said, but added that the prohibition should not keep North Carolina from doing the right thing for people with chronic and debilitating conditions.

Lowe said bill sponsors reviewed legislation in piecing together SB711.

We realized that, for some states, it has worked out well, while for others it was just a recreational product, Lowe said. Thats not the goal with this particular bill on our state.

Some advocates for permitting medical marijuana still criticize SB711 for being too restrictive on who can use it, and for not putting enough emphasis on the mental health aspect of debilitating health conditions.
RALEIGH  The lawyer for the man facing charges related to an escaped zebra cobra says animal control officers inspected her clients snake enclosures just months ago and found everything to be in full compliance.

Anna Smith Felts, the attorney for 21-year-old Christopher Gifford, said that was in March 2021  the same month Gifford was bitten by a deadly green mamba.

After the escaped cobra incident, Gifford is facing 36 charges of keeping venomous snakes in improper enclosures and three charges related to snakes in containers that were mislabeled. He also faces one charge for not reporting the zebra cobra missing when it initially escaped.

The (Raleigh) News & Observer

All of the charges are misdemeanors under North Carolina law. The state has no laws against keeping, breeding or selling non-native venomous reptiles  only rules about how those animals should be housed and transported and about notifying local law enforcement if the animal escapes.

Felts said Gifford is being forthcoming with authorities and told them that the snake in question had actually escaped once before in November 2020.
The third provision takes aim at the Democratically controlled State Board of Elections (SBOE). It would remove the organizations investigative authority and transfer it to the State Bureau of Investigation, an agency already overloaded with work. The board has three members from the party of the sitting governor and two from the opposing party. Republican leadership was angered when the board voted unanimously last year to accept a settlement agreement that would allow Novembers elections to go forward. The SBOE would have no power to agree to court settlements when the legislature is not in session.

Not only will these power grabs be quickly vetoed but they are likely unconstitutional and shortsighted. Republican leadership is failing to acknowledge that the pandemic was a once-in-a-century disaster. It also is ignoring the reality that sooner or later the political shoe will be on the other foot.

It will be interesting to see how the House budget compares and contrasts with the Senate. The larger question is whether Coopers veto will stick, as it has in recent years. We will watch with fascination whether the four Democrats who voted for the Senate budget will fold under extreme pressure and vote along party lines or vote to override the veto. Time will tell whether we are still in a time warp or can approve the first state budget since 2017.

For now, at least, state government is becoming as partisan and ineffective as our federal government.

Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered state public policy issues since 1965.
Kingsburgs Scott family enjoyed the lights, animals and Fresno Fair food with the corn dogs, brick of fries, Fresno tacos and chili cheese fries topping their list of favorites foods to eat in this 2019 file photo.
The June 25 suicide is the first since lawmakers overhauled the system and gave regulatory oversight to DPHHS in 2019, although it is the second suicide under the watch of program director Michele "Mickey" Manning, who was the principal at the now-shuttered Spring Creek Lodge in Thompson Falls when a 16-year-old girl killed herself at that program in 2004.

Manning declined to comment for this story. A group text among staff shared with the Montana State News Bureau shows Reflections Academy is cooperating with the investigation by speaking with representatives from child protective services.

The 17-year-old who died June 25 was an older sister and could barely speak English when her mother adopted the siblings from Russia. She had shown a natural skill for art and a love for animals during her time at Reflections Academy, according to those who spoke during her memorial at Community Congregational Church in Thompson Falls on July 1.

A long line of tearful teenage girls hugged and grieved with the girls mother at the memorial before filling the front and center chairs of the church. Manning sat near the back.

Another investigation
Montanas outdoor recreation economy generated $7.1 billion.

Two years later, Montana Sen. Jon Tester introduced the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA), a piece of federal legislation to bolster Montanas economy by protecting 80,000 acres of land for conservation, recreation and restoration. Ninety-eight percent of Montanans believe that outdoor recreation is important to Montanas economic future. With thousands of acres dedicated to snowmobiling, mountain biking, hiking and fishing, the BCSA is a tangible step toward further sustaining this valuable resource.

If passed by the U.S. Senate, the BCSA would support a 15-year coalition of ranchers, loggers, conservationists, outfitters, timber companies, local citizens, businesses and outdoor enthusiasts.

Given the current state of political polarization, this range of supporters is almost unprecedented. The impetus behind this nonpartisan support are the BCSAs multifaceted components, including development of Montanas National Forest System land, additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System, and recreation land designation. It will also permanently protect the Blackfoot Rivers important tributaries and amplify forest restoration and sustainable timber harvesting.
DECATUR  Tate & Lyle is selling a controlling stake of its commercial sweeteners products business to a private equity firm, the company announced Monday. The deal includes corn wet mills in Decatur.

Under the $1.7 billion deal, KPS Capital Partners would own 50% of the new company, called NewCo, and focus on plant-based products for food and industrial markets.

Tate & Lyle would concentrate on its food and beverage business, according to the announcement.

Todays announcement represents the next phase in the evolution of Tate & Lyle. Our one strong company will become two stronger businesses, both in a position to pursue new and exciting growth opportunities in their respective markets," Tate & Lyle CEO Nick Hampton said in the statement.

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The Herald & Review is contacting Tate & Lyle about the impact on Decatur operations. In addition to the Decatur plant, the deal includes facilities in Lafayette, Indiana; Loudon, Tennessee; Dayton, Ohio; Duluth, Minnesota; and Santa Rosa, Brazil; as well as grain elevators and transfer stations.

Tate & Lyle purchased the A.E. Staley Mfg. Co. in 1988. Its headquarters moved to Hoffman Estates in 2010. The Decatur site includes Tate & Lyle's production operations, an administration building, research and development labs.

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Todays Highlight in History:

On July 12, 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale announced his choice of U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be his running-mate; Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket.

On July 12:

In 1812, United States forces led by Gen. William Hull entered Canada during the War of 1812 against Britain. (However, Hull retreated shortly thereafter to Detroit.)

In 1862, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Army Medal of Honor.

In 1909, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing for a federal income tax, and submitted it to the states. (It was declared ratified in February 1913.)

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was flown by helicopter from the White House to a secret mountaintop location as part of a drill involving a mock nuclear attack on Washington.

In 1960, the Etch A Sketch Magic Screen drawing toy, invented by French electrician Andre Cassagnes, was first produced by the Ohio Art Co.

In 1962, The Rolling Stones played their first-ever gig at The Marquee in London.

In 1965, the Beach Boys single California Girls was released by Capitol Records.

In 1967, rioting erupted in Newark, New Jersey, over the police beating of a Black taxi driver; 26 people were killed in the five days of violence that followed.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon signed a measure creating the Congressional Budget Office. Former White House aide John Ehrlichman and three others were convicted of conspiring to violate the civil rights of Daniel Ellsbergs former psychiatrist.

In 1991, a Japanese professor (Hitoshi Igarashi) who had translated Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses was found stabbed to death, nine days after the novels Italian translator was attacked in Milan.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton, visiting Germany, went to the eastern sector of Berlin, the first U.S. president to do so since Harry Truman.

In 2003, the USS Ronald Reagan, the first carrier named for a living president, was commissioned in Norfolk, Va.

In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry, whod lost his right hand grabbing a live grenade to save his comrades in Afghanistan. A memorial service for former first lady Betty Ford in Palm Desert, California, was attended by Michelle Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rosalynn Carter and former President George W. Bush.

In 2016, President Barack Obama visited Dallas, where five police officers were killed the previous week by a Black man seeking vengeance for police killings; Obama said a week of deeply troubling violence seemed to expose the deepest fault lines of our democracy, but insisted the nation was not as divided as it seemed. With hugs and handshakes, Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president during an appearance in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

In 2020, Florida set a national record with more than 15,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in a day. Twenty-one people suffered minor injuries in an explosion and fire aboard a Navy amphibious assault vessel, the USS Bonhomme Richard, at Naval Base San Diego; the fire would burn for more than four days. Actor Kelly Preston, whose films included Jerry Maguire and Twins, died at 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer; word of her death came from husband John Travolta.

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ARGENTA  The man found fatally shot Sunday evening in rural Argenta has been identified as Kevin M. Cooper of Decatur.

In a news release identifying the 51-year-old Cooper, Macon County Coroner Michael Day said an autopsy was scheduled to be performed Monday and that an inquest is pending.

Phillip Gehrken, 52, of Forsyth, has been arrested in connection with the case.

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The Macon County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that deputies were called to a location along Jordan Road at 6:20 p.m. Sunday to a report of a man being shot and found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds.

The statement said the initial investigation showed that the victim and Gehrken "had recently had financial disputes" and when the victim confronted Gehrken at the Argenta address he was shot multiple times by Gehrken.

Gehrken was placed into custody by detectives at the scene and booked into the Macon County Jail on charges of homicide, unlawful use of a weapon, and possession of a weapon by a felon. He remains jailed with no bond set. A court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

The incident remains under investigation by the Macon County Sheriffs Office and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Division.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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Three people were shot, including a man who died after he suffered dozens of bullet wounds, during an apparent ambush as he was released from the Cook County Jail on electronic monitoring Saturday night, according to Chicago police.

Fifty-nine shell casings littered the 2700 block of West 27th Street in Little Village  across the street from the jail  around 8:50 p.m. The 31-year-old man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiners office.

A police report identified the man, known locally as a rapper, as Londre Sylvester, though the medical examiners office said it had not notified next of kin of his death Sunday. The police report said Sylvester suffered as many as 64 bullet wounds to his head and other parts of his body, however a full autopsy report detailing his injuries wont be released for weeks.

A 60-year-old woman who was with him was shot in the knee, and she was in good condition at Stroger Hospital, police said. A Cook County sheriffs office spokesman declined to comment on the shooting out of an abundance of caution, saying he did not want to interfere with the homicide investigation. Attempts to reach the 60-year-old woman who was shot were unsuccessful.

A second woman, a 30-year-old who was walking in the area at the time, suffered a graze wound to her mouth, according to a police report. She was said to be in good condition when taken to Mount Sinai Hospital.

The suspects reentered their vehicles and fled the scene in different directions, the police report said. Chicago police learned there were surveillance cameras in the area to review for evidence.

It appears Sylvester was the intended target while (the women) were inadvertently struck, the police report states.

Sylvester had just been released from custody and was fitted for electronic monitoring as a condition of his bail, the police report said. He and the 60-year-old woman were walking to an awaiting vehicle when several unknown (suspects) exited two separate vehicles and all began to shoot in Sylvesters direction, striking him numerous times, the police report said.

Late last month, prosecutors hit Sylvester with a petition for violation of bail bond for violating the conditions of his release in a 2020 felony gun case.

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On July 1, a judge ordered Sylvester held on $50,000 bail. According to court records, Sylvester was able to post the required $5,000 bail on Friday

This was not the first time such a seemingly orchestrated attack occurred outside the jail or its neighboring courthouse.

On March 6, 2017, a 23-year-old man who beat a murder case was shot and killed minutes after leaving the jail. Kamari Belmont was released on $100,000 bail  after his friend posted the necessary $10,000 to get him out of lockup  while he was being held on remaining robbery charges.

Belmont was a few blocks from the jail on California Avenue when a white SUV pulled up to his car, and someone from the SUV opened fire, striking Belmont several times and killing him, police have said.

Belmont had been held in the jail on murder and robbery charges after, authorities contend, he shot a man during a robbery in 2015 and robbed someone else a few hours later. The man who authorities believed Belmont shot died weeks later.

But Cook County prosecutors dropped the murder charges at the end of January 2017 after allowing too much time to elapse under the states speedy trial statute, according to court records and Belmonts lawyer. The robbery charges remained, however.

Two weeks after Belmont was killed, a 21-year-old man suffered six gunshot wounds to the groin area on March 20, 2017, as he was walking to the Leighton Criminal Court Building, which is next to the jail. Someone from a white van opened fire. The 21-year-old was struck by gunfire, and he was taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition.

The man who was shot in the groin had a history of misdemeanor arrests but oddly wasnt due in court the day he was shot. At the time, his lawyer said she didnt know why he was going to the courthouse that day.

On Aug. 18, 2017, 28-year-old Kenneth Williams was shot and killed a few blocks away from the courthouse after an appearance in which he pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving on a revoked or suspended license, according to police and court records.

Police have said Williams apparently got into an argument with someone as he left the courthouse. He was in an SUV with a 26-year-old woman afterward, and they made it to about 31st and Rockwell streets when someone in another vehicle opened fire, striking Williams  who later died at Mount Sinai.

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A Taylorsville man is charged in a shooting outside the Caldwell County Courthouse in Lenoir on Monday that left one man with serious injuries.

Around 10:49 a.m., officers with the Lenoir Police Department found Travis Lee Webb, 35, of Lenoir, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to a news release from the Lenoir Police Department. Webb was initially transported to Caldwell UNC Health Care and later transferred to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte with life-threatening injuries.

A suspect, Chad James Emke, 48, of Taylorsville was taken into custody. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and child endangerment.

His bond was set at $500,000.

Police say Emke and a 10-year-old boy were in a vehicle in front of 216 Main St. At some point, Webb approached Emkes vehicle and a verbal altercation ensued, according to the release. During the altercation, Emke drew a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol and shot Webb twice.

Caldwell County bailiffs were able to take Emke into custody without incident.

Initial law enforcement on scene began administering aid to the victim until medical responders arrived, the release stated.
School nutrition programs are resilient, she said. One way or another well figure out a way to feed the kids.

The pandemic has prevented her from experimenting with ideas for the school district, but Bealler is hopeful this next school year the students will return to the cafeteria where she can introduce some new menu items.

With school nutrition we are constantly learning as we go, she said.

Something new Bealler is hoping to introduce this year is pizza made in-house. The oven will be there in the window where they can watch as they cook them, she said. Bealler also plans to introduce Wing Wednesday for high school students.

We are trying to do something special for them, she said. We are trying to get things back to normal as much as possible for the students.

Bealler is always looking for ideas to provide students with food that they want while making sure they get the nutrients they need.

Bealler makes an effort to talk with kids to find out what it is they enjoy eating, she said. Jokingly they say filet mignon, she laughed. I wish I could give you filet mignon. I would say pizza and chicken. Anything chicken they seem to love.
We Americans have a contradictory history when it comes to tolerating, or not tolerating, dissent. The latest chapter is the Nikole Hannah-Jones controversy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The fight, fittingly, played out around July Fourth, the most American of holidays. We take off work, grill hot dogs and set off fireworks to celebrate our Declaration of Independence  and, supposedly, our dedication to independence of speech and thought.

That dedication has been tested from the nations beginning.

In 1798, Congress and President John Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts. The sedition law outlawed any false, scandalous and malicious writing against Congress or the president and made it illegal to conspire to oppose any measure or measures of the government. A congressman and a journalist were convicted and sent to jail. The laws were repealed or expired after Thomas Jefferson was elected president in 1800.

Race and dissent have long been intertwined. Before the Civil War, Southern states banned abolitionist writing and speaking. The U.S. House passed a gag resolution in 1836 to squelch discussion of abolishing slavery. For 100 years after the Civil War, advocating for Black Americans civil rights could be dangerous.
Since the Net Merit (NM$) selection index was first introduced in 1994, it has undergone a number of revisions as we learn more about cows and how dairy farmers manage their herd. Because it is designed to allow farmers to select for the most profitable cow, the index has also been updated as the national dairy industry and demand for milk changes.

Today thats clear in the formulas relative emphases on milk components. In the newest NM$ formula that will be used in the August 2021 evaluations, fat receives a 28.6% weight, protein 19.6%, and milk just 0.3%. Theres a reason that fat and protein outweigh milk itself.

Thats driven by the fact that dairy farmers in seven of the Federal Milk Marketing Orders are currently paid on multiple component pricing, explained Cornell Universitys Chris Wolf on the July 7 Hoards Dairyman DairyLivestream.



When considering the base excess plans that have sprouted up around the country in recent years, theres even more incentive to focus on milk components instead of quantity.

Consequently, farmers have responded, and component production has soared in the U.S. in recent years. In 2010, milk marketed through federal orders averaged a butterfat content of 3.66%. By 2020, that had climbed to 3.95%. Thats the biggest change across one decade in our nations history.

It is not by accident that NM$ is incentivizing fat and protein because it is reflecting what the market is signaling to producers, said Joao Durr, CEO of the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, the organization that calculates NM$. We have a system in which we are telling producers we want more fat and we want more components and not so much water, so we provide the tools that allow producers to make progress in those traits.



Component rollercoaster

There has still been significant volatility in the value of milk components in the last few years, Wolf noted. For a long time, protein was the driver of the milk check, and then for five years or so here, we had fat really driving the milk check, he said. More weight has been put on protein so far in 2021.

And then there were the high Class III values brought on last year by the pandemic. In multiple component orders, components get paid first from those Class III values, Wolf explained. This leaves less money in the Producer Price Differential (PPD).

The negative PPDs that we saw in 2020 were extreme, Wolf recognized. But the long-term trend in PPDs is definitely downward because of the component values going up because of utilization and some other factors.

In the meantime, producers will continue to have a selection index that allows them to breed cows more suited to this type of market system.



To watch the recording of the July 7 DairyLivestream, go to the link above. The program recording is also available as an audio-only podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and downloadable off of the Hoards Dairyman website.

An ongoing series of events

The next broadcast of DairyLivestream will be on Wednesday, July 21 at 11 a.m. CDT. Each episode is designed for panelists to answer over 30 minutes of audience questions. If you havent joined a DairyLivestream broadcast yet, register here for free. Registering once registers you for all future events.



To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021

July 12, 2021
IT jobs are high priority for the government. Image: Shutterstock

The Australian government has once again recognised an ICT skills shortage with the release of new data about which jobs the country needs most.

Last week, the National Skills Commission (NSC) published its first Skills Priority Occupation List, measuring the current and projected future demand for 800 jobs listed under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

IT jobs accounted for nearly 10 per cent of those in the highest demand category meaning there is a current national shortage and strong future demand.

Specifically, these roles are: multimedia specialist, developer programmer, software engineer, ICT security specialist, and ICT project manager.

Most of these jobs also feature on the governments Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List  a list of jobs the government is targeting for its migration program as part of its COVID-19 economic recovery plan.

That list was updated last month to include more ICT-specific roles.

Not all jobs categorised as currently in national shortage are on the migration priority list which once again signals how the growing need for ICT skills is not necessarily being met through local training.

Similarly, accountants, surveyors, and engineers are all occupations with national shortages that the government is looking to fill with migrants, while it does not prioritise migration for trades with skills shortages like chefs, electricians, and butchers.

In a recent speech Philip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank, mentioned migration as a key factor affecting wage growth  sometimes negatively  although continuing high wages for IT jobs suggests it has been less impactful in that sector.

Hiring overseas workers to overcome bottlenecks allows firms to hire the people they need to operate effectively, and to expand and invest, Lowe said.

This benefit was clearly evident during the resources boom, and there are a wide range of businesses and industries that have benefited from hiring foreign workers.

Without this ability, output in Australia would have been lower.

Based on the NSCs priority list, there will continue to be demand for IT skills in the coming years.

Web developers, systems and network administrators, and software testers are among the ICT roles without recognised national shortages but for which the NSC expects strong demand in the future.

Another of the jobs in that category  analyst programmer  is featured on the priority migration list despite that lack of shortage.

The IT-related jobs with the lowest priority categorisation are more business-centric roles such as ICT account manager, ICT business development manager, and ICT sales representative.

For each of these roles there is no current shortage and only moderate expected future demand.

At the bottom of the skilled occupation priority list are agricultural and farm workers which, from cotton growers to dairy farmers, Australia has neither a shortage of  nor projected future demand for  according to the NSC.

There is also no shortage of machine operators, emergency service workers, fire fighters, detectives, police officers, and debt collectors, with each occupation also expected to have soft future demand.

The bottom of the list also echoes broader technological and social changes with movie picture projectionist, and television and radio presenters all experiencing soft future demand.
Essar Shipping Limited has informed the bourses that two of its handysize vessels, Tvisha and Tuhina, weighing 13,000 DWT, have been engaged in exports of rice from India to Bangladesh as per the recent bilateral trade agreement signed between the two neighboring countries.

As per the agreement, Bangladesh is set to buy 1,50,000 tonnes of rice from India. It would be the first such bilateral deal in the last three years.

Both these vessels have been continuously employed in back-to-back business to export rice since March 2021.

India saw a surge in farm exports in FY21 despite the pandemic crisis, which was driven by record-high sales of rice i.e. 13.9 million tonnes of non-basmati and 4.6 million tonnes of basmati along with sales of 2.08 million tonnes of wheat, a six-year high. In fact, the growing demand for rice overseas is expected to be a big win for exporters of the commodity in India.

Bangladesh, the world's third-biggest rice producer with an output of almost 35 million tonnes a year, relies on imports from time to time to cope with shortages caused by natural disasters such as floods or drought.

With this, the stock of Essar Shipping has locked in an upper circuit of 5 per cent at Rs 11.84 from its previous close of Rs 11.28 on BSE.
Representative image

Tehran [Iran], July 12 (ANI): The Iranian authorities have handed over 180 Pakistani migrants to the local administration at the Taftan border in Chagai district, in the country's Balochistan province.

According to Pakistan daily The Nation, these people were arrested in different parts of Iran for not having authorised documents.

Last month, Iran had handed over 92 illegal immigrants to Pakistan. Reportedly, these Pakistanis had entered Iran through illegal crossings without valid documents which led to their apprehension.

Previously in May, Iran had handed over 63 Pakistani nationals to authorities for illegally entering the country.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Pakistani nationals who enter Iran illegally are apprehended by Iranian security forces.

The news agency said Iran and Pakistan are already engaged in strengthening cooperation to stop illegal cross-border movements. (ANI)
Expressing concern over population rise in the country, BJP MP from Mandsaur Sudhir Gupta in a controversial remark has claimed that people like Aamir Khan are behind the population imbalance. Gupta who often remains in the limelight for his off the cuff remarks was interacting with journalists on the occasion of World Population Day on Sunday.

The BJP MP said that the country hasnt seen an inch of land getting increased while the population of the country has touched 140 crore mark which is not good news.

During the partition, Pakistan got vast portion of the land but comparatively lesser population and that too had forced large chunk of the population back into India without partaking any land in lieu if the same, Gupta said.

Talking in Indian perspective, peoples hero is Aamir Khan (Bollywood star) whose first wife Reena with kids and Kiran Rao with one kid has been left to wander around by Khan who is unbothered and has started the search for the third wife, he added.

Sudhir Gupta was apparently taking a dig at the Bollywood actor who recently separated from his second wife Kiran Rao.

Its ironical that people like Aamir Khan have a role to play in population imbalance in the country, said Gupta adding that some people claiming that people like Khan have no brains for job other than selling eggs were correct.

The MP from Mandsaur also quoted example of one woman Ms Jojo had died of breast cancer in Faridabad after delivering her eighth baby. The MP quoted her saying that she was happy that her eight children would be propagating almightys message to the world.

He added that for a progressive approach, we need population control and reined in distorted mentality of the people.

Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Iowa voting rights activist Deidre DeJear said Monday that she is considering a run for Iowa governor.

DeJear announced the formation of an exploratory committee and a tour of seven Iowa cities this week to discuss the idea with Iowans. The tour begins at a Des Moines hair salon, then moves on to Clinton, Davenport, Muscatine, Burlington, Fort Madison and Ottumwa.

It doesnt matter if you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or someone who has given up on politics. Everyone deserves a listening ear and a seat at the table. In these divided times, its more important than ever to unite as Iowans," she said in a statement.

DeJear won the Democratic nomination for Iowa secretary of state in 2018, becoming the first Black person to be nominated by a major political party for a statewide office in Iowa. She was defeated in the general election by incumbent Republican Paul Pate.

She turned to fighting for voter rights, saying in a December 2018 letter to supporters that her commitment to protect the right to vote is stronger every day.
Republicans who dominate the state Legislature rejected complaints from Democrats after the fraud allegations emerged that responsibility rested with lax state regulations. GOP leaders argued it was difficult to legislate against criminal intent.

Democratic Rep. Ed DeLaney of Indianapolis said he was only surprised by the scale of the apparent fraud and that he had little hope of the state recovering much money. He said the state had provided flimsy supervision.

We need to learn from this, DeLaney said. You know if you give vast sums of money to people who are allowed to act outside of public view, they might take advantage of it.

The schools reported an enrollment of about 7,200 students before state education officials cut off funding in 2019 based on preliminary audit findings of the enrollment padding.

Officials in Indiana have disagreed about oversight responsibilities between the State Board of Education, the state Department of Education and the Daleville Community Schools, a district of about 1,000 students near Muncie, which was the charter authorizer for the two online schools.

State auditors cited the Daleville district for a lack of meaningful oversight and monitoring. District officials, however, maintained the district played no role in the erroneous enrollment reports and didnt have access to data about the online schools students until 2018 because of concerns about federal student privacy laws.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Q: I am an only child and lately Ive been feeling overwhelmed by being the only person available to help care for my mom. How can I manage my feelings so that I can continue to take the best care of my mother? JP

Answer: Being in the role of the sole caregiver to a loved one can certainly be stressful. Fortunately, there are resources that can provide information and support to help ease the strain.

The Shepherds Center of Greater Winston-Salem developed Powerful Tools for Caregivers, an evidence-based program which offers a unique combination of elements designed to empower caregivers. Offered in six-week sessions, with classes held each Tuesday, participants learn the importance of self-care, emotion management, self-confidence and community resources. Please note this is not a class to learn how to provide hands-on care for another person and is not intended for paid or professional care providers.

It is a class to help informal caregivers, take better care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend, whether they live in the same house, in another town or in a care facility.
Senior housing

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Jesse Hymes, the chairman of the board of G.W. Holland, said the First Baptist-related group decided to build more senior housing because it has consistently had 30 to 40 people on the waiting list to move into the churchs Highland Avenue senior housing complex.

That sort of emphasizes the need for that kind of property, Hymes said. We have 114 units currently and rehabbed them six or seven years ago, and they are doing OK.

After looking around for a site, Holland decided to approach the county and ask if commissioners would be willing to part with the site at the corner of Highland and Fifth.

Having county departments nearby would be a plus for seniors living in the new complex, Hymes said.

We think it would be a good thing for East Winston and a good thing for First Baptist Church, Hymes told county commissioners when he recently spoke to the board to explain his idea for the land. We are concerned about where you would locate seniors. We wanted it to be a place where we would put our loved ones or where you would put your loved ones. We looked, and lo and behold, the county had the best piece of property.
Rabon, a cancer survivor, has said SB711 would not serve as a gateway to recreation marijuana use.

Recreational marijuana use is not something we want in our state, Lee said, but added that the prohibition should not keep North Carolina from doing the right thing for people with chronic and debilitating conditions.

Lowe said bill sponsors reviewed legislation in piecing together SB711.

We realized that, for some states, it has worked out well, while for others it was just a recreational product, Lowe said. Thats not the goal with this particular bill on our state.

Some advocates for permitting medical marijuana still criticize SB711 for being too restrictive on who can use it, and for not putting enough emphasis on the mental health aspect of debilitating health conditions.

Others spoke against the amendment that reduces the number of medical cannabis centers in North Carolina from eight to four, two of which would be located in one of the states 20 Tier 1 counties  likely Mecklenburg and in the Triangle.

Forsyth and Guilford counties are in Tier 2.

Background
DHHS says 174,518 Forsyth residents are fully vaccinated, about 46% of the county population, while 185,103 have had at least one dose, or 48%.

Novant Health Inc. infectious diseases expert Dr. David Priest said last week that he expects an increase in cases over the next few weeks, particularly among those who are not vaccinated.

Priest said his warning comes in part because of the projected surge in local and statewide cases related to the delta variant, and in part as more people gathered without masks over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Priest said he is concerned that there are other individuals who are very against vaccination, and they dont want to get it.

Vaccination urging

On Thursday, Gov. Roy Cooper and state health officials renewed calls for unvaccinated people to get their shots.

That appeal may resonate more strongly after Friday, when the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its COVID-19 policy to say vaccinated students, teachers and other educational personnel were safe to go without masks indoors.
After canceling its summer music festival last year because of the pandemic, Music Carolina SummerFest will make its return in August kicking off with a performance by pianist Peter Kairoff.

Kairoff will perform an evening of solo piano works by Schubert, including the haunting Sonata in A-minor; the rarely heard Huettenbrenner Variations; and selections from the Impromptus and the Moments Musicales.

Music Carolina SummerFest will celebrate its 14th season with an array of concerts in different locations throughout Winston-Salem, offering a range of musical styles such as classical, jazz and opera, as well as dance.

In addition, there will be two free Classical Conversations presentations at Piedmont Music Center as part of the summer music festival. These 45-minute discussions of SummerFest programs will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 2 with Peter Kairoff and at 11 a.m. Aug. 11 with James Allbritten.

The Music Carolina SummerFest concerts are sponsored by Music Carolina. Joe Mount and Matt Kendrick are the summer music festivals artistic directors.

All concerts will be held indoors. Most audience sizes wont be larger than 100 people.
Carbon Price

A national price on carbon dioxide emissions offers the most cost-effective policy lever for reducing carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide is a pollutant created during the production of many goods and services across the economy. These pollution emissions impose indirect damages on other members of society through rising temperatures and changes in precipitation. When polluters do not pay for the damages they inflict, we experience a market failure  the unregulated economic system does not deliver an efficient outcome for our society.

A carbon price corrects the market failure by sending a clear price signal about the damages of carbon pollution to market participants and makes both consumers and producers pay for damages they cause. In particular, a carbon price creates incentives for producers to use cleaner inputs and encourages consumers to use or purchase less pollution-intensive goods. Notably, a carbon price achieves the necessary emissions reductions at the lowest possible cost to American households and businesses.

Carbon Dividend
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is taking a different tack by sending sworn peace officers  Ohio state troopers. So, if some of these would-be refugees steal a car and speed down a highway in Texas, DeWine has it covered.

Before long, the patchwork down on the border is going to look like a U.N. peacekeeping force. When do the Belgians arrive?

Besides, I thought that securing the border was what the more than 19,000 U.S. Border Patrol agents were paid to do.

In 30 years of writing about immigration, Ive interviewed many of these agents firsthand. Ive heard them ask for the construction of better roads along the border, the latest tunnel detection equipment, better electronic surveillance systems and more sophisticated technology.

Not once have I heard any of them ask for backup from state troopers or the National Guard. Thats not what they want. Thats what arrogant but know-nothing politicians tell them they need.

Nevertheless, like other likely 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls, Noem seems to be betting that a hardline stance in favor of border security will help catapult her to the top tier of GOP contenders.
Boonville

Forget about it

If you think that Trump supporters who still buy the Big Lie will ever be able to admit the truth and reject the Big Liar, forget about it! It is well known that once a conspiracy theory takes hold in someones mind they do not give it up easily, if ever. Every bit of factual evidence used to argue against the conspiracy is contorted by the believer into further evidence of the conspiracy. Truth and facts make no difference.

Where do we go from here? How do we, as a country, ever get through our current status on the edge of losing our democracy to authoritarianism, cultism, fascism and minority rule?

Our future is in the hands of Republican leaders who, in contrast to much of their base, understand that the Big Lie is just that, a lie. They know that the 2020 election was fair, that there was no steal. Instead of informing their constituents of the truth, they feed those lies and conspiracies. They use the bases strongly held beliefs in nonexistent election fraud to falsely justify new election laws that are designed to suppress votes that are more likely to be Democratic than Republican.
Govt-and-politics

editor's pick alert top story

Environmental advocates oppose development of Air Park land it says should be preserved

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star Nine-Mile Prairie environs sit at the edge of Williams City Library at Arnold Elementary School in Air Park. A proposal to designate some of the property near the school as extremely blighted has some environmentalists concerned about potential future development. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star Nine-mile prairie environs at the edge of the basketball court at Arnold Elementary School.

A battle between development and native prairie, affordable housing and how to put the citys new Climate Action Plan into practice is playing out on about 20 acres of land near Arnold Elementary in Air Park.

The land  about a half a mile away from the tallgrass of Nine-Mile Prairie  is a small part of a larger swath of land city officials want to designate as extremely blighted, an effort designed primarily to give qualifying low-income homeowners the opportunity to apply for tax credits made possible by a 2019 change in state law.

Most of the land at issue is housing west of Northwest 48th Street from West Holdrege to near the elementary school  and nobodys got a problem with the designation for that land.

Its the small area of undeveloped land  17 acres just west of the elementary school and another 3.5 acres just to the north that concern environmental advocates.

They see attaching a blight designation to that land as giving a green light to developers because it allows them to seek tax-increment financing  and in fact a local developer has said hes interested in building affordable housing on the land.

Mead town hall seeks to keep pressure on cleanup at AltEn Although the focus of the town hall was to put a human face to the unfolding environmental calamity, Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue said the meeting was also aimed at trying to find solutions to the problem.

Instead, the environmental advocates argue, the land should be protected from development because of its rich and diverse habitat as part of the Nine-Mile Prairie ecosystem  a recommendation made in a 191-page master plan for the area completed in 2020 by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Grassland Studies.

Developing the land also goes against the mayors recently adopted Climate Action Plan, said Marilyn McNabb, vice president of the Wachiska Audubon Society board.

My primary concern is that we have just adopted a Climate Action Plan for the city of Lincoln with support of the City Council that includes a number of references to protecting tall-grass prairie, McNabb said. Weve got a study that shows that to do that we need a buffer around Nine-Mile Prairie ... Taking steps that would lead to a housing development would undermine that goal.

The Climate Action Plan addresses the importance of supporting prairie restoration and creating carbon sequestration plans, something that native grasslands are very effective at because of their extensive root systems that can store more carbon in the soil, she said.

McNabb and others concerned about preserving the prairie and the areas around it say the blighting designation is doing an end run around the ongoing update to the citys comprehensive plan, which they hope will incorporate the 191-page Nine-Mile Prairie master plan.

The Wachiska Audubon Society wrote a letter to the council recommending the blighting designation exempt the 20 acres in question until the city works through the comprehensive plan update, including how to handle preservation issues.

"The best thing for city government to do right now is to re-read what it just enacted in the Lincoln Climate Action Plan and act as if it matters, because it does, Jon Oberg wrote in a blog about the issue. Oberg owns prairie land in the area and has been involved in environmental issues for years.

Bird and pollinator populations are collapsing, climate change is evident everywhere, and the time for climate action is now, he wrote.

Members of Wachiska Audubon Society, which was active in helping create Nine-Mile Prairie when the University of Nebraska Foundation bought the 230 acres in 1983, and other advocates say there was little notice by the city about its intention to seek a blight designation.

Dan Marvin, the citys urban development director, said he wasnt aware that advocates of Nine-Mile Prairie were going to have concerns and the city doesnt want to threaten Nine-Mile Prairie.

It wasnt on our radar, he said.

To be truly effective, the Climate Action Plan has to be adopted and incorporated by all city departments, said Gene Hanlon, who coordinates a group of 18 environmental and community groups that meet monthly.

The group has concerns about the blight proposal in the context of the Climate Action Plan recommendations, he said.

This TIF blight recommendation is the first time an issue has come before the City Council that conflicts with the Climate Action Plan, he said.

But Marvin said having a blight designation on an area that will likely be developed can actually help by adding extra scrutiny to projects.

Ted Turner plans 'ecoagriculture' institute on Nebraska ranch Ted Turner announced that he was turning over an 80,000-acre ranch near Gordon to a nonprofit he formed that will do research and develop strategies to conserve ecosystems while raising bison.

Developers interested in building on the land would have to get a redevelopment plan approved by both the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission and the City Council. That plan, which is only required by developers seeking tax-increment financing, would allow the city to require specific protections for the land and provide financing for them.

Miki Espisito, a mayoral aide spearheading the climate plans implementation, said environmental advocates are correct about the goals of the plan. The debate, she said, isnt about whether protecting the land is important, its about how best to do it.

The blight designation, she said, gives the city more tools to regulate the area. A redevelopment plan could, for instance, require wider setbacks, the use of native plants and grasses and low- or no-mow areas.

Complicating the issue is ownership of the land and a 14-year-old agreement between the city, Lincoln Public Schools and the Lincoln Airport Authority created to sell land to the school district when it built the new Arnold Elementary.

The city holds title to the land but in 1959 transferred possession and control to the Lincoln Airport Authority. In the 2007 agreement to sell land to LPS, the city agreed to zone the 20 acres at issue now as residential and accommodate the surplus and sale of the land when the Airport Authority wanted to do so.

Bill Austin, the attorney who represents the Airport Authority, said Federal Aviation Administration rules require that it get fair market value for the land.

The Airport Authority understands some of the concerns of Nine-Mile Prairie but doesnt understand why they are having a buffer going as far as theyre trying to get it to go, he said. Unfortunately its a situation where the Airport Authority has an obligation to maximize the value of its property.

While the land in question isnt directly adjacent to Nine-Mile Prairie, it is in the environs that encompass the master plan created by UNL. Advocates say the flora and fauna are part of that ecosystem, and the study recommended the land in question be preserved as green space because of the diversity of the habitat and the connection to Nine-Mile Prairie by stream and tributary corridors.

In his blog, Oberg said the city has changed zoning in the past to preserve grassland prairies, including in 2018 when then-mayor Chris Beutler and the council decided not to sell the parcels in question, instead asking for a recommendation from the UNL Center for Grasslands Studies.

But Marvin said given the 2007 agreement with LPS and the Airport Authority, a blight designation wouldnt stop development, just the ability of developers to use TIF.

Is it tacky? Millard family practicing zero-waste lifestyle deals with neighbors' concerns Two couples are sharing a corner-lot home and trying to practice a sustainable lifestyle, and that means growing their own food, keeping chickens for eggs and drying their clothes outside.

To me then the question is, is there a way to achieve some of those goals and protect some of the stream corridors and other areas youd like to preserve, he said.

Fred Hoppe, a developer who builds affordable housing, told the City Council on June 28 that one of the challenges of affordable housing projects is finding appropriate sites. Tax-increment financing, he said, is typically used to help finance them.

TIF allows developers to use the increased future property taxes the developed property generates to pay for certain upfront costs. In addition to creating the tax credit for homeowners, the law in 2019 that created the extreme blight designation also allows developers building affordable housing projects to get preference for certain grants and loans.

When Hoppe found out about the blight study, he determined that the 3.5-acre tract would be a good site for a 40-unit affordable housing unit and the 17 acres for 100 units as well as single-family homes. He has not yet submitted a redevelopment plan.

Developing 100 houses would open the area to domestic cats that kill birds, household pesticides and streetlights that would disrupt the nocturnal environments, Oberg wrote in his blog.

Dave Wedin, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor and Nine-Mile Prairie director, said he doesnt have a position on the blight designation issue. Its not directly next to the prairie, so other stakeholders are more directly impacted.

He works closely with the neighbors directly adjacent to the prairie including the Airport Authority and he understands the constraints they are under. He also understands the concerns about protecting green space and welcomes as much habitat for pollinators in the area as possible.

My position is the Nine-Mile Prairie master plan is an excellent resource that should help planners, he said.

It doesnt need to adhere to a rigid dichotomy of development or no development, he said. Instead, planners should find a creative solution.

I would hope that a plan addresses the needs of all stakeholders, he said. Whats good for the school, whats good for the taxpayer in creating more good housing, and creating more green space.

The City Council heard testimony on the blight and extreme blight designation on June 28, but decided to postpone a vote for a week.

Councilwoman Tammy Ward offered an amendment to reduce the proposed blighting area, which was originally 1,750 acres that stretched from West Holdrege Street to Fletcher Avenue. Her proposed amendment would reduce the area by moving the northern line to West Cuming Street, just north of the school.

That area still includes most of the 20 disputed acres.

Ward said she plans on Monday to ask for the council to postpone the vote for at least another two weeks in an effort to work out an agreement.

Theres going to have to be some give and take on both sides, she said.

Partnership a 'milestone' in city's fledgling urban ag program A partnership with Community Crops and the Airport Authority will provide 12 acres of land for farmers trying to build local food-growing businesses, a "milestone" in the city's fledgling urban ag efforts.
We just need to be vigilant, Prickett said.

Schaffner said he thinks schools wont face similar outbreaks because they tend to be more structured and disciplined than camps and because most got used to making adjustments over the past year and a half. But he said the best way to reduce the risk is to get most people vaccinated.

There are many parts of the country that simply have not grasped this, he said.

It could be several months before regulators make a decision on authorizing shots for children under 12. Studies on such youngsters are still going on.

Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the state's top vaccination official was fired Monday after facing scrutiny from Republican state lawmakers over her departments outreach efforts to vaccinate teenagers against COVID-19. Dr. Michelle Fiscus told The Tennessean newspaper about her termination. A Health Department official said the agency would not comment.

The Department of Health instructed county-level employees recently to stop vaccination events aimed at teens and to halt any online outreach to them, The Tennessean previously reported, citing emails it obtained.

Ford, the teacher whose daughter narrowly escaped getting COVID-19 at a Missouri summer camp, is worried.

With the uptick in cases, I am concerned that we wont be able to go back to normal, and we will have to ask people to mask and stuff, she said, "and I have a feeling that there is going to be a huge argument.

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But, assuming all appeals are eventually exhausted in cases:

Well, at that time, then we have to find out whether or not theres availability, Peterson said. And his office is not engaged in that process.

The Nebraska Corrections Department currently does not have lethal injection drugs, Chief of Staff Laura Strimple confirmed last week. However, an emailed statement suggested the department is seeking them.

It is the responsibility of NDCS to carry out the order of the court, which includes continuing to pursue procuring the necessary substances, Strimple wrote.

Strimple did not answer follow-up questions as to how the department is going about doing that. She wrote that the department did not want to provide comment that might impact any pending sentencing or prospective appeals.

The Nebraska Legislature abolished the death penalty in 2015, over a veto by Gov. Pete Ricketts, but it was resurrected via statewide vote the next year. Ricketts helped pay for the effort that put it in front of voters.

Lathrop said the Legislature ought to respect the will of voters.
Among them was the case of five children placed in foster care with relatives. The foster family moved in October, but the childrens records have yet to be updated with their new address. No home study has been conducted in preparation for their planned adoption, and no records have been kept of their medical, dental, vision and mental health care.

The children went without medication for almost a year because their Medicaid coverage was ended. So far this year, the children have had three different St. Francis case managers.

There was also the case of a young child placed in foster care with a relative. The child was left there even though the relatives significant other did not pass a background check and other children were barred from being placed in the home.

St. Francis workers left the child in the home until Foster Care Review Office staff pointed out that one foster parent was in jail and there was a warrant for the other. The child was in the home from July 2020 until April 2021.

While Stephens would not address specific cases, he said St. Francis has developed a really aggressive hiring plan and is working on several initiatives aimed at attracting and keeping workers for a difficult, sometimes traumatic job.
No storm in recent decades caused more Omaha-area residences and businesses to lose power than the one Saturday that sent hurricane-force winds ripping through the metropolitan area.

And as of Sunday afternoon, fewer than 54,000 Omaha Public Power District customers remained without power  nearly 40 hours after the storm downed trees and power lines, and forced those who rely on electricity for medical care to seek shelter elsewhere.

The bulk of those outages were in Douglas County, according to the Omaha Public Power District's outage map. Several thousand customers in Sarpy County also did not yet have power restored.

Based on available OPPD records, the 188,000 customers who lost power over the weekend were the most to do so because of a storm in decades, according to an OPPD spokeswoman  and perhaps the most ever.

The number of affected customers topped the toll of a June 27, 2008, storm that left 156,000 without electricity, according to Laura King-Homan, a communications specialist for OPPD.

The historic snowstorm that pummeled a Halloween-decorated Omaha in October 1997 left 150,000 in the dark.

More recently, a Father's Day tornado in 2017 left about 75,000 searching for candles and flashlights.
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan relinquished his command at a ceremony in the Afghan capital Monday, taking the U.S. a step closer to ending its 20-year war.
The officer who killed the alleged shooter was just starting his shift, filling up an undercover unmarked vehicle at the Mobil station in Franksville when the killer pulled into the station, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said; an exchange of gunfire followed and the shooter was killed.

The officer was shot but is reported to be conscious and alert, recovering at Ascension All Saints Hospital. The 22-year-old man who was killed at the Pilot station in Caledonia was just filling up his car when he was "executed," according to Schmaling.
James Morgan was watching his wife open a present on Christmas Eve last year when they heard a knock at the front door.

A police officer had come to arrest him for allegedly failing to charge his GPS tracking device, causing his location to drop for about 30 minutes. Morgan, who was out on parole for a sexual assault conviction from 1983, said he had charged it and that the device must have malfunctioned, a well-documented problem with Wisconsins GPS monitoring program.

But because of orders from the Department of Corrections, the officer said he had no choice but to bring Morgan to jail, where he spent four days over the Christmas holiday.

The impact was  wow, how do I describe that? Saying it was traumatic was not enough, Morgan said. It didnt just impact me. It impacted my wife, my daughter, my grandkids, people in my agency, my employer. It impacted a lot of people.

It was also a bit of an exception. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Dane County dramatically reduced its jail population last year. Arrests dropped, fewer people sat in jail because they couldnt afford bail and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections sent fewer people to jail for breaking a probation or parole rule.

Although prompted by a public health crisis, the relaxed rules on who got sent to jail for what echoed many of the changes advocates for the incarcerated have long been seeking.

What we saw at the beginning of the pandemic was this amount of collaboration and innovation within the criminal justice system that we had never seen before, Dane County Board Chair Analiese Eicher said.

Linda Ketcham, executive director of local social justice nonprofit JustDane, was skeptical the innovations would stick.

I would lean toward thinking that well just see the (jail) population go back up, Ketcham said. The actions that were taken werent necessarily taken as reforms. They were taken because of the pandemic, and they werent really driven by any real, sincere vision of reform.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett acknowledged that some of the transformations may not be sustainable moving forward.

Some changes, such as the closing of the Dane County Courthouse during much of the pandemic, cannot be continued. But others, including new practices in corrections and policing, could prevent the jail population from surging back into the 800s and 900s.

The population remained relatively low on Thursday at 632. But now that the courts have reopened, more people are being sentenced to jail. Over the next few months, the criminal justice system will face some big questions: Will the pandemic-era changes be enough to offset that influx? And will policymakers remain committed to change or will the opportunity for a long-term jail reduction slip away?

Im a public defender, so Im an optimist, said Catherine Dorl, Dane County attorney manager in the state Public Defenders Office. I do believe that we can sustain this change.

Rapid decline

Four main groups make up the jail population on any given day: those being held on cash bail, people suspected of breaking a condition of their probation or parole, those serving a sentence locally, and people waiting to be sent to a state or federal prison to serve out a sentence.

ABOUT THE DATA The Dane County Sheriff's Office provides daily population reports, but only going back to July 21, 2020. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Nicholas McNamara collected jail population snapshots on March 16, 2020, and April 1, 2020, providing a window into the first few weeks of the pandemic. The population numbers include some inmates who were being supervised in the community because these individuals could not always be separated. On a few randomly selected days in 2020 and 2021, the number of people being monitored in the community ranged from 50 to 80.

From March 16 to April 1, 2020, at the start of the pandemic, the group that accounted for the largest drop in the jail population was those being held on bail as they awaited trial. As judges reduced bail amounts or released people, that group dropped from 209 to 117  a 44% reduction.

Over the same period, two other groups also shrunk: Those with probation or parole holds dropped 35%, while the number of locally sentenced inmates fell 16%.

In just over two weeks, the total jail population dropped by 239 inmates, from 827 to 588.

Later in the pandemic, as inmates finished serving their sentences and fewer cases were getting resolved, the primary driver of the decreased jail population became the stalled courts.

The jail population, its kind of like a rain barrel. Theres a flow coming in, and theres a flow going out, Dane County Clerk of Courts Carlo Esqueda said. During the pandemic, he said, the flow going in all but stopped.

From April 1, 2020, to Dec. 2, the locally sentenced population fell more than half, from 220 to 104.

At the same time, the pretrial population and inmates being held on probation and parole holds ticked back up, but not quite to pre-pandemic levels. The number of people held on bail increased 24%, and the number with holds rose 12%.

That has some criminal justice officials worried.

Theres going to be an overabundance of people coming to jail because  there are hundreds of felony criminal trials coming, former Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said in March. My greatest fear is were going to have a jail overpopulation.

Court resumes

After being suspended since March 2020 along with other in-person proceedings, jury trials resumed in Dane County on June 1.

Only about 2% of cases go to trial in a normal year, Esqueda said, but having one on the calendar pushes prosecutors and the defense to make a plea deal. Otherwise, theres no incentive to come to those negotiations, he said.

The number of criminal cases disposed dropped dramatically last year, from 6,651 in 2019 to 4,390 in 2020, Esqueda said.

Now that cases are progressing, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Nicholas McNamara predicted the jail population will rise, but slowly. Judges have to take the most urgent cases  the serious, violent felonies  first, so trials for low-level misdemeanors probably wont happen for many months, he said.

Even then, McNamara wondered whether the population will reach pre-pandemic levels. Jail time might not make sense for nonviolent offenders who have been out in the community for more than a year waiting for their case to be resolved, he said.

Lets imagine a guy thats been out of jail on bond for 18 months or more, and he says, OK, find me guilty, McNamara said. Do we say, OK do another 18 months of probation, when thats essentially what hes been doing? When (hes) been living in the community for 18 months with no problem?

McNamara said he and other judges likely will give defendants credit for good behavior, which could lead to more lenient sentences and less jail time, although he said he wont pre-decide cases.

Corrections changes

Generally, those in jail because of a suspected probation or parole violation have to stay while the DOC investigates. After thats complete, probation or parole agents can release people, connect them with programming, impose up to 90 days of jail time or send them back to prison.

During the pandemic, agents sent fewer people to jail when they were facing a minor violation, released more people while the investigation was pending and investigated more quickly because of new guidance, said Lance Wiersma, administrator for DOCs Division of Community Corrections.

Morgan, for instance, was released when the DOCs offices opened back up the Monday after Christmas and given a new ankle monitor Jan. 11. The department maintains that Morgan failed to charge the device and said the replacement was a routine update.

John Givens, 74, a support coordinator at JustDane, said its encouraging that agents were more lax and released people within days or weeks instead of months.

Knowing that there could be a high likelihood of a transmission of the coronavirus in a jail setting, we really wanted to do whatever we could to help reduce populations across the state, Wiersma said.

Marking a major shift for the DOC, the department formalized the new policies in January. For those who break a rule or commit nonviolent misdemeanors, agents are to focus on addressing violations in the least responsive way, such as an intervention program instead of jail, Wiersma said. Thats a change that will continue.

If we can help people change their behavior in the community versus in a jail or prison setting, thats the goal, Wiersma said. As long as we can do that safely.

Arrests drop

Throughout the pandemic, Madison Assistant Police Chief John Patterson said officers have been directed to consider issuing citations in situations that may have previously resulted in an arrest, such as disorderly conduct, theft, battery or property damage.

That certainly can continue, Patterson said.

Other changes included focusing traffic enforcement on hazardous driving, taking resident complaints by phone to limit police contacts, and not responding to graffiti complaints.

Morgan, who is also a member of JustDanes inmate reentry team, noted there were also fewer opportunities to commit crimes during the spring when businesses were shut down and people werent out in public because of stay-at-home orders.

From April to December 2020, Madison police made 4,446 arrests, a 32% decrease from the 6,557 made over the same period in 2019.

That undoubtedly helped decrease the jails pretrial population, but its unclear by how much.

Its a little premature for us to know for certain which thing had the greatest impact, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said.

Holding court sessions online could have also cut the pretrial population by making it easier for people to appear and reducing warrants for their arrest, Ozanne said.

Bails effect unclear

Although less concrete, a heightened focus on cash bail also likely cut the number of people in jail awaiting trial.

Free the 350 Bail Fund, which bailed out many local inmates during the pandemic, said in May 2020 the only acceptable response to COVID-19 was releasing people. The group called for the release of everyone held on bail, as well as all Black people and those over age 50.

Starting in mid-March 2020, Mahoney said, Sheriffs Office staff and court commissioners reviewed everyone on cash bail to find defendants who could be released without posing a significant public safety risk.

Dorl said she and other public defenders were relentless in filing bail motions to get cash bail lowered or get people released without cash.

I think we were trying to do everything we could to minimize the jail population, even more than normal, said Dane County Court Commissioner Jason Hanson, who makes bail decisions.

But Hanson said he wanted to push back a little on the idea that he and other court commissioners changed how they make decisions.

Hanson said a court commissioners job is to look at the totality of circumstances. He said the pandemic was a factor in his rulings  he considered the health risks of going to jail and that cases were stuck  but COVID-19 was never the sole reason for a bail decision.

It would be difficult for me to say theres something we would continue post-pandemic because I dont think the system has changed dramatically, Hanson said.

That may be why the pretrial population dropped significantly from March to April 2020 but then crept back up: Bail was reviewed at the start of the pandemic, but no policy change was made.

Whatever happens to the jail population will likely have a major impact on the direction of the $148 million jail project, which could be redesigned due to rising costs.

Impact on crime

Patterson and Ozanne said theyre not sure whether the lowered jail population is connected to a local increase in violent crime.

Police data show crime overall has not increased significantly in Madison in recent years. But the city has seen alarming increases in gunfire, car thefts and related crimes.

In 2020, reports of shots fired in Madison increased 73.6% compared to 2019, according to police. There were 10 homicides, more than 2018 and 2019 combined. Burglaries were up 21% and car thefts were up 47% compared to 2019. Robberies decreased 21% compared to Madisons five-year average.

Its not known how many of those who were released went on to commit more serious crimes, but Mahoney said he heard of some cases. Still, he said, he believes the pandemic showed not everyone has to come to jail.

Ozanne noted there has been an increase in gun violence and violent crime across the nation.

This isnt something that is just isolated here, he said.

Eicher said the fact that folks are struggling with job loss, mental health, poverty, trauma and despair likely has more to do with the violent crime increase  an assessment Madison officials and activists agree with.

Morgan said he hopes initiatives in Dane County  such as plans to create a Community Justice Center, a less intimidating place for court services, and a team of mental health first responders  will help keep people out of jail while preventing crime.

If we can get people out of the jail, get them functioning, get them employed, get them engaged, again, we all benefit, Morgan said. People wont be walking around fearful. At least thats the hope.
1. Yes. They are not doing their duty as lawmakers; they should face consequences.

2. Yes. The Democrats may have a point, but they should be required to return to work.

3. No. With no filibuster option available, Democrats would be unable to stop a bad bill.

4. No. Most Texas voters oppose the GOPs voting measures, so they had to be stalled.

5. Unsure. Abbott wants to take a stand, but jailing lawmakers may be too harsh.

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The Buffalo County resolution asserts that the board also maintains that any lands or other rights that are acquired to fulfill the 30 x 30 programs objectives should be acquired only from willing landowners and for the payment of full and fair market value for all rights and interests acquired, and not through regulatory compulsion, and only after analyzing and considering the impacts of such land acquisitions on the well-being, health, safety, welfare, economy and culture of Buffalo County, its businesses and its citizens.

Dramatic, irreversible harm could be caused by placing private lands into permanent conservation status, according to the resolution, and would conflict with Buffalo Countys 2012 comprehensive plan, and remove private property from tax rolls.

Consideration of the livestock friendly designation comes as more residents of Buffalo County are moving to the countryside.

Among the requirements of becoming a livestock friendly county is a public hearing so supporters and opponents of the designation have an opportunity to state their cases before an application is submitted to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

If NDA accepts Buffalo Countys application, it can include the Livestock Friendly County designation in materials promoting the county.
KEARNEY  As the delta variant of COVID-19 sweeps across the country, COVID cases are inching upward in the Two Rivers Public Health Department district.

Two Rivers reported nine new cases of COVID-19 during the week of July 2-9. Four of those were in Buffalo County; five were in Phelps County, which had not seen a new case in at least a month.

Two Rivers has seen a 60% increase in absolute numbers of COVID cases for the week of June 29-July 6, compared with the previous week. For the previous six weeks, cases had been declining in all its seven counties: Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney and Phelps.

Not even half of all Two Rivers people are vaccinated. The overall figure of those fully vaccinated in the seven-county district is 48.3%. Two counties have hit the 50% mark  Kearney at 51.4%, and Buffalo with 50%. Harlan County has the fewest people vaccinated with 42.7%.

Aravind Menon, epidemiologist at Two Rivers, said that cases are rising across Nebraska, but its been a bit more difficult to keep track of statewide records since the state dashboard was shut down in late June.
Approximately 1,300 Nebraska Public Power District customers in Kearney were without power after the windstorm that roared through central Nebraska Friday night and Saturday morning, said NPPDs Mark Becker. Later during the weekend 110 Kearney customers were without electricity, but NPPD sa

KEARNEY  City of Kearney crews will be busy Monday assisting residents and businesses with clearing tree debris that resulted from the wind storm Friday night and Saturday morning.

Residents are asked to place tree debris on the street or as close to the curb as possible. Make sure to not block the street or create a traffic hazard.

For residents who could remove and haul the debris, the city landfill was open and available for the disposal of tree debris at no charge on Saturday and Sunday.

Kearney residents with questions were instructed to call the Public Works Department Monday at 308-233-3218.

Approximately 1,300 Nebraska Public Power District customers in Kearney were without power after the windstorm that roared through central Nebraska Friday night and Saturday morning, said NPPDs Mark Becker. Later during the weekend 110 Kearney customers were without electricity, but NPPD said all have had their power restored.

The storm knocked down numerous tree branches and prompted the city of Kearney to open the landfill for people hauling their tree branches for disposal.

Becker said serious damages to NPPDs transmission and distribution systems occurred farther east from Kearney.

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"Our average price for our rings sold now has gone up substantially since Covid," said Brenna Lyden, founder and CEO of Everly Rings and East West Gem Company. She is also working with clients who are using money they saved during the pandemic to upgrade their current rings or getting entirely new ones.

Demand for diamonds

Pent up demand and a dip in production due to COVID-19 restrictions led to global diamond shortages during the pandemic.

"I had a hard time gearing up the production to sustain the demand," said Katarzyna Zygnerska Rosales, founder and designer of Kasia Jewelry in Solana Beach, Calif.

Many jewelry companies work with the Gemological Institute of America, a non-profit that trains jewelers and maintains the standards for diamond-grading services. The Clear Cut, for example, has all of its diamonds certified and graded there. "We are experiencing historically high submissions for laboratory services," said Tom Moses, GIA's chief laboratory and research officer.

At The Clear Cut, "we've been seeing a lot more demand for the in-person appointments," and some customers are even flying to New York to come to the showroom and look at rings," Landau said, underscoring the fact that clients are confident enough to resume travel and ready to try on rings in person.
Lauren Ecklund, a recent Onalaska High school graduate, has been named a College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship winner.

She was among among 3,100 students from across the country to win the award out of a nationwide talent pool of 16,000 student finalists.

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She will receive a scholarship for undergraduate study at the University of Minnesota.

Recipients were selected by a panel of college admissions officers and high school counselors based on the students academic record, including the difficulty of subjects studied and grades earned; preliminary SAT and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay and a recommendation written by a high school official.

About 7,500 finalists will have earned the Merit Scholar title and received a total of nearly $30 million in college scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Competition by the end of 2021.

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Six libraries in Vernon County are partnering with the Driftless Writing Center for the fifth annual Vernon County Reads adult reading program.

Beginning Aug. 2, residents are encouraged to stop by their local public library to check out books in the Loon Lake Mystery Series by Wisconsin author Victoria Houston. The cozy mystery books feature the character of Police Chief Lew Ferris. The chief solves murders with the help of retired dentist, Dr. Paul Doc Osborne. The series is set in the fictional town of Loon Lake, Wisconsin.

Vernon County Reads will conclude with an in-person presentation by Victoria Houston, Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Westby Area Performing Arts Center. Refreshments will be served. Admission to the event is free of charge. Tickets will be available at the door or can be reserved at wapac.ludus.com. Copies of the books will be available for purchase at the book signing immediately following the program.

Houston was born and raised in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, in the heart of the fishing culture that backgrounds her mysteries. Having been gone for more than 30 years, Houston moved back to Rhinelander in 1996 where she enjoys hunting, fishing, and writing mystery books.
Xiong points to the Zoom parties that have replaced needlepoint circles and youth groups that now meet online. Staff and volunteers now check on community elders by weekly telephone calls and food deliveries instead of in-person visits.

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Its been challenging to learn how to work with clients in this pandemic because so much of our work is social and relationship-based. Not to have that has been really hard, said Xiong.

Cia Siab currently employs 14 full-time and six part-time staff members. During the pandemic, Xiong and one other person staff the office  one upstairs and one downstairs for safety. Everyone else works from home. Coordinating services is more complicated now, and its hard on staff not to see firsthand the people they serve.

Its hardest on the elders because a lot of them dont read or write, and so much of what were still able to do is through the internet. Even if they do read or write, many dont have wi-fi access. Many also dont drive, said Xiong. Even before the pandemic they were feeling isolated.
The reports have prompted questions on the legality of using surplus campaign funds for this purpose. Federal law requires campaign funds be used only for campaign-related travel, even if leftover from a previous campaign. Van Orden was not an active candidate in January.

Derrick Van Orden not only lied about his involvement in a deadly attack on our democracy, but he appears to have violated federal law by bankrolling his attendance as he stood on the Capitol grounds during the insurrection on his campaigns dime, DPW executive director Nellie Sires said in a statement.

Van Ordens misconduct is disturbing, unethical and confirms hes unfit to represent Wisconsin, Sires said.

The Van Orden Campaign said this in a statement: This is a frivolous complaint by a bad faith campaign.

Two weeks ago Ron Kind missed votes in Congress so Joe Biden could buy him two scoops of ice cream, and then claimed it was a meeting to talk about vaccination rates to cover it up. Anybody who used to think Ron Kind isnt a typical Washington D.C. politician is being shown otherwise on a nearly daily basis. The lies that Ron Kind and his allies continue to push prove exactly what Derrick has said about entrenched politicians like Ron Kind for the last year: They will do and say anything to keep their power.

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BEIJING (AP)  China on Sunday said it will take necessary measures to respond to the U.S. blacklisting of Chinese companies over their alleged role in abuses of Uyghur people and other Muslim ethnic minorities.
The Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces, mostly funded by the United States and NATO, have put up resistance in some parts of the country, but overwhelmingly Afghan government troops appear to have abandoned the fight.

In recent weeks, the Taliban have gained several strategic districts, particularly along the borders with Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib, who attended the handover, said the U.S. and NATO withdrawal has left a vacuum that resulted in Afghanistan's national security forces stranded on the battlefield without resupplies, sometimes running out of food and ammunition.

In comments after the ceremony, Mohib said the greatest impact of the withdrawal is a lack of aircraft to resupply troops. Currently, the government is regrouping to retake strategic areas and defend its cities against Taliban advances.

The Taliban control more than one-third of Afghanistan's 421 districts and district centers. A Taliban claim that they control 85% of the districts is widely seen as exaggerated.

After Miller's departure, a two-star admiral based at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul will oversee the U.S. military's role in securing the American diplomatic presence in Kabul, including defending the Kabul airport.
In liberal Madison, parents who spoke to the State Journal last week expressed support for the increased child tax credit or some other form of government assistance to reduce the costs of raising children, which has been pegged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at about $234,000 per child over 17 years.

While their children swam Tuesday at the Goodman Pool in Madison, Ploeger and Shuda thought such monthly checks are a good idea if they help cut child poverty and hunger. Ploeger said he would 100% support higher taxes on himself and others to pay for them.

Families that might have greater need, I think it would have huge benefit for them potentially, said Ploeger, whose children are 7 and 10. The last thing we want is children going hungry in the midst of a very affluent city and a very affluent state and the most affluent country in the world.

Shuda, whose children are 4 and 7, said that because her daughter was learning from home during the pandemic, she and her partner ended up paying more for child care last year, and that paying for child care for both when they were younger was very expensive.
Three brothers angry about a remark a neighbor made about their mother allegedly walked into the mans home and beat him up.

Kenosha Police were called to the mans home on the 2400 block of 61st Street on the evening of July 5. They found the man sitting on his front porch, his head and face were covered with blood, according to the criminal complaint, blood also covering his hands and dripping onto the porch.

The man told police earlier in the afternoon he saw a woman who lives across the street and made a comment accusing her of buying drugs. He said the woman seemed offended.

Later, the man told police, he was at his home with the door open when he saw three men in hoodies and masks standing in the door.

I heard you accused my mom of buying drugs, one of the men said, according to the complaint. Thats unacceptable.

The man said the three men bum rushed him and repeatedly punched him, estimating the incident last just a few minutes and that the men were gone as quickly as they arrived. He was taken to a local hospital, where he needed three stitches and 14 staples to close four wounds on his head.
DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP)  Indonesia on Monday ordered four foreign tourists to leave the resort island of Bali after violating health protocols as the country endures a devastating wave of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths.
Fr. Altman spoke truth with clarity and charity. Let's review the fruits of his ministry which Bishop Callahan did not publicly share:

1) His parish added 50 new families during COVID while other parishes lost parishioners. His small parish increase was remarkable!

2) He increased fundraising at his parish and restored aspects of the church. Doubled the bishop's appeal collection at the parish.

3) While others across the nation closed their churches and ceased giving sacraments, Fr. Altman provided Holy Communion on the tongue some 70,000 times, caring for the souls of countless people who came. He provided Jesus Christ when so many felt abandoned during COVID when suicides, alcoholism, drug use & depression skyrocketed.

4) Fr. Altman's homilies and videos inspired Catholics across the nation and worldwide during shutdowns. Many people came back to the faith and some even became Catholic as a result of his preaching. Many Protestants commended him for speaking up for Life and upholding God, marriage, and country. Ineffective? Hardly!

5) Fr. Altman's parishioners could drop by anytime to see him. Try to see your parish priest without an appointment. In business, his customer service would be called extraordinary!
A Chester County commercial real estate investment firm has made its second investment in Lancaster County, purchasing an industrial building anchored by the former Lancaster Fine Foods for $11.0 million, courthouse records show.

Downingtown-based First Eastern Development Co. acquired 501 Richardson Drive in East Hempfield Township on July 1. The 9.5-acre site has a 51-year-old building of 196,000 square feet, according to the new owner.

Lancaster Fine Foods, a contract manufacturer of sauces, dressings and condiments, was acquired earlier this year by California-based Stir Foods for an undisclosed price and renamed Stir Foods Lancaster.

Mike Thompson, CEO of Stir Foods Lancaster, said Monday the transaction will have no impact on the local operation, which has 65 employees. Among its customers are Auntie Annes, Starbucks and Casablanca Foods.

Richardson Drive is off Columbia Avenue opposite Leisure Lanes.

The seller of the property was Tim Harrison, a developer from Staten Island, New York, best known here as the developer of the Stockyards Business Park on the former site of the Lancaster Stockyards on Marshall Avenue.

First Eastern was founded in 2007 by commercial developer John H. Newton Jr. with the support of investment capital provided by Eastern Quality Foods of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, according to the First Eastern website.

Newton said Stir Foods Lancaster leases about 183,000 square feet in the Richardson Drive building. Along with First Eastern's purchase of the building, First Eastern also negotiated a five-year lease extension with Stir Foods Lancaster, taken the length of the lease past 10 years, said Newton. In addition, First Eastern pledged to spend $750,000 on improvements to the property, including new paving, roof repairs and "other miscellaneous deferred-maintenance items."

The Richardson Drive property joins a 171,000-square-foot industrial building at 121 N. Shirk Road, New Holland, as county properties in the First Eastern portfolio. The New Holland site is occupied by AMS Fulfillment, formerly Echo Data Group, which fills and ships orders for e-commerce clients. Newton said he hopes to enlarge First Eastern's local portfolio.
CAIRO (AP)  Egypt's highest appeals court on Sunday upheld the life sentences of 10 leaders of Egypts outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, including the group's head, the state-owned MENA news agency reported.

In 2019, a Cairo criminal court had convicted all 10, including the group's leader, or supreme guide, Mohamed Badie, of charges related to killing policemen and organizing mass jail breaks during Egypt's 2011 uprising. That revolt culminated in the ouster of longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

The defendants were found guilty of helping around 20,000 prisoners escape, and of undermining national security by conspiring with foreign militant groups  the Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, the Court of Cassation acquitted eight middle-rank leaders of the nation's oldest Islamist organization, who were sentenced earlier to 15 years in prison.

All of the sentences, which the court considered on appeal, are final.

Sunday's rulings upheld the latest of several life sentences for Muslim Brotherhood leaders. They had gone on trial several times since the crackdown on the group in 2013 following the military ouster of Egypts first democratically elected president, the late Mohammed Morsi. Morsi had hailed from the group's ranks. His one-year rule had proven divisive and provoked nationwide protests.

Tens of thousands of Egyptians have been arrested since 2013, and many have fled the country. Morsi himself was a defendant in the prison-break case, but he collapsed in a courtroom and died while appearing in a separate trial in the summer of 2019.

Last month, the Court of Cassation upheld the death sentence for 12 people involved in a 2013 protest by Islamists, including several senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders.

Rights groups in Egypt and abroad have denounced the trials and death sentences as a mockery of justice.
Mennonites have long opposed slavery. Mennonites in early America disowned slave-owning members of the church. Quakers with Mennonite associations were among those who signed the 1688 Germantown petition against slavery, Americas first anti-slavery document.

So Ray Martin, who has a Mennonite background and still identifies with the church, assumed we were clean on this issue. That is, he believed that his family had not enslaved anyone. But while doing some genealogical research on the Sauder branch of the family, he discovered a surprise.

One of my ancestors, Adam Stock, of East Earl, was listed as owning one Negro,  says Martin, who grew up in New Holland and now lives in McLean, Virginia. He wasnt Mennonite, though. He was Reformed. From a census record, we think the enslaved persons name was Cato.

Local tax records of 1789 name Stock (listed as Adam Stark) as owning one slave. This slave, Cato, was among 348 enslaved Africans in Lancaster County enumerated in the 1790 census.

Martin says he and his family now recognize the heightened awareness and discomfort we feel in trying to be good citizens and Christians when we realize that in our own family history, we have a slave owner.

Adam Stock (1745-1825) emigrated from Germany and settled in East Earl Township. He married Elizabeth Miller, and they raised nine children. Stock was a prosperous businessman and farmer. He worked as a blacksmith, operated a distillery and owned land in Strasburg Township.

Though Stock was a member of the Reformed church, some of his descendants married into the Mennonite church. Some of these descendants, including Ray Martin; his sister, Mary Sauder Martin Zehr, of Lititz; and her daughter, Karen Zehr, of Arlington, Virginia, provided most of the information for this column. The Zehrs are Mennonites.

They have a fair understanding of who Stock was. They are curious to learn more about Cato. They wonder if he has descendants. The nearby Welsh Mountain area was home to many escaped slaves and former slaves, says Karen Zehr. Could his descendants have lived there?

Meanwhile, they face a deeper concern. As Karen Zehr puts it, How do we acknowledge our history and make amends in the age of Black Lives Matter?

The family worries about more than their slave-holding ancestor. They are troubled by the discriminatory past of New Holland, the town they all grew up in. Martin says no Black people attended his school. He remembers being sort of afraid of the Blacks who lived on the Welsh Mountain.

Martin and his sister have elaborated on these remarks on the website of the sociologist James W. Loewen, author of the book, Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism. Loewens website lists New Holland (lanc.news/nh_sundown) as a probable sundown town, that is, a town where no Blacks were permitted to live.

Mary Zehr commented on Loewen's website: I never recall seeing a Black person in (New Holland) in my growing up days. ...

Exclusion of Blacks from communities, whether by community consensus or deed restrictions, seems to be diminishing in these days of greater awareness about systemic racism. But Martin and Zehr family members, knowing that an ancestor enslaved someone over two centuries ago, believe they have more personal work to do.

They suggest a coping resource: Coming to the Table. TABLE is an acronym for Taking America Beyond the Legacy of Enslavement. The organization aspires to heal the wounds of slavery and racism. It has a Lancaster-Lebanon chapter, which lists local meetings at comingtothetable.org/organizer/pa-lebanon-lancaster.

Jack Brubaker, retired from the LNP staff, writes The Scribbler column every Sunday. He welcomes comments and contributions at scribblerlnp@gmail.com.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021

Afghanistan: Out of Evil, Creating an Even Greater Good

July 11, 2021 (EIRNS)The U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan brings to an end 20 years of a misguided military operation and places squarely on the table the difference in outcomes achieved through geopolitics and through cooperative development. We never should have been in Afghanistan. The 9/11 attacks were not organized by a group of 19 individuals coordinated from a cave. The hijackers drew on external support during their time in the United States, and it came not from a cave in Afghanistan, but from Saudi Arabia. There was no military mission to achieve in Afghanistan.

But it served as the first in a new series of wars, based on a new paradigm of geopolitics that flouted international law and asserted a Responsibility to Protect that demanded military action to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations based on the flimsiest (and most easily faked) of pretexts.

As Helga Zepp-LaRouche writes in her Afghanistan at a Crossroads: The strategic turbulence caused by the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, offers an excellent opportunity for a reassessment of the situation, for a correction of political direction and a new solution-oriented policy. The long tradition of geopolitical manipulation of this region ... must be buried once and for all, never to be revived.

The world is not a zero-sum Great Game. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan expressed the potential for U.S.-Chinese cooperation: The biggest challenge for the United States is not China. It is in the United States itself. Its strategy toward China must avoid forming a vicious circle of misleading and misjudgment. As long as we uphold the concept of a shared destiny for all mankind, the issues between China and the United States will not be fundamentally opposed and irreconcilable, and a path of peaceful coexistence and cooperation will be found.

Finding the path towards cooperation requires thinking of the future, drawing us to look, as Hussein Askary expressed it on Saturdays Manhattan Project dialogue, not at the mud under our feet, but towards the stars over our heads.

International cooperation on the physical infrastructural development of the broader region will bring benefits to Afghanistan and its neighbors that far surpass what could be achieved without that integration. This will require engineering. It will require technical support. And it will require stable financing. This is an opportunity to bring neighbors to the table and to draw on expertise around the world.

The how-to book has quite literally already been writtenby EIR and the Schiller Institutein the form of a program for trans-national infrastructure and large-scale industrialization and agricultural technology deployment.

For all these reasons, Zepp-LaRouche writes,

the future development of Afghanistan represents a fork in the road for all mankind. At the same time, it is a perfect demonstration of the opportunity that lies in the application of the Cusan principle of the Coincidentia Oppositorum, the coincidence of opposites.... In Afghanistan, it holds true more than anywhere else in the world: The new name for peace is development!

It is only by abandoning geopolitics and adopting domestic policies to launch an economic renaissance and crush the power of finance, that the United States could qualify itself to play a useful role in the world. Americas urgently needed missions will be the subject of an upcoming pamphlet from The LaRouche Organization.

The work of the greatest recent American thinker on the issue of developmentLyndon LaRoucheis the topic of an August 14 online seminar, on the occasion of The 50th Anniversary of LaRouches Stunning Forecast of August 15, 1971.
Across Colorado, rivers are at some of their lowest levels on record. But on one river in the northeastern part of the state, the water is not too low to enjoy. Happy children and guides still float down the river in blue rafts - rubber or plastic boats filled with air.

The Cache La Poudre River is full of rafters and boaters enjoying the water while they still can. Businesses are fighting for survival in a season threatened by drought.

Kyle Johnsons rafting company, Rocky Mountain Adventures, has been running full river trips seven days a week. Johnson recently told The Associated Press, Any time that you make your living off of Mother Nature, you definitely partner with a pretty turbulent environment.

Turbulent means not stable or steady.

Johnson said the increased demand on the river is a redemption from the last rafting season, which was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic and wildfires. But the healthy water levels on the river might not last much longer. Johnson said the drought could end this season early as well.

Colorado resident Savannah House recently floated down the Poudre. Noting the extreme weather in many parts of the state, House described her experience as a little bittersweet."

Bittersweet is a term that describes something that mixes a feeling of sadness and a feeling of happiness.

For years, those who depend on rivers and streams to make a living have struggled with hotter, drier weather brought on by climate change.

Now the heat wave is deepening worries and affecting even simple outdoor activities.

The Yampa River in northwest Colorado is experiencing some of the lowest water flows on record because of below average snowfall, increasingly dry soil, and the springs hot, dry weather.

In Steamboat Springs, which is located on the river, rafting and kayaking ended a few weeks ago. Fishing and tubing could also end soon if the water goes much lower. Tubing is an activity that involves riding a tube, a round object that holds air, down a river.

Kent Vertrees of Friends of the Yampa recently told the AP, We have known since 2002, when this mega-drought started, that our climate has shifted to a hotter and drier future. And the future is now.

The group has received financing from the Walton Family Foundation, which also supports The Associated Press reporting on water and environmental policy.

To help with the dryness, environmental groups and water agencies created a pathway to release water from a reservoir - a large lake used as a source for water. The move helped keep the fish wet, cool the river down and increase the oxygen levels in the river, Vertrees said.

Cottonwood trees have also been planted to block the sun and cool the river down when the water runs low. So far, though, it is unclear what effect such measures will have on water levels.

Im John Russell.

Brittany Peterson and Thomas Peipert reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

drought  n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

redemption  n. the act of making something better or more acceptable

kayaking  n. the act of riding a long narrow boat that is pointed at both ends and that is moved by a paddle with two blades

shift  v. to change something
Americans are letting go of their old clothes as COVID-19 vaccinations continue, restrictions are eased and offices are reopening. The clothes are going to online resale sites as well as donation centers.

The used-clothes marketplace ThredUP paid the research company GlobalData to find information on the movement in used clothing. Projections by GlobalData show the business is expected to double from $36 billion to $77 billion in 2025.

James Reinhart leads ThredUP. He said the growth is driven by new sellers putting high quality clothes into the market. He estimates that Americans collectively have at least $9 billion worth of products they do not wear.

Buying and selling used clothes was popular before COVID. However, since the pandemic, the movement for buying and selling used clothes has strengthened.

Reinhart said shoppers think more about the environment now. He said an increasing number of them seek products that have a good resale value instead of low-cost, low-quality clothes, known as fast fashion.

Reinhart said, the change demonstrates a new beliefs set among the clothes-buying public.

Its not this buy, wear, throw out, he said, adding that people are much more sensitive to the idea of waste.

TheRealReal is a luxury resale site with more than 22 million members. A company report says that the total value of used goods sold this year through May was about $239 million. The report said that number represents a 53 percent increase from the same period in 2019.

Jessica Richards studies and predicts movements in the fashion industry for the Accessories Council, a nonprofit trade group.

She said the group is finding that many people are investing in their clothes. Richards said they are reconsidering what they own and why they own it.

Now, she said shoppers are simplifying their clothing collections. They are working to build what Richards called a desired personal style image.

Others like the style they took on during the pandemic, like Cameron Howe.

The 33-year-old from Lynchburg, Virginia says there is one kind of clothing she plans to keep wearing: leggings.

Howe bought at least 15 leggings during the pandemic.

Thankfully, both my past and new employer are legging-friendly, she said, adding, I dont really want to wear real pants again.

While many clothes are going to donation centers and online resale sites, some people are keeping them in the family.

31-year-old Samantina Zeon lives in New York City. Like so many people, she has gained weight during the health crisis. She has many great clothes she can no longer fit into. So, she plans to send them to a relative in Haiti.

Zeon said, Its something many people that have families in different countries do. I have done it before to send food. She said her Haitian relative plans to sell the clothing in her neighborhood to make extra money.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Leanne Italie reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

___________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

waste  n. an action or use that results in the unnecessary loss of something valuable

luxury  n. a condition or situation of great comfort, ease, and wealth

fashion  n. the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles

leggings  n. pants for women that are made of a material that stretches to fit tightly around the legs

pants  n. a piece of clothing that covers your body from the waist to the ankle and has a separate part for each leg

barrel  n. a round usually wooden container with curved sides and flat ends

cash  n. money in the form of coins and bills
Lebanon Mayor Paul Aziz has resumed his duties after recovering from a serious illness this spring.

Aziz was hospitalized in March with an infection. Aziz said the rods which were inserted in his back in late 2019 were the source of the infection.

They had to go in and clean out the infection. They took the old rods out and put the new ones in. I was septic, so it was a pretty bad infection, Aziz said.

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Aziz was forced to sit out public meetings for a couple of months as he recovered. Council President Jason Bolen led the city council sessions during his absence.

Aziz was able to lead the June city council session from his home via Zoom. He hopes to be able to attend and lead this weeks session on Wednesday, July 14, in person.

Im feeling good. Recovery is going well. I saw the doctor last week and the rods are healing well, Aziz said. It feels so good to get back to doing regular stuff again.

Aziz took a three-month leave of absence following that original back surgery in 2019.
Hunter T. Lewis, an attorney representing Chock, declined last week to comment on the indictment and did not respond to messages Monday from The Associated Press.

Several cyclists were injured June 19 when Chock sped into a crowd gathered for the annual 58-mile (93-kilometer) Bike the Buff race in Show Low, a mountain city about three hours northeast of Phoenix, authorities said.

Chock then hit a telephone pole, and backed out of the crowd as cyclists pounded on the trucks windows, screaming for him to get out, witnesses said. He then drove down the road, turned around and headed back toward the cyclists before driving away, witnesses said.

Police shot Chock at a nearby hardware store. He was charged after being released from the hospital earlier this month and remains jailed on a $500,000 bond.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is overseeing the investigation. Graves, the agency's spokesman, said other injured cyclists have a long road to recovery.

Barrett's condition had been improving with surgery, and doctors in Flagstaff planned to transport him to Tucson. But he suffered another setback as he was fighting to survive, said fellow cyclist and friend Kathryn Bertine.
Robert Nichols is the state senator for Senate District 3. First elected in 2006, Nichols represents 19 counties, including much of East Texas and part of Montgomery County. He can be reached at 699-4988 or toll-free at (800) 959-8633. His email address is robert.nichols@senate.texas.gov.
My friend says its like the hood is still warm on The Second Home. I love that phrase. But also I had a lot of time to work on The Second Home. I didnt even know Id sell it, so I didnt feel like I rushed or anything. And then I had a two-book contract, and I had a year to write the second book. In publishing, it makes a ton of sense. They want authors to publish.

Im not going to become a book-a-year writer, but I liked having the deadline. Im really proud of how Shoulder Season turned out. It was hard to write that in a year, because it required so much research on top of just figuring out the story, and writing until I couldnt even blink my eyes. But its great to have both books helping to promote each other.

And Shoulder Season seems like sort of a companion book to Second Home. Even though they have very different settings, they deal with similar themes.

My daughter read Shoulder Season, and when she finished it, she said something that I found so moving. She said, Mom, you wrote two books about coming home. I thought, Oh, she just nailed it.
Enrollment in Madison Promise Academy, which will be a dedicated virtual school for 200-250 students, is open until Aug. 6. The district created the option following a year of virtual learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic that came with plenty of challenges.

The school will differ from what students and families experienced during the pandemic, however. Teachers will be dedicated solely to online students rather than a mix of online and in-person instruction like they were this spring during concurrent learning.

A lot of our students are really thriving in the online environment, so what we want to do is we want to make sure that as a district we are providing those options to our families to be able to just do that, MMSD director of instructional technology and media services TJ McCray told the School Board in April. We have to design a program that will be like none other in Wisconsin and we can do that.
Republican candidate Ryan Owens has raised nearly $304,000 since launching his campaign to unseat Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul. His campaign shared this with the Cap Times ahead of the July 15 campaign finance report filing deadline.

The funds are a record for a first-time report filed by an attorney general candidate, Owens' campaign claims. The second-largest amount reported in an AG candidate's first filing was about $195,000 for Republican Brad Schimel. Schimel, who was elected in 2014, was defeated by Kaul in 2018.

Kaul brought in about $175,000 in his first report in July 2017. Democratic candidate Susan Happ, whom Schimel defeated in 2014, reported about $170,000 in her first filing.

"We have made friends and earned supporters all across Wisconsin. I believe we are going to win this race because of our message, our hard work, and our love of this state," Owens said in a statement. "Wisconsin voters will know: We will never tire; we will never back down; we will always fight for you. Together, we are going to protect our freedoms and make Wisconsin safer."
Wisconsin, for instance, once among the leaders in union membership, union members have dropped to roughly 8% of the state's workforce, about the same as Alabama, a state with a long and violent anti-union history.

As the Economic Policy Institute has shown," Kaufman wrote, "the decline in union membership correlates with a rise in income inequality. It is also a central culprit in Americas political dysfunction and in the atomization of the electorate; studies have shown that union members are more active in civil society, more likely to vote and less prone to racial resentment."

You can read his entire essay here.

The other piece involving Wisconsin appeared in the latest issue of the New Yorker magazine.

It's an exhaustive look at the Kyle Rittenhouse case and how after the Antioch, Illinois, teenager killed two people in the streets of Kenosha last summer, opportunists have turned the case "into a polarizing spectacle."
Finally, although the bill passed the Senate and Assembly, my colleagues decided that the Joint Finance Committee should be able to hold on to these funds and release them on a needed basis. This concerns me greatly. In the past couple of years alone the Joint Finance Committee has held on to funds for bills that passed the Legislature, as they said they were not needed. To explain this further: The Joint Finance Committee members voted for these bills on the floor and agreed with them, but when it came to actually releasing the funds for homelessness and farmer mental health, they decided the programs didnt need funding after all.

It is for these reasons that my vote was a no on June 29. I am supportive of repealing the personal property tax. I am supportive of supporting our local municipalities through making them whole. I was not supportive of this bill.

Dave Considine represents Assembly District 81, which includes Baraboo, Sauk City, Prairie du Sac, Portage and many other communities. His office can be reached at 608-266-7746 or via email at Rep.Considine@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, along with a resurgence of coronavirus cases, as it suffers the consequences of U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. The protests now, the largest in decades, are absolutely and definitely fueled by increased access to internet and smartphones in Cuba, said Sebastian Arcos, associate director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Social media posts from within and outside of Cuba are not the root causes of the rebellion, but they are a factor in connecting the desperation, disaffection that exists in the island, said Arturo Lopez-Levy, an assistant political science professor at Holy Names University in California.

Lopez-Levy, who grew up a few blocks from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, said the countrys current leader has embraced the economic potential of digital technology far more than his predecessors, but may have calculated that a large segment of Cubans will accept a temporary internet shutdown if it helps restore order in the streets.
If these people want to be hanging out, wherever theyre hanging out on this taxpayer-paid junket, theyre going to have to be prepared to do it for well over a year, he said.

But it was not immediately clear who was footing the bill for the Democrats' trip. Martinez Fischer said he would use his own campaign funds to pay for hotels for House members, but declined to comment on who funded the chartered flights.

Speaking in the airport parking lot, he blasted the governor for likening the group, which includes many Black and Latino lawmakers, to animal or property, to say he will corral us and he will cabin us in the capitol to get this agenda. After addressing the media, Black lawmakers led the group in singing We Shall Overcome."

Over the weekend, Texas Republicans began advancing measures that also bring back provisions to ban drive-thru voting, add new voter ID requirements to absentee ballots and prohibit local elections officials from proactively sending mail-in ballot applications to voters. Abbott also gave lawmakers a lengthy to-do list this summer, heavy on hot-button conservative issues including restrictions over how race is taught in schools and banning transgender athletes from playing in girls' sports.

The decision to flee carries risks, and no guarantee of victory in the long run.
Today is Monday, July 12, 2021. Let's get caught up.

Here's what you should know today: Pfizer will meet with U.S. officials today to discuss authorization of a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; California, West broil and burn in relentless heat and drought; the Milwaukee Bucks dominated Game 3 to cut the Phoenix Suns' series lead to 2-1.

Keep scrolling for today's top stories, this date in history and celebrity birthdays.

TOP STORIES

Pfizer to discuss COVID-19 vaccine booster with US officials

WASHINGTON (AP)  Pfizer says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials Monday to discuss the drugmakers request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine as President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser acknowledged that "it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely that booster shots will be needed.

The company said it was scheduled to have the meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and other officials Monday, days after Pfizer asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months.
HEA has a partnership with Peewees, often bringing animals to Green Bay for adoption to help ease overcrowding in shelters in Texas. Its there that HEA and the film crews first met Milo, or Holler as he was named when he arrived at Peewees as an owner surrender. Little was known about his backstory, but he was likely surrendered because of an owned pet that wasnt spayed and then had puppies, Marcus Reitz said.

Holler was transported to Wisconsin and adopted through HEA, where he now lives as Milo with a family in the Green Bay area. Hell make a special appearance at the Ashwaubenon screening.

One of the themes of Rescue Story is to show the connectedness of animal welfare when it comes to reducing the number of shelter animals that are euthanized each year, an estimated 1.5 million, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Dogs that are given second chances are shown enriching the lives of veterans and first responders with PTSD as trained service dogs with 4 Paws 2 Freedom, or helping children to improve their reading confidence at libraries through a program called HALO Angel Ears.

The 65-minute film shines a light on the tireless efforts that go on daily to get to those happy endings but also reminds audiences that pet overpopulation is not without sadness.
A 50-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to setting fire to the tent of three homeless people in a Downtown Madison park last September.

Kerry Meighan, of Freeport, Illinois, entered a guilty plea to arson of property other than a building, a felony. Hes scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 11.

Dane County Circuit Judge Chris Taylor dismissed three other felony arson charges, including arson of a building for the damage the fire caused to a nearby park shelter. The other charges were read in, meaning Taylor can consider them when sentencing Meighan.

Two 36-year-old women and a 31-year-old man experiencing homelessness had set up a tent next to the James Madison Park shelter on East Gorham Street the afternoon of Sept. 18, 2020, according to Madison police.

Meighan sat on a park bench nearby and watched them set up the tent, police said. The three left around noon, and Meighan was seen walking over to the tent shortly before 1 p.m.

He leaned into the tent, went into the restroom, then returned to the tent briefly and walked away, according to police. Less than a minute later, the tent went up in flames, causing the shelter to also catch fire.
A Platteville man was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole as a repeat child sex offender after a jury conviction on Friday, authorities reported.

After a two-day trial in Grant County Circuit Court, a jury found Robert Ruch, 46, guilty of repeated acts of sexual assault of the same child, Grant County Sheriff Nate Dreckman said in a report.

The trial was the culmination of an investigation dating back to May 2020, Dreckman said.

Because Ruch is a repeat serious child sex offender, sentencing was held on the same day, Dreckman said.

Ruch in 2002 was convicted of second-degree sexual assault of a child in Grant County and sentenced to nine months in jail, according to state court records.

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Authorities on Monday indicated they believe a 23-year-old Windsor man shot and dismembered his father before dumping him in a rural area, then lied to investigators by telling them both his parents had gone away for the Fourth of July weekend and never returned.

No charges have been filed yet against Chandler M. Halderson in the death of Bart A. Halderson, 50. His wife and Chandlers mother, Krista, 53, remains missing. The three shared a home on Oak Springs Circle that is now considered a crime scene.

Dane County Court Commissioner Mark Fremgen set bond in Chandlers case at $10,000 Monday, rejecting pleas from Deputy District Attorney William Brown for $1 million bond after Chandlers attorney, Catherine Dorl, noted no charges have been filed against her client since he was booked into the Dane County Jail on Thursday night on a tentative felony charge of providing false information on a missing person.

Late Monday afternoon, authorities added three more tentative felony charges, according to the Dane County Jail roster: First-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse and mutilating a corpse.

Brown said formal charges are expected Thursday and called the situation very unique, but acknowledged he had no reason to believe Chandler was a flight risk.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is preparing to enter next years Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, quietly received his diploma from Alabama A&M University in May 2020, 12 years after he attended classes there.

Barnes came under criticism two years ago for saying that he had a degree even though he had not yet fulfilled all the requirements to receive one.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday that the Barnes campaign provided a copy of his year-old diploma.

Barnes received his bachelors degree in communications media specializing in performance. The diploma was dated May 1, 2020, and included signatures from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama A&M President Andrew Hugine Jr.

Barnes attended Alabama A&M from the fall of 2003 to the spring of 2008.

In a statement, Barnes told the Journal Sentinel: In 2008, I completed all my courses at Alabama A&M and walked in graduation ceremonies. However, due to a minor technical issue with my transcript, the diploma was never sent. Last year, I worked with the appropriate Alabama A&M officials to resolve the internal error and was awarded the diploma I earned back in 2008.
The most ironic of Vances tweets was this one from March 2017: In 4 years, I hope people remember that it was those of us who empathized with Trumps voters who fought him the most aggressively. The irony lies in the fact that, as Vance began his Senate campaign, he was hoping that people would forget. He deleted those tweets and went to Mar-a-Lago to beg for Trumps forgiveness. He went on Fox News to profess his regret for opposing Trump.

Hypocrisy among public officials is hardly the stuff of headlines, but it was once the case that politicians worked hard to keep their lies a secret and to execute subtle reversals on policy and positions. It was rare to see the sort of reverse triple somersault that Vance is attempting. If he has any values other than self-advancement, he has successfully concealed them.

Thats too bad. Unlike some readers, I found Vances memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, illuminating. Many liberal critics thought the book was just another exercise in blaming the poor for their circumstances, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. While I disagreed with many of his policy prescriptives, I respected the hard work he put in to climb out of his dysfunctional childhood. I thought he might have policies to offer that would help others.
Its on. California will vote on whether to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 14.

I am deeply conflicted on the question. I am opposed to recalls on principle. In 2003, I was one of the few conservatives to oppose the recall of then-governor Gray Davis. My reasoning hinged on what you might call the Ed Koch rule. After the New York City mayor lost his bid for a fourth term, he was often asked if hed ever run again. His standard response: No! The people threw me out and now they must be punished.

Democracy works best when voters, politicians and especially parties have to bear the brunt of their mistakes.

The problem with recall efforts is that they often focus on individual personalities, not policies. They end up being about spite. As a result, they tend to let parties off the hook.

Californias problems  homelessness, crime, tax flight, etc.  are largely the result of years of one-party rule. The only way to cure one-party rule is to reform the opposing party  in this case, the GOP  to be competitive. Recalls put off that reckoning.
A recent story in the State Journal portrayed the frustration with Gov. Tony Evers as coming from the left. But I'm a moderate Democrat who believes that Evers' signing off on a purely Republican budget was such a significant blunder that the party deserves a choice in the gubernatorial primary about a year from now.

I'm not alone in this view as many other moderate Democrats I talk with feel the same way. We have many concerns, but the most significant is that the governor's two budgets were his only points of leverage to get fair legislative maps. Because the budget is the only bill that must pass, Evers should have been firm in threatening a veto unless the Republicans included a nonpartisan redistricting commission along the lines of what has worked in Iowa.
All this is far too much for the NSA to read and digest, which is how the hijackers and killers who perpetrated 9/11, and how domestic mass murderers and their confederates, have slipped past them.

But when the NSA targets a specific person, as it did to me in 2017 and does to Tucker Carlson today, it is sure to examine in near real time whatever it has gathered.

This should provoke outrage across the political spectrum. The NSA was after Tucker and me because, as libertarians defending privacy and believing that the Fourth Amendment means what it says, we have been harshly critical of it. But the NSA is part of the government. Can the government use its powers to chill the free speech rights of its critics? Of course not.

The Supreme Court has ruled many times that chilling  government behavior that gives one pause or fear before speaking freely about the government  is a direct violation of the natural and constitutionally protected right to the freedom of speech.

Tucker Carlson and you and I can say whatever we want about the government and it cannot legally or constitutionally chill or prevent that. If it could, then our rights are just empty claims.

Why have we reposed the Constitution for safekeeping into the hands of those who subvert it?

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano is the youngest life-tenured Superior Court judge in the history of the State of New Jersey. Now, Napolitano works as Fox News senior judicial analyst and writes a syndicated column.

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Ask people about the on-the-ground, real world problems hitting them hard, in Idaho and nationally, and you wont need long before you hear about affordable housing.

The widening gap between what housingowned or rentedcosts and what most people can afford is growing almost beyond belief. In theory, the marketplace should cover that: Broadly, what people can afford to pay ought to match up, roughly at least, with whats being charged. But when the median price of a for-sale house in Boise is $523,250, the question should arise: How many people can afford to buy? And if they cant, where will they live? Rentals, as you no doubt know, are in no better situation: The median price there is $1,303 a month.

The reasons for this are many and complex, and limited supply is only one cause. (Speculation and commodification in real estate are among the other issues, which Ill come back to in a few weeks.) Theres no one-shot solution. But useful patches to help and improve the situation can be found, some of them in the area of state government.
Sadikin said that the plan for this vaccine, apart from (being) the first and second injections for the Indonesian people, we will specifically use it for the third booster injection for Indonesian health workers."

Many health care workers were previously vaccinated with the Chinese produced Sinovac vaccine.



JOHANNESBURG  New infections in South Africa have risen to record levels in recent days.

Its part of a rapid rise across the continent. And experts say the surge here hasnt yet peaked.

South Africa has reimposed several restrictions to fight the new wave. They include shutting restaurants and bars and limiting alcohol sales.

Its vaccination drive is also finding its feet after several stumbles. But experts say its too late to reduce the deadly impact of the current spike.

South Africa is instead rushing to vaccinate enough of its 60 million people to blunt the impact of the next surge.



TOKYO  The mayors of two Tokyo islands have asked the metropolitan government to take the planned Olympic torch relay off public roads amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
TODAYS WORD is arcane. Example: Barry might have enjoyed the Western Civilization class better if he werent so flustered by the arcane stories on minor political relationships Professor Bryant kept throwing in there.

SUNDAYS WORD was nihilistic. It means to have a viewpoint that traditional values are useless and may need to be destroyed. Example: Jaxon stopped going to church and was acting bitter and careless, but his mother didnt worry too much, because she remembered her own nihilistic phase as a teenager and then how quickly she turned back to her faith in God once she got that out of her system.

Counter or fridge?

An article by Katherine Owen in Southern Living magazine, shared by Brenda Williams of Martinsville, recommends storing butter on the counter for both best flavor and ease of spread.

It recounted the interest Joelle Mertzel took in the subject, and her efforts to figure out if it was safe to do so. Mertzel investigated how other people handled their butter and discovered that 46% of Americans didnt know it could be stored on the counter, and 22% keep it on the counter.
Countries then need to legislate the rate into their own laws. The idea is for countries where firms have their headquarters to tax those companies foreign earnings at home if those earnings go untaxed in low-rate countries. That would remove the reason for using complex accounting schemes to move profits to subsidiaries in low-tax nations, and where the companies may do little or no actual business.

In addition, the EU has also tried to focus on companies that make profits in countries where they have no physical presence, such as through digital advertising or online retail. Countries led by France have started imposing unilateral digital taxes that have hit the biggest U.S. tech companies, including Google, Amazon and Facebook.

The U.S. calls those unfair trade practices, and has threatened retaliation through import taxes.

Germany also focused more on the global corporate tax measures agreed upon than on EU plans for digital taxation.
People attend the Cruilla music festival in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, July 9, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Joan Mateu

Spanish regions are bringing back curfews as well as restrictions on socializing and nightlife to contain a sharp rise in coronavirus infections as the fast-spreading delta variant races through the country's unvaccinated young people.

Catalonia and Valencia, two Mediterranean coast regions with major virus outbreaks, are limiting social gatherings to 10 people and restoring late night restrictions on all activities, while the northern region of Asturias on Monday banned indoor bar and restaurants operations.

Fuelled by parties to mark the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, Spain's two-week COVID-19 caseload is now over three times higher among people under 30 than the average. The closely watched variable rose nationally on Monday to 368 cases per 100,000 residents, according to Fernando Simon, who coordinates Spain's response to health emergencies.

Simon said although younger patients typically don't need intensive care treatment, the high number of cases among under 30s was slowly pushing up the rate of hospital admissions.

"We are not recording an increase in mortality  and we hope that we don't reach there," he told reporters.

Simon said the impact of the delta variant, which spreads faster than the original virus, is not as crucial as people dropping their guard against the virus.

People dance during the Cruilla music festival in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, July 9, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Joan Mateu

"We are doing things that probably entail a high risk of contagion," he said. "No matter whether it's this variant or another one, the risks we take would lead to an increase in transmission."

Spain has fully vaccinated more than 21 million people or 46% of its total population. But only roughly 600,000 of those are under 30, the next target group for vaccine jabs.

Since lifting a national state of emergency in May, regional authorities trying to keep the spread of the virus at bay have sought court authorization for adopting restrictions that curtail basic freedoms. That has led to varying results.

While judges on Monday rejected plans by the northern Aragon region to close nightclubs, a Valencia high court authorized the 10-person limit on meetings there and a 1 a.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew in 32 towns. The targeted towns, including the regional capital, were labeled high risk after the region's 2-week caseload jumped from fewer than 50 new cases per 100,000 residents last month to more than 250 currently.

People attend the Cruilla music festival in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, July 9, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Joan Mateu

Health workers prepare to perform an x-ray on a COVID-19 patient in the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, July 9, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Felipe Dana

Health workers take swab samples collection for a Covid-19 antigen test ahead of the Cruilla music festival in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, July 9, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Joan Mateu

In Catalonia, where authorities over the weekend described the surge of new cases as "explosive," an uptick in hospitalizations, including among few dozen patients who had received two doses, has caused concern.

All bars, restaurants and cultural venues must now close at 12:30 a.m. and eating and drinking in the streets is banned, the regional government announced Monday, recommending local authorities to also restrict the region's popular beaches. The measures need to be authorized by a judge.

Explore further Spain restricts nightlife as virus surges among the young

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Dr. James "Brad" Elder performs a gene therapy brain infusion at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. In a new study, the surgery resulted in unprecedented improvements in children born with a rare genetic disorder. Credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

A novel method of gene therapy is helping children born with a rare genetic disorder called AADC deficiency that causes severe physical and developmental disabilities. The study, led by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, offers new hope to those living with incurable genetic and neurodegenerative diseases.

Research findings are published online in the journal Nature Communications.

This study describes the findings from the targeted delivery of gene therapy to midbrain to treat a rare deadly neurodevelopmental disorder in children with a neurogenetic disease, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency characterized by deficient synthesis of dopamine and serotonin.

Only about 135 children worldwide are known to be missing the enzyme that produces dopamine in the central nervous system, which fuels pathways in the brain responsible for motor function and emotions. Without this enzyme, children lack muscle control, and are usually unable to speak, feed themselves or even hold up their head. They also suffer from seizure-like episodes called oculogyric crises that can last for hours.

"Remarkably, these episodes are the first symptom to disappear after gene therapy surgery, and they never return," said study co-author Dr. Krystof Bankiewicz, professor of neurological surgery at Ohio State College of Medicine who leads the Bankiewicz Lab. "In the months that follow, many patients experience life-changing improvements. Not only do they begin laughing and have improved mood, but many are able to begin speaking and even walking. They are making up for the time they lost during their abnormal development."

A novel method of gene therapy is helping children born with a rare genetic disorder called AADC deficiency that causes severe physical and developmental disabilities. The study, led by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, offers new hope to those living with incurable genetic and neurodegenerative diseases. Credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

The directed gene therapy in seven children ages 4 to 9 who were infused with the viral vector resulted in dramatic improvement of symptoms, motor function and quality of life. Six children were treated at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco and one at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. This therapeutic modality promises to transform the treatment of AADC deficiency and other similar disorders of the brain in the future, Bankiewicz said.

During the gene therapy surgery, physicians infuse a benign virus programmed with specific DNA into precisely targeted areas of the brain. The infusion is delivered extremely slowly as surgeons monitor exactly how it spreads within the brain using real-time MRI imaging.

"Really, what we're doing is introducing a different code to the cell," said Dr. James "Brad" Elder, director of neurosurgical oncology at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center's Neurological Institute. "And we're watching the whole thing happen live. So we continuously repeat the MRI and we can see the infusion blossom within the desired nucleus."

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center developed a new method of gene therapy that offers new hope to those with genetic and neurodegenerative diseases. Credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical

Researchers believe this same method of gene therapy can be used to treat other genetic disorders as well as common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Clinical trials are underway to test this procedure in others living with debilitating and incurable neurological conditions.

The directed gene therapy, in these patients, resulted in dramatic improvement of symptoms, motor function and quality of life. This therapeutic modality promises to transform the treatment of AADC deficiency and other similar disorders of the brain in the future.

Explore further Promising gene replacement therapy moves forward
A student of a graduating class is vaccinated at the vaccination center at Messe Munich, Germany, Monday, July 12, 2021. Credit: Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP

With COVID-19 cases again on the rise, German officials said on Monday said that authorities need a "broader focus" beyond the country's infection rate to fully gauge the impact the pandemic is having on the health system and the kind of measures that should be taken.

For much of the past year the incidence ratehow many COVID-19 cases are confirmed per 100,000 people each weekhas been key to the government's decisions over what restrictive measures to impose.

The relevance of that figure is increasingly being called into question by those who argue that a sharp rise in new casesalready seen in other European countries such as Britain and the Netherlandsdoesn't necessarily mean many more seriously ill patients.

"Because the at-risk groups are vaccinated, a high incidence doesn't automatically mean an equally high burden on intensive care beds," Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Twitter. "The incidence is increasingly losing significance, we now need more detailed information on the situation in clinics."

His ministry said that as of Tuesday, hospitals will need to transmit more data on their COVID-19 patients, including names, the type of treatment and their vaccination status.

The government says 58.5% of the population have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 42.6 % are fully vaccinated. The number of shots administered daily has dipped slightly in recent days, raising concerns that 'vaccine lethargy' or even outright refusal to get vaccinated could hamper efforts to achieve so-called 'herd immunity.'

Germany's disease control agency said last week that the country should aim to vaccinate 85% of people ages 12-59 and 90% of people over 60 to prevent the delta variant causing a strong resurgence of coronavirus cases this autumn and winter.

The Robert Koch Institute on Monday reported 324 new coronavirus cases and two deaths in the past day, taking the death toll since the start of the pandemic to 91,233.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said tracking case numbers was still important and Germany is closely watching the situation in countries such as Britain, Spain and the Netherlands, which have eased restrictions only to see infections shoot up.

"(The vaccine campaign in Germany) is luckily progressing well, but we're not sufficiently protected yet against the possibility that the numbers really rise strongly again," he said.

Seibert added that it was important to curb new cases in order to prevent the rise of a new virus variant against which current vaccines would be less effective.

Explore further Germany vows no more lockdowns for vaccinated people

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

By implementing a long-term, prospective approach to the development of celiac disease, a collaborative group of researchers has identified substantial microbial changes in the intestines of at-risk infants before disease onset. Using advanced genomic sequencing techniques, MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) researchers, along with colleagues from institutions in Italy and the University of Maryland, College Park, uncovered distinct preclinical alterations in several species, pathways and metabolites in children who developed celiac disease compared to at-risk children who did not develop celiac disease.

As part of the MGHfC Celiac Disease, Genomic, Microbiome and Metabolomic (CDGEMM) Study, researchers identified changes in the gut microbiomes (collection of microorganisms) and metabolomes (molecular components of cells and tissues) of infants that occurred months before celiac disease onset. Changes include an "increased abundance of pro-inflammatory species and decreased abundances of protective and anti-inflammatory species at various time points preceding the onset of the disease," according to the group's article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"In this proof-of-concept study, we compared the gut microbiome of 10 infants who went on to develop celiac disease to the gut microbiome of 10 infants who did not develop the autoimmune condition," says Maureen Leonard, MD, lead author and clinical director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at MGHfC. "We found significant changes in the intestinal microbes, pathways and metabolites as early as 18 months before disease onset. This was much earlier than we expected," adds Leonard.

In CDGEMM, researchers in Italy, Spain and the U.S. are studying 500 genetically at-risk infants from birth through age ten, allowing them to track changes in gut microbiota before celiac disease develops. CDGEMM researchers have been collecting extensive blood and fecal samples and voluminous environmental data on each participant since 2014. In this study, researchers used metagenomic analysis that enabled them to link microbial composition with function, highlighting changes in pathways associated with either increased inflammatory processes or reduced inflammation. "This study demonstrates the power of next-generation sequencing coupled with bioinformatics to detect these important changes," says co-author Rita Colwell, Ph.D., from the Institute of Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park.

"We needed a longitudinal, birth-cohort study of these at-risk infants to move microbiome research from associative observations to more causative studies," says senior author Alessio Fasano, MD, director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at MGHfC. "This approach will help us to develop novel strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions in which the microbiome could play a pathogenic role," adds Fasano.

He suggests that these findings, if confirmed by larger datasets, may represent specific therapeutic targets for disease interception and possible prevention of celiac disease onset through microbiome manipulation during the preclinical phase. "With these findings, we anticipate that we will be able to distinguish who will remain healthy and who will develop celiac disease months before the onset of the disease," adds Fasano.

Explore further RNA sequencing used to discover novel genes and pathways in celiac disease

More information: Maureen M. Leonard el al., "Microbiome signatures of progression toward celiac disease onset in at-risk children in a longitudinal prospective cohort study," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Maureen M. Leonard el al., "Microbiome signatures of progression toward celiac disease onset in at-risk children in a longitudinal prospective cohort study,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2020322118
A colorized scanning electron micrograph of MRSA. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Water-jet nozzles in electric toiletscommonly used in Japan and other parts of Asiamay be reservoirs for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP) in hospitals, increasing the risk of dangerous germ transmission among patients, according to new research being presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) held online this year.

"This is the first report of hospital transmissions associated with electric toilets and could have major implications for infection control," says Dr. Itaru Nakamura from Tokyo Medical University Hospital in Japan who led the research. "If water-jet nozzles are a source of hospital superbug cross-contamination, additional interventionssuch as modified hand hygiene practices and toilet disinfection protocolsmay be needed to stem the risk of transmission among healthcare providers and patients alike."

More than 80% Japanese households use electric toilets with an integrated bidet, which flush automatically. The main feature is a nozzle the size of a pencil that comes out from underneath the toilet seat and squirts water to wash the bottom and clean the toilet. The nozzle is also self-cleaning and cleans itself before and after every operation.

P. aeruginosa naturally occurs in soil and freshwater, but it can also thrive on the moist surfaces in hospitals, leading to opportunistic infections in weakened and ill patients that could develop into life-threatening conditions like pneumonia or sepsis.

Because of the overuse of antibiotics, these bacteria have evolved the ability to withstand attempts to treat infections with drugs that once killed them. And infections caused by MDRP bacteria are becoming more common in both the community and hospitals. Mortality rates among people infected with these superbug strains are double those of people infected with strains that are susceptible to treatment.

In this study, researchers investigated the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria recovered from the waterjet-nozzles of electric toilets in a haematology ward of Tokyo Medical University Hospital between September 2020 and January 2021.

The team made more than 10 visits to take samples from water-jet nozzles in electric toilets used by three patients with MDRP infections, including two patients with severe sepsis. MDRP strains were defined as those with resistance to at least two antibiotics such as imipenem, meropenem, amikacin and ciprofloxacin.

Using genetic fingerprinting techniques, they looked to see whether the strains of MDRP from the three infected patients were the same as the environmental MDRP strain sampled from the toilet nozzles. They found the samples matched, with strain 'ST235' dominating in all the samplessuggesting that transfers to and from patients were happening.

"In short, our findings imply that multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa bacteria were being transmitted within the patient community, and critically that the infection may be spread within hospitals via contaminated electric toilet nozzles", says Dr. Nakamura. "With good hospital hygiene, which includes handwashing and environmental cleaning, we can control the spread of these pathogens, especially within in settings where patients' immune systems are compromised."

The authors point out that this was only a small study in a single hospital ward. They also highlighted several limitations including that the genetic analysis was not able to distinguish the direction of transfer, whether it is from the patient to the water-jet nozzles, or from those nozzles to the patients.

Provided by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Women who received free meals in primary school have children with improved linear growth, according to a new study by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

India is home to the highest number of undernourished children and the largest school feeding program in the worldthe Mid-Day Meal (MDM) schemeyet long-term program benefits on nutrition are unknown. As school feeding programs target children outside the highest-return "first 1000-days" window spanning from conception until a child's second birthday, they have not been a focal point in the global agenda to address stunting. School meals benefit education and nutrition in participants, but no studies have examined whether benefits carry over to their children.

"Findings from previous evaluations of India's MDM scheme have shown a positive association with beneficiaries' school attendance, learning achievement, hunger and protein-energy malnutrition, and resilience to health shocks such as droughtall of which may have carryover benefits to children born to mothers who participated in the program," says study co-author, Harold Alderman.

The study, "Intergenerational nutrition benefits of India's national school feeding program", co-authored by University of Washington's Suman Chakrabarti and IFPRI's Samuel Scott, Harold Alderman, Purnima Menon and Daniel Gilligan, was published in Nature Communications. The authors used nationally representative data on mothers and their children spanning 1993 to 2016 to assess whether MDM supports intergenerational improvements in child linear growth. Further, they suggest a potential pathway through which school feeding programs may have intergenerational effects on child nutrition outcomes.

The study found that investments made in school meals in previous decades were associated with improvements in future child linear growth. "Our findings suggest that intervening during the primary school years can make important contributions to reducing future child stunting, particularly given the cumulative exposure that is possible through school feeding programs," explains study co-author Suman Chakrabarti.

Study results also show that school meals may contribute to education, later fertility decisions, and access to health care, reducing the risk of undernutrition in the next generation. "School feeding programs such as India's MDM scheme have the potential for stimulating population-level stunting reduction as they are implemented at scale and target multiple underlying determinants of undernutrition in vulnerable groups," explains study co-author Samuel Scott. Importantly, further research is required to understand whether improving the quality or quantity of meals provided and extending the program beyond primary school might further enhance its benefits.

Explore further Children who eat lunch score 18 percent higher in reading tests, new study shows

More information: Suman Chakrabarti et al, Intergenerational nutrition benefits of India's national school feeding program, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Suman Chakrabarti et al, Intergenerational nutrition benefits of India's national school feeding program,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24433-w

Provided by International Food Policy Research Institute
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

This year, just five cases of COVID-19 have been recorded among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. This good result is due to both significant government support measures and prompt and effective action by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and organizations.

As the highly contagious Delta variant spreads in Australia, the task of ensuring all Australians are vaccinated becomes even more urgent. But since the vaccine rollout began in late February, only about 9% of Australians have been fully vaccinated.

The Delta variant is a particular concern for higher-risk populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Vaccinations of First Nations people must be carried out more quickly.

And in light of the elite Sydney private school erroneously giving all Year 12 students vaccines that were intended only for First Nations students, there's also a need for stricter guidelines and better oversight.

When questioned about the mistake this week, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard demanded that critics "move on". But authorities should not dismiss public concern that vaccines are not being distributed to those who need them most.

To ensure this, the vaccination rollout for First Nations people needs to involve Aboriginal community-controlled health organizations in the planning and implementation. We have already seen that when community-controlled organizations take control, vaccine delivery is successful and communities feel safer.

How many First Nations people have been vaccinated

Vaccine supply is a concern across the country, but the issue is most urgent at the moment in New South Wales, where a third of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live, and where case numbers are growing.

Australia is now predominantly reliant on the 300,000 to 350,000 Pfizer vaccines coming into the country each week. Thankfully, this number is due to increase substantially in coming months.

Aboriginal controlled health services are the reason we were able to protect First Nations communities in the first waves of the pandemic. They should be at the table when decisions about the vaccine roll out are being made.https://t.co/VlRJwhg5Tk  Patrick Dodson (@SenatorDodson) July 7, 2021

In March, a vaccine implementation plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was published by the federal health department. The publication iterated the urgent need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be a high priority in the rollout.

First Nations people over the age of 55 have been able to get vaccinated since March. It's also been a little over a month since Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged between 16 to 49 years have been eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.

However, there is currently limited publicly available data on just how many vaccines have actually been distributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so far.

Western Australia had completely vaccinated just over 2% of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population as of June 21.

In Queensland, about 5,277 total vaccines have been distributed in the Torres Strait and Cape York, where just under two-thirds of the population is Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

In the Northern Territory, 17% of the total population was fully vaccinated as of July 7. In remote areas, 26% of residents had received their first dose at the start of the month.

This is good news for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the territory, who make up just under a third of the total population.

Community-controlled organizations addressing vaccine hesitancy

While the media has reported on vaccine hesitancy in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, there is anecdotal evidence that hesitancy is actually decreasing and that remote community clinics are vaccinating many First Nations people.

This includes the Mala'la clinic at Maningrida in Arnhem Land where media reports say 50 people were vaccinated across three days in July. The clinic became community-run in March of this year after 45 years of government oversight.

This success highlights the importance of having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations involved in the rollout. This involves recognizing that self-determination, as well as health information being delivered in first languages, results in improved uptake of services and better health outcomes.

For example, in Pitjantjatjara, community worker Frank Dixon provided the men of his community with information about the vaccine and accompanied them to their vaccinations. Mala'la Health Service's chairman, Charlie Gunabarra, has also delivered information about the vaccine to his community and was the first among them to get vaccinated.

Despite this, there is evidence First Nations people are not being sufficiently included in planning and implementation of the rollout.

For example, a meeting of the national COVID vaccine taskforce last week excluded the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 was also excluded from the discussion.

Pat Turner, the head of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization, said the lack of First Nations inclusion was "deeply concerning".

The vaccine rollout must be managed so First Nations people and other vulnerable groups are prioritized. This means securing better vaccine supplies and putting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the heart of decision-making.

Explore further Smoking killing one in three First Nations people

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
In this May 11, 2021 file photo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing to examine an update from Federal officials on efforts to combat COVID-19, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Fauci said Sunday, July 11 "it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely" that Americans will need a third booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the coming months, but it was too soon for the government to recommend that now. Fauci, who is President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration did the right thing last week by pushing back against drugmaker Pfizer's assertion about a booster within 12 months. Credit: Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool via AP, File

Pfizer says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials Monday to discuss the drugmaker's request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine as President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser acknowledged that "it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely" that booster shots will be needed.

The company said it was scheduled to have the meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and other officials Monday, days after Pfizer asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months.

Pfizer's Dr. Mikael Dolsten told The Associated Press last week that early data from the company's booster study suggests people's antibody levels jump five- to 10-fold after a third dose, compared to their second dose months earlierevidence it believes supports the need for a booster.

On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci didn't rule out the possibility but said it was too soon for the government to recommend another shot. He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA did the right thing last week by pushing back against Pfizer's assertion with their statement that they did not view booster shots as necessary "at this time."

Fauci said clinical studies and laboratory data have yet to fully bear out the need for a booster to the current two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson regimen.

"Right now, given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot," he said. "That doesn't mean we stop there. ... There are studies being done now ongoing as we speak about looking at the feasibility about if and when we should be boosting people."

He said it was quite possible in the coming months "as data evolves" that the government may urge a booster based on such factors as age and underlying medical conditions. "Certainly it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely at some time, we will need a boost,'' Fauci said.

In this March 2021 photo provided by Pfizer, vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared for packaging at the company's facility in Puurs, Belgium. Pfizer is about to seek U.S. authorization for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, saying Thursday, July 8, 2021, that another shot within 12 months could dramatically boost immunity and maybe help ward off the latest worrisome coronavirus mutant. Credit: Pfizer via AP

Monday's planned meeting between Pfizer and U.S. health officials was first reported by The Washington Post.

Currently only about 48% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Some parts of the country have far lower immunization rates, and in those places the delta variant is surging. Last week, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said that's leading to "two truths"highly immunized swaths of America are getting back to normal while hospitalizations are rising in other places.

Fauci said it was inexplicable that some Americans are so resistant to getting a vaccine when scientific data show how effective it is in staving off COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, and he was dismayed by efforts to block making vaccinations more accessible, such as Biden's suggestion of door-to-door outreach.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., agreed Sunday that there is a vaccine resistance in Southern and rural states like his because "you have that more conservative approach, skepticism about government."

Describing his efforts to boost vaccinations in his state, which is seeing rising infections, Hutchinson said "no one wants an agent knocking on a door," but "we do want those that do not have access otherwise to make sure they know about it."

The grassroots component of the federal vaccination campaign has been in operation since April, when supplies of shots began outpacing demand. It was outlined and funded by Congress in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in March and overwhelmingly is carried out by local officials and private sector workers and volunteers.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., blasted opposition to vaccination efforts from some GOP lawmakers as "absolute insanity." He said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California and others in the party need to speak out against "these absolute clown politicians playing on your vaccine fears for their own selfish gain."

Fauci appeared on CNN's "State of the Union," ABC's "This Week" and CBS' "Face the Nation"; Hutchinson spoke on ABC, and Kinzinger was on CNN.

Explore further Pfizer to seek OK for 3rd vaccine dose; shots still protect

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The World Health Organization blasted the senseless "greed" of rich countries considering COVID-19 booster vaccinations while the most vulnerable in other nations were left exposed to the virus.

Striking an increasingly exasperated tone, the WHO said the world would look back on itself with shame if it knowingly chose to leave the world's weakest at the mercy of the pandemic.

The UN's health agency also scolded vaccine manufacturers prioritising deals for booster third doses rather than first and second shots for the completely unvaccinated healthcare workers and elderly people in poorer nations.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference that the question he was most often asked was when the pandemic would end.

"We can end it very soon, because we have the tools now," he saidbut for the lack of decisive global leadership.

Tedros said vaccine nationalism was "prolonging the agony" and there was only "one word that can explain this... it's greed".

Rolling out booster doses while the virus rips through other parts of the world was counter-productive, he argued.

Tedros insisted: "It doesn't even make any sense. It makes no sense."

'Look back in shame'

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said four countries had announced a booster programme and a handful of others were known to be considering the move.

She stressed that there was currently "no scientific evidence to suggest that boosters are definitely needed".

Tedros took aim at vaccine manufacturers.

"Instead of Moderna and Pfizer prioritising the supply of vaccines as boosters to countries whose populations have relatively high coverage, we need them to go all-out to channel supply to Covax," he said.

He was referring to the programme that is seeking to provide equitable access to doses for the most vulnerable.

WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said that in a crisis, the most beneficial and life-saving choices had to be made first.

"We will look back in anger and we will look back in shame if we don't now move to use the increasing production capacity that's coming on line... to protect the most vulnerable," he said.

'Catastrophic waves'

Tedros announced that two more sites making AstraZeneca's vaccine under licencein Australia and Japanhad now been given the WHO's emergency use listing green light, adding to the plants in Europe, India and South Korea already churning out AZ doses.

"If AstraZeneca does it, why can't others?" asked Tedros, urging manufacturers to let other plants produce their jabs.

AstraZeneca jabs have made up the vast majority of doses supplied so far through Covax.

More than 3.35 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been injected in at least 216 territories around the world, according to an AFP count.

In high-income countries, as classified by the World Bank, 86 doses have been injected per 100 inhabitants.

That figure stands at just one dose per 100 in the 29 lowest-income countries.

Tedros noted that last week marked the fourth consecutive week of increasing COVID-19 cases globally, and after 10 weeks of decline, deaths are increasing again.

"The Delta variant is ripping around the world at a scorching pace," he said, "driving catastrophic waves of cases" in countries with low vaccination rates.

Delta has been found in more than 104 countries and is soon expected to become the dominant COVID-19 strain circulating worldwide, said Tedros.

 2021 AFP
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

COVID-19 restrictions imposed in South Africa to limit the devastating effects of the Delta variant will stay in place until the end of the month, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday.

Infections for the worst-hit country on the continent "remain extremely high", the president said in a televised address to the nation.

Bars and schools remain closed, while the 9pm to 4am curfew stays in place. Political and religious gatherings continue to be banned.

Restaurants and gyms, however, can now reopen subject to strict protocols.

The country has seen an average of around 20,000 cases per day over the past two weeks and more than 4,200 deaths, Ramaphosa said.

These measures, first taken on June 27, "were urgent and ... absolutely necessary to contain the third wave, which is being fuelled by the new Delta variant", Ramaphosa said.

South Africa counted 16,302 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total number to 2,195,599.

The COVID-19 death toll stands at 64,289 after another 151 deaths were registered on Sunday.

Gauteng, the economic hub and most populous province, including Johannesburg, continues to account for more than half of the new cases, but other provinces are seeing a rise in numbers.

"By next week, daily hospital admissions across the country are likely to reach the levels observed during the peak of the first two waves," Ramaphosa added.

The country's vaccination drive has been slow with around 4.2 million people receiving at their least their first jab out of the 59 million population.

Explore further S.Africa hardens lockdown to combat Delta variant surge

 2021 AFP
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus M.Barysevich pays a working visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe

On July 910, 2021 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Mikalai Barysevich, as part of the Belarusian delegation paid a working visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe.

On July 10, 2021 in the city of Mutare, the Deputy Minister of Industry of the Republic of Belarus, Dmitry Haritonchik, solemnly transferred the forestry and firefighting vehicles made in Belarus to the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe. The day before the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, received the Belarusian delegation with a courtesy visit.

On July 9, 2021 M.Barysevich met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Frederick Shava, and discussed the current state of bilateral relations and prospects for further cooperation.

The delegation also held negotiations with the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Anxious Masuku, the Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and the Hospitality Industry of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Nqobizitha Ndlovu, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Zvinechimwe huru. The progress and prospects of the implementation of joint projects were discussed.



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Three wildfires burning around Lolo Pass were consolidated Monday into one incident command managing crews along the Montana-Idaho border.

The fires may contribute to worsening air quality conditions in the Missoula Valley this week. Smoke inversions hit the unhealthy level overnight Sunday for the Missoula city vicinity and unhealthy for sensitive groups in Frenchtown. At unhealthy, people with heart or lung disease, children and the elderly should limit time spent outdoors or heavy exertion.

The inversion was expected to lift by Monday afternoon as new breezes blow in, according to Missoula County Air Quality Specialist Sarah Coefield. However, if surrounding fires produce more smoke, that could get added to the mixing process and degrade air quality again by Monday evening.

Over the past week, seven incident management teams have mobilized in and around the Lolo National Forest. The Northern Rocky Mountains region has become the nations highest priority for firefighting resources due to the surge of new blazes.
People order lunches for work or order for like a couple or a family, she said. We have a lot of customers who are police officers, firemen, engineers. People just dont have time during the day to cook. And it saves money on groceries and wasting food.

Agnew is glad to finally have a space where she can meet her customers face-to-face as they sit down to enjoy her cooking, she said. The cafe will feature a shelf of games, local artwork and Friday night mocktail events for people under the age of 21.

We try and use as many local vendors as we can, especially during the summer, she said. Vegetables and that kind of thing. Basically, we take everybodys favorite recipe and just put healthier ingredients into it."

Agnew has spent her life trying to help others achieve their wellness goals.

"I come from a background of 25 years in fitness and personal training and the biggest caveat with all my clients was failure in consistent nutrition," she said. "And thats when I started this."
Its no secret that Montana has suffered long-term human health and environmental damages from a variety of industries including mining, smelting, manufacturing and processing. We have the largest Superfund site in the nation  the Upper Clark Fork Complex  which is nothing to brag about. From killing hundreds of Montanans with asbestosis in Libbys W.R. Grace operations to wiping out 100 miles of the headwaters of the Columbia River, the evidence is incontrovertible that we have been and continue to be far too lax in holding corporations responsible for their pollution.

Unfortunately, our new Republican governor and administration are again short-changing pollution cleanup operations  and the outcome will ensure we get to live with and pay for these bad decisions for generations to come.

The poster child for the problem is Butte and Anaconda, where consent decrees were negotiated behind closed doors on how much it was going to cost to clean up the vast environmental destruction left by a century of mining and smelting.
Why does a person like myself write so many letters to the editor? Not everyone appreciates my letters, as I have witnessed. The reason is simply that of duty, as an American and a Montanan. I have a knack for writing, and a desire to write effectively, but this is part of duty.

The rise of Donald Trump was too much for many. Here is a man with over 30,000 documented lies of varying severity in four years in office. A nation cannot possibly be expected to survive such an assault on truth  from the nations top leader. And it appears that this man is still playing the largest Republican role.

Let us do our duty in our shop or our kitchen; in the market, the street, the office, the school, the home, just as faithfully as if we stood in the front rank of some great battle, and knew that victory for mankind depended on our bravery, strength and skill. When we do that, the humblest of us will be serving in that great army which achieves the welfare of the world.

 Theodore Parker (1810-1860), an American transcendentalist and reforming minister of the Unitarian church.

Erwin Curry,

Missoula

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Burke County saw 14 new COVID-19 cases added over the weekend.

The Burke County Health Department reported a total of 10,464 cases on Monday, up from 10,450 cases on Friday. The county has previously reported 169 deaths due to the virus. The county COVID-19 dashboard had not been updated as of Monday afternoon.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which warned last week of cases inching upward, reported 562 new cases throughout the state with a daily percent positive rate of 4.5% and 448 people hospitalized on Monday. The department reported a total of 13,499 deaths due to the virus on Monday, up from 13,483 deaths on Friday.

The state reports that 53% of adults in the state are fully vaccinated, while 56% are partially vaccinated.

In Burke County, 35% of the population (31,993 people) is fully vaccinated and 37% (33,870 people) is partially vaccinated, according to NCDHHS figures.

Since May, more than 99% of new cases in North Carolina have occurred in people who are not fully vaccinated, NCDHHS said.

The Burke County Health Department continues to encourage anyone 12 years old or older to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
BEIJING (AP)  China on Sunday said it will take necessary measures to respond to the U.S. blacklisting of Chinese companies over their alleged role in abuses of Uyghur people and other Muslim ethnic minorities.

The Commerce Ministry said the U.S. move constituted an unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises and a serious breach of international economic and trade rules.

China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard Chinese companies legitimate rights and interests, the ministry's statement said.

No details were given, but China has denied allegations of arbitrary detention and forced labor in the far western region of Xinjiang and increasingly responded to sanctions against companies and officials with its own bans on visas and financial links.

The U.S. Commerce Department said in a statement Friday that the electronics and technology firms and other businesses helped enable Beijings campaign of repression, mass detention and high-technology surveillance against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.
I was definitely one of his biggest fans, said the woman, who allowed her face to appear on Zoom. I would have done anything for him."

The Associated Press does not identify people who say they suffered sexual abuse unless they choose to come forward publicly.

The woman said she and Bell exchanged explicit photos online and that he engaged in sexual conduct with her on several occasions, including at the concert venue in Cleveland and at a hotel. She also called Bell a pedophile and a coward.

Bell's attorney, Ian Friedman, disputed those claims on Monday. He said there were no explicit photos or sexual contact between Bell and the victim and the inappropriate conduct that did occur were reflected in the charges Bell pleaded to last month. Friedman did not detail the inappropriate conduct Bell was acknowledging.

Friedman said the victim attended nine of Bell's concerts after the one in Cleveland. The woman responded by holding up three fingers.

There is already a greater penalty paid by Mr. Bell that others would not face because of his position, Friedman said.
We Americans have a contradictory history when it comes to tolerating, or not tolerating, dissent. The latest chapter is the Nikole Hannah-Jones controversy at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The fight, fittingly, played out around July 4th, the most American of holidays. We take off work, grill hot dogs and set off fireworks to celebrate our Declaration of Independence  and, supposedly, our dedication to independence of speech and thought.

That dedication has been tested from the nations beginning.

In 1798, Congress and President John Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts. The sedition law outlawed any false, scandalous and malicious writing against Congress or the President and made it illegal to conspire to oppose any measure or measures of the government. A congressman and a journalist were convicted and sent to jail. The laws were repealed or expired after Thomas Jefferson was elected President in 1800.

Race and dissent have long been intertwined. Before the Civil War, Southern states banned abolitionist writing and speaking. The U.S. House passed a Gag Resolution in 1836 to squelch discussion of abolishing slavery. For 100 years after the Civil War, advocating for Black Americans civil rights could be dangerous.
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July 8, 2021 by Linda Gallagher

Category: Elections , New Legislation and Regulations



In 2021 the Washington State Legislature passed five new laws relating to elections. This blog summarizes each of these new laws.

Voter Eligibility, Felonies, and Incarceration

ESHB 1078, effective January 1, 2022, amends RCW 29A.08.520 (and other related statutes) and will automatically restore voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total confinement. In other words, those persons with felony convictions who are not incarcerated or who are released from total confinement in prison will be eligible to vote. Persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes do not lose their voting rights.

Previously (and until 2022), anyone convicted of a felony did not have voting rights restored immediately upon leaving prison, but there is a process to seek provisional and eventually a permanent restoration of these rights by obtaining a ruling from the court. For more details, see RCW 29A.08.520.

Under this new law, after a felony conviction in a state court, the right to vote will be automatically restored when the person is not serving a sentence of total confinement (e.g., once the person has been released from custody of a jail or prison). Persons convicted of felonies will no longer be required to obtain a court order to restore their voting rights, but they will need to register to vote again.

In addition, state law will no longer authorize revocation of a person's voting right for reason of failure to pay their legal financial obligations (LFOs), such as restitution, court fees, victim fees, etc.

At least once a month (formerly every six months), the Secretary of State (SOS) must compare the list of registered voters to a list of persons not eligible to vote due to serving a sentence of total confinement under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections (DOC). This law made conforming changes to the DOCs notice requirements to inmates prior to their release from or transfer to partial confinement from total confinement. The bill also made changes to the voter registration oath, voter declaration enclosed with a ballot, and statutory eligibility to serve as a juror.

Ballot Drop Boxes

SB 5015, effective July 25, 2021, amends RCW 29A.84.610. This law makes fraudulent portrayal of ballot drop boxes that are not those officially established by a county auditor a gross misdemeanor crime. It will now be unlawful to knowingly misrepresent an unofficial ballot collection site or device as an official ballot drop box.

Recall Election Procedures

SB 5131, effective July 25, 2021, amends RCW 29A.56.140 regarding the duties of court clerks with respect to recall petitions. This law makes two changes in the ministerial responsibilities of court clerks with respect to recall petitions. Under the amended law, the superior court, rather than the court clerk, will notify the recall petitioner and the elected official subject to recall of the hearing date that has been set. In addition, the court clerk, rather than the superior court, will certify and transmit the recall ballot synopsis.

Elections Security Information

ESHB 1068, effective April 14, 2021, amends RCW 42.56.420 and adds two new Public Records Act (PRA) exemptions for certain election security information. This new law applies retroactively to any public records request made prior to the effective date for which disclosure has not yet occurred.

First, continuity of operations plans for election operations are exempt in their entirety from disclosure in response to public records requests. This new exemption also entirely exempts three types of records related to physical security or cybersecurity of election operations or infrastructure:

security audits;

security risk assessments; and

security test results.

The second new exemption for elections security encompasses portions of records containing information about the following if the disclosure may increase risk to the integrity of election operations or infrastructure:

election infrastructure;

election security; or

potential threats to election security.

This new legislation is further discussed in MRSCs blog Recent Developments in Washington Public Records  June 2021.

New Redistricting Deadlines

SSB 5013, effective May 3, 2021 and January 1, 2023 (for sections 2 and 4), amends RCW 29A.76.010 and RCW 29A.92.050 (part of the Washington Voting Rights Act) with respect to redistricting deadlines.

For 2021 and 2022, the new deadlines for local redistricting are changed from the previous no later than eight months after receipt of the federal decennial census data to either December 31, 2021, or November 15, 2022, depending on when a jurisdictions next election will be held.

Redistricting is required every 10 years. District boundaries may also be changed at more frequent intervals under the authority of the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA), chapter 29A.92 RCW.

Each county, city, and special purpose district that uses districts to elect all or part of its governing body must adjust its district boundaries every 10 years based on new census data. Jurisdictions receive census data from the Washington State Redistricting Commission (Redistricting Commission), which in turn, receives this data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Redistricting Commission must forward census data to each jurisdiction within 45 days of receipt from the Census Bureau.

The COVID-19 pandemic and other factors have contributed to an unusual delay in the delivery of 2020 census data to state-based bodies like the Redistricting Commission, and additional time is needed for the redistricting process. Jurisdictions scheduled to elect members of their governing bodies in 2022 must now submit their redistricting plans by December 31, 2021. Those jurisdictions that are not scheduled to elect members of their governing bodies in 2022 must submit redistricting plans no later than November 15, 2022. These changes are for 2021 and 2022 only.

In 2023, the law changes to require jurisdictions submit their future redistricting plans by the earlier of eight months after the receipt of census data or November 15th of each year ending in one, for example 2031, 2041, and so on.

We are in the process of updated MRSCs resources about the redistricting process. I plan to write a future blog post later this summer about local governments and redistricting.

Conclusion

For more elections-related information, please review MRSCs topic pages Municipal Elections and Council Election by Wards or Districts. If you have questions about these new laws or other municipal law issues, you may also let us know by sending us an inquiry via Ask MRSC or by calling (206) 625-1300.

MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. Eligible government agencies in Washington State may use our free, one-on-one Ask MRSC service to get answers to legal, policy, or financial questions.
Christian Nissler emigrated to the United States from his native Germany in 1852 when he was 16 years old. He was a baker and candy maker in Philadelphia before he sailed around Cape Horn to join the California Gold Rush in 1856, probably too late to make a fortune. He worked around the west, and learned the brewing trade in Virginia City, Nevada.

He saved enough money to purchase a placer claim in German Gulch west of Butte about 1865, and he made enough profit there and in Bear Gulch to purchase a brewery in German Gulch for $3,000. But German Gulch declined quickly, and in 1871 Nissler moved to Silver Bow, near the junction of Interstate 90 and I-15 South today. At that time Silver Bow had perhaps 2,000 residents to Buttes declining 400. Nissler purchased a log building on Main Street in Butte, between Broadway and Granite Streets, and had it moved to his property in Silver Bow. By 1885 Nissler was producing 4,000 barrels of beer a year.
The draft notice arrived just days after Clarence Haugan graduated from Eastern Montana College.

The year was 1966. The Vietnam War was raging and becoming more and more unpopular in the United States. This was especially true on college campuses, where students sometimes torched their draft cards.

Haugan weighed his options. Like many other draft eligible young men at the time, he felt ambivalent about ending up in Vietnam.

That would change. He would later serve voluntarily in Vietnam. He traveled there as a non-combatant yet his six months in an increasingly perilous Saigon nearly got him killed.

He left Vietnam in 1969 beset with wondering about U.S. involvement there. That grappling has continued.

Today, Haugan, 78, lives in Butte with his dog, Gnome Chompsky, a corgi/border collie mix. The retired educator and school psychologist has self-published three books. One includes poems titled Saigon Zoo 1969 and An Addiction, with the latter describing returning to the U.S. with a craving for chaos.

Haugan recently shaved his white beard after his granddaughter, June, concluded it provided ready traction for tiny fists.

Before graduating from college, Haugan had applied to join Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA, a poverty-fighting organization first envisioned by President John F. Kennedy as a domestic alternative to the Peace Corps.

But Haugans summons from Uncle Sam arrived before an answer from VISTA.

With a college degree, he sought enlistment in officer candidate school in either the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Navy. But his eyesight was poor enough then to preclude admission.

Ultimately, he joined the Air Force as an enlisted man.

I think I probably fit in better with the enlisted men than the officers, anyway, Haugan said.

A son of ranchers Clarence and Dorothy Haugan and a graduate of Fromberg High School, the youthful Haugan became the first member of the family to attend college and the first to join the military.

With delayed enlistment, he entered the Air Force in October 1966.

They gave me three months to party and fool around, which I did, he said, smiling.

Haugan completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Testing suggested he might be a good fit for the military journalism school at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. Students from other branches attended too.

One of Haugans roommates was Gustav Hasford, an eccentric U.S. Marine.

We had inspection every morning, Haugan recalled. He wore his dress uniform to bed every night to be ready for inspection. Hed use a flashlight and wrote poetry and other stuff under his blankets. Somehow, he would pop out of bed in the morning and look presentable.

Hasford served as a combat correspondent during the Vietnam War. Later, his semi-autobiographical novel, The Short-Timers, published in 1979, served as the basis for film director Stanley Kubricks Full Metal Jacket, released in 1987.

Kubrick and Hasford apparently clashed while collaborating on a screenplay with former Vietnam War correspondent Michael Herr, author of the acclaimed Dispatches.

Kubrick didnt want Gustav around, Haugan said.

After Fort Benjamin Harrison, Haugan served in Iceland at the Naval Air Station Keflavik, where he wrote articles for The White Falcon, the stations newspaper.

Following a year there, he transferred to the Lowry Technical Training Center in Colorado. He worked for the base newspaper, The Lowry Airman.

In early 1969 I learned that the Air Force was looking for volunteers to teach English to the Vietnamese Air Force in Vietnam, Haugan recalled. This was an attempt to prepare the Vietnamese Air Force for training as pilots and weapons mechanics in the U.S.

The language schooling was one strategic gambit by the U.S. in its Vietnamization campaign, Haugan said, with the goal of turning over the fighting to South Vietnamese forces.

It was part of the effort to get us out of Vietnam, he said.

Haugan was intrigued.

My editor agreed to let me go, providing that I would write articles about my experience upon my return, he said.

Haugan received training at the Air Force Language School in San Antonio, Texas. He then flew to Saigon in early 1969 to teach.

Even though I had joined the Air Force to avoid going to Vietnam, I ended up volunteering to go teach there, he said. I was real curious about Vietnam. I went over there to learn what was going on.

Haugan lived in Saigon in an old hotel. He taught in Cholon in a building modified to be the Dong Khanh Language School.

He worked to teach basic English to the young men  he describes them now as kids  with the plan that theyd then travel to the U.S. for additional training.

As brutal as Vietnam was, a lot of them didnt want to come to the U.S., Haugan said.

He was convinced many intentionally failed tests to avoid training in the United States. Loyalty to family and country seemed to beat out traveling to America, he said.

Haugan said two of the students became good friends.

They did what they could to protect him when the school was attacked on August 7, 1969.

Accounts of the attack reported that the Viet Cong had packed a small vehicle with explosives and planted additional explosives at the site. The subsequent blasts killed Vietnamese civilians and Vietnamese air force personnel and, according to an account in the Stars and Stripes newspaper, also injured U.S. Airmen, Vietnamese air force personnel, civilians and Thai servicemen.

The numbers of the dead and injured varied according to the source.

The Stars and Stripes reported, It was the most serious terrorist act in Saigon this year.

Neither Haugan nor his nine students were injured even though their classroom was close to the primary blast.

Haugan said there were different theories about the Viet Congs motive. For one thing, the language school was a clear symbol of American imperialism. For another, as the U.S began edging toward exiting the war, the Viet Cong attack was likely intended to accelerate the process, Haugan said.

The attack did not stop the teaching.

Haugan completed his six-month tenure in Vietnam and returned to Lowry Air Force Base.

Some of my students wrote me letters after my return to the States, but the fall of Saigon ended all communication with them. I often wonder what became of these guys. We had become close friends.

I never did write articles about my experiences in Vietnam, Haugan said. Overall, our presence there was confusing. Saigon at that time was dangerous and chaotic, probably similar to stereotypes of Dodge City or Tombstone back in the Wild West.

Haugan left the Air Force in 1970 after serving four years and returned to Billings. He went back to school as a student on the GI Bill and earned a masters degree in school counseling in 1976. In the years that followed he taught school or worked as a school psychologist in Montana, Wyoming and Valdez, Alaska.

Two of his three children, daughter Piper Haugan and son Tor Haugan, studied journalism and Piper once worked at The Montana Standard. Another son, Laif Haugan, lives and works in Missoula.

Clarence Haugans self-published works include An Ordinary Work of Art, which he describes as a booklet of brief poems. He writes that all proceeds from the booklets sales will be donated to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which says it is dedicated to honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need.

Haugan left Vietnam in 1969 still searching for answers to questions about the war.

Ive read almost everything thats come out about Vietnam. Im still perplexed by the whole thing.

A few things I learned: Most importantly, even though there was a language barrier, and a cultural barrier, people are pretty much alike wherever you are.

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The insurrectionists who descended on the Capitol briefly disrupted the certification of President Joe Biden's win and sent terrified lawmakers running for their lives.

About two dozen members or associates of the neo-fascist Proud Boys have been charged in federal court with offenses related to the Jan. 6 riots.

Twin Falls County, where Buhl is located, overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the presidential election.

In Buhl, men accompanying the Proud Boys float wore black and yellow shirts while carrying an American flag and a black flag with the yellow letters "P.B."

"I was surprised as anyone else to see that particular float go by," said Buhl City Councilman Michael Higbee.

Idaho has a history of far-right groups. The neo-Nazi group Aryan Nations was based near Hayden Lake in northern Idaho starting in the 1970s. It eventually was bankrupted in a lawsuit brought by local activists and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Its compound was seized, and supporters dispersed.

Jen Schneider, the interim associate dean and professor in Boise State University's School of Public Service, said the appearance of Proud Boys in an Idaho parade could be connected to the presidential election and the events at the U.S. Capitol in January.

"We have a long history of right-wing extremism in Idaho, and nobody would disagree they have been emboldened the last few years," Schneider said.

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The situation is outrageous! Right now, Exxon Mobil is plotting how to get our Senators to sell us out. Take a minute to remember  as weve all been struggling through unending heat, Exxon has been in Testers office, delaying the climate action that will transform the future we will die in into one in which we will thrive. Corporations are not people, and Exxon is not a constituent. I am. You are.

When I reflect on why Exxon thinks that Tester might choose them  climate killers  over you and me, I realize it must be because he has not made it clear whether he believes climate action is important to the infrastructure package being hashed out right now in D.C. He has championed a bipartisan version that lacks any substantive climate action. To be accountable to his constituents, rather than to Exxon, the senator must find a way to pass climate action this summer.

Perhaps the senator is having trouble deciding whose side hes on because of the ways in which our lives are different. I am only 23 years old. Unlike Tester, I cannot dream of anything but climate action, because without climate action, my future will be a nightmare. The good news? I am ready to work hard for this planet.
The thing about borders is they have two sides.

In order for the United States to reopen its northern border successfully, it must first have an understanding with those on the other side: the Canadian government.

Count Montanans among those border-sharing state residents frustrated by the fact that travel across this crucial border, although gradually loosening, is still restricted, and that no clear plan has been set forth to help Montana communities prepare for the remaining weeks of the summer tourism season.

It really is in Canadas lap, but I thought it would be open by now, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester told the Missoulians Editorial Board last week.

Hes not the only one. The calls to fully reopen the northern border, or at least come up with a plan for doing so, have been ramping up in recent weeks, and are coming from businesses, industry associations and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, for one, last week called on both U.S. and Canadian officials to set out a plan for reopening, and urged U.S. authorities to take the first move in good faith to safely reopen the border to vaccinated Canadians.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Dozens of wildfires burned across the torrid U.S. West on Monday, but fire agencies reported some progress in corralling the flames and forecasters predicted a gradual decrease in extreme temperatures.

The fires have forced evacuations in numerous areas with scattered homes and tiny communities where some burned houses and other structures have been observed, but total losses were still being tallied.

The fires erupted as the West was in the grip of the second bout of dangerously high temperatures in just a few weeks. A climate change-fueled megadrought also is making conditions that lead to fire even more dangerous, scientists say.

The National Weather Service said, however, that the heat wave appeared to have peaked in many areas, and excessive-heat warnings were largely expected to expire by Monday night or Tuesday.

The two largest fires were burning forests in northeastern California and southern Oregon, sending smoke across other states.

The Beckwourth Complex, two lightning-ignited blazes, covered about 140 square miles (362 square kilometers) on Northern Californias border with Nevada. Plumas National Forest officials said firefighters successfully contained almost a quarter of the blaze but still expected some extreme fire activity.
I met a person who was a member of the Peoria Transgender Society down at Diesel one night. I was standing at the bar, and this person came up to me and said, Hey, are you trans? And I said, Yeah, why? I turned around, and he was a trans man. ... We started talking, and he told me about the Peoria Transgender Society. I didnt even know it existed. So I started going to the meetings. It was very validating to meet some other people like me, said Garber.

That was right after I was first dressing (as a woman). I went to a couple bars in Peoria when it was really late at night, and I was hoping nobody would see me, said Garber with a laugh. So I checked into this event, and I knew it would be good for me. I contacted the organizer and said Im scared to death, and she said, Honey, every single one of us started off just like you. The girls are gonna love you. Come on down here, and have a good time. So I went, and I left all of my boy clothes at home. I dressed up and put my makeup on, and I drove down through Missouri and Oklahoma, and I stopped and got things to eat and went to the bathroom, and I was terrified. But when I got down there, I had so much fun, I just felt so great. I decided on the ride home that once I had enough clothes, I was gonna (start dressing like a woman) full time. And I never have looked back.
A mental health professional from Memorial Behavioral Health and several police officers were also present.

Thats something, Johnson said, Ill never forget, watching the families reaction, the shock and awe of that. Ive dealt with crises and those types of things, but never a shooting.

In both situations, Johnson was able to address the families.

I remember talking about how none of this makes sense, that they werent alone in this, said Johnson, one of three SPD chaplains. Youre just trying to give some pastoral support, that was the main thing. Do they even remember anything I said? Im sure they didnt.

It wasnt real yet. The coroner just tells you your loved one (was taken from you). How do you process that? How do you even begin to process that? What I saw was that once that news was finally delivered (by Allmon), there was the initial reaction then there was the now what?

Thats where I try to step in from the spiritual perspective, just to say youre not alone in this. Theres a God who loves you. Theres a God who cares. I cant understand why he would allow this to happen. Nobody can, but all I know is that he hasnt left us. Thats when we went into prayer and tried to provide some comfort.
Javid told Parliament that Britain's successful vaccine rollout means that nine out of 10 adults in the U.K. now have antibodies against the virus. The government is on track to meet its target of offering all adults a first vaccine dose by July 19, the day when all remaining lockdown restrictions, including mandatory mask-wearing, are to be lifted.

As of Monday, 87% of the U.K.'s adult population have had their first dose, and 66% have had both doses. At the same time infections have soared in recent weeks, running at over 30,000 new cases daily, driven by the delta variant.

Javid said while new infections could reach 100,000 a day later in the summer, two doses of the vaccine offer effective protection against serious illness from the virus and officials believe the surge in cases will not put unsustainable pressure on hospitals.

Waiting any longer to lift restrictions will risk having the virus spread peak in the autumn and winter, when children return to school and hospitals are most likely to be overwhelmed by seasonal infections, Javid and Johnson said.

There will never be a perfect time to take this step, because we simply cannot eradicate this virus  whether we like it or not, coronavirus is not going away," Javid said.
Elon Musk said he turned down Wall Street jobs to focus on technology.

I was offered several high-paid jobs on Wall Street. I declined, Tesla Inc.s chief executive officer told his lawyer during questioning at a trial in Wilmington, Delaware, over the companys SolarCity acquisition in 2016.

Musk attended the University of Pennsylvania and moved to Silicon Valley during the dot-com boom. He founded a company that eventually became PayPal Holdings Inc., and made his first millions when PayPal was sold to EBay Inc.

On the stand Monday, Musk said he was offered jobs on Wall Street, without elaborating on which firms or where.

Now read: Elon Musk ready to launch Starlink in August
The Saint Helena Forum will host a free virtual discussion about "When Women Ruled: Feminine power in Egypts Fertile Crescent," with Egyptologist Kara Cooney in conversation with Forum Board Member and consulting museum expert Peggy Loar, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28.

Kathlyn (Kara) Cooney is a professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA. Specializing in craft production, coffin studies, and economies in the ancient world, Cooney received her Ph.D. in Egyptology from Johns Hopkins University. In 2005, she was co-curator of Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Cooney produced "Out of Egypt," a comparative archaeology TV series which aired in 2009 on the Discovery Channel and is available on Netflix and Amazon.

Cooney's latest book, "When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt," explores the lives of six remarkable female pharaohs, from Hatshepsut to Cleopatra, and shines a light on our own perceptions of women in power today. Published by National Geographic Press, the book was released in 2018.
The Farm To Table students from the CIA gave a demonstration last week on The Art of the Charcuterie Board. The amazing board they presented with all the items they had prepared was a work of art and inspired a tour of the market to prepare a board for any time of the day.

Start with a beautiful wooden board from Timberboards by Gerda Shupe. The majority of the wood in her pieces is sourced from cabinetry off-cuts, and she creates boards of all shapes and sizes.

A classic board can be prepared with kielbasa sausage from Sonoma County Meat Company, burrata cheese from Anzalones Olive Oil, Sicilian olive mix from Chef Andrea, artichoke spread and truffle honey from Monaco Truffle Company, and southern cheese straws from Napa Belle Baking.

A breakfast board would be fun to share with friends. Start with a selection of bagels from Toasted and top with cold smoked lox from Santa Rosa Seafood, cucumber from Tu Universo Farm, red onion from Triple T Ranch and Farm, fromage blanc from Achadinha Cheese Company, and tomatoes from Long Meadow Ranch. Enjoy!
BottleRock Presents announces a special performance by multi-platinum musical artist Matt Nathanson to benefit Alainas Voice Foundation and local mental health support services in the Napa Valley.

The special One Valley, One Heart concert is on Sunday, Aug.15 on the Oxbow River Stage in downtown Napa. Doors open at 5 p.m.; the show at 6 p.m.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 3 months!

Alaina Housley was a victim in the mass shooting on Nov. 7, 2018 at Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks, California. She lived a full but short life in Napa before heading to Pepperdine University in the fall of 2018 where she was a freshmen regent scholar at Pepperdine and a member of the Mock Trial Team.

"Our community wrapped their arms around us with their love and support through our heartbreak," said Hannah and Arik Housley, Alainas parents. With the Alainas Voice Foundation, we hope to give that love back.

We are honored to continue to present top quality music to benefit Alainas Voice, said Dave Graham of BottleRock Presents. Hannah and Arik Housley and family are dear friends of all of us at BottleRock, and were happy to support their efforts on behalf of Alainas Voice and the work they are doing in the community.
Californias new budget makes it clear that Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislatures dominant Democrats are favoring a cadre of local district attorneys who favor leniency and rehabilitation for lawbreakers in their political duel with traditional, punishment-oriented prosecutors.

The battle is being fought on several fronts, most prominently in a looming clash between newly appointed Attorney General Rob Bonta, an outspoken advocate of whats called the criminal justice reform, and Anne Marie Schubert, the high-profile district attorney of Sacramento.

Newsom has long been a reform advocate, but swept away any doubt about where he stands by imposing a moratorium on executing murderers and naming Bonta, a former state assemblyman, to succeed Xavier Becerra after he joined the Biden administration.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 3 months!

The elections of George Gascon and Chesa Boudin as district attorneys of Los Angeles and San Francisco are also flashpoints in the ideological duel. Both flatly promised to go easier on those accused of crimes and made good on their promises by issuing new prosecutorial and sentencing policies that drew fire from those on the other side.
This drought will be painful. Wells and springs will go dry. They will take longer to re-charge. People will suffer. Yet, St. Helena has more than enough water to get through it without draconian restrictions. We could provide water for all residents by changing our water policy for only one hour per day  maybe two.

Our Safe Water Yield is 1,900 AF. That is less than 1% of the 33 year average.

We use around 100 AF per month during the winter (November to April) and average around 200 AF per month from May through October. That comes to an average of 3 acre feet per day in the winter and 6 acre feet per day during the hot months.

St. Helena gets most of its water from Bell Canyon, two city wells, and Napa City (by contract).

Do the math. From today until Nov. 1 (4 months), we need roughly 200 AF per month, or 800 AF. Bell Canyon is 40% full. If we keep Bell Canyon above 25% capacity for fire protection, we can still get 300 AF from her. We have around 100 AF from our contract with Napa; plus, the Star just reported that Napa has promised an additional 145 AF.

So we have 545 AF of that 800 AF guaranteed. That means we only need around 255 AF of water from now until November  or 2 AF per day for the next 120 days. Where to get it?
Armenia acting PM hosts CEO of Flagship Pioneering and Moderna Therapeutics Noubar Afeyan

37-year-old citizen of Armenia parks car and jumps off bridge

Armenian analyst on Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem's pressure on Armenia and Russia's and Turkey's presence

168.am reports on the judges of Armenia Constitutional Court who supported or were against decision on elections

5.1 magnitude earthquake hits California's north coast

Armenian human rights activist on the opposition and the Constitutional Court's decision on snap elections

Araghchi: Vienna talks have to wait until next Iranian government takes charge

Florida man hits live alligator and tries to throw it onto buildings roof

132 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Three-headed baby born in India

Opposition party to appeal Armenia Constitutional Court's decision on snap elections in ECHR

One nation, 3 states: Azerbaijan delegation in Northern Cyprus for first time

Assad inauguration held in Syria

POWs who returned to Armenia from Azerbaijan are questioned

Two more members of opposition Armenia bloc apprehended

Pashinyan: Strengthening the Armenia southern regions resistance is one of EU 2.6bn assistance programs

Armenia acting PM: We are ready to start negotiations according to OSCE Minsk Groups co-chairs statement

Germany floods death toll rises to more than 130

Charles Michel: Useful to be able to withdraw Armenian, Azerbaijani armed forces from disputed territories

Adjacent areas closed off before European Council President leaves Armenia government building

Armenia Police: 16 people apprehended today from outside government building

Acting premier: Azerbaijan refuses to provide corridor to Armenia

Pashinyan: Armenia-EU contacts have never been so intense

Netherlands Armenian organizations demand explanation from their MFA over Dutch ambassador's visit to Shushi

Tight surveillance outside Armenia government building, several people apprehended

Five new cases of coronavirus reported in Karabakh

European Council President visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan

911 motorcycles to serve on Yerevan streets

Police apprehend opposition Armenia bloc member

Armenia President condoles with Germany colleague

Taliban stepping up attacks in Afghanistan, says US intelligence

187 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Captain Artur Aghasyan posthumously awarded highest title of Hero of Artsakh

California physician charged with selling fake Covid immunization pellets

Biden to meet with Iraq PM

Armenia citizens can enter Georgia through 2 checkpoints

Armenia soldier, 20, dies

Newspaper: Armenia opposition blocs holding their breath awaiting Constitutional Court decision of today

Newspaper: Armenia ex-President Kocharyan is Yerevan mayor Marutyan's 'lifebuoy'

Eiffel Tower reopens to visitors after nearly 9 months

'Bloodthirsty vampire' arrested in Kenya

There are 21615 people or 5,448 families displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh

Lavrov says US mission in Afghanistan failed

Azeri parliamentary group in occupied Northern Cyprus to commemorate 47th anniversary of Turkish troops' landing

Vietnam calls on Washington to lift Cuba embargo

Germany declares regime of military catastrophe due to flooding

Armenia Ambassador, Russia Deputy FM discuss provision of international humanitarian aid to Karabakh

Sputnik Armenia: 2 missing Armenian servicemen find themselves in territory under control of Azerbaijan Armed Forces

Karabakh Ombudsman: People of Artsakh have never lived and can never live in peace with Azerbaijan

Remains of former Armenian footballer found

Armenia acting PM introduced to businessman's newly opened brandy factory

Armenia ex-deputy MOD: If Pashinyan is still in power after November 9, 2020, it means he has unfinished business

Armenia Chamber of Advocates holds 3rd meeting to provide legal aid to Armenian captives in Azerbaijan

European Council President Charles Michel arrives in Armenia

Yerevan court to announce decision on pre-trial measure against Sisian mayor tomorrow

Alexander Lapshin on Yerkir.am's article about his talks with journalist, Armenia acting PM and ex-spokesperson

Young members of ARF-D protesting against EU representative's visit to Armenia

Lukashevich at OSCE: Assistance in future solution to Nagorno-Karabakh issue in South Caucasus is required

Digest: Azerbaijan opens fire near Armenia border, EU to lift restrictions for Armenian citizens?

Opposition 'Armenia' bloc member: Law-enforcement authorities need to explore disclosure of Lapshin-Karapetyan talk

Armenia acting PM receives Deputy Chief of General Staff of Russia Armed Forces

Armenias Karahunj village head testified against Goris city mayor, says lawyer

Armenian National Committee addresses letter to Belgian FM condemning Ambassadors visit to Shushi

Dollar goes down again Armenia

Azerbaijan starts construction of tunnels in Karabakh occupied territories

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office charges head of Lori Province's Jrashen village with abuse of official powers

Armenia ambassador to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore is recalled

At least 70 people die in Germany and Belgium due to floods

Armenia ambassador to US to now serve as envoy to UK

France and US urge Lebanese politicians to form cabinet

Armenia funeral commission set up in connection with Djivan Gasparyan's passing

Mayor of Armenias Goris to be arrested

European Council chief's Armenia visit agenda is announced

Beijing urges WHO to investigate theory that COVID-19 was imported to Wuhan

2022 US federal budget envisages $950K for Glendale Armenian museum, says Congressman Schiff

Condition of newborn left at Yerevan building entrance continues to stabilize

Azerbaijan setting up new military unit in occupied Aghdam of Artsakh

1,200 apartments to be built in capital Stepanakert, 20 new districts to be constructed in Karabakh villages

Reuters photojournalist killed in Afghanistan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Fear, uncertainty not respected in international relations

About 20,000 translators from Afghanistan in US apply for evacuation

MOD: Azerbaijan army opened fire on Armenia positions

Turks open fire at Cyprus Coast Guard ship

162 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

US State Department responds to questions related to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Situation in Cuba calm after riots

Biden says US not planning on sending troops to Haiti after assassination of its president

US considering possibility of restoring internet access in Cuba, Biden says

Biden: Russia must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon

Newspaper: New developments occur in case on dishonoring of Armenian soldiers' remains

Newspaper: Armenias European agenda

Erdogan wants to do the same with Afghanistan as with Artsakh

US senators call on Biden to put pressure on Turkeys Erdogan over Cyprus

Karabakh Ombudsman: Azerbaijani side briefly fired gunshots from rifles 4-5 times in direction of Shushi

Ukraine citizens organize disco party near Internal Affairs Ministry building for Avakov's resignation

European Council calls on EU member states to lift travel restrictions for Armenia citizens

Opposition 'Armenia' bloc member: Syunik Province is being attacked by Baku and Yerevan

Armenia President grants high state award to merited architect Sashur Kalashyan

Armenia acting PM hosts participants of Summer Olympics

Armenia MOD clarifies which servicemen can receive free food in post-war period
The Hungarian authorities have offered to buy the Budapest airport from foreign shareholders, Reuters reported.

The government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has earlier expressed interest in buying a controlling stake in Hungary's main international airport, saying that its privatization was contrary to the country's strategic interests.

Orban said he wants the airport to be in the hands of the national authorities, but so far its owners have shown no interest in selling it. Since Orban came to power in 2010, his government has increased Hungary's stake in strategic sectors such as energy, banking, and media.

The largest shareholder of Budapest Airport with 55.44% is AviAlliance GmbH, formerly Hochtief AirPort GmbH, owned by the Canadian Council for Pension Investments (PSP Investments).

AviAlliance GmbH said on Monday that it had received an offer from the Hungarian government.

The state currently has no stake in the airport, which was privatized in 2005.
Cuba blamed historic protests that took place over the weekend on U.S. "economic asphyxiation" and social media campaigns by a minority of U.S.-financed counter-revolutionaries, while U.S. President Joe Biden said he stood with the Cuban people, Reuters reported.

Diaz-Canel denounced vandalism that took place during the demonstrations.

"They threw stones at foreign currency shops, they stole items... and at police forces, they turned over cars - a totally vulgar, indecent and delinquent behavior," he said.

Diaz-Canel did not directly address the U.S. statement, issued during his address. But he attacked what he called Washington's hypocrisy for expressing concern when it was fueling the crisis in Cuba with its trade embargo.

President Joe Biden said on Monday the United States supports the people of Cuba in their call for freedom and relief from the pandemic and economic woes, but the White House stopped short of a shift away from a Trump-era embargo of the island. "The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected," Biden said in a statement earlier on Monday. "The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves."
In an unprecedented act of civil unrest, thousands of Cubans took to the streets in cities across the Caribbean island on Sunday to protest against the Communist government, its failed economy, the increased repression of the populace, as well as its mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Images of the protests on the internet showed people shouting, We want freedom and We are not afraid. Cubans gathered in large numbers from San Antonio de los Banos and Havana in the central part of the country to Palma Soriano in the easternmost province of Oriente.

Yoani Sanchez, the Cuban blogger who was named the first University of Miami Distinguished Presidential Fellow in 2016, wrote in her blog 14yMedio from Havana: On this July 11, we have shown the world and ourselves that we are many more than those who want to oppress us, that when we are united and act, all they can do is threaten us, jail us, and kill us but not convince us to accept their joke.

These protests come at a time in which Cuba is undergoing one of its most difficult economic periods since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Food shortages and frequent blackouts are a daily occurrence on the island. The repression against artists and dissidents has been on the rise in the past year.

The protests are driven by the dire economic situation in Cuba and the uncontrollable pandemic thateven though the Cuban government has claimed to have two vaccinesthe COVID-19 numbers in Cuba have risen every single day, said Andy Gomez, an academic on Cuban studies and a former associate provost at the University.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a particularly strong hold on the country. On Sunday, Cuban health authorities reported almost 7,000 new cases and 47 deathsa record for infections and deaths in a country of just more than 11 million people.

Calla Hummel, assistant professor of political science, stated that these protests are happening in the context of upheaval in Central and Latin America.

In some ways, COVID-19 has intensified the political upheaval that we are seeing across Latin America, she said. We had political crises beforehand, and now we are adding economic and health crises.

She also said that Cuba had committed to developing its own vaccine but has not created a comprehensive vaccination program. Only 15 percent of the islands residents have been vaccinated, according to the website Our World in Data.

The pandemic has also halted tourism to the island, which in 2019 contributed $2.97 billion to the countrys gross domestic product, according to Statista. Former president Donald Trumps administration-imposed sanctions against the islandwhich still standalso limit the number of remittances that U.S. nationals can send to their relatives in Cuba.

All this made the protests inevitable, said Sanchez. It was only a matter of time.

Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel went on Cuban television Sunday and blamed the demonstrations on U.S. infiltrators and the U.S. embargo, and asked government supporters to fight protesters on the street.

Cuban militia used tear gas to disperse crowds. Some video showed people looting government stores. Other videos posted on social media showed violent encounters between protesters and police, overturned police cars, and dozens of people being arrested.

We at @univmiami stand with our Cuban brothers and sisters as they rise up to demand an end to oppression.

Nosotros en @univmiami nos unimos al pueblo cubano en sus demandas por el fin de la opresion. #SOSCuba #PatriaYVida  Julio Frenk (@julio_frenk) July 12, 2021

"We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime, President Joe Biden said in a statement.

"The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected, he added. The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves."

In several cities in the U.S., including Miami, Cuban Americans turned out to support their compatriots on the island. Thousands of Cuban Americans and other supporters flooded the streets around popular Cuban restaurants in Miamiincluding Versailles in Little Havana and La Carreta in Westchestercalling for the downfall of the Cuban regime.

For Gomez, the future of Cuba remains in the militarys hands. He does not foresee any changes unless there is an internal coup.

I have no doubt that even though he retired, [former president] Raul Castro was calling the shots yesterday, Gomez said. One solution to ease some of the conditions the island is encountering, he added, is for the U.S. to lift the restrictions on the remittances sent to the island. According to the research company Bendixen and Associates, it is estimated that the island received $460 million per year.
China accuses US destroyer of trespassing

Mainland authorities accused the USS Benfold of entering the waters of the Paracels without the approval of the Chinese government. File image: Shutterstock

China's military said on Monday it "drove away" a US warship that illegally entered Chinese waters near the Paracel Islands on Monday, the anniversary of an international court ruling that Beijing has no claim over the South China Sea.



The USS Benfold entered the waters of the Paracels without the approval of the Chinese government, seriously violating China's sovereignty and undermining the stability of the South China Sea, the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command said.



"We urge the United States to immediately stop such provocative actions," the Southern Theatre Command said in a statement.



The U.S. Navy did not immediately comment.



The Paracels are among hundreds of islands, reefs and atolls in the resources-rich South China Sea contested by China, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, with Beijing claiming historic rights to resources within its so-called nine-dash line, or most of the region.



On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China had no historic title over the South China Sea.



It also said China had interfered with traditional Philippine fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal and breached the Philippines' sovereign rights by exploring for oil and gas near the Reed Bank.



In a written statement on Sunday, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said freedom of the seas was an "enduring" interest of all nations.



"Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea," Blinken said.



"The People's Republic of China continues to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway." (Reuters)
Refinery29

On the heels of the Sun in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn, we enter the week of the 18th through 24th shadowed by the wisdom of opposites. This means weve been called to examine what makes us who we are as compared to what we work not to be  indeed, what we mean to dismantle within us or disavow in others. The 18th ushers in three in-conjunct aspects like small waves of inquiry: Venus in Leo quincunx Pluto in Capricorn, Mercury in Cancer quincunx Saturn in Aquarius, and Mars in Leo quincunx Nep
The FAA and its counterpart agency in Canada have issued emergency directives requiring 529 Bell helicopters worldwide  including 359 in the United States  to be inspected for faulty rotor pins after a pilot died in a crash while fighting a wildfire in Alberta.

Bell Textron Inc., the helicopter manufacturer, is based in Fort Worth.

The crash of the Bell 212 model aircraft occurred June 28 near Evansburg, Alberta, just west of Edmonton, Canada, as authorities were using aircraft to battle a wildfire that had already burned about 400 acres. Transport Canada found that an outboard main rotor hub strap pin had sheared off during flight, leading to detachment of the main rotor blade and the main rotor head, according to Reuters.

The crash killed pilot Heath Coleman, 48, of Prince George, British Columbia.

The directives also include Bell 204 and 205 aircraft.

Bell issued alert service bulletins  or ASBs  directing helicopter operators to inspect the pins and replace them if necessary.

While were not at liberty to discuss details of the Transport Safety Board investigation, all of us at Bell are extremely saddened by this loss, Bell spokeswoman Blakeley Thress said in a prepared statement. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to those on board the aircraft as well as their family and loved ones. Even though the investigation is still in progress, to ensure fleet safety, the main rotor strap pins identified in the ASBs should be removed from service before the next flight.

The directive required operators to inspect the main rotor hubs for faulty pins. Also, pins including a specific serial number prefix were ordered to be replaced immediately.

Those pins keep the helicopters rotor head and blade from separating.

Initially, about 400 helicopters were thought to be affected by the grounding. But Bell identified additional helicopters that might be outfitted with the potentially faulty part, which expanded the total number of aircraft involved to 529, FAA spokeswoman Crystal Essiaw said in an email.

Story continues

The repair time for each aircraft involved in the directive is expected to be about 20 hours, officials said.

The pin involved in the Canada crash had accumulated only 20 total hours of time in service before it failed, the FAA said.

An alert service bulletin issued by Bell and cited by the FAA in its directives states that the pins may not have been manufactured in accordance with the engineering design requirements and may therefore shear as a result of this nonconformance.

An investigation of the Canada crash is ongoing.
By Danish Siddiqui

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Soldiers from Afghanistan's special forces paused for a short prayer late on Sunday night on a deserted stretch of highway in the southern province of Kandahar. They do so each time they prepare to face Taliban militants in battle.

The highly trained troops had been called in to flush out insurgents who attacked regular forces and local police hours earlier, only to find that the Taliban had disappeared into the darkness leaving behind a few civilians and wounded soldiers.

"We received a report that the enemy had infiltrated here and wanted to overthrow the district," Major Mohammad din Tasir, a member of the special forces unit deployed in the Taliban's former stronghold of Kandahar, told Reuters after the operation.

The report had suggested up to 300 Taliban fighters were present in the area, he said.

"Unfortunately, what we heard in the report and what we saw on the scene did not match."

Tasir said the absence of Taliban fighters showed that claims by the group that they now controlled up to 85% of the country's territory were exaggerated.

It also underlined the difficulty in facing an enemy that mixes open assaults on checkpoints, villages, towns and cities with hit-and-run tactics that tend to avoid heavy casualties.

Recent territorial gains by the Taliban come as foreign troops led by the U.S. military withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years of war, leaving the task of pulling the country from a spiralling security crisis to local forces.

On Monday, the U.S. general leading the war in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, will relinquish his command, in a symbolic end to America's longest conflict.

TALIBAN ADVANCES

Kandahar is one of many provinces to see a recent surge in offensives by the Taliban, which says it wants to be involved in running the country peacefully although it has always opposed the presence of foreign forces.

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In the last week the group has been advancing in the west of the country near the border with Iran and has surrounded the central city of Ghazni.

The special forces unit had been called in after insurgents attempted to take control of Khan Baba village in the Dand district of Kandahar, unleashing RPGs and heavy machinegun fire at Afghan security forces and local police.

The soldiers travelled there under cover of darkness, using night vision equipment and moving in Humvee vehicles scarred with bullet holes from previous missions, some of them carried out with U.S. allies.

When they arrived they found the village largely abandoned. Air strikes by the Afghan Air Force had helped push back Taliban fighters.

Special forces personnel moved swiftly and silently from house to house, entering through doors and jumping walls to locate Taliban remnants who may still be hiding in the area.

They found only a few mainly elderly locals who said that other residents had fled when the fighting began. The troops also tended to soldiers wounded in the earlier clashes before evacuating them to the nearest military base.

In the distance sporadic gunfire rang out.

An Afghan defence official said on Twitter on Monday that 26 insurgents had been killed in operations and air strikes a day earlier in two Kandahar districts, including Dand.

Reuters could not independently verify this.

Once the operation was complete, the special forces caught a short rest, before preparing to receive orders for their next mission.

(Writing by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Photo credit: Jamie McCarthy - Getty Images

In March 2020, fashion designer, TV presenter and style muse Alexa Chung revealed she was suffering from endometriosis, a condition which is notoriously difficult to diagnose, with symptoms including extremely painful periods, as well as pelvic pain and difficulty becoming pregnant.

Now, Alexa's spoken in more detail about her complex journey to receiving the diagnosis and how, frighteningly, ovarian cancer had to be ruled out first.

People with endometriosis typically have to wait a long time to get a firm diagnosis, with research putting the average time frame at 7.5 years. As you might expect from a shocking figure like this, Alexa's path to reaching her diagnosis wasn't straightforward. For years, she put the sporadic pain she was experiencing down as being a normal part of periods. She also had a kidney scan because of lower back pain and a suspected haemorrhagic cyst.

It was when she was in LA filming the Netflix competition series Next In Fashion with Queer Eye star Tan France, that Alexa finally received her endometriosis diagnosis after a cancer scare, she told The Sunday Times.

I had to go back on set and Tan asked how my doctors appointment went. I was like: It might be ovarian cancer!" Alexa recalled in the interview, adding that the circumstances of her appointment were difficult.

Photo credit: Bryan Bedder - Getty Images

"The other bummer was that the waiting room for this scan was also a waiting room for pregnant people," Alexa said.

"Everyone was in there with their partners, and this woman was like: Excuse me, maam? Maam? On your form, you didnt fill out your partners name'. And I was, like: Yeah, I dont have one. Thanks for that. I might have cancer, I dont have a baby and I dont have a boyfriend. Stunning. But let me just go and entertain you for a bit on f***ing TV.

When her symptoms were at their worst, Alexa was in so much pain she had to take meetings lying down, but it sounds like after ruling out ovarian cancer and receiving her correct diagnosis, her health is much better now.

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It was bad. But Im fine now. I think," she said.

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Alexa isn't the only celebrity to detail their experience with endometriosis recently. Last month, Molly-Mae Hague opened up to followers about going through the illness.

"I actually have got to have an operation for something that I want to tell you guys about. It's kind of a good thing and it's kind of a bad thing," Molly-Mae told her followers.

"I've told you guys for so long now that I suffer with excruciating periods and so many of you guys were commenting on my videos like: 'Please check for endometriosis,'" she added.

After being told she categorically didn't have the illness, Molly-Mae sought a second opinion from a specialist who told her it was "clear as day" that her symptoms were because of endometriosis.

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"It's not a good thing that I have endometriosis, because obviously it can affect fertility, it can affect loads of things, and you can never actually really cure endometriosis," she said.

"I wanna be that mature girl that can just walk into the doctors and they say: 'We've gotta take a blood test' and I'm like: 'Yeah no worries'. I wanna be that mature, cool girl that nothing phases, but I just wasn't born that way. That isn't me, that's not the way I was created, and that's just the way it is."

With more awareness around endometriosis desperately needed, it's so positive that Alexa, like Molly-Mae, feels comfortable enough to share her experience and hopefully help others.

For more information about endometriosis, visit the NHS' website.

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Apple has signed a deal with producer Alexander Rodnyansky's company AR Content to make Russian-language and multilingual shows for Apple TV+ . Rodnyansky told Variety that the agreement makes Apple "the very first of all the global streaming platforms to sign a strategic partnership with a company with Russian roots."

Rodnyansky's credits include Cloud Atlas, Sin City: A Dame to Kill for and Machete Kills, but he says it's his experience and production expertise in Russia that primarily led Apple to work with him. He produced Russian films Leviathan and Beanpole, which both won awards at the Cannes Film Festival and were Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nominees.

The deal with Apple is for several shows, some of which will be set inside Russia. The shows will be overseen by Russian writers and directors as well as international creatives.

Rodnyansky notes streaming has helped shows made in a variety of languages and countries to become international hits. This is an amazing time when you have Fauda in Hebrew and Arabic doing really well across multiple territories, when you have French-speaking shows like La Mante or Marianne, or German shows like Dark or Babylon Berlin crossing borders, Rodnyansky said. This is a time for Russian-speaking shows to do the same, or multilingual shows."

Apple has similar first-look deals in place with Ridley Scott and Ron Howard's production companies, but the AR Content pact hints at its international ambitions. Netflix, which has expanded to all but a few countries and territories, has found success in acquiring and making international content. Spanish crime drama Money Heist has been a massive hit , while French thriller Lupin is Netflix's most successful original series so far this year. Anime and Korean dramas are also growing in popularity among subscribers. Earlier this year, Netflix picked up a modern-day adaptation of Anna Karenina as its first original drama series in Russian.

It's not too surprising that Apple is looking at a similar approach to content. Apple TV+ only has a few non-English-language projects available to stream, including Tehran and Losing Alice, so there's a lot of scope for Apple to expand its library with Russian and multilingual shows.
A shooting outside a North Carolina courthouse left a man with life-threatening injuries Monday morning, police said.

Officials say 35-year-old Travis Lee Webb of Lenoir approached a vehicle outside the Caldwell County Courthouse in the 200 block of North Main Street in Lenoir. Webb and Chad James Emke of Taylorsville, who was in the vehicle, began to argue, Lenoir police said in a statement. Emke, 48, drew a semi-automatic pistol and shot Webb twice in the upper body, police said.

First responders administered aid to Webb as court bailiffs arrested Emke, police said. Its unclear what led to their argument.

Webb was taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, and his condition is unknown, police said.

A 10-year-old child was in Emkes vehicle but was not harmed. Emke had a scheduled court appearance Monday for custody-related issues, police said.

Emke faces a $500,000 secured bond on charges of child endangerment and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He and Webb knew each other, but authorities said they believe this was an isolated incident.

Lenoir is about 75 miles northwest of Charlotte.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Lenoir Crime Stoppers at 828-758-8300 or the Lenoir police at 828-757-2100.
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is requesting a federal court put a temporary pause on the Biden administration's efforts to stop the construction of a southern border wall.

The Republican prosecutor filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court in Arizona on Monday, as well as an updated complaint, as part of a lawsuit claiming the Department of Homeland Security and other federal authorities were in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act "through their destructive immigration policies."

Brnovich's team alleged the federal government "did not provide the required NEPA environmental impact statements or environmental assessments" when Biden halted construction on the border wall on his first day in the Oval Office.

The attorney general also slammed Biden's repeal of the Migrant Protection Protocols, a Trump-era policy that allowed U.S. authorities to return those suspected of illegal immigration to Mexico for the duration of their court proceedings. He said the two orders have resulted in an "unprecedented" surge of migrants.

ABBOTT FACES TWO MAJOR OBSTACLES IN QUEST TO FINISH TRUMP BORDER WALL

"These two actions, combined with the federal governments lax immigration enforcement and loosening of border security, have led to an unprecedented number of migrants illegally crossing the southwest border," Brnovich wrote.

There is no doubt that the Biden Administrations immigration policies are causing a humanitarian, public safety, and environmental crisis at our border, he added. I will do everything I can to stop their destructive actions and protect Arizona.

Brnovich, who initially sued DHS in April over alleged NEPA violations, asked for a preliminary injunction to restore contracts related to the construction of the border wall, require the administration to analyze the environmental effects of its policies, and largely reverse the Migrant Protection Protocol order until such a review is complete.

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At the time the lawsuit was first revealed, the attorney general's office estimated each migrant who crosses the border leaves approximately eight pounds of trash, including human waste, medical products, plastic containers, and vehicles.

Trash at the U.S.-Mexico border left by migrants (Attorney General Mark Brnovich)

Brnovich's lawsuit is one of several that seek to undo Biden's early immigration orders. In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a temporary pause on the 46th president's 100-day moratorium on deportations, a move that has since been extended by a federal judge.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Also in the Lone Star State, Gov. Greg Abbott announced last month his intent for Texas authorities to build a border wall without assistance from the federal government after former President Donald Trump ran out of time to fortify the area. Abbott, however, may face a slew of legal obstacles and logistical headaches before the move can come to fruition, experts told the Washington Examiner.

"There's a reason why there's been a delay in kind of announcing what exactly this will look like," said Mike Howell, senior adviser for government relations at the conservative Heritage Foundation and former lawyer at the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the General Counsel. "That's because it's going to be a difficult, difficult thing to do."

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Arizona, Border Crisis, Border, Texas, Migrants, Environment, Joe Biden, Biden Administration

Original Author: Jake Dima

Original Location: Arizona attorney general requests injunction to combat pause on border wall construction
A man was fatally shot in an explosion of gunfire as he sat in a car on a Queens streetcorner Sunday night, police said.

Dejuan Brown, 24, was sitting inside a Nissan Maxima on 200th St. at 111th Ave. in St. Albans when someone peppered the car with bullets about 8:15 p.m., cops said.

Four shots punched through the windshield. Brown was hit several times, cops said.

Medics rushed him to Jamaica Hospital, but he couldnt be saved.

Brown lived about a mile away from the crime scene, police said.

One neighbor, who didnt give her name, said she was standing in her kitchen when the barrage of bullets was fired. I heard what I thought was fireworks, she said.

Several neighbors rushed onto the scene, and police were interviewing a woman nearby, she said.

Cops were initially looking for a black Jeep Grand Cherokee that drove away on 200th St.

Police sources said Brown has two prior gun possession arrests. He was released to parole in March 2020, after he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years behind bars for attempted weapon possession in 2017, public records show.
Donor-National Guard (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The one thing CPAC showed us this year is that, for now at least, the Republican Party remains the party of Donald Trump. The right-wing political conference, which just wrapped up, brought together everyone from conservative gadfly Candace Owens to the twice-impeached Florida retiree himself, to borrow a phrase from Nancy Pelosi. It was a veritable whos-Q of the modern right.

From Trumps ramblings about all the evidence that supposedly exists to support the big lie to CPAC getting brownie points for banning white nationalist Nick Fuentes while allowing the leader of the far-right militia group the Oathkeepers to wander the halls, theres a lot to dunk on here. Glenn Beck literally pulled out a KKK hood, for Gods sake.

Yet one speaker stood out among this crowd of sycophants and charlatans. And that speaker gave me genuine concern that the GOP may soon rise from the ashes like a fascistic phoenix. Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota, delivered what well may be the most pivotal political speech since Barack Obama spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Cool, confident, and effortlessly relatable, Noem made the delusions of MAGA seem almost reasonable  something no one else has been able to do. Watching her speak was like looking into the future of the Republican Party. As a Democrat, it terrified me.

Noem is a compelling figure with an all-American backstory. I grew up on a farm and ranch. I had the most incredible parents in the world. They were not perfect, and they were tough, she told the crowd, before going into a story about how her father fell in the mud trying to force a cow into a barn and comparing him to America, trip[ping] over our overshoes by failing to reelect Trump.

Its a charming and funny story, one that brings to mind another Republican woman who almost made it to the White House. Like Sarah Palin, Kristi Noem is a former beauty queen turned elected governor of a small rural state who is skyrocketing to national attention in her first term. Unlike Sarah Palin, though, Noem is not hopelessly ignorant.

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Noem served in Congress before entering the governors mansion in 2019. There, she bolstered her MAGA credentials by refusing to lock down her state, even going so far as to encourage travel to South Dakota for last years Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This led South Dakota to the dubious ranking of third highest state for COVID infections per capita, but it also increased her popularity among Trumpists. Couple this with her economic conservatism  she even refused Trumps expanded unemployment benefits last summer  and you have a Republican darling.

Popularity with the Red Hats is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but it isnt what makes Noem a future threat to Democrats. Rather, her folksy relatability coupled with a poised and polished image and effortless, articulate oration  honed, she claims, through her time in beauty pageants  makes her a formidable opponent and effective saleswoman for this Trump-branded populism. What makes Noem so dangerous is that she puts a respectable face on Trumpism, something even the man himself has never been able to do. Whereas Trumps brash manner, arrogant swagger, and crude and callous bullying turned off enough suburban voters to throw the election to Joe Biden, Noem seems much more approachable and relatable, like your friend or neighbor or coworker. She has a solid blue-collar backstory, having worked a myriad of service jobs from grocery store clerk to waitress. She graduated from a state school, not some Ivy League institution, and she did it while a member of Congress to boot. Shes a mother and, as she spent a good portion of her speech mentioning, a new grandmother.

Congenial and conversational, she speaks in a measured, matter-of-fact Midwestern manner. When Noem talks about growing up in a world where people were proud to have jobs, that speaks to many working Americans who feel that they toil away at unfulfilling, unglamorous, and underpaid jobs for little recognition. They resent those who dont  either because they have a better job or no job at all.

Noem makes people feel good about themselves and their country, even when reinforcing the very myths and policies that keep them oppressed. Rather than encouraging them to agitate for better conditions, she plays their class prejudices like a finely tuned piano, hitting the right keys and creating a sweet invective against the welfare state and those who depend on it. In her criticisms of the 1619 Project and critical race theory, she claims that we do not have racism in our DNA in this country, even if the fact that Black people were initially counted as three-fifths a person in our Constitution shows that to be demonstrably untrue. We love each other, she goes on to claim  a fact that our fractious civic life disproves  and everybody deserves to be treated equally, something few on the right actually seem to believe.

That doesnt matter, though. Noem has hit on a basic truth, one that may prove political gold should she run in 2024. Whether our nation was actually formed on freedom, as Noem claims, whether we have racism in our DNA or whether we actually love one another and treat everyone equally is immaterial to a great many voters. They want to believe it, whether it is true or not.

It is this Reaganesque ability to inspire hope while peddling oppressive policies that makes Kristi Noem so formidable. More than even Trump himself, who has already been rejected, Noem frightens me. Her salt-of-the-earth charm combined with her MAGA credentials make her a real threat to our country in 2024.

So, despite all the insanity of CPAC 2021, the lefts takeaway should not be that the party is still thoroughly Trumpified, or that these people are as ridiculous as they are reactionary and racist. Rather, we should realize theres a leader in the making, one who presents a reasonable and convincing face to this insanity. And that leader is Kristi Noem.

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The mass protests in Cuba present a unique situation for the Biden administration, which has a chance to use calls for democracy on the island to bolster its voting rights push.

A senior White House official told the Washington Examiner on Monday that President Joe Biden, who was criticized by some progressives for not sufficiently using the bully pulpit to prevent Senate Republicans from killing the "For the People Act" in June, won't directly address the demonstrations in Cuba when he delivers his voting rights speech in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Still, that person conceded that drawing parallels between those two admittedly vastly different situations could help frame the voting rights issue in a light that earns support from Republican lawmakers who had previously opposed Democrats' voting rights initiative but were quick to endorse the protests against Cuba's communist government.

BIDEN CELEBRATES THE 'CLARION CALL FOR FREEDOM' VOICED BY ANTI-COMMUNIST PROTESTERS IN CUBA

The White House official said that different people might react to both subjects differently and told the Washington Examiner they plan to raise the comparison in high-level strategy discussions.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, and even former President Donald Trump all released statements Monday in support of the protesters that sounded eerily similar to Biden's response.

"After decades of suffering through a communist dictatorship, the Cuban people deserve liberty," McCarthy wrote. "I am proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Cuba who are calling out for freedom."

Rubio tweeted that the protests marked the Cuban people's "rapidly" mounting "frustration with the dictatorship's incompetence, greed & repression."

Trump claimed that "Biden and the Democrats campaigned on reversing [his] very tough stance on Cuba" but that he stood "with the Cuban people 100% in their fight for freedom."

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"The Cuban people deserve freedom and human rights," he continued. "They are not afraid!"

Meanwhile, Biden's Monday morning statement positioned the United States as standing "with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime."

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ARIZONA VOTING RULES

"The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights," the president added. "Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki's Monday comments about Biden's voting rights push also echoed that language.

She told reporters during the White House press briefing that the president's Tuesday speech will "lay out the moral case for why denying the right to vote is a form of suppression and a form of silencing."

Biden would also frame recent election security laws passed by some Republican-controlled states as "authoritarian and anti-American."

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court upheld two such election laws passed in Arizona.

The decision, delivered on 6-3 partisan lines, found that both laws were constitutional as neither violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act or were written with racially discriminatory intent.

Voting has become a highly polarized issue in the wake of the 2020 general election.

According to data published in July by Marist, PBS, and NPR, 85% of Democrats were "more concerned" with "making sure that everyone who wants to vote can do so" over "making sure that no one votes who is not eligible," while 72% of Republicans answered in the opposite fashion.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Overall, two-thirds of the 1,115 adults surveyed between June 22-29 felt that democracy is "under threat."

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Tags: News, Joe Biden, White House, Voting rights, Cuba

Original Author: Christian Datoc

Original Location: Biden could use Cuba protests to boost GOP support for 'voting rights,' White House says
President Joe Biden on the White House lawn. (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

President Joe Biden issued a statement in support of anti-government protests in Cuba, and called on the Cuban government to respect the right of protesters to demonstrate peacefully.

The statement followed a day of protests in the island nation, where demonstrators denounced worsening economic conditions in the country.

We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime, said the president.

The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected, added Mr Biden.

More to follow...

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Boris Johnson Getty

Boris Johnson's Conservatives took more than 60 million from the property sector in the last decade.

This is more than one-fifth of all reportable donations received by the party, the highest ratio of any UK party.

Campaigners say the financial reliance puts ministers "under pressure to provide exclusive access."

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Boris Johnson's Conservative Party has an "unhealthy financial reliance" on donations from the property sector, campaigners have warned, as they revealed new figures setting out the scale of support given to the party.

The research by Transparency International UK found that between January 2010 and March 2020, 60.8 million was given to the Conservatives from individuals and companies within the property sector.

This figure is more than a fifth of the reportable donations received by the Conservatives, the highest ratio of any political party in the UK.

Much of that money came from a small number of individuals, with one in every ten pounds of reported donations to Conservative Party HQ between 2015 and 2019 coming from just ten donors.

Duncan Hames, a former Liberal Democrat MP and Director of Policy at Transparency International UK, told Insider: "While it is no secret that political parties receive much of their funding from a relatively small number of donors, the extent to which the Conservative Party depends financially on those with major property interests is of serious concern.

"An unhealthy financial reliance on those with vested interests in one sector puts ministers under pressure to provide exclusive access which creates a real risk that decisions are skewed in their favour. Breaking this dependence is key to removing the risk of undue influence and freeing government to explore bolder solutions to address the housing crisis."

Ties between the Conservative Party and the property sector is not limited to donations, with hundreds of meetings reported between ministers and groups lobbying on property issues.

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Transparency International UK's analysis of government reports of ministerial meetings found there were 669 meetings to discuss housing issues between January 2017 and March 2020.

Individual Conservative MPs also have strong links to the sector. Insider reported last month that the former Welsh Secretary minister Alun Cairns held meetings with a Singaporean firm that owned a 500 million property empire leased to the UK government. Since leaving his ministerial post, he has taken a 30,000 a year job with the firm.

Anneliese Dodds MP, chair of the opposition Labour Party, said: "It's no wonder the Conservatives are resisting more transparency on property ownership, when party coffers are stuffed full of so much cash from major overseas property tycoons.

"This is yet another example of how the rules around transparency for lobbying ministers aren't fit for purpose. We need to know who is lobbying ministers, what they want from government and what is discussed when they meet.

"We need urgent reform. It cannot be the case that it is one rule for the Conservatives and another for everyone else."

Duncan Hames said: "Access and potentially influence in UK politics remains woefully opaque. We know more about those seeking to shape planning decisions in rural Ireland than we do about private interests trying to shape decisions and housing policy in Whitehall.

"Time and time again we see government departments failing to follow their own transparency rules while the limited statutory register of consultant lobbyists only paints a tiny part of this picture. A major overhaul of the UK's lobbying rules is needed to increase transparency and ensure there are fewer corners for impropriety to hide."

The group proposes an end to the influence of big donors in politics by introducing a 10,000 limit on donations from individuals and companies per donor per year.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "Government policy is in no way influenced by the donations the Party receives - they are entirely separate.

"Donations to the Conservative Party are properly and transparently declared to the Electoral Commission, published by them, and comply fully with the law. Fundraising is a legitimate part of the democratic process. The alternative is more taxpayer-funding of political campaigning, which would mean less money for frontline services like schools, police and hospitals.

"The Conservative Party is delivering on its manifesto commitments to deliver more homes, with new housing supply having risen to its highest levels for 30 years. Working with the housing industry is an essential part of getting new homes built and regenerating brownfield land."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The European Commission will unveil on Wednesday a vast package of draft green legislation designed to govern a faster transition to a low carbon economy.

A dozen legal texts -- already under attack from political interests, industry lobbies and environmentalists -- will seek to ensure emissions are cut by 55 percent over 1990 levels by 2030.

Behind the "Green Deal" and "Fit for 55" slogans there are eye-catching pledges, such as the expected decision to ban the sales of new petrol-driven cars from 2035.

Perhaps even more importantly, the Commission will seek to reform the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), a carbon market in which industry trade their pollution quotas.

But environmentalists will denounce the laws as not going far enough, even as industry and some EU member states more dependant on coal-fired power push back against the effort.

The ETS cap and trade system covers power generation, steel plants, cement, chemicals and commercial aviation -- between them representing around 40 percent of European greenhouse emissions.

Wednesday's package would extend this with a parallel market for shipping, road transport and construction.

- Greener trade? -

The commission's plan would also extend to a so-called "carbon tax", payable at the bloc's external border, to dissuade firms from re-locating polluting plants to less stringent jurisdictions or favouring cheaper products from such countries.

The tax would see prices "adjusted" at the border, with companies importing goods into the EU having to buy permits based on carbon pricing in the bloc, a move likely to antagonise major EU trading partners such as China and India.

To placate them, pollution quotas that are currently distributed freely to EU-based producers to help them compete with cheaper less-regulated imports would be phased out.

The border tax is not expected to be a money-spinner for Brussels, the 14 billion euros a year it might generate annually is a drop in ocean compared to the cost of the transition to a low-carbon world.

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But, in the words of liberal MEP Pascal Canfin, chairman of the environment committee in the European Parliament, the idea opens up "new territory" for lawmakers to explore seeking tougher measures.

On the right, conservative MEPs from the powerful EPP group in the parliament will push to preserve the free carbon quotas, which EU-based steel and aluminium producers insist are necessary.

And Green MEPs and environmental groups, on the other hand, see the proposed transition as a sell out and want the free quotas removed immediately and a baseline carbon price imposed.

- 'Rubbish dump' -

The commission is also looking to take more action at a European level to control emissions reduction in sectors excluded from the carbon market, such as agriculture and waste management.

But EU member states are at loggerheads over how to share the cost of the measures, and industrial lobbyists will fight some of them as the final drafting process continues.

Airlines complain, for example, that a measure to tax aviation fuel for intra-European flights would distort the market with the rest of the world.

The mainly eastern member states, such as Poland, which rely on coal will resist tighter emissions reduction targets, and environmentalists are unconvinced by plans to promote natural carbon sinks like forests.

Pressure group Greenpeace, for one, fears these unproven solutions will be used to camouflage a lack of ambition in reducing emissions, and have denounced the plan in advance.

"This package of measures from the commission is a fireworks display over a rubbish dump," said Greenpeace director for Europe Jorgo Riss.

jug/dc/rl
Flames from the Sugar fire consume a home in Doyle, Calif., on Saturday. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)

Wildfires continue to devastate the northern forests of California as scorching heat and severe drought are creating ideal conditions for conflagrations.

The River fire, which broke out about 20 miles southwest of Yosemite National Park on Sunday afternoon, exploded to 2,500 acres in just a few hours and had spread to 9,000 acres as of Monday evening, officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

More than 450 personnel  including some using air tankers  were battling the blaze, which was 10% contained and has destroyed four structures, Cal Fire spokesperson Jaime Williams said.

Mandatory evacuation orders and warnings were in place in parts of Madera and Mariposa counties. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Cal Fire said.

"They're still making an aggressive attack on this fire," Williams said. "With the cooler temperatures, were hoping to get even more work down tonight."

Dangerous heat, persistent drought and low humidities are priming California for extreme fire behavior, experts say.

North of the River fire, the lightning-induced Beckwourth Complex fire, which includes the massive Sugar fire, ballooned to 89,748 acres. The Sugar fire, which ignited July 2, more than doubled in size over the weekend, growing to 89,078 acres, according to Plumas National Forest officials. It is now the states largest fire of the season so far.

The fire, which is burning north of Lake Tahoe, has spread most rapidly on its north side, said Kimberly Kaschalk, a public information officer with California Incident Management Team 4. The fire is 23% contained, with much of its southern flank under control.

The other blaze in the Beckwourth Complex fire  the Dotta fire  started June 30 and charred 670 acres. It was 99% contained by Monday.

Authorities received reports the Sugar fire is destroying homes in multiple communities, Lisa Cox of the U.S. Forest Service, who is a public information officer for the Beckwourth Complex fire, said on Sunday. As of Monday night, no new official figures had been released. Video posted to social media showed homes ablaze in the town of Doyle. A damage assessment team was working on a tally.

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The Plumas County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuation orders for Frenchman Lake and Dixie Valley. The Lassen County Sheriff's Office on Monday reduced several evacuation orders to warnings for areas that include the town of Herlong and the roads connecting Doyle Loop and Hackstaff Road to Laver Crossing.

Parts of the town of Doyle and area west of Highway 395 are still under evacuation orders. An evacuation shelter has been set up at Lassen County Fairgrounds.

Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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James Smith missed his final housing payment to the University of Massachusetts Amherst when he spent a year there in an exchange program on his way to a degree at the University of Minnesota.

Strapped and with his family struggling financially at the time, he promised to pay off the $2,000 balance as soon as he could. But then collection fees were added and, because of a clerical mistake, he was charged an additional amount owed by another student with the same name.

Smith gave up. In response, the university refused to release his transcript showing the credits he had earned and paid for during his time at UMass. To make up for them, he had to take a crush of extra courses back in Minnesota  the maximum allowed without requiring additional tuition  until he had enough to graduate.

It definitely made for a pretty horrible year and a half, Smith said about the impact of a policy he called both stupid and shortsighted. In the end, he said, UMass never got its money, and I had to repeat a year of college because I was broke.

Stories like this are emerging nationwide in response to reporting about the long-standing but little-known practice under which students are prevented from obtaining their credits and degrees because they owe even small amounts of money to the universities and colleges they attended.

Critics call it transcript ransom.

Nearly all higher education institutions withhold transcripts from students who have even the smallest of balances, according to the higher education consulting firm Ithaka S+R, which has estimated that about 6.6 million Americans are blocked from obtaining their transcripts or degrees because of unpaid bills.

But some institutions are changing this policy as they recognize the huge impact  and very bad optics  of withholding transcripts, a practice that almost exclusively affects low-income students. Anger over this has only grown at a time when many families are suffering through the financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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In the most significant development, Southern New Hampshire University has now stopped blocking transcripts; it says it is has begun releasing these records to the 2,257 students from whom they were withheld over the last year alone because of unpaid balances that average $728.

SNHU has an enrollment of around 150,000, most of it online, a spokeswoman said, which makes it one of the nations largest single nonprofit providers of higher education.

The university doesnt know how many students in all have been blocked from obtaining their transcripts over the years, though the registrar, Deanna Bechard, said there are four file cabinets in her office filled with degrees awaiting payment. Under the change in policy, all will now be sent out as soon as graduates addresses can be found.

Since the start of the pandemic, we were getting more and more concerns from students because they owed money, and how can they pay us if they cant get a job, said Bechard. As we thought about the student experience, we were thinking, these poor students went through four years of their education, and now they cant get their diploma because they have a balance?

As for whether withholding transcripts encouraged people to pay their debts, Bechard said, It was marginally successful and marginally is probably a strong word. The only thing it really did was prompt a conversation between the student and our accounts receivable department. It didnt make them write a check.

Philander Smith College in Arkansas announced during commencement ceremonies that it would forgive all outstanding balances for the classes of 2020 and 2021  which came to about $80,000  avoiding students degrees from being blocked.

If youve got a balance, know that your balance is no more, the president, Roderick Smothers, said. He said the gesture was in the spirit of doing all the good we can.

In Massachusetts, where transcript withholding has come under particular scrutiny, the chairman of the Board of Higher Education is publicly questioning the policy, and the board has ordered state colleges and universities to report back about how many students are affected. Data previously obtained from the institutions by The Hechinger Report and GBH News shows the total is 97,145.

Some of these students are in difficult personal situations, the chairman, Chris Gabrieli, said. The fact that so few of these balances have been paid off does not inspire one that the hold process is a powerful tool. I think its the other way around, since blocking transcripts often prevents would-be graduates from transferring, going on to graduate school or getting the jobs they need to pay their debts. Students should be able to have their transcripts they need to advance their agenda.

Gabrieli, who is also a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, wondered aloud why entire transcripts are being withheld if students owe money only for a single course or a semester, or for library fines or parking tickets.

Its an odd thing to say their fully paid-for past semesters arent theirs, he said.

One Massachusetts school, Bunker Hill Community College, dropped its transcript withholding policy in response to the reporting by Hechinger and GBH. Another, the University of Massachusetts Boston, said during the investigation that it held transcripts for overdue balances in any amount; afterward, however, it said the policy had changed, and it would withhold transcripts only for unpaid bills of $1,000 or more.

A measure working its way through the Massachusetts legislature would give students ownership of their transcripts if they owe money to a public university or college. California last year became the first state in which public and private higher educational institutions were banned from holding back the transcripts of students who have unpaid debts. A new Washington State law requires that students who owe money be allowed to get their transcripts in order to apply for jobs. And a coalition of advocacy groups in New York is pushing for legislation there like Californias.

One Michigan resident was inspired by this burst of attention to resume his fight with his former university over a debt it said he owed for a course he never took.

Desmond Wright-Glenn registered for the course at Wayne State University in 2016 but then learned that, after fees he hadnt known about were added, his scholarship wouldnt cover the full cost. Wright-Glenn concedes that he never canceled his registration, but also says he never logged into or attended the course. Still, he was charged for it in full, and when he couldnt pay, his transcript listing all the other classes hed completed was withheld.

Other than that transcript, I had no way of substantiating that [education] other than my word, said Wright-Glenn, who had hoped to go to graduate school. It shut me down. I at that point was living paycheck to paycheck and didnt have $1,400 to give them  the amount the university said he owed.

His career plateaued, he said; even to get promoted at the long-term care company where he worked, he needed to provide his transcript.

Seeing news coverage of other students trapped in the same situation, Wright-Glenn, now 36, sent emails about his case in late March and early April to every member of Wayne States board of governors, his legislators and the governor of Michigan. A few days later, he got an email from the university bursars office telling him that his bill had been rescinded and his transcript would be released to him.

Im not sure whose ear I got in, Wright-Glenn said. I think it wasnt a good look. Maybe someone said, Did this seriously happen, and are we seriously charging someone for nothing? 

Although its administrative procedures manual says that balances are never written off, a spokesman for the university said exceptions are sometimes made on a case-by-case basis. He said transcripts are released upon request to prospective employers even if there is a hold on a students account.

Now, in addition to finally applying to graduate school, Wright-Glenn is considering starting an advocacy organization for other students who cant get their transcripts. Hes already toying with a name: Free the Grades.

I feel like I won, but then there are 6.6 million other people out there who havent won, who dont have my tenacity, he said.

Other students have stepped forward with similar accounts. One who was studying toward a degree to become a special education teacher had her transcript blocked when her financial aid ran out and she couldnt pay for a summer course shed taken.

My life has been at a standstill for years, she said. Meanwhile, Im still paying student loans for a degree Im not allowed to have.

Thats a story Vive Griffith hears often as director of outreach and engagement for the Clemente Course in the Humanities, which offers free classes nationwide to low-income adults to encourage them to go, or go back, to college. Many are prevented from doing so because they have unpaid bills and cant obtain the transcripts listing the credits theyve already earned.

These are people who are 35 or 45 and they went to college when they were 18, but never finished, Griffith said. They leave us, and theyve got confidence and skills about continuing on in school, and then they hit a complete dead end.

In many cases, students want to pay their debts but cant. The money they owe started to pile up during a financial emergency or because of unanticipated expenses.

Its important to recognize that theres a difference between willingly and knowingly accruing debt versus something happening, Griffith said. Besides, she said, people are much more likely to get this debt paid back if they can get degrees and make more money.

Bechard, at SNHU, pointed out that even reversing this policy is not wiping the balance these students owe. Its giving them an opportunity to get a job to pay the bill.

Smith, now 49 and a lawyer in California, still reflects on his experience with UMass.

I recognize Im a lot luckier than many others who have been through the same experience, he said. I didnt have to drop out of school. I didnt have to take a hiatus. I was able to finish and get a degree. But I basically had to repeat my sophomore year of college because of this.

Universities blocking of transcripts appears financially self-defeating and sometimes reads like bureaucratic parody.

Thomas Tarowsky went back to the campus of his alma mater, West Virginia University, for a meeting in 2014 and got a $20 parking ticket. Soon after that he received a rather terse and pedantic letter from the university telling him his academic transcript would be withheld until he paid the fine.

Tarowsky was 65 at the time and a retired college dean.

A WVU spokeswoman said it value[s] each member of our university family and invited Tarowsky to get in touch about his case.

For his part, Tarowsky said that not only has the ticket remained unpaid, but I have not and will not contribute to the alumni association.

This story about colleges withholding transcripts was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, in collaboration with GBH News. Additional reporting by Kirk Carapezza. It is published here in partnership with the Solutions Journalism Exchange. Sign up for our The Hechinger Reports higher education newsletter.

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By Andre Paultre and Jeff Mason

PORT-AU-PRINCE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States is still reviewing a request for troops made by Haiti's interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph to help secure its airport and other infrastructure after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, the White House said on Monday.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Haiti's political leadership remains unclear and that it was vital for the country's leaders to come together to chart a united path forward.

"It's still under review," she said of Haiti's request to send troops. Asked if it had been ruled out, Psaki said, "No."

U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters later on Monday that his administration was "closely watching" developments in Haiti.

"The people of Haiti deserve peace and security, and Haiti's political leaders need to come together for the good of their country," Biden said.

Moise was shot dead early on Wednesday at his Port-au-Prince home by what Haitian authorities describe as a unit of assassins including 26 Colombians and two Haitian-Americans. Haitian police said on Sunday they had arrested another suspect.

A separate U.S. government source said on Monday that at least one of the Haitian-Americans arrested on suspicion of taking part in Moise's killing had been an informant for the U.S. government law enforcement agency.

The death of the president plunged the troubled country into deeper turmoil, and U.S. officials traveled there on Sunday to assess the situation and meet three politicians who have all staked competing claims to take charge.

"What was clear about their trip is that there is a lack of clarity about the future of political leadership," Psaki said at a news briefing.

Haitians in the capital Port-au-Prince were planning protests this week against Joseph, according to social media posts. Joseph's right to lead the country has been challenged by two other senior politicians, Prime Minister-Designate Ariel Henry and Senate President Joseph Lambert.

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The political turmoil could worsen longstanding poverty and lawlessness for most Haitians if the acting government only focuses on the investigation into Moise's killers, said Feckenson Cheri, 33, who lives with his aunt in the capital.

"I know they're arresting the people they think killed the president, but I'm not sure they'll ever figure it out. What we need is help to save us from the misery that's all around us," he said.

Emily Horne, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, said the U.S. delegation held a joint meeting with Joseph and Henry, and a meeting with Lambert to "encourage open and constructive dialogue" to reach an agreement to enable Haiti to hold free and fair elections, Horne said.

'MERCENARIES'

On Sunday, Haitian police said they had detained a suspected plot mastermind, 63-year-old Christian Emmanuel Sanon, widely described as a Florida-based doctor, whom authorities accuse of hiring mercenaries to oust and replace Moise.

On Monday, Haitian police issued an arrest warrant for a Colombian, apparently in connection with the alleged plot. Colombian media said the man was a retired soldier.

Colombian police said on Monday they could not share any hypothesis about the death of Moise and that they respect the Haitian state's autonomy. So far 18 Colombians tied to the case have been arrested and three more killed.

Families of some of the Colombians, many ex-soldiers, have said their relatives were hired as bodyguards, not as mercenaries, and that they did not kill Moise.

The men were initially contracted to protect Sanon and were later presented with a warrant to arrest Moise, Haiti's National Police Chief Leon Charles said Sunday.

Photos said to be of Sanon meeting with a group of men, including another suspect in the case, Haitian-American James Solages, began circulating on social media late on Sunday. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the images.

A man by Sanon's name is listed online as a doctor who has worked in Florida, where a security company that Haitian authorities say hired suspects in the case is based.

Colombian authorities are investigating Herard's activities during his visits, Colombian police chief Jorge Luis Vargas said.

High-ranking Colombian intelligence officials have been in Haiti since Friday to assist with the investigation.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington, Luis Jaime Acosta in Bogota and Andre Paultre and David Alire Garcia in Port-au-PrinceAdditional reporting by Mark Hosenball, Patricia Zengerle, Doina Chiacu and Daphne Psaledakis in WashingtonWriting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Patricia Zengerle;Editing by Alistair Bell and Cynthia Osterman)
TAMPA - One of the largest international demonstrations in the last 60 years against the Cuban regime found its way to Tampa over the last few days with hundreds of people demanding freedom and democracy on the island.

The demonstrations erupted amid a deep economic crisis in Cuba and to protest food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In Tampa, protesters and members of the Cuban exile community gathered Monday morning outside the local office of Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor to express their support for the protests over the weekend in Cuba.

The day before, up to 200 people waved Cuban flags in front of Jesuit High School on Himes Avenue, prompting police to shut down nearby roads.

At least 100 protesters outside Castors office Monday criticized the government of Miguel Diaz-Canel. In Cuba, Diaz-Canel denounced the protesters.

Among the group of protesters in Tampa was Raquel Zuaznabar, a 27-year-old Cuban who arrived in exile two years ago. Zuaznabar said that conditions on the island are difficult. She said every time she talks to her friends on social media, the criticism is overwhelming.

People in Cuba have nothing to eat, they lack work and the government does not make many efforts to help people overcome the coronavirus, " Zuaznabar said.

Sonia Pelegrin, 53, another Cuban protester who arrived in Tampa a decade ago, said her relatives in Havana are desperate.

It is a situation that has deteriorated over time and the Cuban authorities are totally disconnected from the people, Pelegrin said. There is no future and there are no options for the Cuban families.

On Saturday, a group of opponents inside and outside the island called for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to help Cubans overcome the crisis, but the initiative was rejected by Cuban authorities.

As a longtime advocate for human rights, I stand with the Cuban people who are exercising their fundamental rights of free assembly and expression, Castor said in a statement. The Cuban people deserve freedom and human dignity. America hears you and supports your calls for freedom from dictatorship, disease and poverty.

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Cuban-born journalist Wilfredo Cancio of Miami said the demonstrations on the island were a spontaneous explosion of people burdened by deficiencies of all kinds.

The regime has nothing to offer other than rhetoric and repression, Cancio said. The system is exhausted and there is a generation of Cubans who do not want to know more about empty promises.

President Joe Biden also expressed his solidarity with the Cuban people. Biden demanded that the islands authorities address the needs of its people at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.

We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime, Biden said in a statement.

The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected. The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.

Local and state leaders also weighed in.

Tampa stands with the brave people of Cuba, whose ancestors helped build our community. The fight for freedom and against repression is all of our fight, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a tweet.

Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted: Florida supports the people of Cuba as they take to the streets against the tyrannical regime in Havana. The Cuban dictatorship has repressed the people of Cuba for decades & is now trying to silence those who have the courage to speak out against its disastrous policies.

Former political prisoner Roberto Pizano, 82, a member of Casa Cuba in Tampa, was among the protesters in front of Castors office.

He remembered what it was like to live in Cuba as a political prisoner for 18 years under the late Fidel Castro: forced labor, hunger, torture and the fear of dying without seeing his family.

The Cuban people are still hungry for freedom and democracy, he said. Do we need to wait another 60 years? Of course not.
(AFP via Getty Images)

Cuban protesters filled the streets of the island nation over the weekend to reject what they call a lack of freedom as well as a lack of food and medicine exacerbated by both the coronavirus and US meddling through the use of sanctions.

Protesters have called for Cubas president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, to step down, according to Reuters.

Mr Diaz-Canel pointed to the US as the culprit behind the nations commodity scarcity. Since 2000, US sanctions placed on Cuba  which the government claims has cost the country hundreds of billions of dollars over the decades  has allowed for food and humanitarian relief goods to pass through the embargo.

The White House responded to Mr Diaz-Canels accusation that the US was fomenting the unrest. Thats simply inaccurate, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday at her daily briefing, adding, theres every indication that yesterdays protests were reactions of the people in Cuba to exhaustion of the governance of the leaders of the state.

Like much of the rest of the world, Cuba has struggled to provide for its citizens as mounting coronavirus infections leave hospitals overwhelmed and supplies dwindling.

Cubas president has called for his revolutionaries to take to the street alongside the nations military to push back against the protesters. In a televised address, he said the order to combat has been given.

In Miami, where many Cubans who opposed Fidel Castros regime fled after the Cuban Revolution, opponents of the revolutionary leaders have started marching in solidarity with protesters still on the island. Some Republican lawmakers, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, have praised the protests despite regularly villainizing protesters in their own states and nation.
People demonstrate, some holding Cuban and US National flags, during a protest against the Cuban government in Miami on July 11, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands in Miami joined protests in solidarity with the Cuban people rallying against their government because of food and vaccine shortages amid rising prices.

Cubans in the thousands also protested on Sunday against the government of President and Communist Party leader Miguel Diaz Canel, as the island sees a spike in cases of Covid-19 and its most difficult economic crisis in decades.

The country is also struggling with the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration after President Barack Obama tried to normalize relations with the country.

Sundays protest was one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations in memory, the Associated Press writes.

Thousands of Miamians came out in support of the protests in the Little Havana neighbourhood on Sunday.

Videos shared on social media shows people dancing and singing, while some were carrying signs and waving flags.

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The Miami Police Department shut down the area for the demonstration and authorities urged people to avoid the area until further notice.

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Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava tweeted: We stand united with the Cuban people on the island and across our community at this historic moment in the struggle for freedom, dignity, and basic human rights  may their courageous actions bring about real change and move us closer to the dream of a free Cuba.

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The Miami police chief told a Miami Herald reporter that they estimated that there were about 5,000 at the protest in solidarity with Cuba, adding that there had been no arrests, but one medical emergency.

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Mr Diaz Canel pushed what he said was his countrys revolutionary citizens to counter the protests and blamed the US for stoking fury among the Cuban people.

We are prepared to do anything, he said. We will be battling in the streets.

President Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan tweeted: US supports freedom of expression and assembly across Cuba, and would strongly condemn any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters who are exercising their universal rights.

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Reuters reported that Cuba is facing its worst economic decline since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Some protesters during the demonstrations that erupted in several cities across the island nation from the capital Havana to Santiago, called for freedom and democracy as they voiced their anger over shortages of several basic goods, such as vaccines, to tackle the pandemic.

Attempts to upload photos and videos of the protests to social media were curbed by Cuban authorities who shut down Internet services throughout the afternoon in Havana.

We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. Thats why Im here, a protester told the AP, asking to remain anonymous for fear of being arrested.

Police began detaining people about two and a half hours into the protest in Havana after some started pulling up cobblestones off the streets and throwing them at police.

About 20 people were taken away in police cars, or by individuals in civilian clothes. Police used pepper spray on a few protesters and charged some with batons, but did not directly confront thousands who chanted freedom.

Soon after, about 300 government supporters reached protest sites and began shouting slogans in favour of former president Fidel Castro, who died at the age of 90 in 2016, and the Cuban revolution.

In a nationally televised speech, President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the US for the unrest as he called on the supporters of the government to confront provocations".

We call on all revolutionaries of the country, all communists, to go out in the streets where these provocations occur... and to face them in a decisive, firm and courageous way, Mr Diaz-Canel said.

Read More

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WASHINGTON  As thousands of Cubans protest against food and medicine shortages amid the coronavirus pandemic, President Joe Biden called on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel's regime to hear their people and serve their needs and expressed support for the Cuban protesters.

The Cuban people are demanding their freedom from an authoritarian regime, Biden told reporters Monday. We call on the government of Cuba to refrain from violence in their attempt to silence the voices of the people of Cuba.

In an earlier statement Monday, Biden said: We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime.

Thousands protested Sunday across Cuba in what was said to be the biggest anti-government demonstration in 30 years. Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, exacerbated by a surge in coronavirus cases coupled with a low vaccination rate.

In an impromptu televised address, Diaz-Canel blamed the protests on U.S. efforts to provoke a social uprising by tightening its sanctions and warned that protesters would face a strong response.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it would be a grievous mistake for the Cuban regime to attribute the protests to the United States or any other outside actor.

It would be a grievous mistake because it would show that they are simply not hearing the voices and the will of the Cuban people deeply, deeply, deeply tired of the repression that has gone on for far too long, he said.

He said the Biden administration is watching the events closely as it continues its review of U.S.-Cuba policy.

'We are fed up': Thousands of demonstrators throughout Cuba protest shortages, rising prices

Biden forges new path on Cuba

The Biden administrations policy on Cuba has differed from the Obama administration, where Biden served as vice president.

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Former President Barack Obama was thawing the United States tense relationship with Cuba. Restrictions on travel and remittances were eased, the U.S. and Cuban embassies were reopened, and the country was taken off the terrorist list. Obama also reopened diplomatic relations with Cuba and visited the country in 2016.

However, former President Donald Trump reinstated travel restrictions to the country, returned it to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism and enacted tough sanctions. Trump also withdrew staff working in the U.S. Embassy in Havana after officials were struck by an illness that caused hearing loss, dizziness, loss of balance and other neurological symptoms.

Biden has not lifted the the Trump administration's sanctions.

Anti-government protesters march in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in several cities in Cuba to protest against ongoing food shortages and high prices of foodstuffs.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the United States is "assessing how we can be helpful directly to the people of Cuba."

She said the U.S. is working on getting vaccines to Cuba, but that the island is not part of COVAX, the initiative aimed at equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines.

When asked about whether the president is reviewing his policy on Cuba, Psaki said she isnt going to predict any policy shifts. She added that the future and current policy of the U.S. is governed by support for democracy and human rights in Cuba.

"Our approach continues to be governed by two principles; first, support for democracy and human rights, which is going to continue to be at the core of our efforts through empowering the Cuban people to determine their own future, Psaki said at the press briefing. Second, Americans, especially Cuban Americans, are the best ambassadors for freedom and prosperity in Cuba.

Experts: Biden's position isn't as hard line as Trump's

Ryan Berg, senior fellow of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the protests will likely force Bidens hand to complete the review on his administrations policies on Cuba.

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden promised to reverse Trumps policies on Cuba. Berg said that the recent protests will make it much harder for Biden to return to engaging with the Cuban government the same way that Obama did.

It's going to be a lot harder for (the Biden Administration) to engage in the opening to the regime that they campaigned on, Berg said. I think that becomes increasingly more difficult the more we see citizen uprisings that could be met with repression and already have been met with repression, in many ways.

John Suarez, executive director at the Center for a Free Cuba, said Bidens statement is a positive first step but noted that the president must go further by calling on the government to allow humanitarian assistance to Cubans on the island.

What's causing the troubles in Cuba is the internal blockade that the regime has placed on Cubans, Suarez said. That's why the Cubans are protesting the regime. Theyre not out front of the U.S. Embassy protesting the U.S. embargo, they're protesting the government because they know who's responsible for what they're suffering. It's not an accident.

Jaime Suchlicki, director at the Cuban Studies Institute, said Biden is not taking a "hard-line policy" that the Trump administration likely would have.

President Trump would have taken a much more hard-line policy and threatened the Castro government," she said. Biden is not doing that. He's going easy, telling Well, don't kill the opposition So, it's a different style, although there was a limit to how much we can do in Cuba.

Contributing: Deirdre Shesgreen, Elinor Aspegren, USA TODAY; Associated Press

Reach Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden on Cuba: Protesters demand freedom from 'authoritarian regime'
Thousands of Cubans took to the streets in Havana to lash out at the worsening conditions in the country under the communist regime  the biggest protest in decades  prompting the countrys president to call on "revolutionary" citizens to counter the protesters.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who also heads the Communist Party, addressed the country and blamed the U.S. for stoking the anger, according to the Washington Post.

SOCIALIST SANDERS MUM ON PROTESTS

"The order to fight has been given  into the street, revolutionaries!" he said in an address, according to the BBC.

Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, along with a resurgence of coronavirus cases, as it suffers the consequences of U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. The country also reported 7,000 daily COVID-19 infections on Sunday and 47 deaths.

Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, took to Twitter to say the "U.S. supports freedom of expression and assembly across Cuba, and would strongly condemn any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters who are exercising their universal rights."

Many of the protesters in the town of San Antonio de los Banos were young and hurled insults at Diaz-Canel. They shouted that they are "not afraid."

Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas, the son of a Cuban immigrant, took to Twitter on Sunday in support of the thousands of protesters.

Cruz reposted a video that claimed to show dozens in front of the Communist Party headquarters and said the current regime will be "consigned to the dustbin of history."

"It has brutalized & denied freedom to generations of Cubans, and forced my family & so many others to flee," he tweeted. "The American people stand squarely with the men & women of Cuba and their noble fight for liberty."

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In 2009, a year after Raul Castro formally replaced Fidel as Cubas president, Diaz-Canel became minister of higher education. In 2012 he rose to one of Cubas vice presidencies and soon thereafter was named first vice president.

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DEM SOCIALISTS ALSO MUM ON PROTESTS

"We are calling on all the revolutionaries in the country, all the Communists, to hit the streets wherever there is an effort to produce these provocations," Diaz-Canel said, according to Reuters.

Witnesses told the Post that tear gas was deployed and dozens of protesters were detained. The paper said there were multiple people wounded.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
US Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) speaks to a reporter during a visit to the border wall near Pharr, Texas on June 30, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)

Colorado Republican Rep Lauren Boebert bombastically told the US federal government during the CPAC conference to leave us the hell alone.

Were here to tell the government: we dont want your benefits, we dont want your welfare, she said on Saturday night. Dont come knocking on my door with your Fauci ouchie  you leave us the hell alone.

But the four counties in Colorado with the highest unemployment rate in the state are all in Ms Boeberts district, meaning many of her constituents are reliant on government support. The statewide unemployment rate in Colorado was 6.2 per cent in May of this, according to the most recent Federal Reserve Economic Data.

Out of the states 64 counties, four have an unemployment rate of eight per cent or higher: San Miguel (11.4 per cent), Pitkin (8.5), Pueblo (8), and Huerfano (8)  all located in the 3rd Congressional District.

The district covers around half of Colorados land mass and is home to just over 755,000 people, according to census data from 2019.

Pitkin County was also the biggest receiver of Paycheck Protection Programme business loans per capita in the state, according to a CNN database. Pitkin County received $38,350,000 in loans backed by the Small Business Administration  or $215,849,609 per 100,000 residents.

Denver County, represented by Democratic Rep Diana DeGette, has received the second-most PPP loans per capita in Colorado at $177,465,687 per 100,000 residents  $1,290,550,000 in total.

A large number of her constituents do rely on government money to buy food and put roofs over their heads, CNN reporter Daniel Dale said on Monday morning.

Colorado has received significant government money during the coronavirus pandemic, 60 billion in total, including 15 billion through the paycheck protection program, he added.

A whole bunch of businesses have taken much-needed money, from retirement communities to a dry goods store to a dental clinic, Mr Dale said referring to entities in Ms Boeberts district. This view she expressed certainly is not shared by everyone she is purporting to represent.

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Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is a federal jobless benefit that sends money to Colorado residents who havent paid into the states unemployment insurance system.

Governors in 26 states have chosen to end most or all of their federal benefits early. Governors in 22 states have already pulled the plug and four more will end their programmes by 31 July.

According to the National Employment Law Project, 4.7 million workers face having their unemployment benefits cut off early.

While these premature, ill-advised and cruel cessations of benefits will harm all workers who need them, the brunt of the impact will be felt by Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other people of colour, a NELP report stated.

Colorados Democratic Governor Jared Polis has said that hes not ending the federal unemployment benefits in his state early. Included in the programme are a $300 weekly support payment, payments to users of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programme, and extended benefits to individuals who have used up their eligible state-level benefits.

The federal programme ends in Colorado on 4 September, the Colorado Sun reported.

Congress shouldnt be paying out these benefits if they do not want states to use it. If Colorado ended these benefits prematurely, it would harm individuals, business owners and the broader economy, Mr Polis wrote in a letter to three Congressional Colorado Republicans, including Ms Boebert, who wanted him to put an end to the strengthened federal benefits.

The letter was a response to a message from the three Republicans, who argued that this benefit was meant to provide temporary relief, not be a permanent addition to unemployment benefits.

The Independent has reached out to Ms Boebert for comment.

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File: Donald Trump speaks at the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) (Getty Images)

Former US president Donald Trump said he made it possible for billionaires Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk to attempt a race to reach space by reviving Nasa and creating the Space Force.

Taking credit for the first attempts at opening up space tourism by billionaires, Mr Trump told Fox News in a phone interview that Space Force, which was started by his administration in 2019 as the sixth branch of US Armed Service, is vital and up and running.

Were very proud of that, Mr Trump said. It was close to 75 years. It was the Air Force. And now we did Space Force, which is going to be so vital. And we not only did it. I mean, its up and running and really great, he added.

UK entrepreneur Mr Branson blasted off to space on Sunday onboard his company Virgins own space place in a historic trip, beating fellow billionaire Jeff Bezoss own plan to go to space. The Amazon founder is scheduled to make a similar trip on 20 July.

When asked about Mr Bransons trip and other billionaire business leaderss interest in space, Mr Trump said: Better him than me. I would rather see Richard in the plane today than me in the spaceship. But if Richard loves it, and Bezos loves it. And a lot of rich guys love space, OK? You will explain that someday. But they do love space.

I made it possible for them to do this. I actually said to my people: Let the private sector do it. These guys want to come in with billions of dollars. Lets lease them facilities because you need certain facilities to send up rockets, and we have those facilities, he added.

He went on to say that the US has the greatest facilities for such missions and he reopened them because they were dead.

So I said, hey look, if Elon wants to stand up a rocket, let him do it. Well charge him some rent. Let him do it. Let these guys do it. And were seeing advancement now that I dont believe we would have ever seen had we done it the old-fashioned way, Mr Trump said in the interview.

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Mr Branson called his an hour of space visit as an experience of a lifetime and exclaimed that it was just magical as he returned to Earth on his space plane, named Unity.

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I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid, but honestly nothing can prepare you for the view of Earth from space, he said in a press conference.

Mr Musks SpaceX has already launched astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA and is also actively involved in opening up space tourism. He has himself, however, not committed to going into space anytime soon even as his companys first private flight is set to launch in September.

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Elon Musk. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Elon Musk denied in court Monday that he ever rage-fired employees.

The Tesla CEO said he "gives clear and frank feedback which may be construed as derision."

Tesla shareholders filed a lawsuit after the firm acquired SolarCity in 2016.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Elon Musk appeared in court Monday to defend Tesla's acquisition of SolarCity in 2016 and denied ever rage-firing employees.

The CEO instead suggested that he "gives clear and frank feedback which may be construed as derision," reports from Bloomberg and other journalists at the trial in Delaware said.

Musk created a reputation for himself during the initial production of Tesla's Model 3 for going on so-called rage-firing sprees. A Tesla spokesperson denounced these claims to Wired at the time, saying Musk made "difficult but necessary decisions."

During questioning in the chancery court, Musk threw verbal gabs at Randall Baron, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, calling him a "bad human being" for working at Milberg Weiss, and Robbins Geller, two law firms involved in a criminal scandal.

"You were mentored by criminals, then you continued to be mentored by criminals, and that's why I don't trust you," Musk said to Baron, Bloomberg reported. "I think you are a bad human being."

If Musk loses the trial, he could be ordered to pay billions of dollars in damages to shareholders who saw their stock value fall in the wake of Tesla's acquisition of SolarCity.

Arguments are set to continue Tuesday.

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An erotic lesbian nun drama by the director of Basic Instinct, Showgirls and Elle premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday night to great fanfare  and viewers cant quite find the words to describe the experience.

Benedetta, Paul Verhoevens latest sure-to-shock cinematic effort, stunned viewers after it debuted on the fourth night of the 74th edition of the prestigious festival.

The period drama  loosely based on the 1986 nonfiction book Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy, by Judith C. Brown  centers on the steamy relationship between two nuns in 17th century Italy: Benedetta (Virginie Efira), who believes she is possessed by Jesus Christ, and Bartolomea (Daphne Patakia), who recently arrived at the convent.

One particular scene that has set Twittersphere ablaze shows a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary being used as a sex toy.

Douglas Greenwowe, a contributing editor for i-D, celebrated the film as blasphemous, sapphic nun f fest thats horny, traumatizing, violent and unhinged.

Fandangos Brian Formo added that, even though Benedetta might not be one of Verhoevens best movies, it is absolutely one of his most subversive films. Lesbian nuns is only the half of it, he tweeted.

Jordan Ruimy, editor-in-chief at World of Reel, wrote that you have never seen a movie quite like this one. It is erotic, violent, religiously sinful and absurdist...Its a feminist take on Christ, he added.

A review by Deadlines Todd McCarthy called it a medieval brew of religious fervor, illicit lesbian sex in a convent, Catholic church politics and  to incidentally add a contemporaneous touch  a plague sweeping the land, he said, referring to a plague ravaging the land of Pescia in Tuscany.

Still, during a news conference, the 82-year-old director, rejected the idea that the movies steamy statuette sex scene is blasphemous.

I do not understand really how you can be blasphemous about something that happened You cannot basically change history after the fact. You can talk about that was wrong or not, but you cannot change history. I think the word blasphemy for me in this case is stupid, Verhoeven said.

The film, which also premiered in French cinemas on Friday, is set to be released in the United States later this year.


The European Union on Monday formally established a military mission for Mozambique to help train its armed forces battling jihadists in the north of the country.

A deadly insurgency by militants linked to the Islamic State group has ravaged the gas-rich Cabo Delgado province since late 2017, claiming some 3,000 lives and displacing 800,000 people.

Former colonial master Portugal is already providing training for Mozambican troops.

Lisbon's military instructors on the ground are expected to make up some half of the new EU mission, which will be headed by a Portuguese commander.

"The aim of the mission is to train and support the Mozambican armed forces in protecting the civilian population and restoring safety and security in the Cabo Delgado province," an EU statement said, without giving details on the overall size of the deployment.

"The mandate of the mission will initially last two years. During this period, its strategic objective will be to support the capacity building of the units of the Mozambican armed forces that will be part of a future Quick Reaction Force."

A senior European diplomat told AFP in June that other countries including France, Italy, and Spain are also expected to provide personnel for the mission.

The approval of the EU training mission comes as regional powers are also looking to bolster their support for Mozambique's fight to crush the insurgency.

Last month the 16 southern African countries in the SADC bloc approved the deployment of forces as Mozambique's government said it was open to foreign boots on the ground to battle the jihadists.

Rwanda said on Friday it would send a thousand troops.

The EU has several other training missions in Africa, including in Mali, Central African Republic, and Somalia.

The operation in Mali -- aimed at boosting the fight against jihadists -- has continued to operate despite concerns after the latest in a strike of military coups hit the country in May.

del/dc/ri
Miami prosecutors are weighing whether to upgrade criminal charges against two men accused of raping a South Beach tourist after an autopsy report revealed that she died, in part, because of fentanyl and alcohol.

According to an autopsy report obtained by the Herald, 24-year-old Christine Englehardt, of Pennsylvania, died from being in a prone position while under the influence of alcohol and fentanyl, a drug that may have been given to her by one of the men.

Englehardt was found dead on March 18 inside her room at the Albion Hotel. Miami Beach police later arrested two men, Evoire Collier and Dorian Taylor, of North Carolina, and charged them with sexual battery, burglary with battery, credit card fraud and petty theft.

As of Monday, their charges had not changed. Homicide charges are being investigated, said State Attorneys spokesman Ed Griffith.

Defense lawyers for Collier, 21, declined to comment. Liesbeth Boots, the defense attorney for Taylor, said: We will vigorously defend Mr. Taylor in court.

Both men have pleaded not guilty and remain awaiting trial in a Miami-Dade jail.

The story, first reported by the Miami Herald, added to international scrutiny on Miami Beach, which had been swamped by sometimes unruly spring break crowds  some of whom clashed with police  during the COVID-19 pandemic. The crowds led Miami Beach to roll back hours in which alcohol could be served in the citys famed entertainment district, a move described by a judge as unlawful.

Englehardts death garnered national headlines. She had traveled to South Beach alone, and had met Collier and Taylor at a restaurant in South Beach.

Christine Englehardt

According to an arrest report, Collier confessed that he and Taylor met the woman at a restaurant and that Taylor gave the girl a green pill as they walked on Ocean Drive.

Police said that by the time the two got Englehardt to the Albion Hotel, she could barely stand and Taylor had to hold her up as they got in the elevator. The arrest report said that the men sexually assaulted her in her room even as she fell unconscious, then stole her cellphone and credit cards before leaving.

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The Miami-Dade Medical Examiners Office conducted extensive toxicology tests before pronouncing a cause of death.

According to police, Collier told detectives that he believed the green pill  marked with a 30  given to Englehardt was Percocet, a powerful pain reliever. Miami Beach police, in arresting Taylor, found green pills in his bag that were made to resemble oxycodone, an opioid pain killer.

But according to Medical Examiner documents, the pills were actually fentanyl, and consistent with the drugs detected in Englehardt through the toxicology tests. The fentanyl in her stomach suggested it was ingested and rapidly fatal, the toxicoogy report said.

Evoire Collier

Tests shows Englehardts body had traces of cocaine, marijuana and amphetamine, although when or how she ingested those drugs is unclear. The toxicology report said the amounts of those drugs were very small and carry little significance.

Her blood alcohol content level, however, was .197, more than double the legal limit; another reading from fluid taken during the autopsy shows it was .24.

The concentration level of fentanyl was fatal, according to the toxicology report, although the positional asphyxia, with her face pressed down into the bed, cannot be excluded as having played a role in her death.

The issue of the medical examiners report surfaced in Miami-Dade circuit court on Friday, as prosecutors said it would be made available to lawyers preparing their defense of Collier and Taylor. The Medical Examiners Office has not ruled on the manner of Englehardts death  whether it was considered accidental or a homicide.

Circuit Judge Alberto Milian, in court on Friday, asked whether it was considered a homicide.

It may be, Assistant State Attorney Arvind Singh told the judge.

Across the nation, the wide availability of fentanyl and its chemical variants has been blamed on a nationwide epidemic of opioid addiction. South Florida, as has the rest of the state, has been hit hard by opioid abuse in recent years.

In 2017, Florida lawmakers passed a law that made it easier to charge someone with murder if they supply a fatal dose of fentanyl or synthetic variants, or a mixture of the drugs with others. Since then, prosecutors across Florida have charged a handful of drug suppliers with first-degree murder.

That includes two Miami-Dade inmates who in 2018 were accused of supplying the fatal fentanyl that killed a fellow inmate at the Miami-Dade County Jail. They are still in jail awaiting trial.
Leon Charles. Valerie Baeriswyl/AFP via Getty Images

Haitian National Police Chief Leon Charles announced on Sunday that 63-year-old Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a doctor based in Florida, is suspected of playing a major role in last week's assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and has been arrested.

Moise was shot and killed by gunmen who entered his home early last Wednesday morning. Charles said Sanon flew into Haiti in June and had "political objectives." He alleged that Sanon used a security firm to recruit some of the men involved in the assassination, telling them they would work as his bodyguards.

Haitian authorities say the hit squad that carried out the assassination was comprised of 28 people, with most soldiers from Colombia. So far, Haitian police have arrested 21 people in connection with Moise's assassination, including two Haitian Americans who allegedly served as translators for the Colombians.

Police said that upon Moise's death, Sanon intended to assume the presidency, The Washington Post reports. Under Haiti's constitution, the head of the Supreme Court is the president's successor, but the chief justice recently died of COVID-19 and hasn't been replaced. There are multiple people fighting to be Haiti's leader, including Claude Joseph, the acting prime minister, and neurosurgeon Ariel Henry, who was appointed prime minister by Moise shortly before his assassination. On Friday, members of Haiti's senate, which is not functioning, voted and made its leader, Joseph Lambert, Haiti's acting president.

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A team of rescue workers during a rescue operation at Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, on July 5. Eva Marie Uzcategui Trinkl/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The death toll at the collapsed condo in Surfside has reached 94, officials announced on Monday.

The Miami-Dade mayor said efforts to identify the deceased victims were becoming difficult.

First responders must now "rely heavily" on the local medical examiner, she said.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The death toll at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, reached 94 on Monday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced at a press conference on Monday.

Cava said 83 people have been identified and 80 next of kin have been notified.

"The police and the medical examiner teams are continuing their around-the-clock work to identify victims," Cava said. "However, the process of making identifications has become more difficult as time goes on."

"The recovery at this point is yielding human remains. At this step in the recovery process, we must rely heavily on the work of the medical examiner's office," she added.

The medical examiners were using technical and scientific processes to identify the remains, she said.

"The process is very methodical and careful, and it does take time," Cava added.

The South Florida condo partially collapsed in the early morning of June 24. The remaining portion of the building was brought down in a controlled demolition on July 4 to avoid further collapse during the effort to search for victims.

Officials last week said the effort to find victims turned from search and rescue to search and recovery as the hope of finding living victims in the rubble diminished.

Read the original article on Insider
Axios

This may be hard for some of you to stomach, but it's worth grappling with  it captures a rising dynamic in American politics. What they're saying: Andrew Sullivan, once influential but now on an island, writes in his Substack newsletter, "The Weekly Dish," of a "sudden, rapid, stunning shift in the belief system of the American elites"  a "moral panic," he calls it. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeDemocrats, this Trump oppone
Back to school

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With COVID-19 vaccines now readily available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are loosening its guidelines on masks ahead of the start of the upcoming school year.



The CDC now recommends that masks only need to be worn indoors by people aged 2 and older who have not been fully vaccinated. The announcement mirrored a similar easing of restrictions back in May, when the CDC said that fully vaccinated Americans could safely go without masks in most indoor and outdoor places.

As of Sunday, 159.3 million people in the United States have been fully vaccinated, nearly half of the total population. Kids aged 12 and up are currently eligible for vaccination, and according to NPR, so far 1 in 3 children have received the vaccine.

"Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports," the CDC wrote in their updated guidelines, continuing to encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.

Additionally, the CDC also recommends "at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms" and that proper ventilation, handwashing and cleaning should also be prioritized. They also advised that all students and staff who are sick should be encouraged to stay home.

RELATED: Fully Vaccinated Americans 'Do Not Need' a COVID Booster Shot Now, FDA and CDC Say

The updated guidance comes with U.S. COVID-19 cases at their lowest numbers since the beginning of the pandemic, with an average of 19,000 new infections a day. However, the nation's recovery from the virus is becoming disjointed, with states where most are vaccinated seeing a drop in cases while those that are undervaccinated, particularly in the Midwest and the South, are struggling with a rise in infections as the highly-contagious Delta variant spreads.

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"We're at a new point in the pandemic that we're all really excited about," CDC official Erin Sauber-Schatz told the Associated Press.

Putting an emphasis on a return to in-person learning, the CDC has also stressed that if schools are not able to follow the recommended physical distance guidelines, that should not impact their ability to reopen.

During a recent interview with NBC Nightly News, Dr. Anthony Fauci also spoke out in support of schools across the country reopening. "We want to get children back in school in person across the board as we enter into the fall term," he said.

RELATED VIDEO: Fully Vaccinated Americans Can Go Outdoors Without Masks, CDC Says in New Guidance

Despite the CDC's updated guidance on masks, the ultimate decision will still be up to state and local health officials.

Last week, California indicated that they would still require all K-12 students to wear masks indoors, noting that in addition to safety reasons they didn't want children to "feel different or singled out for being vaccinated or unvaccinated."

"At the outset of the new year, students should be able to walk into school without worrying about whether they will feel different or singled out for being vaccinated or unvaccinated  treating all kids the same will support a calm and supportive school environment," California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Meanwhile, other states, including Texas and Arizona, have previously put an end to mask mandates.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The CDC has also noted that it's not too late for parents to make sure their children are fully vaccinated by the start of school year.

"For families who haven't gotten their kids vaccinated yet, now is the time," Sauber-Schatz told NPR on Friday. "It takes five weeks to get fully vaccinated. If you got your first shot today, the second would be July 30, and you'd be fully vaccinated on Aug. 13. So now's the time if you haven't gotten vaccinated yet."

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from the CDC, WHO and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here.
Margrethe Vestager, the European Union's competition commissioner, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. BI Graphics

Google is reportedly prepping for a five-day court battle with EU legislators.

The bloc issued Google with a record $5 billion in 2018 for alleged anticompetitive practices.

The tech giant has been hit with $10 billion worth of fines in Europe in a three-year period.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Google is gearing up for a five-day court battle with the EU later this year, in response to a $5 billion fine issued by lawmakers for alleged anticompetitive practices.

The tech giant has been fined for anti-competitive behaviour - over search, shopping, and Android - by the EU three times in as many years. The first was for $2.7 billion in 2017, again for $5 billion in 2018, and once more for $1.7 billion in 2019.

The firm has repeatedly rejected the EU's findings, and met officials in court to appeal the first fine last year. Now, Reuters reports Google will challenge the second fine, issued in 2018, at a five-day hearing in late September.

The EU's competition watchdog laid down the penalty over allegations the company had used the dominance of Android mobile operating system to bolster the popularity of Google apps and services.

Specifically, the European Commission claimed Google forced phone makers to preinstall its Chrome browser and its Search app as a condition for accessing the Play app store, illegally paid manufacturers to preinstall its Search app exclusively, protecting its search business from competition, and prevented Android phone makers from selling devices that run "forked" versions of the operating system.

Google denied these allegations, saying it would appeal, and said Android had created "more choice for everyone."

The $5 billion fee remains the biggest antitrust fine issued by Europe's competition regulator against a single firm, and cemented the reputation of the bloc's competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, as the scourge of Silicon Valley.

Google has been facing mounting antitrust scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic, with attorney generals from 36 states - and Washington D.C. - recently lodging a complaint over its control of the Android app store.

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Insider approached Google for comment.

Are you a current or former Googler with more to share? You can contact this reporter securely using the encrypted messaging app Signal (+447801985586) or email (mcoulter@insider.com). Reach out using a nonwork device.

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Haitian police on Sunday arrested someone they suspect was a mastermind behind the assassination of President Jovenel Moise last week.

Authorities accuse Christian Emmanuel Sanon of hiring mercenaries to oust Moise and plotting to then install himself as president

"Sanon arrived in Haiti on a private plane with political objectives, according to our information...He had contacted a company specializing in security to recruit some bandits, and arrived in Haiti at the beginning of June, accompanied by some of them. They were initially supposed to guarantee his security," said National Police Chief Leon Charles.

Police say what was once a mission to protect Sanon later changed to replacing the president.

Following the killing at Moise's home last Wednesday, police arrested a group of Colombians and two Haitian Americans

The authorities said it was a commando unit, armed and trained.

According to the Miami Herald, the Colombian suspects said their mission was to arrest Moise, not kill him.

Police later confirmed Sanon had given one of the suspects an arrest warrant for the president.

Although the details of the alleged plot are still unclear, along with Sanon's motives.

There could, however, be an American connection.

The Miami Herald also reported that some of the Colombians claimed to have been hired by a Miami-based security firm.

And public records show a man with the same name as Sanon has worked as a doctor in Florida.

Although no confirmation yet on whether it is the same man.

The assassination has plunged poverty-stricken Haiti into chaos.

The government has appealed to the international community for help.

On Sunday, the Pentagon said experts from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security would be travelling to the country to help with the investigation.
When Georges Bossous Jr. opened a WhatsApp group chat last Wednesday morning, he felt a whirlwind of emotions.

I was surprised, in shock, in awe, disturbed, the Haitian American said.

He learned that Haitian President Jovenel Moise had been assassinated in his home in Port-au-Prince. The brazen attack also wounded the first lady Martine Moise, who was later flown to Miami for medical treatment.

Bossous, 47, grew up in Limbe, Haiti, and came to the United States when he was 21. A psychotherapist, he is the executive director of the nonprofit group Word and Action and the Haitian American Leadership Initiative in Orlando.

Georges Bossous Jr. (Courtesy Georges Bossous Jr.)

He said that while Moise had faced heavy criticism, the assassination in his home was unexpected. It tells us a lot about the security level of the country, Bossous said.

Moise, 53, was elected in 2016 and took office in February 2017. Protests broke out in 2019 calling for his resignation due to allegations he and other government officials had embezzled money intended for social initiatives. He denied the allegations, yet the turmoil in Haiti continued.

The rates of gang violence, kidnappings, murder and economic insecurity have risen tremendously in recent months.

Many Haitian Americans say they are concerned about the safety of their families back home. Bossous said many people, including his own mother, have become displaced by the instability in Haiti.

They cannot live in their homes and the government hasnt been helping, he said.

Moise refused to step down in February when his term ended. The terms of Haiti's presidents begin when they are elected rather than when they are sworn in. Moise was threatening to amend the Constitution to give himself more power.

There were a lot of people for him and against him, Rochilda Fevrius, 20, said. I was shocked, but not really shocked. 

Rochilda Fevrius. (Courtesy Rochilda Fevrius)

A college student from South Florida, she immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti at 7 years of age with her immediate family, but has relatives living in the Caribbean nation.

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In one city where one of my aunts lives, its been barricaded," she said. No one can go in and no one can go out.

Fevrius later confirmed her relatives are safe to her parents knowledge, but there's a sense of uncertainty about the future.

Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph will preside over the country until elections begin in September. Though Haiti will be under a new leadership, Fevrius suspects one election will not suffice.

Its kind of like putting a Band-Aid on a large wound, she said. I would like to see a renewed and refined government for the people, and when I say for the people  thats for everyone.

Ave Leone, 19, said the news coverage has been overwhelming. Its weird to see Haiti placed in the spotlight so poorly, she said.

A first-generation Haitian American college student, she finds that the news media typically reports on Haiti only when tragedies strike.

Its always referred to especially in times like these as the poorest country in the world when larger Western nations are the reason were poor to begin with," Leone said.

Haiti was a colony of France before gaining independence in 1804. The U.S. has occupied Haiti at other points in time, including for two decades after the killing of President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam in 1915, and again amid a military coup in the 1990s.

Today, Haitians point to the number of refugees from that country who have been turned away from the U.S. while attempting to seek asylum in the last year.

Melissa Lucien, 23, came from Haiti to the U.S. six years ago to attend university.

A motivational speaker, writer and the reigning Miss Haiti Florida, Lucien said that when she left Haiti, things were far from perfect, but now its state appears grim.

"This was the wake-up call that things are that bad," she said. "A lot of people don't know the reality of Haiti."

When Lucien last visited her home country in December, she found insecurity to be heavily prevalent.

I had friends that go to school in Haiti and it hurts me when they called telling me that they have to go to school, but they have no idea if theyre going to make it back home," she said.

But, she said, her love for her native land will always outweigh the tribulations that surround it. Haiti may be a low-income country, she said, but the pride Haitians have for it is abundant.

Lucien said she will continue to visit Haiti and possibly live there again when she is ready to help create change in the country.

My hope is that something positive will somehow come out of this for the country. she added, How? I really dont know, I wish I did. But I'll remain optimistic that something will happen.

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The White House is rebuking Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel's claims that protesters demonstrating against his government are a "counterrevolutionary, mercenary" group financed by the United States.

Unrest that broke out in Cuba demanding an end to the country's communist dictatorship amid an economic crisis exacerbated by the pandemic was prompted by "exhaustion of the governance of the leaders in the state, the economic mismanagement, and the repression taking place against the people in the country," according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

BIDEN WEAKENS BULLY PULPIT BY CALLING HIS OWN SPEECHES 'BORING,' EXPERTS SAY

"These are protests inspired by the harsh reality of everyday life in Cuba," she told reporters Monday.

The U.S. embargo does not prevent humanitarian aid or medical supplies reaching Cuba, and the U.S. has sent "a great deal of assistance" over the last several months, according to Psaki. Though Cuba is not taking part in the COVAX global COVID-19 vaccine program, the administration is "working through" how to get doses to them, she said.

"We have to determine what the mechanism would be to work with the Cuban people to get vaccines to them," she added.

Diaz-Canel has blamed the U.S. for fomenting the demonstrations with the "economic asphyxiation" of former President Donald Trump's sanctions. Biden has not relaxed the measures during the first six months of his term to mirror former President Barack Obama's policy in the region.

"Our approach continues to be governed by two principles. First, support for democracy and human rights, which is going to continue to be at the core to our efforts through empowering the Cuban people to determine their own future," Psaki said. "Second, Americans, especially Cuban Americans are the best ambassadors for freedom and prosperity in Cuba."

Diaz-Canel has also alleged the U.S. paid "counterrevolutionary, mercenary" groups to voice their opposition to his government.

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Biden backed the Cuban protesters Monday morning, who he said were "bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights." The president urged Diaz-Canel to resist quelling the unrest with force.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

"We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime," he said. "The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves."

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Original Location: 'Harsh reality of everyday life in Cuba' to blame for protests not US, White House says
Jul. 12The Hawaiian Humane Society is celebrating new animal protection laws passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. David Ige, including one related to unsafe dog tethering.

"I am grateful to the bill sponsors, House and Senate leaders and our community advocates for supporting Hawaiian Humane's commitment to enacting laws to protect the animals of Hawai 'i and their caretakers, " Steph Kendrick, public policy advocate for the Hawaiian Humane Society, said last week in a release.

Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 416 on Tuesday. It bans unsafe dog tethering, through use of a choke collar, pinch collar or prong collar. According to Ken drick, using "inherently harmful " equipment like prong collars could be dangerous for dogs, as well as tethers not appropriate for the size of dogs, such as too-long tethers that dogs can get tangled in, too-short tethers that don't allow access to sustenance, or too-heavy tethers that drag dogs around.

"Our goal as an organization was to balance the need to keep dogs safe, so that they can have a fear-free, pain-free, happy life, with the need of pet owners to keep their animals secure, which we also appreciate, " Kendrick said. "It is possible to tether dogs safely, so we've worked for years now with the other advocates to come up with a compromise that keeps both dogs safe and people safe, and keeps pets and people together."

The law also prohibits the tethering of dogs under 6 months old, unless the dog is supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner.

Ige late last month also signed Act 91, which requires veterinarians to report any cases of suspected animal cruelty as well as protects them from civil liability for providing emergency care to an animal. According to the Hawaiian Humane Society, the law will allow all county animal service providers and private veterinarians to give immediate care to an animal in need, even if its owner cannot be located. Prior to the law's passing, the animal would have to be put on hold for 48 hours before receiving care.

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"(This ) bill ... has already helped animals around the state, " Kendrick said. "I got a call from the Big Island (on Thursday ) that they were excited because they had an animal come in who was injured ... and they were able to help it immediately."

Ige signed Act 31 early last month, making Hawaii the 48th state to ban animal sexual assault. The Legislature found that establishing animal sexual assault as a specific crime separate from animal cruelty will allow law enforcement officers to "better identify potentially dangerous and violent sexual predators in their communities."

"It's really important for us to take these cases seriously, no matter how you feel about animals, " Ken drick said. "Although obviously that's our focus ... (these issues ) are also a threat to broader community safety."

Other laws passed by the Legislature this year prohibit the sale of cosmetics produced through animal testing ; banning the intentional release of balloons ; and a law banning the intentional killing of sharks in state waters. Hawaii also joined the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which promotes compliance with the laws and regulations regarding poaching in the states in the compact.

"Despite the significant challenges COVID-19 has brought to Hawaii and the legislative session, lawmakers made tremendous strides in passing critical reforms for animals across the state, " said Andi Bernat, senior policy director of state affairs for the Humane Society of the United States, in a release last month. "We are grateful to Governor Ige and the legislature for recognizing the importance of these issues and thank the dedicated animal advocates who made this progress possible."
The crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas cheered against COVID-19 vaccinations, drawing concern from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert.

Its horrifying, Fauci told CNN in an interview Sunday. Theyre cheering about someone saying that its a good thing for people not to try and save their lives.

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The three-day CPAC conference, headlined by dozens of the biggest names in Republican politics and conservative activism, has seen speakers take aim at issues ranging from cancel culture, to wokeness, to vaccinations and more.

On day two of the conference, Saturday, journalist and writer Alex Berenson -- an outspoken anti-vaccination advocate -- discussed a lack of vaccinations in the U.S., earning cheers from the crowd.

(The government) was hoping they could sort of sucker 90 percent of the population into getting vaccinated, and it isnt happening, he said.

Other speakers also attacked vaccines, and Fauci, including Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, who painted Americas vaccination initiatives as governmental overreach.

Were here to tell government  dont come knocking on my door with your Fauci ouchie, Boebert said.

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On day one of CPAC, Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson tweeted its time for Fauci to go.

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Hes the highest paid government employee and he works around the clock to keep you LOCKED DOWN! FIRE FAUCI!, Jackson wrote.

In another interview with ABC, Fauci said the fear of COVID vaccines is rooted in politics, not science.

Weve got to get away from the divisiveness, that has really been a problem from the very beginning, he said. Viruses and public health dont know the difference between a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent.

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Roughly 48% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as of July 10, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over 55% have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Delta variant sparks COVID outbreak in Oklahoma gymnastics gym  85% were unvaccinated

Story continues

Festival with Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood sparks COVID outbreak, Colorado officials say

Fauci tells unvaccinated to get over politics of COVID vaccines as variants spread

Experts are split on whether CDC mask guidance for vaccinated students is safest move
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is creating a task force to study the policies and practices of its law enforcement bureaus, she announced in a memo issued last week.

The big picture: A watchdog report out last month found that the U.S. Park Police's widespread failure to coordinate with assisting law enforcement led to "confusion" and the unauthorized use of chemical irritants on Black Lives Matter protesters in Lafayette Square last year.

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Details: The task force's goal is to "review and identify opportunities for improvement" through an "equity lens," the memo says.

Robert D. MacLean, director of the Interior's Office of Law Enforcement and Security, will lead the task force.

MacLean was chief of the Park Police when two officers fatally shot unarmed motorist Bijan Ghaisar in a Fairfax County neighborhood in 2017. He refused to release the officers' names or any information about the killing for nearly two years, per The Washington Post.

Experts from the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights and the Office of Human Capital will be involved in the review, Haaland noted.

What she's saying: "This task force will focus on ways to (1) strengthen trust in our law enforcement programs; (2) ensure appropriate policy and oversight is implemented; and (3) ensure supportive resources are available for officer mental health, wellness, and safety," Haaland wrote.

"I am confident that this Department-wide approach will identify meaningful solutions to assist law enforcement and communities in strengthening trust and collaboration, while ushering the Nation into the next phase of community-focused law enforcement."

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The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue bid farewell to the Israel Defense Forces delegation Sunday evening as they began their journey home following their assistance with search, rescue and recovery efforts at the Champlain Towers building collapse in Surfside, Florida.

"We wish them a safe flight back home!," the agency tweeted along with footage of a water salute held at Miami International Airport.

The final send-off comes after the unit was cheered on by local and federal task force teams and the family members of Surfside victims, given the Key to the County and were made honorary commanders of MDFR on Saturday.

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Since June 24, the world has continued to mourn with Miami and the victims of the Surfside collapse. The recovery team has removed millions of pounds of concrete and debris since its collapse.

According to authorities, Surfside's death toll has risen to 90 people, with an additional 31 individuals who remain unaccounted for. Recovery efforts will continue until the 31 who remain unaccounted for are found.

Fox News' Emmett Jones contributed to this report
Michael Gandolfini will play a young Tony Soprano in "The Many Saints of Newark." Warner Bros. Pictures and Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

James Gandolfini's widow said it was "almost surreal" seeing his son as a young Tony Soprano.

"The whole family is just so proud of him. His father would be very proud," Deborah Lin said.

Fans saw Michael as a young Tony in the recent trailer for the prequel "The Many Saints of Newark."

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James Gandolfini's widow Deborah Lin said that it was "almost surreal" seeing his son Michael as a young Tony Soprano in the recent trailer for "The Many Saints of Newark."

"I know it took a lot of courage for him to take this role. It was very emotional," Lin told Page Six.

"But the whole family is just so proud of him. His father would be very proud," she added.

Michael, 22, is the son of Gandolfini and his first wife, Marcy Wudarski. They married in 1999 and had Michael the same year, but divorced in 2002. Gandolfini later remarried, tying the knot with Lin in 2008. The couple would go on to have one child, Liliana, together in 2012.

The elder Gandolfini is best known for his role as Tony Soprano on HBO's iconic drama, and won numerous Emmy awards for his portrayal of the mobster over the years.

Gandolfini died of a heart attack in 2013. He was survived by Lin, Liliana, and Michael, who was just 14 at the time.

Fans of "The Sopranos" first saw Michael step into his dad's shoes when the first full trailer for "The Many Saints of Newark," a prequel film to the HBO show, premiered in late June.

"The Many Saints of Newark" is set during Tony's adolescence in 1960s New Jersey as his male relatives, especially Dickie, introduce him to a life of violence and crime.

As the trailer highlights, tensions between Italian Americans and Black Americans were at a breaking point and culminated in the 1967 uprisings in Newark.

And while the ending to the critically acclaimed drama was frustratingly vague (the final shot of Tony famously cut to black in the midst of a tense dinner scene, leaving his fate ambiguous), the new film seems like it will shed some light on how Tony's upbringing, and especially his relationship with his mother, influenced his adult personality.

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The Japanese coast guard busted poachers' attempt to make off with nearly $20,000 of sea cucumbers.

Eleven men were nabbed after the coast guard at the port city of Rumoi, Hokkaido, was tipped off.

More than 1,500 pounds of sea cucumbers - an expensive delicacy in East Asia - were recovered.

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Eleven people were arrested off the coast of Hokkaido in northern Japan on July 8 during a massive sea cucumber heist - a daring nighttime attempt to make off with 1,500 pounds of contraband, per Hokkaido news channel HTB News.

The Japanese coast guard team stationed in the port city of Rumoi, Hokkaido, received a tip-off about a team of people who were attempting to make off with enough sea cucumbers to fill 13 huge crates.

Sea cucumbers are a prized haul because of their prime status as a culinary delicacy in East Asia, particularly in China. Insider reported last year that sea cucumbers can cost over $3,000 a kilogram. Some spiky, fancier varieties are even packaged and gifted on special occasions.

The coast guard officers managed to round up 11 suspected poachers between the ages of 19 and 53, per Japan Today.

The Rumoi coast guard told Hokkaido online news site UHB News Japan that some of the men were completely kitted out with full diving gear and submersible machines. They were part of a full operation complete with divers to go down and get the creatures, with lookouts keeping watch, as well as getaway cars.

According to HTB News, the street value of the sea cucumber haul exceeded 2.2 million yen (or $19,966).

This is not the first time that poachers have set their sights on a massive sea cucumber heist. Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries said the poaching of abalones and sea cucumbers has become a "serious problem." Those caught poaching the creatures could be jailed for three years or fined up to $270,000.

Sea cucumbers were also the target of another smaller heist off Hokkaido in 2018. A crime syndicate was nabbed near Ishikari city for attempting to illegally poach 992 pounds of these marine delicacies, per Kyodo News. The invertebrates were recovered, but the Hokkaido police told Kyodo News at the time that despite arrests, what they saw of the poaching problem was "just the tip of the iceberg."

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Sidney Powell at the Republican National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, on November 19, 2020 (REUTERS)

The Michigan federal judge who rejected a lawsuit seeking to overturn Michigan's 2020 election results appears sceptical of pro-Trump lawyers' claims that they should not face financial and professional sanctions for filing scores of dubious affidavits with her court.

In December, Judge Linda Parker rejected an effort by attorneys Sidney Powell and Lin Wood to have the court throw out certification of President Joe Biden's victory, writing that the court would not "ignore the orderly statutory scheme established to challenge elections and ... ignore the will of millions of voters."

More than six months later, Ms Powell, Mr Wood, and a host of other GOP lawyers who assisted them were back in Judge Parker's courtroom to answer to motions filed by the City of Detroit, the State of Michigan, and the Democratic National Committee, in which the defendants of the so-called "Kraken" lawsuit asked her to throw out the plaintiff's lawyers' legal careers instead, by way of referring each of them for disbarment by authorities in their respective states.

The attorney representing Detroit, David Fink, noted that his client had asked the judge to apply sanctions and referrals for discipline just one day before a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol in hopes of stopping Congress from putting the final stamp of certification on Mr Biden's win.

Mr Fink said that in the months since, people across the world have found reasons to doubt America's democratic process "because of the lies spread in this courtroom" by Ms Powell, Mr Wood, and their co-counsel, including Julia Haller, a former Department of Housing and Urban Development official who began crying at one point during Monday's proceedings. He also called the litigation an "embarrassment to the legal profession" that had been "from the beginning to the end, an attempt to get a message out that was extrajudicial".

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In many cases, that message took the form of hundreds of affidavits which pro-Trump lawyers had sourced from partisan poll challengers and anyone who wanted to submit one, often using a Trump campaign-aligned website.

Over the course of the more than five-hour hearing, Judge Parker questioned attorneys on whether they'd done any work to vet the allegations made in any of those affidavits, calling one such sworn declaration  in which a man walking his dog claimed that he saw a couple hand a trio of plastic bags which he asserted "might" contain ballots to a postal worker in a car park  "really fantastical".

The judge asked: "How could any of you as officers of the court submit this affidavit?"

Ms Haller denied that it was anything of the sort, at which point Judge Parker called the affidavit in question "total speculation". She also suggested that the attorneys' point in filing such documents was not to provide evidence in her courtroom, but to provide supporters of now-former President Trump with cherry-pickable anecdotes they can use to claim that there were problems with the 2020 election.

"My concern is that counsel here has submitted affidavits to suggest and make the public believe that there was something wrong with the election ... that's what these average affidavits are designed to do, to show there was something wrong in Michigan, there was something wrong in Wayne County," Judge Parker said, using the names of two jurisdictions in the state with large Black populations.

Mr Trump has also blamed his election loss on non-existent "fraud" in cities with large Black populations, including Detroit, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

If any of the attorneys who appeared on Monday face professional sanctions, they will not be the first lawyers advocating for Mr Trump to suffer professional consequences. Last month, a panel of New York state judges suspended ex-Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani's law licence, citing multiple false statements the former New York City mayor had made in and out of courtrooms as he laboured to get Mr Trump's loss thrown out.

"The seriousness of respondent's uncontroverted misconduct cannot be overstated," the judges wrote.

Read More

Kraken lawyer weeps in court hearing as she faces sanctions over backing Trumps Big Lie on election fraud

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Firefighters working at the site of a fire in a juice factory on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, that killed 52 people. Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

A factory fire in Bangladesh on Thursday killed 52 workers, including as many as 16 children.

The owner of the factory and his four sons were arrested following the deadly blaze.

"It was a deliberate murder," the district's police chief told Agence France-Presse.

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The owner of a juice factory in Bangladesh was arrested and charged with murder after a fire on Thursday killed 52 workers, including several children, the police told the local paper the Dhaka Tribune.

Md Abul Hashem, the CEO of the company that owns the factory, and his four sons were among the eight people the police detained on Saturday, the police told the Tribune.

The factory fire happened in the town of Rupganj, just outside Bangladesh's capital of Dhaka.

Workers were trapped inside because an exit had been padlocked, an official told Agence-France Presse. The factory was also storing highly flammable plastics and chemicals, the AFP report said.

"It was a deliberate murder," Jayedul Alam, the district's police chief, told AFP.

The website of Sajeeb Group, the company that owns the factory, showed an apology note saying it sought forgiveness for the fire and was "on the side" of the families of the deceased. Insider was not immediately able to reach Sajeeb Group for comment for this story.

Children as young as 11 are said to be among the missing and the dead. Monnujan Sufian, the state minister for labor, told AFP that a separate investigation had been launched into child labor at the factory.

Bangladesh's Unicef representative said in a statement on Sunday that as many as 16 children were said to have died in the fire.

"This tragic incident brings to light yet again that despite laws that should protect them, many children in Bangladesh are not only working, but they are working in hazardous conditions," the statement said.

A lack of fire-safety and labor inspections by authorities is common in Bangladesh, said Sharmin Akter, a lawyer who works with high-court matters for the nonprofit organization Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust.

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Akter told Insider that Thursday's fire was a "complete violation" of workers' rights to life and safe workplaces.

"It's high time that we ensure proper inspections are carried out," Akter said. "If the fire-safety inspectors had found these issues and confronted the factory owners before, or if the labor inspectors found that they had been hiring children, this would most probably have been prevented."

Employing children under 14 is illegal in Bangladesh. But as of 2019, there were 1.3 million child laborers in Bangladesh between 5 and 14, accounting for 4.3% of the country's workforce, according to the US Bureau of International Labor Affairs.

Akter said that young children often get hired in Bangladesh using fake papers that claim they are 14 or older.

"Child labor has become quite common here," she said, adding that the onus is on companies and the authorities to prevent such lapses.

Bangladesh also has a history of deadly industrial disasters and fires. In 2012, a textile factory fire in Dhaka left 117 people dead; reports suggested that the exits had been locked. The next year, a building that housed five garment factories in Dhaka collapsed, killing 1,132 people and injuring more than 2,500 other people.

Akter said that though negligent owners are often arrested following industrial disasters like Thursday's, the court takes years to resolve their cases, and people are often released on bail. She pointed to the 2012 factory fire as an example: Authorities made some arrests, she said, but the court is still hearing the case, no one has been sentenced.

Read the original article on Insider
Vice President Kamala Harris. (AP)

Vice President Kamala Harris voiced a first show of support from the Biden administration for a group of Democratic lawmakers who left the state of Texas to prevent the passage of two bills aimed at restricting voting.

Speaking to reporters on Monday after arriving in Detroit, Michigan, the vice president said that fighting for voting rights, in her mind, was as American as apple pie.

Her comments came shortly after White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the group of Texas lawmakers may meet with Biden administration personnel once they arrive in DC, where the group is hoping to drum up support for action at the federal level to protect voting rights.

Ms Harris praised the lawmakers for their extraordinary courage and commitment, and likened them to activists who fought to expand and protect the right to vote to women and minorities throughout US history.

I applaud them standing for the rights of all Americans and all Texans to express their voice through their vote, unencumbered the vice president continued.

President Joe Biden is also set to deliver a major address on the issue on Tuesday. Democrats, particularly progressives, are pushing a pair of bills in Congress that would establish a mandatory nationwide early voting period, automatic voter registration, and restrict gerrymandering while also adding new ethics rules for federal officials.

The legislation is uniformly opposed by Republicans, who have led campaigns in state legislatures across the country to cut back on early voting, mail-in ballots, and other procedures related to voting at an unprecedented rate following their loss of the presidency in the 2020 election.

In Texas, Republicans are pushing a pair of bills that would institute new identification requirements for mail-in voting, ban the distribution of mail-in ballot applications, ban 24-hour voting and drive-thru voting, and institute new restrictions on helping others vote, a provision opposed by some advocates for Americans with disabilities.

Story continues

Democratic lawmakers in the state put out an announcement confirming their decision to flee the state on Monday to prevent a quorum from being reached in the special legislative session called by Gov Greg Abbott to pass the bills.

Their move could mean that some lawmakers risk arrest if they remain in the state, or upon their return. Republican lawmakers, who control both chambers of the legislature, have the option to ask a state law enforcement agency to compel them to return to the chamber.

We now take the fight to our nations capitol. We are living on borrowed time in Texas, it read.

Theres no democracy without the right to vote. Once again, Democrats are standing strong and united to defend the right of every eligible Texas voter to make their voice heard. Im incredibly proud of our Texas Democratic lawmakers, who continue to fight relentlessly on behalf of Texans, voters, and our democracy, added the state Democratic Party chair, Gilberto Hinojosa.

Read More

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The Missouri Attorney Generals Office has asked a judge to deny a petition seeking to exonerate and free Kevin Strickland, asserting he is guilty in the 1978 triple homicide for which he remains in prison.

Assistant Attorney General Andrew Clarke argued that Strickland, now 62, received a fair trial in 1979 and that he has worked to evade responsibility for the Kansas City killings since then.

Mondays filing means Stricklands lawyers and the attorney generals office will likely soon make opposing arguments during an evidentiary hearing before Judge Ryan Horsman, who will decide whether to free Strickland.

More than 60 days ago, Strickland received rare support from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who said her office had concluded Strickland, who was 18 when he was arrested, is factually innocent in the April 25, 1978, shooting at 6934 S. Benton Ave. The gunfire took the lives of John Walker, 20, Sherrie Black, 22, and Larry Ingram, 21.

Bakers announcement  with agreement from federal prosecutors, Jackson Countys presiding judge and other officials who say Strickland should be exonerated  came as Stricklands attorneys filed a petition in the Missouri Supreme Court. The court, however, declined to hear his case. His lawyers then refiled his petition in DeKalb County, where he remains imprisoned.

In responding to the most recent petition, the attorney generals office argued the Jackson County Prosecutors Office has studiously avoided, overlooked, misinterpreted, or misunderstood much of the evidence in Stricklands case.

AGs case against Strickland

The office, under Attorney General Eric Schmitt, contended Strickland is guilty and pointed to police reports in which a witness said Strickland had allegedly offered Cynthia Douglas, the lone eyewitness to the murders, money the day after the killings to keep her mouth shut. Clarke, the assistant attorney general, described it as a tampering campaign by Strickland.

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In the police reports, a friend of Stricklands, Marcus Harris, said Strickland told him Vincent Bell  who later pleaded guilty in the case  was involved in the crime and that we would pay Douglas to stay quiet.

The claim, however, was never mentioned at trial. As part of his review of the case, Jackson Countys chief deputy prosecutor, Dan Nelson, said it was unclear why prosecutors had not asked Harris about it on the stand.

Bell later said Harris thought Strickland was involved in the crime because Strickland was trying to be big, you know, not knowing what was going on.

The attorney generals office also claimed that statements made by Bell and Kilm Adkins  both of whom admitted guilt and swore Strickland was not there  are not new evidence. Even if they were, they are inherently unreliable and inconsistent, Clarke wrote.

The two pleaded guilty after Strickland was convicted. In affidavits and interviews with The Star, both said Strickland was not with them during the murders and instead identified two other accomplices who were not arrested.

Im telling you the truth today that Kevin Strickland wasnt there at the house that day, Bell said as he pleaded guilty in 1979 to three counts of second-degree murder, four months after Strickland was sent to prison. Im telling the state and the society out there right now Kevin Strickland wasnt there at that house.

Bell testified Strickland was mistaken for a 16-year-old boy named Paul Holiway. Prosecutors now say Holiway is a stronger suspect than Strickland, noting that he was seen with the perpetrators that night shortly before the murders.

Paul Holiway, then 17, and Kevin Strickland, then 18, can be seen in decades-old booking photographs.

After their monthslong review, Jackson County prosecutors concluded that the core claims made by Bell at his plea hearing are credible. They said it would have been difficult for Bell, who could not read, to fabricate an intricate narrative to write Strickland out.

The attorney generals office, though, argued that it is not difficult to believe that Bell could recall how the shooting unfolded while substituting Strickland with the other teenager.

Schmitts office further pointed to statements Strickland allegedly made to detectives. Police claimed Strickland said if he had been with Bell on the deal that night, he would have been shooting because, I love to shoot my gun, Im a good shot and I love to kill people. Strickland, the detectives alleged, said if they let him go, they better draw first next time or he would kill them.

Jackson County prosecutors have said those statements, which Strickland denied making at trial, did not prove Strickland was at the South Benton home on the night of the killings. They said it could be argued that someone not involved in the crime  who stayed in Kansas City while the others fled to Wichita  would be more likely to make aggressive statements to police.

Additionally, the attorney generals office noted that Strickland had been arrested as a juvenile about two years before the murders on accusations that he shot another teenager in the arm. Strickland was not convicted in the case.

Jackson County prosecutors said they could not figure out how that assault case was resolved. But they noted that the other suspects, unlike Strickland, had criminal histories involving armed robbery.

Strickland has paid a steep price for associating with Bell, Adkins and T.A., for mouthing off to police, and for trying to be cool in helping his older neighbor Bell, Baker and Nelson wrote in a letter outlining the prosecutors offices review of the case.

The initials T.A. are for Terry Abbott, who was considered a suspect but was not arrested.

In addition to Bell and Adkins, Abbott in 2019 told a Midwest Innocence Project investigator that he knew there couldnt be a more innocent person than Strickland.

One of Stricklands attorneys, Robert Hoffman, said Stricklands legal team was disappointed by the attorney generals response, saying that office overlooked important issues and misconstrued a number of things.

The move by the attorney generals office to oppose Stricklands petition was in line with its past positions in cases claiming actual innocence. That office has resisted just about every wrongful conviction case to come before it since 2000, according to news outlet Injustice Watch.

That includes 27 cases in which the office fought to uphold convictions for prisoners who were eventually exonerated, the Chicago-based news organization reported last year. In roughly half of those cases, the office continued arguing that the original guilty verdict should stand even after a judge vacated the conviction.

Did eyewitness recant?

The attorney generals office and Jackson County prosecutors also disagree over whether Douglas, the eyewitness, recanted her identification of Strickland as the suspect with a shotgun that night. Her testimony was paramount in the case against him.

Decades after the murders, Douglas was working in accounting on a Wednesday in 2009 at the Jackson County Family Court Division when she wrote an email to the Midwest Innocence Project.

Its subject line: Wrongfully charged.

I am seeking info on how to help someone that was wrongfully accused, Douglas wrote from her county email address. I was the only eyewitness and things were not clear back then, but now I know more and would like to help this person if I can.

Bakers office  which says it wouldnt charge Strickland today with any crime in the case  has determined Douglas email was an unequivocal recantation. Because of the emails circumstances, witness tampering was highly unlikely, prosecutors concluded.

But the attorney generals office called Douglas alleged recantation remarkably unreliable, arguing that it does not name Strickland. Because Douglas died in 2015, the office said, the judge cant know if Douglas sent the email, let alone absent coercive pressure.

Then 18, Kevin Strickland, far right, stands for a lineup April 26, 1978, at the Kansas City Police Department. Cynthia Douglas, the lone eyewitness to the shooting, identified Strickland at the lineup, but later told relatives she was pressured into doing so.

Douglas also did not sign any affidavits while she was alive, noted Clarke, the assistant attorney general.

Through his petition, Strickland attempts to make Douglas do in death what she would not do in life: exonerate him, Clarke wrote.

In previous interviews with The Star, Douglas relatives said she tried to walk back her testimony for years and wanted nothing more than to see Strickland freed. They have signed affidavits for Stricklands attorneys saying the same thing.

She appeared very disturbed about having made this mistake, wrote Douglas mother, Senoria Douglas. Cynthia wanted Kevin Strickland out of prison, because she picked the wrong person, and she strongly felt that Kevin Strickland was innocent.

Whats next?

During a scheduling conference in Stricklands case Monday at the DeKalb County courthouse in Maysville, the judge set a two-day evidentiary hearing for Aug. 12 and 13.

Lawyers with the attorney generals office said such a quick time frame could be a burden on the office. Horsman noted that Strickland has been sitting in prison since before I was born.

If Strickland is not released by Aug. 28, Jackson County prosecutors hope to file a motion then asking a Jackson County judge to exonerate him. Thats when a bill, which is expected to be signed into law by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, would allow local prosecutors to seek to free prisoners they have deemed innocent.

Parson could also pardon Strickland, though the governor has said he is not convinced Strickland is innocent.

Now using a wheelchair, Strickland remains imprisoned at the Western Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron.
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's southern Guangdong province said it plans to build a common data platform for the Greater Bay Area that includes Hong Kong and Macau, and will build a data trading market in Shenzhen - part of efforts to regulate data more thoroughly.

Guangdong will also explore the establishment of a data "customs hub" to review and supervise data that crosses borders, the provincial government said on a notice on its website dated Sunday.

The government will "promote the circulation and sharing of data between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau and the use of data to benefit industrial development, social governance and services for the people," the statement said.

Authorities will also strengthen oversight of data transactions and speed up the introduction of legislation for the digital economy, the Guangdong statement said.

It was not immediately clear what types of data would be traded in Shenzhen.

Data regulation, particularly cybersecurity relating to Chinese companies listing or listed in the United States, has become a major focus for Chinese authorities this month with a raft of new measures and initiatives announced.

That began with the Cybersecurity Administration of China's sudden announcement of a probe into ride-hailing giant Didi Global Inc just days after its listing in New York and the subsequent order for its app to be removed from app stores.

On Saturday it said that any company with data of more than 1 million users must undergo a security review before listing its shares overseas.

(Reporting by Emily Chow and Josh Horwitz; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on Monday lauded Cubans who marched on Havanas Malecon promenade and other areas demanding freedom from the authoritarian island government.

Anti-government protesters voiced their disapproval over the lack of food, inflation, and the mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic. The demonstration was the largest the country has seen in recent history.

The call for freedom and basic rights by the people of Cuba peacefully taking to the streets and marching is an act of great courage, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted Monday morning. I support the Cuban people in their pursuit of liberty and condemn any violence or targeting of those exercising their rights.

BIDEN CELEBRATES THE 'CLARION CALL FOR FREEDOM' VOICED BY ANTI-COMMUNIST PROTESTERS IN CUBA

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted Sunday, After decades of suffering through a communist dictatorship, the Cuban people deserve liberty. I am proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Cuba who are calling out for freedom.

Lawmakers of Cuban descent blasted the regime calling for an end to the dictatorship previously led by Fidel Castro from 1959 to 2008 and later by his brother Raul until April of this year. Miguel Diaz-Canel is now president of Cuba.

For decades, Cubas dictatorship has used violence and repression to silence its people, rather than permit the free exercise of democracy and their basic social rights. This must end. The worlds eyes are on Cuba tonight and the dictatorship must understand we will not tolerate the use of brute force to silence the aspirations of the Cuban people, Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said in a statement.

As Ive said over the years, no one wishes that the reality in Cuba was more different than the Cuban people and Cuban-Americans that have fled the island in search of freedom. Let us hear their voices. Listen to their cries of desperation. Support their demands by ensuring we do not perpetuate the regimes decades of repression, he added.

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President Joe Biden made his first remarks about the Cuban protests on Monday. He wrote, "We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime."

Biden added, "The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected."

Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, took issue with the administrations response. In a tweet, the Cuban American lawmaker noted that a sanction was lifted by the United States from the Venezuelan dictatorship on Monday.

At the very moment the #MaduroRegime was abducting one prominent member of the opposition & surrounding the home of @jguaido trying to abduct him the Biden Administration was announcing it was removing a sanction on the regime in #Venezuela, Rubio tweeted with an image of a Treasury Department letter dated July 12, 2021.

Fellow Cuban American Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a freshman GOP lawmaker, questioned why the president avoided using the word communism in his statement about Cuba.

Why is President Biden carefully avoiding the word communism in describing the Cuban regime? The United States needs to make it clear that the evils of communism have brought nothing but poverty, misery, and death. #SOSCuba, Gimenez tweeted.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, slammed media coverage of the events in Cuba and noted, I love how the NYT acknowledges that freedom is an 'anti-government slogan.'



Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Cuba, Cuban-Americans, Congress, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Bob Menendez, Joe Biden

Original Author: Kerry Picket

Original Location: Lawmakers voice support for Cubans demanding freedom from communist government
LINE, a high-profile South Korean communications company, has launched the LINE Financial Blockchain to foster central bank digital currency (CBDC) use in Asia.

South Korean communications company LINE has launched a blockchain platform for development called Line Financial, according to an official post made on July 9. The goal of the platform is to eventually facilitate the optimal use of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

LINE eyes CBDC in South Korea

Saying that the platform provides excellent security and performance, and guaranteeing the completeness of the payment required to confirm the transactions required by the CBDC business, LINE expects that the platform can handle large transaction volumes. It will also keep payment information confidential, besides having measures in place to ensure that assets can comply with diverse financial regulations.

The development platform has a layered structure and modular design that makes it easy to design a system by combining different modules. LINE has already open-sourced the code. Those interested can download the modules and build their own blockchain.

The company also announced that it was discussing the platform with central banks in various Asian countries to apply solutions depending on the specific needs of each central bank. It has also signed an MoU with NuriFlex to build a CBDC platform in Latin American and Africa.

If this succeeds, it would be a bold step forward for LINE, which has not shied away from tinkering with blockchain technology. The firm created a blockchain subsidiary in 2018 and eagerly stated its intentions during this time.

What will Korean regulators say?

South Korea is currently in the midst of a wide-scale regulatory oversight process. The countrys regulator, the Financial Services Commission, has taken broad actions to ensure the prevention of money laundering for investor protection.

Regulators recently revamped the crypto exchange guidelines for the country, and exchanges will now have to file for a new license to become fully regulated. The first such exchange is expected this quarter and will mark a new era for crypto market regulation in the country.

However, it appears that LINE is closely focused on CBDC use, which regulators should be happy to hear about. Most governments, El Salvador being an exception, are keen on designing and implementing a CBDC. LINEs blockchain platform, should it receive the approval and authority of central banks, could receive kinder treatment for its focus on these assets.
CHICAGO  Three people were shot, including a man who died after he suffered dozens of bullet wounds, during an apparent ambush as he was released from the Cook County Jail on electronic monitoring Saturday night, according to Chicago police.

Fifty-nine shell casings littered the 2700 block of West 27th Street in Little Village  across the street from the jail  around 8:50 p.m. The 31-year-old man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiners office.

A police report identified the man, known locally as a rapper, as Londre Sylvester, though the medical examiners office said it had not notified next of kin of his death Sunday. The police report said Sylvester suffered as many as 64 bullet wounds to his head and other parts of his body, however a full autopsy report detailing his injuries wont be released for weeks.

A 60-year-old woman who was with him was shot in the knee, and she was in good condition at Stroger Hospital, police said. A Cook County sheriffs office spokesman referred all questions about the case to Chicago police. Attempts to reach the 60-year-old woman who was shot were unsuccessful.

A second woman, a 30-year-old who was walking in the area at the time, suffered a graze wound to her mouth, according to a police report. She was said to be in good condition when taken to Mount Sinai Hospital.

The suspects reentered their vehicles and fled the scene in different directions, the police report said. Chicago police learned there were surveillance cameras in the area to review for evidence.

It appears Sylvester was the intended target while (the women) were inadvertently struck, the police report states.

Sylvester had just been released from custody and was fitted for electronic monitoring as a condition of his bail, the police report said. He and the 60-year-old woman were walking to an awaiting vehicle when several unknown (suspects) exited two separate vehicles and all began to shoot in Sylvesters direction, striking him numerous times, the police report said.

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Late last month, prosecutors hit Sylvester with a petition for violation of bail bond for violating the conditions of his release in a 2020 felony gun case.

On July 1, a judge ordered Sylvester held on $50,000 bail. According to court records, Sylvester was able to post the required $5,000 bail on Friday

This was not the first time such a seemingly orchestrated attack occurred outside the jail or its neighboring courthouse.

On March 6, 2017, a 23-year-old man who beat a murder case was shot and killed minutes after leaving the jail. Kamari Belmont was released on $100,000 bail  after his friend posted the necessary $10,000 to get him out of lockup  while he was being held on remaining robbery charges.

Belmont was a few blocks from the jail on California Avenue when a white SUV pulled up to his car, and someone from the SUV opened fire, striking Belmont several times and killing him, police have said.

Belmont had been held in the jail on murder and robbery charges after, authorities contend, he shot a man during a robbery in 2015 and robbed someone else a few hours later. The man who authorities believed Belmont shot died weeks later.

But Cook County prosecutors dropped the murder charges at the end of January 2017 after allowing too much time to elapse under the states speedy trial statute, according to court records and Belmonts lawyer. The robbery charges remained, however.

Two weeks after Belmont was killed, a 21-year-old man suffered six gunshot wounds to the groin area on March 20, 2017, as he was walking to the Leighton Criminal Court Building, which is next to the jail. Someone from a white van opened fire. The 21-year-old was struck by gunfire, and he was taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition.

The man who was shot in the groin had a history of misdemeanor arrests but oddly wasnt due in court the day he was shot. At the time, his lawyer said she didnt know why he was going to the courthouse that day.

On Aug. 18, 2017, 28-year-old Kenneth Williams was shot and killed a few blocks away from the courthouse after an appearance in which he pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving on a revoked or suspended license, according to police and court records.

Police have said Williams apparently got into an argument with someone as he left the courthouse. He was in an SUV with a 26-year-old woman afterward, and they made it to about 31st and Rockwell streets when someone in another vehicle opened fire, striking Williams  who later died at Mount Sinai.

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TAMPA  Tampa City Council member Luis Viera plans to ask his six colleagues to support a resolution hell introduce Thursday expressing support for the success of the protests that began in Cuba over the weekend.

Viera, who represents North and New Tampa, attended the impromptu protests near Jesuit High School on Sunday, listening to the passionate calls for support of the protesters, who have been beaten and jailed by Cuban security forces.

A resolution from the City Council of a city with the nations third-largest Cuban population will send a signal: that the protesters in Cuba are being heard. As far as he knows, Viera said, his resolution would be the first of its kind offered in a Florida city.

We need to stand with them, Viera told the Tampa Bay Times Monday. Its literally the least we can do.

The goal of Vieras resolution is to get the city on the record in support of the ultimate goals of the protesters, which is to have democracy, liberty and for the Cuban people to be in charge of their own destiny, he said.

Viera plans to introduce the resolution at the end of Thursdays meeting as a new business item. If approved by the other six members, which almost always happens, the measure then proceeds to a vote, often at the next meeting.

Viera, who says he is the proud son of Cuban refugees, said he wants something to unify the Cuban-American community in Tampa, which is often divided between supporters and opponents of the Cuban government.

Theres always a debate on the means to the end, Viera said. This talks about the goals that the people in Cuba on the streets are risking their lives to secure.

Later Monday, Mayor Jane Castor released a statement about the protests.

Tampa stands with the brave people of Cuba, whose ancestors helped build our community. The fight for freedom and against repression is all of our fight, Castor said.
Reuters Videos

Surveillance video shows the 5-year-old child walking ahead of his mother and siblings in Queens on Thursday (July 15) evening.A man is seen getting out of a car, running to the child, snatching him off the sidewalk and putting him in the backseat of a parked car. The child's mother is seen pulling her son through the car's front passenger seat window.The child was not hurt.The mother, identified by local media as 45-year-old Dolores Diaz, said she did not know why someone would try to take her child and said her neighborhood is safe.Late Friday, police arrested 24-year-old James McGonagle. He has been charged with attempted kidnapping as well as other counts.Police said they are looking for a second suspect.
A Florida man who was part of a white supremacist prison gang when he served time for attempted murder pleaded guilty Monday to joining the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, and will be released from jail this week after serving six months for his role in the Jan. 6 riot.

Michael Curzio, who has been locked up since Jan. 14, is the first of more than 500 people charged with federal crimes in the Capitol attack to be sentenced to time behind bars. He was sentenced to six months after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge, but gets credit for the time already served and will be released on Wednesday.

Curzio was arrested in Summerfield, Florida, for the Jan. 6 riot less than two years after he was released from a Florida prison in 2019 after serving an eight-year sentence for attempted murder. Court records from Florida show that he shot the boyfriend of his former girlfriend in a fight at her home.

Prosecutors pointed to his criminal record to keep him behind bars after his January arrest even though he faced only misdemeanor charges in the riot. Authorities wrote in court documents that Curzio was part of a violent white supremacist gang called the Unforgiven when he was behind bars in Florida and has tattoos with Nazi imagery.

On Jan. 6, Curzio was part of a crowd near the door to the House atrium that refused orders to leave, authorities say. His attorney said Monday that his sentence was "harsher than it should have been because of his criminal record.

He didnt attack anybody. He didnt break anything. He was just walking around the building like a lot of other people were," attorney A. Eduardo Balarezo said in an interview.

Curzio's lawyer wrote in court documents arguing for his release from jail that his client joined the Unforgiven in order to survive in prison after being attacked several times by other inmates. His lawyer wrote that Curzio is no longer associated with the gang but doesn't have the funds to remove the tattoos.

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It is notable that on January 6, 2021, Mr. Curzio did not go to the Capitol in the company of any gang members; he did not wear any gang colors; he did not give a Nazi salute; he did not have any posters with Nazi insignias. In short, his presence at the Capitol had nothing to do with his prior gang affiliation, Balarezo wrote in April.

Curzio is the second defendant to be sentenced for the Jan. 6 riot. The first person to be sentenced is an Indiana woman who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. She was ordered to serve three years of probation, perform 120 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution.

More than a dozen defendants have pleaded guilty, including two members of the Oath Keepers militia group who admitted conspiring with other extremists to block the certification of Joe Bidens victory.
Maui, Hawaii visitors could soon be hit with higher taxes as officials rush to impose a new tax rate.

Hawaii counties can now implement a 3% tax increase on hotels and rentals on top of the existing 10%.

Counties are allowed to keep the 3% for their own use while the 10% goes back to the state.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Tourists traveling to Maui, Hawaii could soon be hit with higher taxes, the Associated Press reported.

On July 6, lawmakers in the state overrode Hawaii Gov. David Ige's veto of a bill that allows counties to implement their own 3% increase to the "transient accommodations tax," which targets short-term rentals like hotels. The bill also included changes to the funding of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Now, officials in Maui are working to implement this tax change "as soon as [they] can," Alice Lee, Maui County's council chair, told Hawaii News Now's Chelsea Davis.

Tourists at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon in Waikiki, Hawaii in 2018. Kat Wade/Getty Images

Before this, Hawaii had a 10% hotel tax rate, and the state then dolled this money out to every county. However, Oahu, Hawaii typically received most of the funds due to its bigger population size, even though Maui receives more tourists per capita.

"Maui is just overrun with tourists," Sylvia Luke, a state representative, told Hawaii News Now.

But now, counties can set and keep their own additional 3% tax increase on top of the existing 10%, which will still go back to the state.

This move could almost triple Maui's revenue, according to Lee. However, some tourists say this new law is "taking advantage" of visitors, especially as Hawaii is being slammed with summer vacationers again.

Brian Perry, a spokesman for Maui County mayor Michael Victorino, previously told Hawaii News Now's Rick Daysog that the county has "lacked sufficient time to prepare for the sudden, large influx of tourism, even as health restrictions remain in place."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jul. 11A Moldovan citizen pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to lying to a federal agent about a chemical export company operating out of a Manchester apartment, officials said.

Stela Sacara, 34, of Pembroke, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Concord to making a false statement to a federal agent, Acting United States Prosecutor John J. Farley said in a statement. A sentencing date hasn't been scheduled.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sacara operated several businesses from her home and office at 530 Chestnut St., Suite 1A, in Manchester, including Rochester Chemical LLC, which she ran with her sister, Natalia. Rochester Chemical acquired consumable laboratory equipment, repackaged it and shipped it overseas.

The Office of Export and Enforcement (OEE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the activities of Sacara and Rochester Chemical, and others associated with them, to determine whether exports were carried out legally and in accordance with federal regulations.

On September 14, 2018, Sacara was questioned by federal agents and falsely stated that the director of Rochester Chemical was Amy Johnson.

Company emails showed that Sacara and/or Natalia periodically used the alias Amy Johnson. There is no record of the company employing anyone with the name "Amy Johnson," court records show. Johnson does not exist, federal officials said, with Sacara and her sister Natalia acting as the sole directors of the company.

"Lying to federal investigators is a serious crime," Acting US Atty. Farley said in a statement. "By providing false information, this defendant sought to mislead federal agents who were conducting an investigation. This conviction should serve as an important reminder that those who lie to federal agents face serious criminal consequences for their illegal actions. "

"Stela Sacara deliberately lied to federal agents to cover up the extent of her involvement in Rochester Chemical's business operations and ultimately who received their shipments," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the Boston Division of the FBI. "Not only did her actions waste our investigators time and energy trying to locate individuals who do not exist, but she also attempted to obstruct our investigation into whether the company was violating our export laws.
Rupert Murdoch speaking in 2020 (REUTERS)

Rupert Murdoch reportedly fears for his legacy after backing Donald Trump through his conservative Fox News network, author Michael Wolff has said.

The Fire and Fury author, who has also written a biography of Mr Muroch, told Der Spiegel in an interview on Monday that Fox Newss backing of the former US president had not only torn the 90-year-olds family apart, but had also thrown the future of his global business empire into doubt.

Although two of Mr Murdochs adult children, James and Elisabeth, are thought to be fiercely critical of Mr Trump, Mr Wolff told the German news website that Mr Murdoch would not benefit from the cable networks boosterism of Mr Trump.

Two of his kids are Democrats and can't abide this in any way, shape or form, said Mr Wolff of Fox Newss backing of the former president. That tears the family apart.

Mr Murdoch, as the founder of News Corp and 21st Century Fox, is the owner of Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, among other famous titles in the US, UK and Australia.

Asked whether or not Murdoch needs to fear for his legacy because of Trump, Mr Wolff told Der Spiegel: Yes, because he was a man wholly focused on his legacy, on the family. And that's not there anymore.

I think it's very sad for him. But you know, what does he feel? I don't know. He doesn't speak to me anymore.

Mr Wolff was interviewed ahead of the release of his final installment on Mr Trump, Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency, on 27 July.

It follows Fire and Fury, in which the author and reporter wrote that Mr Murdoch hated Mr Trump but was forced to essentially suck up to him following his 2016s election victory.

Trump just made his skin crawl. But then, partly because of Fox News, Trump became the president of the United States, and Murdoch was forced to essentially suck up to him, said Mr Wolff to Der Spiegel. That was incredibly painful to Murdoch.

The remarks come amid reports that Mr Murdoch approved Fox News decision to call Arizona for Joe Biden on election night in November, as reported by Business Insider, who obtained an excerpt of Landslide.

Story continues

Mr Wolff allegedly writes that the 90-year-old told Lachlan Murdoch, his son and the CEO of Fox Corporation, to approve the Fox News decision desks call for Mr Biden, and said of Mr Trump:  'F*** him.

Mr Murdochs decision infuriated the Trump campaign, and handicapped his ability to declare election fraud hours into the night, as Mr Biden emerged slowly as the eventual winner.

In a statement to Insider, Fox said the account "is completely false and wildly inaccurate.

The Independent has approached News Corp for further comment.

Read More

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Absolute insanity: Fauci and GOP lawmaker condemn Covid conspiracy theories as CPAC crowd cheers low vaccine rates
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk lashed out in court at an opposing lawyer seeking to convince a judge that the Tesla CEO illicitly directed the electric car giant to acquire energy system company SolarCity.

"I think you're a bad human being," Musk told attorney Randall Baron, who is representing Tesla shareholders in the lawsuit against the CEO and members of the company's board, during a trial in Delaware Chancery Court on Monday.

The plaintiffs allege that Musk, who was chairman of both Tesla and SolarCity when the $2.1 million purchase took place, directed the transaction in order to benefit himself, according to the Wall Street Journal. He brought the proposed acquisition to the board in 2016.

ELON MUSK RENTING $50,000 HOUSE IN TEXAS AFTER SELLING REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS

Plaintiffs also argue that SolarCity was in financial dire straits at the time, which they say were not fully represented to them during negotiations over the merger.

Musk said during the nonjury trial that an independent director oversaw the negotiation for the merger and that one of his proposals to finance SolarCity temporarily was denied by Tesla's negotiators. Other former Tesla board members, who agreed to settle the suit for $60 million in 2020, have denied wrongdoing.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

If Musk loses the case, he could pay as much as $2 billion, according to CNBC.

SolarCity, I think, would have done just fine by itself, and Tesla would have done fine by itself, but in the long term, they are better together," Musk said Monday. "And that is what the future will show.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Elon Musk, Tesla, Energy, Conflicts of Interest, Delaware

Original Author: Jeremy Beaman

Original Location: Musk dubs opposing lawyer 'a bad human being' during trial
(Reuters) -Myanmar's deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi is facing four additional criminal charges, filed in a court in the country's second biggest city Mandalay, her lawyer said on Monday.

The legal team has little information about what Suu Kyi was accused of but the charges included corruption and that two were also leveled at Min Thu, a former minister in her government, lawyer Min Min Soe told Reuters.

"There are corruption charges. We do not know why do they sue? Or for what reasons? We will find out about it," she said.

The new cases could see Suu Kyi, 76, tied up in legal proceedings in three different cities.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been held since a Feb. 1 coup and is on trial in the capital Naypyitaw over charges that include illegal importation and possession of walkie-talkie radios and violating coronavirus protocols under a disaster management law.

She is charged also in a Yangon court, accused of unspecified breaches of the Official Secrets Act, punishable by a maximum of 14 years in jail.

Her legal team rejects all of the charges.

Chief lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said cross-examination on Monday of a prosecution witness revealed a raid on Suu Kyi's home had been carried out illegally without a warrant.

At a news conference on Monday, military spokesman Zaw Min Tun made no mention of any new charges.

Answering a question about Suu Kyi, he said she had breached the constitution when the post of state councilor was created, which he said came between the president and vice presidents in the command structure.

It was not clear if that allegation was among the new charges.

Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency due to the foreign citizenship of her children and late spouse. She served as state councilor and was de facto leader prior to her overthrow.

(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Gareth Jones and Toby Chopra)
Silicon Valleys longtime voice in D.C. is in disarray.

The Internet Association has been shedding staff, losing influence on Capitol Hill and shrinking to near-obscurity in media coverage of tech policy debates in Washington, even as the industry faces controversies ranging from alleged monopolization to privacy to how it treats its legions of workers.

The declining prominence of IA, a nine-year-old group that used to call itself the unified voice of the internet economy, comes as a larger fragmentation is splitting the tech industrys lobbying efforts into factions, according to more than a dozen current and former employees, congressional aides and tech company employees who spoke to POLITICO on condition of anonymity. But they said the associations internal dysfunction has also diminished its impact in Congress and in public debates about Silicon Valleys expanding array of lawsuits, legislation and regulatory threats.

In short, theyre irrelevant, one Democratic congressional aide said.

In its place, other tech-focused advocacy groups  including a new startup headed by a former Google executive  have stepped into the void to speak for the companies on antitrust, a hot policy topic that IA declines to weigh in on.

The change in IAs stature has become apparent even well outside the Beltway. Seattle-based researcher Margaret OMara said tech lobbying has entered a company-driven era in which more overarching advocacy groups are playing a diminished role. Thats in contrast to sectors such as oil and gas or gun manufacturing, which still rely heavily on their trade associations in the capital.

When the Internet Association was started, you could see there was common ground, issues of principle and issues of policy that these companies all came down on the same side, said OMara, a University of Washington professor who focuses on the relationship between D.C. and Silicon Valley. Now, its quite different.

Transitions are not easy

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Its a striking comedown for a group that, at its peak, held lavish events and dinners, including a 2017 gala attended by then-Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and a 2019 awards ceremony in Union Station featuring appearances by both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Trump adviser Ivanka Trump (plus a cameo by her husband, Jared Kushner).

IA was widely seen as a trusted advocate for the major tech companies, boasting its flashy yellow branding on policy papers and during staff briefings in Congress.

The group brokered the deal with lawmakers that led to a more tech-friendly version of an online sex trafficking law known as FOSTA-SESTA (H.R. 1865 (115)), one of the only times Congress has seriously regulated the internet industry since the 1990s. Former association CEO Michael Beckerman, who built the group from scratch, was making almost $1 million per year by the time he left in February 2020 for a job at TikTok, according to the groups most recent tax filings. (In one sign of his outsize presence, Beckerman once posed for Modern Luxurys Men of Style issue in $5,000 shoes and a $1,250 custom-made suit.)

IA still boasts a roster of 41 member companies, including trillion-dollar colossuses Google, Amazon and Facebook, although several of them are considering giving significantly less money to the group annually, according to two people familiar with the discussions. The group's total revenue was around $10 million in 2019.

In addition to other factors, such as escalating competition among the groups member companies, nine of the people who spoke to POLITICO attributed its woes to staff unhappiness with CEO Dane Snowden, who took over in February after a nearly yearlong search following Beckermans departure. Eight of these people said Snowden and his executive team have sidelined and aggravated longtime experts within the organization with a top-down leadership style that staff described as disrespectful.

In an interview Thursday, Snowden acknowledged that transitions are not easy but added, I see this as an organization thats growing.

Snowden said his goal is for the association to be seen as a trusted source and effective advocate for the internet industry. And one of his major priorities will be to build out IAs federal lobbying apparatus, which he described as previously dormant.

We had very limited federal advocates, Snowden said. A lot of what we did in the past was, as I understand it, was focus [on] our policy shop. Now were focusing on our government relations shop.

Christina Martin, IAs senior vice president of global communications and public affairs, said in a statement to POLITICO that the groups new leader and new direction will yield an organization that is more strategic, more impactful.

IA 2.0 will be ready to champion and defend the internet industry as it faces countless challenges in the midst of Techlash, she said.

For now, though, the group has continued to lose personnel, with a fifth of its 24-person staff resigning since the beginning of June, according to former staffers and an analysis of its careers page. The group has not had layoffs, but several people, including IAs top Republican lobbyist, are leaving without securing another job first. Key positions on the communications and lobbying teams have remained vacant for months, and the organizations productivity has tumbled, the IA staffers said.

I dont know anyone who isnt looking for another job, said one former IA employee.

Employees insisted the problems go deeper than typical growing pains under a new leader.

The personnel churn preceded Snowden as well: IA saw five resignations during a comparable six-month period in 2020, including people who left for Facebook, Amazon, TikTok and Twitter. The organizations staff has seen almost 100 percent turnover since four years ago, according to an analysis of IAs careers page. (The group has also hired 11 new people over the last 17 months.)

Several of IAs major member companies have been crunching numbers to assess whether they want to keep giving the same amount of money to the association as they lean more heavily on their own lobbying operations, according to two people familiar with the dynamics who spoke on the condition of anonymity to relay internal conversations. Google, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft pay between $800,000 and $1 million annually for their IA memberships, according to four people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak about numbers that the group keeps confidential.

The staff members said the associations struggles in part emerge from tensions with Snowden, a former telecom trade association executive who, according to four former employees, is known to yell at staffers and dismiss the way IA has conducted business for years. (The organization did not comment when POLITICO asked for a response to the accusation about yelling.)

Current and former staffers described mounting frustration with other top executives as well, with six people saying they and Snowden dismiss the views of not just the IA policy staff but also those of member companies on issues such as content moderation and privacy.

Snowdens background is mainly in telecom and issues related to the Federal Communications Commission; he worked previously as the chief operating officer at NCTA, the Internet & Television Association, and held posts at CTIA, The Wireless Association, as well as the FCC. On policy issues such as net neutrality, the telecom industry has traditionally found itself at odds with the tech industry.

The board placed an emphasis on previous association management experience over experience with major tech policy issues, such as how to moderate content online, when selecting a new CEO, according to an IA board member.

"Dane, he doesnt know tech policy but hes been in the general world and no one was as qualified as he was in association management, said the IA board member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly. The board member said he is happy with Snowdens performance so far.

I think hes done exactly what we wanted him to do, which is step in and provide a fresh perspective, the member said, adding that the board hopes to focus IAs mission more narrowly.

Whereas Beckerman took a hands-off approach, allowing his 20- and 30-something employees to run the shop in an entrepreneurial, Silicon Valley-esque style, Snowden promotes a more traditional, slow-moving approach, seven former and current staffers said. Hes claimed a first right of refusal over all IA statements and events, and has made only two public appearances since he started at the beginning of the year.

Beckerman was also known for his frequent appearances on Capitol Hill, where he took fire from all sides as he defended the innovation of the internet. In contrast, Snowden has yet to appear publicly before Congress and declined a last-minute invitation to testify in May during a Senate hearing on childrens privacy. (Instead, IA sent a lengthy letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee detailing member companies efforts to protect minors online.) Snowden has placed a priority on meeting one-on-one with members of Congress, holding 11 meetings with key lawmakers and more being scheduled.

Snowden has personally displayed some discomfort with the online world itself, four people said. They said he and members of his leadership team ask staff to print out many of IAs communications rather than share them digitally.

I dont personally feel that it aligns with an organization thats representing internet companies to be printing out everything and using a fax machine, said one former IA employee.

And IAs media coverage has fallen off a cliff in recent months, staff said  partially because former President Donald Trump is no longer driving media attention with his constant criticism of the industry, but partly because IA has been less active in inserting its perspective into the news cycles.

Tension among techs heavyweights

But the conflicts go even deeper. Competition among Facebook, Google and Amazon is fiercer than ever, as they vie with each other in areas like cloud computing and artificial intelligence. That makes the associations consensus-driven model for making decisions increasingly untenable, said two people familiar with the associations dynamics.

I would argue that for many members, especially the large members, it appears to be in their interest to gridlock IA, said one person familiar with internal dynamics at the association. The person added that this should be laid at the feet of the board of directors, a body whose members include government relations staff from companies including Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft as well as smaller rivals like Snap and Spotify.

These companies ... are unwilling to work together in a way that will make everybodys life better, and theyre scuttling the one successful thing that they had outside their own organizations that was willing to stand in the way of bad stuff happening, the person said.

The companies are taking vastly different approaches to some of the major policy discussions of the day.

Facebook, for instance, has come out in support of making changes to techs much-prized legal liability shield, enshrined in Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act  despite the risk that legal tinkering could expose online companies to lawsuits for hosting or taking down users content. Other IA members see this as Facebook throwing them under the bus. After all, the giant social network has vast armies of lawyers and could probably afford some tweaks to Section 230 that smaller internet companies couldnt.

In response, a group of small-to-medium sized IA member companies including Etsy and Snap last year formed Internet Works, a coalition to advocate with one voice against Section 230 changes.

Some of those companies perceived IA as being too beholden to Facebooks view of compromising on 230, which is not what the small companies want, said one person familiar with the dynamics. That was very much a reason behind that splinter group.

Absence on antitrust

Though IAs tagline used to be the unified voice of the internet economy, that slogan has been scrubbed from many of its public-facing platforms, including pages on its website and social media, in recent months. One person familiar with IAs thinking said the association hopes to reorient to emphasize the value of the industry, techs ability to make peoples lives better, and bringing policy positions to life.

Perhaps most importantly, IA as a matter of policy does not weigh in on the most pressing issue facing the big tech companies today  antitrust.

Because IA is a coalition of small and large companies, with vastly different perspectives on the topic, it declared from its founding in 2012 that it would not lobby on competition-related issues. Thats a real impediment as Congress gets serious about passing a set of sweeping antitrust bills that could fundamentally change how Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple do business, while pleasing smaller rivals like Yelp and Spotify.

IA hasnt issued any statements about the Houses package of six bipartisan antitrust bills since the Judiciary Committee approved them last month. It even sat out the debate on bills that only tangentially relate to antitrust, such as one that would make it easier for users to take their data from one platform to another.

On the plus side, the group is staffing up. After months without a Democratic lobbyist since the departure of Michael Bloom, a longtime lobbyist who left for TikTok last July, IA recently hired former House Democratic staffer Bo Morris as director of federal government affairs.

Snowden, meanwhile, is restructuring some of the basic ways that IA does business. This includes pivoting away from a structure that emphasizes working groups made up of member companies and toward a centralized model that puts IAs government affairs teams in charge of strategy.

But its an open question whether IA can regain its former prominence. In IAs absence, several of the tech industrys other trade groups, such as NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, have stepped up to advocate for the companies on competition issues. Chamber of Progress, a new tech-funded group run by former Google executive Adam Kovacevich, has been capturing a lot of the media attention that used to go to IA.

In addition, the big tech companies have each been building up their own lobbying shops to advocate for their interests. Congressional aides said that when they want to get the perspective of one of the major tech companies, theyre far likelier to go to the companies individually.

Its a risky strategy  especially in Washington, where theres strength in unity when it comes to beating back industry-wide government crackdowns. And the frustration from some in the industry with IAs performance is only mounting.

Were writing the rules to the internet  and the association in charge of speaking for the internet is nowhere to be found, said one member company employee.
When I began chronicling Holocaust survivor Max Glaubens biography, I struggled to imagine a childhood so haunted by hatred. What Max first experienced as rock-throwing and name-calling reached a crescendo with the systematic murder of 6 million Jews. Maxs entire family was killed when he was 15. Such potent hatred felt distant from my experience growing up Jewish in America.

As I continued researching for "The Upstander," I was startled to hear from Maxs wife, Frieda, that she, too, had been the target of name-calling and rock-throwing  in Dallas, Texas. Dirty Jew! children yelled at Frieda and her friends as they chased her home from school in her youth.

I just thought it was natural that people throw rocks at Jews, Frieda told me from her dining room table in the city we both grew up in.

I thanked God I had not personally seen such unabashed hatred toward my community in my lifetime. But now?

Staggering data on antisemitic assaults

Though Jews make up less than 2% of the United States population, 60.3% of anti-religious hate crimes in 2019 targeted the Jewish community, per FBI data. Assaults against the Jewish community spiked 56% from 2018 to 2019, the Anti-Defamation League reported. The 2,107 total incidents of antisemitism, including a fatal synagogue shooting for the second straight year, marked the most on record in 40 years of the ADLs annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents.

Max Glauben (center) guided Jori Epstein (left) through concentration camps, including Auschwitz in Poland, in 2012.

Even more recently, following the conflict escalation between Israel and Hamas this May, 60% of American Jews personally witnessed antisemitic behavior or comments, according to an ADL survey. Seventy-seven percent were more concerned about antisemitism in America because of the recent violence and 41% were more concerned about their personal safety.

The data is staggering.

How can the country in which I actively embrace and openly discuss my religious heritage while working for a national publication simultaneously harbor the hatred that fueled the vandalism of my mentors Maryland synagogue? Jews have been violently attacked, including on the streets of Los Angeles and New York City in May 2021, while wearing a religious skullcap  the same skullcap my brother wears proudly to school and work.

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I think back to the injustices Maxs family first faced and how, within five years of similar assaults, he and his family were forcibly transported to mass killing centers.

Maxs memoir, "The Upstander," emphasizes a grim truth he witnessed during the Holocaust: Simply refraining from hate is insufficient. We do not have the luxury to remain bystanders.

Hatred, Max told USA TODAY, cannot be eradicated without doing something about it.

USA TODAY Opinion in your inbox: Subscribe to our newsletter for more insights and analysis.

The problem with hate

Antisemitism, as hatred toward Jews is called, has infiltrated society throughout history. The Jewish community has enjoyed periods of relative freedom and security; but at best, hatred toward Jews seems to fester beneath the surface.

For Max and his family, the consequences were devastating.

When Max was 11 in Warsaw, Poland, he could no longer visit his father at work without neighborhood children physically and verbally abusing him because he is Jewish. That same year, in 1939, the Nazis burned his fathers newspaper office to the ground. Jews were banned from schools and professions, Max and his family crammed into a confined ghetto area. They were allowed rations amounting to just 184 calories per person per day  the rough equivalent of two apples.

Armed guards at my Jewish preschool: Why is antisemitism never a crisis in America?

In May 1943, Max, his brother, his mother and his father were deported to Majdanek death camp. Within three weeks, Maxs entire family was killed. Max survived six horrific concentration camps as an airplane factory laborer.

We looked out the window and the skies were blue and there werent too many clouds in the sky, Max remembers thinking from the boxcar hauling his family to the death camp. Why? For not doing anything, why did it happen to us? Where are we going? Everybody was asking, but I dont think anybody knew the answer.

Max Glauben displays his naturalization papers at his dining room table in 2018.

Eight decades later, answers still elude us.

Hate, then and now, defies logic.

But we cannot allow its incomprehensibility to paralyze us into inaction. We cant afford to view Maxs testimony as a problem solved or unsolvable. No, the 93-year-old says: His history is real, recent and relevant. If humanity was capable of this then, we cannot assume that has changed.

Conquering extremism: We can fight hate in our communities before it escalates to violent crime and extremism

Max, who has devoted the last forty years of his life to unmasking the perils of hate and the routes to tolerance, embraces the term upstander. We owe it to ourselves and our communities to not stand idly by when hate speech and actions intensify. We must speak and act with regard for the consequences. We must examine our behaviors and biases.

The problem with hate is that it (grows) within an individual, Max said. I sometimes compare it to yeast, when you bake a bread. You put a little in there and have a little water and flour, put it in the refrigerator and it overflows.

Thats how hate does inside of a hater.

Preserving Maxs testimony

Education is a key tool to combating hatred toward Jews.

I was 17 years old when I first visited the Nazi death camps of Majdanek, Auschwitz, Birkenau and Treblinka with Max. His testimony elicited far more questions than answers.

The history I bore witness to engulfed me.

A life's purpose: 75 years ago, this Holocaust survivor reclaimed life. Now he works to erase hate.

How, I wondered from the death camp where Maxs mother and brother were murdered, could humanity let this happen? How could Max, guiding us stolidly through these death-stained musty barracks, still resoundingly embrace resilience and compel tolerance?

Researching "The Upstander," Jori Epstein interviewed Max Glauben about his Holocaust survival over the course of several years.

I have a lot of information in me, Max said. Should I, after realizing how I can help to make this a better world, be gone with that information? Or should I expose what happened to me? Show people each one of us can be an upstander and treat everyone the way they like to be treated.

We began "The Upstander" four years later, in 2016.

Max and I have since pored over his oral histories and the meticulous documentation of his enslavement: camp transfer notation, displaced-person arrangements, immigration correspondence and social-services case reports. We returned together to Warsaw and four concentration camps in 2017, unleashing crucial recollections and emotions from which Max has trained himself to dissociate. Local and national Holocaust museums enabled us to corroborate historical context across sources. Then, we ventured into uncharted territory: the psychological impact the Holocaust imprints on Max and his family through present day.

The Holocaust and hatred are no more comprehensible to me today than they were when I first toured the concentration camps at 17 years old.

But I am committed  and hope you, our readers, are too  to the continual pursuit of grappling with humanitys capacity for hatred and violence.

We must continue to confront history such as Maxs life to better understand the depth to which humanity can sink and, in concert, the immense potential each of us has to stand up for whats right. We must not only remember the Holocaust, but also inspire tolerance education and action. We must deepen the love and shared understanding between and among diverse communities before it is too late. Please: Join us to thwart hatred toward the Jewish community. Lets begin by educating ourselves.

If you have any hatred, bigotry, or antisemitism, Max says of The Upstander, I hope that after you read this book, you might change your mind.

Holocaust survivor Max Glaubens memoir, The Upstander, published this spring. Max is 93 years old.

Max wants you to know that he believes in the difference that you  yes, you  can make on the front lines fighting hate. His reflections underscore that heroism emerges not when we hold ourselves to superhuman standards, but rather when we let our humanity prevail.

Life is like the stock market, Max smiled through his thickly-accented English in conversation. It goes up and down and up and down. Always do the best you can with what you got.

And never, never, never, never, never, never give up.

Jori Epstein is an NFL reporter for USA Today and the author of Holocaust survivor Max Glaubens memoir, The Upstander.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Holocaust survivors message as antisemitism spikes: Be 'Upstanders'
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Last August, when Floridas Hillsborough County Public Schools began upgrading air filters in their K-12 buildings, the event was so significant that news trucks showed up to document one of the first installations, at a Tampa elementary school.

When RAND Corp. researchers last spring presented parents with a list of 13 items that would make them feel safe about in-person schooling this fall, parents top priority wasnt teacher or student vaccines, social distancing or regular COVID testing.

It was ventilation.

Perhaps thats because COVID-19 has made our most basic act  breathing  newsworthy.

But therein lies the problem: In 2021, with an airborne virus still infecting Americans at a rate of about 15,000 daily, the heating and cooling systems in many U.S. public schools are nothing short of awful. Whether billions in new federal aid will be enough to help school districts upgrade an aging system anytime soon remains an open question.

While data on the scope of the problem are scarce, what little there are suggest that schools are looking at billions of dollars in deferred maintenance. A few examples:

In Worcester, Mass., the district last summer said it would spend $15 million to upgrade heating and cooling systems in its 44 schools, some of which date back to the 1800s. Nearly half of its schools were built before 1940;

In Denver, the school board unanimously approved spending $4.9 million to upgrade school heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in more than 150 buildings after former Superintendent Susana Cordova said parents had been asking her specifically about HVAC upgrades.

Like many issues, this one hits low-income students hardest.

In a 2014 study of school facilities by the National Center for Education Statistics and Westat, researchers found that schools serving the largest percentage of low-income students also had the largest percentage of air ventilation/filtration systems rated fair or poor in permanent buildings.

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The study found that in schools with the highest concentration of low-income students, 33 percent had such troubled systems. In schools with the lowest concentration, it was 27 percent.

In the RAND survey, nearly three in four parents put school air quality at the top of their school wishlist. Even among a subgroup of parents who were unsure whether theyd even send their kids back to school, ventilation came in as the most important safety indicator.

The dilemma is resonating beyond parents: Last fall, the non-profit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), filed a complaint with the New York State Labor Department on behalf of 44 employees in nine public school campuses across New York City, saying most school buildings were improperly ventilated. It also said the citys minimalistic ventilation standards dont prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. The group wants inspectors to determine whether schools are ventilated and filtrated to adequately protect teachers, students, and staff.

Kyla Bennett, the groups New England director, said the conditions in these schools were pretty horrifying.

The inspections that they had done, most of the schools did not have windows that opened (in) the classrooms. They didnt have the correct supply ventilation or exhaust ventilation in the rooms. I mean, some of them literally had zero ventilation.

An environmental group last fall sued the New York City school district, saying most buildings were inadequately ventilated. But a district spokesman said only well-ventilated classrooms were in use, and that the citys public schools were some of the safest places to be during this pandemic. (@NYCSchools / Twitter)

She understands why windows in some cases dont open. Theres noise out there. Theres pollution. Theres danger, especially for small children, if the windows open wide enough. But the bottom line is that in order to make the schools safe for not just the students, but for the staff and the teachers, we need to improve the ventilation in the schools.

Nathaniel Styer, a city schools spokesperson, said the districts public schools were some of the safest places to be during this pandemic because of our focus on ventilation and safety. We ended the year with a .03 percent positivity rate, which never went above 1 percent and was consistently far below the city average. Our schools are safe and if any repairs need to be made to ventilation systems the impacted classrooms are closed until the problem is fixed.

Styer said the district only uses classrooms in which ventilation systems are working and operational, with the means to bring fresh air inside, circulate it, and ventilate the air outside. He also said every room was inspected multiple times by professional engineers and union inspectors.

The high costs of building repairs  as well as other priorities and the political gridlock gripping Washington, D.C.  likely mean that most families wont get their school ventilation wishes granted by the time students return this fall.

Last Decembers $900 billion Covid-19 stimulus measure, as well as President Bidens proposed infrastructure legislation, could change conditions in schools. The stimulus includes $54.3 billion for states and school districts to shore up school facilities, including HVAC systems. But schools total price tag could be billions more, recent estimates suggest.

Bidens infrastructure bill could help as well. It proposes $50 billion in direct grants and another $50 billion leveraged through bonds to upgrade and build public schools. While its fate remains up in the air, a bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers last week endorsed a slimmed-down version of the proposal. A summary of the Rebuilding Americas Infrastructure plan by the Problem Solvers Caucus endorses upgrading schools internet systems, but doesnt mention school ventilation.

Needed: $1 million  or more  per building

Much of what we know about school infrastructure these days comes from a 2020 study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which surveyed school districts and found that 54 percent needed to update or replace multiple building systems including HVAC. An estimated one in three schools needed to update their systems, it found. And 41 percent of districts needed to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half of their schools, totaling about 36,000 nationwide.

The price tag for upgrading these systems: about $1 million per building. If half of the 36,000 buildings get upgrades and the rest get entirely new HVAC systems, it could cost schools about $72 billion, the non-profit Learning Policy Institute estimated.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office surveyed school districts and found that 54 percent needed to update or replace multiple building systems including HVAC. About 41 percent of districts needed to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half of their schools. (GAO)

Among educators themselves, the problem is hardly hidden  actually, most of them would agree with RANDs findings, calling ventilation an urgent problem. When the American Society of Civil Engineers earlier this year graded infrastructure systems nationwide, ventilation upgrades topped schools most pressing concerns. More than half of districts  53 percent  reported that they need to update or replace multiple building systems, including HVAC. The report estimated that schools need a cumulative $870 billion in repairs. Taxpayers are currently investing only $490 billion, the group said, leaving a $380 billion shortfall.

While the engineers group gave the nations overall infrastructure a grade of C-, it was even tougher on our public schools, handing them a grade of D+.

It noted that in the decade between fiscal years 2008 and 2017, state capital funding for schools fell 31 percent, the equivalent of a $20 billion cut. In that period, 38 states cut school capital spending as a share of the state economy.

One of the reports authors, California civil engineer Dan Cronquist, said in an interview that HVAC upgrades and replacements topped all other school officials concerns, including roofing, lighting, safety, plumbing, and even asbestos, lead, and mold remediation.

Air quality, he said, is a big issue, but he acknowledged that educators have a lot on their plates. School buildings are not as a high-priority in some districts as other expenses.

Related: The Nations Aging Schools Must Improve Air Quality to Prevent Covid Transmission, Experts Say. But the Price Tag Can be Daunting

When GAO researchers visited school districts in six states last year, they found that security had become a top priority, often taking precedence over spending on building systems such as HVAC. It also found that in about half of districts nationwide, funding for school facilities came primarily from local sources such as property taxes.

In most cases, schools cant rely on federal funding for ongoing, needed repairs, unless theyre located on military bases, receive federal Impact Aid, or are charter schools.

Upgrades dont necessarily mean better air quality

CDC guidelines suggest that schools use multiple mitigation strategies to lower the risk of exposure, such as improving building ventilation, as well as masks and distancing. While most buildings wont actually require new ventilation systems, CDC says, upgrades or improvements can increase the delivery of clean air and dilute potential contaminants. In buildings that are already up to code, it suggests using window fans, improving filtration, and using portable high-efficiency particulate air filtration systems, among other measures.

Even if they get upgrades, schools may not automatically enjoy better air quality if they dont maintain and operate the systems properly.

A Maryland classroom from a 2020 GAO report on school infrastructure. The school doesnt have air conditioning in most areas and the school district must close the building if temperatures rise beyond a safe level. (GAO)

In a study published last year, before the pandemic hit, researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Davis, visited 104 California classrooms that had recently been retrofitted with new HVAC units. About half had high CO2 concentrations, researchers found, and many were under-ventilated, likely due to improperly selected equipment, poor maintenance, or other issues.

The researchers concluded that better oversight of HVAC installation, as well as periodic testing and CO2 monitoring, would improve ventilation.

Related: The Air They Breathe: NYC Teachers School Ventilation Complaint Spotlights Complex Challenge

As for conditions in New York City schools, the PEER complaint is on hold after the state Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau said it didnt have jurisdiction over COVID-19 cases, Bennett said. Were looking at our options, but theres no quick solution here.

She added, The bottom line is that this pandemic, this isnt the end. This is something thats going to be hanging over our heads  whether its COVID-19, that still hasnt gone away, or whether its the next pandemic  we need to make sure that the ventilation in our schools is better than it is, because its not a safe working environment.

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Pfizer representatives will meet with federal health officials on Monday to discuss the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, a meeting that comes less than a week after the Biden administration reaffirmed its position that the two-shot regimen is enough for now.

THE COVID-19 VARIANTS HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WATCHING

Present at the meeting will be Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, and acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock, among other federal health experts, the Washington Post reported.

Pfizer and partner vaccine developer BioNTech announced last Thursday that they would seek an emergency use authorization in the coming weeks for a third dose of vaccine after early data from the companys booster study suggested that peoples antibody levels jumped fivefold to tenfold after a third dose compared to those levels after receiving the second dose months earlier.

The rise in cases due to the highly infectious delta variant has also led to concerns that the two-dose vaccine developed last year might not be sufficient to protect against a new, more virulent strain of the coronavirus.

The company also reported last week that a third dose may be needed within six to 12 months after full vaccination, but specifics about the clinical trial results have not been made public. On that same day, the FDA and the CDC issued a joint statement that said, Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time.

Fauci said Sunday that he does not think vaccine boosters are needed right now, adding that the majority of new hospitalizations due to COVID-19 were primarily among unvaccinated populations. Still, Fauci did not rule out the possible need for boosters in certain populations, such as those people who have compromised immune systems.

This isn't something that we say, 'No, we don't need a boost right now. The story's ended forever,' Fauci said on CNN. No, there's a lot of work going on to examine this in real time to see if we might need a boost, but right now, given the data that the CDC and the FDA has, they don't feel that we need to tell people right now you need to be boosted.

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IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUR BUSINESS' TO KNOW WHO GETS VACCINATED, BIDEN HEALTH SECRETARY SAYS

Israeli health officials announced on Sunday that they would offer booster shots to people with weakened immune systems, though they are still debating whether to make the third dose available to the general public.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: Healthcare, News, Coronavirus, Biden Administration, Anthony Fauci, Rochelle Walensky, CDC, FDA, Vaccination

Original Author: Cassidy Morrison

Original Location: Pfizer to brief Biden health officials on COVID-19 vaccine booster shot possibility
Jul. 12A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty to using a gun to further a drug trafficking crime as part of a 2019 bust that nabbed more than three dozen suspects linked to a heroin and fentanyl ring, federal prosecutors said.

Jaimone Robinson, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of using a gun to further a drug trafficking crime, according to acting U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman.

Robinson was among 40 defendants charged in the indictment of the broader investigation involving Pittsburgh police in January 2019.

Federal sentencing guidelines call for not less than five years and not more than life in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting the case.

The FBI led the investigation with help from the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Explosives and Allegheny County Police, along with county sheriff's and probation officials. Police from Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg, Green Tree, Mt. Oliver, New York City and Yonkers also assisted in the case.

U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman IV scheduled Robinson's sentencing hearing for Oct. 21.

Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Natasha at 412-380-8514, nlindstrom@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Update: The Kansas City Police Department has identified the victim as Leonard Ellis, 51.

A man was shot to death Sunday afternoon following an argument in Kansas City, according to police.

Officers responded to the shooting about 4:15 p.m. in the 3000 block of Kensington Avenue, where they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds outside, said Capt. Leslie Foreman, a police spokesperson. He later died at a hospital.

The shooting stemmed from an argument between the victim and a man, according to the Kansas City Police Departments preliminary investigation.

The suspect fled the area. Police did not yet have a description for him.

The killing marked the 79th this year in Kansas City, according to data maintained by The Star. By this time last year, the city had suffered 105 homicides.

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While homicides are down compared to 2020, which marked the deadliest year in the citys history with 182 homicides, Foreman said the number of victims this year is still way too many.

Police urged anyone with information about the killing to call detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
Paul Flores is taken into custody by the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office on suspicion of murder in the case of Kristin Smart, who went missing 25 years ago after leaving a college party. (San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office )

San Luis Obispo County prosecutors are seeking to amend their murder case against Paul Flores in the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart to include two allegations of rape of unconscious women in the Los Angeles area.

Prosecutors will argue a motion Wednesday to amend the murder charge against Flores. They have said he killed Smart, a 19-year-old fellow student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, during the commission of a rape or attempted rape in his dormitory the night she vanished 25 years ago.

Authorities did not spell out the specifics of the new charges in court. But last week, a judge referenced case law in which rape cases were attached to crimes in a different county.

Los Angeles Police Capt. Jonathan Tippett, who oversees the Robbery-Homicide Division, said San Luis Obispo County prosecutors were looking at two sexual assaults that occurred in the San Pedro area where Flores lived between 2013 and 2017.

Tippett said the addition of the Los Angeles County rape charges will bolster the prosecution's murder case against Flores and demonstrate a pattern of criminal behavior.

A judge said Monday that a number of motions will be reviewed this week ahead of a 12-day preliminary hearing scheduled for July 20.

Flores is charged with murder in the commission of a rape or attempted rape. His 80-year-old father, Ruben Flores, is charged with accessory after the fact and is accused of concealing Smart's body after her death.

The preliminary hearing is expected to reveal what prosecutors think happened to Smart. After the arrest of the two Floreses, evidence was retrieved from below the deck of the father's home in Arroyo Grande, prosecutors have indicated.

Smart vanished on Memorial Day weekend in 1996. She was last seen walking with Flores, a classmate, back to her room after a party. Flores was long suspected in Smart's disappearance, but without sufficient evidence tying him to any crime, he remained free.

For decades, Flores was dogged by his ties to the Smart case. He moved to Los Angeles County's South Bay. Detectives continued to pursue him, tapping his phones, seizing his computers and digging up his parents' yards.

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San Luis Obispo County sheriff's officials dig under a deck at the home of Ruben Flores, the father of Paul Flores. (Daniel Dreifuss / Associated Press)

San Luis Obispo prosecutors in April said they were investigating whether Flores had sexually assaulted women in the San Pedro area, where he has lived for 15 years.

Redondo Beach police previously presented a rape case against Flores to Los Angeles County prosecutors, who ultimately declined to file charges for lack of evidence. The victim in that case did not know Flores' identity when she fled his home after the alleged attack. But police uploaded a DNA profile taken as evidence into a law enforcement database, and a few years later it matched a name: Paul Flores.

Although Flores was not charged in that case, the DNA hit sounded alarms 200 miles north in San Luis Obispo.

Flores' time in Los Angeles County was marked by troubling encounters with police. The alleged rape in Redondo Beach was one of multiple cases in which Flores was suspected of sexually assaulting women. He is a suspect in two recent alleged sexual assaults being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, authorities say.

Flores, 44, has not been charged with any sex crimes stemming from his time in Southern California. He has pleaded not guilty to Smarts murder. Flores attorney has said he denies every allegation.

In a probation report inadvertently made public and obtained by the San Luis Obispo Tribune, a deputy district attorney wrote that dozens of women have described sexual assaults and predatory behavior that document [Flores] twenty-five years as a serial rapist.

If Flores' case goes to trial and San Luis Obispo County prosecutors are allowed to present testimony that Flores has preyed on women in the years since Smart disappeared, it could significantly broaden the scope of the trial.

Times staff writer Matthew Ormseth contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Protests broke out in multiple countries on Sunday as demonstrators demanded an end to the communist dictatorship in Cuba, according to several news outlets.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Miami, Argentina, and several cities across Cuba, demanding freedom from the communist regime while chanting, "We are not afraid," several outlets reported.

Both Republicans and Democrats in the United States shared video of the protests while voicing support for the demonstrators.

"After decades of suffering through a communist dictatorship, the Cuban people deserve liberty," wrote House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. "I am proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Cuba who are calling out for freedom."

CUBAN REFUGEE SAYS AMERICANS HAVE ALREADY SWALLOWED 'COMMUNIST POISON PILL' AND 'DIGESTED' IT

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"Spontaneous street protests breaking out in several cities in #Cuba right now with chants of #NoTenemosMiedo (We Are Not Afraid)," said Sen. Marco Rubio, who is Cuban American. "Frustration with the dictatorships incompetence, greed & repression is mounting rapidly."

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The Democratic mayor of Miami-Dade County also took to social media to voice support for protesters in Cuba.

"We stand united with the Cuban people on the island and across our community at this historic moment in the struggle for freedom, dignity, and basic human rights  may their courageous actions bring about real change and move us closer to the dream of a free Cuba," Daniella Levine Cava wrote in a tweet Sunday evening.

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Republican Florida congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, whose congressional district includes part of Miami, claimed Cuba's regime is shutting down the internet on the island to prevent online users across the world from seeing the protests, an allegation echoed by Rubio on Twitter.

It was not immediately clear whether internet access was being limited on Sunday, though a network observability company called Kentik retweeted a user reporting internet traffic in the country experiencing one or two brief or total blackouts, the first beginning at approximately 4:05 p.m. local time.

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The Cuban regime previously shut down the internet on Jan. 29 for several hours as authorities beat and detained protesters at a free expression demonstration outside the Ministry of Culture in Havana, multiple outlets reported at the time.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Cuba's dictatorship is often accused by watchdogs of being hostile to free expression. In June, Miguel Diaz-Canel, the nation's president, was listed alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as some of 2021's most effective "press freedom predators," according to Reporters Without Borders.

The Washington Examiner contacted the Federal Communications Commission but did not immediately receive a response.

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Tags: News, Cuba, Communism, Dictators, Protests, Miami

Original Author: Kaelan Deese, Carly Roman

Original Location: Protesters call for end to communist dictatorship in Cuba
Jul. 12Loud honks were heard as protesters gathered outside of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program Moose Lake facility to support the residents in a hunger strike.

According to members of organizing groups Ocean and End MSOP, around 40 detainees inside the facility started a hunger strike on July 4 to call for an end to "an indefinite detention program they believe is an unconstitutional death sentence." The strikers have put out calls for an executive order from Governor Tim Walz or a sponsored bill to close the program.

"Our goal here today is to head over to the facility to honk and make some noise to let the people in there know that we care about them," said David Boehnke, organizer from End MSOP. "We're well into a hunger strike by the men in there and they're calling for action to end this kind of detainment."

MSOP houses approximately 743 sex offenders under court-ordered civil commitment for treatment, with about 450 at Moose Lake and nearly 300 at a facility in St. Peter. The program has been controversial since its inception in 1994, with courts granting only 14 full discharges and 45 provisional discharges over that time.

According to protesters, three of the hunger strikers were hospitalized as of Saturday and 28 remain on strike. Protesters also claim the facility has told detainees that it's not considered an "official hunger strike unless they are refusing both food and water."

Audio: Ocean co-founder Daniel Wilson on July 10 explains the protest.

"We've already had four men on strike collapse, and two of them are still in the hospital today," Boehnke said. "We have members of their families here today to show support for them as they continue on."

 Psychologist at Moose Lake's Minnesota Sex Offender Program accused of sexual misconduct

 Some Moose Lake sex offenders on hunger strike

One such family member was Robert Johnson of Longville, Minnesota. His son Jeremiah has been in the facility for 16 years. He said when a psychiatrist talked to him about the program, he was told his son could be out in less than four years.

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"So he said, 'OK, I'll plead guilty.' And there he sits, 16 years later, never getting a chance for parole," Johnson said. "They keep sending him to prison on assault charges. There's probably 20-30 cases there every month of assault charges on staff."

Johnson said his son tries to follow the rules so that he can get visitor privileges, but that the environment inside the facility makes it difficult.

"He gets pretty frustrated and discouraged. But that's the problem they have there, every man in there is frustrated because they're never going to get out," Johnson said. "That's how they keep getting all these assault charges. The frustration builds up because they have no hope."

About 25 people gathered at the McDonald's restaurant near the facility to make signs and prepare for the honk-in. Family members piled into cars with bright signs and lined up to drive into the facility around 2:30 p.m. After about an hour of honking, the protesters dispersed when more law enforcement arrived and asked them to leave.

The protestors are also organizing a community conversation and rally at the St. Paul Capitol next Sunday, July 18 and more info can be found on the End MSOP Facebook page.

The News Tribune reached out to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the MSOP for comment on the protest but did not hear back as of the publishing deadline.
The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates.

Whats happening

Over the past decade, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been one of the rising stars in the Democratic Party. His rapid ascent from San Francisco mayor to lieutenant governor to the governors mansion led many in California to believe his next stop could be the White House . Today, however, Newsom faces a recall election that poses a threat to his political career and presents an unlikely path for a Republican to lead one of Americas bluest states.

California is one of 19 states that allow voters to recall elected officials in special elections, which are typically prompted after a certain number of signatures supporting a recall are collected. Recall attempts are common, but nearly all of them fail. Only a small fraction even make it onto the ballot. The latest attempt to recall Newsom may very well have flopped had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic.

The recall was initially launched in February 2020, based mostly on right-wing complaints about Newsoms immigration policy. It gained steam as some Californians took issue with the governors approach to the pandemic  which included some of the most aggressive restrictions in the nation. The number of signatures skyrocketed in November after Newsom was photographed mingling indoors and maskless at a dinner party hosted by a wealthy lobbyist at a swanky Napa Valley restaurant in violation of his own coronavirus guidance.

Recall organizers gathered more than 2 million signatures  well above the threshold to trigger a special election. On Sept. 14, Newsom will become the third governor in modern U.S. history to face a recall. Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker survived a recall challenge in 2012. In 2003, embattled California Gov. Gray Davis was ousted from office after a wild recall election, and was replaced by action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Why theres debate

Though California is home to the only successful gubernatorial recall in modern history, many political experts predict this time will be different. Davis was deeply unpopular when he was recalled in 2003 due to a statewide electricity crisis and a $35 billion budget deficit. Davis also had a world-famous celebrity vying to replace him.

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Newsom, on the other hand, has a relatively high approval rating, is riding a booming statewide economy with a massive budget surplus and helped lead one of the most effective vaccine campaigns in the country. A handful of prominent Republicans in the state have joined the race to replace him, including the former mayor of San Diego and Newsoms opponent in the 2018 governors race  but no one with nearly the star power of Schwarzenegger. Reality star Caitlyn Jenner garnered headlines when she announced her candidacy, but polls suggest the attention hasnt yet translated into support from voters.

Despite all the points in Newsoms favor, some observers say the recall still has a chance of success. California is doing well now, but its possible that a severe wildfire season, crippling drought, resurgence of the coronavirus fueled by the Delta variant or other tactical slipup could turn voters against Newsom before the end of the summer, they argue. Democrats chose a much earlier date for the election than most had expected, a move in part seen as a hedge against a potential spike in COVID-19 cases in the fall , but some political analysts say the decision could backfire by denying them time they need to rally their base against the recall.

Whats next

A significant question looming over the recall vote is whether the states Republican Party will coalesce behind a single candidate to replace Newsom. That decision may not be made until August, around the time the first mail-in ballots for the recall election are sent to voters.

If he survives the recall, Newsom will be eligible to run for another 4-year term as governor in next year's midterm elections.

Perspectives

California voters are less likely to turn against their own party than the were in the past

Hes likely to beat the recall attempt because Americans today are so polarized, they tend to vote knee-jerk with their parties. And there are nearly twice as many Democrats as Republicans in California.  George Skelton, Los Angeles Times

A recall may not be likely, but its not impossible

Is it likely? No. But could it happen? Well, the last time California put its governor to a recall vote, it eventually elected a Republican athlete-cum-mega celebrity in the form of Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Tiana Lowe, Washington Examiner

California is much bluer than it was in 2003

The simple truth is that California is in a much different position in 2021 than it was in 2003. The state has grown more progressive and has become the heartbeat of the resistance against the radicalization of the Republican Party under its leader, Donald Trump. The Republican Party has gotten smaller, and it has been relegated to back-seat status, frozen out of power in the State Assembly, the State Senate and every statewide office.  Kurt Bardella, USA Today

The state could be in much worse shape come Election Day

While the Democratic governor is riding a wave of political momentum, an extra-contagious coronavirus variant and a potentially devastating wildfire season threaten to derail that progress, adding additional pressure for a speedy vote.  Jeremy B. White, Politico

Newsoms handling of the pandemic angered enough voters to give the recall a shot

Newsom may argue that this recall effort is a partisan power play, but such a claim is an affront to the millions of Californians who have experienced his poor leadership during the pandemic. While proponents of the recall have an uphill climb in the effort to remove him from office, they have succeeded in getting Newsom's attention.  Lanhee J. Chen, CNN

Newsom can use the power of his office to fight off the recall

While residents from other states wonder why Californias blue-state budget decadence continues despite the threat of a recall, Gavin will attempt to silence his hometown critics with the bread of overspending and summer circuses celebrating the states reopening.  Lance Christensen, National Review

Republicans havent found a strong candidate capable of threatening Newsom

If recall proponents  Republicans, mostly  were to have a fighting chance of success, they would need to coalesce behind one well-known, well-financed candidate to succeed Newsom, as demonstrated by Californias first and only gubernatorial recall, that of Gray Davis in 2003.  A very weak Republican Party, a late-blooming sponsor of the recall, cant even settle on one challenger and voters will be disinclined to vote for Newsoms ouster if they dont see a viable alternative.  Dan Walters, CalMatters

A prominent Democrat joining the recall race would be bad news for Newsom

It is obviously in Mr. Newsoms interest to keep other Democrats off the ballot and brand the election a Republican recall. A Vote no message is cleaner than Vote no, but just in case, vote for this other Democrat. Worse than muddled messaging, a viable Democratic alternative, even posed as an insurance policy, could morph into a real threat.  Miriam Pawel, New York Times

The recall will have been a success even if it fails to remove Newsom from office

Newsom continues to get high marks from many voters. The campaign to recall him may fail. But regardless of the outcome, self-government in the Golden State will have been strengthened.  Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe

The early election date could be a major strategic mistake

At the moment, most voters are not focused on the recall. The groups that are most engaged  and probably enraged  are those looking to oust Newsom.  Joshua Spivak, Los Angeles Daily News

Democrats were wise to hold the election as early as possible

A later recall date could have coincided with a downturn in Newsoms approval ratings, depending especially on how the states wildfire season progressed.  Newsoms ratings could also flag if COVID infection numbers begin spiking to the point where mask mandates and other restrictions have to be utilized yet again.  Editorial, Sacramento Bee

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Cuban exiles rally at Versailles restaurant in Miami's Little Havana in support of protesters in Cuba as thousands of Cubans took to the streets in rare protests Sunday, July 11, 2021, to complain about a lack of freedom and a worsening economic situation.

Stunned and shaken by islandwide street protests Sunday, Cuba's communist regime sought on Monday to deflect responsibility for the causes of political "dissatisfaction" while Cuban Americans hoped this round of unrest will lead to a long-desired change in government.

"Let's hope this is finally the moment so many of us have been waiting for," said Luis Obregon of Royal Palm Beach, Florida. "I'm optimistic."

More: Anti-government protests in Cuba spark Florida solidarity rallies

Obregon said he drove from his home to Miami's Little Havana on Sunday to rally in support of demonstrators in Cuba.

"You can only step on people for so long before they defend themselves," said Obregon, who came to the United States in 1985. "People had nothing to eat, no way to lead a better life when I was there and nothing has changed. It's time for a change. Been time."

COVID-19, food and power shortages triggered Cuba unrest

That was a common sentiment expressed across Cuba  and Florida  Sunday as thousands of people took to the streets in the Caribbean nation to demand change. The spark was a weekend of bad news in Cuba's failing battle against COVID-19  which included record numbers of infections and deaths.

Cuban exiles rally at Versailles Restaurant in Miami's Little Havana in support of protesters in Cuba as thousands of Cubans took to the streets in rare protests Sunday, July 11, 2021, to complain about a lack of freedom and a worsening economic situation.

In addition, the island nation's 11 million people have been suffering through daily, prolonged power outages amid a summer heat wave. And long-standing shortages for everything from food to medications.

More: Player on Cuban baseball team defects days before Olympics qualifying tournament that will be held in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie

Across Cuba, protesters chanted "Libertad", Spanish for "freedom," and Patria y vida  a play on Patria o muerte, "Fatherland or death"  the closing exclamatory for the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's speeches.

The Patria y vida chant has become the battle cry for many younger Cubans demanding change on the island. It was popularized in a protest song recorded by a group of popular musicians in Cuba led by Orishas band rapper Yotuel Romero.

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See video of Orishas protest song here

The song's lyrics condemn a history of repression on the island: We are artists; we are sensitivity, the true story, not the badly told one. We are the dignity of a people trampled at gunpoint and by words that still mean nothing.

Those themes were megaphoned in solidarity rallies across Florida on Sunday.

In West Palm Beach on Sunday, Cuban exiles gathered for a solidarity demonstration on the corner of Military Trail and Forest Hill Boulevard. They waved Cuban flags before the passing traffic and hoisted signs that read Cubans are dying!

More: Point of View: An appeal for Cubans  and for the US

At Tropical Bakery, a West Palm Beach Cuban institution for nearly 32 years, server Lauren Camacho, 23, said Monday she was monitoring the protests on the island with particular anxiety. Most of her immediate family remains in her native Villa Clara province, which she left three years ago to seek out a better life in Palm Beach County.

People march in the streets and wave Cuban flags during a protest in solidarity with thousands of Cubans who took to the streets in various locations in Cuba, in one of the largest protests to take place on the island, at Versailles Cuban restaurant off 8th Street in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, on Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Daniel A. Varela/Miami Herald via AP)

My husband found out his brother was arrested for protesting in the street. Nobody knows where he is. Theyve made him disappear, says Camacho, who lives here with her husband and their 8-month-old daughter.

The reports she hears from her mother, father, brothers and other relatives on the island paint a grim picture of Cuba, she says.

Things are horribly difficult in our Cuba. Children are convulsing at hospitals because there are no resources," she added. "People are dying of common flus and other illnesses. Theres no food. The only ones that have food are those in power. There are daily power outages."

She said the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a lot of failures by "those in power" that the population is paying dearly for right now.

Some might blame it on the coronavirus but this was happening way before that," she said. "Its just coming to light now.

Others worried that the government would violently repress the protests.

Im worried about bloodshed, but Im cautiously optimistic. One would hope that goodness and democracy will ultimately prevail, says Maribel Alvarez, the Cuban-born president of Altima International, a West Palm Beach public relations firm with a solid Palm Beach clientele. These people have had enough violence, repression, lack of basic medical and the complete disregard for the most fundamental human rights.

Cuba's communist leadership blames U.S. embargo

In Havana, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Monday held a choreographed press conference with state media representatives to address national frustrations he said were being manipulated by "social media influencers" and "YouTubers" to undermine the revolution.

Diaz-Canel sat at a rectangular conference table with other officials from government and industry where they discussed efforts to alleviate electric blackouts, the dearth of medications, food shortages and the rise in COVID-19 infections and deaths.

Diaz-Canel, who assumed the reins of the 61-year-old communist revolution when Raul Castro retired, blamed the country's woes on the U.S. economic embargo.

"All those issues that are present in our society as sources of dissatisfaction, what is their origin? What is the cause of them? It's the blockade," he said.

Frustrating for some exiles to watch Cuba protests from afar

Mario Chaoui, 42, of Cape Coral, was born in Cuba and lived there until he defected from the Cuban national baseball team in 2000, he said.

One of his cousins was jailed after participating in Havana protests, he said.

They just got fed up, he said of the Cuban people. They are fighting literally with rocks and sticks.

Its frustrating to watch from afar as Cuban people suffer without food or medicine. There is no food around even if you have the money to buy it, he said.

Right now, we cannot go there and do anything. What we can do is what I am doing. Were taking to the streets here, putting the Cuban flag out there, sharing, and making sure our voices are heard.

Gloria Jordan, 53, chef-owner of La Trattoria Cafe Napoli in Fort Myers, left Cuba as a young adult but her family remains in Cuba. She led culinary and cultural trips to Cuba until the pandemic stopped them in 2020.

Its a pressure cooker and it exploded because it has to explode, she said. Its a scary time. We dont know how its going to end. But dont forget, they started the revolution just like that.

Cubans are hungry, and they need food in their stomachs.

Several friends have asked her, what can I do for Cuba?

Right now, nothing, she said. Any small charities or foundations or groups, those people cannot do anything. I want to hear about the Red Cross, someone neutral, or a big huge organization like the United Nations. Big organizations are the only ones I can see helping.

Just to send her family money, as she does each month to help them with basic expenses like food and medicine, she pays about $60 in fees for every $100 sent.

Emotional support, thats all I can do for family and just share, share, share, she said. The more you share the more people can understand whats going on in Cuba. That problem has to only be resolved by the Cuban people.

You know what has to happen there? The police, the army would have to say, Im not doing it, she said.

Its one of those places that you cant find the exit.

Cuban Americans says focus should be on Cuban people

To see these images of the protest makes me very proud. My heart goes out to the Cuban people, who have gone into the streets protesting for the first time in more than 60 years. I hope it brings an end to this dictatorship, says Frank Steinhart, a former network television producer who is production manager at Stubbs and Wootton shoe company in Palm Beach. Born in Cuba, he left the island in 1960, when he was 6 months old.

West Palm Beach Cuban American artist Rolando Chang Barrero, who has been socially and politically involved in local and world causes, believes its time to move beyond political differences and focus on the needs of the Cuban people.

Im calling for unity among all groups. We need to check our egos at the door. This is what we've been waiting for in Cuba, for the Cuban people to revolt, and we have to stand in solidarity with them, says Chang Barrero, who owns The Box Gallery in West Palm Beach.

Theres common ground to build upon, he says.

What we have in common is that we want a free Cuba. The movement is coming. The revolution is coming from the inside  and it will be televised and on social media, he says, offering a twist on a Gil Scott-Heron classic. We have to listen to them, not tell them what they need.

@afins@pbpost.com

lbalmaseda@pbpost.com

jmilian@pbpost.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Cuba protests cheered by Florida exiles who call for a 'revolution'
Ryanair is hoping for travel resurgence as restrictions lift. Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Budget airline Ryanair (RYA.L) announced plans on Monday to hire 2,000 new pilots over the next three years, as it bets on a global travel resurgence following COVID-19.

It said more pilots are needed to fly the 210 Boeing (BA) 737-8200 Gamechangers Ryanair has ordered. Ryanair says the new Boeing aircrafts will help it lower costs, cut fuel consumption and lower noise and CO2 emissions.

The news comes after the airline said it would have to cut around 3,000 pilot and cabin crew jobs last summer, but it was able to "significantly" reduce that number after employees signed up to pay cuts and work practice changes.

"As we take delivery of more than 210 Boeing 737-8200 gamechanger aircraft, Ryanair will recruit 2,000+ pilots over the next three years to fill positions created by this growth," Ryanairs people director, Darrell Hughes, said. "This is great news for experienced and aspiring pilots but also for our own pilots who will enjoy fast tracked promotions."

Hughes added: Throughout the pandemic, Ryanair has worked closely with our people to save jobs and we are delighted to start planning for a return to growth over the coming years as we recover from the Covid-19 crisis and grow to 200m guests by FY2024.

Shares in the Ryanair were down 4% around midday in London on Monday.

Chart: Yahoo Finance

It comes as Britain's busiest airport Heathrow said its passenger numbers remain nearly 90% down on pre-COVID levels and significantly lower than EU rival airports.

Read more: UK enjoys COVID recession wealth boom as savings rise by 200bn

Amsterdam Schiphol and Germany's Frankfurt airport both surpassed their 2019 cargo volumes, growing by 14% and 9% respectively.

New figures showed just 957,000 passengers passed through Heathrow's terminals in June compared with 7,246,157 who used the west London airport in June 2019.

The number of passengers travelling through the airport covers the month where Portugal was moved from the green list of countries to amber, leading to fury in the travel industry over the speed of rule changes.

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Bosses at Heathrow said that the continued closure of the transatlantic links between the UK and US is costing the UKs economy at least 23m ($32m) a day.

Heathrow chiefs called on the UK government to do more to help the travel sector following the report.

"While its fantastic news that some double-vaccinated passengers will no longer need to quarantine from amber countries, ministers need to extend this policy to US and EU nationals if they want to kickstart the economy," said Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye. "These changes will be critical for exporters who are losing out to EU rivals and families who have been separated from loved ones."

Watch: Should I book a holiday in 2021?
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For many schools and districts, the end of last school year brought with it significant questions around enrollment  and whether the numerous factors that fed a nationwide decline in enrollment for schools are likely to continue or abate when schools reopen largely in the fall.

Questions surround topics like homeschooling, which experienced a dramatic rise during the pandemic, and virtual learning, which some parents hope will remain an educational option even as leaders like Education Secretary Miguel Cardona express concern and cautionaround it continuing. Likely complicating the matter further are declines in enrollment rates for the youngest learners that were often many times higher than those of older grade levels.

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That means schools are likely to experience a surge in pre-K and kindergarten enrollment that could swell class sizes and raise the need for educators to prioritize focus on foundational skills.

Beyond issues of enrollment and early education, here are nine other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by the coronavirus emergency  and working to preserve student learning amid the pandemic:

1 Washington  State Tells Seattle Schools to Make Up For Violating Special Education Requirements

The Washington State Department of Education is ordering the Seattle Public Schools to address hundreds of potential cases of delayed special education services that were reported during the pandemic. Schools, in turn, are expected to offer a year of after-school tutoring or, in some cases, reimbursement for health-related expenses as compensation for the violations.

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2 Massachusetts  Boston Ditches Plans for Full-Time Virtual School

Boston officials have rescinded their plans to open a virtual school this fall, joining a handful of districts who have canceled online schooling plans as classrooms reopen and virus counts continue to fall. Nine districts across the state say they plan to move forward with plans to prop up full-time virtual platforms, as state rules prevent schools from pursuing hybrid instruction. Some families are protesting the decisions, particularly Black and Latino families, who were almost four times as likely to report theyd opt into a virtual option rather than return their children to an in-person setting.

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3 South Carolina  State Turns Off Internet Hotspots for the Summer

The South Carolina Department of Education announced plans to scale down the provision of internet hotspots during the summer  unless they are used for summer school or summer camp purposes. This update follows the states Office of Regulatory Staff summer 2020 announcement that at least 100,000 households across South Carolina would be able to utilize mobile hotspots for their monthly internet access as COVID forced students online.

4 New York  Districts Eye Big Investments as Federal Dollars Flow Into Schools

In New York, some districts are preparing large investments using millions of dollars in relief funding brought to schools by the American Rescue Plan, even as other districts use the funding to fill widening gaps in budgets. The Niagara and Erie school districts, for example, will receive more than $485 million and are planning to expand hiring and mental health services, fix failing infrastructure, and upgrade technology and internet access before the 2024 spending deadline.

5 Pennsylvania  Districts Warn Federal Funds Wont Close Their Budget Gaps

Numerous Pennsylvania school districts are expressing that the latest wave of federal and state relief funding will not be enough to right ailing budgets. Dan McGarry, superintendent of the Upper Darby School District, says nearly $5 million in relief funding will be used to cover existing costs rather than investing in new educators, reading specialists, or counselors.

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6 Indiana  Indianapolis Schools to Post Public Tracker of COVID Relief Funds

District leaders in Indianapolis schools plan to publish an online tracker detailing how theyre spending $200 million in federal relief funds over the next several years. The tracker represents a commitment to transparency for the district, says Superintendent Aleesia Johnson. We know folks are paying close attention to how schools are leveraging these dollars. We want to make sure that we are being as transparent as possible, Johnson stated. In addition to being categorized into buckets like instructional support, personal protective equipment, and facilities upgrades, the tracker will be updated quarterly and will be informed by community input.

7 West Virginia  Officials Rollout New COVID-19 Funding Guidance

West Virginia education officials are detailing how schools in the state are expected to spend over $700 million that represent the third wave of federal relief funding. Melanie Purkey, executive director of the West Virginia Department of Educations Office of Federal Programs, said in a recent State Board presentation that, School systems will be required to spend at least $175 million on learning loss, $7.8 million on summer programs and $7.8 million on after-school programs, leaving $548 million remaining that counties can allocate toward allowable uses. Allowable uses, according to Purkey, are those projects that prevent, prepare for or respond to COVID-19.

8 New Jersey  Officials Offer Additional Year of Schooling for Students with Disabilities

To address learning loss and gaps in services for special education students stemming from the pandemic, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed legislation offering students with disabilities an additional year of education. The state plans to use federal relief funding to pay for the temporary extension in services for as many as 8,000 students. The announcement follows a number of district officials raising concerns around student performance during the pandemic, as mid-year assessment data depict that over a third of students in the state have fallen behind in English language arts and math.

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9 Louisiana  State Lawmakers Plan Expansion of Broadband Internet Grants

The state of Louisiana plans to spend more than $180 million on grants to telecommunication companies to expand broadband infrastructure across communities in need. Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said that the lack of internet access crippled and in some aspects paralyzed the city. Officials estimate the grants could bring access to nearly 150,000 households and business, though they estimate the state would need much more investment to entirely close gaps in access.

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Senate Republicans think Georgia Democrats struck out in supporting relocating the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and are planning to remind Georgia voters with an ad scheduled to air during the game.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee will air an ad during Monday's Home Run Derby and Tuesday's All-Star Game  both of which are taking place in Denver, Colorado, in protest to Georgia's new voter law  accusing "the radical left, woke crowd" and Sen. Raphael Warnock of costing the Peach State $100 million in lost revenue.

"Sen. Warnock's voice cost Georgia $100 million," a narrator says in the ad. "Play ball. Donate [to the NRSC] today."

GEORGIA SENATORS INTRODUCE COUNTERPROPOSAL TO STATES VOTING LAW

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Sen. Rick Scott, who serves as chairman of the NRSC, said on Friday that the All-Star Game would be "bittersweet" for Georgia baseball fans due to the lost revenue because "sadly, it was their very own Senator who helped run the All-Star Game and $100 million out of Atlanta."

"Raphael Warnock refused to condemn this boycott that hurt Georgia families," he continued. "The NRSC is proud to remind voters in Georgia of the urgent need to replace Senator Warnock next November."

A representative for Warnock did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment.

Warnock was a vocal opponent of his state's controversial voter reforms and last month introduced a counterproposal designed to curb the legislation's effects by "ensur[ing] the integrity of local elections while also protecting the safety and security of election workers and volunteers, following the spate of state-level voter suppression attacks sweeping the nation that would make it harder for eligible voters to cast a ballot and ensure it is counted."

Georgia's reforms, signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on March 25, impose voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, give state officials the authority to make changes to county elections boards, authorize the use of ballot drop boxes (though there will be fewer than there were in 2020), and make it a crime for politically affiliated persons to approach voters in line within 150 feet of a polling place to give them food and water.

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While Republicans touted the legislation as a crucial step toward shoring up election integrity, critics on the Left argue the law amounts to voter suppression for minorities.

The law resulted in the MLB announcing in early April its intent to relocate its 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta, a move MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. said was "the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport."

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Though traditionally a Republican state, Georgia has been the site of some major Democratic victories in recent months. Warnock ousted incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a Republican, during a special election in January. Sen. Jon Ossoff defeated Republican incumbent David Perdue in the state's other Senate contest, and President Joe Biden won Georgia's 16 electoral votes, becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since former President Bill Clinton in 1992.

Warnock will be forced to defend his seat in 2022 if he hopes to earn a full six-year Senate term.

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Tags: News, Senate GOP, MLB, Major League Baseball, Georgia, Colorado, Voter ID Laws, Raphael Warnock

Original Author: Carly Roman

Original Location: Senate Republicans to air ad attacking Democrats' Georgia boycott during MLB All-Star Game
A leaked tape of a woman having sex in the office of a prominent journalist has sparked a wave of indignation in Cameroon, highlighting entrenched problems of sexual harassment and coercion.

The encounter, pictures and a video of which have been placed on social media, took place last month in the office of journalist Martin Camus Mimb, manager of Radio Sport Info, based in Cameroon's economic hub of Douala.

Mimb initially said that a woman who has been named Malicka and a friend of his, Wilfrid Eteki, who is also a traditional chief, had sex in his office while he was away.

But after he vowed to file legal action, Mimb found himself accused of having taken part in the event.

He then expressed regret for an "unfortunate situation" and in a letter to Malicka begged her forgiveness "for the damage to your dignity and honour."

Attorneys for a 24-year-old woman whose first name is Malicka are pushing for judicial action against the two men.

They will file suit in the coming days, one of her lawyers, Guy Olivier Moteng, told AFP, but gave no details. Mimb and his lawyer did not respond to an AFP contact request.

Malicka has been "very hurt by the fact that her image has been spread across the world -- her image is completely ruined," said her attorney, Dominique Fousse.

"Her family is getting psychological counselling for her."

- Anger -

The tape has triggered outrage among campaigners who have battled for years against sexual violence and exploitation in Cameroon.

"We live in an environment where assailants are never brought to book, either by society or by the judiciary," said Felix Mbetbo, author of a book of first-person accounts of sexual assault.

The UN's Population Fund estimated in January 2016 that more than a third of women in Cameroon had suffered rape or a sexual attack at some point in their life.

Minou Chrys-Tayl, a feminist who is urging women to come forward, said sexual harassment was "a curse that can be found at the head of our institutions, in small offices, in homes with domestic helpers."

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"As a businesswoman, I face sexual blackmail on a daily basis," said marketing entrepreneur Valgadine Tonga.

"Several times, men have said to me 'if you give me some (sex), I can make things easy'" in awarding a contract, she said. "It's hard for a woman to work here."

Cameroon's Human Rights Commission hit out at "indecent, shocking or violent images" that were placed on social media and "harm human dignity."

Marie-Therese Abena Ondoua, the minister for promoting women and the family, said the video showed "abominable and unhealthy acts which turn the woman (Malicka) into an object -- a sexual object with no value."

Other politicians have also shown their support for Malicka, although one prominent minister later deleted his remarks on social media.

rek-dyg/ri/yad
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh speaking in Parliament on 2 September 2020. (PHOTOS: Parliament screengrabs)

SINGAPORE  Two images pop up every time I think about GE2020  for very different reasons. One shows Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh talking to the camera on the last day of election campaigning and the other is that of Finance Minister and the man who was designated to be the next Prime Minister, Heng Swee Keat, fumbling his speech on Nomination Day.

They show how an opposition party has managed its leadership renewal smoothly while the ruling party has stumbled, fallen down and stumbled again as the race for prime ministership continues to be muddled. One year after GE2020 and Singapore has still not got the one thing that it always gets right; political succession is still stuck in the mud.

The Workers Party (WP) video shows a lonesome and tired Singh walking into a desolate room that resembles an election war studio with video cameras and empty chairs lying about to remind viewers of the battles fought. After thanking voters, party supporters and grassroots workers, he gets up from his chair, puts his right fist on his left chest and recites proudly the first line of the Singapore Pledge. In the background, voices speak in unison to complete the lines.

The video, screened less than two hours before Cooling Off Day, hit where it mattered the most: the heart. The presentation was impeccable, the backdrop fitting and the message simple and direct.

Singh continued to impress with his speeches in Parliament. Hardly missing a beat, he argued without losing his sense of balance but always maintaining that his party would do good for Singaporeans and Singapore. On occasions when he locked horns with heavyweights like PM Lee Hsien Loong, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and DPM Heng, Singh was unflappable and on message.

He hardly missed his boss, Low Thia Khiang, who handed over the partys secretary-general job to him three years ago. Singhs biggest test came when he and his team went into GE2020, knowing fully well that he had to fill big shoes. The results turned out to be a great endorsement, with WP increasing its majority in every consistency it fought and adding the icing on the cake by knocking out a Minister and a Minister of State by winning its second GRC at Sengkang.

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On the other side of the fence, we saw Heng stumbling and speaking incoherently on Nomination Day. Many were sad to see the chosen one grasping for the right words with some asking if the man can be our next PM. He was like a man lost in the political wilderness.

Then came Hengs bombshell announcement nine months after the GE that he was stepping out of the leadership race. He gave his short runway as the reason. This year, I am 60When I also consider the ages at which our first prime ministers who took on the job, I would have too short a runway should I become the next Prime Minister, he said then.

What was left unsaid was if the PMs decision to remain in power until Singapore is clearly on track to cast aside the burden of COVID-19 had played a part his decision.

The first shoots of a 4G leadership strategy to take a softly-softly approach in dealing with Singh and WP are emerging. The recent parliamentary debates on Housing & Development Boards policy of making sure that public flats will reflect the racial mix of Singapore's population and whether Free Trade Agreements, especially that with India, are a back-door entry to foreigners, saw the new leaders tackling the ball rather than the man.

National Development Minister Desmond Lee tried gently to get Singh to agree that his partys posture in its manifestos since 2006 that the housing ethnic policy should be scrapped still applies. But Singh weaved in and out by saying that it was a long-term goal. Second National Development Minister Indranee Rajah played the bad cop by pushing Singh to take a stand. Are you for or against the policy? A simple yes or no answer would do, she pushed. Singh was again at its unflappable best by not giving a direct answer.

The 4G leaders know that if this good-cop-bad-cop approach were to prevail it will depend on their assessment of the voters, especially that of the younger ones, on what kind of leadership they want for Singapore. GE2020 showed that they want leaders who are fair, bold and gentle. They saw these qualities in abundance in the WP team that defeated the PAP heavyweights in Sengkang GRC.

As for the Peoples Action Partys leadership, they look for people who are able to speak truth to power, treat opposition politicians with decorum and listen to Singaporeans problems with an eagerness to solving them.

GE2020 changed at least one narrative  that voters wont rush to embrace the ruling party when there is a crisis. They sent a signal to the establishment that its handling of COVID-19 crisis could and should have been perfect. That is the kind of high standards of governance they want. Even a slip cannot be tolerated.

Not acting on criticisms of the overcrowding at dormitories, the confusion over the use of Sinovac, the slow progress of vaccination numbers, especially among older Singaporeans, are showing up a lack of leadership surefootedness. Deep inside, Singaporeans know that they are living in a COVID oasis as they see and read about the horrendous pandemic conditions in the neighbouring countries. The issue is that they want a perfect system, something they have been brought up to demand.

Finance Minister Lawrence Wong has hardly put a wrong foot forward as he has become the public face in the battle against COVID. He exudes confidence and communicates clearly and with a permanent smile on his face. His speech on race at a recent forum again put on display a politician who is prepared to move slightly away the establishments line of thinking.

The 4G leadership knows that hardliners in Cabinet are waiting to pounce on them if they stray too far away from PAPs ideology. It is this game they must win if Singapore is to enter a new era of governance and politics.

P N Balji is a veteran Singaporean journalist who was formerly chief editor of Today, as well as an editor at The New Paper. He is currently a media consultant. The views expressed are his own.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

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COMMENT: Euro 2020 - The hurt goes on for England
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Monday it would deploy soldiers in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces to help law enforcement agencies, after violent protesting and looting linked to the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma.

The SANDF said in a statement that the duration of the deployment and number of soldiers would depend on the situation on the ground.

(Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Tanisha Heiberg)
James Nord/AP

Gov. Kristi Noem took a shot at other GOP governors for "rewriting history" after imposing COVID-19 restrictions.

"We've got Republican governors across this country pretending they didn't shut down their states," she said.

Her comments could be directed at fellow conservatives and possible 2024 contenders Govs. Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

In a Sunday speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas, Gov. Kristi Noem accused GOP governors of "rewriting history" after having instituted COVID-19 restrictions like lockdowns and mask mandates.

"We've got Republican governors across this country pretending they didn't shut down their states; that they didn't close their beaches; that they didn't mandate masks, that they didn't issue shelter-in-place orders," Noem said. "Now I'm not picking fights with Republican governors. All I'm saying is that we need leaders with grit. That their first instinct is to make the right decision. That they don't backtrack and then try to fool you into thinking they never made the wrong decision."

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She later tweeted: "South Dakota did not do any mandates. We trusted our people, gave them all the information and told them that personal responsibility was the best answer."

Her comments are a possible shot at Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, two conservative Republican governors who imposed more COVID-19 restrictions - like regulations on businesses and mask mandates - than Noem.

A Noem spokesperson subsequently told the Daily Caller that she wasn't referring to any "specific" governor but was "highlighting the need for strong leaders with the instinct to defend freedom."

Noem declared a state of emergency, ordered K-12 schools to temporarily close, and then issued a stay-at-home order for vulnerable South Dakotans in two counties at the start of the pandemic in early March and April. But she largely took a far more hands-off approach than other state leaders, issuing very few COVID-19 restrictions like requiring masks and restricting businesses, for example. She also greenlit the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2020, which drew some 400,000 bike enthusiasts, and may have caused over 250,000 coronavirus cases and worsened outbreaks in several states in the Upper Midwest.

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Read more: Where is Trump's White House staff now? We created a searchable database of more than 327 top staffers to show where they all landed

South Dakota, which is far less populous than states like Texas and Florida, saw extraordinarily high cases per capita and test positivity rates during the winter surge of COVID-19.

Noem is highlighting her conservative bona fides as she positions herself for a potential 2024 presidential bid. Like DeSantis and Abbott, she's sent down National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border, funded by a private donation in an arrangement that has drawn scrutiny from ethics watchdogs.

Former President Donald Trump, who also spoke at the Texas CPAC conference, easily won an unofficial and unscientific straw poll of attendees' preferences for the 2024 Republican nominee, with 70% of respondents supporting him compared to 21% for DeSantis. No other GOP politician cleared more than 1% support of respondents.

When attendees were asked who they would support if Trump didn't run in 2024, DeSantis cleaned up with 68% of respondents listing him as their first choice for the GOP nomination compared to just 3% supporting Noem.

Read the original article on Business Insider
MADRID (AP)  The Spanish government will invest 4.3 billion euros ($5.1 billion) from its share of European pandemic recovery funds to revamp its automobile industry and steer it toward manufacturing electric vehicles and their components, the prime minister announced on Monday.

Pedro Sanchez said that the investment will be a real revolution for the Spanish economy, bringing in an estimated 19 billion euros ($22.5 billion) in additional private investment.

His left-wing coalition government wants to inject the money in all segments of the car manufacturing chain, from lithium extraction to electric battery cell assembly lines, the leader of Spain's ruling socialist party said.

The spontaneous functioning of the market is not going to achieve by itself the kickstarting of a new model that involves so many industries," he said.

Sanchez was speaking at an event to introduce the first of seven plans to transform Spain's industries with the 140 billion euros ($166 billion) that the country is expected to receive over next six years from the EU's Next Generation funds.

Our state needs to be an entrepreneurial state in a tight alliance with the main stakeholders," he added, announcing that the government will appoint an industry leader to lead the joint private and public efforts.

The Spanish Cabinet is set to approve the automobile plan in its weekly meeting on Tuesday. Companies will be able to apply for funding immediately after, with the first disbursements expected to arrive in September.

The plan aims to increase the industry's share of Spain's gross domestic product from the current 10% to 15% by 2030 and add new jobs to the pool of 2 million workers. It will affect companies beyond automakers or their suppliers, Sanchez said, including mining, telecommunications and power utilities.

The prime minister also said that the country is investing 1 billion euros in stimulating electric vehicle sales and that a public investment of another billion euros will go to install new public electric plug-in points, of which the country has only a few.
A parents group is not on board with the latest guidance on masks in schools from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency recommended Friday that schools fully reopen in the fall. It also recommended masks be worn by students who are not vaccinated. The CDC also recommended that schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms to reduce transmission risk.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health have adopted the guidelines.

It focuses on what I have been focused on for more than a year now, which is everybodys safety and health, Pritzker said.

The guidance notes that many schools serve children younger than 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccination. The guidance emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies  such as masking, distancing and testing  to protect people who are not fully vaccinated.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been authorized for use in kids ages 12 and up. The companies said they plan to request emergency use authorization in kids ages 5-11 in the fall.

The CDC also said schools may opt to make mask use universally required regardless of vaccination status.

Marsha McClary, with the group Illinois Parents Union, said kids rarely get COVID-19 and her group doesnt think masks are needed in schools.

I also feel very strongly that discriminating medically whether someone has been vaccinated or not vaccinated, whether they have antibodies or not is completely inappropriate, McClary said.

She said mask use should be left up to the parents and their children.

The CDC guidance also noted that promoting vaccination can help facilitate that school districts safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports.

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Tags: News, Illinois, State

Original Author: Kevin Bessler, The Center Square

Original Location: State officials to adopt new CDC guidelines for mask use in schools
Google CEO Sundar Pichai urges aspiring leaders to follow their heart. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Google's CEO said aspiring CEOs should 'figure out what their heart is excited by.'

He was speaking in an in-depth interview with BBC journalist Amol Rajan.

Pichai also revealed he speaks 3 languages and currently drives a Tesla.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google parent Alphabet, has offered some advice for people who want to run a successful company: Find something that excites you.

In an hour-long interview with the BBC's media editor Amol Rajan, Pichai talks about the potential of quantum computing, the dangers of AI, and whether Alphabet, with a market capitalization of $1.6 trillion, is too big.

He also recalls the "simplicity" of his middle-class childhood growing up in Madurai, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and his rise up the career ladder to become CEO of Alphabet in 2019, aged 47.

Pichai earned $281 million in compensation last year. When asked what his advice would be to someone from humble beginnings who wants to run a great company, Pichai said:

"I've always felt that - more than what your mind says - you need to figure out what your heart is excited by. It's a journey and you will know it when you find it," said Pichai.

"If you find that, things tend to work out," he added.

Pichai said that he had wanted to work in Silicon Valley since he was a teenager and that his father took out a loan, worth a year's salary, in order for Pichai to afford his flight and study at Stanford.

When asked how to land a job at Google, he gave some insight into the interview process when he applied for his first role in 2004. Pichai said: "You keep interviewing. I was interviewing on April Fool's day and Google had just announced Gmail - which I thought was a joke.

"People kept asking me what I think of Gmail, which was invite-only at the time. It was only the fourth or fifth interviewer who asked 'Have you seen Gmail?' and I said no. He showed me on his computer.

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"Then the next interview somebody asked me, I was able to answer it for the first time."

He speaks to Mark Zuckerberg 'as and when needed'

Pichai also offered some insight into his own personal work habits as CEO of one of the world's biggest companies.

He wakes up between 6.30-7 am and tries to exercise three or four times a week. He doesn't eat meat, and drinks tea in the mornings and coffee in the afternoons. He speaks three languages - English, Hindi and Tamil - and currently drives a Tesla.

The Wall Street Journal has been a long-term reading habit, although "90% of his consumption" is now online, from publications around the world.

When asked how often he speaks to Facebook chief and rival Mark Zuckerberg, he replied "as and when needed."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A suspect has been arrested for fatally shooting a woman and wounding her brother during an argument at a Bronx deli, police said Monday.

Jonathan Rosario is charged with murder, attempted murder, gun possession and drug possession for the June 16 slaying of 29-year-old Katherine Diop. The victim once made headlines for falling in love with a murder suspect while serving as a juror on his trial.

Rosario, 24, allegedly killed Diop and wounded her brother Maurice Diop, 31, during a confrontation at the Los Perez Deli at E. 194th St.and Marion Ave. in Fordham Manor.

Friends said Diop and her brother went to the store to buy lighter fluid for a cookout they were having in celebration of a younger sisters graduation.

But Maurice Diop got into an argument with another customer, friends said, with his sister waving a BB gun as the argument spilled outside.

Thats when Rosario fired, police said, striking both siblings.

Cops used tourniquets on the brothers arm and leg and were credited with saving his life but his sister, rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital by medics, could not be saved.

Rosario was nabbed Sunday by NYPD Public Safety officers after a tipster identified him, police said. Rosario has three previous arrests, one for drug possession and two for possession with intent to sell, police said.

Katherine Diop made headlines in 2012 when she served on a Bronx jury and fell for the defendant, Devon Thomas. Her insistence at his innocence led to a mistrial, though Thomas was convicted of manslaughter at a second trial.

Between the two trials she visited Thomas more than 30 times at Rikers Island. She was charged with perjury for failing, when questioned as a prospective juror, to disclose her arrest record for criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor perjury in 2016 and was sentenced to three years probation.

Thomas remains in prison. Diop eventually ended up falling for Thomass brother and the couple became parents together.
One of the four people arrested in connection to what local authorities reportedly feared was a Las Vegas-style shooting plot has denied any plan to commit mass violence.

While Ricardo Rodriguez, 44, acknowledged the presence of a large stash of firearms, ammunition, and combat equipment at the Maven Hotel in Denver where he and some friends were staying, he insisted the weapons were part of a collection.

Richard Platt, the man who owned most of the weapons, was collecting them for his friends, Rodriguez told local CBS affiliate KCNC on Sunday.

He had a lot of guns, he did, Rodriguez said of Platt in an interview from jail. I dont know what his intentions were  from my understanding selling them and trading them. That was about it.

COLORADO POLICE ARREST FOUR PEOPLE AND SEIZE MULTIPLE GUNS IN APPARENT 'LAS VEGAS-STYLE SHOOTING' PLOT

Rodriguez was visiting Denver from Washington state and was planning a move to Colorado, the local outlet reported. He met Platt through mutual friends, who suggested they stay at the Maven Hotel, less than a mile from Coors Field, where Major League Baseball is hosting All-Star festivities this week, Rodriguez said.

I wanted to go to the All-Star show, wanted to be part of that, he said.

Rodriguez, who said he builds guns and donates them to military veterans, was in possession of a 9 mm handgun and an AR-15 in his own hotel room. The host of firearms he observed inside Platts hotel room kind of concerned me, Rodriguez said, but he claimed he was told they were for trading.

If he would have actively mentioned something like [a shooting plot], if he would have said something like that, no way I would have let anything like that happen," he said. "I can tell you if I would have saw something like that, seen him preparing for something like that, I would have intervened. No way I would have let something like that happen."

"I dont think Richard Platt is the kind of person who would harm anybody," Rodriguez added.

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Along with Rodriguez, Denver police arrested 42-year-old Platt, 48-year-old Gabriel Rodriguez, and 43-year-old Kanoelehua Serikawa on Friday and seized 16 firearms. Ricardo Rodriguez later identified some of the firearms as sniper rifles and AK-47s. Police also took possession of body armor and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Some officials speculated the firearms were part of a plan to kill baseball fans in Denver for the All-Star Game in a manner akin to 64-year-old Stephen Paddock's murder of over 60 people from his Las Vegas hotel room in 2017, the Denver Post reported.

One of the four suspects reportedly wrote on Facebook that he planned to go out in a big way" following a recent divorce, sources told the outlet.

Platt was arrested on charges of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and a warrant from another jurisdiction. Gabriel Rodriguez was also arrested following an investigation of possession of a weapon by a previous offender and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute charges, while Ricardo Rodriguez was arrested on the same weapon possession charge. Serikawa was detained on a drug charge and an outstanding warrant.

The FBI said it was "aware of the arrest of four individuals at a hotel near the Major League Baseball All-Star Game venue" but that it does not suspect terrorism.

"We have no reason to believe this incident was connected to terrorism or a threat directed at the All-Star Game," the FBI's Denver Field Office said in a statement Sunday. "We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players, or the community at this time."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Denver Police Department did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment.

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Tags: News, Denver, Colorado, Las Vegas shooting, MLB, Police, FBI

Original Author: Jeremy Beaman

Original Location: Suspect in Denver hotel arrest denies shooting plot, says guns were being collected for friends
By Phil Stewart

KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. general leading the war in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, relinquished command at a ceremony on Monday and quietly left the country, a symbolic end to America's longest conflict while Taliban insurgents gain momentum.

Miller, America's last four-star commander to serve on the ground in Afghanistan, climbed aboard a helicopter and lifted off from the military base in Kabul that long had been the nerve center for the two-decade-old war effort.

President Joe Biden has set a formal end to the U.S. military mission for Aug. 31 as he looks to disengage from a conflict triggered by al Qaeda's attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

About 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan and many thousands have been wounded.

Addressing a small group of U.S. and Afghan officials, Miller vowed to remember lives lost in the fighting and called on the Taliban to halt attacks that have given them control of more territory than at any time since the conflict began.

"What I tell the Taliban is they're responsible too. The violence that's going on is against the will of the Afghan people, and it needs to stop," Miller said.

U.S. Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, whose Florida-based Central Command oversees U.S. forces in hot spots including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, flew into Kabul to underscore America's future assistance to Afghan security forces, albeit mostly from overseas.

"You can count on our support in the dangerous and difficult days ahead. We will be with you," McKenzie said in his address.

Speaking separately to a small group of reporters, McKenzie cautioned that the Taliban, in his view, were seeking "a military solution" to a war that the United States has unsuccessfully tried to end with a peace agreement between the Taliban and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government.

"We need to see some gesture from the Taliban here that they're not just completely intent on winning the military victory," McKenzie said. "We're at a crossroads period right now in the history of Afghanistan." He said provincial capitals were at risk and added the Taliban appeared interested in taking Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city and the Taliban birthplace. While voicing confidence in Afghan forces, he also warned of the consequences a Taliban victory could have for the people of Afghanistan.

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"If this government is overthrown, if the Taliban prevail, I think we're going to expect a return to medieval standards here in Afghanistan, particularly in the domain of women's rights, human rights, education and so many other things," he said.

Afghan national security adviser Hamdullah Mohib acknowledged problems resupplying over-stretched Afghan troops but told reporters that planning was under way to focus the war effort on "where we needed to defend the most."

McKenzie will be able to authorise U.S. air strikes against the Taliban through Aug. 31 in support of Ghani's Western-backed government.

But after that, the Marine general said that when it comes to U.S. strikes in Afghanistan, his focus will shift squarely to counter-terrorism operations against al Qaeda and Islamic State.

INTELLIGENCE NETWORK

Gathering enough intelligence on the ground to prevent another Sept. 11-style attack could become increasingly challenging, as America's intelligence network weakens with the U.S. withdrawal and Afghan troops lose territory.

U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat and former senior Pentagon official, said many lawmakers were still looking for the Biden administration to explain how the United States will detect any future al Qaeda plot against it.

"I don't need them to tell the entire world what our day-after plan is. But I think it's important that they let us know some of the details on a private basis," Slotkin told Reuters by phone from the United States.

U.S. officials do not believe the Taliban could be relied upon to prevent al Qaeda from again plotting attacks against the United States from Afghan soil.

The United Nations said in a report in January there were as many as 500 al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan and that the Taliban maintained a close relationship with the Islamist militant group.

LONGEST-SERVING GENERAL

Since taking command nearly three years ago, Miller, 60, spent more time on the ground than any of the previous generals to command the war.

He had a close call in 2018 when a rogue Afghan bodyguard in Kandahar province opened fire and killed a powerful Afghan police chief standing near him. A U.S. brigadier general was wounded, as were other Americans, but Miller emerged unscathed.

Following Miller's departure for the United States, the Pentagon has engineered a transition that will allow a series of generals to carry on with supporting Afghan security forces, albeit mostly from overseas.

Beyond McKenzie's overwatch from Florida, a Qatar-based brigadier general, Curtis Buzzard, will focus on administering funding support for the Afghan security forces, including aircraft maintenance support.

In Kabul, Navy Rear Admiral Peter Vasely will lead a newly created U.S. Forces Afghanistan-Forward, focusing on protecting the U.S. embassy and the airport.

Still, what happens next in Afghanistan appears to be increasingly out of America's control.

Biden on Thursday said the time had come for the Afghan people to decide their own fate.

"I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan with no reasonable expectation of achieving a different outcome," he said.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Robert Birsel, Paul Simao and Howard Goller)
By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's Foxconn and TSMC said on Monday they had reached deals to buy 10 million doses of Germany's BioNTech SE's COVID-19 vaccine, putting the total cost of the highly politicised deal at around $350 million.

Taiwan's government has tried for months to buy the vaccine directly from BioNTech and has blamed China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own territory, for nixing an agreement the two sides were due to sign earlier this year. China denies the accusations.

Last month, facing public pressure about the slow pace of Taiwan's inoculation programme, the government agreed to allow Foxconn's founder Terry Gou, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), to negotiate on its behalf for the vaccines.

BioNTech's Chinese sales agent Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd said on Sunday that an agreement had been signed, but did not give details of a delivery timeframe.

Gou wrote on his Facebook page that he was "gratified" the deal had been completed, which will see Foxconn and TSMC each buy 5 million doses, to be donated to the government for distribution.

"But we can't relax, because we will continue to work hard to push for the delivery time and quantity," he said.

"However, this batch of vaccines delivered directly from the German factory I believe will help Taiwanese society to increase confidence and offer respite in the face of the epidemic."

Taiwan's Cabinet said the vaccines would be donated for free to the government.

Cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng said BioNTech signed the contract on Sunday afternoon, and that the government was already looking to broaden vaccine purchases, including buying 15 million "next generation" Moderna Inc shots for next year and the year after.

TAIWAN TRANSFIXED

The BioNTech vaccine drama has transfixed Taiwan and dominated headlines. While a relatively small domestic coronavirus outbreak is largely under control, only about a tenth of its 23.5 million people have received at least one of a two-shot regime.

Story continues

TSMC and Foxconn, both major Apple Inc suppliers, said in a joint statement the first BioNTech vaccines were not expected to arrive until late September at the earliest, shipped directly from Germany, but did not say how many would come at first.

Gou said Beijing did not interfere in the talks.

"During the negotiation period after my donation was proposed, there was no guidance or interference from the Beijing authorities in the mainland on the vaccine procurement process," he said.

BioNTech also confirmed the deal but referred to Taiwan as the "Taiwan region", using the wording preferred by China's government so as not to imply the island is a separate country.

Fosun deleted an earlier statement from its WeChat account citing BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin as saying the company was glad to be able to supply the vaccine to Taiwan, though BioNTech did include that quote in its statement.

Fosun did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why those comments were removed.

Taiwan has millions of vaccines on order, mainly from AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna, while the United States and Japan have together donated almost five million doses to the island to help speed up vaccinations.

A person familiar with the talks told Reuters the involvement of TSMC and the unconditional U.S. and Japanese vaccine donations had created a global environment that was favourable to Taiwan and made it hard for China to obstruct the deal.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Kim Coghill and Richard Pullin)
(Independent)

Lawmakers in Texass state legislature are fleeing the state in two chartered flights to Washington DC to prevent the passage of Republican-led bills aimed at restricting early voting and mail-in ballots.

Multiple news outlets reported that many of the Democrats who are leaving the state, which will prevent the legislature from reaching a quorum needed to pass the bills, will attempt to lobby their counterparts in the nations capital to take greater actions to protect voting rights.

The move comes amid a wave of GOP-led efforts around the country to restrict voting in various ways, as well as the campaign from progressive Democrats to reform the US voting system at the federal level, which has stalled amid a refusal from centrist Democrats in the Senate to change or abandon the filibuster.

More to follow...
Texas House Democrats left for Washington D.C. on Monday in an effort to block passage of Republican-backed voter laws.

Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans freedom to vote, the Texas House Democratic Caucus said in a statement.

They said they plan to pressure Democrats in the U.S. Senate, who have been unable to pass federal legislation on voting rights, and to protest the voting bills in the Texas Legislature.

We are now taking the fight to our nations Capitol. We are living on borrowed time in Texas, the statement read. We need Congress to act now to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to protect Texans  and all Americans  from the Trump Republicans nationwide war on democracy.

Democrats killed voting legislation when they walked out in May, hours before the session ended, spurring Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session that began Thursday.

After the Democrats walked out in May, Abbott vetoed a section of the state budget that funds the pay for lawmakers, their staffs and legislative agencies. That accounts for roughly 2,000 Capitol employees. The cuts will take effect in September unless the Legislature restores the funding during the special session.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said in a statement that Democrats risk state funding that will deny thousands of hard-working staff members and their families a paycheck. Abbott said in a statement that Democrats decision to prevent a quorum harms the people they were elected to serve.

Democrats last fled the state in 2003, when they went to New Mexico and Oklahoma in an effort to avoid Republican legislation to redraw the states congressional districts. Back then, the Texas Rangers were dispatched to try to round them up and return them to the statehouse for votes.

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If Democrats stay out of the state, Abbott can continue to call 30-day sessions or add voting restrictions to the agenda when the Legislature takes on the redrawing of the states political maps later this year.

Phelan told Austin television station KXAN last week that all options are on the table if Democrats were to revolt a second time but did not elaborate.

State Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Tyler Republican who authored both election laws, said over the weekend that the legislation had become bitterly partisan.

In the special session, Texas Republicans began to advance election bills that would ban drive-thru voting, add new voter ID requirements to absentee ballots, and prohibit local elections officials from proactively sending mail-in ballot applications to voters.

Other items on the special session agenda include:
Reuters

MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine senator and boxing star Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao was voted out as leader of the country's ruling party on Saturday, weeks after challenging President Rodrigo Duterte over his position on China and record on fighting corruption. Pacquiao, 42, who is seen as a possible contender to succeed Duterte in next year's presidential election, had long been among the president's strongest supporters, backing his bloody war on drugs and bid to reintroduce the death penalty. But ties between them soured last month after Pacquiao railed at what he called Duterte's soft stance on Beijing's aggressiveness in the South China Sea, and said he was probing graft in the government.
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz voiced his support for Cuban protests Monday and called on the Biden administration to do the same.

The Cuban people have fought against the tyranny of the Communist regime for decades, and have taken to the streets demanding liberty, Cruz said in a statement.

This regime has brutalized and denied freedom to generations of Cubans, forcing many including my family to flee or be murdered, and over the coming days will widen its violence to try to suppress the brave protesters in the streets.

Cubas streets filled with thousands of protesters Sunday as they decried the countrys economic conditions, pandemic response, and lack of freedom. In Havana, protesters shouted for freedom and an end to the presidency of Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Cruzs father, Rafael Cruz, was born in Cuba and was a member of the Cuban Revolution as a teenager. He left Cuba for the United States in 1957. Rafael later became a critic of the Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro, whose Communist Party of Cuba is still in power today.

Theres no doubt the Communist Cuban regime will be consigned to the dustbin of history  where despots and dictators are not absolved for the suffering they inflicted on their citizens, Cruz said in a statement.

Cruz also called for the Biden administration to support the Cuban protesters. The White House released a statement supporting the protesters later Monday morning.

We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime, President Joe Biden said in a statement.

The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected. The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.
People taking part in demonstration to support the government of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on 11 July 2021 (AFP via Getty Images)

In an eruption not seen in nearly three decades, thousands of people took to the streets across Cuba on Sunday, staging a rare protest against the communist government over food shortages and high prices amidst the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The demonstrations, which erupted in several cities across the island nation from national capital Havana to Santiago, come as the island nation faces its worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, reported Reuters.

Several protesters called for freedom and democracy as they voiced their anger over shortages of several basic goods, including vaccines, to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Attempts to upload photos and videos of the protests to social media were curbed by Cuban authorities who shut Internet services throughout the afternoon in Havana.

We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. Thats why Im here," a protester told the Associated Press (AP), declining to identify himself for fear of arrest.

Some protesters, about two-and-a-half hours into the protest in Havana, began pulling up cobblestones and throwing them at police, after which it began arresting people.

About 20 people were taken away in police cars, or by individuals in civilian clothes. Police used pepper spray on a few protesters and charged some with batons, but did not directly confront thousands who chanted freedom.

Soon after, about 300 government supporters reached protest sites and began shouting slogans in favour of former president Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution.

In a nationally televised speech, President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the US for the unrest as he called on the supporters of the government to confront provocations.

We call on all revolutionaries of the country, all communists, to go out in the streets where these provocations occur... and to face them in a decisive, firm and courageous way, said President Diaz-Canel.

People take part in a demonstration to support the government of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on 11 July 2021 (AFP via Getty Images)

The protesters received support from an official of the Biden administration.

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Peaceful protests are growing in [Cuba] as the Cuban people exercise their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising COVID cases/deaths & medicine shortages, tweeted Julie Chung, acting assistant secretary for state for Western Hemisphere affairs. We commend the numerous efforts of the Cuban people mobilising donations to help neighbours in need, she added.

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Carlos F de Cossio, Cubas director-general for US affairs, slammed the remarks, accusing the US Department of State of expressing hypocritical concern for a situation they have been betting on.

US State Department and its officials, involved to their necks in promoting social and political instability in [Cuba], should avoid expressing hypocritical concern. Cuba is and will continue to be a peaceful country, contrary to the US, he said.

Cuba has been reeling under an economic crisis for two years, which the government blames on trade embargoes by the US government and the coronavirus pandemic. The governments critics, however, say the crisis is the result of its own incompetence in tackling the countrys economic contraction.

According to the Ministry of Health website, there are about 32,000 active coronavirus cases in the country with an 11 million population. On Sunday, Cuba reported 6,923 daily cases and 47 deaths.

Additional reporting from agencies

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The top United States general in Afghanistan is set to step down, as U.S. troops continue to withdraw from the country.

Gen. Austin Scott Miller will leave his post on Monday, and his command authorities will be given to Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the leader of the U.S. Central Command, according to a Department of Defense official. Miller will relinquish his responsibility in a ceremony at the top U.S. military headquarters.

He is the wars longest-serving senior U.S. officer, having served in his position since August 2018.

BIDEN ANNOUNCES AFGHANISTAN MISSION WILL END BY AUG. 31, SOONER THAN PLANNED

The troops will finish leaving Afghanistan on Aug. 31, President Joe Biden announced last Thursday. The date is 12 days earlier than his initial end date of Sept. 11, 2021, the 20 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

"When I announced our drawdown in April, I said we would be out by September, and we are on track to meet that target. Our military mission in Afghanistan will conclude on Aug. 31," Biden said, adding "speed was safety."

The military announced last Monday that it had completed 90% of its duties related to a troop withdrawal.

For the Taliban, Bidens withdrawal decision is viewed as a chance for them to reassert themselves, following a Biden administration policy review that many observers predicted would culminate in an extension of the U.S. troop presence in order to support the talks between the Taliban and the government in Kabul.

The president said the U.S. has given Afghans all the tools they need to fend off the Taliban during the announcement last week, though many allies and partners have expressed doubts.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

U.S. forces left Bagram Air Base this month, once the headquarters for the Afghanistan operation. About 650 troops will remain behind, mostly to help secure the U.S. Embassy in nearby Kabul.

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Tags: News, Afghanistan, War in Afghanistan, troops, National Security, Foreign Policy, Taliban

Original Author: Mike Brest

Original Location: Top military official in Afghanistan to step down amid withdrawal
Former President Donald Trump said former Attorney General William Barr was "unable" to hold those who "lied and defamed" Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and authors of the "phony" Steele dossier to account.

Trump said Barr "became a different man" after two ethics groups in October called for his impeachment, with the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington arguing he used his position as attorney general for political purposes to aid the former president.

"He became a different man when the Democrats viciously stated that they wanted to impeach him. They went wild: 'We want to impeach him. We're gonna impeach Bill Barr. We're gonna impeach him.' He became different. I understand that," Trump said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas. "I didn't become different. I got impeached twice. I became worse."

TRUMP RIPS INTO 'WEAK' AND 'PATHETIC' BARR IN SCATHING STATEMENT

Barr, once viewed as a Trump loyalist, has criticized the former president, saying his allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential contest were baseless.

Theres a growing tendency to use the criminal justice system as sort of a default fix-all, and people dont like something they want the Department of Justice to come in and investigate, Barr said, adding, Most claims of fraud are very particularized to a particular set of circumstances or actors or conduct. They are not systemic allegations, and those have been run down  they are being run down. Some have been broad and potentially cover a few thousand votes. They have been followed up on.

After reports emerged of Barr calling Trump's allegations "bulls***," Trump ripped his former attorney general as a "RINO," or "Republican In Name Only."

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Kavanaugh, a Trump Supreme Court nominee, was confirmed by the Senate in a 50-48 vote in October 2018. He was met with multiple sexual misconduct allegations prior to his confirmation, including from Christine Blasey Ford, who accused him of sexual assault when they were both teenagers.

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Six FBI background investigations did not return evidence to support the allegations against Kavanaugh.

"They didn't go after [Kavanaugh's accusers, who] lied so badly," Trump said of the Justice Department's investigation into those who accused Kavanaugh. "Not any of the numerous criminal referrals for lying to Congress over and over again."

Trump also accused Barr of failing to take action against former FBI officials who authorized the 2016 "Russiagate" investigation, which requested wiretap warrants for former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.

The Steele dossier, a 35-page collection of reports about Trump's alleged ties to Russia written in 2016, was compiled for Fusion GPS, an opposition research firm, and Christopher Steele was paid with money from Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

The dossier contained allegations of the Trump team coordinating with the Kremlin, and the reports were shared with media outlets, with BuzzFeed News publishing the dossier in 2017.

Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, was appointed special counsel in May 2017 after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey. The FBI investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, wrapped into Mueller's effort, began in July 2016 following a tip to U.S. authorities from an Australian diplomat.

Mueller was unable to establish criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, undercutting elements of Steele's reporting. And a report released by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz in December 2019 criticized the FBI for its reliance on the dossier to obtain warrants to wiretap Page as part of its investigation.

On Sunday, Trump criticized Comey, along with former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and Director of National Intelligence-turned-CNN contributor James Clapper for their investigations during his presidency.

"Guys like Andy McCabe and James Comey and James Clapper ... all of the other perpetrators who have faced no consequences whatsoever, even though they knew it was a scam ... they created a scam," Trump, who frequently called the Russia investigation a "witch hunt," claimed on Sunday.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The House first impeached Trump in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in connection with his dealings with Ukraine. He was impeached again in January for incitement of an insurrection following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Trump was acquitted both times in the Senate.

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Tags: News, CPAC, Donald Trump, William Barr, Impeachment, Brett Kavanaugh

Original Author: Kaelan Deese

Original Location: Trump: Barr was 'unable to hold Kavanaugh accusers and Steele dossier sources accountable'
Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower in Manhattan on May 18, 2021. James Devaney/GC Images

Ashli Babbitt was killed by police on January 6 while participating in the riot at the Capitol.

Trump praised Babbitt, calling her "incredible" and asking for more answers about her death.

Trump also suggested, without citing evidence, that a top Democrat was involved.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Former President Donald Trump praised Ashli Babbitt, the Capitol rioter who was killed by police on January 6, and suggested, without citing evidence, that a high-level Democrat may have been involved.

Speaking by phone Sunday on Fox News, Trump was asked by host Maria Bartiromo about the Capitol attack, when a pro-Trump mob breached the building and forced lawmakers to evacuate. Babbitt was among the group that illegally entered the building.

"Who shot Ashli Babbitt? Why are they keeping that secret?" Trump asked. "Who was the person that shot an innocent, wonderful, incredible woman, a military woman?"

Read more: Where is Trump's White House staff now? We created a searchable database of more than 327 top staffers to show where they all landed

Babbitt was with a group of rioters trying to break down the barricaded door to the Speaker's Lobby, which would have given them access to the House chamber and put them within yards of lawmakers who were trying to evacuate.

She was shot by a Capitol Police officer as she tried to climb through a broken window into the lobby. The incident was captured on video.

The Justice Department cleared the officer of wrongdoing, concluding he had acted in defense of other officers and members of Congress. The investigation was closed without charging or identifying the officer publicly.

Bartiromo also praised Babbitt and said her family wanted answers about "why this wonderful woman, young woman, who went to peaceful protest, was shot." She then said, without citing evidence, that the security detail of a "leading member of Congress" may have been involved.

Story continues

"I've heard also that it was the head of security for a certain high official, a Democrat," Trump said. "And we'll see, because it's going to come out."

Babbitt, an Air Force veteran who was 35 when she died, was a staunch Trump supporter and proponent of the QAnon conspiracy theory, as displayed in social media posts she made leading up to the Capitol attack.

"Nothing will stop us," she tweeted on January 5. "They can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours.dark to light!"

She also retweeted a post saying Vice President Mike Pence should be charged with treason. Pence was a supposed target on January 6, with some rioters captured on video chanting "hang Mike Pence."

Babbitt shared many posts that featured QAnon slogans and theories, including some that said Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and other high-profile politicians were engaged in pedophilia.

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Former President Donald Trump gave a wide-ranging speech on Sunday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, touching on items from purported election fraud to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The former president walked out to God Bless the USA as he took the stage. His entrance was met with chants of USA from the crowd as he began his remarks. He was the headliner for the CPAC in Dallas, which ran from Friday through Sunday.

The ballroom at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, which holds about 3,300, was mostly full at the front and thinned out in the back.

For a year before the election, the fake news media said Texas was in play, Trump said. And they were right, except it was only in play for me, for me and you actually.  It will never be in play if we have the right candidate. This state is never gonna be in play. This is a very, very special place.

Trump vowed to, with the help of those at the conference, defeat the radical left, the socialists, the Marxists and the critical race theorists. He also said borders would be secured, left-wing cancel culture stopped and free speech and fair elections restored.

He later said the 2020 election was rigged, though experts have said theres been no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

And we will make America great again. Very simple, he said.

Near the top of his remarks, Trump gave a shout-out to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is seeking reelection and has garnered primary opponents. He called Paxton a true Texas conservative and a real leader.

We love Ken, Trump said.

He reiterated his calls for a border wall and border policies from his time as president. Gov. Greg Abbott, who Trump has endorsed for reelection, recently announced that Texas was building a wall of its own on the border.

Wheels and walls, they never change, Trump said. In a thousand years youll say wheels and walls. Walls work. ... Now the Biden administration has turned the border into the single greatest disaster in American history, and perhaps in world history.

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Texas politicians also take CPAC spotlight

He didnt speak until the events final day, but Trump was front and center at the three-day conference that drew conservatives from across the country to Texas.

Those in attendance included a number of speakers from Texas, such as area congressional representatives, Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, after doing an interview in a exhibit hall with booths set up by candidates and shops selling Trump gear, said he was there as an attendee to listen to candidates and see what the Republican Party is doing.

Congressional District 6 candidates Susan Wright, who has been endorsed by Trump, and Jake Ellzey also made stops at the conference. Ellzey said he went to a ticketed dinner that was held Saturday evening where former Texas Gov. Rick Perry spoke.

The event also attracted Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers militia, and two men wearing Proud Boys hats, who were seen walking around the event, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Many at the conference wore Trump gear as they explored the Dallas hotel. Matthew Jow, 18, from Fort Worth waited on Sunday afternoon for what would be his first time hearing the former president speak in person.

Ahead of the speech, Jow said he was hoping to hear Trump roasting Hunter Biden and the Biden administration. He was also seeing more insight on whether Trump would again run for president.

If Trump runs again, its going to be a landslide  a landslide the votes will actually show or reflect, Jow said, fashioned in a shirt promoting Trump for president in 2024 that he bought from one of the vendors Sunday.

Before Trump spoke, CPAC announced the results of a straw poll taken of attendees. In a survey of who theyd like to see as president in 2024, Trump got 70% of the votes in the version of the question where he was among potential candidates. In the version where Trumps name wasnt among contenders, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got 68%. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott got 1% in that version of the poll and Ted Cruz 4%.

Camie Chandler of Royse City said she too planned to watch Trumps speech. She wanted Trump to discuss the border wall as well as what our teachers are teaching our children, referring to critical race theory. She wore a red cowboy hat emblazoned with the words Make America Great, a Texas spin on a Make America Great Again ballcap.

Im a big Trump supporter, she said.
Former President Donald Trump on Sunday voiced concerns about "unexpected rulings" in the Supreme Court, saying the court has issued rulings unfavorable to the Right "because the nine justices do not want to be packed."

Throughout Trump's 2020 election campaign, the former president alleged Democrats would attempt to add more justices to the Supreme Court in an effort to limit the influence of the three conservative-leaning justices he appointed during his time in office, a sentiment he echoed during his remarks before the Conservative Political Action Conference on Sunday.

"We're getting some unexpected rulings because the nine justices do not want to be packed. And the Democrats are in a position to pack the court, and they don't want to be packed," Trump said.

BUSY HEALTHCARE AND ABORTION AGENDA FOR SUPREME COURT: EIGHT CASES TO WATCH IN 2021-2022

While it is unclear which cases Trump was referencing, the court previously rejected his bid to overturn the 2020 general election results, allowed his tax returns to be divulged to a New York prosecutor, and upheld the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, which Trump was eager to dismantle.

The former president said on June 23 that he was left "disappointed" by the six justices leading the conservative majority  despite the fact that he appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the high court  after they opted not to resolve several major cases in his favor.

"The Democrats are vicious to the Supreme Court and to Kavanaugh," Trump said of some Democrats' calls to expand the Supreme Court and previous threats to impeach Kavanaugh over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Despite the former president claiming disappointment in the Supreme Court, other recent 6-3 decisions by the majority of justices, such as upholding Arizona's voting law in one case and a decision to toss Californias donor disclosure requirement, have favored the Right.

Story continues

Many on the Left have suggested expanding the Supreme Court, with Sen. Ed Markey saying Congress "must expand the Supreme Court" following the twin rulings.

President Joe Biden has also formed a Supreme Court commission to discuss the current structure and framework of the justice system, which has led to discussions about court expansion.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Others in the party have urged caution, with centrist Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema indicating they would not support expanding the court.

Given the Democrats' slim majority in the Senate, any court expansion measure is likely to fail without both senators' support.

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Tags: News, Donald Trump, Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court, Republican, Arizona, California, Texas, CPAC

Original Author: Kaelan Deese

Original Location: Trump says the Supreme Court is issuing unfavorable rulings to deter court-packing
Top of the populists? Tucker Carlson is good value at 55-1 (Fox News)

Tucker Carlson is reportedly upset with Fox News for not backing his dispute with the National Security Agency over the conservative hosts spurious spying allegations.

Rival cable network CNN says that "tensions are sky-high" over claims the spy agency obtained the Fox News hosts email communications arranging an interview with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Quoting anonymous "people familiar with the matter", media reporters Brian Stelter and Oliver Darcy claim Mr Carlson is "furious" with network executives and the public relations team for what he is said to believe is a lack of support.

In a response to CNN, Mr Carlson said the story was "absurd" and that hes not mad at anyone at Fox.

"If I was, Id say so. Im mad at you for lying relentlessly. What a loathsome person you are. Please print that," he said.

Fox News did not respond to The Independents inquiry of whether tension existed between the network and one of its top stars as a result of the NSA-spying story, which Mr Carlson put forward without any supporting evidence.

In a previous statement to Axios, a Fox News spokesperson said: "We support any of our hosts pursuing interviews and stories free of government interference."

The response was to reports Mr Carlson emailed Russian "intermediaries" in the US about an interview with Putin at the time of the NSA spying allegations.

Mr Carlson viewed it as wholly insufficient, according to CNN. The story has been featured prominently on the Fox Business Network program of colleague Maria Bartiromo, who interviewed Mr Carlson after his emails were leaked to the media.

There was one other person who knew I sent that email, and it was my executive producer Justin Wells, thats it, and I didnt mention it to anybody else, including my wife," Mr Carlson said.

"Theres no possibility that anyone else could have known and then again yesterday I got a call before air like 7.15, from a journalist I know and like, not many left, but do I like this person he repeated back to me whats in my email. He got it, because the NSA leaked it, so, yes, entirely real.

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The allegations have led to calls from senator Rand Paul, who sits on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, for an investigation into the claims.

Mr Paul asked the NSA director, General Paul M Nakasone, to explain in detail whether surveillance was conducted on Mr Carlson in his role as a journalist, whether his alleged unmasking was approved, and whether his private emails were shared with other journalists or news organizations.

"When a long train of abuses conducted by the NSA evinces a consistent design to evade the law and violate the constitutionally-protected liberties of the people, the NSA must do more than tweet a carefully worded denial to be trusted," Mr Paul wrote, according to The Hill.

In a tweet on 29 June the NSA said Mr Carlson has never been a "target of the Agency" and that they "never had any plans to try to take his program off the air", which does not directly deny whether they obtained his private emails.

Read More

QAnon has receded from social media -- but it's just hiding

Tucker Carlson was trying to set up Putin interview amid claims of NSA spying, report says

Tucker Carlson calls for teachers to wear body cameras to prevent critical race theory teaching
NurPhoto/Getty Images

Twitter is opening its offices in New York and San Francisco for the first time since the pandemic.

CFO Ned Segal said he was excited for "guiltless opportunities" to work from home.

All Twitter employees can permanently work remotely even as some return to the office.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Twitter will be opening its San Francisco, and New York offices for the first time since the pandemic, Twitter CFO Ned Segal said in a tweet on Monday.

Segal said he was excited to return, but recognized the tough decision facing many employees about how - or if - they return.

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"This will be an adjustment," Segal said. "Yet we can't just solve for us extroverts who live close to an office. A video meeting can suck energy from my soul, and today I have a pep in my shoe-covered step, giddy to interact with maskless, vaccinated colleagues."

Office returns have been varied both within tech and throughout corporate America at large.

Spotify has also adopted a more relaxed working option for its employees by allowing them to "work from anywhere." Other companies like Netflix, and Goldman Sachs have been more eager to get employees back in the office.

"I'm excited for flexibility and guiltless opportunities to WFH [work from home] when I have a personal conflict or need quiet, thinking time," Segal added. "I'm thrilled we will hire people that work differently or don't live near or want to come to an office every day... CFO staff has 3 people remote!"

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(Reuters) - The United States will not impose a deadline on a seventh round of talks with Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, but only Tehran can determine when talks will resume, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday.

"We're not imposing a deadline on these talks, but ... we are conscious that as time proceeds Iran's nuclear advances will have a bearing on our view of ultimately returning to the JCPOA," Price said.

(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo, Daphne Psaledakis, Eric Beech, and Simon Lewis; Editing by Leslie Adler)
(Independent)

The British government is to ban US-based white supremacist group The Base as a terrorist organisation.

The neo-Nazi group, which was formed in 2018, has been attempting to recruit armed militants to launch terror attacks and prepare for a race war.

The Home Office said The Base shared much of its ideology and mission with Atomwaffen Division, which it banned earlier this year.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  The U.S. government on Monday moved to ease a crippling sanction imposed by the Trump administration on Venezuela by allowing companies to export propane to the troubled South American country, a step that could mitigate a shortage that has pushed people to cook on charcoal or wood grills.

The Biden administration's policy decision of wide impact in Venezuela comes as the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro has begun to allow foreign aid into the country and taken other steps to signal it is willing to engage with Washington.

The license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury authorizes non-U.S. companies to export liquefied petroleum gas to Venezuela without risking sanctions. The authorization is valid for one year.

It is obviously a humanitarian gesture to the Venezuelan government because in the country with the largest oil reserves in the world, people are cooking with wood on wood stoves instead of with propane, said Russ Dallen, managing partner at Caracas Capital Markets.

But the U.S. move was announced on the same day that opposition leaders claimed to have been the targets of Maduros security forces. The timing could not have been worse for Washington, Dallen said.

Maduros opposition in a statement accused armed security forces of seeking to detain leader Juan Guaido. The bloc said security forces also arbitrarily detained a former congressman.

Guaido told reporters from the basement of his residence in Caracas that members of the Venezuelan security forces intercepted his vehicle and threatened to arrest him. He said the agents pointed long weapons at the vehicle and ordered him to open the doors, but then withdrew amid protests from neighbors.

The intimidation has never stopped us, said Guaido, who is considered by the U.S. and dozens of other nations to be Venezuelas legitimate leader and has previously negotiated humanitarian aid.

Venezuelas government did not respond to requests for comments on the sanctions.

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The Treasury Department has previously relaxed other measures, including granting licenses for six teams of the Venezuelan Baseball League so that MLB players could participate in the local tournament and issuing other licenses that allow the Central Bank of Venezuela to carry out certain transactions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab tweeted a statement that did not address Guaido's accusations but said former Congressman Freddy Guevara was arrested due to his association with extremist and paramilitary groups associated with the Colombian government.

This citizen, who has had a public record in participating in acts of violence in the past, will be charged with the crimes of terrorism, attack against constitutional order, conspiracy to commit a crime and treason, according to the statement.

Guevara in September left the residence of the Chilean ambassador in Caracas after receiving a presidential pardon along with several other members of the opposition. He had taken refuge in the embassy since 2017, when he he and dozens of other opposition lawmakers faced charges for leading violent protests.

Julie Chung, acting assistant secretary for state for Western Hemisphere affairs, criticized Venezuela for the latest acts against the opposition.

We strongly condemn the arrest of Venezuelan Congressman @FreddyGuevaraC and threats against Interim President @jguaido in Venezuela, she said on Twitter. "We urge the international community to join us in condemning these acts and demanding the release of all those detained for political reasons.

Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. government imposed crippling sanctions seeking to isolate Maduro. Those restrictions have made it difficult for Venezuela to develop, sell or transport its oil  the backbone of its economy.

Despite Monday's move by the Biden administration, several stiff sanctions remain in place, keeping Venezuela in a strangle hold. The European Union has also imposed sanctions.

A U.N. report issued last week noted that sanctions add to the problems in Venezuela, which is mired in a deep political, social and economic crisis attributed to plummeting oil prices and to two decades of mismanagement by socialist governments. It has been in recession for years. Millions live in poverty amid high food prices, low wages and hyperinflation.

Venezuela is facing extreme shortages of LPG, which the majority of Venezuelans rely on to cook meals, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement. While Venezuela has historically been able to meet consumer demand through domestic production, years of mismanagement by the Maduro regime and Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) have contributed to the present shortfall. In an effort to promote a short-term solution to this problem, Treasury is issuing this time-limited authorization for the exportation of LPG.

___

Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.
The United States said Monday it was helping investigate Haitian president Jovenel Moise's assassination and did not rule out sending troops at Haiti's request.

According to Haitian authorities, a hit squad of 28 men -- 26 Colombians and two US citizens -- killed the president in his home last week, also injuring his wife.

"At the request of the Haitian government, the Department of Justice, along with its US government partners, is assisting the Haitian National Police in the investigation," the department said in a statement.

"An initial assessment has been conducted in Haiti by senior US officials. The department will continue to support the Haitian government in its review of the facts and circumstances surrounding this heinous attack."

It added it would also investigate if any US laws had been broken.

"Political leaders need to come together," Biden told reporters earlier. "The US stands ready to continue to provide assistance."

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the delegation of US law enforcement and national security officials who visited Haiti on Sunday noted the country's instability in the wake of Moise's murder.

"What was clear from their trip is that there is a lack of clarity about the future political leadership," Psaki said.

She said Haiti's request for US troops to deploy and provide security was "still under analysis." Asked if the White House had ruled out sending troops, she said "no."

No motive is publicly known for the killing, and questions are swirling about who masterminded the assassination.

The US delegation representing the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, State Department and National Security Council met with top Haitian officials.

"The delegation reviewed the security of critical infrastructure with Haitian government officials and met with the Haitian National Police, who are leading the investigation into the assassination," NSC spokeswoman Emily Horne said.

They also met with Haitian political leaders, including interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph and Senate President Joseph Lambert, "to encourage open and constructive dialogue to reach a political accord that can enable the country to hold free and fair elections."

sms-bgs/jh
A former lawyer in Virginia is accused of stealing money from older clients to pay for a house and donate to charity in an effort to impress her boss.

Cherie Anne Washburn, 45, pleaded guilty Friday to wire fraud and making false statements, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Virginia said in a news release. She faces between six months and two years in prison, according to the plea agreement.

Washburn declined to comment through a defense attorney on Monday.

A grand jury indicted Washburn on 13 counts  including for wire fraud, mail fraud and making false statements to a mortgage lender  in October. According to the indictment, Washburn was working in Forest, Virginia, as an attorney specializing in elder law and estate planning at the time of the alleged fraud.

In late 2015 and early 2016, Washburn was granted power of attorney for two elderly clients referred to her by a care management company that provides services to senior citizens.

The clients are referred toas C.A. and D.F. in the court documents.

Client funds paid for house, credit card bills

Prosecutors detailed a series of transactions beginning in November 2016 from the victims accounts to Washburn. She reportedly used the money on credit card payments and other personal expenses.

In one such transaction, Washburn is accused of writing a check to herself for $40,000 from C.A.s account for purported funeral expenses. But prosecutors said most of the money was never used for C.A.s benefit.

Instead, Washburn reportedly used it to invest in a real estate project. The project was spearheaded by her boss at a local nonprofit, where Washburn was hired as an attorney and grant writer in 2017, according to the indictment.

That same boss was also the CEO of a Christian-centered nonprofit in Cambodia. Using C.A. and D.F.s accounts, Washburn is accused of donating upwards of $32,000 to his nonprofit over seven months in 2017 and 2018.

The above donations benefited Washburn by enhancing her standing with her employer, prosecutors said.

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In 2018, prosecutors said Washburn bought a house in Lynchburg. In order to get approved for a loan, the mortgage company reportedly told her to pay off one of her credit cards.

Washburn used D.F.s money to pay off the card, the government said, and lied to the mortgage company by claiming C.A. was her great-aunt and that she had given her $40,000 to put toward the house.

Washburn told the court during Fridays hearing that she intended to let her client move in to the house, The News & Advocate reported.

I was overwhelmed at that time, she said, according to the newspaper. I was not keeping good records or notes and I transferred some of her money to cover some of my personal expenses. I always intended to pay it back. I know that that was wrong.

Washburn is accused of taking an additional $3,000 from C.A. for a deposit on the house. When the mortgage company asked her where she got the money, Washburn reportedly said it was from her great-aunt to pay for a future adoption.

Losing her license

The Virginia State Bar opened an investigation into Washburn in 2018 after receiving a complaint of professional misconduct, court documents show. She consented to having her license revoked in a signed affidavit admitting to misappropriating client funds.

Washburn sought to have that affidavit, which contained incriminating admissions, excluded from the governments fraud case, which prosecutors opposed.

A judge ultimately ruled in the governments favor and allowed the affidavit to be used at trial.

Her guilty plea comes nearly two weeks after prosecutors submitted a list of evidence they intended to use against her  including the affidavit, a note she is accused of coercing her client to sign that relieves her of blame for the stolen money, and her prior employment history as an assistant attorney in Campbell County.

The government said she was fired from that position for false statements she made to her supervisor.

As part of her plea agreement, Washburn will be required to pay her victims restitution. A sentencing date has not been set, but The News & Advance reported Washburn intends to report to U.S. Marshals on July 30 in hopes of receiving sentencing credit since shes pregnant.

Women kidnap 77-year-old from Goodwill, steal $10,000 of her money, Georgia cops say

Exterminator stole $1.7M from widow by posing as her son  and played the lottery, feds say

Widowed teacher scammed out of $228,000 for North Carolina solar farm, feds say
Jul. 12WILKES-BARRE  City police are seeking information regarding the whereabouts of three people they say are responsible for the "brutal beating" of a fast food worker.

According to a very brief post from Wilkes-Barre City Police on their Facebook page, three unknown individuals  two Black males and a female of unclear race, all seemingly young  are responsible for the "brutal beating" of a McDonald's employee.

Details in the post are very sparse, and information regarding when the incident occurred, in which McDonald's it happened or the condition of the employee are not mentioned.

Photos from surveillance footage accompanied the Facebook post, showing the individuals faces fairly clearly. These photos are reproduced here.

If you believe you have any information regarding the individuals depicted, city police are asking you contact Officer Ronald Hartman directly at [email protected] or 570-208-4125. You can also message the Wilkes-Barre Police via Facebook. They specify that tips are anonymous.
smoke from wildfires over the US west coast. (cira.colostate.edu)

The parched lands of the Western US and Canada are being consumed by flame as wildfires ravage more than 1 million acres.

High temperatures and exceptionally dry ground  exacerbated by the climate crisis  lend fuel to the wildfires, which are currently raging across about 768,000 acres in the US and 500,000 in Canada, according to Axios.

And on Sunday evening, Californians were urged to conserve power on Monday evening for a fifth time this year, as high temperatures persist in the US West.

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Officials in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Montana were battling the blazes over the weekend and into the work week.

The largest of the ongoing fires is Oregon's Bootleg Fire, accounting for more than a third of all the destruction caused by the current crop of wildfires.

The Bootleg Fire has already destroyed 153,535 acres of land in Oregon. Its movement and intensity has shocked even veteran wildfire fighters.

Fire Incident Commander Al Lawson spoke to USA Today about the ferocity of the ongoing blaze.

The fire behavior we are seeing on the Bootleg Fire is among the most extreme you can find and firefighters are seeing conditions they have never seen before, he said.

California is also battling with its largest fire of the season, the Beckwourth Complex Fire, which is a combination of the Sugar Fire and the Dotta Fire.

The fire is about 20 per cent contained, but has already burned just shy of 90,000 acres of land.

On Saturday, the fire, which is burning along California's border with Nevada, spilled over the line and threatened homes in the desert state's Washoe County.

In Arizona, two firefighters have already been killed while responding to that state's blazes.

Two firefighters responding to the Cedar Story Basin Fire in Arizona were flying to the site on Saturday when their plane crashed, killing them. That fire is less than five per cent contained.

Farther north, Washington is dealing with four of its own fires, which have collectively burned more than 46,000 acres. The sweeping fires coincided with the state experiencing record high temperatures for the week.

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The blazes in Idaho have forced the state's governor to call a wildfire emergency and to mobilize the National Guard to help combat the flames. The wildfires in that states have burned approximately 40,000 acres.

Wildfires are causing trouble as far north as Montana, where several fires have shut down roads and forced evacuations.

Read More

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How a group of beavers prevented a wildfire and saved California a million dollars

Canada wildfires: Indigenous community still reeling from child graves discovery welcomes evacuated neighbours
(Bloomberg) -- It was the kind of brazen PR stunt that Jack Ma might have dreamed up.

But this wasnt the flamboyant Chinese billionaire who disappeared from public view eight months ago. It was Mark Zuckerberg, bobbing up and down on a hydrofoil surfboard, clutching an American flag and exuding all the confidence of a man worth $130 billion.

The contrast between the social media moguls July 4th Instagram video and the days big event in China could hardly have been starker. Regulators in Beijing had just hours earlier banned Didi Global Inc.s ride-hailing service from app stores, delivering their latest hammer blow to an entrepreneurial elite that once seemed destined to challenge Zuckerberg and his U.S. peers at the top of the worlds wealth rankings.

The age of unfettered gains for Chinas ultra-rich now appears to be coming to an abrupt end.

Even as the worlds 10 wealthiest people added $209 billion to their net worth in the first half of 2021, Chinas richest tycoons in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index saw their combined fortunes shrink by $16 billion. Shares of their flagship companies sank by an average 13% during the period, the first time in at least six years theyve recorded declines when the broader Chinese equity market was rising. Didis stock has plunged 14% since its June 30 debut on the New York Stock Exchange, slashing the wealth of the companys co-founders by almost $800 million.

Behind the losses is a crackdown that has only intensified since November, when Mas Ant Group Co. was forced to pull its blockbuster initial public offering at the last minute. Policy makers are tightening regulations on some of the most important facets of Asias largest economy, from financial services to internet platforms and the data that underpins most big businesses in modern China. In the latest salvo, regulators unveiled new draft rules on Saturday that would require nearly all domestic companies to undergo a cybersecurity review before listing in a foreign country.

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Beijings motivations for the crackdown are varied. They include concerns about anticompetitive behavior in the tech industry, risks to financial stability from lightly regulated lending platforms and the rapid proliferation of sensitive personal information in the hands of large corporations.

But another undercurrent running through many of the governments latest initiatives is a not-so-secret desire to rein in the power of Chinas tycoons, some of whom have amassed an enormous amount of influence over the $14 trillion economy. As one government official familiar with the leaderships thinking described it, Beijing wants to prevent its billionaires from becoming a force as strong as the family-run chaebol that dominate South Koreas economy and many aspects of its politics.

Adding to Beijings resolve is the Chinese publics growing concern over rising inequality. At a major speech on his economic plans in October, President Xi Jinping acknowledged that the countrys development was unbalanced and said common prosperity should be the ultimate goal.

The upshot is a new era for the countrys billionaires and the investors who back them. Gone are the days when tycoons like Ma could confidently bend the rules to supercharge their companies growth and challenge entrenched interests like state-owned banks. Outsized public personas -- long seen as an asset for tech-company founders -- now look like a liability. The new playbook for Chinas ultra-rich calls for more deference to the Communist Party, more charitable donations and more focus on the wellbeing of rank-and-file employees, even if it hurts the bottom line.

Some of the tech companies became larger than life, said Allan Zeman, a property tycoon who gave up his Canadian passport to become a naturalized citizen of China in 2008. One big lesson from the crackdown: Dont get bigger than the government, Zeman said, shortly after attending the Communist Partys 100th anniversary celebration in Beijing on July 1.

Didi notwithstanding, the message appears to be getting through. Ma, who criticized Chinese financial regulators in his last public speech before Ants IPO was abruptly suspended, has since resurfaced only a handful of times in carefully choreographed appearances.

Colin Huang, whose e-commerce giant Pinduoduo Inc. has come under scrutiny for its relentless working schedules, has given up his roles as chairman and CEO and donated shares worth billions of dollars. ByteDance Ltd. founder Zhang Yiming said in May he would step down as CEO and spend more time on educational charity; the firm is approaching any potential IPO cautiously after meetings with government officials over data security issues earlier this year, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Wang Xing, the chairman of food-delivery giant Meituan, has mostly steered clear of the public spotlight since he posted a 1,100-year-old poem in May that some regarded as an implicit criticism of the government. Wang, who later issued a clarification saying the post had been targeted at the shortsightedness of his own industry, was advised by Beijing officials to keep a low profile, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The new environment will fundamentally change Chinas tech sector, partly because investors will become more wary of funding entrepreneurs who could end up on a collision course with Beijing, said Eric Schiffer, CEO of Patriarch Organization, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm.

U.S. President Joe Biden has also taken aim at the billionaire class, calling for increased taxes on the rich and signing an executive order on Friday that aims to weaken dominance of Americas biggest companies. The move echoed an ongoing antitrust campaign in China that has ensnared giants including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and arch-rival Tencent Holdings Ltd.Read more: China Watchdog Rejects Tencent-Led Game Streaming Deal

One key difference is that Chinese authorities, unrestrained by Western-style checks and balances, can act more forcefully than their U.S. counterparts, said Angela Zhang, director of the Centre for Chinese Law at the University of Hong Kong and author of Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism. Zuckerbergs hydrofoil joyride came just a few days after a judge dismissed two monopoly lawsuits against Facebook Inc. that had been filed by the U.S. government and a coalition of states.

In the case of China, the pendulum swings very quickly, Zhang said.

Beijing has a variety of tools for reining in billionaires, including detention in the most extreme cases. An internal disciplinary process for party members, known as shuanggui, has been used for some tycoons in the past. Investigations by antitrust, cybersecurity and other regulators are more common ways to influence the behavior of tech giants. The government also uses soft methods including state-media campaigns, Zhang said.

In the days after regulators halted Ants IPO, Xi visited a museum in the eastern city of Nantong that was created by Zhang Jian, a 19th century capitalist. The Chinese president described Zhang as a patriotic nation builder and philanthropist. Rather than disrupt the financial system with unregulated loans, he built factories and hundreds of schools.

When you see a virtuous person, follow his example, Xi was quoted as saying by Chinese media, calling on private entrepreneurs to strengthen their feelings for the country and assume social responsibilities.

Read more: Chinas Fading First-In First-Out Rebound Sends Global Warning

While Chinas crackdown has been most visible in the tech industry, the countrys property billionaires have also come under increased pressure in recent years. Authorities have steadily restricted the industrys access to funding in an attempt to rein in home prices and reduce systemic risks to the financial system. China Evergrande Group Chairman Hui Ka Yan has been among the biggest casualties of the campaign this year, losing $6.7 billion, or nearly 30%, of his fortune as Evergrandes stock tumbled on concerns the company faces a liquidity crunch.

A more subtle sign of billionaires waning influence can be seen in their shrinking share of political appointments. Data from the Hurun Report, which produces wealth rankings, shows that rich entrepreneurs accounted for 5.8% of delegates in the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and the National Peoples Congress, the lowest in at least eight years and down from 15.3% in 2013.There is an evolution in the thinking of which type of people should be within the mix, said Rupert Hoogewerf, the Hurun Reports chairman. Its becoming much harder for entrepreneurs.

The big question is whether all of this will be good for China in the long run. One risk is that the onslaught of regulatory probes and rule changes undermines investor confidence, HKUs Zhang said. That could make it less likely that the entrepreneurs behind the next potential Alibaba or Tencent get the funding they need to make their ideas a reality. Global venture capital firms will likely think twice about investing in Chinese companies if Beijing prevents them from listing overseas, a crucial exit route for early international backers.

Yet some of Beijings new policies may foster competition in the oligopolistic tech industry, clearing the way for a new class of billionaires to rise. Stricter regulations on fintech firms will help reduce systemic risks, even if they slow down innovation. Chinas crackdown on Ant won praise last month from Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, who said in an interview with CNBC that the Communists did the right thing by letting Ma know he couldnt wade into banking...and just do whatever he pleased.

Either way, Chinas entrepreneurs will have little choice but to embrace the new normal, said Chen Long, a partner at consulting firm Plenum. The good old days of savage growth are gone.

(Adds Bytedance meeting with officials in 13th paragraph.)

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The organization matches some of its other services with that of EHS, so the program becomes more than just child care services.

This is not just your typical child care, where your parents drop off and pick up, and are in and out really quickly. This is also a parent support program, Graham said.

Its not only the children who get assigned to their own teacher; the parents are assigned to their person who sticks with them during the three years that their child is in the program. They learn the familys strengths, their needs, their goals, and connect them to all the community resources available to reach their goals, and the families become safe and stable moving forward.

Eckel remembers when HumanKind helped her in a time of need, even though it was outside of the scope of the child care services she needed.

They go beyond child care services, she said. I just had major surgery, and Ashley (Graham) reached out to me and brought dinner to me because I couldnt drive, so they just go above and beyond for their families.

And while the organization helps families, the roots still stay with the child care services it provides.
He said COVID-19 proved how well networks perform when there are multiple learners or multiple people working from home.

And many of those networks in areas that we compete with didnt perform well. They were overloaded by the bandwidth demands put on them in each home by a couple kids learning, a couple adults trying to work from home, he said.

Glo Fiber launched earlier this year in Lynchburg, and Shentel has construction activities that will go throughout this year and into the next in the citys various neighborhoods.

He said the service wouldnt have been made possible if it werent for the support from the city, which Shentel went to in early 2019 about its plans for faster internet options.

This is transformative from an economic development point of view, he said. For companies wanting to expand or relocate to Lynchburg, they want this technology for their workers to work from home or just as a quality of life.

Interim City Manager Reid Wodicka said the city was pleased to be a partner in the development of additional internet options for residents and businesses in the community.
With rippling blue waves and verdant mountains, walking along the banks of the Wujiang River in Guizhou Province, and the fresh air is refreshing, and the scenery is relaxing.

If it weren't for the reminder of the birds chirping in the mountains, it would be mistaken to think it was walking in the painting.



(Wujiang scenery. Source: Colorful Guizhou-China Original Ecology International Photography Exhibition

The construction of ecological civilization is related to the future of mankind, and building a green home is the common dream of people of all countries. Through years of hard work, Guizhou Province has explored a development mode that conforms to the concept of China's ecological civilization.

As the first batch of national ecological civilization experimental areas, thirty of Guizhous reform achievements are included in the national promotion list, and the Guiyang International Forum on Ecological Civilization has become an important platform for spreading the Chinese president Xi Jinpings thoughts on ecological civilization.

In recent years, Guizhous ecological advantages have been highlighted. In 2020, the average percentage of AQI days in Guizhous nine central cities is 99.2%. The surface water quality of the province is generally excellent. The water quality of major river monitoring sections is 99.3%. The forest coverage rate is over 60%.

"Using the strictest system and rule of law to protect the ecological environment, and let the system become a rigidly restrained and untouchable high-tension line" is the promise of Guizhou Province to the clear waters and green mountains. Behind the excellent ecological environment is Guizhou Provinces concerted efforts.

As an important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River, it is very important to protect Guizhous ecological environment and biodiversity. Since 2007, Guizhou has established the countrys first environmental protection court; formulated chinas first local regulations "Regulations on the Promotion of Ecological Civilization Construction in Guiyang City" to promote the construction of ecological civilization; launched the "6.18 Guizhou Ecological Day" publicity activities. At the same time, the Guiyang International Forum on Ecological Civilization has become the only national-level international forum with the theme of ecological civilization in China. In addition, Chinas first specialized judicial institution for environmental protection law enforcement supporting provincial public prosecutions and laws has been launched. Furthermore, actions such as the six prohibited forests resource protection have been continuously developed, environmental protection sword enforcement, etc., Guizhou continue to strengthen the construction of the ecological environment protection system.

Since the full implementation of the river chief system in 2017, the five-level river chiefs in Guizhou have protected the rivers. More and more people have enjoyed the benefits brought about by the improvement of the water ecological environment, and more and more fishermen have become the "mother river" s guardians, builders, sharers.

Chishui River is the only first-level tributary in the Yangtze River Basin that has not been dammed. There is a national nature reserve for rare and endemic fish in the basin. As a tributary of the upper reaches of the Chishui River, the Geeli River is becoming more beautiful and energetic under the guardianship of the 27 members of the Geeli River Basin Ecological Management Association.

The journalist of Huanqiu.com interviewed a river chief in Geeli River, Li Wang said "I grew up by the river, swimming on hot days when I was a child, and fishing by the river when I grew up. I have witnessed its rise and fall for more than 20 years, and it has also witnessed our youthful growth. I have a deep love for it. Now we protect it, just like protecting our own relatives.",

Luo Guangxian, a 75-year-old villager of Guanghua Village, habitually walks by the river every day. For the native who grew up on the edge of the Gerry River, he witnessed the governance and protection of the Geeli River. "In the past, the environment was severely damaged, and the water in the river was stinky. Now, with the river chief system, it not only has supervision and restraint on the nearby villagers, but also restored the ecological environment by the river by returning farmland to forests."

River protection is an important part of Guizhou's ecological protection. There are many cases in Guizhou that use the rule of law to protect the ecology, such as the river chief system and the forest chief system. The "Guizhou Model" has contributed to the construction of "Beautiful China. Guizhou has gradually grown into a "Chinese Window" for the construction of ecological civilization.
As summer approaches, and with it the high risk of heatstroke, many schools are grappling with whether students should wear masks during PE class.

The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has said masks are not needed during PE, but fears over the coronavirus spreading have prompted many children to wear them anyway.

During PE class for about 30 sixth-grade students at an elementary school in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, the teacher in charge told the students to take off their masks, to help prevent heatstroke. However, one student put her mask back on, saying, Im scared Ill get infected if I dont have my mask on.

If a student wants to wear a mask, their legal guardian can submit a written request to the homeroom teacher.

I want to pay attention to even the smallest changes in the students physical condition, the schools principal said.

Tokyos Setagaya Ward is asking its municipal elementary and junior high schools to handle mask requests on a case-by-case basis, as many legal guardians do not want their child to take their mask off at school.
Major Japanese companies may halt the use of cotton from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The firms are reviewing their supply chains amid allegations that the material is produced with forced labor.

Apparel company World is considering stopping the sale of items made with cotton from the Xinjiang region. World says the move is necessary to address human-rights issues.

Sporting-goods firm Mizuno is reviewing its supply chain, with an eye towards discontinuing the use of cotton products made in the region.

But the operator of Muji-brand household-goods stores plans to keep using Xinjiang cotton in its products. Ryohin Keikaku says a recent inspection found no major violations, including forced labor.

Allegations that ethnic Uyghur minorities in the Xinjiang region are being subjected to forced labor have drawn worldwide criticism. Beijing denies that the practice is taking place.

There have been boycotts in China of foreign brands that have come out against using Xinjiang cotton.
KYOTO (TR)  A famous potter was fatally shot by his girlfriend with a crossbow inside a love hotel in Kyoto City last week, police have revealed, reports Abema Times

Sometime between the morning and afternoon of last Friday, Chiharu Sato, 31, allegedly used the crossbow to fire several bolts into the head of Takeshi Furukawa, 37, inside a room of the Hotel Alpha in Fushimi Ward.

Furukawa was transported to a hospital where he was confirmed dead, the Mukomachi Police Station said.

Upon her arrest on suspicion of murder on Saturday, Sato admitted to the allegations.

Furukawa, who lived in Higashiyama Ward, received multiple awards for his ceramic work, which primarily includes cups and bowls.

Sato is believed to be the girlfriend of Furukawa. During the incident, she also used a knife to stab him in the back. Afterward, she reported the matter to the front desk.

On Sunday, police said that the cause of death was shock due to loss of blood from the bolts to the head.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.
The state of emergency covering the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa has been extended again in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

It will remain in place for six more weeks. The extended state of emergency began on Monday and will end on August 22.

At around 8 a.m. on Monday, crowds of commuters and students were seen traveling on a monorail train and around a station in the central part of Naha City as usual.

A woman in her 40s said she felt the number of commuters on Monday morning was the same as it was before. She said people have become too accustomed to the prolonged states of emergency.

A man in his 40s said he thinks the state of emergency had to be extended. But he said he doesn't know how he will be able to keep his children from getting bored during the summer holidays, as swimming beaches and other places that they like remain closed.

A Nepalese woman in her 20s said that her work shifts at a convenience store in the city had been cut, due to the prolonged state of emergency.

The woman said that she needs money to pay the tuition fees at her Japanese language school.

Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny told reporters that Okinawans must pull together, so that the state of emergency can end earlier than scheduled.

Tamaki asked people outside Okinawa to avoid nonessential travel to the prefecture during the emergency period.
A Tokyo hotel has apologized amid backlash over their decision to delineate elevators with signs indicating Japanese only and foreigners only.

The host city of the 2020 Olympics is preparing for its first onslaught of international tourists since the pandemic, which pushed last years games back by one year.

The hotel claims the move was all part of their effort to ramp up COVID-19 safety measures before the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, which begin July 23.

Kyodo News first reported on Sunday that the inn had been lambasted online for a brief policy that split their four elevator units into two groups between Japanese and non-Japanese people.

The virus has nothing to do with nationality, said one netizen, according to a Reuters report on Monday, which confirmed that the signs had been removed as of Sunday morning.

A spokesperson for the Akasaka Excel Tokyu in downtown Tokyo said they had no intention to discriminate, according to Kyodo News, and that the signs, implemented on Friday, were intended to encourage a steady flow of elevator occupants and mitigate crowding.

We apologize for having caused misunderstanding, hotel officials added. Its also been acknowledged that the precaution was one suggested by the organizing committee of the Olympics and Paralympics, though the policy was evidently not adopted by all hotels in the area.
One hundred and one years ago, the 19th amendment to the Constitution was ratified, giving women the long-sought and long-fought right to vote. We can be proud that a citizen of Iowa, in particular Council Bluffs, has gone down in history as a core member of the womens suffrage revolution.

Born in central New York in May 1818, Amelia Jenks enjoyed a modes phetic about Council Bluffs future: Council Bluffs will be no longer out of the world but directly in the center of it. Indeed, by the 1880s, Council Bluffs was the fifth largest transportation center on the North American Continent. It had 17 passenger stations, numerous freight stations and the continents second largest postal distribution center. As the city was rising to prominence, so did the Bloomers. Dexter served as mayor of Council Bluffs and was the first superintendent of the citys schools. Bloomer Elementary is named in his memory.

Bloomer had a way of seeing the future. She was a pioneer in the temperance movement and wielded such influence that her own husband quit drinking! While today we often understand this movement, which ultimately led to prohibition, mostly in terms of its ultimate failure, temperance laid the foundation upon which the edifice of womens suffrage was erected.

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Father Pierre-Jean De Smet was sent to Council Bluffs to civilize and Christianize its Native America residents, but it was his own civility and Christian generosity that made him one of the most famous figures on the western frontier.

The man who would become known as the spiritual Christopher Columbus of the west began his great missionary career in present-day Council Bluffs when the Jesuit fathers of St. Louis asked him to establish the first Christian church and school in the upper Missouri valley.

De Smet, then 37 years old, arrived by steamship on the banks of Lake Manawa  at that time a channel of the Missouri River  on May 31, 1838, along with another Jesuit priest, Father Felix Verreydt, and Brother Andrew Mazzella.

When the men debarked, they found nearly 2,000 Pottawattamie Indians waiting for them at the boat landing. According to Francis Cassilly, a Creighton University scholar who wrote about the life of De Smet in 1917, their welcome was cold with only two coming forward to shake hands.

Luckily, Chief Billy Caldwell, the half-Irish-half-Pottawattamie Indian who had served as an assistant to Tecumseh, stepped forward to offer the men the use of three cabins located near his camp four miles to the north.
IOWA CITY  Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday that Iowa will cover the cost of troopers sent to Texas to fight crime along the U.S. border with Mexico, confirming the state would fund the mission after the release of agreements showing the effort would come at no cost to Texas.

Since Reynolds announced June 24 that she would join other Republican governors in sending forces to the border, her administration has argued Texas could later reimburse Iowa for expenses under a multi-state compact. However, Iowas assistance agreements released to The Associated Press on Monday stated that Texas and Arizona asked other states to absorb the associated costs with this mission for the good of the country.

Iowa is donating this resource, according to the agreements, signed by the director of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management on July 2 and released by the department under the open records law.

Later Monday, Reynolds was asked at a news conference in Nebraska who would pay for the deployment, and she acknowledged the costs would fall to her state.
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The first-degree murder trial for Keith L. Allen in connection with the shooting of a 25-year-old North Platte man on May 22, 2020, could be held in early October.

The date has not been finalized, but one of Allens attorneys, Michael L. Nozicka, said Monday in Lincoln County District Court that the defense will be ready for the jury term that begins Oct. 5.

The trial date could be set during an Aug. 23 hearing in the case in which a questionnaire for prospective jury members should be finalized as well.

Allen, 44, is accused of shooting Brett A. Torres multiple times with a .45-caliber handgun outside a residence in the 100 block of South Chestnut Street. He was charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony.

Mondays hearing also included defense motions to suppress some physical evidence and testimony. Judge Richard Birch sustained one motion from the bench and took two under advisement. Deputy County Attorney Tanya Roberts-Connick did not object to two other motions.

The shooting was reported at 2:32 p.m. May 22, 2020, according to court documents.

Law enforcement officers found Torres unresponsive inside his vehicle, which was parked in the alley north of the Chestnut Street residence.
Texas state Representative Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, speaks alongside members of the democratic caucus last week. Photo: Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images

Democratic lawmakers in the Texas legislature left the state on Monday in a dramatic, last-ditch attempt to prevent Republicans from passing restrictive voting measures.

At least 58 Democratic lawmakers flew out of Austin on chartered flights to Washington, D.C., according to the Associated Press and NBC News. The move is meant to deny Republicans the necessary number of lawmakers present to hold a special session of the legislature convened last week by Governor Greg Abbott. Republicans want to pass a litany of bills tightening voting laws, banning the teaching of so-called critical race theory, restricting transgender athletes in public schools, and making it harder to obtain an abortion.

The Democrats are expected to use their time in D.C. to rally support for federal voting-rights legislation. Theyll have to remain away through the end of the special session, which could last up to 30 days. This is the second time Texas Dems used this strategy in protest of the bill, according to the Texas Tribune, which led Abbott to call the special session in the first place. And in 2003, to prevent a Republican session from passing a redistricting proposal that eventually wiped out several Democratic seats in Congress. Democratic lawmakers fled over the state line to New Mexico.

Democrats could be arrested by law-enforcement officers, though the threat is considered mostly hypothetical. That hasnt stopped Republican officials from wielding that threat: On Tuesday, Governor Abbott said the Democratic lawmakers will be arrested as soon as they touch down in Texas. In an interview with ABC News, GOP House Speaker Dade Phelan said that a sergeant-at-arms and any officers appointed by him are directed to send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused, for the purpose of securing and maintaining their attendance, by warrant of arrest if necessary. Eddie Morales, one of four Democratic representatives who stayed behind, said that while the sergeant-at-arms will go to your apartment in Austin or wherever you live close by when youre in session, its unlikely they will leave the state for an arrest.
YIPP Program Manager and Pastor Matthew Skip Long urged the community to stand together to help the citys youth and said the goals of the program are to intervene in the lives of youthful offenders in order to reduce the recidivism rate from 57 percent on average per year to 10 percent or below, have at least 70 percent of the offenders move on to the next grade level or graduate, have at least 60 percent obtain job skills training, and reduce the truancy rate to 10 percent or less.

We need to have the entire community, Long said. I appreciate the heart of those in Opelika to see our neighbors, our folks be successful and healthy. Opelika is a city of hope, and all of that revolves around our leadership, starting with our mayor to the chief of police to Jeremy Gray and to all of us playing a small role to make sure those living in Opelika experience success.

The results in the first year alone have exceeded those expectations.
Fauci said clinical studies and laboratory data have yet to fully bear out the need for a booster to the current two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson regimen.

Right now, given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot, he said. That doesnt mean we stop there. ... There are studies being done now ongoing as we speak about looking at the feasibility about if and when we should be boosting people.

He said it was quite possible in the coming months as data evolves that the government may urge a booster based on such factors as age and underlying medical conditions. "Certainly it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely at some time, we will need a boost,'' Fauci said.

Monday's planned meeting between Pfizer and U.S. health officials was first reported by The Washington Post.

Currently only about 48% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Some parts of the country have far lower immunization rates, and in those places the delta variant is surging. Last week, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said thats leading to two truths  highly immunized swaths of America are getting back to normal while hospitalizations are rising in other places.
Schumer, speaking to reporters Sunday, highlighted a $2 million advertising blitz the NRA announced in April, aimed at fighting gun control proposals, while the bankruptcy case was still pending. The organization said it was placing ads on TV and digital platforms, sending out mailers and holding town hall meetings in at least 12 states.

In West Virginia, Schumer said, the organization spent $250,000 on TV ads encouraging people to call U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, and tell him to reject Chipmans confirmation. Chipman, a former ATF agent, has worked as a policy adviser at an organization that supports gun control.

How can you say youre bankrupt at the same time you have millions of dollars to spend on ads throughout the country trying to prevent universal background checks fundraising and other things that will stop the killings on the streets? Schumer said.

The bottom line is the NRA shot itself in the foot when they declared bankruptcy and still have millions of dollars, he said.



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Following an internal search, Mark DeGoti, associate professor of music in Auburn Universitys College of Liberal Arts, has been named the new liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, effective July 19. DeGoti succeeds Megan Good, who will assume a new position at James Madison University.

As the SACSCOC liaison, DeGoti will oversee Auburns decennial reaffirmation process scheduled for 2023. In addition to preparing the required certification documents that demonstrate Auburns compliance with the SACSCOC principles of accreditation, DeGoti will engage with university stakeholders to increase understanding of accrediting policies and procedures that impact various aspects of the campus. Working with faculty and staff, DeGoti will also help coordinate the university's required Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP, focused on advancing student career outcomes.

A faculty member at Auburn since 2010, DeGoti has served as the assessment coordinator in the Department of Music, as well as the units liaison to the National Association of Schools of Music Reaccreditation. With a focus on continuous improvement of student learning, DeGoti's most recent efforts include preparing the department for its reaccreditation in fall 2021. Working with faculty to better understand the role of academic assessment, DeGoti's efforts have enabled the unit to redefine its learning outcomes and evaluation approaches, key experiences that will benefit him as the liaison.

We are pleased to have Dr. DeGoti serving as the universitys next SACSCOC liaison, said Associate Provost Norman Godwin. In addition to his knowledge of assessment principles and accreditation practices, Mark brings a broad understanding of the university processes that are critical to the ongoing success and compliance of the university.

In addition to his departmental service, DeGoti has served on several university committees focused on improving assessment, including the Core Curriculum and General Education Committee and the Meta-Assessment Institute. Working with faculty and staff to implement data-informed changes and curricular improvements, DeGoti looks forward to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and success through the universitys commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

I am honored to step into this role at such an important time, DeGoti said. I look forward to working with the many individuals who have already been engaged in a multitude of efforts to support our reaffirmation process as we demonstrate Auburns compliance with the SACSCOC principles of accreditation.

DeGoti holds both a masters degree and a doctorate from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a pair of bachelors degrees in music from the University of Michigan.
Advocates Say Heat Rules are now the Most Protective in Oregon

After the extreme heat wave the Pacific Northwest faced in June, new safety precautions are now set in stone.

Deadly record-high temperatures in the Pacific Northwest led to Oregon adopting an emergency rule that strengthens requirements for employers to protect workers from extreme heat in what advocates call the nations most protective heat rule. This follows deadly record-high temperatures. The rule was adopted Thursday which claims to expand access to shade, cool water, regular breaks and communication for concerns.

With these new rules, Oregon has a chance to lead the country in ensuring workplaces are safe from high heat, especially for those doing the most demanding and dangerous jobs, like farming and construction, said Kate Suisman, an attorney with the Northwest Workers Justice Project.

The temporary rule is effective immediately and stays in place for 180 days. As Oregon OSHA continues to work on a permanent heat stress prevention rule, the temporary rule was adopted following the direction of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to enact emergency measures. This rule applies to every workplace. Andrew Stolfi of Oregon OSHA said that the risks of working in such high heat are not going away this summer or any summer.

This rule creates greater clarity for employers about the specific steps that need to be taken to protect workers from heat stress dangers at work, said Michael Wood, administrator for Oregon OSHA For employees, it further crystalizes their existing rights to protection from heat hazards where they work.

Oregon OSHA encourages reading the entire rule provisions which reflect the best available science and input from labor and employer stakeholders. The division offers free resources for understanding and implementing the rule. The State of Oregon Newsroom states that workers have a right to a safe and healthy workplace, including the right to be safe from heat dangers and stress.
The odds of an OPEC+ meeting this week look increasingly unlikely as the group has failed to make progress in resolving the differences between key OPEC members Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which resulted in a failure to decide future production levels last week, sources at OPEC+ told Reuters on Monday.

The UAE blocked a deal on OPEC+ raising oil production from August, making any agreements contingent on revising the unfairly low Emirati baseline from 2018.

Despite mediation, consultations, and side talks in the first weekend of Julyafter two days of no deal outcome of meetingsOPEC+ failed a third time on July 5, called off the OPEC+ meeting, and said it hadnt decided yet when the next meeting would be held.

After initially rising on the news that as-is, no production would be added from OPEC+ in August, the oil market started to digest later in the week the possibility that the future of the entire pact could be thrown into doubt should the UAE and Saudi Arabia fail to find some common ground.

The Biden Administration also urged the OPEC+ group to settle the ongoing dispute about baseline production levels and open the taps, as it was planned, and meet growing global oil demand.

According to Reuters sources, Russia continues to try to bridge the differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE with behind-closed-doors talks, without success so far.

It is not expected the OPEC+ alliance  in which Russia leads the group of non-OPEC producers  to hold a meeting this week, a Russian source told Reuters today.

We are closely monitoring the OPEC Plus negotiations and their impact on the global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said last week.

[W]ere not a party to these talks, but, over the weekend and into this week, weve had a number of high-level conversations with officials in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other relevant partners, she added.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Wealthy economies must help with financing Indias energy transition, Bloomberg reported this week, citing the countrys Environment Secretary.

Every policy decision has a cost to the economy. Going net-zero or using less carbon also has a cost, Rameshwar Prasad Gupta said in an interview. We are not anti-net-zero. But without adequate climate finance being definitively available, we cant commit on that part.

The officials comments add to worries about the cost of the energy transition, especially for poorer economies. Last week, Reuters reported that these worries are spiking in Europe, where poorer Eastern European members of the EU will have a hard time giving up fossil fuels. The EU plans to penalize noncompliers with higher carbon emission prices, which are likely to be passed on to end-consumers.

Indias situation is even more complex. The country is the worlds third-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, but shifting away from fossil fuels to renewable energy will be financially challenging. This may bust the myth of cheap solar and wind power but it also highlights the difficulty in distributing the cost of the transition.

We have our own developmental imperatives, Gupta explained to Bloomberg. If you want that I dont emit carbon, then provide finance. It will be much more than $100 billion per year for developing nations.

Because of these cost challenges, India has no plans to update its emissions reduction target, dubbed the Nationally Determined Contribution, which it released in 2015 and was expected to revise by 2020.

This is not the final decision, but most probably we wont file a revised NDC, Gupta said. Let there be a decision on climate finance first.

India is not the only one asking for financial help before it commits to net zero. Brazil also recently bound its emissions commitments to foreign help to the tune of $10 billion annually.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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About 90 percent of the work on the Iran nuclear deal has been done, but the 10 percent that remains might prove a tough nut to crack. Thats according to the permanent representative of Russia at Vienna international organizations.

In an interview for Russian business daily Kommersant, Mikhail Ulyanov said that some politically sensitive issues remain and have yet to be settled by the negotiators. This includes the question of whether the United States could again pull out of the deal under different leadership.

Ulyanov noted that the U.S. side had said it could not provide guarantees that would not happen because of its legislation. According to him, however, the guarantee is pretty obvious: if one side, he said, begins to misbehave, the other side would have the right to respond in kind. For instance, if the United States were to pull out of the deal, Iran would recommence enriching uranium.

Ulyanov declined to name other examples of the politically sensitive issues that are holding the deal back but noted that right now there is no clarity even about when the negotiations would resume. Iran, he said, is settling in under new leadership after the June elections; even the Iranians dont know when the negotiations might resume. This is naturally annoying for the other sides on the negotiations table, Ulyanov added.

This situation led the United States and France to warn Iran against drawing out the negotiations, with Radio Free Europe citing unnamed diplomats as saying that the negotiations could deteriorate unless Iran granted an extension to the International Atomic Energy Agencys permit to monitor nuclear activities.

This extension has yet to take place.

This is the latest sign that Irans return to international oil markets would be tougher than it looked at the start of negotiations. It would be tougher still under the new hardline Iranian leadership.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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A university in South Korea has designed an eco-friendly toilet that turns waste into energy and cryptocurrency, which university students can use to buy food and coffee on campus.

The BeeVi toilet was created by urban and environmental engineering professor Cho Jae-weon, who teaches at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).

If we think out of the box, feces has precious value to make energy and manure. I have put this value into ecological circulation, Cho said, as carried by Reuters.

The innovative toilet has a vacuum pump that sends the waste to a tank underground. The toilet thus reduces water usage and has been called a super water-saving vacuum toilet.

In the tank in a lab, microorganisms turn the waste into methane. The gas then powers a hot-water boiler, a gas stove, and a solid oxide fuel cell, providing energy for the building.

The average human waste per day can be converted into 50 liters of methane gas, which could generate enough power to drive a car for nearly a mile, or to generate 0.5 kilowatts (kWh) of electricity, the South Korean professor says.

The eco-friendly toilet can be used by university students to help mine a cryptocurrency Cho has invented, Ggool. The crypto can be used as a payment for food, fruit, coffee, or books at the campus, according to the university.

Every student using the toilet earns 10 Ggool, Korean for honey, a day.

I had only ever thought that faeces are dirty, but now it is a treasure of great value to me, postgraduate student Heo Hui-jin told Reuters. I even talk about faeces during mealtimes to think about buying any book I want.

Cryptocurrency mining has recently attracted a lot of attention because of the large amount of energy it sucks. Elon Musk, who had said earlier this year that people could buy Teslas with Bitcoin, backtracked on this promise a few weeks later, saying that crypto mining is still largely powered by fossil fuel-derived energy. Most recently, Musk said last month that Tesla may start accepting cryptocurrency again if crypto mining becomes green.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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More than half of Houstons ten highest-paid corporate executives in 2020 were managers of companies in the oil and gas industry, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Six out of the ten top earners of Houston-based companies were from the energy sector, despite the fact that last year was one of the most difficult in the U.S. oil and gas industry, which had to cope with the crash in oil prices and demand during the pandemic.

Even amid the crisis, companies were careful in changing pay to executives, Ani Huang, president and CEO of the Center on Executive Compensation, told the Houston Chronicle.

According to the list, the 10 highest-paid executives of Houston-based listed firms made a total of $211 million last year. Considering the fact that Houston is the oil capital of the United States, it is not surprising that many energy executives made the list.

Ryan Lance, chairman and chief executive officer at ConocoPhillips, became the top corporate executive earner in Houston last year, receiving an estimated total of $28 million in 2020, including a large share of stock awards. Lance was second on the same list the previous year.

The estimates of executive pay are likely to vary compared to actual pay because of the big portion of stock awards and grants the top managers receive on top of their salaries, Wes Hart, managing director of the Houston office of executive compensation consulting firm Pearl Meyer, told the Houston Chronicle.

The other energy executives in the top ten earners include Greg Garland, chairman and CEO of Phillips 66, and Jeff Miller, president and CEO at oilfield services giant Halliburton.

Anthony Petrello, CEO at Nabors Industries, Bob Patel, chief executive at LyondellBasell, and Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes, complete the list of the six energy executives in Houstons top ten highest-paid managers of public companies.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Nationalization fears for foreign oil companies were slightly calmed this weekend, following initial results from Mexicos Sunday mid-term elections in which the ruling coalition looks set to lose its qualified majority in the lower house of Congress.

If the ruling coalition loses its qualified majority and maintains only a simple majority, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) may not be able to pass any significant legislative or constitutional reforms.

Initial official results, as reported by CNN, show AMLOs party (Morena) with approximately 35% of the vote. Together with partner Partido Verde, the coalition looks likely to win between 265 and 292 of the 500 lower house seats.

Final results are not expected until next week, but in the meantime, foreign oil companies are breathing a temporaryand tentativesigh of relief.

Under AMLO, the Mexican government has been launched a campaign against foreign oil companies, attempting to restore the former glory of state-run Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) on the domestic market.

Last week, the government awarded Pemex operatorship of the countrys biggest private discovery of oil, the Zama oilfield discovered by a private consortium led by U.S.-based Talos Energy in 2015.

The oilfield, in the Campeche offshore basin, has estimated reserves of 670 million barrels of recoverable oil. Zamas troubles arise from the fact that the field extends into a neighboring field operated by Pemex. Independent evaluators have said that 60% of Zamas reserves lie in a block operated by Talos Energy, while the remainder lies in Pemex-controlled territory.

The two sides failed to reach a deal, culminating in the Mexican governments decision last week to grant Pemex operatorship of this huge discovery.

With what appears to be a mid-term election defeat for AMLO, analysts speculate that the nationalization drive may lose some of its steam, though it remains unclear what, if any, impact this would have on the recent decision to hand Zama over to Pemex.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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From the moment she started working on the Omaha project, Raker said she was impressed by the commitment in the city to create a science center that would be first-class, cutting-edge, engaging and accessible to everyone.

The Omaha planners then last fall retained the services of a national search firm, Koya Partners, to help find the museums first CEO.

Rakers first interview with Koya in December was not as a job candidate, but just to advise the firm on what they should be looking for in a candidate.

But by February, Raker began to wonder whether she herself would be interested in the job. Included in her thoughts were some big-picture considerations.

Emerging from the pandemic, Raker said, cultural institutions all across the country are facing two major challenges:

How can such institutions, which historically have been mostly White and affluent, embrace the racial reckoning that followed George Floyds murder and find ways to be more inclusive?

And how can they find new, more sustainable funding models, including new kinds of community support and corporate engagement?
Schachtel told The Associated Press on Monday that the civil suit against Smurro is groundless because the people who filed it did not suffer any harm.

Michael is being sued because his wife made comments that offended the sensibilities of the plaintiffs, Schachtel said. "Michael and Lisa Smurro have the right to their opinions and the right to voice them in public, even if some may find them disagreeable. No one should have their livelihood threatened for expressing an opinion. When this story went viral, Michael and Lisa Smurro were viciously attacked and defamed on social media. There was much outrage and little search for the truth. We hope to set the story straight.

David Shanies, the lawyer for those suing Smurro, replied, "Some people, when they find themselves in a hole, climb out of it. Other people continue to dig deeper and deeper. Anybody who watches the videos and hears (Lisa Smurro) scream 'She's a man! She's a man!' can make their own judgment about whether she's talking about seeing someone she thought was a man as opposed to a transgender woman."

The Smurros and people who say they were hit with beer from his cup when he threw it in their direction have filed criminal complaints in municipal court alleging harassment. That case is pending.
He said the judge, whom he termed a scalawag in judicial robes, warranted discipline under the Nebraska Constitution because he acted unlawfully and had inflicted extreme mental anguish on a family.

His contemptuous conduct is so blatantly inhumane, cruel and devoid of ordinary human compassion that the Angels of impartial justice and judicial rectitude droop their pinions and blush in mortification, the former lawmaker said.

Chambers also argued that Luebes comment about being old-fashioned suggested he knew his putting the kibosh on the adoption petition of a qualified couple flew in the face of the law, but his old-fashionedness led him to disregard what he knew the law to be, in order to render a vindictive decision in keeping with his prejudiced predilections.

Luebe did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about the complaint.

Hoagland and Valdez were able to complete the adoption at the end of May, following the state high court ruling and the transfer of the case to a different judge.
In France, vaccines are widely available for anyone 12 and over. But interest has ebbed in recent weeks because of vaccine hesitancy, a sense that the virus is no longer a threat, and because some people put off their shots until after their summer vacation. Demand started rising again over the weekend as people braced for Macrons announcements.

Macron also declared Monday that France will start charging money for some virus tests, which up to now have all been free for anyone on French territory.

Meanwhile, French restaurants and bars are thriving again, the Tour de France cycling race is drawing tightly packed crowds across the country, and Hollywood stars are posing arm-in-arm and mask-free on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. Cheek kisses are making a comeback.

After staying shuttered for nine months since the pandemic began, Paris restaurant owners expressed worry about the challenges of enforcing the new requirements.
The petition challenging the election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Mr James Gyakye Quayson, has moved to the Supreme Court for a possible constitutional interpretation.



Mr Quayson is asking the apex court to assume jurisdiction over the petition at the Cape Coast High Court and give an interpretation of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution which debars a person who is not solely a citizen of the country from contesting as MP.



The eligibility of Mr Quayson to be MP is currently a subject of a parliamentary election petition at the Cape Coast High Court.



The petitioner, Mr Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, a resident of the constituency, contends that the MP was not eligible to be MP on the basis that at the time he (Quayson) filed his nomination to contest as a parliamentary candidate, he was still a citizen of Canada.



Interpretation



With his case at the Supreme Court, the MP is seeking an order of certiorari to quash a decision by the Cape Coast High Court directing the parties to file their written address.



He argues that in line with Article 130 (2) of the 1992 Constitution, the High Court should have rather stayed proceedings and referred the case to the Supreme Court to give an interpretation of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution.



That I am advised by my counsel and I verily believe same to be true that the Supreme Court has not yet had the opportunity to interpret Article 94(2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution as regard the material time that a person must not owe allegiance to a country other than Ghana in order for the person to be qualified to stand for election as a Member of Parliament, the affidavit in support of the application said.



Mr Quayson is praying the Supreme Court to nullify the order from the Cape Coast High Court and assume jurisdiction over the interpretation of Article 94(2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution.



I verily believe to be true that this Supreme Court has power under Article 129 (4) as well as Article 132 of the Constitution (1992) to make a referral to itself of the constitutional issues arising in the said High Court, since the said court has refused to make same and also to order a stay of its proceedings pending the determination of the constitutional issues referred to, the MP argues.



Petition



Mr Quayson polled 17,498 votes as against 14,793 by the New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) Ms Abena Durowaa Mensah in the December 7, 2020 parliamentary election.



On December 30, 2020, a resident of Assin North, Mr Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, filed a parliamentary election petition at the Cape Coast High Court challenging the eligibility of Mr Quayson to be a Member of Parliament (MP).



He contended that the MP was not eligible on the basis that at the time he (Quayson) filed his nomination to contest as a parliamentary candidate, he was still a citizen of Canada.



Such an act, he argued, was against the express provision of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 9(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1992 (PNDCL 284).



Among other reliefs, the applicant wants the Cape Coast High Court to declare the nomination filed by Mr Quayson illegal, void and of no legal effect.



He is also seeking a declaration that the decision by the EC to clear Mr Quayson to contest as a parliamentary candidate was illegal, void and of no legal effect.



Again the applicant is also seeking an order restraining Mr Quayson from holding himself out as the MP-elect for Assin North and another order cancelling the parliamentary election that took place in Assin North on December 7, 2020.







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Four men, all Chinese, have been arrested at Nsawam-Adoagyiri in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality in the Eastern Region, for allegedly stealing electricity cables belonging to the Ministry of Energy.



The Eastern Regional Police Command, in collaboration with the National Security, arrested the men at CK Aluminium Company Limited together with the alleged stolen 30 electricity cables, and other wires, which were loaded onto a KIA truck from Accra last Thursday.



The suspects have been identified as Lianwei, 38, Tian Xiuwei, 41, Su Meng and Zhang Chenming, both aged 55.



A team, led by the Eastern Regional Operations Officer of National Security, Mr Nathaniel Obuobi, together with police personnel from the Regional Headquarters, upon a tip off, stormed the facility to arrest the four suspects together with the items on suspicion that they were stolen.



The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, told the Daily Graphic that the said electricity cables belonged to the Ministry of Energy.



He explained that the cables had inscriptions of the Energy Ministry on them, and could, therefore, not have been in the custody of a private individual, let alone foreigners, who were suspected to have stolen the cables.



The Chinese were not workers at the aluminium factory. They hired the trucks to convey the cables to the factory at Nsawam.



The three drivers had no idea that the cables were stolen, thus they were released together with the vehicle after conveying the cables to the Eastern Regional Police Command yesterday.



They said information on how they obtained the Intel could not be disclosed now as investigations were still ongoing.



Investigation



DSP Tetteh said the police had commenced investigations into the issue.



He said the preliminary investigations had revealed that the Chinese were not workers at the aluminium factory, but they hired the truck to convey the cables to the factory at Nsawam.



Also, from the police investigations, it was established that the driver of the truck had no idea the cables were stolen as their trucks were hired for commercial purposes.



DSP Tetteh also confirmed that the driver was released together with the vehicle after conveying the cables to the Eastern Regional Police Command yesterday.



He urged members of the public with further information regarding the issue to assist the police with investigations.



DSP Tetteh encouraged the public in the region to always be on the look out, to report any crime or suspicion of crime in their respective communities to the police to help deal with the crime situation in the region and the country at large.



The items are currently in police custody, as well as the suspects, pending the conclusion of investigations.









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The Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Mr Ntiamoah Coker, has advised the leadership of the union to reposition the association to continue to play a leading role in the teacher unions in the country.



He said NAGRAT could remain relevant and vibrant by being proactive in responding to its professional development role, membership education and provision of sustainable welfare services for its members.



It is time to deploy technology in many of our activities such as loan applications, information dissemination, training and data collection on critical needs of the members. In this regard, NAGRAT has created the NAGRAT portal for all members to enrol on it for their benefits, he said.



The regional secretary said this at the Zonal Delegates Conference involving the Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Zones at Somanya last Monday.



Mr Coker explained that currently, the association seemed to have some challenges including poor and unattractive working conditions of teachers, unfulfilled promises by politicians on the improvement of teachers conditions of service, weak flow of information to the grassroots of the association and lack of sacrifice and commitment of elected officers and staff of the association to perform.



WASSCE invigilation



The regional secretary also used the occasion to caution members of the association in the senior high schools, especially on the need to be careful in the event of their invigilation of the West African Senior High Schools Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in their various schools.



Let me use this opportunity to advise members of our association, NAGRAT, to comport themselves by obeying the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the WASSCE. It is better to stay away from the examination invigilation than to get involved in WASSCE malpractices, Mr Coker emphasised.



He explained that, last year, two NAGRAT members who were caught in WASSCE malpractices in the Eastern Region had not received their salaries for the past 10 months which, apart from the financial implications of the affected members, was also an affront to the dignity of the affected teachers, their families as well as NAGRAT as an association.



Code of conduct



The Eastern Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Godwin Awoonor-Yevu, encouraged the members of the association to be abreast of the code of conduct of the Ghana Education Service (GES), their employer.



If you a teacher and a member of NAGRAT and you are not abreast of the code of conduct of the GES and you fall into trouble, your union cannot help you, he stated.



The Eastern Regional Gender Desk Officer, Ms Linda Boadiwaa, encouraged the female members of the association to get themselves involved in NAGRAT activities as only a small number of females took higher positions in the association.







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The TESCON President of the Wisconsin International University College, Prince Amadu Anuwar-Sadat was adjudged the Political Personality of the Year in the just ended Private Universities Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) Excellence Awards at the National Theater.



The president of PUSAG, while giving his welcome address intimated that the event gives them the opportunity to bring together all the Private Tertiary Institutions in the country to celebrate and award most hardworking and deserving students and other stakeholders of their immense contributions and sacrifices towards education in the country.



The event attracted a lot of dignitaries, particularlythose in the educational sector who graced the occasion, including but not limited to the former minister of state in charge pf Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwasi Yankah, former Ambassordor and minister of Education and Trade, Dr.EkowSpio-Garbrah and the Member of Parliament for Assn-North and deputy minister of education, Rev.JohnNtim Fordjour amongst others.



The president also used the opportunity to express his immense gratitude to the government in addressing some of their concerns including issues of accreditation and affiliation but suggested for an expansion and grant of equal and unfettered access to the students loan scheme and other scholarship packages by private tertiary students in the country.



Speaking at the event, the Member of Parliament for Assin South and Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour said the role of private tertiary institutions in the country cannot be over emphasized. He reiterated governments unwavering commitment and resolve in addressing the challenges faced by private tertiary institutions and the students, particularly in the arear of opening more access to the students loan scheme. He said, this year alone, the Scholarship Secretariat intends to grant scholarship to about 5,500 students through the District Assembly.



In an interview with peacefmonline.com, the self-effacing and well composed Prince Sadat said I am indeed humbled and honoured to receive this coveted award. I wish to dedicate this award to all the people in my life whose continuous support and prayers made this happen. A special mention must be made of Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong (Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies; my bosses, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta (Minister for Finance), Alhaji Abubakar Abdul-Rahman (ALHAJI SHORT), for they have always givenme the room to realize my full potential. My brothers, Sammi Awuku (National Organiser, NPP) and NuhuBayorboMahama (former deputy National Organiser, NPP), you made this happen. To Rt. Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin (Speaker of Parliament, Ghana), Hon. George MirekuDuker (Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources), Hon. Razak Tahidu(MP for Chereponi), Hon. Dickson Adomako Kissi (MP for Anyaa/Sowutuom), Hon. Dakoa Newman (MP for Okaikoi South), may God bless you for thesupport. Number 16, (Mr. William, Mr. Marfo, Auntie Nyuetor, Ahmed, Daakyehene, Abraham, Ernie and Awudu) I cannot love you less. To my TESCON Executives and members, Wisconsin University, GUPS, Kwame Raj, Oscar Jonas and Steve Carlos, you have supported me every step the journey, andI thank you all. To the Upper West region, the Reality Team and the entire NPP, God bless you all. I cannot thank all my friends and family enough; I love you all dearly. You have all shown me enough love and support. To the numerous people who voted for me; may God bless you abundantly and replenish your effort in a million-fold.



Prince A. A. Sadat is a student of the Law Faculty of the Wisconsin International University, College, Ghana offering a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree. He is currently a Research Assistant at the Campaign Fund Raising Office of H. E. the President (Number 16) and also a Press & Media Aide to Alhaji Short (former Member of the Council of State). Prince Sadat is also the TESCON President for Wisconsin University and the Chief Justice for the Ghana Union of Professional Students. He has previously worked for corporate giants like Vodafone Ghana, Fidelity Bank Limited, Glico Life Insurance Company Limited; and has over seven (10) years of work experience in corporate Ghana. He has also worked as Personal Assistant to some of the finest politicians in the country. And his contributions towards the 2016 and 2020 victory of the NPP and H. E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo cannot be overemphasized.



He is a prolific writer with over 100 publications on social and political issues of national interest to his name; and has received several awards both in the corporate space and in politics as well.



In a related development, Prince A. A. Sadat, also received PUSAGs Best Law School award on behalf of Wisconsin International University College, Ghana. Other winners for the night include Influential PUSAG Executive (LINDA AFOA AMOAKO), Best Local PUSAG Secretary (OWUSU FRANCIS), Beauty Queen (DORA DEBRA), Best student DJ (EBENAITA NORBU), Best law School (WISCONSIN UNIVERSITY), Beat SRC President (BENJAMIN TAYLOR), Beat SRC PRO(KINGSLEY ATTITSOGBUI), Best Student Comedian (EMMANUEL AKAGBOR), Best Student in Academics (HENRY KORANTENG), Best Student in Acting (BENJAMIN GYESI ADDO), Best student Actor (NASTY BAE), Best Student MC (EMMANUEL MAWULI TSIKATA), best student Photographer (RICHARD WIAFE), Best Male student poet/spoken word (SALIFU ABDUL WADUD), Best female student poet/spoken word (TIA YINMAALE GRACE), Best student programmer (OPUNI HESPERUS YIDAN ADAMS), Student blogger of the year (HILDA D. DASSAH), Student writer of the year (DAVIS NII ATTUQUAYE CLOTTEY), Entrepreneur of the year (GODFRED AWUAH), Influential senator of the year (BETTY TUTUWAA), Best local PUSAGPresident (THOMAS KWADWO DANSO), Most Outstanding International Student (CHINEKE JESSE KOSISOCHUKWU), Most Outstanding Student Leader (EMMANUEL NARGEH), Media Personality (GILBERT TETTEH), Radio Personality (ASARE AMPONSAH EMMANUEL), Best Speaker of Parliament (SHADRACH AHIATI EGBLORLA), Male Sport Personality (EMMANUEL DANSO), Female Sport Personality (JEWEL TEYE BART-PLANGE), Best SRCExecutive (PHILIP BAAH JNR), Best SRCGeneral Secretary (ANGEL ANNANT), Best SRCJudicial Committee Chairperson (ASANA AWUNI AYUMAH), Best SRCOrganizer (AARON MENSAH), Best Student Activist (GOMNA IBRAHIM), Student Artiste of the Year (KONFIDENTIAL), Gospel Artiste of the Year (ACQUAH SELBY KOFI GIDEON), Female Model of the Year (HAMIDU FUSSEINA BRIMA YALA), Male Model of the Year (OSCAR KOMLA VIDEDU), Student of the year (DAASA VITUS MARIA), Women Commissioner of the year (IBRAHIM A. RAMATU and Face of PUSAG (DORWODOE MAVIS).



Indeed, it was a memorable occasion that provided the opportunity to the students to interact and socialize among themselves.

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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An enumerator assigned to the Dr Berko Area for the 2021 Population and Housing Census has shared his chilling experience with the Daily Graphic, stating how a landlord threatened to shoot him during the exercise.



The enumerator, assigned to the enumeration Area 181 in the Sunyani Municipality, who preferred to be anonymous said during the chalking stage of the exercise he was prevented to chalk the house of that particular landlord.



"When I went to the house, I met this landlord who told me he was a visitor and cannot thus provide me with any information", the enumerator stated.



He said when he went there for the second time, he met a lady who said it was only his husband, the landlord, who could provide the necessary information.



"When the woman called her husband who was indoors, it turned out to be the same man who told me that he was just a visitor in the house".



Threat



The enumerator said, "as soon as he came out and recognised me, he threatened that he would shoot me if I dared to write anything on his wall".



"Go and tell the DCE that I will not allow you to write on my wall" was what the enumerator alleged the landlord told him.



According to the enumerator, when he stood outside the house to take the GPS coordinates the landlord stormed out to drive him away.



The enumerator said although he had reported the incident to his superior officers, he was yet to know the action that had been taken.



Asked whether he was able to enumerate occupants of that particular house on the last day of the exercise or not, he said he had not done so for fear of losing his life because of his previous experience with the landlord.



On whether or not he would be able to finish enumerating people in his assigned area, he said it was impossible because the area, with over 900 structures, had a large population.



When the Daily Graphic contacted the Bono Regional Director of the Ghana Statistical Service, Mr Amatus Nobabumah, he stated that the incident had not been notified.



"I will liaise with the Sunyani Municipal Officer to ascertain the veracity of the claim for the necessary action to be taken", he stated.



Mr Nobabumah said it was necessary that people in that particular house should not be left out in the exercise since it would not enable the country to have the actual information the exercise sought to obtain.



Context



Citizens are required by law to respond to census enquiries by the enumerators, failure of which such persons could attract a fine and/or a term of imprisonment.

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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Head of Corporate Communications at Ghana Gas, Ernest Owusu Bempah has condemned brutal torture of an alleged thief, Kwaku Enoch Frank at Agogo market square on Sunday, 11th July 2021.



According to him, the citizens erred by taking the law into their own hands without handing the suspect to the police for the law to take its course.



In a statement signed and copied to Peacefmonline, Mr. Owusu Bempah said he was shocked to learn of the brutal torture of a supposed thief at Agogo market square on Sunday afternoon.



The Suspect should have been handed over to the police and law enforcement agencies for necessary action. For citizens to take the law into their own hands and carry out such instant justice is quite appalling and medieval.



I find the action of the perpetrators of this atrocious crime as very barbaric and one that greatly dims the nation's human rights record, he added.





Read the full statement below;



The 19-year-old Agogo native was beaten to pulp and tortured with metal objects and wires inserted in his anus on a suspicion of being a thief.



Kwaku Enoch Frank was allegedly tortured by a group of men into confessing he was a thief and that he is involved in thievery in the Agogo environs. He suffered horrific wounds and cuts on all his body.



I find the action of the perpetrators of this atrocious crime as very barbaric and one that greatly dims the nation's human rights record.



The suspect should have been handed over to the police and law enforcement agencies for necessary action. For citizens to take the law into their own hands and carry out such instance justice is quite appalling and medieval.



That they apprehended him stealing does not in any way warrant branding him as a notorious thief who deserved to be subjected to such an ordeal.



It is very disheartening that in this day and age, we would rather visit instance justice on alleged thieves than handing them over to law enforcement.



I call on traditional authorities and every right-thinking Agogo citizen to condemn this barbarous act in no uncertain terms.



The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice(CHIRAJ) and the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection must as a matter of urgency step in and deal with the matter head-on.



And while we are at, the Agogo District Police Command must institute immediate investigations into the matter and have the perpetrators dealt with according to the law.



Signed:



Ernest Kofi OWUSU-BEMPAH



Concerned Citizen of Agogo





Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









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

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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.
The Ghana Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) says it is looking forward to having justice served to persons who murdered its member, Madam Ruth Ama Eshun in the Ashanti Region.



The murdered nurse, who was a mother of three, was found dead at a secluded area close to her residence in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region on February 4, 2020 after it was reported that she left home on February 3, 2020 and never returned.



Speaking at a durbar of nurses and midwives in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital, the President of the Association, Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, said the GRNMA through its Ashanti Regional branch was following up on the case in court.



We are hoping that the culprits will face justice for the ruthless murder of our sister. So lets keep the legal team and the Region in prayers, she said.



Mrs Ofori-Ampofo said the Association in honour of their murdered colleague, commissioned the Ruth Ama Eshun Educational Memorial Fund, to support her three young children through education.



She said the GRNMA was committing some money into the fund and reiterated that the Association was working to ensure justice was served on the perpetrators of the act.



Mrs Ofori-Ampofo told the members that the GRNMA would continue to work hard to ensure the welfare of members and build the Association in spite of the challenges.



We cannot let go, we will continue to fight on because our predecessors never lost hope, so we will continue to work hard to build the Association, she said.



She said leadership was working towards the six main strategic areas, namely leadership and governance, education and training, welfare, campaigns and communications, influencing of health policy and research.



Mrs Ofori-Ampofo said, We believe that using these six thematic areas and based on the strategies that we have already developed for these six thematic areas, we will be able to get the Association to where we all want it to be.



Touching on the health fund of the Association, she said the fund was meant to support members with health conditions that were not catered for under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).



She entreated the nurses and midwives to identify colleagues with health conditions that were not catered for under the NHIS to apply for financial support.



When we get the applications, we process them and give money to applicants. We have given as much as GHC30,000.00 to our comrades and it is all in the beauty of putting together the little that we have.



When we came into office, the contribution was three percent, we have increased it to six percent, so that we can raise and build that health fund, Mrs Ofori-Ampofo said.

Source: GNA









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

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The rather calm town of Adjen Kotoku, near Amasaman in the Ga West municipality, has come alive with the relocation of the onion traders in the area.



The fairly quiet community is now vibrant, with many people trooping in and out of the area every now and then for business.



Barely a week ago, onion sellers, truck drivers and unloaders vacated the Agbogbloshie Market in Accra to their current location to continue their business.



The Mirror team saw brisk business activities when it visited on Tuesday as onion sellers served their customers who had come from far and near.



Customers who went to the Agbogbloshie Market were directed to Adjen Kotoku.



Even though the main road from the junction to the township was not too busy, tricycles were constantly seen carting sacks of onions from the market.



There were taxis and trotros at the junction to convey customers and traders to the market while those with their private vehicles drove straight to the place.



Some traders told The Mirror that accommodation challenges are biting hard on the onion traders as securing places to lay their heads at night was becoming difficult.



When business closed at night, many of the traders had to sleep by their goods under the sheds provided by the Greater Accra Regional Minister and the Ga West Municipal Assembly.



During the day, they bath and use the movable toilets which had been provided in the market.



Many of the traders did not also have sheds as contractors were seen busily putting up structures to serve all of them.





Some of the traders who spoke to The Mirror said they had become squatters in the area who were trying to find their feet at the new site.



Due to the unavailability of space, some of the traders were operating on the sides of the streets as vehicles and trucks had also been parked haphazardly, creating discomfort and inconvenience for other road users.



Cost of rent

According to the Chairman of the Accra Onion Sellers and Importers Co-operative Society, Alhaji Masawudu Sallisu, the resettlement of the traders in the area had motivated landlords to increase rent.



Alhaji Sallisu claimed that a single room self-contained which used to be GH50 a month was now going for GH100 while a chamber and hall that used to be GH100 was now priced at GH200 or more.



Meanwhile, some of the landlords dismissed the claims, saying that prices of rent were already high before the traders came in.



One of the landlords who was not prepared to put his name out said last year, a two-bed room apartment cost GH500 a month but at the beginning of the year, it was increased to GH600.



Another landlord whose apartments are at Sapeiman and Adjen Kotoku said he was contemplating whether or not to rent out his rooms to the sellers at all.



We heard that they said we have money, so the prices of the rooms have been increased astronomically because of us. Those who are prepared to pay are not even getting it, Alhaji Sallisu said.



Changing rooms

Apart from this, Alhaji Sallisu said the new shops at the market did not have adequate facilities such as enough space for changing rooms for the truck drivers, especially those who may want to change themselves after a long travel from Nigeria where the onions were usually imported.



He, therefore, called on the government and the chiefs in the area to quickly intervene in the accommodation situation, as well as build enough stalls to serve the over 20,000 members of the cooperative society.



For now, we dont want the government to come and construct toilet facilities for us when we dont have places to lay our heads and sell our wares. About half of the traders do not have sheds, and that is worrying us.



Now, we have to sell in large quantities to our customers since we do not have enough space to unload them to sell to those who want to buy in small quantities, he said.



The Assemblyman for Kotoku, Mr Henry Marbell, also called on the traders to be calm as the assembly was working hard to look for better accommodation for them.



They must understand that they are now settling so they should not be in a rush. We will be speaking to the landlords for these people to be properly integrated. For those who want to build their own houses, we will identify litigation free lands and help them acquire some of these, Mr Marbell said.



Alhaji Sallisu said the traders were prepared to roll with the punches but the issues needed resolution as soon as possible.



Others not complying



Meanwhile, number of Lydia Ezit reports that onion sellers at the Agbogbloshie Market in Accra have refused to move to the new site  Adjen Kotoku.



Instead, some of them say they are finding space at the Yam market at Agbogbloshie to sell, while others said they were moving to Ashaiman near Tema and Kasoa in the Central Region.



The onion sellers, in spite of resistance were moved on July 1, this year.



During a visit to ascertain developments at what used to be the Onion Market, The Mirror observed some of them standing in groups either observing ongoing activities or picking up their property to unknown destinations.



A number of them were also giving out the debris of their wooden structures to food vendors for use as fire wood.



The Mirror observed that the development had affected businesses in the area, particularly those who did menial jobs such as head portering known as kaya.



Tricycle and motorcycles (okada) riders and some carpenters and drivers were seen in groups, sitting with arms folded as they watched the clearing of the land by bulldozers and other earthmoving machines.



A massive cleaning and clearing of gutters were in progress to prevent flooding and outbreak of diseases.



The once noisy and vibrant trading centre now looked deserted and drenched heavily in smoke emanating from the burning of debris.



A number of security persons deployed to maintain law and order to ensure smooth implementation of the ejection did not answer any question posed by this reporter.



However, they occasionally stopped drivers who tried to pass through barricaded sections of the area.



Some of the sellers, who had earlier resisted the relocation exercise, said they were at Agbogbloshie to pick their items and move to Ashaiman.



Others claimed they were relocating to Kasoa because the new area was too far for them.



An onion seller, who gave his name as Malik, said some are packing to Ashaiman. I have not been to the new area so I cannot even tell how business will be like. I will also relocate to Ashaiman, that is where l will do business.



Another seller, Eliasu, believed that the new place was not good for them, saying we have taken the move normal whether we are happy or not, it has already happened. But the new place cannot accommodate all of us. They have also warned us not to bring containers there. I will find my own location.



Concerns

Spotted under a shed with his colleagues, Mr Abubakar Sadik, who has been doing the onion business for 15 years, complained bitterly about how his container was destroyed and wondered what the government was going to use the land for.



He explained that he went to the new site earlier but nothing was going on there so he decided to come back to Agbogbloshie to observe what was happening there.



I was using my container for onions and pure water business but now my container has turned into scraps. I heard they were going to use here for sporting activities. For now, we are here enjoying our music and some fresh air, he added.



Another Seller, Raff, who was preparing to relocate to Ashaiman, also wondered what the land would be used for, saying I also heard the land was going to be utilised by the World Bank. And that is why we need to leave.



Meanwhile, some residents at Agbogbloshie have welcomed the exercise, describing it as a good move to ease congestion and improve sanitation in the area.



A resident, Mr Kwame Agyei said, here was so noisy. It is good that they have been moved. The government should do something on the land, else they will move back.













Source: graphiconline.com









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

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The commissioning of the four-tier interchange at Pokuase, in the Ga West Municipality of Greater Accra Region, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Friday, is ruffling the feathers of elements of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).



The massive project started in 2018 two years after the NDC had been booted out of power, and took just 36 months to complete, but the opposition party is now saying that it was the Mahama government that executed the project.



Official Commissioning



Even ahead of the commissioning by President Akufo-Addo, the NDC were all over social media congratulating Mr. Mahama for a job well done.



Despite all evidence pointing an NPP government project, the NDC posted a document which they claimed covers the agreement for the project dated September 2016, when they were in power, and claimed it was within that period that the project started.



The four-tier interchange at Pokuase is the first of its kind in Ghana, the first of its kind in West Africa, and the second in the whole of Africa.



It was funded with an African Development Bank concessional loan of $83.9 million, with construction works undertaken by Messrs Zhongmei Engineering Group Limited of China.



3-Teir Project



It was the NDC that negotiated the Pokuase Interchange and pegged the project cost at $84 million, and was supposed to be a three-tier edifice.



When the NDC lost power in 2016, and the NPP took over in 2017, Roads Minister Kwasi Amoako-Atta said President Akufo-Addo got his team to renegotiate the whole Pokuase project, and it was redesigned to become a four-tier interchange at the completion cost, which is lower than the $84 million the NDC government was supposed to pay for a three-tier if Mr. Mahama had won the 2016 election.



Massive Project



The massive project involved the construction of the 6.5-kilometre Awoshie to Pokuase road; an interchange at the intersection of ACP junction to Awoshie to Nsawam road; two (2) footbridges; the widening of the Nsawam road by some two (2) kilometres; drainage works; the provision of streetlights; and the construction of twelve (12) kilometres of town roads.



It also involved the rehabilitation of the Kpobiman Womens Group Centre to train women in pastry, bread, soap and bead making; the rehabilitation of the Manchie Gari Factory for the processing of cassava into gari and starch; the protection of the three (3)-hectare Gua Sacred Forest; and the provision of ICT labs for fourteen (14) basic schools, which will help train some ten thousand (10,000) basic school children within the Ga North, South, Central and West municipalities with knowledge in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).



It is expected to enhance sustainable economic growth for the people in the area, as well as facilitate traffic between the Tema-Ouagadougou-Bamako corridor through Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and those beyond.



Efficient Management



Opening the interchange, President Akufo-Addo had said it is expected to help solve, once and for all, the nightmare endured for several decades by commuters within and outside of this vicinity.



The President reiterated that the original contract design was for a three-tier interchange, however, through efficient management by his government, the interchange was modified to a four-tier structure within the same contract sum.



Indeed, two hundred and eighty-nine million United States dollars (US$289 million) has been used by the Akufo-Addo Government to construct three (3) interchanges, that is at Pokuase, Obetsebi-Lamptey and Tamale, as opposed to two hundred and sixty million dollars (US$260 million) being used, by the Mahama Government, to construct just the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange. These are further examples of the fact that we, in the New Patriotic Party, are good protectors of the public purse, he said.



Comprehensive Measure



President Akufo-Addo stated that the Pokuase Interchange is an integral part of comprehensive measures put in place by government to address the issues of congestion in urban centres, and to help improve travel times on major arterial roads.



He told the gathering which included the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, that the government has begun the construction of Phase II of Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange, the Tamale Interchange, the PTC Roundabout Interchange in Takoradi, the Nungua Interchange which is part of the La Beach Road Completion Project, the Adjringanor Overpass, where ongoing works will be completed by the first quarter of 2022, and Phase II of the Tema Motorway Interchange.



In addition to the construction of interchanges, the President noted that government has embarked on a number of projects to improve urban mobility in the country to help reduce travel times on our roads.



These include the construction of some one thousand, two hundred (1,200) kilometres of asphalt overlay throughout the country in my first term. Beneficiary cities include Accra, Kumasi, Tema, Cape Coast, Sekondi-Takoradi and Hohoe. In Accra, some of the areas that have benefitted include Weija-Gbawe, Dansoman, Abossey Okai, Osu, Adentan, Bubuashie, Sakumono and Mempeasem, he said.



He also said the Tema Steelworks Road, the only concrete road to be constructed by government since the Accra-Tema Motorway, has also been completed. Similar works are also being undertaken within the Tema Industrial enclave.



More Projects



Additionally, he stated that the Legon/Adjiringanor roads, aimed at improving travel times within that corridor, are fifty-two per cent (52%) complete; the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project, which includes the dualisation of the Lake Road and lining of the Sissai River Drain in Kumasi, is seventy-five per cent (75%) complete; and the Teshie Link Road, popularly referred to as the LEKMA Road, is ninety per cent (90%) complete.



Rehabilitation work on the Assin Fosu to Assin Praso highway is currently ongoing, with that of the Agona Junction to Tarkwa highway beginning shortly, as the contractor is mobilising to go to site. Construction of the dualisation of the Sekondi/Adiembra roads, in Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region, will begin next month in August, President Akufo-Addo said.



Having declared 2021 as the Second Year of Roads, the President informed Ghanaians that the Ministry of Roads and Highways has programmed to undertake the construction of one thousand, five hundred (1,500) kilometres of asphalt overlay in all parts of the country.



On behalf of the government and people of Ghana, he expressed sincere appreciation to the African Development Bank, who jointly provided funds with government for the execution of the Pokuase Interchange, and charged the Ministry of Roads and Highways to ensure the proper maintenance of the Pokuase Interchange over the design period.









Source: Daily Guide









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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DETAILED INFORMATION have emerged on how a Howo Sino Truck crashed into a tollbooth on the Accra- Tema motorway, injuring 7 persons.



The injured persons including a pregnant woman are battling for their lives at the Tema General Hospital.



Information available to DGN Online from the Tema Regional Police Command suggests that on Monday July 12, 2021 at about 6:30am, suspect driver Isaac Osei, who resides at Kasoa was driving Howo Sino Truck with registration number GG 3564-20 loaded with gravels from Dawhenya towards Kaneshie.



Upon reaching the Tema Toll Plaza, the driver knocked down Isaac Koomson, 53 years, a cleaner at the booth number 2 before crashing the said booth which had Ernest Antwi as the attendant injuring him in the process.



The truck subsequently ran into the rear portion of a Nissan Saloon car with registration number GG 5401-15 driven by Emmanuel Arthur with two female passengers on board.



As a result of the gravity of the crash, the concrete booth fell on a Mercedes Benz Actros Truck with registration number GE 7873-18 driven by Emmanuel Agyei who had stopped to pay the toll.



In all, the three vehicles suffered various degrees of damages.



However, four persons who sustained injuries in the accident were rushed to the Tema General Hospital for treatment.



Police officers from the Tema Regional MTTD visited the injured persons at the Accident Centre of the said hospital.



Two victims, Rebecca Woode, 33, and Mary Eduah, 22, who were on board the saloon car and the toll booth attendant are responding to treatment.



Unfortunately, the cleaner, Isaac Koomsons condition was however critical as both legs and an arm were found chopped off as medics at the hospital were making frantic efforts to stabilize his condition.



Meanwhile, suspect driver, a 37-year-old Isaac Osei in Police custody is assisting with investigation.







Source: DGN Online









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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Tarkwa-Nsuaem Member of Parliament (MP), George Mireku Duker has rebuked the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a section of the general public for objecting to the Parliamentary approval of salaries for First and Second Ladies.



There is a bone of contention between the government and the opposition NDC over the payment of salaries to the wives of the President and Vice President.



Some critics have also argued that the decision is a breach of Article 71 of the constitution.



NDC Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George has also threatened a lawsuit over government decision.



''As far as I am aware there was no arrangement for that, the President's wife and the Vice President's wife are not article 71 holders.



"I am a Member of Parliament, I personally do not subscribe to that, whether it is an NDC President or an NPP President, your wife is not a Public Officer, you wife is your wife. Are we also going to say that the Spouse of the Chief Justice, the spouse of the Speaker must also be paid? Where do we draw the line. Already they get allowances, they get protection from the state at the expense of the taxpayer and I don't have a problem with that...'', he argued.



But to Hon. Mireku Duker, the furore generated by the decision, is "embarrassing" to say the least.



''We need to stop some of these things. It's unnecessary. I'm even embarrassed'', he told host Nana Yaw Kesseh during Friday's ''Kokrokoo'' on Peace FM.



According to him, the First and Second Ladies deserve the allowances.



Hon. Mireku Duker asked Ghanaians if they want to see their First Lady turn to retail business after leaving office.



''Will it be nice for you to spot Mrs. Lordina Mahama sitting in front of somebody's store and selling commodities? What kind of picture will we paint to the outside world? That you will go to Makola and Mrs. Lordina has acquired a store and is engaged in trade for people to belittle her, is that what we want to say?'' he questioned.



''I believe if it happens so, indirectly we will be promoting corruption because if the person will become President and knows that he will face hardships tomorrow, to the extent that his wife will be forced to engage in retail business, he will have second thoughts. He won't sacrifice himself to work for the nation because it means this is not a country that you die for'', he stated.





He further slammed the NDC for fanning the flames.''Why are we behaving as if we're Saints from Heaven? Please, let us think because NDC, they've had the opportunity to be in government, and what extraordinary did they achieve? It's not like they are coming to do anything new that we don't know already. We know them!'' He fumed.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The momentum in the build for the NPP's presidential election seemed to have shifted in favour of Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Kyerematen, with a bold declaration of support by the electoral in the Ashanti Region.



The frank declaration from the Ashanti region confirmed the notion of many party faithfuls that any candidate aside Alan Kyerematen will be blacklisted by the party.



In a massive turn of events at the funeral grounds of the late mother of Hon Asenso Boakye, the vocal youth wing of the New Patriotic Party confirmed the much feared stand from the Ashanti block, "No Alan No Vote".



Usually described as the winning card in any election in the country, the latest stand from the Ashanti Block could potentially put Alan Kyeremanten clearly ahead of all others heading into the presidential showdown. The NPP grassroots in Ashanti saw Alan Kyeremanten and respond by cheering Alan nie osono nie Yenim no firi tete  Hes our own; It's our turn



Described by the political pundits as the apparent replacement for Nana Addo on the presidential ballot , Hon Alan Kyerematen is tipped as the undisputed candidate for the New Patriotic Party.



The political fraternity in the New Patriotic Party is poised for a landslide endorsement of Hon Alan Kyerematen when the party needs to the poll in 2022.

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The Greater Accra Regional Youth Organiser, Hon. Moses Abor, together with the Youth Organisers of Tema zone paid a courtesy call on the Director General of the Ghana Ports And Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr. Michael Luguje in his office.



The move is part of the Youth Organiser's "Empowerment Agenda", to lobby for jobs in various institutions for the teeming youth who are unemployed in his Region.



In a discussion, the Regional Youth Organizer made known the challenges facing the youth in securing permanent jobs in his Region.



He appealed to the Director General for GPHA to consider the Youth Anytime there are job vacancies at the port.



The affable and quintessential Director General was so delightful to receive the leadership of the Youth and assured them his Commitment to helping the Youth at anytime opportunities are unveiled.



The entourage, led by Hon. Moses Abor expressed their gratitude to the Mr. Michael Luguje for his kind gestures, sobriety and professionalism.

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









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The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ejusu constituency in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Lawyer John Ampontuah Kumah, has pleaded with Ghanaians to treat Members of the August House with the fairness they deserve.



He also says that, the Member of Parliaments office is part of the Article 71 office holders described by the Constitution, hence they should be treated just as all the other offices under the Article.



He explained that, the Constitution is explicit on the individuals who are to receive their emoluments under the Article, including the President, the Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, Ministers, Parliamentarians, Chief Justice, Justices of the Superior Court of Judicature, Municipal Chief Executives, Council of State members., the Electoral Commission, etc.



Speaking in an interview on Akoma FM, John Kumah stated further that, all those in these offices are given duty vehicles and are well taken care of, in terms of other incentives and allowances that enable them have the comfort to execute their duties for the state with effectiveness and efficiency.



According to him, it is very unfair that, MPs who are equally part of Article 71 office holders are given no duty vehicles, but rather given loans to purchase their vehicles and to pay back.



He further asserted that, an MP is sometimes deducted of about GH6,000.00 monthly for 48 months, leaving financial stress on the individual at the end of the day, whilst pools of cars are periodically bought for the other Article 71 office holders as their duty vehicles without having to pay for them.



The Ejisu MP therefore suggested that, government should consider buying a pool of vehicles for the Members of Parlaiment to be used as their duty cars over the period of their engagement, with same car returned to the state after one leaves Parliament, to enable the next Parliamentarian elected to use it.



Same vehicles could be maintained and replaced when they become obsolete.



He was unhappy about the way the deentralization process of Ghana is progressing, saying, the system has deprived the very important community development tool and rather centered the resources mostly around the bigger offices.



He wondered why the Assembly member who is also voted for and the unit committee member are not given any allowances, incentives or logistics to enable them deliver their developmental mandate.



On the salaries of the spouses of the first two gentlemen, he said, it was just a gesture to formalize what already existed.



He appealed to Ghanaians to be patient with issues and understand the plight of the MP.

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The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party, John Boadu, has dismissed reports that the job of appointing MMDCEs is the responsibility of the committee set up by the government to vet the shortlisted applicants at the national level.



Reacting to the assertion made by some party members on Okay FMs Adeakye Abua morning show hosted by Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie on Monday, 12th July, 2021, Mr. John Boadu reiterated the fact that irrespective of the work the committee has done, the President has the final say in determining who should be given the nod.



Kwame, though we finished our work and the report ready for submission to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he has the final say in who becomes the MMDCE in every district, municipality or metropolis he said.



He also indicated that the decision to alter some of the recommendations of the committee may arise from the Presidents own knowledge of certain people, happenings, or even promises made to some party members in the course of the primaries last year



J.B, as he is popularly called further explained that he believes that about 90% to 95% of the work done in terms of the shortlisted persons will likely get the nod when the President gives the final approval to the work done.



He assured the general public, especially the members of the New Patriotic Party to exercise patience as the list would come out before July ends.



The Minister for Local Government, it is expected, will release the list of MMDCEs after the President has reviewed their work.

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A Deputy Minister for Finance, Lawyer John Ampontuah Kumah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ejisu constituency, has called for a reform in the local governance structure of the country so as to allow for elected officers to be properly resourced for their work.



He said, the practice of providing some Article 71 office holders with official cars while others are given loans to go and purchase their own cars for official business and payback these loans by the end of their tenure in office is unfair, and a major factor to the stagnant nature of our the countrys democracy.



An elected assembly member has no monthly salary yet he or she is depended on for the replacement of the bulb in the streetlight in his area. I think we must work to change some of these governance laws in this country  when you are elected you are not entitled to a loan, but when you are appointed like a public servant or chief director you get a free car. Every chief director in this country has been given a car. Even in the Assemblies every Coordinating Director has a car but an elected Assembly member has no such priority, how can we develop our local governance system by this structure? he queried.



Speaking in an interview on Akoma FM, Lawyer John Kumah gave this suggestion in a radio interview when he was given the opportunity to clarify the big issue with an agreement currently before parliament for the purposes of securing car loans for all 275 MPs in Ghanas parliament for their work.



Giving detailed explanation on the loan the deputy minister said the provision which talks about the emoluments of Article 71 office holders has existed since 1992 and has been used by all previous governments to settle the emoluments of Ministers, Members of the Council of State, Commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Judges, Members of Parliament, among others.



He said the law specifies how they should all carry out their work and their entitlement after service some of which include buying cars for them to facilitate their movement.



However, in the case of an elected MP the law says they should use their own money to buy cars for their official use, and I dont think this is progressive, he stated.



To him it is insensitive and a cheat if elected officers like parliamentarians and Assembly members are not given official cars even though they are expected to deliver on their work just like ministers of state.



So every MP is being deducted Ghc6000 from your monthly salary which is already considered as meager. It is from this same salary that your constituents expect you to pay their school fees, among other issues, and so for 48 months you are being deducted, and if you are unable to pay by the end of your tenure it is deducted from your ex-gratia.



This is the situation of the Ghanaian MP, yet Ghanaians dont even understand why the MP should be given a loan for a car. I personally consider this a cheat, because if it can be done for Ministers and Judges, why cant it be done for MPs?



I have said that the biggest mistake anyone would make in this country is to run for political office, from the Unit Committee member to Assembly member through to an MP. So while ministers, judges and all article 71 office holders are being given cars, you the MP is being given a loan to go and buy your own car so it can be deducted from your salary.



It is his suggestion therefore that changes are made to the laws so an official car would be allocated to the office of the MP so that when one completes his tenure and is leaving whoever comes to take over that office continue using that car, just as in the case of ministers and others.



It should be made official such that the car bought for an MP should be there for whoever takes over from him, he noted.



Some of the MPs have kicked against the loan and I agree with them that it shouldnt be a loan. If we should treat all article 71 office holders in a particular way lets be fair to all of them, it shouldnt be that when you are elected then you dont deserve it, but when you are appointed then you deserve it. As we speak I have been given a car because I am a minister, but my colleague MP who is not privileged to be a minister is being asked to go and take a loan for car to serve his people, why should it be so?



Ghanaians should understand that we are cheating the MPs. It is unfair and unreasonable to give a car loan to an MP who is an article 71 office holder, yet buy cars for ministers, members of the judiciary, council of state members, etc, why should it be so? Why cant we give allowances and special budgets to assembly members who have responsibility over an electoral area and are to see to its development?



He emphasized the need for the whole process to be universal because it would make all elected officers to enjoy doing their work.



Me I am not happy with the decentralization programme of this country, where, when you are elected official you are not entitled to any financial arrangement of the country, this is why we are not moving forward as a country.



You voted for an assembly member without resourcing him, and so when there is a chocked gutter in the area he has to depend on money from Accra, you elect an MP and say he should go and buy his own personal car for official use, why? Meanwhile when you appoint a minister you provide him with a house, a car and security, among others, why should it be so?



Let us arrange the governance structure well so that the Assembly member, the unit committee, the MP is well resourced for the system. MPs are supposed to pay their drivers and security details from their pay but it is not the situation for ministers and others even though we are all article 71 office holders.



The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta last week laid before Parliament a car loan purchase agreement totaling $28 million for MPs. Each of the 275 MPs is expected to receive an amount of US$100,000 for the purchase of a vehicle for official use. The Speaker of the House has since referred the agreement, to the Finance Committee for consideration.





















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A Youth Organizer aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Prince-Kamal Gumah has visited the affected families of the Ejura riots.



His visit was to console the families and some NPP youth members whose houses were vandalized during the revolt after Kaakas death.



Prince-Kamal also visited one Madam Salamatu, a 78-year-old lady whose house has been threatened by some youth for shielding some alleged NPP youth in her house during the violence.



He assured the woman that no one can burn your house, well protect you.



Prince Kamal also urged the NPP youth to remain calm and allow the police to do their work to fish out the perpetrators to book.



May Allah have mercy on brother Kaaka and bless him Jannah, he said





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Common warning: when there are crowds in city centers, pickpockets find easy prey. But in other areas of life, too, some people take advantage of an opportunity to steal or cheat with no qualms . An economic study has investigated this phenomenon. Credit: Ross Edwin Thompson /Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

A study by the Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance shows that dishonestly earned money stinks to some but attracts others. Given the choice, some people consciously seek out situations in which to cheat. For them, lying comes at a lower psychological cost.

It is a well-known fact that a favorable opportunity leads people to cheat. But how many people take advantage when such an opportunity appears? And how many prefer an honest alternative? Economists from the Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance and the Berlin School of Economics and Law addressed these questions in an experimental study. They found that people not only cheat when the opportunity arises, but that some people consciously seek out such situations. And if the chance then presents itself, they are much more likely to take it than people who would have preferred to avoid such a situation and were caught up in it involuntarily (in the study: 73 percent vs. 22 percent).

Whether people are corruptible in this sense is related to the costs lying causes them for moral reasons or social norms. Among the participants in the study, 50 percent refrained from cheating entirely in the experiment; around 30 percent did not hesitate to lie at all, and around 20 percent of the subjects, who had actually opted for more honest earning opportunities, nevertheless seized the opportunity to cheat when it presented itself.

"We have shown that people choose honest and dishonest earning opportunities according to their lying costs, and after self-selecting they are also more likely to cheat or remain honest. Not only does opportunity make a thief, the thief also seeks the chance," says Sven A. Simon, one of the authors of the study. "According to our results, dishonest people, for example, might also be more inclined to choose jobs that open up cheating opportunities. Corresponding screening procedures for job applicants could be useful."

To answer their research questions, Kai A. Konrad and Sven A. Simon from the MPI for Tax Law and Public Finance together with Tim Lohse from the HWR Berlin conducted a multi-stage laboratory experiment in which participants could earn a certain amount of money: either by falsely claiming a profit or by making investments that increased their chances of winning. More precisely, they were exposed to two different decision-making situations in which their behavior was observed and compared.

Willingness to pay decreases in the "dishonest" round

In the "honest" round, the subjects took part in a lottery. They received a lottery ticket that was very likely to be a blank and left them empty-handed, but with a low probability brought in 12 euros. This lottery ticket came for free. However, for a surcharge they could exchange the ticket for a ticket with a significantly higher probability of winning. They were then asked how much they would be willing to pay as a maximum for a ticket swap. In this situation, almost all subjects were willing to pay something for the "good" lottery ticket. For many, this willingness to pay reached to an amount by which the expected earnings of the "good" ticket were higher than for the "bad" ticket, or even beyond.

But what if the 12 euros could also be earned by cheating? The subjects encountered such a situation in the "dishonest" round: here, it was not the actual result of the lottery that determined their earnings. Rather, they had to declare the outcome themselves and could simply report that they had won. Without proof or verification, they were paid 12 euros. In this situation, too, the subjects were able to exchange the "bad" ticket with the low probability of winning for the "good" ticket with a significantly higher probability of winning by paying a price. As the economists had assumed, the willingness to pay for the "good" ticket was lower in this "dishonest" round. However, there were pronounced differences: 34 percent of the subjects reduced their willingness to pay compared to the "honest" situation, in some cases considerably, while 61 percent had an unchanged willingness to pay and 5 percent were even willing to pay more.

Personal disposition outweighs cheating opportunity

It also showed that those who, despite the opportunity to cheat, were willing to pay for the "good" ticket mostly remained honest even if their ticket was a blank. Conversely, those who did not buy the "good" ticket were also mostly dishonest when the opportunity arose. In the situation with forced honesty, the dishonest subjects were willing to pay just as much for the "good" ticket as the honest subjects. In the situation with the opportunity to lie, however, the dishonest subjects' willingness to pay was significantly lower. So they consciously chose to lie. And more precisely: among the people with a low willingness to pay for the "good" lottery ticket, 73 percent lied and cheated for 12 euros, although they would actually have left empty-handed. In contrast, of the subjects with a high willingness to pay, only 22 percent decided to lie if they lost despite the high probability of winning.

Explore further Ticket inspections may reduce honesty: A study on bus passengers in Lyon

More information: Kai A. Konrad et al, Pecunia non olet: on the self-selection into (dis)honest earning opportunities, Experimental Economics (2021). Kai A. Konrad et al, Pecunia non olet: on the self-selection into (dis)honest earning opportunities,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s10683-020-09691-7
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Australia's coastal ecosystems alone save the rest of the world around $23 billion US a year by absorbing CO 2 from the atmosphere. This is according to calculations just published by researchers at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel University and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). Coastal ecosystems such as seagrass meadows, salt marshes and mangrove forests make an important contribution to mitigating climate change.

According to the study, Australia, Indonesia and the U.S. provide the largest carbon storage potential with their coastal ecosystems. The team also calculated which countries benefit most from the coastal CO 2 uptake worldwide. The different ways in which countries are affected by climate change are quantified by using the so-called social costs of carbon.

"If we take into account the differences in marginal climate damages that occur in each country, we find that Australia and Indonesia are clearly the largest donors in terms of globally avoided climate damages originating from coastal CO 2 uptake, as they themselves derive comparatively little benefit from the high storage potential of their coasts," says Wilfried Rickels, who heads the Global Commons and Climate Policy Research Center at the Kiel Institute. "The U.S., on the other hand, also stores a lot of carbon in coastal ecosystems, but at the same time, benefit the most from natural sinks behind India and China. In monetary terms, the three countries realize annual welfare gains of about $26.4 billion US (India), $16.6 billion US (China) and $14.7 billion US in the United States thanks to global coastal ecosystems and the resulting lower climate impact costs."

The basis for the monetary calculations are the so-called social cost of carbon, which allow assessing the contribution of coastal carbon uptake in the "inclusive wealth" concept. "Inclusive wealth' is defined as the totality of all natural and man-made capital stocks, valued with so-called shadow prices, i.e. the contributions to social welfare. Among other factors, the absolute scarcity of resources plays an important role for shadow prices. Atmospheric CO 2 has a negative impact on welfare primarily through climate change. However, countries are differently affected by climate change and accordingly country-specific shadow prices are used in the study.

The analysis does not include other carbon sinks or emissions from energy and industry. When carbon emissions from energy and industry are also considered, only Guinea-Bissau, Belize, Vanuatu, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Guinea, Comoros, Samoa, Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea make a net positive contribution through their coastal ecosystems, since they store more CO 2 in coastal ecosystems than they emit in total.

The study also emphasizes that carbon storage is only a small part of positive impacts of coastal ecosystems for humans. "Coastal ecosystems are an essential component of marine ecosystems and are therefore particularly important for marine biodiversity and for fisheries. At the same time, they contribute to flood and coastal protection and are therefore important for adaptation to climate change," emphasizes Martin Quaas, who heads the Biodiversity Economics research group at iDiv and UL.

In any case, there is currently still a very strong focus on afforestation on land when it comes to the challenges of achieving the Paris climate goals. "Marine CO 2 uptake as well as its enhancement requires more attention in the debate on net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and net-negative CO 2 emissions targets," Rickels points out. Especially a possible weakening of the marine carbon sinks would require even more significant mitigation and carbon dioxide removal efforts. "The coasts, with their numerous different user groups as well as possible conflicts of use, have a special role to play here."

The natural capital approach used in the study is suitable for assessing the redistribution resulting from CO 2 emissions and CO 2 sinks, which, unlike existing market-based assessments, is not influenced by the stringency of the underlying climate policy. The researchers plan to explore this question in further studies.

The study is reported in Nature Climate Change.

Explore further Climate change increases coastal blue carbon sequestration

More information: Bertram, C., Quaas, M., Reusch, T. B. H., Vafeidis, A. T., Wolff, C., Rickels, W. (2021): The blue carbon wealth of nations. Nature Climate Change. DOI: 41558-021-01089-4 , Journal information: Nature Climate Change Bertram, C., Quaas, M., Reusch, T. B. H., Vafeidis, A. T., Wolff, C., Rickels, W. (2021): The blue carbon wealth of nations.. DOI: 41558-021-01089-4 , www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01089-4

Provided by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
A side view of the Allende meteorite, displaying the white CAl inclusions. Credit: California Institute of Technology

Scientists have discovered a new type of star dust whose composition indicates that it formed during a rare form of nucleosynthesis (the process through which new atomic nuclei are created) and could shed new light on the history of water on Earth.

A team led by cosmochemists from Caltech and Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand studied ancient minerals aggregates within the Allende meteorite (which fell to Earth in 1969) and found that many of them had unusually high amounts of strontium-84, a relatively rare light isotope of the element strontium that is so-named for the 84 neutrons in its nucleus.

"Strontium-84 is part of a family of isotopes produced by a nucleosynthetic process, named the p-process, which remains mysterious," says Caltech's Francois L. H. Tissot, assistant professor of geochemistry. "Our results points to the survival of grains possibly containing pure strontium-84. This is exciting, as the physical identification of such grains would provide a unique chance to learn more about the p-process."

Tissot and collaborator Bruce L. A. Charlier of Victoria University of Wellington are co-lead authors on a study describing the findings that was published in Science Advances on July 9.

"This is really interesting," Charlier says. "We want to know what the nature of this material is and how it fits into the mix of ingredients that went to form the recipe for the planets."

Strontium (atomic symbol: Sr), a chemically reactive metal, has four stable isotopes: strontium-84 and its heavier cousins that have 86, 87, or 88 neutrons in their nuclei. Scientists have found that strontium is useful when attempting to date objects from the early solar system because one of its heavy isotopes, strontium-87, is produced by the decay of the radioactive isotope rubidium-87 (atomic symbol: Rb).

Rubidium-87 has a very long half-life, 49 billion years, which is more than three times the age of the universe. Half-life represents the amount of time required for the radioactivity of an isotope to drop to one-half its original value, allowing these isotopes to serve as chronometers for dating samples on varying time scales. The most famous radioactive isotope used for dating is carbon-14, the radioactive isotope of carbon; with its half-life of roughly 5,700 years, carbon-14 can be used to determine the ages of organic (carbon-containing) materials on human timescales, up to about 60,000 years. Rubidium-87, in contrast, can be used to date the oldest objects in the universe, and, closer to home, the objects in the solar system.

What is particularly attractive about using the RbSr pair for dating is that rubidium is a volatile elementthat is, it tends to evaporate to form a gas phase at even relatively low temperatureswhile strontium is not volatile. As such, rubidium is present at a higher proportion in solar system objects that are rich in other volatiles (such as water), because they formed at lower temperatures.

Counterintuitively, Earth has an Rb/Sr ratio that is 10 times lower than that of water-rich meteorites, implying that the planet either accreted from water-poor (and thus rubidium-poor) materials or it accreted from water-rich materials but lost most of its water over time as well as its rubidium. Understanding which of these scenarios took place is important for understanding the origin of water on Earth.

A CAI inclusion in the Allende meteorite. This inclusion contains strontium, which was isolated and studied by Tissot and colleagues. Credit: California Institute of Technology

In theory, the RbSr chronometer should be able to tease apart these two scenarios, as the amount of Sr-87 produced by radioactive decay in a given amount of time will not be the same if Earth started with a lot of rubidium versus less of the material.

In the latter scenario, i.e., with less rubidium, the newly formed Earth would have been poor in volatiles such as water, thus the amount of Sr-87 in the earth and in volatile-poor meteorites would be similar to that observed in the oldest-known solar system solids, the so-called CAIs. CAIs are calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions found in certain meteorites. Dating back 4.567 billion years, CAIs represent the first objects that condensed in the early solar nebula, the flattened, rotating disk of gas and dust from which the solar system was born. As such, CAls offer a geologic window into how and from what type of stellar materials the solar system formed.

"They are critical witnesses to the processes that were happening while the solar system was forming," says Tissot.

However, the composition of CAIs has long muddled scientists' ability to determine if Earth formed mostly dry or not. That is because CAls, unlike other solar-system materials, have anomalous ratios of the four strontium isotopes, with a slightly elevated proportion of strontium-84. Thus, they pose a challenge to the validity of the rubidiumstrontium dating system. And they also raise a key question: Why are they different?

To learn more, Tissot and Charlier took nine specimens of so-called fine-grained CAls. Fine-grained CAIs have preserved their condensate (that is, snowflake-like) texture, which testifies to their pristine nature.

The team painstakingly leached out these CAIs by bathing them in gradually harsher acids to strip away the more chemically reactive minerals (and the strontium they contain), leaving a concentrate of only the most resistant fraction. The final sample contained almost pure Sr-84, while a typical sample is composed of 0.56 percent Sr-84.

"Step-leaching is a little bit of a blunt instrument because you are not entirely sure what exactly it is you are destroying at each step," Charlier says. "But the nub of what we've found is, once you have stripped away 99 percent of the common components within the CAIs, what we are left with is something highly exotic that we weren't expecting."

"The signature is unlike anything else found in the solar system," Tissot says. The grains carrying this signature, Tissot and Charlier concluded, must have formed prior to the birth of the solar system and survived that cataclysmic process during which stellar grains were heated to extremely high temperatures, vaporized, and then condensed into solid materials.

Given the relative abundance of strontium-84, the discovery points to the likely existence in meteorites of nanometer-sized grains containing almost pure strontium-84 that were formed during a rare nucleosynthetic process before the formation of the solar system itself. The nature of these grains is still a mystery, as only their isotopic composition in strontium reveals their existence. But the high levels of Sr-84 in the CAIs suggest that Earth and volatile-poor meteorites have more strontium-87 than CAIs, favoring the scenario in which Earth accreted with more water and volatile elements, which were subsequently lost within the first few million years after their formation.

The Science Advances paper is titled "Survival of presolar p-nuclide carriers in the nebula revealed by stepwise leaching of Allende refractory inclusions."

Explore further Recipe for planets

More information: Bruce L. A. Charlier et al, Survival of presolar p-nuclide carriers in the nebula revealed by stepwise leaching of Allende refractory inclusions, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Bruce L. A. Charlier et al, Survival of presolar p-nuclide carriers in the nebula revealed by stepwise leaching of Allende refractory inclusions,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf6222
Maat Mons, a large volcano on Venus, is shown in this 1991 simulated-color radar image from NASA's Magellan spacecraft mission. Credit: NASA/JPL

Traces of the gas phosphine point to volcanic activity on Venus, according to new research from Cornell University.

Last autumn, scientists revealed that phosphine was found in trace amounts in the planet's upper atmosphere. That discovery promised the slim possibility that phosphine serves as a biological signature for the hot, toxic planet.

Now Cornell scientists say the chemical fingerprint support a different and important scientific find: a geological signature, showing evidence of explosive volcanoes on the mysterious planet.

"The phosphine is not telling us about the biology of Venus," said Jonathan Lunine, professor of physical sciences and chair of the astronomy department at Cornell. "It's telling us about the geology. Science is pointing to a planet that has active explosive volcanism today or in the very recent past."

Lunine and Ngoc Truong, a doctoral candidate in geology, authored the study, "Volcanically Extruded Phosphides as an Abiotic Source of Venusian Phosphine," published July 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Truong and Lunine argue that volcanism is the means for phosphine to get into Venus' upper atmosphere, after examining observations from the ground-based, submillimeter-wavelength James Clerk Maxwell Telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in northern Chile.

If Venus has phosphidea form of phosphorous present in the planet's deep mantleand, if it is brought to the surface in an explosive, volcanic way and then injected into the atmosphere, those phosphides react with the Venusian atmosphere's sulfuric acid to form phosphine, Truong said.

Lunine said their phosphine model "suggests explosive volcanism occurring," while "radar images from the Magellan spacecraft in the 1990s show some geologic features could support this."

In 1978, on NASA's Pioneer Venus orbiter mission, scientists uncovered variations of sulfur dioxide in Venus' upper atmosphere, hinting at the prospect of explosive volcanism, Truong said, similar to the scale of Earth's Krakatoa volcanic eruption in Indonesia in 1883.

But, Truong said, "confirming explosive volcanism on Venus through the gas phosphine was totally unexpected."

More information: N. Truong el al., "Volcanically extruded phosphides as an abiotic source of Venusian phosphine," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences N. Truong el al., "Volcanically extruded phosphides as an abiotic source of Venusian phosphine,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2021689118
Billionaire Richard Branson took off for the edge of spacehere, the spaceship Unity separates from the carrier plane.

British billionaire Richard Branson flew into space Sunday aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel, a voyage he described as the "experience of a lifetime"and one he hopes will usher in an era of lucrative space tourism.

The mission's success allowed the swashbuckling septuagenarian to one-up fellow tycoon Jeff Bezoswho owns space company Blue Origin and is set to launch on July 20in the race to the final frontier.

"I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid, but honestly nothing could prepare you for the view of Earth from space," Branson said, grinning during a post-flight ceremony where he and crewmates received their astronaut wings, before popping open the champagne to celebrate.

Branson, three fellow passengers and two pilots (all Virgin employees) breached the US-recognized boundary of space, reaching an altitude of 53.5 miles (86 kilometers) and experiencing weightlessness for a few minutes aboard the VSS Unity.

The spaceplane then lowered its wings and glided down to the ground at around 9:40 am Mountain Time (1540 GMT), about an hour after it had taken off attached to the belly of a massive carrier plane, which ascended 10 miles (15 kilometers) before dropping its payload.

The rocket-powered Unity achieved a top speed of Mach 3 as it soared to space.

Graphic showing the projected flight stages of Virgin Galactic when it begins operating to carry space tourists.

"Congratulations to all our wonderful team at Virgin Galactic for 17 years of hard, hard work to get us this far," Branson said during an intermittent live feed as Unity descended, calling it the "experience of a lifetime."

The patchy video transmission was the only blemish on an otherwise drama-free flight, and more inflight footage is expected to be released later on.

Branson scooped up his grandchildren and hugged loved ones after the trip.

SpaceX boss Elon Musk, who came to watch the flight, quickly tweeted, "Congratulations, beautiful flight!"

NASA also congratulated the team, calling the flight "spectacular, indeed."

Branson, the consummate showman, also unveiled a Willy Wonka-esque competition for space enthusiasts to win two free tickets on Virgin Galactic flights through the website Omazeand a persona guided tour of Spaceport America.

"I promise lots of chocolate," he joked, comparing himself to the beloved Roald Dahl character.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson drinks champagne after his space flight.

Space base

Several tourists journeyed to the International Space Station in the 2000s, but on Russian rockets.

Branson's official role is to evaluate the private astronaut experience to enhance the journey for future clients.

The 70-year-old founder of Virgin Group, which today has interests in everything from commercial aviation to fitness centers, is known for his appetite for adventure and has set world records in hot air ballooning and boating.

He founded Virgin Galactic in 2004, but the dream almost came to an end in 2014 when an in-flight accident caused the death of a pilot, considerably delaying the program.

Since then, VSS Unity has successfully reached space three times, in 2018, 2019which included the first crew member who wasn't a pilotand finally in May this year.

Sunday's flight left from Spaceport America, a huge base built in the Jornada del Muerto desert, around 20 miles southeast of the nearest town, Truth or Consequences.

Financed largely by the state of New Mexico, Virgin Galactic is the principal tenant.

The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo space plane Unity returns to Earth.

Paying passengers in 2022?

After Sunday, Virgin Galactic plans two further flights, and then the start of regular commercial operations from early 2022. The ultimate goal is to conduct 400 flights per year.

Some 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countriesincluding Hollywood celebritiesfor prices ranging from $200,000 to $250,000.

Branson hopes to expand that through the competition for free tickets, "so lots of people who couldn't otherwise have afforded to go to space, go to space."

The competition in the space tourism sector, whose imminent rise has been announced for years, has come to a head this month.

Bezos, the richest person in the world, is due to fly nine days from now on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.

Blue Origin posted an infographic Friday boasting the ways in which the experience it offers is superior.

The competition in the space tourism sector, whose imminent advent has been announced for years, has come to a head: Jeff Bezos (L) is set to fly just days after Richard Branson.

The principal point: New Shepard climbs up to more than 60 miles in altitude, thus exceeding what is called the Karman line, the frontier of space according to international convention.

Bezos posted a photo of Unity on his Instagram page after Branson's trip, offering his congratulations.

"Can't wait to join the club!" he wrote.

Explore further 17 years after founding Virgin Galactic, Branson bound for space

 2021 AFP
In this Sept. 26, 2018, file photo, provided by the National Park Service, a 4-year-old female gray wolf emerges from her cage as it is released at Isle Royale National Park in Michigan. Wolf pups have been spotted again on Isle Royale, a hopeful sign in the effort to rebuild the predator species' population at the Lake Superior national park, scientists said Monday, July 12, 2021. Credit: National Park Service via AP, File

Wolf pups have been spotted again on Isle Royale, a hopeful sign in the effort to rebuild the predator species' population at the U.S. national park, scientists said Monday.

It's unknown how many gray wolves roam the island chain in northwestern Lake Superior. The coronavirus pandemic forced cancellation of the census that Michigan Technological University experts had conducted each winter for 63 years.

Remote cameras detected four pups on the park's eastern end in January, the researchers said in a new report. The sightings, and additional clues such as previously observed scats and tracks, suggest that two litters were born in the area last year and perhaps another on the western side.

Park officials said last fall that at least two pups likely were born in 2019.

The population was 12 to 14 during the last Michigan Tech survey in winter 2020. The latest births would indicate it is higher now, but some older wolves may have died.

"It most likely will be winter of next year before we have firm information," said Sarah Hoy, a research assistant professor and animal ecologist, adding that the presence of young wolves is reason for optimism. "Things are definitely looking up."

Scientists with Michigan Tech, the National Park Service and State University of New York will combine available information with genetic analyses to produce a population estimate based on death rates and numbers of litters.

An initial data summary should be finished this month, said Mark Romanski, a biologist and natural resources program manager at Isle Royale.

"Because of constraints placed on field activities during the pandemic, we are especially pleased to have multiple lines of evidence to enumerate the population," he said.

Wolves are believed to have migrated to Isle Royale from Minnesota or the Canadian province of Ontario around the middle of the 20th century, crossing about 15 miles (24 kilometers) over the frozen lake surface.

Once established, they began feasting on the park's abundant moose and helped keep the herd from outgrowing its food supply. But wolf numbers plummeted in the past decade, which scientists blamed primarily on inbreeding.

The National Park Service announced plans in 2018 to restore the population, which had fallen to two. Crews took 19 wolves from Minnesota, Ontario and Michigan's Upper Peninsula to the island in a series of airlifts. Some have died and at least one wandered back to the mainland but most appear to be settling in.

"They're killing moose, starting to function as they should," Hoy said.

The goal is to have 20-30 wolves within three to five years. Officials haven't decided whether to bring more in, park spokeswoman Liz Valencia said.

"A healthy park ecosystem includes a variety of wildlife and abundant food sources," said Christine Goepfert, Midwest associate director for the National Parks Conservation Association. "As wolves bounce back after nearly disappearing from the park, their presence as a predator on the island will help all wildlife and native plants thrive at Isle Royale."

The wolves' decline fueled a moose boom between 2012 and 2019, when the population may have reached 2,000 before dropping to 1,876 last year. It appears to have fallen further since, the report said.

During vegetation surveys this spring, researchers found 15 moose dead from starvation. Balsam fir saplings, their primary winter food source, were in "the worst condition ever observed" as moose munched every available branch, Hoy said. Blood-sucking ticks that thrived during the mild winter made things worse.

Also during the past year, personnel with the park service and Michigan Tech organized thousands of moose bones that have been gathered at Isle Royale. They're being cleaned, photo-documented and entered into a database. The collection eventually will be housed in a museum.

"It is gratifying to see the National Park Service invest in the long-term preservation of moose bones, and it is almost certain that the scientific value of the collection will increase over time," Michigan Tech wildlife ecologist Rolf Peterson said. "We have already put it to use in ways never anticipated when the bones were first collected and saved."

Explore further Relocated Isle Royale wolves form groups, reduce moose herd

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The researchers modeled what would happen if a seawall were to be built along different parts of the San Francisco Bay shoreline. This map shows the increase in flooding that would result throughout the Bay Area if a seawall were built in the San Jose region. Credit: Michelle Hummel et al.

Communities trying to fight sea-level rise could inadvertently make flooding worse for their neighbors, according to a new study from the Stanford Natural Capital Project.

The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows how seawalls constructed along the San Francisco Bay shoreline could increase flooding and incur hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for communities throughout the region. The researchers emphasize how non-traditional approaches, like choosing to flood certain areas of land rather than build walls, are smarter, more sustainable solutions for the Bay Area and similar coastal bay communities.

"It's not practical to keep building taller and taller seawalls to hold back the ocean," said Anne Guerry, chief strategy officer and lead scientist at the Stanford Natural Capital Project and senior author on the paper. "Our goal was to show how the threat of sea-level rise is interconnected with the whole social-ecological system of the Bay Area. Communities need to coordinate their approaches to sea-level rise adaptation so we can find solutions that are best for the whole bay."

By 2100, sea levels are projected to rise by almost seven feet in the Bay Area. Millions of people live and work in buildings that are collectively worth hundreds of billions of dollars within the Bay Area's projected sea-level rise zone. As water levels increase, governments are looking for ways to protect their communities and economies.

Following the flow

The researchers used complex mathematical models to map how floodwatersand the economic damages related to floodswould flow depending on where new seawalls were built. They found that blocking certain areas of the bay's shoreline would be particularly damaging to communities throughout the region. For instance, if a seawall were built along the San Jose shoreline, communities throughout the bay, from Redwood City to Napa and Solano counties, would face an additional $723 million in flood damage costs after just one high tide, according to the models.

Damages to buildings and homes aren't the only losses that could result from walling shorelinesit also can cut off habitat for important bird and fish species, limit the natural area available to store carbon and create water quality issues by destroying wetlands that naturally provide water treatment.

"You may be protecting your immediate community, but you may be creating serious costs and damages for your neighbors," said Robert Griffin, an economist at the Natural Capital Project and co-author on the paper. "When it comes to current sea-level rise planning, there's some incomplete cost-benefit accounting going on."

A seawall built in the San Jose region would cause an increase in economic damages due to flooding. This map shows the millions of dollars in damages that would result throughout the Bay Area. Credit: Michelle Hummel et al.

Guiding the flood

The researchers identified places where Bay Area communities could strategically choose to guide floodwaters, rather than holding them back with walls. These strategic flood areas would act as overflow zones, absorbing the increased water and avoiding damage to communities.

One example is along the Napa-Sonoma shoreline, where Highway 37 is under threat of impending sea-level rise. Decision-makers are trying to decide how to adapt the road to prevent flooding in the future: either by building a taller embankment to raise the road or by rebuilding it as a causeway that allows water to flow between the bay and marshlands on the other side. The researchers modeled what would happen if the Napa-Sonoma shoreline were blocked by a concrete embankment and found that it would worsen flooding for almost all the Bay Area communities studied, from Martinez to San Jose. Building a causeway, on the other hand, would provide a natural absorption area for extra water to flow.

A Bay-wide strategy

"It's critical to consider the regional impacts of local actions," said Michelle Hummel, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington and lead author on the paper. "Studies like ours can identify actions that will have large impacts, either positive or negative, on the rest of the bay and help to inform decisions about how to manage the shoreline."

Not every city or county has a landscape suitable for strategic flooding, which requires wide plains or valleys where water will naturally flow. Therefore, the researchers say it's crucial that Bay Area communities work together to identify the places where nature-based solutions like flooding make the most sense.

The researchers also looked at demographic information in their models to better understand who would be affected by possible strategic flooding plans. They say avoiding adaptation plans that add more pressure to poor or otherwise overburdened communitiesby forcing them to move or creating increased economic stressis key.

To understand the broader impacts of climate resilience decisions, including investments in nature, the researchers plan to model how sea-level rise adaptation strategies are connected with infrastructure, employment, community dynamics and more.

"Our plans should be as interconnected as our ecosystems," said Guerry.

Explore further Coastal flooding increases Bay Area traffic delays and accidents

More information: Michelle A. Hummel el al., "Economic evaluation of sea-level rise adaptation strongly influenced by hydrodynamic feedbacks," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Michelle A. Hummel el al., "Economic evaluation of sea-level rise adaptation strongly influenced by hydrodynamic feedbacks,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2025961118
Fluorescence microscopy reveals that lucinid gills are packed with symbionts. Lucinids host them in specialized cells called bacteriocytes. Bacterial symbionts are labeled in green and magenta, host nuclei in gold. Credit: Lukas Leibrecht

This pandemic year has restricted international travel for humans. Not so for some microscopic bacteria in the ocean: They partner up with clams living in the sand beneath the shimmering waters of coastal habitats throughout the globe. According to research by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen and the University of Vienna now published in PNAS, the bacterial symbionts living in lucinid gills travel the world without borders.

The Lucinidae family, lucinids for short, comprises approximately 500 living species of bivalves. They are at least 400 million years old, according to fossil records, and have managed to colonize a wide variety of habitats, from beautiful beaches to the abyssal depths untouched by the sun over a kilometer below the sea surface. Their ability to thrive in a wide variety of habitats is made possible by their 'partner in crime," a sulfur-oxidizing bacterial symbiont that utilizes hydrogen sulfide, better known as 'rotten egg gas," as an energy source to power primary production. This process is not unlike photosynthesis used by plants, yet not dependent on sunlight, and generates enough sugars to feed both the symbiont and the lucinids themselves.

Striking up partnerships from near or far

Finding a suitable partner out in the wild is a matter of life and death for lucinids. They have to pick up their bacterial partners at a very early life stage when they settle in the sediment after their larval stage. From this time on, they rely on their bacterial symbionts for nutrition. However, bacterial cells are miniscule and the oceans are awash with a multitude of possible candidates. Typically, animals that rely so heavily on bacteria are expected to strike up partnerships with local residents. These microbes are likely to work best under the unique conditions of their local habitats. A new study based on metagenomic analyses of symbiotic bacteria in lucinids now reveals that this is not always the case: Some bacterial symbionts travel the globe and are true cosmopolitans.

Globally distributed symbionts

"Using state-of-art DNA-sequencing and genome assembling, we discovered that a single bacterial symbiont species was the most abundant symbiont in eight lucinid species spanning three oceansthe Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceansacross the tropics of both hemispheres," said Laetitia Wilkins from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, shared first author of the publication together with Jay Osvatic from the University of Vienna, Austria. "These symbionts are virtually all over the place." No other known symbiont is so successful at dispersal and establishing symbioses with lucinids, the researchers report. They named it Candidatus Thiodiazotropha taylori"to acknowledge the wisdom of John Taylor from the Natural History Museum in London, who has devoted 25 years of his life to studying lucinid biology and taxonomy," Osvatic said.

"This unexpected finding challenges previous concepts that symbionts are acquired locally. It suggests that lucinid symbionts are much more mobile," Osvatic said. The remarkable flexibility in this partnership is advantageous to both host and symbiont, as it increases the likelihood of locating a compatible partner across diverse habitats all over the globe. Prior to this study, lucinid research has mainly been carried out in easily accessible locations. Now for the first time the team around Wilkins and Osvatic presents an expanded, global dataset that has led to and will continue to facilitate new discoveries and show how distant habitats might be connected.

Lucinids are the most species rich and widely distributed family of marine bivalves hosting bacterial endosymbionts. In this picture, a large specimen of Ctena imbricatula is checking out its environment with its foot that it can enlarge ten times its body size. Credit: Laetitia Wilkins

Scientists collaborating to find collaborating organisms

Just like the relationships between symbionts and lucinid clams, this discovery would not have been possible without the scientists reaching out and forming collaborations across the world. "Our contacts (and now friends) across the world have given us access to an unprecedented diversity of lucinds, both direct from the beaches and from museums across the world," said Benedict Yuen from the University of Vienna, senior author of the paper. "We were given access to a wide variety of lucinid samples at the Natural History Museum in London through John Taylor. Samples were also collected personally by our team and collaborators Matthieu Leray in Panama, Yolanda Camacho in Costa Rica, Olivier Gros in Guadeloupe and Jan A. van Gils in Mauritania."

This is where the investigated clams like to live: Lucinid habitat characterized by sandy patches within seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) beds in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Credit: Laetitia Wilkins

Also discovered: Two new species in cozy togetherness

Moreover, the extensive data collection of Wilkins, Osvatic and their team resulted in the discovery of two new lucinid symbionts, which have now been described and named after Miriam Weber and Christian Lott, both former researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen. These symbiontsnow known as Thiodioazotropha weberae and lottiare found in the clam Loripes orbiculatus on the Italian island of Elba, where the symbionts peacefully co-exist in the gills of the same host. "Before genomic analyses were used, it was assumed that each clam hosts only one species of symbionts," Wilkins explained. "However, many clams on Elba harbor two symbiont species. Miriam and Christian discovered this clam population in the bay of Fetovaia and it is thanks to them that we could amass a very powerful dataset on this symbiosis."

Next, the researchers want to find out how the symbionts travel. "They leave their bivalve home to traverse the globe," added co-senior author Jillian Petersen. "Both beneficial symbionts such as Candidatus T. taylori but also pathogens can disperse in the environment, but we usually don't know how."

Explore further 'Farming' bacteria to boost growth in the oceans

More information: Jay T. Osvatic el al., "Global biogeography of chemosynthetic symbionts reveals both localized and globally distributed symbiont groups," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jay T. Osvatic el al., "Global biogeography of chemosynthetic symbionts reveals both localized and globally distributed symbiont groups,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2104378118
Credit: University of Cambridge

A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge has developed a new experimental and theoretical platform to study how viruses evolve while spreading within an organism.

In the study, published in Physical Review X, the researchers used experimental data and simulations of a phage-bacteria ecosystem to uncover that viral expansions can transition from 'pulled'where the expansion is led by the pioneering viral particles at the very edge of the population, to 'pushed', where the expansion is driven by viruses arising behind the front and within the infected region.

Crucially, pushed waves are known to retain genetic diversity for much longer than their pulled counterparts, and these results have confirmed that this is also the case in viral expansions.

This new understanding suggests that viral expansions might be much more adaptable than previously thought and could help to build better models to predict the evolution of viruses in infected organisms.

"Pushed expansions are normally observed in populations that display cooperative behavior, like herds of animals. Yet, no cooperation among these viruses is known to occur," explained first author Michael Hunter from Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory.

A bacterial colony (droplet on the left) being eaten up by the phage (droplet on the right). Credit: Diana Fusco Lab - Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge

"Here, we have used a model ecosystem of a bacteria-infecting virus, phage T7, and its host, E. coli, to demonstrate that pushed waves occur in viral expansions even if no explicit cooperation among the viral particles exists."

"Our observations show that the transition from pulled to pushed expansions spontaneously arises from the feedback between virus and host dynamics, whereby the viral dispersal depends on the host density, which, in turn, is continuously modified by the virus as the expansion advances."

The team uncovered two independent physical mechanisms that contribute to this virus-host feedback and determine the parameters that can affect the transition between the different types of expansions. The first mechanism stems from volume-excluded interactions between virus and host in crowded environments, as host cells represent physical obstacles that impede viral diffusion. The second arises from the viral incubation period during which the virus is trapped inside the host cell and is unable to diffuse.

"Our results point to the phage-bacteria system as a highly controllable platform to experimentally investigate the dynamics of expanding populations with density-dependent dispersal," said senior author Dr. Diana Fusco, also from the Cavendish Laboratory.

"Beyond phages, our findings show that viral expansions can retain genetic diversity much longer than previously thought, suggesting that viral populations expanding in an infected organism may be very adaptable to changes in the environment. This realization will help in building better models for viral growth and evolution in infected tissues and organisms."

Explore further Researchers uncover novel virus type that may shed light on viral evolution

More information: Michael Hunter et al, Virus-Host Interactions Shape Viral Dispersal Giving Rise to Distinct Classes of Traveling Waves in Spatial Expansions, Physical Review X (2021). Journal information: Physical Review X Michael Hunter et al, Virus-Host Interactions Shape Viral Dispersal Giving Rise to Distinct Classes of Traveling Waves in Spatial Expansions,(2021). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevX.11.021066
The western United States and Canada are in the grips of another dangerous heatwave.

Wildfires were burning across more than one million acres of the western United States and Canada on Monday, as scorching temperatures held their grip on areas reeling from a brutal weekend heat wave.

Some 850,000 acres were on fire in the United Statesmainly in western states such as Oregon, California and Arizonawhile more than 300,000 acres smoldered in Canada's British Columbia alone, according to wildfire officials.

After a brief lull from late June's previous heat wave, extreme temperatures in recent days reached as far inland as the edge of the Rocky Mountainspart of a dramatic trend that experts attribute directly to climate change.

The US National Weather Service (NWS) warned dangerous temperatures were continuing in the region for the early part of the week, with temperatures up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit (47 Celsius) recorded in southern California Monday, and a heat advisory issued for communities outside Los Angeles.

The NWS said overall temperatures were beginning to dip, with breezes arriving in northern California and storms in Arizona and New Mexico on Monday, but excessive heat warnings remained in effect "for most areas through Tuesday evening."

Particularly high overnight temperatures have robbed many heat-struck regions of much-needed respite, and more sweltering forecasts lie in store for the coming days.

"Luckily the hot spots will start cooling down after today. Enjoy it while it lasts because we are looking at more heat starting this weekend," tweeted the NWS Los Angeles service.

California's Death Valley is often the hottest place in the United States.

Wildfires raging

Across the border, temperatures of around 98 degrees Fwell above seasonal normswere recorded Monday north of Vancouver in British Columbia, where some 300 wildfires were active across the Canadian province.

In Californiawhere more than twice as many acres have burned this year compared to the same point in 2020's record-breaking seasona large fire near Lake Tahoe expanded Monday, spurred by the heat, increased winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.

A combination of two blazes sparked by lightning last week, the Beckwourth Complex fire, has rapidly grown to some 90,000 acres.

Large areas of forest have burned, with reports of homes destroyed in multiple towns and footage from the area showing burnt-out, abandoned cars and buildings.

As the state enters what are traditionally its most dangerous months for wildfires, evacuation orders were also issued for the River Fire, which began Sunday just south of the Yosemite National Park.

Scientists say a similar heatwave at the end of June would have been 'virtually impossible' without climate change.

In the neighboring state of Oregon, the even larger Bootleg Fire more than tripled in size since Friday, reaching more than 150,000 acres and threatening power supplies to California.

Two firefighters were killed in an aviation accident in Arizona.

Climate change

The hot weather follows an earlier heat wave that struck the same regions at the end of June.

A study by a group of leading climate scientists found that those conditions would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change.

The World Weather Attribution group said that global warming, caused by greenhouse gas emissions, made the June heat wave at least 150 times more likely to happen.

The scorching conditions saw the all-time record daily temperature broken three days in a row in British Columbia.

Last month was the hottest June on record in North America, according to data released by the European Union's climate monitoring service.

Last month was the hottest June on record in North America, according to data released by the European Union's climate monitoring service.

Human activity has driven global temperatures up, stoking increasingly fierce storms, extreme heat waves, droughts and wildfires.

The World Meteorological Organization and Britain's Met Office said in May there was a 40 percent chance of the annual average global temperature temporarily surpassing 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures within the next five years.

The past six years, including 2020, have been the six warmest on record.

Explore further Millions sweltering in US west as Canada takes emergency steps

 2021 AFP
Education

top story

NJ summer school programs aim to tackle academic, social losses from COVID-19

MATTHEW STRABUK, FOR THE PRESS Absecon students Journee Byard, 6, and Ellie Kuenzer, 5, work on math problems involving dice at the Marsh Elementary School in Absecon. Journee said it feels great to see her teacher in person MATTHEW STRABUK, FOR THE PRESS Absecon kindergarten teacher Shelby Townsend helps 5-year-old Ellie Kuenzer with her scissor skills on Thursday during the districts summer learning loss program. MATTHEW STRABUK FOR THE PRESS In addition to the summer learning loss program, Absecon is operating its extended school-year program for special education students this summer. Teacher Brittany Okoszko sits with therapy dog Skye, Skyes handler for the day, special education teacher Jess Fey, and students Chase Grant, 9, and Victor Marigliano, 9, during reading time.

ABSECON  In a classroom at the Marsh Elementary School on Thursday, teacher Shelby Townsend sat with kindergartner Ellie Kuenzer and helped her cut a worksheet into strips.

When Ellie, who received all virtual instruction last year, had trouble with the scissors, Townsend noticed that she may need a left-handed pair and replaced them. Ellie got back to cutting.

Much better, Townsend acknowledged as she guided her through the lesson.

Its summer, but the lessons happening in the classroom make it seem like part of a regular school year and not the sometimes virtual, socially distanced and masked year that was 2020-21.

It feels like real school again, said Sherry Spence-Leslie, acting principal of the Leeds Avenue School in Pleasantville.

Schools across the state are welcoming hundreds of students back to the hallways for summer school to address learning loss associated with the hybrid and virtual school years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We had a severe drop in kids who were on level with reading, said Millville Superintendent Tony Trongone, who added that getting students reacquainted with in-person education is critical.

There are more than 600 students in preschool through 12th grade participating in Millvilles summer learning loss program.

Since March of 2020, schools in New Jersey have been allocated nearly $5 billion in emergency federal funding for COVID-19 relief. While the second round of funding  totaling $829 million  included addressing learning loss as an allowable use, the third round of funding at $2.5 billion mandated that at least 20% must be used for it.

Most programs are four days a week over five weeks, and many are offering wrap-around services that will offer enrichment and address afternoon child care.

South Jersey school administrators said they wanted to focus on reading and math  two big components of statewide standardized testing  but another big component, they said is recouping the social and emotional skills lost from being socially distanced.

Some of those kids havent been in school and they forget how to play on the playground, said Stephanie Bush, director of curriculum and instruction for Stafford Township School District.

Stafford, a preschool through sixth-grade district, has about 150 students participating in its summer program. Bush said the district tested and tracked student progress throughout the year, so when they found out in the spring they would get funding for the summer program, they delved into the data to see where the deficiencies were.

Its a little of everything. Were kind of taking the STEAM approach, Bush said, referring to the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.

She said that geometry and data measurement were two areas that were lacking across all grade levels, as well as reading skills.

In Absecon, there are about 250 students who are participating in the summer learning loss program. Journee Byard, 6, had Townsend as a long-term substitute last year when she was all-virtual.

It feels great to see her in person, Journee said of Townsend.

When Journee came, she had a big smile and gave me a big hug, Townsend said. I can tell this program is important, especially for kids who were virtual.

Across the city border in Pleasantville, more students filled the classrooms inside the Leeds Avenue School. It was just after 1 p.m. and the districts academic programming  math, English and science  was ending and the enrichment programming was starting up. More than 700 students are attending the summer program, which has been integrated with the afterschool CARE program.

In one classroom, students in one corner were playing the Just Dance video game and in another some were playing a game of Monopoly with their teacher.

Its very nice to be back in school, said 9-year-old Kali Davis of Pleasantville. I get to see all my friends again and get to see the teachers in person.

Pleasantville School District had been all-virtual since March of last year. It wasnt until June that the school opened up in-person learning two days a week for students in special education and English Language Learners. Most of the students attending summer school hadnt been back in school at all last school year.

Assistant Superintendent Christiana Otuwa said it was important that the summer program addressed a variety of needs, from academics to enrichment programs to social skills, and even to learning the building layouts.

We want to integrate all that into our curriculum so that all students are paid attention to, to their needs, to where they are, and also social, emotionally, because theyve been out of school for a long time, she said.

Rayna Hendricks, vice principal at the high school, said educators in the district had a lot of input in developing the curriculum for summer school, including allowing hands-on science labs in the high school grades.

When youre virtual, from a teachers standpoint, you dont get to know your students like you would in person, she said. That provided a large gap in the learning and the instruction. It just limits you.

Tammy Misa, a fourth-grade teacher at Leeds Avenue, led a group of students in building a slide as part of the graphic arts programming.

Oh, we love being back in the classroom, Misa said. Theyve already said they learned a lot in the three days back in the classroom.

Because federally mandated statewide standardized testing has been canceled two years in a row due to COVID-19, districts were not able to measure on a global scale the impact of the pandemic on learning.

However, most districts had their own systems for keeping track of academic growth. Next fall, the state will test students with the Start Strong assessment, a modified version of the spring learning assessment.

Trongone and other administrators said that the summer programming will be helpful, but its not a cure-all for the learning loss from the pandemic. In fact, many of the district leaders said they plan to continue the programming through the school year and next summer.

I think our works not going to be done. This is going to be a two-year process, Trongone said. Although I think we have outstanding people who are doing whats best for kids, we know that each day were improving on our process because it is something new. Weve never had this number of students in the building in summertime.

GALLERY: Absecon and Pleasantville summer school programs aim to tackle academic, social losses from COVID-19 Close

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Schachtel told The Associated Press on Monday that the civil suit against Smurro is groundless because the people who filed it did not suffer any harm.

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Michael is being sued because his wife made comments that offended the sensibilities of the plaintiffs, Schachtel said. Michael and Lisa Smurro have the right to their opinions and the right to voice them in public, even if some may find them disagreeable. No one should have their livelihood threatened for expressing an opinion. When this story went viral, Michael and Lisa Smurro were viciously attacked and defamed on social media. There was much outrage and little search for the truth. We hope to set the story straight.

David Shanies, the lawyer for those suing Smurro, replied, Some people, when they find themselves in a hole, climb out of it. Other people continue to dig deeper and deeper. Anybody who watches the videos and hears (Lisa Smurro) scream Shes a man! Shes a man! can make their own judgment about whether shes talking about seeing someone she thought was a man as opposed to a transgender woman.

The Smurros and people who say they were hit with beer from his cup when he threw it in their direction have filed criminal complaints in municipal court alleging harassment. That case is pending.
Eat What You Grow workshop: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County will host a virtual workshop Eat What You Grow: Eggplant and Tomatoes from 6 to 7 p.m. July 15. The free presentation will take place live via Zoom. Speakers will discuss growing basics, providing information on the benefits and nutritional value of eggplant and tomatoes plus provide recipes. The class is open to the public. Advanced registration is required. For information, visit capemay.njaes.rutgers.edu .

4-H horse show: The 4-H Horse Councils Open Horse Show will be held 9 a.m. July 17. The horse show is the first Cape May County 4-H horse show since March 2020. It will be held on the 4-H Fairgrounds, 355 Courthouse-South Dennis Road in Cape May Court House. There are 38 classes scheduled for showing with five divisions, including Walk Trout Junior (4th to 12th grade), Walk Trot Senior (out of high school), Junior Open (4th to 12th grade), Senior Open (out of high School), and Cloverbud (3rd grade and under). The cost to enter is $10 per class or $25 for the day. Pre-registration is encouraged. Everyone who pre-registers will have a chance to win a gift donated by the Woodbine Equestrian Center. To pre-register, visit go.rutgers.edu/444l6b34. All registrants must show proof of current negative Coggins, as well as proof of current vaccinations including the flu/Rhino vaccination. For information, call 609-465-5115, ext. 3605.
TRENTON  More than three dozen New Jersey colleges will receive $28.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief aid to support innovations leading to increased college completion, Gov. Phil Murphy and state Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges said Monday.

These reforms and practices will be focused on those students who were most impacted by COVID and who would also be at greater risk in a future emergency, Murphy said.

In addition, $1.5 million will be made available to 11 colleges in support of the governors Hunger-Free Campus initiative.

Murphy made the funding announcement during his regular coronavirus response briefing from the Trenton War Memorial, where he also said that citizens could now access COVID-19 vaccine records through a smartphone application called Docket.

This is not a passport, Murphy said. Docket is intended to solely give residents easy access to their vaccine records.

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Im excited about this position because I see things I personally can bring to the table that they dont have going on right now. I am a big collaborator. Im a believer in collaboration and partnership, so Im looking forward to meeting people and communities and diverse communities. Diversity is not always what you see. Its what you do, Jackson said.

Jackson is one of the few arts administrators of color in southern New Jersey.

For the last two years, Jackson has been on the advisory committee of the New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color, a network of professional arts administrators dedicated to advancing efforts related to equity, diversity and inclusion within the states arts community.

The group has grown to include more than 144 individual members  mostly from Northern and Central Jersey  and four partner organizations, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Newark Symphony Hall in Essex County and ArtPride New Jersey, the states largest arts service and advocacy organization.

The four partner organizations provided money, so that the advisory committee could offer a number of professional development opportunities. Recent virtual workshops were held on financial management and entrepreneurship in the arts.
The report did find a racial disparity favoring whites in senior officer promotions and junior enlisted promotions. It infers racism as the reason but offers no analysis of promotion boards to justify that conclusion.

The report acknowledges, however, that since 2000 the Navy has made significant strides at increasing its racial, gender and ethnic diversity. Its enlisted population today is 60% more racially diverse, 56 percent more gender diverse, and over 300 percent more ethnically diverse than 20 years ago.

Separately, regarding discrimination, there is nothing among the recorded complaints that suggests a major problem. Since 2016, only between four to 10 cases of actual discrimination have been reported annually in an organization of more than 600,000 uniformed and civilian members. Either the Navys reporting system is flawed, or actual discrimination is very rare. Determining which was true should have been a job of Task Force One.

At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Navy conducted a single day anti-extremism stand-down earlier this year. Was this necessary? The Navy has been unable to provide historical records regarding past members separated from the Navy for extremism, and the Department of Defense still struggles with legally defining the term.
Just four days after a Scott County judge sentenced him to probation on a burglary conviction, a Davenport man was arrested Sunday morning on a new burglary charge.

Ryan Adam Franklin, 28, is charged with one count of first-degree burglary. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Officer Michael Catton, at 12:29 a.m. Sunday, officers were sent to 3205 W. 46th Place to investigate a disturbance. The address is part of the Wood Dale Mobile Home Park.

Officers found Franklin being held down by another person so he couldnt run away. Police took Franklin into custody.

According to the affidavit, Franklin forced his way into the home by removing a screen on the east side of the residence and forcing the window open from the outside. Once inside Franklin assaulted the victim by punching him twice in the head and once in the chest.

Franklin was booked into the Scott County Jail after his arrest. During a first appearance in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Christine Frederick ordered Franklin to be held without bond. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for July 21 in District Court.
Prosecutors say she attempted to lure other people with that same story.

Wood told the Post-Dispatch that investigators mishandled the initial Faria murder investigation by rushing to judge her husband, Russell Faria, as the murderer and then protecting their case by ignoring or concealing evidence that pointed to Hupp.

Faria was sentenced in 2013 to life in prison for his wifes killing in but the conviction was overturned in 2015. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Department last year reached a $2 million settlement with him for the wrongful conviction.

Wood said he and the new sheriff are investigating misconduct and potentially criminal behavior on the part of (the former) investigators and prosecutors. Wood said he was on the fence between (whether it was) really gross negligence and calculated criminal behavior.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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Police said he was taken to Jackson Park Hospital, where the Cook County medical examiners office said he was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m. He had not been identified as of Monday morning.

A man, 28, was shot in the thigh near an alley in the 7500 block of the South Essex Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood by someone in an unknown vehicle around 7:15 p.m. The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said.

Two other men, 20 and 31, were shot near an alley in the 7900 block of South Manistee Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood by an occupant of an unknown vehicle around 7:15 p.m. The 20-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the knee and the 31-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the hand, police said. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and listed in good condition.

Around 5:30 p.m., a 36-year-old man was shot in the thigh while near a sidewalk in the 1100 block of West 57th Street in the Englewood neighborhood, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
Hanlon, who previously worked for the state appellate defender doing direct appeals and post-conviction work notably in the case of Rolando Cruz, returned to the agency to work in a special capital trial division that had been set up in 2000.

The governor's commission led to other changes, such as videotaping interrogations in big ticket cases, and laws regarding preservation of criminal evidence.

Theodore Gottfried of Springfield, a member of the governor's commission and the head of the state appellate defender, said "there's no question that Porter's case affected Gov. Ryan. That's probably one of the reasons he had our committee."

Ryan, who later pardoned Porter, told The State Journal-Register in 2018 that the case "caused something inside me to shift" on the death penalty.

"This was a case that focused (Ryan's) attention on this issue, added Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at UIS. "It's important for him."

Public opinion was evenly split on the death penalty, Redfield said, around the time of Porter's exoneration. While there were moral and religious components to the issue on both sides, there was another dimension that to the discussion, Redfield said.
Dubbed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as chronically homeless, these individuals face a gauntlet of obstacles in the quest for a safe place to live. HUDs endless End Homelessness in 10 Years campaigns, despite efforts by well-intentioned individuals and agencies, failed to overcome decades of budget cuts and congressional antipathy towards the broken and broke men and women wandering the streets.

Lesser known, though, is how HUDs policies grow homelessness. Millions of people not in HUD-funded shelters (for reasons including capacity and inflexible regulations) fail to qualify as homeless by HUD, and thus are ineligible for assistance. As Jani Koester, a longtime advocate for students experiencing homelessness in Madison, told me, If you are self-paying in a motel or doubled up, you are given a few phone numbers for other resources but not included in the system for HUD housing supports. Koester convened a committee to address the invisible homeless family and youth population across Dane County.

Why expand services for those who lack places of their own to live? Because research confirms that family and youth homelessness becomes the unwitting feeder system for adults on the streets. Trauma and instability experienced by youngsters can fester into adult homelessness. As I interview parents, I ask if they were homeless as kids. Many were.
This is in response to the letter by John Crist in the July 11 issue of this paper who takes the view that the participants in the Jan. 6 uprising might be excused for their actions because of their disagreements with how the government handled the political turmoil in the preceding months. By that same reasoning Adolf Hitler, who had issues with how the Bavarian government was being conducted, should be forgiven for his participation in the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923 to take over Bavaria. Luckily both attempted coups failed. And both coups had sympathizers as evidenced by Hitler being convicted of treason but being sentenced to only five years in prison and for Republican lawmakers portraying the participants in the Jan. 6 insurrection as being simply tourists.
HealthPartners UnityPoint Health will start offering full health insurance plans to small businesses with less than 50 employees in Scott and Muscatine counties, according to a July 12 release.

Rates for the 27 plan options, a mix of both broad and narrow networks, will be available Oct. 1. Insured businesses will have access to HealthPartners customer service, telehealth services and health and well-being resources.

All employers will have access to similar products and services that are being offered in the large group space on a fully insured basis, said Becky Woody, president of HealthPartners UnityPoint Health.

HPUPH, a joint venture between Minnesota-based HealthPartners and Iowa-based UnityPoint Health, offers fully insured and self insured plans to employers with over 100 employees and employers with 51-100 employees.

In 2021, HPUPH began to offer businesses with 1-50 employees level funded insurance.

These new plan options will fully insure small businesses and provide more variety in Iowa's small business insurance market, according to Woody.
SILVIS  From the very beginning Sunday, things seemed as though they werent going to go Sebastian Munozs way.

The 28-year-old native of Colombia led the John Deere Classic by one stroke entering the final round, but Munoz tee shot on No. 1 settled into a sidehill lie in the deep rough to the left of the fairway.

Then things got worse.

His second shot careened out of the rough at almost a 90-degree angle and left him scrambling to even get a bogey.

"It was just an awkward lie and the second shot on No. 1 shanked and it kind of makes you think What's going on?" Munoz said. "It took me three holes to readjust from that and then I did a good job from there."

Munoz recovered to finish the tournament at 16 under par, three strokes behind winner Lucas Glover. He tied for fourth, earned $248,000 and moved up 10 spots in the FedExCup standings.

But he was left to wonder what might have been after he held the tournament lead following both the first and third rounds and was only one stroke back at the conclusion of the second round.
 Dont go back into the sun until the burn has healed.

Seek medical attention if you have a severe sunburn covering more than 15% of your body, if you have a fever above 101 degrees and if you have extreme pain lasting more than 48 hours.

Aloe vera, an essential

Aloe is a cactus-like plant that grows in hot, dry climates. It is cultivated in subtropical regions around the world, including the U.S., Central America, South America, China, India, Africa, the Caribbean, Australia and the Asian tropics.

Aloe is used topically, applied to the skin, and orally. Topical use of aloe is promoted for acne; lichen planus, a very itchy rash on the skin or in the mouth; burning mouth syndrome; burns; and radiation-induced skin toxicity. Oral use of aloe is promoted for weight loss, diabetes, hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Note that aloe vera promotes healing best in the open air. When you apply it to minor cuts and burns, leave the treated area uncovered. Don't cover it with a bandage. Remember to store your topical aloe vera closed and in a cool place or refrigerator since humidity and temperature can affect the shelf-life. On a hot, summer day, cold aloe is a refreshing treat your skin craves.
Owens' fundraising is the largest amount ever reported raised for an attorney general candidate in their first filing. The previous high was $194,000 by Republican Brad Schimel in 2013. He went on to win in 2014, but Kaul beat him in 2018.

The amount Owens raised is also more than any incumbent attorney general has collected in the first-half of a non-election year. Schimel raised $298,000 in the first six months of 2017.

Neither Kaul nor Toney have announced their fundraising to date. Kaul had about $234,000 cash on hand through the end of last year. Thursday is the deadline for candidates to file reports covering the first half of the year.

Kaul was first elected in 2018. In an interview Monday, Kaul said he was proud of his record on public safety, protecting the environment, election integrity and eliminating a backlog of rape test kits.

Prosecuting the most serious offenses is my priority as attorney general," Kaul said.
We were so convinced about what we were doing to go free Cuba that nobody complained, Diaz Arguelles remembered.

He said Mora, a radio operator in the brigade's Battalion 3, was lively and popular and always talking about every subject you can think of.

When training ended in April 1961 and the fighters headed to Cuba, they realized they werent getting the help theyd been promised by the U.S. military, including aerial support and a navy armada, Diaz Arguelles said. Roughly 1,400 men were transported from a Nicaraguan port in rusty merchant cargo ships to the Bay of Pigs on Cubas southern coast, then had to climb down ropes in the dark to board 18-foot aluminum boats from Sears and reach the beach  while under fire, because Castro had learned of the invasion in advance.

There was no time to get scared, said Diaz Arguelles, whose boat sank after hitting a reef, forcing him to swim ashore with a mortar tube and two boxes of ammo.

President John F. Kennedy, who authorized the mission barely three months into his term, had canceled a second planned airstrike after U.S. support for the April 17, 1961, invasion became known, according to the JFK Library.
CHICAGO  The body of an 18-year-old woman was recovered from the Chicago River on Sunday morning in the Goose Island neighborhood on the Near North Side, Chicago police said.

Officers were called to the 1100 block of North Cherry Avenue around 10:15 a.m. for a report of a body in the water, according to an emailed statement from a Chicago police spokesman.

The 18-year-old woman was unresponsive when she was pulled from the river by the Chicago police marine unit. It wasnt immediately clear whether dive team members went into the water in a rescue attempt.

The woman was pronounced dead at 11:22 a.m. Sunday, officials said. Natalia Derevyanny, a spokeswoman for the Cook County medical examiners office, said the teen had been identified but her next of kin had not yet been notified.

Detectives were investigating the womans death. It was not immediately clear whether foul play was suspected or if it had been ruled out. The case was classified as a death investigation.
LEWISTOWN  The last of four people who escaped from the Fulton County Jail in western Illinois last week has been captured, authorities said Sunday.

The Fulton County sheriff's office says Zachary Hart was caught near Canton. Hart, 36, was being held on charges including home invasion, possession of a firearm by a felon and fleeing police. He escaped from jail in western Illinois with Jesse Davis, 35, Cody Villalobos, 26, and Eugene Roets, 23. They were captured Thursday.

Authorities hadn't detailed how the men escaped. Davis was captured in the Farmington area, which is in Fulton County, while Villalobos and Roets were captured in adjacent Peoria County, officials said.

Fulton County deputies learned of the escape Wednesday night after one inmate went missing from a cell block in the jail in Lewistown, about 210 miles southwest of Chicago, authorities said. It was later determined that three others also were missing.
Belmont was a few blocks from the jail on California Avenue when a white SUV pulled up to his car, and someone from the SUV opened fire, striking Belmont several times and killing him, police have said.

Belmont had been held in the jail on murder and robbery charges after, authorities contend, he shot a man during a robbery in 2015 and robbed someone else a few hours later. The man who authorities believed Belmont shot died weeks later.

But Cook County prosecutors dropped the murder charges at the end of January 2017 after allowing too much time to elapse under the states speedy trial statute, according to court records and Belmonts lawyer. The robbery charges remained, however.

Two weeks after Belmont was killed, a 21-year-old man suffered six gunshot wounds to the groin area on March 20, 2017, as he was walking to the Leighton Criminal Court Building, which is next to the jail. Someone from a white van opened fire. The 21-year-old was struck by gunfire, and he was taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition.

The man who was shot in the groin had a history of misdemeanor arrests but oddly wasnt due in court the day he was shot. At the time, his lawyer said she didnt know why he was going to the courthouse that day.
A mental health professional from Memorial Behavioral Health and several police officers were also present.

"That's something," Johnson said, "I'll never forget, watching the families' reaction, the shock and awe of that. I've dealt with crises and those types of things, but never a shooting."

In both situations, Johnson was able to address the families.

"I remember talking about how none of this makes sense, that they weren't alone in this," said Johnson, one of three SPD chaplains. "You're just trying to give some pastoral support, that was the main thing. Do they even remember anything I said? I'm sure they didn't.

"It wasn't real yet. The coroner just tells you your loved one (was taken from you). How do you process that? How do you even begin to process that? What I saw was that once that news was finally delivered (by Allmon), there was the initial reaction then there was the now what?

"That's where I try to step in from the spiritual perspective, just to say you're not alone in this. There's a God who loves you. There's a God who cares. I can't understand why he would allow this to happen. Nobody can, but all I know is that he hasn't left us. That's when we went into prayer and tried to provide some comfort."
SOUTH SIOUX CITY  The tri-state region's governors touted programs and initiatives their respective states have launched in an effort to train, attract and develop skilled labor while acknowledging that more can be done to help businesses find qualified workers to fill vacant jobs.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem all said that workforce development is a top issue in the three states, which all have unemployment rates among the lowest in the nation and have more available jobs than unemployed workers.

"We want to partner with you. We are taking a look at all the programs we have in place. We are re-evaluating them," Reynolds told Siouxland business leaders during Monday's 17th Tri-State Governors' Conference at the South Sioux City Marriott Riverfront.

The governors of the three adjoining states have met almost every other year since 1988 to address and hear of topics of regional importance during the event, coordinated by the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. This year, as in years past, the main topic was jobs and how companies can find workers to fill them.
And there is more to be done. Specifically, even as (and especially because) the Biden administration is leaving Afghanistan, it should take the lead on the worlds stage to protect the rights of women. We see at least four places where the president can do so.

First, the president should lead rhetorically. He should find a platform that will draw public attention to rape as a weapon of war, similar to how Ronald Reagan used the Berlin Wall to ensure his speech calling for its destruction drew an international spotlight. Bidens public remarks should show how militarized forces like Islamic State and Boko Haram use sexual violence to strategic ends. He should meet with survivors, hear their stories, and make sure the world hears their stories too.

Second, the Biden administration can press for specific regimes and even individuals to be identified as committing these crimes so they cant continue to do so with impunity. Without pressure in the public sphere, prosecution is unlikely. McKay wrote about Yazidi women who say they have been victimized by Islamic State fighters. But despite hundreds of them coming forward to tell their stories, no Islamic State member has been prosecuted for the crime of sexual violence. The State Department should promote an awareness campaign along the lines of the 2012 effort that put a global spotlight on Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony.
You leave it sit outside overnight and see what drops into it. Theres a season that you want to do it when its cooler at night. Otherwise you get nasty bugs and bacteria, Ewing said, recalling his early beer-making attempts.

It actually worked really well the first time. I took some samples and sent them to a lab in Nashville, and theyre able to isolate the yeast strains and tell you what you have floating around, he said.

Ewing is primarily a self-taught brewer whos excited by the unpredictability of blending spontaneous and sour beers. The beer can take 12 to 18 months or longer to fully ferment, he said, which is why fewer craft brewers make them. Woodland Republic will start out only being open on weekends until production can pick up enough to fill all 12 taps.

A lot of times people who are wine drinkers end up becoming fans of sour beer, and I think a big part of that is that sour beer is acidic like wine is, and fruity. We describe it in fruity terms like lemons and limes, Ewing said. What were planning to do is barrel age quite a bit of it and you get a bit of that carryover (flavor) there.

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The beer lends itself to fun combinations of flavors. Key lime cheesecake sour and blueberry French toast sour are some of Ewings recent blends.
In previous elections, seats on the board were often filled in uncontested elections. But this year, the campaigns turned into political battles, complete with personal attacks.

Critical race theory is not a part of the Rapid City school curriculum. But that didnt stop candidates from making it a central issue of the campaign.

I believe with all my heart this is how they are going to slip socialism and Marxism into our schools, newly elected member Deb Baker said at a campaign event.

Curt Pochardt, who was unseated as the school board president in the election, said he worries the new partisan dynamic will hurt students education.

It doesnt help kids when theres tension on a school board," he said.

Education experts warn that school boards are squandering time that could be spent tackling issues such as recruiting teachers, ensuring students have internet access at home or improving opportunities for youngsters with disabilities.
McMaster asked his state's health department to bar state and local health groups from "the use of the Biden Administration's 'targeted' 'door to door' tactics."

"A South Carolinian's decision to get vaccinated is a personal one for them to make and not the government's," McMaster wrote in a letter to the department. "Enticing, coercing, intimidating, mandating, or pressuring anyone to take the vaccine is a bad policy which will deteriorate the public's trust and confidence in the State's vaccination efforts."

In Missouri, meanwhile, GOP Gov. Mike Parson tweeted: "I have directed our health department to let the federal government know that sending government employees or agents door-to-door to compel vaccination would NOT be an effective OR a welcome strategy in Missouri!"

Earlier in the week, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich sent a letter to Biden condemning the new strategy.

For the usually reserved Biden White House, which has long harbored private frustrations about some states' laggard vaccination programs but refused to condemn them publicly for fear of playing up political divides in public health, it was a bridge too far.
Dominion Energy Inc. wont be selling its Questar Pipelines business on the Wyoming-Utah border to a unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Richmond-based Dominion Energy and Berkshire Hathaway Energy have agreed to terminate the planned sale of the Questar Pipelines business because of uncertainty in receiving regulatory approval, the companies announced Monday.

The decision is a result of ongoing uncertainty associated with achieving clearance from the Federal Trade Commission under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, according to the statement.

Terminating the sale, which was effective Friday, was a potential outcome provided for under the deal to sell Questar Pipelines, the companies said.

Dominion Energy said it is looking to sell Questar Pipelines to an alternate buyer by the end of 2021.

The Questar Pipelines business was among the natural gas assets that Dominion agreed to sell to Berkshire Hathaway Energy in November. It sold substantially all of its gas transmission and storage business in that deal valued at $8 billion  $2.7 billion in cash and the transfer of about $5.3 billion of related debt.
The old accordion rests on a small table among other artifacts in my sisters living room as a silent, but solemn, tribute to the man who played it.

I suppose to some it would seem an odd accessory to display, but to those who knew him, nothing could better capture the nature of a man than that old well-worn Hohner accordion. Few of us have the distinction of being instantly remembered by a single object.

My uncle obtained the instrument while serving in the Army during and after World War II, and dragged it home with a collection of German beer steins and other acquisitions from his extended tour of the country.

He left behind a community of friends, relationships and memories of what he once told me were some of the best years of his life.

But to the benefit of all that encountered him, Uncle Dudley did return to Gaithersburg, Maryland, and his dream of returning to Germany remained unfulfilled until late in his life. But, the memories of his stay remained strong throughout his life.

We knew none of this as we gathered around him as children and begged him to play the accordion. On some occasions, hed tease for hours as we waited eagerly and suffered a severe sense of disappointment when he would wander close to the instrument, but not pick it up.
Friends, family members and community leaders gathered Sunday to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the first Black career firefighters hired in Richmond.

Music, laughter and memories filled the corner of Fifth and East Duval streets where Engine Company No. 9, the first Black firehouse, once stood.

Breaking barriers is never easy, and it wasnt for these brave men, said Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney at the event. Richmond in the early 1950s was much different from Richmond in 2021.

Frances Kittrell, who is in her 90s, thanked the events organizers for remembering her brother, Frederick Robinson, and other firefighters with Engine Company No. 9.

Brenda Blake Summerset, the oldest daughter of the late Oscar Blake, who joined the company in 1951, shared her memories of the men and the firehouse that were so important to her.

I got the opportunity to slide down the pole, which to a 6-year-old was the most wonderful thing in the world, Summerset said. They were men of quality, not just intelligence, but they had great character, and they exposed that character to so many others.

Stoney and others reflected on the history associated with Engine Company No. 9 and Black people in the Richmond Fire Department.
One local nonprofits loss is another ones gain.

Heather Mullins Crislip, president and CEO of Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, will leave the fair housing-focused organization at the end of July. Next month, she will start as executive director of The Richmond Forum and lead the organization responsible for the preeminent speaker series in the region.

Im really excited to be able to think about issues more broadly for Richmond, have the opportunity to get more nuance into our public conversations and create conversations that are deep, meaningful and help move Richmond forward without turning away from difficult truths, Crislip said in an interview.

In a statement, HOME, which celebrates its 50th anniversary later this year, commended Crislip for her leadership during nearly a decade at the helm.

During her tenure, the nonprofit found that Wells Fargo had declined Black mortgage applicants in Richmond at three times the rate of white applicants. Following HOMEs findings, the financial giant agreed to a $5 million partnership with the nonprofit to support prospective and current homeowners of color in the region.
The proposed funding package is built around Rebuild VA, a grant program that Northam launched last year with $120 million in federal aid under the CARES Act and that the assembly bolstered this year with an additional $25 million in revenues from a tax on electronic skill games before a state law banning them took effect on July 1.

Even so, the program has run out of money with about 9,000 applications pending from Virginia-based businesses that employ 250 or fewer people and have gross revenues of $10 million or less.

Rebuild VA has been a lifeline of support for countless Virginia businesses, Howell said in a statement released by Northams office. With so many businesses still in the queue for funding, there is no question that the General Assembly needs to approve the full amount to provide support to these businesses, and to allow new applications to be filed.

Terry, with the hospitality and travel association, said he hopes the state will tweak its guidelines for participating in the grant program, which excludes some large businesses, such as hotels, that he said need help.

You cant put too many restrictions on businesses, he said in an interview on Monday.
State behavioral health officials have faulted private psychiatric hospitals for not doing more to admit more adults and minors who have been taken into involuntary custody for treatment because of psychiatric emergencies that pose a threat to themselves or others.

Private hospitals accept most psychiatric patients under temporary detention orders, but their share of those patients has plummeted since passage of the bed of last resort law in 2014 to prevent the premature release of people in potentially life-threatening psychiatric emergencies without treating them.

The practice of streeting patients was documented in a 2012 study by the inspector general of the states behavioral health system. The General Assembly acted to stop it after Gus Deeds, the 24-year-old son of Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, attacked his father with a knife before killing himself in November 2013, just 13 hours after being released from emergency custody because the regional mental health agency failed to find a bed in a psychiatric facility to treat him.

Since the assembly adopted the law in 2014 to require state hospitals to accept patients under temporary detention orders if no other bed is found within eight hours, emergency admissions to the state institutions have soared by almost 400%, causing many of them to operate near or at their capacity, and sometimes beyond.
The Virginia Bar Associations summer meeting has for decades hosted the first general election debate of Virginias campaigns for governor. That wont be the case this year.

Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin on Monday announced that he would not participate in the associations July 24 debate at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, citing his objections to organizers about the format and the moderator, Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour.

Democrat Terry McAuliffe had accepted the debate at the VBAs summer meeting, a fixture of Virginias campaigns for governor since 1985.

Youngkin, through his campaign, said he would participate in three debates. McAuliffe has agreed to participate in five, including the VBA encounter.

Right now, the only debate both campaigns have agreed to is one organized by the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy on Sept. 16.

The campaigns have been tussling for weeks over when and where the candidates would debate. McAuliffe on Monday accused Youngkin of trying to hide from voters.

Debates have long been highly publicized venues for voters to get to know the candidates for governor  arenas where politicians have to defend their ideas unscripted.
In Virginia, parent opposition has been the loudest and most organized in Virginia Beach and Loudoun County, where hundreds of people showed up at a school board meeting in June. Officials deemed their loud demonstration unruly, ending public comment early.

In Virginia Beach on the same night, speakers threatened to recall board members. One led a singing audience through two verses of Jesus Loves the Little Children. Many speakers mentioned critical race theory specifically while also criticizing federal grants the district has received to fund lessons intended to help students develop social and emotional skills.

You dont have a right to teach my children to be empathetic to things that I dont agree with and Im not teaching in my home, Shay Coleman, a mother, told the board.

___

Why has it gotten so much attention in Virginia?

There have been plenty of efforts in the state over the past two years to make schools more equitable, and they met much backlash. Gov. Ralph Northams administration aggressively prioritized racial justice after a scandal erupted in 2019 over a racist photo on the governors yearbook page, setting off a chain of events that nearly brought down the entire Democratic leadership in Virginia.
To learn more about the expanded child tax credit and how it might impact you and your family, visit: www.childtaxcredit.gov

Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, represents Virginias 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Contact her Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2815, or via an email form on her website at: http://spanberger.house.gov

If you need assistance during this time, contact Spanbergers district office at: (804) 401-4110
Heard the phrase for the first time this year, said one.

I had heard the term vaguely, said another.

Never, said yet another.

Small wonder. A search of the LexisNexis database finds that the term critical race theory appeared in U.S. newspapers 1,361 times in the 21 years between January 2000 and New Years Day 2021. It has appeared 6,000 times in the six months since.

For the record: Critical race theory originated more than 30 years ago among legal scholars; it holds that race is a social  not a scientific  construct and offers a framework for understanding the role of systemic racism in the law and in legal institutions. It is taught, if at all, in law school  not high school.

So how did it become this sudden four-alarm fire in the house of democracy? The answer is depressingly simple. It is this years War on Christmas. Its Sharia law, gay wedding cake and New Black Panthers. Which is to say, it is this years spur by which the white right, more easily stampeded than a herd of cattle by a lightning strike, is prodded to feel resentful, frightened and besieged  and vote accordingly.
We need to safeguard our future, and start building trucks for the many customers and dealers whose businesses and livelihoods depend on our products, NRV Vice President and General Manager Franky Marchand said in a statement. Our last offer delivered significant wage gains and first-class benefits for our employees, and 40% of UAW voters supported it. We look forward to welcoming employees back to the plant, and to getting back to building the industrys best heavy-duty trucks.

"Any employees who return to work on July 12 or thereafter will immediately receive the wage increases and benefits outlined in the July 1 agreement," the release stated.

The company has argued that the plant shutdown is hurting its customers, and the legal move to declare an impasse and implement its "final offer" is necessary to preserve its business and a planned $400 million plant upgrade.

UAW is evaluating its legal options, spokesman Brian Rothenberg wrote in an email. And the strike will continue for now. A membership vote on the final offer is set for Wednesday, Rothenberg wrote.

If the membership ratifies the final offer on Wednesday, workers will receive a "ratification bonus" stipulated in the contract, Local President Matt Blondino wrote in a letter to members dated Sunday and posted on the union Facebook page.
Town council members during debates over those Facebook comments raised concerns about Hicks making deliberately untrue allegations about the work of a top town official. Hicks told her colleagues during the back and forth that the finance director never told her how to vote, and the councilwoman argued her online comment was taken out of context and was part of a greater thread.

Regarding the Downtown Christiansburg Inc. matter, Barber previously said Hicks leaned on a financial issue in the town of Pulaski to oppose providing funds to DCI. The issue particularly involved DCI President Justin Sanders, who happened to be a planner with Pulaski around the time the locality was going through some financial challenges.

Hicks argues she only shared information about the financial issue and raised concerns over funding to DCI in light of the events in Pulaski. The reprimand, however, stated her comments amounted to an allegation absent merit that a member of DCI had engaged in financial malfeasance with taxpayer dollars.

Barber has stressed Sanders had nothing to do with any of those budget-related issues in Pulaski as he would have had no control or access to those funds.

The recent legal clash adds another page to what has been a tumultuous past year for town council.
The menu of Tazewell County youth amusements being all but limitless, one a little less taken by the romance of riding the rods might have chosen to dampen a line in the aforementioned river. The smallmouth therein are ferocious tail dancers at this time of year, but thats a topic for another day.

Back in Richlands, the passenger train on the return track from Norton had a schedule to keep.

The return trip passed through Richlands between 5 and 6 p.m. each day. From our house on Lee Street, I could hear the whistle when the train was approaching Raven, about five miles away, and then watch the headlight coming up the valley and into town.

As you have probably already inferred, the impression the to-and-fro of these daily excursions made on the young man was profound. The end of the line in this instance was anything but an instance of trite phrasing.

The steam locomotive, No. 578, was retired in January or February and given to a museum in Ohio. The train itself was discontinued a few months later.

The news came hard as the limestone ballast supporting the railroad tracks. Not long after, he was prompted to act. Along with a love of railroading, he had another emerging passion that was to serve him well.
State behavioral health officials have faulted private psychiatric hospitals for not doing more to admit more adults and minors who have been taken into involuntary custody for treatment because of psychiatric emergencies that pose a threat to themselves or others.

Private hospitals accept most psychiatric patients under temporary detention orders, but their share of those patients has plummeted since passage of the so-called "bed of last resort" law in 2014 to prevent the premature release of people in potentially life-threatening psychiatric emergencies without treating them.

The practice of "streeting" patients was documented in a 2012 study by the inspector general of the state's behavioral health system. The General Assembly acted to stop it after Gus Deeds, the 24-year-old son of Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, attacked his father with a knife and then killed himself in November 2013, just 13 hours after being released from emergency custody because the regional mental health agency failed to find a bed in a psychiatric facility to treat him.

Since the assembly adopted the law in 2014 to require state hospitals to accept patients under temporary detention orders if no other bed is found within eight hours, emergency admissions to the state institutions have soared by almost 400%, causing many of them to operate near or at their capacity, and sometimes beyond.
Also removed Saturday was a statue depicting Sacagawea, and explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, which has been criticized for a depiction of the Native American guide and interpreter some view as subservient and weak.

Couples, families with small children and activists looked on Saturday. The crowd intermittently chanted and cheered as progress was made fairly quickly. Hymns at one point wafted down the street as musicians performed from the front steps of a church.

Good atmosphere, good vibes, good energy, said Jim Henson, a resident of a nearby community who came to witness the historic event.

Ralph Dixon, a 59-year-old Black man born and raised in Charlottesville, was documenting Saturdays activities, a camera draped around his neck.

Dixon said he was brought as a schoolchild to the park where the Lee statue stood. All the teachers, my teachers anyway, were always talking about what a great person this was, he said.

He said his understanding of Lees legacy and the statues message evolved as he matured. He said it was important to understand the statue was erected not directly after the Civil War but during the Jim Crow era when Black Americans' rights were being stripped away.
Despite the increased vaccine rollout, global deaths from the virus have now surpassed 4 million as the more virulent Delta variant targets more than 100 countries, including those with high vaccination rates.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, India accounted for 26% of the increase in the last 1 million deaths, and Brazil about 18%. The U.S. accounts for about 4% of the rise.

While vaccination access and rates are increasing in higher-income countries, the same cannot be said for many lower-income countries that lack the necessary resources to pull this off en masse.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently described a shocking imbalance in the global distribution of vaccines.

Most countries do not have anywhere near enough vaccines to cover all health workers or all at-risk groups, never mind the rest of their populations, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, MSc, said in a press release.

As of July 7th, more than 3.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered globally, according to Our World in Data, a research group affiliated with the University of Oxford.

The United States has succeeded in fully vaccinating nearly half of its population, while some African and Asian countries have seen vaccination rates as low as 1%.

In India, less than 5% of the population is fully vaccinated.

Indias Covid death toll crossed 400,000 last week, with the majority happening during a surge over the past two months. Earlier this week, the countrys Prime Minister sacked dozens of government officials, health minister included, due to mishandling of the pandemic.

The rise of new cases and hospitalizations in some countries, including India, could have wider implications for the global economic recovery.

India is the leading supplier in several critical industries, including information technology support and generic drug manufacturing. In the U.S., nearly 90% of total prescriptions are filled by generic drugs, approximately one-third of which comes from India.

The health crisis in India alone could lead to additional supply chain shortages, including in clothing, health and financial services, among others.

Last month, the Biden administration announced that it would donate 80 million vaccine doses to countries in need, with most earmarked for India and Brazil, another nation that has seen an increase in hospitalizations and deaths in the last couple of months.

Earlier this month, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned that new outbreaks of Covid-19 remain one of the top threats to a global economic recovery.

The OECD estimates that the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Germany are on track to recover to pre-pandemic levels of GDP per capita by the end of 2021. On the other hand, some countries- nearly all of those still fighting outbreaks--will have to wait for 2025 to recover.

However, experts still warn that even the U.S. is not free from risk given vaccine disparity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination coverage was lower in rural counties (38.9%) than in urban counties (45.7%). Vaccination rates among Black and Hispanic people have lagged behind those of White people.

Among those who had received at least one dose of the vaccine, nearly two thirds were White (60%), 9% were Black, 15% were Hispanic, 6% were Asian, 1% were American Indian or Alaska Native.
Wells Fargo has done it again. The major US bank has been scrambling to rebuild its reputation over the past couple of years, tarnished by major scandals; and now, its in the spotlight once again.

In a six-page letter to customers obtained by CNBC, Wells Fargo has informed its customers that over the next several weeks, it will close all existing personal lines of credit--for good.

In the letter, the bank said that it had recently reviewed its product offerings and decided to discontinue offering new Personal and Portfolio line of credit accounts and close all existing accountsThe account closure is final.

The bank said it was discontinuing the product so it can focus on personal loans and credit cards. Wells Fargo didnt specifically say why it was getting out of the personal credit line business.

According to the banks press release, clients will be informed two months before their accounts are shut down, with their remaining balances paid off over regular minimum payments at a fixed rate.

The revolving credit lines, ranging from $3,000 to $100,000, allowed customers to consolidate higher-interest credit card debt and avoid overdraft fees on checking accounts, among other things.

However, the bank also said that the closure of the accounts may have an impact on the credit score, which will have customers up in arms, and possibly regulators, too. We realize change can be inconvenient, especially when customer credit may be impacted, bank spokesman Manny Venegas told the media.

That didnt sit well with some, including former presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren, who Tweeted that not a single customer should see their credit score suffer just because their bank is restructuring after years of scams and incompetence.

Sending out a warning notice simply isnt good enough  Wells Fargo needs to make this right, Senator Warren wrote.

The banks decision comes three years after the Federal Reserve imposed an asset cap on the bank to limit its ability to grow its balance sheet until it addressed the improper accounts and practices.

Also in 2018, Wells Fargo was forced to pay the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) $1 billion in a settlement over charges that the bank had levied inappropriate fees on mortgage borrowers and forced loan customers to purchase auto insurance. The Department of Justice also imposed a hefty $2.09-billion fine on the bank for the sale of residential mortgage loans that contained misstated income information.

You can read a comprehensive list of Wells Fargos past scandals here.

The banking industry as a whole posted $147.9 billion in profits in 2020, which is a 36.5% decline from the prior year. And unlike other industries, the six biggest banks posted decent profits in 2020, led by JPMorgan with $29.1 billion, Bank of America with $17.9 and Wells Fargo $3.1 billion.

And when the economy started to recover at the end of last year, banks did, too--many of them beating estimates for Q1 2021.

In May, the six largest bank CEOs appeared before the Senate for a banking committee hearing on the oversight of Wall Street firms. The focus was the fact that the pandemic did not threaten bank profitability; yet, banks failed to do much of anything to help out ordinary people during the pandemic.

On other hand, total outstanding U.S. consumer debt balance grew $800 billion to a record high of $14.88 trillion in 2020--the highest annual growth recorded in over a decade.
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FLORENCE, S.C.  The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce will host the 2021 S.C. Chamber Grassroots Tour Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the SiMT Center, located at 1951 Pisgah Road in Florence.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and the program will begin at noon. Bob Morgan, president/chief executive officer of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, will lead the program discussion and legislative review.

Each year, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce partners with regional chambers of commerce throughout South Carolina to present the Chambers Alliance Grassroots Tour along with a legislative update.

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The interactive luncheon offers the state and local chambers to hear from local business and industries on the issues they are faced with in todays business environment. The feedback received will help shape the state Chambers 2022 Competitiveness Agenda and set the Chambers priorities for the next legislative session.
 Spreading word about post-graduate legal fellowships with Brennan Centers Justice Program | Main | A true scholarly feast for Apprendi fans 

At a conference a dozen years ago, I spoke about the need for second-look sentencing mechanisms and argued that prosecutors should be much more involved in reviewing past sentences. That speech got published as Encouraging (and Even Requiring) Prosecutors to Be Second-Look Sentencers, 19 Temple Political & Civil Rights L. Rev. 429 (2010).

I am very pleased that these ideas are finally coming into vogue, as highlighted by this new Law360 piece headlined "New Wave Of Prosecutors Push For Resentencing Laws." I recommend this piece in full, and here are excerpts:

Washington county prosecutor Dan Satterberg knew when his state passed its three-strikes law in 1993, mandating that repeat offenders of certain crimes be sentenced to life without parole, that those sentences would one day need to be undone....

When Satterberg was elected district attorney of Washington's King County in 2007, he created a team to review cases, identify people who received life sentences under the three-strikes law and try to find a legal avenue for those people to be resentenced....

But Satterberg realized that in order to move more quickly with resentencing in more cases, he needed to have the explicit legal authority to request judges to resentence people. So Satterberg drafted and lobbied for the passage of S.B. 6164 that gives Washington state prosecutors the power to request resentencing in the interest of justice. The law was passed last year.

So far, Satterberg has not been able to get anyone resentenced under the new law, because the court asked prosecutors not to file these resentencing petitions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and limited court operations. Satterberg's office, however, has identified more than 100 cases that could be eligible for resentencing under the law. The office hopes to have its first resentencing under this law in August.... "I think it's consistent with the overall mission of the prosecutor, which is to seek justice," Satterberg said about S.B. 6164. "If there are procedural barriers to seeking justice, then you need to advocate to remove those."

More state and county prosecutors are reaching the same conclusion as Satterberg that they need the power to request resentencing from judges to correct past injustices, end mass incarceration, give people second chances and divert money spent on incarceration to more effective crime prevention methods.

In April, more than 60 current and former prosecutors signed a statement by the nonprofit network Fair and Just Prosecution urging their colleagues to review decadeslong sentences in their jurisdictions and to no longer seek such sentences, except in cases where the convicted individual poses a serious safety risk....

The bill that Satterberg spearheaded was inspired by the first prosecutor-initiated resentencing law passed by California in 2018. The California law, A.B. 2942, was drafted by Hillary Blout, a former San Francisco prosecutor who worked under Vice President Kamala Harris when she served as the district attorney of San Francisco.

After Blout served as a prosecutor for six years, she founded the nonprofit For the People in 2019 that works with prosecutors to implement resentencing legislation in their states. Blout said that resentencing laws are important to correct failed policies that sought to achieve public safety by imprisoning people for as long as possible....

Twenty-five states including New York, Virginia and Texas are currently considering resentencing legislation, according to a report released in May by The Sentencing Project, a nonprofit research organization that aims to improve the U.S. criminal justice system and reduce the prison population. Oregon and Illinois both passed prosecutor-initiated resentencing laws during this legislative session that were signed by their respective state governors in late June.

While these resentencing laws have the power to end harsh sentences and end mass incarceration, some advocates have criticized resentencing laws that only allow prosecutors to request resentencing. Advocates argue that incarcerated people should also be allowed to petition courts for resentencing in their cases. Not all prosecutors are prioritizing resentencing even when they have the power to do so, leaving incarcerated people serving overly long sentences, they say.
LONDON (AP)  Facebook's WhatsApp faces a complaint from European Union consumer groups who say the chat service has been unfairly pressuring users to accept a new privacy update in what it calls a breach of the bloc's regulations.
NEW YORK (AP)  A New York judge was sympathetic Monday to horse trainer Bob Bafferts claims that his May suspension by the New York Racing Association  after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test  was unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon at a Brooklyn hearing repeatedly pressed a lawyer for the racing association to explain why the suspension was issued before Baffert was given a chance to defend himself.

Henry Greenberg, arguing on behalf of the racing association, said Baffert will get a hearing after the association announces the length of his suspension by Aug. 11.

Isn't that a little too late?" the judge asked, noting that the duration will be announced months after he was suspended. The problem I have, counsel, is that he was suspended and it's up in the air.

She said the racing association attacked his credibility as it issued the suspension, but never gave him the chance to speak on his own behalf about what happened.

How does that comply with due process? the judge asked.
District Judge Zachary Hindman on Monday scheduled a hearing on Bauer's request for appointment of a new attorney on July 30, the same day he is scheduled to be sentenced.

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Hindman said he could not consider Bauer's motion to withdraw his plea because Bauer is currently represented by an attorney, and Iowa law prohibits the court from considering a pro se motion from a defendant who is represented by counsel. The law does permit him to hear the pro se motion for a new attorney.

During his plea hearing, Bauer admitted to Hindman that he aided and abetted in the Jan. 1 shooting at 2636 Walker St., where 18-year-old Mia Kritis was killed and three others were injured. He also admitted to firing shots at the house, where 20-25 people were gathered for a New Year's Eve party.

During that same hearing, Hindman asked Bauer a series of standard questions, including whether anyone had forced or coerced him to plead guilty. Bauer answered no, and in response to another of Hindman's questions, said he was willingly pleading guilty.

Bauer would be in breach of the plea agreement if he filed an appeal challenging his plea hearing or sentence or by filing a postconviction relief action. The state would have the right to revoke the agreement and try him for first-degree murder.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- The tri-state region's governors touted programs and initiatives their respective states have launched in an effort to train, attract and develop skilled labor while acknowledging that more can be done to help businesses find qualified workers to fill vacant jobs.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem all said that workforce development is a top issue in the three states, which all have unemployment rates among the lowest in the nation and have more available jobs than unemployed workers.

"We want to partner with you. We are taking a look at all the programs we have in place. We are re-evaluating them," Reynolds told Siouxland business leaders during Monday's 17th Tri-State Governors' Conference at the South Sioux City Marriott Riverfront.

The governors of the three adjoining states have met almost every other year since 1988 to address and hear of topics of regional importance during the event, coordinated by the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. This year, as in years past, the main topic was jobs and how companies can find workers to fill them.
Attorneys for the state maintain Indiana cant continue paying out the benefits because the state has already ended its agreement with the federal government to administer the federal programs.

Entering into a new agreement would require the workforce development office to expend extra time and resources to rework its information technology system, according to court documents. The state also argued that Indiana would not have time to withdraw from the federal programs again should the appeals court rule in the states favor.

During the legal battle, Indianas Department of Workforce Development has not continued payment of federal unemployment benefits. A spokesperson for the state agency said Monday that benefits are estimated to restart by Friday.

A spokesperson for the Department of Labor told The Associated Press that the federal government will accept states back into the programs after theyve terminated the benefits, adding that benefits should be available to claimants for any weeks covered by the court orders.



Casey Smith is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty obligates both countries to come to each other's aid in case of an attack.

Prior to Pompeo's statement, U.S. policy had been to insist that maritime disputes between China and its smaller neighbors be resolved peacefully through U.N.-backed arbitration. The shift did not apply to disputes over land features that are above sea level, which are considered to be territorial in nature.

Although the U.S. continues to remain neutral in territorial disputes, it has effectively sided with the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, all of which oppose Chinese assertions of sovereignty over maritime areas surrounding contested South China Sea islands, reefs and shoals.

China reacted angrily to the Trump administration's announcement and is likely to be similarly peeved by the Biden administration's decision to retain and reinforce it.

We call on (China) to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small, Blinken said in the statement,
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Republican state Sen. Matt Dolan launched a listening tour Monday to explore a bid for Ohio's open U.S. Senate seat, casting himself as a tough but pragmatic politician in the tradition of exiting GOP Sen. Rob Portman and the late astronaut and Democratic Sen. John Glenn.

These were statesmen, and that's who Ohio has elected. I will be a statesman, Dolan told The Associated Press, appearing to draw a contrast with the crowded field of Republicans vying for former President Donald Trump's attention and endorsement.

Contenders include former state Republican chair Jane Timken, author and venture capitalist J.D. Vance and Cleveland businesspeople Mike Gibbons and Bernie Moreno. Like the ex-president, another candidate  former state treasurer Josh Mandel  has criticized immigrants, ethnic groups and Democrats on Twitter as part of his campaign.

Dolan, once called the nicest meanest person" someone had met, said he tries not to resort to name-calling.

I think you can be relentless and difficult in your pursuit of what you think is right, he said. You do not have to demean the other side."
WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. regulators on Monday added a new warning to Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine about links to a rare and potentially dangerous neurological reaction, but said its not entirely clear the shot caused the problem.
McAuliffe, who in mid-June announced his intention to participate in the bar association debate, along with four others, said the decision showed Youngkin lacked courage."

His refusal to participate in this debate is an insult to Virginians and shows that Glenn knows just how out of step he is with the people of the Commonwealth, said McAuliffe, who is seeking a second, nonconsecutive term in office.

After McAuliffe's campaign announced in mid-June the debates he intended to participate in, the Youngkin campaign was initially silent on the schedule. A spokeswoman then said the candidate would participate in at least one debate and was open to doing two others.

Youngkin's campaign on Monday confirmed he planned to participate in three debates: one hosted by Hampton University, Liberty University and the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce in late August; one at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy in September; and a to-be-determined host and location in mid-October.

The Appalachian School of Law event is the only one both men have committed to. Also in the race making a longshot third-party bid is activist and educator Princess Blanding.
Another directive asks the USDA to issue new rules on what meat products can bear the Product of the USA label, making sure that those meats are not only processed within the U.S., but raised here, too.

Still another order through the Federal Trade Commission seeks to limit the power of farm equipment manufacturers to require producers to use their services for repairs. That would make it easier for farmers to make their own repairs or use local shops.

All are part of a broader administration initiative intended to boost competition across a variety of industries.

What its going to do is first and foremost create an opportunity to reverse whats happening today out in the countryside, where producers are having to sell their cattle at a loss only to learn the processors end up taking that cattle and generating profit, Vilsack said. The profit ought to go both ways.

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Consolidation has been particularly acute in the beef industry, in which four large meatpacking companies dominate over 80% of the market. That consolidation has limited farmers and ranchers options for selling their products, given them a shrinking share of the consumer dollar and raised prices for consumers, the administration says.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday that Iowa will cover the cost of troopers sent to Texas to fight crime along the U.S. border with Mexico, confirming the state would fund the mission after the release of agreements showing the effort would come at no cost to Texas."

Since Reynolds announced June 24 that she would join other Republican governors in sending forces to the border, her administration has argued Texas could later reimburse Iowa for expenses under a multi-state compact. However, Iowa's assistance agreements released to The Associated Press on Monday stated that Texas and Arizona asked other states to absorb the associated costs with this mission for the good of the country.

Iowa is donating this resource, according to the agreements, signed by the director of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management on July 2 and released by the department under the open records law.

Later Monday, Reynolds was asked at a news conference in Nebraska who would pay for the deployment, and she acknowledged the costs would fall to her state.
TBILISI, Georgia (AP)  Hundreds of people protested in Georgia on Monday for a second day in a row, demanding the government of the ex-Soviet nation resign over the death of a journalist who was attacked and beaten by anti-LGBT protesters.

Demonstrators gathered in front of Georgia's parliament in the capital of Tbilisi, then went on to rally in front of the headquarters of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Some threw eggs and paint at the party headquarters building and 12 people were arrested.

Cameraman Alexander Lashkarava was found dead in his home Sunday by his mother, according to the TV Pirveli channel he worked for. Lashkarava was one of several dozen journalists attacked last Monday by opponents of an LGBT march that had been scheduled to take place that day in Tbilisi.

Organizers of the Tbilisi March For Dignity cancelled the event, saying authorities had not provided adequate security guarantees. Opponents of the march blocked off the capitals main avenue, denounced journalists covering the protest as pro-LGBT propagandists and threw sticks and bottles at them.
She revealed: "We just started shooting our new show, 'Paris in Love', on Peacock and we're shooting in New York just now, actually, and getting ready for the dress fitting and just planning the bachelorette party. There's a lot.

"So I'm really excited to share that with all my fans."

When asked whether or not the wedding itself will be televised, she confirmed: "Yes."

The 'Stars are Blind' hitmaker teased her wedding will be "something magical and fun" and her beloved pet dog will be involved in the ceremony.

She said: "You know, I'm not your traditional bride. There has to be my little Chihuahua, Diamond Baby."

Paris hailed Carter as her "Prince Charming" and insisted she'd never met anyone like him before.

Asked how it felt to have his support, she added: "You're going to make me cry asking a question like that. I've never met a man like this in my life.

"I've never been with someone who loves and supports me so much, and lifts me up, and isn't intimidated.

"[He] is just my best friend and my Prince Charming all rolled into one."

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This article originally ran on celebretainment.com.

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With the dancing mailboxes from the 2020 election headed to the Smithsonian and Four Seasons Total Landscaping rebranding as a concert venue, Philadelphias place in the turbulent political history of the last year is already assured. But another important bellwether came in May, when the citys district attorney, Larry Krasner, handily won the Democratic primary on his way to likely re-election in the fall. One of the most prominent progressive DAs in the country, Krasner used his first term, which began in 2018, to reduce mass incarceration, decrease the use of cash bail, and pursue exonerations for the wrongfully convicted , and the primary was cast as a referendum on whether those priorities could survive in an era when some crime rates are rising rather than hitting record lows. Its a narrative that has also been attached to New Yorks recent mayoral primary and is likely to remain prominent through the next election cycle, as Republicans play up the rising murder rate and centrist Democrats argue that progressive criminal justice reformers have overplayed their hand (both the Philadelphia Democratic Party and the citys Democratic mayor pointedly declined to endorse Krasner in the primary).

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But Krasners decisive victory indicates theres still substantial public support for reforming the justice system. And Philly D.A., the documentary series now streaming in its entirety on Topic, shows how Krasner himself is the reason why. Over the course of eight episodes, co-directors Ted Passon and Yoni Brook take us through the difficult, often messy process of dismantling the old order and assembling the first pieces of a new one, while fighting very public battles with a police force actively hostile to change and a populace to whom Krasner sometimes struggles to make his priorities clear. (The sixth episode, in which Krasner faces a group of residents from the opioid-ravaged Kensington neighborhood, is an object lesson in the difference between setting policy and making it into political action.) Like the COVID postscript to Steve James City So Real, its a necessary and sometimes painful exploration of what happens when progressive dreams become reality, and how hard it is to change the system without being swallowed by it.

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Slate talked to Philly D.A. co-director Ted Passon about watching a longshot campaign become a national story, and why changing the narrative is just as important as changing the law. The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Sam Adams: How did you first connect with Larry Krasner?

Ted Passon: Id come up in activist circles, and I had heard Krasners name for a long time. He represented a lot of friends of mine, who were activists. I was in protests with his phone number written on my arm. But Id never met him and I didnt really know anything about him. A friend called who was involved in his campaign early on and said, Hey, you know that guy Larry Krasner? Hes running for district attorney. There was no inkling in my mind that he would win. But it was like, oh, what a brilliant stunt. What a great idea.

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As someone who had paid some attention to the criminal justice system in Philadelphia, you had always taken the punitive agenda of the district attorney as just part of the job. But him being in this race questioned that. It was something newyou could tell just by the way people were talking about the race early on. It was getting attention and discussion like no other DA race ever before. So it felt like this is a really interesting moment. This might be something worth documenting.

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Philly D.A. points this out, but it seems important to underline for people who dont know that, while Philadelphia is an overwhelmingly Democratic city, it hasnt been remotely progressive in terms of criminal justice. Lynne Abraham, who held the district attorneys position for 20 years, was known as the deadliest DA in America, because of how often she pursued the death penalty, and until last summer a statue of famously abusive[AF6] police chief-turned-mayor Frank Rizzo stood in front of City Hall. So Krasners election wasnt a baby step. It was a leap.

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Totally. When we were starting the project and talking to other folks who werent as familiar with the city, I was like, you just cant understand how ridiculous this is. Its just so impossible. People assume that youre a Democratic stronghold city and that theres a liberal attitude that goes with it. But for whatever reason, the criminal justice system has always been the exception to that in Philadelphia.

[Read: Philadelphias New Top Prosecutor Is Rolling Out Wild, Unprecedented Reforms.]

How did you get Krasner to agree to you following him around for several years?

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[We were kept at] kind-of arms length at first, but thats to be expected when youre starting a process like this. And then we just kind of kept going. You seem to be letting us into more and more, so lets just slowly follow this lead In the beginning, we said, On the off chance, if you were to win thisIm sure it was phrased more diplomaticallywe would want to keep going. But we didnt have much of an expectation that that would be the case. Then, of course, when it became clear that he was going to win, then we were like, So the real question is, are you actually going to be able to make change? Are you going to be able to do any of the things that youre promising? Why or why not? And we want to see that.

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Youre never sure if your idea of access is the other persons idea of access. But the one thing that made us somewhat hopeful was that Krasner was like, I really believe in this thing. I really want there to be progressive DAs around the country. To me, the biggest barrier to that happening is we need people to run who would never have imagined that they couldve done this. I can see the value in a document where somebody gets to go, gets to experience it, as if theyre theregets to see what works and what doesnt work. I can see how that would make it easier for them to imagine themselves doing the exact same thing. He even said at one point, This documentary may be more important than even what we accomplish. Because if it inspires other people to do it, then maybe thats better.

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Did you have a sense of the larger progressive prosecutor movement when you started?

If Im being honest, not really. Larry running in Philly was the first Id heard about there being a national movement. Embedding with him and starting to film with him, we would hear about it, because he would be having conversations with some of these other folks or he would be dropping their names and things that they did. Its a movement with a lot of Black women prosecutors at the head of it, and we had the benefit and good fortune to meet some of these people. Some of them made cameos in the series.

We often get asked, Why Philadelphia? But it was just for the pragmatic reason of we had no money and we couldnt have afforded to make a film about anyone else or anywhere else. One of the reasons that we even felt like this project was doable was just because my production company office happened to be across the street from the DAs office.

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Krasner talks a lot about how culture beats policy all day long, especially when hes cleaning house in the DAs office. But changing the culture is a much bigger and more difficult task than changing policy. So much of the resistance Krasner faces is because people believe certain thingsthat mass incarceration lowers the crime rate, or that safe injection sites increase drug useand the data showing theyre wrong just gets pushed aside. So its not just a battle about changing what the DAs office does, but the narratives people have about crime.

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That was something that we realized as we were filming. It wasnt one of the initial things that we thought we were going to be talking about in the series. But as we spent more time in the DAs office, as we just watched what was going on, we always kept asking ourselves, What are the challenges? What are the obstacles? What are the things that make it hard to make change? And we just realized that storytelling and narrative are the biggest hurdles, because thats driving the entire conversation. There was an intern at the DAs office who I remember we talked to one day, who was just there for a couple months. And he said something that crystallized this idea for me. He was like, I realized the campaign never stopped for Krasner. Every single time he speaks in public, he has to re-outline the mission, re-outline what hes doing, re-sell people on it.

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That really comes to a head in the sixth episode, about the opioid crisis in Kensington. Krasner is trying to sell people whose loved ones have been fatally overdosing on the idea of public injection sites, and he just keeps citing numbers at them, saying that the sites dont promote drug addiction without really acknowledging the crisis theyre in.

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To have somebody tell you that reality is other than what youre seeing in front of your face, your own lived experience, feels like a trap. It feels crazy. It feels like youve heard that before from politicians. But on the other hand, because the media narrative and the way we talk about crime is all about punishment, then we have this idea that you can get to safety through punishment, when the reality is thats not true at all. Something that I really took away from this experience is that by the time the police and the prosecutors get involved, its too late. The crimes over. We always talk about making people pay for things as if it has anything to do with safety. What the narrative should be, but never is, is the next time the city council cuts funding for education or for after chool programs or for healthcare, thats causing crime right there. Not to put all the blame on the media, but when we would see the questions they would ask, we realized they all imply that this relationship is true. That punitiveness is stopping crime. And if the whole conversation is guided by that, then nothings ever going to change.

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[Read: If You Want to Reform the Police, Get Prosecutors on Your Side.]

Speaking of media narratives, the series was airing as Krasner was coming up to the Democratic primary, which many political observers framed as an acid test for the progressive prosecutor movementalthough that idea seemed to go away once Krasner handily defeated his opponent. Weve seen the same thing in the New York mayors race, where Eric Adams victory has been cited as a sign that progressive Democrats are being hurt by rising crimeeven though he just barely eked out a victory over a candidate who promised to thoroughly overhaul the NYPD. But the narrative is that crime is on the rise, and now is not the time to reform the system.

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Right, right. And this is one of Krasners favorite lines: We werent safe before this. The death toll under Lynne Abraham was as high as it is now under COVID, without the extraordinary circumstances of the collapsed economy from the pandemic. So why do we think that [punitive strategy] works? You know? Its just kind of fascinating how much we will not question it. But it goes to show you how much emotion plays into this. Because as soon as youre scared and as soon as you feel unsafe, you dont care about the analytics. That part of your brain is not functioning. Its the survival part. And its not about blaming people for being scared, its about challenging ourselves to see change as the only way to actually get out of the scary situation.

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The series wont air on PBS in Philadelphia until after the fall election, but what has the reaction been like elsewhere?

For the most part, the reaction to the series has been phenomenal and totally surpassed our expectations. In the beginning, something we would hear from other networks  was, Oh you know, the storys just so local. In our minds, it had ramifications for the rest of the country, but we also were from Philly, so we knew we could be called to second-guess that. We actually changed the name of the series when we were pitching it to American Prosecutor. But then we were like, wait, doesnt every story take place somewhere? What does it matter? To our delight and surprise, what weve been hearing time and time again is that people are able to see their city, their story, their place in the series. We became the first doc series to ever stream at the Berlin Film Festival. We were shocked that we got a call from them, and they were like, This is so similar to whats going on here right now. We really see our own system in this. Were like, really?

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Krasners re-election in the fall is all but assured now, after his primary win. Where do you see him, and the progressive prosecutor movement, going in future?

All of the things that the progressive prosecutor movement is pushing toward, I feel that history shows us that theyre going in the direction that history has always gonewhich is more human, more inclusive. Now, its not necessarily a straight road. A lot of times it steps forward and steps back. I think the defund-the-police movement has actually taken hold in a way that in some ways was surprising. Were starting to see places divest and do different things already and perform experiments that, I think a year or two ago, nobody wouldve thought a city would be ready to do. Will something come up that could slow us down? Possibly. For sure. But I think at the end of the day its still going to keep moving in this direction.
Throughout the past month, Ive taken advantage of the liberty afforded by my (and others) vaccination to fully explore my home state of Michigan. I did not decamp to my parents suburban paradise when the pandemic first hit, electing instead to ride out the horrifying New York City wave. I have no regrets about that choice, even as I understand why so many of my peers did the oppositebut after months of watching Brooklyn transform around me, as businesses shuttered and streets opened up and residents came together in mutual aid and solidarity and protest, I wondered what it was like to see my older homes similarly shift in real time. And I knew Michigan was shifting, even if that shift was in a different direction: I talked to friends who lived down the street from the state Capitol as it was raided by armed Trump supporters; I watched videos featuring faces of people Id met before chanting stop the count; I listened to one of my parents saddening tales of the COVID wards in which they worked. In the end, once I had the ability, I needed to go home to see it for myself.

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It wasnt just concern about COVID or politics that animated this impulse. As someone who thinks about climate change a lot, Ive been thinking about my future during these somewhat existential months, and what the concept of home can even mean anymore. Ive lived in NYC for nearly four years now, and Ive savored every bit of it. But whenever someone asks me whether Id like to live here forever, I hesitatenot because I wouldnt enjoy it, but because I probably wont be able to. Like many others of my generation, I dont own property and am unlikely to anytime soon. And while so far, Ive lived in areas of Queens and Brooklyn less susceptible to the extremities of freak events like Superstorm Sandy, its hard to shake the suspicion that very little of New York will be safe in the coming yearsyou just need look at the most recent reports of the oppressive heat, the stated need to conserve energy in the face of potential blackouts, and the flooded subway stations to see whats already well on the way.

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With that understanding, I havent been able to help formulating contingency plans. The Midwest, and specifically the beautiful northern regions and dense middle cities of Michigan, always seemed like a good fallback prospect: generally temperate climes even in the midst of erratic weather, a lack of frequent coastal earthquakes and Great Plains storms and Western droughts, and my own familiarity with the broader region, from Chicago to Michigan City. Researchers have already predicted Michigan will become a domestic climate haven for Americans displaced by climate effects in the coming decades. Which is why my answer to the question Do you want to live in NYC forever? has long been As long as Im able to, and my answer to the question Would you ever want to move back to Michigan? has become When Im inevitably forced to.

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But coming back to Michigan in the summer of 2021 has forced me to rethink even this admittedly vague backup plan.

The state is still beautiful, lush with greenery and cold water and ample public and private space in its bustling towns and cities. It finally has a solid gubernatorial administration at the helm (the second woman weve had in lead office since the 2000s), along with legal weed and overhauled political institutions. And its changed so much for the better, politically and culturally, throughout the decades Ive lived here, as the post-9/11 bigotry I experienced as a brown kid somewhat lessenedsmall conservative towns like Holland and Manistee and Meridian Charter Township are far more accepting of the LGBTQ community and minorities than Id ever seen them be before.

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But in spite of these positive shifts, my recent weeks of biking and driving across the state have left me with a different perception, a sinking feeling of what life is like in the merciless Anthropocene. Reports of extreme weather have been a fixture of this early summer, including here. Heavy rain led to floods that drowned cars in Dearborn and Detroit, shutting down power for thousands while wrecking the wastewater infrastructure of still more cities, as well as the water purification systems and home plumbing. (Speaking of water: Flints crisis may be considered over, but the systems that allowed it to happen are still in place, and the trauma lingers for its residents.) The same heat waves that have seared both East and West visited the Midwest too (and, incidentally, gave my supposedly protected brown skin its first sunburn in decades); more pummeling, dayslong rain storms followed shortly after, causing more than a hundred thousand Detroiters to lose power. The weather is ruining farmers livelihood, and the cultivators of Traverse Citys famous cherries told President Joe Biden as much when he came through the neighborhood two weeks ago. Areas like Ingham County that would rarely see any twisters were put under multiple tornado watches and warnings while other counties were devastated by the storms and put under a state of emergency. Hordes of mosquitoes have emerged within these drenched areas, potentially carrying horrifying diseases. The inevitably disastrous Line 5 oil and natural gas pipeline is likely set to begin construction soon, despite the protests of both citizens and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

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For what its worth, Whitmers invigorating campaign promise to fix the damn roads has gotten a start but failed to fully materialize while the long-brittle asphalt continues to crumble and crack to an unsafe, unsustainable level across the state (and keeps sustaining water and heat damage). On these potholed roads, Ive driven past closed businesses and desolate lots spaced far apart from other vestiges of humanity; Ive then parked my car in a decaying lot to go strolling along the steadily winnowing Great Lakes. And I do need that car to get around here, since the states public transit is so weakDetroits is often recognized as the worst in the countrythough there have gracefully been some promising developments in bike infrastructure (though this is not as much progress as there could be). After all, my home state still identifies with the heavy-polluting automobile industry that gave Michigan its midcentury boomseven as both have declined.

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What has worried me about the Michigan Ive returned to are the signs its already struggling to keep up with the needs of the people who already live there. We could barely handle the past month of relentless weather disaster, much less a freak COVID resurgenceso what makes Michiganders think were anywhere near ready for an influx of out-of-towners seeking climate refuge? (I guess well be ready for a certain kind of such a personthe sleek luxury housing being built out in my college town make me feel sure of that, anyway.)

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But what the past month has done is readjust the already tenuous answer that I give the old-fashioned and well-meaning adults in my life who often ask me what my long-term plan is. It feels harder to give the answer I had gotten used to, because when I gave that one, I was thinking of the Michigan of my youth, not the Michigan of the present or whatever the Michigan of the future will be. Theres a similarity here to the feeling I had when I realized COVID would not just be a New York City tragedythat it would eventually make itself known everywhere, and I would be able to commiserate with my loved ones about it was like, even though I couldnt do much to stop it. Climate change is the sameit will make its way everywhere, eventually. And so it feels impossible now to think ahead; the rickety future bequeathed to my generation and those coming is far too frightening to be managed by planninga lesson this environmental catastrophefueled pandemic has already reenforced for us. Perhaps Thomas Wolfe had it right nearly a century ago when he warned us that you cant go home againand you certainly cant expect it to still be the same if you try.
Last year, a man in Texas got lots of attention for waiting hours to cast a ballot in last years presidential primaries. His persistence caught the eye of a CNN news crew when he became the last person to vote at his Houston polling place and said he had waited a little bit over six hours to cast his ballot during Super Tuesday in March of last year. I figured like it was my duty to vote. I wanted to get my vote in to voice my opinion. And I wasnt going to let nothing stop me. So I waited it out, Hervis Rogers told CNN at the time. On Wednesday, Rogers, 62, was arrested and charged with two counts of illegal voting. He was held in jail with bail set at $100,000, which was paid by the Bail Project, a nonprofit organization.

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Proud to stand with Hervis Rogers. Voting restrictions and expansion of the cash bail system go hand in hand. We must fight back. https://t.co/gVCIVlimhP pic.twitter.com/4koa2lPCot  The Bail Project (@bailproject) July 11, 2021

According to the June 24 indictment from the Texas attorney generals office, Rogers cast ballots on March 3, 2020, and on Nov. 6, 2018, when he was not legally allowed to vote because he was still on parole. Rogers could face up to 40 years in prison for the two charges of illegal voting, which is considered a second degree felony in Texas.

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In order to be found guilty, the person must vote when they know they arent eligible. Rogers attorneys say that is hardly the case here because he thought he could vote. Otherwise, why would he have been so public about it? Thats why he went and stood in line for almost seven hours and spoke to CNN about it. He felt he was doing the right thing, Andre Segura, ACLU Texas legal director, said. Wheres the evidence he knew or intended to vote illegally? But they say the case illustrates the risks of making some people scared to cast a ballot in an election. Mr. Rogerss prosecution really shows the danger of overcriminalizing the election code and the process of participating in a democratic society, Tommy Buser-Clancy, a senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said. In particular, it raises the danger that criminal statutes in the election code are being used to go after individuals who at worst have made an innocent mistake. Thats not what any laws should be doing.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has a penchant for pursuing election fraud cases, defended the prosecution. Hervis is a felon rightly barred from voting under TX law, Paxton said in a tweet Friday. I prosecute voter fraud everywhere we find it! Some have questioned the timing of the arrest that came just as the Texas Legislature was discussing new voting restrictions that Democrats had blocked in May. Some democratic lawmakers say Paxton, and other Republicans, are intentionally targeting minorities.
Shortly before Prime Day in June, Amazon announced it was developing two robots for its infamously demanding distribution centers. Named Bert and Ernie after the Sesame Street Muppets, the robots, Amazon claimed, would help relieve the physical burden of its jobs by autonomously carting materials through distribution center floors and lifting heavy totes off shelves. They were not, the company stressed, intended to increase speed or replace workers, but to improve safety and free workers for tasks that requirecritical thinking skills. According to the company, the robots werent some nefarious plot; instead, they embodied its empathy for workers and commitment to innovations that would help consumers and employees alike.

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The announcements timing was convenient. The last four Prime Days, including the this years, have seen protests against the companys working conditions, including many at which workers proclaimed We are human, not robots. The New York Times recently reported that Amazon had difficulty maintaining its workforce during the pandemic, a trend that has reached such a crisis point that executives fear it will run out of workers. As former executive Paul Stroup reportedly told the Times. We keep using them  even though we know were slowly cooking ourselves. In April, management fended off a unionization drive in its Bessemer, Alabama, center, but efforts to organize the company persist. After managements victory, Jeff Bezos sent a letter to the company acknowledging signs of worker alienation but disputing the accusation that the company sees workers as robots: [O]ur employees are sometimes accused of being desperate souls and treated as robots, he wrote. Thats not accurate. Theyre sophisticated and thoughtful people who have options for where to work.

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Amazon wants us to see the Bert and Ernie robots in the context of Bezoss pledge to make the company Earths Best Employer. Instead, they suggest that workers are in for more of the same tech-fetishism and disdain for their labor that undergirds the tracking, automated performance evaluation, and management by app system that makes them feel like robots.

As IEEEs Spectrum argues, these robots do not seem innovative and may even be outdated relative to those of other companies. What is new are the nicknames, which dont even line up to the Sesame Street characters personalities. Ernie does not appear to be any less fastidious as it shelves totes than Bert, which transports carts across warehouse floors. Nor do they share the sartorial style of their felt counterparts. Maybe the two robots secretly share a romantic relationship, but any speculation there would be entirely subtextual. In the same release, Amazon noted that it was also developing autonomously guided carts named Scooter (which at least makes sense) and Kermit (which does not). Lacking any stated reason, the Muppet monikers are a particularly clumsy way of humanizing devices that would otherwise be seen as a threat, a version of late-20th-century stories of workers nicknaming robots that were making work easier for some while cutting particular jobs and undermining unions.

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Amazons strategy is straight out of Robot Marketing 101. The first American corporation to use robots in this manner was Westinghouse, which in the late 1920s and 1930s sent seven mechanical humanoidsincluding one in blackfacearound the country to advertise remote control technologies. In a society actively debating technological unemployment and legislative solutions to the issue, these robots smoked cigarettes and told jokes like human beings while showing how workers would soon control machines rather than becoming slaves to their pace. Industrial robotics company Unimation employed a similar strategy in 1966 when it sent its Unimate on the Tonight Show to putt and pour a beer while activists campaigned against the uncritical adoption of automation. Now, in yet another period of reckoning over the nature of work, Amazons robots rely on the same strategies. In the future, they may or may not help workers, but for now they offer little more than a cliched marketing strategy that can threaten workers with unemployment but reassure consumers that they dont have to feel guilty about participating in Prime Day.

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The key to the robots power is that it isnt primarily a technology; its a character that unifies two narratives about modern work: the ways that machinery seems to be growing more autonomous and human while humans seem to be growing more controlled and mechanical. As historian Tobias Higbie has uncovered, the first robots in America were workers. The term entered America in 1922 with the New York premiere of Karel Capeks play Rossums Universal Robots, a play that both satirized how managers and engineers dismissed labor as beneath humanity and established the now-inescapable narrative of robotic rebellion. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, however, Americans primarily applied the term to alienated workers, not machinery. They only began to apply it to technology later due, in large part, to Westinghouses efforts to position its robots as both the savior of and replacement for the potentially rebellious worker. Still, the term retained its dual meaning. In 1931, future Sen.

Ralph Flanders described the industrial laborer as a natural robot, and in 1971 the New York Times labeled a strike by workers against the introduction of Unimates to GMs Lordstown, Ohio factory a Revolt of the Robots. When Amazon workers complain that they are treated as robots, they are drawing on both the terms original meaning and a larger history of elites equating laborers with the machines that could replace them.

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I keep returning to the line in Amazons announcement about how robots will free workers for jobs that require  critical thinking skills, an implicit acknowledgement that managers think that current distribution center jobs do not require such skillsthough workers would probably contest that claim. Amazon seems to be referencing its Mechatronics and Robotics Apprenticeship that promises up to 40% higher wages if employees take a 12-week course, fulfill a year-long apprenticeship, and then successfully apply for a technician job. Part of Amazons Upskilling 2025 initiative, the program suggests plans to automate distribution jobs and allow only those workers managers see as committed enough to the company and self-improvement to remain employed. Amid both unionization efforts and rapid workforce turnover, it is difficult to see Bert, Ernie, Scooter, and Kermit as anything more than a threat to workers to improve themselves or risk obsolescenceall wrapped up in a nonthreatening identity. It is almost as if Amazon chose to name the robots after Muppets to suggest that workers should see themselves as the human cast members who treat the Muppet-robots as the moral equivalent of people while everyone in the audience laughs at the absurdity and keeps consuming. Maybe just keeping us consuming without thinking about the reality is the point. Much as Muppets conceal real human labor behind the performance, robots ultimately allow us to ignore the dehumanizing conditions that shape the production and distribution of the things we desire.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk began testifying in a Wilmington, Delaware, court on Monday for lawsuit that could ultimately cost him billions of dollars if it doesnt go his way. A group of shareholders brought the lawsuit against the carmakers board of directors over their decision to acquire SolarCity, a solar panel company, in 2016. All of the directors besides Musk settled the suit last year for $60 million without admitting any wrongdoing; the Tesla CEO, however, refused to settle and decided to move ahead with a trial. The court proceedings, which were delayed until now because of the pandemic, are expected to last for two weeksand are already off to a typically colorful start that involves accusations of nepotism, dashed business promises, and Musk insulting the plaintiffs lawyer in open court. What strange series of events brought us here? Some answers.

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Why are Teslas shareholders suing?

Five investment funds and an individual investor with large holdings in Tesla filed the lawsuit in 2017 alleging that the acquisition of SolarCity essentially amounted to a bailout, one rife with conflicts of interest. SolarCity was founded by Musks cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive. Musk himself was SolarCitys chairman and had a 22 percent stake in the company, which was about to go belly-up before Tesla stepped in to buy it for $2.6 billion. In addition, Teslas board at the time included a SolarCity director, a former SolarCity CFO, and venture capitalists who also had seats on SolarCitys board. These intertwining interests and familial ties led investors to accuse Musk and his fellow executives of self-dealing, as they financially benefitted from the merger. Moreover, the plaintiffs in the suit allege that Musk was improperly pressuring Teslas board to go through with the deal, pushing the company to pay more for the sale, and deceiving investors about SolarCitys finances. Musk had said that SolarCity would be cash-flow positive within six months of the acquisition. Teslas solar-panel division, which absorbed SolarCity, still wasnt profitable by the first quarter of 2021.

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Why was the SolarCity acquisition a flop?

Musk originally introduced the Tesla solar roof, which uses SolarCitys technology, on a former Desperate Housewives set in 2016. The pitch was that consumers could easily replace the shingles on their roofs with solar panels that would feed energy into the battery system that Tesla sells, the Powerwall. They could then charge their Tesla cars using the Powerwall and thus become less reliant on fossil fuels. This vision had the potential to accelerate the adoption of solar panels and electric cars in homes across the country, but it didnt quite pan out. The solar-roof project has been plagued by continuing delays, and a major installation rollout didnt start until this year. In an April earnings call, Musk admitted that Tesla had made significant mistakes with the solar roof, which has yet to be released to the wider public. The CEO said that company was running into issues with the variability of roof structures, which at times are not able to support the solar panels or have odd shapes that dont easily accommodate attachments. Customers who got early access to the solar roof have also complained that theyve been blindsided by installation prices that are astronomically higher than the initial estimates, making it likely that the product would only really be attractive to the wealthy.

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Whats Teslas defense?

Despite the setbacks with the product, Tesla has maintained that there was nothing improper about the SolarCity acquisition. The company has pointed out that 85 percent of shareholders voted in favor of the deal and that Musk recused himself from the boards discussions about SolarCity.

How did Musks testimony go?

Um.

At first, well. Musk echoed his companys arguments on the stand on Monday morning, attempting to refute portrayals of him as a domineering leader with overwhelming power over Teslas decisions. He instead tried to paint Teslas board as an effective check on his power that is rigorous in acting on behalf of shareholders. The CEO denied having any influence over the sale price of SolarCity or over appointments to Teslas board. (Teslas board notably includes Elon Musks brother, Kimbal.) Musk additionally characterized the purchase of SolarCity not as a bailout, but as part of an ambitious long-term plan to make Tesla both a car and energy company. As my former colleague Will Oremus of the Washington Post reported from the trial, Musk blamed the Tesla solar divisions flagging performance on production issues with the Model 3 sedan and then on the coronavirus. He claimed, though, that Teslas solar business is on the brink of success, with the pandemic abating.

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Musk did get testy with the plaintiffs lawyer, Randall Baron, who played clips in the courtroom of the CEO insulting him in previous depositions. In response to the clips, Musk told Baron, I think you are a bad human being, and stood by the insults.

How could the trial turn out?

If the judge finds that the deal was unfair, Musk may have to reimburse either the shareholders or Tesla using his personal wealth. He could be on the hook for about $2 billion at most, though the judge could end up lowering the amount. Yet even given the most extreme penalty, Musk does a net worth of about $163 billion, so hed have plenty of money to keep buying tickets for Richard Bransons spaceship.
If youve been disappointed by the recent absence of hordes of cicadas across the United States, dont worry: Grasshoppers are here to plug that bug-shaped hole in your heart. Theyre also here to eat huge swaths of cropland, denude trees and other plant life, and generally wreak havoc on the West and its agriculture.

If bunched together, it would be like a small sheep that can eat its bodyweight each day.  Scott Schell

Thanks to extreme drought conditions and last years fairly large population of the dry climateloving insect, concerningly dense swarms of grasshoppers are descending on the Western United States. The outbreak is causing concern amongst farmers across the West, from Utah to Wyoming to Montana, who are worried for their crops and livelihoods: Oregon rancher Richard Nicholson described the insect swarms as a scourge of the Earth to the Guardian. At the same time, conservationists warn of adverse impacts from widespread insecticide usage. The swarms are an issue many of us might recognize best from the Little House on the Prairie books (or, perhaps, the Bible), butother than making our skin crawlwhat threat do the giant black clouds of insects really pose, and whats the best way to deal with them?

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Slate spoke with Scott Schell, an entomologist who studies rangeland grasshopper ecology and management at the University of Wyoming, about the grasshopper invasion and whats being done to minimize the damage. Our conversation had been edited and condensed for clarity.

Grace Woodruff: First of all, how many grasshoppers are we really talking about here?

Scott Schell: If you piled all of the grasshoppers in outbreak areas in the West into one pile  itd be quite numerous. But some of the reports have made it sound like the entire West is awash in grasshoppers, and that isnt really true. We do have areas in some states that are heavily infested.

Were really not too concerned with grasshopper numbers until they get up to at least 14 per square yard on rangeland. For perspective, 15 adult two-striped grasshoppers per square yardtheyre a large speciesequals about 100 pounds of grasshopper per acre. If bunched together, it would be like a small sheep that can eat its bodyweight each day of green forage on each acre of range.

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This year, were talking about, in some places, maybe 5060 grasshoppers per square yard. In certain areas, they can get up even higher than that.

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This is bad for farmers because its damaging to crops, right?

In some cases its not even so much that theyre going to eat the leaves off the cropin this year, in hot, dry conditions, a grasshopper swarm can land in a field of small grain, and theyll clip the heads off the grain and get some moisture from the stalk. Theyre not even really eating the grain, but theyve made it unavailable for harvest.

Grasshoppers easily outcompete larger animals for grass. They consume way more, in proportion to body size than, say, livestock. When theyre growing, in the nymphal stage, grasshoppers can eat more than their body weight per day in wet vegetation. And, in some species, they waste even more. Theyll walk up to a blade of grass, clip it, eat what they want, and drop the rest. They can eat it right as it grows out of the ground. Theyre tiny; theyve got small mouthparts. As the blade tries to grow, theyll just munch it right off. Theyll stay fat and happy while everything else is dying.

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Whats making this years invasion so special, or so especially concerning?

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When you have drought weather, it exacerbates the grasshopper issue. The unprecedented extent of the serious drought in the West, combined with grasshoppers: Youre in bad shape.

Montana has started spraying an aerial pesticides to kill grasshopper nymphs before they can develop into adults. Is that the right way to address the problem? Conservationists have pushed back on insecticide use as a strategy for controlling grasshoppers, claiming that they might do more harm than good to the insect population and the ecosystem as a whole.

What we [at the University of Wyoming Entomology Extension] recommend is an integrated pest control strategy, where you treat every other swath [of land], so you have untreated areas in the grasshopper outbreak. Grasshoppers are highly mobile, so you dont need to spray every placetheyll move over and get into a treated swath from an untreated swath. We take advantage of the grasshoppers gluttony: They eat a lot, so we can put the insecticide out in really small amounts.

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Do grasshoppers do anything useful, or are they just pests?

Oh no, the grasshoppers are part of the wildlife out on the range! They provide food for other organisms, like our songbirds. But we need to manage them. The grasshoppers at this point in time, if theyre wisely managed with integrated pest management, its better than just letting them go. We have to make a decision: Can we maintain agriculture on the Great Plains and grasshoppers, without harming the environment? I think the answer is yes.

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Are swarms of insatiable grasshoppers going to be common in years to come, or is this more of a one-year-only invasion?

Grasshoppers, they can persist. When I was doing research for my thesisa long time agoI looked at historic records. Weve seen places where an outbreak would persist for several years. Eventually, with no intervention, the grasshoppers would succumb to weather events. When they hatch in the spring, theyre about the size of a grain of rice, so theyre pretty vulnerable. Theyre all native, these grasshoppers, so theres also a whole host of other arthropods and insectseven micethat feed on them and help to suppress the grasshopper population. The other thing is it can get so bad in a drought, with less forage, that grasshoppers who cant migrate will starve out.

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How long have grasshopper swarms been happening?

A long time ago, a professor of mine was doing research on the glaciers Wind River Range. Theres some in Montana and some in Wyoming called Grasshopper Glaciers because when people visited those areas theyd often find grasshoppers emerging from the toe of the glaciers. What that was was swarms of the Rocky Mountain locust, riding the winds, which took them to the top of the glacier, where they got too chilled to fly anymore, so they were slowly incorporated into the glacier and eventually spit out the bottom. In those, we essentially have a historic record of grasshopper outbreaks [from hundreds to possibly thousands of years ago], at least the times when swarms flew into the mountains.

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As someone whos spent quite a bit of time studying insects, how do you really feel about grasshoppers? Is their reputation as pests warranted, or do they have some redeeming qualities?

At lowor I guess you could say normalgrasshopper population densities, I find them fascinating. They play an important role on the rangeland. I think probably all the large mammals could disappear and have less of an impact on the rangeland than if all the grasshoppers disappeared. Grasshoppers play an important role out there. But, when they get to be really thick, like an outbreak where you have 50 or 100 grasshoppers per square yard and theyve eaten everything down to the dirt, theyre obnoxious. I guess Im kind of split. Im really fascinated by them, but as a pest, I can see why people hate them.
Irregular migrants reaching Spain by sea up by 50 per cent so far this year



The total of 13,000 does not include the 10,000 who entered Ceuta overland in a mass crossing this May

The second year of the coronavirus pandemic has so far coincided with a sharp increase in the number of unauthorized migrants reaching Spanish and EU territory from northern Africa, with the latest Ministry of the Interior data reporting a total of 13,483 in the first six months of 2021 following a rise of 57.7 per cent.

Whats more, these figures do not include the 10,000 or so who entered the north African enclave of Ceuta in May after bypassing the border fences via the beach and the sea. This is because they related only to those reaching Spain by boat, as most of the figures for land crossings are still being compiled.

For this reason, the government reports that 93.6 per cent of all known illegal entries into the country were by sea, with over half of them (6,952) arriving in the Canary Islands after Atlantic crossings from north-west Africa. This represents and increase of over 150 per cent from the equivalent period in 2020, when 2,706 unauthorized migrants reached the islands.

In relation to the Mediterranean route heading for the Spanish mainland and the Balearics the increase has been less spectacular but the total is still 20.8 per cent higher than at this point last year, having reached 5,431.

At the same time, those arriving by sea in Ceuta number 239 as opposed to the 50 reported in the first half of 2020, while in Melilla successful sea crossings have so far not been reported this year.

Last week it was revealed that more than 2,000 migrants have died or gone missing whilst trying to reach Spain so far this year.
Morocco adds travellers from Spain, France and Portugal to quarantine list



All three countries are now listed as high-risk areas for Covid-19 and the Delta variant.

The Moroccan Ministry of Health has announced that travellers to Morocco from Spain, France and Portugal will be forced to quarantine for ten days - if they are not vaccinated with both doses - after they were deemed high-risk areas for spreading Covid and its Delta variant.

Those who have to quarantine will spend the ten days in a hotel designated by the authorities and will have to pay for their stay.

The new safety measures beginning on July 13, correspond with the latest update to travel restrictions made by the Moroccan authorities on Sunday, July 11, with Spain, France and Portugal being moved from list A to list B on Morocco's Covid travel restrictions list - which now includes 81 countries in total.

Also, as well as having to quarantine, travellers from these countries will have to obtain a "special authorisation" to travel and present a negative PCR carried out 48 hours before entering the country.

It was just under a month ago that Morocco resumed flights to Spain and Europe after months of being suspended to prevent the spread of the pandemic, however, restrictions have changed since then as the country has reacted to pandemic situations in other countries.

This news could already affect the announcement made last month that Air Arabia would be operating two weekly flights from Corvera airport to Morocco over the summer.

It is also worth noting that travel from Spanish ports to Morocco has also been affected, with the "Paso del Estrecho" annual operation being suspended for the second consecutive year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As with last year, Sete (France) and Genoa (Italy) will continue offering transport for returning Moroccans living abroad with passengers travelling to the country by sea having to present a negative PCR at the time of embarking and subjected to another whilst onboard, "in order to guarantee maximum health security for them and their families."

Spain is currently suffering a fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic and has now been placed on many of Europes 'red travel list', as countries react to Spains rise in the cumulative incidence rate, which is now one of the highest in Europe, behind Portugal.

Image: Archive
Pro bono: Unfair notices and groundbreaking asylum granted

Slovakia's largest law firms have shown which individuals and organisations they represented free of charge.

Law firms provided legal advices pro bono related to the negative impact of the anti-pandemic measures on retail. (Source: TASR)

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EMPLOYEES who believe they have been laid off unfairly are among the clients that several large law firms working in Slovakia represented pro bono in 2020.

This is the type of pro bono consultancy that appears most frequently in the overview of the pro bono activities of Slovakias largest law firms, compiled by the Sme daily and The Slovak Spectator for the Pravo magazine with the rankings of the largest law firms on the Slovak market.

For example, international law firm Squire Patton Boggs is representing Maria Bielikova in her case against the Faculty of Informatics and Information Technologies of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. At the end of 2019, the current dean of the faculty, Ivan Kotuliak, took control of the school despite a great pressure from the media and from society in general. He subsequently fired Bielikova. His step prompted her supporters to launch a petition, and Czech academics have also supported the ousted professor. Bielikova has received pro bono services from the TaylorWessing e/n/w/c law firm, too.

Attorneys from the Cechova & Partners law firm are representing journalists Peter Kapitan and Martin Polas in their case against the News and Media Holding publishing house, which operates under the Penta financial group. Partner at the law firm Tomas Rybar said that they were fired in retaliation of their internal whistleblowing actions.

He explained that they both pointed to a violation of ethical and journalistic standards committed by their employer.

This case has the potential to impact a large part of the labour market.

It is highly probable that the violation of a statutory prohibition of dependent work outside of an employment contract occurred in the case of these two journalists, Rybar noted.

The journalists performed their job under commercial contracts, even though they had the usual employment relationship with their employer.

The Kinstellar law firm is also dealing with a pro bono case regarding invalid termination notices. The case concerns a group of foreigners, but the firm has not given any more details. The White & Case law firm reports a similar case regarding a notice for a staff member in the Fire and Rescue Corps.

Different approach to classification

12. Jul 2021 at 7:00 | Adam Valcek
The east struggled with floods. Weather extremes will continue

Hailstorms will be replaced by high temperatures.

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Several municipalities in eastern Slovakia were hit by strong storms and subsequent floods on Sunday, July 11.

The storms are expected to continue in the central and eastern part of the country on Monday, while hot weather will return during the next two days.

Firefighters have been dealing with damages

Intensive storms required the intervention of firefighters in several places of Presov Region on July 11. They had to remove various obstacles, like fallen trees, and drain water from family houses.

The hardest-hit area was the northeastern part of the region, the SITA newswire reported.

The village of Lenartov in the Bardejov district, for example, had to declare a third-level flood. The traffic on the local first-class road had to be stopped. Third-level flooding was also declared in the village of Maly Saris in the Presov district.

Meanwhile, Kosice Region was hit by a hailstorm, and firefighters had to help remove fallen trees mostly in the districts of Kosice and Michalovce, the TASR newswire reported.

Weather extremes to continue

The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU) has issued a first-level warning against floods for July 12. It will be in place for all of central and eastern Slovakia until 22:00. In some places, storms may be accompanied by hail, and there is also a threat of increased water levels.

The districts of Michalovce, Sobrance and Trebisov in Kosice Region should also prepare for high temperatures. A first-level warning is in place between 14:00 and 18:00.

Temperatures will also soar in the southern districts on July 13 and 14. A second-level warning has been issued for southwestern and some southeastern districts of Slovakia (between 14:00 and 18:00) while a first-level warning will be in place for several districts in western, southcentral and eastern districts (between 14:00 and 18:00).

On Wednesday, high temperatures are expected to hit southern districts, apart from those in the westernmost areas. A second-level warning has been issued for southeastern districts and will be in place between 13:00 and 18:00.

12. Jul 2021 at 11:21 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Combination of Covid vaccines for health reasons now possible

People will need confirmation from their doctor.

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It is now possible to combine vaccines against the coronavirus in Slovakia due to health reasons.

Our paywall policy: The Slovak Spectator has decided to make all the articles on the special measures, statistics and basic information about the coronavirus available to everyone. If you appreciate our work and would like to support good journalism, please buy our subscription. We believe this is an issue where accurate and fact-based information is important for people to cope.

In the case of a doctors recommendation, it is possible to administer the second dose of a vaccine that is from a different pharmaceutical company than the first dose, said Zuzana Eliasova, spokesperson of the Health Ministry, as quoted by the TASR newswire.

The decision comes after Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky (OLaNO nominee) ordered an analysis on the effectiveness and safety of the combination of two vaccines from different producers.

More details to come

The Health Ministry recommends, that people who could not receive a second vaccine shot due to health reasons, to contact their doctor and ask for a confirmation. Subsequently, they should contact the helpline of the Health Ministry or the National Health Information Centre (NCZI), or fill in a contact form on the NCZI website.

The Health Ministry should also present more details on administering two different types of vaccines and what its next steps in this matter will be in the following days, TASR reported.

How to change people's minds about vaccination? Experts hesitant that money is the answer Read more

Read more about the vaccination against Covid in Slovakia:

12. Jul 2021 at 17:55 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Money for vaccination campaign blocked by Matovic's ministry

The president does not understand reasons for blocking money for vaccination campaign.

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Though Slovakia started administering Covid vaccines in late 2020, the vaccination campaign is lagging behind. Despite several promises and the claims of the Health Ministry on running the campaign, it is hard to spot, as observers often say.

One of the reasons might be the financial shortage, blocked by the Finance Ministry, which is led by Igor Matovic (OLaNO).

The discussion about lack of funds has been recently joined by President Zuzana Caputova, who said the reasons for not allocating funds for a vaccination campaign are beyond comprehension.

Problem with campaign money

Matovic has recently been quite critical of his own party's nominee, Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky. One reproach concerns the low rate of vaccinated people.

If somebody thinks that some naive advertising spots will persuade a person against vaccination, he/she is naive him/herself, Matovic said about the significance of a vaccination campaign, as quoted by the Dennik N daily. He made the statement at a time the number of people interested in vaccination is dropping.

12. Jul 2021 at 18:05 | Compiled by Spectator staff
As Tim Tetrick prepares for Tuesdays match race against UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at Yonkers Raceway, a particular thought has crossed his mind.

I just hope he doesnt want to fight me if I beat him, Tetrick said with a laugh.

Fortunately for Tetrick, Tuesdays encounter with Oliveira will be contested on the half-mile oval at Yonkers, not in the Octagon. Tetrick, who on July 4 was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, and Oliveira will square off following the third race. Post time for the match race, presented by Blue Chip Farms, is 7:55 p.m. (EDT).

Im looking forward to it, said Tetrick, who at age 39 already ranks third all-time in driver purses with $232 million and seventh in wins with nearly 12,300. Hes a huge fan of horse racing. I think its going to be a lot of fun.

Oliveira, a 31-year-old from Sao Paulo, Brazil, is actively involved in harness racing at home when not training for UFC competition. He was introduced to the sport by a friend and was hooked immediately.

In the beginning, I had regular horses, Oliveira told the U.S. Trotting Associations Wendy Ross through an interpreter in an online interview last month. A friend of mine brought me to the racetrack, and I saw the first time I went to the races, this is my passion, for sure.

Horses are my passion. When I get the opportunity, when I have time between training, I try to go race my horses.

In a UFC-produced video detailing his love of harness racing, Oliveira said the horses help him maintain a positive outlook.

When you ride (behind) a horse, when you brush them, give them a bath, it makes me feel peaceful, Oliveira said. If things arent going great at home, if Ive lost a fight or something, any problem at all, I come here and ride the horses and I feel reinvigorated.

When you grab the lines, you feel you and the horse are the same. Its a hundred percent connection.

Oliveira said he would like to buy a horse in the U.S. to bring to Brazil. He follows harness racing in the States as well as Argentina and is credited with raising the profile of the sport in Brazil.

Charles has really helped us make it grow, Eduardo Magrini, the owner of Stud Fenomeno in Brazil, said in the UFC video. He helps advertise it, he participates, he trains. Hes a perfect fit for our team.

Oliveira told Ross that driving a horse in the U.S. is his big desire.

Im trying to go to Argentina to drive some races over there, Oliveira said. But if I have the opportunity to drive a horse in the U.S.  oh, boy!

The opportunity arrives Tuesday. Oliveira is expected to drive Ron Burke-trained Provacativeprince N while Tetrick will sit behind Scott DiDomenico-trained Sumthinboutim. Oliveira will have his own colors to wear for the event.

Tetrick said the match race came together through a group effort that included his wife Ashley, Ross, and others.

I know a gentleman who reached out to him, and he said absolutely, Id love to do that, Tetrick said. His buddy told me hes more excited about this than some of the fights. Hes pretty excited.

Hes a world champion, and I consider myself a world champion of horseracing. Its going to be two great athlete minds going at each other. Its going to be exciting.

Tune into the U.S. Trotting Associations Facebook page for live pre- and post-race coverage. The race replay will be posted on the USTAs YouTube page.

To watch Wendy Ross interview with Oliveira, click here.

(USTA)
I now teach one or two students at a time, here in my backyard, he said. Most of my students are retired officers of some type, one a retired police captain, another a U.S. Army vet, still another a retired air marshal.

He keeps teaching and writing because he likes to pass along what hes learned, and because hes been lonely since his wife died of cancer a few years ago. He also enjoys the company.

His students call him Po, an honorific for an older person in the Philippines, and he doesnt just see them as students.

I treat them as friends, and look forward to them coming to learn, he said.

Hes taught some students for a long timeone woman has been with him since 2000.

Marinas said he had a group of air marshals come to learn to use extendable batons, and a police captain who wanted to learn disarming techniquesall skills in his martial arts wheelhouse.

We have fun, as I will challenge them at times, telling them that if they stick four knives in a row, Ill treat them to coffee, he said laughing. Then they come back at me and ask if two hits will get them half a cup.
I had had the idea of, 'What if there was a changeling woman in an agricultural community for a while.' Then, COVID was kind of the cherry on top and I said, OK, what if I run with this and she is home because of COVID? she said. It all fell together and suddenly, I had a book.

Working through the writing process, the story continued to unfold on the page, until Pugsley reached the end.

I had writers block until I went to Arizona to go see my grandparents, she said. I didnt know what to do about the ending  I was sitting there watching TV with my step-grandmother and I picked up the pen and it all fell out.

While she does not normally work this fast on a story, Pugsley said she wanted to get the novel published due to its timeliness with the current state of the world.

I was thinking, We all just got out of COVID. I just got my second vaccine. People are going to stop being interested in this.

To expedite the process, she elected for self-publishing. However, publishing a book in a year had several challenges.
Swisher has been fighting bulls for 15 years now. If you attended any of the rodeo events at the Greeley Stampede theres a good chance you saw the guy in action.

The bulls used in bull riding are completely different than the bulls used in American Bullfighting events.

Youll see us throughout this week fight a Mexican fighting bull, Swisher said. The bucking bulls are bred to buck while the fighting bulls are bred to be mean and fight.

Mexican fighting bulls are smaller and faster than bucking bulls and they are extremely smart.

The Mexican fighting bulls become so smart so fast, Swisher said. Its crazy because the first time you fight them, its like playing with a kid because that kid doesnt know a lot. But then, that kid grows up and practices.

Its like that bull is out in the pasture with his buddies watching films of us, so the next time you fight them, he knows everything Im going to do, he added.

Two of the fiercest bulls Swisher said hes faced over his career have been The Spaniard, which he has fought twice, and Whats Up.
NSP and LPD reviews

Nebraska State Patrol Col. John Bolduc said:

The Nebraska State Patrol also conducted an internal review, which examined all aspects of this dynamic situation. Based on those reviews of this case, it is clear that all law enforcement officers involved acted with courage and professionalism when presented with the suspects dangerous actions toward both law enforcement and the public. Every incident offers the opportunity to incorporate lessons learned into future training. NSP has been able to use lessons from this case to improve in the areas of peer support, interagency communication, and for the NSP Special Investigations Team, which has conducted multiple officer-involved shooting investigations for other agencies since its creation earlier this year.

Acting Lincoln Police Chief Brian Jackson said:

The incident was examined in any number of ways beyond the grand jury to include an outside law enforcement investigation, an internal investigation, as well as an officer-involved shooting review of the incident to identify possible improvements of our policies and practices.

This was a dynamic incident, and any such incident carries with it unique and specific actions that often determine the outcome. Each of the law enforcement officers who engaged the subjects that day were faced with a direct, lethal threat, to themselves or other officers present at the scene.

While the results were tragic, the officers response under duress was professional and demonstrated great courage and restraint. Every critical incident provides an opportunity to examine our policies and practices and this event was no different.

Jackson said as a result of reviews, LPD:

* Reviewed and improved its management of items taken for evidentiary purposes, such as how long certain items are held.

* Reviewed its body-worn/in-car camera procedures and created the ability to upload critical video from the scene.

* Analyzed its peer support and resiliency procedures for officers involved in critical incidents to improve the department's ability to support employees following traumatic situations.

* Analyzed ways to improve interagency communication and cooperation.
Republican gubernatorial candidate and University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen is asking the Board of Regents to adopt a resolution opposing any imposition of critical race theory as part of university curriculum.

I believe critical race theory is factually and morally wrong, he said Thursday.

I do not believe in teaching children to judge each other on the basis of their skin color. There is no place in our classrooms for this ideology.

Critical race theory is loosely defined as a critical examination of social, cultural and legal issues related to race and racism in the U.S.

Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts has vocally opposed critical race theory, calling it un-American.

Pillens resolution, which will be presented at the regents meeting next month, says that we oppose discrimination in any form while arguing that critical race theory proponents seek to silence opposing views and disparage important American ideals.

America is the best country in the world and anyone can achieve the American Dream here, the resolution says.
The search party camped along the trail Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, searchers found a spot where it appeared that the two girls had spent the night.

As the sun beat down, the girls had kept walking eastward for some reason. Eventually, Tillie told her younger sister to wait at the bottom of a tall hill while she climbed up to scan the horizon. It was the last time the girls would see each other.

Eventually, Retta began walking, thinking that she could meet her older sister if she walked around the hill. She was found by searchers about noon, disoriented, dehydrated and barely alive, three days after their walk began.

Tillies body was not found until May 17, seven days after they became lost. She had taken off her apron and spread it over some bushes to provide shade, then laid down and died. Her body was so sunburned, her parents could identify her only by her clothing.

Her body was found 37 miles from home, and it was estimated that she had walked 75 miles before her death.
The Democratic Partys No. 1 priority is to pass a voting reform bill that would federalize elections under rules favorable to Democratic candidates. Its more important than infrastructure, or massive new social spending, or anything else, which is why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer gave their election bill the designation H.R. 1 in the House and S.1 in the Senate.

BYRON YORK: Wheres the Dems anger about COVID origins? After President Joe Bidens recent overseas meetings, the United States and G-7 countries agreed to support further investigation into the ori

The House passed H.R. 1 in a nearly straight party-line vote on March 3. Every single Republican voted against it, and every Democrat, with one exception (Rep. Bennie Thompson), voted for it. The problem for Democrats is that there is no chance S.1 will pass in the Senate, where Democrats do not hold a majority of seats. To pass S.1, Democrats would first have to eliminate the filibuster, and then muster all of their 50 senators to vote for the bill against 50 Republicans, and then call in Vice President Kamala Harris to break the tie. The short version: Not gonna happen.

That is where Attorney General Merrick Garland comes in. On June 11, Garland gathered the employees of the Justice Department to deliver a speech promising that the department will intervene in election procedures around the country, to do at least some of the work that Democrats are failing to accomplish on Capitol Hill.
A rise in shootings as New York City began to emerge from the pandemic helped propel a late charge for Adams, a black former police captain who rejects defund-the-police talk. Adams also says he would bring back a contentious plainclothes anti-crime unit that focused on getting guns off the streets, a unit that was disbanded amid charges that it used excessive force.

Adams beat more-liberal candidates, but his lifetime of speaking out against police misconduct and his blunt, working-class style make it difficult to pigeonhole him. He spoke frequently on the campaign trail of being beaten by police officers as a teenager and joining the force to reform it from within. And Adams, who appears to face only token Republican opposition this fall, was a founder of a group called 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care that fought against racial profiling and advocated for the hiring of more officers of color.

My request of the president was number one, to make sure that we use the money that has been allocated to deal with underlying causes, said Adams after Monday's meeting. "But he must have a plan thats prevention and intervention.

Adams, the current Brooklyn Borough president, said, "Other communities are waking up to an alarm clock while minority communities are waking up to gunshots, and this president said This is not good.
Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Theft  Longview police Saturday arrested Haley Jean Bornstedt, 37, of Kelso, on suspicion of second-degree theft and third-degree theft.

Fugitive  Longview police Saturday arrested Scott Wilson Flinn, 54, of St. Helens, Ore., on suspicion of being a fugitive from justice.

Theft  Longview police Saturday arrested Jeremy Dean Layton, 40, of Kelso, on suspicion of possession of stolen property and third-degree theft.

Assault  Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Sunday arrested David Matthew Gipson, 38, of Rainier, on suspicion of violating a protection order with assault and fourth-degree assault.

Trafficking stolen property  Longview police Sunday arrested Bobby Leon McSkimming, 31, of Longview, on suspicion of first-degree trafficking stolen property.
SEATTLE (AP)  In a story July 10, 2021, about a public records case connected to an investigation of six Seattle police officers who were in Washington, D.C., during the Jan. 6 insurrection The Associated Press erroneously reported the name of an attorney. The lawyer representing a Seattle University law student seeking records is Neil Fox, not Ben Fox.
In this Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018 file photo, the icons of Facebook and WhatsApp are pictured on an iPhone, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Facebook's WhatsApp faces a complaint from European Union consumer groups who say the chat service has been unfairly pressuring users to accept a new privacy update, in a breach of the bloc's regulations. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner, FIle

Facebook's WhatsApp faces a complaint from European Union consumer groups who say the chat service has been unfairly pressuring users to accept a new privacy update in what it calls a breach of the bloc's regulations.

The European Consumer Organisation, or BEUC, filed a complaint Monday over the way WhatsApp has brought in changes to its terms of service and privacy policy, saying they aren't transparent or easily understood by users.

Many WhatsApp users switched to other chat apps like Signal and Telegram because of privacy concerns when the update was rolled out earlier this year because of concerns the changes would give Facebook access to more information on users.

"WhatsApp has been bombarding users for months with aggressive and persistent pop-up messages to force them to accept its new terms of use and privacy policy," BEUC Director General Monique Goyens said. "They've been telling users that their access to their app will be cut off if they do not accept the new terms. Yet consumers don't know what they're actually accepting."

BEUC and consumer rights groups from eight member countries filed the complaint to the EU's executive Commission and the bloc's network of consumer authorities.

WhatsApp said the complaint is based on a misunderstanding of the update's purpose and effect and would welcome the opportunity to explain it to the BEUC.

"Our recent update explains the options people have to message a business on WhatsApp and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data," WhatsApp said in a prepared statement. "The update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook, and does not impact the privacy of your messages with friends or family, wherever they are in the world."

Explore further WhatsApp delays enforcing new privacy terms

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
In this May 7, 2021, file photo Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File

In a gesture of goodwill to the United States, the European Union on Monday put work on plans for a digital tax levy on hold for the moment to concentrate on finalizing the historic tax decision endorsed by the Group of 20 nations over the weekend.

In the face of criticism from U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, the European Commission said its work on the levy that would hit American technology companies would go on ice to allow for smooth cooperation on the political and technical hurdles that still need to be addressed on the G-20 tax decision before the end of October.

"We will work together to reach this global agreement," said EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni. "I informed the Secretary Yellen of our decision to put on hold the proposal of the Commission of a digital levy to allow us to be concentrated, working hand-in-hand, to achieve the last mile of this historic agreement."

Finance ministers from the G-20 major economies endorsed a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15%, a measure aimed at putting a floor under tax rates and discouraging companies from using low-rate countries as tax havens.

The global minimum proposal faces political and technical hurdles before it takes effect. Details are to be ironed out in coming weeks at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, followed by a final endorsement by G-20 presidents and prime ministers at an Oct. 30-31 meeting in Rome.

United States Secretary of the treasury Janet Yellen speaks during a press conference at a G20 Economy, Finance ministers and Central bank governors' meeting in Venice, Italy, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Luca Bruno

Countries then need to legislate the rate into their own laws. The idea is for countries where firms have their headquarters to tax those companies' foreign earnings at home if those earnings go untaxed in low-rate countries. That would remove the reason for using complex accounting schemes to move profits to subsidiaries in low-tax nations, and where the companies may do little or no actual business.

In addition, the EU has also tried to focus on companies that make profits in countries where they have no physical presence, such as through digital advertising or online retail. Countries led by France have started imposing unilateral "digital" taxes that have hit the biggest U.S. tech companies, including Google, Amazon and Facebook.

The U.S. calls those unfair trade practices, and has threatened retaliation through import taxes.

Germany also focused more on the global corporate tax measures agreed upon than on EU plans for digital taxation.

"The most important step is that we have an agreement on a global minimum tax and that we also have an agreement on how we better tax big high-profitable companies, including those that are active as global digital giants," said German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz. Because of that, he said that not pushing ahead now with EU-only plans "is also a sign that we are really making the progress to get a global agreement."

The European Commission's announcement came as Yellen was meeting in Brussels with eurozone counterparts and high-level EU officials.

Explore further G20 endorses historic global tax reform

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The ransomware-hit US IT firm Kaseya said it had fully restored its servers after an attack that affected hundreds of businesses and organizations worldwide.

A US software firm said Monday it fully restored its servers more than a week after being hit by a ransomware attack that crippled hundreds of companies worldwide.

The Miami-based IT firm Kaseya said it had fully restored its signature VSA software operations, which are used to manage networks of computers and printers.

"The restoration of services is now complete," the company's update said, following several days of delays and partial restoration over the weekend.

"We will continue to post updates on the patch rollout progress and server status."

The news comes following what some analysts said could have been the biggest recorded "ransomware" attackan increasingly lucrative form of digital hostage-taking, in which hackers encrypt victims' data and then demand money for restored access.

The unprecedented attackwhich was widely believed to come from a Russia-based hacking groupaffected an estimated 1,500 businesses and prompted a ransom demand of $70 million.

The Kaseya attack, which was reported July 2, shut down a major Swedish supermarket chain and ricocheted around the world, impacting businesses in at least 17 countries, from pharmacies to gas stations, as well as dozens of New Zealand kindergartens.

While Kaseya is little known to the public, analysts say it was a ripe target as its software is used by thousands of companies, allowing the hackers to paralyze many businesses with a single blow.

President Joe Biden on Friday once again warned Vladimir Putin to "take action" against ransomware hackers operating from Russia.

It was the same message Biden delivered in person to his Russian counterpart in their first summit meeting in Geneva in June.

The White House has stopped short of blaming Moscow for recent attacks, but has stepped up warnings over Russia's potential harboring of cybercriminals.

Explore further Restart after hacks delayed again by software firm

 2021 AFP
Sky surveys have become increasingly labor-intensive when it comes to sifting through the gathered datasets to find the most relevant information. In recent years machine learning has added a welcome twist to the process. Credit: Peter Harrington, Berkeley Lab

Sky surveys are invaluable for exploring the universe, allowing celestial objects to be catalogued and analyzed without the need for lengthy observations. But in providing a general map or image of a region of the sky, they are also one of the largest data generators in science, currently imaging tens of millions to billions of galaxies over the lifetime of an individual survey. In the near future, for example, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile will produce 20 TB of data per night, generate about 10 million alerts daily, and end with a final data set of 60 PB in size.

As a result, sky surveys have become increasingly labor-intensive when it comes to sifting through the gathered datasets to find the most relevant information or new discovery. In recent years machine learning has added a welcome twist to the process, primarily in the form of supervised and unsupervised algorithms used to train the computer models that mine the data. But these approaches present their own challenges; for example, supervised learning requires image labels that must be manually assigned, a task that is not only time-consuming but restrictive in scope; at present, only about 1% of all known galaxies have been assigned such labels.

To address these limitations, a team of researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is exploring a new tack: self-supervised representation learning. Like unsupervised learning, self-supervised learning eliminates the need for training labels, instead attempting to learn by comparison. By introducing certain data augmentations, self-supervised algorithms can be used to build "representations"low-dimensional versions of images that preserve their inherent informationand have recently been demonstrated to outperform supervised learning on industry-standard image datasets.

The Berkeley Lab team presented its research and results in a paper published April 26 in Astrophysical Journal Letters.

"We are quite excited about this work," said George Stein, a post-doctoral researcher at Berkeley Lab and a first author on the new paper. "We believe it is the first to apply state-of-the-art developments in self-supervised learning to large scientific datasets, to great results, and it has already generated a lot of interest from the community."

First author Md Abul Hayat, currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Arkansas, joined NERSC's summer internship program to collaborate with Mustafa Mustafa when the team began pursuing the idea of applying self-supervised representation learning to sky survey data analysis. Part of their motivation was the growing need to find innovative ways to further automate and speed up the process, given the increasing size of image datasets being produced by the world's ever-more sophisticated telescopes.

"When the Sloan Digital Sky Survey started in the 1990s, it was impossible to do expert labeling on all of their images. Instead, the field moved to crowdsourcing and 'citizen science,' which in turn led to datasets like Galaxy Zoo," said Zarija Lukic, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab's Computational Cosmology Center and another co-author on the paper. "But the volume of data that will be coming from the next generation of telescopes is going to be so large that not even crowdsourcing will help you sort out all its images."

"The number of images is increasing day by day, so it has become impossible for a human to go over all of them one by one and provide labels," added Hayat, who continues to work with the Berkeley Lab team on this research. "So eventually the process has to be automated in some way. Our approach is to boil down useful features from these pictures and train the model to come up with a solution from a small part of the data to generalize to an overall representation."

Credit: NERSC

Beyond sky surveys

For this proof-of-concept phase of the project, the team applied existing data from ~1.2 million galaxy images generated by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The goal was to enable the computer model to learn image representations for galaxy morphology classification and photometric redshift estimation, two "downstream" tasks common in sky surveys. In both cases, they found that the self-supervised approach outperformed supervised state-of-the-art results.

"Our approach allows us to learn from the whole sky survey without using any labels, and it can perform a large number of tasks at the same time, each to a higher level of performance than was possible before," Stein noted. "Instead of working to teach a model to do a certain task, you teach it to search all of the data and learn how the images differ from each other, and therefore learn what is in the images themselves.

The idea behind the method is simple to understand, added co-author Peter Harrington, a machine learning engineer at Berkeley Lab. "Given a picture of a galaxy, you can generate different views of itrotate the galaxy, add a little noise to the image, maybe smear it out with some blurringand make these little transformations that resemble the noise you have in the telescope itself," he said. "Then you simply teach your model to associate those different views of the same object as similar. That is basically how we build these representations and expose knowledge to the model and make it invariant to the noise."

The research team is now gearing up to apply their approach to a much larger, more complex datasetthe Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS)  and extend the scope of applications and tasks. Other science areas could benefit from this method as well, Hayat noted, including microscopy, high-energy physics (anomaly detection), medical imaging, and satellite imagery.

"We have demonstrated that self-supervised representation learning on unlabeled data yields notable performance gains over supervised learning for multiple tasks," the research team writes. "The possibility of training a large self-supervised model on massive photometry databases and 'serving' the model for usage by the larger community  is an exciting new direction for machine learning applications in sky surveys."

Just as important, Stein added, "This technique speeds up the science by allowing us to go toward a different way of doing things. It makes it possible for anyone with no machine learning expertise or only small computer power to use it, lowering the barrier to entry to working with these massive datasets."

Explore further Facebook enhances AI computer vision with SEER

More information: Md Abul Hayat et al, Self-supervised Representation Learning for Astronomical Images, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2021). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters Md Abul Hayat et al, Self-supervised Representation Learning for Astronomical Images,(2021). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/abf2c7
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Researchers at the Image Processing Laboratory (IPL) of the University of Valencia, in collaboration with the University of Oxford and the Phi-Lab of the European Space Agency (ESA), have developed a model for flood detection based on neural networks. It's called WorldFloods and has been launched into space by aerospace company D-Orbit from Cape Canaveral.

In terms of flooding, observing the Earth from space provides valuable information for decision-making on the ground. Large constellations of small nanosatellitesthe CubeSatsare a promising solution to reduce revisitation time from days to hoursas long as it takes a sensor to re-cover a locationin disaster areas. However, data transmission to terrestrial receivers is limited by the power and bandwidth restrictions of the cubes.

The WorldFloods model, developed at the ESD-funded FDL-Europe research incubator, aims to accelerate the response to such episodes by providing near-real-time terrain maps and reducing, in addition, the cost of technology. Therefore, the system implements advanced Artificial Intelligence algorithms that allow information to be processed on board. "On-board processing offers a solution to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted by reducing large images from sensors to smaller data products," says Gonzalo Mateo (IPL), first author of the article recently published in Scientific Reports.

On 30 June, WorldFloods was launched from Cape Canaveral into space aboard the Space X rocket Falcon 9 by the company D-Orbit, which has launched six CubeSats of different companies. Among these is Nebula, the 1 kg mass satellite that hosts WorldFloods and is the first iteration of an in-orbit processing service with radiation-tolerant chips, in which Artificial Intelligence advanced algorithms can be implemented.

Explore further Branson's Virgin Orbit launches 7 satellites from 747 plane

More information: Gonzalo Mateo-Garcia et al, Towards global flood mapping onboard low cost satellites with machine learning, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Gonzalo Mateo-Garcia et al, Towards global flood mapping onboard low cost satellites with machine learning,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86650-z
Powerships on a river. In South Africa, the idea of floating power plants has raised concerns over jobs and environmental risks. Credit: Carsten ten Brink, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

A deal expected to be awarded to end South Africa's continuing energy crisis could contribute to higher emissions and provide a short-term solution rather than a long-term one, experts say.

Globally, nearly 750 million people will lack access to electricity in 2050, with more than 95 percent of them in SubSaharan Africa, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its Net Zero by 2050 report.

South Africa is facing some of the worst blackouts on record. Research from the Pretoria-based Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), shows these rolling blackouts amounted to 530 hours without power in 2019 and cost the economy between R60 and R120 billion.

On 19 March, Karpowership, a company that owns ship-mounted power plants, was revealed as a preferred bidder by South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to provide 1,220 megawatts of energy under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (RMI4P).

In the deal, Karpowership would supply South Africa with five power ships operating on liquified natural gas from 2022 to 2042 at a cost of 218 billion South African rand (about US$13.3 billion).

"The idea behind the RMI4P is to get power  to stop load shedding [blackouts] and give us enough time to launch the long-term infrastructure procurements and investments needed to have a sustainable energy supply," says Lauren Hermanus, a doctoral candidate at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and founder of Adapt, a sustainable development network.

"Gas is something that can be used to balance a renewable energy-based system, for example, where there is variability in the system due to reliance on sun or wind."

However, Thandile Chinyavanhu, a climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, finds the deal's proposed 20-year contract problematic.

"That would lock us into a higher emissions trajectory until beyond 2040 without a clear plan for renewable energy procurement," she says. "Instead of renting out foreign-run power ships, which will ultimately leave us in 20 years' time, we could be investing in infrastructure that would provide jobs for South African youth."

Over 41 percent of South Africans aged 25-35 are currently without work, according to South Africa-based statistics agency Stats SA. Total unemployment in the country is at a record 7.2 million.

The potential environmental impact of the Karpowership deal is also concerning, says Liziwe McDaid, an energy advisor at non-profit organisation, The Green Connection. Investigations carried out by them revealed Karpowership's environmental assessments lacked key data about its impact on local fishing and marine communities.

"From an environmental governance perspective, [the] government didn't have the full information on the table that it needed when deciding to approve Karpowership," she says.

Karpowership did not reply to emails from SciDev.Net for a response to these concerns.

A global shift to clean technology has been called for by the IEA, which urges governments to put "R&D, demonstration and deployment at the core of energy and climate policy."

For Hermanus, however, this shift cannot be made without localising manufacturing as part of a green industrialisation strategy. "It has to pursue a path that is job-rich and with equitable economic development," Hermanus says.

More information: Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector - Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector - www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050

Provided by SciDev.Net
At the Salvation Army on Union Street, its almost as if whoever is in charge of flooding said, Uh oh. Missed a spot, and sent Tropical Storm last week to finish the job.


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Le said that, "If the U.S. actually respects the truth and transparency, it should accept an international investigation to find the source of the U.S. epidemic, the cause of the U.S.s ineffective fight against the epidemic, and problems at U.S. biological laboratories.

While similar to earlier official statements, Les comments come from a more senior official than in the past, indicating Beijing may be firming up its political stance in the dispute over the virus origins.

Chinas outspoken Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, has thrown suspicion on the U.S. military biological laboratory at Fort Detrick, Maryland, calling for an investigation into the possibility the virus originated there. No evidence has been produced to support that claim or that the virus emerged from any U.S. military-run biological lab.



BUCHAREST  Moldova is set to receive half a million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines from the United States to help the small nation combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The first 150,000 doses of J&J are set to arrive in Moldova  a country of 3.5 million, Europes poorest sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine  on July 12, U.S. Embassy officials in Moldova said in a statement.
Cybersecurity researchers are warning about a new malware that's striking online gambling companies in China via a watering hole attack to deploy either Cobalt Strike beacons or a previously undocumented Python-based backdoor called BIOPASS RAT that takes advantage of Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio's live-streaming app to capture the screen of its victims.

The attack involves deceiving gaming website visitors into downloading a malware loader camouflaged as a legitimate installer for popular-but-deprecated apps such as Adobe Flash Player or Microsoft Silverlight, only for the loader to act as a conduit for fetching next-stage payloads.

Specifically, the websites' online support chat pages are booby-trapped with malicious JavaScript code, which is used to deliver the malware to the victims.

"BIOPASS RAT possesses basic features found in other malware, such as file system assessment, remote desktop access, file exfiltration, and shell command execution," Trend Micro researchers noted in an analysis published Friday. "It also has the ability to compromise the private information of its victims by stealing web browser and instant messaging client data."

OBS Studio is an open-source software for video recording and live streaming, enabling users to stream to Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms.

Besides featuring an array of capabilities that run the typical spyware gamut, BIOPASS is equipped to establish live streaming to a cloud service under the attacker's control via Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), in addition to communicating with the command-and-control (C2) server using the Socket.IO protocol.

The malware, which is said to be under active development, is also notable for its focus on stealing private data from web browsers and instant messaging apps chiefly popular in Mainland China, including QQ Browser, 2345 Explorer, Sogou Explorer, and 360 Safe Browser, WeChat, QQ, and Aliwangwang.

It isn't clear exactly as to who is behind this malware strain, but Trend Micro researchers said they found overlaps between BIOPASS and that of TTPs often associated with the Winnti Group (aka APT41), a sophisticated Chinese hacking group specialized in cyber espionage attacks, based on the use of stolen certificates and a Cobalt Strike binary that was previously attributed to the threat actor.

What's more, the same Cobalt Strike binary has also been connected to a cyber attack targeting MonPass, a major certification authority (CA) in Mongolia, earlier this year wherein its installer software was tampered with to install Cobalt Strike beacon payloads on infected systems.

"BIOPASS RAT is a sophisticated type of malware that is implemented as Python scripts," the researchers said. "Given that the malware loader was delivered as an executable disguised as a legitimate update installer on a compromised website, [...] it is recommended to download apps only from trusted sources and official websites to avoid being compromised."
Officers arrested Tyler Manka of Grand Island Saturday night after a 36-year-old Grand Island man was shot in the area of 16th and Broadwell streets.

The victim received at least one gunshot wound and possibly two, said Sgt. Brandon Riley of the Grand Island Police Department. Although he was transported to a Grand Island hospital, his injuries were not considered life-threatening, Riley said. He declined to give the name of the shooting victim.

Manka, 26, was arrested after a foot pursuit and after he barricaded himself in a garage at 11th Street and Ruby Avenue.

At 7:38 p.m., police received a report of a male being shot in the area of 13th and Broadwell. When officers arrived, they learned that the shooting was closer to 16th and Broadwell.

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Police received a call from citizens saying they saw the suspect running not far from Central Catholic.

Grand Island police officers and Hall County deputies got into a foot pursuit with him, and chased him into a yard, Riley said.

Officers tried to take him into custody but he barricaded himself in a garage, Riley said.

Because the suspect was possibly armed, the GIPDs tactical response team was called.
The scene of demonstrators on Havanas Malecon promenade and elsewhere on the island was an unusual scene as the communist leadership has historically shown little tolerance for criticism. Police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted Freedom, Enough and Unite. One motorcyclist pulled out a U.S. flag, but it was snatched from him by others.

About 2 1/2 hours into the march, some protesters pulled up cobblestones and threw them at police, at which point officers began arresting people and the marchers dispersed. AP journalists counted at least 20 people who were taken away in police cars or by individuals in civilian clothes.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., lashed out at Biden for taking a full day to acknowledge the protesters, noting on Twitter that Biden's statement did not describe the Cuba government as  socialist and communist.

The protests in #Cuba began over 24 hours ago And you forgot something, Rubio said.

Biden said on the campaign trail that he would largely reverse Trump's Cuba policy and return to Obama-era policies. But Biden has largely kept Trump's policies in the place in the early going.
Its early July and were already making plans for our kids to go back to school in mid-August.

After the way the coronavirus affected our schools during the past two years, it is encouraging to hear that Grand Island Public Schools, which educates about 10,000 students, believes it will be ready in August to making masks optional for staff members, students and visitors.

This past week the school district issued its preliminary Safe Return to School Plan, which says masks will be optional and visitors will be allowed in GIPS buildings.

Of course, there must be conditions on these changes from the past year when masks were required and no visitors were allowed. The changes will be made provided that Substantial Transmission, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, doesnt occur in Hall County.

That means that this loosening of restrictions could be retracted if there is large-scale community transmission of the virus in the county. It was announced last week that the number of new COVID-19 cases in Nebraska increased by 80% to 456 cases for the week ending July 1. This is expected to be largely due to the presence of the delta variant of the virus in our state, as that strain is more contagious.
Texas House and Senate lawmakers are considering identical bills, SB 6 and HB 2, that would change how and if people can be released from jail before their criminal cases are resolved. The bills also would ban the release of those accused of violent crimes unless they had enough cash, as well as restrict charitable groups ability to pay to get people out of jail, according to The Texas Tribune. While opponents say the bills would create an overreliance on cash thats unfair to people who are poor, supporters say reform is needed to keep violent and habitual offenders from being released on low-cash bonds. Is Texas in need of bail reform?

You voted:
For those downstate Illinois residents who want to breakaway from Chicagoland and form their own state, two Southern Illinois University Carbondale researchers have an emphatic caution: do not do it.

In a whitepaper released earlier this year by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, a think tank at the university, political scientists John Foster and John Jackson said analysis of Illinois state revenue and budgeting over recent years shows downstate Illinoisans would be worse off without Chicago than they are with their northeastern neighbors.
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editor's pick alert featured

Burned downtown building removed; new roof put on former Ferses 5&10

GENE ZALESKI, T&D The former Addens Photography and Hobby store at 1183 Russell Street has been demolished. The building was deemed unsalvageable after a 2018 fire. GENE ZALESKI, T&D Next door to the lot that once held Adden's is the former Deans Ltd. The shop, also owned by George Dean, closed in 2019 after 27 years GENE ZALESKI, T&D The former Ferses 5&10 had a new roof added. The building is for sale.

A downtown Orangeburg building destroyed in a 2018 fire has been demolished and is being removed.

The former Addens Photography and Hobby store at 1183 Russell Street was deemed unsalvageable after the fire, said Candice Roberson, Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association executive director.

The fire began in the building's second floor. To this day, its cause is still undetermined.

Orangeburg-based S&P Landscaping is conducting the demolition work.

Claflins Downtown Center opens in Orangeburg; president: university is committed to city Claflin University has expanded into downtown Orangeburg.

Property owner George Dean said he has a plan for the vacant property but declined to provide any details on what it is at the moment.

I am not interested in selling that particular piece of property right now, he said.

Roberson said there have been some discussions.

Farmer: Its just a joy to be out here; growers find opportunity at DORA market Alvin Pair has been farming for over three decades.

There has been talk of a possible alleyway from the public parking lot in the back to Russell Street, Roberson said. Final plans are still waiting to be determined.

New Evergreen and Dean's Ltd., stores located next to Adden's, also sustained some fire damage during the blaze.

Dean's Ltd, also owned by George Dean, closed in 2019 after 27 years of operation at the Russell Street location.

Dean said his former store is up for rent.

Roberson is optimistic about the future of that area of Russell Street.

Its one of the prettiest corners in downtown, with DORA park and the square, Roberson said. We are seeing a lot of forward movement in downtown and the removal of a dilapidated building will give us more room for growth and activities.

Across the street, a new roof is being put on the former Ferses 5&10 due to some leaks.

The property is up for sale by Century 21 The Moore Group. The property is listed for a sale price of $245,000.

Columbia-based CMS Roofing has been the main roofing contractor for the project.

The 121-year-old building has been vacant for the past four years after a barbecue restaurant closed its doors after a year in existence.

For most of its history, it served as a five-and-dime store.

Dean said he would like to see Russell Street and downtown revitalized, but said business owners need help from the city.

There is no way the downtown will be able to revitalize itself, unless the owners get some monetary participation through grants through the city, Dean said.

Dean did express his appreciation that the city purchased properties on Railroad Corner with the intent to revitalize that area.

The only thing that is perplexing to me as a business person is to have spent taxpayer dollars on a project that did not have a full plan of revitalization, Dean said.

He said hes surprised the city is seeking suggestions and public input on a project when believes a plan should already be in place.

In my opinion, the whole area should be razed and then come in with a first-class commercial development in that area, he said.

TheTandD.com: Full access for 3 months for just $1 Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com The editor's limited time offer is full access to all the website has to offer for just $1 for three months. https://go.thetandd.com/june3

The city is working with the University of North Carolina Development Finance Initiative to create plans for the redevelopment of the area, which is traditionally defined as the area bounded by Russell, Treadwell and Boulevard streets.
When Robert Simoneau, whose sculptures are in New York, wanted to show with us, it was humbling and amazing at the same time, Glover said.

As Glover corresponded with various artists interested in the exhibition, sharing who had already committed, the name that generated the most excitement was Leo Twiggs.

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I heard over and over again from these artists hinting or outright suggesting that they would love for their artwork to be installed next to Dr. Twiggs" Glover said.

Twiggs has a wall of his own, Glover explained, because he has donated four cherished pieces from his private collection. That is a first and its a first at the arts center. I couldnt believe Dr. Twiggs was offering work from his private collection. Pieces he would never sell but wanted these to be seen at the arts center.

Twiggs' generosity didnt end with offerings from his personally held works. When Glover collected his kept pieces, Twiggs also had on offer his first experimentation with the art of batik.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.  Pump prices in the Carolinas are continuing to trend upward as gasoline demand reached a new Energy Information Administration record last week, which partially reflects the July 4th holiday weekend travel.

The price of crude oil fluctuated last week following OPECs failure to reach an agreement on production increases, and continues to be a dominant factor in determining how high prices will go this summer. Last week ended with higher crude prices than the start, though still under $75/bbl. AAA believes those prices have the potential to increase this week, which will only lead to more expensive pump prices, especially amid robust demand.

Were in the midst of peak summer driving season with motorists hitting the roads for vacation and gas prices arent backing down, said Tiffany Wright, Public Affairs Director, AAA-The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas. On average, motorists are paying nearly a dollar more per gallon than last summer to fill up.

North Carolinas current gas price average sits at $2.90, seeing a 1-cent increase on the week. This is 2 cents more expensive than a month ago and 86 cents more expensive than last year.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden will host New York City's Democratic mayoral candidate and other city and law enforcement leaders from around the country to talk about reducing crime.

Eric Adams, Brooklyn borough president and the likely next mayor of New York, plus Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo are expected to attend the meeting Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans. They were not authorized to speak publicly about the meeting and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Biden will also host Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, Chief David Brown of Chicago and Lt. Anthony Lima of the Newark, New Jersey, police.

Shootings and killings are up around the nation, with local politicians and police struggling to manage the violence that has ballooned since the coronavirus pandemic. But there is a continued push for police reform, revived nationwide with the death of George Floyd, and Biden is trying to work on both simultaneously.
The U.S. Air Force didn't develop a grudge against First Baptist Church and its congregants, which Kelley attended before apparently becoming a militant atheist. Kelley did.

All the U.S. Air Force did was mess up some administrative paperwork (well, computer work, I guess) which, had it been properly filed, might have conceivably made it slightly more difficult for Kelley to obtain a firearm. Probably not. But maybe, just a little.

Kelley was clearly a violent and dangerous man, and a man who had no respect whatsoever for any law that forbade him to do whatever he decided he wanted to do.

It's absurd to think that a man who made the decision to kill 25 people, and followed through on that decision, would have quailed from stealing the gun he did it with, or from buying that informally and without a background check (supposedly "illegally," but the 2nd Amendment says otherwise).

The reason Rodriguez found the Air Force "60% responsible" is that he wanted to give the victims some of your money, and, well, the Air Force has a lot of your money. But in getting where he wanted to go, Rodriguez damaged the very concept of responsibility.

On the bright side, perhaps the judgment will leave the Air Force short money for another bomb to drop on a hospital, wedding or funeral in the Middle East.

Thomas L. Knapp (Twitter: @thomaslknapp) is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism (thegarrisoncenter.org). He lives and works in north central Florida.

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The Chinese Communist Party indirectly supported the organization Black Lives Matter, which participated in 95% of the riots in the summer of 2020 (According to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.) According to the Heritage Foundation, Black Futures Lab, a venture of Black Lives Matter founder Alicia Garza, has on its website a Donate button that, when clicked, explains that Black Futures Lab is a fiscally sponsored project of the Chinese Progressive Association. (CPA).

According to Mike Gonzalez explaining the CPA: The Chinese Progressive Association is a partner of China in the U.S. This potential link between the communist regime in Beijing and the riots destroying American lives and livelihoods deserves investigation from the executive branch and Congress. Gonzalez also claimed the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) was founded in San Francisco in 1972 by operatives of the Maoist militant group I Wor Kuen, which supported the Chinese Communist Party. From the start, CPA-San Francisco was doing pro-China work.

One of the CPA founders, Fay Wong, said: China was an inspiration to us, many of us were from China and those of us who were not just found what China was able to accomplish, with the revolution, was very inspiring. Beyond San Francisco, I Wor Kuen established the Chinese Progressive Association in Boston and New York.
 S.C. Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling: $199,857 to $250,000, a 25% raise.

 Department of Administration Executive Director Marcia Adams: $224,042 to $284,679, a 27% raise.

 State Fiscal Accountability Authority Executive Director Grant Gillespie: $200,562 to $245,000, a 22% raise.

Raises this big raise a question about whether these officials are being paid too much. For example, North Carolinas Secretary of Transportation makes $221,000, some $77,000 less than the new salary for South Carolinas equivalent.

Thats a significant difference.

House Majority Leader Gary Simrill, R-York, and State Sen. Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee, said the increases were necessary for the state government to hire and retain talented people and compete with the private sector.

Alexander told a reporter, I think that business and industry are already doing what were seeking to do here. I can assure you many opportunities, whether its in industry or other opportunities and jobs, that what theyre being paid now is certainly different than it was even a year ago because of the opportunities that are out there.
Job Title: Human Resources Administrative Assistant

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: United States Department of State, Kampala, Uganda

About US:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Peace Corps

Job Summary: The Human Resources Administrative Assistant is responsible for all the sections filling ,scanning and storage (both electronic and hardcopy) of official documentation for American and LE Staff personnel records including personnel action cables, individual subject matter letters, assignment notification cables, travel orders, and any other personnel information as needed following guidance included on 3 FAH-1 H-2350. In coordination with HRO and HRS, organizes the electronic HR shared folder files and deletes old information so that documentation can be retrieved promptly. Incumbent creates subject files for reports such as LCPs, salary surveys, policies, E&L statements, classification reports and shreds as required. Is responsible for managing the HR archives by creating and maintaining databases with titles and properly kept HR correspondences for easy future access. Carries out file weeding, maintenance and updates including file census. Retires files as is required by regulations.

Is responsible for tracking and filing of performance evaluation reports and work development plans for all LE Staff according to the Performance Management Policy. Files evaluation reports for family members and sends original and a copy to AF Bureau EFM Coordinator for processing.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Clerical Support of Recruitment: 30%

In coordination with the HR Specialist, the incumbent daily monitors the application inbox and empties it; it including saving applications in the relevant folders. Prepares folders with the original vacancy announcement, screened applications plus tracker for the PRC to shortlist. Coordinates interview dates and conference rooms. Enters visitors access requests so that applicants can access the building. Assist to proctor tests given to candidates considered for employment.

Creates new personnel files as new employees are hired, to include one for performance management.

Follows up with medical unit and RSO on status of clearances when delays occur.

Prepares a welcome pack for the new LE staff and organises the new employees OPF ready for boarding.

Administrative support: 20%

Maintains and updates HR forms and makes sure they are available to all staff either electronically or hard copies as may be needed including Request for Work Permits, Change of address, Designation of beneficiary forms, etc.

Coordinates HR sections requests for supplies, motor pool, and procurement of adverts in newspapers.

Collects interoffice mail and drop offs as needed, prepares official outgoing pouch and DHL documents to be sent to Washington or other locations.

May be required to provide backup to the HR Assistants during lunch breaks, illnesses, vacations and other absences from the office. Performs any other duties as assigned.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal applicant for the United States US Embassy Human Resources Administrative Assistant job must hold a Diploma studies in Human Resources, Public Administration, Management or Administration

Two years of clerical or administrative work in a busy office is required.

Must have good working knowledge of general office procedures and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite programs such as Excel, Word, Power Point, and Outlook. Knowledge of general HR Regulations and policies , Records management and procedures

Level IV English ability is required. Level III (good working knowledge) in Luganda, Lusoga, Acholi or Lukyakitara is required. This may be tested.

Must have strong computer skills. Ability to use personal computers and other office equipment such as scanners, shredders, and copy machines is required. This may be tested.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 13th July 2021

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
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Les Schwab Tire Centers, with 500 locations across 10 western states, has reached an agreement to acquire Plains Tire Co., an 80-year-old tire company with nine stores in Wyoming.

Plains Tire is Wyomings largest and oldest tire company, having operated in the state since 1941. Plains Tire has nine full-service automotive stores in Casper, Laramie, Rock Springs, Gillette, Evanston, Sheridan, Riverton and Green River.

Les Schwab will purchase Plains Tire for an undisclosed sum, said Les Schwab CEO Jack Cuniff.

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We opened our first store in Wyoming in Rock Springs in 2019 with plans to grow our footprint over time. With this purchase, we are able to serve much of the state in one step, Cuniff said in a statement. Plains Tire is a strong and healthy company, and its exciting to be able to speed up our growth by welcoming these stores, employees and customers into Les Schwab.

Plains Tire owner Larry Nicholls said Les Schwab is the right buyer at the right time.
BERLIN (AP)  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she doubts the dispute between her country and the United States over a nearly completed gas pipeline from Russia will be fully resolved at a meeting with President Joe Biden this week.

Washington has long argued that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline carrying natural gas from Russia to Germany endangers Europe's energy security and harms allies such as Ukraine, which currently profits from transit fees for Russian gas. The United States recently waived sanctions against German companies involved in the project, raising hopes in Berlin that an agreement acceptable to all sides can be found.

Merkel said she will discuss the issue with Biden at a White House meeting Thursday, but added: I don't know whether the papers will be fully finalized, so to speak. I believe rather not.

But these will be important talks for developing a common position, she added.

Germany is keen to increase its use of natural gas as it completes the shutdown of its nuclear power plants next year and phases out the use of heavily polluting coal by 2038.
The former coroner cited a section of the Wyoming Administrative Code, which states that a cause of death can only be changed with a signed statement from the coroner or physician who signed off on the certificate.

When he brought the issues up to the Department of Health, Stratmoen said he was told the changes were made to align with federal reporting guidelines. He said he wasnt satisfied with that explanation.

If it doesnt fit somebody at that levels arbitrary idea of what they want, then they changed it, Stratmoen said. You know, life and death dont fit into nice tiny little neat boxes, and our obligation and requirement under the law is to be accurate.

Stratmoen said at least one other county coroner in Wyoming had reportedly been experiencing the same changes to their death records, but did not specify which.

Big Horn County Coroner Del Atwood said in a statement to the Star-Tribune that his office had noticed issues with the certificates earlier in 2021, and brought them to the attention of the Department of Health.

Starting in February, Atwood said, the office has been working with the Big Horn County attorney and the states Vital Statistics department to address those concerns.
The challenging search area contains countless rock fields, car-sized boulders, scree fields, and snowfields. Searching the area requires technical experience and advanced backcountry knowledge. The size of the search area and the difficulty of the terrain makes searching extremely dangerous, rescuers said.

I am impressed with the outstanding commitment of all the volunteers on this search operation. Every search technique and technical capability was utilized. said Josh McQuillan, Carbon County Sheriff. We had support from local, state, regional and federal resources.

Based on the conditions, terrain, search effort, and the time she has been missing, her family, Red Lodge Search and Rescue, and the Carbon County Sheriffs office believe it is not likely she survived. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of thousands of places that Tate could have gotten into trouble on these rugged mountains when the storms came into the area on Friday, said Incident commander Tom Kuntz. After the extensive search efforts, we do not believe she survived
Almost 700 Venezuelans voluntarily left Trinidad and Tobago early yesterday on a repatriation trip from the Port of Port of Spain.

The trip was organised by the Venezuelan Embassy in Port of Spain for citizens of that country who wanted to return home.

The Venezuelan nationals assembled outside the Cruise Ship Complex from as early as 6 a.m.
Eight more people have died of the Covid-19 virus.

They have taken T&Ts death toll to 990.

The Ministry of Health reported the new deaths in its daily update yesterday.

The ministry said the deceased patients were:

 Three elderly men with co-morbidities
When the countrys borders were declared officially closed on March 23, 2020, no one, not even the Government, would have imagined that the country would have remained essentially cut off from the world for all of 16 months.

Neither would anyone have foreseen that the reopening would occur under conditions as uncertain as they continue to be in this moment.
Many lives and our economic survival depend on the availability of vaccines in sufficient numbers to vaccinate 70 per cent or greater of the adult population.

We are reopening for business before the 70 per cent target is achieved and before more is known about the Delta variant, described as relentless. That is a significant risk, but I do acknowledge movement in a safer direction with the reported arrival last week of enough doses of Sinopharm vaccine for 400,000 people and the Prime Minister being pictured taking it.
Piechuras passing leaves a tremendous void in the lives of his beloved family, friends, and the thousands of firefighters across the country he worked with, said the Northwest Fire news release. His professional accomplishments are far too many to be captured in a single document and his personal impact on those who knew him is too immense to comprehend. For those of us fortunate enough to work with Jeff, or Chief Pie, we will forever miss his warm smile, firm handshake, and endearing embrace he gave those around him.
The awards were established in 2014 by Rev. James Briney and his wife Sandy through a fund held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, which awards a cash prize each year to educators nominated by colleagues for their excellence and authentic inspiration and students who demonstrate a commitment to integrity.

For more information on the award, go to cfsaz.org/what/awards/excellent-educator.

Amphi hosting job fair July 14

Amphitheater School District is hosting a career fair on July 14.

The district is hiring for multiple positions, including teachers, substitutes, paraprofessionals, custodians, office staff, bus drivers and more.

The event is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 701 W. Wetmore Road.

Visit amphi.com/jobs for more information, to register for the job fair or to apply for available positions.

Program donates to those in need

Community Extension Programs, Inc. has run community programs to serve the needs of Tucsons youth and their families for 50 years, enriching the lives of more than 35,000 local families, a news release said.
In his appeal, Allen said his defamation claim does not depend on the SPLCs description of him as a neo-Nazi or a racist. But he argued that the SPLC falsely accused him of being unethical and incompetent as an attorney by describing him as infiltrat(ing) the citys law department. The appeals court panel concluded that the challenged statement was non-actionable hyperbole.

Allen said he and his attorney havent decided whether to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

Other organizations and individuals have sued the SPLC over its articles about far-right extremism and its hate group labels.

In 2019, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., dismissed a lawsuit that accused law center leaders of trying to financially destroy the Center for Immigration Studies by labeling it as a hate group. In 2018, a federal judge in Virginia ruled that the First Amendment protected a charity tracking websites use of the law centers hate group labels.

The founder of the far-right Proud Boys sued the law center in February 2019 for labeling the organization as a hate group. That federal case is still pending in Alabama and has remained dormant since November 2019.

In 2018, the law center apologized to a London-based group, Quilliam, and its founder, Maajid Nawaz, and agreed to pay $3.4 million in an out-of-court settlement after labeling them as anti-Muslim extremists.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Those crimes include imprisonment, torture, enforced sterilization, and persecution, the report said. It added that President Joe Biden's administration has followed through and expanded on Trump-era sanctions for the alleged atrocities.

The report said Myanmar, also known as Burma, remains at particular risk for genocide. It said the U.S. would continue to coordinate with allies and partners to press the military government there to halt all repression, including crackdowns on dissent that followed a coup in February, as well as the violence against the Rohingya.

The report also took Eritrea and Ethiopia to task for ethnic cleansing in their crackdown on dissent in Ethiopias western Tigray region. Blinken in March told Congress that the actions there amounted to ethnic cleansing. The administration has since demanded a full withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray and has imposed travel bans on certain officials.

Elsewhere in Africa, the report cited deteriorating conditions in South Sudan, where it said the government has perpetrated extrajudicial killings including ethnic-based killings of civilians, widespread sexual violence, and use of food as a weapon of war.

Those responsible for human rights violations in South Sudan must be held to account, it said.

The report said the Biden administration would continue to support efforts to bring Islamic State militants to justice for atrocities committed against religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. It also reiterated the U.S. commitment to holding Syrian President Bashar Assad and his government to account for abuses.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Kreyche noted that the 127 sets of remains found during the first half of this year are far higher than the 96 bodies recovered during the same period last year. This year's six-month recovery toll also is higher than that of all of 2017, when 123 sets of remains were found near Arizona's border with Mexico.

Exposure is the most commonly listed cause of death.

Texas officials say they also have seen an increase in migrant deaths this year.

The Brooks County Sheriff's Department in southern Texas last month reported 36 migrant deaths in the first five months of 2021, more than all of last year.

The growing number of recovered bodies comes as border officials warn of increased dangers as temperatures soar this summer.

Although most migrants now cross through Texas, decades of enforcement there and in California pushes many others into hostile areas of Arizona where water and food is unavailable.

The U.S. Border Patrol's Yuma Sector gathered reporters this month just feet from the U.S.-Mexico border at the Colorado River to emphasize the risks migrants take crossing the Sonoran Desert.
Five years ago: President Barack Obama visited Dallas, where five police officers were killed the previous week by a Black man seeking vengeance for police killings; Obama said a week of deeply troubling violence seemed to expose the deepest fault lines of our democracy, but insisted the nation was not as divided as it seemed. With hugs and handshakes, Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president during an appearance in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

One year ago: Florida set a national record with more than 15,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in a day. Twenty-one people suffered minor injuries in an explosion and fire aboard a Navy amphibious assault vessel, the USS Bonhomme Richard, at Naval Base San Diego; the fire would burn for more than four days. Actor Kelly Preston, whose films included Jerry Maguire and Twins, died at 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer; word of her death came from husband John Travolta.

Todays Birthdays: Singer-musician Christine McVie is 78. Actor Denise Nicholas is 77. Singer-songwriter Butch Hancock is 76. Fitness guru Richard Simmons is 73. Singer Walter Egan is 73. Writer-producer Brian Grazer is 70. Actor Cheryl Ladd is 70. Gospel singer Ricky McKinnie is 69. Country singer Julie Miller is 65. Gospel singer Sandi Patty is 65. Actor Mel Harris is 65. Actor Buddy Foster is 64. Rock guitarist Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) is 59. Actor Judi Evans is 57. Rock singer Robin Wilson (Gin Blossoms) is 56. Actor Lisa Nicole Carson is 52. Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is 50. Country singer Shannon Lawson is 48. CBS newsman Jeff Glor is 46. Actor Anna Friel is 45. R&B singer Tracie Spencer is 45. Actor Alison Wright is 45. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., is 45. Actor Steve Howey is 44. Actor Topher Grace is 43. Actor Michelle Rodriguez is 43. Actor Kristen Connolly is 41. Country singer-musician Kimberly Perry (The Band Perry) is 38. Actor Matt Cook (TV: Man With a Plan) is 37. Actor Natalie Martinez is 37. Actor Bernard David Jones is 36. Actor TaRhonda Jones is 33. Golfer Inbee Park is 33. Actor Melissa ONeil is 33. Actor Rachel Brosnahan is 31. Actor Erik Per Sullivan is 30. Olympic gold medal gymnast Jordyn Wieber is 26. Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai is 24.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kongs national security police on Monday arrested five more people in relation to an alleged bomb plot, as political tensions rise amid Beijing's tightening control over the city.

The five  four males and one female  were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to plan terrorist activities under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing a year ago as part of a crackdown on dissent in the former British colony, which has enjoyed freedoms not experienced on the Chinese mainland.

Last week, police arrested nine people, including six students, accused of planning to manufacture and plant explosives around the city, including in courts, cross-harbor tunnels and trash cans.

Police said then that they found chemicals in a makeshift laboratory for the manufacture of the explosive triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, which has been widely used in bombings in Europe and elsewhere.

Police on Monday said they did not rule out further arrests in relation to the case.

Hong Kong authorities have used the national security law, enacted in response to anti-government protests that rocked the city in 2019, to arrest many of the citys prominent pro-democracy activists. Others have fled abroad.
OPINION: The new Name Image Likeness (NIL) and the impacts it will have on the PAC-12 is one subject in Letters to the Editor. What are your thoughts on NIL? Submit a Letter to the Editor at tucson.com/opinion.
Driving through Montana, I stopped at nearly every historical marker. Back home in Oregon, Id zoom right by the equivalent signs.

When I got my haircut at Bobs Barber Shop on Broadway in Red Lodge, I asked about local Montanan politics, the state of the local economy, and details on why and how the barber ended up in this small slice of a huge state. Back in Portland, Id probably just settle for talking about the weather.

A stop at Red Lodge Ales was an excuse to get some great beers and meet new people. If I were in Bend, Id stop by Crux but never bother to talk to new folks; after all, Id surely be meeting some friends there.

Theres something about being a visitor somewhere that makes you more willing to ask questions, explore history and connect with strangers. That sense of curiosity shouldnt be reserved for when youre traveling in a new spot. That willingness to admit your lack of expertise should be true in your own community. That acceptance of the fact that others have valid and varied perspectives should apply to conversations with your neighbors, not just newly discovered friends.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education adopted temporary rules Monday so public schools would have some formal guidance heading into the 2021-22 academic year on a controversial new law intended to limit certain instruction on race, gender and history.

House Bill 1775 prohibits teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another and that anyone, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

As for consequences for a schools failure to comply with House Bill 1775, the emergency rules state that at a minimum the state accreditation status of the school be downgraded to Accredited with Deficiency and that the school be given one academic year to correct such deficiencies.

Also, the state Department of Education could suspend the license or certificate of any school employee found to have violated HB 1775 or the adopted rules.

Board member Estela Hernandez of Oklahoma City said the states largest districts deserve to be admonished for some of their practices to date. But fellow member Carlisha Williams Bradley pushed back, saying Oklahomas largest districts face the greatest challenges in grappling with classroom conversations about history because the majority of their students are people of color.
That is a much better cost savings rather than having to build something new from scratch, Bynum said. But, again, we havent found that building.

The Tulsa World reported in April that the city planned to add a public safety complex to its Capital Improvement Plan. It would be home to separate police and fire department headquarters, municipal court, a 60-bed city jail and the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency.

The Capital Improvement Plan lists the estimated cost of the project at well over $100 million, but city officials stressed at the time that the figure was just a placeholder.

Bynum last week  as he did in April  drove home the point that the city has no funding available for the project.

Same as always  there is no identified funding for this, he said. We dont even know how much it is going to cost. It is in the super early stages of discussion, and that is all this meeting was intended to be.

Over the next two years, the city will receive $87.5 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The city could conceivably use some of those funds for a public safety complex, but Bynum cautioned that there is a long list of programs and projects that could use the money.
His wife died in May, but his goal is to help more former service members like her who are in need, Neal said. Native Veteran has paid for 15 veteran medical cards since its inception and contributed over a half a pound of cannabis to veterans via dispensaries penny-sales programs, he said.

Many veterans dont know there is a network of growers and dispensaries willing to pay for their card to ease their financial burden, Neal said.

Native Veteran breeds specific medicinal strains: Windwalker, Billy Knuckles and the Cross are all customized to help with the conditions veterans might suffer with, according to Neal.

We learned by cultivating the plants and looking for specific traits, he said of his small, boutique operation.

He pointed to some goliath growers more interested in money than medicine, whose operations can be found in Zena, Colcord, Kenwood, and areas outside Kansas, Okla., Grove and Jay.

Lots of dispensaries are trying to buy the cheapest products from brokers who know nothing about the product and charge a premium to the patients, Neal said.

By the numbers
Before the war could send them off to opposite sides of the globe, John Woods took advantage of one last chance to visit his best friend.

And in true pilot fashion, he made it an occasion to remember.

I can still see his face. He had a big smile, Woods said, recalling the reaction of his buddy, Warner Knight, to going for a spin in Woods C-47 airplane.

I took him up and I even let him fly it, he added.

I remember him saying, Just think, you get paid to do this.

The pair, who had joined the Army together three years earlier, wouldve extended their reunion if possible.

But Woods had only a few hours to spare. And soon afterward, duty called both away.

They had no way of knowing, Woods said, that they had seen each other for the last time.

When I first reached out to Woods, a 99-year-old Broken Arrow resident, last week, I didnt know any more than what a caller had told us  that he was a veteran with a beautiful story to tell.

But it didnt take long in talking to him to realize the truth of that, and also that it was a story well worth sharing.
Gligo said other states require the landlord to pay for hotels while such major repairs are made. Oklahoma tenants dont have such protections.

Tenants in the state have the options of moving without guarantee of receiving their deposit or making repairs themselves and taking up to $100 off their rent.

That isnt good enough. It places tenants at a disadvantage and at-risk of predatory actions.

We believe the majority of landlords are doing the right things to provide a safe living environment for their tenants.

A minority of landlords cause these monumental problems, creating a bad reputation for many innocents. Owners acting in good faith ought to rally behind tightening standards and enforcement on poor landlords.

The Legislature studied the Oklahoma Residential Landlord Tenant Act in an interim study last summer but took no action. Its time to make the law better.

Tulsa is struggling with enough housing for all residents. It cannot afford to have bad landlords putting families into homelessness.

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Authorities in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday requested the suspension of 29 out of 250 companies at Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone for medical isolation over suspected coronavirus infections.

The request came after the districts medical center had announced the COVID-19 testing results of a number of workers at Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone were positive.

The facility currently houses 250 companies with about 60,000 workers.

Previously, two companies, which employ nearly 2,000 workers at the zone, had suspended operations for pandemic prevention for 15 days, starting July 9.

From July 6, the steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control in District 7 has fenced off Tan Thuan Dong Ward and parts of Tan Thuan Tay and Binh Thuan Ward, excluding Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, for medical isolation.

The Ministry of Health on Monday morning confirmed 662 new COVID-19 cases, including 544 infections in Ho Chi Minh City.

The city has constantly documented the largest daily increase in the country over the past weeks.

Vietnam has been battling a new outbreak with 26,981 local infections recorded in 58 out of 63 provinces and cities since April 27.

Ho Chi Minh City is taking the lead with 13,556 cases, followed by Bac Giang Province with 5,714 patients, Bac Ninh Province with 1,663, Binh Duong Province with 1,500, and Dong Thap Province with 578.

The country has confirmed an accumulation of 30,478 infections, including 28,551 community cases, since the pathogen first hit it early last year, according to the health ministrys data.

Recoveries have risen to 9,275, including 71 announced on Sunday, whereas the death toll has reached 119.

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National carrier Vietnam Airlines has planned the trial acceptance of digital health record solution IATA Travel Pass, which allows medical officers to access the COVID-19 test result and vaccination status of travelers from other countries, on two of their inbound flights from Japans Narita Airport to Vietnams Da Nang Airport in July.

The IATA Travel Pass trial is the fruit of the partnership agreement that was signed between Vietnam Airlines and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in May, a Vietnam Airlines representative stated on Friday.

Selected passengers, who must be 18 or above, will be invited to download the IATA Travel Pass app to their mobile phones, create a digital ID comprising their photo and passport information, and fill in flight details to receive information on entry requirements at the destination.

Before departure, passengers will be required to get tested at eligible clinics based on the IATA registry, then share the test results digitally and confirm flight status to the airline ahead of being at the airport.

However, since the program is still on trial in Vietnam, passengers would still need to prepare a hard copy of their test results as normally required for all entrants to Vietnam.

Since early 2020, Vietnam has shut its border to all foreign entrants, except for foreign experts, investors and business managers, who must obtain an entry permit with support from a domestic institution and a negative COVID-19 test certificate that they must present on arrival.

The IATA Travel Pass is considered a safer and more effective solution compared to current paper-based procedures, especially when it comes to a multitude of test and vaccination data that needs securing.

A digital solution that allows COVID-19 test results and proof of vaccinations to be shared cross-border, the IATA Travel Pass has been picked up for trial by some 30 airlines and endorsed by several governments, including Singapore, Panama, and Estonia.

In Vietnam, domestic carriers Bamboo Airways and Vietnam Airlines are working to incorporate the IATA Travel Pass in their aviation protocol.

They are expecting a success for the tryout phase, which would provide the basis for the Vietnamese government to consider reopening borders to international flights in the near future.

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Read what is in the news today:

COVID-19 Updates

-- The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Monday morning confirmed 662 new COVID-19 cases, including three imported cases and 544 infections in Ho Chi Minh City, raising the caseload to 30,478 cases, with 9,275 recoveries and 119 deaths.

-- Pou Chen Vietnam Enterprise Ltd. in southern Dong Nai Province asked its 16,700 workers to stay home for 14 days, starting Sunday, as two of them tested positive for the coronavirus and the company is located in a medical isolation area.

-- Seven out of the nine most populous urban areas in southern Binh Duong Province have come into social distancing under the prime ministers Directive No. 16 as its local COVID-19 caseload hit 1,500 cases on Sunday.

-- A volunteer student at a medical center and a security guard at a centralized quarantine facility in south-central Phu Yen Province have contracted the coronavirus, authorities said on Sunday evening.

-- Authorities in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday requested the suspension of 29 out of 250 companies at Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone for medical isolation over suspected coronavirus infections.

-- People in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City with symptoms of COVID-19 can call the hotline number 0854.38.34.38, which has been put into use from Sunday afternoon, to have medical workers come to their home to collect samples for testing.

-- Authorities in Can Tho have decided to impose social distancing under the prime ministers Directive No. 15 in the entire Mekong Delta city for 14 days, starting from Monday.

-- The Ministry of National Defense has just sent a mobile COVID-19 testing van from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in order to strengthen the testing capacity in the southern metropolis, according to Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper.

Society

-- Police in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City has detained a 36-year-old local man for causing a fire that burned down three houses early on Sunday morning.

Sports

-- Italy wrecked England's Euro 2020 party at Wembley on Sunday, winning the final on penalties to plunge the host nation into despair and prolong their 55-year wait to win a major title, AFP reported.

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Police in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City have detained a 36-year-old man for causing a fire that burned down three houses early on Sunday morning.

Functional forces received a report of a fire in a residential area on Nguyen Thuong Hien Street in the districts Ward 4 at around 3:15 am on the same day.

Firefighters swiftly arrived at the scene and managed to put out the inferno less than an hour later but it had completely damaged three houses and slightly burned another.

Residents living in those four houses had all been evacuated.

By professional measures, police officers suspected that Nguyen Van Tin was the one who had set fire to one of the houses and detained him.

At the police station, Tin said that due to a family dispute, Tin had drunk alcohol and burned his own clothes upstairs in his house, causing the conflagration.

The blaze then spread to the neighboring houses.

According to police officers, Tin has criminal records related to illegal drug use.

Officers have investigated him on charges of setting fire to his house.

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More than 50 men and women were found gathering at a restaurant in the southern Vietnamese province of Binh Phuoc for a birthday party on the weekend despite the rising number of COVID-19 infections in the locality.

The birthday party took place at a beer parlor in Bu Nho Commune, Phu Rieng District on Saturday evening, officers confirmed on Sunday.

After receiving reports from local residents, police promptly arrived at the venue and discovered 53 men and women participating in the party.

Many of them came from virus-hit areas in Binh Phuoc such as Dong Xoai City, Phuoc Long Town, Bu Gia Map District, and Hon Quan District.

They were required to undergo rapid COVID-19 testing and all of their results have come back negative.

Competent authorities have booked the party-goers and owner of the beer parlor for violating pandemic prevention and control regulations.

The venue has also been fumigated.

Vietnam had documented 31,590 COVID-19 cases as of Monday afternoon, with 9,275 recoveries and 123 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 28,086 local infections in 58 provinces and cities since a new outbreak began April 27.

Binh Phuoc detected its first community-based transmission in this bout on June 30 and has so far registered 27 cases.

Social distancing measures have been implemented in multiple areas in the province to curb the spread of COVID-19.

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Taiwanese-owned sport shoes maker Pouchen Vietnam has announced two weeks off for all of its 16,700 workers as the firm is located in one of the lockdown areas in Dong Nai Province amid the coronavirus spread.

Pouchen Vietnam Co. Ltd., located in Bien Hoa City under Dong Nai, has released the announcement after a meeting on Sunday evening with the provincial authorities regarding health isolation due to the COVID-19 impacts.

As the local administration has decided to temporarily blockade the entirety of Hoa An Ward in Bien Hoa, where the company is located, to curb the coronavirus spread, the company has decided on such leave for its workers from Sunday.

During the leave, the workers will be paid based on the regional minimum wage as stipulated by the government, the company said.

Hoa An is among the 12 areas in Bien Hoa and Trang Bom District subject to health isolation for 21 days, according to the decision of the Dong Nai administration.

Coronavirus infections in Dong Nai have mainly originated from Hoc Mon, Binh Dien, and Thu Duc markets in Ho Chi Minh City, local authorities said.

On July 10 and 11, the Dong Nai Center for Disease Control, with support from Dong Nai Medical College, took COVID-19 samples from all Pouchen workers.

The test results showed that two of them were positive for SARS-CoV-2, the official name of the virus.

Since April 27, when the pandemics fourth wave erupted in Vietnam, Dong Nai has recorded 376 coronavirus cases, the provincial Department of Health reported on Monday.

Of these infections, Bien Hoa represented the highest number at 127, followed by Thong Nhat and Nhon Trach Districts with 104 and over 60 cases, respectively.

On Monday morning, the Ministry of Health reported 662 new COVID-19 cases, including 659 domestic and three imported cases, of which 544 were detected in Ho Chi Minh City.

The latest cases have taken the countrys total patient number to 30,478, including 9,275 recoveries and 116 deaths, since early 2020.

Since April 27, the country has documented 26,981 domestic cases.

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Vietnam will impose movement restrictions in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho for 14 days starting on Monday, the government said on Sunday, as the Southeast Asian country battles its worst outbreak of the pandemic.

The city of 1.23 million people in the far south has reported seven infections over the past week, the government said in a statement.

After successfully containing the disease for much of the pandemic, Vietnam has faced a more stubborn outbreak since late April, with daily infections climbing to record levels.

The health ministry reported 1,953 new infections on Sunday, the seventh straight day of more than 1,000 cases, and exceeding Saturday's record of 1,853. Most of the cases were recorded in Ho Chi Minh City, the epicentre of the country's outbreak.

Vietnam has recorded 30,478 infections in total and 119 deaths - very low figures compared with some European nations, India and the United States.

The country has over the past week begun imposing restrictions on movement in major cities, including the economic hub of Ho Chi Minh and the capital Hanoi.
ABC has marked 75 years of broadcasting from Parliament -first on radio then later on television.

The original recording of Question Time from July 10, 1946, now lies in the ABC archives.

These days, a team of five ABC staff are behind the controls in broadcast booths at the rear of the House of Representatives and Senate chambers on Capital Hill.

They are the only media allowed to broadcast from the floor of Parliament.

ABC managing director David Anderson said, No other media organisation in Australia has the capability and capacity to reach a broader audience than the ABC.

The Australian community looks to sources of information that they trust, and there is no media organisation that is more trusted in this country than the ABC.

You can read more about the history of broadcasting from Parliament, including the theft of microphones from the chamber floor, at ABC here.

Photo: ABC
US horror series Chapelwaite, based on Stephen Kings 1978 short story Jerusalems Lot, is coming to Stan in 23 August, same day as the USA.

The 10 part series stars Adrien Brody (The Pianist) and Emily Hampshire (Schitts Creek).

This looks to be a weekly series for Stan.

Set in the 1850s, the series follows Captain Charles Boone (Adrien Brody), who relocates his family of three children to his ancestral home in the small, seemingly sleepy town of Preachers Corners, Maine after his wife dies at sea. However, Charles will soon have to confront the secrets of his familys sordid history, and fight to end the darkness that has plagued the Boones for generations.

Emily Hampshire plays Rebecca Morgan, an ambitious young woman who left Preachers Corners to attend Mount Holyoke College, and has returned home with an advance to write a story for the new and prestigious Atlantic Magazine. Her writers block lifts when Boone arrives in town with his children, and despite her mothers protests, Rebecca applies to be governess of the infamous Chapelwaite manor and the Boone family in order to write about them. In doing so, Rebecca will not only craft the next great gothic novel, shell unravel a mystery that has plagued her own family for years.

In addition to Brody, the series is executive produced by Donald De Line (Ready Player One, Wayward Pines), Jason Filardi, Peter Filardi and Burr Steers. Chapelwaite is produced by EPIX Studios.

Monday 23 August on Stan.

Horror themes.
New documentary My Name is Pauli Murray profiles a pioneering US attorney, activist, priest and dedicated memoirist who shaped landmark litigationand consciousness around race and gender equity.

This screens on Amazon Prime in early October.

Fifteen years before Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat, a full decade before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned separate-but-equal legislation, Pauli Murray was already knee-deep fighting for social justice. A pioneering attorney, activist, priest and dedicated memoirist, Murray shaped landmark litigationand consciousness around race and gender equity. As an African American youth raised in the segregated South who was also wrestling with broader notions of gender identityPauli understood, intrinsically, what it was to exist beyond previously accepted categories and cultural norms. Both Paulis personal path and tireless advocacy foreshadowed some of the most politically consequential issues of our time. Told largely in Paulis own words, My Name is Pauli Murray is a candid recounting of that unique and extraordinary journey.

Directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen

Produced by Talleah Bridges McMahon

Friday 1 October on Amazon Prime.
Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. High around 95F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
The University of Dayton Marian Library gallery will reopen to the public with a free exhibit on religious tourism featuring pieces from Catholic shrines and festivals  from handcrafted devotional objects to quirky souvenirs.

Catholic sites draw millions of visitors every year, from casual tourists to pilgrims on spiritual journeys, said curator Kayla Harris. Obviously with the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism stopped and many Marian and Catholic sacred places closed to visitors. This exhibit gives everyone the opportunity to travel to these sites and discover the unique customs and traditions that can be found there.

The Journeys of Faith: Shrines, Souvenirs and Catholic Tourism exhibit, which draws from the collections of the Marian Library and the U.S. Catholic Special Collection, explores the motivations for Catholic travel, what visitors do at these sites, and the souvenirs they bring back.

Items on display include holy water from the Sanctuary Our Lady of Lourdes (France), a place where pilgrims seek medical miracles; an 18th-century shrine souvenir print and the woodblock from the shrine of Our Lady of Good Encounter in France, where a statue of the Virgin Mary was removed but miraculously reappeared the next day; quirky souvenirs, such as glow-in-the-dark statues, decorative fans, candles and a car ornament; and other prints and devotional objects.



Visitors also will get to flip through a scrapbook featuring postcards and photographs from Marian shrines and take home their own souvenir, such as coloring pages and deaccessioned items from the collections such as holy cards or postcards.

The exhibit is open Aug. 17 to Jan. 31 in the Marian Library gallery on the seventh floor of Roesch Library. More information, including hours and parking, is available online.
Five civilians, four soldiers and 40 armed attackers were killed Sunday in a clash in Niger's restive southwest region near the border with Mali, the government said.

Around 100 heavily armed "terrorists" riding motorcycles attacked the Tchoma Bangou village, striking around 3 pm Sunday, Niger's Ministry of Defence said in a statement read on public television that did not identify who it suspected was behind the latest deadly incident.

The "prompt and vigorous reaction" by the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), "made it possible to repel the attack and inflict heavy losses on the enemy", the ministry said, adding that its soldiers had seized motorcycles and a cache of weapons, including AK47s and machine guns, from the assailants.

Tchoma Bangou is located in the Tillaberi region, bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, an area known as "the three borders" that has been regularly targeted by jihadist groups.

Tillaberi has been under a state of emergency since 2017. The authorities have banned motorbike traffic night and day for a year and ordered the closure of certain markets suspected of supplying "terrorists".

One of the poorest countries in the world, Niger has for years battled jihadist insurgencies on its southwestern flank with Mali, as well as Boko Haram on its southeastern border with Nigeria. The repeated attacks have claimed hundreds of lives and forced thousands to flee their homes.

In January, 70 civilians were killed by gunmen in Tchoma Bangou and 30 in the neighbouring village of Zaroumadareye.

Last month, 19 people were killed in villages in the same commune, according to officials.

According to United Nations estimates, there are more than 300,000 internally displaced people in Niger, many of whom fled terrorist violence that has escalated since 2015.

(AFP)
Wynn Millions Rewind: Andrew Moreno's Biggest Hands on Way to Victory

July 12 2021 Chad Holloway

Last week, PokerNews offered live updates from the $10,000 buy-in, $10,000,000 GTD Wynn Millions, which saw Andrew Moreno top a 1,328-entry field to win $1,460,106 in prize money.

Throughout the tournament, there were some memorable hands including a brutal cooler involving Bryn Kenney and Alex Foxen, as well as Ari Engel winning with straight flush over straight flush.

In this article, we rewind it back by looking at some of the biggest and most influential hands Moreno play on his way to victory.

Moreno Hits Every Out to Send Opponent Packing

On Day 1c of the tournament in Level 10 (1,000/1,500/1,500) when action folded to the player in the cutoff, who raised all in for 16,000. Moreno called from the small blind.

Andrew Moreno:

Opponent:

Moreno was dominated but he had luck on his side as the flop fell giving him trips. Things got better for Moreno as the case dropped on the turn giving him quads leaving his opponent drawing dead to the river. That hand helped Moreno reach 200,000 in chips.

Moreno Sets Up Two Opponents

On Day 3 in Level 18 (5,000/10,000/10,000), Moreno had around 225,000 when he looked down at and raised to 16,000 from early position. The player in the cutoff called with what turned out to be and the big blind came along with .

When the flop fell with two diamonds, both the player in the big blind and Moreno checked. The cutoff bet 22,000, the big blind check-raised to 60,000, and Moreno jammed.

The big blind re-jammed for around 800,000 while the cutoff called off for approximately 600,000.

A bricked on the turn followed by a on the river and Moreno tripled on the hand to 670,000.

Moreno Calls River For His Tournament Life

On Day 5 in Level 27 (40,000/80,000/80,000), action folded around to Andrew Moreno, who limped in the small blind. Anthony Huntsman raised to 250,000 out of the big and Moreno came along.

The flop came . Both players checked.

The turn was the . Moreno led with a bet of 390,000 which Huntsman called.

The river came the . After a Moreno check, Huntsman shoved all in to put Moreno to the test.

"Im going to put the chips in and if I have to leave here back home to San Diego at least I know that I went with my gut."

Moreno took off his sunglasses and looked up, getting ready for a long tank. He studied Huntsman and replayed the hand in his head while looking at the board. After a few minutes, he placed a few chips in the middle for the call.

Huntsman immediately indicated "good call" and turned over the . Moreno then tabled the winner, which was the for second pair, enough to take down a pot worth 4.1 million.

"Once I check and my opponent moved all in, after I put the hand together, what I thought about how my opponent would play his value hands, I really thought I needed to call with my hand," Moreno told PokerNews. "However, putting all the money in was really difficult for me. Most of the time I was thinking was me just being really sure I wanted to do it."

He continued: "I just said I have to do this for myself, I think this is right. Im going to put the chips in and if I have to leave here back home to San Diego at least I know that I went with my gut."

Andrew Moreno & Clayton Maguire heads-up.

The Triple-Barrel Bluff

On Day 6 in Level 33 (150,000/300,000/150,000), it was heads-up against Clayton Maguire and Hand #201 on the final table when Maguire limped. Moreno raised to 1,600,000 and Maguire called.

The flop came . Moreno bet 900,000, Maguire called. The turn was the . Maguire called a bet of 2,600,000 from Moreno.

The river was the to put three aces on board. Moreno loaded up for a third barrel, grasping chips from his stack, and this time fired for a whopping 4,800,000. Maguire took his time but eventually, he folded.

Moreno tabled the bluff and took in the pot.

Moreno Catches Ten For Huge Double

On Hand #210 in the same level, Moreno limped the button and Maguire raised to 1,500,000. Moreno three-bet to 5,400,000. Maguire then four-bet over the top all in. Moreno checked his cards and kind of raised his eyebrows before calling.

Moreno was suddenly at risk and behind holding the vs the of Maguire who had to fade the board to take home the title.

The flop hit Moreno as it came the . The turn was the and the river the to give Moreno the massive double and snatch the win from Maguire's grasp.

Moreno Closes It Out

In what would be the final hand of the tournament, which was #215 on the final table, Maguire would once again be on the receiving end of bad luck. It happened when Maguire moved all in for 5.5 million from the button and Moreno called.

Clayton Maguire:

Andrew Moreno:

Maguire was on the better end of the big-ace cooler, though the flop made things interesting by not only giving him top pair, but also giving Moreno a pair and flush draw.

The turn vaulted Moreno into the lead with trips, and he closed out the tournament after the completed the board on the river.

Moreno shook hands with Maguire, who finished as the 2021 Wynn Millions runner-up for $1,443,757.
The Council of EU has announced the decision to prolong sanctions against Russia by six months, according to the statement posted on the official website of the Council of the EU.

"The Council today decided to prolong the sanctions targeting Russia's specific economic sectors for a further six months, until 31 January 2022," the statement reads.

Economic sanctions were first introduced on 31 July 2014. They were reinforced in September 2014, and in March 2015, the European Council agreed to link their duration to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements.
Finland has lifted restrictions on entry to the country for residents of Azerbaijan, according to Finnish media.

Starting July 12, Finland lifted the border crossing restriction for citizens of Azerbaijan, Moldova, Lithuania, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Previously, people with citizenship or residence permits in the EU, family members of citizens and residents of the EU countries, transit passengers, those who own real estate in Finland, their relatives, as well as berry pickers coming to work, were allowed into Finland.

Participation in university entrance exams was also recognized as the basis for crossing the border.
An agreement on maritime affairs will be signed between Iran and Azerbaijan in the near future, Executive Director of the Khazar Shipping Company Davood Tafti said.

According to him, the agreement will be mainly on transit in the East-West Corridor.

"The cargo transported from Europe to Asia will be transported to Iranian ports via Azerbaijani ports. It will be transported from Iranian ports to eastern countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan," Trend cited him as saying.

Tafti noted that through its representative office in South Korea, the Khazar Shipping Company has created certain infrastructures to transport cargo directly from South Korea to the southern ports of Iran and from there to Azerbaijan by railways or the northern ports.
Pentagon officials are watching the Taliban's sweeping advances in Afghanistan "with deep concern" and are encouraging its Afghan partners to "step up" and defend their country amid the pullout of U.S. forces, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Sunday.

With the Taliban claiming to have taken control of 85% of Afghanistan  a claim that U.S. government officials dispute  Kirby told "Fox News Sunday" that the Pentagon was "not unmindful" of the situation.

"We're certainly watching with deep concern, Chris, the deteriorating security situation and the violence, which is of course way too high, and the advances and the momentum that the Taliban seems to have right now," he said.

Kirby said officials are monitoring the Taliban's movements in the country and working with the Afghan military "to encourage them to use the capacity and the capability that we know they have, and we know that they know how to defend their country."

He said Afghanistan's capacity and capabilities included a "very capable" Air Force and "very sophisticated" special forces that can help defend the country from the Taliban resurgence.

"This is a time for them to step up and to do exactly that," Kirby said of their Afghan partners.

With U.S. Central Command estimating that more than 90% of the withdrawal process is complete, Kirby said that even though U.S. troops wont be supporting Afghanistan on the ground, the U.S. will continue to support the country and its people.

"We are not walking away from this relationship," Kirby said. "Were going to continue to support them from a financial perspective, logistical perspective and certainly aircraft maintenance."
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller is to hand over his command at a ceremony in the capital of Kabul on Monday, as America winds down its 20-year military presence and Taliban insurgents continue to gain territory across the country.

Miller was poised to transfer authority to Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to confirm the developments.

McKenzie, also a four-star general, will operate from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. He will assume authority to conduct possible airstrikes in defense of Afghan government forces, at least until the U.S. withdrawal concludes by Aug. 31.

The handover ceremony was taking place in the heavily fortified Resolute Support headquarters in the heart of Kabul, at a time of rapid territorial gains by Taliban insurgents across Afghanistan, USA Today reported.

After Miller's departure, a two-star admiral based at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul will oversee the U.S. military's role in securing the American diplomatic presence in Kabul, including defending the Kabul airport.

Miller's departure does not reduce the scope of the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan, since McKenzie will assume the authorities now held by Miller to conduct airstrikes in defense of Afghan government forces under certain circumstances.
Vietnam's total import turnover of livestock products in the first six months of 2021 is estimated at US$1.82 billion, a year-on-year increase of 8.9 per cent.

Vietnam imported about 70,000 tonnes of pork and pork products by the end of the first six months.

The latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that Viet Nam imported about 70,000 tonnes of pork and pork products by the end of the first six months.

In addition, the import of milk and dairy products is estimated at $650 million (up 14.5 per cent), raising the import value of meat, meat by-products and edible animal by-products to $727 million (up 51.5 per cent).

The country imported 12,800 breeding pigs and over 2.2 million breeding poultry in the first six months of the year.

The main meat import markets of Viet Nam are Russia, the US, India, the Netherlands and Poland.

Russia was the largest market supplying meat and meat products to Viet Nam after the first five months of this year with 45,750 tonnes, worth $97.49 million, up 493.2 per cent in volume and up 437.5 per cent in value over the same period in last year.

The Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper quoted Nguyen Van Trong, deputy director of the Livestock Breeding General Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as saying that due to the influence of African swine fever, the amount of imported pork from other countries to Viet Nam increased sharply.

For example, Viet Nam imported more than 141,000 tonnes of fresh, chilled or frozen pork last year, worth US$334.44 million, up 382 per cent in volume and 502.9 per cent in value compared to 2019.

Trong said Viet Nam had continued to maintain a large amount of imported pork from the beginning of the year until now, but in fact, foreign pork only accounted for about four per cent of the total amount of meat in the country, so it was not a concern.

He also added that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, pork consumption is falling sharply, so it was forecasted that the amount of meat imported this year would be less than last year.

As of June, the re-herd work of the livestock industry has achieved positive results  the pig herd increased by 11.6 per cent with meat output reaching more than 2 million tonnes.

Cattle and poultry herds recovered with a total meat output of all kinds estimated at 3.16 million tonnes, a year-on-year growth of 22.58 per cent.

The biggest concern then was for farmers. While the prices of products were low, production costs were high, plus the pandemic made it difficult to transport, meaning farmers are facing the risk of losses, Trong said.

He also said that live hog prices fell sharply, but consumers still had to bear high purchase prices.

The average price of pork in the markets is still at VND120,000 - 130,000 (about $5) per kilogramme.

The reason was that there were too many intermediary stages in the process of distributing pork to the market, leading to difficulties between the three stages of production, supply and consumption.

Source: VNS
Vietnam Airlines announced on July 12 that it will reopen international routes from the country to a number of destinations in Asia, Europe, and Australia between July and October.

The move will see Vietnam Airlines resume two air routes to Australia, including between Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney from July 15 to October 30, along with a route between Ho Chi Minh City and Melbourne from July 20 to October 30.

This is being done in order to meet the needs of passengers, especially workers, international students, and foreign experts who are coming to work in Vietnam.

Furthermore, the departure schedule of flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney will be every Thursday and Sunday, while the return flights between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City will occur every Tuesday and Saturday.

The flights on the Ho Chi Minh City-Melbourne route will happen every Tuesday, while return flights will fall on Thursdays.

With regard to flights to Europe, Vietnam Airlines is set to reopen international routes between Hanoi and both Frankfurt in Germany and London in the UK London.

In terms of flights to destinations in Asia, from July 17 to October 30 the airline will resume flights between Hanoi and Tokyo in Japan every Wednesday and Saturday.

Moreover, from August 1 to October 30, the airline will launch an additional route between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok in Thailand every Wednesday, with a route from Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City running every Thursday.

All international flights during this period will be operated by Vietnam Airlines through Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft on long-haul routes to Europe and Australia.

Source: VOV
The number of civil servants with doctoral and master's degrees in Vietnam in 2019 were 2,347 (0.8%) and 19,136 people (6.5%), respectively.

Illustrative image

After over 10 years doing the job of receiving incoming documents, sending dispatches and other archival work at a state agency, one day, Mrs. Thu applied for a master's course in business administration.



Upon receiving her agencys decision to grant 50% of the tuition fee, Thu burst into tears because all of her colleagues who applied for a master's degree course were granted 100% of the tuition from the budget. Thu complained that she was treated unfairly.



Over 21,000 Vietnamese civil servants hold master's and doctoral degrees



A 2019 study by the University of Torrens (Australia) showed that most of the ministers of Australia only had a bachelor's degree.



Of the 44 ministers of the ruling party and opposition party surveyed, only nine had a master's degree and one had a PhD degree. The most popular degrees belong to three fields: Social Science, Law and Economics.



According to the Australian Public Service Commission, of 148,736 federal government employees (as of December 31, 2020), 2,645 had a doctorate degree (1.78%) and 9,324 had a master's degree (6.27%).



In Vietnam, according to statistics in 2019, the number of civil servants with doctoral degrees was 2,347 people (0.8%), and master's degrees were held by 19,136 people (6.5%). The agencies with many PhDs were the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Finance.



Why do civil servants need master's, doctoral degrees?



At a meeting of the HCM City People's Committee in March, Director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Viet Dung said: "I don't know why our civil servants need to be PhDs because PhDs are committed to scientific research. We have too many public servants who hold doctoral degrees. For example, I know a civil servant at a ward-level agency who applied for a doctoral course in biotechnology, while the public system needs expertise in public governance, public finance, public investment, and public administration.



Dung's comments immediately caused a stir, although the question he posed was not new.



Why did Thu, who works as a clerk, want to get a masters degree of business administration? All employees at Thu's agency have a master's degree (except drivers and security staff), which were all paid by the state budget, or in other words, the people's tax money, but did their effectiveness at work improve after they got the degree? How does the degree match with the job they are doing?



In Vietnam, there are probably no specific statistics on this. But many people implicitly understand that for civil servants who hold a masters or doctoral degree the opportunity to be promoted is higher, and the degree brings fame for them.



A few years ago, public opinion was stirred up when some officials at an office of a ministry applied for the title of associate professor even though they had not spent time on teaching, writing books, giving instructions to students...



In fact, there are a number of civil servants who want to further study to improve their qualifications. In this case, the pursuit of master's and doctoral degrees is a self-need and is study for the sake of research, so it is a very good thing.



However, when budget resources are limited, it must be clearly analyzed why the state should grant funds for civil servants to pursue a master's or doctoral degree.



It is suggested that attending higher education levels such as master's and doctorate will improve civil servants' thinking and research capacity. After that, their advice for policy formulation is more effective.



I don't know what their scientific thinking is like. But in order to make an effective, feasible and humane policy, there is no degree that can create this," said a Vietnamese-born official working at the Australian Federal Tax Service, adding that it is necessary to avoid turning knowledge into a wasteful race.



This is not unreasonable, when looking at some regulations set by the Ministry of Education and Training, one of the state agencies with the highest rate of employees holding masters and doctoral degrees.



In a circular issued by this Ministry in February on teacher recruitment and teacher ranking, the Ministry set different ethical criteria for each ranking of teachers. A few years ago, this Ministry caused a stir with the regulation that students who are involved in prostitution for four times will be expelled from school.



The South Australia government has recently tightened funding for staff members studying for masters and doctoral degrees. Many training programs are held for public servants, but most are short courses, from a few hours to a few days. The number of public servants who are granted full funding to study for a master's degree is 1-2 people/year, usually for managers or officials who are about to be appointed to important positions.



The reason is that master's and doctoral degree holders often do in-depth research on a particular subject, while a government employee's daily work requires someone with thinking experience and adaptive experience. So, if public servants want to get a master's or doctorate, they have to pay themselves.



Dr. Truong Nguyen Thanh, University of Utah (USA), said: It is true that there are positions that require a doctorate. In the advisory policy research institutes, researchers have a very high level of expertise. And there are professors at universities working with these institutions that provide additional expertise. But why does one who is not in a position of research and advisory work need a PhD degree?



Phu Sa

PhD production plan: Will Project 89 go a new way? Before launching Project 89 that aimed to produce 7,300 more lecturers with a doctoral degree, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) ran two projects on preparing human resources with doctoral and masters degrees, worth trillions of VND.
Getting married at an older age, being 'afraid' of giving birth and expecting to have only one child are alarming facts in Vietnam, especially when the countrys aging is four times faster than that of other countries.

More young families are choosing not to have children or to have only one child. Illustration



At the age of 37, Dang Thu Hoa and her husband, a couple in Hanoi, drive their car to tourist sites or join a backpacking group every weekend. Before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, they traveled abroad once or twice a year.



The couple are satisfied with their life and they are unanimous on three things: focusing on career, not cooking on weekends and not having children.



My husband is a financial manager for a foreign company. I work in the media industry. Both of us are very busy during the week so on weekends we want to spend time resting and relaxing. We are not ready to be parents because we are afraid of responsibilities. If we do not take good care of and raise our children well, we will feel guilty," said Hoa.



Ignoring advice from their parents and friends, Hoa believes that each person has his or her own choices, and the most important thing is to always feel happy.



Another couple in Hanoi, Duc Anh and his wife Thu Huong, chose to have only one child. During the hard days of raising the child, Huong suffered from postpartum depression, which made them decide not to have more children.



They were advised to hire a maid, but they could not afford it. They wanted to save the money, an average VND5-7 million/maid/month, to invest in their childs study.



This year, their son will enter the first grade. The couple planned to send him to a private school, with monthly tuition of VND7-9 million. With a total income of VND23 million, this couple does not have savings.



Our generation could play and grow up by ourselves. But now, taking care of and raising a child is not easy, especially when everything is expensive. So, we decided to have only one child to save the best things for him," Duc Anh said.



With a total income of VND13 million per month, Nguyen Thi Phuong, 35, and her husband from the northern province of Bac Giang also decided not to have more children even though they have only a 4-year-old daughter.



We are living in a rented house, so we want to save up to buy a small piece of land. If there are more children, monthly expenditures will rise a few million more," said Phuong.



21 provinces with low birth rate

Mai Trung Son, Deputy Director of the Population Size Department of the General Department of Population and Family Planning, said that the tendency of hesitating to have children is widespread in Vietnam.



This is alarming. If the fertility rate is low for a long time, it will lead to the consequences of rapid population aging, labor shortage, and social security-related issues such as pensions and medical care," Son said.



Currently, 21 out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam have low fertility rates below the replacement level of 2 - 2.1 children per adult woman. Most of them are in the southern region such as Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Binh Duong, Bac Lieu, Can Tho, and Khanh Hoa. In these provinces, the common fertility rate is from 1.5 to 1.7 children per adult woman.

The rate once fell to 1.24 children per adult woman in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2019, it was 1.39 children/adult woman and inched up to 1.53/adult woman in 2020 in the city. However, according to experts, although this is an initial improvement, it will take more time to evaluate the stability.



According to Son, Vietnamese are increasingly afraid to have children due to the trend of late marriage, urbanization and economic development that results in greater pressure to find jobs, rising housing prices, living costs, and expenditures for education and taking care of children.



Son cited examples that workers earn a few million VND in monthly salary, but they have to pay VND3 million to send a child to kindergarten, not mentioning other living expenses. Meanwhile, the government does not have a policy to encourage people in these areas to have two children.



Some couples delay giving birth as they want to have more time and leisure for themselves.



Notably, the more educated women are, the more reluctant to give birth. According to data collected by the General Statistics Office in 2019, Vietnamese women with a university degree had only 1.85 children/woman. This rate was 1.91 for women with a college degree; 2.59 children for women who had never gone to school; and 3.71 children for women with primary education.

Nguyen Doan Tu, Head of the General Department of Population and Family Planning





Since 2011, Vietnam has entered the period of population aging and its aging rate is 4 times faster than that of developed countries. The country is facing the risk of "getting old before getting rich".



In 2011, the proportion of people over 60 years old in Vietnam accounted for less than 10%, but by 2018 it increased to 11.95%. In 2019, this rate continued to rise to 14%, of which people over 65 years old were approximately 8%.



Nguyen Doan Tu, Head of the General Department of Population and Family Planning, said that without appropriate policies, the proportion of people over 60 years old in Vietnam will increase to over 20% by 2038, equivalent to 21 million people, of which people over 65 years old will account for over 14%.



The General Department of Population and Family Planning and the Ministry of Health have proposed many solutions to raise fertility in the provinces with low fertility rates. However, Tu admitted that this is not easy.



In fact, many countries have done very well in reducing fertility, but no country has succeeded in stimulating fertility. It is easier to encourage people to reduce the birth rate rather than increase the birth rate, Tu said.



He said that Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore have also faced the same situation - low fertility rate - for more than 20 years. They have applied many policies to push up the fertility rate. South Korea spends about $2 billion per year, while Japan allocates up to $20 billion each year to this purpose but the effectiveness is still low.



In South Korea, the fertility rate was 1.6 children/woman in 1996. Ten years later, it continued to decrease to 1.08 children, although the state allows mothers to take maternity leave for two years without losing their jobs. In Japan, the fertility rate in 2018 was only 1.42 children per woman. This rate has been falling for three consecutive decades while this country expects to raise the fertility rate to 1.8.



Multiple fertility models trialed



In April 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Decision 588 approving the program to adjust fertility rates that suit areas and subjects by 2030, which includes measures to encourage marriage before the age of 30 and encourage women to give birth to the second child before the age of 35.



For provinces with low fertility, the program sets a target to increase the total fertility rate by 10% by 2030.



On March 10, 2021, the Ministry of Health issued Circular 01/2021 guiding localities implementation of regulations related to the steady maintenance of the replacement fertility rate; control of sex imbalance at birth and improvement of population quality.



In order to control the sex imbalance at birth, local authorities can choose policies to encourage and support couples who have two children of the same sex and commit to not have more children. The policies include honoring the couples for raising the children well; exempting or reducing tuition; giving financial support for insurance and dairy products; and other measures.



The communes with 100 percent of hamlets which commit to control sex imbalance at their village conventions may receive rewards in cash or in kind.



In the 33 provinces listed as having a high fertility rate, hamlets and communes with families which do not give birth to three or more children for three consecutive years may get in-cash or in-kind rewards from district authorities.



If the achievement is gained for five consecutive years, they will get rewards from the provincial authorities.



The women of childbearing age who already have two children and voluntarily apply long-term contraception will receive cash and in kind.



In 21 provinces listed as having a sub-fertility rate, the communes which for three consecutive years have at least 60 percent of couples (of childbearing age) with two children, will get rewards in cash or in kind from district authorities. The rewards will be from provincial authorities if the achievement can be maintained for five years.



In these areas, women who have two children before they turn 35 years old will get support in cash or in kind, to be decided by the local authorities.



The budget for implementing the solutions to encourage and reward collectives and individuals for their implementation of the population work will be sourced from local budgets and other legal sources.



Tu said that the state does not prohibit people from having a third child. However, more than 5 million members of the Communist Party of Vietnam have to comply with the current Party Charter of having no more than two children.

Thuy Hanh

The generation with only one child Having only one child or no children has not become common in Vietnam, but it can be seen clearly in some provinces and regions.
The world is changing, with many great opportunities opening up for Vietnam.

However, Vietnamese state-owned corporations, which have both financial and human resources potential, are unable to reach out to the world to seize these opportunities.





Corporations that open the way



The scheme entitled Developing large state-owned corporations, especially multi-ownership state economic groups, to promote the leading role and the role of paving the way for enterprises of other economic sectors, in line with the policies and guidelines of the Party in the new period", drafted by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, is in the process of collecting comments before being finalized to submit to the Government.



According to the scheme, there are seven state-owned corporations of this kind in Vietnam, including the Viettel Group, the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), MobiFone Corporation, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) Group, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN), Saigon Newport Corporation and Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank).



To be selected as "leading corporations", these corporations must satisfy the criteria of having total assets of over VND20 trillion, holding a market share of 30% or more, having a return on capital of over 6%, being managed well on the basis of international practices (OECD), and being capable of absorbing and mastering high technologies, standing firm against the "shakes" of the economy.



These will be corporations that pave the way to mastering digital technology; play a necessary role in industrial development and orientation; and operate in the fields that need to maintain the presence of the State.



Relevant ministries and agencies will study and build a system of mechanisms and policies in the direction of renovating owner's management at these corporations, creating conditions for them to operate equally and proactively and to compete with other businesses.



The state will manage these corporations by giving them the right to take the initiative and self-determination in production, business and investing in them; and inspecting and supervising them in the direction of evaluating the effectiveness of investment activities under overall financial targets, and not on each specific project. The CEOs of these corporations will work under the market mechanism, and these corporations can hire CEOs.



These policies must be consistent with socio-economic development orientations, comply with international commitments, not distort relations in the market, and create competition, equality and enhance transparency.



Le Manh Hung, Director of the Enterprise Development Department of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that these corporations operate in industries considered opening the way and leading. "Opening the way" is understood in the sense of aiming at new industries and fields, meeting the development requirements of the country. "Leading" means targeting industries that form linkages and value chains, promote innovation, and associated with the participation of businesses from other economic sectors, thereby towards the construction of an independent, autonomous and sustainable economy.



Mechanism barriers





Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that the number of state-owned enterprises is not large, accounting for only about 0.07% of the total number of enterprises in the country, but contributing up to 7% of total assets, 10% of the total capital of enterprises in the market and 30% of GDP, not to mention their contribution in terms of labor, employment and the role of regulation, stabilizing the market in times of instability, contributing to ensuring social security and national security.



The 4.0 revolution, the trade war between powers, and the epidemic are all changing the structure and order of investment and world trade. Vietnam has participated in many free trade agreements. These are great opportunities, but Vietnamese State-owned enterprises are unable to reach out to the world to seize these opportunities. The opportunities exist but there is no mechanism for enterprises to take advantage of them.



Vietnam aims to become a developed country by 2045. Therefore, it is necessary to create a team of businesses of great stature right now, to hold opportunities, to focus on new fields, and to develop the country.



Le Dang Dung, Acting Chairman of Viettel Group, said that the current mechanism is a barrier to state-owned enterprises' development.



"I hope that ministries and agencies from now on consider state-owned enterprises similar to private enterprises. The mechanism to develop state-owned enterprises must be similar to that for private enterprises. The leaders of State-owned enterprises must be given the right of self-determination, from business organizations, getting loans, to investment," Dung said.



Leaders of State-owned enterprises must be held accountable for what they do. The most important thing is the policy, mechanism and post-inspection sanctions. Leaders of private enterprises will only lose money if they fail, but leaders of state-owned enterprises, if they fail, will lose their political lives in addition to money, Dung said.



Dung said: "It took us two years to fulfil the procedures for non-stop toll collection on highways. If today I have an idea for a new business, I will have to go through the procedures of reporting, and getting investment permission which is very time-consuming. It is also very difficult if I want to quit a business. Timely taking opportunities is very important in doing business. If you spend several years on procedures, the opportunity will disappear."



Many officials from State-owned corporations such as VNPT, EVN, etc. also said that to have state-owned corporations holding the role of opening the way and leading, having a position in the international arena, the problem that must be solved is the mechanism. The current mechanism is binding state-owned enterprises. If they can't move, how can they go ahead to open the way and lead? A fundamental change in the mechanism is needed to help state-owned enterprises reach out to the world.



Tran Thuy





Vietnam needs more private corporations After over 30 years of Doi Moi (reform), Vietnam has had large private groups operating in many industries with international stature. There are also Vietnamese USD billionaires, but only a handful.
Amid difficulties and disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam's agricultural exports in the first 5 months of 2021 still reached $22.5 billion, up 30.1% year on year.

In 2020, agriculture was still the mainstay of the economy at a difficult time due to the Covid-19 epidemic.





Specifically, export revenue earned from major agricultural products is estimated at $7.78 billion, 13% up; livestock exports $166 million, 43.9% up; seafood exports $3.24 billion, up 12%; and export value of main forest products at $7.06 billion, up 61.8%.



In 2020, agriculture was still the mainstay of the economy at a difficult time due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Agro-forestry-fishery exports reached $41.25 billion, up 2.6% compared to 2019. In particular, Vietnam's trade surplus in 2020 was $19.1 billion, including $10.25 billion from agriculture. This was considered a near miracle.



Vietnamese agricultural products are available in 186 countries and territories. Export items with annual revenue of at least $1 billion last year included 7 key commodity groups: Wood and wood products with $13 billion, seafood with $8.4 billion, vegetables and fruits with $3.26 billion, cashews with $3.2 billion, rice with $3.07 billion, rubber and coffee $with 2.38 billion and $2.66 billion.



Since 2015, exports of agricultural products have grown at a rate of 5-7% per year. Specifically, in 2015, the country's agricultural export turnover reached $30.14 billion and rose to $32.1 billion the next year. From 2017 to 2020, export turnover of agricultural products reached $36.37 billion, $40 billion, $40.2 and $41.25 billion, respectively, for each year.



However, the number of billion-dollar export commodity groups is gradually decreasing, from nine groups of goods with export value of over $1 billion in 2015 to seven in 2020.



In the past five years, exports of wood and wood products have made a spectacular breakthrough, from $6.77 billion in 2015 skyrocketing to $13 billion in 2020. At the same time, seafood export value has also been on the rise, from $6.5 billion to $8.7 billion; vegetables and fruits from $1.85 billion to $3.26 billion, and rubber from $1.59 billion to $2.38 billion.



However, export value of some commodity groups such as rice and coffee seem to have "touched the ceiling" when export turnover was nearly unchanged or insignificantly increased. Pepper, cassava and cassava products were no longer named in the billion-USD export item groups last year, with only $666 million and $989 million, respectively.



Annually, Vietnam produces 50 million tons of food; about 5.8 million tons of pork, chicken, beef; 8 million tons of fish, shrimp; and tens of millions of tons of vegetables and fruits. The production capacity of the agricultural sector can meet the needs of 100 million people in the country and have a surplus for export, earning over $41.25 billion a year.



However, most agro-forestry products are exported fresh or preliminarily processed, so the added value is low.



Nguyen Quoc Toan, director of the Department of Agricultural Product Processing and Market Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that low-value-added preliminarily processed products account for 70-80%, while deep-processed products with high added value accounts for only 15-30% (depending on product structure).



This leads to the fact that China - known as a market for imported raw agricultural products - accounts for up to 24.6% of Vietnam's total agricultural exports. Meanwhile, a high-end market such as the European Union (EU) and Japan make up only 9.2% and 9.18%, respectively.



Selling value instead of selling price

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has set a target that by 2025, the export value of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products will reach $50-51 billion. About 20% of Vietnam's exported agricultural products will be labeled with national brands, and 50% of products traceable. About 50% of the export value will come from processed and deeply processed products.



By 2030, the export value of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products is expected to reach about $60-62 billion. The growth rate of export turnover will be about 6-8%/year; about 40% of export products will be labeled with national brands, and 70% of products will be traceable. Sixty percent of the export value will come from processed and deeply processed products.



At the same time, Vietnam will become an exporter of high quality agro-forestry-fishery and food products in Southeast Asia and the world, with a strong position in the global supply chain of agricultural products and food. Vietnams agricultural products and food will fully meet the regulations of the import markets.



Instead of exporting raw products, which is called selling the price, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that Vietnam can process agricultural products for exports to sell value.



According to experts, although agricultural exports have grown well, Vietnam's agricultural products still have many limitations in the world market. For example, exports mainly increased in volume, but the proportion of deeply processed goods with high added value is still low. Export turnover mainly comes from several main commodity groups in some key markets such as China, USA, the EU and Japan, especially the Chinese market.



Agricultural production always faces the impact of natural disasters, climate change, and epidemics. Since 2020, the world has been facing the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been complicated, affecting socio-economic activities around the world.



Without a methodical strategy, and with continued dependence on export of raw and semi-processed goods, it will be very difficult for Vietnam to achieve its set growth target because many commodity groups have almost "touched the ceiling", i.e. peaked in output.



"Sometimes Vietnam tops the world in terms of output, not value," said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan.



Minister Le Minh Hoan said that the pursuit of the agricultural sector in the coming time is to increase the proportion of value-added products. We will sell value, not price anymore, he said.



Tam An
International researchers and experts while attending a recent teleconference reaffirmed the value of the 2016 ruling on the East Sea by the Permanent Court on Arbitration (PCA).

Prof. Dr. Thomas Engelbert, from University of Hamburg, chairs the teleconference.





The July 9 teleconference, hosted by the Department of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Hamburg, attracted speakers from University of Applied Sciences (Bremen), Charles University (Prague), Deutsche Welle (Bonn), and Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (Berlin).

It was held to mark five years after the July 12, 2016 PCA ruling on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea).

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Thomas Engelbert, University of Hamburg, noted that the situation in the East Sea has witnessed tense developments since the ruling was given.

Violations of international law have continued to occur, prompting many countries to voice their objections, he said.

The negotiation process on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China has been continuously delayed and has not been completed yet.

According to the researcher, the recent times has seen the United States shift its strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific region, while the European Union (EU) and many member states have also shown interest in the region by issuing their own strategies for the Indo-Pacific.

The professor said that amidst tensions in the South China Sea, Japan delivered a diplomatic note to the United Nations early this year, officially rejecting Chinas sovereign claims in the East Sea. Similar statements were also made by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and the United States.

Such statements prove that the international community pays great attention to the East Sea, expressing their desire for a safe and stable sea that ensures and facilitate freedom of navigation, said Engelbert.

At the same time, he said the international community always upholds the compliance with international law, and strongly opposes actions that violate the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the PCAs ruling.

International experts and researchers coming from Europe voice their support for the ruling, saying it has far-reaching legal results





Meanwhile, Professor Suzette Suarez from University of Applied Sciences (Bremen), affirmed that the PCAs 2016 ruling especially plays a critical role in the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf in the East Sea.

The delineation of the limits of the continental shelf is a binding and mandatory procedure in UNCLOS, and therefore Chinas nine-dash line and its sovereign claims in the East Sea have absolutely no legal validity, he concluded.

Echoing Professor Suarezs view, other experts and researchers also highly appreciated the PCAs 2016 ruling, which they stated has constituted an important legal basis for resolving the East Sea issue. They also suggested that relevant parties should respect international law and not take actions to complicate the situation.

Sharing his view, Dr. Rodion Ebbighausen, managing editor of Deutsche Welle Asia Department, said that three EU countries, namely France, Germany and the Netherlands, have put forward a national Indo - Pacific strategy. In April 2021, the Council of the European Union published the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo - Pacific, which will be further developed until the end of 2021.

According to the journalist, in all these documents, which are broad in content, freedom of navigation, the rules-based international order, and in almost all cases, the East Sea are mentioned. At the same time, the EU wants to pursue an inclusive and inclusive approach focusing on peaceful means on the basis of international law.

A panoramic view of the teleconference hosted by University of Hamburg (Germany)





During the teleconference, researchers affirmed and clarified the position and role of UNCLOS in the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea, and at the same time, reaffirmed the value of the 2016 ruling by the PCA.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled the case Philippines versus China in the East Sea. The ruling, based on the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea had far-reaching legal results.

It invalidated Chinas claims to virtually the whole East Sea, where altogether six countries claim territories. Chinas claims based on historic grounds, especially the self-proclaimed nine-dash-line of maritime borders, is incompatible with international law.

The PCA ruled, that the waters of the South China Sea beyond the territorial sea were legally part of the high seas, in which vessels from any state could freely navigate and fish.

Source: VOV
Vietnam's expat community has been reassured they will not be left behind when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations.

A reporter at a foreign press agency's office in Vietnam receives COVID-19 vaccine.  Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The countrys foreign ministry insists when more inoculations arrive, the vaccination programme will be extended to include the thousands of foreigners who call Vietnam home.

Speaking exclusively to VN News about the issue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said there is no discrimination over nationalities.

And as the country seeks to accomplish herd immunity by April 2022, she reiterated the importance of including foreigners in the vaccination drive.

First batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Vietnam in April.  VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyet

There will be no discrimination against foreigners living and working in Vietnam, Hang said.

In the humanitarian spirit, when Vietnam receives more vaccines, we will expand the vaccination programme for other expat groups in Vietnam because we wont be all safe until when herd immunity is achieved.

The Government's ultimate goal is to achieve herd immunity by the end of this year. And I would like to reiterate that there is no discrimination against foreigners in vaccination in Vietnam.

After receiving international praise for the way Vietnam handled the early days of the pandemic, a fourth wave that began at the end of April has caused a colossal spike in cases.

The number of infections has increased by more than 21,000 and the death toll has tripled. HCM City is the area worst hit.

This is why the need to secure more vaccines is paramount. The country is aiming to have 150 million doses by early next year.

When vaccines were first made available, frontline workers were given priority to receiving doses. But as more inoculations arrived, the net was widened and has already included a number of foreigners.

Hang said: Vietnam has inoculated more than 800 members of foreign diplomatic missions, and United Nations agencies in the country and their family members in Vietnam along with more than 60 reporters and press assistants at foreign press agencies' offices in Vietnam.

The vaccination is carried out in accordance with the Governments Resolution 21 on COVID-19 vaccine purchase and using and there will be no discrimination against foreigners living and working in Vietnam.

There are priority groups for vaccination, including the frontline workers, the elderly and those who are about to go abroad to study or work. For foreigners in Vietnam, it is based on the mutual relations among countries.

Vietnam vaccinated diplomats and members of foreign diplomatic missions, and United Nations agencies in the country as well as reporters and press assistants at foreign press agencies' offices in Vietnam for free. And most members of Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad and Vietnamese correspondents abroad have also been vaccinated in the host countries.

I would like to reaffirm that with the goal to achieve herd immunity with no one being left behind and no discrimination between foreigners and Vietnamese people, we will administer vaccines for all groups for both Vietnamese people and foreigners living and working in Vietnam.

A Vietnamese health worker is inoculated against COVID-19.  VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyet

Hang also pointed out the incredible lengths Vietnamese medical staff go to ensure the best possible treatment of people of all nationalities.

She cited the case of Scottish pilot Stephen Cameron, who was once considered the countrys sickest patient but went on to make a full recovery.

The spokeswoman added: It should be reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Government always cares for and creates favourable conditions for foreigners living, studying and working in Vietnam to ensure their safety in all aspects including health safety.

When the pandemic broke out, we paid attention to and offered treatment for all, including foreigners in Vietnam. There have been very critical cases, including a British citizen.

"Recently we have also successfully treated a United Nations employee contracting COVID-19 in Timor Leste. This has been hailed highly by the international community.

I can affirm that foreigners living and studying in Vietnam, both short-term and long-term, can rest assured that they will always receive the attention and equal treatment in both healthcare and vaccination. When there are more vaccines, we will make the vaccination coverage universal for both Vietnamese and foreigners.

Vaccine campaign timeline January 4: Vietnam is in talks with vaccine developers from the UK, the US, Russia and China to purchase vaccines January 30: Vietnams Ministry of Health announces it has approved the use of the Astra Zeneca vaccine February 24: The first doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, HCM City March 8: Vietnam launches its COVID-19 inoculation drive, administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to medical workers in Hanoi, HCM City and northern Hai Duong Province  the countrys biggest pandemic hotspot at the time April 1: The first batch of 811,200 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shipment via the COVAX Facility arrive May 16: Vietnam receives the second shipment of nearly 1.7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from the COVAX Facility May 26: Another 288,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines arrive in HCM City June 4: Vietnam announces it will secure a total of 170 million COVID-19 vaccinations June 17: One million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Japanese government arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi July 7: The first shipment of 97,110 doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi July 8: Vietnam has administered a total of nearly 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, of which 249,532 people have been fully vaccinated July 9: A shipment of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by Japan to Vietnam and a separate batch of 580,000 doses purchased from AstraZeneca arrive at HCM Citys Tan Son Nhat International Airport

Source: Vietnam News

No discrimination between Vietnamese and foreigners during vaccination: spokesperson There is no discrimination between Vietnamese and foreigners during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang asserted,
It was, Could we do something for the veterans and is there an agency that would do that? Ferguson said.

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They found that agency in Americans for Independent Living, a nonprofit formed by Tim Combs about six years ago.

I contacted all the veteran agencies in Black Hawk County and finally someone said Give Tim Combs a call at AFIL, Ferguson said. I said, Weve got vets here in our building, and Id like them to have access out the front door, and when an ambulance comes. He said I think I can help you.

Combs lined up donations of labor and materials and made it happen.

I got a call from Mary and spoke with her about the project and what they were looking to do, and explained to me about the veterans here that needed a little extra safe access to get out to the street, and I said Sure. Anything for our veterans, he said.

He was a dandy of a guy, Jaschen said of Combs. The first thing he did, he thanked all the veterans for their service.

AFIL has two transitional houses for veterans in the community and has new offices at 904 W. Fourth St.
Grassley would be the second-oldest member of the Senate and among the 10 oldest senators in history.

With his signature gruffness, Grassley acknowledges his age is one of the reasons that Ive put off making the decision until later on.

Who knows? I could die tomorrow, he told The Associated Press as he visited tiny Ida Grove in northwest Iowa recently. If I announce Im running, Im planning on living to be 95. But I might not live that long.

His health habits suggest otherwise. The pushups arent just for show, but part of his daily routine, he says. He also runs 12 miles per week, though he chuckles, calling it a shuffle. He wakes up at 4 a.m. and is in his Washington office by 6 a.m.

Dated references

Despite the pace, and his activity on Twitter, theres no hiding Grassley has decades on most of his voters.

At events, Grassley references his hearing aid, sometimes as a joke, but he also relies on a staffer to repeat what he misses. He often illustrates his points with creaky references and examples that predate his listeners.
Fields collected Ross original works. The prolific artist didnt sell his work, but some were donated to PBS stations, according to a New York Times profile. They rarely come on the commercial market.

These pieces are so valuable, and hopefully are passed down through the family, Craig said.

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Ross inscribed a message on the back of one of the paintings Craig owns. It reads No one could ever be more proud of a namesake than I am of you. I wish for you a future filled with success and happiness. God bless my friend  Bob Ross 1993.

Their collection includes four paintings, a set of carved figures and two painted platters.

We know everything is original artwork. We hope to get them authenticated, Craig said.

That authentication has to be done in person at Bob Ross Inc., in Virginia. So this summer, the family plans to take a road trip. Its important to them to keep the paintings safe and have the art on record.

To our family, these paintings are priceless. Bob Ross art cant even be bought, so these are even more special to us, Fields said.

The Fields family has no plans to sell the works.
How is it possible that someone who went through all that to help this country is being sent away over a piece of bread?

The government declines to discuss this case. According to CNN, its decision simply cited terrorist activity, though Niazy said he told the story about the bread in his asylum interview.

Herting said in federal immigration courts in recent years what constitutes support of terrorism has expanded and become more skewed. He pointed to a 2018 case in which a woman was denied asylum because after being captured and seeing her husband murdered by guerrillas in El Salvador, she was forced to cook and clean for the guerrillas. Providing those services, even under threat of death, was considered by the immigration court to be support of terrorists.

I dont like putting odds on outcomes for my clients, but the case law is not positive for Zalmay, Herting wrote in an email to me. Certainly we still have hope that we can get people interested enough in his story that there may be positive change, but without some reform in the law, hes facing a very steep uphill climb. I am sure the court will be sympathetic to his story, but sympathy doesnt change the law and the law in this area is fundamentally rotten.
Ask questions

Finding specific information about a hotel's accessibility features is time consuming. Unfortunately, most hotels do not post photos of their actual accessible guest rooms and the bathrooms online.

If you have questions, call the hotel directly  not the corporate reservation line. Get the name of the person you talk to and their email address. Take the time to patiently explain your specific needs. For example, some wheelchair users need open space under a bed for a Hoyer lift.

Another way to find an accessible hotel is to book hotels through accessibleGO.com. The company, part of the Priceline Partner Network, has collected access data on approximately 4,000 hotels in 45 U.S. cities. It's important for travelers with accessibility requirements to know how seriously the properties will take their requests: Asking for a roll-in shower or accessible tub with grab bars is light-years away from requesting a late checkout, says Miriam Eljas, accessibleGO's cofounder and CEO. Hotels don't always register the severity of the need.

We've seen some standouts. We've stayed in Aloft Hotels, a Marriott brand, in Chicago, Corpus Christi, Texas, Minneapolis and Munich. Each time, we've been impressed with how well the modern accessible rooms are designed. The new 14-story Holiday Inn Express Houston Galleria, an InterContinental Hotels Group brand, has a sofa sleeper in the accessible king guest room  a great feature for families. Our room at the elegant Waldorf Astoria Chicago, a Hilton brand, had a cozy in-room fireplace with a roll-in shower and a bathtub  a rare combo.

When asking your questions. consider these issues:

Room configurations when traveling with others. Wheelchair-accessible guest rooms, especially those with a roll-in shower, routinely have a king-size bed. A room with only one bed is awkward for anyone who travels with a companion. And families typically need more than one bed. Paying for an extra room is expensive.

One solution is to request a roll-away bed. Call the hotel to ask whether it offers this amenity  many do not  and, if it does, ask if you'll be charged extra for it. Consider booking an all-suite hotel (also known as extended stay properties). These hotels are more spacious and some of their room configurations include a separate living space with a sofa sleeper. Brands to compare include SpringHill Suites, Embassy Suites, Hyatt Place, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Residence Inn and Comfort Suites.

Guest room obstacles. Not every access issue is covered by the ADA. Bed height is not, for instance, even though it can dramatically affect someone's hotel stay. As luxury beds get higher and higher, wheelchair users find transferring from their chair to the bed impossible. If I can't get into the bed, I can't sleep, Sears says. Usually the hotel is willing to remove the bed frame to lower the bed. This works well because it takes about 8 to 10 inches off the height. But some frames are fixed and can't be removed. Then I need to remove the mattress and just sleep on the box spring."

Too much furniture in a guest room impedes the wheelchair user's navigation. If you can't easily access the drapes or thermostat, ask the hotel staff to remove some chairs. There often are not enough electrical outlets or they are not located where needed. Be prepared by bringing your own extension cord and surge protector.

Bathroom barriers. Roll-in showers consistently receive low marks from wheelchair users. The shower controls are often located opposite the seating bench, and are not within arm's length. Grab bars are missing or placed incorrectly. The shower seat is too small, too low, or there is no seat at all. (Because they are also notoriously messy, request extra towels when checking in.)

Professional speaker Rosemarie Rossetti, 67, travels from her home in Columbus, Ohio, more than a dozen times a year. Paralyzed from the waist down, she uses a manual wheelchair and always inspects her guest room before unpacking her bag. When a shower doesn't have a seat, she'll ask the hotel to provide one. (On one occasion, a bellhop returned with a shower chair that belonged to his grandmother.) Rickety seats are a safety hazard. Another option for some travelers is to bring their own portable shower chair.

And because the bathroom counter space is often inadequate, Rossetti brings a hanging toiletry-organizer bag for easy access.

Pool accessibility. Thanks to a new ADA regulation, people who can't manage steps will find hotel swimming pools have lifts. A pool lift is an immersible chair that swings over and into the water. It may be permanently installed beside the pool or portable and located in storage. If using the pool is a priority, contact the hotel 48 hours before your visit to be sure the lift will be available and working (battery-operated lifts need to be charged).

After your trip

When you get home, help other wheelchair users know what to expect by posting pictures and reviews of your accessible guest room on social media and with companies like accessibleGO. Join the hotel reward programs (they're free) and provide the hotels with feedback. When you stay at a hotel that meets your needs, make a note of the room number so you can request it on a future stay. Let the manager know that you appreciate that the guest room was well designed and that you will be recommending the property to friends.
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En espanol | Success in an interview starts well before the video conference or in-person meeting. First, you must do a bit of homework. In fact, the Society of Human Resource Management recently asked some of its members about the warning signs that indicate to them that a candidate isn't the right fit, and being unprepared was a top response.

But, with so much information out there about companies, where should you be focusing your research skills to be most effective? Here are six places to start your sleuthing, some of which you may not have used during previous job searches.

Your network

The relationships you've built over the course of your career can be a gold mine of information for your next job interview, says Nadia Ibrahim-Taney, assistant director of career development at the University of Cincinnati's College of Business. You may know someone who works for your dream company  or who can introduce you to someone who does. These people can help you learn the company's priorities and goals, she says. Then, you can focus on those areas in your interview responses, she says.

Ibrahim-Taney used this technique and gained insights about her employer when she was interviewing for her current role, she says. Then, when I interviewed, I was able to organically infuse that into some of the responses that I gave to more behavioral-based questions, she adds.

Job boards

Job boards  especially larger websites such as Indeed or Monster  aren't always the best places to find a job. The sheer volume of people responding to the adds make the odds of success challenging, says career expert Mark Anthony Dyson, of The Voice of Jobseekers podcast. But that doesn't mean they're not a good source of information. Look at a variety of the company's job ads, even ones for jobs you aren't interested in applying for. See how their listings complement each other. What are they looking for? Where is the overlap? he says. Look for phrases the company uses in its job ads and skill sets it's prioritizing.


Transformational Acquisition of High Grade Uranium Assets

Perth, July 12, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Okapi Resources Limited ( ASX:OKR ) ( FRA:26O ) is pleased to advise it has entered into a binding agreement (Acquisition Agreement) to acquire 100% of the shares and options in Tallahassee Resources Pty Ltd (Tallahassee). The key terms and conditions of the Acquisition Agreement are set out below.Tallahassee holds a 100% interest in mineral rights that cover approximately 7,500 acres in the Tallahassee Creek Uranium District of Colorado, USA (Tallahassee Uranium Project) together with an option to acquire 100% of the Rattler Uranium Project, including the historical high-grade Rattlesnake open pit mine, in north-eastern Utah (Rattler Uranium Project).Okapi's Executive Director, Mr David Nour said, "This is a transformational opportunity for Okapi to become one of the most prominent uranium developers in the world. Through this acquisition, Okapi is perfectly placed to capitalise on the strengthening uranium market. On behalf of the Board, I welcome Ben and the Tallahassee team."RATIONALE FOR THE ACQUISITIONThe acquisition of Tallahassee provides Okapi immediate leverage to several large, high-grade North American uranium projects, together with direct access to a team who has in-depth knowledge of, and experience operating in, the North American uranium sector. Okapi's strategy is to capitalise on the bullish outlook for the industry, by rapidly building a North American uranium play via (i) accretive acquisitions; and (ii) successful exploration, in order to become a new leader in North American carbon-free nuclear energy.The acquisition of Tallahassee represents the foundation on which to implement this strategy.Electrification of the global economy: Major forecasters expect electricity demand will grow an incremental 55% by 2035 as electric vehicle penetration continues to accelerate. Electric car registrations increased by 41% in 2020 with 10 million electric cars on the world's roads at the end of 2020. As electricity demand increases, so does the need for reliable, emission-free base load power. Electricity generation is the largest and fastest growing contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Nuclear power is one of the few energy sources capable of delivering base load carbon-free energy around the clock and currently accounts for 55% of carbon-free electricity in the United States (source: nei.org).US President Joe Biden embraces domestic nuclear industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050: In 2020, approximately 60% of US utility-scale electricity generation was produced from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), 20% from nuclear energy and 20% from renewable energy sources (source: eia.gov). The ruling United States Democrat Party recently announced its support of nuclear energy for the first time in almost 50 years. This is part of the Democratic Party's "technology neutral" approach to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, with nuclear energy to play a key role in the provision of green baseload power as part of electrification and decarbonisation of the U.S economy.US Government to establish a national, strategic uranium reserve: Owners and operators of US nuclear power reactors purchased the equivalent of approximately 48 million pounds of uranium in 2019 with less than 12% purchased from domestic sources while a combined total of 42% was purchased from Russia (15%) Kazakhstan (18%) and Uzbekistan (9%) (source: eia.gov). In late 2020, the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved, with bipartisan support, a bill that advances a federal initiative to establish a national, strategic uranium reserve.Non-OECD demand growth: Non-OECD demand growth is expected to continue significantly, led by China. In October 2018 China's NDRC Energy Research Institute said that China's nuclear generating capacity must increase ten-fold to 554 GWe (currently ~50 GWe) by 2050 if the country is to play its part in limiting the global temperature rise to below 1.5 C. The share of nuclear power in China's energy mix would therefore need to increase from current levels of 4% to 28% over this period. 20% of all new nuclear reactors under construction globally are in China.Global uranium supply and demand fundamentals continue to tighten: Global uranium supply is in deficit with supply and demand fundamentals continuing to tighten with a significant shortfall expected in the coming years (source: World Nuclear Association). Furthermore, United States utility contract coverage remains critically low as Kazatomprom and Cameco continue to exercise production discipline limiting short and mid-term production levels.TALLAHASSEE URANIUM PROJECT, COLORADO, USAProject AreaThe Tallahassee Uranium Project is located in central Colorado, USA, approximately 140km southwest of Denver and 30km northwest of Canon City.The Tallahassee Uranium Project currently comprises:(i) Leases over two private properties (the Taylor and Boyer ranches) that provide a 100% interest in approximately 7,400 acres that encompass the Boyer, Noah and Northwest Taylor Uranium Deposits. The lease agreements provide Tallahassee the right to explore, mine and construct infrastructure on these lands; and(ii) Eight federal lode mining claims that cover a portion of the High Park Uranium Deposit.The total project area is approximately 7,500 acres (see Figure 1*).History of the Tallahassee Creek Uranium DistrictUranium mineralisation was first discovered in the Tallahassee Creek area in 1954.Between 1954 and 1972 sixteen small open pit and underground mines operated, with total production of approximately 80,000 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 2,500ppm U3O8, for 435,000 pounds U3O8 (see Figure 2*).Western Nuclear conducted the first systematic exploration in the district between 1962 and 1966, drilling 15 holes for 3,700m. Importantly they identified thick sequences of sandstone that were not evident at the surface or in the past producing mines.In 1974 Cyprus Mines began acquiring land and exploring the district. In 1977 Cyprus discovered the Hansen Uranium Deposit, with a drill hole that intersected a 13 metre interval averaging 1,600ppm U3O8.Cyprus continued to undertake broad-spaced drilling around the Hansen Deposit, discovering extensions of the uranium mineralisation in a paleochannel system that hosts what are now known to be the Northwest Taylor, Noah and Boyer Deposits (see Figure 2*).But Cyprus focused predominantly on the development of the Hansen and adjacent Picnic Tree Deposits, where multiple feasibility studies were completed, culminating in the definition of reserves at the Hansen Deposit of 27 million pounds of U3O8 at a grade of 800ppm U3O8. By 1981 all permits had been obtained to develop the Hansen Deposit by way of an open pit mining operation. But mining never commenced because of a downturn in the global uranium industry.Between 2007 and 2014 Black Range Minerals Limited consolidated ownership of mineral rights through the Tallahassee Creek Uranium District and completed multiple drilling programs. Black Range defined JORC 2012 compliant resources, within its landholdings, that totaled 90.4 million pounds of U3O8 at a grade of 600ppm U3O8 across multiple deposits.More than 2,220 holes have been drilled in the district, for approximately 350,000 metres.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Okapi Resources Ltd

Okapi Resources Limited (ASX:OKR) is a minerals exploration company focused on the discovery and commercialisation of mineral deposits in Australia. Okapi's primary objective is to discover and develop mineral resources from its current portfolio. The Company has carefully selected projects with historical workings and excellent results. Okapi has a team of professionals with an exemplary record of success and with a particular history in Australia. Okapi is also pursuing a growth strategy that aims to appraise and secure further exploration and development opportunities within gold and mineral endowed districts.
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In March 2005, Colorado resident Sandra Cortez was in the market for a new car.

She intended to finance the purchase with a loan, and requested a copy of her credit report from TransUnion, one of the big three credit reporting agencies.

The report assured her that her credit score was excellent. It raised no red flags. She went to the John Elway Subaru dealership, selected the car she wanted, negotiated a price and applied for the loan.

Heres the key thing to know about Sandra Cortez. She was born in May 1944 in Chicago. Thats important, for reasons that will soon become clear.

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Her salesman ducked into the back to run a credit check. When he came back, he started asking her questions including whether she had always lived in the United States, if she had ever lived outside of the country and other really strange questions,' according to a subsequent 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals opinion. The FBI was mentioned.

It turns out that TransUnion offered its customers an optional add-on to the usual credit report. For an extra fee, TransUnion would flag consumers whose names were similar to those on a watch list compiled by the Treasury Department.

The people on the watch list are terrorists, international drug dealers, or sanctioned officials of foreign governments. Its illegal to do business with them. One person on the list was Sandra Cortes Quintero, a citizen of Colombia born in June 1971.

TransUnion had flagged the 60-year-old native Chicagoan as the 33-year-old Colombian.

Credit reporting agencies wield enormous power over the lives of ordinary Americans. Credit reports are routinely checked not just by lenders but by landlords, insurers and employers.

In recognition of the agencies vast power, Congress imposes on them a duty to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy in their credit reports. Obviously, TransUnion didnt do that with regard to Sandra Cortez.

The law also required TransUnion to provide Cortez with all information in (her) file. It didnt do that, either, concealing the red flag warning from her.

Federal law gives people wronged by the credit reporting agencies the right to sue for money damages.

Cortez sued and won big. But, according to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in a recent dissenting opinion, the company made surprisingly few changes after this verdict. It did not begin comparing birth dates. Or middle initials. Or citizenship.

Inevitably, it was sued again, this time in a class action by 8,185 additional people it had wrongfully red-flagged. Again the plaintiffs won big, because it was a slam dunk case.

But this time, TransUnion took its case to the Supreme Court. In a recent 5-4 opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the court ruled largely in TransUnions favor, greatly reducing the judgment against it.

The court recognized that TransUnion violated federal law in multiple ways. It also recognized that federal law permitted wronged consumers to sue for damages.

But, the court said, the Constitution allowed only some of them to do so.

About a quarter of the wrongfully labeled people had been directly harmed when TransUnion sent inaccurate credit reports to their lenders, employers, insurers or landlords. Those people, the court said, would be allowed to collect from TransUnion.

But with respect to the rest, TransUnion hadnt actually transmitted its inaccurate credit reports to anyone during one particular seven-month period. Sure, you might say, but the bad information was a ticking time bomb, primed to explode as soon as the affected people did any one of various ordinary things we all do at different times in our lives.

The court rejected that argument, concluding  and I swear Im not making this up  that it was impermissibly speculative to imagine that a company in the business of selling credit reports might sell credit reports. No harm, no foul, the court reasoned (in almost those words).

The Constitution itself is unambiguous. The judicial power of the United States shall extend to all cases  arising under  the Laws of the United States.

Kavanaugh struck out the word all and replaced it with some.

He then amended the Constitution with his own mushy three-part test under which Americans are prohibited from seeking money damages in federal court for violations of federal law unless they allege harm that is concrete and also bears a close relationship to harms traditionally redressed at common law.

Shortly after Justice Antonin Scalia died, the conservative former judge Michael W. McConnell wrote in the Wall Street Journal that when Justice Scalia arrived at the Supreme Court in 1986, its jurisprudence had become sloppy, results-driven, plagued with fuzzy three-part tests  with little basis in constitutional text.

Everything old is new again.

Joel Jacobsen is an author who in 2015 retired from a 29-year legal career. If there are topics you would like to see covered in future columns, please write him at legal.column.tips@gmail.com.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  When Tina Tapia was a young girl growing up in tiny Willard, one of the scariest things she could think of was having to drive in the big city of Albuquerque.

After all, she could walk nearly everywhere  from her job at the courthouse in nearby Estancia, to her classes at Estancia High School.

Hers was a huge traditional family, with a grandmother who taught her how to be a housewife. My brothers were always outside helping my grandfather, and my sister and I were inside cooking, cleaning.

I always say, I know I never learned how to skate. I never learned how to swim. But I can roll a mean tortilla, thats for sure.'

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The grown-up Tapia drives all the time in Albuquerque, where she owns Adorabella Beauty Academy in the far Northeast Heights. The business, which just celebrated its 13th anniversary, was the project Tapia took on after early retirement from a customer service job at Southwest Airlines and following a long divorce.

Cosmetology was her second career, which included time doing nails in her garage-turned-salon and holding down four jobs as a single mother.

Adorabella was born out of Tapias desire to open a multilingual school that now offers students instruction in Spanish and Vietnamese.

Although it might have seemed like the worst time to launch a business  the start of the Great Recession  Tapia credits a generous landlord who loaned her money to get Adorabella off the ground. It now has six instructors and anywhere from 30 to 60 students at a time.

Im a very traditional person, Tapia says. The thing thats brought me to the place I am today is that Im here to help them (students), to make a difference in their lives. This has just been an incredible ride.

What do you think has made you a successful business owner?

I think just my passion to help students. Im customer service-oriented. I came from an incredible airline (Southwest), whose customer service was top-notch. So I think I learned a lot of those values there. Ive always just tried to treat people the way I want to be treated. My students become my family. I just try to keep it simple. Be true to my faith, and who I am.

Are there any students who stand out for you?

Ive had so many. My bilingual students, most of these are moms who are cleaning houses, working in restaurants. Theyre not doing the best jobs, and they have the worst schedule, and I just really feel like theyre so taken advantage of. Theres one student who stands out. Herman was in a horrific (car) accident, and he has a traumatic brain injury. He was about to get (state board licensure) when this happened to him. It has set him back so much. He cant remember things, so its starting over and starting over and starting over. I promised him that if its the last thing I do, I will see him through licensure. He never gives up.

How do you spend your free time?

My children are grown, and I have grandbabies now. I enjoy going out to dinner, having a glass of wine, relaxing. I love to go to concerts, but I love to also be home with my family. On Sundays, I go to church, and then its time to go to breakfast and hang with my family. I enjoy going camping when we can get away. I like to travel a little bit, but nothing too crazy. Im just a small town girl.

Whats something no one knows about you?

That I hold a concealed carry (gun) license. I live alone. And if someone came in here (the academy), and I dont even know what that might mean, but would I be able to at least attempt to protect us? Heck, yeah. I know now that I can.

What are some words of wisdom that have helped you?

I think that when I was going through my darkest days in that divorce and trying to build this school, my counselor was an amazing woman. When we talked about me opening this business, she said, Tina, Im going to tell you something. Do not think that you need to have all of this brand new, expensive stuff. Dont do it. All you need is your simple plan, and little by little, you can add to that. Pay cash for what you can. This is honestly the first year of the 13 years that Ive been here, that I actually have a business credit card. Pay for it, build it up, and then its yours and you dont owe anything to anyone.

What advice would you give someone just starting out?

When I give speeches at graduation, I want them to know one thing: fear is going to keep you right here on the porch. Until you jump off, youre never going to know your ability. Youre never, ever going to know what youre capable of. Look at me, Im from Willard, New Mexico. Never, ever did I think Id be here.

Whats a difficult thing youve had to learn?

That Im too giving, too trusting  and sometimes that bites me in the butt. In the ups and downs of business, you think that everybody comes from the same place that you do. And thats not the case. So I had an instructor who completely took advantage of me and completely ripped me off. Stole money, stole equipment and then just left in the middle of the night. Its a hard lesson to learn, but I will never allow it to change who I am.

What got you interested in cosmetology?

I do remember being younger, I used to do facials. When we were going to go out, I would comb out all my cousins. We had the big 80s hair, and I combed them all before we went out.

Whats a splurge for you?

Louis Vuitton and I are best friends. Shoes are my thing. Shoes and dresses. You will always see me in heels. If you catch me on a day where I am wearing flats, Im still in a dress. I think it just stems back from my childhood. We had nothing  but we were always clean and we were always dressed. My mother always worried that somebody was going to think that we didnt have a mother. She always said, No. You are not going to look like orphans. She instilled in me to always look my best, no matter what, because nobody knows what you carry here (points to her heart). But out there  perfecto, lindo (pretty). Smile, smile.

THE BASICS: Tina Marie Tapia, 57, born in Grants; graduate, Estancia High School, 1982; cosmetology license, 2008; instructor license, 2006; Small Business Administration classes; five children, Isaac, 39, Ashley, 29, Alexus, 27, Devin, 30, Jordan, 30; six grandchildren, with another expected.

POSITIONS: President, Adorabella Beauty Academy, since 2009; owner, La Tina Nails Salon, since 2005; instructor, Calles Beauty Institute, 2006-2008; administrative assistant, Gregory T. Hicks & Associates, 2005-2006; customer service supervisor, customer service agent and reservations agent, Southwest Airlines, 1993-2004.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  For the past few decades Nob Hills Lobo Theater has served as a venue for local churches, but soon it will be getting new life as an event center and lounge.

The newly named Lobo Lounge and Event Center, at 3013 Central NE, is slated to open mid-August, according to owner J. Richard Rivas.

This is something not only Nob Hill needs, but (also) Albuquerque and New Mexico, he said.  The foot traffic that well be able to draw will only help all the venues that are around there, from restaurants to clothing stores to all the local little places that suffered through (installation of Albuquerque Rapid Transit) and COVID.

Rivas said the lounge will feature drinks and decor ripped from the 40s-like crushed velvet seating, chandelier lighting and a cocktail menu with Manhattans and martinis.

For food, Rivas said he is planning to work with nearby restaurants on a contract basis to expand the food selection, but menu items could include creme brulee, sushi and Caesar salad.

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Music will also be central to the operations with plans to host many live shows inside the 550-person theater space.

Rivas said he hopes to host several series of music with genres ranging from blues to jazz to country, and a recurring jam-style performance featuring an outside artist and local musicians.

Though the event center will regularly feature music, the lounge portion will stay open even on days without performances.

Rivas said hiring is still underway and he expects to have a staff of 25 to 30.

Pilar Martinez covers retail and commercial real estate for the Journal. She can be reached at pmartinez@abqjournal.com.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Long-time angel investor and serial entrepreneur John Chavez had an unenviable front-row seat during the economic devastation wrought by the Great Recession in 2008.

At that time, New Mexicos incipient startup ecosystem had limited resources to support many struggling businesses that had recently launched prior to the crisis, and investors like Chavez could do little as numerous startups crashed and burned in the downturn.

Now, 13 years later, its a very different story as the state and country emerge from the pandemic, which plunged the economy into a far-worse crisis than the one a decade ago. This time, the local ecosystem was well-prepared to weather the storm, armed with an extensive statewide network of support programs, plus capital in place to help companies hunker down and adapt.

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As a result, Chavez and other investors now say they know of no New Mexico startups that failed during the pandemic. In fact, as co-founder and executive of both the Albuquerque-based Startup Factory and NMA Ventures, Chavez and his colleagues have helped buoy existing companies while even launching some new ones since last year.

The startup community continues to be very vibrant, Chavez told the Journal. I dont think theres been any downsizing, but rather a hunger to get back to working with people face-to-faceI cant think of any startup company that failed during the pandemic.

The pandemic did have a devastating impact on New Mexicos economy, and despite the July 1 lifting of all limitations on business activities, the state could struggle for quite awhile to fully emerge from the downturn. In fact, New Mexico ranks dead last among all 50 states in recovering jobs lost in the coronavirus, according to a new report released in June by New Mexico State Universitys Arrowhead Center, which runs all of NMSUs entrepreneurship and technology-transfer programs.

After the pandemic started, New Mexico lost just over 100,000 jobs, or about 11.7% of employment statewide, said Arrowhead Economic Research Director Kramer Winingham. And as of April, only about 32,000 jobs, or 32% of all lost employment, had come back  much less than the 64% average rate of recovery nationwide.

But more than half of the roughly 69,000 jobs that have yet to return are concentrated in just three economic sectors  including leisure and hospitality, local government, and mining and logging  with construction, health, and professional services making up most of the rest, according to the Arrowhead report. And those industries usually dont encompass many startups per se, a category that generally refers to recently-launched businesses that market new, innovative and often cutting-edge products and services, particularly in the technology arena.

Overall, the startup ecosystem held together quite well, Winingham told the Journal.  Startups remain strong, because theres a lot of support and resources available for them. That reflects a statewide consensus that startups and innovation are key to economic development.

Indeed, prior to the pandemic, New Mexicos startup landscape had achieved unprecedented momentum, which helped incipient businesses to endure during the COVID-induced downturn, said Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes. And that bodes particularly well for local efforts to diversify the economy away from traditional industries like oil and gas as New Mexico works to build back from the pandemic.

I think New Mexico will come back even stronger and more resilient than before, because this state is all about innovation, Keyes told the Journal. Because of the national labs and research universities here, weve always been primed to excel at technology transfer and to be an innovation center for science and technology.

Bustling ecosystem

State agencies, local universities and economic development professionals have worked for more than two decades to build the startup economy here, setting up support programs of all kinds to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation by establishing institutional structures to help build and grow startups. Those efforts gained immense momentum prior to the coronavirus, generating a flourishing system of business accelerators, incubators, co-working spaces and university-based programs to teach business skills and mentor emerging entrepreneurs.

Albuquerque in particular garnered national attention and financial support as public and private entities pulled together in partnership with the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College to build the Innovate ABQ research and development zone Downtown, with a broader goal of creating an innovation corridor along Central Ave.

In southern New Mexico, NMSU took the lead in building a thriving support network for entrepreneurship and startup development through its Arrowhead Center, which has since expanded its services to local communities across the state.

In addition, the State Investment Council pumped hundreds of millions of dollars from the Severance Tax Permanent Fund into venture investment funds that, in turn, channeled seed and early-stage capital to dozens of startups across the state. That includes launch of the catalyst fund, or fund of funds, in 2016 to build a $40 million investment pool of public and private capital for a half dozen micro funds to inject money into local startups.

By early 2020, New Mexicos startup ecosystem was bustling with activity as hundreds of budding businesses formed to market new products and services, backed by an array of support programs working and collaborating together to offer the mentoring and support needed to help startups launch and grow.

But when the pandemic hit, it all came to a sharp halt as the entire economy went into lockdown. All the events, workshops and activities that by then were attracting hundreds of participants everyday at Innovate ABQ and at accelerators and incubators in Albuquerque and elsewhere went quiet as people holed up at home and struggled to find new ways to work and operate.

Startups adapt

Nevertheless, the seeming collapse in startup activity was short-lived as everyone across the board raced to regroup online, and by last summer, the ecosystem had

achieved a lot of its pre-pandemic vibrancy through virtual networks, said Brian Birk, managing director of Santa Fe-based Sun Mountain Capital, which manages the catalyst fund and the SICs Co-Investment Fund for direct investments in New Mexico startup companies.

There was a sharp pullback from March through May last year as everyone took pause to assess what the pandemics impact would be, Birk told the Journal. But surprisingly, by June and July, we saw real resilience set in as people got back to doing business with Zoom and other online tools at a much faster pace than anyone anticipated.

Many companies did suffer, especially startups with new technologies still under development, such as bioengineering firms working on novel medical devices or pharmaceutics.

Lab workers struggled to continue experiments because they couldnt get into their labs and they couldnt recruit participants for clinical trials, Birk said. Technology development companies with international partners in places like Europe and Asia were also impacted because the pandemic interrupted supply chains and collaborative work.

Software development firms and companies marketing new online goods and services did well and even prospered in the pandemic. But technology startups building new hardware suffered a lot, said David Blivin, managing partner of SIC-backed Cottonwood Technology Funds.

There are many hard-tech companies in New Mexico that need access to their labs and engineering facilities to develop prototypes and test things in person, and all of that came to a halt, Blivin said. It affected many of the companies in our portfolio.

But even those companies managed to pull through, thanks in good part to the supportive ecosystem already in place before the pandemic hit.

For one thing, many companies that received venture investment prior to the coronavirus could turn to their existing backers if needed for follow-on funding, mentoring and other support to navigate the crisis.

Companies worked to implement cost controls, reduce their spending and hunker down to weather the storm, Birk said. Fund managers worked with company executives on proactive steps to manage potential damage.

A lot of money also became available through federal stimulus spending, plus state programs to assist struggling businesses. The federal Paycheck Protection Program in particular helped companies across the state to stay afloat, including thousands of small businesses and startups, said Anne Haines, president and CEO of micro-lending firm DreamSpring, which managed some of the PPP funding in New Mexico.

Just in the first six months of 2021, DreamSpring managed 25,000 PPP applications benefitting more than 17,000 small businesses for a total of $218 million in funding, Haines said. That compares to just 1,800 loans DreamSpring made to entrepreneurs in all of 2019.

The magnitude of impact through DreamSpring lending for small, underserved businesses was enormous in comparison to the general lending going on before the pandemic, Haines told the Journal. As a result, many businesses that otherwise wouldnt have made it through the pandemic managed to stay in business.

DreamSpring generally focuses on more traditional, Main Street-type operations rather than startups per se. That includes everything from food and beverage firms, landscaping companies, and construction and welding services to home-improvement and consulting businesses.

But many startups benefitted as well from PPP funding.

Between PPP loans and efforts to reel in spending, most companies managed to survive, Blivin said. I wouldnt say they emerged unscathed from the pandemic, but most remained intact with money to last awhile, and now theyre starting to get back on track.

Some were even able to raise more private equity from local and out-of-state investors. And state financing  such as Local Economic Development Act funding to help businesses expand operations, plus Job Training Incentive Program awards to hire new employees  allowed some startups to significantly grow their footprint during the pandemic.

Were seeing more engagement with companies than ever before, said EDD Secretary Keyes. Many are taking advantage of state incentives. Weve never been this busy through our LEDA and JTIP programs.

Vibrant support system

Startups also benefitted from New Mexicos robust support programs, which remained intact through virtual networking throughout the pandemic. In fact, most program managers say the move to online operations has significantly fortified their outreach and impact.

Rainforest Innovations, for example  which manages all of UNMs entrepreneurship and technology-transfer programs at the Lobo Rainforest Building at Innovate ABQ Downtown  transitioned nearly all activities to an online format in the first weeks of the pandemic. That involved a significant learning curve at first, but as Rainforest personnel adapted, program attendance grew exponentially, said Rainforest Innovations President and CEO Lisa Kuuttila.

The Lobo Rainforest Building was empty during the pandemic, but our online programming was really, if anything, bigger than our previous in-person activities, Kuuttila told the Journal. Weve kept everything going via Zoom.

That includes UNMs Innovation Academy, which builds student entrepreneurship by teaching business knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills through direct, real-world experience that often includes launching new startups individually and in teams. About 1,000 students remained enrolled in courses as of spring 2021, about the same as before the pandemic, said Academy Director Rob DelCampo.

Our signature programs have all continued and participation remains consistent, DelCampo told the Journal.

Indeed, students launched about two-dozen new startups during the pandemic, for a total of 94 firms created since the academy opened in 2016, DelCampo said. Half of the new ventures were specifically inspired by COVID, such as one to build inexpensive ventilators with off-the-shelf parts, and another to create mask dispensers for people to grab face coverings like paper towels.

UNM will reopen its campus again to all in-person activities on Aug. 2. But even as university programs return to normal, Rainforest Innovations will continue its online programming in a hybrid format alongside live events given the advantages it offers for broad participation.

All our seminars are now online and archived so people can watch them at their leisure, Kuuttila said. Thats a trend thats likely to continue post-pandemic because its so convenient. People can get a lot of training online now that they couldnt before.

Likewise, the ABQid business accelerator run by CNM Ingenuity, which manages all of CNMs commercial endeavors, built an online innovation network during the pandemic that unites people and programs across the state to rapidly connect startups and entrepreneurs with needed resources, said ABQid Executive Director T.J. Cook.

The pivot to online programming and events has made the startup ecosystem more level and unified across the state, Cook told the Journal. New Mexico is huge, and its hard to reach people everywhere. But the scourge of the pandemic actually helped the community come together more, and we want that to continue.

About 150 people participate now in the network, and the goal is to reach 250 by year-end, Cook said.

ABQid now also offers its weekly office hours to mentor and counsel entrepreneurs through an online format, which will continue post-pandemic. And it joined with the New Mexico Angels last fall to launch a new quarterly online Investor Roundtable that unites entrepreneurs with Angel investors to share information and ideas about emerging startups and form lasting connections.

A lot of our private investors have learned to work virtually with entrepreneurs in ways they hadnt before, NM Angels President Drew Tulchin told the Journal.  Entrepreneurship in general has proved to be very strong in New Mexico from before, during and after the pandemic. Its a great time for startups in New Mexico and for investors.

New opportunities

Returning to in-person programs and networking is critical for everybody, Cook said.

Nothing has changed in the way that humans build trust, which requires face-to-face relations, he said. Partnerships can start online, but if an investor is going to put $50,000 into a new company, hes not going to do it sight unseen. Our brains are not wired to build that level of trust in a Zoom environment.

But the pandemic has created new ways of relating and connecting that will continue as the economy reopens. And the innovation and creativity that startup entrepreneurs and their supporters applied to survive the crisis has better prepared them to discover fresh opportunities that budding businesses can focus on, said Haines of DreamSpring.

I have tremendous optimism about small businesses and startups going forward, Haines said. Theres such pent-up demand now for goods and services, and that creates enormous opportunities for small businesses to tap into.

With New Mexicos startup ecosystem emerging from the pandemic even stronger than before, the state could see its startup community grow to new heights going forward, said Secretary Keyes.

I believe we have an opportunity now that weve never had before to move everything to the next level, Keyes said.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Santa Fe-based Parting Stones novel technology to turn cremated ashes into beautiful, solidified remains is rapidly gaining ground in the deathcare industry.

The company, which launched in fall 2019, offers people a better way to connect with departed loved ones, turning ashes into smooth, polished memorial stones that can be held, shared or displayed, said Parting Stone founder and CEO Justin Crowe.

The company now partners with 340 funeral homes across the country to offer solidification services to families who plan to create remains. Thats up from about 200 funeral partners last fall.

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We do direct-to-consumer sales as well, but about 75% of our business comes from funeral homes, Crowe told the Journal. Weve grown very fast in the pandemic, with our year-over-year revenue up 75%.

The company earned $330,000 in revenue last year. It projects $1 million this year.

It closed on a $500,000 investment in May from the Arrowhead Innovation Fund at NMSU, and from local angel investors. It also secured an $800,000 loan from Finance New Mexico LLC, a subsidiary of the New Mexico Finance Authority.

Counting $500,000 it previously received from angel investors in 2019, plus Paycheck Protection Program funding and some state assistance, the company has raised about $1.9 million to date.

It will move from its current 2,500-square-foot space in Midtown Santa Fe to a new 8,000-square-foot facility on the South Side in October. And it recently hired five new production technicians for its proprietary ash-solidification technology, which in June became fully patent protected by the. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Crowe expects the workforce to grow to 24 by year-end 2021, with another 20 hires expected next year.

Over the next four years, were looking at reaching 100 people, Crowe said.

BennuBio acquires new digs and a new CEO

During the pandemic, BennuBio Inc. raised over $6 million in new funding, moved into a new high-tech facility, and hired a new CEO, setting the company up for commercial launch later this year of its super-fast cell-screening technology.

The company has developed a new flow-through cytometer, or cell meter, that can process single-cell tissue samples 100 times faster than other cytometers on

the market today. Its machine, called the Velocyt, can also perform rapid, multi-parameter analysis of three-dimensional tissue samples, or conglomerates of cells, for more advanced medical diagnostics and drug discovery, making it the only cytometer in the world today that can do that, said the companys new CEO, Matthew Hess.

The company has been developing the Velocyt since 2013, based on technology originally licensed from the University of New Mexico. Its received $7 million in private equity since 2018, including a $5 million investment from local and international venture funds in March 2020, just after the pandemic hit.

It also received a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health last summer to further develop the Velocyts 3D screening capacity for cell clusters, or spheroids, which could greatly improve cancer research, diagnostics and treatment, Hess said.

BennuBio deployed its cytometers at five pilot-testing sites over the past year, including the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, and at San Diego State Universitys Heart Institute.

We got our instrument into the field to really prove its capacity at those pilot sites as we gear up for our official commercial launch in the fall, Hess told the Journal. Well start taking pre-orders for the Velocyt pretty soon.

The company moved last fall from the WESST Enterprise Center Downtown to a 5,500-square-foot facility with lab and manufacturing space. Its since ramped up its workforce from 15 to 21, with plans to hire at least seven more in the coming months, Hess said.

WaveFront starts clinical trial, preps for market

Albuquerque-based WaveFront Dynamics Inc. raised $3 million during the pandemic, launched a clinical trial for its new eye-measurement machine, and moved into new offices in the Midtown industrial zone off I-25.

Its now preparing for commercial launch in the fall for its medical device, which offers advanced eye measurements to customize sight correction for difficult-to-treat patients.

We want to demonstrate our first commercially available instruments at a trade show in November, WaveFront founder and CEO Dan Neal told the Journal.  Our prototype is working well, and were getting good results. Were now preparing our first production run for 10 units.

The company, which launched in 2019, is led by the same team that previously built an eye-measurement system to prepare patients for laser refraction surgery that is now used across the globe. Neal and his team built that previous system through a prior startup, WaveFront Sciences, which Neal launched in 1996.

That company was acquired in 2007 for $20 million, but changed ownership two times, ultimately landing at Johnson & Johnson. Even so, Neal and his team continued to perfect the LASIK measurement device until 2019, when Johnson & Johnson ended development efforts.

That paved the way for Neal and his team to pursue new markets by further developing the base technology into a measurement system for patients whose eyes cant be treated with LASIK, or with standard contact lenses.

Now, rather than taking snapshot-like images of eyes as the LASIK device does, the new technology takes video-like images to record much more detail about an individuals eyes to develop custom-made contact lenses.

WaveFront Dynamics, or WaveDyn, started out at the Bioscience Center in Uptown before moving in June 2020 to a 9,800-square-foot facility at the Comanche Business Center in Midtown with laboratory and manufacturing space. The company also closed in May on a $3 million investment from local and out-of-state venture funds that it began raising last summer.

And it launched a clinical trial for its new machine in November in Albuquerque, with nearly two dozen patients now enrolled. It will compile intermediate trial results this summer in preparation for its fall commercial launch, although U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval is not required to go to market, Neal said.

The company won $114,000 in Job Training Incentive Program funding in June to help grow its workforce from 15 now to 21 by year-end.

New Mexicos startup activity may have been less publicly visible during the pandemic as companies and programs moved online, but local entrepreneurship remains alive and well, and some newly-launched businesses are thriving.

Among the pandemic standouts is Santa Fe-based Avisa Diagnostics Inc., which went public on the Canadian Securities Exchange in May after reaching an agreement last year with investment group Global Emerging Markets Limited to provide Avisa access to a $41 million line of equity if the company began trading publicly outside the U.S. Avisa went live on the CSE in mid-May through a merger with another publicly traded entity, Fogchain Corp.

Avisa, which launched in 2010, has developed a rapid breath test for bacterial pneumonia and other pulmonary infections based on technology it originally licensed from the University of New Mexico. It previously raised $16 million in private equity, including money from Santa Fe-based Sun Mountain Capital, which manages the New Mexico State Investment Councils Co-Investment Fund for investments in local startups, giving the state a significant stake in Avisas future success.

Over the next three years, Avisa will draw down on GEMs $41 million line of equity to finance further product development and clinical trials to win U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its technology.

Another standout  biomedical startup Natures Toolbox, or NTxBio  received $5 million in Local Economic Development Act funding last fall to relocate this summer from Santa Fe to a 25,000-square-foot facility in Rio Rancho. The company, which raised $13 million in private equity last year just before the pandemic hit, has created novel technology to rapidly develop new vaccines and drugs based on processes originally licensed from Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The LEDA funding has allowed NTxBio to build out its new Rio Rancho facility into a high-tech research and manufacturing center for new pharmaceuticals. The company, which launched in 2015, expects to hire 116 people over the next decade at an average annual salary of $74,000, representing about $74.5 million in additional payroll over the next 10 years.

Many more startups also had noteworthy achievements during the pandemic, in particular, Parting Stone of Santa Fe and Albuquerque-based BennuBio Inc., Build with Robots, and WaveFront Dynamics Inc.

Build with Robots achieves lucrative niche

Albuquerque startup Build with Robots found its footing in the pandemic with a rectangular-shaped drone on wheels that rapidly provides autonomous disinfection for public facilities.

The company, which launched in 2017 at the FUSE Makerspace at Innovate ABQ Downtown, sells collaborative robots, or cobots, which are mechanical arms that use customized programming for a wide variety of mundane industrial or commercial tasks.

But when the pandemic began last year, the startup pivoted to create the new Breezy One robot to provide facility managers with an autonomous, mobile disinfection option against COVID. More than a dozen robots, which sell for $100,000 each, are now deployed at five institutions in New Mexico and Texas.

That includes St. Marys Catholic School in Albuquerque, the Albuquerque International Sunport, the Daikin Texas Technology Park in Houston, and two other Texas airports  Houston William P. Hobby International and George Bush Intercontinental  both of which signed new contracts in June for a total of six robot deployments, said company CEO Chris Ziomek.

The pandemic really highlighted the need to add continuous disinfection to janitorial services, Ziomek told the Journal. Even after the pandemic, institutions like airports, schools and hotel chains want to keep disinfecting to kill germs, especially during cold and flue season.

With COVID restrictions on large in-person events now disappearing, the company plans to attend a Las Vegas conference this month for airport executives to demonstrate Breezy One on the exhibition floor.

Were particularly concentrating on airports because theyre a good fit for what we do, Ziomek said. Theres so much foot traffic constantly going through them.

The company moved in June to a new 8,600-square-foot office suite at the corner of Commercial Street and East Marquette Downtown, backed by $360,000 in Local Economic Development Act funding. It also received a new investment for an undisclosed amount from the Arrowhead Innovation Fund at New Mexico State University, which makes seed commitments of up to $200,000 for local startups.

The company grew its workforce from just two full-time employees in 2019 to 17 today. It received $573,000 in Job Training Incentive Program grants since last year, and now expects to reach 24 employees by year-end 2021, and 64 by 2024.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  When the pandemic hit in March 2020, dozens of innovators operating out of FatPipe New Mexicos two co-working locations in Downtown Albuquerque and Rio Rancho disappeared.

The number of people renting space dropped from about 90 pre-pandemic to just two or three holdouts who kept coming in, said FatPipe Chief Operating Officer Lisa Adkins.

Most of the world went to work from home, but we struggled to keep the centers open, Adkins told the Journal. We had some diehards who were still coming in,

but we definitely saw a huge drop in our membership.

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Once statewide vaccinations got underway, people started trickling back in. As of late June, about 50 people were renting space again.

And now, with the states full economic reopening on July 1, FatPipe is set for a new surge in activity.

Things are definitely picking up, Adkins said. Things are really flowing again.

Like FatPipe, New Mexicos myriad entrepreneurial programs, startup accelerators, newly launched businesses and networking forums are all preparing for a robust return to in-person activities. And most of the communitys movers and shakers expect the startup ecosystem to come back even stronger than before, buoyed by a virtual world of interaction that kept the bustling, pre-COVID startup landscape alive and vibrant, even during the pandemic.

The lessons learned from life online are now ingrained in the fabric of business operations and community activities, likely enriching all in-person programs and events going forward as virtual participation continues alongside face-to-face interaction. The weekly community meet-up event 1 Million Cups, for example, will resume in person this month at FatPipe Downtown, but Zoom participation  which kept the forum alive throughout the pandemic  will remain a constant option.

We got a lot more people participating in 1 Million Cups statewide, and even nationwide, by going online, Adkins said. As we come back live, well continue it as a hybrid format.

At the University of New Mexicos Rainforest Innovations  which manages all of UNMs entrepreneurial programs and technology-transfer efforts at the Innovate ABQ high-tech research and development zone across the street from FatPipe Downtown  key programs will permanently become hybrid structures with some federal funding for online options.

The National Science Foundation, for example, awarded a $120,000 grant last fall to reinforce online delivery of the locally run Innovation Corps program at Innovate ABQ. Rainforest Innovations and UNMs Innovation Academy launched the iCorp program in 2017 with an $800,000 NSF grant for teams of students to work on strategies to take UNM technologies to market.

NSF found that virtual programming at its iCorp sites nationwide greatly increased participation for a more diverse audience during the pandemic, said Rainforest Innovations president and CEO Lisa Kuuttila.

NSF told us it wants to keep our sessions online because it made it more accessible and expanded diversity for students from underrepresented backgrounds to participate, Kuuttila said.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration also awarded a $350,000 grant last fall for UNM to expand its online entrepreneurial training programs to branch campuses, and to entrepreneurs across the state. Rainforest Innovations used a previous EDA grant to develop an eight-week online course for all New Mexico businesspeople to learn how to build e-commerce platforms during the pandemic.

That has attracted hundreds of participants statewide since spring 2020 and will continue now with the new EDA funding, said Innovation Academy Executive Director Rob DelCampo.

The pandemic fundamentally changed the way we operate, DelCampo said. We expect to always have an online option for every program going forward.

In-person activities, however, remain critical, particularly for innovators, entrepreneurs and investors to mingle face to face in diverse settings. That paves the way for serendipitous encounters, or human collisions, whereby people spontaneously meet one another and share ideas, often leading to new collaborations and partnerships to nurture budding business ventures.

Most would say the vibrancy of the ecosystem has to do with collisions that are mostly unintended, DelCampo said. Theres a lot of pent-up demand now to get back to that.

In fact, notwithstanding the advantages of hybrid programming, people are generally clamoring for a return to in-person activities, Adkins said.

Many people are Zoomed-out, she said. Everybodys asking when in-person things will restart.

FatPipe is well prepared, having taken advantage of the pandemic slowdown to open two new co-working centers, including an East Mountains location in Edgewood and another one in Taos. FatPipe founder Stuart Rose invested in a major fiber optics upgrade with Plateau Telecommunications to provide high-speed broadband for the new Edgewood co-working space.

We had a grand opening on June 11 after Plateau finished the fiber installation, Adkins said. It will open a lot of opportunities for people in the East Mountains. Were already seeing significant activity there.

Still, program managers and startup businesses will face new challenges as the economy reopens fully, including fundamental changes in employee expectations now that so many people have grown accustomed to working from home, said Rose, who also founded the Bioscience Center in Uptown Albuquerque.

Employees now increasingly want flexibility to not go into the office all the time, nor work from home all the time, Rose told the Journal. They want the freedom to choose, to create a work-life balance where work is a part of their outside life, not separated from it.

Most startups strive to be nimble and flexible by nature and by necessity, often pivoting their business strategies to meet emerging market demands and grow in new directions. Those who adapt to new employee expectations will do well, but those who resist could suffer, Rose said.

Business owners and management must recognize that the world has changed, he said. I suspect those companies that insist on returning to the way things were before the pandemic will have problems.

Startups may also face the same employee return-to-work reluctance that other businesses, such as restaurants, have found.

Its hard to find employees now and that makes everything more difficult, Rose said.

Adkins has faced both return-to-work challenges and employee demand for more flexibility at FatPipe, and at Ingenuity Software, an Albuquerque startup that builds websites and other online capabilities for companies.

She hired one new employee in June via an online interview to staff the new Taos co-working space. But that employee never showed up for the first day of work.

People are still getting more from unemployment and many are seeking jobs to meet requirements without actually taking them, Adkins said.

At Ingenuity Software, where Adkins is also chief operating officer, the company had to fire one employee who didnt want to return to work.

When we asked people to come back, that employee threw a fit and refused, Adkins said.

In addition, the transition to remote operations will likely alter leasing trends by companies in Downtown Albuquerque and in other startup hubs, said Ingenuity Software CEO John Mierzwa.

So many companies abandoned their physical locations in the pandemic and its yet to be determined how many will come back, Mierzwa said. There are many cost considerations involved and people like to work from home. Things will likely remain in turmoil in that regard for the rest of the year before we see how it all that shapes out.

At the Bioscience Center, all the incubators lab space remains filled because startup staff need to build and test things onsite. But theres now a 70% vacancy rate in the facilitys office spaces.

Before the pandemic, we were filled up on both sides, Rose said.

On the other hand, the ability to work from anywhere creates opportunities, as well, particularly for co-working spaces such as FatPipe.

People like the independence and flexibility of remote operations, but not necessarily working from home, Rose said. Many want the bandwidth, social interactions and tech support they can get in a place like FatPipe. Well see how it all plays out, but I think it will be a mixture of onsite and remote working, with home offices, coffee shops and co-working spaces all playing roles as we move forward.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

After being closed by the raging pandemic for months, the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa was brought back to life by the filming of the current season of The Bachelorette.

(Having the production at the resort) helped me bring back 80% of the staff, said Claudia Wattenberg, general manager at Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa. They allowed me to bring back my team and I wanted them to be here. We were closed in January and February and we wouldnt have opened with the lack of demand. We were relying on the out-of-state driving market and it wasnt happening. It was very restrictive until July 1.

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The current season  the reality series 17th  premiered June 7 on ABC. This season follows bachelorette Katie Thurston on her quest for love.

Since its premiere, the series has hovered at just under 4 million viewers and easily is at the top of the advertiser coveted 18-49 demographic each week.

According to Variety, in 2018 it cost $153,096 for a 30-second ad on The Bachelorette.

Wattenberg said the national exposure has been a blessing for the property, which is located on Santa Ana Pueblo. Production took place for two months earlier this year.

For nine weeks, our property will be seen by millions, she said. We couldnt pay for this type of exposure.

The direct effect is the Tamaya is booked weekends through August and there is a significant increase in people looking at it for wedding and engagement parties.

This is huge for Hyatt, Wattenberg said. Were one of the leading brands and to have one of our resorts, its been fantastic to showcase not only the resort but New Mexico and most importantly, Santa Ana Pueblo.

According to the New Mexico Tourism Department, film tourism is listed as a special interest activity for an estimated 10% of New Mexico visitors in 2019.

This doesnt mean that a film location was the reason someone made a trip to New Mexico, but it does indicate that while on their trip, 10% of visitors reported that they found an opportunity to engage in some sort of film tourism activity, said Cody Johnson, New Mexico Tourism Department spokesman.

Wattenberg said interest in the resort began to pick up when the location was leaked via Twitter in February.

Amber Dodson, New Mexico Film Office director, said having the production film in New Mexico has a positive impact in the state.

Viewers from around the globe are tuning in each week and seeing the incredibly beautiful scenery at the Tamaya Resort on the Santa Ana Pueblo, Dodson said. The production shot during the pandemic maintaining a COVID-safe bubble. This in turn generated revenue for Native-owned businesses and the Tamaya, that was otherwise experiencing unprecedented financial hardships.

ON TV

The Bachelorette airs at 7 p.m. Mondays on ABC.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

An illegible receipt from a Rio Rancho brewery was among the transactions red-flagged during a performance audit examining the city of Albuquerques purchasing usage, prompting auditors to say the city should consider revising policy to require that cardholders obtain and provide a legible itemized receipt for every transaction.

All told, the citys Office of Internal Audit made 14 recommendations for improvement in the report issued last month. The city has begun implementing the changes and should complete them by January, a top finance official said Wednesday.

OIA tested 107 purchasing card (P-Card) transactions and 63 travel card (T-Card) transactions from the last two fiscal years. Every T-Card purchase complied with city policy, the report said, but auditors identified some issues with P-Card activity.

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City employees, for example, incorrectly paid gross receipts tax on 28 transactions, according to the report. The city is exempt from paying GRT on goods.

Auditors also found no available receipt for 11 purchases, and that eight transactions did not get the required department director approval.

In addition, OIA found that city staff had not completed  or could not provide proof they completed  reconciliations for nearly half of the P-Card transactions reviewed. Reconciliation involves uploading all receipts and invoices and making sure they align with a weekly transaction report, plus verifying the goods have been received.

Over a third of the transactions reviewed involved food  including off-site meals for employees or refreshments at city meetings  and 16 of those 41 did not get necessary pre-approval. Only 33 had an associated receipt, but 10 of those receipts were not itemized.

For instance, a P-Card purchase was made at a Rio Rancho brewery in the amount of $121, for which pre-approval was not obtained from either the Department Director or (the citys chief administrative officer). Additionally, the business justification was for a seasonal event held in Rio Rancho and the itemized receipt provided was illegible, the report states.

The citys P-Card manual requires receipts and supporting documentation, but purchasing will clarify the need for itemized receipts, the citys Department of Finance and Administration wrote in response to the auditors recommendation.

DFAS Director Renee Martinez said in emailed responses to Journal questions that the audit showed fewer findings than other recent audits but efforts already are underway to act on the results.

There were no findings of fraud and with additional training and guidance for employees on the reconciliation process, our Department of Finance and Administration expects to see improved compliance, she wrote.

Nearly 400 employees across 35 city departments had P-cards  which are credit-limited charge cards  in fiscal year 2020, the report states. They spent a combined $3.9 million in 2020 on 11,895 total transactions.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Tim Keller  the former New Mexico State Auditor  said the administration welcomes opportunities to improve.

Were always concerned, and take audit findings very seriously as we continue to make improvements to entrenched challenges, spokeswoman Ava Montoya said in an email. We are proactively working to better procedures, as well as implementing changes based on the recommendations in the audit.
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WIKIEUP, Ariz.  Federal authorities on Sunday were at the scene of the crash of a small plane that killed two crew members responding to a wildfire in northwestern Arizona.

Both people aboard the Beechcraft King Air C-90 aircraft died in Saturdays crash.

The state Bureau of Land Management on Sunday identified the victims as Air Tactical Group Supervisor Jeff Piechura, 62, a retired Tucson-area fire chief who was working for the Coronado National Forest, and Matthew Miller, 48, a pilot with Falcon Executive Aviation contracted by the U.S. Forest Service.

Piechura became the Northwest Fire Districts first chief in November 1988 and held that job for 24 years before retiring. He also worked with the Stockton Fire Department in California and the Sedona Fire District in Arizona.

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Our hearts go out to the families of our brave wildland firefighters, an Arizona Bureau of Land Management spokesperson said in a statement.

Bureau officials said the plane went down around noon Saturday as it was doing aerial reconnaissance and helping direct aviation resources over a lightning-caused wildfire burning outside Wikieup, a tiny Mohave County community about 123 miles (206 kilometers) northwest of Phoenix.

The wildfire ignited Friday evening and fueled by brush and grass was at more than 700 acres (283 hectares) Sunday and still with zero containment.

BLM spokeswoman Dolores Garcia declined to discuss any aspects of the plane crash Sunday, saying investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Interior Departments Office of Aviation Services will try to determine the cause.

We dont have answers right now. We hope to get them in the coming days, Garcia said.

The Arizona Republic quoted a 54-year-old Wikieup woman who said she saw the plane going down at a steep angle before hitting the ground.

Michele Machholz said she was looking outside from her kitchen while talking to her husband on the phone and thought she saw a turkey vulture before realizing it was a plane.

And its coming down at an angle that  you dont traditionally see airplanes flying at, Machholz told the Republic.

Machholz said she then watched the plane slam into the ground.

Im screaming on the phone, And, oh my gosh, it just crashed! I cant believe it,' she said. Im trying to tell my husband that this airplane just crashed and there was this big, black plume of giant, black smoke.

Machholz declined an interview request Sunday when reached by The Associated Press.

Im a retired photojournalist for 30 years, and I dont wish to relive the horror of yesterday, said Machholz, 54. I will state this: Theres an enormous difference between covering disasters on assignment as a journalist and witnessing them live in front of you I am in a state of shock still.
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PHOENIX  A fire has burned several cars, two homes, a boat and a power pole at a large open property in Phoenix, according to authorities.

City firefighters responded to calls of flames and smoke coming from a home late Saturday night.

When crews arrived, they found seven vehicles and a boat on fire.

The flames extended to a mobile home and another home next to it and a power pole also caught fire in an alley next to the property.

Phoenix Fire Department officials said two adults and three children were able to evacuate safely.

No word yet on how the fire started.

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WESTMINSTER, Colo.  The trial for a Colorado Springs man accused of killing a teen following a road rage incident in Westminster two years ago, ended abruptly Friday due to a witnesss medical emergency.

Jury selection was completed and opening arguments were set for Friday. But Judge Priscilla Loew announced that a medical emergency for one of the prosecutions witnesses would prevent the trial from going forward, the Denver Post reported.

Court officials characterized the witness as indispensable to the prosecution and said the medical situation would prevent her from traveling to Colorado to testify. The court declared a mistrial and a new trial was set for Oct. 25.

Jeremy Webster faces 22 charges in connection with the June 14, 2018, shooting in a Westminster dental offices parking lot that killed 13-year-old Vaughn Bigelow Jr. and left his mother and brother injured. A bystander was also shot and injured while sitting in his truck.

The Bigelows were heading to a dental appointment when Meghan Bigelow, Vaughns mother, got into a confrontation on Sheridan Boulevard while trying to change lanes to allow an emergency vehicle to pass.

After the confrontation, Webster followed the family to the parking lot, where he began firing, witnesses said during a 2018 preliminary hearing.

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PERRY, Ga.  Brian Kemp often tells supporters to keep choppin wood, the way the self-described country guy urges a steady, deliberate approach. Yet the Georgia governor also says hell be running scared as he seeks a second term. Because precious little about Georgia politics is calm heading into 2022.

A swath of Republicans right flank joins Donald Trump in blaming Kemp for not doing more to reverse the former presidents loss last year. Some moderate Republicans, meanwhile, have cooled to a party under Trumps control. And Democrats have proven they can capitalize: They won both of Georgias U.S. Senate seats in January runoffs two months after President Joe Biden won the states 16 electoral votes.

Now, the 57-year-old Kemp has to refashion the GOP coalition that helped him climb the states political ladder.

We need everyone engaged, because we know the Democrats are united, Kemp told a crowd of more than 300 supporters Saturday at his campaign kickoff in Perry, Georgia, south of Macon.

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The governors inner circle planned for as much since Kemp defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams by 55,000 votes  or 1.4 percentage points  out of more than 3.9 million ballots. In that contest, Kemp widened typical GOP margins beyond Georgias metro areas. But his advisers recognized that four more years of a rapidly urbanizing, diversifying electorate could eliminate his narrow statewide advantage if Abrams, as expected, seeks a rematch.

What Kemp and his team didnt bargain for was Trump losing Georgia in 2020 and promising retribution against the governor and other state officials. Kemp has since been censured by multiple local GOP committees and booed by a minority of state Republican convention delegates who roared for long-shot primary challenger Vernon Jones. Even Saturday, one attendee in a crowd stacked for Kemp shouted We need an audit, echoing Jones calls to keep rehashing 2020.

A former Democratic state lawmaker, Jones thus far has proven no threat to Kemp in a primary. But that doesnt mean he couldnt damage the governor with the already roiled right flank, while reminding suburban moderates why theyve drifted from Republicans in the Trump era.

It used to be you never challenged the incumbent governor within your party, said Eric Tanenblatt, a former chief of staff to two-term Gov. Sonny Perdue and a top national fundraiser for Republicans. That just makes you weaker as a party going into the general election.

Republicans need only look back to the January Senate runoffs for proof. With Trump making false claims of voter fraud, disputed by courts, election officials and his own attorney general, turnout sagged in GOP strongholds and Democrats exploited the melee in suburbs to send Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to the Senate.

Kemps plan so far echoes how he won three previous statewide contests including 2018: play to conservatives in rural and small-town Georgia, while appealing to enough moderates concentrated around Atlanta. His argument that pivots from Trumpian drama to continuing 20 years of GOP control.

Our states been on a tremendous path here for decades now, Kemp told The Associated Press in an interview before Saturday. And its because weve had good leadership, not only in the governors office, but also in the General Assembly.

State House Minority Whip David Wilkerson, a Democrat from suburban Atlanta, gave Kemp begrudging credit for the approach: I think hes an incrementalist. But Wilkerson said Kemp is getting credit for the money Democrats have pumped into the economy, saying he thinks people want fundamental change.

For the GOP base, Kemps strategy means hammering Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat and Biden ally, amid a crime increase, publicizing a letter to the state school board urging members to ban critical race theory from Georgia classrooms and saying Democrats want open borders.

To the middle, Kemp promotes a teacher pay raise, investments in rural broadband and a GOP version of Medicaid expansion. To all, he touts his measured reopening after the initial shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic and one of the lowest state unemployment rates nationally.

On the most contentious issue  voting laws in the wake of 2020  Kemp walks his highest tightrope. In a nod to Trumps hardcore supporters, Kemp signed an overhaul by the Republican-led General Assembly that he insists will restore confidence in Georgia elections. The law mixes tighter restrictions on absentee voting and after-hours drop boxes, which Trump labeled as ripe for fraud, while expanding some in-person early voting opportunities. It also gives the state more power to usurp local authority over elections, a move Democrats and some civil rights advocates see as targeting strongly Democratic urban counties.

Yet Kemp avoids repeating Trumps assertion that November results were fraudulent and notes Abrams and her supporters questioned his election two years earlier. Kemp insists its simply not true that the new law was all done in reaction to the Big Lie that Biden stole the election. He emphasized in an interview that more draconian proposals, such as scrapping no-excuse absentee voting altogether, went too far and thus never reached his desk.

Liberal advocates have filed multiple federal suits challenging the law anyway, arguing it disproportionately affects minority voters, who lean Democratic.

Meanwhile, the governors campaign trumpets that hes raised $12 million so far  an impressive early sum meant to quell talk that he cant compete with Abrams national fundraising prowess if she reprises her effort to become the nations first-ever Black woman governor.

The question, though, is whether Kemp can effectively present himself as an unapologetic but still mainstream conservative in a political climate where Trump casts the longest shadow.

Matt Donaldson, mayor of Twin City and a longtime Kemp supporter, predicted conservatives would look at the facts over a lot of the rhetoric thats out there. But he tacitly acknowledged Trumps influence: I would tell President Trump that I appreciate his service to our country, but I would hope that he would continue to support conservative candidates for office.

Reflecting Georgias new tossup status, Democrats are perhaps more bullish on Kemps ability to withstand the dynamics than some Republicans.

Rep. Debbie Buckner, the last rural white Democrat in the General Assembly, said Kemp made an impression just by coming in 2019 to tour tornado damage in Talbotton, east of Columbus. That was very meaningful to residents, she said.

Democrats also vowed to hammer Kemp over his handling of COVID-19, including an attempt to block local mask mandates, but arent sure anymore of the issues power as the pandemic fades. And Kemp can point to a strong economy and flush state coffers, even if buoyed by federal pandemic aid Republicans didnt support.

I dont count the governor out, said Wilkerson, the Democratic floor leader, even if hes going to have to run with Trump whether he likes it or not.

Democrats and Republicans also largely agree that Kemp has a potentially unifying variable awaiting: Abrams.

I really feel like a lot of the race will be based on race, said Buckner, explaining that most white voters in her district arent willing to vote for a Black woman for governor.

For his part, Kemp said reminding people of my record, which I didnt have in 2018 will corral support. And even if Georgia Republicans run the gamut from archconservative Rep. Majorite Taylor Green to metro Atlanta residents who voted for Biden, Kemp disputed the idea the GOP is too factionalized for him to win a second term.

It depends on where you are. Some people may say that Marjorie Taylor Greenes a problem for the party, Kemp said. But, you know, if youre up in her district, she seems to be pretty well liked. I respect the voters. Im going to campaign on who I am, running statewide.

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Barrow reported from Atlanta.
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WASHINGTON  The Biden administration on Sunday upheld a Trump-era rejection of nearly all of Chinas significant maritime claims in the South China Sea. The administration also warned China that any attack on the Philippines in the flashpoint region would draw a U.S. response under a mutual defense treaty.

The stern message from Secretary of State Antony Blinken came in a statement released ahead of this weeks fifth anniversary of an international tribunals ruling in favor of the Philippines, against Chinas maritime claims around the Spratly Islands and neighboring reefs and shoals. China rejects the ruling.

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the ruling last year, the Trump administration came out in favor of the ruling but also said it regarded as illegitimate virtually all Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea outside Chinas internationally recognized waters. Sundays statement reaffirms that position, which had been laid out by Trumps secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea, Blinken said, using language similar to Pompeos. He accused China of continuing to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway.

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The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea, he said, referring to Pompeos original statement. We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments.

Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty obligates both countries to come to each others aid in case of an attack.

Prior to Pompeos statement, U.S. policy had been to insist that maritime disputes between China and its smaller neighbors be resolved peacefully through U.N.-backed arbitration. The shift did not apply to disputes over land features that are above sea level, which are considered to be territorial in nature.

Although the U.S. continues to remain neutral in territorial disputes, it has effectively sided with the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, all of which oppose Chinese assertions of sovereignty over maritime areas surrounding contested South China Sea islands, reefs and shoals.

China reacted angrily to the Trump administrations announcement and is likely to be similarly peeved by the Biden administrations decision to retain and reinforce it.

We call on (China) to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small, Blinken said in the statement,

China has rejected the tribunals decision, which it has dismissed as a sham, and has refused to participate in arbitration proceedings. It has continued to defy the decision with aggressive actions that have brought it into territorial spats with Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia in recent years.

As last years statement did, Sundays announcement came amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over numerous issues, including the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, Chinese policy in Hong Kong and Tibet and trade, that have sent relations plummeting.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea and routinely objects to any action by the U.S. military in the region. Five other governments claim all or part of the sea, through which approximately $5 trillion in goods are shipped every year.

China has sought to shore up its claims to the sea by building military bases on coral atolls, leading the U.S. to sail its warships through the region on what it calls freedom of operation missions. The United States has no claims itself to the waters but has deployed warships and aircraft for decades to patrol and promote freedom of navigation and overflight in the busy waterway.
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LONDON  All remaining lockdown restrictions in England will be lifted in a week despite a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed Monday. He said it was the right moment to proceed as schools close for summer vacation but urged people to proceed with caution.

Johnson said although risks of the pandemic remain, legal restrictions will be replaced by a recommendation that people wear masks in crowded places and on public transport. Nightclubs and other venues with crowds should use vaccine passports for entry as a matter of social responsibility, he added.

This pandemic is not over. This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family. We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday July 19 to life as it was before COVID, Johnson said.

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The final stage of easing Englands lockdown means that all restrictions on social gatherings will be removed and social distancing measures will be scrapped. Nightclubs can reopen for the first time since March last year, and there will no longer be limits on people attending concerts, theaters, weddings or sports events.

Earlier, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it was the right time to allow Britons a chance to return to normal life. The governments decision balances the harms brought by COVID-19 and damage done by continued restrictions, he said.

Javid told Parliament that Britains successful vaccine rollout means that nine out of 10 adults in the U.K. now have antibodies against the virus. The government is on track to meet its target of offering all adults a first vaccine dose by July 19, the day when all remaining lockdown restrictions, including mandatory mask-wearing, are to be lifted.

As of Monday, 87% of the U.K.s adult population have had their first dose, and 66% have had both doses. At the same time infections have soared in recent weeks, running at over 30,000 new cases daily, driven by the delta variant.

Javid said while new infections could reach 100,000 a day later in the summer, two doses of the vaccine offer effective protection against serious illness from the virus and officials believe the surge in cases will not put unsustainable pressure on hospitals.

Waiting any longer to lift restrictions will risk having the virus spread peak in the autumn and winter, when children return to school and hospitals are most likely to be overwhelmed by seasonal infections, Javid and Johnson said.

There will never be a perfect time to take this step, because we simply cannot eradicate this virus  whether we like it or not, coronavirus is not going away, Javid said.

Many of the infections have occurred among younger people who have yet to receive a first dose of vaccine. The government has no plans yet to offer vaccines to children under 18.

The British government believes that the vaccine rollout has mostly severed the link between infections and those needing hospitalization. The numbers of people requiring hospitalization or dying from COVID-19 have stayed low and broadly stable, though they have been edging up in recent days.

Still, concerns over the rapid increase in cases has piled pressure on the government to take a more cautious approach over lifting restrictions.

Jonathan Ashworth, the health spokesperson for the opposition Labour Party, said Javids plan was akin to pushing his foot down on the accelerator while throwing the seat belts off. And Stephen Griffin, associate professor at Leeds Universitys school of medicine, called the move an irresponsible gamble.

I am dumbfounded by the notion that public health can be left to individual choice when, in the case of infectious disease it is, in fact, the epitome of collective responsibility, Griffin said. Government messaging on restrictions currently amounts to an outright oxymoron by urging caution whilst simultaneously allowing all guidance to be lifted.

Peter Openshaw, a member of a group that advises the government on new and emerging respiratory viruses, said it was vital to keep some protective measures in place, such as wearing masks.

I really dont see why people are reluctant to wear face coverings, it is quite clear that they do greatly reduce transmission, he told BBC radio. Vaccines are fantastic but you have to give them time to work.

The British government, which enforced one of the longest lockdowns in the world, has lifted restrictions for England in a series of steps that began with reopening schools in March. The fourth and final stage was delayed last month to provide time for more people to be vaccinated amid the rapid spread of the delta variant.

Other parts of the U.K.  Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  are following their own, broadly similar, road maps out of lockdown.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at:

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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FLORENCE, Ariz.  A judge has denied a request to suppress evidence in a 2016 case involving the killings of an Apache Junction couple.

Pinal County Sheriffs deputies arrested three men in the case.

The Casa Grande Dispatch reports that Judge Robert Carter Olson has denied two motions to suppress evidence gathered from an Apache Junction police interview with one of the defendants and the seizure of the same defendants vehicle.

A lawyer for the 42-year-old suspect had argued his client was arrested without a warrant and without probable cause and was not read his Miranda rights. The lawyer also said authorities seized and towed the mans car without getting a search warrant.

Keith Long and Renae Gardner were fatally shot while sleeping in their mobile home in Apache Junction.

Longs body was found in a canal in San Tan Valley, while Gardners body was found later along State Route 87 between Phoenix and Payson.

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Arguing before the state Supreme Court, attorneys clashed Monday over whether New Mexico's prison system offers a meaningful appeals process for inmates who allege the state isn't protecting them from COVID-19.

A lawsuit filed by inmates, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and the state Criminal Defense Lawyers Association alleges the state failed to take adequate steps to limit infections in prison, triggering a public health catastrophe and violation of prisoners' right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

They are seeking a reduction in the prison population and appointment of a special master to oversee which inmates can be released. But much of the hearing focused on whether the inmates must first exhaust their options in the prison system's administrative hearing process before asking the court for help.

Christopher Casolaro, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told the justices that New Mexico offers a futile grievance process for inmates  inadequate to protect their rights  and that court intervention is appropriate.

It was impossible, he said, for the named plaintiffs to get the relief they sought through the grievance process.

Casolaro and other attorneys for the inmates say the state hasn't enforced mandates for social distancing and mask-wearing in prison.

But attorneys for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the state Corrections Department disputed the claims. They said the state is offering vaccines to inmates and guards, among other steps to limit infections.

The corrections system, state attorneys said, also offers an emergency administrative process that provides for quick decisions on conditions in prison  the proper venue for inmates concerned about health procedures.

In order for inmates to challenge the adequacy of an emergency grievance procedure, they need to at least attempt to invoke that process, Assistant Attorney General Neil Bell said.

The justices skeptically questioned attorneys on both sides during the hourlong hearing before taking the case under advisement, rather than issuing an immediate ruling.

The issue is before the Supreme Court after the plaintiffs appealed a lower-court decision. In October, District Judge Matthew Wilson dismissed the case, contending the inmates hadn't exhausted their administrative remedies before heading to court.

In a separate case, the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit last year that sought the release of some inmates as part of a strategy to limit the spread of COVID-19. The justices ruled in May 2020 that the state hadn't been deliberately indifferent to the health and safety of inmates.

Altogether, the state has reported 2,992 coronavirus cases during the pandemic among inmates held by the Corrections Department.

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The UFC champion has lost in his rematch with Dustin Poirier after he injured one of his legs and had to be taken away from the ring for further medical help.

Jul 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Ultimate Fighting Champion Conor McGregor's return to the Octagon was short-lived on Saturday night (10Jul21) - he broke his leg at the end of the first round of his rematch with Dustin Poirier.

The Irishman was stretchered away from the action after suffering the sickening injury and Poirier was declared the winner.

"This is not over!" McGregor shouted in the cage before being taken to the hospital.

Poirier also said the two "are gonna fight again, whether it's in the Octagon or on the sidewalk."

Meanwhile, UFC president Dana White predicted a fourth showdown, telling reporters, "The fight didn't get finished. You can't have a fight finish that way. We'll see how this whole thing plays out. Who knows how long Conor is out? When Conor is healed and ready to go, we'll do the rematch, I guess. Poirier will do his thing until Conor is ready."

The crowd at the big fight included stars like former U.S. leader Donald Trump and Justin Bieber and couples Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly and Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker.

On Instagram, McGregor posted a picture of him on a stretcher as he's taken away from the ring. "You need people like me," he wrote in the caption.

His injury came only two months after he welcomed his third child with with fiancee Dee Devlin.

"The McGregor Clan is now a family of 5...," the proud dad introduced his newborn to his online devotees. "Healthy baby boy delivered! Baby and Mammy Wonder Woman are doing great! God I thank you for everything you give to me and my family in this world. My new born son, Rian McGregor (sic)."
WENN/Avalon/Regina Wagner Celebrity

The Virgin Records founder is joined by three other passengers and two pilots when he successfully completes the first Unity22 space mission to carry civilians.

Jul 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Sir Richard Branson launched into space on his Virgin Galactic passenger rocket plane on Sunday, July 11, beating fellow billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

The Virgin Records founder, three other passengers and two pilots successfully completed the first Unity22 space mission to carry civilians.

Before climbing aboard, Branson signed the astronaut logbook and joked, "The name's Branson. Sir Richard Branson. Astronaut 001. Licensed to thrill."

"It was the complete experience of a lifetime," said the happy entrepreneur during the 15-minute flight. "Now looking down at the spaceport, congratulations to everybody."

The flight lifted off just after 8.30 A.M. local time from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

The VSS Eve plane, named after Branson's mum, hit an altitude of more than 50 miles about an hour after take-off, and the crew was then able to remove their straps and experience a few minutes of weightlessness, according to the New York Post.

Branson and crew returned to earth at 9.40 A.M. The British billionaire originally planned his space jaunt for later his summer, but bumped up his plans after Amazon head Jeff Bezos announced he would be taking his own rocket into space on July 20.

"Great to start the morning with a friend. Feeling good, feeling excited, feeling ready," Branson tweeted three hours before take-off, alongside a photo of himself with SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who is planning his own space flight.

After Branson's successful launch into space, Bezos turned to Instagram to congratulate his rival. "@richardbranson and crew, congratulations on the flight," the 57-year-old business magnate wrote in his post. "Can't wait to join the club!"

The Virgin boss was joined by fellow astronauts Sirisha Bandla, Colin Bennett, and Beth Moses onboard Unity22 for the history-making space flight.
Sony Pictures Classics Celebrity

The 'Batman Returns' actress, who curbed her habit of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day in 1992, is required to pick up cigarettes again for her role as a widowed New York socialite in the film.

Jul 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Michelle Pfeiffer was thrilled to be able to smoke again for her film "French Exit" after quitting her smoking habit years ago.

The "Batman Returns" actress used to go through two packs of cigarettes a day before kicking the habit in 1992, but she was required to smoke onscreen for her role as a widowed New York socialite.

"I quit smoking years ago, yet it's always such a joy to pick up again. I have always liked it, but the cigarettes I [now] use do not contain nicotine or tar, and are not addictive!" she told Italian publication IO Donna.

The Oscar-nominated actress previously told Ladies Home Journal magazine, "I haven't always been healthy. When I was in my 20s I smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. I lived on Marlboro Lights and Coca-Cola."

Back in February, Pfeiffer opened up about her decision to get back into acting after a five-year break from Hollywood. "I realized my daughter was looking at colleges, and I saw the writing on the wall," she explained to Town & Country magazine. "I thought, 'This is going to hit me really hard. It's time for me to get back into moviemaking.'"

"Your seat is never saved in this industry. It's very competitive. There's that transition time when you're not the ingenue and you're not really old enough to be the grandmother," she elaborated. "I'm at an age when the parts are getting more interesting again for me. I guess the timing of it really worked out, because I don't feel I missed out on much."
WENN/MGM/Patricia Schlein Movie

While casting director Joseph Middleton admits that he loved the 'WandaVision' star for the Emmett part, the actor is said to have missed out because he is not 'a real American.'

Jul 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Paul Bettany almost played Emmett in movie classic "Legally Blonde", but missed out because he's not "a real American."

The romantic-comedy franchise's casting director Joseph Middleton has revealed Luke Wilson ended up landing the role of Reese Witherspoon's alter ego Elle Woods' love interest over the London-born "WandaVision" star.

Joseph told the New York Times, "I loved Paul Bettany for the Luke role." Co-writer Karen McCullah added how they dubbed Emmett "the Luke Wilson character."

She continued, "They saw some other actors, and finally Joseph was like, 'Maybe we should get Luke to play the Luke Wilson character'. I was like, 'You think?' "

Meanwhile, it was also revealed there could have been a queer romance between Elle and Selma Blair's character, Vivian Kensington.

Jessica Cauffiel, who played Margot in the film, told the newspaper's 20th-anniversary special, "The first ending was Elle and Vivian in Hawaii in beach chairs, drinking margaritas and holding hands. The insinuation was either they were best friends or they had gotten together romantically."

The pair were originally sworn enemies in the 2001 classic after Vivian started dating Warner (Matthew Davis) - Elle's ex, who told her she wasn't intelligent enough to study law at Harvard.

Luke himself has previously stated that he would love to reprise his role as Emmett in the third movie. "Of course [I'd do it]. As for the 'Legally Blonde' that we're hearing about now - I don't know anything than the usual man on the street," he told Us Weekly. "And that's really the truth. I've heard they're writing it and trying to put it together, but they're keeping it pretty firmly under wraps."
Celebrity

Announcing the sad news of his passing, his former bandmate Mark Hall writes on Instagram that the 49-year-old musician 'went to be with Jesus' after being hospitalized since late June.

Jul 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Former Casting Crowns drummer Andy Williams has passed away after getting into a motorcycle accident. His former bandmate Mark Hall confirmed the sad news on Instagram, saying that the 49-year-old fought a great fight, but eventually succumbed to his injuries after being hospitalized since late last month.

"Early this morning, around 1:00am, Andy Williams went to be with Jesus," Mark posted on Friday, July 9 along with several pictures of Andy. "He fought a great fight, but the injuries that he suffered took a toll on his physical body. You prayed along with us that Andy would be healed. You prayed along with us that Andy would wake up. You prayed along with us that God would perform a miracle."

The grieving friend continued, "While we mourn that Andy isn't here with us, and that we didn't get to witness the miracle we longed for here on earth, all of our prayers were answered. He is healed, he is awake and we believe that he is more alive today than he has ever been. We hold fast to Paul's words that we look not to the things that are seen, but to those things that are unseen, for they are eternal. We celebrate that Andy is in the arms of his Savior and we are grateful for the memories and laughter that Andy brought to all who knew him."

He went on thanking those who have sent their prayers for Andy, "We can't thank you enough for your prayers, support, and unending love. You have walked with us through this very difficult journey and we felt you there the entire way."

"We love you so much and we thank you for the support. At this time the family has requested that you respect their time together and allow them to receive some much needed rest. Please hold off on reaching out with texts and phone calls for a few days," Mark concluded the post, which was signed by Andy's beloved ones and reposted on the band's official Instagram page.

Mark paid tribute to Andy in a separate post featuring a video of the late drummer while performing onstage. He wrote along with it, "We love you Andy. We miss you already."

Andy was struck by a vehicle while on his way to church on June 27. He was "resuscitated at the scene" and rushed to Vanderbilt Emergency Department in Nashville, Tennessee. "Our friend & former drummer, Andy Williams, was in a motorcycle accident this morning and really need your prayers!" the Casting Crowns shared the news on Facebook at the time.

As he remained hospitalized, Andy had his leg amputated above the knee earlier this month and incurred extensive injuries to his brain and body. "Andy had a surgical procedure this morning to find the culprit of his continued fevers," read an update from the Grace Chapel Church. "The procedure was a success and doctors removed bacteria from his lungs."

Andy is survived by his wife and children. He joined the contemporary Christian rock band Casting Crowns in 2001 before leaving the group in 2009.
WENN/Instar Celebrity

The compilation video tries to contradict the former president's claims that the protesters were peaceful people, as the footage shows them beating police officers.

Jul 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Donald Trump may avoid the formal repercussion of his role in the January 6 Capitol attack, but he can't never escape public's judgement on it. Six months after the deadly protest at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., a campaign for his arrest is gaining steam after the release of a video which highlights his involvement in inciting the attack.

The compilation clip, which was released by MeidasTouch.com on Sunday, July 11, tries to contradict the former president's claims that the protesters were peaceful people, as the footage shows them beating police officers. It includes footage of his interview with Fox News' anchor Maria Bartiromo.

"I know that you have had some time to reflect on what took place on that day, January 6th," Bartiromo said early in the video, followed by Trump's voice over footage of the riot. "It was a very mild-mannered speech," he said of his speech at a rally that preceded the attack. "We're gonna walk down to the Capitol. Because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength."

During the interview, the former president claimed that there was "spirit and faith and love" at the rally, adding, "There was such love at that rally." Meanwhile, the footage shows rioters beating up police officers with one of them shouting, "You're gonna die tonight."

"And they were peaceful people. These were great people," Trump described the rioters in another part of the interview. He went on bragging, "And I mentioned the word love. The love in the air-I've never seen anything like it," while some protesters shouted, "Hang Mike Pence!" repeatedly.

The video ends with a screen declaring, "Donald Trump is a domestic terrorist," followed by the hashtag that has since been retweeted by other users, "#ArrestTrumpNow." In a separate tweet, MeidasTouch.com argued, "It makes NO sense to arrest the January 6th attackers and not arrest the terrorist ringleader."

Agreeing with the site, one user commented on the video, "563 arrests, but this guy is still free. #ArrestTrumpNow." Another wrote, "I'm sick and tired of this stupid traitor MF. This is getting f**king ridiculous. #ArrestTrumpNow @TheJusticeDept." A third one couldn't wait for it any longer, tweeting, "WTF are they waiting for? #ArrestTrumpNow."

Someone else explained, "There is one person responsible for the deaths of 5 people on January 6th. Donald J. Trump incited a violent mob to storm the capitol in an attempt to overthrow democracy and prevent the peaceful transfer of power."
Facebook/Instagram Celebrity

The 'Respect My Cryppin' rhymer also alleges that his rival 'reported all [his posts] for bullying and deleted his skit' just two days after they traded shots on social media.

Jul 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Blueface has yet to end his beef with 6ix9ine. Just a few days after trading shots with the "GOOBA" spitter on social media, the "Respect My Cryppin" rhymer accused his rival of "playing victim" for getting his Instagram account suspended.

The 24-year-old hip-hop star lashed out against the New York native via Twitter on Sunday, July 11. "Pay close attention," he declared. "He reported all my post for bullying and deleted his skit. Playing victim like he did in court. My IG be back up shortly."

Not stopping there, Blueface continued to throw a jab at 6ix9ine in a follow-up tweet. "Mans came for me got his feelings hurt so he did what rats do an snitched," he penned in the second post.

Blueface, real name Johnathan Jamall Michael Porter, has been attacking 6ix9ine since two days ago after the latter mocked his new head tattoo dedicated to his jeweler. After seeing the former's new body art on Instagram, the 25-year-old commented, "He definitely owed them money for unpayed jewelry."

Blueface was quick to fire back at 6ix9ine by sharing a video of the latter's alleged homeless father. Alongside the footage, he wrote, "Stop talkin like you getting money bro you clearly don't got it." Blueface also put out a clip of 6ix9ine's baby mama Sara Molina in which she accused him of not providing for their daughter.

The "Outside" spitter went on to unveil photos of Sara with her injured mouth and captioned it, "beat a female up but won't even mention a fight with me clown s**t." He further uploaded a video of the "TROLLZ" MC where he admitted to abusing Sara.

It remains unclear whether 6ix9ine, who was recently hit with a defamation lawsuit by Japanese tattoo artist Takashi Matsuba, indeed reported Blueface's Instagram page. He, however, previously made it clear that he's "done responding" to Bluface and preferred to stop feuding on social media.
WENN Celebrity

The 'Sixth Sense' actress opens up on her unpleasant encounters with the disgraced Hollywood movie mogul, saying the producer made unwanted advances towards her.

Jul 13, 2021

AceShowbiz - Olivia Williams has claimed Harvey Weinstein tried to persuade her to swap oral sex "for an Oscar."

"The Sixth Sense" actress insisted she was never assaulted by the disgraced movie mogul, which she thinks was because she is "built like a rower," but alleges he did use his power to make unwanted advances towards her.

"Harvey tried to persuade me to swap a b**w job for an Oscar," she told You magazine. "But he didn't assault me. Maybe it was because in my heels I was as tall as him and built, as one boyfriend put it, like a rower. Maybe broad-shouldered brunettes with legal parents aren't his thing."

Not only did Olivia quickly find out he'd propositioned other actresses in the same way, he even used it on her again when their paths crossed at a later date.

"It was quickly clear he had attempted the very same verbatim proposition with every single actress I told," she added. "When he tried the same line for the second time a couple of years later he clearly had no recollection of the first."

But the 52-year-old star insisted she "wasn't aware" that Weinstein had sexually assaulted other women until a 2017 expose in the New York Times newspaper came out.

"My coping mechanism is to turn the most traumatic experiences of my life into anecdotes, so I reported it in comedy form to anyone who would listen," she said. "I didn't know and wasn't aware of those who suffered sexual assault or rape until the New York Times article (exposing him) came out."

Olivia - who has daughters Roxana, 17, and Esme, 14, with husband Rhashan Stone - never felt she had "suffered" at the hands of Weinstein.

Asked how she felt when he was jailed for 23 years for rape and sexual assault, she said, "I felt tremendous relief for the people who suffered at his hands. I cannot say that I suffered."
WENN Celebrity

Congratulations are in order for the former 'Glee' actor and wife Renee as the couple have just welcomed their second child, a bouncing baby girl, to their growing family.

Jul 13, 2021

AceShowbiz - Former "Glee" star Matthew Morrison has become a father of two.

The actor and his wife, Renee, welcomed a daughter named Phoenix Monroe Morrison on 28 June (21)

In a statement issued to People.com, the proud parents wrote, "We Rise! Our family is now complete. Welcome, Phoenix Monroe!"

Phoenix is a little sister for the couple's three-year-old son Revel James Makai, but the Morrisons' journey to parenthood the second time around hasn't been easy.

Last year (20), the actor revealed the pair had "had a few miscarriages along the way," adding, "It's not fun stuff. But it has really opened us up to having the conversation and talking about things that are taboo or a little difficult to express. So I think it has really bonded us together a lot more."

The couple wed in 2014.

They conceived their first child during a trip to Hawaii. Renee told her online followers on Instagram, "We conceived this little nugget in Hawai'i, and I couldn't wait to spend a bit of my pregnancy back in the islands that fuel me like no other place on earth."

Two weeks ago before their second child was born, she posted her burgeoning baby bump along with a message to her unborn baby, "I wait patiently, knowing YOU have a plan. Trusting YOU are on your path. I surrender little one. To you. To the divine truth. I am ready when you are."
ANDERSON, Calif.  Anderson Police Department said they arrested 37-year-old Rachael Elaine Kindler of Springfield, Oregon and 29-year-old Darius Ramon Moore of Pomona after they were provided false information about their identities during a traffic stop. One of the two was a wanted felon.

It was close to 3 a.m. on Saturday when police searched the car during the traffic stop and located one unregistered 40 caliber Glock, two loaded magazines, and empty large-capacity magazine, which is illegal in California, cocaine and other drug paraphernalia.

Moore, who was the driver, said he was his cousin, who police said was on active CDC parole. This made it possible for officers to conduct a parole search.

When the Anderson Police Department investigated the situation they discovered that Darius Ramon Moore had two active felony arrest warrants for robbery out of San Bernardino County in California, and Washington County in Oregon.

Moore was then booked on his warrants and for unlawfully possessing narcotics while armed with a loaded operable firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a felon, possession of cocaine, and false impersonation.

Kindler was booked on unlawfully possessing narcotics while armed with a loaded operable firearm, possession of a firearm by an addict, possession of ammunition by an addict and possession of cocaine charges.
Good morning, North State. Here's what you need to know to start your day on July 12.

California ISO issues Flex Alert for Monday

Extreme heat brings another flex alert for Monday. California's power grid operator said the extreme heat is increasing strain on energy resources. To avoid rolling blackouts you're asked to conserve energy from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher and avoid using major appliances and turn off all unnecessary lights.

BECKWOURTH COMPLEX: Evacuation orders expanded in Lassen Co. to include Milford and Doyle

Standing at over 89,000 acres, the Beckwourth Fire is the largest wildfire burning in California. Fire officials said it has destroyed about 20 homes. The Beckwourth Complex is made up of the Sugar Fire and the much smaller Dotta Fire. Fire crews brought the Sugar Fire containment to 23% on Monday morning.

Lava Fire is still burning on slopes of Mt. Shasta

The lightning-sparked Lava Fire burning near Mt. Shasta is expected to be fully under control by this afternoon. As of Monday morning, the fire is more than 25,000 acres and containment is at 75%. About 300 firefighters are still working to reinforce firelines and mop up.

Crews have reached 85% containment of Salt Fire

The Salt Fire near Lakehead has now burned 12,650 acres and is 85% contained with no growth in the past two days, all evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted. The fire destroyed 41 buildings, 27 of them homes. A local assistance center is in place at the Lakehead Lions Club on Mammoth Dr.

Recall organizer appears in court Monday morning for battery charge

The organizer of the Shasta County Supervisor Recall effort is heading to court. Carlos Zapata will be arraigned for charges of battery and disturbing the peace in a may confrontation with a local YouTuber. Zapata is the founding member of Red, White and Blueprint, which is a group supporting the recall of three Shasta County supervisors. Members of his group said the charges are politically motivated. Zapata is scheduled to appear after 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Redding courthouse.

Glenn County to distribute water to those in need

Glenn County will be distributing water this week and next week to those who need it. On Wednesday, the county said they'll be giving away bottled water from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The bottled water was donated by Amazon to Glenn County with the assistance of Assemblyman James Gallagher. There will also be on-site assistance for those that have a dry well.

Where to stay cool in the North State

The safe space indoor cooling center in Chico is expanding its hours. It's operating at the Faith Lutheran Church, at 667 East First Ave. and will now be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. You can bring your pets with you and snacks and water will be available. The center will remain open through July 17.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds is one among the worlds largest gold and diamond jewellery retailer with over 260 stores across 10 countries. For close to three decades, Malabar has offered the assurance of unmatched quality and fair pricing.

82.5 Communications, an agency known for its Indian pedigree and award-winning campaigns, was recently tasked with devising a campaign for Malabars fair pricing policy.

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The campaign conceived by 82.5 Communications, outlines the benefits of standardised pricing. The term Fair Price Promise is a clever take on the policy. Famous Bollywood star Anil Kapoor has been used to communicate the fact that the making charges are priced reasonably, be it a celebrity or a common man. The supporting line For Everyone. Every Day. Everywhere. underscores the fact that the promise holds true for all circumstances. The campaign consists of a TVC, along with extension in print, radio and the digital medium.

Since various jewellers charge exorbitant making charges, consumers feel that they do not get the right deal despite discounts, offers, extensive comparing and bargaining. We, at Malabar, believe that consumers should be saved from this conundrum. Thats why we have put in place our Fair Price Promise. It addresses this concern and assigns transparent and reasonable making charges on jewellery. So that everyone gets the best deal, every day and everywhere, said Mr M.P. Ahammed, Chairman - Malabar Group.

Naveen Raman, Sr Vice President & South Head, 82.5 Communications added In the jewellery industry there is a tendency to quote marked up making charges, which is not favourable for consumers. To remedy the situation, Malabar offers a fair pricing policy, which benefits customers as they do not have to bargain to bring down the making charges to an acceptable level.

Speaking of the campaign, Sangeetha Sampath and Ravi Cherussola (Group Creative Directors, 82.5 Communications Bangalore) say, It feels good to be associated with such an iconic brand. We feel the film is an elegant yet impactful expression of a very unique feature. It was a delight to work on the brand and especially this film.

CREDITS

Creative Head: Sumanto Chattopadhyay: Chairman & CCO, 82 Point Five Communications (India)

Business Head: Naveen Raman, Sr Vice President & Branch Head (South)

Creative Team: Sangeetha Sampath, Ravi Cherussola

Planning: Sai Karthik

Account Management: Gladys John, Harini Raj

Production: Dharma Productions

Director: Abhishek Varman
While the global pandemic has bought economies to a halt and massively disrupted businesses, it has also fuelled start-up dreams and we are seeing several Indian start-ups achieving Unicorn status during the pandemic period. The times have never been better for the budding entrepreneurs to give wings to their start-up dreams.

The Government, too, has come up with various schemes to support its Vocal for Local drive. A case in point is the Rs 1,000 crore Start-up India Seed Fund announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Start-up India International Summit 2021 held earlier this year.

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Adgully is turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series  START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the Vocal for Local movement and over the next few months will be featuring all local/ homegrown businesses, brands and Apps.

Sanya Goel is a fourth-generation entrepreneur hailing from a business family of repute. Humsafar is a consumer brand of Samridhi Highway Solutions Pvt Ltd, and was launched in 2016. The vision to launch Humsafar was to use recent tech solutions and facilitate last mile connectivity for fuel delivery to be efficient, convenient and secure. Today, they are providing doorstep diesel refuelling services for vehicles as well as heavy industrial equipment all over India.

Humsafar manufactures advanced technology driven fuel bowsers, which are leakage and pilferage proof, and are managed by using app-driven fuel delivery systems. Humsafar is on a mission to be among the leaders to digitise diesel retail landscape in India, and is fulfilling an unaddressed market need. Traditional distribution of fuel as observed by government agencies, results in significant wastage and pilferage during the process. They were already keen to find tech driven solutions for such challenges and Humsafar crafted an ideal app-based system which is unlike the fixed petrol stations and dynamically responds to market needs.

In conversation with Adgully, Sanya Goel, Founder & Director, Humsafar, speaks at length about being a start-up in an unconventional sector, the regulatory and logistical challenges faced, and much more.

What need gap did you want to fulfil with your start-up? What is the core business proposition?

Since my family is in the fuel business, I had closely observed how customers face multiple challenges in fuel procurement process, especially in storage, spillage, and transportation. The make-shift diesel carriers are not only expensive, but risk prone as well. Considering the evolution of technology in the fuel industry, I decided to create economical, eco-friendly and convenient solution for these challenges, and we have been successfully creating an alternate fuel procurement mechanism for our customers. So, here is the sense of purpose and couple with the tech capabilities for reaching diesel at the doorstep.

How did you identify your TG? Did you carry out any feasibility study prior to starting your business?

I had observed closely how buyers who need and consume diesel in large quantities, such as industrial equipment operators and mining firms, faced procurement challenges. Such firms send their own make-shift oil carriers with large and unsafe barrels to fetch fuel. These vehicles are not only accident prone, but costlier to operate. Further, there is a risk of pilferage and spillage. They were already using Door Delivery in many ways. The need was already established. It had to wait for the right kind of solution. We identified such businesses as our TG.

What were the challenges that you faced in your start-up journey and how did you overcome then?

As a start-up in an unconventional sector, we had to deal with a lot of regulatory and logistical challenges, but we are overcoming them steadily courtesy of approvals and policy changes in fuel retail as well as our own innovations in logistics. Another major challenge that we are trying to overcome is the parking of fuel delivery vehicles. Discussions are going on and we hope to overcome all these challenges and optimise direct fuel delivery system in India.

However, another perspective to challenges was to get started. And, not getting nervous discussing with experts and also to keep learning. Another, challenge is to optimise on costs and be frugal as sustenance is critical. Cash flows are a regular challenge. However, the biggest breakthrough really is to marry digital solutions, which would take its time to pay back, with diversifying into components, which have capability to generate immediate cash flow.

What were the clearances that you required for your venture from various authorities?

Foremost, we needed to be a start-up to participate in the space. Thereafter, Bowsers need to be PESO compliant, approved and licenced. So, bowser licence approval from PESO is required for every Humsafar Bowser supplied in the market.

Funds/ finance is the prime issue of almost all start-ups. What can the industry and the Government do to address this issue and ease the capital requirements of start-ups?

The entrepreneurial ecosystem in India has grown tremendously in the last 10 years, and as a technology driven start-up founder, I am well-versed with the funding challenges. The government needs to take initiatives that dont just focus on providing legal and statutory support, but also provide seed funding and early-stage finances for the start-ups. Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat are fantastic programs and with institutional funding for promising start-ups, we can make India reap the kind of benefits which the Indian IT industry has ushered in. Easy business loans and seed funding support from banks, increasing budget allocations for governmental schemes is crucial, especially now when a large number of bootstrapped companies are facing the COVID-19 challenge.

Prime Minister Modi announced a Start-up India Seed Fund earlier this year. How do you see start-ups benefiting from it?

The Start-up India Seed Fund is a step in the right direction. Most of the start-ups in India are bootstrapped and fail to survive beyond the first year of operations due to lack of funds for operations during the innovation and early growth stages, when revenues are absent or insignificant. With adequate budgetary allocations and easing of eligibility criteria will allow a larger number of start-ups to benefit from the Start-up India Seed Fund.

How is digital helping you further your business?

We have been leveraging technology to great effect, and it is our path-breaking solution of introducing app-driven geo-fenced fuel bowsers, which has enabled us to answer the most daunting questions faced by the Indian fuel delivery logistics sector. We are constantly innovating and focusing on greater integration of digital technologies in fuel retail sector.

What were your key learnings from 2020? How do you see the start-up ecosystem progressing in 2021?

Fuel supply is an essential service. Our functions were affected by the lockdown to the extent that manufacturing and commercial activities were at a standstill. However, we did make COVID-19 appropriate changes to our work processes to ensure safety for our personnel and customers. We did see demand of diesel supplies from agricultural and essential industries. Door step delivery of fuel has become a better accepted solution now and buyers are keen to rely on our services instead of resuming old and unsafe procurement practices. We spent a lot of time engaging OMCs and Government of India in discussions related to future beyond the pandemic.

Majority of Indian start-ups have exemplified resilience and innovation during these crisis times, and with the worst of the pandemic now hopefully behind us, 2021 surely seems to be primed for economic recovery. The second wave derailed progress for a few more months, but, the second half of the year especially the last quarter is set to witness strong revival of the start-up economy across industries.

What would be your message for the budding entrepreneurs?

The most important thing for any start-up founder or aspiring entrepreneur is to put in the required hard work. No matter what someone says, building a successful business requires working for long hours, making personal sacrifices and constantly striving to build capabilities, developing partnerships for growth. To become gold standard, one needs to go through the rigours.
Tupperware is an internationally renowned and loved homeware and kitchenware brand which has been present in India for over two decades. The brand entered India in 1996 and in less than a decade, it became a household name. With its best-in-class training and upskilling programmes, the brand created a network of over 1.5 million strong and confident direct seller women, who are till date driving the brand relentlessly to success. Tupperware takes pride in Making in India since its inception and has a world-class manufacturing plant in Dehradun. The brand has kept pace with the changing times and evolved its marketing and sales strategies to enter the retail and e-tail space in India recently.

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From a strong advocate of brick & mortar stores, the company sincerely believes that the retail model will always remain powerful and stay relevant, in spite of the proliferation of e-commerce business. Tupperware made a significant business announcement in August 2019, undertook a strategic transformation, and rolled out a multi-channel sales strategy to increase the addressable market and expand its footprint both geographically and digitally. This digital push was further strengthened after the pandemic hit in 2020. This is where Tupperware was met with operational challenges as face-to-face interactions were absolutely out of the question. It was then that the brand introduced measures like social selling to empower its direct sellers across the country. The brand has also invested in igniting global communities, especially women, to realise their best selves through opportunity, enrichment, celebration, and above all else, uplifting relationships.

In a freewheeling conversation with Adgully, Deepak Chhabra, Managing Director, Tupperware India, speaks about how their company overcame the various challenges and has navigated through the pandemic times. He also shares the overall ambitious plans of the company has and their growth strategy for the next 3 years.

Tupperware India was one of the first pioneers to enter direct selling in India almost two decades back. How has your journey been so far, and what are some of the challenges that the brand faced?

India is culturally connected, and Tupperwares direct selling model has retained strong interpersonal bonds over the last 25 years across regions in the country. Tupperwares brand awareness, love and loyalty levels among people are incredibly high. One reason for such admiration is the brands foundation based on genuine relationships nurtured by Tupperware distributors over the years.

As the market evolved in the past few years, consumers became more modern and pressed for time, resulting in a higher preference for convenience over personalisation. Hence, Tupperwares evolution became inevitable, and the brand changed its sales model to include more channels to its fold. Tupperware made a significant business announcement in August 2019, undertook a strategic transformation, and rolled out a multi-channel sales strategy to increase the addressable market and expand its footprint both geographically and digitally.

This digital push was further strengthened after the pandemic hit us in 2020 when Tupperware was met with operational challenges as face to face interactions were absolutely out of the question. It was then that the brand introduced measures like social selling to empower its direct sellers across the country. The brand has also invested in igniting global communities, especially women, to realise their best selves through opportunity, enrichment, celebration, and above all else, uplifting relationships.

The company, in the past 25 years, has reached various milestones:

Through its innovative and future-oriented approach, Tupperware has empowered more than 1.5 million women across India to date

Multi-channel approach - Traditionally a direct selling brand, Tupperware embraced a multi-channel sales approach in 2019 and adopted digital transformation post-COVID-19, including Social Selling. Itbecame the first direct selling brand to introduce Social Selling to its direct seller ecosystem. The brand has ventured into retail stores, webstore and marketplaces

HomeShops, Retail at Home is a new business model to empower women to support them during challenging times in the post-pandemic economy. We have created a new channel which is a hybrid of direct selling & stores, and Smart Sellers can retail from the comfort of their home

In terms of geographies, Tupperware today has 92 physical stores in 56 cities across the length and breadth of the country. Tupperware continues the winning streak by adding more stores with a target to reach over 35 million households in 2022

in across the length and breadth of the country. Tupperware continues the winning streak by adding more stores with a target to reach over 35 million households in 2022 Going beyond the kitchen - Tupperware has been able to see growth in its wide range of kitchenware solutions across prepping, cooking, serving and storage range

Direct selling continues to be the core business channel while the brand continues to expand across newer channels

The pandemic has disrupted almost every industry. How did it impact your company and business, and what was the approach adopted to navigate during these tough times?

With the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, businesses across industries took a hit, and Tupperware was no different. As people stayed home and managed household chores themselves, the demand for bulk storage witnessed a significant surge. People started buying more, and their appreciation for Tupperware rose as they experienced the brand first hand. This became a blessing in disguise for us.

When the second wave hit India in April this year, we were better prepared, and corporates across the country showed better agility. While there was a lockdown and physical stores were shut, face-to-face interactions were no longer an option once again. Tupperware maintained operational agility via its robust digital presence.

Even in 2020, unlike many businesses which reduced/ retracted retail presence, Tupperware launched new exclusive brand stores across cities in India. To accelerate business, a multi-channel marketing festival, TupperFest, was strategically launched in August 2020, which will see the second edition next month in August 2021 as the brand is confident of a continuous uptick in the consumption pattern since the newly debuted chef audience will shop more to experiment and upscale their newfound cooking talents in future as well. To manage the surge in orders and timely delivery of products, Tupperware also partnered with Swiggy Genie and Dunzo to home deliver products to the consumers from stores across 32 markets. Adopting various channels to stay closer to the consumer, we did the following:

Social selling: Tupperware India launched a Social Selling channel via a newly launched exclusive webstore. With the launch of social selling as a sales channel, we brought our direct sellers on a digital platform. We are giving them the tools to interact digitally on social media like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, video platforms, etc. Every direct seller (DS) gets an URL, which they can circulate among their peer group on social media. Once clicked, the URL takes buyers to the company's web store. This way, our sales force gets continuity of business without going out physically.

Launch of webstore: In line with the brands multi-channel sales approach, webstore enabled the listing of the entire range of Tupperware products, along with product utility and demonstration videos.

Multi-channel retailing: We have also adopted multi-channel retailing to offer our consumers ease of operations with seamless movement and transaction across platforms. The consumer can buy products from any store/ webstore and exchange/ return them store present at any location and more.

Endless Aisle: Tupperware has a massive product range, and stocking and showcasing the entire product portfolio under one roof is impossible. Therefore, we introduced digital kiosks, enabling consumers to browse, experience and order products at our stores virtually.

Your business partners are your biggest asset to promote your brand. How did you engage with them during the pandemic, and what modus operandi deployed to reach your products to your end customers?

Committed to providing employment opportunities even when India was faced with joblessness, Tupperware pivoted its on-ground strategy not just to meet customer demand through digital innovations but also to bolster the job market time. We added 20% of the total consultant strength in October 2020 alone when the situation was still quite grim. Tupperware also upskilled its 70,000 direct sellers with technology-enabled virtual solutions to encourage them to adopt social selling. All of this was adopted within a few days. The brand has also turned millions of Indian women into financially independent entrepreneurs and focuses on boosting entrepreneurship among women in India. Today, direct selling continues to be the major contributor and the core channel for the company, with 80% of revenues coming from it.

In addition to the new platforms mentioned above, Tupperware also introduced Home Shops or Retail at Home  it is a new business model to empower these women further to support them in these challenging times. We have created a new channel which is a hybrid of direct selling & store channel where they can retail from the comfort of their home.

And as the brand continues to bring in newer innovations, we hope to empower the youth further through various job opportunities going forward. While 2020 gave a fillip to direct selling, this trend is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years.

What is the kind of reach you have today, and how deep have you penetrated in the various markets in India?

We are present across the country today, both physically and virtually. While our Direct Sellers cover more than 200 cities and towns, we also have 92 stores across 56 cities in India. 40% of these stores are in Ttier-1 cities. Depending on the COVID-19 situation here, the brand plans to take the total count to 140 by the end of 2021. Additionally, through our online presence, we cater to more than 10,000 pin codes.

You are planning to enter some new categories like glass, steel, porcelain, and melamine. What would be your strategy here to urge people to buy your brand and what kind of differentiation you are offering?

Tupperware is a one-stop shop for kitchen solutions across cooking, serving, prepping and storing range. Tupperware launched products across the glass, steel, porcelain, and melamine in India by adopting a material agnostic approach. Tupperware has constantly been innovating and experimenting with its product offerings for the last 25 years in India and 75 years globally. The brand differentiates from competition at each step and focuses on products, customers, ecosystem, partners and stakeholders alike. Some of our differentiators are:

Customer centricity: Our products help to directly make our customers lives better organised and simpler every day

Magical products: With products and recipes that colour your kitchen and experiences that brighten your life, we infuse every day with a spark of joy.

Efficiency in the kitchen and outside: Tupperware products help customers in the kitchen by saving time, energy and effort and also organise their kitchens along with their lives better with solutions for better health and a better environment

Choose good every day with Tupperware: We bring a sense of doing the right thing to every day. We help you eat healthier, take better care of your loved ones, support your community and do right by the planet

Nurturing: We empathise and are eager to share our experience and thoughtful solutions. We face environmental challenges together, and we contribute ideas and solutions for each of us to change our behaviour for the good of our planet.

The digital transformation has pushed brands to move to e-commerce. Have you also seen the shift happening towards online buying for your products?

Considering the massive potential of e-commerce, Tupperware had introduced its webstore and e-tail presence across various portals. Today, consumers, especially millennials, opt for the most convenient shopping methods without having to step out. And e-commerce offers them that advantage with ease of shopping that consists of easy returns, refunds and exchange, which is a key advantage of the channel. And this helps Tupperware stay closer to the customer and bring newer ones to the fold.

What's going to be your strategy to grow in these times for the next 3 years? What kind of growth drivers you are looking at, and how do you plan to engage with your target?
Former Samsung marketing head Tathagat Jena has re-joined the ad world as branch manager of Rediffusion Delhi.

Tathagat Jena or TJ as he is widely known in marketing circles, has over two decades of experience on both the client side, and at the agency end. A former ad executive, having worked in agencies like Lowe Lintas, Ogilvy & Leo Burnett on several big clients like Maruti, Hutch, McDonald's & MakeMyTrip, Tathagat did a stint at international luxury retail brand Lladro, before moving on to Samsung India in 2008 where he led marketing, brand & product campaigns, media & e-commerce for the smartphone division for 9 long years. His last corporate stint was with Chinese smartphone major Transsion as CMO of Infinix mobiles.

Tathagat says I am happy to join an agency with a fantastic and unique legacy. At a time when clients are increasingly seeking marketing partnerships from their communication agencies, Rediffusion aims to offer the complete suite of digital first solutions & demonstrate capabilities beyond just communications. Along the way I hope to have some fun co-creating success stories that Rediffusion is famous for.

Welcoming Tathagat to Rediffusion, Navonil Chatterjee, Joint President of the agency said, In Tatha we have a good combo of a good agency man and a matured client hand, especially one who has worked in a highly competitive category like mobile handsets. He will now bring all those learnings to Rediffusion Delhi. For us Delhi was one of our most important geographies with Maruti, Airtel, Pepsi all being our clients born in that office. Tatha is tasked to bring back the effervescence to the Delhi office. We have signed up some very interesting and live-wire businesses in Delhi and we look forward to a big Rediffusion operation in Indias capital city in the days to come.

Interestingly, Dr. Sandeep Goyal, the new Managing Director of Rediffusion was Branch Manager of its Delhi office from 1994 to 1997, and it was from there that he helped launch the Airtel brand in 1995.

Last week Rediffusion announced that Vivek Bahl has also joined its Delhi office as its Digital Lead. Delhi is a big priority for us going forward, emphasised Chatterjee.
RepIndia continues its team expansion effort in 2021 with the appointment of Sanya Sitlani as Associate Account Director  Strategy. The former Strategic Planner at DDB Mudra, Ahmedabad will be responsible for providing strategic direction to build brand assets for clients across categories such as infrastructure & utilities, real estate, technology, home & living and building materials.

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Before stepping into advertising, Sanya built a successful career as an Investment Banker, having been associated with organizations such as Deutsche Bank and Moelis & Co. as an investment banking analyst. This gives her a keen eye for analytics, problem-solving and creativity which will be a big boost for RepIndias growing ambitions to transform brands with innovative campaigns and solutions. Sanya did her MBA in Strategic Marketing and Communication from MICA and is also a qualified Chartered Accountant.

On joining RepIndia, Sanya Sitlani said, "Creativity is an outcome of rigour and curiosity. With my cross-sector experience, I hope to bring in rigour in achieving brand goals through creative solutions. I am excited to join the Account Planning vertical at RepIndia and help clients stay ahead in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.

Archit Chenoy, CEO, RepIndia, commented, The search for the ideal candidate for this particular role wasnt easy. We have great hopes from the new Account Planning vertical, and it would only be a success if we have the right people  who are both a cultural fit and bring something new to the table  to lead it. Thankfully for us, Sanyas refreshing attitude, extraordinary skill set and multi-faceted experience is everything that we need and more. I have no doubt that its going to be a blast having her as a vital part of RepIndia, going forward. Welcome!
Amidst this rising OTT boom, Indias 1st global travel channel, Travelxp, has now joined the pack in launching its own OTT, Travelxp Watch. Travelxp is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store and is looking to add TV Apps by the end of this month. More than 250 original travel stories, of which 50% are shot in 4K HDR, will be available at launch in English, Hindi as well as in two regional Indian languages  Tamil and Bengali.

In a year where Travelxp celebrated its 10 year anniversary, the launch of Indias first Travel OTT Platform is a big shot in the arm for the digital ambitions of the company. Travelxp will be streaming more than 150+ hours of original travel content at launch and hopes to increase the library strength to 1000+ hours of content by the end of FY 2022.

Travelxp has always been known for breaking boundaries. We launched the worlds first 4K HDR Channel in 2016, and now the worlds first 4K HDR Travel OTT Platform, with Travelxp Watch. We are delighted to bring the power of 4K HDR to our Indian fanbase. The OTT Market in India has really warmed up over the last year, with many new and legacy players going the digital route. This has been a project in the works for nearly two years now, we wanted to get it right with regards to the entire customer experience, and we are extremely ecstatic with the initial response. In a period where travel is going to see a big resurgence, Travelxp is going to be at the heart of supporting the travel recovery with the power of content, remarked Mr. Prashant Chothani, the founder CEO of Travelxp 4K | HD.

The entire product, built by an inhouse team through the entire covid lockdown, has been a learning experience for Tanay Chothani, who joined Travelxp two years ago to lead all Digital Projects, a major part of which constituted the OTT Platform. Travel for us is synonymous with passion. The passion of the team in creating a platform that resemblesthe simplicity and joy of travel has seen us shoot up to the Top 50 Apps in India for the Travel Category in less than a week since launch, and we have more than 30,000+ Monthly Active Users already! We are receiving overwhelming feedback from our users about the quality of the shows and the platform. Digital is going to be a big space for Travelxp, and we are excited to bring new and exciting developments to our video watching experience for all Travelxp fans in India.

Travelxp has also piloted a unique market opportunity which it promises will be the new disruption in e-commerce. We have all heard about social commerce, Travelxp brings to its viewers the power of content-driven commerce. While we showcase the world in the beautiful 4K HDR quality we are known for, we are also going a step further and allowing our users to book and plan their travels, right from the same app. The content driven commerce model is going to be a big part of our strategy going forward, as the power of video is unparalleled in driving demand and also giving viewers more decision making power, remarked Tanay.

Travelxps big bet on the niche OTT space will definitely be an interesting trend to watch, as more consumers move away from traditional television and towards streaming in the postcovid OTT boom.
Twitter has appointed Vinay Prakash as its resident grievance officer for India, meeting the requirements of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

On Sunday, Twitter posted the name of the companys website and procedure to be followed by users who want to get in touch with him. The company has also disclosed a postal address in Bengaluru as mandated by the new rules.

GAMEXX Awards 2021 Early Bird Discount Extended Last Date - Wednesday, June 30, 2021 - ENTER NOW

Jeremy Kessel, the companys senior director of global legal policy, who is based in San Francisco is also listed as the grievance officer for India.

In a submission to Delhi High Court on Thursday, Twitter had committed to appoint a resident grievance officer, who will be a third party contractor, on or before 11 July.
The world turns its eye to Qyuki creator Indian Farmer with YouTube Originals Creator Spotlight series. The global video giants mini-documentary program captures and celebrates the stories of YouTube creators pushing boundaries. One such creator duo is Indian Farmer whose Internet journey reflects a triumph from the heartland of India. Hailing from the city of Vita in Maharashtras Sangli district, two friends Santosh Jadhav and Akash Jadhav set up Indian Farmer in 2018; their aim to empower farmers with knowledge about modern agricultural practices. Talking about their solution-based approach and vision, Akash says in the powerful episode, Community, technology, generation yeh teenon ka agar combination ho jaaye, toh bahut badi kranti aa sakti hai (if we combine these three, we can bring about a big revolution.)

GAMEXX Awards 2021 Early Bird Discount Extended Last Date - Wednesday, June 30, 2021 - ENTER NOW

On-ground agricultural experience, as well as the Internet, have played a major role in spreading Indian Farmers reach and success. The 10-minute episode provides an insightful look into how Santosh and Akashs Indian Farmer is creating a difference in Indias farming landscape. Today, farmers, from the length and breadth of the country, turn to the channel to find fixes for farming problems, as well as for education on how to upgrade their agricultural practice. "Paison ki zaroorat nahi hai. Ek jazbe ki, junoon ki, aur kuch kar dikhane ki zaroorat hai (One doesnt need money. One needs passion and the will to make a change,) says Santosh Jadhav in the video.

Say Indian Farmers Santosh Jadhav and Akash Jadhav,

We hail from a very agriculturally-rich land in Maharashtras Sangli district. We were privileged; weve access to technology and there are very good farmers in our area. But even our privilege couldnt help us reach our goals and overcome certain difficulties. So, we started Indian Farmer to share knowledge and resources with the larger farmer community of India; we try to solve the day-to-day problems and issues that are faced by farmers. We highlight every minor detail in our videos because we want to bridge the existing and developing gaps (of technology and education) for farmers. Were awed, humbled and excited for our YouTube Originals Creator Spotlight episode because, especially in these times, itll enable us to reach and connect with our audience

 the mighty farmers of India  on a deeper level. We also want to thank Qyuki for helping us in this initiative.

The YouTube Creator Spotlight episode traces Santosh and Akashs journey from meeting in school to starting Indian Farmer. While Santosh hails from a farming background, Akash is an engineer who was captivated by mobile technology. Together, they combined forces to solve the problems they saw their community struggling with. Now 1.63M subscribers strong, Indian Farmer addresses a wide-ranging set of issues, including drought, irrigation, fertilization, vermin, crop science, greenhouse set-up, business and marketing, and more. Both Santosh and Akash firmly believe that farming is not a yesteryears career calling. They think its imperative now, more than ever, that Indias youth choose this field and grow it.

The episode also delves into how Santosh Jadhav and Akash Jadhav scaled Indian Farmer, and how the YouTube channel is impacting how the agricultural community networks and connects in the modern age. The comment section below their videos is the biggest indicator of the dearth and need for the current generation of farmers to share their knowledge and grow the sector.

While Santosh and Akash are working towards upgrading their production scale and quality, theyre also developing content that will be valuable and relevant in the future  Indian Farmer might well release a specialized, long-form series in the years to come! Theyre also looking at building a farmers community thatll help each other through their knowledge, network and experiences. They hope this community will enable farmers to better interact with governmental bodies, as well as international and national trading organizations. The farmer has to now become the businessman, they say.
Reiterating Prime minister, Narendra Modis call for Atmanirbhar Bharat, 'vocal for local', 'local for global and 'make for world' Shaina NC, BJP, spokesperson and board member of Prasar Bharti has said that our national broadcasting platforms have excellent content and we must take pride in what we have.

Just like BBC and CNN internationally, as a public service broadcaster, there is a certain pride in our national platforms. We have excellent content. Now its only a matter of repackaging. Be proud of Doordarshan, be proud of Akashvani, be proud of All India Radio (AIR).

She was in a conversation with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now during the webcast of the Visionary Talk series held by the public policy and governance analysis platform.

Speaking on various measures being adopted to scale up national broadcasting platforms and expressing confidence with the new Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur coming in Shaina said we need to now move out of past mindsets that only television series of Ramayana and Mahabharat can be our TRP generating strategies.

At Prasar Bharti,she said they are working on plans to tap international platforms and cover international festivals as well as the broadcasting of scientific programs and programs like DD Kisan that highlight the plight of farmers as also how they can harness technology optimally. She spoke about a program called Netri -Mahila Sansad aur Kahaniyan said she is hosting on Doordarshan on challenges faced by women and sacrifices they have to make to come into public like.

She gave the example of how AIR is giving coverage to Tokyo Olympics as well as its noteworthy interview with sharpshooter Ronjan Sodhi. She urged people to use the new AIR news alerts app for a variety of very interesting programs.

Shaina said PM Modis radio program Maan Ki Baat has garnered huge traction on Radio and Akashvani radio paid a tribute to late actor Dilip Kumar through archives.

Content is king. It is all there. Now the question is only about repackaging.

Responding to a question if people of Maharashtra can now look up to and reach out to Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray for his handling of Covid -19 as also helming the tri party government, Shaina said her party had the largest nos with 105 MLAs and added Maharashtra has handled covid well which even PM Modi has appreciated. It is collective consciousness. Either you perform or perish.

Giving her views on Mumbai municipal corporations efficient handling of covid, the Supreme Court of India praising the Mumbai Model of efficient handling of Covid-19 and now the US Congress sending a Letter of Appreciation to BMC Commissioner, Iqbal Singh Chahal, Shaina who is also a member of the national executive council of BJP and treasurer of the BJP's Maharashtra unit said Chahal is extremely efficient and silently keeps doing his work without getting affected by who is doing what. She however added that there needs to be coordination between Centre and states for achieving better results.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 12.07.2021 - Switzerland is helping Mongolia to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday 12 July, Swiss Humanitarian Aid sent 40 respirators and 45 oxygen concentrators to Ulaanbaatar with a total value of around CHF 850,000.

In view of the public health situation in Mongolia and in response to a request for assistance from the Mongolian authorities, Swiss Humanitarian Aid has decided to support the country in its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.



A Federal Air Transport Service plane left Dubendorf on Monday for Ulaanbaatar. In addition to the 40 respirators provided by the Swiss Armed Forces Pharmacy, the shipment also includes 45 oxygen concentrators.



The equipment will be received in Ulaanbaatar by the local authorities and then transported to various sites, in particular to hospitals specialising in care for women and children. The Swiss representation in Mongolia is in close contact with the authorities to ensure that humanitarian goods are distributed fairly based on need, in accordance with humanitarian principles.



Mongolia is a priority country of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In addition to this equipment, the SDC has also donated CHF 150,000 to the Mongolian Ministry of Health for the purchase of three X-ray machines.



Strong Swiss support to combat COVID-19 in Asia

The shipment sent to Mongolia on Monday is the fourth delivery of humanitarian goods from Switzerland to Asia in the past few weeks. Swiss Humanitarian Aid, which is part of the FDFA, has already sent 13 tonnes of relief supplies to India (06.05.2021), 30 tonnes to Nepal (21.05.2021) and 16 tonnes to Sri Lanka (07.06.2021). Switzerland is constantly monitoring the health situation worldwide in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It stands ready to respond to requests for support wherever possible.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html



General Secretariat DDPS

https://www.vbs.admin.ch/



Defence

http://www.vtg.admin.ch




Federal Department of Finance

Bern, 12.07.2021 - The third financial dialogue between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia took place in Zurich on 12 July 2021. The meeting was opened by Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance, Mohammed Al-Jadaan.

The main topics addressed in the financial dialogue between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia were the great potential of digitalisation for sustainable financial services, an improvement in reciprocal market access and sovereign debt management. The delegations also acknowledged the double taxation agreement between the two countries that came into force on 1 April 2021. Finally, the infrastructure operators SIX and Tadawul signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the stock exchange sector.

The financial dialogue also included a meeting between the two delegations and high-ranking representatives of Swiss banks and insurance companies, as well as visits to fintech companies in the Zurich region.

The first two financial dialogues between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia were held in 2018 and 2019. Saudi Arabia is one of Switzerland's most important trading partners in the Middle East, with an annual trade volume of around CHF 2.3 billion. Over 100 Swiss companies operate locally in Saudi Arabia.

Address for enquiries

FDF Communications

Tel. +41 58 462 60 33, info@gs-efd.admin.ch

Publisher

Federal Department of Finance

https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/en/home.html



State Secretariat for International Financial Matters

http://www.sif.admin.ch




Alton, IL (62002)

Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 83F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
EFFINGHAM, Ill.  More and more farmers in the Midwest are discovering that planting soybeans early is a recipe for success. Studies are confirming that recipe.

Work at the six Becks Hybrids Practical Farm Research locations and at other sites shows that planting beans early can result in more plant development earlier in the summer, hitting growth stages at times that maximize yield potential and help with weed control.

Nowadays, weed control is all about balance, said Luke Schulte, who presented some of the findings to farmers at a field day at the companys southern Illinois location. Nothing has been found to be more consistent in producing high-yield soybeans than planting early. Well take a thinner stand of beans planted early rather than late.

He said planting early can maximize crop response and ultimately minimize development of herbicide-resistance weeds.

Optimum planting dates, as determined by company research, range from April 1 to May 20 across Midwestern states served by Becks. Specifically  in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri  April planting has been shown to be ideal.

Early planting encourages early flowering and additional node development. That equals more yield potential with reproductive stages of growth beginning at a less stressful period. Early planting also means earlier canopy development, which reduces weed competition.

Schulte, who works at one of the companys Ohio locations, said research there shows that temperature variance in soil can span up to 14 degrees between the earliest and latest planting dates. With nodules performing optimally at about 72 degrees Fahrenheit, cooler soil temperatures have been shown to promote better growth.
https://www.aish.com/ci/s/How-to-Speak-Out-Against-Antisemitism.html

Antisemitism speaks the language of extermination.

Public officials were quick to speak out after the brutal July 1 stabbing of Rabbi Shlomo Noginski outside Shaloh House, the Jewish day school and synagogue in Boston's Brighton neighborhood. The sentiments they expressed were appropriate to the moment. They vowed to "stand with the Jewish community." They described the attack as "horrific." They declared they were "united against hate." They insisted that "an attack on any member of our community is an attack on all of us." They proclaimed that "antisemitism has no place in Massachusetts."

The words were fine as far as they went. Unfortunately, they didn't go very far.

That isn't meant as a put-down. Commonplaces and safe sound bites are part of most politicians' stock in trade. When an Orthodox Jewish rabbi is repeatedly knifed in broad daylight on a busy Boston street amid a national wave of antisemitic violence, it's natural that government officials should instinctively condemn the crime.

Jews constitute just 2 percent of the US population, but they are the victims in more than 60 percent of religion-based hate crimes.

Mere boilerplate, however, will do little to stem the surge of Jew-hatred that has reached levels not seen in America since before World War II. Jews constitute just 2 percent of the US population, but they are the victims in more than 60 percent of religion-based hate crimes, according to the FBI's most recent Hate Crimes Statistics report. On Thursday, the suspect arrested for stabbing Noginski, 24-year-old Khaled Awad, was formally charged with a hate crime. According to his former roommates, Awad is violent and "very much antisemitic"  so much so that one took out a restraining order against him after being attacked.

As a Greater Boston resident, a Massachusetts voter, and an observant Jew, I was glad to see public officials denounce the violent assault on the rabbi. In some quarters these days, simply condemning antisemitism has become a firing offense: Last month April Powers lost her job as chief equity and inclusion officer for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators after posting a message on social media deploring the "increase in hate speech and random violence against Jewish people." Astonishingly, that post generated a furious backlash because it didn't mention Islamophobia. Powers, who is black and Jewish, was forced to resign and inundated with death threats.

It is impossible to imagine someone losing a job for a statement decrying violent bigotry against Americans who are black, Asian, Muslim, or LGBT. Indeed, such statements are ubiquitous. They never trigger the kind of unhinged fury that was unleashed against Powers. The explanation for the difference is that antisemitism itself is unhinged. It is a derangement. Jew-hatred is fundamentally different from other forms of prejudice or group animus. That's one point worth underscoring by anyone who wants to go beyond mere platitudes when addressing antisemitism.

Antisemitism is an assertion of impurity and speaks the language of extermination.

"Most bigotry is an assertion of inferiority and speaks the language of oppression," David Brooks has written. "Antisemitism is an assertion of impurity and speaks the language of extermination."

Racial prejudice is incontestably vile, as are hatred of Muslims or Catholics, sexism, and anti-gay cruelty. Bigots demean fellow human beings, abusing or repressing them because they regard them as inferior.

But antisemitism is something else. The most dangerous antisemites don't regard Jews or Judaism as inferior but as the embodiment of what they revile most. For millennia, antisemites have identified Jews with whatever in their worldview was uniquely detestable or treacherous: Medieval Christians abominated Jews for not worshiping Jesus. Communists painted Jews as greedy bourgeois capitalists. Industrialist Henry Ford accused Jews of manipulating the global economy. The Nazis depicted Jews as vermin polluting German racial purity. America Firsters charge Jews with being disloyal. White nativists and xenophobes blame Jews for promoting immigration. Black nationalists smear Jews as racists who caused the slave trade and Jim Crow. Haters of Israel ostracize Jews for supporting the Jewish state. Islamists abhor Jews because Zionism subverts Islam's hegemony in the Middle East.

Antisemitism has existed for as long as Jews have existed, shape-shifting to fit the times. It has proved the most ineradicable of hatreds because, like a virus, it mutates. "In the Middle Ages, Jews were persecuted because of their religion," noted the late Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, a member of Britain's House of Lords and a renowned public intellectual. "In the 19th and 20th centuries they were reviled because of their race. Today, Jews are attacked because of the existence of their nation state, Israel. Denying Israel's right to exist is the new antisemitism."

If public officials genuinely seek to "stand with the Jewish community" against the rising flood of Jew-hatred, it is critical that they anathematize it especially when it comes from their side of the political divide. It was easy for progressives and Democrats to express horror when a right-wing murderer opened fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue, but many were reluctant to condemn the numerous attacks on US Jews and Jewish institutions by anti-Israel fanatics during the recent fighting in Gaza. Diehard Republicans haven't hesitated to blast the ugly antisemitism of Representative Ilhan Omar, but when a Republican congressman advertises a fundraiser with a white supremacist Holocaust-denier, the GOP chorus of outrage grows faint.

It is critical, too, for black leaders who are outspoken in calling for racial justice and the eradication of every trace of racism to be equally outspoken about the disproportionately high levels of antisemitism among black Americans. This isn't a new phenomenon: Back in 1992, Henry Louis Gates Jr., who chaired Harvard's Department of Afro-American Studies, was lamenting data showing "that blacks are twice as likely as whites to hold antisemitic views." Black perpetrators have been responsible for some of the deadliest hate crimes against Jews in recent years, including a bloodbath at a Jersey City kosher market. Yet few black elected officials have emerged as stalwart leaders against antisemitism. One who has is Representative Ritchie Torres, a progressive Democrat who bluntly names the "hysterical demonization of Israel" as a cause of much antisemitic violence.

More than ever, Jews need allies who can speak knowledgeably and frankly about the threat posed by the spreading plague of antisemitic hatred. They need public officials who can repudiate antisemitism without buts or caveats, and not as merely one of many forms of bigotry. They need politicians who understand and can articulate that, adjusting for population, Jews are far more likely to be the victim of a hate crime than members of any other minority group.

A timeless lesson of history is that antisemites only begin by targeting Jews; rarely do they end there. Islamist terror sent many Jews to early graves before eventually doing the same to thousands of Americans on 9/11. The Nazis commenced by incinerating Jews; in the end, all of Europe was aflame. Antisemitic hatred and violence endanger American society as a whole, not just Jews in particular. Never within living memory has it been so important for public officials and opinion leaders to understand that. Never has it been more vital for them to say so.

This article originally appeared in the Boston Globe.
Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 89F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 77F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Louisiana is experiencing a widespread increase in the spread of COVID-19, according to recent data from the Louisiana Department of Health. Those who are not yet vaccinated are at an elevated risk as the more contagious Delta variant continues to spread.
New York governor Andrew "COVID Andy" Cuomo said he intends to address gun violence the same way he addressed the COVID-19 epidemic. This is hardly reassuring because his directive for nursing homes to readmit COVID-positive patients may well have killed thousands of senior citizens in 2020. While there is controversy as to the extent that the directive in question caused most of the deaths, common sense says you do not put people with a highly communicable and lethal disease in a setting with the people who are most vulnerable to dying from it along with their caregivers. The FBI is apparently investigating "whether the governor and his senior aides provided false data on resident deaths to the Justice Department" as well.

Jurors Should Trash-Can Junk Gun Lawsuits

It is astounding that, while COVID Andy enacted legislation to shield nursing homes from liability for COVID-19 deaths, he also signed legislation to allow junk lawsuits against gun manufacturers. The fact that these junk lawsuits are now legal in New York does not mean, however, that jurors need to respect them or those who file them. It is illegal to discuss a case with a juror after he has been selected, which means we need to pre-educate all potential jurors (i.e., all citizens) before they are even called. I would need less than five minutes to judge a case in which a criminal used a firearm to harm another person, and I would need witnesses to answer exactly two questions: (1) Did the manufacturer sell the firearm to a federally licensed, and therefore federally supervised, gun dealer? (2) Did the gun dealer perform the required background check on the buyer? If the answer to both questions is yes, then I would award the gun manufacturer legal fees and, if possible, punitive damages for a totally meritless junk lawsuit. These should be levied ideally against the attorney who brought the lawsuit rather than the probably grief-stricken plaintiff who relied on the attorney's advice. The judge can probably overturn the award, but I would make it anyway, and then maybe the defendant's lawyer could appeal.

Remember that nobody even thought of suing Dodge because white supremacist James Fields used a Challenger to run over Heather Heyer, although Fields himself got a well-deserved life sentence. Any car manufacturer would indeed be liable for an actual defect that resulted in a braking or steering failure and consequent accident, but not for reckless or criminal use of the product. This is pretty much all the jury needs to know.

The fact that COVID Andy promoted these junk lawsuits while HUD secretary, and also tried to equate the Second Amendment to a nonexistent right to hunt ("no one needs ten bullets to kill a deer"), meanwhile, tells us everything we need to know about his character and his ethics. He is right: it is illegal to hunt with a high-capacity magazine, and no ethical hunter would take a shot if he needed more than one bullet to kill a deer humanely. When I last heard, however, not one single article in the NRA's Armed Citizen feature includes deer among the aggressors. Aggressive dogs, bears, and mountain lions as well as violent criminals have indeed been shot in self-defense, but Bambi is not on the list.

COVID Andy's Leadership Lessons: What Not to Do

COVID Andy has meanwhile signed a $5-million book deal for American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic. I don't need to read the book to know that you do not put people with a virulent contagious disease into nursing homes with vulnerable senior citizens. OSHA had, in the same March 2020 time frame, issued guidance to the effect that sick employees should be sent home and not allowed to mingle with uninfected ones. "Move potentially infectious people to a location away from workers, customers, and other visitors." (OSHA has subsequently issued new guidance that expands on what it had in March 2020, and nothing in this American Thinker article constitutes workplace safety advice.)

The Book of Leviticus said pretty much the same thing several thousand years ago, long before anybody knew what bacteria or viruses were. "As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp." COVID Andy did exactly the opposite: "No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the NH solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. NHs are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission." This happened while just about everybody else was doing his best to screen people for COVID-19 symptoms before letting them into buildings, and practically begging for screening test kits in the bargain.

Jurors Can Trash-Can New York's Gun Laws

While I cannot give legal advice, nothing seems to prevent jurors from nullifying New York's gun laws that require a license to purchase and own a handgun, and the same goes for similar laws in other states. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Murdock v. Pennsylvania that a state cannot license a right. While the context involved the First Amendment, the decision added, "A State may not impose a charge for the enjoyment of a right granted by the Federal Constitution." This is probably why poll taxes (taxes or fees on the right to vote) are illegal and why states that require voter ID must issue it for free to people who do not have driver's licenses.

States can charge fees for the latter because driving is a privilege rather than a right. Very significantly, the same goes for hunting licenses; there is no Second Amendment right to hunt despite COVID Andy's and Shotgun Joe's implications to the contrary. "Federal law prevents hunters from hunting migratory game birds with more than three shells in their shotgun." When I last heard, however, nobody has ever had to shoot a duck in self-defense, either. A state could argue that it is a licensable privilege to carry a firearm in public, and certainly that it is a licensable privilege to hunt, but it is difficult to see how possession of a firearm in one's own home is anything but a right. This is by no means a recommendation that anybody should violate a gun law. I am saying only how I would, as a juror, view permit-to-own laws along with N.Y.'s SAFE Act, which also has no legitimate public safety purpose.

Governor Andrew "COVID Andy" Cuomo is an ideal poster child for the antiSecond Amendment movement, and he should be used as such. He would be funny, except there is nothing humorous about thousands of dead senior citizens in his state's nursing homes.

Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter.

Image: Pat Arnow via Flickr.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
COVID has been a wrecking ball on the U.S. and worlds economies, devastating businesses, families, and individuals. How much of what we have been told by government experts, parroted by the media, has been false, either by design or incompetence?

One can debate how much destruction was due to the actual virus versus the response to the virus, diktats handed down from government and medical bureaucrats supposedly following the science, but in reality, following the political winds or their own partisan agendas.

Much of the so-called guidance was based not on science but instead on a much simpler concept. If President Trump said X, then the Democrats, media, and administrative state said not-X, castigating and attempting to ruin anyone with the audacity to agree with Trump.

The Wuhan coronavirus did not become a household name until March 2020 when the business closures, lockdowns, and stay-at-home orders began. Before that it was just a minor news story yet even then the media was spewing anti-Trump sentiment.

In late January, Trump authorized a travel ban from China when there were only a few confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Did he know something about the true origins of the virus? Was he once again ahead of the curve?

As expected, the media pounced, echoed by Democrats, calling Trump racist and xenophobic. Compare this reaction to when President Biden issued a travel ban from India several months ago due to a surge in cases. This was reported as prudent and measured, with no accusations of racism or xenophobia.

When did COVID-19 really begin? Was it in January 2020 when the U.S. saw its first confirmed cases? Or was it much earlier? Why is this not of interest to the follow the science media and medical establishment? Isnt a basic tenet of public health investigating the origin of contagious infectious disease, not just place but time? How do we know where a virus is going if we dont even know where it began?

YouTube screen grab

Investigative journalist Sharyl Atkinson recently tweeted,

Europe, French researchers said they found traces of covid-19 in Nov 2019...scientists from National Cancer Institute of Milan and University of Siena found 10% of blood samples from a cancer screening trial contained COVID antibodies... samples included some from Sept 2019.

According to the study, 11.6% of individuals in a lung cancer clinical trial, months before the known COVID outbreak, had already been exposed to the virus. As antibodies take several weeks post-infection to develop, its likely that some individuals had active infections in August 2019, or perhaps much earlier as antibody detection offers a minimum, not maximum, time window post-infection.

Early COVID antibodies were found not only in Italy but also in France, Tests suggests COVID-19 could have existed in France in November 2019  two months before the first cases were officially confirmed in Europe.

Similar findings were described in the U.S. Antibody tests run on American Red Cross blood donations from December 2019 to January 2020 showed just over 1% of blood donations contained COVID-19 antibodies, suggesting that the virus was active in the U.S. in the fall of 2019, perhaps earlier.

China inadvertently suggested an earlier-than-reported genesis of COVID-19. Three researchers from Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care, according to a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report. Did all three researchers eat pangolin stew at the wet market a week earlier? Or were they exposed to their own work product at the lab?

These Wuhan scientists became sick in the fall of 2019 with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illness. When did U.S. intelligence agencies first learn of this? Why was this kept a secret by both China and U.S. intelligence agencies? If such information was more forthcoming, could the resulting pandemic have been handled differently? Or was this part of a grand plan all along? Remember that at the time there was a U.S. presidential election less than a year away.

The Wuhan lab director, a year ago, smugly told an NBC stenographer that he was 100 percent confident that there was no virus leak from the lab. Thus was set the media narrative that any suggestion to the contrary was a Trump or QAnon conspiracy theory.

U.S. intelligence officials apparently knew in November 2019 of a contagion sweeping through Chinas Wuhan region. Finding antibodies in blood samples from that time period offers confirmation. As it would take time for the infection to spread from Wuhan to Europe and the U.S., it is likely that it all started months before antibodies were first detected outside of China, perhaps the summer of 2019.

Even the clever Dr Anthony Fauci predicted in 2017 that Trump would no doubt face an infectious disease outbreak during his presidency. Did he mean an unusually bad flu season, something every president may encounter, or something like COVID-19? Has anyone asked him what he meant during his myriad cable news appearances?

Who else might be complicit, along with Dr. Fauci? The NOQ Report found, through a leaked confidentiality agreement, that Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, the latter headed by clever Dr. Fauci, were a step ahead of a future outbreak. In December 2019, a month before the U.S. saw its first confirmed case, Moderna and NIAID were already testing coronavirus vaccine candidates. Its almost as if they knew there would be a future need for such a vaccine. What a coincidence.

The World Health Organization, tasked with providing honest information and assessments failed miserably, unless their disinformation was intentional. Their mission, according to their website is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. What grade should they receive?

Even the Trump-hating New York Times acknowledged how the WHO played footloose and fancy-free with the facts, As it praised Beijing, the World Health Organization concealed concessions to China and may have sacrificed the best chance to unravel the viruss origins. So much for promoting health and keeping the world safe. Only recently can lab origin ideas be discussed whereas last year such ideas were racist and enough for one to be banned from social media or potentially lose ones job.

If we cant have an honest discussion about the true origin and timeline of COVID-19, how are we to optimally treat it, much less prepare for the next viral outbreak?

It seems those in power dont want the people to know the truth. Media gaslighting presents only one view, suppressing anything to the contrary. Fortunately, Americans are waking up. Now a bipartisan majority of Americans believe COVID leaked from a lab, according to a Politico and Harvard University poll. We are learning that the virus has been around far longer than we were told. What other COVID lies are still out there?

The world has seen 186 million cases and more than 4 million deaths at latest count without a thorough investigation into the origins of the coronavirus that blitzkrieg-ed the world. Think of the time and resources spent investigating fabricated Trump-Russia collusion while there is no similar impetus to learn how the government and media censored and suppressed potentially life-saving information that could have saved countless lives and prevented so much misery.

The truth is drip, drip, dripping out, exposing mountains of the government, media, and health agency malpractice. Hopefully, there will be a reckoning for these crimes against humanity. Dont hold your breath as there has been no reckoning for any other crimes against the Trump administration and the country.

At least we are finally learning that COVID-19 was around far longer than we were told and that spiting Trump was far more important to the media and medical establishment than seeking or presenting the truth. Too bad for the collateral damage to millions from the lefts jihad against Trump and the truth.

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., is a physician and writer. He is on sabbatical from social media.

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If there has been anything of value coming from the one-two gut-punch of the Chinese Communist Party's COVID-19 virus and the Great Reset global oligarchs' use of that virus to remake the world in their lasting favor, it is that more Americans have been awakened to three truths: (1) governments lie to their citizens all the time; (2) the media lie to the public all the time; and (3) because science has become a politically funded tool of government, scientists lie about their research all the time.

On Friday, Chief Politburo Medical Mandater and Flip-Flopper Anthony Fauci proved that truth trifecta yet again by going on CNN and contradicting Pfizer's scientific conclusions on the efficacy of its own vaccine. Pfizer and BioNTech, two companies responsible for one of the three vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States, released a statement on Thursday touting their progress on a third "booster" shot that they plan to submit to the Food and Drug Administration and other government authorities for approval in the coming weeks. Their self-congratulatory announcement seemed geared toward neutering recently published medical research from Israel's Ministry of Health that shows that the effectiveness of Pfizer's vaccine at preventing infection and life-threatening symptoms drops precipitously from 94.5% to 64% after only six months. In fact, Pfizer and BioNTech highlighted the Israeli medical research as matching their own in-house laboratory findings on the diminished effectiveness of their two-shot vaccine treatment and used these combined results to argue for the necessity of a future third jab.

That's a newsworthy story. The Pfizer vaccine's usefulness drops sharply in a few short months, and the companies behind its creation believe that a third shot is necessary. How did U.S. government scientists respond to this release of information? Within a few hours, the Centers for Disease Control released a statement saying, "Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time." Oh, okay, maybe there's nothing to see here, then.

How did the CDC come to this scientific conclusion? They were ever so helpful as to give us that answer: "FDA, CDC, and NIH are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary." That sounds fantastic. Nobody can argue against a "science-based, rigorous process." I mean, science should be "science-based," after all, right? Okay, so give it to us straight, O Wise Government Doctors: is the Pfizer jab about as effective as a coin flip, or has your "rigorous" super-duper government-approved (yet somehow politically agnostic) science found a fatal flaw in the medical research coming out of Israel and Pfizer's own labs?

Team Fauci's answer: "We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed." Interesting. Let's breathe this in slowly, so we don't miss the subtle nuances of sophisticated scientific argot that might otherwise twist our small, untrained minds into knots. Our government scientists  who deal with such complexities that would befuddle the common American  are certain that Americans don't need a third shot because Science (in its personified form) has not yet called for it. Boy, oh boy, this is some head-scratching genius that makes one go, "Umm, wow, I'm glad these guys are on our side."

Wait a second, though. This is so confusing. Israeli science says the Pfizer vaccine putters out after six months. Pfizer science says people who want to survive the great China Virus pandemic had better get a third shot. Government science says there's nothing to see because Science hasn't shown us anything. Who wins in a contest among Israeli, Pfizer, and Big Government Science, then? Fauci ran to CNN to let us know: "The [Pfizer] CEO, who is a really good guy, got on the phone with me last night and apologized that they came out with that recommendation."

Oh, wow, I guess that clears things up. In the "rock, paper, scissors" world of science, Government Science wins every time.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla apologized to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, Anthony Fauci, for talking about "science" that hadn't yet been pre-approved by the federal government. Amazing oversight by someone in charge of a scientific company. How in the world could anybody who does science for a living forget that crucial stage in the Scientific Method  screen all "science-based, rigorous processes" with the government for certification of truth. These people, you give them a little bit of free agency to make a profit in the market, and all of a sudden, they forget who really pays their bills. Unbelievable.

Anyway, thank goodness the High Priest of Science Dr. Fauci stepped in when he did to correct the record on CNN, or Americans might have lost faith and trust in the system. As for the Israeli Ministry of Health and Pfizer, don't they understand that you can't sell Americans on a third shot until you first trick them...I mean, convince them to take the first two? Sheesh, if you let people know that the first two shots go limp in six months, people might start asking why a third jab would be a winner. Or they might even start wondering whether fourth, fifth, and sixth jabs are right around the corner. Heck, if people begin thinking they'll have to be injected with experimental gene therapies for the rest of their lives, they might just bolt entirely. How would Pfizer make money off their misery then? My goodness, don't these professional scientists know how crony capitalism works? Step 1: Keep the U.S. government and its scientific lackeys happy. Step 2: Reap financial windfall. Step 3: Repeat Step 1.

It's so simple that even non-scientists can understand. Without government-condoned knowledge, Science would be politicized to no end.

Image: NIAID via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped).

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On July 7, 2021, President Trumps legal team filed three major lawsuits in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The suits named as defendants: Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg (21-cv-22440), Twitter and Jack Dorsey (21-cv-22441), and YouTube and Sundar Pichai (21-cv-22445 as defendants. Judge Kathleen Mary Williams, an Obama nominee, has been assigned to the Facebook case. Judge Robert Nichols Scola, Jr, an Obama nominee, has been assigned the Twitter case and Judge K. Michael Moore, a George H.W. Bush nominee, has been assigned the YouTube case.

There is no substitute for reading the actual complaints but here are some of the highlights.

Each of the complaints asserts that Democrat legislators coerced the defendants to censor Trump and other class members. Here are some cited examples:

Look, lets be honest, @realDonaldTrumps Twitter account should be suspended. (Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, September 30, 2019);

But I do think that for the privilege of 230, there has to be a bigger sense of responsibility on it. And it is not out of the question that that could be removed. (Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, April 12, 2019);

The idea that its a tech company is that Section 230 should be revoked, immediately should be revoked, number one. For Dorsey and other platforms. (Joe Biden/Interview in December of 2019 and published January 2020);

We can and should have a conversation about Section 230. -- and the ways in which it has enabled platforms to turn a blind eye as their platforms are used to... enable domestic terrorist groups to organize violence in plain sight. (Statement of US Sen. Mark Warner on Section 230 Hearing on October 28, 2020.);

Its long past time to hold the social media companies accountable for whats published on their platforms. (Bruce Reed, Bidens Top Tech Advisor/December 2, 2020);  @jack (Jack Dorsey) Time to do something about this Tweet. (Sen. Kamala Harris Tweet, October 2, 2019)

Each of the complaints asserts that congressional legislation (47 USC section 230) encouraged the defendants to censor Trump and other class members. The complaints give a history of the statute and assert that it does not give blanket authority to censor what would otherwise be constitutionally protected speech. A Harvard Law Review article is referenced:

A s discussed in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Leary, Mary Graw, The Indecency and Injustice of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, Vol. 41, No. 2, pg. 564, 565 (2018) Congress expressly stated that th[is] is the policy of the United States to ensure vigorous enforcement of Federal criminal laws to deter and punish trafficking in obscenity, stalking, and harassment by means of computer. That said, Congress appeared to recognize that unlimited tort-based lawsuits would threaten the then-fragile Internet and the freedom of speech in the new and burgeoning Internet medium. Although these two goals required some balancing, it was clear from the text and legislative history of  230 that it was never intended to provide a form of absolute immunity for any and all actions taken by interactive computer services. Section 230 is not a general prohibition of civil liability for web-site operators and other content hosts. Rather, Congress sought to provide limited protections for limited actions.

Each of the complaints asserts that the defendants willfully participated in joint activity with federal actors to censor Trump and other class members. Specific examples are given of how the defendants refused to publish facts or opinions that contradicted Dr. Anthony Fauci of the CDC including discussions of HCQ and the possible origins of COVID-19 in a lab in Wuhan, China.

Finally, each of the complaints seeks a declaratory judgment that section 230 of the communications decency act is unconstitutional. The complaints assert that Congress is constitutionally prohibited from passing legislation that limits protected speech and cannot pass a statute giving someone else that authority.

Pay attention to these cases. Trump has requested jury trials, class certification, and punitive damages in each of the cases. If any of these cases make it to trial in front of a Florida jury, the defendants could be looking at multibillion-dollar judgments along with punitive damages. These cases really are an existential threat to the tech companies if they go to trial.

The defendants have unlimited funds. Expect them to hire the best and brightest legal advice. Im sure that David Boies has been contacted.

President Trump does not have the financial resources of the defendants but does have millions of supporters who believe that the 2020 election was stolen, in part, as a result of tech company collusion. Any legal fund that he starts to fight these tech giants would most likely receive millions in contributions.

Stay tuned. One or more of these cases is probably destined to make it to the Supreme Court. Even the cowardly John Roberts wont be able to duck this one.

Image: Picpedia

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For open socialists such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the uprising in Cuba, every inch a people's uprising to repudiate communism and end it forever, couldn't have been good news.

She's been silent on Twitter, as have been all three other members of "the squad."

Bernie Sanders, the eminence grise of the wokesters, has been silent, too.

Nothing from Cuban health care propagandist Michael Moore who praised all that "free" health care in film. Nothing from President Obama who did "the wave" with Cuba's billionaire dictator Raul Castro. Nothing from radical left-wing royalty Chesa Boudin, or his stepdad, unrepentant radical domestic terrorist Bill Ayers who spent lots of time in Cuba and worked with the regime, according to the FBI. Nothing from the Congressional Black Caucus, which gushed praise for the regime in its pilgrimage to Havana in 2009, and continues to blast the U.S. And certainly nothing from the "trained Marxists" at Black Lives Matter, who paid pilgrimages to Cuban acolyte Hugo Chavez and take Cuba as their model. Funny how so many of the protestors denouncing the communist hellhole are identifiably black in the Twitter videos. It's kind of ... embarrassing.

It's bad stuff for them, not just because they look like lying asses and ignoramii, but because they've clinched the "narrative" in the U.S. They are the establishment now, not the revolutionaries or outsiders. They hold power. They wield power. They control the media. Remember how one of them ran a cover saying "we're all socialists now"? They still praise socialism and don't even try to hide it, promoting its agenda, despite the experience of history. They've got not just the political system wrapped up in wokester lies and false narratives about the U.S., tearing down statues and erasing U.S. history. They're also stomping on the flag, turning their backs at international ceremonies, if not assaulting and burning fixtures of democracy such as courthouses, and destroying private property, all in the name of socialism. Up until now, they've held Cuba up as the example to follow on free health care, free education, free everything ... except for actual freedom.

Cuba in fact has been the locus of every manifestation of destructive socialism in the past 62 years. Few leftists, except before the 1950s, ever said that they wanted the U.S, to be the Soviet Union. But the Cuba worshippers, who insist the U.S. be like Cuba, continue to live on. It's that glamorous images of Castro at the United Nations or Che looking constipated that seem to get them excited. Cuba's communism has infected places all over the region -- in Nicaragua, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, El Salvador, even a brief stretch in Honduras (2009) which the locals revolted against. But Castro and his legacy live on and on as revolutionary respectability, and the lefties continue to flock to him. It's sickening, given that Castro has turned his country to rubble and ruin, a place of torture, turba mobs, and prisons, and driven at least a quarter of the population out, escaping on leaking inner tubes and discarded styrofoam through shark-infested waters. He's a billionaire of course. Yet he and the hellish regime he founded, ought to be treated like a defeated Nazi.

And right now in the states, socialist schemes are being bruited around with abandon. We have money-shoveling of other people's money which will go on until socialists run out of "other people's money." We have neighbor spy on neighbor, same as the Cubans are ordered to do, according to a recent FBI request to families of "extremists" for leads. We certainly have turba mobs, the "repudiation mobs" seen in the Black Lives Matter and Antifa protests. Some believe that voters in places like Minneapolis actually voted for assorted leftists, as well as the conviction of a cop for police brutality as a means of heading off the open threats now appearing from these Cuba imitators.

More grotesque still, Cuba is seen as glamorous. Beyonce made her Cuba tour during the Obama administration. Leftists gladly wear Che t-shirts. Richard Branson, who's lately been in the news for his space flight, even glamourized himself in a quasi picture of Che as one of a number of "business revolutionaries." I once wrote an editorial that got Che CD cases yanked from the store shelves of Target. Glamour, glamour, glamour, and utterly rotten on the inside.

For leftists, it all comes down to Cuba and wanting to make America Cuba, and don't think it couldn't happen. It did happen in Venezuela, where dictator Hugo Chavez pretty well merged his country into Cuba in an amazing act of self-imperialism, given his love for that Cuban dream, or more specifically, total power for himself that the Cuban communists achieved for themselves and replicated for him, adding their secret-police muscle. It also happened in Chile, around 1972, where Castro showed up in Santiago and started issuing orders. The shambles that followed in both countries were simply the same as we see in Cuba, except with more cameras on, along with a heaping helping of crime. Think there aren't others here who aren't thinking the same thing?

Now their totem is tottering and they can't hold it up as an example. If the Cubans succeed in ousting the evil regime and scrubbing their country of every vestige of socialism, the leftists in the states, as well as around Latin America, will be lost, adrift, no lodestar, no leader.

It's reason enough to pray that they succeed. The Castro worship has got to end.

Image: Twitter screen shot

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Defying death, terror, and beatings, millions of Cubans took to the streets across Cuba shouting "freedom" and "we are not afraid" in a collective call to end to the 62-year communist dictatorship.

It was breathtaking, a thing of beauty, comparable only to Tiananmen or the fall of the Berlin wall.

It took unprecedented courage, too  against state goons, secret police, government death squads, and paid thugs  who are responding now like cornered rats, recognizing very well their survival is at stake.

It's too soon to tell if the Cubans have won. A big general strike has been called today. But even if they didn't, this was a vast people's repudiation of communism, that brutal system so praised by the U.S. left.

It was bad news for the wokester flag-burners and ruling socialists of every stripe over here, many of whom have praised Cuba's brutal regime and burned the U.S. flag, now that the Cubans are waving it.

But the worst response of all has come from the far-left Biden administration.

Rather than standing up for the people of Cuba and hailing their call for liberty; praising their waving of the U.S. flag; and warning the Castroite communist regime that it gets the hammer if it dares hunt them down, beat them, or drag them off in the dead of night (which they are doing as I write this), the only thing we have from the Biden administration is obfuscating garbage from one lowly "Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs," named Julie Chung.

If you thought Jen Psaki was bad, get a load of this one:

Peaceful protests are growing in #Cuba as the Cuban people exercise their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising COVID cases/deaths & medicine shortages. We commend the numerous efforts of the Cuban people mobilizing donations to help neighbors in need.  Julie Chung (@WHAAsstSecty) July 11, 2021

We are deeply concerned by calls to combat in #Cuba. We stand by the Cuban peoples right for peaceful assembly. We call for calm and condemn any violence.  Julie Chung (@WHAAsstSecty) July 11, 2021

Let's try to unpack this, because it's really bad.

Where do we start? "Right" to peaceful protest?

Sorry, idiot, Cuba is under "la revolucion" and has been for 62 long, horrible years. Nobody has a "right" to peaceful or any other kind of protest in the Cuban socialist paradise. That's because, as Cuba's top ally, Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, put it, it's a "sea of happiness." Protests are the doing of wreckers, hoarders, capitalists, counterrevolutionaries, CIA agents, and saboteurs. Anyone protesting in Cuba is an automatic "enemy of the state." Memo to Julie: Never "assume." You know what they say about ass-u-me.

As for her reason, it gets even worse.

Chung says Cubans are marching to "express concern about rising COVID cases/deaths & medicine shortages."

Really? These unprecedented mass wildcat protests are just people concerned about COVID mismanagement and medical shortages? They've had mismanagement and shortages for decades, pretty much since the start of the dictatorship in 1959. The cries were "libertad," "freedom," and "we are not afraid." Millions are calling to end the filthy, detested dictatorship and its billionaire nomenklatura overlords. The people protesting were thin, wearing rags, the buildings shambles all around them. Did she notice the poverty in the pictures from the great socialist paradise praised by Bernie Sanders?

BREAKING NEWS: Massive protests all over Cuba, Castro dictatorship deploying military against civilians https://t.co/Dg1viBkfr3 pic.twitter.com/fsF3H3eJ1s  Babalu Blog (@BabaluBloggers) July 12, 2021

We are all Cubans today. Your plight is our plight, your struggle is ours too. One day millions of freedom lovers will flock to the island from all over the world to celebrate an event that will be comparable to the fall of the Berlin Wall. https://t.co/ynSWPCLdvV  Alvaro Vargas Llosa (@AlvaroVargasLl) July 11, 2021

Notice how thin she is. They dont get much food. https://t.co/Dx6BJqnTbB  Monica Showalter (@mmshowalter1) July 12, 2021

Even Bill Kristol was disgusted:

When you've lost even Bill Kristol: pic.twitter.com/zusxzEbdzV  Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) July 12, 2021

The protesters were and are specifically targeting the organs of state, not peacefully calling for a better COVID response: they're taking over communist party headquarters, overturning rich party officials' expensive cars, and overrunning Young Communist League headquarters, according to these tweets.

The Communist Cuban regime will be consigned to the dustbin of history. It has brutalized & denied freedom to generations of Cubans, and forced my family & so many others to flee.



The American people stand squarely with the men & women of Cuba and their noble fight for liberty. https://t.co/09hdGQVJLh  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 11, 2021

And very significantly, the low-level police are joining them.

Naturally, the regime is fighting back  shutting down the internet and sending in the goons:

Following anti-govt protests, #Cuba's communist regime has allegedly shut down the internet multiple times in the past few hours. There have also been reports of phone lines services being cut off. Straight out of the Communist playbook: censor and intimidate at all costs". pic.twitter.com/zb54kgpiOM  Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) July 12, 2021

#Cuba's communist regime has mobilized its police force and begun a violent crackdown against unarmed anti-govt demonstrators. Wherever Communism reigns supreme, freedom is nowhere to be found. pic.twitter.com/hfJIErKtSv  Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) July 12, 2021

All that for a bit of concern over COVID mismanagement? Sounds like someone in the White House is a little embarrassed about this, and sending in a new Susan Rice for the cameras.

Yet it gets even worse, we aren't done with Chung's disgusting first tweet:

What exactly is meant by this particular part of the tweet?

We commend the numerous efforts of the Cuban people mobilizing donations to help neighbors in need.

Is that a reference to Cuba's medical mercenaries, who have been exposed as "slaves in white coats"? Cuban doctors are sent in by the regime to impoverished countries to provide "free" health care to locals. The Cuban doctors get paid an average of $490 a month for it, and the governments of these places pay Cuba an average of $3,500 a month for the doctors, sometimes much more. Exploitation, anyone? It's been called "contemporary slavery." The stories of that horror, used by the Cuban regime for propaganda purposes, are appalling. And there have been recent stories about it, too.

Is she praising that slave trade? Mouthing the propaganda of the evil regime? Because I can't think of any other interpretation for that strange aside. One hopes to God she's just ignorant, which her resume suggests she may well be, given her previous focus on Asia. But such ignorance in a State Department official speaking for the Biden administration is despicable. Her predecessor, Ambassador Michael Kozak, seemed to understand this. Chung clearly does not.

And as Billy Dale says: But wait, there's more:

Her other tweet calling for "calm" and condemning any "violence" is what the regime would like, too. They, like Hugo Chavez, know that mass protests can go on for years and years, and all they have to do is ignore them. The Cubans seem to recognize this, which explains the overturning of cars and taking over of communist headquarters. Freedom, they know, isn't free. With nothing to lose, and the prospect of going to jail for any number of things, many are saying they've got nothing to lose by getting confrontational.

Meanwhile, speaking of "violence," where's her condemnation of Cuba's thug regime? They've sent out the goons to beat people. They are hauling them away in the dead of night. They've already gotten their turba "repudiation" mobs hitting dissidents. (This happened all last week if you watched Twitter.) Where's her condemnation for the violence and lies of the hellhole dictatorship? It may well be that Cubans will have to use force on a regime incapable of being shamed into giving Cubans freedom, as the Gandhi approach predicts. Calls to combat are what happened with that flag they're waving now, the one with the stars and stripes.

And all the Bidenites can think is that it's important that protests be peaceful? This is a full-fledged uprising, an insurrection, and obviously, it terrifies the Bidenites almost as much as it terrifies the communist regime it targets. For Julie Chung, this is not her call to make.

It all shows an entirely inadequate response. Chung, who's in the job only as acting official, doesn't know the region well. Apparently, they couldn't get anyone else, and Chung is singularly unfit for the job. More important, Biden is singularly unfit for the job as leader of the free world. He's not leader of the free world; he's a follower of Cuba surrounded by wokesters who worship the regime. He can kiss Florida goodbye with Chung's idiocies, because what it shows is her attachment to Cuban propaganda. Sure, he may come out and claim he's for the protesters at some point, leaving off that "c" word to avoid alarming his left political flank. But some things can't be undone.

Image: Twitter screen shot.
When Democrats took over Congress and the White House  with only Kamala Harris's tie-breaking vote giving them a Senate majority  they were very open about their plans: they would do away with the filibuster and then enact their radical agenda with a one-vote majority. Most significantly, this meant that they would add two new states (D.C. and Puerto Rico) and pack the Supreme Court. Moreover, since voters have had the temerity to question election results, they're desperate to enact H.R. 1, their "For the People" bill, which would give the federal government (read: Democrats) control over elections.

What they hadn't counted on was that Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) would refuse to jettison the filibuster. Sinema, who started in the Green Party, has proven to have a steel spine. She knows that her return to D.C. requires her to display some moderation, and she has pushed back against Democrat extremism. I may dislike her politics, but I admire the fact that she will not let her party push her around.

Joe Manchin is a different story. He's been in D.C. a long, long time and has proven repeatedly that he can be bullied into changing his position. He's good at telling the relatively conservative folks back home in West Virginia that he'll resist some crazy Democrat scheme. Then, later, he'll find a way to explain why he went along with the scheme.

For example, less than a month ago, after writing a powerful op-ed for the Washington Post defending the filibuster, word emerged that Manchin was willing to auction off his vote on it. He's been silent about the filibuster since then  but he's already revealed himself.

Manchin's negotiations remind me of the very old joke about the well-dressed man who goes up to a beautiful woman at a cocktail party and asks if she'll sleep with him for a million dollars. Concluding that he can make good on that offer, the woman purrs, "Well, I think we could make something happen."

The man nods sagely. "Good. Now, will you sleep with me for $10?"

The woman, outraged, demands, "What do you think I am? A prostitute?"

The man answers, "We've already established what you are. Now we're just negotiating the price."

Manchin is not a prostitute, but it does seem that, for him, the filibuster isn't so much a principled issue as it is a price issue. Democrats know that, which is why news has emerged that Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is pressuring Biden to pressure Manchin on the filibuster:

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) told POLITICO Biden "should endorse" the idea of creating a carveout to the legislative filibuster in the Senate for legislation that applies to the Constitution. In effect, the reform would make it possible for Democrats to pass their sweeping elections reform bill and another bill reauthorizing key sections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act with just Democratic support. It's a sentiment the congressman says he's shared with White House counselor Steve Ricchetti and Office of Public Engagement Director Cedric Richmond as well. "I've even told that to the vice president," Clyburn said. Biden could "pick up the phone and tell [Sen.] Joe Manchin, 'Hey, we should do a carve out.'" Clyburn said, referring to the centrist West Virginia Democrat who has resisted filibuster reform. "I don't care whether he does it in a microphone or on the telephone  just do it."

Clyburn's word carries weight with Biden because it was Clyburn who pushed Biden into first place by convincing South Carolina's Black Democrats to choose Biden over Bernie. It was also Clyburn who worked with Obama to install Harris as his veep candidate.

The big question now is how Manchin will respond to this renewed pressure. Biden is a puppet to the mysterious "they" to whom he keeps referring (i.e., "they" don't want him to say something or he'll get in trouble with "them"). Biden is obviously scared of the forces propping him up in office. The big question is whether "they" also scare Manchin  or if they have something that will entice him away from his current stand on the filibuster. If they do, we may soon be looking at a very different America.

Image: Rep. James Clyburn anoints Biden (cropped, edited in Pixlr). YouTube screen grab.
Imagine that an organization published a poll saying that most flyers think the airlines don't care about them. Then imagine that the airlines came back saying the flyers are stupid or living in the land of conspiracies.

Well, we have something like that going on with the news media. They keep looking for excuses for how the public feels about their work. The news media needs to look at itself in the mirror and see the culprit.

Check out this poll via Paul Bedard:

President Joe Biden's election might have made the media feel good, but it's done very little for the industry's reputation with news consumers. In the latest demonstration of the difficulties the news media face, a sizable 58% of likely voters told Rasmussen Reports that they believe the media are "truly the enemy of the people," a phrase coined by former President Donald Trump. Some 46% disagreed, but the highest number (34%) said that they "strongly agree" with Trump. As with similar surveys during the Trump era, Democrats believe the media far more than Republicans. Now, 56% of Democrats "trust" the news they receive versus 58% of Republicans who don't. The partisanship is not surprising. But there was some agreement on "fake news," another Trump phrase, being a serious problem. A supermajority of Republicans, 92%, said it is a problem, as did 74% of Democrats. Overall, 83% said it is a big problem. Notably, said Rasmussen, independents generally agree with Republicans on the "enemy of the people" question, at 61%. Said the pollster, "Voters overwhelmingly believe 'fake news' is a problem, and a majority agree with former President Donald Trump that the media have become 'the enemy of the people.'"

Wonder now why people are not watching the news channels?

We can agree or disagree with the line "enemy of the people," but we cannot dispute that the news media were obsessed with Trump and let Biden sleep in his basement during the campaign. Maybe they didn't think Biden would win and did not waste their time asking or demanding full press conferences. Biden won, and now he is executing the policies, from the border to energy pipelines, never discussed during the campaign.

So don't blame the readers or viewers for believing that the media were, and are, in the tank for President Biden. All you have to do is compare the press conferences  i.e., the wolves ready to attack Trump and the poodles asking their man for his favorite ice cream flavor.

The media have done this to themselves. It's up to them to make journalism great again or continue to lose ratings.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

Image: Library of Congress.

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Those of us who came of age in the second half of the 20th century, when we hear the word Minnesota, still tend to think of a state that represented the best Scandinavian virtues of self-sufficiency and honesty or maybe the pioneer ruggedness of Laura Ingalls Wilders family. Boy, is that a dated idea. When the anti-Semitic Ilhan Omar was elected to the House of Representatives, we learned all sorts of interesting things about immigration and election fraud in Minnesota. However, with the election of John Thompson to the Minnesota House of Representatives, were getting a whole new level of political dirt in that Midwestern state.

Scott Johnson, who lives in Minnesota, has been tracking the sordid tale of Thompsons mysterious dual residency in...Wisconsin! Although he was elected to represent St. Pauls East Side, it seems Thompson doesnt like them enough to live among them or even to live in the same state with them.

It all started when Thompson was pulled over last week because his car was missing its front license plate. At the time, he duly presented the police officer with his drivers license. What was peculiar, to say the least, is that the license came from Wisconsin. But wait, as Ron Popiel used to say. Theres more!

He not only doesnt have a Minnesota drivers license, he has never had one, and his driving privileges in Minnesota had been revoked in April 2019 for a failed child support obligation. The good news is that on Wednesday Thompson made good on the child support. Thompson told the Pioneer Press he never took out a Minnesota drivers license, although he also had previously told the paper hes lived in St. Paul for 18 years. And yet the same month Thompson appeared on the ballot for election to the legislature last year he renewed his Wisconsin drivers license. Indeed, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Thompson has held a valid Wisconsin license since July 2000. Thompson renewed the license in 2005, 2012 and November 2020. The Pioneer Presss Dave Orrick adds: The address or addresses on Thompsons renewed and expired licenses are not public, but Wisconsin drivers licenses are only available to Wisconsin residents. T Theres more. Minnesota law requires new residents to obtain a Minnesota drivers license within 60 days of residency. When did this guy become a Minnesota resident? Residency raises yet another issue. Minnesota law also imposes a six-month residency requirement on candidates for the legislature. A candidate must have lived in his district at least six months before election day.

You can guess Thompsons defense: Racism, of course. To his credit, St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell is fighting back against the charge that the sergeant who pulled Thompson over was motivated in the first instance by racism. As for Thompson, having played the race card, hes now fallen silent  and is refusing to let the police release the body camera showing him getting his citation for driving without a front license plate.

By the way, Thompson is an unpleasant person in other respects, aside from probable fraud in running for office. John Thompson was the person who led a raucous group of BLM protesters in front of the home of Police Union leader Bob Kroll, terrorizing his wife and children. His political rhetoric consisted of saying things like We coming for everything that you motherfers took from us, and This whole [vulgarity] state burned down for 20 [vulgarity] dollars. You think we give a f about burning Hugo [Krolls town] down? There was more and you should watch the video to get the full flavor of the man.

John Thompson, who recently won his Primary for 67A in St. Paul, goes off and screams at neighborhood children, residents, and neighbors of Police Union Leader Bob Kroll.



"F*CK, Hugo Minnesota!"



BLM protesters gathered today outside Kroll's home. pic.twitter.com/1vTaiTQsML  Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) August 15, 2020

Thompson also has had issues with reporters, threatening to beat the brakes off your motherf-ing ass out here when they turned on a camera light indicating that they were filming him at the scene of a triple homicide. This happened just a few days after he took his seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

This is not Laura Ingalls Wilders Minnesota anymore, thats for sure.

IMAGE: John Thompson. Twitter screen grab.

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One thought kept going through my mind as I read the report titled "US to Israel: No Palestinian punitive home razing, we won't let this drop": "Americans can't be that stupid!" The article outlined the dispute between the U.S. and Israel caused by demolishing the home of one Shalabi, an American passportholder who "had been indicted for killing Yehuda Guetta, 19, in a drive-by shooting ... at the beginning of May. He was also indicted for the attempted murder of two students, also injured in the shooting. ... 'The home of an entire family should not be demolished for the actions of one individual,' the U.S. Embassy spokesperson said on Thursday."'

This sums up the Biden administration's view of the Palestinians: terrorism is but "actions of one individual," not representing the collective views of the body politic. Apparently, Palestinians are all in for coexistence, with a few bad apples acting out now and then on their own initiative, counter to the peaceful culture of the Palestinians.

So let's start close to home  Mr. Shalabi's Palestinian home, that is. His Palestinian wife ("he lived most of the time with his other wives and children in homes he owned in the United States") is unrepentant: "She described him as a 'resister' and vowed to rebuild the house. 'They want to demoralize us, but we are steadfast. This is the situation of the entire Palestinian people,' she said."

And where will the money come from? Undoubtedly, from the Palestinian "martyrs' fund," maintained by the presumably peaceful P.A., which issues "pay per slay" payments to families of terrorists to the tune of some $300 million per year.

And where does the presumably aberrant, off-the-wall idea that Israelis should be attacked come from? Many places, including the official P.A. propaganda that glorifies terrorists, naming schools and streets after them, and Palestinian school books funded by the E.U. and the U.N.

And how about Hamas in Gaza, which puts its energies into acquiring weapons and training of an army instead of focusing on peaceful pursuits like trades and agriculture?

Or Arab citizens of Israel who formed mobs and roamed the streets, hunting down Jewish Israelis during the latest mini-war with Gaza?

It looks as though destroying Israel is not just on the mind of a few weak-minded individuals like Mr. Shalabi (per Israeli NGO defending him  "Shalabi suffered from mental illness and had 'repeatedly stated that he was motivated by suicidal thoughts.'"  and those who assisted him  "Five other Palestinians were also indicted for the obstruction of justice because they provided Shalabi with a hiding place during the initial manhunt." The entire Palestinian body politic is animated by this idea; it seems to be a raison d'etre for both Fatah and Hamas (as it was during the "intifada" of twenty years ago, launched in response to Israel's peace offers, in which over a thousand Israelis were killed and thousands more maimed in suicide bombings), and for far too many Arab Israelis.



How did this fact evade the Middle East "experts" in the Biden administration, who keep intoning the standard line: "We believe it is critical for all parties to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution; this certainly includes the punitive demolition of Palestinian homes"  as if Palestinians are interested in a "negotiated two-state solution" rather than destruction of Israel? It is beyond me.

President Biden claims to have a longstanding relationship with Israel that started almost fifty years ago when he met Golda Meir on his trip to Israel in the early 1970s as a young senator. Fifty years is a lot of time to learn about any subject. Yet the Russians have a saying: "Live for a century, learn for a century - you'll still die a fool." It is sad to observe the wisdom of the plain-speaking Russian folk being confirmed by an American  an American at the pinnacle of power, no less. Half a century of being involved in Middle East politics apparently has not made President Biden one bit wiser. He is still clueless about what animates the Palestinians.

Image via Max Pixel.

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Critical Race Theory is liable to end for reasons very similar to the reasons the Salem witch trials ended.

In January 1692, nine-year-old Elizabeth (Betty) Parris and 11-year-old Abigail Williams (the daughter and niece of Samuel Parris, minister of Salem Village) began having fits, including violent contortions and uncontrollable outbursts of screaming. After a local doctor, William Griggs, diagnosed bewitchment, other young girls in the community began to exhibit similar symptoms.

A special court, the court of Oyer and Terminer convened in Salem to hear the cases; and based on spectral evidence the first convicted witch, Bridget Bishop, was hanged that June. Eighteen others followed Bishop to Salems Gallows Hill, while some 150 more men, women, and children were accused over the next several months.

Opposition to the trials grew as the family and friends of more and more villagers were accused of witchcraft, including the wife of Governor William Phips. Governor Phips saved his wife by dissolving the Court of Oyer and Terminer and moving all trials to a higher court. This superior court did not allow spectral evidence and, since most of the earlier accused witches had been executed due to this evidence, any remaining witches were all ruled innocent.

The tide is turning against Critical Race Theory as those who endorse it become its victims. Most teachers and staff of New York schools went along with the CRT craze because they were afraid they would lose their jobs if they spoke out against it. In fact, even George Davison, the headmaster of New Yorks Grace Church school that teaches CRT did not dare admit that he had said in a private conversation with Paul Rossi, a teacher at his school, that we're demonizing kids, we're demonizing white people for being born. Instead, Davison accused Rossi of misquoting him. Rossi released an audio recording proving his account was accurate after which Mr. Davison, perhaps with some persuasion from his school, decided to retire.

As is well known, revolutions eat their early supporters. Appeasing the CRT crusaders may protect the jobs of teachers and staff in the short term, but in the long term, CRT will destroy them. That is because the goal of the CRT crusaders is equity and achieving equity requires that the jobs whites have to be transferred to people of color.

Teachers in the New York High School of Public Service experienced this directly after principal Paula Lev said she was going to get rid of white teachers and fired one of them. According to the New York Post, the teachers had overwhelmingly supported anti-racism and equity. These same teachers became its predictable victims. Prior to this the faculty had no problem teaching Critical Race Theory and dividing the school by race. Belatedly according to the Post, the faculty is rebelling, charging in a vote of no-confidence that Lev has flagrantly but unsuccessfully attempted to divide our school by race.

As more and more white workers find that their allegiance to equity and anti-racism is no protection, the day grows closer to when Critical Race Theory will go the way of the Salem Witch Trials. The best way to hasten that day is for maximum publicity to be accorded the fate of those who appease the CRT revolution in vain.

Image: Picryl

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According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Barbra Streisand has paid a large amount of political campaign contribution money (PCCM) over many years. On September 9, 2006, Barbra Streisand paid $1,000.00 to the "Committee to Elect Chris Murphy" organization. See a backup image of the payment here. The organization supported the U.S. House campaign of Chris Murphy. Mr. Murphy won the 2006 election and later won election to the U.S. Senate, where he serves today. For the payment, Streisand used a mailing address 

C/O Boulevard Management

21650 Oxnard St.

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

 which we can easily find at Google Maps and Bing Maps.

A person using the name Barbara Streisand has also paid a lot of PCCM. This PCCM contributor spells her first name "Barbara," not "Barbra" as described above. On September 9, 2006, Barbara Streisand paid $1,000.00 to the "Courtney for Congress" organization, according to additional FEC information. See a backup image of this second payment here. "Courtney for Congress" supports the U.S. House campaigns of CT representative Joseph Courtney. Mr. Courtney won the 2006 election and serves in the U.S. House today. For the second payment, Streisand used a mailing address 

c/o Boulevard Management

21650 Oxnard Street, Suite 1925

Pomona, CA 91767-7888

 which has problems. Both Google Maps and Bing Maps show that for the payment, Streisand used a Pomona, CA address that does not exist. The Pomona payment ZIP code itself has its own problem. Although Pomona has a 91767 ZIP code, the nine-digit ZIP code (91767-7888) shown in the payment apparently does not exist, certainly according to this search. The payments shown here open up major questions.

One: Assuming Barbra and Barbara Streisand are the same person, why did Streisand use the mysterious Pomona mailing address seen above to pay PCCM?

Two: Why did Streisand put so much effort into building the questionable Pomona address  one that so closely resembles a real address? Out of 100,000 potential five-digit ZIP code numbers (00000 to 99999), the 91767 zip code definitely lands in Pomona. Five ZIP codes, at most, cover Pomona, CA. These facts make it highly unlikely that Streisand could have randomly picked a clean city and five-digit zip code combination. As seen above, one source reported that the 91767-7888 ZIP code apparently does not exist. Tens of millions, probably hundreds of millions, of Americans have never paid PCCM  this author included. If those Americans tried placing questionable information like this on their IRS paperwork, they would get into terrible trouble. Instantly.

Three: Why did the FEC ignore the situation? The FEC claims that it is "protecting the integrity of the campaign finance process."

The FEC clearly knew about the September 9, 2006, Streisand PCCM payment information for a long time. After all, it supplied the information on its website.

Four: If the same contributor made both September 9, 2006, Streisand PCCM payments, why did that contributor use different names, and on the same day?

Five: If Rep. Courtney knew any of the information shown here about these payments, when did he know it? How did he handle the information? Why did he handle it the way he did? And likewise with then-rep. Murphy.

Six: Did Courtney, Murphy, or their staffers ever discuss these payments? If yes, what did they say? Individually or together, did they ever discuss the payments with Streisand? If yes, what happened in those discussions?

These payments happened almost fifteen years ago. Maybe questions about them don't matter anymore, because they happened so far back in time. Well, in 2020, Barbara Streisand made other mysterious PCCM payments. On January 13, 2020, Barbara Streisand made a payment to the "Bollier for Kansas" organization. For the payment, Streisand used a mailing address 

1327 Prospect St

Malibu, CA 90265

 which has a problem. The address also apparently does not exist. See a backup image of the payment here. This shows a November 2, 2018, Barbra Streisand payment to the "Swalwell for Congress" organization. Streisand used a mailing address 

6838 Zumirez Dr

Malibu, CA 90265-4317

 which clearly exists. See a backup image of the payment here. A May 28, 2020, Barbara Streisand payment to the "Elizabeth Pannill Fletcher for Congress" organization has a mailing address 

6838 Sumierz Dr

Malibu, CA 90265

 which has a definite problem. It apparently does not exist. See a backup image of the payment here. For extra mystery, the November 2, 2018, Streisand payment to Swalwell disappeared from the FEC search engine. See a backup image of the specific FEC search page result here. The fact that the FEC search engine does not catch the Swalwell payment proves that the search tool itself has no reliability. No logical reason can explain the disappearance of the Streisand to Swalwell Nov. 2, 2018 payment from the FEC search engine. We can wonder what other information has disappeared from it in the same way. More generally, readers of American Thinker will ask their own sharp questions about all of the information presented here.

These issues have even more importance because both Barbra Streisand and Barbara Streisand have paid PCCM in the year 2021. The FEC has information about a massive number of PCCM payments, from many contributors, over many years. The Streisand payments raise questions about other potential PCCM payment problems the FEC has potentially ignored. FEC PCCM paperwork involves government, money, and information, just like IRS paperwork. The FEC Streisand PCCM information shown here raises questions about the IRS tax paperwork filed with the IRS, under both Streisand names. Does that IRS paperwork also have questionable information? Do FEC and potential IRS information quality problems extend to other people who pay large amounts of PCCM?

Image: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay, Pixabay License.

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There is only one Republican on the House Select Committee on January 6, 2021: Rep. Liz Cheney. That Speaker Nancy Pelosi picked Cheney to be on this committee suggests, arguably, an infraction of House protocol. Typically, the Democrats on a committee are selected by the top House Democrat, in this case, Speaker Pelosi, and the committee Republicans are chosen by the top House Republican, in this case, Kevin McCarthy, House Republican leader. Two Republicans, of the 211 House Republicans voted to create this select committee: Cheney (R[?]-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.). There are 220 Democrats in the House, and four vacancies, this 117th Congress.

Speaker Pelosi gave herself the power to name eight members of the select committee, with GOP leader McCarthy to name five members. The following are the speaker's other committee choices: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chair; Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.); Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.); Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.); Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.); Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.); and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). (Note the presence of three members from California among Pelosi's eight choices.)

Liz Cheney said the following, on being a Pelosi choice for the January 6 committee:

What happened on January 6th can never happen again. Those who are responsible for the attack need to be held accountable and this select committee will fulfill that responsibility in a professional, expeditious and non-partisan manner.

Her statement also called January 6 occurrence "the most serious attack on our Capitol since 1814  ignoring the March 1, 1954 attack by Puerto Rican "nationalists" firing guns, wounding five members of Congress.

One need go no farther than to point to the speaker's selection of Cheney for the committee  and the inclusion of mendacious partisan Schiff on the committee  to dismiss any thought that it will probe the January 6 occurrence at the Capitol in a nonpartisan way. Indeed, to regard Cheney any longer as a Republican, arguably, is to disregard political reality.

As of July 11, Rep. McCarthy has not named the five select committee members allotted to him, nor has he said whether he will name any Republicans to this (clearly) political maneuver by Pelosi. And Pelosi has yet to announce a time frame for her kangaroo inquisition. This writer, with a nod to the House Committee in Un-American Activities  popularly known as "HUAC"  believes that Pelosi's select committee merits a similar acronym: HUWAC, for House Un-Woke Activities Committee.



Kevin McCarthy (caricature by Donkey Hotey, CC BY 2.0 license.

The House Republican leadership should be aware that Pelosi is likely to cite newspaper references to January 6 to defend her (false) claim that her select committee will conduct itself in a nonpartisan manner. She would be expected to comment that even The Wall Street Journal placed the blame for January 6 at the feet of Donald Trump. In its lead editorial, "How Will Biden Govern?," January 20, 2021, the Journal agreed that Joe Biden "was right to blame Mr. Trump for contributing to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot[.]" Indeed, Pelosi, or maybe Schiff  or any of the other seven Pelosi choices  will cite those words from the Journal's Inauguration Day editorial  without providing the rest of the sentence: "but comparing Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz to Joseph Goebbels is Trump-like excess." (Jeez, couldn't the Journal have put it "leftist-like excess." The left compared George W. Bush to Hitler, after all.)

Interestingly, we haven't seen a poll whether Republicans and independents think House GOP leader McCarthy should bow before Pelosi and name five Republicans to her inquisition panel. This observer would counsel Mr. McCarthy: be careful lest you hand Pelosi the sword to wield against you.

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Tampa - Ursula Therese Tomlinson, known to her friends as "Terry", passed away on June 26, 2021 after a short illness, at the age of 82, surrounded by her loved ones in Tampa, Fla. She was born in Germany on October 10, 1938 and was raised in Germany and Austria. In 1959 she moved to the Uni
According to Vice the FBI is using Google Pixel Anom phones to catch criminals. But, what the heck is an Anom phone? You may be wondering. An Anom phone has the Anom messaging app which is concealed and encrypted. It also happens to be an FBI honeypot. So, how is it concealed?

It is kind of like having multiple profiles on your phone. On the one hand, if you enter a certain PIN you will see a standard Android setup. You may see apps on it that seem normal. Apps like Facebook, Netflix, Tinder, Instagram, etc. You know the normal apps that millions of people have on their devices.

However, the apps do not work when you click on them. So, that means the phone must be busted right? Well not really. If you take the same phone and reset it then use a different pin a different setup is shown. This time it is just a click, calculator, and settings icons.

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The calculator conceals the messaging app. Now, after that long explanation, youre probably wondering what this has to do with the FBI. Well after clicking the calculator on the screen the words Enter Anom ID and a password will pop up.

Google Pixel Anom phones help FBI catch lots of criminals

Criminals were using this messaging app to communicate securely. However, in a surprise twist, the FBI and other international law enforcement agencies were monitoring the messages. These phones which the criminals were using to basically snitch on themselves were Google Pixels.

According to PhoneArena, most of these Pixel devices were either Pixel 3a or 4a devices. These burner Pixels did their job though. They tricked criminals into airing out their plans. These Pixel phones are running a ROM known as Arcane OS.

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The Arcane OS cant be flashed with anything else and seems like a secure phone. It has dual account logging, anonymous messaging, and even a secure wipe feature. The FBI was able to create a honeypot that included information from places like Germany and Lithuania.

Thanks to this genius plan from the FBI a ton of arrests were made. Now, plenty of criminals were using these devices will find themselves behind bars and off the streets. Many of the criminals who got caught got these phones from classified sites like Craigslist.

So, the main lesson here is that crime doesnt pay. These criminals thought they were getting a deal on a cheap Google Pixel in order to communicate. Instead, it looks like they received a big dose of karma.
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(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 12 - The search for the body of missing 18-year-old Pakistani woman Saman Abbas, who is believed to have been killed by her family after refusing an arranged marriage in Pakistan at the end of April, was abandoned after 67 days on Monday.

In more than two months some 500 Carabinieri, various dog units, firefighters with divers, and provincial police have searched for the body of the woman who is believed to have been strangled by her uncle.

Also used in the search at her home town of Novellara near Reggio Emilia have been HD geo scanners, electromagnetometers, drones, satellite information analysis and security cameras.

But Carabinieri said they will continue to look for the body and try to catch her fugitive relatives. (ANSA).


(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, JULY 12 - Luxembourg offered to resettle part of the 572 migrants who reached Sicily's coast on board the Ocean Viking, a spokesperson of the European Commission said on Monday. According to the source, Italy on Friday night asked Brussels to coordinate reallocations from the boat, which is docked at the port of Augusta in the province of Siracusa.(ANSAmed).


BEIRUT - Promoting the universal language of music to fill an educational and social void caused by the health and economic crisis, contributing to nourish the emotions of youths facing economic and social difficulties in their home countries is the objective pursued by the Fondazione World Youth Orchestra (Wyo) through the project Wyo4Children.



The orchestra is returning to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Morocco and Lebanon with the project thanks to the support of the Italian cultural institutes in Beirut and Rabat. The project, according to a statement released by Wyo, provides for the "musical training of children aged 7 to 14 who often have difficult stories. The initiative allows them to study music for two years, under the guidance of musical professionals though individual and group lessons".



In Bosnia, the project is based in Sarajevo and has the objective of "guaranteeing to the most vulnerable children a family and a common environment in which to fully develop their potential". In Morocco, the activities will involve 32 girls from the Institute for orphans in Fez, while in Lebanon eight young violin players will be able to continue their training in a context of grave economic and political crisis.



"Thanks to the project - the statement continued - all teachers involved will be able to count on a source of support, thus remaining active in a period in which it is not possible to hold live concerts". The project was promoted thanks to the support of the Fondazione Cultura e Arte, an institution of the Fondazione Terzo Pilastro Internazionale, which promotes cultural and artistic initiatives for solidarity.


BRUSSELS - Luxembourg offered to resettle part of the 572 migrants who reached Sicily's coast on board the Ocean Viking, a spokesperson of the European Commission said on Monday. According to the source, Italy on Friday night asked Brussels to coordinate reallocations from the boat, which is docked at the port of Augusta in the province of Siracusa.
MADRID - Over 100 migrants clambered up fences and crossed into the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco in the umpteenth episode of an exodus of thousands of people. Migrants attempt to reach Ceuta and Melilla from Morocco as the enclaves are the only passage by land between Africa and Europe.



"In total, 119 entered, all men", said a spokesman of the Spanish government in Melilla, referring to this latest episode that occurred in the last few hours.



Last month, Spanish authorities were taken by surprise when up to 10,000 people were able to cross the border from Morocco to Ceuta, mostly youths.
TEL AVIV - Jordan's state security court on Monday sentenced two high-ranking former officials of the royal household to 15 years in jail over an alleged plot aimed at destabilizing the Hashemite kingdom, according to the charge.



Bassem Awadallah - a former advisor to King Abdallah - and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal house, were convicted on sedition and incitement charges. Both pleaded "not guilty" and are expected to appeal the sentence.



The two men were arrested in April together with a reported 15 people, while the king's half-brother, Hamza, was placed under house arrest after denouncing "cases of corruption". The royal family subsequently announced that the divergence with prince Hamza had been resolved.



The trial against Awadallah - a businessman with strong interests in Saudi Arabia - and bin Zaid was held behind closed doors. The family of Awadallah - who is also a US citizen - said they will request the intervention of President Joe Biden to demand his release from prison. King Abdallah plans to visit Washington in a week.
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England is tantalisingly close to lifting all remaining coronavirus restrictions, Boris Johnson has said, as he is expected to push ahead with the next stage of unlocking.

The Prime Minister will host a press conference on Monday where he is expected to say that the country can move to Step 4 of the plan to lift measures, including ending the legal requirement to wear masks.

But he will also warn cases will rise as rules designed to suppress the coronavirus are removed.

Mr Johnson will host a press conference on Monday afternoon while Health Secretary Sajid Javid will announce the plans in Parliament.

(PA Graphics)

Downing Street said the unlocking would be based on four tests  the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence that the vaccine is causing a reduction in hospital admissions and deaths, that infection rates do not risk a surge in admissions, and that no new variants of concern throw progress off track.

The PM said: We are tantalisingly close to the final milestone in our road map out of lockdown, but the plan to restore our freedoms must come with a warning.

While the phenomenal vaccine rollout has offered every adult some protection against the virus, and the crucial link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths is weakened, the global pandemic is not over yet.

Cases will rise as we unlock, so as we confirm our plans today, our message will be clear. Caution is absolutely vital, and we must all take responsibility so we dont undo our progress, ensuring we continue to protect our NHS.

As of 9am on Sunday, there had been a further 31,772 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK, the Government said.

A further 26 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Saturday, bringing the UK total to 128,425.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 153,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

Moving to Step 4 was delayed by four weeks to ensure all adults had been offered a vaccine.

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Government data up to July 10 shows that of the 80,646,232 Covid jabs given in the UK so far, 45,881,721 were first doses, a rise of 93,763 on the previous day.

Some 34,764,511 were second doses, an increase of 211,446.

Analysis from Public Health England (PHE) and the University of Cambridge suggests that vaccines have so far prevented an estimated 8.5 million infections and 30,000 deaths in England alone.

The next stage of lifting measures is seen as a further step towards normality and moving out of the pandemic.

The Euros final at Wembley on Sunday was one of the Governments test events at returning to mass gatherings, with more than 60,000 fans packing the stadium for a match against Italy which England agonisingly lost on penalties.

All those attending needed to have proof of a negative Covid-19 test or full vaccination 14 days before the fixture.

However some ticketless fans managed to breach security to get into the stadium.

England manager Gareth Southgate consoles players (Mike Egerton/PA)

A number of such events have been held during the delay to lifting measures to monitor Covid-19 infection rates.

Downing Street also said the delay has meant the end of restrictions is closer to the school holidays, where transmission rates are expected to be lower.

On the other hand, reopening later in the year could put more pressure on the NHS as the health service contends with other illnesses such as flu.

Meanwhile, Scotland is past the worst of the current peak in coronavirus cases, the countrys health secretary Humza Yousaf said.

On Sunday, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi told The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC: One of the things that weve done, obviously, weve got the vaccination programme, but were already planning the NHS is planning for co-administration of the Covid boost starting early September, with flu, because weve had very little flu circulating in communities because of the lockdown.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has defended Irelands efforts to resist a global minimum corporate tax rate.

On Monday, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe Donohoe met United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Brussels as international pressure mounts on Irelands opposition to global corporate tax reform proposals.

Ireland has become an outlier internationally in resisting proposals for a minimum global rate of 15% on corporations.

The move is backed by 130 countries worldwide, including the G20 and the EU, but Ireland is seeking to maintain its 12.5% rate.

Leo Varakdar defended that stance on Monday, saying the proposals were not just about tax justice but about big countries trying to get a bigger share of the pie.

He said: First of all, this stable low corporation tax regime of 12.5% has worked for Ireland.

Weve taken about 10 billion euros a year in corporation profit tax, double what the average European country does per head.

Its one of those examples of where low taxes result in higher revenues, in a world where wealth capital, labour, corporations are very mobile.

He added: We shouldnt be under any illusions about what is going on here.

This isnt just about tax justice and big companies paying their fair share of tax, although it is about that.

This is about big countries trying to get a bigger share of the pie.

Large countries are trying to gain tax revenues at the expense of smaller countries like Ireland, for example, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and others.

He said larger countries were looking out for their own interests and Ireland should do the same.

Britain has secured a carve-out for financial services, in order to protect the city of London, Mr Varadkar said.

America has secured commitments that the European Union will not go ahead with tax on digital companies. So, we have to look after our interests too, and we will.

Mr Varadkar said Ireland would prefer to be inside the tax agreement than outside it, and that negotiations on the subject will continue.

He added: Were not going to sign up to or endorse an agreement that doesnt protect our fundamental interests in a small country.

The Tanaiste was speaking at the launch of the IDA Ireland annual report for 2020.

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The IDA has reported investment in the first half of 2021 returning employment creation to pre-pandemic levels, with an associated employment potential of more than 12,530 jobs.

IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan said the stability of Irelands corporate tax rate has boosted investor confidence in the country.

He said: I think from a clients perspective they continue to have significant confidence in Ireland. That is down to the stability of the taxation regime and rate over many years.

Thats why we continue to see the numbers in 2020 that we saw, and the numbers now in the first half of 2021. Investors have confidence in Ireland.

We know it is more likely that there will be a global tax framework agreed, rather than less likely at this point.

Ireland has said that it can sign up to many aspects of that global agreement and Mr Shanahan said Ireland had opposed moves to minimum global tax rate for legitimate reasons.

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He said: There is a lot of technical detail to be worked through, even on what is currently being agreed in principle.

It is perfectly legitimate that Ireland would articulate Irelands case within a global negotiation.

I think theres nothing remarkable about that and nor do our clients find that remarkable.

He added: There are still political discussions and policy discussions to be had between now and October.

From an ideas perspective, obviously, within the context of whatever the new framework is, and whether there is agreement or not agreement, remaining stable and competitive is where we need to be.
Jason Donovan has said theatre can act as therapy as we come out of lockdown.

The actor and singer was speaking ahead of the return of Joseph And The Technicolour Dreamcoat, which he stars in, to the London Palladium on Monday.

He was pictured alongside co-stars Alexandra Burke and Jac Yarrow ahead of their performance on Monday night.

Donovan told the PA news agency: Its been a tough year for a lot of people and I think theatre is going to be a bit of therapy.

And actually, in a way, musicals are sort of the perfect antidote to this time because they are a heightened sense of reality and its music and its a story and its escapism.

Joseph And The Technicolour Dreamcoat is the perfect story for the current climate as it is about overcoming adversity and its colourful and its uplifting.

Jason Donovan, Alexandra Burke and Jac Yarrow (Ian West/PA)

He added he understands people may be slightly nervous about returning to theatres.

However he said the London Palladium is a safe environment.

Burke said it is just nice to be back doing what we love to do.

Alexandra Burke (Ian West/PA)

The cast are hoping to bring so much joy to people, she added.

I know we are all very nervous and I can say that for everyone, because we all havent performed in a long time, Burke said.

Theatres currently have to operate with social distancing rules, however coronavirus restrictions are currently scheduled to lift on July 19.
ALPHARETTA, Ga.  A nonprofit veterans group trying to stage a revival of the Alpharetta Old Soldiers Day Parade this August has called it quits.

The decision comes after failed negotiations with the City of Alpharetta over costs for police and other services. The city had been a longtime partner in the event with American Legion Post 201 but withdrew its support in 2019 following a legal battle with a group associated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

No plans were made for the parade in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, although the Legion held a small event on its grounds on Wills Road.

The July 1 announcement ended almost six weeks of negotiations with the city.

They just really dont want to have a parade, said Thomas Richardson, chairman of the Northern Arc Old Soldiers Day Foundation. They dont want a parade.

Efforts by the charity began in earnest in mid-May to raise money to revive the parade that honored past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The event, held the first Saturday in August, regularly drew close to 100 entrants, including floats, high school bands and dignitaries.

Back in 2019, the city said it spent more than $20,000 for its part in helping sponsor the parade, a figure that included police, public works and emergency personnel.

Richardson said that when he met with Mayor Jim Gilvin and city officials in May, he was told the city couldnt justify spending that amount of money on a parade.

They didnt have a problem with it when their name was on the shirt, Richardson said. And, if it brings business into this city  restaurant, shopping, notoriety  [theyre] the beneficiary.

He said the Foundation got initial approval and received an application for a parade permit. When they presented parade plans that followed the traditional route down Roswell Street, then west on Old Milton Parkway to the Legion Hall, the city notified them it would cost $31,000 for police, EMS, public works employees, equipment and sanitation.

The Foundation continued negotiations, shortening the route and trimming the number of police, but the best they could come up with was a bill from the city for $12,230, and that didnt include insurance, traffic cones, street sweepers and other items required to stage a parade, Richardson said.

The clincher, he said, was when the city demanded the Foundation be financially responsible for additional contingencies, such as a greater police presence in case of unruly crowds.

They wanted a blank check, and we couldnt do that, Richardson said.

The Northern Arc Old Soldiers Day Foundation was conceived shortly after the city withdrew its participation in the event in 2019.

The city had narrowly escaped a challenge earlier that year when Richard Leake and Michael Dean filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking an injunction against the city for refusing to allow the Roswell Mills Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans from displaying the battle flag in the parade. The city argued that similar flag displays had been linked to disorder at similar events across the country.

Less than 24 hours before the parade was scheduled to start, the judge denied to act on the pairs request, basically upholding the citys position, and the parade went off without a hitch the following day.

The case remains active on appeal and is scheduled for a hearing in September.

Richardson said the charity was formed to take responsibility for the parade.

The whole purpose was to take that legal impact away from the city and away from Legion 201, he said.

Alpharetta Mayor Gilvin said he regrets the organization has given up on the parade for this year.

The city has made every effort to work with the Northern Arc Old Soldiers Day Foundation, as we do with any organization who applies for a permit to hold a special event in Alpharetta, he said. For any event being coordinated by an outside organization, the city provides a good faith estimate of the costs that would be charged for services such as closing roads, handling trash, and necessary police and first responder presence.

Gilvin said the estimates are based on information provided by the permit applicant, and some of the important variables like crowd size can be difficult to forecast. If significantly more people show up for the event than anticipated or other factors beyond the citys control require more personnel or equipment, he said the city reserves the right to charge for those additional resources.

While the city anticipated no additional expenses, Gilvin said the contingency clause is a standard precaution to ensure taxpayers are not left to foot the bill.

The precaution has not, to our knowledge, dissuaded other event applicants from holding successful events in Alpharetta, and it is unfortunate that the Northern Arc Old Soldiers Day Foundation has made the decision to not pursue their event, he said.

Meanwhile, plans are taking shape to hold some Old Soldiers Day event on the American Legion 13-acre grounds in Alpharetta. The Varsity has already confirmed an order of 500 hotdogs, a staple at past events.
Today, families have an overwhelming variety of educational options for their children. Schools vary based on academic priorities and emphasis on social-emotional development. The education system is notorious for its ever-changing recommendations, but at Atlanta Academy we believe our commitment to a Kindergarten-8th grade (K-8) model will continue to stand the test of time. Read more
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In fact, thats exactly how Ocado nicknames its enormous facility, where an army of approximately 2,300 bots moves boxes with groceries to prepare them for shipping. The automated hive consists of a grid storage system, which is a metal structure filled with products that have to reach customers who place online orders. All the items are placed in totes, which are like open boxes.Ocado created a network of fully automated bots that are on duty 24/7, eliminating downtime. The machines move more than a million items a day, with each bot covering a distance of approximately 37 miles (60 km) every day. According to Ocado, their robots are so reliable and durable, that each of them travels a distance equivalent to London-New York before it requires any maintenance.Even though the warehouse is swarming with bots that are working only 0.1 inches (5 mm) one from another, there are no accidents and the whole operation works flawlessly. The bots travel at speeds of 13 ft per second (4 meters per second).There are sensors underneath each bot so that when a certain square in the grid is covered, a laser takes note of that so the robot knows its already passed that certain cell in the warehouse. All the products are moved by the machines in the packing area, where both human employees as well as robotic arms take over.A green pulsating light on the bot means the machine does exactly what it is supposed to, while an orange one indicates the robot is experiencing something within its sensors so it is safely stopped for investigation. A team of grid operators placed at the edge of the grid overlooks the entire hive and can control the bots remotely.
SUV

With more than 250k units sold across the globe, its safe to say that BMWs SAV/SAC trio from Spartanburg, USA is adamantly crucial for the Bavarians brand ongoing success. The automaker mentions the three models that should impress anyone with a high level of comfort and luxury, supreme performance, and pronounced dynamic handling capabilities were responsible for one in eight new deliveries.So, its only natural for the company to keep them interesting for the customers, especially during the long summer days when everyone is thinking mostly about vacation and great summer trips, not the next vehicle acquisition. Still, BMW is pushing the newly released X5 and X6 Black Vermilion plus BMW X7 limited edition in Frozen Black metallic as potential adventure partners, since all three of them are already up for ordering and the Old Continent market launch is scheduled for August.One thing of note, though, is that its all about the looks and handling characteristics  rather than adding an extra layer of performance. So, all three special versions are going on sale with the entire roster of engines, but dont expect any extra ponies above stock. Instead, one can imagine these will all cost a pretty penny. At home in Germany, the X5 Black Vermilion kicks off at no less than 93,200 (which is around $110,648 at the current exchange rate).Meanwhile, the X6 Black Vermilion goes for 100,700 euros ($119,552) and the limited edition X7 in Frozen Black metallic who doesnt even have a specific name will go for at least 108,700  which is no less than $129k. For the cash, customers are getting a wide array of M elements, from the M Sport Package to the M Alcantara Anthracite roof liner on the Black Vermilions.BMW Individual features are also present, but these do shine the most on the X7 because the flagshipadopts most of the other elements, including the Individual special paint finish Frozen Black metallic, save for the potentially controversial red contrasting details.
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EV

The first ones to reveal the really bad news were Nikkei and Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun. According to these Japanese newspapers, Mazda has chosen to adopt a different approach to the plug-in hybrid version of that crossover, once presented as Mazdas first vehicle conceived as an electric car. That was not quite right : the MX-30 has a derivative with a 2-liter engine as its primary propulsion device.Instead of having an electric car with a range extender, Mazda would have chosen a different approach. According to the Japanese newspapers, it will give it a larger combustion engine to eventually move it  possibly the 2-liter mill we already mentioned. That would allow Mazda to adopt a smaller battery pack than the 35.5theversion currently has and save money doing so.None of the Japanese newspapers came up with another explanation for the strategy shift: getting the rotary engine right. More stringent emission laws made it impossible for Mazda to create a successor to the RX-8. The company planned to put the Wankel engine back to work as a range extender, but it is not unlikely that it still emits more pollutants than it should. Automotive News got in touch with Mazda and its spokesman, Masahiro Sakata, said the company still considers having a rotary engine as a range extender, denying the plans are over. Yet, he confirmed Mazda no longer has a deadline for that. The previous plan was to release the MX-30 with the Wankel engine in the first half of 2022. Now, the company says it may happen between 2022 and 2025.Mazdas reason for sticking with the rotary engine is trying to pay the development cost it had with the technology along these years. However, it would probably be wiser just to forget it and choose a better engine design to become a range extender. Obrist developed one called ZVG (Zero Vibration Generator) that is silent and efficient.Mazda and Obrist should definitely talk, at least if Mazda still wants to sell cars in Norway. From 2025 on, the country will forbid all new vehicles with combustion engines to be sold there. The MX-30 with a range extender has a little more than three years to sell in that market, and we wonder what Mazda will offer there afterward.
Tiny homes are usually meant as permanent residences, but Ohariu is perfect for your summer vacation, as well. Think of it as the most glamorous house-shaped tent ever. Delivered in 2019 to a customer in New Zealand and based in Ohariu (hence its name), it stands as prime example that you can have the perfect companion for your daily adventures in the great outdoors. And its your own home. Ohariu is the product of a partnership between two tiny house companies, First Light, which did the design, and Build Tiny, which did the actual construction. Delivered in 2019, it was presented with the 2020 NZIA Wellington Architecture Award  Small Project in the following year and, to this day, remains a relevant tiny in the ever-growing niche of tinies . Thats because it packs all basic amenities in a very small footprint; it is built according to width, height and weight standards in the country so its perfectly mobile; and just as importantly, it is net-zero in terms of emissions and waste.The brief for this project called for a refined tramping lodge on wheels, a work of art for a tiny home , and a future base that packed functionality with that outstanding design. The challenge was not small, because the owner also wanted it to be road-legal, so weight had to be kept down to a minimum. It paid off in the end, because Ohariu is a striking build even for this niche, which is packed with gorgeous projects Measuring 7.2 m (23.6 feet) in length and weighing a total of 3,498 kg, Ohariu is incredibly tiny. Living space is of just 17 square meters (183 square feet), but its made to feel larger through smart design and the warm color theme throughout, creamy poplar plywood and silvery fittings. Accommodation is for two people in the upstairs loft, but theres a chefs kitchen, a bathroom with a dry, compost toilet and a glass-walled shower, and even a nook for reading by one of the large picture windows. Storage room is where Ohariu excels: theres a secret cupboard or closet almost in every available spot, from under the window-side sofa to the cupboards overhead, the stepping stairs, and the walls.Since this is a tiny meant for hiking, functionality relies in offering the pastimes associated with it: a comfortable place to rest, a kitchen to cook family meals, and the possibility to open it to the outside, to socialize with family and friends. Ohariu comes with several picture windows, and at least those in the front open up like french doors, maximizing interior space to the point where the exterior becomes an extension of the living space.The tiny sits on a removable trailer, and has a steel frame decked in corrugated iron. It has insulation and offers a heater hidden in the stairs, for colder weather. Though designed with transportability in mind, the owner had it installed by crane, as the video below shows. The point is that, should he wish to just pack up and leave one day, all hed had to do was hook the trailer to his truck, and get moving.Another highlight of Ohariu is sustainability . With a six-solar panel array on the roof and a battery and inverter on the back wall, it runs solely on solar power. It also has an LPG gas cylinder, LED lighting, a compost toilet, and low-water usage fittings, which make it very cheap to maintain. It is also almost entirely recyclable and was built using low-maintenance, locally sourced, and durable materials.So, just how well-off do you have to be to plan your summer adventures around one such movable home ? The answer wont surprise those who have kept an eye on the tiny home market and are well aware that these tinies still come with prohibitive pricing. Ohariu cost $106,000 to build, with everything inside (except for the washing machine, which was not installed at the time of delivery). Thats a lot of money for net-zero glamping for regular folks, but its probably affordable for those swimming in cash.
Ryan met Jim on vacation in South Dakota and they bonded over cars, he says at the beginning of the video. Jim is not really called that, but he doesnt want his real name out there, just as he doesnt want the location of his impressive pre-War stash of Fords to be publicly known. Because thats the big get with this barn find: as impressive as the cars discovered by mere chance are, they are not for sale.So, a barn Jims father built in 1975 holds a very impressive collection of Fords, all in pretty sturdy condition all things considered, with all-original interiors and original paint. To the untrained eye, they might be just a heap of rusted metal, collecting dust and bird poop, but they could be worth a fortune in the right hands. The fact that they were stored inside, protected from the elements, has limited the damage the years have brought upon them.First off is the car Jims mother used to drive to school, a formerly white 44 coupe that she crashed into a post. Then, theres a 1935 Ford three-window coupe that Jims father bought in the late 50s or early 60s when he got out of the army, after years of trying to purchase it. A 1917 Nash that was once used as a parade vehicle is also shown, as is a Ford Model T still with the original seat.Farther in the back is a 63 or 64 Cadillac convertible, black on black on black, that was driven inside and then forgotten. A second Model T is right next to it, though Jim doesnt recall how it got there or what is the story behind it. The same goes for a Ford T-Bucket close by.While commenters to the video lament that someone would hold on to this stash and basically condemn all these vehicles to crumbling to dust, Ryan says he simply could not let his amazing discovery go by undocumented. Lets just enjoy them for what they are, he says. Lets, indeed.
According to the Atascadero Police Department, the soldier was participating in a drill at Camp Roberts when his parachute failed to open fully on a free-fall jump. Emergency dispatchers received numerous reports around 4:55 p.m. about a parachutist who crashed through the roof in the 9500 block of Via Ciello.When the police went to investigate, he was found "conscious but stunned with complaints of pain" on the Atascadero home's kitchen floor, tangled in his parachute. Fortunately, no one was home when the incident occurred, or things may have ended much worse.We can safely say that he won the lottery ticket at life because he missed any objects in his fall. The homeowner's mother, Linda Sallady, told local publication KSBY that there wasn't that much damage in the house after his crash beside the obvious hole in the roof that can't go unnoticed."It's amazing. It's mostly the ceiling, the sheetrock. He missed the counters, appliances, everything," said Sallady.The soldier got away with moderate injuries and probably a scare (imagine jumping from a plane and your parachute fails to work, yikes). Luckily he survived to tell the story, and no one else was injured. After the Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services treated the injuries, he was taken to the hospital. His colleagues who also participated in the exercise landed safely at the designated landing spot."We are grateful that the parachutist received only moderate injuries and that no other persons suffered injury.", said the police in a statement.
It was almost 10 years after the iconic Porsche 911 was created by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, that the lifestyle brand Porsche Design emerged, in 1972. With such a distinguishable design philosophy, it was only natural that the vehicle itself would inspire a complex lifestyle range. Now, after half of century, Porsche Design is expanding yet again: together with the German company Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts, the brand will inject its DNA into stunning new hotels.The 2 companies recently announced the creation of a joint hotel brand, called Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels, which are going to be built in several cities across the globe. No further details were revealed so far, except the fact that these hotels will be at the top of the luxury segment, which was to be expected.With an equally respectable tradition and an even longer history, Steigenberger built its first hotels in the famous spa town of Baden-Baden, in 1930. It looks like an ideal partner for taking the Porsche legacy and turning it into an exclusive hotel experience.Its not the first time that Porsche dives into architecture . A few years ago, the first Porsche Design residential building was developed in Miami, in collaboration with U.S.- based Dezer Development. What made this jaw-dropping tower particularly stunning was its patented car elevator system. Yes, thats right: the Dezervator takes not just the residents, but their vehicles too, to the units. Every unit in this 60-story tower comes with sky-garages that are separated from the living headquarters only by a glass wall.With that kind of precedent, the expectations for the future Porsche hotels are through the roof. And not just in terms of architecture, but in every detail of customer experience.
HP

Celebrating the models 50th birthday, the Raging Bull has launched the first of four videos (one each Monday) that recounts the legacy of the supercar by involving inspirational personalities. The first to speak about it is Marcello Gandini , the man who created the futuristic shape of the Countach that still defines modern-day Lambos.Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted a revolutionary machine to continue the legacy of the Miura , and in 1970, he pushed his team to come up with it. Its successor would have to be quicker and more tech-advanced, and while the 12-cylinder unit remained, its position was changed from rear transversal to rear longitudinal, and its displacement was increased from 4 to 5 liters (from 244 cu-in to 305.1 cu-in).Paolo Stanzani had to basically invent a practical solution to avoid the limitations of a rear overhang transmission, so he came up with a gearbox that was positioned in front of the lump, with the propeller shaft placed inside the block. Marcello Gandini, who was the head of the styling department at Carrozzeria Bertone, gave it the iconic shape, and decided to use scissor doors to improve ingress and egress, and this has since become the key feature of all 12-cylinder vehicles made in SantAgata Bolognese.Named the LP 500 , the prototype, which had to sit under the spotlight at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, was the one that debuted the Countach moniker, which is an exclamation of the Italian Piedmontese dialect that indicates astonishment and admiration for something, Lamborghini explains.Even though it was an instant success, the Countach was far from being ready. Thus, the development and testing phase began, during which Bob Wallace spent around two years driving and fine-tuning it.The road tests revealed that the 5-liter powertrain was too immature and delicate for such a ride, so a 4-liter unit replaced it, with six Weber twin-body carburetors, making 375at 8,000 rpm, and rocketing it to almost 300 kph (186 mph).The car also featured advanced suspension, with hydraulic shock absorbers and stabilizer bar at the front, and adjustable shock absorbers for each wheel and another anti-roll bar at the rear. The brakes were self-ventilated and hugged by a new type of caliper, designed with racing know-how.At the 1973 Geneva Motor Show, car #1120001, a prototype, greeted the audience, with a tubular trellis frame, and aluminum body painted red. The vehicle was then repainted medium green for the Frankfurt, Paris and Earls Court London events, and sold to Switzerland. In the early 2000s, Lamborghini bought it and it is now on display at the MUDETEC Museum.Only 152 units of the Countach LP 400 were built until 1977.From 1978, the LP 400 was retired and replaced by the LP 400 S. This version had extended fenders to house the new 205/50 front and 345/35 rear Pirelli P7 tires. It also came with a front apron and optional rear wing for enhanced track capability, and production was capped at 235 cars.Unveiled at the 1982 Geneva Motor Show, the Countach LP 5000 S came with an updated interior and a new engine, with an almost 5-liter displacement that kicked out 375 HP at 7,000 rpm. It retained the carburetors, though after making its way to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, some units were equipped with Bosch electronic injection.Production ended after 323 units, in 1985, when the LP 5000 Quattrovalvole was shown to the world at Geneva. This was the first model officially imported to the United States.Boasting an impressive 455 HP at 7,000 rpm, the Countach Quattrovalvole had a 5.2-liter (317.3 cu-in) engine, with four valves per cylinder (hence the name), and new carburetors. The ones sold on the other side of the pond came with electronic injection.The car had a 4.4 mm (0.17 in) wider front track, new engine hood, and different side skirts, while the US model had side repeaters and bigger front bumper.The Quattrovalvole was the first Countach officially approved for the US market, but some of them made their way there before it. Until 1988, when assembly ceased, 631 examples were made.More mature than ever, the Countach 25th Anniversary was the last evolution of the project. It made its public premiere at the 1988 Paris Motor Show to celebrate Lamborghinis 25th anniversary, with significant visual updates and minimal mechanical improvements.This version had a tweaked chassis for the implementation of new Pirelli P Zero tires, enhanced engine cooling, more comfortable seats with less bolstering and electric adjustment, and electric windows. Horacio Pagani (yes, THAT Pagani) revised the styling, making it a bit rounder.The Countach 25th Anniversary examples sold in the US were exclusively fitted with electronic injection, while the rest of the world got theirs with carburetors.The final Countach left the assembly line on July 4, 1990, in Euro-spec, finished in Argento Metallizzato on top of a Grey leather interior. This car, which was the 658th of the 25th Anniversary series, was kept by Lambo and can now be seen at the MUDETEC.In total, Lamborghini made 1,999 units of the Countach, excluding the first LP 400. Its success story was continued by the Diablo, from the 1990 to 2001, and then by the Murcielago, which was kept in production until 2010, when the Aventador was introduced.Now, the Italian auto firm has bid farewell to the 12-cylinder supercar with the Aventador Ultimae , which came out last week, boasting an amazing 770 brake horsepower from the 6.5-liter V12, which rockets it to 100 kph (62 mph) in just 2.8 seconds.
EV

kw

David Wallis is a retired lecturer with a background in electrical engineering, which probably explains how he was able to do the conversion at his own workshop at home. That said, the project was not an easy one, he tells British publication the Daily Mail (photos of Wallis and his newly-converted Austin are also available at the link).He bought the Austin 7 last year, for 12,000, which is approximately $16,700 at the current exchange rate. He liked the condition the vintage car was in, but at the time, he had no plans for the conversion. The Austin 7, produced between 1923 and 1939 in some 290,000 examples, is often described as a big car in miniature and was meant to do what the Ford Model T aimed for in America: make the automobile accessible to more people. Its not surprising then that the Austin proved as successful in the UK as the Model T did in the U.S.Wallis says that driving the Austin as it was did not excite him, so he decided on converting it to an. Aside from the challenge that he had to complete the project while caring for his ailing wife, there was the fact that he didnt want to do any modification to the bodywork, and that included drilling new holes. In fact, he kept everything else on the car original.Six months later, he was done: the Austin now packs a 10motor (shipped in from China) and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that gives it a two-hour runtime on a full charge. Top speed is 40 mph (64.3 kph), but seeing how this is an open-top vehicle, Wallis would probably not want it to go any faster.The only downside to the conversion , Wallis says, is the fact that the car now sounds like a sewing machine. In what we assume is an instance of the infamous British dry humor, Wallis says he uses a speaker connected to his phone, to play the sounds of a Ferrari or a Bugatti whenever he takes his Austin for a drive.
If you had any doubt of how important urban mobility may be, no matter the level, just take the above statement as an example of whats happening in the world. Yes, Versace , the one founded in Milan back in 1978, the same one that produces clothing accessories, jewelry, watches, and even eyewear and fragrances, have in their arsenal, a skateboard.A skateboard that you can buy for $795 (669 at current exchange rates). But why the heck would they do something like this? After all, who would ever dream of doing a dark slide on good old Medusas face? Well, theres got to be somebody who would love to show up to a skatepark with one of these boards and just destroy it. Why? Because they can and have the money.Now, when you think about it, $795 for a skateboard isnt all that much considering some run upwards of $7,000 or more, and thats just for the deck. Here, you get a fully equipped board for that price, deck, trucks, and wheels. Not to mention two design options.However, the white and black print is only available in the U.S., while the golden variation seems to be available in Europe and other parts of the world, but again, no U.S. So, if you want one, youll have to make some friends overseas and they can ship it to you. Now, the white and black print is made in Spain, and so I'm going to assume that both designs are manufactured there. If thats true, you can probably ask a Versace dealer to order a golden variation.But are these boards any good for skateboarding ? Well, there isnt much to go on no matter which Versace website you visit. For example, the only thing that is mentioned about the deck is that it has an outer fabric made of wood. Theres no mention at the number of ply either. So how are you supposed to know how well its made? You buy one, take it to the park, and ride it with the sole purpose of destroying it. Once youve done so, have a look inside.The same story is true for the trucks and wheels as well. Nothing about a manufacturer or what they could be made of. But steel or aluminum trucks are usually within such a price range. Wheels? What about them? Nothing known here as well.As for the logo and print, this is really where Versace make their presence known . One board includes the gorgon queen and regal crowns with floral motifs. One is the Crete de Fleur print, while the 90s Versace Vintage just tells everyone what youre riding.After studying the two items this famed fashion designer has composed, I now understand that anytime now youll probably be seeing a Versace or Louie V e-scooter or e-bike, maybe even Gucci. Oh, and if they haven't thought of it yet, maybe this article would spark an idea. Just imagine a gang of fashion designers and the likes all rocking their Versace mobility devices at the local cafe. What would be your impression?
Crosby Smith is a care provider at Ludeman Developmental Center in Park Forest, Ill., a state home for the developmentally disabled. Smith and his fiancee were among numerous staff and residents at the Ludeman Developmental Center who contracted the virus last year.
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The Biden administration will ship over 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines Monday to Laos, Fiji and Costa Rica, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: This allotment is part of the pledge by President Biden to deliver 80 million doses of the vaccine globally as the U.S. seeks to be a leader in distribution on the world stage.

State of play: 150,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine will be sent to Fiji, and 1.08 million doses of J&J will be shipped to Laos through COVAX, the WHO-backed vaccine distribution initiative.

500,000 doses of Pfizer will be shipped through a bilateral agreement to Costa Rica.

By the numbers: In Laos, 595,647 people have been vaccinated, which represents 8.31% of the population, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Per the same data, approximately 16% of Costa Rica's population has been vaccinated, while just over 6% of the population in Fiji has received been

The big picture: Biden and G7 leaders have pledged to send 1 billion doses to the developing world, including 500 million from the U.S. alone.
One of them, Mkhitar Zakarian, was taken into custody early on Monday three days after resigning as mayor of the towns of Meghri and Agarak and several nearby villages making up a single administrative unit.

The Investigative Committee said afterwards that he has been formally charged with abuse of power and fraud. Zakarian rejected the accusations through his lawyer, Yerem Sargsian.

Sargsian said Zakarian was manhandled by masked and heavily armed police officers shortly after arriving, together with him, at a police department in Yerevan. He said Zakarian was toppled to the ground, filmed and dragged away by the officers despite not putting up any resistance.

The lawyer condemned the police actions as a gross violation of the due process aimed at humiliating and intimidating his client.

Zakarian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service on Saturday that he decided to step down to make sure that his community and local government employees do not suffer from fresh criminal proceedings launched against him.

Employees of the community administration are constantly summoned to the police, he said.

Zakarian, who was elected to the National Assembly on the Hayastan ticket, also said he decided to take up his seat in Armenias new parliament.

Also detained was Suren Ohanjanian, who runs the village of Vorotan, which is part of another Syunik community comprising the town of Goris.

Ohanjanian is prosecuted in connection with financial aid allocated to 31 Vorotan residents from the community budget in early June. Prosecutors claim that he told some of them to vote for Hayastan in the June 20 general elections. The village chiefs brother flatly denied the allegation when he spoke with RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

Lusine Avetian, the head of another village close to Goris, was arrested a week ago because of similar cash handouts given to several local residents. She too denies trying to buy their votes.

A pro-opposition TV station based in Syunik showed one of those residents saying over the weekend that police officers bullied his wife into giving false incriminating testimony against Avetian. The man insisted that his family was never told to back the opposition bloc which finished second in the elections.

Meanwhile, a court in Yerevan allowed law-enforcement authorities to hold the mayor of another Syunik town, Kajaran, in detention pending investigation. The mayor, Manvel Paramazian, was arrested on Thursday and charged afterwards with vote buying and fraud.

Paramazians lawyer, Lusine Sahakian, said he rejects the accusations as politically motivated.

Paramazian and Zakarian already faced other accusations before their arrests. They as well as the head of the Goris municipality, Arush Arushanian, were among the heads of more than a dozen Syunik communities who issued late last year statements condemning Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians handling of the autumn war with Azerbaijan and demanding his resignation.

Some of them encouraged supporters to disrupt Pashinians visit to Syunik in December. The prime minister faced angry protests when he finally toured Goris, Agarak, Meghri and the provincial capital Kapan in May.

The embattled Syunik mayors and a former provincial governor, Vahe Hakobian, lead an opposition party affiliated with Hayastan. The opposition bloc headed by former President Robert Kocharian last week condemned the continuing repressions against its members and said that they will further deepen the political crisis in Armenia.

During the election campaign Pashinian vowed to wage political vendettas against local government officials supporting the opposition.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Kajaran, he said: I promise you that you will see those scumbag officials lying here on the asphalt.

Pashinian repeatedly brandished on the campaign trail a hammer symbolizing a popular steel mandate which he said will allow him to rule Armenia with a more firm hand.

With this thing we will be taking out those rusty nails, upstarts huddling in various municipalities from many places, including this place, he told supporters in Sisian, another Syunik town run by an anti-Pashinian mayor.
The ambitious growth targets were set in a mid-term public spending plan approved by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians cabinet at an extraordinary session held behind the closed doors.

The move followed a significant upward revision of the governments economic growth target for this year. Pashinian said on July 1 that Armenias Gross Domestic Product is now projected to increase by 6 percent.

The government had forecast earlier that the Armenian economy will grow by 3.2 percent in 2021 after shrinking by 7.6 percent last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The World Bank offered a similar outlook in late March, saying that growth will likely reach 3.4 percent this year and accelerate to 4.3 percent in 2022.

The recovery will be slow; the economy is unlikely to return to pre-COVID output levels until 2023, the bank cautioned in a report.

The International Monetary Fund was less upbeat about Armenias short-term growth prospects in its World Economic Outlook released in April.

In a statement, Pashinians government said rising investments anticipated by it will be the main drivers of steady fast growth projected for the next five years. It did not say whether the government hopes to attract most of those investments from Armenian or foreign private investors or international development agencies.

Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian said in this regard that the government will set up three industrial zones in the country. He said two of them will mainly cater for Iranian investors.

Iranian companies are now showing a strong interest in relocating part of their manufacturing facilities to Armenia, Kerobian told journalists.

According to the government program, faster GDP growth will also translate into a sizable rise in tax revenues. They are projected to increase from about 1.4 trillion drams ($2.8 billion) in 2020 to 2.1 trillion drams in 2024.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced Argishti Kyaramians appointment to the top position in the Investigative Committee during a cabinet meeting in Yerevan. Pashinian praised the track record of the committees previous head, Hayk Grigorian, but did not give a clear reason for the decision to replace him.

Kyaramian took up his fifth senior state post during Pashinians rule. He worked in the Office of the Prosecutor General and the State Revenue Committee before becoming the acting head of an anti-corruption government body in 2019.

In June 2020, Pashinian appointed Kyaramian as director of the NSS despite the fact that he had never worked in Armenias most powerful security service. He was fired four months later, less than two weeks after the outbreak of the war with Azerbaijan. No official reason was given for his sacking.

Pashinian solidified Kyaramians reputation as one of his trusted lieutenants when he appointed the latter as deputy chief of the Investigative Committee last December.

Opposition figures and other critics of the government claim that Kyaramians main mission over the past year has been to oversee politically charged criminal investigations.

Nina Karapetiants, a civil rights activist, complained that ever since coming to power in 2018 Pashinian has rarely explained frequent personnel changes made by him.

How can they give this job to someone who was sacked as NSS director during the war without an explanation? she asked. Is this latest appointment a reward or punishment? Is Mr. Kyaramian irreplaceable or what? The public deserves to know who was fired for what.
The prosecutor, Karen Bisharian, defended Pashinians fiery campaign rhetoric during ongoing Constitutional Court hearings on opposition appeals against official results of the June 20 elections that gave victory to the ruling Civil Contract party.

The Hayastan bloc, one of the four opposition groups that lodged the appeals, listed Pashinians hate speech and calls for violence among violations which it says seriously affected the election outcome. The blocs representatives argued, in particular, that Pashinian brandished a hammer during campaign rallies held across the country.

Bisharian countered that the premier used the hammer only as a metaphor for a dictatorship of the law promised by him on the campaign trail.

Your Honor, I think it is clear that the context of these words was not about violence, he told the Constitutional Court judges. Perhaps it was about coercion  but not every coercion is violence.

A Hayastan lawyer, Aram Vardevanian, cited Pashinians furious remarks addressed to the management of Armenias largest mining company accused by the prime minister of not allowing its workers to attend his rally held in the nearby town of Kajaran.

The Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), you have crossed the red line, which means that this blue hammer will first smash your heads. Whatever you say, your fate is sealed, you just quietly wait for your verdict, declared Pashinian.

Bisharian insisted that this was not a threat of or call for violence and that the premier simply sought to defend voters freedom to choose a political force preferred by him. The prosecutor admitted, though, that law-enforcement authorities have not charged any ZCMC executive with threatening to fire workers attending Pashinians rally.

During the election campaign Pashinian vowed to wage political vendettas against local government officials supporting the opposition. I promise you that you will see those scumbag officials lying here on the asphalt, he told supporters in Kajaran.

Campaigning in Armenias Syunik province, Pashinian also pledged to break their [bank] accounts, destroy their firms and shove each of these criminal upstarts into holes.

The mayors of Kajaran and three other Syunik communities affiliated or linked otherwise with Hayastan have been arrested over the past week on what they see as politically motivated charges.

Armenias human rights defender, Arman Tatoyan, repeatedly criticized Pashinians fiery rhetoric during the parliamentary race. Tatoyan deplored his threats to throw on the ground and bang against the wall opposition supporters who would try to illegally influence the election outcome.

This unacceptable rhetoric is associated with mass violations of human rights, the ombudsman said on June 15.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Maricopa County health leaders have a warning about the new Delta COVID-19 variant. It now makes up 19% of cases sequenced in the county. In other parts of the country, it has already become the dominant strain, intensifying the urgency of vaccines and herd immunity.

Researchers discovered Maricopa County's first case of the COVID-19 Delta variant in April. It made up only 0.1% of cases then. "In the United States, the Delta variant is the dominant strain that they're seeing. So we would expect the Delta strain to become the dominant one here in Maricopa County very shortly," said Maricopa County Public Health's medical director for disease control, Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine.

The newer strain can cause much more severe symptoms, especially among young kids. "There are groups of people who aren't eligible to get the vaccine yet, like kids under 12," Sunenshine said. "Those individuals need to continue to wear a mask to protect themselves and the people around them."

This week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, expressed concern over how quickly the variant is spreading nationwide. "Those areas, those select areas of the country that have a very low level of vaccination, like 30% or so, you're going to start seeing many surges that are localized to certain regions," he said.

Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ says the current vaccines on the market are still proving to be very effective against the Delta variant. "We know that it is transmitted more easily, so that why we are recommending that everyone get vaccinated," she said.

While Pfizer is working on a booster for its COVID-19 vaccine, officials at the CDC and the FDA say while a booster may eventually be needed, the current shots are still holding steady against COVID-19, even after six months. There is a slight chance a vaccinated person can get the Delta variant, but the efficacy rate of the shots is still above 90% and symptoms would be much milder than they would for an unvaccinated person.
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Group's Anniversary Cause for Celebrations with Tidepools, Oregon Coast Talks

Published 07/09/21 at 6:45 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast)  July 29 will mark a special day on the Oregon coast, an anniversary of a true breakthrough for the region. It will be 50 years ago that a small group of conservation pioneers formed the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition (OSCC) on that day in 1971, starting the ball rolling on a series of successful saves that have helped keep the coastline as attractive as it is today. (Above: Sunset Bay photo courtesy Brent Lerwill)

For five decades the group has protected the environment on the Oregon coast and launched a landmark movement in citizen science with the founding of CoastWatch, a large-scale collection of volunteers who provide beach updates that prove invaluable in a variety of ways.

So where's the party?

OSCC whoops it up with a series of talks and beach walks on July 29, both online and in person.

It all starts with two beach walks on the south and north Oregon coast that day, then joined later by talks given by two nationally-known authors. All are free and open to everyone.

On the south coast, Fawn Custer, the citizen science trainer for Oregon Shores' CoastWatch volunteer program, will lead a tidepool-oriented walk at Sunset Bay State Park in Coos County. Meet at the north end of the Sunset Bay parking lot (on the Cape Arago Hwy, south from Charleston) at 10:30 a.m.

For the north coastline, Rockaway Beach is the hotspot. Marine ecologist Stewart Schultz, author of The Northwest Coast: A Natural History, will conduct a more sandy-shore-focused tour at Manhattan Beach, just north of Rockaway Beach on Hwy 101, also at 10:30 a.m. For details on both events, see the CoastWatch page on Oregon Shores' website.

The day features two nationally renowned speakers whose work has a special bearing on Oregon Shores' conservation concerns: Geologist Orrin Pilkey, one of the world's leading experts on the conservation of beaches and management of shorelines; and Mary Ellen Hannibal, author of Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction.

The rest of the celebration takes place online, and is thus accessible to everyone, wherever they may be. The first online hour, beginning at 3 p.m., includes a brief talk on Oregon Shores' history (and future) by Executive Director Phillip Johnson. Throughout the day and during intermissions, early leaders of Oregon Shores or their descendants will share their memories in short video interviews. Also featured will be a visit to Oregon Shores' live auction site, and the CoastWatch Mile-by-Mile fund-raising competition.



At 4 p.m., Orrin Pilkey (in photo) will speak on The Future of Our Beaches. Dr. Pilkey is a professor emeritus of Earth and Ocean Sciences at Duke University, and founder and director emeritus of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS), currently based at Western Carolina University. His 2009 book The Rising Sea (written with Rob Young, his successor as PSDS director) sounded the alarm about the global loss of beaches. His most recent books are Retreat from a Rising Sea (co-authored with daughter, Linda, and son, Keith), which discusses the need to move back from the coast as it retreats due to sea level rise; and Lessons from the Sand, which offers easy experiments for kids (and adults) to do while learning about beach processes. He co-wrote this book with his son, Charles Pilkey, an artist-sculptor, who illustrated it.



After a break, the online programming will resume at 6:30, with short videos and announcements.

At 7 p.m., Mary Ellen Hannibal will address The Future Role of Citizen Science in Coastal Conservation. Hannibal is the author of such works on natural history and conservation as The Spine of the Continent and Evidence of Evolution. Her latest book, Citizen Scientist, is both a fascinating exploration of an often-overlooked aspect of the history of science, and a deeply personal encounter with the natural world and the grave threats to our environment through the lens of citizen science. She will discuss the essential role of popular engagement with monitoring the natural world and providing data to scientists if we are to conserve ecosystems in the face of climate change and species extinction.

For more information, contact Phillip Johnson, (503) 754-9303, phillip@oregonshores.org; or Jesse Jones, CoastWatch volunteer coordinator, (503) 989-7244, jesse@oregonshores.org.

All this and more will take place online. A single registration will cover the entire day; audience members may join in whenever they wish. To register, go here



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Small Quake Rattles Off Southern Oregon Coast

Published 07/11/21 at 6:45 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Port Orford, Oregon)  A magnitude 4.1 quake shook off the Oregon coast early Saturday afternoon, but there was no damage nor any reports of injuries. The quake was centered under the sea and about 109 miles west of Port Orford, taking place about six miles below the sea floor.

It happened at 1:42 p.m.

The USGS said three people filed reports that they had felt it, including one in Medford and another in Yreka, California.

Like most quakes off this part of the southern Oregon coast, it occurred along the Blanco Fracture.

Around 20 quakes a year are generated by the Blanco Fracture, which makes this essentially business as usual for the hotspot. It's the greater Cascadia fault that is the worrisome section, which will someday release a magnitude 9.0 megathrust and create havoc along the Oregon and Washington coastlines.

Contrary to some popular rumors these days, the Cascadia Subduction Zone is not releasing pressure with these smaller quakes. The big one will come no matter what the smaller faultlines do.

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Shop at the Docks Tours Return to Oregon Coast: Garibaldi, Newport

Published 07/08/21 at 3:45 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Newport, Oregon) - The extremely popular Shop at the Docks event returns to the Oregon coast after a long, pandemic-induced hiatus, and once again it will be in the Garibaldi area and Newport.

It's a unique program lead by Oregon Sea Grant experts that helps connect consumers with fishing boats and their freshly-caught bounty. The programs teach the average Joe how to deal with boats on the docks, showing them what's in season, what is sustainable, and how to obtain the best quality of fish and shellfish. Participants learn about the local boats and they even get recipes for stellar seafood dishes.

The Garibaldi dates have not yet been set, but the Newport dates are every Friday: July 23 and 30; August 6, 13, and 20. Tours begin at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and go approximately 90 minutes. You can keep an eye on the Garibaldi updates here.

The tours started in Newport in 2014 with great success, then expanded to the north Oregon coast at Warrenton in 2017 and 2018. Also in 2018, tours debuted in Garibaldi, where they're held again this year but not in Warrenton.

The Garibaldi tours included visiting the port and the Fishpeople Seafood Market, where participants got to meet fishermen and even learned how to make smoked tuna tacos.

Since 2014, more than 1,200 people have taken part in the tours. There's a boost to the local Oregon coast economy as well.

According to Oregon Sea Grant, fishermen in Newport say they are now seeing regular, repeat customers over the years coming to buy fish  all people that started at the Shop at the Docks programs in the beginning.

People interested in purchasing seafood should bring cash and a cooler with ice, event managers said. Comfortable shoes with good traction is a must for everyone as you will be walking a long distance.

You will be visiting commercial fishing docks and looking for fresh product. If you find a product you want to purchase, Oregon Sea Grant staff will guide you through the process.

The tours are free and on a first-come, first-serve basis. You must register to attend. Groups of five or more should contact 541-648-6816 ahead of time to make arrangements. Tours may be possible at additional times, as needed, for larger groups.

For the central Oregon coast Shop at the Dock tours, meet at the sidewalk by Dock 5 at the Port of Newport on SW Bay Boulevard in Newport. Arrive early to find parking.

On the north Oregon coast, the tours will located at the Port of Garibaldi. Meet on the street-level docks/walkway next to The Spot at 304 Mooring Basin Drive. The tours in Garibaldi also offer a behind-the-scenes tour of FishPeople or The Spot seafood markets.

Contact Angee Doerr for more information at 541-648-6816.

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CANNES, France (AP)  Joanna Hogg is sitting on a hotel balcony overlooking the Mediterranean, but what she'd really like to be doing is swimming in it.

The night before, Hogg premiered her film The Souvenir Part II at the Cannes Film Festival. Sequels may be a regular part of summer, but they rarely make it to Cannes. Yet The Souvenir is no usual two-parter.

Together, the movies are a sublime, singular work of semi-autobiography  a coming-of-age self-portrait reflected through time and cinema. They're based on a period in Hogg's life in the late '80s when she was in film school in London.

In part one, a romance with an older man who has a hidden drug addiction ends tragically. In part two, Julie devotes herself to making her final student film about that experience while processing her grief. In both, Honor Swinton Byrne plays a slightly fictionalized version of Hogg when she was younger; Byrnes real-life mother, Tilda Swinton, plays her mom.

The movies were written together as one piece, spread across two films. And there's very little like them.

I dont even feel sure I have completed it, Hogg says, a little surprised to feel that way. Its funny, because I have completed it. Im not making another part. I dont know that its really dawned on me that its finished.

The Souvenir Part II" has been one of the clear standouts at the Cannes Film Festival. It played in the Directors Fortnight, which runs parallel to the Cannes official selection. It's a hushed, formally composed film that played down the Croisette from Cannes' central Palais.

Still, few movies here have spawned as much fawning over. Hogg's project has already attracted a wide array of admirers (Martin Scorsese is an executive producer of both films). But The Souvenir Part II, which a24 will release, only enhances Hogg's achievement.

Ive rediscovered a way of making films that I enjoyed when I was at film school before I got sucked into television," says the 61-year-old Hogg, who didn't make her feature directorial debut until 2007's Unrelated. It was the making of the film within the film within the film  I dont know how many inside boxes there are.

The hall-of-mirrors nature of The Souvenir only gets weirder. Tilda Swinton, an old friend of the director's, starred in Hogg's original 1986 short film, titled Caprice. In The Souvenir Part II, Byrne wears some of her mother's clothes from that time. After the first Cannes screening of the film, Swinton said emphatically, "It was a trip.

Hogg acknowledges that even for her the lines between memory and fiction have blurred. Toward the end of Part II, Julie is interviewed about her student film  a scene that Hogg feels being replayed for herself.

I almost feel like Im inside a film as Im talking to you, Hogg says, laughing. We have Julia being interviewed, and shes saying exact words that I said in an interview in the late 80s. Its too weird. Maybe Im dreaming. Maybe this is a film.

But if there's so much still unclear for Hogg about her experience completing The Souvenir, what's absolutely uncomplicated is that, 35 years later, she's fully realized herself as a filmmaker.

I feel more emboldened, says Hogg. I seem on the surface to be quite reserved and a bit shy  that's how I feel, anyway. But when it comes to making my work, I'm like a dog with a bone. It's my lifeblood.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
Click here to read the full article.

Byron Berline, a renowned fiddler who played with bluegrass greats like Bill Monroe as well as rock legends like the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, died Saturday, according to family social media posts and news reports out of Oklahoma, where he owned a world-famous fiddle shop. He was 77.

Berlines family posted on his Facebook page that he had been recovering from a stroke. Byron suffered a stroke in the cerebellum which affected his coordination and vision. He was making improvements with his eyes and coordination, and getting stronger. After a few weeks he began aspirating food into his lungs which led to increased invasive treatments which he couldnt recover from. Eventually his lungs gave up and so did his heart. He passed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 10, as his band was going on stage at the Music Hall.

Berline was a member of Bill Monroes Blue Grass Boys  with whom he co-wrote and recorded the bluegrass standard Gold Rush in 1967  before going on to become aligned with a generation of country-rockers as well as traditionalists.

Hes known to Rolling Stones fans for having played on Country Honk, a variation on Honky Tonk Women that appeared on the bands classic 1969 Let It Bleed album, and to Dylan enthusiasts for taking part in the Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid film soundtrack sessions. In the early 70s, he briefly join the Flying Burrito Brothers and Stephen Stills Manassas.

Other artists Berline recorded with include Elton John, the Byrds, the Band, Gram Parsons, the Dillards, the Doobie Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Rod Stewart, Gene Clark, Emmylou Harris, Earl Scruggs, the Eagles, Bill Wyman, Joe Diffie, Tammy Wynette and Doc Watson.

His own discography, as a solo artist or band member ran to more than 15 albums. He first recorded as a member of the Dillards in 1965, and by 1976 was recording as the frontman of his own band, Byron Berline & Sundance, the lineup of which eventually grew to include a young Vince Gill. Berlines final album, Flying Fingers, came out in 2016.

Berline owned the Double Stop Fiddle Shop in downtown Guthrie, Oklahoma, where famous musicians like Marcus Mumford were known to stop in for a jam. The store burned to the ground in 2019, taking hundreds of invaluable instruments with it. They all have souls and personalities, he told Oklahoma Citys KOCO 5 after the devastating blaze. With the support of the community, he subsequently opened a new instrument shop and performance space across the street.

In the film and TV worlds, he had cameos in the Bette Midler feature The Rose and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Of recording with the Stones, Berline recalled in a 1997 interview with BlueGrass West: Gram Parsons suggested to them to get me to play on it, and I just barely knew him. This was in October of 69 We went down to the studio, Electra Studios, in L.A. I was in the studio for a couple of passes through, and they said, Hey, we want you to come in, we want to talk to you, and I thought, oh, they dont like it, theyre going to dump it. But I went in and they said, We want you to stand outside in the street on the sidewalk and record it . . . . well get a nice ambiance, we think, and I kind of giggled and said, Well, whatever you want to do. So thats what we did. Thats where they got the car horn.

He added, People were just experimenting around with music, and mixing different instruments, you know, rock and roll with bluegrass instruments, traditional instruments.  It was a big change. The music is closely related, but you had to really study it in a way. Be able to improvise enough to get by with it. And naturally, playing with (Bill) Monroe, I listened as much as I could to his past recordings, to see what those fiddlers did, how they approached it. You couldnt just get up there and start sawing away. You had to stay with the melody, and do what he wanted. Hed let you know if something was really off line. But for me he was easy to work with. Other people wont say that, but I had a good time with him. He just loved the old time tunes. He always featured me on the Grand Ole Opry; every time we got on there; hed have a fiddle tune.

Berline flourished in L.A. after moving there shortly after doing the Stones session. The Troubadour was a big melting pot, he said in an interview with WMOT in 2019. Every time I went down there in the evening, I dont care what day it was, Id get a session from it.

In 2013, he published an autobiography, Bryon Berline: A Fiddlers Diary. It goes without saying that the violin was the instrument he was renowned for, although he also played a considerable amount of mandolin on stage.

The same year he published his memoir, Berline was inducted into the National Fiddlers Hall of Fame. In 2012, he received the International Bluegrass Music Associations Distinguished Achievement Award.

The family said that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the http://OIBF.com scholarship fund.

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Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol

Air and Marine Operations Laredo Air Branch crew detection, surveillance, and tracking operations contributed to discovery of a stash house and the apprehension of 33 undocumented migrants on July 6.

Interagency partners from U.S. Border Patrol Laredo South Field Intelligence Team, Laredo Sector Intelligence Unit, Laredo South Sector Intelligence Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety and Webb County authorities collaborated on the operation.
Three gang members were arrested in separate enforcement actions as they tried to enter the country illegally, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

On Tuesday morning, agents first arrested 23 migrants at a train yard near downtown Laredo. One migrant was identified as Mario Alberto Jimenez, a 42-year-old Mexican national.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden was at a public transit station in Wisconsin, talking about repairing roads and bridges, when he shifted gears and began defending his plan to send money to parents for each minor child, payments some critics call a giveaway.

Biden folded his arms, rested on the lectern, leaned into the mic and lowered his voice.

Hey, guys, I think it's time to give ordinary people a tax break," he said, almost whispering as he addressed his critics. The wealthy are doing fine.

It was the latest instance of Biden speaking volumes by whispering.

The White House and communications experts say Bidens whispering is just this veteran politicians old-school way of trying to make a connection while emphasizing a point.

Biden's critics on the right as well as some late-night TV talk show hosts say the whispers are creepy and weird." Conservatives use the dramatic soft talk to fuel the narrative that the Democratic president is unfit for the job, and comedians deploy it to generate laughs.

It's an intimate form of communication, said Vanessa Beasley, associate professor of communication studies at Vanderbilt University.

Biden whispered some of his answers to reporters' questions during an impromptu White House news conference last month after he and a group of Senate Republicans announced they had reached a deal to spend $973 billion on rebuilding the nation's infrastructure.

As he stood in the East Room, Biden was questioned about his timeline for providing additional financial help to families. He leaned in, eyes wide, and whispered: I got them $1.9 trillion in relief so far. Theyre going to be getting checks in the mail that are consequential."

During a lengthy response to a separate question, he whispered, I wrote the bill, before bending down to get closer to the microphone and adding, on the environment.

On the subject of employers' hiring difficulties, Biden leaned into the mic again, arms resting on the lectern and said softly that the solution is to pay them more.

Beasley said the use of whispering by Biden, who was a U.S. senator and vice president for a total of more than 40 years, is a throwback to a long-ago time of chummier relations between lawmakers and members of the Washington press corps.

I think it's a symbolic gesture to a kind of intimacy and familiarity, she said.

Beasley and others noted the contrast between Biden and former President Donald Trump, who often spoke loudly and angrily.

One of the things that Trump never did was whisper, said Robin Lakoff, professor emerita of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley.

Public speakers  lawmakers, celebrities, corporate executives  often raise or lower their voices for dramatic effect or tell jokes to keep their audiences following along instead of falling asleep.

Beasley said the tone of political discourse these days seems set to loud so that it sort of sets everybody back a little bit when you see someone going in a different direction and reducing their volume.

Lakoff said what Biden does isn't really whispering because his vocal chords vibrate and make sound.

A true whisper is something you wouldn't be able to hear very well, she said, comparing what Biden does to a stage whisper in which an actor in a play steps out of character to share a secret with the audience or preview some action that's about to happen.

The White House defended Biden, saying conservatives who criticize the way he speaks, including his stuttering, do so because they don't have a better agenda to offer voters.

Under President Bidens leadership, COVID cases have plunged by over 90%, weve achieved an historic level of job creation, the economy is growing at its highest rate in 40 years, and weve achieved a breakthrough on the world stage to stop the offshoring of American jobs," deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said.

"And this performative criticism is just the latest acknowledgement by Republicans that hes running the table on them while theyre grasping for a case to make," Bates whispered.

Kayleigh McEnany, a White House press secretary for Trump, called Biden's whispering peculiar and crazy before panelists on the Fox News Channel program she co-hosts discussed it. Other Fox News personalities and guests also panned Biden's low-volume speech.

On the late-night talk show circuit, comedian Stephen Colbert featured what he called Biden's new rhetorical flourish in a recent monologue on his CBS show.

After airing clips of the president, Colbert leaned into a hand-held microphone and whispered: Mr. President, Mr. President. You know I'm a fan, but the way you lean forward and whisper. Guess what? It's a little creepy. It's a little creepy.

On the flip side, Biden raises his voice, too, as he did while addressing the nation from the White House lawn on July Fourth.

On this sacred day, I look out to those monuments on our National Mall, and beyond them, into the hearts of our people across the land and I know this," he said, voice rising as he neared the conclusion of his speech. "It's never, ever been a good bet to bet against America. Never.

We just have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America, Biden thundered. "And there's nothing  nothing  we can't do if we do it together.
Nearly three decades ago, the last chapter was written for Riverside, a "temporary" community built for workers in the Orange shipyards during World War II.

Constructed along the banks of the Sabine River - right after the December 1941 attacks at Pearl Harbor - the U.S. government-designed community once boasted 2,000 duplexes.
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP)  The mangled concrete and twisted rebar from the collapsed high-rise near Miami triggered flashbacks for retired Oklahoma City Fire Chief Greg Marrs, who spent weeks with his crew digging through the rubble of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in 1995.

From afar, Marrs empathized with the Florida teams searching the debris that was once the 12-story Champlain Tower South condominium complex. The scenes in Surfside brought back memories of the urgent search for survivors after the Oklahoma City bombing, followed by the heartbreak of pulling out nothing but bodies, he said.

It was the same for other rescuers who responded to past tragedies. They say the crews in Surfside will carry on with the same commitment and care, even though authorities this past week officially gave up on finding any survivors.

Joseph Pfeifer, former counterterrorism and emergency preparedness chief for the New York Fire Department, was one of the first commanders on the scene after the World Trade Center towers came down in 2001. He said the Florida crews will preserve any human remains and separate any building pieces that provide clues to the cause of the collapse.

They are literally going to peel off every layer. They will clean the site right to the very last piece, said Pfeifer, who teaches crisis leadership at Harvard and Columbia universities and has a 9/11 memoir, Ordinary Heroes, set for publication Sept. 7.

When Marrs first saw photos of the Florida collapse, he said, the images were reminiscent of the destruction at the federal building after a truck filled with explosives was detonated outside. The blast killed 168 people.

In the aftermath, the shells of both buildings were still standing, or teetering, above mounds of broken concrete and twisted metal, with the interiors exposed.

The confirmed death toll from the tragedy in South Florida stood Saturday at 86, with another 43 people still missing. Authorities concluded that there was no chance of life in the remaining rubble, but the pressure has not waned for the crews to find victims so families can lay their loved ones to rest.

Recalling his own experience, Marrs was sure the Florida crews would be just as respectful in searching for the dead as they had been in looking for the living.

Theyre certainly not going in there with bulldozers and moving that stuff out, you know, not caring about whether they run across a body or not  thats not something thats even considered, Marrs said.

The shift from a rescue mission to a recovery effort does not ease the urgency, Marrs said.

Theyre just doing it in a way that is more cautious and safer because there is no longer a race against time, he said. Crews are likely being encouraged to take fewer risks.

Pfeifer agreed: It's a difficult task. First responders know this is something very important to the families. They want to do the job even though it's a difficult job.

Sometimes no identifiable remains are found. About 40% of the more than 2,600 people killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11 still have not been physically identified, Pfeifer said.

Crews in Florida, using their hands with help from heavy machinery, have removed 13 million pounds of concrete and debris from the site.

Heavier equipment has rolled in, making it easier to remove layers of debris, Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said.

We are expecting the progress to move at a faster pace with our recovery efforts, Cominsky said. He has said that recovering all the victims could take weeks.

Retired Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Dave Downey was part of a crew from South Florida that was dispatched to help in Oklahoma City  perhaps crossing paths with Marrs. He also rushed to the World Trade Center after terrorists attacked.

Every disaster is different. Every disaster has its unique wrinkle, Downey said.

For the past two weeks, Downey has been in Surfside to help coordinate the rescue mission and now the recovery operation.

What happens now is that you change your mindset, Downey said, describing the transition from seeking survivors to knowing that were going to bring closure to these families, but not in a positive way that we had all hoped.

That doesn't mean were not going to work as hard as we can, he said.

___

Associated Press writer Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg, Florida, contributed to this story.
U.S. Border Patrol agents foiled a human smuggling attempt and arrested two criminal migrants in the process, according to authorities.

The incident unfolded during the afternoon of July 8, when Hebbronville Station agents responded to a report of 20 individuals attempting to hide inside a shed on a ranch property southwest of Hebbronville.
DETROIT (AP)  Toyota has reversed itself and now says its political action committee will no longer contribute to the Republican legislators who voted against certifying Joe Biden's presidential election victory.

The move by the Japanese automaker comes after a social media backlash over the contributions, including threats to stop buying the company's vehicles.

We understand that the PAC decision to support select members of Congress who contested the results troubled some stakeholders, Toyota said in a statement Thursday. "We are actively listening to our stakeholders, and at this time, have decided to stop contributing to those members of Congress who contested the certification of certain states in the 2020 election.

Last week the website Axios reported that Toyota led companies in donations to the 147 members of Congress who voted in January against certifying election results on the false grounds that the election was stolen from then-President Donald Trump.

READ MORE: Gov. Greg Abbott has colossal $55 million war chest for 2022 reelection bid

The Axios report, based on data gathered by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that Toyota donated $55,000 to 37 Republican objectors this year. That number was more than double the amount donated by the second-highest donor, Cubic Corp., a defense contractor in San Francisco, Axios said.

Toyota will not seek refunds of contributions it already has made, spokesman Scott Vazin said Thursday in an email. He said the company hasn't decided if or when it will resume the contributions.

Immediately after Toyota's spending was reported, the company defended it, saying it did not believe its appropriate to judge legislators based only on their electoral certification vote.

The company took input from employees and government officials, Vazin said. But the most important factor was customer feedback, he said. That really drives our decision making, he said.

Contribution data showed that 34 companies donated at least $5,000 to the campaigns and leadership political action committees of one or more election objectors this year, Axios reported.

In addition to criticism on Twitter and elsewhere, the Lincoln Project, a group opposed to Trump, released an internet ad urging people to call Toyota to get the company to stop contributing to the GOP members of Congress.

Shortly after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, dozens of big companies, citing their commitment to democracy, pledged to avoid donating money to the 147 lawmakers. It was a striking gesture by some of the most familiar names in business but was largely an empty one.

Six months later, many of those companies have resumed funneling cash to political action committees that benefit the election efforts of lawmakers whether they objected to the election certification or not.

Walmart, Pfizer, Intel, General Electric and AT&T are among companies that announced their pledges on behalf of democracy in the days after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a violent bid to disrupt the transfer of power. The companies contend that donating directly to a candidate is not the same as giving to a PAC that supports them.
File photo

Selena Quintanilla fans aren't happy with the possibility of her killer, Yolanda Saldivar, being released in 2025.

On March 31, 1995, Saldivar murdered the beloved Tejano star in Corpus Christi. At the time of her death, Quintanilla was a 23-year-old rising queen who was changing the Tejano music industry.
Heaven is a mysterious place, even for believers. As Christians, we know heaven is a wonderful place that we can look forward to, but there is a lot we dont understand about it. One of the most common questions that come up is whether our loved ones in heaven look down on us. There is incredible hope and comfort in the idea that we will see our loved ones in heaven and that they are watching over us. Thankfully, we have the Bible as our guide to some of the toughest questions about heaven.

Several Bible verses make many Christians wonder if their loved ones can look down on them from heaven. One of those passages is Hebrews 12:1, which says, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us The word many focus on in this passage is witnesses. In Hebrews 11, you will see the word testimony being used, which is likely used to connect us to testimonies of faith in the Old Testament. These are people who have run their race and are now in heaven. The witnesses are there more as lasting examples for believers, not there to focus on watching others from heaven. Ultimately, we can turn to their examples of faith to encourage us on our own faith journey.

It is a popular notion, commonly in books, movies, and popular culture, that our deceased loved ones look down on us from heaven and reappear to the ones they love on earth. Some even believe that we receive mystical signs and messages from beyond directly from our loved ones. It is more likely than not that if you receive a sign or experience synchronicity, it is your guardian angel watching over you. Remember, every good and perfect gift comes from God. Many people think that our loved ones become angels, but our angels are not our deceased loved ones. God is ultimately watching over us with His heavenly host, His angels. While our loved ones' spirits do live on after they pass away, they dont become angels.

If you have a dream or vision where a deceased family member or friend appears, you may be wondering if this is a sign that a loved one is looking down on you. This may be God trying to comfort you in a time of need or transition. Many people who are dying mention seeing deceased friends and loved one when they are close to death, so it makes sense to think this is a loved one trying to reach us from beyond. God never wants you to be fearful of life or death. If you are fearful, God may want to show you a glimpse of the other side, which includes your friends or family in heaven, to give you a sense of peace and comfort in this fearful time. When a person has a dream where a deceased love appears, this may be more symbolic. God may be sending her wisdom to you to guide you through a particular situation.

Remember, the Bible tells us that there are no tears in heaven. We can turn to Revelation 17:7 and 21:4 for reassurance that there will be no crying or pain in heaven. If our loved ones were looking down on us in a pain-filled world., it would be very difficult for them to watch us going through the trials we face. It would also be hard for them to see us lose people that they care about and see us making mistakes that hurt us. If they can watch us, could they really be without tears? It would be extremely difficult for our loved ones to be in perfect peace if they watched us in our troubled world. While it is a comforting thought that our loved ones are watching over us, there is no biblical proof of this. What we should find peace in is the fact that there is no pain or sorrow in heaven.

Many people wonder about seeing loved ones in heaven. Christian author Randly Alcorn gives a really good explanation on the topic of whether we will know our loved ones in heaven, explaining Scripture gives no indication of a memory wipe causing us not to recognize family and friends. Paul anticipated being with the Thessalonians in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and it never occurred to him he wouldnt know themRelationships among Gods people will resume in ways even better than what weve known here.

Scripture directly speaks to life after death. We know that life doesnt end when we pass away. Death is only the beginning of our eternal life with our heavenly father. John 14 supports this, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am (John 143). When King David says, And I will live in the house of the Lord forever, he is saying that God has made a place for him in heaven. Jesus assures us that He left earth to prepare a place for us. We can find great hope in this promise.

While our loved ones may not be looking down on us from heaven, we do have great assurance that God is watching us. He is our ultimate protector and provider. He provides all that we need. We can hold on to the memories we have of our loved ones and the hope that we will one day be reunited with them in heaven.
Illinois-news

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EPA: Air, water samples from Chemtool area show no cause for concern

cwolf / Clint Wolf/Beloit Daily News The entry road to the Chemtool company site at 1165 Prairie Hill Road in Rockton is shown here. Today, Friday, June 18, Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson announced the evacuation order for those living within one mile of the lubricant manufacturing plant has been lifted. People living near the plant were asked to evacuate starting on Monday when a fire broke out at the plant.

ROCKTON  Air and water samples taken around the site of a massive fire at the Chemtool lubrican plant in Rockton Township show no negative impact from the fire, according to a news release from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).

State and local officials continue to work on clean up and remediation efforts surrounding the Chemtool site.

Also, on Friday, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Winnebago County States Attorney J. Hanley filed a lawsuit in Winnebago County Circuit Court in Rockford claiming Chemtool is liable for damages done to the environment and for costs incurred in responding to the emergency.

The IEPA, along with members from the Illinois National Guard (ILNG), have taken a variety of samples including ash, wipe, runoff, and river samples from around the site of the fire as well as in the immediate area. All but one sample, a wipe sample located in close proximity to the Chemtool property, tested below the residential exposure limit.

IEPA also collected samples from various locations in the community water supply following the fire. Each of the wells used as source water for Rockton residents were sampled, along with the finished water storage tank located adjacent to the fire. All samples were found to be in compliance with applicable drinking water and groundwater samples. No negative impacts to the community water supply were identified.

After learning about the Chemtool fire in Rockton, I activated the Illinois National Guard and multiple other state agencies mobilized to provide resources and support to local authorities, working together with the shared goal of preserving the health and safety of community residents, said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. As we have in the days following the emergency, my administration will continue to work closely with local stakeholders as the community recovers.

Water sampling was conducted to determine whether runoff from the incident resulted in water quality impacts to the Rock River. Only one sample on the Rock River exceeded Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) water quality standards, which has been documented by Illinois EPA. The increased level of carbon disulfide would decrease through streamflow. All sample results and further descriptions of sampling are available on the Illinois EPA website at https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/community-relations/sites/Chemtool/Pages/default.aspx.

The fire at Chemtool started on June 14 and continued to burn for several days. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began collecting air samples on June 14. The U.S. EPA established a website for its Chemtool response work, including air quality data, which can be found at https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15241.

IEPA has worked with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Winnebago County Health Department to provide sampling information in an effort to provide further guidance to the public on any potential health impacts.

As our investigation continues, Illinois EPA remains committed to community residents and local leaders as we look to the remediation phase of this devastating fire, said Illinois EPA Director John Kim. Illinois EPA is also working closely with Attorney General Raouls Office to ensure the full impact of this fire is documented and the company implements an approved plan to remove any hazardous material from the site.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has brought in experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) to augment the efforts of the local health department to monitor and identify potential health effects as a result of the fire.

One tool used in this initiative is an online health survey issued by the Winnebago County Health Department. Residents are encouraged to complete this survey, or call the established hotline at 815-972-7300, to help health officials better serve the community following this event. The local health department asks that the survey be completed by July 15.

State agencies have been collaborative partners with the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) to offer assistance, guidance, and recommendations during response efforts. The week of the incident, state agencies often met twice a day to discuss sampling plans, air monitoring results and a path forward for residents.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Illinois IEPA were instrumental in intervening with local officials and the contractor hired by Chemtool to halt the use of fluorinated firefighting foam to suppress the fire. Continued use of the foam could have led to contamination occurring in soil and groundwater, a health risk for local residents. A breach of foam from firefighting equipment was observed on the Rock River on June 17. U.S. EPAs on-scene coordinator has stated that booms placed around the foam were successful in containing the breach, and additional samples were taken from the area with no contaminants detected.

The lawsuit filed against Chemtool by the Illinois Attorney General and the Winnebago County States Attorney claims the fire caused the release of smoke and particulate matter into the environment. The suit claims Chemtool stored 4 million gallons of crude oil on the site. The suit calls on Chemtool to assess the extent of any contamination and take corrective actions.
A mother (second from right) mourns for her son who went missing after a fire broke out in a factory, in Dhaka, July 11, 2021.

More than a dozen children working as laborers at a beverage factory outside Dhaka when it caught fire last week are still missing and feared dead days after the massive blaze, their families told BenarNews on Monday.

While it was not immediately clear how many children worked at the Hashem Foods Ltd factory when it caught fire and burned down, relatives of those missing said at least 16 children  many of them underage  had not been seen since Thursday evening when the fire broke out, killing at least 51 people, according to revised information from the authorities.

According to data submitted by the families of missing workers, there are at least 16 children among the 48 missing persons, a senior police source who did not want his name used because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, told BenarNews.

Meanwhile, officials have still not been able to identify the 48 workers killed  the missing children are believed to be among them  because their bodies were burned beyond recognition in the blaze, which they could not escape because one of the exits from the factory had been locked.

These victims DNA would have to be matched with that of their family members. Three of 51 people believed killed had jumped from the burning building on Thursday evening.

A 12-year-old girl, Shanta Moni, who was working at the factory when the blaze started, has been missing since Thursday, her mother said.

My daughter joined the factory just three days before the incident. She was studying in class four in a madrassa [Islamic school], her mother, Shimu Akter, told BenarNews.

She joined the factory because of our financial crisis.

One young girl who worked at the factory, 13-year-old Nadia Akter, was injured in the fire and is now undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, her mother said.

I put my daughter in danger because of my poverty, Sahana Akter told BenarNews, adding that her daughter had been working in the beverage factory for the last four months.

Md. Rakib Mia, a 15-year-old boy working at the factorys first floor managed to escape by jumping from the building.

I joined the factory after my mother lost her job at another factory during the COVID-19 crisis, Rakib told BenarNews.

I am a grade eight student and I am here because my family is poor, he said.

On Monday, a pall has descended over Goalkandia, a village near the factory where most of its workers and their families live.

Champa Akther, who worked there along with her mother, has not stopped crying since Thursday evening. Her mother, who worked on the third floor, is missing since the fire.

I worked on the first floor and my mother worked on the third floor. I spent all of Thursday night in front of the factory but she did not come, Champa told BenarNews.

She said several girls were working in the factory, and that most of them had started recently, like her, because the pandemic had dented their family finances.

Flames rise during the morning after a fire broke out at the Hashem Foods Ltd. factory in Rupganj, on the outskirts of Dhaka, July 9, 2021. [Reuters]

On Monday afternoon, smoke still could be seen rising from the burned building situated in Rupganj.

The blaze began on the ground floor of the six-story factory but all the bodies recovered were from the third floor, Md. Tanharul Islam, a Fire Service investigator, told BenarNews.

A door on the third floor that led to a staircase going to the main exit had been illegally locked, which trapped many of the workers who then perished, he said.

Islam has served a notice to the factory authorities to provide documents related to various approvals for the building.

Over the weekend, police arrested Md. Abul Hashem, chairman and managing director of the juice factory, and seven others, for the fire. They remain in custody.

Separately, an investigation has also begun into the use of child labor at Hashem Foods Ltd., news agency Agence France-Press reported.

Nasir Uddin Majumed, a police official from Rupganj who is prosecuting Hashem and the others, told BenarNews that he saw many child workers among a procession of laborers from the factory who recently protested that they had not been paid their wages.

According to Bangladeshs labor laws 14-18-year-old workers, classified as youth labor, are considered legal.

Meanwhile, Md. Nuruzzaman, a manager from Hashem Foods Ltd.s parent company Sajeeb Group, said that employing child labor violated the factorys policy.

Sometimes we fail to figure out the age of girls because they appear for jobs wearing the veil, he said, adding that labor recruitment was generally done by factory-level officials, and that the owners were not involved.

Soumen Barua, the Narayanganj district in-charge of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFS), said his office was not aware that children were working in the factory.

We are in a hugely busy time to ensure that COVID-19 health guidelines are being followed in factories and other establishments in the last one-and-a-half years, Barua told BenarNews.

As a result, keeping our eye on other issues has been tough for us.

A man holds up the picture of his missing daughter who used to work in a factory where a fire broke out, in Dhaka, July 10, 2021. [AFP]

Kalpona Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity, said that the fire at the juice factory once again highlighted poor law enforcement and oversight of factories in the country.

The Department of Inspection for Factories gave the excuse of manpower shortage after the countrys first-ever major fire incident occurred in 1990 at Saraka Garments, Dhaka, and they still are using the same excuse, Akter told BenarNews, referring to a blaze that claimed 32 lives.

Meanwhile, UNICEF said on Sunday it was working with Bangladeshs government to dispatch social workers to support children and families in Rupganj.

This tragic incident brings to light yet again that despite laws that should protect them, many children in Bangladesh are not only working, but they are working in hazardous conditions, the United Nations agency said in a statement.

According to the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, over four million children are working, and more than three million of these children are trapped in the worst forms of child labor that involve hazardous working conditions.
Provincial Police Inspector General of Police Abdul Rakhman Baso (front right), checks task force members preparing for an operation in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 12, 2021.

Indonesian security forces were on the hunt for three suspected members of a pro-Islamic State extremist group who escaped a raid that killed two other suspects in Central Sulawesi province over the weekend, officials said Monday.

Members of a joint military and police task force killed the two suspects  identified as Rukli and Ahmad Gazali  and who were linked to the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) group on Sunday during a gunfight in their jungle hideout in Parigi Moutong regency, provincial police spokesman Didik Supranoto said.

Task force members are scouring the area because we suspect that the three who escaped are still hiding near the scene, he told BenarNews, noting that the rugged terrain made the search difficult.

The three MIT followers know the area.

With the deaths of the two militant suspects, MIT is down to seven members, officials said.

In May, police said MIT had split into two groups in an attempt to elude authorities with one group led by Ali Kalora active in Sigi regency and the other under the leadership of a militant named Qatar operating in Poso.

At least one of three who escaped the raid may have been injured, because traces of blood were found at the scene, Didik said. Security forces also found bullets, home-made bombs, a compass and a walkie-talkie.

Brig. Gen. Farid Makruf, deputy chief of the operation to take down the militants  codenamed Madago Raya  said Sundays raid targeted an MIT camp. Army special forces (Kopassus) member 1st Lt. David Manurung led the raid after receiving a tip from nearby residents.

Two MIT members were shot. Both died on the spot, Farid told BenarNews, adding the militants returned fire but none of the troops were injured.

Transportation of the militants corpses to the provincial capital Palu was delayed by poor weather and rough terrain, Didik said.

Its still foggy up there so the retrieval cant be done today by a helicopter. The task force is still waiting for the weather to improve before the bodies can be transported, he said.

The camp was about 20 km (12 miles) from the nearest village, Didik said.

People went about their activities as usual, he said.

Muh Tardi, a local cocoa farmer, said residents talked about the shootings but there was no tension in the area.

People gathered at the village office because they heard information about the raid and gunfight in the Tokasa mountains. Theres chatter, but no one seems to be too worried, Tardi said.

We hope that the operation will be completed quickly and that all MIT followers will be caught, so that Parigi Moutong and Poso can be completely safe from terrorist disturbances.

MIT getting weaker

Provincial police chief Inspector General Abdul Rakhman Baso, who is commander of the anti-insurgency operation, said he hoped the remaining MIT militants could be arrested by the end of the year.

He said he was optimistic that the goal could be achieved with the support of all sections of society, including religious leaders, the local council and the government.

With the size they are now  seven  they are getting weaker. We are confident they can be eliminated, Rakhman told BenarNews.

Mohammad Affandi, a local terrorism researcher, said the police chiefs goal was unlikely to become a reality.

Its impossible for the remaining seven people to be caught in such a short time. Its a pipe dream, Affandi told BenarNews.

The newly deployed troops definitely dont know the terrain.

The task force personnel are frequently rotated, Affandi said.

They keep withdrawing personnel who have become familiar with terrain and deploy new personnel who dont know the area. By doing so they keep extending the operation and its become endless, he said.

Moh Taufiqurrohman, a researcher at the Center for Radicalism and Deradicalization Studies (PAKAR), said the death of MITs two foot soldiers would not significantly affect the group.

MIT is hard to eradicate because they are in control of the area and continue to receive logistical and personnel support from Islamic State supporters from within and outside Poso, he told BenarNews, referring to the regency that is the hotbed of the groups activity.

The group has survived in the mountains and jungles of Poso despite being hunted by police and military forces since 2015. In 2016, police killed Santoso, who was MITs leader and the first Indonesian militant to publicly pledge allegiance to IS.

MIT is one of two pro-IS groups operating in Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country. The other is Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), which authorities have blamed for terror attacks in the archipelago nation during the past five years.
Filipino fishermen and activists rally in front of the Chinese consulate in Metro Manila as the country marked the fifth anniversary of an arbitral award that dismissed Beijings expansive claims in the South China Sea, July 12, 2021.

The Philippines marked the fifth anniversary Monday of a landmark arbitral ruling that went against Chinas expansive South China Sea claims, by warning that Manila rejected any attempt to erase the verdict, while Beijing dismissed it as a piece of waste paper.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken marked the anniversary by saying the two Asian nations were bound under international maritime law to comply with the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

Washington would invoke its mutual defense commitments should Philippine forces be attacked in the contested waterway, he warned. Americas top diplomat issued the statement on the same day that a U.S. warship conducted a freedom of navigation mission in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands.

In Manila, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said President Rodrigo Duterte had previously stated that the ruling was part of international law.

The award is final. We firmly reject attempts to undermine; nay, even erase it from international law, history and our collective memories, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines was seeking a peaceful solution to maritime disputes.

On this anniversary, we once again urge all interested parties to heed the call for a rules-based international order and refrain from acts that may exacerbate this tense situation in the area, he said in a statement. Consistent with Philippine national policy, we shall continue to seek all avenues to achieve a peaceful and friendly management of all standing maritime disputes.

In 2013, the government of then-President the late Benigno Aquino III sued Beijing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague over Chinese claims in the South China Sea that encroached upon most of Manilas exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The case marked the first time any nation had challenged China over its maritime sovereignty.

On July 12, 2016, the court ruled in Manilas favor, declaring its sovereign rights to an EEZ as valid over Beijings historical claim as demarcated by the so-called Nine-Dash Line on official Chinese maritime maps.

In Beijing on Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry maintained its stance on the South China Sea.

The award of the arbitration is illegal, null and void. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper, ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a daily press conference, as he challenged U.S. military efforts in the maritime region.

The United States has conducted drills that illegally intruded into Chinas territorial waters, he said. Since the beginning of this year, the U.S. side conducted close-in reconnaissance for nearly 2,000 times and over 20 large-scale military drills on the sea. The U.S. allegation of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea threatened is simply untenable.

Chinas Peoples Liberation Army reported on social media that it sent ships and planes to warn them and send them away on Monday after the USS Benfold, a guided-missile destroyer, entered Chinese-claimed waters near the Paracels, according to media reports.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea as its own, but five other Asian governments  Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam  have territorial claims. While Indonesia does not regard itself as a party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of the sea overlapping Indonesias exclusive economic zone.

One of those countries, Vietnam, said on Monday that it wanted all sides involved to respect and fully implement the legal obligations in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), cooperate and actively contribute in preserving peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

The USS Benfold sails through the South China Sea while conducting a freedom of navigation mission, July 12, 2021. [U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Deanna C. Gonzales]

The PRCs statement about this mission is false, the U.S. Navy said in a statement on its website, referring to the Peoples Republic of China. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Benfold did here. Nothing PRC says otherwise will deter us.

In his statement, Blinken said freedom of the sea was an enduring interest of all nations.

Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea. The Peoples Republic of China continues to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway, he said.

We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

Meanwhile in Metro Manila, dozens of members of the fishermens group Pamalakaya joined activists in protesting outside the Chinese consulate to demand that Chinese ships leave the Philippines EEZ and other disputed waters.

Five years after our momentous arbitral victory, China continues to trample on our fishing rights in our traditional fishing grounds, Fernando Hicap, the groups leader, told reporters.

These are Filipino fishers standing up against China and upholding our rights in the West Philippine Sea, Hicap said.

The West Philippine Sea is how Manila refers to its EEZ and territories it claims in the South China Sea.

Likewise, this is a defiance against President Duterte who has completely turned his back on our national sovereignty and the Filipino people. Our own governments cowardice and submission to China will not stop us from asserting what is rightfully ours.

He said fishermen have been losing millions of pesos every year to the destruction of coral reef by Chinese reclamation and illegal poaching within the countrys territory.

In a report released Monday on water quality in the Spratly Islands, U.S.-based Simularity said satellite imagery had verified that hundreds of ships anchored there were dumping raw sewage on the reefs they are occupying, leading to a cascade of reef damage that can take decades to recover.

Such damage directly affects fish stocks in the South China Sea, said Similarity, a private geospatial imaging analysis firm.

This is a catastrophe of epic proportions and we are close to the point of no return, the report said.
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The Stockbridge Library Museum and Archives, pictured here in 2016, has received $11,000 to help fund its Deeds of Our Past: The Stockbridge Indians and Colonial Bonds exhibit through Housatonic Heritage.
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Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224.
Kelly Marion, CEO of the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center in Pittsfield, said that her organization and other child care providers in Berkshire County offered care to children whose parents could not stay home during the coronavirus pandemic.
The city has received the first of its payments from the federal governments American Rescue Plan Act money, and is getting ready to begin the process of deciding how to spend it.
The family of TikTok star Matima Swavy Miller, who died of a fatal gunshot wound last week in Wilmington, Delaware, hit back at daytime talk show host Wendy Williams on Saturday (July 10) for what they perceived as negative comments about his life, and untimely death.

Yall, like as a mother, Wendy Williams, how dare you? So disrespectful, Sways mother Chanelle Clark, tells CBS 3 Philly. I used to watch you as a child and even though you have a gossip show and all that, you didnt even know my son.

The grieving mother is responding to a July 7 episode of Williams hot topics segment, when the host proclaimed about Sways death, I have no idea who this is. Neither does Norman. Neither does one person in this building.

RECENT: Wendy Williams Gets Backlash For Comments About Social Media Star Swavy

Williams pointed out he had more social media followers than her then continued, So here he is, he's 19 and he was murdered Monday morning [July 5].

Rahkim Clark, Millers brother, said he was also hurt by the remarks.

He was a star. He is a star. We always knew he was a star. He was bigger than life, Rahkim said. With nearly 3 million followers on TikTok, social media users knew Swavy for his dance moves, skits and sense of style, writes the news outlet.

He was very outgoing, so courageous. He had no fear like he would go anywhere and just bust in rhythm, the brother said in the interview.

RECENT: Tabitha Brown Gives A Peaceful Clap Back To Wendy Williams For Talking About Her Husband

Miller was shot by an unidentified gunman Monday morning (July 5th) in Wilmington, DE before his mother watched him pass away, according to the report. Williams covered the news in an edition of The Wrap days later, commenting on the TikTok users number of followers compared to her and insisting the crowd clap if they know who he is.
Haitian First Lady Martine Moise spoke to the public on social media for the first time Saturday (July 10) after she was critically injured last week when her husband, President Jovenel Moise, was assassinated, according to IBTimes.

"I am alive, thanks to God," Moise, who was flown out of the country for treatment, states in an audio message via Twitter, ...but I have lost my husband Jovenel."

RECENT: Jovenel Moise, President of Haiti, Assassinated; Wife Wounded In Overnight Attack

The clip, spoken in Creole, was confirmed to AFP by Haitis Minister of Culture and Communications, according to the report. Moise also took some time to explain her final moments with her husband before he was assassinated Wednesday (July 7).

"In the blink of an eye, the mercenaries entered my home and riddled my husband with bullets ... without even giving him a chance to say a word," says Moise, I am crying, it is true, but we cannot let the country lose its way."

RECENT: Haiti Continues Spiral Into Turmoil Over Presidents Legitimacy

Currently, Haiti officials arrested 17 of the 28 suspects accused of being involved in the assassination, including at least three who were murdered by police, the report says.

Now, due to the countrys chaotic status after the presidents assassination, international leaders want the country to quickly move forward with presidential and legislative elections,which were supposed to begin later this year, according to the report.

President Moise was assassinated on the morning of July 7 when an armed collective approached his estate and opened fire on the couple. Though police currently have rounded up a majority of those suspected of being involved in the assassination, a motive has not yet been revealed.
Members of the Arizona Legislature who live outside of the metro Phoenix area will be getting a big increase in their daily expense pay under legislation Gov. Doug Ducey has allowed to become law without his signature
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FILE- In a Sept. 13, 2019 file photo the closed office of Indiana Virtual School, in Indianapolis, is seen with a message to creditors taped to the door stating that it no longer had assets or bank accounts. The leaders of two now-closed Indiana online charter schools are accused in a new lawsuit of defrauding the state of more than $150 million by padding their student enrollments and inappropriately paying money to web of related businesses.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

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400 years of silence. The book of Malachi is the last of the written word in the Old Testament before we get to the letters and Gospels of the New Testament. Thats 400 years.

Now, we know that God spoke to people during those centuries. Thats what He does. He speaks. For the purposes of the Gospel Story. Hes telling from Genesis to Revelation, and the written revelation that chronicles it, we get a 400-year break.

We talk about the importance of a persons last words as if what they had to say last must have been of utmost importance. These are the last words of the Old Testament. Malachi sums up the themes of the Old Testament, brings correction and challenge, and God gives His people hope for reconciliation, restoration, and a future.

The book of Malachi is the end of the Old Testament. But God makes it clear that it is not the end of the Story He is telling. The best is yet to come.

Who Was Malachi and What Was He Known For?

The first verse of Malachi is the only time the prophets name is mentioned in the Old Testament. Otherwise, nothing definitive is known about him.

Malachi is placed among the minor prophets, but these are only designated as minor because of the length of the book. The Old Testament (and to some degree the New) is organized based on genre (history, poetry, prophecy) and then prophets by length, not necessarily chronologically. The major prophets are simply longer books. Interestingly enough, however, Malachi was one of the latter ones written, if not the last.

The book of Malachi was written around 100 years after the Jews returned to Jerusalem from exile. Malachi uses the same word for governor that Nehemiah and Haggai use (pechah). Malachi deals with sacrifices in the Temple, so the 2nd Temple had been built and was in use. Nehemiah faced similar corruption with the Jews that Malachi highlightscorrupt priests (Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah 13), neglect of tithes and offerings (Nehemiah 3, Nehemiah 13), and intermarriage with foreign women (Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah 13).

All of these clues and contexts confirm that Malachi was written contemporary with Nehemiah and the latter prophets.

What Is the Book of Malachi About?

Malachi is a beautifully written book using a question-and-answer method to bring Gods message to the people. This places Gods word within a conversation instead of a strict sermon or lecture-type format.

Judah and Jerusalem had been ultimately conquered by Babylon, then Babylon by Persia, all as a result of their sin and dismissal of prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. During the time of Persia, the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and the Temple, detailed in Nehemiah and Ezra. Through sacrifice and struggle, the Jews accomplished both.

We might expect the Jews to never take God for granted again, right? Well, even though they had the priests and worship established in the Temple, the Jews became corrupt and selfish in a prophetic cycle. Injustice and poverty became the norm.

Through this question-and-answer method, God deals with six different themes and issues where He and the Jews are in conflict and disagreement. God exposes and confronts their corruption, and God gets the last word. He calls them to remember His love, to return to Him, all so that they can endure the refining fire that is yet to come.

What Are Some Major Lessons from the Book of Malachi?

The first conversation between God and His people (Malachi 1:2-5) is initiated by God. He tells them He loves them despite their failures. They question His love. He reminds them that He chose Jacob in their history. They are a people because of Him.

Secondly, God points out how the people are abusing the new Temple (Malachi 1:6-2:9). They wonder, how are we abusing it? The Jews werent bringing the best of what they had as an offering in the Temple. The lambs and animals they brought were disabled and blind.

God tells them to give those trash, blemished offerings to the Persian governor. Would the governor accept them? Of course not, but they give those things to the Most High God.

Third, God calls His people traitors against Him (Malachi 2:10-16). The people deny this. How are they traitors? God answers that when the men of Judah marry foreign women and worship their idols, they are traitors. Men are also divorcing their Jewish wives, and God sees this as a sign of breaking covenants, both with Him and one another.

The people are tired of being accused. Now they accuse God (Malachi 2:17-3:5). The Jews say that since God allows injustice, then He is unjust. Gods response is that He will send a messenger, a person that will remove all injustice. In other words, a person that will do what the corrupt priests should have done.

Fifth, God calls the people back to Him. They wonder, how can we come back to You? God specifically deals with the tithe, the 10 percent of income and harvests required in the Law. The tithe was meant to support the Temple and the priests. Do this, God says, and you wont be able to contain the blessings He pours out.

Lastly, the Jews declare that there is no value in serving God (Malachi 3:13-3:18). The wicked prosper. The righteous suffer.

God responds with a narrative about people that remain faithful. Those that get together and remember God, discuss Him and His Truth, God will write their names down in a scroll of remembrance. Those people will belong to God as sons belong to a Father. They will be spared from Gods judgment. God will make them jewels, people of great value.

Again, the faithful will endure. What will they need to endure? The conclusion of Malachi 4 begins with a description of a terrible day of judgment that is coming. However, this judgment will not be terrible for the faithful. The faithful will not be afraid. Rather, they will have joy at seeing God setting everything right.

How will people remain faithful? Remember the Law, read the scriptures, Malachi relays from God. A new Elijah and Moses will come and restore what was lost.

The last statement is an amazing promise of reconciliation. As a sign that the new Elijah/Moses will reconcile the people to God the Father, Gods messenger will also reconcile people. He will turn the hearts of the children to their fathers and the fathers to the children.

Reconciliation will beget reconciliation.

And then 400 years of silence.

Why Should We Know about This Minor Prophet?

We know the rest of the story. We know that God fulfilled His promise. He sent a messenger, a new Elijah, and a new Moses.

The Jews were very aware of this promise. Since before Christ, the Passover Seder now includes an empty seat and an extra glass of wine, signifying the wait for Elijahs return, a Messianic promise directly tied to Malachi.

Luke shares that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Malachi 4:4-6 (Luke 1:15-17). Jesus also expressly states that, if the Jews can handle it, John the Baptist was Elijah (Matthew 11:14).

Jesus used several quotes from Deuteronomy and is the second Moses that Malachi prophesies about. Moses also spoke about another one like himself, another prophet that will bring a second covenant (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). In his Gospel, John says that the Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus (John 1:17). There are other examples throughout the letters of the New Testament, but the early Christians wholeheartedly believed that Jesus was that second, better Moses, the bringer of the New Covenant.

Therefore, we first need to understand Malachi to get a fuller vision of what God has done through Christ and the Holy Spirit, the fulfillment of prophecy that tells us God will do what He says.

One passage from Malachi is fascinating to me, and it connects to most Christians today. Malachi prophesies how all nations will know Him. From the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name will be great among the Gentiles. In every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering. For My name will be great among the nations (Malachi 1:11).

For those of us non-Jews who are born again in Christ, this reoccurring promise throughout the Old Testament, especially the latter prophets, helps us to see Gods heart for all people and why the call to the Gentiles was an important principle of the New Covenant to Jesus and the Apostle Paul.

Beyond understanding Malachi in its original context as explained above, and how the prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptist, Christ, and the New Covenant (and non-Jews like me!), there are important lessons for us today.

Christians are Gods people, His children, but we struggle with the same questions and thoughts from Malachi. Is God good? Why do the wicked prosper? Not to mention our own lack of commitment and the selfishness that creeps into our lives.

We also live in a culture that accuses God of similar things. What value is there in following God? If God allows injustice, is he not therefore unjust? Malachi gives us a framework for how to approach these common issues both in our own lives and in our discussions with others.

For us today, these truths from Malachi are instructive and encouraging:

We can have a conversation with God. Ask God questions. He can handle it. Tough times will come, and we wont always understand what is happening, but God is a loving Father who longs for relationship, which means He is open for conversation. God also initiates conversation with us by asking us questions. This challenges, corrects, and leads to greater intimacy.

Scripture is central to our understanding of how God loved us in the past and will reward us in the future. Read the Bible. Study it. The truths in Scripture will ground us when the world around is in chaos and it seems like the wicked prosper. Spoiler alert: in the end, they dont. The Bible continually makes this clear. He is just and justice will win out. Lets never forget the power of Scripture.

Our loving commitment to God includes giving our best. We are to seek first the Kingdom and Gods righteousness. We must give Him all of us, our best and our worst, our very lives as a continual sacrifice and offering. Subsequent to that is our extreme generosity to those in need.

God values those faithful to God, to His Word, and they are the only ones with a joyous future. There is an end to the Story. For those that follow Him and endure, for those that live a life worthy of the high call (Ephesians 4:1), that end will be glorious and full of joy. All things, good and bad, will be redeemed for good in the Kingdom.

After Revelation was written by John, we werent left with silence from God. He speaks through the Bible, through the Spirit within us, and through His children in community. He is always speaking. Let us humble ourselves and come to our Father for conversation. Let us give Him our best.

He is worthy of it all.

Peace.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Free Photos

Britt Mooney (with his amazing wife, Becca) has lived as a missionary in Korea, traveled for missions to several countries, and now lives in Suwanee GA as a church planter that works bi-vocationally with Phoenix Roasters, a missional coffee company. He has a podcast about the Kingdom of God called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author with Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.

This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.

The Bible Story of Elijah

The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons

The Bible Story of Queen Esther

The Greatest Villain - King Nebuchadnezzar

The Bible Story of Mary Magdalene
In the stunning, Gospel-based novel Joanna: A Story of Love & Betrayal by Gene Everett Weatherley (2017), Joanna is depicted as a woman who by circumstance and desire joins Jesus closest followers in His last year on earth. In the Gospels, Joanna is listed as one of the women who accompany Jesus in his traveling ministry. The women in the group perform much of the cooking and packing chores as they journey through Galilee to Jerusalem. The women interact with Jesus and the 12 male disciples and are amazed by Christ as they watch him heal the souls and bodies of people in the crowds that surround them. It is a busy, rich, and exciting time in Joannas life, a time that changes her spirit.

Who Was Joanna in the Bible?

Joanna was the wife of a wealthy Roman official, Cuza, who managed King Herod Antipas palace. Before joining Jesus ministry, Joanna lived lavishly in a lovely home in Sepphoris, a cosmopolitan city of middle-class people. The historical novel Joanna depicts her as frustrated with marriage and motherhood because of Cuzas overbearing personality. When Jesus heals their sons high fever and saves the boys life, Joanna is drawn to join Jesus ministry. Jesus speaks to Joanna when her son is healed, inviting her back to Copernicus, Jesus home base at the time. She sees leaving her home and following Jesus as a way to show Cuza she has had enough of his insensitive treatment of her. She joins the other women and disciples in working with Jesus and plans to stay only a few weeks. Joanna believes Cuza will quickly realize the error of his ways, change his behavior, and bring her back to their home, in the novel rendition of the story.

Joanna sacrificed money, a life of ease, and family relations to follow Jesus. As a wealthy, fairly independent woman, Joanna supported Jesus and the disciples financially, since they did not work regular jobs during their time with Jesus. As it says in the Bible, These women were helping to support them out of their own means (Luke 8:3).

In the novel, Joanna trades her fine silk robes for a rough cloth robe tied with a belt. She is dismayed at the rustic conditions of Copernicus and the smell of fish in the air at its location next to the Sea of Galilee. The novel illustrates the big adjustment Joanna made to live simply on the fly with Jesus troop of followers. It also portrays her grieving for the company of her husband and son, left behind in Sepphoris. Joanna dealt with her own personal struggles as she faithfully followed Jesus. Her internal conflict is detailed in the novel Joanna. Although the novel may not be true in every aspect of Joannas life, as were given few details about her in Scripture, we can imagine she gave up a lot to follow Jesus, and she considered it worth it.

What Does the Bible Say about Her?

Luke 8:1-3 lists Joanna as one of the group of people working with Jesus to spread the good news. The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene)Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herods household; Susanna; and many others. Joanna may have been one of the women cured of an illness or evil spirit, now diagnosed as a mental illness. The miracle of her healing may have prompted her to sympathize with Jesus cause to spread His message to all people. The women, along with the men. traveled with Jesus from town to village. They recognized him as the Messiah God promised through the prophets. The women watched him heal the sick, cast out demons, teach the crowds of people, and challenge the Pharisees.

Joanna, whose name means the Lord has shown favor, is also on the list of women who visited Christs empty tomb three days after his crucifixion. Luke 24: 9-11 says, When they (the women) came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Jesus body was gone, angels had spoken to the women that first Easter morning, and it was the women to whom Jesus first chose to reveal His resurrection.

The Crosswalk.com article "Why Joanna Teaches Us About the Importance of -Supporting Missionaries says, Once again, Joanna was thereon the scenethis time as a witness to the risen Savior! She was one of the women to discover the empty tomb, to experience initial despair, to bow in terror at the two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning, and then, to remember Jesus words that he would be crucified but would rise again on the third day.

Oh, the tsunami of emotions Joanna and the other women experienced in a matter of momentssorrow, uncertainty, fear, terror, hope, and ultimately, soul-bursting joyShe immediately shared her excitement and wonder with the apostles.

How Was Joanna Involved in Jesus' Ministry?

As described in the introduction, Joanna served as a support person to Jesus and the disciples. She was involved in the day-to-day operation of finding lodging, acquiring and preparing food, settling personality conflicts, planning strategy, and listening to Jesus teachings.

As Jesus message spread, Roman authorities heightened their opposition to His ministry. Note that the Roman leader in the time of Jesus adulthood was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, who had ordered the slaughter of all sons under age two in the city of Bethlehem when Jesus birth was made public. Herod the Great perceived that the Christ child was a threat to Roman authority. Herod Antipas, like his father, did not like the announcement of a Savior coming to earth, which was preached by John the Baptist, so Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded. Jesus ministry goes undercover after his cousin and herald John the Baptist was killed.

Roman soldiers were getting more and more aggressive in attempting to stop Jesus message of salvation from spreading over the Roman Empire. Joanna had a close connection to Roman government officials through her husbands position as Herods palace manager, and she may have worked to foible Herod Antipas plans to stop Jesus message of salvation. Joanna would have been fearful of Herod, but she persevered in protecting Jesus from Herods power to stop Him. Her faith in Jesus ministry overcame her fear of Herod, as stated in the Crosswalk.com article about Joanna and the importance of supporting missionaries.

7 Important Lessons to Learn from Joanna

1. Joanna lived by Jesus message to serve Him: For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it (Mark 8:35). She temporarily sacrificed her family life, personal safety, and material comforts to work with Jesus. We can donate a part of our life to Christian ministry.

2. We can expect to gain amazing understanding as a result of studying Scripture and giving our lifes work to Jesus, as Joanna did.

3. We can be healed when we work within Christs ministry. Joanna and other women in Jesus group of followers were healed physically and mentally (Luke 8:1).

4. There is a risk of experiencing great loss as well as great victory when we join Christs ministry. The women most likely felt enormous grief at Christs death and great joy at his resurrection.

5. Traditional, womens work is important. Jesus would not have been able to spread his word across Galilee, Samaria, and Judea if women hadnt taken care of the basic needs of a roof over their heads and food to nourish their bodies. Women kept Jesus mission moving.

6. Women provide an alternate perspective in a ministry, solving conflicts and finding solutions to problems. Imagine the discussions between the women and the disciples.

7. We take a risk when we change our lives and following Jesus call. There may be an enormous harvest in acting on faith with our entire lives. Joanna took that risk.

Joannas story reveals that Jesus values the contributions of women within the Christian community. He values every person, male or female, equally. We all can serve God in our own unique way.

Further Reading

*Weatherly, Gene Everett. Joanna: A Story of Love & Betrayal. Paperback. Elk Lake Publishing, Vermont; October 2, 2017. Available on Amazon.com.

Photo credit: GettyImages/MangoStarStudio

Betty Dunn hopes her articles in Crosswalk.com help you hold hands with God, a theme in her self-published novel Medusa. A former high school English teacher and editor, she is working on new writing projects from her home in West Michigan, where she enjoys woods, water, pets, and family. Check out her blog at Betty Dunn and her website, www.elizabethdunning-wix.com

This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.

The Bible Story of Elijah

The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons

The Bible Story of Queen Esther

The Greatest Villain - King Nebuchadnezzar

The Bible Story of Mary Magdalene
Celebrates 44th Foundation Day

ENTOD Pharmaceuticals plans to foray into the medical cosmetics and ophthalmic surgical segments. The company which recently celebrated its 44th Foundation Day on July 11, plans to add 100 employees to its workforce each month until September 2021.

The company has ventured into the market of medical cosmetics through a joint-venture with NuSkin London. NuSkin London is a research initiative of ENTOD Research Cell UK Ltd, to improve skin formulation research and create innovative dermatological solutions. The joint venture is expected to help commercialise NuSkin Londons skincare and medical cosmetic innovations across the Indian sub-continent and international markets like Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and others. The company also plans to expand in the ophthalmic surgical segment by launching its HyTek Division, which will deal with surgical products.

With innovative and research-driven ophthalmic and ENT products, ENTOD has been facilitating rapid advances in the segment. The phenocaine plus intracameral mydriatic injection helps to achieve rapid and stable pupillary dilatation without using preoperative dilating eye drops and sustained intraocular anaesthesia for pain-free surgery and better surgical outcomes. The research team has come up with an innovative micronised ocular suspension technology that offers better formulation stability, greater bioavailability, more precise dosing and reduced ocular irritation. The company has introduced NOVELIA preservative-free eye drop technology by tying up with a pharmaceutical giant, NEMERA (France).

Speaking about the latest development and expansion plans, Nikkhil K Masurkar, Executive Director, ENTOD, said Over the next two to three years, we are also planning to venture into the surgical products sector that would further enable us to establish our presence across the domestic and international markets.

The company was founded in 1977 by GV Masurkar, a pharmacist and a visionary. The company with more than 1000 employees has its footprints across more than 55 countries around the world. With over Rs 150-crore revenue in FY21, the company has seen a growth of 30-40 per cent from last year even during the COVID pandemic.
Opinion | 16 July 2021 | Views

We have tied up with a few solution providers to accommodate vaccine storage at -70 degrees

How are you currently working with the vaccine manufacturers for effective distribution? We are worki...Read more
The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) wants to thank all media houses around the country for registering their staff for Covid-19 vaccinations and appeals to the media fraternity to speed up the process of uploading staff/employees' details.

Sanef calls on media houses and individual freelancers to speedily complete the forms and submit them without delay by end of business on Wednesday, 14 July 2021, in an effort to get the media vaccinated without delay. It's reported that over 90% of registrations from media houses was achieved in just several days.Acting Health Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, announced during a recent briefing that registrations for the next phase of the country's Covid-19 vaccine drive, aimed at people aged between 35 and 49, will open on 15 July. The vaccination of this cohort will begin on 1 August.Journalists above 35  60 years of age are encouraged to register here and get vaccinated.However, all the media sectors; mainstream, community, online, broadcasting, print as well as freelance below 35 years will be considered. All media organisations and freelancers must complete the attached form and email it to the GCIS which has been assigned the responsibility to collate all forms on behalf of the Health Department.Completed forms should be sent to Cindy Ngozo at az.vog.sicg@nydnic Sanef appeals to the media fraternity to speed up the process of uploading staff/employees details. This will enable the department to process the media and then move onto the next sector of essential services.Media houses must complete the forms and provide the list(s) of staff according to regions or municipalities (cities, towns) where their staff offices are based. For example, if the head office in Johannesburg has 200 staff members, they should be in at the top of the list, followed by 50 people based in Durban in the next list of staff in the next region etc. or upload separate lists according to cities or towns where they operate.Download the forms here
Different media brings different things to the party

Ad recall in print has improved significantly over the past decade, from 46% to 77% . (Source: RAMetrics)



in print has improved significantly over the past decade, from . (Source: RAMetrics) Branding is 185% stronger in print than digital, more and more clients are benefiting from direct access to an incredibly engaged audience, in an effective and trusted environment. (Source: RAMetrics)



stronger in print than digital, more and more clients are benefiting from direct access to an incredibly engaged audience, in an effective and trusted environment. (Source: RAMetrics) With local papers accounting for 79% of the newspaper distribution in South Africa. (Source: ABC Q1 2020)

Top SA retailers = Top Caxton advertisers

Case Study: Private Property used well-branded power-wraps across 99 of SAs local papers, distributed to over 2.4 million homes. This was a week before lockdown level five was applied. Unfortunately, many of their other media activities had to be cancelled due to lockdown, but reaching 2.4 million homes proved instrumental in directing traffic to their rebranded website. With 7.9 million impressions and five million users reached we could directly attribute this to local papers.

According to Mark Ritson, brand consultant and marketing professor,We all appreciate a good pairing and some things were just meant to go together. Most advertising works best when media complements one another. By pairing two or more platforms youThe latest IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) data study proves,with other channels boosts campaign success.Previous studies by Newsworks have shown that adding newspapers to a media schedule increases overall campaign effectiveness in all categories.Spark Media agrees with Denise Turner, Insights Director at Newsworks, when she says, Somehow advertising has been distracted by madmen metrics. Its time we got back to doing the best advertising in the best places for advertisers.Significant assets of print areand(all key elements in a very disrupted world). With more people turning to trusted news sources, the undeniable value of print is further cemented by the intrinsic of local papers.With most advertising not even able to break into the consciousness of target markets, you want your message to stand out!Many successful advertisers recognise the strength, value and impact offered by local papers and reap the weekly rewards!Four out of the five top retailers listed in South Africa have successfully partnered with Spark Media and advertise in local papers regularly.Advertisers in non-retail categories are waking up to the modest media type and starting to see the results local papers can achieve.Now you know - local papers can supercharge a campaign, pack a punch in the media mix and boost other channels, all whilst giving you total market coverage of economically active South Africa.And if you are at a loss as to what to pair your local paper with, we are here with suggestions. Contact us at az.oc.aidemkraps@ofni
YouTube has announced the arrival, in South Africa, of the beta version of YouTube Shorts, the company's new short-form video experience to create short, catchy videos from mobile phones. First announced in September 2020, YouTube has since expanded Shorts to 26 countries and will now be available across more than 100 countries around the world where YouTube is available.

Add text to specific points in your video



Automatically add captions to your Short



Record up to 60 seconds with the Shorts camera



Add clips from your phones gallery to add to your recordings made with the Shorts camera



Add basic filters to colour correct your Shorts, with more effects to come in the future

If YouTube isn't in your marketing plan, you're missing out! YouTube hosted a festival that focused on showing marketers and advertisers what can be achieved through using YouTube...

A seamless viewing experience across YouTube

Supporting mobile creators

While short-form videos were already viewable on the platform, users in South Africa will be able to access Shorts creation tools for the first time, which include a multi-segment camera to string multiple video clips together, the ability to record with music, control speed settings, and more.Users will also have the ability to sample audio, not only from other Shorts but from videos all across YouTube - which includes billions of videos worldwide - unlocking a new playground of creativity like never before. This means that users can put their own creative spin on the content they love to watch on YouTube and help find it a new audience  whether its reacting to their favourite jokes, trying their hand at a creators latest recipe, or re-enacting comedic skits. Creators will be in control and will be able to opt-out if they dont want their long-form video remixed.In addition, and timed with the products international expansion, YouTube is bringing a new set of features to all existing and new markets allowing users to:We want to make it easy and fun to create Shorts said Todd Sherman, global product manager for YouTube Shorts. As we continue to build Shorts alongside our creators and artists, well be adding more features for users to try, he added.When it comes to music, artists and creators will have a large library of songs to use in their Shorts from over 250 labels and publishers around the world, including Universal Music Groups labels and publishing companies, Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Publishing, Warner Music Group and Warner Chappell Music, Believe, Merlin, Because Music, Beggars and, Kobalt.Helping people find Shorts to enjoy and creators get discovered is also a key component of the product experience. That is why even before announcing the creation tools, YouTube introduced a dedicated row on the homepage especially for Shorts, launched a new watch experience that lets you easily swipe vertically from one video to the next, and have added a Shorts tab on mobile that makes it easier for users to watch Shorts with a single tap.As of today, the YouTube Shorts player has surpassed 6.5 billion daily views globally.Shorts will be integrated into the YouTube experience users already know and love. For example, if a user hears a snippet of a song on Shorts, they can easily find the full song, watch the music video, or learn more about the artist  all on YouTube.YouTube has helped an entire generation of creators turn their creativity into businesses and become the next generation of media companies. Over the last three years, the company has paid more than $30 billion to creators, artists, and media companies.With Shorts being a new way to watch and create on YouTube, the company has been looking at various ways to monetize Shorts and reward creators for their content, including the recently announced YouTube Shorts Fund, a $100M fund distributed over the course of 2021-2022.We know that it will take us time to get this right, and we're just getting started. We can't wait for you to try Shorts and help us build a first-class, short-form video experience right on YouTube Sherman said.The Shorts beta will be available to everybody in South Africa by Wednesday, 14 July.
Conceptual Graphic Designer

Remuneration: R20000 - R25000 per month basic salary Location: Johannesburg, Sandton Education level: Diploma Job level: Mid Type: 1 month Reference: #BG#GraphicDesigner Company: Cardilogix

Job description

A copy of your CV.

A copy of your portfolio.

A link to your online portfolio or links showcasing your work.

To conceptualise and through creative thinking using your imaginary design skills, produce outstanding award winning creative work within the scope of the brand and creative brief supplied and present to client.

Working closely with the creative director and as directed by the creative brief.

The responsibility vests in the attitude, behaviour, determination and accountability to pursue all avenues in order to ensure that the end product/design craft is of a high standard.

By taking ownership, pride and the use of all available resources, the end product/design craft should project a keen attention to detail.

Exceptional drawing skills (as in slick rendering and scamps) a necessity for art directors and nice to have for designers.

Exceptionally fast conceptual skills.

Capable of driving copy and guiding the response mechanisms.

Thorough understanding of promotional activities and experiential marketing disciplines.

A portfolio that demonstrates these skills beyond a shadow of doubt and the results of the activities to prove it.

Finely honed design skills and latest techniques  graphic designer.

Capability to take on campaigns with multi-element tasks which require a concept and a thought through process, briefing the copywriters with specific objectives and tasks at hand.

Fully Mac literate in all relevant programs.

The applicant will be working closely with a team of client service personnel and creative director.

Requirements

Must be fully computer literate on Mac in Freehand and Adobe: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc.

Must have strong conceptual skills

Raw design talent must be evident

Strong on running and meeting tight deadlines

You must really, really have a good given design talent

Must have a diploma/degree in fine arts/design or similar

Previous agency experience essential

Preference would be given to candidates with branding agency experience

Portfolio imperative to showcase your work

Min three to four years' experience essential

Able to do design, conceptualisation, etc.

A thriving creative agency is seeking to hire a talentedto join their team as soon as possible. This role is based at the clients offices in Sandton and is a 1 month contractual role.The search is on in finding the perfect candidate who combines conceptual and creative excellence with experience in design.This is a key role within the agency. You will be a key graphic designer across a number of extremely high profile accounts and will constantly champion excellent creative standards throughout the company.Please only apply if you have the relevant experience as per our job ad. Our client does not have the capacity to train anyone  you need to hit the ground running.Your application will be passed to our team of recruitment consultants and should your skills and experience match the recruitment needs of our client, we will be in touch within a 96 hour turn-around time.Should you not hear from us, please treat your application for this job as unsuccessful.Posted on 12 Jul 11:09
Police feared a Las Vegas-style shooting during the All-Star Game in Denver after receiving a tip from a housekeeper working at a hotel not far from Coors Field. The hotel employee discovered more than a dozen weapons and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition inside one of the rooms Friday night.

Multiple informed law enforcement sources connected with the investigation told Denver7s Liz Gelardi and Denver7 chief investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski that they found the weapons inside a room on the eighth floor of the Maven Hotel as All-Star Game celebrations got underway.

Sources said police removed 16 long guns, body armor and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition from the room which featured a balcony overlooking the downtown area. The sources said they feared the number of weapons, ammo, vantage point and large crowds could have resulted in a "Las Vegas-style shooting."

Based on the information provided by the hotel employee, police executed a search warrant and found the guns, ammo, body armor and a man inside the room on the eighth floor.

One of the suspects arrested Friday night had posted a message on Facebook referencing a recent divorce and saying he was going to go out in a big way, according to the multiple law enforcement sources.
Illustration via Babylon Bee

In preparation for the coming campaign, Lake County, Illinois has published 'Helpful Hints' for volunteers taking part in their "Community Health Ambassador Outreach Door Knocking Project to Increase COVID Vaccine Acceptance."

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION VACCINE DOOR TO DOOR SALES PITCH SCRIPT pic.twitter.com/yiMqrKIxiv  The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) July 9, 2021

The 'Helpful Hints!' include:

If you're nervous, that's ok! We all still get nervous, even if we've done this before.

You don't need to have all the answers. If you are unsure of an answer, be honest. Tell the person asking that you are a volunteer, and you will take down their question so that a health department staff person can get them the correct answer.

Inform, dont convince. Your job is to equip the person at the door with the information/resources they need to make an informed decision about their health. You are not trying to convince anyone to do something they dont want to do.

Ignore no soliciting signs. You're not soliciting! You're offering critical information and resources. What you are doing is not illegal.

You don't have to be selling something to be soliciting. pic.twitter.com/HaUaBq0pee  AJA4 (@j_aja4) July 10, 2021

Knock and then back up [zh: so you don't get shot?]. Follow COVID-19 distancing protocols and speak clearly. If someone is uncomfortable with you being there in person, offer to give them more distance or leave them a flyer.

Use your script. This will give you the basics. Once you get comfortable with it, feel free to make it sound more like you as long as all the key information is there. Make clear up front that the building has let you in and you're from the health department.

Perhaps most importantly, volunteers are told to keep a list of who's been naughty or nice.

Report on your work! Be sure to fill out the Doorknocking Spreadsheet with the counts of who still needs a vaccine, who is already vaccinated, who needs more info, etc . This is important information that the Health Department is relying on!

The door knockers are then given various scenarios in an attached script. For example:

PM (property manager) /CAM (community association manager): We dont allow solicitation on our property. CHM (community health ambassador): I understand but I am not selling anything, we want to provide accurate information to the seniors in your community. Our goal is to maximize the vaccination effort so that ALL of your seniors receive the COVID vaccine when the clinic comes on-site. All I want is to see your seniors protected against COVID.

And...

Senior: Ive had allergic reactions to medications and foods years ago, is this vaccine safe for me? CHA: The only true contraindication to this vaccine is a severe (anaphylactic) reaction to an injectable/vaccine in your past [ZH: *cough* what?]. Or an allergy to an ingredient in the vaccine, like polysorbate. After your vaccination, they will observe you for 15 minutes to be sure youre doing well. With a history of other allergic reactions, they may want to watch you for a total of 30 minutes, instead of the standard 15 minutes, just to be sure youre feeling ok. But if you have any question about your past allergies and vaccine compatibility, you should ask your doctor/healthcare provider.

Apparently door knockers are already operating in various towns.

HEADS UP! The Covid Gang is knocking on doors in North Carolina, California, Colorado and Oregon. People on TikTok are reporting they door knock then come back a week later. All of us need to post where they are at so we can sort of make up a map!  Trump Bedminster (@MichaelDeLauzon) July 10, 2021

And to nobody's surprise, concern is growing over the sudden surge in vaccine 'awareness' campaigns.

We went from 15 days to slow the spread, to Bidens gestapo knocking door-to-door to see your papers.



Who did Nazi that one coming?   Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) July 10, 2021

If the new normal is federal employees knocking on your door about medical procedures, you better be ready to fight like hell for the old normal.  Scott Jensen (@drscottjensen) July 7, 2021
A Chinese gene company selling prenatal tests around the world developed them in collaboration with the countrys military and is using them to collect genetic data from millions of women for sweeping research on the traits of populations, a Reuters review of scientific papers and company statements found.

U.S. government advisors warned in March that a vast bank of genomic data that the company, BGI Group, is amassing and analyzing with artificial intelligence could give China a path to economic and military advantage. As science pinpoints new links between genes and human traits, access to the biggest, most diverse set of human genomes is a strategic edge. The technology could propel China to dominate global pharmaceuticals, and also potentially lead to genetically enhanced soldiers, or engineered pathogens to target the U.S. population or food supply, the advisors said.

Reuters has found that BGIs prenatal test, one of the most popular in the world, is a source of genetic data for the company, which has worked with the Chinese military to improve population quality and on genetic research to combat hearing loss and altitude sickness in soldiers.
CNN medical contributor Dr. Leana Wen suggested Saturday that life needs to be "hard" for Americans who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine and individuals who refuse to get shots should perhaps face weekly testings.

"It needs to be hard for people to remain unvaccinated," Wen, the former Planned Parenthood president, said. "Right now, it's kind of the opposite."

Unvaccinated people, she fretted, can at the moment go about their lives as normal without any consequence.

"But at some point these mandates, by workplaces, by schools, I think it will be important to say, Hey, you can opt out, but if you want to opt out, you have to sign these forms, you have to get twice weekly testing," Wen said. "Basically, we need to make getting vaccinated the easy choice."

"The CDC struck a difficult (but overall correct) balance: We need to get our kids all back to in-person instruction in the Fall, and mitigation measures help us to do so safely. Indoor masking & weekly #covid19 testing for the unvaccinated are key, along with improved ventilation," Wen added on Twitter.

The CDC announced on Friday that in-person schooling is a priority this fall, with the caveat that masks should be worn indoors by children ages 2 and older who are not fully vaccinated.

The Biden administration recently said it's considering a door-to-door vaccination push. Wen argued on CNN it was a mistake for the White House to not back some kind of "vaccine credentialing."

Wen's comments piggyback off an op-ed she wrote in the Washington Post urging President Biden to mandate vaccinations nationally and scolding him for not more aggressively using his platform. She argued the White House Independence Day event would have been a perfect opportunity to share that message.
According to the report, it's run by a Venezuelan emigre, Antonio Enmanuel Intriago Valera.

The Miami Herald visited the companys offices on Thursday, where a doorbell rang to a phone, and a man declined to discuss the events in Haiti. He did not return phone calls, texts or emails asking about reports of involvement in the monumental developments gripping Haiti. No one answered on Saturday. Multiple sources in Haiti, requesting anonymity for their safety, have confirmed to the Herald that the detained men said they were hired by CTU, and several of the men indicated they had been in Haiti for at least three months, some longer. It is unclear if they knew or believed CTU leaders were aware of the assassination plot.

* * *

The assassination of Hatian president Jovenel Moise has taken yet another strange twist, after ABC News reports that a Florida man arrested in connection with the hit formerly worked in Canada's Embassy in Haiti, and also worked for a Hatian Relief Organization founded by suspected spooky actor Sean Penn following a 7.0 earthquake in 2010 that killed over 300,000 people.

James Solages, a 35-year-old Haitian-born resident of Miami, is one of 28 suspects accused by the Haitian government of participating in the deadly July 7 ambush attack that killed Moise.

James Solages. (Facebook)

Solages, along with 55-year-old Joseph Vincent (also of Miami), claim they thought they were acting as interpreters 'for an authorized operation to arrest the Haitian president' by a group of Columbians, who told them Moise was going to be arrested, not killed, according to the Washington Post.

According to NBC News, Solages worked as a bodyguard at Canada's Embassy in Port-au-Prince, however relatives say he has no formal military training. Canada, of course, is adding as much distance as possible (via the Florida Sun-Sentinel):

Solages is also the president of a nonprofit organization with an office in North Lauderdale. FWA SA A JACMEL AVAN, which is Creole for This Time Jacmel First, has a mission of rebuilding Haiti, according to its website. The website as well as its Facebook page  both which were working Thursday  were no longer accessible Friday. The website on Thursday said Solages claimed to be the chief commander of bodyguards for the Canadian Embassy in Haiti . However multiple news outlets are reporting that Canadas foreign relation department said one of the men detained in the assassination (it did not name Solages) had been employed only briefly as a reserve bodyguard at its embassy by a private contractor.

Meanwhile, Solages worked as a driver and in a security capacity for Sean Penn's J/P Haitian Relief Organization according to two sources.

Penn laid down what he considers lifelong roots in Haiti following the earthquake, at one point even living in a tent city among some 40,000 Haitians left homeless by the natural disaster. For his multi-year efforts on behalf of the Haitian people, former President Michel Martelly  the mentor of slain President Jovenel Moise  named Penn ambassador at large, the first non-Haitian to receive that designation. -ABC News

James Solages (left) and other suspects in the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moise

The assassination was carried out early Wednesday when a heavily armed group of men stormed the presidential mansion and shot Moise multiple times, injuring his wife in the process. Prior to the storming, a man with an American accent could be heard on a megaphone announcing that it was a "DEA Operation."

NEW - Assailants of Haiti's president and his wife "identified" themselves to be agents with the United States: "DEA operation. Everybody stand down. DEA operation." Government official thinks the assassins were mercenaries.pic.twitter.com/tK4hTLaeCx  Disclose.tv  (@disclosetv) July 7, 2021

Last months, Solages filed for divorce from his wife of three years, according to court records. On June 15, he signed a financial affidavit claiming that he was unemployed, had zero cash on hand, and zero assets, according to the Sun-Sentinel. His uncle by marriage, Schubert Dorisme, said he had not seen Solages for a few months - while the Post reported that he had been in Haiti for about a month, while the other Florida suspect, Vincent, had been there about six months.

Solages and Vincent were among several suspects captured and detained on Thursday evening, while three suspects have been killed and eight are on the run.

Suspects in the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moise sit on the floor handcuffed after being detained, at the General Direction of the police in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, July 8, 2021. (AP)

Of course, now that FBI and Homeland Security officials are on their way, we're sure the situation will be fully investigated and an honest accounting will be made public (perhaps after a few Judicial Watch FOIA lawsuits).
The U.S. is awash in a surplus of coronavirus vaccines as there has been a sudden in drop in demand for them; most Americans who want the shots have had them. Now an army of Big Biotechs agencies set up to address vaccine hesitancy are turning up their mass marketing to create demand using surveillance, rapid data analysis, media control, and host of behavior control strategies theyve outlined in their playbooks.

Demand plummets

About 40% of the total adult population has been fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Uptake plummeted 25% after a peak in mid-April, and 56.4% of adults have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

But five million people  about eight per cent of those who took a first dose of the shot  failed to show up for their second dose appointments, according to the CDC.

As a result, excess vaccine stock has been piling up across the country. Chairs sat empty at a Philadelphia mass vaccination site where 4,000 unused doses of vaccines were due to expire. A million doses, representing one out of every four sent to Louisiana by the federal government, were sitting on shelves. One Wyoming county asked the state to stop shipping vaccines because it had a surplus of 20,000 shots; North Carolina closed its vaccination clinics for lack of demand.

For the first time ever, weve had appointments at many vaccination sites that have not been filled, said Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer during a news briefing last Thursday.

There [are] a lot of people around here who  I don't think they want to take the vaccine, chuckled Ralph Merrill, an engineer who sits on an Alabama county board.

Vaccine vs. virus fear

Numerous mainstream media fretted about vaccine hesitancy, blaming it on COVID-19 denialism, conspiracy theories, and QAnon followers, Trump supporters, and minority mistrust of the government with its brutal history of racist eugenics. No one mentioned that some people just dont think the vaccine works. The mainstream media simply ignored Yale Professor of Epidemiology Harvey Risch, for example, who revealed that the majority of people now coming down with COVID-19 have been vaccinated against the virus.

Nor did they mention the leading reason for vaccine refusal cited by 45% of those in a March poll conducted by the Delphi Group for Facebook researchers, which is fear of side-effects, however. With reported adverse events at 118,746 total in the U.S. alone, including 3,410 deaths and 1,595 permanent disabilities, it is a legitimate deterrent. So is the abrupt halt of AstraZenecas vaccine for its high rate of blood clots, and the pause of Johnson & Johnsons vaccine.

The leading reason for vaccine refusal cited by 45% of those in a March poll conducted by the Delphi Group for Facebook researchers is fear of side-effects. With reported adverse events at 118,746 total in the U.S. alone, including 3,410 deaths and 1,595 permanent disabilities, it is a legitimate deterrent.

Many people simply fear the novel vaccine more than the novel virus which, according to the CDC, has an overall 99.4% survival rate for those aged 50-65 who get the infection. The odds go up as people get older but decrease if people are younger. For those under 18, the coronavirus fatality rate estimated by the CDC is 0.00002, which translates into a 99.98% COVID survival rate. In fact, for those under 18, the lifetime odds of being struck by lightning are higher than the odds of dying of the virus.

Nevertheless, President Joe Biden said Tuesday that now that the bulk of the vaccinated are seniors  85% of whom have gotten at least their first vaccine dose  he wants 70% of all Americans to get their first dose by July 4. He specifically pitched the jab to youths and announced his administration would be sending the vaccines to pediatricians to dole out over the coming weeks.

Getting vaccinated not only protects you but reduces risk of giving the virus to somebody else, Biden said, employing a classic line of social marketing script from a global industry of behavior change experts compelling people to take the shot.

Vaccination Demand Observatory

[P]ublic health experts know that the last inch  getting the vaccine from vial to arm  can be the hardest, according to the Vaccination Demand Observatory

Launched last week, the Observatory runs a beta dashboard of data and resources intended for select global public health professionals.

The Observatory was established by a group called the Public Good Projects (PGP) which designs and implements large-scale behavior change programs for the public good, UNICEF  which has received $86.6 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2020  and the Gates-subsidized Yale Institute for Global Health. .

PGP was founded by Joe Smyser, a public health academic who trained at the CDC and has partnered with Google and Facebook. Its board members include executives from Merck pharmaceuticals, Pepsi, Levi-Strauss, the Advertising Council, Sesame Street, Campbells, and TikTok.

PGPs website says that through media monitoring and bots, grassroots social media organizing, or thought leadership, we deploy our considerable resources and connections to communication for change.

Bots  or internet robots, also known as crawlers  can scan content on webpages all over the internet and create automated conversations and comments.

PGP is monitoring coronavirus-related media conversations 24/7 to provide organizations with real-time public health expertise and messaging guidance.

The supposed danger of the disease needs to be emphasized, because If people perceive that they are at low risk of contracting COVID-19, or that the consequences of becoming infected will not be severe, they will be less willing to get vaccinated.

The group has promoted vaccines before. It developed the #StopFlu campaign, recruiting 120 micro social media influencers in the African American and Latinx communities across eight states and giving them prompts to sell their audiences the ideas that flu is a serious problem and that healthy people need flu shots.

PGPs Observatory says it aims to mitigatemistrust on all vaccines. Awash in Brave New World speak, the programs three pillars are social listening analytics, a training program, and a Vaccine Acceptance Interventions Lab (VAIL) to draw upon behavioral and social research and insights from social listening and to develop "inoculation messages to vaccinate people against vaccine misinformation. These would be rapid field tested for tone, format and behavior change impact before being implemented.

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) created a new public health field called infodemiology  the science of managing infodemics. PGP and UNICEF are leading the Field Infodemiologist Training Program (FITP) based in UNICEF country offices, government offices, and offices of other multilateral partners to train field infodemic managers to conduct public health surveillance for misinformation and provide community support in misinformation outbreaks.

Big Biotechs global network

Among the huge network of organizations and programs involved in the vast mass marketing of vaccine demand  besides the WHO, CDC, UNICEF, PGP, and Yale  key orchestrators include:

Stronger  a new national campaign formed by an ever-growing number of public and private sector partners including PGP, Google and BIO. Whether its vaccine misinformation or climate change denial, were seeing a dangerous strain of anti-science rhetoric growing online, its website says. Our aim is to cut through the noise and normalize the truth.

BIO  Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the worlds largest biotech advocacy association representing member companies including vaccine manufacturers Pfizer Inc., Moderna Therapeutics Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Biotech, and GlaxoSmithKline as well as big agriculture companies like Monsanto along with academic institutions and related organizations.

Project RCAID  created by PGP for Rapid Collection Analysis Interpretation and Dissemination  provides real-time media monitoring with daily analyses from public health experts.

Zignal Labs  a media intelligence platform to craft messages and take control of threatening narratives before they emerge.

Family Health International or FHI 360  an organization that uses social psychology, anthropology, behavioral economics, social marketing, and other behavioral sciences to effect behavior change. It has received tens of millions from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create demand for long-acting contraceptives in poor countries. Its donors also include the CDC, the World Bank, and vaccine-maker Johnson & Johnson. Its now in the business of creating COVID-19 vaccine demand, too.

Playbook rules

In the world of infodemic management, one will inevitably come across the name of Jeff French, Professor at Brighton University and author of Strategic Social Marketing: For Behaviour and Social Change, whose text is referenced in most of the guides to mass marketing vaccines. French published a paper in July 2020 with the pandemic just a few months underway and a vaccine reportedly still unavailable for years to come about Pre-Emptive COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake Promotion Strategy. His tips have evidently inspired much of the standard pandemic vaccine sell:

Effective campaigning against vaccine misinformation should focus on the dangers of the disease and draw on the powerful motivator of fear of loss along with the possibility of gain of positive health

Appeal to emotions since data alone will not be enough.

Do not put adverse events at the center of demand creation efforts but be sure to contextualize them and help audiences understand that most will be rare and of limited duration.

Any media management and engagement strategy that is developed will need to include proactive, rolling media briefings, story generation, editorial feedsand will also need to include 24/7 media monitoring and rebuttal/correction systems.

Authorities should have agreements in place about how and when misleading information and advocates of such information should be removed and flagged as being problematic on social media.

Repeat positive messaging that emphasizes the protective (individual, family, and community) benefits of the vaccine and the loss associated with not being vaccinated (death, poor health, loss of freedom and social solidarity, inability to travel etc.)

Partner with the pharmaceutical industry, other for-profits, and NGOs to promote vaccines.

Seek interventions with key leaders in the anti-vaccination community and seek to turn such informants into advocates for vaccination.

Continue to promote other protective behaviors such as handwashing and physical distancing.

Integrate financial and non-financial incentives along with penalties for non-compliance by imposing restrictions on travel, education, or employment.

Governments will need to deliver and communicate what mix of incentives and penalty interventions will be used to promote demand.

Behavior modification and operant conditioning techniques are a frequent theme of Frenchs writings; a 2014 paper he wrote for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on vaccine uptake said behavioural interventions should seek to reward desired behaviours and when appropriate penalise inappropriate behaviour.

A range of playbooks for public health agencies and stakeholders on strategies to make people take the shot follow on Frenchs instructions. The World Health Organization issued a technical advisory on the heels of Frenchs guidelines called Behavioral Considerations for Acceptance and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines in October, still two months before a shot was even available. Some of its advice is sounding very familiar now:

 Leverage anticipated regret in communications . For example, by asking people how they would feel if they do not get vaccinated and end up contracting COVID-19 or transmitting it to loved ones.

. For example, by asking people how they would feel if they do not get vaccinated and end up contracting COVID-19 or transmitting it to loved ones.  Emphasize the social benefits . Tell people that vaccination not only benefits the individual but builds herd or population immunity

. Tell people that vaccination not only benefits the individual but builds herd or population immunity  Putting emphasis on the economic benefits , such as being able to stay in the workforce and provide for ones family, might also encourage vaccination

, such as being able to stay in the workforce and provide for ones family, might also encourage vaccination Manage expectations. Since vaccine uptake may be undermined by COVID-19 vaccines being not fully effective, meaning that people will have to continue to engage in preventive behaviour (e.g. maskwearing and physical distancing) even if and after they have been vaccinated.

Since vaccine uptake may be undermined by COVID-19 vaccines being not fully effective, meaning that people will have to continue to engage in preventive behaviour (e.g. maskwearing and physical distancing) even if and after they have been vaccinated. Emphasize danger of disease . If people perceive that they are at low risk of contracting COVID-19, or that the consequences of becoming infected will not be severe, they will be less willing to get vaccinated.

. If people perceive that they are at low risk of contracting COVID-19, or that the consequences of becoming infected will not be severe, they will be less willing to get vaccinated. Downplay dangers of vaccination and adverse events. Some people may try to compare the risk of getting infected with that of taking a new vaccine, and determine that between the two, the risk of COVID-19 is lower. Adverse events are often inevitable when large numbers of people get vaccinated in a short period of time. Neutralize the blow by communicating proactively about uncertainty and risk of vaccine-associated disability and death.

Field Guide

UNICEF and PGPs Vaccine Misinformation Management Field Guide advises vaccine promoters to consider putting vaccination in a gain frame. Show happy, healthy, productive people in graphics, and if you must show the act of vaccination try to avoid needles and tears.

Its easy to find examples of Frenchs operant psychology marketing methods being played out in the real world pandemic theatre.

One of its tactics is to badger people to accept vaccination as a social norm. Explain that the majority of people adopt certain behavior and that is what others expect you to do to achieve a common good.

FHI360 published its own quickstart guide on Demand Creation and Advocacy for COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Uptake advises governments to establish a demand creation and advocacy task force  something Biden did in March, setting aside $1.5 for a media vaccine advertising blitz.

FHI 360 also advises breaking people into audience segments of easy sells who have high trust in healthcare providers and do not question vaccines to vaccine hesitant who have high concerns about safety and low trust in institutions promoting vaccine. Then, create targeted messages, making talking point reference sheets for cultural and religious leaders.

Carrot and stick

Its easy to find examples of Frenchs operant psychology marketing methods being played out in the real world pandemic theatre.

The mainstream media have evidently taken the point about incentives and penalty interventions on board and herd immunity is the new Holy Grail which all who are not reckless criminals should seek. Were struggling to get to herd immunity, CNNs Michael Smerconish said with the precise tone of fear and alarm that would elicit behavior modification. A full 26% of Americans said they would not take the vaccine, he said, but 44% of Republicans were resisting.

Those folks jeopardize our ability to get to herd immunity faster, Smerconish claimed in disgust. If we dont get vaccinated and periodically boosted we could prolong the pandemic and find ourselves continuing to fight this battle for years. He quoted law professor Shanin Specter, who said, Without a bigger carrot or a bigger stick many Americans will not get vaccinated and we will suffer more death and dislocation.

The concept of herd immunity and how to get there is not settled science. The Great Barrington Declaration, signed by more than 43,000 medical practitioners and 14,000 public health scientists and doctors, proposes that allowing natural immunity to spread while shielding those most vulnerable to COVID infection would be less harmful than blanket lockdowns.

As immunity builds in the population, the risk of infection to allincluding the vulnerablefalls. We know that all populations will eventually reach herd immunityi.e. the point at which the rate of new infections is stableand that this can be assisted by (but is not dependent upon) a vaccine. Our goal should therefore be to minimize mortality and social harm until we reach herd immunity, the declaration says.

Following infodemic guidelines, YouTubes medical misinformation policy expressly forbids any discussion of natural immunity in herd immunity on its platform.

Real world exercise

Emphasizing fear is a strategy employed frequently by experienced public health personnel, too. In those communities where the uptake is less it will take a lot longer for the epidemic to end, Eric Toner, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Politico in an article about falling vaccine demand, for example. There will be more sickness and more death in those communities.

Former CDC director Tom Frieden employed an offshoot of the social norm tactic along with emphasizing disease danger in a recent tweet which painted unvaccinated people as infected spreaders of supposedly deadly variants.

Research like a recent study from the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University which found that new coronavirus variants are actually weaker than the original viral strain from Wuhan are to be ignored or treated as misinformation.

Marketing schemes to recruit faith leaders have had success too, as vaccination drives have even moved inside mosques to convince skeptical Muslims to roll up their sleeves. And Pope Francis has enthusiastically embraced the infodemic behavior change mission and is hosting a global public health vaccine promotion conference this week.
PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI  As shock grips the Caribbean island nation of Haiti following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, the Haitian government has carried out a campaign to arrest suspects it alleges are responsible for the murder.

Haitian Director of National Police Leon Charles announced at a press conference that the assassination squad that killed Moise is comprised of 28 foreigners, including two Haitian-Americans and 26 Colombian nationals. Fifteen of those Colombians have been detained while three were killed in a gun battle and eight remain fugitives. Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano has admitted that some of the Colombians are retired military personnel. Among them are at least one highly decorated soldier who received training from the United States and another who has been implicated in the murder of Colombian civilians.

Ties to oligarchs

The Haitian-Americans have been identified as James Solages, 35, and Joseph Vincent, 55. Solages lives in Fort Lauderdale where he is the CEO of EJS Maintenance & Repair and runs a nonprofit group, the website of which has since been scrubbed of information. Prior to relocating to Florida, he lived in the southern Haitian coastal city of Jacmel.

According to The Washington Post, Solages Facebook profile, which has since been removed, listed him as the chief commander of bodyguards for the Canadian Embassy in Haiti. The Canadaian Embassy confirmed that Solages previously worked as a security guard. While in Florida, Solages was an avid and vocal supporter of former President Michel Martelly, the founder of Moises Haitian Baldheaded Party (PHTK), according to Tony Jean-Thenor, leader of the Veye Yo popular organization in Miami, founded by the late Father Gerard Jean-Juste.

Photos of James Solages and an armored military vehicle that he posted to his now-removed Facebook page

The Haitian Times reported Solages also used to work as a security guard for both Reginald Boulos and Dimitri Vorbe, two prominent members of Haitis tiny bourgeoisie. Although initially friendly to him, they both became bitter opponents of Moise. Boulos was also a prominent supporter of previous coups in 1991 and 2004 against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The Boulos family is one of the wealthiest in Haiti and owns a pharmaceutical company that, in 1996, was responsible for poisoning scores of children with its tainted fever medicine, some fatally. Since the July 6-8, 2018 national uprising against the IMF-dictated hike of fuel prices, Boulos has attempted to recast himself as a popular and progressive figure (after one of his stores was burned and looted), heading a political party called the Third Way Movement (MTV).

Vorbe is the executive director and vice president of Societe Generale dEnergie SA, one of the largest private energy companies in Haiti which had a sweet-heart deal providing power to the energy grid that Moise sought to renegotiate after the collapse of the PetroCaribe program, under which Venezuela provided Haiti with cheap oil and credit from 2008 to 2018.

Many believe Boulos is the intellectual author and financial backer of Moises murder.

Solages employment by Boulos and centrality to the operation appears to confirm the growing popular consensus in Haiti that this controversial merchant-turned-politician was the principal backer of Moises assassination, explained journalist Kim Ives, continuing:

A lot of factors have been pointing to his involvement: The arrival of the mercenaries in nine brand new Nissan Patrol vehicles without license plates suggests that they were vehicles coming from the Nissan dealership owned by Reginald Boulos. The Haitian people have already concluded that Boulous was behind the assassination and have dechoukeed [uprooted] the dealership, Automeca, that he owned.



Colombian assassin trained by the U.S.

While the Haitian-Americans reportedly served as translators, the muscle of the assassination squad came from Colombia, the U.S.s top regional ally, which serves as a platform for destabilization and regime change plots in the region, from Venezuela to Ecuador  and now apparently Haiti.

The most prominent member of the hit squad is Manuel Antonio Grosso Guarin, a 41-year-old former special operations commando who retired from the military as a member of the Simon Bolivar No. 1 infantry battalion on December 31, 2019. According to the Colombian newspaper La Semana, Grosso had several special combat courses, had been a member of the special forces and anti-guerrilla squads, and was known for being a skilled paratrooper who flew through the air without fear.

Grosso is pictured in the rear (blue jeans) being moved following a press in Port-au-Prince, July 8, 2021. Joseph Odelyn | AP

In 2013, Grosso was assigned to the Urban Anti-Terrorist Special Force group, a secretive elite military detachment dedicated to counter-terrorism operations and carrying out kidnappings and assassinations (euphemistically known as high value target acquisition and elimination). This branch of the military is also tasked with providing security to VIP figures from the Colombian president to U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush.

He was one of the most prepared, a source remarked to La Semana.

Among Grossos preparations was special command instruction from the United States military, which supplies training and weapons to the Colombia military, one of the most repressive armed forces in the region and one that works to secure international corporate interests and drug trafficking routes.

How many false positives (see the following paragraph), how many social leaders, how many signers of the peace accord, will be on this man? left-wing Colombian Senator Gustavo Bolivar commented on Twitter.

Cuantos falsos positivos, cuantos lideres sociales, cuantos firmantes del Acuerdo de Paz tendra este hombre encima?#VerguenzaMundial pic.twitter.com/y6RMjULFtd  Gustavo Bolivar (@GustavoBolivar) July 9, 2021

Grosso was joined by Francisco Eladio Uribe Ochoa, who had retired from the Colombian Army in 2019, according to the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo. Eladio Uribes wife told the newspaper that he had been investigated for participation in the execution of civilians  a practice known as false positives, in which the Colombian military lured at least 6,402 civilians, murdered them, and dressed them in guerrilla fatigues in order to inflate their kill numbers. This gruesome practice helped military commanders reach lofty kill-count quotas set by the United States and was incentivized with bonus pay and vacation time for soldiers who carried out the killings.

Though Eladio Uribes wife said that he had been exonerated, his name has appeared in a file of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, a court formed out of the 2016 peace accord, which has investigated several thousand cases of false positives that the Colombian government had not previously admitted. Eladio Uribe is one of two soldiers accused in the 2008 murder of Luis Carlos Cardenas in the village of Chorros Blancos in Antioquia region.

Other alleged members of the hit squad alleged to have killed Moise include:

Duberney Capador Giraldo, a retired Deputy First Sergeant (killed in a gun battle in Haiti)

Alejandro Giraldo Zapata

John Jairo Ramirez Gomez

Victor Albeiro Pinera

Of the 28 total people who allegedly participated in the assassination, four of the Colombians arrived in Haiti on June 6, 2021. Grosso arrived in the Dominican city of Punta Cana and crossed the land border into Haiti two days later. Photos show him and other suspects at popular tourist sites in the Dominican Republic.

A photo of Grosso, left, along with some of the other suspects posing in Haiti posted to Grossos Facebook page

Unanswered questions and a growing consensus

Questions also remain about why Moises security team failed to protect him, and if any of its members were complicit in the murder. Dimitri Herard, the head of the General Security Unit of the National Palace, is under investigation by the United States government for arms trafficking, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR). While there is no evidence (but many rumors) linking him to the murder, Herard is one of the individuals most responsible for the safety of the president.

While the Haitian government has identified what appear to be Moises assassins, there is still no hard evidence  just circumstantial  linking them to Boulos and possibly even Vorbe. Nonetheless, there is a growing consensus that Reginald Boulous, for whom an arrest warrant [was] issued last week, paid for the mercenaries, according to Ives. It appears to be becoming more and more evident that the sector of the Haitian bourgeois, with whom Jovenel Moise was at war, are intimately linked to his assassination.

As the investigation into Moises murder unfolds, the U.S. appears to be preparing the groundwork to deploy troops to Haiti at the request of a figure whom it has spent decades grooming. According to The New York Times, Claude Joseph, who is in a struggle against Dr. Ariel Henry to head the Haitian state in the wake of Moises assassination, requested the U.S. send military forces to guard key infrastructure, including the port, airport, and gasoline reserves. White House Spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced that the U.S. would reinforce U.S. personnel in Haiti with FBI and DHS deployments.

CIA's NED created fake student movement GRAFNEH in #Haiti in the 2000s, which partnered with the bourgeoisie mafia to destabilize/destroy the nascent and promising democracy the poor majority fought to establish. Current de facto puppet PM Claude Joseph was one of NED's minions. https://t.co/zgz6GCQxpU pic.twitter.com/w1Q83qIfN2  Madame Boukman  Justice 4 Haiti  (@madanboukman) July 4, 2021

Joseph is an asset of the United States and its regime-change arm, the National Endowment For Democracy. Wikileaks cables revealed that he first came to prominence in 2003 as the leader of a NED-spawned student front called GRAFNEH in the lead up to the coup against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He also founded another NED-funded anti-Aristide group Initiative Citoyenne (Citizens Initiative). He is reported by Haitian radio stations to have been, with prominent Haitian ex-Deputy Gary Bodeau, one of the principal assailants who severely beat the late Father Gerard Jean-Juste in a Petionville church in 2005.

Jean-Juste, perhaps the most prominent supporter and surrogate of the then exiled-in-South-Africa President Aristide, had been falsely accused of involvement in the killing of his own cousin, Jacques Roche, a writer.

Essentially, we have a U.S. puppet asking his puppeteer to invade Haiti for the fourth time in just over a century, Ives concluded. But both the region and, above all, the Haitian people are sick and tired of U.S. military interventions, which are largely responsible for the nations current debilitated, critical state both economically and politically. Much of the most oppressed neighborhoods are now heavily armed and have already announced a revolution against the likes of Boulos, so the U.S.-led invaders of 2021 are likely to face a resistance similar to that which emerged against the U.S. Marines in 1915 and UN peace-keepers in 2004, only more ferocious.

Feature photo | Suspects in the assassination of Haitis President Jovenel Moise are shown to the media, along with the weapons and equipment they allegedly used in the attack, at the General Direction of the police in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 8, 2021. Joseph Odelyn | AP

Dan Cohen is the Washington DC correspondent for Behind The Headlines. He has produced widely distributed video reports and print dispatches from across Israel-Palestine. He tweets at @DanCohen3000.


Paleoconservative firebrand Nick Fuentes was banned from Twitter on Friday after the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center published hit pieces lobbying for him to be deplatformed.





.@NickJFuentes is a white nationalist who traffics in disinformation and division. He and his "groyper army" spout #antisemitic, racist rhetoric, and are working hard to mainstream their extremist views.

Read more about Fuentes here: https://t.co/2pjXAscdGz  ADL (@ADL) July 9, 2021

Nick Fuentes was suspended from Twitter hours after the ADL published a report on him pic.twitter.com/zrBZoEdTUx  Kyle Hooten (@KyleHooten2) July 9, 2021



That's all it takes.



From ReclaimTheNet:

The first of these reports was published by the SPLC on July 7 and revealed that the SPLC had been flagging Fuentes' tweets to Twitter since January 5. According to this report, Twitter refused to censor Fuentes but offered to enroll the SPLCs "Hatewatch" blog in its "Partner Support Portal" on January 11.



A day later, the ADL published its July 8 report which branded Fuentes a "white supremacist leader" and claimed that Fuentes had used his social media platforms to "make numerous antisemitic and racist comments," promote "election fraud narratives," and encourage his followers to participate in nationwide "Stop the Steal" protests.



On July 9, Fuentes Twitter account was suspended.



[...] Not only has Twitter banned Fuentes days after the SPLC and ADL published reports on him but the SPLC also appears to have enrolled in Twitter's priority program (the Partner Support Portal) that allows members to make more direct censorship requests to Twitter.

"The ADL published a report on me and then I was permanently suspended hours later," Nick Fuentes said on Telegram. "That's what happened. Stay tuned to telegram I will be on here later."







"I am the new Rosa Parks," Fuentes said. "I am a civil rights icon."







You can follow Nick on Telegram and Gab.



The SPLC was desperate to take credit for the ban even though pretty much everyone credited the ADL:





 UPDATE



Just TWO days after releasing our #TweetingHate analysis by Senior Investigative Reporter @MichaelEHayden:



Twitter has suspended the account of white supremacist Nick Fuentes.#ByeNick   pic.twitter.com/1HjmvhtYlV  Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) July 9, 2021



ConInc was giddy:





Nick Fuentes is a garbage person with garbage beliefs. Twitter is also filled with lots of garbage people with garbage beliefs. Only certain people get banned. Nobody should trust Twitter's supposed free speech neutrality.  Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) July 9, 2021

At some point, the insults make the ban opposition disingenuous. How hard is it to just say: "It's wrong to ban Nick Fuentes"? https://t.co/6GGqmaDfcz  Scott Greer 62 IQ 187 (@ScottMGreer) July 9, 2021

He can go to Gab. White supremacists and Holocaust deniers are welcome there. Twitter isn't stopping him from saying a single thing. https://t.co/dgF5PQeove  David French (@DavidAFrench) July 9, 2021



JD Vance, who is running for Senate in Ohio, spoke out somewhat in his defense:





Nick Fuentes has been a giant troll (and IMO dishonest) in his attacks against me. Dont care.



Tech companies control what were allowed to say in our own country. It has to stop. pic.twitter.com/lmSSzsDnxx  J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) July 9, 2021

I cant get over how many weak-willed conservatives defend the right of private companies to censor US citizens. Wake up.  J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) July 9, 2021



ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who is currently lobbying to get Tucker Carlson taken off the air and pressuring cable companies to drop Fox News, also successfully lobbied to get Trump banned from Twitter.





Especially after the violence at the Capitol, it is past time for social media companies to take responsibility for the hate & disinformation on their platforms. The #StopHateForProfit coalition is calling on companies to #BanTrumpSaveDemocracy. More here: https://t.co/sRCfOzFtaq pic.twitter.com/LVFb9Opo4H  Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) January 8, 2021

Excellent step by @Twitter, taking the necessary action that #StopHateforProfit demanded. A fitting end to a legacy of spewing hate and vitriol. President Trump incited the violent riots at the Capitol using social media & paid the price. #BanTrumpSaveDemocracy https://t.co/DoSVxxKUcq  Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) January 9, 2021



"C.E.O.s have become the fourth branch of government," ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told the New York Times after Trump's ban. "They're trying to hold the country together."



After lobbying from the ADL and the World Jewish Congress, Mark Zuckerberg last year issued new speech codes for Facebook and Instagram to ban all Holocaust denial as well as all content which depicts "Jewish people running the world or controlling major institutions such as media networks, the economy or the government."



"The idea of banning content that promotes stereotypes of Jewish global control came up a year ago, in a meeting with several Jewish groups convened by Facebook, and was pushed primarily by the World Jewish Congress," The Jewish Daily Forward reported in Aug 2020.



The Pentagon is currently working to partner with the SPLC and the ADL to purge the military of "extremists."





The Pentagon under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is working to partner with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League and spy on members of the military for signs of "extremism," according to documents leaked to The Intercept. https://t.co/gDwZCjCUD6  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) May 20, 2021



The ADL also trains police forces throughout the country and flies them to Israel to learn how to operate as agents of an occupation government rather than public servants.



As I reported on Thursday, the Capitol Police -- who are trained by the ADL -- are expanding throughout the country, forming their own intelligence agency and appear to be aiming to become a new national police force that's exempt from FOIA and above the law.



"Baltimore law enforcement officials, along with hundreds of others from Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington state as well as the DC Capitol police have all traveled to Israel for training," Amnesty International reported in 2016:

"Many of these trips are taxpayer funded while others are privately funded. Since 2002, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee's Project Interchange and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs have paid for police chiefs, assistant chiefs and captains to train in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT)."



"These trainings put Baltimore police and other U.S. law enforcement employees in the hands of military, security and police systems that have racked up documented human rights violations for years. Amnesty International, other human rights organizations and even the U.S. Department of State have cited Israeli police for carrying out extrajudicial executions and other unlawful killings, using ill treatment and torture (even against children), suppression of freedom of expression/association including through government surveillance, and excessive use of force against peaceful protesters."



[...] "There are also documented incidents of suppression of freedom of expression by Israeli police. For instance, journalists covering protests have been assaulted or shot. Individuals are also arrested for social media posts or for gathering to peacefully discuss the occupation. Police have harassed and arrested Israeli whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu repeatedly since he served his full sentence in 2004. Just this past July, Vanunu was in court for giving a news interview, moving (in the same building) without notifying police and for meeting with foreign nationals."

Though the ADL opposes "white nationalism" in America and labels "The Great Replacement" an "anti-semitic conspiracy theory" they ardently support Jewish nationalism and advance "replacement theory" when it comes to Israel.





After the ADL called on Fox News to fire Tucker Carlson after his segment last week on demographic change and political power in America, Tucker points out that the ADL made the same argument that he did when it came to Arabs in Israel. pic.twitter.com/vprhqLxm8H  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 13, 2021



The ADL's guide for pro-Israel activists on their website tells followers to say that the idea of "bi-nationalism" in Israel "is unworkable given current realities and historic animosities" and amounts to "nothing less than an indirect attempt to bring about an end to the State of Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people."



"With historically high birth rates among the Palestinians, and a possible influx of Palestinian refugees and their descendants now living around the world, Jews would quickly be a minority within a bi-national state, thus likely ending any semblance of equal representation and protections," the ADL says. "In this situation, the Jewish population would be increasingly politically  and potentially physically  vulnerable."



"It is unrealistic and unacceptable to expect the State of Israel to voluntarily subvert its own sovereign existence and nationalist identity and become a vulnerable minority within what was once its own territory."







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Its amazing the wealth of wildlife living in the heart of Brandon.

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Its amazing the wealth of wildlife living in the heart of Brandon.

At least, it surprised Hannah Corenblum, who has spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic photographing the Riverbank Discovery Centres expansive grounds along the Assiniboine River.

"It just became something I love doing," the tourism hostess and social media co-ordinator said. "I come here in my evenings when Im not working."

Corenblum is a third-year student at Brandon University, where she is majoring in psychology and minoring in biology.

HANNAH CORENBLUM A fox appears to pose for the camera at the Riverbank Discovery Centre.

She started out with Brandon Riverbank Inc. as a part-time summer student and shifted to full-time during this summer, in part to accommodate her new role heading the organizations social media presence.

Among her more popular posts thus far has been of a fox she came across on the property.

Shed spent approximately two hours looking for it upon hearing rumours a fox was seen in the area, and was walking toward her car having given up when it came running down the path she was on.

The fox "nonchalantly went past me and stopped and sat in the grass," she said. "It looked like the fox was ready for me to take its head shot."

She took a photo of the fox and posted it to social media, where people were encouraged to name the creature.

HANNAH CORENBLUM Barn swallows are seen at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds.

A couple of hundred people responded, and staff ended up selecting the name Finnegan from their suggestions.

The fox ended up having babies, so in retrospect, Corenblum said it might have been better named Francine.

Another popular post was that of a large snapping turtle, which was in the process of laying eggs.

Shed received a phone call from someone to let them know a snapping turtle was in the process of laying eggs, so she headed out with barricades to prevent people from inadvertently stepping on the eggs.

As usual, she also grabbed her camera.

HANNAH CORENBLUM A snapping turtle lays eggs at the Riverbank Discovery Centre.

The response to her posts has been overwhelmingly positive, she said, with a number of people expressing surprise theres so much wildlife along Brandons stretch of the Assiniboine River.

"I think that with COVID there hasnt been a lot for people to do, and getting a chance to see the animals is pretty special," she said. "We dont have a zoo or anything here, so when you get to see them in their natural habitat, thats pretty cool."

Riverbank general manager James Montgomery said the number of visitors to the property has spiked during the pandemic, in part likely a result of Corenblum helping people know about what kind of sights they can expect to see on the property.

"All sorts of beavers, muskrats, geese, ducks  you name it, shes got pictures of them and incredibly good pictures, too, and some really rare ones," he said. "Hannahs really made it her own and taken the bull the horns."

Walking through the property last week, Montgomery pointed out a number of new additions to the property, including the newly named Fusion Credit Union Stage in Festival Park and an accompanying sign highlighting those who donated toward the effort.

HANNAH CORENBLUM A groundhog is seen at the Riverbank Discovery Centre.

A fourth birdhouse for purple martins, an Indigenous sharing circle, a short stretch of rubber sidewalk, a new viewing platform and various other features have been sprinkled throughout the grounds.

"Surprisingly, during a pandemic weve been able to maintain our fundraising and capital fundraising goals," he said, adding that at the same time, their events bookings, which typically bring in approximately $2,000 a month, have been down to zero.

Visitors to the building itself were approximately 100,000 in 2019, and were only 9,000 last year due to ongoing restrictions and occasional shutdowns.

Through it all, though, visitation to the property itself has proven popular.

"The parking lot is always full, and I know some of it is people carpooling  theres some of that  but now that theres some travel allowed, we see people from all over Canada come through," he said.

"Were heading toward the future now, I feel, and we have a lot more forward momentum here."

The Instagram page for Brandon Riverbank Inc. is @brandonriverbank. Their Facebook page is called Brandon Riverbank, and their Twitter page is @BdnRiverbank.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
OTTAWA - Canada should reopen the border to fully vaccinated foreign visitors, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Monday, adding he will advocate for the loosened rules the next time provincial leaders have a conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney rides in the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary, Alta., Friday, July 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

OTTAWA - Canada should reopen the border to fully vaccinated foreign visitors, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Monday, adding he will advocate for the loosened rules the next time provincial leaders have a conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"Scientifically the chances of them transmitting are statistically insignificant. So we should follow the science, not politicize this," he said Monday while at the Calgary Stampede.

"We have 800,000 Canadians who work in the travel and tourism industries. We need to get them back to work."

Kenney said he raised the issue with Trudeau while he was visiting Calgary last week and plans to do so again this week when the prime minister has a call with provincial and territorial premiers. It will be the first such call since June 17, and comes the week before the current order shutting the Canada-U.S. border to non-essential travel is set to expire.

Canada recently got rid of its 14-day quarantine rule for returning citizens and permanent residents who can show they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and tested negative.

The border remains shut to tourists and residents from other countries travelling for non-essential purposes. The Canada-U.S. border is closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21, and Trudeau hasn't said whether that would be extended for another month.

Trudeau has said he knows people are impatient to see travel resume, but the country can't risk undoing its progress on fighting COVID-19 by opening up before enough people are vaccinated.

The federal government says until 75 per cent of Canada's population is fully vaccinated, border measures are the best way to stop the arrival of new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

It's wasn't immediately clear which other premiers want to see the country's borders reopen. Kenney says of his colleagues, he's been leading the charge.

Back in early June, Ontario's health minister and solicitor general penned a letter to the federal ministers of health and emergency preparedness to say Canada's existing border measures weren't working.

It said Ontario wanted a national strategy on borders that would include a way to enable "safe international arrivals by fully vaccinated travellers."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2021

 With files from Bill Graveland in Calgary.
WINNIPEG - A group supporting multiple churches across the country in court challenges against COVID-19 public health orders has admitted to hiring a private investigator to follow a Manitoba judge.

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Glenn Joyal of Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench speaks to a reporter in Winnipeg on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. \THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Lambert

WINNIPEG - A group supporting multiple churches across the country in court challenges against COVID-19 public health orders has admitted to hiring a private investigator to follow a Manitoba judge.

"I accept full responsibility and sole responsibility for my decision to retain private investigation firms for observation of public officials," said John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.

Court of Queen's Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal poses in this undated handout photo. Joyal said he was deeply disturbed to learn a private investigator had been hired to follow him. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Manitoba Courts

Carpay apologized for his "poor judgment" during a special hearing Monday called by the judge overseeing a court challenge of COVID-19 restrictions in Manitoba. He argued, however, the validity of conducting surveillance of other public officials in the country.

Court of Queen's Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal said he realized he was being followed by a vehicle after leaving the courthouse last week.

He said a person, who appeared to be a teenage boy, also went to his home and spoke with his daughter. There was also information his private cottage was observed.

Joyal said it soon became clear a private investigation agency was hired "for the clear purpose of gathering what was hoped would be potentially embarrassing information in relation to my compliance with COVID public health restrictions."

"I am deeply concerned and troubled."

Police were called to investigate, as was the provincial government's internal security and intelligence unit. Joyal said, until Monday's court hearing, the private investigator had refused to say whom their client was.

Joyal heard a constitutional challenge from seven Manitoba churches represented by the Justice Centre in May. The churches argued their right to worship and assemble was violated by COVID-19 restrictions.

Government lawyers told court it's within the bounds of the legislature to grant the chief public health officer authority to impose reasonable rules.

Joyal has yet to rule but said his decision, expected in a few weeks, would not be influenced by his experience being followed by the private investigator.

He did, however, point to potential implications for the administration of justice.

"If we are now in an era where a sitting judge, in the middle of a case, can have his or her privacy compromised as part of an attempt to gather information intended to embarrass him or her, and perhaps even attempt to influence or shape a legal outcome, then we are indeed, in unchartered waters," Joyal said.

Surveillance of the judge was widely condemned following the revelation.

"Any effort to intimidate a judge is not acceptable in a free and democratic society such as Canada," said federal Justice Minister David Lametti.

The Canadian and Manitoba Bar Associations said it raises serious concerns about the safety of judicial staff.

Justice Minister Cameron Friesen said in a statement that he is very concerned. He suggested Premier Brian Pallister may have also been under the watch of private investigators.

"Similar situations have been experienced by the premier recently. As these matters are currently under investigation, I am not in a position to comment further," he said.

The Justice Centre has filed challenges against public health orders on behalf of churches or individuals in other provinces, including Alberta and British Columbia.

Carpay defended his group's decision to organize private investigation surveillance on a number of public officials across the country.

"We believe the public has the right to know whether or not government officials are complying with public health orders," he told court.

He pointed to photos that showed Premier Jason Kenney and United Conservative Party caucus members dining closely together on a rooftop patio last month at a time when that province had public health restrictions limiting gathering sizes.

Carpay added the decision to hire surveillance is separate from the litigation and the Justice Centre's clients did not request it.

Lawyer Michael Conner, who represents Manitoba in the case, said there is significant concern that a firm, especially one involved in an ongoing case, hired a private investigator to follow a sitting judge.

"There is a distinction between investigating public officials and investigating the independent judiciary that are constitutionally protected," he told court Monday.

Politicians and public officials have been faced with increased scrutiny and threats throughout the pandemic.

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer, said Monday that he is not aware of whether the Justice Centre had been surveilling him. But he has been in contact with police about suspicious activity around his home.

"I've certainly had a number of threats against me and my family," Roussin said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2021.

 With files from Steve Lambert
Harrisonburg, VA (22807)

Today

Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High 83F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.
Heightened dealmaking activity and ongoing strength in iron ore prices helped push the ASX higher on Tuesday morning, but gains faded by afternoon.

The ASX was up as much as 0.7 per cent in the morning, but ended the day flat, or 1.3 points lower, at 7332.1 points.

Iron ore pure-play Fortescue gained 2.1 per cent to $25.18 and Rio Tinto added 0.6 per cent, but BHP dropped 0.7 per cent to $50.70 on reports Chinas imports of the raw material were plateauing.

The ASX200 edged slightly lower on Tuesday. Credit:Louie Douvis

The big banks ended the day lower with Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, and ANZ all in red, but NAB finished 0.1 per cent higher.

The corporate news flow started with Berlin-listed HelloFresh lobbing a generous offer for Youfoodz, which has struggled since listing on the ASX last year. Youfoodz shares gained 77.5 per cent higher at 90.5c, a price not seen since February.

Meanwhile Wesfarmers, which on Monday announced a $687 million offer for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, added 0.2 per cent to $58.43.

Bell Direct market analyst Jessica Amir said company takeovers were common in periods of economic recovery because business valuations were lower.

There is plenty of low hanging fruit there, she said.

However, she added analysts may downgrade companies that do make acquisitions, because it means less capital available for dividends or share buybacks.

It is not good for shareholders now - it is good for shareholders very long term.

Markets are currently looking forward to the reporting season and were expected to see a 65 per cent jump in earnings among US companies, which would start reporting this week, Ms Amir added.

We know when the US jumps, we pretty much jump as well. Is is all about companies re-bounding from COVID-19.

Tech firm Nearmap gained 14.4 per cent after exceeding its own guidance, and Incitec Pivot jumped 5.8 per cent.

Lithium miners continue to surge with Orocobre up 5.2 per cent and Mineral Resources breaching $60 before closing 0.5 per cent lower at $59.28.

Meanwhile, Chief economist at BetaShares ETFs, David Bassanese, said the ASX has not been following global themes lately.

Our tech sector seems to have not done as well as the global tech names, he said.

The main thematic at the moment is that bond yields have come down and that has favoured growth over value.

The local tech sector is down since the start of July while the tech-heavy Nasdaq has been hitting new highs.

While there was talk in recent weeks that the Federal Reserve would have to start raising rates to combat inflation, Mr Bassanese said it was more likely to taper its $US120 billion bond-buying program at a glacial pace before raising rates.

They are not going to start tapering until early next year. People are talking about The Fed going early, but central banks are pushing back against that sentiment.
New mask restrictions will come into effect from Tuesday as the outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly through Sydney.

The states public health order was varied on Saturday after locally acquired case numbers on Friday jumped to 50, with 26 of those infectious in the community. Since then, the numbers have continued to climb with 77 locally acquired cases announced on Sunday and 112 on Monday.

Residents in apartment buildings will have to wear masks inside their common areas from Tuesday, July 13. Credit:Rhett Wyman

From Tuesday, anyone entering apartment blocks in Greater Sydney (which includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) must wear a mask while in common areas of the building, such as the foyer, stairwells, lifts and laundry facilities. That includes residents, as well as anyone visiting for essential purposes.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant on Monday said NSW Health was working with residents of an apartment block of 29 units in the eastern suburbs where there are eight cases of COVID across five households.
Families across south-western Sydney are preparing for a long lockdown as they come out in force to get COVID-19 tests and adhere to strict stay-at-home orders.

Akram Abdal, Maryam Tshikha and their four children will spend the next few weeks inside their Bossley Park home: playing, calling friends and family and only going outside for essential shopping or a walk around the block.

The family arrived in Australia in 2016 having fled Al Hasakah, in Syria, during the war there. But just like the war, they are determined to get through COVID-19.

Maryam Tshikha (left) and her husband Akram Abdal (right) with four of their five children, Oniel (second from left), Thomas (third from left), Charbel (third from right) and Marita (second from right) in their backyard in Bossley Park. Credit:Kate Geraghty

When it was time of war, we cant go outside ... we have lived with such a thing [before], he said.
A University of Technology Sydney professor accused of sending a series of threatening letters to herself and other university staff has been found not guilty of nine charges, after a judge directed a jury to enter the verdicts.

Dianne Jolley, 51, the former Dean of Science at UTS, is on trial in the NSW District Court accused of sending the letters to her work and home, where clothing was found cut up and slashed. She has pleaded not guilty.

Not guilty of nine charges: Dianne Jolley leaves court last month. Credit:Rhett Wyman

The letters  which contained female underwear, a photo of Ms Jolley with a red line through her face, and a note reading I know where you live  caused the university to spend $127,586.93 on security measures including CCTV, private security guards and a duress alarm.

On Monday, Judge Ian Bourke told the jury he had heard submissions in their absence and decided there was not enough evidence for jurors to find Ms Jolley guilty of nine charges she was facing  three counts of sending articles with intent to cause alarm, and six counts of conveying false information to make a person fear for their safety.
Four people have been fined after leaving a Sydney COVID hotspot and trying to enter Queensland on a 34.5-metre superyacht.

They were caught last week as the superyacht, Dreamtime, berthed at Southport on the Gold Coast.

Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Angus Mitchell said while the crew tested negative to COVID-19, they provided false information upon arrival.

Thankfully they all tested negative to COVID-19, which is a great relief considering they had attended the Wallabies versus France rugby international in Brisbane last week, he said.
The lawyer representing the eight-man gang accused of planning and carrying out the execution of a former Gold Coast bikie in his driveway last year has slammed homicide detectives.

The eight, all charged with one count of murder with a serious organised crime aggravating factor, had their cases mentioned in Brisbane Arrests Court on Monday.

Heavily-armed police arrest one of eight men allegedly involved in murdering Shane Bowden. Credit:Queensland Police Service

Among the accused was the alleged president of the Brisbane West Chapter of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang who allegedly directed and financed the shooting of 47-year-old Shane Bowden.

Mr Bowden was a senior member of the Mongols and reportedly the gangs former national sergeant-at-arms, who had defected to the rival motorcycle gang  the Finks.
Queenslands decision not to shut the border with NSW despite rapidly rising COVID cases in the southern state has raised eyebrows with experts.

NSW on Monday recorded 112 new cases of the virus, 48 of which were unlinked, with fears the outbreak was starting to get ahead of health authorities.

Despite that, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there were no immediate plans to put in place a hard border with NSW and that health authorities were monitoring the situation.

Because Greater Sydney is in lockdown, we are very comfortable with keeping the greater Sydney area a hotspot, she said.
A woman who accuses an equestrian rider of rape was allegedly told by the sports officials to stay away from a competition because her presence would make him feel uncomfortable, a court has heard.

Callum Buczak is alleged to have raped the woman in Frankston in February 2019. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge and has been committed to stand trial.

Mr Buczak, 29, also denies further allegations that he encouraged his girlfriend and others to harass the complainant in the year after the alleged rape. He and girlfriend Alexandra McDonough, 30, face stalking and other charges and are accused of tracing the complainants online activity with the intention of causing her mental harm.

Callum Buczak and girlfriend Alexandra McDonough outside Melbourne Magistrates Court last year. Credit:Erin Pearson

At a hearing to determine whether Mr Buczak and Ms McDonough stand trial on the stalking charges, the riders lawyer, Damian Sheales, told Melbourne Magistrates Court the complainant had a vendetta against the accused man.
Victorian COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said one of the three was contacted by NSW Health on Friday, when in South Australia, and was identified as a primary close contact of another case. He said all three removalists were now back in Sydney. In a daily email, the Health Department said ongoing interviews with the trio are proving complex and challenging. The department is also using other methods of validation to determine their movement, the email said.



In an afternoon press conference, Mr Weimar said there had been a fourth incursion as a result of a family travelling from NSW. We now have a family of four, who returned from Sydney. Three of those [family] members returned by air on July 4, he said. Those three tested negative for COVID-19 two days after their flight. Another member of the family travelled to Melbourne by car on Thursday.

Two members of the family became symptomatic and got tested yesterday. We received the results [in the] late morning today, so they are both positive. The other two members of the family are being tested again today. Mr Weimar said authorities were not concerned about the risk of contagion on the flight. If these individuals have returned a negative test result two days after getting off that plane they dont represent an infectious risk on that flight, he said. Victoria has shut the border to all of NSW and the ACT. Credit:Jason Robins

The family, from the City of Hume in Melbournes outer north-west, has been isolating since returning to Victoria on a red zone permit.

The family member who drove from NSW is helping authorities map their route to identify potential exposure sites. Mr Weimar also said investigations indicated the removalists who were working while contagious in Victoria made their first drop-off at a City of Hume address on Thursday and made a second pick-up in Maribyrnong later that day before leaving for Adelaide. Two families linked to the workers have been directed to isolate as a precaution. South Australia reports blood-clotting death

On Monday, South Australian authorities reported the death of a 72-year-old woman who had earlier been identified as suffering from the rare blood-clotting condition associated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said the woman died on Sunday night at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The Therapeutic Goods Administration confirmed last week that the woman, who was in intensive care, had developed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Mr Marshall said she received her first AstraZeneca vaccination on June 24 and was admitted to hospital on July 5.

The TGA previously confirmed two other people had died after developing the rare condition linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine: a 52-year-old Melbourne woman and a 48-year-old from NSW. Last week, it concluded a 61-year-old Perth woman died after developing a rare bleeding disorder probably linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Fresh exposure sites to be added Health Minister Martin Foley said Victorian health authorities were alerted to the initial positive case among the removalists late on Sunday night. The states list of exposure sites  which currently lists just one tier-two site, a Qantas flight from Launceston to Melbourne on July 2  is expected to be updated later on Monday. We would expect there will be exposure sites and we expect there will be people required to quarantine, Mr Foley said during Mondays COVID-19 update.

He noted that Victorias traffic light travel permit system allowed for exemptions if a person had valid reasons and that may have been the case for the removalist, but authorities were still investigating his movements and permits. Once we get that detailed information from the gentlemen, we will be clearly sharing that with the Victorian community, particularly those parts of our community who we suspect will have to take further immediate action, Mr Foley said. Victoria recorded no new cases of coronavirus on Monday for the 12th consecutive day as hundreds of police were deployed to the NSW border in a bid to protect the state against the highly infectious Delta variant running rampant across Greater Sydney. The two COVID-positive family members who returned from Sydney will be included in Tuesdays figures.

NSW reported a record daily total of 112 new cases on Monday. At least 34 of those new cases had been moving around the community while infectious. On Sunday, NSW reported its first COVID-19 death this year  an unvaccinated woman in her 90s. Loading Non-residents from all of NSW and the ACT are now barred from entering Victoria after a hard border was enacted at 11.59pm on Sunday. Victorian residents can return to the state but must quarantine in their homes for 14 days. Mr Foley was asked on Monday whether Victorian authorities would consider requesting that the Australian Defence Force help maintain the hard border.

[Victoria Police did] seek assistance from the ADF and that was declined by the ADF, he said. Im sure if [Victoria Police] identify a need for further logistical support operations from the ADF, then theyll go through the normal processes of the intergovernmental and service arrangements to make that request again, but I wouldnt rule it out. Queensland has so far held off on enacting a hard border with NSW. Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh said on Monday morning that there was not much logic to the Victorian government decision to label Canberra a red zone despite zero instances of community transmission.

But he praised the police for relying on number plates so they did not have to stop every single person travelling into Victoria from NSW. For the last two weeks the booze buses have been positioned away from the border but stopping people going through based on number plates and checking licences. Thats the sensible way to do it rather than have everyone checked, because it just stifles those communities. To have school buses checked, for heavens sake, is just silly. Mr Foley responded to criticism on Monday morning, saying there was a simple rationale behind the state closing its border to the ACT: it was surrounded by regional NSW and just two hours from western Sydney.

Without the sort of sophisticated permit system that Victoria and other states have in place, [it can be] exposed to a lot of free movement in and out of regional NSW, he said. Victorias public health team has grown increasingly concerned about the deepening coronavirus crisis in NSW. On Monday Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the government would give a $10 credit to people who registered their myki card. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has conceded her government cannot predict when Sydneys lockdown will end, prompting NSW and the Commonwealth to try to devise a new scheme to protect jobs, including a federal overhaul of disaster payments that might need to be available for weeks to people unable to work.
Western Australias Mark McGowan is the most lockdown trigger-happy premier out of Australias state and territory leaders, closing down greater Perth on three occasions this year over a total of six coronavirus cases.

An analysis by WAtoday showed since the end of Melbournes second wave in November there had been at least 25 instances of COVID-19 seeping into various states, mostly due to hotel quarantine breaches.

WA Premier Mark McGowan is the most likely of all the countrys leaders to enforce a lockdown in response to a community case.

Eleven of those outbreaks led to snap lockdowns, three in WA, three in Queensland, two in Victoria, and single lockdowns in New South Wales, the Northern Territory and South Australia.

It put WAs lockdown-to-outbreak rate at 75 per cent, the highest in the country for jurisdictions which have experienced multiple incidents. In contrast, New South Wales has recorded nine outbreaks and locked down once, representing a rate of 11 per cent.
Havana: Thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets from Havana to Santiago to protest against food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis, in one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations in memory.

Many young people took part in the afternoon protest in the capital, which disrupted traffic until police moved in after several hours and broke up the march when a few protesters threw rocks.

Plainclothes police detain an anti-government protester during a protest in Havana, Cuba, on Sunday. Credit:AP

At least 20 people were taken away in police cars or by individuals in civilian clothes.

Police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted Freedom, Enough and Unite. One motorcyclist pulled out a US flag, but it was snatched from him by others.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the investment by Vision Fund II in giant On Monday, the anti-monopoly watchdog wrote that the Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of a certain stake in Bundl Technologies (Swiggy) by SVF II Songbird ( Group entity).

According to the sources, Japans is investing $450 million in Bengaluru-based at a $5.5 billion valuation. Last month, Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank had reached out to for approval on this deal.

Industry sources said the funding is an extension of Swiggys $800-million round in April from investors led by Falcon Edge, Amansa Capital, Think Investments, Carmignac and Goldman Sachs. The investment took the company's valuation to $5 billion from $3.6 billion, according to the sources.

According to the sources, SoftBank could put more than $4 billion to work in India in 2021 in the technology sector. These include edtech, healthtech, e-commerce, B2B marketplaces and software-as-a-service (SaaS). The investments will come from SoftBanks Vision Fund 2, which has an investment outlay of up to $30 billion for the current calendar year.

SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has made big bets in India this year. E-commerce company Flipkart Group has raised $3.6 billion in funding in a round led by international groups that included Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Tiger Global. This year banking technology start-up Zeta became the latest entrant to the unicorn club after raising $250 million in its Series C round from SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Also, OFB Tech, which runs the Of Business business-to-business marketplace, was in advanced talks to raise $150 million from SoftBank.
E-commerce giant Group has carved a niche for itself in the global league by raising $3.6 billion, including from SoftBank, which had exited the firm, valuing the company at $37.6 billion, which is more than a 50 per cent rise in a year.

Last July Walmart led a $1.2-billion round in Flipkart, valuing the e-commerce firm at $24.9 billion.

The funding, by far the largest by any in the Indian start-up ecosystem, was led by financial investors GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Walmart, along with investment from sovereign funds DisruptAD, the Qatar Investment Authority, and Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

Other marquee investors are Tencent, Willoughby Capital, Antara Capital, Franklin Templeton, and Tiger Global.

This fund raise will give enough firepower to to counter competition from Amazon, Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance JioMart, and Tata Digital, which recently made its foray into the area by acquiring a controlling stake in BigBasket.

The new financing round makes among the 10 largest e-commerce in the world by valuation. The list includes players such as Amazon, Alibaba, Shopify, Garena, and Pinduoduo. The other such include Jingdong Mall, MercadoLibre, Coupang and JD Health, said analysts.

Industry executives said the would provide leverage for Flipkarts plans to go public in the US by 2022.

They said it would set the stage for Flipkarts initial public offering (IPO) and increase its valuation to $50-60 billion. Before this deal, sources said, Flipkart was eyeing a valuation of about $40 billion for the IPO.





ALSO READ: Flipkart offers employees option to liquidate shares worth Rs 600 cr

People in the know said Flipkart was expected to file Form S-1 this year. That is used by planning to go public to register their securities with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The rise in valuation also shows the growth of the Indian ecommerce footprint, which was reiterated by the company.

This investment by leading global investors reflects the promise of digital commerce in India and their belief in Flipkarts capabilities to maximise this potential for all stakeholders, said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, chief executive officer (CEO), Flipkart Group.



ALSO READ: Zomato IPO: Subscribe for listing gains, suggest brokerages

With this development, Flipkart will continue to make deeper investment in people, technologies, supply chains, and infrastructure to address the requirements of a rapidly growing consumer base in India.

A key focus area for the group is to help informal commerce segments leverage the power of technology. As one of the leaders in the fashion segment, Flipkart said this meant working with the fashion industry and helping small businesses explore untapped opportunities that technology presents. Through its expanding grocery and last-mile delivery programmes, the group will also work with kiranas to help them digitise and grow.





We will focus on accelerating growth for millions of small and medium Indian businesses, including kiranas, said Krishnamurthy.

Agus Tandiono, managing director, head of fundamental equities Asia, CPP Investments, said the organisation believed India would be a leading source of global growth in the decades ahead, supported by positive demographics, a growing middle class, and deepening Internet penetration.

According to sources, Flipkart is offering a wealth creation opportunity where employees will have the option to liquidate their vested Esops (employees stock ownership plan) in the buyback worth Rs 600 crore.

Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank is investing in Flipkart three years after it sold its stake in the company to Walmart Inc, the worlds largest retailer. Before its exit in 2018, SoftBank had invested $2.5 billion in Flipkart, according to sources.

Lydia Jett, partner, SoftBank Investment Advisers, said the Japanese outfits re-investment in Flipkart was driven by its experience with and conviction in the companys management team.

Judith McKenna, president and CEO, Walmart International, said Flipkart was a great business whose growth and potential mirrored that of India as a whole.

Kalyan (Krishnamurthy) and the team have put the Indian customer at the centre of everything and they have continued to innovate in the categories and services Indian customers want most , said McKenna.

Sukumar Rajah, director of portfolio management, Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity, said: We are optimistic about the growth prospects of e-commerce and digitisation in India and believe Flipkart is well-positioned to benefit from this growth.

With more than 350 million registered users in the country, Flipkart has been investing in key categories, including fashion, travel and grocery.
Walmart-owned will undertake a employee stock options worth about Rs 600 crore, according to sources.

Earlier in the day, announced raising USD 3.6 billion (about Rs 26,805.6 crore) in funding from a clutch of investors that valued the e-commerce major at USD 37.6 billion (about Rs 2.79 lakh crore).

In an e-mail to employees, Group Chief Executive Officer Kalyan Krishnamurthy lauded the critical role played by the staff in reaching this milestone.

"... it has always been our endeavour to provide our employees with an opportunity to liquidate their vested options regularly. This year, we are pleased to announce a of 5 per cent of the past three years' vested options. With this landmark event for us, I am happy to share that we are offering our employees an additional of 5 per cent of all vested options as we stay committed to wealth creation for you," he said.

While the e-mail did not provide additional details, sources said the employee stock options buyback would entail a spending of about Rs 600 crore, and employees will be able to liquidate up to 10 per cent of their vested shares depending on the individual's holding pattern.

They added that about 6,000 people are expected to benefit from the buyback.

The company confirmed the development but did not disclose any details.

Employees are granted options based on their tenure, performance and contributions to the company.

In his e-mail, Krishnamurthy said the fund infusion received by Flipkart is "one of the most significant investments in the digital commerce ecosystem in India, reflecting the opportunity for digital commerce in India and the confidence of investors in our ability to address this potential".

"As we continue to focus on meeting the needs of our customers, we will make several investments across people, technology, supply chain and infrastructure, and continue to strengthen and build on key categories and business opportunities," he added.

Krishnamurthy emphasised that the company must sustain its commitment to its existing customers and introduce the value proposition of digital commerce to the next 200 million Indians, ensuring that it innovates to create value and experiences for them.

"Through our partnerships with ecosystem players, not only do we need to accelerate growth for them, but we must also direct our efforts to enable inclusive growth for lakhs small and medium businesses who have an opportunity to benefit from the potential of digital commerce in India," he added.

Flipkart Group has raised USD 3.6 billion in funding led by Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Walmart, valuing the e-commerce giant at USD 37.6 billion.

The current funding round has also seen participation from sovereign funds DisruptAD, Qatar Investment Authority, Khazanah Nasional Berhad as well as marquee investors Tencent, Willoughby Capital, Antara Capital, Franklin Templeton and Tiger Global.

With this deal, SoftBank is re-entering Flipkart's cap table. SoftBank had sold its approximately 20 per cent share when Walmart bought a 77 per cent stake in Flipkart for USD 16 billion in 2018.

Founded in 2007, the Flipkart Group includes Flipkart, fashion specialty site Myntra and Ekart (logistics and supply chain arm). The Group is also a majority shareholder in digital payments platform PhonePe.

(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 on Monday declined to entertain a special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Birlas against a Calcutta High Court Division Bench order that had dismissed contempt petitions against Harsh Vardhan Lodha for continuing as director and chairman in Birla Corporation, Universal Cables, Vindhya Telelinks and Birla Cable.

The apex court directed Calcutta High Court to dispose of all outstanding appeals and cross-appeals over Lodha holding office as a director in MP by March 31, 2022.

Commenting on the order, Lodhas advocate, Debanjan Mandal, partner, Fox & Mandal, said, Mondays verdict demolishes the charges of contempt of court brought against Mr. Lodha for not stepping down as the chairman.

The verdict vindicates our faith in the judiciary as we continue to neutralize repeated attempts to disrupt the functioning of MP companies, he added.

The Birla side said, In the SLP (special leave petition) filed by Birlas against the order dated April 22, 2021 of the Honble High Court at Calcutta, the Honble observed that it is not inclined to entertain this SLP at this stage as the related issues are pending in the appeals before the high court.

Accordingly, the Honble Supreme Court has directed the high court to dispose of the pending appeals by March 31, 2022.

It is a win-win situation for both parties as Birlas would derive the benefit by early conclusive disposal of the pending appeals and Lodha would derive the benefit of continuing to be in the control of the manufacturing till disposal of the said appeals, the statement from the Birla side further read.

The contempt petition arose from a Calcutta High Court order of September 18, 2020. A single-bench of the court ordered that Lodha be restrained from holding office in any of the MP entities during the pendency of the suit involving the contested will of late Priyamvada Birla.

The order was challenged by the Lodhas before the Division Bench, which declined an ad interim stay on the single-bench order and said the restriction on Lodha was on the strength of shares referable to the estate of Priyamvada Birla.

According to the Lodhas, it paved the way for Lodha to continue to hold offices in all the because he was reappointed on the strength of shares of third-party promoter group entities, financial institutions, and individual shareholders.

He continued to act as director of the companies and chaired board meetings of Birla Corporation and the listed cable companies  Universal Cables, Vindhya Telelinks and Birla Cable  which led to the contempt application from the Birla side.

The Division Bench of the high court did not wade into the into interpretation of the estate of PDB (Priyamvada Devi Birla) by either side, and had said, that the question has to be decided in the pending appeals.

But for the purpose of the proceeding, it had said that HVLs (Harsh Vardhan Lodhas) participation in the board meetings cannot be termed as contumacious violation of the order of this court as the willful disobedience has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt and there is a possibility that HVL could continue to hold office on the strength of the votes of public shareholders, in

exclusion to the votes of the APL Committee, and the promoter and promoter groups and PACs.

In the Supreme Court, senior advocate, Darius Khambata, argued that Lodha remained chairman of all MP Birla Group companies and chaired all board meetings even in the face of contempt petitions filed against him and the companies he led because he was reappointed in all with a vast majority of at least 97.98 per cent of votes cast in his favour.

The Birlass main contention was that Division Bench observations that Lodha could possibly have been elected on the strength of public shareholding is an impossibility because the estate holds majority shares.
Social commerce platform Trell has raised $45 million in a Series B round of funding led by financial group Mirae Asset, Group and co-led by LB Investments.

It is the first Indian investment by the Group, the company that owns fashion retail brand H&M, COS, and Monki.

Along with KTB Network, previous investors Samsung Ventures, and Fosun RZ Capital participated in this round. With the closing of the Series B round, Trells total funding raised has reached $62 million to date.

Social commerce--the buying and selling of goods or services directly within a social media platform--is worth $1.5 to $2 billion in GMV market. It is likely to hit $60 billion to $70 billion in 2030, according to industry estimates.

As more people make purchases online due to the pandemic, the social commerce is estimated to capture 5 per cent of the Indian e-commerce market at a growth rate of 65 per cent between 2020 to 2025.

Trell has enabled millions of Indian language internet users to discover and buy lifestyle trends and we are grateful to have a community that has shown us incredible support, which has further fueled our need to diversify content creation, commerce in India and create sustainable opportunities for wealth creation and economic growth, said Pulkit Agrawal, co-founder and chief executive officer at Trell.

He said that in addition to expanding artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities in regional languages, the new funding will be used in getting the best talent on board. Data Science and engineering is one area where we will be investing significantly, said Agrawal.

Nanna Anderson, Head of CO:LAB, H&M Groups Investment arm, said, Social commerce is a very interesting and growing space within the retail industry in India and globally. Trell has shown impressive growth over the years and we believe that it has the potential to become a global leader in this space. We are excited to be a part of their journey, supporting the founders and the team in their vision.

Trell will also be investing in community activities where it will encourage content creators to make a living through Trell by creating good content.

Trells roadmap and vision of empowering millions of Indians to become micro-entrepreneurs has really resonated with us and we are glad to see the love that the platform has witnessed this past year, said Ashish Dave, Mirae Asset-Naver Asia Growth Fund.

The social commerce platform has more than 100 million downloads and over 50 million monthly active users on its app.

It features videos in eight regional languages garnering over 20 billion monthly views. By the end of this year, the social commerce platform is looking to launch 6 more languages expanding its footprint to over 2000 cities and towns in India.

In August 2020, Trell launched its social commerce section on the app, enabling users to watch personalised product recommendations across beauty, personal care and wellness categories that they can buy from within the app.
UK-based digital business financial platform Tide on Monday said it has raised over USD 100 million (about Rs 745 crore) in funding, led by funds advised by Apax Digital.

The series C round, which has brought the total funding raised till date to USD 200 million, also saw participation from existing investors - Anthemis, Augmentum, Jigsaw, Local Globe/Latitude, UK-based investor SBI, and SpeedInvest, existing investors, a statement said.

Tide is now valued at over USD 650 million post-money, after only four years of operation, it added.

The company said it saw its user base more than double in the UK in 2020. With over 3.5 lakh members and over 4 lakh business accounts, Tide serves around six per cent of UK businesses.

Earlier this year, Tide had announced that it was expanding into India, with a full launch of the platform planned for 2022.

"The new funding puts Tide in a position to continue to develop their business financial platform, grow their market share, as well as expand globally. Tide, in partnership with ClearBank, has also been awarded a total of nearly USD 120 million in grants from the RBS Alternative Remedies Package," the statement said.

In March, Tide had said it plans to increase its headcount in India with the addition of 350 skilled professionals in 2021 across Hyderabad and Gurugram. With this, the company's total headcount in India would cross 400 people.

"Tide's growth story to date has been hugely exciting, creating a diverse platform that serves small business owners, as well as generating significant market share. As we embark on taking Tide international, we couldn't have a better set of investors to support us," Tide CEO Oliver Prill said.

He added that Tide looks forward to working with Apax Digital to realise its ambition of becoming a leading global business financial platform.

The investment is subject to FCA approval. Financial Technology Partners (FT Partners) served as the exclusive strategic and financial advisor to Tide on this transaction.

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An arbitral tribunal has in a partial final award ruled that Zambia's ZCCM has breached dispute resolution provisions provided in Vedanta Resources' Konkola Mines (KCM) shareholder agreements, the mining group said on Monday.

Metals and mining firm held a 79.4 per cent stake in KCM while the Zambian government through its state mining investment firm ZCCM-IH holds the remaining 20.6 per cent.

Vedanta and Zambia are arbitrating in London over the KCM dispute, which began when the government accused Vedanta of failing to honour licence conditions, including promised investment.

Vedanta has previously denied that KCM broke the terms of its licence.

"The arbitral tribunal has recently granted a partial final Award in which it has ruled that ZCCM has breached, and is in continuing breach of, the dispute resolution provisions in the shareholders' agreement between amongst others ZCCM, Vedanta and the Government of Zambia," the company said in a filing to the Singapore Stock Exchange.

To cure this breach ZCCM should immediately withdraw the petition and amended petition and the provisional liquidator should be discharged, it added.

A Zambian court had previously stayed hearing by a state-appointed provisional liquidator for splitting up KCM unit and selling the assets.

The stay on KCM proceedings has been granted to allow Vedanta and the Zambian government to proceed to arbitration, Vedanta said.

Vedanta has been locked in a dispute with the Zambian government since May 2019, when the Zambian government handed control of the mine to a liquidator.

Legal arguments over the case have been heard in both Zambia and South Africa.

"Zambian Court of Appeal has granted a stay in respect of any hearing of the merits of the Winding Up Petition and Amended Petition in respect of Konkola Mines plc pending a decision in respect of the arbitration proceedings between Vedanta and ZCCM Investments Holdings plc (ZCCM)," Vedanta said.

Provisional Liquidator Milingo Lungu had in December announced a restructuring plan involving splitting KCM into two subsidiary -- KCM SmelterCo Limited and Konkola Mineral Resources Limited.
An NIA/ATS court on Monday sent the two alleged terrorists of the Al-Qaeda-supported Ansar Ghazwatul Hind arrested from the outskirts of Lucknow to 14-day police custody, according to the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad.

The arrested were produced before the court on Monday.

In a statement issued here, the UP ATS said, "A case was registered Minhaz Ahmed and Maseeruddin under various sections of the IPC, UAPA, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act at the ATS police station, Lucknow on July 11 (Sunday)."



It said that the court sent them to police custody for two weeks from July 13 and in this period, the ATS will form teams and thoroughly interrogate about their other associates.

The two terrorists were arrested from the outskirts of Lucknow on Sunday and they were planning explosions, including using "human bombs", at several places in Uttar Pradesh, a senior official had alleged.

A huge amount of explosive was also seized from their houses here, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar had told reporters.

They were planning to "unleash terror activities before August 15 (Independence Day) in different cities of the state", including Lucknow, Kumar had said on Sunday.

Ahmed and Maseeruddin, on the instructions of Umar Halmandi, the head of the Uttar Pradesh module of the Al-Qaeda, along with their associates were planning to "unleash terror activities before August 15 in different cities of the state, especially in its capital Lucknow", the additional director general of police (ADGP) said.

"They were planning explosions at important places, memorials and crowded places, and also to use human bombs. For this, they were collecting weapons and explosives," Kumar had said.

He also said that members of this module are not only from Lucknow but also from Kanpur in the state.

"During interrogation, the accused said that their accomplices ran away from their house. The ATS team along with the local police has undertaken intensive checking," Kumar said and added that a case has been registered in this connection at the ATS station.

The official said that an improvised explosive device (IED) was found at Ahmed's house along with a huge amount of explosives and a pistol.

Explosives were also seized from Maseeruddin's residence, he said.

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As announced earlier, chief minister on Monday moved "The Preservation Bill-2021" in the state assembly to regulate the slaughter, consumption and transportation of

Sarma, who also holds the Home and Political Affairs Departments, while introducing the bill on the opening day of the budget session of the assembly, said that the proposed legislation would also prevent smuggling and illegal trade of

The much expected bill said that in the light of the experience over the years and in view of the shortcomings which have been observed, it is considered that there is an imperative need to enact a legislation to include sufficient legal provisions to regulate the slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle by repealing "The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950".

About the proposed Bill, Governor Jagdish Mukhi in his customary speech in the first session of the new Assembly on May 22 had said that the state government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy and enforce stringent punishment for offenders. "Once the cow protection Bill is passed in the Assembly, Assam would join few other states in the country which have passed similar legislations. Cows nurture people as the animal gives them life-sustaining and nutritious milk," Mukhi had said.

Violation of provisions of the new law entails imprisonment of up to eight years and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh.

While most of the northeastern states have not reacted yet to Assam's cow protection law, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma last week had said that the state government would take up the matter with the Centre if Assam's new law affects supply of beef to the state.

Smuggling of cows and other cattle to Bangladesh is rampant along five Indian states of West Bengal (2,216 kms), Tripura (856 kms), Meghalaya (443 kms), Mizoram (318 kms) and Assam (263 km) -- that share a 4,096-km border with the neighbouring country.

Of the 4,096-km border, 1,116 kms are of riverine frontiers and a large portion is unfenced and tough terrain making it advantageous for smugglers and illegal traders to continue unlawful trades and smuggling of various goods and animals.

The budget session of the Assam assembly began on Monday at Dispur with the opposition members belonging to Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) staging a walk out as Speaker Biswajit Daimary did not allow their adjournment motion on price rise issue.

Meanwhile, chief minister Sarma said that the BJP government is always ready to hold peace talks with all militant outfits within the framework of the constitution.

--IANS

sc/skp/

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Around a dozen leaders confined to a house in Patiala's Rajpura for nearly 12 hours allegedly by protesting farmers were rescued early Monday following a late night Punjab and Haryana order to the state police.

Scores of farmers had Sunday laid siege to a worker's house where several party leaders including Punjab unit general secretary Subhash Sharma and Patiala incharge Bhupesh Aggarwal had gathered after the protesters disrupted their meeting.

The leaders petitioned the Punjab and Haryana through their lawyers, saying they were illegally detained by a mob at a house in Rajpura.

Advocate Jagjot Singh Laali, one of the lawyers, said a habeas corpus petition was filed around 11 pm Sunday and a hearing through video conferencing took place around 11:30 pm.

A habeas corpus petition is filed for producing before a court a person who is under arrest or in unlawful detention.

The court of Justice Suvir Sehgal Sunday night directed the Punjab Police to ensure the petitioners are provided a safe exit with adequate security and that no harm is caused to them.

The court had also asked for a report to be submitted before it by Monday 2 pm.

During the hearing on Monday, the court was informed that two FIRs have been registered in the case -- one with regard to the alleged confinement of petitioners in a house in Guru Arjun Dev colony, and the other over the alleged manhandling of some BJP leaders near a grain market in Rajpura.

Patiala Deputy Superintendent of Police (Rajpura Rural) Jaswinder Singh said the BJP leaders were taken out of the house around 4 am Monday. Police used mild cane-charge to disperse the protesters.

The court was also informed that the petitioners were taken out of the house safely.

Meanwhile, the senior Punjab BJP leadership staged a protest against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in Chandigarh over the incident. Party workers also held protests at other places of the state including Ludhiana, Fazilka, Mansa, Amritsar and Gurdaspur.

It all started Sunday when the protesting farmers allegedly disrupted a district-level BJP meeting at Rajpura on Sunday following which the party leaders and workers had gathered at the residence of a party worker.

Also, when local leader Shanti Sapra was being escorted out, protesters carrying black flags chased him down the street and allegedly manhandled him.

A large number of farmers then reached the house and laid siege.

Punjab BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma, who was present among others in the house, said the protesters had even disconnected the power supply which also led to a water shortage.

Sharma alleged the protesters damaged the vehicles of some BJP leaders, besides the windscreen of a police van.

He also alleged the protesters hurled bricks at them when they were being taken out of the house by the police. Sharma said they would be lodging an FIR in this matter.

On their part, the farmers alleged the BJP workers used inappropriate language against the protesters and a security man of BJP leader Bhupesh Aggarwal allegedly brandished a pistol at them. They were demanding an apology from the BJP for the same.

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MPs will introduce private members' bills on population control and uniform civil code in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament, according to information from the secretariats of both Houses.

The proposed legislations on population control and uniform civil code, issues that usually trigger heated polemics in the country, are in line with BJP's ideological agenda.

Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Ravi Kishan and Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan Kirori Lal Meena are scheduled to introduce the private members' bills on population control and uniform civil code respectively in the very first week of the session which is starting from July 19.

A bill introduced by a member other than a minister is known as a private member's bill and there is little possibility of it becoming a law without the government's support.

According to the details available with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats, Kishan and Meena will get an opportunity to introduce their respective private member bills on July 24, which was decided through the lottery system.

A notice for a similar bill on population control has also been given by MP in Rajya Sabha Rakesh Sinha.

The proposed legislations on population control emphasise on deincentivising couples having more than two children, by making them ineligible for government jobs and subsidies on various facilities and goods given by the government.

Asked about the bill, Sinha said population growth has been ringing an "alarm bell" for the country and asserted that a central law is "most required" as it will be applicable across the nation.

The unchecked population growth needs to be regulated, he said.

The move comes close on the heels of the Uttar Pradesh law commission putting up a draft bill on population control on its website, inviting suggestions from the public till July 19.

It says people having more than two children in Uttar Pradesh will be debarred from contesting local bodies polls, applying for government jobs or receiving any kind of subsidy.

Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a critical intervention in the debate over the issue during his speech on August 15, Sinha said that Modi had called for a balance between resources and population.

The discourse over the issue should not be seen through caste and religious angles, Sinha said.

According to PRS Legislative, no private members' bills have been passed by since 1970. A total of 14 such bills have received Parliament's nod.

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The Indian Medical Association's Uttarakhand chapter has written to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami requesting him to cancel the Kanwar Yatra this year for public safety in view of a possible third wave of COVID-19.

Drawing the Chief minister's attention to the warnings of medical experts about a third wave of the pandemic in a letter, the IMA's state secretary Amit Khanna asked him to not allow the proposed Kanwar Yatra to go ahead.

The fortnight-long yatra that begins with the onset of the month of Shravan around July 25 and goes on till the first week of August sees crores of Kanwariyas from neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh gathering in Haridwar to collect the holy waters of the Ganga.

The yatra had been cancelled last year too due to the first wave of COVID-19.

"We request you to disallow the proposed Kanwar Yatra in July-August, 2021, as the third wave of Covid pandemic is ready to knock on the doors of this country according to several specialists," Khanna said on behalf of the IMA in the letter.

Reminding the Chief Minister how people went off guard after the first wave and paid a heavy price for it in the form of a stronger and more fatal second wave, the IMA Secretary asked Dhami to take all these things into consideration and take a positive decision in the interest of the state and the country as a whole.

"After the first wave, we went off-guard and did not follow the guidelines of the central government delineated for this pandemic which was a gross negligence on our part and consequently lost several of our kin in the second wave," the IMA official said.

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the carelessness in following COVID protocol, Khanna said adding that the government should not allow devotees to enter the state learning from previous failure.

Dhami, who met central ministers including PM Modi in Delhi over the past few days, has already said that though the Kanwar Yatra is connected with the religious sentiments of people saving lives is the state government's topmost priority.

"Even the gods will not want people to die. The priority at the moment is saving lives," he told reporters in Delhi on Sunday when asked whether or not the yatra will be held.

However, a final decision on giving go-ahead will be taken in consultation with neighbouring states including UP, Haryana and others, Dhami had said.

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India on Monday reported a net reduction of 724 in active cases to take its count to 408,764. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 3.76 per cent (one in 26). The country is fourth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Sunday, it added 37,154 cases to take its total caseload to 30,874,376 from 30,837,222  an increase of 0.1%. And, with 724 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 408,764, or 1.32 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 1,235,287 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Sunday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 377,352,501. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 30,014,713  or 97.22 per cent of total caseload  with 39,649 new cured cases being reported on Monday.

Now the fourth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases, and first by recoveries, India has added 289,147 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 3.76% of all active cases globally (one in every 26 active cases), and 10.1% of all deaths (one in every 10 deaths).

India has so far administered 377,352,501 vaccine doses. That is 1222.21 per cent of its total caseload, and 27.07 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (42035953), Maharashtra (41221001), Gujarat (31819959), Rajasthan (31173820), and Karnataka (28471054).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Delhi (531010), Kerala (512461), Gujarat (498180), Uttarakhand (486644), and J&K (426714).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 22 days.

The count of active cases across India on Monday saw a net reduction of 3,219, compared with 915 on Sunday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Maharashtra (2172), Manipur (327), Sikkim (23), Madhya Pradesh (23), and Meghalaya (2).

With 39,649 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 97.22%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.32%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.71%), Uttarakhand (2.15%), and Maharashtra (2.04%). The rate in as many as 18 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 40,373  724 deaths and 39,649 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 1.79%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.1%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 575.6 days, and for deaths at 391.0 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (12220), Maharashtra (8535), Tamil Nadu (2775), Andhra Pradesh (2665), and Odisha (2282).

Among states with more than 100,000 cases, the five with worst recovery rates at present are Kerala (95.76%) and Maharashtra (96.02%).

India on Sunday conducted 1,432,343 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 432,317,813. The test positivity rate recorded was 2.6%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Goa (17.37%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.62%), Maharashtra (13.98%), Kerala (12.59%), and Sikkim (12.57%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are, Sikkim (19.12%), Manipur (14.41%), Kerala (10.48%), Mizoram (8.18%), and Nagaland (6.91%).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1191705), J&K (780611), Kerala (682254), Karnataka (531865), and Uttarakhand (516728).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6157799), Kerala (3065336), Karnataka (2871298), Tamil Nadu (2518786), and Andhra Pradesh (1922843).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 8535 new cases to take its tally to 6157799.

Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 12220 cases to take its tally to 3065336.

Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 1978 cases to take its tally to 2871298.

Tamil Nadu has added 2775 cases to take its tally to 2518786.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 2665 to 1922843.

Uttar Pradesh has added 125 cases to take its tally to 1707350.

Delhi has added 53 cases to take its tally to 1435083.
MLA Vijender Gupta on Monday wrote to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal demanding a inquiry into the alleged scam involving procurement of 1,000 low floor buses by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

A three-member committee that probed the matter has recommended scrapping the tender of the AMC (annual maintenance contract) of buses finding various "lapses", he said.

There has been "irrefutable evidence of irregularities and violations in the AMC bid", he said, alleging "criminal conspiracy and connivance" was responsible for it.

"The committee underlined the need to take special measures to ensure that there is competition in the tendering process to avoid monopoly pricing. However, it found that such concerns were not addressed when the DTC floated a tender for the purchase of the AMC," Gupta wrote.

The three-member committee, including transport commissioner and vigilance secretary of the Delhi government, was formed by Baijal last month.

The committee in its report stated there was no "infirmity" in procurement of buses but pointed to various "procedural lapses" in the AMC.

Senior AAP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday accused the Delhi leaders of obstructing procurement of buses by the DTC that was doing so after a long gap of over a decade and demanded that they apologise to the people.

He also claimed that the committee report gave a "clean chit" to the Kejriwal government that there was no "scam" in procurement of the buses.

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Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, arrested for illegal entry in Dominica, got bail on medical grounds to travel to Antigua and Barbuda, news agency ANI reported on Monday.

The bail granted by the Dominica court is strictly for medical treatment in Antigua. Interim bail has been approved till he is certified fit to travel, and after that he has to return to Dominica.

His earlier bail application was rejected.

A magistrate court in Dominica had sent Choksi to a state prison but continued to remain in hospital as his medical condition "deteriorated".

The 62-year-old fugitive is wanted in India in connection with a Rs 13,500-crore fraud in the Punjab Bank. Choksi has got interim relief from immediate repatriation to India by the Dominican court.





Choksi, who had gone missing on May 23 from Antigua and Barbuda, had sparked a massive manhunt. He was later captured in Dominica and is facing charges of entering the country illegally.

Choksi had filed a case in the high court of Dominica, seeking to quash the proceedings against him alleging that his arrest was "dictated" by representatives of the Indian government.

The case was filed against the Immigration Minister of the Caribbean nation, its police chief and the investigating officer of the case.

Choksi pleaded that the decision to charge him for illegal entry violated the law and, accordingly, was null and void.

He has been kept at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital while awaiting an outcome in his illegal entry case.

Choksi's lawyer has alleged that their client was kidnapped and forcibly taken to Dominica.

He is wanted in India by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.
A special court here on Monday rejected the bail plea of activist Anand Teltumbde, 70, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.

Special Judge D E Kothalikar, presiding over matters probed by the Investigation Agency (NIA), refused bail to Teltumbde accepting the prosecution's argument that there was sufficient material against the accused.

A copy of the detailed order of the court is awaited.

Teltumbde, arrested by the NIA in April last year, had in January 2021 filed a bail application stating that the theory of the prosecution that he was waging a war or attempting to wage a war or abetting others to wage a war or incite the public is humbug.

Teltumbde is presently lodged in the Taloja prison in Nav

NIA counsel Prakash Shetty opposed the bail application arguing that there was sufficient material in the form of oral and documents to prove Teltumbde's complicity in the case.

Shetty had claimed that Teltumbde was an active member of CPI (Maoist) and propagated its activities.

In his bail application, Teltumbde, however, claimed the NIA had not produced any material to show that he is a member of the CPI (Maoist).

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By Emma Rumney and Isla Binnie

LONDON/MADRID (Reuters) - Just 25 big cities - almost all of them in China - accounted for more than half of the climate-warming gases pumped out by a sample of 167 urban hubs around the world, an analysis of emissions trends showed on Monday.

In per capita terms, however, emissions from cities in the richest parts of the world are still generally higher than those from urban centres in developing countries, researchers found in the study published in the Frontiers journal.

The study compared reported by 167 cities in 53 countries, and found that 23 Chinese cities - among them Shanghai, Beijing and Handan - along with Moscow and Tokyo accounted for 52% of the total.

It included more cities from China, India, the United states and the European Union because of their larger contribution to global emissions and significance to the climate debate.

The findings highlighted the significant role cities play in reducing emissions, said study co-author Shaoqing Chen, an environmental scientist at Sun Yat-sen University in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

"It is simple, logical," he said. "If you don't act, eventually you will suffer from (climate change)," he said.

Average global temperatures have already risen by more than 1 degree Celsius compared to the pre-industrial baseline and are still on track to exceed the 1.5-2 degree limit set by the Paris Agreement.

Chen and other scientists cautioned, however, that some of the data available for use in their study was patchy, with some cities reporting numbers from as far back as 2005.

A lack of consistency in how cities report emissions also makes comparisons tricky, they added.

'LAST BIG PUSH'

Research published in 2018 in the Environmental Research Letters journal analysed a much larger sample of 13,000 cities, big and small, finding 100 cities containing 11% of the world's population drove 18% of its carbon footprint.

Still, the new analysis "contributes to the growing literature and our understanding of urban emissions", said Yale University Geography and Urban Science professor Karen Seto, who co-authored the 2018 paper.

"It's really difficult to compare apples to apples on city but you have to try, and the paper makes a pretty good effort," added Dan Hoornweg, a professor at Ontario Tech University and former adviser to the World Bank on sustainable cities and

Chen said the new analysis was the first to look at megacity emissions reduction targets and progress in cutting back.

Sixty-eight of the cities - mostly in developed nations - had set absolute emissions reduction targets.

But only 30 of the 42 cities where progress was tracked in the study had shown a reduction. Most of them were in the United States and Europe.

The analysis confirms scientists' expectations that whereas in China, cities with high per capita emissions are generally major manufacturing hubs, those in developed nations with the highest per capita rates tend to have strong levels of consumption.

While more developed economies in Europe and elsewhere can now grow without increasing emissions, the world is moving at different speeds, Hoornweg said.

"They generated a tonne of emissions on the way to get there and China is in that stage now. We know India is getting there at some point and the last big push in all of this will be Africa," he said.

(Additional reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor in Singapore; Editing by Katy Daigle and Helen Popper)

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The Indian in Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sharif is operational and officials are closely monitoring the situation, sources said on Monday, a day after India evacuated diplomats and security personnel from its Kandahar in the wake of intense fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs had clarified on Sunday that the in Kandahar continues to operate through local staff members.

"Both the Consulates are functional and operational. There is no change in status. We are closely monitoring the situation and developments," an official source here said when asked about the Indian consulates in Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif in view of the deteriorating security situation in

There were reports that at least two foreign missions in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, have closed their operation due to the escalating violence in the region.

According to officials, India had evacuated around 50 diplomats and security personnel from its consulate in Kandahar in a military aircraft.

Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Sunday that India-based personnel have been brought back for the time being from Kandahar in view of the intense fighting near the city and that New Delhi is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in

India's move to bring back its Indian staff came in the midst of growing global concerns over the Taliban fighters rapidly seizing control of a large number of areas in Afghanistan, triggering huge security concerns.

There were reports that a sizeable number of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists are also operating in the Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

witnessed a series of terror attacks in the last few weeks as the US looked to complete the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by August-end, ending a nearly two-decade of its military presence in the war-ravaged country.

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Paul Fernandes, a 50-year-old waiter in India, last year took out a loan using his as collateral to pay for his childrens education after losing his job on a cruise liner. This year, he is selling his jewelry to meet expenses, after failed attempts at starting a home business and finding another job.

A loan is after all a debt that I am taking on, he said from his hometown in the coastal state of Goa. Selling my jewelry means I am not obligated to pay someone back along with an additional interest on that.

With the pandemic pushing millions into poverty or bankruptcy, many Indians are now turning to their last resort: selling their gold jewelry to make ends meet. In rural India, the biggest bullion buyer, a brutal new wave of the virus has had a catastrophic impact on the economy and incomes. With fewer banks around, people in rural areas rely on gold in times of need as it can be easily liquidated.

The likelihood of financial distress caused by the second wave is much higher and it could lead to more outright sales of gold, unlike in 2020, when consumers chose to take out loans against their stash of the metal, according to Chirag Sheth, a consultant at London-based Metals Focus Ltd.

Gross scrap supplies, which include old gold melted to make new designs, may exceed 215 tons and surge to the highest in nine years if a new wave emerges, he said. For a nation that imports almost all its gold mainly from Switzerland, higher local supply will also limit overseas inflows.

A gold brokers shop during the festival of Dhanteras at the Zaveri Bazaar in Mumbai. Photo: Bloomberg

You already had a financial problem last year and you got out of that problem through gold loans. Now again, you are having financial problems this year with a potentially third wave on the way, which can again mean lockdowns and job losses, said Sheth. We can expect distress sales in a big way in August and September when the third wave could actually set in.

Many Indians who had clawed their way out of poverty face grim job prospects as lockdowns crippled the economy. More than 200 million have gone back to earning less than minimum wage, or $5, a day.

Signs of Distress

In an initial sign of stress among consumers, Manappuram Finance Ltd., one of the nations biggest gold loan providers, auctioned 4.04 billion rupees ($54 million) of gold in the three months through March from loans that turned sour following a sharp drop in prices.

That compares with just 80 million rupees auctioned in the prior nine-month period. The jewelry was sold as Manappurams borrowers -- typically daily wage earners, small time entrepreneurs, and farmers -- couldnt afford to repay the money.

In southern India, the countrys biggest per capita consumer, about 25% more of old gold than usual has been sold to jewelers, according to James Jose, managing director of Kochi-based refiner CGR Metalloys Pvt.

After the lockdown, the shops are open and you can see very good footfalls in the shops for two reasons: one is purchases in relation to the wedding season and some amount of liquidation for cash, Jose said by phone.

Indians have been cutting down on their gold purchases in the past couple of years as a weak economy and the virus outbreak trims their spending power. In 2020, gold sales fell to the lowest in more than two decades, according to the

Still, demand may rebound this year, rising as much as 40% from a year ago, driven by a fall in prices and about 50 tons of latent wedding purchases being pushed to this year from 2020, according to Metals Focus Sheth.

The third wave remains the biggest risk to our estimate, he said.
External Affairs Minister will visit Tajikistan on July 13-14 during which he will attend the meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers and the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

The SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting will discuss the achievements of the organisation as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its formation this year, the MEA said in a statement.

It will also assess the preparation for the upcoming SCO Council of Heads of States, which will take place on September 16-17 in Dushanbe, and exchange views on current international and regional issues, it said.

During the visit, the external affairs minister will also attend the meeting of the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan on July 14. This meeting will also see the participation of the Afghanistan government.

Jaishankar's visit to Tajikistan comes at the invitation of Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, according to the MEA.

The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

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Karnataka Home Minister



Basavaraj Bommai on Monday reffirmed that the state will not stop the Mekedatu drinking water project across Cauvery river, which is opposed by neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The opposition in the State said it would stand with the government if it performs the groundbreaking ceremony.

"We have already submitted the Detailed Project Report to the Central Water Commission.This project is related to utilising the additional water for drinking purpose.Karnataka has every right to commission this project," Bommai said in a statement.

"There is no reason to stop the Mekedatu drinking water project. We will certainly implement it," he added.

According to Bommai, already an order related to the Cauvery water sharing has come, which has given guidelines on how and when the Cauvery water should be released for Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka unit president D K Shivakumar extended his support to the Mekedatu project.

"Let the government do the 'Bhumi Puja' for Mekedatu project tomorrow itself, we stand with the government," Shivakumar said in a statement.

Stating that Tamil Nadu will keep on creating controversies with regard to Mekedatu even after 100 years, Shivakumar wondered why the government was not using its status of "double engine government" at the Centre and the state to finish the project.

He even promised to keep aside all political issues and stand with the government.

Shivakumar said "All political parties of Tamil Nadu have a common agenda of opposing the Mekedatu project.Their agenda will remain same even after 100 years.'



"Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa needs political will power to take up the Mekedatu project," the state chief said.

"It's our money, our place and our water.Tamil nadu has no say on this," he added.

Stating that Mekedatu project comes under Kanakapura assembly constituency, which he represents, Shivakumar said the water will be used for Bengaluru and for electricity generation.

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The 144th annual rath yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city on Monday morning, but it was devoid of the usual festive fervour and crowds due to the curfew imposed on its route to bar people from taking part in it in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of the usual cavalcade of around 100 trucks, decked up elephants, akhadas and singing troupes, this year's procession consisted of only three chariots, pulled by nearly 100 youths from the Khalasi community, and four to five other vehicles.

To prevent people from gathering on roads for a glimpse of the deities, a curfew has been imposed on the entire 19-km route of the procession from early morning till afternoon, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja told reporters.

The journey of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra began from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area here around 7 am, after Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy CM Nitin Patel performed 'Pahind Vidhi'- a symbolic ritual of cleaning the way for the 'raths' (chariots).

Before the idols of the deities were placed on the chariots, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the temple at around 4 am and took part in the 'mangla aarti'.

According to the city police, around 23,000 armed personnel, including nine companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, have been deployed along the route to prevent any unwarranted situation, as the procession passes through some communally sensitive areas also.

Although the rath yatra would cover the entire 19-km route, the procession this time would be a shorter affair in terms of duration as the authorities have planned to conclude it in four to five hours as against the usual time of around 12 hours.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak last year, lakhs of people used to gather along the route on 'Ashadhi Beej' every year to catch a glimpse of the decorated elephants and tableaux moving around in some 100 trucks.

The procession used to come back to the Lord Jagannath temple after covering a distance of 19 km in about 12 hours, which included an hour-long lunch break at Saraspur.

However, this time, authorities have ensured there is no large gathering in Saraspur.

Since people from other districts and those living in western parts of the city also flock the route to watch the procession, police are regulating the traffic movement on all bridges to stop people from reaching near the route.

The government also appealed to people to watch the live telecast of the rath yatra on television.

Last year, only a symbolic rath yatra was organised in the premises of the Lord Jagannath temple here after the High Court denied permission for the usual public procession due to the pandemic.

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Maharashtra reported 7,603 new case and 53 fresh fatalities on Monday, taking the tally of infections to 61,65,402 and the death toll to 1,26,024, a health department official said.

The state reported a decrease in the daily COVID-19 cases and the fatalities as compared to Sunday, when it had registered 8,535 infections and 156 deaths.



The official said as many as 15,277 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered cases to 59,27,756. The state now has 1,08,343 active COVID-19 cases.



Maharashtra's COVID-19 recovery rate is 96.15 per cent, while the fatality rate is 2.04 per cent, the official said.According to the official, out of 4,41,86,449 COVID-19 tests done so far, 1,75,899 tests were conducted on Friday, indicating an overall positivity rate of 13.95 per cent. The official said currently 5,82,476 people are in home quarantine and 4,654 people in institutional quarantine across the state.Out of 1,08,343 active COVID-19 cases across the state, the highest - 16,925 - are in Pune district, followed by Thane and Mumbai at 16488 and 11106, respectively. According to the health department, of the total 5927756 recovered patients, the highest number of 1034523 are from Pune district, followed by Mumbai and Thane at 699119 and 558631, respectively.The official said Mumbai recorded 496 new COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 728190, while the death toll increased to 15636 with nine fresh fatalities. He said 207 people tested positive in Pune municipal limits, pushing the tally to 498510, while the death toll remained unchanged at 8548 as no fresh fatality was reported in the city.According to the official, Nagpur, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Aurangabad and Amravati municipal corporation areas reported 46, 204, 28, 12 and eight new COVID-19 cases, respectively. figures for Maharashtra are as follows: Total cases 61,65,402; new cases 7603; total deaths 126024; recoveries 5927756; active cases 108343; total tests so far 4,41,86,449.

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The Mekedatu dam initiative was a conspiracy to hinder water flow to Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister alleged on Monday in a meet of all parties with MLAs in Assembly.

The meeting condemned attempts by Karnataka to build the dam and urged the union government to not accord sanction for the proposal.

The move to build reservoir went against the Supreme Court judgment and challenged the Constitution's majesty, a resolution adopted in the meet said and requested that no Central ministry related to the dam initiative should give its clearance.

Chairing the meet, Chief Minister said a moot question was how Karnataka would provide its share of water if it was to build the Mekedatu dam when it was not releasing due share to TN even during normal times.

"Karnataka is providing only the surplus water, when it was not storing water during floods. Karnataka does not provide water as per the directives of Cauvery tribunal and the Surpeme Court," he said.

Against this background, if Karanataka was to build a new dam with 67.16 TMC capacity, the future of state's farmers would be in peril and this was the danger that confronted Tamil Nadu, he said.

Karnataka's claim that the Mekedatu dam was aimed at meeting the drinking water needs of Bengaluru city and for electricity generation is "not true and it is to deceive us," the Chief Minister said, adding Cauvery river is a livelihood right for Tamil Nadu.

"Not only Karnataka, Tamil Nadu also has full right on Cauvery river," he said.

The river traversed more through Tamil Nadu than Karnataka. "Hence, we have full right. We have also established this right legally."



Cauvery, which originates at Talakaveri in Western Ghats in Karnataka, flows for about 800 km before it joins th Bay of Bengal near Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu and sharing the river water has often been a vexatious issue between the two neighbours.

The Mekedatu dam initiative is a 'conspiracy' to block flow of water to Tamil Nadu from catchment areas below Kabini, Krishnarajasagar, sub-basins of rivers Shimsha, Arkavathi, Suvarnavathy and other small rivers, Stalin said.

Since such areas do not have reservoirs, water reached Tamil Nadu without any hindrance and the new dam proposal was only to scuttle free flow, he said.

Kabini, Krishnarajasagar and sub-basins were sources of water supply to Tamil Nadu under the first component of the final order by the tribunal as modified by the apex court, he said.

Water release from Kabini and Krishnarajasagar were the other two sources of supply to TN and these were the other two components of the order for giving the state its due share of Cauvery water.

These two dams are under the full control of Karnataka and only after storing adequate water for their use, Tamil Nadu was provided water.

"If Mekedatu dam is built, (whatever quantum of) water that we get (now) will be stored in this new reservoir," h said, adding only after fulfilling Karnataka's needs, the remaining portion of water from the proposed new dam would be given to Tamil Nadu.

Only considering this aspect, Tamil Nadu had all along been opposing the Mekedatu dam initiative, he said and recalled several steps taken over the years.

"We have to demonstrate that Tamil Nadu is united in its thought in this livelihood issue, under no circumstances we will allow the Mekedatu dam, the TN government is firm about it," he said.

The first resolution adopted in the meet said, as per the Supreme Court order, no construction can be taken up in Mekedatu without the prior consent of lower riparian states.

"It is highly condemnable that Karnataka government is now taking steps in full swing to build the dam at Mekedatu in violation of the apex court order."



Due to this, water availability for Tamil Nadu farmers would be hit. "Such efforts, that go against the top court's order is a challenge to the majesty of the Indian Constitution. Hence, central government ministries, related to this initiative should not give any approval to Karnataka."The second resolution pledged support of all parties to steps of the Tamil Nadu government to stop initiatives to build the Mekedatu dam.

Another resolution said, a delegation of all parties would give a copy of resolution to the Central government in person so as to reflect the unanimous opposition of Tamil Nadu people to the Mekedatu dam proposal.

The meeting also resolved to take all steps, including legal initiatives vis-a-vis the pending case in the top court, to halt the move by the neighbouring state.

Representatives of DMK, AIADMK, Congress, BJP, PMK, MDMK, VCK, Left parties, MMK were among those who participated. Chief Secretary V Iraianbu, Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan were present.

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People of neighbouring Mizoram



have encroached on nearly 1,800 hectares of land spread across three districts, Chief Minister said in the assembly on Monday.

The chief minister's statement came on the backdrop of tension between the two Northeastern states following alleged encroachment of land in Cachar district by the people of

In a written reply to a query by All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Suzam Uddin Laskar, Sarma said that a total of 1,777.58 hectares of land in Barak Valley region have been taken over by encroachers from

Out of this, the largest area of 1,000 hectares have been encroached in Hailakandi district, followed by 400 hectares in Cachar and 377.58 hectares in Karimganj, he added.

Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that various preventive measures like patrolling and area domination have been taken by the Police in order to free the encroached land and protect the people living on the side.

"Altogether nine Border Out Posts (BOP) have been established in Hailakandi, Karimganj and Cachar districts sharing border along Assam- Out of the nine BOPs, six are in Hailakandi, two are in Karimganj and one is in Cachar," he added.

In Karimganj, two temporary camps have been set up at Choto Bhubirbond under Ratabari police station and Medhlicherra under Bazaricherra police station to counter any attempted encroachment of land belonging to Assam.

Besides, two permanent CRPF camps have been set up at Khulicherra and Lailapur under Dholai police station in Cachar, the chief minister said.

"The district administration of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi are maintaining regular liaison and contact with their counterpart districts, mainly Kolasib and Mamit," Sarma said.

He further said that several meetings at different levels between the two state governments have been held to ensure sanctity of the Constitutional boundary.

"Lately, on 09/07/2021, a chief secretary level meeting was held between the State of Assam and Mizoram in New Delhi at the behest of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. All lawful steps are being taken to prevent encroachment in the Assam-Mizoram inter-state border," Sarma said.

Mizoram shares about 164.6 km long border with Assam. The hill state was part of Assam until 1972 when it was carved out as a Union Territory.

It became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987 following the historic Mizoram Accord between the erstwhile underground Mizo Front (MNF) and the Centre, ending 20 years of insurgency in the state.

In a separate reply to a query by the Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, Sarma said that a total of 209 instances of encroachment of Assam land have taken place since 2016 when the BJP came to power in the state for the first time.

These encroachments were carried out by people from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya, he added.

The Assam government has registered 127 cases and arrested three persons for encroachment, the Chief Minister said.

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Nepal on Monday received over 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the US at the time when the country is facing a severe shortage of the jabs.

This is the first consignment of the single-shot vaccine Nepal has received. The US provided 1,534,850 doses to Nepal through the COVAX scheme, the global COVID vaccine equity scheme.

US Ambassador Randy Berry handed over the vaccines to Health Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha on Monday.

Today we're giving Nepal enough #JNJ COVID19 vaccines via #COVAX to fully vaccinate 1.5 million people, Berry wrote on Twitter after handing over the vaccine to Nepal.

I'm proud that the US is the largest single-country donor of #COVID19 assistance to Nepal. This gift, on behalf of the American people, has the singular goal of saving lives, Berry added.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli conveyed sincere gratitude to the Government and the people of Nepal to the US Government for providing the generous support of vaccines.

Health Minister Shrestha said on Monday that the American vaccine will be given to people aged 50 to 54, the Kathmandu Post reported.

The arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will complement Nepal's vaccination drive amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is a big respite for Nepal, which is struggling to secure enough doses to inoculate its populationaround 72 per cent of the total.

Nepal started its vaccination drive with the 1 million doses of Covishield, the AstraZeneca type vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, which were gifted to Nepal by the Indian government.

Of the 2 million doses Nepal bought from the Serum Institute, only 1 million doses were shipped, the report added.

The Johnson & Johnson doses arrived days after 8 million doses of Vero Cell, a double-shot vaccine manufactured and developed by Sinopharm, were brought in from China, the report said.

The consignment was part of 4 million doses Nepal has bought from China. China has already provided 1.8 million doses of Vero Cell under grant assistance, the report added.

Nepal's caseload reached 699,088 with the detection of 1,831 new cases in the last 24 hours, the ministry said on Sunday. Of the total cases, 619,894 people have recovered so far.

The countrywide COVID-19 death toll increased to 9,382 with 20 more fatalities.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar



on Monday asserted that educating women was the best remedy for unchecked growth and that he was not in favour of bringing in laws to achieve the end, in an apparent disapproval of the Uttar Pradesh government's New Policy.

He made the remark here in reply to questions from journalists who sought his views on the issue on the occasion of World Day when governments in many states, especially those ruled by his ally BJP, spoke in favour of the legislative route.

"I have nothing to say about what other states plan to do. But my conviction, which is backed by experience, has been that things come under control once we take steps to educate the girl child," said the chief minister after winding up his public interaction programme 'Janata Ke Darbar Mein Mukhyamantri'.

He said he was aware that some educated people also fail to implement family planning, but insisted that enforcing population control through law has its own pitfalls.

"Look at China. It first came out with a one-child norm. Then allowed two children. Now there is a rethink on even that," he said.

"In Bihar, we have seen the fertility rate fall in about a decade, thanks to the fillip given to increased enrolment of girls in schools and incentives for their greater participation in higher learning.

"My understanding is that population growth in the state would reach a plateau by 2040 and thereafter it may start falling," said Kumar, whose initiatives like free bicycles and uniforms to school-going girls have received much acclaim.

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has released a draft Population Control Bill which seeks to bar couples with more than two children from contesting local bodies elections and receiving subsidies, among other things, while extending incentives for those with two up to two children.

The chief minister revived his 'Janta Ke Darbar Mein Mukhyamantri' programme, launched within a few months of coming to power in 2005, after a gap of nearly two years.

He spent nearly six hours patiently listening to and addressing grievances of nearly 150 people who had come from various parts of the state.

Kumar, the de facto leader of the Janata Dal (United), also scoffed at speculations in a section of the media that he was not happy with party president RCP Singh getting a cabinet berth, a reason why he did not come out with any statement congratulating the latter.

"Is it even an issue? Of course, I am happy over his induction into the Union cabinet," said Kumar dismissively.

He also reaffirmed his government's commitment to providing relief to people hit by floods in the northern part of the state.

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The New Delhi district administration on Monday withdrew its order directing closure of the popular Janpath market for not following DDMA guidelines after a meeting with the market associations where traders assured it of strict implementation of COVID-19 protocols.

The district administration had on Sunday directed the closure of the market till further orders.

"After the order was issued for closing pedestrian market in Janpath, the district officials held a meeting with them today. It was decided to allow them to open shops with strict implementation of COVID-19 safety measures and other protocols.

"Also, enforcement teams will be deployed permanently to prevent violations of COVID appropriate behaviour," said a senior district official.

It was informed by the representatives of market association of Janpath that they take full responsibility for ensuring COVID appropriate behaviour and implement the direction of DDMA in letter and spirit, the official added.

The district officials directed that circles shall be marked in front of shops for maintaining proper distance for the waiting customers and provision shall mandatorily be made in individual shops for thermal screening of all the customers and staff deployed at the outlets.

"All persons in the market area shall mandatorily wear masks. No shop allottee shall operate outside his allocated shop area. Further, the space outside the shop as well as the common area including pavements shall not be used for commercial purposes.

The number of visitors to the market shall be regulated by the market trader associations as well as by Delhi Police personal deployed in the market.

The entry and exit of the market shall be manned by both the employees of the market associations as well as Delhi Police, the official said.

Manoj Kumar general secretary of Janpath Mini Market Association said, "A meeting was held with New Delhi ADM in which the shopkeepers gave an assurance to strictly follow COVID-appropriate behaviour and were then allowed to resume work."



Janpath in Delhi's famous business hub Connaught Place in Central Delhi has three market associations including Janpath Traders Association of shops on the main road, Janpath Bhawan Traders Association and Janpath Mini Market Association of small shops and hawkers.

"The issue concerned small shopkeepers and hawkers in Janpath Mini Market.

"Our shops on the main road are following COVID norms and we are very much careful as we realise the seriousness of threat," said Toni Chawla, president of Janpath Traders Association.

Delhi was under a lockdown from April 19 to May 30 during the second wave of the pandemic. Markets were allowed to open from June 7 under a phased reopening plan of the city government.

Markets in Lajpat Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and parts of Sadar Bazar and Karol Bagh were among those shut in recent weeks by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for violation of COVID-19 norms.

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When he left for Canada early on Sunday, Nikhil Parashar had no idea he would spend the next 24 hours at the Belgrade airport. But a surprise seven-day quarantine requirement by the Serbian government put Parashar, a Delhi resident, and over 200 other Indians in a fix. The Indian Embassy in Serbia intervened and facilitated onward travel following their appeals for help.

The new quarantine rule came into effect on Friday, but Indian travellers were in the dark till they landed in Belgrade.

Serbia has become one of the transit points for Indians heading to Canada and the US after the two countries banned their direct entry from April and May, respectively. Canada requires passengers from India to take an RT-PCR test from a third country. As a result, many students are taking the Serbia route to Canada, spending up to Rs 1.8 lakh on air tickets and two to three days of stay in Belgrade.

In the case of the US, a passenger needs to spend 14 days outside of India to be allowed into the country. The US restriction does not apply to certain categories, including its own citizens and permanent residents.

Parashar, who tweeted about his Belgrade experience, said he had no information about the changed rule till he landed there. The border guards refused us entry. Many students dont have money to stay in Serbia for seven days and want to reach Canada. There are families with children who are stuck at the airport, too. The Indian embassy helped us, he said.

In a tweet, the Indian embassy said 120 of the 205 stranded Indians would travel by Lufthansa on Monday. Indians travelling by other airlines will fly on Monday or Tuesday. Embassy officials are in touch with the airport authorities and airlines to ensure departure of all Indians, it said. The embassy did not respond to an emailed query from Business Standard.

We are working closely with Serbian authorities and the Indian embassy to support our passengers, Lufthansa said in a statement.

Serbia allows visa-free entry to Indians for 30 days. As a result, the country has turned into a tourist and transit destination for Indians. However, last Friday, the Serbian government declared India as an area of concern and introduced a seven-day quarantine for passengers arriving from the country.





Serbia has become a popular transit point for Indian students going to Canada. In this month, we have had 20 customers so far, said Madhav Pai, founder of WOW Holidays, a Delhi-based destination management company. But the quarantine requirement is now forcing students and families to reschedule travel plans or change itineraries.



Serbia allows visa-free entry to Indians for 30 days. As a result, the country has turned into a tourist and transit destination for Indians

Egypt and Mexico are also serving as transit-cum-quarantine points for Indians heading to Canada and the US. H1 visa holders, students and those who came to India to meet their families have taken this route to return to the US.

We had organised flight tickets and arranged hotel accommodation and meals for passengers who went to the US via Egypt in May. The basic essentials were covered and there was no sight-seeing, said a tour operator from Mumbai, asking not to be named. We advised them to stay in the hotel and follow Covid-19 precautions. It would have been a challenge had even one traveller contracted Covid-19 during transit. Thankfully, the trip went smoothly and they travelled to the US without a hassle.

Overseas education consultants, however, are advising students against travelling to Canada and the US via a third country.

We are cautioning students not to take the route for entering Canada through other countries because there could be immigration issues later when they land there, said Rushali Kapadia, senior overseas education expert at Yocket, a consulting firm. However, the number of students going is small because it is only those who were already studying in Canada and had study permits but came to India for a break who are trying to return via other countries.

Students, who are applying for the first time to study in Canada, are yet to get study permits or visas since the process has just begun and is more cumbersome and time consuming than for the US.

Students flying to Canada via other countries like Serbia are worried their study permits might expire and that they may also have to bear quarantine costs, which they are trying to avoid, say consultants.
A total of 3,439 militants



surrendered in since 2016, Chief Minister said in the assembly on Monday.

He said the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) are banned at present in the state, where the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) is also active.

Replying to a question by BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan, Sarma said till July 6 this year, 1,306 arms, 20,722 different ammunitions, 89 bombs, 599 grenades and 121.72 kg of explosives have been seized.

These apart, 748 arms and 19,299 ammunitions were deposited by insurgents who surrendered before the authorities, he said.

The state government has taken special measures to rehabilitate the who gave up arms, the CM said, adding, under the Centre's Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme of Northeast Militants, financial assistance of Rs 6,000 each is given every month, along with a fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakh.

It is also imparting skill development training to 1,800 surrendered and out of them, 1,192 have been provided Rs 1 lakh to start some livelihood project.

Similar training programmes are also being planned for such NDFB in districts outside the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Sarma said.

The chief minister added that his government is currently holding talks with 11 militant outfits, including the ULFA (Pro-talk), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), United Kukigam Defence Army (UKDA), Hmar People's Convention- Democratic (HPC-D), Adivasi People's Army (APA) and the All Adivashi Liberation Army (AANLA).

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The IMA expressed concern on Monday over governments and people being complacent and engaging in mass gatherings without following COVID-19 protocols, saying these events are potential super spreaders for a third wave of the pandemic.

Stressing that tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour are needed, but can wait for a few more months, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), in a statement, said global evidence and the history of any pandemic suggest that "the third wave is inevitable and imminent".

"However, it is painful to note that in this crucial time, when everyone needs to work for the mitigation of the third wave, in many parts of the country, both governments and the public are complacent and engaged in mass gatherings without following Covid protocols. Tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour, all are needed, but can wait for a few more months.

"Opening up these rituals and enabling people without vaccination to go scot-free in these mass gatherings are potential super spreaders for the Covid third wave," the IMA said.

The statement by the doctors' comes on a day when the annual Rath Yatra began in Puri and amid talks of allowing the "Kanwar Yatra" in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The IMA appealed to all the states to control mass gatherings.

Based on the experience of the last one-and-a-half years of the war with the virus and the emerging evidence, it is obvious that by making the universal vaccination drive reach the maximum number of people and strictly following Covid-appropriate behaviour, people can face the third wave with confidence and mitigate its impact, the doctors' body said.

"The consequences of treating a patient with Covid in a hospital and its impacts on the economy will be much better than the economic loss we suffer by avoiding such mass gatherings. It is the duty and responsibility of everyone at this moment to strictly enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour for minimum three more months and ensure that everyone near our houses is getting vaccinated," the statement said.

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The government has made adequate provisions for paediatric care in all hospitals as it undertakes capacity-building measures under a comprehensive plan over the next six months through the recently approved Rs 23,000 crore COVID-19 emergency response package, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said Monday.

He was speaking at the virtual inauguration of two 1000 LPM (litres per minute) capacity oxygen plants at the government-run Sir Takhtasinhji Hospital, Bhavnagar, which have been installed by the Deendayal Port Trust at Rs 2.53 crores through its Corporate Social Responsibility, a statement said.

"We have learnt a lot from the second wave like oxygen supply, hospital beds and medicines. We have now ensured adequate funds in every district for buying critical care medical requirements in an emergency," Mandaviya said on the continuing challenge of COVID-19.

He said the Union Cabinet recently approved a Rs. 23,000-crore financial package for Covid-19 emergency response through which a comprehensive plan and capacity-building over the next six months is being taken up.

"We have made adequate provisions for paediatric care in all hospitals to provide the most effective healthcare for children. We are also developing a system of buffer stock at state and centre level that can be used in case of any health crisis," he was quoted as saying in a health ministry statement.

Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the country, Mandaviya said India is working in the spirit of Lok-Bhagidari through a "whole of society" approach to keep itself safe from COVID-19, the statement said.

"It is an evidence of sheer cooperation among different stakeholders from both public and private sector that we ramped up our oxygen capacity that was mere 4,000 MT (metric tonne) to more than 12,000 MT in a short span of time," he stated.

Mandaviya inaugurated the two PSA plants in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Along with the two oxygen generation plants, a copper piping network and associated facilities like a fire-fighting system and an automatic oxygen source changeover system were also inaugurated, the statement said.

The installed PSA oxygen generator units have the capacity of 1,000 LPM (litres per minute) each, i.e. 60,000 liters/hour at 5-6 bar pressure of each unit totalling 1,20,000 liters/hour, which can be utilised for the treatment of COVID-19 as well as other patients, the statement said.

The system will ensure a smooth and continuous oxygen supply to the hospital, the statement said.

A PSA unit generates pure oxygen by the continuous process of pressure swing adsorption and desorption methods through imported molecular oxygen sieves in pressurised and de-pressurised state in the unit and finally delivers oxygen of minimum 93 per cent purity, the statement said.

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A on Monday granted bail to two men arrested in a case filed by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) alleging their complicity in damaging of heritage during the violence this year.

Accused Boota Singh and Gurjot Singh were arrested on July 8.

The arrest was made on the day Boota was granted bail in another matter related to the violence. Gurjot was admitted on bail in the same matter a day after his arrest in the ASI case.

While granting relief, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gajender Singh Nagar said that they have been made accused in both cases on the basis of the same act and no specific role is attributed to them.

The judge granted bail to them on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one local surety of like amount. He also imposed various other conditions on them.

Boota and Gurjot have been directed to join the investigation as and when called, not threaten the witnesses or tamper with the evidence.

Advocate Jaspreet S Rai, representing the two accused, said argued that even though they were present at the Red Fort, no overt act was committed by them.

Meanwhile, Public Prosecutor Rajiv Kamboj asserted that if they are released on bail, they might run away from justice, destroy the evidence as they have done in the past by destroying their clothes and phones.

For Gurjot, the police said that he was seen in at least three photographs at the spot of hoisting of flag at the with the riotous mob.

This case was registered on the complaint of Gunjan Shrivastava of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). On January 26, protesting farmers had clashed with police and stormed into the fort, hoisting religious flags on its domes.

Notably, actor-activist Deep Sidhu, who is accused of being the key conspirator of the violence, was also arrested in this case moments after being released from jail in another case related to the incident.

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The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has suggested to the to remove the one-child policy norm from its draft control bill, saying it is likely to lead to furthering of the imbalance between different communities and contraction of the as well.

The saffron outfit has also asked the Yogi Adityanath government to remove "the anomaly" of rewarding or punishing the child, instead of the parents, from the Uttar Pradesh (Control, Stabilisation and Welfare) Bill, 2021.

"The preamble of the bill states that this is a bill, inter alia, to stabilise the population and promote the two-child norm. The Vishva Hindu Parishad agrees with both objects," the organisation's working president, Alok Kumar, said in a letter to the Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission (UPSCL) on Monday.

However, sections 5, 6(2) and 7 of the bill, which incentivise public servants and others to have only one child in the family, go "well beyond the said objects", he said.

"Therefore, we suggest the deletion of section 5, and the consequential sections 6(2) and 7 to avoid the contraction of the population as also the undesirable social and economic consequences of a one-child policy, and also the removal of the anomaly of rewarding or punishing the child instead of the parents," Kumar added.

He also suggested to the UPSCL to reconsider the objective of the bill that seeks to bring down the total fertility rate (TFR) in Uttar Pradesh to 1.7 within a certain time frame.

Placing the draft bill in the public domain recently, the UPSCL has invited suggestions from people.

In his suggestions, the working president said a two-child policy is considered desirable for achieving population stability.

The population in a society stabilises when the average number of children born to a woman in her reproductive life is marginally above two, he said.

"This happens when the TFR is 2.1. At this level of TFR, on an average, there are two children born to replace the two parents and the additional 0.1 child provides for the possibility of some children dying before reaching the reproductive age and similar other wastage," Kumar added.

In a contracting population, he said the ratio between the working-age population and the dependent population gets disrupted.

In an extreme case, the one-child policy would lead to a situation where there is only one working-age adult to look after two parents and four grandparents, he said.

China had adopted the one-child policy in 1980, but had to withdraw it within three decades to get over such a situation, the leader said.

He added that the imbalance between different communities has been "growing" in several states.

"It is becoming alarming in states like Assam and Kerala, where the overall growth of population has declined. In both these states, the TFR of Hindus has declined far below the replacement rate of 2.1, but that of Muslims is 3.16 in Assam and 2.33 in Kerala," Kumar said.

In these two states, one of the communities has thus entered the contraction phase while the other is "still expanding", he added.

"Uttar Pradesh should avoid getting into that situation," the leader said, adding that the one-child policy in the state "is likely to lead to furthering of the imbalance between different communities because they are known to respond differently to the incentives and disincentives related to family planning and contraception".

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The Monday agreed to hear Bihar government's appeal against the acquittal of 14 people by the Patna High Court in a two- decade old Senari massacre in which 34 people were killed allegedly by Maoist groups.

A bench comprising Justices Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari issued notices to all those who were acquitted by the high court in the case.

The Bihar government, through advocate Abhinav Mukerji, has challenged the May 21 high court order saying the testimonies of eye-witnesses were not considered.

The case of the prosecution is supported by a total of 23 witnesses out of which 13 are eyewitnesses who lost their near family in the mass carnage and includes 3 injured witnesses. It is important to note that none of the accused disputed the date, time, place and manner of occurrence but still stand acquitted by the judgment on a misreading of the law and evidence on record.

The findings of the HC are contrary to the evidence placed on record and the law declared by this Court on various principles of law. The Impugned Order fails to consider the contentions of the State and the reasons advanced by the Trial Court for convicting the accused in its well reasoned and detailed judgment that had been passed taking into account the conduct of the witnesses, the appeal stated.

The high court had allowed the appeal of the accused, setting aside the trial court orders passed in November, 2016 by which they were convicted and awarded varying punishments for their roles in the carnage at Senari village.

The convicts Dukhan Ram Kahar, Bachesh Kumar Singh, Budhan Yadav, Gopal Sao, Butai Yadav, Satendra Das, Lallan Pasi, Dwarik Paswan, Kariman Paswan, Gorai Paswan, Uma Paswan, were sentenced to the death penalty and Mungeshwar Yadav, Vinay Paswan and Arvind Paswan sentenced life imprisonment by the trial court.

Altogether, 34 upper caste persons were hacked to death on March 19, 1999 by members of the outlawed Maoist Communist Centre at the non-descript village, which was then a part of Jehanabad district but now falls in Arwal, carved out later.

In the FIR lodged subsequently, family members of the deceased had named the accused and the matter was tried before the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Jehanabad.

The high court, however, was of the view that 'the burden of proof of guilt of an accused is upon the prosecution. It must stand by itself. In the present case... there is a real and reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the appellants'.

It was widely believed that the MCC had struck at Senari to avenge the killing of more than 60 of its alleged sympathisers at Laxmanpur Bathe less than two years ago, when the dreaded Ranvir Sena had carried out the worst ever carnage in the history of the state.

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on Sunday extended COVID-19 restrictions for a fortnight with certain relaxations amid rising infections.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening that restrictions under Level 4 of the country's five-level lockdown strategy would continue for another fortnight.

The country, however, allowed restaurants, eateries, gyms and fitness centres to reopen with 50 per cent capacity and adherence to Covid protocols.

Earlier, restaurants and eateries could only offer takeaway services.

Agricultural livestock and game auctions will also be allowed now, subject to certain conditions.

All social, political, religious and other gatherings remain prohibited, while the 9 pm to 4 am curfew and a ban on alcohol sales will remain in place.

Schools will remain closed until 26 July.

"These measures were urgent and they were absolutely necessary to contain the third wave, which is being fuelled by the new Delta variant. It remains our priority to break the chain of transmission by limiting social contact," Ramaphosa said.

"As things stand now, infections remain extremely high. With the fast-spreading Delta variant, we are experiencing a third wave that is more severe than the first and second waves."



Ramaphosa said that for the last two weeks, the country has consistently recorded an average of nearly 20,000 daily new cases. At present, the country has over 2,00,000 active COVID-19 cases.

In the last two weeks, over 4,200 South Africans have lost their lives to COVID-19.

The economic hub of Gauteng accounts for more than half of new infections, while cases are rapidly increasing in the provinces of Western Cape, Limpopo, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

Ramaphosa also expressed concern about the pressure on the health system.

"By next week, daily hospital admissions across the country are likely to reach the levels observed during the peak of the first two waves. COVID-19-related deaths in hospitals are also increasing and have surpassed those observed at the peak of the first wave, he said and asserted the government would step up the vaccination process.

"Our national vaccination programme is expanding at a rapid pace. To date, over 4.2 million people in have received a vaccine dose, with one million of these having been done over the past seven weekdays. The pace of vaccination has more than doubled in the last month, and will continue to increase, he said.

Ramaphosa said the government and the private sector are working together to augment vaccination capacity. Currently, 1,90,000 people are vaccinated each weekday.

"We are working to ensure that vaccination sites are located closer to where people live to make it easier for them. We will continue to work with community, religious and traditional leaders to mobilise communities to get vaccinated," he stated.

The president said that one of the major challenges the country faces is the availability of vaccine doses.

"This has been a challenge both for and the rest of the African continent.

"In the last few days, the African Union...and the European Union have reached a historic agreement that will significantly improve the supply of vaccines to our country and our sister countries on the African continent.

"Through this agreement, Aspen will be delivering over 17 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses to South Africa and other African countries over the next three months, commencing in late July. This number will double monthly from October.

"We are negotiating that in time the drug substance itself would be produced here in South Africa, so that we have a fully-owned African vaccine manufactured on African soil, in a number of countries on our continent, he said.

Ramaphosa also welcomed the announcement by President Joe Biden that the United States would be donating 15-20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to African countries through the COVAX facility.

The Health Ministry reported 21,610 new cases overnight, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,179,297.

A further 265 people succumbed to Covid-related complications overnight, bringing total deaths so far to 64,138.

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The Delhi Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board on Monday started a special camp where workers who did not receive Rs 5,000 as Covid relief due to incorrect or insufficient bank details can update the data, officials said.

The Delhi government has been providing financial assistance to the registered workers who faced livelihood crisis during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

"Delhi government is fully committed to the betterment of our labourers. The goal of organizing these camps is to update the data of all the construction workers so that the assistance provided by the Delhi Government reaches all the construction workers on time," said the statement quoting Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.

The assistance amount of some workers were returned to the bank as sufficient bank details during registration were not uploaded, read the statement.

The six-day camp, following all Covid protocols, is organised in three Labour offices -- Labour Welfare Centre, Nimri Colony, Ashok Vihar, north and north West district office; Labour Welfare Centre, Jhilmil Colony, north and northeast district office and Labour Welfare Centre, Pushp Vihar, Pushp Bhawan, south district office, a statement said.

The number of registered construction workers has increased from about 1 lakh in December to over 3 lakhs at present, it claimed.

The Delhi government has set a target to register all the 10 lakh construction workers in the national capital by next year.

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India's full rollout of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine will have to be put on hold until the Russian producer provides equal quantities of its two differing doses, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd said on Monday.

Dr. Reddy's had received about 3 million first doses by June 1 and about 360,000 doses of the second by early this month, the company and the Indian government have said.

"As a matter of responsibility, we would not like to announce a full-fledged commercial launch until we have an equivalent quantity (of the second dose)," Dr. Reddy's said in an e-mail to Reuters.

Dr. Reddy's, which originally planned a full rollout in mid-June, is currently running a pilot programme under which more than 195,000 doses have been administered at hospitals across the country.

"It is our commitment to ensure supply of component 2 in equal quantity and on time to all partner hospitals to whom we have supplied dose 1," the company said, declining to share more details ahead of its financial results.

India has approved a gap of 21 days between the two doses.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund, which markets the vaccine abroad, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Indian government expects 100 million locally produced and imported Sputnik V doses to be available in the country between August and December. India is expected to be one of the biggest manufacturing hubs of the vaccine.

India has administered more than 375 million vaccine doses, the world's most after China, inoculating 32% of its estimated 944 million adults with at least one dose.

It is mainly relying on the AstraZeneca shot and one developed at home by Bharat Biotech and the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research.

Daily vaccinations hit a national record of 9.2 million doses on June 21 but have dropped to around 4 million per day.

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Sri Lanka's Health Ministry on Sunday received 2 million doses of Sinopharm vaccines from China, leading to a total of 7.1 million Sinopharm doses arriving in the country since March.

The vaccines arrived onboard two Sri Lankan Airlines flights which arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport early Sunday morning, the Xinhua news agency reported.

According to health officials, from these stocks, 100,000 doses each will be dispatched into Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Badulla, and Matale Districts, while 200,000 doses each will be dispatched to Colombo and Kurunegala Districts.

Meanwhile, 300,000 and 500,000 doses will be dispatched to Kalutara and Gampaha Districts respectively.

According to official statistics from the Health Ministry, nearly 3 million people have received the Sinopharm vaccines in to date, making it the leading vaccine to be administered among the general public.

Out of the nearly 3 million people jabbed, over 1 million have received their second injections as well, Health Ministry statistics showed.

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that following the arrival of 2 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccines on Sunday, a further stock of 2 million doses was expected in the coming weeks.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week put forward a comprehensive mechanism to vaccinate a majority of the Sri Lankan population against the Covid-19 virus before September.

The President said the number of vaccines that will be received in the month of July will be made available to the public, giving priority to the districts identified as high-risk areas for the spread of Covid-19.

is presently facing a third wave of the Covid-19 virus with authorities warning of a spread of the Delta variant.

The country has to date recorded 273,031 patients since the first local patient was detected in March last year, while 3,467 deaths have been reported.

--IANS

int/rs

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Containment measures in



Assams Jorhat and Golaghat districts, which reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases on Sunday in the state, have been further tightened as the daily count continued to be on the rise in these two neighbouring districts, despite being declared as containment zones on July 7.

Barring pharmacies, veterinary clinics, milk vending and paper delivery services, all other activities in Jorhat district have been banned for the next two days, beginning Monday, Jorhat deputy commissioner (DC) Ashok Kumar Barman said.

"Some essential services, like grocery shops and wholesale markets, were exempted initially. But people were using these exemptions as excuses and violating the COVID-19 protocols," he said.

People who have received confirmation after booking a slot at a vaccination centre will only be allowed to come out, the deputy commissioner said.

Jorhat has set a target of administering 15,000 vaccines on Monday.

Warning of stringent action against violation of COVID-19 protocols, Jorhat superintendent of police (SP) Ankur Jain said, "People are coming out for morning and evening walks. All the walks will now end at the police station.

"Many people come out with false documents of being associated with essential services or some fake emergency. When such people are caught, they will be punished as per provisions of law," he added.

The SP said foot patrol was being conducted by security forces, including CRPF personnel, in the morning as well as in the evening hours.

People in rural areas tend to come out in greater numbers from 4 pm to 7 pm, so in those areas foot patrol is undertaken in the evening, he said.

"We have been fighting COVID-19 for one-and-a-half- years now. People are not ignorant of the protocols. It is not correct to ignore the rules," Jain said, urging the people of the district to cooperate in enforcing the guidelines.

Meanwhile, similar strict containment orders will also be enforced for the next two days from Tuesday in neighbouring Golaghat district.

An order issued by the deputy commissioner, in his capacity as the chairman, District Disaster Management Authority, on Monday said "all grocery shops, retail shops, vegetable and fruit vendors expect pharmacy and milk vending points will remain closed for two days on July 13 and 14 in the entire district".

The decision was in view of the rising trend of COVID-19 cases in the district and to stop the spread of the disease, the order added.

Jorhat and Golaghat have been under containment since July 7, along with five other districts of the state, due to the daily spike in COVID-19 cases.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had on Sunday reviewed the situation in the high-risk districts through a video conference with the DCs, SPs and senior Health officials, asking the district authorities to use drones to monitor areas where crowds assemble, among other preventive measures.

These two districts reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, with 185 cases detected in Jorhat and 180 in Golaghat, as per the National Health Mission, Assam, bulletin on Sunday evening.

No COVID-19 deaths were, however, recorded in these two districts on Sunday.

Altogether 1,579 new COVID-19 positive cases were detected in the state on Sunday, with deaths during the day being 16, according to the NHM bulletin.

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The government does not want to stop tourists but certain protocols must be followed to keep Covid at bay, Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Monday amid concerns about burgeoning crowds at popular hill destinations and other tourist spots.

Every individual must be a Covid warrior if the pandemic is to be defeated, Reddy, who is also minister for culture and DoNER (Development of North-Eastern Region), said while appealing to people to exercise caution.

While this is the responsibility of the state governments, we have issued advisories to follow Covid protocol. The only way to stop Covid is through partnership with the general public. I appeal to all tourists on behalf of the government of India to follow protocols which have been placed for their own safety, the minister told reporters during a visit to the National Archive of India.

Each individual of this country has to be a Covid warrior and only then can we defeat this. The government does not want to stop tourists but it is our responsibility to keep everyone safe, he added.

People, Reddy said, should keep in mind what happened in their cities, towns and districts during the crisis when thousands lost their lives, and thus think twice before breaking any rules.

The Indian Medical Association has also expressed concern over governments and people being complacent and engaging in mass gatherings without following COVID-19 protocols, saying these events are potential super spreaders for a third wave of the pandemic.

Tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour, all are needed, but can wait for a few more months.

"Opening up these rituals and enabling people without vaccination to go scot-free in these mass gatherings are potential super spreaders for the Covid third wave," the IMA said in a statement.

With 37,154 new infections, India's tally of COVID-19 cases has risen to 3,08,74,376 (30.8 million/3.08 crore) while total recoveries have crossed three crore, according to Union Health Ministry data on Monday. The death toll has climbed to 4,08,764 with 724 fresh fatalities.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.59 per cent -- less than three per cent for 21 consecutive days and the weekly positivity rate at 2.32 per cent. While the numbers are encouraging, several states are still reporting worrying number of cases.

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Contending that the Centre's



"irregular" supply of COVID-19 vaccines has slowed down the inoculation drive in West Bengal, a senior health department official on Monday said that the state government was finding it difficult to evenly distribute the doses among its 23 districts.

Bengal, which has received 2.30 crore doses thus far, has vaccinated over 1.77 crore people with the first jab, and more than 62 lakh residents with both the shots, he noted.

The state has spent Rs 59 crore to procure 18 lakh doses on its own, he said.

"West Bengal's inoculation process is moving at a snail's pace, the reason being irregular supply of doses by the Centre. If this trend continues, the drive will come to a halt at one point in time," the official told PTI.

He further asserted that the state has the capacity and infrastructure to vaccinate at least five lakh people every day.

"In UP and Bihar, health officials are sitting idle with vaccines at the camps. The situation here is just the opposite. We are not getting enough doses. We could have easily inoculated several lakh more people in our state if the supply had been smooth," he underlined.

According to the official, the government was having a tough time distributing the vaccines evenly.

"If we release vaccines for the districts in the northern part of the state then the drive gets hit in south Bengal. We have to plan the programme in accordance with the supply. Those waiting for the second dose are being given priority," he said.

Bengal occupies the "third spot" in the country when it comes to administering the second dose, the official claimed.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to send at least three crores vaccine doses to the state to ensure a smooth inoculation programme.

Banerjee recently said that the PM has not responded to her request.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday expressed concern over vaccine hesitancy in some communities and urged people to spread awareness about the benefits of inoculation to win the battle against

Shah, who is on a three-day visit to Gujarat since July 10, also urged youths and volunteers of social organisations to spread awareness among the masses about a free food grain distribution scheme of the Central government meant for the poor hit by the pandemic.

He made the same appeal while addressing two separate events in the Gandhinagar district earlier in the day.

" is a huge challenge before mankind and India fought this battle well. If you compare the deaths to population ratio of other countries, you will realise that India came out of this situation as a winner and that too with very few casualties" said Shah.

He was addressing a gathering at the Swaminarayan Temple in Adalaj village in Gandhinagar after inaugurating a community centre in its premises.

"But, no one should be under the impression that our fight is over. Because the only way to win this battle is 100 per cent vaccination of the masses. However, some communities are still hesitant in taking vaccines. People are not coming forward out of fear that the vaccine will adversely affect them," the Gandhinagar MP said.

"We need to remove this vaccine hesitancy and spread awareness about the benefits of taking vaccine doses against COVID-19. I urge volunteers of social organisations to adopt villages for this purpose and launch such awareness drives. You can give your example to allay their fear and win their confidence," Shah added.

Prior to this event, Shah attended a programme at Raj Bhavan where Governor Acharya Devvrat felicitated donors who had contributed in providing ration kits to COVID warriors, such as sanitation workers.

Speaking at this event, Shah referred to the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) and said the benefits of this scheme must reach the eligible people, such as daily wagers.

The PM-GKAY was launched in March last year to provide free ration to the poor and needy people affected by the outbreak. Under this scheme, 5 kg foodgrains is provided free per person belonging to poor families per month till November.

"The government will be spending Rs 1,00,000 crore on this scheme. Thus, the food grain must reach the eligible masses. Volunteers can meet such poor people and make them aware of this scheme. You can also complain to authorities if eligible people are facing any issues," said Shah.

In the morning, Shah launched a lake beautification project at Nardipur village in Gandhinagar district. From the same venue, he participated in a virtual stone laying ceremony and inaugurated various development projects worth Rs 25 crore in his constituency.

Later, the union minister inaugurated a medical oxygen plant, donated by Sun Foundation, at Gandhinagar civil hospital.

(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.)
"Victims" of the 1994



-- former scientist and two Maldives nationals who were arrested back then -- will also be heard prior to arriving at decision on the anticipatory bail plea of former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews, a court here said on Monday.

Mathews has sought anticipatory bail in the case registered by CBI against him and 17 other police officers for offences including criminal conspiracy and kidnapping and fabrication of evidence, under the IPC, in connection with arrest and detention of former scientist in the 1994

Principal District and Sessions Judge P Krishnakumar, who heard the matter via video conference, said, "Let them (Narayanan and the two women) be heard. They will be heard. Counsel for the victims are permitted to make submissions."



With the direction, the court listed the matter for physical mode of hearing on July 14.

Mathews had objected to the impleadment applications of Narayanan and the two women -- Mariyam Rasheeda and Fousiya Hasan -- all three of whom have opposed grant of any relief to him.

They have opposed his plea for anticipatory bail on the ground that he was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which had arrested them and allegedly subjected them to custodial violence.

In his anticipatory bail plea, Mathews has claimed he and senior Kerala Police officers were pressurised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to arrest Narayanan in the

He had also claimed cases under the Foreigners Act and the Official Secrets Act were registered against Rasheeda based on the information received from the IB and theResearch and Analysis Wing (RAW) that she had "undesirable connections with some scientists and her activities were prejudicial to interest and security of India."



Rasheeda was, thereafter, arrested on the instructions of a then senior IB officer, Mathews has claimed.

CBI, last week, had in the Kerala High Court opposed the joint anticipatory bail plea of two former Kerala Police officers, who were part of the SIT involved in the arrest of Narayanan, saying they falsely implicated him in a "concocted case" which led to delay in development of India's cryogenic technology.

It contended in the high court that the plea was moved by the retired Kerala Police officers -- S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt -- to "scuttle the due process of law" and it was "premature" and "not sustainable".

"It is just being filed with the sole motive to get away from the clutches of law," the agency had said and that it has reason to believe that once the relief was granted to them, they will not cooperate with the probe and "will derail the pace of the investigation."



The Supreme Court had on April 15 ordered that the report of a high-level committee on the role of erring police officials in the espionage case relating to Narayanan begiven to the CBI and directed the agency to conduct further investigation on the issue.

The three-member committee, headed by former apex court judge Justice (retd) D K Jain, was appointed by the top court in 2018 after acquitting Narayanan in the case.

The Supreme Court had also directed the Kerala government to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation for compelling Narayanan to undergo "immense humiliation".

The espionage case, which had hit the headlines then, pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries bytwo scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

The CBI, in its probe back then, had held that the then top police officials in Kerala were responsible for Narayanan's illegal arrest.

The case also had a political fallout, with a section in the Congress targeting the then Chief Minister late K Karunakaran over the issue, that eventually led to his resignation.

(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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by Indias will help create a $15-trillion economy in two decades and give businesses opportunity for growth, said Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani group, on Monday as he rejected "reckless, irresponsible reporting" about the companys shareholding in June.

Adani, who was addressing shareholders of the group's flagship, Adani Enterprises, Indias target to be a five-trillion-dollar economy in four years should not be doubted. I personally see it as an inconsequential question. History has shown that, out of every pandemic crisis, there emerges several learnings  and I believe that India and the world are wiser as we go through this pandemic, he said.

"India will be 5 trillion-dollar economy--and then go on to be a 15 trillion-dollar-plus economy over the next two decades. India will emerge as one of the largest global markets, both in terms of size and market cap, Adani said. "

There will be bumps along the road, as has been the case in the past, and is expected to be the case in the future. However, there cannot be any doubt that the largest that will ever exist, augmented by an increase in the working age and consuming population share, will have a positive impact on Indias growth very much in line with the demographic dividend India enjoys.

For the Financial Year 2021, the consolidated EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) of the groups listed portfolio was over Rs 32,000 crore: a year-on-year growth of 22 percent. All the Adani stocks generated returns over 100 percent  and our businesses ensured that we returned close to Rs 9,500 crore to you, our equity shareholders. This is a 166% increase in profit after tax on a year-on-year basis, he said.

Talking about the recent drop in share prices, Adani said the group's focus is on creating long-term sustainable value. Recently, a few media houses indulged in reckless and irresponsible reporting related to administrative actions of regulators. This caused unexpected fluctuations in the market prices of Adani stocks. Unfortunately, some of our small investors were affected by this twisted narrative in which some commentators and journalists seemed to imply that companies have regulatory powers over their shareholders and that companies can compel disclosure. In the long term, such diversions will not impact us, he said.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) had become an integrated ports and logistics company. In financial Year 2021, APSEZ crossed a landmark after its share of Indias port-based cargo business rose to 25% and the container segment market share grew to 41%. It continued to diversify further, with LNG & LPG business in Mundra added to the portfolio and LNG operations being added in Dhamra. No other company in the world runs a port business of such scale and reach, he said.

Adani Green Energy, in 2020, became the largest solar company in the world. Last month, following the acquisition of SB Energys five-gigawatt portfolio, at an enterprise valuation of about $3.5 billion, we caught up to our renewables target of 25 gigawatts a full four years ahead of schedule. I know of no other organisation in the world that has accelerated its renewables footprint as rapidly as the Adani Group.

Through Adani Enterprises, the group made its move into airports. Today, one of every four passengers in India flies through an Adani airport. No airport business in any large country has achieved a 25% share of the total passenger traffic. The company also took over operations of airports in Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangalore, signed concession agreements for Guwahati, Jaipur & Thiruvananthapuram, and is now in the process of acquiring the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai International Airports. In addition to developing our pan-India airport network, we are also increasing our focus to include non-passenger revenue and nurturing a range of possibilities within both  the physical and digital infrastructure.

"Whatever businesses the group is in  seaports, airports, logistics, natural resources, thermal and renewable power generation, transmission, distribution, data centres, defence, agri and food, real estate, city gas utilities, and several others  I believe all of them are individually high growth businesses but, even more importantly, every one of them has adjacencies within themselves as well as new sectors we can move into, he said.
The Export Import (Exim) Bank of India on Monday said it has extended a USD 35.26 million loan for a project being executed by Kalpataru in Senegal.

The buyer's credit facility was extended under the National Export Insurance Account (NEIA) scheme, which provides a safe mode of financing option to Indian project exporters backed by cover from NEIA Trust, as per an official statement.

The bank signed a credit agreement with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Co-operation of the Republic of Senegal for the purpose of construction and installation of 225 kV overhead transmission line from Tanaff to Ziguinchor (approximate distance 92 km) and bay extensions in Tanaff and Ziguinchor in Senegal, it said.

The project will enable securing energy supply in the southern region of Senegal, comprising of Tambacounda, Ziguinchor and Tanaff, and reduce operating expenses and the cost per kWh, the statement added.

The bank said it had earlier supported the construction of a 225kV transmission line for Tambacounda - Kolda - Ziguinchor link in Senegal by way of a Buyer's Credit facility of USD 200 million under the same scheme.

(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 credit card market saw a big shift in the past few months after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in December barred the countrys largest credit card issuer, HDFC Bank, from allotting new cards.



Between December and May, HDFC Banks credit card kitty saw a drop of 528,447 cards while that of increased 1.16 million, the highest by any lender during the period. While SBI Cards registered an increase of 661,950 cards, Axis Bank issued 243,527 more cards, the latest data shared by the RBI revealed. ICICI Banks co-branded credit card with e-commerce major Amazon has been one of the driving factors behind this gain as the bank on-boarded close to a million customers in the past nine months. However, recently said the embargo on issuing was temporary and it was laying the groundwork for getting back to the market with increased rigour, once the embargo was lifted.

Other players such as RBL Bank, YES Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Bank of Baroda have increased their outstanding in the market. However, certain big players such as Kotak Mahindra Bank, Citi Bank, and American Express have seen the outstanding in their portfolio decline. As far as American Express is concerned, the RBI banned it from onboarding new customers from May 1 as it was found non-compliant with the directions on storage of payment system data, which the central bank had asked them to store in India.





Overall, outstanding credit cards in the market increased by 2.2 million, or 3.79 per cent between December and May to 62.3 million from 60.11 million. According to ICICI Securities report, the trends of spends in June till date indicate an 18 per cent jump compared to May. This puts June 21 spend trend at a higher level compared to all months of FY21, except March.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday said can open an account with the central bank in few easy steps online to start trading in government bonds.

The online portal for will give access to the bond trading platform available for institutional investors as well, and the can also bid for bonds in primary auctions just as large institutions do.

The starting date for the retail direct gilt (RDG) account has not been announced by the yet, but other modalities were spelt out.

Retail investors can register under the scheme and maintain a RDG account with basic KYC, such as rupee savings bank account maintained in India, permanent account number (PAN) issued by the Income Tax Department, any officially valid document for KYC, valid email, and registered mobile number.

Non-resident retail investors will also be eligible to invest in government securities, but as per the rules set by Foreign Exchange Management Act. The RDG account can be opened singly or jointly with another retail investor who meets the eligibility criteria, the said.

Investors can register on the online portal by filling up the online form and use the OTP received on the registered mobile number and email id to authenticate and submit the form. Upon successful registration, Retail Direct Gilt Account will be opened and details for accessing the online portal will be conveyed through SMS or e-mail.





ALSO READ: Industrial output up 29.3% in May due to low base, drops 8% sequentially

The same account will be valid for secondary market trading at Negotiated Dealing System -- Order Matching (NDS-OM), as well as for placing bids in primary auctions.

In primary auctions, only one bid per security will be permitted. Payment can be made through net banking or UPI. Funds will be blocked at the submission of the bid, and will be debited depending upon the allotment. This will be done by the payment aggregators, or banks.

For secondary market deals, before the start of the trading hours or during the day, the investor should transfer funds to the designated account of CCIL (Clearing corporation of NDS-OM) using net-banking/UPI from the linked bank account. Based on actual transfer/success message, a funding limit (Buying Limit) will be given for placing Buy orders. At the end of the trading session, any excess funds lying to the credit of the investor will be refunded, said.

UPI can also be used for the purpose.

"Similar facility through banks will be made available in due course," the RBI said.

Securities bought will be credited to the RDG Account on the day of settlement. Securities identified for sale will be blocked at the time of placing order till the settlement of the trade, and funds from the sale transactions will be credited to the linked bank account on the day of settlement.
on Sunday said it will take necessary measures to respond to the US blacklisting of Chinese over their alleged role in abuses of people and other Muslim ethnic

The Commerce Ministry said the U.S. move constituted an unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises and a serious breach of economic and trade rules.

will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard Chinese companies' legitimate rights and interests, the ministry's statement said.

No details were given, but has denied allegations of arbitrary detention and forced labor in the far western region of Xinjiang and increasingly responded to sanctions against and officials with its own bans on visas and financial links.

The US Commerce Department said in a statement Friday that the electronics and technology firms and other businesses helped enable Beijing's campaign of repression, mass detention and high-technology surveillance against Muslim in Xinjiang.

The penalties prohibit Americans from selling equipment or other goods to the firms. The has stepped up financial and trade penalties over China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, along with its crackdown on democracy in the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong.

The Chinese government since 2017 has detained a million or more people in Xinjiang. Critics accuse China of operating forced labor camps and carrying out torture and coerced sterilisation as it allegedly seeks to assimilate Muslim ethnic minority groups.

The U.S. Commerce Department said 14 were added to its Entity List over their dealings in Xinjiang, and another five for aiding China's armed forces.

The Department of Commerce remains firmly committed to taking strong, decisive action to target entities that are enabling human rights abuses in Xinjiang or that use U.S. technology to fuel China's destabilizing military modernization efforts," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement posted on the department's website.

(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 Chinese-built strategic southern port of Hambantota in is set to become fully functional as a multi-purpose port by the next year, a top official of the company building it said on Monday.

Located ten nautical miles from the global shipping route linking the Far East with the West, is Sri Lanka's most diversified deep-water, multi-purpose port. It offers a comprehensive range of services for the shipping industry, with a focus on new technologies and environmentally sustainable practices, in keeping with the latest advances in the maritime sector.

The port has great potential in energy services due to its location in the Indian Ocean rim, where 50 per cent of the world's maritime oil is traded. The port's LPG and future LNG operations are sure to cement its position as an energy hub in the region.

"As is working towards being a fully functional multi-purpose port by next year, we are gearing at all levels, which includes continuous training and testing our systems for optimum efficiency which is part of the DNA of all China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPort) operations across the globe, said Lance Zuo, General Manager, Commercial and Marketing, Hambantota Port Group (HIPG).

HIPG responded very well to the challenges during the lockdown, and today we can say that our unique selling proposition is the efficiency of the port. This comes from a responsive workforce at all levels of the operation and best equipment being used to assist the smooth running of it, the official said in a statement.

HIPG is a joint venture between the Ports Authority and the Chinese state-owned China Merchants Port Holdings.

In 2016, the Sri Lankan government decided to privatise an 80 per cent stake of the port to raise foreign exchange. CMPort paid USD 1.12 billion to revive the port under a publicprivate partnership. During the first half of 2021, the port has recorded overall growth in its volumes and diversification of services.

"The port's overall cargo handling volume has increased from 420,421 MT by end June 2020, to a significant 1,206,425 MT, during the corresponding period this year. HIPG continued its operations without interruption throughout the pandemic and is now seeing the results of experienced port management combined with the dedicated services provided to their customers, the company said.

China is one of the biggest investors in various infrastructure projects in But there has been criticism, both locally and internationally, and growing concerns that China has lured Sri Lanka into a debt trap.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, however, has rejected concerns that China has lured Sri Lanka into a debt trap by financing the and said the project has a vast potential for generating income and employment opportunities.

The 99-year lease of the Hambantota port to China has raised red flags about the downside of China's multi-billion Belt and Road Initiative.

Struggling to pay back over USD 8 billion-dollar Chinese loans and investments, the previous Sri Lankan government has handed over the majority share of the Hambantota port to the Chinese state-owned company on a 99-year lease to raise USD 1.2 billion.

(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 has put on hold work on plans for a digital levy for the moment to concentrate on finalizing the historic tax decision endorsed by the Group of 20 nations over the weekend, officials said Monday.

In the face of US criticism, the European Commission said its work on the levy that would hit American technology companies would go on ice to allow for smooth cooperation on the political and technical hurdles that still need to be addressed on the G-20 tax decision before the end of October.

Successfully concluding this will require a final effort, a final push from all parties. And the (EU) Commission is committed to focusing on that effort, EU spokesman Dan Ferrie said. For this reason, we have decided to put on hold our work on a proposal for a digital levy as a new EU resource during this period.

Finance ministers from the G-20 major economies endorsed a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15%, a measure aimed at putting a floor under tax rates and discouraging companies from using low-rate countries as tax havens.

The global minimum proposal faces political and technical hurdles before it would take effect. Details are to be ironed out in coming weeks at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, followed by a final endorsement by G-20 presidents and prime ministers at an October 30-31 meeting in Rome.

Countries would then need to legislate the rate into their own laws. The idea is for headquarters countries to tax their companies' foreign earnings at home if those earnings go untaxed in low-rate countries. That would remove the reason for using complex accounting schemes to move profits to subsidiaries in low-tax nations, and where the companies may do little or no actual business.

Outside that context, The EU has also tried to focus on companies that make profits in countries where they have no physical presence. That could be through digital advertising or online retail. Countries led by France have started imposing unilateral digital taxes that hit the biggest US tech companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook.

The US calls those unfair trade practices, and has threatened retaliation through import taxes.

The European Commission's announcement came as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was meeting with Eurozone counterparts and high-level EU officials.

(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 said Monday that it would postpone its push for a controversial digital levy to focus on a negotiation over a broader minimum global tax deal struck by the worlds largest economies. The US has lobbied against the levy on digital sales that was likely to hit Silicon Valley giants business in Europe. The EU had pledged to introduce a levy if there was no progress on a more sweeping effort to tax corporations more uniformly.

Such a pact now seems more likely after the Group of 20 endorsed the principles of a global-tax agreement. Taxation is a hot topic in Europe with officials in Berlin and Paris taking aim at complicated structures used by multinationals, many of them American, that allow them to reduce their effective tax rates. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who is meeting with EU officials in Brussels on Monday, had warned Sunday against taxes that are discriminatory against US firms. The European Commission, the EUs executive arm, had already delayed the rollout of the plan amid pressure to withdraw it or show that its compatible with the global effort on how and where to tax the profits of multinational We have decided to put on hold our work on a proposal for a digital levy, Daniel Ferrie, a spokesman for the European Commission, told reporters on Monday. The EU will focus on the target to reach a global tax accord in October and to conclude this process we want to concentrate all of our efforts on getting that over the line, he said. The EU may reassess in the fall whether to push on with its levy, he said. Over the weekend, G-20 nations agreed on the outlines of a global corporate-tax agreement.

Taxing Issues Digital tax delay is the latest step by the US and the EU to improve economic relations

The EU has faced intense US pressure to postpone any announcement until a deal among the G20

can advance

Meeting in Venice, G20 finance ministers on Saturday endorsed a plan agreed by 132 countries

to overhaul the way multinational companies, including the US digital giants, are taxed

WhatsApp faces EU consumer complaint over privacy update WhatsApp faces a complaint from consumer groups who say the chat service has been unfairly pressuring users to accept a new privacy update in what it calls a breach of the bloc's regulations.
Haiti's police chief announced Sunday that officers have arrested a Haitian man accused of flying into the country on a private jet and working with the masterminds and alleged assassins behind the killing of President Jovenel Mose.

Police chief Lon Charles identified the suspect as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, without giving any personal information about him.

Charles said officers found several items at the man's house, including a hat emblazoned with the logo of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four automobile license plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence with unidentified people.

It was not immediately clear if the man had an attorney.

Charles said a total of 26 Colombians are suspected in the killing of the president before dawn Wednesday. Eighteen of them have been arrested, along with three Haitians. He said five of the suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed.

The chief said police are working with high-ranking Colombian officials to identify details of the alleged plot, including when the suspects left Colombia and who paid for their tickets.

(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.)
CEO Sundar Pichai, who was born in Tamil Nadu and grew up in Chennai, has said India is deeply rooted in him and a big part of who he is.

In an in-depth interview with the BBC at the headquarters at in California, the tech boss covered a wide range of topics, including the threat to free and open internet and also narrowed down two developments that he feels will further revolutionise the world over the next quarter of a century as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.

"I'm an American citizen but India is deeply within me. So it's a big part of who I am, Pichai, 49, said, when asked about his roots.

I view it [artificial intelligence] as the most profound technology that humanity will ever develop and work on. You know, if you think about fire or electricity or the internet, it's like that. But I think even more profound," said Pichai, the CEO of and its parent company Alphabet.

When asked about whether the Chinese model of the internet based on surveillance is in the ascendant, Pichai said the free and open internet "is being attacked". While he didn't refer to China directly, he said: "None of our major products and services are available in China."



On the controversial issue of tax, he said: We are one of the world's largest taxpayers, if you look at on an average over the last decade, we have paid over 20 per cent in taxes.

We do pay the majority of our share of taxes in the US, where we originate and where our products are developed. I think there are good conversations and we support the global OECD conversations figuring out what is the right way to allocate taxes, this is beyond a single company to solve, he said.

He was also asked about his own personal tech habits and encouraged everyone to adopt two-factor authentication when it comes to passwords to ensure multiple protections and admitted he is constantly changing his phone to test out new technology.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President will host New York City's Democratic mayoral candidate and other city and law enforcement leaders from around the country to talk about reducing crime.

Eric Adams, Brooklyn borough president and the likely next mayor of New York, plus Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo are expected to attend the meeting Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans. They were not authorized to speak publicly about the meeting and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Biden will also host Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, Chief David Brown of Chicago and Lt. Anthony Lima of the Newark, New Jersey, police.

Shootings and killings are up around the nation, with local politicians and police struggling to manage the violence that has ballooned since the coronavirus pandemic. But there is a continued push for police reform, revived nationwide with the death of George Floyd, and Biden is trying to work on both simultaneously.

The president recently announced new efforts to stem the tide of violence, but the federal government is limited in what it can do to help localities reduce the spike. His plan focuses on providing funding to cities that need more police, offering community support and cracking down on gun violence and supplying illegal firearms.

But much of Biden's effort is voluntary centered on encouraging cities to invest some of their COVID-19 relief funds into policing and pushing alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers often both targets and perpetrators of violence.

Biden will be joined Monday by Attorney General Merrick Garland and other anti-violence experts. The president is expected to talk through the work federal law enforcement is doing to stop the flow of illegal guns, including new strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington to help take down illegal gun traffickers and a new zero tolerance policy for dealers who sell guns illegally.

A federal effort is underway to expand and enhance community violence interruption programs in 15 cities.

Adams, a former New York Police Department captain, is the prohibitive favorite in the general election against Curtis Sliwa, the Republican founder of the Guardian Angels. Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-to-1 in

Adams won a crowded primary after appealing to the political center and promising to strike the right balance between fighting crime and ending racial injustice in policing.

The Wall Street Journal first reported details of the meeting.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a landmark verdict, Nepal's on Monday directed President to appoint Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister by Tuesday and reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives for a second time in five months.

A five-member Constitutional Bench of the led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana issued the verdict stating that President Bhandari's decision to dissolve the lower house upon a recommendation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was an unconstitutional act, delivering a major blow to the veteran Communist leader who was preparing for snap polls.

The bench issued a mandamus to appoint Deuba as the Prime Minister by Tuesday. Deuba, 74, has served as the prime minister on four occasions.

The court also ordered summoning new session of House of Representatives at 5 PM on July 18.

Chief Justice Rana also said that the bench has concluded that party whip does not apply when lawmakers take part in the voting to elect new Prime Minister as per Article 76(5) of the Constitution.

The bench comprising four other senior most justices -- Dipak Kumar Karki, Mira Khadka, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai -- had concluded hearings in the case last week.

President Bhandari had dissolved the 275-member lower house for the second time in five months on May 22 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19.

Last week, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for mid-term elections despite the uncertainty over polls.

As many as 30 petitions, including one by the opposition alliance led by the Nepali Congress, were filed against the dissolution of the House by the President.

A petition was filed by the Opposition parties' alliance with the signature of 146 lawmakers demanding reinstatement of the lower house of Parliament and appointment of Deuba as the prime minister.

plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Communist Party (NCP).

On February 23, the apex court reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, in a setback to embattled Prime Minister Oli who was preparing for snap polls.

Oli, who is currently heading a minority government after losing a trust vote in the House, has repeatedly defended his move to dissolve the House of Representatives, saying some leaders of his party were attempting to form a "parallel government".

(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.)
Nepal's on Monday reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives for a second time in nearly five months, delivering a major blow to Prime Minister who is currently heading a minority government after losing a trust vote in the House.

A five-member Constitutional Bench of the on Monday also ordered appointment of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister within two days.

The bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana had concluded hearings in the case last week. The bench comprised four other senior most justices -- Dipak Kumar Karki, Mira Khadka, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai -- at the apex court.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari had dissolved the 275-member lower house for the second time in five months on May 22 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19.

Last week, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for mid-term elections despite the uncertainty over polls.

As many as 30 petitions, including one by the opposition alliance led by the Nepali Congress, were filed against the dissolution of the House by the President.

plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Communist Party (NCP).

On February 23, the apex court reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, in a setback to embattled Prime Minister Oli who was preparing for snap polls.

(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.)
Investment Board has said it has signed a pact with India's state-owned Ltd to develop the 679-megawatt (MW) Lower Arun Hydro Electric Project in eastern

In a statement on Sunday, the National Investment Board of the Himalayan Nation announced that the pact was signed with India's state-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) which is the second mega project undertaken by Southern neighbour.

The memorandum of understanding MoU was signed by SJVNL Chairman and Managing Director Nand Lal Sharma and IBN Chief Executive Officer Sushil Bhatta.

Second, after the Arun-3 hydropower project, the Lower Arun Hydel project is expected to cost around 1.3 billion dollars, the single biggest foreign investment project, as per 2017 cost estimates.

Prior to the latest project, India is building 900 MW Arun-3 project at an estimated cost of 1.04 billion dollars in the Arun river which is located in Sankhuwasabha district. Lately signed Lower Arun Hydel Project lies in Bhojpur district of the Himalayan Nation.

As per the statement, the developer should complete the detailed project study of the project and submit the report for approval at the board within two years from the agreement.

"The project will be built under the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model," the statement further stated.

The project will not have any reservoir or dam and will be a tailrace development of Arun-3 hydro project, which will mean water re-enters the river for the Lower Arun project.

In 2018, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly laid the foundation stone for the Arun-3 Hydropower Project, remotely from Kathmandu.

SJVN's current installed capacity stands at 2,016 MW and it aims to be a 25,000 MW entity by 2040.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Noah Browning

LONDON (Reuters) - slipped on Monday as concerns about slowing global growth outweighed the prospect of tightening supply after talks among key producers to raise output in coming months stalled.

for September fell 86 cents, or 1.1%, to $74.69 a barrel by 1240 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for August was at $73.71 a barrel, down 85 cents, or 1.1%.

Both benchmarks fell about 1% last week but remain close to highs last reached in October 2018. Brent climbed above $77 last week.

The spread of coronavirus variants and unequal access to vaccines threaten the global economic recovery, finance chiefs of the G20 large economies said on Saturday.

"Traders are now refocusing on the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and global concerns over the new variants' expansion are weighing on prices, despite tightening oil supplies globally," Rystad Energy analyst Louise Dickson said.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, a group known as OPEC+, abandoned talks last week over an output deal, which included pumping more oil from August, after a dispute between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates about how to extend the pact.

Although failure to agree means less oil in the short term, analysts say the collapse of talks raises the longer term prospect of producers abandoning the deal and pumping at will.

"The market has been a bit negative as of late amid the growing sense that the latest OPEC+ impasse could be a precursor to a pump-and-grab scenario, meaning a lot more oil potentially gets put on the market," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.

Saudi Arabia and Oman called on Monday for continued cooperation between OPEC and allied producers.

Front-month WTI crude futures posted a sixth weekly gain last week after a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed U.S. crude and gasoline stocks fell while gasoline demand reached its highest since 2019.

In response to higher oil prices, U.S. energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for a second week in a row, data from Baker Hughes showed.

(Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Edmund Blair)

(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.)
said on Monday that it was monitoring the changing situation in Afghanistan and assured its people that it would not allow the looming chaos in the war-torn nation to spillover borders to cause any kind of disturbance in the country.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry's remarks came in the midst of militants seizing dozens of districts in recent weeks and now claiming that they control 85 per cent of territory in Afghanistan, ahead of the complete withdrawal of US and Western troops from the country.

Under a deal with the Taliban, the US and its NATO allies agreed to withdraw all troops in return for a commitment by the militants that they would prevent extremist groups from operating in areas they control. US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that American troops will be out of the country by August 31.

"(We are) monitoring the changing situation in Afghanistan and trying our best for a way forward in Afghanistan through a peaceful regime based on the suggestions from all (stakeholders). Even if this (effort) fails, we will not let the unrest spillover to Pakistan, Chaudhry said in a tweet in Urdu.

He assured the people who are worried over the news of continuous fighting in Afghanistan that was prepared to deal with any fallout.

"Our Afghan policy will be in the interests of Pakistan, he said.

Chaudhry recalled in another tweet that Prime Minister Imran Khan had already clarified that could be partners with the US in peace, but not in conflict.

"Pakistan's land is not being used against Afghanistan and [we] hope that Afghanistan's territory, too, will not be used against Pakistan," he said.

Chaudhry in the same tweet mentioned that the political and parliamentary leadership in Pakistan had agreed on the "principle of non-interference in Afghanistan.

The tweets by the information minister are reflective of the unease being felt in Pakistan due to the fear of a civil war in Afghanistan and the efforts by the government to tackle it.

On Saturday, Army spokesman Major Gen Babar Iftikhar said Pakistan is well prepared to deal with the spillover effect it may face in case of a civil war in neighbouring Afghanistan, insisting that Islamabad is only a facilitator of the Afghan peace process, not a guarantor.

He said the security on the border was tight. More than 90 per cent of the 2,611 kilometre-long border has been fenced.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf briefing a parliamentary panel last week talked about the volatile situation in Afghanistan.

Pakistan fears that the civil war would send waves of refugees across the border and that the instability in Afghanistan would provide a breeding ground for anti-Pakistan militancy.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a rare protest, thousands of Cubans took to the streets in various parts of the country on Sunday against lack of and worsening economic conditions.

In the city of San Antonio de los Banos, just outside Havana province, hundreds of people defied a heavy police presence to air their complaints, reported CNN.

One resident who did not wish to be identified told CNN that residents had been enduring power outages for a week and that had "detonated" the growing outrage.

Videos surfaced on social media show protests in a handful of cities and towns across the island.

In some of the videos, people shouted they "weren't afraid" or that they wanted liberty or access to coronavirus vaccines.

The already struggling Cuban economy has been hit hard as tourism and good imports have dropped steeply during the pandemic, reported CNN.

On Sunday, Cuban health officials reported a record single-day increase for new COVID-19 cases and deaths.

(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.)
U.S. Treasury Secretary urged countries on Monday to sign on to a global deal to revamp corporate taxation, keep fiscal support through 2022 and consider more spending in the face of COVID-19 uncertainty.

"We need sustainable sources of revenue that do not rely on further taxing workers' wages and exacerbating the economic disparities that we are all committed to reducing," Yellen said in remarks prepared for delivery to Eurogroup finance ministers.

"We need to put an end to corporations shifting capital income to low tax jurisdictions, and to accounting gimmicks that allow them to avoid paying their fair share."

A tax-cut race to the bottom must end, she said.

Irish finance minister Paschal Donohoe, who chairs the Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers, maintained his reservation about a global minimum corporate tax rate in a meeting with Yellen, his spokesperson said.

Donohoe told reporters that he "affirmed to Secretary Yellen that Ireland remains very committed to the process, constructively engaging with the OECD" on taxes.

The European Commission said on Monday that it will delay its own planned levy on digital services to focus on the global tax deal, final details of which have to be agreed in October.

The EU has been under pressure from the U.S. administration, which wants existing national digital service taxes to be repealed as part of the global overhaul of cross-border corporate taxation.

Yellen declined to comment when asked to react to the commission's delay.

CONSIDER MORE SPENDING

Yellen said that the fiscal response of the EU and its members to the COVID-19 pandemic had been "decisive and unprecedented", with a rapid response also from the European Central Bank. But G20 finance ministers over the weekend warned that the rapid spread of COVID-19 variants was threatening a strong global recovery.

"I think we all agree that uncertainty remains high. In this context, it is important that the fiscal stance remain supportive through 2022," Yellen said.

She added that EU member states should also "seriously consider" additional fiscal measures to ensure a robust domestic and global recovery.

Yellen also called on European governments to join Washington in pushing back against "malign behavior" from China and Russia and abuses in Belarus.

"Together, we need to counter threats to the principles of openness, fair competition, transparency, and accountability," Yellen said.



"These challenges include China's unfair economic practices, malign behavior, and human rights abuses, the Lukashenko regime's ongoing abuses in Belarus, and Russia's continued and growing malign behavior.

(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.)
Shares of real estate companies were in focus on Monday with the S&P BSE Realty index hitting an over 10-year high on the BSE in the intra-day trade. Signs of demand recovery in residential real estate, analysts say, as unsold inventory declined further in April-June quarter of the financial year 2021-22 (Q2FY22) is improving the outlook of the sector.

At 11:29 am, the S&P BSE Realty index, the top gainer among sectoral indices, was up 3.7 per cent as compared to a 0.49 per cent gain in the S&P BSE Sensex. The realty index hit an intra-day high of 3,028.44 points, its highest level since December 2010.

Among individual stocks, Indiabulls Real Estate surged 14 per cent to Rs 137.50, also its 52-week high on the BSE, on the back of a three-fold jump in trading volumes. A combined 54 million equity shares had changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE till the time of writing of this report.

That apart, Macrotech Developers hit a new high of Rs 814.90, up 6 per cent on the BSE in the intra-day trade today. The stock has soared 23 per cent in the past three trading days after the company, in its quarterly business update, said that its pre-sales clocked a growth of 88 per cent YoY at Rs 957 crore relative to Rs 509 crore reported in Q1FY21. The company's pre-sales, however, were down by 62 per cent compared with Rs 2,531 crore in Q4FY21.

"While April and May had very limited pre-sales on account of the second Covid wave in India, June saw pre-sales of Rs 654 crore. This pick-up in June is despite some continuing Covid related restrictions in our operating markets," the management said. It added that subject to no further Covid related disruptions, the company is on track to meet its pre-sales guidance.

Mahindra Lifespace Developers, meanwhile, rallied 11 per cent to Rs 684, followed by Suntech Realty (up 5 per cent at Rs 349.75), Godrej Properties (up 4 per cent at Rs 1,542), Oberoi Realty (4 per cent at Rs 701), Prestige Estate Projects (4 per cent at Rs 307) and DLF (up 3 per cent at Rs 310) on the BSE.

The real estate sector, which was already under pressure, was also affected as construction activity came to a complete halt due to the lockdown. But the sector bounced back once restrictions was lifted  growing at 10.7 per cent in the second half of 2020- 21, compared to a 29.1 per cent decline in the first half of the year. While the uncertainty around the Covid crisis continues, economic prospects for India are better than these were a year ago. Mahindra Lifespaces expects the favourable market situation in the real estate sector to continue, the more so for established developers like itself with a good track record.

"While the pandemic outbreak temporarily disrupted the sector, it also led to emergence of certain trends such as preference for larger apartments, increasing inclination for home ownership as against rental housing, de-densification of office spaces and acceleration of the ongoing consolidation in the sector. Also, the current situation has opened up a lot of business development opportunities for well capitalised developers. The uncertainties of the second COVID-19 wave and its impact will need to be assessed and tracked closely," Godrej Properties said in the financial year 2020-21 (FY21) annual report.
Digital payments startup One Systems on Monday filed preliminary papers with regulator Sebi to raise Rs 1,900 crore through an initial share sale.

The Initial Public Offer (IPO) comprises fresh issuance of equity shares worth Rs 1,500 crore and an offer for sale of up to Rs 400 crore by promoters and existing shareholders, according to the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP).

Those offering shares through the offer are American Express Travel Related Services Company Inc, Bajaj Finance, Cisco Systems (USA) Pte Ltd, Sequoia Capital India Investment Holdings III, Sequoia Capital India Investments IV, Tree Line Asia Master Fund (Singapore) Pte Ltd, as well as the company's promoters -- Upasana Rupkrishan Taku and Bipin Preet Singh.

The issue also includes a reservation for the company's employees.

The company may also consider a pre-IPO placement of such number of equity shares for cash consideration aggregating up to Rs 400 crore at its discretion, as per the DRHP.

If the pre-IPO placement is completed, the number of equity shares issued following such a placement will be reduced from the fresh issue.

Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used towards funding organic as well as inorganic growth initiatives and general corporate purpose.

One Systems is a leading mobile wallet ( Wallet) and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) player in India.

The company is focused on addressing the unmet credit needs of the fast growing online transactors by combining the convenience of everyday mobile payments with the benefits of Buy Now Pay Later.

ICICI Securities, BNP Paribas, IIFL Securities, Jefferies India and Credit Suisse Securities (India) Private Limited have been appointed as merchant bankers to advise the company on the IPO.

The equity shares of the company will be listed on the BSE and NSE.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Florence Tan

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Crude futures slipped on Monday as concerns over slowing global growth outweighed the prospect of tightening supply after talks among key producers to raise output in coming months stalled.

for September fell 15 cents, or 0.2%, to $75.40 a barrel by 0411 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for August was at $74.44 a barrel, down 12 cents, or 0.2%.

The spread of coronavirus variants and unequal access to vaccines threaten the global economic recovery, finance chiefs of the G20 large economies warned on Saturday.

A Reuters tally of new COVID-19 infections shows them rising in 69 countries, with the daily rate pointing upwards since late-June and now hitting 478,000. https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps

"We've not yet seen the impact but at this rate, it will hit demand sooner or later," a Singapore-based oil trader said.

slumped last Tuesday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, a group known as OPEC+, did not reach an agreement to increase output from August. This was because the United Arab Emirates rejected a proposed eight-month extension to OPEC+ output curbs.

"Prices are going to stay volatile for as long as the impasse remains," said Howie Lee, an economist at Singapore's OCBC bank.

"On the surface it looks like it should support prices, but the risk remains that a complete breakdown will result in a price war not dissimilar to last year," he said, but added that the probability of the latter event was low.

The world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia met full contractual demand for crude oil from five buyers in August, but turned down at least two requests for additional volumes.

Front-month WTI crude futures posted their sixth weekly gain last week after a bullish report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed U.S. crude and gasoline stocks fell while gasoline demand reached its highest since 2019.

In response to higher oil prices, U.S. energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for a second week in a row, data from Baker Hughes showed.

(Editing by Kim Coghill and Jacqueline Wong)

(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.)
Shares of Page Industries rose 6 per cent in intra-day trade on Monday to hit a two-year high of Rs 33,093 on the BSE amid hopes of an improved demand environment post the Covid-19 pandemic. The stock surpassed its previous high of Rs 32,450 touched on May 27, 2021. Currently, it was trading at its highest level since October 2018. It had hit a record all-time high of Rs 36,336 on August 28, 2018.

Page Industries is engaged in the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of innerwear, athleisure, sleepwear and swimwear for men, women and kids. The company is the exclusive licensee of Jockey International Inc. (USA) for the manufacture, distribution and marketing of the JOCKEY brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, UAE, Oman and Qatar.

Page Industries is also the exclusive licensee of Speedo International Ltd. for the manufacture marketing and distribution of the Speedo brand in India consisting of swimwear apparel water shorts equipments and footwear. JOCKEY is the company's flagship brand and a market leader in the innerwear category.

"In anticipation of growing demand post the pandemic, the company will continue to invest in increasing its installed capacity. With the ongoing addition of new buildings, infrastructure and facilities, the installed capacity is scalable and can be ramped up with incremental machinery and manpower to meet the expected healthy growth in demand," Page Industries said in the financial year 2020-21 (FY21) annual report.

The company has significantly expanded its presence by opening many Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs) and through expansion of multi-brand outlets, making the brand available and accessible to consumers across the entire length and breadth of the country, it said.

Driven by strong demand for (WFH) athleisure wear, Page reported healthy sales growth in the January-March quarter of the financial year 2020-21 (Q4FY21). However, lockdown in most states resulting in closure/restricted operating hours/days of physical retail stores is likely to negatively impact the sales momentum in the first quarter of the current financial year 2021-22 .i.e. April-June quarter (Q1FY22).

Brokerage ICICI Securities anticipates Page will report quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) revenue de-growth of 47 per cent to Rs 459 crore in Q1FY22E. Volumes are expected to decline 49 per cent QoQ while realisation is expected to be higher by 2 per cent to Rs 194 per piece, owing to change in product mix.

We expect gross margins to decline 260 basis points (bps) QoQ to 55 per cent (48.1 per cent in Q1FY21). Also, on account of negative operating leverage, we expect EBITDA margins to decline substantially from 19.3 per cent in Q4FY21 to 3.4 per cent in Q1FY22E. Subsequently, we expect the company to report net loss of Rs 1.7 crore (vs. net profit of Rs 116 crore in Q4FY21 and loss of Rs 40 crore in Q1FY21), ICICI Securities said in a result preview.

Meanwhile, brokerage Emkay Global Financial Services expects the recovery to be better at around 55 per cent pre-Covid revenues (vs. 35 per cent recovery last year) in Q1FY22. The recovery to be better than fashion players, in line with trends seen during FY21, it said adding that Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margins will be better, led by both better gross margins as well as lower negative operating leverage.
Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange traded 68 points higher at 15,796, indicating a firm start for the benchmark indices on Monday.

Here are the top stocks that are likely to be in focus today:

Results Today: A total of 11 companies, including HFCL, Steel Strips Wheels, Dr Lalchandani Labs and Welcure Drugs & Pharmaceuticals will release quarterly earnings today.

Avenue Supermarts: The owner of retail chain DMart on Saturday reported over two-fold jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 95.36 crore for June quarter 2021-22. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 40.08 crore in April-June period a year ago.

Equitas SFB: Equitas Holdings, the promoter of Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB), on Saturday said the bank has received Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) nod to apply for amalgamation of the promoter into itself.

SJVN: The company has signed a pact with the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) to develop the 679-megawatt (MW) Lower Arun Hydro Electric Project in the country.

Federal Bank: The private lender has received approval from the RBI to re-appoint Shyam Srinivasan as its MD and CEO for three years.

Aditya Vision: Bihar-based electronics retailer Aditya Vision plans to expand its retail footprints to neighbouring of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Eastern UP and Assam in the next two years, a top company official said.

Vendant: Vedanta's Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL) on Saturday said that all three units of its 1,980 MW coal-fired thermal power plant in Mansa district of Punjab would be operational by the end of this month.

Godrej Properties: Realty firm Godrej Properties Ltd (GPL) plans to invest more than USD 1 billion over the next couple of years to acquire and develop new projects as part of its target to achieve higher growth, its Executive Chairman Pirojsha Godrej has said.

Sandu Pharmaceuticals: Porinju Veliyath sold 43,500 equity shares in the company at Rs 51.99 per share on the NSE, the bulk deals data showed.

Adani Ports: Board to consider raising up to $750 million in USD bonds.

Maruti Suzuki: The company announced the roll-out of its digital platform that provides customers end-to-end online car financing solutions.

Anjani Portland Cement: The company has purchased another 6.64 per cent stake in Bhavya Cements from its existing shareholders at a price of Rs 52.59 per share. This has resulted in an increase in the company's shareholding in Bhavya Cements to 89.15 per cent.

Shaily Engineering Plastics: The company approved raising of funds upto Rs 300 crore, in one or more tranches.

Quess Corp: The company has increased its stake in Stellarslog Technovation from 16.12 per cent to 33.33 per cent by investing Rs 3.20 crore.

IRCTC: Shares of will be in focus as the Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas Express train service will resume from August 7 for four days a week.
Zomatos initial public offer (IPO) is scheduled to open for subscription on July 14 and is priced between Rs 72  74 per share. At the upper end of the price band of the offering, the company aims to raise Rs 9,350 crore. Most analysts have given a subscribe rating to the issue for listing gains.

Here is how the leading brokerages have analysed the offering.

Jefferies

is set to be a watershed moment in the Indian internet space. While there are a lot of questions on the minds of investors with respect to the medium-term growth, profitability & cash usage, the FOMO factor should keep the excitement level high, based on investor interactions. Management at the analyst meet sounded upbeat. At FY20's absolute run-rate, the cash balance would suffice for 6-7 years of cash burn and building lower burn-rate, this implies as much as 10-years of cash burn. Expansion beyond the core business is a fair possibility and there is a limited clarity on the categories which might explore and deploy capital.

Nomura

We like for its 1) ability to drive network effects from the content it generates on its platform and that is a key moat that drives its relationships with restaurant partners and consumers. This continuous engagement funnels into its revenue generating businesses like delivery and hyperpure; 2) making a quick pivot  such as expanding into food delivery by controlling the supply chain and expanding into adjacencies such as grocery delivery through investment in Grofers and; 3) focus on profitability.





ICICI Securities

Zomato is yet to turn profitable. However, this new-age digital platform offers strong growth potential, which at present is evolving on the back of favourable macroeconomics, changing demographic profile, rising adoption of tech infrastructure. Hence, we recommend subscribing to this

Ventura Securities

We expect Zomato's revenue to grow at a CAGR of 64.7 per cent to Rs 8,910 crore by FY24 from Rs 1,994 crore (FY21). The will improve Zomato's cash levels to Rs 15,000 crore, which will serve as currency for M&A, investments in tech & customer acquisitions and general corporate purposes. This cash pile should easily help sustain burn-rates for a good 7-9 years. At the upper price band of Rs 76 per share, Zomato's valuation of 5.1X FY24 EV / Sales may appear optically demanding. However, given the fledgling nature of the business, duopoly market, upside penetration potential, untapped online opportunity of the adjacent verticals, and scarcity premium, we recommend subscribing for listing gains.

Securities

Predicting Zomato's growth trajectory at this juncture is a little tricky for the next few years. The valuation also appears expensive at 25x FY21 EV/Sales compared to average of 9.6x for global peers and 11.6x for Indian quick service restaurants (QSRs). Though, valuing such early stage businesses on a plain vanilla financial matrix might not give the right picture and may look distorted. Investors with a high risk appetite can subscribe for Listing Gains given fancy for unique and first of its kind listing in the food delivery business.

IIFL

Zomato is on the cusp of reaching profitability and value creation, driven by 5x growth in revenues, and on the path of achieving 15% operating profitability by FY25. This would be driven by: i) an improved market structure for the two large players, ii) faster adoption of food delivery, catalysed by the current pandemic, and iii) improved unit cost economics. Recommend investors subscribe to the IPO, as we believe Zomato could trade at around $10 billion valuation, based on our discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, and is implying EV/Sales of nearly 11.5x/8.0x on FY23/24 revenues, comparable with peers such as US-listed DoorDash.
Avenue Supermarts total revenue for the quarter ended 30 June 2021 stood at Rs.5,183 crore, as compared to Rs. 3,883 crore in the same period last year. Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) in Q1 FY22 stood at Rs. 224 crore, as compared to Rs. 112 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year. EBITDA margin stood at 4.3% in Q1 FY22 as compared to 2.9% in Q1 FY 21. Net Profit is at Rs. 95 crore for Q1 FY22, as compared to Rs. 40 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year. PAT margin stood at 1.8% in Q1 FY22 as compared to 1.0% in Q1 FY 21.

Maruti Suzuki India said the company has launched Maruti Suzuki Smart Finance, a digital end-to-end online car financing platform. Maruti Suzuki Smart Finance is now made available for ARENA as well as NEXA customers. It is also available pan India. It covers a wide range of profiles to meet the demands of a diverse range of customers.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone has informed that the meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 14 July 2021, to consider and approve raising funds by way of issuance of U.S$ denominated foreign currency bonds.

Unichem Laboratories announced that it has received Tentative Approval for ANDA of Sitagliptin Tablets USP, 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for a generic version of Januvia (sitagliptin) tablets, 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg, of Merck Sharpe and Dohme Corp (Merck).

Shaily Engineering Plastics: said that the board of directors of the company considered and approved raising of funds for an amount aggregating upto Rs. 300 crore, in one or more tranches, by way of issuance of securities, through one or more permissible mode(s) including but not limited through a Qualified Institutions Placement//Preferential Offer or a combination thereof.

Compucom Software has won a tender and received a Letter of Acceptance for IT Enablement of PESA/FRA Acts with other schemes for Tribal Area Development (TAD) Department, Government of Rajasthan and Operations & Maintenance Services for a period of six months from RISL worth Rs 58.40 lakh inclusive all incident charges and taxes and excluding GST.

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Bajaj Healthcare fell 4.27% to Rs 955 after the company reported a fire accident at one of its unit situated at Bharuch, Gujarat on Sunday, 11 July 2021.

"Due to prompt action by alert staff the fire was brought under control and no loss or injury to human life has occurred in the incidence. However, the company is ascertaining the extent of loss and has already informed to the insurance company as the entire factory and goods therein are adequately insured," the firm said in a statement.

The company said it is taking steps to ensure normal operation at the plant at the earliest.

The company's net profit surged 69.43% to Rs 21.28 crore on a 11.54% increase in net sales to Rs 132.18 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20.

Bajaj Healthcare is a leading manufacturer of APIs, intermediates and formulations. It specializes in manufacturing of of amino acids, intermediates, API, formulations & nutraceuticals.

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The domestic equity barometers traded in a narrow range with decent gains in mid morning trade. The Nifty continued to trade above the 15,750 mark. Realty shares advanced for the second day.

At 11:26 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 261.7 points or 0.50% to 52,647.89. The Nifty 50 index added 81.95 points or 0.52% to 15,771.75.

The broader market traded higher. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index gained 0.71% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index rose 1.06%.

The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 2238 shares rose and 878 shares fell. A total of 171 shares were unchanged.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 186,800,826 with 4,031,654 global deaths.

India reported 450,899 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 408,764 deaths, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Realty index rose 3.66% to 379.55. The index has added 6.12% in two sessions.

Indiabulls Real Estate (up 12.19%), Hemisphere Properties India (up 5.60%), Sunteck Realty (up 4.26%), Godrej Properties (up 3.89%), Oberoi Realty (up 3.87%), Prestige Estates (up 3.02%), DLF (up 2.96%), Sobha Developers (up 2.84%), Brigade Enterprises (up 2.05%) and The Phoenix Mills (up 0.84%) advanced.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Bajaj Healthcare fell 1.26% to Rs 985 after the company reported a fire accident at one of its unit situated at Bharuch, Gujarat on Sunday, 11 July 2021. The company said it is taking steps to ensure normal operation at the plant at the earliest.

Tanla Platforms hit an upper circuit of 5% at Rs 886.25 after the company said its board will consider a share buyback on Thursday, 22 July 2021. On the same day, the company will consider and approve the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 30 June 2021

Hatsun Agro Product rose 3.14% to Rs 967.65. The company said its newly commissioned milk manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu started commercial production on 12 July 2021. The plant has a milk handling capacity of 3.5 lakh litres per day (LLPD).

Global Markets:

Asian markets rose across the board on Monday after their U.S. peers chalked fresh records Friday in a broad-based rebound.

In economic news, China's central bank on Friday announced a 50 basis points cut in its reserve requirement ratio for all banks, effective from July. The RRR represents the amount of money that banks must hold in their coffers as a proportion of their total deposits. A lowering of that required amount will increase the supply of money that banks can lend to businesses and individuals.

The three major US stock indexes rallied to record closing highs on Friday as financials and other economically focused sectors rebounded after a selloff sparked by growth worries earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, the G20 Finance Ministers on July 10 approved a global corporate tax of at least 15% to be imposed on multinational companies (MNCs) with an aim to end tax havens. In a two-day virtual meet headquartered from Venice (Italy), the Group also endorsed a broad agreement plan introducing new rules for taxation of cross-border businesses, as per reports. Details and negotiations of the rules are likely to be finalised during the next G20 meet scheduled in October 2021.

Investors continued to watch the coronavirus situation in Asia-Pacific on Monday. Japan's government is set to put Tokyo under a new Covid state of emergency on Monday while stricter social distancing restrictions are set to kick in for the greater Seoul area in South Korea, as per reports. Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, several countries including Indonesia and Malaysia continue to struggle with a recent surge in infections, reports added.

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The offer received bids for 114.92 crore shares as against 1.23 crore shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Clean Science and Technology received bids for 114.92 crore shares as against 1.23 crore shares on offer. The issue was subscribed 93.41 times.

The non-institutional investors category was subscribed 206.43 times. The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) category was subscribed 156.37 times. The retail individual investors category was subscribed 9 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Wednesday, 7 July 2021, and closed on Friday, 9 July 2021. The price band for the IPO was set at Rs 880-900 per share.

The offer comprised of offer for sale (OFS) aggregating up to Rs 1,546.62 crore by existing shareholders, including promoters Ashok Ramnarayan Boob, Krishnakumar Ramnarayan Boob, Siddhartha Ashok Sikchi and Parth Ashok Maheshwari.

Ahead of the IPO, the company finalized allocation of 51,55,404 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 900 per share, aggregating to Rs 463.98 crore.

Clean Science and Technology manufactures functionally critical specialty chemicals such as performance chemicals- mono methyl ether of hydroquinone (MEHQ), butylated hydroxyl anisole (BHA), L-ascorbyl palmitate and anisole. The firm is among the few companies globally focused entirely on developing newer technologies using in-house catalytic processes, which are eco-friendly and cost competitive.

The company has two manufacturing facilities in India with 11 production lines (including three lines for catalyst production and regeneration), which had a combined installed capacity of 29,900 MTPA (metric tonnes per annum) as of 31 December 2020, and capacity utilization rates of 71.94% for Fiscal 2021. As majority of our sales are through exports, both facilities are strategically located at Kurkumbh (Maharashtra), which is in proximity to the JNPT port. Each facility has an on-site R&D unit, quality control department, warehouse, and effluent treatment system that treats effluent, to make facilities zero liquid discharge facilities. The company has also recently set-up a unit at the third facility adjacent to its existing facilities at Kurkumbh (Maharashtra), and have recently been allotted land for the construction of a fourth facility at Kurkumbh (Maharashtra). The captive solar plants meet part of its power requirements at facilities, which improves cost efficiencies and results in better utilization of resources.

The company reported a net profit of Rs 198.38 crore and total income of Rs 512.43 crore for the year ended 31 March 2021.

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Dhanuka Agritech launched a novel herbicide for Indian farmers, Tornado, a solution for weeds in Oilseeds crops, which took its first digital imprint in a pan-India launch on 10 July 2021.

For long farmers have been facing huge challenges in crops due to multiple weed growth. These weeds, infest crops and compete for moisture, sunlight & soil space. Weeds either give shelter to various insects, pests and diseases or serve as alternate hosts, while the crop is unable to get proper nutrients. Henceforth, Dhanuka Agritech launched Tornado for the farmers to make their life easy and give complete protection to their crops from unwanted weeds.

Tornado is a broad-spectrum herbicide for post-emergence control of Broadleaf & Narrow-leaf weeds. It has a dual-mode of action and has excellent translocation activity.

The announcement was also made on Saturday, 10 July 2021.

Dhanuka Agritech manufactures a wide range of farm input and has a pan-India presence through its marketing offices in all major states & reaches out to more than 10 million farmers. The company has technical tie-ups with many US, Japanese and European companies.

Shares of Dhanuka Agritech rose 0.78% to Rs 1,007.55 on BSE. The stock traded in the range of Rs 1,006.05 to Rs 1,017.25 so far.

Dhanuka Agritech is an agrochemical company. The company has three manufacturing facilities in Rajasthan, Gujarat and J&K with quality testing facilities. The R&D center is located at Gurgaon.

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Essar Shipping today said two of its handysize vessels Tvisha and Tuhina weighing 13,000 DWT, have been engaged in exports of rice from India to Bangladesh as per the recent bilateral - trade agreement signed between the two neighbouring countries.

As per the agreement, Bangladesh is set to buy 150,000 tonnes of rice from India. It would be first such bilateral deal in the last three years.

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Lovable Lingerie announced that there was a fire in one of the factories of the Company, situated at No.4612, Guruprasanna Industrial Area, Doddakalsandra Post, Konanakunte Cross, Kanakapura Main Road, Bangalore-560062 on Sunday, 11 July 2021 in the evening. The fire was controlled with the help of the Fire Department but stock of raw materials i.e. fabric and machinery got burnt in the fire.

Fortunately, no casualties have happened.

The stock and machinery was fully insured and the incident is not expected to have any significant impact on the business operations of the Company. The productive capacity is estimated to be resorted in approximately one month.

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SJVN rose 3.89% to Rs 29.35 after the company said that it has signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) in Kathmandu Nepal for the development of 679 MW Lower Arun hydroelectric project (HEP).

IBN is a high-level government body chaired by the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal. IBN functions as a central fast-track government agency established to facilitate economic development in Nepal by creating an investment-friendly environment, mobilizing and managing domestic as well as foreign investments.

SJVN bagged the project through international competitive bidding (ICB), which involved big players. The Lower Arun Hydro Electric Project is located in Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur Districts of Nepal. The project will not have any reservoir or dam and will be a tail race development of 900 MW Arun-III HEP.

The project will have four francis type turbines. On completion, the project will generate 2,970 million units of electricity per annum. The project is scheduled to be completed in four years after commencement of construction activities. The project has been allocated to SJVN for 25 years on BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) basis.

SJVN is a Mini Ratna, Category-I and Schedule 'A' CPSE under administrative control of Ministry of Power, Govt. of India. The company's present installed capacity is 2016.51 MW and aims to be 5000 MW company by 2023. It has presence in various sectors of energy generation which includes hydro, wind, solar & thermal. The company also has presence in the field of Energy Transmission.

The company's consolidated net profit rose 56.08% to Rs 619.06 crore on a 14.77% decline to Rs 463.77 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20.

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not had a great track record in forecasting the monsoon in recent years. This year, however, its errors have almost been farcical.

In its bulletin on May 30, it predicted the onset of the monsoon in Kerala on May 31; however, it then had to revise it to suggest the monsoon would in fact hit on June 3. The monsoon then spread rapidly across the south-east, including West Bengal  but is yet to arrive in Western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and points beyond. This is in spite of the fact that the IMD had originally predicted it would reach Delhi ...
This is the office of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the occasion was to celebrate the 25th birth anniversary of the party. The day was special more because party chief Lalu Prasad was making his first political appearance after being sent to jail following conviction in the fodder scam case four years ago. The Modi government doesnt want him among us. They know the mass appeal of Lalu. ...

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The percentage of women in the Union council of ministers had been dropping steadily. In 2014, the council of ministers had seven women ministers; in 2019, this came down to six. In percentage terms, in 2014, 15.6 per cent of all ministers were women.

In 2019, this came down to 10.5. In the 7 July reshuffle, seven women ministers were inducted. And, that brought the number of women ministers in the government of India to 11 (14.1 per cent of the council of ministers)  the highest since 2004. Who are these new women ministers of state? And, what do they tell us about the ...
Hours after levelling serious allegations that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were keeping tabs on him, state President suddenly backtracked, claiming he was "misinterpreted" by the media and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

Addressing a party meeting in Lonavala, Patole had said that every morning, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister get a report on his schedules, meetings, agitations, discussions, and other things, etc from the Home Department.

While the Sena-NCP rejected his allegations outright, leaders said that Patole's comments prove that the is "isolated and insulted" in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Patole said that ever since the started talking of self-reliance and fighting future polls independently, the ground has shifted form under the feet of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. "What's wrong if I talk of building and strengthening the party?" he asked.

"The system is not allowing me to live peacefully. My phone is being tapped. Wherever I go, whatever I speak, a report is sent to the CM, Deputy CM and state Home Minister. Some people are unhappy that the Congress is growing in strength," said Patole.

Even as his statements created a flutter in state political circles, especially the MVA allies Sena-NCP, the hit out, saying there "is deep sense of mistrust among the 3 ruling allies", Patole rescinded his utterances.

On Monday evening, Patole blamed sections of the media and the for misinterpreting his words as he was referring to the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

"False news is being circulated by the Opposition about me. The MVA government is stable and will continue it full term," Patole declared.

In the past couple of months, Patole's calls to go alone in the upcoming civic bodies' elections after six months and future Assembly and Parliament polls, have irked the Sena and the NCP.

Sena's Kishore Tiwari, who has MoS status, flayed the Opposition for attempting to divide the MVA partners on this issue and reiterated that the Thackeray-regime has done "an excellent work" in 18 months, so the BJP will not succeed in dislodging it for the next 25 years.

NCP Spokesperson and Minister Nawab Malik responded by pointing out that what Patole referred was routine government procedures of which he was perhaps unawares, and advised him to consult ex-CMs of his own party.

"The State Intelligence Department (SID) keeps details on movements of VVIPs, senior political leaders of all parties, union leaders and other prominent persons for security reasons. It anyone doesn't want security they can inform in writing and the Home Department will look into it," Malik asserted.

Hoping to exploit the situation, BJP Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said Patole's statement is an indicator of "the extent of distrust among the MVA partners".

His counterpart in the Council, Pravin Darekar, said there is "some unrest among the Sena-NCP after Congress said it will contest futures polls independently".

--IANS

qn/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra president Nana Patole has sought to suggest the state government is keeping an eye over his movement and claimed that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies and the feel the ground was slipping from beneath their feet due to his party's growing influence. Reacting to Patole's suggestion that he was under watch,



the NCP, which handles the home deparment, on Monday said his claim was based on incomplete information, while the asserted that all was well in the ruling alliance. Speaking at a meeting of party workers in Lonavala, a hill station around 125km from Mumbai, during the weekend, Patole said the is resurrecting itself in Maharashtra and this has caused disquiet among the and the The MPCC did not name the two MVA partners while making a reference about them in his speech. The is part of the three-party Shiv Sena-led MVA government. He also sought to hint that the government is keeping an eye on his activities. "Every morning at 9, intelligence report is submitted to the chief minister and the home minister on what is happening in the state. The Congress is resurrecting itself and the report is making the ground beneath their feet slip away. I am here in Lonavala but the report will go to them," he said. Meanwhile, Patole later told a Marathi news channel that his statement hinting at tracking of his movement has been misconstrued. "I have not made any comment that the state government is keeping a watch on me. My allegations were against the Centre. I will make a clarification when I return to Mumbai," he said. Meanwhile, the said the allegations of Patole that he was under watch of the intelligence department were based on incomplete information. Addressing a press conference, NCP spokesperson and minority affairs minister Nawab Malik said the police have a special department to report movements of important leaders, their meetings, political programmes and agitation. This has been the long-standing practice irrespective of which party or alliance is in power. Relevant information is collected and a comprehensive report is submitted to the home department and the chief minister, he said. "If Patole is unaware of this process, he should consult former CMs of the Congress - Ashok Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan," Malik said. The NCP minister said if Patole doesn't want police 'bandobast' (security arrangement) for himself or leaders of his party, he should make an application and the home minister would take a decision on that. Congress leader and minister Balasaheb Thorat said, "I don't know what he (Patole) meant. He would be in a better position to explain."



Shiv Sena leader and minister Eknath Shinde sought to downplay Patole's remark and said the MVA was working well. "The Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance was working fine," 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.)
general secretary Vadra will hold a virtual meeting with senior party leaders from Uttar Pradesh on Monday to discuss the preparation and strategy for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls due next year.

Gandhi has called the meeting at 10 am.

Earlier on Saturday, slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over incidents of violence during filing nominations for block president polls.

She has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of preventing a woman from filing nominations and misbehaving with her. She also shared a video clip on her Twitter handle, in which people were seen misbehaving with a woman.

"A few years ago a rape victim raised her voice against a BJP MLA, an attempt was made to kill her along with her entire family. Today BJP crossed all limits to stop the nomination of a woman. Same government. Same behaviour," said in a tweet.

(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.)
Terming the Uttar Pradesh control bill as a part of the BJP's "election propaganda" ahead of assembly polls, local (SP) MP Shaqfiqur Rahman Barq has hit out at the state government, saying it should ban marriages if it wants to stabilise rising

The Uttar Pradesh Policy 2021-2030 was unveiled on World Population Day on Sunday by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to steady the population in the state and reduce maternal and infant deaths in a time-bound manner while bringing down the gross fertility rate among women to 2.1 by 2026 and to 1.9 by 2030.

"It (bill) is an electoral propaganda. They (BJP) look at everything from a political angle. They just want to win elections and do not take any decision in the interest of the people. Since UP assembly election is coming, they are concerned about it. By the grace of Allah, we will not let them win," Barq said here on Sunday evening.

"It would be better to stop marriages. No one should be allowed to get married for the next 20 years and no children will be born," he added.

Those who will challenge the law of Allah will get finished, the MP from Sambhal said further.

Barq said while China was encouraging its citizens to have more children, India was doing the opposite which might backfire in case of a war.

"A lot of births are taking place in China and you (India) are stopping people from having children. A time will come when we will be very few. If there is a war, then from where will you bring people to fight," Barq said.

He also alleged that the recently held block panchayat chief polls were rigged by the ruling

According to the draft of the population control bill put up on the state law commission website, people having more than two children in the state will be debarred from contesting local bodies polls, applying for government jobs or receiving any kind of subsidy.

The draft bill, for which suggestions have been invited from the public till July 19, also prohibits promotions in government jobs for such people, while offering incentives to those limiting their children to two.

The draft says it is necessary to control and stabilise the population of the state for the promotion of sustainable development with more equitable distribution.

If enacted, the provisions of the proposed legislation titled The Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilisation and Welfare) Bill, 2021 will come into force after one year from the date of publication in the Gazette, according to the Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission (UPSLC) website.

Assam, which is another BJP-ruled state, too has announced that it will gradually implement a two-child policy for availing benefits under specific schemes funded by the state.

(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.)
We have received advance payment during the period July 1-November 15, 2017, for the export of certain goods. The goods were exported one year after receiving advance payment. Are we liable to pay GST on that?

Notification No. 66/2017, dated November 15, 2017, exempts all suppliers of goods who have not opted for composition scheme, from payment of GST on advances received. For such categories of taxpayers, time of supply would arise only at the time of issue of invoice, and they need to discharge GST liability accordingly. of goods are, however, zero-rated.

We have placed a purchase order for the import of goods but the foreign supplier wants payment to be made to a third party. Is it permissible under FEMA?

Para B.7 of RBI Master Direction no.17/2016-17 dated January 1, 2016 (as amended) says that AD category I banks are allowed to make payments to a third party for import of goods, subject to the condition that firm irrevocable purchase order/tripartite agreement should be in place. However, this requirement may not be insisted upon in a case where documentary evidence for circumstances leading to third party payments/name of the third party being mentioned in the irrevocable order/invoice has been produced.

Secondly, the AD bank should be satisfied with the bonafide of the transactions and should consider the Financial Action Task Force Statement before handling the transactions. Third, the invoice should contain a narration that the related payment has to be made to the (named) third party. Fourth, the bill of entry should mention the name of the shipper and the narration that the related payment has to be made to the (named) third party. Finally, the importer should comply with the related extant instructions relating to imports, including those on advance payment being made for the import of goods.

We imported some goods from Malaysia and found them defective. The supplier has agreed to take them back and give replacements. But Customs are not allowing the return, saying that the defective goods were deliberately imported and want to issue a show-cause notice. What process must be followed for the smooth return of goods and to obtain a replacement?

CBEC Circular no.100/2003-Cus dated November 28, 2003, refers to the instructions Boards letter F. No. 18/1/59-Cus. (CRC), dated June 8, 1959, stating that where the importer wants to re-export the goods shipped contrary to his instructions of the importer, the Commissioner may use his discretion and release the goods on payment of a nominal penalty, or without any penalty, as he deems fit, provided that he is satisfied that the goods have been imported as a result of a bona fide mistake and contrary to the importers instructions.

So, you may plead before the Customs that you did not intend to import defective goods and that the supplier has made a mistake for which he is willing to atone by taking back the goods and giving replacements. Much depends on your credibility.




Consumer tech brand on Monday said that its first true wireless -- ear (1) -- will cost Rs 5,999 in India, as the wireless hearable market goes through a transformation in the country.

Available on Flipkart after its official launch globally on July 27, ear (1) features state-of-the-art Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) which uses three high definition mics to bring music, films and podcasts into sharp focus.

The London-based brand, headed by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, earlier announced the global price of the at 99 pounds.

"India is an important market for Nothing and and in partnership with Flipkart, we look forward to introducing ear (1) to Indian users at the same time as our global launch," said Manu Sharma, Vice President and General Manager, Nothing India.

"Starting with ear (1), our products will be uniquely designed and easy to use. Above all, they will be devices we are proud to use ourselves and recommend to our friends and family," he said in a statement.

According to the company, the true wireless will combine raw beauty and precise engineering for a pure sound experience.

"We believe the earphones market is begging for differentiation, space where we can elevate design and deliver value from day one," according to Sharma.

The company had said that Flipkart will play an integral role in building Nothing's presence in India and launching its highly-anticipated true wireless earbuds.

The earbuds will combine notes of transparency, iconic form and refined functionality.

--IANS

na/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ardonagh Group, a top 20 global insurance broker and the UKs largest independent insurance broker, has announced it will open the Ardonagh Global Data and Risk Management Centre this month, bringing 60 new highly-skilled, data science and analysis roles to Mullingar.

The Data and Risk Management Centre will deliver data-driven insights to Ardonaghs clients worldwide, helping its 7,000+ colleagues offer tailored solutions from over 100 offices globally by providing a highly diversified range of financial services-related products and services across the full value chain.

Minister of State at the Department of Trade Enterprise & Employment Robert Troy said, "While we have had a difficult 18 months, todays significant announcement is a testament to the quality of talent and opportunities for companies investing in the Midlands. It is a positive endorsement for Mullingar and a real sign that brighter days are ahead. The Midlands is not only a great place to live, but also an excellent location for businesses to establish and thrive. I wish the Ardonagh Group every success in their expansion into Westmeath."

CEO of The Ardonagh Group, David Ross added, "I am delighted to announce the launch of the Ardonagh Global Data and Risk Management Centre and am particularly pleased it will be located in what is such a special place for me. Having grown up in this area I am deeply aware of the quality of the talent pool in the Midlands and I believe this initiative will make it one of the key areas globally for research into risk. The Groups broad understanding of our clients and their businesses is our key differentiator, and this Data and Risk Management Centre will help us design bespoke solutions that really answer their needs."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Electric Vehicle Car-Shopping Experience Varies by Brand: Pied Piper Omnichannel PSI for EVs Reports Chrysler Brand Ranked #1, Followed by BMW and Mini
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FILE - In this March 30, 2021, file photo, minors are shown inside a pod at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in Donna, Texas. A federal volunteer at the Biden administration's largest shelter for unaccompanied immigrant children says paramedics were called regularly during her the two weeks she worked there. She said panic attacks would occur often after some of the children were taken away to be reunited with their families, dashing the hopes of those left behind. The conditions described by the volunteer highlight the stress of children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border alone and now find themselves held at unlicensed mass-scale facilities waiting to reunite with relatives. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, Pool,File)
FILE - In this June 21, 2021 file photo, Bassem Awadallah, a former royal adviser, leaves a state security court in a vehicle after the first session of his closed-door trial, in Amman, Jordan. Awadallah, a Jordanian American, alleges he was tortured and fears for his life in Jordanian detention, Michael Sullivan, a U.S. lawyer said Sunday, July 11, 2021, on the eve of a verdict in the high-profile sedition trial linked to a rare public rift in the kingdom's ruling family. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh, File)
A blueprint shows the proposed site plan for a Jim Dandy convenience store and gas station on Lennoxville Road in Beaufort. (Contributed graphic)
Photo: The Canadian Press

Pfizer says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials Monday to discuss the drugmakers request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine as President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser acknowledged that "it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely that booster shots will be needed.

The company said it was scheduled to have the meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and other officials Monday, days after Pfizer asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months.

Pfizers Dr. Mikael Dolsten told The Associated Press last week that early data from the companys booster study suggests peoples antibody levels jump five- to 10-fold after a third dose, compared to their second dose months earlier  evidence it believes supports the need for a booster.

On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci didn't rule out the possibility but said it was too soon for the government to recommend another shot. He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA did the right thing last week by pushing back against Pfizer's assertion with their statement that they did not view booster shots as necessary at this time.

Fauci said clinical studies and laboratory data have yet to fully bear out the need for a booster to the current two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson regimen.

Right now, given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot, he said. That doesnt mean we stop there. ... There are studies being done now ongoing as we speak about looking at the feasibility about if and when we should be boosting people.

He said it was quite possible in the coming months as data evolves that the government may urge a booster based on such factors as age and underlying medical conditions. "Certainly it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely at some time, we will need a boost,'' Fauci said.

Monday's planned meeting between Pfizer and U.S. health officials was first reported by The Washington Post.

Currently only about 48% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Some parts of the country have far lower immunization rates, and in those places the delta variant is surging. Last week, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said thats leading to two truths  highly immunized swaths of America are getting back to normal while hospitalizations are rising in other places.

Fauci said it was inexplicable that some Americans are so resistant to getting a vaccine when scientific data show how effective it is in staving off COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, and he was dismayed by efforts to block making vaccinations more accessible, such as Biden's suggestion of door-to-door outreach.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., agreed Sunday that there is a vaccine resistance in Southern and rural states like his because you have that more conservative approach, skepticism about government."

Describing his efforts to boost vaccinations in his state, which is seeing rising infections, Hutchinson said no one wants an agent knocking on a door," but "we do want those that do not have access otherwise to make sure they know about it.

The grassroots component of the federal vaccination campaign has been in operation since April, when supplies of shots began outpacing demand. It was outlined and funded by Congress in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in March and overwhelmingly is carried out by local officials and private sector workers and volunteers.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., blasted opposition to vaccination efforts from some GOP lawmakers as absolute insanity." He said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California and others in the party need to speak out against these absolute clown politicians playing on your vaccine fears for their own selfish gain.

Fauci appeared on CNN's State of the Union, ABC's This Week and CBS' "Face the Nation"; Hutchinson spoke on ABC, and Kinzinger was on CNN.
Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Premier Jason Kenney rides in the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary, Alta., Friday, July 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he will advocate for the reopening of Canada's border the next time provincial leaders have a conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Speaking at the Calgary Stampede, Kenney says he raised the issue with Trudeau while he was visiting the city last week.

The premier says he wants to see border rules relaxed to allow foreign nationals who can prove they are fully vaccinated to be allowed into the country without having to quarantine.

Canada recently got rid of its 14-day quarantine rule for returning citizens and permanent residents who can show they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and tested negative.

The border remains shut to tourists and residents from other countries travelling for non-essential purposes.

The Canada-U.S. border is closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21, and Trudeau hasn't said whether that would be extended for another month.

Trudeau has said he knows people are impatient to see travel resume, but the country can't risk undoing its progress on fighting COVID-19 by opening up before enough people are vaccinated.

The federal government says until 75 per cent of Canada's population is fully vaccinated, border measures are the best way to stop the arrival of new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

"We have 800,000 Canadians who work in the travel and tourism industries. We need to get them back to work," Kenney said on Monday.
Photo: The Canadian Press Vials of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines sit empty on the counter at the Junction Chemist Pharmacy, in Toronto, Friday, June 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

The federal government announced Monday it will donate 17.7 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, and asked Canadians to give their own money to help poorer countries get needles into arms.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand said after talking to provinces, it was determined these COVID-19 doses were excess supply, as demand for this vaccine had been met.

She says the AstraZeneca doses to be donated were supposed to flow into Canada through an advanced purchase agreement and be produced in the United States.

Anand says the shots will be made available to lower-income countries through the global vaccine-sharing alliance COVAX. The timing is still being worked out.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says mRNA vaccines, such as the ones by Modernaand Pfizer-BioNTech, are preferred over the viral-vector vaccines produced by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, even for people who received AstraZeneca as a first dose.

Viral-vector vaccines are associated with a rare but sometimes fatal blood-clotting disorder, which was found to occur in one in 60,000 AstraZeneca recipients in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among the Canadians who got AstraZeneca for his first dose and Moderna for his second.

While at the G7 last month, Trudeau pledged Canada would give back 13 million doses it was set to receive through a contract with COVAX, on top of millions of dollars already set aside for the global vaccine effort.

Canada is on track to receive 68 million doses by the end of July, which would be enough to inoculate most Canadians.

At Monday's announcement, Anand says 44 million doses of Moderna and 51 million shots from Pfizer-BioNTech are expected to have arrived in the country by the end of September.

With a population of nearly 38 million people, Canada would need about 76 million shots of two-dose vaccines to make sure everyone is fully vaccinated.

Asked Monday about why the federal government hasn't marked any of its Moderna or Pfizer deliveries for donation given its volume of supply, Anand said these shots are still in high demand in Canada and things could stay that way.

"We are still watching the science evolve in this area in terms of the potential need for an additional third shot or boosters, and so we are making sure that we have the supply on hand of these vaccines to be able to serve the needs of Canadians in the short and the long term," she said.

"Any decision on the donation of doses needs to be made by the Public Health Agency of Canada in co-ordination with the provinces and territories."

It's unclear when, or whether, Canadians will need to get a third dose of vaccine.

Pfizer said recently it has seen a bit of a dip in antibodies in Israel six months after vaccination and intends to ask the U.S. and Europe to approve giving a booster shot.

A Pfizer Canada spokeswoman said it's too early to comment on whether the company will ask the same of Canada.

Very few people in this country would hit six months fully vaccinated until closer to the end of the year.

Health Canada and the federal public health agency issued a joint statement last Friday saying the duration of protection from COVID-19 vaccines is still being studied but current data "shows good immunity in most people out to 9 months after receiving 2 vaccine doses."

The statement said the issue of needing boosters is top of mind for both organizations, and decisions will be based on scientific evidence. In April, Canada announced a deal to get 35 million booster shots from Pfizer in 2022, and another 30 million in 2023, in case they are needed.

"We have ordered way more vaccines than we will need, and we shouldnt leave the excess in warehouses while most of the world does not have enough," said Stuart Hickox, Canadian director for ONE, an international advocacy organization aimed at fighting extreme poverty, in a statement on Monday.

"Canada will have at least another 20 (million) excess vaccines by the end of September, with tens of millions more by the end of the year. These need to be sent to COVAX as soon as they become available."

To keep up with its commitment to help vaccinate less wealthy nations, theLiberal government also announced Monday it would match donations Canadians make to a UNICEF fundraising campaign called "Give a Vax," for a contribution of up to $10 million.

David Morley, the head of UNICEF Canada, says the money raised will pay for transportation and some of the other logistical needs required to deliver vaccines to people.

International Development Minister Karina Gould says she's heard Canadians want to help be part of the global COVID-19 vaccination effort.

"As Canadians are hearing more about the Delta and the Lambda variant, recognizing that if the pandemic continues to rage in other parts of the world, that's more opportunities for variants and mutations to emerge," she said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Newberry plant sets two new records

12 July 2021

Argos has announced that in June 2021 its Newberry plant in Florida, USA, smashed two previous records. It produced 140,421t, beating the previous record set in June 2019 (127,800t) by nearly 20,000t.

Because of this increase in production, the plant was also able to ship 128,728t of product to customers and its ready-mix plants, beating the previous record of 120,900t, set in 2019, by more than 7000t.



"Everyone at the Newberry plant is excited and proud to see these records being set. With the current sales climate, we are able to show the untapped potential Newberry has. This sustained sales commitment would not be possible if it wasnt for all the hard work and dedication of everyone at the plant as well as from Argos plant support staff and Argos Corporate. But with the new record set, we strive to set new records going forward," affirmed Daniel Ball, production manager at the Newberry cement plant.

Published under
Turkey sees 24% in exports in 4M21

ICR Newsroom By 12 July 2021

Turkeys cement export values increased by 23.5 per cent to US$1.41bn in the January-April 2021 period when compared to the equivalent period in 2020, according to the Turkish Ministry of Trade. Exports to Georgia were up 2.3 per cent to US$13.1m in the four-month period.



In April 2021 Turkey exported cement with a value over US$402.5m to global markets, representing an advance of 74 per cent YoY.

Published under
Chatham, VA (24531)

Today

Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing this afternoon. High 88F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
A two-day joint undercover operation by special agents with the TBI Human Trafficking Unit, the Spring Hill Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the office of 22nd District Attorney General Brent Cooper has resulted in the arrest of 18 men accused of seeking illicit sex from minors.

Over a two-day period beginning Thursday, as part of an undercover investigation aimed at addressing human trafficking in Middle Tennessee, authorities placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex cases. The focus of the operation was to identify and recover potential victims of human trafficking as well as identify those seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.

As a result of the operation, authorities arrested 18 men and booked them into the Maury County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing, with additional charges pending.

Georgie George (DOB 11/26/95), Clarksville, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Marvin Sparkman (DOB 1/26/92), Columbia, TN: Solicitation of a Minor

Steven McCanless (DOB 1/16/95), Culleoka, TN: Solicitation of a Minor

Ketankumar Patel (DOB 4/5/68), Columbia, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Ivan Ashley (DOB 8/20/71), Dania, FL: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

David Christopher May (DOB 9/25/94), Fayetteville, TN: Solicitation of a Minor

Andrew Myung Kim (DOB 12/2/82), Franklin, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Bryce Lawson (DOB 7/2/97), Charles, LA: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Jeremiah McSpaddin (DOB 1/31/85), Spring Hill, TN: Solicitation of a Minor

Brian Mitchell (DOB 8/5/70), Thompsons Station, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Nabi Rahman (DOB 3/5/88), Nashville, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Patrick Harris (DOB 4/9/89), Murfreesboro, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Matthew Brewer (DOB 2/27/74), Centerville, TN: Solicitation of a Minor

Suleiman Musa Osman (DOB 1/1/83), Chattanooga, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Juan Gabriel Hernandez Eufracio (DOB 8/29/84), Huntsville, AL: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Pablo Godines Cervantes (DOB 5/17/70), Columbia, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Haojie Wang (DOB 2/25/89), Brentwood, TN: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor

Luis Diaz-Mendez (DOB 4/17/94), Baton Rouge, LA: Patronizing Prostitution from a Minor



The operation also had the support of End Slavery Tennessee, which works to provide services to survivors of human trafficking.

Information about human trafficking and TBIs efforts to address this type of crime can be found online at www.ITHasToStop.com.
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust awarded the Chattanooga Public Library $5,000 to support their food literacy program. This contribution will be used to provide cooking lessons to tweens and teens through the Librarys Flavor Lab.

This has been a difficult and unique time for organizations to thrive, said Carmen Davis, the Trusts Program Management coordinator. We are grateful that we are still in a position to support the Librarys mission to provide youth with food literacy skills.

The Library launched its Flavor Lab in 2017, with a fully contained mobile kitchen from the Charlie Cart Project. The Flavor Lab program is one of the most popular ones offered to children ages 10-17. Over the years, the Librarys staff have taught area youth how to create everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to sushi.

Chattanooga Public Library is so fortunate to partner with BCBST Community Trust, said Michael Watson, Library Development director. Food literacy is so important to help maintain healthy lifestyles. This funding will ensure the program's continuation.

The Chattanooga Public Library is currently open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., offering digital programs at chattlibrary.tv, summer learning at mprl.chattlibrary.org, and in-person pop-up events. Expanded hours and additional in-person programs will be coming soon. For announcements and more information, visit chattlibrary.org.
For months, parents have raised the alarm about the lefts effort to brainwash our children by injecting Critical Race Theory into public school curriculum. One Tennessee mom recently warned Williamson County parents that her seven-year-old daughter came home from school saying, Im ashamed that Im White. Her daughter asked, Is there something wrong with me? Why am I hated so much? This reaction is reason enough to start asking questions, but those who have yet to investigate the tenets of CRT will be shocked to know that this childs distress was the desired result of her lessons. If left unchecked, this mental and emotional trauma will worm its way into every classroom in America.

Although promoted as anti-racist civil rights education, CRT actively encourages discrimination. At its core, CRT segregates people into two main categories: oppressors or victims. The calculation is based solely on skin color. The tenets of CRT stretch far beyond the humanities. In some classrooms in Oregon and California, students operate under the understanding that finding the right answer in mathematics is racist. Right and wrong answers are deemed a product of white supremacy. The woke gymnastics required to reach such a conclusion would be amusing if this destructive ideology didnt pose such a danger to education in America.

We can all agree that racism and discrimination are wrong and have no place in the classroombut neither does racially motivated propaganda. In the U.S. Senate, Ive been leading the charge for true equality in the classroom. I led legislation prohibiting federal funding of the 1619 Project, which reframes American history in terms of racial conflict and oppression. I also joined my Senate colleagues in demanding that Critical Race Theorys prejudicial influence be kept out of K12 classrooms.

Many on the left have tried to dismiss this as a political non-issue, but here in Tennessee, we see opposition to CRT is coming straight from parents and educators. In response, the Tennessee State Legislature passed and Governor Bill Lee signed a bill banning CRT in schools. Still, we must continue to stand firm at a local level. Children should not be forced to endure this latest round of revisionist history, but it will take more than letters and legislation to keep CRT out of the classroom. Parents need to keep showing up to school board meetings and reporting discriminatory conduct.

The last thing educators should be doing is encouraging our children to be ashamed of the color of their skin. That same Williamson County mom who warned about the dangers of CRT was left with no choice but to put her seven-year-old in therapy. Why? She is depressed. She doesnt want to go to school. While parents struggle to help their children manage the mental and emotional damage inflicted by this dangerous ideology, the left will continue to re-write our education system to fit their woke agendaand they wont stop until CRT is in every classroom in America. I will gladly stand with Tennessee parents to demand an end to this latest, unhinged attempt to brainwash our nations children.



Senator Marsha Blackburn
Over the weekend, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee traveled to the U.S. Southern Border to meet with Tennessee National Guards troops and receive briefings regarding "the skyrocketing rate of illegal crossings and criminal activities."

Tennesseans serve on the front lines of the Southern border crisis, and it has rapidly escalated to not just a matter of public safety but a threat to our countrys national security, said Governor Lee. Americans owe these troops a debt of gratitude for their service, and the federal government owes Americans a plan to restore both our border security and our standing as a global power.

Tennessee Adjutant General Jeff Holmes accompanied Governor Lee and First Lady Maria Lee to spend time with troops and thank them for their service. Governor Lee and Major General Holmes also participated in a series of briefings regarding illegal crossings with origins from 56 countries, drug seizures and other exploitive crimes like human trafficking.

What I saw at the border is unsustainable for our country and should be number one priority for national security, said Governor Lee. Tennessee will always step up and serve, but we need immediate reinforcements, like a finished border wall, to ensure our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to do their job.

Tennessee National Guard serve at the Southern border in the following support capacities:

269th Military Police Company  Routinely augments law enforcement by conducting training and providing a presence along the border

913th Engineer Company  Capabilities lend to myriad road building efforts and border wall projects

2-151 Aviation Battalion  Provides an aerial platform to assist Customs and Border Protection with a number of their logistical and operational priorities
An out of town judge said he will rule within 90 cases on a motion seeking a new trial in a homicide case on grounds involving an alleged affair by 10th District District Attorney Steve Crump. DA Crump has denied the allegation.

Judge Don Ash heard several hours of testimony on Monday in Cleveland in the case of Miranda Cheatham, who is serving 18 years in prison for the Halloween 2016 murder of her husband, James "Tooter" Cheatham.

Chattanooga attorneys Bill Speek and Jonathan Turner said the allegation that the DA was having an affair with the half-sister of Tooter Cheatham, Dana Cheatham Pritchard, caused him to have a conflict of interest.

The judge heard a 34-minute tape that was secretly recorded by John Loach, half-brother of "Tooter" Cheatham. It was a conversation between Mr. Loach and Ms. Pritchard in which he started out by saying he had "pictures" of her and DA Crump together.

Ms. Pritchard proceeded to say on the tape that she did have an affair with DA Crump when he was her lawyer prior to him being elected district attorney. She also claimed to have threatened to go to DA Crump's wife if he did not proceed with prosecution of the murder case.

She also said she had performed massages for DA Crump and members of his family.

Questioned by special prosecutor John Zimmerman, Ms. Pritchard said she had spoken "lies" on the tape, saying that Mr. Loach had a gun with him and she was scared. She said, "I was saying whatever he wanted to hear."

She said any time she had been with DA Crump one of her family members or a friend had been with her.

She said at the time of the tape she was drinking alcohol and that was a bad combination with several strong medications she was on.

Ms. Pritchard said she has never spoken to Mr. Loach since that day. She said she blocked him from all her social media.

Despite her denials of statements on the tape, when questioned by attorney Speek twice, Ms. Pritchard said she had had a sexual relationship with DA Crump.

The defense called Caryn Bledsoe who on the tape John Loach had claimed was also having an affair with the district attorney. Attorney Speek asked her if she had a sexual relationship with DA Crump. Ms. Bledsoe was shaking her head no when the special prosecutor interjected, "This is getting Jerry Springerish." The witness was then allowed to step down.

Cleveland detective Daniel Gibbs said he took the case against Miranda Cheatham to the Grand Jury on June 21, 2017. He said he "learned later how popular she was in the community."

The detective said he found while interviewing family members that some favored her and others the victim. He said the couple's children sided with their mother.

He said that Mr. Loach dropped off the tape in an unannounced visit on May 31, 2017 - just before the indictment. He said it was a secret recording that contained allegations of an affair against DA Crump.

Detective Gibbs said he passed the tape "up the chain of command" in the Cleveland Police Department and, after it got to Chief Mark Gibson, the DA's office was called.

He said he did not listen to the tape, saying it "had nothing to do with the homicide." He said he did listen to it after the trial after a Cleveland attorney, who had been a political foe of DA Crump, asked for it, as did attorney Speek. It was released to attorney Speek under an Open Records request.

Detective Gibbs said he also told Coty Wamp, the lead prosecutor on the case, about the existence of the tape. He said, "She did not know what I was talking about. I told her what Loach told me. She was surprised."

He said a second copy of the tape was then made. And he said, "The chief (Gibson) told me that Crump was on the way over." He said this was two days before the case went to the Grand Jury.

Ms. Wamp, who is now special counsel to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, said she was made lead prosecutor on the case just three months before it went to trial. She said she was told about the tape, but said it had nothing to do with the homicide case.

She said whether to pass it on to the defense was a decision made before she became lead prosecutor.

John Loach said he was angry at DA Crump, believing he was stalling on prosecution of the murder of his half-brother.

He said he had gotten a call from then-Commissioner Jeff Yarber, telling him, " 'Hoop', you better do something. Caryn Bledsoe, Crump and them are trying to get her probation."

He also admitted, "I didn't have no pictures (of Ms. Pritchard and DA Crump). I was just trying to get her to talk to me."

The entire hearing was livestreamed by Mix 104.1 in Cleveland:

First Half in morning: https://fb.watch/v/2VQa1EVUg/

Second Half in afternoon: https://fb.watch/v/1UwK_upoe/
One of the biggest questions that Stranger Things fans have ahead of its fourth season is what happened to Jim Hopper. The beloved ex-chief of police appeared to die in the Stranger Things Season 3 finale, but a teaser image for the show has revealed that hes alive, imprisoned far away from Hawkins. In an interview, David Harbour, who plays Jim Hopper, offered some hints about what to expect from his character next.

David Harbour on the red carpet at an event for Stranger Things in June 2019 in Santa Monica, California | Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

Jim Hopper will face dangers both humanand other in Stranger Things Season 4

Stranger Things was last on in July 2019, ending with Jim Hopper sacrificing himself to save Hawkins. Caught between the opening to the Upside Down and the machine needed to close it, he told Joyce Byers to just start it. It looked like he died in the blast, but we now know he survived.

Somehow, Hopper was transported to Kamchatka, Russia. Hes being held in a jail where prisoners are forced to do hard labor before being served to a Demogorgon.

Its not all good news for our American, show creators Matt and Ross Duffer previously said in a statement shared with Deadline. He is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both humanand other.

RELATED: Stranger Things: Sadie Sink Says the Stakes Are Higher Than Ever in Season 4

David Harbour calls season 4 epic

Interviewing with USA Today, Harbour was asked if he could offer up any details about the upcoming season. He described it as enjoyable, mainly because viewers will see it expand beyond Hawkins and get to learn more about Hopper.

I love it. This season is so enjoyable, its epic in a scope that weve never had, he said. Enjoyable is a strange word: It wasnt easy. It was a lot of cold nights, were out on locations in crazy snowy environments sometimes and in actual prisons (in Lithuania).

And also even where Hopper is in his life, hes in a dark, fragile, vulnerable place, to the point where he has a shaved head and hes like a baby almost, Harbour continued. Hes discovering himself and what he is, and we also are going to see a lot of dark backstory from Hopper that weve only hinted at. Its not happy enjoyable, but enjoyable in terms of eating a hearty meal.

Harbour also said in an earlier interview with Collider that season 4 would set up the ending, but of course, he couldnt really talk about it.

RELATED: Stranger Things: David Harbour Might Be Dropping Clues About Season 4 on Instagram

When does Stranger Things 4 come out?

Sadly, theres still no official release date for Stranger Things Season 4. The show remains in production, at the time of this writing. But Harbour said in a June appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that it would be finished around November. With that in mind, it seems likely that Stranger Things will return to Netflix in 2022. Hopefully.
Ree Drummond is one of the most recognizable faces from the Food Network as the star of The Pioneer Woman. The television personality is loved by millions across America for her love of cooking heart-warming meals for her family. Drummond has a massive following online and her fans are always looking for new ways to mix things up in the kitchen. The star recently shared a recipe for making a variety of pinwheels and fans were quick to react and add their own twist to the appetizer.

Ree Drummond | Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Ree Drummond makes flavorful pinwheels

Food Network shared Drummonds recipe to make flavorful pinwheels on their official Instagram account. The TV star made three types of pinwheels: veggie, meaty, and spicy. Each of the pinwheels had in common a base spread which consisted of cream cheese and pesto. Drummond also included spinach and used whole wheat and jalapeno-Cheddar tortilla.

On the veggie pinwheel, Drummond added artichokes, green olives, and sun-dried tomatoes over the spinach. For the meaty pinwheels, the Food Network personality added cheese, pepperoni, salami, and capicola. Finally, on the spicy pinwheels, she added arugula, sliced peppers, and chopped cherry peppers between the tortillas.

After rolling up the tortillas tightly and wrapped them up in plastic, she refrigerated for at least 2 hours and could be there for up to 12 hours. Once refrigerated, Drummond unwrapped and cut each roll into 1-inch segments.

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman Star Ree Drummond Cant Get Enough of Gross Video Shared by RHOC Alum Tamra Judge

Fans have their own take on Ree Drummonds pinwheels

As one of the most beloved stars on the Food Network, Drummonds recipe created a lot of conversation. Fans were quick to react in the comments applauding the star for her take on pinwheels. Some of the cooks that follow the cable network on Instagram also made suggestions with their own twist to the recipe.

I think she is awesome. She is down to Earth and makes meals that [dont] cost a fortune, a fan replied.

They look easy, yet nice enough for entertaining. Will have to try, a follower added.

They sell these at Walmart but I prefer to make my own, an Instagram user noted. I do buy them sometimes if Im out and hungry. Cheaper and better for you than fast food. I love the pepperoni, salami, cheese, and lettuce in a tortilla. The roast beef and cheese [are] good too. So many options.

Thanks for sharing this easy delightful, eye-appealing appetizer, another fan said. I made them with dry ranch dressing mixed into the cream cheese, [a] small can of chopped green chilies, chives, baby shrimp, and black olives! Its fun changing up the wrap.

You can add avocado to the veggie wrap, another follower suggested.

I just made pinwheels yesterday, another Instagram user mentioned. I added ranch seasoning, green onion, and a few diced Japan to my cream cheese and rolled it [with] smoked turkey.

Ree Drumond | Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman: Ree Drummonds No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars Are an Easy Summer Treat

When is The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network?

The Pioneer Woman started airing on the Food Network in 2011 and has aired for 15 seasons. As of April 2021, the show has had over 230 episodes produced. The idea for the show came about Drummonds blog of the same name and chronicles her life on the ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Every episode focuses on Drummond making food for her family as they work on the ranch.

Food Network airs the show on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. and the whole library of episodes are available to subscribers of the discovery+ streaming service.
21 state attorneys general push back on Bidens LGBT guidance, warn religious liberty is in peril

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A group of 21 state attorneys general have signed on to a letter to the Biden administration, denouncing recent efforts to expand LGBT policies in schools that they believe would circumvent religious liberty protections and free speech rights.

Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Education sent out guidance for states to implement the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Bostock v. Clayton County.

In the 6-3 ruling from June of last year, the Supreme Court majority concluded that federal Title VII civil rights law banning employment discrimination on the basis of sex applied to sexual orientation and gender identity.

However, the attorneys general sent a letter last week to President Joe Biden explaining that they took issue with the EEOC and Department of Education guidance, stating in part that the administration was misapplying the Bostock ruling.

The Court in Bostock narrowly addressed employment termination and explicitly refrained from addressing sex-segregated bathrooms, locker rooms, and dress codes, reads the letter.

Similarly, Bostock did not provide any basis for a claim that using biologically accurate pronouns could violate the law. To the contrary, the First Amendment protects the right to ascribe pronouns to others based on their sex.

The letter asserts that the EEOC guidance comes across as an effort to leverage the authority of the federal government to chill protected speech disfavored by your administration.

The EEOC guidance also appears to ignore two of three protections provided to religious employers, acknowledging the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) but nothing else, continued the attorneys general.

Bostock recognized that three religious liberty protections limit its scope: RFRA, Title VIIs express statutory exception for religious organizations, and the First Amendments protections of the employment relationship between a religious institution and its ministers.

The attorneys general letter went on to argue that the Education Departments Notice of Interpretation guidance from last month fares no better regarding Title IX interpretations.

The Notice of Interpretation is also substantively flawed. The Supreme Court expressly limited its decision in Bostock to Title VII, said the letter.

The Court emphasized that Title IX and other federal or state laws that prohibit sex discrimination were not before the Court and the Court did not prejudge any such question under those statutes.

The letter concluded that, by approving the guidance by EEOC and the Department of Education, the Biden administration harms the rule of law and undermines the legitimacy of these executive agencies.

The letter was championed by Tennessee Atty. Gen. Herbert H. Slatery III, and included among its cosigners the attorneys general representing the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and West Virginia.

Federal agencies do not have the authority to unilaterally change laws. That is the exclusive prerogative of Congress, said Slatery in a statement released last Wednesday.

Actions like these exclude the voices, votes and participation of the people, and their representatives, which is neither right nor constitutional.

On June 15, the EEOC announced that it was providing new resources to promote LGBT policies or "LGBT anti-discrimination" in employment in response to the Bostock decision from last year.

These included consolidating resources to explain the extent and scope of the decision and how the Biden administration believes it should be implemented by state governments, schools, private corporations and religious organizations regarding claims of employment discrimination.

All people, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, deserve an opportunity to work in an environment free from harassment or other discrimination, said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows in a statement that was part of the June announcement.

The new information will make it easier for people to understand their rights and responsibilities related to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Thousands of Cubans stage largest protest against communist dictatorship in decades

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The people of Cuba on Sunday demonstrated their anger against the communist government in what is said to be the largest protest in decades amid shortages of medicine and food during the pandemic.

Protests were held in cities around the Caribbean island country, including in San Antonio de los Banos, Palma Soriano and Havana, according to reports.

It is the most massive popular demonstration to protest the government that we have experienced in Cuba since 59, the year Fidel Castro took power, Cuban activist Carolina Barrero was quoted as telling The New York Times.

She called the protests spontaneous, frontal and forceful.

The slogans people shouted included "Yes we can!" and Freedom, The Washington Post reported. Videos also emerged on social media.

Cuba has been a one-party state under the Communist Party of Cuba since the late dictator Fidel Castro overthrew the United States-supported dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. In 2008, Castros brother Raul Castro was elected president, followed by Miguel Diaz-Canel in 2019.

International travel restrictions and monthslong COVID-19 lockdown within the country have caused an economic crisis in Cuba.

Hours after the protests erupted, President Diaz-Canel addressed the nation on national television, urging government supporters to confront the protesters on the streets. He also accused the U.S. of causing the crisis in Cuba by imposing sanctions.

Public officials from Florida, where many Cuban migrants and refugees live, backed the Cuban peoples protest.

Florida supports the people of Cuba as they take to the streets against the tyrannical regime in Havana, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on Twitter.

The Cuban dictatorship has repressed the people of Cuba for decades & is now trying to silence those who have the courage to speak out against its disastrous policies."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a Cuban-American, warned Cuba was likely to impose an information crackdown on its people.

The incompetent communist party of #Cuba it cannot feed the people or protect them from the virus. Now the military must defend the people, not the communist party, he tweeted.

Rubio also said he would request President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to ask the members of the Cuban army not to shoot at their people.

The Cuban government amended its Constitution in 1992, declaring Cuba a secular state instead of an atheist state, partially allowing religious activities. Since then, the percentage of the countrys population that identifies as Christian has grown. However, the communist regime of Cuba persecutes Christians. A new constitution was adopted in 2019, which also lists the country as a secular state.

According to the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, about 59% of Cubans are Christian. Cuban Christians face constant government surveillance and infiltration even though the church is growing in the island country.

In 2019, Cuba barred evangelical leaders from traveling to Washington, D.C., to talk about the human rights situation during the U.S. State Department's ministerial on international religious freedom.



In 2019 and 2020, the State Department placed Cuba on its special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom.

In a March 2020 report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom detailed how Cuban authorities manipulated the legal system to wage persistent harassment against religious leaders. The panel also voiced concerns over the denial of religious freedom for human rights activists and journalists.
Nigeria: Christian schools ordered to close amid spate of kidnappings

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After more than 140 students were abducted from a Christian boarding school in the Kaduna state in northwestern Nigeria, authorities have ordered the closure of schools in the area, identifying them as vulnerable.

The head of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority sent a letter last week to 13 schools in the state, most of which are run by Christian groups. The letter ordered the schools to halt all classes temporarily, the United Kingdom-based nonprofit Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports.

The letter stated that the decision to close the schools was made at a meeting with the National Association of proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and some key stakeholders.

Among the schools identified for closure are Deeper Life Academy in Maraban Rido, Evangelical Church Winning All Secondary School in Ungwar Maje, St. Peters Minor Seminary in Katari and Bethel Baptist High School, which was the latest target.

Kaduna state has become an epicenter for abductions in Nigeria, where four kidnapping incidents took place within 24 hours last week.

Last Monday, the day senior students were scheduled to take their final exams at Bethel Baptist High School in the Chikun local government area, armed assailants barged into the compound and abducted at least 140 of them.

The head of Kaduna's Baptist conference said at least 28 students had been reunited with their families. A teacher has also reportedly been rescued while the search continues for remaining hostages.

The abductors promised the parents that their children would not starve if they provided rice, beans, palm oil, salt and stock cubes. They said a ransom demand would follow, Reuters reported.

Video footage released by Christian Solidarity Worldwide shows distressed mothers and fathers crying out to God and praying on the school grounds for the release of their children.

Terrorist groups with a foothold in the region, like Boko Haram, have carried out mass kidnappings in recent years, including kidnapping over 200 girls from a school in Chibok in 2014.

Dede Laugesen, the executive director of Save the Persecuted Christians, told The Christian Post in a previous interview that terrorists will often kidnap boys and brainwash them to become jihadis.

Kidnappings are also carried out by other criminals seeking ransom payment.

After Last Mondays abduction incident, Seun Bakare of Amnesty International told Voice of America that the dropout rate is already high due to the dangers of going to school.

We risk the loss of a generation if these attacks on schools and attacks on education continue, Bakare was quoted as saying. It is so shameful that on one hand, bandits and Boko Haram are attacking children and their right to education, on the other hand, the governments only response is to shut down schools. The government's response is also an attack on education and this is completely unacceptable.

Last Mondays abduction was the 10th mass kidnapping in northwest Nigeria since December, according to Reuters.

Many Nigerians have raised concerns about what they perceive as the governments inaction in holding terrorists accountable for the rising number of attacks and kidnappings.

In an earlier interview with CP, Emeka Umeagbalai of the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, said kidnappings of Christians happen for various reasons.

Some terrorists, like Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province and radical Fulani militants are motivated by money while others are motivated by Islamic radicalism.

Security analysts say kidnapping for ransom is becoming a lucrative industry in Nigeria. Weapons are becoming readily available to militants in Nigeria thanks to war-torn Libya.

Christian persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA ranks Nigeria No. 9 on its 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. Nigeria is also recognized as a "country of particular concern" by the U.S. State Department for tolerating or engaging in severe violations of religious freedom.
Retired general reacts to US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, raises concerns for women

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Army Gen. Scott Miller, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, stepped down from his post in Kabul on Monday, another sign of the military's departure from the country after nearly 20 years. Many foreign policy experts have raised concerns, however, about the threat of the Taliban's expansion and what the future for Afghan women will look like if the government falls.

When President Joe Biden announced his plans to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan, a move former President Donald Trump also planned to make, foreign policy experts and top military commanders warned the decision to pull out and not leave 2,500 soldiers could compromise the country's security.

Biden initially planned to remove all troops from Afghanistan by Sep. 11, the 20-year anniversary of 9/11, but he said on Thursday that all U.S. troops should be withdrawn by Aug. 31, minus the number of soldiers needed to secure the U.S. Embassy.

Biden said the Afghan people will have to decide their own future instead of relying on the U.S., which has aided the government for nearly two decades, Reuters reported.

As U.S. troops vacate the region, the Taliban has been posting propaganda videos, one of which shows its men stationed at a U.S.-built border crossing between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The Muslim insurgent group also claims it's now occupying more territory than the Afghan government, led by President Ashraf Ghani.

A Taliban official recently said that "85% of the territory of Afghanistan has come under the control of the Taliban," according to Reuters. Others have estimated that the Taliban now has control of one-third of all districts in the country, and that number could increase if Afghan security forces continue to surrender without putting up a fight.

Last month, U.S. intelligence agencies revised their prospects for the country, saying it's possible the Afghan government could fall to the Taliban as early as six months after U.S. troops leave.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry Boykin, one of the original members of the U.S. Army's Delta Force, said the U.S. presence in Afghanistan is essential to keep the Taliban in check and protect women.

He does not, however, believe the U.S. should maintain a presence of combat troops.

I believe we should have pulled our front-line combat troops out right after Osama bin Laden was killed [who was killed in 2011] , said Boykin, who's also the former commander of the Army's Green Berets and executive vice president of the Family Research Council.

So I think that what we should be doing now is rather than pulling everybody out is keeping a robust military advisory group to train and work with the Afghans. A security apparatus to protect the embassy and a multi-agency intelligence capability to provide us with early warning if there is going to be another attack coming out of that part of the world.

With the absence of a substantial U.S. military presence, Boykin, like former President George W. Bush, said he expects to see the Taliban regain control of virtually the whole country.

So what does that mean for the people? It means theyre going to go back to Sharia, Islamic law, he stressed. It means theyre going to discriminate against women. Theyre not going to let any more women be educated even though they have made a pledge that they would treat women well, according to their laws and customs.

While women continue to have limited rights in Afghanistan, the presence of U.S. and allied troops since 2001 has enabled a generation of women" to obtain an education and have successful careers.

It wont come immediately, but it will come when we lose our focus on Afghanistan and the rest of the world is focused on something else, he told CP on Friday. Youre going to see those same laws that were in place in 2001, youre going to see those same laws re-implemented, and its going to be very bad for women.

Boykin does, however, believe there will be more pushback on the Taliban this time since more women have been educated in the last two decades.

The good news is, because of the 20 years weve been there, weve got a generation of women that have been educated in Afghanistan because of the U.S. presence, because we built schools, because we insisted on allowing them to be educated. And Ill tell you, I believe thats a force the Taliban has probably not thought about. But I think this is a force thats going to be a major obstacle for the Taliban , he explained.

Even though Afghan women are not liberated in the same sense as women living in the U.S. and other Western countries, the fact that they now have more rights will prove to be a major obstacle to the Taliban, he reiterated.

I think they now feel that they have more power because theyre educated women, so thats a positive in this whole thing, he continued. I think that theyre going to have to reckon with them.

Afghan women face a reversal of the rights gained in the last two decades and restricted education once the U.S. decreases its presence and the Taliban expands control, some experts warn.

I think theres going to be more of a pushback, and I think ... the women are going to be the primary leaders of that, and I think the Talibans not prepared to deal with it, he said.  I think you are going to see the women pushing back and the Taliban not knowing exactly how to deal with it, other than just start killing people."

Afghan women have already taken to the streets with guns in northern and central Afghanistan to show defiance as the Taliban makes gains across the country, The Guardian reported.

The Taliban is known for enforcing restrictions on women's education, clothing and freedom of movement.

In a scathing op-ed in The Telegraph last week, Shabnam Nasimi, a British-Afghan social activist and director of Conservative Friends of Afghanistan, also highlighted the monumental gains many Afghan women have experienced due to the U.S. government's intervention.

"... Millions of girls are now in school. There are women at the top of politics  with a combined 28 percent representation in the House of the People and the House of the Elders, Afghanistan has a higher proportion of national parliament seats held by women than the United States. In the major cities, for the first time in decades, it has been possible for women to live largely independent lives."

But, Nasumi warned, all of the progress made by Afghan women could be lost if the Taliban regains control. "The West isnt just squandering 20 years of blood and treasure by leaving Afghanistan. Its betraying millions of ordinary Afghanistanis, particularly women, who had been led to believe they would have a better life following the toppling of the Taliban in 2001."

Bush also warned back in April that the U.S. troop withdrawal would empower the brutal Taliban and endanger girls' lives during an interview on NBC's "Today" show.

"A lot of gains have been made, and so I'm deeply concerned about the plight of women and girls in that country," Bush said at the time.

Boykin said it would be best to maintain a military advisory, a security force for the U.S. Embassy and a robust intelligence capability to have a perfect, sustainable U.S. presence there that could go on indefinitely.

Boykin also predicts that China will have a huge impact in Afghanistan following the U.S. departure.

China is already trying to fill the void of the United States pulling out of there, he added.
Trump wins CPAC Dallas straw poll by landslide, DeSantis comes in second

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Former President Donald Trump continues to be the GOP's presidential frontrunner for 2024 after winning a straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference hosted by the American Conservative Union in Dallas, Texas, over the weekend.

Trump held the lead with 70% of CPAC attendees saying they'd vote for him if the Republican Primary were held today and he was running.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida was the runner-up in the poll, lagging behind the former president with just 21% of the vote among attendees at CPAC in Dallas. However, the poll also asked attendees who they'd vote for if Trump wasn't in the race and DeSantis led the pack with 68% of the vote.

The 19 other contenders, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Vice President Mike Pence each received 1% or less of the vote.

With Trump hypothetically out of the race, the other contenders received more votes in the straw poll. Pompeo received 5%, Donald Trump Jr. and Cruz both garnered 4%, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem received 3%, and all other candidates had less than 2%.

The conference, which is usually held annually near Washington, D.C., is considered the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world." This year the event was also held in Orlando, Florida.

Trump performed better in the CPAC Dallas straw poll than CPAC Orlando back in February where he won less of a majority.

At CPAC Orlando, 55% of respondents said they would support Trump as the Republican nominee, 21% said they would support DeSantis, and 4% expressed support for Noem.

DeSantis is a former congressman and U.S. Navy JAG officer who has gained national attention for not mandating ongoing lockdown restrictions in response to COVID-19, thus keeping Florida's economy open.

His Democratic opponent in the 2019 gubernatorial race, Andrew Gillum, who many had expected to win the election, later came out as bisexual following a drug and sex scandal in which he was found passed out in a Miami Beach hotel room with two other men and three bags of methamphetamines months after he lost.

In a separate poll at the Western Conservative Summit last month, DeSantis received more votes than Trump. In that poll, 74% percent of attendants at the Centennial Institute, Colorado Christian Universitys public policy think tank, approved of DeSantis as a 2024 presidential candidate, while 71% said they preferred Trump over dozens of the other top contenders, both Republican and Democrat.

The other top candidates, in order of most approval to least, included Sen. Ted Cruz (43%), Mike Pompeo (39%) and Sen. Tim Scott (36%).

Trump, who has flirted with the possibility of another presidential run, addressed a friendly crowd at CPAC Dallas that chanted USA! USA! as he took the stage on Sunday.

He began his speech shortly after the results of the 2024 presidential election straw poll were released.

"With the help of everyone here today, we will defeat the radical left, the socialists, Marxists and the critical race theorists," Trump said in his 90-minute speech. "We will secure our borders, we will stop Left-wing cancel culture, we will restore free speech and free elections and we will make America great again."

His speech also hinted at a 2024 presidential run, addressed his recent lawsuits against Big Tech companies, 2020 election fraud, and attacked President Joe Biden and Republicans who have not been loyal to him.

"I love my Republicans, but we're really kicking their a--, too," Trump said, referring to party members who might run against him for president. But we love them. But we like it because they're friends of ours, right? So it's OK. I think we can say that affectionately."

Though Trump has not announced whether he will run in 2024, he told Fox News opinion host Sean Hannity he has already made up his mind about whether he's running or not.

On Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, Trump told host Maria Bartiromo: I do know my answer, but I cant reveal it yet, because that has to do with campaign financing and everything else.

Trump has also assured Republicans that he will not start a new political party.
Catholic parish can fire gay music director under ministerial exception, appeals court rules

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An appeals court has ruled that an Illinois Catholic parish and its archdiocese could legally fire a music director because he had entered a same-sex marriage, as his relationship conflicted with Church teaching.

In a 7-3 en bacn ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit decided last Friday to reject an employee harassment claim by Sandor Demkovich against St. Andrew the Apostle Parish and the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The decision vacated an earlier ruling by a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit and sent the case back to a lower court with instructions to dismiss the lawsuit against the archdiocese and parish.

Circuit Judge Michael Brennan, a Trump appointee, authored the majority opinion. He concluded that the ministerial exception for religious employers does apply to hostile work environment claims based on minister-on-minister harassment.

The contours of the ministerial relationship are best left to a religious organization, not a court. Within a religious organization, workplace conflict among ministers takes on a constitutionally protected character, wrote Brennan.

Just as a religious organization need not proffer a religious justification for termination claims, a religious organization need not do so for hostile work environment claims.

Brennan concluded that the court weighing in on the plaintiff's hostile work environment claims would be problematic since what one minister says in supervision of another could constitute stern counsel to some or tread into bigotry to others.

How is a court to determine discipline from discrimination? Or advice from animus? continued Brennan. These questions and others like them cannot be answered without infringing upon a religious organizations rights.

Circuit Judge David Hamilton authored a dissenting opinion, arguing that the majority had focused too little on counterarguments and reached a decision at the expense of the rights of employees.

In each of these types of cases, there is some risk of burdening religious liberty and entangling civil and religious affairs. But the First Amendment does not categorically defeat any of them, wrote Hamilton, an Obama appointee.

In this case, however, the majority adopts a broad exception for any hostile environment claims by ministerial employees. That produces an oddly arbitrary line.

Hamilton believes the majority opinion departs from a long practice of carefully balancing civil law and religious liberty.

Daniel Blomberg, senior counsel at Becket, a religious freedom legal nonprofit that joined the litigation on behalf of the Archdiocese, celebrated the ruling. He said that the court's ruling that the government can't interfere in the ministerial relationship between a church and worship leaders is "common sense."

Worship is sacred. Thats why worship leaders who select and perform elements of worship are ministers of the faith, conveying its teachings to the faithful, Blomberg said in a statement.

Thats also why the church  not the state  gets to make sure that its music ministers are directing its congregation in a way thats faithful to its beliefs.

In 2016, Demkovich filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese and the parish, accusing them of workplace harassment and unlawful firing when he was dismissed in 2014 for marrying a man.

Demkovich, who suffers from metabolic syndrome and other health issues, also accused the parish of creating a hostile work environment based on disability.

A district court judge ruled against his sexual orientation claim but allowed his disability claim to move forward. In August of last year, a three-judge panel ruled in favor of Demkovich for both the disability and sexual orientation claims.
Has the medical industry become a "den of thieves"?

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Few families in the U.S. can afford healthcare insurance. The average premiums for family coverage is about $15,000 per year, about the same as a mortgage in Oklahoma. Then why do most Americans have healthcare insurance? Because their employers pay up to two thirds of the cost.

Those without employer subsidized insurance must be content with catastrophic insurance and high deductibles. And by the way, healthcare insurance companies arent getting rich. Their average profit is 3%.

One way to reduce insurance premiums would be to cut medical costs because on average 85% of premiums go to pay doctor and hospital bills. A hospital in Oklahoma City has done that for decades and its chief opponents are other hospitals and doctors.

Dr. Keith Smith created the Surgery Center of Oklahoma with a team of 11 other doctors. In a recent speech, he provided an example of the savings his hospital offers:

One that sticks out is the patient from Georgia who required a urologic procedure, and who had received a quote of $40,000, just for the facility charge. A friend had told him about our facility and after he confirmed that our all-inclusive price was $4,000, he informed his urologist he was traveling to Oklahoma City. Having lost another patient to us the previous month, the urologist contacted the hospital and told them something had to be done, as their price quotes were causing him to lose patients. The hospital matched our price and the patient stayed in Georgia.

According to Smith, the Center began 24 years ago with a simple mission:

Our mission was the opposite mission of the hospitals where we had previously worked. Then, as now, hospitals are focused almost exclusively on revenue, many times inflicting surprise and bankrupting bills on their victims. As physicians working in these hospital systems, we were unwitting accessories to these crimes. We intended to operate our facility differently, intending to serve as both medical and financial advocates for our patients.

Canadians were the first patients to take advantage of the Centers value.

The most common story then as now for the Canadians was a patient waiting two years to see a gynecologist for a hysterectomy to stop their bleeding, bleeding usually so severe that intermittent transfusions were required. For $8,000, which covers the facility, surgeon, anesthesia, pathology, and an overnight stay at the surgery center, Canadians can end their nightmare.

The first question a Canadian asks when they call us is how long theyll have to wait. Our answer that there is no waiting time is met with disbelief. A Canadian friend of mine has told me the old joke that no Canadian is truly content unless standing in line.

In spite of the high quality of care and charges equal to 10% of what other hospitals charged, insurance companies would not contract with the Center. Established hospitals immediately began to attack them through state law makers they owned who created a trauma task force. Of course, the task force of politicians declared that their work benefited the health and welfare of Oklahomans, but its real purpose was to close physician owned hospitals such as the Surgical Center. Sympathetic Democrat politicians shut down the task force while Republican law makers continued to battle for their large campaign contributors in establishment hospitals.

Next, hospitals tried to pass a law requiring all hospitals to receive at least 30% of their revenue from Medicare, Medicaid, or uncompensated care. The Center accepted no money from governmental agencies so the law would close them. Smith said, Once again, a Democrat, Representative Fred Stanley, used his muscle to ensure that this legislation went nowhere.

In another attack, the hospitals persuaded the state department of health to demand all the medical records of patients the Center had treated. The Center refused and the department attempted to invalidate its operating license. Smith sued and forced the department to back down.

Attacks on the Surgical Center will continue as long as established hospitals can buy politicians. For example, the American Hospital Association endorsed the Affordable Care Act only after it banned the construction or expansion of physician-owned hospitals.

Such behavior by doctors and hospitals wouldnt surprise readers if they understood the history of the American Medical Association, a union for doctors that Dr. Smith and his colleagues refuse to join. The U.S. enjoyed relatively inexpensive healthcare in the first quarter of the 20th century due to competition within the industry. But the AMA was able to purchase enough Congressmen to give itself a monopoly on the supply of medical care in the country and prices began to soar, as happens with most monopolies.

When Jesus drove the money changers and sellers of livestock from the Temple in Jerusalem, he accused them of turning it into a den of robbers. How did they rob the people? Corrupt high priests had made their shekel the only money that could be given to the Temple, so people with Greek and Roman coins had to exchange their coins for the shekel and having a monopoly, the money changers charged high prices for their service.

Jerry Bowyer wrote in The Makers versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics, This means there was a 100 percent premium on switching from the currency held by the typical Israelite to the required temple currency. As a result, worshippers paid double to participate in the system. Bowyer documents many other corrupt practices in the Jerusalem Temple by the religious authorities that made them rich. Jesus threatened their wealth.

What the AMA and established hospitals are doing to healthcare in the U.S. is hardly different from the robbery by the Jerusalem Temple money changers and livestock sellers. Those who claim they care about the poor will want to end their monopoly on healthcare and force them to charge a just price in a free market.
Theologian John Piper warns against unhealthy speculation about angels

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John Piper, founder and teacher of DesiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary, said that while he believes there are angels among us in the modern-day, Christians should not have an unhealthy speculation about them.

In an episode of Ask Pastor John that was posted to the Desiring God website Monday, a listener named Cortney asked Piper about Hebrews 13:2 which reads, Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Ive read this text often and wondered what it means. Does it mean angels are walking among us in human form right now, and we are unaware of them? asked Cortney.

Piper responded by giving an overview of angels in the Bible. He noted that while the Old Testament and much of the beginning of the New Testament speak in-depth about angelic activity, the epistles portion of the New Testament does not.

You turn to the letters of Paul and James and John and Peter and Jude, and theres virtually no teaching about the function of angels in our present experience  as messengers and protectors, said Piper.

The least it can mean is that the teaching about angels and how they serve Christians now was simply not essential for us to know. Thats my conclusion.

Piper reasoned that Jesus promises to be with His followers has preempted any prominent place that angelic activity in the lives of Christians might have.

While saying that yes, there are angels among us that might take the form of a stranger who needs your hospitality, Piper also warned against an unhealthy speculation about angels coming to our homes.

You might entertain an angel without knowing it. But vastly more important is to grasp that Christ is among us; Christ has promised to take care of us; Christ will never leave us or forsake us; Christ may be entertained in the person of a believer, he continued.

And therefore, the Christian life should be a hundred times more oriented on Christ than on angels, and for His sake  for His sake  our homes should be open.

In a 2008 column by the late Rev. Billy Graham republished by The Christian Post, the noted evangelist warned against worshiping angels.

Angels are not to be worshipped, nor are we to look to them for our salvation. Perhaps one reason their work is largely invisible is so we won't be tempted to place too much emphasis on them, or look to them instead of Christ to save us, wrote Graham at the time.

At the same time, if you know Christ, you are never beyond God's love and care  and the angels are a proof of His concern for you. Make sure of your commitment to Christ, and then thank God that He continually watches over you through His angels.

According to a 2016 Gallup Poll, 72% of Americans said at the time that they believed in the existence of angels, 16% said they did not believe in angels and 12% responded that they were not sure.
New Mexico megachurch fined $2.5K because staff didn't wear masks during worship service

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Leaders of an evangelical megachurch in New Mexico are puzzled after being fined $2,500 because staff members did not wear masks during a Christmas Eve service last December.

After initially fining the church $10,000 late last year for allegedly violating capacity restrictions and the mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Mexico Department of Health Office of General Counsel reduced the fine to $2,500 last month.

A June 10 by the Secretary of Health Tracie C. Collins further ordered that a civil monetary penalty of $2,500 is imposed upon the Appellant Calvary Church on the basis that church staff members did not wear masks during the Christmas Eve service in violation of the Public Health Order.

Calvary Church, an Albuquerque-based non-denominational congregation lead by Pastor Skip Heitzig with over 16,000 weekly attendees, released a statement responding to the state health departments updated ruling. Even though the fine was reduced, he said the church is still confused, nonetheless.

[I]n a video interview, the governor [Michelle Lujan Grisham] told me that no one had to wear masks from the stage. ... We [the church congregation and staff] did everything the state asked us to do, Heitzig told The Christian Post in an interview this week.

On the one hand, the governor said that pastors could preach from the stage with no masks. On the other hand, the State Health Department has fined us now for doing just that, a statement from the church's executive team reads. What did the state expect: for our pastors to deliver the Christmas message from behind a mask? The issue isnt the amount of the fine but that there was even a fine at all for Christians worshipping over Christmas.

The initial citation from Dec. 28, 2020, stated that staff and congregation violated the Public Health Order from Dec. 15 that restricted in-person worship services to 25% capacity in Bernalillo County and mandated mask-wearing.

The citation stated that hundreds of congregants gathered in close proximity to one another and that attendees were not wearing masks during this event.

A hearing on the matter was held in March, and a recommendation was made in April by hearing officer Craig Erickson. According to reports, the hearing officer found no adequate evidence to determine if the capacity restriction was violated. The hearing officer also held that while church staff violated the mask mandate, the church could not be held responsible for attendees who did not wear masks.

The cabinet secretarys ruling from last month doesnt mention the congregation, solely the church staff.

Heitzig voiced concern that Gov. Lujan Grishams spokesperson seemed to have referred to him and other pastors who held Christmas services as pro-virus pastors.

At Christmas last year  one of the holiest and most important seasons for Christians  we welcomed the weary into our church to find hope and light, Heitzig said. For this action, the governors office labeled us pro-virus pastors. More recently, the governor called those expressing their disagreements with her lizard people.

When Heitzig heard of this claim against him specifically, he said he immediately picked up the phone to get in contact and directly discuss this with the governor. But she didnt answer. ... She never even tried to call me back.

In its statement, the Calvary Church executive team maintains that elected officials should spend less time name-calling and more time looking for ways to work together with all New Mexicans. The churchs leadership group stressed that crackdowns on worship are happening in New Mexico and other states like New York and California.

Americans are going to have to decide at the ballot box how important freedom is to them  especially religious freedom  and that must impact which democrats, republicans or others they vote for, the church concluded.
Kissing but no sex: 3 Christian couples tell what it's like

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"Beautiful," "silly" and "amazing" are the adjectives New York City residents Daniel and Christina Jean use to describe the first time they ever had sex, which was on their wedding night in the summer of 2019.



The non-denominational Christian couple waited close to five years to have sex for the first time because they believed their romantic relationship and bodies belonged to Jesus. They wanted to surrender both to the Lord.

The Jeans, who are now 24 and 30 years old, recall during their season of celibacy achieving intimacy by kissing each other. They said that at the time, with every kiss they gave, the gestures would provide them with a glimpse into what exploring sexuality with one another might be like on their wedding night.

I dont think that kissing before marriage is sinful, and I dont believe that kissing is always a sexual act because sometimes it can happen in a very pure way, Christina Jean said. Now that Im married, Daniel and I kiss each other all the time, and most of the time, its not in a sexual way.

With International Kissing Day falling this week on the National Today calendar, three Christian couples who either chose to remain abstinent from sex until marriage or are abstaining from sex until they get married say the act of kissing their partners is a blessing from God while waiting for their wedding days to arrive.

The married couples recall when kissing was their only form of physical intimacy with their partners and helped calm and satisfy their inner desires to experience deep physical connection with their significant others.

International Kissing Day is described as a celebration of the simple, but powerful gesture of a kiss  from French kissing and a formal kiss on the cheek, to a kiss hello and a kiss goodbye.

I dont think that kissing is inherently sexual. But it depends on the type of kissing. And I think that sex is something really powerful and special, and it does bond you to a person, Daniel Jean told CP. Im happy that my wife and I have been each others only sexual partners. ... It was well worth the wait. ... Not everything went smoothly the first time we had sex or even the first few times. But there was such joy in figuring it all out together.

The duo said waiting to have sex on their wedding day helped bring them closer to God.

I personally felt like our love for each other was truly pure and that there werent any hindrances between us and God because we waited, Christina Jean said. It made me feel even more like God blessed our relationship and that we were pleasing Him, which is what weve always wanted to do with our relationship.

Daniel Jean added that: waiting took a lot of prayer, and conversations about our relationship and our boundaries.

Ultimately, I feel like it strengthened both of our faiths, he concluded.

Similarly, New Yorkers Steven and Amy Lee, both in their early 30s, said kissing helped form a bond between them when sex was not an option for them before marriage.

I think kissing is simply an act of endearment that weve perverted over the years. But for me and my wife, when we were waiting, we viewed kissing in the same way we viewed hand-holding, Steven Lee said.

I dont think kissing is a sin, and some cultures kiss when they greet. But I just think it depends on what the individual finds comfortable to do in his or her relationship, Amy Lee added.

The two met at their house of worship, Edge City Church in Mineola, New York, in 2015.

At the time, Steven Lee worked as a ministry and small group leader for the church, and Amy was a bi-vocational ministry leader. They dated and were abstinent from sex for two years before they married on Sept. 20, 2017.

While sex is definitely a gift from God, we did not want to set it as the foundation for our relationship, Steven Lee explained. Sex too early would hinder our relational and emotional growth with one another.

Amy Lee shared that she knew what it was like to engage in deep physical contact with her previous boyfriends.

[I]t was harder for me to let go since it was like giving a part of myself away, she said. I then understood why pastors or disciplers would say to save sex for marriage with the person God has meant you to be with. Im glad I waited with Steven.

Although Christian, 21-year-olds Benjamin Leung and Idalia Borzone are not married yet, they are waiting until marriage to have sex. From the moment they started dating 17 months ago, they said they promised each other and God to refrain from sex until after their wedding day. The two continue to keep their covenant.

Borzone, a Pentecostal living in Rockville Centre, New York, said she grew up attending Full Gospel Church of Island Park. However, she said she began attending church with her boyfriend at Edge City Churchs Lynbrook location on Long Island when they started dating.



We want to wait because we both believe that sex is something very sacred and very intimate. ... It is two people physically becoming one, Borzone said.



God teaches us that sex was designed as something to be enjoyed within marriage, said Leung, a Bellerose, New York, resident. It also makes sense for us to wait because it allows us to focus on other aspects of our relationship, which in turn has made it stronger.

The two said that despite waiting for over 365 days, at times, they struggle with temptation.

There are times where it can be difficult because we both value physical touch and love each other very much. But, we keep our goals and values in our mind. And that helps us avoid crossing any boundaries we have for ourselves, Leung said.

There are moments where it is hard because we love each other so much, and we would like to express it that way, but we want to honor each other and our promise and beliefs, Borzone added.

The couple relies on friends to hold them accountable, and they spend most of their time surrounded by loved ones to keep from making sexual choices when alone together.

The most difficult part is making sure that we dont put ourselves in situations that can lead us down a slippery slope because you might not have the intention of going far, but it is easy to get carried away, Leung admitted.

Borzone said that waiting has allowed the couple to view the relationships through a clear lens, not in a sexual way.

Through this, I am able to love my boyfriend for who he is as a person rather than how he is sexually, Borzone concluded.

Some pseudonyms were used to express names in this article for identity protection purposes.
Americans are turning away from church as population of Christians decline, Pew study claims

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Only 65 percent of Americans now identify as Christian while those who identify as religiously unaffiliated swelled to 26 percent, a new study from the Pew Research Center says.

The new data, culled from telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, show a 12 percent decline in the number of Americans who identify as Christians when compared to the general population 10 years ago.

And the decline is visible across multiple demographics, particularly among young adults.

The changes underway in the American religious landscape are broad-based. The Christian share of the population is down and religious nones have grown across multiple demographic groups: white people, black people and Hispanics; men and women; in all regions of the country; and among college graduates and those with lower levels of educational attainment," Pew researchers says.

"Religious nones are growing faster among Democrats than Republicans, though their ranks are swelling in both partisan coalitions, Pew adds. And although the religiously unaffiliated are on the rise among younger people and most groups of older adults, their growth is most pronounced among young adults.

When it comes to rates of attendance at religious services, the share of Americans who say they attend religious services at least once or twice a month dropped by 7 percentage points, while the share who say they attend religious services less often, if at all, rose by the same figure.

In 2009, regular worship attenders (those who attend religious services at least once or twice a month) outnumbered those who attend services only occasionally or not at all by a 52%-to-47% margin. Today those figures are reversed; more Americans now say they attend religious services a few times a year or less (54%) than say they attend at least monthly (45%), researchers explain.

While the Protestant and Catholic churches have been experiencing losses in terms of their population share, all subsets of the religiously unaffiliated population have been experiencing growth in their numbers.

Self-described atheists now account for 4% of U.S. adults, up modestly but significantly from 2% in 2009; agnostics make up 5% of U.S. adults, up from 3% a decade ago; and 17% of Americans now describe their religion as nothing in particular, up from 12% in 2009. Members of non-Christian religions also have grown modestly as a share of the adult population, Pew says.

The researchers collected their most recent data on the American religious landscape from random-digit-dial political polls encompassing 88 surveys from 2009 to 2019 that featured interviews with 168,890 Americans.

Respondents were asked questions about their age, race, educational attainment and other background characteristics. Each of the polls also included one basic question about religious identity such as: What is your present religion, if any? Are you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon, Orthodox such as Greek or Russian Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, agnostic, something else, or nothing in particular?

Most of the polls also asked questions about religious attendance such as: Aside from weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services? More than once a week, once a week, once or twice a month, a few times a year, seldom, or never?

The results of the polls, Pew adds, show a wide gap between older Americans (Baby Boomers and members of the Silent Generation) and millennials in their levels of religious affiliation and attendance.

More than eight-in-10 members of the Silent Generation (those born between 1928 and 1945) describe themselves as Christians (84%), as do three-quarters of Baby Boomers (76%). In stark contrast, only half of millennials (49%) describe themselves as Christians; four-in-10 are religious nones, and one-in-10 millennials identify with non-Christian faiths, Pew explains.

Only about one-in-three millennials say they attend religious services at least once or twice a month. Roughly two-thirds of millennials (64%) attend worship services a few times a year or less often, including about four-in-10 who say they seldom or never go. Indeed, there are as many millennials who say they never attend religious services (22%) as there are who say they go at least once a week (22%), the researchers add.
Boris Johnson: Christianity is a superb ethical system ... I would count myself a very bad Christian

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who recently got married in Westminster Cathedral and quoted from the Psalms in a media interview weeks later, hailed Christianity as a superb ethical system but added that he would count himself as a kind of very, very bad Christian.

In a lengthy biographical piece published in The Times on Saturday, British writer Tom McTague prodded him further on his faith.

A friend of the prime minister reportedly told several news outlets that he suspected that Johnson believed in a pre-Christian morality system with a multitude of gods and no clear set of rules.

So when The Times put this to Johnson, he responded, Christianity is a superb ethical system and I would count myself as a kind of very, very bad Christian. No disrespect to any other religions, but Christianity makes a lot of sense to me.

McTague also noted that the prime ministers ability to invite underestimation seems to shield him from the usual rules of politics.

Theres a magic to Boris that allows him to escape some of the political challenges that hes had since he became prime minister, the writer quotes Frank Luntz, an American pollster who was friends with Johnson at Oxford, as saying. People are more patient with him, they are more forgiving of him, because hes not a typical politician.

Last month during the G7 summit in England when ITVs Robert Peston asked Johnson whether he was now a practicing Roman Catholic, the prime minister initially sought not to respond by saying, I dont discuss these deep issues, certainly not with you.

The reporter then told Johnson that Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer had said he didnt believe in God. The prime minister then quickly quoted Psalm 14: The foolish man has said in his heart there is no God.

While the prime minister was baptized a Catholic, he twice married as an Anglican before his third marriage with Carrie Symonds in May.

The question of his faith as Britains first Catholic prime minister (while in office) became a serious issue last month because, as a Catholic, Johnson can no longer send the names of Church of England bishops to Queen Elizabeth.

Instead, Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland will send the names of new Church of England bishops to the queen, after a warning that the prime minister could be banished from office if he keeps doing so himself, The Telegraph reported.

An unnamed source at No. 10 told the publication that the rule is incredibly anachronistic because a Jewish or Muslim prime minister could nominate a bishop but not a Catholic.

In response to questions about Johnsons Christian faith and conversion to Catholicism, one senior Tory reportedly said earlier that the prime minister does not have a religious bone in his body.

Johnsons great-grandfather, Ali Kemal, was a Turkish Muslim journalist and politician who was brutally murdered by a mob that supported Ataturk. He knew England well, and when the British occupied Constantinople for four years at the end of World War I, he collaborated with them.

In the BBC series Who Do Think You Are, Johnson talked about his great-grandfather having memorized the entire Quran as a young boy. And it was in that interview that Johnson also mentioned that, as a student, he had won a Scripture knowledge prize.

As part of a Bible reading project for the King James Bible Trust, in which a reading of the entire Bible was posted on YouTube, Johnson read from Isaiah Chapter 11. He called the King James version the single most beautiful and influential work of English literature.
Colombian court agrees to hear case of social media star forced to remove video supporting traditional marriage

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The Colombian Constitutional Court has agreed to review the case of a social media star that seeks to overturn a national court ruling that ordered her to take down an online video wherein she expressed her belief in traditional marriage.

There are high hopes for a positive ruling affirming freedom of speech. The Courts ruling will affect whether we are allowed to share Christian views on social media, Christian legal group ADF International, which is supporting the social media star Erika Kika Nieto, said in a statement.

The national court had asked Nieto, who has millions of followers, to remove a YouTube video in which she shared her views about marriage being only between a man and a woman, but added that she tolerates other perspectives. An activist had complained about her statement.

In a previous case that arose from the same video, the court has already ruled that Nietos speech on marriage is constitutionally protected. However, another activist took Nieto to court, complaining that this same comment about marriage was offensive and discriminatory. This time, a lower court considered the video to contain hate speech and thus ordered its removal from YouTube, the legal group explained.

Everyone has the right to freely share their beliefs in public. Im glad the Constitutional Court has decided to review my case, Nieto was quoted as saying after her appeal was admitted.

I hope they will uphold everyones right to speak freely. Nobody should have to be afraid of censorship or criminal sanctions for voicing their deeply held beliefs. By speaking out, I hope to encourage debate and inspire more tolerance of different views, she added.

Nieto previously said that she wanted to be authentic with her followers without being censored or fearing criminal sanctions just for posting a video. I dont want others to be afraid to voice their beliefs. By speaking out, I hope to inspire more tolerance of different opinions.

Tomas Henriquez, ADF International's director of advocacy for Latin America and the Caribbean, said its a hallmark of a free society that all persons are able to speak freely on what they believe to be right and good, especially on matters of public importance.

Nietos right to publicly express her views is not only protected by the Colombian Constitution but guaranteed by every major human rights treaty. If we value a free and vibrant society, we must always choose debate over censorship. Ultimately, people and democracy suffer when voices are silenced, Henriquez added.

A former member of Parliament in Finland, Paivi Rasanen, is also facing criminal investigations after she shared her disapproval with the Lutheran Church participating in an LGBT pride event in 2019.

According to ADF International, the Finnish prosecutor general accused her of ethnic agitation, which is punishable by up to two years in prison.

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right that is coming under increasing fire in todays cancel culture. Both Nietos and Rasanens cases show that the freedom to share what we believe must be properly protected, ADF International Deputy Director Robert Clarke said in a previous statement.
Is racism wrong?

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Russian philosopher Vladimir Solovyov once said, Modern people believe this: man descended from apes. Therefore, let us love one another.

Of course, Solovyov made his statement in a mocking fashion. Despite attempts from secular philosophers and ethicists who try to assert that an evolutionary-based altruism instinct or other such thing impels us to do good to others, Solovyov is right  you cant link traditional evolutionary teaching and objective morality together.

And yet, perhaps more than ever in the history of humanity, there is widespread belief in the equal treatment of others; that we should be working for the betterment of all people, especially those who are poor, marginalized and oppressed. The only odd thing about that is it contradicts everything we know about naturalistic teaching.

As Solovyov says, most people believe that we came from an unguided process of natural selection, a survival of the fittest where the strong eats the weak, a nature red in tooth and claw. And were told its been that way for billions of years.

But now all that must stop.

Even though were taught that is how nature has worked, and still works, its methods no longer apply to humanity. Greater nations must not overcome lesser nations, fortunate or stronger individuals must not overpower less fortunate or weaker individuals.

And the reason why? Because its wrong.

Naturalism knows no such thing as wrong in that sense. Like humanist Paul Kurtz said, If man is a product of evolution, one species among others, in a universe without purpose, then mans option is to live for himself.

Evolutionary William Provine admitted, When Darwin deduced the theory of natural selection to explain the adaptations in which he had previously seen the handiwork of God, he knew that he was committing cultural murder. He understood immediately that if natural selection explained adaptations, and evolution by descent were true, then the argument from design was dead and all that went with it, namely the existence of a personal god, free will, life after death, immutable moral laws, and ultimate meaning in life.

You cant get here from there

Though difficult to accept, Kurtz and Provines conclusions are inescapable if were just animals living in a meaningless and purposeless universe. But our schizophrenic secular culture today demands both a commitment to naturalism and objective morality, which is impossible. On the one hand it wants freedom from any transcendent Creator who might impose absolute moral obligations on it, but on the other, it wants to impose its ever-changing-but-absolute-for-right-now moral obligations on others.

The question is, how does our culture support its ethics without God? The natural universe cant provide an answer because you cant get moral grounding from amoral matter; its metaphysically impossible.

Our democratic process and culture is anything but objective and stable. Moreover, activists have proven they will work tirelessly to overturn laws decided by the majority. Add to that the fact that there are multiple cultures in the world; what one may deem morally correct another could reject.

Science cant help because as Einstein noted: You are right in speaking of the moral foundations of science, but you cannot turn round and speak of the scientific foundations of morality.

Individual opinion doesnt work because everyone lives in societies where individual opinions clash every second of every day. That puts you back at the sad ending of the Old Testament book of Judges, which describes our current culture pretty well: everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).

This is why the founders of the United States grounded the equality of all people in God; our Declaration of Independence says, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

You wont find a statement made by any other nation like this  moral grounding, human worth and rights based on a divine creative act.

This is consistently overlooked by our secular society that forgets (1) a government big enough to give you your rights is big enough to take them away, and (2) morals not based in God devolve into pure opinion. As an example, former politician and president of the Human Rights Campaign Cheryl Jacques, who fought so hard for same-sex marriage, had this to say as to why polygamy shouldnt be legalized: Because I dont approve of that.[1]

So is racism wrong? Should we work to help those struggling in poverty? Do we respect all people and affirm their innate moral worth?

Absolutely. But why?

On the one hand, you have the teachings of naturalism, which Richard Dawkins sums up as: Life has no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference.

On the other, you have the truth of Christianity. And in contrast to Vladimir Solovyovs thinking, Christians believe this: humanity was created in the image of God. Therefore, let us love one another.

[1] CNN Crossfire (February 24, 2004), Transcript #022401CN.V20.
Pastor begs God for mercy as COVID-19 sweeps megachurch: Lord we didnt want to be in the news

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Pastor Bruce Wesley of the multi-campus Clear Creek Community Church in Texas, which recently made headlines as some 125 youth and adults got infected with what officials suspect is the COVID-19 Delta variant after attending a church-sponsored student ministry camp, publicly prayed for Gods mercy as his church was forced to shutter for a second week.

Lord, we didnt want to be in the news, at least not for this, maybe for serving or some extreme generosity, but not this," Wesley prayed in an online message delivered to his congregants.

"So we ask for your mercy. We ask for your healing for all of those who became sick with this virus and for their families whove been caring for them as well. We pray for complete recovery so that people dont have any lingering effects, and we pray that there would be a stop, you would put a stop to the spread of this virus."

Wesley did not share how many more people are now infected with the virus. But the church revealed in a statement last Wednesday that the congregation is facing a second wave of infections among the families of the infected campers.

The number of people at camp who became ill has increased since my first communication. In some cases, entire families are sick. While some have had difficult symptoms, we are not aware of any hospitalizations," he said in the Wednesday statement after announcing further service cancellations.

Clear Creek Community Church will cancel services again on Sunday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 14 at all campuses. In addition, there will be no Revive and Restore Forum on July 11. Other gatherings for the week have been canceled or postponed."

More than 450 people participated in the camp designed for middle school and high school-aged kids. In a letter to congregants, Wesley previously explained that in consultation with the Galveston County Health District, the church canceled services for July 4 and again on July 7. They hoped to reopen for in-person services this past Sunday, but the virus cases were too many.

Our pastor, staff and volunteers, have contacted all of the 450 plus campers by phone or email this last week and weve receive a report on how everyone is doing, the church said in the statement.

On Sunday, Wesley prayed for all the families that have been impacted by the virus outbreak.

We ask also Lord for those whose lives were impacted by this virus. I know for some its been a financial impact. We pray you provide for them, he said.

He noted that some members had to rearrange their lives because of the mass infections, including those forced to miss a mission trip to the Dominican Republic or their planned vacation.

We just ask Lord that our whole community will be comforted by your presence, rest in your goodness in spite of this outbreak, he prayed.

Wesley also prayed for wisdom for churches taking their kids to camp this summer.

Inci Yildirim, a Yale Medicine pediatric infectious diseases specialist and vaccinologist, said in a recent report that the Delta variant of COVID-19 has been shown to spread more among the younger population.

A recent study from the United Kingdom showed that children and adults under 50 were 2.5 times more likely to become infected with Delta, Yildirim told Yale Medicine.

As older age groups get vaccinated, those who are younger and unvaccinated will be at higher risk of getting COVID-19 with any variant, but Delta seems to be impacting younger age groups more than previous variants, she added.

Dr. Phillip Keiser, Galveston County Health District Authority, told KHOU that because of how rapidly the virus has spread among the campers, they suspect it might be the Delta variant.

Were testing it for the Delta variant to see if thats the cause for it spreading so rapidly among that group, Keiser said.
Religious 'nones' now as big as evangelicals in the US, new data shows

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The number of religious nones in the United States are now statistically equal than the number of evangelicals, according to a political scientist who analyzed data from the recently released 2018 General Social Survey.

The GSS, a biennial project run by NORC (National Opinion Research Center) at the University of Chicago, was released this week and showed how Americas religious landscape continues to change.

Ryan Burge, a political science researcher at Eastern Illinois University, analyzed data from the survey. He used a Reltrad (religious tradition) classification code to compensate for the oversample of African Americans in earlier waves of data.

According to Burges data, 23.1 percent of those surveyed were people of no religion, while those who are evangelical  of any race, not just white  represented about 22.8 percent of the tally.

Despite a tiny resurgence in the 2018 data, white mainline protestants, which were once the largest U.S. religious demographic in the 1970s, were at just 10.8 percent of the tally, a far cry from 1975 when they were over 30 percent.

Catholic respondents fell slightly to 23 percent but continue to be one of the largest two religious demographics in the U.S.

The study comes as there has been a rise over the last decade-plus in the number of religiously unaffiliated individuals in the United States. According to Burges data, the religious nones comprised just 5 percent when the GSS was first conducted in 1972. Today, religious "nones" are just under a quarter of the GSS data.

The nones are not slowing down, Burge told The Christian Post in an email. Their share of the population is continuing to climb ~1 percent every two years and has done so for the past 15 years or so. If current trends keep up then they will be the largest group in the United States in the next five years, statistically.

While the share of nones continues to rise, the number of Catholics and Protestants have dwindled over the years. The two groups were once the two largest religious groups in the nation. In 1972, the two groups comprised over 25 percent of the GSS tally each.

Catholics, specifically, are down three percentage points in the last four years, according to Burges analysis.

As for evangelicals, their peak came in the early 1990s when the number of evangelicals topped 30 percent.

Black Protestants continue to make up less than 10 percent and have not risen above 10 percent since 1972.

In a tweet, Burge said that while he doesnt put much stock in one-year shifts, he stressed that the larger trends are instructive.

Last year, polling from ABC News and The Washington Post found that between 2003 and 2017, the percentage of adult Americans that profess no religion grew from 12 percent to 21 percent.

At the same time, the white evangelical portion of the population has shrunk from 21 percent to 13 percent.

Also, that poll found that 36 percent of Americans identified as members of Protestant faith (including evangelicals).

In 2003, the polling found that 50 percent identified as a member of Protestant faith. Meanwhile, the share of those who self-identify as Catholics (22 percent in 2017) held steady over those years.
Rise of the 'nones,' decline of 'white Christian America' slows in US, new survey shows

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A new survey reveals that the share of Americans who identify as religiously unaffiliated has declined slightly. However, more Americans still describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated than affiliate with any particular religious tradition.

The Washington, D.C.-based Public Religion Research Institute released its first-ever Census of American Religion Thursday, which provided detailed information about the religious demographics of the United States.

The survey was part of PRRIs 2020 American Values Atlas, based on phone interviews with 50,334 Americans throughout 2020.

A statement from the research firm alleges that the Census of American Religion provides the most detailed estimates of American religious affiliation since the U.S. Census Bureau last collected religious data in 1957. Data was compiled based on more than 400,000 responses to PRRIs American Values Atlas dating back to 2013.

One of the biggest takeaways from the survey is that the Rise of the Nones has slowed.

The term nones describes Americans who do not identify with a particular religion and includes atheists and agnostics.

For several years, the PRRI and Pew Research Center have reported on the growth of the religiously unaffiliated American population, which corresponds with a drop in the share of Americans who identify as Christians.

As noted by data compiled in the Census of American Religion, 16% of Americans identified as religiously unaffiliated in 2006. That number rose to a high of 25.5% in 2018 before declining to 24% in 2019 and 23.3% in 2020. Even with this slight decline, religiously unaffiliated Americans constitute a larger share of the American public than the three most prominent religious groups in the U.S.

White mainline Protestants made up just over 16% of the population in 2020, followed by white evangelical Protestants (14%) and white Catholics (12%.) All other religious groups accounted for less than 10% of the U.S. population as a whole, including Christians of color, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists.

As the survey reported, The increase in proportion of religiously unaffiliated Americans has occurred across all age groups but has been most pronounced among young Americans.

Even as the share of religiously unaffiliated Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 declined from 38% in 2018 to 36% in 2020, religiously unaffiliated young Americans outnumbered their white mainline Protestant counterparts 3-to-1.

The religiously unaffiliated constitute smaller pluralities of Americans between the ages of 30-49 and 50-64. At 14%, the religiously unaffiliated were the fourth largest group among Americans 65 and older. White evangelicals made up a plurality (22%) of the oldest age bracket, followed by white mainline Protestants (20%) and white Catholics (15%).

The slight decrease in the percentage of nones comes as the Census of American Religion found that the decline of white Christian America has also slowed.

After the share of Americans who identified as white Christians reached a low of 42% in 2018, the percentage of white Christians increased to 44% in 2020.

While the percentage of white mainline Protestants increased slightly in 2020, the share of white evangelical Protestants in the population continues to decline.

Twenty-three percent of Americans identified as white evangelical Protestants in 2006. But that figure shrunk to 14% in 2020 after remaining constant at 15% for the three previous years.

The new survey results illustrate a noticeable relationship between a persons faith and their political affiliation. White Christians made up 68% of the Republican Party compared to just 39% of the Democratic Party.

Although religiously unaffiliated Americans make up an increasing share of both political parties, the nones comprise a higher share of the Democratic Partys coalition (23%) compared to the Republican Partys (13%).

According to data collected by Pew Research Center in 2006, just 4% of the Republican Party consisted of religiously unaffiliated Americans, while the nones accounted for 13% of the Democratic Partys coalition at that time.

In 2020, the religiously unaffiliated made up a plurality of the Democratic Partys membership (23%), followed by white mainline Protestants (16%), white Catholics (13%) and black Protestants (13%). Meanwhile, the nones were the fourth-largest religious group in the Republican Party in 2020 (13%). At 29%, white evangelicals constituted a plurality of the Republican Party, followed by white mainline Protestants (22%) and white Catholics (15%).

Overall, most religiously unaffiliated Americans identify as independents (46%) and Democrats (35%). Majorities of Hindus (79%), Buddhists (77%), Muslims (82%), Jews (75%), Hispanic Catholics (83%), and Hispanic Protestants (75%) identified as either independent or Democrat. An outright majority of black Protestants (65%) aligned themselves with the Democratic Party.

The religious groups most likely to favor Republicans were white evangelicals (51%) and members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints (39%). White mainline Protestants were evenly split between Democrats (35%) and Republicans (33%), while a plurality of white Catholics (38%) identified with the Democratic Party.
Well before killing 26 at Texas church, Devin Kelley threatened Air Force mass shooting

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A federal court ruled Tuesday that the U.S. Air Force is 60% responsible for the worst mass shooting in Texas history because it failed to report the criminal history of former serviceman Devin Kelley who executed 26 people at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs before killing himself in 2017.

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio noted in his ruling after a bench trial that the Air Force was negligent when it failed to submit Kelleys criminal history to the FBI, which would have prevented him from purchasing the guns he used to carry out the massacre at the church on Nov. 5, 2017.

The Court concludes that the Government failed to exercise reasonable care in its undertaking to submit criminal history to the FBI. The Governments failure to exercise reasonable care increased the risk of physical harm to the general public, including Plaintiffs. And its failure proximately caused the deaths and injuries of Plaintiffs at the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church on November 5, 2017. The Court finds the United States 60% responsible for this harm and jointly and severally liable for the damages that may be awarded, Rodriguez wrote.

A video of the massacre of the 26 members of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, shows Kelley methodically shooting his victims, including children, in the head in an episode that lasted for several minutes inside the church's sanctuary, law enforcement reported at the time. At least eight members of one family, including a pregnant mother, were killed.

Police say Kelley unleashed about 450 rounds of ammunition on the helpless congregation and survivors say the shooter, who later killed himself, expressed an intention to execute the entire congregation.

Court documents shared by The Ammons Law Firm, one of several firms representing families of the victims in the lawsuit against the federal government, show that the Air Force was acutely aware of the danger posed by Kelley and that he even threatened to carry out a mass shooting while he was in the service.

Dr. Harold J. Bursztajn, a psychiatrist, testified that Kelley was psychotic. And the Air Force knew that he enjoyed abusing animals and dismembering them because he told them so. His mental health had deteriorated so badly while in the service that he had to be committed to a mental health facility on two occasions.

A just under 2,000-page transcript from the trial cited evidence from records in which an Air Force colleague worried that Kelley had a coldness about him and that he wasn't all there. Her uneasiness regarding Devin Kelley resulted in telling her supervisor, Sergeant Troy Bizzack, 'We need to watch this guy because he's the kind of person who will come in and shoot everybody.'"

It's safe to say that the Air Force knew more than anybody else in Devin Kelley's life that this was a deeply depraved, mentally unstable man who had extensive violence that the Air Force knew more about than any other person in his life. And that included sexual violence, physical violence, domestic violence. And now we know more than we knew before, extensive threats of mass shooting violence, plaintiff attorney Jamal K. Alsaffar argued during the trial.

Lieutenant Colonel Bearden, the commander of the 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, documented warnings about Kelley.

"AB Kelley has repeatedly threatened to kill his leadership, he noted on March 22, 2013. "I view this airman as a threat not only to myself but to my staff and the other airmen in this squadron. I have communicated my concerns to the security forces/commander Lieutenant Boyd. And he will be providing the unit an armed escort during his out-processing."

The evidence showed that before Kelley was eventually discharged from the service, he went AWOL twice and the Air Force was so concerned about the threat he posed to his colleagues they even had to assign someone to watch him while he slept.

"The patient, during his hospitalization, also made threats that if he was discharged to the military police, he would try to disarm the police and either be killed or kill someone. At that point, measures were taken to prevent that from happening, one statement on Kelley noted.

In addition to that, Kelly was convicted of assaulting his then-wife, Tessa Brennaman, and his stepson in November 2012 by General Court-Martial.

If the government had entered Kelleys criminal history into a federal background check database used for gun purchases, according to Rodriguez, he would have been prevented from carrying out the mass shooting at the church.

The trial conclusively established that no other individualnot even Kelleys own parents or partnersknew as much as the United States about the violence that Devin Kelley had threatened to commit and was capable of committing, the judge wrote. Moreover, the evidence shows thathad the Government done its job and properly reported Kelleys information into the background check systemit is more likely than not that Kelley would have been deterred from carrying out the Church shooting.

A later trial to assess damages owed to the families is expected to take place at a later date.
Parents sue Catholic school to nullify $1.35M donation pledge over woke culture School labels couple's claims 'false and unsubstantiated'

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A Florida couple has filed a lawsuit against a Catholic school, claiming that the academic institution has a woke climate at odds with its claims of being a Catholic entity and wants their $1.35 million donation pledge voided.

Anthony and Barbara Scarpo filed the complaint last month against the Academy of the Holy Names of Tampa and its leadership.

Adam S. Levine, a law professor and attorney for the Scarpos, provided The Christian Post with a copy of the complaint filed in the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Hillsborough County.

The complaint charges the academy with several counts of breach of contract related to the familys belief that the school provides the antithesis of a Catholic education by focusing solely on the new, politically correct, woke culture.

Defendant Academy used Plaintiffs names, images, and personal relationships to raise funds including 1.35 million dollars from Plaintiffs where 1 million dollars was a testamentary pledge and $350,000.00 was a cash gift pledge, stated the complaint.

Plaintiffs here sue Defendants seeking further declaration that their 1.35-million-dollar gift pledge be held null and void, that all pending testamentary and cash gift pledges be cancelled, that any already paid funds be returned, and that tuition be refunded and donated to Tampa Bay Catholic Charities designated by Plaintiffs.

In an interview with CP Friday, Levine said that the Scarpo family wanted to provide a Catholic education for their two daughters at the Academy of the Holy Names.

They were promised a Catholic Education. The Scarpos became enamored with the school and ultimately pledged $1.35 million when a capital campaign was announced, Levine explained.

The President, Art Raimo then asked the Scarpos to lead the campaign. The Scarpos became the face of the schools fundraising campaign.

According to Levine, the Scarpos had a change of heart when the school invited a radical-left speaker for a school assembly. The speaker reportedly told the students that they were too white and essentially that they should be guilty because their parents could afford to send them to the Academy.

The Scarpos tried over the course of two years to resolve the Academys dramatic shift towards its virtue-signaling of being woke. And the president and board all refused to meet with them claiming, as they do now, that they provide a Catholic education, he continued.

Neither the Scarpos nor I care not about publicity or building a brand.  Rather the Scarpos seek to require the school to either adhere to its Catholic name and educate its students in Catholicism or cease advertising itself as a Catholic school.

The lawsuit states that at some point during the Scarpo children's tenure at the academy, "the Academy lost its way." The complaint argues that the school is "embracing the new, politically

correct, divisive and 'woke' culture where gender identity, human sexuality, and

pregnancy termination among other 'hot-button issues,' took center stage ..."

"... Catholicism and the Catholic Catechism were relegated to what was billed as an

unfortunate past deserving of its Students guilt for not having been 'woke' sooner," the lawsuit claims.

The academy's communications director, Emily Wise, told CP on Friday that while the school could not comment on the litigation, they consider the allegations to be false and unsubstantiated.

The Academys curriculum is, and always has been, based on Catholic values and rigorous academic standards. Our graduates have earned admittance to many of the best colleges and universities in America and matriculate prepared for rich and rewarding lives, Wise stated.

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, the schools founding order, are dedicated to the full development of the human person through education, social justice, contemplation and the arts.

Wise provided CP with a copy of a letter sent in late June on behalf of the school by Tampa lawyer Gregory A. Hearing, contending that the lawsuit was a publicity stunt." The letter expressed plans to file a motion to dismiss.

Hearing added that for a court to delve into whether the substance of matters taught by a Catholic school are consistent with a Catholic education would entangle the court excessively in religious matters, and thereby violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
UCSF accused of 'callous' experiments on aborted babies, harvesting genitals

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Pro-life activist organizations have accused the University of California, San Francisco, of engaging in callous experiments on aborted fetuses and possibly allowing babies that survive an abortion to die.

The anti-abortion advocacy group Live Action reported Saturday that the group Pro-Life San Francisco obtained twodocuments via the California Public Records Act related to how UCSF is conducting research on viable human fetuses. The pro-life group accused UCSF and partner institutions of engaging in callous abortion harvesting operations.

"On June 14th and June 25th 2021, Pro-Life San Francisco received documents from the University of California, San Francisco," Pro-Life San Francisco's website reports. "Requested under the California Public Records Act, these records shed light on the aborted fetal tissue research projects taking place within the university."

Live Action's Bettina di Fiore notes that "fetal body parts are being harvested under the UCSF umbrella from babies aborted at the two UCSF-affiliated Womens Options Center locations." She added that studies have shown that labor induction abortion techniques used in those facilities can often result in live births.

Pro-Life San Francisco made requests for documents related to protocols and procedures in place at UCSF for "determining the viability of a neonate after labor induction abortion procedures including  in instances where the neonate is born alive after the procedure is performed."

Additionally, the organization requested documents on "UCSFs protocols and procedures regarding the delivery of medical care to neonates born at the Womens Options Center[s]."

Thirdly, the organization requested access to human fetal tissue procurement logs.

According to Live Action, UCSF attorneys told lawyers for Pro-Life San Francisco that there were no documents to turn over related to the first two requests because UCSF and the Womens Options Centers "have no protocol for determining the viability of abortion survivors, or for providing care to them."

According to a fact sheet posted on Pro-Life San Francisco's website, "the university has also confirmed that there are no documents, protocols or procedures in place on verifying signs of life or handling live-birth scenarios, even though their own curriculum admits that live births do sometimes occur during abortion procedures."

"All we received was a document on routine blood tests for newborns at unrelated UCSF sites," the organization reports.

Di Fiore argues that "this is a tacit admission of the possibility that abortion survivors are simply left to die, without so much as the basic humane provision of palliative care."

The school did turn over human fetal tissue procurement logs.

"The documents obtained pursuant to this request reveal disturbing details about the true extent of the atrocities taking place at this state-sponsored institution and the strikingly callous and casual attitude with which they are being carried out  all at the expense of average Americans," di Fiore wrote.

While some sections of the fetal tissue procurement log were redacted, the documents note how most of the experiments were done on the reproductive organs of aborted babies.

Di Fiore wrote that of the 43 human fetal tissue procurement logs handed over, 42 of them documented the harvesting of genitalia and/or gonads.

It seems ironic that these scientists, who work for an institution that postures itself as a frontline warrior in the battle for so-called reproductive justice, spend their days mutilating the reproductive organs of people whose lives have been brutally ended under the banner of reproductive choice, she continued.

Live Action claims that the "situation at UCSFs Womens Options Centers is essentially a free-for-all, where each abortion survivors life hinges upon the whim of the abortionist paid to kill him or her.

The Christian Post reached out to the University of California, San Francisco, to respond to the report. However, the academic institution did not respond by press time.

Live Action argues that while UCSF receives millions of taxpayer dollars to conduct these experiments, the experiments hardly resemble any legitimately purpose-driven science.

Live Action has posted information provided by Pro-Life San Francisco critical of the UCSF and its research in the past.

In June 2020, Live Action promoted a Pro-Life San Francisco video that labeled UCSF a real-life American horror story."

UCSF: An American Horror Story shines a light on the relationship between the publicly-funded university and abortionists across the country, including their training and their inhumane methods of collecting aborted babies for research purposes, wrote Nancy Flanders of Live Action in an entry from last year.
Myanmar Christians face increased persecution under military rule since coup, experts say

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Christian and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar face even greater danger since the southeastern Asian country fell under the Tatmadaw military rule due to the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the civilian government and initiated a wave of violence, experts warned this week.

United States-based international religious persecution watchdog International Christian Concern hosted a panel discussion Thursday focusing on the increased hardships Christians endure. Panelists discussed ICC's new report, Caught in the Crossfire: Myanmar's Christian Minorities Under Tatmadaw Rule.

"Violent incidents are escalating, with airstrikes and ground fighting spreading to various regions around the country. Tens of thousands have fled, and many more are sure to follow in the months ahead," the report explains. "Instability, food shortages, and great loss of life threaten the Burmese people  especially its vulnerable minorities."

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is home to several Christian minority groups, including those within the Kachin, Chin, Rohingya and Karen communities. The report also touches on Christians in the Wa state, ethnic Indian and Chinese Christians and Karenni Christians in Kayah State.

Myanmar is predominately Buddhist, while Christians make up around 6.2% of its 54 million population. Buddhism is recognized as the state religion.

Christians, however, are not the only group persecuted by the Tatmadaw military, as many minority groups are suffering from religious freedom violations.

No ethnoreligious minority has been safe from persecution or discrimination," Nadine Maenza, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said during the panel discussion. "Since the Feb. 1 coup, the situation, however, has deteriorated significantly."

Maenza urged the international community to pay attention and act against the atrocities religious minorities suffer in Burma as it struggles as a democracy.

Despite an election last November, the Tatmadaw military refuses to accept the result and has alleged voter fraud. The military declared a yearlong state of emergency and put its civilian leaders under house arrest.

The military-led Feb. 1 coup has led to widespread violence, protests and worsened conditions for religious minorities.

In recent months, churches have been damaged or destroyed by military shelling as thousands of displaced individuals have taken shelter in churches when their villages have come under attack.

Last month, the United Nations estimated that as many as 100,000 people were displaced due to increased fighting in the Kayah state, including "indiscriminate attacks by security forces against civilian areas." The international body expressed concern over the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Kayah state and other areas in southeast Myanmar.

"The increased attacks on churches show the hostilities the Tatmadaw has towards Christianity and its disregard for human lives," the ICC report reads.

David Eubank of Free Burma Rangers is on the ground in Burma serving in ministry.

He offered a glimpse into the crisis unfolding and the constant danger. He shared a recent story of being shot at by the military while attempting to plant rice.

Eubank said direct humanitarian assistance, political recognition from the international community and intervention are needed in Myanmar.

The country is ranked No. 18 on Open Doors USA's 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. The persecution level in Myanmar is very high due to the religious nationalism that places increasing emphasis on Buddhism.

Due to the deteriorating condition of Burmas democracy and its lack of peace, human rights activist Benedict Rogers, the East Asia team leader of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said the response to Burmas worsening situation must be long-term.

The type of pressure needs to be as intense and targeted as possible," Rogers advised. "But it also should be as sustained as possible, recognizing that this is probably going to be a long, strong struggle or a long new chapter in Burmas ongoing struggle. So it is going to be both intense but also sustained."

ICCs report offers recommendations to the international community to impose sanctions, create a cohesive bloc, support the National Unity Government and pressure the Tatmadaws allies.

The protection of Myanmars many ethnic and religious minority groups, long persecuted by the Tatmadaw, is a critical matter and one that must rank high on the international communitys list of priorities, the report states.

ICC Regional Manager for Southeast Asia Gina Goh, one of the authors of the report, warns that the "chaos caused by the coup is not likely to cease for the next few months or even years."

We have already witnessed the targeting of churches and religious leaders in states such as Chin and Kayah by the Tatmadaw, she said in a statement. As the resistance forces fight on, there could be tens of thousands more IDPs who direly need humanitarian aid and medical help. We should not stand idle.
Mike Sutter /Staff

Laika Cheesecakes and Espresso is planning to bring its cheesecakes in a jar and cloud cappuccinos to the Far North Side.

The Alamo Heights bakery is eyeing a spot in The Rim at 5311 N Loop 1604 W, Suite 105, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. An employee at the original location confirmed the second location in a phone call, but said it was too early to release more details.
Nati Harnik/AP

OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Warren Buffett's company is abandoning its purchase of a natural gas pipeline from Dominion Energy because of uncertainty about whether the deal could get regulatory approval.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will receive a $1.3 billion refund on the proposed purchase of Questar Pipelines that was also supposed to include $430 million of Dominion's debt when it was announced a year ago. The Richmond, Virginia-based energy company said it still plans to sell Questar and will work to find another buyer by the end of the year. Dominion also said the decision won't affect its financial outlook.
SpaceX and Tesla aren't Elon Musk's only companies expanding in Texas.

A company affiliated with The Boring Company, Musks tunneling and infrastructure transportation venture, is reportedly buying property in Central Texas' Bastrop County.

SPACE RACE: Billionaire Richard Branson makes trip to space in own ship

The Austin American-Statesman's Kara Carlson reports that Gapped Bass LLC, a company affiliated with The Boring Company, purchased 73 acres in northwest Bastrop County back in May. Records filed with the Texas Secretary of State's office revealed that Gapped Bass shared the same address as The Boring Company's Pflugerville facility.

And while plans haven't been revealed for the Bastrop acreage, a job listing with The Boring Company refers to the spot as the company's "research and development site."

Musk's main goal with The Boring Company is to revamp intracity transportation (and eventually longer intercity routes) through tunnels and "loop" systems that will take passengers underground at speeds up to 150 miles per hour. There are currently completed tunnels in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

STARBASE, TEXAS: See inside Elon Musk's tiny, rented home

The company also made headlines in 2018 when it sold 20,000 flamethrowers branded as "not-a-flamethrowers" for seemingly no real reason but raising $10 million in revenue nonetheless.

The Boring Company grabbed space in Pflugerville last year to house offices. The company currently has multiple job listings for the Austin area.
BERLIN (AP)  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she doubts the dispute between her country and the United States over a nearly completed gas pipeline from Russia will be fully resolved at a meeting with President Joe Biden this week.

Washington has long argued that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline carrying natural gas from Russia to Germany endangers Europe's energy security and harms allies such as Ukraine, which currently profits from transit fees for Russian gas. The United States recently waived sanctions against German companies involved in the project, raising hopes in Berlin that an agreement acceptable to all sides can be found.

Merkel said she will discuss the issue with Biden at a White House meeting Thursday, but added: I don't know whether the papers will be fully finalized, so to speak. I believe rather not.

But these will be important talks for developing a common position, she added.

Germany is keen to increase its use of natural gas as it completes the shutdown of its nuclear power plants next year and phases out the use of heavily polluting coal by 2038.

Merkel's comments to reporters in Berlin came ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has warned that Nord Stream 2 poses a threat to his country's energy security. Should Russia route all of its gas around Ukraine in future, the country might be cut off from the supplies it needs, putting it at further risk of being pressured by Moscow.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and supports separatists in Ukraines eastern industrial heartland of Donbas.

Zelenskyy said he was looking for guarantees that Ukraine will remain a transit country for Russian gas beyond 2024. He also suggested that the gas issue should become part of four-way talks between his country, Russia, Germany and France on solving the conflict in eastern Ukraine and that the United States could join those negotiations.

Merkel said she took Ukraine's concerns seriously and that Germany and the European Union would use their weight in negotiations with Russia to ensure the agreements are extended.

We have promised this to Ukraine and we will stick to that. I keep my promises and I believe that is true also for any future German chancellor, she said.

Merkel isn't running for a fifth term in Germany's national election on Sept. 26.

She also announced that Germany will give Ukraine 1.5 million doses of coronavirus vaccine, with more shots possibly to come.
This article, Google angers employees with 'hypocritical' remote work policies, originally appeared on CNET.com.

As Google employees around the world make plans for post-pandemic work at the tech giant, Laura de Vesine won't be among them. For months, de Vesine, a senior site reliability engineer, went back and forth with the company over a potential relocation. Fed up with Google's inflexible policies, she handed in her notice. Her last day is Friday.

For de Vesine, Google's attempt to corral its employees after a year of remote work has been marked by indecision and backpedaling. Last fall, her team was told it would need to relocate to North Carolina from the company's office in Sunnyvale, California, about 40 miles south of San Francisco. The prospect of ditching Bay Area housing prices and long commutes was a powerful draw. The move, however, came with a 15% salary cut, she said. Then in late March, the team was told it would be a 25% cut. About a month later, the team relocation plans were scrapped altogether.

"This feeling that I can't realistically leave the Bay Area and work for Google is enough for me to have decided to leave," de Vesine said. "It's the fact that Google doesn't prioritize the needs of human beings. The fact that we have lives outside of work, that people actually have families."

Though remote work is sweeping corporate America, Google has been reluctant to let employees do it permanently, an approach Twitter and Reddit have taken. Google isn't the only tech company wrestling with its workforce's increasing desire for flexibility. Apple is facing its own backlash from employees, while Facebook just extended remote work options to all of its employees. But the way the search giant has handled the rollout of its plans has drawn particular scrutiny.

In May, CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled plans for a "hybrid" work environment that would require most employees to work from their offices at least three days a week beginning in September. Under the new structure, 20% of the company would work remotely. Another 20% could work from new locations. People who relocated would get salary adjustments based on the local market. The bulk of Google would pick up where it left off, working from the office. Google makes up almost all of Alphabet, a holding company that has more than 135,000 full-time employees.

As the company sorts out who will work where and how much they'll be paid, Google employees say tension has broken out over office transfers, compensation adjustments and remote work. The competition for transfers and the prospect of pay cuts has provoked growing anger, they say. The dustup over the future of the company's workplace policies has the potential to affect every person at the tech giant.

"This feeling that I can't realistically leave the Bay Area and work for Google is enough for me to have decided to leave." Laura de Vesine, resigning Google employee

The rancor intensified last week, when Urs Holzle, one of the company's longest-tenured and most senior executives, announced plans to work remotely from New Zealand, according to an email he sent to employees that was viewed by CNET. Holzle's plans angered rank-and-file workers, who consider it special treatment for company leadership, while lower-level employees have had to wade through a drawn-out and uncertain application process.

A Google spokesman declined to make Holzle available for an interview. The spokesman said Holzle's relocation request was submitted and approved last year, before Google's return-to-office policies were set, but the move was delayed because of travel restrictions.

The agitation over remote work policies has provided a new source of friction for a company whose employees are already well-experienced in rebelling against leadership. Workers have protested Google's handling of sexual misconduct, its work in China and the ousting of researchers who criticized the company's artificial intelligence systems.

What happens at Google doesn't necessarily stay at Google. For more than two decades, the search giant has set the tone for office culture in Silicon Valley, pioneering lavish employee perks like free food and gym service. The impact of Google's remote work policies could ripple far and wide, as other companies look to the tech titan as a guide.

"Google plays a very key role in the industry," said Andreea Vanacker, CEO of Sparkx5, a company that works with corporate clients to improve employee culture. "Certain organizations may be inspired by actions that Google is taking and say, 'Oh, very interesting. We should be doing the same thing.'"

A New Zealand 'experiment'

Holzle, Google's senior vice president of technical infrastructure, is a revered figure at the company. He was one of Google's first 10 employees and is credited with building the tech giant's IT foundation of servers and networks. But for some Googlers, his relocation email, which was sent on June 29 and hasn't been previously reported, illustrated the inequities of the company's system for deciding remote work.

"After three decades in the US, my wife and I both felt it was time to consider a new location," Holzle wrote. "We've decided to spend a year in New Zealand and see how we like it. To be clear: I am not retiring, just changing my location!"

Richard Nieva/CNET

In the email, he calls the move an "experiment" and says it won't be a problem for him to continue working in the Pacific time zone because he is an "early riser." He ends the note with "Kia pai to ra," or "Have a nice day" in Maori.

Hi everyone, After three decades in the US, my wife and I both felt it was time to consider a new location. We've decided to spend a year in New Zealand and see how we like it. To be clear: I am not retiring, just changing my location! We're considering this an experiment; if things go well, we may decide to stay longer but with moves like theses, it's good to keep an open mind! :-) Despite its geographical remoteness, New Zealand is only offset 3-5 hours from California depending on the time of year, so I'll continue to work in my existing roll. I'm an early riser, so this won't be a big adjustment and I'll continue to work on California time. As things open up (travel to NZ is still complicated by their quarantine), I expect to be in the Bay Area on a regular basis so you will continue to see me around in 3D. Since many of you see me on GVC and might be wondering about my new home office background, I wanted to be transparent about my move ahead of time. I'm looking forward to this adventure and to sharing the results of our relocation "experiment" with you. Kia pai to ra [have a nice day], -Urs

Two Google employees said Holzle's situation encapsulated the company's "hypocritical" policies. Both complained that the relocation represented a double standard in which different rules apply to executives in senior ranks. While his approval came last year, Google employees now undergoing the remote work application process have been told decisions won't come until August, at the earliest. Approval for Holzle's move came before the procedure was instituted.

News of Holzle's relocation especially stung because he has been particularly vocal against remote work, employees said. De Vesine, the resigning Googler, said Holzle had a policy of not letting people work remotely unless they were assigned to an office and that he wouldn't consider remote work for people who hadn't reached a certain level of seniority.

A Google spokesman declined to comment on those claims but said every employee is eligible to request remote work, regardless of their group or department. After publication of this story, the spokesman added that some employees from all levels of Holzle's organization will be approved for remote work or office transfers.

It's unclear if Holzle's salary will be adjusted to the local market, as required for other employees relocating to a new place. The Google spokesman declined to comment on his compensation. If the rule applies to Holzle, he would likely be taking a pay cut. Mountain View, California, where Holzle is based, is 18% more expensive than Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, according to Expatistan. (It's unclear what city Holzle is moving to.)

'I have to quit'

Google's stance on salaries has drawn blowback within the tech giant. While some tech companies, like Reddit, have said they'll pay employees San Francisco or New York City salaries wherever they work, Google has taken a hard line on making pay adjustments. Last month, Google released an internal tool that gives employees estimates of how their salaries would be affected if they relocated.

One Google employee based in San Francisco said they would like to move out of state to be with their partner. The employee would be relocating to an "expensive tourist destination" where the partner grew up. Google doesn't have an office in the city, so the employee applied for remote work. But it would come with a 25% pay cut, according to the salary tool.

"I will not choose Google over my partner." Google employee

The employee, holding back tears in an interview, said the situation has made them consider leaving the company.

"I will not choose Google over my partner," the employee said. "If I can't either work with my manager or figure something out, I have to quit. Google is not that great."

The remote work policies have taken a toll on the people around Google workers, too. The partner of one Google employee who spoke to CNET said the employee moved to the East Coast during the pandemic so they could live together. Now, the couple may end their relationship because the Google employee is expected back in the Bay Area in September.

Some employees have speculated about Google's motivations for emphasizing in-person work. Google has major real estate investments in its corporate hubs, including some still in development. A workforce sprawled around the globe makes those investments less useful. In May, San Jose, California, approved plans for an 80-acre Google campus that will include office space, housing and retail. For a company whose identity is in part associated with extravagant corporate facilities and whimsical culture, the stringent policies regarding office transfers and salary adjustments may be a way to nudge employees into staying put, said Jake Rosenfeld, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis who researches compensation.

"It could be an attempt to disincentivize people from moving," Rosenfeld said. "One way to encourage employees without being seen as heavy-handed or reneging on earlier promises is to say, 'Look, there's going to be a different salary structure if you choose to leave our hubs.'"

Employees say one of the most difficult parts of Google's return-to-office system is the inability to plan for a future with their loved ones. Google has been "vague and unhelpful" about the process for most of the year, one employee said. The confusion has meant workers have to leave crucial decisions, like schooling for children and apartment leases, up in the air.

"A really big pain point for me has been the uncertainty," de Vesine said. "It has been the unwillingness of Google leadership to commit to a policy and to commit to a policy that seems realistic."
"Perfection" is the only way to describe this $899,999 Houston home.

The Montrose Tudor is ready for occupants, boasting two bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, per Tim Grimes of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty.

READY TO RELOCATE? Reside in one of 'America's best places to live' for only $749K

The home was expertly reimagined in 2017, per Grimes, with renovations meeting modern-day standards and style while staying true to its timeless charm. The layout is so beautiful, it's almost impossible not to imagine yourself prancing from room to room.

Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

Marble counters, custom cabinets and designer finishes can be found spread across the island kitchen, which opens directly to the living room.

The owner's suite can be found on the first floor, featuring a beautiful bathroom with dual vanities and a custom closet.

Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

Three glass French doors open to a spacious privacy-fenced backyard, bringing the outdoors inward.

BREAKING THE 'NET: Not-so-rich Texans go crazy for Southlake castle on 'Zillow Gone Wild'

Step into the backyard and you'll see a space that's perfect for entertaining  and a pool.

Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

And if 1608 West Main Street gives you "Lord of the Rings" vibes, you're not alone. Think "modern-day hobbit holerefined."
Does the mayor watch "Naruto"? How many episodes is he into "One Piece"?

Is he aware of Anime Matsuri's past?

These are some questions one might have after seeing Mayor Sylvester Turner's office tweet pictures from Friday's Anime Matsuri convention. The annual anime and cosplay event was held this weekend at the George R. Brown Convention, and Turner appeared to be having a grand ol' time christening the proceedings in a set of Kyojuro Rengoku robes (Rengoku is a character from the popular anime series "Demon Slayer," for the uninitiated).

This isn't the first time Turner has dressed up for the convention.

Old photos of Turner awkwardly cosplaying are entertaining, but a vocal group of local anime fans have expressed their displeasure at the mayor's annual presence at the Anime Matsuri, citing past sexual harassment allegations levied at convention organizer John Leigh.

HARASSMENT: Anime Matsuri founders have long history of impropriety accusations

@JeffSyptak / Twitter

As noted by the Houston Chronicle's Cary Darling, a large number of fans have boycotted Anime Matsuri over the years due to allegations that Leigh had sexually harassed women in the cosplay community at past events. Led by a group named Boycott Anime Matsuri, the movement alleged that Leigh had slapped models' buttocks, lifted skirts and made lewd sexual comments toward women working the convention.

The boycott prompted Leigh and his wife, Deneice, to post an apology on the convention's website in 2018. Leigh maintains that he had been "joking around as friends," per Darling. Organizers with Boycott Anime Matsuri were not impressed at the time.

"[Leigh] didn't offer any kind of action plan," an organizer told Darling in 2018. "It wasn't him conceding and stepping back from the convention. It was him trying to save his bottom line."

Some haven't forgotten in 2021.

If Turner does know the event's past (seems like it'd be hard not to, at this point), he doesn't let it stand in the way of his annual dress-up and photoshoot.
Thanks to two brothers from Ulster County, the Hudson Valleys historic music and cinematic legacy will shape a new Dr. John documentary directed by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.

Ed Gerrard and Peter Himberger, long-time Ulster residents and business partners who managed Dr. John for two decades and have worked in the music industry for years, are serving as executive producers and music supervisors on this film about the late, iconic New Orleans musician. Gerrard, who has worked in the movie business for decades, won a Grammy as music supervisor for the 2015 Don Cheadle film, Miles Ahead. The brothers operate Ulster County-based Impact Artist Productions. RadicalMedia, which helped produce Questloves "Summer of Soul documentary, is also a producing partner on the film.

As for the impetus for the project, its long been in the back of Gerrard and Himbergers minds; and following Dr. Johns passing in 2019, Gerrard said, The timing was just right.

Dr. John, his singular vocals and piano playing are as closely associated with New Orleans as Mardi Gras and the French Quarter. The man whose real name was Mac Rebennack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 by John Legend and remains well-known today thanks in large part to a song catalog that includes tunes like, Right Place Wrong Time. A six-time Grammy winner, Dr. John played the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock in 2011.

He is a national treasure and it was always our objective to get more and more people to understand that, Gerrard said. He truly is one of a kind. Were excited to bring his story to the world and introduce him to new generations.

This film will mark the directorial debut for Auerbach, who produced the 2012 Dr. John album Locked Down, which won the Grammy for Best Blues Album and earned Auerbach a Grammy for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. Auerbach also performed with Dr. John at the 2011 Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee. Both of these things set the stage for Auerbachs name to enter the discussion when the filmmakers were assembling their production team for the documentary.

Auerbach said hes honored to create a project focused on Dr John, who he called a friend. He said Dr. John was a shining example of the great melting pot of American music.

From his mysterious voodoo stage persona Dr John, to his real, humble self Mac Rebannack, the street poet, the family man, the junkie, the Grammy award winner and all thats in between, this documentary will introduce the world to him in a way they havent seen him before, Auerbach said in a statement. Im still learning bits about him that I never knew, and I hope the movie provides a lens into the story of the life of Dr John.

Himberger called Auerbachs role as director on the documentary a natural progression from his previous work with Dr. John.

Dan really got the essence of Mac from the get-go, bringing an artistic aesthetic and intellectual understanding to his whole multi-faceted career and, really, his footprint on American music, Himberger said.

Formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001, the Grammy-winning Black Keys have released ten studio albums and sold millions of records. The Black Keys in 2015 played the Mountain Jam music festival in Greene County.

Serving as a producing partner on the project is RadicalMedia, which played a pivotal role in the production of Summer of Soul, the music documentary about a 1969 outdoor music festival in Harlem that has been generating a lot of buzz. Summer of Soul was directed by Ahmir Questlove Thompson, drummer for The Roots, the house band for The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC.

The Dr. John documentary does not have a title or release date yet, but preliminary archive work has begun.

According to the Recording Academy, Dr. John was born Nov. 20, 1940, in New Orleans and his music career began in the late 1950s as a songwriter and guitarist on recordings by Professor Longhair, Art Neville and Allen Toussaint. In the 1960s, he played keyboards on recordings by Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones.

His 1973 album In The Right Place hit number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart, with the song "Right Place Wrong Time" peaking at No. 9 on the singles chart. Dr. Johns first Grammy win came for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo Or Group, for his 1989 duet with Rickie Lee Jones on "Makin' Whoopee.

Dr. John had previously strengthened his ties to the Hudson Valley by performing in Levon Helm and the RCO All-Stars, the late 1970s band led by the longtime Woodstock resident and former drummer for The Band. Also, Dr. John was a member of Ringo Starrs first All Starr Band in 1989.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Most years, travelers make summer plans well in advance so they can fit in a getaway before life gets busy again in the fall.

But 2021 is not most years. Vaccinations in the United States only became widely available in the spring, some popular domestic destinations didn't drop covid restrictions until last month, and global travel rules are shifting constantly.

That leaves vacationers without much time to fit in a trip before kids go back to school or adults return to the office. Many are scrambling to arrange last-minute trips, whenever and wherever they can over the next several weeks. And, of course, safety is still a top concern since the pandemic isn't over.

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"People definitely are raring to do something over the summer, and many didn't plan as far ahead as we would normally recommend because they just didn't know what was going to be happening," Washington D.C.-area travel adviser Sari Greene said.

Those who are venturing out while they still can are finding steep prices, limited lodging options, a dearth of rental cars and flight disruptions galore. So is it possible to scrape together a summer break? Experts say: Absolutely.

- Keep it close to home (just like last year): Greene, an affiliate of Virtuoso agency Avenue Two Travel, said she has been helping clients plan two- to three-day driving trips close to home. Without having to worry about flying or rental cars, it is easier to plan at the last minute and go whenever a hotel has availability.

"People have so much more flexibility if they don't have to get that flight, and they can go anytime," she said.

- Or go very far away: With many countries in Europe opening to Americans recently, the crowds are expected to be far smaller than in a typical summer - with prices following suit. Experts say international airfare is the only category of travel that isn't more expensive this year than last.

Mike Salvadore, owner of 58 Stars Travel, said deals in places such as Italy should still be available this summer.

"I would call Europe definitely an under-the-radar opportunity that they can explore, especially this year," he said. "Because next summer is going to be very busy."

- Consider big cities: Metropolises such as New York City, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago - which normally welcome domestic tourists, business travelers and international visitors - have a lot of hotel rooms and only a fraction of the visitors they would see in a typical year. Many of these destinations are putting on big events, running ads and otherwise trying to entice more tourists this season.

- Think ski towns, but for summer: Greene said she has been able to find options for clients in places that would normally beckon in winter, including Colorado and Vermont. She is planning her own family vacation in August in Vermont - which, she said, would normally have never been a summer option. One additional item in Vermont's favor: More than 82% of residents over the age of 12 have at least started their covid-19 vaccination.

- Be flexible: Make plans around what is available, rather than try to stick to a specific date or destination. Caroline Teel, managing editor of SmarterTravel, said in an email that travelers looking for inspiration can go to Skyscanner and enter "everywhere" as their destination to find deals on flights.

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- Gamble on weather: Summer means hurricane season and a lot of potential weather disruptions. But for travelers willing to take the risk, there can be last-minute deals to offseason destinations including Cancun, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, Teel said. (In this case, travel insurance would be wise; policies need to be purchased before a storm is named.)

According to travel booking app Hopper, Florida - another destination at the mercy of tropical weather - is also the cheapest place to go domestically when considering hotels and airfare. Orlando, Fort Myers and Tampa are also among the cheapest domestic destinations.

- Expect to pay a premium: Last-minute travelers this summer are joined by those who were bumped from plans in 2020 and earlier this year. That is part of the reason prices are higher than last year - and in a few cases, higher than even pre-pandemic times.

"We have some people that come in and think they're going to get a champagne trip on a beer budget, and they realize it's going to be a champagne price these days," said Mike King, owner of a Travel Leaders agency in Fredericksburg, Va. "There's very few of what they think are going to be deals."

- Get creative with flights: Consider booking your outgoing and departing flights with different airlines in case that presents cheaper options, said Mark Crossey, U.S. travel expert for Skyscanner. He said travelers should also search multiple dates and airports, set up price alerts, and look at options for a whole month to see when the fares are lowest.

In a roundup of "new normal travel booking tips," Hopper said that because prices spike in the couple of weeks before a flight leaves, it's best to lock a ticket in no later than three weeks ahead of departure.

Flights in the middle of the week are typically cheapest, with return dates on a weekend most expensive, Hopper says. Traveling in late summer or early fall could save on average about 12%.

Given the recent rash of delays and cancellations, Hopper said it is also wise to build extra time into plans, especially if there is a can't-miss special event on the agenda.

- Cruise from the Caribbean: Cruises have started departing from the United States again, but the number is still small and capacity is reduced. That means choices are limited and discounts are scarce, said Chris Gray Faust, managing editor of Cruise Critic.

But, she said, there are deals for those who are vaccinated and don't mind flying to get on ships in places including the Bahamas and St. Maarten.

"There is plenty of availability right now and, for some, airfare from the continental U.S. to the Bahamas is comparable to what they would pay to fly to Florida for a cruise," Gray Faust said in an email. Looking ahead, she said, cruises from the United States could be a better deal in the fall as operators have more and fuller ships sailing.

- Think broadly about rental cars - and book early: Adit Damodaran, an economist at Hopper, said in an email that the best approach is to avoid trying to rent a car in popular places such as Los Angeles, Orlando, Las Vegas and Miami since demand is high and availability is low.

"If you can look slightly outside the city or at a less popular airport," like Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami, he said, "you might find more availability and better prices."

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Experts also say travelers should book a rental car as soon as they book a flight. Even if it doesn't help with the price, booking as far ahead of time as possible will increase the chance that a car will be available.

- Plan ahead for every part of the trip: Greene said she is emphasizing to her clients that they need to book dinner reservations and activities ahead of time.

"Those kinds of things are filling up like crazy, like we've never seen before," she said. "Those are things that can be really disappointing when you arrive."
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Three men have been arrested in connection with the death of a 7-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet inside her Utah home, authorities said.

The girl died at Heber Valley Hospital on Friday night, the Wasatch County Sheriffs Office said. The child's name was not released.

Christopher OConnell, 34, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of manslaughter and is facing other drugs and weapons charges. Two other men, Colin Howells, 36, and Trever Pinter, 21, were also arrested over alleged crimes not directly related to the girls death.

It was not immediately known if the three suspects had an attorney who could comment on their behalf.

Police found O'Connell near the apartment in Heber City, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of Salt Lake City, after the shooting, according to police records. Detectives said his speech was slurred and he had a handgun.

Howells and OConnell were inside Pinter's neighboring apartment Friday night, according to arrest documents. Officers found a bullet hole in the wall of the apartment that continued into the girls apartment, documents said.

Detectives spoke to two women who say Howells and OConnell sexually assaulted them in Pinters apartment. The women also said they saw OConnell pull out a gun and wave it around and asked him to put it away.

According to police documents, Howells told officers that he had consumed alcohol and prescription medication that night.

O'Connell has been convicted for driving under the influence at least three times, KSL TV reported. Howells was also convicted in a drunken incident in 2016 and was charged with a DUI in January.

Pinter and Howells were released on bail. OConnell was ordered to be held without bail.

___

Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  Rioting triggered by the imprisonment of former South African President Jacob Zuma escalated Monday as shopping malls in Johannesburg were looted, major roads were blocked by burning tires and the police and military struggled to contain the violence.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a somber address broadcast to the nation Monday night, vowed that the police and army would restore order, and he appealed to all South Africans to work together for peace.

The unrest started last week in KwaZulu-Natal province after Zuma was imprisoned for contempt of court. What began as fairly small-scale blocking of roads in Zuma's home area intensified and spread to Gauteng, South Africa's most populous province, including Johannesburg, the country's largest city.

The South African National Defence Force has been deployed to help the police.

At least 10 people have been killed and more than 490 arrested in acts of public violence rarely seen in the history of our democracy, Ramaphosa said.

Without once mentioning Zuma, Ramaphosa said that the violence may indeed have its roots in the pronouncements and activities of individuals with a political purpose, and in expressions of frustration and anger ... However, what we are witnessing now are opportunistic acts of criminality, with groups of people instigating chaos merely as a cover for looting and theft.

He said the root cause of the rioting is South Africa's high rate of poverty and unemployment.

This moment has thrown into stark relief what we already knew: that the level of unemployment, poverty and inequality in our society is unsustainable, Ramaphosa said. We cannot expect a lasting and durable peace if we do not create jobs and build a more just and equitable society in which all South Africans can participate freely and equally.

He urged all South Africans to refrain from violence.

Together, we will defeat those who seek to destabilize our country," he said. We will stand as one people, united against violence, unanimous in our commitment to peace and to the rule of law.

Earlier Monday, the looting of retail centers broke out in several of the poorer areas of Johannesburg, including Benmore, Jeppestown, Vosloorus, and Soweto, where the Jabulani and Dobsonville malls were hit.

Retail stores in Alexandra, east of Johannesburg, were also affected, and journalists covering the riots for the public South African Broadcasting Corporation and news channel Newzroom Afrika were robbed of their equipment.

Several malls, car dealerships and retail centers in more affluent areas of Johannesburg, including Rosebank and Kempton Park in eastern Johannesburg, closed early even though they were not directly threatened.

In KwaZulu-Natal, people took appliances, including microwave ovens, television sets and clothing from stores in the Mariannhill and Umlazi areas.

The violence began last week when Zuma began serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. He defied a court order to testify before a state-backed inquiry probing allegations of corruption during his term as president from 2009 to 2018.

The Constitutional Court, the countrys highest court, began hearing Zuma's appeal on Monday.

Police were investigating the deaths  four in Gauteng and two in KwaZulu-Natal, said police Col. Brenda Muridili. The police and national security forces expanded their presence in both provinces to help quell the violence, authorities said.

Police have warned that anyone using social media to encourage rioting may be arrested and prosecuted.

The way the political protest against Zuma's incarceration turned into wider rioting and looting highlights South Africa's widespread poverty, unemployment and economic disparity, analysts said.

Many rioters were just poor, said Susan Booysen, director for research at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection.

It is such a mixed bag because some other people are just taking advantage so they can grab things they could not have before," Booysen said.

There is poverty and inequality. We also know that some are criminals looking to benefit. Often legitimate protests are exploited for that purpose, she said.

Ralph Mathekga, a researcher at the University of the Western Cape, agreed that the political demonstration had been overtaken.

South Africa is a very complex nation, and (when) there is protest action, there is no doubt that those will be used opportunistically by criminal elements," Mathekga told the News24 website.

We have to recognize the socio-economic situation of the country. Almost the majority of the country is unemployed, Mathekga said. "Protest action in South Africa, without some form of criminality, is very rare.
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP)  A dream (and a movie) in the making

While growing up in the First City, Emilio Torres always knew he was going to make a movie.

A recent graduate of New York Universitys film school, Torres arrived back in Ketchikan early last week to work with a cast of local actors and friends from film school to bring his debut short film, The Ladder, to life.

Torres also started his own production company called Torres Productions LLC after moving to Seattle from New York City, and has been taking on freelance video work.

Torres spoke with the Daily News July 6 about the project, a philosophical sci-fi short film about a fisherman who is confronted with a choice to change his life forever.

Filming started on Monday, and wrapped on Thursday. Torres hopes that he will be able to enter The Ladder into large film festivals like the Sundance Festival or the Toronto Film Festival.

The beginning

Torres attributed much of his longtime interest in film to a Ketchikan childhood.

I grew up in Ketchikan and that was kind of my way into the whole world of filmmaking, because when I was younger I did theater, he told the Daily News. Thanks to First City Players, I had a lot of opportunities to be in theater and involved in theater growing up. And so because of that, I became fascinated with acting, performing, and storytelling (and) directing. Thats always what I wanted to do.

Torres wrote the script for the The Ladder in 2019, but had to table the project due to the coronavirus pandemic. Along with a crew of film school associates and other friends  some from Ketchikan  ready to get back to business.

Theres an excitement just in the fact that I finally get to make it, but theres also like the aspect of, you know, I grew up here in Ketchikan and when I was a kid, I dreamed of going to film school, he said.

In school, Torres said that he and his classmates who also were interested in theater and movies would regularly dream about going to film school after graduating.

Torres attributed his ability to create the script and bring it to life to the vibrant arts community in which he was raised.

I dont think Id be able to pursue a career in filmmaking if I wasnt raised in a community where I was encouraged to be artistic and creative, and the Ketchikan community allowed me to be artistic and creative, Torres reflected. And so that has let me pursue my dreams. And so in a way, me making this movie, I hope is just kind of a way to give back to the community as well, and trying to show them what Ive learned and create a film that shows Ketchikan in a really awesome way.

The plot

In The Ladder, a local fisherman has a big choice to make when a bio-technology company called Actilife makes available a voluntary procedure to transplant older individuals consciousness into a 21-year-old body.

So, in essence, they created a way for older people in our communities to restart their lives, if they so choose, Torres explained. And in the film, it explores Ketchikan, because it is kind of being used as a test city to see how this procedure would work.

The storyline follows a fictious First City fisherman named Arthur, portrayed by local Keith Smith, who is given the opportunity to complete the procedure.

And so the film is about whether or not he does this procedure, Torres said. The film is really just about (if) an older Alaskan fisherman would or would not want to restart their life.

The concept

Torres said he always had an obsession with the idea of starting over.

Im always like, Oh, well, if I just go back to this year or this day, you know, I can change it ... or if I just had more time, I could do this, he said. Thats always been on my mind in general. But you know, really, what the movies about beyond just that concept is how family dynamics change as you age.

The recent graduate also was inspired by his own developing understanding of how he relates to his family as he gets older.

Our main character struggles with whether or not to do this and also how to go about telling your son if he wants to do it, he said. And that came from me, you know, I wrote the script and I went to college and it was kind of the first time as an adult (that) I was interacting with my parents as another adult. And so it kind of clicked for me to be like, Oh yeah, my relationships with these people are different and theyre always going to be different.

He hopes the movie shows that shifting family dynamics can be positive.

But of course, its a challenge and how you navigate it in our modern day world is pretty, pretty crazy, Torres added.

The movies namesake was derived from the salmon ladder in Ketchikan Creek near Married Mans Trail and Park Avenue.

The reason the movies called The Ladder is because its a metaphor for the salmon ladder, Torres explained. And when I was a kid, I used to think about how the salmon ladder is so interesting because we learn in school that salmon are in the ocean, and then when its time for them to spawn, you know, they swim up the creek. They go up the ladder and then theyll spawn and have their children and then die.

He continued, And that was always really profound to me, even as a kid, because I used to think are the salmon aware when they hop up the ladder in some weird spiritual way that theyre accepting the end of their life?

Torres thoughts about salmon became part of the movie, inspiring a scene involving a discussion about salmon between the main character and his daughter-in-law.

The cast and crew

While there wasnt a formal casting process, Torres said that there were auditions. He noted that he pictured Keith Smith in the role of Arthur as he wrote the script two years ago, having known him for many years before writing the movie.

So then it became a question of casting the other actors, he said. And so there was no official process. And I reach out to people here in Ketchikan.

The cast includes:

 Keith Smith as Arthur.

 Jeff Karlson as Arthurs son, Ryan.

 Heidi Poet as Ryans wife, Emily.

 Katherine Tatsuda as a doctor.

 Connor Wodehouse as Arthurs friend, Joe.

 Dave Kiffer as a driver.

So I wanted to get people from (the) community who, you know, obviously auditioned and earned the role, but also reflected our community in a positive way, Torres said.

The crew includes:

 Maggie Barry, assistant director.

 Tobias Romero, cinematographer.

 Taylor J. Williams, first assistant camera.

 Sarah Kuharich, second assistant camera.

 Megan Cornwall, script supervisor.

 Felix Wong, sound production.

 Jackson Yeomans, gaffer (lighting).

 Caitlyn Ashcraft, costuming.

 Blaine Ashcraft, art director.

 Miguel Torres, executive productor.

 Diane Slagle, caterer.

The process

I was planning to make it in May of 2020, but obviously in March when the COVID-19 pandemic first started, at that time, it did not feel right or responsible to make the movie, Torres explained. So I went ahead and postponed production. And at that time, I really didnt know when we were going to make it, because at that point, none of us really knew what this pandemic was going to be.

With the production on pause, Torres graduated early from NYUs film school.

He said that in the past year, he decided to aim to start shooting the film this summer.

I reached out to people and asked them if they were interested again, he recalled. And then I went ahead and did the process of starting a fundraising campaign.

The campaign brought in about $17,000, which went toward production costs such as equipment rental and insurance and other fees.

Along with the donations, Torres said it takes a lot of support to make a short film.

You know, one of my favorite professors at school, he says making movies is like ripping something out of the universe, Torres reflected. And so you really have to be passionate and love it and have a village of people to help you, because theres no way I couldve done this on my own. And ... between all the contributions people made, all the people who are directing helping, it truly takes a community to make this film happen. And thats what I have.

Torres said that the next step is to start editing the footage from the filming process in Ketchikan when he returns home to Seattle. That also includes finishing adjusting sound and colors in the film.

Taylor J. Williams, the first assistant camera person, will be working on creating a score for the film.

After the process is done, Torres hopes to submit The Ladder to a variety of film festivals.

The big picture dream for The Ladder is that we use this short film after the film festival season to pitch and get funding and resources to bring a feature film or series project to Ketchikan with a bigger story version of the film, Torres noted in a follow-up message to the Daily News on Friday.
Images of the World Trade Center towers collapsing in New York were still fresh in the minds of the first American troops arriving in Afghanistan, as the U.S. launched an invasion targeting the Afghanistan-based al-Qaida leaders who plotted the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. More than 800,000 U.S. troops have served in the Central Asian country since then, in a war that quickly expanded to confronting Afghanistan's Taliban and to nation-building. On Monday, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller, relinquished his command in Kabul, underscoring the winding down of Americas longest war.

One-third of the roughly 4 million troops who served in the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq served multiple tours, some in well-secured bases in times of comparative quiet, others facing improvised explosive devices on the roads, mortar and rocket attacks on their positions, and firefights. While the U.S. quickly succeeded in quelling the al-Qaida fighters behind the 9/11 attacks, Americans leave with the Taliban rapidly claiming fresh territory. Many Afghans fear the return of civil war, or strict Taliban rule, with the Western troops' departure.

The Associated Press talked to some of the U.S. veterans of Afghanistan as Americans withdraw, after nearly 20 years:

ARMY VETERAN

For Andrew Brennan, 36, its the days the painful memories subside that bother him. A former Army captain who flew combat missions, Brennan lost one of his closest friends, pilot Bryan Nichols, when his Chinook helicopter was shot down in 2011, killing 30 Americans, seven Afghan soldiers and one interpreter. It was the single deadliest day for U.S. troops during the war.

Brennan spent a week helping recover the bodies.

As much as I hate admitting it, there are days that go by when I dont think about Bryan, our crew, and the team guys on the back of that aircraft. And if I dont think about it and I was that close to it, what do most Americans think? the Baltimore man wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

Brennan has worn a Killed in Action bracelet in honor of Nichols for nearly a decade. He has worked to get a memorial wall built for 9/11 veterans.

While he honors those who sacrificed their lives, he believes it was a senseless war.

What have we ended up with at the end of it, other than trillions spent, 7,000+ Americans dead, and more than two broken generations of warriors? Brennan wrote.

The only stakeholder group that learned anything through this entire period were politicians: They learned that the American population is so removed from their modern day legions that they can do anything with our nations all-volunteer military and no one will pay attention or care enough to change it.

___

MARINE VETERAN

Marine veteran Jennifer Brofer will never forget the loud, popping noise.

It was on a hot July afternoon in 2010 when her convoy rolled over an IED on a road in Helmand Province four months into her deployment to Afghanistan. Her heart froze as she and her fellow Marines stopped and realized what had occurred. But what followed were only the sounds of daily life.

This was a lucky day.

For some reason it did not detonate, the former staff sergeant said.

It was a defining moment to be that close to death, said Brofer, one of the comparatively few female Marines to serve in Americas longest war.

A public affairs officer, Brofer was charged with documenting the stories of troops.

Those moments in Afghanistan really put everything into perspective for me. Because I really didnt fully appreciate all of the luxuries that I had been afforded prior to my deployment, such as hugs from loved ones, hot showers and driving down a road without fear of her vehicle exploding, she said.

Brofer, 38, who now works in the television and film industries in Hollywood, said she feels proud to have served shoulder-to-shoulder with my male Marine counterparts in a time of war.

Still, Brofer cant say whether the war was worth it.

War is ugly. And sometimes its necessary and its not like we can go back and change anything. We can only change how we respond in the future, she said. When I was deployed it was already considered then the longest war and I think its about time that our men and women came home.

___

NATIONAL GUARD

After the United States launched a second war, in Iraq, in 2003, Oklahoma National Guard Sgt. Eran Harrill was one of hundreds of thousands of guard members called to duty as an all-volunteer U.S. military strained to fight two wars simultaneously.

Harrill fought in 2011 as part of a combat unit in Afghanistan's Laghman Province, as the U.S. surged troops in hopes of crippling Afghanistan's Taliban. A marketing director and business development executive in Oklahoma City, he patrolled alongside a mechanic, a K-9 police officer, students and other Oklahomans.

The very first firefight we got in was certainly an aha moment for the citizen soldiers, Harrill said.

I think we did some good there, maybe helped some people and prevented some loss of life, said Harrill, 38, who had always wanted to serve in the military, while some guard colleagues had seen it as a way to bring in money for college. Was it worth the loss of life we had? I dont know, thats for someone else to answer.

Back home, Harrill served in jobs that included leading Oklahoma City's Black Chamber of Commerce. He's developing a directory aimed at identifying which employers are most suitable for members of the military like National Guard members.

That's after seeing guard members struggle with bosses unhappy over time away for training and deployment, including managers who reached out to a deployed guard member in the field to threaten him with firing if he didn't return.

We have a bad habit in this country of putting little yellow ribbons, support our troops, in the window," Harrill said. But we dont really support our troops as to how it affects us when the rubber hits the road."
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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Monday called protests in Cuba remarkable" and a clarion call for freedom, praising thousands of Cubans who took the streets to protest food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis  one of the island's biggest antigovernment demonstrations in recent memory.

The Cuban people are demanding their freedom from an authoritarian regime. I dont think weve seen anything like this protest in a long long time, if, quite frankly, ever, Biden said in a brief exchange with reporters at the start of a meeting with mayors and law enforcement officials to discuss gun violence in the U.S.

The comments marked a notable change in tone from Biden's old boss, Barack Obama, who as president sought to ease decades of tensions between Washington and Havana while loosening U.S. imposed economic sanctions. It was an effort that was reversed by Republican President Donald Trump, who partially rolled back Obama's rapprochement, limiting U.S. travel to the island, banning American financial transactions with dozens of enterprises, and more.

We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime, Biden said in an earlier statement Monday. The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights.

Julie Chung, the acting assistant secretary for the departments Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, on Sunday suggested that the protests were driven by Cuban people exercising "their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising COVID case/deaths & medicine shortage. We commend the numerous efforts of the Cuban people mobilizing donations to help neighbors.

But White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday sought to frame the protests being driven by far broader frustration, calling the demonstrations spontaneous expressions of people who are exhausted with the Cuban governments economic mismanagement and repression.

Psaki added that the U.S. remains ready to assist Cuba in its COVID-19 vaccination effort, but the Cuban governments decision not to participate in COVAX  a worldwide initiative aimed at distributing vaccines to poorer nations  complicated the effort.

We certainly recognize and understand that access to vaccines is one of the issues that a number of individuals on the streets is voicing concern about, but we have to determine what the mechanism would be to work with the Cuban people to get vaccines to them, Psaki said.

The scene of demonstrators on Havanas Malecon promenade and elsewhere on the island was an unusual scene as the communist leadership has historically shown little tolerance for criticism. Police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted Freedom, Enough and Unite. One motorcyclist pulled out a U.S. flag, but it was snatched from him by others.

About 2 1/2 hours into the march, some protesters pulled up cobblestones and threw them at police, at which point officers began arresting people and the marchers dispersed. AP journalists counted at least 20 people who were taken away in police cars or by individuals in civilian clothes.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., lashed out at Biden for taking a full day to acknowledge the protesters, noting on Twitter that Biden's statement did not describe the Cuba government as  socialist and communist.

The protests in #Cuba began over 24 hours ago And you forgot something, Rubio said.

Biden said on the campaign trail that he would largely reverse Trump's Cuba policy and return to Obama-era policies. But Biden has largely kept Trump's policies in the place in the early going.

Rubio in a letter Monday called on the president to take a series of steps in support of the protesters, including making free satellite internet access available on the island; rallying Western Hemisphere and European Union leaders to condemn the Cuban government's efforts to stifle the voice of protesters; and making a clear and unambiguous statement that the current U.S. policies towards the regime implemented by the Trump Administration will remain in place."

Administration officials said their review of Cuba policy is ongoing.

Were looking carefully and closely at what has just happened, what indeed is happening, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. "And as we stated many times, at the heart of the review and at the heart of the policy that would result are democracy and human rights. Thats core to our efforts. That will be reflected in the policy.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Authorities in Las Vegas are investigating the death of a 35-year-old man who police say fought with people after crashing a vehicle at a gas station and became unconscious before arriving in custody at jail for booking on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The Clark County coroner said Monday the cause of Rashad Straughters death was not immediately determined and his hometown was listed as unknown. Blood toxicology tests can take several weeks for results.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday declined to review the case of a youth evangelist who was sentenced to more than 1,000 years in prison for sexual offenses against teenage boys.

Justices denied Acton Bowens petition without issuing a written opinion. Bowen in 2019 pleaded guilty to 28 counts involving six boys between the ages of 13 and 16. The charges include sexual abuse, sodomy, enticing a child for sex and traveling to meet a child for sexual abuse.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended several criminals and gang members over a 24-hour period.

The first incident occurred during the early morning of July 11, when agents assigned to the Laredo North Station apprehended a group of 12 undocumented individuals on a ranch northwest of the city that included two wanted criminals.

One undocumented individual was identified as Ian Abel Vargas-Sanchez, a 34-year-old Mexican national. Record checks revealed that Vargas-Sanchez has an outstanding warrant from Hays County in San Marcos. Webb County Sheriffs Office deputies took custody of Vargas-Sanchez for extradition.

The second undocumented individual was identified as Anastasio Vasquez-Cano, a 28-year-old Mexican National, with a criminal conviction for Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact. Vasquez-Cano will be prosecuted for his immigration violations and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The second incident occurred later that evening when agents from the Laredo South Station apprehended a group of 11 individuals attempting to enter the U.S. in south Laredo.

Edilson Sandoval-Sandoval, a 22-year-old Salvadoran, was identified as having an active warrant out of Harris County for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and is a registered sex offender. He also self-identified as being a member of the MS-13 gang. Sandoval-Sandoval will be prosecuted for his immigration violations and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The third subject was arrested early the next morning when agents from the Hebbronville Station apprehended a group of four undocumented individuals in a ranch west of Hebbronville, Texas.

Agents discovered one individual, a 28-year-old Salvadoran named Ermes Carcamo-Valladarez, who had an extensive criminal history and a member of the MS-13 gang. He is being held by the U.S. Border Patrol pending criminal prosecution for his immigration violations and will be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The final incident occurred several hours later when agents from the Freer Station encountered a white SUV that entered the primary inspection lane of the checkpoint west of Freer, Texas.

Agents arrested Jose Mendez-Prieto, a 35-year-old Mexican national in the U.S. illegally, and found he had an active warrant for a parole violation out of Houston, Texas. Mendez-Prieto was taken into custody by WCSO for extradition.

These apprehensions continue to highlight the dangers that illegal immigration poses to our country, said the USBP in a statement. Laredo Sector agents continue to apprehend undocumented individuals crossing illegally into the United States who have been previously convicted for various crimes and deported to their country of origin. Dangerous criminals such as this endanger our communities by showing a lack of regard for our countrys laws. The agents of the Laredo Sector are committed to their duties of protecting the American people, safeguarding our borders and enhancing the nations economic prosperity.

To report suspicious activity such as human and/or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994. If you see something, say something.
Cubans facing the countrys worst economic crisis in decades took to the streets over the weekend. In turn, authorities blocked social media sites in an apparent effort to stop the flow of information into, out of and within the beleaguered nation.

Restricting internet access has become a tried-and-true method of stifling dissent by authoritarian regimes around the world, alongside government-supported disinformation campaigns and propaganda. On the extreme side, regimes like China and North Korea exert tight control over what regular citizens can access online. Elsewhere, service blockages are more limited, often cutting off common social platforms around elections and times of mass protests.

There was no formal organizer of Sundays protests; people found out about the rallying points over social media, mostly on Twitter and Facebook, the platforms most used by Cubans. The thousands of Cubans who took to the streets  protesters and pro-government activists alike  wielded smartphones to capture images and send them to relatives and friends or post them online.

On Monday, Cuban authorities were blocking Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram, said Alp Toker, director of Netblocks, a London-based internet monitoring firm. This does seem to be a response to social media-fueled protest, he said. Twitter did not appear to be blocked, though Toker noted Cuba could cut it off if it wants to.

While the recent easing of access by Cuban authorities to the internet has increased social media activity, Toker said, the level of censorship has also risen. Not only does the cutoff block out external voices, he said, it also squelches the internal voice of the population who have wanted to speak out.

Internet access in Cuba has been expensive and relatively rare until recently. The country was basically offline" until 2008, then gradually entered a digital revolution, said Ted Henken, a Latin America expert at Baruch College, City University of New York. The biggest change, he noted, came in December 2018 when Cubans got access to mobile internet for the first time via data plans purchased from the state telecom monopoly. These days, more than half of all Cubans have internet access, Henken said.

Many Cubans now have real-time, anywhere-you-are access to the internet and the ability to share information among themselves, he added. Since early 2019, this access has facilitated regular, if smaller, events and protests on the island. In response, the government has periodically shut down access to social media, mostly to hide its repressive tactics from both citizens and foreigners, he said.

The Cuban government also restricts independent media in Cuba and routinely blocks access within Cuba to many news websites and blogs, according to Human Rights Watch.

Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, along with a resurgence of coronavirus cases, as it suffers the consequences of U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. The protests now, the largest in decades, are absolutely and definitely fueled by increased access to internet and smartphones in Cuba, said Sebastian Arcos, associate director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Social media posts from within and outside of Cuba are not the root causes of the rebellion, but they are a factor in connecting the desperation, disaffection that exists in the island, said Arturo Lopez-Levy, an assistant political science professor at Holy Names University in California.

Lopez-Levy, who grew up a few blocks from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, said the countrys current leader has embraced the economic potential of digital technology far more than his predecessors, but may have calculated that a large segment of Cubans will accept a temporary internet shutdown if it helps restore order in the streets.

Elsewhere, government internet shutdowns after or ahead of protests have also become commonplace, whether for a few hours or extending for months. In Ethiopia, there was a three-week shutdown in July 2020 after civil unrest. The internet blackout in the Tigray region has stretched on for months. In Belarus, the internet went down for more than two days after an August 2020 election seen as rigged sparked mass protests. Mobile internet service repeatedly went down during weekend protests for months afterwards.

A decade ago during the Arab Spring, when social media was still in its early years and Egypt, Tunisia and other countries in the Middle East faced bloody uprisings that were broadcast on social media, headlines declared the movements Twitter Revolutions" and experts debated about just how important a role social media played in the events. Ten years later, there is no question that social media and private chat platforms have become an essential organizing tool. Restricting them, in turn, is a routine move to suppress dissent. Internet service was disrupted in Cali, Colombia during May anti-government protests.

This year has also seen disruptions in Armenia, Uganda, Iran, Chad, Senegal and the Republic of Congo.

But authoritarian regimes aren't the only ones getting into the act. India routinely shuts down the internet during times of unrest. Toker of NetBlocks said the imposition of internet restrictions in Cuba follows an emerging global pattern and not always in the countries you most expect them, such as a recent Nigerian cutoff of Twitter. On the plus side, he said, the world is much more aware of these incidents because it's easier to monitor and report them remotely.

On Sunday, all of Cuba went offline for less than 30 minutes, after which there were several hours of intermittent but large outages, said Doug Madory of Kentik, a network management company. He said large internet outages were very rare in Cuba until very recently.

There was an outage in January just for mobile service following the 27N protests, Madory said, referring to a movement of Cuban artists, journalists and other members of civil society who marched on the Ministry of Culture on Nov. 27, 2020, demanding freedom and democracy.

Henken said he doesn't believe the government would shut off access for an extended period of time, even though that is its go-to tactic for dissidents and activists.

The problem they have now is that its not a handful of activists or artists or independent journalists  its now a massive swath of the population all throughout the country, he said. "So the genie is out of the bottle. Theyre trying to put it back in.

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AP Havana correspondent Andrea Rodriguez and AP technology reporter Matt O'Brien contributed to this article.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Family members and police are at odds over the shooting death of a Black gay man in Kansas City, Missouri, with family members saying they think he was shot because he was gay and police saying there's no evidence to support that.

DeAngelo Wallace, 28, was killed downtown early on July 5. A suspect was arrested the same day and was later released.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  A wildfire near the resort town of Sisters, Oregon, doubled in size to 6.2 square miles (16 square kilometers) Monday, forcing evacuations in the area, while the state's biggest fire continued to burn out of control, with containment not expected until November.

That wildfire, dubbed the Bootleg Fire, has scorched over 240 square miles (622 square kilometers) in southern Oregon. Fire managers estimated the fire wont be contained until around Nov. 30. It started on July 6 from unknown causes.

The fire will continue to be extremely active in unchecked portions of the perimeter, with unstable air conditions and extremely dry fuels, fire managers in the Fremont-Winema National Forest said Monday.

They said that during the weekend, heat generated by the fire sucked in winds, which brought more oxygen to an already raging fire, essentially fanning the flames. But control lines on the fire's southern edge kept the flames in check overnight.

More crews will be working night shift as overnight temperatures moderate fire activity, allowing crews to make more progress, the fire's joint information center said on Twitter.

Power companies are inspecting damage to high-voltage power lines to see if they can carry electricity again. The Bootleg Fire disrupted service on three transmission lines providing up to 5,500 megawatts of electricity to California, where the states grid operator asked for voluntary power conservation from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. to ease the strain.

A fire in Central Oregon, a few miles northeast of Sisters, started on Sunday, and doubled in size by Monday morning. A plane dropped orange fire retardant on the fire, whose smoke was visible for miles, and ground crews cut fire lines amid grass and trees.

There's ash coming down, said Leah Tolle, business manager of the Tollgate Property Owners Association, a community next to Sisters.

Gov. Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act after determining that a threat to life, safety, and property exist due to the fire, and the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighters.

The declaration authorizes the state fire marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local firefighters.

The state fire marshal's office tweeted Monday that task forces from Benton, Linn and Lane counties are going to assist fighting the fire in Central Oregon, named the Grandview Fire. Firefighters from Marion County were ordered to the scene Sunday evening.
TBILISI, Georgia (AP)  Hundreds of people protested in Georgia on Monday for a second day in a row, demanding the government of the ex-Soviet nation resign over the death of a journalist who was attacked and beaten by anti-LGBT protesters.

Demonstrators gathered in front of Georgia's parliament in the capital of Tbilisi, then went on to rally in front of the headquarters of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Some threw eggs and paint at the party headquarters building and 12 people were arrested.

Cameraman Alexander Lashkarava was found dead in his home Sunday by his mother, according to the TV Pirveli channel he worked for. Lashkarava was one of several dozen journalists attacked last Monday by opponents of an LGBT march that had been scheduled to take place that day in Tbilisi.

Organizers of the Tbilisi March For Dignity cancelled the event, saying authorities had not provided adequate security guarantees. Opponents of the march blocked off the capitals main avenue, denounced journalists covering the protest as pro-LGBT propagandists and threw sticks and bottles at them.

Lashkarava was brutally beaten, and local TV channels showed him with bruises on his face and blood on the floor around him. Media reports say he sustained multiple injuries and had to undergo surgery but was discharged from a hospital on Thursday.

The cause of his death was not immediately clear.

Georgia's Interior Ministry said Monday that Lashkarava could have died of a drug overdose, but his colleagues scoffed at the claim.

I do not trust the Interior Ministry in anything, said Vato Tsereteli, owner of the TV Pirveli channel. Tsereteli tried to meet with lawmakers earlier on Monday but was denied access to the parliament.

Animosity against sexual minorities is strong in the conservative Black Sea nation of Georgia. The Tbilisi Pride group said opponents of the planned march were supported by the government and by the Georgian Orthodox Church. One photo reportedly showed a journalist caught in a headlock by an Orthodox priest.

Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili condemned the violence, but Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili alleged the march was organized by radical opposition forces that he claimed were led by exiled former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Health care workers in Greece will be suspended if they refuse to get vaccinated under a new mandatory policy announced Monday by the countrys prime minister.

Staff at nursing homes will be suspended starting Aug. 16 if they fail to book a vaccination appointment, with a similar policy to follow in September for workers at state-run and private hospitals.

Starting Friday, and until the end of August, all indoor commercial areas, including bars, cinemas, and theaters, will only be available for the vaccinated.

After a year and a half, no one can claim ignorance about the coronavirus anymore, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address. The country will not shut down again due to attitude adopted by certain people ... Its not Greece thats a danger, but unvaccinated Greeks.

The new restrictions will apply nationwide, including the Greek islands and other key tourism destinations.

COVID-19 infections in Greece have surged since late June, with authorities blaming carelessness at bars and restaurants as well as the spread of the highly infectious delta variant. The number of daily infections per 100,000 residents over seven days rose from 3.5 on June 24 to above 17 now.

Just over 40% of residents have been fully vaccinated but appointments to start the vaccine process have been falling in recent weeks  prompting the government to increase the pressure on vaccine skeptics.

Authorities on Thursday will begin accepting vaccination requests from minors over 14 with parental consent.

Lengthy lockdowns and a steep drop in tourism in 2020 halted the countrys financial recovery and swung Greece into recession, with the economy contracting 8.2% last year. The European Commission says it expects output to rebound by 4.3% this year and 6.0% in 2022 if tourism continues to recover and new lockdowns are avoided.

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Follow Gatopoulos at http://www.twitter.com/dgatopoulos

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Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP)  A judge has denied a request to suppress evidence in a 2016 case involving the killings of an Apache Junction couple.

Pinal County Sheriffs deputies arrested three men in the case.
Connecticut lawmakers will once again consider whether Gov. Ned Lamont's emergency declarations first issued in March of 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic should be extended.

The Democratic governor has asked the General Assembly to renew his declarations of public health and civil preparedness emergencies through Sept. 30, noting he is only seeking to extend 11 executive orders. That's compared to a high of more than 300 at one point during the crisis.

These orders are still needed to protect the public and continue critical measures to provide healthcare access and economic relief and respond to evolving changes, Lamont wrote in a recent email to state lawmakers. He noted they are narrowly targeted to achieve specific goals" that would be unachievable given current state laws and regulations that didn't originally contemplate a pandemic.

This list includes orders requiring face masks in certain settings, providing tenants additional time to repay back rent, and allowing state-owned commuter lots to be used for vaccination clinics  a new initiative that's scheduled to launch on July 30. Also, several federal funding sources for food, housing and other initiatives require emergency declarations to remain in place, he said.

Members of the House of Representatives were informed Monday that they will return for a special session on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. The Senate is also scheduled to vote Wednesday. The two chambers, controlled by Democrats, are expected to approve the governor's request.

Conservative Republicans, however, have been pushing back. They contend his request is unwarranted, given the progress Connecticut has made with the pandemic. An estimated 200 people turned out for a protest at the state Capitol on Monday afternoon. Some carried American flags and waved signs with slogans like Stop King Ned and Unmask Our Kids, a reference to required mask-wearing in schools. The list of speakers included GOP lawmakers and businessman Bob Stefanowski, Lamont's former Republican rival in the 2018 election.

"For more than a year, Connecticut residents complied with the rules and dutifully stayed home, wore masks and socially distanced, yet now, when more than 60% of the population is vaccinated, businesses are returning to normal and the facts clearly show a substantial reduction in infection, transmission, hospitalization and death, the governor is trying to mislead the public by contending the threat is still so grave he needs to retain near-unilateral control of the state, said Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Granby, in a written statement.

Todd Murphy, a spokesman for the House Democrats, said the Democratic leaders feel good about granting the extension because of the bipartisan legislation that was passed in May that allows top legislative leaders to reject any executive orders enacted by Lamont.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are expected to hold a separate session later in the month to decide whether to try and override Lamont's veto of a bill that would have limited when isolated confinement or seclusion is used in Connecticut prisons. It's questionable whether there will be an override attempt.

When he issued his veto, Lamont also signed an executive order to increase out of cell time for all incarcerated individuals, including those in restrictive status. Advocates, however, say it falls far short.
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Michael J. Poulin, University at Buffalo

(THE CONVERSATION) When Japanese chef Yoshihiro Murata travels, he brings water with him from Japan. He says this is the only way to make truly authentic dashi, the flavorful broth essential to Japanese cuisine. Theres science to back him up: water in Japan is notably softer  which means it has fewer dissolved minerals  than in many other parts of the world. So when Americas enjoy Japanese food, they arguably arent getting quite the real thing.

This phenomenon isnt limited to food. Taking something out of its geographic or cultural context often changes the thing itself.

Take the word namaste. In modern Hindi, its simply a respectful greeting, the equivalent of a formal hello appropriate for addressing ones elders. But in the U.S., its associations with yoga have led many people to believe that its an inherently spiritual word.

Another cultural tradition that has changed across time and place is the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness is a nonjudgmental expansive awareness of ones experiences, often cultivated through meditation.

A range of studies have found mindfulness to be beneficial for the people who practice it in a number of ways.

However, very little research has examined its effects on societies, workplaces and communities. As a social psychologist at the University at Buffalo, I wondered if the growing enthusiasm for mindfulness might be overlooking something important: the way practicing it might affect others.

A booming market

In just the past few years, the mindfulness industry has exploded in the U.S. Current estimates put the U.S. meditation market  which includes meditation classes, studios, and apps  at approximately US$1.2 billion. Its expected to grow to over $2 billion by 2022.

Hospitals, schools and even prisons are teaching and promoting mindfulness, while over 1 in 5 employers currently offer mindfulness training.

The enthusiasm for mindfulness makes sense: Research shows mindfulness can reduce stress, increase self-esteem and decrease symptoms of mental illness.

Given these findings, its easy to assume that mindfulness has few, if any, downsides. The employers and educators who promote it certainly seem to think so. Perhaps they hope that mindfulness wont just make people feel better, but that it will also make them be better. That is, maybe mindfulness can make people more generous, cooperative or helpful  all traits that tend to be desirable in employees or students.

Mindfulness migrates

But in reality, theres good reason to doubt that mindfulness, as practiced in the U.S., would automatically lead to good outcomes.

In fact, it may do the opposite.

Thats because its been taken out of its context. Mindfulness developed as a part of Buddhism, where its intimately tied up with Buddhist spiritual teachings and morality. Mindfulness in the U.S., on the other hand, is often taught and practiced in purely secular terms. Its frequently offered simply as a tool for focusing attention and improving well-being, a conception of mindfulness some critics have referred to as McMindfulness.

Not only that, mindfulness and Buddhism developed in Asian cultures in which the typical way in which people think about themselves differs from that in the U.S. Specifically, Americans tend to think of themselves most often in independent terms with I as their focus: what I want, who I am. By contrast, people in Asian cultures more often think of themselves in interdependent terms with we as their focus: what we want, who we are.

Cultural differences in how people think about themselves are subtle and easy to overlook  sort of like different kinds of water. But just as those different kinds of water can change flavors when you cook, I wondered if different ways of thinking about the self might alter the effects of mindfulness.

For interdependent-minded people, what if mindful attention to their own experiences might naturally include thinking about other people  and make them more helpful or generous? And if this were the case, would it then be true that, for independent-minded people, mindful attention would spur them to focus more on their individual goals and desires, and therefore cause them to become more selfish?

Testing the social effects

I floated these questions to my colleague at the University at Buffalo, Shira Gabriel, because shes a recognized expert on independent versus interdependent ways of thinking about the self.

She agreed that this was an interesting question, so we worked with our students Lauren Ministero, Carrie Morrison and Esha Naidu to conduct a study in which we had 366 college students come into the lab  this was before the COVID-19 pandemic  and either engage in a brief mindfulness meditation or a control exercise that actually involved mind wandering. We also measured the extent to which people thought of themselves in independent or interdependent terms. (Its important to note that, although cultural differences in thinking about the self are real, there is variability in this characteristic even within cultures.)

At the end of the study, we asked people if they could help solicit donations for a charity by stuffing envelopes to send to potential donors.

The results  which have been accepted for publication in the journal Psychological Science  detail how, among relatively interdependent-minded individuals, the brief mindfulness meditation caused them to become more generous. Specifically, briefly engaging in a mindfulness exercise  as opposed to mind wandering  appeared to increase how many envelopes interdependent-minded people stuffed by 17%. However, among relatively independent-minded individuals, mindfulness appeared to make them less generous with their time. This group of participants stuffed 15% fewer envelopes in the mindful condition than in the mind-wandering condition.

In other words, the effects of mindfulness can be different for people depending on the way they think about themselves. This figurative water can really change the recipe of mindfulness.

Of course, water can be filtered, and likewise, how people think about themselves is fluid: Were all capable of thinking about ourselves in both independent and interdependent ways at different times.

In fact, theres a relatively simple way to get people to shift their thinking about themselves. As the researchers Marilynn Brewer and Wendi Gardner discovered, all you have to do is have them read a passage that is altered to have either a lot of I and me statements or a lot of we and us statements, and ask people to identify all of the pronouns. Past research shows that this simple task reliably shifts people to think of themselves in more independent versus interdependent terms.

Our research team wanted to see if this simple effect could also shift the effects of mindfulness on social behavior.

With this in mind, we conducted one more study. This time, it was online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we used the same exercises.

First, however, we had people complete the pronoun task mentioned above. Afterwards, we asked people if they would volunteer to contact potential donors to a charity.

Our results were striking: Engaging in a brief mindfulness exercise made people who identified I/me words 33% less likely to volunteer, but it made those who identified we/us words 40% more likely to volunteer. In other words, just shifting how people thought of themselves in the moment  filtering the water of self-related thoughts, if you will  altered the effects of mindfulness on the behavior of many of the people who took part in this study.

Attention as a tool

The take-home message? Mindfulness could lead to good social outcomes or bad ones, depending on context.

In fact, the Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard said as much when he wrote that even a sniper embodies a type of mindfulness. Bare attention, he added, as consummate as it might be, is no more than a tool. Yes, it can cause a great deal of good. But it can also cause immense suffering.

If practitioners strive to use mindfulness to reduce suffering, rather than increase it, its important to ensure that people are also mindful of themselves as existing in relation with others.

This water may be the key ingredient for bringing out the full flavor of mindfulness.

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TROY, Mo. (AP)  A Missouri woman serving a life sentence for killing a disabled man in 2016 was charged Monday with killing her friend years earlier.

Lincoln County prosecutors charged 62-year-old Pamela Hupp with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the 2011 slaying of Elizabeth Betsy Faria.

Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood said Hupp convinced Faria to switch a $150,000 life insurance policy to Hupp's name days before staging her stabbing death to make it look like her husband did it, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Online court records didnt list a lawyer for Hupp on Monday.

Hupp in 2019 was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole for the 2016 fatal shooting of 33-year-old Louis Gumpenberger.

In that case, Hupp staged a fake kidnapping to divert attention from herself in a re-investigation of the Faria killing, prosecutors said. They claim she cruised St. Charles County, and lured Gumpenberger to her home with claims she was a producer for NBCs Dateline in need of help reenacting a 911 call. Gumpenberger had mental and physical disabilities from an accident.

Prosecutors say she attempted to lure other people with that same story.

Wood told the Post-Dispatch that investigators mishandled the initial Faria murder investigation by rushing to judge her husband, Russell Faria, as the murderer and then protecting their case by ignoring or concealing evidence that pointed to Hupp.

Faria was sentenced in 2013 to life in prison for his wifes killing in but the conviction was overturned in 2015. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Department last year reached a $2 million settlement with him for the wrongful conviction.

Wood said he and the new sheriff are investigating misconduct and potentially criminal behavior on the part of (the former) investigators and prosecutors. Wood said he was on the fence between (whether it was) really gross negligence and calculated criminal behavior.
BANGKOK (AP)  Lawyers for ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Monday they have been informed by the military-installed government that four new charges of corruption have been filed against her.

The military overthrew Suu Kyis elected government in February and arrested her and top members of her National League for Democracy party, including President Win Myint. Widespread popular resistance against the military takeover is continuing, despite harsh measures by the security forces to quash it.

Since the takeover, the new government has filed a number of criminal charges against Suu Kyi, who is in detention, and several of her colleagues.

Suu Kyis supporters as well as independent analysts say all of the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the militarys seizure of power.

She is currently on trial in the capital Naypyitaw on charges of sedition  defined as spreading information that could cause public alarm or unrest  two counts of flouting breaking COVID-19 pandemic restrictions during the 2020 election campaign; illegally importing walkie-talkies that were for her bodyguards use; and unlicensed use of the radios. Win Myint is her co-defendant on several of the charges.

Suu Kyi has also has been facing additional charges that have yet to be tried: accepting bribes, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and violating the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum term of 14 years.

One of her lawyers, Min Min Soe, told reporters Monday that there would be a first hearing on the new charges on June 22 in the High Court in Mandalay, the countrys second biggest city. She said two of the charges are solely against Suu Kyi, and the other two include additional people, but no other details were given her team.

A lengthy wide-ranging news conference held Monday by the government made no mention of the new charges.

On June 10, official media reported that the state Anti-Corruption Commission had found that Suu Kyi accepted bribes and misused her authority to gain advantageous terms in real estate deals. Suu Kyis lawyers already denied the allegations when they were first made in March.

Reports in state media including the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the anti-corruption body had found that Suu Kyi illegally accepted $600,000 and seven gold bars from the former chief minister of Yangon Region, a political ally.

The report also said the commission had found that Suu Kyi has misused her position to obtain rental properties at lower-than-market prices for a charitable foundation named after her mother that she chaired.

The report said that the action deprived the state of revenue it would otherwise have earned.

State television has presented videos of testimony by alleged witnesses to the payoffs in cash and gold, but there was no explanation of the circumstances in which the videos were made or evidence to back up what was said.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  A 51-year-old California man injured as a passenger in a crash on Interstate 80 in Reno that killed the driver has been charged with murder in connection with a shooting reported on the highway minutes earlier.

Laron Edward of Berkeley was being held Monday in the Washoe County Jail without bail. He also has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  The Las Vegas area has seen an increase in homicides the first half of this year, compared with the previous two years, a newspaper tally found.

After a decrease in 2019, Clark County homicide cases rose 37% in 2020 and went up again in the first half of 2021, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday. There were 75 killings from January to June compared with 66 slayings in the first six months of last year, a 14% increase.

Las Vegas police reported eight cases of children under 8 years old killed during the first six months of 2021, a significant increase after seven homicides of young children were reported in all of 2020.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said that based on his three decades of law enforcement experience, he thought the COVID-19 pandemic may play a role in the increased number of young children slayings.

I think its anxiety over COVID and economic factors in those cases, Lombardo told the Review-Journal. A lot of people tend to lash out when they dont see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Lombardo, the elected head of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who has announced he will run for Nevada governor, said he believes homicides are difficult to prevent because of the random nature of violent crimes.

But he said that about 93% of Las Vegas police homicide investigations are solved, compared with about 60% in other U.S. cities.

When tracking homicides, the Review-Journal includes fatal police shootings, while Las Vegas police do not. The tally also includes accidental shootings that are ruled homicides by the Clark County coroner's office.

In North Las Vegas, the newspaper counted 16 homicides in the first six months this year, including the 1996 killings of three teenagers that led to the arrest in February of 43-year-old Willis Davis.

By comparison, North Las Vegas had 13 homicides in the first six months of 2020, according to the tally.

Henderson police investigated seven homicides the first six months of 2021, the same number as last year and in 2019.

Domestic violence homicides were the most common killing in Henderson this year, the Review-Journal reported.

The Review-Journal counted four of what it called random homicides in Clark County from January to June.

They included a 54-year-old man stabbed at a bus stop; a 63-year-old woman allegedly beaten and strangled by her neighbor; a 60-year-old man found dead in a road with blunt force injuries; and a 28-year-old man shot and killed while sitting at a bar.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  Public school teachers in Oklahoma could have their teaching licenses suspended for teaching certain concepts about race and racism under new rules approved Monday by the State Board of Education.

With just one opposing vote, the board approved emergency rules to comply with a bill approved by the Republican-led Legislature this year that purports to ban so-called critical race theory." The new law prohibits public school teachers of grades K-12 from teaching eight different concepts about race, including that an individual, by virtue of his or race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. It also prohibits teaching that any individual should feel discomfort or guilt on account of his or her race or sex.
HAVANA (AP)  Large contingents of Cuban police patrolled the capital of Havana on Monday following rare protests around the island nation against food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis. Cuba's president said the demonstrations were stirred up on social media by Cuban Americans in the United States.

Sundays protests marked some of the biggest displays of antigovernment sentiment in the tightly controlled country in years. Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, along with a resurgence of coronavirus cases, as it suffers the consequences of U.S. sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trumps administration.

Many young people took part in demonstrations in Havana. Protests were also held elsewhere on the island, including in the small town of San Antonio de los Banos, where people objected to power outages and were visited by President Miguel Diaz-Canel. He entered a few homes, where he took questions from residents.

Authorities appeared determined to put a stop to the demonstrations. More than a dozen protesters were detained, including a leading Cuban dissident who was arrested trying to attend a march in the city of Santiago, 559 miles (900 kilometers) east. The demonstrators disrupted traffic in the capital for several hours until some threw rocks and police moved in and broke them up.

Internet service was spotty, possibly indicating an effort to prevent protesters from communicating with each other.

We've seen how the campaign against Cuba was growing on social media in the past few weeks,'' Diaz-Canel said Monday in a nationally televised appearance in which his entire Cabinet was also present. That's the way it's done: Try to create inconformity, dissatisfaction by manipulating emotions and feelings.

In a statement Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden said Cuban protesters were asserting their basic rights.

"We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime,'' Biden said.

The U.S. urges the Cuban government to serve their people rather than enriching themselves,'' Biden added.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq on Monday stressed the U.N. position on the need for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly to be respected fully, and we expect that that will be the case.

The demonstrations were extremely unusual on an island where little dissent against the government is tolerated. The last major public demonstration of discontent, over economic hardship, took place nearly 30 years in 1994. Last year, there were small demonstrations by artists and other groups, but nothing as big or widespread as what erupted this past weekend.

In the Havana protest on Sunday, police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted, Freedom! Enough! and Unite! One motorcyclist pulled out a U.S. flag, but it was snatched from him by others.

We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. Thats why Im here, one middle-age protester told The Associated Press. He declined to identify himself for fear of being arrested later.

Later, about 300 pro-government protesters arrived with a large Cuban flag, shouting slogans in favor of the late President Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution. Some assaulted an AP videojournalist, smashing his camera. AP photojournalist Ramon Espinosa was then beaten by a group of police officers in uniforms and civilian clothes; he suffered a broken nose and an eye injury.

The demonstration grew to a few thousand in the vicinity of Galeano Avenue and the marchers pressed on despite a few charges by police officers and tear gas barrages. People standing on many balconies along the central artery in the Centro Habana neighborhood applauded the protesters passing by. Others joined in the march.

About 2 1/2 hours into the march, some protesters pulled up cobblestones and threw them at police, at which point officers began arresting people and the marchers dispersed. AP journalists counted at least 20 people who were taken away in police cars or by individuals in civilian clothes.

Although many people tried to take out their cellphones and broadcast the protest live, Cuban authorities shut down internet service throughout the afternoon Sunday.

On Monday, Cuban authorities were blocking Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram, said Alp Toker, director of Netblocks, a London-based internet monitoring firm.

This does seem to be a response to social media-fueled protest, he said. Twitter did not appear to be blocked, though Toker noted Cuba has the ability to cut it off if it wants to.
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. (AP)  A shooting early Monday at a central New Jersey hotel left four people wounded, authorities said.

Woodbridge police responded to the Delta Hotels around 2:45 a.m., according to the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office. The victims were soon located and were taken to a hospital, where they were being treated for undisclosed injuries. Further details on their conditions were not disclosed.

Woodbridge police referred all questions to prosecutors, who declined further comment on the incident, citing the ongoing investigation. The names of the victims have not been disclosed.

A possible motive for the shooting has not been determined.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Republican Kentucky Auditor Mike Harmon said Monday he's running for governor in 2023, getting an early jump on a potentially crowded slate of challengers seeking to unseat Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in a state that has continued to shift toward the GOP during Beshear's time in office.

Harmon confirmed to The Associated Press that he's entering the race, with plans to file paperwork to allow him to start raising campaign money. In a release, Harmon said he's seeking the state's top elected job to help renew Kentucky and guide it toward the best version of itself it can be.

I want my children, grandchildren and every adult and child in Kentucky to know this state holds great opportunities for each and every one, he said.

He's known for his folksy style and an ability to overcome the odds while building a political resume that includes a long stint as a state lawmaker. He's in his second term as state auditor, having ousted the Democratic incumbent in 2015 and following up with a big reelection victory in 2019.

Harmon on Monday took aim at Beshear's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, criticizing the governor's restrictions that were aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. Kentucky has had lower numbers of cases and deaths than neighboring states, but the governor's actions have drawn fierce opposition from Republicans concerned about government overreach, a theme likely to be central to Harmon's campaign.

The people of Kentucky, theyve had their liberties and their livelihoods suppressed and stolen, he said in a phone interview. "And really a lot of the promises that have been made to restore or make people whole really have fallen very short.

Beshear, who has ended almost all virus-related restrictions, says his actions saved lives and were in line with decisions made in many states to combat COVID-19. Beshear says Kentucky's economy has quickly rebounded from the pandemic downturn and last week reported a massive state budget surplus.

State Democratic Party spokeswoman Marisa McNee defended Beshear's record, saying the governor has done a great job in leading Kentucky through the pandemic. Kentuckys economy, she said, is set to take off under his leadership.

While the Republicans continue to play politics, Gov. Beshear is focused every day on doing his job, and were confident the people of Kentucky see that, she said.

Harmon also blamed the governor for the long waits endured by many Kentuckians in seeking unemployment benefits during the pandemic-caused economic downturn. Harmon released an audit early this year that pointed to a huge backlog of unread emails piled up in computers at Kentuckys unemployment insurance office as it struggled to process claims.

Harmon said he hopes to build quick momentum with his early entry into the governor's race.

Im not one of those that can personally finance, so its important for me to ... get the message out, build the network and raise the money just to make sure that we get our message out, he said.

Harmon's folksy, self-deprecating style plays well on the campaign trail, said Scott Jennings, a Kentuckian and former adviser to President George W. Bush. But locking down support from key donors and grassroots leaders will be difficult during the early phases of the race, Jennings said.

I think most people know this is likely to be a crowded race, so I doubt too many key players will line up publicly this early, Jennings said. Mikes a great guy and won an underdog kind of race before. There arent many people in politics as comfortable in their own skin as Mike Harmon.

Harmon quipped that the GOP primary for governor could eventually include me and about 40 other Republicans. He then predicted the race could ultimately draw four to six candidates.

As auditor, Harmon oversaw high-profile reviews of the University of Louisville Foundation; the Kentucky Horse Park; KentuckyWired, a statewide broadband project; and the use of state aircraft by former Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican. Harmon's findings during a review of the Lawrence County attorney's office led to the indictment of County Attorney Michael Hogan on wire fraud charges. Hogan twice ran for statewide office, losing both times in the Republican primary.

Harmon's own political successes reflect the GOP's rise to political supremacy in Kentucky. He broke through by winning a central Kentucky House seat traditionally held by Democrats. Harmon compiled a conservative voting record as a lawmaker, when Republicans were in the House minority. The GOP now has a supermajority edge in both the state House and Senate.

Harmon upset Democratic Auditor Adam Edelen in 2015, overcoming the incumbent's massive fundraising advantage in an election that showed the state's tilt toward the GOP.

A year after Harmon left the House, Republicans won control of the chamber.

If Id known thats all it took, I would have left years ago, he quipped Monday.

In a big change, Kentucky's gubernatorial candidates do not need to pick a running mate before entering the race. Instead, they can name their lieutenant governor choice after the primary.
As of Friday, July 9, the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department reported that 70.4% of residents 12 and older who are eligible in the health departments two-county jurisdiction have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

While thats great news, there are still age groups and areas that are lagging behind.

There are still many individuals who have questions or are uncertain about COVID-19 vaccination, said Lisa Peacock, health officer. I encourage anyone who has questions to speak with their primary care provider, or visit a reputable website such as the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the state of Michigan or our health department website. Were here for you to give you the facts to make your decision.

To get out the most up-to-date information, the State of Michigan is hosting a series of virtual town halls about the COVID-19 vaccine through MDHHS's Facebook page. Once on the page, scroll down to the video section to view the virtual town hall meetings. Individuals will hear about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and will be able to get answers to common questions.

A recent town hall addressed information for parents and families. On July 22, the focus will be vaccination of young adults. Each session includes local information and facts about COVID-19 and the vaccines presented by relevant experts, such as physicians. Check them out, as they are a great way to get your questions answered. To view past recordings and see a calendar of new topics visit here.

Health department officials also want to remind students and families that children age 12 and older, those eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, who get a first dose by August 3 will be fully vaccinated before school starts. Those who receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have the most protection against the virus.

Fully vaccinated students can return to school safer this fall. Students are welcome at any health department clinics and have the option of scheduling an appointment ahead of time or simply walking in. Parent consent is required. If parents have questions or are not able to find a time or date that works for them can call 231-256-0200 or email covidvaccine@bldhd.org for more information.

The health department continues to offer regular vaccination clinics across the two-county jurisdiction. Public health nurses are on site at these events and able to answer any questions that residents may have regarding the vaccines. All clinics are open to walk-ins or people can register by clicking on the clinic link below:

July 13

o Suttons Bay Middle School Gymnasium, 310 S. Elm Street, Suttons Bay, MI 49682

 Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

 Vaccine: Moderna, Janssen, and Pfizer (open to 12 or older, parent/guardian must accompany minor)

 To schedule an appointment visit www.bldhd.org

July 14

o Crystal Cafe, 1681 Benzie Hwy, Benzonia, MI 49616

 Time: 4- 6 p.m.

 Vaccine: Moderna, Janssen, and Pfizer (open to 12 or older, parent/guardian must

accompany minor)

visit www.bldhd.org to schedule an appointment.

As of 4 p.m. today, the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department is reporting:

 Total COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Benzie 1,260, Leelanau 1,264

 Active COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Benzie 5, Leelanau 4

 Recovered COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Benzie 1,221, Leelanau 1,244

 Confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the following counties: Benzie  34, Leelanau 16

 Hospitalized: 161 total; 1 currently

Visit the COVID-19 Data Dashboard at www.bldhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19 for the latest local information including recovered data and contact tracing.

Additional and updated information can be found at www.bldhd.org and Facebook or by calling (231) 882-2197. People with COVID-19 related questions can fill out a quick survey and email questions to hotline@bldhd.org.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan relinquished his position at a ceremony in the capital Kabul on Monday, taking the United States a step closer to ending its 20-year war. The move came as Taliban insurgents continue to gain territory across the country.

Another four-star general will assume authority from his U.S.-based post to conduct possible airstrikes in defense of Afghan government forces, at least until the U.S. withdrawal concludes by Aug. 31.

Gen. Scott Miller served as Americas top commander in Afghanistan since 2018. He handed over command of what has become known as Americas forever war in its waning days to Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command. McKenzie will operate from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

During the handover, McKenzie credited Miller with getting U.S. troops home safely and moving out millions of tons of equipment. That has rankled some Afghan security officials who complained that equipment that could have been left for Afghanistan's security forces was taken.

Afghanistans National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib, who attended the handover, said the U.S. and NATO withdrawal has left a vacuum that resulted in Afghanistans national security forces stranded on the battlefield without supplies, sometimes running out of food and ammunition.

In comments after the ceremony, Mohib said the greatest impact of the withdrawal is a lack of aircraft to resupply troops. Currently, the government is regrouping to retake strategic areas and defend its cities against Taliban advances.

The handover took place in the heavily fortified Resolute Support headquarters in the heart of Kabul at a time of rapid territorial gains by Taliban insurgents across Afghanistan.

Abdullah Abdullah, chief of Afghanistan's National Council for Reconciliation, was in attendance. He dismissed suggestions the Taliban could stage a military takeover.

Im worried, of course, when the Taliban are pushing for a military solution, thats a cause of concern ... but they cannot impose their will upon the nation militarily, he said.

Last month, Abdullah traveled with President Ashraf Ghani to Washington, where President Joe Biden assured the leaders the U.S. would continue its humanitarian support. While he said there would no longer be military boots on the ground, the U.S. was not abandoning the country's security needs.

In a flag-passing ceremony, Miller remembered the U.S. and NATO troops killed in the nearly 20-year war as well as the thousands of Afghans who lost their lives.

He warned that relentless violence across Afghanistan is making a political settlement increasingly difficult. The outgoing commander said he has told Taliban officials its important that the military sides set the conditions for a peaceful and political settlement in Afghanistan. ... But we know that with that violence, it would be very difficult to achieve a political settlement.

The Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces, mostly funded by the United States and NATO, have put up resistance in some parts of the country, but overwhelmingly Afghan government troops appear to have abandoned the fight.

In recent weeks, the Taliban have gained several strategic districts, particularly along the borders with Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The Taliban control more than a third of Afghanistans 421 districts and district centers. A Taliban claim that they control 85% of the districts is widely seen as exaggerated.

After Millers departure, a two-star admiral based at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul will oversee the U.S. militarys role in securing the American diplomatic presence in Kabul, including defending the Kabul airport.

Millers departure does not reduce the limited scope of the U.S. military mission that remains in Afghanistan. McKenzie will assume the authority held by Miller to conduct airstrikes in defense of Afghan government forces under certain circumstances. The conditions under which such strikes might be used are not clear, nor is it known for how long McKenzie will hold that authority.

A deal the U.S. struck with the Taliban in February 2020 included a promise from the insurgent movement not to attack U.S. and NATO troops, a commitment it appears they have largely kept.

While Washington is not saying how many troops remain in Afghanistan, a CENTCOM statement more than a week ago said the withdrawal was 90 percent complete.

The U.S. also is committed to spending $4.4 billion annually to fund Afghanistans security forces until 2024.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A Houston man who received widespread attention after standing six hours in line to cast a ballot in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary was in jail Friday on charges that it was illegal for him to vote at all because he was on parole.

Hervis Rogers became an overnight face of Texas' battle over voting access when he emerged from a polling center at a historically Black college around 1:30 a.m. He was among Houston voters on Super Tuesday who waited more than an hour  and some for several hours  in mostly minority, Democratic neighborhoods. Lines in mostly white, Republican neighborhoods were shorter.

The way it was set up, it was like it was set up for me to walk away, Rogers told reporters in comments carried by multiple news outlets, including The Associated Press.

He was arrested this week on two counts of illegal voting, a second-degree felony that carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in prison. His bail was set at $100,000.

MORE POLITICS: 'Overdue': Biden sets Aug. 31 for US exit from Afghanistan

Rogers, 62, voted last March while still on parole from a felony burglary conviction, making him ineligible to cast a ballot under Texas law. Andre Segura, an attorney for the ACLU of Texas who is representing Rogers, said his client did not know he was ineligible to vote. He drew comparisons to Crystal Mason, a Fort Worth woman who was sentenced to five years in prison for casting a provisional ballot while on probation in 2016, who also said she was unaware she could not.

Mr. Rogers made headlines after waiting hours for what he thought was his civic duty, and was very proud of that," Segura said. "We shouldn't be prosecuting people for innocent mistakes.

The rare arrest on illegal voting allegations comes as Texas Republicans begin a second attempt at passing many of the same restrictive voting measures blocked by Democrats during a dramatic late-night walkout in May. Texas is the biggest state where Republicans have vowed to make voting changes since Donald Trumps false claims that fraud cost him the 2020 election.

Courts records show Rogers is being prosecuted by the office of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has zealously pursued election fraud cases and last year took a failed attempt to overturn President Joe Biden's victory to the U.S. Supreme Court. His spokesman did not immediately respond to a message about Roger's indictment.

In March 2020, Rogers said he was among the last people allowed in line before polls closed at 7 p.m. at Texas Southern University. Photos of voters waiting in long lines on the Houston campus appeared on news websites and ricocheted around social media. Rogers said he considered leaving but told reporters that every vote counts.

Elections officials in Houston blamed the long lines on the local Republican Partys refusal to hold a joint primary with the Democrats. GOP leaders accused the county of trying to shift the blame, saying county officials who allocated both parties an equal number of voting machines disregarded warnings about turnout for the hotly contested Democratic presidential primary.

As soon as Saturday, Texas Republicans could begin advancing their revived election bills at the state Capitol. One provision would require courts to explain to defendants how a felony convictions impacts their right to vote, a change Democratic state Rep. John Bucy has pushed in the aftermath of Mason's sentence.

Intent is vital, Bucy said. We've got to really keep pushing back on these bills, because a lot of what they're trying to do could criminalize mistakes."
Going to the border and harrumphing wont solve the very real immigration problem, which pits our humanity against our sovereign entitlement to say what kind of people we are.

We are not alone in this struggle.

The world is on the move. Untold millions of people who live south of our border with Mexico want to move north. Equally untold millions who live in Africa would like to move to Europe; and millions in eastern Europe want to live in western Europe.

From the Indian subcontinent, millions would like to move to Europe, specifically to Britain. Millions of East Asians have their eyes set on Australia.

Within these geographic areas, people also are on the move. Millions from Venezuela have flooded their neighboring countries. Likewise in Africa, where war and famine are ever-present, people try and walk to a marginally better future in another country. In the Middle East, Jordan and Lebanon are flooded with refugees first from Palestine, then from Iraq and Syria.

As The Economist pointed out recently, a slum in Spain is incalculably superior to a slum in Kenya.

The drivers for migration are poverty, violence, crop failure, and political collapse. And persecution, ethnic and religious; for example, the Rohingya in Myanmar have sought refuge in Bangladesh.

The goal of the migrant is the same worldwide: A better, safer life.

The political price paid by the stable democracies continues to be huge. It played a role in Donald Trumps election as president and will play a role in the next presidential election, whether Trump runs or not. It was the great driver for Brexit and Britains seeming self-harming. It has driven the move of Hungary, under Viktor Orban, to autocracy.

It is hard to stop people who have nothing to lose from crossing a frontier if they can. But they arent the only migrants. Some, a small number, are opportunists. These are the migrants who overstay student visas, manipulate qualifications for residence, and willfully circumvent the law or contract so-called green card marriages.

But they arent what the border crisis is about  any more than it is what the overloaded boats crossing the Mediterranean Sea is about. It is the physical manifestation of desperation.

Because the migration problem is so complex  human problems are almost by definition complex it isnt a matter of resolution so much as management. We want, for example, immigrants with high-tech skills, but we are worried about the impact of millions of desperate peasants walking across the deserts.

Now a new driver of migration has opened: global warming. The heat and drought hitting the U.S. West Coast is also hitting Central America and will affect livability.

Adding to the complexity of the immigration conundrum is the labor shortage. Construction depends on immigrant labor, farming on contract labor, and slaughterhouses and chicken processors cant stay open without immigrants to do the unappealing work.

One small step forward would be a sensible work permit.

It seems to me that the wall  Trumps wall  isnt a bad thing. It is a declaration, a symbol. It wont deter desperate people and it wont end smuggling. The latter is going to get worse with drones and even autonomous aircraft that can bring their lethal cargoes deep into the United States.

While there is an insatiable market for drugs here, smuggling will continue and even increase. And while that is so, lawlessness south of the border will accelerate.

Sadly, despite Vice President Kamala Harriss statements, we arent going to repair the countries to our south overnight. But we might look to repairing our drug policy, seeing if that can be adjusted to take the profit out of the trade. Except for the gradual, local legalization of marijuana, we havent contemplated drug management, short of prohibition, in a century. A new look is due.

There is no single policy that is going to solve the human misery south of the border which drives so many to risk their lives or, through love, to send their children north.

Therefore immigration policy will never be a total, sweeping thing, but rather an ad hoc affair: We need some immigrants, we dont want others; we have big hearts, but we fear immigration that is unchecked.

We fear the political, cultural, and social change immigrants will bring, especially if they are of a common language and background. Pain in Central America is political torture in the United States.

Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of White House Chronicle on PBS. He can be reached at llewellynking1@gmail.com. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Gov. Greg Abbott is still very unhappy with Harris County after the 2020 election.

In an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace, Abbott reiterated his disapproval of 24-hour and drive-thru voting, which was prominent in Harris County during the election.

GOVERNOR RACE: Abbott leads over McConaughey for governor race in new poll, but not by much

Wallace specifically mentioned that 24-hour voting and drive-thru voting were used in Harris County, where more than half of voters who used 24-hour or drive-thru voting were people of color.

Both would be banned under Republican-drafted election bills under consideration during this special session.

"You say you want to make it easier to vote, that's going to make it harder to vote," Wallace said. "And the question is: Why make it harder for some Texans to vote unless the point is to suppress voting by people of color?"

Abbott first pointed to the Constitution, saying that Harris County should never have been allowed to implement new election practices under Article 1 Section 4, which gives states the responsibility of handling elections, "not counties," Abbott pointed out.

"Despite that Constitutional mandate, this past election, Harris County, a county, tried to create its own election system that had never been used in the state of Texas," Abbott said.

When asked why not just let 24-hour and drive-thru voting continue after it proved to work, Abbott said the state was expanding voting hours and that drive-thru voting could allow voters to be swayed by passengers in the car.

"If you do drive-thru voting, are you going to have people in the car with you?" Abbott said. "It could be somebody from your employer or somebody else that may have some coercive effect on the way that you would cast your ballot, which is contrary to you going into the ballot box, alone and no one there watching over your shoulder."

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More than 100,000 voters cast their ballots from the car during the election. Harris County offered one day of 24-hour voting on Oct. 29. The Harris County Clerk's office reported that 10,250 people voted between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Texas Republicans advanced bills implementing these voting restrictions over the weekend. This is the second time the GOP is trying to get them passedDemocrats staged a walk-out and forced the legislature to adjourn without voting on the bills during the regular session. Abbott vowed to call a special session after the walk-out.
Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives left the state Monday afternoon en route to Washington, D.C., in a bid to again deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass new voting restrictions with 26 days left in a special legislative session called largely for that purpose.

Upping the ante in both the legislative fight at home and the national debate over voting rights, most House Democrats boarded two planes out of Austin headed for the U.S. capital without a set return date. At least 51 of the 67 Democratic representatives  the number needed to break quorum  were in the process of leaving Monday afternoon, most arriving at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Monday to board chartered flights that departed around 3:10 p.m.

The House is set to reconvene Tuesday morning, but the absent Democrats would mean there will not be enough members present to conduct business under House rules.

READ MORE: Texas Democrats plan to leave state to stop GOP voting bill

Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans freedom to vote," Democratic leaders said in a joint statement released Monday.

With the national political spotlight on Texas efforts to further restrict voting, the Democratic exodus offers them a platform to continue pleading with Congress to act on restoring federal protections for voters of color. In Texas, the decamping will mark a more aggressive stance by Democrats to block Republican legislation further tightening the states voting rules as the GOP works against thinning statewide margins of victory.

Ultimately, Democrats lack the votes to keep the Republican-controlled Legislature from passing new voting restrictions, along with the other conservative priorities on Gov. Greg Abbotts 11-item agenda for the special session.

The House and Senate proposals resemble failed legislation, known as Senate Bill 7, from the spring regular legislation session  the demise of which Texas Democrats used last month to make their pitch on Capitol Hill for action on voting rights.

On Monday, Democrats indicated they were renewing their calls for Congress to pass far-reaching federal legislation that would preempt significant portions of the Texas bills and reinstate federal oversight of elections in states with troubling records.

We are now taking the fight to our nations Capitol," the Democrats said in their statement. "We are living on borrowed time in Texas."

The Democrats convened at a local plumbers union building and boarded a bus that transported them to a private airport terminal. They arrived at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport shortly after 2:30 p.m., driving straight onto the tarmac.

Lawmakers did not speak with the media before they left. Terminal staff kept reporters off the premises and on the street outside. By 3 p.m., several supporters of the legislators were gathered outside the terminal, holding signs that said, "Let my people vote," and, "Thank you for fighting voter suppression."

Even if Democratic lawmakers stay out of state for the next few weeks, the governor could continue to call 30-day sessions or add voting restrictions to the agenda when the Legislature takes on the redrawing of the states political maps later this summer.

Mondays mass departure follows a Democratic walkout in May that kept Republicans from passing their priority voting bill at the end of the regular legislative session. For weeks, Democrats had indicated that skipping town during the special session remained an option as Republicans prepared for a second attempt at tightening the states voting laws.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said in a statement later Monday that the chamber "will use every available resource under the Texas Constitution and the unanimously-passed House rules to secure a quorum..."

Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, panned Democrats over the move, saying it inflicts harm on the very Texans who elected them to serve.

As they fly across the country on cushy private planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state, Abbott said in a statement Monday afternoon. The Democrats must put aside partisan political games and get back to the job they were elected to do.

According to House rules adopted at the beginning of the regular session, two-thirds of the 150-member chamber must be present to conduct business. When the House is in session, legislators can vote to lock chamber doors to prevent colleagues from leaving and can order law enforcement to track down lawmakers who have already fled.

RELATED: Texas GOP advances voting restrictions as hundreds push back

If a quorum is not present when the House convenes Tuesday, any House member can move to make whats known as a call of the House to to secure and maintain a quorum to consider a certain piece of legislation, resolution or motion, under chamber rules. That motion must be seconded by 15 members and ordered by a majority vote. If that happens, the missing Democrats will become legislative fugitives.

All absentees for whom no sufficient excuse is made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent for and arrested, wherever they may be found, by the sergeant-at-arms or an officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms for that purpose, and their attendance shall be secured and retained, the House rules state. The house shall determine on what conditions they shall be discharged.

Its unclear, though, what options Phelan may have to compel Democrats to return to the Legislature if theyre out of state.

The House voting bill as passed by committee over the weekend would rein in local voting initiatives like drive-thru and 24-hour voting, further tighten the rules for voting by mail, bolster access for partisan poll watchers and ban local election officials from proactively sending out applications to request mail-in ballots.

The Democrats departure also calls into question other items included on Abbotts special session agenda, including legislation to provide funding for the Legislature. Last month, Abbott vetoed a section of the state budget that funds the Legislature for the two-year budget cycle that starts Sept. 1. He did so in retribution for Democrats walkout in May. If the Legislature does not pass a supplemental budget before the new cycle begins, more than 2,100 legislative staffers and individuals working at legislative agencies could be impacted.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Let me be the first to say: Sha'Carri Richardson's decision to smoke marijuana while training for the Tokyo Olympics was not a good one.

No one is saying her actions, which proved to be her downfall as she was ultimately banned from the Olympics due to a failed drug test, were right. I'm also not saying she shouldn't have faced some sort of discipline, but I think we can all agree that she did (and still does) deserve to run in a race she trained so hard for.

STAND BESIDE HER: Texas sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson receives outpouring of support after failed drug test

Studies show that marijuana is not used as a performance-enhancing drug, and has few to no exercise benefits. In my opinion, this makes Richardson's achievements that much more amazing.

As unfortunate as it may be, though, Richardson's reality is happening exactly how the justice system intended. Once praised for her impressive track record, the star athlete had a target on her back the moment she began receiving an outpouring of support and getting "cocky."

Because the world is so hellbent on humbling Black women.

When it comes to being Black, and a woman in particular, you have to be twice as good to receive half the recognition  good recognition that is.

When Richardson failed her drug test, the world knew instantly. She began trending all across social media, and even though she took accountability for her actions, she was heavily criticized.

Meanwhile, American middle distance runner Shelby Houlihan continues to fail to prove that tainted pork caused her positive test for an anabolic steroid  and she has yet to receive an equal amount of coverage or calls of accountability for any potential wrongdoing she may have done.

OPINION: Stop policing people of color's hair and pass the CROWN Act

On top of that, Black women have to deal with other unnecessary rules and restrictions in sports, such as the banning of afro caps from the Olympics because they don't follow "the natural form of the head."

If you're not a Black woman, you don't understand just how heartbreaking, disappointing and downright sad this is. And it's really time for a change.
Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds light and variable..

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Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
A. Asking isn't enough and neither is the current level of enforcement.

B. Entrance into Three Sisters Springs needs to be staggered.

C. Human entry into Three Sisters Springs should be limited to only the boardwalk - no swimming or paddlecraft.

D. The current levels of erosion are acceptable and can be addressed with additional rock installation.

Vote

View Results
IT professionals must address many of the requirements associated with automation initiatives, from helping to establish robotic process automation (RPA) platforms and standards to meeting security and compliance demands. But while IT professionals themselves will develop and deploy many IT and broad-based business automations, they dont have the expertise or the bandwidth to identify and automate all of the processes occurring throughout an enterprise.

By some estimates, in fact, 40% or more of the manual tasks amenable to automation can only be tackled if many non-IT employees become citizen developers. The developer moniker, however, doesnt mean that business users need to suddenly become coding experts.

The availability of low-code/no-code RPA tools now makes it possible for many business users to develop simple but powerful automations for themselves. A subset of power users  those especially enthusiastic about learning and leveraging new technologies  can even create more complex automations as well as automations for others in their departments.

In order to be simple to use, automation tools for non-IT professionals must be fairly sophisticated under the covers. Consider UiPath StudioX, which illustrates the range of functionality required to move the concept of citizen developers from theory to reality.

StudioX not only allows users to build automations with no-code, drag-and-drop construction, but it also provides pre-designed templates and scenarios for many common automations so users dont have to start from scratch. As important, StudioX provides native support for many of the most common applications that business automations span, from Microsoft Office and Google Workspaces to SAP and other enterprise applications.

As larger numbers of diverse users become involved with creating automations, its important for the IT department and/or an automation Center of Excellence to establish and enforce policy and practice guardrails. Doing so will ensure that all user-developed automations meet the necessary quality and compliance requirements.

In many cases, automations developed by individual business users will be relevant to others within their department or elsewhere in the organization. Thats where the IT department, using more sophisticated RPA tools and services, can play a critical role.

Scaling automations to more employees  as well as integrating simple task automations into more complex workflows  is an important adjunct to the activities of citizen developers. By tapping the full capabilities of a comprehensive RPA platform, the IT department can ensure that the automations created by citizen developers arent only compliant and high-quality, but are also deployed in ways that deliver the maximum possible benefit to the full organization.

UiPath is a leader in the democratization of RPA with the intuitive yet powerful automation tools that are part of the UiPath Platform. For a deeper dive into the emergence of citizen developers, read Understanding Citizen Developers: Your Secret Weapon in Scaling Automation.
Administratorii portalului nu poarta raspundere pentru continutul postarilor si materialelor plasate de utilizatorii site-ului. Utilizati informatia din acest articol pe propriul risc.
Its space, Richardat least as NASA knows it. Yesterday, the British billionaire Richard Branson, two pilots, and three other people rode a rocket plane operated by Virgin Galactic, an arm of Bransons business empire, fifty three and a half miles into the aira test run for the sort of private space flight that may soon be available to normal people (or, at least, normal people with a few hundred thousand dollars to spare). The flight generated a lot of hype, though there was also some debate, including in the media coverage, as to whether Branson was really going to space at all: while a variety of US agencies define space as beginning fifty miles above the earths surface, other bodiesincluding the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, which is the global authority on such matterssay the marker is twelve miles higher than that, and thus eight and a half miles higher than Branson traveled. Some pundits were unimpressed. Im sorry, but if youre not orbiting the earth youre not a Space Billionaire, Matthew Yglesias tweeted, contrarily. Weve all been in airplanes. Even the New York Times, as Yglesias noted, caveated the weightlessness that Branson and his fellow riders experienced as apparent.

Apparent weightlessness might also be a good way to characterize much of the TV coverage of the flight. Reporters threw around adjectives like exciting and spectacular, and revelled in Bransons showmanship (Khalid debuted a song at the event; Stephen Colbert narrated a livestream of the launch) as well as the dream-come-true nature of his achievement. On multiple levels, Mark Strassmann said, on CBS, I have to think that Richard Branson right now is floating on air. Rachel Crane, CNNs innovation and space correspondent, told her colleague Brian Stelter that the event had given her goosebumps: As a reporter, we all have those moments that we put in the memory book forever, that we know were never going to forget, she said. I gotta tell you, this is one of those for me. During the same broadcast, Kristin Fisher, CNNs space and defense correspondent (who was making her debut on the network after joining recently from Fox News, where she covered the White House), said that the flight was a publicity stunt, but also inspiring, and that theres no contradiction there. This is commercial spaceflight, the privatization and democratizationhopefullyof spaceflight, Fisher added. A lot of people maybe arent so thrilled that theyre all these billionaires in space a lot of folks arent thrilled that theres going to be a lot of branding in space, she acknowledged. But this is a critical part of this new era of space travel, because in order to make spaceflight more accessible and more affordable, you have to have things like this happen.

ICYMI: How a volunteer-based LA startup multiplied donations forty-fold

Again, some viewers were unimpressed with the hype; CNNs coverage, in particular, came in for some criticism online. Alex Heard, editorial director of Outside magazine, argued that almost everything Crane said sounds like Virgin Galactic wrote it for her. Its genuinely strange. Steven Waldman, the president of Report for America, took issue with the networks assertions that rich people are necessary drivers of technological innovation. (NASA, the Internet, mapping the human genome?) David J. Lynch, who covers economics for the Washington Post, felt that some of the CNN coverage seems a little credulous. Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at NYU, had a broader criticism. None of the networks that broadcast live today the Virgin Galactic Launches Richard Branson Into Space story persuaded me that this was break-into-regular-programming news, he wrote. The event remained at infomercial level.

As fateand a ninety-minute, weather-enforced delay in liftoffwould have it, Branson reached space (or not, if youre the FAI) while Stelter was anchoring Reliable Sources, his CNN Sunday show focused on the news business; as a result, Crane and Fishers dispatches from the launch site slotted around some thoughtful meta-conversations about coverage of the flight, and billionaires more broadly. With Branson still ascending, Teddy Schleifer, who covers the influence of big money (and will soon help launch The Stratosphere, a new media company focused on the subject) told Stelter that, in his view, the billionaire beat shouldnt be a luxury beat about the rich and famous doing crazy stuff but rather a beat about power, about inequality, about democracy. Schleifer brought up a recent investigation by ProPublica on the tax-avoiding practices of the super richIts impossible to talk about the billionaires success without talking about the system that creates this in the first place, he saidand made the case that newsrooms should expand their coverage in this area. Stelter, for his part, brought up the climate crisis, at one point asking Miles OBrien, CNNs aerospace analyst, whether its ethical to burn fuel on private space flights amid news, for example, about heat records tumbling in the American West. I dont think its mutually exclusive, OBrien replied. I think we can afford to continue to push our frontier. But we still have to fix our own spaceship here first.

Taken together, there are some interesting lessons for the media here. Schleifer is right that newsrooms should scrutinize the billionaire classand wealth in generalmore carefully; big money is already a reliable driver of media attention, but that attention isnt always sufficiently critical. (Some of the coverage of the recent summer camp for billionaires in Sun Valley, Idaho, was a case in point.) OBrien is right, too, that humansand, by logical extension, journalistsare capable of focusing on multiple things at once. (On CBSs Face the Nation yesterday, Strassmann covered both the extreme heat and Bransons flight.) The problem, often, is that we dont. The privatization of the space race is an important story, whatever your views on it. Its also a story that lends itself much more naturally to cable TVbig characters with big money, awe-inspiring imagery, a frisson of dangerthan, say, poverty, which is a grinding everyday reality, and sometimes invisible. As Schleifer noted, its irresponsible to talk up billionaires achievements without also noting the many victims of the system that benefits them. Private capital can develop technology that shoots people toward the stars. Its incentive structures can also trap people on earth in cycles of neglect, technological and otherwise.

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We might be about to do all this againa week from tomorrow, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, plans to launch himself into space aboard a rocket built by his company Blue Origin. Should everything go to plan, there will be no semantic disagreement about Bezoss achievementBlue Origins rocket plans to fly above the boundary recognized by the FAI, so none of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name. (Astronauts with asterisks; try saying that quickly at six times the force of gravity.) There may now be less media hype around the Bezos flight, given Branson effectively beating him to the billionaire first. Then again, when youre a billionaire, there are always other firsts within your grasp. (Unlike Branson, for instance, Bezos will be the first Washington Post owner in space.) And its easier than it is for the rest of us to make your dreams come true.

Below, more on Branson and space:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Facebook launches Bulletin, its Substack challenger

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries filed an emergency rule to provide increased protection for employees exposed to extreme heat, including those working in agriculture, construction and other outdoor industries.

The emergency Outdoor Heat Exposure rule filed on Friday clarifies proactive steps that employers must take to prevent outdoor workers from suffering heat-related illness.

The rules take effect on July 13, and are in addition to existing rules.

When the temperature is at or above 100 degrees, employers must respond to the extreme heat by:

Providing shade or another sufficient means for employees to cool down.

Ensuring workers have a paid cool-down rest period of at least 10 minutes every two hours.

When temperatures are at or above 89 degrees, the new rules combined with existing rules require employers to:

Provide water that is cool enough to drink safely;

Allow and encourage workers to take additional paid preventative cool-down rest to protect from overheating.

Be prepared by having a written outdoor heat exposure safety program and providing training to employees.

Respond appropriately to any employee with symptoms of heat-related illness.

L&I will file an official notification for permanent rulemaking. Known as a CR-101, the notification is the first step in the process of updating the existing state Outdoor Heat Exposure rule established in 2008.

The recent heat wave is a reminder that extreme temperatures can be a real danger in the workplace. With more hot weather on the way, were taking action now, L&I Director Joel Sacks said in a statement. The emergency rule clarifies existing requirements and outlines commonsense steps employers must take to keep the workers who are responsible for growing our food, paving our roads, and putting up our buildings safe on the job.

Washington has on average 55 workers compensation claims per year for heat-related illnesses, according to L&I.

The department recommends that those working outside start the workday fully hydrated, drink at least a quart of water every hour, be familiar with the early warning signs of heat stress, and take regular breaks to cool down. If who feel sick should stop working, move to a shaded place if possible, and tell someone so they can help monitor symptoms or get help.
Claremore, OK (74018)

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Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds light and variable..

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Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.
As the 2020-21 school year came to a close, students and families embraced the many opportunities to celebrate with more traditional milestone events. Some of the events were rethought and refreshed in light of the pandemic. The focus was on bringing on as many people together as possible to
SHOREWOOD [mdash] Robert J. Horan, age 85, of Shorewood, IL, formerly of Preston, IA, passed away Monday, July 12, 2021 at Salud Wellness Nursing Home, in Joliet, IL. A graveside funeral service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, in Preston, IA on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 2pm. A
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  A former solicitor general called on President Rodrigo Duterte to amend the current Baselines Law, saying it is the Philippines' "most practical" and "least costly" way to enforce its arbitral victory against China over the West Philippine Sea.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Francis Jardeleza, former solicitor general under the Aquino administration, urged Duterte to certify as urgent a measure that would amend Republic Act 9522 to specifically identify the maritime features in the West Philippine Sea which are being claimed by the country.

Jardeleza said there are other proposals previously raised to further uphold the arbitral ruling handed down by an international tribunal in The Hague in 2016, including suing Chinese President Xi Jinping over his country's sweeping nine-dash claim, and raising the matter before the United Nations once again.

"But we humbly submit that the Baselines Law amendment is the most practical, least costly amendment," he said, noting that the measure must be passed before Dutertes term ends next year.

Jardeleza previously wrote to Duterte that the amended RA 9522 will identify at least 100 maritime features of the West Philippine Sea. The present law, he explained to CNN Philippines, does not measure the territorial sea of Pag-asa island, for instance, or some other features which the country claims.

Now is the time that we have a law to measure by specific metes and bounds of our territorial sea, of all the features of the contested area so that we will know which part has a territorial sea," he said.

Five years after, China continues to reject the landmark Hague ruling which favors the Philippines.

READ: Remembering the 2016 Hague ruling: What has happened since then?

Even so, maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal stressed that the enforcement of the award is dependent on the Philippines exercising its jurisdiction, regardless of Beijings protests and demands.

Delay in doing so means that the Philippines will keep on sustaining the actual, practical damage and injury that arises from Chinas interference or from accommodating Chinas demands, he told CNN Philippines.

Among others, this means the country will continue losing the fish harvested by China or will keep foregoing the expected benefits of petroleum exploration and development, he said.

Batongbacal acknowledged the government's steps this year to call attention to China's "continuing disrespect" for the ruling and said this should be maintained. He added Duterte should reiterate the country's position during the next UN General Assembly to "at least neutralize his reckless and careless statement" in May when the President called the arbitral award a mere scrap of paper.

Former Philippine ambassador to the UN Lauro Baja, Jr. meanwhile said the Duterte administration should continue diplomatic protests and support other nations in their actions to contest Chinas position.

He also pointed out the importance of coming up with a resolution to enforce the award.

Diplomacy never ends so its not late to assert the award," he said. "We should be specific on what we want and resolute in our efforts to have the resolution passed."

RELATED: Palace: Govt. has done all that we could in asserting 2016 West Philippine Sea ruling
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  It has been five years since an international tribunal in The Hague unanimously ruled in favor of the Philippines in a historic case against China over the South China Sea dispute.

The five-member arbitral tribunal released a 479-page decision which invalidated Beijings sweeping claims over virtually the entire South China Sea and recognized Manilas sovereign rights in areas within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone that China contests.

READ: What you need to know about the arbitral tribunal's ruling

Five years on, China continues to disregard the ruling  one it labeled as illegal and invalid  even as the Philippines maintained the award is final.

In 2021 alone, hundreds of the East Asian giants vessels were spotted scattered around the West Philippine Sea  a portion of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines' claimed areas and exclusive economic zone  despite repeated calls from the government for the withdrawal of the ships. Filipino fisherfolk bared challenges in bringing home catch due to the presence of foreign vessels in their regular fishing grounds.

RELATED: 5 years since PH won South China Sea arbitration, fishermen continue to fight for survival

As the country commemorates the landmark ruling's anniversary, CNN Philippines takes a look back at the momentous case victory and the events that transpired since then.

January 22, 2013

The Philippines notified China of its intent to challenge Beijings nine-dash claim. The note verbale containing the Notification and Statement of Claim was handed to then Chinese envoy H.E. Ma Keqing.

China earlier staked its claim to the waters through its so-called nine-dash line, which encompasses about 85% of the South China Sea, including 80% of the Philippines EEZ in the West Philippine Sea.

February 19, 2013

The Chinese government rejected and returned the note verbale, reiterating that it will neither accept nor participate in the arbitration.

December 7, 2014

In a position paper, China refuted the arbitral tribunals jurisdiction over the maritime dispute. It stresed that it wont participate in the case proceedings.

July 8, 2015

The first round of oral arguments started at the Hague. The Philippines argued that the court, created under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, has jurisdiction  and should intervene  in the maritime row.

October 29, 2015

The tribunal unanimously ruled that it has jurisdiction on majority of the points raised by the Philippines.

READ: The Hague arguments: Philippine case against China explained

July 12, 2016

After three and a half years, the bench finally released its ruling on the Philippines case against China. The judges ruled there was no legal basis for Beijing to claim "historic rights" to resources in areas under its nine-dash line.

The tribunal also found that China had violated the Philippines sovereign rights in its EEZ by interfering with fishing and petroleum exploration, constructing artificial islands, and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone.

It also said that Chinas land reclamations caused harm to the marine environment in the South China Sea.

Beijing rejected the tribunals ruling.

December 29, 2016

In an interview with CNN Philippines, newly-elected President Rodrigo Duterte vowed the government would take action should China move to mine resources in parts of the South China Sea where the country has economic rights.

"[I will bring up the ruling] during my time. I cannot let it pass na balewala na lang (like it was nothing)," Duterte said at the time.

March 2017

Quoting Sansha City Mayor Xiao Jie, news organization Reuters reported that China plans to build environmental monitoring stations on a number of islands, including the Scarborough Shoal. Sansha is a city established by China in July 2012, headquartered on disputed Woody Island in the South China Sea.

Duterte said the Philippines cannot stop Beijings reported plan to build structures on the shoal, noting that going to war against the global superpower may be a losing battle for the country. The chief executive, however, said he would confront China if it tries to take resources from Philippine territory.

April 2017

During a visit to a Palawan military camp, Duterte said he ordered the personnel of the Armed Forces to occupy all Philippines-claimed islands in the South China Sea.

We tried to be friends with everybody but we have to maintain our jurisdiction now, at least the areas under our control, the President said.

May 2017

The Philippines began sending military troops and supplies to reinforce and upgrade facilities on Pag-asa Island, internationally known as Thitu, one of the biggest islands in the disputed Spratlys.

August 2017

The Magdalo party list group released photographs showing the alleged presence of Chinese vessels in Pag-asa. Then-Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said his sources "inside the military" reported that Beijing deployed frigates, a coast guard vessel, and large fishing vessels along with militia around the island. The Foreign Affairs Department said the agency would be verifying the information.

November 2017

Before departing for Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, Duterte told reporters he would raise the South China Sea issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the summit and agreed to pursue diplomacy and cooperation amid the maritime row.

RELATED: Duterte: South China Sea issue 'better left untouched'

January 2018

The government granted China's request to conduct maritime research in the resource-rich Benham Rise or Philippine Rise. Then-Senior Associate Justice Carpio part of the Philippine delegation to the Hague  called this a dumb move, saying China should not be allowed to enjoy rights under UNCLOS while it refuses to accept its obligation under the arbitral award.

RELATED: UP maritime expert disputes Palace claim Filipinos can't afford Benham Rise research

February 2018

Duterte said he will order the Philippine Navy to fire at those who try to exploit the Benham Rise. The following month, he also warned he will wage a war against those who will explore and experiment in the area without permit.

April 2018

The President said he offered a 60-40 sharing deal with China on joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed South China Sea.

November 2018

The Philippines and China signed a memorandum of understanding creating the framework for future talks on the joint exploration. Critics warned it could compromise Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights.

January 2019

Chinese news outfit Xinhua reported that Beijing established a "maritime rescue center" in the West Philippine Sea.

Then-Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the country should perhaps be thankful for the move as it can help distressed seamen, but maritime law expert Prof. Jay Batongbacal described it as Chinas attempt to mask its militarization of the area by highlighting possible civilian benefits or public goods provided by their artificial islands.

April 2019

The military confirmed hundreds of Chinese vessels swarmed the vicinity of Pag-asa island in January to March 2019.

Their presence was met with heavy protests from the Duterte government, which demanded that the Chinese vessels leave Philippine waters. The DFA also filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing.

Duterte said he would ask his soldiers to "prepare for suicide mission" if China does not heed his warning to lay off the island, but he also stressed hed rather go into a compromise instead of war.

June 2019

A Chinese vessel hit the anchored Filipino boat F/B Gem-Ver near Recto Bank, an underwater feature claimed by both Manila and Beijing. This left 22 Filipino fishermen floating at sea for nearly three hours before Vietnamese fishers rescued them.

There is no need for war or even a "convoluted argument" with China, Duterte said, as he called the occurence a little maritime incident. The captain of the sunken ship, however, maintained their boat was intentionally rammed. In August of the same year, Duterte called on China to sanction the crew of the Chinese vessel.

The Department of Justice later said the local fishermen are due civil damages worth over 12 million.

July 2019

Duterte vowed to stop China from fishing in the countrys EEZ in the West Philippine Sea within his term.

Before the month ended, the Philippines also lodged another diplomatic protest against Beijing as more than a hundred Chinese vessels were once again spotted around Pag-asa island.

September 2019

Duterte said the government will ignore the Philippines' arbitral victory to make way for joint oil and gas exploration with Beijing.

He said Chinese President Xi had promised to give the Philippines the bigger chunk  60 percent  of the revenues from the planned joint exploration. In exchange, China wants the Philippines to "set aside the arbitral ruling."

February 2020

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed Chinese ships have once again been present near Pag-asa Island.

April 2020

The country filed a diplomatic protest anew after China declared parts of Philippine territory to be under its Hainan province. It also protested Beijings alleged pointing of a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship in Philippine waters.

July 2020

On the fourth anniversary of the arbitral victory, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines commitment to the award, saying it is non-negotiable. China, on the other hand, continued to reject the tribunal's decision, calling it "illegal and invalid."

In his fifth State of the Nation Address, Duterte said he cannot go to war against Beijing over the sea row, noting the Philippines does not have the resources to take on China. Critics have repeatedly said, however, that standing up for the nations right doesnt automatically mean asking for war with the region's giant.

September 2020

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a joint note verbale to the UN recognizing the Hague ruling favoring the Philippines.

A few days later, Duterte affirmed this 2016 victory when he appeared in the UN General Assembly. But while this pronouncement earned praise, his spokesperson Harry Roque later clarified the ruling will remain on the shelf consistent with government policy.

October 2020

Duterte approved the lifting of the moratorium on oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea, paving the way for the resumption of drilling activities in the waters and the planned joint exploration with China.

His predecessor, former President Benigno Aquino III, issued the moratorium in 2012 amid rising tensions between the two countries.

March 2021

Over 200 Chinese ships suspected to be maritime militia were spotted at the Julian Felipe reef, also known as Whitsun reef, which is well within the Philippines EEZ. A day after this was reported to the media, Locsin filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing.

China claimed the ships were not militia but fishing vessels taking shelter from bad weather. The DFA said these are "blatant falsehoods."

Calling the ships presence a clear provocative action of militarizing the area," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also demanded that they withdraw from Philippine waters. Later, Malacanang said Duterte and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian discussed the issue, where the President raised Manila's arbitral win.

By month-end, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said some 44 Chinese vessels are still at the reef while more than 200 others have moved to different areas in the West Philippine Sea.

April 2021

The DFA warned a diplomatic protest will be lodged for each day the Chinese vessels refuse to leave the West Philippine Sea. It also summoned Chinese envoy Huang over the matter.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines later launched a probe into the reported harassment of ABS-CBN television crew members who were onboard a Filipino civilian vessel when reportedly chased down by two missile attack craft of the Chinese Navy even as they were well within the Philippines EEZ.

In the same month, the European Union said the lingering presence of the ships in Philippine territory endangers peace and stability in the region. It urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means as it also cited the 2016 arbitration award.

But repeating his narrative of war, Duterte in his address to the nation said the only way the Philippines can reclaim its areas being occupied by China is through a bloody battle which it cannot win.

Still, he said he would deploy navy ships to the area if Beijing conducts oil drills inside the EEZ. In a separate public address, he also said that while the country owes China a debt of gratitude, he cant compromise on the sea issue.

RELATED: Del Rosario to Duterte: Standing up for nation's rights is not war vs. China

May 2021

Duterte said he never promised to retake the West Philippine Sea from China when he sought the countrys top post in 2016. This is contrary to his controversial remark during the campaign period, where he said he would ride a jet ski to plant a Philippine flag on man-made islands occupied by China.

He later said the jet ski promise was a pure campaign joke.

In a widely denounced statement, the President also called the arbitral win against China a mere scrap of paper that he can throw away in a trash bin.

June 2021

In a special assembly of foreign ministers, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China vowed to avoid activities that could escalate tension in the South China Sea.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  The country is set to receive next week its first shipment of single-dose COVID-19 vaccines from United States-based firm Johnson & Johnson, a health official said on Monday.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said 3.2 million Janssen doses donated by the US government through the COVAX program co-led by the World Health Organization will arrive on July 19.

This is the first batch of single-dose vaccines to be delivered to the Philippines.

Cabotaje said senior citizens and adults with comorbidities, or the so-called A2 and A3 groups, will be prioritized. Citing the directive from vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr., she said each region will get 100,000 doses.

Tapos yung diperensya, dadagdagan natin based on the number of still to be vaccinated A2 and A3, she said.

[Translation: The remaining supply for A2 and A3 will be augmented based on the number of those who have yet to be vaccinated.]

The Philippines is also expecting on July 19 around 562,000 Pfizer shots, followed by another 375,000 from the same brand on July 26, the official said. Six million more Sinovac doses are also slated to arrive in batches.

Based on official data, 13.1 million doses have so far been administered nationwide. Some 9.6 million people have received at least one shot, while 3.5 million have already been given two.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  President Rodrigo Duterte "recognizes" the leadership of party vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi despite the widening rift within the PDP-Laban, his spokesperson said Monday.

"All I can say is he recognizes Sec. Cusi's leadership, that's why he will attend the special meeting on July 17," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual briefing when asked about the PDP-Laban executive committee's resolution expelling the energy chief and two other members due to "allegiance to another political party."

READ: Pacquiao-led faction expels Cusi, 2 others from PDP-Laban

The July 17 special meeting in Clark called by Cusi "is in the calendar of the President," Roque added.

Quoting Duterte, Roque said the ruling party will "resolve all existing disputes within PDP-Laban legally."

Duterte is the chairman of the PDP-Laban. One faction is identified with Duterte while the other one is led by Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Sen. Koko Pimentel, son of the party's co-founder, Sen. Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel.

The resolution, made known to the media last Friday, comes amid growing tension within the political party.

Pacquiao previously floated the possibility of him running for the presidency. Cusi, however, signified his openness to the 2022 pesidential candidacy of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who belongs to another party.

"He is guilty of having allegiance to a candidate and her political ideals and party," the resolution expelling Cusi read. "Such a candidate does not even believe in Federalism, her party fielded candidates against and opposed official candidates of PDP-Laban in the 2019 Elections, and she is vehemently opposed to joining the PDP-Laban Party."

In May, Pacquiao also issued a memorandum "strongly" advising partymates to ignore a letter from Cusi, who called for a national assembly.

Pacquiao also also criticized Duterte's stance on the West Philippine Sea, and alleged that corruption has worsened during his term.

READ: Duterte dares Pacquiao: Expose corrupt offices, individuals
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  Malacanang is not writing off a possible tandem between President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in the 2022 presidential race.

Sa pulitika [In politics], anything is possible; nothing is impossible, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque when asked about the chief executive and his daughter possibly teaming up in the polls next year.

Duterte earlier said he is seriously thinking about running for vice president, which his fellow PDP-Laban partymates have been pushing him to do.

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio said she is now open to gunning for the highest post in the land.

However, both Dutertes have yet to announce their final decisions.

The filing of certificates of candidacy will be held from Oct. 1 to 8. The tentative list of candidates will be posted in late October, while the final nominees will be released a month after.

The national elections will be held on May 9 next year or the second Monday of May as stated in the Constitution.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque insists the current administration made the right call to embrace blended learning as the Philippines still suffers from a low COVID-19 vaccination rate.

"Habang hindi pa tayo nakakapag-face-to-face, mukhang tama naman ang decision ng President [Rodrigo Duterte] na hindi pa tumataas ang mga bakunadong kababayan natin kaya blended learning muna tayo," he said in a virtual briefing on Monday.

"Hindi ko alam kung kinakailangan ng deklarasyon ng crisis," Roque said.

[Translation: While we can't hold face-to-face classes yet given that many of our countrymen have yet to receive their vaccines, it seems that the President's decision to adopt blended learning is right. I don't know if there's a need to declare a crisis.]

Roque's comments were prompted by a question during the briefing where he stood on Vice President Leni Robredo's statement last weekend calling for a declaration of a crisis in education.

READ: Robredo says govt must declare crisis in education

"I don't know what she's referring to, talagang mahirap ang buhay dahil pandemya pa (life is really hard because of there is still a pandemic)," he said.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones has the power to decide on that, Roque added.

Roque also said the controversial report of the World Bank, which said 80% of Filipino children fare poorly in studies as they "do not know what they should know", was "incorrect."

Last week, the Department of Education demanded an apology from the World Bank for the latter's failure to inform the agency on the release of the "insulting" report, which it said was based on outdated data.

The World Bank then issued an apology to the Philippine government on Friday for the "premature" release of the report.

Robredo, however, said that the government must see the World Bank report as a challenge to improve the education system. She also said the DepEd should now release its updated data.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  The Department of Health and the National Bureau of Investigation will look into reports that over a dozen Sinovac vaccines were taken from a hospital and brought to the home of a politician in Northern Samar.

Several news reports said 15 doses of Sinovac shots were taken from the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital and brought to the home of an unnamed politician in Catarman. The vaccines were reportedly used on the politician's security escorts.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday said they were waiting for the report of the regional health office on the incident. But she warned local officials that these controversies only worsen the public's trust in the national government's vaccination program.

"Para sa local government officials, sana tayo ay magtulong-tulong, iwasan ang ganitong pagkakataon dahil nawawalan ng tiwala ang ating mga kababayan kapag may ganitong reports," she said in a media briefing.

[Translation: I hope the local government officials help us to prevent these incidents. The public is losing trust in us because of these kinds of reports.]

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, meanwhile, said the NBI has a standing order from his office to investigate the illegal use of COVID-19 vaccines.

"It will be ready to assist the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the provincial board of Northern Samar in any investigation of the subject incident," he told reporters.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12)  Five years since the Philippines won its historic case against China over the West Philippine Sea, Vice President Leni Robredo urged the administration to look into the "missed opportunities" to further uphold the arbitral ruling and assert the country's sovereignty.

In a statement, Robredo stressed that the country's arbitral award handed down by an international tribunal in the Hague on July 12, 2016 is now a definitive part of international law "which cannot be erased from the history books" and cannot be denied despite lies "spewed forth by a formidable machinery of disinformation."

The landmark decision recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in areas within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf that are being claimed by China. Beijing continues to reject this ruling.

Robredo noted that "the national leadership has yet to fully flex the ruling" in different forums to pursue the Philippines' interests.

"Our fisherfolk remain unable to enter areas that have been the source of livelihood for generations of Filipinos," she added. "Alliances that could have been strengthened were allowed to erode, while those who bully their way into our waters have been treated with deference, and at times, subservience."

Over the last half decade, Duterte has maintained his soft stance on China. In May, he called the Philippines' arbitral victory a piece of paper that he can throw away in a trash bin. He also blamed the previous administration for withdrawing Philippine ships from Scarborough Shoal during a standoff with China in 2012.

READ: Duterte says PH arbitral win vs. China 'just' a piece of paper, trash to be thrown away

In a separate statement, opposition senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Department of National Defense to expedite the building and expansion of facilities in the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea to show China that the Philippines "will no longer be passive" about its 2016 victory.

She added that the DND could collaborate with local government units and other agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Agriculture to encourage civilian activity in the area and demonstrate that it is part of Philippine territory. She said that this way, the sea features would not be seen as merely military outposts.

We cannot treat the islands in the WPS only as military outposts, but also as civilian territories that are simply part of the Philippines. If the Executive can devise a way that will allow for more activity in the islands, accompanied of course by security protocols, it can contribute to consolidating our sovereignty over the KIG, Hontiveros said.

The senator also reiterated her call to officially celebrate the "National West Philippine Sea Victory Day" every July 12 to annually commemorate the country's legal win.

Meanwhile, Robredo noted: "Todays commemoration is a reminder, a challenge, and a promise: That if only we can remember, if only we can unite, if only we can rediscover our spirit and once again stand for what is right we will find, beneath the rubble of cowardice and neglect, our courage, our dignity, and our national pride."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 13)  Five years since the Philippines victory in The Hague, the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday maintained its stand on the arbitration award, saying the ruling is illegal and nothing but waste paper.

The award of the arbitration is illegal, null and void. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a briefing.

He also said the arbitration violated the principle of state consent and the arbitral tribunal exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires [invalid] and rendered an award in disregard of law.

The arbitration has major fallacies in fact-finding and application of law and violates UNCLOS and international law, the spokesman added.

In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague unanimously ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against the East Asian superpower. The five-member arbitral tribunal invalidated Beijings claims over virtually the entire South China Sea and recognized Manilas sovereign rights in areas within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

READ: Remembering the 2016 Hague ruling: What has happened since then?

China continuously disregards the ruling and Chinese vessels can be seen regularly in the disputed waters despite a number of diplomatic protests filed by the Philippines.

Back in May, President Rodrigo Duterte similarly described the countrys arbitral victory as a piece of paper that he can throw away in a trash bin, noting that the ruling has led to nothing. Moreover, he described calls for him to continue the fight in the United Nations as "a waste of time and at the same time disrupting the good relations of China and the Philippines."

In a statement, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea, noting that any armed attack on Philippine forces, vessels, or aircraft in the West Philippine Sea would invoke the mutual defense commitments of the U.S. and the Philippines under the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

He also called on Beijing to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small.

In another statement, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the award is a milestone as it affirms Manilas claim over the disputed waters and that it is final and executory.

He also urged all parties involved to heed the call for a rules-based international order and refrain from doing acts that may worsen the situation.

Consistent with Philippine national policy, we shall continue to seek all avenues to achieve a peaceful and friendly management of all standing maritime disputes, Lorenzana said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 13)  Over four million families in the country experienced hunger at least once in the past three months, according to a recent poll released by the Social Weather Stations.

The national Social Weather Survey found that 16.8%, or an estimated 4.2 million families, experienced involuntary hunger during that period.

The pollster defined involuntary hunger as hunger because there was not enough to eat. It added current figures were slightly higher than the last poll results in November 2020.

"The May 2021 hunger rate is 0.8 points above the 16.0% (estimated 4.0 families) in November 2020. It is 4.3 points below the 2020 annual average of 21.1% but still double the December 2019 pre-pandemic level of 8.8% (est. 2.1 million families)," SWS said on Monday.

The highest incidence of hunger was seen in Mindanao, estimated at 1.2 million families. The Visayas comes second (around 776,000 families), Balance Luzon  referring to areas in Luzon outside of Metro Manila  (around 1.8 million families), and Metro Manila (around 496,000 families).

From November 2020 to May 2021, SWS said overall hunger rose among those who rated themselves as poor, from 21.7% to 23.5%.

"Hunger among the Self-Rated Food-Poor is always higher than hunger among the Self-Rated Poor at any one point in time," said the pollster.

READ: SWS: Number of Filipino families that consider themselves 'poor' drop to new record low

The First Quarter 2021 Social Weather Survey was conducted from April 28 to May 2, 2021, with interviews from 1,200 adults nationwide.
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High near 90F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
YMCA of Centre County announced its State College branch will hold a "Grand Opening" for its new pickleball courts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 31.

The ceremony will be free to both members and nonmembers, according to the YMCA of Centre Countys website.

A ribbon cutting ceremony, food, prize drawings and pickleball games will be facets of the event. Volunteer pickleball instructors will also be present for lessons.

As a promotional deal, the YMCA announced the courts will be free and open to both members and nonmembers throughout the month of July. Afterward, payment or membership status will be required to utilize the facilities, according to its website.

MORE BOROUGH COVERAGE

National Weather Service issues severe thunderstorm watch for Centre County The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch Sunday for parts of Pennsylv
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The superheroes in Watchmen win the Vietnam War, X-Men: Days Of Future Past shows us how the Cuban Missile Crisis would have gone down if mutants were involved, and Cars 3 depicts the grim world that follows when Pixar just stops caring. Movies love to blow up the history books, but what happens when they don't even realize they've done it?

5 Batman Begins Implies That All Of Human Civilization Is Controlled By Asshole Ninjas

In Batman Begins, the film that kicked off DC's fascination with sad-ass superheroes, the bad guys are a bunch of murderous ninjas. Their leader, Ra's al Ghul, is ruled by his strict moral code: killing people he thinks are too decadent, or who live in a city that he thinks kinda sucks. As he explains to Bruce Wayne:

"The League of Shadows has been a check against human corruption for thousands of years. We sacked Rome, loaded trade ships with plague rats, burned London to the ground. Every time a civilization reaches the pinnacle of its decadence, we return to restore the balance."

Warner Bros. "Limiting McRib availability and getting rid of Ecto Cooler has only bought America so much extra time."





So they've been behind every major collapse since Jesus was born, and Gotham City is next: They plan to release a special gas that will make everyone really scared and start punching each other to death, like a Black Friday sale -- but not on a Friday! The terror.

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We've been taught that empires that grow too big, abusive, or arrogant are naturally predisposed to failure. That's why the Soviet Union collapsed, and that's why the colonists rebelled against Great Britain. Corruption, inequality, and bureaucratic bloat eat away at complacent civilizations from the inside, like a political chest-burster. But in Batman's world, the fate of nations are actually decided by a group of self-righteous ninjas sneaking around with sickly rats in their pockets.

Warner Bros. Yeah, if we had to pick a leader of the world, ninja Liam Neeson would be top three, but that's not the point.

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The League of Shadows is eventually defeated because they underestimate the strength and drive of their supposedly soft enemies. Maybe Rome and 17th-century London were actually ideal civilizations that, if given time, could have pushed the planet into a Golden Age. But instead, the League murdered millions and put us all back at square one because they decided that the roads sucked, or whatever.

Countless historians have attempted to understand the turmoil that led to major historical downfalls, and all of their work has been pointless. The final chapter of every book on Roman history should just end with: "And then asshole ninjas burned everything down." What sort of lessons are the people in this universe actually able to learn from history? Make sure a handful of elitists living in the mountains of Bhutan dig your civilization? That's a difficult lesson to apply to public policy.
This past weeks episode of Andrew Jennings Business Scholarship Podcast tells a wonderful story of sneaky cruise ship lawyering. Andrews guest was John Coyle, contracts/choice-of-law guru. The discussion focused on the 11th Circuits recent decision in Myhra v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., and Johns new article about that case, Cruise Contracts, Public Policy, and Foreign Forum Selection Clauses

The backdrop to this story is US federal law that constrains cruise companies from contracting to limit liability in the small print of their contracts with customers; contract provisions that few read and fewer still pay attention to. John explains:

46 U.S.C.  30509 . . . prohibits cruise companies from writing provisions into their passenger contracts that limit the companys liability for personal injury or death incurred on cruises that stop at a U.S. port. The policy goal underlying this statute is simple. A cruise contract is the prototypical contract of adhesion. Absent the constraints imposed by the statute, a cruise company could write language into its passenger contracts that would absolve the company from liability for passenger injuries even when the company was at fault. The statute clearly states that such provisions are void as against U.S. public policy and directs courts not to give them any effect.

That strikes me as a pretty clear dictate to the courts. And if I were a cruise company contract lawyer, Id be worried about trying to draft around such a clear dictate. (Wouldnt courts, customers, and just about everyone else look with disfavor upon such sneakiness?). Cruise company lawyers though, at least in the 11th Circuit (which is the key circuit for such matters, since it covers Florida) have figured out a back door way around the explicit prohibition by using a combination of forum selection and governing law clauses. This enables them to limit liability to foreign customers, even though they are taking the same cruise as their US counterparts. Johns article explains:

Notwithstanding this clear statement of U.S. policy, cruise companies have worked diligently to develop a workaround to Section 30509 for passengers who reside outside the United States. First, the companies write choice-of-law clauses into their passenger contracts selecting the law of the passengers home country. In many cases, the enforcement of such clauses will result in the application of the Athens Convention, a multilateral treaty which caps the liability of cruise ship companies. When the Athens Convention applies, an injured cruise ship passenger generally cannot recover more than $66,000 in a tort suit against the cruise ship company. In this way, the cruise company seeks to accomplish indirectly through a choice-of-law clause what it could not achieve directly via a contract provision limiting their liability.

Im astonished. Surely a US federal court would not permit such a sneaky workaround. And Johns article explains, after canvasing a large set of cases across a range of subject areas, that that is the case. Except, maybe, if you are a cruise company litigating in the 11th Circuit against a foreign customer.
Crossville, TN (38555)

Today

Cloudy early followed by heavy thunderstorms this afternoon. High around 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Despite the hype and gnashing of teeth over its hardware requirements, Windows 11 fundamentally shifts how Microsoft approaches both consumer and enterprise security. Even though the upgrade process from Windows 10 will be minor and more like a feature release of Windows 10, hardware requirements draw lines in the sand to make Windows more secure. The decision to move to Windows 11 will be different for each organization. It might be one person making a hard decision, a natural evolution of the Windows security, or a bit premature for ecosystems not ready for the mandates.

At the same time Microsoft is taking a step back from possibly its most secure operating system, Windows S, which forces users to obtain software through the vetted Microsoft Store. Windows 11 Enterprise will no longer support this method, which will be allowed only on consumer versions. It appears that Microsoft realized what I had long thought: The Windows ecosystem is not ready for the Windows S mode process of whitelisting applications even though thats ultimately where we need to be. Rather, Microsoft is focusing on security features and mandates that will ensure a secure ecosystem, as they call it, from silicon all the way to the cloud.

Why hardware is important to Windows 11 Security

Windows secured-core computers are the foundation of Windows 11 requirements, but they are not new. It starts with a mandated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 that ensures a hardware root of trust, secure boot, and BitLocker drive encryption. The next mandate is virtualization-based security (VBS) enabled in the motherboard. This ensures that the computer system can leverage virtualization capabilities as well as allow the hypervisor to provide additional protection for critical systems. This isolation allows browsers to be separated from Office processes and other features on the machine.

The processor is defined as secured-core, which allows the system to provide protection from firmware attacks. These mandates demand a higher level of system performance. Microsoft is stating that processors need to be Generation 8 or higher, but they may lower it to certain Generation 7 processors if performance wont be impacted.

TPM 2.0 or higher and VBS enabled by default allows Microsoft to mandate a hardware root of trust. VBS creates and isolates a secure region of memory from the normal operating system. It requires a 64-bit processor. The processor must also support second level address translation (SLAT), either Intel VT-X2 with Extended Page Tables (EPT), or AMD-v with Rapid Virtualization Indexing (RVI). Privilege escalation attacks are attempted every day. In fact, the recent PrintNightmare vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler code allowed attackers to gain rights on a domain controller was one such privilege attack that hardware root of trust should prevent.
HAVANA (AP)  Thousands of Cubans marched on Havanas Malecon promenade and elsewhere on the island Sunday to protest food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis, in one of biggest anti-government demonstrations in memory.

Many young people took part in the afternoon protest in the capital, which disrupted traffic until police moved in after several hours and broke up the march when a few protesters threw rocks.

Police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted Freedom, Enough and Unite. One motorcyclist pulled out a U.S. flag, but it was snatched from him by others.

We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. Thats why Im here, one middle-age protester told The Associated Press. He declined to identify himself for fear of being arrested later.

Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, along with a resurgence of coronavirus cases, as it suffers the consequences of U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.

An official in the Biden administration tweeted support for Sunday's demonstrations.

Peaceful protests are growing in #Cuba as the Cuban people exercise their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising COVID cases/deaths & medicine shortages. We commend the numerous efforts of the Cuban people mobilizing donations to help neighbors in need, tweeted Julie Chung, acting assistant secretary for state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Cubas director general for U.S. affairs, Carlos F. de Cossio, dismissed her remarks in his own tweet: US State Department and its officials, involved to their necks in promoting social and political instability in #Cuba, should avoid expressing hypocritical concern for a situation they have been betting on. Cuba is and will continue to be a peaceful country, contrary to the US.

The demonstration grew to a few thousand in the vicinity of Galeano Avenue and the marchers pressed on despite a few charges by police officers and tear gas barrages. People standing on many balconies along the central artery in the Centro Habana neighborhood applauded the protesters passing by. Others joined in the march.

Although many people tried to take out their cellphones and broadcast the protest live, Cuban authorities shut down internet service throughout the afternoon.

About 2 1/2 hours into the march, some protesters pulled up cobblestones and threw them at police, at which point officers began arresting people and the marchers dispersed.

AP journalists counted at least 20 people who were taken away in police cars or by individuals in civilian clothes.

The people came out to express themselves freely, and they are repressing and beating them, Rev. Jorge Luis Gil, a Roman Catholic priest, said while standing at a street corner in Centro Habana.

About 300 people close to the government then arrived with a large Cuban flag shouting slogans in favor of the late President Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution. Some people from the group assaulted an AP videojournalist, disabling his camera, while an AP photojournalist was injured by the police.

Demonstrations were also held elsewhere on the island, including the small town of San Antonio de los Banos, where people protested power outages and were visited by President Miguel Diaz-Canel. He entered a few homes, where he took questions from residents.

Afterward, though, he accused Cuban of stirring up trouble.

As if pandemic outbreaks had not existed all over the world, the Cuban-American mafia, paying very well on social networks to influencers and Youtubers, has created a whole campaign ... and has called for demonstrations across the country, Diaz-Canel told reporters.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Pfizer says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials Monday to discuss the drugmakers request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine as President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser acknowledged that "it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely that booster shots will be needed.

The company said it was scheduled to have the meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and other officials Monday, days after Pfizer asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months.

Pfizers Dr. Mikael Dolsten told The Associated Press last week that early data from the companys booster study suggests peoples antibody levels jump five- to 10-fold after a third dose, compared to their second dose months earlier  evidence it believes supports the need for a booster.

Now Playing: Pfizer says it is about to seek U.S. authorization for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, but U.S. health officials say a booster isn't needed yet. (July 9) Video: Associated Press

On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci didn't rule out the possibility but said it was too soon for the government to recommend another shot. He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA did the right thing last week by pushing back against Pfizer's assertion with their statement that they did not view booster shots as necessary at this time.

Fauci said clinical studies and laboratory data have yet to fully bear out the need for a booster to the current two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson regimen.

Right now, given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot, he said. That doesnt mean we stop there. ... There are studies being done now ongoing as we speak about looking at the feasibility about if and when we should be boosting people.

He said it was quite possible in the coming months as data evolves that the government may urge a booster based on such factors as age and underlying medical conditions. "Certainly it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely at some time, we will need a boost,'' Fauci said.

Now Playing: Pfizer says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials Monday to discuss the drugmaker's request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine. (July 12) Video: Associated Press

Monday's planned meeting between Pfizer and U.S. health officials was first reported by The Washington Post.

Currently only about 48% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Some parts of the country have far lower immunization rates, and in those places the delta variant is surging. Last week, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said thats leading to two truths  highly immunized swaths of America are getting back to normal while hospitalizations are rising in other places.

Fauci said it was inexplicable that some Americans are so resistant to getting a vaccine when scientific data show how effective it is in staving off COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, and he was dismayed by efforts to block making vaccinations more accessible, such as Biden's suggestion of door-to-door outreach.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., agreed Sunday that there is a vaccine resistance in Southern and rural states like his because you have that more conservative approach, skepticism about government."

Describing his efforts to boost vaccinations in his state, which is seeing rising infections, Hutchinson said no one wants an agent knocking on a door," but "we do want those that do not have access otherwise to make sure they know about it.

The grassroots component of the federal vaccination campaign has been in operation since April, when supplies of shots began outpacing demand. It was outlined and funded by Congress in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in March and overwhelmingly is carried out by local officials and private sector workers and volunteers.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., blasted opposition to vaccination efforts from some GOP lawmakers as absolute insanity." He said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California and others in the party need to speak out against these absolute clown politicians playing on your vaccine fears for their own selfish gain.

Fauci appeared on CNN's State of the Union, ABC's This Week and CBS' "Face the Nation"; Hutchinson spoke on ABC, and Kinzinger was on CNN.
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SOUTHINGTON  A man is in critical condition and heading into surgery at Saint Francis Hospital after sustaining serious injuries when his moped struck a car in Southington, police said.

Southington Police Lt. Keith Egan said the man, identified as Joseph Soucy, suffered a broken pelvis and internal bleeding in the crash. Egan said an emergency room doctor told him Soucy has a high probability of survival.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP)  Joe Cunningham  the former one-term Democratic congressman now running to unseat South Carolina Republican Gov. Henry McMaster  is pushing for medicinal and recreational legalization of marijuana, changes he says would offer health care options and spin off millions in tax revenue for state coffers.

This is going to be a game changer in South Carolina, Cunningham told The Associated Press last week, several days ahead of Monday's official rollout of his marijuana plan. There are so many reasons why we need to do this, and the time is now.

To Cunningham, legalization solves multiple problems: freeing up police to focus on violent criminals, providing a treatment alternative for those who are terminally or chronically ill, and generating millions for a state he says is dead last in areas where funding has been a struggle, like education and health care.

He would also expunge criminal records for low-level marijuana-related crimes, giving a second chance to people whose lives have been ruined over a bag of marijuana, Cunningham said.

It would be a tough task, though, in South Carolina, where the office of governor holds limited constitutional power, and the GOP holds a super majority in both legislative chambers. A Democrat has not won the Governor's Mansion in more than two decades, so Cunningham would not only have to win over Republicans at the ballot box, but also in the state Legislature, where  despite years of debate  lawmakers have only passed one marijuana-related bill, allowing prescriptions for products with CBD, a hemp component that alone does not cause a high.

Cunningham, 39, was primed to become one of the Democratic Party's rising stars after 2018, when he became the first in decades to flip a South Carolina congressional seat from red to blue. Two years later, he narrowly lost the 1st Congressional District to Republican Nancy Mace on an election night that amounted to GOP wins across South Carolina, aided in no small part by former President Donald Trump's name atop ballots in a state where his popularity has stayed high.

But it's that 2018 victory to which Cunningham points when asked how he plans to win both the governorship and lawmakers' buy in, saying that he's been the underdog before  and that his stance is buoyed by public opinion, citing anecdotal support from campaign stops around the state.

This is something the people want, Cunningham said. If our politicians arent reflecting the will of the people, then we have to change out the politicians, starting with Governor McMaster.

Surveys in recent years have also shown increasing support for medicinal marijuana in South Carolina. It's part of a national softening on the issue, even in other conservative states, with legalization measures cruising to victory last year in states across the political spectrum.

People are behind it, and politicians need to get behind it, too, said Cunningham, who says he has used marijuana in the past and voted for a marijuana decriminalization bill a month before departing the U.S. House.

During a news conference Monday with Cunningham, Bill Nettles  South Carolina's former U.S. Attorney who now advocates for marijuana legalization  pointed to medical cannabis laws in other conservative states like West Virginia.

This isnt one of those wacky ideas thats come in from out west, Nettles said.

During South Carolina's debates on marijuana, authorities including State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel, the states top law enforcement officer, have testified against legalization, arguing that marijuana remains federally prohibited. Saying dozens of states have already acted on legalization, Cunningham said his plan would help Keel do his job by freeing up officers to focus on more serious criminals.

His job is to enforce the law, Cunningham said. And what were going to be doing is changing the law to prioritize where those resources are spent.

Still nearly a year out from South Carolina's gubernatorial primaries, Cunningham is making his case alongside two other Democrats in the race thus far. State Sen. Mia McLeod launched her own bid earlier this year, telling the AP she was not afraid to spar with fellow Democrats. Activist Gary Votour has also filed paperwork to run.

Last week, Cunningham announced that he had raised $634,000 in the two months since his launch, a new record for a South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial challenger in their debut fundraising quarter. According to online filings, McLeod brought in $104,000 since her launch last month.

On marijuana, Cunningham acknowledged the complexity of the issue but said his proposal is a way to take advantage of what he sees as an inevitable wave of change across the country.

Its money were passing up, Cunningham said. Im not going to be the governor who sits on his hands.

___

Follow Meg Kinnard on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.
PARIS (AP)  French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday ordered all French health care workers to get virus vaccine shots by Sept. 15 and urged all of his compatriots to get vaccinated as soon as possible, to fight resurgent infections that are threatening the countrys economic recovery.

In a televised address, Macron also mandated special COVID-19 passes for anyone who wants to go to a restaurant, shopping mall or hospital or get on a train or plane. To get a pass, people must have proof theyre fully vaccinated, or recently recovered from the virus, or have taken a fresh negative virus test.

The delta variant is driving Frances virus infections back up again, just as the country kicked off summer vacation season after a long-awaited reopening. Some 40% of Frances population is fully inoculated.

Get vaccinated!" was the president's overall message. He even tweeted a GIF of himself repeating the phrase.

The country is facing a strong resumption of the epidemic touching all our territory, Macron said, speaking against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. Warning of a new wave of potential hospitalizations in August, he said, The equation is simple. The more we vaccinate, the less space we leave this virus to circulate.

But he stopped short of any new lockdown measures, saying We have to learn to live with the virus.

Macron said the government would declare a medical state of emergency again starting Tuesday, which allows authorities more freedom to impose virus restrictions.

Most European governments have shied away from mandating vaccinations. But after tens of thousands of people with the virus died in French nursing home s, Macron said vaccination is essential for all workers in health care facilities or nursing homes, and all workers or volunteers who care for the elderly or ailing at home. Those who dont get vaccinated by Sept. 15 will face potential sanctions or fines, he said.

Greece announced Monday that health care workers will be suspended if they refuse to get vaccinated. Italy made the coronavirus vaccination obligatory for health care workers and pharmacists, and those who opt out risk suspension from their jobs or a salary cut.

In Denmark, restaurants and public events require a digital pass showing youve been fully vaccinated or have a recent negative test. Some German states require the same for restaurants, though suggestions of making vaccines obligatory have prompted widespread unease.

In France, vaccines are widely available for anyone 12 and over. But interest has ebbed in recent weeks because of vaccine hesitancy, a sense that the virus is no longer a threat, and because some people put off their shots until after their summer vacation. Demand started rising again over the weekend as people braced for Macrons announcements.

Macron also declared Monday that France will start charging money for some virus tests, which up to now have all been free for anyone on French territory.

Meanwhile, French restaurants and bars are thriving again, the Tour de France cycling race is drawing tightly packed crowds across the country, and Hollywood stars are posing arm-in-arm and mask-free on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. Cheek kisses are making a comeback.

After staying shuttered for nine months since the pandemic began, Paris restaurant owners expressed worry about the challenges of enforcing the new requirements.

Our job used to be to make sure that our guests had a great time while they were with us. Now, we spend our time reprimanding them. We werent trained for this, said the manager of the Parisian restaurant Bancs Public, Louis le Mahieu. He said he would observe any new health rules, but warned the new measures would likely incur new costs and lower returns.

For Gauthier Max, whose bar Mama Kin was slapped with a nine-day closure for violating COVID-19 measures, restaurants and bars are no longer places of leisure but have become spaces of constraints and restrictions.

Weve effectively become policemen, he told The Associated Press.

Frances virus infections started rising again two weeks ago. The number of people in French hospitals and intensive care units has been declining for weeks, but doctors predict it too will rise when the increase in delta variant infections hits vulnerable populations, as it has in Britain and Spain.

Meanwhile, Macron also met with car industry figures Monday as he tried to combine his virus warnings with a message of hope for one of the worlds biggest economies. New infections are threatening Frances all-important tourism industry and Macrons ambitious economic recovery plan  just nine months before the next presidential election in which he is expected to run.

___

Constantin Gouvy in Paris, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Nicole Winfield in Rome, Frank Jordans in Berlin, and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at:

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Vancouver, Canada

In 2004, Vancouver-based North Shore Credit Union was a small $440M Canadian financial institution that had lost its way, according to President and CEO Chris Catliff. We had no differentiated brand, and the credit union was floundering, he says, looking back.

Fast forward 15 years later and the brand transformation impacts are industry-leading results and game changing innovation. The rebranded BlueShore Financial has evolved into a market-leading premium brand with $6.5 billion in assets under management (all organic growth). BlueShore is ranked one of Canadas 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures, and has been honored frequently as one of the most innovative financial institutions in North America.

But the journey to a premium financial brand delivering world-class financial wellness and category-leading Financial Spa experiences is far from simple. Its a story marked by courage, continuous innovation, and risk-taking to transform an organization, its culture, and market reputation  thats worth learning from.
Samuel Boardman scenic corridor near Brookings, Oregon

If you follow CUInsight, youve undoubtedly heard Jill Nowackis philosophy of doing what lights you up. While my career in credit unions is extremely important to me, hiking and backpacking is what lights me up. How is spending time on a trail in any way related to financial industry content? It is, I promise. Bear with me.

Two weeks ago, with help from a hilarious and patient man named Rodrigo at the Bureau of Land Management, my husband and I set out to locate a special gem in Oregons Coast Range called Valley of the Giants. Valley of the Giants is a tiny, 51-acre preservation site accessible only by a confusing web of mostly unmarked and very rough logging roads. This magical grove is home to some of Oregons oldest trees. Many are over 200 feet tall, 25 feet around, and 450 years old, and one that fell in 1981 (but remains for visitors) was a 600-year-old Douglas Fir that was 35 feet around.

As I stood before those Giants and breathed in the damp, cool, clean-yet-ancient-smelling air, my problems felt so small. I felt so small. Ive been on Earth for 42 years. Those trees were growing and thriving and spreading their deep roots when Shakespeare walked the streets of London, Pocahontas was taken captive to Jamestown, and the Mona Lisa was being painted by Leonardo da Vinci. How can one stand before them and feel large, important, or concerned over an email string?

I was reminded, yet again, that nature provides perspective. Feeling overwhelmed? Go out into nature. Feeling angry or frustrated? Go out into nature. Struggling with brain fog or feeling like your days blend together? Go out into nature. Worried or anxious? Go out into nature.

Nicole Apelian, Ph.D., is a hero of mine. A talented scientific researcher, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000 and embarked on a purposeful journey seeking holistic wellness. She became famous after competing on History Channels Alone. Watching Nicole compete and hearing her describe her MS symptoms was actually one of the factors that led to my own diagnosis in 2018, because I vividly remember sitting on the couch with my heart pounding and thinking, Thats whats happening to me. What if this is MS? I feel enormous gratitude to Dr. Apelian, not just for the insight I needed on my own health journey, but for the insight she has provided on the importance of communing with nature. Just a few days ago, she posted, Through nature, I find pure joy and happiness. I not only know how important it is for me, but for humans in general, to get lost in nature every now and again. A breath of fresh air and time away from the noise of everyday life can help you heal, reset, and can ultimately be the best thing for you. She often quotes John Muir, and a guiding principle in his words is, Keep close to natures heart and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

This concept of connection with nature isnt just a social media trend or sought-after lifestyle by young Instagram adventurers. The University of Minnesota recently published a research-based article that included this compelling statement:

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

Yale published an article by Jim Robbins in 2020 citing a study of 20,000 people, concluding that only 120 minutes of time in nature produced a sense of health and well-being. In 2015, a UK study revealed that increased exposure to nature correlated to more community cohesion and substantially lower crime rates. Japanese researchers studying the concept of forest bathing have noted that inhaled aerosols from forests increase immune cells that are known to fight tumors and infections. This is real stuff.

At Maps Credit Union, we recently invested in our first Chief People Officer, Scott Sadler. Scott specializes in wellness, mindfulness, and culture development (among other things). One of the first actions Scott took as CPO was providing the Calm app to every Maps employee at no cost. Our employees love it, and it was no surprise to me that many of the options on Calm are nature melodies. There is a reason this app is consumers award-winning top choice for meditation and sleep. Even listening to nature has benefits!

I know that this article alone wont convince anyone to appreciate the immense restorative and rejuvenating power of nature, but I hope it gives you enough curiosity to give it a try. You dont have to spend $1,000 at REI on an Osprey backpack, poles, tent, and bear canister (though Ill gladly accept your points on my membership ID). Start small. Find green space. Join a hiking group on Facebook and connect with people who have a similar skill level. Hiking not your jam? Try biking, reading on a park bench, floating a river, paddling across a lake, camping in your backyard, or simply sipping some coffee under the shade of an old tree and listening to the birds you hadnt even noticed were there before.

Allowing nature to help clear your head is immensely beneficialnot just to your healthbut to your performance on the job. It provides peace and perspective. It provides clarity and focus. It pulls your mind out of the haze of bright screens, early alarms, buzzing phones, and Zoom meetings, and it allows you to analyze challenges from fresh angles (and with greater energy).

Ill conclude with my favorite John Muir quote of all, which hangs where I can see it every day.

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.
Elizabeth City, NC (27909)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 91F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 72F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Paul Kirby is a reporter for the Freeman, covering Kingston politics. He has been at the Freeman since August 1996.
Town of Ulster

Fire departments can use hydrants to train, board says
Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher is shown during an interview with a Daily Freeman reporter in January 2020.
The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
Dutchess County

16-year-old shot in arm in city of Poughkeepsie
DUTCHESS COUNTY

Projects will get more than $2.2 million in funding
Thousands of Cubans have marched on Havanas Malecon promenade and elsewhere on the island to protest food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 60F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 60F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
I spent hours last week trying to calculate the best way to stretch some Air Miles from London to Aberdeen, to be with my mother on her birthday.

All the pictures on the website were of, frankly, more exotic destinations: Greek villages overlooking the deep blue of the Aegean, the aqua of the Caribbean lapping a palm-fringed beach, beautiful people partying in Ibiza.

I am an island obsessive. I love one in the sun, but also a wind-blown craggy northern one. There is something about crossing water to get to land  ideally aboard a ferry  that instils a spirit of adventure.

Patricia Nicol reveals a selection of her top picks of books on islands. She recommends Kate Rhodes 'terrific' detective series set on Scilly Isles. In the first Hell Bay, the body of a teenage girl is discovered

From Homer and Shakespeare to Ann Cleevess Shetland, the clearly defined geographies and tightly drawn communities of islands have inspired writers.

Anyone who makes land is either an incomer, tourist or a returnee. Instantly, there is potential for conflict.

Kate Rhodes has a terrific detective series set on the Scilly Isles, somewhere I long to visit. The first, Hell Bay, introduces DI Ben Kitto, a native of Bryher who has come home after a decade with the Metropolitan polices murder squad to rest and recuperate. Then the body of a teenage girl is discovered.

I could just write about books set on British islands, like To The Lighthouse (Skye), Whisky Galore (Hebridean tomfoolery) or Agatha Christies And Then There Were None (Devon). But surely we are all craving foreign adventures.

If it is sexual misadventure you crave then Helen Walshs erotically charged The Lemon Grove might fit the bill, where Jenn finds herself wholly inappropriately attracted to her teenage stepdaughters boyfriend on a family holiday to Mallorca

Victoria Hislop has recently published a childrens story, Marias Island, based on her saga The Island, exploring Spinalonga, a former island leper colony off Crete.

If it is sexual misadventure you crave then Helen Walshs erotically charged The Lemon Grove might fit the bill.

It is set in Deia, the picturesque seaside village on the rugged North-West coast of Mallorca that was home to writer Robert Graves. On a family summer holiday, Jenn finds herself dangerously, recklessly  and wholly inappropriately  attracted to her teenage stepdaughters boyfriend.

Even if you dont make it to the Med, these are worth diving into.
A mother who ditched her gruelling chemotherapy because of notorious Instagram scammer Belle Gibson says she felt 'betrayed' after discovering the influencer had lied about having cancer.

Kylie Willey, 44, from Melbourne, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013, and stopped her intensive chemotherapy treatment after discovering Gibson on social media.

Gibson was a social media influencer and 'clean eating' advocate, who after cultivating a host of loyal followers claimed that she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

She claimed that her condition had been cured by simply eating healthy food, but in 2015 it was discovered that Gibson had been deceiving her followers about having cancer.

Personal trainer Kylie appeared on BBC Three documentary, Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con, which explores the downfall of one of Instagram's first 'super influencers', where she admitted she felt like an 'idiot' for trusting Gibson.



Kylie Willey, 44, from Melbourne, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013, and stopped her intensive chemotherapy treatment after discovering Belle Gibson on social media

Gibson was a social media influencer and 'clean eating' advocate, who after cultivating a host of loyal followers claimed that she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer

'I felt betrayed and a little bit let down by her, and then it was the absolutely mind blowing. Why would you do that? Why would you pretend to have cancer? I felt it made me look like an idiot.'

At the age of 23, wellness blogger Gibson had accumulated more than 300,000 followers worldwide after claiming that her inoperable brain cancer had been 'cured' through natural remedies.

Soon after launching her Instagram account, The Whole Pantry, Gibson had created her own app, had written her own cook book, which reportedly earned her in excess of $1million.

Kylie stumbled onto Belle's Instagram page when she was undergoing daily chemotherapy, losing her hair, and was set to undergo her 18th painful lumbar puncture.

She claimed that her condition had been cured by simply eating healthy food, but in 2015 it was discovered that Gibson had been deceiving her followers about having cancer. Gibson is pictured leaving court in 2019

'I was desperate, my life had totally changed and she appeared to be doing everything right and I felt like I was doing everything', said Kylie.

I was sucked into this process that wasn't working for me so felt like I needed to give this a go to see if it worked.

'She was saying that was she was doing was curing her cancer, making it better and I had her there to look at'.

The mother even reached out to Belle directly on Instagram to send her good wishes: 'I felt like we were opening the lines of communication and would chat more about my journey and her journey and I was pretty chuffed with the fact she replied to my message. I wanted to be her friend.'

Gibson's narrative of deceit quickly unravelled when an Australian publication revealed that the influencer had not been donating her profits to charity, as she had led her followers to believe.

Soon after launching her Instagram account, The Whole Pantry, Gibson had created her own app, had written her own cook book. Belle is pictured after receiving an award in 2014

In March 2015, media investigations revealed that she had also fabricated her stories of cancer, as well as lying about several other details of her life and finances.

Groups were set up online of people who had been duped by Gibson, and Kylie said that many people 'blamed her' for losing their loved ones following unconventional treatments.

'It was driven by a lot of people whose family had gone through cancer whether it be directly or indirectly and people who had lost people because they didn't go through conventional treatments,' Kylie said.

'So they were really angry, they were angry about the influence she had on people, they blamed her. A lot of people blamed her.'

Online communities of angry social media users began trawling through Gibson's past and soon discovered she had not always been living the healthy lifestyle she was selling.

Gibson's narrative of deceit quickly unravelled when an Australian publication revealed that the influencer had not been donating her profits to charity. Gibson is pictured in 2016

Kylie stumbled onto Belle's Instagram page when she was undergoing daily chemotherapy, losing her hair, and was set to undergo her 18th painful lumbar puncture

'A lot of images from her past were contradictory to the image that she was selling, it was images of her drinking or smoking and not living that amazing healthy lifestyle she promoted.

'If only we had done that before giving her the platform to become the person she was.'

Kylie added of the scammer: 'She's definitely not well, a well person doesn't do what she's done and believe in her own lies, she thinks we're all stupid.

'That's what annoys me about her, she is the type of person that thinks she's smarter than the rest of us and we're all fools. We were for a little bit, and she can do and say whatever she likes.'

Gibson, pictured before being found guilty of five breaches of consumer law, was fined $410,000 (240,000) by the Australian government in September 2017

Gibson was fined $410,000 (240,000) by the Australian government in September 2017 after being found guilty of five breaches of consumer law.

Gibson told the court at the time that she wasn't 'in a position to pay a $410,000 fine at this time'.

Carl Moller, the barrister for Consumer Affairs Victoria, told Gibson she had spent $91,000 over a two-year period.

He told the court she had claimed to have earned just $35,000 in that time. Gibson replied: 'I don't accept that'.

The court heard Gibson had travelled to Bali and Africa during those two years.

In May this year her home was raided by Australian authorities to try to recoup her unpaid fines, now owing $500,000 (270,000) in fines, penalties and interest.
Queen Letizia of Spain looked smart as she dressed down in a trench coat and trainers on a visit to Roncesvalles in Navarra today.

She was joined by her husband King Felipe VI to mark the occasion of the Jacobean Year.

A Jacobean Year takes place when the 25th of July, Saint James' Day, falls on a Sunday, and usually falls in a 6, 5, 6, 11 year pattern.

The Spanish royal donned a beige trench coat and practical trainers for outing, which she paired with matching light linen trousers and a white shirt.

Queen Letizia of Spain looked smart as she dressed down in a trench coat and trainers, with her brunette tresses swept back in a ponytail, on a visit to Roncesvalles in Navarra today

Mother-of-two Letizia, 48, wore her long, dark brunette tresses swept back from her face in a ponytail that revealed a pair of small hoop earrings.

The royal couple carried pilgrim walking sticks with the sea shell strung onto them - a symbol of the Camino de Santiago - as they joined fellow walkers along the popular route.

She wore a simple slick of makeup, with just a dash of bronzer and a mascara and prioritised Covid safety precautions on her visit by covering her mouth and nose with a protective white face mask.

The Spanish monarch joined husband King Felipe VI to mark the occasion of the Jacobean Year which is taking place from 2021-2022 as Saint James' Day falls on a Sunday this year

Mother-of-two Letizia, 48, donned a beige trench coat and practical trainers for outing, which she paired with matching light linen trousers and a white shirt

The royal couple carried pilgrim walking sticks with the sea shell strung onto them - a symbol of the Camino de Santiago - as they joined fellow walkers along the popular route

The couple sheltered under black umbrellas when it drizzled for part of their walk as they passed through the small village and church grounds in the foothills of the French Pyrenees.

They were joined by regional presidents including the President of Navarra, Maria Chivite, President of La Rioja, Concha Andreu, President of Galicia, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, President of Castilla y Leon, Alfonso Fernandez Manueco, and president of Cantabria, Miguel Angel Revilla.

The Spanish royal couple could be seen chatting with members of their walking group as they took part in the event.

King Felipe cut a handsome figure in a navy coat suit paired with a blue shirt, and brown leather shoes, while also wearing a white face covering.

The Spanish royal couple could be seen chatting with members of their walking group during the royal visit

It drizzled for part of their walk as they passed through the small village and church grounds in the foothills of the French Pyrenees that is part of the Camino route

It's been a busy few days for Letizia who on last week stepped out at the inauguration of the 40th edition of the International Contemporary Art Fair in Madrid as well as attending a meeting with the Abertis Foundation before taking a solo trip to the Unicef 75th Anniversary Exhibition in the Spanish capital.

Letizia, who is Honourary President of the UNICEF's Spanish Committee, was attending an exhibition marking the organisation's 75th anniversary.

UNICEF operates in around 190 countries and territories, taking practical actions to reach excluded children.

King Felipe cut a handsome figure in a navy coat suit paired with a blue shirt, and brown leather shoes, while also wearing a face covering like his wife
A 'middle-class housewife' has found her soul mate in a Thai jail and has invited him to share her home after seven years as her pen pal.

Victoria Oak, 62, from Putney, London, started writing to Andy Hawke, 63, a convicted drug smuggler serving 40 years in Thailand's Bang Kwang prison.

Her daughter Samantha, 35, met him when she visited British nationals who were imprisoned during a gap year in 2006, and they exchanged letters.

A 'middle-class housewife' has found her soul mate in a Thai jail and has invited him to share her home after seven years as her pen pal

Victoria Oak, 62, from Putney, London, started writing to Andy Hawke, 63, a convicted drug smuggler serving 40 years in Thailand's Bang Kwang prison

Victoria then went on a pilgrimage to pray for his release and she would write a book about her journey with the man she regards as her 'soul mate.'

Now a full-time author, Victoria, who has four children Samantha, Emma, 34, Tom, 31, and William, 28, said: 'We were both feeling trapped. Me, as I was not happy in my marriage and Andy as he was in prison.

'From the time I was 40, my husband and I started to grow apart. I think I just felt very alone. It was a hard time.'

While Victoria had been unhappy for some time in her 28-year marriage, she kept her feelings private, until she started opening her heart in the intense pen pal relationship with Andy.

She said: 'Andy's letters gave me solace from the hardship I was going through.

There was little prospect of the pen pals ever being more than that because Andy, who was locked up in 1999, was serving 40 years for smuggling drugs, but she prayed for his release

'It's so rare to get things in the mail anymore and it was amazing to receive a handwritten letter sent by Air Mail. It became a real friendship and we talked about everything.

'Andy never told me what to do. He would never encourage me to leave my husband, it's really not the kind of person he is.

'But I think just having someone I could talk to helped. It was a form of escapism.'

But there was little prospect of the pen pals ever being more than that because Andy, who was locked up in 1999, was serving 40 years for smuggling drugs.

Victoria continued: 'Andy would tell me about his days in prison. I think, strangely, he adapted well to the rules and structure.

'But he had been through so much. Hearing his story, I had so much understanding of how he got into his situation.

A committed Christian, after more than six years of exchanging letters, in May 2012, Victoria decided to embark on a five week long pilgrimage in Galicia, Spain, to pray for his release

'He struggled so much, his partner had passed away and he just fell into a deep depression. I think in many ways, he was taken advantage of.

'He was asked to take heroin to Copenhagen over the Thai border. I think he was in such a dark place he would have said yes to anything. He just didn't want to carry on anymore.'

A committed Christian, after more than six years of exchanging letters, in May 2012, Victoria decided to embark on a five week long pilgrimage in Galicia, Spain.

She travelled along the Camino de Santiago trail to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, praying for Andy's early release.

She said: 'I decided to complete the pilgrimage to pray for Andy's release, as well as trying to find courage for my divorce.'

While their friendship remained purely platonic, when Andy was released in March 2013, she invited him to share her home, where he stayed for 18 months

Two weeks into her trek, he was finally pardoned and, on her return, in June 2012, she asked for a divorce.

'I stopped at every stone along the trail and placed a prayer, ' said Victoria.

'It really was a spiritual experience and within two weeks of my trip I got a call from Sam telling me Andy had been officially pardoned.

'I was over the moon. I couldn't believe he was finally free and my prayers had been answered.

'I felt like we were on the right path and after completing the trek I found the courage to ask my husband for a divorce.'

While their friendship remained purely platonic, when Andy was released in March 2013, she invited him to share her home.

While the mother-of-four had been unhappy in her 28 year marriage, she kept her feelings private, until she started opening her heart in the intense pen pal relationship with Andy

He stayed there for 18 months while he acclimatised to freedom, before settling in Ceredigion, Wales.

The friends agreed to tell their story to the world through Victoria's book called Sentenced.

She said: 'We'd stay up writing together and reading the chapters over. The more we learnt about each other's lives before our sentences, the more we bonded.

'But after 18 months, I think we'd had enough of each other. We're both stubborn and I'm very positive, while Andy can get quite down.

'We didn't always compliment each other, so 18 months later in August 2014 Andy moved out, eventually finding accommodation in Wales.'

Victoria hopes that the book, Sentenced, which the pair wrote while living together, will give people going through a hard time both courage and strength to change their path

Parting as best friends, they still visit each other as regularly as possible and agree they will always have an unbreakable bond.

'He really is one of my best friends. I really love him,' said Victoria.

'We love playing Scrabble and whenever we get together, we just play hours of games together.

'We've remained so close. I think our lives have become intertwined and we will always have a bond after writing those letters during the darkest times of our life.

'We wrote Sentenced during the 18 months of living together. It took me five years to edit, though. It's been a real work of love, but we're so proud of it.'

Victoria hopes that the book will give people going through a hard time both courage and strength to change their path.

She added: 'I just hope that other people who feel trapped in their lives find solace in the book and realise that we don't have to stick with the lives we are given.

'We no longer write to each other, but are always texting and speaking at least once a week.'

Andy has nothing but praise for the woman who has helped him to change his life.

He said: 'She insisted in her letters that she was a middle-aged, middle-class housewife from Putney and yet what woman middle-aged and middle class would write to an old con in a South-East Asian prison for seven years and then on his release offer to share her home with him until he got back on his feet?

'Only when I actually met this extraordinary "Putney housewife" did I come to realise how much she meant to me.'
Gayle King has revealed that she will ban family members from her Thanksgiving celebrations this year if they don't get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The CBS This Morning co-host shared her unfiltered views about unvaccinated relatives on Monday's show during a conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci on the challenge of getting more Americans fully inoculated amid the threat of COVID-19's Delta variant.

'I dont know how many more times you can say to people, "Listen, it will save your life,"' King, 66, told Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the White Houses chief medical adviser.

Scroll down for video

Candid: Gayle King, 66, opened up about having unvaccinated relatives on CBS This Morning on Monday during a conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci about COVID-19's Delta variant

Laying down the law: King, who was vaccinated earlier this year, told Dr. Fauci that she will 'ban' family members from her Thanksgiving celebrations if they don't get the COVID -19 shot

Group gathering: King's annual Thanksgiving trip with her family was canceled last year due to the pandemic, but they previously spent the holiday in Mexico (pictured) and Puerto Rico

King added that she is taking measures to protect herself against her own relatives who have yet to get vaccinated, admitting that she has a 'problem' with members of her family who haven't had the shot.

'I have this problem with some members of my own family, which Im now going to ban for Thanksgiving vacation,' she continued. 'Thats how strongly Im taking what youre saying.'

King's annual Thanksgiving trip with her family was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the group previously spent the holiday in Mexico in 2019 and Puerto Rico in 2018.

When the journalist spoke of unvaccinated family members, she likely wasn't referring to her children  Kirby Bumpus, 35, and William Bumpus Jr., 34  whom she recently saw in California.

King flew to Los Angeles last month to spend some quality time with her son, who had undergone Achilles repair surgery, and her daughter, who is pregnant with her first child.

Reunited: King flew to Los Angeles last month to spend some quality time with her son William Bumpus Jr. (far right) and pregnant daughter Kirby Bumpus (left, center)

In May, King opened up about how grateful she is to have received her COVID-19 vaccine during a virtual appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

'I was so afraid to leave the house,' she recalled. 'We were broadcasting from here, so I'd literally go from my bedroom to the TV room to the kitchen to the bedroom to the TV room.

'For excitement I'd go stand in the living room and wave at the birds! "Hi, birds! Hi!" I was so afraid.'

King said she was 'tired of being scared,' saying the vaccine is her 'superpower' and has given her the confidence to take 'little baby steps' back into the world.

The mother of two spent months away from children while in lockdown in her New York City home at the start of the pandemic. Like many families, they celebrated special occasions from across the country via Zoom.

Looking back: King spent months away from children while in lockdown in her New York City home at the start of the pandemic. She's pictured working from home in July 2020

Quarantine: Like many families, King and her children celebrated special occasions from across the country via Zoom

Back in the world: The journalist, pictured covering the election in November, recently shared that she was 'so afraid to leave the house,' saying the vaccine is her 'superpower'

King had an emotional reunion with her best friend Oprah Winfrey at the media mogul's estate in Montecito, California, in July 2020 after months apart.

The CBS News star spent two weeks quarantined in Winfrey's guest house and tested negative for COVID-19 before they shared an emotional 'COVID-free' hug outside the main house.

Gayle and her team weren't the only ones who had to quarantine in Winfrey's guest house during the pandemic.

In March 2020, Winfrey revealed that she and her longtime partner Stedman Graham were temporarily sleeping in separate houses over coronavirus concerns.

Happy: King and her best friend Oprah Winfrey shared a 'COVID-free' hug when they officially reunited at the media mogul's home in Montecito, California, in July 2020 after months apart

Sweet moment: Videos of the emotional reunion show King and Winfrey walking towards each other with open arms

Living it up: King and her team remained socially distanced from Winfrey for two weeks while they quarantined in her guest house as they awaited their COVID-19 test results

The TV legend, who contracted pneumonia in late 2019, explained in an Instagram Live video that she sent Stedman to quarantine in the guest house for two weeks after he returned home from traveling to the midwest.

'He was like, "What's the procedure for coming home?" And I was like, "You ain't coming in here and sleeping in my bed. It doesn't work that way,"' she said.

'Social distancing doesn't mean you can go sleep in a bed with someone after you got off American Airlines. We can not play those games.'

'I leave food on the doorstep,' she added. 'He's happy to have me safe. We just take him dinner and we take him breakfast.'

Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 606,000 American deaths have been recorded, but daily fatalities have fallen from an average of 4,000 deaths in early February 2021 during the winter surge to 230 this month, in large part thanks to the vaccine.

Safety first: In March 2020, Winfrey revealed that she made her longtime partner Stedman Graham quarantine in the guest house for two weeks after he returned home from traveling

However, researchers from the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) said this progress could be reversed as the vaccination campaign stalls in the U.S. and the Indian Delta variant continues to sweep across the country, causing surges in pockets of the U.S. with both high and low vaccination rates.

The researchers ran simulations to determine what would have happened if no vaccines had been distributed through summer 2021.

Results of the study showed there would have been up to 279,000 more COVID-19-related deaths and 1.25 million hospitalizations from the virus.

'The vaccines have been strikingly successful in reducing the spread of the virus and saving hundreds of thousands of lives in the United States alone,' said lead author Dr. Alison Galvani, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis at YSPH, in a news release.

'Yet until a greater majority of Americans are vaccinated, many more people could still die from this virus. The danger is not over. Now is not the time to let down our guard.'
Pfizer Inc says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials on Monday to discuss the potential federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine.

The meeting with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) comes just days after the company asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months.

Last week, Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced that early clinical trials found the third dose, given six months after the second shot, generated levels of neutralizing antibodies five to 10 times higher than the initial two doses.

On Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci didn't rule out the possibility of a third dose but said it was too soon for the government to recommend another shot.

He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA did the right thing last week by pushing back against Pfizer's assertion with their statement that they did not view booster shots as necessary 'at this time.'

However, Fauci expressed dismay at the number of Americans who are not yet fully vaccinated and supports the idea of mandates at the local level.

Pfizer is meeting with top U.S. health officials on Monday to discuss the company's third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine after early data showed it generated levels of neutralizing antibodies five to 10 times higher than the initial two doses. Pictured: A view of a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine on a table, July 2021

Dr Anthony Fauci pushed back and said that with the data currently available 'we do not need to give people a third shot' but said he supports mandates at the federal level

On #CNNSOTU w/ @jaketapper, Dr. Anthony Fauci calls the reaction by the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Committee to a conservative author's comments about the US falling short of it's vaccination goal 'horrifying' https://t.co/riMPKronHA  State of the Union (@CNNSotu) July 11, 2021

Fauci said clinical studies and laboratory data have yet to fully bear out the need for a booster to the current two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson regimen.

'Right now, given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot,' he told CNN's State of the Union.

'That doesn't mean we stop there...There are studies being done now ongoing as we speak about looking at the feasibility about if and when we should be boosting people.'

He said it was quite possible in the coming months 'as data evolves' that the government may urge a booster based on such factors as age and underlying medical conditions.

'Certainly it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely at some time, we will need a boost,'' Fauci added.

Currently only about 48 percent of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, according to data from the CDC.

Some parts of the country have far lower immunization rates, and in those places the Indian 'Delta' variant is surging.

When asked by host Jake Tapper if he supported vaccine mandates at places like businesses and schools, Fauci said he did - but stressed that the federal government would not mandate the shots.

'I do believe at the local level there should be more mandates. There really should be,' Fauci told State of the Union.

'We're talking about life-and-death situation. We've lost 600,000 Americans already, and we're still losing more people. There've been four million deaths worldwide. This is serious business, so I am in favor of that.'

In a separate appearance on CBS' Face the Nation, Fauci said it was inexplicable that some Americans are so resistant to getting a vaccine when scientific data show how effective it is in staving off COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.

He said he was also dismayed by efforts to block making vaccinations more accessible, such as Biden's suggestion of door-to-door outreach.

Arkansas Gov Asa Hutchinson agreed on Sunday that there is a vaccine resistance in Southern and rural states like his because 'you have that more conservative approach, skepticism about government.'

He told ABC's This Week that despite his efforts to boost vaccinations in his state, which is seeing rising infections, Hutchinson said 'no one wants an agent knocking on a door.'

'But we do want those that do not have access otherwise to make sure they know about it and having the information,' Hutchinson continued.

'Not everybody goes on the internet. Not everybody has that access. And so, how do you get information to them?'

The grassroots component of the federal vaccination campaign has been in operation since April, when supplies of shots began outpacing demand.

It was outlined and funded by Congress in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in March and overwhelmingly is carried out by local officials and private sector workers and volunteers.

Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) blasted opposition to vaccination efforts from some GOP lawmakers as 'absolute insanity' on State of the Union on Sunday.

He said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California and others in the party need to speak out against 'these absolute clown politicians playing on your vaccine fears for their own selfish gain.'
Five U.S. states currently experiencing large surges of COVID-19 cases could see deaths also spike in the coming weeks.

Nationwide, cases are up nearly 30 percent as the Indian 'Delta' variant continues to spread, with most concentrations in the South and Mountain West.

Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada have seen infections from the virus rise as high as 98 percent in the past 14 days, and hospitalizations are soaring too.

But one doctor told CNN that he predicts the states may also suffer a 'surprising amount of death' in the near future because fatalities tend to be a lagging indicator.

In Missouri, the current US epicenter, the seven-day average of cases has risen from 822 per day two weeks ago to 1,631, a jump of 98%

Arkansas has seen new coronavirus cases rise 47% in the llast two weeks from an average of 402 cases per day to 591 per day

'In places like Missouri where ICUs are packed, you're going to see a surprising amount of death,' Dr Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine and surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science, told CNN on Sunday.

Missouri continues to be the country's COVID-19 epicenter with cases and hospitalizations continuing to soar.

Mercy Health Springfield, the biggest hospital in southwest Missouri, was overwhelmed last week after a large surge of cases.

The hospital ran out of ventilators at some point over the weekend.

Reiner told CNN that, usually, spikes in COVID-19 cases lead to a rise in death rates three to four weeks later.

'We will start to see an increase in mortality in this country,' he said.

CoxHealth Springfield, another hospital in the area, even had to transfer patients elsewhere to deal with a surge at their hospital.

The federal government has offered help to Springfield, sending a COVID-19 surge team to the region to assist hospitals there.

The Delta variant - a highly contagious strain of the virus that originated in India - is largely responsible for the surge.

New cases in Missouri have risen from an average of 822 per day two weeks ago to 1,631 on Sunday, a jump of 98 percent, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins data.

An estimated 97 percent of active cases in the state are of the Delta variant.

In Arkansas - another state that has been ravaged by the variant - data from Johns Hopkins show that new cases have risen 47 percent from an average of 402 reported per day to 591 per day

More than 70 percent of active cases in Arkansas are of the Delta variant.

After months of trending downwards despite little restrictions, COVID cases in Florida have doubled over the last month

Florida, a state that previously defied the odds by keeping relatively low case rates despite limited COVID restrictions, looks to be on the verge of an outbreak as well.

Cases have more than doubled over the past month, from 1,636 on June 11 to 3,392 on July 11 - a 107 percent increase.

Louisiana (92 percent increase over past month) and Nevada (89 percent) have dealt with recent surges of cases as well.

Louisiana is suffering for a surge of COVID cases as much of their population remains unvaccinated

Nevada's COVID situation has worsened over the past month, with daily cases nearly doubling

Some states are better equipped to deal with potential COVID-19 surges than others, though.

Nevada and Florida both have over half of their populations at least partially vaccinated for COVID-19.

While they are nowhere near reaching herd immunity - with only 51 percent and 54 percent of the populations vaccinated, respectively - controlling statewide surges is easier with so many having some defense to the virus.

Louisiana, on the other had, has struggled in its vaccine rollout, with only 39 percent having received at least one dose of a vaccine - the second lowest of any state.

Missouri with 46 percent of population at least partially vaccinated and Arkansas with 43 percent have low vaccine rates as well.

As the nation still sits on a large stockpile of vaccines, health officials still recommend everyone who can get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves from the virus.

Reiner said nearly all COVID-19 deaths are 'completely avoidable' now that vaccines are widely and readily available.'

The vaccines we have work really well against this variant. It doesn't need to be this way,' he told CNN.

In May, 99 percent of COVID-19 deaths in America were among the vaccinated.

Mercy Health - which includes Mercy Springfield in its hospital system - recently set a vaccine mandate for employees to combat the surge of cases in the state from effecting their staff.

Health officials have warned that as the Delta variant spreads, pockets of unvaccinated Americans around the country will experience serious case surges while areas with high vaccine rates will be little effected.

Nationwide, cases and deaths are still much lower now than they were during massive surges in Summer 2020 and during the last holiday season, though they are ticking upwards.

Over the past month, new daily cases nationwide have grown from 14,788 to 19,032 - a 28 percent increase.
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The nation's top infectious disease expert warned that the spread of the Indian 'Delta' coronavirus variant is causing cases to increase across the country.

In an appearance on CBS This Morning on Monday, Dr Anthony Fauci classified the variant, which accounts for more than half of all new infections, as 'a real bad actor virus.'

He told host Gayle King that the speed at which the Delta variant is transmitting is very worrisome.

'The concern is, first of all, the virus itself can transmit much more readily from person to person. We know that from experience in our country as well as in several other countries so you're dealing with a real bad actor virus,' he said.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said - with only 48 percent of Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 - that a large segment of the population is now left vulnerable to infection from the variant.

'Given the number of people in the country who are not vaccinated, that really is the concern because the vaccines we have available...do very well against the Delta variant, particularly protecting against severe disease leading to hospitalization,' he added.

'We're concerned about those regions of the country, those states, those areas, those cities in which the level of vaccination is really quite low, hovering around 30 percent or so.'

It comes as the U.S. sees a rise in COVID-19 infection rates, recording 6,164 new cases on Sunday, a 30 percent increase from the 4,739 recorded last Sunday.

Last week, the country reported 135,802 new cases. That's the fifth day in a row the weekly total has hit six figures and a 45 percent spike from seven days ago when 93,134 cases were recorded in a week.

What's more, states such as Missouri and Arkansas - which have among the lowest vaccination rates in the country - are seeing the highest weekly case rates per capita as the Delta variant tears through their communities.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, referred to the Indian 'Delta' Covid variant as a 'really bad actor virus' on CBS This Morning on Monday (above)

Fauci said the spread of the Delta variant, which makes up more than half of all cases (above), is worrisome because it is more infectious and therefore will continue to spread in communities with low vaccination rates

COVID-19 cases have soared by 30% in one week in the U.S. from 4,739 infections recorded last Sunday to 6,164 new cases this Sunday

According to CDC data updated last week, the Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, makes up 51.7 percent of all new infections.

That's up from the 26.1 percent of cases previously linked to the variant, meaning its prevalence has nearly doubled in two weeks.

The Delta variant has been detected in all 50 states and accounts for more than 80 percent of new infections in Midwestern states such as Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, where vaccination rates are lagging.

At least half states have been seeing COVID-19 cases increase as the variant spreads, a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins data earlier last week found.

Missouri continues to be the country's Delta epicenter with cases and hospitalizations continuing to soar.

New cases have risen from an average of 822 per day two weeks ago to 1,631 on Sunday, a jump of 98 percent, according to the analysis.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) reported on Sunday that the state is recording 142.1 cases per 100,000 residents, which is the highest in the country.

Additionally, the seven-day positivity rate sits at 12.3 percent, not as high as the record 23.1 percent recorded in November, but eight percentage points higher since the start of June,

MDHSS also reports that just 17 percent of ICU beds in the state remain available.

Some of the biggest numbers of new cases per capita over the previous two weeks also came in states that border Missouri, such as Kansas.

The state reported its biggest surge in COVID-19 cases in more than three months as the Delta variant becomes a major public health concern.

Kansas health department data showed that the state had an average of 275 new COVID-19 cases a day for the seven days ending Friday, marking the highest seven-day average since March 26.

In Missouri, the current US epicenter, the seven-day average of cases has risen from 822 per day two weeks ago to 1,631, a jump of 98%

Kansas reported an average of 275 new COVID-19 cases a day for the seven days ending Friday, which is the highest seen since March 26

Arkansas has seen new coronavirus cases rise 47% in the llast two weeks from an average of 402 cases per day to 591 per day

The number of new cases per day is still far below its peak in mid-to-late November, but it comes after local officials ended mask-wearing mandates and leaders of the Kansas Legislature ended a state of emergency for the pandemic.

State health department data showed that Cherokee County had the largest number of new cases per 1,000 residents over the past two weeks of any of Kansas' 105 counties, 6.67, more than six times the state's figure of 1.08 new cases per 1,000 residents.

Cherokee County has almost 20,000 residents, and the state reported 133 new confirmed or probable cases there during the past two weeks.

The top 20 counties for new cases per 1,000 residents included seven of the 10 counties bordering Missouri, according to an AP analysis.

Another four are in southeast Kansas - relatively close to the delta variant hotspot of southwest Missouri.

Meanwhile, just 42.6 percent of the state's population are fully vaccinated, lagging behind the national average, according to CDC data.

'We have offered assistance to local health departments and are sending added resources for testing and vaccination to the most affected areas,' said Dr Lee Norman, the state health department's top administrator.

'We continue to advise that vaccination and mask wearing increase.'

In nearby Arkansas, health officials reported more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases for the third straight day, greater than the 1,000 new infections reported Wednesday but less than the 1,200 reported on Thursday.

Data from Johns Hopkins show that new cases have risen 47 percent from an average of 402 reported per day to 591 per day.

The virus has been surging in Arkansas in recent weeks, fueled by the Delta variant and the state's lagging vaccination rates.

Only 34.9 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, according to CDC data, with the state having the third-worst vaccination rate in the country behind Alabama and Mississippi, respectively.

Last week, Gov Asa Hutchinson kicked off a series of town hall-style meetings aimed at encouraging more COVID-19 vaccinations.

'We're working very hard to go to that population through the employer, through trusted advisers, such as the clinics, making sure they have the information and overcoming the [vaccine] hesitancy or just the simply "we're-putting-it-off" approach,' Hutchinson told ABC's This Week on Sunday.

'We just have to answer it just like we have all through history, that you overcome skepticism and mistrust by truth. You overcome resistance and obstinance with saying it's important for our community, and it's important for the health of our state and nation.'
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to announce a new warning that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is linked to a rare autoimmune disease.

Four people familiar with the situation told The Washington Post that the shot has caused instances of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, temporarily paralyzing parts of the body.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it has received about 100 preliminary reports of Guillain-Barre following the one-dose vaccine

Most the cases have occurred about two weeks after vaccination and mostly in men aged 50 and older - and that this has not been seen with either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

With just 100 cases reported out of 12.8 million doses administered, this means the condition is very rare occurring in just 0.000781 percent of cases.

The warning is yet another setback for J&J's vaccine, which has plagued by pauses, ingredient mix-ups and doses needing to be thrown out.

The FDA is planning to release a new warning that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is linked to a rare autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barre syndrome. Pictured: A member of the Philadelphia Fire Department prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, March 2021

Most the cases have occurred about two weeks after vaccination and mostly in men aged 50 and older. Pictured: Ahealth worker gives a man a shot of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, July 2021

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.

It is often triggered by a viral or bacterial illnesses and causes weakness and tingling in the limbs.

As patients' conditions worsen, this can lead to parts of the body - or in some cases the whole body - being paralyzed.

GuillainBarre Syndrome is rare, affecting about one in 100,000 annually.

Fewer than 20,000 cases are diagnosed per year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

After the first symptoms of Guillain-Barre, sufferers' conditions usually worsen for about two weeks before plateauing around the four-week mark.

Most people recover, but about five percent have residual weakness or a recurrence.

Vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been used to fully vaccinate more than 160 million Americans, while J&J's shot has been used to inoculate just 12.8 million

According to The Post, the FDA officials are expected to emphasize that the J&J shot is safe and the the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh the risks.

'It's a real signal but a rare event,' one of the people familiar with the situation told the newspaper.

J&J said in a statement to DailyMail.com that it has been in talks with the FDA about rare cases of Guillain-Barre following the one-dose shot.

'The chance of having this occur is very low, and the rate of reported cases exceeds the background rate by a small degree,' the statement read.

WHAT IS GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME? Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which complications on one's immune system leads to damage to the nerves and weakness to the muscles. This leads to temporarily paralysis. Symptoms usually start with a tingling sensation in the leg, which may spread to the arms and upper body. The cause is unknown, but it usually occurs after a viral infection. Guillain-Barre impacts about 1 of every 100,000 people, translating to 3,000-6,000 people pear year. In rare cases, the disease can lead to permanent nerve damage, or death. Most of those suffering from Guillain-Barre fully recover, but it can leave permanent damages to the nerves. Doctors typically treat the condition with plasma exchanges and immunoglobulin therapy. Sources: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advertisement

'Any adverse event report about individuals receiving Johnson & Johnson's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, as well as our own assessment of the report, is shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency and other appropriate health authorities.

'We strongly support raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of rare events to ensure they can be quickly identified and effectively treated.

A CDC spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the agency's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will discuss this issue 'as part of an upcoming meeting.'

J&J's vaccine was believed to be a game-changer in the fight against coronavirus because it only requires one shot and does not need to be store at freezing temperatures.

It was expected to be used to inoculate hard-to-serve populations such as people living in rural areas and home bound seniors.

However, as of Monday, vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been used to fully vaccinate more than 160 million Americans with their two-dose shots.

Comparatively, just 12.8 million Americans have been vaccinated with the J&J shot due to a number of setbacks for the firm.

In April. the J&J vaccine was paused by the CDC and FDA for 10 days after six women under the age of 50 developed Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST), a rare blood clot that forms in the venous sinuses in the brain.

The women developed CVST in combination with a low platelet-count condition known as thrombocytopenia.

This figure was later updated to include 28 people, including one 45-year-old woman who died.

The pause was lifted and the FDA added a warning to J&J's coronavirus vaccine that rare blood clotting events might occur, primarily among women under age 50.

The company then face production problems when workers at Emergent BioSolutions, a plant in Maryland, ruined millions of doses of J&J's COVID-19 vaccine with an ingredient intended for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

J&J was forced to throw out about 75 million doses of the vaccine worth $750 million, according to the contract it signed with the federal government pricing each dose at $10.

A report from the American Neurological Association in June detailed 11 cases of patients who developed Guillain-Barre after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot a viral vector vaccine, just the J&J immunization, and combines genetic material from the new virus with the genes of the adenovirus -which causes the common cold - to induce an immune response.

The British pharmaceutical company's vaccine has also been linked to rare blood clots like those seen in J&J patients.

A committee at the European Medicines Agency recommended that a warning about Guillain-Barre be added to AstraZeneca's lavel.

'But the committee noted that "at this stage the available data neither confirms nor rules out a possible association with the vaccine,"' a news release read.
'I don't trust it, even though the rest of my family have had it,' says Billie, 31, a PR consultant who lives in London

Billie Gianfrancesco would love to have children but  as she's single and successive lockdowns have made it hard to meet anyone  she's worried time is not on her side.

Social media reports that the Covid-19 vaccine could affect female fertility have fanned her anxiety, leading her to turn down the jab when it was offered.

'I don't trust it, even though the rest of my family have had it,' says Billie, 31, a PR consultant who lives in London.

So far she has resisted pleas to get vaccinated from her younger sister, who is a mental health social worker, and her mother, who has advised her not to believe 'fake news' about the jab.

Billie says she knows coronavirus is serious and sympathises with those who've lost loved ones, but adds: 'I personally don't know anyone who's had more than mild flu symptoms from it.

'But I do know someone my age who developed a blood clot not long after having the AstraZeneca vaccine in March,' adding that it took doctors eight weeks to work out it may have been connected to the vaccine.

'Now we're hearing in the news it could affect women's periods  and who knows how that might affect our fertility in the future? I'm not prepared to risk it.'

She is referring to the recent report from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that it had received nearly 4,000 accounts from women in the UK who said they'd experienced changes to their period after the jab.

The reports  2,734 were from women who'd been given the AstraZeneca vaccine, 1,158 related to the Pfizer jab and 66 to the Moderna vaccine  came via the MHRA's Yellow Card Scheme, set up to help monitor the safety of all drugs.

A variety of changes were noted, the most common being heavier bleeding.

The Department of Health says there's no evidence of an increased risk of menstrual disorders owing to the Covid-19 vaccination, as the number of reports is extremely low compared to the number of women of childbearing age in the UK who've been vaccinated (an estimated 4.5 million have had their double dose).

Yet this doesn't appear to carry much weight with Billie or others like her  with women aged 18 to 34 having emerged as the group most likely to refuse the jab, with many citing fertility as their main concern  according to a survey of 55,000 Britons by market researchers Find Out Now in December 2020.

And now the latest figures showing that the number of first doses given is dropping, halving in a fortnight as younger people decline the vaccine.

These include Olivia Massey, 22, an estate agent from Flintshire.

Olivia, who has irregular periods and doesn't want to 'make it worse', first became concerned after reading a report online last December claiming the vaccine might affect fertility.

Social media reports that the Covid-19 vaccine could affect female fertility have fanned her anxiety, leading her to turn down the jab when it was offered

Despite 'um-ing and ah-ing' when she received her vaccination invitation in April (younger people in Wales were invited earlier than in England), she finally decided against it, despite being encouraged to get the jab by her already-vaccinated parents and older friends.

'My friends already have children so they don't need to worry,' she says. 'I've read a couple of things online about women having period problems after having the vaccines and, although that's not scientific proof, it's not a risk I want to take.'

One of the more egregious fake vaccine stories emerged last November with claims the 'head of Pfizer research' had called the Pfizer vaccine 'female sterilisation'.

It transpired he hadn't said this and, while he is a lockdown sceptic, he hadn't worked for the company for nearly a decade.

But anti-vaxxer groups have picked up on such stories, gaining hundreds of thousands of views on social media.

Yet as Dr Viki Male, a reproductive immunologist at Imperial College London, points out: 'We don't have enough information to know if these menstrual changes are linked to the vaccine and not another factor. What we do know is that there is no evidence it affects fertility,' she says, citing three separate findings.

The first is that some women who took part accidentally became pregnant after receiving either the vaccine or the placebo.

The pregnancy rate was equal across vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, 'which tells us that the vaccine does not stop people getting pregnant', says Dr Male.

Secondly, three studies involving IVF patients, some of whom had the vaccine, some of whom had Covid, while others had neither, showed 'again, there was no difference in pregnancy rates between those who had the vaccine and those who hadn't', says Dr Male.

And, lastly, the U.S. equivalent of the Yellow Card system received reports of 4,804 pregnancies by the end of March in women who'd had the vaccine (but who'd not been involved in trials).

'That tells you that a lot of women are becoming pregnant and this is likely to be an underestimate of the true number, because these are only the people self-reporting to the tracking system.'

It's thought the online rumours stem from the fact that all vaccines program the body to produce a protein called Spike. This imitates a viral protein, triggering the body to produce antibodies.

Spike is thought to be similar to a protein called syncytin-1 used by the body to make the placenta, so some anti-vaxxers claim this means the vaccine could prompt the body to attack the placenta, as if it were a virally-infected cell.

But Dr Male says this is not true as viral and placental proteins are not similar enough to confuse the body  'and laboratory studies have confirmed this is the case,' she says.

'If antibodies against Spike did cause problems for the placenta, we would expect to see miscarriages in those who become infec-ted with Covid-19 and we don't see this.'

While changes in the menstrual cycle may well be an unrecognised side-effect of the Covid-19 jab, it's by no means unusual for a vaccine to have such an effect.

A study in 2018 from Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. analysed hormone levels after the flu vaccine and showed that some of the 100 participants had a reduction in levels of progesterone (which helps prepare the womb for potential pregnancy) which could affect the menstrual cycle.

Another study, involving 3,000 teenage girls in Japan, found some reported heavier or irregular periods after being vaccinated against HPV, reported the journal Papillo-mavirus Research in 2018.

Both studies show that although vaccines may well affect menstrual cycles, the effect is temporary, says Dr Male. 'From what we already know about vaccines, any effects tend to be seen within ten to 28 days of having the jab, so it's unlikely a woman who is fertile a month after the vaccine would not be five years later.'

Dr Male adds that the reports to the MHRA about irregular periods may simply be coincidence, stress, or due to Covid itself disrupting menstrual cycles.

'We also know that factors such as putting on or losing weight can affect your periods, which is why it's so difficult to say whether the vaccine is definitely causing this. But we are confident that the vaccine does not affect fertility.'

Dr Pat O'Brien, vice-president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, adds: 'In every clinic I do, I see at least two or three women who have had regular periods who suddenly find they've become heavier or irregular. So it could be coincidental.

'However, there's no plausible scientific mechanism by which the vaccine could impair fertility, and no evidence that it does.'

Both Billie and Olivia say they may well have the vaccine in future years. As Olivia explains: 'I may well do it when I'm older. But I don't want to risk it until I've had my family.'

Billie says: 'I'm not going to say 'I'll never have it'. But I'd like to wait until the full medical trials are over in 2023.'
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning on Monday advising against the mixing of different types of two-shot COVID-19 vaccines.

Experts at the WHO say there is little data available about the health impact from mixing different jabs.

The warning comes after Thailand announced it would allow patients to get one shot each of the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines to combat a current surge of COVID-19 cases.

Canada also announced last month that residents who receive the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first shot should receive either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine for their second dise.

'It's a little bit of a dangerous trend here. We are in a data-free, evidence-free zone as far as mix and match,' Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the WHO's chief scientist said during a briefing on Monday.

'It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when and who will be taking a second, a third and a fourth dose.'

Thailand will mix the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines for health workers, a move the WHO advises against. Pictured: A Thai citizen receives a vaccine in Bangkok

Thailand is currently suffering through what is the largest case surge it has experienced since the pandemic began.

The southeast Asian nation is recording an average of 6,695 new cases a day with the total likely to grow even more in the coming days.

Cases are 162 percent up from where they were a month ago on June 11 and 1,239 percent up from where cases were three months ago on April 11.

The infections included 618 breakthrough cases among 677,000 medical staff who were fully vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine - or 0.1 percent of people.

The Sinovac vaccine was developed in China and distributed to neighboring Asian countries.

Thailand now plans to give medical staff with only one shot of the Sinovac vaccine the AstraZeneca vaccine for their second shot.

In Canada, people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first shot are recommended to get the Pfizer vaccine for their second. Pictured: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receives his second shot of the vaccine

Canadian health officials made a similar decision last month.

On June 18, Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization said people who got the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as their first dose should get the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shot for their second.

'New evidence is starting to emerge suggesting immune responses are better when a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine is followed by an mRNA vaccine as a second dose,' said Dr Shelley Deeks, vice chair of the committee, in the new guidance documents.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the two available vaccines that use mRNA technology.

The committee also updated its previous recommendation that people at high risk of exposure to, or serious illness from, COVID-19, could opt to get AstraZeneca rather than waiting for Pfizer or Moderna.

Now, it says everyone should always get the mRNA vaccines first, unless they are allergic to them.

Deeks said the advice is based on the growing supply of Pfizer and Moderna, and the risk of vaccine-induced blood clots associated with AstraZeneca.

But she is still trying to reassure people who got one or two doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine that they are nevertheless well protected.

'Anyone who has already received two doses of AstraZeneca/Covishield can rest assured that they are protected, particularly against severe illness,' she said.

'There is no need for a third dose at this time.'

A third dose may be needed soon for some Americans, though, and currently research is being done as to whether mixing vaccine brands for the third shot is safe.

Last month, the National Institute of Health launched a trial where they gave Americans who had received two shots of either Pfizer or Moderna were then given Moderna for their third dose.

The goal is to find if there are any potential benefits to mixing and matching different vaccines.

Early results of the study are expected by late summer, and data from the trial will be collected throughout the year.
Career criminal Anthony Lorenzi is charged with first-degree murder and is awaiting extradition to Illinois, police in Chicago said Saturday

A 34-year-old man sought by police in the fatal shooting of a couple at a Puerto Rican culture celebration in Chicago has been arrested in California.

Anthony Lorenzi is charged with first-degree murder and is awaiting extradition to Illinois, police in Chicago said Saturday.

Yasmin Perez and her boyfriend Gyovanni Arzuaga died from injuries sustained during the brutal ambush last month.

Lorenzi was arrested Friday by U.S. marshals in the parking lot of an apartment complex in San Diego.

The attack unfolded during Chicago's Puerto Rican Day parade, which Perez and Arzuaga participated in, flying a large Puerto Rican flag from their vehicle.

Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said Saturday that investigators learned that Lorenzi fled to San Diego the morning after Arzuaga and Perez were shot June 19 following the parade in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood.

The previously planned celebration happened to fall on June 19 this year, which days earlier had been declared a federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S.

Though the motive in the attack was unclear, police said that the couple were involved in a minor car crash of some kind, and that a crowd surrounded their vehicle and attacked them.

Yasmin Perez and her boyfriend Gyovanni Arzuaga, who had two kids - Sofiya and Jaden - died from injuries sustained during the brutal ambush last month

Video of the shooting showed Perez being dragged by several people from a dark SUV with a Puerto Rican flag sticking out of a window.

Arzuaga, who was seen on the ground nearly covering her, was then shot in the head by a gunman in a white tank top. Perez died three days later.

Lorenzi, a career criminal with 26 felony arrests and seven convictions, is charged in Arzuaga's death. Perez may have been shot accidentally in the neck by Arzuaga, police have said.

The couple had two young children, a girl named Sofiya and Jaden, who turned a year at the end of last month, according to WFLD-TV.

'They first met each other at a party and it was over with from there. They fell in love with each other and they spent years together. They made a family together,' the couple's friend Jae Pacheco told the station.

Friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support the couple's young children.

The attack unfolded during Chicago's Puerto Rican Day parade, which Perez and Arzuaga participated in, flying a large Puerto Rican flag from their vehicle

The attack occurred around 9.15pm near the 3200 block of West Division in Humboldt Park.

It came during a Juneteenth weekend of shocking violence in Chicago, with 38 shooting incidents, 54 shooting victims and eight murders from 6pm Friday to midnight on Sunday, according to police.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot had vowed to hunt down everyone involved in the 'horrific' shooting that left Perez and Arzuaga dead.

'You know who you are. People know who you are,' Lightfoot had said in a warning to the perpetrators.

The longtime couple met at a party years ago. 'They fell in love with each other and they spent years together,' a friend said

Lightfoot speculated that the attack 'started with a car accident' and vowed that the others involved in the attack would also be held accountable.

'As you saw from the horrific video, it wasn't just one person. There's one person who dealt the fatal shot,' the mayor said.

'But there were others who were standing by who dragged that poor woman out of the car. The man who was killed literally used his body as a shield and paid for that with his life,' the mayor said.
A three-month-old baby has died after she was hit by a train alongside her mother - as police investigate whether the infant was killed in a botched murder-suicide attempt.

Emergency crews were rushed to Upwey in Melbourne's east at 5.10pm on Sunday after the mother and the baby were hit by the train near Kumbada Avenue.

The baby was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries but later died. Her pram was also found alongside the tracks.

The woman was also taken to hospital under police guard with life-threatening injuries. A Victoria Police spokesman said 'all possibilities are being investigated'.

The homicide squad is now investigating the baby's death, 9News reported.

Emergency crews rushed to the horrifying scene at Kumbada Ave in Upwey at 5.10pm, where a pram was found alongside the tracks (stock image)

The site has been cordoned off with police tape as teams from Victoria Police, Ambulance, CFA and SES comb the scene.

At least two dozen emergency crews across the four organisations were seen near the tracks on Sunday evening.

Police warned of major delays on the Belgrave line, with buses replacing trains between Belgrave and Upper Ferntree Gully.
A Western Sydney Mayor has slammed the police blitz in her area to enforce Covid lockdown restrictions, instead advocating for more health workers.

'We need the health response rather than the police response,' Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller told the Today show on Monday morning.

The Mayor said people in her council were mostly complying with Covid restrictions and deploying the army in addition to higher police visibility would be 'overkill'.

People pictured queueing in Chapel Street, Bankstown, during the first day of the police crackdown in south-west Sydney last Friday

'[People] are very concerned that we're being singled out,' Ms Waller said. 'We know from previous lockdowns [that people complied].

'If we got an extra hundred health workers in our local area giving out the vaccines, rather than this, I think we'd get a better outcome.'

An extra 100 police officers patrolled the Liverpool, Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown councils on Friday in a crackdown on people breaching lockdown restrictions.

Ms Waller believed the more urgent issue was her constituents being able to easily access vaccinations near their homes.

'We need people to set up in local areas like schools or local community centres and get the jab out,' she said.

'So people can actually get the vaccination and go home without travelling kilometres across LGAs.

'It is about making sure vaccines are accessible to people, it's not people being accessible to the vaccines. It should be the other way round.'

Police on horseback seen in Bankstown, Sydney last Friday. Liverpool's Mayor said a better health response was required in the area, rather than a 'police and order' response

NSW Police reported they inspected 87 businesses, issued 51 warnings and handed out eight fines on the first day of the crackdown in south-west Sydney last week

Ms Waller said the vaccination hub at Homebush and another proposed in Campbelltown were too far for people in her council to travel, and local schools should be used to administer shots.

A 90-year-old woman died in Liverpool Hospital on Saturday morning after being infected by a family member. She was only admitted to hospital 24 hours earlier.

NSW Police inspected 87 businesses, issued 51 warnings, and handed out eight fines on the first day of the crackdown last week.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned on Sunday that more than 100 new cases may be announced on Monday after 77 new cases were recorded on Sunday.

Of the cases announced on Sunday, 42 were out in the community for all, or part, of their infectious period.

The Sydney lockdown was due to end on July 16, but looks increasingly likely to be extended.
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had a virtual meeting with the boss of Pfizer about bringing forward Australia's supply of the company's Covid vaccine - but the government and Pfizer say it did nothing to help secure the earlier delivery.

Mr Rudd, who led the country from 2007 to 2010 and again in 2013, had a zoom meeting with Albert Bourla arranged by prominent Australian business figures in the United States eight days before Pfizer agreed to hasten its deliveries.

Former Liberal Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull savaged his replacement PM Scott Morrison for not calling Dr Bourla himself.

'Thank you @MrKRudd for speaking to the Chairman of Pfizer to secure an earlier delivery of vaccines. [I'm] staggered the vaccination of Australians was apparently not important enough to warrant a call from @ScottMorrisonMP or @GregHuntMP to the Pfizer boss,' he Tweeted.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during the public hearing into media diversity in February

During the meeting, former Labor leader Mr Rudd asked Dr Bourla if there was any way the company could dispatch some of Australia's 40million contracted jabs earlier than planned given the outbreak in Sydney.

Mr Rudd, who runs the Asia Society think tank in New York, wrote a letter - which was obtained by the ABC - to Mr Morrison to explain what happened in the meeting on June 30.

He said that acting in a personal capacity as an Australia citizen he asked Dr Bourla 'whether there was any possible way, given Pfizer's current international contractual obligations, to advance the dispatch of significant quantities of the Pfizer vaccine to Australia as early as possible in the third quarter this year.

He added: 'Dr Bourla indicated that they had limited flexibility because of their existing supply obligations around the world. Nonetheless, he also indicated that a number of their manufacturing facilities were producing ahead of schedule.

'In response to my representations, Dr Bourla said he would personally look at what further might be able to be done. I thanked Dr Bourla for that.'

On July 8, the government announced a deal with Pfizer to bring in at least a million vaccines a week from July 19, meaning more than 4.5million jabs will arrive in August.

Previously only three million doses were expected in August and 4.5million were due in September.

A spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt said the minister knew about Mr Rudd's meeting but was 'not aware' it made any difference.

Mr Rudd, who runs the Asia Society think tank in New York, wrote this letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison to explain what happened in the meeting on June 30

'The Australian government at all levels have been proactively and continuously engaged directly with Pfizer throughout the Covid-19 vaccine rollout,' the spokesman said.

'As part of this process, the minister has met with the Pfizer Australia country head Anne Harris on multiple occasions with a view to the announcement Friday on the timeframe achieved and at the level we had hoped for, which was the maximum that Pfizer had indicated might be available.

'While we were made aware of Mr Rudd's approach, we are not aware this approach had any impact on the outcome.'

Pfizer says Rudd had no role in contractual agreements A spokesman said: 'Recent media reports suggesting that any third party or individual has had any role in contractual agreements reached between Pfizer and the Australian Government are inaccurate. The only two parties involved in these agreements are Pfizer and the Australian Government. 'Pfizer is committed to delivering 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Australia over 2021. Pfizer has met its contractual commitments to date and is on track to deliver the remaining doses by the end of the year. 'All agreements and supply arrangements, including dose planning are exclusively made with the Federal Government, and details of the agreement and discussions are confidential. All discussions on supply and procurement with the Federal Government are led by Pfizer representatives in Australia. 'Pfizer has a strong relationship with the Federal Government with continuous engagement both locally and globally in support of the national vaccine program including supply requests.' Advertisement

Defence Minister Peter Dutton accused Mr Rudd of trying to take credit and leaking the letter himself.

'I suspect it wouldn't take our greatest detective within the Queensland Police Service to identify who leaked that self-serving letter,' Mr Dutton told 4BC radio on Monday.

'Kevin claims credit for many things, it used to drive his Labor colleagues crazy.'

The Defence Minister suggested Mr Rudd was inserting himself into the public debate because he was 'bored to death in retirement'.

'I wouldn't pay much attention to it,' Mr Dutton said.

The meeting came about after a group of Australian businessmen had themselves sought a meeting with Dr Bourla but were rebuffed.

According to the ABC, senior Pfizer executives told one Australian businessman the government needed to make a more serious effort and they were astonished that Mr Morrison had not been in contact.

The Pfizer boss then agreed to meet with Mr Rudd after the businessmen offered to introduce the pair.

People wait in a queue outside a Covid-19 vaccination centre in the Homebush suburb of Sydney
The BBC was in revolt last night over a bid to halt the appointment of a senior journalist who has shared Left-wing views on social media.

Sir Robbie Gibb, who was former Tory PM Theresa Mays communications chief and now sits on the BBC board, is said to have intervened to block Jess Brammar.

It is claimed he feared appointing ex-HuffPost UK editor Miss Brammar as executive news editor  overseeing global and domestic news channels  would damage trust with the Government.

It is claimed he feared appointing ex-HuffPost UK editor Miss Brammar, pictured, as executive news editor would damage trust with the Government

Sir Robbie Gibb, who was former Tory PM Theresa Mays communications chief and now sits on the BBC board, is said to have intervened to block Jess Brammar

The intervention of Sir Robbie, who previously held senior BBC roles, has reportedly stalled the appointment.

A senior BBC News source last night told the Mail: Its a very unwelcome intervention  totally inappropriate and damaging.

They claimed Miss Brammar was still in play for the job. Labour has written to BBC bosses demanding Sir Robbies resignation.

Deputy party leader Angela Rayner wrote: Putting pressure on the recruitment process of staff is entirely outside of the remit of the board and a total abuse of position. On Twitter she attacked Tory cronyism at the heart of the BBC.

However, a BBC spokesman stressed no process had been blocked, adding: It is essential that board members can debate and discuss issues. They have an absolute right to do so. What individual board members cant do is make decisions which are for the executive.

Hundreds of posts by Miss Brammar  like Sir Robbie, a former deputy editor of Newsnight  have been deleted from Twitter. A source close to her explained they are automatically removed after a month.

But some of her old tweets have emerged, including one which accused Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Nigel Farage of a sleight of hand by persuading people they represented outsiders.

In another tweet she claimed there was an influential camp at No10 which doesnt want to reach out to minorities and work with them.

Sir Robbie also reportedly has concerns about the way Miss Brammar handled a row with Treasury Minister Kemi Badenoch when she was UK editor of HuffPost.

A BBC spokesman stressed no process had been blocked, adding: It is essential that board members can debate and discuss issues. They have an absolute right to do so. What individual board members cant do is make decisions which are for the executive.

Labour has written to BBC bosses demanding Sir Robbies resignation after his alleged intervention

Last night Tory MP Julian Knight, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, described the row as a storm in a teacup. He said Sir Robbie, the brother of Conservative MP Nick Gibb, was doing his job in letting the BBC know where it should think politically in terms of what it does.

He accused Labour of politicising the situation.

Sir Robbie, pictured, was the head of the BBCs political programme output, including Daily and Sunday Politics and The Andrew Marr Show, before leaving in 2017 to become Mrs Mays Director of Communications.
Sydney needs to enforce tougher restrictions similar to the draconian lockdown in Melbourne a year ago to beat its latest coronavirus wave, experts have warned.

Night curfews, five kilometre travel limits and a shutdown of non-essential retail could be introduced in Sydney and surrounding regions as the latest Covid-19 outbreak worsens.

A host of new restrictions were announced before New South Wales recorded 112 new cases on Monday with 34 infectious in the community.

There are growing calls from experts to ramp up restrictions similar to the draconian stage four lockdown in Melbourne a year ago which last for 112 days.

Professor Mark Stoove, an epidemiologist from the government-funded Burnet Institute, doesn't believe the current lockdown measures in Sydney are sufficient and called for a 'necessary' tightening of rules.

He also warned of a prolonged lockdown for Sydney as case numbers during Melbourne's second wave did not start to fall until more than 14 days after tougher restrictions were introduced.

There are growing calls for night curfews to be enforced as part of Sydney's lockdown. Pictured is a deserted Circular Quay

'If you look at Victoria's stage four lockdown, there were five-kilometre limits on movement, all major retail was closed and we had curfews at night,' Professor Stoove told Sunrise on Monday.

'As much limiting of movement as possible is necessary.'

In Melbourne, non-essential businesses were closed, an 8pm curfew enforced and a ring of steel was placed around city with residents only allowed to leave their homes and exercise within a 5km radius.

'We saw a dip in the curve about 14 days after masks were introduced, and then a dip again about 14 days after the stage four lockdowns, so it will be a little while yet before the impact of the top restrictions come in,' Prof. Stoove said.

Another Epidemiologist Tony Blakely agreed the current restrictions in Sydney are not tough enough and advocated having soldiers patrolling the streets to enforce restrictions.

A five kilometre travel limit could be enforced on Sydneysiders as the outbreak worsens. Pictured is Sydney's CBD on Saturday

Dr Blakely said the NSW government had three options: let the Covid-19 outbreak circulate in the community to build herd immunity, continue with a partial lockdown and let the health system deal with infections, or deploy troops and police to patrol the streets.

'The third option is the only one. It's very hard to say those words: 'We're going into a hard lockdown, we've called in the military, the police and we are going to police it,' he told news.com.au .

'It's not a pretty look but if you want it to be over and done with as quickly as possible that, most unfortunately, is what needs to happen.'

Dr Blakely warned continuing with a partial lockdown meant Sydney might only begin to reopen in September.

'If they keep going the way they are now, without really stepping it up now it could go on for months,' he said.

Experts have called for a shutdown of non-essential retail stores such as Myer in Sydney

There are calls for Sydney to enforce a stricter lockdown similar to the one in Melbourne last year were all non-essential retailers were shutdown. Pictured is a deserted Pitt Street Mall in Sydney

New face mask rules and travel restrictions have been introduced in Greater Sydney with a draconian-style lockdown and troops on the street possibly on the way, a top epidemiologist has warned

Residents will only be able to travel to Greater Sydney to access goods and services that are not available in their area

The NSW outbreak of the Delta Covid-19 variant grew another 112 cases - an alarming 48 of which are unlinked to known clusters.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 'vast majority' of cases were in the Fairfield local government area in Sydney's south-west and called for its residents to stay home as part of the city's three-week lockdown unless they absolutely have to go out.

Monday's triple-figure rise in coronavirus cases is the largest daily increase since April 2020.

There were now 18 patients suffering from Covid-19 in intensive care - of which 14 are under the age of 35.

However, only 34 new cases out in the community compared to the 45 of 77 recorded announced on Sunday.

Ms Berejiklian said there would have to be zero - or nearly zero - active community cases a day for her to consider easing the lockdown this Friday.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the virus was spreading the most rapidly in the south-west Sydney suburbs of Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton.

She said health officials were also finding an increasing number of cases in the 18 to 20-year-old age group in the south Sydney LGAs of Georges River, Bayside and Sutherland.

Stricter face mask rules and travel restrictions will come into effect from Tuesday.

Residents will have to wear masks in more places - including their own apartment buildings - and everyone outside Sydney banned from coming in.

The draconian-style lockdown would be similar to the one introduced in Victoria last year - which lasted 111 days (pictured, a deserted Melbourne laneway during the lockdown in September)

Under the new restrictions coming into effect this week, residents are only be able to travel to Sydney to access goods and services that are not available in their area.

Travelling into the area for exercise or outdoor recreational activities is no longer a valid reason.

They are also only be allowed to travel to attend a funeral or memorial service as long as there are no more than 10 mourners.

Sydney residents wanting to leave their area must also carry identification that contains their residential address.

Face masks must also be worn at indoor construction sites at all times.

The restriction will be extended to all indoor common property areas of residential premises in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

Residents who live in apartments will be required to wear the extra protection when taking the lift or waiting in the lobby.

Non-essential businesses were closed, an 8pm curfew enforced and a ring of steel placed around Melbourne with residents only allowed to leave their homes and exercise within a five kilometre radius (pictured, an empty Flinders Street during the draconian lockdown in September)

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) announced new social distancing restrictions for Greater Sydney residents on Friday

The additional face mask and travel restrictions were introduced by NSW Health after it announced it would be tightening lockdown across Sydney from 5pm Friday.

Exercising outdoors must be limited to groups of two and people must stay within 10km of their homes when exercising.

Can you still exercise outdoors?

Yes, but in reduced groups. Locked down residents from Friday evening will only be allowed to exercise outdoors in groups of two - down from the 10 previously allowed.

The only exception to this rule is members of the same household already living together can exercise outdoors together.

How far can you travel to exercise?

Additionally locals can only travel within their own local government area or at most 10km of their homes to exercise.

'Please do not leave your house. Do not leave your home, unless you absolutely have to,' Ms Berejiklian pleaded with Sydneysiders.

What about leaving the house for essential items?

Locals should only leave their house for essential supplies and should not browse, the premier said.

Only one member of a household should be traveling to the shops for essential items and this should not be an excuse to socialise.

Can you visit a partner in another household?

This is still allowed under the new restrictions provided you are in a relationship.

Is carpooling allowed?

Carpooling with other households - whether to the shops, to exercise or work - is also not allowed from 5pm on Friday.

Centennial Park in Sydney was packed with crowds last Saturday morning (pictured)

Can you still travel to work?

Ms Berejiklian restated only people who need to travel for essential work should leave their house.

'Too many people who have continued to go to work, too many people have either misunderstood the rules or not followed them. And that has to stop.'

Is there a curfew?

No. You can leave your house at any hour as long as it is for one of the essential reasons.

What about funerals and weddings?

Health officials have also made the decision to cap funerals at 10 attendees from Sunday.

Weddings were already prevented from going ahead early on in the lockdown.

Exercising is still allowed in groups of two from 5pm Friday in Greater Sydney and surrounds

Only one member of a household is allowed to go to the shops for essential items on each trip

How many people can you have at your house?

Only those providing essential care are allowed to visit another household. This includes caring for elderly family members.

In other cases guests are not allowed to visit other households unless in exceptional circumstances.

'We are still getting questions through Service NSW about how many people you can have into your home. The answer is zero.' Ms Berejiklian said.

'I don't mean these words lightly, or say these words lightly. But we are facing the greatest threat that we have faced in New South Wales and the pandemic started. And it is up to all of us to turn things around'.

Shoppers are pictured in Cabramatta in Sydney's south-west. Only one member of each household will be allowed to go out to shop for essential items from Friday evening

Ms Berejiklian added with the rate of vaccination hovering around 9 per cent, allowing the virus to spread in the community was not an option.

'Unless there is a dramatic change, unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the numbers, I can't see how we would be in a position to ease restrictions by next Friday.'

Of the 44 new local cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, at least 29 were in the community for part or all of their infectious period.

It is the highest number of NSW daily infections since the pandemic's first wave in early 2020.

Additional police have been dispatched to some areas from Friday including south-western Sydney (pictured: police at Bondi Beach last weekend)
A Haitian doctor based in Florida has been arrested and accused of being 'one of the leaders' behind the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.

Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, who was arrested in Haiti, entered the country last month on a private plane 'with the intention of taking the Haitian presidency,' the National Police said in a statement on Sunday.

He 'is the first person the attackers called' after President Moise was shot dead early on Wednesday at his Port-au-Prince home, according the National Police.

Haitian authorities described the suspects as a unit of assassins made up of 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans. Five Colombians are still on the loose.

Sanon is the third person with US ties to be arrested in connection with last week's assassination. James Solages, 35, and Joseph G. Vincent, 55, both from South Florida, have been in custody since they turned themselves in.

Sanon allegedly recruited the Miami-based CTU Security, which is registered in Florida as the Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy LCC, and CTU Security recruited the Colombians who are accused of carrying out the hit, sources familiar with the investigation told the Miami Herald.

The National Police said they also have evidence that Sanon was in contact with at least two other suspects who planned the assassination.

Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, who was arrested in Haiti, recently entered Haiti on a private plane 'with the intention of taking the Haitian presidency,' the Haitian National Police said in a statement

Jovenal Moise, the president of Haiti, was murdered in the early hours of Wednesday at his home in the capital city, Port-au-Prince

Suspects in the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moise are shown to the media in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Thursday

Weaponry, mobile phones, passports and other items are being shown to the media along with suspects in the assassination

Police Chief Leon Charles say authorities raided Sanon's house in Haiti and found 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four automobile license plates from the Dominican Republic and two cars and correspondence.

They also found a hat emblazoned with the logo of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - the same disguise the assassins are said to have used during the attack.

Charles said Sanon recruited the suspects, adding that he flew into Haiti with them in early June. The men's initial mission was to protect Sanon, but they later received a new one: arrest the president, the chief said.

'The operation started from there,' he said, adding that an additional 22 suspects joined the group and that contact was made with Haitian citizens.

Charles said that after Moise was killed, one of the suspects phoned Sanon, who then got in touch with two people believed to be the intellectual authors of the plot. He did not identify the masterminds or say if police knew who they are.

Sanon has lived in Florida, in Broward County and in Hillsborough County on the Gulf Coast. Records show he has also lived in Kansas City, Missouri. He filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and identifies himself as a doctor in a video on YouTube titled 'Leadership for Haiti.'

Although he describes himself as a doctor he does not have a license in Florida, the Miami Herald reports.

In the video, he denounces the leaders of Haiti as corrupt, accusing them of stripping the country of its resources, saying that 'they don't care about the country, they don't care about the people.'

He claims Haiti has uranium, oil and other resources that have been taken by government officials. 'With me in power, you are going to have to tell me: 'What are you doing with my uranium? What are you doing with the oil that we have in the country? What are you going to do with the gold?''

He also added: 'This is a country with resources. Nine million people can't be in poverty when we have so much resources in the country. It's impossible. ... The world has to stop doing what they are doing right now. We can't take it anymore. We need new leadership that will change the way of life.'

Sanon has more than a dozen registered companies in Florida, including medical services, an energy company and real estate, but most are now inactive, the Herald reports.

He has also listed himself as church pastor at the Tabarre Evangelical Tabernacle and as president of a non-government organization called Organization Rome Haiti.

President Joe Biden sent sent a delegation of US officials to Haiti on Sunday to help with security and aid in the investigation. They will report back to Biden on their findings as US debates its response

The middle-of-the-night murder plunged the troubled Caribbean nation into chaos, with at least three men now claiming to be its leader.

In an effort to quell tensions, President Joe Biden acknowledged the county's interim government's request for help and sent a delegation of US officials to Haiti on Sunday to help with security and aid in the investigation.

They will report back to Biden on their findings as US debates its response.

The group of Colombians and Haitian Americans suspected of carrying out the assassination have reportedly told investigators they were there to arrest Moise, not kill him.

'They probably were watching and waiting for the opportunity for them to do it,' said Investigative Judge Clement Noel, who was among the first to question the two Haitian-Americans among the 19 suspects detained so far.

Citing people who had spoken to some of the 19 suspects detained so far, the Miami Herald said they said their mission was to arrest Moise and take him to the presidential palace.

Haitian-born American citizens James Solages, 35, (above) and Joseph Vincent, 55, are said to have confessed to being involved in Wednesday's early morning raid at the president's mansion near Port-au-Prince

A source close to the investigation said the two Haitian Americans, Solages and Vincent, told investigators they were translators for the Colombian commando unit that had an arrest warrant.

But when they arrived, they found him dead.

Meanwhile, Haiti's First Lady Martine Moise is being treated for injuries in a Florida hospital, where she issued the recorded statement in Creole early Wednesday.

'I'm alive, thanks to God,' she said in the recording, which also played on local radio stations. 'But I love my husband Jovenel. We fought together for more than 25 years.

'During all these years, love radiated within the home. But suddenly, the mercenaries came and pelted my husband with bullets.'

Haitian President Jovenel Moise and First Lady Martine are pictured together in 2017. Moise was riddled with 12 bullet holes and had his eye gouged out during Wednesday's brutal attack, which killed him and seriously injured his wife

Footage circulating online purportedly taken by a neighbour of the president shows men with rifles arriving outside the property

Turning to the assassins who murdered her husband, the former first lady said: 'You have to be a notorious criminal without guts to assassinate a president like Jovenel Moise with impunity without giving him the chance to speak. You knew who the president was fighting against.

'These people hired mercenaries to kill the president and his family because of the projects of roads, electricity, drinking water supply, organization of the referendum and elections.

'The mercenaries who assassinated the president are currently behind bars, but other mercenaries currently want to kill his dream, his vision, his ideology.'
Jordan Block, 10, (pictured) was asked to leave a Chicago park after a security guard raised concerns that his wheelchair posed a risk to other children

A young boy with spinal muscular atrophy was asked to leave a Chicago park after a security guard raised concerns that his wheelchair posed a risk to other children.

Jordan Block, 10, was visiting Crown Fountain at Millennium Park after a doctor's appointment last week when the guard approached his mother and asked them to leave.

'He's had his chair since he was 2 years old and (the guard) said: "Well, if another kid runs into Jordan, that could create problems for us,"' Jordan's mother, Megan Block told CBS 2 on Thursday.

Block said she and Jordan frequently take trips to the fountain from their home in Warrenville and have never had an issue before.

Recounting the incident, Jordan said he was 'surprised' by the guard's comments, adding: 'Yeah, I said, like, I've been here before and have been able to do it.'

Jordan said that because of his wheelchair limitations, visiting the park is one of the few activities he thoroughly enjoys - particularly on a warm summer day.

'There's not much else I can do, and that is something I can do  so it's fun for me,' Jordan said.

Jordan's mother told Graves that the incident created a different problem and provided her son with a lesson she wanted him to understand.

'I was like: "This is unacceptable!" You know, you're able to do this, and it's perfect for you, and we're being told: "No!"' Block said.

Jordan was visiting Crown Fountain at Millennium Park after a doctor's appointment last week when the guard approached his mother and asked them to leave

Jordan and his mother frequently visit Crown Fountain (pictured) from Warrenville, and said they never had an issue before

Jordan's mother further expressed her frustration in a July 6 Facebook post, writing that her son was unable to cool down on a 90 degree day 'because him driving a wheelchair isn't allowed'.

'How about not EXCLUDING DISABLED CHILDREN FROM THINGS, watching your own kids and making sure they don't run into my child who knows how to drive his chair,' Block wrote. 'Thank you Chicago for making my son cry today.'

Jordan said he felt 'excluded' and decided to go into the fountain regardless. He said he wasn't hurt and neither was anyone else.

According to the Millennial Park's website, the fountain is wheelchair accessible and designed without edges or deep water areas so that individuals in wheelchairs can 'easily enter the fountain area and participate with full inclusion'.

The website also states there are no limitations for where wheelchairs are allowed within the park.

'He's had his chair since he was 2 years old and (the guard) said: "Well, if another kid runs into Jordan, that could create problems for us,"' Jordan's mother, Megan Block (pictured), said

In a July 6 Facebook post, Jordan's mother wrote that her son was unable to cool down on a 90 degree day 'because him driving a wheelchair isn't allowed.'

According to the Millennial Park's website , the fountain is wheelchair accessible and designed without edges or deep water areas so that individuals in wheelchairs can 'easily enter the fountain area and participate with full inclusion

The city of Chicago has since spoke with the Titan Security guard and is addressing the issue as an 'isolated incident'.

The park released a statement saying they were 'sorry to hear about Jordan's experience and have been in touch with the family to apologize'.

'Millennium Park was designed to be universally accessible, and Access is one of our departments core values,' the statement read.

'Working closely with the Mayors Office for People with Disabilities, we are committed to ensuring that everyone in our city has equal access to arts and culture  including Crown Fountain.'

Jordan hopes the incident doesn't occur again and that everyone is treated fairly in the future.

'I don't want it to happen to anyone else,' he said. 'I want it to be fair for everyone.'
Gladys Berejiklian has revealed why she can't order more Pfizer doses as she hinted at Sydney's lockdown being extended.

The New South Wales Premier said with 112 cases recorded overnight, restrictions would continue in Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains beyond July 16.

'Given where the numbers are, it's impossible for us to get out of lockdown on Friday,' she said.

Insufficient vaccination supplies have been blamed for the lockdown but with just nine per cent of Sydney residents fully vaccinated, Ms Berejiklian said the NSW government was not in a position to order extra Pfizer doses.

'That's like asking me to interfere in foreign policy,' she said.

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Gladys Berejiklian has revealed why she can't order more Pfizer doses as she hinted at Sydney's lockdown being extended

Questions are being asked about why federal Health Minister Greg Hunt had earlier failed to secure enough Pfizer doses.

But Mr Hunt said he 'chuckled' when he saw an ABC online story about former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd securing earlier supply of the company's vaccines.

'I had a little chuckle when I saw the story,' he said.

'We received a letter from the individual in question, I think, not long ago and we said to ourselves, ''Well, no doubt that will be released when our current negotiations are announced''. That is exactly what happened.'

In November, the federal Department of Health had only secured enough Pfizer doses to fully immunise just five million people in Australia - or less than a fifth of the population.

Mr Rudd last week suggested Mr Hunt needed to be sacked.

'Breakdowns of fundamental standards of governance don't come much bigger than the Morrison government's medley of pandemic policy and performance failures on aged care, quarantine and vaccination,' he said in a Nine newspapers opinion piece.

'For these reasons, Health Minister Greg Hunt should resign, or else Morrison should dismiss him now.'

Labor's health spokesman Mark Butler said Prime Minister Scott Morrison needed to step aside.

The New South Wales Premier said with 112 cases recorded overnight, restrictions would continue in Sydney (vaccination queue at Homebush pictured), Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains beyond July 16

'If the Prime Minister doesn't want to be straight with the Australian people he should step aside and let someone else do his job,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Instead of doing his job and leading Australians he insisted the vaccine rollout wasnt a race and that we were "at the front of the queue".'

But Mr Morrison said his government had since bought a total of 40million Pfizer doses by the end of 2021, enough to fully vaccinate 20million Australians after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommended AstraZeneca for those under 60.

'So what we did was as soon as we had those issues, we increased our contracted doses from 10 to 20million Pfizer,' he told Sky News on Monday.

'And that was done very quickly. I remember it, when Greg Hunt was able to secure that. And then when we had the challenges with the ATAGI advice, we got it doubled very quickly from 20million to 40million.'

Insufficient vaccination supplies have been blamed for the lockdown but with just 9 per cent of Sydney residents fully vaccinated, Ms Berejiklian said the NSW government was not in a position to order extra Pfizer doses

University of New South Wales Adjunct Professor Bill Bowtell, a health policy consultant who led Australia's response to AIDs during the 1980s, said a royal commission would one day be needed into Australia's poor vaccination purchasing decisions.

'In due course, there should be a commission of inquiry and we can see exactly which ministers and leaders did what, said what, were advised to do,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'The Australian people will hold every political leader accountable for their actions over the course of the last 18 months.'

In September last year, Jenny Mikakos resigned as Victoria's health minister after a bungled hotel quarantining program, using a private security company, was linked to 750 Covid deaths.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd had called for Greg Hunt (pictured) to resign as Health Minister for failing to secure enough Pfizer doses

Mr Rudd had a virtual meeting with the boss of Pfizer about bringing forward Australia's supply of the Covid vaccine.

The former prime minister, who led the country from 2007 to 2010 and again in 2013, had a zoom meeting with Albert Bourla arranged by prominent Australian business figures in the United States eight days before Pfizer agreed to hasten its deliveries.

During the meeting, the former Labor leader asked Dr Bourla if there was any way the company could dispatch some of Australia's 40million contracted jabs earlier than planned given the outbreak in Sydney.

Pfizer said it had also dealt directly with the Australian government to arrange the shipments.

'Recent media reports suggesting that any third party or individual has had any role in contractual agreements reached between Pfizer and the Australian government are inaccurate,' it said.
An explosion that shook houses across suburbs that emergency services said was caused by fireworks sounded more like a bomb, terrified locals insist.

Locked-down residents in the southern Sydney suburbs of Carlton, Rockdale, Bexley, Kogarah, Arncliffe, Bardwell Valley, Banksia, and Hurstville flocked to local Facebook groups on Sunday night after hearing a massive bang in the area.

'That sounded like a bomb,' one person posted.

Scores of others agreed, wondering if a copper bomb exploded, or that a meth lab going up or a gas explosion was responsible.

Emergency who services rushed to Short Street, in Carlton about 11.25pm said the explosion was caused by fireworks let off in a gazebo in a nearby park.

'We had three triple zero calls out to it. There was no evidence of a fire,' NSW Fire and Rescue said.

Many locals posted Daily Mail Australia's article on the explosion to a local Facebook group expressing their scepticism.

'No way that was only fireworks...' one wrote in response - but others were convinced by the official version of events.

'I'm pretty sure it's not fireworks. We used to make these things as kids in the country... same boom,' another wrote.

'They don't want to report it for fear of copy cats.'

Emergency services (pictured) were called to Short Street, Carlton, at 11.25pm on Sunday night to reports of a loud 'bang' in the area

Some residents said their windows shook and one said they smelled smoke shortly after the explosion.

'Fireworks don't shake houses,' one local wrote.

Locals mentioned a similar explosion occurred in early May in Kingsgrove and emergency services also found nothing to suggest an explosive device at the time.

'It isnt fireworks, definitely more like many copper bombs going off at once,' one person wrote after she heard both explosions.

'No way fireworks, that was too powerful,' one local posted. 'You heard the wind pressure after the bang.'

Residents in southern Sydney suburbs remained sceptical on Monday about the explanation for the loud explosion heard on Sunday night, many believing it was too loud to be fireworks

A third said: 'It was frightening. My whole inside body shook,' while someone else speculated: 'Meth lab exploded for sure.'

'I'm going into my bunker. I'm 100 per cent sure it's aliens this time. See you guys on the other side,' one man joked.

Several sleuths offered to conduct 'essential' car trips around the neighbourhood to investigate.

But anyone who ventured out risked the $1,000 fine for breaching the city's stay-at-home orders as Sydney's Covid lockdown restrictions continue.
New South Wales' outbreak of the highly-contagious Delta Covid-19 variant has grown by another 112 cases - an alarming 48 of which are unlinked to known clusters.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 'vast majority' of the new cases recorded on Monday were in the Fairfield local government area in Sydney's south-west and repeated calls for its residents to stay home under the terms of the city's lockdown unless they absolutely have to go out.

She said health officials were also still seeing high levels of transmission in the neighbouring Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool government areas.

'The risk is everywhere in those areas,' she said. 'We have to be upfront with where the virus is circulating at the moment.'

The triple-figure rise in coronavirus cases is the largest daily increase since April 2020. The state's outbreak that began on June 16 has now reached 678 infections.

Of the new locally-acquired cases, NSW Health said 48 were still under investigation and 41 of them were household contacts of previously known infections.

In a lone bright spot for Sydneysiders, there were only 34 cases out in the community while infectious compared to the 45 announced on Sunday.

Ms Berejiklian said there would have to be zero - or nearly zero - active community cases a day for her to consider easing the lockdown as scheduled on July 16, with many speculating it may continue for several more weeks.

'That is the number that we need to see go down to as close to zero as possible, before we can get advice from Health to say the lockdown can end,' she said.

'It's critical, that's something all of us have a role to play in.'

There are 664 active cases in New South Wales, with 63 (9.5 per cent) requiring hospital treatment and 18 (2.7 per cent) in intensive care.

Fourteen of the 63 in hospital were under the age of 35.

'That is dispelling the notion that you are not going to get sick from Covid if youre young,' NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said.

Two young Sydneysiders proudly wear their lockdown clothing whilst out getting a coffee with their dog in Surry Hills in the inner-city. New South Wales' outbreak of the highly-contagious Delta Covid-19 variant has grown by another 112 cases

Monday's triple-figure rise in coronavirus cases is the largest daily increase since April 2020

SYDNEY'S COVID-19 HOTSPOT SUBURBS Fairfield Smithfield Bossley Park Fairfield Heights Fairfield West Wakeley Bonnyrigg Glenfield West Hoxton Advertisement

Dr Chant said the virus was spreading the most rapidly in the south-west Sydney suburbs of Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton.

She said health officials were also finding an increasing number of cases in the 18 to 20-year-old age group in the south Sydney LGAs of Georges River, Bayside and Sutherland.

'The reason I am reading these locations out is we need to make sure that every member of that community understands that every time they go out of their house for an essential good, they need to assume that someone next to them has Covid,' she said.

She revealed meanwhile residents living in an apartment building in Sydney's east had been confined to their homes for 14 days after eight cases of Covid-19 were found in five of the block's 29 units.

Dr Chant said those in the building who had contracted Covid-19 would be moved by NSW Health into special health accommodation.

Ms Berejiklian on Monday also announced her government had reached an agreement to give NSW residents over 40 instant access to AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines in pharmacies across the state.

She said the jabs would be available from chemists 'soon', but did not say exactly when the program would be rolled out.

'Please consider your own health situation but know that you can get the AstraZeneca, if youre over 40, soon in any of the pharmacies across the state,' Ms Berejiklian said.

Previously, anyone under 60 had to consult their GP before getting the AstraZeneca jab due to a rare risk of blood clots in younger people.

Another two new Covid-19 vaccine hubs at Belmont, south of Newcastle, and in the Sydney CBD will open on July 19.

Police officers speak to a woman in Hyde Park in Sydney's CBD on Sunday as they enforce the city's three-week lockdown

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Pictured: A pedestrian in Bondi wearing a mask and headphones during Sydney's Covid-19 lockdown on Monday morning

The announcement came just hours after a western Sydney mayor slammed the police blitz in her area to enforce Covid lockdown restrictions, instead advocating for more health workers.

'We need the health response rather than the police response,' Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller told the Today show on Monday morning.

The Mayor said people in her council were mostly complying with Covid restrictions and deploying the army in addition to higher police visibility would be 'overkill'.

Pictured are police on horseback in the Bankstown local government area, where ramped-up police patrols have been enforcing Sydney's Covid-19 lockdown

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SYDNEY'S COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS: THE UPDATED RESTRICTIONS IN GREATER SYDNEY, BLUE MOUNTAINS, CENTRAL COAST, WOLLONGONG AND SHELLHARBOUR: - Outdoor public gatherings limited to two people (excluding members of the same household) - People must exercise within 10km of their home - No carpooling with members of other households - Browsing at shops is prohibited, and only one person per household per day may leave the home for shopping - Funerals limited to 10 people from July 11. THE FOUR REASONS TO LEAVE HOME UNDER LOCKDOWN: - Shopping for food or other essential goods and services (one person per household per day) - Medical care or compassionate needs (only one visitor can enter another residence in circumstances of compassionate needs) - Exercise with no more than one other person (unless members of the same household) - Essential work or education where you cannot work or study from home. New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard announced on Saturday a raft of additional restrictions would be immediately introduced. - Residents are only be able to travel to Greater Sydney to access goods and services that are not available in their area. - Travelling into the area for exercise or outdoor recreational activities is no longer a valid excuse. - They are also only be allowed to travel to attend a funeral or memorial service as long as there are no more than 10 mourners. - Greater Sydney residents wanting to leave the area must also carry identification that contains their residential address. - Face masks must also be worn at indoor construction sites at all times. - On Tuesday, the restriction will be extended to all indoor common property areas of residential premises in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour. - Residents who live in apartments will be required to wear the extra protection when taking the lift or waiting in the lobby. Advertisement

'[People] are very concerned that we're being singled out,' Ms Waller said. 'We know from previous lockdowns [that people complied].

'If we got an extra hundred health workers in our local area giving out the vaccines, rather than this, I think we'd get a better outcome.'

An extra 100 police officers patrolled the Liverpool, Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown councils on Friday in a crackdown on people breaching lockdown restrictions.

Ms Waller believed the more urgent issue was her constituents being able to easily access vaccinations near their homes.

A Sydneysider walks along Rose Bay beach in the city's eastern suburbs. Residents are only allowed to exercise as far as 10km from their homes

'We need people to set up in local areas like schools or local community centres and get the jab out,' she said.

'So people can actually get the vaccination and go home without travelling kilometres across LGAs.

'It is about making sure vaccines are accessible to people, it's not people being accessible to the vaccines. It should be the other way round.'

A NSW Health Covid Testing clinic at Liverpool in Sydney's south-west, where the mayor said vaccination accessibility needed to be provided in local schools and community centres

Ms Waller said the vaccination hub at Homebush and another proposed in Campbelltown were too far for people in her council to travel, and local schools should be used to administer shots.

A 90-year-old woman died in Liverpool Hospital on Saturday morning after being infected by a family member.

She was only admitted to hospital 24 hours earlier.
The cold case hunt for missing campers has all but frozen as Victoria's winter lashes the alpine region they went missing from.

The two had gone camping in secret during a lurid decades-long affair on March 19 last year in the rugged bushland of the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's East Gippsland region and vanished.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the distraught families of the pair are unlikely to learn anything further about the mystery as dire weather conditions in the remote area drag the investigation to a halt.

Victorian detectives have released a new map of an area where a mystery white ute was spotted on the day the campers went missing

Russell Hill (pictured, left) had been friendly with Carol Clay (right) for decades before they ad an affair

Mr Hill's white Toyota Landcruiser was found with minor fire damage at their burnt campsite near Dry River Creek Track in the valley on March 21

Victoria Police detectives had moved their search 80km northwest to the Mount Hotham area in April where they found two shovels in thick bush off the Great Alpine Road.

The status of those shovels remains unknown after they were sent off to be forensically examined.

A week after they were found police moved back to the campgrounds of Wonnangatta where the pair first vanished.

Investigators had been focused on areas along the Dargo High Plains Road, Cynthia Range Track, Herne Spur Track and the Wonnangatta Track as a result of information obtained from previous searches.

Previous searches had seen detectives from the Missing Persons Squad joined by the police helicopter, drone unit, search and rescue and staff from Parks Victoria.

The effort has seen teams of people scouring roads, tracks, campgrounds, rivers and cliffs.

In recent days, weather in the search areas has dropped to sub-zero levels as the full force of winter hits the alpine area.

Over the next week, the area the campers went missing from will be hit with rain, with roads turned to mush.

Winter was always going to turn hamper efforts on the case, which has gone from cold to freezing.

'Generally over winter it all stops for a bit because we cant really get up there due to weather,' a source told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Hill's $2,000 drone was missing the scorched scene, along with phones, car keys and bank cards

Russell Hill and Carol Clay were last heard from on March 20, with Mr Hill's wife unaware he was travelling with another woman

Police are still desperate to find a white dual cab ute that was spotted in the area at about the time the campers vanished.

The vehicle has remained a mystery despite more than a year of meticulous checks.

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said police had been able to identify all vehicles seen in the area near the doomed couple's campsite on March 20 last year except the white ute.

'It might seem like only a very small possibility that those in the white ute will have information about Russell and Carols disappearance but we cant afford to leave any stone unturned,' he said in March.

'We cannot leave any "what ifs" when it comes to an investigation like this.'

Mr Hill left his Drouin home in his white Toyota Landcruiser a day earlier and collected Ms Hill from her home in Pakenham.

He was last heard from on March 20 via HF radio, stating he was at Wonnangatta Valley in the Victorian Alps.

Ms Hill had told friends she was heading away and was expected to return home on March 28 or 29.

The exact make and model of the ute remains unknown.

Inspector Stamper said while he accepted the mystery vehicle was not especially uncommon, he hoped anyone who knows someone that owns a white dual cab ute and was in the Wonnangatta area at the time to come forward.

'Weve had people from a number of states come forward to provide their details and tell us they were in the area around that time, which is greatly appreciated and incredibly helpful,' he said.

'Ive been clear the whole time that its not about catching out people who shouldnt have been there for any reason  we just need to account for you.'

A new image of Mr Hill's white Toyota Landcruiser. It was found with minor fire damage at their burnt campsite near Dry River Creek Track in the valley on March 21

Mr Ashlin had been camping with Mr Hill (pictured) on a number of occasions, and described his friend as 'cautious'

The pair were in a secret relationship and didn't tell anyone where they were going. Ms Clay (pictured) just told friends she would be gone for a few days

Inspector Stamper stressed there was nothing linking the vehicle to the pair's disappearance.

'So please do not be concerned about coming forward to assist,' he said.

'The grief that these families have had to deal with over the past year, coupled with immense public speculation, is immensely difficult to comprehend.

'We will not give up on the possibility that we can give those families the answers they need  but we cannot do this without the publics help.'

Investigators have been told that Mr Hill took his DJI Mavic drone before going camping and the drone is still yet to be recovered.

Campers found Mr Hill's vehicle with signs of minor fire damage at their campsite, which was completely destroyed by fire, near Dry River Creek Track in the Wonnangatta Valley on March 21.

Detectives have also established that Mr Hill had been camping alone with his Landcruiser in the area of the King Billy and Bluff Track between 11-13 March.

Information was later received about sighting of an older person or pair in the Black Snake Creek, Eaglevale River crossing and the Ollies Jump area on March 22-23, but detectives have never been able to establish if it was the missing campers.

Detectives have called for anyone who was in that area or any older couple who may be these persons, to also come forward.

Police have asked anyone who sights the couple to contact triple zero immediately.

Anyone with any other information regarding their disappearance or who can provide information about the white dual cab ute is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Queenslanders south of the border have been urged to return home as the New South Wales coronavirus crisis worsens.

Queensland will ease a host of restrictions later this week after the state recorded a seventh consecutive day of zero locally-acquired new cases on Monday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will keep the NSW border open for now, unlike Victoria but is keeping a close eye on the worsening virus outbreak in Greater Sydney.

She issued a dire warning after NSW recorded 112 cases on Monday.

'My message to Queenslanders is if you are in those areas, come home,' Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday.

Queenslanders will no longer need to wear face masks outdoors from 6am Friday. Pictured are shoppers at Brisbane's Milton Markets

'I can't be any clearer. Please, even if you are in regional parts of NSW, we are monitoring that very closely and things can change.

'My message to Queenslanders is to think seriously, long and hard, about what you are doing and if you can, come home.'

'I am giving everyone notice that we are monitoring this incredibly closely.'

Sewage test results in regional NSW will be crucial in determining whether Covid-19 cases are getting closer to the Queensland border.

Queensland will ease a raft of restrictions from 6am on Friday.

Face masks will only be compulsory in airports and on planes while the one person per four square metre will be reinstated in venues to increase capacity numbers.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured on Monday) has urged residents in NSW to return home, despite keeping the borders open for now

Dancing at nightspots will also be permitted.

Queenslanders will also be able to have up to 100 people at their homes and freely visit loved ones in hospitals, aged care facilities and disability care providers.

'We wanted to make sure we were giving business this timely advice so they can prepare, but we are going to be monitoring closely if there are further cases of community transmission,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

'At this stage, fingers crossed. It is all looking terrific. That is fantastic news.'

Queensland recorded one new case in hotel quarantine on Monday, which takes the state's tally of active cases to 47.

Victoria slammed shut its borders to all of NSW and the ACT midnight Sunday, despite no cases outside Sydney or in the nation's capital in the last 12 months.

Queensland was tipped to follow suit but its keeping its NSW borders open for now.

'At the moment because the greater Sydney is in lockdown, we are very comfortable with keeping the greater Sydney area a hot spot,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

'To the people of Greater Sydney, can I also say that Queenslanders are with you during this time.

'We know it will be a very difficult time. I pass on all of my heartfelt warm wishes to all the families living in greater Sydney at the moment.'

Unlike Victoria, Queensland will keep its borders with NSW open for now. Pictured is a Queensland border checkpoint during the 2020 pandemic

The NSW outbreak of the Delta Covid-19 variant has grown by another 112 cases - an alarming 48 of which are unlinked to known clusters.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 'vast majority' of cases were in the Fairfield local government area in Sydney's south-west and called for its residents to stay home as part of the city's three-week lockdown unless they absolutely have to go out.

Monday's triple-figure rise in coronavirus cases is the largest daily increase since April 2020.

However, only 34 new cases out in the community compared to the 45 of 77 recorded announced on Sunday.

Ms Berejiklian said there would have to be zero - or nearly zero - active community cases a day for her to consider easing the lockdown this Friday.
A pregnant nurse is struggling to cope with Covid restrictions that prohibit her from seeing her brain-damaged husband in rehab but allow some of her patients to have visitors.

Maddie Morris has exhausted every avenue in an attempt to visit her husband, Anthony, who was critically injured in a car accident back in February.

Just weeks prior to the crash, the couple, who have been married for two years, learned they were expecting their first child.

The baby is due in November and Mrs Morris has been holding out hope that she and Anthony would be able to announce the gender together, she told 2GB on Tuesday morning.

But with the current restrictions preventing him from having visitors, Mrs Morris fears Anthony will regress in isolation at Westmead Hospital in Sydney's west.

The 25-year-old has been refusing to eat and struggling since Mrs Morris' last visit, something his wife says is completely uncharacteristic.

'He's been pretty worked up apparently... He refused to eat breakfast and tablets. He's either unwell or not handling no visitation and I have no control over either,' Mrs Morris said.

Maddie Morris has exhausted every avenue in an attempt to visit her husband, Anthony, who was critically injured in a car accident back in February

'Anthony needs me, I know it with every bit of me that he needs us to get through this. He needs home soups and potato mash with way too much butter in it. He needs routine and support. He needs a familiar reassuring voice.'

She's been there every step of the way since he was first rushed to hospital, reading to him, telling him stories and bringing him home cooked meals to eat each day.

Mrs Morris is immensely grateful to the Western Sydney Local Health District for saving her husband's life and continuing to provide him the best care possible in the 136 days since.

But she says that very same team have 'let us down in such a giant way' by refusing her any access to her husband.

The nurse is particularly struggling with seeing exemptions approved for patients within her own ward, many of whom she claims have been allowed visitors.

'The fact that pregnant women I work with are allowed one visitor and I cannot see Anthony is eating me up,' she said on her social media page.

'It's not like there's no exemptions happening. There are. So why doesn't Anthony classify?'

Mrs Morris is immensely grateful to the Western Sydney Local Health District for saving her husband's life and continuing to provide him the best care possible in the 136 days since

She understands hospitals are 'doing the best they can' during particularly trying times and said she is 'forever thankful for our government and hospitals', reiterating that she would be willing to quarantine in the hospital with her husband if that put minds at east.

'It almost makes me feel better to know if I had a negative swab each day before seeing Anthony or I'd be more than happy to isolate with him if that was an option as well,' she told 2GB.

Mrs Morris is calling on the government to clarify what requirements a person must meet to qualify for visitors.

A Health District spokesman said visitation exemptions are considered on a case-by-case basis and are approved for extenuating circumstances only.

State governments in Australia have repeatedly drawn the ire of the public for their often cruel approach to lockdown restrictions.

Very few families have received compassionate exemptions to spend time with loved ones, even those on their deathbeds.
Three Morrisons bosses could be in line for a 35million payday if its sale to a private equity firm goes ahead despite opposition to the deal.

The supermarket is at the heart of a bidding war after companies pounced on the chance to buy it on the cheap as profits have fallen in the past year.

But yesterday it emerged that chief executive David Potts, who has backed a 6.3billion bid from firm Fortress, stands to make up to 19.6million if the supermarkets board honours long-term bonuses following the sale.

Yesterday it emerged that chief executive David Potts, pictured, who has backed a 6.3billion bid from firm Fortress, stands to make up to 19.6million

The race to buy Morrisons began last month when it emerged that the firm had rejected CD&R's bid, which it said was too low. Fortress have now made a 6.3billion takeover bid

He is guaranteed a 9.2million payout from the shares he already owns.

Operations chief Trevor Strain would earn a 3.6million payout, which could rise to 11.5million, and finance director Michael Gleeson will get 805,000 to 3.7million, The Sunday Times reported.

Critics called the windfalls excessive and it has led to concerns the bosses may not be acting in the best interests of their staff in supporting the bid.

And farmers are concerned firms such as Fortress may not honour the relationships with food producers.

But yesterday it emerged that Mr Potts had written to 3,000 UK farmers to assure them commitments made by Fortress carry genuine weight, even though they are not legally binding.
New vaccine hubs will be set up in New South Wales and over 40s will be able to get the jab from pharmacies as Sydney's Covid outbreak worsens.

A total of 112 new cases were recorded on Monday - most in the Fairfield area - taking the latest outbreak to 678 cases since June 16.

Teachers and aged care workers in the Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool areas will be priotised for jabs, with a new hub at Fairfield Showground opening on Friday to target 10,000 of them.

A total of 112 new cases were recorded on Monday - most in the Fairfield area - taking the latest outbreak to 678 cases

The priority access extends to all staff, including teachers, administration staff and support officers working for government and non-government schools in the designated Fairfield, Canterbury Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas.

Vaccination clinics and centres, as well as pharmacies across the state will begin making the AstraZeneca vaccine available to people aged over 40. The date when this will start has not been announced.

Previously, anyone under 60 had to consult their GP before getting the AstraZeneca jab due to a rare risk of blood clots in younger people.

But the outbreak has meant the risk of Covid has increased and the state government wants over 40s to have easier access to AstraZeneca.

Anyone aged 18-39 who wants the AstraZeneca jab can still get it through their GP.

Under 40s are not expected to be eligible for Pfizer until at least September when more supply arrives from overseas.

Meanwhile, two vaccine hubs at Belmont, south of Newcastle, and in the Sydney CBD will open on July 19.

One at Macquarie Fields in Sydney's south-west will open by the end of the July and another will open in Wollongong in August.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: 'In NSW we have always had a sense of urgency about getting jabs in arms, but the current outbreak has shown just how important it is.

'If we get sufficient supply, these new centres will allow NSW Health to vaccinate up to 200,000 people every week.'

Health Minister Brad Hazzard encouraged everyone to book their appointment and get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible to do so.

'We will get through this outbreak if people follow the public health advice, but in the short and long-term, the very best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community long term is to get vaccinated,' Minister Hazzard said.

The New South Wales government has also asked the federal government that unused GP Pfizer vaccines are redirected to NSW health hubs to avoid waste.

Where are the new hubs?  A mass vaccination centre in Belmont, Lake Macquarie will open on Monday, 19 July and will have capacity to administer up to 20,000 vaccinations each week.  A new vaccination clinic in the Sydney CBD will open on Monday, 19 July, and will have capacity to administer up to 7,000 vaccinations each week.  A mass vaccination centre at Macquarie Fields in Sydney's south-west will open by the end of the July and will have capacity to administer up to 20,000 vaccinations each week.  A mass vaccination centre in Wollongong will open in August and will have capacity to administer up to 15,000 vaccinations each week. Advertisement

Monday's triple-figure rise in coronavirus cases is the largest daily increase since April 2020.

There were 34 cases out in the community while infectious compared to the 45 announced on Sunday.

However, Ms Berejiklian said there would have to be zero - or nearly zero - active community cases a day for her to consider easing the lockdown on July 16.

'That is the number that we need to see go down to as close to zero as possible, before we can get advice from Health to say the lockdown can end,' she said.

'It's critical, that's something all of us have a role to play in.'

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said there were now 18 patients suffering from Covid-19 in the state's intensive care units - of which 14 are under the age of 35.

'That is dispelling the notion that you are not going to get sick from Covid if youre young,' she said.

Two young Sydneysiders proudly wear their lockdown clothing whilst out getting a coffee with their dog in Surry Hills in the inner-city

Dr Chant said the virus was spreading the most rapidly in the south-west Sydney suburbs of Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Wakely, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton.

She said health officials were also finding an increasing number of cases in the 18 to 20-year-old age group in the south Sydney LGAs of Georges River, Bayside and Sutherland.

'The reason I am reading these locations out is we need to make sure that every member of that community understands that every time they go out of their house for an essential good, they need to assume that someone next to them has Covid,' she said.

She revealed meanwhile residents living in an apartment building in Sydney's east had been confined to their homes for 14 days after eight cases of Covid-19 were found in five of the block's 29 units.

Dr Chant said those in the building who had contracted Covid-19 would be moved by NSW Health into special health accommodation.
A teenage boy was among two people killed in a spate of six shootings in the span of 14 hours in New York City on Sunday.

The fatal shootings occurred in the Bronx and Queens, and seven others were also shot, as the city's gun violence rages out of control.

The shooting come amid a citywide increase in crime, as more violent attacks occur in public places in the broad daylight.

Police are pictured at the scene of a shooting where 13-year-old Jaryan Elliot was killed in the Bronx on Sunday. It was one of six shootings reported around the city in the span of 14 hours

The gunman approached Jaryan in a black vehicle, stepped out and began firing, hitting him once in the chest and once in the leg, police said

An NYPD official examines the scene of the shooting outside Angels Cafe on East 187th Street in the Belmont neighborhood on Sunday

Authorities say Jaryan Elliot, 13, was standing outside Angels Cafe with a friend on East 187th Street in the Bronx's Belmont neighborhood at around 3.15pm when he was gunned down in what police believe was a gang-related shooting.

The gunman approached Jaryan in a black vehicle, stepped out and began firing, hitting him once in the chest and once in the leg, police said.

He is believed to have been the intended target.

Jaryan was taken to Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The incident took place within a 14-hour window that saw two other people killed and six others injured in six separate shootings around the Big Apple as the city's violent summer drags on.

A New York City police officer took photos of the crime scene on Sunday

Shooting and murder rates are up in New York City, according to the NYPD

Hours before Jaryan was killed, an unnamed 19-year-old victim was fatally shot in Queens early Sunday morning.

Minutes after midnight, police responded to reports of shots fired on Quencer Road in St. Albans, where they discovered the victim with a bullet wound to the left thigh.

He was transferred to Jamaica Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

About an hour later, a triple shooting in Brooklyn left three male victims, between 33 and 58 years old, suffering various gunshot wounds to their lower extremities on Fulton Avenue around 1.10am.

The victims were taken to Kings County Hospital where they are currently in stable condition.

Police said they are searching for a male suspect in his late 30s in connection with that shooting.

On Sunday, Chief Rodney Harrison, chief of department of the New York Police Department, tweeted that Elliot was 'the intended target' of a gang-related shooting adding: 'Gang violence is plaguing #NYC and has to stop

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee also took to Twitter to comment on the shootings, referring to the incident as 'sickening.'

A fourth shooting took place in the Bronx at around 4am Sunday where a man and a woman were each shot in the arm on Jerome Avenue.

Eight hours later, a fifth shooting occurred in Harlem, where a 47-year-old man was shot in the groin by an unidentified male suspect.

Following that shooting, an individual was shot in the leg at Pitkin Avenue and Amboy Street. Police have not yet identified the victim's age, nor have they announced any arrests for either shootings.

NYPD Chief of Department Rodney Harrison took to Twitter to address Jaryan's shooting, saying he was the 'intended target' and adding: 'Gang violence is plaguing #NYC and has to stop.

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Eric Adams also took to Twitter to comment on the shootings, referring to Jaryan's murder as 'sickening'.

'Ending gun violence must be our priority. Tonight we pray for his family. Tomorrow we must find his killer & get this gun off the street,' Adams added.

The recent shootings come a day before Adams, a retired NYPD captain, travels to Washington to meet with President Biden to discuss curbing gun violence.

As of July 4, there have been 765 shootings throughout the city since the year began, with 886 shooting victims, according to NYPD's crime statistics. Pictured is this photo, NYPD investigate the scene outside Angels Cafe where 13-year-old Jaryan Elliot was shot

Last week, New York became the first state in the nation to declare gun violence an emergency as Gov. Cuomo pointed the finger at the manufacturers of weapons as one of the main reasons behind the spate of shootings and killings that is at its highest level since the early 2000s

Crime rates have been rising throughout the city, with the NYPD reporting last week that crime rates in June rose 3.1 percent over the same month last year, with a 32.3 percent increase in grand larceny and a 16 percent increase in robberies.

So far this year there have been 765 shooting incidents - up 37.8 percent from last year's total of 555. There have been 886 shooting victims, up from 670 in 2020.

There have been 217 murders so far this year, up 8.5 percent from last year, according to NYPD's crime statistics.

In May, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the rise in crime a 'major problem,' and said unless the NYPD gets a handle on it, the city would become undesirable.

'New Yorkers don't feel safe, and they don't feel safe because the crime rate is up,' he said. 'It's not that they're being neurotic or overly sensitive - they're right.'

However, critics have claimed it is 'political grandstanding' and that an increase in gun violence is caused by soft crime policies

Weapon manufacturers could face a lawsuit for harming the public by failing to take steps to prevent firearms from being sold unlawfully in New York, for instance. Pictured in this photo, NYPD investigate the scene outside Angels Cafe where 13-year-old Jaryan Elliot was shot Sunday afternoon

New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea has previously blamed the surge in crime to the city council's decision last year to slash the police department's funding by $1 billion, and reallocate the money to education and social services.

Now, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the NYPD would boost payments for anonymous tips from $2,500 to $3,500 in an effort to combat the string of shootings and homicides.

And just last week, New York became the first state in the nation to declare gun violence an emergency as Gov. Cuomo pointed the finger at the manufacturers of weapons as one of the main reasons behind the spate of shootings and killings that is at its highest level since the early 2000s.

Cuomo targeted manufacturers of guns in a speech last Tuesday, with a bill allowing the New York Attorney General to sue them in some circumstances, and announced almost $139million in investment to reduce the rapidly-rising death toll.

Weapon manufacturers could face a lawsuit for harming the public by failing to take steps to prevent firearms from being sold unlawfully in New York, for instance.

The announcement comes ahead of next year's election, where he is expected to launch a reelection campaign to stay in office.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has railed against fellow GOP governors who enacted COVID-19 restrictions during the pandemic - questioning their the 'grit and instinct'.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on Sunday, Noem suggested that some Republican governors were 'rewriting history' by refusing to acknowledge that they shut down states for a period of time.

'We've got Republican governors across this country pretending they didn't shut down their states; that they didn't close their regions; that they didn't mandate masks,' Noem said.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has railed against fellow GOP governors who enacted COVID-19 restrictions during the pandemic in a speech at CPAC on Sunday

'Now I'm not picking fights with Republican governors. All I'm saying is that we need leaders with grit. That their first instinct is the right instinct,' she continued.

'Demand honesty from your leaders and make sure that every one of them is willing to make the tough decisions. South Dakota did not do any of those measures. We didn't mandate. We trusted our people and it told them that personal responsibility was the best answer.'

Noem took a moment to note how she never forced a 'single business' to close attempting to draw a comparison to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott who were more restrictive in their approaches.

South Dakota's population is 880,000 compared with Florida's 21.4 million and Texas at 29 million people.

Even at points throughout the last year when cases appeared to surge in South Dakota, Noem refused to mandate masks nor introduce any precautions that other state governors had introduced in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Noem explained her 'success' by simply swiftly identifying and isolating cases.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis puts his mask on during a press conference on the surge of coronavirus Covid-19 cases in Florida held last July

Texas Governor Greg Abbott also had to introduce COVID-19 restrictions across Texas

Many states brought in COVID-19 restrictions including the forced closure of businesses and even beaches

Writing in the Rapid City Journal last year, Noem stated how she rejected 'mandatory masking' noting that some questioned the effectiveness of masks and asked for each family to make 'informed decisions for themselves.'

'As I've said before, if folks want to wear a mask, they should be free to do so,' she wrote. 'Similarly, those who don't want to wear a mask shouldn't be shamed into wearing one. And government should not mandate it.'

South Dakota's current statistics put it at 10th out of the 50 states with a rate of 230 deaths per 100,000 people, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

The level is far lower than when the state ranked third with 14,090 cases per 100,000 of population.

Speaking at the CPAC conference in Dallas, Noem crowed how she never forced a 'single business' to close nor forced state residents to wear masks

Noem, who is known for her fierce loyalty toward former President Trump, was greeted with a standing ovation at the CPAC conference on Sunday.

She campaigned aggressively to help re-elect him and said that she hopes he runs again in 2024.

'I think he'd be fantastic. He gets up every day and he fights for this country,' Noem said. 'Most people when they watched what he and his family went through would be exhausted and quit, out of discouragement. And the fact that he's still fighting is inspirational to me.'

Noem claims not to be at all focused on her own bid for the White House in a few years time.

'I love South Dakota and I worked to come home to South Dakota, so I could be there and be with my people and ride horses for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy,' Noem remarked.
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It's the question on the minds of every greater Sydney resident: how much longer is this lockdown going to run for? A week? A month? Two? Three?

Disease experts estimate at least another full month of lockdown is likely, raising the prospect of a Melbourne-style long shutdown for Australia's most populous city.

New South Wales reported 112 new cases on Monday, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian warning it is 'almost impossible' for the state to lift restrictions on Friday, July 16 as originally planned.

Some 34 of today's cases were infectious in the community. Ms Berejiklian said that critical number needs to be as close to zero as possible in order for the lockdown to end.

But the Premier was vague when directly asked if the restrictions will last another three or four weeks. She said the duration depends upon the community following the rules. 'The future is in our hands. It really is up to us.'

Professor Emma McBryde, a disease modeller at James Cook University, said Sydney's best case scenario is the lockdown will lift in about three to four weeks' time - probably the latter.

Monday morning at locked down Bondi Beach didn't look too different to usual - with keen swimmers starting their morning with a dip in the ocean

Residents of the city's most famous beach largely abided by socail distancing restrictions on Monday, exercising in pairs

Social distancing: A young woman hula hoops on Bondi Beach on Monday morning as the city enters its third week of lockdown and experts warn 'best case scenario' the restrictions may last another month

Daily exercise: A young Sydney woman hits the dumbbells with a friend outdoors in the winter sun alongside. The health minister has said outside is the 'safest place' for the city's residents

Prof. McBryde said the Delta variant of the virus shows no signs of abating in Sydney and case numbers will continue to rise for at least a few days.

Authorities will then have to determine when the virus has peaked 'and then you have to start chasing those numbers down to zero.'

'Probably four weeks from now, would be a minimum,' she said - or about August 9. Even then, the restrictions will ease only slowly.

The Burnet Institute's Professor Mark Stoove has warned there was a two week lag between Victoria introducing harsh Stage Four restrictions and case numbers finally falling.

Melbourne's strict lockdown successfully brought the virus to heel but went further than Sydney's current suite of restrictions.

Residents were banned from going further than a 5km radius from their homes and all retail closed except for essential services such as supermarkets, bottle shops and pharmacies.

New South Wales is on high alert with authorities reporting 112 new cases on Monday morning. 34 of those were infectious in the community. Above, three Royal Prince Alfred Hospital staff in medical blues

The epicentre of Sydney's Delta variant outbreak has shifted to the city's south-west. Above, two fully masked-up residents do their essential shopping in Bankstown

Police presence: Two officers on horseback patrol near Bankstown shopping mall on Monday morning. NSW Police have been criticised for publicising a large deployment to the city's south-west

The deicer: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was coy about how long Sydney's lockdown will last - saying it depends upon 'all of us' doing the right thing. James Cook University Professor Emma McBryde (right) believes a lockdown will last at least a further four weeks

'I don't think the current lockdown measures are sufficient, so an extension but also a tightening of the rules is necessary,' Prof. Stoove told Seven on Monday.

But Prof. McBryde said NSW must focus on where the case numbers are coming from.

'We should really be focusing on the things that are going to lead to transmission and have been leading to transmission,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The vast majority of cases on Monday were in the Fairfield council area, in the city's south west.

Authorities are focusing on spreading events between households, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

Sydney's Covid outbreak surges again with a record 112 new cases including a staggering 48 unlinked - as the Premier warns the virus is EVERYWHERE in hotspot suburbs

New South Wales' outbreak of the highly-contagious Delta Covid-19 variant has grown by another 112 cases - an alarming 48 of which are unlinked to known clusters.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 'vast majority' of cases were in the Fairfield local government area in Sydney's south-west and called for its residents to stay home as part of the city's three-week lockdown unless they absolutely have to go out.

She said health officials were also still seeing high levels of transmission in the Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool government areas.

'The risk is everywhere in those areas,' she said. 'We have to be upfront with where the virus is circulating at the moment.'

Monday's triple-figure rise in coronavirus cases is the largest daily increase since April 2020. The state's outbreak that began on June 16 has now reached 678 infections.

Of the new locally-acquired cases, NSW Health said 48 were still under investigation and 41 of them were household contacts of previously known infections.

In a lone bright spot though for Sydneysiders, there were only 34 cases out in the community while infectious compared to the 45 announced on Sunday.

However, Ms Berejiklian said there would have to be zero - or nearly zero - active community cases a day for her to consider easing the lockdown on July 16.

'That is the number that we need to see go down to as close to zero as possible, before we can get advice from Health to say the lockdown can end,' she said.

'It's critical, that's something all of us have a role to play in.'

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said there were now 18 patients suffering from Covid-19 in the state's intensive care units - of which 14 are under the age of 35.

'That is dispelling the notion that you are not going to get sick from Covid if youre young,' she said.

Two young Sydneysiders proudly wear their lockdown clothing whilst out getting a coffee with their dog in Surry Hills in the inner-city. New South Wales' outbreak of the highly-contagious Delta Covid-19 variant has grown by another 112 cases

Four police officers enforcing the city's lockdown speak to a rugged up woman in Hyde Park in Sydney's CBD on Sunday

SYDNEY'S COVID-19 HOTSPOT SUBURBS Fairfield Smithfield Bossley Park Fairfield Heights Fairfield West Wakeley Bonnyrigg Glenfield West Hoxton Advertisement

Dr Chant said the virus was spreading the most rapidly in the south-west Sydney suburbs of Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton.

She said health officials were also finding an increasing number of cases in the 18 to 20-year-old age group in the south Sydney LGAs of Georges River, Bayside and Sutherland.

'The reason I am reading these locations out is we need to make sure that every member of that community understands that every time they go out of their house for an essential good, they need to assume that someone next to them has Covid,' she said.

She revealed meanwhile residents living in an apartment building in Sydney's east had been confined to their homes for 14 days after eight cases of Covid-19 were found in five of the block's 29 units.

Dr Chant said those in the building who had contracted Covid-19 would be moved by NSW Health into special health accommodation.

Ms Berejiklian on Monday also announced her government had reached an agreement to give NSW residents over 40 instant access to AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines in pharmacies across the state.

She said the jabs would be available from chemists 'soon', but did not say exactly when the program would be rolled out.

'Please consider your own health situation but know that you can get the AstraZeneca, if youre over 40, soon in any of the pharmacies across the state,' Ms Berejiklian said.

Previously, anyone under 60 had to consult their GP before getting the AstraZeneca jab due to a rare risk of blood clots in younger people.

Another two new Covid-19 vaccine hubs at Belmont, south of Newcastle, and in the Sydney CBD will open on July 19.

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New Zealanders desperate to return home from Covid-hit Sydney have snapped up all available seats on mercy flights home.

With only nine flights on offer at 10am Monday, Air New Zealand announced all flights full within two hours.

'Due to restricted availability within managed isolation facilities, our managed return services are now at capacity,' it said.

Scarce flights home from Covd-19 ravaged Sydney to New Zealand have been snapped up in less than two hours

Air New Zealand has advised stranded Kiwis to continue to check available flights home on their website

Complicating issues for the homebound Kiwis is the overstretched hotel quarantine system they will be subjected to for 14 days on their return.

Up to 2,500 New Zealanders are stranded in NSW but there are only about 1,000 rooms available over the next two weeks.

Unlike returning travellers from other countries, New Zealand nationals coming from Australia are not required to pay for their 14-day isolation period.

Those who got tickets back to either Auckland or Christchurch will not need to provide a negative pre-departure test.

Air New Zealand advised Kiwis who didn't get a ticket to regularly check their website for available outgoing flights, along with the Unite Against Covid-19 site for latest updates.

The airline said as more hotel quarantine rooms were secured, more seats would become available on repatriation flights.

The New Zealand government have said bringing their natives home is a priority and are scrambling to find more quarantine facilities

Up to 2500 Kiwis are currently stranded in New South Wales with only an estimated 1000 rooms available over the next two weeks

The New Zealand Government said it was prioritising the need for additional quarantine facilities to bring more people home.

'We are also working on a plan to make more rooms available for NSW returnees after the initial two-week emergency allocation,' it said.

'If you normally reside in New Zealand and are currently stranded in NSW, the government is working on an emergency plan to bring you home but not everyone can travel immediately.'

For those whose travel is not urgent, the message is to stay put and delay booking flights to allow precedence to more critical travellers returning home.

Monday's rise in coronavirus cases in Sydney is the biggest since April 2020.

The outbreak in Sydney that began on June 16 has now reached 678 infection with locally-acquired cases, with 48 still under investigation and 41 being household contacts of previously known infections.
The Northern Territory will remain open to NSW despite the COVID-19-ravaged state recording more than 100 new cases.

But Territorians have been warned to come home, with Deputy Chief Health Officer Charles Pain saying the situation could change quickly.

'We're watching whether people are breaching their conditions around lockdown in Sydney,' he told reporters on Monday.

Evidence that it's occurring in significant numbers and further community transmission may lead to further restrictions, he says.

The Northern Territory will remain open to NSW despite the COVID-19-ravaged state recording more than 100 new cases. Pictured: Darwin's Mitchell Street in Darwin

'We tend to pull the trigger fairly quickly... Consider whether you should be in NSW and come home,' he said.

Dr Pain said further border restrictions could be imposed on travellers from NSW after the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee meeting on Monday.

Currently, people in 36 NSW local government areas in and around Sydney, which have been declared hotspots by NT Health, are required to get tested and quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the territory.

Those outside the hotspots can continue to travel to the NT without any restrictions, however, all arrivals must complete a border entry form.

Meanwhile, NT Health has cancelled hotspot declarations for the City of Brisbane and Moreton Bay Region in Queensland.

Test and quarantine directions remain in place for people who have been to a COVID-19 public exposure site in the state.
A Houston police officer has been indicted for aggravated assault after he was caught on body camera footage telling another officer to shoot a suspect who had fled a 2019 traffic stop and then beating him with handcuffs.

Officer Lucas Vieira was indicted by a Harris County grand jury on Sunday over the incident involving 34-year-old Aundre Howard back on July 7, 2019.

Vieira was fired in April after Howard filed an excessive force lawsuit against the officer and the police department regarding his arrest.

Howard had initially been stopped by police for an expired vehicle registration. He was originally charged with felony evading arrest and possession of more than four grams of cocaine but those charges were later dismissed.

During the 2019 incident, Howard's attorney claims his client was 'immediately handcuffed and searched for weapons' during the traffic stop but none were found.

Howard then fled the scene while handcuffed because he was 'frightened' by the officers, his attorney said.

Houston police officer Lucas Vieira (pictured) was indicted for aggravated assault after allegedly urging another officer to shoot a suspect in 2019

The body cam footage of the incident showed Vieira and his partner, Thomas Serrano, chasing after a handcuffed Howard.

Vieira repeatedly yells in the video: 'Just (expletive) shoot his (expletive)!'

When another officer caught up to Howard and was able to detain him, Vieira then allegedly used his handcuffs to repeatedly beat Howard in the back of the head.

According to Howard's lawsuit, he was so terrified by the incident that he defecated on himself.

Officers allegedly pulled down Howard's pants in public and mocked him, according to the lawsuit.

Speaking at a new conference in April after announcing the lawsuit, Howard said he was lucky to be alive.

'I'm thankful to be here after I went through what I went through,' he said. 'People (have) been going through it, so it's nothing new to me. I'm not even surprised.'

Video showed Vieira and his partner, Officer Thomas Serrano, chasing after handcuffed Aundre Howard, as Vieira repeatedly yells: 'Just (expletive) shoot his (expletive)!'

Court records indicate Vieira then used his handcuffs to repeatedly beat Howard in the back of the head, after another officer caught up with Howard and detained him



Officers Serrano, Nadeem Aslam and Sgt. Earl Attebury were also named in the lawsuit for allegedly failing to intervene.

Both Serrano and Aslam still remain on duty but Attebury has since been relieved.

Vieira was 'indefinitely suspended' on April 16 shortly after Houston Police Chief Troy Finner was sworn in and the lawsuit was filed.

Sources said Vieira had been fired but that he was appealing.

The police department addressed the indictment against Vieira on Sunday, saying in a statement: 'We were notified by the Harris County District Attorney's office that former HPD officer, Lucas Vieira, has been indicted by a Harris County grand jury for aggravated assault by a public servant related to a July 2019 incident.

'We respect the grand jury's decision. This case is now in the hands of the courts.'

Vieira's lawsuit, which is still pending, is one of many, including one by the families of a couple killed during a botched drug raid, and another by the family of Nicholas Chavez, who was shot dead 24 times by several officers after appearing to suffer a mental health crisis.

Chavez's family has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the city of Houston, the Houston Police Department and five current and former officers who shot Chavez.
Londre Sylvester, 31, was one of three people who were shot just outside Cook County Jail in the Little Village section of Chicago on Saturday

A Chicago rapper died after suffering as many as 64 bullet wounds to his head and other parts of his body in what police are calling an ambush shooting just as he was released from jail.

Londre Sylvester, 31, who is known by his stage name KTS Dre, was one of three people who were shot just outside Cook County Jail in the Little Village section of Chicago on Saturday.

The shooting took place as Sylvester was released from the jail while wearing a monitoring device on his ankle, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Witnesses reported that two armed men stepped outside a vehicle and started shooting Sylvester, striking him in the face and chest.

Investigators found at least 59 shell casings on the 2700 block of West 27th Street, which is across the street from the jail.

Sylvester was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before 9.30pm on Saturday. His next of kin were notified on Sunday.

A 60-year-old woman who was reportedly with him at the time of the shooting suffered a wound to the knee. She was listed in good condition at Stroger Hospital, according to police.

The shooting took place as Sylvester was released from the jail while wearing a monitoring device on his ankle

Investigators found as many as 59 shell casings on the 2700 block of West 27th Street, which is across the street from the jail

Another woman, 30, had a bullet graze the side of her face. She is said to be in good condition.

No arrests have been made as of late Sunday.

Sylvester had been jailed for violation of bail bond for violating the conditions of his release in a 2020 felony gun case.

He was fitted for electronic monitoring before walking free on Saturday.

The shooting comes as Chicago continues to grapple with a surge in violent crime over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Statistics from the police department showed that at least 108 people were shot, 17 fatally, between July 2nd and July 4th.

Eleven children, some as young as five and six, were wounded in what was the most violent weekend of the year. Two cops were among the city's shooting victims.

Sylvester is also known in the local Chicago rap scene by his stage name, KTS Dre

The bloodshed was comparable to the long Fourth of July weekend last year, when 17 people were fatally shot and 70 more were wounded.

Chicago's latest crime statistics show the city of 2.7 million people saw 78 murders in June.

That is a 20 percent drop in the 98 murders it witnesses for June 2020. More than 300 people have been murdered in the Windy City this year, although as of July 1, there have been six fewer murders this year than there were for the same period of 2020.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot - who last week claimed that 99 percent of criticism of her is based on her gender or race - has blamed joblessness, poverty and out-of-state gun smuggling for the ongoing violence spiral gripping the city she runs.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he 'chuckled' when he saw a story online about Kevin Rudd meeting the boss of Pfizer to discuss securing earlier supply of the company's vaccines.

Mr Rudd, who led the country from 2007 to 2010 and again in 2013, had a zoom meeting with Albert Bourla arranged by prominent Australian business figures in the United States eight days before Pfizer agreed to hasten its deliveries.

He wrote a letter to Prime Minster Scott Morrison on June 30 describing what had happened in the meeting.

The letter appeared in an article on the ABC website on Sunday, prompting ministers to accuse Mr Rudd of leaking it for his own gain.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during the public hearing into media diversity in February

Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured on Monday) said he 'chuckled' when he saw a story online about Kevin Rudd meeting the boss of Pfizer

Mr Hunt has denied that Mr Rudd's intervention made any difference and said he laughed when he saw an article about the meeting.

'I had a little chuckle when I saw the story,' Mr Hunt told reporters on Monday.

'We received a letter from the individual in question, I think, not long ago and we said to ourselves, ''Well, no doubt that will be released when our current negotiations are announced''. That is exactly what happened.'

Earlier Defence Minister Peter Dutton accused Mr Rudd of trying to take credit for the hastened delivery of vaccines.

'I suspect it wouldn't take our greatest detective within the Queensland Police Service to identify who leaked that self-serving letter,' Mr Dutton told 4BC radio on Monday.

'Kevin claims credit for many things, it used to drive his Labor colleagues crazy.'

The Defence Minister suggested Mr Rudd was inserting himself into the public debate because he was 'bored to death in retirement'.

'I wouldn't pay much attention to it,' Mr Dutton said.

During the meeting, former Labor leader Mr Rudd asked Dr Bourla if there was any way the company could dispatch some of Australia's 40million contracted jabs earlier than planned given the outbreak in Sydney.

He said that acting in a personal capacity as an Australia citizen he asked Dr Bourla 'whether there was any possible way, given Pfizer's current international contractual obligations, to advance the dispatch of significant quantities of the Pfizer vaccine to Australia as early as possible in the third quarter this year.

Mr Rudd, who runs the Asia Society think tank in New York, wrote this letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison to explain what happened in the meeting on June 30

He added: 'Dr Bourla indicated that they had limited flexibility because of their existing supply obligations around the world. Nonetheless, he also indicated that a number of their manufacturing facilities were producing ahead of schedule.

'In response to my representations, Dr Bourla said he would personally look at what further might be able to be done. I thanked Dr Bourla for that.'

On July 8, the government announced a deal with Pfizer to bring in at least a million vaccines a week from July 19, meaning more than 4.5million jabs will arrive in August.

Previously only three million doses were expected in August and 4.5million were due in September.

A spokesman for Mr Hunt said the minister knew about Mr Rudd's meeting but was 'not aware' it made any difference.

'The Australian government at all levels have been proactively and continuously engaged directly with Pfizer throughout the Covid-19 vaccine rollout,' the spokesman said.

Pfizer says Rudd had no role in contractual agreements A spokesman said: 'Recent media reports suggesting that any third party or individual has had any role in contractual agreements reached between Pfizer and the Australian Government are inaccurate. The only two parties involved in these agreements are Pfizer and the Australian Government. 'Pfizer is committed to delivering 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Australia over 2021. Pfizer has met its contractual commitments to date and is on track to deliver the remaining doses by the end of the year. 'All agreements and supply arrangements, including dose planning are exclusively made with the Federal Government, and details of the agreement and discussions are confidential. All discussions on supply and procurement with the Federal Government are led by Pfizer representatives in Australia. 'Pfizer has a strong relationship with the Federal Government with continuous engagement both locally and globally in support of the national vaccine program including supply requests.' Advertisement

'As part of this process, the minister has met with the Pfizer Australia country head Anne Harris on multiple occasions with a view to the announcement Friday on the timeframe achieved and at the level we had hoped for, which was the maximum that Pfizer had indicated might be available.

'While we were made aware of Mr Rudd's approach, we are not aware this approach had any impact on the outcome.'

Later on Monday Mr Rudd said he never claimed to have influenced 'contractual arrangements' and accused the government of 'botching' the vaccine rollout.

His spokesman released a statement, saying: 'Mr Rudd sought this meeting at the urging of senior Australian business leaders, who were deeply concerned by the government's failure to lobby Pfizer at its most senior levels as many other world leaders have over recent months.'

'As the letter records, Mr Rudd spoke with Dr Bourla in a personal capacity as a concerned private citizen  not as a representative of the federal government.

'Mr Rudd also indicated that he was not seeking to negotiate on the government's behalf and any contractual arrangements needed to be made with officials.

'Mr Rudd's letter is entirely consistent with public statements by Pfizer.

'Mr Rudd has not claimed responsibility for decisions by Pfizer and  as he made clear to Mr Morrison  all negotiating powers rested with the federal government.

'Mr Rudd would definitely not seek to associate himself with the Australian Government's comprehensively botched vaccine procurement program.'

People wait in a queue outside a Covid-19 vaccination centre in the Homebush suburb of Sydney

Former Liberal Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull savaged his replacement PM Scott Morrison for not calling Dr Bourla himself.

'Thank you @MrKRudd for speaking to the Chairman of Pfizer to secure an earlier delivery of vaccines. [I'm] staggered the vaccination of Australians was apparently not important enough to warrant a call from @ScottMorrisonMP or @GregHuntMP to the Pfizer boss,' he Tweeted.

Mr Morrison said on Monday he has been negotiating with the Australian head of Pfizer rather than the global head, and said he 'welcomed' the support of 'anyone who wants to assist'.

Mr Rudd's meeting came about after a group of Australian businessmen had themselves sought a meeting with Dr Bourla but were rebuffed.

According to the ABC, senior Pfizer executives told one Australian businessman the government needed to make a more serious effort and they were astonished that Mr Morrison had not been in contact.

The Pfizer boss then agreed to meet with Mr Rudd after the businessmen offered to introduce the pair.
A trail of Covid seeping across Sydney's south-west and a long list of new exposure sites means lockdown won't be lifted on Friday.

Authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak concentrated in a cluster of outer suburbs centred around Fairfield, with government messaging and media coverage having little effect on an area where most have English as a second language.

Workers are also less likely to have jobs that can be done from home.

Tradies, labourers and taxi-rideshare drivers are also among the five most popular jobs in Fairfield, the outbreak's new epicentre; spreading those workers out across Sydney and taking the virus with them.

The 21 new exposure venues listed on Monday night, mostly centered in the coronavirus-ravaged south-west, includes two Woolworths, a Coles, a Big W and Kmart plus 12 bus routes and 17 trains.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro admitted that 'we've lost control of the virus' and said more stringent lockdowns would likely.

'We may have to go further or tighten restrictions in some local government areas, we accept that but what does that mean?' he told Sky News.

'It means making sure there's less movement of people going into homes, going into construction sites, going into retail.

'I don't believe we will get to the state of curfews and radiuses around where you can go and how much time you can spend in the open air.'

Ethnically-diverse suburbs in the south-west, where the 'vast majority' of new cases are, is home to a typically younger demographic, one more likely to mingle and less likely to have jobs where they can work from home (pictured, locals in Fairfield on Monday)

Among the bumper list of 21 new venues, mostly centered in the coronavirus-ravaged south-western suburbs, are two Woolworths, a Coles, a Big W and Kmart (pictured, the affected store in Bansktown)

Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed the 'vast majority' of the 112 new community transmission in figures announced on Monday had occurred in the Fairfield local government area, 30km from the city's centre.

Nine suburbs in the south-west - Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton - are at now at the heart of the outbreak.

Mr Barilaro said lockdown would remain in some form beyond this Friday but dismissed the use of night curfews, which were implemented during Melbourne's 112-day lockdown last year.

'I can promise you that there's never been a conversation around curfews or going even further,' he said.

A closer look at the demographics shows Fairfield has a slightly lower median age of 36, compared with 38 in the rest of Australia.

Ethnically-diverse suburbs in Sydney's south-west with younger residents have become Australia's Covid epicentre (pictured, Fairfield), 30km from the city centre

Police officers patrol the streets of the Fairfield local government area in Sydney's south-west

Those in Fairfield are also more likely to live with more people, have more children and are less likely to have office jobs.

The average house size of 3.3 people is much bigger than the national average of 2.6 but many more homes in this part of Sydney typically have five people living under one roof.

Demographer Mark McCrindle said the area also had relatively less office workers and therefore less option of working from home.

'Your mobility out and about in the community is what you get a lot more of,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant's call for people to only shop for groceries once a week was more difficult for people who had less money in the bank and more mouths to feed.

'Lower earnings and lower wealth, people don't have the ongoing money to stockpile the food or to get by for a few weeks of a lockdown,' Mr McCrindle said.

Nine suburbs - Fairfield (pictured), Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton - are at the heart of the outbreak, with New South Wales recording 112 new cases overnight of the highly contagious Indian Delta variant

TOP FIVE JOBS IN FAIRFIELD - SYDNEY'S COVID EPICENTRE Technicians, trades: 15 per cent Labourers: 14.8 per cent Clerical, administrative: 14 per cent Professionals: 13.8 per cent Machinery operators and drivers: 12.2 per cent Source: Census data, Australian Bureau of Statistics Advertisement

'It's very much the culturally-diverse supermarket and so people are just going in every day or so and buying what they need - it's a different approach to grocery shopping that we find with a lot of these migrant communities.

'These areas are not the leafy suburbs that might be well-heeled to do the once-a-week trolley shop.'

In Fairfield, less than 25 per cent of people speak English-only at home, which means three-quarters of residents have English at least as a second language.

Vietnamese is the most spoken language with 20.4 per cent, followed by Arabic on 7.9 per cent.

'Residents in these areas are connecting through their community media, through their language media,' Mr McCrindle said.

This has made community leaders more important to communicate health messaging to a multicultural population.

'That's where a lot of people look to for their advice.'

Mr McCrindle said that meant fewer residents would have heard official Covid messages from the government through English-language news media.

Tradies, labourers and taxi drivers are also among the top five list for work, which makes working from home much less likely (pictured, a Covid testing site at Fairfield Showgrounds)

SYDNEY'S COVID-19 HOTSPOT SUBURBS Fairfield Smithfield Bossley Park Fairfield Heights Fairfield West Wakeley Bonnyrigg Glenfield West Hoxton Advertisement

Ms Berejiklian said health officials were also still seeing high levels of transmission in the nearby Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool council areas.

'The risk is everywhere in those areas,' she said.

'We have to be upfront with where the virus is circulating at the moment.'

There are parallels with Melbourne where the virus last year circulated among multicultural communities in the city's north-west with a higher proportion of people in service jobs who couldn't work from home.

The Victorian capital was locked down for 112 days from early August until late October.

Unfortunately for the Covid-weary city, Sydney's outbreak has already moved across state lines after an infected family and a group of removalists got exemptions to travel interstate.

The Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong, 8km north-west of the city centre, has been put into lockdown after the infected removalists visited on July 8.

The complex has since been listed as a Tier 1 exposure site, which means anyone at the apartments from 1pm to 11.59pm on that day must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the results.

Anyone who's even been to the block at any time between July 9 and 12 must also get tested and isolate until they test negative.

A Mobil service station, a McDonald's, a shopping centre, a Metro petrol station and a Coles are also on alert after the virus-infected family travelled from Sydney.

Residents of the Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong (pictured), 8km north-west of the Victorian state capital, have been ordered not to leave the building after the infected group visited on July 8

MELBOURNE'S NEW COVID EXPOSURE SITES Tier 1: Get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure Ballan: Mobil Ballan (westbound) - 08/07/21, 5pm - 7pm Ballan: McDonald's Ballan (westbound) - 08/07/21, 5pm - 7pm Craigieburn: Coles in Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre - 10/07/21, 5.28pm - 6.38pm Maribyrnong: Ariele Apartments (anyone present) - 08/07/21, 1pm - 11.59pm Tier 2: Get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result Maribyrnong: Ariele Apartments - July 9, 10, 11 and 12, 12am - 11.59pm Broadmeadows: Metro Petroleum - 11/07/21, 1.19pm - 2.04pm Qantas flight QF1542: Launceston to Melbourne - 02/07/21, 10.15am - 11.20am Tier 3: Monitor for symptoms Craigieburn: Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre - 10/07/21, 5.28pm - 6.38pm Advertisement

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday said she needed to 'call out' the Fairfield local government area - where health officials found the vast majority of the 112 local coronavirus cases recorded overnight

NEW: USE DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA'S TRACKER TO FIND THE LATEST EXPOSURE SITES NEAR YOU

University of New South Wales Adjunct Professor Bill Bowtell, who spearheaded Australia's 1980s fight against HIV and AIDS, said Sydney would have to adopt a stricter, Stage Four lockdown like Melbourne did under Victoria's Labor government.

'It's disappointing we're not moving to Stage Four lockdowns - that means closing non-essential big retailers and construction sites,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'The longer we don't move to Stage Four lockdowns, the longer it will take to come out of it.'

Residents in nine suburbs have been warned they hold the key to getting the city out of Covid-19 lockdown as authorities pile pressure on Sydney's west to follow strict stay-at-home orders.

Ms Berejiklian on Monday said she needed to 'call out' the Fairfield local government area - where health officials found the vast majority of the 112 local coronavirus cases recorded overnight.

'I need to call that out,' she said. 'Everybody in Fairfield should be staying at home unless they absolutely have to.'

Of those new locally-acquired cases, 48 are unlinked to known infections and 34 were out in the community for at least part of the time they were infectious.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (pictured) singled out Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton in the south-west as the 'key suburbs' where authorities were battling to contain the virus

Dr Chant singled out Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton in the south-west as the 'key suburbs' where authorities were battling to contain the virus.

'The reason I am reading these locations out is we need to make sure that every member of that community understands that every time they go out of their house for an essential good, they need to assume that someone next to them has Covid,' she said.

'Everyone across greater Sydney should assume that but we are conveying that in these areas, the risk is even greater.

Under the rules of the stay-at-home lockdown Sydneysiders can leave the home to shop for essential items, although they have been warned not to browse and 'get in and get out' of stores as quickly as possible.

In Fairfield (pictured), less than 25 per cent of people speak English only at home which means three-quarters of people have English at least as a second language. Vietnamese is the most spoken language on 20.4 per cent, followed by Arabic on 7.9 per cent

But Dr Chant urged residents in the suburbs she named to take extra care to limit the time they spent outside their homes.

Rail Bus and Tram Union national secretary Mark Diamond said many workers in these suburbs didn't have the choice to stay at home.

'It is hypocritical of the NSW and federal governments to lecture these people about staying home when neither level of government has offered them any income support,' he said.

'If they refuse to work then they risk getting sacked, but if they go to work they risk getting a deadly disease. What are they supposed to do?'

The new exposure site list revealed Monday night has prompted contact tracers to frantically seeking shoppers who attended two Kmarts, where hundreds of people may have been exposed to the virus.

Anyone who attended Casula Kmart at the Casula Mall on Thursday July 8 between 6pm to 6.45pm is considered a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is recorded.

It is the same story for shoppers who visited Bankstown Kmart at Bankstown Central on Friday 9 July from 11am to 11.30am.

Health authorities are also concerned about various other retail giants in the area which have also been flagged as casual contact sites.

Bankstown Big W was issued with a public health alert for July 9 from 11am to 11.30am.

Wetherill Park Woolworths was identified as an exposure site for Friday July 9 between 3pm to 3.15pm and on Saturday July 10 between 12pm to 12.35pm.
Sonya and Youssef Ghanem went to Sydney's Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in July 2016 expecting to bring home a little brother for their three children.

Instead, their baby John died just under an hour after he was born.

Their grief was compounded when they learned their newborn had been ventilated not with oxygen, as the operating theatre's gas outlet was labelled - but instead with nitrous oxide.

An inquest has begun into John's death and the 'shocking chain of events' at the hospital that led to it.

Sonya Ghanem arrived at the hospital on the morning of July 13, 2016 after her waters broke, counsel assisting the inquiry Donna Ward said in her opening address on Monday.

Her obstetrician decided she should have an emergency caesarean section because of a risk of infection and her baby's slowing heartbeat.

Sonya and Youssef Ghanem went to Sydney's Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in July 2016 expecting to bring home a little brother for their three children. Instead they left in unimaginable grief

Fatefully, she was wheeled into the hospital's Operating Theatre 8. John was delivered there at 11.54am.

He gave a weak cry but was not breathing properly. There was a loose loop of cord around his neck.

Doctors began desperate efforts to save his life, first rubbing him with a cloth, then applying a NeoPuff resuscitator.

When using room air did not work, they moved to ventilate him with what they believed was 100 per cent oxygen.

But instead it was nitrous oxide coming out of the operating theatre's gas panel.

He was declared dead at 12.51pm.

The death made no sense to the resuscitation team, who believed they'd done everything right.

Then a doctor's hunch kicked in.

Paediatrican Dr Phillip Emder had treated another newborn, Amelia Khan, in the same operating theatre just weeks earlier.

He'd tried to resuscitate her with oxygen. Like baby John, she hadn't responded as expected.

She'd started to breathe on her own only after he'd connected the resuscitation device to another machine.

Amelia has been left with severe brain damage.

The baby died in Sydney's Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital after he was ventilated not with oxygen, as the operating theatre's gas outlet was labelled - but instead with nitrous oxide

Dr Emder raised his concerns with a nurse who'd helped to resuscitate Amelia.

She requested that the gas outlets be tested, expecting her concern to be actioned within four hours.

Instead it took nearly a week and nudge from the nurse for Dr Emder's hunch to be confirmed.

There was no oxygen coming from the oxygen outlet - instead, it was nitrous oxide.

The inquest will examine the cause of baby John's death, Ms Ward said.

Other issues will be whether and how the gas pipelines were tested, and who installed them.

'One can't truly understand what it must have been like for the Ghanem family as they both grieved the loss of their child and came to learn about the shocking chain of events at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital that led to his death,' Ms Ward said.

'The fact that we cannot truly understand what that was like for them does not excuse us from trying to put ourselves in the position of the Ghanem family.'

The inquest follows workplace safety proceedings against gas fitter Christopher Turner and his employer.

Turner was fined $100,000 in 2020 after pleading guilty to breaching to the NSW Work Health and Safety Act.

His employer BOC Limited was found not guilty after a judge found it was deceived by Turner and the hospital's assistant engineer.

A statewide investigation in 2016 revealed the hospital's Operating Theatre 8 was the only place in NSW where medical gases were incorrectly piped.
The head of Australia's vaccine task force wants young people living in Sydney to get vaccinated as quickly as possible as the city's coronavirus crisis worsens.

The federal government has released a graphic ad showing a young woman struggling to breathe after contracting the virus.

It has been broadcast in Sydney as the city struggles with a growing outbreak, reporting 112 new cases on Monday.

There are 63 COVID-19 patients in hospital in NSW. Of those, 14 are under the age of 35 and 18 are in intensive care.

The head of Australia's vaccine task force wants young people living in Sydney to get vaccinated as quickly as possible as the city's coronavirus crisis worsens

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said these numbers dispelled the myth young people would not get sick from the virus.

The state's mass vaccination hubs and pharmacies will now start offering AstraZeneca vaccines to people aged over 40.

Lieutenant General John Frewen said the graphic ad showing a young woman gasping for air was designed to be confronting.

He urged people aged under 40 living in hotspot areas to talk to their doctor about getting the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite Pfizer being preferred for that age group.

Lt Gen Frewen said people in south west Sydney needed to weigh up the risks of getting coronavirus against the vaccine advice.

'Those people between 18 and 40 need to make a decision now about whether they want to take their chances with the Delta virus or whether they want to get down, have a discussion with their GPs and get AstraZeneca,' he said.

Public health expert Bill Bowtell demanded the 'insensitive' coronavirus ad be taken down.

'It would have been far better to have a real person, real people, who have either had COVID or recovered from it, or regrettably there are thousands of families in Australia who have lost people to COVID,' he said.

'That's honest, that's truthful, that's authentic and that has impact.'

Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek criticised the decision to use a young woman sick with the virus, considering the age group was not yet eligible for vaccination.

The federal government is giving NSW millions of masks and medical equipment to bolster its response to Sydney's worsening outbreak.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says additional business payments and mental health supports will also be unveiled soon.

Sydney cafes, bars and pubs remain in lockdown and forced to limit their offerings to takeaway and delivery.

Small businesses warn their reduced revenues aren't enough to survive and they need much more support.

Two million medical-grade masks from the national stockpile are being dispatched to primary health networks across Sydney.

Gloves, gowns and goggles will also be distributed.
Australian mother-of-two Joanna McNeill, 34, was diagnosed with silicosis after working in an administration job near a quarry

Imports of engineered stone popular in Australian kitchens and bathrooms could be banned unless employers lift their game to protect workers from silica dust exposure.

A federal task force says health and safety regulations aren't properly protecting workers from dust exposure linked to the deadly lung disease silicosis.

Its final report released on Monday stopped short of recommending an immediate ban on imports.

But the task force said Australia should get ready to ban some or all product imports from July 2024 in the absence of significant industry changes.

Nearly one in four people who have worked with engineered stone since 2018 suffer from silicosis or other diseases related to silica dust, according to data from Queensland and Victoria.

'Maintaining the status quo is not acceptable,' the report said.

Anthony White (pictured) is believed to be the first tradesman to die after experts warned about engineered stone last year, calling it 'the next asbestos'

Shane Parata (pictured) was diagnosed with silicosis days before it killed his brother Anthony

Silicosis is caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica released when engineered stone is cut, ground or polished.

Prevalent in Australia between the 1940s and 1960s, the disease has re-emerged due to the increasing popularity of engineered stone benchtops.

The report said businesses working with the material were on notice to improve, including by regularly monitoring and recording silica dust levels and employee health.

It added Australia should also put in motion plans to ban imports if there are no measurable or acceptable improvements in compliance with regulations.

The development of national guidelines was recommended to identify those at risk from silica dust exposure, and improve health screening for current and former workers.

In March of 2018 Gold Coast man Anthony White, 36, (pictured) became the first recorded stonemason to die after contracting silicosis
Millions of Sydneysiders have been told to stay locked down at home unless they recently tested negative for Covid.

Gladys Berejiklian admitted she feared people may be travelling around the city while unknowingly infectious, including essential workers.

The plea comes after contact tracers discovered some of the latest cases in Fairfield had continued to work full shifts in offices for days while infected with the disease.

Included in the latest tally was a visa centre lawyer who worked with the public in Fairfield for six days while infected.

All workers in Sydney should be working from home unless they are essential, such as frontline workers, or their work can't be done from home, such as tradies and shop staff.

NSW reported 112 new cases on Monday, and Ms Berejiklian warned it is 'almost impossible' for the state to lift restrictions on Friday, July 16 as originally planned.

Some 34 of today's cases were infectious in the community and many of them had continued to turn up for work as normal while capable of spreading the disease.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) has begged all Sydneysiders in hotspot suburbs to stay locked down at home unless they recently tested negative for Covid

Ms Berejiklian said lockdown restrictions are unlikely to be lifted until the number of infectious cases in the community hits zero.

But that won't happen if people carry on working while infected - even if they are considered an essential key worker, she said on Monday.

'Even if you regard yourself as an essential worker, especially in the Fairfield local government area, do not leave home if you have symptoms,' Ms Berejiklian pleaded.

'Do not go to work unless you absolutely know that you don't have the virus.

'Unfortunately, we are seeing very, very key workers leave the home with symptoms or else not knowingly spreading the virus.'

NSW reported 112 new cases on Monday, and Ms Berejiklian warned it is 'almost impossible' for the state to lift restrictions on Friday, July 16 as originally planned. Seen here is a testing clinic in Fairfield on Monday

Contact tracers discovered some of the latest cases in Fairfield had continued to work full shifts in offices for days while infected with the disease

The premier said that key workers or anyone working on multiple sites in the Fairfield area should only leave home for work if it was vital and they had tested negative for Covid.

'We would prefer you stayed at home unless you absolutely have to leave the house and unless you can assure that you have a negative COVID test,' she said.

'That is really important for us to stress. It is up to all of us to see that number of exposures in the community go down.

'If you have the mildest of symptoms, get tested, stay home until health advise you otherwise.'

The premier said that key workers or anyone working on multiple sites in the Fairfield area (pictured above) should only leave home for work if it was vital and they had tested negative for Covid

She added: ' Too many essential workers doing essential work for us all are leaving work with symptoms or spreading the virus in their work place.

'That needs to stop.'

Monday's triple-figure rise in coronavirus cases is the largest daily increase since April 2020. The state's outbreak that began on June 16 has now reached 678 infections.

Of the new locally-acquired cases, NSW Health said 48 were still under investigation and 41 of them were household contacts of previously known infections.

The one glimmer of good news is there were only 34 cases out in the community while infectious compared to the 45 announced on Sunday.

Ms Berejiklian said lockdown restrictions are unlikely to be lifted until the number of infectious cases in the community hits zero. Seen here is a shopping grabbing groceries in Fairfield on Monday

The premier warned the length of the lockdown was entirely dependent on Sydneysiders doing the right thing and playing by the rules.

'The future is in our hands. It really is up to us,' she said. 'Do not leave your home if you have symptoms.

'Do not go to work places, especially if you come from those local government areas that I have mentioned, if you suspect, even at 1% that you might have COVID.

'You have to get tested and stay home until you get the result. That is really important.'

Monday's triple-figure rise in coronavirus cases is the largest daily increase since April 2020. The state's outbreak that began on June 16 has now reached 678 infections. Pictured here are locals in the streets of Fairfield on Monday

And she added: 'Obviously, avoid GP clinics or medical centres or pharmacists if you feel you might have the disease.

'Do not go into those areas because, unfortunately, we are seeing medical practices have that happen to them.'
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A British soldier has cheated death after crashing into someone's roof and falling into their kitchen when his parachute failed to fully deploy during a training exercise in California.

The parachutist jumped out of a plane from 15,000ft in a High Altitude Low Opening exercise known as Halo, which is used by the SAS and SBS for covert missions in hostile territory.

But the soldier started to spiral out of control when the parachute failed to fully deploy over the skies of Atascadero.

A British soldier has cheated death after crashing into someone's roof and falling into their kitchen when his parachute failed to fully deploy

The parachute's lines ran through the roof and the parachute was splayed on the tiles of the home in Atascadero, Calif.

He deployed his reserve parachute but it was too late for him to be able to reach the designated drop zone and he continued his rapid descent towards the ground.

'It's a miracle in my estimation, really. I mean, who lands like that without a parachute and lives?,' neighbor Rose Martin, who discovered the soldier, told KSBY.

Residents in the town about 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles called 911 after seeing him falling before he smashed into the house.

'I was in shock. I'm like, what?,' Martin said. 'So I ran in to make sure he was okay and I checked on him and his eyes were open but I wasn't sure if there were any injuries. I didn't want anyone to move him.

The impact left a huge hole in the tiled roof of the bungalow as the soldier fell through the loft and into the kitchen.

A picture shows the soldier in a sitting position, surrounded by broken tiles and with his parachute still attached. Someone can be seen standing over him as he removes a glove.

The homeowners were out at the time of the incident at 4.55pm on July 6.

The soldier, wearing British special forces uniform, was pictured in the kitchen surrounded by dust and debris in the house, still attached to his harness.

Gaping hole is left in roof of tiled bungalow after soldier's parachute failed to fully deploy and it was too late to use his backup chute

The soldier only received minor injuries from the crash landing and was taken to hospital for treatment

The parachute's lines ran through the roof and the parachute was splayed on the tiles.

The soldier only received minor injuries from the crash landing and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Linda Sallady, the mother of the homeowner, said: 'Came through the roof, through the tresses and there's not that much damage in the house.

'It's amazing. It's mostly the ceiling, the sheetrock. He missed the counters, appliances, everything.'

The rest of the training group from nearby Camp Roberts landed safely in the designated landing field.

The UK Ministry of Defence told the MailOnline: 'There has been a parachuting incident involving a British soldier training alongside American allies in California.

'The soldier received minor injuries and is recovering well.'

Atascadero police said: 'The parachutist was conscious but stunned with complaints of pain but no visible serious injuries.

'The occupants of the residence were not home at the time and therefore were uninjured.'
Two children at the same address were involved in a bizarre incident where a two-year-old was badly burnt and a 14-year-old was attacked by a dog.

Police were called to Shalvey in Sydney's west at 2.20pm on Monday after receiving a concern for welfare report.

When police arrived they discovered that the two-year old had suffered burns to his hands and face after falling onto an open fire in the backyard of the property.

Two children at the same address (pictured) were involved in a bizarre incident where a two-year-old was badly burnt and a 14-year-old was attacked by a dog

The two children were taken to Westmead Childrens Hospital. Pictured: The 14-year-old boy is stretchered after being attacked by a dog

A 14-year-old boy attempted to help the distressed toddler, but was attacked by a vicious dog.

The teen used a blunt object to try and fight the dog away, but in the process suffered bites to his arms and legs.

'Both boys were taken to Westmead Childrens Hospital in a stable condition with injuries that are not considered life-threatening,' police said.

'A crime scene was established and inquiries are continuing.

'The RSPCA was also notified and is assisting police with the investigation.'

It is not known if the two children are related.

Officers from Mount Druitt Police Area Command in Western Sydney, rushed to a home at Koomooloo Crescent, Shalvey (pictured), at about 2:20pm on Monday after receiving a concern for welfare report
Britons should not get their second Covid vaccine after just four weeks, one of the Government's top advisers claimed today.

Ministers are keen to halve the gap between doses  which currently stands at eight weeks  amid surging cases.

But Professor Adam Finn, of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)  which advises No10 on the roll-out, is against the move.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think we would need to be pretty careful about trying to change the approach right now in the middle of this third wave.'

Professor Finn warned giving second doses after just four weeks would likely offer people less protection against the disease in the future.

Studies have shown jabs made by AstraZeneca and Pfizer actually perform slightly better when spaced out for longer than a month.

This is because the longer gap leads to a better priming of the immune system to fight off the virus.

On the other hand, Professor Finn accepted that halving the gap to four weeks may 'pay off' if Britain's third wave keeps spiralling.

Professor Adam Finn, a top vaccines adviser, has said the gap between doses should not be slashed to four weeks because it could make jabs less effective

It comes as Department of Health data shows the inoculation drive is slowing amid a glut in demand for first doses

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi says people will be 'expected' to wear masks in confined spaces Nadhim Zahawi tried to quell a backlash from local leaders on plans to drop mandatory masks on public transport yesterday, after a poll found 50 per cent of Britons want 'Freedom Day' delayed. The vaccines minister insisted people will still be 'expected' to wear coverings in confined spaces under new guidance being issued this week, even though the legal compulsion will go. But he insisted that the unlocking schedule was set to go ahead as planned on July 19 - with Boris Johnson due to give more details at a press conference tonight. 'We're seeing a rise in infection rates in this country, but also in Europe and elsewhere. The difference for us is that the vaccination programme has been so successful,' Mr Zahawi said. The comments came after Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham warned July 19 could turn into 'anxiety day', complaining that face coverings should remain a legal requirement. Sadiq Khan is still considering a bid to force passengers to keep wearing masks on trains, Tube and buses in London. Advertisement

Ministers, including newly-appointed Health Secretary Sajid Javid, fear the UK could see upwards of 100,000 cases a day by next month.

Originally, both AstraZeneca and Pfizer's vaccines were approved to be dished out in three-week intervals because that was the gap tested in the research trials.

But No10's scientists pushed the regimen back to 12 weeks to get wider protection in winter, when the second wave started to take off.

They said the decision would allow more people to get some immunity against the disease in the shortest period of time possible.

Last week the JCVI recommended cutting the gap to eight weeks for everyone, in a bid to protect more people.

Health chiefs already fear the UK may be close to maximum vaccine uptake, with young people having been eligible for appointments for almost a month.

The roll-out has ground to fewer than 100,000 first doses a day, with the drive currently centered on ensuring millions get fully inoculated.

Professor Finn, from the University of Bristol, said: 'There is of course an advantage in giving the second dose early, in the current circumstances with all the cases that we are seeing because you get a further boost,

'But the downside to that is the size of that boost is smaller and probably that will mean that the duration of protection you get from that second dose will be shorter.

'So theres a sweet spot, and at the moment the advice we have given is we should not reduce the interval less than eight weeks.'

He added that ramping up dosing would not delay Britain's rampant second wave because it takes jabs several weeks to kick in.

Professor Finn said: 'Vaccination is not really a very good tool for dealing with fire in the house once the fire is really going, its much better as a way of stopping the house from being inflammable.

'Trying now to deal with the problem we have got with vaccination is really very difficult because it takes time to give those doses and after you have given them it takes time for them to take effect.'

The JCVI has been asked to issue urgent advice on whether the pros and cons of slashing the gap between doses, the Sunday Times claimed. An announcement is expected within days.

Experts fear leaving young people only partially protected for longer amid a second wave could drive up rates of 'long Covid'.

Public Health England evidence shows jabs cut the risk of infection by between 55 and 70 per cent after one dose, but that this rises to 65 to 90 per cent after two.

UK health officials say the longer gap has made jabs more effective.

But they were approved for use in the country based on clinical trials which had a three-week delay between doses.

Some vaccine centres are dishing out second doses early amid a glut in demand for first jabs.

But NHS England has wrapped many centres on the knuckles for doing this, insisting they must stick to the eight-week delay.

Many countries never widened the gap between jabs, saying they had to be lead by the science and had no evidence to support doing so.

Department of Health data shows that over the last seven days the average number of first doses dished out has tumbled to 87,175, half the number from just over a week ago.

But the number of second doses given out has remained steady at just below 200,000 a day.

Young people  the last group to be inoculated  are less likely to get the jab than others because they see themselves as not at threat from the virus.

Ministers are hoping, however, that a double-jab requirement for holidays and to avoid self-isolation will bolster uptake.

It comes as the Prime Minister is expected to confirm the easing of most of the remaining restrictions today  although he will likely sound a more cautious tone.

No10 sources say Mr Johnson plans to put his trust in the 'innate good sense of the British people' not to embrace the new liberties 'recklessly'.

Top experts including the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC) warned last week that the rising case numbers would put the NHS under heavy pressure.
A blood test to diagnose long Covid patients could be ready within just six months, scientists say.

Researchers have found survivors left with lingering symptoms have an unusual pattern of antibodies in their blood.

It raises the prospect that sufferers of the poorly-understood condition could soon be spotted through a simple test. No diagnostic test or cure currently exists.

Researchers say patients can find it hard to convince GPs they are really suffering from long-Covid symptoms, such as fatigue and headaches.

Little is known about long-Covid  an umbrella term for symptoms that last for more than 12 weeks after being infected.

Antibody tests are not yet widely available in the UK, as they are only free for front line workers and people taking part in clinical trials. The current tests work by checking for antibodies in peoples blood, which are made when they get an infection to help fight it off. If people have Covid antibodies, it is likely they have had the virus before and may have some degree of infection against catching it again. Pictured: a paramedic in Birmingham last month, holding a test tube that will be used to take a blood sample for an antibody test

Monthly vaccine doses will be offered to long Covid sufferers to help more than 1million Britons beat the illness Thousands of long Covid sufferers are set to be offered monthly vaccine doses in an effort to beat the debilitating illness  after reports that patients can make a dramatic recovery after a jab. More than one million Britons are said to be suffering from long Covid, with studies suggesting 400,000 have been hit by symptoms for more than a year. This will be the first drug trial of a long Covid treatment. In the first stage of the landmark study, severely affected patients will be offered two additional vaccine doses. Dr David Strain of Exeter University, who will lead the trial, has surveyed more than 900 long Covid patients, of whom more than half saw their symptoms improve after the first dose. Dr Strain said: 'Many patients saw a dramatic improvement within days of their jab. 'Their fatigue disappeared. They were able to walk further without feeling breathlessness.' Advertisement

It is thought around 20 per cent of coronavirus survivors will suffer lingering effects, such as fatigue, headaches and difficulties breathing.

Hundreds of thousands of Britons have been left battling such symptoms for over a year, according to official estimates.

Middle-aged women appear to be most at risk.

Imperial College London researchers compared the blood of dozens of patients for the study.

They found long-Covid sufferers had certain auto-antibodies not present in patients who recovered quickly from the virus or never had it.

Auto-antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that cause the body to attack its own organs.

They differ to standard antibodies, which are made to fight off infections such as Covid.

The researchers will now carry out more detailed studies, with the hope of getting a test to market.

Professor Danny Altmann, who leads the team at Imperial, told BBC Panorama: 'I'm famously optimistic.

'So I'd hope that within six months we'd have a simple blood test that you could get from your GP.

'That, I think, could have quite a big impact for people who don't feel they have managed to convince their GP or accessed specialist care because instead of being my word against yours, it has a diagnostic test.'

He warned there may be tens of thousands more long Covid cases once restrictions are eased in England next week. Vaccines aren't perfect and millions could still get infected.

Professor Altmann said: 'One of the things we know for absolute certain is that long Covid can ensue from any form of infection  asymptomatic, mild, severe.

'So if we're heading into a phase of 100,000 cases per day, in the coming months and we're saying that 10-20 per cent of all infections can result in long-Covid, I can see no certainty that we're not brewing those long-Covid cases despite having a vaccinated population.'

Susie Farrelly, a nurse who has been suffering from long Covid for more than a year, told the broadcaster: 'I just kept on thinking I'll be over this soon, I'll be over this and I'll start getting better. I actually at one stage thought I was going completely and utterly barmy.

'Then I was driving myself even harder and harder to get better and push through those moments where you're completely exhausted and other people just didn't get it.'

The UK has recorded 31,772 new Covid infections and 26 deaths in the latest government figures

Scientists have previously found that long-Covid sufferers have higher numbers of auto-antibodies.

This led German scientists to use an experimental drug for people with heart disease on a 59-year-old long-Covid patient

The drug  called BC 007, which is produced by German company Berlin Cures and given through a single-dose infusion  destroyed his auto-antibodies and reportedly improved his symptoms within hours.

To assess and treat people with the condition, the Department of Health in May said it would set up 89 long Covid clinics in England to treat anyone with the condition.

But according to BBC Panorama, four clinics only see patients who were hospitalised with the virus and some patients at 10 clinics had been waiting more than six months to be seen.

The Department of Health told the programme: 'The Government rapidly provided specialist care for acutely ill Covid patients at the start of the pandemic and we've matched that speed and scale in our support for people with long-Covid.'

BBC Panorama's episode on long-Covid will be broadcast at 7.35pm tonight on BBC One.
Prisoners have torched a wing of Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney's north-west before escaping onto the roof of the building and rioting on Monday afternoon.

Flames could be seen through windows as fires raged in one building and smoke billowed out of the roof vents.

Around 10 inmates, apparently brandishing weapons while shirtless and in shorts, made it onto the roof of the privately-run jail around 2pm this afternoon.

In the prison yards down below, another 50 inmates also confronted staff who used 'chemical munitions' to clear the area, said a spokesman for Ventia which runs the prison.

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Prisoners have torched a wing of Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney's north-west before escaping onto the roof of the building and rioting (pictured)

The jail is home to both maximum and minimum security prisoners and can house 1350 inmates (pictured, inmates on the roof)

Smoke could be seen billowing out of the roof vents and flames were visible through windows as fires raged in the building underneath, as captured in footage from the scene

Inmates paraded on the rooftop and played up to photographers as guards tried to assert control over the situation and Fire and Rescue NSW attended the blaze.

The jail's Immediate Response Team are understood to have used smoke grenades on the protesting prisoners before moving in and retaking the rooftop around 5pm.

Prison guards are understood to have used smoke grenades on the protesting prisoners before moving in and retaking the rooftop. Seen here are police observing the situation

Correctional Centre Governor Paul Baker praised the jail's Security Operations Group and the centres Immediate Response Team officers for safely resolving the incident.

He added: 'The officers have done an excellent job, utilising their specialised training, to resolve this situation safely.'

The jail is home to both maximum and minimum security prisoners and can house 1350 inmates.

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne spent three weeks of his five year jail sentence in the prison earlier this year before he was moved to Cooma jail on May 26.

Around 10 inmates (pictured) were spotted apparently brandishing weapons while shirtless and in shorts on the roof of the privately-run jail around 2pm on Monday

Parklea Correctional Centre (pictured) staff reportedly used smoke grenades on the protesting prisoners
Boris Johnson will give the final go-ahead for 'Freedom Day' on July 19 today - but send a stark message that people need to keep being careful amid spiking cases.

The Prime Minister will use a Downing Street press conference to confirm the unlocking next Monday, with almost all legal restrictions to be axed in England.

But he will caution that the dramatic easing 'comes with a warning', and people must 'expect' to keep wearing masks in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and trains.

Government experts have suggested working from home and social distancing should remain the norm after the shift to trusting the public's 'common sense'. There are fears that hospitalisations could hit 3,000 a day soon as the Delta variant continues to run riot.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham today renewed his assault over dropping the legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport.

But health minister Edward Argar pointed to the 'defensive wall' being provided by vaccines. 'If not now, when?' he said of lifting the legal restrictions.

In a statement ahead of a Covid O meeting this morning to sign off the plans, and his press briefing at 5pm, the PM said that cases will inevitably continue to rise as restrictions are eased.

'Caution is absolutely vital, and we must all take responsibility so we don't undo our progress, ensuring we continue to protect our NHS,' he said.

Boris Johnson (pictured running this morning) will give the final go-ahead for 'Freedom Day' on July 19 later - but send a stark message that people need to keep being careful amid spiking cases

Boris Johnson will today warn that people should 'expect' to keep wearing masks in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and trains even after Covid restrictions are lifted on July 19

Health minister Edward Argar pointed to the 'defensive wall' being provided by vaccines. 'If not now, when?' he said of lifting the legal restrictions

WHAT IS BEING AXED ON JULY 19? RULE OF SIX There will be no legal limits on social contact, meaning groups will not have to limit themselves to six people or two households if they are mixing indoors. Groups outdoors can be as large as people want them to be. WEDDING AND FUNERAL CAP The limits on attendance at weddings, funerals and other major life events are being scrapped. ART AND SPORT VENUE LIMITS There will be no more restrictions on the size of an audience at a concert or a show, or a crowd at a sports fixture, which means theatres and stadiums can run at full capacity. NIGHTCLUBS All other legal requirements for venues to close will be lifted, allowing night-time industries  including nightclubs  to reopen for the first time since the pandemic began. SINGING CURBS No restrictions on singing, or even guidance to restrict it. It means singing by church choirs can continue  as can karaoke nights. Advertisement

The latest Covid developments come as:

No 10 issued figures showing Covid vaccines have saved 30,000 lives and prevented 8.5million infections in England alone.

Dr Susan Hopkins of PHE warned that hospitalisations could soar to 4,000 a day by the end of the summer, the same level as at the peak in January.

Another 31,772 new Covid cases were recorded but there were signs the rate of growth is slowing and the 26 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours are a fraction of the toll seen at the peak of the pandemic.

The 'Freedom Day' was meant to herald a return to normality but the PM will also publish new 'guidance' setting out precautions people should continue to take.

Mr Johnson will say England is 'tantalisingly close to the final milestone in our road map out of lockdown, but the plan to restore our freedoms must come with a warning.'

He will insist that vaccinations have 'weakened' the link between Covid infections and hospital admissions, while warning 'the global pandemic is not over yet.'

However, the PM has dropped claims that the end of Covid restrictions is 'irreversible' following warnings from top scientists that easing restrictions could end in disaster.

Minister denies mixed messaging over masks as he says they COULD be compulsory on trains after July 19 A minister today denied there were mixed messages from the government over masks after July 19. Edward Argar insisted people could use their 'common sense judgment' in deciding whether to use face coverings. The comments came after Health Secretary Sajid Javid suggested it would be 'irresponsible' not to wear masks in crowded places. And 'Freedom Day' guidance being issued later is set to say they are 'expected' in some circumstances - although not legally required. Mr Argar raised fresh doubt about whether there will be a genuine removal of restrictions in a round of interviews this morning, saying train companies may well look at demanding them as a 'condition of carriage'. 'But at a governmental level, what we have set out, what we will be looking to do is see the legal requirements fall away but for guidance  strong guidance and cautious guidance  to be in place for people to exercise their common sense,' he added. Asked about former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith complaining that the stance risks creating confusion, Mr Argar replied: 'I don't think that the British people will struggle to look at the guidance and form their own common-sense judgment  I don't think it will introduce confusion. 'I think people will look at it, they will form a sensible judgment based on the guidance.' Mr Argar said he personally would 'continue to carry my face mask in my jacket pocket'. 'The sort of circumstances where I would wear it, where I would encourage others to do so, are the sort of things that Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer set out a week or so again,' he told LBC. 'If, for example, you are in a crowded train, if you are in a setting like a hospital where the relevant authority requires you to wear it, or where, as common courtesy, if you are in an indoor environment with someone who clearly feels uncomfortable with you not wearing it, it would be common courtesy to put it on then  that's how I would behave.' Advertisement

In a round of interviews, Mr Argar said it is 'possible' that daily coronavirus case numbers could hit the 100,000 mark but stressed that vaccines are helping to protect people from serious illness and hospital admission.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: 'You've seen the Secretary of State and others talk about between a range of 50,000 to 100,000 is possible.'

Mr Argar added: 'If you look at hospital admissions, and forgive me if my figures are a little bit out, but the seven-day rolling average of hospital admissions for now, when we're seeing this level of infection rate, is roughly between 350 and 400 a day.

'Back in January, with an equivalent infection rate, we were seeing 1,800 to 2,000.

'So you can see how that vaccine programme may not have broken it by 100 per cent because the vaccine isn't 100 per cent effective, but it has really severely weakened that link and therefore the numbers we are going to see in hospital are going to be much smaller.'

Mr Argar defended the decision to ditch mandatory masks in England, saying train companies may well look at demanding them as a 'condition of carriage'.

'But at a governmental level, what we have set out, what we will be looking to do is see the legal requirements fall away but for guidance  strong guidance and cautious guidance  to be in place for people to exercise their common sense.'

Asked about former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith complaining that the stance risks creating confusion, Mr Argar replied: 'I don't think that the British people will struggle to look at the guidance and form their own common-sense judgment  I don't think it will introduce confusion.

'I think people will look at it, they will form a sensible judgment based on the guidance.'

Dr Hopkins yesterday called for people to continue following the advice beyond July 19.

'If you are able to do your business effectively from home then I think over the next four to six weeks, as there's a rise in cases, we should try our best to do that,' she told Times Radio.

'Then we should continue to look and see and have a cautious return to the office over the coming weeks, once we start to see a decline in the number of cases.'

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi yesterday said there would now be a clear 'expectation' that people should continue to wear face masks in crowded indoor settings.

He added that it is 'important that we remain cautious', but insisted he is 'confident that we can proceed with this step forward' because 87 per cent of adults have now had a first vaccine dose.

Labour have warned that dropping laws requiring masks is a 'recipe for confusion' that risks potential confrontations between those with differing views on the matter.

But Mr Zahawi said vaccinations had 'severely weakened' the link between Covid infections and hospitalisations. He did, however, refuse to repeat Mr Johnson's assertion it had been 'severed.'

Last week, Mr Johnson said that mask wearing would become 'a personal choice' after July 19

The Prime Minister will use a Downing Street press conference this afternoon to confirm plans to end most Covid laws next Monday, despite surging cases

He added that Britons should 'do the right thing' in regards to face coverings, telling Times Radio: 'Indoors, in crowded carriages, the very clear guidelines will be that you're expected to wear a mask.'

Health Secretary Sajid Javid struck a harder line on masks in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph today, saying people would be 'irresponsible' not to wear one in a crowded space.

'If someone is not doing that, frankly, they're just being irresponsible, they're not playing their role as a responsible citizen,' he said.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith last night accused ministers of 'losing their nerve' over the lifting of restrictions.

He said: 'This is not freedom at all. Ministers are being beaten up by the scientists in the media and they are beginning to wobble.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi yesterday said there would now be a clear 'expectation' that people should continue to wear face masks in crowded indoor settings

Britain has recorded 31,772 new cases of coronavirus and 26 new deaths in the latest government figures

'The question for the scientists is: do they believe the vaccines work?

'If they work  and they clearly do to reduce hospitalisations and deaths  then we should not be continuing to sacrifice the economy on the altar of some misguided zero Covid policy.'

CBI calls for self-isolation rules to be dropped earlier Business leaders have urged the government to drop self-isolation rules earlier than planned. The CBI, which represents 190,000 firms, said the requirement for the double-jabbed to quarantine after coming in contact with positive cases should go on July 19, rather than waiting until August 16. CBI boss Tony Danaker said: 'Learning to live and work with the virus is the right strategy, but we need to ensure this is a confident not an anxious transition, otherwise it won't work. 'Businesses have had a real boost this week with the Prime Minister's plans for the final stage of the reopening. 'What's needed now is a concerted effort between business and government to create widespread confidence from the get go.' Advertisement

While Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of lockdownsceptic Tory MPs, accused ministers of a 'shift in policy' and said that it was 'torturing the nation'.

Arguing that for some people wearing a mask is a 'terrible thing', he added: 'It's not fair snatching away people's hope, it's psychologically, profoundly destructive.'

Last week, Mr Johnson said that mask wearing would become 'a personal choice' after July 19.

Several senior ministers, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Environment Secretary George Eustice said they would be ditching their masks at the earliest opportunity.

But Mr Zahawi said yesterday: 'The guidelines that we'll set out tomorrow will demonstrate that, including guidelines that people are expected to wear masks in indoor enclosed spaces.'

He also suggested the government is looking at a test and release scheme to replace self-isolation for those who come into contact with a positive case, amid fears that millions of healthy people will be doomed to house arrest as infections rise.

'If you do test positive you have to and should rightly then self-isolate but it is important to look at that in a new context of this massive vaccination programme and make sure that it is fit for purpose for this new world,' he said.

Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan is still considering a bid to force passengers to keep wearing masks on trains, Tube and buses in London.

The level of nerves among the wider public was demonstrated today as research by Opinium found half would prefer the unlocking slated to happen a week tomorrow to be delayed.

Some 31 per cent thought the timing was about right, while just 10 per cent said it should have been earlier.

The PM is expected to give final approval for Stage 4 of the roadmap tomorrow, with almost all legal restrictions set to be lifted.

But Nicola Sturgeon has already vowed to keep masks and other curbs in Scotland for longer.

Research by Opinium found half would prefer the unlocking slated to happen a week tomorrow to be delayed

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has warned July 19 could turn into 'anxiety day', complaining that face coverings should remain a legal requirement.

He told the Observer: 'The government is simply wrong to frame everything from here as a matter of pure personal choice. It is not.

'Many people who are vulnerable to the virus have to use public transport and do their food shopping in person.

'That is why the wearing of face coverings in these settings should have remained mandatory.

'I will be strongly encouraging the people of Greater Manchester to continue to wear masks on public transport out of respect for others.'

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: 'Given Sajid Javid now considers it irresponsible to not wear masks then it would be equally irresponsible for his government to carry on with the plan to lift mask requirements while infections are heading to 100,000 a day.

'Reopening the economy must be done in a safe and sustainable way.

'That means continued mask wearing, support for increased ventilation standards in premises, decent sick pay, allowing people to continue working from home and ensuring all can access testing rather than introducing charges for lateral flow tests as Sajid Javid now proposes.'
A 17-year-old California girl accused of stabbing and killing an Uber driver denied the heinous slay after being charged with murder and torture, officials in National City said.

Raquel Spohn Wehber, 58, was found bludgeoned to death in her Nissan Altima near a neighborhood market last Tuesday, cops said.

The teen stabbed Spohn Wehber multiple times, National City Police Sgt. Kenneth Springer, and was quickly arrested in the backyard of a nearby home after cops followed a trail of blood and found the suspect with 'blood all over her.'

Uber driver Raquel Spohn Wehber, 58, was stabbed and killed inside her car. A 17-year-old girl has been arrested in National City, CA

Spohn Wehber was a married mother and grandmother whose friends and family have set up a memorial for her on Lanoitan Avenue near 18th Street

National City Police found Spohn Wehber with multiple stab wounds as witnesses told them that a girl covered in blood fled the crime scene to a nearby house

Video courtesy of Fox 5 San Diego

Police credit the quick arrest in part to eyewitnesses who spotted the blood-soaked teen running through the neighborhood.

Paramedics worked to save Spohn Wehber, but the mother of two and married grandmother died at the scene, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Spohn Wehber lived in Tijuana, Mexico, but worked as an Uber driver in the San Diego area. Friends and family set up a memorial at the deadly site with flowers, candles and a photograph of Spohn Wehber.

The suspect was arraigned virtually on Friday. She entered a plea of not guilty to the two felony charges in juvenile court through her attorney.

Prosecutor Cherie Sommerville told NBC 7 that the district attorney's office asked Superior Court Judge Ana Espana to move the case to adult court.

Spohn Wehber's daughter Daniela Martinez set up a gofundme page to raise money for her funeral.

The judge ruled that, given the nature of the allegations, the suspect will remain in juvenile detention. The teen is due back in court on July 20.

Police said there was no confirmation as to whether the suspect and Spohn Wehber knew each other. The motive for the attack remained unknown.

'It's an outrage,' Beatrice Garcia, who is also an Uber driver and was a friend of Spohn Wehber's, told the TV station. "I mean it wasn't one stab, it was multiple stabs, and I don't know what happened, but whatever happened, she didn't deserve to die that way."

Detectives were working to obtain a search warrant for the Uber account of the person who ordered the ride that brought Spohn Wehber to the area, about 10 miles south of San Diego.

'The senseless and brutal crime that took the life of Raquel Spohn Wehber is heartbreaking and our thoughts are with her family,' Uber said in a statement.

A GoFundMe page set up by one of her daughters, Daniela Martinez, has raised more than $5,000.
Israel said on Sunday it will begin offering a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine to adults with weak immune systems but was still weighing whether to make the booster available to the general public.

The rapid spread of the Delta variant has fuelled a rise in the number of new Covid-19 infections from single digits last month to around 450 a day, and the country has moved to fast-track its next Pfizer shipment.

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said that effective immediately, adults with impaired immune systems who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine could get a booster shot, with a decision pending on wider distribution.

It comes after Israeli health officials earlier this month claimed the Pfizer jab blocks 64 per cent of infections, compared to 94 per cent in May before the mutant strain took hold.

Israel said on Sunday it will begin offering a third dose of Pfizer Inc's vaccine to adults with weak immune systems. Pictured: A man receives a Pfizer vaccine in Tel Aviv, Israel

In Israel, 5.19 million people among its population of 9.3 million have received two doses of the vaccine - marking nearly 60 per cent of the populace. Another 537,000 have received at least one dose. Meanwhile, in the UK where the vaccine drive has taken off, 50.88 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated while 47 per cent of Americans have received two doses.

But scientists have attempted to quash any fears about the vaccine efficacy, saying overall the picture was still 'reassuring'.

Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE, the main suppliers in a swift Israeli vaccination rollout that began in December, said on Thursday they will ask U.S. and European regulators within weeks to authorize booster shots.

The two companies cited an increased risk of infection after six months in seeking permission for a third shot.

Drawing criticism from some scientists and officials, the companies did not share the data showing that risk, but said it would soon be made public. They also cited recent Israeli data.

'We are examining this issue and we still do not have a final answer,' Horowitz, speaking on Kan public radio, said about a booster for the general population in Israel.

'In any case we are administering as of now a third shot to people suffering from immunodeficiency.'

About half of the 46 patients presently hospitalised in Israel in severe condition are vaccinated, and the majority are from risk groups, according to the health authorities.

Israel's Health Ministry said on Sunday that 261 new coronavirus cases were detected on Saturday

In Israel, 5.19 million people among its population of 9.3 million have received two doses of the vaccine - marking nearly 60 per cent of the populace. Another 537,000 have received at least one dose.

Meanwhile, in the UK where the vaccine drive has taken off, 50.88 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated while 47 per cent of Americans have received two doses.

Experts have said that the data from Israel showing the jab blocks 64 per cent of infections, compared to 94 per cent in May before the mutant strain took hold, is still 'reassuring'.

Professor Peter Openshaw, an expert in experimental medicine at Imperial College London, told MailOnline the figure were 'actually rather reassuring'.

He said the fact there was 64 per cent figure against infection was good, given the variant 'has evolved some immune escape features'.

Israel was not going to rush into any decision on booster shots for the general public, Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of public health at the Health Ministry said.

'It's rather complex. We're presently seeing outbreaks largely among children and their parents who weren't necessarily vaccinated in January and February and we need to identify the (statistical) biases,' Alroy-Preis told Kan.

People arrive to receive a Covid-19 vaccine at a mobile vaccination centre in Tel Aviv, Israel

It was still unclear, Alroy-Preis added, whether the vaccine was simply less effective against the Delta variant and if illness rates among those vaccinated in January and February were higher than for those who were inoculated later.

Horowitz said that separately, the health ministry would plug a Pfizer supply gap for ongoing two-dose inoculations of the general adult population by using Moderna Inc vaccines already in stock.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in broadcast remarks to his cabinet on Sunday that he has agreed with Pfizer to bring forward the next delivery of doses to August 1. The shipment had been widely expected to arrive in September.

There was no immediate response from Pfizer to a request for comment.

Israel hopes earlier deliveries will enable more youngsters to be vaccinated before the start of the school year in September.

Israel hopes earlier deliveries will enable more youngsters to be vaccinated before the start of the school year in September

Under health ministry regulations, Israeli youths can receive Pfizer shots but not yet those produced by Moderna.

Israel has almost exclusively administered Pfizer shots to around 60% of its 9.3 million population. But a batch of 700,000 doses due to expire at the end of July was sent to South Korea, as a recent slowdown in the pace of vaccinations would likely have seen the doses go to waste.

Under the swap deal, Seoul will return the same number of shots, already on order from Pfizer, in September and October.

'We have Moderna vaccines and adults who want to vaccinate can do so from this morning, or maybe tomorrow, with the Moderna vaccines,' Horowitz said.

Israel's Health Ministry said on Sunday that 261 new coronavirus cases were detected on Saturday.

Israel eased its remaining restrictions in early June, relaxing requirements to wear face masks inside and customer caps on cafes, bars and restaurants.

But indoor coverings were reintroduced just 10 days later amid a spike in infections, with 90 per cent of cases blamed on the Indian variant.

The government also postponed the planned reopening of the country to vaccinated tourists over concerns about the spread of the delta variant.

Israel was initially set to reopen its borders to vaccinated visitors, after having largely closed the country during the pandemic. It had already started allowing groups of vaccinated tourists to enter in May.

But after a rise in infections, the government pushed that date to August 1.

Bennett for the first time appointed a coronavirus commissioner to manage arrivals at the main gateway into Israel, Ben Gurion International Airport, which he called 'a huge national vulnerability.'

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked said earlier this month that officials are prepared to close the airport if the trend worsens.

Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that officials are considering bringing back the 'Green Pass' system that differentiates between vaccinated and non-vaccinated citizens in access to certain venues and activities.
A bride and groom were left baffled after their wedding tape was found in a woman's DVD collection 200 miles from their home in a boxset case for The Sopranos.

Pauline - known as Polly - and Ross Ramsay, from Calderwood, near Livingston, wed six years ago and treasured the video recording of their big day.

However, the couple hadn't even noticed their marriage memento was missing.

But out-of-the-blue Polly, 34, got a message on Facebook from Paula Weiller, from York, who found it in the box of the US mob drama.

Polly - who got married to Ross, 35, in Cancun, Mexico in March 2015 - said: 'I had no idea the wedding DVD was missing.

Ross, 35, and Pauline Ramsay, 34, wed in Cancun, Mexico and 2015. They moved from Edinburgh to Calderwood two years ago

They believed their wedding DVD was still in their hands, and were shocked to learn it somehow ended up in someone's boxset of The Sopranos

Paula Weiller first thought the wedding scenes were part of a long introduction to an episode

'Paula messaged me which was a bit of a surprise. When I asked where she was I expected her to respond somewhere in Edinburgh as we moved from there to Calderwood two years ago.

'So I assumed it must've gone missing during the move. I was totally shocked when she said it was found in York.

'She offered to return it by post recorded delivery tomorrow to ensure safe receipt. Of course we are covering the cost.

Weiller initially had a hard time finding Pauline, who goes by Polly, on Facebook

'She had trouble finding me since by name is Polly on Facebook. My real name is Pauline but everyone calls me Polly.

'Goes to show there are good people out there

'Not quite your Sopranos episode.'

Paula bought the DVD in a charity shop in Edinburgh, and only realised what was inside when she got home to York.

Pauline said that during a recent house move, someone took the Sopranos boxset, which mistakenly contained the DVD, to a nearby charity shop.

'We are currently debating whether his parents handed it into a charity or my husband.'

Paula was celebrating her birthday with a trip to Edinburgh last weekend when they spotted the Martins House charity shop.

She was looking for a tweed beret, but ending up finding something that caught her eye even more.

'I was excited when I spotted this The Sopranos DVD boxset that I had been looking for ages,' she said.

Paula Weiller reached out to Pauline and told her she'd unexpectedly found the stranger's wedding DVD tucked into a boxset of the American HBO mob drama

"I was so happy. My husband was like "Are we really going to carry this thing all day?"'

When she finally sat down to binge-watch the 86-episode show on Sunday, she noticed the out-of-place seeming disc.

'When I saw the first DVD written "Our wedding" I thought to myself "Oh cool, this must be like The Godfather, it starts with a wedding."

'So I started watching, but it was really slow, and in Mexico.

"And I saw one guest wearing a kilt. I thought "Wait, this isn't a director's cut or anything."'

That's when she put her sleuthing skills to use.

Paula - who is from Brazil but moved to York two years ago - had messaged her saying: 'Hi Pauline, I know this will sound crazy.

'But last week I bought a The Sopranos box of DVDs at a charity shop.

'And to my surprise, the first DVD was actually your wedding DVD.

'I felt so sad because I put myself in your place and I thought you'd be devastated losing your wedding DVD.

'I know I would.

'So I started looking for you all over social media and I'm glad I found you.'

Unfortunately for Paula, the lost wedding tape debacle has lost her some precious viewing hours.

'I still haven't watched my Sopranos.'
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No10 has been told to prepare for up to 2million coronavirus cases over the next few weeks following the final unlocking on July 19, it was claimed today.

Ministers are preparing to relax all remaining legal restrictions next Monday, with Boris Johnson set to formally unveil 'Freedom Day' at a 5pm press conference today.

But the Prime Minister will caution that the dramatic easing 'comes with a warning', and people must 'expect' to keep wearing masks in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and trains. Government experts have suggested working from home should remain the norm after the shift to trusting the public's 'common sense'.

Despite promising hints in official data that Britain's outbreak may already be slowing, infections are still rising. The UK is now recording 31,500 cases every day on average  up from 24,800 the week before.

Senior ministers including Health Secretary Sajid Javid have already laid the ground for up to 100,000 Britons to get infected every day within a matter of weeks, prompting fury from some experts who fear pressing ahead with July 19 is a reckless gamble.

Public Health England experts have warned hospital admissions could hit 3,000 a day  similar to levels seen in January, as the Delta variant continues to run riot.

The Guardian today reported Whitehall officials have been told to prepare for between 1 and 2million coronavirus cases over the next few weeks, with the third wave still growing in size.

But No10 has repeatedly defended its decision to crack on with Freedom Day, with the goal now being centered around learning to live with the virus and trusting the public to use common sense instead of taking cover when infections surge.

Health minister Edward Argar today pointed to the 'defensive wall' being provided by vaccines. 'If not now, when?' he said of lifting the legal restrictions.

Ministers have reportedly been privy to modelling from SAGE that suggests cases will peak in August. Experts on the panel believe infections will start to tail off naturally because of the potent mix of vaccines, natural immunity and hotter weather.

Health chiefs have dubbed England's post-Freedom Day strategy 'hybrid immunity', a play on the controversial herd immunity tactic that was touted at the beginning of the pandemic.

It would see the older and vulnerable population  most of whom will be fully vaccinated by the time July 19 comes around  enjoy protection through the jab programme while the young get immunity from natural infection.

Boris Johnson is set to unveil plans for lifting remaining Covid restrictions across England today. But Britons are set to still be asked to work from home where possible and wear a face masks in crowded places and on transport. Health minister Edward Argar said guidance on 'things like mask-wearing' was set to continue after July 19.

Boris Johnson will push the button on Freedom Day TODAY but will warn people to be careful Boris Johnson will give the final go-ahead for 'Freedom Day' on July 19 today - but send a stark message that people need to keep being careful amid spiking cases. The Prime Minister will use a Downing Street press conference to confirm the unlocking next Monday, with almost all legal restrictions to be axed in England. But he will caution that the dramatic easing 'comes with a warning', and people must 'expect' to keep wearing masks in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and trains. Government experts have suggested working from home and social distancing should remain the norm after the shift to trusting the public's 'common sense'. There are fears that hospitalisations could hit 3,000 a day soon as the Delta variant continues to run riot. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham today renewed his assault over dropping the legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport. But health minister Edward Argar pointed to the 'defensive wall' being provided by vaccines. 'If not now, when?' he said of lifting the legal restrictions. In a statement ahead of a Covid O meeting this morning to sign off the plans, and his press briefing at 5pm, the PM said that cases will inevitably continue to rise as restrictions are eased. 'Caution is absolutely vital, and we must all take responsibility so we don't undo our progress, ensuring we continue to protect our NHS,' he said. Advertisement

Department of Health statistics show Britain recorded around 2million cases within just eight weeks during the second wave, breaching the 4million barrier in mid-February after weathering the worst of the storm in January.

Daily infections peaked at around 70,000 cases but the true toll was undoubtedly much higher because of the swathes of people who catch the virus but never display any symptoms, meaning they dont get swabbed.

MailOnline analysis of Government statistics show the UK has already spotted 600,000 cases since the third wave first began to spiral in mid-May, following the emergence of the highly-transmissible Indian Delta variant.

Hospital admissions and deaths are both now rising, with 2,700 Covid patients now on wards compared to 1,500 two weeks ago and 26 fatalities from the virus recorded yesterday  up 73 per cent in a week.

But top experts insist vaccines have severely damaged a once-impenetrable link, with the proportion of patients who fall seriously ill being just a fraction of what it was at peak of pandemic.

Just one in 1,000 patients are now expected to die after getting Covid, compared to one in 100 before the discovery of drugs to treat the seriously ill and vaccines.

The updated infection-fatality ratio, estimated by Cambridge University researchers, would be the equivalent of 1,000 deaths for every 1million cases in total  but not all of them will be spotted.

Up to a third of cases are asymptomatic and may never show up in daily testing. Vaccines have also made symptoms of the illness milder, resembling that of a common cold.

Mr Argar today said it was 'possible' that daily Covid case numbers could hit the 100,000 mark but stressed that vaccines are helping to protect people from serious illness and hospital admission.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: 'You've seen the Secretary of State and others talk about between a range of 50,000 to 100,000 is possible.

'If you look at hospital admissions, and forgive me if my figures are a little bit out, the seven-day rolling average of for now, when we're seeing this level of infection rate, is roughly between 350 and 400 a day. Back in January, with an equivalent infection rate, we were seeing 1,800 to 2,000.

Mr Argar added: 'So you can see how that vaccine programme may not have broken it by 100 per cent because the vaccine isn't 100 per cent effective.

'But it has really severely weakened that link and therefore the numbers we are going to see in hospital are going to be much smaller.'

Dr Susan Hopkins, from Public Health England, has warned it was 'possible' that 100,000 daily cases could lead to 3,000 hospital admissions a day soon afterwards.

'But really it will depend on the behaviour that we as individuals and the population overall, do,' she said, adding that January's peak of 4,000 admissions a day was 'three doubling times away from where we are now, and that it was six to eight weeks potentially, unless things change, and unless we keep the transmission rate down'.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi insisted people will still be 'expected' to wear coverings in confined spaces under new guidance being issued this week

Research by Opinium found half of Britons would prefer the unlocking slated to happen in seven days to be delayed

Daily testing could replace self-isolation for people who come into contact with positive cases Daily testing could replace self-isolation for people who come into contact with positive Covid cases, a minister said today as the government scrambles to overhaul the NHS app. Nadhim Zahawi confirmed that the contact tracing app is being reworked amid fears that millions of healthy individuals could be doomed to house arrest as infections rise. But he made clear the government is also seriously considering doing away with self-isolation for those who are willing to take daily lateral flow tests. Statistics expert Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter has called for the rules to be brought 'in proportion', warning that life could be 'massively disrupted' by the current quarantine requirements. The latest data show the app issued more than 350,000 alerts during the last week of June, up 60 per cent on the previous week. People are told to self-isolate even if they test negative for the coronavirus and have already had both vaccines. The problem is expected to get worse, with Health Secretary Sajid Javid warning there could be more than 100,000 new infections every day next month. There had been hopes that the double-jabbed would be exempted from the rule on so-called 'Freedom Day', but that will now not happen until August 16. Pubs, restaurants and shops fear they may have to close because so many staff are being left stuck at home by the warnings, and NHS hospitals in Leeds and Birmingham have even had to cancel routine operations because so many staff are isolating. People pinged by the app are not legally obliged to isolate. Ministers have been forced to appeal for Britons not simply to delete the software, amid anecdotal evidence that is happening. Government sources said the app's 'sensitivity' will be reduced to cut the numbers being asked to isolate unnecessarily. Advertisement

Critics of pushing ahead with Freedom Day say the NHS is in a precarious position, while it tries to focus on tackling the covid-fuelled backlog of patients.

Currently 5.3million patients are on waiting list in England  the most since records began in 2007 and Mr Javid has warned the true figure could reach 13million over the coming months.

Tory MPs have also accused No10 of 'torturing the nation' by watering down certain elements of July 19's unlocking.

Originally, Mr Johnson said it would be irreversible, but the Prime Minister quickly dropped all mention of the word amid rising cases and warnings from top scientists that they just don't know what will happen in the next few months.

And now the stance appears to have shifted on masks, with No10's vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi saying yesterday that Britons would be expected to wear them even though they won't be legally required.

It comes after SAGE advisers last week claimed vaccines, natural immunity, seasonality and behaviour change will drive Britain's outbreak down.

The claim  unveiled in a tranche of documents  came amid fears infections will continue to rise over the coming weeks, with England's progress to the final of Euro 2020 blamed on a ferocious surge in cases.

SAGE advisers  who will today release another trove of modelling documents  admitted it was 'very difficult' to predict when cases will begin falling in the country.

Outbreaks will plateau at different times in different regions, they wrote in one of the scientific papers submitted on June 23.

The full report read: 'At some point in the future, the number of cases in England will plateau and then start to fall as a result of vaccination, natural immunity, seasonality, and behaviour change.

'It's very difficult to determine in advance the precise date at which this will occur.

'It's likely it will happen at different times in different parts of the country, depending on local levels of immunity and behaviours.'

It comes amid reports daily testing could replace self-isolation for people who come into contact with positive Covid cases.

Mr Zahawi confirmed that the contact tracing app is being reworked amid fears that millions of healthy individuals could be doomed to house arrest as infections rise.

But he made clear the government is also seriously considering doing away with self-isolation for those who are willing to take daily lateral flow tests.

Statistics expert Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter has called for the rules to be brought 'in proportion', warning that life could be 'massively disrupted' by the current quarantine requirements.

The latest data show the app issued more than 350,000 alerts during the last week of June, up 60 per cent on the previous week. People are told to self-isolate even if they test negative for the coronavirus and have already had both vaccines.
Former MMA fighter Travis Fulton has killed himself in prison after agreeing to plead guilty to possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor.

The 44-year-old, who was nicknamed 'The Ironman', was found in his cell on Saturday in Linn County Jail in Iowa.

The fighter had been held since February and was indicted by a federal grand jury for felony sexual exploitation charges and the receiving and possessing of child pornography.

Former MMA fighter Travis Fulton killed himself in prison after pleading guilty to a sex act with a 13-year-old girl and possession of child pornography

In one of the cases, he was accused of convincing a 13-year-old girl to meditate with him before stripping her down to her underwear and performing a sex act on her after allegedly putting her in a trance.

A second girl also made allegations against the mixed martial artist. He is also accused of taking photographs of the girls.

Fulton was found unresponsive during a routine cell check at 4am and he was transferred to Mercy Medical Center.

Medics attempted CPR but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The 44-year-old (left), who was nicknamed 'The Ironman', was found in his cell on Saturday in Linn County Jail in Iowa

Just a day before his death, 'The Ironman' had agreed to plead guilty to two of the four charges relating to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.

His defense team had challenged a search warrant which led to the seizure of his electronic devices where investigators found the pornographic images.

Judges ruled in favor of the government and upheld the searches in a verdict on Thursday.

On Friday, Fulton filed a notice saying he intended to plead guilty to all charges and a plea hearing had been scheduled for July 23.

The fighter was also charged with repeatedly punching a woman in the head and threatening to kill her in September 2019 in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Fulton (pictured in red shorts), who was also a professional boxer, fought in mixed martial arts since 1996 and was involved in a record 320 fights including two UFC bouts

Fulton, who was also a professional boxer, fought in mixed martial arts since 1996 and was involved in a record 320 fights, including two UFC bouts.

When questioned over the sex act with a 13-year-old, he initially admitted the meditation but denied any touching took place.

He told investigators he had previously been accused of rape 'because people know who he is', court records show.

The death is under investigation and an autopsy will be performed.
Eduardo Morales, 34, faces charges of aggravated battery and assault for allegedly opening fire and plowing into a Georgia bar after being asked to leave

A man fired his gun and drove his pickup truck through a Georgia bar during a weekend concert, leaving several patrons injuries, after he was asked to leave the venue because he was too drunk, according to the authorities.

Eduardo Morales, 34, was identified as the driver of the black Dodge Ram 2500 who police say plowed through 278 South Bar & Grill in the Atlanta suburb of Hiram on Saturday night.

Images of the incident's aftermath show a black truck with what appears to be bullet holes in the front windshield.

The owner of the venue confirmed that a man drove the vehicle through the entrance, WSB-TV reported.

Hiram police said Morales had been asked to leave the bar at 11.30pm because he was intoxicated.

He left the restaurant but returned a short time later in his black Dodge Ram 2500 and began firing a weapon into the club through the window of his truck.

'When his weapon was empty, Morales then drove the vehicle into the bar through the front doors striking numerous patrons,' police said in a press release.

The driver plowed his Dodge Ram 2500 truck into a restaurant while firing a gun at customers in the horror incident in Hiram, Georgia, on Saturday night

One person was grazed by a bullet and another person was struck twice by the vehicle, and treated and released for injuries.

The truck stopped when it hit the bar. According to police, Morales then attempted to back out of the establishment but got stuck.

Morales allegedly tried to reload his gun, but was pulled from the truck and detained by patrons of the bar until the arrival of law enforcement.

Bar patron Maurico 'Moe' Puerto recounted to Fox 5 how he was able to disarm the gunman.

'My instinct was to run towards the truck and I dove into the driver's side window,' Puerto said. 'I noticed he had a pistol and he was reloading.'

Puerto noted that Morales fought back, but he was able to wrestle the gun away from the suspect to prevent him from reloading it.

'We still feel the pains but the pain is a reminder that we are still alive, I guess,' Puerto added.

Several people were hurt in the shocking incident, including a security guard, but all of those hurt are expected to survive. One customer had her legs crushed under the truck while another was hit by a fallen beam and sustained a head injury, customers told Channel 2 Action News.

The owner said several customers helped to remove the gun from the suspect's hands, detaining him until the police arrived. One man who helped to do this had broken legs, according to reports.

Morales suffered minor injuries while being detained by the patrons of the bar. He was treated at Paulding Wellstar Hospital before being booking into the Paulding County Jail.

The suspect faces charges of aggravated battery and assault, and several additional counts are pending.

The incident occurred during a concert (pictured), when the suspect was asked to leave, before he arrived 20 minutes later firing a gun

Sharing a statement on their Facebook page, a spokesperson for 278 South Bar & Grill said: 'Our hearts are broken over the events of last night. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

'We've always put our customer's safety first and foremost and we are devastated.

'We like to believe most people are good... and it showed last night. Many are heroes for their bravery and possibly stopping a situation that could have escalated even further. We will forever be grateful for these heroes.

Images of the incident show a black truck with what appears to be bullet holes damaging the front windscreen

He hit multiple customers when he drove the truck into the bar through its front doors

'Thank you all for the calls, texts and support. Please check our page for updates on reopening as we do not have a timeline currently. Thank you again, we love you all.'

Ydon Gerneus was inside the bar at the time of the incident and recalled how Morales was kicked out by a bouncer after he was denied service and smashed two bottles together.

Gerneus said that the suspect returned after 20 minutes when they heard two gunshots, adding: 'Me and my partner fell to the floor. All you hear is glass breaking and people screaming and the car comes in through the front door.'

Police said some customers ran from the scene before they arrived and are encouraging those to get in touch with investigators on 770-943-3807.

Morales allegedly tried to back out of the restaurant, but the truck had become stuck, so he tried to reload the gun instead
An Austrian woman was given a nasty surprise after a snake appeared on her toilet, just days after a man was bitten in the 'genital area' by a reptile lurking in his loo.

Eva Kastner, 68, was left gobsmacked after going into her bathroom in her Vienna apartment only to find a 3ft 3ins long python slithering on her toilet seat on Friday.

Ms Kastner took a photo of the reptilian intruder and sent it to the police, who called the wildlife service to remove the lurking snake.

Expert workers retrieved the python from Ms Kastner's bathroom and took it to an animal shelter, before it was later transferred to the Forchtenstein Reptiles Zoo.

Police received a call from an apartment in the capital Vienna after Eva Kastner, 68, spotted a 3ft 3ins long python slithering on her toilet seat (pictured) on Friday

It remains unclear where the large reptile had come from and who it belonged to.

The bizarre incident came just four days after a man, from the southern city of Graz, got the fright of his life when a snake bit him in the 'genital area' on July 5.

Walter Erhard, 65, had popped to the toilet at around 6am in the morning when he felt a 'pinch' in his genital area as he sat down to relieve himself.

He was stunned to find a 5ft long albino reticulated python, one of the three heaviest snakes, staring back at him from his toilet bowl.

The man called officers, who arrived alongside a local reptile expert, who came to remove the snake from its hiding spot.

Meanwhile, the man was taken to hospital so he could be treated for 'minor injuries'.

A shocked Ms Kastner (pictured) took a photo of the reptilian intruder and sent it to the police, who called the wildlife service to remove the snake

Expert workers retrieved the lurking python (pictured) from Ms Kastner's bathroom and took it to an animal shelter, before it was later transferred to the Forchtenstein Reptiles Zoo

Medics said that, fortunately, pythons are not venomous but there was a risk the bite could become infected from bacteria in the toilet.

Expert Werner Stangl said the python was also uninjured, and after being cleaned was returned to its 24-year-old owner - the victim's neighbour.

Police said the man keeps a total of 11 non-venomous snakes and a gecko in his apartment in specially-designed cages and drawers.

The reptile-owner was unaware the python had escaped until police brought it back, and said it is unclear how the snake managed it.

Its exact route into the neighbour's apartment is remains unclear, but reptile expert Werner Stangl said it 'presumably entered the toilet through the sewage system'.

Mr Stangl told local newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten that, in 40 years of dealing with reptiles, he had not seen anything like Monday's incident.

Police said the snake owner faces charges for negligent bodily harm.

Animal services were also alerted to the presence of a large number of potentially dangerous snakes at his address.

It came four days after a man, from the city of Graz, got the fright of his life when a snake bit him in the 'genital area' on July 5. Pictured: Snake expert Werner Stangl removing the python

Mr Stangl told local newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten that, in 40 years of dealing with reptiles, he had not seen anything like Monday's incident

The week before, two other incidents involving snakes made the headlines in Austria.

In one incident, a 24-year-old man was killed by his pet horned viper, and in another, police discovered 10 snakes and two tarantulas being kept an apartment.

In the second incident, police were checking that a released prisoner was complying with his parole requirements when they came across the animals his apartment in the state of Carinthia.

One of the reptiles was an Australian taipan - one of the deadliest known snakes in the world.

Helga Happ of the Happ Reptile Zoo in the city of Klagenfurt said the reason for the high number of snake-related incidents in Austria is the growing popularity of keeping exotic animals as pets.
British universities' reputation as areas for free thought and speech is under threat from cancel culture, Gavin Williamson claimed today.

The Education Secretary praised those who 'defy the intolerant minority' as a new law designed to protect free speech on campuses makes its way through Parliament.

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill aims to end 'no-platforming' on campuses by giving a regulator the power to issue fines.

It gives the Office for Students a mandate to promote the importance of 'freedom of speech within the law' and 'academic freedom for academic staff' at universities.

Writing in the Telegraph today, Mr Williamson said: 'Our universities have a long and golden reputation for protecting free speech. But while reputations are hard won, they can be far more easily lost.'

The Education Secretary praised those who 'defy the intolerant minority' as a new law designed to protect free speech on campuses makes its way through Parliament.

Universities have been dogged in the past few years by campaigns to block appearances from figures seen as controversial by some students and staff.

Writing in the Telegraph today, Mr Williamson said: ''Imagine a world in which (Charles) Darwin had been prevented from putting forward his ideas on evolution because they caused offence - for they were considered deeply offensive by many at the time'

'Imagine a world in which (Charles) Darwin had been prevented from putting forward his ideas on evolution because they caused offence - for they were considered deeply offensive by many at the time.

'Imagine a world in which Gladstone, Newton and Hume are ''cancelled'', such that students can no longer learn of their great achievements and inspirational ideas.

'When students from all over the world flock to our universities, they do so on the expectation that they will be immersed in a broad range of opinions. They do not expect to be prevented from hearing those views or even silenced before making them heard.'

The bill, which will get its second reading today, will aim to end the so-called 'no platforming' of speakers and academics on campuses.

The OfS will get the power to fine institutions and student unions for breaching new duties designed to foster 'a culture of open and robust intellectual debate'.

People who believe their freedom of speech has been impinged will also get the power to go to court to seek financial compensation.

The plan prompted a storm of protest from unions when it was unveiled in May, with the UCU accusing the Government of 'embarking on a pseudo freedom of speech crusade on campuses'.

Former Women's Hour host Jenni Murray pulled out of an Oxford University talk after student leaders claimed she made 'transphobic comments' in a 2017 newspaper article in which she said: 'Be trans, be proud  but don't call yourself a 'real woman''.

Universities have been dogged in the past few years by campaigns to block appearances from figures seen as controversial by some students and staff, including Germaine Greer (left) and Amber Rudd (right)

But campaign group, the Free Speech Union, welcomed the plan.

Universities have been dogged in the past few years by campaigns to block appearances from figures seen as controversial by some students and staff.

One of the main groups leading the charge to cancel is the transgender lobby. It has targeted people including celebrated feminist Germaine Greer, Former Women's Hour host Jenni Murray and several academics who champion women's rights.

Mr Williamson wrote: 'Staff and students should be free to discuss, debate and debunk the views of others without fear of censure and I am deeply saddened that this is increasingly not the case.

'Time and time again we hear of instances where policies and practices have been adopted which have a chilling effect on free speech and academic freedom, such as systems that allow lecturers or students to be anonymously reported for unwittingly causing offence.

'We read of situations in which students or staff have been silenced or threatened with a loss of privileges or even dismissal for airing views or opinions that others find distasteful or provocative.'
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As many as one in 60 people tested positive for coronavirus last week in England's current hotspot, official data shows.

Department of Health figures show Harton East  a neighbourhood in South Tyneside  had an infection rate of 1,621 cases for every 100,000 residents in the week ending July 7.

Two other districts within the town  Cleadon Park and Hebburn West  also saw more than 1.5 per cent of the population test positive in the same time-frame.

All but one of the England's 25 worst-hit areas are currently in the North East, MailOnline analysis shows. Some districts are now recording more cases than at any point in the pandemic.

Scientists are baffled as to what is behind the rapid spread, with some experts speculating a new variant may be behind the uptick in cases. Others claim partying students could be to blame, with the highly-transmissible Delta variant already dominant across the region.

Tom Hall, director of public health at South Tyneside Council, told MailOnline that the Delta strain is driving the uptick in cases, which are mainly among unvaccinated people. He said the council will continue to advise people in the region to get vaccinated and keep following Covid restrictions beyond July 19.

It comes as No10 has been told to brace for up to 2million cases over the coming weeks.

Ministers are preparing to relax all remaining legal restrictions next Monday, with Boris Johnson set to formally unveil 'Freedom Day' at a 5pm press conference today.

The North East continues to record the highest number of Covid cases, after overtaking the North West as the country's virus hotspot last week (shown in top right purple section of map). The worst hit parts of England are in South Tyneside, where as many as one in 60 people are testing positive for the virus in Harton East and Cleadon Park. In contrast, just one in 416 people in London tested positive for the virus

London has comparatively low case rates compared to other major cities, with just 240 people per 100,000 testing positive for the virus in the week leading up to July 6. This is much lower than the rates in Newcastle (813), Manchester (518) and Birmingham (353)

But with infections continuing to rise across the country, concerns have been raised about going ahead with the final unlocking.

A group of 120 doctors last week penned a letter in top medical journal the Lancet saying easing restrictions was a reckless gamble.

Figures show the number of daily cases is rising by 30 per cent every seven days, amid the rapid spread of the highly-infectious Indian variant.

But there are signs the speed of growth is slowing down, with experts saying the end of Euro 2020 could lead to a drop in cases.

SAGE advisers have even claimed cases will fade naturally from next month because of growing immunity among the population.

After initially staying flat, hospital admissions and deaths are now rising quickly. One Public Health England expert warned hospitalisations could hit 3,000 a day soon.

But the vaccines have severely damaged a once-impenetrable link, with the proportion of patients who become seriously ill being just a fraction of what it was at the peak of the pandemic.

Freedom Day was originally postponed by four weeks from the original date on June 21 to give the NHS an month to vaccine millions more people amid the rapid spread of the Indian variant.

The mutant strain is now dominant in every region of England and is behind the rapid spike in cases across the North East.

Cases began rising exponentially in the region earlier this month and now appear to be doubling every 10 days, with an extra 3,669 people testing positive on July 6.

Around 706.5 cases per 100,000 residents tested positive on any given day in the North East last week  double the UK average.

Infection rates are even higher in the South Tyneside, with another 328 people testing positive yesterday, meaning cases are higher there now than at any other point in the pandemic so far.

Around 1,203 people per 100,000 tested positive for the virus in the borough, four times higher than the average across England.

In England, 11 of the 20 areas with the highest infection rates are in South Tyneside.

But promisingly, infection rates are highest among those aged 15 to 24, who are less likely to become seriously unwell from the virus.

This suggests that the high rate of infections may not lead to a similarly high spike in hospitalisations and deaths  unless the virus seeds in to older age groups.

By the end of May, the Indian mutation caused 77.7 per cent of cases across England, while the once-dominant Kent strain was responsible for just 21.8 per cent

The Indian 'Delta' variant is now dominant in more than 300 areas of England, MailOnline's analysis of testing data revealed today. Figures show the ultra-transmissible strain had overtaken the formerly dominant Kent variant in 303 local authorities by June 12  just two months after it was seeded in the country

The Indian variant is now responsible for almost all Covid cases in the country, with the most recent estimates from the Sanger Institute stating that 99.3 per cent of all cases in the two weeks up to July 3 were caused by the more infectious mutation

Ministers 'are told to brace for up to 2MILLION Covid cases over the next few weeks' after 'Freedom Day' on July 19 No10 has been told to prepare for up to 2million coronavirus cases over the next few weeks following the final unlocking on July 19, it was claimed today. Ministers are preparing to relax all remaining legal restrictions next Monday, with Boris Johnson set to formally unveil 'Freedom Day' at a 5pm press conference today. But the Prime Minister will caution that the dramatic easing 'comes with a warning', and people must 'expect' to keep wearing masks in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and trains. Government experts have suggested working from home should remain the norm after the shift to trusting the public's 'common sense'. Despite promising hints in official data that Britain's outbreak may already be slowing, infections are still rising. The UK is now recording 31,500 cases every day on average  up from 24,800 the week before. Senior ministers including Health Secretary Sajid Javid have already laid the ground for up to 100,000 Britons to get infected every day within a matter of weeks, prompting fury from some experts who fear pressing ahead with July 19 is a reckless gamble. Public Health England experts have warned hospital admissions could hit 3,000 a day  similar to levels seen in January, as the Delta variant continues to run riot. The Guardian today reported Whitehall officials have been told to prepare for between 1 and 2million coronavirus cases over the next few weeks, with the third wave still growing in size. But No10 has repeatedly defended its decision to crack on with Freedom Day, with the goal now being centered around learning to live with the virus and trusting the public to use common sense instead of taking cover when infections surge. Health minister Edward Argar today pointed to the 'defensive wall' being provided by vaccines. 'If not now, when?' he said of lifting the legal restrictions. Ministers have reportedly been privy to modelling from SAGE that suggests cases will peak in August. Experts on the panel believe infections will start to tail off naturally because of the potent mix of vaccines, natural immunity and hotter weather. Health chiefs have dubbed England's post-Freedom Day strategy 'hybrid immunity', a play on the controversial herd immunity tactic that was touted at the beginning of the pandemic. It would see the older and vulnerable population  most of whom will be fully vaccinated by the time July 19 comes around  enjoy protection through the jab programme while the young get immunity from natural infection. Advertisement

Mr Hall said: 'We are seeing a rapid rise in the number of infections across South Tyneside, and across the region, in predominantly unvaccinated people, driven by the more transmissible Delta variant. Hospital admissions are rising, although at a much slower rate than during earlier phases of the pandemic.

'If we are to drive down this worrying trend, then it is vital that everyone continues to play their part. The Covid vaccines have been shown to be highly effective, so we are doing all we can to encourage people to get both doses. By getting vaccinated, people are doing right by themselves and their communities.

'We're continuing to work with communities, schools and businesses to ensure they're prepared and doing everything they can to help protect the most vulnerable.

'We are also encouraging people to continue to follow the public health guidance around hands, face, space and fresh air  even beyond 19th July. Each and every one us needs to take personal responsibility to follow the guidance and avoid making it easy for the virus to spread.'

Outside of South Tyneside, around one in 75 people in Wombwell North in Barnsley, Durham and South Jesmond and Sandyford in Newcastle upon Tyne tested positive last week.

In parts of Redcar and Cleveland, North East Lincolnshire and Gateshead, at least one in 80 people had Covid last week.

Not everyone is getting tested, so the infection rates are expected to be even higher than the number recorded through positive tests.

But it is a mixed picture across the country, with some parts of Torridge, East Suffolk and London recording just 30 cases per 100,000 people.

Professor Martin McKee, an expert in public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told MailOnline: 'It has been clear for some weeks that something is happening in the North East but we do not fully understand it.

'Some have speculated about the possibility of a new variant but we do not have evidence for that yet.

'We also know that Covid-19 thrives in more deprived areas, which characterises many parts of the North East.

'It is clearly important to understand what is happening as the same could happen elsewhere soon. Rates of infection in England could rise very high.

'They are increasing at about 30 per cent per week at present, so you just need to project that forward. Worryingly, hospitalisations are increasing faster.

'Clearly, removing restrictions will lead to faster increases but, on the other hand, once schools close transmission in those settings should cease.'

Professor James Naismith, a senior research fellow in structural biology at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline infection rates could get as high as one in 50 across England if the Government's own estimates  that there could be 100,000 new infections per day by August  are correct.

He said: 'What matters in the North East is how people respond. Typically, as the disease spreads people change behaviours, even if government does not change rules.

'The weather the summer helps by keeping us outdoors and vaccination of younger people, as the less unvaccinated people the slower it spreads.'
Ex-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has branded Scott Morrison's vaccine rollout, which will see all Australians offered the jab by Christmas, an 'epic fail' and says the PM's Pfizer row with Kevin Rudd is 'typically graceless'.

Mr Turnbull unloaded on his successor after a day of claim and counter-claim over who was responsible for Pfizer fast-tracking some of Australia's vaccine supply ahead of schedule.

The Prime Minister announced on Friday that Pfizer had agreed to bring forward shipments of some of the 40 million ordered doses of their vaccine, meaning more Australians than ever will be protected against Covid.

But on Sunday night, an ABC story claimed Mr Rudd had played a key role in smoothing the way for the revised deal to be done by the government - something already denied by bosses at Pfizer.

Mr Turnbull also said he knew who the mystery businessman was who brokered the meeting between Mr Rudd and Pfizer - but refused to reveal his identity.

He jokingly dismissed suggestions it was newspaper magnate, Rupert Murdoch, given their fractured relationship.

He insisted: 'No, no. I'm not going to breach that confidence. It doesn't matter. The fact is that it is a massive fail.'

After claims of Mr Rudd's importance in the negotiations were also dismissed by the government on Monday, Mr Turnbull still saw fit to take a jab at the government over the handling of the rollout.

'This is an epic fail, the biggest failure of public administration in my recollection,' he said. 'The vaccines were able to be got, because lots of other countries got them.

'What we lacked was leadership that went for it.

'If you are the Prime Minister of Australia - and I was - you'd know that anyone in the world will take your call. Why would you not make that call?

'They didn't get enough. What I don't understand is why this was not a top priority of the Health Minister and Prime Minister. I don't get it. I really don't.'

Ex-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) has branded Scott Morrison's vaccine rollout an 'epic fail' and says the PM's Pfizer row with Kevin Rudd is 'typically graceless'

The report on Sunday night said a group of Australian businessmen had become increasingly concerned by Federal Government's approach to the vaccine rollout.

They were also said to be worried not just by the lack of urgency but the unwillingness of the PM to tackle the problem head-on with the global CEO of Pfizer.

Pfizer itself was said to have been shocked by the Coalition's reportedly 'rude, dismissive and penny pinching' negotiations with Pfizer a year ago when deals started being done for vaccine supplies.

The lack of follow up contact between the PM and Pfizer's global CEO Albert Bourla - unlike Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu who is said to have wooed companies for days to secure extra shipments - was said to have deepened the rift.

Kevin Rudd (pictured) was reported to have played a key role in smoothing the way for a revised deal to be done between Pfizer and the Australian government - that is now being denied

A mystery Australian businessman is then said to have called in Kevin Rudd to try to smooth things over with Pfizer to get the vaccine program back on track again.

He held a Zoom call with Mr Bourla on June 30 after advising the PM of his plans, and after praising the company's achievements, he asked if Pfizer would consider fast-tracking the supply roll out of the ordered 40 million doses.

After the meeting Mr Rudd sent the PM a letter summarising the call, including a request to look at bringing forward vaccine supplies.

After the meeting with Pfizer's global CEO Albert Bourla, Kevin Rudd sent the PM a letter (pictured) summarising the call, including a request to look at bringing forward vaccine supplies. A few days later, a revised delivery schedule was revealed by the PM on Friday. Two days later the claims about Mr Rudd's involvement also emerged.

Defence minister Peter Dutton (pictured above right with PM Scott Morrison) suggested Mr Rudd was inserting himself into the public debate because he was "bored to death in retirement'.

A few days later, a revised delivery schedule was revealed by the PM on Friday. Two days later the claims about Mr Rudd's involvement also emerged.

On Monday though, the government tried to downplay Mr Rudd's involvement and said the deal was already underway before he got involved.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton told 4BC radio: 'I suspect it wouldn't take our greatest detective within the Queensland Police Service to identify who leaked that self-serving letter.

'Kevin claims credit for many things, it used to drive his Labor colleagues crazy.'

The defence minister suggested Mr Rudd was inserting himself into the public debate because he was 'bored to death in retirement'.

Health minister Gregg Hunt also tried to ridicule Mr Rudd's involvement, claiming they had just been waiting for the claims to emerge and admitting he 'chuckled' when he heard the story.

Health minister Gregg Hunt (pictured) also tried to ridicule Mr Rudd's involvement, claiming they had just been waiting for the claims to emerge and admitting he 'chuckled' when he heard the story.

He was apparently supported by a statement from Pfizer later in the day which stressed that no third parties had been involved in any contractual arrangements for the vaccine.

Mr Rudd then released his own statement insisting he had never claimed to be involved in contract details and had just been making a plea to the company as an Australian individual.

Mr Rudd's statement added: 'Mr Rudd would definitely not seek to associate himself with the Australian governments comprehensively botched vaccine procurement program.'

PM Scott Morrison (pictured) announced on Friday that Pfizer had agreed to bring forward shipments of some of the 40 million ordered doses of their vaccine.

But on Ten's The Project, former PM Turnbull ripped into the government for their comments and their approach to the Pfizer deal.

'That's typically graceless,' he said on the show. 'Rudd's never claimed to have got the supply accelerated.

'I was glad to see Kevin had had that conversation. Frankly, if I could have helped, I would have done the same.

'I think any Australian with any interest in looking after Australia would have done so.

'The real issue is not if Kevin Rudd's call had a big effect or little impact, the real issue is why don't we have enough vaccines?

Malcolm Turnbull rejected the government's claims that Australia already had a deal 'stitched up' before Mr Rudd's Zoom diplomacy. Seen here is PM Scott Morrison at a vaccine lab in Melbourne in November

'The thing to be drawn out of this is the fact that neither Morrison nor Hunt ever spoke to the head of Pfizer.

'Israel is one of the most vaccinated countries in the world. Why is that? Their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent 50 hours chasing the CEOs and chairmen of the big vaccine makers.

'He made it his mission to secure as many vaccines for his country as he could. Now, why hasn't our government done the same?'

Mr Turnbull rejected the government's claims that Australia already had a deal 'stitched up' before Mr Rudd's Zoom diplomacy.

Malcolm Turnbull rejected the government's claims that Australia already had a deal 'stitched up' before Kevin Rudd's Zoom diplomacy

'They had the deal stitched up to get not enough vaccines,' said Mr Turnbull. 'They had the deal stitched up so well in Sydney, we're locked up.

'I mean, saying you're happy to talk to the branch officer, and get ten million vaccines? How about going to the top? Why would you not do that, go to the top?

'If you're happy to make 55 calls, apparently, to get Mathias Cormann on the OECD secretariat, why would you not make a few calls to make sure Australians are vaccinated?

'I've been in that chair. I know what it's like to be Prime Minister of Australia. I know your first duty is to keep Australians safe.

'Why was the ball dropped in the way it was? It honestly beggars belief.'
Getting a flu vaccine slashes the risk of falling severely ill with Covid, a study has suggested.

An analysis of nearly 75,000 coronavirus patients found those who received an annual influenza jab were 60 per cent less likely to end up in A&E compared to people not vaccinated against flu.

People given the flu shot between two weeks and six months before catching Covid also appear to be protected against nasty complications linked to the virus.

Those who didn't have the jab were up to 60 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke, sepsis or blood clots compared to vaccinated patients.

The study authors say their findings suggest the flu shot could provide increased protection to people in countries where Covid vaccine supplies are limited.

However, the analysis  which included patient data from the US and UK  did not find having a flu vaccine reduced patients chance of dying from Covid.

The researchers, from the University of Miami, said it was not clear why having a flu jab offers some protection from Covid.

But they pointed to previous research which showed vaccines can boost the bodys innate immune system, improving its overall defences against disease.

The study comes as the UK government considers offering Covid vaccine boosters alongside a winter flu vaccine programme from September onwards and making flu vaccination a condition of deployment for NHS staff.

No10 has already made Covid jabs mandatory in care homes to protect elderly and frail residents who are most at risk of getting severely ill with the virus.

Getting a flu vaccine slashes the risk of falling severely ill with Covid. Researchers believe the jab boosts the bodys innate immune system, improving its overall defences against disease (stock image)

The Miami researchers analysed medical records of 74,754 Covid patients, splitting them into two groups of 37,377.

These groups were closely mirrored to each other to account for factors that could affect their risk of severe Covid symptoms, such as age, gender, ethnicity, smoking status.

They also looked at health problems such as diabetes, obesity and lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties to ensure these did not influence the study findings.

Fifteen adverse events, such as sepsis, strokes, deep vein thrombosis, were spotted in the group who tested positive for Covid.

NO10 GEARS UP FOR AUTUMN COVID AND FLU VACCINE PROGRAMME Number 10 plans for a potential September Covid vaccine booster program would see a third dose of the vaccine offered alongside a flu jab to the following priority group, known as Stage 1: - All those 16 years and over who have a condition affecting their immune system and/or are considered clinically extremely vulnerable - People who live in a residential care home for older adults - All adults aged 70 years and older - All frontline health and social care workers This group would then be followed by a group known as Stage 2 which includes: - All adults aged 50 years and older - All those aged between 16 and 49 years of age who are in an influenza or COVID-19 risk group - Adults who are a household contact of an immunosuppressed individual This potential rollout, created by the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation at the request of the UK government, is not finalised and could be subject to changes in the coming months as more scientific data becomes available. This includes data from clinical trials on immune responses following a third Covid vaccination. Advertisement

They found the Covid patients who had been jabbed against flu were 58 per cent less likely to have a stroke, 45 per cent less likely to get sepsis, and 40 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis.

Unvaccinated patients were also 58 per cent more likely to be sent to an emergency department for treatment and 20 per cent more likely to be admitted to an intensive-care-unit.

It's unclear whether any of the participants had also been vaccinated against Covid, which would have significantly boosted their outcomes.

While stating more research needs to be done University of Miami Miller School of Medicine professor of plastic surgery and senior author in the study Devinder Singh said the results suggest that more easily obtainable flu vaccines could offer countries struggling to secure Covid vaccines a form of protection.

Only a small fraction of the world has been fully vaccinated against Covid to date and, with all the devastation that has occurred due to the pandemic, the global community still needs to find solutions to reduce morbidity and mortality, he said.

Susan Taghioff, another author on the study, added that even though flu vaccines may offer some protection from Covid they were no substitute for the protection offered by an actual Covid vaccine.

The influenza vaccine is by no means a replacement for the Covid vaccine and we advocate for everyone to receive their Covid vaccine if able to, she said.

The UK Government is mulling plans for a booster programme that could millions of vulnerable people and essential workers offered a third COVID-19 vaccine ahead of this winter,

Scientists on the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government on vaccine policy, have published interim guidance on what a potential Covid booster programme could look like.

The proposal has come under fire from some scientists who have urged the UK government to instead start shipping Covid vaccines to poorer countries rather than rollout a third jab at home.

Brits shouldn't get their second Covid vaccines after just four weeks, SAGE expert warns Britons should not get their second Covid vaccine after just four weeks, one of the Government's top advisers claimed today. Ministers are keen to halve the gap between doses  which currently stands at eight weeks  amid surging cases. But Professor Adam Finn, of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)  which advises No10 on the roll-out, is against the move. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think we would need to be pretty careful about trying to change the approach right now in the middle of this third wave.' Professor Finn warned giving second doses after just four weeks would likely offer people less protection against the disease in the future. Studies have shown jabs made by AstraZeneca and Pfizer actually perform slightly better when spaced out for longer than a month. This is because the longer gap leads to a better priming of the immune system to fight off the virus. On the other hand, Professor Finn accepted that halving the gap to four weeks may 'pay off' if Britain's third wave keeps spiralling. Advertisement

One of these is Sir Andrew Pollard, who was one of leading researchers being the Oxford University jab, urged Number 10 to shelve the plans and instead focus on helping other nations vaccinate their populations.

Less than 1 per cent of global vaccine supplies have gone to poorer nations so far and Sir Pollard has argued that there is not yet enough evidence to show a Covid booster program is necessary.

The JCVI advice warns that the 2021 to 2022 winter will be the first that both Covid and flu will be circulating together which could add to the winter pressures already faced annually by the NHS.

In the UK free flu vaccines are offered to clinical vulnerable people such as those with respiratory conditions or diabetes, those aged 65 years and over, and NHS workers and carers who could transmit the virus to the vulnerable.

Last year the government also offered free flu jabs to all adults over the age of 50 as part of efforts to reduce pressure on the NHS during the Covid pandemic.

However government data shows that less than half of patients aged between 50 and 65 years in England took up the offer of a vaccine, with only 45.2 per cent receiving the flu jab.

This compares to an 80.9 per cent vaccination rate for people aged over 65.

Several studies throughout the pandemic have shown that having natural immunity against the flu offers crossover protection against Covid.

Two studies one from Italy and one from Brazil which between them examined than 100,000 patients  found that routine flu vaccination cut Covid-19 hospital admissions and the need for intensive care among those infected.

The researchers behind the findings, at Milan University in Italy and Sao Paulo University in Brazil respectively, said the evidence was so compelling that all governments should pursue flu vaccine campaigns as one of the best ways to protect populations against Covid.

The Italian study showed that in areas where fewer than 30 per cent of eligible patients were immunised against flu, the mortality rate from Covid was around 150 for every 100,000 of the population.

But in regions where uptake hit 70 per cent deaths totalled no more than ten per 100,000 population.

The Brazil study tracked more than 90,000 Covid patients and found mortality rates were up to 35 per cent lower among those who received a flu jab compared to those who were unvaccinated.
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Seven people have been killed amid 'war-like' riots and looting in South Africa following the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

Demonstrations broke out Friday after Zuma was taken to prison to start a 15-month term for failing to cooperate with a corruption probe, and quickly turned violent.

Fighting has been centered on Zuma's home state of KwaZulu-Natal - where a shopping centre was burned and looted on Monday - but have also spread into neighbouring Guateng state and its largest city, Johannesburg.

Suhail Essa, a doctor in the city, described scenes at the weekend as 'a glimpse into hell' as his clinic was flooded with patients including a six-month-old girl who was shot in the head by a rubber bullet.

The military has now been called in to help restore order amid fears the violence could rapidly escalate.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa's current president who has been accused of carrying out a witch-hunt against Zuma with the investigation, is also due to address the nation tonight as violence spreads.

Police and forensic experts inspect the body of a man shot dead in Katlehong, South Africa, amid rising violence over the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma

Crowds look at the body of a man as it lies underneath a blanket - one of seven people killed over the weekend amid spiralling violence in the country

A police officer carrying a shotgun aims it at looters ransacking a mall near Johannesburg on Monday morning, as violence which began at the weekend continued into this week

South African police officers aim shotguns at rioters and looters outside the Lotsoho Mall in Katlehong township, east of Johannesburg, after violence on Monday morning

A South African police officer fires rubber bullets at a crowd of demonstrators near Johannesburg on Monday as the country descends into violence

Police officers detain a person during a protest, as violence following the jailing of former South African President Jacob Zuma spread to the country's main economic hub in Johannesburg, South Africa

Looters flee police with stolen goods after ransacking a mall in Katlehong, near Johannesburg, amid unrest sparked by the jailing of ex-president Zuma

Burned-out buses and trucks are seen on a road close to Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal state where the worst of the violence has been located

The remains of a burned-out car are seen in front of a sign left by supporters of Jacob Zuma in Johannesburg

Dr Essa said the girl was being carried by her mother when she got caught up in the violence, before being stuck by the bullet. He did not say whether she survived.

He told News24 of 'war-like' conditions inside his clinic, saying: 'We were listening to gunshots and screams, and then people were running in for help.'

Among other injuries he treated was a person shot in the eye by a rubber bullet, and multiple foreigners who were stabbed in what he called 'xenophobic' attacks.

The situation then descended further into chaos as people began fighting with doctors inside the clinic, before a mob turned up and tried to storm inside.

'It was a nightmare. There was no chance for us to keep up with the injured patients,' he added. 'We were in war mode, dealing with the sickest and helping those who could be saved.'

Meanwhile another victim was revealed to be a 15-year-old boy who died after being shot in the chest, also by a rubber bullet which embedded itself and caused him to bleed to death.

A 14-year-old girl who claimed to have witnessed the shooting but did not give her name told The Witness: 'He was lying on the ground and I could see the round bullet inside his chest.

'I tried to take it out but I couldnt because he was bleeding a lot. Another girl had a bottle of water and we tried making him drink but he wasnt responding.'

The violence was sparked by a judicial investigation into Zuma, a veteran of South Africa's fight against apartheid and white minority rule, over his relationship with Indian-born businessmen and brothers known as 'the Guptas'.

He is accused of allowing Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta to plunder state resources and peddle influence over government policy.

The 79-year-old has refused to cooperate, describing the investigation as a witch-hunt by his successor Cyril Ramaphosa, and last week defied a court ruling to appear before the inquiry and give evidence.

A judge subsequently jailed him for 15 months for contempt of court, and he was taken to prison on Thursday last week after surrendering to police.

His jailing sparked a wave of violent protest that began Friday and has continued ever since, centered around his home state of KwaZulu-Natal.

A South African police officer inspects the damage to shops inside the Lotsoho Mall caused by rioters and looters

A distraught shop owner is pictured emerging from the remains of his outlet after it was ransacked by looters on Monday

Stick-wielding protesters march through the streets of Johannesbrug amid violence following the jailing of ex-South African President Jacob Zuma last week

A protester gestures as he is confronted by South African police in a suburb of Johannesburg during violence at the weekend

A shopping centre in the city of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, smoulders on Monday morning as looters carry away goods amid violent protests over the jailing of Jacob Zuma

Brazen looters push shopping carts full of stolen goods along the street outside Brookside mall in the city of Pietermaritzburg amid the unrest

Jacob Zuma is embroiled in a corruption investigation and court case over his time as president, but remains popular among poorer South Africans who have been demonstrating in support of him

Protesters have blockaded roads with burning tires, burned buildings, set off explosions and fired gunshots in townships across the province.

On Monday, flames could be seen coming from the roof of a shopping centre in provincial capital Pietermaritzburg as hordes of people rushed in to loot.

Shortly afterwards, troops appeared in the streets and the military confirmed that it had been asked to deploy to restore order.

The armed forces said it was also deploying in neighbouring Guateng state, where violence also spread at the weekend.

'The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has commenced with pre-deployment processes and procedures in line with a request for assistance,' the military said in a statement.

Personnel will 'assist law enforcement agencies deployed in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces respectively to quell the unrest that has gripped both Provinces in the last few days,' it said.

In Eshowe, a town near Zuma's Nkandla home, police opened fire to disperse crowds after a supermarket was ransacked early on Monday.

Police said some sections of a major road in Johannesburg had been closed because of the protests. Dozens have been arrested.

President Ramaphosa urged 'peaceful protest' during a speech on Sunday.

'While there are those who may be hurt and angry at this moment, there can never be any justification for such violent, destructive and disruptive actions,' he said.

Zuma's jailing marks a significant fall for an important figure in the liberation-movement-turned ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC).

He was once jailed by South Africa's white minority rulers for his efforts to make all citizens equal before the law.

Zuma and the Gupta brothers, who fled after his ouster and are believed to be living in Dubai, deny wrongdoing.

Zuma is also facing a corruption trial relating to a $2.5billion arms deal in 1999 when he was deputy president. He denies the charges in that case.

A couple walks past a body covered with a blanket after protests in Johannesburg at the weekend turned violent

Police load bodies of two men that were found inside a burned shop in Johannesburg, South Africa, into an ambulance

Six protesters are arrested by police after disturbances in Johannesburg and other cities at the weekend turned violent

Protesters run away from tear gas canisters fired at them by police in Johannesburg, South Africa, overnight Sunday

A police officer aims a shotgun loaded with rubber bullets at protesters in Johannesburg on Sunday
There are growing calls for American Staffordshire terriers to be banned after two vicious attacks in just a matter of hours, leaving a baby dead.

A Central Coast community was rocked on Sunday after a family pet mauled a five-week-old boy to death in his own home after it escaped the neighbour's yard in Kariong.

The dog has since been euthanised, as reports emerge it recently mauled another dog in the backyard of another family's home.

Just hours later, in a separate incident, another American Staffordshire terrier savagely attacked a couple walking their groodle dog in Western Sydney.

Owner Damien Aggio and his wife Tina were strolling down the street in Pemulwuy at about 12pm with their beloved Peaches when 'out of the blue,' the 'killer' dog appeared.

It had escaped its harness and ran across the street before its owner could stop it.

Owner Damien Aggio and his wife Tina (pictured with injuries from the dog attack) were strolling down the street in Pemulwuy at about 12pm with their beloved Peaches when 'out of the blue,' the 'killer' dog appeared

There are growing calls for American Staffordshire terriers to be banned after two vicious attacks in just a matter of hours, leaving a newborn baby dead (stock images)

'I heard the owner yelling, "watch out" and I saw this big dog running across the road straight towards us,' he told Nine News.

'It all happened so quickly. I tried to pick up our dog, but it was too late. The big dog had latched onto her by then.

'I was trying to wrestle it off. I was kicking and punching and I had my thumbs in its eyeballs. But it all made no difference.'

Mr Aggio said it took five people to pull the American Staffordshire off the Groodle which was left with horrific injuries and remains in a critical condition after four hours of surgery costing $6,000.

With severe wounds to her hindquarters, vets were uncertain if Peaches would make it through the night, but the brave pooch managed to survive.

Cumberland City Council have now seized the American Staffordshire and police are investigating the incident.

With severe wounds to her hindquarters, vets were uncertain if Peaches (pictured) would make it through the night, but the brave pooch managed to survive.

NSW's banned dog breeds In New South Wales there are five dog breeds that are not permitted to be sold, bred or given away. 1. American pit bull or pit bull terriers 2. Japanese Tosas 3. Dogo Argentino (Argentinean fighting dogs) 4. Fila Brasiliero (Brazilian fighting dogs) 5. Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario dogs There are now calls for American Staffordshire terriers to also be added to the list. Advertisement

It comes after the horrific mauling of a five-week-old boy who was set upon and killed by an American Staffordshire terrier at a home on Jeffs Close in Kariong at 2.20am on Sunday.

Police and paramedics tried to revive the little boy after they rushed to the property, but he was declared dead at the scene.

On Sunday afternoon, district commander Detective Superintendent Darryl Jobson described the situation as 'a matter of tragic proportions'.

He said the fatal mauling was not the first vicious attack by the family dog - even in the past month.

Pictured: First responders at a home on the Central Coast after a baby boy was mauled to death by a staffy

The American Staffordshire terrier (stock image) attacked a neighbour's dog just weeks earlier

'A neighbouring dog apparently got into the rear yard and was mauled by this dog, unfortunately,' he said.

'That was a separate incident but that will also form part of our investigation.'

Superintendent Jabson said all first responders who attended the scene will receiving counselling and support after witnessing the devastating scene.

'Our police did perform first-aid upon arrival. They did their best in the circumstances and they are no doubt shaken by the incident,' he said.

'Anything to do with children of any type, particularly of this nature, is absolutely traumatic.'

The situation unfolded on Jeffs Close in Kariong on the New South Wales Central Coast (stock image of the area)

A five-week-old baby boy has died after being mauled by the family dog on the New South Wales Central Coast

The boy's parents were at home when their son was attacked by the dog, which has since been locked up.

The situation is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Mr Aggio said American Staffordshire dogs are 'ticking time bombs' and should not be allowed to be kept as pets in Australia.

'They are dangerous dog breeds bred to kill, not protect. If we didn't have the help that we did our dog would be dead... We were totally helpless, It was five minutes of absolute mayhem,' he said.
China has claimed it 'drove away' a US warship and accused Joe Biden of 'provocative actions' after the destroyer sailed in the South China Sea.

The USS Benfold entered the disputed waters near the Paracel Islands on Monday, which China claims as its own territory although this is not internationally recognized.

The southern theatre command of the People's Liberation Army said the destroyer entered without China's approval, violating its sovereignty and undermining the stability of the region.

'We urge the United States to immediately stop such provocative actions,' it said in a statement.

But the US Navy said the Benfold asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands consistent with international law.

The move comes as the US upholds a Trump-era rejection of nearly all of China's major territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The USS Benfold (pictured) on Monday entered the disputed waters near the Paracel Islands, which China claims as its own territory

The Biden administration also warned China that any attack on the Philippines in the flashpoint region would draw a US response under the terms of a mutual defense treaty.

The stern message from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken came in a statement released ahead of the fifth anniversary of an international tribunal's ruling in favor of the Philippines, against China's maritime claims.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled that China had no historic title over the South China Sea, a ruling that China said it would ignore.

The islands are claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, which require either permission or advance notification before a military vessel passes through.

The Navy added after Monday's move: 'Under international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention, the ships of all states, including their warships, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.

'By engaging in innocent passage without giving prior notification to or asking permission from any of the claimants, the United States challenged these unlawful restrictions imposed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.'

China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the United States was harming peace and stability in the region and urged Washington to stop 'stirring up trouble' in the South China Sea.

The US Navy said the Benfold asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands consistent with international law

Hundreds of other islands, reefs and atolls in the resource-rich waterway are contested by Brunei, China, Malaysia and the Philippines, with China claiming rights to resources within its so-called nine-dash line, or most of the region.

'By conducting this operation, the United States demonstrated that these waters are beyond what China can lawfully claim as its territorial sea, and that China's claimed straight baselines around the Paracel Islands are inconsistent with international law,' the US Navy said.

In its 2016 ruling, the Hague court said China had interfered with traditional Philippine fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal and breached the country's sovereign rights by exploring for oil and gas near the Reed Bank.

Freedom of the seas was an 'enduring' interest of all nations, Blinken said on Sunday.

'Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea,' Blinken said in a statement.

'The People's Republic of China continues to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway.'

Joe Biden's government warned China that any attack on the Philippines in the flashpoint region would draw a US response

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the ruling last year, Donald Trump's administration also said it regarded virtually all Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea outside China's internationally recognized waters as illegitimate.

Sunday's statement reaffirms that position, which had been laid out by Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

Blinken said: 'The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020, policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea.

'We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments.'

Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty obligates both countries to come to each other's aid in case of an attack.

Prior to Pompeo's statement, US policy had been to insist that maritime disputes between China and its smaller neighbors be resolved peacefully through UN-backed arbitration.

The shift did not apply to disputes over land features that are above sea level, which are considered to be 'territorial' in nature.

The stern message from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken came in a statement released ahead of the fifth anniversary of an international tribunal's ruling against China

Although the US continues to remain neutral in territorial disputes, it has effectively sided with the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, all of which oppose Chinese assertions of sovereignty over maritime areas surrounding contested South China Sea islands, reefs and shoals.

China reacted angrily to the Trump administration's announcement and is likely to be similarly peeved by the Biden administration's decision to retain and reinforce it.

'We call on (China) to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small,' Blinken said in the statement.

China has rejected the tribunal's decision, which it has dismissed as a 'sham', and has refused to participate in arbitration proceedings.

It has continued to defy the decision with aggressive actions that have brought it into territorial spats with Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia in recent years.

As with last year's statement, Sunday's announcement came amid heightened tensions between the US and China over numerous issues, including the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, Chinese policy in Hong Kong and Tibet and trade, which have sent relations plummeting.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea and routinely objects to any action by the US military in the region.

Five other governments claim all or part of the sea, through which approximately $5trillion in goods are shipped every year.

China has sought to shore up its claims to the sea by building military bases on coral atolls, leading the US to sail its warships through the region on what it calls freedom of operation missions.

The United States has no claims itself to the waters but has deployed warships and aircraft for decades to patrol and promote freedom of navigation and overflight in the busy waterway.
Ukraine has awarded a top honour to the Royal Navy commander who infuriated Russia by sailing his destroyer close to annexed Crimea, according to reports.

Cdr Vincent Owen, 42, is believed to have been given the honorary Defender of Ukraine medal after last month's flashpoint incident.

But reports of the award have sparked a new round of fury and hostility in Moscow with a fresh onslaught against the British captain of HMS Defender.

Last month, the HMS Defender sailed within the 12-mile limit of Crimea in the Black Sea, which Russia claims as its own territory but the West sees as international waters.

Owen was quoted as saying his ship sailed close to the Black Sea peninsula - annexed by Vladimir Putin from Ukraine in 2014 - 'to assert the position that Crimea and the waters around it legally belong to Ukraine'.

Cdr Vincent Owen (pictured), 42, is believed to have been given the honorary Defender of Ukraine medal after last month's flashpoint incident

Last month, Russian FSB security service patrol boat fired 'warning shots' (pictured) at the HMS Defender while Moscow reported a warplane had bombed the route of the destroyer

He stated: 'The Royal Navy and UK will always call out states that do not follow international order.'

A Russian FSB security service patrol boat fired 'warning shots' at the destroyer while Moscow reported that a warplane had also bombed the route of HMS Defender.

In the wake of the incident Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the British warship's actions as a 'deliberate and premeditated provocation'.

Moscow's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov warned in a future incident 'we can bomb not only in the direction but also on target' of a naval ship approaching Crimea.

Owen's medal was announced during a ceremony in Odessa presided over by Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neyizhpapa, head of Ukraine's armed forces, reported Focus news magazine several newspapers in Kyiv.

The British commander was not present at the ceremony, remaining with his destroyer which has since visited Georgia and Istanbul.

It came in response to the destroyer (pictured) sailing within the 12-mile limit of Crimea in the Black Sea, which Russia claims as its own territory but the West sees as international waters

Owen's medal was reportedly announced during a ceremony in Odessa presided over by Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neyizhpapa (pictured), head of Ukraine's armed forces

Awards were also made to Western commanders after recent NATO drills for 'strengthening the combat readiness' of Ukraine's navy.

Ukrainian military sources confirmed awards were made but did not give details or specify Owen by name.

Senior pro-Putin senator Alexey Pushkov said: 'This 'hero' entered Russian territorial waters for 30 minutes and then retreated.

'For this he was awarded the 'Defender of Ukraine' medal.

'So Kyiv de facto recognised these waters as Russian.

'Because if they are Ukrainian, as they say in Kiev and London, what then is this award for?'

A headline from NSN read: 'Ukraine awards HMS Defender's captain for provocation.'

And a pro-Kremlin source Regnum said: 'It cannot get more shameful than this.'

Pro-Vladimir Putin blogger Sergey Kolyasnikov claimed Ukraine had honoured a 'coward', repeating the Russian version that HMS Defender had changed course and retreated from Crimean waters after threats from the FSB patrol boat.

Britain denies the warship changed source.

The British commander (pictured) was not present at the ceremony, remaining with his destroyer which has since visited Georgia and Istanbul

Awards were also made to Western commanders for 'strengthening the combat readiness' of Ukraine's navy. Pictured: Closing ceremony of Sea Breeze-2021 drills on July 10

The HMS Defender was passing through the Black Sea as part of an exercise also involving a Dutch frigate having just left the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa.

The British Type 45 destroyer sailed within the 12-mile limit of Crimea near Cape Fiolent in the Black Sea, which Russia claims as its own territory but the West sees as international waters.

Mr Wallace and the UK's National Security Council had approved orders for Commander Owen to set course for Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula invaded by Russia in 2014 and still occupied by President Putin's elite forces.

Commander Owen's 'freedom of navigation' patrol took the Defender into disputed seas just off the Crimean coastline.

Repeated bursts of cannon fire could be heard off the deck of HMS Defender as President Vladimir Putin's forces responded to the warship legitimately entering Crimean territorial waters in the Black Sea.

A Russian statement said: 'The destroyer had been warned that weapons would be used if it trespassed the border of the Russian Federation. It did not react to the warning.'

Russian military officials also claimed a Russian plane dropped four high explosive fragmentation bombs as another warning to the UK warship.

The HMS Defender (pictured) was passing through the Black Sea as part of an exercise also involving a Dutch frigate having just left the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa

Images released by the Russian defence ministry shows the SU-24s buzzing above the destroyer and lining the vessel up in its crosshairs during the flashpoint

After the flashpoint, Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov (pictured) vowed to bomb the British warship the next time it sails too close to Crimea

But this claim is almost certainly propaganda as no ordnance of this nature was seen or heard by the crew of Defender or picked up by her hi-tech sensors.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace rubbished the claim of shots being directed at the ship, telling MPs: 'At no point were warning shots fired at HMS Defender, nor bombs dropped in her path as has been asserted by the Russian authorities.'

A Russian official warned British warships could be bombed the next time they sail too close to Crimea after warning shots were fired at HMS Defender.

After the flashpoint, which saw 20 Su-24s buzzing over the Royal Navy vessel, Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov warned: 'What can we do? We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law.

'If this does not help, we can bomb not only in the direction but also on target, if our colleagues do not understand.'
An intensive care doctor working in the heart of Sydney's Covid outbreak has warned that hospital beds are filling up fast and nearing capacity, with more and more young people being admitted.

Dr Timothy Southwood said a dedicated ICU ward set up to treat coronavirus patients at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital was fitted out for 16 patients.

At the moment there are 12 positive cases in the ward battling the virus, but Dr Southwood expects the number of infections to rise, potentially putting the unit over capacity.

The courageous frontline worker, who's been in the trenches since March last year treating Covid patients, urged eligible Australians to get vaccinated as soon as possible noting that those with the jab have far less severe symptoms and are unlikely to end up in ICU.

An intensive care doctor working at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney (pictured) has warned that hospital beds for Covid patients are filling up fast and nearing capacity

'We are approaching capacity in that unit but we have plans and the capacity to expand to scale our ability to help people with confirmed or suspected Covid within the ICU and those discussions are ongoing,' Dr Southwood told A Current Affair.

'What we are bracing for is that there will be more people who may need to come to an intensive care unit over the next few weeks as a result of COVID.

'We are aware that the numbers in the community are increasing and with more Covid there is an expectation that a certain number of those people will need to come to hospital and some of those will need to have the kind of care we can only provide in an intensive care unit.'

New South Wales recorded 112 new locally acquired cases on Monday, bringing the total number of infections since Sydney's latest outbreak began to 678.

There are currently 63 Covid-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 18 people in intensive care, four of whom require ventilation.

One of those breathing through a ventilator is a teenager.

'What we are bracing for is that there will be more people who may need to come to an intensive care unit over the next few weeks as a result of COVID,' Dr Southwood told ACA's Tracy Grimshaw (pictured)

The courageous frontline worker (pictured) has been treating Covid patients since March last year

Despite strict stay-at-home orders in place across Sydney and NSW, Dr Southwood expects the situation may become even more desperate due to the highly infectious Indian Delta variant.

'There will be more people who may need to come to an intensive care unit over the next few weeks as a result of Covid,' he said.

'And we're seeing people who are across the age groups, so I think it's important to emphasise that,' he said.

But although doctors are facing challenges, Dr Southwood is upbeat about the hospital system's ability to manage the current outbreak.

Dr Southwood also pointed to the availability of vaccines as a 'game-changer' for medical staff and patients alike. Pictured: A health worker receives a Covid jab at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Vaccination Hub

Staff wearing face masks outside the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (pictured) in Camperdown, Sydney, where many Covid patients are being treated

'The good news, from our point of view, is that we have had a year to adapt, build systems, which didn't exist before Covid,' he said.

Dr Southwood also pointed to the availability of vaccines as a 'game-changer' for medical staff and patients alike.

'We've seen the benefits across the world where vaccination has made a difference in terms of how severe an illness we might need to deal with,' he said.

'We were always expecting we might be in this circumstance, hopeful we would not be, but prepared should we be, and we are.'
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Holiday options could be dramatically widened this week amid speculation more countries will be added to the government's quarantine-free 'green list'.

Italy, Austria and Germany are among the potential destinations that appear to pose a low enough risk to be downgraded in a review due on Thursday.

The move could make life easier for Brits who are desperate to get away, but have yet to receive both doses.

People who are double-jabbed are due to be exempted from having to self-isolate on return to 'amber list' countries from 'Freedom Day' next Monday.

But they will have to prove they are fully vaccinated, and there fears of huge delays as the rules are eased.

Contingency plan are believed to have been put in place at Heathrow to keep passengers waiting in planes on runways if queues at border control exceed four hours.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned holidaymakers last week that serious disruption is possible as he announced that millions of fully vaccinated Britons will not have to self-isolate from July 19.

Meanwhile, Britons will still need to consider the restrictions that are being imposed by other countries - with many trying to stop the Delta - or Indian - variant being imported from the UK.

Italy (Pisa pictured), Austria and Germany are among the potential destinations that appear to pose a low enough risk to be downgraded in a review due on Thursday

There are fears of significant queues at Heathrow (pictured) as people try to get away on holiday this summer

Experts have pointed to the relatively controlled case levels in Italy, Austria and Germany as evidence that they can go on the 'green list' this week

The current traffic light system has very few recognised holiday destinations on the 'green list' for Britons to visit

Mr Shapps' announcement means that for fully-vaccinated Britons the rules will be essentially the same for green and amber list countries

Mr Shapps confirmed in the Commons that from July 19 double-jabbed people can visit more than 140 amber-list destinations without having to quarantine on their return.

Currently, Britons must self-isolate at home for up to ten days when they come back.

It paves the way for holidays to major European destinations such as Greece, Spain and Portugal, with airlines reporting a surge in flight bookings.

But Whitehall sources have warned that Border Force is 'nowhere near ready' to cope with the changes.

The agency is seen as unlikely to have upgraded its system until next month, potentially leading to weeks of chaos at the border.

MPs have also warned that the cost of tests remains a 'barrier' to foreign travel for many families, urging ministers to drive down prices further.

Meanwhile, experts have predicted that a dozen more countries could be added to the the 'green list' - where vaccine status is not an issue for the restrictions in England - in a review on Thursday.

Former BA strategist Robert Boyle told the Telegraph that Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Canada, Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Taiwan now meet the criteria for the loosest controls.

That would bring the total on the green list to 39, with any changes expected to take effect from next week.

At the moment the only recognised tourist destinations in that bracket are the Balearic islands of Ibiza, Menorca and Majorca, Portugal's Madeira, Malta, Gibraltar and Israel.

Under the new arrangements, travellers will still be required to fill out a passenger locator form with details of their home address.

They will also need to confirm they have booked a 'day two' PCR coronavirus test.

Border Force agents must insect the documents for passengers at passport control.

However, airlines will be responsible for checking vaccination status.

Border officers have warned that the huge rise in bookings since the loosening was announced will mean long queues.

Before Covid, three quarters of people who passed through the UK's border did not require any documentation checks other than verifying that their identity matched their passport.

Lucy Moreton, professional officer for the ISU immigration union, representing frontline border staff, told The Times: 'This decision will open up foreign travel to a large number of new travellers. But we are not set up to cope with that sort of demand.

'There is no way that the border can maintain that level of checks as the number of travellers increase.

'We've got away with it so far because the number of travellers are so low. But even at this point we're seeing queues of one to two hours.

'From the number of bookings we've seen already, we'll easily see three, four-hour queues when people start returning from their holidays.'

What restrictions do other countries have on Britons visiting? FRANCE Travellers who can prove they are fully vaccinated do not need an essential reason to travel to France and do not need to self-isolate on arrival. Anyone aged over 11 years must give evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, or a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours of departure, as well as a 'sworn statement' they are not suffering from Covid symptoms and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. SPAIN Britons aged 12 or over must have either proof of a negative test 48 hours prior to arrival, or proof of being fully vaccinated at least 14 days beforehand. ITALY Anyone aged six or over who has been in the UK in the previous 14 days must present a negative test result from the past 48 hours. They must also self-isolate for five days and take another test at the end of the period. Those arriving without a negative test will need to self-isolate for 10 days and then have a test. GREECE Travellers from the UK can avoid quarantine requirements if they have proof of a negative PCR test up to 72 hours before arrival, a rapid antigen test within 48 hours, or that they have received two vaccine jabs at least 14 days earlier. It is also acceptable to show evidence of having recovered from coronavirus - such as a positive test from months earlier. PORTUGAL All travellers, apart from children under 12, must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test to travel to or through mainland Portugal. If you have travelled from the UK to mainland Portugal, you must quarantine for 14 days in the place you are staying. But this requirement is waived if people can show they are fully vaccinated, and children travelling with a vaccinated adult are exempt from quarantine. In Madeira and Porto Santo tests are not required for people who are fully vaccinated. GERMANY Fully vaccinated Britons are exempt from quarantine, but must do a pre-departure digital registration. Unvaccinated children under 12 years of age are allowed to enter Germany if they present proof of a negative test result and travel with at least one fully vaccinated parent. UNITED STATES Since 16 March 2020, it is not possible for most British nationals to enter the US if they have been in the UK, Ireland, Schengen zone, Iran, Brazil, or China within the previous 14 days. Advertisement
A California restaurant owner has pleaded with customers to be patient with his short-staffed taqueria because 'no one wants to work anymore' due to government handouts.

Taco Loco in Folsom posted a slow service sign after struggling to find enough workers at the popular restaurant.

The sign reads: 'To our loyal customers. Sadly, due to government and state handouts no one wants to work anymore. Therefore, we are short staffed.

A California restaurant owner has pleaded with customers to be patient with his short-staffed taqueria because 'no one wants to work anymore'

'Please be patient with our staff that did choose to come to work today to serve you.'

California's economy fully reopened on June 15 with no limits on capacities at restaurants.

But despite the rush back to hospitality venues, many restaurant owners are struggling to find the staff. The government's COVID handouts are continuing to leave people unwilling to work for less than they could be making on unemployment.

And on June 25, the California state legislature voted in favor of passing a series of extensions to unemployment payments, including extending federally funded unemployment benefits for 20 additional weeks through September 11.

It also continued the federal addition of $300 through September 4, extended the states Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs for 29 weeks through September 4 and added an additional $100 a week to people who qualify for regular unemployment benefits and earned self-employment income.

PUA is Californias unemployment benefits for people who dont qualify for regular state unemployment insurance and PEUC is a benefit extension for people who already used all benefits available to them through their regular unemployment insurance claim.

John Voels, who owns a restaurant down the street from Taco Loco, says he has the same problem trying to find workers as the taqueria.

The RESET Cafe by Day owner told CBS Sacramento: 'It's hard to find people who want to work right now.

'They want us to hire more people right now. We're trying to hire more baristas, we're trying to hire cooks. It is really hard.'

Meanwhile, local resident Erica Oresky said: 'They were laid off and they went on employment and they come back and then they get laid off again.

Taco Loco in Folsom posted a 'slow service sign' after struggling to find enough workers at the popular restaurant

'It's a back-and-forth situation. Why not go on unemployment? It is an easy paycheck.'

It comes as fast-food franchises are trying to entice workers with sign-on bonuses and bigger salaries as they battle with the government handouts.

The combination of state and federal unemployment benefits have made it more attractive for some to stay on the sidelines during the pandemic, though the federal benefits are beginning to expire around the country.

Until then, fast-food franchises are pulling out all the stops to push a hiring frenzy in the industry.

Wendy's is among the fast food chains offering new benefits to get employees in the door

Axios reports that one McDonald's in Arlington, Va., is offering a $500 sign-on bonus for new employees.

Wendy's is offering $100 signing and referral bonuses to new hires, in addition to same-day pay.

Chipotle is increasing the pay of restaurant workers to an average of $15 an hour.

In Ohio, White Castle has started to boost hourly pay from $11.50 to $15, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Federal unemployment benefits are supposed to end by Labor Day across the country, but in some states, they're ending early.

Some employers (such as this fast-food chain) are offering same-day or next-day pay

A hiring sign is seen in front of a McDonald's branch, as many restaurant businesses face staffing shortages

'Everybody is trying to figure out what they need to do to get people in the door,' president of Employment Solutions Columbus Charlie Carter said.

In April, there were 349,000 job openings in the food-services industry according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, leading some restaurants to raise their wages in an effort to attract workers.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate sat at 5.8 percent in May - well above the 3.5 percent achieved by Donald Trump at the height of his presidency, just before COVID hit. The unemployment rate in California was 7.9 percent in May.

McDonald's said recently that it wanted to hire 10,000 employees at company-owned restaurants and would raise pay at their locations.

In March 2019, the average weekly payment to an unemployed person was $348 when combining federal and state unemployment payments. That nearly tripled to $938 in April 2020. Now they're still $638 -a-week - $300 more than they were before. It means, someone who was working 40 hours a week before the pandemic now gets nearly $16-an-hour to do nothing at home, which is more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25

Entry-level employees would earn at least $11 to $17 after the increases while supervisors would earn an hourly minimum of $15 to $20.

Non-managerial employees at company-owned stores earlier this year earned an average of nearly $12 an hour with supervisors earning $16 to $18 an hour.

Nearly 15 million people claimed some form of unemployment insurance benefits in late May, up from about 2 million before the pandemic.

In eight states, the unemployed can earn at least $600 per week in benefits. Massachusetts offers the most generous benefits

Massachusetts and Washington are the most generous states, offering those on unemployment benefits up to $850 a week, although those handouts will end in September as the economic recovery gathers pace. California's benefits are around $648 a week.

In March 2019, the average weekly payment to an unemployed person was $348 when combining federal and state unemployment payments.

That nearly tripled to $938 in April 2020, when Trump passed CARES - a temporary economic plan that boosted weekly unemployment payments by $600 and also gave employed people one-off stimulus checks. It expired last summer.

Now, the average weekly unemployment check is $638 - still $300 more than before the pandemic, and it'll stay that way until September 6 at least.

It means, someone who was working 40 hours a week before the pandemic now gets nearly $16-an-hour to do nothing at home, which is more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

Dozens of US states have already ended, or are in the process of ending those benefits to encourage people back to work, with the latest hold-outs set to end their COVID unemployment programs on September 4.

There may be a silver lining in sight for small businesses in California like Taco Loco because, on July 11, California reinstituted the pre-pandemic requirement that people on unemployment must actively be searching for work.

In March 2020, when pandemic lockdowns began, the federal government let states temporarily waive work search requirements for those collecting unemployment. More than half of the country had reinstituted the qualification by May and California is one of the few that kept it another two months.
Office manager Nikki Payne accused boss Lee French (pictured) of being sexist but a tribunal found her claims were unfounded

An office manager has failed in her bid to sue her boss for discrimination after claiming he said he wanted to employ 'an Anne Hathaway character from The Devil Wears Prada, not a mum'.

Nikki Payne, who was 54 at the time, claimed the comment by her boss Lee French meant she was discriminated against on grounds of sex and age.

However an employment tribunal dismissed the claims she brought after the company sacked her in December 2019 for 'breakdown of trust and confidence'.

The tribunal heard Ms Payne worked for London-based employee benefit company Corinthian Benefits Consulting Limited from February 2018.

She claimed her boss Mr French made a comment in November 2019 that the company was looking for 'a young driven person a bit like the young lads on the client support team.

She claimed he added 'or what I would really like is an Anne Hathaway character from the Devil Wears Prada, not a mum' and gestured dismissively towards her.

But the tribunal ruled that referring to Devil Wears Prada was not discriminatory towards Ms Payne as 'he was describing a candidate with motivation and enthusiasm'.

They also did not believe he had been dismissive of 'mums'.

A tribunal ruled referring to Anne Hathaway's character in Devil Wears Prada (pictured) was not discriminatory as 'he was describing a candidate with motivation and enthusiasm'

Employment Judge Truscott QC said: 'There was no reason for Mr French to refer to mums in this way as many of his colleagues are mums, as is his own wife and Ms Devereese [a colleague].

'Finally, [Ms Payne] alleges that he was flicking his hand towards her, he denies this occurred and the Tribunal accept that he did not. Nor does the Tribunal accept [Ms Payne's] account of the conversation.

'Mr French said he was looking for someone motivated and full of drive and ambition and referenced the character from The Devil Wears Prada.

'Ms Devereese supplied the name of the actress, Anne Hathaway, and Mr French agreed. [Ms Payne] commented that this was 'because she was young and pretty'.

'Mr French's comment about the Anne Hathaway character was not an act of direct discrimination.

'He did not say it because [Ms Payne] was female and/or because she was 54 years old. He said it because he was describing a candidate with motivation and enthusiasm.

'It was [Ms Payne] who first raised the issue of sex and age in a context where it did not naturally arise. Thereafter each incident is seen by her in that erroneous context.'

The panel heard she also claimed discrimination relating to an email thread the next day about buying train tickets, which Ms Payne was buying.

Ms Payne's claims were found to be not proved at a tribunal centre in London (pictured)

Mr French said 'Good old Nikki' and she responded 'Less of the old'. Mr French then said 'I knew you'd say that' and she replied 'I'm still reeling from the Ann Hathaway comment!'.

The judge said: 'The comment 'Good old Nikki' was not an act of direct discrimination or harassment. It was not said because of her age and was not related to her age.

'It was clear from the context that Mr French was appreciative of [Ms Payne] being reliable and was praising her for doing a good job. It was indicative of an amicable relationship between them.

'It was not reasonable for her to take offence and it is not established that she did.'

Following a bust up in December between the pair over whose responsibility it was to make sure there was milk and coffee in the office, Ms Payne made a complaint to her line manager that the company was 'sexist, ageist and bullying'.

She was sacked due to a 'breakdown of trust and confidence'. The tribunal, held in London, ruled that the dismissal was not an act of harassment.
This is the shocking moment a biker gang dragged a driver out of his van and repeatedly stamped on him and kicking him in a vicious broad daylight attack.

Horrifying footage shows a man in a biker helmet dive through an open passenger door into a stationary white van before the driver starts to accelerate.

Onlookers can be heard yelling and the van smashes into multiple parked cars as its driver tries to flee, knocking one motor onto the pavement.

The impact brings the van to a standstill, at which point two other men sprint up to the van and the driver is ripped from his seat and chucked to the floor.

This is the terrifying moment a van driver is dragged screaming from his vehicle and attacked by three men wearing bike helmets in broad daylight in the middle of Kilburn, North London

The video starts in the middle of the incident when the van driver appears to be trying to get away from the gang and ends up crashing into parked vehicles, forcing one onto the pavement

After he is dragged out of his van, a gang are filmed repeatedly kicking the man on the ground

The two bikers - dressed all in black and wearing black helmets - repeatedly stamp on the driver as he cowers on the floor.

He flails and tries to kick up at them as they boot him repeatedly.

When concerned pedestrians intervene, the driver manages to get to his feet and make a break for it.

At least three men can be seen running after him as he fades from view in the attack in Kilburn, north west London.

Police attempted to stop a vehicle in the same area at 3.30pm on Saturday, and it is claimed the incidents are linked.

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'At approximately 3.30pm on Saturday, officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the vicinity of Cricklewood Lane.

The gang pulled a driver out of his van and repeatedly stamped on him in shocking attack

Bystanders intervene, positioning themselves between the bike gang and the van driver

The intervention allows the driver to get away and he is filmed running down the street

'The vehicle failed to stop and subsequently collided with a moped in Chichele Road. No serious injuries were reported.

'A 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving while over the prescribed drug and alcohol limit.

'He remains in custody at a north London police station.'
A minister risked more mixed messaging on masks today insisting people should wear them in crowded spaces and they could be compulsory on trains - but they will not be legally required.

Health minister Edward Argar insisted people will not be 'confused' by the rules as they can exercise 'common sense judgment' in deciding whether to use face coverings.

The comments came after Health Secretary Sajid Javid suggested it would be 'irresponsible' not to wear masks in crowded places.

And 'Freedom Day' guidance being issued later is set to say they are 'expected' in some circumstances.

However, Cabinet ministers Rishi Sunak and Robert Jenrick previously indicated they are keen to ditch masks as soon as they are no longer mandatory.

Mr Argar raised fresh doubt about whether there will be a genuine removal of restrictions in a round of interviews this morning, saying train companies may well look at demanding them as a 'condition of carriage'.

'But at a governmental level, what we have set out, what we will be looking to do is see the legal requirements fall away but for guidance  strong guidance and cautious guidance  to be in place for people to exercise their common sense,' he added.

Asked about former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith complaining that the stance risks creating confusion, Mr Argar replied: 'I don't think that the British people will struggle to look at the guidance and form their own common-sense judgment  I don't think it will introduce confusion.

'I think people will look at it, they will form a sensible judgment based on the guidance.'

Mr Argar said he personally would 'continue to carry my face mask in my jacket pocket'.

'The sort of circumstances where I would wear it, where I would encourage others to do so, are the sort of things that Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer set out a week or so again,' he told LBC.

'If, for example, you are in a crowded train, if you are in a setting like a hospital where the relevant authority requires you to wear it, or where, as common courtesy, if you are in an indoor environment with someone who clearly feels uncomfortable with you not wearing it, it would be common courtesy to put it on then  that's how I would behave.'

Health minister Edward Argar pointed to the 'defensive wall' being provided by vaccines. 'If not now, when?' he said of lifting the legal restrictions

Boris Johnson (pictured running this morning) will give the final go-ahead for 'Freedom Day' on July 19 later - but send a stark message that people need to keep being careful amid spiking cases

Boris Johnson will today warn that people should 'expect' to keep wearing masks in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and trains even after Covid restrictions are lifted on July 19

Not the law, but 'expected': Boris's fudge on face masks The legal requirement to wear a face mask in England is expected to be scrapped from July 19. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said it will be a matter of 'personal responsibility', while transport operators and places such as shops are likely to decide their own policy on the issue. How are the rules on face masks changing? Almost all the remaining Covid restrictions in England will be removed on July 19 if the Prime Minister confirms the move on Monday afternoon. The legal requirement to wear a face covering is due to end but official guidance will say they should still be worn in some settings as a voluntary measure. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Sunday: 'The guidelines will be very clear on things like mask-wearing. There's an expectation of people to wear masks indoors, in crowded places, on public transport.' What do scientists think? The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents doctors, says there should be an 'ongoing requirement' to wear a mask in enclosed public spaces, such as public transport, shops and healthcare settings. Dr Mike Tildesley, from the University of Warwick and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) group, said on Monday there had been 'mixed messaging' over face masks from the Government, even in the last few days. 'I think it's quite confusing actually for people to know what the right thing to do is,' he said. 'I think all that we can do is take a sort of appropriate approach where we look at the situation and sort of weigh up the risk ourselves and I hope that enough people do that going forward that we don't see a big surge.' Other experts appear divided on whether people in England should be asked to continue to wear face masks after July 19. Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said he thought lifting face mask restrictions was OK, though people who are vulnerable may wish to take extra care. Meanwhile, Robert Dingwall, professor of sociology at Nottingham Trent University, said it makes sense to make them voluntary, adding: 'The benefits of masks have always been uncertain because the quality of the evidence in both directions is so weak.' But Dr Laurence Aitchison, from the department of computer science at the University of Bristol, said: 'Our research has shown mask-wearing reduces the spread of Covid-19 by around 25% if everyone wears them.' Is there more evidence on the benefit of face masks? Yes. Research suggests that face coverings worn over the nose and mouth reduce the spread of coronavirus droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. The main purpose is to protect others from Covid, but there is some evidence they also protect the wearer. One Royal Society report last summer found that the use of cotton masks was associated with 54% lower odds of infection in comparison with the no-mask groups, when tested in a healthcare setting. In another study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists calculated that wearing face coverings prevented more than 78,000 infections in Italy between April 6 and May 9 2020, and more than 66,000 infections in New York City over just a few weeks. A report recently published by the Royal Society suggests that even basic homemade face coverings can reduce transmission if enough people wear them when in public. The study, based on mathematical modelling, showed that if an entire population wore face coverings that were only 75% effective, it would bring the reproduction number (the R) from 4.0 to under 1.0, without the need for lockdowns. What do people need to know about wearing masks? Ideally, face coverings should be made of multi-layers of high quality cotton. People are advised to sanitise their hands before putting one on and removing it, and to wash masks daily. When wearing a face covering, it should cover the mouth and nose, with no gaps. Many experts believe face masks are better seen as part of a package of measures, which includes things such as social distancing. Advertisement

The latest Covid wrangling came as:

No 10 issued figures showing Covid vaccines have saved 30,000 lives and prevented 8.5million infections in England alone.

Dr Susan Hopkins of PHE warned that hospitalisations could soar to 4,000 a day by the end of the summer, the same level as at the peak in January.

Another 31,772 new Covid cases were recorded but there were signs the rate of growth is slowing and the 26 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours are a fraction of the toll seen at the peak of the pandemic.

Boris Johnson will give the final go-ahead for 'Freedom Day' on July 19 today - but send a stark message that people need to keep being careful amid spiking cases.

The Prime Minister will use a Downing Street press conference to confirm the unlocking next Monday, with almost all legal restrictions to be axed in England.

But he will caution that the dramatic easing 'comes with a warning', and people must 'expect' to keep wearing masks in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and trains.

Government experts have suggested working from home and social distancing should remain the norm after the shift to trusting the public's 'common sense'. There are fears that hospitalisations could hit 3,000 a day soon as the Delta variant continues to run riot.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham today renewed his assault over dropping the legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport.

But health minister Edward Argar pointed to the 'defensive wall' being provided by vaccines. 'If not now, when?' he said of lifting the legal restrictions.

In a statement ahead of a Covid O meeting this morning to sign off the plans, and his press briefing at 5pm, the PM said that cases will inevitably continue to rise as restrictions are eased.

'Caution is absolutely vital, and we must all take responsibility so we don't undo our progress, ensuring we continue to protect our NHS,' he said.

The 'Freedom Day' was meant to herald a return to normality but the PM will also publish new 'guidance' setting out precautions people should continue to take.

Mr Johnson will say England is 'tantalisingly close to the final milestone in our road map out of lockdown, but the plan to restore our freedoms must come with a warning.'

He will insist that vaccinations have 'weakened' the link between Covid infections and hospital admissions, while warning 'the global pandemic is not over yet.'

However, the PM has dropped claims that the end of Covid restrictions is 'irreversible' following warnings from top scientists that easing restrictions could end in disaster.

In a round of interviews, Mr Argar said it is 'possible' that daily coronavirus case numbers could hit the 100,000 mark but stressed that vaccines are helping to protect people from serious illness and hospital admission.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: 'You've seen the Secretary of State and others talk about between a range of 50,000 to 100,000 is possible.'

Mr Argar added: 'If you look at hospital admissions, and forgive me if my figures are a little bit out, but the seven-day rolling average of hospital admissions for now, when we're seeing this level of infection rate, is roughly between 350 and 400 a day.

'Back in January, with an equivalent infection rate, we were seeing 1,800 to 2,000.

'So you can see how that vaccine programme may not have broken it by 100 per cent because the vaccine isn't 100 per cent effective, but it has really severely weakened that link and therefore the numbers we are going to see in hospital are going to be much smaller.'

Mr Argar defended the decision to ditch mandatory masks in England, saying train companies may well look at demanding them as a 'condition of carriage'.

'But at a governmental level, what we have set out, what we will be looking to do is see the legal requirements fall away but for guidance  strong guidance and cautious guidance  to be in place for people to exercise their common sense.'

Asked about former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith complaining that the stance risks creating confusion, Mr Argar replied: 'I don't think that the British people will struggle to look at the guidance and form their own common-sense judgment  I don't think it will introduce confusion.

'I think people will look at it, they will form a sensible judgment based on the guidance.'

Mr Argar said he personally would 'continue to carry my face mask in my jacket pocket'.

'The sort of circumstances where I would wear it, where I would encourage others to do so, are the sort of things that Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer set out a week or so again,' he told LBC.

'If, for example, you are in a crowded train, if you are in a setting like a hospital where the relevant authority requires you to wear it, or where, as common courtesy, if you are in an indoor environment with someone who clearly feels uncomfortable with you not wearing it, it would be common courtesy to put it on then  that's how I would behave.'

Dr Hopkins yesterday called for people to continue following the advice beyond July 19.

'If you are able to do your business effectively from home then I think over the next four to six weeks, as there's a rise in cases, we should try our best to do that,' she told Times Radio.

'Then we should continue to look and see and have a cautious return to the office over the coming weeks, once we start to see a decline in the number of cases.'

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi yesterday said there would now be a clear 'expectation' that people should continue to wear face masks in crowded indoor settings.

He added that it is 'important that we remain cautious', but insisted he is 'confident that we can proceed with this step forward' because 87 per cent of adults have now had a first vaccine dose.

Labour have warned that dropping laws requiring masks is a 'recipe for confusion' that risks potential confrontations between those with differing views on the matter.

But Mr Zahawi said vaccinations had 'severely weakened' the link between Covid infections and hospitalisations. He did, however, refuse to repeat Mr Johnson's assertion it had been 'severed.'

Last week, Mr Johnson said that mask wearing would become 'a personal choice' after July 19

The Prime Minister will use a Downing Street press conference this afternoon to confirm plans to end most Covid laws next Monday, despite surging cases

He added that Britons should 'do the right thing' in regards to face coverings, telling Times Radio: 'Indoors, in crowded carriages, the very clear guidelines will be that you're expected to wear a mask.'

Health Secretary Sajid Javid struck a harder line on masks in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph today, saying people would be 'irresponsible' not to wear one in a crowded space.

'If someone is not doing that, frankly, they're just being irresponsible, they're not playing their role as a responsible citizen,' he said.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith last night accused ministers of 'losing their nerve' over the lifting of restrictions.

He said: 'This is not freedom at all. Ministers are being beaten up by the scientists in the media and they are beginning to wobble.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi yesterday said there would now be a clear 'expectation' that people should continue to wear face masks in crowded indoor settings

Britain has recorded 31,772 new cases of coronavirus and 26 new deaths in the latest government figures

'The question for the scientists is: do they believe the vaccines work?

'If they work  and they clearly do to reduce hospitalisations and deaths  then we should not be continuing to sacrifice the economy on the altar of some misguided zero Covid policy.'

CBI calls for self-isolation rules to be dropped earlier Business leaders have urged the government to drop self-isolation rules earlier than planned. The CBI, which represents 190,000 firms, said the requirement for the double-jabbed to quarantine after coming in contact with positive cases should go on July 19, rather than waiting until August 16. CBI boss Tony Danaker said: 'Learning to live and work with the virus is the right strategy, but we need to ensure this is a confident not an anxious transition, otherwise it won't work. 'Businesses have had a real boost this week with the Prime Minister's plans for the final stage of the reopening. 'What's needed now is a concerted effort between business and government to create widespread confidence from the get go.' Advertisement

While Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of lockdownsceptic Tory MPs, accused ministers of a 'shift in policy' and said that it was 'torturing the nation'.

Arguing that for some people wearing a mask is a 'terrible thing', he added: 'It's not fair snatching away people's hope, it's psychologically, profoundly destructive.'

Last week, Mr Johnson said that mask wearing would become 'a personal choice' after July 19.

Several senior ministers, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Environment Secretary George Eustice said they would be ditching their masks at the earliest opportunity.

But Mr Zahawi said yesterday: 'The guidelines that we'll set out tomorrow will demonstrate that, including guidelines that people are expected to wear masks in indoor enclosed spaces.'

He also suggested the government is looking at a test and release scheme to replace self-isolation for those who come into contact with a positive case, amid fears that millions of healthy people will be doomed to house arrest as infections rise.

'If you do test positive you have to and should rightly then self-isolate but it is important to look at that in a new context of this massive vaccination programme and make sure that it is fit for purpose for this new world,' he said.

Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan is still considering a bid to force passengers to keep wearing masks on trains, Tube and buses in London.

The level of nerves among the wider public was demonstrated today as research by Opinium found half would prefer the unlocking slated to happen a week tomorrow to be delayed.

Some 31 per cent thought the timing was about right, while just 10 per cent said it should have been earlier.

The PM is expected to give final approval for Stage 4 of the roadmap tomorrow, with almost all legal restrictions set to be lifted.

But Nicola Sturgeon has already vowed to keep masks and other curbs in Scotland for longer.

Research by Opinium found half would prefer the unlocking slated to happen a week tomorrow to be delayed

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has warned July 19 could turn into 'anxiety day', complaining that face coverings should remain a legal requirement.

He told the Observer: 'The government is simply wrong to frame everything from here as a matter of pure personal choice. It is not.

'Many people who are vulnerable to the virus have to use public transport and do their food shopping in person.

'That is why the wearing of face coverings in these settings should have remained mandatory.

'I will be strongly encouraging the people of Greater Manchester to continue to wear masks on public transport out of respect for others.'

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: 'Given Sajid Javid now considers it irresponsible to not wear masks then it would be equally irresponsible for his government to carry on with the plan to lift mask requirements while infections are heading to 100,000 a day.

'Reopening the economy must be done in a safe and sustainable way.

'That means continued mask wearing, support for increased ventilation standards in premises, decent sick pay, allowing people to continue working from home and ensuring all can access testing rather than introducing charges for lateral flow tests as Sajid Javid now proposes.'
A young Sydneysider has boldly got himself fully vaccinated against Covid with two different jabs, despite being just 34 and not working in any essential sector.

Tom Lees insists he's not jumped the queue for his jabs and merely lined up to wait his turn at vaccine hubs to complete what he's calling his 'antibody maxxing'.

The Pfizer vaccine is only available to people over 40 in Australia during this stage of the rollout or those working in critical sectors such as hotel quarantine, while AstraZeneca is on offer for anyone who wants it.

But instead of waiting the predicted three months until younger Aussies are allowed the Pfizer jab, Mr Lees simply turned up at a vaccine centre and tried his luck.

'If the Delta variant wants to test its strength, it should come down to Greater Sydney,' Tom tweeted with a picture of a certificate of his Covid vaccinations.

Alongside a video of his jab journey, he added: 'This may be the greatest work of art to have emerged from the pandemic. A triumph of the free man over bureaucracy.'

Medics say doubling up with first and second doses of both vaccines could provide maximum protection against Covid, and Mr Lees set his sights on pulling off the double, beginning with his first dose of AstraZeneca on March 31.

Sydneysider Tom Lees (pictured) had his fourth Covid vaccine shot on Monday afternoon after doubling up on double doses of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs - and he's only 34

The Pfizer vaccine is only available to people over 40 in Australia during this stage of the rollout or those working in critical sectors such as hotel quarantine, while AstraZeneca is on offer for anyone who wants it. Tom Lees is pictured here at a Sydney vaccine centre

Since then he's received a second dose of AstraZeneca and now both doses of Pfizer, with his final Pfizer dose administered on Monday at the vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park.

'As for queue jumping, I don't see it like that. I haven't stolen any vaccines,' he told news.com.au.

'I literally lined up in the queue to get it. Getting vaccinated takes a bit of leg work and anyone can do it.

Tom Lees (pictured) had his first AstraZeneca jab on March 31 and since then he's received a second dose of AstraZeneca and now both doses of Pfizer.

Medics say doubling up with first and second doses of both vaccines could provide maximum protection against Covid, and Mr Lees set his sights on pulling off the double, beginning with his first dose of AstraZeneca on March 31.

'Pay attention to where the vaccines are available, be it GP or the vaccination centre at Olympic Park, and just go there and ask to be vaccinated. It worked for me.

'NSW Health are not going to turn away the vaccine keen. The impression I get is NSW Health are not interested in being vaccine police for the federal government.'

Research into the efficacy of doubling up vaccines is still at an early stage but an Oxford University study into single shots of each type has shown promise.

The 'Com-COV' trial included 830 volunteers aged over 50 and showed an AstraZeneca jab followed by a Pfizer jab four weeks later was almost as good as a double dose of Pfizer alone.

Research into the efficacy of doubling up vaccines is still at an early stage but an Oxford University study into single shots of each type has shown promise (pictured, Scott Morrison looking on as a woman is vaccinated in Camperdown in Sydney)

Reversing the order though was less effective - and a double dose of Pfizer still produced the best results in the fight against Covid.

However the study did not research the effects of Mr Lees' double-dose of both vaccines and their affect on antibodies against the disease.

But Mr Lees says he now plans to go to his GP to get a blood test lab analysis on the effect the full menu of vaccinations has had on his Covid resistance.

He summed up his motivation in a single tweet midway through his mission: 'Doing whatever it takes to get my dirty 30s back.'
Lauren Boebert got personal on Sunday when she brought Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's grandmother into a Twitter war of words as the two bickered over government assistance.

The back-and-forth started when AOC sarcastically taunted Boebert over her 'Good ol conservative values' when in her Conservative Political Action Conference speech on Saturday she told federal government to 'leave us the hell alone.'

'Ask Abuela how that government reliance is going,' Boebert wrote on Twitter Sunday, referencing a tweet last month where Ocasio-Cortez shared images of her grandmother's dilapidated home in Puerto Rico  still in ruins from the 2017 hurricane season.

'Nobody is taking safety nets away,' Boebert assured.

'Growing up in a Democrat household, I stood in line for bread and government cheese. I want more for your grandma, just as I did for me,' she continued. 'Don't limit the American dream.'

AOC responded in anger after Boebert brought her grandmother into the conversation: 'Thank you for proving to the world that today's version of 'conservative role model' is a person who mocks other people's ill grandparents on the internet.'

'I can promise you I will treat your family better than you do mine. And I'll fight for your constituents more, too,' she tweeted along with an emoji of a waving hand.

Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went after 'good ol conservative values' in responding to a speech by Rep. Lauren Boebert who pushed for less government involvement

Boebert hit back at AOC, making it personal by bringing Ocasio-Cortez's family into the argument. 'Ask Abuela how that government reliance is going,' she said of the progressive lawmaker's Puerto Rican grandmother

AOC said this sort of personal attack is proof that 'today's version of 'conservative role mode' is a person who mocks' others

Boebert finished the feud over the weekend by lashing out at AOC posting pictures of her grandma's dilapidated house and not helping while owning two apartments and a Tesla

Boebert, however, blamed progressive Democrats from blocking aid for Puerto Rico. The Republican congresswoman is likely referencing a 2019 bill that would have sent $600 million in nutritional assistance for Puerto Rico, but Democrats blocked that, claiming it wasn't enough.

'I'm not the one who blocked your abuela from receiving over $100k. That was all you,' Boebert accused. 'If that's how you take care of your family, I can see why they'd rely on the government.'

Ocasio-Cortez received a slew of criticism when she posted in June a Twitter thread sharing images and stories of the conditions in which her Puerto Rican grandmother was living.

'Just over a week ago, my abuela fell ill. I went to Puerto Rico to see her- my 1st time in a year+ bc of COVID,' Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter early last month.

'This is her home,' she continued, posting two pictures of mostly-empty rooms where the ceiling is falling in and plastic buckets on the ground are collecting dropping water.

Also in the images are one chair, one dresser and a tarp on the ground.

'Hurricane Maria relief hasn't arrived. Trump blocked relief $ for PR. People are being forced to flee ancestral homes, & developers are taking them,' the New York congresswoman wrote.

Critics were quick to jump on the post questioning why the progressive congresswoman, who makes $174,000, isn't sending money to help her grandmother.

AOC was mocked by right-wing media and figures in May when her white Tesla was pictured illegally parked outside the Whole Foods below her Washington, D.C. apartment building

AOC rents two apartments  one in her home district in New York City and another luxury spot in Washington, D.C. less than a mile from the Capitol. Stock photo shows an image of the living rooms in the apartment units where Ocasio-Cortez rents in D.C.

The one-bedroom units in luxury apartment building start at $2,500 per month if residents want to have a window in their bedroom

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene got involved in the back-and-forth, claiming AOC is now in 'therapy saying how she feels threatened by truth'

'I'll keep fighting for our great country that allows fools like you to have two apartments & a Tesla,' Boebert added in her tweet.

AOC has an apartment in New York City, her hometown and district she represents in Congress, and one just under a mile from the Capitol in Washington D.C., where she works.

The progressive lawmaker also has a white Tesla, which was infamously pictured earlier this year illegally parked at the neighborhood Whole Foods just below her D.C. apartment.

Conservative Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene decided to weigh in on the back-and-forth between AOC and Boebert, tweeted on Sunday: 'And now @AOC is back in therapy saying how she feels threatened by truth.'

Ocasio-Cortez initially lashed out at Lauren Boebert on Saturday as she accused Republicans of wanting to 'strip' Americans' of their unemployment benefits and get rid of 'public safety nets.'

The progressive representative's comments came in response to a video of Boebert at CPAC on Saturday saying: 'We're here to tell government, 'We don't want your benefits. We don't want your welfare. Don't come knocking on my door with your Fauci Ouchi.''

'You leave us the hell alone,' Boebert, the mother of four who represents Colorado 's 4th district, told a cheering crowd in Dallas, Texas .

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert told a crowd at CPAC on Saturday that government needs to 'leave us the hell alone', and stop dolling out welfare and pushing vaccines on Americans

AOC responded with: 'Tell 'em loud and proud girl!'

'GOP will strip your unemployment protections and dismantle any semblance of a public safety net we have left!' she tweeted. 'Then make working people pay way more for everything on low wages while Wall St gets a meal ticket!'

'Good ol conservative values baby!' she sarcastically quipped.

Boebert, in her CPAC speech, pushed for smaller federal government.

She also referenced the 'Fauci Ouchie,' which has become a nickname for the coronavirus vaccine mixed with the president's top COVID-19 adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci.

President Joe Biden announced a new initiative that would 'target' unvaccinated Americans in a door-to-door campaign where neighbors, canvassers and government affiliates would encourage hesitant people to get the jab.

Republicans have excoriated the president on this door knocking plan, claiming it is a way for the federal government to keep tabs on Americans' personal medical decisions  like not getting the coronavirus vaccine.

Boebert is also pushing back against Biden's massive welfare initiatives, including stimulus and relief from the American Rescue Plan and the president's proposed American Families Plan, which includes a slew of tax-payer-funded welfare and social programs.

Boosted unemployment benefits, which last through September, have increased jobless benefits by $300 per week, meaning any American who made $32,000 or less in 2019, could earn more in unemployment benefits in 2021.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was slammed on Twitter last month for posting images of her grandma's dilapidated house in Puerto Rico instead of giving her money to help

One image shows a room with just a chair and several plastic buckets to catch water coming rom the ceiling, which is falling down in several spots

Another image of AOC's grandmother's home shows a room where there is a dresser and more ceiling panels falling down

Some social programs Biden is proposing in his so-called 'human infrastructure' bill are free community college for all Americans, universal pre-kindergarten and child tax credits for low and middle income families.

Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most progressive members of Congress, is pushing for these initiatives to pass and demanding more climate change provisions are included in sweeping bills.

Boebert, on the other hand, is pushing for a smaller government and less intervention from Washington.

Former President Donald Trump will speak at the CPAC gathering on Sunday afternoon.
Australia needs a national plan on reading, writing and numeracy for adults because learning at school is no longer enough, educators have told a federal inquiry.

The inquiry heard shame and embarrassment were also barriers to learning and people need to be reassured they are not alone.

One in five Australians, or around three million adults, have low literacy and/or numeracy scores, federal parliament's employment, education and training committee heard on Monday.

The educators and community workers called for a national plan to stop Australia from falling behind the rest of the developed world.

One in five Australians, or around three million adults, have low literacy and/or numeracy scores,

Language and literacy education expert Joseph Lo Bianco called for co-ordination, standard-setting and innovation from the Commonwealth.

'Adult literacy is no longer a welfare activity by good-hearted people,' Professor Bianco said.

'That's not enough.'

He said Australia was facing a historic moment as other nations adjusted to technology.

'We have to keep in mind artificial intelligence which, combined with cyber systems, is going to require much higher levels of comprehension and functioning than we've ever had.'

People who are adequate on reading and writing often nosedive in performance when numbers and charts are added, the committee heard.

Rapid change means learning on the job is becoming too risky.

Adult educators said farmers were coming forward to seek help in understanding the use of toxic chemicals and making critical decisions.

Australian Council for Educational Research spokeswoman Louise Wignall said aged care was another area needing strong digital literacy, for clinical notes and online learning for qualifications.

People need to know what words mean when applied in the real world.

'In real estate, it's location, location, location. In literacy, it's context, context, context,' Ms Wignall said.

Numerous reviews over the years have highlighted the need to target and support the improvement of adult and youth language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy across Australia.

Lowitja Institute chair Pat Anderson slammed mainstream models for First Nations peoples.

'These models in the past have just not worked,' she said.

Adult educators said farmers were coming forward to seek help in understanding the use of toxic chemicals and making critical decisions

Ms Anderson said it was public policy when her mother was young to not teach her to read and write.

'This is the perennial issue for the nation, that we still haven't really dealt with,' she said.

First Nations educators said bilingual learning would help young ones.

Australian Education Union boss Susan Hopgood said one quarter of Australian children arrive at school without the skills they need to learn, and never catch up.

'The intergenerational impacts of low literacy demonstrate exactly why the Commonwealth should prioritise resourcing for all levels of education,' she said.

The committee was keen on Victoria's state-funded 'learn local' model that offers a safe, non-stigmatised environment for adults.

'Learn local is really reducing a lot of barriers,' Victorian Council of Social Service policy officer Deb Fewster said.
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Thousands of Orange Order members have taken to the streets across Northern Ireland today to mark the 'Glorious Twelfth' of July amid continuing anger over post-Brexit trade arrangements in the province.

The Twelfth parades mark the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne, north of Dublin, in 1690 - a triumph that secured a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown.

This year's parades were smaller than usual and locally based due to public health concerns after organisers stuck to plans to have parades of no more than 500 people, even though the limit on public gatherings imposed due to Covid-19 has now been removed.

The normal 18 main events were replaced by more than 100 local parades which took place in a number of cities, towns and villages.

The Order said organising smaller parades was the best way to ensure the demonstrations went ahead. As well as the reduced size of the parades, there were fewer spectators lining the roads this year.

But there was a row overnight after several bonfires preceding today's marches had Irish tricolour flags placed on top.

Orange Order members take part in unionist Twelfth celebrations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, today

This year's marches come at a time of great tension over the Irish Sea border and the post-Brexit trade arrangements

The July 12 celebrations which marks the victory of King William of Orange over the catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690

The July 12 parades have often been the spark for violence, even after a 1998 peace deal largely ended three decades of conflict between Catholic nationalists aspiring to unification with Ireland and Protestant unionists seeking to retain the status quo

Orangemen march past a Parades Commission Detemination sign which prevents them from playing music in the Clifton Street area of Belfast

A child leads the marching band in Hillsborough, Co.Down

The 35,000-member Protestant organisation are holidng 500 smaller, local parades, many involving children, rather than the usual 18 large gathering to take account of COVID-19 restrictions

Bandsmen and Orange Order members of No 3 District Loyal Orange Lodge parade pass the nationalist area around Ardoyne shops in Belfas

An effigy of deceased IRA man and hunger striker Bobby Storey on an 'eleventh night' bonfire on waste ground close to Highpark Crescent in north Belfast

The national flag of Ireland, 'the tricolour' burning on the Tiger's Bay 'Eleventh Night' bonfire, causing anger in the province

The 11th night bonfire which marks the beginning of the annual protestant 12th of July celebrations is lit in the Craigyhill housing estate

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson marched with the Ballinran Orange Lodge in Kilkeel, Co Down.

The parades, which celebrate the 1690 victory at the Battle of the Boyne by Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James of England and Scotland

The vast majority of Twelfth events are peaceful, although in some years there have been volatile flashpoints involving Orange lodges and nationalist residents.

The Parades Commission, which rules on contentious gatherings in Northern Ireland, had imposed conditions on a number of marches.

Up to 2,000 police officers were on duty throughout the day.

There was a significant police presence for parades in Belfast on Monday through the Ardyone area and past St Patrick's Catholic Church on Donegall Street.

In the city, a number of small parades took place before the bands gathered at Carlisle Circus before the march through the city centre and onto Shaw's Bridge.

Traditionally, parade participants congregate at fields where they hear speeches and prayers delivered by senior Orangemen before a return march, but that did not happen this year.

The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland had called on everyone attending a parade to respect the Covid-19 guidelines.

Last year's Twelfth of July parades were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings.

The Twelfth parades were preceded by the traditional burning of Eleventh Night bonfires, which this year took place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

The Orange Order parade in the village of Hillsborough, Co.Down, as part of the July 12 celebrations which marks the victory of King William of Orange

Orangemen march past Clifton Street Orange Hall in Belfast

Bandsmen and Orange Order members of No 3 District Loyal Orange Lodge parade pass the nationalist area around Ardoyne shops in Belfast

A child leads the Orange Order parade in the village of Hillsborough, Co.Down,

A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) spokesman said: 'Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service has dealt with a significant increase in emergency calls and mobilisations to bonfire related incidents over July 9, 10 and 11.

'The service was exceptionally busy on each of the three nights, with direct intervention required by NIFRS to protect properties from radiated heat, embers, etc. from the bonfires.'

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson condemned the burning of Irish tricolour flags on some bonfires.

Sir Jeffrey told the BBC: 'I don't want to see election posters or flags burnt on bonfires, I think we can celebrate our culture and our tradition in a respectful way.

'Respect is a two-way street - if you want to gain respect for your traditions and culture you've got to show respect for the traditions, culture and symbols of other communities.'

Sir Jeffrey said work needed to continue to address safety issues around the size of some of the bonfires.

'I think we need to continue working with those who organise bonfires to look at safety issues and to look at the height of bonfires, where they are located.

'In the end public safety is absolutely paramount when it comes to this.'

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has said it dealt with a 'significant increase' in emergency calls to bonfire-related incidents this year.

More than 230 Eleventh Night bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland between Friday and Sunday nights.

The bonfires precede the Twelfth of July parades, the main date in the Protestant loyal order parading season.

The huge bonfire in Craigyhill, Larne, is lit on the "Eleventh night" to usher in the Twelfth commemorations

More than 230 such bonfires were lit in Loyalist areas across Northern Ireland between Friday and Sunday nights as part of a tradition to mark the anniversary of the Protestant King William's victory over the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 169

While the NIFRS said it was 'exceptionally busy' over the weekend, it also confirmed there were no attacks on fire service personnel.

The NIFRS said firefighters had been required to take direct action to protect properties from heat caused by bonfires.

A spokesman said: 'Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service has dealt with a significant increase in emergency calls and mobilisations to bonfire related incidents over July 9, 10 and 11 July.'

Between 6pm on Friday night and 2am on Saturday morning the service received 54 calls and was sent to 40 incidents, including seven bonfire-related incidents.

Between 6pm on Saturday night and 2am on Sunday morning it received 171 calls and was sent to 99 incidents, including 34 bonfire-related incidents.

The same figures for 6pm on Sunday to 2am on Monday were 153 calls, 150 mobilisations of which 40 were bonfire-related.

This means that over the weekend there were a total of 378 calls and 244 mobilisations, 81 dealing with bonfire incidents.

A NIFRS spokesperson said: 'Over the three nights this represents a significant increase in bonfire related incidents compared to 2020 when 24 bonfire related incidents occurred from 6pm to 1am on the night of July 11/12.

'The service was exceptionally busy on each of the three nights, with direct intervention required by NIFRS to protect properties from radiated heat, embers, etc. from the bonfires.

'Despite the increased demand of bonfire related incidents, NIFRS maintained emergency response cover across Northern Ireland through the use of contingency planning measures, enabling attendance to a range of operational incidents including property fires and other emergency incidents.

'NIFRS can confirm there were no attacks on fire service personnel or appliances at any bonfire related incidents.'

There were more than 160 bonfires lit across Northern Ireland on Sunday night alone.

These included the contentious bonfire at Adam Street in the loyalist Tiger's Bay area of north Belfast, which is adjacent to the nationalist New Lodge area.

The bonfire had attracted controversy as nationalist and republican politicians had claimed that the homes of New Lodge residents had come under attack from bonfire builders.

But unionist politicians rejected this, stating the bonfire was a legitimate expression of their culture, and accused nationalist political leaders of raising tensions.

The bonfire was ignited with an Irish tricolour flag on top.
West Australians are being warned a storm that has flooded streets and ripped the roof of a home in the state's south is far from over.

Damaging winds and heavy rain are expected to continue until at least Tuesday night, driven by the strongest cold front of the year.

'My message today is don't become complacent,' Department of Fire and Emergency Services duty assistant commissioner Danny Mosconi told reporters on Monday.

'This event will continue throughout tomorrow with periods of strong winds and heavy rain.'

While less intense than the storm that drenched Perth and surrounding regions on Friday, this more prolonged system has still kept authorities busy.

Emergency services have received just over 100 calls and 59 requests for assistance since early on Monday, mostly for flooding and roof damage.

A home in the coastal town of Eagle Bay, 256km south of Perth, had its entire roof torn off by what locals described as a 'tornado'.

The Bureau of Meteorology said it was still investigating whether there had been a mini-tornado but confirmed destructive winds had damaged several homes (pictured, at Eagle Bay)

The city has already recorded its wettest start to July (pictured) since 1965, with rain throughout southwest WA above average so far this year

Cameron Alder told ABC local radio he and his two boys, aged eight and 10, had been sleeping when the 'terrifying' storm ripped through the house.

The Bureau of Meteorology said it was still investigating whether there had been a mini-tornado but confirmed destructive winds had damaged several homes.

It said wind gusts of more than 90km/h had been recorded at Rottnest Island, Busselton Jetty and Cape Leeuwin.

Most of the calls for assistance were in the Perth metropolitan area despite periods of reprieve between the wind and rain.

It comes after authorities urged people to sandbag their homes if they had experienced flooding during Friday's storm.

Emergency services have received just over 100 calls and 59 requests for assistance since early on Monday, mostly for flooding and roof damage (pictured, a house in Eagle Bay)

'We think because of the actions the public took, we've received less requests,' Mr Mosconi said.

Almost 700 homes were without power on Monday afternoon in suburbs including Lower Chittering, Koondoola and Belmont.

Damaging wind gusts of more than 100km/h have been forecast for a warning area spanning from Lancelin, 125km north of Perth, to Bremer Bay, about 500km southeast of Perth, including Perth, Narrogin and Katanning.

Higher than normal tides and dangerous surf are possible from Shark Bay, about 800km north of Perth, through to Albany, about 400km south of Perth.

They are expected to continue for several days with the potential for coastal erosion and inundation in low-lying areas such as Riverside Drive in Perth.

The city has already recorded its wettest start to July since 1965, with rain throughout southwest WA above average so far this year.

Severe weather is no longer occurring in the Central West and Central Wheatbelt districts.
President Joe Biden on Monday told local Democratic leaders, including New York City Mayoral candidate Eric Adams, that he'll push for more funding for police as part of his plan to combat gun violence.

Biden hosted several leaders at the White House to discuss gun violence as its rate surge around the country.

'Our strategy provides, including funding for law enforcement through the American Rescue Plan, for state cities and to be able to hire police and pay them overtime in order to advance community policing,' the president said.

Biden also called for greater coordination between state, federal and local governments and called keeping each other safe the first responsibility of democracy.

'It's about coordinating at a federal, state, local level. That's what ultimately, what we're going to talk about today. We recognize that we have to come together to fulfill the first responsibility of democracy: Keep each other safe. That's what the American people are looking for when it comes to reducing violent crime and gun violence. And I think this is illustrative of what we need to get put together,' he said.

President Joe Biden hosts a meeting with (L-R) San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, Wilmington Police Chief Robert Tracy and others about reducing gun violence

Brooklyn Borough President and New York City mayoral nominee Eric Adams attended the meeting, as did Attorney General Merrick Garland

Biden convened local Democratic leaders for a meeting on gun violence in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Monday

The leaders gathered as gun violence is on the rise in the United States

During the meeting, which took place in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, the group will discuss strategies to reduce crime and gun violence, including more funding for police and what the federal government is doing to stem the flow of guns used in crime, a senior administration official told DailyMail.com.

Attorney General Merrick Garland also attended as did Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo.

Joining them were Wilmington Police Department Chief Robert Tracy, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis and Lt. Anthony Lima of the Newark, New Jersey, police. Aqeela Sherrills, the co-founder of the Community-Based Public Safety Collective, was also there.

Gun violence is on the rise in the United States. Through the first five months of 2021, gunfire killed more than 8,100 people, about 54 lives lost per day, according to a Washington Post analysis. Gun violence this year is on track to surpass levels in 2020, which was one of the deadliest years of gun violence in decades.

Republicans have been critical of the rising crime rates and have charged Democrats with wanting to defund the police. Biden has said repeatedly he doesn't support such a move but he did endorse police reform, a movement that gained strength in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.

Adams, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, made gun violence a center piece of his campaign. Last week Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a new state of emergency around gun violence after seeing more than a 75% rise in parts of New York.

Adams, a former New York Police Department captain, is the general election favorite. He faces Curtis Sliwa, the Republican founder of the Guardian Angels. Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-to-1 in New York City.

He officially won the Democratic mayoral nomination last week after defeating a crowded primary field.

Adams was critical of Democratic efforts on the issue in an interview over the weekend.

On Sunday, he criticized Democrat lawmakers efforts to curb gun violence are 'misplaced' talks in Congress to overhaul the nation's policing laws continue to stall.

'I believe those priorities, they really were misplaced. And it's almost insulting what we have witnessed over the last few years,' Adams told CNN's State of the Union, when asked about his party's priorities. 'Many of our Presidents, they saw these numbers. They knew that the inner cities, particularly where Black, brown and poor people lived, they knew they were dealing with this real crisis. And it took this President to state that it is time for us to stop ignoring what is happening in the south sides of Chicago, in the Brownsvilles, in the Atlantas of our country.'

Crime rates have been rising throughout New York City, with the NYPD reporting last week that crime rates rose 3.1 percent over last year, with a 32.3 percent increase in grand larceny and a 16 percent increase in robberies.

Shooting incidents increased 37.8 percent from last year, with 765 incidents reported from January 1 to June 20, with 886 shooting victims, up from 670 in 2020. There were 217 homicides in that time period, up 8.5 percent from last year, according to NYPD's crime statistics.

A crime scene in New York last week - gun violence is up across the United States

Crimes have been rising throughout New York City, according to the NYPD

In June, Biden announced his plan to combat gun violence, including stemming the flow of illegal weapons. One way he'll try to combat that is through new strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington to help take down illegal gun traffickers and a new 'zero tolerance' policy for dealers who sell guns illegally.

Biden's plan to curb gun violence includes providing funding to cities that need more police, offering community support and cracking down on gun violence and supplying illegal firearms.

White House officials also point out that local communities are using funds from Biden's COVID-19 rescue package to bolster summer programming, create job opportunities in at-risk communities, and fund community violence intervention programs - all measures aimed at reducing gun violence.
Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump have taken up their first case involving a white person who was shot dead by cops during a traffic stop, arguing that police brutality in America is not simply a race issue.

The pair are advocating for Arkansas teen Hunter Brittain, who was shot and killed by Lonoke County sheriff's deputy Sgt. Michael Davis during a June 23 traffic stop.

Brittain's family has said the 17-year-old was unarmed and holding a jug of antifreeze at the time of the shooting.

Officer Davis, who is white, was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley last week for not turning on his body camera until after the shooting occurred.

Staley said theres no footage from the shooting, only the aftermath.

Sharpton and Crump comforted family members of Hunter Brittain as the family has called for the officer who shot the 17-year-old be charged with murder

17-year-old Hunter Brittain (left) was shot and killed by Lonoke County sheriff's deputy Sgt. Michael Davis (right) during a June 23 traffic stop

On July 7, Sharpton and Crump attended the funeral for the teen and Sharpton clapped back at criticisms that he only attended Brittain's funeral for publicity.

'I am going to Beebe to get publicity,' the reverend said at the service. 'I want the whole world to know the name of Hunter Brittain, and if my coming can help bring some publicity, then that's what I'm supposed to do. I don't apologize for that,' he said, earning him a standing ovation from the congregation, NPR reported.

Sharpton, a Democratic candidate for president in 2004, is most known for his decades of civil right activism for the African-American community.

He has been an outspoken opponent of 'stop and frisk', police brutality and has advocated on the behalf of Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and countless others over years.

Crump, a world renowned civil rights attorney recently headed the George Floyd legal team and has also taken on the murder cases of 25-year old Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.

Last Friday, Arkansas State Police handed over the results of its investigation into the shooting to prosecutors.

Lonoke County Prosecutor Chuck Graham said his office received the case file on Brittain's shooting death and that the file has been taken to the state prosecutor coordinator since he's requested a special prosecutor to handle the case.

Graham said he does not know what the investigation found and Prosecutor Coordinator Bob McMahan said a special prosecutor should be named early next week.

During an appearance on Sharpton's MSNBC show PoliticsNation , the slain teen's uncle, Jesse Brittain (far right) said he would like to see officer Davis charged with murder and be held accountable for his crime.

Crump attended the funeral of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain on July 7 and called for justice in his case

'He wanted to be a NASCAR driver and I really believe there was nothing that would have stopped him besides those bullets from those officers,' Jesse Brittain said of his nephew Hunter (pictured)

Crump told CNN he believes Brittain's death could push lawmakers to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which has been stalled in the Senate since early March as bipartisan negotiations continue.

The civil rights attorney says he hopes the image of an unarmed, white teenager killed by police will open people's eyes to the fact that anyone in the United States can be a victim of police brutality.

'That is going to be looked at differently because he wasn't a teenager who was a child of color,' Crump told CNN. 'Because we've always said that our white brothers and sisters couldn't fathom their child being killed by the police. That people are supposed to protect them. But that's a reality that parents of children of color literally deal with every day of their lives.'

Although an overwhelming majority of attention is paid to black victims of police shootings, according to Mapping Police Violence since January 156 white people have been killed by police in the U.S. compared to 102 black people.

The database that collects data on police killings also pointed out that black Americans, who make up roughly 14 percent of the U.S. population, are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people, who make up 76 percent of the country's population, CNN reported.

During an appearance on Sharpton's MSNBC show PoliticsNation, the slain teen's uncle, Jesse Brittain said he would like to see officer Davis charged with murder and be held accountable for his crime.

'Its not right, it's not about black or white or brown, it's about us coming together as Americans and fighting for what's right,' he said. 'This qualified immunity, it must end for these law enforcement officers, they can come out and kill our kids and everybody, do anything they want and they have no consequences and it's not fair, something needs to be done.'

Brittain remembered his nephew and someone who loved riding and had big ambitions.

'Aw man, he was an awesome boy,' he said. 'He had his whole life ahead of him. He loved riding four wheelers, he could ride a wheelie as far as you could see, any kind of dirt bike, four-wheeler. He was a hard worker, he busted his butt all summer to get his truck going.'

'He wanted to be a NASCAR driver and I really believe there was nothing that would have stopped him besides those bullets from those officers, he would of definitely made it there if he would've had the chance,' his uncle added as he choked up.



During the segment Sharpton said that there is no difference between what happened to George Floyd and Hunter Brittain and that during the funeral service everyone came to the determination that 'it was not about black or white, but about right and wrong.'

'Both were victims, both are dead... Unless we come together we can't solve it for anyone,' Sharpton said. 'Americans of all races suffer at the hands of police, this is not just racial, its class, its many things but its a lack of accountability, it's an American problem.'

Sharpton asked Crump what needs to be done to stop this from happening over and over again and Crump said that at the end of the day no progress can be made for one racial group unless progress is made for all.

'We all have to come together because we all want our children to get home safely, it doesn't matter whether its a black parent, a white parent, a Hispanic parent, a native parent, it doesn't matter! we want our children to get home and not be killed by the very people who are to protect and defend their lives,' Crump said.

Crump pointed out that he and other civil rights activist have spoken up for all kinds of marginalized groups who have been unjustly killed by police officers.

'The fact that we went when George Floyd was killed unjustly, and said that George Floyd's life mattered,' he said. 'Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed unjustly by police, we said her life mattered, Christian Hall, a young Native American teen killed on a bridge by police in Pennsylvania, we went and said his life mattered and so we have to go Beebe, Arkansas when they killed Hunter Brittain, this 17-year-old unarmed teenager and we have to say as loud as we said for George Floyd 'Hunter Brittain's life matters!'''
Donald Trump said in an interview that aired Monday morning that in order to curb the nationwide spiking crime rate, police need to regain authority in liberal cities where these violent offenses are running rampant.

'Chicago, take a look at the numbers. They had 260 people shot on Fourth of July weekend. New York, through the roof,' Trump said of rising crime numbers in Democrat-run cities. 'Take a look at Los Angeles  what is going on in Los Angeles with the crime. And Oakland and Baltimore.'

'What you have to do is have to give the police back their authority,' he proposed while speaking to Fox News' Lawrence Jones at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Texas on Sunday.

Democrats have tried to deflect the 'defund police' movement into Republicans, despite the progressive idea gaining steam with far-left factions last summer after the police killing of George Floyd.

Donald Trump told Fox News' Lawrence Jones in an interview at CPAC on Sunday that liberal cities need to 'give the police back their authority' in order to curb spiking violent crime

The idea has become widely unpopular and has caused Democrats to walk back on their calls to defund law enforcement agencies and offices  especially as more liberal areas experience an unprecedented rise in violent crime.

'You know the police can stop this,' Trump said of curbing the rising crime in cities.

'The police are afraid they will lose everything if they go after somebody because some bad acts were done,' Trump said, likely alluding to the confrontations caught on camera between the public and law enforcement, including Floyd's death at the hands of former police officer Derek Cahuvin, who was given 22 years in prison.

'Because of those bad acts,' Trump continued, 'they have destroyed these police forces.'

'It's been happening for years even before defund the police,' Jones said.

The former president responded: 'That's right.'

Closing out CPAC as the headline speaker on Sunday evening, Trump bashed Democrats for trying to blame the GOP for the defund police movement and rising crime rates.

Shooting and murder rates are up in New York City, according to the NYPD

'The Democrats know their policies on crime are so unpopular, so radical, and so crazy, they are now trying to pretend they never led the de-fund the police movement in the first place. But everyone knows this is an outrageous lie,' he said to a cheering crowd of supporters.

FBI numbers show that murders are up nearly 25 per cent.

President Joe Biden has insisted that the rising crime rate is due to gun laws in the U.S., and is pushing for more restrictions to Americans' Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

On Monday afternoon, the president will meet with local elected leaders and law enforcement officials to discuss the White House's strategy to reduce gun crimes.

Included in that meeting will be the mayors of D.C. and San Jose, California as well as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who is running for mayor in New York City. The Police Chiefs of the Memphis, Chicago, Wilmington and Newark police departments will also attend the meeting.

'The Democrats know their policies on crime are so unpopular, so radical, and so crazy, they are now trying to pretend they never led the defund the police movement in the first place. But everyone knows this is an outrageous lie,' Trump said during his CPAC speech on Sunday

Trump says the issue isn't gun rights, but Democratic policies in America's biggest cities.

'They have been Democrat for 100 years,' he said of elected officials in cities. 'You look at New York and Chicago and some of these cities, they have been democrat-run and badly run for 100 years.'

'I mean, it's the way it is,' Trump said, adding 'it's almost like a habit  you put a Democrat in.'

The ex-president didn't seem optimistic that Republicans can take more local leadership seats in Democrat-run cities in the 2022 elections.
A multi-billion dollar Covid rescue package for crisis-hit businesses struggling to survive in lockdown is set to be unveiled by the New South Wales state government on Tuesday.

Individuals could be in line for a $600 payment - up from the current $500 disaster payment - to replace lost wages, while small to medium-sized businesses will be offered help to replace lost cash flow.

Payments to business are likely to be linked to payroll and will demand businesses keep all existing staff on the books, according to a report in The Australian.

It comes against a backdrop of escalating Covid case numbers which look set to keep Sydney in lockdown for possibly another few weeks.

Monday's daily tally of 112 cases was the highest the city had seen since April 2020 and there's no sign of the numbers dropping in the days ahead.

New South Wales state government is set to unveil a multi-billion dollar rescue package on Tuesday for crisis-hit businesses struggling to survive in lockdown (pictured, a worker wearing a facemask in Sydney's CBD)

Contact tracers have been finding multiple instances of people testing positive who have continued to work and move within the community while infectious.

In the last two days alone, more than 75 people were found to have working while infected, including one visa lawyer in Sydney's south-west who worked for six days while contagious.

A Monday night meeting with state and federal government is understood to have put together a cash package to try to ease the pain for the state's troubled businesses.

But it's believed NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet has insisted on a clause which ties any cash payments with a commitment from the business not to lay anyone off.

The funding will come jointly from both NSW and federal budgets after the state explored the possibility of introducing their own version of JobKeeper.

'We are expecting some final proposals to come up later this evening,' Prime Minster Scott Morrison told Sky News before the talks began.

'I think we are getting pretty close.'

Individuals could be in line for a $600 payment - up from the current $500 - to replace lost wages, while small to medium-sized businesses will be offered help to replace lost cash flow (pictured, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at the daily media briefing on Monday)

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said every day the government delays any such program means more workers and more small businesses are at risk.

'We call on Scott Morrison to reinstate JobKeeper or something better as soon as possible,' Dr Chalmers said.

Sydney's hospitality industry has been ravaged by the lockdown with bars and restaurants unable to open, and cafes only open for take-away but with significantly reduced customer numbers.

Cafe owner Ron Danieli (pictured) has already had to close two of his three cafes and fears he may not survive if the lockdown is extended

Even before the latest lockdown, already in its third week and looking likely to be extended again, businesses were demanding government help.

Cafe owner Ron Danieli, 49, told Daily Mail Australia: 'I don't think we will ever recover from this. It's killing small business and the middle class.

'There is no one here - there are no tourists and no one coming into the city to work. It's like Chernobyl out there.'

Payments to business are likely to be linked to payroll and will demand business keep all existing staff on the books (pictured, city centre cafe converted to take away only for the duration of the Sydney lockdown)

The move to help business comes as NSW Health released a huge new list of Sydney venues exposed to Covid as the disease continues to spread across the city, including two Kmarts, Coles, Woolworths and 29 public transport routes.

The venues, train and bus lines stretch from the Covid-ravaged southwest to the eastern suburbs, inner west and inner city.

HUGE COVID EXPOSURE SITE LIST FOR SYDNEY REVEALED MONDAY NIGHT Anyone who visited the following venues is considered a close contact and should get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of result: Lakemba: Mataam Al Mandi - Saturday July 10, 3.15pm  3.30pm Roselands: Roselands Fruit World - Wednesday July 7, 4pm - 4.15pm Fairfield: Ware Street Medical Practice - Thursday July 8, 2.40pm - 3.40pm Fairfield: Westpac Fairfield, Neeta City Shopping Centre - Thursday July 8, 1.20pm - 1.40pm Bondi Junction: 99 Bikes Bondi Junction - Saturday July 10, 12.45pm - 2.45pm Green Valley: Priceline, The Valley Plaza 2 - Friday July 9, 2.30pm  3.15pm Yagoona: Cedar Valley Meats - Saturday July 10, 1.30pm  2pm Greenacre: Mr Shawarma - Saturday July 10, 8.30pm  8.45pm Anyone who travelled on the following bus routes at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result Redfern to Beaconsfield: 309 bus - Monday July 5, departed 5.49pm  arrived 5.56pm Redfern to Beaconsfield: 309 bus - Tuesday July 6, departed 5.52pm  arrived 5.57pm Fairfield Heights to Fairfield: 817 bus - Tuesday July 6, departed 2.19pm  arrived 2.22pm Fairfield to Fairfield Heights: 800 bus - Tuesday July 6, departed 3.02pm  arrived 3.07pm Haymarket to Forest Lodge: 438X bus - Tuesday July 6, departed 9.44am  arrived 9.50am Ultimo to Haymarket: 438X bus - Thursday July 8, departed 7.09pm  arrived 7.15pm Jannali to Kareela: 968 bus - Tuesday July 6, departed 2.32pm  arrived 2.39pm Miranda to Kareela: 968 bus - Wednesday July 7, departed 12.35pm  arrived 12.54pm Sydney to Neutral Bay: 173X bus - Thursday July 8, departed 6.24am  arrived 6.35am Neutral Bay to Sydney: 170X bus - Thursday July 8, departed 8.23am  arrived 8.32am Sydney to Zetland: 304 bus - Friday July 9, departed 2.46pm  arrived 3.09pm Zetland to Sydney: 320 bus - Saturday July 10, departed 7.40am  arrived 7.57am NSW Health also wishes to advise of additional times to previously announced venues. Anyone who attended these venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result Fairfield: iMedic iCare Medical Centre - Friday July 9, 8.30am - 6.30pm and Saturday July 10, 8.30am - 6.30pm Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received Glebe: Schnitz Broadway - Thursday July 8, 6.30pm  6.45pm Centennial Park: Centennial Homestead Cafe - Wednesday July 7, 12pm  12.30pm Camperdown: 7-Eleven service station - Tuesday July 6, 10am  10.20am Bankstown: Pharmacy 4 Less, Bankstown Central - Friday July 9, 9am - 9.15am Bankstown: Kmart, Bankstown Central - Friday July 9, 11am  11.30am Bankstown: Big W, Bankstown Central - Friday July 9, 11am  11.30am Hurstville: No.1 Malatang Restaurant - Tuesday July 6. 5.10pm  6pm Bondi Junction: Australia Post, Westfield Bondi Junction - Tuesday July 6, 12.50pm  1.10pm Fairfield West: Coles Fairfield West - Saturday July 10, 12.30pm  1.30pm Casula: Kmart, Casula Mall - Thursday July 8, 6pm  6.45pm Wetherill Park: Woolworths Wetherill Park - Friday July 9, 3pm  3.15pm, Saturday July 10, 12pm  12.35pm Oran Park: Woolworths Oran Park - Friday July 9, 6am  2pm, Saturday July 10, 6am  4pm, Sunday July 11, 6am  11.20am Anyone who travelled on the following train routes at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received T2 Line: From Lidcombe Station to Auburn Station - Sunday July 4, departed 4.10pm, arrived 4.20pm T2 Line: From Lidcombe Station to Redfern Station - Sunday July 4, departed 5.55pm, arrived 6.20pm T9 Line: From Burwood Station to Wynyard Station - Monday July 5, departed 5.40am, arrived 6.02am T8 Line: From Wynyard Station to Green Square Station - Monday July 5, departed 10.15am, arrived 10.33am T8 Line: From Green Square Station to Wynyard Station - Monday July 5, departed 6.11pm, arrived 6.15pm T9 Line: From Central Station to Burwood Station - Monday July 5, departed 6.23pm, arrived 6.34pm T8 Line: From Green Square Station to Lidcombe Station - Monday July 5, departed 2.29pm, arrived 3pm T2 Line: From Lidcombe Station to Redfern Station - Monday July 5, departed 5.24pm, arrived 5.47pm T8 Line: From Kingsgrove Station to Circular Quay Station - Monday July 5, departed 5.43am, arrived 6.04am T8 Line: From Circular Quay Station to Kingsgrove Station - Monday July 5, departed 3.07pm, arrived 3.36pm T2 Line: From Lidcombe Station to Redfern Station - Tuesday July 6, departed 5.26pm, arrived 5.47pm T4 Line: From Bondi Junction Station to Central Station - Tuesday July 6, departed 9.08am, arrived 9.28am T4 Line: From Hurstville Station to Jannali Station - Tuesday July 6, departed 2.06pm, arrived 2.18pm T4 Line: From Penshurst Station to Hurstville Station - Tuesday July 6, departed 10.21pm, arrived 10.34pm T4 Line: From Hurstville Station to Miranda Station - Tuesday July 6, departed 11.49am, arrived 12.17pm T3 Line: From Central Station to Sydenham Station - Saturday July 10, departed 2.28pm, arrived 2.42pm T3 Line: From Sydenham Station to Central Station - Saturday July 10, departed 3.59pm, arrived 4.16pm NSW Health also wishes to advise of additional times to previously announced venues. Anyone who attended these venues at the times listed is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received Fairfield Heights: Woolworths Fairfield Heights - Wednesday July 7, 6.45pm  7.15pm Roselands: Coles Roselands - Wednesday June 30, 4.45pm  5.45pm, Wednesday July 7, 3.15pm  4.05pm Advertisement

The trail of contagion across the city sparked a call from Ms Berejiklian for millions of Sydneysiders to stay locked down at home unless they recently tested negative for Covid.

The premier admitted she feared people may be travelling all over the city while unknowingly infectious, including essential workers.

The plea comes after contact tracers discovered some of the latest cases in Fairfield had continued to work full shifts in offices for days while infected with the disease.

The trail of contagion across the city sparked a call from Premier Gladys Berejiklian for millions of Sydneysiders to stay locked down at home unless they recently tested negative for Covid (pictured, walkers at Rushcutters Bay in the city's east during lockdown)

All workers in Sydney should be working from home unless they are essential, such as frontline workers, or their work can't be done from home, such as tradies and shop staff.

With 112 new cases on Monday, Ms Berejiklian warned it is 'almost impossible' for the state to lift restrictions on Friday, July 16 as originally planned.

'Even if you regard yourself as an essential worker, especially in the Fairfield local government area, do not leave home if you have symptoms,' Ms Berejiklian pleaded.

'Do not go to work unless you absolutely know that you don't have the virus.

'The future is in our hands. It really is up to us.'
A group of parents whose children attend New England private schools has launched a campaign to fight the 'indoctrination' of students with 'woke' ideas about race and social issues after they were told not to use gender-specific language.

The Boston-based group Parents United said parents were 'shocked' about some of the teachings at a number of schools when they saw their children's online lessons at home during the pandemic.

Executive Director and cofounder of the group Ashley Jacobs told the Boston Globe students are 'being taught what to think, rather than how', as she vowed to fight for 'true diversity of thought' in classrooms.

In at least one unnamed school, Jacobs said middle school students were being told to consider their own gender identity.

Other examples the group has taken issue with are a discussion that assumed students were in support of Black Lives Matter and children being told not to use gender-specific language.

The campaign marks just the latest instance where parents across America are going to war with their children's schools over what they describe as 'woke' curriculum and the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT).

A group of parents whose children attend New England private schools has launched a campaign to fight the 'indoctrination' of students with 'woke' ideas about race and social issues. Pictured the website for Boston-based group Parents United

Jacobs slammed the private schools for pushing one-sided, inflammatory, or age-inappropriate content which has left students 'afraid to say anything because there are so many people [they] can offend.'

The campaign also argues schools don't allow for different views on social issues, spend too much time on ideological, non-academic subjects, bring in programs from outside consultants rather than in-house educators and are teaching their children principles and values that should be left to parents to teach their children.

'We don't want people to feel scared to ask a question, or kids to be afraid to say anything because there are so many people [they] can offend,' she told the Globe.

She added: 'It's hard to talk about this, and I think that's why more parents don't stand up.

'But there's more damage to be done by staying silent and allowing it to continue.'

Jacobs declined to share the names of the schools the parents had issues with, citing a fear of retaliation against the children, and several schools did not respond to the outlet when asked if they were involved.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Parents United for more detail on the specific schools and examples of the 'woke' curriculum being taught.

Since Jacobs cofounded the group in May along with three other moms in Boston, Parents United has written to the agencies responsible for accrediting schools in New England.

Executive Director and cofounder of the group Ashley Jacobs (pictured) said students are 'being taught what to think, rather than how' in New England private schools

In a letter on May 11 to The Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the group raised their 'growing concerns about the direction of education among New England schools.'

'As the public discourse erodes and the complexity of life increases, we believe that diverse viewpoints in K-12 education is more important than ever,' the letter reads.

'Critical thinking, logic, and other essential cognitive skills develop during childhood, and it is vital that our children learn to engage in thoughtful and respectful conversations.

'One cannot truly develop their own perspective until they understand additional viewpoints.'

The group warned about what it described as 'threats to free and open discourse' and the 'perilous implications of academic censorship' which 'pose a considerable and demonstrable threat to the quality education we wish to provide for our children.'

The parents called on the accreditors to 'help defend the right to disagree' by making the accreditation process include the need for schools to protect free speech of students, staff and parent and to ensure both students and educators are exposed to a variety of voices and thoughts.

The two agencies - as well as the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation - responded in a letter saying that the accreditation process includes 'permitting and encouraging freedom of inquiry, diversity of viewpoints, and independent and critical thinking' in schools.

Parents United sent a letter (above) to the agencies responsible for accrediting schools in New England citing their 'growing concerns about the direction of education'

The agencies responded in a letter (above) saying that the accreditation process includes 'permitting and encouraging freedom of inquiry, diversity of viewpoints, and independent and critical thinking' in schools

In a follow-up letter (above), the parents responded asking for an 'immediate meeting' with the accreditors

The accreditors declined (see letter above), saying it is not their role to 'redraft or change Standards with organizations that are not part of our membership'

CRITICAL RACE THEORY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The fight over critical race theory in schools has escalated in the United States over the last year. The theory has sparked a fierce nationwide debate in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests around the country over the last year and the introduction of the 1619 Project. The 1619 Project, which was published by the New York Times in 2019 to mark 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived on American shores, reframes American history by 'placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the center of the US narrative'. The debate surrounding critical race theory regards concerns that some children are being indoctrinated into thinking that white people are inherently racist or sexist. Those against critical race theory have argued it reduces people to the categories of 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on their skin color. Supporters, however, say the theory is vital to eliminating racism because it examines the ways in which race influence American politics, culture and the law. Advertisement

The parents responded with a follow-up letter asking for an 'immediate meeting' with the accreditors.

They declined, saying it is not their role to 'redraft or change Standards with organizations that are not part of our membership.'

AISNE told the Globe she was aware that parents had a 'emotions and responses' to schools teaching race and equity in the classroom.

'Many parents feel affirmed and excited about it and some schools have seen resistance from some parents,' she said.

Parents United has also partnered with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), The Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR) and 1776 Unites in its mission.

The debate around anti-racist teachings and CRT has largely been divided along party lines, with conservatives claiming it teaches children to regard themselves as 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on skin color.

Meanwhile, liberals say it is vital to understand how race impacts society in order to eliminate racism.

Jacobs insisted the group is not partisan however GOP donor Chris Egan and his wife Jean sit on the advisory board.

'We're not picking a side - that's the opposite of what we want,' she said, adding that it was created in order to 'empower parents to advocate for their children.'

She said around 400 unique users have visited the site and subscribed to its newsletter since its launch.

The group is now planning a conference for parents in Boston in October, and is carrying out a survey of New England students and parents.

Parents United is just one of a number of parent-led groups and campaigns launched in recent months to push back against what they say is 'woke' curriculum being taught in schools.

In Ohio, two moms founded the Pro-CA Coalition back in January, campaigning against what they say is 'political extremism and a culture of fear and administration' at private school Columbus Academy.

Parents United said it is non-partisan however GOP donor Chris Egan and his wife Jean (pictured together in May 2019) sit on the advisory board

As part of the campaign they say they have collected sworn testaments from other parents accusing the school of pushing progressive ideas about race on students and discriminating against conservative thinking.

The private school expelled the children of the parents who founded the group this month saying the parents breached their contract with the school to nurture a 'positive and constructive working relationship'.

Meanwhile, America's wealthiest suburb - Loudoun County, Virginia - has repeatedly hit headlines in recent months, with parents going to war with the school board over its anti-racist curriculum.

Parents are demanding the removal of several members of the school district board while school officials insist that CRT is not on the curriculum pointing to 'misconceptions and misinformation' in the media.

Last month, two people were arrested during a school board meeting that descended into chaos amid debates over CRT teachings and a new transgender policy.

Several parents of children at New York City elite private schools are also up in arms about them being taught critical race theory lessons from an early age.

At Dalton, a group of parents penned an anonymous open letter to the school describing an 'obsessive focus on race and identity'.

The school was then embroiled in further controversy as parents fumed that first-graders were shown sex education videos that appeared to include information about masturbation.

Parents United is just one of a number of parent-led groups and campaigns launched in recent months to push back against what they say is 'woke' curriculum being taught in schools. Loudoun County Public Schools (admin offices above) has been at the center of controversy

Parents in Loudoun County, Virginia, are seen protesting at a school district board meeting in June as they demand the removal of several members of the board while amid debates over CRT teachings and a new transgender policy

Parents attend a packed Loudoun County School board meeting in June which descended into chaos

Meanwhile, Spence came under fire for its diversity curriculum in April when it commented on Derek Chauvin's conviction for the murder of George Floyd.

The school, which boasts notable alum including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kerry Washington, sent a letter out and posted a statement on its website.

In it, head Bodie Brizendine called the conviction a 'crucible moment for our nation and for our ongoing struggle for racial justice and equity.'

'The jury's verdict, an important step toward accountability and healing, however, does not erase the tragedy of the murder of George Floyd, and there is important work ahead that requires our collective voice and courage,' the letter reads.

An alum who asked not to be named received the letter and was appalled, telling DailyMail.com she was shocked at 'how they forced students to get involved' in the trial.

'Where is the protection of innocence?' she said.

Critical Race Theory highlights how historical inequities and racism continue to shape public policy and social conditions today.

It has become a key focus on the curriculum of schools over the last year amid the nationwide reckoning for racial justice following the murder of George Floyd.

But it has starkly divided opinion.

Conservatives allege that students are being taught a warped version of American history that claims the impact of slavery remains present throughout society, while supporters say it is vital to understand how race impacts society in order to eliminate racism.
The four suspects arrested in a Denver hotel raid that uncovered 16 long guns and 1,000 rounds of ammunition have been pictured for the first time - as one of them claimed the situation is a 'giant misunderstanding' and said he believes group were planning on selling the weapons.

Authorities raided two rooms at the Maven Hotel, which is a block from Coors Field where the All-Star game will be held, on Friday night after receiving a tip from a maid who spotted a rifle while cleaning one of the rooms.

Richard Platt, 42; Ricardo Rodriguez, 44; Gabriel Rodriguez, 48; and Kanoelehua Serikawa, 43, were all taken into custody and charged with weapons and drug offenses.

The three men, who all have lengthy criminal histories in Colorado, are each charged with possession of a weapon by a previous offender possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Serikawa, the only woman who was arrested, is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and a warrant from another jurisdiction.

Police have released few details about the arrests or the ongoing investigation. They have also not disclosed how, if at all, the four suspects knew each other.

Richard Platt, 42; Ricardo Rodriguez, 44; Gabriel Rodriguez, 48; and Kanoelehua Serikawa, 43, (left to right, top to bottom) were all taken into custody and charged with weapons and drug offenses

Ricardo Rodriguez told CBS Denver in a jail interview on Sunday that he had only met Richard Platt last Thursday through mutual friends when he arrived in the city from Washington state.

It is believed that the hotel rooms that were raided belonged to Platt and Ricardo Rodriguez. Ricardo admitted during the jail interview to having a handgun and AK-47 in his room.

Ricardo said there was a haul of weapons inside Platts' hotel room.

'They had quite a bit. They had a sniper rifle, probably two of them. Three mid-sized assault rifles, AK-47s. Probably another short-entry weapon. Numerous firearms ranging from 9mm to 40mm,' he said.

'He said he was collecting them for his friends. He had a lot of guns... I don't know what his intentions were.

'My understanding is he was going to be selling them, trading them, that's about it.'

Rodriguez said he builds guns and donates them to military veterans.

Despite initial fears of a Las Vegas-style mass shooting given the stash of guns and close proximity to Coors Park, Ricardo claimed he went to Platt's hotel room because he wanted tickets to the MLB game and that he had no knowledge of any plans to target the stadium.

'There is no way I would allow anybody that I knew to actively shoot into a crowd with women and children and families. There is no way whatsoever,' Ricardo said.

'I can tell you, if I had have seen (Platts) preparing for something like that I would have intervened, absolutely. There's no way I would have let something like that happen.'

Stephen Paddock, 64, killed 60 people when he fired from his Mandalay Bay Hotel room onto a county music crowd below on the Las Vegas Strip in October 2017.

Richard Platt, 42; (left) Gabriel Rodriguez, 48; Ricardo Rodriguez, 44; (right) Kanoelehua Serikawa, 43, were all charged following the raid on the Maven Hotel in Denver on Friday night

Authorities raided two rooms at the Maven Hotel, which is a block from Coors Field where the All-Star game will be held, after receiving a tip from a maid who spotted a rifle while cleaning one of the rooms. One of the men is pictured being escorted from the hotel

The three men, who all have criminal histories in Colorado, are each charged with possession of a weapon by a previous offender, as well as other charges. One of the three men is pictured being detained in the lobby of the hotel

Police uncovered a haul of 16 long guns, body armor and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. They also found drugs and a stash of cash inside the hotel rooms

Piles of cash are seen on the floor as officers combed the room on Friday for evidence

The FBI on Sunday said they did not believe the arrests were connected to Tuesday's MLB All-Star game.

Law enforcement sources have said the raids are likely linked to the exchange of weapons and drugs.

'We have no reason to believe this incident was connected to terrorism or a threat directed at the All-Star Game,' the FBI said. 'We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players, or the community at this time.'

It comes after sources told Denver Channel that one of the men who was arrested had posted on Facebook about wanting to 'go out in a big way'.

The exact context of that message was not immediately clear.

Platt, who works in construction and has a son, has a criminal history that dates back to 1998 and relates to a prohibited use of a weapon charge. He also has previous convictions on weapons and drugs charges, receiving stolen property, theft and assault.

Gabriel Rodriguez has past felony drug convictions and several misdemeanor convictions dating back to 1993. Ricardo Rodriguez, who is of no relation, has a felony fraud conviction and a misdemeanor drug conviction that dates back to 1996.

The Maven hotel in Denver is seen on Sunday, after the raid on Friday night

Platt faced court on Sunday and was held on a $50,000 bond. The other three will face court on Monday.

He had pleaded with the judge to allow him to be released, citing a new job.

'I do have a brand new job... and I've made every court date on my last cases. I made every one. I have not missed any court dates,' he said.

A SWAT team had descended on the hotel on Friday night after receiving the tip and footage taken by witnesses showed at least two of the four being taken into custody.

Police uncovered a haul of 16 long guns, body armor and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. They also found drugs and a stash of cash.

Mayor Michael Hancock and police Chief Paul Pazen praised the hotel's staff for alerting authorities and sought to ease any concerns that the area around the ballpark is unsafe.

They declined to say what, if anything, the suspects were planning to do with the firearms.

'We don't know what we don't know. That's what the investigation is all about,' Pazen said during a news conference.

'We need to identify exactly, to the extent possible, why (the) individuals were here in the first place, why (the) proximity to downtown. We don't have those answers.'

Coors Field will host the All-Star Game on Tuesday but festivities have been underway in and around the ballpark and downtown for the past several days.

Police said in a statement that visitors should always be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious or illegal behavior.
A Virginia mother was savagely beaten in front of her sobbing two-year-old son, had bleach poured down her throat, was shot through the eye, stabbed multiple times and left for dead after attempting to leave a Bloods offshoot gang she had joined just days earlier, according to prosecutors.

Brianna Arrington, 20, was found bloodied and clinging to life in the front seat of a Mercedes nine hours after her tormentors had tried their best to kill her in April 2020.

The gang members then took Arrington's son, drove him 5 miles and dumped him in the street, where hours later a sanitation worker found the toddler wandering alone in a downpour.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Katie Beye said during a hearing earlier this month that Arrington is lucky to be alive, despite having lost an eye and the hearing in her right ear.

'She was beaten by all of the members of the gang that were there. She was pistol-whipped. She was stabbed multiple times, possibly strangled,' the prosecutor recounted in court, as reported by The Virginian-Pilot.

More than 15 months after the near-fatal attack, the case against Arrington's 10 accused would-be killers, all suspected members of the Outlaw Bloods street gang from Norfolk, is still winding its way through Virginia's court system.

During a preliminary hearing in December, about eight months after her brush with death, Arrington testified during a preliminary hearing about her harrowing ordeal.

As she testified, she removed her prosthetic eye to show her horrific wound to the court.

These 10 alleged members of the Outlaw Bloods street gang in Norfolk, Virginia, are facing charges for the April 2020 attack on 20-year-old Brianna Arrington, who survived despite being shot in the eye, stabbed and nearly drowned in bleach

Arrington said she was working two jobs to support her two-year-old son but was still homeless when in November 2019 she met Skylar 'Thump' Webb, 18, who, in turn, introduced her to fellow members of the Outlaw Bloods, according to police.

Arrington claimed she did not know at first that her new acquaintances were gang members.

They let her stay with her son at an apartment in the Arlay Point apartment complex, and seemed to take care of one another.

'I wanted to be part of a family,' Arrington told the court during the hearing in December. 'They gave me a place to stay. I was homeless. Me and my son didnt have nowhere to go, and thats where I went because I thought they were cool people.'

Arrington eventually learned that her adoptive 'family' was, in fact, a violent street gang, and by mid-April its members invited her to join.

'I said I wanted to be part of a family,' Arrington testified. 'I didnt want to be any part of any gang.'

Arrington's initiation ceremony consisted of her being 'jumped in,' or beaten by all the members of the gang for more than 20 minutes, during which she was expected to fight back.

Arrington testified she was beaten inside an apartment at the Arlay Apartments complex (pictured) in front of her 2-year-old son

The young mom said she was not a good gang member and had a hard time learning secret handshakes and Bloods history and traditions. Every time she got something wrong, Arrington was subjected to a beating.

In the first few days as a gang member, Arrington said she was physically punished up to a half-dozen times. But that was only a prelude to the horror that would unfold on April 23.

That night, Arrington was sent to pick up pizza and bring it to the gang's headquarters for a dinner-and-a-movie night.

As the gang members were watching the new remake of The Lion King, Arrington was quizzed on Bloods lore and was again beaten for getting the answers wrong.

The situation escalated after Arrington supposedly spoke to a higher-ranking gang member in a rude manner, earning her a more severe beating.

The 20-year-old rookie gang member then approached the alleged leader of the local gang, Brandon 'Sayso' Winnegan, 31, and asked him for permission to part ways with the group, telling him she was not 'built for this stuff.'

'I said, "Im not that type of person. I dont know how to do all this. It wasnt me, and Im not OK with it,' Arrington said from the witness stand. 'I wasnt built for this.'

Instead of giving Arrington her 'walking papers' - slang for permission to leave the gang - Winnegan announced to the entire group that the new recruit wanted out, then allegedly punched her in the face.

Suspects Toparshia Hodges and Asja Smith-Moore allegedly told the leader that Arrington would have to be killed because she knew too much about the gang and might talk.

Arrington recounted how suspect Xavier Walker stuffed one of her own socks in her mouth to muffle her screams and beat her in front of her crying toddler son.

Winnegan allegedly pistol-whipped Arrington in the face, choked her and poured bleach into her mouth while others pinned her to the floor.

'He tried to drown me with bleach,' she said.

The gang members later carried Arrington out to her silver Mercedes parked downstairs and placed her in the driver's seat with her son in her lap, but she could not drive away because she did not have her car keys.

Arrington said the attackers then surrounded the car, with at least six of them brandishing guns. Hodges accused the 20-year-old of 'not being a good mother' because she was holding her son in her arms for protection.

Arrington agreed to place the boy in the backseat.

She honked the horn to get someone's attention, but to no avail.

'I cant remember anything else after that,' Arrington said in court. 'It just went black.'

Next, Arrington was reportedly moved to another location, where she was stabbed multiple times in the head and back, shot through her right eye, with the bullet miraculously missing her brain and exiting through her right ear, and left to die in the car.

Beye, the prosecutor, told the court the suspects decided to spare the child's life out of concern that killing him would spark an intense police response.

Seven hours after Arrington's child was found, police received a 911 call about a woman inside a bullet-riddled Mercedes parked in the 500 block of Glendale Avenue.

An officer who responded to the scene described Arrington as covered in blood, with both her eyes swollen shut.

'I assumed that she was dead. I didnt expect her to respond,' said the officer.

But when the cop called out to her, Arrington stirred and grunted in response.

The brutal violence cost the 20-year-old woman her right eye, and she also cannot hear out of her right ear.

At the time of her testimony in December, Arrington said she was taking 28 pills every day and was looking to undergo at least six surgeries to repair some of the extensive damage to her body.

'I used to wake up screaming and hollering and crying a lot, and fighting in my sleep,' she said.

In June 2020, police in Norfolk arrested the 10 alleged members of the Outlaw Bloods in connection with the attack on Arrington, identified as: Brendon Winnegan; Deondre Watkins; Javonne Hodges; Toparshia Hodges; Asja Smith-Moore; Sadia Brown; Ginger McAfee; Skylar Webb; Tavarrius Mitchell and Xavier Walker, reported 13NewsNow.

Charges against the suspects include malicious wounding; use of firearm in commission of a felony; abduction; mob assault; conspiracy to commit felony; grand larceny; gang hazing; gang participating, and gang recruitment.
The U.S. sent a multi-agency government delegation to Haiti Sunday, following the government's urgent request for the U.S. to send military troops following the assassination of the Haitian president.

The White House confirmed the trip in a written statement Monday, but was silent on the issue of troops.

'On July 11, a United States interagency delegation with representatives from the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and National Security Council traveled to Haiti in response to the Haitian governments request for security and investigative assistance following the July 7 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise,' said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne in a statement.

A U.S. delegation traveled to Haiti Sunday and met with Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph (at podium) and other officials, following the assassination of President Moise Jovenel

The delegation met with Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph as well as Prime Minister-Designate Ariel Henry. Joseph has been among those pleading for U.S. or UN troops to provide stability in the country.

The delegation 'reviewed the security of critical infrastructure with Haitian government officials and met with the Haitian National Police, who are leading the investigation into the assassination,' according to the White House.

Haiti's interim government on Friday surprised U.S. officials with a request for troops. The request poses challenges on multiple fronts: it comes just as President Joe Biden is orchestrating the final pullout of U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, which he calls the 'forever' war. The U.S. sent troops to Haiti in 1915 after the assassination of another president, kicking off a two decade occupation that is still prominent in the Caribbean nation's historical memory.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. was 'analyzing' Haiti's request for troops

Suspects in the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moise, among them Haitian-American citizens James Solages, left, and Joseph Vincent, second left, are shown to the media at the General Direction of the police in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, July 8, 2021

Haiti's President Jovenel Moise was killed in his home July 7

Weaponry, mobile phones, passports and other items are being shown to the media along with suspects in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, who was shot dead early Wednesday at his home, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti July 8, 2021

The White House announced Monday that the delegation had traveled to Haiti Sunday

'We definitely need assistance and weve asked our international partners for help, Joseph told the Associated press Friday. We believe our partners can assist the national police in resolving the situation.

The delegation also met with Senate President Joseph Lambert. The meetings were 'to encourage open and constructive dialogue to reach a political accord that can enable the country to hold free and fair elections,' according to the White House. 'In all their meetings the delegation committed to supporting the Haitian government as it seeks justice in this case and affirmed the United States support for the people of Haiti in this challenging time. The United States stands with Haiti in becoming a safer, more democratic country.'

Haitian Prime Minister designate Ariel Henry

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby was non-committal when asked about Haiti's request on 'Fox News Sunday.'

"We're analyzing it, just like we would any other request for assistance here at the Pentagon. It's going through a review,' he said.

We definitely need assistance and weve asked our international partners for help, Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph told the AP in a phone interview late Friday. We believe our partners can assist the national police in resolving the situation.

Haitian police on Sunday arrested Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haiti-born doctor who lives in Florida who arrived in Haiti last month. They accused Sanon, 63, of being one of the masterminds behind the plot.

The president was assassinated at his home July 7.
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan stepped down from his post on Monday at a ceremony in Kabul, marking a symbolic end to 20 years of American military involvement in the country.

President Joe Biden said the U.S. withdrawal will be complete by Aug. 31 leaving Afghan forces to battle the resurgent Taliban, who have gained territory across the country.

Gen. Austin 'Scott' Miller, who has led U.S. and NATO forces in the country for the past three years, passed command to another four-star general, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command. He will operate from his headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

Miller said: 'The people of Afghanistan will be in my heart and on my mind for the rest of my life.'

He also added that, 'Our job now is not to forget,' those who sacrificed their lives.

U.S. Army Gen. Scott Miller, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, left, hands over his command to Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, right, at a ceremony at Resolute Support headquarters, in Kabul, Afghanistan

Gen. Miller has led U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan for the past three years. The U.S. is a step closer to ending a 20-year military presence that became known as its 'forever war,' as Taliban insurgents continue to gain territory across the country.y

McKenzie told Afghan forces: 'You can count on our support in the dangerous and difficult days ahead.' He took command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Monday

Miller talks with Chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah during an official handover ceremony at the Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul

For his part McKenzie told Afghan forces: 'You can count on our support in the dangerous and difficult days ahead.'

During his journey to Kabul he told reporters that the Taliban appeared intent on a 'military victory' over the Afghan government.

But he said the insurgents would meet greater resistance if it tried to take Kabul, with its sophisticated defenses and greater population than when the Taliban controlled it in the 1990s.

'I think, certainly, the provincial capitals are at risk, and well see how that shakes out over the next few weeks,' he told reporters traveling with him on a military aircraft over the Atlantic, according to the Washington Post.

'I think the Afghans are determined to fight very hard for those provincial capitals.'

But he said their ultimate aim may be to seek a political settlement with Afghan officials.

The handover was held at the heavily fortified Operation Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul amid more reports of Taliban advances.

Fighters surrounded the central city of Ghazni, officials said on Monday, as insurgents continued their push.

Clashes were also reported in the southern province of Kandahar, a Taliban heartland.

'Since the past four days, armed Taliban are attacking...Kandahar city from the western direction,' Hamidzai Lalay, a former member of Parliament who is fighting with militiamen against the Taliban, told Reuters.

'Afghan security forces, including special forces, are fighting the Taliban and trying to push them back.'

The Taliban and the government have been meeting in Qatar's capital Doha for peace talks but they have made little progress.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have captured at least 150 of the country's 400 districts in the past two months.

And last week, they claimed two border crossings - with Iran and Turkmenistan.

Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers stand guard on a road side check point in Herat, the provincial capital of Herat province neighboring Iran

Militiamen loyal to Ata Mohammad Noor, chief of Jamiat-e-Islami and a powerful northern warlord, stand guard at their office in Mazar-e-Sharif north of Kabul, Afghanistan

The Taliban claim to be in control of 85 per cent of Afghanistan, including its main border crossing point with Iran at Islam Qala (left) - though observers say the true figure is 30 per cent

Miller sat between McKenzie and Abdullah Abdullah, head of Afghanistan's National Reconciliation Council, right, during the change of leader ceremony

In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, a Taliban judge offered a glimpse of what life would be like under Islamist rule.

Gul Rahim, 38, described cutting hands and legs off thieves, issuing permits for women to leave their homes and toppling walls on gay men as a form of execution in his Taliban-controlled district in central Afghanistan.

He added that his aim is to introduce the Sharia punishments across the whole of the country if the Taliban can re-take control once America departs, saying: 'That was our goal and always will be.'

Their propaganda push has included boasts that they control 85 percent of territory, although Afghan officials say the true figure is much lower and that they have been unable to seize and hold provincial capital.

Even so, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told CNN on Friday: 'What we have seen is a deteriorating security situation on the ground, no questions about that, that the Taliban continues to take district centers.'

The worsening situation has heaped pressure on Biden for his decision to withdraw. Last week he delivered a defense of his reasoning.

'Let me ask: How many more, how many thousands more Americans, daughters and sons are you willing to risk?'

'I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan with no reasonable expectation of achieving a different outcome,' he said.

Responding to reporters questions after his speech he said he did not believe a Taliban takeover of the country was inevitable.

His administration is still grappling with unresolved questions, such as how to fulfill a promise to relocate thousands of interpreters who worked with American troops.

And will the U.S. continue to provide air support to Afghan troops once the withdrawal is complete?

The administration has said it will carry out airstrikes against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State but will have to base aircraft hours away in the Persian Gulf until it can reach agreements with neighboring countries.
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SAGE today signed off on plans to end Covid restrictions in England next week after estimating there will be 10 times fewer deaths and half as many hospital admissions in the third wave compared to previous peaks.

Modelling by the expert group said it was realistic to expect between 100 to 200 daily fatalities and 1,000 to 2,000 hospital admissions at the worst of the current outbreak this autumn, following the unlocking on July 19.

There is a ten-fold lower risk of dying from Covid now than in the second wave and a fourfold lower risk of being admitted to hospital because of the 'vaccine effect' and the fact younger people now make up the bulk of cases.

For this reason, the group  whose projections have guided No10 through the pandemic  expects the number of daily deaths to be 'considerably smaller' than the 1,200 recorded in January and anticipates hospital admissions will stay 'well below' the 4,000 in the winter.

The forecasts were revealed as part of a tranche of documents published today and submitted to ministers last week. They will have given No10 the confidence to press ahead with Freedom Day next Monday.

While the central modelling points towards a much smaller epidemic than previously seen, SAGE admitted its calculations were highly uncertain and warned that the crisis could quickly spiral to record levels if people suddenly abandon all personal precautions on July 19.

This could lead to 4,800 admissions per day in a worst-case scenario. 'The priority should be to avoid a very rapid return to pre-pandemic behaviour which could lead to a peak in hospitalisations similar to, or possibly even higher than, previous peaks,' SAGE concluded. Daily deaths could surpass 500 in this scenario.

According to a model by Imperial College London  headed by 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson, who was instrumental in the initial shutdown last spring  there could be 12,000 daily admissions if immunity from vaccines and previous infection fades quicker than expected.

His team's gloomiest predictions  based on a whole host of factors that could go wrong in the next few months  also warned of a peak of beyond 25,000 daily hospital admissions and 3,000 deaths.

SAGE said that the slower Britons return to normal life, the better, and have urged people to keep wearing masks in crowded areas, meet friends outside where possible and isolate if they feel ill or are 'pinged' by the NHS contact tracing app.

The advisory panel has also signed off on the July 19 date because delaying restrictions would only push the peak back into winter, when the NHS will be wrestling with seasonal pressures.

Exactly when the third peak will happen is still not known but the experts believe it will be sometime in August at the earliest. They are bracing for more than 100,000 daily infections - which would dwarf the peak of 60,000 in January - and are expecting cases to stay 'extremely high' all summer.

The group is advising the Government puts 'contingency plans' in place so that restrictions can be quickly rolled back if the NHS starts to buckle under the pressure of an influx of admissions.

COVID DEATHS: SAGE modelled five different scenarios after July based on how quickly people stop social distancing and following basic Covid measures. The worst-case scenario (in purple) would see people go back to pre-pandemic normal within a month and could lead to more than 500 deaths per day in October. A more gradual relaxation would see deaths remain in the 100 to 200 range at the peak (shown in light blue, dark blue and red)

DAILY HOSPITALISATIONS: The group expects there to be between 1,000 and 2,000 admissions at the peak this autumn, with its most central estimate shown in light blue. However, the group says its modelling is highly uncertain and depends on how fast people ditch personal precautions. For this reason the confidence intervals suggest there could be more than 3,000 daily admissions

COVID BED OCCUPANCY: SAGE modelled five scenarios after July based on how quickly people stopped social distancing and dumped other Covid measures. They found under the more pessimistic model when people quickly reverted to pre-pandemic levels of socialising there could be around 18,000 Covid patients in hospitals by September (yellow and purple lines). But in more optimistic scenarios when people were more cautious about socialising, they surged to a high of between 10,000 and 8,000 beds occupied in September

In a worst-case scenario daily hospitalisations could soar beyond 12,000, according to modelling by Imperial College London, headed by 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson, who was instrumental in the initial shutdown last spring. This model assumed that people who are unvaccinated and were previously infected with the Kent variant are still susceptible to catching the Indian strain, which would scupper hopes that Britain can get to herd immunity through a combination of natural infections and vaccinations this winter

The modelling, published by SAGE today but dated July 7, provides the first look at what letting Covid infect 100,000 people per day could look like after July 19.

New health secretary Sajid Javid warned last week that the Government was prepared for six-digit infection numbers on the back of the unlocking, but did not reveal how many of these cases would fall severely ill or die.

The scale of the third wave remains highly uncertain, SAGE said, because it remains to be seen how people will behave when curbs are lifted.

There are smaller uncertainties including how long vaccine immunity lasts and the true number of people who have not been for a jab yet - because population numbers are not yet available from the census earlier this year.

Britain records 34,471 Covid cases as infections rise by 26% in a week but deaths fall slightly to just six Britain recorded 34,471 Covid cases today as the country's outbreak continues to grow  even though deaths have fallen to just six. Department of Health statistics show the daily infection tally has risen by 26.1 per cent in a week, although there are early signs that the outbreak may be slowing down. Meanwhile, data also showed the number of infected patients dying from coronavirus has dropped slightly. Nine victims were added to the official toll last week. However, daily counts can fluctuate and today's low death figure is likely to be a blip given that cases have been spiralling over the past month amid the rapid spread of the Indian Delta variant. No hospitalisation statistics were released for Britain today, although NHS facilities have seen a notable uptick in the number of Covid patients needing medical care over the last few weeks. Advertisement

The central forecast of a maximum 200 daily deaths and 2,000 hospital admissions is based on people gradually edging back to normal over several months.

It also works on the assumption that people continue to stay at home if they're sick, keep social contacts limited, wear masks in crowded areas and return to offices in a phased manner.

SAGE concluded: 'The priority should be to avoid a very rapid return to pre-pandemic behaviour which could lead to a peak in hospitalisations similar to, or possibly even higher than, previous peaks.

'The mechanism by which this gradual change to more mixing is achieved is much less important than the fact it is gradual.'

The expert group called for ministers to put backup plans in place in case the NHS starts to become overwhelmed this winter. It said that it will become clear within the first few weeks after July 19 whether this will be likely.

Experts will be keeping an eye on ICU admissions, ventilator capacity and the length of hospital stay rather than solely on the number of admissions.

Speaking at tonight's Downing Street press conference, Professor Chris Whitty warned that the country will face an 'exit wave' of coronavirus infections whenever restrictions are lifted.

He said there is no 'ideal date' for ending lockdown and there will be an increase in hospital admissions and deaths when it happens. However Prof Whitty said it is essential to proceed 'steadily and cautiously' to reduce the numbers of people becoming seriously ill.

'There is extremely wide agreement that whenever we go through the next step, there is going to be what's called an exit wave  there will be a wave associated with that,' he said.

'The slower we take it, the fewer people will have Covid, the smaller the peak will be, and the smaller the number of people who go into hospital and die.'

Professor Whitty said there was 'no clear evidence' a further delay to lockdown lifting would make a difference to overall numbers.

'There is no such thing as an ideal date  all the possible dates have downsides,' he said. 'If we could go at this point in time, we go at a point when there are still some people being vaccinated, but we are not going at a point when schools are just coming back, and we're not going at a point where we're going into autumn and winter.

'The modelling studies that have been done on this largely show that all dates essentially tend to lead to broadly similar outcomes  different models come to very slightly different conclusions.'

SAGE's three modelling teams, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Imperial College London and Warwick University, looked at various ways the outbreak could change after next week.

They considered variables  such as how many people accept a vaccine, how quickly people return to normal and the number of infections at the peak  to come to best-case, worst-case and central scenarios.

The modelling showed:

Imperial College London: Hospital admissions on par with second peak but deaths 'substantially' lower

The team at Imperial said there could be more than 30,000 Covid deaths and 260,000 hospital admissions with the virus over the next year. For comparison, there were about 80,000 total deaths in the second wave and 300,000 admissions.

Imperial's central estimate assumes that people will continue to wear face coverings, self-isolate and keep good hand hygiene measures past the July 19 unlocking.

But the team, led by Professor Neil Ferguson, said it was possible the country could suffer 75,500 additional deaths and as many as 546,000 hospitalisations in a more pessimistic scenario.

Imperial's modelling was based on low (light blue), high (dark blue) and central (blue) R rate changes after July 19. Left is optimistic vaccine efficacy, central is default and right is pessimistic. The team at Imperial said there could be more than 30,000 Covid deaths and 260,000 hospital admissions with the virus over the next year under its central assumption

This assumed low vaccine uptake in younger populations and high numbers of 'reinfections', which would scupper hopes of achieving herd immunity this winter through vaccination in the elderly population and natural infection in the young.

In their most optimistic scenario, in which people were extremely prudent with their behaviour, Imperial said there would be just 14,000 more deaths from the virus by this time next year, and 112,500 hospitalisations.

But, like the other modelling teams, Imperial did not include the effect of the planned booster programme in autumn in their calculations, which has the potential to reduce the number of people falling severely ill.

Scientists are not yet clear how long immunity from vaccines lasts because the jabs have never been rolled out before, but early data suggests it lasts at least six months in the 'majority' of cases.

A booster vaccine programme has already been signed off by the Government's scientific advisers, who said a third shot may restore peak immunity.

LSHTM: Outbreak will be smaller than previous waves even in worst case

Britain's third wave will be smaller than previous peaks even in the most pessimistic scenarios, researchers at LSHTM suggested.

The models looked at a number of factors that could influence the outbreak, including vaccine uptake, duration of immunity and how long people take personal social precautions.

The team found that in all scenarios the third wave of infections will peak in August, but the degree to which hospital admissions and deaths follow depends on the above variables.

They warned that if people suddenly dropped all social distancing rules by 60 per cent and immunity started to fade within 12 months then there could be 600 deaths per day in winter and 3,500 admissions.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine looked at two scenarios. In scenario 1 (red) it was assumed that medium levels of mobility changes occur after roadmap Step 4; a 20% reduction in self-protective measures; no waning of natural and vaccine induced immunity; and optimistic assumptions on vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant. Scenario 2 (blue) considers: high levels of mobility changes occurring after roadmap Step 4; a 60% reduction in self-protective measures; 15% of individuals with natural and vaccine induced immunity waning after 1 year; and vaccines being 90-plus per cent effective at reducing hospitalisations from the Delta strain

In the team's most realistic scenario  where immunity from jabs does not wane but social contact rises gradually between groups  they suggest there could be fewer than 1,000 hospital admissions per day and fewer than 200 deaths.

Easings from previous lockdowns have shown mixing between Britons has only risen gradually, and not leaped upwards to pre-March 2020 levels.

Warwick University: 4,000 hospital admissions a day by August

Warwick University scientists found there could be 4,000 Covid hospitalisations a day this winter in a worst-case scenario, rising to potentially 7,000.

A more realistic scenario proposed by the modellers would see hospitalisations surge to 2,000 a day  a five-fold increase on the current level but half the more than 4,000 recorded during the second wave, and 500 daily deaths.

They say even this scenario would place a 'heavy burden' on the NHS which is battling through a backlog of patients.

In their most optimistic forecast, peak daily hospital admissions could peak at around 700 a day and deaths 100. But in order to achieve this, people would need to be very cautious with their social interactions for another five months.

Warwick University scientists advising SAGE predict there could be up to 7,000 Covid hospitalisations a day during the third wave, spiralling above the peak of the second wave (shown in the upper confidence interval in purple). A more realistic scenario proposed by the modellers would see hospitalisations surge to 2,000 a day  a five-fold increase on the current level but half the more than 4,000 recorded during the second wave. They say this would place a 'heavy burden' on the NHS which is battling through a backlog of patients

Warwick scientists also suggest there may be a fourth wave over the autumn and winter, as the start of the new school term drives up transmission and cases.

All three scenarios assumed that 33 per cent of Britons will still be susceptible to Covid by July 19, although this is expected to be an overestimate because of the vaccine rollout and natural immunity.

Official figures suggest 90 per cent of the population now have some immunity against Covid, based on the Office for National Statistics' antibody study.

The Warwick team concluded: 'Even if all controls are lifted on 19 July 2021, it is unlikely that the entire population will return to pre-Covid mixing patterns; many individuals are likely to still avoid crowds and limit their risky behaviours.

'Seasonality and slow decline could lead to a fourth wave in the winter of 2021 or early spring 2022. but very uncertain due to waning immunity, seasonality and possible boosters.'
Hundreds of New York city correction officers are quitting their jobs to join the NYPD in a huge exodus amid 'very low morale' in the prison service.

Former officers branded it the 'worst job in the world' after they were forced to work multiple shifts, control violent inmates single-handedly and stay in cramped conditions during the pandemic.

In the newest class of 555 NYPD recruits sworn in at the Police Academy on Thursday, there were 42 former guards, a law enforcement official told The New York Post.

This adds to the 34 sworn in at the previous ceremony in April and the 119 guards who switched to the police force last year.

Hundreds of New York city correction officers are quitting their jobs to join the NYPD in a huge exodus amid 'very low morale' in the prison service

Department of Corrections head Vincent Schiraldi, who was named commissioner last month, acknowledged: 'Morale at the Department of Correction is very low.'

The exodus comes amid violent anti-cop protests and the 'Defund the police' movement, but corrections officers are still wanting to jump ship to join the force.

Among those who made the switch is Tyliek Dyches, 28, who joined the DOC in 2017 and worked on Rikers Island.

He said his last day at work was a triple shift and celebrated leaving by posting a video online as he drove out of the infamous jail with a trash bag full of his belongings, saying 'I QUIT!!!!!!!!'

Dyches revealed that up to 20 people he worked with left their guard jobs to join the NYPD.

Tyliek Dyches, 28, who joined the DOC in 2017 and worked on Rikers Island (pictured) said his final day at work was a triple shift

He said: 'The bad part about working at Rikers  I'll be honest with you  it's not the inmates. It's the administration. They're not backing us up and officers are getting hurt.'

It comes after the correction officers' union boycotted Mayor Bill de Blasio's parade for the Hometown Heroes of the pandemic.

Union president Benny Boscio Jr accused the DOC of mismanagement and negligence in a full-page ad last week, saying it led to 1,700 workers catching Covid, of which nine died.

Schiradi admitted it is 'scary' for people to be coming into work in a forced proximity with people who are medically vulnerable.

But he vowed to turn things around and believes that more people will come to work as corrections officers in the coming months.

One former corrections officer said: 'This is the worst job in the world.

'We come into work and we don't know when we are going home. It is not uncommon to work three of four shifts in a row.'

One NYPD officer said he couldn't imagine how low the morale must be in the DOC for them to jump ship to the police

He said there is normally one officer working when there should be two and this leads to fights with the inmates they struggle to control.

Schiradi said his first priority is to stop staff from working multiple shifts so staff can feel safe.

Inmate David Mordukhaev, who escaped the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Facility barge in The Bronx on Friday, even mocked the DOC when he fled, leaving a note taunting guards for not checking his cell.

He was later recaptured in Brooklyn.

One NYPD officer said he couldn't imagine how low the morale must be in the DOC for them to jump ship to the police.

Corrections officers have a starting annual salary of $43,333 while cops start on $42,500 in their first year.

Their salaries are the same after five years and a half years at $85,292.

The 42 guards who switched to the NYPD on Thursday join the 34 who were sworn in on April 21.

In three graduating classes last year, there were a total of 119 correction officers.
The UK government has moved to outlaw The Base, a neo-Nazi extremist group primarily operating out of the US whose leader is allegedly a former American government contractor now living in Russia.

Home Secretary Priti Patel is asking Parliament to proscribe 'the extreme right-wing terrorist group' which she says is 'seeking to establish a white ethno-state.'

The Base has 'celebrated and promoted the use of violence in an attempt to establish a fascist, white ethno-state by means of a ''race war,'' and members are known to have engaged in weapons and explosives training,' the Home Office said.

Patel says the group is 'seeking to establish a white ethno-state' and seeks to train members how to incite a 'race war' with weapons and explosives training

Proscribing the group would officially label it a terrorist organisation and make it a criminal offense to be a member of or invite support for it, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The maximum penalty was increased from 10 years through the Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act passed this year.

'I am committed to making it as difficult as possible for these organisations to operate in the UK, both by banning them and increasing the penalties for membership or support, in order to protect the public and our national security,' Patel said in a statement.

Formed in 2018, the Home Office states the group shares similar goals and beliefs with Atomwaffen Division and its alias, National Socialist Order, which Patel proscribed earlier in 2021

Covert recordings used as part of US intelligence agencies' ongoing counterterrorism efforts show The Base actively recruiting and grooming American teenagers across the country

Formed in 2018, the Home Office states the group shares similar goals and beliefs with Atomwaffen Division and its alias, National Socialist Order, which Patel proscribed earlier in 2021.

While primarily US-based the group also has been identified in Australia, Canada and South Africa, according to an international security research group.

Canada outlawed the group in February.

The Base allegedly also operates in Australia, South Africa and Canada. A screen capture from a video posted to the group's chatroom shows members conducting drills at a recent hate camp. The location is unknown

Alleged founder Rinaldo Nazzaro is an American national living in Russia, who claims to have been a US government contractor in the past

Covert recordings used as part of US intelligence agencies' ongoing counterterrorism efforts show The Base actively recruiting and grooming American teenagers across the country, according to the BBC.

The recordings involved interviews between prospective and senior members of the group, quizzing teens on what radicalised them and encouraging them to delve deeper into white supremacist teachings.

The FBI arrested several alleged members of the group last year.

The department states The Base's founder 'published a series of videos under his alias covering topics including ''lone wolf'' activity, advocating guerrilla warfare and leaderless resistance.'

Allegedly named Rinaldo Nazzaro, he claims to have run a New York-based firm that specialised in national security and counterterrorism and advertised having 'worked with various government and military agencies, including multiple wartime deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan,' The Guardian states.

Nazzaro now reportedly lives with his Russian wife in St. Petersburg.

The Base would be the fifth neo-Nazi organisation banned by the UK Home Office under anti-terror laws

Patel's decision to proscribe The Base is based off of advice from the Proscription Review Group, which her office states 'brings together experts from across government including representatives from operational partners and the intelligence community' to assess possible threats.

The Base would be the fifth neo-Nazi organisation banned by the UK under anti-terror laws.
Dr Sahil Patel is pictured arriving at the General Dental Council in London

A Harley Street dentist to the stars has been suspended for six months for having sex with a patient after wining and dining her at the Savoy.

Dr Sahil Patel, 28, admitted to a sexual relationship with the attractive single mother after he had treated her, however he tried to argue that she was no longer his patient and so could not be guilty of professional misconduct.

But a disciplinary committee of the General Dental Council rejected his claim and found he had breached their code of conduct with his 'inappropriate behaviour.'

Speaking after the verdict, the woman, known as Patient A, said justice had been served by the ban.

She had booked an appointment with Dr Patel at the Harley St Smile Clinic to have veneers fitted.

After her treatment Dr Patel gave her his personal mobile phone number and they met for drinks at a pub in Fulham, West London.

They met a second time at a pub and after she travelled to the clinic for an appointment on November 1, 2019 - and he arranged to meet her later that night at the luxury Savoy Hotel.

They spent the evening together and around midnight Dr Patel falsely told her he had missed his last train home. They went to her hotel room at the Savoy where they had sex.

After the one night stand the patient said she tried contacting Dr Patel several times, but he failed to return her calls.

He was accused of wining and dining a single mother at the Savoy hotel (above) while she was still one of his patients and having sex with the woman, known as 'Patient A'

After she was rejected, she made a complaint to the professional standards committee of the General Dental Council.

Giving evidence she told the GDC hearing in Marylebone, Central London, that she felt used and abused by the dentist.

Dr Patel admitted having sex with the patient but claimed she chased him and actively pursued the relationship.

His lawyer told the GDC she was not a current patient as her treatment had been completed when they slept together and so the charge of professional misconduct was not valid.

This was rejected by the disciplinary committee who found that Patient A was still under the care of Dr Patel.

The GDC panel found that the dentist's behaviour was inappropriate and fell below the standard expected of a dentist.

In a 17-page ruling they said: The Committee was in no doubt that starting a personal relationship with Patient A and engaging in sexual intercourse with her, was behaviour that represented a serious departure from the professional standards of your regulatory body.

Further, the Committee was satisfied that you were aware that your conduct was inappropriate. It noted that your concern surrounding the patient-dentist relationship was a feature in the personal messages you exchanged with Patient A, as was the need for subtlety in the circumstances. In the Committees view, this indicated that you were knowingly behaving in a way that was not open, not straightforward, and which was contrary to professional expectation.

The patient said despite the ordeal of having her personal life raked over she would encourage other women to come forward.

A disciplinary hearing at the General Dental Council (above) rejected his claim that she was no longer a patient and said he breached their code of conduct with his 'inappropriate behaviour'

She said: 'He abused his position and he lied to get what he wanted and played on my vulnerabilities.

'I am relieved that justice was served and the GDC was able to see though his lies to try and save his career.

She said giving evidence and being quizzed about her personal life was traumatic.

I was sedated for three days afterwards because it caused me so much stress, she said.

To go through eight hours of being told I am a liar, exaggerating and it was all my fault was wrong.

Portraying me as asking for it and having my entire life ripped to shreds by his barrister was just awful.

Dr Patel can appeal the sentence. His ban will only start once the appeal has been heard.

The Harley Street Smile Clinic lists former Everton and Scotland striker Andy Gray among its clients as well as TOWIE stars including Lauren Pope, James Lock, Frankie Essex and Kirk Norcross.

According to the Harley Street Smile Clinic's website he 'established himself as a leader in cosmetic dentistry, and his wealth of experience has included creating the smiles of several reality TV personalities, Members of Parliament, professional athletes, and social media influencers.'

A spokesman for the Harley St. clinic was unavailable for comment.
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Three young children were confirmed among the dead of the Surfside condo collapse as the official death toll rose to 94 on Monday morning, and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said it was becoming increasingly difficult to identify the human remains found in the rubble.

Of the 94 bodies found, 83 have been officially identified and next of kin informed, and 22 people remain 'potentially unaccounted'.

Ten more victims of the deadly collapse were named, including three of the youngest at ages 5, 6 and 9.

As of Sunday, at least 15 lawsuits have been filed in connection with the condo collapse.

Officials announced that the body of five-year-old Lorenzo De Oliveira Leone was found along with his father Alfredo, 48.

Also identified were sisters Anna Sophia Pettengill Lopez Moreira, 6, and Alexia Maria Pettengill Lopez Moreira, 9.

The girls were the daughters of Sophia Lopez Moreira, the sister of Paraguay's first lady, and were the last remaining members of their family to be identified.

Their mother; father, Luis Pettengill; and housekeeper Leidy Vanessa Luna Villalba were recovered and identified on Thursday.

Their brother, three-year-old Luis Vicente Pettengill Lopez Moreira III was the youngest victim of the tragedy, and was identified on Friday.

Sisters Alexia Maria Pettengill Lopez Moreira, 9, (far left) and Anna Sophia Pettengill Lopez Moreira, 6, (far right) were among the 10 victims of the collapse named on Sunday. They were the daughters of Sophia Lopez Moreira and her husband Luis Pettengill, and sister to three-year-old Luis Vicente Pettengill Lopez Moreira III. The whole family perished in the collapse

Sophia Lopez Moreira with her daughters. They lived on the 10th floor of the condo

Alfredo and his son Lorenzo Leone were among the victims identified Sunday

The family lived together in an apartment on the 10th floor of the condo. Moreira is the sister of President Mario Abdo Benitez's wife Silvana.

The body of Julio Cesar Velasquez, 66, was also identified. His wife Angela Velasquez, 60, was confirmed among the victims last week.

The other victims named Sunday were Richard Augustine, 77; Edgar Gonzalez, 42; Luis Sadovnic, 28; Maria Gabriela Camou Font, 64; and Maria Torre, 76.

The victim identification process is being carried out at the site of the collapse, with police and scientists from the county medical examiner's office comparing DNA from recovered human remains to that of the families of those missing.

Police and medical examiner teams were continuing to work around the clock to identify victims, but Mayor Levine Cava said 'the process of making identifications has become more difficult as time goes on.'

'At this step of the recovery process we must rely heavily on the work of the medical examiner's office,' she explained. 'They are undertaking technical and scientific processes to identify the human remains. The process is very methodical, careful and it does take time.'

Authorities searching for victims of a deadly collapse in Florida said they hope to conclude their painstaking work in the coming weeks, as a team of first responders from Israel departed the site.

Crews continued to search the remaining pile of rubble, peeling layer after layer of debris in search of bodies. The unrelenting search has resulted in the recovery of over 14 million pounds of concrete and debris, Levine Cava said.

Julio Cesar Velasquez, 66, was also identified Sunday. He is pictured with his wife Angela Velasquez, 60, who was identified last week

Edgar Gonzalez, 42, (left) and Luis Sadovnic, 28, (right) were also among the victims named Sunday

Police also named Maria Torre, 76. She is pictured with her husband Gonzalo, who was identified on July 3

Chicago native Richard Augustine, was also among the 10 victims named Sunday

Julio Cesar Velasquez, 66, was also identified. His wife Angela Velasquez, 60, (also pictured) was confirmed among the victims last week

Officials announced that the toll from the Miami condo collapse had risen to 94 deaths, with 83 victims identified Monday morning

Ten more victims of the deadly collapse were named, including three of the youngest at ages 5, 6 and 9.

Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said it was uncertain when recovery operations would be completed because it remains hard to know when the final body would be found.

When the recovery phase began Wednesday, officials were hoping it could be done within three weeks. In an interview Sunday morning near the site, Cominsky said it might now be as few as two weeks, based on the current pace of work.

'We were looking at a 14-day to 21-day timeframe,' he said, adding that the timeline remained 'a sliding scale.'

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett stressed the care that rescue workers are taking in peeling back layers of rubble in hopes of recovering not only bodies but also possessions of the victims. He said the work is so delicate that crews have found unbroken wine bottles amid the rubble.

'It doesnt get any less difficult and finding victims, that experience doesn't change for our search and rescue folks,' he said. 'It takes a toll, but youve got to love the heart that theyre putting into this and were very grateful.'

As of Sunday, at least 15 lawsuits have been filed in connection with the condo collapse amid allegations that the disaster was foreseeable.

The condo association has been accused of ignoring a 2018 report by structural engineers who cited widespread damage, with some lawsuits saying they are guilty of negligence resulting in wrongful death.

Search and Rescue teams continue to look for bodies in the rubble at the site of the 12-story oceanfront Champlain Towers South

Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said it was uncertain when recovery operations would be completed

Owners of units in the condo building were just days away from a deadline to start making steep payments toward more than $9 million in major repairs that had been recommended nearly three years earlier.

That cost estimate, from the Morabito Consultants engineering firm in 2018, meant owners at Champlain Towers South were facing payments of anywhere from $80,000 for a one-bedroom unit to $330,000 or so for a penthouse, to be paid all at once or in installments. Their first deadline was July 1.

One resident whose apartment was spared, Adalberto Aguero, had just taken out a loan to cover his $80,000 bill.

Multiple investigations are under way to determine the cause of the sudden collapse, though preliminary findings show the building's structure appeared degraded in spots.

Authorities are launching a grand jury investigation into the collapse.

A 2018 report released by city officials revealed fears of 'major structural damage' in the complex, from the concrete slab under the pool deck to columns and beams in the parking garage.

On Saturday night, members of the community walked along Collins Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare, to pay tribute to the crews that have come from across the country - and as far as Israel and Mexico - to help in the rescue, and now recovery, effort.

The Israeli search and rescue team arrived in South Florida shortly after the building collapsed on June 24 and was heading home Sunday.

Members of the crews that have been searching the site 24 hours a day since the collapse lined both sides of the street, shaking hands and bidding farewell to the Israeli team.

The Israeli team joined other task forces from around the United States to assist first responders from Miami and Miami-Dade County, working in 12-hour shifts.

They have searched through South Florida's intense summer heat, and in pouring rain, pausing only when lightning was spotted nearby.

They also paused operations as officials made plans to demolish the still-standing portion of the condo tower on July 4.

The Israeli team used blueprints of the building to create detailed 3D images of the disaster site to aid in the search.

They also gathered information from families of the missing, many of whom were Jewish, to build a room-by-room model laying out where people would have been sleeping during the pre-dawn collapse.

Members of the Israeli search and rescue team (picture), whom had come to assist in the efforts headed home Sunday

Search and rescue teams have been working on site since shortly after the June 24 collapse

Levina Cava said the memorial walk on Saturday night was 'a beautiful moment.' She gave the keys to the county to the Israeli commander and colonel - her first two handed out as mayor.

Four teams from Florida, Indiana and Pennsylvania are still dedicated to the recovery effort, Cominsky said. Teams from Virginia, New Jersey and Ohio are preparing to leave.

'To give you an answer when we feel we'll recover everyone, I cant give you an exact date,' the fire chief said. 'We're doing everything that we can - everything possible - until we feel that weve delayered every floor.

As the recovery effort continues, footage emerged this weekend shot by a prospective buyer which showed cracks and puddles in the Surfside condo building in Miami a year before it collapsed.

The video, which was shared with DailyMail.com, was taken in the garage of the Champlain Towers South building in July last year.

Fiorella Terenzi, who had toured the complex in anticipation of buying a unit on the sixth floor, said what she saw in the garage ultimately turned her off buying in the building.

Terenzi's video showed wide cracks in the ceiling of the garage that appeared to have been repaired and painted over.

It also showed what appeared to be water puddles in the ceiling.

The video was taken by prospective buyer Fiorella Terenzi in the garage of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside in July last year

Terenzi, who had toured the complex in anticipation of buying a unit on the sixth floor, said what she saw in the garage ultimately turned her off buying in the building

Several engineers reviewed Terenzi's video and determined there were no obvious red flags that could have pointed to the building collapsing some 12 months later, according to the Miami Herald.

The parking garage that Terenzi filmed is the same one in which an engineer flagged in a 2018 report as having 'major structural damage' to the pool deck area and underground parking garage.

The engineering report from the firm of Morabito Consultants did not warn of imminent danger from the damage.

It did, however, note the need for extensive and costly repairs to fix the systemic issues with Champlain Towers South.

Investigators, who have been at the site since the building collapsed on June 24, are still working to determine how it collapsed.

It has previously been suggested that existing damage to a ground-floor pool deck and, or, concrete cracking throughout the building could potentially be behind the collapse.

Structural engineers have warned, however, that the investigation into the cause will be long-term given they have been limited so far because the rescue operation is ongoing.

There are now also fears survivors and first responders could develop cancer due to potentially hazardous dust floating in the area

Meanwhile, there are now also fears survivors and first responders could develop cancer due to potentially hazardous dust floating in the area.

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett told local reporters Saturday that 'huge amount' of dust had been kicked up in the area.

Air samples collected by Local 10 News show 'hazardous air quality' in and around the debris.

According to the website, 'materials [from the site] released into the air... can lead to cancer and respiratory disease', as happened to hundreds of survivors and first responders following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

'We will probably never know everything we've been exposed to out there,' Billy McAlister, the president of Metropolitan Dade County Local 1403 Firefighters old Local 10.

McAlister said he and his team had been in contact with medical experts who run the World Trade Center Respiratory Health Initiative to try and employ tactics to mitigate exposure to hazardous air.

First responders are required to wear P100 masks, but recovery shifts can stretch on for 12 hours at a time, meaning there's no telling the true levels of exposure.

'It is the unknown. We don't know what we don't know,' McAllister stated.

Boy, 15, suffered 'devastating injuries' when his Miami condo collapsed, killing his mother, while they were sitting together in his bedroom, lawsuit reveals

A 15-year-old boy who miraculously survived the Miami condo collapse was sitting in his bedroom next to his mother when the building gave way and she was killed, according to a lawsuit filed by the family.

Jonah Handler was found alive hours after the 12-story oceanfront building collapsed on June 24,.

His mother, Stacie Fang, 54, died after she was rushed to the hospital.

'They free-fell to what they thought was certain death,' the lawsuit filed on July 8 in Miami-Dade County's 11th Judicial Circuit Court states.

The legal action names as a defendant the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association. It was filed by Stacie's brother, Kevin Fang, and Jonah's father, Neil Handler.

Jonah Handler was found alive hours after the 12-story oceanfront building collapsed, though his mother, Stacie Fang, 54, died after she was rushed to the hospital

Dramatic images show first responders pull Jonah out of the rubble hours after the building collapsed

The lawsuit is just one of 15 that have been filed in connection with the condo collapse.

'Stacie and Jonah landed several floors below and miraculously were still alive,' according to the lawsuit.

Rescue crews who responded to the scene pried Jonah out of the rubble using Air Jacks.

'Jonah lived, but with devastating injuries,' according to the court papers. 'Tragically, his mother was killed.

According to the lawsuit, Jonah was left 'physically, emotionally, and psychologically permanently injured.'

The lawsuit accuses the condo association of ignoring a 2018 report by structural engineers who cited widespread damage.

'They free-fell to what they thought was certain death,' according to the lawsuit which was filed on July 8 in Miami-Dade County's 11th Judicial Circuit Court

The legal action names as a defendant the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association. The suit was filed by Stacie's brother, Kevin Fang, and Jonah's father, Neil Handler

The lawsuit accuses the condo association of ignoring a 2018 report by structural engineers who cited widespread damage

The lawsuit alleges that the condo association is guilty of negligence resulting in wrongful death. It is seeking in excess of $30,000.

Jonah was pulled from the wreckage by first responders along with the help of man who was walking his dog just as the building came down, Nicholas Balboa.

Describing the moment he spotted Jonah, Balboa said it appeared the boy was sleeping when the building came down.

'There was a bed frame and a mattress that were laying above him, so I could only assume that that was his bed, judging by the size of the mattress,' Balboa told Local10 .

'You know, so he was probably just sleeping and then all of a sudden the building gave way.'

The teen stuck his hand up through the rubble and was spotted amongst the rubble.

'He was saying: 'Please don't leave me, don't leave me, don't leave me.' So I told him: 'We're right here. We won't leave you.' That's when I tried to signal police officers and firefighters to get over there,' Balboa said.

Stacie and Jonah are seen in the above undated file photo

Stacie lived with her son on the 10th floor of the condominium building in Surfside

Video from the scene showed Handler being rescued by fire crews after the Champlain Towers South beachfront building collapsed at about 1.30am on June 24

Nicholas Balboa spoke to CNN about his role in rescuing the child from the collapsed building in Miami

Video from the scene showed the boy being carried out by firefighters on a stretcher after the Champlain Towers South beachfront building collapsed at about 1.30am on Thursday in Miami's Surfside neighborhood.

The boy, a 10th grader at Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami Gardens, was then taken to hospital with broken bones.

'He said his mother was in the apartment with him, so I couldn't see her or hear her, so I have no idea what her status was, but I do pray that she is alright,' Balboa said.

'As for him, you know, he's a guardian angel. That's all I can say. Given what happened, he came out unscathed.'

Looking at the rubble, Balboa said he thought of the September 11 attacks and likened the scene opening before his eyes to something 'out of a horror movie.'

'I was thinking to myself, 'How could anyone survive?'' he said.
Daniel Andrews spent a fortune of taxpayer money on self-serving popularity surveys to monitor how Victorians were reacting to his prolonged lockdown measures at the height of the state's Covid-19 crisis.

Victorians were slapped with stay-at-home orders last year and at one stage was in lockdown for 112 straight days to contain a mammoth Covid outbreak.

Mr Andrews always maintained the harsh restrictions were guided by public health advice and were necessary to contain the spate of daily infections.

But the treasure trove of internal polling suggests public opinion may have also played a key role in his decision-making, The Australian reported.

Mr Andrews was just as concerned how his public image would be impacted when he ordered more than five million Victorians into lockdown in July 2020.

Dan Andrews (pictured during his daily press conference during the lockdown) spent a fortune of taxpayer money on Covid-19 questionnaires in order to monitor his popularity

When more than five million Victorians were ordered into lockdown in July 2020, Mr Andrews was concerned about how it may affect his public image (pictured, Melburnians on July 9 as restrictions eased)

So he employed the services of political polling giant QDOS to conduct 'extensive community surveys' every two weeks to find out whether his popularity had taken a dive.

Victorians were asked to rate the Andrew's government between 0 to 10 on 'providing leadership during the coronavirus outbreak'.

They were also queried on whether they thought the lockdown restrictions had been 'much too soft, too soft, about right, too harsh, much too harsh'.

Another question asked if 'you are more concerned about the coronavirus impact on health and society OR its impact on jobs and the economy?'.

The surveys were conducted using focus groups, online polls and telephone interviews under the guidance of QDOS chief and Labor spin doctor John Armitage.

Victorians spent a huge chunk of last year under stay-at-home orders with the Premier keeping the state on lockdown for a total of 112 straight days (pictured, hotel quarantine workers in Melbourne)

More people are flooding back to Melbourne's popular Degraves Street (pictured July 3) in the wake of last year's lockdown

Since 2016, Mr Armitage has been paid more than $2million to oversee a 'classified' program which gages public opinion on behalf of the premier.

Emails obtained under Freedom of Information laws confirm that both QDOS and Mr Andrews' office were both heavily involved in coming up with the questions and deciding who should take part.

While the gruelling stay-at-home orders have resulted in outcry from some, in many cases a tough stance on Covid has been a political winner.

Queensland's Annastacia Palaszczuk, who also opted for strict border closures and lockdowns, won her state elections in a landslide in October.

It was the same story for Mark McGowan who was reinstated in Western Australia with almost 80 per cent of the vote.

With questions lingering about how much of his lockdown strategy was led by the internal poling, the premier's office swatted away any accusation the surveys out of the ordinary.

'All governments around Australia  federal and state, Labor and Liberal  seek community feedback to gauge how to best deliver services,' a government spokesman said.

Since 2016, John Armitage (pictured) has been paid more than $2million to oversee a 'classified' program which gages public opinion on behalf of the premier

Daniel Andrews (pictured in Geelong on July 6) employed the services of political polling giant QDOS to conduct 'extensive community surveys' every two weeks to find out whether his popularity had taken a dive
An entire apartment complex in Melbourne is now in lockdown after being visited by Covid-infected removalists who travelled from Sydney.

Residents of the Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong, 8km north-west of the Victorian state capital, have been ordered not to leave the building after the infected group visited on July 8.

The complex has since been listed as a Tier 1 exposure site, which means anyone at the apartments from 1pm to 11.59pm on that day must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the results.

Anyone who's even been to the block at any time between July 9 and 12 must also get tested and isolate until they test negative.

The infected cases have also put a Mobil service station, a McDonald's, a shopping centre, a Metro petrol station and a Coles on alert.

Residents of the Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong (pictured), 8km north-west of the Victorian state capital, have been ordered not to leave the building after the infected group visited on July 8

It comes after Victoria recorded its 12th day of no locally acquired cases and the state effectively shut the border to NSW and the ACT overnight (pictured, a Melbourne testing centre)

It comes after two members of a Melbourne family tested positive after returning from NSW on red zone permits.

The state's Covid Commander Jeroen Weimar said three of the family of four from the City of Hume arrived on July 4 by air and the other returned by car on July 8.

They all initially tested negative but two became symptomatic and were tested on Sunday, with the results coming back positive on Monday.

Contact tracers are also on high alert after at least one member of a three-man removalist crew who travelled through Victoria and SA from NSW tested positive to the virus.

The infected cases have also put a Mobil service station, a McDonald's, a Metro petrol station and a Coles at Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre (pictured)

An infected case visited Ballan McDonald's (pictured) on July 8 between 5pm and 7pm

MELBOURNE'S NEW COVID EXPOSURE SITES Tier 1: Get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure Ballan: Mobil Ballan (westbound) - 08/07/21, 5pm - 7pm Ballan: McDonald's Ballan (westbound) - 08/07/21, 5pm - 7pm Craigieburn: Coles in Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre - 10/07/21, 5.28pm - 6.38pm Maribyrnong: Ariele Apartments (anyone present) - 08/07/21, 1pm - 11.59pm Tier 2: Get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result Maribyrnong: Ariele Apartments - July 9, 10, 11 and 12, 12am - 11.59pm Broadmeadows: Metro Petroleum - 11/07/21, 1.19pm - 2.04pm Qantas flight QF1542: Launceston to Melbourne - 02/07/21, 10.15am - 11.20am Tier 3: Monitor for symptoms Craigieburn: Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre - 10/07/21, 5.28pm - 6.38pm Advertisement

Another family from Whittlesea in Melbourne's north who had contact with the Covid-infected removalist has so far tested negative.

They relocated to Victoria from interstate and tested negative on July 9.

Contact tracers are working to establish the removalist's movements, though it is believed he travelled from Sydney to Melbourne via the Hume Highway and worked at several homes in the city before travelling to SA.

NSW Health alerted Victoria's authorities late on Sunday night.

Policemen at a checkpoint at the New South Wales-Victoria border. The new infected cases entered Victoria before the border was closed at midnight on Sunday

Mr Weimar said another of the three removalist crew members may have also turned positive.

Removalists are permitted workers under the state's border permit system.

It comes after Victoria recorded its 12th day of no locally acquired cases and the state effectively shut the border to NSW and the ACT overnight, declaring them red zones under the travel permit system from 11.59pm on Sunday.

NSW reported 112 new local cases on Monday, its highest daily total since the Bondi cluster emerged on June 16.
France is to make coronavirus vaccination passes compulsory for bars, cafes and restaurants, President Emmanuel Macron announced tonight.

In a dramatic TV address to the nation from Paris, Mr Macron said the spread of the Delta Covid variant meant tough new measures were essential.

He also said there would be 'compulsory vaccinations' for those working with 'fragile people,' such as the elderly and the disabled, as France moved towards 100 per cent vaccination.

Health experts fear that a fourth wave, once predicted for the autumn, has already begun in the country.

Mr Macron began his speech at 8:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday in optimistic mood, saying: 'Thanks to the exceptional commitment of our caregivers, thanks to your good citizenship, we have managed to control the epidemic and breathe again.'

But he said there still had to be a balance found between the ongoing 'need to protect lives' and 'freedom'.

France is to make coronavirus vaccination passes compulsory for bars, cafes and restaurants, President Emmanuel Macron announced tonight

In a dramatic TV address to the nation from Paris, Mr Macron said the spread of the Delta variant meant tough new measures were essential

'The more we vaccinate, the less space we will leave for the virus to spread,' said Mr Macron

'It is a new speed race that is underway. We must move towards the vaccination of all French people.'

Mr Macron told care workers: 'You will have until September 15 to get vaccinated. From September 15, checks will be made and sanctions applied'.

As well as being asked for vaccination passes on long distance planes, coaches and restaurants, anyone going out to eat or drink will need one from August 1.

'From the beginning of August, the health pass will apply to cafes, restaurants, hospitals, retirement homes, and long-distance transport: planes, trains and coaches for long journeys,' said Mr Macron.

This measure will apply to thousands of British tourists who are hoping to holiday in France this summer.

Mr Macron said: 'From this week, border controls will be further reinforced for nationals from countries at risk, with forced isolation for unvaccinated travellers.'

Mr Macron added: 'From July 21, use of the health pass will be extended to places of leisure and culture.

'For all our compatriots over 12 years old, it will be necessary to have been vaccinated or have a negative test to access a show, an amusement park, a concert or a festival.'

So far, only 42 per cent of hospital workers and 49 per cent of those working in the care system are completely vaccinated.

France's health passport is available on an anti-Covid app, and can show that a person is either fully vaccinated, has recently recovered from Covid or has tested negative in the past 72 hours.

Macron's announcement on Monday came just three days after France threw open its nightclubs' doors for the first time in 16 months.

Just three days after France threw open its nightclubs' doors (pictured on July 9) for the first time in 16 months, President Emmanuel Macron announced new Covid-19 restrictions

President Macron (pictured), 43, hosted a top-level Covid security meeting on Monday morning prior to his speech

It seemed the country was taking a step towards returning to a pre-pandemic normal just in time for summer, but the Delta variant has now started driving infection rates up across Europe.

France's infections started rising again two weeks ago and on Monday 4,256 new cases of Covid were recorded  up from 2549 last week  and there were 7137 people in hospital with the disease.

Amid fears of a peak in infections, Macron, 43, hosted a top-level Covid security meeting on Monday morning before his evening address.

Macron's announced measures buck the trend in most other European countries, where Governments have generally shied away from vaccine requirements and instead made it a voluntary measure.

But Italy has introduced similar regulations, with the Covid vaccine being compulsory for health care workers and pharmacists, while those who opt out risk suspension or a salary cut.

Meanwhile in Denmark, restaurants and public events require a digital pass showing that you been fully vaccinated or have a recent negative test.

Some German states require the same for restaurants, though suggestions of making vaccines obligatory have prompted widespread unease.

Macron is expected to announce plans for a law requiring health care workers to get vaccinated (pictured), and people may require special Covid-19 passes for restaurants

The new restrictions come after French restaurants and bars (pictured: Champs Elysees avenue in Paris) began thriving again

Concern has grown in the French government after demand for vaccines has ebbed in recent weeks due to hesitancy, a sense that the virus is no longer a threat, and because some people decided to put off their shots until after the summer holidays.

The new restrictions come after French restaurants and bars began thriving again as the Tour de France drew in tightly packed crowds across the country.

Meanwhile, Hollywood stars have returned to the red carpet mask-free and arm-in-arm at the much-anticipated Cannes Film Festival, which kicked off on Tuesday and continues until Saturday.

The La Bellevilloise nightclub in eastern Paris was just one of the nightclubs across the country that was able to throw open its doors on Friday, but the owner braced for the possibility that the party could be short-lived.

Despite fears of another closure, partygoers were exhilarated at rediscovering the dance scene and people crowded into clubs to enjoy the atmosphere after 16 months.

Club-goer Sophie Anne Descoubes said she was impressed by the club checked her QR code, which showed she'd been either fully vaccinated or freshly tested.

She added: 'I don't have any apprehension, just a great joy and the desire to stomp.'

France's virus infections started rising again two weeks ago, and health service SOS Medecins registered a slight rise in demand for emergency virus treatment over the weekend.

The number of people in French hospitals and intensive care units has been declining for weeks, but doctors predict it will rise when the increase in delta variant infections hits vulnerable populations - as it has in both Britain and Spain.

Meanwhile, Macron also met with car industry figures on Monday as he tried to combine his virus warnings with a message of hope for one of the world's biggest economies.

The Tour de France (pictured on July 11) has drawn in tightly packed crowds across the country while Cannes Film Festival has given a taste of the pre-pandemic normal

Clubs (pictured La Dune nightclub in the southern city of La Grande Motte) reopened after 16 months last week and partygoers crowded on to dance floors clubs to enjoy the atmosphere

New infections are threatening France's all-important tourism industry and Macron's ambitious economic recovery plan - just nine months before the next presidential election.

It comes after France's secretary of state for European affairs Clement Beaune advised people to 'avoid Spain and Portugal as destinations' because the French government is considering restrictions on travel to their neighbours.

She urged people to avoid the countries for their summer holidays due to risks tied to the highly contagious Covid Delta variant.

Last week, Beaune told France 2 TV: 'To those who have not yet booked their holidays, I say avoid Spain and Portugal as destinations. It is a prudent advice, a recommendation.'

The ministry later specified that 'travel to Spain and Portugal and anywhere else in Europe remains authorised...We are sending a message of caution on Portugal and Catalonia which are strongly impacted by the Delta variant'.

Spain's health minister warned that young people can develop severe cases of Covid and asked for their co-operation in taming an infection rate that has more than doubled in a week, as the Delta variant tears through unvaccinated adults.

Scrambling to bring the virus under control, the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia will shut down nightclubs from Friday, just weeks after opening them.
Six National Guard soldiers were sent to the hospital for observation after experiencing heat-related issues during a training march at a military training school in Connecticut.

Major Dave Pytlik with the Connecticut National Guard said the soldiers were among several dozen participating this week in officer training at the Guards Stones Ranch Military Reservation in East Lyme.

Monday is known as 'ruck march' day, where the soldiers carry 35-pound backpacks on a rigorous six-mile training hike, he said.

Pytlik said medical personnel, including a doctor, were on hand as part of precautions for the early morning march and responded appropriately to treat those suffering dehydration and other heat-related symptoms at around 7.30am.

Fire and EMS crews from multiple surrounding towns were called to the reservation at 7.41am, Mike Finkelstein, the towns emergency management director told the Middletown Press.

Six soldiers training to be officers in the National Guard, like the ones seen here, were hospitalized Monday with heat-related illnesses after carrying large backpacks on a march

Officials say medical staff, like the medic seen here, was on site as a precaution on Monday and responded to the scene immediately

'The issue is that someone came on the network and used the term, "mass-casualty incident," and said someone was unresponsive,' Pytlik said. 'There was nobody who was unresponsive and mass-casualty kind of means something different in the world than it means to us.'

A doctor on the scene recommended that the soldiers be sent to a local hospital as a precaution.

Pytlik said the six soldiers were taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London for observation, but nobody was seriously injured.

Pytlik told DailyMail.com he expects all the soldiers to be released soon.

The incident happened Monday morning at the National Guards Stones Ranch Military Reservation in East Lyme, Connecticut (pictured)

'This is pretty typical during this event," he said. 'Unfortunately, its just one of the common parts of soldiering.'

He added that it was around 75-degrees when the soldiers were participating in the ruck march, and was very humid, as the reservation is located right near a lake.

'They're carrying weight on their backs so it heats you up really quickly,' Pytlik told DailyMail.com.

The military training school typically trains between 60 and 100 candidates from National Guard units across the Northeast.

'These are all soldiers who are vying for the opportunity to become commissioned officers,' he said.
President Joe Biden's administration is out of ideas on how to raise the stagnate COVID vaccination rate and is moving ahead with how to manage the pandemic with only 68% of adults vaccinated, according to a report on Monday.

Resistance to getting a shot in the arm, led by some Republicans, has caused the vaccination rate to flatline despite an all-out effort by the White House to raise it. Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff have been on a nation-wide tour to urge vaccinations.

But administration officials are now looking at the next steps as 91 million people remain unvaccinated and 42 states are seeing an increase in COVID infections in the last week as the Delta variant causes cases to spike.

Officials are running out of ideas for jumpstarting the pace of coronavirus vaccinations, Politico reported.

'We are under no illusions that each person in this stage will take longer to reach,' a senior administration official said. 'The first 180 million were much easier than the next 5 million.'

White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended the administration's outreach program on vaccinations in her press briefing on Monday.

'We want to make sure we are lifting up some of the innovative innovative ways that Americans across the country are meeting their communities where they are with the vaccine,' she said.

'We all have a duty to continue making the cases of vaccine to our friends and family. Companies, media and individuals all can play a special role as trusted messengers to an unvaccinated person by sharing the fact that the vaccines are safe, effective, accessible and free across the country we're seeing Americans, step up,' she added.

Fauci said the spread of the Delta variant, which makes up more than half of all cases (above), is worrisome because it is more infectious and therefore will continue to spread in communities with low vaccination rates

The news outlet talked with more than a half-dozen federal and state officials working on the COVID response, who acknowledged that none of the administration's outreach efforts are likely to raise the vaccination rates - and that there are few remaining options to try.

In the US, 59% of adults are fully vaccinated while 68% have at least one shot, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. For the total population, 184 million have at least one shot while 159 million are fully vaccinated.

Less than half of all Americans - 48% - are fully vaccinated.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended the administration's efforts in one of her press briefings last week when she was asked about the declining vaccination rate.

'Our focus now is on doubling down on our efforts as we continue to vaccinate millions of people across the summer months,' she said on Tuesday.

'It is ultimately up to individuals to decide if they are going to get vaccinated,' she added. 'But, no, these programs will continue, and were going to continue to press forward on approaches that we have seen work in the past.'

President Joe Biden's administration is out of ideas on how to raise the stagnate COVID vaccination rate

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said Monday that a large segment of the population is now left vulnerable to infection from the Delta variant.

'Given the number of people in the country who are not vaccinated, that really is the concern because the vaccines we have available...do very well against the Delta variant, particularly protecting against severe disease leading to hospitalization,' he told CBS' This Morning.

'We're concerned about those regions of the country, those states, those areas, those cities in which the level of vaccination is really quite low, hovering around 30 percent or so,' he said.

According to CDC data updated last week, the Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, makes up 51.7 percent of all new infections.

The Delta variant has been detected in all 50 states and accounts for more than 80 percent of new infections in Midwestern states such as Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, where vaccination rates are lagging.

Republicans have been pounding the administration's attempt to get more shots in arms, particularly it's 'door-to-door' program.

In the past three months, the vaccination rate among counties that voted for Donald Trump has dropped in greater numbers compared to counties that voted for Biden.

Three months ago, as of April 22, the average vaccination rate in counties that voted for Trump was 20.6% compared to 22.8% in Biden counties, according to a data analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. That was a 2.2% gap.

By May 11, the gap had increased to 6.5%. By July 6, the vaccination rate in Trump counties was 35% compared to 46.7% in Biden counties for a 11.7% gap.

COVID-19 cases have soared by 30% in one week in the U.S. from 4,739 infections recorded last Sunday to 6,164 new cases this Sunday

Republicans, like Rep. Lauren Boebert, have slammed administration efforts to get more shots in arms, painting its door-to-door program as government intrusion

Dr. Anthony Fauci said that a large segment of the population is now left vulnerable to infection because of the Delta variant

Conservatives viewed Biden's 'door-to-door' quote as government intrusion.

'How about don't knock on my door. You're not my parents. You're the government. Make the vaccine available, and let people be free to choose. Why is that concept so hard for the left?' tweeted Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, again tied the Biden's administration's coronavirus response to Nazi Germany.

'Biden pushing a vaccine that is NOT FDA approved shows covid is a political tool used to control people,' she tweeted Tuesday afternoon. 'People have a choice, they don't need your medical brown shirts showing up at their door ordering vaccinations.'

The term 'brown shirt' comes from the official uniform of the SA or Sturmabteilung, the Nazi party's paramilitary unit.

And Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado called the program 'needle Nazis.'

'Biden has deployed his Needle Nazis to Mesa County,' she wrote on Twitter. 'The people of my district are more than smart enough to make their own decisions about the experimental vaccine and don't need coercion by federal agents. Did I wake up in Communist China?'

The administration has defended its program.

'This is no time for politics. This is a public health issue. And viruses and public health don't know the difference between a Democrat, a Republican or an independent,' Fauci said Sunday on ABC's This Week.

'One of the ways to do that is to get trusted messengers without any political ideology differences out there -- that could be clergy, that could be trusted messengers in the community, that could be your family physician -- to get people to put aside this political issue and say, what am I going to be able to do for my own safety and for that of my family?,' he said.

'We have got to get away from the divisiveness that has really been a problem right from the very beginning with this outbreak,' he noted.
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Britain recorded 34,471 Covid cases today as the country's outbreak continues to grow  even though deaths have fallen to just six.

Department of Health statistics show the daily infection tally has risen by 26.1 per cent in a week, although there are early signs that the outbreak may be slowing down.

Meanwhile, data also showed the number of infected patients dying from coronavirus has dropped slightly. Nine victims were added to the official toll last week.

However, daily counts can fluctuate and today's low death figure is likely to be a blip given that cases have been spiralling over the past month amid the rapid spread of the Indian Delta variant.

No hospitalisation statistics were released for Britain today, although NHS facilities have seen a notable uptick in the number of Covid patients needing medical care over the last few weeks.

It comes as Sajid Javid today confirmed No10 is pulling the trigger on England's 'Freedom Day' on July 19 by axing almost all legal restrictions from next Monday  despite pleading for people need to keep wearing masks and not rush back to offices.

The Health Secretary said there would 'never be a perfect time' to lift the draconian curbs and start getting back to 'normal' life but insisted people must show 'caution' and 'personal responsibility'.

Government guidance will say people are 'expected and recommended' to keep wearing face masks in crowded places, while any return to offices this summer should only be 'gradual'.

Boris Johnson will use a 5pm Downing Street press conference this evening to flesh out the unlocking, which was delayed from the original date of June 21 due to the emergence of the Delta variant.

The North East continues to record the highest number of Covid cases, after overtaking the North West as the country's virus hotspot last week (shown in top right purple section of map). The worst hit parts of England are in South Tyneside, where as many as one in 60 people are testing positive for the virus in Harton East and Cleadon Park. In contrast, just one in 416 people in London tested positive for the virus

London has comparatively low case rates compared to other major cities, with just 240 people per 100,000 testing positive for the virus in the week leading up to July 6. This is much lower than the rates in Newcastle (813), Manchester (518) and Birmingham (353)

Freedom Day WILL go ahead on Monday... but with caveats Sajid Javid today confirmed that the government is pulling the trigger on 'Freedom Day' by axing almost all legal restrictions from next Monday - despite pleading for people need to keep wearing masks and not rush back to offices. The Health Secretary said there would 'never be a perfect time' to lift the draconian curbs and start getting back to 'normal' life - but insisted people must show 'caution' and 'personal responsibility'. Government guidance will say people are 'expected and recommended' to keep wearing masks in crowded places, while any return to offices this summer should only be 'gradual'. Ministers are also 'encouraging' the continued use of Covid certification at major events, saying the 'need for caution and restraint is more important than ever'. Meanwhile, questions have been raised about whether the rules will in reality be tougher - as the government admits train companies might well make face coverings a 'condition of carriage' for travel. Boris Johnson will use a Downing Street press conference this evening to flesh out the unlocking, which was delayed from the original date of June 21 due to the emergence of the Delta variant. Mr Javid said going ahead with stage four of the roadmap was a 'step closer to the life we used to live', adding that 'we all want this to be a one-way journey'. 'The case numbers will get a lot worse before they get better,' he said. 'But we do not believe that infection rates will put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.' He added: 'This is the right time to get our nation closer to normal life... To those who say ''why take this step now'' I say ''if not now, when?'' There will never be a perfect time to take this step.' The go-ahead for the bonfire of legal curbs - albeit caveated - came despite Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham renewed his assault over dropping the legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport. Nicola Sturgeon has also criticised the PM for pushing ahead too fast, insisting masks will still be mandatory in some settings in Scotland after July 19. In a statement ahead of his press briefing at 5pm, the PM said that cases will inevitably continue to rise as restrictions are eased. 'Caution is absolutely vital, and we must all take responsibility so we don't undo our progress, ensuring we continue to protect our NHS,' he said. Advertisement

Meanwhile, MailOnline's analysis of official data today showed as many as one in 60 people tested positive for coronavirus last week in England's current hotspot.

Department of Health figures show Harton East  a neighbourhood in South Tyneside  had an infection rate of 1,621 cases for every 100,000 residents in the week ending July 7.

Two other districts within the town  Cleadon Park and Hebburn West  also saw more than 1.5 per cent of the population test positive in the same time-frame.

All but one of the England's 25 worst-hit areas are currently in the North East, MailOnline analysis shows. Some districts are now recording more cases than at any point in the pandemic.

Scientists are baffled as to what is behind the rapid spread, with some experts speculating a new variant may be behind the uptick in cases. Others claim partying students could be to blame, with the highly-transmissible Delta variant already dominant across the region.

Tom Hall, director of public health at South Tyneside Council, told MailOnline that the Delta strain is driving the uptick in cases, which are mainly among unvaccinated people. He said the council will continue to advise people in the region to get vaccinated and keep following Covid restrictions beyond July 19.

But with infections continuing to rise across the country, concerns have been raised about going ahead with the final unlocking.

A group of 120 doctors last week penned a letter in top medical journal the Lancet saying easing restrictions was a reckless gamble.

Figures show the number of daily cases is rising by 30 per cent every seven days, amid the rapid spread of the highly-infectious Indian variant.

But there are signs the speed of growth is slowing down, with experts saying the end of Euro 2020 could lead to a drop in cases.

SAGE advisers have even claimed cases will fade naturally from next month because of growing immunity among the population.

After initially staying flat, hospital admissions and deaths are now rising quickly. One Public Health England expert warned hospitalisations could hit 3,000 a day soon.

But the vaccines have severely damaged a once-impenetrable link, with the proportion of patients who become seriously ill being just a fraction of what it was at the peak of the pandemic.

Freedom Day was originally postponed by four weeks from the original date on June 21 to give the NHS an month to vaccine millions more people amid the rapid spread of the Indian variant.

The mutant strain is now dominant in every region of England and is behind the rapid spike in cases across the North East.

Cases began rising exponentially in the region earlier this month and now appear to be doubling every 10 days, with an extra 3,669 people testing positive on July 6.

Around 706.5 cases per 100,000 residents tested positive on any given day in the North East last week  double the UK average.

By the end of May, the Indian mutation caused 77.7 per cent of cases across England, while the once-dominant Kent strain was responsible for just 21.8 per cent

The Indian 'Delta' variant is now dominant in more than 300 areas of England, MailOnline's analysis of testing data revealed today. Figures show the ultra-transmissible strain had overtaken the formerly dominant Kent variant in 303 local authorities by June 12  just two months after it was seeded in the country

The Indian variant is now responsible for almost all Covid cases in the country, with the most recent estimates from the Sanger Institute stating that 99.3 per cent of all cases in the two weeks up to July 3 were caused by the more infectious mutation

Hope for holidays as Italy, Austria and Germany could be added to 'green list' in review this week Holiday options could be dramatically widened this week amid speculation more countries will be added to the government's quarantine-free 'green list'. Italy, Austria and Germany are among the potential destinations that appear to pose a low enough risk to be downgraded in a review due on Thursday. The move could make life easier for Brits who are desperate to get away, but have yet to receive both doses. People who are double-jabbed are due to be exempted from having to self-isolate on return to 'amber list' countries from 'Freedom Day' next Monday. But they will have to prove they are fully vaccinated, and there fears of huge delays as the rules are eased. Contingency plan are believed to have been put in place at Heathrow to keep passengers waiting in planes on runways if queues at border control exceed four hours. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned holidaymakers last week that serious disruption is possible as he announced that millions of fully vaccinated Britons will not have to self-isolate from July 19. Meanwhile, Britons will still need to consider the restrictions that are being imposed by other countries - with many trying to stop the Delta - or Indian - variant being imported from the UK. Advertisement

Infection rates are even higher in the South Tyneside, with another 328 people testing positive yesterday, meaning cases are higher there now than at any other point in the pandemic so far.

Around 1,203 people per 100,000 tested positive for the virus in the borough, four times higher than the average across England.

In England, 11 of the 20 areas with the highest infection rates are in South Tyneside.

But promisingly, infection rates are highest among those aged 15 to 24, who are less likely to become seriously unwell from the virus.

This suggests that the high rate of infections may not lead to a similarly high spike in hospitalisations and deaths  unless the virus seeds in to older age groups.

Mr Hall said: 'We are seeing a rapid rise in the number of infections across South Tyneside, and across the region, in predominantly unvaccinated people, driven by the more transmissible Delta variant. Hospital admissions are rising, although at a much slower rate than during earlier phases of the pandemic.

'If we are to drive down this worrying trend, then it is vital that everyone continues to play their part. The Covid vaccines have been shown to be highly effective, so we are doing all we can to encourage people to get both doses. By getting vaccinated, people are doing right by themselves and their communities.

'We're continuing to work with communities, schools and businesses to ensure they're prepared and doing everything they can to help protect the most vulnerable.

'We are also encouraging people to continue to follow the public health guidance around hands, face, space and fresh air  even beyond 19th July. Each and every one us needs to take personal responsibility to follow the guidance and avoid making it easy for the virus to spread.'

Outside of South Tyneside, around one in 75 people in Wombwell North in Barnsley, Durham and South Jesmond and Sandyford in Newcastle upon Tyne tested positive last week.

In parts of Redcar and Cleveland, North East Lincolnshire and Gateshead, at least one in 80 people had Covid last week.

Not everyone is getting tested, so the infection rates are expected to be even higher than the number recorded through positive tests.

But it is a mixed picture across the country, with some parts of Torridge, East Suffolk and London recording just 30 cases per 100,000 people.

Professor Martin McKee, an expert in public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told MailOnline: 'It has been clear for some weeks that something is happening in the North East but we do not fully understand it.

'Some have speculated about the possibility of a new variant but we do not have evidence for that yet.

'We also know that Covid-19 thrives in more deprived areas, which characterises many parts of the North East.

'It is clearly important to understand what is happening as the same could happen elsewhere soon. Rates of infection in England could rise very high.

'They are increasing at about 30 per cent per week at present, so you just need to project that forward. Worryingly, hospitalisations are increasing faster.

'Clearly, removing restrictions will lead to faster increases but, on the other hand, once schools close transmission in those settings should cease.'

Professor James Naismith, a senior research fellow in structural biology at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline infection rates could get as high as one in 50 across England if the Government's own estimates  that there could be 100,000 new infections per day by August  are correct.

He said: 'What matters in the North East is how people respond. Typically, as the disease spreads people change behaviours, even if government does not change rules.

'The weather the summer helps by keeping us outdoors and vaccination of younger people, as the less unvaccinated people the slower it spreads.'
Dominic Cummings has been warned he may have breached rules on senior officials taking up paid work after leaving government by setting up a blog lifting the lid on the inner workings of Downing Street.

Boris Johnson's former chief aide has used the Substack newsletter site to make a series of attacks on his former boss, his wife Carrie, and a number of current and former ministers.

But Lord Pickles, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), has warned that it may break the rules because he charges people 10 a month to receive his gossip.

Acoba is supposed to vet appointments taken by former ministers and senior officials, but Lord Pickles, a former minister himself, said Mr Cummings had failed to seek their advice before launching the project.

In a letter to the Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, published today, Lord Pickles said: 'I understand that Mr Cummings has made an application via the Cabinet Office to the committee for consideration.

'However, in the meantime it appears that Mr Cummings is offering various services for payment via a blog hosted on Substack, the blog for which he is also receiving subscription payments.

'Mr Cummings has failed to seek the committee's advice on this commercial undertaking, nor has the committee received the courtesy of a reply to our letter requesting an explanation.

'Failure to seek and await advice before taking up work is a breach of the Government's rules.'

Boris Johnson's former chief aide has used the Substack newsletter site to make a series of attacks on his former boss, his wife Carrie, and a number of current and former ministers.

But Lord Pickles, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), has warned that it may break the rules because he charges people 10 a month to receive his gossip.

In a letter to the Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, published today, Lord Pickles said: 'Mr Cummings has failed to seek the committee's advice on this commercial undertaking, nor has the committee received the courtesy of a reply to our letter requesting an explanation.

Mr Cummings has used Substack of a wide variety of attacks, as well as question and answer sessions on his time in government.

Last week he accused Mr and Mrs Johnson of acting like a 'demonic Russian virus' last year, branding their relationship 'weird'.

The previous week he lashed out at now former health secretary Matt Hancock. He released a screenshot of a WhatsApp message from May last year in which he voiced concerns about testing people moving from NHS hospitals to care homes.

He had already accused Mr Hancock of claiming that everyone was being tested before being sent to homes - when they were not - something that the Health Secretary has denied.

Mr Cummings has used Substack of a wide variety of attacks, as well as question and answer sessions on his time in government.

The failure to test everyone leaving NHS hospitals for care facilities has been blamed for the high rate of deaths there among mainly elderly and vulnerable residents.

In the shared Whatsapp message, Mr Cummings asks the PM to put the Department of Health's 'plan for using testing to suppress infections in hospitals and care homes' over the subsequent three to six months on the agenda for a meeting the next day.

He suggested 'these goddamn plans should already exist', adding: 'At the moment I think we are negligently killing the most vulnerable who we are supposed to be shielding and I am extremely worried about it.'

Unveiling the article on Twitter, Mr Cummings said it was 'further evidence on how Hancock/PM negligence killed people'.

Previously he claimed he 'screamed' at Boris Johnson while his chief aide in No10 over the Prime Minister's insistence that Government policy should 'follow the bloody media'.
The Florida doctor arrested over the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise campaigned to replace the slain leader and claimed to have the backing of a key UN figure, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian who has lived in the US since the late 70s, is suspected of being 'one of the leaders' behind the brazen shooting of Moise and the attempted killing of his wife Martine last week.

Haitian police say he entered the strife-plagued country last month on a private jet 'with the intention of taking the Haitian Presidency' although they are yet to back their accusations with hard evidence.

Another Florida-based brother, Jean Sanon, told DailyMail.com outside his West Palm Beach home that the family had been advised by an attorney not to discuss the ongoing events in Haiti. However he said of his accused sibling Christian: Its obvious hes being framed

DailyMail.com can reveal that Sanon's ambitions to reform his poverty-stricken homeland date back to February 2011 when he launched a website entitled 'Dr Christian Sanon Leadership pour Haiti'.

The site has since vanished but archived web pages from 2011 to 2016 include a portal for donations, a 'plan for Haiti', and news updates on Sanon's efforts to build clinics in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, who was arrested in Haiti over the weekend, had campaigned to replace slain President Jovenel Moise weeks before the Haitian leader's assassination, DailyMail.com can reveal

Haitian President Jovenel Moise and First Lady Martine are pictured together in 2017. Moise was riddled with 12 bullet holes and had his eye gouged out during the brutal July 7 attack rthat claimed his life and left his wife seriously injured

Sanon's goals became more explicit last month with the launch of another website  Haitianlivesmatter  which specifically called for the ouster of Moise, who was shot at least 12 times on July 7 and had an eye gouged out.

A letter addressed to Julie Chung, Acting Assistant Secretary for the State's Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, says: 'Our own democracy has now been taken. We are no longer free but instead are controlled by the authoritarianism of Jovenel Moise.

'Moise has stolen the democracy Haitians died to create. He has "unchecked' executive power  Moise has shown he intends to use his power, intimidation and unending wide scale brutality to broaden and extend his control of Haiti by establishing a new "Constitution" in just a few weeks.

'Even worse, this "Constitution" would provide impunity for his crimes. If this 'Constitution' is 'enacted,' it will be without legitimate legal authority, it would contravene elections and the current 'crisis' could 'morph' into violent and deadly pandemonium throughout Haiti.

Sanon called for Moise's ouster in a letter addressed to Julie Chung (pictured) the acting Assistant Secretary for the US State's Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

'We pray this does not happen, but time is running out; as you know, a "fuse" has been burning since February 7! Something must be done soon.

'Haitians are thoroughly convinced that even IF elections were ever organized by the current administration, these "elections" would be not be fair and therefore they would compound the current crisis.

'Thus, as you say, Haiti is "paralyzed'': no elections cause chaos, but, fair elections organized by the current administration are widely believed to be unrealistic. Therefore ... Haiti needs a transitional government to restore Haiti's democracy and freedom.'

The letter - signed 'The People of Haiti' - includes a decree explaining how Sanon was picked to be interim leader after 'extensive consultations' with leading political, religious, and business figures.

Under the order, he would serve a maximum of three years while the country's government was rebuilt with the help of a consultative council of 25 members, 30 percent of which would be female, ahead of 'fair democratic elections.'

The website, which was taken down sometime after June 7, outlines a coalition of alleged supporters for Sanon's transitional government including a UN official named Willy Louis.

In a letter calling for Moise's ouster last month, Sanon claimed to have been picked interim leader of the country and outlined a coalition of supporters including a UN official named Willy Louis (pictured)

Another backer, Frantz Gilot is described as 'part of the UN training globally for Human Rights Ethics & Integrity'

'At the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the United Nations, the Minister Counselor Louis leads the Fourth Committee, overseeing all issues related to the maintenance of peace operations and records on Humanitarian Affairs,' the site says.

Louis was introduced as Minister Counselor from the Permanent Mission of Haiti when he spoke about the country's plight during a 2019 event at UN headquarters in New York.

Another backer, Frantz Gilot is described as 'part of the UN training globally for Human Rights Ethics & Integrity'.

'The leader we have chosen has a record of integrity and genuine love for the people and their well-being,' the 'coalition's' statement says of Sanon, describing him as a 'pastor, physician, leader.'

Gilot told DailyMail.com that he provided pro bono legal consultations to the UN on issues such as human rights and prison reform but his work was strictly apolitical.

He said he attended a January 16 meeting where a number of figures, including Sanon, put their names forward as potential leaders for a transitional government.

'It was a very gentle meeting. We talked about the country, the justice system, penal reform, human rights, how Haitians living abroad can be involved in government,' Gilot said.

'He asked me questions on the justice system and prisons and I responded. But I'm not backing him, I'm not on his team. I cannot back anyone because I'm not a political consultant.'

Sanon's brother did not dispute suggestions that his sibling was in Haiti to achieve political change but he defended him as a 'Godly man' rather than a violent instigator.

'It would be good for the truth to come out. It would be good for there to be more information to know exactly whats going on,' Joseph Sanon told DailyMail.com.

'We are praying, asking the lord to show us. I want to know the truth. I'm desperate to know it.'

Joseph, 53, said he was aware his brother was in Haiti but said he had not spoken to him for months.

Asked whether his sibling's plans for their homeland involved violence, he responded: 'Prayer, prayer, and thats what we are doing now.

'We are praying for the country, we are praying for the people. Our focus has always been to prayer.'

On Saturday Haitian authorities said the suspects were a unit of assassins made up of 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans. Five Colombians are still on the loose.

Suspects in the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moise are shown to the media in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Thursday

Weaponry, mobile phones, passports and other items are being shown to the media along with suspects in the assassination

Sanon is the third person with US ties to be arrested in connection with last week's assassination. James Solages, 35, and Joseph G. Vincent, 55, both from South Florida, have been in custody since they turned themselves in.

Sanon allegedly recruited the Miami-based CTU Security, which is registered in Florida as the Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy LCC, and CTU Security recruited the Colombians who are accused of carrying out the hit, sources familiar with the investigation told the Miami Herald.

The National Police said they also have evidence that Sanon was in contact with at least two other suspects who planned the assassination.

Police Chief Leon Charles say authorities raided Sanon's house in Haiti and found 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four automobile license plates from the Dominican Republic and two cars and correspondence.

They also found a hat emblazoned with the logo of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - the same disguise the assassins are said to have used during the attack.

Charles said Sanon recruited the suspects, adding that he flew into Haiti with them in early June. The men's initial mission was to protect Sanon, but they later received a new one: arrest the president, the chief said.

'The operation started from there,' he said, adding that an additional 22 suspects joined the group and that contact was made with Haitian citizens.

Footage circulating online purportedly taken by a neighbor of the president shows men with rifles arriving outside the property

Moise(pictured in 2018) was killed by a group of assassins disguised as US Drug Enforcement Administration officers who entered his private residence on July 7

Charles said that after Moise was killed, one of the suspects phoned Sanon, who then got in touch with two people believed to be the intellectual authors of the plot. He did not identify the masterminds or say if police knew who they are.

Sanon has lived in Florida, in Broward County and in Hillsborough County on the Gulf Coast. Records show he has also lived in Kansas City, Missouri. He filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and identifies himself as a doctor in a video on YouTube titled 'Leadership for Haiti.'

Although he describes himself as a doctor he does not have a license in Florida, the Miami Herald reports.

In the video, he denounces the leaders of Haiti as corrupt, accusing them of stripping the country of its resources, saying that 'they don't care about the country, they don't care about the people.'

He claims Haiti has uranium, oil and other resources that have been taken by government officials. 'With me in power, you are going to have to tell me: 'What are you doing with my uranium? What are you doing with the oil that we have in the country? What are you going to do with the gold?''

Haitian-born American citizens James Solages, 35, (above) and Joseph Vincent, 55, are said to have confessed to being involved in Wednesday's early morning raid at the president's mansion near Port-au-Prince

He also added: 'This is a country with resources. Nine million people can't be in poverty when we have so much resources in the country. It's impossible. ... The world has to stop doing what they are doing right now. We can't take it anymore. We need new leadership that will change the way of life.'

Sanon has more than a dozen registered companies in Florida, including medical services, an energy company and real estate, but most are now inactive, the Herald reports.

He has also listed himself as church pastor at the Tabarre Evangelical Tabernacle and as president of a non-government organization called Organization Rome Haiti.

The middle-of-the-night murder plunged the troubled Caribbean nation into chaos, with at least three men now claiming to be its leader.

In an effort to quell tensions, President Joe Biden acknowledged the county's interim government's request for help and sent a delegation of US officials to Haiti on Sunday to help with security and aid in the investigation.

They will report back to Biden on their findings as US debates its response.
Adelaide Schrowang, 23, was charged with resisting an officer, trespassing and interference with aircraft operations

The moment a Florida woman was arrested and forced off a Delta flight after allegedly refusing to wear a mask and spitting at other passengers has been caught on camera.

Cellphone footage shows the moment Adelaide Schrowang, 23, was escorted off the plane at Southwest Florida International Airport on July 7 when a captain ordered she be removed from the flight.

It is the latest incident of bad behavior on planes, with the FAA saying this month that airlines have reported more than 3,000 incidents involving unruly passengers since January 1.

Airline crew said Schrowang was disruptive as the plane sat at the gate, refusing to wear a mask, arguing with flight attendants and spitting at other passengers, KKTV.com reported.

A passenger recorded Schrowag's interaction with two uniformed officers who tell her they would ask her just one more time to put her mask on before they were forced to restrain her.

Schrowang can then be heard complaining that officers are 'not respecting my human rights' as she is removed from the plane.

An emotional Schrowag argues with airport officers as they tell her she needs to wear a mask

An airport officer gets fed up with Schrowag and escorts her off the plane

She's recorded going back and forth with officers who tell her she is not complying as she ask 'Why do you have the right to put your hands on me? What am I doing that makes you feel you have the right to put your hands on me?'

'Can you help me to understand as a human that is alive why?' she emotionally ask the officers. 'Seriously I'm asking as a person?'

One of the officers, seemingly running out of patience give the 23-year-old her last warning.

'Here's what's happening, were going to deplane the aircraft, I'm going to take you off the plane,' he says.

She argues that was already going to happen and another officer tells her it wont happen if she willingly gets off the plane.

Airline crew said Schrowang was disruptive, refusing to wear a mask, arguing with flight attendants and spitting at other passengers

Adelaide Schrowang, 23, (pictured) was escorted off a Delta flight at Southwest Florida International Airport when a captain ordered she be removed from the flight

Schrowang does not budge and the other officer tells her 'as soon as they deplane, you're going to jail, it's as simple as that'

'Do you see how that's a threatening system?' she ask desperately.

'That's the way it is,' the officer replies.

'That's not cool, I want to trust you, you want to trust me? that's not healing,' she says.

She goes on to argue that the officer told her if she got off the plane she wouldn't be arrested and that the cop should 'honor that'

The officer tells her 'We're trying not to arrest you' and she responds, 'You're not respecting my human rights' and the officer proceeds to grab her arms and move her towards the exit.

The Transportation Security Administration requires all passengers to wear mask on plane until September 2021.

'TSA is requiring that all airport operators, aircraft operators, foreign air carriers and surface transportation owners and operators ensure that all workers and passengers wear face masks indoors to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and facilitate healthy and secure travel.'

Republican Sen. Rand Paul recently promised to introduce legislation to repeal the federal mask mandate on planes which was met with mixed reactions, with some applauding Paul's efforts and others raising health concerns about variants and argued people might be reluctant to fly.

Schrowang, who was charged with resisting an officer, trespassing and interference with aircraft operations, continued to be disruptive as she was transferred to jail and during the booking process, KKTV.com reported.

The incident came the same week footage emerged of a woman who was duct taped to her seat on an American Airlines flight after she allegedly tried to open a plane door and bit a flight attendant.

The disturbing incident was caught on camera by a fellow passenger on the American Airlines flight from Dallas to Charlotte on July 6.

The restrained passenger - who has not been identified - was thought to have suffered a 'mental health episode' about two hours into the three hour trip.

A female passenger ended up having 'a mental health episode' on a flight from Dallas to Charlotte and was duct taped to her seat along with having tape placed over her mouth

A stretcher was brought on board in order to remove the woman and take her to hospital

TikTok user @lol.ariee, Arieana Mathena, said that it was clear something was happening toward the front of the plane and began locking the bathroom doors.

She said the crew began frantically running up and down the aisle in an attempt to secure the plane as best they could.

After the plane landed, the woman could be seen still duct taped to her seat complete with tape placed directly over her mouth.

She was forced to stay in her seat as other passengers were allowed to disembark from the plane.

Paramedics were also seen standing by with a stretcher at the gate.

American Airlines confirmed in a statement that the passenger was 'restrained' after causing crew members concern.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said last week that airlines have reported more than 3,000 incidents involving unruly passengers since January 1, with many involving passengers who refuse to comply with a federal requirement to wear face masks.

While the FAA agency did not track such reports in prior years, a spokesman said it was safe to assume this year's numbers are the highest ever.

Since announcing a 'zero-tolerance policy' against unruly passengers in January, the FAA has publicized potential fines - some topping $30,000 - against dozens of passengers and has investigated more than 400 cases. That is about three times the full-year average number of cases over the past decade, according to FAA figures.

As a result of the violent incidents, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said they will resume self-defense training for airline flight attendants and pilots.

The classes, which are voluntary for airline flight crews, were halted last year because of COVID-19.

DailyMail.com could not confirm if airline staffers on the ground will also be part of the program.

The move was praised by leaders of major flight attendant unions, who lobbied to create the training programs after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The terrorists who hijacked and crashed four planes attacked several flight attendants and passengers before storming the cockpits.

'Since a flight attendant was the first to perish, we wanted to make sure that we could protect ourselves from physical altercations, on and off the aircraft,' said Lyn Montgomery, president of the union local that represents Southwest Airlines flight attendants. 'Right now it's really needed, it's incredibly valuable.'

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, who also advocated making the classes mandatory, nonetheless praised TSA for restarting voluntary ones now because of the surge in confrontations on flights.

'This should send a message to the public that these events are serious' and that flight attendants are there to ensure 'the safety and security of everyone in the plane,' she said.
A severely injured 17-year-old boy from Philadelphia was rescued overnight following a standoff between a SWAT team and a trio of suspects who police say had abducted him at gunpoint from his familys home.

The incident began unfolding at 11.30pm on Sunday, when police were called to an address in the 6600 block of Tabor Road in Northeast Philadelphia.

Family members said they heard sounds of struggle coming from the basement, and when they went downstairs, the 17-year-old boy was gone, even though his car was still parked outside.

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Police in Philadelphia rescued a kidnapped 17-year-old boy from this home on Trotter Street early Monday morning

Police tracked down the victim's cellphone after he had been abducted at gunpoint from the basement of his home a mile away by a trio of suspects

Two women and a man, all in their 20s, walked out of this home after a standoff with a SWAT team and hostage negotiators

According to police, a blood trail and three bullets were found near the residence, and a bullet hole was said to have been located in the basement, reported the station WPVI.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said investigators were able to track the kidnapped teen's phone to a property a mile away in the 6200 block of Trotter Street.

When police surrounded the home, the suspects had barricaded themselves and the victim inside.

A SWAT team and hostage negotiators were summoned to the scene. Following a brief standoff, the three suspects, described only as a man and two women, all in their 20s, agreed to surrender at 2am.

Police then entered the home and found the kidnapping victim bleeding profusely from lacerations to his head and face. Small said the boy was drifting in and out of consciousness as he was being transported to St. Christophers Childrens Hospital.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said the victim was badly hurt and bloodied

I saw his face, it was very swollen. Small told CBS Philadelphia. You saw some cuts, contusions, large bumps.

According to investigators, the teen ultimately was able to identify all three suspects. He said he had been abducted at gunpoint.

Police have not revealed a motive behind the kidnapping, but said they believe the victim has a history with at least one, if not with all three, of the suspects.

The alleged kidnappers, who have not been named as of Monday afternoon, were expected to face kidnapping and assault charges.
Parents and students have demanded a California school fires a Spanish teacher after a recording emerged of her using the n-word twice in class and saying it 'used to be a horrible ugly word and it's not anymore.'

Katherine Sanders, who teaches seventh-grade Spanish at Kit Carson International Academy in Sacramento, was caught on audio back on June 15 telling students it was okay to say the racial slur because she hears it 'all the time' in the area where she lives.

Sanders, who is white, compared the racist term to the f-word during a lesson discussing language, on the same day seniors graduated from the school.

The incident has sparked a backlash from parents, students and activists who are calling for her to be be fired while the Sacramento City Unified School District said it has launched an investigation and is offering counselling to any students impacted.

Parents and students have demanded a California school fires a Spanish teacher after a recording emerged of her using the n-word twice in class and saying it 'used to be a horrible ugly word and it's not anymore.' Kit Carson International Academy in Sacramento above

In the recording, first obtained by CBS Local, Sanders is heard telling her 12 and 13-year-old students that some words have lost their meaning over time, arguing the n-word is no longer offensive.

'I know the f-word is something we hear constantly. It used to be a nasty, ugly word and now it's like the word [n-word] which everybody says or [n-word],' she says.

'Which used to be a horrible ugly word as well and it's not anymore somehow.'

At least one student spoke out in the lesson, saying they felt uncomfortable and pushing back against her use of the word.

'Wait, wait, how is that not a horrible word?' the student asks.

But Sanders continued, justifying her use of the slur because other people say it.

'Where I live, I hear it all the time,' she tells them.

Sanders went on to urge the students to 'think about words that make things cheap' and even called the discussion 'a great conversation.'

'Oh, what a great conversation, I love it,' she says in the audio.

'I didn't anticipate this conversation, I'd love to keep going because I want to hear what you have to say.'

Her comments sent shockwaves across the local community, while students came forward to claim she has also used offensive language in the past.

One seventh-grade student who witnessed Sanders using the n-word told the Sacramento Bee she and her fellow classmates were 'shocked' and 'didn't know what to say.'

Jaslene Freeman said Sanders' argument that other people say the n-word where she lives is not an excuse.

Katherine Sanders (pictured), who teaches seventh-grade Spanish at Kit Carson, was caught on audio back on June 15 telling students it was okay to say the racial slur because she hears it 'all the time' in the area where she lives

'Whether a bunch of kids use it or not, or whatever neighborhood she lives in,' she said.

'It doesn't matter if it's an overly-used word, it still gives her no right to use it at all, because it's a derogatory term.'

Another student, Monica Sandoval, said concerns had been raised in the past about the Spanish teacher using offensive terms to describe Latino students but that they went ignored by school administrators.

'We would try telling her and she would get mad and send us to detention,' Sandoval told the Sacramento Bee.

'I always got detention in her class whenever I would tell her something about it.'

Former student Noah Rozzo echoed that Sanders has a history of using such language.

'She said it and I felt very hurt because it's been used to be discriminative and stuff,' Rozzo told Fox40.

A DailyMail.com request for comment from Sanders was unanswered Monday.

Parents and members of the community are now demanding she be fired from her job at the district.

Berry Accius, a community activist and founder of Voice of the Youth, called for her immediate removal and said an apology was not enough at a briefing on July 1, attended by the district's Superintendent Jorge Aguilar.

'A teacher that us teaching a Spanish class at Kit Carson, she used used vulgar, racial, insensitive language with the youth in the class,' Accius said.

The district's Superintendent Jorge Aguilar (in a polo shirt and dark face mask) listens at a briefing about the incident on July 1. He said Sanders' behavior would not be tolerated

'This was a history of bad language, ignorance and racism here by this teacher.'

Accius is also calling for increased efforts to improve anti-racism in the district's schools, including increased recruitment of black and Latino teachers, adopting a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech on school ground and stopping teachers from opting out of anti-bias training.

'What happened to professionalism?' Accius said.

'What happened to all those so-called 'implicit bias trainings' and 'anti-racism trainings' that these schools are supposedly having these teachers go through every year?'

Aguilar addressed the community at the event, saying Sanders' behavior would not be tolerated by the district.

'What happened here at Kit Carson is not going to be condoned, is not going to be tolerated,' he said.

'Any comment using a racial slur, suggesting it is okay, is absolutely not going to be tolerated.'

He insisted he stands 'in solidarity' with the concerned parents and ordered an investigation.

The superintendent said Sanders 'is no longer working with our students' but would not confirm if she had been fired, saying it was a personnel issue.

Kit Carson International Academy pictured above. The district said Sanders is no longer working at the school but has not confirmed whether or not she has been fired

The board also released a statement saying it was 'horrified' by what had happened and that 'racism, racist behaviors, and racist language' will not be tolerated.

'The Sacramento City Unified School Board was horrified to learn that a teacher at a school in our district used racist language in the classroom,' it said.

'Our Board condemns racism and the use of racist language in the strongest terms.

'Racism, racist behaviors, and racist language are unacceptable, and will not be tolerated in the Sacramento City Unified School District.'

The board said it had directed the Sac City Unified staff to 'act quickly to fully investigate this incident and to take appropriate action to address the situation' and urged 'students and families impacted by this incident to contact Sac City Unifieds Student Support Services.'

Sacramento City Unified School District declined to comment on whether Sanders had been fired as the investigation is still ongoing.

DailyMail.com has also reached out to Kit Carson International Academy for comment.
Professor Tim Spector, who runs Britain's largest Covid symptom tracking study ZOE, said cases 'may have peaked' last week

Britain's third wave of Covid pandemic may have peaked already, one of the country's top virus-tracking experts has claimed revealed.

Professor Tim Spector, who runs Britain's largest Covid symptom tracking study, said new cases peaked at around 33,000 per day on July 6.

Symptomatic cases among unvaccinated Brits fell by 2.4 per cent, from 20,973 on July 5 to 20,487 on July 6.

But the number of vaccinated adults who make up 87.2 per cent of the population  falling ill with the virus is still rising.

Another 12,905 vaccinated Brits were estimated to have caught Covid on July 6, meaning nearly half of all cases are now among the jabbed.

The data led Professor Spector, who is an epidemiologist at King's College London, to conclude that total new cases among both groups have plateaued at 33,000.

However, separate data measures show infections are still rising across the country. MailOnline analysis revealed today that as many as one in 60 people tested positive for the virus in some parts of England.

Data from the ZOE app showed that, while unvaccinated people in the UK make up the majority of new Covid cases, this number is beginning to fall. Meanwhile, cases among vaccinated Brits are continuing to rise, although they make up the minority of total cases

Data released by Professor Spector on Sunday showed that cases in the UK increased overall, rising from 33,254 on July 6 to 33,392 on July 7

One in 60 people tested positive for Covid in South Tyneside last week, official data shows As many as one in 60 people tested positive for coronavirus last week in England's current hotspot, official data shows. Department of Health figures show Harton East  a neighbourhood in South Tyneside  had an infection rate of 1,621 cases for every 100,000 residents in the week ending July 7. Two other districts within the town  Cleadon Park and Hebburn West  also saw more than 1.5 per cent of the population test positive in the same time-frame. All but one of the England's 25 worst-hit areas are currently in the North East, MailOnline analysis shows. Some districts are now recording more cases than at any point in the pandemic. Scientists are baffled as to what is behind the rapid spread, with some experts speculating a new variant may be behind the uptick in cases. Others claim partying students could be to blame, with the highly-transmissible Delta variant already dominant across the region. Tom Hall, director of public health at South Tyneside Council, told MailOnline that the Delta strain is driving the uptick in cases, which are mainly among unvaccinated people. He said the council will continue to advise people in the region to get vaccinated and keep following Covid restrictions beyond July 19. Advertisement

The ZOE Covid Symptom Study app tracks how the virus spreads, and what symptoms it causes, through data provided by hundreds of thousands of Brits.

Data released by the study on Sunday showed that cases in the UK increased overall, rising from 33,254 on July 6 to 33,392 the following day.

But the number of unvaccinated people catching Covid began to fall, while those with the jab continued to catch the virus.

This is likely because vaccinated Brits make up the vast majority of the population, with record numbers getting jabbed last month when the vaccine rollout expanded to all over-18s.

Full details of the weekly surveillance study will be published on Thursday.

Professor Spector said last week, when the most recent data was published, that the virus is 'not done with us' but there are already signs the third wave is slowing down.

ZOE figures showed for a second week in a row that cases have risen by a similar amount, prompting him to believe the third wave may already be slowing down.

It comes as MailOnline analysis revealed that one in 60 people tested positive for coronavirus last week in England's current hotspot.

Department of Health figures show Harton East  a neighbourhood in South Tyneside  had an infection rate of 1,621 cases for every 100,000 residents in the week ending July 7.

Two other districts within the town  Cleadon Park and Hebburn West  also saw more than 1.5 per cent of the population test positive in the same time-frame.

All but one of the England's 25 worst-hit areas are currently in the North East, MailOnline analysis shows. Some districts are now recording more cases than at any point in the pandemic.

Scientists are baffled as to what is behind the rapid spread, with some experts speculating a new variant may be behind the uptick in cases. Others claim partying students could be to blame, with the highly-transmissible Delta variant already dominant across the region.

Tom Hall, director of public health at South Tyneside Council, told MailOnline that the Delta strain is driving the uptick in cases, which are mainly among unvaccinated people. He said the council will continue to advise people in the region to get vaccinated and keep following Covid restrictions beyond July 19.

The North East continues to record the highest number of Covid cases, after overtaking the North West as the country's virus hotspot last week (shown in top right purple section of map). The worst hit parts of England are in South Tyneside, where as many as one in 60 people are testing positive for the virus in Harton East and Cleadon Park. In contrast, just one in 416 people in London tested positive for the virus

London has comparatively low case rates compared to other major cities, with just 240 people per 100,000 testing positive for the virus in the week leading up to July 6. This is much lower than the rates in Newcastle (813), Manchester (518) and Birmingham (353)

Ministers 'are told to brace for up to 2MILLION Covid cases over the next few weeks' after 'Freedom Day' on July 19 No10 has been told to prepare for up to 2million coronavirus cases over the next few weeks following the final unlocking on July 19, it was claimed today. Ministers are preparing to relax all remaining legal restrictions next Monday, with Boris Johnson set to formally unveil 'Freedom Day' at a 5pm press conference today. But the Prime Minister will caution that the dramatic easing 'comes with a warning', and people must 'expect' to keep wearing masks in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and trains. Government experts have suggested working from home should remain the norm after the shift to trusting the public's 'common sense'. Despite promising hints in official data that Britain's outbreak may already be slowing, infections are still rising. The UK is now recording 31,500 cases every day on average  up from 24,800 the week before. Senior ministers including Health Secretary Sajid Javid have already laid the ground for up to 100,000 Britons to get infected every day within a matter of weeks, prompting fury from some experts who fear pressing ahead with July 19 is a reckless gamble. Public Health England experts have warned hospital admissions could hit 3,000 a day  similar to levels seen in January, as the Delta variant continues to run riot. The Guardian today reported Whitehall officials have been told to prepare for between 1 and 2million coronavirus cases over the next few weeks, with the third wave still growing in size. But No10 has repeatedly defended its decision to crack on with Freedom Day, with the goal now being centered around learning to live with the virus and trusting the public to use common sense instead of taking cover when infections surge. Advertisement

But with infections continuing to rise across the country, concerns have been raised about going ahead with the final unlocking.

A group of 120 doctors last week penned a letter in top medical journal the Lancet saying easing restrictions was a reckless gamble.

Figures show the number of daily cases is rising by 30 per cent every seven days, amid the rapid spread of the highly-infectious Indian variant.

But there are signs the speed of growth is slowing down, with experts saying the end of Euro 2020 could lead to a drop in cases.

SAGE advisers have even claimed cases will fade naturally from next month because of growing immunity among the population.

After initially staying flat, hospital admissions and deaths are now rising quickly. One Public Health England expert warned hospitalisations could hit 3,000 a day soon.

But the vaccines have severely damaged a once-impenetrable link, with the proportion of patients who become seriously ill being just a fraction of what it was at the peak of the pandemic.

Freedom Day was originally postponed by four weeks from the original date on June 21 to give the NHS an month to vaccine millions more people amid the rapid spread of the Indian variant.

The mutant strain is now dominant in every region of England and is behind the rapid spike in cases across the North East.

Cases began rising exponentially in the region earlier this month and now appear to be doubling every 10 days, with an extra 3,669 people testing positive on July 6.

Around 706.5 cases per 100,000 residents tested positive on any given day in the North East last week  double the UK average.

Infection rates are even higher in the South Tyneside, with another 328 people testing positive yesterday, meaning cases are higher there now than at any other point in the pandemic so far.

Around 1,203 people per 100,000 tested positive for the virus in the borough, four times higher than the average across England.

In England, 11 of the 20 areas with the highest infection rates are in South Tyneside.

But promisingly, infection rates are highest among those aged 15 to 24, who are less likely to become seriously unwell from the virus.

This suggests that the high rate of infections may not lead to a similarly high spike in hospitalisations and deaths  unless the virus seeds in to older age groups.

By the end of May, the Indian mutation caused 77.7 per cent of cases across England, while the once-dominant Kent strain was responsible for just 21.8 per cent

The Indian 'Delta' variant is now dominant in more than 300 areas of England, MailOnline's analysis of testing data revealed today. Figures show the ultra-transmissible strain had overtaken the formerly dominant Kent variant in 303 local authorities by June 12  just two months after it was seeded in the country
Republican lawmakers across the U.S. are pushing for the passage of laws that would give unvaccinated Americans the same anti-discrimination protections related to race, gender and religion.

The slew of bills would stop private businesses and government entities from requiring coronavirus vaccines or potentially implementing so-called 'vaccine passport' initiatives.

However, the laws and proposed legislation also could curb the growing political identity marker that has come to surround COVID-19 vaccination status.

Most states, according to a list accumulated by Husch Blackwell, have proposed legislation or already-signed laws protecting people from discrimination based on if they have received the coroanvirus vaccine.

The biggest difference between vaccination status and other identity markers, Husch Blackwell managing partner Lowell Pearson told Axios, is that the latter are 'inherent to you.'

Arkansas and Montana Governors Asa Hutchinson (left) and Greg Gianforte (right) signed into law legislation that bans private and public entities in their respective states from discriminating on the basis of vaccination status against COVID-19

Eight GOP states have already signed legislation banning vaccine passports to show proof of inoculation for any purchase of 'services, goods, facilities' as well as 'educational and employment opportunities and health care access

'When we think about the normal discrimination statutes,' Pearson said, 'we have protected classes based on something that is sort of inherent to you, with religion maybe being the one that is a choice.'

'But vaccination status you certainly can control,' he added.

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma and South Dakota, all states with Republican governors, have already banned so-called 'vaccine passports.' A slew of Republicans in other states have proposed such legislation, but many are doomed to fail as they are in Democrat-run areas.

Montana and Arkansas specifically have made it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of vaccination status  similar to anti-discrimination laws related to gender identity, race and religion.

New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination prohibits requiring a COVID-19 vaccine only in cases of disability, doctor guidance against the jab or 'sincere held religious beliefs.'

'An individual may not be required to receive any vaccine whose use is allowed under an emergency use authorization or any vaccine undergoing safety trials,' reads Montana's bill, which was signed May 7, 2021 and immediately put into effect.

STATES' CORONAVIRUS VACCINE-RELATED LAWS Anti-discrimination laws Montana: 'An individual may not be required to receive any vaccine whose use is allowed under an emergency use authorization or any vaccine undergoing safety trials.' The law bars discrimination in form of denying a person 'services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, licensing, educational opportunities, health care access, or employment opportunities based on vaccination status' Arkansas: 'The state, a state agency or entity, a political subdivision of the state, or a state or local official shall not discriminate against or coerce in any way an individual for refusing to receive a vaccine or immunization for coronavirus.' House Bill 1547 bars 'coercion' in forms of threats, conditional employment and benefits or 'positive incentives' to those who do receive the COVID-19 vaccine. New Jersey: 'An employer can require that an employee receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to the workplace, unless the employee cannot get the vaccine because of a disability, because their doctor has advised them not to get the vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding, or because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance.' The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits employers from mandating anything an employee is religiously against  including vaccines. Proposed legislation Student exemptions: Minnesota, New York, South Dakota and Tennessee Banning vaccine Passports: Kansas, Minnesota, Vermont States that have already banned 'vaccine passports': Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota States with student exemptions for vaccines: Alabama, Montana and Oklahoma Advertisement

The national vaccine effort has slowed substantially since the early days of distribution.

Joe Biden's administration has run out of ideas on how to raise the COVID vaccination rate as it stagnated, Politico reported.

The vaccinated rate among adults sits at 68 per cent.

Biden missed his July 4, 2021 goal to get 70 per cent of American adults at least one dose of the vaccine and 160 million fully vaccinated by the mid-summer holiday.

Combatting hesitancy among Republicans, minority communities and southern states has been one of the administration's biggest obstacles.
Paige Winter, now 19, lost her left leg and suffered major damage to her hands in the attack two years ago

A teenager who lost her leg in a horror shark attack while swimming at a beach in North Carolina told her dad not to be mad at the animal as she was being taken away in an ambulance.

Paige Winter, now 19, lost her left leg and suffered major damage to her hands in the attack two years ago, and is speaking out about her experience ahead of the premiere of National Geographic's 'Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story.'

Winter was visiting the beach at Fort Macon State Park in North Carolina with her family on June 2, 2019 in waist-deep water when a bull shark pulled her under the water, chomping down on her leg.

She tried to fight it off, she said, but she suffered deep lacerations to her leg, pelvic and hand areas in the attack, and almost lost her life.

Fortunately, Winter was rescued by her father, Charlie, who punched the animal five times in the face until it let go of her leg.

She had to get her leg amputated above the knee and underwent multiple surgeries to repair her hands in the month that followed.

But she never blamed the shark, she said.

Winter told I News she remembers laying in the ambulance being pumped with morphine, telling her father: 'Don't be mad at the shark. It's just a shark, it's doing its shark thing.'

Paige Winter and her father Charlie Winter set sail for a shark tagging expedition for National Geographic

Winter remembers laying in the ambulance being pumped with morphine, telling her father: 'Don't be mad at the shark'

She had been an environmentalist before the attack, she said, and as she sat in the ambulance, she said, she remembered reading that after 'Jaws' was released in 1975, 'people had shark-killing competitions. And I didn't want that to happen.'

'Sharks are good people,' she told I News. 'They are very misunderstood.'

In the years that followed, Winter has become an advocate for sharks, working with National Geographic on television shows about sharks, and speaking to actor Robert Downey Jr. about his Footprint Coalition - an environmental advocacy group, according to JD News.

She is now set to tell her story and share her newfound respect for sharks on National Geographic's 'Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story,' which premieres on July 12 as part of the channel's 'Shark Week' programming.

Paige is now set to tell her story and share her newfound respect for sharks on National Geographic's 'Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story,'

She lost her left leg in the attack and had to undergo multiple surgeries on both her hands

Winter, right, will tell her story and share her newfound respect of sharks on 'Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story,' which premieres on July 12 on the National Geographic channel

The attack occurred on June 2, 2019 when she was visiting Fort Macon State Park with her family and was in waist-deep water

In a recent Newsweek column, Winter recounts the events of the fateful day two years ago.

She wrote that she was 'about to close out my junior year at high school and take all my exams.

'I had an Ariana Grande concert coming up that I was super excited about, I had just gotten a boyfriend and turned 17,' she recalled. 'But sometimes life just gets you.'

She said she was talking to her sister and her sister's friend that morning 'saying how crazy it would be if we got caught by a rip current.

'We didn't know that something way crazier was about to happen.'

Winter said she had flipped over pretending to be a mermaid when she felt something grab at her foot.

At first, she previously told Good Morning America, she had assumed it was her brother or sister playing a prank.

She said she realized something was wrong when she felt a 'snapping' sensation.

'I'm like, 'Is this, like, a snapping turtle? Like, what's happening?"' she said in the 2019 interview. 'Then it just starts. Like a dog [when] they get a rope and you grab the other rope and they just start going with their whole body.'

Paige went back out on the water for National Geographic's 'Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story'

Paige had assumed it was her brother or sister playing a prank when she was first bitten

Winter said in a recent interview she told her dad not to be mad at the shark

'For a minute, I was positive I was going to die, so I made my peace,' she recalled in the Newsweek column. 'I remember thinking that I had a great family, a great boyfriend, that I'd had a good run.

'But then these thoughts made me realize I should probably get out of this situation.

'I reached into the shark's mouth and tried to pull it off my leg,' she said.

'I remember feeling all of the tendons in my hand snapping.

'Unfortunately I remembered when it was to late I was supposed to punch the shark in the nose, but I was sure my dad would come and get me

'I was right, thankfully,' she said, and 'when we got back to the beach I had Ariana Grande's song "Breathin'" in my head as I lay on the sand. I knew I needed to keep breathing.'

Eventually, she said: 'I turned gray, but there was no pain. I felt the way TV static looks.'

Winter was then put on a boogie board, carried off the beach and airlifted to a hospital, where she spent a month in the Intensive Care Unit, eventually getting her leg amputated and undergoing multiple surgeries on her arms.

One month after she got a prosthetic leg, she said, she started her senior year of high school.

'The friends I already had were awesome and when I first got back to school everyone was really nice to me.

'Later, a bunch of freshmen and sophomores made a lot of assumptions about me saying that I was getting special privileges. My attitude was: I have a disability, so what do you want me to do?'

Her father, who stayed by her side as she recovered, punched the bull shark in the face five times until it let go of her leg

Winter, right, has since become an advocate for sharks, and is planning to study the environment after she receives her cosmetology license

She said she has been back to the sea once, even once venturing back to the beach at Fort Macon State Park, dipping her toes in the water, but prefers to use a pool these days.

'I'm not mad at the bull shark that attacked me, it might have had a bad day too,' Winter wrote. 'Sometimes I like to imagine sharks going to a big shark reunion and reminiscing about when some guy, like my dad, hit them in the face.'

'I don't think we should be mad at a shark for being in its environment and reacting to something else that enters the environment,' she continued, adding that after she gets her cosmetology license and 'establishes a steady income,' she would like to go back to school and study the environment.

'Everything is still available to me,' she said. 'It's just a little different now.'

'Shark Attack Investigation: The Paige Winter Story' is set to premiere on July 12 at 10 p.m. on the National Geographic channel.
Around 70 migrants were brought ashore by Border Force officers today after they made the perilous crossing across the English Channel.

A group of around 20 men, many of whom appeared to be in their 20s, were brought into harbour on the beach at Dungeness, along the coast of Kent, by the Border Force cutter Speedwell at around 10.30am.

They were soon followed by around 50 migrants who were brought into the harbour by emergency teams.

The Home Office is yet to confirm exactly how many arrived on Sunday or how many have made the 21-mile crossing today but more than 7,000 migrants are believed to have crossed the Channel by small boat so far this year.

A group of migrants are brought into harbour on the beach at Dungeness, along the coast of Kent, by the Border Force officials

Migrants, including children and toddlers, were arrived to Dover Marina in Kent today after crossing the English Channel

Migrants in life jackets are assisted by Border Force officers as they arrive to Dover Marina

Among those making the treacherous crossing today was a young girl wearing a pink rain jacket over her life jacket and a woman, believed to be her mother.

She was sat next to a young boy who was holding the hand of a man wearing a face mask - believed to be his father.

Around 10 boats are thought to have attempted the treacherous trip across the world's busiest shipping route today as the number of vessels left eerily floating at the harbour in Dover continues to rise.

It comes after a dramatic rescue was launched on Sunday after two people fell off a rigid hulled inflatable boat and into the freezing cold sea.

The voluntary crew of the Ramsgate lifeboat towed the drifting rib, packed with around 20 migrants, into Ramsgate harbour in Kent where Border Force officers were waiting for them.

Following the incident, an RNLI spokesman said: 'The Ramsgate inshore lifeboat launched at 10.10am this morning following reports that there were two people in the water.

'Two people, who were wearing lifejackets, were rescued from the water and the rib, from which the casualties had fallen, was towed into Ramsgate and the relevant authorities informed.'

A group of migrants arrive to the Kent coast after crossing the world's busiest shipping route today

Children were among those who were brought into harbour by emergency teams earlier this morning

A group of migrants arrive to Dover Marina in Kent today after making the treacherous journey across the English Channel

The Home Office is yet to confirm exactly how many arrived on Sunday or how many have made the 21-mile crossing today

A Border Force officer carries a toddler from a migrant boat in Dover, Kent this morning

Rescue teams escort migrants as they arrive to Dover in Kent this morning

In another incident, pictures posted on social media showed around 15-20 migrants apparently coming ashore near Folkestone, Kent after arriving on an inflatable.

People smugglers took advantage of calm sees over the weekend with 225 migrants crossing the treacherous 21-mile Dover Straits in 10 boats on Saturday.

A further 131 were intercepted by French authorities before they could reach British waters on Saturday.

On Saturday, a Border Force officer was seen carefully carrying a baby in his arms from a patrol boat to the quayside at Dover harbour as the child's parents walked close behind.

All three were wearing bright orange life jackets with the toddler's parents wearing face masks.

The group included a number of children and appeared to be mainly African and Middle Eastern.

It brings the number to have made the crossing so far this month to 972.

A total of 6,878 migrants have now made the treacherous trip so far this year - which is almost triple the 2,439 who had arrived by this point in 2020, Home Office figures show.

Migrants arrive to Dungeness in Kent after being brought by a RNLI Dungeness Lifeboat

Police officers at the scene as a group of migrants arrive to Dungeness after crossing the Channel

Migrants wear life jacket and rain coats as they arrive to Dover Marina this morning

It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel is set to announce plans to make it a criminal offence for migrants to attempt to enter the UK without valid entry clearance.

The Borders Bill will attempt to deter illegal entry and crackdown on people smuggling gangs.

It will be introduced next week after June saw more migrants cross the Channel by small boat than in any month ever before.

Border Force detained 2,179 people making the dangerous trip across the world's busiest shipping route in the world in 92 boats.

It smashed the previously monthly record set last September when 1,954 arrived on UK shores.

Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O'Mahoney said: 'We are seeing an unacceptable rise in dangerous and unnecessary small boat crossings because illegal migration across Europe has led to a significant increase of migrants in northern France seeking to enter the UK illegally.

'The government continues to target the criminal gangs who are responsible for these illegal crossings at every level with intelligence and surveillance, and the joint work with France means we have doubled the number of police officers on the ground in France who are intercepting the crossings and arresting the gangs behind this trade.'
Two North Carolina men on Spring Break in Florida who were previously accused of drugging, raping and robbing a woman, who later died, could face upgraded homicide charges following the release of the victim's cause of death.

An autopsy report revealed that Christine Englehardt's death in March was caused, in part, by a combination of fentanyl, alcohol and asphyxia caused by the position of her body.

Evoire Collier, 21, and Dorian Taylor, 24, have previously pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual battery, burglary with battery, theft and credit card fraud.

Evoire Collier, 21 (left), and Dorian Taylor, 24 (right), could face upgraded homicide charges in connection with the death of tourist Christine Englehardt in March

Toxicology tests have revealed that fentanyl and alcohol played roles in Englehardt's death

Florida State Attorney Ashley Moody was said to be looking into filing homicide charges against the pair, reported Miami Herald.

As of Monday afternoon, the suspects' charges have not been amended, according to court records.

Englehardt, 24, a tourist from Pennsylvania, was found dead on March 18 after police responded to 'reports of an unconscious female' at the Albion Hotel in South Beach, just hours after allegedly being filmed on surveillance video entering the hotel with Collier and Taylor.

Englehardt was staggering and had to be propped up by Taylor from behind.

When the two men were later picked up by the police, Collier allegedly confessed to giving Englehardt a 'green pill,' which he claimed he thought was the painkiller Percocet.

Collier and Taylor are seen 'photo-bombing' another tourist a day after Englehardt's death

Collier is seen posing up while roaming the streets of South Beach along with other Spring Breakers

Police said the pill was made to look like the prescription opioid pain medication oxycodone, but was actually fentanyl.

According to police, Collier and Taylor led a severely intoxicated Englehardt into her room, where they sexually assaulted her after she lost consciousness, and then stole her credit cards to help fund the rest of their South Beach vacation.

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Officer has concluded that Englehardt died after ingesting fentanyl pills, which were 'rapidly fatal,' according to a toxicology report.

Englehardt was found lying face down on the bed at the Albion Hotel in South Beach on March 18 after she was raped and robbed

Englehardt (right), pictured with mom Doreen, was allegedly given a green pill by one of the suspects, which was made to look like a painkiller but contained fentanyl

Englehardt also hard traces of cocaine, marijuana and amphetamine in her system

Tests showed the tourist's body also contained trace amounts of cocaine, marijuana and amphetamine, but it was not immediately clear when or where she had ingested those drugs.

Her blood alcohol at the time of her death was between 0.197 and 0.24, which is more than twice the legal limit.

According to the Medical Examiner, the concentration of fentanyl in Englehardt's blood was fatal, but the 'positional asphyxia,' with the woman's face 'pressed down' in the bed, 'cannot be excluded' as a contributing factor.

The Medical Examiner's Officer has not ruled on a manner of death.

During a court hearing on Friday, a judge asked whether Engelhardt's death was a homicide.

'It may be,' a prosecutor was quoted as replying.

Collier and Taylor are due back in court on Friday.
London Bridge was closed earlier today amid fears a World War Two bomb had been found nearby.

Police said on Twitter they had been made aware of a 'possible WW2 ordnance' shortly before 5pm at King's College London's Guy's Campus, which adjacent to Guy's Hospital in Southwark, south London.

They added: 'Traffic is being diverted and roads closed. Please avoid the area. Experts are on the scene.'

London Bridge has been closed amid fears a World War Two bomb may have been found nearby. Police said on Twitter they had been made aware of a 'possible WW2 ordnance' shortly before 5pm at King's College London's Guy's Campus, which is opposite Guy's Hospital in Southwark, south London. Above: The police cordon blocking off the bridge

Police said a possible explosive may have been found at Guy's Campus, on Great Meze Pond (pictured), in Southwark. It is opposite Guy's hospital

One person working nearby said they had been told by police to 'get back in the building and stay away from the windows'.

Images posted on social media showed a police cordon blocking off the road towards London Bridge.

Just before 6pm, another social media user posted an image which showed no cars at all on London Bridge, at a time when it would usually be thronged with traffic.

One person working nearby said they had been told by police to 'get back in the building and stay away from the windows'. They took a photo showing the police cordon in place at the foot of the bridge, near the Barrowboy and Banker pub

Police said on Twitter they had been made aware of a 'possible WW2 ordnance' shortly before 5pm at King's College London's Guy's Campus, which is opposite Guy's Hospital in Southwark, south London

However, spokesmen for the Metropolitan Police and Guy's Hospital told MailOnline shortly after 7pm that the discovery was a 'false alarm'.

The police said all closed roads would be re-opening 'shortly'. They did not give further details about what object, if any, had been mistaken for a bomb.

Officers added on Twitter: 'This incident has now been stood down. Thanks to everyone for their patience while officers dealt with the scene.'

It comes two months after army experts detonated a World War Two incendiary bomb which had been advertised for sale on eBay after being found in Swaythling, Hampshire.

In February, people living in 2,600 homes in Exeter had to be evacuated after a Second World War bomb was found.

When it was detonated in a controlled explosion, the blast could be heard ten miles away and left a crater the size of a double-decker bus.
The decision to bring in Italian actress Asia Argento to direct an episode of her late boyfriend Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown series 'upended' the final season after the chef became 'addicted' to her, a new documentary has claimed.

The documentary - Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain - will be released on Friday and interviews dozens of Bourdain's close friends about his life and processing his 2018 suicide.

Bourdain took his own life aged 61 at a hotel in France back in 2018.

Argento, who was dating Bourdain at the time of his death, was not interviewed for the documentary.

Their relationship forms the basis of the last part of the documentary as it paints the picture that the celebrity chef had become 'addicted' to the Italian actress.

The documentary - Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain - will be released on Friday. It does not feature an interview with Italian actress Asia Argento who was dating Bourdain when he killed himself in France in 2018

It also addresses how paparazzi photos emerged just five days before Bourdain's death of Argento embracing a male friend and strolling hand in hand in Rome.

The documentary does not blame Argento for Bourdain's suicide but some reviewers have suggested the film comes 'dangerously close to exploiting the scenario'.

DailyMail.com has contacted Argento's spokesperson about her portrayal in the documentary and whether she was asked to be interviewed.

Morgan Neville, the director of the film, told the Wall Street Journal that Bourdain and Argento's relationship was like 'quicksand' so he only wanted to touch on it briefly.

'You can make a whole film just about that and that was not the film I wanted to make. It gets really complicated and in a way that to me is not ultimately enlightening,' he said.

'What I included was a fraction of what was there. So if people think there's a lot, let me tell you, there is very little compared to what's there. I feel like I showed tremendous restraint, even though people may not know that. And I think I was very fair with having seen all the facts. I'm very comfortable with what I did.'

The documentary suggests the Argento 'upended' the final season of Parts Unknown after Bourdain brought her in to direct an episode in Hong Kong. Argento, Bourdain and cinematographer Christopher Boyle are pictured in Hong Together

Neville said the film was heavily vetted by his lawyers, including in Italy, and also CNN's legal team given CNN Films is an executive producer in case Argento - or someone else - objected to how they had been portrayed.

The documentary - Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain - will be released on Friday

'I went out of my way to make sure I put the quote in from (TV director) Michael Steed saying, 'Tony killed Tony, you know, 60-year-old men don't normally kill themselves because they broke up with somebody'.

'I'm not saying she caused his suicide. Suicide is a private and I think selfish act.

'I was merely trying to paint a picture, I think accurately, of the different factors in his life that were going on, and there were many of them. The impression of him really over the last year was him just being much more manic and much more depressive.'

Those in the film describe how Bourdain started to fall in love with Argento after they met while shooting an episode of Parts Unknown with her in Rome in late 2016.

The film features a scene of the pair in Rome filming the series.

Argento, who was dating Bourdain at the time of his death, was not interviewed for the documentary. She posted this photo on the three year anniversary of Bourdain's deathin June

Eventually, Bourdain made the decision to stop filming Parts Unknown and bring the popular series to and end.

Bourdain and the crew were heading to Hong Kong to shoot when the director got sick and the celebrity chef brought in Argento to direct the episode.

The documentary details how the crew believe she 'upended' the entire process.

Bourdain fired his longtime ad award-winning cinematographer Zach Zamboni after he clashed with Argento.

'When Tony fired Zach, it was a huge red flag,' producer Helen Cho says in the film. 'Because if he's going to do that to someone like him, anyone in the inner circle is essentially disposable.'

That episode, as well as two others featuring the Italian actress, was eventually pulled by CNN after Argento was publicly accused of sexually assaulting a boy when he was 17.

The documentary details how crew members that were with Bourdain in France before he took his life said that the chef was angry when the tabloid photos emerged of Argento holding hands with a man in Rome.
A three-year-old boy in Kansas died on Tuesday during a dental procedure and the grieving family wants answers.

Abiel Valenzuela Zapata was taken into Tiny Teeth Pediatrics Dentistry in Wichita, Kansas to have several teeth pulled due to a gum infection.

He was given anesthesia to sedate him for the supposedly simple surgery.

Reports state that the child was reacting normally until about 30 minutes into his sedation when his cheek swelled and his pulse began to slow down while the doctor worked on his lower jawline.

Abiel Valenzuela Zapata died on Tuesday after suffering an allergic reaction to anesthesia

The three-year-old was undergoing dental surgery when his cheek swelled and pulse slowed

The family is still uncertain of Abiel's cause of death but will continue to search for answers

Wichita police officers responded to an emergency call at the children's dental office and CPR was performed on the young boy before he was transported to the Wichita hospital.

Abiel's mother, Nancy Valenzuela, 25, who had taken him to the appointment had been asking the front desk for details.

She claims she was not made aware that the medial emergency at the office was regarding her son until he was transported to the ambulance. Valenzuela did not see her son again until after he had passed away.

The toddler was pronounced dead at the hospital. The family is still awaiting the coroner's report but Valenzuela told Mail Online that medical staff and medical reports do not claim that Abiel had an allergic reaction.

The doctor reportedly claimed that he had never seen anything like this in his career, especially in someone without any known allergies.

Valenzuela told NBC 4, 'We didn't expect to come out of there without a child' as she expected this to be a simple procedure.

The mother-of-three said that her son was fine before heading into the procedure. Abiel cried when receiving a shot but his mother reassured him, 'Papi, everything's going to be okay. You know you're fine.'

An ambulance was called to the pediatric dentist's office to transport Abiel (left)

The young child was pronounced dead at the hospital in Wichita, Kansas (from left to right, Abiel, his mother Nancy Valenzuela, his father Angel Zapata)

Tiny Teeth Pediatrics Dentistry could not be reached for a comment on the situation

But now the Valenzuela Zapata family wants answers.

'As a mother, you feel like you failed him because you didn't do anything to protect him,' Valenzuela said. 'I really thought that I made the right choice.'

She says she has since made a promise to her late son, '"I couldn't do anything for you, but I will investigate.' It's what I told him. It's the only thing I can do and bring awareness.'

Valenzuela remembers her middle child as full of energy telling Mail Online, 'He was the wild one of my other two children. The one to always stand out the most anywhere he was.'

Police officer Trevor Macy said in a statement to KSN that there is no criminal investigation underway 'at this time.'

A gofundme page has been set up by a family friend who describes Valenzuela and her husband Angel Zapata, 28, as 'the type of people who often go out of their way to help those in need.'

Abiel's death has been hard not only on his parents but also on his two siblings, Jaquelyn, 6, and Gabriel, 2.

Tiny Teeth Pediatrics Dentistry could not be reached for a comment.

Abiel's mother said, 'We didn't expect to come out of there without a child'
Public school teachers in Oklahoma could have their teaching licenses suspended for teaching certain concepts about race and racism under new rules approved Monday by the State Board of Education.

With just one opposing vote, the board approved emergency rules to comply with a bill approved by the Republican-led legislature this year that purports to ban so-called 'Critical Race Theory.'

The new law prohibits public school teachers of grades K-12 from teaching eight different concepts about race, including that an individual, by virtue of his or race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

It also prohibits teaching that any individual should feel discomfort or guilt on account of his or her race or sex.

The Republican authors of the bill said it targeted Critical Race Theory, which is a way of thinking about America's history through the lens of racism, although there is no mention in the bill of Critical Race Theory, which is not typically taught in K-12 schools.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister convenes a meeting of the Oklahoma Board of Education on Monday during which it approved a ban on Critical Race Theory being taught in classrooms

Democrats in the Legislature who opposed the bill argued it was a waste of time and addressed a non-existent problem.

Carlisha Bradley, the only black member of the board, voted against adopting the rules, saying she believes the new law and the rules are doing a disservice to students and teachers.

'With these rules, we are robbing students of having a high-quality education,' she said.

Several current and former teachers addressed the board and said they support the new rules.

The new rules authorize parents of students to inspect curriculum, instructional materials, class assignments and lesson plans to ensure compliance and set up a method for individuals to file complaints.

Public schools are required to investigate complaints, and a teacher's license can be suspended if they are found to have violated any provision of the rule.

Last week, the president of America's second-largest teacher's union denied that Critical Race Theory was being taught in public schools.

Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, said she was preparing a legal defense fund for teachers accused of teaching the controversial practice.

In her remarks to the 1.7 million members of the AFT last Tuesday, Weingarten vowed legal action to protect any member who 'gets in trouble for teaching honest history,' as more than 20 states consider bills banning the theory, which claims racism is systemic and ingrained in American society.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, claimed Critical Race Theory is not being taught in primary schools, but announced the creation of a legal fund to represent teachers who are being accused of teaching the theory. She is pictured here at a rally outside the Supreme Court in June in support of the For the People Act

Eight states have banned the critical race theory and several others are considering passing similar resolutions

She said it is not being taught in elementary, middle and high schools, and is only taught at college or graduate studies, 'but culture warriors are labeling any discussion of race, racism or discrimination as [critical race theory] to try to make it toxic,' she said, according to the Washington Post.

'They are bullying teachers and trying to stop us from teaching students accurate history,' she said, noting that the union is preparing litigation and has a legal defense fund 'ready to go.'

The fund includes $2.5 million to represent teachers accused of teaching the controversial lesson plan, and the union is also considering filing lawsuits against states that have passed legislation limiting how racism could be taught.

At least six states have passed new laws limiting how race can be taught in the classroom, and similar proposals are being considered in at least a dozen others.

Many of the bills are intended to bar the teaching of critical race theory - an academic framework that examines history through the lens of racism. It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation's institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society.

Lawn signs opposing the critical race theory were posted outside a school board meeting in Virginia last month

Virginians gathered to rally against critical race theory at the Loudoun County Government center in Leesburg on June 12

One woman held up a sign claiming the theory creates racial tension

Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law forbidding schools from teaching that people 'should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress' because of their race or sex.

It adds that slavery and racism can only be taught as a deviation from the nation's 'authentic founding principles' of liberty and equality.

Bills in some other states threaten to fine individual teachers who violate the rules or reduce state funding to their schools.

'Mark my words: Our union will defend any member who gets in trouble for teaching honest history,' Weingarten said in her remarks for a virtual address to union members on Tuesday.

'Teaching the truth is not radical or wrong. Distorting history and threatening educators for teaching the truth is what is truly radical and wrong.'

Some parents held signs showing their opposition to the theory as the meeting went on inside

Critics of the theory claims it separates children into two categories based on their skin color - oppressed or oppressor

In an interview with the Associated Press, Weingarten said the union is adding $2.5 million to an existing legal defense fund in anticipation of local fights over the teaching of race. The funding will be used to defend teachers who are disciplined for teaching about slavery and racism, Weingarten said.

The union is also considering filing lawsuits to get clarification about new state laws limiting how racism can be discussed in schools, she said.

'We're looking at these laws to see if courts will give some clarification in advance,' Weingarten said. 'It just looks like its an attempt to erase so much of the history of the United States.'

Once an obscure academic idea, critical race theory has become a political rallying cry for Republicans who argue that it sows division and makes children feel guilty for being white.

But Weingarten said the concept has mostly been taught at the college level and is not taught at the nation's elementary, middle and high schools.

She claimed that conservatives are invoking the theory to bully teachers and prevent any critical discussion of the nation's history. Some of the state laws are so expansive, she said, that they appear to prevent any accurate lesson on the Civil War, slavery or its abolition.

'Teaching America's history requires considering all the facts available to us - including those that are uncomfortable - like the history of enslavement and discrimination toward people of color and people perceived as different,' she wrote in her comments.

'Years ago, the country unified against Holocaust deniers. We must unite again to address racism and its long-term effects.'

Her remarks came just two days after she was accused of gaslighting parents by tweeting 'these bans on teaching history and discussing racism are so dangerous.'

In response, New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz wrote: 'No one gaslights quite like Randi Weingarten gaslights.'

Others on Twitter also called out her remarks, with user GoPackJo saying, 'If you need to lie in order to push your agenda, it's gotta be awful,' and Daniela Oertli writing that it is 'Incredibly deceitful to pretend that teaching and discussing racism can only happen in the framework of CRT.'

@LibertyBellaDon, meanwhile, wrote that 'CRT is neither history nor a discussion on racism. Its a one-sided view that does not allow for a discussion,"' and Marilyn Muller said: 'Lets not misappropriate the word history, Randi.'

'I dont know one American that's against ensuring all students know all history facts, but segregating students into one of two categoriesoppressed or oppressor is teaching children to #BeRacist,' Muller wrote.

And @aphofer asked, 'So which is it, we arent teaching CRT in schools or CRT=History?"

'Neither is close to the truth,' he wrote.
Countryfile presenter Adam Henson has warned vegetarians that some of their choices may be having a 'disastrous' impact on the environment.

The farmer said that beef, sheep and dairy farmers are facing criticism on climate change and people's health.

In addition to this, he said, many people are being persuaded to go vegetarian or vegan by material they read on social media.

But he claimed the debate was much more complicated than many thought as some vegetarian options can have an equally destructive impact on the environment.

Henson, 55, explained that many shun cow's milk believing it to be cruel for the animals, but that alternatives result in deforestation and therefore the destruction of species.

Asked about the impact of veganism and vegetarianism on the farming industry, he told Radio Times: 'My partner is a vegetarian and so is my daughter.

Countryfile presenter Adam Henson has warned vegetarians that some of their choices may be having a 'disastrous' impact on the environment

'But what we discuss around the kitchen table is choosing the right products. So, if you're drinking soya milk, that might have come from South America and caused deforestation, the destruction of species, the displacement of indigenous people.

'You're better off drinking milk from a local dairy farm that's been bottled there and delivered to your doorstep, where cows are wonderfully looked after and the family contribute to the local society and economy.'

He added: 'Avocados and almond milk are disastrous for the environment. It isn't a simple argument.

'Beef, sheep and dairy farmers are having fingers pointed at them quite a lot about health and climate change, but the industries are doing a huge amount about that.

'So, I would urge people to eat British food and don't buy cheap food from abroad.

Mr Henson said: 'Avocados and almond milk are disastrous for the environment. It isn't a simple argument'. Above: An avocado farm in Kenya

'It's about understanding where your food comes from and making informed choices, not having a knee-jerk reaction because you've read something on social media.'

Huge global demand for avocados and almonds grown in warmer climates contributes to deforestation and massive water use.

But meanwhile experts have also advised people to cut meat consumption.

Beef has a notoriously high carbon footprint due to the amount of land and resources required to raise cattle.

Scientists have found that a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food production, while half of farmed animal emissions come from beef and lamb.

There are now around 600,000 vegans in the UK  a number that has quadrupled since 2014.

Henson, who grew up on his father's Cotswolds farm, began presenting BBC's Countryfile in 2001, and has since used his farming expertise on several other programmes, as well as presenting Radio 4's Farming Today.
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Texas Democrats fled their state on private jets Monday in order to stop Republicans in the state from passing their voting rights bills through the state legislature.

'Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans' freedom to vote,' the Texas state House Democratic caucus said in a statement.

At least 58 Democratic lawmakers left Austin to fly to Washington D.C. on two private jets chartered for the occasion and will use the time in the nation's Capitol to rally support for federal voting legislation.

The Democrats' departure paralyzed the Texas state house as the legislature requires a quorum of two-thirds of lawmakers be present to conduct business. It's also akin to a move Democrats used in 2003 when they fled to neighboring Oklahoma to block Republicans' plan to redraw the state's congressional districts.

The Democrats risk arrest and expect state Republicans to send law enforcement officials, possibly including the Texas rangers, after them.

To permanently block the two voting bills that Texas Republicans are pushing, the Democrats would have to stay away through the end of the special legislative session, which can last as many as 30 days.

The Texas House Democratic Caucus chartered the two flights out of Austin for $100,000, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

'We are now taking flight to our nation's Capitol. We are living on borrowed time in Texas. We need Congress to act now to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to protect Texans - and all Americans - from the Trump Republicans' nationwide war on democracy,' they added.

Julie Johnson, a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives, posted a selfie on a coach bus that drove a group of lawmakers to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Featured in the image was a case of Miller Lite beer.

'When it comes to protecting our right to vote, all cards are on the table,' Johnson tweeted. 'We broke #quorum again today because the Gov & #txlege Repubs chose to bully Texans out of our constitutional rights instead of finding solutions to problems that really exist.'

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday it was 'certainly' possible that some administration officials would meet with the runaway Democrats.

She called the new voting laws 'the worst challenge to our democracy since the Civil War.'

Texas State Rep. Julie Johnson posted a selfie or her and other Democratic lawmakers in a coach bus as they fled the state on private jets for Washington D.C. to prevent Texas Republicans from passing voting integrity legislation

Featured in the image posted to Twitter is a case of Miller Lite beer occupying a seat on the bus

Texas Democrat James Talarico poses for a photo with colleague Senfronia Thompson before getting on one of the private jets at Austin heading to DC

The coach with the Texas Democrats pulls into the parking lot of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to catch one of the private jets to Washington D.C.

One of the Democrats from the state legislature raises her hands in the air as she follows her colleagues onto the private jet

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, demanded the Democrats show up to work and 'put aside partisan political games and get back to the job they were elected to do.'

'Texas Democrats' decision to break a quorum of the Texas Legislature and abandon the Texas State Capitol inflicts harm on the very Texans who elected them to serve,' he said in a Monday statement on them fleeing the state. 'As they fly across the country on cushy private planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state.'

The state's Democrats already staged one successful walkout to defeat the election legislation prioritized by Abbott. They quietly left the state house floor in the final minutes of the regular legislative session that ended in May, breaking quorum and forcing Republicans to adjourn without passing the measure.

Abbott called the state legislature back for a special session to deal with the two measures he wants passed.

Senate Republicans in Washington blocked Democrats nation-wide voting rights bill earlier this summer.

As of June 21, 17 states enacted 28 new laws that restrict access to the vote this year alone, according to the Brenner Center for Justice.

TEXAS' VOTING RIGHTS BILLS: WHAT'S IN THEM AND WHY THE DEMOCRATS THINK THEY 'RESTRICT' ELECTIONS The bills - House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 1 - were filed last week during a special legislative session called by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The proposed legislation creates harsher criminal penalties for people who help voters at the polls or those planning to vote by mail.

The bills, if passed, would be a ban on 24-hour voting. Instead, there would be a new voting window from 6am to 10pm on election day.

Rules would require residents to fill out paperwork if you are taking someone who is not a relative to vote in person.

Regulations would require someone to exit their car during curbside voting.

Bills would mean voters would have to provide their drivers license or the last four digits of their social security number to cast a ballot.

New rules would stop local election officials from sending out mail-in ballots to those who haven't requested them.

Drive-in voting would be banned.

Expands what partisan poll watchers can observe during counts.

Prohibits poll watchers from being removed for violating election laws.

Both bills would increase early voting from eight to nine hours.

Also lowers the population threshold required for counties to provide at least 12 hours of early voting each weekday of the second week of early voting.

Protects the legitimacy of elections and avoids fraud, according to Republicans. Democrats argue that: The measures included in the bills would mainly stop minority communities and shift workers from voting because of the restricted hours.

The regulations in the bills would make it harder to control disruptive partisan poll watchers.

Would make it easier for losing candidates to try and overturn election results and harass winning candidates with court battles and recounts.

Democrats also claim the provisions do nothing to make elections more secure in Texas.

Insists the proposed legislation would help further the claims of election fraud Donald Trump has made in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Argue that restricted voting hours on a Sunday would have impacted the ability of black churchgoers, also known as 'souls of the polls', to cast their ballots.

They instead want the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to be passed by Congress to address elections on a federal level.

But Republicans insist that this is a power grab and would represent a 'federal takeover' of elections Advertisement

The group of Democratic lawmakers posed for a photo before fleeing so they could break the quorum and stop the Republicans from passing voters laws they claim are restrictive

The coach with the Texas Democrats on board is pictured arriving at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Monday at a private jet terminal

Texas state representatives gather in the House chamber on July 8 after Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session to prioritize his agenda items, including overhauling the states voting laws and border security

The Republican-led states passed the measures after Biden's victory in the 2020 election after former President Donald Trump falsely claimed he won and was the victim of voter fraud.

President Joe Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Tuesday to talk about voting rights. Psaki hinted he may attack Trump.

'He will redouble his commitment to using every tool at his disposal to continue to fight to protect the fundamental right of Americans to vote against the onslaught of voter suppression laws based on a dangerous and discredited conspiracy theory that culminated in assault on our Capitol,' she said.

She then referred to the 'big lie' - a term Democrats have used to refer to the false election claims made by Trump and some other Republicans. The use is a strike at Trump, who calls Biden's election victory 'The Big Lie.'

'He'll call out the greatest irony of 'the big lie' - that no election in our history has met such a high standard with over 80 judges, including those appointed by his predecessor, throwing out all challenges,' Psaki said. 'He'll also decry efforts to strip the right to vote as authoritarian and anti American and stand up against the notion that politicians should be allowed to choose their voters.'

With Biden pushing the issue in Philadelphia, the birthplace of democracy, and Texas Democrats marching around Washington, the pressure will be on Republicans.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki (left) called the new voting laws 'the worst challenge to our democracy since the Civil War' during her briefing Monday. Texas' Republican Governor Greg Abbott (right) demanded the Democrats show up to work and 'put aside partisan political games and get back to the job they were elected to do.'

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, at a voting rights event in Detroit on Monday, praised the Texas Democrats for the work their 'extraordinary courage and commitment' for American voter rights.

'I applaud them standing for the rights of all Americans, and all Texans to express their voice through their vote, unencumbered,' she said.

'I do believe that fighting for the right to vote is as American as apple pie,' she noted.

The Texas Democrats are scheduled to arrive in Washington D.C. on early Monday evening.

The two Texas bills would add new identification requirements for mail voting, ban some early voting options and create new criminal penalties for breaking election code while empowering partisan poll watchers.

The measures would ban several election programs implemented last year to help people vote during the coronavirus pandemic, including drive-through voting and 24-hour and late-night voting.

Voting rights advocates noted that voters of color used these programs disproportionately.
Hupp, 62, was charged with first-degree murder in Missouri on Monday

Suspected serial killer Pamela Hupp, who is serving a life sentence for shooting a disabled man dead in 2016, has now been charged with murdering her friend years earlier.

Hupp, 62, was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the 2011 slaying of Elizabeth 'Betsy' Faria, and could face the death penalty, prosecutors in Lincoln County, Missouri said Monday.

Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood said Hupp convinced Faria to switch a $150,000 life insurance policy to Hupp's name just four days before staging her stabbing death to make it look like her husband did it.

Prosecutors say Hupp waited until Faria, her coworker at State Farm, was weak and lethargic from a chemotherapy before she stabbed her some 55 times as she lay on a couch under a blanket.

Then, Hupp dipped the victim's socks in her own blood and spread it around the house to frame her husband for killing her her in a domestic assault, according to court documents filed Monday charging Hupp with the 2011 murder.

Prosecutors say Hupp waited until Betsy Faria (left and right), her coworker at State Farm, was weak and lethargic from a chemotherapy before she stabbed her some 55 times

Hupp dipped the victim's socks in her own blood and spread it around the house to frame her husband Russ (with Betsy above) for killing her her in a domestic assault, prosecutors say

Prosecutors also noted that Hupp was the last known person to see Faria alive, and say that she was aware that Faria's husband would not be home on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 when she drove Betsy home from chemo.

As part of the twisted plot, prosecutors believe that Hupp killed another man in a plot that she thought would cast suspicion away from her in Faria's murder.

Hupp in 2019 was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole for the 2016 fatal shooting of 33-year-old Louis Gumpenberger.

Hupp entered a guilty plea in that case on the condition the death penalty was waived.

In Gumpenberger's murder, Hupp staged a fake kidnapping to divert attention from herself in a re-investigation of the Faria killing, prosecutors said.

They claim she cruised St. Charles County, and lured Gumpenberger to her home with claims she was a producer for NBC's Dateline in need of help reenacting a 911 call.

Prosecutors say she attempted to lure other people with that same story, and succeeded with Gumpenberger, who had mental and physical disabilities from an accident.

Prosecutors say Hupp lured Gumpenberger (right) to her home with claims she was a producer for NBC's Dateline in need of help reenacting a 911 call

Hupp claimed that she shot the man in her bedroom at her home in O'Fallon, Missouri, after he tried to kidnap her, claiming Russ Faria had masterminded the attack from behind bars

Hupp reported his death, claiming she'd shot him in self-defense after he launched an unprovoked attack on her in her driveway - a story which quickly unraveled and led to authorities charging her with his death.

It is suspected that Hupp planned to implicate the recently acquitted Russell Faria in Gumpenberger's death by staging a hoax attack, in order to distract investigators from re-opening his wife's murder case.

Wood told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that investigators mishandled the initial Faria murder investigation by rushing to judge her husband, Russell Faria, as the murderer and then protecting their case by ignoring or concealing evidence that pointed to Hupp.

Faria was sentenced in 2013 to life in prison for his wifes killing in but the conviction was overturned in 2015.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Department last year reached a $2 million settlement with him for the wrongful conviction.

Faria was sentenced in 2013 to life in prison for his wifes killing in but the conviction was overturned in 2015

Russ won a $2 million settlement for his wrongful conviction. He is seen with Betsy above

TIME OF THE PAM HUPP SAGA: December 22: 2017: Pam Hupp becomes beneficary of friend Betsy Faria's $150,000 life insurance policy. December 27, 2011: Betsy Faria is found stabbed to death 55 times. January 4, 2012: Her husband Russ Faria is arrested and charged with her murder. November 18, 2013: Russ' murder trial begins. He has been in prison since his arrest. November 21, 2013: Russ is found guilty by jury of murdering Betsy. December 22, 2013: Russ is sentenced to life in prison. November 2015: Russ is granted a new trial due to new evidence about Pam being the benificary of the life insurance policy. November 7, 2015: Russ is acquitted and cleared of murdering his wife. August 16, 2016: Pam Hupp shoots dead mentally ill man in 'bizarre' plot to distract from re-investigation of Betsy's death. June 19, 2019: Pam enters Alford guilty plea to charges of murdering Louis Gumpenberger. August 12, 2019: Pam is jailed for life over Gumpenberger's murder. October 2019: Investigators confirm they are re-investigating the death of Betsy Faria. July 2021: Hupp charged with Faria's murder Advertisement

Wood said he and the new sheriff are investigating 'misconduct and potentially criminal behavior on the part of (the former) investigators and prosecutors.'

Wood said he was 'on the fence between (whether it was) really gross negligence and calculated criminal behavior.'

Online court records didnt list a lawyer for Hupp on Monday.

In the phone calls with her husband, Hupp lamented that the Faria case, as well as accusations she was responsible for her own mother's fatal fall to her death in 2013, had people labeling her as a serial killer.

'It's not the facts,' she told her husband. 'That's not what people are convicted on. It's what 12 people think you did, you know what I'm saying? If we didn't get her for this one, we'll get her for the other two and it's like... but they have nothing to do with each other and I didn't do anything, nor was I ever, you know implicated in any of that yet.

'No I'm not up for three of them, are you kidding me?'

Phone calls between husband and wife had been taking place almost every day since Hupp was arrested in August 2016, with both fully aware the phone calls were being recorded.

Her husband questioned why, if the stories the authorities told were not true his wife opted to take a life sentence over a trial.

Hupp said it was 'just the best offer they offered.' She also claimed to have taken the deal so her family would not have to witness an ugly trial.

In one phone call made from behind bars on June 18 this year, the day before she officially accepted the plea deal, Hupp claimed the case was never about the truth.

'You've got to remember the judge and the prosecutor are on the same team,' she said.

The convicted killer said several witnesses who came forward to claim she had tried to lure them in before killing Gumpenberger were just attention seeking.

Hupp is seen in a police interview just hours after her friend Faria's murder

Hupp is taken into custody. She pleaded guilty to murdering Gumpenberger

'Got people coming out of the woodwork saying, oh we saw her do this and she tried to pick me up and all that,' she told her husband in the calls obtained by Fox News.

'I don't even know who these people were or the places that they are talking about.

'Everybody is just jumping on the bandwagon for their fifteen minutes of fame and it's like, who are these people?'
A Nebraska Burger King has gone viral on social media, after the staff put up a sign reading: 'We all quit. Sorry for the inconvenience.'

Employees at the Lincoln franchise claimed it had been understaffed for months, while they have had to work in a kitchen with no air conditioning, even as temperatures reached above 90-degrees.

Now ex-general manager Rachael Flores said employees decided to pull the stunt after she put in her two-weeks notice earlier this month, and eight other employees followed suit, she told KLKN.

'They wanted to put up a sign to say, you know "Sorry, there's really not going to be anyone here,'" Flores recounted. 'Just kind of a laugh at upper management.'

They joked on July 9 that they should put up a sign outside the store in the Havelock neighborhood telling customers the store wasn't open because they all quit.

The next morning, the employees followed through with their plans, she said.

'I didn't think anyone was going to notice it, because we just did one sign,' she said, and then it went crazy on Facebook.

'I got a call from my upper management, and they told me I needed to take it down.'

A photo of a Burger King has gone viral after its employees put up a sign saying: 'We all quit. Sorry for the inconvenience'

Now ex-general manager Rachael Flores (left) her best friend, Kylee Johnson (right) said employees decided to pull the stunt after Flores put in her two-weeks notice earlier this month

In response, though, Flores said she told the upper management that she could not take down the sign as she was already short-staffed, at which point they told her to leave - one day before her official last day.

Flores says the working conditions have driven the staff away.

She claims at one point she was hospitalized with dehydration from the poor working conditions, 'and my boss was upset when I first left the store because I had been late for an over-the-phone managers meeting.

'Then when I told him what was going on he said I was making up excuses.'

But, she said, since she started working at the fast food restaurant in August, 'they have gone through so many district managers,' and 'no one has come to the store to help me out.'

She said she forced to run breakfast with just two people on staff, and three people for the lunch rush, and would often work up to 60 hours per week.

A Burger King spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'The work experience described at this location is not in line with our brand values. Our franchisee is looking into this situation to ensure this doesnt happen in the future.'

Employees at the Lincoln, Nebraska franchise (pictured) said the restaurant had been severely understaffed and they were forced to work up to 60 hours per week in 90-degree temperatures without air conditioning

Flores posted 'one of the original photos' to Facebook, writing: 'We quit cause upper management was a joke and had no care for me or my employees.'

Her best friend, Kylee Johnson, who said she had started working at the franchise in January because she knew Flores needed help, and was planning on quitting as soon as more employees were hired, also took to Facebook to write about the experience.

'When your GM puts in her two weeks, and then eight other employees including yourself put in their two weeks,' she wrote with a laughing emoji.

'Im so f****** proud of my best friend for all her hard work and for being such an incredible manager,' she wrote. 'She put in her notice with no knowledge that we would follow suit.'

'Anywho,' she continued, 'hopefully BK will learn how to treat their employees before they completely shut down.'

'Oh and if youre wondering, Havelock is probably gonna be closed until further notice.'

Rachael Flores, the former general manager of the restaurant, posted a photo of the sign

Her best friend, Kylee Johnson, who started working at the franchise in January to help Flores out, also took to Facebook to post about the sign they had put up. Her post was shared more than 2,600 times, garnering at least 1,300 reactions

Johnson and Flores spoke about their experiences at the restaurant in an interview

That post was shared more than 2,600 times, with at least 1,300 reactions as of Monday.

The store, however, is still open they told KLKN, but continues to be operated by a reduced staff, with new hires quitting just days after they start.

The viral walk-out comes as workers throughout the country refuse to take low-paying jobs.

At the end of March, job vacancies reached a record high of over 8 million, but Sylvia Allegretto, a University of California at Berkeley labor economist said the United States isn't facing a labor shortage. It is instead facing a 'wage and benefits shortage.'

'There's simply no labor shortage when you're talking about finding house cleaners for a hotel,' she told the Los Angeles Times. 'There is a shortage of workers who want to work at what you're offering.'

The national unemployment rate in June was 5.9 percent, up from 5.8 percent in May, but those who have received unemployment benefits during the pandemic may have the 'financial cushion' to search for a better paying job rather than settle for a minimum-wage job, the LA Times reports.

As a result, fast food Mexican chain Chipotle announced in May it would raise hourly wages to $15 by the end of June and would offer its employees referral bonuses for any new hire they recruit.

Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal record highs for job vacancies at more than 8million on the last day of March as businesses struggle to recruit staff

The viral post comes as low-wage employers struggle to find employees

Experts say there is not a shortage of available workers, but people are more comfortable finding a higher-wage job following the pandemic. In May, activists participated in a 'Wage Strike' outside a restaurant in Washington, D.C.

Soon after, McDonalds said it would raise its hourly wages an average of 10 percent, and Southwest Airlines, Walmart and Costco pledged to lift their minimum wages to at least $15.

The unemployment benefits pay more than most minimum-wage jobs, and are due to continue until September as part of Biden's $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package approved in March.

'While unemployment benefits were helpful during the pandemic to keep laid off workers afloat, the fact that many are now making more money sitting on the couch than being back at work is creating an unbelievable labor shortage for small businesses,' said Job Creators Network president Alfredo Ortiz.

'The Democrats should realize times have changed and reduce unemployment benefits accordingly.'

The combined benefits can total as much as $600 a week in some states.

It is not just conservative critics who see that as a problem. A recent Bank of America analyst note said the cash meant anyone earning less than $32,000 before the pandemic would be better off taking the benefits instead of working.

Biden, however, has defended his strategy and said anyone turning down a 'suitable' job would lose their benefits.

'The line has been because of the generous unemployment benefits, that it's a major factor in labor shortages,' he said in response to criticism.

'Americans want to work. Americans want to work.'

At least six governors disagree. The Republican governors of Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, North Dakota, and Montana have signaled they will end the extra benefit early.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is the latest to follow suit.

'Our unemployment rate is at 3.7%, vaccines are available to anyone who wants one, and we have more jobs available than unemployed people,' she said on Tuesday.

'Regular unemployment benefits will remain available, as they did before the pandemic, but it's time for everyone who can to get back to work.'
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Children, aged 5 to 7, have been battling it out in a so-called Kiddie Fight Club at a Brooklyn park while their parents watch, sparking a social media war among community members.

The young members of the Greenpoint Fight Club meet almost daily after school in McGolrick Park in the Greenpoint neighborhood of New York City, according to Curbed.

The club, which is said to have less than 10 members with up to four competing at any one time, involves the kids engaging in a 'full-on fight fest' in the playground, wrestling each other to the ground and practicing martial arts.

The young members of the Greenpoint Fight Club meet almost daily after school in McGolrick Park (pictured) in the Greenpoint neighborhood of New York City

But the roughhousing has fueled a less playful fight between parents in the area, with spats erupting online in a local Facebook group.

Parents of fighters claim they set rules for no kicking and punching and that it is harmless fun for their active kids, while critics say they were 'shocked at how aggressive it was' and that the antics could scare other children.

Mom Julie Wilson, whose 6-year-old son Zack plays in the Fight Club, told Curbed the group is nothing like the movie namesake and is simply a way for the children to play fight and practice martial arts.

'There's a bunch of kids who like play-fighting. Some of them (including mine) take martial-arts classes and use the skills they've learned,' she said.

'Some just like to wrestle and jump on each other. Because we all have VERY active boys, we're in the park every day.

'At some point most days, the kids end up fighting, usually on the rubber mats by the tightrope where there's the most room.'

She insisted the parents ensure the kids don't get hurt while roughhousing and have rules around not being violent with one another.

'As parents we don't want anyone to get hurt but we want our kids to play the way they like, so we set some rules (no kicks, no punching) and let them do their thing,' she said.

Another mom told the outlet the club has brought families together and accused critics of not wanting 'to be part of the community.'

'The families have become close. My son is watched by many families in that community,' she said.

'I guess you can look at the fight club as an issue of private parenting in public but I look at it as a bunch of people who didn't want to be part of the community.

'I mean, the thread got so insane. People were commenting on things they've never seen.'

However another mom told Curbed she did not want to speak about the saga for fear of making 'some enemies among the 'park parent' community.'

She added: 'It's cut throat lemme tell you!'

The fighting among the parents in the leafy, public park first erupted when one parent posted about the Fight Club online in May.

Before then, the Greenpoint Fight Club had been true to the rules of its movie namesake as a secret club in which famously its first rule is: 'You do not talk about fight club.'

'Did anybody see the kids 'fight club' happening at McGolrick playground today?' the concerned mom wrote on local Facebook group Brooklyn Baby Hui, reported Curbed.

'I don't know how else to describe it I was a bit shocked at how aggressive it was and it was apparently parent-sanctioned as there was a group watching.'

She said she was concerned the fighting would scare her own children who often play at the park as she slammed the 'jarring' sport as a 'full-on fight fest'.

'I'm all for kids wrestling and having some fun,' she wrote.

'My kids do it at home all the time, but watching this full-on fight fest was very jarring and something I wouldn't want my kids to witness.'

The mom suggested the parents of Fight Club members relocate their kids out of the playground to a 'grassy area instead.'

Her post sparked a fierce debate among parents in the neighborhood, where the median household income stood at $104,216 in 2019 - higher than the New York median of $72,108, according to City Data.

Parents of little ones in the Fight Club leaped to the defense of the group and accused those complaining of being 'entitled.'

'We should definitely not be banished from the playground,' one parent wrote.

'So you want to make a 6-year-old move to the grass because he wants to play a sport he plays so your child won't see it. That feels kind of entitled,' another chimed in.

'Lots of things happening in a public park that I don't agree with. But it comes with the territory of living in New York City,' they added.

Meanwhile, others blasted the club for leaving other parents and children feeling unsafe in a public park supposed to be enjoyed by everyone.

'The public playground is a great space for everyone to [blow off steam] but everyone also needs to feel safe doing so and this post is about someone expressing they do not feel safe,' one parent wrote.

Another agreed: '[Roughhousing] might not be behavior everyone wants their children exposed to.'
Parents have voiced their disgust after an actor in a rainbow-coloured monkey costume with a fake penis and nipples to appear at a library event for children.

The Redbridge Libraries Summer Reading Challenge run by Redbridge Council in east London set up the event but the library has since apologised for the 'inappropriate' costume.

A full investigation has also been launched by the council to get to the bottom of how taxpayers' money was used to hire the actors.

Labour councillor Jas Athwal has apologised and tweeted: 'I was appalled by the incident in Redbridge Libraries on Saturday.

'Completely inappropriate and deeply offensive performers were hired by independent contractor Vision who manage Redbridge libraries and leisure centres.

The Redbridge Libraries Summer Reading Challenge run by Redbridge Council in east London set up the event but the library has since apologised for the 'inappropriate' costume

'As soon as I was made aware of the performers, I immediately contacted Vision and the event was stopped.

'I have launched a full and thorough investigation into how these performers were hired by Vision and will put stringent measures in place to ensure something like this can't happen again.'

Although the library has now apologised for the costumes they initially said, 'if you've got it, flaunt it,' on social media earlier in the day.

A full investigation has also been launched by the council to get to the bottom of how taxpayers' money was used to hire the actors

MP for Ilnord North Wes Streeting has since said he is 'deeply concerned' by the events that took place on Saturday

According to The Sun, one parent said: Someone needs to lose their job over this.

And another said: This is unbelievable. Have we completely lost our moral compass as a society?

MP for Ilnord North Wes Streeting has since said he is 'deeply concerned' by the events that took place on Saturday.

And he has written a letter to Vision questioning how the company thought the costume was appropriate for 'family audiences around our libraries and public realm, let alone a festival aimed at promoting literacy amongst children.'
The deadly toll of smart motorways is revealed for the first time today in a Daily Mail audit that shows the roads have been blamed for at least 18 deaths since 2015.

Bereaved families are demanding the controversial rollout be reversed and say their loved ones would still be alive had the Government not ignored safety warnings.

One grieving widow claimed the cost-saving scheme was murdering motorists, while Labour has demanded ministers stop more lives being lost.

Dev Naran with his mum Meera Naran. The eight year olf died when a lorry hit his grandfather's car on the hard shoulder

The deadly toll of smart motorways is revealed for the first time today in a Daily Mail audit

Undated Family Handout photo of Mohammed Bashir and his wife Nargis Begum who died on a smart motorway on the M1 in South Yorkshire

The Mails findings lay bare the human cost of the roads, which use the hard shoulder as a live lane to improve traffic flow. Ministers insist they are safer than conventional motorways, but there are fears the removal of a crucial refuge for stricken drivers is putting lives at risk.

Official data shows there were 53 deaths on smart motorways between 2015 and 2019, however the figures do not explain the cause of accidents.

The Mails audit, which includes coroners reports, Freedom of Information requests and local newspaper cuttings, reveals 18 fatalities since 2015 have been at least partly blamed on the smart motorway itself.

The remaining fatalities are attributed to human error or accidents, but campaigners believe smart motorways could be to blame for the majority of deaths because the lack of a hard shoulder can make it more difficult for ambulances to reach the scene of an accident.

In one case in which two motorists were killed, an air ambulance crew was forced to land on an adjacent field before making their way to the crash site.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, praised the Mail for shining a light on cases where the design of smart motorways raises questions over whether the collision could have been avoided if the hard shoulder remained. Previously the motoring association had put the death toll at 14.

Sally Jacobs lost her husband Derek, 83, in 2019 when a burst tyre forced him to pull over on the M1 near Sheffield and his car was hit by another vehicle.

She told the Mail smart motorways were murdering drivers, adding: They know these roads are killing people.

Pictured is Peter Lee who was killed on a smart motorway. Campaigners are seeking a judicial review at the High Court that if successful would force the Government to reinstate hundreds of miles of hard shoulder

Nathan Reeves who was killed in M1 motorway. Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, praised the Mail for shining a light on cases

Derek Jacobs was killed in a smart motorway crash. The Mails audit, which includes coroners reports, Freedom of Information requests and local newspaper cuttings

Tom Aldridge was killed on a smart motorway in South Bedfordshire. Labour transport spokesman Jim McMahon called on ministers to reinstate the hard shoulder

Some victims have been hit by oncoming traffic while waiting beside their broken-down vehicles, while others have died trying to avoid stranded motorists.

Four coroners have raised questions over safety following fatal collisions.

One referred a case to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider corporate manslaughter charges against Highways England, the Government agency in charge of UK roads.

It remains pending. Campaigners are seeking a judicial review at the High Court that if successful would force the Government to reinstate hundreds of miles of hard shoulder that it has spent 15 years and billions of pounds transforming.

There are plans for about 800 miles of smart motorway by 2025, up from just under 500 miles currently. But the number of deaths recorded on such roads has surged year-on-year, with 15 recorded in 2019, compared with 11 in 2018 and five in 2017.

There is also anger that emergency laybys on smart motorways are being spaced out by as much as 1.5 miles, despite half a mile being the distance in trials.

The AA is demanding that laybys be spaced every three quarters of a mile to give motorists a better chance of reaching safety. It also wants all schemes to be fitted with radar systems to detect broken-down vehicles. It currently takes Highways Englands control centre an average of 17 minutes to spot a stopped car.

Labour transport spokesman Jim McMahon called on ministers to reinstate the hard shoulder.

He added: It is astonishing that ministers are tinkering around the edges but refuse to take action to stop more lives being lost.

A Government spokesman said: Data shows that smart motorways are among the safest roads in the country, with fatalities less likely than on conventional motorways.

We continue to improve safety, including opening all new smart motorways with technology to spot stopped or broken down vehicles, and speeding up rollout on existing stretches of road.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York public school students will be required to continue wearing masks upon returning to classrooms in the fall despite the latest CDC guidelines that vaccinated children and teachers can go mask-free.

'For now we're sticking with the idea that wearing the masks is a smart thing to do in schools,' de Blasio said during his daily press briefing Monday morning. 'We'll keep assessing as we go along, but for now it still makes sense.'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that schools should fully reopen in the fall.

Official guidance is that masks should be worn indoors by anyone over age two - both pupils and staff - if they are not fully vaccinated - but leaves the option for vaccinated people to go mask-free.

'Students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority,' the agency wrote.

The guidance adds: 'In most settings, people who are fully vaccinated can safely resume activities they did before the pandemic.'

The mayor said he has read the CDC recommendation but would prefer to play it safe 'given everything the city's been through.'

'I'm absolutely confident based on this guidance and everything else we've seen that we'll be able to get all our kids back into school in September, but for now sticking with the idea that, you know, wearing the masks is a smart thing to do in schools,' he said. 'We'll keep assessing as we go along. But I think for now it still makes sense.'

Mayor Bill de Blasio taps elbows with a masked New York City Public School student last September

CDC recommendations include all unvaccinated children ages two and older wear masks and that desks are placed at least three feet apart

The CDC said that school districts should use data from their local health departments to determine when to tighten or loosen public health measures.

NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said he was still reviewing the new CDC recommendations and would work with the city Department of Education to come up with guidance for schools, parents and students before the fall semester.

'What I will say is that the CDC guidance mirrors the layered approach to prevention of COVID-19 that has worked in our schools thus far,' he said. ''And the key in that layered approach is to use all the tools that we have in our toolbox.'

While the CDC said vaccinated kids are okay without masks, they acknowledged that many schools serve children under the age of 12 who are not eligible for vaccination at this time and therefore encouraged schools to promote COVID-19 vaccination by 'providing information, encouraging vaccine trust and confidence, and establishing supportive policies and practices that make getting vaccinated as easy and convenient as possible.'

The agency added if social distancing prevents schools from reopening, then officials are advised to use other measures such as regular testing and increased ventilation.

The mayor said he has read the CDC recommendation but would prefer to play it safe 'given everything the city's been through'

Children make up 14% of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. but just 0.1% of all deaths, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics

Although children can contract COVID-19 and pass it on to adults, they are much less likely to fall severely ill and die.

Currently, children under age 18 make up 14 percent of all cases to date and just 0.1 percent of all Covid-related deaths in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Polls suggest that parents are 50/50 about vaccinating children with a recent CDC report suggesting 56 percent of parents 12-to-17-year-olds plan to vaccinate their children.

'For the first time, I really think they hit it on the nose,' Dr Benjamin Linas, an infectious disease specialist at Boston University told The New York Times.

'I think it's science-based and right on the mark. I don't want to send my 11-year-old to school without a mask yet, because Delta is out there.

'And even if she's not going to get severe Covid from Delta, I'm not ready to take that risk.'

Dr Erin Sauber-Schatz, a Commander in the United States Public Health Service, who helped write the CDC guidance, told The Times the recommendations started being drafted in May after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer-BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine for ages 12 and up.

It relies on a multi-layered approach, meaning using several strategies to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in classrooms.

This includes masks, social distancing, symptoms screenings, contact tracing, increasing ventilation, hand-washing and making sure anyone with signs of illness stays home.
The U.S. State Department again on Monday accused the Chinese government of genocide in its repression of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, citing it as one of six places in the world where crimes against humanity are being committed or are at risk of happening.

In a report on atrocities and genocide prevention, it listed imprisonment, torture, enforced sterilization, and persecution as among Beijing's crimes.

The very public accusations will further ramp up tension, on a day when Beijing claimed it 'drove away' an American warship and accused Joe Biden of 'provocative actions' after the destroyer sailed in the South China Sea.

'This year, for the first time, the report provides direct detailed accounts of atrocities taking place in specific countries, including Burma, Ethiopia, China, and Syria,' said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

'These places represent some of the toughest foreign policy challenges on our agenda.

'And we'll keep working toward resolutions that reflect our commitment to human rights and democratic values.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about the release of the 2021 Congressional Report Pursuant to the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act at the State Department in Washington

This file picture from 2017 shows Uyghur detainees at a camp in Lo County, Xinjiang. Last week the Biden administration sanctioned 14 Chinese companies for their connection to alleged human rights abuses or high-tech surveillance operations

Police officers patrol in the old city in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, May 4, 2021

A recent government trip for foreign journalists to Xinjiang offered a positive picture of the region and counter growing criticism from the West

Former President Donald Trump's administration first described Chinese actions against the Uyghurs as a genocide and the Biden administration endorsed that determination by repeating the charge in its annual human rights report, published in March.

The new report said the State Department continues to believe the regime is committing genocide and crimes against humanity against other ethnic and religious minority groups.

'The crimes against humanity include imprisonment, torture, enforced sterilization, and persecution,' it said.

The report was launched amid fresh geopolitical muscle flexing.

Hours earlier, the USS Benfold, a guided-missile destroyer, entered disputed waters in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands. China claims the islands, and the surrounding waters, as its territory although this is not internationally recognized.

The southern theatre command of the People's Liberation Army said the destroyer entered without China's approval, violating its sovereignty and undermining the stability of the region.

'We urge the United States to immediately stop such provocative actions,' it said in a statement.

But the U.S. 7th Fleet said the claims were untrue and the Benfold operated in accordance with international law.

The USS Benfold (pictured) on Monday entered the disputed waters near the Paracel Islands, which China claims as its own territory

The US Navy said the Benfold asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands consistent with international law

'The operation reflects our commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea as a principle,' it said in a statement.

'The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Benfold did here.'

A day earlier, Blinken had described freedom of the seas as an 'enduring' interest of all nations as he marked the fifth anniversary of an international ruling that found in favor of the Philippines, against China's maritime claims.

'Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea,' he said.

'The People's Republic of China continues to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway.'

At the same time, Washington has been increasing economic pressure on Beijing for its treatment of ethic Uyghurs.

Last week the U.S. added 14 Chinese companies to its economic blacklist for alleged human rights abuses and high-tech surveillance in Xinjiang.

The Commerce Department said the Chinese companies had been 'implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass detention, and high technology surveillance against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.'

It triggered an angry response from Beijing, which has always denied the allegations.

The Commerce Ministry accused the U.S. of an 'unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises and a serious breach of international economic and trade rules,' and promised retaliation.

Beijing argues its policies are necessary to clamp down on separatists and religious extremists who plotted attacks and stirred up tension between mostly Muslim ethnic Uyghurs and Han, China's largest ethnic group.

Elsewhere, the seven-page report said Myanmar, also known as Burma, remains at particular risk for genocide.

It said the U.S. would continue to coordinate with allies and partners to press the military government there to halt all repression, including crackdowns on dissent that followed a coup in February, as well as the violence against the Rohingya.

It also criticized Eritrea and Ethiopia for ethnic cleansing during their military campaign in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region.

An abandoned Eritrean tank beside the road in Dansa, southwest of Mekele in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Some two million people have been forced from their homes in violence

'Secretary Blinken continues to urge an immediate, full withdrawal of Eritrean troops and Amhara regional security forces, cessation of hostilities, a sustainable political solution, protection of civilians, and an independent, credible investigation of atrocities, including widespread sexual violence,' said the report.

Blinken said the U.S. was continuing its review of whether actions in Tigray constituted crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. continued to call for a negotiated ceasefire to a conflict that has forced almost two millions from their homes.

'strongly condemn any retaliatory attacks that have been or may be directed against civilians in the Tigray region, whether by organized military or security forces or by rogue elements,' he said.

It painted a bleak picture elsewhere in Africa. In South Sudan it said the U.S. had helped establish a court to prosecute perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

'The government has perpetrated extrajudicial killings including ethnic-based killings of civilians, widespread sexual violence, and use of food as a weapon of war,' it said.

'Non-government armed groups also perpetrated unlawful killings, rape, sexual slavery, and forced recruitment of children.'

The report also said the Biden administration would continue to support efforts to bring Islamic State militants to justice for atrocities committed against religious minorities in Iraq and Syria.

And it reiterated the U.S. commitment to holding Syrian President Bashar Assad and his government to account for abuses.

'This report makes clear that the United States will continue to redouble its efforts to prevent, mitigate, and respond to atrocities with more timely and effective actions in coordination with likeminded partners in multilateral fora, such as the International Atrocity Prevention Working Group,' said Robert J. Faucher, acting assistant secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.

'We will continue to actively solicit vital input from civil society on atrocity risk analysis, prevention strategies, and methods to address grievances and community recovery.'
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders met at the White House with President Joe Biden Monday, and vowed to make a budget reconciliation proposal 'as robust as possible,' touting his own $6 trillion figure.

Sanders sat down with the president  in a meeting that wasn't on Biden's official schedule that was flagged by the White House with Sanders coming out to address reporters  after he sat down with New York Times columnist Maureen Doud to tout 'the most consequential piece of legislation for working families since the 1930s.'

At the White House, the independent who caucuses with Democrats declared himself 'on the same page' with Biden. Biden has proposed corporate tax hikes, hikes on capital gains for those with gains of more than $1 million, and other hikes to pay for his 'human infrastructure' proposals.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders met with President Joe Biden at the White House Monday. He said he will fight to make a reconciliation package, which could pass with only Democratic votes, 'as robust as it can be'

Sanders, Biden's one-time primary rival, is in a position to steer the outcome as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

The 'very very rich are getting richer while working families are struggling paycheck to paycheck,' he said Monday, and we want to see a reconciliation bill which shows working families of this country the government can and must work for them.'

But he also acknowledged that only with unanimous support could Democrats push through a budget with a big reconciliation number he wants.

'There are 50 Democrats in the caucus, I suspect there are different points of view. As you know, I introduced a proposal for $6 trillion. I'm going to fight to make that proposal as robust as it can be,' he said.

Sanders declined to characterize Biden's position, but declared them on the 'same page'

'A strong majority fo the members of the Democratic caucus want to go as big as we possibly can,' he said.

Later, asked by DailyMail.com about resistance from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Republicans in the Senate, Sanders pushed back: 'You're doing it again. You're not asking me about child poverty ... I'm sorry, but we're talking about something transformative.'

The U.S. Senate returned on Monday to one of its most ambitious agendas in years as Democratic President Joe Biden seeks trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending and Republicans promise 'a hell of a fight' against raising taxes to pay for it.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer opened the Senate following a two-week July Fourth recess, saying progress was being made on both a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan and the first step toward another measure that would pass with only Democratic votes.

But given the 50-50 split in the Senate, it was uncertain whether the Democratic leader can fulfill his goal of passing both measures by sometime in August.

'If and when we succeed, the benefits will reverberate across the country for generations to come,' Schumer said.

Last week, Schumer's Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell, promised a 'hell of a fight' over the partisan, Democratic initiative while leaving open the possibility of his support for the emerging bipartisan bill.

Negotiators were still discussing ways to finance the latter measure's $1.2 trillion price tag, according to lawmakers and congressional aides.

Adding to the complexity, Congress could get embroiled in a potentially divisive debate over raising the statutory limit on U.S. borrowing authority, which expires at the end of July.

While the Treasury Department is expected to be able to manage for several weeks beyond the July 31 deadline, global financial markets will become increasingly jittery about a potential U.S. default on its debt the longer the matter is unresolved.

Democrats control both chambers of Congress by razor-thin margins and can afford to lose only a few votes in the House of Representatives and none in the Senate if they are to succeed. They view the overall infrastructure package as potentially the most important legislation to push through before next year's elections, which will determine control of Congress for the second half of Biden's four-year term.

The bipartisan deal would pay for rebuilding roads, bridges and other traditional infrastructure projects and bring broadband internet service to more rural areas.

It got a boost last week from the 'Problem Solvers Caucus,' a group of Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

McConnell said there was 'a decent chance' the bipartisan bill could gain traction but warned the spending must somehow be financed without adding to the national debt.

'NOT THE RIGHT THING'

Speaking at public events in his home state of Kentucky last week, McConnell saved his grim assessments for tax hikes in the other infrastructure legislation Democrats are expected to produce in addition to the bipartisan bill.

'This is going to be a hell of a fight. ... This is not the right thing to do for the country,' McConnell warned as he attacked Biden's plans for possible tax increases on corporations and the wealthy to help finance the cost of some infrastructure investments.

One measure, to be hammered out sometime before the start of the August recess, would simply provide the technical framework for ramming through the Senate - without Republican support - a second, bigger infrastructure measure.

That Democrats-only plan would require a maneuver called 'reconciliation that skirts Senate rules requiring 60 votes to pass most legislation.

The large package is set to be the final major piece of Biden's first-year legislative dreams: a partisan 'human infrastructure' bill in the fall to invest huge sums to confront climate change, while also expanding education opportunities across the United States and home healthcare for the elderly and others.

McConnell has attacked these initiatives and is hoping to generate opposition from some moderate Democrats.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a leading liberal, is looking for up to $6 trillion in new investments, while other, more moderate Democrats on his panel want less.

Corporate lobbyists, in concert with Republicans, already were laying plans to thwart the initiative, arguing that tax increases would hurt a U.S. economy emerging from the rubble of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Democrats of all political stripes will try to attach provisions important to their constituents. Progressives demand turning a temporary expansion of a child tax credit into a permanent benefit. And, lawmakers from heavily Democratic states with high taxes insist that a cap on state and local tax deductions, which was included in a 2017 Republican tax law, be eased.

Given Democrats' razor-thin majorities in Congress, party leaders in both chambers will have to pay attention to every one of their members' demands or risk losing enough support for passage of any of these bills.
New York Mayoral candidate Eric Adams called himself the 'Biden of Brooklyn' at White House Monday after meeting with President Joe Biden about gun crimes  and says the topic of whether Biden wants more police on the beat 'didn't come up.'

Adams, the Brooklyn Borough president who is heavily favored in the mayor's race after his messy primary win, joined mayors, law enforcement and security officials as Biden seeks to get a handle on a surge in gun violence nationwide.

'You know they call me the Biden of Brooklyn,' Adams said outside the White House following his meeting with the president, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and other local leaders.

'You can just tell when someone is not trying to rush you through the meeting,' he said. He called Biden a 'plain talk person' and said it was 'a pleasure having him as the president.

'You know they call me the Biden of Brooklyn,' Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said at the White House Monday

With Democrats showing signs of political damage for the defend-the-police movement  something Biden has long said he does not support  Adams called for moving cops to the streets from clerical work and having more of them walk the beat solo rather than in larger groups.

But when asked by DailyMail.com whether Biden himself urged local leaders to get more cops on the street, Adams responded: 'That conversation didn't come up in our discussion and I think he could better answer that question.'

Nevertheless, the guest list at Monday's meeting underlined distance the White House wants to put between Biden and the defund movement.

Adams said a 'meeting before the meeting'  where local officeholders and other officials caught up before meeting with Biden himself  was an 'extremely productive' part.

'The president is making it clear, he's going to redefine the ecosystem of public safety, and that that includes identifying the role of police, schools, families, resources, employment, this is where we need to go as a country,' he said.

He called for responding to 'underlying causes' of violence.

'How do we have a prison system with 30 per cent of the people, the inmates, are dyslexic,' he said. 'That means the real crime didn't take place only on the streets. That took place int he Department of Education across America,' he said.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who also attended, pointed directly to her own efforts to get a boost in police funding amid criticism linking Democrats to the defund-the-police movement.

'That's why my budget includes 100 new officers, 200 new police cadets, and next year I think we'll actually be able to do a little bit more,' she said. 'But it also includes violence prevention efforts to the tune of $59 million. From a city like ours, people care about safety. They care about fair policing and justice, and they care that police and the community work together,' she said.

In his own comments, Adams was less direct  although his role as a former transit police officers and NYPD officer  his presence underlined a similar message.

'I rode the trains alone. I don't know why I have four or five officers congregated around a booth area,' he said. 'So let's look at how we're using our police officers and then make that determination of do we need more  that question is still a question mark.'

Police are pictured at the scene of a shooting where 13-year-old Jaryan Elliot was killed in the Bronx on Sunday. It was one of six shootings reported around the city in the span of 14 hours

A New York City police officer took photos of the crime scene on Sunday

'I think we have improper deployment of police officers,' he continued. 'We could do a better job in deploying our personnel and making sure we become more proactive to prevent crime.'

Also attending were police chiefs from Chicago, which has experienced a surge in gun violence, Memphis, and Biden's home town of Wilmington.

Adams also mentioned some of the shocking examples of violence in New York. 'We can't become so idealistic we're not realistic,' he said. 'These are real problems of families being fearful of violence. I had a 13-year-old child shot, assassinated, in the Bornx. You know, a 10-year-old child was shot and killed in Rockaway. These are real problems,' he said.
Felix Cabrera, 86, is charged with first-degree murder with a firearm in the June 4, shooting death of William Combass, 67, at the Sugar Cane Cooperative in Belle Glade, Florida

An 86-year-old sugar mill worker with 31 years on the job fatally shot his boss after he was refused another year working at the mill.

Felix Cabrera is now in jail without bail on a first-degree murder charge following the shooting last month at the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative in Belle Glade, Florida near West Palm Beach.

Cabrera's boss, 67-year-old Billy Combass, from nearby Martin County was shot several times.

Authorities say Cabrera sought to work one additional year for financial reasons but was turned down.

That's when he allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot his boss.

The pair had worked together for decades and efforts are now underway to try to understand what led to Cabrera, said to be an 'easygoing, likable janitor', to shoot Combass, who was 'a respected manager and devoted family man.'

Cabrera quickly confessed to the killing while the cooperative put out a statement saying it was 'horrified and deeply saddened by the senseless violence.'

Authorities initially said that it was simply case of a disgruntled employee intentionally killing his boss, but Cabrera's lawyers from the Palm Beach County Public Defender's Office say things are not so clear cut and have suggested that a claim of self-defense may even be used.

In an obituary William Vance 'Billy' Combass is said to have 'had the utmost respect for life.'

The married father of three worked at the cooperative for more than 47 years - almost his entire adult life, but he always said his 'greatest accomplishment of all was his family.'

Cabrera's boss, William Combass, 67, to him clock out and never return to work. Hours later, he was shot dead

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for his youngest child, Ivette's, education

The fundraiser is also support his son, Will, who is a college senior majoring in criminology with plans to earn a master's degree

Police say the shooting at the sugar mill appears to have been a planned event and charged Cabrera with premeditated first-degree murder

'He loved to fix all things; cars, tractors, household knick-knacks. He raised his family in the house he built and has left his fingerprint on everything he created,' the tribute read.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for his youngest child, Ivette's, education and also support his son, Will, who is a college senior majoring in criminology with plans to earn a master's degree.

So far, more than $15,000 has been raised. 'Words cannot express how humbled we are by the generous outpouring of love and support during this extremely difficult time in our lives,' widow Ivette Combass wrote.

Cabrera, who was originally from Cuba and exiled to the U.S. in 1980 no longer has any living relatives having outlived them all. His life essentially revolved around the sugar plant.

The married father of three worked at the cooperative for more than 47 years

An obituary for Combass describes the married father of three, as being dedicated to working at the cooperative for more than 47 years, but that his 'greatest accomplishment was his family.'

Combass was married to his wife Ivette, now widowed

'His neighbors, many of whom have known him for 15 years or more, uniformly described him as a kindhearted gentle, and generous man who was especially fond of animals,' defense attorney Scott Pribble wrote in a plea last month.

The flashpoint for the shooting appears to have come three weeks earlier when Cabrera learned he was going to be fired, after 31 years of service - although the motive does not feature on the arrest report.

On the day of the shooting, Cabrera left his home around 6:30am.

Just after 10am, Combass told Cabrera that he was fired, to clock out and never return.

Cabrera pleaded with his boss to keep his job for another year saying that he needed the income.

Combass is said to have 'got out of his chair and started walking towards Cabrera telling him 'no' and to leave the office,' the arrest report seen by the Sun Sentinel said.

His defense lawyer wrote how he felt 'disrespected in how Combass was speaking to him in front of other employees.'

'Mr. Cabrera's life revolved around this job and the sugar plant, and the news devastated him,' the defense lawyer wrote.

The pair both worked at the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, a cooperative made up of 44 small to medium-sized member farms that grow sugar cane

Surveillance video seen by the Sentinel depicts Cabrera walking toward Combass' office and stopping to pull a handgun out of pocket as he got it 'ready to fire.'

There were no witnesses to the shooting.

Cabrera is next seen with the gun still in his hand before speaking with employees nearby.

Combass was found by police, bleeding from multiple wounds while Cabrera was found inside another building on the property. The gun was found in a black bag he was holding.

Those working at the mill are puzzled by the outburst in violence from Cabrera.

'Everyone loved Felix through the sugar mill,' said Juan A. Gonzalez Jr. knew Cabrera. 'Felix was never the type of person to get in your face.'

The cooperative is comprised of 44 different sugar cane farms that operate on about 70,000 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area near Lake Okeechobee.

Florida is the nation's largest producer of cane sugar, accounting for one in every five teaspoons consumed.
A family dog that mauled a five-week-old baby to death while his parents slept has been euthanised.

The six-year-old American Staffordshire terrier killed the baby boy in his own home in Kariong, on the NSW Central Coast, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The pet, which was desexed and registered, was seized by council rangers following the tragedy.

A Central Coast Council spokesperson said it was taken to the vet and put down.

Pictured: A distraught man outside a home where a newborn baby boy was mauled to death by a staffy

Pictured: First responders at a home on the Central Coast after a baby boy was mauled to death by a staffy

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this terrible time. The incident remains a police investigation,' they told 7 News.

The vicious attack marked the Staffy's second in just a month, after it was revealed the dog fatally mauled a smaller dog that made its way into the yard.

Its owner, who had been holidaying in Noosa, came home to find her beloved pet dead.

The dog was the subject of a temperament assessment at the request of the council before their baby was killed.

The American Staffordshire terrier (stock image) attacked a neighbour's dog just weeks earlier

Pictured: Police and detectives swarm the scene outside a home where a family pet killed a baby

Police and paramedics who arrived were unable to revive the little boy, and he was declared dead on the scene.

On Sunday afternoon, district commander Detective Superintendent Darryl Jobson described the situation as 'a matter of tragic proportions'.

He all first responders who attended the scene will receiving counselling and support after witnessing the devastating scene.

'Our police did perform first-aid upon arrival. They did their best in the circumstances and they are no doubt shaken by the incident,' he said.

The boy's parents were at home when their son was attacked by the dog in Kariong, on the NSW Central Coast

'Anything to do with children of any type, particularly of this nature, is absolutely traumatic.'

The boy's parents were at home when their son was attacked by the dog and were treated for shock.

The attack has renewed calls for American Staffordshire terrier's to be banned in Australia.

Just hours later, in a separate incident, another American Staffordshire terrier savagely attacked a couple walking their groodle dog in Western Sydney.

Owner Damien Aggio and his wife Tina (pictured with injuries from the dog attack) were strolling down the street in Pemulwuy at about 12pm with their beloved Peaches when 'out of the blue,' the 'killer' dog appeared

Owner Damien Aggio and his wife Tina were strolling down the street in Pemulwuy at around noon with their dog Peaches when 'out of the blue,' the 'killer' canine appeared.

It had escaped its harness and ran across the street before its owner could stop it.

'I heard the owner yelling, "watch out" and I saw this big dog running across the road straight towards us,' he told Nine News.

'It all happened so quickly. I tried to pick up our dog, but it was too late. The big dog had latched onto her by then.

'I was trying to wrestle it off. I was kicking and punching and I had my thumbs in its eyeballs. But it all made no difference.'

Mr Aggio said it took five people to pull the American Staffordshire off the Groodle which was left with horrific injuries and remains in a critical condition after four hours of surgery costing $6,000.

With severe wounds to her hindquarters, vets were uncertain if Peaches (pictured) would make it through the night, but the brave pooch managed to survive.

With severe wounds to her hindquarters, vets were uncertain if Peaches would make it through the night, but the brave dog survived.

Cumberland City Council have now seized the American Staffordshire and police are investigating the incident.

Mr Aggio said American Staffordshire dogs are 'ticking time bombs' and should not be allowed to be kept as pets in Australia.

'They are dangerous dog breeds bred to kill, not protect. If we didn't have the help that we did our dog would be dead... We were totally helpless, It was five minutes of absolute mayhem,' he said.
Three people have been rushed to hospital following an acid attack in north London tonight.

Emergency crews, including the London Ambulance Service, rushed to Beaufort Park in Colindale following reports of a 'corrosive substance' being thrown on a young girl at around 7.20pm.

Three people at the scene were injured following the attack and have all been taken to hospital.

At this early stage, their conditions are not thought to be life threatening.

Emergency crews, including the London Ambulance Service, rushed to Beaufort Park in Colindale following reports of a 'corrosive substance' being thrown

Some officers were also treated at the scene for the effects of the substance after attending the address and none of their conditions are thought to be serious.

Following the attack, locals in the area were advised to stay indoors as police attended to the injured, according to reports on social media.

In a statement the force said: 'Police were called at approximately 19.20hrs on Monday, 12 July to reports of the incident at an address in NW9.

'Three people at the address were injured after a corrosive substance was thrown at them.

'All three have been taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service  at this early stage, their conditions are not thought to be life threatening.'

Some officers were also treated at the scene for the effects of the substance after attending the address and none of their conditions is thought to be serious. (Stock image)

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 6733/12July.

You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Putting those with autism and learning difficulties into long-term institutional care is a scandal that must be banned, MPs have said.

Thousands of vulnerable adults and children are held in secure units in violation of their human rights, the health committee said yesterday after an inquiry into their treatment.

Many face 'abusive' practices such as physical restraint, long periods of isolation in cell-like conditions and the use of anti-psychotic medication.

This prevents them from leading 'fulfilled lives' in the community and is an 'affront to a civilised society', the MPs' report adds.

The damning findings come a decade after 11 workers were sentenced for neglect and abuse at Winterbourne View, a residential care home near Bristol.

Putting those with autism and learning difficulties into long-term institutional care is a scandal that must be banned, MPs have said. The damning findings come a decade after 11 workers were sentenced for neglect and abuse at Winterbourne View (pictured), a residential care home near Bristol

Shocking footage showed residents with learning difficulties being slapped, restrained under chairs, having their hair pulled and being force-fed medication. Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt said it is a 'matter of national shame' that 'too many' with autism or learning difficulties are still being detained.

At least 2,055 are held in secure institutions in England for an average of six years, often far from family and friends.

The committee said these admissions were largely unnecessary but happened because community services are 'totally inadequate'.

The report added: 'Autistic people and those with learning disabilities are treated as if their condition is an illness instead of a fundamental part of their identity.

'The tragic result of this fatal misunderstanding is they often then develop mental or physical illnesses which are used to justify their continued detention.'

The MPs called for Assessment and Treatment Units to be closed within two years and replaced with services that admit people only for short periods close to their homes.

Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt said it is a 'matter of national shame' that 'too many' with autism or learning difficulties are still being detained

New long-term admissions to institutions should be banned in most cases, they added.

Ministers should also provide funding to move care to the community. There were 4,355 restrictive interventions in March this year, with more than a quarter involving people under 18, the inquiry heard. One witness described being 'transported in cages and handcuffs'.

Questioned about the continued use of restrictive practices, health minister Helen Whately said: 'I find myself asking how this is still happening.'

Mr Hunt said the issues highlighted were not 'worthy of a 21st-century healthcare system' and demanded urgent action.

Dan Scorer, of the charity Mencap, welcomed the MPs' call to ban long-term inpatient admissions 'to these modern-day asylums' but said: 'This must go further by stopping all inappropriate admissions.'

The Department of Health said it will consider the recommendations in the report and respond formally in due course.

'The number of inpatients in mental health hospitals with autism and learning disabilities has reduced by around 30 per cent in recent years and we're building on this with additional funding to cut admissions further and support the discharge of these patients back into the community,' it added.
Sydneysiders who lose work in lockdown will be able to claim $600 a week from the federal government under beefed-up support as the city braces for an extended shut down.

Currently the pandemic disaster payment is $500 for anyone who loses more than 20 hours of work.

Daily Mail Australia understands the $325 rate for workers who lose fewer than 20 hours will also increase to an amount due to be announced on Tuesday.

Police are pictured in Fairfield, the centre of Sydney's outbreak, on Tuesday morning

Residents in Sydney are only allowed to exercise in groups of two. Pictured: Elizabeth Bay in the city on Tuesday morning

Meanwhile, a package jointly funded by the New South Wales government and the federal government will pay businesses to keep workers on the books in a JobKeeper style scheme.

The two governments have been in negotiations since the middle of last week.

The $130billion JobKeeper policy - which was scrapped in March - paid businesses who lost money up to $1,500 per fortnight for each employee they kept on.

Sydney recorded 112 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, most of them in the city's south-west, taking the outbreak to 678 cases and creating expectations the lockdown would be extended for several more weeks,.

Shoppers make a purchase at a local fish market along Chapel Road in Bankstown in western Sydney as lockdown entered its fourteenth day on Friday

Before Tuesday, the pandemic disaster payment was $500 for anyone who loses more than 20 hours of work. Pictured: A runner in Sydney on Tuesday morning

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Multicultural Affairs Minister Alex Hawke will have a virtual meeting with community leaders in southwest Sydney on Tuesday to consult on how to better communicate with the community about getting vaccinated and abiding by Covid-19 rules.

'The federal government is concerned about lower vaccination rates in culturally and linguistically diverse communities,' Mr Hawke told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

'That's why the PM wants to hear from people in the communities and their leaders about what we can do to better communicate about the vaccination program and support on offer,' he said.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro has warned the lockdown could continue for weeks.

'I'm not sure about longer than six weeks but we'll have to make a decision. We're all certain it will extend beyond this week,' he told Nine Network.

But he said the government was not considering a night-time curfew of exercise limits.

'I don't believe we will get to the state of curfews and radiuses around where you can go and how much time you can spend in the open air,' he told Sky News.

'I can promise you that theres never been a conversation around curfews or going even further.'

Mr Barilaro confirmed a shutdown of non-essential retail has been considered, saying: 'It means making sure there's less movement of people going into homes, going into construction sites, going into retail.'

Sydneysiders who lose work in lockdown will be able to claim $600 a week from the federal government under beefed up support as the city braces for an extended shut down. Pictured: The Tap Rooms pub in the Rocks

On Monday Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday said she needed to 'call out' the Fairfield local government area - where health officials found the vast majority of the 112 local coronavirus cases recorded overnight.

'Everybody in Fairfield should be staying at home unless they absolutely have to,' the Premier said.

Of those new locally-acquired cases, 48 are unlinked to known infections and 34 were out in the community for at least part of the time they were infectious.

New South Wales Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant singled out Fairfield, Smithfield, Bossley Park, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Wakeley, Bonnyrigg, Glenfield and West Hoxton in the south-west as the 'key suburbs' where authorities were battling to contain the virus.

'The reason I am reading these locations out is we need to make sure that every member of that community understands that every time they go out of their house for an essential good, they need to assume that someone next to them has Covid,' Dr Chant said.

'Everyone across greater Sydney should assume that but we are conveying that in these areas, the risk is even greater.

In Fairfield (pictured), less than 25 per cent of people speak English only at home which means three-quarters of people have English at least as a second language. Vietnamese is the most spoken language on 20.4 per cent, followed by Arabic on 7.9 per cent

Under the rules of the stay-at-home lockdown Sydneysiders can leave the home to shop for essential items, although they have been warned not to browse and 'get in and get out' of stores as quickly as possible.

But Dr Chant urged residents in the suburbs she named to take extra care to limit the time they spent outside their homes.

Rail Bus and Tram Union national secretary Mark Diamond said many workers in these suburbs didn't have the choice to stay at home.

'It is hypocritical of the NSW and federal governments to lecture these people about staying home when neither level of government has offered them any income support,' he said.

'If they refuse to work then they risk getting sacked, but if they go to work they risk getting a deadly disease. What are they supposed to do?'

A new exposure site list revealed Monday night has prompted contact tracers to frantically seek shoppers who attended two Kmarts, where hundreds of people may have been exposed to the virus.
Victoria has recorded two new locally-acquired coronavirus cases just days after removalists infected with the highly contagious Delta strain entered the state from Covid-ravaged NSW.

The two new cases were previously announced on Monday afternoon as another local case acquired interstate took Victoria's tally of active Covid-19 cases to 20.

All three cases are members of the same Melbourne household who have been in isolation, having recently returned from NSW on red zone permits.

Meanwhile, an apartment complex in Melbourne is now in lockdown for 14 days after being visited by the infected removalists who travelled from Sydney.

Residents of the Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong in Melbourne's north-west have been ordered not to leave the building after the infected group visited on July 8.

The complex is listed as a Tier 1 exposure site, which means anyone at the apartments from 1pm to 11.59pm on that day must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

Resident Craig McLean recalled walking directly past the removalists in the building foyer the day they were there.

Residents in the Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong (pictured on Tuesday) cannot leave the building for two weeks after it was visited by infected removalists last week

'Obviously it's very, very frustrating as clearly rules haven't been followed,' Mr McLean told Sunrise from his first floor balcony on Tuesday.

'We now find ourselves in lockdown while the rest of Melbourne is out of that state, so it's very frustrating.'

He feared not all residents may be unaware they've been ordered to isolate for two weeks and may have left for work on Tuesday.

'I heard a bit of traffic outside so potentially that has happened,' he said.

'We could hear people in foyer moving around. Again, not ideal.'

Mr McLean originally thought it was an Uber Eats driver who had the wrong unit when he got a knock at the door around 9pm on Monday night.

'We opened up the door and there was a letter there, so I contacted the hotline for further clarification, where they told me to gest tested and isolate for 14 days,' he said.

Health workers donning personal protective equipment were spotted entering the building on Tuesday as residents watched on from their balconies.

Another woman in the building told Sunrise she had no idea until she found a letter in her letterbox.

Apartment resident Craig McLean will spend the next two weeks in lockdown. He's pictured speaking to Sunrise from second floor apartment on Tuesday

Health personnel in personal protective equipment were spotted preparing to enter Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong on Tuesday

Resident Nicola Clement is holed up in her 10th lockdown or isolation period following stints in Western Australia and New Zealand since the pandemic.

'Of all the apartments in Melbourne, I couldn't believe it was mine,' she told the Herald Sun.

'One thing I'm grumpy about is it's a stricter lockdown than Sydney.'

Another resident only found out his apartment was an exposure site after checking the Health Department's website.

'I was going to work  realised we had the lockdown and came home,' he said

Residents cannot leave the buildings unless they getting Covid-19 test or in an emergency.

Anyone who visited been to the complex any time between July 9 and 12 must also get tested and isolate until they test negative.

A resident in lockdown at the Ariele Apartments steps onto his balcony to get some fresh air

Victoria's 12-day run of zero community cases has come to an end. Pictured are health workers entering the Ariele Apartments on Tuesday

The infected cases have also put a Mobil service station, a McDonald's, a shopping centre, a Metro petrol station and a Coles on alert.

Three removalists, two of whom have tested positive, travelled from Sydney through Victoria to Adelaide last week.

The workers made a drop-off at a family home in Craigieburn and a pick-up at the Maribyrnong apartment last Thursday.

Both families of four are isolating and have been tested.

The crew is believed to have immediately left Melbourne and arrived in Adelaide early Friday morning.

Victoria's COVID Commander Jeroen Weimar said authorities still did not have a complete picture of their movements.

Removalists are permitted workers under Victoria's border permit system.

A taxi driver was seen delivering an envelope to a Western Health staff member outside Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong, where residents have been ordered into lockdown

Health care workers arrive at the Ariele Apartments with Covid-19 tests after residents were potentially exposed by infected movers last week

The infected cases have also put a Mobil service station, a McDonald's, a Metro petrol station and a Coles at Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre (pictured)

An infected case visited Ballan McDonald's (pictured) on July 8 between 5pm and 7pm

It comes after two members of a Melbourne family tested positive after returning from NSW on red zone permits.

Mr Weimar said three of the family of four from the City of Hume arrived on July 4 by air and the other returned by car on July 8.

They all initially tested negative but two became symptomatic and were tested on Sunday, with the results coming back positive on Monday.

Neither the flight nor Melbourne Airport has been listed as exposure sites, as the family tested negative for the virus two days after their arrival and other passengers are already self-isolating as part of their red zone permit conditions.

Mr Weimar added he was not surprised 'flying embers' from the Sydney outbreak had broken containment lines after NSW reported 112 new local cases on Monday.

Almost 23,500 Victorians came forward for testing on Monday while another 14,384 rolled up their sleeve for the Covid jab.

The new local cases end Victoria's 12 day run of zero community transmissions.

Victoria closed its borders to all of NSW and the ACT at midnight Sunday, declaring them red zones under the travel permit system.

MELBOURNE'S NEW COVID EXPOSURE SITES Tier 1: Get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure Ballan: Mobil Ballan (westbound) - 08/07/21, 5pm - 7pm Ballan: McDonald's Ballan (westbound) - 08/07/21, 5pm - 7pm Craigieburn: Coles in Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre - 10/07/21, 5.28pm - 6.38pm Maribyrnong: Ariele Apartments (anyone present) - 08/07/21, 1pm - 11.59pm Tier 2: Get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result Maribyrnong: Ariele Apartments - July 9, 10, 11 and 12, 12am - 11.59pm Broadmeadows: Metro Petroleum - 11/07/21, 1.19pm - 2.04pm Qantas flight QF1542: Launceston to Melbourne - 02/07/21, 10.15am - 11.20am Tier 3: Monitor for symptoms Craigieburn: Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre - 10/07/21, 5.28pm - 6.38pm Advertisement
Air and rail passengers suffered a day of chaos yesterday as the so-called 'pingdemic' meant hundreds of transport workers were forced to self-isolate.

There were angry scenes at Heathrow in the morning as passengers crammed into Terminal 5 after dozens of security staff did not turn up for work because they had been 'pinged' by the NHS app.

Travellers said it took 90 minutes just to drop off their bags and get through security. Dozens of flights were delayed by up to three hours to allow people to board, with some missing their flights.

Passengers said that at one point, there were just two security lanes open for thousands of travellers.

Heathrow said the chaos was due to staff being 'pinged' and ordered to self-isolate by the NHS app.

Air and rail passengers suffered a day of chaos yesterday as the so-called 'pingdemic' meant hundreds of transport workers were forced to self-isolate

Staff from different shift patterns were brought in to clear the backlog and the airport said the issue was resolved by the afternoon.

Meanwhile, dozens of trains were cancelled due to staff shortages.

Great Western Railway, which runs long-distance trains between London, Devon, Cornwall and South Wales, was among the worst affected.

It said a reduced timetable was running yesterday because of 'a shortage of train crew' due to 'a significant number of staff having to self-isolate following notification from Test and Trace'.

Several Thameslink services connecting Cambridge with Gatwick airport were also cancelled.

National Rail said there were cancellations and alterations to services 'across the railway network' due to staff shortages.

People queue in the departures building at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five building this morning

The fiasco will increase pressure on ministers to water down the controversial self-isolation system.

There are growing fears that continuing to order people to self- isolate after being in close proximity with a Covid carrier will cripple the economy and public services this summer.

Ministers want the public to continue self-isolating when 'pinged' for a month after Freedom Day on Monday.

But thousands, including Tory MPs, have deleted the app to avoid disruption to their lives.

The pandemic has almost completely wiped out air travel from Heathrow, which has fallen to a tenth of previous demand

Heathrow passenger numbers remain almost 90 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels - but are starting to recover slowly

This graph from FlightRadar24 shows a gradual rise in the number of scheduled departures from Heathrow in the past month

It is thought as many as 3.5 million a week could be ordered to self-isolate for ten days as Covid cases surge this summer, and Tory MPs say the policy will make a mockery of the Freedom Day lifting of restrictions if allowed to continue until August 16.

Yesterday at Heathrow, passengers began posting pictures and videos of a packed Terminal 5 with little social distancing from 7am.

Among those caught up in the chaos was Grammy Award-winning violinist, Nicola Benedetti.

Posting a video of snaking queues of hundreds of people trying to clear security, she tweeted: 'No one can tell us if our flights will be delayed or if we're about to miss them. Zero information  it's just awful.'

Alastair Mackie was travelling to Faro in the Algarve. He said: 'We made our flight at 8.40am  just.

Security at the airport is managed by Heathrow, with officials saying they are 'experiencing some longer than usual queues'

'It took 80 minutes to get from taxi drop-off through to bag drop and security. There were perhaps two machines open for the entire south zone.

'We then had a 15-minute delay waiting for other passengers who were stuck.

'They just said they were short-staffed and there were 'more passengers than we expected'.'

David Simanoff tweeted: 'I don't think it's an exaggeration to say there are more than a thousand people in the queue for security at Heathrow right now.

'And the fast-track line, which I'm eligible for, is closed.'

British Airways passengers were among the worst affected, with delays to dozens of flights between 7am and 1pm.

It is thought a surge in passenger numbers after ministers last week announced fully vaccinated travellers returning from amber countries will be exempt from quarantine exacerbated the situation.

The new measures will kick in on Monday, meaning double-jabbed people could go on holiday for a week to an amber country from yesterday without having to self-isolate on return.

A Heathrow spokesman dismissed reports that up to 120 security staff failed to turn up to work, with sources saying it was more like a few dozen.
Bill Gates was reportedly on the verge of tears at last weeks billionaire summer camp as he fessed up to messing up his marriage to soon-to-be-ex-wife Melinda French Gates.

The billionaire philanthropist opened up about his pending divorce to his wife of 27 years during an off the record question-and-answer session at the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho last week, the New York Post reported.

'He fessed up to messing up,' one of the attendees told the Post.

'He basically referred to the fact that it [the divorce] was his fault.'

The source added: 'He did seem a bit emotional about it. He might have been on the verge of tears.'

Bill Gates is seen right alongside Chubb Limited CEO Evan Greenberg at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho on Thursday

Gates was reportedly on the verge of tears at last weeks billionaire summer camp as he fessed up to messing up his marriage to soon-to-be-ex-wife Melinda French Gates

Gates, 65, came under scrutiny after he and Melinda Gates announced their divorce in May and reports emerged of his alleged extramarital affairs. Melinda, the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is seen above in Paris on June 30

In the Q&A hosted by CNBC host Becky Quick, Gates reportedly did not refer to an affair as the reason for the divorce.

Gates, 65, came under scrutiny after he and Melinda Gates, 56, announced their divorce in May and reports emerged of his alleged extramarital affairs and concerns over the nature of his relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

In divorce filings, Melinda said the marriage was 'irretrievably broken.'

After the divorce was announced, it was learned Gates, who was CEO of Microsoft at the time, had an 'inappropriate' sexual relationship with a female staff member in 2000, and resigned while an investigation into the relationship was being investigated by the company board.

The affair came to light after the Microsoft employee wrote to the board in 2019 detailing it - and allegedly asked that Gates' estranged wife read the letter.

Gates quit the board suddenly in March 2020 while the investigation was still underway.

His spokeswoman confirmed there had been an affair almost 20 years ago but said his decision to leave Microsoft's board was not linked to it.

The revelation comes alongside two bombshell reports on the unraveling of the couple's marriage.

The Daily Beast revealed Bill Gates sought marriage advice from convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein during dozens of meetings at his $77million Manhattan townhouse between 2011 and 2014, far more than had previously been reported.

The New York Times reported that Gates asked two women who worked at Microsoft and his philanthropic foundation out on dates while still married to Melinda.

Melinda, who now goes by Melinda French Gates, was also upset at the way allegations of sexual harassment against Michael Larson, one of Gates' key lieutenants and the manager of his personal fortune, were handled.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Microsoft board decided that Gates should step down after the relationship almost two decades earlier was deemed to be 'inappropriate'.

The same day Gates quit Microsoft he also announced he was stepping down from his position with the board of Berkshire Hathaway, run by his friend Warren Buffet.

Pictured L-R: Melinda, Bill, Jennifer, Phoebe and Rory Gates in an Instagram post following Jennifer's graduation from Stanford

In a press release the tech mogul said he would continue to serve as a technical adviser to Microsoft's Chief Executive Satya Nadella.

A Microsoft spokesman told the Wall Street Journal: 'Microsoft received a concern in the latter half of 2019 that Bill Gates sought to initiate an intimate relationship with a company employee in the year 2000.

'A committee of the Board reviewed the concern, aided by an outside law firm to conduct a thorough investigation. Throughout the investigation, Microsoft provided extensive support to the employee who raised the concern.'

A spokeswoman for Gates said his decision to leave the board had nothing to do with the affair, saying 'There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably.'

Gates reportedly opened up about his marriage during a Q&A session in Sun Valley, Idaho hosted by CNBC anchor Becky Quick (pictured on Wednesday)

The spokeswoman told the Journal his 'decision to transition off the board was in no way related to this matter. In fact, he had expressed an interest in spending more time on his philanthropy starting several years earlier.'

Meanwhile, The Daily Beast reported that Gates told Epstein his marriage to Melinda was 'toxic', which both men found funny.

Gates suggested Epstein become involved with the couple's philanthropic organization and 'rehabilitate his image' after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution, according to a person who attended the meetings.

Gates' visits to Epstein's 'lair' was an escape from the marriage, according to the source, who said the pair 'were very close'.

Another person who was in attendance and reportedly heard Gates speak said that the tech mogul was very moving.

But others who were in Sun Valley reported that Gates seemed agitated during his stay, particularly when others at the conference approached him in an attempt to strike up a conversation.

'Bill Gates was pretty much a total a*****e,' one attendee told the Post.

Four Microsoft employees accused Gates, a co-founder of the company and its former CEO, of being an office 'bully' whose catchphrase was 'that's the stupidest f*****g idea I've ever heard' and claimed he pursued sexual affairs with employees and journalists.

A former Microsoft executive who spoke on condition of anonymity told Insider last month that 'having a meeting with Bill was just an opportunity to get yelled at, so I tried to avoid that.'

Melinda Gates herself was an employee at Microsoft, having been hired as a product manager in 1987, when the billionaire first asked her out months after flirting with her at a conference dinner.

In 2006, Bill Gates allegedly asked a female Microsoft employee out to dinner in an email after attending a presentation she had given, The New York Times reported.

'If this makes you uncomfortable, pretend it never happened,' Gates wrote in the email obtained by The New York Times.

A Gates Foundation employee told the outlet that the billionaire asked her on a date while they were at a cocktail party in New York.

The couple are pictured with their three kids Jennifer (center), Rory (right) and Phoebe (left) in 2019. The kids were said to be 'very angry' with their father, according to the sources

'I want to see you. Will you have dinner with me?' Gates allegedly told the woman.

In the 1992 biography Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire, author James Wallace revealed Gates had an alleged affair with a married woman 13 years older than him when he was 27 years old.

Gates' alleged affair was with the wife of an Osborne Computer executive who lived abroad, according to the biography.

An Osborne Computer executive who knew about the alleged affair told Wallace that 'Bill had a real fondness for older women then.'

Adam Osborne, who developed the first commercially successful PC known as Osborne 1, allegedly demanded that Gates stop seeing the wife of his employee.

'Gates told Osborne to mind his own business,' Wallace wrote.

Gates himself told BBC that he would hack his school's scheduling software to ensure he would be the only boy in class.

'I was the one who benefited by being able to have the nice girls at least sit near me. It wasn't that I could talk to them or anything, but they were there,' Gates said.

Wallace told Insider that, while Gates attended Harvard University in 1973, he would allegedly visit strip clubs in an area of Boston once referred to as the Combat Zone because of its notorious strip clubs, porn theaters, and prostitution.

Gates himself admitted to frequenting the area, centered on Washington Street between Boylston Street and Kneeland Street, in a 1994 interview he did with Playboy magazine.

'Just because I went there doesn't mean I engaged in everything that was going on,' Gates said.

'I ate pizza, read books and watched what was going on. I went to the diners.'

Wallace claimed to Insider that Gates' penchant for socializing with women remained even after he started dating Melinda Gates in 1987.

Gates was allegedly known to invite friends to swim naked at his bachelor pad in Laurelhurst where he 'rounded up' dancers from local all-nude nightclubs, Wallace said.

'I don't know if he physically transported them or if he just told them where to show up,' Wallace told the outlet.

Melinda Gates warned her husband against any further contact with Jeffrey Epstein (right) after the couple had an uncomfortable meeting with the convicted sex offender

Robert X. Cringely, who wrote a popular computer gossip column for InfoWorld, told Insider that Gates was allegedly often inebriated at tech events and after-parties and that he 'got drunk pretty easily.'

'All of us will have been at some affair where Bill was clearly impaired. He was happier' drunk, Cringely said.

Gates, then 33, took a helicopter to Les Arcs ski resort in the French Alps for an international sales meeting for Microsoft in the summer of 1988 where he was allegedly caught lying on top of a woman on the lawn.

The pair were 'just snuggling' after Gates joined his employees for drinks in a Swiss chalet and partied until the early morning, Dan Graves, a former Microsoft export manager, told Insider.

After he started dating Melinda, Gates allegedly struggled to commit to her and she was allegedly aware of his 'womanizing,' the outlet reported. The couple even broke up for at least a year early in their relationship.

'Bill wanted to be married, but he didn't know whether he could actually commit to it and have Microsoft,' Melinda said in an interview for the Netflix docuseries Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates.

Even after marrying Melinda, Gates told Time magazine in 1997 that he still went on annual vacations to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with his ex-girlfriend Ann Winblad, the software entrepreneur whom he had dated from 1984 to 1987.

Bill and Melinda Gates' personal affairs have been managed by Watermark Estate Management since at least 2001, which would allegedly arrange Gates' annual beach trips with Winblad.

Meanwhile, Gates is reported to have taken meetings with Epstein including a flight to Palm Beach on Epstein's private plane.

Gates' spokesperson told the outlet that Gates had 'absolutely no business partnership or personal friendship' with Epstein, and any meetings between the two were about philanthropy.

'It is extremely disappointing that there have been so many lies published about the cause, the circumstances and the timeline of Bill Gates's divorce,' the spokesperson said.

Bill Gates, not pictured, still went on annual vacations to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with his ex-girlfriend Ann Winblad, pictured, the software entrepreneur whom he had dated from 1984 to 1987, even after marrying Melinda Gates

'The rumors and speculation surrounding Mr. Gates are becoming increasingly absurd and it's unfortunate that people who have little to no knowledge are being characterized as "sources".'

Gates' relationship with Epstein reportedly dates back to 2011, but it became a point of contention for the couple in September 2013, the Daily Beast reported.

Melinda Gates reportedly told friends she was furious about their alleged friendship and wanted nothing to do with Epstein but sources said Bill Gates allegedly visited Epstein's house numerous times.

Bill Gates even reportedly talked about his 'toxic' marriage to Epstein who allegedly gave Gates advice on ending his marriage, according to the Daily Beast.

Wallace claimed to Insider that 'there were some big-name journalists who knew about this behavior' over the years.

However, they 'never reported on it because they knew Microsoft would have taken away their access,' he said.

Gates allegedly even gained a reputation for hitting on female reporters who covered industry conferences such as Comdex, Wallace said.

'The journalists said that it was their understanding that they weren't the only ones either,' he added.

Stories about Gates have allegedly been kept quiet over the years but 'the halo broke' when Melinda divorced Gates, a Microsoft employee told Insider.

'Anyone who had stories could bring all those stories out,' the source said.
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Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos has offered his congratulations to Virgin owner Sir Richard Branson on his maiden voyage into space.

The 70-year-old British billionaire flew to the edge of space aboard Virgin Galactic's first fully crewed flight on Sunday.

Branson and five crewmates reached an altitude of 53.5 miles (86 kilometres) over the New Mexico desert before gliding safely back to Earth.

The altitude was enough to experience three to four minutes of weightlessness and witness the curvature of the Earth  which Branson called an 'experience of a lifetime'.

The brief, up-and-down flight was intended as a confidence-boosting plug for Virgin Galactic, which plans to start taking paying customers on joyrides next year.

Tourists are expected to pay 250,000 US dollars (180,000) for a spaceflight on Virgin Galactic, which includes four minutes of zero gravity.

Bezos, who was also the founder of Amazon, is due to make his own trip on July 20  the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

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Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos posted to Instagram: ''@richardbransonand crew, congratulations on the flight. Can't wait to join the club!'

In this photo provided by Virgin Galactic, the VSS Unity's rocket motor burns above the Earth on Sunday, July 11, 2021. Branson and five crewmates reached an altitude of 53.5 miles (86 kilometres) over the New Mexico desert before gliding safely back to Earth

Virgin Galactic's passenger rocket plane VSS Unity, borne by twin-fuselage carrier jet dubbed VMS Eve, takes off with billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson and his crew for travel to the edge of space at Spaceport America

'@richardbransonand crew, congratulations on the flight. Can't wait to join the club!,' Bezos posted to Instagram on Monday.

Prior to the flight, Bezos had posted a photo of Branson with the caption: 'wishing you and the whole team a successful and safe flight tomorrow. Best of luck!'

Bezos will travel with his younger brother Mark, a charity auction winner who's shelling out $28 million and pioneering female astronaut Wally Funk, 82.

Jeff Bezos posts a message to Richard Branson (pictured) on July 10, 2021: @richardbranson wishing you and the whole team a successful and safe flight tomorrow. Best of luck!'

The Blue Origin passengers will spend at least 10 minutes floating in zero gravity inside the capsule during the suborbital sightseeing trip.

Blue Origin named the New Shepard program after astronaut Alan Shepard, who was the first American to fly into space 60 years ago.

The flight will mark a huge milestone in the mission to send paying customers to the edge of space  an industry known as 'space tourism'.

Branson flew into space aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel, a voyage he described as the 'experience of a lifetime' at the Spaceport America in New Mexico, US

Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo space plane Unity and mothership separate as they fly way above Spaceport America, near Truth and Consequences, New Mexico on July 11, 2021 on the way to the cosmos

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos (pictured), who also founded Amazon, has an estimated personal worth of $186.2 billion (131.5 billion)

Virgin Galactic's passenger rocket plane VSS Unity, carrying Richard Branson and crew, begins its ascent to the edge of space

Blue Origin: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' intergalactic dream Blue Origin was formed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2000. The firm's mission statement reads on its website: 'We're committed to building a road to space so our children can build the future.' It's believed the company is largely propped from the American billionaire's own back pocket, selling millions of pounds worth of Amazon stock each year to fund his aerospace company. Bezos outlined Blue Origin's intergalactic plans in a revealing interview in 2017, explaining his visions of colonies on the moon and harvesting resources from asteroids. He said: 'I want my grandchildrens grandchildren to be in a world of pioneering, exploration and expansion throughout the solar system.' Advertisement

But Branson has arguably 'won the space race' by pipping Bezos to the post by just nine days, as well as SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who tweeted, 'Congratulations, beautiful flight!'

Sunday's launch was hailed a 'landmark moment' for Branson, as well as the whole commercial space industry.

Take-off had been delayed by about 90 minutes on Sunday due to the weather overnight at Spaceport America in New Mexico, in the US.

Once it reaches 50,000 feet the carrier plane releases Unity, a reusable, winged spacecraft designed to carry six passengers and two pilots into space.

Footage streamed live online showed the Virgin Galactic in the air at about 3.45pm UK time, and the aircraft had reached 40,000 feet by 4pm.

The spacecraft was carried up into the atmosphere by its mothership, the VSS Unity, before being released so it could power up to highs of 250,000 feet.

Sir Richard and his crew reached speeds of Mach 3 on their way to the edge of space.

After a short spell during which they experienced weightlessness, the craft then pointed downwards and made its way back to the ground, touching down around 4.40pm.

On the return flight, Sir Richard hailed the 'experience of a lifetime' and the 'hard, hard work' that went into the flight.

Speaking to a crowd of spectators afterwards, Branson said: 'Like most kids, I have dreamt of this moment since I was kid. But nothing can prepare you for the view of Earth from space, the whole thing was just magical.'

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, is hoping to finally get the nascent space tourism industry off the ground

In this shot, Branson floats in zero gravity on board Virgin Galactic's passenger rocket plane VSS Unity during the short flight

Sir Richard Branson floats in zero gravity on board Virgin Galactic's passenger rocket plane VSS Unity after reaching the edge of space above Spaceport America

Branson delivering a message from space aboard SpaceShip Two Unity 22 during their flight after take off from Spaceport America on Sunday

Branson looks out the window at Earth in zero gravity on board Virgin Galactic's passenger rocket plane VSS Unity after reaching the edge of space

Sir Richard Branson's message to 'the next generation of dreamers' I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but nothing could have prepared me for the view of Earth from space. It was magical. I was honoured to test the incredible customer experience onboard Virgin Galactic's spaceship VSS Unity as part of this remarkable crew of mission specialists - and now astronauts. How you feel when you look down on Earth is impossible to put into words, it's just indescribable beauty. I can't wait for you all to get up there. I want to say an enormous thank you to everyone who believed in Virgin Galactic and the team who have worked so hard to make this dream come true; our pilots; my fellow mission specialists Beth, Colin and Sirisha; to everyone who joined us at Spaceport America and to everyone who watched along on the livestream (and for the brilliant performance Khalid  we loved listening along on our beautiful glide to Earth). And thank you to my incredible family  my beautiful wife Joan, Holly and Sam, our grandchildren and all our friends for everything. I love you. My mission statement, which I wrote inside my spacesuit, is to turn the dream of space travel into a reality - for my grandchildren, for your grandchildren, for everyone. I said a message to all children while I was in space: I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do. Having flown to space, I can see even more clearly how Virgin Galactic is the spaceline for Earth. We are here to make space more accessible to all and turn the next generation of dreamers into the astronauts of today and tomorrow. Imagine a world where people of all ages and backgrounds, from anywhere, of any gender, of any ethnicity have equal access to space. They will in turn, inspire us all back here on Earth. If you've ever had a dream, now is the time to make it come true. Welcome to the dawn of a new space age. Advertisement

Sir Richard later posted a video of himself while onboard the Unity, saying: 'To all you kids down there, I was once a child with a dream, looking up to the stars.

'Now I'm an adult in a spaceship, with lots of other wonderful adults looking down at our beautiful, beautiful Earth.

'To the next generation of dreamers, if we can do this, just imagine what you can do.

'If you've ever had a dream, now is the time to make it come true. Welcome to the dawn of a new space age.'

He also paid tribute to the late scientist Stephen Hawking, who he said it was an 'honour' to know.

Michael Colglazier, chief executive of Virgin Galactic, added: 'This is a landmark moment for Virgin Galactic. It's a landmark moment for the new commercial space industry and it certainly is a landmark moment for our founder Richard Branson.'

He said the company's work was dedicated to 'opening up space to all'.

Sir Richard also confirmed plans to 'turn the next generation of dreamers into the astronauts of today', while announcing an Omaze sweepstake for the chance to win two seats aboard one of the first commercial Virgin Galactic flights.

The British billionaire launched on the first of the three test flights carrying a full complement of 'astronauts' in the cabin, before they begin flying the first of 600 'future astronaut' ticket holders in 2022.

Sir Richard is Astronaut 001 is travelling with Chief Astronaut Beth Moses (Astronaut 002), Lead Operations Engineer Colin Bennett (Astronaut 003) and VP of Government Affairs Sirisha Bandla (Astronaut 004) in the cabin.

Before climbing aboard, he signed the astronaut log book and wisecracked: 'The name's Branson. Sir Richard Branson. Astronaut 001. License to thrill.'

Sir Richard was not supposed to fly until later this summer, but he assigned himself to an earlier flight after Bezos announced plans to ride his own rocket ship into space from Texas on July 20.

More than 600 people have already made reservations for a 180,000 ride into space with Virgin Galactic, founded in 2004.

The flamboyant billionaire, who was pictured cycling to the facility on Sunday morning, is the second oldest person to travel to space after 77-year-old John Glenn in 1998.

Branson told the Times newspaper pre-flight that the view alone would be worth the 1billion he has spent on the project, and added: 'I think it's one of the reasons that people want to become astronauts. They want to look back at this beautiful Earth.

'Every astronaut I've known has come back determined that the rest of their lives will be spent working harder to protect the planet that we live on.'

Sir Richard Branson has revealed the uniforms were deliberately designed to reflect his love of the Star Trek series. He is pictured with fellow crew members Dave Mackay, Colin Bennett, Beth Moses, Sirisha Bandla and pilot Michael Masucci

Branson (centre) and other Unity 22 crew members at zero gravity, viewed as they flew into space aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel

Branson, left, sprays champagne over crew member Beth Moses post-landing while celebrating their flight to space from Spaceport America

Branson wears his astronaut's wings at a news conference, after flying with a crew in Virgin Galactic's passenger rocket plane VSS Unity

'It's a landmark moment for the new commercial space industry and it certainly is a landmark moment for our founder Richard Branson.'

He said the company's work on Sunday was dedicated to 'opening up space to all'.

Branson was also pictured ahead of his historic flight on Sunday with SpaceX's Musk.

Musk, 50, and Branson were snapped ahead of Sunday's journey to space alongside the message: 'Big day ahead. Great to start the morning with a friend.'

Both Musk, 50 and Sir Richard, 70, were snapped ahead of the British billionaire's ground-breaking journey to space alongside the message: 'Big day ahead. Great to start the morning with a friend.'

Branson, Bezos and Musk, who have a combined net worth exceeding $380 billion (274 billion), have poured their near limitless resources into their respective space start-ups in the hopes of revolutionising aerospace journeys.

The group have all said that they were inspired by the first moon landing in 1969, when the US beat the Soviet Union in the space race, and had previously said how much it would mean for each to win the 'new space race'.

Although SpaceX and Tesla founder Musk has said he wants to go into space, and even 'die on Mars', he has not said when he might blast into orbit.
A free and open internet is under attack, according to Sundar Pichai, the head of Google.

In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC, the Google CEO said an open internet information online being equally free and available to everybody  has been a 'tremendous force for good' that is 'taken for granted'.

While Mr Pichai did not directly refer to China, he did make the point: 'None of our major products and services are available in China.'

He also called artificial intelligence (AI) more profound than fire or electricity, and said privacy is 'foundational to everything we do'.

Pichai's firm posted whopping revenues of $55.3 billion in the first quarter of this year, but he argued against suggestions it's a 'surveillance capitalist'.

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai (pictured) has shared his thoughts on AI and quantum computing in the new interview

WHAT IS THE OPEN INTERNET? The Open Internet is a fundamental network (net) neutrality concept. It says information across the World Wide Web (WWW) is equally free and available without variables that depend on the financial motives of internet service providers (ISP). Brendan Flores, an advocate of net neutrality, says it 'ensures no company can use its dominance to interfere with our fundamental human right to be in control of what we do online'. Source: Techopedia Advertisement

Pichai was born in 1972 in Tamil Nadu, in southern India before moving to the US to study materials science and engineering at Stanford University.

He joined Google in 2004 before climbing the ranks and becoming the CEO of Alphabet Inc, the conglomerate under which Google operates, and of Google itself, in 2015.

Speaking at the tech giant's HQ in Silicon Valley, Pichai told the BBC that Google has proudly stood for an open internet and free expression.

'I think the free and open internet has been a tremendous force for good and I think we take it for granted a bit.

'In each country now there's a debate about what speech is okay and what should be allowed.

'In some ways I think we pull back from the bigger picture where many countries around the world are restricting the flow of information and I think we are drawing much more rigid boundaries.

'I hope there are stronger voices  big companies do advocate for it, Google has proudly stood for freedom of expression and the flow of information in a free and open way  but I do think the model is being attacked.'

Pichai also called technology including AI 'an enabler' but said it doesn't necessarily have the answers to the 'deeper and more meaningful questions'.

Google posted revenues of $55.3 billion in the first quarter of this year - a 34 per cent increase compared to the same time last year

'I view it [AI] as the most profound technology that humanity will ever develop and work on,' Pichai said in the interview, which is being aired on BBC 2 at 9pm Monday.

'You know, if you think about fire or electricity or the internet, it's like that. But I think even more profound.

AI is still in its 'very early stages', but one day it could make humans 'more productive than we've ever imagined', he said.

Pichai also named Alan Turing, the British AI pioneer, as the person from history he'd most like to meet.

He also revealed that he doesn't eat meat, typically wakes up between 6:30 to 7am, and lets his children use YouTube (which Google owns) without setting strict boundaries on screen time.

'This generation needs to learn to adapt to technology  it's going to be a big part of their lives  so I've encouraged them to develop boundaries on their own.

He also still reads a physical newspaper, but 90 per cent of his news consumption happens online, drives a Tesla car, and always keeps his Google Home smart speaker switched on.

Pichai also gave an update on the firm's work in quantum technology, which makes use of the spooky effects of quantum physics to vastly speed up information processing, which could lead to the most powerful computer on Earth.

'Our understanding of the world is inherently limited,' Pichai said. 'So quantum offers us that ability to understand nature, the universe in a deeper way and hence solve newer problems.

Quantum computing is 'not going to work for everything', as traditional computers will be better suited to some tasks, he added.

In 2019, Google said it made a quantum computing breakthrough with a processor that performs in minutes work that would take classical computers 10,000 years

In 2019, Google claimed to have made a quantum computing breakthrough with a processor that performs a calculation in minutes that would take classical computers 10,000 years.

However, Google's big rivals in quantum technology research including IBM took issue with Google's claim that it had achieved the so-called act of 'quantum supremacy'  solving problems that no classical machine can.

Now, 18 months on, Pichai said during the interview that he's 'very excited' about the progress his company is making but called it a 'long-term thing'.

'What we are looking to do next is to build something called an error-corrected quantum computer.

'All that means is we've shown it can work but it has to be stable enough  quantum computers are very fragile.

'So we're just trying to design stable quantum computers, which is probably still a decade away.'
Just over half of the world's urban greenhouse gas emissions come from just 25 mega-cities  23 of which are located in China  a study has reported.

The cities that emit the most greenhouse gases included Handan, Suzhou, Dalian, Beijing and Tianjin in China  but also Tokyo, Japan, and Moscow, Russia.

China's President Xi Jinping has pledged to cap carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060  part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement.

In comparison, the UK, for example, has pledged to reduced its emissions by 68 per cent come 2030 and reach a carbon-neutral footing by 2050.

The international accord  now signed by 194 states and the EU  sets forth the goal to limit average global temperature increases to within 2.7F (1.5C).

However, research by the United Nations has found that unless we take more drastic action, we are on track for a more than 5.4F (3C) increase by 2100.

And, based on the findings of the new study, China in particular will need to step up its switch from coal to renewables if it is to meet President Xi's goals in this area.

At present, China is running a whopping 1,058 coal-fired power plants  equal to more than half of the world's entire capacity.

In their paper, researchers from the Sun Yat-sen University in China recorded, for the first time, the greenhouse emission levels of 167 cities located across the globe.

Even though cities only cover some two per cent of the Earth's total surface area, they are major contributors to the climate crisis, the team explained.

Just over half of the world's urban greenhouse gas emissions come from just 25 mega-cities, with Shanghai (pictured, Tokyo and Moscow topping the list, a study has found

Researchers from the Sun Yat-sen University in China recorded, for the first time, the greenhouse emission levels of 167 cities located across the globe. Pictured: the skyline of Tokyo, one of the most significant greenhouse gas emitters identified in the new study

THE WORST EMITTERS In their study, Dr Chen and colleagues looked at greenhouse gas emissions from 167 cities across 53 countries. The worst 75 cities for total emissions were as follows (with figures in megatonnes of CO equivalent): Handan, China (199.71) Shanghai, China (187.93) Suzhou, China (151.79) Dalian, China (142.51) Beijing, China (132.58) Tianjin, China (125.89) Moscow, Russia (112.53) Wuhan, China (110.86) Qingdao, China (93.56) Chongqing, China (80.58) Wuxi, China (76.88) Urumqi, China (75.32) Guangzhou, China (71.03) Huizhou, China (68.74) Shijiazhuang, China (67.80) Zhengzhou, China (66.16) Tokyo, Japan (66.08) Shengyang, China (64.10) Kaohsiung, China (63.64) Kunming, China (62.96) Shenzhen, China (62.91) Hangzhou, China (61.41) Hong Kong, China (55.90) Yinchuan, China (55.49) Chengdu , China (54.49) New York City, US (51.31) Manilla, Philippines (49.47) Bangkok, Thailand (49.22) Dubai, UAE (48.26) Seoul, Korea (48.06) Nanjing, China (47.94) Istanbul, Turkey (47.53) Frankfurt, Germany (45.73) Jakarta, Indonesia (43.86) Changchun, China (42.62) Guiyang, China (42.09) Saint Petersburg, Russia (42.07) Singapore, Singapore (40.38) Jinan, China (38.49) Perth, Australia (36.33) San Diego, USA (35.02) Jiaxing, China (33.94) London, United Kingdom (33.58) Houston, USA (33.41) Stuttgart, Germany (32.82) Caracas, Venezuela (31.77) Chicago, USA (31.48) Harbin, China (30.81) Mexico City, Mexico (30.69) Lanzhou, China (29.87) Lagos, Nigeria (29.33) Xi'an, China (28.15) Berlin, Germany (27.48) Taiyuan, China (26.73) Los Angeles, USA (26.55) Tshwane, South Africa (26.14) Nanchang, China (25.17) Sao Paulo, Brazil (24.95) Johannesburg, South Africa (24.72) Changsha, China (24.64) Hohhot, China (23.47) Durban, South Africa (22.68) Mumbai, India (22.57) Hanoi, Vietnam (22.42) Torino, Italy (21.86) Cape Town, South Africa (21.53) Yokohama, Japan (20.96) Nanning, China (20.90) Santiago, Chile (20.03) Osaka, Japan (19.76) Hamburg, Germany (19.45) Chennai, India (19.32) Hefei, China (18.81) Toronto, Canada (18.08) Rotterdam, Netherlands (17.54) Advertisement

'Nowadays, more than 50 per cent of the global population resides in cities,' said paper author and urban environmental management researcher Shaoqing Chen of the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou.

'Cities are reported to be responsible for more than 70 per cent of GHG emissions, and they share a big responsibility for the decarbonization of the global economy.

'Current inventory methods used by cities vary globally, making it hard to assess and compare the progress of emission mitigation over time and space.'

In their study, Dr Chen and colleagues first conducted sector-level greenhouse gas emissions inventories of 167 cities from 53 different countries across the globe.

Each city was chosen for its representativeness in terms of urban size and regional distribution, the team explained.

Next, they assessed how each city's efforts to reduce their carbon footprint had been performing by comparing changes in emission levels from 20122016 with their stated short-, mid- and long-term carbon mitigation goals.

The team found that cities with high greenhouse gas emission levels could be found in both developed and developing countries, but noted that megacities like Shanghai and Tokyo) were particularly significant emitters.

In addition, cities in Europe, the US and Australia tended to put out more emissions than the majority of urban centres in developing countries.

China  classified by the UN as a developing country  had several cities that matched the per capita emissions levels of developing countries, largely thanks to how the latter often outsource high-carbon production chains to China.

Of the 42 cities with available longitudinal data, the team found that emissions decreased for 30 locations between 2012 and 2016, with the largest per capita reductions seen in Oslo, Houston, Seattle, and Bogota.

In contract, the largest increases in per capita emissions over the study period were seen in Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Johannesburg, and Venice.

According to the team, 113 of the 167 cities studied set targets for reducing their levels of greenhouse emissions, with 40 having carbon neutrality goals, but the findings show that we are a long way off meeting Paris Agreement targets.

'Breaking down the emissions by sector can inform us what actions should be prioritized to reduce emissions from buildings, transportation, industrial processes and other sources,' said Dr Chen.

The two main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the team found, came from so-called stationary energy the transportation sector.

Stationary energy emissions, including those from electricity and fuel consumption by residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings contributed 6080 per cent of emissions in European and North American cities.

Road-based transportation accounted for more than 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in one third of the cities, while less than 15 per cent of total emissions were traced back to railways, waterways and aviation.

Based on their data, the team have proposed three policy recommendations.

First, Dr Chen said, 'Key emitting sectors should be identified and targeted for more effective mitigation strategies.

'For example, the differences in the roles that stationary energy use, transportation, household energy use, and waste treatments play for cities should be assessed.'

Next, he added, urban greenhouse gas reductions policies need to be monitored with methodologically consistent emissions inventories.

Current urban greenhouse gas mitigation efforts are not enough to meet global targets to limit the extent of climate change by the century's end, the researchers warned. Pictured: night begins to fall on Moscow, one the largest greenhouse gas emitting cities identified in the study

Finally, Dr Chen explained, 'cities should set more ambitious and easily-traceable mitigation goals.'

'At a certain stage, carbon intensity is a useful indicator showing the decarbonization of the economy and provides better flexibility for cities of fast economic growth and increase in emission.

'But in the long run, switching from intensity mitigation targets to absolute mitigation targets is essential to achieve global carbon neutrality by 2050.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities.
An unusual diamond with another diamond trapped inside has been discovered in Russia, and may be over 800 million years old.

The diamond has the dubbed the Matryoshka diamond, thanks to its resemblance to the traditional Russian Matryoshka dolls - a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another.

Experts are still unclear on how the strange gem formed, but believe this is the first of its kind in the history of global diamond mining.

Oleg Kovalchuk, Deputy Director for innovations at ALROSA's Research and Development Geological Enterprise, said: 'As far as we know, there were no such diamonds in the history of global diamond mining yet.

'This is really a unique creation of nature, especially since nature does not like emptiness. Usually, some minerals are replaced by others without cavity formation.'

It remains unclear how much the unusual diamond could be worth.

The diamond was mined in Yakutia at the Nyurba mining and processing division of ALROSA.

While it has a highly complex structure, the outer diamond only weighs 0.62 carats (0.124 grams), and has dimensions of just 4.8 x 4.9 x 2.8 mm (0.18 x 0.19 x 0.11 inches).

Meanwhile, its internal cavity volume is just six cubic millimetres, and the internal crystal volume is just 1.6 cubic millimetres, with an estimated weight of 0.02 carats (0.004 grams).

An unusual diamond with another diamond trapped inside has been discovered in Russia, and may be over 800 million years old

The inner diamond has a tabular shape, and has dimensions of 1.9  2.1  0.6 mm (0.07 x 0.08 x 0.02 inches).

It was discovered by specialists of the Yakutsk Diamond Trade Enterprise during a sorting process, but has now been handed over to Research and Development Geological Enterprise of ALROSA.

Experts have been studying the unusual diamond using several methods, including infrared spectroscopy and X-ray microtomography.

Experts have been studying the unusual diamond using several methods, including infrared spectroscopy and X-ray microtomography

Based on their analysis, the researchers suggest that the internal diamond grew first, and the external one was formed during subsequent stages of growth.

Mr Kovalchuk explained: 'The most interesting thing for us was to find out how the air space between the inner and outer diamonds was formed.

'We have two main hypotheses.

'According to the first version, a mantle mineral captured a diamond during its growth, and later it was dissolved in the Earth's surface.

'According to the second version, a layer of porous polycrystalline diamond substance was formed inside the diamond because of ultra-fast growth, and more aggressive mantle processes subsequently dissolved it.

'Due to the presence of the dissolved zone, one diamond began to move freely inside another on the principle of matryoshka nesting doll.'
If you've been having trouble finding love on dating apps, you might want to try dating one of your friends, a new study suggests.

The study authors, based in British Columbia, Canada looked at data from just under 2,000 couples of different demographics.

They found two thirds started out as just friends, suggesting that establishing a platonic connection with someone first is conducive to a solid romantic relationship later.

The study suggests that the cliche of falling in love at first site  a frequent trope in the Hollywood movies of the silver screen  is slightly outdated in the 21st century.

Built on a more solid foundation? The fact 'friends-first relationships' made up such a high portion of the total suggests getting to know someone first is key to a lasting romantic relationship

In fact, getting to know someone as friends first could be more effective than starting a relationship off in a sexual context, such as by using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble or going on blind dates.

'There are a lot of people who would feel very confident saying that we know why and how people choose partners and become a couple and fall in love, but our research suggests that is not the case,' said study author Danu Anthony Stinson, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria, Canada.

'We might have a good understanding of how strangers become attracted to each other and start dating, but that's simply not how most relationships begin.'

THE RISE OF ONLINE DATING The first ever incarnation of a dating app can be traced back to 1995 when Match.com was first launched. The website allowed single people to upload a profile, a picture and chat to people online. The app was intended to allow people looking for long-term relationships to meet. eHarmony was developed in 2000 and two years later Ashley Madison, a site dedicated to infidelity and cheating, was first launched. A plethora of other dating sites with a unique target demographic were set up in the next 10-15 years including: OKCupid (2004), Plenty of Fish (2006), Grindr (2009) and Happn (2013). In 2012, Tinder was launched and was the first 'swipe' based dating platform. After its initial launch it's usage snowballed and by March 2014 there were one billion matches a day, worldwide. In 2014, co-founder of Tinder, Whitney Wolfe Herd launched Bumble, a dating app that empowered women by only allowing females to send the first message. Advertisement

For the study, Professor Stinson and colleagues analysed data from nearly 1,900 university students and crowdsourced adults.

In all, 66 per cent reported that their current or most recent romantic relationship began as a friendship.

There was little variation across gender, level of education or ethnic groups, the researchers found.

But the rate of friends-first relationships was particularly high among 20-somethings and within LGBTQ+ communities.

Among people under age 29, 84 per cent reported friends-first relationships, and among LGBTQ+ people, 85 per cent reported friends-first relationships.

'These were smaller samples compared to other sub-groups, so those numbers will need to be replicated, but they are certainly interesting,' Professor Stinson told MailOnline.

Among university students, those in a relationship with someone they were initially friends with were friends for around one to two years.

Researchers noted that the vast majority of these participants reported that they did not enter their friendships with romantic intentions or attraction.

This average length of pre-romance friendships indicates the couples were genuine, platonic friends before transitioning to romance.

Interestingly, 47.4 per cent of the students reported that starting as friends was their preferred way of developing a romantic relationship, making it far and away more popular than other options presented, such as meeting at a party or online.

Given the prevalence of romantic relationships that begin platonically, Professor Stinson would like to see further studies examining romantic couples starting out as friends, which is often overlooked by researchers.

For example, when examining a sample of previous studies on how relationships begin, the authors found nearly 75 per cent focused on the spark of romance between strangers.

Only eight per cent centered on romance that develops among friends over time.

Blind dates may be risky as you have had no chance to get to know someone as friends first (stock image)

'Relationship initiation studies published in popular journals and cited in popular textbooks overwhelmingly focus on romance that sparks between strangers and largely overlook romance that develops between friends,' the study authors say.

'This limited focus might be justified if friends-first initiation was rare or undesirable, but our research reveals the opposite.'

Professor Stinson also hopes the research will push people to revisit their preconceived notions about love and friendship.

'Our research suggests that the lines between friendship and romance are blurry and I think that forces us to rethink our assumptions about what makes a good friendship but also what makes a good romantic relationship,' she said.

The study has been published in the Social Psychological and Personality Science.
We've all heard of flying fish, but thousands of juvenile trout took a nosedive from an airplane as part of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources efforts to replenish lakes.

Video released by the Division on Friday showed countless 'fingerlings,' or fish under the age of one, released last week from a chute as the plane flew over some 200 high-elevation lakes across Utah that are not accessible by other means.

The plane holds hundreds of pounds of water and can drop 35,000 fish in a single flight without reloading, the division said in a Facebook post.

The department said the fish are just one to three inches long and 'flutter down slowly' to the water.

'The air slows their drop and they fall a bit like leaves. The slower fall allows the fish to survive. If the fish were larger, the survival rate would not be as high.'

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources released thousands of fingerlings, or juvenile fish, into remote lakes to help replenish their numbers

Aerial fish stocking has been employed in the state since the mid 1950s and the department says that survival rate is between 95 and 99 percent

According to a blog post by DWR biologist Matt McKell, fish are most often transported via a truck fitted with giant holding tanks that pulls up to a lake or stream, 'attaches a pipe to the tank outlet, opens a chute, and the fish slide directly into the water.'

But these lakes are too remote to reach via truck, McKell said. In the past, horses were loaded with metal milk cans filled with water and fish and trotted out to the high-altitude waterways.

'Depending on the area and the condition of roads or trails, fish are also transported to remote areas on foot with buckets or a backpack, or by four-wheeler,' McKell explained. '

Because the fish are so smalljust 1-3 inchesthey tend to flutter down to the water, experts say. The survival rate is between 95 and 99 percent

'Horses are still used at times to get fish into hard-to-reach places. Recently, in northern Utah a particular situation required a little creativity to take fish to a remote section of a small stream on the Wasatch Front.'

McKell even recalled putting water and fish into a backpack lined with a heavy duty trash bag in 2015, then hiking up a canyon before releasing the fingerlings into a stream.

At the same time, severe drought conditions have meant some bodies of water are not being restocked with fish.

Aerial fish stocking has been used in Utah since the 1950s. In the past, horses were loaded with metal milk cans filled with water and fish and trotted out to the high-altitude waterways

The planes are stocked with thousands of gallons of water and can release some 35,000 fish in a single trip. But severe drought conditions have meant some bodies of water are not being restocked

And limits on fishing are being raised to prevent fish from dying in rising water temperatures, KUTV reported.

Workers at the Logan Fish Hatchery told the network they typically raise 250,000 fish for breeding, research, or to stock Utah's waters for sport every year or two, but have stocking some bodies of water because of low water levels and rising temperatures.

'It is by far the worst I've seen,' hatchery manager Gary Howes said.

'It affects everything  mostly just the number of fish that would be stocked.'
Small bottles worn around the waists of Stone Age Europeans over 6,000 years ago may have been the first makeup bags, according to new research.

Analysis of trace ingredients found in a ceramic bottle in Slovenia, dating from between 4350 and 4100 BC, indicated it contained beeswax, animal fat and lead-based cosmetic.

If the contents were indeed the equivalent of prehistoric Maybelline, that would mean makeup was in use in Europe more than 2,000 years earlier than previously thought.

The discovery also places makeup use in the West hundreds of years before the earliest evidence of cosmetics in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

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Small jars found in Croatia and Slovenia dating to between 4350 and 4100 BC were likely used to carry cosmetics, according to new research

Bine Kramberger, an archaeologist at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, originally found a miniature ceramic bottle in Zgornje Radvanje, Slovenia, in 2014.

The vessel was located at a site occupied in 4350 BC by the Lasinja, a prehistoric people descended from hunter-gatherers in Western Europe.

Over a hundred similar bottles have been unearthed in the region, mostly attributed to the Lasinja in the southeastern foothills of the Alps or the Vinca Culture in the Central Balkans.

Initially it was assumed these were children's toys, due to their small size and resemblance to animal and human heads, New Scientist reported.

Holes in the necks of the vessels suggest they were tied with string or leather and worn around the neck or waist

Analysis of the jars found traces of beeswax, plant and animal fat, and a white lead-based substance known as cerussite used for centuries in cosmetics

Broken fragments of similar bottles were uncovered in Zgornje Radvanje, Slovenia, and other sites in the region, all containing the white substance

But most of the bottles had holes in their handles, suggesting they would have been strung on rope or leather and worn around a person's neck or waist.

Kramberger analyzed the vessel he found and, according to his findings published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, discovered it contained a solid white lead-based substance known as cerussite,

Cerussite, also known as 'white lead' or lead carbonate, has been used in cosmetics throughout history, though this practice has mostly ended because the substance is so toxic. (It was the key ingredient in lead-based paints, the chief cause of lead poisoning in children.)

Long, thin stone tools found nearby might have been used to extract the cerussite inside.

Kramberger said the finding was exceptional, as 'we rarely find vessels that still retain remnants of their former content.'

He and his team analyzed more than a dozen other vessels from the same era and discovered they, too, contained cerussite and other lead minerals.

The use of lead in central and southeast Europe dates to about 6,400 years ago, the same time frame as the portable jar.

The arrangement of vessels found in southeast Europe, most associated with the Lasinja in the southeastern foothills of the Alps or the Vinca Culture in the Central Balkans

Pictured: The dig site at Zgornje Radvanje. The research, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, pushes back the use of cosmetics in Europe at least 2,000 years

Some of the jars Kramberger studied also had plant oil, animal fat, and beeswaxwhich would help keep the skin hydrated and soft.

'Miniature vessels were, for far too long, considered to be children-related, and there is no denial that some probably have been,' Bisserka Gaydarska, an archaeologist at England's Durham University not involved in the study, told New Scientist.

'But I know that there was a much more diverse use of small vesselsand medicinal and cosmetic containers is as good as any.'

The earliest evidence of Egyptians using cosmetics dates to roughly 4000 B.C.: Both men and women used red ochre to produce rouge or lip color; the copper ore malachite to produce green eye shadow; and Kohl, a ground sulfide mineral used to draw thick, dark, almond-shaped lines around the eyes.
Dead mollusk and clams, dehydrated star fish and baked barnacles are among the one billion dead sea creatures that littered beaches of the Pacific Northwest following a historic heatwave.

The 'heat dome' hung over the Western US and Canada two weeks ago and unleashed temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit that lasted for at least five days straight.

The astounding heat is believed to have killed hundreds of people, but Christopher Harley, a marine biologist at the University of British Columbia, found last week that sea creatures were also among the victims.

Harley says low tide also played a key role in the marine massacre, as it was very low midday, leaving the sea creatures exposed to the extreme heat.

During one of the hottest days of the heatwave, Harley walked to the beach to take a look at the damage.

'The more I walked and the more I saw, the more sobering it all became,' he told the New York Times. 'It just went on and on and on.'

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Dead mollusk and clams, dehydrated star fish and baked barnacles are among the one billion dead sea creatures that littered beaches of the Pacific Northwest following a historic heatwave

The mass death of the marine life is devastating, but it has also impacted the ecosystem.

Such a great loss of mussels and clams affects water quality, as these creatures filter the ocean to keep it clear enough for sunlight to reach the eelgrass beds.

Heatwaves have affected marine life throughout history, but Harley told NPR that temperatures reaching above 100 degrees Fahrenheit like they did in the Pacific Northwest are 'exceptionally rare.'

But with climate change, Harley has seen estimates from other scientists that similar heat waves could strike once every five to 10 years.

Low tide also played a key role in the marine massacre, as it was very low midday, leaving the sea creatures exposed to the extreme heat

Such a great loss in mussels and clams impacts water quality, as these creatures filter the ocean to keep it clear enough for sunlight to reach the eelgrass beds

'If it happens that frequently, the system won't have time to recover in between the die-offs,' he said.

Malin Pinsky, an associate professor of marine biology at Rutgers University, said the extreme heat contributes to a 'massive reorganization of ocean life.'

'Species are shifting towards the poles of the Earth at about 60 kilometers [37 miles] per decade, and it doesn't happen slowly, bit by bit. It often happens in these extreme events, where a large population of something like mussels can die,' Pinsky said.

Pinsky agrees with Harley's estimate that one billion sea creatures fell victim to the heat dome and it could be even more.

The sweltering temperatures are being caused by a heat dome of static high-pressure hot air which traps the heat in one location

Pictured are clams that were baked on the beach by the extreme temperatures that hit Washington State

'The craziest thing is that it's just the tip of the iceberg,' Pinksy said.

'We can see the mussels because they're on the shoreline, but to a large extent, oceans are out of sight, out of mind, so we're likely to learn the magnitude of what's happening only much later.'

Canada received the brunt of the heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 121 degrees Fahrenheit in some regions.

The heat dome stretched down to the US with Washington and Oregon also experiencing record temperatures while California is suffering from forest fires.

The hot weather was blamed for the deaths of hundreds of people in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington.

The 'once in 10,000 years' event is being caused by a heat dome, which means the warmth extends high into the atmosphere and impacts pressure and wind patterns.
Phosphine gas on Venus may actually be produced by volcanoes, a new study claims, and not microbes as previously thought.

Researchers from Cornell University in New York state studied data from space telescopes in Hawaii and Chile.

Based on their analysis, they argue that the 'chemical fingerprint' of phosphine is a geological signature that shows evidence of explosive volcanoes on Venus.

Phosphine (PH3), also called hydrogen phosphide, is defined as a colourless, flammable and extremely toxic gas with a nasty garlic-like odour.

Last September, a team of researchers led by a Cardiff University expert reported that they'd detected trace amounts of the gas in the planet's acidic clouds.

Phosphine is often released by microorganisms on Earth that don't use oxygen to breathe, which led the researchers at the time to speculate Venus could be harbouring life.

Maat Mons, a large volcano on Venus, is shown in this 1991 simulated-color radar image from NASA's Magellan spacecraft mission. Venus is known as Earth's evil twin because it's of a similar size but would be completely inhospitable to humans

The report, published in the September issue of Nature Astronomy, was labelled as one of the great scientific discoveries of 2020 by news outlets  but since its release, there have been doubts about the findings.

'The phosphine is not telling us about the biology of Venus,' said the author of this new study Jonathan Lunine, a professor of physical sciences and chair of the astronomy department at Cornell.

'It's telling us about the geology. Science is pointing to a planet that has active explosive volcanism today or in the very recent past.'

Traces of phosphine gas detected in the clouds above Venus, seen here in an image taken by NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft, were detailed in a September 2020 report

VENUS: THE BASICS Venus, the second planet from the sun, is a rocky planet about the same size and mass of the Earth. However, its atmosphere is radically different to ours - being 96 per cent carbon dioxide and having a surface temperature of 867F (464C) and pressure 92 times that of on the Earth. The inhospitable planet is swaddled in clouds of sulphuric acid that make the surface impossible to glimpse via the visible light spectrum. In the past, Venus likely had oceans similar to Earth's - but these would have vaporised as it underwent a runaway greenhouse effect. The surface of Venus is a dry desertscape, which is periodically changed by volcanic activity. The planet has no moons and orbits the Sun every 224.7 Earth days. Advertisement

Venus is a terrestrial planet similar in size to Earth, but it has a surface temperature around 867F (464C) and pressure 92 times that of our home planet.

Known as Earth's 'evil twin', scientists believe Venus was likely habitable 700 million years ago, before it mysteriously became inhabitable.

Today, Venus is a world of intense heat, crushing atmospheric pressure and clouds of corrosive acid.

Because its clouds are so highly acidic, the phosphine within them would be broken down very quickly and must therefore be being continually replenished.

For this new study, Professor Lunine and his colleague Ngoc Truong studied observations from the ground-based, submillimeter-wavelength James Clerk Maxwell Telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in northern Chile.

They referred to calculations of volcanism and atmospheric processes to determine if the presence of phosphine in the Venusian atmosphere can be explained by abiotic means  i.e. not from living organisms.

Small amounts of phosphides may be brought to the surface from deep mantle sources by volcanism, ejected into the atmosphere as volcanic dust during explosive eruptions, the authors calculated.

These phosphides then react with sulfuric acid in the aerosol layer to form phosphine.



An artist's impression of phosphine, a colourless toxic gas, in the upper atmosphere of Venus

For the study, the Cornell University experts studied observations from the ground-based, submillimeter-wavelength James Clerk Maxwell Telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in northern Chile (pictured)

NEW MISSIONS TO VENUS NASA and the European Space Agency recently announced three missions to Venus in the coming years. NASA announced its two new $500 million missions at the start of June, which will launch in the next 10 years to understand how Venus 'became an inferno-like world'. Just over a week later, the ESA said it will send a probe, known as EnVision, to study 'Earth's evil twin', targeting a launch in the early 2030s. Advertisement

Eruptions comparable to Krakatau on Earth would be necessary for phosphides to reach the heights reported, the results suggest.

According to the team, radar images of the planet captured by NASA's Magellan spacecraft in the 1990s show some geologic features could support this theory.

Also, in 1978, on NASA's Pioneer Venus orbiter mission, scientists uncovered variations of sulfur dioxide in Venus' upper atmosphere, hinting at the prospect of explosive volcanism, Truong said, similar to the scale of Earth's Krakatoa volcanic eruption in Indonesia in 1883.

But, Truong said, 'confirming explosive volcanism on Venus through the gas phosphine was totally unexpected'.



Earlier this year, in response to the September study, another team of researchers at claimed that there isn't phosphine in Venus' atmosphere at all, but 'ordinary' sulfur dioxide.

The University of Washington team blamed the confusion on a miscalibration of a radio telescope.

Now, the Cornell team say further observations of Venus are necessary to clear up the uncertainty and determine for once and for all whether phosphine is indeed present in the atmosphere.

If phosphine is confirmed, the Cornell team's model suggests that Venus is experiencing a 'modestly elevated epoch' of active volcanism, they claim  meaning it's more explosive right now than it's been in the past.

The new study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Dog puppies understand humans in a way that their relatives like wolves just don't thanks to undergoing some 14,000 years of domestication, a study has concluded.

Researchers from Duke University tested both dog and wolf puppies in a series of tests that involved locating hidden food by picking up on human clues.

They found that dog puppies have similar social cognition abilities as human babies  and are able, for example, to instinctively recognise pointing as communication.

This superficially simple understanding is, in fact, rare in the animal kingdom. Not only did the wolf pups in the study lack it, but so do chimps, our closest relatives.

Dogs, the team said, acquired this skill after generations of hanging around with us  allowing them, in certain situations, to work out what we are trying to tell them.

Dog puppies understand humans in a way that their relatives like wolves just don't thanks to undergoing some 14,000 years of domestication, a study has concluded

'This study really solidifies the evidence that the social genius of dogs is a product of domestication,' said paper author and evolutionary anthropologist Brian Hare of North Carolina's Duke University.

This ability, he added, is what allow dogs to be such amazing service animals.

'It is something they are really born prepared to do.'

In their study, the researchers performed tests with 44 dog and 37 wolf puppies between the ages of 5 and 18 weeks old.

Prior to the study, each of the wolf puppies was genetically tested to ensure they were true wolves  and not wolfdog hybrids  and were raised with round-the-clock human interaction, including hand feeding and sleeping with their caretakers.

In contrast, the dog puppies were raised with their mothers and were given less human contact than the wolves.

The researchers performed a number of trials on the puppies, many of which involved trying to find a treat that was hidden in one of two bowls.

The team gave each puppy a clue to help them find the food  such as, for example, pointing and staring at where the food was hidden or, in a gesture that the creatures had never seen before, marking the correct bowl with a small wooden block.

Researchers from Duke University tested both dog and wolf puppies in a series of tests that involved locating hidden food by picking up on human clues. Pictured: a grey wolf puppy

The team found that  even though they had been given no specific training  dog puppies as young as eight weeks old were twice as likely as human-socialised wolf pups to successfully find the hidden treat based on the clues.

Furthermore, many of the dogs were able to 'get' the hints given to them by the humans on their first go, with no prior experience.

Specifically, 17 of the 31 dog puppies went to the right bowl each time  whereas none of the 26 wold pups did better than a second guess.

According to the team, their control tests indicated that the dogs' success was also not simply a result of the puppies sniffing out the location of the food.

The researchers said that  much like human infants  dog puppies instinctively understand that, when a person points, they're trying to tell them something, whereas wolf puppies do not have this response. 'We think it indicates a really important element of social cognition, which is that others are trying to help you,' said Professor Hare. Pictured: a puppy pays attention

According to paper author and cooperative behaviour researcher Hannah Salomons, also of Duke University, the findings are not a reflection of which species is 'smarter'  in fact, both species' puppies were found equally adept other cognitive tests.

Instead, the difference seen in the 'hidden food with clues' tests is a reflection of their respective people-reading skills, she explained.

'There's lots of different ways to be smart. Animals evolve cognition in a way that will help them succeed in whatever environment they're living in,' Ms Salomons said.

Other tests conducted by the team revealed that dog puppies are 30 times more likely than their wolf counterparts to approach complete strangers.

'With the dog puppies we worked with, if you walk into their enclosure they gather around and want to climb on you and lick your face, whereas most of the wolf puppies run to the corner and hide,' Ms Salomons added.

Furthermore, she noted, dog puppies were more likely than the wolf pups to turn to people for help when they were presented with a problem  food trapped inside a sealed container  that they were unable to solve on their own.



The researchers said that  much like human infants  dog puppies instinctively understand that, when a person points, they're trying to tell them something, whereas wolf puppies do not have this response.

'We think it indicates a really important element of social cognition, which is that others are trying to help you,' said Professor Hare.

'Dogs are born with this innate ability to understand that we're communicating with them and we're trying to cooperate with them,' Ms Salomons added.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Current Biology.
It was a bit of spring cleaning that uncovered a 460 million year old fossil of an underwater 'killing machine' at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Endoceras (Ancient Greek for 'inner horn') is an extinct genus of large cephalopod that resembled a giant 'straightened-out' nautilus.

An Endoceras fossil had been in the Darwin museum's collection for years when senior curator Adam Yates stumbled across it when the institution was moving items to its new digs at Megafauna Central in the heart of Alice Springs.

'This particular fossil was found lurking in the basement of the old space where the collection was temporarily stored,' Yates told the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC).

While Endoceras were widespread in North America and Europe, this one lived in Central Australia, swimming in shallow seas that are now the dry, desert-like Outback.

The Endoceras fossil (pictured) had been in the collection of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory for years before curator Adam Yates stumbled across it when the institution was moving items to its new Alice Spring digs at Megafauna Central

Australias deserts are among the youngest on the planet, only about 1.5 million years oldas recently as 65 million years ago, the continent was actually a number of smaller landmasses separated by shallow seas.

'It is probably not widely recognized amongst our ordinary everyday people that Central Australia was home to these marine animals and their fossils can still be found in places like the MacDonnell Ranges,' Yates told ABC.

'The segment of fossil that you see is only a part of the whole creature,' he added.

The full specimen would have been 'exceptionally large,' he said, likely more than eight feet long.

Resembling an uncoiled nautilus, Endoceras was one of the largest animals on the planet 460 million year ago, before the advent of the dinosaurs or any animal with a backbone

The Endoceras in the museum's collection lived in Central Australia some 460 million years ago, swimming in shallow seas that are now the dry, desert-like Outback

That would make it one of the largest animals on the planet at a time that predates the dinosaurs or any animal with a backbone.

First documented in 1847, Endoceras had a crown of tentacles with a sharp beak like a squid, which it could use to tear intro prey.

Its shell, which tapered off to a point, would have been filled with gas chambers used for buoyancy control 'so they could float up and down at will,' Yates said.

The creatures, sometimes described as Lovecraftian, could also expel water from its gill chamber, 'and basically jet propel themselves backwards,' he added.

Paleontologists believe Endoceras were 'ambush predators,' hiding in wait on the seafloor and springing on fish and trilobites that swam too close.

The Endoceras fossil is only part of the full specimen, which Yates estimate was more than eight feet long

Endoceras were 'ambush predators,' hiding in wait on the sea floor and springing on fish and trilobites that swam too close. Pictured: Adam Yates displays the Endoceras fossil

A specimen of Endoceras giganteum at the Museum of Comparative Zoology in Cambridge, Massachusetts measured 9.8 feet and is believed to have been almost 19 feet when alive.

But its cousin, the modern-day nautilus, has an evolutionary advantage, according to Yates: With its coiled shell, 'you don't have to carry this great big long shell dragging behind you.'

Yates told MailOnline the Endoceras fossil wasnt registered when it came to the museum so its unknown how long it's been in the collection.

'All I can say it had been in the basement since at least when I started here in 2011,' he added.

It's now receiving its proper pride of place on display at Megafauna Central.
A pitch invader who briefly stopped play in the latter stages of England's Euro 2020 clash against Italy was a musician who appeared on Little Mix: The Search.

Adam Harison ran onto the field at Wembley on Sunday, temporarily evading capture by several stewards before eventually being led away from the grass.

He shared an image of himself being escorted from the pitch following his stunt, writing: 'At the end of the day I love my country and I did this all for a good time. Nothing but love and respect for England tonight.'

Harison was a member of boyband New Priority on BBC's Little Mix: The Search.

He had earlier posted several videos of himself arriving at the stadium ahead of the clash, which saw England lose out on the Euro 2020 title to Italy.

Adam Harison ran onto the field at Wembley on Sunday, temporarily evading capture by several stewards before eventually being led away from the grass

A bemused Mason Mount looked on as the man evaded stewards to cheers from the crowd

In a later post, he shared an image of himself on the pitch with the caption: 'Well that was fun.'

Harison had hurdled over advertising hoardings shirtless before managing to evade several stewards while yards away from Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

He was eventually stopped and led away from the field.

BBC commentator Guy Mowbray said: 'Somebody will be going home much sooner than they wanted to I suspect. It's not what anybody wanted.

Marco Verratti seemed to find the funny side, while Harry Maguire looked on in frustration.

John Stones had possession before play was stopped as referee Bjorn Kuipers dropped the ball at the Manchester City centre back's feet to restart.

Harison (above) was a member of boyband New Priority on BBC's Little Mix: The Search

He shared an image of himself being escorted from the pitch following his stunt, writing: 'At the end of the day I love my country and I did this all for a good time. Nothing but love and respect for England tonight'

England and Italy eventually played out another 30 minutes after the pitch invader was dealt with - but could still not be separated following extra time.

The Three Lions suffered yet another heartbreaking defeat on penalties as the Azzurri claimed a 3-2 win at Wembley to be crowned Champions of Europe.

Jordan Pickford made two saves from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho, but his England players couldn't come through as Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka all missed their efforts from the spot.


Chelsea are reportedly preparing a 'big offer' for Erling Haaland as they look to sign the coveted Borussia Dortmund striker.

Despite Dortmund's insistence that they will keep the Norway international, Haaland's compatriot, Jan Aage Fjortoft, believes that the Bundesliga side 'won't say no' to a bid of 150m (175m).

After guiding Chelsea to Champions League glory, Thomas Tuchel is determined to strengthen his team's attacking options.

Chelsea are reportedly preparing a 'big offer' for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland

Jan Aage Fjortoft claims Dortmund 'won't say no' if Chelsea were to make an offer of 150m

Re: Haaland



I understand Chelsea are preparing a BIG offer to check out and challenge Dortmunds he will stay here next season.



The understanding is that Dortmund wont say no to 175 million euro  Jan Aage Fjortoft   (@JanAageFjortoft) July 12, 2021

Fjortoft, who previously played for Norway and now works in the media, wrote on Twitter: 'Re: Haaland

'I understand Chelsea are preparing a BIG offer to check out and challenge Dortmunds he will stay here next season.

'The understanding is that Dortmund wont say no to 175 million euro.'

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is eager to improve his team's attacking options this summer

Haaland has made a sensational impact at Dortmund since he joined the club from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020.

In total Haaland has scored 57 goals in 59 games, while he helped Dortmund to win the DFB-Pokal last season.

The 20-year-old has three years remaining on his contract at Dortmund but could end up leaving before the transfer window closes at the end of next month.

Chelsea scored 58 goals as they finished fourth in the Premier League last season, some way off the tally of 83 goals mustered by champions Manchester City.

Olivier Giroud is reportedly set to join AC Milan, while Tammy Abraham was used sparingly in the second half of last season.

Tuchel can still call upon Timo Werner, who will be looking to improve after scoring just 12 goals in his first season at the club.

If Chelsea were to bring in Haaland it would provide the Blues with an extra dimension in attack as they look to build on their Champions League success.
Rafael van der Vaart has hit out at Marcus Rashford's penalty technique, after the Manchester United forward hit the post during England's shootout defeat to Italy.

Italy were crowned European champions after Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all failed to convert from the spot. Rashford side-stepped from the centre of the goal to the left, then stuttered his run-up and sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way - but his shot cannoned off the post.

Former Netherlands, Tottenham and Real Madrid star Van der Vaart delivered a scathing verdict into Rashford's penalty, saying he should have done a more 'normal' run-up.

Marcus Rashford made a stuttered run-up before missing his penalty against Italy in the final

He sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way but his shot hit the post and bounced clear

Rashford was one of three England players to miss spot-kicks during their shootout defeat

As reported by Dutch website Voetbalzone, he said on Dutch TV: 'They're young and I don't think it's that sad.

'You can just take a normal run-up, can't you? It's all a little interesting. If you already know you have to go left, you might as well stand there, right? That's good, then. He has a good kick... well.'

Fellow analyst Marco van Basten was less critical of the Manchester United forward, stating: 'He does everything right but he shoots against the post.'

Rafael van der Vaart has hit out at Rashford's penalty technique for not being 'normal'

England had the advantage at that point of the shootout after Andrea Belotti had Italy's second penalty saved by Jordan Pickford.

Rashford, who was brought on solely to take a penalty, could have put England 3-2 ahead.

Sancho and Saka then missed the following kicks, with Italy taking the win 3-2 after Federico Bernardeschi scored from the spot.

Former Dutch international and pundit Rene van der Gijp also criticised Rashford as he said: 'Those three misses, man. Rashford will take them at Manchester United.

'Would he decide to take such a run-up as he walks towards it? Or would he have that in his head? He almost comes to a stop two or three times during his run-up.

'Have you ever seen him take a penalty like that? It goes wrong, and then Sancho does it again. I think that's crazy.'
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The Governments travel traffic light system has been topsy-turvy for so long that its no wonder many of us doubted whether we would enjoy a holiday abroad this year.

So this weeks announcement that those who are double-jabbed may visit amber listed countries without having to quarantine on return to the UK from July 19 is hugely welcome. Suddenly, popular amber holiday spots such as Spain, France and Greece have effectively turned green.

All you need to do is show your Covid pass on the main NHS app or an NHS letter showing that you are fully vaccinated.

The announcement that those who are double-jabbed may visit amber listed countries without having to quarantine on return to the UK from July 19 has provided hope for holidaymakers

The main caveat, as far as British rules are concerned, is that an antigen test is required 72 hours before returning home and a day two PCR test is required on return to the UK. This applies to both adults and children.

It is also essential to keep an eye on foreign entry rules as well as the Foreign Office advice on whether non-essential travel is permitted  listed at gov.uk  as this is important for travel insurance validity. However, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, did tell the House of Commons on Thursday that the Foreign Office ban on non-essential travel to amber countries would be lifted by July 19.

So heres our guide to some of our most popular amber countries . . .

GREEK GETAWAY

Glorious Greece: Return flights are available to Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu and Athens from less than 75 in August. Pictured is Paleokastritsa Bay in Corfu

WHAT IF I FALL ILL ABROAD? Inform the authorities if you become unwell and stay in your accommodation for the required quarantine period. Most travel insurance policies cover Covid-related medical expenses including accommodation costs as well as repatriation, but make sure before purchasing a policy. Check your European Health Insurance Card. If still in date, it can be used to receive treatment in the EU. If it has expired, apply for a Global Health Insurance Card at nhs.uk. Advertisement

Restaurants, bars and beaches are operating as normal, although masks are required indoors  as they are on public transport such as ferries between the islands.

A four-metre social distancing rule is in place on beaches. Archaeological sites are open, including the Acropolis. Live events are happening with strict safety protocols observed. Meanwhile, a Blue Freedom scheme to vaccinate citizens over 18 on islands by the summer has met its targets  and Greece is delighted to be welcoming tourists again, says the tourist board. See discovergreece.com.

In 2019, 3.4 million Britons went to Greece, making it our seventh most popular destination. Return flights are available to Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu and Athens from less than 75 in August on Skyscanner.net.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Those with proof of double-vaccinations taken 14 days before travel do not have to self-isolate when travelling into Greece.

You can also visit without a Greek quarantine if you are not double-vaccinated but have taken a PCR Covid test with a negative result within 72 hours before travel or an antigen test with a negative result within 48 hours prior to travel. This rule applies to children aged over 12. All visitors must fill in a Passenger Locator Form by at least the day before travel (travel.gov.gr).

LETS GO!

Budget: 14 nights at the Liakoto Apartments in Kardamill in the Peloponnese from 1,425pp self-catering on August 14 from Gatwick (sunvil.co.uk).

Mid-range: Seven nights at the Marpunta Resort on the island of Alonnisos in the Aegean Sea from 1,209pp B&B on August 25 from Gatwick (olympicholidays.com).

Luxury: A week at Angeliki villa on Corfu from 3,460 sleeping eight, flights extra (cvvillas.com).

ITALY IN BALANCE

Italy currently has a five-day quarantine requirement for all UK arrivals. Pictured is Rome's Trevi Fountain

WHAT COVID TESTS MUST WE TAKE? Some countries require travellers aged over 12 to show proof of a negative PCR test. These are usually taken up to 72 hours of arrival and can be ordered online and returned by post, or taken at a High Street store or clinic.

All travellers aged over 11 returning to the UK must show proof of a negative pre-departure lateral flow test, which is taken while on holiday (within 72 hours of their return to the UK). These tests can be ordered online and packed in a suitcase. Qured offers pre-departure tests from 39 which are taken during a short video call with a nurse, with results within an hour (qured.com).

Travellers aged five and over returning from an amber-list country must then show proof of a negative day two PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival back in the UK. These can be ordered online, taken at home and returned in the post, or administered at the airport on arrival through companies such as ExpressTest, which has units at Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham airports (69, expresstest.co.uk). They can also be administered at a High Street store. Boots offers day two tests from 99 (boots.com).

Some companies offer testing packages for travel to amber-list countries. Randox, for example, offers the above three tests for 129 (randoxhealth.com).

All tests must be carried out by a government-approved company (list available at gov.uk). Advertisement

Attractions such as the Colosseum in Rome require you to wear face masks and to take a temperature check. You must also book online at least a day in advance for this and other museums. Meanwhile, face masks are mandatory in public outdoor places where social distancing (of one metre) is not possible and while indoors in public places. Restaurants are open but dance clubs are closed.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: As England fans who wanted to watch the quarter-final game against Ukraine held in Rome discovered, it is tough to visit Italy now. Due to concerns there about the Delta variant in the UK, measures are in place that require all British citizens to produce proof of a negative Covid antigen test taken in the 48 hours prior to entering Italy (children under six exempt).

A Digital Passenger Locator Form must also be completed. Then, on arrival, you must go into self-isolation for five days, at the end of which another antigen test is required. These rules could be relaxed later in the summer. More information at salute.gov.it on the Covid, travellers page.

LETS GO!

Budget: Seven nights at Hotel La Perla by Lake Garda from 895pp half-board on August 21 from Manchester (tui.co.uk).

Mid-range: A fortnight at Orca villa in Scopello on Sicily from 4,039 sleeping eight on August 28, flights excluded (jamesvillas.co.uk).

Luxury: Seven nights at Casa alla Scala on Sicily from 4,271 sleeping six in August, flights extra (thethinkingtraveller.com).

CROATIA CALLS

With more than 1,000 islands and scores of tucked-away beaches and secluded coves on 3,750 miles of coastline, Croatia is an enticing prospect for a summer holiday in the Med with plenty of social distancing guaranteed. Its good value, too. Face masks are required to be worn outdoors in public places when you cannot maintain a distance of 1.5 metres. Cafes, bars, restaurants and casinos are open with a closing time of midnight.

Nicola Brnjac, the countrys tourism minister, wants to save the summer for the nations tourist industry . It is our duty to provide all the prerequisites for a safe and comfortable trip, she says.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Proof of a double-vaccination or of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to arrival or a negative antigen test 48 hours prior to arrival  or a doctors certificate that you have recovered from Covid between 11 and 180 days before going. Children under the age of 12 do not need to take a test before travel if accompanied by an adult who passes the entry requirements. It is also necessary to have proof of your booked accommodation. See the governments tourist board website for more information: croatia.hr.

LETS GO!

Budget: Seven nights at Villa Plava in Sibenik on the Dalmatian Coast from 1,940 sleeping six in August, flights excluded (oliverstravels.com)

Endless possibilities: You could soon be wandering around a fishing village on Croatias Brac Island

Mid-range: Seven nights at the Hotel Park Plaza Histria in Pula on the Istrian Riviera from 1,005pp all-inclusive on August 15 from Birmingham (firstchoice.co.uk).

Luxury: A week at Villa Ivette in the Split region in August from 10,485 sleeping eight, flights extra (croatianvillaholidays.com).

CAN I STILL GET A GOOD DEAL? Q. How do I prove I am double-jabbed? A. The majority of amber countries will accept evidence from the NHS app showing you have had both jabs. Alternatively, call 119 to request a letter of proof, which will be posted to the address registered with your GP in five days. These will also be accepted. Q. Will I need to queue for six hours at passport control coming home this summer? A. Transport secretary Grant Shapps doesnt rule it out. Peak-time delays are now one to two hours and a union official has warned that queues could be three times as long because of the influx. The e-gates are due to be upgraded in the coming weeks. Q. Are there any good deals out there? A. Yes, but be quick as easyJet alone reported a 400 per cent increase in sales on Thursday. Return flights to Athens, pictured, were as cheap as 77 for mid-August on skyscanner.net yesterday. Q. What about the rules for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland? A. The devolved administrations had yet to approve the same plans for amber countries. Q. Is travelling with children possible? Obviously, they have not been vaccinated. A. Yes, but entry requirements vary by country. See our guide and visit gov.uk. Q. If I have only just had my second jab a few days before travel is that OK? A. No, you are fully vaccinated only when the second jab has been given 14 days previously. WERE HERE TO HELP If you need advice, the Holiday Guru can answer your questions. Email us at holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk. Advertisement

SLIP TO CYPRUS

Cyprus requires a test on arrival  see below  so that may put a lot of people off. But those who are determined will find the island quieter than ever, with clear roads making it perfect for a day trips and exploring the interior.

Face masks must be worn both inside and outdoors in public places, with a 260 fine for transgressions. A requirement for a SafePass has been put in place for entering certain shopping malls and catering establishments (see gov.uk).

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: UK visitors must take a PCR test with a negative result within 72 hours of arrival. They must then take a PCR test on landing in Cyprus and self-isolate until the result is emailed, which usually takes three hours. Under-12s exempt.

LETS GO!

Budget: Seven nights from 650 half-board at Hotel Atlantica in Paphos on August 11 from Stansted (tui.co.uk).

Mid-range: Seven nights at Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos from 1,412pp all-inclusive on August 8 from Manchester (jet2holidays.com).

Luxury: A week at Villa Anissa from 3,544 sleeping six in August, flights extra (oliverstravels.com).

BARGAIN BULGARIA

Expect bargain prices for packages to Black Sea resorts when tourism gets up and running properly again in Bulgaria. Also expect fines of up to 450 for those who break the current strictly enforced Covid rules.

Masks must be worn at all times in indoor public spaces and outdoors when not 1.5 metres apart from others, with careful checks that proper masks are being used, not scarves tied around the face. Plastic face shields are also not permitted.

However, if you are sitting in a restaurant, cafe or bar (open at 50 per cent capacity) it is fine not to wear a mask. Also, joggers and others exercising do not have to wear masks. Children under six do not have to wear them either. An official Emergency Epidemic Situation is in place until the end of this month.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Since the beginning of this month, Bulgaria has operated a travel traffic-light system of its own  and the UK is on its orange list. This means that you can travel if you are double-vaccinated and have been so for 14 days before visiting. If you have a doctors certificate showing that you tested positive for Covid between 11 and 180 days before travel, this is accepted too. So is proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of travel or a negative antigen test taken 48 hours before. Under 12s are exempt.

LETS GO!

Budget: Seven nights at the Hilton Sofia from 485pp on August 29 from Stansted (thomascook.com).

Mid-range: Seven nights at the Riu Palace Sunny Beach from 812pp all-inclusive on August 9 from Glasgow (tui.co.uk).

Luxury: Seven nights at Wave Resort in Pomorie near Bourgas from 920pp all-inclusive on August 6 from Manchester (jet2holidays.com).

ESPANA: OLE!

Tourism accounts for 12 per cent of Spains GDP and regions are desperate to attract us back. Pictured is the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

SO WILL WE BE COVERED? The most vital consideration for insurance is that you should only visit a country to which the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises it is fine to go for non-essential reasons. If the country is not on this list, policies from the vast majority of insurers will be invalidated (battleface.com is one of the few exceptions). To check, go to the page for the country you wish to visit at gov.uk, where this travel advice is given. Currently, for example, it is fine to go to Spain, Greece or France on holiday  and Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said this week that FCDO advice against visiting all amber destinations would be lifted by July 19. But he also said advice could change at short notice  so checking is essential. Remember that insurance companies generally will not cover against a holiday cancellation caused by the pandemic. The consumer group Which? (which.co.uk) has a useful Travel Insurance advice page, as does the Association of British Insurers (abi.org.uk). Advertisement

Spain is our No.1 holiday destination, attracting more than 18 million visitors in 2019.

Currently, it is not mandatory to wear face masks in outdoor public spaces where 1.5 metres social distancing can be maintained, but they must be worn indoors and on public transport. Tourism accounts for 12 per cent of Spains GDP and regions are desperate to attract us back. Some regions have even begun offering free travel insurance covering foreign visitors in the event of a Covid infection, including Andalucia, the Balearic Islands and the Costa Calida.

These policies cover visitors from overseas who stay in official tourist accommodation for medical expenses, repatriation and the accommodation costs of extending a stay should you fall ill. See andalucia.org/en/travel-assistance-insurance; safetourism.illesbalears.travel/en/health-tourism and murciaturisticaes/en/covid_travel_insurance.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Double-vaccinated visitors must have proof of having had two jabs at least 14 days before travel. Those not double-vaccinated can also go to Spain if they have evidence of having taken a negative Covid PCR (or equivalent) test within 48 hours of travel (lateral flow antigen tests are not accepted). Children under 12 are free to travel without having been tested.

All visitors must complete a Health Control Form (Spains equivalent of the Passenger Locator Form) within 48 hours of departing for Spain. See travelsafe.spain.info.

The Balearic and Canary Islands are both on the UK Governments green list, so anyone can go and not have to quarantine on return to the UK. However, travellers must meet the Spanish Governments entry requirements.

LETS GO!

Budget: Seven nights at the Riu Costa del Sol in Torremolinos from 895pp all-inclusive, including flights, on August 18 from Gatwick (tui.co.uk).

Midrange: Seven nights at the Iberostar Selection Marbella Coral Beach resort from 1,343pp B&B on July 31 from Gatwick (sovereign.com).

Luxury: Seven nights in Villa Roca, overlooking the sea in the Costa Blanca, from 5,128 per week in August, sleeping six, flights extra (oliverstravels.com).

PORTUGAL PEACE

A spike in Covid cases in the past week has seen an 11pm curfew being imposed in some areas including Lisbon, Porto and Albufeira  which may put off some. However, restaurants, cafes and bars are open with social distancing  the only difference from a usual summer being the requirement to wear masks at all times in public places, plus the 11pm cut-off in some spots. A rigorous Clean and Safe nationwide hotel policy is in place to maintain hygiene standards. More information at visitportugal.com.

Entry requirements: To avoid a 14-day quarantine on arrival you must show that you have been double-vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival. Children under 12 are exempt if they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult. All travellers, even those double-vaccinated, must also have taken a PCR test 72 hours prior to travel or an EU-approved antigen test 48 hours before travel.

All should complete a Passenger Locator Card before arrival as well (portugalcleanandsafe.pt).

The Portuguese Atlantic island of Madeira is on the UK Governments green list, so anyone may go without facing a UK quarantine on return.

However, all visitors must have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.

LETS GO!

Budget: Seven nights at Tui Blue Falesia in Olhos dAgua in the Algarve from 732pp half-board on August 29 from Gatwick (tui.co.uk).

Mid-range: Seven nights at Albufeira Sol Hotel and Spa in the Algarve from 976pp all-inclusive on August 1 from Manchester (jet2.com).

Luxury: 14 nights at Villa Camilla in the Algarve from 32,226 in August, sleeping ten, flights extra (akvillas.com).

MAKE IT MOROCCO

Mask-wearing is obligatory in all public places including parks and while walking on streets in Morocco. Pictured are two camels near Marrakesh

Colourful: Spices in a Moroccan souk

International flights to Morocco resumed on June 15. On entry to cafes and restaurants your temperature should be taken, you will be asked to disinfect your hands and you will be required to wear a face mask when not sitting at tables. One-way systems are in operation. Mask-wearing is obligatory in all public places including parks and while walking on streets.

Although Covid rates are stable, Morocco has tough rules in place including a curfew from 11pm to 4am. A failure to observe restrictions could lead to a three-month prison sentence or a fine of 105.

Morocco was becoming an increasingly important Mediterranean destination for Britons before the pandemic with as many as 95 flights a week in 2019, most people visiting its colourful and lively capital, Marrakesh, as well as the Atlas Mountains. Further information: visitmorocco.com.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Double-vaccinated travellers who had their last jab at least 14 days prior to travel can enter without taking a Covid test. Other travellers must have proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours of boarding planes. Those entering by ferry must take a Covid test during the journey. Children under 11 are exempt from tests. All visitors must complete a Public Health Passenger Form before arrival (onda.ma/form.php).

LETS GO!

Budget: Seven nights at Riu Tikida Palmeraie in Marrakesh from 724pp all-inclusive on August 9 from Manchester (firstchoice.co.uk).

Mid-range: Seven nights at Riad Africa in Marrakesh from 1,197pp B&B on August 14 from Gatwick (easyjet.com).

Luxury: Seven nights at Dar Tigamino near Marrakesh from 4,377 sleeping nine, flights extra (cvvillas.com).

FRENCH ADVENTURE

Nice in Nice: View over the French resort. Only adult holidaymakers who are fully vaccinated are permitted to enter France

French Covid rules come with a Gallic twist  as well as advising you to use antibacterial hand gels regularly, avoid touching your face and not shake hands, further advice includes: Do not greet people with kisses on the cheek. Masks must be worn indoors in public places, on public transport, in taxis and when attending open-air markets or railway stations.

Restaurants and bars have been open with social distancing since June 9, allowing groups of up to six. Yesterday, nightclubs were allowed to open their doors, too. Further information at gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus -covid-19.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Only adult holidaymakers who are fully vaccinated are permitted to enter France. If they are travelling with children, those under the age of 11 do not need any documentation.

Children aged 11 and over, however, will need proof of either a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel or a negative antigen test taken within 48 hours of going. Visitors must also sign a declaration sur lhonneur (sworn statement) that you do not have Covid symptoms and have not been in contact with anyone who has Covid within 14 days of departure.

LETS GO!

Budget: Seven nights at La Villa Tosca hotel in Cannes on the French Riviera from 626pp on August 21 from Gatwick (easyjet.com).

Mid-range: Seven nights at the Crowne Plaza Toulouse from 898.50pp on July 25 from Heathrow (britishairways.com).

Luxury: Seven nights on a Tailor-Made Normandy trip, staying at luxury hotels in Cherbourg and Deauville, from 1,380pp B&B with ferry crossing (kirkerholidays.com).

MONTENEGRO

There may be no current direct flights from the UK to Montenegro but that is due to change in the next few weeks. Pictured is Kotor Old Town

With its pretty coves featuring tucked-away beaches, its excellent seafood restaurants and historic castles, Montenegro makes a great choice  and this summer, without the crowds, it should be lovelier than ever.

There may be no current direct flights from the UK but that is due to change in the next few weeks. Face mask-wearing indoors in public places is a must, as is wearing them outdoors where you cannot keep two metres distancing; the fine for transgression is as much as 1,715.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Fully vaccinated travellers who got their last jab more than 14 days ago may enter. So can those with a PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel, or those with an antigen test taken within 48 hours of travel. Under-fives are exempt.

LETS GO!

Budget: 14 nights at the Iberostar Herceg Novi near Tivat from 1,216pp all-inclusive on August 19 from Gatwick (easyjet.com).

Mid-range: Seven nights at the Iberostar Bellvue in Budvar from 770pp all-inclusive on August 18 from Gatwick (easyjet.com).

Luxury: 14 nights at On The Rocks villa in Tivat from 6,089 in August sleeping six, flights extra (jamesvillas.co.uk).
On-deck romances, raucous charters, staff drug busts and so much more - Below Deck fans know the heart of drama is on the high seas.

And the wait for nautical fun is well and truly over as season six of Below Deck Mediterranean is BACK, with hayu playing host to the new series and all its predecessors on-demand, anytime, anywhere - for just 4.99 a month!

Familiar faces return to the show in the form of beloved skipper captain Sandy Yawn, who will be at the helm of the 180ft Lady Michelle along the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, and bosun Malia White who will be making her comeback for the third time.

New faces meanwhile are set to cause stirs, with new chief stew Katie Flood insisting she is prepared for her demanding guests and Second Stew Lexi Wilson vowing to bring the glamour thanks to her beauty queen background.

So what's to love about Below Deck Mediterranean and what have we got in store?

On-deck romances, raucous charters, staff drug busts and so much more - Below Deck fans know the heart of drama is on the high seas

THE DRAMA

No episode, or indeed charter, goes by on Below Deck without a plethora of dramas standing in the way of that all-important tip at the end of the episode.

Just last season, fireworks flew when returning bosun Malia went to captain Sandy to reveal her cabinmate and chief stew Hannah Ferrier had contraband.

She shared an image showing a pack of anxiety medication, a vape pen and a lighter with the skipper, leading to her dismissal from the boat.

Add in love triangles and raging arguments between guests, you have the perfect recipe for dramas.

New crew, new prey - Malia is back and ready to stir up more drama aboard the good ship Lady Michelle

THE FIGHTS

Tensions are high on Lady Michelle when the boat journey kicks off by heading to Sibenik, the oldest Croatian town on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.

In a Below Deck first, a crisis puts the future of the charter at risk before it begins. Grudges impact workflow leading to a tense atmosphere.

Between providing seven star service on-board, tensions simmer among the crew - with one momentous row leaving the hot tub shaken to its core.

THE GLAMOUR

Nothing screams glamour quite like yachting.

From the extravagant demands of the super-wealthy to the intricate and beautiful details of the yacht, Below Deck will add a splash of sparkle into life.

As well as the glamour of the guests, one of the new recruits will also be lighting up screens as new second stewardess Lexi Wilson is an esteemed beauty queen.

The pageant queen even represented the Bahamas in Miss Universe 2013. While living in Florida, she met a yacht captain who invited her to come work on his boat - and she never looked back!

New crew member and second stewardess Lexi Wilson is bringing some glamour to Below Deck

THE CAST

Captain Sandy will no doubt thrill and delight fans with her comeback, as she navigates the Mediterranean with a whole new crew in tow.

After garnering drama throughout her stints on the show, Malia is back and is undoubtedly set to bring the fireworks once again.

Taking the chief stew role is New Zealander Katie Flood, who promises that her attention to detail is what makes her so established in the coveted role.

Katie has a little Below Deck history herself - as she revealed she used to date season four deckhand and everyone's favourite Scouser, Jack Stirrup.

Deckhand Mzi Zee Dempers proves to be a ray of shining light among the crew, even when drama looks to be preparing to erupt.

So what's stopping you setting sail in the drama? Download hayu now to catch the latest episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean!

Captain Sandy returns with a brand new crew as she sets sail on the beautiful Mediterranean

The Below Deck franchise BELOW DECK Eight seasons Yacht life consists of plenty of sun and never lifting a finger as the Below Deck crew cater to your every whim The class system is alive and well at sea, as is demonstrated in this behind-the-scenes look at those who work on luxury boats used by the fabulously rich. The upstairs and downstairs worlds collide when this young and single crew, known as yachties, live, love, and work together on-board the luxurious, privately-owned yacht while tending to the ever-changing needs of their wealthy, demanding charter guests. While each crew member brings a different level of experience, they all share a love for this lifestyle that enables them to travel to some of the most beautiful and exotic locales in the world. Each episode features a different set of charter guests moving onto the boat from millionaires, to entertainers to hard-partying groups of well-heeled friends - who have little idea of what goes on Below Deck... until now. BELOW DECK SAILING YACHT Two seasons Below Deck Sailing Yacht follows a young, attractive crew aboard a luxury sailing yacht as they cater to wealthy clients while cruising the breathtaking waters of Corfu, Greece. Always at the mercy of the wind, sailing yachts come with a host of unique challenges distinct from their motor yacht counterparts. From maneuvering the sails in high winds to navigating tighter living quarters, the crew has their work cut out for them as they strive to meet the demands of their charter guests.





MEET THE CREW Sandy Yawn (captain) Straight-talking captain Sandy hales from Fort Lauderdale and boasts a whopping three decades of yachting experience. Sandy worked hard to establish herself in a largely male-dominated arena and is now one of the top captains on the high seas. Having faced the difficulties of running a tight ship, she is back and ready to steer the crew to provide the best possible service they can. Malia White (bosun) Back for a third time, Malia is once again ready to take on the challenges of being a woman in a job largely covered by men. Thanks to having five older brothers, Malia has no fear when it comes to taking on adventures. She has risen through the ranks and has her eye on her 200-ton captains license with the help of inspiring captain Sandy. Courtney Veale (stewardess) Courtney comes from North Wales and has a history in performing arts - something that will serve her well when faced with the on-deck drama. She has been a globetrotter for most of her adult life and worked in a host of areas, including a ski resort, a barmaid, nanny and a Disneyland performer. Her first yacht job was in the luxury backdrop of the south of France. David Pascoe (deckhand) Italian-born and UK-raised David has a history on the beach, having worked as a lifeguard before going on to work as a care worker at a brain injury unit. Ready to be steered by boss Malia, David is trained in working on yachts up to 55 meters. Mzi "Zee" Dempers (deckhand) Zee was born in Durban, South Africa, and was adopted aged three into a large family. Yachting surrounds him as two of his brothers are in the industry, as captain and chief officer. He left Cape Town to pursue his boating career however things were thwarted when he was faced with visa issues. Zee is now however ready to get on-board and bring his party spirit to the high seas!
Roxy Jacenko's divorced parents have offloaded their property portfolio, a decade after their marriage fell apart.

As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald , the Sydney PR guru's mother Doreen Davis and father Nick Jacenko have sold a collection of investment properties held in their names for a staggering $78million.





It is believed the Jacenko estate included a cluster of commercial properties in Sydney's Beaconsfield, Alexandria and Ultimo, each worth around $15 to $20 million.

Cha-ching! Roxy Jacenko's divorced parents Doreen and Nick have sold their property portfolio for $78million a decade after their divorce. Pictured: Roxy and Doreen

Doreen and Nick built a lucrative empire together in the Australian rag trade during their ill-fated 38-year marriage.

Shortly after marrying, the couple launched Capital Clothing, a thriving fashion business that would generate upwards of $13 million a year.

Roxy's parents continued to grow their family wealth by branching out into real estate.

Offloading their empire: It is believed the Jacenko estate included a cluster of commercial properties in Sydney's Beaconsfield, Alexandria and Ultimo, each worth around $15 to $20 million. Pictured: Roxy's father Nick Jacenko (right) with new wife Liso Ho

However, it all came crashing down in 2011 when Doreen and Nick split in acrimonious circumstances.

While Roxy maintains a close relationship with her mother, she's made no secret of the fact she's been estranged from her father since the divorce.

In February 2018, the Sweaty Betty PR founder told Daily Mail Australia she had no intention of reconciling with Nick.

Fashion moguls: Doreen and Nick built a lucrative empire together in the Australian rag trade during their ill-fated 38-year marriage

Estranged: While Roxy maintains a close relationship with her mother, she's made no secret of the fact she's been estranged from her father since the divorce

'How he has treated my mother after 30 years of her dedication to our family and their business endeavours coupled with the fact he hasn't even attempted to meet my son, Hunter, or enquire when I got cancer,' Roxy said at the time, explaining her reasons for no longer speaking to her father.

Roxy was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2016, just weeks after her husband, former investment banker Oliver Curtis was jailed for insider trading.

In 2019, the publicist indicated that their relationship was still strained when asked about reports Nick had 'secretly wed' former fashion mogul Lisa Ho.

Defiant: In February 2018, the Sweaty Betty PR founder told Daily Mail Australia she had no intention of reconciling with Nick

'My invite must have been lost in the mail,' she told Daily Mail Australia via email, adding that she did not attend the ceremony.

Nick has previously been married twice - first to Sandra O'Keefe and then to Doreen.

He reportedly wed Lisa in October 2019 in a secret ceremony.
Former Sunrise host Sam Armytage recently said she 'wasn't done' with television after quitting Channel Seven's top-rating breakfast show.

And the 44-year-old journalist is now reportedly in talks to host her own late-night news show after her contract with Seven expires.

According to Woman's Day, Sam has been plotting her TV comeback for months and wants to jump ship to rival network Channel Nine.

Television comeback: Rumours are swirling that former Sunrise host Sam Armytage is in talks to host her own late-night news show on Channel Nine

Rumour has it Sam wants to pitch a one-hour nightly news program to rival The Latest: Seven News, which airs after 10pm.

'[She] wants to go head-to-head with Seven's The Latest - it would be Monday through Thursday, a one-hour format, which will see Sam free to head up to her country retreat for the other half of the week,' a source said.

The Monday-to-Thursday evening news slot was previously hosted by Chris Bath or Anne Fulwood from 1995 to 2003.

Connection: Sam has been friends with Karl Stefanovic, one of Nine's biggest stars, for years

Natalie Barr would often fill in before she was moved to Sunrise.

Reports surfaced weeks ago that Sam wouldn't be keen on returning to early starts and would 'prefer' a spot on a nightly current affairs show.

Before that, in late April, Sam revealed she wasn't finished with television.

Gossip: Sam (pictured with Sunrise co-anchor David 'Kochie' Koch) wants to pitch a one-hour nightly news program to rival The Latest: Seven News, which airs after 10pm

'I don't think I am done with TV,' she told The Daily Telegraph. 'I am for now but I may some day get back in but it has to be the right role and it has to be at the right time.'

Sam explained she wanted her next role to be less high-profile than Sunrise, citing the scrutiny she faced hosting Australia's most popular breakfast show.

'I am quite happy not to go at the pace or at the level I was at before because I dont think that brought me much happiness,' she said.

Farewell: Sam quit Sunrise in March, after eight years hosting the program with David Koch, saying she wanted to spend more time with her new husband, Richard Lavender (right)

Sam quit Sunrise in March, after eight years hosting the program with David Koch, saying she wanted to spend more time with her new husband, Richard Lavender.

She broke down in tears at the end of her final broadcast as she accused 'some aspects of the media' of treating her unfairly during her tenure.

A month before her departure, she had upset her Seven colleagues by saying the TV industry was filled with 'narcissists' and 'sociopaths' in a magazine article.
Belle Hassan put on a very racy display as she stepped out in a black thong and see-through dress for the HLD Sisterhood brunch on Sunday.

The Love Island star, 26, flaunted her assets in the cowl neck sheer slip as she headed to Jin Bo Law roof bar in London.

Belle was joined by Anna Vakili, 30, who flaunted her curves in a ribbed green bodysuit as she was seen for the first time since having a breast reduction.

Turning heads: Belle Hassan put on a very racy display as she stepped out in a black thong and see-through dress for the HLD Sisterhood brunch on Sunday

Belle left little to the imagination as she stepped out in the glittering see-through slip.

She put on a peachy display as she worked her angles for the cameras before heading into the I Saw It First event.

The reality star accessorised with a pair of large diamante hoops and added a head scarf that matched her sparkling dress.

Racy: Belle left little to the imagination as she stepped out in the glittering see-through slip dress

Stepping out: Belle was joined by Anna Vakili, 30, who flaunted her curves in a ribbed green bodysuit as she was seen for the first time since having a breast reduction

Racy: Belle put on a cheeky display as she posed with her back to the camera

Details: The reality star accessorised with a pair of large diamante hoops and added a head scarf that matched her sparkling dress

Belle completed the sizzling outfit with a pair of black strappy stilettos and wore her blonde tresses in glamorous curls.

Meanwhile, Anna showcased her sensational figure in a zip-front plunging green jumpsuit.

She unzipped the all-in-one outfit to showcase the results of her post-surgery procedure.

The reality star twisted to one side to flaunt her pert posterior as she elongated her legs with a pair of perspex stilettos.

Anna underwent the surgery alongside her sister Mandi last month and has been recovering at her parents' house.

The Love Island took to her Instagram stories to document her experience and revealed the reason why she was getting a reduction was because she felt her breasts made her look bigger than what she was as well as giving her back ache.

Stylish: Meanwhile, Anna showcased her sensational figure in a zip-front plunging green jumpsuit

Angles: The reality star twisted to one side to flaunt her pert posterior as she elongated her legs with a pair of perspex stilettos

Also in attendance were Love Island twins Jess and Eve Gale, 22.

The twins put on a busty display as they flaunted underboob in bodycon dresses with racy cut out details.

Jess and Eve opted for summer palettes as they stepped out in the orange and aqua blue thigh-skimming dresses.

Matching: Love Island twins Jess and Eve Gale put on a busty display as they flaunted underboob in bodycon dresses with racy cut out details

Matching: Jess and Eve opted for summer palettes as they stepped out in the orange and aqua blue thigh-skimming dresses

Jess beamed as she posed with her hand on her hip and toted a chain strap mini bag.

Eve showed off her curves in coral orange and wore a pair of square framed sunglasses on top of her head.

The blonde bombshells put on a confident display as they flaunted their assets in unison.

Twins: Jess beamed as she posed with her hand on her hip and toted a chain strap mini bag as Eve showed off her curves in coral orange

One mind: The blonde bombshells put on a confident display as they flaunted their assets in unison

Francesca Allen, 23, put on a chic display in a belted oversized black blazer.

The Essex beauty paired the sultry black tie ready outfit with a pair of strappy stilettos and flashed a glimpse of white lingerie.

She completed the ensemble with a pair of silver hoops and styled her chestnut tresses in neat curls.

Effortless: Francesca Allen, 23, put on a chic display in a belted oversized black blazer

Beautiful: She completed the ensemble with a pair of silver hoops and styled her chestnut tresses in neat curls

Also in attendance was Nicola Adams, 38, alongside her girlfriend Ella Baig, 22, in a monochrome polo.

The former professional boxer cut a dapper figure in pin strip trousers and box fresh white trainers.

Ella looked glamorous in a white slip dress and styled her bright blonde tresses in tight curls.

Stepping out: Also in attendance was Nicola Adams, 38, alongside her girlfriend Ella Baig, 22, in a monochrome polo

Sharp: The former professional boxer cut a dapper figure in pin strip trousers and box fresh white trainers

Sian Owen stunned in a brown midriff-baring bodycon dress at the event as she sweetly held hands with Rykard Jenkins.

The reality star looked sensational as she flaunted her curves in the side-split dress and white strappy stilettos.

She topped off the look with an enviable Louis Vuitton bag and wore her straight blonde tresses pushed behind her ears.

Loved-up: Sian Owen stunned in a brown midriff-baring bodycon dress at the event as she sweetly held hands with Rykard Jenkins
Instagram star Ruby Tuesday Matthews has blasted Triple M host Lawrence Mooney for breaching Covid-19 restrictions in NSW.

Lawrence was slapped with a $1000 fine for spending two weeks on holiday in Byron Bay on July 2nd, despite restrictions preventing him from travelling.

'Wow from the guy who called me a number of horrible names and made me out to be 'entitled' on national radio (even when your end of the story is false),' Ruby wrote on Instagram.

Feud: Byron Bay influencer Ruby Tuesday Matthews (left) reignited her feud with Triple M's Lawrence Mooney (right) as she blasted him for Byron Bay lockdown breach on Sunday

'Glad to see you are above society and its rules,' the Byron Bay model, 27 continued.

According to The Daily Telegraph, officers from the Southern Highlands Police District spoke to Lawrence on Friday and ascertained that he had travelled to Byron Bay on July 2nd.

Lawrence said in an apology on Thursday that he did not realise that the restrictions applied to him.

The radio star lives in the Southern Highlands, and works in the Sydney CBD, and claims he did not realise this prevented him from travelling to Byron Bay.

Fined: Lawrence was slapped with a $1000 fine for spending two weeks on holiday in Byron Bay on July 2nd despite restrictions preventing him from travelling

The feud between Ruby and Lawrence started when the Triple M host roasted her in a brutal radio segment about influencers in January.

In the video, Lawrence referred to social media influencers as 'low-hanging fruit' who 'prostitute themselves online for free products'.

He also made special mention of Ruby, who was infamously branded 'entitled' for holding up a Jetstar flight to eat oysters in October last year.

'Wow from the guy who called me a number of horrible names and made me out to be 'entitled' on national radio. Glad to see you are above society and its rules,' Ruby hit back on Instagram

'This bird can go and get shucked!' Lawrence joked, referring to Ruby's 'oystergate' scandal.

A seething Ruby lashed out at Lawrence on Instagram Stories, uploading a photo of the comedian with a pig emoji covering his face.

'Someone just sent me this and I'm utterly gobsmacked. It really does go to show how low the human race is,' she wrote.

'If all you can do is completely right [sic] off a single mum to make a segment, what do you really have going for yourself and your D grade radio show.'

Feud: The feud between Ruby (pictured) and Lawrence started when the Triple M host roasted her in a brutal radio segment about influencers in January

Ruby then insisted she doesn't promote brands in exchange for freebies.

'To say I prostitute myself out for products, it's a complete lie. I actually get paid lol! To call me low hanging fruit and say I "w**re myself out" is a disgusting comment to make about anyone, let alone a mother of two small boys,' she raged.

The mother of two concluded by calling Lawrence an 'a**hole', and encouraged her fans to retaliate by leaving negative comments on his Instagram account.
He's the go-to publicist for Aussie reality stars, with a client list that includes the likes of Jessika Power, Cyrell Paule and Natasha Spencer.

But Max Markson has issued a dire warning to Married At First Sight and Love Island stars hoping to cash in on their 15 minutes of fame: 'Don't quit your day job.'

The PR guru told The Herald Sun: 'Not everybody makes it [as a full-time influencer] because they don't have the volume of followers on their social media.'

'Don't quit your day job': Celebrity agent Max Markson has issued a dire warning to reality stars who want to be full-time influencers

'You have to be outrageous, you need personality, you need storylines that will keep you on a show, you need to get noticed,' he added.

Markson says you can make a decent living as an influencer at 100,000 followers.

If your Instagram following is less than that, you're probably better off sticking with your pre-fame career.

Numbers game: The PR guru told The Herald Sun: 'Not everybody makes it [as a full-time influencer] because they don't have the volume of followers on their social media.' Pictured: one of Markson's clients, Married At First Sight alum Jessika Power

'Once you have over 100,000 followers, you might be able to give up your day job and just earn money from collaborations,' he said.

'If it is, like, 50,000 to 70,000, don't give up your day job, you have to keep working. At 200,000 to 250,000 followers, that is a sweet spot.'

Markson explained that anyone with more than 250,000 genuine Instagram followers can sit back, relax and not have to worry about having a 'normal' job again.

One of Markson's most successful clients is Jessika Power, who is still making a good living from sponsored Instagram posts two years after appearing on MAFS.

The 29-year-old hasn't returned to her old job in administration and now works for herself as a full-time influencer, spruiking beauty products, makeup and sex toys.

Working girl! Markson explained that anyone with more than 250,000 genuine Instagram followers can sit back, relax and not have to worry about having a 'normal' job again. But if you've got less than 100,000 followers, you're better off sticking with your pre-fame career

'No, I do not have another job other than Instagram,' she said recently.

'I earn all my money from Instagram, I earn a really good penny from Instagram.

'I do not give you guys s**t products to buy, though. I am constantly trialing new products from brands that want me to promote on my Instagram for them.'
2GB was knocked from the top spot in Sydney's breakfast radio ratings for the first time in almost 18 years last week.

And host Ben Fordham is reportedly facing mounting pressure to adopt a more 'combative' stance against NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, as network bosses scramble to win back listeners.

Senior Nine Radio bosses allegedly staged an 'intervention' last Tuesday, just hours after 2GB slipped behind KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show.

No more Mr Nice Guy: 2GB bosses have reportedly told Ben Fordham (left) to 'stop being so friendly' with Gladys Berejiklian (right) and take a more combative stance against the NSW government in a bid to win back conservative listeners

Fordham, 44, has supported Ms Berejiklian through a string of controversies in recent months, including her relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire and her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has now reportedly been encouraged to take a more adversarial approach when discussing the NSW government on his show.

'We're told their message to Fordham was unambiguous: the on-air love affair with Gladys had to end,' reported The Australian.

Meanwhile, an insider told the newspaper: 'You can't have a friendship with a premier while you're holding her to account.'

'The on-air love affair with Gladys had to end': Fordham has been encouraged to adopt a more 'combative' stance against the NSW government and its leader, reports The Australian

Interestingly, Fordham began firing up at Ms Berejiklian just a day after the alleged intervention, scorching the leader for extending the state's Covid-19 lockdown measures during Wednesday and Thursday's broadcasts.

However, a Nine source assured The Australian that Fordham's outrage was in fact real, and that he was 'genuinely p**sed off' by the lockdown extension.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Nine Radio for comment.

Lashing out: Interestingly, Fordham began firing up at Ms Berejiklian just a day after the alleged managerial 'intervention' last Tuesday, scorching the leader for extending the state's Covid-19 lockdown measures during Wednesday and Thursday's broadcasts

Irreplaceable? Fordham, who had the herculean task of replacing right-wing commentator Alan Jones (pictured) in May last year, has attracted a raft of criticism since last week's radio ratings were announced

Fordham, who had the herculean task of replacing right-wing commentator Alan Jones in May last year, has attracted a raft of criticism since last week's radio ratings were announced.

Some have suggested Fordham is losing listeners due to his perceived political leanings, with one tweeting: '2GB sealed their fate when they swung to the left.'

'Go woke, go broke. Lost me a long time ago, Benny. Not prepared to make tough calls, like the man in the seat before you,' another wrote on Twitter.

Another critic described Fordham as 'a mad leftie' - which is bizarre given that his views are hardly left wing.

The criticism followed a report in The Australian that stated 'a common refrain within the industry is that Fordham is "too safe"' compared to Jones.
Sarah Harris broke down in tears live on Studio 10 on Monday as she farewelled her colleague Jonathan 'Jono' Coleman, who died on Friday at the age of 65.

The 39-year-old clutched a tissue and struggled to speak as she addressed viewers shortly after 8am, before paying tribute to the late TV and radio legend.

Sarah, who had worked with Jono since Studio 10's launch in 2013, was also comforted by her co-hosts Beau Ryan and Tristan MacManus.

Emotional: Sarah Harris broke down in tears live on Studio 10 on Monday as she farewelled her colleague Jonathan 'Jono' Coleman, who died on Friday aged 65. Right: Tristan MacManus

'It's a very special show today, full of tears but no doubt full of laughs as well,' Tristan said at the start of the four-hour program.

Wiping away tears, Sarah added: 'Sorry, I thought I'd get further into the show [before crying]. It's a hard day for everyone here at Studio 10.

'We lost our really beautiful mate on Friday night, Jono Coleman. He was an absolute legend of TV and radio.

'But more than that, he was just a beautiful husband - he adored [his wife] Margot - he was a beautiful dad, and he was our mate.

'Goodbye, Jono Coleman, our hearts are utterly broken.'

'We lost our really beautiful mate on Friday night': Sarah, who had worked with Jono since Studio 10's launch in 2013, was comforted by her co-hosts Beau Ryan and Tristan MacManus

Studio 10 dedicated Monday's broadcast to remembering Jono's best moments.

While he was initially hired to host the show's advertorials, Jono ended up becoming an integral member of the team, and was well known for his on-air pranks.

He was never afraid to dress up or make fun of himself, and even printed business cards describing his job title as 'morale officer'.

Lovable: While he was initially hired to host the show's advertorials, Jono ended up becoming an integral member of the Studio 10 team, and was well known for his on-air pranks

Fondly remembered: He was never afraid to dress up or make fun of himself, and even printed business cards describing his job title as 'morale officer'

Before joining Studio 10, Jono had a long career on television and radio in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Britons will remember him for hosting shows on Virgin Radio, Heart and BBC London.

In addition to his work for Channel 10, Jono was employed as a regular reporter for Channel Seven breakfast Sunrise in the mid-2000s.

He died in Sydney on Friday, aged 65, after a four-year battle with prostate cancer.

Jono is survived by his wife, Margot Fitzpatrick, and their children, Emily and Oscar.

World-famous: Before joining Studio 10, Jono had a long career on television and radio in Australia and the United Kingdom
Ben Affleck looked to preemptively settle into the role of step dad during a Sunday outing to Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles.

The 48-year-old Hollywood heartthrob was seen spending quality time with girlfriend Jennifer Lopez's daughter Emme, 13, and two of his kids Samuel, nine, and Seraphina, 12.

Affleck was sans JLo but looked to have a handle on the situation, as the blending family was spotted grabbing Wetzel's Pretzels while taking in the sights at the popular tourist attraction.

Bennifer bunch! Ben Affleck, 48, steps out sans girlfriend Jennifer Lopez as he brings her daughter Emme, 13, and his kids Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, nine to Universal City Walk

As things get serious between the pair, Affleck has been very involved in the superstar's children's lives.

Ben looked every bit the reliable father figure for both he and Lopez's kids as he strolled around CityWalk with the bunch wearing brown jeans with a black tee that read 'Don't poke the bear.'

His only son Samuel wore a Lord Of The Rings T-shirt and blue joggers while his youngest daughter Seraphina kept it comfortable in a green T-shirt with navy pants.

And Emme continued to show off her edgy style in a pair of blue jeans with Doc Martens and a striped sweater layered over a white collared shirt.

Daddy dearest! The Good Will Hunting actor wore a T-shirt that read 'Don't poke the bear'

Quality time: He has been spending lots of quality time as of late with Lopez's kids Max and Emme

While at the fun-filled attraction Affleck and the kids were naturally given A-list treatment as they were seen being led by a guide with a security guard following behind them.

Fueling up for the excursion he treated himself and all three kids to a classic park delicacy  Wetzel's Pretzels.

And despite her absence, it seems as if Lopez has really begun to envision a life with her former fiancee as she continues to spend extended time in Los Angeles after ditching her Miami life post Alex Rodriguez breakup.

In May she was seen touring a ritzy private school on the westside of LA and on July 10, she enjoyed a second tour of yet another school with her son Max.

VIP: The blending family were seen getting A-list treatment as they were led by two park attendees and a security guard who followed behind

Doting: Throughout the day he looked to make sure all three children were enjoying themselves

Full hands: Affleck juggled two drinks and a to-go bag of pretzels

On Friday July 9, she and Affleck were seen stepping out with their kids for lunch at the Brentwood Country Mart.

And though they arrived in separate SUVs the pair were seen leaving together where he lovingly gazed at the Hustlers star.

On July 8, an Us Weekly source spoke on the serious nature of their relationship, as it was reported the pair are set to move in together 'very soon,' after spending virtually every night together.

'Ben and Jen are spending almost every night together when they're not working. They plan on moving in together very soon,' an insider shared.

Fueling up! They fueled up with Wetzel's Pretzels during the outing

Getting serious: Amid their loved up outings in recent months a source told Us Weekly that the former fiancees are set to move in together 'very soon'

Involved: 'She intends to be an involved stepmom who's there for Ben in that area, plus she'll want him to make the same effort with her and Marc's kids,' a source said on July 8

And as evident with Ben's solo parental outing, the insider also added that the respect and care for each other's children goes both ways.

'She intends to be an involved stepmom who's there for Ben in that area, plus she'll want him to make the same effort with her and Marc's kids.'

The pair are also paying no mind to anyone that says they are 'rushing things,' despite only rekindling their romance in May  just two weeks after she and A-Rod ended their two year engagement.

Ben reportedly made the first move after he wrote her to tell her how 'beautiful' she looked in shots from her most recent film Shotgun Wedding.

And since that time they have enjoyed romantic vacations to Big Sky, Montana, Miami, and most recently on a July 4 trip to The Hamptons.
Farmer Wants a Wife is known for helping its contestants find lasting love.

But the Channel Seven dating series faced plenty of drama on Sunday night when farmer Andrew Guthrie's girls created a 'kissing pact'.

After sending Lucy Holland home, Rachael Smith suggested to the other women that they shouldn't tell each other if they've kissed Andrew.

Scandal: Farmer Wants a Wife is rocked by a scandal as farmer Andrew Guthrie's (pictured) girls create a 'kissing pact'

The remaining women agreed to the pact, but Jess Nathan admitted: 'Obviously, I have a bit of a crush so it sucks a little that they're all desperate to kiss him and they all talk about it a lot as it is.'

The girls then decided to tell Andrew about their 'kissing pact'.

'Today we kind of got together as a group and we thought we need to tell you so that you're aware of it as well,' Ashleigh Adams said.

Gone: After Lucy Holland (pictured) was sent home, Rachael Smith suggested to the other women that they shouldn't tell each other if they've kissed Andrew

Andrew sighed: 'Here we go.'

Rachael explained: 'To respect you and to respect each other as we get later in this, it's better if we don't share conversations or intimate details to avoid comparing or anyone feeling awkward. To stop gossip. We are here for you and that stuff gets kept private.'

However, Andrew wasn't impressed the women decided to discuss their decision at an event.

Decision: The girls decided to tell Andrew about their 'kissing pact' and Rachael (pictured) said: 'To respect you and to respect each other as we get later in this, it's better if we don't share conversations or intimate details to avoid comparing or anyone feeling awkward'

Andrew's reaction to the pact seemed to create more drama,

'I feel like it's so cringey if there is going to be a kiss there is going to be a kiss, you don't have to prep everyone for it,' Jess said.

But Rachel defended herself, adding: 'I have never provoked or tried to create drama. I just feel hurt and that's the way I feel right now.'
Rumer Willis looked ethereal in a flowing white dress as she posed under an azure sky while vacationing in Greece.

The 32-year-old actress shared a stunning image to Instagram on Sunday that featured her standing in a ray of sunlight against the rugged desert backdrop.

The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood star donned Doen's ruffled semi-sheer Ischia dress for her dramatic selfie.



Lovely: Rumer Willis looked ethereal in a flowing white dress as she posed under an azure sky while vacationing in Greece

The dress boasted double puffed sleeves and a drawstring waist. A glimpse of the the hot pink and blue patterned bikini top that Rumer wore under the dress could be seen through the delicate fabric.

Willis sported a pair of edgy cat-eye sunglasses by Australian eyewear brand Oscar and Frank. She accessorized with gold Jacquie Aiche fishtail earrings.

The brunette beauty's hair was parted and pulled back from her face as she gazed into the camera. Rumer captioned the post simply with a desert emoji.

On Friday, Willis hit back at 'haters' leaving unkind comments on a recent Instagram post. After slipping into a skimpy yellow and orange thong bikini, the Hostage actress showcased her peachy bottom in a photo with the caption: 'For the haters. With love and gratitude kindly my [peach emoji]. I'll keep smiling regardless.'

Gorgeous: Rumer Willis has hit back at 'haters' leaving unkind comments on a recent Instagram post by sharing a gorgeous bikini-clad photo from her Greek holiday

Rumer wrote: 'For the haters. With love and gratitude kindly [lips emoji] my [peach emoji]. I'll keep smiling regardless'

Just hours before, Rumer - who is in Greece with her mum Demi Moore and her two younger sisters Tallulah and Scout Willis - shared a sultry snap of herself in a green bikini with pink sunglasses.

While much of the feedback was positive, not everyone was as kind in the comment section below Rumer's snap.

'Nope,' one social media user bluntly wrote.

'Yikes, not appropriate,' added another, with a third saying: 'Why does everyone in Hollywood need to pose like this. It's like they need to say look at me, I'm wonderful.'

Stunner: She shared another striking snap

Hours earlier: It comes hours after Rumer shared a stunning snap of herself in a green bikini with pink sunglasses

Unkind: While much of the feedback was positive, not everyone was as kind in the comments section below Rumer's snap

Another wrote beneath Rumer's post: 'I look at girls who are actually full of life and not 'hollywood' and they don't suck their stomach in when taking pictures and they're full of happiness.

'When I look at pictures like you, you look sad. Like you're trying to prove to everyone that you can be skinny even though you eat chili cheese fries in secret and scarf down cookies and milk. 'You're no different than anyone else. Stop trying to be someone you're not. You owe America that - who the hell cares who your parents are. Just be you!'

Taking to the comment section herself, Rumer replied: 'Wow you seem to be spewing a lot of negativity and judgement about someone you don't know. And I'm so sorry for you that you must be in so much pain to to write such unkind things about me.

Thoughtful response: 'Taking to the comment section herself, Rumer replied: 'Wow you seem to be spewing a lot of negativity and judgement about someone you don't know'

'I am happier than I have ever been and honestly for the first time in my life letting go of the need for my body to look a certain way to be happy with it. And in that letting go I have been able to enjoy everything around me.

'I also struggle with auto immune issues and it has taken me years to even be able to eat anything without it being extremely painful. I encourage you to pause before you judge someones outsides when you know nothing about what is going on inside.

'I hope and wish you so much love especially for yourself because all the negativity and meanness you have directed towards me if merely a reflection of how you must feel about yourself and for that I hold unending compassion as I have been there myself.

Support: Rumer's fans were quick to jump to her support in the comment section

'Light and love. And a invitation and boundary to please keep your negativity off my page.' [sic]

Rumer's fans were quick to jump to her defense, with one penning: 'The positive out weighs the negative!' A second noted: 'Don't waste your energy on haters, you look amazing.'

The stunner is currently on holiday in Santorini on the Aegean Sea with her mom Demi and siblings Tallulah, 27, and Scout, 29.

Rumer is the eldest child of Demi, 58, and former husband Bruce Willis, 66.
Steve Irwin's 'hot niece' Rebecca Lobie, 33, has all but confirmed her upcoming debut on OnlyFans.

The mother-of-two, who is said to be estranged from her squeaky clean cousin Bindi, strongly suggested she's set to join the subscription-based adult website on Monday by re-sharing post by her OnlyFans creator pal Lahnee Pavlovich.

Lahnee, a self-proclaimed sex expert and educator, had mentioned Rebecca in an Instagram Q&A after a follower asked her to name someone she'd like to 'collaborate' with on OnlyFans.

Coming soon! Steve Irwin's 'hot niece' Rebecca Lobie, 33, (pictured) all but confirmed she's joining OnlyFans on Monday

'Rebecca Lobie [fire emojis, love-heart eye emoji]', Lahnee responded to the fan, uploading a raunchy photo of Rebecca posing in a plaid skirt and crop-top.

'Stay tuned,' Lahnee added, alongside a cheeky monkey emoji.

OnlyFans allows users to sell photos and videos for a monthly fee. Content ranges from something as innocent as a suggestive selfie all the way to hardcore porn.

'Stay tuned': The mother-of-two, who is said to be estranged from her squeaky clean cousin Bindi, strongly suggested she's set to join the subscription-based adult website on Monday by re-sharing post by her OnlyFans creator pal Lahnee Pavlovich

Teaming up? Lahnee (pictured), a self-proclaimed sex expert and educator, had mentioned Rebecca in an Instagram Q&A after a follower asked her to name someone she'd like to 'collaborate' with on OnlyFans

Rebecca has been hinting at a starting an OnlyFans page for some time now.

In April, she uploaded a series of Instagram Posts documenting a raunchy photo shoot with Queensland photographer Tristan Manas - who often works with OnlyFans creators.

She explained in her caption: 'A little behind the scenes with @tristanmanas! Whos excited to see the pics from this shoot?'

Looking good: In April, she uploaded a series of Instagram Posts documenting a raunchy photo shoot with Queensland photographer Tristan Manas (pictured) - who often works with OnlyFans creators

A month later, Rebecca confirmed that she wasn't against the idea of joining the risque platform.

'People should be allowed to express themselves how they feel like without the judgement of others,' she wrote on Instagram Stories, as reported by New Idea.

'And if I did [join OnlyFans], why this stigma around this platform?' she queried.

'Why this stigma around this platform?' A month later, Rebecca confirmed that she wasn't against the idea of joining the risque platform

She's not shy! Rebecca rose to prominence in September 2019, thanks to her sexy snapshots and connection to the Irwin family

Rebecca rose to prominence in September 2019, thanks to her sexy snapshots and connection to the Irwin family.

She's the daughter of Steve Irwin's sister Joy and Frank Muscillo.

Rebecca was previously the managing director of the Irwin family's Australia Zoo, but left in December 2015.
Jeremy Clarkson On TV

Rating:

A Lake District Farm Shop

Rating:

Anything Jeremy Clarkson can do, it seems, Chris Tarrant could do better. Jezza himself admits as much.

There is Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? of course, which returned on Saturday. After a lamentable beginning, Clarkson has found his feet on the show, though he still enters the studio with the opposite of a swagger  a sheepish shuffle, like a bloke sidling into the office on his day off, to collect his hat.

Hes no longer embarrassed that he doesnt know many of the easier answers, let alone the tough ones.

When George from Reading was asked which city natives took their nickname from a local dish  Geordies, Scousers, Brummies or Cockneys  Clarkson admitted that he thought it was the Londoners.

If youd asked me, Id have said Cockney, after cockles something-or-other, he said.

After a lamentable beginning, Clarkson has found his feet on the show, though he still enters the studio with the opposite of a swagger

Apparently Jeremy has never eaten Liverpools scouse stew . . . or, if he has, he calls it beef and potato something-or-other.

The show was always better under Tarrants gimlet gaze. He had a knack of narrowing his eyes and studying the contestants that made them doubt they knew their own names, never mind the answers.

J.C. confesses his debt to C.T. in his Amazon Prime hit, Clarksons Farm. The eight-part streaming video series sees him learning the rudiments of agriculture and setting up a farm shop on his Cotswold estate. One project involves bottling the local Chadlington mineral water  first discovered for TV by Tarrant, when he was a news reporter in the early Seventies.

Watching footage of his predecessor sampling the spring and interviewing locals, Clarkson complains: I just live in the mans shadow.

And the shadow is inescapable, as he presents On Television (ITV)  a series Tarrant hosted for 16 years, from 1990. Jeremy hosted a one-off revival last Christmas and, despite the fact he doesnt do it half as well, it appears hes intent on keeping the job.

You wonder why he doesnt go the whole hog and bring back Tiswas.

Clive James first made the format a success, with a compendium of terrible TV clips from around the world. What we loved best was Endurance, a Japanese gameshow that subjected contestants to actual physical torture.

The winner was the last one to be hospitalised. Clarkson opened with a gem from an Icelandic quiz called Gettu Betur, that saw one aggrieved player kick over his podium, throw water at a rival and storm off shouting.

J.C. confesses his debt to C.T. in his Amazon Prime hit, Clarksons Farm. The eight-part streaming video series sees him learning the rudiments of agriculture and setting up a farm shop on his Cotswold estate

But the rest of the 40 minutes was mostly a round-up of Clarksons personal grudges. These included a series of digs at BBC1s One Show  clearly not forgiven for making sarcastic noises back in 2016 when he quit Top Gear.

There was a jeer too at Freddie Flintoff, who now fronts Top Gear. Clarkson lambasted him as one of a collection of random celebrities talking on subjects about which they know nothing.

He ended, incredibly, with a jibe at Chris Tarrant and his shouty style of commentary. Clarkson is famous for his bellowing. Whoever did he copy that from?

If he wants to learn how to run a farm shop without tantrums or yelling, Tebay service station in Cumbria supplies the template.

Instead of offering the usual overpriced meal deals, there are aisles of delicious local produce on display. A Lake District Farm Shop (C4) celebrated this gourmet stopover. Theres no reason why a truck driver doesnt want good food, says head buyer Alex.

The documentary is so lightweight, its practically calorie-free. But the shop looks well worth a journey up the M6.

Wet blanket of the weekend: Witless gameshow The Void (ITV) involves 15 people falling in slow motion, over and over again, into a swimming pool  or, as hyper-ventilating host Ashley Banjo calls it, 500 tons of unforgiving water. Its an hour long but felt much longer.
She is a proud mother to one-year-old daughter Tullulah and newborn son Rocky.

And Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) is every inch the doting mother as she poses with her children in a stunning shoot for the August edition of Marie Claire magazine.

In one image, the model, 29, looks effortlessly chic in a printed orange dress as she breastfeeds her son Rocky while relaxing on the grass.

Motherhood: Jesinta Franklin is every inch the doting mother as she breastfeeds her four-month-old son Rocky in a photo shoot for Marie Claire Australia magazine

Her brunette locks are left out and she shows off her natural beauty with a neutral palette of makeup.

Jesinta cradles Rocky in her arms as she breastfeeds him while looking into the camera, while wearing a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet worth $11,100.

In another photo, the wife of footy star Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, laughs as she holds her daughter's hand and runs along the grass.

She looks stylish in a colourful layered dress and a pair of beige cowboy boots.

Doting mother: In another photo, the wife of footy star Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, laughs as she holds her daughter's hand and runs along the grass

In a third image, Jesinta embraces her two young children.

The model poses for the camera while Rocky and Tullulah's faces are not visible in the shoot.

She also graces the cover of Marie Clarie with her newborn son.

Family: In a third image, Jesinta embraces her two young children

During her interview with Marie Claire, Jesinta revealed why she keeps her children's faces hidden.

'It is a bit about privacy but for us it is not about hiding them,' she said.

'I think every parent is just so proud of their children and wants to show them off at any chance that they can get.

'We share photos with our family and friends all of the time. It is just about being respectful to their privacy and if they get to 13 or 14 and don't care if we show their faces, great.'

Jesinta added: 'Right now, we don't know what they want to do with their lives and if they've had their whole life documented on social media, for us we didn't think that was fair on them.'
She is one of the best dressed women in Australia.

And former ballerina-turned-fashion blogger Rozalia Russian did not let her fans down as she attended a swanky event in Melbourne on Saturday evening.

The 31-year-old showed off her rock-hard abs in a stunning midriff-baring bedazzled gown with thigh-high split by Michael Lo Sordo.

Abs-olutely incredible! Former ballerina-turned-fashion blogger Rozalia Russian showed off her rock hard stomach in a midriff-baring bedazzled gown with thigh-high split as she attended an event in Melbourne

The black crystalline Luna dress retails for around $890, and is cut from lustrous silk-satin and features skin-baring cut-outs at the waist and crystal-encrusted trim around the bust and waist.

The brunette beauty teamed the stunning floor-length ensemble with some bejewelled sky-high strappy stilettos.

She sported a deep tan and a dewy makeup palette while her glossy locks tumbled around her shoulders.

Rozalia recently revealed her $954 beauty and skincare regimen.

Taking to Instagram and her official website, she credited MUSQ skincare in giving her a 'soft and glowing' visage.

Perfect: The brunette beauty teamed the stunning floor-length ensemble with some bejewelled sky-high stilettos

'My skin is soft and glowing': Rozalia, 31, recently revealed her $954 beauty routine

Rozalia revealed her favourite fragrances to be Narciso Rodriguez For Her, retailing for $139, Le Labo Fragrances' Santal scent at $421, and Dyptique's Geranium at $184.

'I have worn Narciso Rodriguez for as long as I can remember, and lately I have been wearing Le Labo Fragrances' Santal and Dyptique's Geranium,' the blogger told her Instagram followers.

To keep her skin looking refreshed, Rozalia applies a few drops of Bio Effect's Enhancing Facial Essence daily, retailing for $135.

Also taking to her website, the mother-of-two said she swears by MUSQ skincare products in keeping her skin 'soft and glowing'.

Fragrances: Taking to Instagram Stories, she revealed her favourite fragrances to be Narciso Rodriguez For Her, Le Labo Fragrances' Santal scent and Dyptique's Geranium

Beauty: To keep her skin looking refreshed, Rozalia applies a few drops of Bio Effect's Enhancing Facial Essence daily, retailing for $135

Their $19 Face and Body Exfoliant was the product that started her love affair with the brand.

'Any time I would use it, my skin was so soft and glowing,' she gushed. 'After that, I tried out a few of their other products and I loved them all just as much.'

Rozalia said she uses their $39 Creme Foundation 'for a light, everyday' coverage, and the Replenish Serum, retailing for $17.

Flawless: The mother-of-two uses MUSQ skincare's $39 Creme Foundation 'for a light, everyday' coverage

Melbourne's power couple: Rozalia wed Nick Russian at event venue Luminare in South Melbourne, Victoria, in March 2012. The couple are pictured in November this year

The brunette beauty wed Nick Russian at event venue Luminare in South Melbourne, Victoria, in March 2012.

Rozalia told Real Weddings that her favourite moment from the nuptials will always be walking down the aisle.

'It was only when I saw all the beautiful flowers and my groom that all the emotions hit me and I really felt like I was getting married, and the look on his face is something I will never forget,' she said.

Rozalia and Nick are proud parents to daughter Willow, six, and son Kingston, two.
They announced they were engaged and expecting twins on Monday.

And hours after sharing the news, Married at First Sight stars Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson, both 32, let slip when their little ones are due during an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

'If you want to call one Kyle, I understand...' radio host Kyle Sandilands cheekily said after calling up the couple at 8:30am.

More baby news! Married at First Sight stars Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson seemingly confirmed their twins' due date on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday

Bryce then hinted at when the twins are set to arrive, saying: 'What's uncle Kyle doing somewhere around March? We'll probably need him for babysitting duty!'

When asked about baby names, Bryce responded: 'We've got probably about 10 boy and girl names, but because we don't know what the genders are, it's sort of hard.

'What we're hoping for is that they're both really healthy, and we know that they're coming into a loving family.'

Kyle joked the pair had announced the pregnancy as a publicity stunt, after months of speculation their controversial relationship was a 'showmance'.

Cheeky: Kyle joked the pair had announced the pregnancy as a publicity stunt, after months of speculation their controversial relationship was a 'showmance'

Making headlines: Bryce and Melissa's twins will be a world first for the Married At First Sight franchise. Pictured: The duo announcing the news on the cover of New Idea magazine

Shutting down the rumours, Melissa added: 'I've actually had a few comments come through saying "how pathetic to draw the process out" - but... no!'

The couple's twins will be a world first for the Married At First Sight franchise.

'It's been a whirlwind but we're so incredibly happy,' workplace trainer Melissa told New Idea magazine on Monday.

She added that getting married for real 'just felt like the next logical step' after exchanging vows in a non-legally binding ceremony on MAFS.

Engaged: Bryce proposed to his girlfriend during a helicopter tour across Melbourne, after picking out a black diamond ring together

Bryce proposed to his girlfriend during a helicopter tour across Melbourne, after picking out a black diamond ring together.

He said choosing a ring together 'isn't traditional, but neither are we'.

The couple are planning a 'low-key' wedding, but said they won't be inviting the show's relationship experts Mel Schilling, John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla.
Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic moved into their new home in Castlecrag on Sydney's Lower North Shore, last month.

And on Sunday, Jasmine, 37, gave followers a sneak peek inside their well-stocked refrigerator.

The Today host, 46, and the shoe designer's fridge is packed with milk, juice, sauces, cream and fresh vegetables.

Inside Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough's (pictured) well-stocked refrigerator - as they move into their 'modest' home on Sydney's lower north shore

The couple also had V2Food products in their refrigerator, which they used to create a Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner.

Jasmine asked her followers: 'Does anyone else stand in the fridge with the door open wondering what to eat?'

'With @V2Food, dinner has made it whole lot easier to make a decision... tonight it's a plant-powered spag bowl.'

Jasmine and Karl's one-year-old daughter Harper is also seen in the photo standing next to her mother.

Well-stocked: The Today host, 46, and the shoe designer's fridge is packed with milk, juice, sauces, cream and fresh vegetables

The couple recently moved into their new home in Castlecrag with their daughter.

Karl and Jasmine took ownership of the property two days before Sydney was forced into lockdown, reported Realestate.com.au.

The pair purchased the home in March for $3.2million after the house they had been renting nearby was sold for more than $8million.

Family home: Karl and Jasmine recently moved into their new home in Castlecrag with their daughter Harper

The new property, which the Stefanovics are expected to renovate, boasts views over Castlecrag's north escarpment and is close to the village's cafes and shops.

It includes a self-contained unit with a separate entry and its own bathroom.

They also own a holiday home on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which they bought for $3.6million in January last year and travel to frequently.
Blue Wiggle Anthony Field has proven why he's one of Australia's most generous performers.

Field, 58, confirmed this week that he's donating his royalties from The Wiggles' latest album Lullabies with Love to the family of a war veteran named Brendan Nikolajew, who is currently battling terminal cancer.

The children's entertainer, who also is a former army-man himself, told Sense Music Media that he'd removed his name from every track on the album and replaced it with Brendan's, so that all co-writing royalties would flow directly the Nikolajew clan.

Generous act: Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, 58 (pictured) has removes his name from every track in his new album and donated all royalties to a war veteran named Brendan Nikolajew, who is currently battling terminal cancer

'[Brendan is] one of those guys who you talk to and he just brightens up your life, even though he's going through the worst you could be going through,' Field told the publication.

'[Lullabies with Love] will give royalties to the kids and the family for a few years. Every so often, they'll get some money, which will be really great,' he added.

Field also promised that if The Wiggles' new album wins an ARIA Award, Nikolajew's two young children will be invited to attend the ceremony.

'Every so often, they'll get some money': Speaking to Sense Music Media, the children's entertainer confirmed that all co-writing royalties from the album would flow directly the Nikolajew clan. Pictured: Brendan in hospital with one of his children

Music icon: Field is one of the founding members of The Wiggles. Pictured L-R: The Wiggles band-members Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins, Lachlan Gillespie and Anthony Field

'I said to Brendan, 'I want you to know that these songs mean a lot to me, and I'm glad they do, because I want to give them to you, because you mean a lot to me.' He's a real life force, you know?' Field added.

Nikolajew, 29, fought for Australia as an artilleryman in Afghanistan, and has beaten testicular cancer three times in the space of two years.

In November, he received the devastating news that is cancer had spread, with doctors estimating that he had six to 12 months to live.

Tragic: Nikolajew, 29, fought for Australia as an artilleryman in Afghanistan, and has beaten testicular cancer three times in the space of two years. Pictured: Brendan posing with wife Leah and their two children Georgie and Roman

Nikolajew's is currently battling pneumonia at home and is receiving palliative care.

He's been told he has just days left to live.

'I want to win, I want to live and I'm going to give it my all, I was given days to live and I now feel with all the support and self belief, I can win,' he wrote on his GoFundMe page this week.

Nikolajew's GoFundMe page has so far raised $120,999 in donations.
She stunned on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday evening in a blush pink Grecian-style gown.

But Melissa George opted for NO clothes as she finished up her weekend at the famous event hours later.

The Aussie actress, 44, posed completely topless, wearing nothing but her Roger Vivier designer shoes after attending the Bergman Island screening.

Ooh la la! Melissa George went completely topless and wore nothing but her designer stilettos as she finished her weekend at Cannes Film Festival on Sunday evening

Just hours earlier, the former Home and Away star looked like a goddess in her swathy gown.

The former Home and Away star was absolutely glowing, sporting a dewy bronzed makeup palette and her auburn locks out in loose waves.

She carried a matching baby pink and wicker bag and boosted her already statuesque height in a pair of gold platform heels.

Her stylish turn on the red carpet comes after she was the epitome of Parisian chic at Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2021/2022 show in the famous city last week.

She's blushing! Just hours earlier, the former Home and Away star looked stunning in a blush pink Grecian-style gown with flowing train as she attended the Bergman Island screening during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on Sunday

Making an entrance: Melissa was beaming as she stepped onto the red carpet

Glowing: The former Home and Away stay was absolutely glowing, with a dewy bronzed makeup palette and her auburn locks out in loose waves

The actress turned heads in a sequined jacket and a matching beret from the designer.

She teamed the ensemble with a pair of wide-legged black trousers and strappy suede flats.

Melissa had her auburn hair coiffed in curls and painted her pout with red lipstick.

Perfect: She carried a matching baby pink and wicker bag and boosted her already statuesque height in a pair of gold platform heels

The former soap star currently lives in Paris with her two sons, Raphael, six, and Solal, four.

In 2012, Melissa was left furious when The Morning Show hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies played clips of her soap star days and asked her about her time on Home And Away.

News Corp reported that the actress had threatened to walk off set if her time on Home And Away was mentioned.

She's a long way from Summer Bay! Her stylish turn on the red carpet comes after she was the epitome of Parisian chic at Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2021/2022 show in the famous city last week

Tres chic! The actress turned heads in a sequined jacket and a matching beret from the designer

'She kept saying she's had so many bigger roles since Home And Away that it was offensive to talk about it - she even said she'd send Seven an invoice because she inadvertently promotes it through the media,' a source told The Daily Telegraph.

Melissa broke her silence about the incident in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, explaining she wasn't going to come back to Australia for a while because of the stress local media interviews caused her.

'I don't need credibility from my country any more, I just need them all to be quiet. If they have nothing intelligent to say, please don't speak to me any more,' she said.

'I'd rather be having a croissant and a little espresso in Paris or walking my French bulldog in New York City.'

Star-studded! Celina Locks, Malika Ayane, Roberta Armani, Hugo Marchand, Maria Bakalova, Diane Kruger, Ashely Park and Melissa (left to right) all attended the show
Radio host Lawrence Mooney has issued an apology to his 'Triple M family' after flouting Sydney's strict lockdown rules for a holiday in Byron Bay on July 2.

On Monday, the Moonman In The Morning host said he was taking 'full responsibility' for his actions, before criticising himself for acting like 'the rules didn't apply to him'.

'I'd like to apologise to the Triple M family for acting like king c'**k of c**k Island,' he told his co-hosts Jess Eva and Chris Page.

Sorry: Radio host Lawrence Mooney has issued a grovelling apology to his Triple M family after flouting Sydney's lockdown rules for a holiday to Byron Bay on July 2

Mooney, who copped a $1000 fine for his breach, also apologised to NSW Police for 'wasting resources, in having them rock around to my joint to hear my story and then issue a notice'.

'Today I front the Court of Cant's in the full knowledge that I have done the wrong thing, copped my fair whack from the constabulary to whit a $1,000 fine and take full responsibility for my actions,' he continued.

'Moonman, you can't act like the rules don't apply to you.'

Mooney lives in the Southern Highlands and works in the Sydney CBD, so under the city's lockdown rules should have stayed home instead of travelling to Byron.

Co-hosts: Mooney hosts Moonman In The Morning alongside Jess Eva (centre) & Chris Page (left)

'I worked in a red zone in the Tower of Sound in World Square  that being Greater Sydney  lived in a Green Zone, the Southern Highlands, didn't self-isolate for the required 14 days before holidaying in another Green Zone, Byron Bay,' he added.

'I transgressed a public health order. Moonman, you cannot sit in judgement of others and then flagrantly flout the rules. Moonman, you can't.'

He went on to say that he understand the severity of the situation, before pleading with others to not follow his example.

'In all seriousness Sydney, and inevitably New South Wales, is entering a dire period of the contagion,' he added.

Busted: Mooney's Byron Bay activities included a spot of horse riding, as well as a catch up with fellow comedian Jimeoin at the Hotel Brunswick

'My actions, were they to be repeated, could end up in extended lockdowns, illness and death. That's the height of the stakes we're talking about, and I don't shirk from the seriousness or my part as an example to others.

'I should have stayed put, but instead headed to Byron Bay to holiday when I should have stayed home.'

During his getaway to Bryon Bay, the radio host shared several social media images documenting his relaxed escape.

His activities included a spot of horse riding, as well as a catch up with fellow comedian Jimeoin at the Hotel Brunswick.

Before taking responsibility for his actions, Mooney had initially apologised and told The Daily Telegraph he didn't realise the restrictions applied to him.

Explanation: Before taking responsibility for his actions, Mooney had initially apologised and told The Daily Telegraph he didn't realise the restrictions applied to him

'I feel like an absolute goose for not realising I wasn't permitted to travel to Byron Bay during my break,' he said. 'I live in a green zone (the Southern Highlands) and am permitted to travel to Sydney for work as an essential service worker.

'I travelled directly between home and work. I mistakenly believed because my home is in a green zone and Byron Bay is in a green zone I could travel there. I also had a Covid test before I departed.'

Fellow radio host Ben Fordham later lashed out at the Triple M star on his own radio show.

Error: 'I mistakenly believed because my home is in a green zone and Byron Bay is in a green zone I could travel there,' Mooney claimed

'I know Lawrence, he's not a bad person, but he's had a shocker here,' Fordham said. 'There's a problem. He did know he wasn't allowed to travel to Byron Bay, and I'll prove it to you right now..'

He then played damming audio of Mooney reading out the lockdown rules on his show before jetting off to Byron Bay.

After airing the audio, Fordham said: 'When he was busted, Lawrence Mooney said he feels like an absolute goose for not realising.

'Lawrence, you knew you couldn't go - you said it yourself! Busted. Lawrence Mooney, you can't be serious.'
She often complains about trolls on social media, claiming she gets harassed with death threats and inappropriate sexual photos.

So you'd think former Bachelorette Georgia Love would take her own advice when it comes to insulting strangers on the Internet.

But that doesn't seem to be the case, as the Seven News journalist, 32, couldn't resist firing off a nasty tweet about a Married At First Sight couple on Monday.

From The Bachelorette to the gutter: Georgia Love (pictured) posted a shocking tweet about Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson's pregnancy announcement on Monday

Responding to Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson's pregnancy announcement, she posted a close-up image of Bryce from his photo shoot with New Idea, and wrote: 'Siri, show me the face of "I've taken it too far".'

Her tweet plays into false rumours circulating online that Bryce and Melissa's relationship is a 'showmance' and their pregnancy is a publicity stunt - claims the couple have strenuously denied.

Georgia faced swift backlash for her Twitter post, with one user responding: 'Fancy being a gratuitous attention-seeking ex-reality show wannabe, and trolling another ex-reality show wannabe.'

Mean: Responding to Bryce and Melissa's pregnancy announcement, she posted an image of Bryce from his shoot with New Idea, and wrote: 'Siri, show me the face of "I've taken it too far"'

Nasty: Her tweet plays into false rumours that Bryce and Melissa's relationship is 'fake' and their pregnancy is a publicity stunt - claims the couple have strenuously denied

'How about just be kind?' another tweeted, while a third wrote: 'S**t tweet.'

A fourth commented: 'You're actually horrible. Leave them be; it's not your business.'

Similar tweets included: 'You are just as bad being an online troll and bully. Not nice at all' and 'No need to shame people!'

Ouch: Georgia faced swift backlash, with one Twitter user responding: 'Fancy being an attention-seeking ex-reality show wannabe, and trolling another ex-reality show wannabe

Pushback: Similar tweets included: 'You are just as bad being an online troll and bully. Not nice at all' and 'No need to shame people!'

Georgia often faces pushback for her tone-deaf tweets.

In December, she was criticised for her humble-brag post about buying a house with fiance Lee Elliott and 'launching two businesses... during a global pandemic'.

The ensuing Twitter storm saw her temporarily quit the platform, citing alleged 'death threats' and 'trolling'.

Tone-deaf: In December, Georgia was criticised for her humble-brag post about buying a house with fiance Lee Elliott (left) and 'launching two businesses... during a global pandemic'

'I'm out': The ensuing Twitter storm saw her temporarily quit the platform, citing alleged 'death threats' and 'trolling'

That same month, she was called out by Dale Thomas - the former Collingwood player she had ratted out 18 months earlier when she spotted him drinking alcohol at a charity event two days before a game, resulting in a one-match suspension.

Dale, 34, mocked Georgia for complaining about getting trolled on Twitter, reminding her that she'd kicked him while he was down in 2019 when she gleefully tweeted: 'I was there and saw him. There's no way he'd only had three drinks.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Georgia's publicist, Grace Braithwaite at 22 Management, for comment.

Error of judgement: That same month, she was called out by Dale Thomas (pictured) - the former Collingwood player she had ratted out 18 months earlier when she spotted him drinking alcohol at a charity event two days before a game, resulting in a one-match suspension

Sticking the boot in: Dale, 34, mocked Georgia for complaining about getting trolled on Twitter, reminding her that she'd kicked him while he was down in 2019 when she gleefully tweeted: 'I was there and saw him. There's no way he'd only had three drinks' (pictured)

Melissa and Bryce, both 32, announced their pregnancy and engagement news in a front-page exclusive with New Idea on Monday.

'This is all such a blessing to be able to bring two children into the world together. We're on cloud nine,' said radio announcer Bryce.

'It's been a whirlwind but we're so happy,' added workplace trainer Melissa.

Whirlwind: Melissa and Bryce, both 32, announced their pregnancy and engagement news in a front-page exclusive with New Idea on Monday. Pictured filming MAFS in Sydney last year

Melissa later revealed on Kyle and Jackie O she had been sent hurtful messages on Instagram suggesting her relationship and pregnancy were just for publicity.

'I've actually had a few comments come through saying "how pathetic to draw the process out" - but... no!' she said.

Melissa has been trolled relentlessly since her debut on MAFS, with much of the abuse coming from other women who claim they are 'protecting' her from Bryce.

Toxic: Melissa has been trolled relentlessly since her debut on MAFS, with much of the abuse coming from other women who claim they are 'protecting' her from Bryce

The couple's union on Married At First Sight was a flashpoint of controversy this year.

Some viewers accused Bryce of 'domestic abuse' and gaslighting, but Melissa always maintained she didn't view their relationship as abusive.

A Change.org petition calling for Channel Nine to apologise for 'failing in its duty of care' towards Melissa gained thousands of signatures.

However, the campaign was dismissed by the network and show producers.
The teen comedy film Mean Girls, starring Lindsay Lohan in the lead role of Cady Heron, was a breakout hit in 2004, earning over $130 million on a $17 million budget.

But in the 17 years since its release, the film has seemingly seen its popularity sustain, and even grow, with a cult-like following that's turned it into a pop-culture phenomenon.

And over the weekend Amanda Seyfried, who starred as Karen Smith, member of The Plastics, pulled on the nostalgic strings of fans and her former co-stars alike when she shared a never-before-seen photo taken behind-the-scenes in 2003.

BTS: Amanda Seyfried shared a never-before-seen photo of some of the stars of Mean Girls; the throwback features Lizzy Caplan, Seyfried, Daniel Franzese, Lacey Chabert, Lindsay Lohan and Jonathan Bennett

Along with Seyfried, the photo included Lohan, Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Bennett, Daniel Franzese and Lizzy Caplan.

The now 35-year--old actress captioned her post, '#FBF weekends in 2003, baby.'

It didn't take long before nearly everyone in the photo chimed in to share a comment or a memory from their experience working on the movie, which was written by Tina Fey.

While commenting herself, Seyfried revealed the photo was taken at a restaurant.

Blast from the pst: Seyfried, who starred as Karen Smith, member of The Plastics, revealed the throwback photo was taken in a restaurant in Toronto during a break from shooting in 2003

Franzese, who played the flamboyant Damian Leigh, Janis and Cady's best friend, wrote, 'You look just as young and beautiful still,' before reposting it on his own Instagram page.

'It's almost like we really went to high school together at this point. #fbf Via the timeless @mingey,' the 43-year-old wrote in the caption of the repost.

Chabert, 38, who played Gretchen Wieners, also felt compelled to jump into the mix, commenting on Seyfried 's post, 'Wow. So many good memories!'

When she reposted it she added, 'I just had to repost this from @mingey Brought back so many good memories. #2003 #meangirls #toronto #memories.'

Lohan showed similar enthusiasm, adding, 'Such a fun time! A great team!' in the comments section.

Walk down memory lane: 'Such a fun time! A great team!' Lohan commented; Lohan is pictured in a scene with Seyfried and Lacey Chabert

'We are babies,' Bennett chimed in, along with a couple of hand clap emojis. He portrayed Aaron Samuels, Regina's ex-boyfriend, and Cady's love interest in the Mark Waters directed film.

Celebrities were among the fans who also jumped into the online conversations, including Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson who wrote, 'Wow this is next level.'

More celebrity fans jumped into the conversation to share their thoughts about the throwback, as well as the mini-reunion happening in the comments, with Jesse Tyler Ferguson writing, "Wow this is next level."

Game Of Thrones actress Sophie Turner simply shared, 'Iconique,' while Young & Hungry actor Jonathan Sadowski seemed sum up what many fans wrote, by commenting, 'WOOOOOOOOOW!'

The Plastics: Chabert, who played Gretchen Wieners, commenting on Seyfried 's post, writing, 'Wow. So many good memories!'; Chabert is pictured on the far right in a scene with Lohan, Seyfried, and Rachel McAdams

Mean Girls also starred Rachel McAdams, Rajiv Surendra, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Amy Poehler, Ana Gasteyer, Neil Flynn, Daniel DeSanto, Diego Klattenhoff, Alisha Morrison, Julia Chantrey, Dwayne Hill, Jonathan Malen and Nicole Crimi.

Fey based the story on Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 non-fiction self-help book, Queen Bees And Wannabes, which describes female high school social cliques and the damaging effects they can have on girls. The Saturday Night Live alum also drew inspiration from her own experience going to high school in Pennsylvania.

Although set in the Chicago suburb of Evanstan, Illinois, filming took place mostly in Toronto, Canada and Montclair, New Jersey from September to November 2003.

Chiming in: All of the cast in the throwback snap shared a comment with the exception of Lizzy Caplan, who's known to not to be a consistent user of social media

Over the years, fans have made GIFs and memes of the film and posted them on social media.

October 3 has even been dubbed 'Mean Girls Day' on social media, in reference to a memorable scene in the film where Aaron Samuels (Bennett), the popular guy in high school, asks Cady Heron (Lohan) what day it is.

'I began talking to Aaron more and more. On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was,' she says in a voiceover before telling him directly, 'It's October 3rd.'

Along with its hilarious screenplay, Mean Girls' success has also been attributed to the relatable script that's considered one of the most quotable movies of all time.
She recently announced she'd given up drinking alcohol during Melbourne's 112-day lockdown last year.

And Nova radio host Chrissie Swan, 47, showed off her recent weight loss while out and about Melbourne.

Looking happy and healthy, the Celebrity MasterChef star was seen delivering a homemade cake to a local cafe, enjoying a friendly discussion with the owner.

Looking great! Nova radio host Chrissie Swan, 47, looked like a brand new woman as she showed off her recent weight loss while out and about Melbourne on Saturday

Chrissie highlighted her new silhouette in a form-fitting ensemble, sporting black jeans, blue sneakers, and a quirky jumper emblazoned with the words: 'be kind, it's gangster.

She wore minimal makeup for the low-key outing and allowed her chestnut mane to fall in loose waves by her shoulders.

After delivering the cake to the cafe, the Big Brother alumnus purchased a take-away coffee and what looked to be a jar of jam at the counter.

Transformation: Chrissie gave up alcohol earlier this year following Melbourne's notorious 112-day lockdown, which ended in October 2020. Pictured left in April 2017, right in July

Trim and terrific! Chrissie highlighted her new silhouette in a form-fitting ensemble, sporting black jeans, blue sneakers, and a quirky jumper emblazoned with the words: 'be kind, it's gangster

Natural look: She wore minimal makeup for the low-key outing and allowed her chestnut mane to fall in loose waves by her shoulders

She then struck up an animated-looking conversation with the cafe owner - who appeared to already be on friendly terms with the star.

Chrissie gave up alcohol earlier this year following Melbourne's notorious four-month lockdown.

In March, Chrissie said she was feeling better than ever following a booze-free night of karaoke with a girlfriend.

Coffee break: After delivering the cake to the cafe, the Big Brother alumnus purchased a take-away coffee and what looked to be a jar of jam at the counter

Catching up: She then struck up an animated-looking conversation with the cafe owner - who appeared to already be on friendly terms with the star

New beginnings: Chrissie gave up alcohol earlier this year following Melbourne's notorious four-month lockdown

'Booze-free activity degree of difficulty: 10 = karaoke. UNLOCKED! I cant quite believe it but it IS POSSIBLE. Fresh as a daisy this morning and I still have my voice!' she wrote alongside a selfie of the pair.

In April, the Melbourne-based mother-of-three said her sleep had also improved since giving up alcohol.

'I stopped drinking booze of any kind (alcohol is diabolical for sleep and anxiety too)' she explained, as she detailed a sleep study she was taking part in.

'I cant quite believe it but it IS POSSIBLE': In March, Chrissie said she was feeling better than ever following a booze-free night of karaoke with a girlfriend

Benefits: In April, the Melbourne-based mother-of-three said her sleep had also improved since giving up alcohol
She announced the birth of her first child, a baby boy, on Thursday.

And on Sunday, Kate Peck was every inch the doting mother as she stepped out with her newborn son Montgomery James Peck.

The Australian model and presenter, 33, cradled her baby boy as she checked out of a hotel in Sydney's Wooloomooloo.

Doting mother: Model Kate Peck stepped out with her newborn son Montgomery in Sydney on Sunday - three days after welcoming him into the world

Kate dressed for comfort in navy pants, a white T-shirt and beige puffer jacket as she held her baby and pushed the pram.

She teamed her ensemble with a pair of white sneakers and sunglasses.

Kate was seen leaving the hotel before being picked up by her partner James.

The model and Montgomery are believed to have stayed at the hotel overnight while the family moved into their new home.

New mum: The Australian model and presenter cradled her baby boy as she checked out of a hotel in Sydney's Wooloomooloo

Kate announced the arrival of her newborn son to Instagram on Thursday.

She gushed about her 'gorgeous and healthy' baby, but admitted it was a tough birth and she's been left a 'tad traumatised' by it all.

Along with the announcement, Kate posted several pictures of herself cradling her newborn on her chest and tummy.

'Meet Sir Squishface,' she wrote in the caption. 'Aka Montgomery James Peck... our beautiful new lil man.'

Comfort: Kate dressed for comfort in navy pants, a white T-shirt and beige puffer jacket as she held her baby and pushed the pram

Going home: Kate was seen leaving the hotel and being picked up by her partner James. The model and Montgomery are believed to have stayed at the hotel overnight while the family moved into their new home

Kate explained she opted for a natural birth and admitted it was the 'hardest, most unbelievably painful thing I've ever done'.

'After a very hectic birth, I was whisked away for theatre surgery - I genuinely think James and I are a tad traumatised,' she wrote of her partner.

She said James could only visit for two hours a day due to covid-19 restrictions and said she has a 'slow and long recovery ahead.'

New addition: Kate shared the arrival of her newborn son to Instagram on Thursday

She added she now has a 'whole new level of respect for mums.'

'He's gorgeous and healthy but far out Brussels sprout... this s**t is not for the faint hearted. But we survived,' she added in the post.

Kate stepped away from the spotlight during her pregnancy.

She hasn't publicly revealed the identity of her child's father, but it's understood she is in a relationship.
She's the fashionable wife of radio personality Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli.

And almost sixteen months after welcoming daughter Francesca Vera Alice into the world, Lisa Wipfli has revealed that she hopes she will follow in her footsteps.

'Francesca's fashion game is not strong,' she recently told Daily Mail Australia.

EXCLUSIVE: Radio WAG Lisa Wipfli says that she hopes that her daughter Francesca Vera Alice will follow in her footsteps as she discusses her love for fashion

'We pull the little feet straws around and stay in tracksuits most of the day, but that's because I just want to get her dirty and have fun and play.'

'Maybe as she gets older,' she laughed. 'She's already showing signs that she's into the fashion game.'

'So maybe Francesca will be following in my footsteps, and then I've got lots of nice little pieces to give her as she gets older.'

In time! 'Francesca's fashion game is not strong,' she recently told Daily Mail Australia. Lisa explained that her daughter was already showing signs of being into the fashion game. Pictured alongside her radio star husband Michael 'Wippa'

Sustainable: 'I'm all about sustainability rather than the fast fashion and throwing it out, so that's been something that I've focused on,' she said of her wardrobe

Despite living a life of luxury at their $6.5million Rose Bay mansion, Lisa credits being a 'bogan at heart' for her and her husband's down-to-earth personalities.

'We both come from very real families,' she said.

'I'm a Brissie girl. I'm a bogan at heart. I don't get caught up in any of those smoke and mirrors and all that silliness and Mike is the same, to be honest with you.'

Down to Earth: But despite living a life of luxury at their $6.5million Rose Bay mansion, Lisa credits being a 'bogan at heart' for her and her husband's down-to-earth personalities

'Fashion to me is kind of a sense of expression. I've always loved fashion and a bit of creativity,' she said.

'I'm one of those people that buys less, but buys nice things,' she added.

'I'm all about sustainability rather than the fast fashion and throwing it out, so that's been something that I've focused on.'

Lisa explained that she considers herself lucky to have a nice wardrobe.

'It's just one of the things that I love as a woman. Some girls aren't into it, and then there are girls like me who love it.'
Cardi B made her daughter Kulture's last birthday before becoming a big sister one to remember with an unforgettable piece of jewelry on Sunday.

Just days after throwing her three-year-old little girl a princess-themed party, the 28-year-old rapper kept the surprises coming for her tot at a dinner.

'Her daddy out did me but I still got my baby nice [smiley face emoji],' the Hustlers actress captioned her slideshow, which included videos and photos of a stunning diamond necklace with five custom charms.

Surprise! Cardi B made her daughter Kulture's last birthday before becoming a big sister one to remember with an unforgettable piece of jewelry on Sunday

The extravagant accessory, from Elliot Eliantte, featured charms of her first initial, a pink Hermes handbag, the Chanel logo, Minnie Mouse and a heart.

Kulture couldn't contain her excitement as she beamed at the necklace, which her mom helped her put on immediately.

Earlier in the day, Cardi, who is expecting her second kid with her husband Offset, 29, shared photos from their trip to the American Dream Meadowlands megamall theme park in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Exciting: Just days after throwing her three-year-old little girl a princess-themed party, the 28-year-old rapper kept the surprises coming as she gifted her tot a stunning diamond necklace with five custom charms

'Her daddy out did me but I still got my baby nice [smiley face emoji],' the Hustlers actress captioned her slideshow, which included videos and photos

The fun weekend came on the heels of a sensational fairytale-themed bash for her little girl.

In a string of Insta Stories the Bodak Yellow hitmaker let her fans in on the luxurious celebrations - including a petting zoo, women dressed up as Disney princesses, a towering Cinderella cake and a balloon tunnel.

Cardi and little Kulture were both wearing matching bubblegum pink ball gowns that were perfectly in tune with the theme of the evening.

Baby mine: Cardi pulled out the stops for her firstborn daughter Kulture's third birthday party on Saturday night

Only the best: The performer threw a sensational fairytale-themed bash for her little girl

One heartwarming video on Cardi's Insta Stories showed her cradling her bundle of joy amid a crowd of partygoers.

As the birthday girl Kulture was also wearing a glittering tiara and she had a smile on her face as her mother held her close.

Kulture could also be glimpsed in the arms of her father, who shot to fame in the group Migos with his relatives Quavo and Takeoff.

Wow: Cardi, Offset and Kulture: In a string of Insta Stories the Bodak Yellow hitmaker let her fans in on the luxurious celebrations - including a balloon tunnel

So sweet: Cardi and little Kulture were both wearing matching bubblegum pink ball gowns that were perfectly in tune with the theme of the evening

Such fun: One heartwarming video on Cardi's Insta Stories showed her cradling her bundle of joy amid a crowd of partygoers

A piece of cake: Kulture could also be glimpsed in the arms of her father, who shot to fame in the group Migos with his relatives Quavo and Takeoff

Offset cut a dapper figure in a three-piece suit without the jacket, complementing the snappy ensemble with a black bow tie.

The toddler stared in wonderment at an elaborate array of desserts that were laid out for the guests - with some letter-shaped pastries lined up to spell out her name.

Meanwhile Cardi made sure to include plenty of footage of herself to indicate what a good time she was having at the knees-up.

Daddy-daughter dance: Offset cut a dapper figure in a three-piece suit without the jacket, complementing the snappy ensemble with a black bow tie

What a display: The toddler stared in wonderment at an elaborate array of desserts that were laid out for the guests - with some letter-shaped pastries lined up to spell out her name

Meanwhile: Cardi made sure to include plenty of footage of herself to indicate what a good time she was having at the knees-up

The sizzling sensation had swept her hair up into a sky-high updo and she added a touch of dazzle with glittering hoop earrings.

Kulture's celebrations began when her pet puppy, whom Offset gifted her in May, was seen wearing a little fairy princess dress.

Then the birthday girl herself could be seen giggling in her own princess gown while sitting in a horse-drawn carriage festooned with flowers.

Her parents could be heard behind the camera cooing affectionately at her and wishing her a happy birthday as she arrived at the swank venue.

Busty bombshell: The sizzling sensation had swept her hair up into a sky-high updo and she added a touch of dazzle with glittering hoop earrings

Arriving in style: Then the birthday girl herself could be seen giggling in her own princess gown while sitting in a horse-drawn carriage festooned with flowers

Cardi joyfully called out her daughter's name as Kulture got to enjoy a brief ride on a pony with a little unicorn horn attached to its head.

The birthday girl was not the only guest who got to be in touch with nature - a whole petting zoo had been set up for the other children.

Soon it was time for Kulture to enter the venue which she was led into by a woman hired to dress as Princess Tiana from The Princess And The Frog.

'Tiana' led the little girl through a balloon tunnel that was done in rainbow colors for an almost psychedelic effect.

Having a ball: Cardi joyfully called out her daughter's name as Kulture got to enjoy a brief ride on a pony with a little unicorn horn attached to its head

Fun for all: The birthday girl was not the only guest who got to be in touch with nature - a whole petting zoo had been set up for the other children

On theme: Soon it was time for Kulture to enter the venue which she was led into by a woman hired to dress as Princess Tiana from The Princess And The Frog

Once she was in the 'castle' where her party was going to take place Kulture was met with the sight of her friends and their cheering parents.

Cardi's attention was immediately drawn to the sumptuous dining arrangements: 'Oh, snap, what is that? Is that a crab leg tower?'

Meanwhile Kulture got to delight in a large pink cart with glass-paned cabinets full of little figurines of Disney princesses.

Several women at the party were also dressed as Disney princesses to entertain the children, including Belle from Beauty And The Beast.

Something for everyone: Several women at the party were also dressed as Disney princesses to entertain the children, including Belle from Beauty And The Beast

Celebration: Tiana could be seen with an arm around the birthday girl
Meshel Laurie has responded to the slew of positive comments over her recent weight loss.

On Friday, she surprised fans by sharing a picture of her slimmed-down self after a live show in Melbourne.

The 47-year-old was soon inundated with praise, which she responded to in an Instagram comment.

Wow! Meshel Laurie has responded to the slew of positive comments over her recent weight loss. On Friday, she surprised fans by sharing a picture of her slimmed-down self after a live show in Melbourne

Meshel was coy in her reply, simply writing that she had a 'good photographer.'

The Instagram post shared on Friday was one of the first photos of herself that she had posted on social media all year, so fans were shocked by her new appearance.

Posting to Instagram, Meshel shared a photo alongside her podcast co-host Emily, donning an all-black ensemble and showing off her svelte new figure.

'Great show last night in Ringwood. Emily and I will be talking True Crime again on September 10 at the Yarraville Club.

Trim: Posting to Instagram, Meshel (right) shared a photo alongside her podcast co-host Emily (left), donning an all-black ensemble and showing off her svelte new figure

New look: The 47-year-old was soon inundated with praise, to which she finally responded to in an Instagram comment. Pictured in 2007

Humble: Meshel was was coy in her reply, simply writing that she had a 'good photographer'

'Link for tix in my bio. As you can see, we are two ladies who are quite pleased to be dressed up and out of the house,' she captioned the shot.

Meanwhile, fans flocked to the post to share kind words in celebration of her healthy new look.

'Meshel, you are looking incredible - love your whole look and you are absolutely glowing,' one wrote.

Support: Fans flocked to the post to share kind words. 'Meshel, you are looking incredible - love your whole look and you are absolutely glowing,' one wrote

'Regardless of what body size you are, you always look happiest doing what you love and it's GREAT to see,' a second added.

One fan went as far as to say the star was almost unrecognisable, commenting 'I don't mean to come across as anything but endearing but is that you on the right?'

Earlier this year, Meshel left her role at Wollongong radio station.

She is best known for appearing on The Project over the years, voicing radio and selling out comedy shows.

Changes: Meshel is pictured during an interview on YouTube back in 2015

She now hosts the popular podcast, Australian True Crime.

In 2017, she called out AFL WAG Rebecca Judd during an on-air chat with co-host Matt Tilley.

At the time she quipped: 'There's no photos of me holding my newborn twins in a bikini' before stating: 'God her body makes me mad.'
Her Instagram feed is littered with sizzling snaps of her jaw-dropping figure.

And Rhian Sugden posed for a topless snap while cheering on England ahead of their match against Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday which they sadly lost.

The glamour model, 34, sent temperatures soaring as she posed in a white T-shirt which she pulled up, covering her chest with her arms.

Wow: Rhian Sugden posed for a topless snap while cheering on England ahead of their match against Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday which they sadly lost

Showcasing her ample assets, Rhian fixed the camera with a sultry stare as she also donned red lingerie.

The model displayed her incredible figure in the post while styling her blonde locks into loose waves.

Alongsode the snap, Rhian wrote: 'The question is. Is it coming home? Come on Lads!!'

The sizzling post comes after Rhian revealed that a married businessman had offered her 200K to spend the night with him.

Sizzling: The glamour model's Instagram feed is littered with sizzling snaps of her jaw-dropping figure

The blonde bombshell also revealed that one inappropriate social media user asked if she could sleep with their wife so they could film it.

Rhian told fans on her Instagram Story last month: 'Eurgh there are some right creeps in my inbox this week.

'Just woke up to an offer of 200K for one night with a married businessman... and another offer to couple up with someone's wife and be filmed!!'

Rhian sternly ended her post with: 'Leave it out will you. This isn't a knocking shop,' followed by a 'barf' emoji.

Inappropriate: The sizzling post comes after Rhian revealed that a married businessman had offered her 200K to spend the night with him. The bombshell also revealed that one inappropriate social media user asked if she could sleep with their wife so they could film it

The social media star spent the UK's multiple lockdowns with her husband Oliver Mellor and their gorgeous dog.

Back in November, Rhian revealed her third round of IVF failed and said even though she was disappointed, she was 'OK'.

The couple, who wed in 2018, revealed last year they had endured gruelling IVF for 18 months.

Not impressed: Rhian sternly ended her Instagram Story post last month with: 'Leave it out will you. This isn't a knocking shop,' followed by a 'barf' emoji

The IVF treatment came after Rhian discovered she couldn't conceive naturally.

Before their third go, Rhian and Oliver bought a puppy and Rhian told Instagram fans: 'So many people told me that getting a puppy after failed IVF is a godsend and a good distraction.

'After two failed rounds I tell you what, I've not been this happy in months. My heart could burst.'
He's admitted he has fallen in love with the winner of his forthcoming season of The Bachelor.

And now James 'Jimmy' Nicholson has revealed he 'had no idea' what went on behind the scenes between the women vying for his heart, until his now-partner told him after the show wrapped.

'There was a lot that I wasn't aware of until I finished the show,' said the 31-year-old pilot.

News to him: Jimmy Nicholson (pictured) has revealed he 'had no idea' what went on behind the scenes between the women vying for his heart, until his now-partner told him after the show wrapped

Describing the female contestants as 'a mixed bag,' Jimmy admitted he was shocked to learn what was said among them out of his presence.

''I'm just like, "No, she didn't say that!?" or "She didnt do that!?"'

However, the pilot said he 'got it right' when he gave his final rose to the mystery woman he now calls his girlfriend.

Shook: Describing the female contestants as 'a mixed bag,' Jimmy, 31, admitted he was shocked to learn what was said among them out of his presence

The reveal comes after Nicholson confirmed he has picked a winner on the show and is happily in love.

Ahead of next week's season premiere, the Jetstar employee told New Idea: 'I have been in love twice before and I am happy to say that I'm in love now.'

He also told TV Week: 'I have found love. I dropped the L-bomb - I told her I loved her, which is a big thing for me - so I'm honestly really happy to say that.'

Doing the right thing: Bachelor fans won't have to worry about a Honey Badger 2.0 as Nicholson has confirmed he has picked a winner and is happily in love

It comes three years after rugby union player Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins infamously dumped both contestants during his finale in 2018.

Nick's decision shattered his 'Aussie larrikin' persona, turning him from a popular sporting hero into Australia's public enemy No. 1.

Jimmy also revealed he planned many of the dates on show himself, unlike previous Bachelors who rely on the producers to do it for them.

Picked a winner: Ahead of next week's season premiere, the 31-year-old airline pilot told New Idea: 'I have been in love twice before and I am happy to say that I'm in love now'

'Yes, I came up with most of them myself,' he told New Idea.

'I know I have limited time with the girls and I want to plan dates that would show the traits I was looking for in a girl.

'I asked my family what dates can we do and I gave [producers] one of the most extensive lists they have ever had.'

What a donut: It comes three years after rugby union player Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins infamously dumped both contestants during his finale in 2018

Jimmy is already on the publicity trail ahead of The Bachelor's ninth season.

The show was filmed earlier this year at a mansion in Sydney's west, which is now being used as the location for The Bachelorette.

The Bachelor premieres Wednesday, July 21 at 7:30pm on Channel 10
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They are both set to star in an upcoming film adaptation of the Japanese classic novel Ikiru.

And Aimee Lou Wood, 26, and Bill Nighy, 71, were both pictured wearing post WW2 period costumes in London on Monday when they worked on the set of Living.

The pair of actors looked to have embraced their roles as they walked around the film set wearing period costumes befitting of the 1950s.

New role: Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood teamed up with veteran actor Bill Nighy as they donned period costumes on the set of the upcoming film Living in London on Monday

Earlier role: Aimee rose to fame thanks to her role as Aimee Gibbs in the Netflix show Sex Education (pictured in the show)

Living, which has been written by Kazuo Ishiguro, is an adaptation of the 1952 novel Ikiru, which was originally penned by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni.

The original book was written in Japanese and had been translated into English for the adaptation.

The film, which is being directed by Oliver Hermanus, focuses on Nighy's character, a civil servant who finds himself rebuilding post-Second World War London in 1952.

Ready for action: The pair of actors looked to have embraced their roles as they walked around the film set wearing period costumes befitting of the 1950s

In character: Sex Education star Aimee looked radiant as she wandered around the set in a short-sleeved red shirt featuring a white diamond pattern

Good spirits: Bill seemed to be enjoying himself on the film set as he stopped for a chat with a member of the crew

In costume: Aimee's scarlet top was paired with a ridged white skirt, which was complemented perfectly by the white handbag she carried with her

His character discovers that he has a fatal illness and quickly sets out to discover a purpose and sense of meaning for his life before he dies.

He quickly becomes intrigued by a younger colleague who helps him utilise his years of experience to focus his energy towards completing a final big project.

Sex Education star Aimee looked radiant as she wandered around the set in a short-sleeved red shirt featuring a white diamond pattern.

Focused: Around her waist, Aimee also wore a striking red belt and she added height to her costume with a pair of white heels

Busy set: Bill meanwhile, sported a black pinstripe suit as he made his way around the film set

Enjoying her role: Living, which has been written by Kazuo Ishiguro, is an adaptation of the 1952 novel Ikiru, which was originally penned by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni

Her scarlet top was paired with a ridged white skirt, which was complemented perfectly by the white handbag she carried with her.

Around her waist, Aimee also wore a striking red belt and she added height to her costume with a pair of white heels. Bill meanwhile, sported a black pinstripe suit as he made his way around the film set.

The veteran actor sported a simple white shirt beneath his jacket and he wore a polka dot tie around his neck.

A pair of smart black shoes completed Bill's costume, and he was also spotted carrying around a black leather briefcase.

Speaking about the film, Variety reports that Ishiguro said: 'The inner story suggests that it's the responsibility of each of us to bring meaning and satisfaction to our life. That even against the odds, we should try to find a way to be proud of, and happy with, the lives we lead.

Having a laugh: Aimee seemed to be having a good time on the Living film set as she was spotted with a big grin on her face

Adaptation: The original book was written in Japanese and had been translated into English for the adaptation

Self-discovery: The film, which is being directed by Oliver Hermanus, focuses on Bill Nighy's character, a civil servant who finds himself rebuilding post-Second World War London in 1952

Searching for something: His character discovers that he has a fata illness and quickly sets out to discover a purpose and sense of meaning for his life before he dies

'I believe this story can speak to the many of us obliged to spend long hours each day anchored to desks and screens  all the more so in this era of COVID  struggling to see what our individual contributions can possibly amount to within the broader picture.'

While director Hermanus added that the purpose of the film is to show that one of the purposes of humanity is that each individual's small contribution might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but that each small effort to help others is what life is about.

Living is being developed by Film4 and Ingenious Media, and in association with Kurosawa Productions and executive producer Ko Kurosawa.

At home: Bill Nighy looked right at home in his pin-striped suit as he walked through the film set, which is based on London in 1952

Serious: Bill's character seemed to be lost in thought as he made his way along a pavement in London on Monday

Deep in conversation: Aimee and Bill stopped to chat with one another between takes

Receiving direction: Bill seemed focused on getting his role right as he took instructions on the scene being filmed
Roxy Jacenko is known for her flawless taste in her Vaucluse mansion.

And the 40-year-old proved it extends to her work from home office space when she gave fans a tour of her personal desk on Monday.

'Tonight I thought I'd give you a little tour as I often get direct messages about desk must-haves,' Roxy began in the footage shared to Instagram.

Work from home: PR queen Roxy Jacenko, 40, revealed her stunning office space in her Vaucluse mansion on Monday - after revealing how hard she has been hit by the pandemic

On her large white desk, both a desktop and a laptop computer were visible, and they were surrounded by dainty flower arrangements.

To the left of her main work space sat a Dior tote, to the right her trusty phone stand 'which is super helpful in the office, if I'm wanting to watch a Stan program while writing'.

A smattering of crystals were present near her keyboard, no doubt to help the PR maven remain Zen under pressure, alongside a picture of her children, Pixie and Hunter.

Glam: On her large white desk, both a desktop and a laptop computer were visible, and they were surrounded by dainty flower arrangements. To the left of her main work space sat a Dior tote, to the right her trusty phone stand ' which is super helpful in the office, if I'm wanting to watch a Stan program while writing'

Roxy, like the rest of Sydney, is under lockdown orders.

In the past, the powerhouse PR has made no secret of how hard the pandemic has hit her business.

The PR star faced an uphill struggle to keep her Sweaty Betty empire operational and profitable during the COVID-19 lockdowns last year.

Can't live without it: Roxy said she also can't live without her phone stand

'I do an online course, which is sort of half a million dollars a year in revenue for me,' she told The Australian in October last year.

'Because of COVID-19, we had to pivot the 700-person seminars and make them online. That has been a really good one for me,' she added.

Roxy revealed last year that losing '85 per cent' of her clients due to COVID-19 had made her reassess her career.

Changes: Roxy revealed last year that losing '85 per cent' of her clients due to COVID-19 had made her reassess her career

'It's been a realisation for me. I hated my job. I didn't like what I was doing,' she said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

'I'm now semi-retired,' she added, explaining that she wanted to focus on her family during the economic downturn.

The Sydney socialite later launched XRJ Celebrations.
She welcomed her son Fred with husband Bobby Kootstra on June 14.

And despite keeping her pregnancy a secret until just two weeks before giving birth, Katherine Ryan has shared many snaps of her little boy since welcoming him into the world last month.

On Saturday, the comedian, 37, took to Instagram to post both a throwback photo of herself and her daughter Violet alongside a picture of Fred sleeping on her chest, hinting that the newborn hadn't been on his best behavior over the weekend, writing: 'We were going out today but Fred chose violence.'

Little lad: Katherine Ryan, 38, shared a sweet photo of her newborn son Fred sleeping on her chest on Saturday, hilariously writing: 'We were going out today but Fred chose violence'

The little boy slept peacefully while Katherine posed for her followers, looking radiant in a plunging tank top and wearing her glossy blonde hair loose.

The mother-of-two accessorised with a chic gold necklace and wore two small hoops in each ear.

On Sunday, Katherine posted a heart-melting throwback photograph of herself cradling her daughter Violet, who she has from a previous relationship.

The image appears to have been taken during the little girl's christening, with both Violet  who is now 12  and Katherine wearing white dresses while posing inside a church.

The star wrote across the snap: 'Babies at baby church.'

Throwback: The star also posted a throwback photo of herself cradling her daughter Violet - now 12 - when she was just a tot

It comes weeks after the doting mother's husband Bobby, 39, uploaded a hilarious throwback snap of Katherine swigging a bottle of beer in her hospital bed shortly after welcoming Fred.

Alongside the post, Bobby - who wed Katherine in 2019 - wrote: 'Happy Birthday to the best wife and mum. We are all so lucky. Things have hardly changed... #loveyou'.

The couple announced the arrival of their son in June, with the comedian sharing a sweet selfie holding her baby to social media.

A few hours after first sharing the news, new dad Bobby also took to Instagram to reveal their little one's name and gush that Katherine was a 'total hero'.

Motherhood: Katherine enjoyed a beer in her hospital bed after welcoming her son Fred with husband Bobby on June 14

Alongside a stunning snap of the new parents about to head home with their son and posing on the steps of the Lindo Wing as well as a closer image of the tot.

Bobby penned: 'Our son Frederick Ryan Kootstra, born June 13th.

'Mom has the reproductive organs of a finely tuned Sportscar, and in a flash raced this baby over the line just in time for kickoff. She's a total hero 3 hours start to finish.'

Katherine rekindled her romance with childhood sweetheart Bobby  who was her boyfriend in high school - after returning to her native Canada while filming for the BBC ahead of their 2019 civil partnership.

But the comedian admitted she was initially skeptical of her feelings towards him.

Speaking in 2020, she told the Daily Mail: 'I tried to resist, I looked for reasons not to go ahead with the partnership because I genuinely loved my independent life.

'But everything was just so easy between us, and Bobby genuinely fitted in around both me and my daughter; he was an asset to both of us.'
John Mulaney was spotted enjoying a post-show cigarette after another night performing for fans at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

The comedian, 38, who has three more sold-out shows at the iconic LA venue, stepped out wearing a midnight blue long-sleeve top, jeans, and white Nike sneakers.

The SNL vet flashed a smile as he enjoyed the fresh air following another evening cracking jokes for fans on stage.

Comic legend: John Mulaney was spotted enjoying a post-show cigarette after another night performing at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on Sunday

John's dark brunette hair swept casually across his forehead as he stepped out into the warm summer night carrying his dark grey jacket.

After an action-packed night of making people laugh, the actor was no doubt ready to rest and relax and gear up for another night of comedy.

John has been delighting fans since May with his stand-up show John Mulaney: From Scratch, which he debuted at City Winery in Manhattan back in May. He has three more shows to go at the Troubadour until July 14.

The series comes amid John's divorce from wife Anna Marie Tendler and rumored new romance with Olivia Munn.

Keeping it casual: John's dark brunette hair swept casually across his forehead as he stepped out into the warm summer night carrying his dark grey jacket

Last week, Page Six reported that Anna had spent the last few days 'quietly' moving out of the Los Angeles home she shared with John.

Her decision comes after John went public with his new girlfriend Olivia Munn, who he reportedly met at church, sources told People.

The duo were recently seen dining al fresco together at Rick's Drive In & Out, where sources told People they 'were having a great time during lunch, laughing and talking.'

It's over: John filed for divorce from his wife Anna Marie Tendler earlier this year

'They were really enjoying each other's company,' the source said.

Olivia reportedly believes she found her 'dream guy' with John nearly one month into their relationship, which emerged just a few days after news broke of the comic's split.

'Olivia and John are going strong,' the insider told Us Weekly. 'She has been sneaking into some of his shows and loves them Olivia is so smitten.'

'John thinks Olivia is really smart and she makes him laugh too,' the source added. 'They both have a very dry sense of humor.'
Kim Zolciak's daughter Brielle Biermann posed in a red bikini while on vacation this weekend.

The influencer, 24, looked stunning as she had a toned body with impressive abs and sculpted arms while in the tiny two piece. 'Craving the ocean per usual,' she said in her caption.

This comes after her younger sister Ariana Biermann hit back at eating disorder speculation with a lengthy message detailing how exactly she shed nearly 50 pounds over the last few years.

Red-y for fun on the shore: Kim Zolciak's daughter Brielle Biermann posed in a red bikini while on vacation this weekend

In Brielle's new images she was on a fire engine red swing with a heart frame around her while at the Atlantis resort. The large hotel could be seen in the background.

The looker wore her hair down and had on pretty makeup as she posed away with three images making her Sunday post.

The star is best known for being on Real Housewives Of New Jersey and Don't Be Tardy. She was recently on the Bravo Kids special with Andy Cohen/

Meanwhile, Ariana has been accused of not eating enough.

Teeny: The influencer, 24, looked stunning as she had a toned body with impressive abs and sculpted arms while in the tiny two piece

In a lengthy message posted to her Instagram Stories, Ariana slammed the speculation and insisted it took several years of hard work for her to gradually arrive at the weight that she is at today.

'I'm so over everyone acting like I lost 50 pounds overnight,' the 19-year-old wrote on Friday. 'I was 167 my sophmore year. 145ish my junior, started really working out, eating healthy etc. January of 2020. I am now 118 over a year and a half later. I was 125 last summer. Please stop. I do not have an eating disorder.'

'I worked my a** off to get to were I am today. I am not sick. This is ridiculous and awful to say to someone. Stop commenting on peoples bodies and worry about yourself.'

When in the Caribbean...: In Brielle's new images she was on a fire engine red swing while at the Atlantis resort. The large hotel could be seen in the background

Hair to stay: The looker wore her hair down and had on pretty makeup as she posed away with three images making her Sunday post

To achieve her weight loss goals, Ariana says she went on runs wearing a waist trainer in 90 degree heat, counted calories, and hit the gym.

'I wish I could give yall some insane secret to get skinny overnight but I can't. That's not what I did. I ran 3-5 miles a day with a waist trainer on in 90 degree weather. It was hell. I went to the gym, and worked out.

'I went into a caloric deficit. I did intermittent fasting. I counted my calories. I ate healthy. I stopped snacking. I didn't drink soda anymore... So it is a process. It takes time. But believe in yourself. Do it for you. You got this s**t!'

Family time: Kim and her husband with their kids, including Ariana

The posts included images of Ariana throughout her exercise journey, such as shots of the reality star posing in front of the mirror following one of her many workouts.

'It was not easy. But it was the best thing I ever did for myself and my body,' Ariana wrote in a photo of herself looking fresh from a workout.

'Change doesn't happen overnight,' she added in another mirror selfie snap.

And her self-confidence was evident.

'I'm so happy with myself. I've never felt so beautiful,' she described one photo of herself frolicking on the beach in her blue swimsuit.

The message comes just days after Ariana hosted a Q&A on her Instagram Stories, where she fielded questions about her weight and lips.

Asked if she had ever gotten liposuction or a tummy tuck, she replied: 'Nope just worked my a** off :)'

'I do not have an eating disorder': Ariana Biermann has hit back at eating disorder speculation with a lengthy message detailing how exactly she shed 50 pounds over the last few years

Slow and steady: The reality star insisted 'Change doesn't happen over night'

A few slides later, another question read, 'did you get your lips done'.

Ariana shared a selfie from the car with her pout front and center, with the caption 'Sure did :) and I f**king love them. Best thing I ever did'.

Another question from one of her 653K followers asked, 'do you have jaw filler?'

To this, Ariana provided a brief video selfie that showed her beautiful jawline as she reclined.

She wrote in the caption simply, 'LOL No'.
Sheridan Smith has started filming new ITV event drama, No Return, in her first work project since splitting from her fiance Jamie Horn.

The award-winning actress, who has starred in television dramas such as Cilla, Mrs Biggs and The C Word, will be joined by Louis Ashbourne Serkis who is best known for his role in the 2019 fantasy adventure film The Kid Who Would Be King.

The 2022 drama focuses on themes such as parental love, guilt and grievances with Sheridan and Louis set to play mother and son, Kathy and 16-year-old Noah, and shooting has come shortly after news of the split broke.

New role: Sheridan Smith has started filming new ITV event drama, No Return, in her first work project since splitting from her fiance Jamie Horn (pictured in May)

Also joining the cast is Olivier Award winning actor Michael Jibson, who won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as King George III in Lin Manuel Miranda's Hamilton. He will play Martin, Kathys husband and father to Noah.

The series is directed by John Alexander, with the plot centred on a family looking forward to an idyllic all-inclusive luxury break in Turkey to enjoy the sun and sea.

However, due to the current travel restrictions in place for Turkey, the production team will be filming the drama in Spain, Manchester and Bolton.

'It's great to be working with the wonderful John Alexander again and we're excited to be starting production.'

Breakup: The star is reportedly 'devastated' by her split from fiance Jamie Horn

Family members, Kathy and Martin, their son Noah and younger daughter Jessica (Lily Sutcliffe) are blissfully unaware of the horrific ordeal about to unfold.

Kathy and Martin's world spectacularly falls apart when they are left desperately fighting for their son's freedom against extremely challenging circumstances.

Richard Fee, who is co-producer of the series along with Nicola Shindler and writer Danny, said: 'We are thrilled to be making for ITV. Danny has such a brilliant way of making an extraordinary situation feel completely relatable, and finding warmth and humour in even the most difficult circumstances.

Sheridan expressed her excitement with fans via Instagram: 'Day 1 today! This is an AMAZING drama, so grateful to be part of it! #NoReturn @itv'.

Duo: The actress will be joined by Louis Ashbourne Serkis (pictured above) who is best known for his role in the 2019 fantasy adventure film The Kid Who Would Be King

Sarah Doole, CEO of Red Production Company added: 'With holidays off the cards for most people for the last 18 months, you would think this story would be a dream holiday, but Danny succeeds in delivering a gripping and heart-wrenching script of the holiday from hell. We can't wait to bring it to life for ITV viewers.'

The upcoming series reveal comes as it was reported that Sheridan has been left 'devastated' by her split from Jamie.

She recently revealed that she parted ways from her husband-to-be Jamie, 31, 'with great sadness', just over a year after they welcomed their first child Billy together.

A source told OK! magazine: 'Sheridan is struggling to get through the split. She put him out there for everyone to see and she really thought he was The One.'

Co-star: Also joining the cast is Olivier award winning actor Michael Jibson, who won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as King George III in Lin Manuel Miranda's Hamilton

It was also claimed the split from back the pain Sheridan felt after losing her father Colin who passed away in 2016 following a battle with cancer.

They said: 'She had the public falling out with his mother and they got through all of that, but sadly it hasn't worked out. She's devastated. This has brought back all the feelings of missing her dad because he was her tower of strength.

'In her heart she's hoping they can make it right, but it doesn't look like there's any way back. They have a baby together and it's tough. She's heartbroken.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Sheridan for comment.

Day 1: The mother-of-one took to Instagram to share her excitement at being part of the new drama

The couple met on the dating app Tinder in 2018 and reportedly got engaged just three months later.

The couple told The Sun: 'It is with great sadness that we have decided to have some time apart. We both remain completely committed to raising our beautiful boy Billy together. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time. Thank you.'

The pair appeared in a one-off ITV documentary last year called Sheridan Smith: Becoming Mum which followed her pregnancy.

Jamie reportedly proposed to Sheridan in May 2018 with a 10,000 ring, and the couple have been residing in a rented property in North London together since.

The couple were first spotted together in March 2018, and Sheridan revealed she had a new man in her life during her country-wide tour soon after.

Spit: She recently revealed that she parted ways from her husband-to-be Jamie, 31, 'with great sadness', just over a year after they welcomed their first child Billy together (pictured in 2020)

Crooning out Rufus Wainwright's Dinner at Eight on stage in Cardiff, she told the crowds: 'Right that song  that was my fella's favourite. Oh, did I not tell you? I've got a fella.

'Don't act so f***ing surprised, thank you. I know, you think it won't last  it probably won't. Anyway, that was his favourite song.'

The couple then reportedly got engaged in May 2018, with a source telling The Sun at the time that she was 'head over heels in love.'

The insider said: 'Jamie is very serious about her. He has introduced Sheridan to his mum already. She doesn't wear the ring on her finger, she's got a necklace. She wears it there because she doesn't want people to see that she's got a ring.'

Close: The couple were first spotted together in March 2018, and Sheridan revealed she had a new man in her life during her country-wide tour soon after (pictured in 2019)

MailOnline contacted a representative for Sheridan for comment at the time.

The source continued: 'Sheridan wants to be with him whenever possible, including at work. They've even bought a dog together, which shows how serious she is about marrying him.'

In an interview with Vogue in March 2016, Sheridan lamented her failed pursuit at finding love, admitting she doesn't pick men well.

Speaking to Emily Sheffield for the monthly glossy about her chequered romantic experiences with men, the blonde starlet is quoted: 'What can I say? I don't pick them very well.'

New parents: The actress and former insurance broker Jamie welcomed their first son Billy, in May 2020

It comes after Sheridan recently revealed that her and Jamie were 'in a daze' following the birth of their boy last year as they struggled with a lack of sleep.

The actress also told how a shortage of outside help due to the restrictions of the pandemic made things slightly harder as new parents, as she joked that the pair were 'walking around like zombies.'

Speaking to the i newspaper about parenthood, she said: 'It's surreal. You're kind of walking around in a bit of a daze. If it hadn't been a pandemic we would have had more people to rely on so we could both go and get some rest; but thank goodness we had each other.'

She went on to saw that her insurance broker beau Jamie, 31, 'took a lot of time' to care for their little one too, meaning she got to sleep in between breastfeeding.

Meeting: The couple met on the dating app Tinder in 2018 and reportedly got engaged just three months later

But she noted that despite their teamwork, they were still extremely tired, stating: 'We were walking around like zombies and we didn't really know what day it was. When there's this bundle of joy, though, the good times make up for the bad.'

She added that at the time, it was just the three of them together and they didn't have others to 'rely on', so they simply 'got on with it'.

The Two Pints Of Lager favourite, who has recently started filming for The Railway Children remake, also told how partner Jamie had taken over night duties so that she can head back to work.

Sheridan said: 'I've been working, so Billy's dad does the nights at the minute. When I was gradually going back to work I was finding that not sleeping and then heading into work was hard.'

The star added that she's been 'lucky' and has been attempting to get a 'good night's sleep' while caring for her 13-month-old boy.
She recently jetted to Turkey for more cosmetic work, which included a Brazilian butt lift and full body liposuction as well as multiple procedures on her face.

And on Sunday, Katie Price, 43, took to Instagram where she shared a 'completely unfiltered' close-up shot of her face as she flaunted her new set of semi-permanent eyelashes, after undergoing extensive plastic surgery.

The Glamour model, who opted for eye and lip lifts as well as liposuction under her chin, told her followers that she is 'still healing' after having gone under the knife.

No filter: On Sunday, Katie Price, 43, took to Instagram where she shared a 'completely unfiltered' close-up shot of her face after undergoing extensive plastic surgery

Katie wrote: 'Here we go completely unfiltered picture.

'But anyway look at my gorgeous lashes I got done by Annabel @masterlashuk and the good thing is I can wear my own lash range lashes with them too @bykatieprice.

'(I'm still healing from face surgery too) #ad.'

Katie has undergone lifting surgery on her eyes, chin and lips to create a more contoured look, in addition to full body liposuction and a Brazilian butt lift.

Ouch: Katie was left swollen and bruised over her face surgery and covered in bandages

Thrilled: Katie recently unveiled the results of her face surgery on Instagram, insisting she is 'so happy' with the results after undergoing procedures on her eyes, chin and lips

In person: After sharing her new look on social media last week, the mother-of-five was pictured out with her pet chihuahua

She recently revealed the results of her face surgery on Instagram as she posed with new puppy Buddy and sporting a full face of glamorous make-up.

Katie told fans that she is still 'swollen' from the procedures she's had done, but was pleased with how they had gone as she modelled her new look.

'Omg I'm soo happy with my face surgery. 'I'm still swollen but it's been 2 weeks since surgery.'

While some fans commented telling Katie they 'love' her new look, others shared their concerns.

Some of Katie's followers questioned whether she is 'addicted' to cosmetic surgery, as others urged her not to get anything else done.

Katie has always spoken openly of the cosmetic work she has had done over the years and was seen addressing such concerns during her appearance on Good Morning Britain on Friday.

Insisting she is not 'addicted' to surgery, Katie said: 'It's like a car - you have an MOT. If you get a scratch or a dent, you fix it, and that's how I feel with my body. I'm not trying to look younger and I definitely dont want that alien look - when people go over the top and look like freaks.

'Having surgery isn't fun and games, it is painful and it's irreversible Everyone's got imperfections, I could go over the top but I dont want to look like a freak.'

She said: 'I'm not addicted, but if people want to say I've got body dysmorphia, just say it, even my mum says it, "You need to see somebody, you're not normal in the head, are you?"

'I said, "Mum, if you could have your face done again, you would but you can't because you're terminally ill at the moment, you used to have Botox, this and that."'

Painful: Katie had to endure a six-hour surgery on her feet and said she was left 'frustrated' after putting on weight while recovering from her injuries (pictured above in hospital last year)

Katie explained that she had wanted to 'transform' herself after being left 'frustrated' over the way she looks, after breaking both of her feet in a freak accident last year.

The mum-of-five sustained life-changing injuries after jumping off a wall while at a theme park during a holiday to Turkey. She was left in a wheelchair for eight months and was forced to endure a six-hour surgery on her feet and ankles.

Doctors warned Katie that it could take two years for her to completely recover.

She explained: 'I broke my feet last year and before that I used to go running to keep fit and ride the horses. I can never run again, so it changed my life.

'I was in a wheelchair for eight months, I had to learn to walk again. From being in a wheelchair, Ive put on loads of weight and Im not used to that unless Im pregnant. So I was getting frustrated. It wasnt me, I hated it, my clothes didnt fit.'

Katie confirmed that she had undergone full body liposuction and a Brazilian bum lift that works by injecting her own fat into her behind.

She explained that she decided to have a surgical lip lift after trying lip fillers and not liking them. Katie said she hated the way they made her look like a 'duck' so had them dissolved.

When GMB presenter Kate Garraway pointed out to Katie that there were other ways to lose weight than turning to liposuction, she responded: 'I tried healthy eating, it just wasnt shifting.'

She also touched on her plans to have a baby with fiance Carl, adding: 'I do want a baby, people normally have surgery after theyve had a baby.

'Ill be getting married again and I do want more children, but the weight does make a difference.'

Katie also addressed having her surgery done in Turkey during the pandemic.

Turkey is currently on the government's list of red countries when it comes to travel and requires those returning to the UK to test prior to flying, quarantine for 10 days in a managed hotel on arrival and to take two Covid-19 tests while isolating.

Katie said of her trip: 'I went to a red country, but Im working, Im doing my YouTube, had two jabs, done all my tests.

'I knew it would be being at the hospital, then flying to an amber country and staying in a villa away from everyone.'

Current restrictions list that on return to the UK from amber countries, people must quarantine at home or the place they are staying for 10 days and complete two tests before or on day two and on or after day eight.

Katie has previously dubbed herself a 'surgery veteran' after countless operations including three facelifts and three bouts of liposuction.

She admitted she can't remember how many boob jobs she's had, but believes it is 12, while insisting that Botox no longer works on her after having it so many times since the age of 30.
The family of social media star Swavy are demanding an apology from Wendy Williams over how she reported on his death.

It follows backlash online against the TV host for a 'classless' and 'hateful' segment during her show last week, mocking the rising influencer before talking about his murder.

TikTok star Swavy, real name Matima Miller, died last Monday after being shot in Delaware. He was 19.

The mother and brother of Swavy - real name Matima Miller - have hit out at Wendy Williams after her 'hateful' reporting on his death last week

Miller's mom Chanell Clark and older brother Rahkim Clark spoke to TMZ, expressing their hurt at how Williams dealt with the sensitive subject.

'As a black woman and as a black mother, you didn't have any empathy at all,' Rahkim said.

Rahkim also hit out at the talk show host for not getting the facts right and painting Miller as a 'thug' and someone 'trying to be in the streets'.

Miller's mom then talked about the harrowing experience of watching her son die and how it 'mentally messes you up'.

Miller's mom Chanell Clark and older brother Rahkim Clark spoke to TMZ , expressing their hurt about how Williams dealt with the sensitive subject

'Wendy Williams as a mother, how do you put a child out there like that. Nobody knew him like that.' Chanell said before demanding an apology from Wendy

'Wendy Williams as a mother, how do you put a child out there like that. Nobody knew him like that... My son shouldn't have been shot down in the street like that for someone to recognize who he is... I deserve an apology.

'But at this point, I'm so pissed off... because you did him like like... I'm looking for an apology. I do want an apology. But at the same time, I'm pissed with Wendy.'

Williams, 56, discussed Miller's death on her Hot Topics segment last week, but before revealing he had died, said she had no idea who he was.

'Classless': It follows backlash online against the TV host for her 'classless' and 'hateful' segment during her show last week, mocking the rising influencer before talking about his murder

'I have no idea who this person is': Wendy Williams has sparked outrage after leading a segment discussing the death of TikTok star Matima Miller by insisting she had no idea who he was

'I have no idea who this person is... neither does one person in this building,' Williams started off the segment, before asking the audience to clap if they knew who he was.

After just a small handful of people responded with applause, she continued: 'Well, he's a TikTok star. He's got more followers than me. 2.5 million!'

'On Tik Tok, but on Instagram you have more followers!' her producer, Norman Baker, clarified, earning cheers and applause from the audience.

'Well, as my son Kevin would say, no one uses Instagram anymore. And as far as TikTok, I don't use that at all. I don't know what that is, I don't want to be involved. So, here he is,' she said, gazing at a photo of the social media star on her screen.

Tragedy: Matima Miller, pictured, passed away at age 19 during a daylight shooting earlier this week

'You have more followers!' Producer Norman Baker stepped in to tell Wendy she had more followers on Instagram than Matima

'He's got more followers than me': Williams was surprised to see the 19-year-old had more TikTok followers than her

Hateful: Williams was slammed online for treating the teen's death like 'funny gossip'

Outraged: Viewers took to Twitter to air their grievances with Wendy following her segment

After a pause and some laughter from the audience, she continued: 'He's 19, and he was murdered Monday morning.' The audience groaned in response to the news.

The manner of the reporting did not sit well with many fans, who took to Twitter to air their grievances with Wendy.

'She is so hateful. Like, she basically treated the announcement of his death like it was funny gossip. Why disparage him? Why even talk about him at all if you and your audience are that removed from even knowing who he is?' one person wrote.

'Did she really need to look him up and down like that before breaking the news that he was murdered? Like she's the only one who knew where this was going and she still chose to sprinkle a little nasty on it first,' @ClassActKelz tweeted.

'Lemme just say sum bc yall really out here being stupid, it is NEVER OKAY to joke about someone's death. You are just hurting people and being so disgusting and disrespectful more than you are making people laugh,' @poblibioxmulti tweeted.

'I'm still not over Wendy Williams horrible journalism like wow. Prayers up to the family of that young man!' @BG_THEGREAT tweeted.

'So, admittedly I've never heard of Swavy. But clearly he was well respected in the TikTok community & it sucks that his life was taken at such a young age. But Wendy Williams/crew starting off by saying how much more famous she is on Instagram & THEN following up on his death??' @ken10drawsstuff tweeted, along with a GIF from Orange Is The New Black with the line, 'That's mad disrespect right there.

'y'all seen that video of wendy williams talking on that tiktok star wavy's death? it's so gross,' @mariamshawngela tweeted.

The segment occurred just days after the death of social media sensation Matima, who went by Babyface.S on TikTok and posted dance videos and meme skits to his millions of followers.

Police were called to a shooting at the 700 block of Elbert Place in the Southbridge neighborhood of Wilmington at about 10:42 am Monday morning.

Miller was found with a gunshot wound and was rushed to hospital where he died from his injuries.
Gwyneth Paltrow was one of the biggest glamour queens of the 1990s as she hit movie premiere red carpets and fancy fashion parties with heavy makeup on and stick straight golden locks.

Since then the ex of Brad Pitt has preferred to go makeup free as she has said it feels more 'natural.'

And while in Europe this month, the 48-year-old actress turned GOOP founder has gone without the glitz again. The Oscar-winning actress was seen on Monday without her makeup as she posed with some pals in Paris.

Zero paint: Gwyneth Paltrow went makeup free for a selfie taken in Paris this week

With her pals: She was with artist Sheila Hicks as well as friends Amy Griffin and Suzanne Demisch

The star smiled from ear to ear as she was makeup free with her blonde hair pulled back. She added layers of chunky necklaces; one of the pendants had an A for daughter Apple and a M for son Moses.

The women with her beamed as well.

'A very special afternoon with @amygriffin @ateliersheilahicks @suzannedemisch in a hidden corner of #paris,' said the Iron Man actress in her caption.

Amy is the Founder of @G9_Ventures and co-founder @SocialStudiesParty.

Another look: Amy shared another image of Paltrow with the caption: 'Pinch me moment with @ateliersheilahicks in Paris. Begged our way into the studio of this Midwestern girl turned world renowned artist. She dares to live in bright color and bold textures and uses her hands to make magic'

Amy shared another image of Paltrow with the caption: 'Pinch me moment with @ateliersheilahicks in Paris. Begged our way into the studio of this Midwestern girl turned world renowned artist.

'She dares to live in bright color and bold textures and uses her hands to make magic. Her stories and creations will inspire generations to come. Lets go back @gwynethpaltrow.' Ateliersheilahicks is artist Sheila Hicks.

Also seen was Suzanne Demisch.

Gwynnie's pal Reese Witherspoon said 'wonderful' to the post and Molly Sims added 'Love this.'

No makeup vs makeup: On the left Paltrow is bare faced while on the right she has on plenty of paint in hushed pink tones in 2019

A stop: She was also seen visiting Dr Dray, a cosmetic dermatologists who often gives women lip fillers. 'No stop to Paris complete without a visit to the maestro Dr Dray,' said the daughter of Blythe Danner

She was also seen visiting Dr Dray, a cosmetic dermatologists who often gives women lip fillers.

'No stop to Paris complete without a visit to the maestro Dr Dray,' said the daughter of Blythe Danner.

He is popular for his 'lip refresh,' which is an aesthetic treatment that 'consists of injections of a fluid, non-volumizing and vitamin E, which smooth out lines around the mouth, and rehydrate and redefine the lips,' according to his website Drdray.co.uk.

In March the siren said that she was 'open' to getting injectables: 'I think its nice when women share, because theres a lot of shame around surgery or injectables or fillers, and it would be nice if people felt confident about the choices they were making. But if they want to have a beauty secret, thats okay, too. I'm an open bookI've shared what works for me, because that's how I've always learned.'

The place they hid away for an afternoon: A look at the exterior of the home where Hicks does her colorful work

This year she was signed as the spokeswoman for Xeomin, an FDA-approved anti-wrinkle injection for frown lines between the eyebrows.

Gwyneth has talked in the past about going makeup free. In 2020 she told UsWeekly she was 'embracing looking natural.'

And she added: 'I never want to do anything where I dont look like myself. I dont want to look younger. Thats not the thing. I just want to look rested, vibrant. I want to look good for my age.'

Last week she and husband Brad Falchuk appeared to be delighted to play 'tourists' as they took in the sights around Florence, Italy.

The Shakespeare In Love actress showed off her sun-kissed skin as she held up her iPhone to capture the perfect selfie with the historic Ponte Vecchio in the background.

Her travels through Europe: The siren also shared this image from a swimming pool

The tiles have a past: And in this image the beauty has her feet on ancient Roman tiles

Gwyneth captioned the sweet snap with her husband of nearly three years: 'Tourists at long last.'

This comes just days after Italy opened its borders to travelers after a nearly 15-month closure due to the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

No carbohydrate was left uneaten on their tour of Italy as they stopped by Massimo Masselli's Osteria Del Cinghiale Bianco.

She shared a photo from the popular restaurant with the caption: 'Ask to sit up in the birds nest.'

Amore: Paltrow appeared to be delighted to play 'tourists' with husband Brad Falchuk as they took in the sights around Florence, Italy

Bellissimo: No carbohydrate was left uneaten on their tour of Italy as they stopped by Massimo Masselli's Osteria Del Cinghiale Bianco

Paltrow met Falchuk in 2010 when she appeared on the hit television musical series Glee, which he co-created and produced.

They would reconnect in the latter part of 2014, after her split from first husband and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, and eventually go public with their relationship in April 2015. Palrow and Falchuk went on to tie-the-knot in September 2018.

Chris and Gwyneth have remained close and friendly as they co-parent their daughter Apple, 17, and son Moses, 15.
Rumer Willis continued her sun-drenched break with another bikini snap on Monday.

The 32-year-old actress reclined by the ocean and flaunted her honed waist in a tiny blue bikini in a selfie, lying in the shade of a patio.

The deep blue sea stretching out in the background, Rumer shielded her eyes and pouted for the snap as she stretched out on her sunbed.

Oceanside: Rumer Willis continued her sun-drenched break with another bikini snap on Monday

Rumer looked ethereal in a flowing white dress as she posed under an azure sky on Sunday.

Stood in a ray of sunlight, she snapped the shot against a rugged desert backdrop.

The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood star donned a ruffled semi-sheer Ischia dress for her dramatic selfie.



The dress boasted double puffed sleeves and a drawstring waist. A glimpse of the the hot pink and blue patterned bikini top that Rumer wore under the dress could be seen through the delicate fabric.

Lovely: Rumer looked ethereal in a flowing white dress as she posed under an azure sky while vacationing in Greece

Willis sported a pair of edgy cat-eye sunglasses by Australian eyewear brand Oscar and Frank. She accessorized with gold Jacquie Aiche fishtail earrings.

The brunette beauty's hair was parted and pulled back from her face as she gazed into the camera. Rumer captioned the post simply with a desert emoji.

On Friday, Willis hit back at 'haters' leaving unkind comments on a recent Instagram post. After slipping into a skimpy yellow and orange thong bikini, the Hostage actress showcased her peachy bottom in a photo with the caption: 'For the haters. With love and gratitude kindly my [peach emoji]. I'll keep smiling regardless.'

Gorgeous: Rumer hit back at 'haters' leaving unkind comments on a recent Instagram post by sharing a gorgeous bikini-clad photo from her Greek holiday

Rumer wrote: 'For the haters. With love and gratitude kindly [lips emoji] my [peach emoji]. I'll keep smiling regardless'

Just hours before, Rumer - who is in Greece with her mum Demi Moore and her two younger sisters Tallulah and Scout Willis - shared a sultry snap of herself in a green bikini with pink sunglasses.

While much of the feedback was positive, not everyone was as kind in the comment section below Rumer's snap.

'Nope,' one social media user bluntly wrote.

'Yikes, not appropriate,' added another, with a third saying: 'Why does everyone in Hollywood need to pose like this. It's like they need to say look at me, I'm wonderful.'

Stunner: She shared another striking snap

Hours earlier: It comes hours after Rumer shared a stunning snap of herself in a green bikini with pink sunglasses

Unkind: While much of the feedback was positive, not everyone was as kind in the comments section below Rumer's snap

Another wrote beneath Rumer's post: 'I look at girls who are actually full of life and not 'hollywood' and they don't suck their stomach in when taking pictures and they're full of happiness.

'When I look at pictures like you, you look sad. Like you're trying to prove to everyone that you can be skinny even though you eat chili cheese fries in secret and scarf down cookies and milk. 'You're no different than anyone else. Stop trying to be someone you're not. You owe America that - who the hell cares who your parents are. Just be you!'

Taking to the comment section herself, Rumer replied: 'Wow you seem to be spewing a lot of negativity and judgement about someone you don't know. And I'm so sorry for you that you must be in so much pain to to write such unkind things about me.

Thoughtful response: 'Taking to the comment section herself, Rumer replied: 'Wow you seem to be spewing a lot of negativity and judgement about someone you don't know'

'I am happier than I have ever been and honestly for the first time in my life letting go of the need for my body to look a certain way to be happy with it. And in that letting go I have been able to enjoy everything around me.

'I also struggle with auto immune issues and it has taken me years to even be able to eat anything without it being extremely painful. I encourage you to pause before you judge someones outsides when you know nothing about what is going on inside.

'I hope and wish you so much love especially for yourself because all the negativity and meanness you have directed towards me if merely a reflection of how you must feel about yourself and for that I hold unending compassion as I have been there myself.

Support: Rumer's fans were quick to jump to her support in the comment section

'Light and love. And a invitation and boundary to please keep your negativity off my page.' [sic]

Rumer's fans were quick to jump to her defense, with one penning: 'The positive out weighs the negative!' A second noted: 'Don't waste your energy on haters, you look amazing.'

The stunner is currently on holiday in Santorini on the Aegean Sea with Demi and siblings Tallulah, 27, and Scout, 29.

Rumer is the eldest child of Demi, 58, and former husband Bruce Willis, 66.
The Bachelor vet Lesley Murphy's daughter Nora is 'starting to feel better' but 'still fighting' after she was released from the hospital following a health scare.

On her Instagram account, Lesley, 33, was happy to reveal her daughter was back home after developing an infection that left her 'gasping for air' at 2AM.

'After one night in the ER and another one in the hospital, we are home!!! ' Lesley announced on Instagram on Sunday. 'What a crazy 36 hours, and this super crouper (as our nurse affectionately calls her) is still fighting. It's the worst feeling watching my baby struggle to breathe.'

Get well soon! The Bachelor vet Lesley Murphy's daughter Nora is 'starting to feel better' but 'still fighting' after she was released from the hospital following a health scare

'I'm always here to share not only the cute, smiley photos but also the really challenging times in case it helps anyone else. As a new mom, I had no clue what was happening at 2am early Saturday morning. Thank you to everyone here for your well wishes and prayers as well as to the amazing medical staff at Arkansas Children's.

'Not one bed is open on the infant/toddler floor, and every single one is full for respiratory issues. Stay safe out there, summertime sickness is upon us. #home.'

Lesley took her daughter to the pediatrician several days earlier when the tot started experiencing 'the same symptoms as her last ear infection.'

'Both ears were clear, RSV test came back negative, but she did have a sore throat,' Lesley said.

On the mend! Lesley was happy to reveal that her daughter was 'starting to feel better'

Health scare: Lesley spent two nights at the hospital as her daughter battled the infection

Things got progressively worse as the night continued.

'Around 9pm she started developing this really loud barking cough. By midnight, her breathing seemed slightly shallow but figured that was just the congestion building. At 2am she woke up gasping for air. It was a scary 14 minutes to the ER. By the time we were at check in, her breathing wasn't as labored so my nerves calmed a bit. We got in a room and four doctors surrounded us trying to get a diagnosis.

'Croup, an upper airway infection that blocks breathing and comes with a bad cough. He mentioned bronchitis at some point, too. After breathing treatments and steroids, the doctor decided to admit us to the hospital. That was at 8am. We're still waiting for a space to open up so that we can all be a bit more comfortable up there.'

Mommy and me: Lesley cuddled her daughter in video posted to her Instagram account

Staying by her side: Lesley comforted her little girl

Fortunately, the couple were able to take their daughter home.

While Leslie's fiance Alex Kavanagh was happy to share that their daughter was feeling 'better', she was still not fully recovered.

'Nora is starting to feel better! Thank you everyone for the prayers and lovely messages!' Alex revealed on Instagram along with a photo of Lesley holding their little girl.

'Nora is nowhere near 100 but she's an Aussie battler and will get through it!' Alex continued.

Lesley rose to fame as a contestant on Sean Lowe's season of The Bachelor, followed by Bachelor Winter Games, where she left dating Dean Unglert.

The reality star welcomed Nora with her fiance in February 2021.

Grateful: Murphy thanked the hospital staff for helping her daughter get better

Aww: The youngster was still smiling in the hospital
She's been sharing snippets of her luxury Mallorca holiday on social media.

And Catherine Zeta-Jones was giving her followers a glimpse of both her swanky backdrop and her incredible physique when she took to Instagram on Sunday.

The Welsh actress, 51, sported a tiny black swimsuit as she expertly performed a slew of moves, including downward dog, and a number of complex stretches.

Wow! Catherine Zeta-Jones was giving her followers a glimpse of both her swanky backdrop and her incredible physique when she took to Instagram on Sunday

Catherine looked sensational in the sexy black swimsuit which featured a backless detail and high-rise sides to show off her stunning figure.

She has been staying in her luxurious Majorca home with her husband Michael Douglas for the last few weeks and on Wednesday took to Instagram again.

In a series of cute shots, was seen planting a kiss on her husband, 76, before snapping selfies in her pink dressing gown.

Catherine delighted fans with her cute snaps with Michael, with the couple seen cuddling up close before sharing a kiss.

Amazing: The Welsh actress, 51, sported a tiny black swimsuit as she expertly performed a slew of moves, including downward dog, and a number of complex stretches

Woo! Catherine looked sensational in the sexy black swimsuit which featured a backless detail and high-rise sides to show off her stunning figure

She wasn't too keen on the shots herself, though, quipping: 'When bad selfies happen to good people well maybe.. not so bad and not so goo [sic]'.

Earlier in the day, Catherine showcased her natural beauty as she posed for a stunning bathroom selfie.

The actress looked radiant in a pink dressing gown with a red and blue floral print along with a pair of pearl earrings.

Wow! She's been sharing snippets of her luxury Mallorca holiday on social media

Cheeky: Catherine has been staying in her luxurious Majorca home with her husband Michael Douglas for the last few weeks and on Wednesday took to Instagram again

Looking good: Earlier in the day, Catherine showcased her natural beauty as she posed for a stunning bathroom selfie

The film star let her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders while she went make-up free in the snap.

Catherine gave fans a glimpse at the couple's bathroom in their Spanish home which features black marble countertops with an LED light next to the mirror.

The star captioned the post: 'Hello......'

Smitten: She has been staying in her luxurious Majorca home with Michael Douglas

Pucker up: She shared a slew of Instagram snaps on Thursday, and in a series of cute shots, the Welsh actress, 51, was seen planting a kiss on her husband, 76

Sweet: Catherine delighted fans with her cute snaps with Michael, with the couple seen cuddling up close before sharing a kiss

Catherine and Michael's Spanish house boasts ten bedrooms and is located on the outskirts of the village of Valldemossa, Majorca.

The couple have been making the most of their holiday home after struggling to sell the house for seven years.

Back in 2018, the couple pulled their spectacular Spanish vacation villa - which was originally on sale for $60 million - off the market after years of being 'left to rot'.

Keeping it in the family: The couple have been making the most of their holiday home after struggling to sell the house for seven years (Michael is pictured outside the home in 1987)

The Hollywood actor bought the stunning 250-acre property on the sun-kissed island of Majorca with his then-wife Diandra Luker in 1989 for just $3.5 million.

Even after they split up 11 years later, they shared the property for six months each of the year.

In 2014, the estate, which hugs the rugged Balearic coastline, was put on the market by Sotheby's for a colossal $60 million.

They were forced to drop the price in 2017 to $45 million, and then again to $40 million the following year before the luxury realtors took it completely off the market.

In the past, the stunning Spanish retreat has played host to the likes of Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jack Nicholson.

The property boasts two cottages, five apartments, 10 bedrooms in total, 11 bathrooms, home theater, outdoor heated pool, library, games room, outdoor kitchen, wine cellar and vineyard.

The couple also own a mansion in Irvington, New York, an apartment overlooking Central Park in Central Park West, Manhattan and a house in Catherine's hometown of Swansea, Wales.

Family: It comes after Catherine marked Father's Day with sweet tributes to her dad David and husband Michael Douglas late last month (pictured with theirchildren Dylan, 20, and Carys, 18, on Father's Day)

Sweet: The glamorous mother-of-two also took to her Stories to share another throwback picture with her husband and their children

It comes after Catherine marked Father's Day with sweet tributes to her dad David and husband Michael late last month.

The actress posted a throwback picture of herself with David and her two children Dylan, 20, and Carys, 18, on Instagram, noting: 'You are everything and everything is you!'

She continued: 'I love you! Thank you for always being there for me. I love this photo of us on our beloved Welsh coast with Dylan and Carys.'

Making sure to include all the family, Welsh-born Catherine also shared a heartwarming photograph of 'dog dad' Michael relaxing in an armchair with their pooch Taylor.

Catherine and Michael have been married since 2000 after meeting two years previously at the Deauvulle Film Festival in France.
She has been showing off her sensational figure at every turn since touching down in the south of France.

And on Monday, Kimberley Garner paraded her washboard abs as she went braless in a tied-up shirt and silk midi skirt, while in Cannes during the 74th Film Festival.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, looked sensational in her stylish outfit as she milled around outside the 5-star Martinez Hotel.

Gorgeous: On Monday, Kimberley Garner, 30, paraded her washboard abs as she went braless in a tied-up shirt and silk midi skirt, while in Cannes during the 74th Film Festival

Kimberley oozed confidence as she strolled around in the blue and white striped shirt, and cream skirt.

The blonde beauty kept things casual in a box-fresh pair of white Prada trainers and accessorised with a smattering of delicate gold jewellery.

Kimberley has been enjoying the last few months travelling with her new man, after they were last linked in December. Kimberly is yet to reveal his identity.

They rang in Christmas in Barbados and spending the new year in Florida after flying to out Miami in late December.

Fashionista: The former Made In Chelsea star looked sensational in her stylish outfit as she milled around outside the 5-star Martinez Hotel

It wasn't all carefree partying, however, as she took to Instagram to defend herself from backlash over her international travel.

The former Made In Chelsea star said she jetted out of the UK on December 14  a week before London moved into Tier 4  to 'check on my apartment'.

The London native said at the time: 'I bought my place here this time two years ago. 'It was a massive achievement, still really can't believe it sometimes. I run a business - I'm not an influencer.

'I am here, but I am very very strict still. I see people in Tulum and all over going to parties and it doesn't feel right to me.'

The influencer previously surprised fans when she revealed she cancelled a secret wedding and ended a long-term relationship last summer.

Speaking to MailOnline in September 2019, Kimberley confirmed she had called it quits with her former boyfriend.

The businesswoman said: 'I ended the relationship recently. It was a really wonderful three years and we are still good friends today.'
Alexis Bellino emotionally described her mother Penelope's ongoing battle with an 'undiagnosed' illness.

On Sunday, the 44-year-old Real Housewives Of Orange County alum shared a photo to Instagram in which she is seen kissing her mother on the cheek.

'Mom, you are my world. You will always be my world,' she began the lengthy and heartbreaking caption.

Sad: Alexis Bellino emotionally described her mother Penelope's ongoing battle with an 'undiagnosed' illness

She continued, 'This photo is from 2019. I am in tears right now because I cannot believe what has happened to you and that you are still undiagnosed.'

'I have taken many months off of social media because Im fighting for your life. That is what matters. Id do anything, Id give anything, Id be anything to figure out what is happening with you.

Alexis went on to explain, 'I feel guilty posting my photo shoot today trying to still fight for a career that really doesnt matter but I always want you to know that you are my #1.

'Money means nothing,' Bellino wrote. 'Only memories and love and the HEART that you gave me matter. Thank you for everything youve taught me to be and I promise Ill fight for you til the end.'

Ongoing: Over the past few months, the reality star has shared updates on her mother's health struggles and her inability to get a medical diagnosis

Over the past few months, the reality star has shared updates on her mother's health struggles and her inability to get a medical diagnosis. On February 26, she pleaded for prayers and help from her followers in a caption under a photo of her smiling with Penelope.

'My mom needs all of your prayers PLEASE,' she said. 'Ive been MIA on social media lately because she is in the hospital and that is my focus. She has been to the ER by ambulance 10 times in one month.

'Shes not doing well. Drew and I flew out to be with her for 4 days. Now were home trying to manage her healthcare and keep her comfortable and fighting to get her back to healthy....but we dont have answers.

Scary: On March 30, the mother of three revealed that she and her fiance, Andy Bohn, 41, had made 'an emergency trip to Colorado' after Penelope had been 'tremoring for 72 hours'

'Thats actually the biggest part of this problem. We dont know what or how to fix her and every doctor is trying so hard. They are her angels on Earth. Its not Covid. She has tremors. Sometimes the tremors last 6 hours.

'Its so so horrible. Its NOT seizures because mom is lucid while they occur. She has a fear of falling after breaking her hip. Its not Parkinsons. Shes been to Mayo Clinic to see the best of the best Dr. Ahlskog. No one can figure it out. Please pray. If anyone has any advice with this please email alexisfbellino@gmail.com. Philippians 4:7. Matthew 18:20. #prayerswork'

On March 30, the mother of three revealed that she and her fiance, Andy Bohn, 41, had made 'an emergency trip to Colorado' after Penelope had been 'tremoring for 72 hours.' She shared a video of her mother holding a cup to her mouth and recounted the painful process behind the moment.

Difficult: She shared a video of her mother holding a cup to her mouth and recounted the painful process behind the moment

Alexis wrote in the caption, 'They finally got her under control but she couldnt move her arms or legs. After 4 days of working with her all day long we got her to hold her cup!

'Holding the cup to her mouth was exhausting for her poor body. But she did it!!!! Shes a fighter!!! Shes down to 80 lbs., her brain is atrophying from unintentional starvation, and shes too weak to start physical therapy. Feeding tube is going in this week.'

At the time, Bellino stated that her mother had received a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder.

Answers? At the time, Bellino stated that her mother had received a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder

'Thank GOD for Dr. De Julio coming into moms life,' Alexis said. 'She diagnosed mom with Functional Neurological Disorder, amongst doing many other tests we are waiting on results for. We have months and months of rehab once mom gets weight on and we are praying one day she may walk again.'

However, on May 5, the television personality said that Penelope was 'still undiagnosed.' Bellino posted two images of her mother, one in which she was lying in a hospital bed on FaceTime call with her daughter and another of her from 2018.

In the caption, she said, 'Swipe to see mom in 2018. The decline in 3 years is indescribable!!! I dont understand it but I know that He is on the Throne and I am trying to trust in Him.'

Drastic change: Bellino posted two images of her mother, one in which she was lying in a hospital bed on FaceTime call with her daughter and another of her from 2018

Alexis added selfie of her and her mother at the hospital on May 30. She captioned the photo: 'Momma, you are forever my best friend. I love you to the moon and back again. No one Ive ever known has a heart like you. Thank you for teaching me that. Ill see you in 2 weeks. #wewillfindyourdiagnosis #pleasegod #prayersneeded'

Six years after Alexis left The Real Housewives of Orange County, she and Penelope starred together in the 13 season of Marriage Boot Camp: Family Edition. Alexis had finalized her divorce from her husband of 14 years Jim Bellino, 59, in 2018 and participated in the series with her mother who was also divorced.

The 2019 show chronicled their attempts to mend their rocky relationship. Viewers later learned that Alexis blamed her mother for cheating on her father and breaking up their family. The reality star felt that she was forced to grow up too quickly as a result of her family trauma.

Bellino was on the verge of leaving the show without her mother when Penelope revealed that she had been molested at the age of eight in the finale episode. The two reconciled, agreeing to leave together and work on their relationship.

Working out their issues: Six years after Alexis left The Real Housewives of Orange County, she and Penelope starred together in the 13 season of Marriage Boot Camp: Family Edition. Seen in 2019
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The Cannes Film Festival has been a sea of glittering premieres and parties after being cancelled last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And on Monday evening, Iris Law, 20, Maggie Gyllenhaal, 43, and Kat Graham, 31, led a host of stars stepping out to attend the premiere for The French Dispatch, during the event's seventh day.

Iris - who is the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost - looked ethereal in a pleated Grecian gown and showed off her new blonde buzz cut.

Wow! On Monday evening, Iris Law, 20, (left) Maggie Gyllenhaal, 43, (centre) and Kat Graham, 31, (right) led a host of stars stepping out to attend the premiere for The French Dispatch, during Cannes Film Festival 2021

The model's plunging white maxi dress billowed as she strolled the red carpet and boasted a unique central overlay neckline held up by ties.

Donnie Darko actress Maggie portrayed business chic in a silk white blouse and voluminous black floor-length tulle skirt.

Maggie oozed confidence in her eye-catching ensemble, which she accessorised with dazzling Asymmetric diamond earrings.

The actress' shoes couldn't be seen beneath the length of her sweeping skirt, and she opted for a flawless make-up look finished off with a bold red lip.

Beauty: Iris - who is the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost - showed off her new blonde buzz cut

Angelic: Iris' plunging white maxi dress billowed as she strolled the red carpet

Gorgeous: Maggie oozed confidence in her eye-catching ensemble, which she accessorised with dazzling Asymmetric diamond earrings

The Jury: (L-R) Jury members Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kleber Mendonca Filho, Melanie Laurent, Song Kang-ho and Mati Diop attend The French Dispatch premiere

Fashionista: Maggie looked elegant as she posed in her outfit for photographers

Elegant: Kat's elegant frock trailed along the red carpet as she posed for photographs

Stunning: The actress drew attention to her piercing eyes with a bold sweep of white eyeshadow

Kat Graham, 31, also opted for a white floor length dress for the occasion, with her frock trailing along the red carpet as she posed for photographs.

The Vampire Diaries actress displayed a hint of her cleavage thanks to her plunging neckline, and added a diamond collar necklace to complete her look.

She boosted her height with a shiny silver pair of strappy stilettos which she coordinated perfectly to her clutch bag.

Kat drew attention to her piercing eyes with a bold sweep of white eyeshadow, and pared back her hair-style by tying her raven tresses into a low ponytail.

Incredible: Kimberley Garner, 30, stunned in a sequin embellished gown boasting a huge train and feathered detailing

Unique: The former Made In Chelsea star stood out in her dress, which featured a corseted top half and feathered sleeves

Risque: Despite the high neckline of her purple dress, Natasha Poly, 36, left little to the imagination, thanks to cut out sections all over which revealed her tanned skin beneath

Wow! Lady Victoria Hervey, 44, put on a dramatic display in a plunging purple jewel encrusted gown

Classic: Supermodel Nieves Alvarez, 47, (left and right) showcased her slim frame in a plunging black gown teamed with red stilettos while Dylan Penn, 30, (centre) slipped into a shimmering black gown with sheer sections

Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, which also stars Timothee Chalamet and Tilda Swinton amongst its A-List cast, follows a group of journalists and is based on the writings of The New Yorker

Lady Victoria Hervey, 44, put on a dramatic display in a plunging purple jewel encrusted gown.

Her heavily embellished frock featured a daring central split which allowed her edgy black studded stilettos to be seen.

Just two days earlier, one of the film's stars, Lea Seydoux, 36, tested positive for Covid-19 forcing her to miss the premiere.

Futuristic: Timothee Chalamet commanded attention in a metallic silver trouser suit

Cute: Timothee Chalamet put his arm around Tilda Swinton

Colourful: Tilda stood out in a colourful ensemble, comprising a bright orange maxi skirt and pink crop top with matching cropped tux jacket with short sleeves

Here he is: Jarvis Cocker pulled out all the stops in a velvet tux and matching bow tie

Fun times: Timothee and Lyna Khoudri, 28, shared a laugh together on the red carpet

Chic: Co-presidents of Chopard, Caroline Scheufele and brother Karl-Friedrich coordinated their looks

Power couple: Cannes Jury president Spike Lee wore a white tux jacket and shirt, while his wife Tonya Lewis Lee stepped out in a pretty purple and green floral dress

As well as The French Dispatch, Lea appears in The Story Of My Wife, France, and Deception which are all set to debut over the coming days.

It is unclear which film set Lea was working on when she contracted the virus, as she is said to be in pre-production for two films, Crimes of the Future and Le Bal des Folles.

MailOnline contacted Lea's representatives for further comment at the time.

Cute couple: Adrien Brody and designer girlfriend Georgina Chapman looked a perfect match in their red carpet attire

Breathtaking: Georgina's sweeping gown featured the most beautiful jewel embellishments interspersed with flowers

Legend: Bill Murray wore a tux with a white trilby hat boasting a navy blue trim

Girl power: Maggie cosied up to fellow Cannes Juror Melanie Laurent, 38, who dazzled in a shimmering silver bustier gown

Perfection: Melanie's floor length dress boasted an elegant side-split which allowed her silver heels to be seen

What a line-up: Director Wes Anderson, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Benicio Del Toro, and Alexandre Desplat posed for photographers upon arrival at the film premiere

According to a report from Variety on Saturday, the Blue is the Warmest Colour star got the virus on set of her new film despite having both doses of the vaccine and being asymptomatic.

A spokesperson for Lea confirmed to the publication that she had tested positive for the virus, and stated she will remain in quarantine until her doctors have advised her it is safe for her to travel.

As Lea now has to remain in self-isolation at her home in Paris, it was suggested that she may have to cancel her trip to the Cannes Film Festival all four premieres of the films in which she stars.

All-stars: L-R Timothee Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, Tilda Swinton and Bill Murray

Brown shoes? Owen Wilson (left) looked smart in a black suit but opted for brown suede shoes while Jimmy Jean-Louis, 52, (right) oped for a shiny tux jacket

Incredible: Clotilde Courau, 52, defied her years in an edgy cut-out sequin jumpsuit

Wow! Anna Cleveland, 30, ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out in a textured gold dress

Vintage chic: Doria Tillier, 35, oozed vintage Hollywood glamour in her shimmering gown

Men's style: American movie-maker Oliver Stone, 74, (left) wore a silk bow tie with a tailored blue suit, Saudi Arabian film producer Mohammed Al Turki, 35, (right) went for a classic tux

Fun with friends: Timothee Chalamet and Adrien Brody struck a playful pose together

Cannes Film Festivals general secretary Francois Desrousseaux informed Variety that those attending the festival are tested on a daily basis, and an average of three people per day have been positive cases.

Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, which also stars Timothee Chalamet and Tilda Swinton amongst its A-List cast, follows a group of journalists and is based on the writings of The New Yorker.

Set in a fictional 20th-century French city, the anthology follows the development of a series of stories published in the titular magazine, and it opens with editor Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray) on the paper's last day.

The film was originally set to premiere at the 2020 edition of the Cannes Film Festival, however due to the Covid-19 pandemic the event had to be postponed.

United: Melanie Thierry, President of the Camera d'Or Jury, poses with members of the Jury Pierre-Simon Gutman, Audrey Abiven, Eric Caravaca, Romain Cogitore and Laurent Daillant

Red carpet style: Tilda Swinton's daughter Honor, 23, (left) put a unique twist on a prim baby blue dress while vlogger Lena Mahfouf, 23, (centre) stepped out in a yellow frock and British model Kambree Dalton, 21, (right) stunned in a Grecian gown

Couple goals: Kambree attended the premiere with her heavily tattooed fiance Julian Perretta and the couple packed on the PDA

Stylish pair: Brazilian footballer Marcelo Vieira, 30, place his hand on his wife Clarisse Alves' waist

Talented: L-R Timothee Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, director Wes Anderson, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson in Ray-Ban sunglasses, and Adrien Brody
Matthew Morrison, 42, and his wife, Renee Puente, 36, have welcomed their second child.

On Monday People shared the Glee star and his spouse had their daughter Phoenix Monroe on June 28. The couple already have a son named Revel James Makai, aged three.

'We Rise! Our family is now complete. Welcome, Phoenix Monroe!' the stars told the publication.

Happy at last: Matthew Morrison, 42, and his wife, Renee Puente, 36, have welcomed their second child

Thrilled: On Monday People shared the Glee star and his spouse had their daughter Phoenix on June 28. The couple already have a son named Revel James Makai, aged three. 'We Rise! Our family is now complete. Welcome, Phoenix Monroe!' the stars told People

Power couple now a family of four: Morrison and Puente at the 39th Brit Awards in 2019

Phoenix came in at 7lbs., 1.5 oz., according to the site, and was 21 inches long.

This is certainly had news for Puente who suffered a miscarriage last year.

'I just went through one of the most vulnerable, raw, massive, confusing, just phenomenal experiences that a woman could ever endure,' she said in October about the loss.

'Matthew and I have been so intentionally trying to get pregnant and calling our child  Im trying to call in my child that I know is waiting for us. And I want to just open my life and my arms to this human. And so on our second cycle of calling this child in, we got pregnant. And it was among just such extraordinary intention and love. I miscarried. I found out at four weeks and began the cycle of miscarriage on my sixth week.'

Morrison and Puente were first romantically connected in 2011, and the Tulip Fever actor popped the big question two years later.

The performer was previously engaged to actress Chrishell Stause in 2006, although the two broke off the engagement the following year.

Another one: Earlier this year, Morrison took to his Instagram account to announce that he and Puente were expecting to welcome a second child into their lives

The actor and his now-wife tied the knot in 2014 and went on to welcome their first son in 2017.

Morrison went on to announce that he would be expecting a second child earlier this year through a post shared to his Instagram account where he shared a picture of his child's ultrasound.

The Broadway mainstay also wrote a lengthy message in his post's caption where he reflected on his family's experience quarantining together and expressed his excitement for adding another kid into the mix.

So much joy: The actor and his now-wife tied the knot in 2014 and went on to welcome their first son in 2017

The performer began his message by writing: 'The thing that resonates most when I look back on this past year is the amplification of love that our little tribe has been gifted.'

Morrison then informed his followers that, although his wife experienced complications with fertility, they were happy to finally welcome another child.

'After 3 miscarriages, a pandemic, and the loss of many loved ones.... Renee, Revel, and I are elated to be bringing a little joy into the world,' he wrote.

The actor then expressed that he had learned about several new values that he and his spouse hoped to implement into their approach to raising their forthcoming kid.

Looking up: Although the Broadway mainstay admitted that his wife experienced complications with fertility, he noted that they were 'elated to be bringing a little joy into the world'

'Patience, reflection, and introspection are a few of the many tools that we have learned this year. And we are excited to bring those tools into our parenting,' he expressed.

Morrison wrote that he was aware that his followers wanted to see his new kid and remarked that his wife and son were just as excited as he was.

He noted: 'Cant wait to meet our little baby boy/girl? Who knows! We are waiting for the big day to greet the being that will change our family yet again!'
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Penelope Cruz has been enjoying sunning herself while on holiday with her family in Sardinia.

And the Spanish actress, 47, put on another sizzling display in an electric blue swimsuit showcasing her svelte figure as she soaked up the sun on the beach.

Penelope was seen pausing her relaxing getaway to take phone calls as she stepped away from her loved ones to speak on her mobile.

Gorgeous: Penelope Cruz sizzled in an electric blue swimsuit showcasing her svelte figure as she soaked up the sun on a beach in Sardinia

The mother-of-two looked sensational in the bright coloured swimsuit which cut just above her hips and highlighted her toned legs.

The blue all in one had an asymmetric neck, with one strap in a buckle style on her left shoulder holding up the swimwear.

Penelope's long tresses were styled in beachy waves and she donned a pair of large sunglasses to shield her eyes from the sun.

She paced along the beach barefoot as she took calls and was gesturing with her hands throughout the conversation.

Ring ring: Penelope was seen pausing her relaxing getaway to take phone calls as she stepped away from her loved ones to speak on her mobile

Sizzling: The mother-of-two looked sensational in the bright coloured swimsuit which cut just above her hips

Unmissable: Penelope's show-stopping swimsuit left little to the imagination and highlighted her toned legs

While speaking in what appeared to be an intense conversation she then sat on a sun lounger to continue her chat on the phone.

She then began packing her things from the beach, putting on a pair of denim shorts which were frayed at the bottom but left unbuttoned.

As she walked back from the beach she flashed a glimpse of her pert derriere in the swimsuit and a white disc was visible on her arm. The disk looked similar to a flash glucose monitor, which registers blood sugar levels.

Bold: The blue all in one had an asymmetric neck, with one strap in a buckle style on her left shoulder holding up the swimwear

Beautiful: Penelope's long tresses were styled in beachy waves and she donned a pair of large sunglasses to shield her eyes from the sun

Deep in conversation: She paced along the beach barefoot as she took calls and was gesturing with her hands throughout the conversation

It comes after Penelope was spotted on Saturday splashing around on the beach in Sardinia with her husband Javier Bardem and their two children Leo, 10, and Luna, 7.

Javier is in Sardinia to shoot the new The Little Mermaid film, which will be directed by Rob Marshall.

He will undertake the role of King Triton in the re-make alongside Halle Bailey who is set to star as Ariel.

Penelope, who married Javier in 2010, recently spoke about her family life and approach to motherhood in an interview with Marie Claire Greece.

Working mum: While speaking in what appeared to be an intense conversation she then sat on a sun lounger to continue her chat on the phone

Enviable figure: As she walked back from the beach she flashed a glimpse of her pert derriere in the swimsuit and a white disc was visible on her arm

The actress said that she and her husband are careful not to let their careers seep into their family life.

'Like any couple, we talk about our jobs, and consequently about our characters, about the way we handle this or that scene,' she clarified.

'Sometimes we exchange ideas, but when it comes to our jobs generally, we're not obsessed with work, we try to leave it at the door of the house.

End of the day: She then began packing her things from the beach, putting on a pair of denim shorts which were frayed at the bottom but left unbuttoned

Family time: It comes after Penelope was spotted on Saturday splashing around on the beach in Sardinia with her husband Javier Bardem and their two children Leo, 10, and Luna, 7

Penelope also revealed that motherhood made her less worried about other people's opinions, confessing: 'When I was young, the way others saw me, be it positive or negative, had an enormous importance.'

She continued: 'But becoming a mother made me aware that this was the most important mission of my life and that I wanted to accomplish it as best I could.'

As she has grown older she has also adopted a different attitude to her work life, allowing herself more time to recharge.

'In my 20s, I was a total workaholic, I would even wake myself up in the middle of the night to respond to emails and things like that, and then I had to learn patience, rest, silence.

'The things that I appreciate a lot now,' she explained.
The Bachelorette's Georgia Love has deleted her 'horrible' tweet about Married At First Sight stars Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson following fan backlash.

The Seven News journalist, 32, caused a Twitter storm on Monday by implying the couple's relationship was a sham - just hours after they announced they were engaged and expecting twins.

Georgia deleted her post after being called out for her double standards, with many saying she should've known better given her own experience of being trolled.

Second thoughts? The Bachelorette's Georgia Love has deleted her 'horrible' tweet about Married At First Sight stars Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson following fan backlash

The offending post is no longer visible on her feed, and has been replaced with the message: 'This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author.'

Before deleting the tweet, she responded to several Twitter users who accused her of being 'unkind' towards the expectant couple.

She insisted her tweet wasn't suggesting Bryce and Melissa's relationship was fake, nor was it a joke about their unborn children.

'It was a joke about the funny expression on his face. Calm down,' she wrote in response to one critic.

Gone: The offending post is no longer visible on her feed, and has been replaced with the message: 'This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author'

Not apologising: She insisted her tweet wasn't suggesting Bryce and Melissa's relationship was fake, nor was it a joke about their unborn children

Excuse: 'It was a joke about the funny expression on his face. Calm down,' she wrote

From The Bachelorette to the gutter: The Seven News journalist, 32, caused a Twitter storm on Monday by implying Bryce and Melissa's relationship was a sham - just hours after they announced they were engaged and expecting twins

It comes after Georgia - who often complains about getting death threats and inappropriate sexual photos on social media - fired off a nasty tweet about Bryce and Melissa on Monday.

Responding to their pregnancy announcement, she posted a close-up image of Bryce from his photo shoot with New Idea, and wrote: 'Siri, show me the face of "I've taken it too far".'

Her tweet played into false rumours circulating online that Bryce and Melissa's relationship is a 'showmance' and their pregnancy is a publicity stunt - claims the couple have strenuously denied.

Georgia faced swift backlash for her post, with one Twitter user responding: 'Fancy being a gratuitous attention-seeking ex-reality show wannabe, and trolling another ex-reality show wannabe.'

Mean: Responding to Bryce and Melissa's pregnancy announcement, she posted an image of Bryce from his shoot with New Idea, and wrote: 'Siri, show me the face of "I've taken it too far"'

Nasty: Her tweet played into false rumours that Bryce and Melissa's relationship is 'fake' and their pregnancy is a publicity stunt - claims the couple have strenuously denied

'How about just be kind?' another tweeted, while a third wrote: 'S**t tweet.'

A fourth commented: 'You're actually horrible. Leave them be; it's not your business.'

Similar tweets included: 'You are just as bad being an online troll and bully. Not nice at all' and 'No need to shame people!'

Ouch: Georgia faced swift backlash, with one Twitter user responding: 'Fancy being an attention-seeking ex-reality show wannabe, and trolling another ex-reality show wannabe

Pushback: Similar tweets included: 'You are just as bad being an online troll and bully. Not nice at all' and 'No need to shame people!'

Georgia often faces pushback for her tone-deaf tweets.

In December, she was criticised for her humble-brag post about buying a house with fiance Lee Elliott and 'launching two businesses... during a global pandemic'.

The ensuing Twitter storm saw her temporarily quit the platform, citing alleged 'death threats' and 'trolling'.

Tone-deaf: In December, Georgia was criticised for her humble-brag post about buying a house with fiance Lee Elliott (left) and 'launching two businesses... during a global pandemic'

'I'm out': The ensuing Twitter storm saw her temporarily quit the platform, citing alleged 'death threats' and 'trolling'

That same month, she was called out by Dale Thomas - the former Collingwood player she had ratted out 18 months earlier when she spotted him drinking alcohol at a charity event two days before a game, resulting in a one-match suspension.

Dale, 34, mocked Georgia for complaining about getting trolled on Twitter, reminding her that she'd kicked him while he was down in 2019 when she gleefully tweeted: 'I was there and saw him. There's no way he'd only had three drinks.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Georgia's publicist, Grace Braithwaite at 22 Management, for comment.

Error of judgement: That same month, she was called out by Dale Thomas (pictured) - the former Collingwood player she had ratted out 18 months earlier when she spotted him drinking alcohol at a charity event two days before a game, resulting in a one-match suspension

Sticking the boot in: Dale, 34, mocked Georgia for complaining about getting trolled on Twitter, reminding her that she'd kicked him while he was down in 2019 when she gleefully tweeted: 'I was there and saw him. There's no way he'd only had three drinks' (pictured)

Melissa and Bryce, both 32, announced their pregnancy and engagement news in a front-page exclusive with New Idea on Monday.

'This is all such a blessing to be able to bring two children into the world together. We're on cloud nine,' said radio announcer Bryce.

'It's been a whirlwind but we're so happy,' added workplace trainer Melissa.

Whirlwind: Melissa and Bryce, both 32, announced their pregnancy and engagement news in a front-page exclusive with New Idea on Monday. Pictured filming MAFS in Sydney last year

Melissa later revealed on Kyle and Jackie O she had been sent hurtful messages on Instagram suggesting her relationship and pregnancy were just for publicity.

'I've actually had a few comments come through saying "how pathetic to draw the process out" - but... no!' she said.

Melissa has been trolled relentlessly since her debut on MAFS, with much of the abuse coming from other women who claim they are 'protecting' her from Bryce.

Toxic: Melissa has been trolled relentlessly since her debut on MAFS, with much of the abuse coming from other women who claim they are 'protecting' her from Bryce

The couple's union on Married At First Sight was a flashpoint of controversy this year.

Some viewers accused Bryce of 'domestic abuse' and gaslighting, but Melissa always maintained she didn't view their relationship as abusive.

A Change.org petition calling for Channel Nine to apologise for 'failing in its duty of care' towards Melissa gained thousands of signatures.

However, the campaign was dismissed by the network and show producers.
Aussie model Lucciana Beynon looked nothing short of incredible as she strutted her stuff on the runway at Miami Swim Week last Thursday.

The 19-year-old daughter of tobacco tycoon Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon flaunted her curves in a racy black swimsuit at the OMG Swimwear show.

Lucciana worked all her best angles in an elaborate cut-out one-piece.

Hot to trot: The Candyman's model daughter Lucciana Beynon, 19, showed off her sensational curves in a racy G-string swimsuit at Miami Swim Week last Thursday

The brunette beauty turned heads on the runway, with her swimsuit featuring a one-shoulder design and G-string bottoms.

She showed off a golden tan and styled her long raven locks in loose, tousled curls.

Lucciana wore a full face of makeup for her catwalk moment, including glossy nude lipstick and winged eyeliner.

Racy: The brunette beauty turned heads on the runway, with her swimsuit featuring a one-shoulder design and G-string bottoms

At one stage, she toted a bubble gun as she preened on the ocean-themed runway.

Lucciana's father is Australian businessman Travers Beynon, who is known for his polyamorous lifestyle and wild parties at his Gold Coast mansion.

The Kardashian lookalike previously spoke of her plans to relocate to the U.S. after finishing high school to focus on her modelling career.

Cheeky: At one stage, she toted a bubble gun as she preened on the ocean-themed runway

Family ties: Lucciana's father is Australian businessman Travers Beynon (pictured), who is known for his polyamorous lifestyle and wild parties at his Gold Coast mansion

She told The Gold Coast Bulletin in 2017: 'When I finish school I'll still be 17, so as soon as I turn 18, I'm going to move to America forever.'

'I want to become a Victoria's Secret Angel and then ultimately become a supermodel,' she added.

Lucciana, whose mother is Venezuelan former beauty queen Ninibeth Leal, has a contingency plan for when her modelling career eventually ends.

'Once my time is up, because you know modelling doesn't last forever, I'll get involved in the family business and invest in property,' she said.
People are talking about the new Gossip Girl reboot.

The series has clinched the honor of becoming HBO Max's most-watched original new series following its debut on July 8, according to The Wrap.

The show also 'saw a greater proportion of new subscribers choosing it as the first thing to watch after signing up,' according to HBO Max.

Giving them something to talk about! Gossip Girl was crowned HBO Max's most-watched original new series following its debut on July 8

'Within an hour of the episodes premiere at 12:01 a.m. PT on Thursday, the show was trending No. 11 nationwide on Twitter, continuing as a Top 5 trend through mid-day,' HBO Max said, according to The Wrap.

Additionally, the streamer experienced a 200% increase in viewership of the original Gossip Girl series.

A reboot of the wildly successful CW series of the same name, the Gossip Girl reboot premiered on Thursday with a shocking reveal.

For its entire six season run, the original CW show's central mystery revolved around who was behind a blog that dished out the scandalous secrets of the privileged teenagers attending an exclusive private school in Manhattan.

Tuning in! The show also 'saw a greater proportion of new subscribers choosing it as the first thing to watch after signing up,' according to HBO Max

Major twist: The Gossip Girl reboot premiered on July 8 with a shocking reveal as viewers of the HBO Max reboot learned the identity of Gossip Girl in the first episode

However, viewers of the HBO Max reboot learned the identity of Gossip Girl in the first episode.

The show's eponymous blogger was revealed to be a group of the high school's teachers, led by Kate Keller (Tavi Gevinson).

Early in the premiere, Kate accidentally bumps into the school's Queen B Julien (Jordan Alexander) and is ridiculed by Julien and her clique. Kate then storms into the teacher's lounge to vent about the entitled behavior of the spoiled students at Constance Billiard to her fellow teachers.

Upon hearing about Gossip Girl's notorious blog from another teacher, Kate and several teachers begin scouring through the site that had exposed the juicy goings-on at the ritzy school and intimidated its past attendees.

Shocking: The show's eponymous blogger was revealed to be a group of the high school's teachers, led by Kate Keller (Tavi Gevinson)

Kate and some of the other teachers are inspired to revive Gossip Girl in order to hold sway over their rude and recalcitrant students and their indulgent parents.

After their initial attempts to recreate Gossip Girl as a Twitter account fail to take off, Kate and the teachers launch an Instagram page.

Kate and her colleagues begin spying on the students and posting photos of their sordid exploits. After the Gossip Girl account zeros in on the drama between Julien and her half-sister, Zola ( Whitney Peak), who is new to the school, the page's popularity explodes.

Damage control: Kate and some of the other teachers are inspired to revive Gossip Girl in order to hold sway over their rude and recalcitrant students

Scandalous: Kate and her colleagues begin spying on the students and posting photos of their exploits

The creator of the original series, Joshua Safran, who is serving as the showrunner for the reboot, discussed the decision-making behind the surprising twist during an interview with Variety.

He explained, 'I have friends who work in the private schools of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. And I went to one, obviously. I often thought since the first Gossip Girl ended that there was maybe a show in teachers at these rarefied schools, but I never landed on anything.

'And then I was talking to my friends a couple of years ago, just about the small changes that they had noticed in the students parents in the years they were teaching there.

Taking back power: After their initial attempts to re-create Gossip Girl as a Twitter account fail to take off, Kate and the teachers launch an Instagram page that explodes in popularity; here Tavis is pictured on set

Safran went on to say, 'I cant remember whether I first knew that there would be teachers and a teacher would be Gossip Girl, or whether I knew first that I would know who Gossip Girl was and it would be a teacher.

'The two were so neck-and-neck for me. I was also very interested in looking at roads we hadnt explored the first time around, and teachers  that was a whole area. Especially private school teachers who are younger than public school teachers, who make less money than public school teachers, who come out of college and are not so removed from the age of the students that theyre teaching. All of that combined just felt like really fertile territory.'

He also addressed the potential ramifications that becoming Gossip Girl might have on the teachers. 'Its a be-careful-what-you-wish-for story,' Safran said. 'Its a cautionary tale. We will be tracking not just what Gossip Girl does to the kids, but what being Gossip Girl does to them.

'And it is incredibly messy and morally compromised, obviously.'
Jerry O'Connell is set to take Sharon Osbourne's spot on The Talk.

The Kangaroo Jack actor, 47 is reportedly finessing the details on a deal that would make him the show's first full-time male co-host, according to The Wrap.

Osbourne, 68, left the show in March after a tense argument with co-host Sheryl Underwood and subsequent accusations she'd made racist comments about her peers.

New guy: Jerry O'Connell is said to be finalizing details in a deal to take Sharon Osbourne's spot on The Talk. He's seen guest hosting above

O'Connell is no stranger to The Talk, regularly stopping by as guest host.

An insider who spoke to The Wrap said Jerry has been in talks with CBS 'on and off since at least May.'

O'Connell will join Underwood, Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth at the table while Carrie Ann Inaba continues her leave of absence from the series.

CBS is hoping Jerry's addition will help perk up the show's ratings, which dipped after Osbourne's departure, continuing an already downward trend.

Despite the falling viewership, CBS recently renewed the daytime chat show for a 12th season, which will be its first without any of the original co-hosts sitting at the table.

In the past, The Talk has featured Julie Chen Moonves, Sara Gilbert, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini, Aisha Tyler and Marie Osmond.

Winning formula? The Talk has seen its ratings dip in the wake of Osbourne's departure

Shakeup: O'Connell will join Elaine Welteroth (left), Sheryl Underwood (center right), and Amanda Kloots (far right) while Carrie Ann Inaba (second from left) continues her leave of absence from the series

Osbourne left The Talk in March following her fiery defense of friend Piers Morgan, who quit Good Morning Britain after storming off for being criticized for comments about Meghan Markle, a regular target of the conservative commentator's vitriol.

Sharon became emotional while Underwood spoke about Morgan, screaming: 'Educate me, tell me when you have heard him say racist things.'

'I very much feel like I'm about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend, who many people think is a racist, so that makes me a racist?' Osbourne added.

Allegations then emerged that Osbourne made racist remarks about co-hosts behind the scenes at The Talk, claims which she has staunchly denied.

'Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The Talk,' CBS said in a statement confirming her departure in March. 'The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting to everyone involved, including the audience watching at home.'

Heated: The controversy began when Osbourne delivered a vociferous defense of her friend Piers Morgan and his criticism of Meghan Markle

'As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon's behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace,' the statement continued.

'We also did not find any evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts,' CBS said, responding to allegations from Osbourne's camp that she was 'set up to fail' by being spurred into the debate by producers.

'At the same time, we acknowledge the network and studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are accountable for what happened during that broadcast as it was clear the co-hosts were not properly prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving race,' the statement added.

'During this week's hiatus, we are coordinating workshops, listening sessions and training about equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for the hosts, producers and crew.

'Going forward, we are identifying plans to enhance the producing staff and producing procedures to better serve the hosts, the production and, ultimately, our viewers,' CBS said.
She never fails to turn heads when she steps on a red carpet.

And Lady Victoria Hervey wowed as she headed out in a sheer diamante dress during Cannes Film Festival on Monday night.

The socialite, 44, looked dazzling as she headed to the Better Word Fund Charity Gala in the glittering see-through dress.

Wow: Lady Victoria Hervey wowed as she stepped out in a sheer diamante dress at Cannes Film Festival on Monday night

Victoria left little to the imagination as she showcased her toned figure in the thigh-split gown and covered her modesty with the embroidered gems.

The blonde beauty looked flawless in the feather-trimmed dress, which she paired with some strappy silver stilettos.

The former It Girl worked her angles for the camera as she arrived for the event as she turned away to the back of the carpet to showcase her curves.

Victoria accentuated her natural beauty with false eyelashes and a slick of nude lipstick.

Stunning: The socialite, 44, looked dazzling as she headed to the Better Word Fund Charity Gala in the glittering see-through dress

She wore her golden tresses in neat curls and swept her luscious locks to one side in a glamorous side parting.

Victoria was joined at the event by Kiera Chaplin who looked stunning in a floor-length purple gown.

The model beamed and put her arm around Victoria's waist as they posed together at the charity gala in the South of France.

Cheeky display: Victoria left little to the imagination as she showcased her toned figure in the thigh-split gown and covered her modesty with the embroidered gems

Black tie: The blonde beauty looked flawless in the feather-trimmed dress, which she paired with some strappy silver stilettos

The outing comes after Victoria revealed earlier this year that she doesn't agree with wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

'I'm not going to lie, I never wear one,' she told The Daily Mail, adding that she 'storms out' of any shops that ask her to put one on.

Even so, she went into business supplying PPE at the start of the pandemic but insisted that she isn't a hypocrite.

Gorgeous: Victoria accentuated her natural beauty with false eye lashes and a slick of nude lipstick

'I did a little bit of a pivot,' she said. 'But no, it doesn't! I was selling it to hospitals, not to people out walking their dogs or shopping.'

Asked if she would ever take the Covid vaccine, she scoffed: 'No way! It's a personal thing, and my mother's had hers, but at my age I really believe in natural immunity.'

She admitted that Project Baby had also influenced her thinking  as she has a prospective sperm donor/father lined up.

A-list pals: Victoria was joined at the event by Kiera Chaplin who looked stunning in a floor-length purple gown

Six of her eggs were frozen and stored three years ago, at a cost of 11,000, and she spent the time afterwards looking for a donor.

'I had a friend who was going to be my sperm donor. He was going to be involved in my child's life, but as a friend, not a partner,' she explained.

'And I was supposed to be pregnant now. But then Covid happened, which was a big blow, but looking back I'm really grateful I didn't do it with that person. He just wasn't right.'

Victoria revealed she has since found someone, but is keeping their identity secret.
She's back in Los Angeles after filming the reality show Come Dance With Me in Australia.

And Jenna Dewan posted a montage of photos from her sunny weekend with her children and friends to her Instagram on Monday.

The mother of two, 40, posed for one photo wearing a low-cut black swimsuit and in the caption she wrote: 'I am loving being home with my love, my babes, this Cali sun, bday parties, best friends, swimming, laughs and grounding. More of this universe.'

Fun in the sun: She's back in LA after filming reality show Come Dance With Me in Australia. And Jenna Dewan posted a montage of photos from her weekend to Instagram on Monday

Dewan was joined in the photo shoot by her daughter Everly, eight, whom she shares with ex-husband Channing Tatum and her friend Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Also included in the snaps was her one-year-old son Callum whom she shares with actor Steve Kazee.

The images showed a weekend of hanging out in the dancer and actress' backyard, swimming in the pool and going to a birthday party.

Her little girl: Dewan shared a sweet snap of daughter Everly, eight, dancing next to a bubble machine. The youngster's dad is Dewan's ex-husband Channing Tatum

Her baby: The dancer and TV personality, 40, also posed for a photo with one-year-old son Callum whom she shares with actor Steve Frazee

Weekend activities: The images showed a weekend of hanging out in the dancer and actress' backyard, swimming in the pool and going to a birthday party

Sweet: Dewan snapped a selfie as the family headed off to a birthday party. Everly - known as Evie- Everly got all dressed up and took charge of her younger brother

Dewan started out as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson and came to notice with a role in the 20006 film Step Up.

Tatum was her co-star in Step Up and the two started dating, tying the knot in 2009.

In April 2018, however, the couple announced they were separating and their divorce was finalized in November 2019.

In May, Dewan had headed to Melbourne where she filmed Come Dance With Me over several weeks.

Before she jetted back to the US, she shared a sunset snap of herself looking out over the city's skyline and shared: 'I love a flair I love a sunset and I love a view.'
It was the standout moment in a policy heavy speech about infrastructure, bridges and tax during a weekday visit to a public transit center in Wisconsin.

After running through financial implications for families, and how they would get a check for $3600 for each child under six, he said he would be accused of delivering giveaways.

He dropped his voice and leaned into the microphone, adopting a conspiratorial tone.

'Hey guys, I think it's time to give ordinary people a tax break,' he whispered.

'The wealthy are doing fine.'

Biden's conservative critics have labeled his whispered words as 'creepy' and 'weird' but White House and communications experts say the strategy is just his way of connecting with viewers at home as he emphasizes a point.

President Biden deployed his whisper during a recent trip to Wisconsin, where he delivered remarks on his infrastructure proposals at a public transit center

He dropped his voice and leaned into the microphone to say: 'Hey guys, I think it's time to give ordinary people a tax break. The wealthy are doing fine'

The White House and communications experts say whispers are Biden's way of trying to make a connection while emphasizing a point

Vanessa Beasley, associate professor of communication studies at Vanderbilt University, said: 'It's an intimate form of communication.'

He used the technique during a question and answer session with reporters after reaching a deal with Senate Republicans for a $973 billion infrastructure deal.

When he was asked about his timeline for providing extra financial help for families, he leaned into the microphone with his eyes wide and whispered: 'I got them $1.9 trillion in relief so far.

'Theyre going to be getting checks in the mail that are consequential.'

He did the same thing when he was asked a different question and said he did not dismiss environmental concerns.

'I wrote the bill,' he whispered, 'on the environment.'

And again, when making a point that he knew his critics would hate, he adopted a conspiratorial tone when discussing employers' hiring problems.

The solution, he said softly, was to 'pay them more.'

The technique may be a headache for White House stenographers, whose transcripts are dotted with inserts of 'inaudible,' but Beasley said the use of whispering by Biden, who was a U.S. senator and vice president for more than 40 years, was a throwback to a time of chummier relations between lawmakers and of the Washington press corps.

'I think it's a symbolic gesture to a kind of intimacy and familiarity,' she said.

Biden whispered during a question and answer session with reporters last month. 'I wrote the bill,' he whispered, 'on the environment'

Biden also whispered during his appearance before a joint session of Congress. Some commentators said it made sense to use a more conversational, intimate style when social distancing requirements meant the chamber was not full

It also represented a contrast between Biden and former President Donald Trump, who often spoke loudly and angrily.

'One of the things that Trump never did was whisper,' said Robin Lakoff, professor emerita of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley.

Public speakers - lawmakers, celebrities, corporate executives - often raise or lower their voices for dramatic effect or tell jokes to keep their audiences following along instead of falling asleep.

Beasley said the tone of political discourse these days seems set to loud so that 'it sort of sets everybody back a little bit when you see someone going in a different direction and reducing their volume.'

Lakoff said what Biden does isn't really whispering because his vocal chords vibrate and make sound.

'A true whisper is something you wouldn't be able to hear very well,' she said, comparing what Biden does to a 'stage whisper' in which an actor in a play steps out of character to share a secret with the audience or preview some action that's about to happen.

Conservatives ridiculed Biden for whispering, saying it was 'creepy' or downright 'weird'

The White House defended Biden, saying conservatives who criticize the way he speaks, including his stuttering, do so because they don't have a better agenda to offer voters.

'Under President Bidens leadership, COVID cases have plunged by over 90%, weve achieved an historic level of job creation, the economy is growing at its highest rate in 40 years, and weve achieved a breakthrough on the world stage to stop the offshoring of American jobs,' deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said.

'And this performative criticism is just the latest acknowledgement by Republicans that hes running the table on them while theyre grasping for a case to make,' Bates whispered.

Kayleigh McEnany, a White House press secretary for Trump, called Biden's whispering 'peculiar' and 'crazy' before panelists on the Fox News Channel program she co-hosts discussed it. Other Fox News personalities and guests also panned Biden's low-volume speech.

On the late-night talk show circuit, comedian Stephen Colbert featured what he called Biden's 'new rhetorical flourish' in a recent monologue on his CBS show.

After airing clips of the president, Colbert leaned into a hand-held microphone and whispered: 'Mr. President, Mr. President. You know I'm a fan, but the way you lean forward and whisper. Guess what?

'It's a little creepy. It's a little creepy.'

On the flip side, Biden raises his voice, too, as he did while addressing the nation from the White House lawn on July Fourth.

'On this sacred day, I look out to those monuments on our National Mall, and beyond them, into the hearts of our people across the land and I know this,' he said, voice rising as he neared the conclusion of his speech. 'It's never, ever been a good bet to bet against America. Never.

'We just have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America,' Biden thundered. 'And there's nothing - nothing - we can't do if we do it together.'
Attorney Lin Wood blamed former President Trump's lawyer Sidney Powell for adding his name to a lawsuit challenging the result of last year's election, during a Monday hearing to decide whether they should be punished for their role in pushing claims of fraud.

The pair unsuccessfully sued Michigan election officials as they tried to claim widespread rigging.

Now they face sanctions as state officials accused them of bringing a 'frivolous' lawsuit in bad faith.

In a hearing conducted by video link, Wood tried to distance himself from the action.

'I did not review any of the documents with respect to the complaint,' he told U.S. District Judge Linda Parker.

'My name was placed on there, but I had no involvement.'

Wood said he was not involved in drafting a complaint challenging the count in Michigan after last year's election. 'My name was placed on there, but I had no involvement,' he said.

Wood said: 'I would file the same complaints again.' The Trump campaign distanced itself from her after she alleged without evidence that millions of votes were switched to Biden by electronic voting systems

There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

Yet figures loyal to Trump launched a string of lawsuits last year to overturn the results.

In Michigan, their complaints were dismissed by Judge Parker in December when she rejected their application for a temporary restraining order.

The fallout from the slew of cases has already cost Rudy Giuliani. Trump's personal lawyer has been barred from practising law in New York for making making false statements during the election battle.

Atlanta-based Wood tried to pass off the blame on Powell, saying 'he didn't do anything in Michigan.'

'I do not specifically recall being asked about the Michigan complaint, but I had generally indicated to Sidney Powell that if she needed a quote-unquote trial lawyer, I would certainly be willing or available help her,' he said.

'Would I have objected to being included by name? I dont believe so.'

The city of Detroit has asked for the attorneys to be referred to disciplinary authorities in their home states and to be barred from practicing in the district court.

The pair achieved notoriety last year when they took on Trump's cause.

Dallas-based Powell was ridiculed when she described the case she was mounting as a 'Kraken' that, once released, would destroy the case for Joe Biden having won the presidency.

But the Trump campaign distanced itself from her after she claimed at a chaotic news conference in November that electronic voting systems had switched millions of ballots to Biden.

Wood is known for pushing a string of conspiracy theories and in April insisted that former President Trump was still in the Oval Office, despite being replaced by Biden on Jan. 20.

Powell disputed Wood's version of events. She said she 'did specifically ask Mr. Wood for his permission,' she also admitted there may have been a 'misunderstanding.'

She took an uncompromising position, dismissing Monday's court proceedings as the sort of display that would leave the American people with no confidence in either the electoral of judicial systems

'I would file the same complaints again,' she said.

Parker, sitting in Detroit, suggested the pro-Trump lawyers should have investigated the Republican former president's voter fraud claims more carefully before suing.

'Should an attorney be sanctioned for his or her failure to withdraw allegations the attorney came to know were untrue?,' she said. 'Is that sanctionable behavior?'

She said she thought affidavits in the case had been submitted in 'bad faith.'

And she clashed frequently with the pair's lawyers, expressing incredulity at the affidavits they submitted with their claims of fraud and questioning why they had not done more to vet the allegations.

'If you have not asked even the minimal questions, I find that problematic,' she said.

When their attorney Donald Campbell tried to push back, he triggered a bad-tempered exchange.

'I caution you not to question my procedure,' she said.

'And I am not a potted plant,' Campbell replied.

Parker dismissed the Michigan lawsuit last December, saying in a written decision that Powell's voter fraud claims were 'nothing but speculation and conjecture' and that, in any event, Powell waited too long to file her lawsuit.

Parker did not rule in the hearing's initial hours whether she would impose judicial sanctions on Powell and her co-counsel, or refer them to a regulatory body for disbarment proceedings.

Starting in January, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and other government lawyers asked the judge to discipline the pro-Trump lawyers, saying they filed a frivolous lawsuit full of typos and factual errors and should be held accountable.

'What they filed was an embarrassment to the legal profession,' David Fink, a lawyer for the city of Detroit said during Monday's hearing. 'This was a sloppy and careless effort.'

Powell represented Trump's campaign when he tried to overturn last Nov. 3's presidential election in the courts. Trump's campaign distanced itself from Powell after she claimed without evidence at a Nov. 19 news conference that electronic voting systems had switched millions of ballots to Biden.

On Nov. 25, a team of lawyers led by Powell filed a lawsuit on behalf of Michigan Republicans alleging rampant voter fraud. The also sought to have Trump named the winner of the Midwestern state's election, giving him Michigan's votes in the U.S. Electoral College which selects the winner of presidential races.

During the hearing, Parker asked Powell and her co-counsel why they did not voluntarily dismiss their Michigan case on Dec. 14 when the Electoral College formally confirmed Biden's election victory.

'Why did the plaintiffs not recognize this lawsuit as moot and dismiss it on that date?' Parker asked.

Campbell replied that the election was 'fluid' and unpredictable and that the pro-Trump legal team believed its lawsuit was still viable after Dec. 14.
Neel Bhatt, a UW assistant professor of otolaryngology, specializes in treating patients with voice problems. Through his work, he began to realize people did not like the sound of their own voices. With the transition to school over Zoom, many students can relate to the discomfort of hearin
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According to the warning, heavy rains to isolated extremely heavy rains are very likely to occur in Nirmal, Nizamabad, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Mahabubabad, Warangal (Rural), Warangal (Urban), Janagaon, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Mulugu, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajgiri and Nagarkurnool districts of Telangana. Representational Image (Twitter)

Hyderabad: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for several districts in the state for Monday. According to the warning, heavy rains to isolated extremely heavy rains are very likely to occur in Nirmal, Nizamabad, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Mahabubabad, Warangal (Rural), Warangal (Urban), Janagaon, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Mulugu, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajgiri and Nagarkurnool districts of Telangana. Gusty winds (speed up to 30-40 kmph) are very likely to occur in many districts in the state, it said.

As of Sunday, several parts of the state witnessed moderate to light rainfall. Following the sudden downpour, the traffic police urged the public not to stand under trees or near poles. The highest rainfall in the state was recorded at Chennaraopet which had received 140 mm of rainfall and in the city, it was recorded at Srinagar Colony which had received 18 mm till 8 pm.

The alert, issued on Sunday, said there was a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which when met with the southwest monsoon trough, would result in heavy rainfall.

These rains are a result of the low-pressure zone that is located on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. Under the influence of these rains, the state would receive moderate to light rainfall, which at times can be heavy. Even the capital city is expected to receive good spells of rain, Mahesh Palawat, vice-president (meteorology), Skymet (a private weather forecasting agency) told this newspaper. These rains are expected to persist for over 48 hours.

The IMD said that there could be flooding in a few parts of low-lying areas in districts of Telangana. Also, it said that there was a chance of disruption of power supply, rail, and road transport for a few hours. It also mentioned that there was a chance of damage to standing crops due to rains.
Students, who have faced many strictures in the past, fear violence will be back. Representational Image (AP)

Vishakhapatanam: Many students from Afghanistan are afraid that with total withdrawal of US forces after September this year, Taliban will enforce its diktats, making Afghan students in various countries, including India, the worst sufferers.

The issue is worrying Afghan students, including women, studying in colleges of Visakhapatnam. They fear theirs would be their last batch enrolled in various courses. From next year onwards, Afghan students have to enrol for studies within their own country, Afghanistan Students Association (ASA) president Abeedullah Aabede told Deccan Chronicle on Sunday.

He confessed to witnessing violence unleashed by Taliban in his childhood. He feared it would resume again, upsetting Afghan economy and education.

Though they can never take over full power, they will unleash violence, which will have strong influence on youth in rural areas, where education is low, Abeedullah stated, pointing out that literacy percentage in Afghanistan is below 50 and less than 20 among women.

He pointed out that during last 20 years, many youth have taken advantage of studying abroad. This enabled them to serve Afghan government in various capacities and contribute to their countrys progress. In the process, Afghanistans economy too has improved.

We can only hope that Taliban will have the right sense and continue allowing Afghan students study abroad, so that our country could benefit in turn, the ASA president said.

But girl students, who have faced many strictures in the past, fear violence will be back. Girls will face many restrictions, including studying abroad. I am sure Taliban have not changed their mindset. They will bring back what has been forgotten by us, said Spogmay, doing her first year MBA in the campus college of Andhra University.

She told this correspondent that Taliban would close down small-scale business units operated by women and restrict them to their homes. Girls cannot hope to study abroad. They will be forced to wear traditional attire as prescribed by Taliban.

We are ready to wear burqas and follow their diktat, provided they allow us to continue education abroad and let women run their independent businesses in Afghanistan, Spogmay maintained.

There are about 200 Afghanistan students each in Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad. Some of them are studying in Guntur and Vijayawada. Around 1,000 Afghans have submitted their applications to Andhra University for doing various courses during the current academic year.
In March, Venkatchalam was expelled from the AIADMK. (Photo: PTI)

Chennai: Former AIADMK Minister Thoppu N D Venkatachalam and an ex-MP of the party among others joined the ruling DMK here on Sunday.

Besides Venkatachalam, expelled earlier from the party by its top leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami, former AIADMK MP and MLA PR Sundaram and others joined the DMK in the presence of its President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, the party said in a release here.

In March, Venkatchalam was expelled from the AIADMK by its top leaders for filing nomination as an independent for the April 6 Assembly polls after being denied ticket to contest the election from the Perundurai seat in Erode district.

Over a 100 other AIADMK functionaries from Erode joined the DMK, the release added.
Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday put to rest speculations over the speakers post in Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) saying the post will remain with the Congress only. The three constituents of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have decided that the next speaker will be from the Congress party, he said.

Ever since senior Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, acting as a presiding officer, suspended 12 BJP MLAs on the charges of unruly behaviour in Vidhan Sabha in the recently concluded monsoon session of the State Legislature, there have been talks of Sena interested in holding the speakers post by giving the forest ministers post from its quota to the Congress.

However, Mr Pawar made it clear that the speakers post belongs to Congress. The three parties (Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) have decided that the new Speaker will be from the Congress party only. We all will support whatever the Congress decides about the speaker, he said at Baramati in Pune.

In the power-sharing agreement within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government, the speakers post has been allotted to the Congress. However, Mr Jadhav has said he would be happy to become the speaker of Vidhan Sabha if given a responsibility. In the Shiv Sena circles too, there are talks that the party should give up its vacant forest ministers post to Congress in exchange of the Speakers post.

Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat has said the Congress will not give up the speakers post. There are no plans to allocate the speakers post to Shiv Sena. There are several leaders in our party, who will do the job well. An able leader will be asked to hold the reigns, he has said.

The speakers post has been lying vacant since the resignation of Nana Patole, who has been made the state party chief by the Congress. The forest ministers post is also vacant after Sanjay Rathod from Shiv Sena had resigned early this year in connection with the death of a social media star.
Earlier, Rajinikanth had said that he would launch his party in January 2021 ahead of the Assembly elections. (Photo: PTI/File)

Chennai: Top star Rajinikanth on Monday announced disbanding the Rajini Makkal Mandram, launched for his political entry and reiterated that he has no intention of involving himself in politics in future.

Hours after he flagged questions among fans and Mandram functionaries as to "whether or not I am going to come to politics in future," the actor, following discussions with office-bearers said he would not join politics.

Due to circumstances, "what we thought did not materialise," he said apparently referring to his previoulsy proposed political entry which he subsequently dropped.

"I have no intention of involving myself in politics in future," he asserted in a statement.

Hence the RMM is disbanded and the functionaries would as before work under the Rajinikanth Fans Forum (Rajinikanth Rasigar Narpani Mandram) which is aimed at carrying out activities for people's welfare, he said.

After he announced last year that he would not take the political plunge, it was his duty to clarify on the status of the Mandram which was created as a precursor body to facilitate the launch of a political party, he added.

The fans forum, an apolitical welfare body, was converted into RMM and this new outift was launched in 2018. Office-bearers were appointed in both districts and at the state-level while separate wings were also formed to support the launch of political party. Before meeting the functionaries at a marriage hall owned by him here, the actor, speaking to reporters referred to questions being raised on Mandram and 'whether or not' he would be in politics, which led to a flutter of excitement among his fans till he came out with a statement reiterating his 'no to politics' stand.

While fans were briefly excited, others on social media wondered why the actor was revisiting this matter as he had himself, last year, given a quietus to the over two-decade old political entry debate.

The actor, who returned from USA days ago after a health check-up told reporters: "Should the Makkal Mandram be continued and if so, what will be its functions and these are questions among the functionaries and fans.

"There are also questions as to whether or not I am going to come to politics in future," he said, adding he would consult Mandram functionaries and then spell out the outcome of the deliberations.

On 3 December, 2020, the actor had said that he would launch his party in January 2021 ahead of the Assembly elections. However, during the last week of December last year, he did a u-turn and announced that he would not join politics.

Since then, several functionaries had joined political parties including the DMK.
Stan Swamy, who died around a week ago after being denied bail in the Bhima Koregaon case, was a Tamil priest who spent decades working with adivasis in Jharkhand. Before that he was director of the Indian Social Institute in Bengaluru. Why was he in jail for an event in Pune? The Bhima Koregaon case is five separate and unrelated things. The first was an event called Elgar (or Yalgar, meaning battle cry) Parishad on December 31, 2017 in Pune. The speakers there included former high court judge B.G. Kolse-Patil and P.B. Sawant, a former Supreme Court judge. Jignesh Mewani, Independent MLA from Gujarat, and JNU activist Umar Khalid also spoke. Members of Kabir Kala Manch, who are artists-activists, participated too.

The second event was next day, January 1, 2018. This was the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima, a Pune suburb on Bhima river, where on January 1, 1818, the British defeated the remnants of the Maratha empire. The British side had many dalit Mahar soldiers who overpowered a larger army led by the Brahmin Peshwa.

Since 1927 when B.R. Ambedkar visited the village to speak of the victory, hundreds of thousands of dalits came to Koregaon Bhima each year to gather at the obelisk raised to mark the battle. But in 2018, there had been tension due to events in the neighbouring village of Vadhu Budruk. This had to do with who had cremated Sambhaji, Shivajis son, who was executed by Aurangzeb in 1689 near Koregaon Bhima. The Mahars claimed it was one of them, Gopal Govind, who cremated the Maratha in defiance of Aurangzebs orders. This offended the Marathas, who claimed two of their community had performed the rituals. Govinds tomb in Vadhu Budruk was in the same village square as Sambhajis. On December 28, a board was placed over Govinds tomb, claiming the feat of his cremation of Sambhaji. The next day Govinds tomb was desecrated  the board was removed and the umbrella structure over the tomb was damaged. A complaint was filed by dalits under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act. The Koregaon Bhima panchayat asked its residents to boycott the January 1 event and called for shops to remain shut. That morning violence erupted between dalits, who said they were attacked by a group carrying saffron flags, and the local Marathas, who said they were attacked by dalits. One Maratha was killed. The violence spread to other towns in western Maharashtra and 300 dalits, including children, were held by the Mumbai police.

The third event was a police complaint, filed a few days later, by a man who said the Elgar Parishads agenda was to mislead the dalit community, to convert them to Maoist thought and adopt the path of violence, and that through their publications, books and speeches, they wanted to increase enmity in society. The man who filed the complaint, Tushar Damgude, said he followed a simple rule for his Hindutva: We should keep things which are helpful for Hindus; the rest should be abandoned.

It was on the basis of this complaint that the police began arresting the activists, many of whom had nothing to do with, and werent present in Bhima Koregaon. The fourth event was a report produced by an RSS outfit called the Forum for Integrated National Security, whose secretary general, Seshadri Chari, was on the BJPs national executive committee. This report said there was a Maoist strategy to lure people into joining mass organisations concerned about issues like caste, justice and equality, which would then help the Maoists recruit for the final armed struggle against the State. This report was released on March 9, 2018.

Another report by the same author was submitted to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in April. In May, the UAPA law was added to the Bhima Koregaon case. On June 6, the Maharashtra police arrested five people including Dhawale of the Republican Panthers, lawyer and dalit activist Surendra Gadling, scholar Mahesh Raut, who worked on adivasi rights, assistant professor of English at Nagpur University Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson of JNU, who worked with the Committee to Release Political Prisoners. They were described by the police as the top brass of the urban Maoists.

The police claimed it found a letter in Wilsons house dated July 2017 which said: Comrade Kisan and few other senior comrades have proposed concrete steps to end Modi Raj. We are thinking along the lines of another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident.

On the basis of this, the police arrested Sudha Bharadwaj, who studied mathematics at IIT Kanpur and gave up her US citizenship at age 18; Gautam Navlakha, who also wrote for Economic and Political Weekly; Anand Teltumbde, assistant professor at Goa Institute of Management and married to a granddaughter of Ambedkar; Arun Ferreira, a lawyer defending the accused in this case; Vernon Gonsalves, a professor of business management and economics at Ruparel College and HR College of Commerce and Economics; Varavara Rao, an author and poet who was a lecturer on Telugu literature; Hany Babu, a professor of linguistics at Delhi University. Three members of the Kabir Kala Manch  Sagar Gorkhe, Jyoti Jagtap and Ramesh Gaichor  were arrested, and Father Stan Swamy, 83-year-old Jesuit and theologian.

None of them had anything to do with the Bhima Koregaon violence, and werent even present there. The case is said to be sensitive because of the assassination plot allegation, but the trial hasnt started.

Last year, the BBC carried a report on Stan Swamy headlined: The oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India.
A firefighter sprays water while trying to stop the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, from spreading to neighboring homes in Doyle, Calif., Saturday, July 10, 2021. Pushed by heavy winds amid a heat wave, the fire came out of the hills and destroyed multiple residences in central Doyle. (AP Photo)

Firefighters working in searing heat struggled to contain the largest wildfire in California this year while state power operators urged people to conserve energy after a huge wildfire in neighboring Oregon disrupted the flow of electricity from three major transmission lines.

A large swath of the West baked during the weekend in triple-digit temperatures that were expected to continue into the start of the work week. The California Independent System Operator that manages the states power grid issued a five-hour flex alert starting at 4 p.m. Monday and asked consumers to conserve as much electricity as possible to avoid any outages.

California and other parts of the West are sinking deeper into drought and that has sent fire danger sky high in many areas. In Arizona, a small plane crashed Saturday during a survey of a wildfire in rural Mohave County, killing both crew members.

A truck driver who hauls fire equipment watches as the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, burns in Doyle, Calif., on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The Beech C-90 aircraft was helping perform reconnaissance over the lightning-caused Cedar Basin Fire, near the tiny community of Wikieup northwest of Phoenix.

Officials on Sunday identified the victims as Air Tactical Group Supervisor Jeff Piechura, 62, a retired Tucson-area fire chief who was working for the Coronado National Forest, and Matthew Miller, 48, a pilot with Falcon Executive Aviation contracted by the U.S. Forest Service. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

Flames consume a vehicle as the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, tears through Doyle, Calif., Saturday, July 10, 2021. Pushed by heavy winds amid a heat wave, the fire came out of the hills and destroyed multiple residences in central Doyle. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

In Oregon, the Bootleg Fire exploded to 224 square miles (580 square kilometers) as it raced through heavy timber in the Fremont-Winema National Forest, near the Klamath County town of Sprague River. The fire disrupted service on three transmission lines providing up to 5,500 megawatts of electricity to neighboring California.

Fire consumes a home as the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, tears through Doyle, Calif., on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Pushed by heavy winds, the fire came out of the hills and destroyed multiple residences in central Doyle. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The largest wildfire of the year in California was raging near the border with Nevada. The Beckwourth Complex Fire  a combination of two lightning-caused blazes burning north of Lake Tahoe  grew by a third Sunday to 134 square miles (348 kilometers). However, firefighters working in temperatures that topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) were able to gain some ground, doubling containment to 20%.

Late Saturday, flames jumped U.S. 395, which was closed near the small town of Doyle in Californias Lassen County. The lanes reopened Sunday, and officials urged motorists to use caution and keep moving along the key north-south route where flames were still active.

Thick, acrid smoke envelops firefighters with the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority as they battle a brush and timber slash fire north of Ukiah, Calif., Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)

Do not stop and take pictures, said the fires Operations Section Chief Jake Cagle. You are going to impede our operations if you stop and look at whats going on.

Cagle said structures had burned in Doyle, but he didnt have an exact number. Bob Prary, who manages the Buck-Inn Bar in the town of about 600 people, said he saw at least six houses destroyed after Saturdays flareup. The fire was smoldering Sunday in and around Doyle, but he feared some remote ranch properties were still in danger.

It seems like the worst is over in town, but back on the mountainside the fires still going strong, Prary said.

A wildfire in southeast Washington grew to almost 60 square miles (155 square kilometers) as it blackened grass and timber while it moved into the Umatilla National Forest.

In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little declared a wildfire emergency Friday and mobilized the states National Guard to help fight fires sparked after lightning storms swept across the drought-stricken region.
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Highlights of this day in history: Julius Caesar born; Walter Mondale taps Geraldine Ferraro as the first woman to run on a major party ticket for the White House; Boris Yeltsin quits the Soviet Communist Party; Comedian Bill Cosby born. (July 12)
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The location of Ulster Universitys Medical School at Magee has not been finalised despite the belief that it would be located on land next to Derry council headquarters for years.

It has been widely reported that the long-awaited School of Medicine would be situated on the Strand Road adjacent to the council building.

However, in an FOI response to the Derry News, the local council indicated that Ulster University (UU) still has to decide on its preferred and intended location along the riverfront for its proposed medical school and innovation campus.

Derry City & Strabane District Council is awaiting a decision from UU before finalising its own planned 20m-25m move from the Strand Road to Foyle Street.

UU was asked where the Medical School will be based and if Fort George is being explored as an option.

The Derry News also queried whether the university has ambitions of siting any facilities in the city centre with a growing realisation from experts that city centres need to be reimagined due to the demise of retail stores.

A UU spokesperson said: Ulster Universitys Magee Campus sits in the heart of the beautiful university city of Derry and also extends beyond the campus boundaries with Education and Research provision onsite at Altnagelvin Hospital.

We have had initial, outline conversations with the Western Health and Social Care Trust about options for our healthcare expertise within the Fort George hub, and look forward to developing more detailed plans in time.

Separately, well update you on plans for the permanent location of the School of Medicine as they are confirmed.

UUs vision is to build a high-tech hub for health and innovation which stretches from the current council headquarters to Fort George.

The first step is the opening of the School of Medicine next month which will be run from buildings on the existing Magee campus.

Globally ambitious community-focused doctors will be trained in Derry for the Northern Ireland health service.

UU has publicised its plans to expand the campus footprint in Derry through infrastructural developments.

It will receive around 85m of the local council's City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund to invest in the campus.

The UU website states: This will stimulate economic growth in the city and region.

Through the Derry & Strabane City Deal centres of excellence in robotics and artificial intelligence will be built in the city centre.

An innovation corridor will develop along the Riverfront stretching to Fort George.

Derry City Council has visionary plans to create a world-class riverfront space.

A host of investment and employment opportunities will follow.

GROWTH

In the proposed health and innovation hub, nurses, medical researchers, GPs, podiatrists, sport scientists, will learn and live side by side, preparing them for their future careers in the multidisciplinary environment that is the health service.

From this September, Magee will educate the next generation of paramedics through a new course, BSc Honours in Paramedic Science.

In 2022-23 around 850 Health Sciences students will study disciplines including radiography and physiotherapy at the Derry campus.

A new Health Research Institute (HRI) will be located beside the School of Medicine.

At the HRI, medical researchers will pioneer a new health innovation project, sequencing the DNA of the people of Derry and the region.

They will sit alongside the multi-award-winning School of Nursing which was recently ranked number one on the Island of Ireland and 6th in the UK.

These plans will take a number of years to come to fruition, as the council has stated that business cases could take up to two years to be signed off at central government level.

Speaking in February UU Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew said there were currently 4,098 students at Magee - 3,640 full-time.

In 2014/15 students at Magee totalled 5,098 of which 3,383 were full-time  that is the highest theyve ever been.

The Vice-Chancellor has previously stated that growth to 6,000 students at Magee is broadly achievable by 2022/23 but going beyond that will require a different operating environment as it has different governmental and political parameters to it.

That came as a disappointment to campaigners who want to see growth to 10,000 students in Derry as promised in New Decade, New Approach.
Esha Deol Takhtani starts production company with husband Bharat, to produce the film Ek Duaa

Actor Esha Deol Takhtani is ready to be back with a bang. While it was recently announced that she is all set to act in magnum opus Rudra The Edge of Darkness with Ajay Devgn for Disney+Hotstar VIP, it is now confirmed that she has produced her first film titled Ek Duaa. In Ek Duaa, the actor will continue her pursuit of taking on a role that gives a meaningful message for the world, on women. The project, directed by Ramkamal Mukherjee, packs a subtle yet strong punch about a women-related cause.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Esha Deol Takhtani (@imeshadeol)

Talking about it, Esha who is excited about donning a new hat and the greasepaint once again, says, "Over the past few years, I have been busy taking care of my two daughters, who are truly a blessing for me. I always wanted to come back to films, but I wanted to do it with something special. Now that they have grown up a bit and some very interesting projects are being offered to me, I thought it was the right time for me to face the camera once again. I wanted to do a film that not just entertains but also informs and inspires change. When I heard the concept of 'Ek Duaa', it truly touched me, and more so as a mother of two girls. So, I decided to extend my association with it as a producer rather than just being an actor."

"It is heartening to see how the number of women behind the scenes has increased not just in count but in visibility too in the industry, and I am happy to join the bandwagon," added the actor, who is looking forward to taking on more projects.

Esha took to social media and announced the same. She wrote, "Overwhelmed to share with you all that under the banner of Bharat Esha Films (BEF) we are launching our first film as producers- "Ek Duaa.'

When I was approached with 'Ek Duaa' as an actress, I felt a deeper connect with the script. I just knew, I had to support the film, the cause, and would want to be associated with it as a producer too. It opened the doors for Bharat & me to start another innings as partners." See the post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Esha Deol Takhtani (@imeshadeol)

Ek Duaa co-produced by Venkys and Assorted Motion Pictures is coming soon on Voot Select.
Kriti Kharbanda reveals she began pole dance classes after signing Housefull 4; calls it meditation

The gorgeous Kriti Kharbanda is undoubtedly one of the fittest celebrities of the Hindi film industry. She takes her health very seriously and her routine includes a vigorous work out. Well, the actress also enjoys taking pole dancing lessons and every now and then shares sneak peeks of the same on social media. Last month, after the lockdown was lifted, Kriti was finally reunited with the pole. She took to her official handle to share the news with fans and also uploaded an impressive dance video of herself. Take a look:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Kharbanda (@kriti.kharbanda)

In a recent interview with IANS, Kriti hared that pole dancing is not only a part of her fitness now, but is also meditation to her. She explained, Pole dancing is not just a physical act but extremely meditative, because you have to concentrate 100 per cent or else you will fall and injure yourself badly. The actress also revealed what motivated her to take up the dance form. Kriti was quoted saying, When I signed Housefull, I needed to get into shape. The first pole dancing class that I went for, I thought my arm was going to fall off, my legs were bruised.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Kharbanda (@kriti.kharbanda)

But when she returned home, she felt as if she achieved something she thought was impossible, and that drove her back to the pole. Kriti went on to add that pole dancing is the one thing she does for herself. But if she ever got an opportunity which would appeal to her, she would love to perform on-screen.

Currently the beauty is gearing up for the release of her next film, 14 Phere.
Pooja Bhatt celebrates 30 years of Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, thanks Gulshan Kumar for bankrolling 'a film that experts said was too risky'

Pooja Bhatt celebrates 30 years of Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, thanks Gulshan Kumar for bankrolling 'a film that experts said was too risky'

Actor Pooja Bhatt on Monday celebrated 30 years of "Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin" and recalled how there were people who dubbed the romantic-comedy, also starring Aamir Khan, "too risky." Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Gulshan Kumar, the film was a major success upon its release in 1991.

Based on the Academy Award winning 1934 Hollywood classic "It Happened One Night", "Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin" marked the big screen debut of Pooja Bhatt in her father Mahesh Bhatt's directorial. The film featured the actor as an heiress who runs away from home to be with her movie star boyfriend (played by Sameer Chitre) but meets Khan's Raghu on the way and falls in love with him.

Pooja Bhatt took to Twitter and shared pictures from the film, which also starred Anupam Kher, Tiku Talsania and Rakesh Bedi.

"30 years of #DilHaiKeMantaNahin. Gratitude to #GulshanKumar for bankrolling a film that experts said was too risky... Where a woman runs away from home to marry someone, then changes her mind and runs away from the mandap to marry someone else. That too, with her father's blessings," the 49-year-old actor wrote.

30 yrs of #dilhaikemantanahin Gratitude to #GulshanKumar for bankrolling a film that experts said was too risky,where a woman runs away from home to marry someone,then changes her mind & runs away from the mandap to marry someone else. That too,with her fathers blessings.. pic.twitter.com/Iotrnts5aq  Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) July 12, 2021

"Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin" also cemented Khan's position in the industry as a leading man after hits like "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" (1988) and 1990 romantic drama "Dil".The film was known for its chartbuster soundtrack by music director duo Nadeem-Shravan, which featured hit songs like "Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin", "Tu Pyaar Hai Kisi Aur Ka" and "Adayein Bhi Hain" among others, penned by Sameer, Faaiz Anwar and Rani Malik.
Sanjay Gupta ropes in Aditya Roy Kapur for Shootout 3: Gang Wars of Bombay?

Something new is brewing under Sanjay Gupta. The director was in news because of reportedly collaborating with Sanjay Dutt after years, but the latter clarified that it wasn't true. But one thing that is constantly being talked about is the third part of the Shootout franchise. It was being said that the maker was looking forward to the casting of the film, reportedly titled Shootout 3: Gang Wars of Bombay. Now, his search might have come to an end.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @adityaroykapur

If a report in Bollywood Hungama is to be believed, then Aditya Roy Kapur has been cast as the lead for Shootout 3. A source was quoted saying, It seems like Malang star Aditya Roy Kapur is in demand for action movies. Right after Malang, he signed OM: The Battle Within. Now we hear that the makers of the Shootout franchise have roped in Aditya Roy Kapur to headline the project. While his role details are kept under wraps, it surely is interesting to see him join the franchise.

The film will apparently be based on the 1992 shootout at JJ Hospital, where members of Dawood Ibrahims and Arun Gawlis gang had a face-off. There has been no official confirmation of the same.
UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopts Irish-led Resolution on Civil Society Space

Press release

Today, at the 47th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Council adopted by consensus an Irish-led resolution championing civil society space. Ireland, together with a core group of Chile, Japan, Sierra Leone and Tunisia, brought this initiative to the Council to highlight the essential role civil society plays in the Covid-19 response and recovery. The resolution also draws attention to the growing challenges facing civil society, which have been compounded by the pandemic.

The resolution mandates the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report that examines in detail the key challenges identified by civil society as impeding their activities, and provides recommendations to address these. This will be discussed at the Council in 2022. An inclusive approach will be taken to the preparation of the report, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, in particular civil society.

Speaking following the resolutions adoption, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., said:

With pressure on civil society increasing in every geographic region, I am delighted that Ireland has again led at the Human Rights Council on championing civil society participation.

The Resolution adopted today is an important incremental step in ensuring that this vital issue continues to receive the international attention that it so rightly deserves and demands. I wish to thank all those who contributed to its successful adoption, including our civil society partners in Ireland, Geneva and beyond.

Ireland looks forward to working with other stakeholders to ensure that the implementation of this resolution is comprehensive and involves the meaningful participation of civil society actors, including at grass roots level and those most marginalised.

Irelands prioritisation of civil society extends far beyond the Human Rights Council. While on the UN Security Council we are engaging daily with civil society, both here in Ireland and internationally, to benefit from their invaluable experience and expertise, and we are committed to bringing their voices directly to the Council table.

A strong and vibrant civil society that actively contributes to our societies and calls us to account is in all our collective interests. Ireland will continue to speak out when civil society is threatened and maintain our staunch support for the protection and promotion of civil society space.

ENDS

Press Office

12 July 2021

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Waste-to-energy plants are expanding in other parts of the world, as more than 120 plants have been built in the last five years.



By PATRICK WHITTLE

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine  America remains awash in refuse as new cases of the coronavirus decline  and that has reignited a debate about the sustainability of burning more trash to create energy.

Waste-to-energy plants, which produce most of their power by incinerating trash, make up only about half a percent of the electricity generation in the U.S. But the plants have long aroused considerable opposition from environmentalists and local residents who decry the facilities as polluters, eyesores and generators of foul odor.





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Ste. Michelle sold for $1.2B

SEATTLE (AP)  Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has been sold for about $1.2 billion to a private equity firm by its parent, the tobacco company Altria.

Woodinville-based Ste. Michelle describes itself as the nation's third largest wine company, farming nearly 30,000 acres across Washington, Oregon, and California and selling wines under labels including Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Erath, Intrinsic and Patz & Hall.

The Seattle Times reports its growth has stalled, however, in the highly competitive wine industry. Ste. Michelle's sales slipped from $691 million in 2018 to $689 million in 2019, with operating income turning from a $50 million profit to a $3 million loss. Then, during the pandemic shutdowns of 2020, Ste. Michelle's sales fell to $614 million and it reported a steep operating loss of $360 million.

Altria, which owns major cigarette brands such as Marlboro, said it will use the sale's proceeds to buy back stock. CEO Billy Gifford said shedding the wine company is part of its plan to focus on moving adult smokers away from cigarettes by taking action to transition millions to potentially less harmful choices like noncombustible nicotine products.




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SEATTLE  A small apartment building at 2566 14th Ave. W. has sold for almost $2.4 million, according to King County records. The seller was Mia Casa Apts LLC, a family group that had owned the property for decades.

The buyer was JRD King LLC, which is associated with the Diamond family, of Diamond Parking. No new plans have been filed for the midblock property.





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India begins export of GI certified wheat and mangoes

Agricultural produce exports from India has started charting a new course with shipments of Geographical Indication (GI) certified wheat and mangoes for the first time.

India on Saturday announced the first shipment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat from Gujarat to Kenya and Sri Lanka, in a major boost to wheat exports from the country.

The GI certified Bhalia wheat has high protein content and is sweet in taste. The crop is grown mostly across Bhal region of Gujarat, which includes Ahmadabad, Anand, Kheda, Bhavanagar, Surendranagar and Bharuch districts.

The unique characteristic of the wheat variety is that grown in the rainfed condition without irrigation and cultivated in around two lakh hectares of agricultural land in Gujarat.The Bhalia variety of wheat received GI certification in July 2011. The registered proprietor of GI certification is Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat.

India exported substantial quantity of grain to seven new countries - Yemen, Indonesia, Bhutan, the Philippines, Iran, Cambodia and Myanmar during 2020-21.

In the previous financial years, only small quantities of wheat were exported to these countries. Wheat exports did not take place to these seven countries in 2018-19 and only 4 metric tonne of grain was exported in 2019-20. The volume of exports of wheat to these countries rose to 1.48 lakh tonne in 2020-21.

This initiative is expected to give boost wheat exports from India. In 2020-21, wheat exports from India witnessed a significant growth of 808 per cent to Rs4,034 crore from Rs444 crore reported in the previous fiscal. In US dollar terms, wheat exports from the country rose 778 per cent to $549 million in 2020-21.

India also, on Friday, exported the first consignment of GI certified Fazil mango variety sourced from Malda district of West Bengal to Bahrain, expanding its footprint of mango exports to the newer countries of the Middle East. The consignment of Fazil mango was exported by APEDA registered DM enterprises, Kolkata and imported by Al Jazira group, Bahrain.

APEDA has been initiating measures to boost mango exports from non-traditional regions and states. It has been conducting virtual buyer-seller meets and festivals to promote mango exports. This shipment to Bahrain comes a few days after APEDA organised a mango promotion programme at Doha, Qatar where nine varieties of mangoes, including GI certified mangoes from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh were displayed at the stores of importer Family Food Centre.

The nine varieties which were exported include GI certified Khirsapati (Malda, West Bengal), Lakkhanbhog (Malda, West Bengal), Fazli (Malda, West Bengal), Dusshheri (Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh) and Amrapali and Chausa (Malda, West Bengal) and Langda (Nadiya, West Bengal).

In June 2021, a week-long Indian mango promotion programme was organised in Bahrain where 16 varieties of the fruit, including three GI certified Khirsapati and Lakshmanbhog (West Bengal), Zardalu (Bihar) were displayed.

The varieties of mangoes were sold through 13 stores of the group in Bahrain. The mangoes were sourced from farmers in Bengal and Bihar by APEDA registered exporter.

APEDA has been conducting virtual buyer-seller meets and festivals to promote mango exports. It recently organised mango festival in Berlin, Germany.

For the first time in this season, India has shipped a consignment of 2.5 metric tonne of GI certified Banganapalli and Survarnarekha varieties of mangoes sourced from farmers in Krishna and Chittor districts of Andhra Pradesh recently.

While most of the states in India have mango plantations, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka have a major share in total production of the fruit. Alphonso, Kesar, Totapuri and Banganpalli are leading export varieties from India. Mango exports primarily take place in three forms: fresh mango, mango pulp, and mango slice.
Cairn Energy gets French court to freeze 20 Indian govt assets in Paris

British resources firm Cairn Energy said on Thursday it has secured an order to freeze Indian government-owned assets in central Paris worth 20 million Euros, marking the first win in a series of cases filed across various courts in several countries in the tax case against the Indian government.

Tribunal judiciaire de Paris ordered the freeze on 20 residential real estate properties owned by the Government of India in an attempt to force India to pay up $1.7 bn arbitration award that Cairn won in a 23 December 2020 award from the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

This is the necessary preparatory step to taking ownership of the properties and ensures that the proceeds of any sales would be due to Cairn, the company said.

The frozen assets, mostly flats, valued at more than EUR 20 million, were used by Indian government establishment in France, reports citing sources close to the development said.

While Cairn is unlikely to evict the Indian officials residing in those properties, the government cannot sell them without the sanction of the court.

Cairn Energy has been at loggerheads with the Indian government over tax claims that the income tax authorities in India enforced on the company through sale of shares. The Indian government did not recognise the arbitration awards  both by the Singapore tribunal and the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. Subsequently, Cairn registered multiple suits in jurisdictions like the US, UK, Canada, Singapore, Mauritius, France and the Netherlands mounting pressure on India to abide by the award.

Cairn, last month, also filed a petition with a New York court seeking judicial confirmation that Indias national carrier, Air India, can be classed as the Indian state and thereby jointly liable for the arbitral award.

Our strong preference remains an agreed, amicable settlement with the Government of India to draw this matter to a close, and to that end we have submitted a detailed series of proposals to them since February this year. However, in the absence of such a settlement, Cairn must take all necessary legal actions to protect the interests of its international shareholders, the company said.

Indias finance ministry said that it had not received any notice or communication from any French Court but it will take appropriate legal remedies in consultation with its counsels.

The government had, on 22 March 2021, filed an application to set aside the December 2020 international arbitral award of The Hague Court of Appeal.

Reports, meanwhile, said Cairn has simultaneously approached the Government of India for discussions to resolve the matter. Constructive discussions have been held and the Government remains open for an amicable solution to the dispute within the countrys legal framework, the government said.
UP govt to reward small families, discourage large families

The Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission on Friday released the first draft of the proposed Population (Control, Sterilisation & Welfare) Bill 2021, which aims to control the states exploding population.

The bill provides for incentives to those who have two children or less and disincentives for those who have more than two children.

The draft bill has provisions to debar violators of the two-child norm from benefits of government schemes and limiting ration card units to four. It also proposes to bar them from contesting local body elections, or applying for government jobs.

Those following the two-child norm, on the other hand, would be eligible for incentives like two additional increments during entire service, subsidised purchase of plot or house, rebate on utility charges and 3 per cent increase in EPF under national pension scheme. Besides, there are special incentives, over and above this, for the couple who stop at just one child.

The two-child norm is applicable irrespective of government or private employment as also the unemployed.

Reports citing UP State Law Commission chairperson Justice AN Mittal said there would be no relaxation in cases of polygamy and polyandry.

"Those who are questioning this must know that the government can't invest money of taxpayers on them with more than two children," an India Today report quoted Mittal as saying,

A government employee undergoing voluntary sterilisation will get two additional increments during the entire service and will also be eligible for subsidy towards purchase of plot or house site.

Moreover, he/she will get a soft loan for construction or purchase of house at nominal rates and rebate on charges for utilities such as water, electricity, and tax.

Additionally, there will be a three per cent increase in Employee Provident Fund (EPF) under the National Pension Scheme.

The beneficiary will also be eligible for maternity/paternity leave for 12 months with full salary and allowances among other benefits.

If a government employee undergoes voluntary sterilisation after one child, there would be more incentives, such as free education up to graduation level for the single child and preference in government jobs.

The draft bill also proposes a scholarship for higher studies in case of a girl child.

Those who are found to be in non-compliance with the two-child norm will be debarred from taking benefits of government schemes or receiving any kind of government subsidy.

They would be barred from applying for government jobs or contesting local body elections and those already are public servants would be barred from promotions.

Ration cards for a family would also be limited to four units.

There is a provision for creation of a State Population Fund to implement the revised state population policy. It would also be mandatory to register pregnancy, deliveries, birth and death across the state.

The government has sought suggestions and modifications from the general public within the next 10 days. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath also today released the states population policy on World Population Day (11 July).
Mumbai University teachers on war path over inept administration

The University of Mumbai Academic Staff Association (UMASA) is likely to start an open confrontation with, what they say, a mute university administration that has ignored service related issues of the university teachers as also development issues of the university.

UMASA says it has been constantly focusing on service related issues of the university teachers since the last 4-5 years but the university administration has not shown any interest to resolve the issues, so much so that the authorities have refused to even meet the union representatives or discuss serious grievances and issues. This, according to the union, has resulted in several university teachers losing their academic and financial benefits.

Besides these, the present authorities are making a mess in the university administration by doing favouritism in the appointments to various posts and purposely ignoring the seniority of the university teachers.

All key positions are given to college teachers, who are much junior to them, in what the union says, an insult to the university teachers.

The present administration has not even carried out the NAAC assessment over the last 3 years, though all the heads/directors and teachers have submitted the required data to the administration, says the union.

It may be noted that the other universities in te state like Savitribai Phule Pune University, Shivaji University, Kolhapur and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad have all done their NAAC with good scores but Mumbai University, which is the oldest university in the country is lagging behind simply because of the non-performing authorities who are setting wrong precedents by appointing college teachers everywhere. They are under the impression that nobody can do anything to them till they complete their tenure.

The teachers union says since the administration is not responding to its rightful demands, there was no other alternative or option to communicate with the authorities thanresort to agitation.

Major demands include: medical group insurance and general insurance cover, timely promotions under CAS and stamping of service books, opening of DCPS/NPS accounts and return of money, investigation of the misuse of RUSA funds, wrong additional charge to single isolated posts, audit of the finance department, stop forcing department heads to conduct online exams, stop reappointments of retired teachers, give representation to university teaches on different authorities, stop humiliation of reserve category teachers, stop relegating the university to school systems, among others.

UMASA has given a call for agitation to protect the rights of university teachers in a democratic way.

As a part of this agitation, USMA on Tuesday displayed agitation banners at Kalina, Fort, Churchgate, Thane and Ratanagiri campuses of the university of Mumbai to draw attention of the university authorities on teachers issues and the demands of the union. More than 50 male and female teachers participated in the protest at the Kalina campus in front of the administrative building.

USMA has threatened to intensify its agitation with a one=day agitation at Kalina Campus on 13 July and a chain protest beginning 20 July till its receives assurance in writing on fulfilling its listed demands from the authorities.
The Government unveiled a new jobs plan to get people back to work as the pandemic recedes at a launch event in Dundalk today.

The Pathways to Work plan was launched in the Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Training Centre of Excellence in Dundalk by multiple Ministers, including the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin.

According to the Government, the key commitments of the plan are to reduce long term unemployment across the country, with a particular focus on youth unemployment.

Ministers want to see 75,000 long-term unemployed people brought into employment by July 2023, and reduce youth unemployment to 12.5%.

Speaking at the launch this morning, the Taoiseach said that the plan aims to exceed Irelands employment levels before the Covid-19 pandemic hit by 2024.

The overall ambition of the Plan is to exceed pre-crisis employment levels by reaching 2.5 million people in work by 2024. Crucially, though, these jobs will be more productive, more resilient and more secure, said the Taoiseach.

Government is committed to delivering on the ambitions and commitments set out in the strategy in order to drive a jobs-led economic recovery, to build back better, and to build back fairer.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said that the plan is to ensure that people are supported as they return to work.

Its about leaving nobody behind, providing new opportunities to retrain and re-skill and, above all, giving people the support they need to secure quality, sustainable employment, said Minister Humphreys.

This is important for our society, our economy and for every unemployed person, whether they lost their jobs due to COVID or who were already unemployed pre-COVID.

Among the supports announced by the Government include recruitment subsidies between 7,500 and 10,000 for employers who take people off the live register.

Welfare reform is also within the plan, with the government to use a system like the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, where short term jobseeker payments will be based on previous incomes.

The plan will also seek to develop a proposal for a basic income guarantee.

Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris said that the government want to get people into good sustainable jobs.

My Department has a responsibility to ensure people have the right skills. Today, we are also announcing an important initiative with Skillnet Ireland and Technology Ireland to assist unemployed individuals to develop core and advanced digital skills to get employment in areas where the economy is growing, said Minister Harris.

Tech in Ireland is responding to what employers need and ensures people who have lost their jobs have a pathway to a new and sustainable career.

There will be new targeted employment supports for groups who face difficulties in entering the workforce, like people with disabilities, lone parents and minority groups like travellers.

A new Work Experience Programme was also announced at the launch, with Minister Humphreys saying that it will provide unemployed people with the opportunity to build their work experience and avail of accredited training and development opportunities.

The plan, which will be available to those who have been unemployed for six months, will see workers be paid 306 a week for 30 hours.

Criticism has been levelled at the government for the plan, however, with some TDs labelling it a continuation of the Jobridge programme.

Overall responsibility for the programme will rest with the Department of Social Protection, with Minister Humphreys encouraging people to get involved.




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Claremont, NH (03743)

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Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. High 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

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AMY SWEENEY/Staff file photoEddy Almonte, charged with killing Nike Colon of Haverhill, will not stand trial until next year. Here, he is seen with attorney Eduardo Masferrer and interpreter Francisco Gonazles during his arraignment on a murder charge in Haverhill District Court, which was located in Newburyport District Court in 2018.
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Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Condemning the Legislatures ban on mask mandates during a press conference last week were, clockwise from upper right, Dr. Cadey Harrel, family physician in Tucson and the Arizona State Lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care; Dr. Ricardo Correa, an endocrinologist in Phoenix; and Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs, professor of epidemiology.
PUBLIC Expenditure Minister and Cork TD Michael McGrath has called for party unity following Fianna Fails disappointing showing in the Dublin Bay South by-election.

The result prompted speculation over Micheal Martins future, with TD Jim OCallaghan casting doubt on his leadership and former agriculture minister Barry Cowen requesting a special meeting of the parliamentary party to discuss the results.

Asked if the Taoiseach should lead Fianna Fail into the next election, were it to go ahead as planned in 2025, Mr OCallaghan replied: Well have to think about that.

Mr OCallaghan told RTEs This Week programme that he would not sign a motion of no confidence in the party leader.

Need to show unity of purpose as a party

Speaking to The Echo, Mr McGrath said Mr Martin has the support of the vast majority of TDs and senators within the party.

I think we need to show unity of purpose now as a party. We have a huge amount of work to do in Government, he said. The voters want to see us concentrating on that rather than getting involved in internal party squabbles.

Minister McGrath said he believes the Government needs to focus on the task at hand. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

We all need to support the Taoiseach and support the team. I cant speak for every individual, but the Taoiseach has the support of the vast majority of TDs and senators within the party.

Mr McGrath acknowledged that the by-election result was disappointing but said the party will try to learn lessons from the outcome.

There is no denying it was a very disappointing result for the party. I dont think there is any single reason for that. Of course, we will examine the result and try to learn lessons from the message voters gave us in the by-election, he said.

Equally, it would be wrong to read too much into one by-election result where the odds were stacked against Fianna Fail from the beginning.

Deirdre Conroy did the very best that she could. There was no contest for the party nomination, he said.

Focusing on the task at hand

Mr McGrath said he believes the Government needs to focus on the task at hand.

We are trying to lead the country through a global pandemic. We have enormous challenges in housing, bringing about economic recovery, and reforming our public health service. I think all of us need to concentrate on these matters. We will be doing our business and doing it to the best of our ability.

Pressed on what Fianna Fail needs to do to recapture the support of the Irish public, Mr McGrath said the party has to deliver.

I think we have to deliver in Government. We have a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in housing. We have provided the largest budget ever. We have a range of new schemes that have been approved and put into law. We have to make them happen on the ground, where people can see a difference in their own local community, he said.

We need to make a difference on the issues that really matter to people. If we focus on that then people will give us a fair hearing at the next election, he added.

On Friday, Mr Martin rejected suggestions that his leadership was under threat.

When asked if he envisaged any leadership issues arising from the performance of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in the Dublin Bay South by- election, the Taoiseach said not at all.

He answered absolutely when asked if he was confident of his position as leader of the country.
TRINITYS first female provost, Professor Linda Doyle has been named as the Cork Person of the Month for July for her inspiring contributions to education both at home and abroad.

Togher native, Professor Linda Doyle was recently elected Trinitys first female provost in the 429-year history of the college.

A professor of engineering and the arts, she will take up her ten-year term as provost this August.

The academic is a past student of Togher Girls National School, St Angelas College Secondary School, University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin.

Prof Doyle studied electrical engineering at University College Cork before completing her masters degree and PhD in Trinity.

Speaking on her success, Prof Doyle, who will soon take up residence at the Provosts House on the grounds of Trinity, said it was an honour to be the first female provost.

Making history as the first female provost since the college opened in 1592 was a great honour. I still cant quite believe it!

Prof Doyle commended her early influencers in her native Cork.

Togher Girls National School and St Angelas had inspiring teachers. I loved school," she said.

Speaking about the award winner, awards organiser, Manus OCallaghan said: Linda Doyle will make history this year when she takes up the role of provost at Trinity College Dublin, gaining responsibility for 18,000 students and 3,000 staff.

Doyles contributions to education in Ireland and abroad are truly inspiring, making the academic a deserving winner of the Cork Person of the Month Award.

In congratulating Prof Doyle in her recent election, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris TD said that she will become provost at a time of great change and huge opportunity for the sector.

Linda Doyle's name now goes forward for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year at a Gala Awards Lunch which will be held at the Rochestown Park Hotel on 21 January 2022.

This is the 28th year of the Cork Person of the Year awards scheme and award partners are - the Irish Examiner/ The Echo, RTE, Southern, AM OSullivan PR, Lexus Cork, Tony OConnell Photographer, Manus OCallaghan, Cork Crystal, CAVS, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

Last month, RTE broadcaster John Creedon was named the Cork Person of the Month for June.
The Managing Director at Cork Airport says the massive runway reconstruction taking place later this year will help ensure the airport is positioned for post-COVID-19 recovery. .

It was announced today that Cork Airport has awarded the main construction contract for the rebuilding of the airports main runway to Colas Limited.

Minister of State Naughton visited the airport today to meet with MD Niall MacCarthy and Colas Ireland CEO Gearoid Lohan and confirmed the approval of 10m in Government funding towards the project.

This will be the single biggest investment by any Government at Cork Airport and, when complete, it will serve as a key strategic asset for Cork and the entire region over the next 20 years," she said.

Closure to enable quicker completion of project

She defended the decision to close the airport for almost thee months between September and November.

"By closing the airport, this very significant project can be delivered in a quicker time, in a safer environment and with less long-term impacts on airlines and passengers," she said.

"Following the 10-week closure period, the airport will be in a position to reopen in good time for Christmas and will enable the airport to operate in an unrestricted way in 2022."

Around 250 construction and supply jobs will be created during the project with mobilisation and preparatory site works to begin at night immediately. These won't the airport's summer flight schedule.

24/7 work on project

The main construction works will follow on a 24/7 basis over a 10-week period from September 13. Construction of the new runway will be completed by November 22 in advance of the busy Christmas travel period.

Over 40 million is being invested in Cork Airport between 2020-2022 to upgrade the infrastructure at the airport of which the main runway reconstruction, a new Electrical Sub-Station and a new Hold Baggage Security screening system, constitute the major parts.

Hildegarde Naughton TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, at Cork Airport, pictured with Michael McGrath, TD, Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director, Cork Airport; Minister Naughton and Gearoid Lohan, CEO of Colas Ireland. Picture: Brian Lougheed

Colas was awarded the contract following an extensive EU tender process. The project to reconstruct the main runway is being supported by Government funding of 10 million from the Department of Transport, with the balance of the funding coming from Cork Airports parent company, daa plc, to complete the project.

Planning and design work for the reconstruction of the main runway started last year and Cork Airport followed a comprehensive EU procurement process commencing last November leading to the award of the contract today following design completion.

The reconstruction of Cork Airports main runway will be the fastest large-scale construction project undertaken in the State in recent years - 12 months from funding approval to the completion of the main works  encompassing EU tendering, design, regulatory approvals and construction.

This project forms part of a total investment and upgrade programme of 40 million between 2020 and 2022 so that the infrastructure at Cork Airport is positioned for recovery post-COVID-19," Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport said.

"The rebuilding of the main runway is the largest construction project to be undertaken at Cork Airport since the building of the new terminal 15 years ago.

"The construction programme includes a reconstruction of the main runway and the replacement of the airfield electrical systems, ducts and pits. These are all between 20 and 30 years old and the resulting electrical upgrade will reduce Our runway electrical carbon footprint by 70%.

"These works are necessary to ensure that the main runway at Cork Airport continues to meet and exceed strict national and international regulations governing the operation and specification of runways at major airports and position us well for the future.

"With our physical infrastructure rebuilt, we are fully committed to rebuilding our business and connectivity and making Cork Airport once again the second largest airport in the State and connecting the South of Ireland with the world.

This runway at Cork Airport typically has more than 22,000 commercial aircraft movements annually and in addition, facilitates thousands of smaller aircraft.
A teenage boy who committed violent disorder outside a house party where 20-year-old college student Cameron Blair was murdered has become "a pariah" in his community, the Central Criminal Court was told today.

The court also heard during today's sentence hearing that the incident has had a "monumental effect" on the now 16-year-old accused, who cannot be named because he is a minor, and his family have had to "swap" homes with the boy's grandparents "to keep him out of trouble".

The juvenile's defence counsel, Timothy O'Leary SC, asked Mr Justice David Keane to give the boy "a chance" saying: "What is the actual purpose of putting him in jail when he has a chance to be a functioning person; a mechanic".

The barrister also said that his client had "got caught up in this awful maelstrom" which had led to the "tragic death" of Cameron Blair.

The boy went on trial on May 28 charged with the production of a knife at a house on Bandon Road in Cork city on January 16, 2020.

He had been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for almost three weeks before the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to continue with the charge.

The DPP will enter a nolle prosequi against the teenager in due course meaning that the State will not be proceeding with the charge of producing a knife against the juvenile.

The accused, who was 14 at the time of the incident, had pleaded not guilty to producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person.

Before the State opened its case in May, the boy pleaded guilty to committing violent disorder with two other persons present together, using or threatening to use unlawful violence, and such conduct taken together would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at Bandon Road in Cork city to fear for his or another person's safety at the said place on the same occasion.

Cameron was a native of Ballinascarthy in west Cork and a second-year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). He died at Cork University Hospital (CUH) on January 16, 2020 after being stabbed in the neck while attending a student party at a house in Cork city. Another juvenile has already pleaded guilty to his murder.

It was the defence contention during the trial that two boys out of a group of three who had gathered outside the house were in possession of a knife on the night but not the defendant in this case. One of the boys has admitted murdering Cameron and another has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and to the production of a knife.

However, it was the State's case that each of the three boys had a knife on the night.

Today's hearing

At today's sentence hearing, prosecution counsel John Fitzgerald SC said the trial concluded after the DPP indicated it was not proceeding with the count of possession of a knife, in circumstances where the accused accepted that he was in possession of a butter knife during the course of events on the evening.

Mr Fitzgerald called Inspector Martin Canny, of Henry Street Garda Station, who summarised the facts of the case. He told Mr Fitzgerald that a party was taking place on Bandon Road during Freshers' Week at UCC and one of the guests was Cameron Blair. A number of people who knew each other congregated at the party and were drinking alcohol, said the witness, adding that some party-goers had consumed drugs.

An older drunk man, who was trying to get into the house was pushed back out of the house by Darren O'Leary, who was renting a room in the student accommodation, with the assistance of Cameron. Three youths who were not invited to the party and were standing outside noticed the incident and one of them was the accused. Cameron then prevailed on Mr O'Leary to invite the three youths into the house and they went inside the house.

Shortly after 9pm, one of the party-goers asked one of the teenagers with the accused if he would be able to source some cannabis for him and he [friend of the accused] was able to do so. There was a misunderstanding or disagreement for the amount paid for the drugs, which were later weighed. The dispute altered the atmosphere of the house party and later led to a desire on the part of the occupants in the house to end it and move everyone out of the house, said Mr Fitzgerald, adding that there was an understanding amongst the party-goers that this was a "temporary" measure.

The three youths did not wish to leave the house and tried to get back in. There was an indication by the group that a phone charger had been left inside and it was passed out to them. There was also "an indication", Mr Fitzgerald said, that the group had left some drugs inside, which they wanted to retrieve.

Cameron Blair. Pic: Gavin Browne

Cameron was standing at the door with Mr O'Leary and was trying to keep the three youths outside the house. An altercation and verbal exchanges ensued between the two groups and when a girl at the party went to move people away, she was punched by the accused, said counsel.

Shortly before 9.30pm, people at the party heard "references" to knives, which were then produced, he said.

Mr Fitzgerald said it was the DPP's position that the accused in this case was in the possession of a butter knife. The barrister said that some witnesses saw the butter knife by his side, others saw him attempt to push through the door with it and other witnesses heard him say that he wanted "to shank people with it".

Counsel said that another juvenile had produced a knife and stabbed Cameron very quickly in the neck with it.

In April 2020, a teenage boy, then aged 17, who murdered Cameron by plunging a knife into his neck, received a life sentence that will be reviewed in 2032. The boy, who could not be named because he was a minor, pleaded guilty to murdering Cameron on Bandon Road in Co Cork on January 16, 2020.

Mr Fitzgerald said the three youths ran away from the scene after the stabbing. In the aftermath of the attack, Cameron had walked back into the house and did not realise that he had been stabbed. He collapsed quickly, bled from the neck and was removed to CUH by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead that evening, said counsel.

Mr Fitzgerald said the accused in this case ran from the scene but later returned to the road. The court heard he ran away again and was apprehended shortly afterwards. An investigation took place and he was ultimately charged with violent disorder and possession of a knife.

The teenager has no previous convictions but was involved with the Garda's Juvenile Liaison Service on four occasions.

Insp Canny agreed with defence counsel Timothy O'Leary SC, for the teenager, that the only charge his client now faces is violent disorder, which he had pleaded guilty to.

The Inspector also agreed that one was dealing with a case where a 14-year-old boy was with his friends on the night, who were 17 and 18 years of age at the time and those inside the party were between 19 and 21 years of age.

Mr O'Leary said the three youths had "fell" into the party on "a very random basis", where an older man had been pushed out of the house onto a footpath. The three local boys were giving out about that, he noted, adding that Cameron then called the group "sound" and they were invited inside.

The witness agreed that the group had not "forced" their way inside. He further agreed that his client was offered "vodka in a bowl" at the party as the party-goers had ran out of cups and glasses to drink out of.

Mr O'Leary said that the issue regarding the drugs had started the argument and the three boys were "pushed" out the door and then made to leave the house. Counsel said it was the case that they then wanted to come back inside the party again and his client accepted that he had hit a girl.

The barrister said his client had walked from the scene, not ran and he then came back to the street on his own. "Whereas the other 'heroes', the 17 and 18-year-olds, ran and didn't come back with their knives," said Mr O'Leary, adding that his client's actions were hardly that of a "very guilty person".

Mr Fitzgerald told Mr Justice Keane that he should base his sentence on the evidence which he heard at the trial, namely that the accused was holding a butter knife and had punched a young girl. "Those are the matters on which the court in the Director's view should base its sentence," he said.

Regarding the charge of production of a knife, Mr Fitzgerald said the court should disregard that as it is now the State's case that he had a butter knife, which would not come within the meaning of the original charge.

In mitigation, Mr O'Leary said the court was now concerned with the offence of violent disorder, which his client had pleaded guilty to at the outset of the trial. He said the boy comes from a very stable and supportive family and had a limited memory of the night. "He remembers a female shouting at him and remembers pushing her, feeling scared and he then lashed out. He can't remember how he hit her but describes his behaviour as a reflex action," he explained.

Mr O'Leary went on to say that the boy accepted that he discarded the butter knife and did not see the fatal stabbing of Cameron.

He asked the court to take into account that the juvenile had identified the victim, the victim's family, the female he hit and his own family as all "victims in the case" and had stated that he was sorry for his actions.

A probation report was made available to the court in which the officer said that the boy did not understand the full seriousness of the offence, something Mr O'Leary said he was "stuck with".

He also said that the report states that the teenager does not see how his own behaviour had caused "all the consequences" on that "very sad night".

"He presents as an impressionable and impulsive young person with a lack of emotional development," said the lawyer. The probation officer said he was at moderate risk of re-offending in the next year, the court heard.

In his submissions, Mr O'Leary said that this event has had "a monumental effect" on his client's life in Cork, where it was a "very big deal" and he was the youngest of the group. "Therefore everyone knows he is somewhat involved," he said, adding that on a daily basis in school he has found it very difficult to live with.

Mr O'Leary said that other mitigating factors were that his client does not present with any substance misuse issues and is committed to his full time education. He hopes to become a mechanic, the court heard.

After the offence, Mr O'Leary said that the boy's mother had to "swap" her house with her parents house to keep her son out of trouble and "to have a higher level of parental supervision".

There was now a social worker assigned to the family and the teenager "is a pariah to a certain extent" due to his involvement in the matter, said Mr O'Leary.

Counsel said his client appreciates that "his liberty may be in jeopardy" and that custody was an option, if that was the course to be adopted by the court. "I'm actually asking for a chance for this boy and I wouldn't do it lightly," he said. If it was not for the "awful consequences" for Cameron in this case, Mr O'Leary said probation would be granted to his young client in a lower court. "I have no doubt about that. He got caught up in this awful maelstrom which led to a tragic death," he added.

The barrister said his client did not behave well and hitting a girl and having a butter knife were not "nice things". "But what is the actual purpose of putting him in jail in the context when he has the chance to be a functioning person; a mechanic. I'm asking for a chance for this boy," he submitted.

Mr Justice Keane remanded the defendant on continuing bail until Friday, when the case will be mentioned in order to finalise a date for sentence.

Evidence heard in trial

At the outset of the trial, Dave Sheehan, who described himself as one of Cameron's best friends, gave evidence that Cameron's friend was having a party at a house on Bandon Road in Cork at around 7.30pm on the evening of Thursday January 16 last year. The party took place during UCC Freshers' Week.

Mr Sheehan said there was a knock at the front door during the party and Cameron opened it to find "a drunk man in his forties trying to get into the house." The knocking persisted and the man attempted to get into the house on several occasions. Darren O'Leary, who was an occupant of the rented accommodation, gave the drunk man a bit of a slap in the face, which caused him to fall on the ground, said the witness.

Mr Sheehan testified that three boys, who he had never met before, were standing on the footpath outside the house. "They were saying to us it was lousy what had happened to the man, they were telling us to cop on," he added.

Mr Sheehan said himself and Cameron picked up the man and they began talking to the boys. "Cameron said they were sound and to let them come into the party," he said. The witness described the atmosphere as "normal and calm" and said there was no tension at that stage. Mr Sheehan agreed that he had taken a photo of the three boys at one point, which the jury were given copies of.

Mr Sheehan said the atmosphere changed later in the night and the three boys, who were at this stage standing outside the house, said they wanted to talk to "the Polish fella" who they said was "trying to rip them off". He said the three boys were each holding a knife and standing on the edge of the footpath facing the front door.

Prosecution counsel John Fitzgerald SC asked Mr Sheehan if he saw the 16-year-old accused with a knife and he replied: "Yes, it was small, the blade was no more than four inches, it was a small knife." When asked how the accused was holding the knife, the witness said "down by his side in his left hand".

A girl who came out of the house and told the group of three boys to leave was punched by one of the group, who then laughed, the witness said.

Mr Sheehan said he had not seen the boy, who has already pleaded guilty to his friend's murder, do anything to Cameron as he was staring at the girl who was punched. He said that the 16-year-old accused boy was "staring in the doorway" and "looked shocked". He then ran in the same direction as his two friends.

He said it was only when the three boys had gone that he saw his friend Cameron in the doorway of the house. "He was holding his neck, he had been stabbed. I went into the house and took my phone out and called 911," he said.

Under cross-examination, defence counsel Timothy O'Leary SC put it to the witness that the incident which "kicked things off" was when the older man had tried to gain access to the party. "Yes, we would never have talked to the three boys outside if it wasn't for him," he replied.

Asked how long the accused had the knife in his hand, Mr Sheehan said for "at least three or four minutes". "He was standing there with a knife in his left hand facing towards the doorway and having an argument with my friends about wanting to get back in," he said.

When further asked what the 16-year-old accused was doing with the knife in his hand for those "three or four minutes", Mr Sheehan said the boy had it in his left hand and down by his side for most of the time and was "waving it around a little bit, arguing and trying to get into the house."

The witness told the accused's defence barrister that he had seen the knife "with my eyes", when it was suggested to him that he had "added on another layer" about the accused having a knife.

The next witness, Marcel Szulhan, testified that three boys, who looked under 18 years of age, arrived at the party that night. "We were all dressed in going out clothes and they were in tracksuits," he remarked.

Mr Szulhan said individuals at the party had "chipped in 5 or 10" to buy 50 worth of cannabis for an "after party" at the house. He said he had asked the tallest of the group of three boys if he could "sort it for us" and one of his friends had given him 50. "We were told it would be three grams of cannabis," he said, adding that "everything got heated up again" after they received the bag of drugs.

Mr Szulhan said that the three boys left the house to get the cannabis and returned sometime later with two separate bags of the drug. "Two or three more lads came back with them, they were the lads who sourced it," he said.

He said the three boys were asked to leave the party later on as they were going into the city and the youngest of the three boys began looking for his phone charger.

When asked by the State if things were getting heated when they were looking for the phone charger, Mr Szulhan said that when the youngest of the boys was leaving the house, he said he would "shank" another person at the party.

Mr Szulhan said he then heard someone scream: "They all have knives." When asked what he saw happen to Cameron, the witness explained that he saw "a knife being put up and went down". "Cameron turned around whilst holding his neck and said he doesn't want to be fighting and everything was going to be ok," he said.

When Cameron was being put into the ambulance, Mr Szulhan said he saw the "youngest lad" walking back to the house and "looking" before gardai started to chase him.

In re-examination, Mr Fitzgerald put it to the witness that portions of his statement had been read to him which referred to what a 14-year-old had done. The lawyer asked Mr Szulhan if this was the youngest of the three boys and the witness said it was.

Darren O'Leary, who had hosted the pre-drinks party, testified that an "old drunk fella" had "shouldered in the door" a couple of times on the night and they had thrown him out. "I said to him if he kicked in the door one more time and set foot inside the house I would give him a slap," he said.

He said the door then "came in again" and he gave the old man "an open slap, which wasn't a hard slap at all" before he "fell on his ass" outside the house. Cameron had picked up the old man and three "lads", who were standing in the background, started "giving out about the situation", he continued.

The witness said that Cameron told him that the three lads were "sound or tome" and he brought them into the party. "I said to Cameron this is on your shoulders," he added.

He described the atmosphere as being "awkward at first" with the three boys so he went over to the tallest of them and explained that what had happened outside "wasn't anything serious". "That was grand and we made peace then and things became more comfortable," he said.

The witness said that, later on, someone had mentioned that one of the three teenagers outside the house had "a blade". The witness said he was about to ring 911 but hung up the phone as Cameron told him: "Darren it's fine, they are tome, sound."

People from outside the front of the house then began to run inside and into the bedroom, he said, and that was when he realised that the "middle fella" had a knife. "The blade could have been five to six inches. It was by his side, he had it on his chest area and was waving it around making it obvious he had a knife," he explained. He said that Cameron was intoxicated at the time and didn't know what was going on.

Cross-examination

In his cross-examination over two days, defence counsel Mr O'Leary put it to the witness that another juvenile has pleaded guilty to murdering Cameron. "He [the accused] still had a knife," remarked the witness, adding that he was aware another juvenile had pleaded guilty to murdering his friend. The witness said that he accepted that this other juvenile was the person who had killed Cameron.

Counsel also put it to the witness that two of the three boys had knives on the night and one of those two boys had killed Cameron. "So your evidence to me is that the only person you saw with a knife was my client, is that what you are saying?" asked the lawyer. In reply, the witness said "yes".

The lawyer asked the witness how had he managed "to miss" the other knives and to just focus on his then 14-year-old client. "Because when all this was happening I seen him standing at the front door with a knife [sic]," he replied.

"So no one else had a knife," asked counsel. "I only saw him," said the witness.

The host of the party repeated that he had seen the accused "brandishing a knife" at the front door.

The barrister asked the witness if the three boys were "waving" the knives around. The witness said he saw the accused "waving the knife" outside the front door saying: "I seen him with my own eyes, if you say different that is a lie [sic]." He said that he saw no one else with a knife outside the house.

Earlier in his direct evidence, the witness said he had pulled the front door open and Cameron began staggering backwards, with blood coming from his neck. "I knew by the way the blood was coming out that it had hit an artery," he noted.

"I grabbed Cameron by the throat, at this stage he was completely unaware that he had been stabbed. He was looking at the two lads running away," he said.

The witness said he then pulled Cameron into the house, held him inside the door and began applying pressure to his neck to stop the bleeding. "I told him that he had been stabbed, I was holding him up in my hands," he said.

Referring to the 16-year-old accused boy by his full name, the witness said he saw the juvenile staring in the front door of the house "in shock" after the incident, while Mr O'Leary told his friend to close the door until gardai arrived.

A few seconds later, the host of the party said that Cameron fell back against the door and collapsed. "I fell down with him," he added.

Gardai arrived ten minutes later and cleared the house. "I told them I can't let go as he had been stabbed," he said. When the paramedics arrived, he said he was told to leave the house and stand outside.

The next witness, Ciara Morrissey, testified that she had been "hit" in the eye by "the smallest of the three boys".

Tiernan Quinn told the trial in his direct evidence that the host of the party, Mr O'Leary, had started "clearing" the house, when it was time for the party-goers to go into town. The three boys were "still hanging around" outside the house and trying to come back in "saying they had left an iPhone charger inside," he continued.

"The smaller fella was saying he wanted a charger and a charger was passed out. They had the charger but they were still there causing hassle to get back into the house," he indicated.

Mr Quinn said it was getting "rowdy" at this stage and he saw the "tall fella" pull up his top during the argument and "the smaller fella" said: "Give it to me, I'll shank one of them."

The witness said that "the tall fella and the small fella" were "reaching around" Cameron at the doorway "trying to get past him" and punches were being thrown. "I remember looking up and Cameron was blocking the doorway and the small lad and tall lad were trying to reach past him with knives in their hands," he remarked.

Mr Fitzgerald asked the witness if he could say by reference to a photograph which two of the three boys he had seen with knives on the night. "The one on the left and in the middle," he replied.

The jury has heard that the three boys had their photo taken at the party and copies of this had been provided to the jurors. Under cross-examination, Mr O'Leary told Mr Quinn that his client was "the man in the middle" of the photograph.

The witness told the defence that "the tall man" and "the small man" both had knives on the night. The lawyer asked the witness if he had seen two knives on the night and the witness said he had.

"You did not see three knives," pressed Mr O'Leary. "No", replied Mr Quinn.

Mr O'Leary asked the witness if he knew that the two other boys in the group had already pleaded guilty to having a knife. Mr Quinn said he did.

Tim Slattery gave evidence that Cameron and others were trying "to clear the three lads" out of the house and that was when "the knives came out" and "the fight broke out". "I remember the smallest male mentioned something about a shank", he said. He continued: "The taller male produced a knife and the shorter male had a knife as well".
A contempt of court hearing for two witnesses who went to Ayia Napa when they were due to give evidence in the trial of a teen who committed violent disorder at a house where college student Cameron Blair was murdered, has been adjourned until Friday.

Darragh O'Connor (20), of Deermount, Deerpark, Cork and Craig O'Donoghue (20), of Killala Court, Knocknaheeney, Cork were previously arrested and are expected to face trial for contempt of court. It is the State's belief that the two witnesses left the jurisdiction in order to avoid giving evidence at the trial.

At an out-of-hours sitting of the High Court on July 2, Mr Justice David Keane heard that Mr O'Donoghue had been served with a witness order in May, which required him to give evidence at the juvenile's trial last month. However, Mr O'Donoghue travelled to Ayia Napa at the end of May and was not available to give evidence.

The court heard that the other witness, Mr O'Connor, had appeared before the High Court the previous week. Both witnesses were required to isolate within the prison system for seven days.

The alleged offence of contempt of court is punishable by imprisonment, fine or both.

Today, defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC, for Mr O'Donoghue, told Mr Justice Keane that matters had not progressed since he last addressed him. Mr Grehan said that it was not possible for prison authorities to accommodate a consultation for counsel with the two accused and the defendants had been subjected to a "harsh regime'.

Counsel said that Mr O'Connor, who is represented by defence counsel Michael Bowman SC, had been diagnosed with Covid-19 symptoms and "much to the detriment of our clients" they would not be able to proceed with the hearing today.

Mr Grehan said "if matters took a particular course", which he anticipated that it would, then the sentencing of the 16-year-old defendant who had been on trial should be dealt with in advance of the alleged contempt hearing.

The matter was put in for this Friday to see if matters could progress. The judge made a recommendation that counsel be facilitated by the prison authorities as best as possible.

This afternoon, Mr Grehan rementioned the matter before Mr Justice Keane to advise the court that the prison service had indicated that they could not facilitate consultations until July 27. The judge then made orders that the two alleged contemptors be produced before him on Friday at 10.30am, when any public health issues that arise could be dealt with.

On May 28, a 16-year-old accused who cannot be named because he is a minor, went on trial charged with the production of a knife at a house on Bandon Road in Cork city on January 16, 2020. He had been on trial at the Central Criminal Court, which was sitting in Croke Park, for almost three weeks before the case ended last month.

On June 16, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) discontinued the charge against the teenager and will enter a nolle prosequi against him in due course meaning that the State will not be proceeding with the charge of producing a knife against the juvenile.

The accused, who was 14 at the time of the incident, had pleaded not guilty to producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person.

Before the State opened its case on May 28, the 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to committing violent disorder with two other persons present together, using or threatening to use unlawful violence, and such conduct taken together would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at Bandon Road in Cork city to fear for his or another person's safety at the said place on the same occasion.

After the defendant's sentence hearing today, Mr Justice Keane remanded him on continuing bail until Friday, when the case will be mentioned in order to finalise a date for sentence.

Cameron was a native of Ballinascarthy in west Cork and a second-year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). He died at Cork University Hospital (CUH) on January 16, 2020 after being stabbed in the neck while attending a student party at a house in Cork city. Another juvenile has already pleaded guilty to his murder.
Michael G. Sutterfield, 71, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Monday, July 12, 2021 at HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham. As per Michael's wishes, cremation rites will be accorded. Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to Effingham Co
Washington, MO (63090)

Today

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
Young people recognised for outstanding cultural contribution

Students who made an outstanding contribution to Manx culture last year have been recognised by the North American Manx Association (NAMA).

The North American Manx Awards honour the achievements of children and young people in areas such as language, music and the arts.

Roo Hyett, 14, and Sophia Taylor, 17, who both attend QEII were recognised for music and language respectively, and St Johns pupil Thomas McAleer was recognised for art.

Ten-year-old Ben Cawtherley, an accomplished artist who attends Bunscoill Rhumsaa, was recognised for overcoming a disability to make a difference in his community.

All winners were presented with a specially minted silver medal by David Holmes  a life member of NAMA.



The awards have been run each year since 1978, when the convention of the North American Manx Association assembled at Rocky River, Ohio, and resolved to spend $1000 on a project to commemorate the Millennium of Tynwald in 1979.
Ramsey Town Commissioners to take on management of Government housing stock in Bride

Ramsey Town Commissioners is the latest local authority to sign up to a pilot scheme to manage and maintain Government-owned public sector housing stock.

The Commissioners will take responsibility for the provision of day-to-day housing services for all 12 properties owned by the Department of Infrastructure in Lambhill, Bride.

The agreement will commence this month and will last for an initial period of two years.

The residents of Lambhill have been visited by officers from both the Department and the Commissioners to inform them of the change and provide information about who to contact for maintenance and housing services when the agreement comes into effect.
Athens, AL (35611)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, overcast overnight with occasional rain likely. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Evelyn Hughes Evans, 90, of Athens passed away Thursday, July 15, 2021, at Athens-Limestone Hospital. Mrs. Evans was born December 18, 1930, in Mississippi. She was a bookkeeper for Sharp and Killen for many years as well as her real estate house business. Mrs. Evans was a charter member of 
China is tightening restrictions on businesses seeking to go public overseas amid a wave of Chinese origin IPOs in the US. Regulators have thrown down the gauntlet for local companies by announcing new privacy rules for those seeking foreign stock market listings, according to Reuters. As a result, any company that has data on more than a million customers must face a review into how they handle that info in order to receive permission for a foreign IPO.

Regulators will scrutinize the risks of said data being being affected, controlled or manipulated by external governments following overseas flotations. In a broader effort to get companies to list locally, China is adding the two sets of rules that focus on data collection and data storage to its Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law.

The constraints arrive in the midst of a privacy crackdown by Beijing. Regulators have previously rattled their sabres at TikTok and LinkedIn for alleged data collection violations. Just last week, authorities caused shockwaves by ordering ride-hailing giant Didi to remove its app from mobile stores in the wake of its US listing, causing its shares to initially plummet by 20 percent.

With US-China tensions still simmering, the decision will likely pile pressure on President Biden to increase scrutiny of Chinese businesses. Hostility created by Trump-era policies has eased in recent months after the removal of China's Xiaomi and Luokung Technology from military blocklists, which prevented Americans from buying and holding their shares. An expected thaw in relations under Biden likely fueled a recent surge in Chinese company listings. Last year, China-based businesses raised $11.7 billion through 30 IPOs in the US, with even more flotations occurring this year.
Huawei and Verizon (Engadgets parent company) have settled their long-standing patent dispute. The disagreement dates back to 2019 when Huawei said it approached Verizon about licensing some of its technologies. After nearly a year of negotiations, talks between the two companies broke down on January 21st, 2020, and Huawei went on to file multiple lawsuits against the telecom in courts across Texas. At the center of the feud were 12 standards-relevant patents that Huawei said Verizon was using in its infrastructure. At the time, Verizon dismissed the lawsuits, claiming they were nothing more than a PR stunt.

It has since changed its tune. Verizon is happy with the settlement reached with Huawei involving patent lawsuits. While terms of the settlement are not being disclosed, our team did an outstanding job bringing this protracted matter to a close, Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said in a statement .

For Huawei, this is precisely the type of outcome the company had hoped for when it announced at the start of 2021 that it planned to monetize its patent portfolio more aggressively. While the US and other parts of the world have barred it from their national 5G networks, the Chinese company is ideally situated to make money on licensing fees. It has among the most 5G-related standards-relevant patents of any company in the world. To that end, it estimated the licensing strategy could help it generate as much as $1.3 billion in additional revenue between 2019 and the end of 2021.
Stan Lee and Dr. Seuss proved that World War II was not only about guns and bombs.

A few years after Stan Lee died, a story about his time with Dr. Seuss during World War II re-emerged again.

Before becoming the brain and heart of Marvel, Stan Lee began working on his comics in 1939. As an assistant at Timely Comics (which would eventually become Marvel), he honed his skills until he landed on his first big break in 1941.

His two-page project for "Captain America Comics #3" opened his way toward working with Theodor Seuss "Dr. Seuss" Geisel.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stan Lee revealed that his role in the army during wartime changed after his enlistment.

"I was practically waiting at the pier for the ship to take me overseas when I got a tap on the shoulder, and some colonel said, 'You worked in comics?' Yes. 'We have a job for you,'" he recalled.

He then landed a place in the Army's Training Film Division where he worked with Dr. Seuss. Instead of holding high-caliber guns, he and Dr. Seuss held their papers and pens to work on the Film Division's instructional material.

Stan Lee was sent to Astoria, Queens, and his stay seemingly ignited him to give birth to Marvel Comics for good.

Apart from Dr. Seuss and Stan Lee, the division also welcomed "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" director Frank Capra and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Saroyan.

Honoring Stan Lee, Dr. Seuss

Despite leaving the unit to work again in comics, his works with Dr. Seuss remained known in the military.

He was inducted into the Army Signal Corps Regimental Association in 2017. The following year, the U.S. Army's Twitter honored him following his shocking death.

READ ALSO: Richard Branson Did NOT Reach Space? Billionaire's Tour Raises Questions After Safe Return

"Comic book creator @TheRealStanLee has passed away at the age of 95. Lee served in the #USArmy Signal Corps during WWII from 1942-1945. We are deeply grateful for his service to our country and for his tremendous support to servicemembers. #Excelsior!" the tribute read.

He died due to respiratory failure and congestive heart failure. Meanwhile, Dr. Seus died at the age of 87 in 1991.

With Stan Lee and Dr. Seuss' collaboration, the two artists surely helped the country win the war with their creative juices.

READ MORE: Tom Cruise 'Terrified' of Dating Again Amid Romance Rumors With Hayley Atwell?
Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates announced they were headed to divorce after 27 years of marriage.

They share three kids, and in the past several years, they spent over $45 billion on philanthropy alone.

Their non-profit organization, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has an endowment of $49.8 billion with over 1,600 employees.

Though it may seem that everything is okay, with the couple having their high-profile lawyers to negotiate divorce terms, employees of their foundation are reportedly freaking out about its future.

A former top executive at the Gates Foundation revealed to the Financial Times, "People are really worried that the credibility and standing of the foundation is in jeopardy now, especially in areas like gender empowerment."

Bill and Melinda are co-chairs of the foundation.

But the publication reported that they have heard "dissent and doubts" on what the Gates' organization future will be after setting the non-profit up in 2000 to help people lead healthy and productive lives, especially in developing countries.

Additionally, it was also confirmed that though they will continue to be co-chairs of the non-profit for two more years, Melinda may be removed or she may leave if proven she can no longer work with Bill Gates.

If Melinda resigns, Bill will be providing her with "personal resources" for philanthropy, separate from the foundation.

The non-profit said in a statement that the couple would continue to be committed to working "constructively together," but they have also agreed to take an additional step to continue the foundation's work - by Melinda French Gates resigning.

According to reports, the mom-of-three is "deeply proud" of what the Gates Foundation has accomplished over the years and will remain fully committed to her role co-chair and trustee.

Meanwhile, the foundation will be taking on new trustees to expand its perspectives and ensure stability and sustainability.

As of writing, only Bill and Melinda are the trustees of Gates Foundation, as Warren Buffett recently announced his resignation.

READ ALSO: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle 'At Risk' Of Losing Archewell Trademark [DETAILS]





Why Is Warren Buffet Leaving the Gates Foundation?

In a statement released last June, Warren Buffett decided to resign from Gates Foundation and other organizations and companies other than his own, Berkshire Hathaway.

But he assured that his goals are aligned with Gates Foundation and added that his "physical participation is in no way needed to achieve these goals."

Though there is no exact reason why he is stepping down, questions have been raised about Bill Gates' leadership after reports of his workplace behavior emerged weeks after their divorce announcement.

READ MORE: Prince William and Kate Middleton May Get $4.9 Billion Worth of Gift Thanks To Prince Charles
Despite all the negative things thrown at Jamie Lynn Spears - Britney's younger sister, amid the latter's conservatorship battle, their sisterly bond is said to be as strong as ever. Jamie Lynn reportedly feels she's been nothing but supportive and thinks those throwing hate at her just do not know anything.

As more stories and secrets come into light in the middle of Britney Spears' conservatorship battle, one person that fans have taken to hate is Jamie Lynn Spears. Most fans believe that she could have done more to protect her older sister, who was her own ticket to fame before deciding to turn her back from showbizness when she got pregnant at 16.

An insider said that Jamie Lynn thinks all the negative stuff thrown at her, even sometimes mixed with death threats, are all misplaced.

Specifically, she feels like she has been nothing but supportive. Even though she's taken some heat amid the conservatorship drama, an insider revealed to Hollywood Life that Jamie Lynn has consistently been supporting her sister.

ALSO READ: Ariana Grande, Dalton Gomez Are All Loved Up During Their Honeymoon in Netherlands

"Jamie Lynn feels she stands behind Britney like crazy," a source close to the family revealed. "She wants the best for her and does believe she needs more rights. Her sister has literally no say. She gets a bad rap that she's not fighting for her but that's ridiculous. There's a lot of things going on that people don't understand," the insider added.

Jamie Lynn was also questioned for not speaking up sooner after Britney's bombshell conservatorship hearing. She has already personally addressed the issue on her social media.

The former Nickelodeon star decided to break her silence and posted a video on her Instagram Stories on June 28 to explain why it took time for her to say anything, while so many other people outside the family were already able to give their support and their two cents.

"I felt like until my sister was able to speak for herself and say what she felt she needed to say publicly, that it wasn't my place, and it wasn't the right thing to do," she explained.

"I think it's extremely clear that since the day I was born, I have only loved, adored, and supported my sister. I mean, this is my freakin' big sister, before any of this bullshit," she also said.

She proceeded to explain that whatever Britney wanted to with her life, she has always just been "concerned about her happiness" long before "hashtags" were created.

ALSO READ: Chris Eubank Devastated: Boxer's Son Dead After Becoming a New Father Only a Month Ago
2021-07-09

Maeci

Today the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, has co-chaired, by videoconference, the 21st session of the Italy-India Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) together with the Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, Piyush Goyal. The virtual meeting has taken place a few days after Minister Di Maios talks with his counterpart Mr. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign/Development Summit in Matera, showing the countries' commitment to enhance the all-round revival of bilateral relations.

The Foreign Minister has pointed out that, despite the COVID-19 crisis, several Italian companies have continued to invest in various strategic sectors of the Indian economy, such as automotive, food processing and energy transition. This result has also been achieved thanks to the new institutional tools  the Fast-Track Mechanism and the Permanent Digital Platform for Economic Cooperation  put in place to facilitate market access and investment. The two Ministers have also agreed to deepen cooperation in the field of food processing and to explore new opportunities in the textile and leather sectors. To this end, they have decided to set up as many sectoral working groups. Ministers Di Maio and Goyal have also agreed on the importance of deepening the Italy-India partnership and joint investment in third countries.

Minister Di Maio has also focused, in particular, on the commitment to develop a strong partnership on innovation and start-ups, stressing the importance of Indian participation in the upcoming G20 Innovation League to be held on the sidelines of the Sorrento Trade Ministerial meeting. Welcoming the outcome of the recent EU-India summit in Porto, Minister Di Maio has reiterated Italy's support to reviving negotiations on the free trade agreement, while hoping for the conclusion of agreements on investment protection and the protection of Geographical Indications.

The Joint Commission has ended with a session on energy transition attended by the Heads of some of the major Italian and Indian companies operating in the sector. While stressing the high potential of a strategic partnership between the two countries in the field of energy transition, Minister Di Maio has emphasised Italy's commitment  through the G20 Presidency and the partnership on COP26 with the United Kingdom  to raise the level of ambition of the international community on the fight against climate change and accelerate the spread of renewable sources. Finally, he has expressed his strong appreciation for the leadership shown by India through the International Solar Alliance, an organisation to which Italy was among the first countries to adhere.
Feature Article

Worldly experience is a catalyst for change

Bojana Ginovska leads a physical biosciences research team, backed by years of experience far from a lab

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

By Allan Brettman

Bojana Ginovska can put things into perspective.

Perhaps witnessing the political disintegration of Eastern Europe can do that to a person.

Ginovska was in her early teens when her native Yugoslavia ceased to exist. It was a two-year process, but by 1992 she and her family were citizens not of Yugoslavia but of Macedonia.

"A series of major political events served as the catalyst for exacerbating inherent tensions in the Yugoslav republic," says The Breakup of Yugoslavia, 1990-1992, published by the U.S. State Department's Office of the Historian.

While the catalyst that changed her life then is not as positive as the impact of the catalysts she is studying now, catalysis today plays a major role in Ginovska's life. She is leading a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) physical biosciences research team, using the transformative power of molecular catalysis and enzymes to explore scientific principles underpinning the chemistry of energy transformation and storage, vital to the United States' energy future. Ginovska, a computational chemist, is also helping move team members to PNNL's Energy Sciences Center (ESC), the laboratory and collaborative workspace opening this fall that will accelerate discovery in chemistry, materials science, and computing. All that while she is entering the home stretch on a long, eventful journey to earning a PhD.

Uncertainties nearly derailed science career

"I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in science," said Ginovska, who was tapped as a middle school student in her hometown of Skopje to participate in a nationwide physics competition. (She placed third.) "But there were a lot of uncertainties. I figured the best thing I can do is just do what I can do--make sure I get my work done, make sure I look for opportunities, take risks and see where it takes me."

She traces her interest in science to the April 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Although the event was about 1,000 miles northeast of her home, there was concern throughout the region about the effects of nuclear fallout. Ginovska, a child at the time, paid attention, asked questions, and sought answers. This sparked her interest in physics and the science of energy.

At 17, she became an exchange student in Seattle, following the footsteps of an older sister who'd also been an exchange student. Ginovska spent time perfecting her English and explored the University of Washington campus. There, she visited the astronomy department, met a scientist working on the Hubble telescope, and sat in on theoretical physics classes. When she returned to Skopje, she enrolled at a local university seeking a physics degree. But after two years of navigating the rigors of college and the backdrop of Yugoslavia's dissolution, as well as ethnic tensions and eventual civil war in nearby regions, she dropped out of school.

Fluency opens a NATO door

She became an interpreter for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Kosovo Forces support headquarters in Skopje, formed in 1999. At the time, the Kosovo Liberation Army and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia military fought daily. Ethnic tensions were high, and nearly a million people had fled Kosovo as refugees.

"I'd been taking English classes since third grade, and I also spoke German in middle school and high school," Ginovska said. "Language skills are something my family had always put a lot of emphasis on, education in general, really. Learning foreign languages was very important."

She occasionally wore a flak jacket and battlefield helmet for her new job, accompanying officers with the NATO forces.

"We traveled all around the country," she said. "Each day, you go to work never knowing what you're going to end up doing that day. You might have to spend six hours in a car driving on the other side of the country to meet with somebody, to meet some leader in a village.

"And, you know, there were scary parts. There was a time an interpreter was with a team responding to a report of an unexploded device being found in the woods. It turned out the team was actually near an unexploded cluster bomb. Everyone was told to turn off their cell phones because they may activate the devices and to follow their own footsteps to exit the area safely."

The job was also fun.

"I got to meet people from all over the world because it was an international headquarters. There were a lot of troops from Europe. But I remember all of our chefs were from Bangladesh and they made delicious Eastern food, which was something you don't get to come across very much. I made a lot of friends. When you're in difficult, stressful situations, you do bond with the people pretty quickly, kind of to have each other's backs, even if you're not in a direct combat situation. I did not start reflecting on the risks until later on in life. At the time, it was an adventure that paid well."

Following in sister's footsteps

During Ginovska's NATO tenure, her sister--the one who'd preceded her as an exchange student--had graduated from Washington State University (WSU), and started work as an engineer at PNNL. At the first opportunity, Ginovska followed her sister's lead, also enrolling at WSU Tri-Cities.

By 2005, Ginovska had earned a bachelor of science degree in computer science, spending that summer as an undergraduate intern at PNNL. Two years later, she'd earned a master's degree in scientific computing, and two more years later, become a PNNL staff scientist.

She credits PNNL with inspiring her transition from computing--an area of study she chose because she figured it was the fastest track to a good-paying job--to science.

"Senior scientists wanted to help me find my path forward," Ginovska said. "I've always been open to research in new fields. Being out of my comfort zone is something that's not unusual to me. I always figured that if you want to learn, you can learn. PNNL helped me do that.

"I attribute the success of learning about physics and chemistry to the mentorship culture in the group. People at the lab have always been willing to take the chance, the time, and the energy to talk to me and give me guidance, provide me with the right literature, and have discussions with me. I've always been comfortable going in an office, asking questions, tossing out ideas, and try to figure out what makes sense and what doesn't make sense. That's always been one of the most attractive parts of working at PNNL."

Ginovska recalled one conversation in particular in 2010 with chemist Wendy Shaw, now the PNNL Physical Sciences Division director.

Shaw approached Ginovska one day to talk about a project exploring enzymes.

"I know you have no background in it," Ginovska recalled Shaw saying, "but I was told you're a quick learner. Are you interested?"

Ginovska examined the written research proposal as well as some work conducted previously by a postdoc, and decided the project looking interesting. She agreed.

"That's how I've ended up looking at a lot of enzymatic reactions at PNNL," Ginovska said. "That's how I ended up doing what I am doing now. It all just started with a question, 'Are you willing to learn?' And I seem to always say yes to that."

Today, Ginovska is near the finish line on earning a PhD in materials science at WSU.

"Not quite there," she said in late April, while speaking on a PNNL-sponsored Zoom presentation.

She was speaking as part of PNNL's Community Science & Technology Seminar Series. Ginovska is an enthusiastic adherent to the stated goal of the seminar series, "to help the general public better understand and explore how science transforms our world."

And on this evening, she will do whatever it takes to get even a nonscientist to grasp the basic concepts of her topic, Catalysis - Nature's Way.

Bringing catalysis to the masses

She wants her audience to understand that enzymes are nature's catalysts, that they are biomolecules that help chemical reactions occur on demand. Soon enough, Sonic the Hedgehog is on the screen. Why Sonic the Hedgehog? Because Ginovska uses one of her sons' favorite cartoon characters to illustrate the rapid impact of an effective catalyst. You had to be there.

Ginovska detoured briefly to discuss the pioneering scientists and their discoveries that paved the way for today's catalysis discoveries: Anselme Payen, the French chemist known for discovering the enzyme diastase in 1833; Louis Pasteur, who in 1860 looked into fermentation of sugar into alcohol; Wilhelm Kuhne, who coined the word enzyme--the Greek word for yeast; and Eduard Buchner, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1907 for his biochemical research and his discovery of cell-free fermentation.

Then Ginovska pivots to kefir. Kefir? Yes, as it turns out, the fermented drink and plenty of other examples of catalysis can be found in the kitchen.

Ginovska will present basic lab-level concepts to the audience before the hour-long presentation concludes, but the information is allowed to unfold slowly, dispensed patiently in an obvious effort to avoid scaring away any viewers.

The virtues of patience and open-mindedness

Patience is one of Ginovska's traits, said PNNL computational scientist Simone Raugei, who has known his colleague since he arrived at the lab in 2010.

"It's part of the reason why she's the one who keeps track of our postdoctoral researchers," Raugei said. "She has the patience for that, whereas many of us don't."

And that patience can be applied to experienced colleagues.

Raugei recalled a time when Ginovska's research group was studying the mechanism of an enzyme, resulting in findings that were published in 2016 in Science. Publication in the respected journal could have represented a pinnacle.

"But there was experimental evidence that suggested something still needed to be clarified," Raugei said. "And then we, as a team, started discussing, 'what could it be?' And then we started thinking of a completely different mechanism."

Raugei came up with an alternative explanation, initially dismissed by a collaborator at a large Midwestern university. Raugei and the team, with Ginovska's backing, continued to investigate and push the new hypothesis.

"It was a change of 180 degrees in what we were looking at," Raugei said. "At the beginning of this new thought, it was crazy. But Bojana took this idea and she explored it. She could have dismissed it when I threw it there on the table. But we did some brainstorming and she said, 'yes, let's see.' We recently published a paper on this new possible mechanism. And we are still working on this idea, something that I was originally afraid would be dismissed as a crazy idea."

Ginovska agreed she is patient, but said she believes she's an equal part stubborn. Both traits, she said, help when conducting computer modeling simulations of other scientists' work. Often, she noted, the modeling did not produce results the scientist anticipated. Bottom line: Back to the drawing board for the scientist.

Ginovska acknowledged that she has earned a respectful and humorous reputation "for being the place where hypotheses go to die."

Ginovska's computer modeling prompted so much additional work for Shaw, the division director, that Shaw presented Ginovska with a printed quote. Ginovska has kept the quote on her bulletin board. She's certain the quote will be among the many items that find a place in her new ESC office.

The great tragedy of science - the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact. --Thomas Huxley

Willing to work

Physicist Gregory Schenter helped introduce Ginovska to PNNL.

"She puts in the work to learn," said Schenter, a lab fellow.

Both Schenter and Ginovska chuckle at the memory, however, of Schenter's attempt in 2007 to explain transition state theory and calculations of reaction rates of chemical reactions.

"I sat there nodding," Ginovska said, "and I didn't have any idea what he was talking about. But I learned."

Schenter, who is on Ginovska's thesis committee, said he's looking forward to the day when Ginovska has earned her PhD, something he said was a formality to her stature at PNNL.

"She's a more seasoned researcher than many researchers who already have PhDs in physical chemistry," Schenter said, noting that Ginovska has had nearly 1,000 research citations since 2007.

Friendly boss

When Ginovska became a team lead in 2018, it could have changed the friendly dynamic that she'd cultivated with her colleagues.

"After that, I walked into her office and said, 'hello boss,'" computational scientist Samantha Johnson recalled, mimicking a salute. "Can we still go out and have coffee and pistachios together?"

They could, in part because the two researchers became fast friends when their houses were just a few blocks apart in Richland.

"She is incredibly person-oriented. She spends a lot of time putting together good teams," said Johnson, whose team members include biochemist Joe Laureanti as well as Raugei, joint appointment collaborators, and postdoc interns. "She believes if people are happy, their science will be better because people will be more likely to work together, they'll be more dedicated to their science, and they'll enjoy it more."

Johnson and Ginovska collaborate on researching hydrogen storage materials, largely through the Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium (HyMARC). The consortium is composed of PNNL, Sandia National Laboratories, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It was formed to address the scientific gaps in the advancement of solid-state hydrogen storage materials.

Collaboration made easier in the ESC

Ginovska's team will be on the Energy Science Center's second floor. Daily, in-person interactions will be easier for the team, which has up to eight postdocs.

"I'll have all of the staff and postdocs from my team right there," Ginovska said. "We'll also be next to two other groups that we work with closely. In the past we've been kind of separated from our experimental collaborators. Having all of them in the same building--or even on the same floor in the hallway--will be great. We can talk to them on a more regular basis."

Ginovska estimated about 15 percent of her time is spent managing people.

"A large part of it is mentoring," she said. "My role is to help other scientists understand their career trajectory, and really just facilitate opportunities for them as much as I can."

As for her own career trajectory, Ginovska projects a long-range perspective.

"We want to make catalysts for reactions that are relevant to energy," she said. "It's for storing and releasing energy on demand. How do we store it? How do we release it? We are pursuing answers to these questions every day at PNNL. And yes, I am aware that catalysis has played an important role in my life--in the lab and well beyond."

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Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent. Neither remdesivir nor HCQ affect viral clearance in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M21-0653

URL goes live when the embargo lifts

NOR-Solidarity, an independent, add-on, randomized controlled trial to the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity trial, found that neither remdesivir nor hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) affected viral clearance in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The WHO Solidarity trial showed no effect of remdesivir or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on mortality but did not assess antiviral effects of these drugs. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from Oslo University Hospital, Norway, and collaborators, randomly assigned 181 hospitalized patients in 23 hospitals in Norway to receive remdesivir (n = 42), HCQ (n = 52), or standard of care (SoC) (n = 87) to evaluate the effects of remdesivir and HCQ on all-cause, in-hospital mortality; the degree of respiratory failure and inflammation; and viral clearance in the oropharynx. The researchers found no significant differences between treatment groups in mortality during hospitalization. Remdesivir and HCQ did not affect the degree of respiratory failure or inflammation. There was a significant decrease in SARS-CoV-2 load in the oropharynx during the first week in all treatment groups, with similar decreases and 10-day viral loads. The lack of antiviral effect with remdesivir and HCQ remained consistent despite patient age, symptom duration, degree of viral load, and presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

The researchers note that overall mortality in NOR-Solidarity was lower than in the WHO-Solidarity trial. This could be due to early lockdown policies in Norway during the initial phase of the pandemic, reducing pressure on hospitals and health care systems. Norway also had lower rates of comorbid conditions such as diabetes and chronic heart disease. Still, based on their findings, the researchers question the antiviral potential of remdesivir and HCQ.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Angela Collom at acollom@acponline.org. To speak with the corresponding author, Andreas Barratt-Due, PhD, please contact Anders Bayer at anders.bayer@kommunikasjon.net. Also new in this issue:

Diagnosis and Management of Menopause Melissa A. McNeil, MD, MPH; Sarah B. Merriam, MD, MS In the Clinic

Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ AITC202107130

Imposter Syndrome Goel Annals Graphic Medicine

Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ G20-0093

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Historically, shared resources such as forests, fishery stocks, and pasture lands have often been managed with an aim toward averting "tragedies of the commons," which are thought to result from selfish overuse. Writing in BioScience, Drs. Senay Yitbarek (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Karen Bailey (University of Colorado Boulder), Nyeema Harris (Yale University), and colleagues critique this model, arguing that, all too often, such conservation has failed to acknowledge the complex socioecological interactions that undergird the health of resource pools.

The authors, who describe themselves as Blackologists ("'not simply scholars that are Black but, rather, are scholars who deliberately leverage and intersect Blackness into advancing knowledge production"), elucidate a model in which researchers' life experiences provide "unique perspectives to critically examine socioecological processes and the challenges and solutions that arise from them."

In this episode of BioScience Talks, Yitbarek, Bailey, and Harris join us to discuss this model of inclusive sustainability and the ways in which it can be brought to bear in service of ecosystems and the humans who inhabit them.

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To hear the whole discussion, visit this link for this latest episode of the BioScience Talks podcast.

The BioScience Talks podcast features discussions of topical issues related to the biological sciences.

BioScience, published monthly by Oxford Journals, is the journal of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). BioScience is a forum for integrating the life sciences that publishes commentary and peer-reviewed articles. The journal has been published since 1964. AIBS is an organization for professional scientific societies and organizations, and individuals, involved with biology. AIBS provides decision-makers with high-quality, vetted information for the advancement of biology and society. Follow BioScience on Twitter @AIBSbiology.

Oxford Journals is a division of Oxford University Press. Oxford Journals publishes well over 300 academic and research journals covering a broad range of subject areas, two-thirds of which are published in collaboration with learned societies and other international organizations. The division has been publishing journals for more than a century, and as part of the world's oldest and largest university press, has more than 500 years of publishing expertise behind it. Follow Oxford Journals on Twitter @OxfordJournals.
(July 12, 2021) -- The ATS Research Program and the chILD Foundation have awarded Anthony Shum, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco $80,000. The award will support Dr. Shum's research project, "Defining the pathogenesis of childhood ILD in COPA syndrome."

The ATS Research Program Partner Grants provide crucial support to talented investigators from around the world, launching careers dedicated to scientific discovery and better patient care.

Dr. Shum wrote in his application summary that his proposal will "provide critical support for me to advance studies of lung disease pathogenesis of COPA syndrome and produce preliminary data that will form the basis for larger extramural funding."

"The Children's Interstitial Lung Disease Foundation has been privileged to partner with the American Thoracic Society on funding these types of important research projects since 2010" said Wayne Danson, Foundation Board Chairman. "We look forward to the results of Dr. Shum's work and its contribution to our effort to ensure more breaths for the young victims of rare lung disorders."

"Dr. Shum's innovative project addresses important knowledge gaps in the molecular pathogenesis of COPA Syndrome, a disorder of immune dysregulation which presents in childhood with interstitial lung disease (ILD)," said Karen Ridge, PhD, chair of Scientific Grant Review Committee.

"His ATS Research Program/chILD Foundation Partner Grant seeks to link the innate immune adapter molecule STING to disease. The successful completion of his work will not only be important for understanding lung disease in COPA syndrome, but for other systemic inflammatory disorders that drive type I interferon signaling and interstitial lung disease."

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Visit our website for more information and to see the complete list of 2020-2021 Research Program awardees.

The application process for the next cycle of grant opportunities will open July 20, 2021. For more, visit the website here.
A team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that a screening method known as untargeted metabolomics profiling can improve the diagnostic rate for inborn errors of metabolism, a group of rare genetic conditions, by about seven-fold when compared to the traditional metabolic screening approach.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, shows that untargeted metabolomics identifies many more disorders of greater variety as compared to traditional methods, including disorders for which there was not a clinically available biochemical test. The researchers hope that adoption of metabolomics to screen for inborn errors of metabolism will result in a more rapid, more efficient and less expensive diagnostic journey for individuals and families with rare metabolic disorders.

"Currently, newborn screening is conducted in every infant born in the U.S. to check for serious but rare health conditions at birth. Screening includes blood, hearing and heart tests," said corresponding author Dr. Sarah Elsea, professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor and senior director of biochemical genetics at Baylor Genetics. "While newborn screening in general has improved in the last 10 years, clinically screening for inborn errors of metabolism has not changed substantially in the last 40 to 50 years."

Inborn errors of metabolism include conditions that disrupt the normal processes the body uses to transform food into energy and can result in serious conditions. Having an early diagnosis can lead to early treatment, when available. For instance, newborn screening looks for signs of conditions such as phenylketonuria, the body's inability to break down the amino acid phenylalanine, which results in its accumulation. Buildup of phenylalanine can irreparably harm the nervous system, but early intervention may help manage the condition.

"We developed a clinical test - untargeted metabolomics profiling - that looks at a broader range of metabolic compounds in the blood, therefore screening for many more disorders than the currently used approach," said Elsea, a member of Baylor's Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and Center for Drug Discovery. "In the current study, we compared the standard approach and untargeted metabolomics on their effectiveness identifying metabolic conditions."

The researchers compared the results of applying the two approaches to 4,464 clinical samples received from 1,483 unrelated families. They found that the traditional standard analysis has a positive rate of diagnosis of about 1%. However, using the untargeted metabolomics analysis the researchers were able to confirm a positive rate of diagnosis of 7%.

"This is a substantial increase in the ability to diagnose these conditions," Elsea said. "We are now able to identify in one blood sample more conditions than ever before."

"In addition, our analysis of many metabolic compounds in a single blood sample reduces the need of having to take more samples to do further testing looking for specific conditions. This includes taking samples of cerebrospinal fluid, which involves a more invasive procedure than drawing a blood sample," said co-author Dr. V. Reid Sutton, professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor, medical director of the biochemical genetics laboratory at Baylor Genetics and director of the Inborn Errors of Metabolism Service at Texas Children's Hospital.

This screening approach offers the critical advantages of reducing the time to having a diagnosis and starting treatment, if available.

Using untargeted metabolomics in combination with genetic screening enables researchers and physicians not only to confirm a diagnosis with high degree of confidence, but also to rule out potential conditions. The novel, broader screening approach identifies severe forms of diseases and also mild forms that may not quite fit the characteristics observed in the more severe cases.

"We are finding individuals with milder forms of a disease are more common in our populations than those with severe forms," Elsea said. "Our approach has been quite successful identifying seizure disorders, movement disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Our analyses have taught us to open our minds to a much greater spectrum of disease, allowing us to improve early diagnosis."

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Other contributors to this work include Ning Liu, Jing Xiao, Charul Gijavanekar, Kirk Pappan, Kevin Glinton, Brian Shayota, Adam Kennedy and Qin Sun. The authors are affiliated with one or more of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor Genetics and Metabolon, Inc.

This work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health grant T32 GM007526, the Takeda American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Foundation Next Generation Medical Biochemical Subspecialty Fellowship, and the Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium.
The function of a protein can depend on its abundance in a cell. So, when investigating the properties of a new protein, it is essential to make sure that the same amount is produced by every cell. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University have found a new way to do just that through the creation of new genetic circuits called Equalizers.

The findings, in the current edition of Nature Communications, show how researchers engineered these genetic circuits to buffer protein output from variations in the number of copies of the gene inside the cell, thereby helping to create consistent protein expression. This property is called "gene dosage compensation."

The researchers use an analogy of heating a house to help explain how Equalizers work. Imagine using randomly placed space heaters to heat your home. To ensure each room gets a heater you would purchase some extra ones, but that would mean some rooms might have extra heaters. Those rooms might be too hot, so a solution would be to have thermostats on each heater to downregulate the heat when a room becomes too hot. Those thermostats act as the Equalizer.

Researchers typically encode genes to be expressed on circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. Excess plasmids are often used to ensure that most cells get one, but some cells will get several. The Equalizer is composed of transcriptional negative feedback and post-transcriptional incoherent feedforward loops. These loops counteract the presence of extra plasmids: they sense the outputs, in this case the proteins and mRNAs that the plasmids produce, and tune down their expression if they rise too high.

"We didn't invent the parts, but rather we invented a new way to connect them together into a circuit," said Jin Yang, who shared co-first authorship of the paper with graduate student Jihwan Lee of Rice University. Jin was a bioengineering undergrad at Rice University while developing this work and currently is a Ph.D. student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "In natural systems, some gene networks must control gene dosage variation to remain functional and conserve their properties.

We repurposed and combined two types of gene dosage compensation circuits to create a version that enables uniform expression of any protein scientists want to produce in the lab."

Negative feedback and incoherent feedforward circuit subcircuits can each help compensate for gene dosage, but the researchers found that coupling the two improved overall performance. This is because each circuit is not perfect. For example, the incoherent feedforward loop can saturate because it requires other proteins that are present in limited quantities in the cell. The negative feedback loop is limited in its inhibitory capacity, similar to a leaky sink faucet that cannot be fully closed. But combining these two imperfect circuits produced robust performance, with each circuit helping mitigate the limitation of the other.

"The process we used for these findings was a collaborative effort bringing together computer simulations and biology. This is similar to how engineers work - they draw up their plans, create a model and then build their structure," said Dr. Oleg Igoshin, professor of bioengineering, of biosciences and of chemistry at Rice University and a senior author on the paper. "In this case we were able to create our model and show the effectiveness through computational models before it was then synthetically engineered in the lab."

But why is minimizing expression variation important when it comes to biological research?

"The effect of a protein can depend on its abundance in a cell. If you're studying a new protein and its concentration is too low, you may not be able to observe its function in the cell. If its concentration is too high, the protein may mislocalize, aggregate, produce cytotoxicity or otherwise produce responses that are not physiological. It is therefore important that a protein is expressed at the desired level in every cell under investigation," said Dr. Francois St-Pierre, assistant professor of neuroscience and McNair Scholar at Baylor and corresponding author of this study. "We believe Equalizers will be of high value both for basic research and for industry."

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Others who took part in this research include Michelle A. Land and Shujuan Lai, both with Baylor College of Medicine.

The research was supported by the Welch Foundation, a Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in Neuroscience, the McNair Medical Foundation, the National Science Foundation (including the NSF-supported Center for Theoretical Biological Physics), the National Institutes of Health, and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Researchers from the Buck Institute and Stanford University have created an inflammatory clock of aging (iAge) which measures inflammatory load and predicts multi-morbidity, frailty, immune health, cardiovascular aging and is also associated with exceptional longevity in centenarians. Utilizing deep learning, a form of AI, in studies of the blood immunome of 1001 people, researchers also identified a modifiable chemokine associated with cardiac aging which can be used for early detection of age-related pathology and provides a target for interventions. Results are published in Nature Aging.

"Standard immune metrics which can be used to identify individuals most at risk for developing single or even multiple chronic diseases of aging have been sorely lacking," said David Furman, PhD, Buck Institute Associate Professor, Director of the 1001 Immunomes Project at Stanford University School of Medicine and senior author of the study. "Bringing biology to our completely unbiased approach allowed us to identify a number of metrics, including a small immune protein which is involved in age-related systemic chronic inflammation and cardiac aging. We now have means of detecting dysfunction and a pathway to intervention before full-blown pathology occurs."

According to first author Nazish Sayed, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at Stanford Medicine, the study identified the soluble chemokine CXCL9 as the strongest contributor to iAge. Furman described it as a small immune protein that is usually called into action to attract lymphocytes to the site of an infection. "But in this case we showed that CXCL9 upregulates multiple genes implicated in inflammation and is involved in cellular senescence, vascular aging and adverse cardiac remodeling" adding that silencing CXCL9 reversed loss of function in aging endothelial cells in both humans and mice.

Larger implications for iAge

Results from the initial analysis (which also included information from comprehensive clinical health assessments of 902 individuals) were validated in an independent cohort of centenarians and all-cause mortality in the Framingham Heart Study. Furman says when it comes to health and longevity, the "age" of one's immune system most certainly trumps the chronological information that can be derived from a driver's license. "On average, centenarians have an immune age that is 40 years younger than what is considered 'normal' and we have one outlier, a super-healthy 105 year-old man (who lives in Italy) who has the immune system of a 25 year old," he said.

Study results involving cardiac health were also validated in a separate group of 97 extremely healthy adults (age 25 - 90 years of age) recruited from Palo Alto, California. Furman says researchers found a correlation between CXCL9 and results from pulse wave velocity testing, a measure of vascular stiffness. "These people are all healthy according to all available lab tests and clinical assessments, but by using iAge we were able to predict who is likely to suffer from left ventricular hypertrophy (an enlargement and thickening of the walls of the heart's main pumping chamber) and vascular dysfunction."

Furman says the tool can be used to track someone's risk of developing multiple chronic diseases by assessing the cumulative physiological damage to their immune system. For example, age-related frailty can be predicted by comparing biological immune metrics with information about how long it takes someone to stand up from a chair and walk a certain distance as well as their degree of autonomy and independence. "Using iAge it's possible to predict seven years in advance who is going to become frail," he said. "That leaves us lots of room for interventions."

Highlighting the connection between immune health and aging

In 2013 a group of researchers studying aging identified nine "hallmarks" of the aging process. Age-related immune system dysfunction was not part of the mix. "It's becoming clear that we have to pay more attention to the immune system with age, given that almost every age-related malady has inflammation as part of its etiology," said Furman. "If you're chronically inflamed, you will have genomic instability as well as mitochondrial dysfunction and issues with protein stability. Systemic chronic inflammation triggers telomere attrition, as well as epigenetic alterations. It's clear that all of these nine hallmarks are, by and large, triggered by having systemic chronic inflammation in your body. I think of inflammation as the 10th hallmark"

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Citation: Deep Learning Identifies an Inflammatory Clock which Predicts Multimorbidity, Immunosenescence, Frailty and Cardiovascular Aging in Humans DOI: 10.1038/s43587-021-00082-y

Other Buck Institute collaborators include Yingxiang Huang, Annisa P. Grawe, and Khiem Nguyen. Additional co-authors include Nazish Sayed and Mark Davis, Stanford 1000 Immunomes Project, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; Francois Haddad and Joseph C. Wu, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine; Zuzana Krejciova-Rajaniemi and Vladimir Jojic, Edifice Health Inc., San Mateo, CA; Tianxiang Gao, Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Robert Tibshirani and Trevor Hastie, Department of Statistics and Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine; Ayelet Alpert, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Lu Cui, Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine; Tatiana Kuznetsova, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium; Yael Rosenberg-Hasson and Holden T. Maecker, Human Immune Monitoring Center, Stanford University School of Medicine; Rita Ostan, Interdepartmental Centre L. Galvani, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Daniela Monti, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Benoit Lehallier and Tony Wyss-Coray, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine; Shai Shen-Orr, Department of Immunology, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; and Cornelia L. Dekker, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine; Claudio Franceschi, Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; and Jose G. Montoya, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine.

DISCLOSURES

David Furman and Mark M Davis are co-founders of Edifice Health Inc., a company that utilizes iAge.

Acknowledgments:

Support for study came from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging,

The Ellison Foundation, NIH grants U19 AI057229, U19 AI090019, K01 HL135455, P50AG047366, and NIH/NCRR CTSA award number UL1 RR025744. This work was also supported by grants from the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 Project PROPAG-AGEING (grant 634821), the EU JPND ADAGE project, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Agreement (grant 074-02-2018-330). Additional funding came from the Stanford TRAM scholar award, the Paul F. Glenn Foundation and the NIH Stanford Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

About the Buck Institute for Research on Aging
ITHACA, N.Y. - Traces of the gas phosphine point to volcanic activity on Venus, according to new research from Cornell University.

Last autumn, scientists revealed that phosphine was found in trace amounts in the planet's upper atmosphere. That discovery promised the slim possibility that phosphine serves as a biological signature for the hot, toxic planet.

Now Cornell scientists say the chemical fingerprint support a different and important scientific find: a geological signature, showing evidence of explosive volcanoes on the mysterious planet.

"The phosphine is not telling us about the biology of Venus," said Jonathan Lunine, professor of physical sciences and chair of the astronomy department at Cornell. "It's telling us about the geology. Science is pointing to a planet that has active explosive volcanism today or in the very recent past."

Lunine and Ngoc Truong, a doctoral candidate in geology, authored the study, "Volcanically Extruded Phosphides as an Abiotic Source of Venusian Phosphine," published July 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Truong and Lunine argue that volcanism is the means for phosphine to get into Venus' upper atmosphere, after examining observations from the ground-based, submillimeter-wavelength James Clerk Maxwell Telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in northern Chile.

If Venus has phosphide - a form of phosphorous present in the planet's deep mantle - and, if it is brought to the surface in an explosive, volcanic way and then injected into the atmosphere, those phosphides react with the Venusian atmosphere's sulfuric acid to form phosphine, Truong said.

Lunine said their phosphine model "suggests explosive volcanism occurring," while "radar images from the Magellan spacecraft in the 1990s show some geologic features could support this."

In 1978, on NASA's Pioneer Venus orbiter mission, scientists uncovered variations of sulfur dioxide in Venus' upper atmosphere, hinting at the prospect of explosive volcanism, Truong said, similar to the scale of Earth's Krakatoa volcanic eruption in Indonesia in 1883.

But, Truong said, "confirming explosive volcanism on Venus through the gas phosphine was totally unexpected."

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Funding for the research was provided by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
After 14,000 years of domestication, dogs have some of the same cognitive abilities as human babies.

DURHAM, N.C. -- You know your dog gets your gist when you point and say "go find the ball" and he scampers right to it.

This knack for understanding human gestures may seem unremarkable, but it's a complex cognitive ability that is rare in the animal kingdom. Our closest relatives, the chimpanzees, can't do it. And the dogs' closest relative, the wolf, can't either, according to a new Duke University-led study published July 12 in the journal Current Biology.

More than 14,000 years of hanging out with us has done a curious thing to the minds of dogs. They have what are known as "theory of mind" abilities, or mental skills allowing them to infer what humans are thinking and feeling in some situations.

The study, a comparison of 44 dog and 37 wolf puppies who were between 5 and 18 weeks old, supports the idea that domestication changed not just how dogs look, but their minds as well.

At the Wildlife Science Center in Minnesota, wolf puppies were first genetically tested to make sure they were not wolf - dog hybrids. The wolf puppies were then raised with plenty of human interaction. They were fed by hand, slept in their caretakers' beds each night, and received nearly round-the-clock human care from just days after birth. In contrast, the dog puppies from Canine Companions for Independence lived with their mother and littermates and had less human contact.

Then the canines were tested. In one test, the researchers hid a treat in one of two bowls, then gave each dog or wolf puppy a clue to help them find the food. In some trials, the researchers pointed and gazed in the direction the food was hidden. In others, they placed a small wooden block beside the right spot -- a gesture the puppies had never seen before -- to show them where the treat was hidden.

The results were striking. Even with no specific training, dog puppies as young as eight weeks old understood where to go, and were twice as likely to get it right as wolf puppies the same age who had spent far more time around people.

Seventeen out of 31 dog puppies consistently went to the right bowl. In contrast, none out of 26 human-reared wolf pups did better than a random guess. Control trials showed the puppies weren't simply sniffing out the food.

Even more impressive, many of the dog puppies got it right on their first trial. Absolutely no training necessary. They just get it.

It's not about which species is "smarter," said first author Hannah Salomons, a doctoral student in Brian Hare's lab at Duke. Dog puppies and wolf puppies proved equally adept in tests of other cognitive abilities, such as memory, or motor impulse control, which involved making a detour around transparent obstacles to get food.

It was only when it came to the puppies' people-reading skills that the differences became clear.

"There's lots of different ways to be smart," Salomons said. "Animals evolve cognition in a way that will help them succeed in whatever environment they're living in."

Other tests showed that dog puppies were also 30 times more likely than wolf pups to approach a stranger.

"With the dog puppies we worked with, if you walk into their enclosure they gather around and want to climb on you and lick your face, whereas most of the wolf puppies run to the corner and hide," Salomons said.

And when presented with food inside a container that was sealed so they could no longer retrieve it, the wolf pups generally tried to solve the problem on their own, whereas the dog puppies spent more time turning to people for help, looking them in the eye as if to say: "I'm stuck can you fix this?"

Senior author Brian Hare says the research offers some of the strongest evidence yet of what's become known as the "domestication hypothesis."

Somewhere between 12,000 and 40,000 years ago, long before dogs learned to fetch, they shared an ancestor with wolves. How such feared and loathed predators transformed into man's best friend is still a bit of a mystery. But one theory is that, when humans and wolves first met, only the friendliest wolves would have been tolerated and gotten close enough to scavenge on the human's leftovers instead of running away. Whereas the shyer, surlier wolves might go hungry, the friendlier ones would survive and pass on the genes that made them less fearful or aggressive toward humans.

The theory is that this continued generation after generation, until the wolf's descendants became masters at gauging the intentions of people they interact with by deciphering their gestures and social cues.

"This study really solidifies the evidence that the social genius of dogs is a product of domestication," said Hare, professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke.

It's this ability that makes dogs such great service animals, Hare said. "It is something they are really born prepared to do."

Much like human infants, dog puppies intuitively understand that when a person points, they're trying to tell them something, whereas wolf puppies don't.

"We think it indicates a really important element of social cognition, which is that others are trying to help you," Hare said.

"Dogs are born with this innate ability to understand that we're communicating with them and we're trying to cooperate with them," Salomons said.

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This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research (N00014- 16-12682), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (NIH-1Ro1HD097732) and the AKC Canine Health Foundation (#2700).

CITATION: "Cooperative Communication with Humans Evolved to Emerge Early in Domestic Dogs," Hannah Salomons, Kyle Smith, Megan Callahan-Beckel, Margaret Callahan, Kerinne Levy, Brenda S. Kennedy, Emily Bray, Gitanjali E. Gnanadesikan, Daniel J. Horschler, Margaret Gruen, Jingzhi Tan, Philip White, Evan MacLean, Brian Hare. Current Biology, July 12, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.051
Butterflies and moths have beautiful wings: the bright flare of an orange monarch, the vivid stripes of a swallowtail, the luminous green of a Luna moth. But some butterflies flutter on even more dramatic wings: parts of their wing, or sometimes the entire wing itself, are actually transparent.

Many aquatic organisms, including jellies and fish, are transparent. But transparent butterfly and moth wings are so arresting that merely catching a glimpse of one typically causes a human to lunge for a camera or at least point it out to their friends. These enigmatic, transparent butterfly wings have not been studied comprehensively.

Doris Gomez and Marianne Elias (French National Center for Scientific Research) set out to change that. Last week, along with a multidisciplinary team of ecologists, biologists and physicists, they published a massive survey on the optics and ecological implications of moths and butterflies with transparent wings in the Ecological Society of America's journal Ecological Monographs. They discovered that transparency has evolved in Lepidoptera more than once, and that there are many ways to be transparent.

Gomez, an ecologist who has studied the physics and ecological aspects of iridescence in hummingbird wings and other bird coloration, was intrigued by these so-called "glasswing" butterflies and moths when she met Elias, an evolutionary biologist who worked on the ecology and evolution of the tropical butterflies Ithomiini, which have transparent wings. Gomez was startled to find that almost nothing had been written about transparency in Lepidoptera, nor in any other terrestrial animal.

"This paper is a breakthrough because everything that's been known so far on transparency was about aquatic organisms," Gomez said. "Transparency is so rare in terrestrial organisms that people never bothered to study it comprehensively."

She and her team analyzed 123 species of Lepidoptera from samples in the French Museum of Natural History's collection. They found transparency, or "clearwing" species, in 31 out of 124 families. But not all species accomplish transparency in the same way. They examined the extent to which transparency affects thermoregulation and provides protection against ultraviolet radiation.

Many insects, including wasps, flies and dragonflies, have clear wings. Their wings consist of a transparent membrane made of chitin. Butterfly and moth wings are made of the same kind of transparent membrane, but in most cases moths and butterflies have opaque scales obscuring the membrane. The scales are what are responsible for their mesmerizing patterns and coloration.

Gomez and her team discovered that clearwing species have a number of ways to make their wings transparent. Some transparent moths and butterflies have no scales on their wings at all, leaving the chitin membrane to show through. Many other species do have scales, which can be transparent, upright, narrow or hair-like, allowing light through the wing.

Physicists have studied instances of transparency in individual species or genera, in the hopes of understanding the physics of how to adapt biological concepts to make people, vehicles and even structures invisible or transparent. But before now, no one had appreciated the wealth of approaches lepidopterans can take to achieve transparency, or the fact that it has evolved multiple times in different groups.

"This is the first comparative analysis of transparent butterfly wings," said Elias. "What is notable is that transparency has evolved several times independently. But the way the wings become transparent can be dramatically different, from highly packed transparent scales to the mere absence of scales, through scale reduction in size and density. There are many ways of being transparent. We don't know why this diversity exists."

In some cases, different strategies lead to the same level of transparency, leaving researchers pondering why such diversity exists at all. They theorize that transparency may be beneficial in different ways for different species, including as camouflage or to mimic wasp and bees. Transparency also seems to help moths and butterflies regulate their body temperature, but does not protect them from UV radiation.

Gomez, who has a passion for working with scientists from across other disciplines, included physicists in the study to explore the optical properties of the wings including discerning what birds, their would-be predators, see when they look at a transparent butterfly. They found that the more light that can pass through a wing - i.e., the more transparent it is - the less visible the butterfly is to predators. Transparency acts like the ultimate camouflage.

Like the butterflies themselves, the results are compelling. However, the scientists emphasize that the study has raised more questions and avenues of exploration to continue to uncover the evolutionary role and ecological implications of transparency.

"Butterflies are such iconic organisms," said Gomez. "They're so wonderful to study. I like to study complex concepts, like iridescence and transparency because there is so much to explore - and it's so easy to get everyone excited about them."

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The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world's largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 9,000 member Society publishes five journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach, and education initiatives. The Society's Annual Meeting attracts 4,000 attendees and features the most recent advances in ecological science. Visit the ESA website at https:/ / www. esa. org .

ESA is offering complimentary registration at the 106th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America for press and institutional public information officers (see credential policy). The meeting will feature live plenaries, panels and Q&A sessions from August 2-6, 2021. To apply for press registration, please contact ESA Public Information Manager Heidi Swanson at heidi@esa.org.
Care homes need to be vigilant for outbreaks of COVID-19, even after residents have received two doses of the vaccine, according to new research being presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) held online this year.

Long-term care facilities, such as care homes with elderly residents with multiple underlying conditions, are at high risk of COVID-19 outbreaks and many vaccination campaigns have initially focused on care home residents and the staff looking after them. An outbreak in a French care home, however, raises questions about how effective the vaccine is in the elderly.

Martin Martinot, of the Hopitaux Civils de Colmar, Colmar, France, and colleagues studied an outbreak of COVID-19 that began in a care home in eastern France a month after a campaign to double vaccinate residents and staff with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab had ended.

Seventy (75%) of the residents and 38 (52%) of the staff were fully vaccinated by mid-February 2021.

Tests on samples of blood taken by the researchers on April 6 showed that all but one of the fully vaccinated residents had antibodies against COVID-19.

The outbreak started on March 15 and, over the next seven weeks, 24/93 residents (26%) and 16/73 staff (22%) were infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Infected residents were older, with an average age of 91, than the uninfected residents, where the average age was 87.

Twelve out of the 24 infected residents had not been fully vaccinated. None of the infected staff had been vaccinated. Analysis showed that the unvaccinated residents were three times more likely to develop COVID-19 than those who had had two doses of the vaccine.

The estimated effectiveness of the vaccine in the elderly residents was 68%. This is lower than previously reported.

Infections seem to have been milder among the vaccinated residents, with no severe cases. In contrast, there were three severe cases among the residents who had not been vaccinated.

Genetic sequencing showed that the outbreak was due to the B.1.1.7 Alpha strain, which was dominant in France at that time.

The study authors say the results show that COVID-19 can still be a threat in long-term care facilities, especially those with older residents, and high rates of vaccination are essential.

Dr Martinot adds that immunosenescence (age-related weakening of the immune system) means that the elderly may still be at risk of COVID-19, even when fully vaccinated.

He concludes: "This outbreak highlights need for high rates of vaccination of residents and healthcare workers in long-term care facilities and other centres accepting elderly patients and those with multiple underlying health conditions.

"Immunisation against COVID-19, although very protective - residents were three times less likely to develop COVID-19 when fully vaccinated - seems a bit less effective in our oldest patients. Thus, achieving the highest rate of vaccination is important to prevent outbreaks and protect residents and healthcare workers."

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Jessica Hurley, Assistant Professor, English, will receive $35,000 from the National Humanities Center for a fellowship supporting her book project, "Nuclear Decolonizations."

Hurley will research how nuclearization has impacted the decolonization imaginary in India, South Africa, Oceania, and Native North America, and how writers and activists in the Global South have both represented the imperial violence of the nuclear complex and used fiction, poetry, film, and performance to theorize alternatives to it.

Funding for this award will begin in September 2021 and will end in late May 2022.

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About George Mason University
July 12, New Delhi - Women who received free meals in primary school have children with improved linear growth, according to a new study by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

India is home to the highest number of undernourished children and the largest school feeding program in the world--the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme--yet long-term program benefits on nutrition are unknown. As school feeding programs target children outside the highest-return "first 1000-days" window spanning from conception until a child's second birthday, they have not been a focal point in the global agenda to address stunting. School meals benefit education and nutrition in participants, but no studies have examined whether benefits carry over to their children.

"Findings from previous evaluations of India's MDM scheme have shown a positive association with beneficiaries' school attendance, learning achievement, hunger and protein-energy malnutrition, and resilience to health shocks such as drought--all of which may have carryover benefits to children born to mothers who participated in the program," says study co-author, Harold Alderman.

The study, "Intergenerational nutrition benefits of India's national school feeding program", co-authored by University of Washington's Suman Chakrabarti and IFPRI's Samuel Scott, Harold Alderman, Purnima Menon and Daniel Gilligan, was published in Nature Communications. The authors used nationally representative data on mothers and their children spanning 1993 to 2016 to assess whether MDM supports intergenerational improvements in child linear growth. Further, they suggest a potential pathway through which school feeding programs may have intergenerational effects on child nutrition outcomes.

The study found that investments made in school meals in previous decades were associated with improvements in future child linear growth. "Our findings suggest that intervening during the primary school years can make important contributions to reducing future child stunting, particularly given the cumulative exposure that is possible through school feeding programs," explains study co-author Suman Chakrabarti.

Study results also show that school meals may contribute to education, later fertility decisions, and access to health care, reducing the risk of undernutrition in the next generation. "School feeding programs such as India's MDM scheme have the potential for stimulating population-level stunting reduction as they are implemented at scale and target multiple underlying determinants of undernutrition in vulnerable groups," explains study co-author Samuel Scott. Importantly, further research is required to understand whether improving the quality or quantity of meals provided and extending the program beyond primary school might further enhance its benefits.

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Co-authors Bulat Galimzyanov and Anatolii Mokshin (Department of Computational Physics) have developed a unique model that allows for a universal interpretation of experimental data on viscosity for systems of different types, while also proposing an alternative method for classifying materials based on a unified temperature scale.

The publication was funded by Russian Science Foundation's grant 'Theoretical, simulation and experimental studies of physical and mechanical features of amorphous systems with inhomogeneous local viscoelastic properties', guided by Professor Mokshin.

Using the developed viscosity model, scientists processed experimental data obtained for thirty different types of systems: from simple quartz glass to complex organic compounds such as salol and propylene carbonate.

"The model reproduces quite accurately the experimental temperature dependences of the viscosity of such materials both near the melting point and near the glass transition temperature, below which the system freezes while still preserving the liquid structure. At the same time, the model uses only two adjustable parameters. In comparison, other existing models use at least three of such parameters. Therefore, this model can be used to more accurately predict the low-temperature physical parameters of materials based on high-temperature characteristics such as thermal conductivity and entropy at the melting point," comments Associate Professor Galimzyanov.

The results were obtained using an original method of temperature scaling.

"Earlier, we have developed a method to scale the temperature and the phase diagram of various types of systems. This gave a toll to compare the experimental temperature dependences of the viscosity of systems regardless of their preparation conditions. This temperature scale formed the basis of the developed viscosity model, which made it possible to minimize the number of adjustable parameters and improve the accuracy of data approximation," adds Anatolii Mokshin.

The research contributes to making corrections to the existing methods of classification for glass-forming materials and to establishing a unified viscosity model for various types of compounds.

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BOSTON - By implementing a long-term, prospective approach to the development of celiac disease, a collaborative group of researchers has identified substantial microbial changes in the intestines of at-risk infants before disease onset. Using advanced genomic sequencing techniques, MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) researchers, along with colleagues from institutions in Italy and the University of Maryland, College Park, uncovered distinct preclinical alterations in several species, pathways and metabolites in children who developed celiac disease compared to at-risk children who did not develop celiac disease.

As part of the MGHfC Celiac Disease, Genomic, Microbiome and Metabolomic (CDGEMM) Study, researchers identified changes in the gut microbiomes (collection of microorganisms) and metabolomes (molecular components of cells and tissues) of infants that occurred months before celiac disease onset. Changes include an "increased abundance of pro-inflammatory species and decreased abundances of protective and anti-inflammatory species at various time points preceding the onset of the disease," according to the group's article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"In this proof-of-concept study, we compared the gut microbiome of 10 infants who went on to develop celiac disease to the gut microbiome of 10 infants who did not develop the autoimmune condition," says Maureen Leonard, MD, lead author and clinical director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at MGHfC. "We found significant changes in the intestinal microbes, pathways and metabolites as early as 18 months before disease onset. This was much earlier than we expected," adds Leonard.

In CDGEMM, researchers in Italy, Spain and the U.S. are studying 500 genetically at-risk infants from birth through age ten, allowing them to track changes in gut microbiota before celiac disease develops. CDGEMM researchers have been collecting extensive blood and fecal samples and voluminous environmental data on each participant since 2014. In this study, researchers used metagenomic analysis that enabled them to link microbial composition with function, highlighting changes in pathways associated with either increased inflammatory processes or reduced inflammation. "This study demonstrates the power of next-generation sequencing coupled with bioinformatics to detect these important changes," says co-author Rita Colwell, PhD, from the Institute of Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park.

"We needed a longitudinal, birth-cohort study of these at-risk infants to move microbiome research from associative observations to more causative studies," says senior author Alessio Fasano, MD, director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at MGHfC. "This approach will help us to develop novel strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions in which the microbiome could play a pathogenic role," adds Fasano.

He suggests that these findings, if confirmed by larger datasets, may represent specific therapeutic targets for disease interception and possible prevention of celiac disease onset through microbiome manipulation during the preclinical phase. "With these findings, we anticipate that we will be able to distinguish who will remain healthy and who will develop celiac disease months before the onset of the disease," adds Fasano.

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This work was partially supported by funding from the NIH NIDDK, the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard and the Thrasher Research Fund. Colwell's work is supported through the National Science Foundation. Italian collaborating institutions included the European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno, various departments at the University of Salerno and University Hospital at Salerno Medical School, Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Bari, and the Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease Foundation of Milan.

About the Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The Mass General Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with annual research operations of more than $1 billion and comprises more than 9,500 researchers working across more than 30 institutes, centers and departments. In August 2020, Mass General was named #6 in the U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals."
The Lucinidae family, lucinids for short, comprises approximately 500 living species of bivalves. They are at least 400 million years old, according to fossil records, and have managed to colonize a wide variety of habitats, from beautiful beaches to the abyssal depths untouched by the sun over a kilometer below the sea surface. Their ability to thrive in a wide variety of habitats is made possible by their 'partner in crime', a sulfur-oxidizing bacterial symbiont that utilizes hydrogen sulfide, better known as 'rotten egg gas', as an energy source to power primary production. This process is not unlike photosynthesis used by plants, yet not dependent on sunlight, and generates enough sugars to feed both the symbiont and the lucinids themselves.

Striking up partnerships from near or far

Finding a suitable partner out in the wild is a matter of life and death for lucinids. They have to pick up their bacterial partners at a very early life stage when they settle in the sediment after their larval stage. From this time on, they rely on their bacterial symbionts for nutrition. However, bacterial cells are miniscule and the oceans are awash with a multitude of possible candidates. Typically, animals that rely so heavily on bacteria are expected to strike up partnerships with local residents. These microbes are likely to work best under the unique conditions of their local habitats. A new study based on metagenomic analyses of symbiotic bacteria in lucinids now reveals that this is not always the case: Some bacterial symbionts travel the globe and are true cosmopolitans.

Globally distributed symbionts

"Using state-of-art DNA-sequencing and genome assembling, we discovered that a single bacterial symbiont species was the most abundant symbiont in eight lucinid species spanning three oceans - the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans - across the tropics of both hemispheres," said Laetitia Wilkins from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, shared first author of the publication together with Jay Osvatic from the University of Vienna, Austria. "These symbionts are virtually all over the place." No other known symbiont is so successful at dispersal and establishing symbioses with lucinids, the researchers report. They named it Candidatus Thiodiazotropha taylori - "to acknowledge the wisdom of John Taylor from the Natural History Museum in London, who has devoted 25 years of his life to studying lucinid biology and taxonomy", as Osvatic pointed out.

"This unexpected finding challenges previous concepts that symbionts are acquired locally. It suggests that lucinid symbionts are much more mobile", Osvatic added. The remarkable flexibility in this partnership is advantageous to both host and symbiont, as it increases the likelihood of locating a compatible partner across diverse habitats all over the globe. Prior to this study, lucinid research has mainly been carried out in easily accessible locations. Now for the first time the team around Wilkins and Osvatic presents an expanded, global dataset that has led to and will continue to facilitate new discoveries and show how distant habitats might be connected.

Scientists collaborating to find collaborating organisms

Just like the relationships between symbionts and lucinid clams, this discovery would not have been possible without the scientists reaching out and forming collaborations across the world. "Our contacts (and now friends) across the world have given us access to an unprecedented diversity of lucinds, both direct from the beaches and from museums across the world", said Benedict Yuen from the University of Vienna, senior author of the paper. "We were given access to a wide variety of lucinid samples at the Natural History Museum in London through John Taylor. Samples were also collected personally by our team and collaborators Matthieu Leray in Panama, Yolanda Camacho in Costa Rica, Olivier Gros in Guadeloupe and Jan A. van Gils in Mauritania."

Also discovered: Two new species in cosy togetherness

Moreover, the extensive data collection of Wilkins, Osvatic and their team resulted in the discovery of two new lucinid symbionts, which have now been described and named after Miriam Weber and Christian Lott, both former researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen. These symbionts - now known as Thiodioazotropha weberae and lotti - are found in the clam Loripes orbiculatus on the Italian island of Elba, where the symbionts peacefully co-exist in the gills of the same host. "Before genomic analyses were used, it was assumed that each clam hosts only one species of symbionts", Wilkins explained. "However, many clams on Elba harbor two symbiont species. Miriam and Christian discovered this clam population in the bay of Fetovaia and it is thanks to them that we could amass a very powerful dataset on this symbiosis."

Next, the researchers want to find out how the symbionts travel. "They leave their bivalve home to traverse the globe", added co-senior author Jillian Petersen. 'Both beneficial symbionts such as Candidatus T. taylori but also pathogens can disperse in the environment, but we usually don't know how.'

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Contact information:

Dr. Laetitia Wilkins

Department of Symbiosis

Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Celsiusstr. 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany

Tel.: +49 421 2028-8220

E-Mail: lwilkins@mpi-bremen.de

Dr. Fanni Aspetsberger

Press Officer

Celsiusstr. 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany

Tel.: +49 421 2028-9470

E-Mail: presse@mpi-bremen.de

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jillian Petersen

WWTF Vienna Research Group Leader

University of Vienna

Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria

Tel.: +43 1 4277 91206

E-Mail: jillian.petersen@univie.ac.at

Dr. Benedict Yuen

Division of Microbial Ecology

University of Vienna

Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria

E-Mail: benedict.yuen@univie.ac.at

Jay Osvatic

Division of Microbial Ecology

University of Vienna

Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria

E-Mail: jay.osvatic@univie.ac.at

Original publication

Jay T. Osvatic, Laetitia G. E. Wilkins, Lukas Leibrecht, Matthieu Leray, Sarah Zauner, Julia Polzin, Yolanda Camacho, Olivier Gros, Jan A. van Gils, Jonathan A. Eisen, Jillian M. Petersen*, and Benedict Yuen* (2021): Global biogeography of chemosynthetic symbionts reveals both localized and globally-distributed symbiont groups. PNAS (July 12, 2021)

 shared first authorship

* shared last authorship

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104378118

Participating institutions:

Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany

University of Vienna, Austria

University of California, Davis, USA

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Republic of Panama?

Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica

Universite? des Antilles, Guadeloupe

Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, The Netherlands
RUDN and Shahid Beheshti University (SBU) chemist proposed a protocol for converting cellulose into a catalyst for the synthesis of oxadiazoles. The new approach makes the catalyst 3 times more stable compared to the same catalyst obtained by the traditional method. The results are published in Carbohydrate Polymers

One of the directions of green chemistry is the biopolymers functionalization. Chemists modify polymers obtained from plants and animals -- they add functional molecular groups to them to get useful substances. For example, the catalysts for oxadiazoles synthesis are created from cellulose. They are necessary to produce polymers, dyes, medicines, and photographic materials. To do this, metals are added to the structure of cellulose. However, during use, especially at high temperatures, metal ions are leaching. It causes the reduction of catalytic activity, and environmental pollution. The RUDN University and SBU chemist with his colleagues from Iran created a method of cellulose functionalization, to strengthen the connection of cellulose with metal ions and prevents them from leaching.

"Cellulose as the eco-friendly, non-toxicity, cost-effectively, and renewability features biopolymer was employed in a three-component Betti reaction since its ability to generate functional ligands on the cellulose to complex with Cu(II)", Dr. Ahmad Shaabani from RUDN University and SBU.

Chemists used the Betti reaction, which is the addition of functional groups to phenols using aldehydes and aromatic amines. RUDN University researchers obtained dialdehyde cellulose, for this they mixed 0.5 g of cellulose and 0.01 grams of potassium periodate in water. The solution was mixed at 85? for 12 hours. After that, the reaction product was filtered out, washed with water, and left to dry in a vacuum at 70?. The resulting dialdehyde was used in the Betti reaction. To do this, the chemists added 0.11 g of benzylamine to the dialdehyde and dissolved them in acetic acid, stirring at room temperature for 4 hours. Then naphthol was added to the mixture and mixed for another day. The resulting product was filtered, washed, and dried in a vacuum at 50?. Finally, a similar procedure was repeated, mixing the functionalized cellulose with copper acetate. As a result, a Cu(II)@DAC-Betti catalyst was obtained.

RUDN University and SBU chemists studied the obtained cellulose using spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Its structure was examined under a scanning electron microscope. For comparison, the scientists took a copper-modified cellulose, which was obtained according to a standard protocol, without using the Betti reaction (Cu (II)@cellulose). The electron microscope images show that, in comparison with the usual one, the cellulose obtained through the Betti reaction does not have a smooth structure -- it has many outgrowths that firmly hold on to each other and to the cellulose fibers. Chemists compared how firmly the functional elements of cellulose obtained by new and standard methods hold. It turned out that the Betti reaction makes the modified cellulose 3 times more stable -- at a temperature of 600?, 17.2% of its mass was preserved, compared with 6.1% for cellulose obtained by the standard method.

"The result showed a high residual mass for Cu(II)@DAC-Betti, which established a high amount of Cu(II) loading in Cu(II)@DAC-Betti in comparison with Cu(II)@cellulose, thus reveals an efficiency of Betti functionalization in complexing of Cu(II) ions", Dr. Ahmad Shaabani from RUDN University and SBU.

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You're as old as your immune system.

Investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have built an inflammatory-aging clock that's more accurate than the number of candles on your birthday cake in predicting how strong your immune system is, how soon you'll become frail or whether you have unseen cardiovascular problems that could become clinical headaches a few years down the road.

In the process, the scientists fingered a bloodborne substance whose abundance may accelerate cardiovascular aging.

The story of the clock's creation will be published July 12 in Nature Aging.

"Every year, the calendar tells us we're a year older," said David Furman, PhD, the study's senior author. "But not all humans age biologically at the same rate. You see this in the clinic -- some older people are extremely disease-prone, while others are the picture of health."

This divergence, Furman said, traces in large part to differing rates at which people's immune systems decline. The immune system -- a carefully coordinated collection of cells, substances and strategies with which evolution has equipped us to deal with threats such as injuries or invasions by microbial pathogens -- excels at mounting a quick, intense, localized, short-term, resist-and-repair response called acute inflammation. This "good inflammation" typically does its job, then wanes within days. (An example is that red, swollen finger you see when you have a splinter, and the rapid healing that follows.)

As we grow older, a low-grade, constant, bodywide "bad inflammation" begins to kick in. This systemic and chronic inflammation causes organ damage and promotes vulnerability to a who's who of diseases spanning virtually every organ system in the body and including cancer, heart attacks, strokes, neurodegeneration and autoimmunity.

To date, there have been no metrics for accurately assessing individuals' inflammatory status in a way that could predict these clinical problems and point to ways of addressing them or staving them off, Furman said. But now, he said, the study has produced a single-number quantitative measure that appears to do just that.

Furman directs the Stanford 1000 Immunomes Project and is a visiting scholar at Stanford's Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection. In addition, he's an associate professor at the Novato, California-based Buck Institute for Research on Aging and director of the Artificial Intelligence Platform at the same institute.

Lead authors of the study are Nazish Sayed, MD, PhD, assistant professor of vascular surgery at Stanford, and Yingxiang Huang, PhD, senior data scientist at the Buck Institute.

1,001 blood samples

For the 1000 Immunomes Project, blood samples were drawn from 1,001 healthy people ages 8-96 between 2009 and 2016. The samples were subjected to a barrage of analytical procedures determining levels of immune-signaling proteins called cytokines, the activation status of numerous immune-cell types in responses to various stimuli, and the overall activity levels of thousands of genes in each of those cells.

The new study employed artificial intelligence to boil all this data down to a composite the researchers refer to as an inflammatory clock. The strongest predictors of inflammatory age, they found, were a set of about 50 immune-signaling proteins called cytokines. Levels of those, massaged by a complex algorithm, were sufficient to generate a single-number inflammatory score that tracked well with a person's immunological response and the likelihood of incurring any of a variety of aging-related diseases.

In 2017, the scientists assessed nearly 30 1000 Immunomes Project participants ages 65 or older whose blood had been drawn in 2010. They measured the participants' speed at getting up from a chair and walking a fixed distance and, through a questionnaire, their ability to live independently ("Can you walk by yourself?" "Do you need help getting dressed?"). Inflammatory age proved superior to chronological age in predicting frailty seven years later.

Next, Furman and his colleagues obtained blood samples from an ongoing study of exceptionally long-lived people in Bologna, Italy, and compared the inflammatory ages of 29 such people (all but one a centenarian) with those of 18 50- to 79-year-olds. The older people had inflammatory ages averaging 40 years less than their calendar age. One, a 105-year-old man, had an inflammatory age of 25, Furman said.

To further assess inflammatory age's effect on mortality, Furman's team turned to the Framingham Study, which has been tracking health outcomes in thousands of individuals since 1948. The Framingham study lacked sufficient data on bloodborne-protein levels, but the genes whose activity levels largely dictate the production of the inflammatory clock's cytokines are well known. The researchers measured those cytokine-encoding genes' activity levels in Framingham subjects' cells. This proxy for cytokine levels significantly correlated with all-cause mortality among the Framingham participants.

A key substance

The scientists observed that blood levels of one substance, CXCL9, contributed more powerfully than any other clock component to the inflammatory-age score. They found that levels of CXCL9, a cytokine secreted by certain immune cells to attract other immune cells to a site of an infection, begin to rise precipitously after age 60, on average.

Among a new cohort of 97 25- to 90-year-old individuals selected from the 1000 Immunomes Project for their apparently excellent health, with no signs of any disease, the investigators looked for subtle signs of cardiovascular deterioration. Using a sensitive test of arterial stiffness, which conveys heightened risk for strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure, they tied high inflammatory-age scores -- and high CXCL9 levels -- to unexpected arterial stiffness and another portent of untoward cardiac consequences: excessive thickness of the wall of the heart's main pumping station, the left ventricle.

CXCL9 has been implicated in cardiovascular disease. A series of experiments in laboratory dishware showed that CXCL9 is secreted not only by immune cells but by endothelial cells -- the main components of blood-vessel walls. The researchers showed that advanced age both correlates with a significant increase in endothelial cells' CXCL9 levels and diminishes endothelial cells' ability to form microvascular networks, to dilate and to contract.

But in laboratory experiments conducted on tissue from mice and on human cells, reducing CXCL9 levels restored youthful endothelial-cell function, suggesting that CXCL9 directly contributes to those cells' dysfunction and that inhibiting it could prove effective in reducing susceptible individuals' risk of cardiovascular disease.

"Our inflammatory aging clock's ability to detect subclinical accelerated cardiovascular aging hints at its potential clinical impact," Furman said. "All disorders are treated best when they're treated early."

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Other Stanford study co-authors are Robert Tibshirani, PhD, professor of biomedical data science and of statistics; Trevor Hastie, PhD, professor of statistics and of biomedical data; senior research scientist Lu Cui, PhD; Human Immune Monitoring Center Immunoassays director Yael Rosenberg-Hasson, PhD; former neurology instructor Benoit Lehalier, PhD; former postdoctoral scholar Shai Shen-Orr, PhD; Holden Maecker, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology; Cornelia Dekker, MD, professor of pediatric infectious diseases, emeritus; Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD, professor of neurology and neurological sciences; Francois Haddad, MD, clinical professor of cardiovascular medicine; Jose Montoya, MD, former professor of infectious diseases; Joseph Wu, MD, professor of radiology and director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute; and Mark Davis, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology and director of the Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection.

Researchers from the Buck Institute, Edifice Health, the University of North Carolina, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, the University of Leuven, the University of Bologna, the University of Florence and the Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna also contributed to the work.

The work was funded by the Stanford Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, the Ellison Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (grants U19 AI057229, U19 AI090019, UL1 RR025744, K01 HL135455 and P50 AG047366) and the Paul F. Glenn Foundation.
Draft 1 of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework includes 21 action targets proposed for 2030; Will be considered at UN Convention on Biological Diversity's COP15

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat today released the first official draft of a new Global Biodiversity Framework to guide actions worldwide through 2030 to preserve and protect Nature and its essential services to people.

The framework includes 21 targets for 2030 that call for, among other things:

At least 30% of land and sea areas global (especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and its contributions to people) conserved through effective, equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas (and other effective area-based conservation measures)

A 50% of greater reduction in the rate of introduction of invasive alien species, and controls or eradication of such species to eliminate or reduce their impacts

Reducing nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, and pesticides by at least two thirds, and eliminating the discharge of plastic waste

Nature-based contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts of least 10 GtCO2e per year, and that all mitigation and adaptation efforts avoid negative impacts on biodiversity

Redirecting, repurposing, reforming or eliminating incentives harmful for biodiversity, in a just and equitable way, reducing them by at least $US 500 billion per year

A $US 200 billion increase in international financial flows from all sources to developing countries

More than two years in development, the Framework will undergo further refinement during online negotiations in late summer before being presented for consideration at CBD's next meeting of its 196 parties at COP15, scheduled for Kunming, China October 11-24.

The full Global Biodiversity Framework is available at cbd.int

The Four Goals for 2050:

The draft framework proposes four goals to achieve, by 2050, humanity "living in harmony with nature," a vision adopted by the CBD's 196 member parties in 2010.

Goal A: The integrity of all ecosystems is enhanced, with an increase of at least 15% in the area, connectivity and integrity of natural ecosystems, supporting healthy and resilient populations of all species, the rate of extinctions has been reduced at least tenfold, and the risk of species extinctions across all taxonomic and functional groups, is halved, and genetic diversity of wild and domesticated species is safeguarded, with at least 90% of genetic diversity within all species maintained.

Goal B: Nature's contributions to people have been valued, maintained or enhanced through conservation and sustainable use supporting the global development agenda for the benefit of all;

Goal C: The benefits from the utilization of genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably, with a substantial increase in both monetary and non-monetary benefits shared, including for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Goal D: The gap between available financial and other means of implementation, and those necessary to achieve the 2050 Vision, is closed.

Milestones to be reached by 2030

The four goals each have 2-3 broad milestones to be reached by 2030 (10 milestones in all):

Goal A:

Milestone A.1 Net gain in the area, connectivity and integrity of natural systems of at least 5%. Milestone A.2 The increase in the extinction rate is halted or reversed, and the extinction risk is reduced by at least 10%, with a decrease in the proportion of species that are threatened, and the abundance and distribution of populations of species is enhanced or at least maintained. Milestone A.3 Genetic diversity of wild and domesticated species is safeguarded, with an increase in the proportion of species that have at least 90% of their genetic diversity maintained.

Goal B: M

Milestone B.1 Nature and its contributions to people are fully accounted and inform all relevant public and private decisions. Milestone B.2 The long-term sustainability of all categories of nature's contributions to people is ensured, with those currently in decline restored, contributing to each of the relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

Goal C:

Milestone C.1 The share of monetary benefits received by providers, including holders of traditional knowledge, has increased. Milestone C.2 Non-monetary benefits, such as the participation of providers, including holders of traditional knowledge, in research and development, has increased.

Goal D:

Milestone D.1 Adequate financial resources to implement the framework are available and deployed, progressively closing the financing gap up to at least US $700 billion per year by 2030. Milestone D.2 Adequate other means, including capacity-building and development, technical and scientific cooperation and technology transfer to implement the framework to 2030 are available and deployed. Milestone D.3 Adequate financial and other resources for the period 2030 to 2040 are planned or committed by 2030.

21 "Action Targets" for 2030

The framework then lists 21 associated "action targets" for 2030:

Reducing threats to biodiversity

Target 1

Ensure that all land and sea areas globally are under integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning addressing land- and sea-use change, retaining existing intact and wilderness areas.

Target 2

Ensure that at least 20 per cent of degraded freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems are under restoration, ensuring connectivity among them and focusing on priority ecosystems.

Target 3

Ensure that at least 30 per cent globally of land areas and of sea areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and its contributions to people, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.

Target 4

Ensure active management actions to enable the recovery and conservation of species and the genetic diversity of wild and domesticated species, including through ex situ conservation, and effectively manage human-wildlife interactions to avoid or reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Target 5

Ensure that the harvesting, trade and use of wild species is sustainable, legal, and safe for human health.

Target 6

Manage pathways for the introduction of invasive alien species, preventing, or reducing their rate of introduction and establishment by at least 50 per cent, and control or eradicate invasive alien species to eliminate or reduce their impacts, focusing on priority species and priority sites.

Target 7

Reduce pollution from all sources to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem functions and human health, including by reducing nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, and pesticides by at least two thirds and eliminating the discharge of plastic waste.

Target 8

Minimize the impact of climate change on biodiversity, contribute to mitigation and adaptation through ecosystem-based approaches, contributing at least 10 GtCO2e per year to global mitigation efforts, and ensure that all mitigation and adaptation efforts avoid negative impacts on biodiversity.

Meeting people's needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing

Target 9

Ensure benefits, including nutrition, food security, medicines, and livelihoods for people especially for the most vulnerable through sustainable management of wild terrestrial, freshwater and marine species and protecting customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities.

Target 10

Ensure all areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, in particular through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, increasing the productivity and resilience of these production systems.

Target 11

Maintain and enhance nature's contributions to regulation of air quality, quality and quantity of water, and protection from hazards and extreme events for all people.

Target 12

Increase the area of, access to, and benefits from green and blue spaces, for human health and well-being in urban areas and other densely populated areas.

Target 13

Implement measures at global level and in all countries to facilitate access to genetic resources and to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, and as relevant, of associated traditional knowledge, including through mutually agreed terms and prior and informed consent.

Tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming

Target 14

Fully integrate biodiversity values into policies, regulations, planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies, accounts, and assessments of environmental impacts at all levels of government and across all sectors of the economy, ensuring that all activities and financial flows are aligned with biodiversity values.

Target 15

All businesses (public and private, large, medium and small) assess and report on their dependencies and impacts on biodiversity, from local to global, and progressively reduce negative impacts, by at least half and increase positive impacts, reducing biodiversity-related risks to businesses and moving towards the full sustainability of extraction and production practices, sourcing and supply chains, and use and disposal.

Target 16

Ensure that people are encouraged and enabled to make responsible choices and have access to relevant information and alternatives, taking into account cultural preferences, to reduce by at least half the waste and, where relevant the overconsumption, of food and other materials.

Target 17

Establish, strengthen capacity for, and implement measures in all countries to prevent, manage or control potential adverse impacts of biotechnology on biodiversity and human health, reducing the risk of these impacts.

Target 18

Redirect, repurpose, reform or eliminate incentives harmful for biodiversity, in a just and equitable way, reducing them by at least US$ 500 billion per year, including all of the most harmful subsidies, and ensure that incentives, including public and private economic and regulatory incentives, are either positive or neutral for biodiversity.

Target 19

Increase financial resources from all sources to at least US$ 200 billion per year, including new, additional and effective financial resources, increasing by at least US$ 10 billion per year international financial flows to developing countries, leveraging private finance, and increasing domestic resource mobilization, taking into account national biodiversity finance planning, and strengthen capacity-building and technology transfer and scientific cooperation, to meet the needs for implementation, commensurate with the ambition of the goals and targets of the framework.

Target 20

Ensure that relevant knowledge, including the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities with their free, prior, and informed consent, guides decision?making for the effective management of biodiversity, enabling monitoring, and by promoting awareness, education and research.

Target 21

Ensure equitable and effective participation in decision-making related to biodiversity by indigenous peoples and local communities, and respect their rights over lands, territories and resources, as well as by women and girls, and youth.

Says CBD Executive Secretary Elizabeth Maruma Mrema: "Urgent policy action globally, regionally and nationally is required to transform economic, social and financial models so that the trends that have exacerbated biodiversity loss will stabilize by 2030 and allow for the recovery of natural ecosystems in the following 20 years, with net improvements by 2050."

"The framework aims to galvanize this urgent and transformative action by Governments and all of society, including indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society, youth and businesses and financial institutions. It will be implemented primarily through national-level activities, supported by subnational, regional and global-level actions."

"This is a global, outcome-oriented framework for the Convention's 196 Parties to develop national and regional goals and targets, to update national strategies and action plans as needed, and to facilitate regular monitoring and review of progress at the global level."

Implementation

The draft Global Biodiversity Framework notes that effective implementation requires mobilizing resources from both the public and private finance sectors, ongoing identification of risk associated with biodiversity loss capacity development, technical and scientific cooperation, technology transfer and innovation.

It also calls for integration with relevant multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant international processes, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and strengthening cooperation.

Successful implementation will also depend on effective outreach, awareness and uptake by all stakeholders, a comprehensive system for planning, monitoring, reporting and review that allows for transparent communication of progress, rapid course correction, and timely input in the preparation of a post-2030 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Background

Biodiversity and its benefits are fundamental to human well-being and a healthy planet. Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to continue or worsen under business-as-usual scenarios.

The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework builds on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and sets out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to bring about a transformation in society's relationship with biodiversity and to ensure that, by 2050, the shared vision of living in harmony with nature is fulfilled.

The draft framework reflects input from the second meeting of a Working Group managing the framework's creation, as well as submissions received. The draft will be further updated in late summer with the benefit of input from the 24th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the 3rd meeting of the Subsidiary Body in Implementation, as well as the advice from thematic consultations.

Relationship with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The framework will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the same time, progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals will help to provide the conditions necessary to implement the framework.

Theory of change

The framework's theory of change assumes that transformative actions are taken to (a) put in place tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming, (b) reduce the threats to biodiversity and (c) ensure that biodiversity is used sustainably in order to meet people's needs and that these actions are supported by (i) enabling conditions, and (ii) adequate means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity and technology. It also assumes that progress is monitored in a transparent and accountable manner with adequate stocktaking exercises to ensure that, by 2030, the world is on a path to reach the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity.

The theory of change for the framework acknowledges the need for appropriate recognition of gender equality, women's empowerment, youth, gender-responsive approaches and the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the implementation of this framework. Further, it is built upon the recognition that its implementation will be done in partnership with many organizations at the global, national and local levels to leverage ways to build a momentum for success. It will be implemented taking a rights-based approach and recognizing the principle of intergenerational equity.

The theory of change is complementary to and supportive of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also takes into account the long-term strategies and targets of other multilateral environment agreements, including the biodiversity-related and Rio conventions, to ensure synergistic delivery of benefits from all the agreements for the planet and people.

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About the UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and entering into force in December 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.

With 196 Parties, the Convention has near universal participation.

The Convention seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth, NGOs, women and the business community.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing are supplementary agreements to the Convention. The Cartagena Protocol, which entered into force on 11 September 2003, seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.

The Nagoya Protocol aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies. It entered into force on 12 October 2014.

Twitter: @UNBiodiversity

Facebook: facebook.com/UNBiodiversity

Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/unbiodiversity
Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's and epilepsy are but a few of the central nervous system disorders. They are also very difficult to treat, since the brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier.

The blood-brain barrier works as a border wall between the blood and the brain, allowing just certain molecules to enter the brain. And whereas water and oxygen can get through, as can other substances such as alcohol and coffee. But it does block more than 99 percent of potentially neuroprotective compounds from reaching their targets in the brain.

Now, in a study conducted in living, including awake mice, a team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen provides direct insight on how to trick the blood-brain barrier's impermeable walls to allow drug delivery to the brain.

They investigated so-called nanoparticle liposome drug carriers and delivered them past the blood-brain barrier while tracking and monitoring them all the way through the system.

"Before this study, the community had no insight what was happening in the blood-brain barrier in the living brain, and why some nanoparticles crossed and others wouldn't. In this regard, the blood-brain barrier was a 'black-box' where the events between drug administration and detection in the brain remaind obscures. It was even doubted whether nanoparticle entry to the brain was possible at all. With our paper, we now provide a direct proof of nanoparticle entry to the brain and describe why, when, and where it happens," explains Assistant Professor Krzysztof Kucharz from the Department of Neuroscience.

The researchers, aided by colleagues at the Technical University of Denmark and Aalborg University, used two-photon imaging to deconstruct the blood-brain barrier in order to understand how the nanoparticle drug carriers travel past the blood-brain barrier in a living organism.

"We monitored the nanoparticles entry to the brain at each step of the process, providing valuable knowledge for the future drug design. Specifically, we show which vascular segments are the most efficient to target with nanoparticles to allow their entry to the brain. And because we were able to monitor the drug carriers at the level of a single nanoparticles, we now provide a novel platform to develop more efficient and safer therapeutic approaches," says Krzysztof Kucharz.

The study, released in Nature Communications, shows that nanoparticles targeted to the brain are picked up in the capillaries and venules by endothelial cells, which are the cells in the blood-brain barrier that allow or reject access of molecules to our brain tissue.

"Analogically to the mythical Trojan horse they are recognized by endothelium and transported across the blood-brain barrier to the brain. These nanoparticles have a cargo space that can be loaded with various neuroprotective drugs to treat many neurodegenerative diseases. This approach is currently tested in many clinical and preclinical trials in brain cancer, stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. However, the levels of nanoparticle transport into the brain are still low and need to improve to reach clinical significance. Therefore, there is a great need to optimize nanoparticle drug delivery and to do so, it is crucial to understand how nanoparticles interact with the blood-brain barrier. This is where we came into play.", says Krzysztof Kucharz.

The researchers used a two-photon imaging approach to study nanoparticles allowed them to open the blood-brain barrier "black box" and get a full picture of nanoparticles route across the blood-brain barrier. They tagged the particles with fluorescent molecules, which allowed the microscopy of nanocarriers in the living, intact brain at the resolution level of a single nanoparticle.

Now, they could observe how nanoparticles circulate in the bloodstream, how they associate over time to the endothelium, how many are taken up by the endothelium, how many are left behind, what happens to them once inside the blood-brain barrier and where the nanoparticles exit to the brain. Then, they observed that brain vessels handle the nanoparticles differently, allowing or rejecting access of nanoparticles to the brain tissue depending on the vessel type.

"Although the anatomy and function of the endothelium differ between different vessel types, this principal feature of the brain had so far been overlooked in drug delivery studies, and whether or how it impacted drug delivery had been unknown," says Krzysztof Kucharz.

They show that nanoparticles can enter the brain mainly at big vessels, i.e. venules, which are surrounded by so-called perivascular space, and not, as previously believed small and numerous capillaries. The perivascular space surrounds venules making nanoparticles easier to exit the endothelium and progress further into the brain, but it is absent in capillaries.

"Our results challenge the assumed view that capillaries constitute the main locus for nanoparticle transport to the brain. Instead, venules should be targeted for efficient nanoparticle drug delivery to the brain", says Krzysztof Kucharz.

The methodological platform developed by authors may constitute an excellent platform to fine-tune nanoparticle formulations for increased transport to the brain and provide valuable information for the future design of novel drug delivery systems. This will hopefully provide a great leap forward to efficiently treat brain disorders.

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Earlier this year, Viji Santhakumar, an associate professor of molecular, cell and systems biology at the University of California, Riverside, received funding from the National Institute of Neurological Disaster and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, to further pursue research on moderate concussive brain injury. Now three scientists in her lab have received federal funding -- no small achievement for a university research group.

Department of Defense award

Deepak Subramanian, a postdoctoral researcher, has received a three-year Department of Defense Idea Development Award of $466,000 to examine the "molecular and immune axis of neurological deficits in posttraumatic epilepsy." The project starts July 15.

Subramanian explained that traumatic brain injury, or TBI, often sets off an avalanche of immune responses, which can disrupt downstream molecular signaling cascades and result in altered neuronal function and subsequent development of posttraumatic epilepsy, or PTE.

"We believe targeting early immune responses and their downstream molecular targets are key to effectively mitigate long-term consequences of TBI," he said.

PTEs are a form of acquired epilepsy where an injury to the brain predisposes it to developing seizures in the future. Commonly referred to as the "silent epidemic," PTEs are often associated with poor functional outcomes and increased mortality.

"Our study will identify a potential marker for subsequent development of PTE, which can help identify individuals at risk," Subramanian said. "Importantly, identifying a critical link between immune-molecular signaling cascades that are activated in response to brain injury will highlight a potential therapeutic target."

According to Subramanian, the development of PTE is notoriously unpredictable, with no effective way to identify individuals at risk or reduce the risk of developing PTE.

"Insights from our study will provide much needed tools to help identify individuals at risk of developing PTE and highlight a clinically relevant therapeutic target to mitigate long-term neurological consequences," he said. "These findings will immensely help civilians, soldiers, and war veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury."

The grant will support Subramanian and a lab technician.

NIH fellowships

Graduate students Laura Dovek and Susan Nguyen have each won a Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award.

The four-year fellowship to Dovek of more than $46,000 per year will allow her to better understand a subset of granule cells -- semilunar granule cells -- in the brain's hippocampus, which plays an important role in learning and social interactions. A granule cell, which is very small, is a kind of neuron in the brain involved in learning and memory, and it plays a role in processing information.

"Our lab has previously examined semilunar granule cells," said Dovek, who expects to receive her doctoral degree in late 2023. "The objective of the proposed study is to determine the role of semilunar granule cells in information processing, and their involvement in microcircuit changes related to epilepsy to gain insights into mechanisms of cognitive comorbidities of epilepsy and enable novel treatment approaches."

Nguyen, who was awarded a one-year predoctoral fellowship by the American Epilepsy Society last year, will study how an innate immune receptor in the brain, known as Toll-like Receptor 4, or TLR4, affects neuronal inhibition in the injured and uninjured brain as well as its role in the development of post-traumatic epilepsy and effect on memory functions after brain injury.

"How neural immune interactions affect neuronal excitability is still widely understudied," said Nguyen, who expects to receive her doctoral degree in late 2022. "Our lab is one of the first to characterize the role of neuronal TLR4 in neuronal changes following brain injury and found that pharmacologically blocking TLR4 24 hours following brain injury can have beneficial effects while blocking TLR4 in the uninjured brain can be deleterious."

The proposed study will shed light on whether inhibitory currents and specific inhibitory interneurons are involved in TLR4 signaling before and after brain injury. The researchers hope to better understand interactions between the immune system and memory dysfunction and changes in neuronal signaling following mild to moderate concussive brain injuries.

The Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award to Nguyen covers two and a half years at more than $46,000 per year.

"Deepak, Susan, and Laura are dedicated and talented researchers," Santhakumar said. "I am delighted by their richly deserved success in receiving federal funding to pursue their projects in my lab. I am privileged to mentor such a motivated team of trainees and am confident the fellowships will be the first of many such honors that will mark their careers."

Santhakumar came to UC Riverside in 2018 from Rutgers University. Her graduate student, Lucas Corrubia, who is currently a Rutgers student but conducts his research at UCR, received the Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award through the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in September 2019. Earlier this year, Dovek received a predoctoral fellowship from the American Epilepsy Society; she declined it in favor of the Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award.

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The University of California, Riverside (http://www. ucr. edu ) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment is more than 26,000 students. The campus has an annual impact of more than $2.7 billion on the U.S. economy.

To learn more, email news@ucr.edu.
New research finds evidence that a group of chemicals found in a wide range of products in people's homes increases the risk of asthma

Commonly-used household products should carry a warning that they increase the risk of asthma, according to a new evidence review.

New research conducted by Smartline, a research project funded by the European Regional Development Fund, finds evidence that a group of chemicals found in a wide range of products in people's homes increases the risk of asthma. Authors conclude that labelling should reflect this risk, and warn people to ventilate their homes while using them.

The research reviewed 12 studies into Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products, including some that are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes and wax, many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products may all contain ingredients that emit VOCs. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently up to ten times higher indoors than outdoors.

The research, led by the University of Exeter, provides collective evidence that, for adults the composition of many VOCs found in household products increase the risk of asthma. These particles and compounds vary from by household, caused by factors like leaks in building fabric, heating and ventilation systems, damp, smoking, cleaning products and aerosols.

The findings uncover that high exposure to VOCs also causes wheezing and shortness of breath for people without a respiratory illness.

Asthma is a complex disease, impacting around 10 per cent of the UK's adult population - one of the highest rates in the world. The new systematic review published in Environmental Research, is the first of its kind to investigate the relationship between air pollutants and the risk of asthma for people in higher-income countries.

One highly regarded study found a 15 per cent increased risk of asthma with exposure to Limonene, a naturally occurring aliphatic compound found in products like shampoos, detergents and air fresheners. Wood and kitchen paint also seem to increase symptoms.

Lead researcher, Cheryl Paterson of the University of Exeter, said: "Our findings are concerning because we often use multiple products at home and people are unaware of the dangers. For example, the findings show the risk of asthma to increase by 40 per cent for people exposed to five VOCs, while another study found that people without asthma are also at risk of wheezing attacks, especially when exposed to products containing benzene, a common chemical used to make other industrial chemicals and as a solvent in many everyday products."

This research highlights the risks that indoor pollutants can have on people's respiratory health, especially for vulnerable people who already experience health problems.

Professor Karyn Morrissey, Smartline's Principal Investigator, said: "As people are spending more time indoors, our research is particularly important to inform new public health strategies to reduce ashthma. To raise awareness of the potential health risks, industry and policymakers need to use more explicit health warnings on product labels. This should include better health messaging and advice about using and storing thee chemicals in the home, including proper ventilation while in use."

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The paper is entitled 'Indoor PM2.5, VOCs and Asthma Outcomes: A Systematic Review in Adults and their Home Environments', and is published in Environmental Research.
Sugarcane is one of the most productive plants on Earth, providing 80 percent of the sugar and 30 percent of the bioethanol produced worldwide. Its size and efficient use of water and light give it tremendous potential for the production of renewable value-added bioproducts and biofuels.

But the highly complex sugarcane genome poses challenges for conventional breeding, requiring more than a decade of trials for the development of an improved cultivar.

Two recently published innovations by University of Florida researchers at the Department of Energy's Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) demonstrated the first successful precision breeding of sugarcane by using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing -- a far more targeted and efficient way to develop new varieties.

CRISPR/Cas9 allows scientists to introduce precision changes in almost any gene and, depending on the selected approach, to turn the gene off or replace it with a superior version. The latter is technically more challenging and has rarely been reported for crops so far.

In the first report, researchers demonstrated the ability to turn off variable numbers of copies of the magnesium chelatase gene, a key enzyme for chlorophyll biosynthesis in sugarcane, producing rapidly identifiable plants with light green to yellow leaves. Light green plants did not show growth reduction and may require less nitrogen fertilizer to produce the same amount of biomass. That study, published in Frontiers in Genome Editing, was led by CABBI researchers Fredy Altpeter, Professor of Agronomy at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), and Ayman Eid, a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Altpeter's lab.

The second study, also published in Frontiers in Genome Editing, achieved efficient and reproducible gene targeting in sugarcane, demonstrating the precise substitution of multiple copies of the target gene with a superior version, conferring herbicide resistance. Scientists co-introduced a repair template together with the gene-editing tool to direct the plant's own DNA repair process so that one or two of the thousands of building blocks of the gene, called nucleotides, were precisely replaced in the targeted location. The result was that the gene product was still fully functional and could no longer be inhibited by the herbicide. That study was led by Altpeter and former CABBI Postdoc Mehmet Tufan Oz.

Altpeter's lab, part of CABBI's groundbreaking project to develop new oil-rich sugarcane varieties, has pioneered research with sugarcane genome editing using the TALEN gene-editing system. But the two recent publications are the first to successfully demonstrate CRISPR gene-editing in sugarcane as well as gene targeting for precision nucleotide substitution in sugarcane using any genome-editing tool.

"Now we have very effective tools to modify sugarcane into a crop with higher productivity or improved sustainability," Altpeter said. "It's important since sugarcane is the ideal crop to fuel the emerging bioeconomy."

Sugarcane is a hybrid of two kinds of parent plants, so it has multiple sets of chromosomes rather than just two, as with humans or "diploid" plants. That creates genetic redundancy -- with many sets of genes doing the same job -- which may contribute to the plant's productivity: If one set breaks, there's a backup. But it makes sugarcane extremely difficult to modify. Crop scientists have to target all the genes and copies that govern a particular trait in order to make improvements.

With conventional breeding, two types of sugarcane are cross-bred to reshuffle the genetic information present in each parent in the hope of enhancing a desirable trait such as disease resistance. The problem is that genes are transferred from the parents to offspring in blocks, and desirable traits are often linked with deleterious genetic material. This means scientists often have to do multiple rounds of backcrossing and screen thousands of plants to restore the elite background, or underlying plant characteristics, in addition to improving one trait theyre attempting to modify. The process is more time-consuming and costly in plants with complex genomes like sugarcane.

Precise gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 offer a much more targeted path to crop improvement because it avoids the reshuffling of genetic information and simply changes inferior gene versions into superior ones. Given the sugarcane genome's complexity, Altpeter and his team focused initially on genes that control noticeable traits -- leaf color and herbicide resistance -- so they could determine if the edits worked.

Beyond providing an easily identifiable phenotype, the targeted genes may prove useful in future research. Changing the chlorophyll content of sugarcane has the potential to increase canopy level photosynthesis or reduce the requirement for nitrogen fertilizer, based on previous plant modeling. Sugarcane is a tall, dense plant, with the top leaves getting lots of sun and shading lower foliage. If the upper leaves have less chlorophyll, sunlight can penetrate deeper into the plant, increasing its biomass with the same amount of light and less fertilizer. Herbicide resistance is not only an agronomically desirable trait to facilitate weed management; it will also facilitate future gene-editing efforts by enabling suppression of non-edited plant cells.

At CABBI, Altpeter and his team are already applying the results to develop improved sugarcane lines. Sugarcane has many different gene targets that can translate into more biomass or the production of lipids or specialty fatty acids -- all of which would advance CABBI's goals to produce fuels and other products from plants to replace petroleum. Because the crop is already harvested and processed for sugar extraction, the basic infrastructure to process its raw material into a product on a shelf is essentially in place.

"Adding value streams is relatively inexpensive compared to other crop alternatives," Altpeter said.

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Coauthors on the first study included CABBI visiting scientist Chakravarthi Mohan, CABBI Lab Technician Sara Sanchez, and former CABBI Postdoc Duoduo Wang, all in Altpeter's lab. Coauthors on the second study included Angelika Altpeter, Ratna Karan, and Aldo Merotto of the Agronomy Department at UF/IFAS.
LOWELL, Mass. - Researchers led by a UMass Lowell environmental science professor say mercury measurements in a Massachusetts forest indicate the toxic element is deposited in forests across the globe in much greater quantities than previously understood.

The team's results underscore concern for the health and well-being of people, wildlife and waterways, according to Prof. Daniel Obrist, as mercury accumulating in forests ultimately runs off into streams and rivers, ending up in lakes and oceans.

Mercury is a highly toxic pollutant that threatens fish, birds, mammals and humans. Hundreds of tons of it are released into the atmosphere each year by coal-burning power plants, as well as through gold mining and other industrial processes, and the pollutant is distributed by winds and currents across the globe. Long-term exposure to mercury, or consuming food containing high levels of the pollutant, can lead to reproductive, immune, neurological and cardiovascular problems, according to Obrist, chair of UMass Lowell's Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

Forests constitute the world's most abundant, productive and widespread ecosystems on land, according to Obrist, who said the study is the first that examines a full picture of how mercury in the atmosphere is deposited at any rural forest in the world, including the deposition of mercury in its gaseous form, which most previous studies do not address.

"Trees take up gaseous mercury from the atmosphere through their leaves and as plants shed their leaves or die off, they basically transfer that atmospheric mercury to the ecosystems," he said.

The results of the project, which is supported by a three-year, $873,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), were published today in an issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. UMass Lowell student Eric Roy, a double-major in meteorology and mathematics from Lowell, is among the study's co-authors.

For the past 16 months, the team has measured how mercury in the atmosphere gets deposited at Harvard Forest in Petersham, a nearly 4,000-acre site that includes hardwood deciduous broadleaf trees such as red oak and red maple that shed their leaves every year. A set of measurement systems placed at various heights on the forest's 100-foot-tall research tower assessed the site's gaseous mercury deposition from the tree canopy to the forest floor.

"Seventy-six percent of the mercury deposition at this forest comes from gaseous atmospheric mercury. It's five times greater than mercury deposited by rain and snow and three times greater than mercury that gets deposited through litterfall, which is mercury transferred by leaves falling to the ground and which has previously been used by other researchers as a proxy for estimating gaseous mercury deposition in forests," Obrist said.

"Our study suggests that mercury loading in forests has been underestimated by a factor of about two and that forests worldwide may be a much larger global absorber and collector of gaseous mercury than currently assumed. This larger-than-anticipated accumulation may explain surprisingly high mercury levels observed in soils across rural forests," he said.

Plants seem to dominate as a source of mercury on land, accounting for 54 to 94 percent of the deposits in soils across North America. The total global amount of mercury deposited to land currently is estimated at about 1,500 to 1,800 metric tons per year, but it may be more than double if other forests show similar levels of deposition, according to Obrist.

The researchers are continuing their work at a second forest in Howland in northern Maine. Howland Forest, a nearly 600-acre research site full of evergreens that retain their leaves year-round, offers a distinctly different habitat than the deciduous forest in Petersham. Assessing both forests will allow researchers to examine differences in mercury accumulation between different forest types, Obrist said.

The work is providing a hands-on research experience for Roy, a UMass Lowell Honors College student who was invited to become a member of the university's Immersive Scholar program in 2019. The initiative enables first-year students with outstanding academic credentials to participate in lab work and research right from the start of their academic studies.

"It's really exciting to be a co-author," Roy said. "This study allowed us to quantify how much mercury is being accumulated in this type of forest. Modelers can use these results to improve their understanding of how mercury cycles through the environment on a global scale and how that might change in the future."

Roy helped analyze the data collected in the field.

"Eric's contributions to the study are tremendous. It's not very common for an undergrad to play such an important role in a major, federally funded research project," Obrist said. "His work is really impressive and he has become more and more active in data analysis and doing complex flux calculations and data processing. He really earned himself second author position in the paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

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Other contributors to the study include Asst. Prof. Roisin Commane of Columbia University; students and postdoctoral researchers from UMass Lowell and Columbia University; and collaborators from Harvard University; the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada; and the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Lanzhou. Additional research support was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.
A Sussex team - including university mathematicians - have created a new modelling toolkit which predicts the impact of COVID-19 at a local level with unprecedented accuracy. The details are published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, and are available for other local authorities to use online, just as the UK looks as though it may head into another wave of infections.

The study used the local Sussex hospital and healthcare daily COVID-19 situation reports, including admissions, discharges, bed occupancy and deaths.

Through the pandemic, the newly-published modelling has been used by local NHS and public health services to predict infection levels so that public services can plan when and how to allocate health resources - and it has been conclusively shown to be accurate. The team are now making their modelling available to other local authorities to use via the Halogen toolkit.

Anotida Madzvamuse, professor of mathematical and computational biology within the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Sussex, who led of the study, said:

"We undertook this study as a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to provide support and enhance the capability of local NHS and Public Health teams to accurately predict and forecast the impact of local outbreaks to guide healthcare demand and capacity, policy making, and public health decisions."

"Working with outstanding mathematicians, Dr James Van Yperen and Dr Eduard Campillo-Funollet, we formulated an epidemiological model and inferred model parameters by fitting the model to local datasets to allow for short, and medium-term predictions and forecasts of the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks.

"I'm really pleased that our modelling has been of such value to local health services and people. The modelling approach can be used by local authorities to predict the dynamics of other conditions such as winter flu and mental health problems."

Professor Anjum Memon, Chair in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine at BSMS and co-author of the study, said:

"The world is in the cusp of experiencing local and regional hotspots and spikes of COVID-19 infections. Our epidemiological model, which is based on local data, can be used by all local authorities in the UK and other countries to inform healthcare demand and capacity, emergency planning and response to the supply of medications and oxygen, formulation, tightening or lifting of legal restrictions and implementation of preventive measures."

"The model will also serve as an excellent tool to monitor the situation after the legal COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in England on 19 July, and during winter months with competing respiratory infections."

Kate Gilchrist, Head of Public Health Intelligence at Brighton & Hove City Council and co-author of the study, said:

"This unique piece of work demonstrated that by using local datasets, model predictions and forecasting allowed us to plan adequately the healthcare demand and capacity, as well as policy-making and public health decisions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the local population. Understanding how future COVID-19 spikes and waves could possibly affect the local populations empowers us to ensure that contingency measures are in place and the timely commissioning and organisation of services."

Dr Sue Baxter, Director of Innovations and Business Partnerships at the University of Sussex, said:

"The University is delighted that this innovative modelling approach and philosophy has been translated from the mathematical drawing board into a web-based tool-kit called Halogen, which can be used by NHS hospitals, local authorities and public health departments locally and across the UK to help save lives and improve capability for hard pressed public health workers. The successful commercialisation of this kind of innovation illustrates just one of the transformational impacts that the Higher Education Innovation Fund can make when applied in a targeted way."

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The study is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. It was supported by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (University of Sussex); Global Challenges Research Fund (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council); UK-Africa Postgraduate Advanced Study Institute in Mathematical Sciences; Wellcome Trust; Health Foundation; the NIHR; and Dr Perry James (Jim) Browne Research Centre on Mathematics and its Applications (University of Sussex).
A cross-disciplinary team including University of Texas at Austin statisticians Giorgio Paulon and Abhra Sarkar have received the Mitchell Prize, a top prize in the field, for their study modeling what happens in the brains of nonnative English speakers learning another language's tonal differences.

In Mandarin Chinese, for example, there are four ways to pronounce "ma," and each one has a totally different meaning. Say it with a certain tone and it means "mother." But beware -- say it slightly differently and it means "horse."

These tonal differences are rife in Mandarin but nonexistent in languages such as English. For some nonnative speakers, tonal differences make Mandarin especially difficult to master. They also make it an ideal case study for understanding how the human brain rewires itself to learn new languages -- which is what Sarkar, Paulon and their colleagues set out to discover.

"This is an ambitious goal, but this could help eventually develop precision learning strategies for different people depending on how their individual brains work," Sarkar said.

This is the second Mitchell Prize since 2018 for Sarkar, an assistant professor in UT Austin's Department of Statistics and Data Sciences.

The statistical method the team developed could also have applications in other areas of neuroscience research or in clinical practice. The prize is awarded annually in recognition of an outstanding paper that describes how a Bayesian analysis has solved an important applied problem. The award is sponsored by the American Statistical Association, the International Society for Bayesian Analysis and the Mitchell Prize Founders' Committee. Joined by Fernando Llanos and Bharath Chandrasekaran, Sarkar and Paulon were selected for their 2020 paper, published in the Journal of the American Statistical Association in September.

In their experiment, 20 adult English speakers were taught how to differentiate four different tonal variations that give syllables in Mandarin different meanings. Over the course of several days, participants listened to native speakers saying different versions of syllables and responded with which of the four tones they heard. They were told immediately whether they got a response right. As participants learned to differentiate the tones, they responded more quickly and more accurately. In other words, they began to learn one of the basic elements of Mandarin.

The statisticians developed a new way to model how the brain learns language over time and tested it on the data collected from the experiment. Traditional approaches are best suited to binary decisions in static situations. The new approach, however, is able to model the four-choice decisions associated with learning Mandarin tones and capture the biological changes that occur in the brain over time during learning.

"The outstanding contribution of this work was to eliminate these limitations by overcoming daunting methodological and computational challenges, thereby advancing the statistical capabilities many significant steps forward through the development of a novel Bayesian model for multi-alternative decision-making in dynamic longitudinal settings," Sarkar wrote in a summary for funders.

Using this new method, the statistics researchers found a couple of interesting things.

First, tones 1 (high level) and 3 (low dipping) were the easiest to learn to tell apart. That's because tone 3 is unique to Mandarin, and there is no equivalent among English phonemes. That insight could lead to better learning strategies.

"For example, poor learners may benefit from beginning with easy tones like T1 and T3 and making the training more challenging afterward with the introduction of tones T2 and T4," said Paulon, a graduate student in Sarkar's group.

To understand the second finding, it helps to understand the basics of how our brains learn to put things into categories.

"Learning to make categorization decisions is particularly crucial in our interactions with our environments," Sarkar said. "We have to decide whether a person is a friend or a foe, a plant is edible or nonedible, a word is 'bat' or 'hat.'"

When deciding what category something fits in, our brains accumulate sensory evidence by increasing the firing rates of neurons in certain areas. When neuronal activity crosses a particular evidence threshold, we have enough information to make a decision. As we learn something new, like a language, the rate of rising neuronal activity and the thresholds involved in those decisions change. Our brains become more experienced.

The second finding is this: When nonnative speakers who are especially good at learning Mandarin process audio information to decide which of the four tones they heard, their brains do it more quickly than those who don't learn the language as easily. That might seem obvious, but until this experiment, it was also a possibility that good learners simply need less information to accurately decide. In terms of the way groups of neurons arrive at a decision, being a better learner might depend on either increasing neuronal activity faster or lowering the evidence threshold, or both.

The researchers found that good and bad learners need just as much audio information to tell the four tones apart (the threshold stays the same); the good ones just process audio information faster.

When the research began in 2018, Chandrasekaran was an associate professor at UT Austin, and Llanos was a postdoctoral researcher in his lab. Since then, Chandrasekaran and Llanos moved to the University of Pittsburgh. Last year, Llanos returned to UT Austin as an assistant professor in the Department of Linguistics.

Sarkar credited Llanos for introducing him "to many new exciting scientific problems and ideas, including the previous literature on this problem, and also for collaborating very intensely on this project to make sure the statistical modeling accurately represents the underlying neuroscience aspects of the problem."

Beyond helping people learn new languages, Sarkar said their statistical model might assist clinicians in understanding why an individual has a speech or hearing disorder. It could also help neuroscientists studying other kinds of decision making, such as how we make sense of the visual world.

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Astronomers have made the rare sighting of two stars spiralling to their doom by spotting the tell-tale signs of a teardrop-shaped star.

The tragic shape is caused by a massive nearby white dwarf distorting the star with its intense gravity, which will also be the catalyst for an eventual supernova that will consume both. Found by an international team of astronomers and astrophysicists led by the University of Warwick, it is one of only very small number of star systems that has been discovered that will one day see a white dwarf star reignite its core.

New research published by the team today (12 July) in Nature Astronomy confirms that the two stars are in the early stages of a spiral that will likely end in a Type Ia supernova, a type that helps astronomers determine how fast the universe is expanding.

This research received funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.

HD265435 is located roughly 1,500 light years away and comprises a hot subdwarf star and a white dwarf star orbiting each other closely at a rate of around 100 minutes. White dwarfs are 'dead' stars that have burnt out all their fuel and collapsed in on themselves, making them small but extremely dense.

A type Ia supernova is generally thought to occur when a white dwarf star's core reignites, leading to a thermonuclear explosion. There are two scenarios where this can happen. In the first, the white dwarf gains enough mass to reach 1.4 times the mass of our Sun, known as the Chandrasekhar limit. HD265435 fits in the second scenario, in which the total mass of a close stellar system of multiple stars is near or above this limit. Only a handful of other star systems have been discovered that will reach this threshold and result in a Type Ia supernova.

Lead author Dr Ingrid Pelisoli from the University of Warwick Department of Physics, and formerly affiliated with the University of Potsdam, explains: "We don't know exactly how these supernovae explode, but we know it has to happen because we see it happening elsewhere in the universe.

"One way is if the white dwarf accretes enough mass from the hot subdwarf, so as the two of them are orbiting each other and getting closer, matter will start to escape the hot subdwarf and fall onto the white dwarf. Another way is that because they are losing energy to gravitational wave emissions, they will get closer until they merge. Once the white dwarf gains enough mass from either method, it will go supernova."

Using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the team were able to observe the hot subdwarf, but not the white dwarf as the hot subdwarf is much brighter. However, that brightness varies over time which suggested the star was being distorted into a teardrop shape by a nearby massive object. Using radial velocity and rotational velocity measurements from the Palomar Observatory and the W. M. Keck Observatory, and by modelling the massive object's effect on the hot subdwarf, the astronomers could confirm that the hidden white dwarf is as heavy as our Sun, but just slightly smaller than the Earth's radius.

Combined with the mass of the hot subdwarf, which is a little over 0.6 times the mass of our Sun, both stars have the mass needed to cause a Type Ia supernova. As the two stars are already close enough to begin spiralling closer together, the white dwarf will inevitably go supernova in around 70 million years. Theoretical models produced specifically for this study predict that the hot subdwarf will contract to become a white dwarf star as well before merging with its companion.

Type Ia supernovae are important for cosmology as 'standard candles'. Their brightness is constant and of a specific type of light, which means astronomers can compare what luminosity they should be with what we observe on Earth, and from that work out how distant they are with a good degree of accuracy. By observing supernovae in distant galaxies, astronomers combine what they know of how fast this galaxy is moving with our distance from the supernova and calculate the expansion of the universe.

Dr Pelisoli adds: "The more we understand how supernovae work, the better we can calibrate our standard candles. This is very important at the moment because there's a discrepancy between what we get from this kind of standard candle, and what we get through other methods.

"The more we understand about how supernovae form, the better we can understand whether this discrepancy we are seeing is because of new physics that we're unaware of and not taking into account, or simply because we're underestimating the uncertainties in those distances.

"There is another discrepancy between the estimated and observed galactic supernovae rate, and the number of progenitors we see. We can estimate how many supernovae are going to be in our galaxy through observing many galaxies, or through what we know from stellar evolution, and this number is consistent. But if we look for objects that can become supernovae, we don't have enough. This discovery was very useful to put an estimate of what a hot subdwarf and white dwarf binaries can contribute. It still doesn't seem to be a lot, none of the channels we observed seems to be enough."

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* 'A hot subdwarf-white dwarf super-Chandrasekhar candidate supernova Ia progenitor ' will be published in Nature Astronomy, DOI: 10.1038/s41550-021-01413-0 Link: https:/ / www. nature. com/ articles/ s41550-021-01413-0 (to go live after embargo)

Notes to editors:

Artist's impression of the HD265435 system available to download at the link below. Images are free for use if used in direct connection with this story but image copyright and credit must be University of Warwick/Mark Garlick:

https:/ / warwick. ac. uk/ services/ communications/ medialibrary/ images/ july_2021/ progenitor. jpg

Caption: Artist's impression of the HD265435 system at around 30 million years from now, with the smaller white dwarf distorting the hot subdwarf into a distinct 'teardrop' shape. Credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick

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The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is part of UK Research and Innovation - the UK body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. For more information visit UK Research and Innovation.
July 12, 2021 - Transitions between healthcare sites - such as from the hospital to home or to a skilled nursing facility - carry known risks to patient safety. Many programs have attempted to improve continuity of care during transitions, but it remains difficult to establish and compare the benefits of these complex interventions. An update on patient-centered approaches to transitional care research and implementation is presented in a supplement to the August issue of Medical Care, sponsored by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Medical Care is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Titled Future Directions in Transitional Care Research, the special issue "focus[es] on opportunities and challenges involved in conducting patient-centered clinical comparative effectiveness research in transitional care," according to an introductory editorial by Carly Parry, PhD, MSW, of PCORI and co-authors. The supplement papers present an overview and update on early findings from PCORI's transitional care research portfolio.

Update on research 'toward a more holistic understanding of transitional care'

Recognizing the high risks and increased costs associated with care transitions has led to new research on interventions to enhance communication and continuity of care. However, new evidence has not always translated into meaningful improvement in the outcomes most important to patients. For this reason, in addition to important outcomes like hospital readmission rates, PCORI has supported research on patient-centered outcomes such as quality of life, caregiver burden, and healthcare decision-making.

A particular challenge is comparing results between studies, or identifying the most important aspects of these multi-component interventions. Providing evidence about the comparative effectiveness of interventions to improve decision making is a key goal of PCORI's investment in transitional care. The supplement presents findings from 11 of the 30 PCORI-funded transitional care studies, representing a wide range of health conditions, healthcare settings, patient characteristics, and patient outcomes.

A paper by Sabina B. Gesell, PhD, of Wake Forest School of Medicine and colleagues highlights the findings and implications of the PCORI transitional care portfolio so far. In discussions with researchers from nine studies, the authors identify three key themes:

Delineating the function versus form of transitional care interventions. While "function" refers to the core purposes of the intervention, "form" refers to the strategies and activities needed to carry out its function. It is critical to distinguish functions from forms. A pragmatic approach would allow for "flexible options for delivery while maintaining appropriate fidelity to the intervention."

While "function" refers to the core purposes of the intervention, "form" refers to the strategies and activities needed to carry out its function. It is critical to distinguish functions from forms. A pragmatic approach would allow for "flexible options for delivery while maintaining appropriate fidelity to the intervention." Evaluating the process supporting implementation and the impact of interventions. Understanding the processes involved in program adaptations - planned and unplanned - is essential to assessing their actual effects, intended or unintended.

Understanding the processes involved in program adaptations - planned and unplanned - is essential to assessing their actual effects, intended or unintended. Engaging stakeholders in the design and delivery of interventions. A key aspect of the PCORI approach is engaging stakeholders - including patients, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups or policymakers - in the design and delivery of interventions. Partnering with stakeholders is critical for ensuring that appropriate interventions are designed and successfully disseminated, especially interventions that involve system change. Stakeholders can also play a key role in disseminating the research findings to broader audiences.

The introduction includes an overview of PCORI's Transitional Care Evidence to Action Network: a learning community designed to promote collaboration among researchers and stakeholders, and thus to enhance the collective impact of the new research PCORI has funded on patient-centered transitional care interventions.

"The papers in this Special Issue articulate challenges and lessons learned, and identify new directions for measurement, patient and stakeholder engagement, implementation, and methodological approaches that reflect the complexity of transitional care research," Dr. Parry and coauthors conclude. "They also move us toward a more holistic understanding of transitional care that integrates social needs and lifespan developmental transitions into our approaches to improving transitional care."

Click here to read "Implementation of Complex Interventions: Lessons Learned From the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Transitional Care Portfolio."

DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001591

Click here to read "Patient-Centered Approaches to Transitional Care Research and Implementation: Overview and Insights From Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute's Transitional Care Portfolio."

DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001593

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Rated as one of the top ten journals in health care administration, Medical Care is devoted to all aspects of the administration and delivery of health care. This scholarly journal publishes original, peer-reviewed papers documenting the most current developments in the rapidly changing field of health care. Medical Care provides timely reports on the findings of original investigations into issues related to the research, planning, organization, financing, provision, and evaluation of health services. In addition, numerous special supplementary issues that focus on specialized topics are produced with each volume. Medical Care is the official journal of the Medical Care Section of the American Public Health Association.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2020 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,200 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students in effective decision-making and outcomes across healthcare. We support clinical effectiveness, learning and research, clinical surveillance and compliance, as well as data solutions. For more information about our solutions, visit https:/ / www. wolterskluwer. com/ en/ health and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.
Maunakea, Hawai'i - Astronomers have made the rare sighting of two stars spiraling to their doom by spotting the tell-tale signs of a teardrop-shaped star.

The tragic shape is caused by a massive nearby white dwarf distorting the star with its intense gravity, which will also be the catalyst for an eventual supernova that will consume both. Found by an international team of astronomers and astrophysicists led by the University of Warwick, it is one of only a very small number of star systems discovered that will one day see a white dwarf star reignite its core.

The team's new research is published in today's issue of the journal Nature Astronomy.

With the help of W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawai'i, the astronomers were able to confirm that the two stars are in the early stages of a spiral that will likely end in a Type Ia supernova - a type that helps astronomers determine how fast the universe is expanding.

The couple - a binary star system called HD265435 - is located roughly 1,500 light-years away; it is comprised of a hot subdwarf star and a white dwarf star orbiting each other closely at a dizzying rate of around 100 minutes. White dwarfs are 'dead' stars that have burned all their fuel and collapsed in on themselves, making them small but extremely dense.

A type Ia supernova is generally thought to occur when a white dwarf star's core reignites, leading to a thermonuclear explosion. There are two scenarios where this can happen. In the first, the white dwarf gains enough mass to reach 1.4 times the mass of our Sun, known as the Chandrasekhar limit. HD265435 fits in the second scenario, in which the total mass of a close stellar system of multiple stars is near or above this limit. Only a handful of other star systems have been discovered that will reach this threshold and result in a Type Ia supernova.

Lead author Ingrid Pelisoli from the University of Warwick Department of Physics explains: "We don't know exactly how these supernovae explode, but we know it has to happen because we see it happening elsewhere in the universe."

"One way is if the white dwarf accretes enough mass from the hot subdwarf, so as the two of them are orbiting each other and getting closer, matter will start to escape the hot subdwarf and fall onto the white dwarf. Another way is that because they are losing energy to gravitational wave emissions, they will get closer until they merge. Once the white dwarf gains enough mass from either method, it will go supernova," she says.

Using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, the team was able to observe the hot subdwarf. While they did not detect the white dwarf, the researchers observed the brightness of the hot subdwarf varied over time; this suggests a nearby massive object was distorting the star into a teardrop shape.

The astronomers then used Palomar Observatory and Keck Observatory's Echellette Spectrograph and Imager (ESI) to measure the radial velocity and rotational velocity of the hot subdwarf star, which allowed them to confirm that the hidden white dwarf is as heavy as our Sun, but just slightly smaller than the Earth's radius. Combined with the mass of the hot subdwarf, which is a little over 0.6 times the mass of our Sun, both stars have the mass needed to cause a Type Ia supernova.

"Keck's ESI data was crucial in determining that the compact binary system exceeds the Chandrasekhar mass limit, which makes HD265435 one of the very few supernova Ia progenitor systems known," says co-author Thomas Kupfer, assistant professor at Texas Tech University's Department of Physics and Astronomy.

As the two stars are already close enough to begin spiraling closer together, the white dwarf will inevitably go supernova in around 70 million years. Theoretical models produced specifically for this study also predict that the hot subdwarf will contract to become a white dwarf star before merging with its companion.

Type Ia supernovae are important for cosmology as 'standard candles.' Their brightness is constant and of a specific type of light, which means astronomers can compare what luminosity they should be with what we observe on Earth, and from that work out how distant they are with a good degree of accuracy. By observing supernovae in distant galaxies, astronomers combine what they know of how fast this galaxy is moving with our distance from the supernova and calculate the expansion of the universe.

"The more we understand how supernovae work, the better we can calibrate our standard candles. This is very important at the moment because there's a discrepancy between what we get from this kind of standard candle, and what we get through other methods," says Pelisoli.

She adds, "The more we understand about how supernovae form, the better we can understand whether this discrepancy we are seeing is because of new physics that we're unaware of and not taking into account, or simply because we're underestimating the uncertainties in those distances."

"There is another discrepancy between the estimated and observed galactic supernovae rate, and the number of progenitors we see. We can estimate how many supernovae are going to be in our galaxy through observing many galaxies, or through what we know from stellar evolution, and this number is consistent. But if we look for objects that can become supernovae, we don't have enough. This discovery was very useful to put an estimate of what a hot subdwarf and white dwarf binaries can contribute. It still doesn't seem to be a lot, none of the channels we observed seems to be enough," Pelisoli says.

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This research was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.

ABOUT ESI

The Echellette Spectrograph and Imager (ESI) is a medium-resolution visible-light spectrograph that records spectra from 0.39 to 1.1 microns in each exposure. Built at UCO/Lick Observatory by a team led by Prof. Joe Miller, ESI also has a low-resolution mode and can image in a 2 x 8 arc min field of view. An upgrade provided an integral field unit that can provide spectra everywhere across a small, 5.7 x4.0 arc sec field. Astronomers have found a number of uses for ESI, from observing the cosmological effects of weak gravitational lensing to searching for the most metal-poor stars in our galaxy.

ABOUT W. M. KECK OBSERVATORY

The W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes are among the most scientifically productive on Earth. The two 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes atop Maunakea on the Island of Hawai'i feature a suite of advanced instruments including imagers, multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution spectrographs, integral-field spectrometers, and world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics systems. Some of the data presented herein were obtained at Keck Observatory, which is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation. The authors wish to recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that the summit of Maunakea has always had within the Native Hawaiian community. We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to conduct observations from this mountain.
PULLMAN, Wash. - After cutbacks and layoffs, remaining employees were more likely to feel they were treated fairly if the companies invested in them - and morale was less likely to plunge, according to new research.

Those investments can include training for workers, team-building exercises or improving company culture. Even keeping workloads manageable after layoffs can help employees' job attitudes, according to the Journal of Organizational Behavior study.

"Whenever possible, cost-cutting is best combined with signals that people remain the firm's most prized asset," said Jeff Joireman, the study's co-author and a professor in Washington State University's Carson College of Business.

Researchers reviewed 137 previous studies examining job attitudes before, during and after cost-cutting events or people-focused investments. By focusing on longitudinal studies that followed employees for up to two years after the events, they were able to document persistent changes in attitudes.

Layoffs, offshoring and other cost-cutting measures affect morale longer than most companies realize, according to Joireman and his co-authors from Vrije University in Amsterdam and Brussels.

For at least two years after the cost-cutting event, workers reported reduced job satisfaction and less loyalty toward the organization - with implications for the firms' productivity and employee turnover.

Cost-cutting measures shook up the employer-employee relationship, researchers found. Workers felt their employer had treated them unfairly, didn't care about them and had broken promises. Upgrading technology to reduce costs was the exception, generating a positive response from employees.

Investments in workers, on the other hand, led to employees feeling cared for and valued by their organizations, resulting in lasting improvements in job attitudes.

When investing in workers was combined with cost-cutting, employee job attitudes remained relatively stable over time. Company support for workers after downsizing was perceived as helping reestablish the employee-employer bond, the researchers found.

Joireman said the study's findings challenge assumptions that shifts in job attitudes are temporary.

"The prevailing attitude is that cost-cutting is really bad for employees' attitudes in the short-run, but in the long-run, employee's attitudes will return to the baseline," he said.

Without this kind of analysis, firms remain in the dark about the negative effects of cost-cutting over the long haul, and whether people-oriented interventions provide lasting benefits, Joireman added.

###
"I was interested in conducting peer-reviewed research that illuminated the gap of the healing stories about how LGBTQ+ people engaged in faith communities in ways that were beneficial to them," said Megan Gandy with the WVU School of Social Work.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Some LGBTQ+ people want to be part of faith communities. And though they have concerns about inclusion, they hope to find a faith community that feels like a home, based on West Virginia University research.

Megan Gandy, BSW program director at the WVU School of Social Work, is a lesbian and former fundamentalist evangelical Christian whose personal experiences told a story that differed from research available in 2015 when she conceptualized her study.

Gandy said the existing research either focused on the positive impacts of faith communities (which excluded LGBTQ+ people) or highlighted the harms done by faith communities to LGBTQ+ people.

Gandy wanted to tell the whole story: that LGBTQ+ people can also benefit from faith communities. Her findings are published in Spirituality in Clinical Practice.

"I was interested in conducting peer-reviewed research that illuminated the gap of the healing stories about how LGBTQ+ people engaged in faith communities in ways that were beneficial to them," Gandy explained.

For the study, Gandy and her colleagues Anthony Natale and Denise Levy, interviewed 30 participants from the nonprofit Q Christian Fellowship, formerly known as the Gay Christian Network. Gandy and her team asked participants about their experiences in faith communities with the goal of exploring why they stay in those communities.

One major theme stood out to Gandy: The fear of rejection vs. the joy of inclusion. For those that stay, the sense of a inclusion is a feeling of indescribable joy and relief.

"This theme illustrated how much psychological stress is involved in the fear of rejection for LGBTQ+ people who choose to stay in faith communities," she said. "That fear can have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of LGBTQ+ people in the form of what's called 'minority stress.'"

The stress comes from a constant questioning of whether they are accepted or not, whether they will be asked to leave, if they will be "outed" in a harmful way and if they will have to start over with a new faith community, Gandy added.

"However, the joy of inclusion was a way to alter that stress, eliminate it and even heal from it," she said. "LGBTQ+ people who were completely included in their faith communities experienced joy that they didn't know was possible. It was a part of the research that really lifted up my spirits, and was even something that many participants wanted to share with other LGBTQ+ people who weren't involved in a faith community but who wanted to be."

Not all stories were feel-good ones.

One participant, identified with a pseudonym as "Olivia," lost her job as a priest because her church didn't have a policy that accepted transgender or gender-diverse leadership. Although, the church was in one of the more well-known denominations that has accepted gay and lesbian people for decades and allowed them to become ordained.

"If she came out as gay or lesbian, she would have kept her job, and much of the extreme difficulties associated with unemployment she has faced since would never have happened," Gandy said. "That felt like a gut-punch to me because sexual minorities don't often see themselves as privileged in the church, but compared to transgender and gender diverse people, apparently some do have more privileges than they realize."

Gandy emphasized that, although her study provides many interesting insights, it doesn't represent all LGBTQ+ individuals in faith communities.

However, the findings might be "transferrable" to other LGBTQ+ people, meaning that the study could be relatable to those not in the study, she said. Gandy hopes it is.

"They (the participants) wanted to send the message that it is possible to find a home and a family in a faith community, even if you've experienced rejection and shame from other faith communities," she said. "Those words of 'home' and 'family' were prominent in the stories that participants told, and held importance for how deep the connection felt for these LGBTQ+ people."

###

Citation: "We shared a heartbeat": Protective functions of faith communities in the lives of LGBTQ+ people
PARIS, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Moet Hennessy and Campari Group are pleased to announce the formation of a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with the purpose of investing in Wines & Spirits e-commerce companies and build a European e-commerce pure player in this growing category.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8924651-moet-hennessy-and-campari-group-to-partner-in-a-joint-venture/

As part of this partnership, Campari will be contributing its stake in Tannico to the JV. Tannico focuses on online sales of wines and premium spirits under the Tannico brand with a share of around 30% of this segment. Tannico also owns a majority stake in Ventealapropriete.com, a major e-commerce platform for the sale of premium wines and spirits in France. Tannico and Ventealapropriete.com have complementary business models, territories and capabilities in terms of technology, marketing and logistics and generated pro-forma aggregated sales of over 70 million in 2020.

The joint venture between Campari and Moet Hennessy aims at building a premium pan-European e-commerce player for the benefit of all wine and spirits brands and their European consumers. The combined business will be led by a seasoned management team led by Marco Magnocavallo, current CEO of Tannico, who remains a key minority shareholder in the business.

"This partnership represents a significant step forward in our global e-commerce development strategy. While e-commerce was already a growing channel for wines and spirits, the global pandemic has triggered a significant acceleration. We are delighted to be partnering with Campari Group and Tannico to create a premium pan-European Wines & Spirits e-commerce player."  Philippe Schaus, President & CEO, Moet Hennessy

"We are very pleased to partner with Moet Hennessy to become a premium pan-European Wines & Spirits e-commerce player through Tannico. After the completion of Tannico's first transformational step with the acquisition of Ventealapropriete.com, thanks to this agreement, the new partnership aims to continue to grow, further strengthening its footprint and expertise in the online retailing of spirits & wines."  Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO Campari Group

"With the joint backing of Moet Hennessy and Campari, Tannico will have the firepower to consolidate the fragmented European e-commerce sector and offer a qualitative, sizeable and integrated route to market option catering to the needs of all its wines and spirits suppliers"  Marco Magnocavallo, CEO Tannico

The creation of the JV, which foresees the sale of 50% of the JV's equity capital by Campari to Moet Hennessy for a cash consideration of 25.6 million, is expected to be finalized after the completion of all customary regulatory requirements.

About Moet Hennessy

Moet Hennessy, the Wines and Spirits Division of LVMH, regroups twenty-five Maisons, many of which have been around for centuries, while others are just starting their journey. Its vision is to lead the future of luxury Wines and Spirits from nature to communities.

Located in the most prestigious terroirs around the world, Moet Hennessy has unique savoir-faire from winemaking to art de vivre, hospitality, and brick-and-clicks retail management to craft exceptional experiences for consumers.

For many years, with the ambition to pass on a better world to future generations, Moet Hennessy has been committed to the Living Soils Living Together program structured around four key commitments: Regenerating our Soils, Mitigating our Climate Impact, Engaging society, and Empowering our People. Moet Hennessy is proud to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive working environment for all.

Ao Yun, Ardbeg, Armand de Brignac, Belvedere, Cape Mentelle, Chandon, Chateau d'Esclans, Chateau Galoupet, Cheval des Andes, Clos19, Cloudy Bay, Dom Perignon, Eminente, Glenmorangie, Hennessy, Krug, Mercier, Moet & Chandon, Newton, Numanthia, Ruinart, Terrazas de los Andes, Veuve Clicquot, Volcan de mi Tierra, Woodinville.

About Campari Group

Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities. Global Priorities, the Group's key focus, include Aperol, Campari, SKYY, Grand Marnier, Wild Turkey and Appleton Estate. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Campari Group's growth strategy aims to combine organic growth through strong brand building and external growth via selective acquisitions of brands and businesses.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group operates 22 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 22 countries. Campari Group employs approximately 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM) have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001.

For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com/en. Please enjoy our brands responsibly.

About Tannico

Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur and digital native, Marco Magnocavallo, and his partners, today Tannico offers a catalogue of over 15,000 labels from 2,500 wineries, and the world's largest selection of Italian wines. Tannico leverages five pillars: technology, innovation, passion, vision and courage. The company has revolutionized the distribution network, removing the middlemen to accelerate the delivery process and ensure an optimal consumer experience.

With 90% of its business B2C, Tannico's e-commerce platform is intuitive and straightforward, offering a variety of services ranging from the assistance of a Personal Sommelier to dedicated content for connoisseurs and enthusiasts, such as a rare wines and collectables section. The platform additionally provides wine courses, video tutorials and a mobile app. In the B2B arena, Tannico offers services to wineries professionals in the hospitality industry.

About ventealapropriete.com

Ventealapropriete.com a leading French online wines and spirits retailer offering high-quality products at competitive prices. All the wines sold on Ventealapropriete.com are tasted and selected by a committee composed of Olivier Poussier, the World's Best Sommelier (2000), Christian Martray, Head sommelier of Albert 1er in Chamonix, and Alaric de Portal, a true afficionado.

The site offers a vast selection consisting of both established brands and rising newcomers. After being voted "Best Customer Service" for two consecutive years by Capital Magazine, Ventealapropriete.com was ranked the 5th Best E-commerce Site among peers across industries.

Press Contacts :

Moet HennessyJean-Christophe Laizeau Email jc.laizeau@moethennessy.com Tel. +33 6 24 86 25 40

Campari Group Enrico Bocedi Corporate Communications Director Email. enrico.bocedi@campari.com Tel. +39 02 6225680

Drink responsibly.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1388256/Moet_Hennessy_Logo.jpg
Monday, July 12, 2021

Was Fletcher Prouty's Trip to Antarctica Unusual?

On September 24, 1996, L. Fletcher Prouty was interviewed by the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB). You can click here to read a very good summary of his interview .

Prouty was unable to back up any of the allegations from his books and articles.

In fact, the ARRB interviewers were so unimpressed with Prouty that they decided to have a full transcript typed up. Have a look at this memo:

Tim Wray notes at the bottom of the first page:

"More importantly, however, we need to do a full transcript of his interview with us because -- given the fact that it is so full of retractions, contradictions and diqualifications of his other statements -- there's no way we can fairly represent the interview in summary form without it looking like a hatchet job."

I thought it would be useful to go over Prouty's allegations, one by one, and post his exact testimony. Here is an excerpt from the ARRB summary memo :

Here is some dialogue from the film JFK:

X (voice over) ... a strange thing happened. I was sent by my superior officer, call him Y, to the South Pole as the military escort for group of international VIPs. This trip had nothing to do with my nine years of work in Special Operations. It was sort of a "paid vacation."

Here is Prouty's testimony to the ARRB regarding his trip to Antarctica:

Wray: But I guess my question now about the Antarctica trip [is]; do you feel that you were sent to Antarctica for some sinister purpose to get you out of the --

Prouty: Oh, no. I'd been working with them since 1959. It was so routine for them to call me, that I didn't give it a thought. And when they said 'we've got this team of people going down in a military airplane;' it's the military custom to put an escort officer in board. And so my boss said, "You're escort officer for this flight to Antarctica." [I thought] Fine. And that's all it was. It was just like that. And then when I found out it was this nuclear plant, I thought, "Gee, this is interesting." I got all the books I could and everything, so I would know what the hell was going on. But I had nothing ... I never figured Kennedy was gong to be killed, or anything else. And even afterwards, when I heard people extrapolating in that sense, thinking that it wasn't my job; they didn't know that I'd already been working with Antarctica people since 1959. I've never heard one of them say that. Yet that's a record. I mean, apparently, they haven't taken out the records from the Antarctica offices, because that's a record there' signed by the man who sent me this very nice commendation letter, among other things.

The conclusion of the ARRB :

"The trip to Antarctica, ascribed sinister intent in the film JFK, was a routine duty for Col. Prouty, and was not particularly unusual. Since there was nothing unusual about the trip, nor is there any apparent connection to the assassination beyond Prouty's having been on a trip at the time of the shooting, no further research is recommended by the ARRB staff. No records relating to the assassination could be reasonable expected to be obtained. Prouty made no statements for the records to back up suspicions he mentioned in the excerpt from his book cited above."
Back in December, before the queen of England and the president-elect of the United States had their turns, media mogul Rupert Murdoch received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Afterward, he urged everyone else to get it, too.

Since then, a different message has been a repeated refrain on the prime-time shows hosted by Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham on Murdochs Fox News Channel  a message at odds with the recommendations of health experts, even as the viruss delta variant and other mutations fuel outbreaks in areas where vaccination rates are below the national average.

Carlson, Ingraham and guests on their programs have said on the air that the vaccines could be dangerous, that people are justified in refusing them and that public authorities have overstepped in their attempts to deliver them.

Carlson and Ingraham last week criticized a plan by the Biden administration to increase vaccinations by having health care workers and volunteers go door to door to try to persuade the reluctant to get shots.

Going door-to-door? Ingraham said. This is creepy stuff.

Carlson, the highest-rated Fox News host, with an average of 2.9 million viewers, said the Biden plan was an attempt to force people to take medicine they dont want or need. He called the initiative the greatest scandal in my lifetime, by far.

Carlsons guest on that episode, veteran Fox News political analyst Brit Hume, pushed back slightly, saying, What theyre trying to do is make it as easy as possible for people to get the vaccine and, for people who are hesitant, to perhaps encourage them that they have nothing to fear. Hume was quick to add that vaccines do have side effects and said those who are hesitant should be respected.

Opposition to vaccines was once relegated to the fringes of American politics, and the rhetoric on Fox News has coincided with efforts by right-wing extremists to bash vaccination efforts.

Served up to an audience that is more likely than the general population to be wary of COVID vaccines, the remarks by Carlson and Ingraham echoed a now-common conservative talking point: that the government-led effort to raise vaccination rates amounted to a violation of civil liberties and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

The comments by the Fox News hosts and their guests may have also helped cement vaccine skepticism in the conservative mainstream, even as the Biden administrations campaign to inoculate the public is running into resistance in many parts of the country.

Public health experts have said that a strong vaccination effort is critical for the United States to outrun the virus, which has killed more than 4 million people worldwide and continues to mutate.

The amplification of vaccine skepticism through conservative media channels could harden the reluctance of those who might otherwise have been persuaded to get a shot, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a communications professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

If you have constant exposure to an outlet that is raising vaccination hesitancy, raising questions about vaccinations, that is something to anchor you in your position that says, Im not going to take the vaccine,  Jamieson said.

A Fox News spokesperson provided past statements by Carlson voicing his general support for vaccines. Ive had a million vaccines in my life, as we all have, the host said on an April show. I think vaccines are great. The spokesperson also noted that Ingraham had spoken in favor of adults choosing to receive vaccines if they wanted them.

White House officials said Thursday that virtually all new coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths nationwide involved unvaccinated people. The five states with the worst outbreaks as of Wednesday had below-average vaccination rates; four of them voted for former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

Vaccine resistance was greater among Republicans than Democrats, according to an April study by the Public Religion Research Institute. Among Republicans who watch Fox News, 45% said they were hesitant or unwilling to get a COVID-19 shot, compared with 68% of viewers who watch the niche right-wing news channels Newsmax or One America News Network.

On his Wednesday program, Carlson went after colleges that have required students to be vaccinated before their return to campus.

They shouldnt get the shot, said Carlson, who has not disclosed whether he is vaccinated against COVID-19. Its not good for them. Theres a risk involved, much higher than of COVID, but colleges are forcing them anyway.

His guest for the segment, Charlie Kirk, a founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, compared the campus precautions to almost this apartheid-style open-air hostage situation, like, Oh, you can have your freedom back if you get the jab. 

Infections among younger people were a major factor in a surge last summer. When students returned to colleges last fall, there was another COVID spike. A new variant that spread rapidly in younger age groups filled hospital wards this spring. Health experts have said for months that COVID is far more dangerous than any potential risks associated with a vaccine.

During Carlsons surge in popularity, major companies, including Disney, Papa Johns and Sandals, stopped buying ads on his show. In April, the Anti-Defamation League called on the host to resign after he mocked concerns about white replacement theory, which describes a racist conspiracy theory popular among right-wing extremists, and accused Democrats of trying to replace the current electorate with people he described as new people, more obedient voters, from the third world.

Carlson has had the unshakable support of his bosses. In a May interview with Insider, Lachlan Murdoch, the elder son of Rupert, who runs Fox News with his father, defended Carlson against his critics and called him brave.

As of July 4, 67% of American adults had received at least one shot, just short of President Joe Bidens goal of 70%. Media campaigns to increase vaccination rates, such as public service announcements from the nonprofit Ad Council, have been addressed to hesitant Americans.

While two of Fox News prominent hosts and their guests have questioned vaccination efforts, the channel has also produced its own vaccine PSA, a 30-second spot featuring hosts and anchors Steve Doocy, Harris Faulkner, Dana Perino and John Roberts. If you can, get the vaccine, Faulkner says in the ad.

Bret Baier, the chief political anchor of Fox News, said in an Instagram post that he was grateful for the shot. In May, the hosts of Fox & Friends spoke on-air of their relief at getting vaccinated. And Faulkner hosted a prime-time special in February that sought in part to debunk common myths about the vaccine.

Prime-time Fox News host Sean Hannity, who fell behind Carlson in the ratings race during the Trump years, said on a May episode of Hannity that he planned to get a COVID-19 shot. I do believe in science, and I believe in vaccinations, he said.

Talk to your doctor, he continued. You dont need to talk to people on TV and radio that arent doctors.

Ingraham has been more skeptical. Last week she accused the news media of overhyping the threat of COVID-19 to children and often refusing to discuss adverse reactions linked to the vaccines, although such outcomes have been covered by The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN and other outlets.

Despite everything the experts either got wrong or lied about, they still think that parents should trust them and inject their kids with an experimental drug to prevent a disease almost none of those kids will ever get sick from, she said on her show. Ingraham has not revealed whether she has received a COVID vaccine.

While children are less likely to develop severe illness from COVID-19, data from the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that more than 4 million children had tested positive for COVID since the pandemic began, that more than 16,500 had been hospitalized and that more than 300 had died in the United States.

Fox News is not the only outlet that has been critical of vaccine efforts. Newsmax covered Bidens outreach plan on its website with the headline Biden Blasted for Sick Door-to-Door Vaccine Campaign; One America News Network greeted the proposal with the headline Joe Biden to Send Operatives to Harass Americans Into Taking COVID-19 Vaccines.

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins, called the rhetoric against vaccine campaigns a terrible development.

We have such strong political opinions in this country, he said, and if people associate their political identity with a position on a public intervention, its very hard to penetrate that with good information.

The remarks against vaccination efforts on Tucker Carlson Tonight and The Ingraham Angle have come during a ratings resurgence for Fox News.

For years, Murdochs channel was the ratings leader among cable news networks  only to fall behind CNN in the wake of the 2020 election, when Fox News was the first news organization to project Biden as the winner of Arizona, a key swing state.

Newsmax, which was more frankly pro-Trump in its coverage, gained viewers in the weeks after Election Day. At the same time, One America News accused Fox News of joining the mainstream media in an effort to recruit the channels disaffected fans.

Now the old ratings order has been restored: Fox News finished far ahead of its main rivals, CNN and MSNBC, with an average of nearly 2.2 million viewers during prime time in the second quarter of 2021, according to Nielsen.

Its return to the top came thanks, in part, to a programming strategy that gave more hours per week to opinion shows rather than news broadcasts. And as it climbed back to ratings dominance, commentator Donna Brazile, a former Democratic Party chair, departed the network, and Juan Williams, a moderate pundit, left his role as a co-host of The Five. Both had served as foils to the channels conservative voices.

In a recent opinion essay for The Daily Beast, Preston Padden, a former high-level executive at Fox Broadcasting, wrote that Fox News had contributed substantially and directly to the unnecessary deaths of many Americans by fueling hesitation and doubt about the efficacy and safety of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. He singled out the channels prime-time opinion programs for blame.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
If you missed Tim McDiarmid, owner of The Good Kind restaurant and curator/caterer of the swanky Southtown space Ivy Hall, on Chopped: Altons Maniacal Baskets last week, you actually didnt. The episode, which was originally scheduled to air July 6, will now kick off at 8 p.m. July 13 on Food Network.

McDiarmid is hosting a viewing party for the episode at her Southtown restaurant, The Good Kind located at 1127 S. St. Marys St., with a Chopped trivia game starting at 6 p.m. beforehand.

This will be McDiarmids national television debut on arguably one of the most diabolical cooking shows so far hosted by a legend of the competitive food world. In this version of Food Networks Chopped, Alton Brown challenges cooks to prepare dishes with a wide range of improbably ingredients selected in part by his social media followers in a five-part tournament.

At one point in a promotional video for the show, McDiarmid can be spotted saying, human dog food, while carrying a mysterious can across the kitchen.

It was equal parts traumatizing and fun all at the same time, McDiarmid said of the experience, about which she was not at liberty to reveal any details. The episode was filmed a few months ago, but the audition process for the show began before the COVID-19 outbreak.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio chef Emily Hersh to face the wrath of Gordon Ramsay on Hells Kitchen: Young Guns

The show invited 16 chefs to compete in four heats with the winners advancing to a final showdown judged by Brown and chefs Maneet Chauhan and Marcus Samuelsson. Other peculiar ingredients featured in the episode include sticky fermented soybeans, chitterlings, what appear to be pickle-flavored jelly beans and the head of an unnamed animal.

Should McDiarmid win, she would join two others in the pantheon of Food Network show winners from San Antonio: Diana Barrios of Los Barrios restaurants, who emerged victorious with her puffy taco recipe in an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay and Jesse Kuykendall of Ocho, Milpa and the upcoming Bodega Cats, who won an episode of Chopped in May.

pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen
One of the area's most popular events will return in November to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Wurstfest in New Braunfels is scheduled to run from Nov. 5 through Nov. 14, according to the event's website. This will be the first Wurstfest since the organizers canceled the festivities in 2020 in response to the pandemic and after a fire completely destroyed the Marktplaz in November 2019.
LEWISVILLE  Former state Rep. Matt Rinaldi of Irving is the next chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.

On Sunday, the State Republican Executive Committee elected Rinaldi to replace Allen West, who announced his resignation last month after a dramatic 10 months on the job and is now challenging Gov. Greg Abbott.

Rinaldi won the election on the first ballot, getting 34 votes from the 64-member SREC against three opponents. He needed 33 to win.

"We cannot lose Texas  and will not lose Texas  if we work together," Rinaldi said in his victory speech.

The runner-up was David Covey, president of Texas Republican County Chairmens Association. Covey, also the Orange County GOP chairman and an SREC member, got 21 votes.

Six votes went to Chad Wilbanks, a lobbyist who once served as executive director of the state party, and three votes went to Bill Burch, a party activist.

Rinaldi was one of the most conservative members of the House during his time there. He lost reelection in 2018, with his North Texas seat flipping to Democrat Julie Johnson.

West's controversial tenure loomed large in the race. As chairman, he did not shy from conflict with the state's Republican leaders, and speculation ran rampant for months that he was positioning himself to challenge Abbott  speculation he confirmed when he announced his campaign a week ago.

Despite some Republicans' clear unease with West, the SREC ended up picking a successor most closely aligned with him. Rinaldi had been complimentary of at least some aspects of West's leadership, and he suggested in his nomination speech Sunday that he wanted to continue the party's intensified focus on its legislative priorities that began under West.

Like West, Rinaldi has been a critic of Gov. Greg Abbott's response to the coronavirus pandemic. Rinaldi has already endorsed one of Abbot's GOP primary challengers, former state Sen. Donald Huffines of Dallas.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas Republicans quickly advance voting restriction bills

"We need a chair that will work with  and not for  elected officials," Rinaldi said Sunday, adding that the state party and its executive committee "must remain strong, independent and effective."

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Rinaldi otherwise said his No. 1 priority would be fundraising, often viewed as the top responsibility for the state party leader.

Rinaldi served in the House from 2015-19. He was known for his hard-right stances  but particularly for an incident at the end of the 2017 session where he called immigration authorities on people protesting inside the Capitol against the state's new "sanctuary cities" law.

Covey presented himself as "solid ground" and a chair who would make sure Texas Republicans play a part in flipping the U.S. House in 2022 and retaking the White House in 2024, as well as expand their majorities at home. While Covey did not mention West, one of Covey's supporters, Steve Evans, helped introduce Covey by making an explicit reference to the tumult West has presided over.

"All of you can agree we're torn to pieces," Evans said, pitching Covey as the candidate who "can bridge that gap and bring this body back together."

West's time as chairman remained contentious up through its final days, which included a spat with the vice chair, Cat Parks, in which he assailed Parks as a "cancer." Parks is a cancer survivor.

Tensions had long simmered between West and Parks, and in brief remarks before the chair election Sunday, she made clear she was ready to move on from the West era.

For the last year we marched to the orders of 'We are the storm,'" Parks said, referring to party slogan under West that drew scrutiny for its connections to the QAnon conspiracy movement. "Today we have the opportunity to elect a new chairman, to go forward together and provide the light."

West, who spoke earlier Sunday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in nearby Dallas, did not appear to attend the meeting to elect his successor.

Rinaldi will finish West's term, which goes until the state party's biennial convention next summer. Rinaldi said in his nomination speech that if elected Sunday, he would run for a full term as chairman at the convention.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Relatives and friends of a San Antonio police detective who was shot dead in 2016 while he sat in his patrol car outside police headquarters wept in court as they watched video of the killing and heard a recording of a woman telling a 911 operator: A man has just shot a cop!

The trial of the accused killer of Detective Benjamin Marconi, 50, a 20-year veteran of the Police Department, began Monday in state District Court.

Otis McKane, 36, is charged with capital murder in the slaying. If he is convicted, a Bexar County jury will decide whether to sentence him to death.

Flanked by three defense attorneys, McKane pleaded not guilty Monday before Judge Ron Rangel.

His defense team  Raymond Fuchs, Joel Perez and Daniel De La Garza  chose not to offer an opening statement to the jury.

In her opening statement, prosecutor Tamara Strauch told jurors that McKane was chillingly matter of fact after the killing.

It felt good to shoot him  those words came out of his mouth when he was being patted down at the magistration office after he was arrested, Strauch said, motioning toward the defendant.

Marconi was an officer in the special victims unit but was working an overtime patrol shift Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. He was shot at 11:38 that morning while he sat in his patrol car outside Public Safety Headquarters, writing a traffic citation.

Strauch said Marconi was shot twice in the head  once in the left cheek and once in the left rear side of his head.

He never even saw it coming, she said.

Strauch said the killer left Marconi slumped over in the front seat of the patrol car, bleeding profusely. Passersby rushed to the car to assist the officer.

Several police officers ran from Public Safety Headquarters toward Marconi in a chaotic scene that was captured by the buildings rooftop security cameras. Marconi was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Jurors sat on the edges of their seats as they watched a dozen videos that showed the scene from numerous angles beginning about four hours before the shooting and up until around 11:37 a.m., when a man dressed in black parked a black Mitsubishi Galant with custom rims behind Marconis car.

Aric Jimenez, who works for the Police Department in a special projects unit, testified that the department retrieved video from all security cameras surrounding the public safety building at 315 S. Santa Rosa. The video shows a man later identified as McKane circling the building on foot and in the Galant.

The jury also saw footage from Marconis dashboard camera, which shows him stopping a motorist for a traffic violation. Marconi got out of his car, spoke to the driver and then returned to his patrol vehicle.

Minutes later, after the shooting, the dashboard video shows a red car pulling over across the street from Marconis car. People are seen rushing out of the car to check on the officer.

Members of Marconis family left the courtroom while prosecutors showed the video and played two 911 calls by witnesses who happened to be driving by police headquarters that day.

Jurors also heard from Police Officer Kevin Wilkinson, who worked the information desk at police headquarters on the morning of the killing. He testified that McKane entered the building at 7:45 a.m. to file a report related to his efforts to visit his children. McKane left when no officers were available to speak to him, Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson said that later, when officers released a description of the suspect in the slaying, he recognized the suspect as the same man he had seen at headquarters.

After a massive manhunt that involved local, state and national law enforcement agencies, McKane was arrested the day after the killing. Once in custody, he told police he was upset about a child custody battle and had lashed out at the first officer he saw, according to investigators.

This is the first high-profile case to be tried in Bexar County since before the COVID-19 pandemic brought trials to a halt in March 2020. It is the first death penalty case in Bexar County in nearly six years. The trial is expected to last at least three weeks.

Capital murder is punishable by death or by life in prison without possibility of parole. Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales is seeking the death penalty in this case.

In Bexar Countys most recent capital murder case, jurors sent Mark Anthony Gonzales to death row in October 2015 for the killing of sheriffs Sgt. Kenneth Vann, who was ambushed as he sat in his squad car at a stoplight. Vann was shot more than 25 times with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

Staff photographer Lisa Krantz contributed to this report.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
Last weeks incessant rain and the deluges that followed caused damage to San Antonios parks, trails and pipes, and city crews are being dispatched to assess the destruction and make repairs.

Saturday marked the end of an eight-day stretch of rainy days in the San Antonio area that caused substantial flooding in parts of Bexar County  especially on San Antonios West Side  that damaged homes, businesses and sewer pipes and led to the opening of a city-run shelter and the temporary closure of some trails, parks and public pools.

Between July 3 and July 10, San Antonio International Airport registered 2.69 inches of rain, but other parts of the city were pummeled by 9 to 10 inches of rain within a three-day span. The average rainfall at the airport for that period over the past 30 years is 1.19 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Its pretty unusual, said NWS meteorologist Bob Fogarty. We had more than double.

The rain and flash floods hit San Antonios parks and trails especially hard, knocking down tree limbs, damaging fences and other structures and turning open fields into muddy marshes.

Several segments of greenway trails and trails in our natural areas have closed due to the rain, the citys Parks and Recreation Department said in an emailed statement. Our team is assessing flooded trails, safety, and accessibility.

A bridge that crosses Leon Creek in the Medina River Natural Area sustained damage and was closed until city crews could make repairs.

At Rodriguez Park, which borders Leon Creek, flood waters knocked down fences, uprooted bollards and small trees and left sticks and sediment scattered throughout.

Andres Picon

Cleanup efforts were underway at the citys parks and trails after Saturdays rain, but officials stressed that the job will take some time to complete.

We do ask trail and park users to use caution on the trails before and after rain events, the Parks and Recreation Department said. Don't cross trails that are under water or closed. Please wait until trails are dry and clear of mud and debris to resume activities. Our team continues to monitor these areas and posts closure updates on our website as they become available.

For trail and park closures, visit the Parks and Recreation page at San Antonio.gov.

The closed trails on Sunday included parts of the Salado Creek Greenway, Apache Creek Greenway and Friedrich Wilderness Park. Olmos Park was temporarily closed last week due to flooding.

On Saturday, rushing stormwater overwhelmed a 66-inch sewer main in the 6600 block of Swiss Oaks Drive, causing more than 50,000 gallons of diluted household wastewater to spill near Leon Creek, said Anne Hayden, communications manager at the San Antonio Water System.

SAWS officials said the sewer spill was not expected to negatively impact the area where it happened because the sewage was highly diluted by flood waters. Still, they urged residents in the area to wash their hands, consider testing private well water and to avoid swimming.

This is the second time within the last week that this site has overflowed and we know its a problem, Hayden said. Were working on a really major project which will increase the size and replace a lot of the pipes that are serving this area. As soon as we can get the new lines up and running, we know that these will stop.

Parts of the SAWS network of sewer lines that are aging and capacity-constrained are currently being replaced as part of a multimillion-dollar infrastructure project meant to prevent future sewer spills, SAWS officials said in a news release.

Saturdays sewage spill has been largely cleaned up and much of the flooding in the area had subsided by Sunday, but Hayden said the broken sewer line probably wont be fully repaired until it can be rerouted into the new line that will be built in the area.

SAWS has increased monitoring of its water supply systems and advised people to avoid swimming in affected bodies of water and to wash their hands before preparing and eating food, as well as after contact with soil, used diapers or animals.

Help us improve the sewer system performance by disposing of wipes and grease/fats in the trash, and by immediately reporting sewer spills or missing manhole covers at 210-704-SAWS (7297), SAWS officials said in the news release.

andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon
Sophie Park for The San Antonio Express-News

Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who went on to serve as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, has joined NBC News and MSNBC as a political analyst.



The network made the announcement Monday on Morning Joe, the daily news talk show hosted by former U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.



Shortly after the announcement, Castro said on Twitter that he was proud to be a part of the NBC and MSNBC Team.

Im looking forward to sharing my perspective and hopes for the future at such a pivotal moment for our nation and for my home state of Texas, Castro said.



Castro, who served as mayor of San Antonio from 2009 until he joined Barack Obamas cabinet in 2014, has appeared on the network many times since his campaign for president ended last year.



Appearing on Morning Joe on Monday, Castro spoke about efforts by the Texas Legislature to implement tougher voting laws. Castro, a Democrat, described efforts brought forth by Republican lawmakers to keep themselves in power.



He criticized efforts by Texas lawmakers to clamp down on local voting options meant to make it easier to vote, such as drive-thru voting and overnight early voting hours.



It is over-stating the case to say that they are absolutely stopping people from voting, Castro said. What theyre engaged in is suppression through a point shaving system.
Texas lawmakers have filed at least three bills targeting how racism, current events and the countrys founding principles are taught in K-12 schools  including a Senate bill that would strip out upcoming requirements that students learn white supremacy is morally wrong and study particular writings by women and people of color.

Senate Bill 3 features more changes than two House bills that have been filed for the special legislative session that began Thursday. The legislation comes after Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill from this years regular legislative session that restricts how current events and Americas history of racism can be taught in Texas schools. Its been commonly referred to as the critical race theory bill, though the term critical race theory never appears in it. In signing it, Abbott said more must be done to abolish critical race theory in Texas and later put the issue on the special session agenda.

Teachers and experts say that critical race theory, an academic framework used to examine structural causes of racial inequity, is not being taught in K-12 schools  and that the phrase is being used as a catch-all for any mention of racism, which is an integral part of teaching history truthfully. Critical race theory itself critiques the focus on individual blame in contemporary discussions of racism, and shifts the focus to legal and social systems that perpetuate inequity.

The law that already passed lists documents, figures and events that must be included in the social studies curriculum. But SB 3, filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, strips out most mentions of women and people of color in that section  more than two dozen requirements that include Native American history, work by civil rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, historical documents related to the Chicano movement and womens suffrage, and writings by Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass.

It also removes the requirement to teach the history of white supremacy, including but not limited to the institution of slavery, the eugenics movement, and the Ku Klux Klan, and the ways in which it is morally wrong.

Hughes, a Mineola Republican, did not respond to a request for comment.

Many of the items his bill would strip were added by House Democrats during the regular legislative session  but were not part of the bill when the Senate originally passed the legislation earlier this year. In his agenda for the special session, Abbott said he wanted legislation that resembled that earlier Senate version.

Keven Ellis, the chair of the State Board of Education, wrote in an email to the Texas Tribune that most of the items in this section of the new law are already included in the state education standards, which are referred to as Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. But Ellis said some of the items the new law would require  and that SB 3 seeks to walk back  arent currently required in schools.

Some of the items that are not currently included in our TEKS are the writings of Ona Judge and Sally Hemings, Thomas Jeffersons letter to the Danbury Baptists, as well as the Ninth Circuit decision in Mendez v. Westminster, he wrote.

State Rep. James Talarico, who was a major opponent of the bill already signed into law and had successfully blocked the Senates original version of the earlier bill from passing, expressed dismay over that version now being revived.

The amendments the House added were essential to ensure that we were teaching students all of American history  the good, the bad and the ugly, the Round Rock Democrat said. They were put in place to ensure that teachers wouldnt be punished for telling their students the truth. And if we were to strip them, I could see teachers across the state of Texas being silenced.

Its a frightening dystopian future that starts to come into focus, he added.

State Rep. Steve Toth, who authored the regular sessions critical race theory bill, said lawmakers wanted to strip those provisions because they wanted the list to be smaller and a little bit more truncated.

The mission was to get back to the original list, which was more along the lines of Americas founding documents, and to make it a manageable list, he said.

He said the bill presents a minimum list of things that have to be read, and its not an exhaustive list.

If its not in the list, its not like a teacher cant bring it up, he said.

State Rep. Carl Sherman, another House Democrat who added amendments, said the removal of people of color amounted to them being whitewashed from our history.

If I had put in an amendment that Sam Houston should be included, Im sure there would be no opposition to that, said the DeSoto Democrat.

Hector Bojorquez is the director of operations and educational practice for the Intercultural Development Research Association and a member of the Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition. He said the materials SB 3 seeks to cut could give teachers some protection, and a sigh of relief that they could address things like white supremacy explicitly. He said the rest of the bill creates an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, making it harder for teachers to teach about racism truthfully.

If its not explicitly stated that we can talk about (white supremacy) with our students, then were bound to repeat it, especially when you have too many people out there saying that there is no such thing as white supremacy, he said.

Even though the bill wouldnt ban any teachings, specifically omitting writings from and lessons on women and people of color plainly sends a message to students, Bojorquez said.

It basically says, we dont care about you or your histories, he said. It tells our students that theyre not important, and it sends our teachers even further into uncertainty.

The lower chambers new bills

Meanwhile, the special sessions House Bill 178 walks back a couple of the more controversial aspects of the new law.

The original bill said social studies teachers cant be compelled to discuss current events or widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs. It says if they do, they need to explore the topic from diverse and contending perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective.

HB 178 would let districts require teachers to discuss current events. But it would leave in place the requirement that no one perspective be given deference.

It also expands that requirement from social studies teachers to all instructors. And HB 178 would also extend to all K-12 teachers prohibitions on requiring or incentivizing students political activism and teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex.

HB 178 also removes a provision that teachers cant require an understanding of the 1619 Project, a series by the New York Times that examines how racism has shaped U.S. history.

Toth said he removed that explicit ban because the new law already prohibits certain aspects he attributes to that work, such as the idea that the advent of slavery in the territory that is now the United States constituted the true founding of the United States.

One provision in the new law prohibits teaching that slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the authentic founding principles of the United States, which include liberty and equality.

Toth said that should counter accusations that were whitewashing history, or that were not talking about history, or were not addressing history and the wrongs of history, the evils of our past, since the bill actually encourages us to look at history.

The bill also would require teachers to disclose all of their teaching materials and activities online every month.

State Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Dallas Democrat, filed House Bill 216, which would remove the ban on requiring or incentivizing students political activism and policy advocacy. But Toth said he expects the legislation that ends up passing during the special session will look more like his bill.

Disclosure: New York Times has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
CLEVELAND (AP)  Amid relentless sunshine and intensifying humidity, Nina Turner led a small procession of voters last week to a polling place on Clevelands east side, guiding the group down a long block to the crosswalk even though darting across the street would have been easier.

We dont want you breaking the law, an aide admonished. Lets go down to the light.

Turner built a national reputation as a leading voice for Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns, bringing crowds in packed auditoriums to their feet with rousing calls for universal health care and bold action to combat climate change. But as she faces an election of her own next month, Turner is focused on more mundane aspects of campaigning, like avoiding jaywalking as she encourages supporters to vote and offering reassurances that her brand of politics still has a place in the Democratic Party.

Something I can add, whether mainline Democrats get this or not, is I can speak the language of people from all walks of life, Turner said in an interview. That is important for the expansion of the Democratic Party.

Turner is the best known of more than a dozen Democrats vying to replace former Rep. Marcia Fudge, who left Congress to become President Joe Biden's housing chief. The Aug. 3 primary is shaping up as one of the final tests this year for progressives, who have faced setbacks in other races, including Democratic primaries for Virginia governor and New York mayor.

With just a six-seat advantage in the House, some Democrats are taking aggressive steps to blunt Turner and back more centrist alternatives.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black member of Congress, whose support helped Biden secure the Democratic nomination last year, is backing county councilwoman Shontel Brown over Turner. Hillary Clinton, the political arm of the Congressional Black Caucus, several leading unions and more than 100 local leaders are doing the same.

Federal rules prohibit Fudge from endorsing in the race, but her mother appeared in a commercial for Brown.

While the contest is emerging as a proxy for the future of the Democratic Party, local leaders say voters are more worried about issues like creating jobs, addressing crime and improving access to health care, which remains elusive for many, despite Cleveland's high concentration of major hospital chains.

People are trying to make this like its moderate versus progressive. I dont see it that way, said Cleveland Councilman Blaine Griffin, who has endorsed Turner but is friends with everyone running. He added that, regardless of ideology, no one likes poverty, speeding cars down the street, bad roads or bridges.

The district is shaped like a hatchet with an oversize head, snaking from Cleveland to Akron, nearly 40 miles to the south. The population is 53% African American, and nearly a quarter of residents live in poverty. The winner of the primary in the solidly blue district will likely cruise to victory in November's general election.

A 53-year-old community college professor, Turner served on the Cleveland City Council, was a state senator and ran unsuccessfully for Ohio secretary of state before crisscrossing the country with Sanders during his 2016 and 2020 presidential bids.

Her signature phrase, Hello, somebody! became a campaign fixture, prompting crowds across the country to yell back with delight. But those who worked with Turner years ago in Cleveland remember her for another catchphrase, Do you feel me? which she first used addressing audiences of otherwise unresponsive young people.

As she talks to voters, Turner explains her support for universal health insurance coverage under Medicare for All by pointing to the experience of her mother, who was uninsured and died when she was just 42. Turner also says she wants student debt eradicated because she knows its sting: She and her son owe nearly $100,000 combined in loans she's still paying off.

But the hard-fought presidential primary between Biden and Sanders has left some lingering resentments. The advocacy group Democratic Majority for Israel has produced ads seizing on Turner once likening supporting Biden to being forced to eat excrement.

Brown has pointed to such moments to argue that she will be able to accomplish far more, far quicker in Washington.

I dont have to start with a long letter of apology, Brown said from her campaign office in a onetime pet store. I can just walk in the door with good relationships and get to work on behalf of the constituents.

The Rev. Aaron Phillips, executive director of the Cleveland Clergy Coalition, blames Sanders and Turner for so dividing Democrats, which he says helped Republican Donald Trump win the presidency in 2016.

Brown, meanwhile, has been a faithful Democrat all of her life, Phillips said. She has never varied.

Turner says she remains a proud progressive. And while some like-minded candidates haven't won their races lately, she said they are nonetheless moving the narrative in this country. The cargo van that serves as her mobile campaign office is emblazoned with the slang phrase corporate Democrat want a puppet.

As Turner briefly hung out in the van's shade after the walk to the polling place, Sam Cookes Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha blared over the speakers, and she started dancing.

I can do this. But no singing, she said, laughing. There are people with that talent. I am not one of them.

The Rev. Regis Bunch of Clevelands Fifth Christian Church said Turner makes personal connections with voters and insisted most aren't scared away by big progressive goals, which he said are not as far off as many believe.

We need something more wide than this liberal paradigm weve been living in, said Bunch, 34, who said he supported Sanders in the primary and only voted for Biden last fall by force.

Turner nonetheless denies that shell be a congressional provocateur, arguing that she worked well with both parties in the state Legislature. Shes also aired TV ads promoting her past work as the Ohio Democratic Party engagement chair.

Brown counters that she can actually achieve the kind of bipartisanship Turner only talks about.

I feel like the all or nothing approach ends up with nothing. So we have to be able to find compromise, she said. Being a partner doesnt mean being a puppet.
CHISINAU, Moldova (AP)  A pro-reform party seeking closer ties for Moldova with the European Union has won a clear majority in the parliamentary election, electoral commission results show Monday.

Sundays election was called by President Maia Sandu, who sought to gain a parliament made up of pro-EU reformists in the former Soviet republic.

The Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, took almost 53% of all votes, compared to the electoral bloc of Communists and Socialists, which took 27%. Only one other party passed the threshold to gain seats in Moldovas 101-seat legislature.

Voter turnout in the nation of 3.5 million people  Europes poorest country, landlocked between Ukraine and Romania  was just over 48%.

Sandu, a former World Bank official who used to lead the PAS, has promised to clean up corruption, fight poverty and strengthen relations with the EU.

After ballots closed Sunday the president said she hopes the election would be the end of a hard era for Moldova.

I hope today will be the end of the thieves reign over Moldova ... People must soon feel the benefits of a clean parliament and a government that actually concerns population problems," she said.

In 2014, Moldova signed a deal with the EU on forging closer ties, but high levels of corruption and lack of reform have hindered development in the country, which ranked 115th out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals 2020 Corruption Perception Index.

In last year's presidential election, Sandu beat Moscow-friendly incumbent Igor Dodon, the current leader of the Socialists, who campaigned on high social spending, traditional family values and a distrust of closer ties with the West.

Dodon told a news conference Monday that this is democracy, people wanted change," but expressed concerns over the reformists' ability to govern the country.

The election, which featured more than 20 parties, was called in April by Sandu after the countrys Constitutional Court abolished a state of emergency that was introduced to handle the coronavirus pandemic.

The pro-Western president was hoping to secure a government she can work to enact reforms.

Vadim Pistrinciuc, executive director of Chisinau-based Institute for Strategic Initiatives, and a former lawmaker, told The Associated Press that the election result is historical.

For the first time a single pro-European party takes a full (parliamentary) majority," he said, but added that if the reformists fail to deliver change, it would bring "tremendous disappointment.

Dionis Cenusa, an analyst at the Chisinau-based think tank Expert Group, said that the PAS parliamentary majority is enough to start a huge reform wave.

___

Stephen McGrath reported from Bucharest, Romania.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Monday renewed genocide allegations against China for repression of Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in its northwest Xinjiang region. It also warned Eritrea, Ethiopia, Myanmar and South Sudan of possible further sanctions for ethnic cleansing in conflicts they are involved in.

The administration sent the messages in the release of the State Departments annual report to Congress on genocide and atrocities prevention, which calls for the federal government to outline steps it is taking to prevent and halt such actions abroad.

This administration will defend and protect human rights around the world, and recognizes the prevention of atrocities is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility," it said.

The report said the U.S. continues to believe that Chinas actions against the Uyghurs constitutes a genocide. That finding was first announced by former President Donald Trumps administration, as was a determination that Myanmar was engaged in ethnic cleansing against Rohyinga Muslims in its northern Rakhine state.

The report noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has several times reaffirmed the previous administration's claim that the Peoples Republic of China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs, who are predominantly Muslim, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.

Those crimes include imprisonment, torture, enforced sterilization, and persecution, the report said. It added that President Joe Biden's administration has followed through and expanded on Trump-era sanctions for the alleged atrocities.

The report said Myanmar, also known as Burma, remains at particular risk for genocide. It said the U.S. would continue to coordinate with allies and partners to press the military government there to halt all repression, including crackdowns on dissent that followed a coup in February, as well as the violence against the Rohingya.

The report also took Eritrea and Ethiopia to task for ethnic cleansing in their crackdown on dissent in Ethiopias western Tigray region. Blinken in March told Congress that the actions there amounted to ethnic cleansing. The administration has since demanded a full withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray and has imposed travel bans on certain officials.

Elsewhere in Africa, the report cited deteriorating conditions in South Sudan, where it said the government has perpetrated extrajudicial killings including ethnic-based killings of civilians, widespread sexual violence, and use of food as a weapon of war.

Those responsible for human rights violations in South Sudan must be held to account, it said.

The report said the Biden administration would continue to support efforts to bring Islamic State militants to justice for atrocities committed against religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. It also reiterated the U.S. commitment to holding Syrian President Bashar Assad and his government to account for abuses.
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Mostly sunny. Near record high temperatures. High 98F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 62F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Many American consumers are skipping the cereal aisle in grocery stores, viewing its contents as basically boxed candy. Thats understandable. A lot of cereals are chock-full of added sugars and refined grains, which can contribute to obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Ironically, at the same time, there may be no aisle more essential to the Americans health. Thats because cereals have become the de facto source for Americans micronutrients.

For decades, cereal manufacturers have fortified their products with synthetic vitamins and minerals, and now, were kind of reliant...

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that without fortified foods, 100% of Americans would fail to meet the estimated average requirement for vitamin D, 74% for vitamin A, 46% for vitamin C, 93% for vitamin E, 51% for thiamin, 22% for vitamin B6, and 88% for folate.

Not meeting these requirements wouldnt necessarily lead to wide-scale nutritional deficiencies  Americans wouldn't suddenly develop scurvy en masse  but it would likely lead to inadequacies that could covertly worsen Americans already notoriously poor health.

According to Dr. Victoria Drake at Oregon State Universitys Micronutrient Information Center, Micronutrient inadequacies could elicit symptoms of general fatigue, reduced ability to fight infections, or impaired cognitive function (i.e., attention [concentration and focus], memory, and mood). Micronutrient inadequacies may also have important implications for long-term health and increase ones risk for chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, and age-related eye disease.

A more recent analysis of data on more than 30,000 American adults found that people who skipped breakfast, along with the fortified foods that often accompany the meal, were significantly more likely not to meet the bottom threshold of requirements for various vitamins and minerals. Additionally, they were more likely to consume more added sugars, carbohydrates, and fats largely because they upped their snacking throughout the day.

More from this section 'Time-Traveling' on an Airplane: One of the Cheapest Tests of Relativity

In her 2015 book Vitamania, journalist Catherine Price worried what might happen if breakfast foods weren't nutritionally fortified.

"If food companies didnt voluntarily do so, the government might have to require it, to make sure that we dont accidentally eat ourselves into nutritional deficiency," she wrote.

But, she reasoned, there's little chance that the status quo will change.

"If processed products were not enriched with synthetic vitamins, the nutritional emptiness of their raw ingredients would mean that wed have to eat (or take) something else to meet our micronutrient requirements... Weve created an odd symbiotic relationship, in which companies depend on us to buy their products, and we depend on the synthetic vitamins in these products to fulfill our nutritional needs."

We can't be sure exactly what would happen to America's collective health without processed, fortified cereals. The effects would likely take years to manifest, and might not be that bad... A 2019 systematic review exploring the health effects of eating fortified cereals for children and adolescents found only "marginal" benefits. Moreover, it's possible that Americans might make up the nutritional deficit elsewhere, perhaps by swallowing more nutritional supplements, or finally eating the whole fruits and vegetables most of us have been ignoring for decades.
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Mostly sunny. Near record high temperatures. High 98F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 62F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust has written to the Defra Secretary after he appeared to brush off concerns about the state of the UK's abattoir network.

At the recent Groundswell event, George Eustice suggested there was a broad distribution of abattoirs, even when taking into account that some abattoirs only take certain species.

The RBST's letter counters his comments and invites him to visit a rare breed farmer to hear about the impacts of the decline in the small abattoir network and to discuss a collaborative path forward.

The body's chief executive Christopher Price points to a 2018 analysis by the Sustainable Food Trust which found that the number of small abattoirs had reduced by a third over the previous decade.

Mr Price said native breeds should have a major role in governments plans for a future for farming where food production goes hand in hand with the environment.

Rare breeds were becoming increasingly attractive commercially too, he said, but the limitations of todays abattoir network was a frustrating barrier and the situation was getting worse.

He said: "Farmers with rare breeds typically need an abattoir which can work with small numbers and several different species, with slow grown cattle over 30 months old and large pigs, with horned cattle returning hides and horns to the farmer, and which has organic certification.

"Too often access to these services now requires the cost and welfare concerns of travelling long distances."

There also needed to be a collaborative approach to tackle these challenges, Mr Price explained, where farmers committed to using local facilities.

Government should also provide one-off investment to help abattoirs meet changing demands, he said, and a roll out of mobile or pop-up abattoirs where necessary.

Mr Price said: "Working together on solutions such as these will only happen if there is recognition from the Secretary of State of the urgent need for better local abattoir provision, and of why this issue matters for the future of sustainable farming."
Police have issued North Yorkshire farming businesses a security alert as thieves continue to target Land Rover Defenders in the region.

Farmers and landowners are being urged to be vigilant and check their vehicles security as the national and regional trend 'is clearly increasing'.

North Yorkshire Police officers are proactively patrolling  in both marked and unmarked police vehicles  to detect and deter thieves.

Older models of Land Rover Defenders are particularly valuable, due to the popularity of the vehicle, their reliability, and the ease of breaking them down into parts.

Inspector Clive Turner, of North Yorkshire Polices Rural Task Force, said: "The national and regional trend is clearly increasing, and for that reason were taking action now.

We know the theft of a Land Rover can have a really significant impact on farms and other rural businesses, so its important to put in place extra security measures to protect these vehicles.

"Vehicle trackers in particular are invaluable, and can make all the difference in recovering your stolen property and identifying suspects."

Officers will be proactively stopping and checking Land Rovers, while using ANPR technology to track suspicious vehicles linked to thefts.

"The message to criminals is that were looking for you, and its simply not worth the risk operating in North Yorkshire," Inspector Turner said.

How can I better protect my Land Rover?

Owners of Land Rovers in North Yorkshire are being urged to follow this crime prevention advice:

 Fit a vehicle tracking system

 Always leave your vehicle locked and alarmed if possible

 Park in a locked garage or other secure area if you have one, or in a well-lit open space if not

 Consider fitting an after-market approved immobiliser

 Never leave the vehicles keys in the ignition, in the same outbuilding as the vehicle, or near your front door inside your home

 Be vigilant when using your vehicle for anyone taking an interest in it

 Have the vehicles windows etched with the vehicle identification number

 Review your home and business premises security  consider CCTV, gates etc.

Farmers in the county who might be aware of any suspicious activity around Land Rovers have been told to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Jimmy's Farm has gained Rare Breeds Approved Associate accreditation for its efforts in educating about the importance of the UK's endangered native breeds.

The Suffolk farm, run by celebrity farmer Jimmy Doherty, has become the first recipient of accreditation, issued by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST).

The charity has administered am accreditation scheme for farm parks for many years, creating a network which makes an important contribution for rare breeds survival.

The new Approved Associate scheme provides the opportunity to extend the benefits of RBST Approval for the UK's rare breeds.

Jimmy's Farm runs crucial breeding programmes which help towards the survival of a number of priority rare native livestock and equine breeds.

These include Suffolk Punch horses, Large Black pigs and Middle white pigs as well as at risk breeds such as British White cattle, Devon Closewool sheep and Bagot goats.

Mr Doherty said: "Our native breeds remain close to our hearts and we continue to share RBSTs mission to ensure that we dont lose the incredible diversity of breeds that are part of our heritage.

Christopher Price, chief executive of RBST added: Interest has been growing from establishments which differ in mission and scope from farm parks but which are dedicated to RBSTs rare breed conservation objectives and values.

"I congratulate the team at Jimmys Farm on becoming the first Rare Breeds Approved Associate, and I thank Jimmy for his ongoing leadership and dedication as RBST President.
A new accolade has been announced in recognition of one of the livestock industrys most noted figures, who sadly died in 2019 following a farming accident.

This years Borderway Agri-Expo will introduce its winter livestock event with the David Thomlinson Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award aims to recognise a passionate livestock farmer and an exemplary role model within the industry.

Since his death in June 2019, David Thomlinson, who farmed in Cumbria, is remembered for his dedication to the livestock industry and auctioneering across the world.

After leaving school began working for Harrison & Hetherington as an office boy, where he rose through the ranks to Managing Director.

Along with Sheila, David farmed their 200-acre farm, where they started their pedigree herd of Limousin cattle, the Beeches herd, in 1978.

Nominations for the new award will be judged by Sheila Thomlinson, Davids wife, and a panel of industry representatives.

The annual prize will be given to the nominee judged to have a 'combination of ability, sportsmanship, integrity and character'.

Following David's death as a consequence of a tragic accident on his farm, Sheila has decided to present this award in his memory.

She said: Throughout his entire life David maintained his passion for farming and livestock and he was always keen to assist others.

"As a person he really wanted to make a difference, and this is something he tried to achieve throughout his entire life.

"Through this award we would like to recognise someone who has the same approach and similar qualities, and someone who has in their own way made a difference within the livestock farming industry.

"I know that this is something which David would be very proud of.

David was a former chairman of the North West Limousin Cattle Breeders Association, and made an important contribution to the British Limousin Cattle Society.

There, he served as a council member for a number of years, concluding with a two-year presidency in September 2018.

For a six-year period, which included the outbreak of BSE, David was chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers Association.

He also served for several years as chairman of the Pedigree Breeders Committee, and as chairman and President of the National Beef Association.

Heather Pritchard, pedigree sales manager for H&H, who knew and worked with David, added: David supported communities, pushed for change, and contributed to the positive promotion of the agricultural industry as a whole.

"His hard work will live on through the next generation for many years to come.

Nominations for the inaugural prize close on 29 September and will be judged by a panel of leading figures involved in the livestock industry.

The winner will be announced and presented with their award by Davids wife Sheila at the Borderway Agri-Expo on 29 October.
A new free online-based tool has been launched to help farmers manage their rotational grazing, in turn improving their productivity and profitability.

Farmers are being encouraged to use Quality Meat Scotland's (QMS) new Grazing Calculator, whether rotationally grazing livestock for the first time or developing their system.

The method of calculation has been developed in conjunction with grass specialists and the tools design means anyone working on a farm - regardless of experience or knowledge - can use it.

The calculator aims to develop farmers' understanding of the following principles: matching grass supply to livestock demands; measuring grass and using the data; getting a feel for what grass is available; and, what can be utilised by stock.

John Evans, Cattle and Sheep Specialist at QMS said the online tool was primarily aimed at farmers starting out on the journey into managed grazing.

"However, the calculator will also be handy for the more experienced grazier looking to do some quick calculations on the hoof'", he said.

I would encourage everyone to have a look at the calculator which will allow you to plan grazing rotations, time in paddocks and paddock sizes.

"You can also trial different scenarios with various livestock groups and save the results for future reference.

Results are provided by entering stock type, average body weight, mob size, grass available and how often farmers are looking to shift their stock.

Commenting on the importance of grass utilisation, QMS head of industry development, Bruce McConachie, said rotational grazing was one of the easiest ways to see benefits.

"Well managed grassland can provide many benefits including increased yields and growth rates with reduced input costs," he said.

Scotlands climate is well suited to growing grass. However, it is not just about the quantity of grass we can grow here - quality is also fundamental to maximising its value for livestock.

"The new tool has been developed to encourage new grazers to give rotational grazing a try, whilst reminding established grazers of the core principles, actions, and targets."
Pig producers are urging the government for more support to address ongoing market problems, the labour supply crisis and the loss of pork exports to China.

In a letter to Defra farming minister Victoria Prentis, the National Pig Association (NPA) warned of the 'plight' faced by British producers and processors.

The body said the issues 'continued to worsen', with farmers now facing a 'sector crisis that threatens the long-term viability' of the industry.

It called for the creation of a compensation package for those most heavily impacted, similar to what had already been delivered by other devolved administrations.

The group said there should be a 'renewed urgency' for government to pave the way for China to re-list the processing plants previously closed by Covid-19 outbreaks.

The NPA also called for more action to increase supply in the labour market to tackle the shortage of workers, in partnership with the Home Office.

Pig farmers have lost an average of 26 per pig in the first quarter of this year, collectively totalling an estimated 73 million, according to the organisation.

Producers are still losing money on the back of record production costs, with some farmers even leaving the sector.

NPA chairman Rob Mutimer said these losses could not be sustained: "Surveys of our membership have shown us that already this year, 13,000 sows have exited the pig sector as farmers can no longer afford to remain in the industry.

"We know of many other farmers who are considering their position and who may exit the industry in the coming months as the dire financial situation becomes unsustainable."

Mr Mutimer explained how the most recent problem to emerge  a shortage in the labour market  is 'now becoming desperate across the supply chain and in many other sectors'.

The combination of Covid, furlough, new immigration rules and expansion of jobs in other sectors, such as home delivery, has left us with an acute shortage of workers.

"On farms, this could potentially lead to welfare problems and in supermarkets we may see empty shelves, Mr Mutimer said.

The NPA has also urged government to take a 'proactive approach' to talks with China on re-listing UK processing plants currently banned from exporting to the country as a result of previous Covid outbreaks.

It describes the growing export market for UK pork in China as 'an absolute vital lifeline, but says this essential trade is, however, being hamstrung by the loss of China export licences.

Three major pork processing sites are currently affected, these being Ashton Under Lyne in Greater Manchester, Watton in Norfolk and Brechin in Scotland.

The losses at these sites alone are amounting to around 50m a year, but as these are major regional hubs, the impact is much wider, the NPA warned.
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS.

We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover.

We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
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If youre lucky enough to be resident in Fethiye or to visit the area regularly, youll probably have an opinion on how you should descend from the top of Babadag.

The 1,969m peak which towers over the town is renowned around the world as one of the best launch points for paragliders. Many will tell you that you havent lived if you havent been strapped to a pilot with the physique of a racing snake and jumped yourself.

But, after years of false starts and a protracted construction phase, theres now an exhilarating way to get to the top too  and the Sky Walk is dividing opinions already.

Ascending from the base station above Oludeniz

A view of the Blue Lagoon from the cable car

For some, its a spectacular ride allowing cable car passengers an opportunity to spend around 20 minutes soaking in unrivalled views of Turkeys breath-taking Turquoise Coast.

To others, its being shut in a glass box dangling from a bit of wire.

But even a less-than-scientific trawl of social media suggests the two views tend to be owned by two distinctive camps: the haves and have nots. In other words, if youve done it, then theres every chance youll want to do it again. If you havent  yet  then you might be among those who need a team of wild horses to drag them through those sliding doors into one the cars.

Its a bit like the rollercoasters at the theme parks. While many cant wait to drop that locking bar and scream all the way round, others would much prefer to stand at the entry gate holding the bags thank you very much.

Some get a real buzz from the thrill of a white-knuckle ride; after all, a roller-coaster is specifically designed to take us well away from our comfort zone and to make us feel unsafe, the adrenalin rush generated by the sensation that weve somehow risked our lives and survived.

For others, for one reason or another, an environment which creates an artificial sense of danger makes no sense at all.

Smooth ride

But, in this case  although the sensible, safety-first approach has its merits  the naysayers argument is also somewhat weakened by the fact that Fethiye Sky Walk is no roller-coaster or thrill machine. Its a precise and rigorously-inspected piece of engineering which offers a smooth and peaceful ride.

The launch from the base station may prompt the more nervous doubters to grip the arms of their companions a little tighter.

After that though, it would be hard not to let fears fall away as panoramic views of the Blue Lagoon and Oludeniz unfold, followed later by extensive and unrivalled scenes of Hisaronu, Ovack, Kayakoy and Fethiye. On a clear day, passengers can also probably pick out Gocek, planes arriving and departing from Dalaman and even the faint outline of the Greek island of Rhodes to the west.

An ascent or descent at sunset would be equally impressive, disturbed only by the unobtrusive hum of the cables, the smooth ride on each of the cars only slightly ruffled by the passing of the pylons.

The facilities at the 1,200m point

Where to stop

A standard return trip to the summit and back costs 80TL per person and there are two halts where passengers can disembark if they wish. The station at 1,200m is open but, at the moment  although ready  the restaurant, cafes, amphitheatre and lowest paragliding launch point are not yet operational.

If you push on to the 1,700m terminus, this is where most will leave their cars, either to paraglide from the second launch point, enjoy a bite to eat in the 1700 Restaurant, Bar and Grill, or just to take in the views and watch the imported Japanese koi carp in the picturesque lily pond beneath the transparent walkway.

Kio carp imported from Japan in the lilly pond at the 1,700m point

There is also an open chairlift from here connecting the main terminus with a cafe, helipad and the highest paragliding launch point 200m further up the mountain. However, that too is not yet running.

But, while the Sky Walk itself deserves centre stage as Fethiyes newest tourist attraction, there are other aspects of the experience which one can only hope survive the test of time.

Car parking at the base station is reasonably priced and supplemented by a minibus shuttle service. All the facilities are immaculately clean; the process of purchasing a ticket is also simple and efficient, the stations are accessible to all regardless of age, size or ability and the staff are attentive and polite.

Although not aimed at clientele who prefer bargain prices, the menu at the rejuvenated restaurant at the 1,700m launch point is by no means off the scale and compares well with the fine-dining establishments catering for tourists down in Oludeniz, Ovack or Kayakoy.

But, currently at least, perhaps the most memorable aspect of the Sky Walk is one which is the hardest to maintain  the sense of quiet, under-stated professionalism which makes it so much easier for visitors to relax and enjoy.

Staff who have clearly been meticulously trained are well-rehearsed and know their jobs. All are attentive, pleasant and welcoming but, equally, those behind the painstaking process which has led to this bright new feather in Fethiyes cap should also be proud of what they have achieved.

Clearly, bars were set high and  although theres still more to come  its pleasing to see the early targets comfortably achieved.

More information can be found by following this link. Once youre there, to change the language to English, simply click on the Turkish flag in the top right-hand corner.
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We spotted Sara Ali Khan at the airport on Saturday but didnt know where she was going. The actress took to her Instagram yesterday and gave us a glimpse of her spiritual weekend.



Sara Ali Khan shared pictures from her visit to the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam. The temple is one of the Shakti Pithas out of the 51. Sara shared lovely clicks from her visit and the actress looked stunning. She opted for a white number and was seen without make-up and looked truly amazing. The young actress captioned this click saying, #peace #gratitude #blessed. The actress truly had a good weekend up in the North-East it seems.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sara Ali Khan (@saraalikhan95)
LONDON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of St Kitts and Nevis has ensured that its citizens are financially supported by introducing a series of fiscal strategies. Recently, the government announced a monumental $15 million income support programme that would distribute $1000 every three months to those who fit the eligibility requirements. This is the latest financial package designed to alleviate the hardships faced due to the economic impact caused by the pandemic.

Aside from providing income support, Prime Minister Timothy Harris also announced that the government would be waiving commercial rent for small businesses, introducing provisions for bus operators and establishing a deferral on residential electricity bills amongst other significant measures. Since the onset of the pandemic, the government have committed to providing financial and social assistance particularly to its most vulnerable population which included introducing a $120 million stimulus package last year.

"Our priority is to support those most in need at this time and to support as many persons as possible," Prime Minister Harris said during a recent press conference. "In other words, we want to be fair, and we want to be equitable in the reach of the support which the government is providing."

One of the key supporters of the economy over the last year has been St Kitts and Nevis' Citizenship by Investment Programme. The initiative which generates revenue from wealthy investors seeking out second citizenship has been utilised to keep the islands afloat as it dealt with the decline in tourism.

"Had it not been for the CBI programme we would not have been able to respond as successfully as we have with respect to COVID-19," PM Harris noted last year.

Notably, CBI has helped fund the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP), an initiative that provides low-income households with a monthly stipend of $500. The PAP was extended last July and has since supported thousands of households across the islands.

Established in 1984, St Kitts and Nevis has been operating the world's longest-standing CBI Programme. With over three decades of experience, the programme has won the trust of investors globally particularly in regions like Southeast Asia. For wealthy investors who want to diversify their assets whilst also accessing greater travel freedom, St Kitts and Nevis' CBI offers a straightforward route to achieving this under its Sustainable Growth Fund.

Once granted citizenship, investors gain the right to live, work and study in the country along with visa-free or visa-on-arrival to nearly 160 destinations and the ability to pass citizenship down through descent.

Contact: +447867942505, pr@csglobalpartners.com, www.csglobalpartners.com




FAIRFAX, VA, July 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Solve.Care, the healthcare technology platform company leveraging blockchain to change the way we deliver and manage patient care, is now an official member of The Government Blockchain Association (GBA). The GBA is a non-profit independent association aimed at promoting blockchain technology by empowering individuals and organizations to connect, communicate, and collaborate to solve public sector challenges around the world.In line with GBA's mission to connect people and organizations with blockchain technology-based solutions, Solve.Care delivers a patient-centric healthcare model, utilizing blockchain technology to address inefficiencies in the healthcare industry and improve access to quality care for everyone. As a member of the GBA, Solve.Care is now part of the largest blockchain association in the world and will work together with a global network of experts, which include government agencies, researchers, and academia, to help promote the adoption of blockchain technology especially for the healthcare sector. The GBA has over 6,000 registered individual and organizational members in 120 cities around the world. The GBA also hosts local meetups of over 40,000 people globally.Pradeep Goel, CEO of Solve.Care, said, "Blockchain technology provides a real solution to many of the issues we face today. From healthcare to education and the economy to public wellbeing, blockchain technology will be transformational across many different industries. By joining the Government Blockchain Association, we intend on contributing Solve.Care's expertise to implementing a more equal and effective care to a wider, global audience. Working with a dedicated team of experts, we look forward to leveraging the value GBA offers to promote the technology we believe in, as well as contributing to the association's goals and actions."Through its membership, Solve.Care will help establish and promote healthcare industry best practices for blockchain technology-related solutions to be adopted for the benefit of society at large, by government agencies in the US and the rest of the world. In addition, the company will have the opportunity to deliver and participate in education, training, and certifications, such as the GBA Blockchain Consulting Certification.Gerard Dache, Founder and Executive Director of GBA, said, "Our members share a passion for promoting blockchain technology adoption throughout the world, seeing it as a force for good and a solution to many of the issues faced by governments globally. We are excited to welcome Solve.Care, a company that is operating at the vanguard of healthcare and innovation and who has a proven track record of delivering working blockchain solutions that help drive the digital transformation of healthcare and patient delivery."About the Government Blockchain Association (GBA):The Government Blockchain Association (GBA) is an international nonprofit professional association with its headquarters located in Fairfax, Virginia. GBA focuses on its members as individuals and organizations that are interested in promoting blockchain technology solutions to government but does not advocate for any specific policy position. Membership is available to government employees along with student organizations, private sector professionals, and corporations. Membership fees are waived for government employees.GBA cultivates professional workflows between technologists, public policy makers, application specialists, and those who want to learn about the new and emerging digital currencies. Furthermore, GBA acts as a catalyst in creating a public dialogue around the creative, profitable, and positive leveraging of blockchain technology.About Solve.CareSolve.Care is a global healthcare company that redefines care coordination, improves access to care, reduces benefit administration costs, and helps reduce fraud and waste in healthcare around the world. The Solve.Care platform creates ecosystems called Care Networks for patient-centric care based on medical conditions, economic and social needs, and other tailored eligibility criteria. It is also the first company in the world to successfully deploy digital currency and blockchain technology for value-based healthcare payments. It is a multiple award-winning company, receiving accolades such as: 'Most Innovative Blockchain Project Award' at the Blockchain Life 2019 Forum, 'Top Innovative Blockchain Solution' and 'Top Outstanding Project' at the 2019 World Blockchain Awards, BRI's 'Industry Solution of the Year 2020', SSOW Impact Awards' 'Technology of the Year 2020', and many more. For more information, please visit https://solve.care/.Media Contact:Solve.CareDominic Tan, PR ManagerE: Dominic.Tan@solve.careGovernment Blockchain AssociationGerard Dache, Executive DirectorE: Gerard.dache@GBAglobal.orgSource: Plato Data Intelligence. PlatoBlockchain.comSource: GBACopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
BANGKOK, July 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Pressing ahead with its campaign to provide inoculation to all Southeast Asia based employees of the Sri Trang Group of Companies against Covid-19 with Sinopharm vaccine, provided by the Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL (SET: STGT) reached its goal of 100% jabs for its entire workforce of 11,000 employees in production plants and Southeast Asia offices. The second jabs will be given at the end of July. Other companies in the group will continue their inoculation programs where permitted until the goal is achieved, demonstrating the group's commitment to employee welfare.Most recently, Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Executive Director of Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (STA), and Jarinya Jirojkul, CEO of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL, pledged to implement the group's ESG policy, which pays special attention to sustainability in business while treating employees with fairness in accordance with human rights and transparency principles. The companies have launched the Covid-19 vaccination program for all Southeast Asia based employees and their family members as well as select employees of suppliers and trading partners.At the same time, the Sri Trang Group will earnestly continue to acquire additional doses of alternative vaccines for its employees and families in Thailand and abroad, as well as select members in its supply chain, to build confidence for all concerned and to help these countries overcome the current Covid-19 crisis as soon as possible.For more information, visit Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL at https://www.sritranggloves.com/en.Released by Public Relations Dept., MT Multimedia Co., Ltd. for Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCLWasana "Jeab" Wongsiri, Tel: +66 84 359 0659, wasana.w@mtmultimedia.comSri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL (SET: STGT)(SGX: STGT)Source: Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCLSri Trang Agro-Industry PCLCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
STOCKHOLM, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The majority owner of Polygon group, Triton Fund III, has signed an agreement to sell its investment in the Polygon group (the "Transaction").

The completion of the Transaction will trigger a change of control under the terms and conditions of the Swedish law governed EUR 250,000,000 senior secured fixed rate notes issued by Polygon AB (publ) (the "Company"), entitling the note holders to - following completion of the Transaction - request that all or some of the notes are repurchased at price per note of 101 per cent. of the nominal amount together with accrued but unpaid interest. As agreed between Triton Fund III and the purchaser of the Polygon group, it is the Company's intention to exercise a total voluntary redemption of the notes, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the notes, in connection with completion of the Transaction, entitling the note holders to 101 per cent. of the nominal amount together with accrued but unpaid interest.

The completion of the Transaction is subject to approval from the relevant authorities and is expected to be completed during Q4 2021.

The information in this press release is information that Polygon AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on 11 July 2021 at 23.00 (CET)

For more information, please visit www.polygongroup.com or contact Martin Hamner, Chief Financial Officer, martin.hamner@polygongroup.com, +46 70 607 85 79

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/polygon/r/triton-fund-iii-to-divest-entire-holding-in-polygon,c3383413

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Coty to roll-out a touch-less fragrance tester to retailers globally within the next 12 months

The smart device offers retailers access to usage data to optimize product positioning and customer experience

Developed together with Everie, a start-up that specializes in smart devices, micro-dosing and diffusion technologies

New fragrance testing ritual to reduce the amount of fragrance waste and increase lifespan of tester bottles

Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY), one of the world's largest beauty companies and the global leader in fragrances, today announced the introduction of a digitally-enabled touch-less fragrance testing device intended for use at beauty retailers within the next 12 months. Real world testing of the units at brick mortar retail stores begins this month in key European markets, followed by a planned trial in Asia later this year.

Coty's touch-less fragrance tester is a digital innovation that gives customers the ultimate control over fragrance discovery in store. While spray testers oversaturate the air, overwhelming the senses and surrounding environment, this device delivers a single droplet of liquid directly to an arm or a blotter, offering customers a less invasive testing experience. It also uses data to allow Coty, in partnership with retailers, to optimize the placement of the testers and the customer experience by ensuring beauty advisors are on the spot when needed.

Coty is partnering with Everie, a French start-up specializing in smart devices, micro-dosing and diffusion technologies, to bring Coty's touch-less fragrance tester to life. A multidisciplinary group from Coty have worked alongside Everie over the past year to develop a connected easy-to-maintain and sustainable device. This touch-less fragrance tester is able to work for weeks without a battery recharge and reduces perfume loss compared to traditional testers. It will be compatible with all Coty's fragrance testers and can be uniquely personalized to each of Coty's brands.

Claire Catherine-Mercier, Vice President Retail Experience, said:

"Coty's touch-less fragrance tester is a breakthrough innovation developed in partnership with Everie. With the return of in-person shopping, the health and safety of our consumers are always at the forefront of our minds. Deploying a single drop of liquid to the skin with the same restitution as traditional testers, this new technology eliminates unnecessary waste and offers a safe, contact-free alternative for testing."

Today's announcement comes as stores are re-opening around the world--and as hygiene and safety have become an integral part of the experience at brick mortar retailers. The creation of a new touch-less luxury ritual for testing will support those consumers that need to try perfume before buying, and ultimately will drive sales at stores.

About Coty Inc.

Coty is one of the world's largest beauty companies with an iconic portfolio of brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and body care. Coty is the global leader in fragrance and number three in color cosmetics. Coty's products are sold in over 150 countries around the world. Coty and its brands are committed to a range of social causes as well as seeking to minimize its impact on the environment. For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com.

About Everie

Everie is a young and innovative company with a resolute focus in re-inventing beauty rituals in partnership with well known brands. With a focus on fragrance, skin care and make-up, we have proprietary breakthrough technologies in micro-fluidics, atomization, and micro delivery of fluids. These technologies fuel a range of new products to come. Everie is agile in the holistic innovation cycle; from ideation until industrialisation. Based in the south of France Everie was founded in 2011 by Wim Meulenkamp (CEO) and Laurent Foucher (CTO).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210711005023/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Olga Levinzon, +1 212 389 7733

olga_levinzon@cotyinc.com

Media for Coty

Antonia Werther, +31 621 394495

Antonia_Werther@cotyinc.com

Media For Everie

Wim Meulenkamp, CEO Everie

+33 (0)7 86 39 00 23

Wim.meulenkamp@everie.com
REC Silicon ASA (REC Silicon) will release its Q2 2021 results on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. CEST.

The same day at 8:00 a.m. CEST, the company will host an audiocast to present the results. Following the presentation, it will be opened for questions from the audience

The presentation will be in English.

To join the audiocast, use the following link.

https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/hegnarmedia/20210722_1/

Audiocast participants need to register to post questions.

For further information, please contact:

Nils O. Kjerstad, IR Contact

Phone: +47 9135 6659

Email: nils.kjerstad@crux.no

About REC Silicon:

REC Silicon is a leading producer of advanced silicon materials, delivering high-purity polysilicon and silicon gas to the solar and electronics industries worldwide. We combine over 30 years of experience and proprietary technology with the needs of our customers, and annual production capacity of more than 20,000 MT of polysilicon from our two US-based manufacturing plants. Listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: RECSI), the company is headquartered in Lysaker, Norway.

For more information, go to: www.recsilicon.com

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Press Release

Draupnir Bio strengthens senior management with the appointment of Anna Quattropani as Chief Discovery Officer

Copenhagen, Denmark, 12 July2021- Draupnir Bio ("Draupnir"), a biotechnology company developing small molecule modulators of PCSK9 to transform the treatment of heart disease, today announces the appointment of Anna Quattropani, PhD, as Chief Discovery Officer (CDO), effective immediately.

Anna brings more than 20 years of experience in drug discovery and development to the role, having established a successful track record in the design of clinical candidates and their development from discovery to the clinic. At Draupnir, Anna will lead internal and external drug discovery and medicinal chemistry efforts in support of Draupnir's growing preclinical pipeline.

She joins Draupnir from Asceneuron, a biotechnology company focused on neurodegenerative disorders, where she held a series of leadership roles, most recently Executive Vice President and Head of Non-Clinical Development and Medicinal Chemistry. In this role she oversaw all non-clinical development activities, comprising medicinal chemistry, CMC, pharmacology, and toxicology, in addition to leading the cross-functional discovery and development team, sitting as a member of the Executive Committee, and participating in fundraising.

Before Asceneuron, Anna worked at Serono, prior to and following its acquisition by Merck to become Merck Serono. There, she held the role of Principle Scientist and led drug discovery programmes for neurodegenerative diseases.

Anna holds a PhD in Organometallic Chemistry and an MSc in Chemistry from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She is the inventor of 48 patents and the author of 20 peer-reviewed publications.

Andrew Hotchkiss, Chief Executive Officer of Draupnir Bio, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Anna to the team here at Draupnir. Sheis an outstanding scientist with expertise in the design and optimisation of small moleculeprogrammes towards clinical candidate selection. Herextensive leadership experience in drug discovery anddevelopmentwill prove invaluable as we progress the development of novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases.

"Anna's appointment followsthe appointment of our Chief Operating Officer, Margrit Schwarz, a life science executive and entrepreneur with decades of experience in the cardiometabolic drug discovery space, including with the preclinical development of Repatha (AMG145). Margrit has held senior leadership roles in the global biopharma industry, including Roche, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Amgen. These strong additions to our executive team bolster theCompany's expertise and willhelp drive us towards our ambition of transforming the treatment of heart disease."

On her appointment to Chief Discovery Officer, Anna Quattropani, PhD,commented:"Draupnir'sresearch into small molecule modulators of PCSK9, a highly validatedtarget for lowering cholesterol, has the potential to establish a new standard of care for people with cardiovascular disease.I'm excited to be working alongside the skilled team at Draupnir Bio, which is primed to drive the discovery and development of ground-breaking therapeutics in this space."

- ENDS -

For more information, please contact:

Draupnir Bio

Andrew Hotchkiss, Chief Executive Officer

info@draupnir.bio

Consilium Strategic Communications

David Daley, Genevieve Wilson, Alexander Bridge

Phone: +44

Notes to editors

About Draupnir Bio

Draupnir Bio is a Danish biotechnology company developing small molecule therapeutics to transform the treatment of heart disease, based on proprietary structural insights and the biology of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9), a protein that enables a key step in the control of plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels. The company was founded in 2017 as a spin-out from Aarhus University, Denmark, and the Max-Planck Institute, Germany. Backed by a syndicate of leading European investors, in 2019 Draupnir Bio completed a Series A funding round, raising 30 million Euros with participation from Gilde Healthcare Partners, Inkef Capital, Novo Seeds and High-Tech Grunderfonds. The Company is headquartered in Copenhagen, with research operations centered in Aarhus, Denmark.

For more, visit our website at draupnir.bioand follow us on LinkedIn.
Press Release



July 12, 2021 - N 20

SCOR builds on its climate leadership by co-launching the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance

and confirms phased coal withdrawal

SCOR, together with seven of the world's leading insurers and reinsurers, announces the launch of the pioneering Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA), the culmination of the founding signatories' work with the UN Environment Program. SCOR strongly believes that the global (re)insurance industry has a leading role to play in accelerating the transition to a more resilient, net-zero emissions economy in line with the 1.5C target of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

As a founding signatory, the Group commits in particular to:

Transitioning all operational and attributable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its insurance and reinsurance underwriting portfolios to net-zero emissions by 2050, and

Supporting the implementation of corporate disclosure frameworks and global policy frameworks relevant to the net-zero transition and the insurance industry.

In joining the NZIA, SCOR today announces its commitment to a phased withdrawal of insurance and facultative reinsurance coverage from unabated coal-fired power plants by 2030 for OECD countries and by 2040 for the rest of the world. This commitment extends to SCOR's portfolio of reinsurance treaties and begins by strengthening SCOR's underwriting guidelines for 2022 to screen for all reinsurance treaties with more than 10% coal-related premium. SCOR will actively support its clients in their own commitments to follow credible transition pathways, helping them attain a net-zero emissions business model.

The launch of the NZIA follows SCOR's move, as an institutional investor, to join the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance in May 2020, committing to promoting the transition to a post-coal economy and making the changes necessary to achieve the 1.5C target. SCOR is committed to engaging with policymakers, clients, and other stakeholders to identify and implement the required measures to tackle climate change.

Laurent Rousseau, Chief Executive Officer of SCOR, comments:"Collective action is the only way we can address the grand challenge of our time: climate change. SCOR, as a Tier 1 global reinsurer, is proud to be a founding member of the NZIA, working alongside other industry leaders to support the transformational changes that are most critical. In doing so, we commit to accelerating the race to net-zero and furthering SCOR's long-term mission of protecting people and societies around the world."

Click hereto read the official press release by the NZIA.

*

* *

Contact details

Communications

Jerome Guilbert

+33

Investor Relations

Olivier Armengaud

+33

www.scor.com

LinkedIn: SCOR| Twitter: @SCOR_SE

SCOR, a Global Tier 1 Reinsurer

SCOR, the world's fourth largest reinsurer, offers its clients a diversified and innovative range of solutions and services to control and manage risk. Applying "The Art & Science of Risk", SCOR uses its industry-recognized expertise and cutting-edge financial solutions to serve its clients and contribute to the welfare and resilience of society.

SCOR offers its clients an optimal level of security with its AA- rating or equivalent from S&P, Moody's, Fitch and AM Best. The Group generated premiums of more than EUR 16 billion in 2020, and serves clients in more than 160 countries from its 36 offices worldwide.

For more information, visit: www.scor.com.

Attachment
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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks edged lower on Monday as investors fretted about the spread of Delta variant across most regions of the world and slow pace of vaccinations. The prospect of an extended lockdown in Sydney loomed as Australian health officials reported yet another record daily rise in Covid-19 cases. In South Korea, the government has put its capital Seoul under the toughest anti-COVID curbs so for. The foreign ministry extended a travel ban on six countries in the Middle East and other regions, and some parts of the Philippines, for another six months, citing prolonged security risks. There were over 2.6 million new cases last week, with Europe experiencing a sharp increase of 30 percent, the WHO said in its latest epidemiological update. The benchmark DAX was marginally lower at 15,682 after rallying 1.7 percent on Friday. Cyclicals were losing ground, with Commerzbank declining more than 1 percent while automakers BMW and Daimler were down around half a percent. German wholesale prices grew 10.7 percent year-on-year in June, following May's 9.7 percent increase, data from Destatis revealed earlier in the day. The annual growth was the biggest since October 1981, when prices were up 11 percent amid oil crisis. On a monthly basis, wholesale price growth eased to 1.5 percent in June from 1.7 percent in May. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks fell on Monday as investors fretted about slowing global growth and the EU digital tax proposal, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the EU to shelve the proposal, saying the new global reform deal should make it redundant. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host a press conference today where he is expected to push ahead with the next stage of unlocking. The benchmark FTSE 100 dropped 43 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,079 after gaining 1.3 percent on Friday. Shares of Daily Mail & General Trust advanced 1.7 percent. The media group said that its controlling shareholder, Rothermere Continuation Ltd., is considering a bid for the remaining assets of the group, if the sales of its insurance risk unit and Cazoo business go through. Tate & Lyle, a supplier of food and beverage ingredients, gained 1.5 percent after it announced an agreement to sell a controlling stake in its Primary Products business to KPS Capital Partners, LP. Car insurance provider Admiral Group rallied 3.3 percent. The company said it anticipates a higher than expected Group profit before tax from continuing operations for the first half of 2021 in the range of 450 million pounds to 500 million pounds. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wirex, the leading digital payments platform enabling everyone to access the benefits of blockchain technology, has added 15 new coins to their platform. The news follows the recent addition of their X-Accounts feature, which has now seen nearly $10 million worth of funds secured in them.

Since inception in 2014, Wirex have been on a mission to enable users of all abilities to easily buy, hold, exchange and sell crypto. With an explosion of interest in the decentralised finance (DeFi) space in recent years, Wirex have sought to develop their product to give nearly 4 million customers worldwide the ability to take advantage of this.

Since 7th June, Wirex have added 15 tokens from some of the most popular DeFi players*. These include Universal Market Access (UMA), OMG Network (OMG), Basic Attention Token (BAT), 0x (ZRX), Synthetix (SNX), FTX Token (FTT), Loopring (LRC), Kyber Network (KNC), Curve (CRV), Compound (COMP), SushiSwap (SUSHI), Augur (REP), Bancor (BNT), Balancer (BAL) and 1INCH. In May, the company announced that they had launched Aave (AAVE), Maker (MKR), Chainlink (LINK), Uniswap (UNI) and Yearn.Finance (YFI).

Since then, Wirex has made headlines globally after releasing their game-changing X-Accounts feature on the platform. Solidifying their endeavour to become one of the world's most accessible interest-paying accounts ever, the company has already seen nearly $10 million worth of funds stored in across more than 12,000 accounts, which continues to grow at an astronomical rate. Unprecedented when compared to competitors and high-street banks, it offers users the ability to earn up to 16% interest back and demonstrates the staggering demand for next-generation DeFi services.

Pavel Matveev, CEO and Co-Founder of Wirex, said that: "Democratising access to crypto, and now DeFi, has always been at the heart of Wirex, and no better has this been demonstrated by the huge excitement of our customers over the last few months. The rollout of tokens from leading DeFi projects, as well as the incredible popularity of X-Accounts has cemented our position as a market-leader, and we hope to continue to innovate to ensure our commitment to the digital economy."

Over the coming months, Wirex will continue to develop the list of tokens on offer and release new features for X-Accounts.

* Not available for purchase for Wirex customers based in UK and Singapore. Subject to T&Cs.

** Earnings apply to fiat converted to stablecoins. Subject to T&Cs.

About Wirex

Wirex is a worldwide digital payment platform and regulated institution that has forged new rules in the digital payments space. In 2015, the firm developed the world's first crypto-enabled payment card that gives users the ability to seamlessly spend crypto and traditional currencies in real life.

Wirex was created in 2014 by CEOs and co-founders Pavel Matveev and Dmitry Lazarichev, who identified the need to open up the esoteric world of cryptocurrencies and make digital money accessible for everyone. With the core aim of making it as easy as possible to use digital assets in everyday life, Wirex provides a trusted and cost-effective service for crypto and traditional currency transactions by incorporating the next generation of payments infrastructure integrated with cryptocurrency blockchains.

With nearly 4 million customers across 130 countries, the company offers secure accounts that allow customers to easily store, buy and exchange multiple currencies instantly at the best live rates on one centralised mobile app. Quick and simple crypto transfer options are available, as well as the freedom to spend 150+ traditional and cryptocurrencies in more than 61 million locations around the world using the Wirex card.

Wirex continues to develop the product in line with market developments, whilst adhering to regional regulations and securing appropriate licensing where it exists. A proven industry pioneer, Wirex launched their own native utility token, WXT, and introduced the world's first crypto reward programme, Cryptoback, which earns cardholders up to 2% back in WXT for every transaction they make.

Wirex is based in London, with offices in Singapore, Kyiv, Tokyo, Toronto, Dallas, Dublin and Atlanta. With over $5bn worth of transactions processed already and rapid expansion into new territories, including the US and Japan, Wirex is uniquely placed to support and promote the mass adoption of a cashless society through creative solutions.

| wirexapp.com |
LONDON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KodyPay, a fast-growing payments Fintech working with Visa, MasterCard and IBM, has recently raised an additional US$3.25 million. The oversubscribed financing round involved all the major shareholders and new high profile investors, bringing the total raised to US$6 million in under 12 months. New and existing investors include KodyPay's Chairman, Hank Uberoi (Former Executive Chairman/CEO, Earthport PLC), Paul Rippon (Co-Founder, Monzo Bank), Adam Knight (Chairman, CoinFloor and BeZero Carbon), Alok Sama (Former President & CFO, SoftBank Group International) and IBM partner Cognition Foundry, along with other seasoned industry executives.

Through a single iOS/Android app, KodyPay gives retail and hospitality businesses the ability to accept any payment methods in-person (including leading e-wallets, buy-now-pay-laters & open banking) and offers contact-free checkout experiences, such as order at table & self-checkout. Businesses can sign-up online in a matter of minutes, and access KodyPay using a smartphone or tablet to benefit from low transaction costs instead of using an expensive point-of-sale terminal. With KodyPay, businesses can increase their revenues by making the consumer experience smoother and faster, helping customers avoid queuing.

In addition to working with Visa, MasterCard and IBM, KodyPay has already signed up other large multinational partners, including Checkout.com, Elavon, Laybuy, Nuapay and the University of York, to accelerate growth. With a focus on reliability and security, KodyPay has deployed IBM's Confidential Computing technology to protect customer data with the highest level of certification achievable for commercial cryptographic devices.

KodyPay is now using the funds raised to bring its services to venues across the UK, release new product features and save businesses money. Early statistics already show a 51% reduction in transaction costs without the need for any investment in specialised hardware. Following successful implementation with Nisa (Co-op) stores located at the University of York, KodyPay has seen significant growth around York city, signing on clients including Spark:York and The York Roast Co. The company is now growing its workforce to expand its offering to other cities.

Thrilled by the recent company developments, 21-year-old co-founder and CEO Yoyo Chang commented: "After another oversubscribed financing round, I am looking forward to inviting new businesses to the KodyPay community. From its inception, KodyPay has always been about reducing costs and increasing consumer payment choices by being super convenient for businesses to accept payments. We are very fortunate to have the support of all our existing partners and investors as we scale."

About KodyPay

KodyPay is on a mission to make payment acceptance easy. Paying in-store today presents common problems, like long queues and limited choices regarding payment methods. KodyPay plans to fully integrate the payment ecosystem so that businesses can offer their customers more control over their payment choice, making their transactions quicker and more convenient. Payment options will include e-wallets, buy-now-pay-later providers, open banking and card payments. In addition, KodyPay removes the need for bulk hardware such as tills and receipt printers, reducing the cost for businesses to accept payments.

KodyPay was founded in the summer of 2018 by a small group of final-year high school students. 21-year-old co-founders Yoyo Chang (CEO) and Jack Howell (CDO) have raised US$6m to date at KodyPay, with the majority of financing from over the last 12 months alone. Today, KodyPay's platform is growing to connect thousands of customers with outlets across the UK. The team is currently expanding and will continue its mission to deliver easy payment acceptance that will benefit consumers and businesses all over the world.

Media Contacts

Wendy Blanton

press@kodypay.com

+44 2045387780
Saudi scientists have tested several cooling technologies for solar panels and have found that active techniques work better than passive ones under harsh climatic conditions. The most effective one consists of a system based on four heat pipes immersed in a box of liquid, as liquid bulk, integrated with the back of the solar panel.A group of scientists from the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, in Saudi Arabia, has assessed the performance of several cooling techniques in solar PV systems subject to the country's harsh environmental conditions. The researchers' analysis embraced passive ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 12, 2021 / Tinka Resources Limited (" Tinka " or the " Company ") ( TSXV:TK)(BVL:TK )( OTCQB:TKRFF ) is pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement ( the "Agreement") with BHP World Exploration Inc. Sucursal del Peru (" BHP ") pursuant to which Tinka, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Darwin Peru S.A.C. (" Darwin "), has acquired a 100% interest in the Silvia copper-gold-zinc exploration project (the " Silvia Project "). The Silvia Project consists of 29,500 hectares of mining concessions believed to be prospective for large copper-gold-zinc skarn and porphyry copper deposits, lying immediately adjacent to the Company's 100%-owned Ayawilca zinc-silver project in central Peru. Tinka now controls over 46,000 hectares of contiguous mining concessions in central Peru, one of the world's most prolific base metal belts - see Figure 1.

The Silvia Project lies ~80 km south and along strike of Antamina, one of the largest copper mines in Peru and the world's biggest skarn deposit (beneficially owned by BHP Group 33.75%, Glencore 33.75%, Teck 22.5% and Mitsubishi 10%). The project also lies immediately to the north of the Raura zinc-silver-lead-copper mine (owned by Minsur).

Greenfield exploration by BHP at the Silvia Project has identified copper-gold-zinc mineralization in outcropping skarns at two broad target areas both associated with coincident geophysical anomalies. Neither of these targets have been drill tested. Limestone belonging to the Jumasha Formation, the main host to the Antamina copper-zinc-silver skarn deposit, is widespread throughout the Silvia Project area - see Figure 2.

Key Highlights of the Silvia Copper-Gold Project

Acquisition by Tinka of a 100% ownership of 29,500 hectares of contiguous mining concessions located in the Huanuco Andean region of central Peru immediately adjacent to the Company's Ayawilca project;

The Silvia Project hosts two priority copper targets with outcropping skarn and coincident copper and geophysical anomalies at 'Silvia Northwest' and 'Silvia South' - see Figure 3;

At Silvia Northwest, copper-gold-zinc mineralized skarns outcrop over several hectares within three zones (Area A, Area B, Area C) along a 3 kilometre northeast trend associated with diorite and dacitic porphyry. High grade rock chip samples of skarn at Area A grade up to 1.9% copper, 0.9 g/t gold, and 3.9% zinc - see Figure 4;

At Silvia South, copper-gold mineralized skarns outcrop over several hectares associated with monzodiorite porphyry with rock samples grading up to 1.4% copper and 0.3 g/t gold associated with magnetic anomalies;

Regional and prospect scale datasets are included with the property acquisition. These datasets include: 320 line kilometres of project-wide airborne magnetics; 15 line kilometres of IP geophysical data; 64 line kilometres of ground magnetics; and 661 surface rock chip geochemical results - copper anomalous areas are highlighted in Figure 3.



Dr. Graham Carman, the CEO of Tinka, said: "The Silvia Project acquisition fits in very well with Tinka's vision of exploring for potential world-class base and precious metal discoveries in Peru. Tinka considers the Silvia Project to be highly prospective for large copper skarn and porphyry deposits, and we are thrilled to have acquired this exciting portfolio from BHP right next door to our flagship Ayawilca project. This acquisition triples the size of Tinka's mining concessions in central Peru, turning the Company into one of the largest landholders in this highly mineralized belt. The target limestone at the Silvia Project is the Jumasha Formation which hosts the giant Antamina skarn deposit, while the Ayawilca deposit is hosted by the Pucara limestone."

"Tinka plans to move forward with the exploration for copper at the Silvia Project while work progresses at the Ayawilca zinc-silver project and specifically the preliminary economic assessment (" PEA "). Given the close proximity to Ayawilca, Tinka's exploration team can access the copper targets at the Silvia Project from our existing camp facilities, simplifying logistics and minimizing exploration costs."

"Tinka remains firmly committed to creating value through mineral exploration in Peru, and we believe that mining will continue to be a mainstay of the country's economy and development in the future. We also believe that we will continue to advance our exploration projects while working together constructively with our stakeholders. We look forward to commencing our field programs at the Silvia Project as soon as possible."

Terms of the Silvia Project Acquisition

100% of the right and title of 35 granted mining concessions (plus 2 applications) to be transferred to Darwin;

Darwin has made a one-time cash payment to BHP. No other milestone payments are required;

BHP retains a 1% NSR royalty over the Silvia Project, which may be repurchased by Darwin;

Darwin is required to keep all mining concessions in good standing, with BHP retaining the right of first refusal on any mining concession that Darwin wishes to relinquish.

Silvia Project Target Details

Silvia Northwest target

At Silvia Northwest, three areas of outcropping copper mineralization occur along a northeast-southwest trend encompassing a broad area of approximately 3.0 km by 1.0 km, each area referred to as Areas A, B, and C respectively - see Figure 3. Copper mineralization is associated with skarn alteration of Upper Cretaceous Jumasha Formation limestone and various intrusive and sub-volcanic rocks including diorite and dacitic porphyry. Coincident magnetic anomalies are interpreted to reflect the underlying intrusive rocks and, possibly, magnetite or pyrrhotite associated with the mineralization.

At Area A, previous exploration identified copper-bearing skarn mineralization over a surface area of approximately 0.4 km by 0.2 km associated with altered dacitic porphyry. The skarn consists mostly of garnet and pyroxene accompanied by chlorite, biotite, quartz and magnetite. Sulphide minerals include chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcocite and rare bornite. Copper oxide (malachite) is common. Copper values from 13 rock chip samples of skarn and altered porphyry at Area A range from 0.02% to 1.90% Cu; Gold values range from <0.005 to 0.93 g/t Au; Zinc values range from 0.003 to 3.85% Zn. Extensive outcrops of white and grey marble are interpreted to form a halo around and above the skarn.

At Area B, skarn alteration outcrops sporadically over an area of approximately 0.7 km by 0.7 km associated with quartz diorite and porphyritic andesite dikes. Extensive areas of white and grey marble surround the intrusive and skarn rocks. Fine grained hornfels alteration interpreted to be caused by thermal metamorphism is associated with silty limestone of the younger Celendin Formation in the axis of a synclinal fold. Copper values from 28 rock chip samples of skarn at Target B range from 0.02% to 1.09% Cu; Gold values range from <0.005 to 0.63 g/t Au; Zinc values range from <0.01 to 0.54% Zn.

At Area C, copper-bearing skarn occurs in sporadic outcrops over a surface area of approximately 0.5 km by 0.3 km together with outcrops of diorite and dacitic porphyry. Garnet skarn has been mapped around the contact of dacitic porphyry surrounded by a wide area of white and grey marble. Copper values from 13 rock chip samples from outcrop of skarn at Target C range from <0.01% to 1.10% Cu; Gold values range from <0.005 to 3.55 g/t Au; Zinc values range from <0.01 to 3.55% Zn.

Silvia South target

At Silvia South, skarn alteration is exposed in numerous sporadic outcrops along a northeast-southwest trend within an area of approximately 3.7 km x 0.8 km associated with outcropping diorite and monzodiorite porphyry. Garnet and pyroxene skarns are associated with minor sulphides (pyrite, chalcopyrite) and sporadic malachite.

Copper values from 23 samples of outcropping skarn at Silvia South range from <0.01 to 1.37% Cu; Gold values range from <0.005 to 0.28 g/t Au; Zinc values range from 0.03 to 0.06% Zn.

Figure 1. Selected mining concession holdings in central Peru highlighting Tinka's Ayawilca and Silvia Projects

Figure 2. Map of major limestone formations in central Peru highlighting Tinka's Ayawilca and Silvia Projects

Figure 3. Silvia Project rock chip copper geochemistry (on airborne magnetic analytic signal image)

Figure 4. Maps of the Silvia Northwest target area at same scale.

Simplified geological map. Analytical signal magnetic anomalies (note: hot colours are the modelled locations of the magnetic sources)

On behalf of the Board,

" Graham Carman "

Dr. Graham Carman, President & CEO

Investor Information:

www.tinkaresources.com

Rob Bruggeman 1.416.884.3556

rbruggeman@tinkaresources.com

Company Contact:

Mariana Bermudez 1.604.699.0202

info@tinkaresources.com

About Tinka Resources Limited

Tinka is an exploration and development company with its flagship property being the 100%-owned Ayawilca zinc-silver-tin project in central Peru. The Zinc Zone deposit has an estimated Indicated mineral resource of 11.7 Mt grading 6.9% zinc, 15 g/t silver & 0.2% lead and an Inferred mineral resource of 45.0 Mt grading 5.6% zinc, 17 g/t silver & 0.2% lead (dated November 26, 2018). The Tin Zone has an estimated Inferred mineral resource of 14.5 Mt grading 0.63% tin (dated November 26, 2018). A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Zinc Zone was released on July 2, 2019 ( news release ). The Company has announced its intention to update the resource estimation and PEA by the end of 2021.

Forward Looking Statements: Certain information in this news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of Tinka as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Tinka's management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations: timing of planned work programs and results varying from expectations; delay in obtaining results; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions; imprecision in resource estimates or metal recoveries; success of future development initiatives; competition and operating performance; environmental and safety risks; the Company's expectations regarding the Ayawilca Project PEA; the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the novel COVID-19 virus; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from local authorities; community agreements and relations; and, other development and operating risks. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Although Tinka believes that assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Tinka disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release

SOURCE: Tinka Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/655033/Tinka-Triples-Property-at-Ayawilca-With-Acquisition-of-the-Silvia-Copper-Project
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 12, 2021 / Vanadium One Iron Corp. ("Vanadium One" or the "Company") (TSXV:VONE), announced today that they will be participating in Renmark Financial Communications Inc.'s live Virtual Non-Deal Roadshow Series to discuss its latest investor presentation on Monday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 20 at 12:00PM ET. Vanadium One Iron Corp. welcomes stakeholders, investors, and other individual followers to register and attend this live event.

The presentation will feature Chief Executive Officer and Director, Cliff Hale-Sanders. Topics to be covered will include the latest investor presentation followed by a live Q&A. Investors interested in participating in this event will need to register using the link below. As a reminder, registration for the live event may be limited, but access to the replay after the event will be on The Company's Investor website.

REGISTER HERE:

Monday, July 12, 12:00PM EDT -

https://www.renmarkfinancial.com/events/renmark-virtual-non-deal-roadshow-tsx-v-vone-2021-07-12-120000

Tuesday, July 20, 12:00PM EDT -

https://www.renmarkfinancial.com/events/renmark-virtual-non-deal-roadshow-tsx-v-vone-2021-07-20-120000

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About Vanadium One Iron Corp.

Vanadium One Iron Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is focused on advancing its 100% held Mont Sorcier, Vanadium-rich, Magnetite Iron Ore Project, in Chibougamau, Quebec. The Mont Sorcier Iron ore property hosts a large high quality magnetite iron resource with significant and extractable vanadium in a top tier mining jurisdiction. The project is located just 18 km outside of Chibougamau close to existing road, rail, low-cost hydro power and with access to deep water ports for export to global markets. Based upon recent and historical metallurgical test work Mont Sorcier is expected to produce a premium iron ore product (65-67% Fe) containing approximately 0.6% vanadium.

About Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Founded in 1999, Renmark Financial Communications Inc. is North America's leading retail investor relations firm. Employing a strategic and comprehensive mix of exposure tactics; Renmark hosts Virtual Non-Deal Roadshows as well as in-person corporate presentations and maintains daily communications with thousands of brokers and money managers across Canada and the United States. Renmark empowers its publicly traded clientele to maximize their visibility within the financial community and strengthen their investor audience.

CONTACT:

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Melanie Barbeau: mbarbeau@renmarkfinancial.com

Tel.: (416) 644-2020 or (212) 812-7680

www.renmarkfinancial.com

Vanadium One Iron Corp.

Cliff Hale-Sanders, President & CEO: csanders@vanadiumone.com

Tel: 416-819-8558

www.vanadiumone.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

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.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Vanadium One Iron Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/654927/Vanadium-One-Iron-Corp-to-Participate-in-Renmarks-Virtual-Non-Deal-Roadshow-Series-on-Monday-July-12-2021-at-12-PM-EDT-and-Tuesday-July-20-2021-at-12-PM-EDT
Summary:

Chilean Metals Inc. has formally changed its name to "Power Nickel Inc." to reflect its focus on the development of its James Bay High-Grade Nickel Copper Cobalt Palladium "Nisk" Project.

Effective Monday on July 12 Power Nickel will start trading on the TSXV under the symbol PNPN

Power Nickel will hereafter create a subsidiary Consolidation Gold and Copper Inc. to be spun out as a separate public company where it will hold our interests in the British Columbia Golden Ivan project and our complete suite of Chilean assets and sufficient capital for one year of operations.

It is expected that Power Nickel will retain an 80% ownership position in Consolidation Gold and Copper and Shareholders of Power Nickel will directly receive the remaining 20% through a plan of arrangement which we expect to formally announce before the end of July.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 12, 2021 / Power Nickel Inc. (the "Company" or "Power Nickel") (TSXV:PNPN, OTCBB: CMETF, Frankfurt IVVI) is pleased to announce that it will commence trading under its new symbol PNPN on the TSXV on July 12, 2021

Proposed Transaction Highlights

Chilean Metals has formally been renamed Power Nickel Inc . and will focus its efforts on the exploration and development of the James Bay Nisk project. On February 1, 2021, Chilean Metals completed the acquisition of its option to acquire up to 80% of the Nisk project from Critical Elements Lithium Corporation. The below estimates at the Nisk project are of a historic resource and the Company's geology expert team has not completed sufficient work to confirm a NI 43-101 compliant resource. Therefore, caution is appropriate since the estimates cannot, and should not be relied upon. For merely informational purposes see Table 1.

Table -1: Historical Resource Estimate figures for respective confidence categories at the NISK-1 deposit, After RSW Inc 2009: Resource Estimate for the NISK-1 Deposit, Lac Levac Property, Nemiscau, Quebec.

The information regarding the NISK-1 deposit was derived from the technical report titled "Resource Estimate for the NISK-1 Deposit, Lac Levac Property, Nemiscau, Quebec" dated December 2009. The key assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the mineral resource estimates described above are set out in the technical report.

The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometres of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Power Nickel, formerly Chilean is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel-copper PGE mineralization historical resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, identifying additional high-grade mineralization, and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries to be used in the electric vehicles industry.

Shareholders of Power Nickel will receive shares in Consolidation Gold and Copper Inc. proposed to be carved out by a plan of arrangement, at ratios to be determined by legal, tax and valuation considerations

Consolidation Gold and Copper is proposed to hold all the historic assets which remain in Chile as follows:

The 5600-hectare Tierra de Oro (TDO) property is located about 70 Kms south of Copiapo. Historically about $6,000,000 has been spent exploring TDO with the most recent drill program completed and reported in January 2021 which highlighted a 2-metre section that returned 716 grams of silver and .45% copper.

The 4300-hectare Zulema property located about 50 Kms southwest from Copiapo and adjoining the Candelaria Mine[1] property (Over 950 Million Tonnes Copper, Gold & Silver according to NI- 43101 2018 report on Lundin Mining site)) An exploration program at the property in 2018 highlighted a garnet magnetite skarn with multiple lenses of Copper- Magnetite mineralization. Within the skarn, copper ranged from 0.12- 1.19% Cu and between 0.05 - 0.99g/t Au.

The 9,000-hectare Palo Negro and Hornitos properties are located in Region 3 about 30 Kms west of the Candelaria mine. The properties are currently the focus of a number of geophysical programs including magnetics and IP over portions of the property which have previously been highlighted to be of interest.

Assets also include a 3% NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire Cu-Mo deposit, previously sold to a subsidiary of Teck Resources Inc. ("Teck"). Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one-third of the 3% NSR for $3 million dollars at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck's producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine[2] in Chile's First Region.

The property hosts two known mineral showings (Gold Ore, and Magee), and a portion of the past-producing Silverado Mine, which was reportedly exploited between 1921 and 1939. These mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of Silver, Lead, Zinc +/- Gold +/- Copper. Numerous additional mineral occurrences, showings, and past-producing mines are located in the immediate areas surrounding the property, further supporting the sense of a presence of widespread mineralization in the areas.

The property is relatively underexplored. In 2018 Precision Geophysics completed an 88-line kilometre combined magnetic and gamma-ray spectrometry survey on behalf of the vendor (who sold to Chilean Metals) Granby Gold Inc. Standard magnetic and radiometric data products were prepared and additional interpolate structural analyses were performed on the collected data. A number of areas of coincident magnetic and radiometric anomalism have been identified, additionally 'structurally prepared' zones are identified from the structural analysis interpolates. Such characteristics are widely regarded as favorable indicators of widespread hydrothermal alteration aka Porphyries and may aid in vectoring toward any causative source intrusions that may be located on the property. Three preliminary target areas of merit are established as a result of that survey and will be the focus of initial explorations at the site.

Consolidation Gold & Copper Inc. will also hold the previously purchased asset we have called the Golden Ivan project in the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle is host to numerous past and current mining operations and the region has reported mineral resources that total up to 67 million oz of gold, 569 million oz of silver, and 27 billion pounds of copper. Recent mineral development activity within the local area includes Ascot Resources recently funded Premier Gold mine[3] (2.3 Million oz gold), which has received $105 million in project construction financing for the development of renewed operations at the historic exploited Premier Gold deposit. Other notable active projects in the local area include the neighbouring Silverado project, and Red Mountain, and Homestake projects amongst many others.[4] Further to the north Pretivm's Bruce Jack mine[5] (4.2 million oz gold), and the neighboring KSM and Eskay deposits also have significant gold, silver, and copper resources that are yet to be realized.

Shareholders of the proposed Consolidation Gold and Copper Inc. should benefit from an increased focus on core opportunities that appeal to each different investor base. As Chilean Metals, now Power Nickel grew through the acquisition of NISK and Golden Ivan, it is anticipated that the new public company could similarly benefit on a go-forward basis.

Company CEO and Director Mr. Terry Lynch stated, "The result of this proposed transaction will be two stand-alone companies with attractive assets focused on specific opportunities to grow and create value for their shareholders. The driving force behind the change is to communicate in a very clear way our shift in primary focus on the NISK Battery Metals project. It is rare to find a project with a historical resource that we believe has a credible chance to become a mine. The electrification movement in Automobiles and Industry is growing more and more every day and this growth will be very supportive to the price curves in Nickel, Copper, Cobalt, and Palladium. We look forward to concentrating our efforts on NISK and moving it from Historical resource through the mine development process as quickly as possible. We are currently evaluating a newly prepared 3D Model of the NISK project and will finalize our drilling program in the next week and announce a Q3 start of an expected 3-4,000 metre drill program. We would expect after this round of drilling to have a revised 43-101 available in Q4 2021."

Board and Management Team

Power Nickel will feature the same board as Chilean Metals today.

Consolidation Gold and Copper Inc. will have the same board with the valuable addition of Hugh Maddin to the Board. Hugh Maddin is a distinguished and accomplished retired lawyer and an experienced mining investor. Hugh Maddin owns Granby Gold, from whom Chilean Metals purchased the Golden Ivan project in 2020.

Transaction Details

The proposed transactions will be carried out by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and are subject to a number of conditions being satisfied or waived at or prior to closing, including approval of the shareholders of Power Nickel and receipt of all necessary regulatory, TSXV and court approvals and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary for a transaction of this nature.

It is expected that the required special meeting of Chilean Metals shareholders to approve the proposed Transaction will be held in August 2021 with closing shortly thereafter. The Company continues to plan the final structure to address regulatory, accounting, tax, corporate, and securities matters in Canada, the United States (where Chilean, now Power Nickel has some resident shareholders) and Chile, where certain assets, as well as shareholders, are located

Further information regarding the transactions will be contained in a management information circular to be prepared by the Company and mailed to shareholders in connection with an annual general and special meeting of shareholders to consider the transactions. All shareholders of the Company are urged to read the information circular once available, as it will contain important additional information concerning the transactions.

About Power Nickel Inc.

Power Nickel is a Canadian junior exploration company focusing on high-potential copper, gold, and battery metal prospects in Canada and Chile.

On February 1, 2021 Power Nickel (then called Chilean Metals) completed the acquisition of its option to acquire up to 80% of the Nisk project.

The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometres of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Chilean is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel-copper PGE mineralization historical resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, identifying additional high-grade mineralization and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries for the electric vehicles industry.

Power Nickel (then called Chilean Metals) announced on June 8th, 2021 that an agreement has been made to complete the 1oo% acquisition of its Golden Ivan project in the heart of the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle has reported mineral resources (past production and current resources) in a total of 67 million ounces of gold, 569 million ounces of silver, and 27 billion pounds of copper. This property hosts two known mineral showings (gold ore and magee), and a portion of the past-producing Silverado mine, which was reportedly exploited between 1921 and 1939. These mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of silver, lead, zinc, plus/minus gold, and plus/minus copper.

Power Nickel, pre proposed Plan of Arrangement is the 100-per-cent owner of five properties comprising over 50,000 acres strategically located in the prolific iron-oxide-copper-gold belt of northern Chile. It also owns a 3-per-cent NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire copper-molybdenum deposit, recently sold to a subsidiary of Teck resources Inc. Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one-third of the 3-per-cent NSR for $3-million at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck's producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine in Chile's first region.

Qualified Person

Qualified Person Luke van der Meer, P.Geo. (Licence # 37848), Independent Geological Consultant, Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Power Nickel Inc.

Terry Lynch, CEO

647-448-8044

For further information, readers are encouraged to contact:

Power Nickel Inc.

The Canadian Venture Building

82 Richmond St East, Suite 202

Toronto, ON

Terry Lynch & CEO terry@powernickel.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

This news release may contain certain statements that may be deemed 'forward-looking statements'. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that PNPN expects to occur, including details related to the proposed spin-out transactions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words 'expects', 'plans', 'anticipates', 'believes', 'intends', 'estimates', 'projects', 'potential' and similar expressions, or that events or conditions 'will', 'would', 'may', 'could' or 'should' occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements regarding current and future exploration programs, activities and results. Although PNPN believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration success, continued availability of capital and financing, inability to obtain required regulatory or governmental approvals and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] Reference to the nearby Candelaria mine is for information purposes only and there are no assurances that the Company's properties will achieve similar results.

[2] Reference to the nearby Quebrada Blanca mine is for information purposes only and there are no assurances that the Company's properties will achieve similar results.

[3] Reference to the nearby Premier Gold mine is for information purposes only and there are no assurances that the Company's properties will achieve similar results.

[4] Reference to these nearby properties is for information purposes only and there are no assurances that the Company's properties will achieve similar results.

[5] Reference to the nearby Bruce Jack mine is for information purposes only and there are no assurances that the Company's properties will achieve similar results.

SOURCE: Chilean Metals, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/655082/Chilean-Metals-is-Now-Power-Nickel-PNPNTSXV
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 12, 2021 / FIORE GOLD LTD. (TSXV:F)(OTCQB:FIOGF) ("Fiore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce preliminary production results for the Company's fiscal third quarter ("Q3") of 2021 (quarter ending June 30, 2021) from its Pan open pit mine in White Pine County, Nevada. All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise noted.

Highlights:

Q3 gold production of 11,756 ounces, an 8% increase over fiscal Q2 2021 as quarterly production trended back to historic levels

Gold sales of 11,741 ounces at an average realized price of $1,815 per ounce

Mined ore production in Q3 of 12,557 tons per day with a stripping ratio of 1.8:1.0 and grade of 0.46 grams per tonne ("g/t") or 0.013 ounces/ton ("opt")

First ore placed on the new leach pad in June 2021 and commenced irrigation early July, which is expected to further improve gold production in fiscal Q4

Gold Rock drill results announced during the quarter were headlined by 24.4 metres of 2.85 g/t gold and 40.3 metres of 0.70 g/t gold

During the quarter, we agreed to acquire the past-producing project, Illipah, adding further exploration ground in Nevada (refer to our June 14, 2021 news release for additional details)

Closing cash balance of $18.5 million at June 30, 2021, an increase in cash from March 31, 2021 despite continued capital investment in the expansion of the Pan heap leach pad to accommodate added mine life, and on-going drilling and Feasibility Study activities to advance Gold Rock

82,028 man-hours worked in Q3 with no reportable environmental incidents at a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate ("TRIFR") of 3.7

Tim Warman, Fiore's CEO commented, "We are pleased that gold production has trended back to normal levels and we hope to see further improvement in fiscal Q4 as we begin to irrigate fresh ore directly above the liner on the new leach pad. With Pan performing well, we plan to invest in an aggressive exploration program over the next 12-18 months covering our 200 km2 Pan and Gold Rock land package, as well as our newly acquired Illipah project. Given the success of previous drill programs at both Pan and Gold Rock, we are confident that this expanded exploration program will demonstrate the longer-term potential of our Nevada assets."

Technical Disclosure

The scientific and technical information relating to Fiore Gold's properties contained in this news release was approved by J. Ross MacLean (MMSA), Fiore Gold's Chief Operating Officer and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101.

Corporate Strategy

Our corporate strategy is to grow Fiore Gold into a 150,000 ounce per year gold producer. To achieve this, we intend to:

continue to grow gold production at the Pan Mine, while increasing the resource and reserve base

advance the development of the nearby Gold Rock project

acquire additional production or near-production assets to complement our existing operations

On behalf of FIORE GOLD LTD.

"Tim Warman"

Chief Executive Officer

Contact Us:

info@fioregold.com

1 (416) 639-1426 Ext. 1

www.fioregold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions, and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, gold production projections and trends, expectations for the new heap leach pad, acquisition of the Illipah project, advancing the exploration and development of the Gold Rock project, the Gold Rock feasibility study, success of the drilling program at Gold Rock, expected drill programs and their results for our Nevada assets, goal of growing gold production at the Pan Mine while increasing the resource and reserve base, goal to become a 150,000-ounce producer, goal to acquire additional production or near production assets, and other statements, estimates or expectations. Often, but not always, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "targets", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "scheduled", "estimates", "aims", "will", "believes", "projects" and similar expressions (including negative variations) which by their nature refer to future events. By their very nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Fiore Gold's control. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, as well as a number of assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company concerning, among other things, anticipated geological formations, potential mineralization, future plans for exploration and/or development, potential future production, ability to obtain permits for future operations, drilling exposure, and exploration budgets and timing of expenditures, all of which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Fiore Gold to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward looking statements include, but not limited to, risks related to the Pan Mine performance, risks related to the company's limited operating history; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic or future pandemics, including government restrictions impacting our operations, risks pandemics poses to our work-force, impact viruses may have on our ability to obtain services and materials from suppliers and contractors; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current or future exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in market prices of mining consumables; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results, test results and the estimation of gold resources and reserves; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work programs; availability of financing; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities; the possibility that required permits may not be maintained, obtained or renewed on a timely manner or at all; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Fiore Gold operates, and other factors identified in Fiore Gold's filing with Canadian securities authorities under its profile at www.sedar.com respecting the risks affecting Fiore Gold and its business. Although Fiore Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Fiore disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

SOURCE: Fiore Gold Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/654932/Fiore-Gold-Reports-Increased-Fiscal-Q3-Production-of-11756-Gold-Ounces-Cash-Position-of-US185-Million
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 12, 2021) - Palamina Corp. (TSX: PA) has signed a contract with Energold drilling Peru S.A.C. to carry out a diamond drill program at its flagship Usicayos Gold Project. Drilling is expected to commence in late July. No drill holes have ever been completed at Usicayos.





Figure 1

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The drill program at Usicayos will consist of 2,600 metres of drilling with the objective of testing multiple mineralized gold structures defined at surface in the Veta Zone. To date surface sampling has defined an 800 m by 200 m area with values from chip sampling returning values up to 620 g/t Au and channel sampling up to 123 g/t over 1m. Drill holes will test to a maximum vertical depth of 400 metres.

Andrew Thomson, President of Palamina stated "Energold has been contracted to mobilize a diamond drill to our flagship Usicayos Gold Project to test multiple mineralized gold structures in the Veta Zone. Gold mineralization in the Veta Zone can be traced over an 800 m strike length. Palamina intends to drill 12 holes totaling 2,600 metres in this first program then subsequently test the Cayos and Veta NE Zones. Drilling is expected to commence in the second half of July."





Figure 2

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At Usicayos geological mapping, surface and channel sampling has resulted in the discovery of a 2.4 km by 500 m anomalous gold trend made up of the Veta, Cayos & Veta NE Zones. These zones are located on the southwest flank of a later intrusion into the Ananea formation. Four sites with visible gold hosted in shale horizons have now been discovered by prospecting where no historic mining has taken place. Selective sampling has returned up to 620 g/t Au (19.9 oz/t Au) gold in the Veta Zone from an outcropping quartz vein; continuous channel sampling has returned up to 30.5 g/t Au over 3 m in the Cayos Zone; and continuous channel sampling has returned up to 90.3 g/t Au over 1.3 m in the Veta NE Zone. These results, along with heliborne geophysical survey work and a comprehensive structural study completed have played an important role in defining the Veta, Cayos & Veta NE Zones as priority drill targets.

Technical Information

Palamina drill core samples will be collected and logged in the field by Palamina staff and subsequently transported to Palamina's base of operations in Juliaca for cutting. One half of sawn core from sample intervals will be collected and transported by Palamina personnel to the Certimin S.A laboratory in Juliaca, Peru. Samples are processed by Certimin S.A in Juliaca and prepared sample splits are transported for assay to the CERTIMIN SA Laboratory in Lima, Peru. Samples are assayed for gold using a 50-gram fire assay charge with an AA finish. Samples are also analysed using a multi-element ICP-OES package. Prior to delivery of field exploration samples to the laboratory, Palamina staff insert coarse blank samples, field duplicates and certified gold analytical standards into the sample stream to provide controls over the quality of sampling and analytical procedures. No standards are inserted for the multi-element suite. All samples are returned to the Company and stored at a secure facility in Juliaca.

This press release was compiled and reviewed by Mr. William McGuinty, P. Geo., Palamina's VP Exploration. He is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the technical contents of this press release.

About Palamina Corp.

Palamina has first mover advantage on 4 district scale gold projects in south eastern Peru in the Puno Orogenic Gold Belt (POGB). Palamina is set to drill its flagship Usicayos Gold Project. The Company also has rights to a silver-copper project in the Santa Lucia district and two copper-gold projects in Southern Peru. Palamina holds an 18.6% equity interest in Winshear Gold Corp. who are advancing the Gaban Gold Project to the drill discovery phase. Palamina has 65,284,836 shares outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Andrew Thomson, President

Phone: (416) 204-7536 or visit www.palamina.com

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company appears in the Company's continuous disclosure filings, which are available under the company's profile at www.SEDAR.com and on the Palamina webpage.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/89967
Sandro Piancone Continues Spearheading Company's Expanding Operations as CEO

San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - July 12, 2021) - Green Globe International Inc. - Hempacco (OTC Pink: GGII) ("GGII") the leading herb and hemp cigarette manufacturer, in their mission of Disrupting Tobacco, today announced that current board member Dr. Stuart Titus will take on the additional role of Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately. In his new role, Dr. Stuart Titus will replace the Company's current Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hempacco's Founder Sandro Piancone, who will continue to work in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer and Board member of Green Globe International.

Dr. Stuart Titus is expected to leverage his extensive experience in corporate governance, corporate finance and operational insight to help guide the Company through the next stage of its expansion strategy. Dr. Stuart Titus began his career on Wall Street with CS First Boston, where he worked as a bond trader and underwriter for 11 years. During his career as a Physiotherapist, he earned a PhD degree from the Open International University which is a World Health Organization (WHO) chartered affiliate.

Dr. Stuart Titus, Green Globe Chairman of the Board



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"Stuart's vast industry experience, unique insight of the hemp and cannabis industries and knowledge of the public markets has proven invaluable to Green Globe," said Sandro Piancone, Chief Executive Officer of Green Globe International, Inc. "Given the increased demands as a new public company, I have asked Stuart to take on the additional role of Chairman of the Board, allowing me to dedicate more time to managing our expanding operations. As our new Chairman, we are fortunate to benefit from the caliber of proven industry and leadership experience Stuart provides as we continue to further drive Hempacco's mission of Disrupting Tobacco with herb and CBD cigarettes while positioning the company for long-term growth and profitability" concluded Mr. Sandro Piancone."

"I am excited to take on the additional role of Chairman of Green Globe - Hempacco and have the opportunity to leverage my years of industry experience to help the company solidify its position as the industry leader in the emerging herb and hemp CBD smokable market," said Dr. Stuart Titus. "I believe Hempacco's proven business model, experienced management team and proprietary intellectual property has positioned Hempacco and its shareholders to greatly benefit the industry's historic shift involving non-nicotine alternatives to tobacco-based cigarettes including herb and hemp CBD cigarettes. I look forward to assisting with public securities, building shareholder value, then possibly lead Company R&D efforts; all of which will allow Mr. Sandro Piancone to devote greater attention to his dual CEO and COO roles" concluded Dr. Stuart Titus.

About Green Global International Inc. (GGII) - Hempacco, Co. Inc.:

Green Global International Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Hempacco Co., Inc. are Disrupting Tobacco's nearly $1 Trillion industry with herb and hemp-based alternatives to nicotine cigarettes by manufacturing and marketing consumer goods, including Herb Smokables, CBG, and CBD Hemp cigarettes. The Company owns and licenses intellectual property, has conducted extensive research and development, and is engaged in manufacturing and sales of smokable Hemp brands, including The Real Stuff Hemp Smokables. Hempacco Co., Inc.'s operating segments include joint-venture private label agreements and sales, Intellectual Property licensing, and the development and sales of inhouse brands using patented counter displays as well as six hundred Kiosk vending machines called HempBoxes.

Add Your Name to Hempacco Investor Email List

To be added to GGII - Hempacco's investor email list to be kept apprised of all upcoming IR activities, please subscribe using this link: https://newsroom.newsfilecorp.com/lists/8020/490 , or for additional information, please call Investor Relations Partners at 323-380-4500.

You can purchase The Real Stuff Hemp Cigarettes by clicking here or copy-paste https://www.realstuffsmokables.com to your browser and get free samples of our Hemp Blunts. Wholesale distributors and retailers get wholesale pricing by calling (775) 473-1201.

Forward Looking and Cautionary Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements including opinions, assumptions, estimates, the Company's assessment of future plans and operations, including but not limited to information concerning a potential combination with Hempacco and the timing thereof. When used in this document, the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded based on expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be realized. Any number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to regulatory and third party approvals not being obtained in the manner or timing anticipated; the ability to implement corporate strategies; the state of domestic capital markets; the ability to obtain financing; changes in general market conditions; industry conditions and events; and other factors more fully described from time to time in the reports and filings made by the Company with OTC Markets Group, Inc. or the securities regulatory authorities. Except as required by applicable laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements publicly. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of relevant securities laws and considered forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

# # #

Company Contact:

Founder Sandro Piancone or

Co-Founder Jorge Olson

IR@HempaccoInc.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Harry Tajyar

htajyar@irpartnersinc.com

Phone: 323-380-4500

Here are other Press Release headlines from GGII - Hempacco:

GGII Announces 20 Billion Share Reduction in Issued and Outstanding Common Stock

GGII Green Globe - Hempacco to Be Featured in New Hemp and Cannabis Documentary Debuting at Sonoma Film Festival

GGII Green Globe - Hempacco Announces New Initiative to License Their Technology to Manufacture Cannabis Cigarettes

GGII Green Globe - Hempacco Receives Purchase Order for 250,000 packs of CBD Hemp Cigarettes from Ace & Axle, The Largest in Company History

GGII Green Globe - Hempacco launches CalivibesDelta8.com & Signs Joint Venture Agreement to launch Calivibes Delta8 Hemp Cigarettes with a 50% Ownership Stake

GGII Green Globe - Hempacco to Produce a Portfolio of Flavored Hemp Paper Wraps or Hemp Blunts, with the First Order of $230,000

GGII Green Globe - Hempacco Files Patent Application for Cigarette Filter Infusion Technology for Cannabis, Tobacco, Herb, and Hemp Cigarettes, Furthering Their Mission of Disrupting Tobacco

Green Globe - GGII Licenses Patent for Terpene Spraying Technology from Open Book Extracts, Furthering their Mission of Disrupting Tobacco

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/89957
- The Gamaleya Center is actively studying emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 to access efficacy of Sputnik V against new strains as the virus is still evolving in various parts of the world.

- Study methodology is described in the research paper published in Vaccines leading international journal.

- The real world data obtained during the vaccination of the population in a number of countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Serbia, Bahrain, Hungary, San-Marino, UAE and others, demonstrates that Sputnik V is one of the safest and most effective vaccines against coronavirus.

MOSCOW, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) today announced strong results of the study on neutralizing activity of sera from individuals vaccinated with Sputnik V vaccine against new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination with Sputnik V has produced protective neutralizing titers against new variants, including Alpha B.1.1.7 (first identified in UK), Beta B.1.351 (first identified in South Africa), Gamma P.1 (first identified in Brazil), Delta B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3 (first identified in India) and Moscow endemic variants B.1.1.141 and B.1.1.317 with mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD).

The methodology was based on the assessment of virus neutralizing activity (VNA) using the live virus, which provides the most reliable data and is the gold standard. It compared neutralizing activity of Sputnik V induced sera to the internationally relevant variants with the neutralizing activity to the ancestral B.1.1.1 variant. The sera were obtained from individuals after vaccination with 2 doses of Sputnik V.

The study methodology was described in the research paper published in Vaccines leading international journal on July 12, 2021.

Virus neutralizing activity assay is not directly related to effectiveness of a vaccine.

The data confirms that Sputnik V remains protective against newly detected variants. Notably, Sputnik V demonstrated significantly less of a reduction in its virus neutralizing activity against a number of variants compared to data from other vaccine producers, which had earlier confirmed efficacy of their vaccines against new variants of coronavirus.

The Gamaleya Center is actively studying emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 to access VNA and efficacy of Sputnik V against new strains as the virus is still evolving in various parts of the world. The Gamaleya Center and RDIF are also studying new opportunities to develop vaccine cocktails jointly with other leading COVID vaccine producers using the first component of Sputnik V.

To date, Sputnik V has been registered in 67 countries globally with a total population of over 3.5 billion people. The real world data obtained during the vaccination of the population in a number of countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Serbia, Bahrain, Hungary, San-Marino, UAE and others, demonstrates that Sputnik V is one of the safest and most effective vaccines against coronavirus.

Alexander Gintsburg, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, said:

"Our studies have demonstrated strong results of Sputnik V against new variants of SARS-CoV-2. We receive more evidence of the ability of coronavirus to transform and mutate across the globe. Today Sputnik V is one of the most effective vaccines against both original and new variants of coronavirus thanks to its unique approach of using two different adenoviral vectors as a delivery mechanism."

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), commented:

"Sputnik V pioneered the vaccine cocktail approach with two shots. The tests conducted by the Gamaleya Center have demonstrated validity of this approach as the virus neutralizing activity against new strains, which are more dangerous and infectious, remains higher than that of many other vaccines. RDIF will continue supporting further studies of efficacy of Sputnik V against new strains while also analyzing opportunities to partner with other leading vaccine producers for developing vaccine cocktails using the first shot of Sputnik V."

Sputnik V is based on a human adenoviral vector platform. The safety of vaccines based on human adenoviruses has been confirmed in more than 75 international publications and more than 250 clinical trials conducted during the past two decades - while the history of use of human adenoviruses in vaccine development started in 1953.

Adenoviral vectors are genetically modified viruses of the regular flu that cannot reproduce in a human body. When the Sputnik V vaccine is used, the coronavirus itself does not enter the body as the vaccine only contains genetic information about part of its outer protein coat, the so called "spikes" forming its crown. This completely eliminates the possibility of getting infected as a result of vaccination while also causing the body's stable immune response.

The Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation is one of the oldest research centers in Russia, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1991. The main focus of the center's research is the fundamental problems in epidemiology, medical and molecular microbiology, and infectious immunology. More information can be found at www.gamaleya.org

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB2 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru

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Adamo Screnci appointed Deputy CEO

Grenoble, July 12, 2021 - Following today's Board meeting, HRS , a European designer and manufacturer of hydrogen refueling stations, announces the appointment of Adamo Screnci as Deputy CEO of the Company, which he will join on September 1, 2021.

OVER 15 YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN THE HYDROGEN DEVELOPMENT SECTOR

A graduate of the Grenoble Institute of Technology and INSEAD, Adamo Screnci held a number of management positions before joining Air Liquide in 2000, where he developed an interest in hydrogen. He was appointed Vice-President Sales and Marketing and Executive Committee member in the Advanced Technologies division.

Convinced of the importance of the role played by hydrogen in the construction of a decarbonized world, he joined McPhy during its early days in 2009. He contributed to all phases of the start-up's development before becoming Deputy CEO in 2015. In 2017, he joined German group Thyssenkrupp as global head of business development for green hydrogen and decarbonization, where he established the group as a key player in the decarbonization and hydrogen sector. In 2020, he took over the reins of the Hydrogen division of TotalEnergies, carrying out numerous projects alongside some of the industry's leading players before joining HRS.

Adamo Screnci has also been involved in various key organizations in the global development of the hydrogen sector:

2015 - Vice President of the Strategic Committee of the Italian Association for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells;

2017 - Vice President, Industrial Innovation & International at Fondation E5T;

2018 - Advisor to the Organizing Committee of the Hydrogen Vehicle Fuel Cell Congress (China);

2021 - Board member of the Dii Desert Energy MENA Hydrogen Alliance.

With over 30 years' experience working for major international groups and start-ups, he has contributed to the development of new markets, the signing of global alliances and the creation of key players, combining commercial growth and economic sense. Adamo Screnci will take up his role as Deputy CEO of HRS on September 1, 2021.

Backed by operational and commercial results that are fully in line with its IPO roadmap, HRS is ideally positioned to reach all its short and medium-term objectives, making the Company a genuine European leader in hydrogen refueling stations.

Hassen Rachedi, Founding Chairman & CEO, said: "We are delighted to welcome Adamo Screnci among the management team at HRS, a global leader in the development of the hydrogen sector committed to energy transition for many years. He brings with him his knowledge of key hydrogen ecosystem players coupled with extensive operational, commercial and executive management expertise. We share the same strategic vision and goal of making HRS the European leader in hydrogen refueling stations."

Adamo Screnci, Deputy CEO, said: "I'm thrilled to join HRS, which over many years has developed unrivaled expertise and technological proficiency in hydrogen refueling stations and now boasts one of the most advanced offerings on the market. Investment in infrastructure is key to the development of hydrogen-based mobility. HRS is in a position of great strength and I am convinced of our capacity to become a leading player in the French and European market."

ABOUT HRS

Founded in 2004, Hydrogen-Refueling-Solutions (HRS), formerly TSM, is pioneer in hydrogen mobility. European designer and manufacturer of hydrogen refuelling stations, for over ten years, the Company has been committed to reducing transport emissions.

Thanks to its unique experience and know-how, HRS has developed a complete range of hydrogen refuelling stations for all types of fuel cell vehicles that is perfectly suited to the needs of a fast-growing European market. At its Champ-sur-Drac site, HRS has mass production capacities that enable it to assemble up to 60 units per year in record time, in as little as 8 weeks. The Company posted 2019-2020 revenue of 2.6 million. As of December 31, 2020, the company had 34 employees. (ISIN code: FR0014001PM5 - ticker symbol: ALHRS).

CONTACTS

Investor Relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Gregoire SAINT-MARC

hrs@actus.fr

Tel. +33 1 53 67 36 94 Press Relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Anne Catherine BONJOUR

acbonjour@actus.fr

Tel. +33 1 53 67 36 93

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- A driving force for the use of nonstick cookware is the increased usage of social media for marketing and promotions of such items and recipes linked to it

- Rising consumer purchasing power and consistent availability of new products to lead to nonstick cookware market to expand at healthy 4.1% CAGR from 2019- 2027

ALBANY, N.Y., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonstick cookware refers to a surface-engineered utensil designed to lower the hazard of food products sticking to it. Cookware with a nonstick coating helps to saute food items without adhering to the pan, which is likely to support growth of global nonstick cookware market in the years to come. Nonstick surfaces are often used to describe polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated surfaces with a well-known "teflon" trademark. Nonstick coatings such as enamelled iron coated, Ceramic Coating, Anodized Aluminum coated, Teflon coated and others have been marketed as well as sold in the twenty-first century.

This industry is rapidly changing due to technological advancements and changing customer tastes. Businesses have always made an effort to keep track of new advancements and breakthroughs, such as electric cookware and smart kitchen appliances, in this field. Manufacturers, for example, are offering specialised cookware for frying poultry, fish, and other types of meat, as meat demands well-coated cookware. Such innovations in the field are estimated to encourage growth of the global nonstick cookware market over the analysis timeline, from 2019 to 2027.

Strong expertise with attention to detail makes our market research reports stand apart. Request a sample - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=32549

The global nonstick cookware market is expected to grow at a rate of 4.1% CAGR from 2019 to 2027, reaching around US$ 28.1 Bn through 2027. Nonstick cookware can be customised to meet specific needs, which may include colour, size, and form. As some cuisines need a specific type of pot, one that uses less oil and warms up rapidly to save time.

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Key Findings of Market Report

Increasing Consumer Awareness about the Benefits of Nonstick Cookware to Raise Demand

Over the last few years, the cookware industry has seen a significant transformation. Customers traditionally followed the conventional catering strategy in terms of procedures, containers, and recipes amongst other things. People have begun to make new selections and move toward a more contemporary style as the world becomes smarter and better with smart kitchen appliances. Nonstick cookware has a number of benefits including easy cleanup and the use of less fuel when cooking. Many of the promotions, inventions, and recipes linked to cooking are given as a result of increased usage of social media, which is likely to act as a driving force for the use of nonstick cookware. In addition to that, use of sophisticated technology induce users to choose nonstick cookware rather than traditional cookware. During the forecast period, these factors are likely to fuel the expansion of the global nonstick cookware aftermarket.

Thicker Coatings of Ceramic to Provide Longer Lifespan to Nonstick Cookware Items

In the realm of nonstick cookware, ceramic is a relatively recent material. It is often regarded as the most ecologically friendly and the safest choice available. PFOA and PTFE are not present in ceramic material. Ceramic cookware is a relatively young technology, with considerable improvements in quality in the recent years. Ceramic coatings are becoming thicker as companies add more sheets of the material. Longer lifespans are associated with thicker coatings. However, global sales of ceramic coating are being driven by growing demand for toxin-free products. One of the best examples of a contemporary household appliance is ceramic coated electric cookware. This cookware is powered by electricity, as the name implies. Electric nonstick cookware usage is expected to rise because of expanding urban populations and an ever-increasing middle class in developing nations like India and China.

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Nonstick Cookware Market: Growth Drivers

People who live in cities regard kitchenware mostly as a lifestyle item and, as a result, acquire nonstick cookware, which is more expensive than conventional cookware. The demand for energy-saving, smart nonstick kitchen appliances is being driven by a shifting consumer trend toward technology-driven, smart items.

One of the biggest examples of a contemporary household appliance is electric cookware. Electric nonstick cookware usage is expected to rise because of expanding urban populations and an ever-increasing middle class in developing nations.

Nonstick Cookware Market: Key Competitors

Farberware Licensing Company, LLC

Calphalon (Newell Brands LLC)

Conair Corporation & Hawkins Cookers Limited

TTK Prestige limited

Gibson Brands, Inc.

Bradshaw International, Inc.

Nonstick Cookware Market: Segmentation

Material

Teflon coated

Anodized Aluminum coated

Ceramic Coating

Enameled Iron Coated

Distribution Channel

Online

Offline

Consumer Goods and Services Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Stay Updated on the Latest Trends in Consumer Goods & Services Market @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/consumer-goods-market-reports-7.html

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Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 12, 2021 / Rockland Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Rockland") (CSE:RKL) reports that exploration at the Cole Gold Mines Property has been paused due to forest fire activity west of Red Lake. Several forest fires are currently active 10 to 30 km west of the Cole Property. Of these fires, Fire 77 is significant in that has the potential to reach the west shore of Red Lake and make the situation unsafe for work on the Cole Property. Company personnel had been in communication with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Red Lake Fire Management Headquarters and on July 11, 2020 the MNRF requested that all of the Company's personnel vacate the site.

All of Rockland Resources' staff and contractors have been demobilized from the Project and are safe and accounted for. The Property is not in immediate danger from forest fires, however, the Company is monitoring the situation closely. Subject to the resumption of safe working conditions, the drilling program announced on July 7, 2021 is currently planned to restart on July 25, 2021. The Company would like to thank Bow Narrows Camp, Red Lake, for their support in the demobilization.

About the Cole Gold Mines Property

Rockland Resources Ltd. is acquiring a 100-per-cent interest in the Cole Gold Mines Property, located in Ball township, Red Lake Mining Divison, Ontario. The Property consists of 28 mining claims (568 ha) located 30 km west of the Cochenour, Campbell, Red Lake mine complex owned and operated by Evolution Mining. The Property represents a rare opportunity to explore a strategically located asset in one of the most active, prolific producing mining districts in Canada. The property hosts high-grade gold values in a classic Red Lake-type quartz vein and silica-sulphide replacement zones.

About Rockland Resources Ltd.

Rockland Resources is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Canada. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration program on the properties. In addition to the Cole Gold Property, Rockland is exploring the Summit Old Timer Property that consists of three (3) mineral claims covering an area of 1,915 hectares located approximately 17 km southeast of the City of Nelson, within the Nelson Mining Division, British Columbia.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Richard Sutcliffe

President and Director

For further information, please contact:

Mike England

Email: mike@engcom.ca

Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).

SOURCE: Rockland Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/655184/Rockland-Resources-Pauses-Exploration-at-Cole-Gold-Mines-Project-Red-Lake-Ontario-Due-to-Forest-Fires
Bradenton, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 12, 2021) - 808 Renewable Energy Corporation (OTC Pink: RNWR) ("808" or the "Company"), today releases the photos and product specifications of its first entry-level electric trike vehicle "Orca Roadster," which it is a product of international cooperation program and will be ready for the North America market in Q-4 this year.

According to Mr. David Chen, President & CEO and the company, "Orca Roadster is a fun to drive, and very affordable to own, 100% pure plug-in electric reverse trike. It is deemed as an autocycle, so it does not require a motorcycle nor motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license to drive in most of the states in the U.S. The Company will recruit a number of local resellers in certain geographic areas in the Sunbelt States, and set up some mall locations as the Tesla business model in Florida to launch this vehicle soon. We are working on our other models aggressively at the moment, and we are very excited to roll out our next model which it is a lot more powerful and much faster in the very near future. "

There is a short video here: https://youtu.be/HvorQdJbObg.





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The Company's electric vehicle division website is currently under construction at the moment, it will be completed by the end of next month: https://silverlightev.com/.

Brand Name SilverLight Electric Vehicle ( Florida ) WMI ( World Manufacturer Identification ) 4S9 NHTSA Manufacturer Number 20744 Model Orca Roadster Vehicle Type Plug-In Electric Reverse-Trike Vehicle MSRP $ 9,990. Dimension 2620 X 1620 X 800 mm Number of Seats Two ( 2 ) Front Wheels 185 / 30 - R14 Rear Wheel 270 / 30 - R14 Wheel Base 1670 mm Ground Clearance 100 mm Brake Type ( Front / Rear ) Disc / Disc Front Suspension Double Arm - Swing Rear Suspension Integra Net Weight 250 Kg / 550 lbs Gross Weight 280 Kg / 616 lbs Maximum Power 11.8 kw / 6000 Maximum Torque ( N.M / R / Min ) ( 30 ) / 2000 Maximum Speed 110 KM / H ( 70 MPH ) Electric Motor 4.0 KW Battery 72V50Ah Lithium-Ion Battery Transmission D + N + R Charge Time 3 - 6 Hours Cruise Distance 2 - 3 Hours ( approx. 120 miles ) Available Colors Black, Red, Yellow, Silver and White





< MSRP Starting at: $ 9,990. >

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements using the words "hope," "anticipate," "may" and statements regarding the potential growth of the Company, and future plans and objectives of the Company and SilverLight, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

SilverLight International Group

SilverLight Aviation, LLC is one of the only two autogyro (gyrocopter) aircraft manufacturers in the U.S. and it is based in Zephyrhills, Florida, specializing in the design and manufacture of gyroplane aircraft in the form of kits or ready to fly aircraft. Its sister company - SilverLight Electric Vehicles Inc., is an electric reverse-trike vehicle and low-speed EV manufacturer (WMI # 4S9 & NHTSA # 20744) based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.





SilverLight Ranger AR-1



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Investor Contact :

David Chen, President - (631) 397-1111



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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 12, 2021) - Great Thunder Gold Corp. (CSE: GTG) (OTC Pink: GTGFF) (FSE: M4KQ) ("Great Thunder" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has expanded its Bursey property by acquiring the Bursey East claims in Newfoundland, Canada.

The Company has acquired an additional 2 claim blocks located 45 kilometres ("km") northeast of Gander, NL (Figure 1). The Bursey Properties (the "Property") lie along the GRUB line, a crustal scale structural corridor believed to be one of the major fluid conduits related to the Gander Gold belt and New Found Gold's "Keats Zone" hosting bonanza high-grade gold mineralization.





Figure 1: GRUB and Bursey & Bursey East (orange circled claims) claim group along the GRUB Fault line



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Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, Great Thunder acquires 100% interest in the Bursey East claims from the vendors by paying $5,500 and issuing 100,000 shares immediately. The vendor will retain a 1% net smelter returns royalty.

Bursey Property

The Property lies along the GRUB Fault, a crustal scale fault zone that divides the Gander Zone from the Exploits Subzone and extends over 200 km in a southwest trend (see Figure 1). The GRUB structural corridor and related splay faulting hosts the Appleton Fault and JBP Fault home to the Queensway Gold Project of New Found Gold that reportedly contains 2 gold discoveries, the Keats and Lotto Zones, and an additional 10 high grade gold showings https://newfoundgold.ca/project/queensway-project/.

The Bursey Property is located over and adjacent to a carbonatized ultramafic unit with quartz-carbonate veining known as the Gander River Ultramafic Belt. The spatial relationship of gold mineralization to faults zones with carbonatized ultramafic rocks suggests a comparison to the Mother Lode Belt in California, a general deposit model where the carbonatization of ultramafic rocks and the development of gold veins in and above thrusts, reverse and normal faults has been used as a guide for exploration in these areas. Since the initial phase of exploration in the 1980's no further work has been completed on the claim groups.

Qualified Person

Mr. Mike Kilbourne, P. Geo, an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.

The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the Bursey and GRUB properties particularly regarding historical exploration, neighbouring companies, and government geological work. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Property but may not be representative of expected results.

About Great Thunder Gold

Great Thunder Gold is a Canadian junior mining exploration company focused on mineral projects located in Quebec & Newfoundland, Canada.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

GREAT THUNDER GOLD CORP.

"Blair Naughty"

President & CEO

Investor Relations

Email: info@greatthundergold.com

Direct Line: (236) 513-4653

www.greatthundergold.com

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/90009
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / July 12, 2021 / The following Aberdeen Standard Investments U.S. Closed-End Funds announced today that the closed end funds in the chart directly below will pay the distributions indicated on a per share basis on July 30, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of July 23, 2021 (ex-dividend date July 22, 2021).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ACP NYSE Aberdeen Income Credit Strategies Fund $ 0.10 AGD NYSE Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.065 AOD NYSE Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0575 ASGI NYSE Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Income Fund $ 0.1083 AWP NYSE Aberdeen Global Premier Properties Fund $ 0.04 FAX NYSE American Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0275 FCO NYSE American Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.07

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of each fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. You should not draw any conclusions about any of these fund's investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY FUNDS

ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Income Fund ('ASGI')

Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. ('FAX')

The above-noted Aberdeen Standard Investments U.S. Closed-End Funds (the 'Funds' or individually the 'Fund'), today announced that the Funds will pay the distributions noted in the chart above on July 30, 2021, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of July 23, 2021 (ex-dividend date July 22, 2021).

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital in reliance on an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal

year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of

the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the '1940 Act') and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions to be paid as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

Each Fund's estimated sources of the current distributions to be paid and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $ 0.1083 $ 0.0227 21 % $ 0.0856 79 % - - - - FAX $ 0.0275 $ 0.0140 51 % - - - - $ 0.0135 49 %

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Fiscal Year* to Date Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $ 1.0830 $ 0.2275 21 % $ 0.8555 79 % - - - - FAX $ 0.2475 $ 0.1262 51 % - - - - $ 0.1213 49 %

*ASGI has a 9/30 fiscal year end; FAX has a 10/31 fiscal year end.

**includes currency gains

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a 'Return of Capital,' it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income.'

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 05/31/2021  Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV  Cumulative Total Return on NAV  Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV  ASGI 21.21%3 5.64% 24.77% 4.23% FAX 4.56% 7.08% 5.41% 4.72%

1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of June 30, 2021.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through June 30, 2021.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the 'Distribution Policy').

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held,

capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount)

the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact Investor.Relations@aberdeenstandard.com https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter/fund-centre/closed-end-funds https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter/fund-centre/closed-end-funds



For More Information Contact:

Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.

Investor Relations

800-522-5465

SOURCE: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/655214/Aberdeen-Standard-Investments-US-Closed-End-Funds-Announce-Distribution-Payment-Details


NEW BRUNSWICK (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reportedly planning to announce a new warning on Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) coronavirus vaccine linking it to a rare neurological condition.



According to the Washington Post, federal health officials are investigating the possibility that Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine might slightly raise the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Nearly 100 reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome have been detected in the US after vaccination with the J&J vaccine. Most of them are 50 or older. Around 12.8 million people have received the one-dose jab in the country.



Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks nerves. Weakness and tingling in extremities are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing the whole body. The condition may be triggered by an acute bacterial or viral infection.



Meanwhile, even if the vaccine does raise the risk of the syndrome, it's still better to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, a CDC spokesperson said, according to CNN.



'Reports of GBS after receipt of the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) are rare but do likely indicate a small possible risk of this side effect following this vaccine. Around 100 preliminary reports of GBS have been detected in VAERS after 12.8 million doses of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine administered. These cases have largely been reported about two weeks after vaccination and mostly in males, many aged 50 years and older,' the CDC spokesperson said.



These kinds of cases have not been reported with Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines. However, last week, European regulators had recommended a similar warning for AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.



The latest development is another setback for Johnson & Johnson after its vaccine was temporarily halted in mid-April after six recipients developed a rare blood clotting disorder. The FDA later lifted the ban after reaching a conclusion that the vaccine's benefits outweigh the risk from the blood clotting issue.



Further, last month, the company had to throw away about 60 million vaccines produced at the problem-plagued Emergent BioSolutions plant due to possible contamination.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

JOHNSON & JOHNSON-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
BillionToOne, Inc., a Menlo Park, Calif.-based molecular diagnostics company, closed a $55m Series B funding round.

The round, announced in June 2021, was led by existing investor Hummingbird Ventures and incoming investor Four Rivers Group with participation from Neotribe Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Y Combinator, and Libertus Capital.

The company is using the funds to expand its the clinical lab, as well as its commercial team nationwide.

Co-founded by Oguzhan Atay, Ph.D. and David Tsao, Ph.D., and also led by Jennifer Hoskovec, MS, CGC, Director of Medical Affairs, BillionToOne is a precision diagnostics company whose its patent-pending QCT molecular counter platform can count DNA molecules at the single-count level. Its flagship product, UNITY, is a noninvasive prenatal screening that tests fetal cell-free DNA for cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and hemoglobinopathies through maternal blood.

FinSMEs

12/07/2021
Verdigris Holdings, Inc., the Phoenix, AZ-based parent company of BrightFi, a technology and operations platform to deliver banking solutions, closed a strategic B funding round of undisclosed amount.

Backers included Sterling National Bank, FIFO Capital, and Tom Ricketts, founder of Incapital, now InspereX, and chairman of the Chicago Cubs.

The company intends to use the funds to add to its technical, sales and operations headcount and grow its product and feature offerings for both non-bank and community bank customers.

Led by Michael Coghlan, chief executive officer, BrightFi delivers a cloud-based banking as a service platform that lets financial institutions and non-banks configure, test and deploy digital banking products and bring financial services to communities that need them most.

FinSMEs

12/07/2021
Geneva, NY (14456)

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Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 74F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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After facing multiple hurdles when trying to rollout their new privacy policy, WhatsApp has now told the Delhi High Court that they will hold back on rolling out the update until the new Personal Data Protection Bill comes into force.

Back in January 2021, WhatsApp introduced a new privacy policy and terms of service update, and it received a lot of backlash from its userbase over its data-sharing practices. Since then, they have gone back and forth with the rollout, announcing restriction of features for those who dont accept the policy and then going back on that move after Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sent a letter to WhatsApp.

In March, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) announced an investigation into WhatsApp for possibly violating competition laws. In response, WhatsApp and Facebook, took to the courts to appeal against the CCIs probe order.

During the court hearing, WhatsApp committed to putting their privacy policy update rollout on hold until the Parliament passes the Personal Data Protection Bill, which has been tabled for the upcoming monsoon session. The Personal Data Protection Bill, when passed, is designed to introduce regulations into how an Indian citizens personal data can be used by the government and private companies.

In the meantime, WhatsApp will continue to show the update to its users, however it will refrain from forcing users to accept it. WhatsApp will not implement the policy until the Parliament allows it.

Via
ELBERTA, Ala. (WALA) -- Josh Hines has fought many fires for the Elberta Fire Department, but he now faces another fight.

For years, he has suffered from a rare disease and has been in need of a kidney transplant. Recently, complications from his condition, forced doctors in Georgia to amputate both of his legs.

Family and friends of Josh say despite these struggles, he always had a warriors spirit.

"He never complained about his disease that he has and he just kept battling. He never showed it around us," Elberta Fire Chief Nick Scheer said.

That drive is what made Hines committed to being a volunteer firefighter for more than a decade, starting when he was just a teenager.

"He's been a huge asset for Elberta Fire Department and the community. He loved his community, loves his department, said Scheer.

And now the department and the Elberta community hope they can give back to him.

The fire department will be holding a fundraiser on August 7th and silent auction to raise money for Hines and his family.

All proceeds will go to Hines' medical bill, general necessities, and home modifications. click here to donate.
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) -- A late-night shooting in Mobile left a man dead and a woman injured.

Investigators were called to Vienna Avenue off of Overlook around just after midnight on July 11.

Officers found Davion Holder, 19, and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Holder died from his injuries. The woman was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition.

No other details were released by Mobile Police investigators. They are asking anyone with information to call 251-208-7211.
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) -- A 74-year-old woman who was pulled from a backyard swimming pool in a West Mobile neighborhood Monday morning has died, according to a spokesman for the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department.

The woman was found in her powered wheelchair at the bottom of the pool. Firefighters removed her from the pool, and she was rushed to a local hospital, MFRD says.

This happened around 9 a.m. in the 1600 block Abbeywood Drive, off Hillcrest Road.

A Mobile police spokesman told FOX10 News the MPD is investigating the incident as a possible suicide.
Former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham talks during an interview with The Associated Press about his campaign for South Carolina governor on Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Mount Pleasant, S.C. Cunningham says he wants to legalize marijuana in South Carolina, something he says would provide healthcare options, create jobs and generate millions in revenue for the state. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
Police search the Morne Calvaire district of Petion Ville for suspects who remain at large in the murder of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, July 9, 2021. Moise was assassinated on July 7 after armed men attacked his private residence and gravely wounded his wife, first lady Martine Moise. (AP Photo/Joseph Odelyn)
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FILE  In this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 file photo Esther Bejarano, who survived former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, performs a hip-hop song during an Auschwitz-Committee event to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviet Army on January 27, 1945, in Hamburg, Germany. Bejarano has died on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at the age of 96 in Hamburg, Germany. (AP Photo/Heribert Proepper, file)
Galveston, TX (77553)

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Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

One rainless night while surveying for amphibians during a project in Virginia, Devan-Songs spotlight detected numerous eastern spadefoots. That surprised her because the toads were thought to be detectable only on a few rainy nights every year when they emerge from underground burrows to mate in wetlands.

She continued looking for eastern spadefoots and kept finding them on dry nights, including in upland forest locales not close to any damp areas. Spadefoots remain still when spotlighted so it was easy for Devan-Song to approach and positively identify the toads.

They need to get above ground to hunt for insects and build up energy stores for mating, she said. Thats why we were finding them when and where conventional wisdom said we werent supposed to be finding them.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

She tried spotlighting for spadefoots when she returned to Rhode Island; it took her just 15 minutes to find one. The success led to a 10-night survey in a pair of locations last summer that produced 42 sightings, nearly double the number of eastern spadefoot toad sightings in Rhode Island over the previous seven decades.
The old Nicaraguan revolutionary, with his receding hairline and the goatee that he had finally let turn grey, spoke calmly into the camera as police swarmed toward his house, hidden behind a high wall in a leafy Managua neighborhood. Surveillance drones, he said, were watching overhead.

Decades earlier, Hugo Torres had been a revered guerrilla in the fight against right-wing dictator Anastasio Somoza. In 1974, hed taken a group of top officials hostage, then traded them for the release of imprisoned comrades. Among those prisoners was Daniel Ortega, a Marxist bank robber who would become Nicaraguas elected president and later its authoritarian ruler.

And on this hot Sunday in mid-June, amid a weekslong clampdown to obliterate nearly every hint of opposition, Ortega had his old savior arrested.

History is on our side, Torres said in the video, which was quickly uploaded onto social media. The end of the dictatorship is close.

But history -- at least recent history -- is not on Torres side. In the last few months, the growing ranks of dictators have flexed their muscles, and freedom has been in retreat.
Local

top story centerpiece

Thrills and smiles: People with disabilities get a chance to water ski

Anthony Wahl Zackary Moes, center, smiles as Grace Petzold, left, and Tony Ianno assist on each side during an adaptive water skiing experience provided by Graceful Wakes at Traxler Park in Janesville on Friday for people with physical and mental disabilities. Petzold started the nonprofit as a 15-year-old after witnessing her mother, who uses a wheelchair, water ski for the first at a similar event in Florida.

JANESVILLE

It is difficult to convey the intensity with which Bryanna Pettera uttered these words:

Daddy, I did it! It was awesome!

Dripping wet from the Rock River in Traxler Park, the 9-year-old had just finished water skiing for the first time.

She was one of 42 people with disabilities who skied on a special rig pulled by those powerful boats that pull water skiers during local show ski tournaments.

Bryanna, who has Down syndrome, was frightened before taking to the water. She covered her eyes with her hands, said her father, Alic Mattingly.

But not afterward.

Awe-some! the diminutive Edgerton girl repeated several times, the word seeming to emanate from the core of her being.

An organization called Graceful Wakes provided the equipment and 50-plus volunteers to get 42 skiers with disabilities on the water. Many were skiing for the first time, strapped into a chair mounted on a single ski about 12 inches wide.

Anthony Wahl Grace Petzold started the nonprofit Graceful Wakes at 15 after witnessing her mother, who uses a wheelchair, water ski for the first at an adaptive water skiing event in Florida.

Two side skiers skied alongside, providing encouragement and stability. The side-skiers spent most of their time doubled over so they could keep their hands on the novices and give guidance.

More volunteersmany from the local Rock Aqua Jays ski teamhelped the skiers in and out of their rigs in the shallows in front of the grandstand.

Tony Sanchez, 20, of West Allis, also returned from the river with a smile. Tony has autism and epilepsy and doesnt speak.

Tonys mother, Hani, said she signed up after seeing a notice of the event on Facebook.

I figured it would be a great experience for him because hes going into surgery next week, she said.

The surgery will implant a device that sends electrical impulses to stop or at least help with epilepsy attacks, Hani said.

It worked out well. Tony ascended from the shoreline smiling and got a kiss from his mother

Ive never seen anything like this before. What an opportunity for my son, Hani said. I never thought hed be water skiing. It didnt seem possible.

Anthony Wahl Tony Sanchez, 20, of West Allis, cruises along the Rock River with the help of Allie Krumrai, left, and Sean McGinnis during an adaptive water skiing opportunity provided by Graceful Wakes on Friday at Traxler Park in Janesville.

Bethany Austin, 30, has a learning disability and was terrified before she was towed up and down the river, said her mother, Robin Austin of Janesville.

She was crying before we came, Robin said. I was really excited for her because she needs to do things she has never done before, and this will push her. She stays home most of the time.

I was really shaking, Bethany said.

But before the boat reached the nearby Veterans Memorial Bridge, she was having fun.

Bethany returned to the shore with a huge grin on her face, as did many others.

The 42 who signed up to ski Friday was a record for the organization. Many stayed around for a second or third trip up and down the river with water spraying and wind in their faces.

We usually let them go as many times as they want, said Grace Petzold, the 20-year-old from Mequon who started the organization five years ago.

No one gets too scared. We take it slow, said Petzold, who skis with the Aqua Jays.

The skiers reach speeds of about 20 mph, which can seem a lot faster than it is.

Petzold was 15 when her mother, who uses a wheelchair, skied for the first at an adaptive water skiing event in Florida with her husband and daughter.

Wendy Petzold, recalled what came next: Grace said, Mom, Dad, I want to do this for others.

Grace, now a pre-medical student at the University of Pennsylvania, learned about nonprofit status, fundraising and business sponsorships in order to buy the equipment and a trailer to haul it and to keep the free service going.

I work on it year-round, she said.

Anthony Wahl Bryanna Pettera, 9, of Edgerton, is strapped into an adaptive water ski by volunteer Rosemary Angsten during a skiing opportunity at Traxler Park in Janesville for people with physical and mental disabilities hosted Friday by nonprofit group Graceful Wakes.

Except for last year, when a planned event in Janesville was one of many that had to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

I get paid in smiles. Our clinics are the highlights of my summers, Grace said.

Wendy worked the registration table Friday while her husband, Andrew, drove one of the boats. The events are highlights for the whole family, Wendy said.

Their rewards were apparent when first-timers stepped out of the water, triumphant and glowing.

And if they wanted to see those smiles again, all they had to do was ask if the novice skiers wanted to do it again.

The ear-to-ear grins would reappear, and as Bethany Austin put it:

Yeah!
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Gillette, WY (82718)

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Mainly clear skies. Low 63F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Volvo's engine plant in Skovde, Sweden, will continue to produce low-emission powertrains, transmissions, and hybrid solutions for the automaker for the next half decade or so as the company moves toward full electrification. (Volvo)
Los Angeles, CA, July 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CurrencyWorks Inc. (CurrencyWorks or the Company), (CSE: CWRK and OTCQB: CWRK), a blockchain pioneer, NFT, and digital payment provider, today announced that it has entered into securities purchase agreements with institutional investors for the purchase of 4,687,500 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 4,687,500 shares of common stock in a registered direct offering. The purchase price for one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock is $0.80. The warrants have an exercise price of $1.00 per share, will be immediately exercisable and expire five years from the issue date. The offering is expected to close on or about July 14, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

The gross proceeds from the offering are expected to be $3.75 million, before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate or working capital purposes.

The securities described above are being offered pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement (File No. 333-255477) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 23, 2021 and declared effective on May 4, 2021. Such securities may be offered only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. A prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering of the securities will be filed with the SEC. Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering of the securities may be obtained, when available, on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (646) 975-6996 or by email at placements@hcwco.com.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor there any sales of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

About CurrencyWorks

CurrencyWorks Inc. (CSE: CWRK and OTCQB: CWRK) is a publicly traded company that builds and operates blockchain platforms for digital currencies, assets, and tokens.

Company Contact

Bruce Elliott, President

Phone: 424-570-9446

Bruce.elliott@currencyworks.io

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things: statements regarding the intended use of proceeds and the expected closing date of the offering. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Risks and uncertainties about the Companys business are more fully discussed in the Companys disclosure materials, including its prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to this offering/Periodic Reports on Form 8-K and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulators and which can be obtained from either at www.sec.gov or www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements except to the extent required by law.
Pune, India, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cannabis market has been estimated to reach a value of USD 19.89 billion in 2021 and it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 27.0% during the forecast period. The market growth can be attributed can be attributed to the rising awareness among customers concerning the health advantages of cannabis and its increasing medical application.

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The legalization of cannabis has permitted people to practice safe utilization along with registering its medicinal advantages. Most of the nations across the world have still not legalized the recreational usage of cannabis around the world. While most of the nations around the world have still not legalized the recreational usage of cannabis, the approach to utilization and sales has been reduced over the years. This has led to the increasing popularity of the utilization of cannabis in different regions increasing the development of the overall cannabis market.

The growth factors identified in the market are the proven medicinal effects of cannabis, legalization of cannabis, developments in intellectual property rights of cannabis, and active research and development and modification of the plant. For example, in January 2018, the Australian government permitted cannabis manufacturers in the region to export medical cannabis and its products to the worldwide market.

Some Noted Developments Considered in the Report:

December 2020- Aphria Inc. and Tilray, Inc. (Canada) entered into a definitive arrangement to merge their businesses and generate the worlds largest cannabis company. The combined company, assisted by reduced-cost cultivation, transforming, and manufacturing facilities, would have a complete portfolio of branded cannabis 2.0 products in Canada.

November 2020- Aphria Inc. declared the completion of the acquisition of SW Brewing Company, LLC (U.S.), one of the highest independent craft brewers. Sweetwater provides complimentary cannabis lifestyle brands, which could assist Aphria to transform its product portfolio.

COVID-19 Impact on Global Cannabis Market

The QMI team has closely monitored the impact of COVID-19 on the global cannabis market, and it is observed that the demand for the global cannabis market has increased during the pandemic time. It is estimated to continue to grow at a healthy pace from mid-2021. To control the pandemic, many countries across the globe have enforced strict lockdown norms, which have hampered business activities.

As the threat and concern of coronavirus continue in communities, the cannabis industry emerges to be growing. The government all around the world are taking initiatives to legalize cannabis because of its numerous medicinal advantages like treatment of chronic diseases is an important factor increasing the development of the cannabis market.

Global Cannabis Market, by Product type

Based on product type, the market is segmented into flowers, concentrates, and others (capsules, edibles, and beverages). The concentrates segment is expected to dominate the market. The segment growth can be attributed to its ease of use and its versatility in the process of delivery. The concentrates are available in the form of ingestible oils, dabbing, and tinctures. The flowers segment holds a major market share as the largest numbers of cannabinoids are identified in the leaves and flowers of the mature cannabis plant, which makes them a popular option for harvesting.

Global Cannabis Market, by Application

Based on application, the market is segmented into medical and recreational. The recreational segment dominated the market during the forecast period due to the increasing demand and utilization of cannabis for recreational purposes. Therefore, the legalization of recreational applications has a high possibility to drive the segment growth.

Cannabis can be utilized in several forms for recreational purposes. Its often smoked as a shredded green and brown mix of flowers, seeds, and leaves. It can be utilized as a cigarette, blunt, and pipe, or bong. A blunt is a cigar that is filled with marijuana. It can also be blended in food or brewed as tea.

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Global Cannabis Market, by Compound

Based on the compound, the market is segmented into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)dominant, cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant, and balanced TH, and CBD. The THC-dominant segment is expected to be the fastest-growing during the forecast period. The segment growth can be attributed to medical advantages of THC-dominant products like relieving nausea, insomnia, and appetite loss.

Global Cannabis Market, by Region

Based on region, the global cannabis market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South America. North America is projected to record the highest market share during the forecast period. The medical application of cannabis is observing remarkable development as customers are becoming more conscious about the medicinal advantages of cannabis.

The North America cannabis market is also increased by the existence of major players operating in the market, like Aurora Cannabis Inc, Medical Marijuana Inc., and Canopy Growth Corporation. These competitors are spending heavily on the growth of the cannabis industry in the zone.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Officer, conditions and symptoms that can be treated by cannabis include Alzheimers diseases, HIV-AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, nausea, pain, Crohn's disease, migraines, and multiple sclerosis. Continuous research and standardization of products for medicinal purposes are anticipated to raise the popularity and demand for cannabis in the future.

Major Findings of the Global Cannabis Market Report Include:

Major global market trend and forecasts analysis along with a country-specific market analysis for up to 25 countries

An in-depth global cannabis market analysis by the aforementioned segments, along with an analysis of trend-based insights and factors

Profiles of the major key market players operating in the global cannabis market include Canopy Growth Corporation, Aurora Cannabis Inc., Medman Enterprises, Terra Tech Corp (TRTC), Aphria Inc., VIVO Cannabis, Inc., Stenocare, Tikun Olam, Cresco Labs, Inc., Indiva, Green Thumb Industries, Curaleaf Holdings, Inc., TerrAscend, Ecofiber Limited, Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc.

Competitive benchmarking, product offering details, growth strategies adopted by the leading market players, along with their major investments in the last five years

Key impact factor analysis across regions includes analysis, along with drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges that are prevailing in the global cannabis market.

Impact of COVID-19 on the global genetic toxicology testing market

Browse key industry insights spread across 155 pages with 85 market data tables and 41 figures & charts from the report, Global Cannabis Market, by Product Type (Flowers, Concentrates, Others), Application (Medical, Recreational), Compound (Tetrahydrocannabinol-Dominant, Cannabidiol-Dominant, Balanced THC and CBD, and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America) - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2030. in-depth analysis along with the table of contents (ToC).

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Medical Industry Veteran with Proven Track Record to Drive Commercialization Effort



FRAMINGHAM, Mass., July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arch Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: ARTH) (Arch or the Company), developer of novel self-assembling wound care and biosurgical devices, today announced that Dan Yrigoyen has joined the organization as Vice President of Sales. Mr. Yrigoyen will lead the Companys national commercialization effort with a focus on revenue generation and channel development.

Mr. Yrigoyen has over 25 years of healthcare experience with a proven track record of driving business growth. Mr. Yrigoyens capabilities span a broad range of activities with expertise in the areas of new product launches, business process development, sales strategy, revenue generation and growth, metrics-driven performance management, and strategic partnership development. Most recently, Mr. Yrigoyen served as Vice President, Sales & Channel Distribution for Medela, Inc., a global medical device company. Prior to that, he served as General Manager and led both domestic and international commercial initiatives at Hollister, Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of healthcare products. Mr. Yrigoyen graduated with an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Terrence W. Norchi, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Arch Therapeutics, said, After an extensive nationwide search, I am pleased to welcome Dan as the critical last piece of the new leadership team at Arch Therapeutics. His extensive medical device and wound care background and his notable accomplishments in commercial sales uniquely position him to drive our immediate and ongoing commercialization efforts. Dan is an outstanding addition to the organization, and I am confident he will provide strong leadership and results.

Mr. Yrigoyen commented, I am beyond excited to join the leadership team at Arch Therapeutics. As an industry veteran, I know AC5s self-assembling peptide technology is a truly unique solution that outclasses the competition. I look forward to working with the entire team to build a world-class commercial organization capable of driving adoption and long-term revenue growth of both Dermal Sciences and Biosurgery products.

About Arch Therapeutics, Inc.

Arch Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing a novel approach to stop bleeding (hemostasis), control leaking (sealant) and manage wounds during surgery, trauma and interventional care. Arch is developing products based on an innovative self-assembling barrier technology platform with the goal of making care faster and safer for patients. Arch has received regulatory authorization to market AC5 Advanced Wound System and AC5 Topical Hemostat as medical devices in the United States and Europe, respectively. Arch's development stage product candidates include AC5-G, AC5-V and AC5 Surgical Hemostat, among others.1,2

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, references to novel technologies and methods, our ability to recruit additional field sales representatives and their effectiveness, our business and product development plans and projections, or market information. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and operating as a development stage company, our ability to retain important members of our management team and attract other qualified personnel, our ability to raise the additional funding we will need to continue to pursue our business and product development plans, our ability to obtain required regulatory approvals, our ability to produce commercial quantities of our products within projected timeframes, our ability to develop and commercialize products based on our technology platform, and market conditions, and our ability to establish additional commercialization partnerships and build a critical mass of field sales representatives. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents we file with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov.

Contact:

ARTH Investor Relations

Toll Free: +1-855-340-ARTH (2784) (US and Canada)

Email: investors@archtherapeutics.com

Website: www.archtherapeutics.com

1 AC5-G, AC5-V, and AC5 Surgical Hemostat are currently investigational devices limited by law to investigational use.

2 AC5, AC5-G, AC5-V and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Arch Therapeutics, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
CEO of RebelMouse and Former CTO of The Huffington Post, Andrea Breanna, joins LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings all-star line-up of board members and champions

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK: LFAP), a diversity- and inclusion-driven financial methodology and data company, is excited to announce that Andrea Breanna, CEO of RebelMouse, has joined the the board of directors as its first transgender member.

"As an openly transgender person, I've found that most discrimination stems from an unconcious bias, said Breanna. LGBTQ Loyaltys work not only provides an educational lesson on equality for the broader community, but also an opportunity for the ever-growing queer community to put our moneny into companies that align with our values. I am excited that allies now have the chance to be part of that and express their support in a tangible way.

Breanna is currently the CEO of RebelMouse, a creative agency and content management system software company for enterprise brands and media companies. She also serves on the American Express Consumer Advisory Board and early-stage venture capital fund Lerer Hippeau Ventures. Prior to founding RebelMouse, Breanna was the chief technology officer of The Huffington Post.

We are so proud to welcome Andrea Breanna to the LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings Board of Directors, said Bobby Blair, CEO of LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings. Her work as a proud transgender person and respected advocate for LGBTQ rights, as well as her time tested and very successful professional experiences with the Huffington Post and now RebelMouse makes her an incredibly exciting addition to our growing team.

About LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings, Inc.

LGBTQ Loyalty is a diversity- and inclusion-driven financial methodology and data company that quantifies corporate equality alignment with the LGBTQ community and minority interest groups. The Company has benchmarked the first-ever U.S. Loyalty Preference Index, which it believes empowers the LGBTQ community to express their preferences for the nation's high-performing corporations most dedicated to advancing equality. The Loyalty Preference Index, branded as LGBTQ100 ESG Index, is an environmental, social and governance (ESG) index, offering an added perspective for those seeking to align with equality-driven, ESG-responsible corporations. LGBTQ Loyaltys leadership includes seasoned authorities in the financial industry and LGBTQ community. For more information, please visit www.lgbtqloyalty.com .

CONTACTS:

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sam Marinelli

Gregory FCA for LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings

LGBTQL@gregoryfca.com

610-246-9928

ETF CONTACT:

ProcureAM, LLC

info@PALETFs.com

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

Larry Roan

IR@lgbtql.com

Attachment
NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 11, 2021, an app called Free CamScanner together with 7 other apps was reported by Quick Heal Technologies Ltd as being infected with Joker spyware and later removed from Google Play Store.



For clarification, Free CamScanner, developed by Mun Indah, has no affiliation with our CamScanner in any way, as was stated on by CamScanner Twitter account. CamScanner is still available on the Google Play Store and is safe to use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e655669-74f9-4954-9118-395fbab0c5dc

It has come to our attention that the news has been misinterpreted by some news publications and on social media. In many instances, our CamScanner logo or even name is being used, which is causing misunderstanding and concern amongst CamScanner users. We would like to urge these media outlets or social media influencers to revise their content or we will seek legal action to protect our brand reputation.

In response to confusion surrounding the application, the CamScanner APP is a freemium application that is free to use but with the option of unlocking advanced features. There is no free version of CamScanner app.

Since its launch in 2011, CamScanner has grown to become the most popular document scanning tool and is now used in over 200 countries and regions. At CamScanner, we take security very seriously and have for years been protecting users and the application from the dangers of malicious software developers. To ensure your data safety, we advise users to examine the logo and name (CamScanner) before downloading CamScanner.

The CamScanner team is dedicated to providing an easy-to-use application that ensures users devices remain safe and secure. To support young learners around the world, we have also been offering students and educators access to the advanced features for free. Check out our blog to learn how to apply. Finally, we would like to call on users to correct any misinformation they come across as these things have the potential to damage CamScanners image.

Contact:

Kelly Brown

kelly@ispiderpr.com
KELOWNA, British Columbia, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Corp . ("Allied" or the Company) (OTCQB: ALID) an international medical company focused on creating and providing health solutions to address todays medical mental health issues is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed its first commercial shipment of cannabidiol (CBD) (containing less than 0.3% THC) from Colombia into the United States.



Allied has demonstrated its supply chain of producing in Colombia and exporting wholesale CBD products into international markets. This commercial US shipment was produced from seed in Colombia at Allieds commercial production site, approved for export by the Colombian ministries of Justice, Health and Agriculture, transported to the United States, validated by the customs and border services of the United States of America and approved for entry to eventually arrive at the manufacturer of CBD products in the United States. A portion of this commercial CBD shipment will be used for retail ready CBD products. Allieds supply chain goes from seed in Colombia to retail CBD product on the shelf in the United States, what we believe to be the largest market in the world.

It is important to develop these trade routes and business relationships as production continues to scale. Achieving this major milestone signifies that we have succeeded at proving our intended supply chain. This shipment is the first of many that we have in queue for many international markets inclusive of the US, said Calum Hughes, CEO of Allied.

About Allied Corp. - https://allied.health/

Allied Corp. is an international heath company with a mission to address todays medical issues by researching, creating and producing targeted health solutions. Allied Corp. uses an evidence-informed scientific approach to make this mission possible, through cutting-edge pharmaceutical research and development, innovative plant- and mushroom-based development of therapeutic products.

Investor Relations:

ir@allied.health

1-877-255-4337

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada or forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, forward-looking information). Forward-looking information may relate to the Companys future outlook and anticipated events, plans or results, and may include information regarding the Companys objectives, goals, strategies, future revenue or performance and capital expenditures, and other information that is not historical information. Forward-looking information can often be identified by the use of terminology such as believe, anticipate, plan, expect, pending, in process, intend, estimate, project, may, will, should, would, could, can, the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on the Companys opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of managements experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Forward looking statements in this press release include the following: that Allied is leveraging the conditions in its Colombia grow operation and future Kelowna location to support its Research and Development efforts; that Allied is making important strides forward to position itself as a leader in the medical cannabis space, that Allied intends to make a series of proposed trademark and other intellectual property protection filings, as part of the Companys Intellectual Property and Pharma Development (IP&PD) Strategy, statements respecting the joint development, manufacturing, and introduction of TACTICAL RELIEF branded products, and the use of proceeds from the offering of convertible notes.

There can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information in this release include: the Companys exposure to legal and regulatory risk; the effect of the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Canada and Colombia on the medical cannabis industry is unknown and may significantly and negatively affect the Companys medical cannabis business; that the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of cannabis are not as currently expected; that adverse changes or developments affecting the Companys main or planned facilities may have an adverse effect on the Company; that the medical cannabis industry and market may not continue to exist or develop as anticipated or the Company may not be able to succeed in this market; risks related to completion of the greenhouse construction in Colombia, risks related to market competition; risks related to the proposed adult-use cannabis industry and market in Canada and Colombia including the Companys ability to enter into or compete in such markets; that the Company has a limited operating history and a history of net losses and that it may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future; risks related to the Companys current or proposed international operations; risks related to future third party strategic alliances or the expansion of currently existing relationships with third parties; that the Company may not be able to successfully identify and execute future acquisitions or dispositions or successfully manage the impacts of such transactions on its operations; risks inherent to the operation of an agricultural business; that the Company may be unable to attract, develop and retain key personnel; risks resulting from significant interruptions to the Companys access to certain key inputs such as raw materials, electricity, water and other utilities; that the Company may be unable to transport its cannabis products to patients in a safe and efficient manner; risks related to recalls of the Companys cannabis products or product liability or regulatory claims or actions involving the Companys cannabis products; risks related to the Companys reliance on pharmaceutical distributors; that the Company, or the cannabis industry more generally, may receive unfavourable publicity or become subject to negative consumer or investor perception; that certain events or developments in the cannabis industry more generally may impact the Companys reputation or its relationships with customers or suppliers; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage in respect of the risks that it faces, that the premiums for such insurance may not continue to be commercially justifiable or that there may be coverage limitations and other exclusions which may result in such insurance not being sufficient; that the Company may become subject to liability arising from fraudulent or illegal activity by its employees, contractors, consultants and others; that the Company may experience breaches of security at its facilities or losses as a result of the theft of its products; risks related to the Companys information technology systems; that the Company may be unable to sustain its revenue growth and development; that the Company may be unable to expand its operations quickly enough to meet demand or manage its operations beyond their current scale; that the Company may be unable to secure adequate or reliable sources of necessary funding; risks related to, or associated with, the Companys exposure to reporting requirements; risks related to conflicts of interest; risks related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks related to the Companys potential exposure to greater-than-anticipated tax liabilities; risks related to the protection and enforcement of the Companys intellectual property rights, or the intellectual property that it licenses from others; that the Company may become subject to allegations that it or its licensors are in violation of the intellectual property rights of third parties; that the Company may not realize the full benefit of the clinical trials or studies that it participates in; that the Company may not realize the full benefit of its licenses if the licensed material has less market appeal than expected and the licenses may not be profitable; as well as any other risks that may be further described in and the risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure including its Management's Discussion and Analysis sections in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed under the Company's profile at www.sec.gov.

Although management has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information in this presentation, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information in this presentation. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers and viewers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this release represents the Companys expectations as of the date of this release or the date indicated, regardless of the time of delivery of the presentation. The Company disclaims any intention, obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario and TORONTO, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChickQueen is finally set to open its flagship location after a three-month delay due to pandemic. Fans have been waiting patiently since news broke in January that the first Canadian location of the iconic chain was opening in Mississauga. Hundreds of fans have joined the ChickQueen Mississauga Grand Opening events page on Facebook.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the company confirmed that the new fast food spot will be opening at the busy Dixie Plaza in Mississauga on Friday, July 16th.

"This month, ChickQueen will be opening its first location in Mississauga at Dixie & Eglinton," reads a news release about the opening.

"Located at 5130 Dixie Rd, Unit 4, Mississauga, Ontario, the area is often referred to as the 'Dixie Plaza' as it is a major food hub with heavy pedestrian traffic."

Of course, the location will only be open for takeout and delivery as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

The opening of the flagship is part of ChickQueens Canadian expansion; by the end of the year, ChickQueen will be opening more locations throughout the GTA.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1810c87-537c-425f-bc61-0b3b4453c36e
English French

QUEBEC CITY, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ORLETTO CAPITAL II INC. (TSX-V OLT.P) (the Corporation) is pleased to announce that all matters submitted to its shareholders for approval as set out in detail in the Corporations management information circular dated May 25, 2021 (the Circular) were approved at the annual general and special meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation held on June 22, 2021 (the Meeting).



At the Meeting, the incumbent members of the board of directors, being Benoit Chotard, Octavio Soares, Claude Pouliot and Cynthia Mailloux, were elected as directors, Mallette LLP was re-appointed as the auditor of the Corporation, and the Corporations proposed stock option plan was approved and confirmed, conditional to the completion of a qualifying transaction. Moreover, the shareholders of the Corporation voted in favour of the special resolutions proposed in the Circular, thereby authorizing the board of directors of the Corporation to amend the Corporations articles to change the name of the Corporation, to consolidate all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation, and to appoint additional directors, conditional to the completion of a qualifying transaction.

In addition to the above, disinterested shareholders of the Corporation voted in favour of the following resolutions proposed in the Circular, thereby implementing certain changes needed to transition to the new TSX Venture Exchanges Policy 2.4  Capital Pool Companies effective as of January 1, 2021 (Policy 2.4):

(a) approving the removal of the consequences associated with the Corporation not completing a qualifying transaction within 24 months of its listing date; (b) authorizing the Corporation to make certain amendments to the Corporations escrow agreement; and (c) authorizing and permitting the Corporation to pay any finders fee or commission to a non-arms length party to the Corporation upon completion of the qualifying transaction.

Please refer to the Corporations press release dated May 27, 2021 and the Circular for further details with respect to the amendments associated with the new Policy 2.4.

About the Corporation

The Corporation is a capital pool company pursuant to Policy 2.4. Except as specifically contemplated in such policy, until the completion of its qualifying transaction, the Corporation will not carry on business, other that then identification and evaluation of companies, businesses or assets with a view to completing a proposed qualifying transaction. Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of a capital pool company is considered highly speculative.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Benoit Chotard

President

ORLETTO CAPITAL II INC.

Telephone: 778-996-4676

Email: benoitchotard@shaw.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the said forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but represent management's current expectation of future events, and can be identified by words such as "believe", "expects", "will", "intends", "plans", "projects", "anticipates", "estimates", "continues" and similar expressions. Although management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct.

Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Thunderstorms during the morning followed by occasional showers this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
The Museum of Wisconsin Art on the east bank of the Milwaukee River in West Bend at night with fireworks in the background.
CASSOPOLIS [mdash] Lorraine Miller, 78, of Cassopolis, Michigan, formerly of Goshen, passed away at 3:45 p.m, on Thursday, July 15, at Spectrum Health Lakeland, St. Joseph, Michigan, with her family by her side. She had been in declining health with a brief illness. She was born on March 28,
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Mercedes is poised to announce the signing of George Russell for 2022 and beyond, according to a growing number of authoritative sources.

British commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft, as well as 1996 world champion Damon Hill, all admit they are expecting the news to be made official at the British GP this weekend.

"Then it's game over for Valtteri (Bottas)," racing driver and Finnish pundit Toni Vilander told the broadcaster MTV.

"You could tell it was in his mind already," the Finn added.

"The most important thing for Mercedes was to confirm that Hamilton is staying part of the team. So now the main pillar is in place.

"I don't think Russell would be happy to sign another Williams agreement. You could say that Hamilton's two-year contract will be his last, in which case the next champion will be raised next to him.

"Unfortunately these are all things that Valtteri has little influence over."

If 23-year-old Briton Russell does get the call-up, Nico Hulkenberg or Daniil Kvyat - both F1 reserve drivers this year - are said to be in pole position to replace him at Williams.

Bottas, 31, has also been linked with a return to Williams, and also Alfa Romeo.

Russell said: "I am in constant touch with Mercedes. They have always taken care of me.

"No matter what happens, I'll have a Mercedes engine behind me next year. I'm a Mercedes driver - I'm loyal to them," he insisted.

"I've always said 'if you do a good job, you will be rewarded'. It's as simple as that."

(GMM)
bp released the 70th annual edition of the bp Statistical Review of World Energy; the data collected in this years edition includes energy data for 2020. The Review captures the significant impact the global pandemic had on energy markets and how it may shape future global energy trends.

Both primary energy consumption and carbon emissions from energy use fell at their fastest rate seen since the Second World War, while renewable energy continued its trajectory of strong growth, with wind and solar power recording their largest ever annual increase.

Key highlights:

Primary energy consumption fell by 4.5% in 2020the largest annual decline since 1945. Carbon emissions from energy use fell by more than 6% in 2020, the largest decline since 1945.

This fall was driven mainly by oil, which accounted for almost three quarters of the net decline.

Natural gas prices declined to multi-year lows; however, the share of gas in primary energy continued to rise, reaching a record high of 24.7%.

Wind, solar and hydroelectricity generation all grew despite the fall in overall energy demand. Wind and solar capacity increased by a colossal 238 GW in 2020  50% larger than at any time in history.

By country, the US, India and Russia saw the largest declines in energy consumption. China saw the largest increase (2.1%), one of only a handful of countries where energy demand grew last year.





World oil production fell for the first time since 2009 by 6.6 million b/d in 2020 driven by both OPEC (-4.3 million b/d) and non-OPEC (-2.3 million b/d). Country wise, Russia (-1 million b/d), Libya (-920,000 b/d) and Saudi Arabia (-790,000 b/d). Production only increased in a few countries, mainly Norway (260,000 b/d) and Brazil (150,000 b/d). Oil consumption also dropped for the first time since 2009 by a massive 9.1 million b/d. The decline was in both the OECD (-5.8 million b/d) and the nonOECD (-3.3 million b/d). The US (-2.3 million b/d), the European Union (-1.5 million b/d) and India (-480,000 b/d) reported the largest declines. China was one of the few countries where demand increased in 2020 (220,000 b/d). Source: bp.

The oil price (Dated Brent) averaged $41.84/bbl in 2020the lowest since 2004. Global oil demand fell 9.3%, with the largest falls seen in the US (-2.3 million b/d), the EU (-1.5 million b/d) and India (-480,000 b/d). China was virtually the only country where consumption increased (220,000 b/d).

Refinery utilization fell by a record 8.3 percentage points to 73.9%, the lowest level since 1985.
Support local journalism

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free.

Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.


In stark contrast with a recent report claiming that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will "settle" for a more refined version of the current 108MP ISOCELL HM3 sensor, the new one says that the phone will indeed feature a 200MP main camera. IT also points at a January 2022 release.

The report comes from a Korean publication citing various industry sources. And according to those sources, Olympus (the Japanese camera maker) has contacted Samsung to seek partnership. Reportedly, Samsung has agreed to the terms and the Galaxy S22 Ultra will feature a 5-lens, 200MP, Olympus-branded camera.

The report also suggests that an S Pen support is in order but we wonder if it would come bundled in the package since this isn't exactly a new feature. The current Galaxy S21 Ultra supports S Pen too.

In any case, we'll keep our ears open because we are getting conflicting reports and nothing is certain for now. Plus, if anything, the Galaxy S22 is not expected to be announced before next year.

Source




Haiti - FLASH : Arrest of one of the intellectual authors of the assassination of President Moise and an attempted coup





Sunday July 11, as part of the follow-up to the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, Leon Charles, Director General ai of the Haitian National Police (PNH), alongside Prime Minister ai Claude Joseph, in a press conference of Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) announced the arrest of Christian Emmanuel Sanon (63, native of the commune of Marigot), a Haitian doctor installed for twenty years in Florida considered as the one of the intellectual authors of the commando operation.



It was the interrogations carried out among the 18 Colombians arrested that made it possible to learn that Charles Emmanuel Sanon had contacted a Venezuelan security company called "CTU security" based in Florida in order to recruit the 26 members of the commando linked to the assassination of the President Jovenel Moise, said Charles



"This is an individual who entered Haiti aboard a private plane with political objectives" declared Leon Charles "Upon his arrival in the country in June, Charles Emmanuel Sanon, was accompanied by several Colombian nationals, in charge of 'ensure his safety' Police accuse him of recruiting the Colombians in order to oust the President from power and take his place.



Stressing that after the assassination "[...] when the bandits' advance was blocked, the first person they [the Colombians] called was Emmanuel Sanon [...] who in turn contacted two other people whom we consider to be intellectual authors of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise," indicated Leon Charles without mentioning the identity of these two other intellectual authors, so as not to interfere in the ongoing investigation .



Adding that during the search of the residence of Christian Emmanuel Sanon "[...] we found a DEA cap, 6 cases for rifles and pistols, boxes of 12 and 9 mm cartridges, 4 license plates of the Republic Dominican, unloaded pistol magazines, 2 vehicles and correspondence addressed to several sectors in the country."



In addition, the Police took "precautionary measures" against the security officials of President Moise and information is being collected to determine "the degree of involvement of each".



In the Colombian press, the hypothesis is raised that the Colombian ex-soldiers were deceived and served as a pretext to lead investigators on a false trail, in order to hide the real killers ...



Press conference :





Reactions :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34180-haiti-politic-assassination-of-president-moiserain-of-reactions-part-2.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34169-haiti-flash-rain-of-reactions-on-the-assassination-of-president-moise-part-1.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34175-haiti-assassination-of-president-moise-international-reactions-part-1.html



Read also on the assassination of President Moise :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34205-haiti-flash-statements-and-testimony-from-colombia-about-the-commando.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34204-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-message-from-the-catholic-bishops-of-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34203-haiti-usa-no-american-military-assistance-for-the-moment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34199-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-names-of-the-20-members-of-the-commando-arrested-5-others-still-on-the-run.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34195-haiti-usa-uncle-sam-will-send-fbi-agents-millions-of-dollars-and-vaccines-to-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34193-haiti-flash-the-government-requests-the-sending-of-american-soldiers-to-the-country.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34189-haiti-justicehunt-for-latin-americans-in-haiti-the-opc-calls-on-the-population-to-calm.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34188-icihaiti-flash-11-mercenaries-arrested-in-the-taiwanese-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34183-haiti-flash-the-commando-that-killed-the-president-included-26-colombians-and-2-haitian-americans-official-video.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34182-icihaiti-assassination-of-president-moise-15-days-of-national-mourning-text-of-the-decree.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34180-haiti-politic-assassination-of-president-moiserain-of-reactions-part-2.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34178-haiti-politic-what-measures-contains-the-state-of-siege-text-of-the-decree.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34177-icihaiti-usa-the-pm-met-with-secretary-of-state-anthony-blinken.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34176-haiti-un-the-security-council-condemns-the-assassination-of-president-jovenel-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34175-haiti-assassination-of-president-moise-international-reactions-part-1.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34174-icihaiti-diplomacythe-assassins-of-moise-were-professional-mercenaries-dixit-bocchit-edmond.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34173-haiti-flash-the-police-intercepts-the-presumed-assassins-of-president-moise-official-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34172-haiti-flash-martine-moise-in-florida-for-treatment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34170-haiti-flash-the-first-lady-martine-moise-would-still-be-alive-but.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34169-haiti-flash-rain-of-reactions-on-the-assassination-of-president-moise-part-1.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34168-haiti-flash-the-state-of-siege-is-declared-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34165-haiti-assassination-of-jovenel-moise-what-says-the-constitution.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34164-haiti-dr-luis-abinader-closes-the-border-with-haiti-and-convenes-the-military-commanders.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34163-haiti-flash-closure-of-the-airport.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : A large American delegation in Haiti





Sunday following the request for assistance of Haitian Government via the Ambassador of Haiti in Washington Bocchit Edmond to the American Secretary of State Antony Blinkenhttps://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34193-haiti-flash-the-government-requests-the-sending-of-american-soldiers-to-the-country.html a large delegation made up of members of the FBI, the State Department, the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Homeland Security are arrived in Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34195-haiti-usa-uncle-sam-will-send-fbi-agents-millions-of-dollars-and-vaccines-to-haiti.html



Members of the delegation :

Juan Gonzalez: Western Hemisphere Affairs Senior Director, National Security Council

Laura Lochman: Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of State

Bruce Swartz: Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice

Angel Castillo: Unit Chief International Operations (FBI).

Robert Paschall: Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Affairs, Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans: Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Mo Telab, Region 2: Chief of Protective Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Department of Homeland Security.

Gary Renfrow: Asst Administrator for International Operations, Security Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA).



The mission of the delegation is to determine what Haiti's security needs are. In addition, they indicated that FBI Agents will provide their technical support as part of the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34199-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-names-of-the-20-members-of-the-commando-arrested-5-others-still-on-the-run.html .



The delegation has already met with several actors concerned, including the Director General a.i. of the National Police of Haiti, Leon Charles, of Officers of the High Command at the General Directorate of the National Police. The discussions focused, among other things, on the support that the United States will bring to Haiti in the fight against armed gangs.



In terms of Haiti's security needs, President Joe Biden will be informed by the team on his return and "will then make decisions on the way forward" after consultation with his regional partners and the United Nations, a senior official of the American administration said.



See also ;

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34210-haiti-flash-arrest-of-one-of-the-intellectual-authors-of-the-assassination-of-president-moise-and-an-attempted-coup.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34199-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-names-of-the-20-members-of-the-commando-arrested-5-others-still-on-the-run.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34195-haiti-usa-uncle-sam-will-send-fbi-agents-millions-of-dollars-and-vaccines-to-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34193-haiti-flash-the-government-requests-the-sending-of-american-soldiers-to-the-country.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Assassination of President : A Colombian team in Haiti





On Saturday July 10, the President of the Republic of Colombia Ivan Duque Marquez, sent to Haiti a team of the special unit of the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Colombian police including, among others, the Head of the National Intelligence Directorate, the Director intelligence of the national police and Interpol agents to collaborate with the Government and investigators of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) on the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in which 26 Colombian citizens are involved.



In addition, Leon Charles, Director General ai of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) said on Sunday that Haitian investigators were working in close collaboration with the Colombian Government in order to trace the course of the Colombians who took part in this operation.



Colombian security sources said on Friday that several Colombians suspected of being part of the commando linked to the assassination of President Jovenel Moise at his residence, had spent more than a month in Haiti before the murder, after entering by the Republic Dominican.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34210-haiti-flash-arrest-of-one-of-the-intellectual-authors-of-the-assassination-of-president-moise-and-an-attempted-coup.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34205-haiti-flash-statements-and-testimony-from-colombia-about-the-commando.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34199-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-names-of-the-20-members-of-the-commando-arrested-5-others-still-on-the-run.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34188-icihaiti-flash-11-mercenaries-arrested-in-the-taiwanese-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34183-haiti-flash-the-commando-that-killed-the-president-included-26-colombians-and-2-haitian-americans-official-video.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34174-icihaiti-diplomacythe-assassins-of-moise-were-professional-mercenaries-dixit-bocchit-edmond.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Religion : Pope Francis calls for the end of the spiral of violence in Haiti





Sunday July 11, 2021, at the end of the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis made a new call for harmony and calm in Haiti, marked this week by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34210-haiti-flash-arrest-of-one-of-the-intellectual-authors-of-the-assassination-of-president-moise-and-an-attempted-coup.html



At the end of the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis launched a new appeal to Haiti, marked this week by the tragic assassination of its president Jovenel Moise, and still undermined by violence. "In recent days, my prayers have often been directed to Haiti, after the assassination of the President and the injuries of his wife [...] https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34201-haiti-flash-authenticated-message-from-the-first-lady-martine-moise-audio.html, explained Francois, who underlined joining "[...] to the sincere appeal of the bishops https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34204-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-message-from-the-catholic-bishops-of-haiti.html of the country to lay down arms, to choose life, to choose to live together fraternally in the interest of all and in the interest of Haiti."



"I am close to the dear Haitian people [...]", again launched Pope Francis "[...] I hope that the spiral of violence will cease and that the Nation will be able to resume the path of a future of Peace and harmony".



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34210-haiti-flash-arrest-of-one-of-the-intellectual-authors-of-the-assassination-of-president-moise-and-an-attempted-coup.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34204-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-message-from-the-catholic-bishops-of-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34201-haiti-flash-authenticated-message-from-the-first-lady-martine-moise-audio.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Haiti has called on the US to impose sanctions

"We further called on the United States to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act on all perpetrators who are directly responsible for or who aided and abetted the assassination. We look forward to engaging with our American partners as we seek truth and justice," Haitian Ambassador to Washington Bocchit Edmond said.



The Florida Haitian Caucus deeply saddened

The Haitian American Democratic Caucus in Florida is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. President Moses was a husband, father, and statesman. We express our most sincere prayers for President Moise's widow, First Lady Martine Moise, as she recovers from serious wounds related to this heinous event. We are absolutely in solidarity with our Haitian brothers and sisters at this very difficult time.



All demonstrations prohibited

The General Directorate of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) reminds the general population that following the state of siege decreed by the government, any demonstration on the public highway is strictly prohibited. In this sense, the police are instructed to take all necessary coercive measures against offenders.



Comment from Congresswoman Frederica Wilson

"I encourage the Biden administration to appoint a high-level, neutral, independent and resourced special envoy to Haiti who could help facilitate the deployment of additional diplomatic resources. Today, I was briefed by the State Department on the crisis in Haiti following the assassination of President Moise and reiterated my support for the appointment of a special envoy to Haiti who could play a vital role by facilitating the deployment of key diplomatic resources. I also urge the Haitian people to remain calm during this international crisis and to unite to save their Nation," Democratic Congressman Frederica Wilson (FL)



Sexual and reproductive health

On the occasion of World Population Day (July 11, 2021), discover the commitments, points of view, concerns and wishes of the 3 Young Haitian Ambassadors of the Observatory of Haitian Youth in matters of sexual health and reproductive system in Haiti.







The Haitian Consulate in Santiago dismayed

The Consulate General of Haiti in Santiago, Dominican Republic is appalled following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Published on 2015/01/11 | Source

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The final episode of the SBS weekend drama "Birth of a Beauty" ended in happiness.

The twenty-first episode of the drama showed Han Tae-hee (Joo Sang-wook) and Sara (Han Ye-seul) getting married.

Han Tae-hee realized that the man who tried to assault him was the same person that caused the explosion which killed his parents 20 years ago and that the criminal was Kim Joon-cheol (Choi Jong-hwan), Madam Park's (Kim Yong-rim) assistant. Han Tae-hee set up a plan and make with Lee Kang-joon (Jung Gyu-woon).

Before the shareholder's meeting, Han Tae-hee realized what Han Min-hyeok's (Han Sang-jin) plan was when Lee Kang-joon asked for a fake passport of Sara and money, using her divorce papers as bait. Han Tae-hee gave him what he wanted and made sure the police were standing by to save himself.

Kim Joon-cheol confessed his crime and Son Ji-sook (Kim Chung) was arrested along with Han Min-hyeok who tried to kill Han Tae-hee. Han Tae-hee then became the CEO of Winner Group. Later, Lee Kang-joon was arrested trying to leave the country with the fake passport Han Tae-hee had given him. He was booked for attempted murder but not Gyo Chae-yeon because Sara was still alive.

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The final episode of the drama showed Han Tae-hee and Sara's wedding which resulted in a happy ending.

Coming up next, is "My Heart Shines" starring Nam Bo-ra , Jang Shin-young, Lee Tae-im, Lee Deok-hwa and others about the revenge of three sisters.
Editor: I am sure I will be deemed a racist, but I have some questions about white
If they werent such a surly lot, it would be easy to feel sorry for the red-hatte
Fort Assinniboine Preservation Association Secretary-treasurer Lynda Taplin, from left, Northwest Farm Credit Services Branch Manager Jennifer Dees and Fort Assinniboine Preservation Association Chair Ron VandenBoom pose Wednesday, July 7, with a $2,000 check Northwest Farm Credit Services presented to the association for repairs to the Oficers Amusement Hall at Fort Assinniboine.

Havre Daily News Staff

The Fort Assinniboine Preservation Association is one step closer to making crucial repairs on the Officers' Amusement Hall roof at Fort Assinniboine.

Northwest Farm Credit Services presented the association with $2,000, which Fort Assinniboine Preservation Association President Ron VandenBoom said puts the project to within about $10,000 of what is needed.

The project is estimated to cost about $100,000.

The association works to preserve the fort, once one of the largest military installations west of the Mississippi River, and provides tours of the facility.

Construction on the fort started in 1879 following the Battle of The Little Big Horn and The Battle of the Bear Paws in Montana and it was mainly completed by 1881. It had a military reservation of some 700,000 acres and at one point housed almost 1,000 enlisted men, officers and civilians, the association web site says.

The fort was decommissioned in 1911 and in 1915 became home of the Northern Agricultural Research Center of Montana State University, using the building there.

In the last decade, new facilities have been built to house the research center, and the association oversees most of the remaining original structures at the fort.

VandenBoom said he discovered the leaks in the Amusement Hall two years ago and they potentially threaten to damage the last remaining painting in the building.

The amusement hall was built by enlisted men using stones from the Missouri River Breaks.

The building was primarily operated by the officers' wives and, in its time, was fully decorated with tapestries, brightly colored walls and chandeliers.

The building would hold dances, a regimental band on its stage and had a kitchen that would be used to cook food for holiday banquets until the fort's decommissioning in 1911. Both of those areas are in need of repairs, although less urgently than the roof.

The amusement hall features a stage where officers, including Gen. John J. Pershing, then a first lieutenant, would put on plays using paintings as a backdrop.

The remaining painting, depicting an unknown building and a gate, is in danger of having irreversible damage done if the leaks go unattended for too long and water gets through the drywall behind it.

The Northwest Farm Credit Services donation is the latest in the fundraising effort, which includes Montana State University pledging its support and the Montana State Historic Preservation Office providing the association with a $60,720 Revitalizing Montana's Rural Heritage Grant.

Part of the funding includes an anonymous donor pledging a dollar-for-dollar $4,000 match.

The Montana Historical Foundation also provided a $10,000 grant.

The Fort Assinniboine Preservation Association also raised another $17,000

People willing to support the repairs should get in touch with Association Secretary Treasurer Lynda Taplin at 406-265-7670 or VandenBoom at 406-262-7656 and donations can be mailed to PO Box 863, Havre, MT 59501 or submitted online at https://fortassinniboine.org/donate .
The planned acquisition by SouthStar Bank will expand its Central Texas footprint. The proposed sale meets strategic initiatives for both community-focused institutions.
Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Some sunshine with a thunderstorm or two possible this afternoon. High 84F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening. A steady rain arriving overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening. A steady rain arriving overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Hendersonville officer named N.C. SRO of the Year

Hendersonville Police Department Officer Joreeca Dinnall stands with Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand and Captain Rich Olsen

The North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers (NCARSO) on Monday awarded Hendersonville Police Department Officer Joreeca Dinnall the C.C. McGee School Resource Officer of the Year award.

Officer Dinnall was recognized at the NCASRO Conference.

Officer Dinnall embodies exactly what kind of person and officer an SRO should be, said Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand. She builds relationships with her students inside and outside of the classroom and represents the Hendersonville Police Department with professionalism. Anyone who interacts with Officer Dinnall can see what a big heart she has for serving others in our community.

Officer Dinnall serves as the Hendersonville High School SRO. In 2020, she assisted a juvenile experiencing a mental health crisis. Her compassionate response to the situation combined with her dedication to HHS, the Hendersonville Police Department and serving the community led to her nomination and recognition, according to a press release from the City of Hendersonville announcing her award.

Each year, the North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers recognizes the C.C. McGee School Resource Officer of the Year for their outstanding contributions to their school, law enforcement agency, and community. This award is named in honor of the late C.C. McGee, a former Assistant Sheriff of Forsyth County, a founding member of, and a Past President of NCASRO.

Chief Myhand and Captain Rich Olsen attended the ceremony held in Wilmington.
FOUR under-used hospital beds in Henley could be scrapped to fund two new hospice beds elsewhere in South Oxfordshire.

The Oxfordshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group wants to install the new beds at Wallingford Community Hospital.

They would replace the six which were lost when Sue Ryder shut its inpatient unit at Joyce Grove in Nettlebed in March last year, leaving no hospice places anywhere in the district.

The commissioning group says two is enough because most patients will continue to use Sue Ryders outpatient palliative care hub at Battle Barns in Crowmarsh Gifford.

The charity opened the hub in April 2018, saying surveys showed most people wanted to die at home so bed usage was dropping and it was financially unviable to keep the hospice beds.

The commissioning group, which is responsible for health services across Oxfordshire, says it would monitor use of the new beds and could add more if there was demand.

The beds, which could be operational within months, would be run in partnership with Sue Ryder, which would handle admissions and discharges and provide nurses, and the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which is responsible for mental health and social care provision.

Doctors from surgeries across the district and their out-of-hours counterparts would provide medical care and the unit would also offer physiotherapy and family, spiritual and psychological support.

Any additional savings made by closing the hospital beds would be spent on other health services.

The four beds are based at the Chilterns Court Care Centre, which is part of the 16 million health campus off York Road, which opened following the redevelopment of Townlands Hospital in 2016.

They are leased from the Orders of St John Care Trust, which operates the care home, but the commissioning group says they are often empty so the money would be better spent elsewhere.

The beds are attached to the hospitals rapid access care unit, which treats patients who are well enough to walk but need more care than a GP can offer. When the redevelopment of Townlands was being discussed, the commissioning group wasnt proposing any beds to replace the 14 at the old hospitals Peppard Ward, which typically had high occupancy rates.

But it was forced into a rethink after the Save our Beds campaign in which more than 2,500 protestors marched through the town in July 2015.

Now the commissioning group says the four beds have not been well used because the mostly elderly patients who would have used them are being adequately cared for by the new hospital as outpatients at home.

A meeting of the Townlands Steering Group last week heard that occupancy rates averaged just three per cent between early 2018 and early 2020.

This dropped to zero in 2020/21, during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns with additional restrictions for the medically vulnerable.

Dr Ed Capo-Bianco, locality director of the commissioning group, said GPs across the Henley area were confident that scrapping the beds wouldnt adversely affect patients. Those still needing step-up care could be offered a bed at Wallingford or Didcot Community Hospital.

Dr Capo-Bianco, a partner at Goring and Woodcotes joint surgery, said inpatient admissions at Joyce Grove were relatively constant between 2016 and 2018, averaging 110 annually, but then dropped to 85 in 2019 and 15 in 2020.

Usage of its community services, not including the hub, increased from 228 patients annually in 2016 to 435 in 2019.

Those using the hub, which has a telephone line offering advice and home visits, increased from 140 in its launch year to 184 in 2019.

Campaigners say this doesnt prove there was less demand for hospice beds because prospective inpatients may have been deliberately excluded by the charity, a claim denied by Sue Ryder.

Dr Lisa Silver, of Nettlebed Surgery, who worked at the hospice for 25 years, said: My impression was that there wasnt a reduction in demand for inpatient beds but rather the emphasis was that patients should remain at home rather than being admitted.

This led to the apparent reduction. Patients dying at home are supported by Sue Ryder very ably but many of the tasks that would have been carried out by the Sue Ryder doctors now fall to GPs.

This work is unfunded and has a distinct impact on GPs workload as prescribing to this group of frail patients is time-consuming and complex.

Henley town councillor Ian Reissmann, who chairs the steering group, said: Many people suspect that the two-bed limit isnt down to an absence of need but an absence of provision.

Two new beds would be better than nothing and are therefore welcomed but there are still concerns because Joyce Grove had 12 beds originally and that need will not be wholly met by the other services being proposed.

He asked for reassurances that more beds would be added at Wallingford if demand increased.

Henley town councillor Stefan Gawrysiak added: Two beds is not enough for a huge area that stretches between Oxford, Wallingford, Caversham and Thame.

I would urge the commissioning group to do all it can to gauge relatives and patients views.

I know end-of-life care is a very sensitive subject so it must be done with compassion but everyone currently using Sue Ryders outpatient service must be asked: If you had been offered inpatient care in your last days, would you have taken it?

Peter McGrane, clinical director of Oxford Health, said: If we were having to increase hospice beds at Wallingford on a long-term basis, we would need to have further discussion with Sue Ryder. However, Im confident that the package weve discussed is adequate and Im not anxious from a clinical perspective.

Sue Ryder has proactively sought feedback about its provision and there are no concerns at the moment. At present, 90 per cent of its patients were able to die in their preferred location.

After the meeting, Cllr Reissmann said: Were still concerned about how the need for hospice provision in South Oxfordshire is being measured because some questions werent answered in as much detail as we would have liked.

We will be going back to the community and our GPs to consider how to respond more fully to these plans.

Cllr Reissman, who led calls to save the beds at Townlands, said he wasnt concerned by the prospect of losing the four at the care home.

He said: Those beds have been consistently underused for at least the past 18 months.

The decision not to provide beds at Townlands initially provoked great concern but the reality turned out to be quite different once it opened.

We recognise that the commissioning group needs to get value for the money it spends.

Henley MP John Howell called the proposal a dynamic arrangement, not a static one based on usage of the beds.

He said: I dont blindly accept everything the commissioning group tells me but youve got to take a professional view and challenge things constructively, which I always do.

I think Wallingford is a suitable location as the group must consider everyones needs.

Although I campaigned for beds at Townlands in 2015, you cant dig your heels in and insist that nothing ever changes.

We believed it was a good idea at the time but if the beds are not being used, we should make the most effective use of resources.

I suspect usage of the beds is low because of how well the hospital has managed people at home, which would show it has enjoyed great success at integrating health and social care.

The seven intermediate care beds at Chilterns Court, which are for NHS patients coming from other hospitals, are not affected by the proposal.
A LIBRARIAN from Sonning Common walked 35 miles for charity in unpredictable weather.

Rosemary Dunstan, 65, took part in a three-day challenge to walk the coastal path from Porthleven to Lands End in Cornwall.

It was her 19th fundraising walk in 20 years and she raised more than 1,200 for the Institute of Cancer Research in London.

Mrs Dunstan, who lives in Birch Close and has managed the village library since 2003, was one of six people who took part with two guides.

She said the walk was more challenging than she had expected, especially having to sleep in a tent during wet and windy nights.

The group was originally supposed to walk from St Ives to Penzance via Lands End, which is about five miles longer, but the route was changed at the last moment because of a lack of guides.

Mrs Dunstan said: To say I was disappointed is an understatement. The St Ives to Lands End section of coast is believed to be the most stunningly beautiful part of the coastl path.

On the Saturday, after a rather windy, disturbed night in the tents, we set off from the east side of Porthleven to walk to Penzance, a distance of about 16 miles.

It was very hot and the wind had dropped so the sea was like a millpond. One of our group had to give up and join the support vehicle.

The five of us walked on with frequent breaks for water and snacks, and to admire the views, and eventually, after more than eight hours of walking, we got to Penzance and climbed gratefully into the van.

Im fairly familiar with this section of the coastal path and was surprised at how overgrown it was as all the paths in South Oxfordshire seem very well-used because of lockdown walking habits.

After their second night of sleep, which was a lot cooler, the group was dropped off in Mousehole at 8.30am and then walked a further 13 miles.

Mrs Dunstan said: The path was steeply undulating from the start, with lots of uneven steps up and down the cliffs.

The track was even more overgrown than the previous day. There were campion, nettles, yarrow, foxgloves and brambles at knee height and thistles, honeysuckle, gorse, hogweed and sloe bushes at shoulder height.

Although this was the coastal path, there were times when we couldnt see the sea at all.

One of my companions put her foot down a hole as far as her knee, scraping it painfully but fortunately didnt twist or break her ankle.

The walkers arrived at Lands End at 5.30pm exhausted after nine hours of walking. That night it rained heavily and the final route was changed in the morning.

Mrs Dunstan said: After much discussion and consultation, it was decided to walk a nearer part of the coastal path, from Portreath to Hayle. This path was obviously well-used and we were able to pick up the pace in spite of the rain and strong wind.

The rain eased off for a while and we were hopeful of walking further but then it started getting heavier and the majority decision was to call a halt after only six miles. What a blessing that our first two days had been dry.

So I didnt walk the original planned route and I only managed 35 miles in the three days but it was more challenging than I had expected and my legs were feeling the strain afterwards.

Thanks to everyone who sponsored me.

Mrs Dunstan now wants to return to India, where she did her last charity walk in November 2019, with a 10-day expedition to Kerala. Alternatively, she would like to visit Ecuador, as she had planned to do before the coronavirus pandemic.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/

fundraising/RosemaryDunstan6-21
President Joe Biden on Monday expressed support for the Cuban people amid rare protests in the country over a lack of freedoms and a worsening economy, calling on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel regime to "hear their people and serve their needs."

"We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime," Biden said in a statement.

He continued, "The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected. The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves."

White House officials are closely monitoring the protests in the country, 90 miles from the US, with national security adviser Jake Sullivan warning against targeting the peaceful protesters.

Thousands of Cubans took to the streets on Sunday to protest a lack of food and medicine as the country undergoes a grave economic crisis aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic and US sanctions.

Many chanted for "freedom" and called for Diaz-Canel to step down, Reuters reported. Multiple protesters were arrested by police, who used tear gas to break up some demonstrations.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the US is "assessing how we can be helpful directly to the people of Cuba." She said it is too early to predict any potential policy change when it comes to Cuba, and that the US will continued to be governed by the support for democracy and human rights for the nation's people.

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"Our approach continues to be governed by two principles; first, support for democracy and human rights, which is going to continue to be at the core of our efforts through empowering the Cuban people to determine their own future. Second, Americans, especially Cuban Americans, are the best ambassadors for freedom and prosperity in Cuba," Psaki said at Monday's White House press briefing.

In nationally televised remarks Sunday, Diaz-Canel placed blame for the economic conditions on sanctions from the US, which Biden did not address in his statement. The Trump administration enacted some of the toughest economic measures against Cuba in decades, and so far, the Biden administration has yet to lift them.

"The U.S. supports freedom of expression and assembly across Cuba, and would strongly condemn any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters who are exercising their universal rights," Sullivan tweeted Sunday night.

Psaki appeared to respond to those comments, saying the protests appeared to be spontaneous expressions of the Cuban people, but did not mention Diaz-Canel by name in her remarks.

"There's every indication that yesterday's protests were spontaneous expressions of people who are exhausted with the Cuban government's economic mismanagement and repression, and these are protests inspired by the harsh reality of everyday life in Cuba, not people in another country," she said.

The-CNN-Wire

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You are easily forgiven due to the daily wall-to-wall critiques of Georgias voting law if you missed the fiasco that was New York Citys first crack at ranked choice voting during its recent wide-open mayoral election. On Tuesday, June 22, the Big Apple held Democratic and Republican mayoral primary election contests, as well as down-ballot races for City Council and other local offices.

In a state that requires party registration to vote, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 6 to 1 in New York City. In a field of 15 candidates, there were 13 Democrats and two Republicans. Curtis Sliwa, a co-founder, and now CEO of the Guardian Angels (a nonprofit organization focused on unarmed crime prevention), easily won the GOP primary nomination. On the Democratic side, a diverse spectrum of candidates sought the nomination, from far left to centrist, with a contest and debate that increasingly focused on New Yorks 60-year surge in violent crime and homicides.

In addition to explaining the ranke choice process, New York law allows absentee ballots to arrive and be counted for 10 days following Election Day. The initially estimated date for final results tabulation and release for this election was expected to be Tuesday, July 13, a full three weeks after Election Day. Besides the stress one can only imagine on the candidates during that time, what could go wrong? Well, the answer, not surprisingly is A LOT.

Eric Adams, an African-American and Brookyln borough president, was a 22-year veteran of the New York Police Department, who ran as a blue-collar, moderate New Yorker, very concerned about turning the tide of crime engulfing the city.

Though it would take nearly two weeks for the final tallies to be released, Mr. Adams would carry every part and most precincts of NYC, except for the island of Manhattan. On Election Night, prior to the flood of late absentees, each of the top three finishers, were more centrist Democrats  Adams, former New York Sanitation Commissioner Katherine Garcia, and former Presidential aspirant and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. As initial tallying continued, Yang would be passed by the primary Progressive in the contest, Maya Wiley, also African-American and legal counsel to sitting Mayor Bill de Blasio, who would land temporarily in second place.

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In that first round tabulation, Adams was above 30%, Ms. Wiley continued to move up to 21.3%, Ms. Garcia hovered just below 20%, while Mr. Yang fell out of the running. By late Election Night, the Adams campaign pointed out that the election tallies exceeded by more than 100,000 the number of voters who cast ballots on Election Day before absentee tallying had begun. To its credit, the New York City Board of Elections almost immediately realized it had a problem, and election tabulation was halted, and the reporting numbers were temporarily pulled down. It was soon discovered that the Board of Elections had been running practice rounds on the ranked choice voting, as this was to be a first in NYC, and they had been practicing with 130,000 pretend votes... only those votes were NOT removed from the system on Election Day, and they landed in the initial result tallies.

The error was corrected, pretend votes removed and tallying begun anew. Adams lead continued to shrink, while the former sanitation commissioner appeared to most benefit. On Tuesday, July 6, roughly a week ahead of their final tabulation forecasts, the New York Board of Elections declared Adams the Democratic Party nominee for mayor of New York. His ranked choice lead had shrunk, and also grown, to 50.5%. A close second-place finish by Katherine Garcia at 49.5%. Adams will face Sliwa in November, though most consider the races outcome a foregone conclusion.

Adams retired from the NYPD as a captain in 2006 and was elected to the New York State Senate. In 2014, he was elected Brooklyn borough president. Since securing the nomination, Adams has not been shy about pointing out that his may be the new face of the Democratic Party.

Im not suggesting any fraud or ballot counting conspiracy here, but IF you are a candidate, or passionate about a campaign, and find it OK for 130,000 votes to appear and then disappear and for 12-13 ballot tabulations to occur, largely via algorithm and computer to determine the final outcome... I would say that the stench of ranked choice voting is strong enough to keep its spread to a minimum in the near future, if not indefinitely.
STOCKBRIDGE  Since Henry General Hospital opened its doors on July 9, 1979, the hospital has more than doubled its beds, joined the Piedmont Healthcare system and continues to grow.

Annually, Piedmont Henry treats 13,000 in-patient residents and nearly 60,000 outpatient visitors. According to hospital officials, its emergency department is the busiest among the Piedmont system treating some 90,000 people every year.

We have grown alongside Henry County and feel honored to provide care for our friends and neighbors in the community, said Lily Henson, M.D., CEO of Piedmont Henry. That relationship has never been more important than it was over the past year. Citizens from throughout the county showed their support for our frontline workers, and our staff did an amazing job caring for our patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past several years, Piedmont Henry has made several additions and improvements to the hospital. The emergency department expanded and the hospital also added a 20-bed observation unit, a transitional care unit, a dedicated obstetric emergency department for expecting mothers and a state-of-the-art interventional radiology suite. All of those additions played a vital role during the pandemic when space for patients was at a premium and many of them required specialized care, hospital officials said. Piedmont Henry also used buildings on its campus to stand up monoclonal antibody therapy units and helped businesses and organizations in the community with their vaccination efforts.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Piedmont Henry was able to launch some new services and earn recognition and awards for the care provided. The hospital launched robotic-assisted surgery last summer and now have numerous surgeons providing minimally-invasive procedures on the da Vinci surgical system. Piedmont Henry has also received two consecutive A grades from The Leapfrog Group, a national distinction recognizing the hospitals achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

The hospital was named the Henry County Chamber of Commerces Business of the Year this year and received the Silver Performance Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiologys NCDR Chest Pain MI Registry, which recognizes Piedmonts commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients. Most recently, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has designated Piedmont Henry Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

It is our goal to provide high-quality, safe, patient-centered care, Henson said. I am so proud of this team and its ability to continue to provide the best care during the most challenging time in their careers.

For more information about Piedmont Henry, visit www.piedmont.org.
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Provo, UT (84601)

Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High near 100F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Primeval Earth was regularly struck by city-size asteroids during its first several billion years, this was a time of creation and destruction. At this point, these impacts may have a direct influence on the creation of life on the earth, or it could have been a planet without the life it has now.

This period in the planet's history, about 2.5-3.5 billion years ago had city-sized asteroids striking its surface like clockwork, at a 15-million-year interval. This period might have seen the rise of animals and plants which became extinct.

It changes initial ideas of how terrible was the planetary impacts were in this critical period. According to the Southwest Research Institute, this onslaught was theorized in their latest hypothesis.

What happened in the 2.5-3.5 billion years has determined the present-day earth and the life that inhabits it now. No one knows what changes will follow or if they can be stopped.

Cataclysmic planet killers?

One speculation is the asteroids striking the earth's surface are more gargantuan than what killed the dinosaurs, which is supposed to be seven miles wide. Earlier than 65 million years- ago (MyA) larger space rock shattered the earth's surface many times, reported the Daily Mail.

These primeval craters have long been eroded or destroyed by the passing of time, but remains called spherules or glassed earth from the immense heat might be found.

The formation of these glass remains is by the impact tossing super-hot earth fragments that combined with cooler vapors, instantly forming when they made contact. Earth was regularly struck by city-size asteroids causing this phenomenon.

Read also: Planet-Killing Asteroid Currently Hurdling Towards Earth, ETA Saturday Morning

Scientists think it how these glass particles are spread out, that big an asteroid will have more spherules seen in an area. So, more glass particles in a wide expanse mean more impact forces hitting the earth's surface.

A new model proposed for an asteroid impact

According to Simone Marchi, the paper author and physicist from Southwest Research Institute in Colorado. He suggests an impact flux simulation, contrasted with an analysis of ancient spherule layer data, noted UK Alert Breaking News.

The present models of early impacts on earth are insufficient and do not account for all asteroid hits, indicated by spherule layers. It might be the impact flux is more than 10 times than estimated before.

Dr. Marchi added that in between 3.5-2.5 billion years ago, the impact was as big as the Chicxulub asteroid, but every 15 MyA on the cosmic clock. Planets colliding with asteroids is part of the earth's formation process.

Though destructive, these cosmic collisions had a part in the creation of oxygen. But periodic impacts have an effect on whether it would be plentiful or not.

The next part according to the scientist is studying the connection of oxygen evolution via the successive impacts, to the creation of the first creatures billions of years ago.

Geologist Rosalie Tostevin, from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, added that impacts would have disrupted something, she was not part of Dr. Marchi's study, noted Phys Org.

She lamented that few samples exist until now and that lack of proof makes the conclusions incomplete. But the updated simulations of Marchi can explain these large impacts of primeval earth.

As for the rise of oxygen 2.5 billion years ago (ByA), a small amount existed in agreement with the author of the study. Tostevin added that Earth was regularly struck by city-size asteroids that could be another for evolved life and oxygen in the atmosphere.

Related article: Life on Earth Came From Mars? Scientists Investigate Panspermia As Earth's Origin

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On July 15, the first of six advance monthly installments of the increased federal child tax credit will be sent to 39 million American households.

Parents To Receive Their Monthly Child Tax Credit

In a recently published article in Indy Star, as part of the new federal legislation, starting July 15, parents will be entitled to a new monthly child tax credit for each kid. The monthly payments are linked to income taxes and are known as advanced payments.

Because the final day to modify the option for the July disbursement was on June 28, if a family has not yet unenrolled for the advance monthly payments, they will get one this month through direct deposit or paper check.

However, families may still notify the IRS not to make the payments moving forward. It means that they will not receive the money for the remaining five months until the end of the year, according to a report published in CNBC.

Read Also: Child Tax Credit: Families to Start Receiving Monthly Checks on July 15

How Much Does Each Child Receive?

The maximum amount of the child tax credit for 2021 has been raised by Biden's coronavirus relief legislation. Children under the age of 6 will receive up to $3,600 and children ages 6 through 17 will get $3,000.

It is also worth noting that married couples earning up to $150,000 and single parents earning up to $112,500 using the head-of-household filing status are both eligible for the full enhanced credit amounts, according to a published report in The Hill.

Meanwhile, the credit will be accessible to all low-income families, and the IRS has been ordered to establish an advanced payment scheme. The agency will begin making monthly payments on the credit on Thursday and will do so on or around the 15th of each month until the end of the year.

Furthermore, children under the age of six will receive $300 per month, while older children will have $250. Families will usually get half of their credit amount for 2021 in monthly installments this year. They will obtain the remainder when they submit their tax returns the following year.

Biden Administration Wants to Make the Child Tax Credit Permanent

The Biden administration has suggested making it permanent and expanding the credit increase until 2025. Many Democrats in Congress have shown interest in making the child tax credit increase permanent.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated last week at a news conference in New York City that he expects the increased credit to be extended and that they will study if they can achieve the permanency that they are seeking.

The White House and Democratic legislators want to include the credit extension in a broader social spending plan that might pass Congress via the budget reconciliation process with just Democratic votes.

Obstacles Democrats May Face in Making It Permanent

Democrats will have to decide if and how they would pay for the credit extension. Biden's proposed extension of the credit, according to the Treasury Department, would cost more than $400 billion over 10 years. It would be much more costly to make the higher credit levels permanent.

The administration has suggested raising taxes on the wealthy people and established businesses to fund its economic plans, but several Democratic legislators have expressed reservations about some elements of the planned tax increases.

Related Article: Monthly Child Tax Credit Registration Begins, Biden Wants the Payment Permanent



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Former President Donald Trump celebrates another Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) win after he topped the 2024 GOP presidential nomination straw poll on Sunday, eight months after his defeat in the 2020 election.

The CPAC held in Dallas, Texas, was made up of mostly right-wing Trump supporters with two presidential polls: one without the former president and not with him. The results, which were released in the afternoon, indicated that Donald Trump dominated the poll with 70% of ballots cast with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in second place with 21%. The anonymous straw poll shows none of the other possible candidates to make 1 percent of the ballot cast.

Trump has hinted at candidacy for president in 2024, but he has said that no formal campaign would be started anytime soon. Since leaving the White House, the former president has hinted at a future presidential candidacy in many campaign-style rallies and public appearances.

In May, he told conservative commentator Candace Owens that he is very excited and is looking forward to announce his plans at the appropriate time. Trump is unlikely to make a formal announcement or declare a candidacy this year since doing so would trigger election regulations restricting his ability to spend and raise funds, as per Newsweek.

If he officially begins a campaign, the ex-president would be forced to file yearly reports until 2024, a procedure he claims he would avoid. However, Trump has continued to tease the idea in public statements, even joked about possible endorsements on Sunday. In recent months, the GOP has been embroiled in an intra-party battle between Trump's supporters and establishment figures wanting to restrict his dominance.

Trump, DeSantis lead the CPAC straw poll

Per Fox News, the victory in the straw poll was an increase over Trump's 55% support in a hypothetical 2024 Republican primary match straw poll held at CPAC Orlando in late February. DeSantis, a first-term governor and Trump loyalist who gained national acclaim for his opposition to lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions during the pandemic, comfortably won a second 2024 ballot question - this time without Trump on the ballot.

On that issue, DeSantis received 68% of the vote, while former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo received only 5%. Donald Trump Jr. and Texas Senator Ted Cruz were both at 4%, with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem at 3%. No one else came close to achieving the 2% mark.

The straw poll results, as well as former President Donald Trump's speech on Sunday, were the most anticipated parts of the three-day event of conservative activists and leaders from across the US. Trump's outstanding performance is unsurprising. Since Trump's 2016 presidential election win, CPAC, the largest and most prominent conservative gathering, has become a Trump-fest.

Read Also: Eric, Donald Trump Jr. Fire Back at Trump Organization Charges; Link Persecution of Putin to Navalny

The former president's speech in CPAC gathering

Donald Trump spoke for an hour and a half at a CPAC event, insisting to the Republican crowd that "we are the majority in the United States." Biden's border crisis, Democrats' proposed tax hikes, Big Tech corruption, mounting crime, and the swift departure of troops from Afghanistan were all targets for Trump.

After the police death of George Floyd in May 2020, the anti-police campaign gained traction among progressive Democrats. After major crime rises spread across the country and grew widely unpopular, Biden's administration and Democratic politicians are now blaming the movement on Republicans.

Trump also mentioned his lawsuit against Big Tech firms which drew applause. On Wednesday, Trump filed his lawsuit against Facebook, Twitter, and Google's YouTube, as well as their CEOs Jack Dorsey, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sundar Pichai, during a news conference in New Jersey.

The lawsuit alleges that conservatives have been unfairly silenced and asks that Trump's accounts be restored. He also raged against Section 230 protections, which provide social media companies immunity from liability for what their users say.

He said that Republicans on social media are treated unjustly in comparison to Democratic voices. Trump made sporadic references to the 2020 election, which he claimed was "unfair" and "made it too easy for Democrats to cheat," throughout his remarks. The former president defended his election fraud allegations while also backing his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, Daily Mail reported.

Related Article: Donald Trump Sues Facebook, Twitter, Google For "Breach of Freedom of Speech" to Recover Accounts



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Richard Branson, the thrill-seeking billionaire, has entered space on his own winged rocket ship, bringing Astro-tourism one step closer to reality.

Richard Branson Has Finally Reached Space

In a recently published article in Associated Press, Branson, who is almost 71 years old, and five Virgin Galactic crew members flew across the New Mexico desert at a height of 53.5 miles or 86 kilometers.

Richard Branson and his team were weightless for three to four minutes, seeing the Earth's curvature before gliding back to a runway landing. On his return onboard the dazzling white space aircraft called Unity, Branson remarked "The whole thing, it was just magical," according to a published article in U.S. News.

Branson beat Bezos, the world's wealthiest man, by nine days to become the first person and billionaire to blast off in his own spacecraft. He was also the second septuagenarian to go to the moon. At the age of 77, astronaut John Glenn flew aboard the shuttle in 1998.

Read Also: Virgin Galactic's Third Test Flight Reaches Edge of Space, Declared a Success

Branson Receives Commendation for the Success of his Space Flight

"Can't wait to join the club!" Bezos wrote on his social media account. He did, however, go to Twitter a few days before to list the ways he thinks his company's tourist trips would be improved, according to an article in Market Watch.

From the sidelines, retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, a one-time commander of the International Space Station, expressed his excitement at what this open door would lead to today. He also said that it was a memorable occasion.

Meanwhile, the flamboyant Virgin Atlantic Airways founder, who was born in London, was not originally scheduled to fly until later this summer. However, when Bezos revealed intentions to launch his own rocket into orbit from Texas on July 20, the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, he allocated himself to an earlier mission. Branson vehemently claimed that he was attempting to outdo Bezos.

Furthermore, Elon Musk, Branson's other main competitor in the battle for space tourism among the world's wealthiest men, traveled to New Mexico to observe and congratulate Branson on a "great flight."

Previous Test Flights of Virgin Galactic

The dangers to Branson and his team were highlighted in 2007, when three employees were killed during a rocket motor test in California's Mojave Desert, and again in 2014, when a Virgin Galactic rocket aircraft broke apart during a test flight, killing one pilot and severely wounding the other, according to a report in Channel News Asia.

With all confidence in his latest flight, Branson insisted on a worldwide webcast of the launch on Sunday morning and invited celebrities and former space station astronauts to Spaceport America in New Mexico. Khalid, an R&B artist, performed his new song "New Normal" while Stephen Colbert hosted the event.

Reservations and Cost of Tickets

With tickets starting at $250,000 each, Virgin Galactic has already received over 600 reservations from would-be space travelers. Branson also announced a sweepstake drawing for two tickets on a Virgin Galactic flight upon his return to Earth.

Meanwhile, Blue Origin is holding off on releasing ticket pricing until the price of its tickets are announced. Instead of an air-launched, reusable space aircraft, Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX both fly Apollo-style, with capsules atop rockets.

Related Article: Billionaire's Space Race: Virgin Galactic Founder Richard Branson Set to Fly to Space on Sunday, Hopes to Beat Jeff Bezos



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Australia made an announcement on Sunday of its first COVID-19 fatality in the current Sydney virus outbreak. The nation's largest city grapples to contain the Delta variant. On Saturday, one woman in her 90s died of the disease. This was hours following testing positive for the COVID-19. It was also the first death from a locally-acquired infection in Australia.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has prompted older people who already received at least one AstraZeneca vaccine shot to set forth their second shot to six weeks after the first recorded fatality.

3rd Week of Lockdown

Sydney, Australia's first capital, is currently in its third week of lockdown. However, the tally of new coronavirus cases continue to climb in a place where the population is mostly uninoculated.

According to State Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the tally in and around Australia's largest city already under a rigid lockdown are slated to climb. She stated, "I'll be shocked if it's less than 100 this time tomorrow, of additional new cases," reported Channel News Asia.

The woman who died contracted COVID-19 in a family gathering. The new cases in New South Wales spiked up to 77 on Sunday. There are currently 52 hospitalized people, and there are 15 others in intensive care.

There were 50 cases on Saturday. The recent outbreak totals to 566 cases.

On Monday, authorities cautioned that numbers were slated to surge above 100. Berejiklian added, "Tomorrow and the few days afterwards will be worse, much worse than we've seen today," reported GMA News Online.

Read Also: CDC Eases School Guidance, Sets New Recommendations

On Sunday, the 77 new cases came from 48,754 tests. Berejiklian remarked that 33 individuals were in the community while infectious. Over 50 were close family members of cases.

Therefore, this raises the possibility that the three-week lockdown of over five million people in Sydney will be extended. Berejiklian added that considering the current situation and given that the lockdown was supposed to be lifted on Friday, everybody could tell it is very impossible at this stage.

Sydney is currently combatting to mitigate the prevalence of the highly transmissible Delta strain of the virus. The reported fatality is New South Wales' 57th and the first in 10 months.

Australia has been doing much better than numerous other developed nations in keeping its coronavirus numbers fairly low. It has witnessed merely over 31,000 confirmed cases and 911 fatalities since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The guidelines of the lockdown were tightened on Friday. Unless there is a remarkable overturn, Berejiklian cautioned that stay-at-home guidelines are expected to be imposed.

According to Berejiklian, "Tragically, we've seen one older person die and I want to extend my deepest condolences to their families and loved ones," reported The Age. Dr. Chant remarked that she thought the woman was not inoculated but has not yet confirmed such.

Inoculations are currently available for vulnerable groups or individuals over 40 years old. This is due to exposure to the virus at work or their health.

Related Article: Illinois Vaccine Lottery $1M Prize Granted to Chicago Resident; Those Who Had At Least One Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Are Eligible

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The Chinese and North Korean leaders have both expressed their intentions to fortify their countries' relationship as the two nations celebrate the 60th anniversary of their defense treaty.

North Korea's Kim Jong-Un told Chinese President Xi Jinping that it was the "fixed stand" of his government to continue developing its positive relationship with the Chinese nation. The politician's words to his colleague were broadcasted by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

China and North Korea's Strong Ties

In his response message to Kim, Xi said that the two Asian nations have continued to support each other throughout the years. The Chinese president said that in the last century, many changes have plagued the world. He argued that he wanted to continue bilateral relations and develop together with North Korea moving forward to benefit both their people.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to push North Korea into economic struggles, the country's leaders are expected to seek out support from China. The latter is North Korea's major ally and aid benefactor. Chinese officials wish to avoid North Korea's collapse due to it being crucial to the nation's security interests and as it also helps to bolster its allies against the United States, the Associated Press reported.

In his message to Xi, Kim said that the bilateral treaty between the two nations is even stronger than before in defending and supporting the socialist cause of the two nations. He added that the cooperation the two nation's share is crucial to fending off more desperate hostile forces who wish to conduct obstructing objectives.

Read Also: Joe Biden Urges Russia's Vladimir Putin to Act as US Defends People, Infrastructure Against Cyberattacks

The exchange between the two Asian leaders came after a month when United States President Joe Biden's administration extended an executive order for another year that has been in place for more than a decade. The legislation declares a national emergency over North Korea's nuclear threat to other nations.

International Peace Treaty

Similarly, many American legislators have continued their crackdown on China and its officials by handing out sanctions for alleged human rights abuses in the Asian nation's southern Xinjiang province, including high surveillance monitoring and forced labor of the Uyghur minority in the region, Yahoo News reported.

Since signing the defense treaty in 1961, China and North Korea have continued to be major allies in international relations. The latter has become even more dependent on the former's support after other countries handed out sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

The KCNA also noted how, in his message, Xi said that hostile foreign forces would force the increased cooperation between the two nations, bringing their partnership to a "new stage." In Kim's reply, the North Korean leader said the friendship between the DPRK and China will continue to grow day by day amid the unprecedented complicated international situation.

The treaty between the two Asian countries defends socialism and peace in the region, which has become more crucial amid hostile forces becoming more desperate in breaking down that peace, Kim said.

In Xi's message, he revealed that he planned to provide greater support to North Korea to help its citizens become happy and help the relationship between the two regions become stronger. The Chinese president said they would do this by "steadily leading the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries to a new stage," Reuters reported.



Related Article: Fourth Stimulus Check Petition Gains 2.5M Signatures; Are Monthly Relief Payments of $2000 for Adults, $1000 for Children Possible?

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Despite signs that the economy is recovering from the pandemic, outcry for a fourth stimulus check surges. More Americans are backing a plan to provide every adult in the United States an immediate $2,000 payment, followed by recurring checks for as long as the crisis lasts.

Similar ideas have the support of dozens of Democrats in Congress, who want to help those who are still struggling to pay rent, buy food, and settle debts. Lawmakers who want new stimulus checks see an opportunity to include them in a future spending package, potentially resulting in at least one more payment this year.

Who will receive the $1,000 stimulus checks?

However, any proposal that involves new stimulus checks is expected to face fierce opposition, especially when millions of households are due to receive new stimulus payments through the end of 2021. Fresh stimulus payments may bring in up to $1,000 per year for Americans over the next two years.

The Cherokee Nation's principal chief and leader, Chuck Hosking, signed legislation to deliver a new round of stimulus payments to the tribe's residents in Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nations' 392,832 members will each get a $2,000 stimulus check, which will be divided into two $1,000 direct checks.

The tribe had already received $1.8 billion from the Biden administration. After the Navajo Nation in Arizona, the Cherokee Nation is the second biggest. Hosking said that the fund would provide individual assistance to its members and that a thorough expenditure plan will be approved.

California has also taken advantage of this chance to provide further assistance to its citizens. Governor Gavin Newsom has moved forward with preparations to distribute stimulus checks from federal funds allotted to states, as per Digital Market News.

Read Also: $1.77 Billion Unclaimed Stimulus Checks: There Might Be Payments Waiting For You

What's more?

This money comes mostly from Biden's American Rescue Plan, which allows states to spend their funds as they deem necessary. California senators adopted a $5.2 billion proposal to pay off all overdue rent for low-income households as well as $500 payments to illegal immigrants who live in the state.

According to The Sun, families with children under the age of 13 may be eligible for a "surprise" stimulus check of up to $8,000 in the form of a tax credit for childcare expenditures. Working American families that meet specific conditions may receive thousands in more stimulus payments as a result of the new changes to the Child and Dependent Care Credit for 2021.

It covers up to $8,000 in childcare expenditures, as well as the costs of caring for a spouse or parent who is unable to care for themselves. For families with two or more dependents, the cost rises to $16,000.

Daycare, after-school programs, nannies, day camp, and other forms of child care are all included in the cost of child care. The highest amount you could claim for several children used to be $6,000. This credit is part of the American Rescue Plan, which was enacted in March and may be claimed beginning the current tax year.

Monthly stimulus checks face issues

Because of the revised Child Tax Credit, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will soon begin delivering millions of stimulus checks to families. The monthly payments of up to $300 per child begin on July 15 and will continue until the end of 2021.

According to the Biden administration, this type of stimulus check for parents would reach 39 million families or almost 90% of the country's children. However, a program of this scale poses practical problems for an underfunded agency that was not designed to distribute funds monthly.

Regularly sending out Child Tax Credit payments comes with its own set of problems. There is the work of locating all of the people who should get the funds, informing them that the funds are available and that they are eligible, and then enrolling them in the system. According to a recent Data For Progress poll, 53% of Americans know very little or nothing about the updated credit.

Per CBS Local, a third or more children living in poverty are also living in families that do not file taxes. These are families that are most likely to benefit from more monetary assistance each month. The Biden administration has created a tool for non-filers to sign up for the Child Tax Credit. Its main goal is to assist the poor and the homeless in receiving their benefits.

Related Article: Stimulus Check Round 4 Not Received? IRS Will Assist Release; Child Tax Credit of $300 Per Kid Starts July 15



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As the string of ransomware attacks that have allegedly originated from Russia continue to plague the United States, President Joe Biden's threats to President Vladimir Putin remain unacted on, despite the former's aggressive stance on the issue.

On Friday, the Democrat once again warned Putin to take necessary actions against the alleged Russian-based cyber attacks and prevent them from happening. The U.S. president said the American government would retaliate with necessary force if the cyber crimes against the United States continued.

Russian Ransomware Attacks

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki previously said that Biden's Friday threat to Putin was the first time the Democrat conducted that level of engagement with the Russian president. But the statement comes after the two political leaders met at a summit in Geneva last month. During the meeting, Biden discussed 16 areas that would be the target of immediate response should the cyberattacks from Russia continue unhindered.

One of the most recent cyber attacks from Russian-based organizations targeted JBS, one of the largest meat processing companies worldwide. Since then, the group responsible has launched hundreds of other ransomware attacks worldwide, with some seemingly ignoring Biden's threats, whose response was a simple phone call, the New York Post reported.

The Democratic president previously did not order any retaliation against the alleged Russian-based group responsible for the cyberattacks on JBS and USAID. And on July 3, Biden ordered his administration to determine whether or not the cybercrime group really did come from Russia. The Democrat continued to assure his citizens that he would respond accordingly to threats to his country.

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During the phone call, Biden told Putin that if the ransomware attacks continued, they would be treated as national security threats instead of criminal acts. The classification would warrant more stern responses from the American government, administration officials said.

When interviewed, Biden said he made it very clear to Putin that the American government expected the Russian administration to control ransomware attacks based on its soil even if they were not state-run attacks. The Democrat said he expected the Russian leader to act on the issue if given enough information regarding the location and identity of the attackers.

Severe Consequences

One of the primary ways that the American government could punish the criminals is by attacking the Russian servers that were used for the crimes, which would affect the country as a whole, Biden said, the New York Times reported.

The White House would not be announcing what plans it has to counter the Russian-based hacker group to the public, a senior administration official said. He added that the counterattacks would have some visible actions while others would not be as obvious.

Additionally, Biden said his administration has set up a continued means of communication with the Russian administration that would allow them to make contact regularly.

The cyberattack on Friday was suspected to have been conducted by REvil, a ransomware gang, and was expected to have affected about 1,500 companies, including a technology vendor that distributed services to the Republican National Committee, Politico reported.



Related Article: Watch: Massive Explosion Rattles Tehran Near Broadcasting Headquarters; The Cause of Explosion Remains Unidentified

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Thousands of people flocked to the streets across Cuba, screaming "freedom" in the largest anti-government protests the communist-ruled island has seen in decades. The protesters were enraged by food and medical shortages. On Sunday, riot police deployed pepper spray and batons against several protestors in Havana, although most of them had not been confronted.

Witnesses said they saw civilian authorities, away from police cars, taking several protestors as well as special forces jeeps equipped with machine guns stationed in the streets. Protests were also recorded at Palma Soriano, near Santiago in the east of the country, and San Antonio de Los Banos, south of Havana, where protestors chanted, "Down with the dictatorship!"

Hundreds of people marched through communities including San Antonio de Los Banos and Palma Soriano, as well as the province of Artemisa, outside of Havana. Protests even reached Miami, Florida, which has a large Cuban and Cuban-American community.

Cuba's President blames the US for misleading protestors

In an unscheduled broadcast address, President Miguel Daz-Canel, who had just returned from San Antonio de Los Banos, claimed many protestors were earnest but were being misled by US-backed social media campaigns and on-the-ground mercenaries. He warned that any future provocations would be met with harsh retaliation. For the last two years, the Communist-run nation has been embroiled in a worsening economic crisis, which the government blames mostly on US sanctions and the pandemic, while its critics point to inefficiency and a one-party Soviet-style regime.

"As if pandemic outbreaks had not existed all over the world, the Cuban-American mafia, paying very well on social networks to influencers and YouTubers, has created a whole campaign ... and has called for demonstrations across the country," Diaz-Canel told reporters, as per the NBC News.

Although many individuals attempted to use their cellphones to live-stream the protests, Cuban authorities cut off internet connectivity for the whole day. Officers also confronted protestors, hurling them with tear gas and detaining several protesters.

Per AFP, its correspondents observed police using tear gas to disperse crowds and arresting at least ten people, as well as cops using plastic pipes to beat demonstrators. Thousands of protestors, mostly young people, marched through San Antonio de Los Banos, a hamlet 30 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Havana.

According to footage uploaded online, security officers came shortly after the protests began; and Diaz-Canel subsequently visited the town himself, surrounded by party activists while people taunted him. Long food lines, growing power outages for several hours a day, and a severe scarcity of medications have fueled public outrage since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with Cuba under US sanctions.

Read Also: Watch: Massive Explosion Rattles Tehran Near Broadcasting Headquarters; The Cause of Explosion Remains Unidentified

Demonstrators urged Cuba goverment to allow foreign funds

Cuba is in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic's most severe phase ever, with a new daily record of infections and deaths recorded on Sunday. In Cuba, the only allowed gatherings are usually Communist Party events.

The country of 11.2 million people escaped the outbreak largely unharmed in the early months, but infections have recently increased, with a new daily high of 6,923 cases recorded Sunday and 47 fatalities for a total of 1,537. "These are alarming numbers which are increasing daily," Francisco Duran, the health ministry's chief of epidemiology, said.

Calls for help have proliferated on social media under hashtags like #SOSCuba, with people and artists alike imploring the government to allow much-needed foreign funds to enter the nation. On Saturday, an opposition movement proposed for the construction of a "humanitarian corridor," which the administration dismissed, claiming that Cuba was not a combat zone.

A foreign affairs official, Ernesto Soberon, criticized a campaign that he said aimed to project an idea of absolute chaos in the nation that does not correspond to the facts.

Related Article: North Korea Faces Harsh Food Shortage of Around 860,000 Tons This Year, United Nations Report



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Lilibet, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's daughter, will be baptized in a different way than her brother Archie and previous Royal children. The Royal Family is bound by numerous traditions, and royal christenings have traditionally followed a set of guidelines.

However, Lilibet, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's newborn baby, will most certainly break a tradition that her brother Archie and cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis have kept. Because Harry and Meghan now live in the United States, their newborn girl will miss out on one Royal custom that stretches back to Queen Victoria's reign when she is baptized.

Lilibet might be the key to the Royal Family's reconciliation

A Royal commentator, on the other hand, feels that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new baby, Lilibet, might be the key to resolving the feud between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal family. Some speculate that the Royal conflict began with Harry's long-held grudge against his older brother, Prince William, as per Cheat Sheet.

The two princes were raised for different futures, according to biographer Robert Lacey; and their differences became increasingly evident as they grew older. The tension between Prince Harry and Prince William allegedly increased when Meghan joined the scene in 2016. Prince William encouraged Harry to take things slowly with Meghan, something the younger prince did not agree with.

Regardless of Harry and Meghan's plans for Lilibet's christening, insiders recently said that the Sussexes and Cambridges are making strides toward reconciliation. Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are allegedly "in a better" place now, according to Us Weekly.

The insider said, "Kate even sent Meghan a gift for the baby. They're in a better place and have exchanged texts since the birth of Lilibet."

During the recent opening ceremony for a statue dedicated to Princess Diana, Harry and William reportedly bonded, as per the outlet. Kate, on the other hand, has three children with William: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Even though the brothers gathered on July 1 to dedicate a new statue of their late mother, Princess Diana, their spouses and children were not present. Out of respect for Prince Harry and Prince William, the Royal family wanted the event to be only about the Princess of Wales' sons and not about the public issue, a source said.

Read Also: Prince Charles' Offensive Comment Sparks Massive Fight With Princess Diana's Brothers After Death, Royal Source Claims

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's dilemma

According to a Royal expert, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have to make a "difficult decision" about whether or not to reveal photos of their daughter following her baptism. The baptism of five-week-old Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor raises issues about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's position in public life, according to Royal writer Daniela Elser. Unlike their two-year-old son Archie, no pictures of Lilibet have been made public.

Although the baby is eighth in line to the queen and was named after her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth's childhood nickname, the child has been deemed unfit for the crown. While the Sussexes may aspire to provide their daughter with the same amount of seclusion that Prince Harry was denied as a child growing up in the Royal spotlight, the sad fact is that they still inhabit a peculiar hazy space between public personalities and private individuals, according to Elser.

The Royal writer brought up the controversy surrounding Meghan and Harry's refusal to identify Archie's godparents after his christening while they were still senior and full-time royals. Elser added that the baptism of Lilibet has the potential to "improve or further damage" Harry's relationship with the royal family, MIRROR reported.

Related Article: Royal Expert: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Enraged by Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles' Control Over Money, Public Image



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New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Eric Adams and President Joe Biden will initiate a discussion in Washington on Monday to discuss gun violence. The issue is the focal point of Adams' recent successful campaign.

The president will host the meeting with the New York City Democrat mayoral candidate and other city and law enforcement leaders from across US to discuss how to diminish gun-related crime. According to two people familiar with the plans, Brooklyn borough president Adams, San Jose, Calif., Mayor Sam Liccardo, Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser are slated to be participants in the event. Attorney General Merrick Garland will also join the meeting.

Adams' aide confirmed his acceptance of the invite. Aside from being a Brooklyn borough president, he is also an ex-police captain.

Coordinating Ideas for Action

According to the New York City mayoral contender, "Excited to meet with @POTUS to work together on the #gunviolence pandemic plaguing our streets. The White House and President Biden are focused on this critical issue to #NYC, and I'm honored to be invited to discuss our ideas for action," reported PIX11.

Following the gunning of a 13-year-old in the Bronx that resulted in death, Adams stated it is devastating how common news like these are. He then underscored ending gun violence, reported CBS New York.

The invitation comes after Adams guested on a Sunday morning talk show circuit to discuss whether a more progressive or mild approach will be suitable for the US and New York. According to Adams, "We can't be so idealistic that we are not realistic. Cities are hurting all across America and New York personifies that pain: the inequalities, the gun violence, the lack of looking after everyday blue collar workers I like to say," reported NY1.

Read Also: Joe Biden Misses Fourth of July Vaccine Goal, Vowed in March a "More Normal Fourth of July"

On ABC's "This Week," the retired New York Police Department captain called for better communication between the federal government and NYC to trace the unlicensed firearms used in NY gunning incidents. Adams remarked in the show that we feed crime in New York and the United States and that the feeders of crime need to be stopped.

The expected guests at the event were not allowed to speak publicly regarding the scheduled discussion. The president will also host Chief David Brown of Chicago, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, and Lt. Anthony Lima of the Newark, New Jersey police officials.

Adams in his primary campaign criticized Democratic opponents who called for remarkably curtailing the budget of the NYPD, at times by at least $1 billion. He barred against calls by liberal Democrats for the defunding of police officials, even though Adams supports revamping the budget of police officials, mostly through targeting inefficiencies.

Adams has established his campaign to dethrone New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as a law-and-order candidate.

Related Article: Biden Administration Launches Process to Allow Deported Veterans to Return to the US, Committed to Those Unjustly Removed

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An unvaccinated 90-year-old Belgian woman died after contracting two different coronavirus variants at the same time, which caused severe symptoms in the patient.

The victim reportedly died in March 2021 after contracting both the Alpha and Beta variants of the COVID-19 virus. The 90-year-old woman allegedly acquired the two variants of the coronavirus from two different people.

During the 2021 European Congress on Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), several experts discussed the case online. The event was held from July 9 to July 12.

Two COVID-19 Variants

However, despite the rarity of the incident, experts said the condition of being infected with more than one variant of the COVID-19 virus is not impossible. A co-infection, which is characterized by at least two different pathogens inhabiting a human body at the same time, has already been conducted by other respiratory viruses.

One study by Stanford University researchers published in April 2020 in JAMA discovered that more than a quarter of people infected with the coronavirus were suffering from other respiratory viruses. The list includes viruses such as rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, and other coronaviruses.

Read Also: Myanmar to Receive 2 Million Vaccine Doses From Russia Amid Surge of COVID-19 Infections, Political Unrest

The recent case has raised concerns among officials that multiple variants of the COVID-19 virus are spreading across the region at the same time. This comes despite a single variant possibly being considered as the dominant strain in an area. However, this situation does not mean that other coronavirus variants cannot be widespread in the same area, Forbes reported.

Medical professionals from a hospital in Aalst near Brussels were the ones who treated the victim when she was admitted. They discovered that the 90-year-old woman was not vaccinated against the coronavirus. Belgium experienced delays in its vaccination program in early 2021. When the authorities began the process, it was a slow start though they have distributed treatments to inoculate about 70% of its residents.

Anne Vankeerberghen, a molecular biologist at the OLV Hospital in Aalst, said Belgium was struggling to contain both the Alpha and Beta COVID-19 variants spreading throughout the region. The medical professional said it was completely possible for the deceased woman to contract the two strains from two different people.

Severity of Contracting Two Strains

The European Commission, the EU executive, previously warned the public about the high transmissibility of the new Delta variant and how it could be the most dominant strain of the COVID-19 virus in Europe, officials from the EU disease prevention agency estimated, Reuters reported.

When the 90-year-old patient was initially admitted to the hospital, doctors noted her oxygen levels were stable. However, the patient's condition quickly worsened, which led to her death five days later.

OLV hospital is the one responsible for researching the woman's case, where researchers have not yet submitted their findings to a medical journal for publication. Despite there being no other published studies regarding similar instances, the researchers believe the case to be proof that two COVID-19 variants can infect one person, significantly raising the risks of severe symptoms and death, Business Insider reported.



Related Article: Illinois Vaccine Lottery $1M Prize Granted to Chicago Resident; Those Who Had At Least One Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Are Eligible

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Not much is known about the shadowy bomber, the new image of the B-21 Raider recently revealed by the US Air Force is the only hint of the new stealth bomber. The warplane and its capabilities are kept super-secret to keep the details from America's adversaries.

Built by Northrop Grumman as a replacement for the B-2 Spirit, and optimized for the USAF long-range strike bomber force. It is an upgrade for long-distance strike bombing, a part of the nuclear deterrence triad that includes land-based and submarine missiles for striking back.

Bombers have been part of the US offensive forces. With the threat from China, another asymmetrical attack on the missile defenses of the PLA in the South China Sea may happen with defense equipment provided by the stealth Raiders in an offensive.

Until the release of this image of the B-21, there was the only one available depicting the secretive aircraft. It left little for defense analysts to guess things about it.

New strategic bomber

The latest image is different and features are updated on the stealthy delta-wing aircraft. In the background seen in the Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), in California., this new home base of the 420th Flight Test Squadron, reported News Atlas.

Tasked with planning, tests, analysis of the stealth Raider's flight and ground testing is what the 420th does until the plane is pressed into service.

The new image of the B-21 Raider design for review is the engineering and manufacturing phase of the program. This will be important because it deals with how to build the plane, and sourcing the parts from the industrial supply chain, noted ENIDNews.

Read also: Stealth Jets' Improved Coating Is Better at Deflecting Radar, Also Lasts Longer

Other details

Once it passes all trials that will be followed by commissioning in 2027, the new stealth bomber is going to serve with the B-52, B-1 Lancer, and its grandpappy the B-2 Spirit. There are plans to buy 100 of these new stealth bombers to phase out aging and obsolete B-1 and B-2s. This phase-out includes the B-52, if their upgrades are not done by a certain time, cited Aero Mag.

Weapons

The delta-wing bomber is made for dual purpose strikes with non-nuclear or lethal nuclear weapons, as standoff or face-to-face attacks. Another part is the addition of the Long-Range Strike program, with systems that will allow the bomber to blind electronic defenses once it enters enemy territory.

Another is that it can operate autonomously or have pilots, and the systems are all open architecture for future upgrades.

Plane's namesake

One plane costs US$639 million in 2019, the bomber has been named after Doolittle Raiders. They went on a legendary Tokyo Raid on April 18, 1942. This was a group of US Army Air Force aviators. Carrying out this first strike mission was 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. They did the bombing and was successful.

Its first base will be the Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), in South Dakota as the training unit with Whiteman AFB, Dyess AFB as their main bases. Congress was informed by Darlene Costello, in June 2021, where she is the acting air force Assistant Secretary. She added that the two units will be tested for airworthiness.

Making public the new image of the B-21 Raider will be the focus of the USAF introducing its newest bomber, as a demonstration of the technological lead enjoyed by the US for now.

Related article: U.S. Air Force Wants to Make the B-2 Bomber More Resistant Against EMP Attack

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A kidnapped toddler boy mother has been discovered dead, according to New Jersey authorities on Sunday. The father of the child has been accused of abducting the mother-and-toddler pair.

The mother's kidnapping alongside her 2-year-old son incited an Amber Alert in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The body of 24 year-old Yasmine Uray was discovered in Tennessee. Authorities also safely located her baby, according to Uray's mom.

The Suspect

Twenty-seven-year-old Tyler Rios is arraigned for first-degree abduction associated with the alleged kidnapping of two-year-old Sebastian Rios. He was also given extra charges pending associated with Uyar's death.

Tennessee's Putnam County Sheriff Office identified the location of the body of Uyar on Saturday in a wooded area almost 800 miles from her NJ home. According to officials on Sunday, the place was also close to where her son was found. The confirmation of the death of his mother comes at an estimated 48 hours following her report of being missing alongside her son, reported NBC New York.

According to Uyar's mother, Rios told police officials where he concealed Uyar's body. On Sunday, the Union County Prosecutor Office released the confirmation of the death, reported CBS New York.

On Saturday, the family of Uyar initially disclosed the news. The toddler was located unharmed at a family member's house in Monterey.

According to acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Rahway Police Department Director Jonathan Parham, the body of Uyar was then discovered in a wooded area off Route 40. Rios will be expelled to New Jersey to face his charges in the Elizabeth Superior Court.

Read Also: New York City Mayoral Candidate Eric Adams To Meet With Joe Biden; Adams Says Feeders of Crime Need to Be Stopped

On Saturday, Uyar's mother remarked that she would travel to Tennessee to see her now safe grandson. She said, "My family would like to share that at 8:15 last night we were notified that Yasemin's remains had been located in TN. While my family grieves the loss of Yasemin please remember she wasn't just a [domestic violence] victim. She was a daughter, sister, mother, aunt and cousin." She added that Uyar's life will be commemorated as her most precious gift to the world. She added that Sebastian will still need their love and support, reported Wate.

The reason for the Amber Alert on Friday by authorities was that the toddler failed to show up for daycare. Uyar also failed to arrive to a scheduled work shift.

Karen Uyar, Uyar's mother, added that her daughter experienced an abusive relationship with the father.

Also, on Saturday, the suspect was located by sheriff's deputies concealing himself in a Tennessee motel room. However, he then led officials to the body of Uyar in the aforementioned wooded area.

Rios was taken into custody for six months following pleading guilty to choking her daughter three years ago. Karen Uyar stated he had been increasingly brutal toward the mother of their son. Uyar acquired a restraining order against him last year.

Related Article: Haiti Assassination Suspects Named, Allegedly Involved Americans and Retired Members of Colombian Military

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According to the Miami Herald and a person familiar with the situation, a gang of Colombians and Haitian Americans accused of assassinating Haitian President Jovenel Moise told police they were going to capture him, not kill him.

Haitian Police Arrested One of the Suspects

In a recently published article in Reuters, Haitian police announced the arrest of one of the suspected masterminds in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The suspect was accused of hiring mercenaries to assassinate Moise and replace him.

Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, came to Haiti by a private aircraft in early June, escorted by paid security guards and intended to take over as president, according to National Police Chief Leon Charles.

He did not go into detail about Sanon's motivations other than to indicate they were political, but he did claim that one of the people in prison had called him after being detained. According to Charles, Sanon then contacted two additional "intellectual authors" of the murder.

Read Also: Haitian President Jovenel Moise Killed in Assassination Attack That Left First Lady Injured, Hospitalized

Suspect Says the PLan Was to Arrest, Not To Kill

Charles said that the Haitian police have detained 18 Colombians and three Haitian Americans, including Sanon, in connection with the murder. He said that five Colombians are still on the loose and three were killed, according to the published report in National Post.

According to a news outlet, several of the 19 suspects that were arrested claimed their goal was to arrest Moise and transport him to the presidential palace. Two Haitian Americans, James Solages and Joseph Vincent, told the investigators they were interpreters for the Colombian commando squad that had an arrest warrant, according to a source close to the investigation. When they arrived, however, they discovered him dead.

A request for comment was requested from the Haitian Police authorities, but they declined to provide any. The revelation comes after rumors that several Colombians had gone to Haiti to serve as security guards, even for Moise himself, according to an article published in Channel News Asia.

Haitians Plan to Protest

Haitians in sections of the city Port-au-Prince were organizing demonstrations against the temporary prime minister and acting head of state Claude Joseph through social media this week. Other prominent leaders have questioned Joseph's legitimacy to govern the nation, threatening to deepen the instability gripping the poorest country in the Americas.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer known as Barbecue, one of Haiti's top gang bosses, warned on Saturday that his men will go to the streets to condemn the murder. Cherizier, the leader of the G9 gang federation, said that the "stinking bourgeoisie" colluded with police and opposition politicians to "sacrifice" Moise.

Meanwhile, photos and X-ray pictures from Moise's autopsy circulated on social media over the weekend, showing his corpse riddled with gunshot holes, a shattered skull, and other broken bones, emphasizing the brutality of the assault. However, police authorities did not confirm it.

Colombian Suspects Said they were Hired to Work in Haiti

The arrested Colombians told a news outlet that they were recruited to work in Haiti by the Miami-based CTU Security, which is managed by Venezuelan emigre Antonio Enmanuel Intriago Valera. CTU and Intriago were unable to be contacted for comment.

Furthermore, a Facebook picture of a guy in tactical gear aiming a high-powered weapon seemed to belong to Intriago's social media accounts. Ammunition, weapons, and individuals engaged in tactical training were seen in other Instagram pictures.

Related Article: Haitians React After Police Arrest 2 Haitian Americans Following the Assassination of the Haitian's President



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Officials claim that lightning killed at least 38 people in two Indian states in one day. According to authorities, the bulk of the deaths happened in Rajasthan's western state, where 11 individuals died after being struck by lightning near a watchtower at the 12th century Amber Fort.

When lightning hit late Sunday, several of the victims were snapping photos near the watchtower, senior police officer Anand Srivastava said. At least nine additional individuals were killed and almost 20 others were injured in separate lightning strikes during the state's monsoon rains.

India expects more lightning in the following days

Manoj Dixit, a government official in Uttar Pradesh, said that 18 persons were killed by lightning on Sunday. The majority of those fatalities were farmworkers in the fields. The relatives of the victims and those who were injured have received financial compensation from both state governments.

More lightning is expected in the following two days, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. During India's monsoon season, which spans from June to September, lightning strikes are prevalent, Khaleej Times reported.

More than 2900 people were killed by lightning in India in 2019, according to the most recent official figures available. Taking cognizance of the incidents, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his grief and directed the district administrations to provide adequate compensation to the tragedy-struck families.

According to the most recent official data available, more than 2900 persons were killed by lightning in India in 2019. After learning of the occurrences, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and instructed the district administrations to offer sufficient compensation to the families who had been affected by the tragedy.

The chief minister had already conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the families of those killed by lightning in the districts of Kota, Dholpur, Jhalawar, Jaipur, and Baran. After lightning hit the Amer Fort area, 29 persons were saved, as per Jaipur Police Commissioner Anand Srivastava.

Lightning strikes accounted for more than a third of all deaths attributable to the forces of nature in India in 2019, according to the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2019 report. In reality, the report showed that the number of deaths caused by lightning increased in 2018.

A bolt of lightning, often known as a "giant spark of electricity," may pack between 100 million and 1 billion volts of energy and contains billions of watts. Not only that, a lightning strike may also heat the air around it to temperatures ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 degrees Celsius. Simply say, a lightning strike has the potential to be extremely destructive, as per First Post.

Read Also: Watch: Massive Explosion Rattles Tehran Near Broadcasting Headquarters; The Cause of Explosion Remains Unidentified

Why is lightning a major killer in India?

Often, those who have sought refuge behind trees are the ones who are struck by lightning. The side flash, which occurs when lightning strikes a taller item near the victim and a portion of the current jumps from the taller object to the victim, is the phenomenon at work here.

Per News18, when the victim is within a foot or two of the object struck by lightning, side flashes are common. In India's first Annual Lightning Report (2019-2020), it was discovered that standing under a tree was 71% of all lightning deaths, while direct hits accounted for 25% of deaths, and indirect exposure accounted for 4%.

"Most indoor lightning casualties and some outdoor lightning casualties are attributable to conduction," said the US National Weather Service (NWS). There's also a less-common way for lightning to strike humans known as "streamers," which form as the downward-moving strike approaches the ground.

According to the Annual Lightning Report 2019-2020, which included data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the highest number of injuries were reported between July 25 and July 31, 2019, with over 4 lakh (400,000) lightning strikes across India. The north-eastern states, as well as the Chota Nagpur Plateau region, were lightning hotspots, the report noted.

When lightning strikes, the NWS advises that there are no safe places to seek shelter outside and that staying indoors is the greatest protection. When people hear thunder, they should go inside since they are within striking distance of the lightning.

IMD has established a lightning prediction system in India, and the weather office issues color-coded warnings for lightning strikes. There is also a daily lightning prediction, as well as "nowcasts" for three-hour intervals on days when there is a lot of lightning.

Related Article: Watch Horrifying Video of Japan Landslide; Rescue Mission Continues With 3 Dead, 113 Missing



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The Biden administration on Sunday supported the stance of Former President Donald Trump over China's claims in the contested maritime territory of the South China Sea.

In a statement released over the weekend, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated the United States' commitment of protecting the Philippines' armed forces over any attack from China in the South China Sea.

Blinken also said the administration rejected China's maritime claims around the Spratly Islands and neighboring reefs.

Defending the Contested South China Sea

"We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," Blinken said, according to CNN.

Under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, both countries are obligated to come to each other's aid in case of an attack.

Last year, the Trump administration also came out in favor of the tribunal's ruling, and said it was regarding all Chinese maritime claims in the waterway as illegitimate. Blinken's statement reaffirmed that position.

"The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea," Blinken said, as reported by Politico.

He also urged China to "take steps" to reassure that it is observing maritime order and respecting the rights of other countries.

Read Also: Fourth Stimulus Check Petition Gains 2.5M Signatures; Are Monthly Relief Payments of $2000 for Adults, $1000 for Children Possible?

Rejecting Beijing's Claims Over the Waters

Blinken's statements came ahead of the fifth anniversary of an international arbitration tribunal rejecting Beijing's territorial claims over the water ruling that China firmly rejected. Since the 2016 ruling, China has continued to build up its military positions in the South China Sea.

The U.S. State Secretary's remarks also come after a Philippine Coast Guard vessel on June 30 approached five Chinese and two Vietnamese vessels on the disputed South China Sea with a warning to disperse.

"You are within the Philippine exclusive economic zone. You are required to provide the following: name of vessel, intention, last and next port of call," the unnamed coast guard member said, according to Nikkei Asia.

The incident was documented in a video clip posted on Facebook. It is the latest example of the Philippines' efforts to publicize its efforts to defend fishermen against Chinese incursion.

Filipino fishermen living along the western coast of the Luzon Island all depended on the Scarborough Shoal located in the South China Sea for their living. However, the reef, which once gifted fishermen bountiful catches of fish, is now inaccessible due to Beijing presence in the waters.

Chinese Coast Guard vessels have had its ships anchored near the Scarborough Shoal for almost a decade. Beijing's presence is also threatening to expand into other territories, including the Whitsun Reef where hundreds of Chinese boats were seen anchored earlier this year.

Chinese fishing boats, backed by Beijing's maritime vessels, have also been seen anchoring around Thitu Island, a land that is located within the Philippines' waters, according to The New York Times.

A recent survey by Pamakalaya, reported by The Times, found that China's maritime claims have led to a 70% drop in the fishermen's income, who no longer have access to bountiful reefs.

Related Article: Illinois Vaccine Lottery $1M Prize Granted to Chicago Resident; Those Who Had At Least One Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Are Eligible

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Prince Charles is denying to bequeath to his younger brother Prince Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh following the demise of Prince Philip. However, Prince Edward was allegedly being tipped to inherit it over two decades ago. The dukedom was slated to be transferred to Prince Edward after Buckingham Palace declared in 1999 that he would succeed his father "in due course."

Edward is the current Earl of Wessex. The Queen and Prince Philip initially stated that he will one day inherit his father's title when he married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999.

What Happens to the Duke of Edinburgh Title?

The 99-year-old Prince Philip died in April 2021. Prince Charles was then given his title, in accordance with royal tradition, reported Daily Record.

The Earl of Wessex waited more than two decades to inherit his late father's title. Upon his marriage, the Earl of Wessex was a title he chose, reported News.com.au.

According to the aforementioned statement in 1999, "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown," reported Yahoo Lifestyle.

Prince Edward and Sophie are the mere son and daughter-in-law of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II who are addressed as earl and countess instead of duke and duchess. But neither of Anne's husbands have obtained royal titles.

Read Also: Prince Harry, Meghan Allegedly Rejected 'Dumb' Royal Name for Son Archie; Prince Charles Won't Give New Title

According to a source close to Prince Charles, as it stands, Charles is the Duke of Edinburgh, and whatever happens to the title would be within his scope of decision. The title would not be bequeathed to Edward.

Prince Charles will be granted the throne as the king of the United Kingdom soon. This is due to the fact that he is the eldest son of the late Prince Philip and the Queen. As the heir to the throne of being king of England, the Prince of Wales has a hand over many decisions.

The title of Duke of Edinburgh immediately reverted to Philip's eldest son in line with the tradition established in 1947 when the Letters Patent issued when George VI bequeathed Prince Philip the title.

It is currently thought that Prince Charles is ruminating whether to leave the title in suspension or grant the title to Edward. Another source said that the title of Edinburgh would not go to the Wessexes as far as Charles is concerned.

After Prince Charles becomes King, the Duke of Edinburgh title will revert to the Crown. This means the new king will be able to bequeath Prince Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh.

According to an adviser to the royal family on heraldry, David White, there was no urgent need for Prince Charles to grant his younger brother the title following his accession as king.

Prince Edward earlier noted how the last say on the matter remains with Prince Charles.

Related Article: Body Language Expert: Prince William, Prince Harry Reveal Deeper Bonds, No Tension

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NASA warns of possible sea level rise as more greenhouse gases accumulate and cause polar melting in the north and south poles, where the bulk of the earth's water is present in frozen ice.

The next ten years will see a higher high tide that is predicted previously, as the moon's gravitational influence will be more felt.

According to NASA, these frequent high tides will be in 2035 that will affect these coastal cities said the agency. Cities affected will be Boston, California, La Jolla, Florida, St. Petersberg, also Honolulu, caused by astronomical and oceanic influences as floods occur.

All these nuisance floods or sunny day floods will startem by high tides or rain, as opposed to storms or hurricanes. These weather changes will be very drastic but inevitable.

Waters rise due to climatic changes

Oceans will be raised over the present level, and some areas will be covered with water to push back the land area. This would not be possible if glaciers and ice sheets are melting at different speeds due to climate change, reported the Daily Mail.

By 2035, there will be a phenomenon wherein the moon will be wobbling in its orbit regularly, exerting gravitational influence on the risen seas that will not come unnoticed. NASA warns that US coasts will be flooded in these years due to these factors.

Read Also: Huge Lake in East Antarctica Disappears in A Week, Crack in the Ice Shelf is Suspected Cause

Data says that the moon's 18.6-year cycle will have the tides lower in one half. However, the low tides will be a bit higher. Combining the moon cycle to higher ocean levels will result in high tides raised a bit more.

Flooding Predictions

It will not be that's simple as raised ocean levels are overlapping effects of the lunar wobble cycle and polar meltingl. This would be double whammy for the US coasts. Floods will be happening on US mainland coasts, Hawaii and Guam will be affected said NASA's Sea Level Change Science Team.

Bringing in the bad news, floods might in a cluster that will be as long as 30 days, governed by the position of the moon, earth, sun.

In 2037, Honolulu will see flooding high tides once a day a month, although 2047 will have flooding for 20 days in the same area.

As for Boston and La Jolla, St. Petersberg in predictions will have tide flooding from 5 to 15 days in one month by 2051. But the northern coasts, like Alaska, will not be inundated by high tide.

NASA's Sea Level Change Science Team from JPL said it was those lower-lying areas will experience more flooding in general.

No reversing the effects of lunar gravitation, higher sea, and the hammer of climate change that will wreak havoc via coastal flooding in the US or worldwide. NASA will give the information needed to know what to do in the future along with all measures needed to mitigate the effects of forecasted flooding.

Researchers detected those crucial points from 89 tide gauge locations in the coastal states and areas in the US with results up to 2080.

During 2019, more than 600 high tides were recorded mentioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NASA warns that US coasts will be flooded due to raised sea levels, and other influences.

Related Article: French Government Will Build the Polar Pod for Studying the Antarctic Ocean for Long-Term Investigation

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India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, on July 11 proposed a measure that aims to discourage couples from having more than two children in an attempt to control the population.

Under the Indian state government's proposal unveiled Saturday, couples with more than two children are banned from receiving government benefits or subsidiaries. The bill would also bar individuals who have more than two children from applying for state government jobs.

Two-Child Policy

The draft bill also entails that couples with two children who choose to undergo voluntary sterilization would be given incentives. If only one member of the couple undergoes the procedure, the family would still be given a range of benefits, including tax rebates and cashback on utility bills, as reported by the Business Insider.

"Increasing population is the root of major problems including inequality prevailing in the society. Population control is the primary condition for the establishment of an advanced society," Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath wrote on Twitter. "Let us on World Population Day take a pledge to make ourselves and the society aware of the problems arising from the increasing population."

In Assam, where the population sits at 36 million, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had hinted at plans of introducing a two-child policy, with aims of withholding subsidies and other federal benefits to those who choose to have more than two children.

India is currently expected to become the world's most populous country, topping China, by 2027, according to a 2019 report by the United Nations. An estimate by UNICEF suggested that around 25 million children are born in India every year. This accounts for a fifth of the world's yearly births.

Read Also: Donald Trump Confirms Running in 2024 Election, Attacks Biden, Big Techs in His Speech

Massive Population

There are about 1.38 billion people in India, according to data from the World Bank, with Uttar Pradesh housing more than 240 million people. If the state was a country, it would be deemed the fifth most populous.

Officials say the "New Population Policy" bill, which resembles China's two-child policy, is primarily due to the state's "limited and ecological resources." The draft bill will be open for public consultation until July 19, after which it would be sent to the state's legislative assembly to be read and debated. If it is passed, it would then be written into law.

Many have said they were in favor of the measures, with more than 100 legislators submitting a letter to the Indian President Ram Nath Kovind in which they urged him to take the matter seriously.

"The land is shrinking and the population is rising. There is no place to build homes. In this situation, there should be some control on population," Legislator Ganesh Singh told CNN in an interview.

India's proposed population control measure comes after the country's health officials on Monday reported 37,154 new COVID-19 cases, which followed the 41,506 cases recorded Sunday and 42,766 cases on Saturday.

Indian health officials also reported 2,825 deaths from Saturday to Monday, with 724 in the last 24 hours, 895 on Sunday, and 1,206 on Saturday, according to Reuters.

Related Article: Biden Supports Trump's Previous Stance on China's Claims Over Contested South China Sea, Warns of Aggressive Defense

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According to authorities, a local rapper who had just been freed from Cook County Jail received up to 64 gunshot wounds in a deadly shooting across the street from the jail.

Local Rapper Dies after His Release from Prison

In a recently published article in Daily Mail, a Chicago rapper died after being shot 64 times in the head and other areas of his body in an ambush shooting shortly after being released from prison, according to authorities.

On Saturday, Londre Sylvester, 31, better known by his stage moniker KTS Dre, was one of three individuals shot just outside Cook County Jail in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. According to the Chicago Tribune, the shooting occurred while Sylvester, wearing a monitoring device on his ankle, was being released from prison.

Two armed individuals allegedly got from a car and began shooting Sylvester, hitting him in the face and chest, according to witnesses. On the 2700 block of West 27th Street, just right across the prison, investigators discovered at least 59 bullet casings.

Read Also: Houston Family Shot to Death, Surviving 10-Year-Old Escaped by Playing Dead

Other Casualty in the Shooting Incident

In a recently published report in The U.S. Sun, the 60-year-old lady who was with him at the time of the incident allegedly suffered a knee injury. According to authorities, she was listed in excellent condition at Stroger Hospital.

The other victim was a lady, 30, whose side of the face was grazed by a gunshot. The lady was also reported to be in good condition. As of late Sunday, no arrests had been made in relation to the shooting incident, according to MSN News.

Suspects Managed to Escape from the Crime Scene

According to the police report, the suspects hurried back to their getaway vehicles and then fled the crime scene. Chicago cops discovered security cameras in the vicinity and began looking for proof.

The police reports state: "It appears Sylvester was the intended target while (the women) were inadvertently struck."

Chicago Continues to Experience Surge of Violence

The incident occurred during a spike in violent crime in Chicago during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Between July 2nd and July 4th, at least 108 individuals were shot, including 17 fatalities, according to police statistics.

Eleven children, some as young as five and six years old, were injured in the year's most violent weekend. Two policemen were among those killed in the city's shootings. The carnage was similar to last year's lengthy Fourth of July holiday when 17 people were killed and 70 more were injured.

Chicago's Present Crime Statistics

According to the most recent crime data, there were 78 murders in Chicago's 2.7 million population in June. That's a 20% decrease from the 98 murders it expects to see in June 2020. This year, more than 300 people have been killed in Chicago, but there have been six fewer murders as of July 1 than there were in the same time in 2020.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who stated last week that 99 percent of criticism directed at her was due to her gender or ethnicity, has blamed joblessness, poverty, and out-of-state gun smuggling for the city's continuing violent spiral.

Related Article: More Than 70 People Injured in Weekend Shootings in Chicago



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Despite the restrictions, Indonesian markets are still selling live animals or meat of slaughtered bats, canines, rats that might spread SARS-CoV-2. These species, though not verified to cause the disease, are still a danger to look out for, but the threat seems to be ignored.

When the outbreak started in China, the Wuhan market was shut down to prevent the possible spread of the virus. This includes the sale of live animals as well to lessen the reoccurrence like the year before.

Scientists were arguing if the virus were from bats sold in Wuhan or if the virus jumped to humans through other animals like pangolins, but it was never resolved.

As more COVID variants are discovered, having these markets are considered a risk that another variant will arise. But the consequence of selling such animal products is oblivious to merchants and buyers.

The clear and present danger

Despite the pleas of the World Health Organization (WHO), investigators in Sulawesi, Indonesia where sellers offer bats, rats, pigs, dogs, frogs, snakes, chickens, and ducks in the place, reported the Independent.

These animals were crammed into cages or were tied up, either blowtorched by the vendor. Souvenir chicks were sold with dyed bright colors for pets, although the chicks would probably die after getting sold as faux pets.

Investigators found out that the Indonesian markets are still selling live animals or meat of slaughtered bats, canines, and rats. These stores never closed as told by sources to investigators from the animal welfare organization Four Paws. This comes as surprise as the WHO has said such markets pose a danger during the pandemic, noted the Daily Advent.

Read also: COVID-19: Is the Virus Evolving to be More Fatal to Humans?

According to experts, such conditions are unsanitary in most live animal markets, and it is conveniently ignored that diseases from animals going to humans are a severe risk that may create worse viruses unknowingly.

Stress is a killer for both humans and animals, keeping them caged will cause high levels of anxiety that makes them more receptive to disease. This condition makes it possible to acquire a virus, passable to humans.

Those who saw the conditions in the three markets called it cruel.

The animal markets

In the Langowan market and Karombasan markets, many bats, dogs, and birds were sold. The Beriman market had more animals for sale like rodents, snakes, and dyed chicks that were utterly inhumane and brutal treatment of animals. Dogs were waiting to be killed before served as meat, all stuck in small cages.

Four Paws said the vendors were unsanitary without protective gear, handling both dead and live animals. Stalls had chopped animal parts, with blood and maggots all over the floor, cited Headtopics.

An investigator said that more concerns over the pandemic wherein one factor affecting it is the treatment of animals. He said taht the cruel and untidy conditions, harsh treatment will spread animal fluids and waste as a breeding ground for zoonotic pathogens.

Researchers are cautioning that live stock for consumption in cramp markets and farms could be a source of pandemic disease.

Related also: WHO Team in Wuhan Finds New Data, Thinks Coronavirus Might Have Escaped from Lab

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The French government bought the Marquis de Sade's original 120 Days of Sodom manuscript worth 4million as an important piece of French literature. Getting the original items will be placed in French hands for safekeeping, and a national treasure for generations to come.

Donatien Alphonse Francois 'Marquis' de Sade (1740-1814) is a libertine who was persecuted and kept in prison for his outlandish views. Before and after the French Revolution he was not very popular.

He wa hailed as one of the more pronounced of the 18th-century erotic masterpieces which had troubled past over the centuries passing several owners. Procuring the genuine text was made possible by the intercession of a private benefactor who gave the money for the payment.

The manuscript for sale

In December 2017, the culture ministry of France had stepped in to prevent the manuscript from getting to an auction. It was declared a national treasure, preventing it from leaving the country, reported the Daily Mail.

According to the official state that purchased the Marquis' work, costing 4.55 million euros (3.9million) to gain possession of it, he text has been a great influence on many writers since it was published.

The Marquis de Sade authored the scandalous book that described the hedonism of four rich libertines who want gratification above all. He developed this controversial work from bits of paper that were smuggled while imprisoned in the Bastille. Marquis de Sade's original 120 Days of Sodom manuscript was written during this time.

Read also: Ryanair Hijacked by Belarus Regime to Arrest Wanted Activist Leader Draws Protest

His masterwork was a 40-foot manuscript that looks so ordinary, it had 33 sheets of parchment put together as a scroll. To the ordinary observer, it was not much, but the contents were valuable.

It was relatively unknown to everyone when the German psychologist Iwan Bloch bought it for himself then published the contents in 1904. The controversial content was later banned in the UK, but in the 50's, there was more permission for the saucy book, cited the Daily Advent.

Its history of owners

Eventually, the government had involved itself. The manuscript was sold in a historic auction when its previous owner the French investment firm Aristophil. The firm was closed in a scandal two years before wherein all the money were taken from its investors.

The generous sum was given by Emmanuel Boussard, a former banker and founder of an investment fund, to let the French government buy the manuscript.

On July 14, 1789, the Bastille was entered at the start of the French Revolution, The Marquis was freed from his cell. His manuscript was left behind by the mob that entered the prison, noted WhatsNews2day.

Sade thought his creation was lost to the mob and wept over it. The unfinished manuscript was saved by a revolutionary and bought by the Marquis de Villeneuve-Trans secretly.

Soon, the manuscript will be a permanent part of the collection of the Arsenal Library in Paris, part of the BNF national library.

A total of 130,000 historic documents were taken by the French courts in 2015, which was part of an illegal pyramid scheme. Allegedly, Aristophil had a huge collection of French books and documents from history.

Marquis de Sade's original 120 Days of Sodom manuscript bears his influence in literature while Sade became synonymous with sadism. But France honors his cultural significance as an author.

Related article: Woman Dead After Tearing Her Arteries, Bleeding Internally While Riding a Roller Coaster

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From the front, the old Jasper County Jail looked much like a stately home. It did serve as a home for sheriffs families for decades. This photograph was taken days before the jail building was demolished to make way for a new law enforcement center.
Casualty Actuarial Society Makes $40,000 Gift to The Actuarial Foundation and Challenges Members to Donate $10,000 More
The new line of sauces delivers delicious Tuscan-style cooking through the finest ingredients.
Absolutely  it needs to be known if hes even eligible to be a state rep.

No, the Legislature should let it play out in the legal system

I hope at least theres a thorough investigation and isnt just let go.

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(SUN PHOTOS BY Kristen Miller)

Together Again was this years theme for the return of Music in Plymouth July 7 at the Hilde Performance Center. Although quintessential event was missing its typical headliner  the Minnesota Orchestra - the event will be back in its entirety next year for the 50th anniversary celebration, assures the Plymouth Civic League, which organizes the event each year. However, attendees were able to enjoy being together again as a community as they listened to the sounds of several musical guests, enjoyed food from the food trucks and watched as the evening capped off with a fireworks display.

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Buffalo native trying to get her news on! Im a Multimedia Journalist here at Your Hometown Stations and I love what I do. Have a cool story idea? Im in! Just email me at ashelton@wlio.com or message my Facebook page.
Now Open

12 July 2021

A new 85-bedroom hotel in Thurso in the Scottish Highlands has opened creating the most northerly Premier Inn in Whitbread's growing network.

The opening, which is the fourth new Premier Inn hotel to open in Scotland this calendar year, is well-timed for a busy summer of staycations and adventure tourism in the UK.

Located in the heart of Thurso on Ormile Road, the hotel brings Premier Inn's latest format bedrooms to the town made famous by the North Coast 500 and has created 35 new permanent new jobs.
Appointment

12 July 2021

Wharf Hotels has appointed Ilona Yim as Group Director Branding and Communications.

Ilona has more than 15 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry and joins Wharf Hotels from Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited, where she spent almost 7 years working as Director of Public Relations and later Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications.

Whilst there, Ilona oversaw the communications of more than 100 hotels across four continents, guided over 25 hotel openings and launched regional and global experiential campaigns.

Before joining the Shangri-La group, Ilona worked for over 9 years at the Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong as Director of Communications.

Wharf currently operates 17 Marco Polo Hotels and Niccolo Hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Philippines.
Appointment

12 July 2021

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has appointed Geraldine Dobey as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Paris. The appointment welcomes Geraldine's return to the Group as she was previously part of the leadership team at the Group's Geneva property. Geraldine will also oversee the operations of Mandarin Oriental, Geneva and Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech.

Originally from Ireland, Geraldine attained her bachelor's degree in Hotel and Catering Management at the Galway Institute of Technology. She began her career in the hotel industry in 1991 and held several operational positions before becoming Hotel Manager at the Hilton London Mews in 1999. Geraldine held the position of Hotel Manager at the Hilton London Hyde Park and Director of Operations at the Langham Hilton.

In 2003, the Hilton Group appointed her General Manager of the Hilton Paris, which she ran for five years before taking charge of the Hilton Arc de Triomphe and then Hotel Barriere Le Fouquet's Paris. In December 2019, she won General Manager of the Year at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards.

As an expert in the Parisian market, Geraldine returns to the prestigious five-star Mandarin Oriental, Paris to reinforce its position as one of the city's pre-eminent luxury hotels. Inspired by fashion and artistic creativity and underpinned by the brand's legendary service, the hotel embodies a celebration of Paris today and tomorrow.
Appointment

12 July 2021

Seasoned hotelier Edward Shapard has been named the new managing director of The Langham, Chica go, a Forbes 5 star luxury hotel.

Shapard has previously worked in culturally diverse, cosmopolitan destinations such as Hong Kong, New York, Bermuda and Utah.

Shapard joins us from New York where he was General Manager for The Dominick Hotel, SoHo's only AAA Five Diamond Hotel and part of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection.

Previously he was Managing Director for Timbers Resorts where he was responsible for spearheading their efforts to expand their lifestyle offerings at each of their properties.

Prior to that, Edward has also held positions as General Manager for The St. Regis, Deer Valley, Park City, Utah, another AAA Five Diamond property as well as Elbow Beach Resort, Bermuda (previously managed by Mandarin Oriental). Early in his career, he spent some time in Hong Kong, where he worked as the Hotel Manager for Mandarin Oriental.

Shapard holds an MBA from RMIT University and a degree in Hospitality and Tourism from Tennessee State University.
Press Release

12 July 2021

The mayors of some of the worlds leading destinations have met in Porto to rethink urban tourism in the post-pandemic age. Organized by UNWTO, the Government of Portugal, Turismo de Portugal and the City of Porto, the Mayors Forum on Tourism and the Future of Cities highlighted the opportunity to restart urban tourism with a focus on sustainability, innovation and inclusion.

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Formed in April 2019, the Mayors Forum provides a unique platform for cities and other key players to share tourism policies and best practices. The international forum works to advance tourisms role in the urban agenda and harness the potential of the sector to provide economic opportunity and promote cultural links. The Porto meeting was embraced as a chance to rethink urban tourism and keep delivering on its proven potential to benefit both residents and tourists.

Return of tourists brings hope for cities

Urban tourism has been among the hardest hit parts of the sector and may be the last to recover. For this reason, the return of tourists to cities around the world will bring more than just jobs and economic recovery, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. It will bring hope, confidence and help revive what makes urban life so exciting, from culture to gastronomy to entrepreneurship and new ideas. In this context, the Secretary-General also commended Portugals National Support Plan for Tourism recovery as well as its recently launched Sustainability + Strategy.

Pedro Siza Vieira, Minister of State, Economy and Digital Transition of Portugal said: Now is the time to reflect on how important management of flows of tourists is in our cities. Digital technologies and continued investments in new attractions will allow us to provide a better experience for the millions of people who are eager to resume travel and who will come to visit our cities in the future.

As host of the Forum, the Mayor of Porto Rui Moreira said: Cities must know how to transform themselves, turning the old into new, rehabilitating and promoting their heritage, material and immaterial, and simultaneously creating new poles of interest to serve and welcome residents and visitors.

Organized by UNWTO, the Government of Portugal, Turismo de Portugal and the City of Porto the Forum welcomed mayors and vice-mayors from Athens, Belgrade, Braga, Bruges, Brussels, Budapest, Dubrovnik, Florence, Madrid, Moscow, Podgorica, Prague, Samarkand, Sao Vicente, Skiathos, Tirana and Venice. Joining them were leaders from UN Habitat, the European Committee of the Regions and the Union Ciudades Capitales Iberoamericanas (UCCI), as well as representatives from key private sector stakeholders, including Expedia Group, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and Airbnb.

Porto Declaration on Future of Cities

Participants adopted the Porto Declaration on Tourism and the Future of Cities, which reaffirms cities commitment to growing tourism sustainably and responsibly. This includes placing tourism on the urban recovery agenda, with policies aligned with the United Nations New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Declaration also states that signatory cities will promote multi-stakeholder cooperation for fostering innovation and using digitalization and big data to enhance both the tourist experience and the sectors positive impact on residents. Furthermore, the Declaration recognizes the importance of cities building bridges with rural areas so that the benefits of tourism are employed more widely.
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Press Release

12 July 2021

The UKs status as the most visited destination for US tourists in Europe is threatened by the mandatory quarantine on arrival. The list of European destinations now allowing US tourists to travel without quarantine is growing, meaning other European hotspots could prove to be more desirable in the short term, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

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Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: News of a transatlantic air bubble or travel corridor between the UK and the US has long been rumored. What remains clear is that the longer it is delayed, the greater risk of US tourists opting to holiday elsewhere across Europe in 2021 and into 2022.

One of the main factors that is curbing travel demand in 2021 is quarantine. A GlobalData poll found that quarantine restrictions were the primary deterrent for traveling during this pandemic*.

Photo: GlobalData Plc

Another poll found that willingness to traveling to a different continent is high**. There is higher demand for domestic trips but 37% of respondents desired to travel to a different continent, likely opting for a change of scenery after increased time spent at home during the past year.

Paying for quarantine creates extra costs related to accommodation and additional testing if required. GlobalDatas Q1 2021 consumer survey found that 53% of US respondents stated they had cut budgets in the last year due to financial constraints***. Demand for transatlantic travel may be high, but tourists are likely to avoid additional costs if possible. This is an area in which the UK may fall short, but other European hotspots such as Italy, Germany and France may prosper. These destinations have lifted mandatory quarantine requirements for inbound US tourists subject to other measures such as vaccination certificates and negative test results.

Bonhill-Smith adds: Europe typically attracts US visitors with its vast range of experiences related to history, culture, art, and nature. Historically, the UK has been the most popular European travel destination for US tourists. In 2019 (the last normal tourism year), 27% of total US international departures were to Europe and the UK received 4.4 million of those departures (12.7% of total US departures to Europe).

Other European destinations such as France, Italy, Spain and Germany are inherently popular with US travelers. Sun and beach getaways, adventure experiences and city breaks were typically the most sought-after holidays by US respondents in GlobalDatas Q3 2019 consumer survey****. These holiday experiences heavily feature across Europe and therefore explain its popularity with this source market.

International arrivals from the US to Europe decreased by 75% year-over-year (YoY) in 2020, due to international travel restrictions and respective border closures because of the pandemic. Out of the top five European hotspots for US tourists, the UK experienced one of the largest declines in US visitation (-76% YoY) more than other destinations such as France (-64.9% YoY) and Italy (-64.2% YoY) in 2020.

Bonhill-Smith concludes: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on transatlantic travel are well-known to be catastrophic, but strict protocols in the UK may further delay recovery.
Opinion Article

12 July 2021

As the world gradually reopens for travel, there is a massive race between countries to attract international tourists to their shores. Several countries have already opened their borders to fully vaccinated international tourists, while others are gradually resuming inbound tourism in a phased manner.

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The Indian government also recently announced its plans to provide free visas to the first 500,000 tourists once scheduled international commercial travel resumes in the country. This initiative is a first step in the right direction to encourage inbound tourism, but we have a long way to go before we can regain our share of international arrivals in the post-COVID era.

India, which has a minuscule share in global international arrivals and received significant negative publicity in the global press during the pandemic, will have to work much harder to regain its pre-COVID share and then grow beyond it. It will not be business as usual when international travel finally resumes in the country. Given the circumstances, it is very likely that we would have suffered a setback from being a preferred tourist destination for global travelers as safety and health are their top priorities now. The recent images of our leisure destinations and cities overcrowded with travelers flouting COVID-appropriate behavior are not helping our cause. Instead, they raise questions about our seriousness about the pandemic even after the devastating second wave that was witnessed in the country.

It is, therefore, critical that the entire tourism fraternity  government, public sector, private sector, and even the citizens  come together as one to rebuild traveler confidence and put India back on the global tourism map. A few measures have been mentioned below, which may seem like a bitter pill to swallow initially but will help the country regain its competitive advantage.
Oil dipped after a two-day gain as investors assessed the demand outlook amid a resurgence of COVID-19 in many regions.

Futures in New York fell below $74 a barrel after rising more than 2% on Friday. While the rollout of vaccines and the revival of major economies have helped boost fuel consumption, the spread of the highly infectious delta variant and uncertainty over supply from the OPEC+ alliance are clouding the outlook.

There are also signs that Chinas recovery is slowing. Its economy was always expected to descend from the heights hit during its initial rebound, but economists say the softening has come sooner than expected.

Oils upward momentum was interrupted last week after an OPEC+ meeting on output levels was abandoned amid deadlock between producers. Crude capped its first weekly loss since May -- despite an end-of-week rally -- on concern that the impasse could lead to another price war. The alliance had been widely expected to restore more of the production it idled during the pandemic.

There is some weaker Chinese data, but also the rise of the delta variant in Europe is causing some doubts on the demand recovery, said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN Amro. Additionally, theres the question of whether OPEC+ will find a solution and increase production, he said.

The International Energy Agency will provide investors with a snapshot of the market on Tuesday with the release of its monthly report, while OPEC will release its own monthly report on Thursday.

The markets bullish structure has eased slightly amid the OPEC+ uncertainty. The prompt timespread for Brent is 77 cents a barrel in backwardation -- where near-dated contracts are more expensive than later-dated ones -- compared with 99 cents a week ago.

The coronavirus remains a constant source of concern. The U.S. reported the most cases since mid-May as delta takes hold in less-vaccinated areas. French officials warned of a new wave, while U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will instruct people to stay vigilant as he prepares to lift most remaining restrictions in England. In Asia, Indonesia is in the throes of a major outbreak and case numbers are also high in Thailand and Malaysia.
Thanks to skyrocketing energy costs during the February freeze that paralyzed the state and killed hundreds of people, Texans will be paying billions of dollars in higher gas and electric bills for decades.

Now, energy companies are asking to pass on to ratepayers millions, even billions in additional storm-related costs.

Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law new rules intended to strengthen an energy grid that failed Texans during a week of subfreezing temperatures. Bottom line is that everything that needed to be done was done to fix the power grid in Texas, he said at the time.

A major component of Senate Bill 3 was a requirement that electric companies weatherize their facilities to withstand future freezes  something lawmakers failed to do after a 2011 winter storm froze power equipment and caused rolling blackouts.

Yet the new law didnt say who should pay for the upgrades. In recent filings with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, several large electric generating companies have said residents  not the investor-owned companies themselves  should cover the cost of weatherproofing their equipment.

FAILURES OF POWER Hearst Newspapers documented how 20 million Texans lost power in a deadly freeze after state lawmakers brushed aside a decade of warnings about the increasingly vulnerable electric grid. Read the series at www.houstonchronicle.com/failures-of-power. See More Collapse

Because the new requirements represent a societal judgment that mandates an additional investment in additional extreme weather conditions, it makes sense for the public to pick up the tab, Houston-based Calpine Corp. said in a filing.

FAILURES OF POWER: Texas politicians knowingly blew 3 chances to fix the failing power grid

The companies said that if they had to bear the costs of weatherization, it could make the Texas grid less reliable.

Absorbing the costs might cause some companies to become uncompetitive in the cutthroat Texas energy market, which would force them to take generating facilities offline, said Texas Competitive Power Advocates, which represents electric generating companies.

Companies without cost recovery will be forced to decide whether to invest in capital improvements or to retire or seasonally mothball those marginal units, it said in a filing.

Ratepayer advocates said it is outrageous to ask Texans to pay essential business costs on behalf of the same electric companies that contributed to the grids near collapse five months ago by failing to prepare their equipment properly.

Here we go again, said Tim Morstad, associate state director of AARP Texas. Private power companies that pocket profits during good times now seek to pad a fee onto ratepayer bills to pay for improvements they should have made long ago.

With the billions in storm-related costs consumers already are paying, were into our great-grandchildren already, said Jim Boyle, the states former Public Utility Counsel, who represents consumers in utility matters. How many times do we have to take a hit?

Cost estimate: $430M a year

Inadequate weatherization of generating equipment wasnt the only reason the Texas grid nearly collapsed.

Natural gas production tanked when wellheads and pipelines froze. Poor communication between the electric and gas sectors caused some gas production facilities to fail when their electricity was cut off. That interrupted the supply of gas to generating companies that needed it to produce electricity.

Still, a main goal of SB 3 was to prevent a future winter disaster by ensuring the equipment that powers the states grid could handle extreme weather.

After the 2011 winter storm, when frozen equipment caused rotating power outages for two days during Super Bowl weekend, state lawmakers vowed to make sure customers would be protected against extreme weather events.

But electric utilities and large industrial consumers protested that mandatory winterization would cost too much. By the end of that years legislative session, the single weatherization bill to pass required only that power companies file their winter plans with the Public Utility Commission each year.

This time around, the new law requires generators and transmission companies to weatherize their equipment enough to withstand a future severe storm. Failure to do so could result in a penalty of $1 million per day.

FAILURES OF POWER: Fixing Texas unreliable power grid wont be cheap or easy. Can we trust politicians to get it done?

Yet the details of what weatherization will look like were left up to the utility commission. The agency has until September to write the necessary regulations, spokesman Andrew Barlow said. In the meantime, parties that will be affected by the new law have been submitting comments and suggestions.

Several electric companies warned against a one-size-fits-all rule, noting that a generation facility in Lubbock may require very different cold weather protection from one in Houston. Older plants, too, may have different needs than modern equipment.

The companies also noted the challenge of installing insulation, windbreaks and heaters while having to protect the same generating equipment from intense summer heat several months later. The commission should balance whether certain requirements for cold weather preparedness have a corresponding reduction in summer output, wrote Vistra Corp.

Because details remain up in the air, estimates of the costs of mandated weatherization have varied widely. Some researchers have put it at billions of dollars.

El Paso Electric reported spending $4.5 million to winterize two generators. An April study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas pegged the cost of winterizing the entire Texas energy system at $430 million a year. The study concluded that was a reasonable expense, compared with the damage Februarys storm did to the state economy, estimated at $80 to $130 billion.

Ratepayers probably will end up paying many of the new mandated storm prep costs. Transmission companies can petition the Public Utility Commission for permission to charge higher rates to recover extraordinary costs. Municipal utilities and co-ops can obtain cash through local governments or members to upgrade their equipment.

A new threat to the grid?

In a regulated market, generators typically would recover such extra business costs by asking regulators for permission to pass them on to ratepayers. But in Texas deregulated energy market, companies assume those costs themselves in exchange for less government oversight and the opportunity to make bigger profits.

In their filings, however, the companies said having to spend millions of dollars on the new requirements could force them to reduce the size of their generating fleets, which would mean less power when the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the states grid manager, needs it most.

Imposing potentially costly requirements on generation resources  and leaving discussion of the associated costs for another day, will likely cause certain generation resources to conclude that participation in the ERCOT market does not make economic sense when weighing the costs and risks, causing resources to prematurely retire or to never get built, Exelon Generation Co. wrote in its filing.

Such an outcome would exacerbate reliability issues on an isolated electric grid that is showing signs of being increasingly strained (even in nonpeak months), counter to the legislative mandate.

Too bad, replied AARPs Morstad. Energy companies that weatherized before the February storm were able to pay for their upgrades and still remain competitive, he said.

Why should companies that failed to install weatherization be rewarded by getting a financial advantage over generators that did the right thing? he said. The deregulated generation market does not protect owners from bankruptcy or going out of business. Thats part of trusting the market. If a company cant cover its required costs, it goes into bankruptcy and either restructures its financing or sells its generating assets to another owner who will pay the necessary costs.

Whether state leaders intended for the companies or the public to cover the costs is unclear. The power companies say Abbott signaled that he wanted generators to be able to recover their costs when he directed the Legislature to mandate weatherization but also to ensure the necessary funding.

Consumer advocates respond that lawmakers had ample opportunity to approve public funding for weatherization  one failed bill would have used money from the states rainy day fund  but chose not to do so. That suggests they intended that the companies should pay for it, the advocates say.

Asking ratepayers to pick up particular costs incurred by generation companies would be a dramatic departure from the deregulated Texas system that has been in place for two decades, said Doug Lewin, a clean energy advocate who runs the consulting firm Stoic Climate and Energy.

Thanks to the mixed messages, I dont have a clear signal what the Legislature meant, said Caitlin Smith, an energy analyst for AB Power Advisors.

For now, state leaders appear willing to let the tea-leaf reading continue. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Charles Schwertner, the author of SB 3, all did not respond to questions about the financial intent of the new weatherization legislation.

eric.dexheimer@chron.com
Everyone loves renewable energy  until they dont. In a March Gallup survey, more than two thirds of respondents said the United States should put more emphasis on developing wind (66 percent) and solar energy (73 percent).

But when a new wind or solar farm is proposed in a communitys back yard, people put up a fight. For instance, a windfarm off the coast of Marthas Vineyard appears to moving forward following 20 years of opposition from local property owners. And environmentalists are fighting the construction of a new solar plant in the Mojave Desert.

If Americans are going to make a dent in reducing carbon emissions  and polling suggests they want to  they are going to have to grapple with the tradeoffs required. An effort in West Texas offers a roadmap for helping people work through the issues.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Renewables may become Texas' top source of electricity

More than a decade ago, the late social scientist Daniel Yankelovich introduced the concept of an Energy Learning Curve. He pointed out that public opinion moves through several stages when grappling with a complex problem.

In the case of energy, the public had moved through the first, consciousness-raising phase of the Learning Curve. Simply put, we are aware of the problem.

The second stage is the longest and most arduous. It involves the need for people to confront their own wishful thinking and denial as they wrestle with the painful tradeoffs and sacrifices that might affect their habits and lifestyles. Its not linear  the public may take a step forward then two steps back as it moves toward a resolution.

This is where the public was in 2009, and it is where we are today. The more complex an issue, the longer it takes the public to work through it. Most people grasp just one or two elements of the energy challenge, such as costs or environmental impacts, and de-emphasize the rest. They dont realize that these elements are interconnected  one necessarily impacts the other. A sound approach to energy necessarily requires addressing them all.

The final phase is resolution and support for action. On many issues, the public never gets here.

Aside from increased concern about climate, current polling shows that not much has changed since Yankelovich introduced the Learning Curve. People today want cheap, reliable energy; they dont want to rely on fossil fuels; and they dont want energy development to impact natural resources or the culture of their communities.

The reality is that we cant have all of these things at the same time. To meet our growing demands for energy, we are going to have to make some hard choices.

Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox

Trends toward renewable energy sources  driven both by economics (the cost of onshore wind and utility-scale solar energy is now lower than even the most efficient gas-fired turbines) and public policy (the Biden administrations ambitious new carbon emissions targets) - may force people to address their wishful thinking. Wind and solar development require a lot of land per unit of energy produced, and the infrastructure has to go somewhere. To avoid the ugly, costly conflicts that inevitably arise when new energy facilities are built, we have to move the public up the Energy Learning Curve.

A recent project in West Texas offers a promising case study for how to do this.

The Respect Big Bend Coalition  a team of scientists and outreach professionals  brought together private landowners, elected officials, energy companies, community members and others to develop a blueprint for producing energy while preserving the character of rural communities.

The initiative asked stakeholders to consider what about their region was most important, and scientists then mapped the values they identified on the landscape. In the Big Bend Region, people prioritized things such as ranching heritage, dark skies and water resources. This allows energy developers to avoid land areas that are of greatest value to the people that live there  minimizing conflict and encouraging conservation.

The project has shown that when people have access to objective information and are engaged in a thoughtful way, they can minimize the downsides of energy development and preserve the things that matter most to them.

When it comes to energy, making policy or development decisions without public engagement can be costly  in the form of time and money, but also damage to natural resources and quality of life. The Respect Big Bend project has shown that when people grapple with the issues, the outcomes can be better for everyone.

Amber N. Ott is a founding partner of Hudson Pacific, a data-driven public affairs consulting firm in New York City.
Chef Otto Sanchez remembers being told that theres a limited market for dense, European-style organic breads because Houston loves fluffy white loaves. Weighty dark boules and batards and crispy, oven-burnished artisan baguettes wont fly here, he was cautioned.

Good thing he didnt listen to that advice. In 2019, he and partner Matthieu Cabon  both with Michelin-star-pedigree resumes that include baking for restaurants from superchefs Joel Robuchon and Alain Ducasse  opened Magnol French Baking, intent on bringing world-class bread to Houston. In two years, Magnol has grown from three employees to 17, and counts Bludorn, Coltivare, Ostia, MAD, Rosie Cannonball, Eunice and Da Marco among its notable restaurant clients. It cant make enough baguettes for its growing list of retail customers. And next year the business will expand again to include a cafe with a menu using its oven-baked goods.

This tells me what we already knew. The market is ripe for good bread, Sanchez said. People will buy this bread because they believe in it. Houston has great chefs; we have great food. But I always felt that in the bread and pastry department, we were underrepresented.

Not any longer. Artisan bakers, selling wholesale and retail, are the new darlings in a rising bread scene in Houston where loaves made with organic, ancient grains and Texas-milled flours are being gobbled up with abandon. Local restaurants are serving a wider variety of specialty breads crafted just for them, too.

Were finally catching up with the great (bread) cities, said David Berg, executive pastry chef for the Common Bond cafe chain. Weve been behind on what is so progressive. Were finally getting people who have that passion and curiosity.

Not just a new era of Houston breadmakers but a receptive audience for noble breads, he adds.

While Houston has enjoyed the work of longtime bread purveyors  Three Brothers Bakery, El Bolillo Bakery, French Gourmet Bakery, French Riviera Bakery, Rustika Cafe & Bakery  a new crop of bakeries and farmers market breadmakers has made strides in the citys newly enriched landscape.

One notable example is the recently opened Badolina Bakery & Cafe in Rice Village, a project from Sof Hospitality that operates Doris Metropolitan, the Israeli steakhouse known for its bread service. Badolina, a wee retail shop, has been mobbed since it opened last month with customers eager to get their hands on its rustic breads and jewelbox pastries. The bread from executive pastry chef Michal Michaeli often sells out by noon.

Houstonians are wanting quality things all the time, and theyre definitely embracing this, said Sof Hospitality partner Itai Ben Eli. Were happy to do our part.

Indeed, the hospitality group built the chic Badolina specifically to showcase Michaelis pastry and breadmaking talents, the latter in chewy evidence with dark, seeded baguettes and weighty sourdough loaves made with einkorn wheat flour and smoked rye flour. Michaelis talents also will be on display when Sof Hospitality opens Hamsa, a modern Israeli restaurant, later this year.

Even during the pandemic when restaurant dining and the food supply were thrown into chaos, the bread scene thrived. Cake & Bacon, a wholesale bakery and butchery, took its breads to local farmers markets during the pandemic, growing a new audience for products already embraced by Houston restaurants.

All of a sudden we had to sell to the public; it wasnt just about wholesale anymore, said Max Torres, Cake & Bacon co-owner who has been baking for 30 years. Now theres a real resurgence of craft bakers, and thats great.

The artisan bread paths formed by Kraftsmen Baking and Slow Dough Bread Co. were joined in recent years by the likes of Bread Man Baking Co., Common Bond and Cake & Bacon, said Torres, who helped build the baking program at Weights + Measures.

Theres a lot of growth and a lot of potential for everyone to showcase what theyre able to do, he said.

For Cake & Bacon, that growth has been substantial. The wholesaler, which bakes bread for the likes of Craft Burger, Harlem Road Texas BBQ, Bretts Barbecue Shop, La Colombe dOr, Liberty Kitchen, Fegens, Roma and Vic & Anthonys, quickly outgrew its 900-square-foot bakery and soon will be moving into a 4,900-square-foot shop.

Bread Man Baking Co. owner Tasos Katsaounis was a longtime management consultant who began baking bread in 2017 from home for friends, family and neighbors. The first-generation Greek American learned his bread style from his mother, based on his grandmothers recipes.

Encouraged by people  including his wife, Houston radio personality Roula Christie  who clamored for his bread, Katsaounis traded his corporate life for bread life, opening a commercial artisan bakery on Stella Link in 2018 making sourdough and naturally leavened breads. A few key restaurateurs were initial clients, and then Whole Foods came knocking. Bread Man is now in all 12 Houston-area Whole Foods (and throughout Texas), and his restaurant accounts include Killens Steakhouse, Georgia James, the Hay Merchant, Tris, FM Kitchen, Postino, Brennans of Houston, Sweetgreen and the new Acme Oyster House. Today, Bread Man is supplying to 155 hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.

In 2020, Katsaounis scored a major get when Drew Gimma left his post as co-chef of Squable restaurant to joint Bread Man as director of operations. In February, Katsaounis wooed Jess DeSham Timmons from her executive chef post at Cherry Block Craft Butcher to serve as the companys foodservice sales manager. In the fall, Bread Man will move into a new 40,000-square-foot production facility in east Houston after quickly outgrowing its 4,800-square-foot shop. Katsaounis also is considering a retail element.

My whole goal from Day 1 was how can I help put Houston on the baking map, he said. I didnt want explosive growth. But you cant ignore it if you have a product in demand.

That demand has helped propel bread businesses like his, as well as bakers specializing in pastry. Its fantastic, he said. Its nice to see people showing more appreciation and a want for good, crusty artisan bread that Houston was lacking for a while.

Filling that void has made Common Bond grow from one store to six over recent years with a sought-after bread program that includes country sourdough boules, sprouted sourdough loaves, baguettes, challah and multigrain, sunflower and rye breads. The citys new bread landscape wouldnt be possible, Berg said, if it werent for the commitment of a new generation of bakers dedicated to the art.

Were finally getting people who have that passion and curiosity, he said. Were constantly innovating new things. Thats where the knowledge is. Bread must always be better every day. Its never the same. We have to understand the chemistry and that its always changing. Having five or six breads are enough as long as those five or six breads are improved every day.

The pandemic provided an unexpected focus on breadmaking  a run on yeast and the trading of mother starters  that is now back in the hands of commercial bakers. That burst of interest in bread has produced a public that not only understands the intricacies of breadmaking but is ready to support the efforts of artisan breadmakers.

In Houston, thats a market prime for continued growth and a place for all the new players at the bread table, Magnols Sanchez said.

This city is so vast. Theres a place for everyone, he said. For me, if we are doing our part to bring the bread game up, I think its great. There should be more.

greg.morago@chron.com
Kelley Perkins rolled up her sleeve with no hesitation when the COVID-19 vaccine was first made available to health care workers last December.

The 32-year-old worked as a traveling nurse in the Houston area at the time and was posted at St. Josephs Medical Center near downtown. In the intensive care unit, she saw the virus devastate family after family when their loved ones died.

But her experience as a nurse isnt the only reason she was ready to take the vaccine.

I believe in evidenced-based medicine, and I believe public health is a social issue, Perkins said. For us to get back on our feet, we have to eradicate (COVID), and the only way to do it is with the vaccine.

Perkins boyfriend, Al Ruiz, is not so sure. He hasnt taken the vaccine yet.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston Methodist sees COVID Delta variant infections double in the last week

Ruiz, 34, and Perkins have been dating for nearly two years. He doesnt work in the health care industry, but he remained an essential worker at a Houston car dealership throughout the early part of the pandemic.

Ruiz said his 10-year-old twins are up to date on their vaccines for school. For himself, the COVID vaccine is just not a priority.

Its more just hearing other peoples reaction to it. Kelley got sick; she ran a fever. A lot of people I talk to, that second shot tends to be the doozy, Ruiz said. Generally, I dont even take the flu vaccine.

In Texas, nearly 1 million more women and girls are vaccinated against COVID than men and boys, according to the Department of State Health Services. Women between the ages of 16 and 49 account for more than a quarter of the 12 million Texans who are fully vaccinated, the agency reported Thursday.

And its not just in Texas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 53 percent of Americans who have received at least one dose identify as female.

Elizabeth Gregory, director of the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality at the University of Houston, presumes the difference in vaccination rates is pretty simple.

On Q&A with Lisa Gray: Kids, COVID, and what Houston schools will look like next fall

Its the dynamics of women just being more interested in taking care of themselves, which leads to men being in worse health overall, Gregory said. Why (men) were dying before the vaccine connects to why theyre not taking the vaccine  theyre less likely to take care of themselves.

More men than woman die from COVID as well, according to the institutes report published in October, before the vaccines were available. Last fall, the Houston Health Department recorded a total of 1,154 deaths, of which 423 were women and 731 were men  a difference of 70 percent. In Harris County, slightly more than 100 more men than women had died out of 756 deaths.

Theres a gap in fatalities, but the infection rate was about the same, Gregory said. It wasnt that women werent getting it; its that they werent dying.

The institute published multiple reports on the pandemic in Houston and Harris County by gender, age and race or ethnicity. The October version found that 61 percent of local COVID deaths were male and 39 percent were female. Houstons numbers are consistent with the global pattern of more male deaths, likely due to a combination of biological and behavioral factors.

There were also racial disparities among death rates. For instance, while Hispanic men make up 42 percent of the countys male population, they accounted for 51 percent of all male deaths. White men, who make up 33 percent of the male population, accounted for only 22 percent of deaths among men.

Gregorys department found that the racial disparities for men could be attributed to social and economic inequalities. White men are less likely to work in frontline jobs and typically have better access to health care.

Josh Garza, 43, had pre-existing Type II diabetes, so he was eligible to receive the vaccine earlier than his peers. But he said no.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 'Unprecedented challenges': 1 in 3 Houstonians saw anxiety and stress increase during COVID-19

I felt like I was doing everything I needed to do: I was wearing the mask, social distancing and washing my hands, the Sugar Land man said. We were doing what we were supposed to do, so I didnt need the vaccine. Plus, it was so new.

By the end of January, Garza had developed symptoms and was admitted to a Sugar Land hospital. His health plummeted so quickly that doctors told him to get any end-of-life affairs in order, which included a difficult phone call to his 12-year-old son.

In February, he was placed on a lung transplant list and transferred to Houston Methodist. He received a double-lung transplant in April.

Cultural and societal standards for Hispanic men played a role in his decision not to take the vaccine when it was first offered to him, Garza said. After this experience, he said he will take better care of his health.

Being Hispanic, weve always had to be tough  you just kind of play it off and let it go, he said. This has made me realize that you have to pay attention to your body and address it when you can. You cant let it linger because then it will get worse.

We do see men having a lower life expectancy overall because their self-care is worse, Gregory said. Whats notable is that its such a large difference in fatalities, particularly among young people. Many men have frontline jobs in industries that dont prioritize their health whereas women in frontline jobs are typically in health care or education, which both supported them wearing masks.

This is true for Perkins, a nurse, and Ruiz, who works at a car dealership.

Seven months after her vaccination, Perkins continues to wear her mask every day at her new rheumatology clinic job. Still unvaccinated, Ruiz stopped wearing a mask after a few weeks because his employer did not require them.

Before vaccines were available, Ruiz would sometimes mask up if Perkins did. But more often than not, he went maskless.

A lot of it has to do with my schedule; I dont have a lot of free time, he said.

Perkins has laid out the data for her boyfriend and explained what happens to patients who are admitted to the hospital. Shes offered to make the appointment for him, but he hasnt agreed to go.

Though she believes his vaccine hesitation is politically based, Ruiz said Perkins just doesnt understand why hes not rushing to take something so new.

On COVID Help Desk: When do we sign up for a shot if I want my kid to be fully vaccinated when they go back to school?

She feels its political because its been politicized, he said. I think ultimately I will end up getting it, but Ive been working this whole time in public, meeting complete strangers all day long. And I havent gotten sick.

From being on the health care frontlines, Perkins has become used to hearing why people do or do not want to be vaccinated. And usually, the ones who do had COVID themselves or lost family members to the virus, she said.

Theres no reason a person should pick and choose what scientific research to believe, Perkins added.

Gregory, the director at UHs gender-focused institute, said men are more vulnerable to dying from COVID because of how men are raised, the types of job they work and their economic status.

Theres some sense among men that they should be tough and shouldnt get care, Gregory said. If more men die of COVID, I think more men would want to get the vaccine.

julie.garcia@chron.com

twitter.com/reporterjulie

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On the verge of financial collapse and losing his home, a Cypress veteran used his talents learned in the military to save himself and his family.

Omar Ruiz, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, watched helplessly as his previous business began to plummet when the March 17 shutdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 gripped the nation and the world.

Now he uses practical life skills he learned in the military and is sharing them with kids and adults online around the world. His life is back on track and his business is flourishing.

Ruiz attended Cypress Springs High School and graduated from Windfern in Cy-Fair ISD in 2003. Ruiz joined the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department as a junior member when he was 16 and served off and on for about 10 years.

He signed up for a four-year tour with the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed stateside in Miami, Florida.

In 2011 bought a home in Riata Ranch following completion of his service with the military.

He began his own custodial business that took a nose-dive when office buildings shut down due to COVID-19.

To survive, he drove for Uber and signed up to substitute teach for Cy-Fair ISD school district.

Ive always wanted to be a traditional teacher and even worked as a substitute teacher for Cy-Fair ISD. I loved teaching high school kids, he said.

When there were no lesson plans left from the teacher in the class, Mr. O, as his students affectionately call him, would take the opportunity to teach the kids survival skills.

Ive always been an advocate for teaching skills to kids they wouldnt normally learn in a classroom setting, he said.

If they were lost in the wilderness, he explained that they would need to find or create shelter, make a fire, find water, find food, and signal for help.

I found that I could teach kids things I had learned myself from volunteering with the fire department and with the military, he said.

He turned to online teaching as the pandemic deepened and seemed it wouldnt go away.

He found Outschool, an interactive online teaching portal, and was excited to see he could use his previous skills.

Once he was approved to teach the course online, he found immediate success.

(Outschool) is a wonderful company that allows me to teach online through Zoom and I literally teach kids from all over the world, he said.

Ruiz says he has the freedom to teach as many or as few classes as he wants and has more time to spend with his family since he works from home.

I usually teach about 25 hours per week and make a handsome income, he said.

He works each day about five to six hours per day usually from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with breaks between the classes.

His classes are available among thousands of others through the Outschool website at https://outschool.com. There are more than 100,000 live classes for students to choose from and taught over Zoom by hundreds of independent teachers on various topics.

I have very few students from Texas. Most are from California, New York, Australia, Japan, Spain, just all over the world, he said.

The site requires students speak fluent English.

His class sizes are typically from four to 13, and he can handle up to 18 at a time. Smaller group sizes mean better focus and attention.

The classes are scheduled in one hour blocks once a week. The typical age for his students ranges between five years old and 18.

The average is probably nine through 12, he said.

His particularly lesson plans are set on a 10-week semester.

In Week One he discusses the basics of wilderness survival including the mindset of staying calm and positive.

Then I talk about different ways to build shelter, fire, and find water, he said.

In succeeding weeks, he talks about how to approach encounters with bears, mountain lions, alligators, or venomous snakes.

There are classes on stranger danger, kidnapping, natural disasters, blackouts, fire safety, first aid, foraging, trapping and hunting for food.

I also talk about gear and how to sharpen knives and how to prepare a 72-hour backpack, he said.

He also has a class for cold weather survival, what to do if stranded in the desert, and lost at sea skills to stay alive.

In Week 10, I discuss ways to signal for help, how to get out of the wilderness, and situational awareness, bullying, and some self-defense techniques, he said.

The individual classes are $15 per student per week.

I want to make it affordable so that everyone has an opportunity to learn, he said.

Ruiz has been teaching on Zoom for the last 14 months and has more business than he ever expected. In two months last year, he earned enough to catch up on his back payments owed for his mortgage and stay on schedule since.

His future plans include doing live classes once the pandemic settles down. Those, he said, would include some of his friends in the military, law enforcement, and fire department.

Even though restrictions are back to normal, I think some parents are still apprehensive but were in the early stages of getting a location, he said.

Ruiz said he was considering one-time sessions on how to prepare for and live through blackouts.

I dont think a lot of homeowners are prepared for it and know what to do to survive, he said.

The veterans classes motivate the students and instill confidence with his calm, yet assertive manner that his students relate to, especially those with special needs or learning disabilities, he said.

To find out more about Mr. Os classes and help a veteran at the same time, visit https://outschool.com and search for Mr. O or Urban and Wilderness Survival - Tips That Can Save Your Life.

dtaylor@hcnonline.com
Killed in action in Iraq in 2007, Army Staff Sgt. Shane Robert Becker left behind two young daughters and a widow.

The Folded Flag Foundation, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit, has supported the Missouri City Gold Star family through scholarships and support grants.

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Shane joined the Army as a young man, served and was discharged in 1994. Later compelled by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, he re-enlisted. Crystal Becker said her husband wanted to fight for a better world for his nearly 2-year-old daughter Cierra. He also felt a call to be a leader for the younger men he knew would be joining the Army. Some people didnt really understand the decision, but Crystal said a person must follow their own path.

We have to do what each of us, I feel, independently can do for the greater good, whatever that might be, Crystal explained. And I think that, yes, as patriotic as he was, a lot of it was he had a little girl, and he couldnt not go off and try to protect her future

A few years later, Cheyenna was just shy of 2 months old when her dad died. Cierra is now 21. Cheyenna is 14. Their mom says they take their education seriously and have been greatly helped by Folded Flag, which is currently preparing to send out 678 checks valued at more than $3 million to spouses and children.

The foundation was started in 2014 by Bill Foley. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and watched half of his graduating class die in Vietnam, with little assistance available for families picking up the pieces. Foundation spokesperson Jennifer Ramieh said after that, Foley carried a long-held desire to help through education.

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We think that education is kind of the cornerstone or bedrock of finding a new path forward after the loss of either a parent or a spouse, said Ramieh.  So this is an opportunity for us to provide kind of the solid foundation for them to get their footing and move forward with a new path.

Since its beginning, Folded Flag has provided more than 1,700 scholarships and support grants valued at nearly $11 million, according to Ramieh. She said even though the largest annual fundraiser was canceled last year due to the pandemic, the foundation is giving out more money for the 2021-22 school year than it ever has before.

The scholarships and grants support educational needs for spouses of all ages and children up to 26 years old, from kindergarten to graduate school. Ramieh said the average spouse that applies makes less than $50,000 a year and supports two children, so the financial assistance is valuable and important.

Ramieh hears from people the foundation has helped. One recently sent a college graduation announcement with a thank-you note saying she is leaving college debt-free. She plans to attend Columbia University for graduate school with additional help.

Today, Cierra is a certified firefighter and emergency medical technician who is pursuing a bachelors in emergency services. Folded Flag helped her with some high school courses and at the fire academy. Cheyenna, now a ninth grader, has used the funds for gymnastics classes and is currently enrolled in a summer theater program. She hopes to be a police officer someday. Crystal said if she had to pay for the programs the foundation has covered for her daughters, she would have to work so much that she couldnt be present with them.

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Scholarship and grant recipients include family members coping after suicides caused by military service-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Ramieh said the foundation has seen an increase in those families reaching out. This year, 18 percent of applicants came from PTSD-related suicides, up 2 percent from last year.

Crystal is grateful for how The Folded Flag Foundation has helped and has found some solace there.

It brings you hope that no matter how much we may disagree in the big world or whatever, that down underneath, we all are compassionate and want one another to do well and to be better and to grow, she said.

Scholarships and support grants for the 2021-22 school year have closed. The application process starts each year in the spring.

The foundation is funded through public and corporate donations. Ramieh said because corporate underwriters cover administrative costs, 100 percent of donations go directly into scholarships and support grants.

To learn more or to donate, visit www.foldedflagfoundation.org.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
Every so often, Jim Williams wakes up in the middle of the night and lies awake inside his prison cell, thinking about quilt designs.

As his fellow inmates at South Central Correctional Center snore and shift in their sleep, Williams mulls over the layout of cloth shapes, rearranging them in his mind. Im kind of a perfectionist, he said. Ill wake up at 2:30 in the morning and think, That color really isnt going to work.

It wasnt always this way. Williams had never touched a sewing machine until last year, when he was recruited to sew face masks for prison inmates and staff during the pandemic.

Now hes part of a small group of volunteers at the Licking, Missouri, prison who spend their days making intricately designed quilts for charity, St. Louis Public Radio reports. The group, which relies entirely on donations, is working on an ambitious project: sewing personalized quilts for every foster child in Texas County.

The seven men in the program meet daily in the prisons sewing room, the hum of the machines providing a constant soundtrack.

One of the more experienced quilters in the group, Richard Sanders, never intended to join the program  in fact, he actively avoided groups like this in the past. But soon after he visited the sewing room to help fix a broken machine, he decided to enroll.

Its just a real peaceful environment, said Sanders, who has been incarcerated in Missouri for more than three decades. These places, the more you stay busy, the better you are.

Hes made hundreds of quilts in the past eight years, sending photos of each one to his elderly mother. Despite the many quilts hes donated to charity, Sanders said, I really feel, in my heart, we should do more.

The quilting program offers the men a temporary escape from the prison world and a chance to engage with the community, said Joe Satterfield, case manager at South Central. To join the group, an inmate cannot have any recent conduct violations on his record.

You can see a change in their attitude, said Satterfield, who runs the program. A light flips on like, Oh, this is a new avenue. I can actually be a part of something.

The project hinges on the concept of restorative justice, which emphasizes community-building and rehabilitation over punitive measures. As part of this effort, Missouri inmates at prisons statewide volunteer in a variety of ways, including training shelter dogs and growing vegetables for food banks.

In the sewing room at South Central, members of the close-knit group are working toward a common goal: finishing more than 80 unique quilts for children in the Texas County foster care system.

The men design the quilts with individual children in mind, embroidering their first names on the corner. For volunteer Rod Harney, its an attempt to let these children know that they havent been forgotten.

You see the names of these kids in foster care; you see a 1-year-old or 2-year-old, and it kind of breaks your heart, said Harney, who learned to sew in his seventh-grade home economics class. But that lets us know were human still. You cant express enough how it feels to do it.

Harney recently put the finishing touches on a quilt for an 18-year-old boy who will soon age out of the foster care system.

Edged in crushed velour, the quilt features a grizzly bear that appears to be gazing through a window  to show the teenager the world is at your front door, Harney explained. He spent more than 100 hours on it, carefully embroidering each square with geometric designs.

Once finished, each quilt is packaged with a handmade hat, along with school supplies and toiletries donated by other inmates at South Central.

Jim Williams is now designing an orange-and-seafoam green quilt for a 4-year-old boy. With every one sent off, he said, he feels a deep sense of accomplishment.

For a foster child, they dont get a lot; theyre in a home that may or may not really make them feel like part of the family, Williams said. So when I see this quilt laid out here on the table, I get emotional. I really do.
More than 100 people, many from the local Cuban community, joined forces Sunday night at a demonstration in a Sharpstown parking lot.

They were there to show support for people protesting food and health care shortages in Cuba, which is facing a severe economic recession, U.S. sanctions, and rising coronavirus infections  and to denounce the Cuban government that they said is responsible for the bad conditions.

People are starving because theres no food, no medicine, said participant Yara de la Cruz. People are dying of coronavirus  children, old people, its crazy.

The crowd gathered around a pickup truck used as a makeshift bully pulpit. Rhythmic music thumped from tailgate speakers as people took turns speaking to the crowd and leading chants against the Cuban police.

La patria y vida! the crowd shouted  'our homeland and our lives,' a reversal of a Castro-era slogan. Several people waved Cuban flags through the air as trucks gunned their engines in support.

There was no clear organizer at the event by evening. Some participants said they heard about the location on social media and that many in the local Cuban community wanted to host their own demonstration after anti-government protests erupted in Cuba over the weekend.

This is a spontaneous explosion of Cuban people, said Yosuary Martinez, who led the crowd in chants against Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel. People who were afraid of being against the dictatorship, now theyre coming here because they no longer fear with all of us.

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The event drew some Cubans from outside Houston. On Saturday, Carmen Salindo packed her three children in her car and drove 14 hours from their home in eastern Kentucky to take part in the protest.

Salindo, who entered the U.S. nine months ago to claim political asylum, said her father, a writer and painter, was jailed in Cuba along with her brother, her aunt, and a cousin.

My whole family are political refugees, all the time going to jail, she said. I have my vaccine, I have a mask, but my family has nothing.

Salindo traveled from Cuba to Nicaragua, making her way through Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico before reaching the U.S.

I had to get out of Cuba, because I have three kids, she said. If the U.S. does not grant her asylum request, she said she will try to reach Canada or elsewhere. But no more Cuba, she said. Not after 62 years of the current government  and its more bad right now.

Some local residents were also intrigued. Fayveion Crain, who lives near PlazAmericas, said he stopped on the way back from church.

It was the people, and it was the flags, he said. I heard people talking about having 62 years of bondage, about trying to get free.

Crain said after hearing participants talk about Cuba, he felt a connection with the community.

Just seeing people from Cuba who look like me, Afro-Cubanos  they can understand what Im going through as a Black American, he said. I thought, let me take time to feel what theyre feeling, even if I cant understand.

For Salindo, the event was a chance to show support for people like her family in Cuba, but it was also a rare opportunity to meet other Cubans. As the evening set in, the atmosphere took on a more festive mood. Prompted by Martinez and other speakers, and moved by the fast-paced music, the crowd began assembling into a conga line as others cheered.

I see all of this, now I want to come here, Salindo said. Ive seen my brothers  were all the same blood, were Cubans.
A former Houston police officer has been indicted with criminally negligent homicide following a 2020 crash in Trinity Gardens that killed a 71-year-old man, according to court records.

The grand jury on Thursday indicted the officer, Matthew Valdez, 27, on the felony. In a marked Houston Police Department vehicle, Valdez and another officer were rushing to a Nov. 21 weapons disturbance call on Homestead Road when Valdez slammed into a Cadillac in the 7300 block of Ley Road, near Darien Street.

Authorities believe Valdez was going around 90 mph and did not have his emergency lights or sirens at the time of the crash, court records show.

Behind the wheel of the Cadillac was nearby resident Walter Cooper, who paused at a stop sign to cross Ley Road  where 35 mph is the speed limit. As Cooper entered the intersection, Valdez hit his vehicle  pushing the sedan into a parking lot.

Cooper was taken to a hospital but did not survive.

Had Valdez not been responding to a crime in progress as a law enforcement official, he would have been charged with manslaughter on the day of the crash, said Sean Teare, head of the Vehicular Crimes Division in the Harris County District Attorneys Office.

He was doing the right thing in the wrong way, Teare said.

Turning on the lights and sirens, Teare continued, would not have made a difference. Valdez was going too fast for that road  nestled in a residential area, he said.

He didnt give anyone a chance, Teare said.

Meanwhile, Valdezs lawyer, Brent Mayr, set his attention on the driver, whom he said was intoxicated at the time of the crash. An autopsy report from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science records indicates Cooper had a blood alcohol level of 0.247  which is three times the legal limit, court records show.

It would not have made a difference if he had the lights and sirens on, Mayr said. You have an intoxicated driver who saw him and tried to beat him across (the road) when no sober person would have tried.

Mayr said he disagreed with HPDs investigation into the crash  and the ultimate decision to suspend Valdez. The officer had no known disciplinary action prior to the crash, Teare said.

Coopers manner of death was deemed an accident, according to medical examiner records.

Bond paperwork indicates that Valdez worked for Harris County Constables Office, Precinct 3, in Baytown at the time of his arrest. He has since left the law enforcement agency, Mayr said.

Officials with Precinct 3 could not be reached for comment.

Valdez was arrested Friday afternoon and he was released on a $30,000 personal recognizance bond  which Harris County magistrate Lisa Porter approved  that same day. Prosecutors have asked that Valdez be prohibited from driving as part of his bond conditions.

Records also show that Valdezs lawyer and Teare reached an agreement on what the bail should be prior to his arrest. The personal recognizance bond, or unsecured bond, does not require a deposit on the face value of bail, and defendants appear in court on their own word.

Mayr has separately filed a motion for District Judge Nikita Harmon to recuse herself from the case, fearing that she will revoke his personal bond and order that he be arrested again with a new bond.

Another former Houston police officer, Lucas Vieira, was indicted last week on an aggravated assault by a public servant charge in connection to a 2019 traffic stop. He was indefinitely suspended from the department in April following the filing of a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Democrats in the Texas House flew to Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass their priority elections bill.

Most of the 67 House Democrats traveled on two chartered planes and plan to remain in Washington for the remainder of the recently convened special session of the Legislature, said state Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, one of the earliest to depart.

The Texas Constitution requires 100 of the 150 House members to be present for the chamber to vote on legislation. Not all 67 Democrats planned to leave, Crockett said, though enough were departing to deny a quorum.

At an 8:30 p.m. news conference at Dulles International Airport, the lawmakers warned that voter suppression efforts have reached a crisis point in Texas. They urged Congress to pass a national voting bill - the impetus behind their decision to camp out in Washington, they said. The federal legislation was blocked earlier this summer in the U.S. Senate.

We are here today to rally the nation and we hope the Senate will hear us, said state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio. We want a vote, up or down - we want to know who you are.

Sergio Flores/Getty Images

Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan and members who stayed in Austin could send state troopers to try to round up the Democrats, as Republicans did in 2003 when the minority party skedaddled to Oklahoma and New Mexico during fights over redistricting. However, state troopers dispatched to Ardmore, Okla., spent most of their time in the lobby of the hotel where the Democrats were staying, with cars and planes ready to shuttle those who volunteered to return to Austin.

In a statement, Phelan said the Texas House will use every available resource under the Texas Constitution and the unanimously passed House Rules to secure a quorum. He said he expects all House members to be present in our Capitol in order to immediately get to work on the agenda released by Gov. Greg Abbott for the special session.

In the meantime, the Democrats have again claimed the national spotlight, as they did with their similar walkout in May. Vice President Kamala Harris, who visited Detroit on Monday for a roundtable discussion on voting rights, said the Texans are showing extraordinary courage and commitment.

Both GOP-dominated chambers of the Legislature advanced the elections legislation through committees over the weekend, with hearings that went through the night and ended in the early morning. The voting bills  denounced by Democrats who say they are calculated to make it more difficult for Black and Latino Texans to vote  were expected to reach the House and Senate floors as early as Tuesday. Republicans have called the measures essential to guarding against potential voter fraud.

We saw the writing on the wall, Crockett said. Republicans were going to just push this down our throats and say, This is what you get.

Abbott hammered Democrats for leaving the state and threatened to have them arrested if they return to Texas.

As they fly across the country on cushy private planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state, Abbott said in a statement, citing property tax relief, funding for retired teachers and other items he had asked lawmakers to take up.

I can and I will continue to call special session after special session after special session, all the way up until the election next year, Abbott said in an interview with Austin TV station KVUE. As soon as they come back into the state of Texas, they will be arrested, they will be cabined inside the Texas Capitol until they get their job done.

Democrats interviewed Monday said mainly campaign funds, and no taxpayer dollars, are being used to pay expenses of the trip. Texas law prohibits the use of state money for private purposes.

Legislative pay threatened

Democrats bitterly oppose the elections bills in the Legislature, which would ban drive-thru voting and 24-hour voting and forbid election officials from proactively sending out vote-by-mail applications  methods pioneered by Harris County in 2020 to expand options for voters during the coronavirus pandemic.

The voting legislation is the top priority for Republicans this session after Democrats staged a walkout that killed a previous iteration of the legislation in May. Afterward, Abbott announced hed call a special session and, as a punishment, vetoed funding for the legislative branch, vowing that there would be no pay for those who abandon their responsibilities.

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If enough Democrats were to stay in Washington for the rest of the special session, they would deny Republicans a chance to pass Abbotts other priorities, including bail reform and requiring transgender students to play on school sports teams based on their assigned sex at birth, not their gender identity.

The move also would deny lawmakers a chance to restore funding for the Legislature and its staff. The funding must be approved by September to prevent about 2,000 staffers for lawmakers and state agencies from losing their pay and benefits.

Phelan said that by denying a quorum, Democrats would put at risk state funding that will deny thousands of hardworking staff members and their families a paycheck, health benefits and retirement investment.

Abbott has already announced that he plans to call lawmakers back for a second special session this year to redraw Texas political maps with new census data.

The governor may call a 30-day special session at any point between the Legislatures biennial regular sessions, which begin in January during odd-numbered years and last for 140 days.

Democrats had hinted last week that another dramatic exit was coming.

I think its hard for us to look at this and see any other option for us but to break quorum again, Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, said on MSNBC over the weekend.

This is a serious sacrifice

The House was next scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday. If two-thirds of the 150-member chamber are not present, according to House rules, any member can make a call of the House that must be seconded by 15 members and ordered by a majority vote.

If Democrats were in the chamber, the main entrance to the hall and all other exits could be locked, with no one allowed to leave except with written permission by the speaker, the rules state.

But with most of those leaving expected to be gone by Tuesday, a majority of those present could vote that the absent members be sent for and arrested and their attendance be secured and retained by the sergeant-at-arms or any appointee, typically state troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Before Democrats fled the Capitol for the first time in May, Phelan told them he would not prevent them from leaving, according to House Democrats. Phelan hinted leading up to the special session that he would take a less lenient approach in the future.

My Democratic colleagues have been quoted saying that, you know, all options are on the table, and you know, respectfully, all options are on the table for myself as well, Phelan told Austin TV station KXAN just before the new session.

In 2003, the Democrats delayed the vote for over a month, but in the end, the GOP-backed redistricting measure still passed.

Rep. Martinez Fischer of San Antonio said Democrats left to stop what he called a calculated and deliberate Republican plan to chip away at the freedom to vote and to choose our leaders.

The long-term end goal right now is to have a national standard, have national reform, Martinez Fischer said, while acknowledging the possibility that Abbott could continue to call special sessions until a voting bill passes. We cant control what Gov. Abbott can do, but what we can do is continue to fight for our constituents. We can continue to fight for our democracy, and we will go down with a fight.

Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, said Democrats felt they were left with no choice but to flee, even as many are leaving behind jobs and families for an undetermined stretch of time.

By Monday afternoon, Wu said he hadnt broken the news of the trip to his sons, ages 4 and 7, who just spent five months with him mostly in Austin for the regular session.

I was really looking forward to spending more time with them and getting back to my law practice and actually paying my mortgage, he said. This is not some jaunt for a vacation. This is a serious sacrifice for many members  many of whom live paycheck to paycheck. Weve already had conversations with members who have said they dont know how theyre going to pay bills.

Benjamin Wermund contributed to this report.

jasper.scherer@chron.com

cayla.harris@express-news.net

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
Two Texas locations are among seven recommended nationally for protection in a report criticizing the disproportionate lack of Hispanic landmarks in heritage and conservation sites in the United States.

Castner Range, surrounding El Paso, and that citys Duranguito neighborhood, bordering Mexico, have long histories related to Hispanic culture in Texas.

Less than 8 percent of designated landmarks represent the stories of American Latinos, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans or women. But the report, called Place, Story and Culture: An Inclusive Approach to Protecting Latino Heritage Sites, emphasized that Latino sites continue to bear the brunt of said inequalities.

Even though for generations Latinos have continued to prove they are essential to the United States, sites that commemorate Latino heritage are disproportionately excluded when it comes to officially designated heritage and conservation sites, said Manuel Galaviz, co-author of the report released this month.

The report is based on a study by the Latino Heritage Scholars, an initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation, a nonprofit headquartered in Washington, D.C., that advocates for Hispanic equitable access and opportunities in several areas of society. The scholars are a group of young Hispanic professionals who described their mission as ensuring that Latino history is protected, shared and celebrated as part of the U.S. narrative.

National parks, heritage areas and monuments are designated by a process outlined in the National Park Services National Register of Historic Places, which was authorized through the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. But the process is plagued by mechanisms that maintain what the authors called a diversity deficit in the designations.

Among the structural deficiencies perpetuating the problem is the lack of representation of Latinos, African Americans and people from nonwhite communities in the boards and committees involved in the decision making process to designate the sites, said Brenda Gallegos, whos with the Hispanic Access Foundations Texas Conservation Program.

The report makes recommendations for the federal government to make the process more inclusive, beginning with the need to update the criteria to evaluate the value of sites to be included in the register.

Gallegos mentioned as an example that one of the criteria for choosing a site is that it must have a distinctive character; they (must) possess artistic construction or architectural value, artistic value. However, she added, it takes us back to the lack of representation in committees because, who are the people defining that value? How is a Caucasian person that has never been part of this community more qualified to determine what is or isnt artistic or architecturally valuable?

Duranguito, one of the sites recommended in the report, is a place full of Latino history that we are losing as we speak, said Gallegos, referring to efforts by developers in El Paso to demolish what is left of the centuries-old neighborhood in the citys downtown. Historians date the neighborhood origin back to the late 1820s. The report said the site, at the border with Mexico, is the oldest neighborhood in the city, dating from the era of the Spanish colonizers. It was converted into a zona libre area during the U.S.-Mexico War.

Castner Range, the other site proposed in Texas, is 7,081 acres hugging the city that has a variety of natural and historic importance for Latinos. The land was the ancestral home of the Comanche and Apache peoples, who left evidence of their existence in the region. The report said Native American and Mexican American communities continue to conduct ceremonies on the range, as many people consider it sacred.

The military history of Castner Range is also highlighted in the report. The Armys Fort Bliss acquired part of the range in the mid-1920s to create the Castner Target Range, which would be extensively utilized for training of anti-tank weaponry during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Gallegos said conservationists and community activists are fighting in El Paso to protect both sites from gentrification and destruction.

Three of the places recommended in the report are in California: Chepas Park in Santa Ana, Friendship Park in San Diego and Hazard Park in Los Angeles. The others are Fefas Market in Providence, R.I., and the Gila River in New Mexico.

Our hope is that in highlighting these locations, we can raise awareness about why we need to preserve these locations and how essential they are to telling a more complete story of the contributions of diverse communities to this nation, said Norma Hartell, a co-author of the report.

olivia.tallet@chron.com
Capricho

Regarding Not on my watch: Texas Republicans buck Bidens door-to-door vaccine drive, (July 7): There is a word in Spanish, Capricho, that roughly translated, defines someone that, against their true beliefs, still refuses to acknowledge that a certain fact is true and in their best interests. They will put forth this lie out of embarrassment or a refusal to admit they could be wrong.

Republican elected officials know darn well that the COVID vaccinations are safe and effective, but will not forcefully push their constituents to get vaccinated. To do so would be to admit that the other side is right. Political considerations trump their own constituents safety.

Representatives such as Chip Roy and Pat Fallon actively discourage efforts to fully vaccinate the full population. Id be willing to bet a case of hydroxychloroquine that all Republican elected officials and their families have been vaccinated.

Capricho.

Orlando N. Campos, Houston

Money speaks louder

Regarding Ruling against donor disclosure astonishes Schumer, (July 8): In George Wills article on the recent Supreme Court case dealing with the disclosure of the names of political donors, he writes, The senator who was unhappy about people trying to influence their government  the senator eager to reduce the amount of political speech, which all political contributions fund, directly or indirectly  was Schumer.

Unfortunately, speech and money are not one-for-one equivalents, as we know from the old truism, Money speaks louder than words. We also know that politicians do not treat people who give them substantial amounts of campaign money in the same manner as people who simply give them their views on what positions they should take in representing them.

This is a problem in Texas for more than those running for a representational office, as our state has the misfortune of being one of those which still elect judges. Judges more than anyone elected to office should never be swayed in carrying out their judicial duties by donations given to them by the very lawyers (or parties on behalf of those lawyers) who appear before them in the court cases over which they preside.

We should all be concerned about who is giving how much money to the people we vote for. If we see candidates who take large sums of money later voting in favor of the interests of the donors, that is useful information to have for the next election. We are on our way to becoming a plutocracy (if were not already there), and we all know that a bought government is not one of the people, by the people, for the people.

John K. Lottinville, Houston

Are judges next?

Regarding Naughty legislators, (July 8): I beg to differ with reader Jon Elmendorf. The Texas Legislature is not a group of naughty children, and Gov. Greg Abbott is not their parent, good or otherwise. The Legislature is an independent, separate branch of government, and Abbott has no constitutional right to interfere with them or to coerce them into doing what he wants. That is called dictatorship. What will be next? Will Abbott veto the salaries of the judicial branch if judges make rulings he doesnt like?

Peggy Campbell, Cypress

Carbon fees

Regarding How to cut emissions, outpace our rivals, (July 7): James A. Baker and the late George Shultz proposed a plan to ...place a fee on all carbon emissions in the United States...to reduce such emissions. Their plan then proposes that ..all of the revenue from the fee would be returned to Americans in the form of a quarterly dividend, which, they estimate, would be some $2,000 annually per household. This plan would somehow ..incentivize the private sector to...reduce emissions. Really, exactly how does that work? Any fee levied on an oil and gas producer, refiner or distributor will be passed on to the customer. Yep, you and me.

Heres a better idea on how to cut emissions, guaranteed to work, will cost nothing and actually reduce emissions and the price of natural gas. Contact Texas Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas legislators and railroad commissioners, and ask them, in return for your vote, to do their job: regulate flaring of natural gas and gas liquids to 10-days maximum, or less, and provide for gathering lines to be in place to capture and distribute all flared methane currently and needlessly burned or vented. Put the flares out, cut emissions and monetize an asset currently being wasted and polluting.

Rex Alfonso, Missouri City

Regarding Fear and pandering  Gov. Abbott's agenda for Texas' special legislative session. (July 7): The purpose of proposed Republican legislation is to put sand in the gears for anyone who doesnt vote from them, especially students and people who work for a living and get paid by the hour. They essentially want to put a poll tax on hourly workers.

If you own your own business, you can go vote any time during the day. If you are on salary, same thing. If you are on the clock, you have to punch out to go vote. The law requires that your employer let you go, but not that they pay you for the time, like they do for salaried employees, if the polls are open for two hours before your start time or after quitting time.

This funnels hourly workers into the before-work or after-work long lines carefully created by the laws, or forces them to pay to vote.

Bruce Ellis, Houston
Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

Texas Republicans were fuming as Democrats fled the state for Washington on Monday and some took to Twitter to share pictures showing Democrats on a private jet without masks and a D.C.-bound bus with a pack of Miller Lite.

Smiling House Dems fly off to DC on a private jet with a case of Miller Lite, breaking House quorum, abandoning their constituents, while the Senate still works, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tweeted with a picture of Democrats on a bus, a box of beer nestled in a seat. Its my hope that Senate Dems report tomorrow to do what they were elected to do. We will vote on #SB1.
Houston, MO (65483)

Today

Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially during the morning hours. High around 80F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Teri Watkins, co-leader for membership for Indivisible Chicago-South Side, looks for new recruits during a voting rights rally in Logan Square, on Saturday, July 10th. We are interested in passing legislation thats going to keep our voting rights, said Watkins during an interview with the Herald. Then she added, We want everyone to be able to vote and we want to keep our democracy. The filibuster is going to have to be done away with.
The trees to the left mark the former edge of the Campbell family's property before it began to erode into the Hoosic River two years ago.

Williamstown Makes Progress on Stabilizing Bank of Hoosic River

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The town is reviewing bids to conduct a riverbank stabilization on the Hoosic River near the junction of North Street and Syndicate Road.

On Thursday evening, the Conservation Commission issued an emergency authorization to conduct the work to address a problem that pushed its way near the top of the town's priority list in December and intensified with this week's rains.

"We went down today, and it was decidedly worse than it was yesterday," town conservation agent Andrew Groff told the commissioners.

Groff said there is currently 90 linear feet of erosion along that stretch of the river, and the land is being taken away "at a precipitous rate."

Arthur and Wendy Campbell, whose North Street property has been eroding into the river since 2019, called the Williamstown Police when a Christmas Eve storm last December took away a large chunk of the bank and threatened to uncover one of the sewer lines that runs through their property.

Of immediate concern to the town is the danger to those lines, one of which carries waste from North Adams to the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District facility in Williamstown.

Town meeting in June authorized $203,000 in the town's fiscal 2022 capital plan to address the erosion. On Thursday morning, the town opened "some quality bids," Groff told the commission. Interim Town Manager Charlie Blanchard reported to the Select Board that the bids ranged from $107,000 to $242,950 for work that the town estimated to cost $135,000 in its request for proposals.

Department of Public Works Director Chris Lemoine on Friday said the town received six bids and hopes to award the contract next week.

"We would like to have [the commission's] authorization for DPW's contractor to get this underway as soon as Aug. 2 to complete work designed by [Guntlow & Associates] during what we hope will be a low-flow period," Groff said. "They will be placing 1,000-pound pieces of riprap starting at the river bottom and going up the bank to protect the two major sewer lines."

Groff said the town's plan for the work has been submitted to the commonwealth's Department of Environmental Protection, the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, and the Army Corps of Engineers, which has jurisdiction over the river.

The Corps has done similar work near that stretch of river in the past, but it is incumbent on the town to deal with the urgent stabilization work this time around.

"I went to [the Army Corps] in January," Groff said. "I hoped they would extend the project they did in 2002  to the north and agree to consider this part of that work. And I think they said their funding source was six to seven years out to get on their work list.

"We were just down there today, and the river was at 7 feet. It's pretty clear we don't have that kind of time."

The five commissioners at Thursday's meeting voted unanimously to grant the emergency certification required for the project to go forward.

In other business on Thursday, the Con Comm voted 5-0 to OK an herbicide application on a private pond at 1035 Green River Road.

In a continuation of a hearing opened at the commission's last meeting, Engineer Charlie LaBatt of Guntlow addressed the concerns raised by Con Comm members the first time it considered the request.

One was that nutrient runoff from a nearby hillside was contributing to the problem of the non-native invasive aquatic plant that Herbert Allen wishes to address.

"I talked with Mr. Galusha who mows and farms that area and maintains the property for Mr. Allen," LaBatt said. "None of that upslope watershed gets fertilized. It just gets mowed and maintained. Probably, as a result of that, this is the first time we've proposed any sort of mitigation of weekends on this pond ever.

"If the fear is: Is it excess nutrients? I don't think so. If it had been that way, we probably would have been in front of you multiple times in the last 20 years."

That said, the weed is an invasive species, and LaBatt said while the hope is the herbicide application is a "one-time thing," there will be a need to monitor and maintain the site.

"I don't know how [the weed] migrates," he said. "Most likely, it's on the feet of ducks because we're not fed by a stream. It's not carried from an upstream pond or something like that. We're hopeful [the herbicide treatment] is something that doesn't need to be periodic. Like other non-native invasives, combating that is a maintenance thing, as the commission knows."

The Con Comm voted 5-0 to permit the herbicide application with two special conditions: that Allen come back to the commission two years after application to review its efficacy and that he create a 50-foot wide buffer strip of land that is not mowed upslope from the pond.

The discussion of the pond on Green River Road dovetailed with Con Comm Chair Tim Carr's plan to use Thursday's meeting for the beginning of a discussion of goals for the commission in 2021-22.

Carr said he wants to see the commission be more proactive about conservation issues rather than just reacting to the requests it receives.

"An example came up this evening," Carr said. "Ponds and how can we proactively think about how that resource in our community, of which we have many, can be better managed by the town. Might there be ways to better educate ourselves about pond management? Is that something the [Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions] could help us with? Could we do a study and come with a plan to propose to the town?

"That's an example of something we can put on the agenda for the year ahead and build in time at each meeting to have a discussion about."

Carr asked his fellow commissioners to reflect on the language of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 40, Section 8C, the enabling legislation that governs the Con Comm and think about what projects they would like to see the panel undertake in the year ahead. He said they could continue the discussion about proactivity at the commission's next meeting on July 22.
James Casebere opened Archive Project Space on North Street in December. Here he stands by his favorite pieces in Ari Marcopoulos' 'Time Motion' exhibit. The gallery offers 1,000 square feet of space on North Street. PreviousNext

Archive Project Space Contributes to Downtown Pittsfield Art Scene



Ari Marcopoulos' is displaying his photographs and films made over the past 14 months at Archive. 'Time Motion' opened Saturday and runs through August. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Archive Project Space opened in the thick of the pandemic and has been contributing to the artistic landscape of downtown Pittsfield since.

The gallery at 141 North St. opened in December with painter Roberto Juarez's exhibit "Ramona's Front Yard" and welcomed "TIme Motion" by photographer/videographer Ari Marcopoulos on Saturday.

"In the depths of the pandemic it was good," owner and artist James Casebere said about the gallery's first year. "It actually, at least, provided certain social connections, and people came up to see work from various places."

Archive is the front half of Casebere's studio at 141 North that he has inhabited since 2015. A 2019-20 Abigail Cohen Rome Prize Fellow, he was in the midst of his term at the American Academy in Rome studying architecture and sculpture when the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to return to his second home in Canaan, N.Y.

This is what inspired Casebere to open up the 1,000-foot gallery to the public, bringing a colorful and airy exhibition space to a corridor with many empty storefronts.

Casebere will welcome a wide range of art including painting, architecture, drawing, sculpture, sound, film works, photography, and multiple disciplinary installations.

Ari Marcopoulos' exhibit "Time Motion" debuted at Archive on Saturday. The exhibit features large photographs and several films of friends, neighbors, strangers, light, and other things that Marcopoulos has observed in his travels.

"I hope that people will come, check it out and see things through my eyes," he said.

The images are mainly from the last 14 months, as Marcopoulos was moved by the "strength and suffering" he saw in so many people during these unprecedented times. Also included are earlier images that "resonate with recent memories."

Having produced more than 200 books and limited edition zines, these photographs are a continuation of his bookmaking.

In the 1980s, Marcopoulos printed Andy Warhol's black and white photographs and captured images of artists and performers active in New York's downtown scene. He is said to have a way of portraying "subcultural style" in his images.

Marcopoulos also specializes in action shots of snowboarders and skateboarders.

"Time Motion" will be featured until the end of August and an exhibit showcasing the Yale University 2020 photography graduates' work curated by Sondra Perry will open in September.

Archive is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 2 to 5 and on Saturday from 11 to 5.
The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission meets Thursday. The commission will continue to allow remote participation in meetings.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Chooses Hybrid Meeting Format

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on Thursday voted to continue with a hybrid model for future correspondence, hosting in-person meetings at the BRPC offices with the option for members and the public to participate remotely.

This is reportedly the "best of both worlds" for accessibility and is made possible by the act Gov. Charlie Baker signed on June 16 extending certain COVID-19 measures adopted during the state of emergency until April 2022.

The Executive Committee decided to continue Zoom meetings. BRPC has a setup that allows members to participate remotely from its offices with the help of BRPC employees if need be.

Many full committee members favored in-person meetings because of the quality of communication but did support the hybrid model.

"I think something is lost by not meeting together because it just has a totally different quality," Tyringham alternate Sarah Hudson said.

Mount Washington delegate Jim Lovejoy said that after having remote meetings for "quite some time," there is something missing without in-person conversation.

The hybrid model, he added, will require some additional management as will learning how to engage with people in person and remotely during a meeting.

The commission purchased a $1,000 360-degree conference room camera called the Meeting Owl that connects to Zoom and is intended for virtual meetings.

Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said a few glitches have been experienced with the device but it "seems like it has a lot of promise for technology."

"There will be some learning aspects of how to run a meeting with it, I think, to make sure that people who are participating remotely do get recognized," he added.

"But the camera really kind of takes in 360 degrees, so you see a panorama of everybody in the room, the microphone is really a very good microphone so that it picks up voices from across the way and it is easy to hear people who are participating remotely."

Williamstown alternate Roger Bolton strongly recommended that the chat feature on Zoom is disabled during the hybrid meetings. He said it confuses the meeting and strays from the original model that requires any speakers to go through the chair.

"Personally, I don't like chat because it introduces the possibility of comments between the people present not through the chair," he added. "And I think that is so different from the way the old-style meetings would operate and that it's not nice."

Matuszko agreed and clarified that the chat would be disabled during hybrid meetings.

In other news, the commission elected its slate of officers for fiscal 2022 with Adams alternate John Duval replacing North Adams delegate Kyle Hanlon as chairman.

Duval is currently chair of the Adams Board of Selectmen, and was recently elected to a fourth term.

Hanlon a longtime member of the North Adams Planning Board, served as the chair for several years and members expressed gratitude and admiration for his service. He said most of the things he learned as a chair were from other members of the commission and that meetings were always enjoyable.

"I just have a lot of respect for you in the way you've run the meetings, very positive, very patient, and responding to all inquiries," Duval said to Hanlon. "And I want to thank you for your service as chair of BRPC."

The commission will next meet in person at the Stationery Factory in Dalton on Sept. 16 for its annual meeting.
At BCC, the Nursing Program offers a wide variety of educational options, including a Practical Nurse Certificate and an Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. Denise Foss, who earned her Associate in Science degree in Early Childhood in 2020, says the Early Childhood Cohort is what drew her to BCC Rev. Nakeida Moria Bethel-Smith, a victim witness advocate, forensic interviewer, and commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) coordinator at the Berkshire County District Attorney's office, earned an Associate of Liberal Arts degree from BCC in 2011 The Respiratory Care Program at BCC is a sequence of lecture, laboratory and clinical courses preparing students to earn an Associate in Science Degree. The Fire Science program at BCC focuses on fire prevention and fire protection principles and techniques. PreviousNext

BCC Trains Our Heroes

Many BCC students and graduates fill other essential jobs, such as grocery store workers

Heroes. Perhaps the word conjures a superhuman figure, like those portrayed in Hollywood films. But real-life heroes live and work among us every day.

Educators, nurses, social workers, firefighters, police officers, respiratory care practitioners, and other essential workers in the Berkshires have been on the front lines of the pandemic since its inception. Many of these everyday heroes were trained in our backyard at Berkshire Community College (BCC). They relied on BCC as an affordable, flexible way to earn certificates or degrees in their fields, or as a stepping stone to transfer to a four-year college.

Fighting fires and crime

The Fire Science program at BCC focuses on fire prevention and fire protection principles and techniques. Students also take general education courses, including human behavior and written and oral communication. The program covers material on the most recent developments in the field and provides excellent preparation for those who work in occupations such as fire protection or insurance underwriting. Graduates earn an Associate in Science degree. For more information, contact Program Advisor Charles Garrity.

Neil Myers, a Pittsfield firefighter, began his BCC education in 1995, graduating with an associate degree in fire science. BCC was an easy choice, because it allowed him to work while attending school full time.

"BCC is perfect for the local student who wants to earn a degree while staying home and maintaining a part-time job. The course quality is top-notch," he said, adding that he appreciates the small-town feel at the college. "It's an affordable way to obtain your core credits when looking to transfer to a four-year school."

Fellow firefighter Jesse Underwood-Miller also chose BCC because it was a local and affordable option that offered a fire science degree. "Education is something no one can take from you. Always keep on learning."

The Law Enforcement Certificate Program, part of the Criminal Justice program, is developed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. The program combines specialized criminal justice and general education coursework to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to compete for entry in the Massachusetts law enforcement field. The curriculum includes courses in constitutional processes, criminal law, criminal investigation techniques, identification of crime typologies and offender profiles, and ethics. All credits earned in the certificate program can be applied to an associate degree in Criminal Justice. For more information, contact Program Advisor Reena Bucknell.

Steve Hunt, a local police officer for decades who earned his associate degree at BCC in 2019, has some advice. "Get going! Get your degree while you are young. I had four children and a very busy career while I was taking classes," he recalled. "It took a very strong effort to finish my degree."

Teaching our children

The robust Early Childhood Education program at BCC offers several pathways for students to pursue their career goals. Emphasis is placed on working with individual students, addressing group needs, and demonstrating respect for culture and community. Two certificate programs (introductory and intermediate) and two degree programs (Associate in Arts or Associate in Science) are available for students with varying needs. The Associate in Arts program provides a strong foundation for students continuing on to a bachelor's degree, while the Associate in Science program prepares students to immediately enter the work force. For more information, contact Program Advisor Patricia McKay.

Denise Foss, who earned her Associate in Science degree in Early Childhood in 2020, says the Early Childhood Cohort is what drew her to BCC.

"If you're thinking about getting a college education, don't procrastinate. Take the plunge and take the first step to get the ball rolling. It may seem scary, but the benefits will be well worth it," she said. "Also, don't ever think you're

too old to get a college education. I was 51 when I pushed past my fears about going to college, and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made. Just do it."

Nursing our community to health

Nursing  a combination of science and the art of working with people  offers a wide range of career paths, employment opportunities and competitive salaries. At BCC, the Nursing Program offers a wide variety of educational options, including a Practical Nurse Certificate and an Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. BCC's Nursing Program is a sequence of lecture, laboratory and clinical courses; graduates are eligible to take the licensing examination to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs). For more information, contact Program Advisor Lori Moon.

Amy Slattery, a current BCC student working on her Practical Nurse Certificate, chose BCC not only because of its affordability, but also because of its collaboration with multiple healthcare facilities to ensure appropriate hands-on training.

"Berkshire Community College offers students the chance to explore different fields of study before settling on the one they wish to pursue for life," she said. "If one shoe doesn't fit right, try on another." Jana Ruth Cushman, a sales and

customer service specialist working on her LPN certificate, commends BCC's supportive faculty and staff.

"Never be afraid to try new things. BCC offers so many different classes and programs, so everyone can find their dream career at an affordable cost," she said. "The faculty and staff at BCC treat everyone like family."

Like nurses, respiratory care therapists have been on the front lines of the pandemic, helping to treat patients with the breathing difficulties associated with COVID-19. Respiratory care practitioners help treat patients with a wide range of cardiopulmonary illnesses, including such problems as asthma or heart failure. Respiratory care includes diagnostic testing and administering oxygen, various other gases and aerosol drugs.

The Respiratory Care Program at BCC is a sequence of lecture, laboratory and clinical courses preparing students to earn an Associate in Science Degree. Comprehensive on-site training helps students learn the skills necessary to work in various settings, including hospital acute care and intensive care units, hospital neonatal units, outpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, home care and diagnostic laboratories.

Valerie Rose, a 2018 graduate of the Respiratory Care Program, said, "The courses were challenging and interesting; the instructors were engaging and supportive. There were so many opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom. Best of all, I had three job offers before graduation. My BCC education prepared me well to start my new career as a respiratory therapist."

Caring for those in need

The Human Services Program at BCC offers four pathways. First, the Human Services Certificate Program prepares graduates for careers in social services and other community organizations. The certificate is a great way for students to begin their education to determine if human services is a field for them.

Second, the Addiction Recovery Assistant (ARA) Certificate prepares students for entry-level work in the substance abuse field. Graduates of this program will be trained to offer supervised individual and group counseling, assessment, case planning, client services support, documentation, and community service outreach and referrals for individuals and families.

Third, the Social Work Transfer Associate in Science Degree allows students to acquire the skills, values, ethics and internship experiences necessary to transfer successfully into a Bachelor of Social Work program. Finally, the Mental Health Worker Certificate Program offers classroom and field practicum experience for entry-level work in the behavioral health field. Coursework includes causes of mental illness as well as assessment, diagnosis, and treatment techniques.

For more information, contact Program Advisor Kari Dupuis.

Rev. Nakeida Moria Bethel-Smith, a victim witness advocate, forensic interviewer, and commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) coordinator at the Berkshire County District Attorney's office, earned an Associate of Liberal Arts degree from BCC in 2011.

She appreciated the opportunity to learn close to home from a "very supportive network of professionals." For those hesitant try college, she advises, "Don't be afraid to learn who you are, even when you make mistakes, because it's the very thing that grows you."

Feeding the people

Many BCC students and graduates fill other essential jobs, such as grocery store workers.

Jose Miguel Arias-Batista, an employee of Guido's Fresh Marketplace in Pittsfield, worked throughout the pandemic. A 2018 graduate, he chose BCC because "it was an affordable college with plenty of resources and programs that helped me accomplish my goals." He advises BCC students to get involved. "Try to participate in groups and attend activities at the school," he said. "Your time at BCC could be very short, but the relationships you develop there could last forever."
Medical Matters Weekly Focuses on Diversity and Inclusion Efforts at SVMC

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Southwestern Vermont Health Care's (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobsona weekly interactive, multiplatform medical-themed talk showwill feature Dr. Lisa Downing-Forget, a physician at SVMC Internal Medicine and Rebecca Filson, FNP, a hospital medicine provider (right), on its July 14 program.

The show will air live at 12 p.m. Both guests are involved in diversity and inclusion programs at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) .

The show is produced with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV). Viewers can see Medical Matters Weekly on Facebook at facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and facebook.com/CATTVBennington . The show is also available to view or download a podcast on www.svhealthcare.org/medicalmatters

Dr. Downing-Forget specializes in geriatrics. She earned a bachelor's in Human Development & Family Studies from Cornell University in New York and holds a master's in Public Health with a focus in sociocultural aspects of health from the University of California Los Angeles. She earned her medical degree from Charles Drew University of the University of California Los Angeles and completed a family medicine residency and fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of Rochester in New York. In addition, Dr. Downing-Forget holds a Certificate in Medical Direction (CMD). She is board certified in geriatrics and family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Ms. Filson earned a bachelor's in sociology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of San Diego in California. She earned her post-master's family nurse practitioner certificate from the University of Massachusetts and is board certified by the ANCC. She is a past chairperson of the Professional Practice Council, Critical Care Consortium liaison and Nursing Strategic Planning Committee. She is the founding member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and currently sits on the hospital Ethics Committee and Peer Support Team.

Both guest are members of SVMC's Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

After the program, the video will be available on area public access television stations. On CAT-TV, viewers will find the show on channel 1075 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Monday, 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 a.m. Friday, and 7 p.m. Saturday. GNAT-TV's Comcast channel 1074 airs the program at 8 a.m. Monday, 9 p.m. Wednesday, and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Upcoming guests include:

12 p.m. Wednesday, July 21: Rosalind Case, PhD, of Monash University in Australia, about the psychological aspects of healthcare choices.

12 p.m. Wednesday, July 28: Kelsey Dueland, of the Project Against Violent Encounters in Bennington, will share local resources for those attempting to escape threats in the home.

12 p.m. Wednesday, August 4: Alya Reeve, MD, medical director of United Counseling Service in Bennington, will discuss the most pressing mental health needs in our community.

12 p.m. Wednesday, August 11: Art Groux, executive director of the Bennington Rescue Squad, will discuss the Rescue Squad and its work in our community.
Sluice gates of several reservoirs in Sri Lanka opened due to heavy rains

July 12,2021 | Source: ColomboPage News Desk

The Disaster Management Center in Colombo, Sri Lanka, states that about 12,000 people from nearly 3,000 families have been affected by the heavy rains. There are nearly 300 people in 8 welfare centers.



One person has died due to the adverse weather, which has affected about 50 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 8 districts. Several houses were also damaged. The Army as well as the Navy are involved in providing relief to the flood -affected.



Illegal land reclamation in the Galle District has caused many crises. As a result, receding of floodwaters is delayed. The city of Galle in the vicinity of Baddegama shows an increase in this situation. The flood situation in Neluwa has eased in a short period of time. However, Thawalama, Nagoda, Welivitiya, Divithura and Baddegama areas continue to be flooded. Many lowland plantations have also been destroyed.



Meanwhile, sluice gates of Ihala Kotmale and Maussakelle reservoirs have been opened due to heavy rains. Reservoir engineers say that two sluice gates in Maussakelle and one in Kotmale have been opened.



Also, two sluice gates of the Polgolla reservoir were opened this morning. Due to this, the people who use the Mahaweli River up to the lower Victoria Reservoir should be vigilant, the Irrigation department advised.



One sluice gate was also opened in the Kekule Ganga reservoir.



A large Neem (Kohomba) tree has fallen on a row of houses in the Nallathanniya Laxapana Estate, damaging several houses.



The minor flood situation along the Kelani Gin Nilwala River has receded, while the water level in the lower reaches of the Kuda River, a tributary of the Kalu River, has risen. As a result, the low lying areas around Bulathsinhala have been inundated.



Meanwhile, Meteorology Department forecast said showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about 50 mm can be expected at some places in these areas.



Several spells of showers will occur in Western and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.



Strong gusty winds up to 60 kmph are likely at times over western slope of the Central hills and gusty winds up to 50 kmph at times are likely in Northern, North-Central, North-Western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.



The sea areas extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Galle and Hambantota will be very rough. The sea areas extending from Trincomalee to Mannar via Kankasanthurai can be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island can be fairly rough at times.



Naval and fishing communities are requested to be vigilant in this regard.

 2000, 2020 by LankaPage.com (LLC)

Theme(s): Others.
30 arrested for fishing illegally in Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake

by Yin Soeum

July 12,2021 | Source: Khmer Times

The fisheries authorities in Cambodia's Pursat province who went on their enforcement operations down at the Tonle Sap lake arrested 30 men red-handed for illegal fishing yesterday.



Provincial Fisheries Department director Phum Vimol said that the arrest and seizure of 10 boats were made with the cooperation and support of the police in Krakor district.



They also seized fishing nets, 1,020 fishing poles and the 10 kilogrammes of fish that were confiscated were released into the lake.



This is the closed fishing season in Tonle Sap lake. These men were fishing illegally, he added.



On June 26, the Ministry of Agriculture had directed the relevant authorities in Pursat province to be vigilant on illegal fishing in Tonle Sap lake and take stern action against those caught doing so.



Minister Veng Sokhon had even voiced his unhappiness over video evidence of fishermen encroaching into protected areas located in Pursat provinces Kandieng district.



A fisherman in Krakor district Mao Chan said the local authorities should rope them in so that they can also help them prevent illegal fishing in protected areas.



It is because of these illegal fishing activities, that the legal fishermen have very little catch. It is sad that the lake now has very few fish for us to catch because of these unscrupulous men, he added.



On Saturday, police detained 19 Vietnamese, including two women in Pursat province, for using illegal equipment in a protected area in Koh Ka Ek village in Kandieng districts Raingtoel commune, said Pursat province programme coordinator for the Fisheries Action Coalition Team, Minh Bunly yesterday.



The authorities also seized illegal fishing equipment including two 1,000 metre long freshwater fishing nets, eight boats fitted with large engines, and 115kg of fish.



Bunly has called on the government to take stern action against those who fish illegally as it was becoming rampant.



While the relevant authorities are fighting hard to contain illegal fishing, there must also be action taken against these people that will deter others from doing it, he said, adding that from his observation, most of the offences are done by the rich and powerful and not the locals.



Krakor district police chief Colonel Liv Seng Him said they have destroyed all seized equipment at the site and appealed to people not to fish illegally to avoid legal action and losing their equipment.

 2021 Virtus Media Pte., Ltd. (Khmer Times)

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
EU super trawler plundering UK waters is shadowed through environmental zone

by CIARAN MCGRATH

July 12,2021 | Source: Express

A massive, Dutch-flagged super trawler plundering UK waters has been shadowed through a designated environmental zone to prevent it from hoovering up fish stocks by a group of environmentalists.



But Greenpeace has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to do more, by banning such vessels from all marine protected areas (MPAs) in line with his pre-Brexit pledges. The environmental pressure groups Operation Ocean Witness patrol boat kept tabs on the Willem van der Zwan as it passed through the Offshore Overfalls Marine Protected Area (MPA) off the Sussex coast.



Greenpeaces boat displayed a banner proclaiming This is a marine protected area.



Fiona Nicholls, a Greenpeace UK oceans campaigner, said: Supertrawlers like the Willem van der Zwan spend thousands of hours each year fishing inside our protected areas at sea.



They endanger the health of our oceans, remove unimaginably vast quantities of fish from the ecosystem, and destroy the livelihoods of local fishers all around the UK.



She added: The Willem has absolutely no place fishing in the UKs protected areas.



Despite our patrol boat being a fraction of the size of this giant supertrawler, we are resolute about protecting these waters.



Our government needs to deliver on its Brexit commitment to level up ocean protection, and ban supertrawlers from all UK protected areas.



This would make Britain a world leader in marine protection, but if our government refuses to turn its rhetoric into action, we will continue to do all we can to protect our oceans.



At 142.5 metres in length, the Willem van der Zwan is one of the largest fishing vessels in the world, and has consistently fished in UK protected areas.



In 2019, it spent 437 hours fishing in UK MPAs, 28 hours of which was spent fishing in the Offshore Overfalls protected area.



Supertrawlers are pelagic factory trawlers measuring in excess of 100 metres.



None of the supertrawlers seen fishing in the UKs protected areas are UK owned - most either belong to companies in EU countries or Russia.



They are able to catch hundreds of tonnes of fish every day, and can stay at sea for long periods of time because of their onboard freezer processing facilities.



Greenpeace argues that the intensity with which supertrawlers fish impacts the wider marine ecosystem, even though supertrawlers do not actually damage the seabed.



Supertrawler operations in the UKs protected areas rose significantly every year between 2017 and 2019.



In 2017, they spent just 475 hours fishing in UK protected areas - but by 2019, that number had rocketed to 2963 hours, and with no legal enforcement in place, there is nothing to stop them.



Polling for Greenpeace by YouGov has found that 4 out of 5 UK adults want supertrawlers banned from UK protected areas.



In 2020, over 80 MPs from every political party wrote to the Environment Secretary, George Eustice, calling on him to ban supertrawlers from protected areas.



At the time one of them, Tory MP for North Thanet Roger Gale, told Express.co.uk: "We have this absurd situation where we have these protected zones around our coast but we are not protecting them from the predations of supertrawlers.



"It's as simple as that - there is no point having protected zones if you don't protect them.



"These things are huge, massive - they are hoovers.



Speaking to Andrew Marr in January, Boris Johnson hinted at a possible ban, saying the UK will be able to ban these huge hoover trawlers after Brexit - but this has not happened thus far.



Speaking to Express.co.uk last month, a Defra spokeswoman said: The UK is a global leader in the protection of our seas, with our Blue Belt of Marine Protected Areas extending across 38 percent of UK waters.



We are committed to achieving a healthy and sustainable marine environment. Now we have left the EU, the Marine Management Organisation is consulting on additional safeguards for four of our precious Marine Protected Areas, including banning activities that harm wildlife or damage habitats.

 2021 Express Newspapers

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
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Georgian journalist Alexander Lashakarava was found dead at his home on 11 July 2021, a week after he was severely beaten during the Pride march in Tbilisi. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) express their deepest condolences to Alexanders family and call on the Georgian authorities to launch a transparent and thorough investigation.

Alexander Lashakarava (37), a cameraman for independent TV station Pirveli, was one of the journalists assaulted by a violent mob of anti LGBTQI+ protesters while reporting from the Pride march in Tbilisi on 5 July. He sustained fractures to his facial bones. According to local media reports, he was treated at the medical center for four days.

The Pride events were marked by extreme violence leading to its cancelation over safety fears as anti-LGBTQI+ protesters attacked activists and media workers. More than 50 journalists were harassed, beaten and their equipment was stolen and damaged. Civil society organisations, including the IFJ and EFJ, denounced the failure of the police to protect journalists performing their duties.

Yesterday, thousands rallied outside the Parliament and the office of ruling party Georgian Dream to call for the Prime Minister and interior minister to resign over Lashkaravas death.

In a statement, the Ministry of Interior said it launched an investigation on the fact of unlawful interference with the journalists professional activities under the threats of violence, persecution under violence, or threat of violence and group violence and detained four individuals. One person was charged this morning.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "We are appalled by the death of our colleague Alexander Lashakarava. We urge the Georgian authorities to identify and prosecute all the aggressors but also to recognise and act on its responsibilities for failing to guarantee media workers' safety while doing their job. We send our deepest condolences to Alexander's family and friends".

EFJ director Renate Schroder said: We are deeply saddened by Alexanders death. No one should have been assaulted for their sexual orientation or for doing their job. The authorities must send a strong signal by conducting a transparent and prompt investigation.
A downside of the CDC's May announcement, in which it declared face masks optional for vaccinated individuals. The coverings, which had previously conferred safety for many wearers, now serves to divide them--and that's likely taking a toll on your masked employees' mental health.

Requiring employees to wear masks is, in many cases, the right thing to do health-wise. For those in certain industries like health care wearing a mask is required, according to the latest guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a federal agency that oversees workplace health and safety. Out of an abundance of caution, however, many employers--particularly those in service industries like retail, meatpacking, and hospitality--also require their vaccinated frontline workers to don masks. Meanwhile, many white-collar workplaces have made wearing masks optional for vaccinated workers.

The different policies make sense. Roughly half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. But the new, more contagious Delta variant of the virus is quickly sweeping across many states, including Maryland and Florida. So it's crucial to protect those who work public-facing jobs, when it isn't clear who is and isn't vaccinated.

Still, mask wearing has become another visual reminder of the stark differences between the haves and the have-nots. "It sends a message--one that's been internalized on both sides--that the body of the mask wearer is 'riskier' than the body of the consumer," Erin Vearncombe, a sociology professor at the University of Toronto who studies dress codes, told The New York Times. "It shows that certain groups have, and even deserve, more civil liberties than others."

But employees don't have to feel this way. Wearing a mask or not wearing one doesn't have to be stigmatizing, says Denise Rousseau, professor of organizational behavior and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College. "If someone feels ostracized for wearing a mask, it's an emotional problem of the employee, which often stems from tension in the workplace."
Animation is a $250 billion a year industry that, despite its heavy use of technology, has remained surprisingly hidebound when developing their core product: Branded character-based intellectual property.

A Disney movie, for example, typically takes years to make and, though the studio exposes character brands to test audiences, the content sometimes falls flat. (Anyone remember "Treasure Planet"?) Similarly, an animated television series typically takes many months to develop, but it's not until the first season is distributed that the studio knows whether the character will capture an audience.

In addition to development costs, launching a new character brand entails a significant marketing investment, to ensure all that development investment isn't in vain. The upfront costs are the reason so many animated properties are built upon preexisting intellectual property (think "Duck Tails" or "Lower Decks"), while truly original programming, like "Rick and Morty," remains relatively rare.

Enter social media.

You'd think that YouTube would change that equation, making it possible to bypass the expense of marketing and distribution. But you'd be wrong.

While some animated character brands have been launched on YouTube ("Baman and Piderman" comes to mind), YouTube is designed around a "shows on channels" model, a packaging concept that's almost a century old.

By contrast, newer social media products, like TikTok and Instagram, are personality-centric. Because they ask the audience to track an individual's life through pictures and video, they are uniquely suited for the development and testing of animated character brands.

BuzzFeed's Animation Lab is a case in point. Over the past four years, the lab has test-launched over 30 branded characters on Instagram and has expanded into TikTok, winnowing them down to four genuine hits: Weird Helga (@weirdhelga), the Good Advice Cupcake (@thegoodadvicecupcake), the Land of Boggs (@TheLandofBoggs), and Chikn Nuggit (@chikn.nuggit).

The Lab's four branded characters have more than 17 million followers, with many of their TikTok shorts receiving millions of views. The lab's newest, @chikn.nuggit, launched solely on TikTok, and has amazingly achieved two million followers in less than nine months. "Our animations are getting larger TikTok numbers than any other BuzzFeed content," says executive producer Jun Zee Myers.

Creating the business case.

Myers, who oversees the Lab, is an industry veteran who got her start in animation working in commercials and television and then moved into visual and special effects, working on top-tier properties like Game of Thrones, X-Men: First Class, and the Planet of the Apes movies.

According to Myers, there are four reasons why test-bedding character content on social media is cheaper and more effective than the traditional process:

Minimal upfront costs. Creating a handful of 10-second short videos (i.e. enough to test a character's appeal) takes a tiny fraction of the time and money required to develop a tradition pilot. Early-stage revenue. Rather than waiting years for a payoff, an animator can earn money from the get-go with branded merchandise like stickers, books, and calendars, as well as branded content partnerships and sponsorships. Instant audience testing. The team can tell within a few weeks whether a character has enough appeal to capture a targeted demographic, and then tune the content (based on responses) to have greater appeal. IP ownership. Rather than building on existing intellectual property for which the Lab would need to pay licensing fees, the Lab can develop its own intellectual property, which can generate licensing revenue.

The value of community.

While YouTube (for example) treats comments as an afterthought. TikTok and Instagram encourage community interaction, not only between followers, but between followers and the characters themselves. In TikTok, for example, an audience member can create and post a split screen, with themselves on one side and the original video on the other.

Followers can also chat with and interact with the characters (i.e. the writer speaking in the character's voice) inside the comments. The environment encourages followers to become "invested in the account," as it's called in TikTok culture.

Thus, when Myers and her team pitch their characters to, say, Netflix, they enter the meeting armed with content that has already earned millions of super fans, who can be counted upon to become consumers of the longer-format content and evangelize to their online and real-world peer groups. This vastly reduces and even eliminates the risk of market failure before the studio makes a large upfront investment.
Love Islands first contestants have been evicted from the villa.

Wednesday (14 July) nights episode saw Brad McClelland leave the villa after he and Lucinda Strafford were voted the least compatible couple by the public.

The pair could either exit together or have one of them stay, with Brad allowing Lucinda to remain on the show as he had been in since day one.

On his exit, the labourer said that he really didnt know whether hed wait for Lucinda on the outside.

My gut instinct would be to wait it out, see where its at and continue on, just to see if it was a good thing. It started off more than well. It was unreal. It would be sad not to see how it would go on the outside, he said.

Brad is the fourth islander to leave in what has already been an explosive series.

In the opening week of the series last month, Shannon Singh became the first islander to be dumped from the series after late entry Chloe Burrows entered the villa and went on a date with all five male contestants, including Hugo, Jake, Brad, Toby and Aaron.

A dramatic re-coupling saw Chloe choose Aaron, leaving his former partner Shannon without anyone to couple up with and therefore booted from the villa.

Shannon was the earliest contestant to ever be sent home from the show, leaving after only 48 hours in the villa. Contestants are typically dumped from the island around day five or six.

Second to leave the show was Chuggs Wallis, just two days after he arrived in the villa as a late addition.

His exit came after bombshell Rachel Finni had to choose whether she wanted to recouple with Chuggs or Brad.

She then chose Brad, leaving Chuggs single and dumped from the island.

Mondays episode (12 July) saw Rachel then become the third islander to be dumped from the ITV series after newcomer Teddy Soares chose to couple up with Faye, leaving Rachel without a partner.

Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2
Supervet star Noel Fitzpatrick has opened up about how his mental health suffered when he was accused of professional malpractice.

The Irish TV presenter and veterinary surgeon  whose clients have included Meghan Markle and Russell Brand  faced the accusation after fitting three bionic limbs to a tortoise named Hermes, to replace those that had been chewed off by rats as it was hibernating.

However, Hermes died around two months later, at the end of 2018, which Fitzpatrick said was from a suspected gastroenteric issue.

The tortoises death prompted a number of vets to complain to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Fitzpatrick was eventually cleared of any malpractice.

I was suicidal, he told Lauren Laverne on Desert Island Discs. Thats the nuts and bolts of it.

He said he had no acrimony against the vets who complained about him because they are trying to do the right thing.

But in this case they felt I didnt look after the ethical welfare of Hermes enough and they wouldnt have done it. They would not have offered this option to Hermes, he said.

Fitzpatrick said he had been supported during that time by his girlfriend and their own pets.

Among Fitzpatricks song choices on Desert Island Discs were One by U2, Love of My Life by Queen, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin and Do Anything You Want To by Thin Lizzy.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A dried-out floodplain in Place County  just north of Sacramento, California  was in perfect condition to fuel wildfires. It was 2014, and California was in the midst of its worst drought in decades. The floodplain was full of dry brush and devoid of moisture. Fire prevention and ecological workers in the state were desperately working to mitigate potential wildfire fuel sources anywhere they could. Ecologists  facing a dangerously dry floodplain and a price tag of $1m to $2m for a major construction project to fix the site  did something surprising. They called in the beavers.

Thanks to the introduction of the industrious, flat-tailed mammals, the site was restored to a vibrant, marshy floodplain four years earlier than anyone anticipated, and with a significantly cheaper price tag.

The Sacramento Bee spoke with researchers involved in the furry gambit to protect the state and revitalise the land.

Lynnette Batt, the conservation director of the Placer Land Trust, which owns and maintains the land where the floodplain is located, told The Sacramento Bee that she was amazed by the "awesome" success of the project.

"It went from dry grassland ... to totally revegetated, tress popping up, willows, wetland plants of all types, different meandering stream channels across about 60 acres of floodplain," Ms Batt said.

Ultimately the Doty Ravine project only cost $58,000, which was used to prepare the land for the beavers to come in and do what they do.

Damon Ciotti, a US Fish and Wildlife Service restoration biologist who led the project, estimated that the beavers would take about a decade to return the dried out land to streams in the region, but the critters blew away his expectations. By year three, water was back in the floodplain.

The success of the project has spun off a number of other projects using beavers for land revitalisation throughout California.

Ms Batt said that federal programmes were beginning to take notice and offer training on how to use beavers for wildfire mitigation, and indicated that universities and nonprofit programmes were also interested.

Beavers have essentially evolved to be the engineers of nature, transforming their landscape to suit their needs and to protect them from predators.

Emily Fairfax, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Resource Management at California State University Channel Island, told The Sacramento Bee that beavers are like "a chicken nugget walking through the landscape for predators."

She said that beavers, despite being fat animals that are generally slow on land, are quick in the water and use dams to divert streams to create ponds and wetlands where they can better survive.

Beavers were prevalent throughout North America, though their population was driven down until the early 1900s as they were heavily hunted for their pelts.

Once the desire for beaver hats and coats waned, the population began to rebound. There are between 15 and 25 million beavers in North America today.
The record-breaking heatwave in the US northwest and Canada is causing whats thought to be the biggest glacier melt in Washington state in a century.

Milky, sandy water has been reported running into Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists say it could be rocks and minerals from melting glaciers.

The heatwave, with temperatures of nearly 50C (122F), is believed to have killed hundreds of people since last week in western Canada, along with the US states of Oregon and Washington.

The extreme heatwave is caused by a heat dome of high pressure over the region, which is being made more intense by the human-driven climate crisis.

University of Washington assistant research professor of glaciers and climate TJ Fudge told the states Komo News the extreme conditions were also causing the biggest glacier melt in the state in about 100 years.

Snow and ice on Washingtons iconic Mount Rainier the most glaciated peak in the contiguous USA  is likewise melting.

Scott Pattee, of the Washington Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting, said: Now were melting into glaciers and so probably that is whats causing the milky waters down below.

It is a big deal, I mean weve been losing glaciers a lot lately due to climate change or whatever it is - but to have them go this rapidly is really quite scary.

Mr Pattee said Paradise, an area on the western slope of Mt Rainier, lost nearly 3ft of snow in just five days.

The melting, which comes months after heavy winter snow, raises the risk of fires by exposing surface vegetation, experts say.

In my 30 years here in Washington doing this job, I dont recall ever seeing this rapid of a melt when we have a lot of snow, Mr Pattee told Kiro7.

Ive seen this amount of snow when weve had low pack years. But when we have this much snow? No. I think this is definitely unprecedented. Were going to set a lot of records.

Authorities in British Columbia recorded at least 486 sudden and unexpected deaths between Saturday and Wednesday.

Another 60 fatalities in Oregon have been linked to the heat and more than a dozen in Washington.
Boris Johnson had hoped that announcing the end of Englands Covid curbs would be a moment of triumph; a chance to herald the glorious day lockdown is lifted forever and life can get back to normal.

But instead, our usually care-free prime minister appears fretful. Officials at Downing Street are anxious about the risks which lie ahead once controls end on 19 July. There is no talk of freedom day inside No 10.

The prime minister claimed only last week that the link between coronavirus infections and hospitalisations had been severed. But the governments modelling shows the number of seriously ill people in hospital from Covid is set to soar again this summer.
Malala Yousafzai loves her mums cooking, laughs at her own jokes, spent too much time on social media during lockdown and is always leaving assignments to the last minute.

She is also friends with Greta Thunberg, has earned high praise from Apples Tim Cook and Michelle Obama, and was star-struck by Brad Pitt.

These are just some of the things she shared in her new interview with British Vogue for the magazines July issue.

Malala, 23, was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman when she was 15 after campaigning for girls in her native country, Pakistan, to have equal rights to education.

At 17, she became the youngest Nobel laureate, receiving the prize for her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

Now, eight years on, she has completed her university education and  like many other graduates  is unsure of her next steps, she tells the publication. Heres everything else we learnt from the interview:

Her days in lockdown looked very similar to ours

Malala was among the class of university students who graduated during the pandemic. In March 2020, she moved back to Birmingham to complete her final year at Oxford University from her parents home.

In the months since, she has spent a lot of her time playing the online game Among Us, eating her mums lamb curry, reading, and doom-scrolling on social media.

Her headscarf does not mean she is oppressed

Her headscarf, which she mostly wears when outside in public, is more than just a symbol of her Muslim faith.

Its a cultural symbol for us Pashtuns, so it represents where I come from. And Muslim girls or Pashtun girls or Pakistani girls, when we follow our traditional dress, were considered to be oppressed, or voiceless, or living under patriarchy.

I want to tell everyone that you can have your own voice within your culture, and you can have equality in your culture, she said.

Her go-to McDonalds order

Malala finally got some time for herself at university, to play poker with her friends and go to McDonalds, where her go-to order is a sweet chilli chicken wrap and a caramel frappe.

I was excited about literally anything. I was enjoying each and every moment because I had not seen that much before.

I had never really been in the company of people my own age because I was recovering from the incident [the Talibans attempt on her life], and travelling around the world, publishing a book and doing a documentary, and so many things were happening. At university I finally got some time for myself, she said.

She leaves her assignments to the last minute

Despite being an A* grade student at school and earning a spot at the UKs most prestigious university, Malala is no stranger to leaving assignments to the last minute, vowing to never do it again, only to find herself in the same situation the following week.

Every week! I would be so annoyed with myself, like, Why am I sitting here at 2am, writing this essay? Why havent I done any reading? she said.

She doesnt understand why people get married

Her parents, who had an arranged marriage in Pakistan, would like Malala to get married one day, but she isnt sure how she feels about it.

I still dont understand why people have to get married. If you want to have a person in your life, why do you have to sign marriage papers, why cant it just be a partnership? she said.

She had a secret Twitter account

Since joining Twitter in 2012, Malala has amassed 1.8 million followers. But prior to joining, she had a secret account on the platform for a year. She also has a private Instagram, where she mostly posts pictures of the sky.

She loves comedy

Earlier this year, Malala announced that her new production company, Extracurricular, had entered a multi-year partnership with Apple TV+.

Alongside documentaries on issues such as girls education and womens rights, she wants to make comedies. Her personal favourites are Ted Lasso and Rick and Morty.

I want these shows to be entertaining and the sort of thing I would watch. If I dont laugh at them or enjoy them, I wont put them on-screen.

She added: I come from a different background, and I also wonder, if a woman from a valley in Pakistan had made South Park, what would that look like?

She earned high praise from Tim Cook and Michelle Obama

Apples CEO Tim Cook, who first met Malala in Oxford in 2017, said he doesnt believe there is anyone quite like her.

She has a lifetime of experience in 23 years. She has the story of her life, all of her accomplishments, and shes focused on making a difference in the world. She has a North Star, which always impresses me about people. And despite all of this success, shes humble and really down to earth and just a joy to spend time with. Shes amazing, he said.

Michelle Obama, who met Malala while serving as the US First Lady, described her as truly extraordinary.

Barack and I first met Malala when she visited the White House in 2013, and right away, it was clear she belonged in a room with the President of the United States. Her poise, her wisdom and her earnest belief in the power of every girl  it all couldnt have been clearer from that very first meeting, she said.

Greta Thunberg texts her for advice

Malala is friends with other notable young activists, including Greta Thunberg, 18, and gun control campaigner Emma Gonzalez, 21. As the oldest of the trio, she is always on hand when they need advice.

I know the power that a young girl carries in her heart when she has a vision and a mission, she said.
Phoebe Philo has announced she is launching her own fashion brand.

The famously low-profile designer will be the majority owner of her own clothing and accessories label rooted in exceptional quality and design, while her former employer LVMH will have a minority stake.

In a brief statement shared with The Business of Fashion, the former Chloe designer said: Being in my studio and making once again has been both exciting and incredibly fulfilling.

I am very much looking forward to being back in touch with my audience and people everywhere.

To be independent, to govern and experiment on my own terms is hugely significant to me.

The news comes after ongoing speculation about the venerated designers next move after she left her role as artistic director of French fashion house Celine in 2017.

Her successful reinvention of the Parisian label established in 1945 was a global hit, with sophisticated, minimalist pieces proving popular with celebrities such as Kanye West.

Philo did not confirm a release date for the Phoebe Philo Studio collection, teasing that more details would follow in January 2022.

It is thought the brand will be based in London, where the 48-year-old Brit lives with her family.

She added that her working relationship with LVMH had been constructive and creative, stating that their collaboration on her new project would be natural progression.

Elsewhere, LVMH chairman and chief executive Bernard Arnault described Philo as one of the most talented designers of our time.

He added: I am very happy to partner with Phoebe on her entrepreneurial adventure and wish her great success.

As well as casting older models in her shows  including recruiting the-then 80-year-old author Joan Didion to star in a Celine advertising campaign  Philo has long been hailed as a pioneering designer for women keen to escape the patriarchal clutches of fashion.

Philo was also the first high-profile female designer at a major fashion brand to take maternity leave, evidencing the importance of a work/life balance.

Speaking to the Telegraph in 2012, she stated that she was disciplined about keeping strict working hours.

Were just organised, she said.

Everybody in this building knows when I arrive and when I leave and the important things are done within those hours. Thats just the way it is.
Bitcoin continues to trade within a relatively narrow band on Friday, despite a price slide in recent days.

The cryptocurrency dropped from above $34,000 at the start of the week to below $32,000, remaining within the $30,000 to $36,000 region that it has sat throughout July.

The broader crypto market is largely stable, with no major moves in either direction over the last 24 hours. Ethereum (ether) is down 3 per cent, while Binance Coin is up 1 per cent since Thursday, according to CoinMarketCaps price index.

Analysts predict a big move could be on its way, pointing to several market indicators that suggest a short term break out within the next couple of days.

In other news, Twitter boss Jack Dorsey has announced a new company aimed at decentralised finance and focussing on bitcoin.

You can follow all the latest news, analysis and expert price predictions right here.
Elon Musk called a lawyer a bad human being as he appeared in court to defend Tesla in a lawsuit over his companys 2016 purchase of SolarCity.

The billionaire entrepreneur was a witness in a shareholder lawsuit that claims the deal for the solar panel company did not deliver the profits the Tesla CEO had promised.

I think you are a bad human being, Mr Musk told Randall Baron, a lawyer for shareholders, who asked him to acknowledge his mistakes in doing the all-stock deal.

And he later added: I have great respect for the court, but not for you, sir.

The lawsuit claims that Mr Musk, who was the largest shareholder in SolarCity and its chairman, and other Tesla directors breached their fiduciary duties in agreeing to let him buy the whole company.

Solar City was founded by Mr Musk and his two cousins, Lyndon and Peter Rive, and the lawsuit claims this was a conflict of interest.

During Mr Musks appearance in the Delaware Court of Chancery on Monday, Mr Baron said that the business mogul runs his electric vehicle company without any interference and is responsible for its failures.

The lawyer made his point by showing a video in which Mr Musk said he wanted to run his own companies so he did not have to do anything he did not want to.

And he also played clips from the pair clashing during a deposition, to suggest that Mr Musk does not like criticism.

I dont want to be the boss of anything, Mr Musk told the court during his appearance.

I prefer to spend my time on design and engineering.

And he insisted that he actually welcomed criticism of his work.

If Im mistaken I view critical feedback as a gift, he said.

Mr Baron also pointed out that Mr Musk had called himself the Technoking of Tesla and gave his chief financial officer the title master of coin in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to demonstrate his leadership style.

I think Im funny, Mr Musk, who hosted Saturday Night Live earlier this year, told the court.

And he added that his style was beneficial for Tesla and his other companies.

If were entertaining, people will write stories about us, and the company can save on advertising, he said.

Last year a judge approved a $60m settlement, without any admission of fault, to resolve claims against all the directors on Teslas board, except Mr Musk.

He has refused to settle the case, which was delayed from last March by the pandemic, and is the sole defendant.
Boris Johnsons government has been accused of protecting extremists who spout hate speech on campus by enabling them to sue universities and student groups.

Academics or visiting speakers will be able to seek compensation through the courts under the governments controversial legislative plan to expand freedom of speech.

Labour said the plan would give free rein to Holocaust deniers, anti-vaxxers and other extremists by allowing them to spread their harmful and divisive ideas at universities and colleges across England.

Sir Keir Starmers party, which has described the bill as troubling and dangerous, failed on Monday evening to block its passage through parliament, with MPs rejecting an amendment that would have denied it a second reading by 367 to 216.

Speaking in the Commons before the vote, Labours shadow education secretary Kate Green said: The whole House should object to a bill that amounts to legal protection for hate speech.

Ms Green said the right to freedom of expression was already enshrined in law, adding: Because of this bill, a group spreading division and hatred on university campuses wont just be legally protected  theyd be able to sue a university or student union.

The Labour MP said she worried that harmful conspiracy theorists, such as anti-vaxxers, would be protected to speak at universities by the proposed law.

Under the governments plans, the Office for Students, the higher education regulator in England, would have the power to impose fines if any institution breached a condition to defend freedom of speech.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson denied that Holocaust deniers would be protected by the new law  insisting it would not override existing laws banning hate speech. This bill will not, and never will, create a platform for holocaust deniers, the minister told MPs.

The education secretary claimed the government wanted to tackled a growing intolerance across Englands campuses which was thwarting academics desire to freely and fiercely seek out the truth.

Mr Williamson even suggested Charles Darwin  the legendary naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection  might struggle to get his ideas heard at Englands universities today.

Wouldnt it be a tragedy if Darwin had not felt he had the freedom to be able to challenge established thinking? We have to remember, there are those Darwins out there who will challenge the consensus.

Senior Tories claimed the government was involved in a battle for Britain in attempting to tackle modern McCarthyism, as they lined up to support the legislation.

Senior backbencher David Davis said: Today there is a terrible outbreak of intolerance in modern society, the so-called culture wars, which remind me of nothing so much as McCarthyism in the United States  this is like the early stages of a totalitarian repression.

But Labour said there were only a very small number of events cancelled at universities, amid claims of an worrying cancel culture on campus.

Ms Green said figures from the Office for Students showed that only six out of roughly 10,000 events at colleges and universities with external speakers had been cancelled last year.
As many in Egypt and Sudan like to call it, the forever negotiations with Ethiopia dont seem close to an end. And as the water levels continue to rise slowly behind the retaining walls of the massive Ethiopian dam on the Blue Nile, the frustration among officials in the two downstream capitals increases.

It has been ten years since Addis Ababa initiated the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam megaproject, also known as GERD. The negotiations between the three countries started shortly after. Now, the endless rounds of talks stand at a deadlock.

Africas largest hydroelectric power project has been, since, a source of conflict. Ethiopia says the dam is essential to generate electricity and improve the lives of its 115 million inhabitants - many of them live in darkness. Egypt fears the dams effect on its 55.5 billion cubic meters share of water from the Blue Nile, while Sudan has concerns over regulating the water flow to its dams.

The large $4.8 billion dam straddles the riverbed a few miles before Sudans border. Once the reservoir is full, it will create an artificial lake of 74 billion cubic meters of water - bigger than Greater London. The water pressure is meant to power 16 turbines, from which Ethiopia plans to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity.

Ethiopia started the first stage of filling the dam in 2020. Last week, the government announced the beginning of the second stage, which infuriated Cairo and Khartoum, who want to reach a legally binding agreement on filling and operating the dam first before proceeding with the second filling. Ethiopias prime minister Abiy Ahmed, who sought to win a second term in the June general election, said his country would dash forward and fill the dam without signing the agreement.

Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work on the river Nile in Guba Woreda (REUTERS)

There were angry exchanges around the crescent-shaped UN Security Council table on Thursday. Egypts foreign minister Sameh Shoukry warned, with an indignant voice, that if Egypts water rights and survival are threatened, it will be left with no alternative but to uphold and protect its inherent right to life that is guaranteed by the laws and customs of nations and the imperatives of nature. His Sudanese counterpart, Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, pointed at Ethiopias unilateral ability to threaten the security and safety of Sudanese citizens.

Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has warned in March that no one can take a single drop of water from Egypt, and whoever wants to try it, let them try.

Egypt and Sudan signed a military agreement in March following a visit by the Egyptian army commander to Khartoum. In June, the two countries sought to put pressure on Addis Ababa when they held the Guardians of the Nile large-scale military drills near its borders.

Later, they decided to take the dispute to the Security Council as they tried to find a way out of the current impasse. Ethiopia saw the decision as a move to scupper the year-long African Union mediation. Analysts say the Security Council move reveals the two countries are getting desperate.

Addis Ababa was determined to press ahead with the filling of the dam, whatever the Security Council says. Martin Plaut

The African Union is an inert organisation, Mohamed Nasr Allam, Egypts influential former irrigation and water resources minister, told The Independent. It is unable to press Ethiopia for concessions, and after all these months, it didnt issue a report explaining the reasons behind the deadlock. Thats why Egypt and Sudan decided to go to the Security Council.

So far, turning the standoff over the dam into an international dispute has proved to be an arduous mission. On Thursday, the UNSC members showed no inclination to play a central role in the negotiations and reiterated their backing of the African Unions efforts to reach a deal.

This is partly because Ethiopia swiftly faced the two downstream countries with an irreversible reality by starting the filling days before the councils meeting.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russias UN envoy, even issued an explicit warning to Egypt and Sudan against the escalation of confrontational rhetoric, stressing that his country only sees negotiations as the way forward.

Addis Ababa was determined to press ahead with the filling of the dam, whatever the Security Council says. When the meeting convened on Thursday, it was faced with a fait accompli, Martin Plaut, a fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in London, said.

Ethiopia says that filling the reservoir during the heavy rainfalls of July and August is an integral part of the dam construction and denies any intention to harm Egypt and Sudans interests.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed speaks at a final campaign rally at a stadium in the town of Jimma in the southwestern Oromia Region of Ethiopia (AP)

The council will not be able to do much as it is a divided house and has no history of dealing with water conflicts. China and Russias support for Ethiopia also takes away any possibility of three riparian countries taking any common position soon, Ashok Swain, professor of peace and conflict research at Uppsala University in Sweden, said.

Mr Allam bitterly recalls Nebenzias remarks as shocking for the Egyptian officials who had hoped for a more supportive position from Moscow, given the warm relations between the two countries.

But the US, officials in Egypt and Sudan think, is the only country capable of helping broker a final deal. In February last year, Ethiopia pulled out of a negotiation round in Washington organised by Trumps aides. In his last days in the White House, Trump declared that Egypt might blow up the dam, a statement that has sent shockwaves across all of Africa.

The deal was within the three countries grasp but stumbled over two main sticking points: The amount of water Ethiopia would be willing to release from the GERD dam in the case of the dry period, and the issue of dispute resolution, with Ethiopia rejecting the international arbitration that Egypt and Sudan have insisted upon, William Davison, a senior analyst on Ethiopia at the International Crisis Group, explained.

The Biden administration has appointed the veteran and renowned diplomat Jeffrey Feltman as a special envoy for the Horn of Africa. And, so far, Washington has maintained pressure on Mr Ahmeds government to withdraw from key positions in the ongoing civil war in the Northern Ethiopian Tigray province, where the Ethiopian army, backed by Eritrean forces, is widely understood to have carried out massacres against some of its six million civilians.

Ethiopian porters unload food aid bound for victims of war after a checkpoint leading to Tigray in Mai Tsebri town (REUTERS)

But on the GERD crisis, the Biden administration seems reluctant to use its weight and gravitas to exert enough pressure on any disputant.

Mr Allam went further to rebuff any talk about a US mediation. I even dont think there is a US mediation, he said with a grin. But Mr Allams mocking laughter hides a growing sense of unease. This feeling is stemmed from the grim reality that the deadlock means Egypt and Sudan are running out of diplomatic options.

Washington does not have an explicit Nile strategy, Mohammed Soliman, a non-resident scholar with the Middle East Institute in Washington, said. The USs main priority is simply to prevent any military escalation between the three counties that would jeopardise their 250 million combined population.

Any additional destabilisation of East Africa and the Horn of Africa is a red line for Washington since it would ultimately send shockwaves across the African continent and impact the security of the Red Sea, which is tied to US national security in Africa, he stressed.

Security in the region is already in dire shape. Besides the Tigray conflict, armed forces and militias from Ethiopia and Sudan have inched towards an all-out war over the al-Fashaga territorial disputed area earlier this year. This means Abiy Ahmed - who won the general election with a landslide victory according to official results declared over the weekend - is sitting on a powder keg of civil war, social instability, border disputes and an economy crashing under the Covid-19 wheels.

Against this bleak reality, all Ethiopians place their hopes on the GERD as a dream that can change their lives - powerful emotions on which Mr Ahmed seems determined to capitalise. By fuelling the rise of the nationalist drive behind the GERD project, Mr Ahmed thinks he might be able to unite a nation on the brink of total disintegration.

The conflict in Tigray and political instability, in general, make the government see the GERD as a useful rallying point for a divided country beset by challenges. That makes it especially unlikely Ethiopia will offer any concessions now they were not willing to concede before, Mr Davison said.

On the other side of the negotiation table, Egypts President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is facing a similar puzzle. In the south, Cairo, and the Nile Delta, people maintain a sharp belief that their government will protect the water flow on which they depend for survival.

Egypt and Sudan either have to activate their March military agreement and launch some kind of raid on the dam or accept Ethiopias unilateral solution to the regulation of the waters of the Blue Nile. It is difficult to see any alternative, Martin Plaut said.

At this time, though the military option is still less likely, it cant be ruled out, Ashok Swain noted.

But the prevailing sentiment in the Security Councils meeting may have well put any military preparations by Egypt and Sudan on the backburner.

Mr Allam says Egypt has no remaining option but to force a fait accompli, or it will lose the dispute and poses, it will lose its future.
The Louisville Metro Police Department may have pushed misinformation and lied about the existence of body-camera footage from several officers involved in the no-knock raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor last year, according to a lawsuit filed this week.

The lawsuit filed against Louisville police on Wednesday by an attorney representing Ms Taylors family says authorities are continuing to withhold records that show whether there is additional body-camera footage that could help shed more light about the night the 26-year-old Black woman was killed. The 10-page complaint submitted to Jefferson County Circuit Court and obtained by The Washington Post challenges the accounts of Louisville police and public officials whove maintained that body-camera footage of the fatal shooting does not exist, because the officers did not turn on their cameras or wear them at all.

There is a reasonable basis to believe that misinformation has been presented to the general public regarding the usage of body cameras by several members of the LMPD, the lawsuit states.

Neither officials with the Louisville Metro Police Department nor the mayors office immediately responded to requests for comment Saturday.

Sam Aguiar, an attorney representing Ms Taylors family, told The Post that the public deserved to know whether additional footage existed for a case in which three white plainclothes officers - Brett Hankison, Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly - fired 32 shots into Ms Taylors apartment on 13 March 2020, as part of an investigation of a suspected drug operation allegedly linked to her ex-boyfriend. Although Mr Hankison and Mr Cosgrove were fired and Mr Mattingly retired last month, no one has been charged directly for Ms Taylors death - an incident that helped spark racial justice demonstrations across the United States. Mr Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing bullets that penetrated an adjacent apartment, charges for which he has pleaded not guilty.

None of the officers are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Mr Aguiar, who requested in the lawsuit that a judge order the police department to release body-camera information under the states public records law, criticised Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat, for his administrations handling of a case that the attorney says has been plagued by deception, lies and coverups.

Theyve lied since day one and havent stopped, Mr Aguiar said in a statement to The Post. And theyre not being forthright and candid about body cameras. He told CNN, Breonnas family has a right to the records.

The lawsuit seeking body-camera footage comes months after the Justice Department announced it was opening a civil investigation of Louisville police to determine whether local authorities have engaged in systemic abuses and unlawful tactics with little accountability. The federal investigation is separate from an ongoing criminal civil rights probe into Ms Taylors death.

Louisville agreed to a $12 million (8.6 million) settlement with Ms Taylors family last year, which was reportedly among the largest payouts for a police killing in the countrys history. As part of the settlement, the city vowed to implement a number of changes in how local officers obtain and execute search warrants. An internal investigator later found that two police officers whose shots struck and killed Ms Taylor never should have fired their weapons - a conclusion that the forces upper brass partly rejected.

Although Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, and police have said body-camera footage of the incident does not exist, authorities did release video from officers taken at the scene after the fatal shooting.

The legal team for Ms Taylors family says officers involved in the no-knock raid had been issued Axon body cameras programmed to activate automatically in circumstances such as during and after the shooting. The lawsuit says that lights from police vehicles near Ms Taylors apartment could have triggered the department-owned body cameras to begin recording, and that most of the vehicles at the scene had their light bars activated.

Simply put, it would have been difficult for most of the LMPD members with body cameras ... to not have had their Axon body cameras activated at one point or another during the raid, the lawsuit says. Even those who may have left cameras in vehicles or other locations should have been activated to an event mode from a buffering mode, so long as the camera was within range of Signal unit.

The legal action came after Mr Aguiars request for information about footage last month went unanswered, the lawsuit says. The information requested would help figure out key details about the footage, such as the time of the recordings and identities of who accessed the footage, according to the lawsuit. That kind of information, the lawsuit says, should assist in verifying whether Metro has been truthful to the public regarding the existence of footage.

The plaintiffs, and the public, have an uncompromised right to know whether undisclosed body-camera footage exists, or otherwise previously existed, from LMPD Axon Cameras which relates to the events surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor, the complaint says.

Tamika Palmer, Ms Taylors mother, told ABC News that the lawsuit into potential footage is the latest avenue the family hopes will bring justice nearly 16 months after Ms Taylors death.

From day one, my goal has been to learn the truth about what happened to my daughter, Breonna Taylor, and to hold those accountable for her murder responsible, Ms Palmer said in a statement. I, along with my family and the public, have a right to know if additional body-camera footage exists and the information sought through this open records lawsuit will give us this information.

The Washington Post
A British soldier came crashing through the roof of a southern California home after his parachute failed to open during training.

Shocked locals rushed to call the emergency services when they saw him hurtling out of the sky in free-fall.

The parachutist had jumped from a plane at 15,000ft while part of a group training exercise conducted from nearby Camp Roberts, a California national guard base.

Imagine sitting at a home & a parachutist crashes through the roof. Rumour is that this is a British #SAS trooper on exercise in California. Hope they made him a cuppa. pic.twitter.com/kaGDHUrb5K  James Pierce (Drugtrain) (@InvisibleJim1) July 12, 2021

He smashed through the roof of a bungalow and landed, dazed but not seriously injured, in the kitchen. Images show him still attached to his harness, surrounded by roof tiles and other wreckage as he lay stunned on the floor.

Neighbour Rose Martin, a registered nurse, ran in to help him. I was in shock. Im like, what? she told a local TV station. I checked on him and his eyes were open but I wasnt sure if there were any injuries. I didnt want anyone to move him.

Its a miracle in my estimation, really. I mean, who lands like that without a parachute and lives? she added.

Fully conscious but in some pain, the soldier was taken to hospital and treated for moderate injuries.

The homeowners mother, Linda Sallady, said she was amazed that more damage wasnt done to the house considering he had smashed through the roof. Its mostly the ceiling, the sheetrock. He missed the counters, appliances, everything.

A statement from the Atascadero police department said: Investigation revealed that a parachute failed to fully deploy during manoeuvres by a group training at Camp Roberts. This was the only incident involved and all others participating in the jump landed safely at the designated landing field.

It also confirmed that occupants were not home during the accident, so no one else was hurt.
Health experts have reported seeing an increased number of young children and babies contracting a respiratory illness, as they warn the uptick could be due to coronavirus restrictions lifting.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a health advisory last month warning about the increase of children contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

RSV, which typically spikes during the winter months, can cause severe illness in children five years and younger and older adults.

Dr Claudette Poole, a paediatric infectious diseases physician at Childrens of Alabama, told NBC News that the virus was likely making up from the winter season, which was when most of the country was under stricter coronavirus restrictions.

My speculation is that because we suppressed its normal circulation time during the winter, its sort of making up for lost time now, Dr Poole said.

In most cases with RSV, the virus just causes mild symptoms similar to the common cold. But it can develop into severe bronchitis and pneumonia in young children and the elderly. Typically it kills about 500 children under the age of five each year.

RSV activity remained low between May 2020 and March 2021, but the CDC has reported that there has since been an uptick in cases since late March, according to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), a laboratory-based surveillance network.

Health experts said reduced circulation of RSV during the winter season might mean that infants and toddlers could have an increased risk of severe RSV symptoms since they did not experience normal levels of exposure to the virus compared to past seasons  referring to it as an immunity debt.

An immunity debt can happen when people who have not been exposed to normal levels of viruses and bacterias experience a surge in infections when coming in contact with a virus.

There werent as many children in daycare because many parents were out of work or working from home, Dr Sean McTigue, interim chief of the division of paediatric infectious diseases at University of Kentucky HealthCare, told NBC News.

The respiratory illness, like Covid-19, can spread through droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes.

The United States is not the only country experiencing a spike in RSV cases. New Zealand has also reported an increase in children falling ill with the respiratory virus.

The country has reported nearly 1,000 RSV cases in the past five weeks, according to the Institute of Environmental Science and Research.

In infants younger than six months, RSV can cause symptoms like irritability, poor feeding, and apnea. Older infants and young children can experience a decreased appetite before having a cough, fever, and wheezing.

In the health advisory, the CDC said the RSV spike deviated from a typical circulation pattern for the virus, so it was not possible for the agency to anticipate the spread, peak, or duration of viral activity.

Health experts have advised parents to closely monitor their children if they have an underlying health conditions given the current RSV spike.

Parents could also choose for their children to wear masks once school starts in the fall as an added barrier to protect against viruses like RSV.
The FDA was expected to issue a new warning about a rare autoimmune disorder developing in people after they received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, The Washington Post reports.

Guillain-Barre, the rare autoimmune disorder, causes the immune system to attack the nerves.

About 100 preliminary cases of Guillain-Barre have been detected in Americans after they received one of the more than 12.8 million Johnson & Johnson doses distributed, according to the publication. These cases occurred about two weeks following vaccination and largely impacted men over the age of 50.

One case that was reported through the federal monitoring system was a 57-year-old man from Delaware who had suffered a heart attack and stroke within the last four years. He died in early April after he was vaccinated and developed the rare autoimmune disorder.

Regulators said that cases were extremely rare, but it appeared to be three to five times higher among people who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine compared to the general population.

Typically the US records about 60 to 120 cases of Guillain-Barre per week, with about 3,000 to 6,000 people developing the rare disorder per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Biden administration was expected to issue a warning about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as early as Tuesday, according to the report.

The safety and well-being of the people who use our products is our number one priority, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement to The Independent.

We have been in discussions with the US Food and Drug Administration and other regulators about rare cases of the neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, that have been reported following vaccination with the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine. The chance of having this occur is very low, and the rate of reported cases exceeds the background rate by a small degree.

The company went on to state that it strongly support raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of rare events to ensure they can be quickly identified and effectively treated.

The FDA confirmed to The Independent that it would issue a warning.

Although the available evidence suggests an association between the Janssen vaccine and increased risk of GBS, it is insufficient to establish a causal relationship. No similar signal has been identified with the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines, a spokesperson said.

FDA continues to work with its partner in vaccine safety surveillance, the CDC, to monitor reports of GBS following vaccination with the Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine. Importantly, the FDA has evaluated the available information for the Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine and continues to find the known and potential benefits clearly outweigh the known and potential risks.

Guillain-Barre can cause muscle weakness and paralysis in individuals, according to the CDC. Symptoms can last for several weeks to a year, but typically go away and people make a full recovery. In some cases, though, the person experiences permanent nerve damage.

How the rare autoimmune disorder develops remains unknown, but experts have found it can come following viral infections, such as the flu or the Zika virus.

About two-thirds of people with GBS had diarrhoea or a respiratory illness several weeks before developing symptoms, according to the CDC. Very rarely, people have developed GBS in the days or weeks after receiving certain vaccines.

Despite issuing the warning, officials were expected to reiterate the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine and how its benefits outweigh the potential risks, The Washington Post reports.

But this comes as a blow amid declining vaccination rates across the country.

Health officials have expressed concerns that news of a new FDA warning could further push people away from ever getting a Covid-19 vaccine. This as highly transmissible variants of Covid-19 continue to spread  increasing cases, hospitalisations, and deaths, specifically among the unvaccinated.

To date, 48 per cent of Americans were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and 55.5 per cent of the public has received at least one dose, according to data released by the CDC. Almost one-third of the countrys adults remain unvaccinated.
A woman was physically restrained to her chair with strips of duct tape aboard an American Airlines flight, the company says, after she allegedly tried to open the planes door while the craft was in flight and assaulted a crew member.

Video of the shocking scene was initially posted on TikTok, and made its way to Twitter on Sunday. The original video was not immediately locatable at the time of this articles publication.

In a statement to The Independent, an American Airlines spokesperson confirmed that an unnamed woman was restrained by crew members on board a late-night flight from Dallas, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina last week.

While in flight from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Charlotte (CLT) on July 6, the crew on board American Airlines flight 1774 reported a potential security concern after a customer attempted to open the forward boarding door and physically assaulted, bit and caused injury to a flight attendant, said the company spokesperson.

The statement continued: For the safety and security of other customers and our crew, the individual was restrained until the flight landed at CLT and could be met by law enforcement and emergency personnel. We applaud our crew for their professionalism and quick effort to protect those on board.

A screengrab of a TikTok belonging to someone going by Arieana Mathena was posted on Twitter by lifestyle influencer Mike Sington on Sunday that shows the woman restrained to her seat with what appears to be several pieces of silver duct tape; her hands are seen bound with an unknown object behind her back, and her mouth is covered with tape as well.

American Airlines passenger was duct taped to her seat after she tried to open the plane door, then bit a flight attendant. pic.twitter.com/nDsu3GWnOP  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 11, 2021

It wasnt clear initially from American Airlines statement whether any passengers assisted in the womans restraining.

According to the company, officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department met the flight at the gate, and transported the woman to a hospital for evaluation after other passengers deplaned.

The woman was placed on the airlines internal refusal list, according to a spokesperson. Police representatives could not immediately be reached regarding questions as to whether she will face charges.
Thousands in Miami joined protests in solidarity with the Cuban people rallying against their government because of food and vaccine shortages amid rising prices.

Cubans in the thousands also protested on Sunday against the government of President and Communist Party leader Miguel Diaz Canel, as the island sees a spike in cases of Covid-19 and its most difficult economic crisis in decades.

The country is also struggling with the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration after President Barack Obama tried to normalize relations with the country.

Sundays protest was one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations in memory, the Associated Press writes.

Thousands of Miamians came out in support of the protests in the Little Havana neighbourhood on Sunday.

Videos shared on social media shows people dancing and singing, while some were carrying signs and waving flags.

The Miami Police Department shut down the area for the demonstration and authorities urged people to avoid the area until further notice.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava tweeted: We stand united with the Cuban people on the island and across our community at this historic moment in the struggle for freedom, dignity, and basic human rights  may their courageous actions bring about real change and move us closer to the dream of a free Cuba.

The Miami police chief told a Miami Herald reporter that they estimated that there were about 5,000 at the protest in solidarity with Cuba, adding that there had been no arrests, but one medical emergency.

Mr Diaz Canel pushed what he said was his countrys revolutionary citizens to counter the protests and blamed the US for stoking fury among the Cuban people.

We are prepared to do anything, he said. We will be battling in the streets.

President Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan tweeted: US supports freedom of expression and assembly across Cuba, and would strongly condemn any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters who are exercising their universal rights.

Reuters reported that Cuba is facing its worst economic decline since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Some protesters during the demonstrations that erupted in several cities across the island nation from the capital Havana to Santiago, called for freedom and democracy as they voiced their anger over shortages of several basic goods, such as vaccines, to tackle the pandemic.

Attempts to upload photos and videos of the protests to social media were curbed by Cuban authorities who shut down Internet services throughout the afternoon in Havana.

We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. Thats why Im here, a protester told the AP, asking to remain anonymous for fear of being arrested.

Police began detaining people about two and a half hours into the protest in Havana after some started pulling up cobblestones off the streets and throwing them at police.

About 20 people were taken away in police cars, or by individuals in civilian clothes. Police used pepper spray on a few protesters and charged some with batons, but did not directly confront thousands who chanted freedom.

Soon after, about 300 government supporters reached protest sites and began shouting slogans in favour of former president Fidel Castro, who died at the age of 90 in 2016, and the Cuban revolution.

In a nationally televised speech, President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the US for the unrest as he called on the supporters of the government to confront provocations".

We call on all revolutionaries of the country, all communists, to go out in the streets where these provocations occur... and to face them in a decisive, firm and courageous way, Mr Diaz-Canel said.
Pro-democracy protests have erupted in Cuba  perhaps the biggest in three decades  and presented a fresh and major challenge to the nations Communist rulers and its president.

Reports from Havana, Santiago and other major cities in Cuba suggest the demonstrations are the most significant since the early 1990s, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the subsequent end of its support to the island.

As a result of the end of that support to Cuba from Moscow, the average Cuban saw their daily intake of calories fall from 2,600 calories a day in the 1980s, to between 1,000 and 1,500 by 1993.

In addition to triggering huge protests in 1994, the end of support from the Soviet Union forced Cuba to develop its own self sufficiency in food production, something it helped secure in part by creating organic food that did not include oil-based fertiliser from Moscow. It also developed a network of small plots in tiny spaces throughout cities.

Yet that was three decades ago, so what is causing the protests now?

No Fidel or Raul:

For the first time in six decades, neither Fidel Castro, who died in 2016, or his brother Raul, are running the country of 11 million people. Raul Castro, 90, announced in April he was standing down as first secretary of the Communist Party, and that role was filled by Miguel Diaz-Canel, who had been appointed president in 2018, and now holds both roles.

Perhaps no longer constrained by the personal loyalty to the Castros that many Cubans felt, it is Mr Diaz-Canels resignation people have been calling for in the protests across the nation.

He has responded by blaming the protests on US economic asphyxiation and social media campaigns by a minority of counter-revolutionaries.

In the last few weeks the campaign against the Cuban revolution has increased in social media, drawing on the problems and shortages we are living, Mr Diaz-Canel, 61, said in a televised address

US sanctions:

The US first imposed sanctions against Cuba in 1958, and they have been expanded or lessened over the years, as relations have shifted, albeit modestly.

At the end of 2014, the two countries looked to end decades of diplomatic stand-off and established embassies in each others capital cities. Before, the offices had still been there, but were designated as interests sections, that operated technically from the facilities of the Swiss government.

We will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests, Barack Obama said from the White House. These changes will begin a new chapter among the nations of the Americas.

Later he added: Todos somos Americanos, or We are all Americans.

The thaw made it easier for Cubans to visit their relatives in the US and vice versa. It also lessened some banking restrictions.

Yet, those sanctions were reimposed by Donald Trump, delivering a major economic blow to Cuba. They remain in place, and it is unclear what plan Joe Biden has for Cuba, as he confronts other pressing issues.

On 23 June, 184 counties voted in the UN to end the US embargo on Cuba. The US voted against the move. It was the 29th time the UN introduced a resolution to end the embargo on Cuba, and each time the US has voted against ending the sanctions. On Monday, Mr Biden called the protests a clarion call for freedom.

The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves, he added.

 Castro's house torn down

Covid-19:

One of the reasons for the protests appears to have been anger over the nations inability to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The BBC said that Cuba, whose doctors have often been dispatched around the world as part of a policy of health diplomacy, had kept the Covid-19 pandemic under control in 2020.

Yet in recent weeks there has been a new spike in cases. On Sunday, the island reported 6,923 daily cases and 47 deaths, although many opposition groups said the true figures may be higher.

The island has begun a mass vaccination campaign, with 1.7 million of its residents vaccinated to date and twice that many have received at least one shot in the three-shot process. It is the first country in Latin America to develop its own vaccine.

For first time in six decades the Castros no longer head the islands government (AFP via Getty Images)

Im tired of being hungry:

The coming together of various factors  including the pandemic and the bite of US sanctions  has left Cuba in its toughest economic crisis in years.

Tourism, a mainstay for certain industries, was mothballed during the year-long pandemic, robbing it of vital foreign currency.

The hardships have also led to a large number of Cubans leaving the country, and trying to enter the US, after first passing through Central America.

The New York Times said social media is full of Cuban protesters talking about the lack of electricity and basic supplies.

I took to the streets because Im tired of being hungry, said Sara Naranjo, in a video shared on Twitter. I dont have water, I dont have anything. You get bored, you get tired, we are going crazy.

People know what is going on:

One of the impacts of the loosening of government restrictions when relations improved between the US and Cuba, was to make it easier for ordinary Cubans to access the internet.

Numerous reports said many of the people joining the protests over the weekend did so after reading about what was going on via social media.

A major change came two years ago, when Cubans started being able to access the Internet via their mobile phones.

The AFP news agency estimated that more than a third of all Cubans  some 4.2 million people  can surf the web from their smartphones.

Additional reporting by Reuters
The American-based doctor alleged to have orchestrated the assassination of Jovenel Moise planned to assume the presidency after the murder, according to reports.

Haitis police chief Leon Charles said Christian Emmanuel Sanon recruited some of the suspects through a firm identified by The Miami Herald as CTU Security, registered in Florida as the Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy LLC.

Mr Charles said Mr Sanon flew into Haiti in June with "political objectives" and planned to assume the presidency following the removal of Mr Moise, according to The Washington Post.

The mens initial mission was to protect Mr Sanon, but they later received a new one: arrest the president. He said the operation started from there, and an additional 22 suspects joined the group. Contact was made with Haitian citizens, Mr Charles added.

Quoting a person who interviewed the detained Colombians in Haiti, the Herald reported the men were recruited by the firm in Doral, Miami, and were paid about $3,000 per month.

Mr Charles said the doctor contacted the US-based Venezuelan company specializing in security, and told the alleged mercenaries they would become his personal bodyguard once president of Haiti.

Police officers found several items at his house, including a hat emblazoned with the logo of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four automobile license plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence with unidentified people.

Last week, President Moise was shot dead while his wife, who was seriously wounded in an attack was flown to Miami and remains hospitalised.

The police chief said a total of 26 Colombians are suspected in the killing of the president and, of them, 18 have been arrested, along with three Haitians. He said five of the suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed.

They are dangerous individuals. Im talking commando, specialised commando, said Mr Charles while explaining that police are working with high-ranking Colombian officials to identify details of the alleged plot, including when the suspects left Colombia and who paid for their tickets.

The accused has lived in Broward County in Florida, and in Hillsborough County on the Gulf Coast. According to records, he has also lived in Kansas City, Missouri and filed for bankruptcy in 2013. Mr Sanon identifies himself as a doctor in a video on YouTube titled Leadership for Haiti.

The announcement of his arrest was made hours after hundreds of Haitians sought solace in prayer at early Sunday church services as a political power struggle threatened to further destabilise their fragile country.

Haiti, a country of more than 11 million people, currently has only 10 elected officials after it failed to hold parliamentary elections, leading Moise to rule by decree for more than a year until his death. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph is currently leading Haiti with the help of the police and military, but he faces mounting challenges to his power.

While the streets were calm on Sunday, government officials worry about what lies ahead and have requested the US and the UN for military assistance. However, Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby on Sunday said on Fox News that the Pentagon is analysing the request to send troops to Haiti and that no decisions have been made.

I think thats really where are our energies are best applied right now, in helping them get their arms around investigating this incident and figuring out whos culpable, whos responsible and how best to hold them accountable going forward, Mr Kirby said.

Additional reporting by agencies
A cyclist has died after he was struck by an Arizona driver who plowed his pickup truck into a group of people participating in a bike race, authorities said.

A 58-year-old man died of his injuries Saturday, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said Monday. No other information about the victim was immediately released.

The accused driver, Shawn Michael Chock, 36, was indicted last week on nine counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count each of fleeing an accident and unlawful flight.

Seven bicyclists were injured June 19 when Chock sped into a crowd gathered for the annual 58-mile (93-kilometer) Bike the Buff race in Show Low, a mountain city about three hours northeast of Phoenix authorities said. Witnesses described seeing the bodies of cyclists flying left and right.

The driver then hit a telephone pole, and backed out of the crowd as cyclists pounded on the trucks windows, screaming for him to get out, witnesses said. He then drove down the road, turned around and headed back toward the cyclists before driving away, witnesses said.

Police caught up with Chock outside a nearby hardware store and shot him. Chock was hospitalized in Flagstaff until his release July 2. He remains jailed in Navajo County.

Hunter T. Lewis, an attorney representing Chock, did not immediately respond Monday to messages by The Associated Press seeking comment.

Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon said he is expecting more charges to be filed in the wake of the man's death.

Once we have received all the law enforcement reports we will receive to determine if any new charges are appropriate to bring, Carlyon said.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is overseeing the investigation.

___

Fonseca contributed from Flagstaff, Arizona.
Doctors and lawmakers across the US are increasingly concerned about a syndrome believed to be associated with cannabis consumption that can cause psychotic episodes.

The illness is commonly known as scromiting, the nickname of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, due to its two main symptoms being screaming and vomiting, according to doctors and patients.

The magazine High Timesdefines it as a rare form of cannabinoid toxicity that develops in chronic smokers. Its characterized by cyclic episodes of debilitating nausea and vomiting. People who suffer from the syndrome often find that hot showers relieve their symptoms, and will compulsively bathe during episodes of nausea and vomiting. Symptoms stop after cessation of cannabis use.

Its increase is thought to be because of the high percentage of THC in modern-day cannabis as it becomes legal for recreational use in more US states.

Dr G Sam Wang, an ER doctor and toxicologist, said to NBC News, Evidence for how cannabis, especially in higher concentrations, impacts mental health is growing and stronger, especially on how it relates to psychosis and schizophrenia-like symptoms.

A study from the Journal of Toxicology in 2017 found that 97 per cent of people who developed scromiting used cannabis at least once per week.

Sufferers from the condition have described intense symptoms.

It felt like Edwards Scissorhands was trying to grab my intestines and pull them out, Bo Gribbon, 20, who suffered from the illness when he was 17, said to NBC News. The only thing that convinced me was that it stopped when I stopped smoking.

Another study, published in 2018 labelled the syndrome an increasingly prevalent and complicated problem for health care providers and patients. It also called for further investigation.

Colorado is believed to be one of the states with the highest levels of diagnosis. Some doctors put this down to the state legalising cannabis for recreational uses in 2012. In Colorado, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase cannabis.

Despite the age restrictions, teenagers, such as Jasmine Block, 18, told NBC News about how easy it was to get cannabis from dealers and so on. She said in she found it so easy to get your hands on.

Other states, such as California, have also experienced issues with the condition, according to reporting by NPR.
The bodies of an unusually large number of migrants who died in Arizona s borderlands are being recovered this summer amid record temperatures in the sun-scorched desert and rugged mountains.

An increase in migrant deaths also has been noted in Texas and rescues are up throughout the border with Mexico.

The nonprofit group Humane Borders, which maps the recoveries of bodies in Arizona using data from the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office in Tucson said 43 sets of human remains were found in the state's border region last month  the hottest June on record for Phoenix Forecasters say highs in Phoenix, where temperatures last month regularly soared above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius), tend to be similar to those in Arizonas Sonoran Desert north of Mexico.

Not all 43 of those people died in June, but at least 16 had been dead for just a day and another 13 for less than a week when they were found, said Humane Borders mapping coordinator Mike Kreyche. The group's figures include all bodies recovered of people believed to have been migrants and are higher than the number of deaths reported by the Border Patrol which only counts those it handles in the course of its work.

Kreyche noted that the 127 sets of remains found during the first half of this year are far higher than the 96 bodies recovered during the same period last year. This year's six-month recovery toll also is higher than that of all of 2017, when 123 sets of remains were found near Arizona's border with Mexico.

Exposure is the most commonly listed cause of death.

Texas officials say they also have seen an increase in migrant deaths this year.

The Brooks County Sheriff's Department in southern Texas last month reported 36 migrant deaths in the first five months of 2021, more than all of last year.

The growing number of recovered bodies comes as border officials warn of increased dangers as temperatures soar this summer.

Although most migrants now cross through Texas, decades of enforcement there and in California pushes many others into hostile areas of Arizona where water and food is unavailable.

The U.S. Border Patrol's Yuma Sector gathered reporters this month just feet from the U.S.-Mexico border at the Colorado River to emphasize the risks migrants take crossing the Sonoran Desert.

The desert is vast and treacherous. When you cross illegally, you put yourself in incredible peril, Sector Chief Patrol Agent Chris T. Clem told journalists. And our hot season is just beginning.

Humanitarian groups like Humane Borders, the Tucson Samaritans and No More Deaths leave water jugs and other provisions in remote parts of southern Arizona in hopes of saving lives in a region where more than 3,700 migrant deaths have been documented since 2004. But many migrants never find the water tanks or jugs after getting lost.

Rescues have been up, keeping the Border Patrol's specialized search and rescue units and air and marine operations busy.

The Border Patrol's El Centro Sector in eastern California reported Monday that its agents had rescued three migrants suffering from heat-related illness in the Jacumba Wilderness near Ocotillo in two separate events on July 1.
An argument between two men in their forties over who won a foot race that took place almost a month ago led to a shootout outside a barbershop in Texas, resulting in three injuries.

The Houston Police Department said the incident took place outside the Mean Kutz barbershop at Tidwell Road in Houston city around 3pm on Saturday.

There were two males who were arguing outside the barbershop here over who ran a race faster, Wendy Baimbridge, assistant chief of the Houston Police Department, told the media.

So at that point, one of the victims started walking away from the argument. The suspect then shot him twice in the shoulder, she added.

The victim, in his forties and not identified by the police, was taken to the Kingwood Hospital.

Two other bystanders were also caught in the shooting. None of the three, however, sustained any life-threatening injuries, the police said. One of the bystanders was hit in the buttocks and the other in the arm. Both were taken to the Memorial Hospital.

I just came to get a haircut but that didnt go as planned, one woman who came for a haircut, but witnessed the shooting, told news channel ABCs Houston station.

The suspect escaped soon after the shootout in a black Nissan frontier, the license plate of which is yet to be obtained by the police. The police said he was also in his forties and goes by the name Trae.

Officials said they are gathering CCTV footage and video footage from one of the witnesses phones.

In 2019, there were 14,400 gun-related homicides in the US. Killings that involving a gun accounted for nearly three-quarters of all homicides in the country in 2019.

As per a 2020 Gallup poll, 44 per cent of Americans reported that they or someone in their household owned a gun.
US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said that sending American troops to Haiti could worsen the countrys political crisis.

Following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise at his home in Port-au-Prince last week, the interim government asked the United States to send troops to help secure key infrastructure.

The request provoked outcry in many quarters, due to the US highly controversial history of intervention in Haiti.

So far the Biden administration has not committed to sending military support, instead sending a delegation of FBI and homeland security officials to "see what we can do to help them in the investigative process, according to Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby.

Speaking to Democracy Now, Ocasio-Cortez said: "This situation is extraordinarily delicate and extremely fragile. I do not believe right now that the introduction of US troops, particularly without any sort of plan, sets any community  whether its the US or whether its Haitians  up for success."

She went on to say: "Our role should be in supporting a peaceful transition and a peaceful democratic process for selecting a new leader and avoiding any sort of violence."

The New York Democrats comments came in the wake of the arrest of a Florida-based doctor, Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, who was allegedly involved in the plot to kill President Moise.

Mr Sanon is the third Haitian-American to be suspected of involvement in the assassination.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez added that the role of the administration should be supporting any due process for justice here in the United States for any actors that may have been complicit on U.S. soil.

According to rawstory.com, Sanon is thought to have worked with a Miami-based private security firm to hire the mercenaries who shot President Moise. Footage shows that assailants posed as officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to access Moises private residence.
President Joe Biden on Monday called protests in Cuba remarkable" and a clarion call for freedom, praising thousands of Cubans who took the streets to protest food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis  one of the island's biggest antigovernment demonstrations in recent memory.

The Cuban people are demanding their freedom from an authoritarian regime. I dont think weve seen anything like this protest in a long long time, if, quite frankly, ever, Biden said in a brief exchange with reporters at the start of a meeting with mayors and law enforcement officials to discuss gun violence in the U.S.

The comments marked a notable change in tone from Biden's old boss, Barack Obama who as president sought to ease decades of tensions between Washington and Havana while loosening U.S. imposed economic sanctions. It was an effort that was reversed by Republican President Donald Trump who partially rolled back Obama's rapprochement, limiting U.S. travel to the island, banning American financial transactions with dozens of enterprises, and more.

We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime, Biden said in earlier statement on Monday. The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights.

Julie Chung, the acting assistant secretary for the departments Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, on Sunday suggested that the protests were driven by Cuban people exercising "their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising COVID case/deaths & medicine shortage. We commend the numerous efforts of the Cuban people mobilizing donations to help neighbors.

But White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday sought to frame the protests being driven by far broader frustration, calling the demonstrations spontaneous expressions of people who are exhausted with the Cuban governments economic mismanagement and repression.

Psaki added that the U.S. remains ready to assist Cuba in its COVID-19 vaccination effort, but the Cuban governments decision not to participate in COVAX-- a worldwide initiative aimed at distributing vaccines to poorer nationscomplicated the effort.

We certainly recognize and understand that access to vaccines is one of the issues that a number of individuals on the streets is voicing concern about, but we have to determine what the mechanism would be to work with the Cuban people to get vaccines to them, Psaki said.

The scene of demonstrators on Havanas Malecon promenade and elsewhere on the island was an unusual scene as the communist leadership has historically shown little tolerance for criticism. Police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted Freedom, Enough and Unite. One motorcyclist pulled out a U.S. flag, but it was snatched from him by others.

About 2 1/2 hours into the march, some protesters pulled up cobblestones and threw them at police, at which point officers began arresting people and the marchers dispersed. AP journalists counted at least 20 people who were taken away in police cars or by individuals in civilian clothes.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., lashed out at Biden for taking a full day to acknowledge the protesters, noting on Twitter that Biden's statement did not describe the Cuba government as  socialist and communist.

The protests in #Cuba began over 24 hours ago And you forgot something, Rubio said.
Texas Democrats have left the state onboard private jets en route to Washington DC to prevent Republicans in the state from passing new voting restrictions.

Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives took the drastic action to again deny the GOP the quorum they need to pass the bills aimed at restricting mail-in ballots and some early voting procedures.

The states House in Austin is set to reconvene on Tuesday morning, but the missing Democrats mean that under its rules there will not be enough members present to conduct business

The chartered planes carrying at least 51 of the states 67 Democrats in the Texas House left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Monday afternoon.

Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans freedom to vote, Democratic leaders said in a joint statement.

The latest action comes after Democrats walked out in May, preventing Republicans from passing the voting bill at the end of the regular legislative session. Republicans then called a special session, which still has 26 days left, to have a second attempt at passing the bill and ultimately Democrats at this stage do not have the votes needed to block it eventually passing.

The states Republican governor Greg Abbott hit out at the Democrats for blocking the legislation, saying it inflicts harm on the very Texans who elected them to serve.

As they fly across the country on cushy private planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state, said Mr Abbott.

The Democrats must put aside partisan political games and get back to the job they were elected to do.

The move comes amid a wave of GOP-led efforts around the country to restrict voting in various ways, as well as the campaign from progressive Democrats to reform the US voting system at the federal level, which has stalled amid a refusal from centrist Democrats in the Senate to change or abandon the filibuster.

If passed, the bills would add new restrictions for those who assist others in casting ballots, a provision criticized by disability advocates. It would also ban drive-thru voting pioneered by Harris County in the November elections and 2020 primaries, as well as a 24-hour early voting period the county allowed at some precincts last year.

Other provisions in the bills would institute new identification requirements for mail-in voting and ban the distribution of mail-in ballot applications. Some of the more hardline aspects of the legislation were reportedly removed in recent weeks, such as restrictions for Sunday voting hours which activists decried as a direct response to efforts by Black churches to transport voters to the polls on Sundays.

President Joe Biden is due to address the nation about voting rights on Tuesday, amid calls from progressives for the White House to take a more active role in pursuing passage of legislation protecting voting rights at the federal level.
Republicans in Texas have voted in favour of a restrictive voting bill that would ban 24-hour polling booths and limit the availability of mail-in ballots.

The bill, which was brought back in front of lawmakers on Saturday, failed in May after Democrats walked out of the chamber, but was approved in a special session of the legislature on Sunday.

More than 300 members of the public signed up to testify in hearings that went on for almost 24 hours, and saw Democrats and civil rights campaigners accuse Republicans of disadvantaging Black Texans.

Among the provisions of the bill are bans on drive-thru and 24-hour polling stations, and tougher requirements for voter identification. As is voting by mail a target of the legislation, The Texas Tribune reported.

The failure to pass the bill in May, when Democrats walked out on Republicans in the Texas legislature, is thought to be among the reasons for governor Greg Abbotts special session of the legislature.

In total, 11 issues that Texas lawmakers did not pass in the regular session of the chamber, were included on Mr Abbotts agenda  and almost all of which appeal only to Republican voters.

John Bucy, a Democrat in Texass House of Representatives, was among those to condemn the bill for reducing the roll out of voting to shift workers and others who were able to vote in 2020 at a 24-hour booth or drive-thru, or by mail-in ballot.

"We're going to make it harder for communities of colour, for individuals with disabilities, for individuals where English isn't their primary language, and for seniors to vote and to have access to the ballot box, even though the elections were a resounding success," said the Democrat, in remarks reported by The Tribune.

"I'm trying to figure out what problem is this bill trying to solve."

Andrew Murr, a Texas Republican, argued that the bill would "reduce the likelihood of fraud", in remarks that appeared to repeat former US president Donald Trumps false allegations of voter fraud in 2020.

If the Texas legislature approves the final bill, as it is expected to, Texas be the latest US state to introduce laws aimed at restricting voting access.
Former President Donald Trump has told his supporters that being impeached twice mad him worse during his Conservative Political Action Conference speech.

Speaking in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday, the former president compared his own reaction to being impeached to how he imagined former Attorney General William Barr was reacting to calls for his impeachment.

Mr Barr had been a staunch Trump supporter but became estranged from the former president when he disputed his false claims that there had been no widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

He became a different man when the Democrats viciously stated that they wanted to impeach him. They went wild. We want to impeach him, Mr Trump said of Mr Barr.

He continued: He became different. I understand that. I didnt become different, I got impeached twice. I became worse.

Mr Trump became the first ever president to be impeached twice during his term in office after Democrats, and a number of Republicans, accused him of inciting violence on 6 January.

Five people died during the violent riots, which occurred following a Save America rally held by Mr Trump, during which he pushed false claims the presidential election had been rigged.

The former president was acquitted by Republican allies in the Senate in February this year, only weeks after leaving office.

Proceedings saw the largest number of senators to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty of an impeachment count of high crimes and misdemeanors. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting to convict, giving a total of 57 votes to 43, 10 votes short of the super-majority needed for conviction.

Mr Trump previously faced another unsuccessful impeachment trial in 2020 over allegations linked to corruption and obstruction in connection with Ukraine.

Certain Republican senators including Maine lawmaker Susan Collins had expressed the hope that after his first impeachment, Mr Trump had learned his lesson.

The president has been impeached. Thats a pretty big lesson, the senator said in February 2020.

She added at the time: Im voting to acquit. Because I do not believe that the behaviour alleged reaches the high bar in the constitution for overturning an election, and removing a duly elected president.

During his speech at the weekend, the former president repeated his baseless claims of election fraud and lashed out at Mr Bidens handling of immigration.

In a matter of mere months Biden has brought our country to the brink of ruin, Mr Trump insisted.

The convention has previously been a touchstone for attitudes and political feeling within the GOP but this year saw the right-wing culture war take centre stage.

The former president also once again teased a possible 2024 run for president, without officially committing to another campaign during his 90-minute speech.

"I could have a nice, beautiful life and here I am on a Sunday in Texas, Mr Trump said as the crowd began to chant "Four more years! Four more years!"
Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin's campaign announced Monday that the political newcomer would not debate Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe at a perennial event hosted by the Virginia Bar Association, in part because of the journalist moderator.

Jeff Roe, a strategist for Youngkin, told The Associated Press the campaign felt veteran journalist Judy Woodruff would not be an impartial moderator of the Virginia Bar Association debate that had been scheduled for later this month. He said the campaign took issue with a $250 charitable donation Woodruff made over a decade ago to Clinton Foundation earthquake relief efforts in Haiti McAuliffe is a close friend and ally of Bill and Hillary Clinton

Were just not going to debate two-on-one, Roe said.

Roe also said the campaign disagreed with the degree of autonomy that would be granted to Woodruff to choose the debate's questions and wanted to see a portion of the debate dedicated to economic issues and jobs.

Woodruff, who has deep experience covering politics, is the anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour. She also worked at NBC News and CNN and has covered every presidential election since 1976.

Shes moderated several national debates, including the 1988 vice presidential debate between Dan Quayle and Lloyd Bentsen and a Republican presidential primary debate in Iowa in 2012, and has previously moderated several bar association debates.

Earlier this year she was awarded the inaugural Peabody Award for Journalistic Integrity. Peabody, which recognizes excellence in broadcasting, called Woodruff one of the most trusted broadcast journalists in America and said she had earned her reputation for delivering unbiased, fact-based news stories without the hype.

Sara Just, the executive producer of NewsHour, tweeted that the criticism of Woodruff was outrageous and that the donation was in response to a bipartisan call from both Clinton and former President George W. Bush for relief assistance.

The event, a Virginia political tradition that offers voters a chance to hear directly from the candidates fairly early in the campaign season, would have been the 10th consecutive gubernatorial debate hosted by the nonpartisan organization.

Yvonne Cockram, executive director of the bar association, did not immediately respond to a request for comment but the group posted a notice on its website saying the event had been canceled.

The VBA has been grateful to be part of the political conversation in Virginia for more than 30 years. We are disappointed that a statewide debate will not be a part of this years program, the association said.

McAuliffe, who in mid-June announced his intention to participate in the bar association debate, along with four others, said the decision showed Youngkin lacked courage."

His refusal to participate in this debate is an insult to Virginians and shows that Glenn knows just how out of step he is with the people of the Commonwealth, said McAuliffe, who is seeking a second, nonconsecutive term in office.

After McAuliffe's campaign announced in mid-June the debates he intended to participate in, the Youngkin campaign was initially silent on the schedule. A spokeswoman then said the candidate would participate in at least one debate and was open to doing two others.

Youngkin's campaign on Monday confirmed he planned to participate in three debates: one hosted by Hampton University, Liberty University and the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce in late August; one at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy in September; and a to-be-determined host and location in mid-October.

The Appalachian School of Law event is the only one both men have committed to. Also in the race making a longshot third-party bid is activist and educator Princess Blanding.

Glenn Youngkin looks forward to debating career politician and Clinton crony Terry McAuliffe, and hearing him explain his poor performance as governor, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said in a statement.

Woodruff's donation to the earthquake relief effort, which a PBS ombudsman has previously called a  mistake, has been the subject of reporting by Fox News and Breitbart in recent days.

After the initial disclosure of her donation in 2015, Woodruff said on the air that her gift was part of a joint fundraising effort called the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Politico has previously reported.

The devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010 left a death toll ranging from around 100,000 to more than 300,000 people.

___

Associated Press writer Dave Bauder contributed to this report from New York.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido says that the countys security forces threatened to arrest him at his home and took a close ally into custody.

Mr Guaido said that security forces had entered his apartment building in Caracas in an attempt to take him into custody, but left without incident.

The harassment and the threats will not stop us, said Mr Guaido, according to Reuters.

The incident took place just the day after unprecedented widespread protests in Communist-controlled Cuba, and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro may want to prevent anything similar taking place.

Mr Guaido was formally recognised as the countrys legitimate head of state in 2019 by dozens of countries, including the United States, in response to the rigging of the 2018 election by Mr Maduro.

He said that government agents had forced their way into his building without a court order or showing any identification.

He added that the security forces had been armed with weapons of war and had detonated an explosive device in the buildings basement.

But he said that their attempt to seize him failed because of the actions of his neighbours and the arrival of journalists at the building.

Security forces also arrested opposition figure Freddy Guevara, an ally of Mr Guaidos his office confirmed to Reuters.

Mr Guaidos office said that Mr Guevara had been taken to the Helicoide prison in Caracas after being forced to get out of his vehicle while driving in the nations capital.

The incidents also happened on the same day that the Biden administration lifted some sanctions on natural gas deals with the country, while keeping other sanctions in place.

Senator Marco Rubio took to Twitter to hit out at the move from the White House.

At the very moment the Maduro regime was abducting one prominent member of the opposition & surrounding the home of (Juan Guaido) trying to abduct him the Biden Administration was announcing it was removing a sanction on the regime in Venezuela, he tweeted.
France is set to make Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for health workers, French media reported on Monday, ahead of a televised address by the countrys president, Emmanuel Macron.

BFM TV said Mr Macron would also announce the mandatory use of a health pass to attend large scale events or venues, which might be an incentive for people to get a jab.

The online anti-vaccine movement has thrived in France, yet authorities have banked on convincing enough people, including medical staff, to get voluntarily inoculated.

In recent weeks, a slowdown in vaccination rates and a sharp upturn in new infections due to the delta variant has forced the government to rethink its policy for health workers.

France has gone from more than 400,000 first injections per day at the end of May to about 165,000 per day now.

Covid infections fell from 42,000 a day in mid-April to less than 2,000 in late June. But the numbers have crept back up again since late June, at nearly 4,000 per day.

If restrictions were not introduced, France could see up to 20,000 new cases per day by the end of July, epidemiologists have warned.

Mandatory vaccination, although restricted only to health care workers and other professionals who come into contact with vulnerable people, is not widespread in Europe and Mr Macron had previously ruled it out for France.

Additional reporting by agencies.
Thousands took to the streets in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, to demand the resignation of prime minister Irakli Garibashvili, following the death of a journalist after being beaten by anti-LGBT+ protesters.

They could be seen in front of the Georgian parliament, holding signs reading Who is next and First they came for the journalists  we dont know what happened next, following attacks on pride activists and journalists at a scheduled pride march a week ago.

Alexander Lashkarava, who had been working as a cameraman for independent station TV Pirveli, was badly beaten by anti-LGBT+ protesters while covering the Tbilisis March for Dignity last Monday.

The Pride march was cancelled before it began, as organisers at Tbilisi Pride said authorities had not provided sufficient security guarantees.

In a statement, the organisation said authorities not only failed to secure the safety of the queer community and our supporters, but actively hampered us from exercising the right of assembly.

Opponents of the march ransacked the Tbilisi Pride office and blocked the capitals main avenue where the march was due to take place, targeting activists and journalists. The anti-LGBT+ protesters denounced journalists on duty to cover the event as pro-LGBT+ propagandists and attacked them, throwing sticks, stones and bottles.

Mr Lashkarava was among 50 journalists who were attacked by the anti-LGBT+ groups opposing the march.

Miranda Baghaturia, Mr Lashkaravas colleague at TV Pirveli, said that he had been beaten by a mob of around 20 people.

The 37-year-old was later pictured with bruises on his face and blood on the ground around him, with local media reporting that he was hospitalised and had to undergo surgery; it was also reported that he sustained fractures to his facial bones.

Alexander Lashkarava after being beaten by anti-LGBT+ protesters (REUTERS)

He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday, but was found dead in his bed in the early hours of Sunday morning. The cause of his death was not immediately clear.

An investigation into his death has been launched by local police. While both the prime minister and president referred to Mr Lashkaravas death as a tragedy, many hold the prime minister responsible for stoking anti-LGBT+ sentiment.

Ahead of the planned event, Mr Garibashvili spoke out against the Pride March and said that such events were unacceptable for a large segment of Georgian society.

Officially, the Black Sea nation decriminalised homosexuality in 2000 and adopted anti-discrimination laws in 2006 and 2014, but Pride events remain controversial in the conservative country strongly influenced by the Orthodox Church.

Just last month, the Orthodox Church described Pride events as aiming to legalise grave sin.

Critics have accused the prime ministers Georgian Dream party of tacitly supporting homophobic and nationalist groups. Reporters Without Borders accusing the government of culpable passivity in the violence and Amnesty International saying that Georgian authorities failure to protect Tbilisi Pride encourages violence.
The Dutch prime minister has apologised for relaxing Covid restrictions and acknowledged that his government had moved prematurely amid surging case numbers.

Mark Rutte said the lifting of lockdown measures had been the result of poor judgement and admitted that easing the rules turned out not to be possible in practice.

Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have jumped to their highest level this year in recent days after the government decided to fully reopen bars, restaurants and nightclubs two weeks ago.

Responding to the high number of infections, the Dutch government announced that all restaurants and bars must be closed from midnight to 6am from 10 July until 13 August. Nightclubs have also been closed again, and live performances and loud music are prohibited.

What we thought would be possible, turned out not to be possible in practice, Mr Rutte said on Monday. We had poor judgement, which we regret and for which we apologise.

Mark Rutte speaks during an extra press conference in the Hague on Friday (EPA)

Late last week, he had repeatedly defended the easing of restrictions, calling it a logical step.

The admission that the Dutch government moved too quickly came as the British government prepared to announce the lifting of all restrictions from 19 July.

Boris Johnson is expected to conclude that the four tests set for unlocking  the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence that vaccines are causing a reduction in hospital admissions and deaths, that infection rates do not risk a surge in admissions, and that no new variants of concern have thrown progress off track  are being met, allowing step four of the roadmap to proceed.

This is despite ministers admitting that there could be 100,000 new cases a day in the summer.

In the Netherlands, the new spike in infections has so far not led to a notable increase in Covid patients in hospitals, given that most new cases are among young people less likely to fall seriously ill, and that most of the more vulnerable older people have been vaccinated.

However, Hugo de Jonge, the Dutch health minister, said on Friday that the current low level of hospital admissions could be threatened by an unprecedented increase in infections.

On the first weekend after the relaxation of the rules in the Netherlands, thousands of mainly young people flocked to clubs in towns and cities across the country. Since then, infections have rocketed.

On Saturday, the countrys public health institute reported more than 10,000 new cases, the highest number of positive tests since late December.

Countries across Europe are scrambling to accelerate coronavirus vaccinations in the hope of outpacing the spread of the more infectious Delta variant.

More than 46 per cent of the Netherlands adult population is fully vaccinated, and more than 77 per cent of adults have had at least one jab.

Health authorities say they will administer first or second vaccines to more than a million people this week.

Additional reporting by agencies
A Jordanian court sentenced a former top aid to King Abdullah II and a minor member of the royal family on Monday to serve 15 years in prison on charges of plotting against the monarchy with foreign assistance.

The court found Bassem Awadallah, who once served as head of the royal court and finance minister in Jordan, and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a royal family member, guilty of sowing sedition and plotting against the monarchy.

Both defendants had pleaded not guilty.

The verdict was announced on Monday by Lt. Col. Muwafaq al-Masaeed, a military judge, following a closed-door trial of just six hearings in what is widely known in Jordan as the sedition case.

According to the court, the pair conspired with Prince Hamzah bin al-Hussein, the kings half-brother and former crown prince, to promote him as an alternative to the USs strong ally King Abdullah II.

Prince Hamzah, 41, is a popular figure in Jordan. Hamzah maintained close relations with influential families and tribal figures since King Abdullah removed his title as crown prince in 2009, favouring his son Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, who currently holds the title.

The trial followed the arrest of 18 people in April for attempts to jeopardise the safety and stability of the country. Hours later, Prince Hamzah released a video, in Arabic and English, saying he has been placed under house arrest as part of a crackdown on critics. He denied any wrongdoings and accused the royal court of corruption, incompetence and harassment.

However, Prince Hamzah has never been put on trial after the royal court said it had resolved the dispute with him when he pledged allegiance to King Abdullah.

Mr Awadallah USs lawyer said his client, who has US citizenship, is alleged to have been tortured in the Jordanian prison. Michael Sullivan, a former federal prosecutor hired by Mr Awadallahs US-based family, told The Associated Press that Mr Awadallah has been beaten, subjected to electrical shock and was threatened with future mistreatment if he didnt confess, Sullivan said.

The court denied requests made by Mr Awadallahs Jordanian defence lawyers to call high profile witnesses, including Prince Hamzah, the current Jordanian prime minister Bishr al-Khasawneh, two princes, a minister and other members of the royal family.

The court denied that the trial was unfair, saying Mr Awadallah was given due process according to trial procedures in the Jordanian law. The court also denied the defendant was mistreated or pressured for confession.

The trial uncovered deep rifts within the Jordanian royal family that threatened the stability of a small but strategically important ally to the west. Hamzahs mother, American-born Queen Noor, took to Twitter to defend her son, saying she was praying that truth and justice will prevail for all the innocent victims of this wicked slander.

Mr Awadallah was once an influential figure in Jordanian politics and one of Abdullahs most trusted aides. He was also the driving force behind liberal economic reform in the poor kingdom before moving to Saudi Arabia, where he advised crown prince Mohamed bin Salman on economic reform and attracting foreign investment.

The pair have now 30 days to appeal the verdict, Bassam al-Talhony, Jordans former justice minister, told Aljazeera.

Mr Awadallahs US defence team has maintained a low profile throughout the trial, but they are planning to play a more visible role in the appeal stage to raise awareness about his case in the US and internationally, according to Sullivan.

The Awadallah family has also urged the Biden administration to call for his release.

King Abdullah is now in the US on a three-week visit, which includes the first meeting by any Arab leader with President Biden on 17 July.

Biden was among the first world leaders to voice their strong support for the monarchy after the slew of arrests in April.

Jordan receives $1.5 billion every year from the US as foreign assistance and plays a crucial role in the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel.
Former South African president Jacob Zuma was in court on Monday, as protests against his detainment saw six people killed and more than 200 arrested across the country.

The former president was in court to challenge a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court for failing to testify before a state-backed inquiry into allegations of high-level corruption between 2009 and 2018.

It is alleged that Zuma allowed three Indian businessmen to pillage state resources and exercise influence over the government during his presidency.

Despite denying any wrongdoing, Zuma turned himself in to the Estcourt Correctional Centre last Wednesday to begin serving his custodial sentence.

In Mondays virtual hearing at the Constitutional Court, Zumas lawyers asked the court to withdraw his jail term, based on a rule that allows judgements to be reconsidered if made in the absence of the affected person or if they contain a patent error.

Legal experts say Zumas chances of successfully overturning his imprisonment are slim, however, as a bid to secure his release was already rejected at a lower regional court on Friday.

The states decision to jail the former leader is seen as a test of South Africas ability to enforce the law in the post-apartheid era, sending the message that no one is above the law.

Not all South Africans see Zumas incarceration that way, however, as many of his supporters believe that he is a victim of a political witch hunt orchestrated by current president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Supporters of the former president have been protesting his imprisonment, burning trucks, looting commercial property and blocking major roads in KwaZulu-Natal  Zumas home province  and Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg, South Africas largest city.

A mall in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, was seen on fire on local television news. Local media reported that the leading highway into the city had been closed to prevent further violence.

Police Major General Mathapelo Peters said that several hundred people had looted and burned stores in the Alexandra and Bramley neighbourhoods of Johannesburg. She added that at least three officers had been injured trying to arrest looters, with one requiring hospitalisation with a gunshot wound.

The South African National Defence Force said that army soldiers would be deployed across the affected provinces to help to quell the violence.

A statement released by NatJOINTS, a government intelligence agency, said that as of Monday morning, 219 people had been arrested, and six had died  two with gunshot wounds  as a result of the violent protests, which continued overnight.

At a Sunday evening press conference on the countrys Covid response, Mr Ramaphosa condemned the violence. He said that it was only serving to damage efforts to rebuild the countrys economy, which was severely hurt by the pandemic. He added that those involved in the violent acts would be arrested and prosecuted.

Our Constitution guarantees everyones right to express themselves and to engage in peaceful protest, he said.

While there are those who may be hurt and angry at this moment, there can never be any justification for such violent, destructive and disruptive actions.

He added: This must be condemned by all South Africans at all costs as we are a nation committed to non-racialism and non-tribalism, underpinned by the diversity and unity of all the people of South Africa, whatever their language, culture, religious beliefs, and race.
Much of continental Europe and Scandinavia is now in the lowest risk green category, according to the latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The map of the European Union  plus Norway and Iceland  shows large swathes of the region in green.

Under the ECDCs classification, this is the lowest risk category, based on new Covid infection rates of below 50 per 100,000 people over a two-week spell  or cases at no more than 74 and positivity rates of less than 4 per cent.

Eastern Europe is almost entirely low risk, from the three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria  though data from Hungary is missing.

Greece is mainly green, except for the area around Athens and some islands  including Crete and Rhodes  which are in the medium risk amber category.

In western Europe, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria are all green  as is Italy, apart from the far north east where data is unavailable.

The Netherlands has large patches of amber and both Ireland and Luxembourg are regarded as medium risk.

The data appeared three days before the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, is due to make the latest round of changes to the UK governments traffic light classification system.

Mr Shapps is under pressure to increase the number of green countries on the UK list from which no quarantine is necessary.

On Monday 19 July, rules from nations amber countries will be eased, with arriving travellers who have been fully vaccinated by the NHS allowed to avoid quarantine.

Tim White, the Covid data specialist, said: There are many central European families separated, and businesses affected by the amber listing of countries with very low infection rates.

Its easy to forget how many UK residents are not fully vaccinated yet, so green list additions are still important. Poland and Slovakia are the two obvious candidates with low rates.

There has been concern about Slovakias lack of genomic sequencing ability, but the EU has been helping, and other criteria are fulfilled so if I was on the committee I would certainly be recommending Slovakia is given the green light on Thursday.

On the ECDC chart most of Spain is red  indicating a high risk  apart for the centre of the country around Madrid and the northwestern autonomous community of Galicia, which are amber.

Portugal is also amber, except for the island of Madeira  which is green. It is the one part of Portugal that is on the UKs green list.

The only very high risk location is Cyprus, which is also the only location in Europe with higher rates of new infections than the UK.

The trigger for this category is 500 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in 14 days.
Nine European countries should be moved from the amber list to the green list of quarantine-free nations, a leading data analyst claims.

Robert Boyle believes that the key destinations of Germany, Italy and Poland qualify for the UK governments low-risk category, meaning travellers need not self-isolate on arrival in England.

Austria, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Switzerland are also candidates.

In a blog, Top tips for the next changes to country travel classifications, Mr Boyle also calculates that Canada, Hong Kong and Taiwan meet the green list criteria.

The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, is due to make the latest moves between traffic light categories on Thursday 15 July.

At present only a handful of feasible locations are on the governments green list. Apart from Gibraltar, the remainder are islands  including Spains Balearics, Malta, Madeira, Bermuda, Iceland and several Caribbean nations and territories.

For millions of prospective British travellers who have been fully vaccinated, moves from amber to green are about to become irrelevant: from 19 July, those who have been jabbed by the NHS need not self-isolate on their return to the UK.

But the government excludes anyone who has been vaccinated abroad, whether or not they are British citizens.

The travel industry is desperate for the number of green list locations to increase.

Mr Boyle writes: Trying to predict what changes to classifications the government is going to make has proven to be something of a mugs game.

But armed with a somewhat fuller set of data in advance, Im going to give it another go.

The writer is former director of strategy for BAs parent company, IAG. He has reverse engineered the UK governments allocations to try to identify the precise criteria used for quarantine-free status.

He believes the new seven-day case rate must at or below 20 per 100,000 inhabitants; test positivity at 1.5 per cent or less; and a testing rate of one or more per 1,000.

Mr Shapps says that high vaccination rates and genomic sequencing ability are significant factors for green list qualification  while being the location for a big international hub airport is an indication for red list status.

Mr Boyle believes that Albania, Bosnia, Hungary, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Romania and Serbia qualify for the green list but are likely to be excluded because of a lack of genomic sequencing.

He notes: It is undoubtedly the case that travellers from Scotland are a much higher risk to England when it comes to the Delta variant.

But he is very optimistic about Canada joining the low-risk category, saying: It is hard to see a better candidate for the green list.

The Canadian authorities continue to bar entry to Canada to British nationals. But so do Australia and New Zealand, and they are on the green list.

The red list, requiring hotel quarantine, currently includes the UAE, Turkey and India  all popular locations with strong links to the UK.

The most likely candidate for moving from red to amber, according to Mr Boyle, is Bahrain. He believes Fiji, Indonesia and Sierra Leone could be moved from the medium to the high risk category.

Another Covid data specialist, Tim White, has previously warned that Mexico could be moved from amber to red.

He tweeted: Mexicos new Covid-19 figures show an increase of 45 per cent today.

Thankfully the growth is consistent and not getting worse.

I still dont think its in much danger of red list on Thursday, but in another three weeks it may be.

Ministers insist all decisions are made on purely scientific grounds, based on advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre.
There were scenes of total chaos this morning at Heathrow airport check-in due to huge numbers of staff being forced to self-isolate.

Passengers complained of long queues at check-in at Heathrow Terminal 5, one of the two operating terminals at the London airport, due to a shortage of staff.

Social media was flooded with images of the disruption, all showing snaking queues for check-in desks and security.

One passenger said he estimated there were more than a thousand people trying to get through security at one point.

Passenger Kathryn Wylie tweeted that it was total chaos, while Barry Manners called it a shambles.

A Heathrow spokesperson confirmed to The Independent that the congestion in the departures area was due to staff members being told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

They added: We have activated additional team members to assist passengers with their journeys and the operation has now returned to normal. We apologise to our passengers for any inconvenience caused.

Its now business as usual at T5 (British Airways)

It comes as train operators are warning that dozens of trains across Britain have been cancelled today due to staff shortages.

The cause appears to be the so-called pingdemic, with essential staff being told to self-isolate because they have been in contact with a coronavirus case.

GWR said: A shortage of train crew means that an amended Great Western Railway service will be in operation today, Monday 12 July, due to a significant number of staff having to self-isolate following notification from Test and Trace.

London Victoria is seeing cancellations on links to the Sussex coast and some shorter-distance services.

This morning The Independent reported that passengers returning to the UK could face queues of three to four hours when amber list restrictions are lifted for vaccinated travellers next week.

Foreign travel is expected to receive a sudden boost when the rules are relaxed  but the influx of returning passengers could cause major delays at UK airports, border force is warning, as it is not set up to cope with that sort of demand.
Another day, another woman reportedly removed from a flight because families. This time, it was Turkish influencer and bodybuilder Deniz Saypinar, who says she tried to board an American Airlines flight from Texas to Miami and was refused entry to the plane because her outfit  a brown tank top and a pair of denim shorts  was considered potentially offensive to the innocent eyes of Americans flying to a beach destination where literally everyone they see will be wearing a bikini. According to Saypinar, she was told by staff that she was basically naked. Her version of events is backed up by an unapologetic statement from the airline itself, which stated: On 8 July, American Airlines denied boarding for a customer traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Miami. As stated in the conditions of carriage, all customers must dress appropriately and offensive clothing isnt permitted on board our flights.

Most airlines have policies on offensive clothing which are deliberately vague. It makes sense to do it that way: you cant necessarily predict what a passenger might do, and you need to have plausible deniability when you ask them to please change the T-shirt that prominently displays a racial slur or the winter bedspread attached to their body by five belts in place of a coat (the latter is an actual example my husband saw on his flight last week.) These policies are supposed to protect the safety and comfort of passengers: its safe to say that a Black person might feel unsafe seated next a someone wearing a racist slur across their chest, or that any passengers ability to sit comfortably might be impeded by someone swaddled in a gigantic blanket. In rare cases  like on Saudia, the Saudi Arabian airline  the clothing policies are more strict and descriptive. Saudia reflects its countrys hardline ideological stance through the enforcement of a dress code on flights that asks women to wear clothing which is loose and made of thick material, and which fully covers arms and legs. Men on Saudia flights are asked not to wear shorts.

Its strange, then, that airlines in the US have started enforcing their dress code along ideological lines, Saudia-style, rather than what they were originally intended for: safety and common sense. In recent years, weve seen a spate of women  and it is, as far as I can tell, only women  being denied boarding for the perceived sexiness of their clothes. In October 2020, Kayla Eubanks said she was refused boarding by Southwest Airlines because her halter-neck top  which she had paired with a full-length skirt  was seen as lewd, obscene and offensive and was only eventually allowed to travel because she agreed to put on a spare captains T-shirt. In January 2020, Andrea Worldwide said she was pulled out of line by United Airlines employees and told that the T-shirt she was wearing  underneath a cardigan and a long scarf  might be too low-cut for her to board, before staff changed their mind and allowed her to go ahead (she was given a $200 voucher but said shed been left feeling publicly humiliated, embarrassed and confused.) In March 2017, United reportedly denied three young girls boarding because they were wearing leggings (one was later allowed to fly; the other two were not.)

That airlines in America would go to such lengths to police women and girls is disturbing, not least because gate agents and flight attendants are supposed to be there for your safety. They are not supposed to be there to take a good look at a womans cleavage or the curve of her ass in shorts and decide whether it might turn on the male passengers so much that they well, that they do what exactly? Something for which those women will ultimately be held accountable? What separates us from animals if humans cant control even their most primitive impulses? said Deniz Saypinar today on an Instagram post describing her experience, and one does wonder.

Recommended Bodybuilder furious after being banned from American Airlines flight over shorts being too short

The idea that the very sight of womens bodies drive men to crime and ruin is offensive to both sexes. Its also ridiculous for a number of very obvious reasons: Do larger-breasted women need to wear different clothes to smaller-breasted women? At what stage of puberty do teenage girls become policed by whether their shorts are too high or too tight? Does a portly man in a tight T-shirt get policed on his breast tissue? And who exactly decides what counts as too sexy  does there need to be consensus? Should the potentially offensive customer be paraded in front of every passenger and/or every nearby airline employee and judged on their attractiveness?

Needless to say, these issues are also a legal minefield for airlines. Its well-established that women of color, especially Black women and girls, are often judged to be more mature and more sexual than their white counterparts. This racist Jezebel stereotype might easily inform any persons judgment on the job, unwittingly or no. What happens if an airline is found to have disproportionately stopped women of color for spurious dress code violations? What happens when a refunded ticket or a $200 voucher isnt enough to paper over the prejudice?

Its almost as if the simplest solution might be for everyone to let women wear what they like and to concentrate on getting everyone to their destination safely. American Airlines, take note.
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Bollywood's masterpiece. A beautiful love story with extraordinary acting, music and plot that you will never get bored of. The 1991 release Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin continues to be a comfort and a heartwarming film. It not only changed many lives, it even was a trend setter on many levels. The movie completes 30 years today and here's why the Pooja Bhatt-Aamir Khan starrer continues to be a classic watch.

1. Innocent Pooja Bhatt nails it in her first lead role

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Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, the movie is about a rich girl who runs away to marry a gold digger but ends up falling in love with a simple journalist. As an actress, Pooja is a natural who instills freshness in the movie. Her innocence, simplicity and raw acting makes her a perfect fit. Do you remember Alia Bhatt in Highway, similar storyline and similar vibe to the gorgeous actress or only better. Pooja impresses us in one go.

2. O Mere Sapno Ke Saudaagar just takes you back in time

Movies come and go, but some songs from the past just stay. While 90s was about Govinda, Salman Khan and fast paced music, it also had some romantic numbers that continue to be evergreen. No remix will ever do them justice. Whether it was the title track Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi or O Mere Sapno Ke Saudagar. These still hold relevance in 2021.

3. Pooja Bhatt's hairstyle was a big rage and quite a trend setter - this style is again coming back

Twitter/Film History Pic

After all, she made the frizzy curly hair look cool. Pooja Bhatts permed hair was a major thing in the 90s. After Pooja made a debut with those wild curls, it became an instant hit and she was considered a style icon. Many years later, Pooja revealed it was an experiment that went wrong.

4. Aamir-Pooja were declared a hit jodi instantly

Twitter/Film History Pic

How can we talk about the film and not about Aamir Khan! The movie became a cult and Aamir Khan's status as a leading movie star was further cemented. Together Aamir and Pooja Bhatt created fireworks in this film with their energy and the calmness they got by playing two people who love each other.

5. One of the finest love stories from the 90s

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It is inspired from 1931's It Happened One Night but this dramatic musical did have exceptional talent to make it big. Not just the protagonists, even the supporting cast Anupam Kher and Tiku Talsania makes this romantic movie funny and comical in parts.

6. Heartfelt performances makes this film a true winner

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It is a 1991 movie, but the movie and its music still is as refreshing as it was, 30 years ago. The romance is 10 on 10 but even the comedy of this movie is so natural that you will spontaneously start laughing. Anupam Kher has done a great job as Pooja Bhatt's Dad tickling our funny bone. Unlike other films that only concentrate on romance, this has a perfect milieu of rom and com.

7. Way before DDLJ made its mark, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi was made in a similar or better light

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Yes, DDLJ, Jab We Met or Hollywood's Leap Year are all based on the same concept and are all blockbusters. Some trend setters just inspire many films giving them equal success too. But this one is a true Bollywood original.

8. Music + story = Blockbuster success

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This was not your typical singing and dancing no brainer film. Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi has a soul - touching and melodious music composition ever done by Nadeem - Shravan. The more you watch this movie, the more you will want to see it.

9. Movie trivia makes this worth watching

The actress once recalled how she had to change her clothes inside a fisherwoman's hut on the set of Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin Galyan Sakli Sonyachi.. Hi Pori Konachi? We shot this hit song which appears in the beginning of the film at the fishing village in Madh Island. I wore a Traditional Nauvari Sari for the first time in my life and shared screen space with my buddy Deepak Tijori who made the shoot truly easy for me by taking me through the paces with such patience and generosity. We shot daily from 7.am to 6.pm in the sweltering sun with the entire village cheering us on.Those were the days where make-up vans did not quite exist so I got changed and ready in one of the Koli fisherwomans homes who was delighted to see me dressed in the traditional garb and fed me a delicious,Koli style, sea food lunch!
The Taliban has said it sees China as a friend" of Afghanistan and assured Beijing there would be no hosting of Islamic militants from the volatile Xinjiang province, which is a major worry for the Chinese government, as per a report by PTI.

The comments came as the Taliban made territorial gains amid the withdrawal of US forces. China has already evacuated 210 nationals from Afghanistan via a chartered flight.

Beijing is worried that under Taliban rule, Afghanistan will become a hub for the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) which is a separatist outfit aligned to Al-Qaeda and is waging an insurgency in Xinjiang. Xinjiang shares a border with Afghanistan. Playing down Chinas concerns, the Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said China is a friend. Suhail added that the Taliban would no longer allow Chinas Uyghur separatist fighters from Xinjiang, some of whom had previously sought refuge in Afghanistan, to enter.

China is a friendly country and we welcome it for reconstruction and developing Afghanistan, he said adding that If (the Chinese) have investments, of course, we will ensure their safety," Shaheen said.

Sharply critical of the US move to pull out its troops without stabilising the peace process in Afghanistan, China this week has asked its close ally Pakistan to step up cooperation to contain the security risks in the war-torn country following the withdrawal of the foreign forces.

AP

(China and Pakistan) need to defend regional peace together. Problems in Afghanistan are practical challenges that China and Pakistan both face," especially the expansion of both international and regional terrorism, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday addressing a meeting of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Pakistan. While the American troops withdrawal and resurgence of the Taliban should strategically benefit China as the Taliban shares close ties with Pakistan, both Islamabad and Beijing are concerned as they faced threats from the Islamic militant groups which were part of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. China has been eying big scale investments in Afghanistan as the country has the worlds largest unexploited reserves of copper, coal, iron, gas, cobalt, mercury, gold, lithium and thorium, valued at over USD one trillion.

In 2011, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) won a USD 400 million bid to drill three oil fields for 25 years, containing roughly 87 million barrels of oil. Chinese firms have also gained rights to mine copper at Mes Aynak in Logar province, according to the Post report.

But observers say China will remain very cautious and concerned about the Taliban delivering on its promises. Whatever benign language the Taliban use, China remains highly concerned about the security situation there, Andrew Small, a senior transatlantic fellow with the German Marshall Funds Asia Programme told the Post.

AP

He said Chinas biggest concern in its dealings with the Taliban had always been whether it was sheltering Uyghur separatists. Chinas crackdown in Xinjiang, observers say, has exasperated the resentment among native Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The US, the EU and international human rights organisations have accused Beijing of committing genocide in the province. The 12th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the UN last month confirmed the presence of ETIM militants in Afghanistan.

The Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) consists of several hundred members, located primarily in Badakhshan and neighbouring Afghan provinces," the report submitted to the UN Security Council said. The report said that large numbers of Al-Qaeda fighters and other foreign extremist elements aligned with the Taliban are located in various parts of Afghanistan.


Do you believe in aliens? Well, this might just intrigue you!



One of NASA's latest live streams has produced images of as many as 10 unidentified flying objects hovering around the International Space Station. The UFOs were spotted by an eagle-eyed space watcher who believes the live feed actually captured the objects forming a circle above the Southern Atlantic Ocean.

According to a conspiracy theorist, the footage shows 'orb-like' objects moving past the camera.

However, all of this is in the realm of speculation as NASA is yet to release an official statement about the 'UFO' sighting.

The footage has been widely circulated on the internet. Space enthusiasts took to social media to discuss the same.

The first screenshot that showed the orb-like objects was shared by UFO hunter 'Mr. MBB33'.

Posting the 'shocking discovery' on YouTube, the UFO hunter said: "This is a screengrab from the International Space Station above the South Atlantic, at around 8.30 am."

"Ten unknown objects travelling with the space station above the planet Earth," he added.

YouTube

Since then, many theorists and UFO hunters have commented on the images and have also shared theories of their own.

A user wrote, "What it looks like to me is there's a whole bunch of Black Knight probes."

"I just checked the ISS cameras and those little specks are still there," wrote another.

YouTube

In April, The Defense Department of the US confirmed that leaked photos and video of "unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAP) taken in 2019 were legitimate and taken by navy personnel.
At the signing ceremony of the new Asian American TEAACH Act was (left to right): state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Governor Pritzker, and Indian American state Sen. Ram Villivalam, co-sponsor of the bill. (senatorram.com photo)
Energy Fuels has joined a partnership with Canada-based Neo Performance Materials (Neo), the only commercial producer of separated rare-earth oxides operating in Europe.

Energy Fuels sent a shipment of 20 tonnes of mixed rare-earth carbonate from the White Mesa Mill in the US state of Utah to Neos Silmet rare-earth...
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After weeks of heated public discourse and bitter allegations, the president of the Parent Teacher Student Association at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has apparently been voted out.

The rest of the organizations executive committee voted 3-1 on July 9 for her removal.

Harry Jackson, who was president-elect of the TJ PTSA, led the effort to remove former president Bonnie Qin. Following the vote, he immediately took over as president. As president-elect, Jackson would have sat behind Qin for the 2021-22 school year before assuming the role in June 2022.

The move followed a closely contested election for officer positions last month and a threat from the Virginia PTA to revoke the organizations charter. The disputes have centered around admissions changes at the magnet school in Fairfax County as well as teaching of critical race theory.

Among the reasons Jackson cited for Qins removal were restricting access to records and preventing the executive committee from communicating with the rest of the PTSA.

There were a lot of issues there, Jackson told InsideNoVa. For refusing to comply and refusing to acknowledge our requests, we had no choice but to vote for Ms. Qin's removal.

Qin declined to comment for this article. She has not publicly acknowledged her removal from office, and the PTSA's official communications channels have not reported the change.

Many parents are skeptical of the reasons behind Qins removal, believing it to be part of an effort by advocates against admissions changes and critical race theory to gain control of the PTSA .

Bonnie Qin has been bullied by a handful of people who are really, in my opinion, political operatives, said Yvette Rivers, a member of the TJ PTSA. I'm very upset about how they try to twist words to make Bonnie into some type of devil. She has been severely abused.

The executive committees decision came shortly after the Virginia Parent Teacher Association sent a letter declaring its intent to revoke the TJ PTSAs charter.

The Virginia PTA cited disrespect of the now-removed president, hostile behavior and other violations of the TJ PTSA bylaws in the June 23 letter. Should its charter in fact be revoked, the TJ PTSA would be dissolved, and its assets  including bank accounts holding $80,000  would be seized by the Virginia PTA.

Thomas Jefferson, or TJ, is a magnet school available to students across Northern Virginia who meet certain admissions criteria. U.S. News & World Report ranks it as the nations number one public high school.

In December, the Fairfax School Board made major revisions to TJs admission criteria, scrapping a standardized test and written teacher recommendations, among other changes. The overhaul resulted in a historically diverse new class of students offered admission for the fall of 2021.

Over the past year, debates over changes to the schools admissions process have dominated TJ parent and alumni communities. The TJ PTSA is no exception. Tension and division developed as discussions about admissions changes and critical race theory overtook an organization once dedicated strictly to nonpartisan matters.

Former PTSA executive committee member Asra Nomani is the co-founder of the Coalition for TJ  a group of parents who opposed changes to the admissions process  and the vice president of Parents Defending Education, which advocates against critical race theory in schools.

During the 2020-21 school year, Nomani used PTSA meetings to lobby against admissions changes and so-called anti-racist curriculum. Notably, in mid-April, Nomani and other members of the PTSAs Diversity Committee released a statement calling on principal Ann Bonitatibus to resign for authorizing a controversial school-wide lesson on systemic racism. Nomani and the committee contended that the lesson promoted critical race theory and violated Fairfax County Public Schools regulations.

I was constantly trying to question positions that we were taking or not taking. You cant walk on eggshells about these kinds of issues. You have to deal with reality, Nomani told InsideNoVa. We're in every newspaper from the Washington Post to the New York Times about what's happening with admissions. It's not because we're a bunch of troublemakers; it's because people care about the future.

But while the Coalition for TJs growing block of supporters within the PTSA applauded Nomanis continued advocacy, others were outraged. For months, parents filed complaints with the Virginia PTA against Nomani and other parents over perceived conflicts of interest, hostile behavior, and for adopting PTSA-wide political stances without going through proper procedures.

As complaints piled up, pressure grew within the Virginia PTA throughout the year to revoke the TJ PTSAs charter. The Virginia PTA didnt officially release its letter of intent until a new TJ PTSA executive committee took office, and the disharmony among the newly elected officials became clear.

The transfer of power between executive committees in early June capped an unusually contentious PTSA election cycle. While two of the candidates ran unopposed, each of the other four winners had a margin of victory of less than 8 percentage points. Around 45% of the PTSAs nearly 950 members voted.

In the end, of the six officers elected to the executive committee, four  including Jackson  were members of the Coalition for TJ. Because she was president-elect the year before, Qin automatically became the new president. Like the two non-Coalition members elected, she believed that the PTSA should not be involved in politics.

Despite the clear ideological divisions, many of those invested in the process hoped that the end of elections would bring a return to normalcy for the TJ PTSA.

I sent Harry an email congratulating him. I had hoped that he would follow through on his election speech, in which he talked about unifying the community, Rivers said. Rivers lost to Jackson in the election for president-elect by 33 votes out of 434 votes cast.

However, between assertions that Qin pushed for the principal to have voting rights on the executive committee  Coalition for TJ members say it was to prevent their block from a majority on the PTSA  and Jacksons failed proposal to censure Qin for allegedly racist and sexist remarks made during the election process, dreams of unity evaporated quickly.

The executive committee planned for multiple meetings in the days after the election, but due to disagreements over proposed agendas and proper procedures, they were canceled. By June 23, when the Virginia PTAs letter of intent arrived, the executive committee had not yet met as a whole.

I would say there is no decorum, executive committee member Laura Marschoun said. Marschoun, the PTSA secretary, was the only board member to vote against Qins removal.

After the letter, the committee was expected to provide the Virginia PTA with an official response. The officers continued to spar, though, and Qin and Jackson drafted different response letters. Qins response blamed the Coalition for TJ members for the violations in the Virginia PTAs letter of intent. Jacksons response, on the other hand, outright refuted the allegations in the letter.

On July 2, the executive committee voted 4-3 to send Jacksons response to the Virginia PTA instead of Qins. All four Coalition members voted in favor of Jacksons response.

After that meeting, first vice president Li Yang and second vice president Jun Wang both resigned. Wang is a member of the Coalition for TJ, while Yang was part of Qins block on the board.

I have seen parents attacking parents recently, and I also became a target of personal attacks. Internal conflict of the community is the last thing that I want to see. If I cannot help, I choose to step out, Wang said in his letter of resignation.

Qin called a special membership meeting on July 5 to discuss the removal of non-compliant officers from the executive committee and thus address the violations noted in the Virginia PTAs letter of intent. She canceled the meeting after legal action was threatened by Coalition for TJ parents, who claimed that Qins attempts to hold the meeting violated PTSA bylaws.

In a statement shortly after, Qin pushed for the three remaining Coalition members on the committee to resign and said she and Marschoun would also step down once they did. The suggestion gained support among many of the parents who want the PTSA to remain apolitical. A Change.org petition urging the entire executive committee to resign has collected over 250 signatures to date.

All of them have demonstrated an inability to work together, Rivers said July 7. At the end of the day, they are not succeeding as a group. Everyone resigning is seen as the only way that the TJ PTSA can save its charter and convince the Virginia PTA to give us another chance.

Amid the controversy, community members launched a flurry of accusations against each other, alleging indifference and wrongdoing.

Members of the Coalition for TJ  including Nomani and parent Glenn Miller  publicly accused Qin of working to overturn a fair and free election. They alleged that Qin, beyond sending complaints to trigger the Virginia PTAs letter of intent, had refused to give newly elected executive board members access to the TJ PTSA website and records on Google Drive.

In posts on TJ Parent Facebook groups, Miller compared Qins actions after the PTSA election to those of President Donald Trump after last years election in November.

Similarly, Nomani attacked the PTSA President on her Twitter page. The [president] leading the coup with[the Virginia PTAs] help just cancelled an illegal Mon night tribunal. We won  for now, Nomani wrote to her more than 60,000 Twitter followers.

Meanwhile, Nick Costescu, last years PTSA president, charged Jackson with using his PTSA position to promote a political agenda.

Glenn and Asra and Harrys actions and the actions of parents on both sides who escalated things during this past year are directly to blame for the situation we are in now, Costescu wrote on Facebook.

In an email chain posted by Costescu, Jackson did not sound severely concerned about the potential loss of $80,000, writing that it would be unfortunate, but recoverable.

Ultimately, members of the Coalition, which held a 3-2 majority on the executive committee, prevailed. Jackson and the two other Coalition members on the committee called an emergency meeting to remove Qin. The next day, the three voted her out, with only Marschoun present to cast a dissenting vote. Qin was unavailable to attend the meeting.

Miller announced the decision on Facebook on Friday night. The Coalition for TJ member, who was appointed PTSA government relations representative last year, said he was asked by the executive committee to post the announcement.

In claiming that Miller has no authority to speak on behalf of the PTSA, posts from the TJ PTSA Facebook account suggest that news about the removal is incorrect. It is unclear who exactly runs the account.

On Save the PTSA, a private Facebook group formed shortly after the Virginia PTAs letter of intent, members expressed anger about the decision.

The truth is that the men of PTSA have taken over with a purpose. They put intense pressure on Bonnie to make her resign, parent Sanjita Sethi wrote in a post on the group. Now, what? They will trot around and run the PTSA on the shoulders of volunteers who know none of their misdeeds? I am done saving them.

Soon after Jackson took over as president, the executive committee appointed Shawnna Robert Yashar as first vice president and Pat Fallon as second vice president. Yashar is a supporter of the Coalition for TJ. While Fallons views specifically are not known, his wife is a cofounder of the Coalition and the Director of Advocacy for Parents Defending Education.

Despite not addressing the allegations in the Virginia PTAs letter of intent, Jackson remains confident that the TJ PTSA will not be disbanded.

We're very confident for a number of reasons. Most importantly, the Virginia PTA did not follow their own procedures within their bylaws and it denied us the opportunity to do our due process, Jackson said.

Jackson said a number of parents have also threatened legal action against the Virginia PTA should they revoke the charter and seize the TJ PTSAs assets.

He added that even though all but one of the executive committee members are affiliated with the Coalition for TJ, the TJ PTSA will not take any organizational-wide political stances. This does not mean, however, that the group will stay out of political matters, as it has in previous years.

The PTSA is a conduit for the expression of the opinions of the parents. That being said, even though my position is well-known, the PTSA is nonpartisan, Jackson said. If you're going to be pushing to have or not have CRT [critical race theory], the discussion has to account for both sides and provide an accurate portrayal of the merits for and against.

Anuj Khemka is a rising senior at TJ and a member of the editorial board of tjTODAY.
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As cyber events evolve in sophistication, scale and frequency, property and casualty line carriers are growing concerned about the potential for unintended claims. These cyber risks, which property and casualty carriers have neither underwritten nor charged for, can substantially increase their portfolio exposure. In response, many insurers have adopted various exclusions, sub-limits and changes to non-cyber insurance policies. This issue of non-affirmative coverage for cyber events is known as silent cyber.

Silent cyber incidents occur when coverage for a cyber-related loss is either inadvertently provided by insurance policies not specifically designed to cover cyber risk or the exposure is specifically excluded by the primary cyber policy or other policies, leaving coverage gaps.

Before chalking silent cyber up as something that wont impact your clients or may only be important for retailers that place professional lines accounts, take a look at a few coverage line and industry-specific examples.

When Cyber Events Cross into Property and Casualty

While you may primarily associate cyber-attacks with financial losses, todays cyber events can also result in first or third-party physical damage or bodily injury. For example:

Property: Network interruption caused by a ransomware attack takes a critical HVAC system offline at a fruit warehouse. This causes temperatures to peak beyond optimal thresholds, resulting in damage to the housed goods as well as the facility itself.

Casualty: A manufacturers industrial control system is hacked and manipulated remotely to speed up the belts. This results in an overload at workstations and injury to workers.

When situations like these happen, what policy covers the claim? This is the fundamental question behind silent cyber and why retailers placing property and casualty policies should be aware of the issue.

How Silent Cyber Creeps into Various Industries

Healthcare

Dusseldorf University hospital fell victim to a ransomware attack that crippled their entire technology network. With the hospitals systems offline, there was a major disruption to patient care, including rerouting ambulances to other nearby hospitals. As with most ambulatory rides, time is of the essence, and during the event, a patient in critical condition died while in transit.

In this case, a cyber-attack led to a tragic fatality. When lawsuits are filed for events like this, where can the hospital look for insurance coverage?

Most cyber policies available on the market today include exclusions (or sublimits at best) for bodily injury and property damage losses.

A medical malpractice policy would likely not apply, because the event did not arise from an error in treatment or medical advice. It is also important to note that cyber exclusions are being added to E&O policies more frequently.

A general liability policy may not respond because loss arising from cyber events are commonly excluded.

In summary, non-cyber lines generally exclude cyber as a trigger or peril; whereas, cyber policies oftentimes exclude bodily injury and property damage loss. When one excludes the loss and the other the peril, a silent cyber incident occurs.

Manufacturing

Mondelez International is a manufacturer of snack brands, including Cadbury, Oreo, Ritz, Triscuits, Toblerone and Tang. When NotPetya malware infected two of its servers, a significant portion of the companys global Windows-based applications were affected, as well as its sales, distribution and financial networks across the company. Mondelez experienced computer damages and supply and distribution disruptions totaling over $100 million in losses.

This cyber-attack led to significant business interruption as a result of first-party property damage to their equipment being bricked. Where can manufacturers look for insurance coverage for events like this?

Property policies often deal with direct physical loss and in this case the property was, in essence, unharmed. Further, in this example, the carrier disputed the claim due to a clause in the policy that excludes any hostile or war like act by any government or sovereign power. NotPetya is widely viewed as having been a state-sponsored cyber-attack, with Russia the sovereign being put forward as potentially being behind the malware.

Cyber policies are often focused on resulting financial loss. In this case, the bricked equipment resulted in a financial loss, but what about the actual bricked equipment that needs to be replaced? That equates to millions of dollars in equipment value that traditional cyber policies either exclude, or provide a minimal sub-limit, leaving the insured to shoulder the cost.

When you read the fine print, the property policy was the coverage that was not responding. A broadly written primary policy, or the inclusion of cyber umbrella policy, could have responded.

Marine/Transportation

A shipping industry leader, A.P. Moller-Maersk, reported a $300 million dollar loss due to a malware attack that affected three of their major businesses and crippled their logistics operations worldwide. The company not only lost revenue during the shutdown and subsequent slow period, they also had to invest in finding a way to continue business after their go-to systems were taken down by the attack as well as rebuilding their IT department.

This cyber-attack led to significant delays, lost business and reputational harm. Where can logistics and other transportation companies look for insurance coverage for events like this?

Property insurance traditionally covers business interruption expenses, but only those arising from traditional property perils. Cyber exclusions are removing ambiguity regarding their intent of coverage.

Bricked or disabled computer hardware likely had to be replaced, which is often excluded from property policies and small sublimits may exist on a cyber policy.

Imagine if Maersk was unable to coordinate the movement of vessels which led to collisions or other damage. If the property, casualty and marine policies had cyber exclusions and the cyber policy has a property damage exclusion, there would be a silent cyber gap in coverage.

Summary

Cyber events can happen to insureds of all sizes in all industries  just look at the recent SolarWinds hack and its far-reaching impact. These events dont always just result in financial loss but can also cause first or third-party bodily injury or physical damage. Therefore, silent cyber is not only an issue for retailers focused on placing professional lines policies, its also imperative for property and casualty retailers looking to protect their clients.

Amwins offers the only product on the market designed specifically to combat silent cyber incidents. CyberUP is a comprehensive cyber umbrella policy designed to fill policy gaps by dropping down, not overlapping, existing policies across multiple lines of coverage. CyberUP provides retailers and insureds peace of mind for whatever type of losses are triggered from a cyber event. Contact your Amwins professional lines broker or visit amwins.com/cyberup to learn more.

Need help determining your insureds specific silent cyber exposure and whether they need CyberUP? Weve developed a self-evaluation tool to identify risk factors and deliver an easy-to-understand score that retailers can share with their insured.

Take the Silent Cyber Exposure Evaluation.

About the Authors

This article was written by Kasey Armstrong and Megan North, professional lines brokers with Amwins Brokerage in Seattle, WA and the creators of CyberUP.

Topics Cyber
A federal judge rejected a request by New York City to dismiss lawsuits claiming police violated the constitutional rights of people protesting racial injustice after the death of George Floyd last year.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in Manhattan on Friday ruled that plaintiffs in six consolidated suits, including one brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, had properly alleged that police engaged in widespread use of excessive force and mass arrests.

The ruling affirms the strength of the legal claims but doesnt address the merits of the dispute, which could ultimately be resolved at trial.

James sued the city and Mayor Bill de Blasio in January over the alleged conduct, claiming state investigators had established an egregious abuse of police power overseen by leadership that was unable or unwilling to stop it. The treatment of Black Lives Matter protests was just the latest example, the AG said.

McMahon rejected the citys argument that the lawsuits are irrelevant because the New York Police Department is weighing policy changes following an internal review. The judge said the changes are not yet in effect.

Plaintiffs identify a number of police practices that were allegedly wrongfully used or abused during the BLM protests and pleads facts from which it could be inferred that this was not some one off instance of misuse of these practices, but had been part and parcel of the NYPDs arsenal for dealing with political protests for that past two decades, McMahon said.

McMahon did toss out claims against de Blasio and others in their official capacity, though claims against the term-limited Democrat in his personal capacity remain. The judge also backed the mayors right to issue a curfew thats at the heart of some of the lawsuits.

In issuing and enforcing the curfew order during the pandemic, the goal was public safety, Brachah Goykadosh, a senior counsel in the NYC Law Department, said in an emailed statement. The New York City Police Department remains committed to continuing to refine its policing to ensure public safety, as well as the protection of every citizens constitutional rights.

The judge voiced some criticism of the lawsuits, saying in her ruling that they failed to acknowledge the seriousness of the looting and vandalism that was associated with the largely peaceful protests.

The Attorney General, as befits her office, does admit that there were instances of property damage and injuries to NYPD officers, although the complaint minimizes the seriousness of this misbehavior, the judge said.

The attorney generals office declined to comment.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation New York Law Enforcement
Tri-State Consumer Insurance Company will pay a $500,000 penalty to New York state for multiple violations of New York law.

A New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) investigation uncovered that Tri-State failed to timely comply with New York State Insurance Regulation 150s prohibition on insurers using an individuals occupational status and/or educational level in setting rates.

The use of education and occupation in determining insurance rates can penalize drivers without college degrees or who work in low-wage jobs or industries. The result is that drivers with higher education and income pay less for auto insurance with no evidence that they are better drivers.

Over the course of the investigation, DFS repeatedly expressed concerns about Tri-States approach to compliance, and as part of its agreement with DFS, the company has agreed to employ a competent general counsel and/or chief compliance officer going forward.

We expect all regulated insurance entities to be in compliance with New York State Insurance Law and Regulations, said DFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell in a press release issued by her office. Regulation 150 protects New York consumers from unfair discrimination, which is critically important as we continue the fight for racial and economic justice.

Source: New York State Department of Financial Services

Topics Carriers
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced a $4.5 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma over the companys role in falsely marketing its products.

The owners of Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family, will be required to pay $4.5 billion over the next nine years, with New York state expected to receive at least $200 million.

Funding from the settlement will be used to fund opioid prevention, treatment and recovery programs in communities across the country, and thousands of individual victims will also receive compensation as part of Purdues bankruptcy process. Additionally, the settlement requires the Sackler family to relinquish control of family foundations to the trustees of a contemplated National Opioid Abatement Trust dedicated to abating the opioid crisis.

The opioid epidemic was created by unscrupulous opioid companies who put personal profit over the health and safety of our state, and countless New Yorkers have suffered as a result, Cuomo said in a press release issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). The families and loved ones who have been impacted by this crisis deserve justice, and this agreement with Purdue is just the first step in affording some measure of accountability for the human and financial toll they have inflicted.

The settlement between New York State and Purdue Pharma shuts down Purdue Pharma and prevents the Sackler family from manufacturing opioids in the future. The agreement also prohibits the Sackler family from requesting or permitting any new naming rights in connection with charitable or similar donations or organizations for the next nine years.

Additionally, the agreement will make public documents related to the company and the familys role in fueling the opioid epidemic, including confidential communications and documents related to the sale and marketing of dangerous opioid products.

If approved by the bankruptcy court, the settlement would also resolve DFS bankruptcy claim against Purdue. In September 2019, Governor Cuomo and DFS announced a broad investigation into the opioid crisis and the effect it has had on the insurance industry and health insurance premiums for consumers.

In July 2020, DFS filed a proof of claim in the Purdue bankruptcy for monetary penalties that DFS is statutorily authorized to levy for insurance fraud and misrepresentations, as much as $5,000 per each inappropriate opioid prescription for chronic pain. DFS investigation and administrative claims against opioid manufacturers and others remain ongoing.

The damage of the opioid crisis is immeasurable and irreversible but New Yorks resolution with Purdue Pharma moves justice in the right direction for New Yorkers who have endured this crisis, DFS Superintendent Linda A. Lacewell said in the release. Through ongoing investigations and administrative proceedings, DFS remains committed to holding opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable for their actions to protect consumers and shed light on the crisis effect on the health insurance system.

Purdue Pharma did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Source: New York State Department of Financial Services

Topics New York
A district council in eastern Germany has declared a disaster after its computer systems were paralyzed by a hacker attack in what the federal cyber-security watchdog confirmed was the countrys first-ever cyber-catastrophe.

Hackers knocked out the IT operations of the municipality of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, on Tuesday, a spokesperson confirmed to Reuters on Saturday.

We are almost completely paralyzed, the spokesperson said, adding its offices would probably remain offline next week and giving no indication of when services would resume.

Kaseya Ransomware Attack by REvil Gang Is Global in Scale Update: Ransomware Attack on Kaseya Affects Up to 1,500 Firms; Hackers Ask $70M

The municipality declined comment on the identity of the attacker or whether they had made a ransom demand, citing a police investigation. Security sources say German local governments often run outdated and poorly maintained software systems that could be wide open to cyber attack.

The rural district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, with a population of 157,000, is for the time being unable to pay out welfare benefits. Its consequent catastrophe declaration is a formal step that allows it to call for federal help.

The cyber attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting public infrastructure, including the recent takedown of the U.S. Colonial Pipeline, while extortionists have also targeted widely used IT applications with ransomware attacks.

Germanys BSI cyber-security agency said it had sent a crisis team to Anhalt-Bitterfeld. A spokesperson said that, although other local authorities had been the victim of cyberattacks, none had declared a catastrophe as a result.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke; writing by Douglas Busvine; editing by David Holmes)

Related:

Topics Catastrophe Cyber Germany
Rokstone, the international speciality re/insurance MGA, part of the Aventum Group, announced it has secured an insurance agent license from the Financial Services Commission in Mauritius (FSC).

The company is now fully authorized to underwrite business directly in Africa from its office in Mauritius. Initially writing political violence & terrorism and property, the Mauritian office expects to offer financial lines later in the year.

The political violence & terrorism facility has A-rated capacity from Lloyds syndicates with capacity of US$100 million per risk. The cover uniquely reflects the emerging and current terrorist threats, with additional emphasis on crisis management, victim support and rehabilitation. Quotes can be obtained within 24 hours. The property binder has A-rated capacity from AM Best with a US$15 million line.

We continue to grow the groups geographic presence and diversify its speciality product range. Having boots firmly in the ground in the region means we can better serve our clients with a fast, responsive local service and unbeatable cover, according to Vinaye Seebaluck, director and head of Underwriting, Rokstone Mauritius.

We have strong growth targets in the region and expect to be writing US$8 million premium before the end of the year, he added.

Having a local license in Mauritius will save our brokers in Africa valuable time, as they dont need to go through a Lloyds broker and wait for the risk to be passed around the market, Seebaluck said.

The Rokstone Mauritius office is managed by Seebaluck and Avinash Seebhujun, executive director and head of Compliance. Seebaluck has over 18 years experience in re/insurance, heading up various special risks and political violence portfolios for several large local companies such as Jubilee Insurance (Mauritius) Ltd., AXA Africa Specialty Risks and Swan Insurance.

Seebhujun has more than 12 years of legal and compliance experience in several sectors including re/insurance, banking, leasing and financial services. He has worked at Rand Merchant Bank, based in South Africa, and AXA Africa Specialty Risks before joining Rokstone.

The group said it is now recruiting to add additional specialist underwriters to grow the team in line with expected growth.

With offices in the UK, Europe, U.S., Asia, Africa and Middle East, Rokstone currently underwrites US$500 million in gross written premiums in several specialty lines such as marine, terrorism & political violence, direct & facultative property, property treaty, construction & engineering, marine cargo and liability. Rokstone is asister company to Consilium, the international re/insurance broker  both part of Aventum Group.

Photograph: A city street in the center of Port Louis, the capital of the island of Mauritius in December 2019.

Related:

Topics Underwriting Insurance Wholesale
Royal Dutch Shell Plc has abandoned its final attempt to argue that a major lawsuit brought by thousands of Nigerians over an oil spill in the West African country should be heard in Nigeria rather than the UK.

Shells legal team declined to return to Englands High Court with arguments that the five-year-old case would be better heard in Nigeria, according to the parties in the case, conceding that the Nigerian subsidiary will now be joined to claims made in England against the parent company.

The UK Supreme Court said in a landmark ruling in February that Shells parent company could be sued in English courts for the actions of its Nigerian subsidiary. The court, however, left the door open for Shell to argue that it was more appropriate to leave any action against the local unit to Nigerian courts. By including the subsidiary in the UK proceedings, more documents about Shells work in Nigeria are likely to be made public.

Read more: Shell Loses Landmark Climate Case in Ruling with Global Implications for Big Oil

This is a significant win for the affected communities because it means they can finally bring their case to trial, Daniel Leader, a lawyer who represents the claimants, said in a statement. However, he added, Shells oil contamination remains in their drinking water, land and waterways, and still no clean-up has taken place.

Shell declined to comment. The company said in February that it cleans up any environmental damage regardless of the cause.

The decision follows a pair of recent legal defeats for Shell. A Dutch court in January ordered the company to pay compensation to villagers in the Niger Delta over an oil spill decades ago. In a separate trial in The Hague in May, Shell lost a key case in which it was told to slash emissions by 45% across all its international operations by 2030.

About 40,000 members of Nigerias Ogale and Bille communities allege that Royal Dutch Shell and SPDC, its local subsidiary, are jointly responsible for oil contamination theyve suffered in the Niger Delta since the 1980s. The campaign came to prominence under the leadership of Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed by the Nigerian government in 1995.

Shell has a fraught history in the West African nation, where a series of oil spills, which it blames in part on sabotage, have led it to reassess its future there. In May, Chief Executive Ben van Beurden told shareholders that the balance of risks and rewards associated with our onshore portfolio is no longer compatible with our strategic ambitions.

The company set out a plan earlier this year to become net-zero in terms of its carbon emissions by 2050.

Photograph: A Shell logo sits on a totem sign at a Royal Dutch Shell Plc fuel filling station in Rayleigh, UK, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Energy Oil Gas
Fifteen more states reached an agreement with Purdue Pharma LP and members of its wealthy Sackler family owners that moved the OxyContin maker a step closer to resolving widespread opioid litigation and exiting bankruptcy protection.

All but a handful of states nationwide now support Purdues bankruptcy plan, with the latest agreement emerging after weeks of mediation.

The deal, outlined in bankruptcy court papers filed late on Wednesday, was reached after Sackler family members agreed to contribute another $50 million toward a proposed litigation settlement and to release tens of millions of additional internal documents for public inspection.

Another $175 million would come from relinquishing control of family charitable institutions. The Sackler family members have also agreed to a prohibition with regard to naming rights associated with charitable contributions until litigation settlement funds are fully paid, the documents said.

In all, the Sackler contributions toward Purdues bankruptcy-exit plan now total roughly $4.5 billion.

The plan aims to resolve some 3,000 lawsuits brought by U.S. communities alleging Purdue and its family owners contributed to an opioid crisis that has claimed the lives of roughly 500,000 people since 1999, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Stamford, Connecticut-based company and family members have denied the allegations in the litigation.

Purdue said that the latest agreement built on support from other creditors in the companys bankruptcy proceedings and that it hoped to reach additional consensus on its plan to move billions of dollars of value into trusts for addressing the U.S. opioid crisis. Sackler family members called the deal an important step toward providing substantial resources for people and communities in need.

The agreement, supported by longstanding holdouts including Massachusetts and New York, sets the stage for Purdue to gain court approval in coming weeks for its bankruptcy plan, which the company values at more than $10 billion. That value is contingent in part on future donations of overdose reversal and addiction treatment medications the company has under development.

The plan would dissolve the company and shift assets to trusts run on behalf of plaintiffs that alleged the company and its owners aggressively marketed the painkiller OxyContin while playing down its abuse and overdose risks.

While I know this resolution does not bring back loved ones or undo the evil of what the Sacklers did, forcing them to turn over their secrets by providing all the documents, forcing them to repay billions, forcing the Sacklers out of the opioid business, and shutting down Purdue will help stop anything like this from ever happening again, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, the first attorney general to sue Sackler family members, said in a statement.

If approved by the court, the bankruptcy plan would include legal releases shielding the Sacklers from future litigation. A bankruptcy judge halted lawsuits against both the company and the Sacklers after Purdue filed for Chapter 11 court protection in 2019.

It is upsetting that the Sackler family never declared bankruptcy yet were still granted all the same protections of bankruptcy as their company, New York Attorney General Letitia James said during a news conference with Healey and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Thursday.

There is no perfect solution here, James added. But we cant let perfect be the enemy of the good. This deal gets one of the nations most harmful drug dealers out of the opioid business.

Healey, who said she spoke to opioid victims earlier on Thursday, urged reform in aspects of the U.S. legal system that allowed the Sacklers to obtain relief from a federal bankruptcy court. But she welcomed the additional deposition transcripts, emails and other evidence that will eventually be online forever, searchable and free to the public.

Purdue in November separately pleaded guilty to three felonies arising from its marketing of prescription opioid painkillers, part of a separate settlement eclipsing $8 billion to resolve U.S. Justice Department criminal and civil investigations.

Sackler family members have not been criminally charged. They previously agreed to pay $225 million to resolve separate civil allegations with the Justice Department. The family members have denied those allegations.

(Reporting by Mike Spector; Editing by Howard Goller)
A bulletin released by the Texas Department of Insurance summarizes the changes to the requirements for agent licensing contained in HB 4030, passed this year by the 87th Texas Legislature.

TDI outlined the revisions as follows:

Increases ethics continuing education requirements

The continuing education requirement for ethics increased from two hours to three hours per license period for licenses expiring on or after Sept. 30, 2022. This change doesnt affect the total number of hours required during the two-year licensing period. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) will be providing more information on when licensees must complete the additional ethics training. To make sure you get the notice, sign up for email alerts about agents and adjusters.

Removes the life and health insurance counselor license

All active life and health insurance counselor licenses issued before June 1, 2021, will be converted to a general lines agent license with a life, accident, and health qualification.

Licensees must comply with all requirements of the general lines agent license with a life, accident, and health qualification to keep the license active and in good standing.

Removes insurance service representative license

All active insurance service representative licenses issued before June 1, 2021, will be converted to a general lines agent license with a property and casualty qualification.

Licensees must comply with all requirements of the general lines agent license with a property and casualty qualification to keep the license active and in good standing.

Removes home office salaried employees

The registration for home office salaried employees will be discontinued starting Sept. 1, 2021. Anyone who engages in the business of insurance must get the appropriate license.

Subagent appointments

There is no longer a subagent designation under Insurance Code Chapter 4001. All agents must be appointed by an insurance company to engage in the business of insurance.

Other changes

Companies are no longer required to report and register each branch location.

A clearance letter is no longer required in a nonresident agents application for a comparable license for Texas residents.

Nonresident public insurance adjusters no longer need to provide a certificate or letter of authorization from their state of residence or provide an annual affidavit stating they are familiar with Texas laws.

HB 4030 allows TDI to stop accepting provisional applications unless application processing time is 21 days or greater in the last 90 days.

HB 4030 automatically suspends, cancels, or revokes a nonresident Texas license if the home state suspends, cancels, or revokes the home state license.

For questions about this bulletin, contact the Agent and Adjuster Licensing Office at 512-676-6500 or license@tdi.texas.gov.

Source: TDI

Topics Agencies Texas
South Carolina is transferring its insurance fraud investigations from the attorney general to the insurance regulator.

Ray Farmer, director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI), said he has entered into an agreement with Attorney General Alan Wilson and Chief Mark Keel of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to transfer insurance fraud enforcement to the SCDOI.

The officials also announced that the South Carolina General Assembly has approved $2 million in funding for the investigation and prosecution of insurance fraud.

Under the transfer agreement, the SCDOI will investigate and prosecute fraud in the insurance industry using SLED agents. Indictments will be presented to the attorney generals office for approval and the attorney general retains prosecutorial authority.

According to the attorney generals 2020 insurance fraud report, South Carolina ranks 8th in staged car wreck complaints and 17th for complaints of suspected insurance fraud.

The General Assemblys budget for the 2021  2022 fiscal year includes $2 million in appropriations to the SCDOI for insurance fraud enforcement, representing a 400% increase in funding over current levels.

Topics Fraud South Carolina
A South Carolina agency cleared a former Charleston police lieutenant who was fired for alleged misconduct in a case involving a fellow officer accused of striking a handcuffed man.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council determined that Charleston police failed to establish that former Lt. Arther Myers made false or misleading statements regarding the July 2019 arrest of Rashad Robinson.

With this finding of `no misconduct by the council, Mr. Myers looks forward to continuing to serve the citizens of South Carolina with the same integrity, honor and compassion he has repeatedly demonstrated over the course of that distinguished career, Myers attorney, Jack Frost, said Friday.

Myers was fired after investigators interviewed him about the arrest. Myers and officer Kevin Schlieben had apprehended Robinson on charges of trespassing, jaywalking and evading arrest following a chase, The Post and Courier reported.

Schlieben ended up charged with third degree assault and battery, with investigators saying body camera video showed him striking Robinson after binding him with handcuffs. The charge was dismissed in March after a judge threw out the arrest warrant for the officer.

Frost said Myers will start a new job this month as a police officer in Summerville. Schlieben is now a Charleston firefighter.

Robinson has a civil lawsuit pending against Charleston police, accusing the department of negligence, false arrest and assault and battery in connection to his arrest.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement South Carolina
Firefighters struggled to contain an exploding Northern California wildfire under blazing temperatures as another heat wave blanketed the West, prompting an excessive heat warning for inland and desert areas.

Death Valley in southeastern Californias Mojave Desert reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, according to the National Weather Services reading at Furnace Creek. The shockingly high temperature was actually lower than the previous day, when the location reached 130 F.

If confirmed as accurate, the 130-degree reading would be the hottest high recorded there since July 1913, when Furnace Creek desert hit 134 F, considered the highest measured temperature on Earth.

About 300 miles northwest of the sizzling desert, the largest wildfire of the year in California was raging along the border with Nevada. The Beckwourth Complex Fire  a combination of two lightning-caused fires burning 45 miles north of Lake Tahoe  showed no sign of slowing its rush northeast from the Sierra Nevada forest region after doubling in size between Friday and Saturday.

Late Saturday, flames jumped Interstate 395 and was threatening properties in Nevadas Washoe County. Take immediate steps to protect large animals and livestock, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District tweeted.

The blaze, which was only 8% contained, increased dramatically to 86 square miles as firefighters sweltered in 100-degree temperatures.

It was one of several threatening homes across Western states that were expected to see triple-digit heat through the weekend as a high-pressure zone blankets the region.

Pushed by strong winds, a wildfire in southern Oregon doubled in size to 120 square miles Saturday as it raced through heavy timber in the Fremont-Winema National Forest near the Klamath County town of Sprague River.

The National Weather Service warned the dangerous conditions could cause heat-related illnesses, while Californias power grid operator issued a statewide Flex Alert from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday to avoid disruptions and rolling blackouts.

The California Independent System Operator warned of potential power shortage, not only because of mounting heat, but because a wildfire in southern Oregon was threatening transmission lines that carry imported power to California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation on Friday suspending rules to allow for more power capacity, and the ISO requested emergency assistance from other states. On Saturday, Newsom issued another proclamation allowing the emergency use of auxiliary ship engines to relieve pressure on the electric grid.

Palm Springs in Southern California hit a record high temperature of 120 F Saturday. It was the fourth time temperatures have reached 120 degrees so far this year, the Desert Sun reported.

In Californias agricultural Central Valley, 100-degree temperatures blanketed the region, with Fresno reaching 111 degrees F, just one degree short of the all-time high for the date,

Las Vegas late Saturday afternoon tied the all-time record high of 117 F, the National Weather Service said. The city has recorded that record-high temperature four other times, most recently in June 2017.

NV Energy, Nevadas largest power provider, also urged customers to conserve electricity Saturday and Sunday evenings because of the heat wave and wildfires affecting transmission lines throughout the region.

In Southern California, a brush fire sparked by a burning big rig in eastern San Diego County forced evacuations of two Native American reservations Saturday.

In north-central Arizona, Yavapai County on Saturday lifted an evacuation warning for Black Canyon City, an unincorporated town 43 miles north of Phoenix, after a fire in nearby mountains no longer posed a threat. In Mohave County, Arizona, two firefighters died Saturday after a aircraft they were in to respond to a small wildfire crashed, local media reported.

A wildfire in southeast Washington grew to almost 60 square miles as it blackened grass and timber while it moved into the Umatilla National Forest.

In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little declared a wildfire emergency Friday and mobilized the states National Guard to help fight fires sparked after lightning storms swept across the drought-stricken region.

Associated Press writers Bob Jablon in Los Angeles, Martha Bellisle in Seattle and Paul Davenport in Phoenix contributed to this story.

Related:

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire
Jurors have awarded $1.5 million to a man who was run over by a Tacoma police officer.

Emanuel Andrade sued the Police Department, the city and Officer Luke Faulkner, the News Tribune reported. Andrade alleged the officer in 2014 was messaging a coworker on his computer about meal plans when he slowly rolled over Andrade, who had been lying in the street after drinking.

Jurors returned their verdict earlier this month after several days of deliberation and a more than two-week trial in Pierce County Superior Court.

They awarded $3.5 million, but reduced that by 50% because they found Andrade 50% responsible in the incident.

The City Attorneys Office said in a statement that the city was hoping for a different outcome and will evaluate the results to determine if further steps are necessary.

Dan Hannula, an attorney who represented Andrade, said Wednesday: I thought it was a fair result, and our client is pleased with the verdict.  I think its a case where clearly our client should not have been drinking.

He said Andrade, a former soldier, suffered from PTSD and had been self-medicating. Since then, Hannula said, the 30-year-old has been getting treatment through the Veterans Administration and has earned a two-year degree.

He still suffers pain from his injuries, Hannula said, which included head injuries and broken bones.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Washington Law Enforcement
A commitment from members of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to arrange an urgent meeting with the Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Housing to find an immediate resolution to the crisis engulfing Irelands horticultural sector, has been welcomed by Growing Media Ireland (GMI).

The commitment was made during a joint committee meeting recently when GMI, the representative group for the majority of horticultural peat and growing media producers in Ireland, warned that over 17,000 jobs across Irelands horticultural sector are at real risk of being lost over the coming months because of ongoing restrictions on peat harvesting.

GMI is seeking the introduction of emergency legislation to enable an immediate resumption of peat harvesting.

GMI says that the entire sector has experienced extreme challenges over the past 18 months, following a September 2019 High Court ruling that means harvesting peat from Irish bogs greater than 30 hectares requires a complex licencing and planning regime.

This has resulted in horticultural peat harvesting on Irish bogs all but ceasing, while current reserve supplies will be exhausted by September.

The sector will be forced to import peat into Ireland at a higher cost both financially and environmentally.

The sector

Meanwhile, horticultural peat is a universal ingredient for nearly all plant species in almost all production systems in Ireland.

Irelands mushroom and vegetable industries are particularly reliant on it.

6,600 people are directly employed full-time in the sector, while another 11,000 are indirectly employed in value added and downstream businesses.

These jobs are highly concentrated in specific areas in the midlands and West and are being needlessly put at risk.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine estimates the sector has a farm gate value of 477m annually.

GMI has outlined the actions required to avert the crisis for the horticultural sector and these include:

An immediate lifting of restrictions on peat harvesting for 2021 to avoid a shortage this year and in 2022;

The introduction of a fair and workable licensing system to allow for the phasing out of horticultural peat harvesting over a transition period to a target date of 2030, allowing alternatives to be developed but ensuring that there is a secure supply of growing media during that period, so the sustainable horticultural sector is not jeopardised;

A commitment to ensuring that peatlands are harvested in such a way that they are in the best possible condition for a planned and structured restoration;

The establishment of Just Transition supports to protect jobs and businesses into the future.

I would like to thank the members of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine for their pledge to resolve the crisis in our horticultural sector, John Neenan, Chairman of GMI said.

Their commitment to meeting with the various departments is a positive step in the right direction to hopefully securing a necessary resumption of peat harvesting.

Thousands of jobs in the midlands and West of Ireland across our sector will be lost unless we can get back to peat harvesting this summer.
There's a photograph in Esther Freuds office of a beautiful young girl in first communion bridal glory. I noticed it on the shelf behind her as we talked of her latest novel, and she said it was her late mum, Bernadine Coverley  who inspired the plot of I Couldnt Love You More. Showing me the photo, close up, as we talk via zoom, Esther says that she looked at it a lot when she was writing the book.

She died ten years ago, she says. I miss her a lot; we were very close, always. When she started thinking about this ninth novel back in 2015, she wanted to write a series of love stories based on three generations of women. And she chose to model this on her grandmother, her mother and herself, mostly as a matter of convenience. But the more she thought about her mothers story, the more compelling the idea became.

What happened to her, was that when she was a teenager, she became involved with my father, (The famous artist, Lucien Freud.) When she was 16 her family had moved from London to a farm in Ireland. She became pregnant at 18 and decided not to tell her family. That first baby, Bella, was soon joined by Esther, but it was many years before her mothers family knew of their existence.

We went off to Morocco and we didnt come back until I was six and my sister was eight.

That story ended up in Esthers debut novel, Hideous Kinky, later filmed starring Kate Winslet. But although Esther has mined much of her famous background in fiction, she has never seen this part from her mothers point of view.

As I started to write about her, I began to wonder what it must have been like, she says. Id always hoped Id be able to ask her how it felt to be estranged from her own parents. She did say to me that she had been scared she could have ended up in one of those homes, but I didnt really believe her. I thought, of course not, but when I began doing my research, I realised these things were possible.

The three women in Esthers novel are Aoife, her daughter Rosaleen, and Kate. These interlinking stories weave their way through the text. While all three women have their problems, Its Rosaleen  evacuated from London as a small child  who carries the most pain. Finding herself pregnant and adrift in London, she asks advice from a Catholic priest and ends up in the Bessborough Mother and baby home in Cork.

I started my research thinking that only happened to rural girls, but I discovered heart-rending stories. There was a teacher in her early forties who thought shed met someone who wanted to marry her. Abandoned, she went to the home thinking, oh well, they will help me.

Most of us are, by now, familiar with the way babies were taken from their heartbroken mothers  and of the cruelty meted out to women in labour, but Freuds tale is so powerful, that you feel the shock of it all over again. As she talks of it, Esther is visibly upset.

When she began the book, news of the mass grave of babies who died at the Tuam mother and baby home started filtering through.

The writing of the book covered the time the report was being created, she says. All sorts of news kept coming up and side-tracking me. It derailed me. Such sad stories, it made my skin creep with pain. I started thinking, should I be setting the book now?

It took a lot out of me, she says. I felt I was climbing a steep mountain with a large pack on my back. I thought, maybe I have lost the ability to write freely. Ive been writing for thirty years, maybe Ive run out of steam. Leaving school at 16, Esther was an actress before she turned to writing. Does she miss it?

Never! Being a writer gives so much nourishment and freedom. Its hard but Im grateful for it. Even if a story comes to nothing, Im happy that Ive written it. Its the making of something that brings the reward. Even so, when she handed the 500-page manuscript to her editor, she was in for a shock.

She said, Im sorry, I just have no idea whats going on. Ive never had that experience before. It was pretty agonising. But we sat and talked, and she suggested some radical changes. I listened and thought, well I wont do that, but I will do this  and I turned it round in two months into the book you have read. Its a wonderful read. And especially for the contrasting ways in which the three generations relate to their men. For Aoife, her husband is everything. They work together, first in a pub, then on the farm. He expects, and she gives, absolute loyalty.

My mothers generation started to pull away and see what else was going on in the world. They were so much less conventional, and women of my generation are obsessed with their children. The men come and go and hardly get a look in!

I also wanted to show all the different ways women explain and protect their men, she says. Theyre expectations are so low. You go, at least hes funny, or hes good looking. Were all flawed. But these women have different struggles although they do all love their men. Felix Lichman, the famous artist the fictitious Rosaleen falls for is clearly based on Lucien Freud. And that explains why the scenes showing Rosaleen posing for him, finding his passionate preoccupation with his art frustrating, feel so eerily authentic.

I sat for my father a lot from the age of 16, says Esther. It was my teenage job and I sat for him several times a week. The last time was when he painted me with my first child at 31 or 32. You dont have time to sit for hours and hours once you have children. Those children are now 26, 23 and 17. The younger two are currently living with Esther and her partner, a university professor, in St Johns Wood. And it made the second lockdown pretty stressful.

My daughter was home from university. She is a big force and was starting a business. She regaled me with the highs and lows throughout the day. It was impossible to concentrate. Back in November, Esther bumped into the writer Tracey Chevalier, who was about to leave London for the country.

She kindly gave me her key and I went to her house each day to write short stories. And honesty, it was like Id suddenly learned to play the piano. My fingers were just flying. I was so relieved. And Ive just heard some incredible news. One of my stories has been accepted for the New Yorker. Talking of the novel, and of the struggles, Esther tells me that lots of things changed for her in those years. She wrote her first play, which was performed in 2018.

And within that time, I have to say I got divorced, moved house, and met someone new. In spite of those distractions, Esther has produced one of the most powerfully affecting novels Ive read in a while. Is she happy with it?

I feel lightheaded that Ive done this, she says. And I feel a lovely connection with my mother. Ive told the story she probably would never have told. But I know it was of deep, deep importance to her the way the girls were shamed and isolated.
A young mother who died following a hit-and-run in Co Donegal had been out window shopping for wedding dresses just a few hours earlier.

Laura Connolly, aged 34, was knocked down as she was returning from a night out with friends in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Gardai had issued an appeal for the driver involved in the incident to come forward. A man in his 40s has since been arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and is being questioned at Letterkenny Garda station.

Family and friends of the 34-year-old mother-of-one from the border village of Lifford posted tributes to her on social media.

Lauras devastated partner Joe McCullagh and the couples young son Jamie are being consoled by family and friends.

The couple, who were teenage sweethearts, were due to tie the knot next year, according to friends.

Friends say Laura had been browsing for wedding dresses in nearby Strabane earlier on Saturday and had decided to go out with friends later that night.

Laura Connolly who was fatally injured in a hit and run at Lifford in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Laura was walking towards Townspark, Lifford on the N15 when she was struck by a white van which failed to remain at the scene.

She was rushed by ambulance to Letterkenny University Hospital but pronounced dead a short time later.

A post mortem is due to be held later.

The close-knit border town where Laura grew up has been left stunned by her tragic death.

One of Lauras many friends, Strabane SDLP councillor Jason Barr said his heart ached at the news that she had died.

My heart aches this morning at the devastating news of Laura Connolly.

Laura was one of the most caring, outgoing, bubbly girls you could ever meet, If you wanted a laugh, Laura would have gave it to you.

"A young life taken too soon in such tragic circumstances.

My whole-hearted condolences go out to her mum and dad, fiance, son, siblings, the wider Connolly family circle and her close friends."

Lauras heartbroken uncle Andy Connolly also commented on Facebook This is a traumatic experience for everybody in our family. A very massive shock. A girl so full of life, a son and boyfriend, father, mother, and brother all left with the world turned upside down..

Garda forensics officers examining the scene of the fatal incident. Pictures:NW NEwspix

Mr Connolly added that the entire family will remember the better times they shared.

Traffic diversions were put in place and the scene was preserved for examination by scenes of crime officers and Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.

Investigating Gardai are also appealing to those with video footage (including dashcam) from the scene and along this route to make it available to them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Letterkenny Garda Station 074 9167116 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
A High Court judge has rejected claims that a planning approval for a 27km cycle and pedestrian greenway in south Kerry is invalid.

Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, in a judgment on Monday on two separate challenges to the development, ruled the permission is valid.

He will hear a further module in the case in November to address claims Ireland has not correctly transposed the type of road projects that require environmental impact screening and assessment under EU law. He will also consider claims An Bord Pleanala breached public information requirements of the Roads Act regarding inadequate publication, on its website and in local newspapers, of material and of its decision.

Whatever the outcome of that module, it will not impact on the validity of the permission decision, he stressed.

Because of that, he said he is provisionally minded to discharge the stay on the works after final orders arising from his judgment are made. He will hear submissions in that regard later this month.

Kerry County Council had sought permission for a 31.9km greenway between Glenbeigh and Renard.

Last November, the board granted permission for a 27km greenway between Glenbeigh to just outside Cahersiveen, to run mainly along the disused route of the Southern and Western Railway. It will include a 3m wide paved surface and 122 different types of intersection with other routes.

Read More Population decline in south Kerry justifies greenway project, court told

The permission is subject to several conditions, including an ecological pre-construction survey to check for the presence of protected species, including the Kerry slug and lesser horseshoe bat, and for those to be relocated to a similar habitat, subject to a derogation licence where required.

That permission was subject of two challenge, one by a local farmer, James Clifford, and environmental activist Peter Sweetman. The second was by some local landowners whose lands have been compulsorily acquired for the greenway.

The cases were against the board and various State parties, with the council a notice party.

The grounds of challenge in the Clifford/Sweetman case include claims the permission contravened EU directives on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitats and failed to ensure a system of strict protection for the Kerry slug and Lesser Horseshoe bat in their natural range.

The landowners raised issues about the process resulting in the confirmation of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).

The compulsory purchase orders

In his judgment, the judge rejected arguments of incorrect use of the Roads Act by the council in acquiring the lands for the project or that the processes of CPO and development consent were improperly combined.

A separate order was made in relation to the CPO and there are separate CPO-related reasons, he said.

He rejected arguments the CPO was disproportionate and he found the interference with the landowners' property rights was taken in a lawful manner in the public interest. There was no error in the council looking at economic and population decline in the region in determining whether there was a public need for the CPO, he held.

Other grounds of challenge dismissed

The judge dismissed various other grounds of challenge, including claims of a lack of reasons for the boards approval decision.

The court, he stressed, is not concerned with whether the greenway itself, or imposing 32 double sets of cattle grids on it, is a good idea or not.

The board, he noted, seemed not to have given any objectifiable consideration to whether the concerns of the landowners over straying cattle had any reality or not. It seemed the council did not share that concern, he said.

The board inspector had said such cattle grids are used on the Great Western Greenway but the information concerning that was not comprehensive, he said.

While it is desirable for the board to make explicit reference to relevant objective standards, failure to do so is not automatically a basis to quash a decision, he said. For reasons including the point was not adequately pleaded, he refused to quash the permission on that basis.

Various grounds of challenge based on alleged breach of EU law, including failure to establish a system of strict protection for the Kerry slug, were also rejected. The establishment of a strict protection system is a matter for the State and an individual planning decision cannot be condemned for failure to establish it, he said.

He rejected claims there was no proper assessment of the impact on farming or that the omission of a section of the greenway amounted to project splitting contrary to the EIA Directive.
Last Wednesday, at 45 minutes to midnight, Jacob Zuma blinked. In what was the most consequential moment for the rule of law in post-apartheid South Africa, the former president handed himself into police.

Zuma was, in fact, three days late. The apex constitutional court ruled last week that he must surrender himself by the previous Sunday on a charge of contempt of court, after repeatedly refusing to appear before a statutory commission looking at allegations of corruption made against him.

If he did not voluntarily turn himself in, the police minister was set to arrest him by midnight. For the previous week, Zuma and his supporters  gathered outside his rural redoubt near Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal  threatened resistance and even war against the state if the authorities tried to enter the compound, while his lawyers engaged in futile litigation to try to get him off the hook (a judge later dismissed Zumas application).

The ruling African National Congress dispatched its leadership to defuse the situation. Yet deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte publicly wished Zuma success in challenging his incarceration. The party seemed divided.

Outside Zumas Nkandla homestead, police failed to disperse the event that attracted hundreds over the weekend and contravened Covid restrictions. South Africa is in a lethal Delta variant-driven third wave with all public meetings banned.

Jacob Zuma addresses his supporters at his home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Natal Province before his arrest. Picture: AP Photo/Shiraaz Mohamed

At a press briefing, Zuma had the audacity to compare the regulations to apartheid-era states of emergency, offering them as proof of the governments tyranny. Yet, he simultaneously complained that, by sending him to jail in the midst of the pandemic, the constitutional court was handing him a death sentence.

When asked if hed instruct his supporters not to resist his arrest, the former president warned, Trumpishly, you must not provoke people.

His lawyer Dali Mpofu outrageously issued the same threat to a judge, evoking the ghost of the 2012 Marikana massacre, where police killed 34 striking miners, by suggesting that the imperative of not causing another Marikana should override any legal consideration of jurisdiction. The police minister Bheki Cele prevaricated. Finally, at the very last moment on Wednesday night, a large police contingent headed off to Nkandla to do its job. This is when Zuma decided to turn himself in.

Zuma is deeply implicated in whats become known as state capture: the kleptocracy forged by the relationship between the president and many others in government with a criminal syndicate run by the Gupta family.

It was Zumas refusal to appear before what has become known as the state capture commission that led to his contempt sentence. He is also currently on trial for corruption charges relating to an arms deal when he was deputy president. He denies any wrongdoing, despite the mounds of evidence, much of it submitted to the commission he refuses to attend, on the grounds that it is biased against him.

Those in power and those in the judiciary clearly dont know what it means to wield power, said Zuma to his supporters on the weekend, about the constitutional courts judgment. He meant that the court and the state were abusing their powers, but also  ominously  that such powers were puny when faced with those of a martial and canny patriarch such as himself.

It was a taunt, and his capitulation on Wednesday night is nothing less than a triumph for the rule of law in a country whose post-apartheid promise has been trashed by such impunity.

Zuma might style himself a prisoner of conscience, but South Africans have now witnessed, tangibly, the power of this countrys constitution and the courts that are its custodian to put even an ex-president behind bars.

Does this mean we are entering a new era of constitutionalism that might deliver on the promises of the Mandela era? Zumas successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, led the charge to fire him as president because of the corruption allegations, and wants to be the face of a clean ANC. He faces a sisyphean task.

Even his supposed allies turn out to be compromised. He had to put his health minister Zweli Mhkize on special leave last month after it was revealed that he was implicated in a racket to divert Covid-19 communications funds to cronies alleged to have benefited his family in return.

While Digital Vibes  the communications company Mkhize allegedly instructed his department to contract, run by a close friend  ran profligate press conferences and pocketed millions of rand, there has been virtually no government outreach campaign to citizens about vaccination.

A protester finds material to feed a burning barricade on a street in Durban during a protest against the imprisonment of Jacob Zuma. Picture: AP Photo

The outrage is that South Africa is far behind its vaccination targets, because of fear and ignorance, rather than resource scarcity. This as the third wave bites, with more than 20,000 new cases and 400 deaths reported a day at the moment.

Meanwhile, the state electricity provider continues to regularly plunge us into darkness as a consequence of corruption and mismanagement, and the passenger rail system barely functions.

The reasons for this, and other serious problems in the states ability to govern, have been amply aired at the state capture commission. But so deep was the damage done by Zuma and his cronies to the criminal justice system that the National Prosecuting Authority has been unable, yet, to lay charges against all but one or two of the perpetrators.

In truth, we have more to fear from the continuing corruption and inefficiency in Ramaphosas government than from the political instability that Zumas supporters might cause. Although there have been protests across KwaZulu-Natal this morning, the anxiety over a backlash to his arrest is overstated: although he is much loved in his home province and too many people feel sorry for him, his diehards are a ragtag coterie. Increasingly alienated from a Ramaphosa-led ANC, they will likely ally themselves with Julius Malemas thuggish Economic Freedom Fighters to the left.

The best way to limit the growth of such a coalition of malcontents is for the government to provide decent services, a feasible plan to revive the tanking economy, and a reason for South Africans to trust that they will be protected by the police and the courts against endemic lawlessness. The rot that travels down from high-level state corruption to street level, and criminality causes people to live in a state of perpetual fear.

Deputy chief justice Sisi Khampepe began her judgment against Zuma with a quote from Nelson Mandela: We expect you to stand on guard not only against direct assault on the principles of the constitution, but against insidious corrosion.

Mandela said these words to the countrys first constitutional court judges at its inauguration in 1995. Khampepe was using them to send a message to her fellow jurists, to Ramaphosas government, and to all of us South Africans.

Mark Gevisser is a South African author and journalist
Voter turnout is a reliable yardstick measuring the health of a democracy; despite that, the French electorate effectively disengaged from the electoral process last month.

Over two rounds of regional elections for every citizen who chose to vote there were  roughly  three who did not: On June 20, only 26.72% exercised that hard-won right-cum-obligation; slightly more, 27.89% voted in the second round.

Fewer than 20m of the 67m of the Cinquieme Republiques citizens went to a pooling booth.

They may have, like so many sated societies, come to take liberte, egalite, fraternite for granted and imagine it, to one degree or another, permanent. Indeed.

Five years ago, American stability was challenged when 55.7% of the electorate voted and Donald Trump captured the White House.

His unhinged recklessness warned Americans about what could happen if they were inattentive so last November 66.7% voted and renewed the networks bolstering much of Western democracy.

Though at 34.7%, voter turnout in the Dublin Bay South (DBS) by-election last Thursday was closer to the French figure, the ratio from the general election of January 2020  54%  suggests greater engagement.

That Thursdays ratio exceeded the 26% in Dublin Fingal and Dublin Mid-West by-elections in 2019 confirms that.

It also suggests an engagement animated by an utter jadedness with the status quo.

That Labours Ivana Bacik won with over 30%, while her party languishes on 3% screams that appetite. As does the fact that Fianna Fail, so long the kingpins, won less than 5%.

If absorbing statistics is the dusty accountancy of politics then self-awareness is the alchemy needed to succeed.

In the aftermath of Baciks victory Fianna Fail figures have shown, not for the first time, they are unencumbered by the idea of self-awareness.

Former farm minister Barry Cowen called for a meeting on the worst-in-a-century result. Mr Cowen may not realise that the issues, and his evasion, that ended his cabinet career epitomise the behaviour that makes it obligatory for so many to shun Fianna Fail.

The brand has rotted from within.

That Fianna Fails sitting Dublin Bay South TD Jim OCallaghan, a putative leadership challenger, could not, as DBS director of elections, lead the party candidate to even 5%  Sinn Fein got 15.79%  more than suggests he might leaven ambition with a realistic attempt at self-awareness.

It is maybe unfair to focus on these men as they seem to be a reflection of a party lost in a time warp, a reality underlined by party HQs recent call to members to become active on social media.

The announcement last week from minister of state for the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers that some 20% of public service recruits will have to be proficient in Irish by 2030 seems another play-to-the-crowd, good old Ireland fantasy rather than real-world politics.

Of course, the real lesson is not for Fianna Fail  that ship has sailed. It is for Fine Gael, the other Grande Dame of our political world.

And what a simple lesson it is: Change or become irrelevant and redundant ... because there is, thankfully, far more than one Ivana Bacik and as the electorate has shown, when one stands they will vote them in.
Burma Detained Myanmar State Counselor, President Express Grave Concern for People as COVID-19 Surges

Detained leaders State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (left) and President U Win Myint / Myanmar State Counselors Office, Myanmar Presidents Office

Myanmars detained leaders State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint have voiced concern for the peoples health amid an upsurge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The pair made the comments during a meeting with their legal team ahead of their weekly trial hearings on Monday. The court heard from prosecution witnesses in three ongoing trials against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and one against U Win Myint.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi voiced her grave concern for the people during the third wave of COVID-19 in the country. And President U Win Myint also said he was worried about the upsurge in the disease and told us to share his good wishes with the people, the legal defense team said.

It is the third time Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has raised her concerns regarding COVID-19 since her detention.

President U Win Myint also said he is praying for all the people of Myanmar, said lawyer Daw San Mar Lar Nyunt.

Myanmar is experiencing a third wave of coronavirus infections, with the numbers of cases and deaths rising sharply since last month and nearly 90 percent of the countrys townshipsor 296 of 330reporting COVID-19 cases since May.

On Sunday alone, Myanmar reported 82 fatalitiesthe highest death toll since the military coup in Februaryand 3,461 new COVID-19 cases, after testing 10,114 swab samples, according to the juntas Health Ministry. The daily new case load is up from fewer than 200 on June 12. As of Sunday, Myanmar had reported a total of 192,213 COVID-19 cases and 3,833 deaths since March last year.

COVID-19 testing declined from between about 16,000 and 18,000 swab tests a day in January under the ousted NLD civilian government to fewer than 2,000 per day between February and early June. Thousands of healthcare professionals are taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), refusing to work for the military regime.

Swab testing increased again in late June, with over 8,000 tests conducted.

The military regime recently ordered all schools to close again after reopening them last month. After locking down 45 townships last month, the junta on Monday imposed stay-at-home orders on 18 moresix in Bago and 12 in Yangon regionstaking the total number of locked down townships to 63, in Naypyitaw, Sagaing, Bago, Yangon, Mandalay, Magwe and Ayeyarwaddy regions and Chin, Shan and Mon states.



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Burma Detained NLD Legal Chief In Intensive Care with COVID-19

The National League for Democracy's legal adviser U Nyan Win has been detained in Insein Prison since the February coup. / The Irrawaddy

U Nyan Win, a detained central executive committee (CEC) member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), is in intensive care at Yangon General Hospital with COVID-19, according to his lawyer.

The 79-year-old NLD legal adviser was detained on the morning of the Feb. 1 coup, soon after the military detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He was charged with sedition under Article 505(b) of the Penal Code over NLD statements on Feb. 7 and Feb. 13.

On Feb. 1, the NLDs senior leadership, including the whole CEC, were detained by the military. His whereabouts were unknown until March 6, when his family heard he was moved to Insein Prison.

Daw San Mar Lar Nyunt, his lawyer and a family friend, said he was healthy when she met him earlier this month.

He was moved to intensive care on Sunday. On Monday afternoon we briefly talked over the phone. His voice was weak and he said he was tired. We dont know what happened to him, she said.

Daw San Mar Lar Nyunt, who has worked with U Nyan Win for 32 years, represents him and they met every Friday at hearings, which began in mid-April.

The junta suspended trials inside Insein on July 5 due to rising COVID-19 infections. Now defense lawyers are unable to meet their clients.

In March, the junta set up temporary courts inside Myanmars prisons to hear the cases of political prisoners, most of whom are also charged with incitement.

U Nyan Win has been diagnosed with cardiomegaly, an enlargement of the heart, which is often a sign of heart disease. He also has gout and gastric problems.

Daw San Mar Lar Nyunt represents other CEC members, including U Thein Oo, U Han Tha Myint and Dr. Myo Nyunt, who also face sedition charges over the NLDs February statements.

By Saturday, the military regime had killed nearly 900 civilians and detained more than 6,600, of which over 5,000 are still being detained, according to the advocacy group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.



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Silence on Coup Makes Strategic Sense for Myanmars Wa
Guest Column Silence on Coup Makes Strategic Sense for Myanmars Wa

UWSA chair Bao Youxiang attends an event marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of the group. / The Irrawaddy

While the whole country has risen in revolt against the Feb. 1 coupat first peacefully and then more violently when the military began to open fire on the protestersthere is one part of Myanmar that appears to be unaffected by the nationwide turmoil: the Wa Hills of northeastern Shan State. Ethnic groups like the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) have provided shelter to activists who have fled urban areas and even trained some of them in guerrilla warfare. Other ethnic rebels have at least issued statements condemning Senior General Min Aung Hlaings power grab, often working together with civil society organizations. Myanmars most powerful ethnic army, the 20,000-30,000-strong United Wa State Army (UWSA), on the other hand, has remained conspicuously silent since the coup.

But that doesnt mean that all Wa agree with the stance that the UWSA and its political wing, the United Wa State Party (UWSP), have taken. On March 25, 10 Wa civil society organizations, among them the Tang-yan Wa Youth Network, university students from the Wa Christian Fellowship and the Wa Womens Network, sent an open letter to the UWSP/UWSA leadership urging them to say something about the killings and to publicize their stand on the movement for federal democracy. That hasnt happened, though, and the issue at stake is the UWSAs close relationship with the security services across the border in China. Those agencies do not want to get involved with any movement that wants to overthrow the coup-installed government in Naypyitawand the UWSA is an ally in Chinas geostrategic quest for dominance in Myanmar and beyond. Put in plain words, Chinas support for the UWSA gives Beijing leverage inside Myanmar, the only neighboring country that provides China with easy and convenient access to the Indian Ocean.

When Aung Min, then presidents office minister in the Thein Sein administration, visited Monywa, a town northwest of Mandalay, in November 2012 to meet local people protesting a controversial Chinese-backed copper mining project in the area, he openly admitted: We are afraid of Chinawe dont dare to have a row with [them]. If they feel annoyed with the shutdown of their projects and resume support to the communists, the economy in the border areas would backslide. So youd better think seriously. By the communists he clearly meant the UWSA and its allies, offshoots of the once China-supported Communist Party of Burmas (CPB) powerful army, which collapsed after a mutiny among its hilltribemainly Warank-and-file in 1989. And he was right. In fact, the UWSA, which like the old CPB is supported by China, has become even stronger and better equipped than the old party ever was.

The UWSAs strengthand the scope of its arsenalwas demonstrated on April 17, 2019, when it celebrated the 30th anniversary of the mutiny against the elderly, orthodox Marxist-Leninist and mainly Burman leadership of the CPB. The CPB with its increasingly anachronistic policies had lost its importance to the Chinese, who are now more interested in exporting consumer goods than Maoist-style revolutions. The old CPB leaders were allowed to retire in China, and the UWSA and three other components of the erstwhile CPB were born. Those four former CPB forces also entered into ceasefire agreements with the then junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, which suited Chinas interests as well.

On that day, a bit over two years ago, thousands of Wa soldiers in impeccable uniforms goose-stepped in perfect formation past the grandstand where their leaders stood at attention. Then came an impressive display of surface-to-air missiles, heavy artillery, mortars, rocket launchers, machine guns, assault rifles, armored personnel carriers and even a weaponized drone. Columns of civilians, mostly Wa tribesmen but also people from other ethnic groups from the over 30,000-square-km area that the UWSA controls along the Chinese border and in the south near Thailand, made their way to the parade grounds. Spectacular fireworks lit up the sky after dark and people cheered and danced through the night.

Needless to say, Chinas security services do not want to see a war like the one the CPB once fought from the same areas. Such hostilities would mean instability in the border areas, a flood of refugees into China and a disruption of trade between the two countries. But China, almost the sole supplier of weaponry to the UWSA, wants it to be strong enough to deter the Myanmar military, the Tatmadaw, from even trying to bring its base area under central control. As Aung Min inadvertently admitted, the UWSA has become exactly what the Chinese want: a useful bargaining chip when they want to put pressure on the Myanmar government to get economic concessions. Moreover, before the coup, China was also eager to prevent Myanmar from straying too close to the West. But that is hardly an issue today as the West has condemned the coup and imposed sanctions on the Tatmadaw and affiliated entities.

Today, after the coup, China wants to be seen as a moderating voice that, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the opening of the 9th World Peace Forum in Beijing on July 3, is opposed to sanctions and other punitive measures and wants to see a solution to Myanmars current crisis through internal dialogue and reconciliation. Russia, the other main power that has come out against Western condemnation and sanctions in the wake of the coup, has adopted a similar view. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated during a visit to Jakarta on July 6 that his country supported ASEANs five-point proposal for restoring normalcy to Myanmar, which includes a constructive dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the upheaval.

But Wang is not so naive as to believe that such a dialogue leading to reconciliation is possible, and Lavrov, an experienced diplomat, must realize that ASEANs five-point proposal is a nonstarter. Support for ASEANs peace plan, however, serves as a convenient cover for protecting other interests and opposition to the Wests sanctions policy. For the Russians, it is a question of protecting lucrative arms sales to Myanmar and other economic interests, as well as gaining a new ally in a region where Moscows influence has waned since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Chinas long-term objectives go way beyond Russias, and access to the Indian Ocean is only one aspect of Beijings massive, all-encompassing and ultimately global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure project, which President Xi Jinping launched in 2013. Myanmars strategically important location between South and Southeast Asia is of utmost importance to China.

There is no doubt that the Was dependence on China is real and overwhelming, militarily as well as economically. Apart from being equipped with Chinese-made weaponry, the Chinese yuan, not the Myanmar kyat, is the preferred currency in the area under UWSA control. People are connected to Chinese mobile phone and internet providers, and petrol and diesel come from China, as do medical supplies and most of the food. Furthermoreand this has escaped the attention of the outside worldthe UWSA-controlled area is the only part of Myanmar where nearly everyone has been vaccinated against COVID-19. Supplies and even many of the medics administering the vaccine came from Yunnan, across the border.

Nonetheless, it would be a serious mistake to believe that the Wa are hapless Chinese minions and compliant pawns in Beijings quest for regional and ultimately global dominance. Many Wa I have met are aware that the Chinese feel superior to them and, in many instances, refer to them as erstwhile headhunters and therefore uncivilized savages. There could be as many as 600,000 Wa in Myanmarno one knows for sureand another 400,000 in China, where they are also recognized as an ethnic minority. But what little most Chinese outside Yunnan know about the Wa comes from a series of music videos in which young girls, accompanied by young men beating drums, shake their long hair back and forth. The girls are dressed in red woven skirts with some kind of pattern that looks like it could be of hilltribe origin, and the young men are bare-chested. The problem is that those skirts are much shorter than the sarongs Wa girls would normally wear, and no female living in the hills, where water is scarce, would have hair that long because it would be impossible to keep it clean. Besides, young Wa men these days would not go around dressed in little more than a loincloth, even when taking part in cultural events in their home villages.

Tellingly, these dances are not performed in a rural Wa setting but in purpose-built theaters in front of big audiences. The famous Wa hair dancers are, in fact, the daughters of city cadres who are of Wa, Chinese, or mixed Wa-Chinese ancestry. According to Swedish anthropologist and Wa expert Magnus Fiskesjo, the Chinese have created an official socialist-era image of the Wa as a member of the happy family of nationalities within the Chinese nation: as exotic dancers full of primitive energy, now sanitized and harnessed under Communist Party guidancethe socialist-era version of Wa primitivity.

In line with this thinking, ethnic theme parks have been established in several Chinese cities where one of the main attractions is real Wa headhunters performing exotic dances. Young Wa, because of their dark complexion, are hired to perform not only as wild Wa but, according to Fiskesjo, as Africans, New Zealand Maori and American Indians.

These performers are Wa from Yunnan or Myanmar who have migrated to Chinese cities to find work in factories, and take part in such spectacles to earn some extra money. But it is easy to imagine what the Wa dancers themselves think about their ethnicity and culture being exploited and, in effect, humiliated in this way.

No central or local Chinese authority ever controlled, or even showed interest in, the Wa-inhabited areas of southern Yunnannot until the communist takeover in 1949. Remnants of the defeated Kuomintang (KMT), who had not been able to flee to Taiwan along with their supreme leader Chiang Kai-shek, retreated into those areas and, more importantly, the Wa Hills of Myanmar. Those hills were only nominally part of Myanmar; at that time, headhunting was part of the way of life there, along with local wars and feuds between different tribes and clans.

In the early 1950s, the communist Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) entered southern Yunnan to prevent the KMT from trying to achieve their stated objective, to reconquer the Chinese mainland. Hardly any Chinese had been there before, and the PLA as well as the KMT were seen as foreign forces, so people did not know what to expect and were afraid of them. But the PLA, which needed local support and knowledge of the terrain to be able to push the KMT back into Myanmar, treated the Wa rather leniently. The KMT, on the other hand, could be very rough in its behavior towards the Wa and other tribes in the frontier areas.

After a few years of toleranceand as soon as the KMT threat had been eliminatedthe Chinese authorities brought in an entirely new oppressive system aimed at uprooting feudal superstition, as the Chinese communist jargon went. Weapons in the possession of Wa tribesmen, who were used to being armed because they depended on hunting, were confiscated and, according to Fiskesjo, all headhunting paraphernalia was destroyed. Social institutions that were important in Wa society were disbanded. Drum-houses, the main meeting place in every Wa village, were torn down and the Was log drums were thrown out or burned. Only a few survive in a few faraway museums, such as those on display at the Yunnan Nationalities University in Kunming, Yunnans provincial capital.

According to Fiskesjo: Roadside a nog [head-container posts planted along the approach to a village] were destroyed or abandoned; the fortifications protecting villages were broken up and demolished. The major rituals of the past were abandoned. Chief ritualists and other community leaders were demoted, marginalized, or even persecuted. Wa elders Fiskesjo spoke to during his research in the area in the 1990s regarded 1958 as the key watershed: Since in that year the Chinese shifted policy from reconciliation to enforcement. Even the Wa had to become Chinese communists and were herded into peoples communes.

Although this happened in the Wa-inhabited areas of Yunnan, the bitterness based on memories of that repression is deep on both sides of the border. That resentment, and unhappiness with the disgraceful way in which the Wa are being treated in China today, are consequences of a long-standing, strained relationship between these proud tribesmenregardless of where they liveand the Han Chinese.

Since the 1989 mutiny, the UWSA has built up what amounts to a well-organized, de facto self-governing state between Myanmar and China with its own administrative offices, courts, hospitals and schools. It may be argued that a lot of the wealth that has made this possible comes from the trade in narcoticsfirst opium and heroin and then methamphetamineand that is something the Wa leadership cannot hide or escape from. Today, other sources of income exist, such as tin and rare earth metals.

But the way forward, for the Wa and the rest of Myanmar, would have to take into account the unique history of the Wa, and the fact that they have never been ruled by any central authority. Before independence, colonial presence in the area was limited to occasional flag marches up to what the British perceived as the border with China. Then, in the 1950s and well into the 1960s, KMT warlords and local chieftains ruled the Wa Hills. That was the case until the early 1970s, when the CPB took over the entire border area, including the Wa Hills. And after the 1989 mutiny, of course, the UWSP/UWSA became the new governing body.

An enlightened and democratic Myanmar government could through wiser policies than those of the past integrate the Wa Hills with the rest of the country. But the possibility of that happening seems remote: the military, with its chauvinistic approach to ethnic minorities, remains in power in Naypyitaw, and the Chinese are not likely to abandon their strategically important grip over the UWSP/UWSA any time soon. Sadly, the Wa issue is more likely to continue to exist as one of many sources of despair in the seemingly never-ending Myanmar tragedy. But, at least, it deserves a better understanding than what has so far been the case both in Myanmar and internationally. The Wa may be Chinese puppets, but they are no Chinese stooges.



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A new iPhone 13 leak is out that would surely please users with endless charging woes.

While no word is out if the new iPhone model would still support Lightning Ports, which is still very likely, word is out about one major iPhone 13 upgrade with regard to wireless charging capabilities.

Leakers Filip Koroy and Max Weinbach bared that the iPhone 13 will have an upgraded MagSafe in its entire range, a Forbes report said. This comes as a big surprise since Apple had made warnings about how the iPhone 12 could interfere with medical devices.

Journals of cardiovascular science groups have handed out warnings earlier this year about MagSafe. The Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) said the MagSafe in the iPhone 12 "has the potential to inhibit lifesaving therapy." The HRJ, on the other hand, issued a similar advice, stressing that iPhone 12 models could "potentially inhibit lifesaving therapy in patients."

iPhone 13 to Have Larger MagSafe Charging Cells

Koroy explained in a YouTube video that wireless charging cells in MagSafe will be bigger to "compensate for the stronger MagSafe magnets" that Weinbach earlier leaked. These larger charging cells should be "better for heat management and higher wattage."

As a result, Koroy said, "we might get faster charging through wireless," adding the possibility that the larger charging cells "could be used to initiate reverse wireless charging," which not found in current iPhone models. According to 9to5Mac, reverse wireless charging would let you use the back of your iPhone to charge other Qi-supported device such as the AirPods. Apple was said to be developing reverse wireless charging for the upcoming iPad Pro.

Read Also: iPhone 13 Rumor Hints Name of Apple Flagship! Release Date, Specs, Other Leaks

iPhone 13 to Carry Portrait Mode Video in Camera App

Weinbach then revealed another leak with Koroy saying "Portrait Mode video" is expected to be included in the camera app. A development that could made it a hot trend among Instagram and TikTok users. This is similar, Weinbach said, to the Portrait Mode video option on FaceTime in the iOS 15 upgrade.

With the iPhone 13 Pro offering a lower amount of storage, the Touch ID was said to make a return with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) staying only on the Pro and Pro Max, News18.com reported. But iPhone 13 upgraders can still look forward to much awaited battery improvements, smaller notch, supersized camera bumps with impressive image stabilization, and of course the upscale five-nanometer-process A15 Bionic processors

iPhone 13 Battery Improvements Show 18% Jump, Lead to Better A15 Chipset Performance

In a previous leak, the heftiest battery improvement will be for the iPhone 13 Pro Max, having a massive climb of 665 mAh, which means an 18-percent jump in battery life, 9to5Mac noted. This applies to the other models as well having surges of about 200mAh. With better battery life, the iPhone 13 should come with a more efficient A15 processor and consistent software updates to support the feature.

Related Article: iPhone 13 Battery Life Raises Hopes to End Battery Drain: Leaked Specs, Features and More
You've got one of the top-selling brands of Android phones, so it rarely has any serious issues when you take good care of it. However, even Samsung devices aren't immune to a few electronic problems here and there.

One of these problems could be your Samsung not turning on. Don't stress, it's probably not dead yet and it will turn back on after a few quick fixes.

Why Is Your Samsung Phone Not Turning On?

There could be a few different reasons as to why your Samsung phone won't turn on like normal, BuyBackBoss said.

It could be because of a software glitch leaving your phone temporarily unusable, or your battery has completely died without you noticing. The phone may have also come into contact with water or had been damaged in some other way that you may not have caught because there weren't any physical signs.

Once you can deduce the cause of the problem, it would be easier to address it and perform the proper fixes.

Read Also: Afraid Your Samsung Phone Is Full of Virus? Here's How to Scan Your Phone for Malware!

How to Fix Samsung That Won't Turn On in 7 Ways

To properly assess what the problem is, you have to run through these series of fixes to see if your phone responds to it or not:

7. Check the power button

Samsung suggested checking the power button first. It could have stuck lodged down forcing your phone to shut off, or just left your phone unresponsive when you press it.

If it isn't lodged or you have dislodged it, try pressing it to turn it back on or check if your phone has enough battery.

6. Charge your Samsung

BuyBackBoss said it is a possibility that your Samsung may have worn itself all the way down to an empty battery. Plug your device into a power source and within around 15 minutes, it should at least show a Samsung logo on the screen to show you it's alive, it didn't actually die, and it just needed to recharge.

Turn your phone on like normal and everything should be working fine.

5. Make sure your phone's charging port is not damaged

If your phone still isn't responding, carefully inspect your phone to make sure it isn't overheating, swollen or damaged. Samsung also suggested inspecting your phone's charging port and remove any dirt or debris that could hinder your phone from performing a proper charge.

If your phone is damaged, do not complete the remaining steps, Samsung cautioned. It is best that you visit the nearest Samsung Service Center for the proper expert assistance to handle your phone.

If, however, your phone does not seem to be damaged but it did have some dirt and debris lodged inside the charging port, clean it out carefully and try charging again.

4. Verify that you are using a compatible charger for your Samsung device

It would be ideal for you to use an original Samsung charger for your device, but sometimes that isn't the case and that's all right. Samsung has wared that you do risk severe damage to your phone if the charger is not the same voltage, amperes, and plug type as your original charger. So it is better to purchase and use a charger that is compatible with your device.

3. Attempt a Soft Reset

A soft reset is really easy to perform. Simply press and hold the Power and volume buttons down simultaneously for about 30 seconds. That should be able to jumpstart your phone.

2. Perform a Hard Reset

A hard reset should get a response out of your phone if the Soft Reset does not work. Push and hold down on the Power and Bixby/Side buttons for 10 seconds, release both and then quickly hold them down again for an additional 10 seconds.

This should momentarily disconnect the battery and do a forced restore, BuyBackBoss explained. This should be able to bring an inoperative Galaxy back to life.

1. Reboot in Recovery Mode

The last thing you could try before sending your phone to an expert for diagnostics is to reboot the device in recovery mode.

Press and hold down your Volume Up button and the Bixby/Side button and then hold down the Power button. The Samsung logo should come up and when it does, release all the buttons. An installing system update will pop up.

Next, the system recovery menu will appear, showing different options. Go ahead and press and hold down on the Volume Down button to wipe the cache partition. Press the Power Button and press and hold down on the Volume Down button to select Yes and press the Power button again.

The wipe partition should occur and once it's done, press the Power button one last time to restart the phone.

What If Those 7 Fixes Don't Work?

If those fixes did not work, there could be a hardware issue with your phone. This can be properly addressed by the Samsung Service Center. Do note that it could be possible that you could lose all the information on your phone that is not backed up online or in the SD card in your device, provided the SD card isn't damaged as well.

Any complex fixes you aren't confident in should be done by someone with more experience as performing some more intensive fixes by yourself without any expertise can lead to more damage to your device.



Related Article: Samsung Galaxy 21 FE vs. Galaxy S21: Cheaper Price, Color Variation, Leaked Specs
Sir Richard Branson just went to space, getting to test the customer experience first hand on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 space flight. One of the world's richest and successful men in the field of transport, fitness, and finance, Branson has built quite an empire for himself with the "Virgin" brand name. Just how much is Sir Richard Branson's net worth?

Sir Richard Branson Aboard the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 Space Flight

Virgin Galactic launched its first fully crewed rocket-powered test flight on Sunday, July 11, in Spaceport America, New Mexico. The Unity 22 team is comprised of two pilots and four mission specialists. Beth Moses (chief astronaut instructor), Collin Bennett (lead operations engineer at Virgin Galactic), and Sirisha Bandla (vice-president of government affairs and research operations at Virgin Galactic) joined Branson on the flight.

I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/03EJmKiH8V  Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021

After the flight--which was live-streamed on the Virgin Galactic YouTube Channel--Branson was trying to grapple with words to describe the monumental experience and what it means for space travel for the future. He spent the time to thank the team, the mission specialists-now-astronauts, his wife and family, and everyone who spent 17 years with Virgin Galactic to make the dream of accessible space travel a reality.

Virgin Galactic even partnered with the charity organization Omaze for a chance to go to space. Every donation supports the charity "Space for Humanity" with a chance to win two seats onboard one of the first commercial space flights by Virgin Galactic. A guided tour of Spaceport America by Branson will also be included "and I promise lots of chocolate," he said, per The Verge.

Spectacular, indeed. Congratulations to the @VirginGalactic team on the successful launch of #Unity22  your first fully-crewed test flight to space! Onward and upward: https://t.co/Xwdf3OuHu1  NASA (@NASA) July 11, 2021

Read Also: Jeff Bezos vs. Richard Branson in Billionaire Space Race: Virgin Galactic to Beat Bezos' Blue Origin Space Flight?

Richard Branson Net Worth 2021

As of time of writing, Sir Richard Branson is worth $5.9 billion, per Forbes. In Great British Pounds, that's 3.79 billion, My London added.

A son of a barrister and a flight attendant, Branson began his career with a mail-order record business about 50 years ago. In 1992, he sold Virgin Records for $1 billion. It was an upsetting parting, Forbes noted, with Branson running down London's Ladbroke Grove crying.

But the man continued on to build on the "Virgin" brand name to establish Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America and Virgin Galactic. Alaska Air acquired the Virgin America airline in 2016.

I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/grs7vHAzca  Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021

Virgin Galactic started as a dream 17 years ago.

In October 2004, the Ansari X-Prize offered $10 million to anyone who could build a reusable spacecraft that can make two trips to space within 14 days, Forbes said. After beating 25 other teams, Mojave Aerospace Ventures licensed out its technology to Branson who founded Virgin Galactic to take that technology and build a larger spacecraft to operate commercial space trips.

The company suffered devastating losses like in 2007 after a rocket engine test killed three people and critically injured more. In 2014, the VSS Enterprise, the company's first spacecraft, was destroyed in a test flight that killed one of the pilots and hospitalized the other.

But in 2018, VSS Unity, the same spacecraft that took Branson and the three other crew members and two pilots to space, made its first successful journey.

Now, a culmination of all the hard work, tragedies, and perseverance has transformed the market for space travel. Pioneered by Branson and his company, it won't be long before regular folks can take a look outside the spacecraft window and see our great big planet from space.

Related Article: SpaceX Starlink Satellites Could Make Space Travel Easier! [Test Flight and Mission Details]
Ithaca, NY (14850)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Ithaca, NY (14850)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. High 69F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Australian fintech Hay has launches Hay-as-a-Service, managed by the Appian Low-Code Automation Platform, to streamline and automate the management of its embedded finance platform with low-code plus complete automation.

Back in September 2020, Aussie fintech Hay announced it had chosen Appian to digitise and automate its back-office processes, and now it has gone one step further to ensure it can make hay while the sun shines.

Hay has nothing to do with farming or the hay that cows eat, but is an Australian headquartered fintech company. Appian has announced that Hay is ramping up growth through its Hay-as-a-Service (HaaS) with the support of the Appian Low-Code Automation Platform.

So, what does Hay-as-a-Service do?

Were told Hay-as-a-Service provides fast, secure, and customisable financial services processing for financial and non-financial businesses.

Because the solution is supported by a low-code automation platform, HaaS is able to deal with all of the complexities of managing its services at scale for its clients.

This allows HaaS and its clients to concentrate on delivering value for their customers, knowing that management support for any new innovation can be implemented risk free and at speed using Appian.

Jason Latham, Chief Information Officer at Hay explained: The move from traditional finance to embedded finance is accelerating across a range of sectors because it gives an organisation more ownership of the entire customer journey.

The single pane of glass we developed on Appians low-code platform allows us to manage our platform and our clients embedded finance products with ease, in a low-touch fashion with a minimum of manual effort and intervention. This allows us to concentrate our skilled resources on our HaaS platform.

What does the HaaS solution offer?

Here, Hay explains the HaaS solution offers one modern API frontend for individual companies to enhance their customer experience.

The HaaS platform is a pure microservice, cloud native offering and includes a range of configurable and flexible microservices modules, such as accounts and core banking, payment processing and management, financial crime, data analytics and insights, card services including ApplePay, GooglePay and other digital wallets, loyalty and rewards and onboarding new customers.

HaaS has built a single pane of glass using Appian ensuring it has a robust, tier 1 back-office platform to manage its operations that can be developed, risk free, at high speed.

Luke Thomas, Regional Vice President APAC at Appian said: Hay is leading the way in innovating the FinTech space, both through its Hay retail brand and HaaS solution, by leveraging low-code automation.

Flexibility and speed are at the core of what Appian provides and were proud to support Hay in extending their services so other companies across the world can take better advantage of embedded finance.

Were told HaaS has provided a full suite of transaction services and significantly accelerated timelines for Nano Home Loans, a mobile-first non-bank lender, who launched in Australia last week.

Andrew Waler, CEO & Co founder at Nano Home Loans concluded: HaaS removes the complexity of the payments ecosystem and replaces it with a one-stop seamless solution.

Its so fast and flexible that it allowed us to remove upwards of six months of build and integration from our timeline.
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has promoted Andrew Williams to deputy chief executive officer and Meredith Lea to the new role of policy manager.

"Andrew and Meredith bring such unique strengths to their respective positions and to ACCAN as an organisation. We're pleased to be able to acknowledge their contributions to ACCAN through their recent appointments," said ACCAN CEO Teresa Corbin.

Andrew Williams joined ACCAN in 2019 as director of operations in 2019.

He previously worked as COO of Gowrie NSW, general manager of apprenticeship support at the NSW Business Chamber, NSW general manager at Randstad, and general manager at Hudson.

Early in his career, Williams spent two decades as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy.

He holds a BA in history and maths from the University of New South Wales, a bachelor's degree in law from the University of New England, an MBA from Charles Sturt University, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

"ACCAN's role of advocating for communications consumers has never been more important than it is today," said Williams.

"As deputy CEO, I look forward to taking a more public role in ACCAN's engagement with our members and stakeholders."

Meredith Lea joined ACCAN as disability policy officer in 2018, and was promoted to disability policy adviser in 2020.

She previously worked as a senior policy officer at People with Disability Australia (PWDA), as a research assistant at the University of Sydney, and as a project officer with Domestic Violence NSW.

Lea holds a bachelor's degree in international and global studies and a master's in human rights, both from the University of Sydney.

"The work produced by ACCAN's policy team contributes to real, positive change for communications consumers," she said.

"I'm excited for the new challenges and opportunities that await me as policy manager, and am eager to lead our team to a new level of excellence."
Not-for-profit charity Reset Australia reports that Terms and Conditions of popular apps such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat are too difficult for children to read and would require a university degree to understand it. The report gave one platform 2.5 out of 5 stars, and gave two apps a score of zero in terms of readability.

Apps popular among kids such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat have such technical terms of use that users need to have a university degree to understand the agreement, a new report by Reset Australia has found.

The report, Did we really consent to this? Terms & Conditions and young peoples data, ranks readability and how Terms and Conditions could be easily understood by children on video streaming, online gaming, messaging, and social media services.

Analysing language, design, and dark patterns, which nudge people towards specific decisions, Reset Australia scored each platform x of 5 stars. The highest score was 2.5 stars out of 5, for Epic Games, with two platforms, TikTok and Spotify, scoring zero.

Reset Australia childrens data policy director Rys Farthing lamented the reports findings, saying: Its nearly impossible for kids to opt out of data collection. Complex and opaque Terms and Conditions mean young people have even less opportunity to meaningfully consent to how their data is collected and used."

Farthing notes how easy the apps are used for young people, but when it comes to disclosing how data will be collected and stored, it suddenly becomes a jargon and legal quagmire.

Farthing adds that Dark patterns are nudging kids to agree to terms and conditions, without making any effort to explain them coherently."

Reset Australia, which advocates against digital harm, discovered that the Ts and Cs of nine of the 10 surveyed apps required a tertiary level reading age, and on average, it would take one hour and 46 minutes to read.

So, what is the gravity posed by this tedious reading length? Farthing says that TikToks terms and conditions run the length of two novels or about six hours of reading at a university level.

If all two billion people who use TikTok read the full terms and conditions, it would take 1.24 million years of effort.

Working with YouGov, a British international market research and data analytics firm, Reset Australia polled 16 and 17-year-olds and found that a mere 7% of young people are confident they understood the terms and conditions they have accepted, and only 4% read them all the time.

"Surveyed young people told us they do not understand what they are signing up for, and want to see better recognition of their data rights," Farthing says.

Western Sydney University law professor and Australian Council on Children and the Media president Elizabeth Handsley was not surprised upon reading the report, which she describes as a self-regulation failing children. She says the apps must be accountable and compel the industry to act in accordance with public interest.

"It's not too hard to simplify terms and conditions, and we should not accept overly complex ones as the price we pay for free platforms and services, she says. "We can create an internet where the rights, needs, and interests of children are properly recognised and attended to.

Reset Australia is calling for a data code for children and young people under 18 years old, so their data is only collected and processed in ways that are in their best interests.

"Social media and digital services often do not respect childrens privacy or rights. We should not leave it up to tech companies to decide what they can and cannot dowe need some ground rules so they are compelled to prioritise childrens rights, Farthing stresses.

Farthing concludes: Australia needs a regulatory code governing how children and young peoples data is collected and used. Other countries have already implemented or proposed similar codes, including the UKs Age Appropriate Design Code, and Irelands Fundamentals for a Child-Oriented Approach to Data Processing.
Security provider Proofpoint notes the massive growth in scams reported in the latest Scamwatch report, drawing attention to the fact that Australian losses to scammers reached 80% of 2020's total in just six months.

As previously reported, the ACCC has said that scammers have stolen more than $7.2 million from Australians so far this year by gaining access to home computers, an increase of 184% compared to the same period last year.

Proofpoint has chimed in. with ANZ area vice-president Crispin Kerr saying "The latest data from the ACCC's Scamwatch has revealed the full extent of the damage done by scammers and cybercriminals over the first half of the year.

"What is most concerning is that we are only six months into the year and Australians have already lost 80% of the total amount reported to Scamwatch across the whole of 2020.

"In addition, for the second month in a row, June saw the highest total monthly amount lost at $31.4 million, an increase of nearly 150% compared to June 2020.

"It's not just the amount of money leaving Australians out of pocket that is alarming, but also the number of scams being reported. Over 124,000 scams were reported to Scamwatch since January, an increase of 54% from the first half of 2020.

"While it is encouraging to see so many people coming forward and reporting their experiences to Scamwatch, it does display just how active scammers are in the threat landscape.

"A clear trend that's emerged over the year is that investment scams are disproportionately impacting Australians at a cost of more than $70 million. It's a shame to see Australians affected by these cheap tricks which typically promise some kind of way to get rich quickly.

"Scammers are continuing to steal Australians' hard-earned money and take advantage of challenging financial situations, especially with ongoing lockdowns.

"We can also see the clear impact of scammers preying on Australian's emotions like fear and anxiety, with scams suggesting threats to life or arrest and identity theft among the highest losses and the number of scams reported.

"This kind of social engineering plays into the human condition and our vulnerabilities and unfortunately is proving to be very effective. In addition, the prevalence of phishing scams highlights just how easy it is to carry out these quick scams, given the considerable low barriers to entry."

As ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said, "Remember, your bank will never ask you to give them access to your computer or accounts, nor will they ask for the codes to verify transactions. You should never provide those numbers to anyone except to verify transactions you are making in your mobile banking app or through your online banking,"
Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 108F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 85F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 106F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Extend the moratorium past the current one, scheduled to end Oct. 2021.

Lower the student loan rates.

Cancel a portion of borrowers' student loan debt.

Cancel all borrowers' student loan debt.

Do nothing. Borrowers need to get back to paying their student loan debt.

I don't know.

I have another idea that's not listed here.

Vote

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Jacksonville, TX (75766)

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Sunny to partly cloudy. High 93F. Winds light and variable..

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Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.




Donate Now As a public service during this pandemic, the Jewish News is providing free, unlimited access to all articles. Jewish News is a nonprofit publication that is owned by the community and relies on community support.
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low around 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Generally clear skies. Low around 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Dr. James Broomall is doing research for a new book being written by the Shepherd University George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War.
Opinion Columnist

Chris Powell has worked for the Journal Inquirer since 1967, first as a reporter, then as an editor, and now as a columnist. He was managing editor from 1974 until retiring from that position in 2018.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has informed lenders that it is eliminating the loan necessity review for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $2 million or greater.

In a notice sent July 9, the SBA said it would no longer request either version of the Loan Necessity Questionnaire: SBA Form 3509 for for-profit borrowers and SBA Form 3510 for not-for-profit borrowers. In addition, Loan Necessity Questionnaires previously requested by the SBA are no longer required to be submitted.

For PPP loans with an open request for additional information related to the Loan Necessity Questionnaire, the SBA advised lenders to close the request in the PPP computer platform and submit the loan back to the SBA.

The changes are effective immediately, but the SBA said it would release an FAQ shortly with more details.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) said last month that the SBA was in the processing of dropping the Loan Necessity Questionnaire requirement.

The general contractors group filed a lawsuit December 2020 challenging the legality of the questionnaire and the process used by the SBA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop, approve, and publish it. In a statement dated June 23, AGCs CEO, Stephen E. Sandherr, said that it had learned the SBA had started the process to completely withdraw the questionnaire.

The SBA introduced the new forms in November. Later that month, the AICPA was among 80 organizations that signed a letter urging Congress, Treasury, and the SBA to temporarily suspend use of the questionnaires because of concerns about the types and time frames of information requested. The AICPA sent another letter the following week to the OMB and the SBA expressing concerns that Forms 3509 and 3510 were burdensome and not reflective of Congresss intent when it established the PPP in March 2020.

The SBA stopped accepting applications for PPP loans on May 31. Over 14 months, the program provided around $800 billion in forgivable loans to nearly 12 million businesses. CPAs have played a key role in assisting borrowers through the application and forgiveness processes.

The loan necessity questionnaires were among many PPP forgiveness topics discussed July 8 during the AICPAs Town Hall webcast. A replay of the webcast is available for free on AICPA TV.

AICPA experts discuss the latest on the PPP and other small business aid programs during a virtual town hall held every other week. The webcasts, which provide CPE credit, are free to AICPA members and $39 for nonmembers. Go to the AICPA Town Hall Series webpage for more information and to register. Recordings of Town Hall events are available to view for free on AICPA TV.

The AICPAs Paycheck Protection Program Resources page houses resources and tools produced by the AICPA to help address the economic impact of the coronavirus.

For more news and reporting on the coronavirus and how CPAs can handle challenges related to the outbreak, visit the JofAs coronavirus resources page or subscribe to our email alerts for breaking PPP news.

 Jeff Drew (Jeff.Drew@aicpa-cima.com) is a JofA senior editor.
The UN Human Rights Council on Monday adopted a resolution condemning human rights violations by Myanmars military against the Rohingya and other minorities, and called for a process of reconciliation.

The resolution, brought forward by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, was approved without a vote in the Geneva-based council.

China, one of the 47 council members, said it could not join the consensus but nonetheless did not insist on bringing the text to a vote.

Unfortunately, the humanitarian and human rights situation of Rohingya Muslims remains dire, and therefore requires a collective call by the council asking Myanmar to immediately halt human rights violations, and to uphold their fundamental rights, said Khalil Hashmi, Pakistans ambassador to the UN in Geneva.

The text itself calls for a constructive and peaceful dialogue and reconciliation, in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar, including Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic minorities.

It also voices unequivocal support for the people of Myanmar and their democratic aspirations and for the democratic transition in Myanmar.

The resolution calls for the immediate cessation of fighting and hostilities, of the targeting of civilians and of all violations of humanitarian and rights laws.

It voices grave concern at continuing reports of serious human rights violations and abuses, including of arbitrary arrests, deaths in detention, torture, forced labour and the deliberate killing and maiming of children.

Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paralysed since the military seized power from civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.

Thomas Andrews, the UNs special rapporteur on the rights situation in Myanmar, told the Human Rights Council last week that the military had carried out crimes against humanity since taking control, and slammed the international community for failing to end this nightmare.

He decried the widespread, systematic attacks against the people since the coup five months ago.

Myanmar has experienced mass protests and a brutal military response since the coup.

UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet told the council last week that the situation in the country had evolved from a political crisis to a multi-dimensional human rights catastrophe.

Suffering and violence throughout the country are devastating prospects for sustainable development, and raise the possibility of state failure or a broader civil war, she warned.

Since the coup, nearly 900 people have been killed, while about 200,000 have been forced to flee their homes, according to UN numbers.
Jakarta/Bekasi, Indonesia  Outside a small shop in southern Jakarta, dozens of people lined up for the chance to save the lives of their loved ones.

In the Indonesian capital, oxygen is an increasingly precious commodity as the country fights the continuous surge in COVID-19 cases.

I came to buy an oxygen tank for my mother. She tested positive on Sunday. We tried several hospitals but they were all full, Pingta said while waiting in line.

I received a list of places to sell oxygen, but every place we went was closed or ran out. Thank God, my friend let me come here.

The search for oxygen in Jakarta in recent weeks has been an unpredictable battle-the patients chance of survival depends entirely on chance, and it depends on whether their relatives are in the right store at the right time.

Wenda, another woman in the line, said she was trying to find oxygen for her brother-in-law.

I had a hard time finding oxygen last night. I went to five places, including this store and a big medicine market, but they ran out, she said.

We went to the health center They said they were given oxygen at home while waiting for the hospital But we have been waiting for two days and there is no hospital referral.

We are more worried than ever before

The 29-year-old Minanti took care of his elderly father at home after trying to admit him but failed.

Minanti is one of many Indonesians who are forced to take care of the sick at home. Her fathers underlying illness makes him particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 [Al Jazeera]

He has diabetes and heart and kidney problems, which increases his risk of contracting the coronavirus.

But he still couldnt find a place in the crowded hospital in Jakarta.

We tried a hospital near our house We went to the emergency room and they said,Look around, its full, and they told us that even if they have oxygen problems, Minanti said.

The other hospital is also full. They have a tent in front of the building, which is full of patients We are very scared.

Now, like thousands of Indonesians, Minanti understands the hardship of trying to purchase oxygen cylinders in this wave of infections.

Obtaining the oxygen tank is very difficult. We borrowed it and suddenly the owner asked to return it because they were also infected with the new coronavirus, she said.

In the end, she was able to buy an oxygen tank-but refilling it was an ongoing struggle.

Getting the tank is almost like a miracle. Now, he has to keep breathing oxygen because he is often out of breath, she said.

The government should respond quickly from the beginning Now, the number of cases is increasing. Oxygen tanks are difficult to buy, and it is difficult to replenish them. Hospitals are full.

We cant help them

The staff of the public health clinic examines COVID-19 patients isolated at home [Fakhrur Rozi/Al Jazeera]

It is not just ordinary people who are struggling with oxygen and drug shortages-health professionals also told Al Jazeera that they do not have enough necessities to help everyone in need.

Dr. Erni Herdiani is the head of Lemah Abang Health Clinic in Bekasi, a suburb of Jakarta.

We need oxygen tanks, oxygen supplements and medicines. We treat serious diseases, and we need medicines like Remdesivir, but we cant find it, she said.

We need to provide patients with oxygen and medicine. We lack oxygen tanks This is beyond my expectation. With so many patients needing oxygen, it has become more difficult to replenish oxygen recently.

Dr. Erni wanted to buy more oxygen tanks for her clinic, but said it was impossible.

Now, we just cant buy it. There is no tank. We need the government to provide it, she said.

With hospitals in Java and other parts of Indonesia approaching full capacity, public health clinics have the responsibility to care for thousands of patients who cannot be admitted.

Dr. Erni Herdiani, the head of a health clinic on the outskirts of Jakarta, said that it is increasingly difficult to find the oxygen tanks, supplements and medicines needed to treat patients with COVID-19 [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

But Dr. Ernis team is also under pressure-her clinic has fewer than 30 health workers, and they are monitoring more than 300 patients.

Every day, a traveling medical team in her clinic visits some patients.

The team has become accustomed to finding patients who have died at home.

Now, there are a lot of losses [of life] at home. Sometimes, we receive reports of deaths, and when we examine the bodies, they are positive, she said.

Dr. Erni believes that official official statistics show that the death toll exceeds 66,000, which is an underestimate.

Its underestimated. Very sad because we cant help them.

Even large hospitals are struggling to solve the problem of oxygen shortage or delay.

This week, the hospital in Yogyakarta City on Java Island caused the death of at least 33 patients with severe coronavirus infection due to the temporary lack of oxygen in the hospital.

A spokesperson for Dr. Sardjito General Hospital told the media that there was a delay in the supplier.

We didnt see that problem

Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi of the Indonesian Ministry of Health said that they have corrected the logistics of transporting oxygen.

What happened in YogyakartaDue to the large number of patients, their stocks will soon run out, and the next shipment will not be shipped until the next morning. They have limited oxygenthere is a lack of time, she says.

We are speeding up the distribution. It used to be two or three days, now ask [them] Ready to send in a 12 to 24 hour period. 

At a hospital in Bekasi near Jakarta, medical staff are checking oxygen tanks in emergency tents to observe COVID-19 patients [File: Mast Irham/EPA]

The Minister of Health has instructed oxygen producers to shift their efforts to provide medical rather than industrial oxygen.

Dr. Nadia told Al Jazeera: We are working hard to manage the oxygen situation. In fact, from the perspective of our countrys natural gas industry, production capacity still exists.

Dr. Nadia said that the top priority is to provide oxygen to hospitals and public health facilities. She said there was no shortage of oxygen.

I dont think this has happened. We currently dont see this problem with sanitation facilities, their numbers are very small, but we try to fill their inventory, she said.

The number of cases per day may increase to 50,000 or 70,000. Demand [for oxygen] It has been completed, but has not yet reached a safe level. 

Dr. Nadia said that the Ministry of Health did not expect such a large increase in cases.

The main problem is that we had a large number of patients last week, which we did not expect, she said.

It is difficult to find ambulances and medical facilities. Sometimes, when they arrive at the medical facility, they have already died on the wayor the patient is dying at home.
San Diego-Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community took to the streets on Sunday to participate in the San Diego Pride Resilient Community Parade. The focus of the march is to call for equality and support local LGBTQ businesses.

Kalee Garland said: Its great to be reunited with people and have friendship and happiness.

People used to tell us to take a panacea to change, no, I cant change it in my life, Bob Gordon said.

Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community are happy to celebrate pride together again in San Diego and reflect on the progress that has been made, including same-sex marriage in the United States

Gordon said of his husband: As a Navy veteran, he is not allowed to have anything in my life. It is amazing to legalize it financially, but it is meaningless compared to love. 

But supporters say that more needs to be done for equality.

COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on the LGBTQ community, so I came here to celebrate, protest, and call for the passage of the Equality Act, said Fernando Lopez, executive director of San Diego Pride.

Lopez said the parade also focused on bringing people back to Hillcrest from Balboa Park, hoping that people would support LGBTQ businesses immediately after the parade.

In a typical year, the economic impact of the San Diego Pride Festival on the city was US$27 million, so for these companies, Pride Weeks and weekends are a way for them to raise a lot of money to maintain the development of these companies, so there was no such thing last year. We want to see what we can do to support, Lopez said.

Eriel Carino from insideOUT said it feels good to have their support.

Carino said: It feels great to let them out, of course, we got a little bit of prosperity in the restaurant.
A few days before Mondays fifth anniversary of the 2016 ruling in The Hague that rejected Chinas historic claims against the most controversial South China Sea, Teodoro Losin Jr., Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines It sounds very celebratory, praising this occasion as a milestone in the international French corpus.

The Philippines is proud to contribute to the rules-based international order, he said of Manilas role in challenging Beijing in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Locsin ridiculed China, saying that this decision makes Nine segments; And any expectation that possession is nine-tenths of the law. 

Locsin then quoted the Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes video speech at the UN General Assembly. The Philippine leader stated in his speech that the case is beyond the scope of compromise and beyond the scope of the previous government. The scope cannot be diluted, reduced or abandoned.

But since taking office in 2016, Duterte has generally been less confidentdespite a landmark victory, but failed to challenge Chinas move to expand its maritime dominance in the regionforeign policy experts said his  Defeatist speech damaged the integrity of the country and weakened its legal status.

Chester Cabalza, the president and founder of Manila, said: Manila certainly missed the opportunity to make a unified narrative of its claims Beijing sees it as demonstrating its strength and establishing the largest coast guard. And the maritime militia to give full play to its strategic advantages.-International development and security cooperation based on think tanks.

On the contrary, the Filipino heard the defeatist comments of the commander-in-chief because he remained silent about Chinas continued invasion of the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ), he told Al Jazeera.

Collinke, a researcher at the Institute of Defense and Strategy of Singapore, said that the Duterte administration wasted opportunities and emphasized the importance of the decision should it do it alone or in cooperation with like-minded external parties, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States.

Victory Day

In July 2016, less than two weeks after Duterte assumed office, the Hague Tribunal concluded in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): The historic rights claimed by China within its nine-dash line and maritime rights over most of the South China Sea have no legal basis..

The ruling also confirmed the Philippines jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which is 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from its coast. Therefore, Chinas fishing activities and the construction of artificial islands in this area are regarded as infringements on the sovereignty of the Philippines. The Philippines refers to this specific area as the West Philippine Sea.

In addition, the court ruled that none of the disputed South China Sea islands and reefs-even those controlled by Beijing-were not considered livable and capable of maintaining economic activities in their original form, and therefore were not entitled to exclusive rights. Economic zone-therefore clearly belongs to the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Protesters poured into the Chinese Consulate in Manila in 2019 to oppose the Asian superpowers growing influence in the Philippines and Beijings escalating tensions in the disputed South China Sea [File: Ted Aljibe/AFP]

To commemorate this years ruling, Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros proposed that the country declare July 12 as the National Victory Day in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement to Al Jazeera, she said that Dutertes predecessor, Benigno Aquino III People who died last month -He should also be commended for his decision to accept China and obtain a milestone legal victory.

Even when the Philippines opposed the giant China, he only pursued the case based on the principle of doing so.

Protests are also expected to occur outside the Chinese diplomatic mission in Manila on Monday.

China has repeatedly stated that it does not recognize the 2016 ruling, and Continue to expand its artificial islands on Mischief Reef and Scarborough Shoal, Manila lost to Beijing in 2012.

Dutertes tricks

When Duterte ran for president in 2016, he attracted voters with his tough stance on China. During an election campaign, he promised to take a motorboat in the South China Sea to challenge Chinas invasion of Philippine waters. He said he always wanted to die like a hero.

But as soon as he took office, Duterte began to abandon his promise, saying that the Philippines could not bear China because confrontation would only lead to bloodshed.

In an interview with Al Jazeera in October 2016Duterte also stated that his jet ski remarks are exaggerated and he cant even swim. He later said that all this was to show his bluffing and joking, and only stupid people would believe it.

Duterte admitted shockingly in June 2019 that he had reached an oral agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 to allow China to fish in the Philippines exclusive economic zone, even though the constitution stipulates that the country must protect its marine wealth. Including the exclusive economic zone, and reserved only for the use and enjoyment of Filipino citizens.

In recent months, Chinese ships believed to be piloted by Chinese maritime militiamen have been seen in the South China Sea in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines [File: Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters]

This is a mutual agreement, Duterte explained. Let us make way for each other. You fish there, I fish here.

Duterte emphasized in many public speeches that, through direct investment, financial assistance and loans, a better relationship with China has brought economic dividends to the Philippines.

Salvador Panello, Dutertes spokesman at the time, defended the deal, saying that although it was verbal, it was still valid and binding.

But Panelos successor, Harry Rock, said in April this year that the deal was without factual basis and completely speculation.

There is no such a treaty or agreement between the Philippines and China, Rock said, explaining that even a fisheries agreement can only be reached through a treaty and in writing.

Swarming

Amid the diplomatic hesitation of the Duterte administration, the situation in the South China Sea reached its peak earlier this year, when several reports showed that Hundreds of Chinese ships gathered in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

The flooding incident has since repeated itself many times, triggering many diplomatic protests in Manila, condemning Beijing for blatantly ignoring its promise to promote regional peace and stability.

In May of this year, the appearance of hundreds of Chinese ships angered Lochin, the top diplomat of the Philippines, so much so that he made an expletive statement on social media.

China, my friend, how polite can I say? Let me seeoh Go off, Losin wrote on Twitter.

According to reports, since 2016, Manila has lodged more than 120 diplomatic protests to China over incidents in the disputed waters.

In the past two and a half months, the Philippines has increased its patrols in the South China Sea, which is unprecedented in recent years. AMTI tracks their activities and their encounters with Chinese ships in a new feature: https://t.co/MsEEx0IpLs pic.twitter.com/tN91IqP2C7  AMTI (@AsiaMTI) July 4, 2021

still, Duterte is still reluctant to confront China.

In recent months, he expressed his desire to maintain friendly relations with China on the grounds that Manila expressed gratefulness for Beijings assistance in providing the coronavirus vaccine. After major security and diplomatic officials criticized China for swarming, he also banned his cabinet from talking about the South China Sea.

However, despite Dutertes efforts to please Beijing, observers say that China is only further daring and reckless. The increasing tensions now leave Manila no choice but to take action to maintain its legal status in the South China Sea.

Kabarza, a security analyst based in Manila, said that now is not the time for the Duterte administration to be capricious in foreign policy and urge a more strategic approach to balance the countrys economic and security interests.

Chinas art of war and deception should not be taken for granted.

He urged the Philippines to rapidly advance its military modernization plan to increase its presence in the air and sea areas and prevent Chinas invasion.

If Manila seriously considers balanced and fearless engagement with Beijing, it needs to be able to strengthen a strong national security infrastructure to deal with Chinas gray zone strategy and a large amount of disinformation, he said, adding that Manila should also Continue to file a diplomatic protest every time an invasion occurs.

South China Sea finished a deal

Koh, a foreign affairs analyst at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, also pointed out that for many years, the Philippines has been lagging behind in the strengthening of its military capabilities to carry out stronger maritime patrols in its exclusive economic zone.

Koh said that if Duterte had not spared no effort to gradually destroy its decades-long alliance with the United States, Manila could have partially solved the problem. Since taking office, Duterte has shown disdain for the United States and even pretended that he might become a target of the CIA.

Publicly expressing the desire to prioritize relations with Beijing-even at the cost of the 2016 awards, the lack of political will to maintain a durable maritime presence and alliance with the United States will have a combined effect of inspiring Beijing, he said. Explain to Al Jazeera.

Xu said that as China makes progress in strengthening artificial islands in the South China Sea, it is unimaginable that it will voluntarily give up these properties in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Apart from using force to expel the Chinese from those man-made outposts, there is no way to reverse the fait accompli, which means war.

Koh added that without resorting to armed conflict, the Philippines may still maintain its maritime sovereignty and rights by adopting a principled and consistent position on this issue.

He said that the Philippines should carry out daily maritime law enforcement operations and patrols in its exclusive economic zone.

The recent challenge and dispersal of Chinese and other foreign fishing boats by the Philippine Coast Guard in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone near Sabina Shoal and Mary Louise Bank is a good example, Xu said.

These actions may not force China to change its behavior in the South China Sea, but they may at least help prevent Beijing from considering more drastic actions to further undermine the status quo.

In May, after the Philippines issued a radio challenge, the Chinese ship also left the Sabina Shoal.

Opposition Senator and critic of Dutertes South China Sea policy, Honti Viros said that the radio challenge shows that the Philippines can maintain our ownership of the West Philippine Sea without resorting to war.

Kabarza, a foreign affairs expert who studied at the Beijing National Defense University, said that as a middle power country caught in increasingly fierce competition between China and the United States, the lesson of Manila is to pursue an independent foreign policy.

Manila should choose its own national interests. Relying on its own capabilities to build it with the vision of protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity requires courage.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have set up three security checkpoints around Lytton, British Columbia, and said they will soon have the latest news to investigate the cause of the rapidly spreading wildfire that has destroyed most of the villages.

stand by. Ray Carfantan said that in addition to the checkpoints, the patrol patrols also ensure that staff have access to Littons recovery services, including water, electricity and telephone lines, and those who do not need to be there are turned away.

Carfantan said at a press conference on Sunday that it is now possible to call the 911 service, and the previous non-emergency number of the RCMP has been diverted to Lillooet, about 60 kilometers northwest of the community.

He said that since the June 30 fire that killed two people, the police have followed up more than 15 reports of missing persons, but everyone in and outside Fraser Canyon has been found and safe.

We know that someone may still be missing, so if you cant find a loved one, please call or go to the local or nearest RCMP detachment to report that person is missing.

Damaged buildings were seen in Lytton on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. (Darryl Dyke/Canada Press)

Carfantan said the police and multiple agencies, including the Wildfire Bureau of British Columbia, Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board, are collecting information and evidence to determine the cause of the fire.

We are committed to providing a more complete update on the investigation within the next one or two days, he said.

Parts of southern British Columbia continue to be hot and dry, and cool temperatures are helping staff suppress wildfires in the north.

Tyler Coleman, the fire information officer of the Wildfire Service, said that 67 fires were classified as out of control on Sunday, but staff have not yet been able to assess the latest fires.

Coleman said there were 306 fires in British Columbia, most of which occurred at Kamloops and Caribou Fire Centers.

The federal and provincial governments said on Sunday that they will donate every dollar of the Canadian Red Cross to people affected by the wildfires, which they said means that a dollar of donation will become a donation of $3. Matched donations will be retroactive, including donations received since the start of the Red Cross BC Wildfire Appeal Fund on July 3.
Thousands of Cubans marched on the Malecon promenade in Havana and elsewhere on the island on Sunday to protest food shortages and high prices during the coronavirus crisis, one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in history.

Many young people took part in the protests in the capital in the afternoon, which disrupted traffic until the police did not enter the venue a few hours later and interrupted the march when some protesters threw stones.

When protesters chanted freedom, enough and unity, the police initially fell behind. A motorcyclist took out an American flag, but was snatched by others.

We are fed up with queues and shortages. Thats why I am here, a middle-aged protester told The Associated Press. For fear of being arrested later, he refused to reveal his identity.

Cuba is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades, while coronavirus cases are making a comeback.

On Sunday, protesters gathered in front of the Capitol in Havana. (Ramon Espinosa/Associated Press)

The number of demonstrators near Galeano Avenue increased to several thousand, and despite some allegations by the police and tear gas barrage, the demonstrators continued to advance. Standing on the many balconies along the central artery of the Centro Habana community, people applauded the passing protesters. Others also joined the parade.

Although many people tried to use their mobile phones to broadcast the protests, the Cuban authorities shut down Internet services throughout the afternoon.

About two and a half hours after the march began, some protesters pulled up pebbles and threw them at the police. At this time, the police arrested people and the marchers dispersed.

A group of government supporters also arrived in the area, chanting slogans supporting the late President Fidel Castro and the revolution. Some of them attacked a photographer and an Associated Press photographer.
Donald Trump won easily in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination ballot, and DeSantis and Tang are far behind.

Eight months after he lost the 2020 election, the former president celebrated the victory of another Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at an event in Dallas on Sunday.

4 Trump accepted the idea of ??running for president again in 2024 Credit: Getty

4 On Friday, Donald Trump Jr. delivered a speech on the first day of the Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC Credit: Getty

4 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (Ron DeSantis) ranked second in the polls with a support rate of 21% Credit: Agence France-Presse

according to Newsweek reportDuring the meeting, two grassroots polls of the President in 2024 were held, one supporting Trump and the other not.

The results announced on Sunday afternoon showed that Trump won 70% of the vote, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ranked second with 21%.

In anonymous polls, none of the other possible candidates received 1% support.

The meeting was mainly composed of Trumps right-wing supporters.

4 Trump easily wins the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis and Tang are far behind Credit: Twitter/Jack Fink

The former presidents victory marked a 55% improvement he made in the Orlando CPAC poll in February.

In the last poll, DeSantis easily won without Trump, winning 68% of the vote.

In second place is Mike Pompeo, who served as Secretary of State in the Trump administration.

Donald Trump Jr. ranked third with 4%.

In the past few months, Trump has repeatedly stated that due to the campaign financing regulations, he will not initiate bidding soon.

Nevertheless, he had previously had the idea of ??running for president again in 2024.

In the past month, he held two campaign rallies in Florida and Ohio.

Both are focused on promoting 2022 congressional candidates running on his America First agenda.
Protesters armed with clubs marched in Johannesburg, condemning the imprisonment of the former president of South Africa, the looting of shops and the blockade of roads.

After former President Jacob Zuma was imprisoned, violent riots broke out in two provinces of South Africa, with supporters blocking roads and looting shops.

South African police said on Sunday that at least 62 people had been arrested.

Zuma Start service He was sentenced to 15 months for contempt of court last week. The 79-year-old former president was jailed for ignoring a court order to testify before a state-backed investigation that investigated allegations of corruption during his tenure as president from 2009 to 2018.

His application for release from Estcourt Correctional Center is Refused Hearing by the District Court on Friday. He will try again with the Constitutional Court of the countrys Supreme Court on Monday.

Riots of Zuma supporters it has started He was in his hometown of KwaZulu-Natal last week and spread to Gauteng over the weekend, including Johannesburg, South Africas largest city.

As the violence after the imprisonment of former South African President Jacob Zuma spread to South Africas largest city, Johannesburg, the wreckage of a burned car and a sign blocked the road, and protesters marched across the street with sticks. [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] After the former South African President Jacob Zuma was imprisoned, the violence escalated and the police detained a protester [Sumaya Hisham/Reuters]

According to a statement by police major general Matapello Peters, hundreds of people robbed and burned shops in the Alexandra and Bramley neighborhoods of Johannesburg.

He said that the body of a 40-year-old man was found in a burnt shop, and the police are investigating the specific situation.

In addition, according to the statement, at least three police officers were injured while trying to arrest the robbers and one was taken to the hospital.

Agence France-Presse said that the N3 highway connecting Johannesburg and Durban, the coastal city of KwaZulu-Natal, was blocked for several hours, including a section south of Estcot prison where Zuma was held.

In a speech on COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated his call for calmness, urging people to express their opinions in peaceful protest and avoid life-threatening and economic damage. behavior.

People are intimidated and threatened, and some people are even hurt, Ramaphosa said, adding that some people may be dead.

However, the robbery in the surrounding area of ??Durban continued until Sunday night.

The police said they are improving the capacity of the two provinces and warned Zuma supporters not to incite violence on social media, saying they may face criminal charges.

The regional association stated that shops in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng will continue to be closed on Monday to avoid robbery.
Thailand may adopt measures similar to the lockdown to contain the deadliest Covid epidemic that hit the country, thereby exacerbating its high unemployment rate and household debt in the past decade.

The Greater Bangkok area, which accounts for about 50% of Thailands GDP, will close shopping malls, spas, massage and beauty clinics for at least two weeks from Monday. Most government employees mandatory work-from-home rules, overnight curfews and domestic travel restrictions will hurt retailers, airlines and restaurant operators who have been affected by some form of Covid restrictions for more than a year.

Thailand is tightening restrictions to stop the spread of the more contagious Covid virus, which has also contributed to a surge in cases from Indonesia to Vietnam and undermined their plans to open the border. The latest measures may further delay the recovery of Thailands economy from its worst recession in more than two decades and give Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ochas goal of welcoming vaccinated tourists back as early as mid-October. Derailed.

Maria Lapiz, managing director of Maybank Kim Eng Securities Thailand, said: Even if the lockdown period is the same, the economic impact of each lockdown will be greater and greater. This is because after so many months of income shrinking and stubbornness. After the high cost of living, many companies are nearing completion.

Lapiz believes that Thai households have been hit hard and corporate earnings ratings have been downgraded, while Singapores DBS Bank economist Radhika Rao said that the growth forecast for Southeast Asias second-largest economy is rising downside risks.

The following are the implications of the latest Covid restrictions for the Thai economy:

GDP growth:

Even before the announcement of the latest measures, the Bank of Thailand considered the 1.8% economic growth forecast for this year to have significant downside risks, saying that the continued outbreak would squeeze corporate liquidity and damage employment in the service industry. It predicts that if herd immunity is postponed until the end of next year, the economy will only return to pre-Covid levels in early 2023.

On Monday, the Bank of Thailand stated that it may lower its 2021 GDP forecast to take into account the worsening of the Covid epidemic, and will closely monitor the situation to determine whether additional policy measures are needed.

DBS Banks Rao said: Although the vaccine supply is expected to provide breathing room for the economy this year, the economic impact may increase before vaccine promotion reaches critical mass. The rebound is expected to depend on public spending and exports, while consumption. The weakness casts a shadow on private sector investment trends.

Unemployment, debt:

The unemployment rate may rise from 1.96% at the end of the first quarter, which is the highest level since 2009, as more people may be unemployed as the epidemic continues and businesses are restricted. The blow to the urban service industry may encourage more people to engage in agriculture, a trend that emerged during the national blockade last year.

The Bank of Thailand last month predicted a W-shaped recovery in the labor market, slower than the past rebound, because its so-called fragile service industry has left deep scars.

Thai household debt has soared to an 18-year high of 90.5% of GDP. In view of the tightening of restrictions resulting in unemployment and reduced income, Thai household debt may rise further. This will severely weaken consumer spending as a key engine of economic growth.

Vaccination:

Thailand has distributed about 12 million doses of vaccine, enough to cover about 9% of its population, ranking behind more than 120 other regions in terms of vaccination rates. Kampon Adireksombat, deputy managing director of SCB Securities, stated that the government needs to increase vaccination efforts and consider using most of the planned 500 billion baht loan program to ensure access to better quality vaccines, rather than compensate those affected. Groups and stimulate the economy. Investment office.

If we implement a lockdown without increasing vaccination, new cases may temporarily decline before they rise again, Kampon said. We will be in an ugly cycle of blockade and compensation. This will damage the economic prospects for next year.

Currency, stocks:

Investors have been the first to be affected by the worsening pandemic in Thailand. The countrys currency and stocks have fallen for four consecutive weeks. Although the strengthening of the U.S. dollar caused the Thai baht to fall to a nearly 15-month low, the stock market has suffered a net divestment of 2.6 billion U.S. dollars so far this year.

The earnings of consumer product companies, retailers, airlines, hotels and shopping mall operators may be affected by the weak economy and continued restrictions, while the Thai baht may be more affected by the U.S. dollar.

Foreign investors may avoid high-risk emerging markets, including Thailand, said Standard Chartereds Kampo. The Thai baht will remain weak and the central bank will only step in to curb excessive volatility. But this should be good for exports, which should support the economy.
Model Barbara Palvin turned this day into a letter day in bed-posing in Victorias Secret pajamas, covered with the initials of the underwear brand

But its not just about comfortable bedtime attire This 27-year-old Hungarian beauty.

3 The model poses in Victorias Secret pajamas, covered with the initials of the underwear brand Credit: Victorias Secret

3 The model is no stranger to showing off her toned body Credit: Mega

She and her 28-year-old actress boyfriend Dylan Sprouse (Dylan Sprouse) have been together for three years, and when they were at an event in Los Angeles, they were all triumphant when they were seen.

The model and her 28-year-old boyfriend produced an online series Break Ground during confinement.

They are very happy to be together.

It documents their pandemic adventures, including a trip to a lake in Los Angeles, where they talked about building cabins together.

The series also includes their own drawings in the title sequence.

Barbara was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary.

She was headhunted at the age of 13, and she began to model.

As her career took off, the star made deals with many designer brands, including Chanel, Armani and Miu Miu.

3 Barbara and her 28-year-old actor boyfriend Dylan Sprouse have been together for three years. They were all radiant when they were seen attending an event in Los Angeles. Credit: BackGrid
The Federal Minister of Canada announced on Monday that Canada will donate an additional 17.7 million doses of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine to help people in low- and middle-income countries get vaccinated.

International Development Minister Karina Gould and Purchasing Minister Anita Anand stated that these doses are part of a pre-purchase agreement between the federal government and the company and will be distributed through COVAX.

COVAX is a global vaccine sharing program that is jointly coordinated by the World Health Organization, the Alliance for Epidemic Prevention Innovation and the Vaccine Alliance Gavi.

The plan pools funds from richer countries to purchase vaccines for these countries and ensures that low- and middle-income countries also have access to vaccines. Canada has pledged US$440 million to COVAX.

Anand said in a statement: As we are now able to donate excess vaccines, the contribution of nearly 18 million doses of COVAX will help meet international demand and end this pandemic.

The federal government also announced that it is cooperating with UNICEF to launch a supporting fundraising campaign aimed at encouraging Canadians to donate vaccines by donating $10.

All donations from Canadians will be matched by the federal government, up to a maximum of 10 million Canadian dollars. The event will last until September 6, and people can donate through UNICEF or send SMS 45678.

According to Anand and Gould, if the matching funding campaign reaches its peak, it will provide sufficient funds to vaccinate 4 million people in countries where vaccination campaigns cannot meet their needs.

there are more.
In his CPAC speech, former President Donald Trump accused Facebook of interfering in the election, lashed out at large technology companies, and reiterated his unverified claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

In a speech that lasted more than an hour, he also attacked Democrats and tech giants.

The radical lefts attacks on freedom of speech are illegal, unconstitutional, and unAmerican, he once said.

He criticized technology giants such as Google, Facebook and Twitter, and earlier this week he announced that he would file a lawsuit against all of these giants.

They want to knock everyone down. They go too far. They are like a spoiled child, Trump said.

The former American leader admitted that since leaving the White House, he has missed the idea of ??helping others, he said Sean Hannity He is more popular now than before 2020 general election.

When submitting a talk with Sean Hanni, Trump said he might run in 2024: I take it very seriously, beyond seriously.

From a legal point of view, I dont want to talk about it yet.

Read the Donald Trump live blog below for the latest news and updates
According to the authorities, the mother of a New Jersey woman and a two-year-old boy was found dead in central Tennessee on Saturday after the child and his father were found in a hotel room and became an Amber Alert last Friday. Object. .

On July 9, the New Jersey State Police issued Amber Alert to Sebastian Rios, who was kidnapped at his home in Rahway, Union County. Investigators said the boy and his mother, 24-year-old Yasemin Uyar, were taken away by 27-year-old Tyler Rios from Highland Park. On Friday, the boy did not show up at the daycare center and Uyar did not go to work.

By Saturday morning, the Union County Attorney provided a clue to the Tennessee authorities that Rios might be in the Monterey area. His 2018 Silver Ford Fiesta was found by Putnam County authorities in the parking lot of the Bethel Hotel. Detectives determined that Rios had rented a room there.

When law enforcement first got in touch with Rios, he refused to let the police into his hotel room.Officials who entered by force and Arrest RiosSebastian Rios was safe in the room and was taken to a safe place.

The authorities obtained a search warrant for Rios hotel room and his vehicle and conducted a forensic analysis.

According to investigators, Rios worked with investigators, including the FBI, to take officials to a wooded area off Highway 70. Uyals body is at the scene, and the cause of her death is still under investigation.

Uyars friend told CBS 2 In New York, the victim has a restraining order against Rios, and the two have been in an intermittent abusive relationship since high school.

The victims mother Karen Uyar shared a Leave a message on Facebook About the death of her daughter.

Although my family feels sad about losing Yasemin, please remember that she is not just a victim of (domestic violence), Uyar said. She is a daughter, sister, mother, aunt and cousin. Her life will be celebrated as her greatest gift to the world. Sebastian still needs all our love and support.

Tyler Rios is still being held in Tennessee, awaiting extradition back to New Jersey and filed criminal proceedings in the Union County Superior Court.
El Cajon, Calif.  The death of Father Joe Carroll drew strong support from the leaders of San Diego County.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said on Twitter on Sunday: Father Joe is etched in the history of San Diego. His relentless dedication to serve our most vulnerable people has saved and changed countless lives. His The legacy will continue to be written in the next few years. He will miss it very much.

Father Qiao, who is 80 years old this year, is called the Father Liar.

Senator Toni Atkins also paid tribute on Twitter, saying: He is the light of hope and love for our community.

Catherine Kloward, author of Father Joe: The Life Story of a Liar Pastor, said that Father Joe commissioned her to write a memoir of his life.

If my story can inspire your life, and your life can also inspire the lives of others, this is what we do with the ripple effect, Claude said of why Father Joe wrote a memoir.

Claude has been listening to Father Joes philosophy for the last two years of his life.

Father Joe grew up in an apartment building, where everyone is everyones neighbor, Claude said. He just knocks on other peoples doors or walks in.

The kind of neighbor,everyone is the neighbor we live with, he brought it to the village, and how he sees compassionate housing.

Ruth Bruland, the chief project officer of Father Joes village, said that the news of his death was surreal because he overcame possibility many times.

When he loses the ability to walk, it doesnt stop him, when he loses his legs doesnt stop him, when his eyesight starts to decline, maybe he should be slowed down, but thats not the case, said Brulan. .
Pfizer said it plans to meet with senior U.S. health officials on Monday to discuss the drugmakers request for the federal government to approve a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci admitted,  This is completely conceivable, and it may need to strengthen injections.

The company said it plans to hold a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other officials on Monday, after Pfizer said a few days before it needed a booster injection within 12 months.

Dr. Mikael Dolsten of Pfizer told the Associated Press last week that early data from the companys booster study showed that peoples antibody levels jumped by 5 to 10 after the third dose compared to the second dose a few months ago. Times  it sees evidence supporting the need for enhancers.

On Sunday, Fauci did not rule out this possibility, but said it was too early for the government to recommend another injection. He said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA did the right thing last week, and they refuted Pfizers statement that they believed that booster injections were not needed at this time.

Fauci said that clinical research and laboratory data have not yet fully demonstrated the need to strengthen the current two-injection vaccine of Pfizer and Moderna or the one-injection vaccine of Johnson & Johnson.

Now, given the data and information we have, we dont need to give people a third chance, he said. This doesnt mean that we stop there Now we are doing research to study whether and when we should improve peoples feasibility.

He said that in the coming months, as the data develops, the government is likely to urge it to strengthen based on factors such as age and underlying medical conditions.

Of course, this is completely conceivable, maybe at some point, we need to push, Fauci said.

Other leading vaccine experts questioned Pfizers reasoning and said that more data is needed to justify boosting vaccines, especially as many countries struggle to manage the initial vaccine doses needed to protect their citizens.

Larry Corey, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, who is overseeing the U.S. government-supported COVID-19 vaccine trial, told Reuters: Its disappointing that they have made such a complicated Decided, but adopted such a unilateral approach.

Vaccine resistance

The Washington Post first reported on the planned meeting between Pfizer and US health officials on Monday.

Currently, only about 48% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Immunization rates in certain areas of the country are much lower, and in these areas, Delta variants are proliferating.

Last week, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said that this has led to two facts: Highly immune areas in the United States are returning to normal, while the number of hospitalizations elsewhere is rising.

Fauci said that when scientific data shows how effective vaccines are in preventing COVID-19 infection and hospitalization, it is puzzling for some Americans to resist vaccination so much. He is frustrated with efforts to prevent vaccines being more accessible, such as Door-to-door publicity of Bidens proposal.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson agreed on Sunday that southern and rural states like him have vaccine resistance because you have a more conservative approach and are skeptical of the government.

Hutchinson described his efforts to strengthen vaccination in his state, where the states infection rate is rising. He said no one wants agents to knock on the door, but we do hope that those who cannot enter in other ways People make sure they know about it.

The grassroots part of the federal vaccination campaign has been in operation since April, when the supply of vaccines began to exceed demand. It is outlined and funded by Congress in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in March, and the vast majority of it is implemented by local officials, private sector workers, and volunteers.

Republican representative Adam Kinzinger from Illinois criticized some Republican lawmakers for opposing vaccination as absolute insanity. He said that Californias House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and others in the party need to speak up against these absolute clown politicians who use your fear of vaccines for their own benefit.
As the United States ends its 20-year war in Afghanistan, Kenneth McKenzie will succeed the four-star general Scott Miller.

The U.S. Supreme General in Afghanistan gave up command in an official ceremony in the capital on Monday, the latest symbolic gesture that brought the longest U.S. war to an end.

According to an AFP reporter at the ceremony in Kabul, as the Taliban made overall progress throughout the country, General Austin Scott Miller, the highest-ranking local military officer in Afghanistan, handed over command to Kenneth McKenzie. General.

Miller has been in Afghanistan since 2018, but was accused by Commander-in-Chief Joe Biden in May of organizing the final evacuation of US troops, which will be completed by the end of August.

Since May, most of the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops at that time have left, and the U.S. has also transferred them to the Afghan Army Bagram Air Force Base, where the coalition has conducted operations against the Taliban and armed groups for the past 20 years.

It is estimated that about 650 American soldiers will be stationed in Kabul to defend Washingtons sprawling diplomatic compound, where the ceremony will take place on Monday.

Senior Afghan officials and military officers attended the ceremony in the heavily guarded Green Zone.

President Joe Biden reiterated that the United States will continue to provide humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.

The United States has also pledged to spend $4.4 billion annually to fund Afghanistans security forces by 2024.

Taliban gains control

As Taliban fighters quickly seized territories across Afghanistan, the heavily guarded Resolute Support headquarters in the center of Kabul was handed over.

At a flag-raising ceremony, Miller remembered the American and NATO troops who died in the war of nearly 20 years, as well as thousands of Afghans who lost their lives.

He warned that relentless violence across Afghanistan is making political solutions increasingly difficult.

The outgoing commander stated that he has told Taliban officials It is important that the military creates conditions for a peaceful and political settlement in Afghanistan But we know that in this violent incident, achieving a political settlement will be very difficult.

The Afghan defense and security forces, mainly funded by the United States and NATO, have resisted in certain areas of the country, but the vast majority of Afghan government forces seem to have given up fighting.

In recent weeks, the Taliban have acquired several strategic locations, especially along the borders with Iran, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Hamdullah Mohib, the Afghan National Security Adviser who attended the handover ceremony, said that the withdrawal of the United States and NATO left a vacuum, resulting in the Afghan national security forces being stranded on the battlefield without supplies, sometimes running out of food and ammunition.

In comments after the ceremony, Mohib said that the biggest impact of the withdrawal is the lack of aircraft to supply the troops.

Currently, the government is reorganizing to retake strategic areas and defend its cities from the Taliban.

The Taliban control more than one third of Afghanistans 421 regions and regional centers. The Talibans claim that they control 85% of the area is widely regarded as an exaggeration.
Six people were killed in protests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, and troops were subsequently deployed.

The South African military said it is deploying soldiers in two provinces, including Johannesburg, its economic center, to help police respond to robberies and arson attacks on businesses.

The move comes at a time when the countrys Supreme Court began hearing the 15-month imprisonment challenged by former President Jacob Zuma (Jacob Zuma) on Monday.

The police said that since last week, 6 people have been killed in related protests and robberies, and more than 200 people have been arrested.

The South African Defence Force has initiated pre-deployment procedures and procedures in accordance with the requests for assistance received to assist the law enforcement agencies deployed in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, respectively, to quell the unrest that has swept these two provinces. God, the South African military said in a statement on Monday.

Zuma, 79, was sentenced for violating a Constitutional Court order that provided evidence in an investigation into high-level corruption during his nine years in office until 2018.

The decision to imprison him stemmed from legal proceedings and was seen as a test of South Africas ability to enforce the rule of law after apartheid, including confronting powerful politicians.

At the virtual hearing, Zumas lawyer asked the court to revoke his imprisonment period, on the grounds that the judgment can be reconsidered if the affected person is absent or contains a patent error.

Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller reported from Johannesburg that he said that legal experts believe that the courts chances of setting aside previous rulings are small.

The presidents lawyers said he did not choose not to appear in the Constitutional Court. They said his poor health caused this. They hope the court will reverse the previous judgment, Miller said.

Violence and robbery

After a weekend of riots by pro-Zuma protesters, there were still sporadic violence and robberies on Monday, mainly in his hometown of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

Some riots spread to Johannesburg, the countrys largest city.

Shortly before the military announced the news, the military was seen on the streets of its capital, Pietermaritzburg, and smoke billowed from the roof of a large shopping mall.

On Monday morning, a retail store in Durban was looted and police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd after a supermarket was ransacked in Eshowe, a small town near Zumancandelas home.

In Johannesburg, Gauteng, an AFP photographer saw a body at a location. The cause of death is unclear. Part of a major highway was closed.

Some protests seem to have been triggered by Zumas detention, but they are also related to the severe unemployment and difficulties caused by the strengthening of anti-coronavirus measures.
The United States imposed restrictions on 100 Nicaraguan officials, claiming that they participated in the governments suppression of political opposition and human rights violations.

The United States imposed visa restrictions on 100 Nicaraguan officials, accusing them of participating in President Daniel Ortega (Daniel Ortega) Escalating suppression Target political opponents before the November elections and other human rights violations.

The US State Department said in a statement on Monday that these restrictions will affect 100 members of the Nicaraguan parliament and judicial system, including prosecutors and judges, as well as some of their family members.

The department stated that the U.S. visas held by designated persons had been revoked, but did not specify which officials were restricted.

The statement said: Specifically, the target of todays operation helps the Ortega-Murillo regime to attack democracy and human rights.

In the ruthless and total suppression of the Ortega government, more than two dozen Nicaraguan presidential candidates, opposition leaders, student activists and other figures have been arrested in the past month.

The long-term president stated that his government is prosecuting the criminals who planned the coup against him to justify the arrest.

But civil society and human rights organizations accused the 75-year-old man who ruled Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, regained power in 2007, and won two consecutive re-election campaigns since thenintensified authoritarianism.

Human Rights Watch Americas Director Jose Miguel Vivanco said in a statement: The severity and intensity of the Ortega governments brutal suppression of critics and opposition members in recent weeks. International pressure needs to be doubled. statement June 22.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations must draw the attention of the Security Council to this situation on the basis of existing United Nations operations.

A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last month that Guterres urged the Nicaraguan authorities to fulfill the countrys international human rights obligations and release detained opposition leaders.

But the The arrest continues; Last week, five opposition leaders-including Lester Alleman, a famous student leader in the massive anti-government protests in Nicaragua in 2018- In custody.

This situation also continues to arouse international condemnation. The EUs top diplomat Jose Puborel said last week that stricter measures may be needed against Ortegas Sandinista government.

United States June 9 Impose sanctions Four Nicaraguan officials who supported Ortega, including the presidents daughter, accused them of undermining democracy and abusing human rights.

In Mondays statement, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken stated that the Biden administration will continue to use the diplomatic and economic tools at our disposal to promote the release of political prisoners, and support Nicaraguas demands for greater freedom, accountability, and freedom and justice. election.

Nicaraguas presidential election is expected to be held on November 7.
Two families sued the Universal Studios Orlando theme park for US$30,000 because a character allegedly flashed a white supremacist sign while posing for a photo with two young children.

The images from February and March 2019 seem to show the despicable my villain Glu making an OK gesture.

2 Allegedly, the actor who played the vile me role Gru flashed a sign of white supremacy while posing for a photo with two young girls Credit: McCluskey, McDonalds and Hughes, Pennsylvania

2 Two families seek more than $30,000 in compensation Credit: McCluskey, McDonalds and Hughes, Pennsylvania

The logo has been adopted by white supremacist groups and was called a form of hate speech by the Anti-Defamation League in 2017.

One of the girls is said to be six years old, while the other is said to be five years old, Online mail report.

According to reports, these families are seeking more than $30,000 in compensation. WKMG-TV.

The lawsuit stated: He publicly and targetedly showed them a well-known and commonly used symbol of hatred, demonstrating the power of white people.

This white gesture of power has been publicly and widely used to express hatred against some people-based on a persons race, skin color, and national origin, it has been generally and universally called a hatred symbol for many years.

A picture from February 2019 seems to show the despicable me character gesturing.

A month later, it was reported that the 6-year-old child ran up to the actor and asked to take a photo with the character at breakfast.

He put his arms around the young girl, and he could see the sign above her shoulders.

The lawsuit alleges that the actors let the logo hover.

According to court documents, the child wanted to show the photo to her classmates, but her parents said she could not because a man did a bad thing to her because he didnt like her race and skin color.

Both families sued the theme park, claiming that the girls suffered mental pain, loss of dignity, humiliation, embarrassment and other emotional distress.

The lawsuit stated that the handling of the character or the theme park has not taken any measures to stop it and is responsible.

A Universal Pictures spokesperson confirmed in October 2019 that the actor had been fired, but did not disclose the name of the employee.

Tom Schroeder told the Associated Press that what the actor does is unacceptable.
Since this years Muslim pilgrimage is limited to 60,000 Saudi Arabian citizens and residents who have been vaccinated, Al Jazeera will close its annual Muslim pilgrimage.

According to the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, the annual Muslim pilgrimage will begin on July 18, and the Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on July 20.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it is also the once-in-a-lifetime duty of all able-bodied Muslims when they can afford it.Before the pandemic, about 2.5 million pilgrims will decline A five-day hajj in Mecca.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, foreign pilgrims will not be allowed to make another hajj after Saudi Arabia this year Restricted A pilgrimage is carried out every year to up to 60,000 vaccinated citizens and residents between 18 and 65 years of age. In 2020, only up to 10,000 Saudi citizens and residents will be allowed to make an annual pilgrimage.

Hajj starts on July 18

The date of the Hajj is the 8th day of Dhul al-Hijjah, which is the twelfth and last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, 10-12 days earlier each year. This means that the next Hajj will begin after July 18, and it will be in 2054-33 years from now.

Mecca is famous for its hot desert climate, with summer temperatures often exceeding 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit). It will take at least 10 years for the average high temperature to be below 38C (100F).

Eid al-Fitr starts on July 20

The Eid al-Adha or sacrificial feast is celebrated on the third day of the Hajj and lasts for three days. This year Muslims all over the world will celebrate Eid al-Fitr from July 20th to 22nd. Eid al-Adha is the second major Muslim holiday after Eid al-Fitr, and it marks the end of Ramadan (Ramadan).

How is the Hajj performed?

For Muslims, the Hajj reproduces the actions of the Prophet Muhammad in the Farewell Pilgrimage in 632 AD. It is the core pillar of the Islamic faith and aims to purify the sins of followers and bring them closer to God.

We see the step-by-step process in the infographic below.
Matt Kisiday

When we heard AutoCamp was opening its third outpost and first East Coast location on Cape Cod earlier this spring, we couldnt wait to have a look inside the custom-designed Airstream Suites.

Matt Kisiday

Located an hour and a half south of Boston in Falmouth, Massachusetts, the property features 88 custom-designed, 31-foot Airstreams (available year-round), 10 luxury tents (available April through October), five Accessible Suites, and five X Suites (similar to tiny homes) sprawled about the 14-acre property.

Matt Kisiday

A stay at AutoCamp isnt your typical camping experience. Think glamping on steroids. Our Premium Airstream Suite featured a queen-sized Tempur-Pedic bed, spacious spa-inspired bathrooms with walk-in rain shower and natural bath and skincare products by Ursa Major, a sofa that converts into a second bed, flat-screen television with cable (in the bedroom), heat and A/C, a microwave, a mini-fridge, cookware, BBQ accessories, and a private fire pit with dining area adjacent to the suite.

Matt Kisiday

Before you arrive at AutoCamp Cape Cod, you will receive a text message with your suite number and gate code to enter the property. When you arrive, you will enjoy a contactless check-in at the open-air Clubhouse where your key and arrival envelope with site map, parking pass and WiFi password will be hanging outside for your arrival. (You can opt to have specialty items ready for your arrival like a gourmet smores kit that you can enjoy cooking over the campfire).

Matt Kisiday

The two-story 8,100-square foot Clubhouse also has a fully stocked General Store, luxury bathrooms, and spa-inspired showers along with a modern lounge with an indoor fireplace. Be sure to come here in the morning for a complimentary cup of coffee and locally made granola to get your day started off right. (Note that burning of firewood is not permitted at AutoCamp Cape Cod. Goodwood is available for purchase at the Clubhouse for campfires along with charcoal briquettes for cooking).

Matt Kisiday

Each of the 108 guest accommodations is situated at least 15 feet apart from the next to allow for ample social distancing. This is one of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors, but with a flair for luxury. If you are looking to get started camping, a stay at AutoCamp Cape Cod is a great way to test the waters  in luxe style.

Matt Kisiday

AutoCamp Cape Cod is located directly along the 10-mile Shining Sea Bikeway and offers complimentary Linus bikes to enjoy the beauty from Falmouth to Woods Hole. The bike path is located directly behind the property and offers some spectacular views along the way of Cape Cod marshes and beautiful sandy beaches. Other fun things to do in the area include taking a hike to The Knob in Woods Hole, having breakfast at The Pickle Jar, taking your four-legged friend to the Town of Falmouth Dog Park or enjoying a wine tasting at Cape Cod Winery.

Matt Kisiday

Keep an eye out for future on-site activities such as yoga and meditation, a campfire speaker series, music programming, local food and beverage tastings, and occasional farm-to-table dinners.

Matt Kisiday

AutoCamp Cape Cod is dog-friendly and offers Pet Kits, which include a blanket, food and water bowls, and treats, available for purchase in the General Store. For more information, visit https://autocamp.com/cape-cod.
LAFAYETTE - Blood centers nationwide say they experince a blood shortage every summer including Acadiana. In an effort to fight the shortage Lafayette's Vitalant Blood Center is hosting thier annual blood drive.

"Every year we see the same thing around this time, you know a shortage. just an urgent need for blood." said Duhon

The annual race against the clock blood drive is in it's 16th year now. It works to give our city an influx of blood since donations are limited.

"People are just really busy in the summer time. people go on vacation, kids are out school so you know moms can't get out as often." said Duhon

Vitalant Blood Centers Donor Recruitment Supervisor Christina Duhon says blood donations are essential because blood can't be manufactured.

"You always have to be prepared and have blood on the shelves for our hospitals in the event that there's an emergency. a shooting, an accident, you know you just never know when that need arises." said Duhon

Now the pandemic has also caused a shortage in blood supplies but vitalant tells me that one person coming out to donate can save up to three lives.

One of those people is Army Veteran Paul Edwards of Carenco, Louisiana after serving in the army for 28 years, he says he knows how crucuial it is to maintain blood.

'You never know when your'e going to need blood or one of ypour family members is going to need blood. it's just the american thing to do." said Edwards

Right now Vitalant is in need specifically of Type O negative and positive blood.

"O negative is so important because it's the universal blood type. Whenever there's an emergency situation and they don't have time to type a patient they automatically transfuse them with o negative blood." said Duhon

Now only 2% of our population is O negative but if someone has a postive factor in their blood they can get O positive.

If you'd like to donate blood you can do so by walking in or scheduling an appointment by visiting vitalant.org.
(KADN) - Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards died Monday morning about 7 a.m. at his home in Gonzales.

Edwards had placed himself on hospice care less than a week before, following a trip to the emergency room for lung pain.

The former governor is the only person to serve in the role four times: 19721980, 19841988 and 19921996.

Edwards was 93-years old.

You can read the full release below:

"Baton Rouge (July 12)  Former Governor Edwin Washington Edwards died peacefully Monday morning at his home in Gonzales with family and friends by his bedside. Louisianas only four-term governor expired of respiratory problems that had plagued him in recent years, doctors said. Edwards was less than a month short of his 94th birthday.

Last Monday, Edwards had placed himself in hospice care following a trip the day before by ambulance to nearby Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth Hospital with complaints of pain in his right lung. Physicians took X-rays and a CAT scan of both lungs but said the tests revealed nothing.

In placing himself in hospice, the former governor explained he was saving others the trouble of his repeated trips to the hospital. Since I have been in and out of hospitals in recent years with pneumonia and other respiratory problems, causing a lot of people a lot of trouble, I have decided to retain the services of qualified hospice doctors and nurses at my home.

Family placed a hospital bed in his bedroom at the Edwards home in Pelican Point subdivision where he was administered 24-hour care. No intravenous tubes or heart monitor were used, only oxygen was administered. He had stopped eating two days earlier. The former governor stopped breathing at 7:00 this morning, surrounded by his wife Trina and son Eli, his hospice nurse Peggy Gautreau, and other close family and friends. Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder and his wife Phoebe were part of the small group holding vigil overnight.

Among Edwards last words were, I have lived a good life, had better breaks than most, had some bad breaks, too, but thats all part of it. I tried to help as many people as I could and I hope I did that, and I hope, if I did, that they will help others, too. I love Louisiana and I always will.

Earlier in the week, the former governor commented, Ive made no bones that I have considered myself on borrowed time for 20 years and we each know that all this fun has to end at some point. For him, that time was shortly after daybreak this morning.

His widow, Trina Scott Edwards, said, He was so optimistic all the time. Nothing bothered him except bothering other people. Its heartbreaking for me because I know he so wanted to make Elis 8th birthday party August 1. Eli Wallace Edwards, 7-years-old, is the late governors fifth child. The Edwardses wouldve been married ten years on July 29.

Mrs. Edwards added, His last words were to Eli. Eli told him every night, I love you. And he told Eli, I love you, too. Those were his last words.

Edwin Edwards oldest child, Anna Edwards, said, I am heartbroken at the loss of my father. He was a profound influence in my life and I will always miss him. His passing will create a huge void, but I sincerely thank everyone who expressed love and concern. He touched the lives of many fellow Louisianans and I know he will be remembered with great fondness.

Son Stephen Edwards, who worked alongside his father in the Edwards Law Firm, said, My dad never saw color and never turned his back on anyone in need. He helped all -especially me. He was an infallible pillar of strength but he kept a piece of tremendous pain for the rest of his life for the murder of his baby brother Nolan. Dads successes made him a legend but his losses made him human and his humanity made him easy to love. Louisiana has lost the love of its life. Goodbye Dad.

He was this generations Huey Long, said Edwards biographer Leo Honeycutt who was also at the governors bedside. He cared about people who didnt have a voice and he stood up to those who did. He accomplished everything on the list of the Public Affairs Research Council within his first term, including defeating energy interests in 1974 when he changed the severance tax from 25-cents a barrel to 12.5% of value. That change made Louisiana the most cash-rich state in the nation at the time while New York City was going bankrupt.

Speaker Schexnayder said, Its not every day you get to know someone who literally changed history. Governor Edwards was that person. Well never see someone like him again.

Funeral arrangements are pending, according to the family, but will include lying in state in the rotunda at the Louisiana State Capitol for visitation by the public. The day has not been set.

Edwin Washington Edwards was Louisianas only four-term governor and one of only eleven such governors in U.S. history. He served from 1972 to 1980; 1984 to 1988; and 1992 to 1996. Born in Marksville in Avoyelles Parish on August 7, 1927, as the Great 27 Flood receded, in 1944, Edwards joined the U.S. Navy when he was 17. He became a Navy pilot but, as his squadron was deploying to the Pacific, Japan surrendered, ending World War II. Edwards graduated from LSU Law School in 1949, served two terms as a Crowley City Councilman in Acadia Parish; one term in the Louisiana Senate as a floor leader for Governor John McKeithen; one term in Congress; and four terms as governor.

The Edwards family thanks everyone for their prayers and thoughts."

Gov. Edwards' Statement on the Passing of Former Gov. Edwin Edwards

Gov. John Bel Edwards issued the following statement on the passing of former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, who passed away on July 12 at the age of 93.

"Few people have made such an indelible mark on our state as Governor Edwin Edwards. At just 17, he joined the Navy during World War II, beginning a lifetime of service to his state and country. He represented Louisianas 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as the states only four-term governor, leading Louisiana through pivotal years of growth including launching efforts to create the states current constitution. Gov. Edwards was a fervent supporter of civil rights and ensured that his administration was as diverse as Louisiana, a commitment I have also made as governor. Edwin was a larger than life figure known for his wit and charm, but he will be equally remembered for being a compassionate leader who cared for the plight of all Louisianans. Our state has lost a giant, and we will miss him dearly. Donna and I send our deepest condolences to his wife, Trina, family and all who were blessed to call him a friend and ask everyone to join us in praying for God to comfort them during this difficult time."

Flags will be flown at half-staff through the day of his interment.

Kennedy statement on former governor Edwin Edwards

WASHINGTON  Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) released the following statement upon the passing of former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards:

Becky and I are praying for former governor Edwin Edwardss family during their time of deep loss. He lived a full life, and our hearts go out to his loved ones.

Acadian Companies Chairman & CEO Richard Zuschlag shares a statement on the passing of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards.

"I was saddened to learn of the passing of Governor Edwin Edwards this morning. I was fortunate to visit with him within the past month to discuss Acadian's 50th anniversary, and we reminisced about how his administrations supported our company and our employee-owners over the years. One of the lasting memories I will have of Governor Edwards is how adamant he was that the rural areas of Louisiana receive the same high level of emergency care we provided in the more populated areas.

During our visit, his memory was as sharp as his legendary wit. He made a profound impact on Louisiana during his unprecedented four terms as governor. He deeply loved Louisiana and her people. My condolences go out to his family and friends."

Link to a video of Richard with Edwin Edwards in June 2021.
When neighbors in Grain Valley woke up this morning, they witnessed several agencies searching the outside of a home on Buckner Tarsney Road in connection with a missing persons case out of Independence.
Kim Min Jung starts to show her powerful persona in The Devil Judge Episode 4. Ji Sung slowly takes his revenge to the people who made his life miserable. Jinyoung, on the other hand, realized the nature of the industry he is part of.

Cha Kyung Hee Wants to Make a Deal with Kang Yo Han

In the ongoing trial of Lee Young Min (Moon Dong Hyeok), his mother Cha Kyung Hee (Jang Young Nam), who is a minister of Justice, tries to make a deal with Kang Yo Han (Ji Sung).

To dismiss the case of her son, Cha Kyung Hee desperately offers Kang Yo Han great deals but the judge refuses.

Instead, Kang Yo Han asked Cha Kyung Hee to bring up to the public the case that happened 19 years ago, where the minister Justice accused someone about a case he didn't commit. This happened to be someone close to Kang Yo Han.

The judge wanted Cha Kyung Hee to clear the name of that person so that he could let go of her son in court.

Kang Yo Han Invites Kim Ga On in the Foundation Event

In The Devil Judge Episode 4, Kim Ga On (Jinyoung) was surprised when Kang Yo Han told him to get dressed for a formal event. The judge lent the younger an exquisite suit and accessories and let him drive to the party.

It was Kim Ga On's first time to witness such a gathering and eat dinner alongside high-ranking officials. Meanwhile, Jung Sun A (Kim Min Jung) introduced the people who made generous donations to their foundation.

During their dinner, Jung Sun A saw that the waitress besides Seo Jung Hak (Jung In Gyeom) was uncomfortable. Jung Sun A found out that the waitress was harassed by Seo Jung Hak.

To take action against Chairman Seo, she made an alibi with the guest and took Seo Jung Hak with her in a secret room. Right after they arrived, Jung Sun A angrily slapped Seo Jung Hak for his inappropriate behavior in harassing the waitress.

This situation shows that behind closed doors, Seo Jung Hak is under Jung Sun A. Being a chairman of the foundation was just merely a fake title for Mr. Seo, and that Ms. Jung is actually the one who gives commands.

Kim Ga On Searches for Information About Kang Yo Han

While Kang Yo Han is on trial, Kim Ga On went out of the mansion with Yoon Soo Hyun (Park Gyu Young). They tried to look for people who have knowledge and information about the fire incident before that involved Kang Yo Han and his brother Isaac.

After some attempts, the two failed on their mission.

Meanwhile, Lee Young Min received a verdict of flagellation for all the rude mistreatment he had done. Seeing the punishment being broadcast in public made Kim Ga On think of Kang Yo Han's capabilities.

At the mansion, Kim Ga On purposely mentioned the man's name Isaac and Kang Yo Han was surprised by what he had heard, and even accused him of killing Isaac.

Kang Yo Han's emotions got the better of him and almost hurt Kim Ga On.

Then, a flashback of a fire incident appears, showing how Kang Yo Han survived the miserable situation and this that totally changed his life.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'The Devil Judge' Episode 3: Ji Sung and Jinyoung Save Each Other from Danger

Have you watched The Devil Judge Episode 4? How's the character development so far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins
After making his long-awaited drama return in Doom at Your Service, actor Seo In Guk might be working again in a new project!

Seo In Guk to Possibly Return with a Mystery-Action Drama

On July 12, Seo In Guk's management company Story J announced "Actor Seo In Guk received a proposal for the upcoming drama 'The Handsome Man - A Case Note' and he is positively considering the project."

The Handsome Man - A Case Note is a mystery-action series based on a novel of the same name that has been serialized on Kakao Page, and successfully gained 150,000 readers. This tells the story of Han Jun, a former profiler that becomes a shaman along with his colleagues.

New Characters Will Be Added in the Series Adaptation of The Handsome Man - A Case Note

In continuation to the story, there will be a mysterious cafe in the middle of an unknown place which is said to become an additional concept in the series. New characters that are not in the original work will be introduced.

Humorous and entertaining developments are expected to be added in the story. This forthcoming drama is already receiving high expectations from the viewers especially to those who have read the novel already.

According to the report, The Handsome Man - A Case Note is scheduled to start its production in October 2021. Meanwhile, Seo In Guk's participation is highly-anticipated by his fans. Other cast and details about the forthcoming series are yet to be announced.

Seo In Guk Update

If Seo In Guk accepts the casting offer, The Handsome Man - A Case Note marks his second drama for 2021 following his fantasy-romance series Doom at Your Service, which concluded last June 29.

Seo In Guk also starred in a new action-thriller movie Pipeline alongside his Doom at Your Service co-actor Lee Soo Hyuk. And recently, the Reply 1997 star made an Instagram update and shared some snaps on his page.

Seo In Guk displayed his boyfriend material look with his fresh and simple all-black outfits. It was reportedly from a behind the scene pictorial with a famous magazine. To get more updates about the Korean superstar, you can visit and follow his Instagram account at @seo_cccc or check Story J's official Instagram page to know the latest announcement about Seo In Guk's future projects and activities.

In Case You Missed It: Seo In Guk Receives Thoughtful Gift from His 'Doom at Your Service' Family

What can you say about Seo In Guk's potential drama project? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins.
Park Shin Hye never fails to surprise her fans with alluring photos seen on her social media.

It came after the "Sisyphus: The Myth" star shared a series of snaps for an upcoming campaign shoot.

Interestingly, the 31-year-old actress managed to share a glimpse of her life at work that caught the attention of her 11.8 million followers.

In a sneak peek, Park Shin Hye's Instagram showcases the goddess-like visuals of the Hallyu star that flaunts her strong side angles.

In one post, the "Doctors" star wore a spring-ready ensemble showing off her sexy back as she looked straight to the camera while slightly tilting her head.

With a beauty like the South Korean actress, there's no denying that she aced the shoot, donning that angelic and stunningly gorgeous aura.

Over Park Shin Hye's Instagram caption, she revealed that the campaign shoot was done under the intensely "hot" weather, advising fans to stay hydrated.

"It's very hot. I'm melting, weak in the heat. Be careful of the heat and take care of your health!"

It is safe to say that the 31-year-old South Korean beauty is among the few K-drama stars who regularly update fans on social media.

With over 11.8 Instagram followers, netizens usually see the behind-the-scenes of her current drama and her latest endorsement.

However, here's a rundown of three of Park Shin Hye's interesting posts seen on her Instagram.

READ MORE: Park Shin Hye Skin Care 2021: How to Achieve the 'Sisyphus: The Myth' Star's Youthful Glow

Doctors Reunion with Yoon Kyun Sang and Kim Min Seok

Park Shin Hye recently made her fans swoon over a sweet reunion between her "Doctors" co-stars Kim Min Seok and Yoon Kyun Sang.

Over her IG snap, the "Pinocchio" actress posted a selfie together with the two actors, revealing why Lee Sung Kyung was not included in the photo.

"Kang Soo and Yoon Do teacher Seowoo came late, so I don't have a picture," Park Shin Hye's Instagram caption reads together with the hashtag #nottoday.

Following her IG post, this sparks fans' expectation whether the 2016 K-medical drama "Doctors" will return with a brand new season.

Friends Support Friends

In another Instagram post, the Hallyu star showed her support for Lee Sung Kyung and Loco's new song titled "Love," which was released on July 4.

On Park Shin Hye's Instagram, she shared the official poster track featuring the duo.

"The encounter between my beloved Rocoberry and Bibli. I love this song," she wrote.

As her OG fans would know, the 31-year-old actress maintains her close friendship with her "Doctors" co-star even after wrapping up the drama after almost five years.

Hilarious Sisyphus: The Myth Behind the Scenes with Jo Seung Woo

Last but definitely not least is her series of hilarious IG photos with "Sisyphus: The Myth" star Jo Seung Woo.

The Hallyu star often shares funny snaps on the set alongside her co-actor.

In her previous interview, the actress once mentioned that she and Jo Seung Wooshares perfect synergy, adding that he's among the few people whom she relies on the set.

"There were so many moments like that whenever he wasn't on set, I would wait for him. I realized how differently I acted when we filmed separately compared to when we filmed together."





KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
Defeating this pandemic and the highly contagious Delta variant isn't just about protecting yourself through vaccination -- it's also about having others in the community vaccinated, doctors say.

"Even if you are vaccinated, if you're living in an area with high rates of Covid-19 spread -- and with the Delta variant surging -- there is a chance that you could become infected," said emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen, visiting professor at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health.

The Delta strain is the most transmissible coronavirus variant identified so far, the head of the World Health Organization said. It's about 40% to 60% more transmissible than the highly contagious Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

In the United States, the Delta variant has spread to every state and is now responsible for more than 50% of Covid-19 cases, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

"In some parts of the country, this percentage is even higher, especially in areas with low vaccination rates," the CDC said. "This rapid rise is concerning and threatens the progress the United States has made toward ending the pandemic."

As the Delta variant keeps spreading, "we know that there is a risk of breakthrough infection" among fully vaccinated people, Wen said. "So even if you are vaccinated, you could still get infected. The safest thing is for everyone around you -- even if you are vaccinated -- to also be vaccinated as well."

But even when people do get breakthrough infections, the vaccines are still "very, very high in effectiveness" when it comes to preventing severe illness or hospitalization -- well into the 90% range, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

There are some doctors who have expressed interest in giving a booster dose of vaccine to some patients, such as those who might be immunocompromised, Fauci said Sunday.

But the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration say those who are fully vaccinated don't need a booster shot right now.

"There will always be people, well-meaning people and well-meaning companies will say, 'You know, the way we look at the situation, it looks like you might need a booster, so let's go ahead and give a booster.' But that's not a formal recommendation," Fauci said.

"Data evolves. You get more information as the time goes by. So when you get to the point where you have enough information to make a firm recommendation, that is not flip-flopping. That is making recommendations as the data evolve."

In low-vaccination states, more young people are getting hospitalized

Nationwide, 48% of all Americans have been fully vaccinated, according to CDC data Sunday. But a third of all eligible Americans -- those ages 12 and older -- haven't received a dose of vaccine yet.

In Missouri, only about 40% of the population is fully vaccinated. Doctors there say hospital rooms and equipment are running low, especially as more young people get hospitalized with Covid-19.

"We are seeing more people 30 years and older getting sicker and requiring hospitalization," said Dr. Mayrol Juarez at Mercy Hospital in Springfield.

"Also, we have seen that in this wave, each person is getting sicker faster."

Missouri's state health department estimates more than 70% of the virus circulating in the state is the Delta variant.

About 91% of the patients in the intensive care unit at Mercy Hospital in Springfield are on ventilators, Chief Administrative Officer Erik Frederick said.

"That is shocking to us, to have that kind of number," Frederick said Saturday. "These are young patients -- you have them in their 20s, 30s, 40s -- again, it's alarming, (and) a direct line to the vaccination rates."

In Arkansas, where about 35% of the population is fully vaccinated, the state recently surpassed 1,000 new Covid-19 cases a day, state health officials said.

"Arkansas is on the upward surge of a third wave of Covid-19 here in our state, and it's tilting towards younger people," said Dr. Cam Patterson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

"We're also seeing breakthrough infections in individuals who are immunocompromised."

And in Mississippi, where only a third of the population is fully vaccinated, "we've seen almost an entire takeover in the Delta variant," said State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs.

New Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are fueled primarily by unvaccinated people, State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said.

"Due to the rapid rise of Delta variant cases and outbreaks, combined with the low overall immunization rate in the state," Mississippi is advising seniors 65 and older to avoid mass gatherings until July 26, regardless of vaccination status, the state health officer tweeted.

When might we need a booster?

"Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time," the CDC and FDA said in a joint statement Thursday.

"We continue to review any new data as it becomes available and will keep the public informed. We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed."

Some Americans were confused when Pfizer said immunity has partially waned for some of its vaccine recipients as the Delta variant spreads around the world. Pfizer said it's working to develop a booster dose to protect people from variants.

"We see declining efficacy of the vaccine in Israel against the Delta variant, but that declining efficacy seems to be clustered among people who are older and who were vaccinated a while ago," Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner and current board member at Pfizer, told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

"With respect to the boosters, what we're talking about is a third dose of the existing vaccine," Gottlieb said.

"Anyone who gets vaccinated right now will not need a booster. If you go out and get vaccinated right now, that vaccine is going to carry you through the fall and the winter. What we're really talking about right now is people who were vaccinated a while ago, where there may be some declining efficacy."

Thursday, Pfizer said it would soon publish data about a third dose of vaccine and submit it to the FDA, the European Medicines Agency and other regulators. Pfizer said it would seek FDA emergency use authorization for a booster dose in August.

Dr. Jerome Adams, the US surgeon general during the Trump administration, said he agrees with the CDC and the FDA that fully vaccinated people don't need a booster shot right now.

"Vaccinations are your best bet right now," Adams said Friday. "They're still incredibly effective. And if we have to get a booster, we just have to get a booster. We do that for the flu every single year, so people shouldn't get too worked up about that."

The CDC encourages in-person learning -- with safety precautions

With millions of students returning to classrooms in the coming weeks, the CDC said schools should prioritize in-person learning combined with safety measures.

Students, teachers and staff who are fully vaccinated don't need to wear masks at school, the CDC said. But those who aren't fully vaccinated, including children younger than 12 who are not yet eligible, should wear masks while indoors, the CDC said.

The CDC suggests schools offer Covid-19 vaccines on site, provide paid sick leave for employees to get vaccinated and excuse absences for students 12 and older to get vaccinated.

If Covid-19 cases are low in a community, and local schools want to transition away from pandemic precautions, they should do so gradually, the CDC said in a draft of the guidance obtained by CNN.

"If localities decide to remove prevention strategies in schools based on local conditions, they should remove them one at a time and monitor closely (with adequate testing) for any increases in COVID-19 cases before removing the next prevention strategy," the guidance says.

Getting more people vaccinated will assist in that effort, many experts say.

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Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger slammed his GOP colleagues, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, for invoking Nazi-era imagery to mock President Joe Biden's latest Covid-19 vaccination efforts.

"It's absolute insanity," the Illinois congressman said of his fellow House Republicans' comments in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union."

He went on to say, "This is outrage politics that is being played by my Party and it's going to get Americans killed."

"Our Party has been hijacked, my Party has been hijacked. It is on the way to the ground. And for some people, it's a fun ride, right? We can put out this outrageous stuff on Twitter, 'Yeah I'm getting all these retweets and everybody knows me, I'm famous,'" he said. "But this plane is going to crash to the ground."

Kinzinger called on House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and other GOP leaders to encourage Americans to get vaccinated and to "call out these garbage politicians, these absolute clown politicians playing on your vaccine fears for their own selfish gain."

He also urged Republican voters to get vaccinated, saying that Covid-19 "is real" and that the vaccine is safe.

The White House is continuing to push vaccinations as the main focus of its strategy to fight Covid-19, and announced this week it would be shifting to more targeted community outreach as the Delta variant and undervaccinated clusters of Americans threaten the nation.

Biden on Tuesday said, "Now we need to go to community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood, and oftentimes, door to door -- literally knocking on doors -- to get help to the remaining people protected from the virus."

The White House also recently announced it would be deploying response teams --- made up of officials from the CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- across the US to areas with a high spread of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates to help with boosting testing, providing supplies and as support staff for vaccinations.

In response, Greene, a Georgia Republican, on Tuesday compared the US officials to Nazi-era "brown shirts," a paramilitary group that helped facilitate Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1930s and '40s. Boebert, a Colorado Republican, tweeted, "Biden has deployed his Needle Nazis to Mesa County."

On Sunday, Kinzinger argued that Biden could have phrased his words "slightly differently," but said that "at no point was anybody saying they're going to break down your door and jam a vaccine in your arm despite your protest."

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By David Williams, CNN

(CNN) -- The devastating heat wave that ravaged British Columbia last week is being blamed for a massive die-off of mussels, clams and other marine animals that live on the beaches of Western Canada.

Christopher Harley, a professor in the zoology department at The University of British Columbia, found countless dead mussels popped open and rotting in their shells on Sunday at Kitsilano Beach, which is a few blocks away from his Vancouver home.

Harley studies the effects of climate change on the ecology of rocky shores where clams, mussels and sea stars live, so he wanted to see how the intertidal invertebrates were faring in the record heat wave that hit the area on June 26-28.

"I could smell that beach before I got to it, because there was already a lot of dead animals from the previous day, which was not the hottest of three," he said. "I started having a look around just on my local beach and thought, 'Oh, this, this can't be good.'"

The next day, Harley and one of his students went to Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, which he has been visiting for more than 12 years.

"It was a catastrophe over there," he said. "There's a really extensive mussel bed that coats the shore and most of those animals had died."

Unprecedented heat

Mussels attach themselves to rocks and other surfaces and are used to being exposed to the air and sunlight during low tide, Harley said, but they generally can't survive temperatures over 100 degrees for very long.

Temperatures in downtown Vancouver were 98.6 degrees on June 26, 99.5 on the 27th and 101.5 on the 28th.

It was even hotter on the beach.

Harley and his student used a FLIR thermal imaging camera that found surface temperatures topping 125 degrees.

At this time of the year, low tide hits at the hottest part of the day in the area, so the animals can't make it until the tide comes back in, he said.

Climate scientists called the heat wave in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest in the United States "unprecedented" and warned that climate change would make these events more frequent and intense.

"We saw heat records over the weekend only to be broken again the next day," Kristina Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told CNN, "particularly for a part of the country where this type of heat does not happen very often."

An analysis by more than two dozen scientists at World Weather Attribution found that the heat wave "would have been virtually impossible without the influence of human-caused climate change."

It was also incredibly dangerous.

Lytton, British Columbia, broke Canada's all-time record on June 30 when the temperature topped 121 degrees. The town was all but destroyed in a deadly wildfire.

There were 719 deaths reported to the province's coroners between June 25 and July 1 -- three times as many as would normally occur during that time period, according to a statement from Lisa Lapointe, British Columbia's chief coroner. Hundreds of people died in the US and many had to be hospitalized because of the heat.

A billion animals may have died

Harley said the heat may have killed as many as a billion mussels and other sea creatures in the Salish Sea, which includes the Strait of Georgia, the Puget Sound, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but he said that was a very preliminary estimate.

He said that 50 to 100 mussels could live in a spot the size of the palm of your hand and that several thousand could fit in an area the size of a kitchen stovetop.

"There's 4,000-some miles of shoreline in the Salish Sea, so when you start to scale up from what we're seeing locally to what we're expecting, based on what we know where mussels live, you get to some very big numbers very quickly," he said. "Then you start adding in all the other species, some of which are even more abundant."

He said he's worried that these sorts of events seem to be happening more often.

Brian Helmuth, a marine biology professor at Northeastern University, said that mussel beds, like coral reefs, serve as an early warning system for the health of the oceans.

"When we see mussel beds disappearing, they're the main structuring species, so they're almost like the trees in the forest that are providing a habitat for other species, so it's really obvious when a mussel bed disappears," he said. "When we start seeing die-offs of other smaller animals, because they're moving around, because they're not so dense, It's not quite as obvious."

He said the death of a mussel bed can cause "a cascading effect" on other species.

Both scientists said they were concerned that these heat waves were becoming more common and they weren't sure whether the mussel beds would be able to recover.

"What worries me is that if you start getting heat waves like this, every 10 years instead of every 1,000 years or every five years, then it's -- myou're getting hit too hard, too rapidly to actually ever recover," Harley said. "And then the ecosystem is going to just look very, very different."
SALEM, Ore.  Leaders in the Oregon House and Senate announced on Monday that the capitol in Salem will be largely accessible to the public again for the first time since March of last year.

In a joint statement, Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek said that the decision stemmed from new Oregon Health Authority guidance and Governor Kate Brown's decision to lift most COVID-19 restrictions on July 1.

The last year has been extremely hard on our state. Oregonians have suffered devastating wildfires, an ice storm, a historic heatwave, and extreme drought," the lawmakers said. "Through it all, we have battled a global pandemic that has dramatically changed our daily lives.

Last March, we consulted with infectious disease doctors and public health officials about what changes were needed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the Capitol. In the end, we made the very difficult decision to limit Capitol entry to legislators, essential staff, and members of the press.

Over 70% of Oregonians 18 and older are now vaccinated against COVID-19 and community spread has reduced considerably. We are extremely grateful to Oregonians for stepping up to help beat this pandemic. With new guidance from the Oregon Health Authority and the lifting of county risk levels, we are excited to expand entry to the Capitol today to include members of the public.

The decision to close the capitol to the public became a point of contention as the pandemic dragged on. Republicans in the House and Senate made complaints about the lack of public access a refrain that accompanied nearly every piece of legislation considered by the two chambers during the 2021 session. Public comment and viewership of hearings continued over Zoom.

Courtney and Kotek said that certain areas of the capitol will be under construction over the summer and through fall, and access to the Senate and House wings will be limited to construction crews until December. The State Street entrances and front steps will also be temporarily closed for construction, though the north ADA entrances will be accessible to visitors.

The Oregon State Capitol Visitor Services staff will be bringing back many of the customary services for visitors over the next few weeks:
Thousands of people wait over six hours for their COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up mass vaccination clinic at Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Thursday, June 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
My phone rings.

Namaskar! My cough is really bothering me. What should I do? says a middle-aged man.

Namaskar! I am Astha Prasai. I am here to help you. Please bear with me while I ask you your problem in detail, I answer.

Mr. Kafle from Kathmandu is worried about this nagging cough he has, and it has been a month since he has tested positive for COVID- 19. After talking to him and counseling him for a while, he is happy to hear that it is a sequela of COVID-19 and will improve with time. Asking him to call back if it worsens, I end the call.

The phone rings again.

Namaskar! I had talked to a doctor yesterday about my father. I am worried his oxygen saturation is 87 percent, says Ms. Gurung in a quavering tone. I quickly search his details entered by my colleague yesterday and find he is an eighty years old hypertensive man and had tested positive a week ago and had mild symptoms until yesterday. I ask his current symptoms and teach the daughter an accurate method to use a pulse oximeter. While I am on the phone, I ask to retake the saturation.

Oh! It is 95 percent. Thank God. Her voice is much calmer. I ask her to monitor her father, teach her about awake proning, and ask her to call back when needed. I hand over the detail to my colleague, who would later follow up on the patient in the evening shift. We present the case to our attending in the evening huddle and follow up with the patient as we discussed.

Mrs. Nepali from Far Western Nepal calls.

It has been a month since I tested positive. I was admitted to the nearby center and received oxygen and steroids two weeks back. Now, my eyes hurt, and I have chest pain. I am worried I have mucormycosis, she says.

After taking her history in detail, reviewing the reports she had sent to our Facebook page, it was obvious she did not have mucormycosis but instead was anxious and worried due to the increasing cases of mucormycosis she had heard about. Every day she messages us on our official page, updating us about her symptoms. Members of our team follow up regularly to make sure she is doing well.

Every telemedicine duty day starts and ends with many such calls from nooks and corners of Nepal, even from places where health care accessibility is a struggle. My fellow doctors and I hear several such stories of people in fear, despair, and confusion. Some with multiple comorbidities and high risk need close monitoring or hospital admission, some are curious about when to break isolation as they have tested positive even a month after symptom onset, some are worried about re-infection, and some are worried about their child as they hear the third wave is going to hit hard. We lend an ear to their concerns and, utilizing our medical knowledge to the best of our capacity, guide them on appropriate steps they can take.

Please, convey my thanks to all the team members for helping us. Having someone listen to my concerns and talk to me for just a few minutes on the phone relieves my worry, said Mr. Dahal, whose family of eight is all COVID-19 positive and is in isolation.

I believe we as a team have been able to help many patients like him. Telemedicine has become a bridge between the sick and the health care system, helping to triage the patients at their homes.

Currently working in a COVID ICU in a tertiary center in Kathmandu, I have experienced how difficult it is for the health system to manage the patient load. A month ago, ICU beds were fully occupied, ventilator alarms would set off time and again, indicating low flow as the hospitals faced shortages of oxygen supplies, emergency rooms were over-occupied, and patients waited in queues to receive oxygen or just to be checked up by a doctor. At such a desperate time, telemedicine is a noble initiative. I thank my patients who taught me more than just mere medical knowledge and my dedicated fellow volunteer doctors who teamed up in this project to help the nation in these dire times.

Astha Prasai is a physician in Nepal.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
EUGENE, Ore. If you're looking to buy a house in Oregon, you can no longer send letters to sway the seller. This long-lasting practice of writing a "buyer love letter" is now banned after Governor Kate Brown signed House Bill 2550 in June.

Some believe the idea of love letters is discriminatory because it could reveal personal information about buyers.

Real estate Broker Amy Thompson said these letters could influence sellers to make decisions based on emotion and not based on the actual price and terms of the offer.

"It puts buyers who can't be as competitive in their price and terms at a disadvantage because that was the only way they could appeal to the seller," Thompson said.

Thompson, who's been in real estate for 18 years, said this ban levels the playing field for both buyers and sellers.

"They may subconsciously choose an offer from someone that matches up a little more to their own way of thinking or way of being -- race, religion, color, sexual identity- that kind of thing," Thompson said.

Thompson said a seller should choose their buyer based on traditional offers like price and terms.

"That's how an offer should be judged," Thompson said. "Not by how many kids somebody has or someone's sexual identity or someone's race."

However, not everyone is on board with throwing away love letters for good.

Kristine Chadwick, a Eugene resident, said the reason her family lives in their house now is because of the love letter her real estate agent wrote back in 2013.

Chadwick said they were the second and lower bid towards the house they fell in love with. But it was thanks to the letter-- that helped them secure the keys.

"There was nothing insincere about it," Chadwick said. "It was--we are a family of five, and we love this house; we think it would be the perfect place to raise our children. And the owner, who was the original owner from 1972, had also raised three children in the house and really wanted to have a family, and not an investor purchase it."

It's no secret that it's hard to buy a house right now with the housing market skyrocketing. Many told KEZI writing letters to sellers isn't discriminatory and actually helps with community building.

"I don't like the idea of there being a ban because locals often want to sell to people who are wanting to make a community," Chadwick said.
LINN COUNTY, Ore.  A Eugene woman was killed in a motorcycle crash in Linn County Sunday afternoon.

Oregon State Police said troopers and emergency personnel responded at about 2:30 p.m. to the single-vehicle crash on Highway 22 near milepost 70.

Peggy Mitchell, 58, was reportedly heading east on a Harley Davidson trike motorcycle when it left the road and went down an embankment.

OSP said Mitchell sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead.

The Linn County Sheriffs Office, Linn County Search and Rescue, the Forest Service and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Police responded to a single-vehicle crash near Highway 99 in Eugene Sunday morning around 8:50 a.m.

They said a pickup truck crashed into a pole.

No injuries were reported.

Public works cleaned up debris after the crash.

The cause of the crash is unclear at this time.

Police say traffic was not affected.
By Juliet Nalwooga

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on businesses in different countries around the world, Uganda is no exception.

Many entrepreneurs have been forced to close down while other businesses are on the verge of total collapse.

While the closing of businesses may seem the natural thing to do at such a time, Cuthbert Insingoma the Chief Executive Officer of Tuffic Business Market, a business brokerage firm warns against dissolution.

He says one can benefit more by selling off shares rather than liquidating assets and completely dissolving the company.

Insingoma acknowledges the enormous negative effects of the pandemic on the economy and individual businesses, but quickly suggests some best practices for business owners like better bookkeeping culture.
By Moses Ndhaye

The government has set up a special COVID-19 retesting centre for migrant workers heading to the Middle East.

This follows reports that many Ugandans sent to work there are testing positive for COVID-19 upon reaching their final destination in the Middle East.

Emmanuel Ainebyona, the ministry of health spokesperson says this is being done to prevent forgery of COVID-19 test results.

All migrant workers will now be re-tested for free by the Ministry of Health 24 hours before their flights. The interim intervention is meant to ensure travellers have test results that meet international health regulations, Ainebyona said.

Ministry of Health confirmed 479 news cases today bringing the total number of cases to 87,756.
By David Awori

Former Information and Communication Technology (ICT) minister Aggrey Awori was on Saturday laid to rest in Kibimba Village, Buwuni Town Council, Bugiri District, in a grave he constructed 10 years ago.

Ms Nafula Awori, his daughter, said although her father had built a house and constructed a grave inside, he had not disclosed it to family members.

We simply saw the house as any other extension because Dad even kept it a secret to two of his confidants, Ms Nafula said, adding that the family only came to learn about the grave after his death.

Awori, who is also a former MP for Samia Bugwe North, passed away aged 82 last week at a Kampala hospital due to Covid.

The scientific burial brought together representatives from Kenya and Uganda, with the Kenyan team being led by Mr Dennis Awori, the deceaseds nephew, and Dr Robert Barasa, the Bishop of Nambaale Archdiocese in Western Kenya.

We crossed the border from Kenya to witness the burial of our own despite the Covid-19 restrictions, Dr Barasa said.

Speaker after speaker eulogised Awori, who represented Samia Bugwe North in the Constituent Assembly and Sixth Parliament, as a Christian, accomplished politician and man of the people.

Ms Cecilia Ogwal, the Dokolo Woman MP, said Awori stood tall in all his endeavours. Awori stood tall in politics, academics, sports, diplomacy and generally tall in everything, she said.

Mr Awori, the deceaseds nephew, delivered a condolence message from Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta, who described the deceased as a Pan Africanist who supported employment in Kenya and pioneered the teaching of journalism at Nairobi University.

Read more: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/awori-buried-in-grave-he-dug-ten-years-ago-3470030
By Mukhaye Damali

The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has accused the government of hijacking their idea of covid relief cash transfers to the vulnerable Ugandans.

The government has embarked on giving food relief in the form of cash to people whose incomes were affected by the covid-induced lockdown.

However, while addressing the media at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi this morning, FDC president Patrick Amuriat has said the idea of giving Ugandans Shs100,000 as Covid relief was enshrined in their 2021 election manifesto.

Amuriat says in their proposal, they planned to extend this cash handouts to vulnerable Ugandans for a period of six months.

He says they had also planned to give this assistance to 5 million Ugandans across the country given the growing number of vulnerable people.

Amuriat adds that the government not only copied their idea, but has also mismanaged it because targeting a mere 500,000 households is a mockery of Ugandans.

He thus advises that the government increases the number of beneficiaries and also extends the period of payment.
By Damali Mukhaye

The opposition Forum for Democratic Change has reopened its offices across the country to replace the top leaders who have since left the party.

FDC last month closed their offices across the country due to a surge of Covid-19 infections.

Addressing journalists at the party offices in Najjanankumbi, the FDC president, Patrick Amuriat said a number of activities are lined this week to fill the vacant party positions.

Amuriat says among the top positions to be filled is that of the Vice President Buganda region after Joyce Ssebugwawo denounced the party following her appointment as State Minister for Information and Communication Technology.

The other is Vice President Eastern region, Secretary for organization and Mobilization, a position that was held by Ingrid Turinawe who reportedly abandoned the party among others.
By Ruth Anderah

The hearing of a bail application filed by two suspected attackers of Gen Katumba Wamala has flopped.

This after prosecution led by Joseph Kyomuhendo failed to file a response to the said application.

The Deputy Registrar in charge of criminal matters Festo Nsenga has ordered the prosecution to file its response on Wednesday this week and on Friday, July 16th, the court will pronounce a ruling date.

In their bail application, Yusuf Nyanzi and Hussein Sserubula state that they were on June 28th sent on remand at Kitalya government prison after spending 7 days in illegal detention.

Their lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima from Wameli and Company Advocates explains what transpired in court today.
By Ivan Ssenabulya

Members of parliament on the central region COVID-19 task force have faulted the government for the poor management of the pandemic.

Last week officials from the ministry of health led by minister Jane Ruth Aceng and the permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine appeared before the task force and gave the state of the countrys pandemic management.

However, on their tour which started on Friday at the Central region referral hospitals Mityana, Mubende and Kirundu MPs established that the ministry gave falsehoods.

Speaking to KFM, one of the task force members, Kyotera district Woman MP Rose Fortunate Nantongo said that hospitals dont have ICU beds and those with new beds have not been fully installed.

She said that most health workers have not been paid their risk allowances among other issues arising.

The Central region parliamentary COVID-19 task force is chaired by Dr Micheal Bukenya.
By Paul Adude

Somali refugees residing in Kisenyi, in Kampala, have decried the lack of relief support from govt and other stakeholders since the 42-day lockdown was declared by the President.

The Somali Youth Action Organization Deputy Director Ismael Hussein says the Covid-19 lockdown has only worsened their plight as urban refugees.

Hussein adds that many refugees have been arrested for unknowingly violating presidential directives due to the language barrier.

However, the spokesperson of the Office of Prime Minister Julius Mucunguzi says the government can only take care of refugees who are within the refugee settlements spread out in 13 districts across the country.

Mucunguzi explains that for refugees are to benefit from food rations or any other form of support, they have to be in the settlements, not urban areas like Kisenyi.
Texas GOP Chairman Allen West speaks in June at a news conference in Whitehouse after announcing he was resigning. West said Sunday he will run against Gov. Greg Abbott in the Republican primary.
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OSSIAN, Iowa  Soil conditioner leaking from an underground pit is being blamed for a fish kill in northeast Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was contacted about a fish kill roughly 1.5 miles west of Ossian on Saturday. DNR staff say they found dead fish and a strong organic odor in Dry Branch Creek near County Road B32.

Following the creek upstream, DNR staff says they identified the source as a soil conditioner leaking from an underground storage pit at the Milan Hageman farm. The DNR says field tests showed relatively high ammonia levels for about 8 miles downstream, until water in Dry Branch Creek disappeared underground just upstream of the Turkey River.

State workers returned to the fish kill site on Monday to count dead fish and monitor cleanup. The DNR says it will take appropriate enforcement action and seek a penalty for the fish killed.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A man accused of multiple thefts in Cerro Gordo County is pleading guilty to one of them.

Curtis Alan Anderson Jr., 22 of Mason City, has entered a guilty plea to second-degree theft for using a stolen truck to steal a construction trailer in Clear Lake. Investigators say the trailer was taken on North Shore Drive on February 2 and held over $30,000 in tools. His sentencing is set for September 7.

Anderson is also charged with second-degree theft for allegedly stealing a car in Mason City on January 13, second-degree theft for allegedly trading one stolen vehicle for another on January 18 in Mason City, and first-degree theft for allegedly using another stolen truck to steal another construction trailer holding over $35,000 in tool on February 24 in Clear Lake. Anderson has not entered a plea to those charges.

Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16 in Floyd County after pleading guilty to ongoing criminal conduct, second-degree burglary, eluding, and possession of a controlled substance-2nd offense. Yet another sentencing hearing is set for August 30 in Worth County, where Anderson has pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary.
Governor Walz announced Friday the rollback of mass state-operated vaccination centers.

The move comes after the state of Minnesota completed its goal of vaccinating 70% of the adult population.

Starting Sunday, state-led vaccination centers, such as the Mayo Civic Center, will only offer the final dose of the vaccine series.

These mass facilities will continue vaccinating people until August 8, the end date for the state vaccination program.

Walz's announcement is a turning point for the COVID-19 vaccination effort in Minnesota.

A total of 618,000 vaccines have been given to people at the mass vaccination clinics.

Rochester resident Matthew Knowlen said he hopes everyone gets their shot.

"Go out and get your shots! Make the world a better place," Knowlen said.

Those looking to get their COVID-19 vaccine can still do so at their local pharmacy or hospital.
DES MOINES, Iowa - MercyOne is looking to honor healthcare workers at this year's Iowa State Fair.

MercyOne is looking for people to nominate providers, nurses and medical staff to be recognized. The nominee must be employed by MercyOne to be eligible, and the deadline is July 25.

You can nominate people here.
ROCHESTER, Minn.- Children at the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester will soon be stronger swimmers, thanks to the Rochester Swim Club. Each week, the organization is teaching them how to swim better by giving swimming lessons.

"We just want every kid in Rochester to know how to swim. There should not be barriers for kids to learn how to swim, so we worked around the barriers to get these kids in the water," says Rochester Swim Club CEO Autumn Kappes.

Based on the success, Kappes might have Rochester Swim Club offer swimming lessons all throughout the year.

"This has been a good pilot season. We learned a lot. We're hoping to continue this throughout the school year as well if this keeps going well."

Lessons are 45 minutes each, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at Silver Lake Pool. Swimmers are also provided goggles and bathing suits.
OSSIAN, Iowa - Nine juveniles could face charges in connection to several vandalism cases in northeast Iowa.

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office said the people involved have been referred to juvenile court services.

No names or additional information will be released on the case.
LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. (KMOV.com)  Not only were murder charges filed against Pamela Hupp in connection to Betsy Faria's 2011 death Monday, Lincoln County Prosecutor Michael Wood announced his office uncovered prosecutorial and police misconduct in the initial investigation that could result in criminal charges.

Hupp was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action Monday, and Wood said his office would seek the death penalty in the case.

"I do not take that decision lightly, but this case stands alone in its heinousness and depravity, such that it shocks the conscience," Wood said.

Faria was stabbed 55 times inside her Troy, Missouri home in December 2011. According to a probable cause statement, Farias husband Russell dialed 911 after coming home to find her dead in the den. He initially told dispatchers that she had previously contemplated suicide after discovering she had breast cancer.

First responders noticed puncture wounds and lacerations to Farias head, face, neck, torso and arms. Hupp became a key figure in the case as she was the last person to see Faria alive. Four days before the deadly stabbing, Hupp became the sole beneficiary of Farias $150,000 life insurance policy. Court documents state Hupp promised to distribute the money to Farias two daughters and mother since she was having martial problems. She later backtracked to investigators and claimed the money belonged only to her. Despite this evidence, Hupp was never considered as a suspect by the initial investigators.

"This is one of the poorest examples of investigative work that I, as well as my team, have ever encountered," Wood said. "It was driven largely by ego, and working toward an agenda rather than truth."

On the day of the murder, Faria was scheduled to receive chemotherapy. Detectives learned Hupp stalked her every move and repeatedly offered to take her to therapy and other stops. At one point, Hupp arrived unannounced at the doctors visit as well as Farias mothers home. During the evening, Hupp was able to convince Faria to let her take her home. The pair made it to the Troy home around 7 p.m. Around 7:20 p.m., police said Hupp texted Farias phone stating she was at her own house. Cell phone data pinged Hupps phone at a tower near the Faria home, documents said.

In 2013, Russell Faria, Betsy's husband, was convicted in the killing despite what Wood called overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

"That investigation was mismanaged from the beginning. Russell Faria was the primary suspect in Betsy's death, yet he had four alibi witnesses, no blood on him despite a gruesome murder scene," Wood said. "Cell phone towers, along with video evidence at two separate locations, put him elsewhere at the time of her death."

Documents noted Hupp suggested to police to comb through Farias laptop where they found a document stating Faria feared her husband would murder her. The document was created on Dec. 22, 2011 just one day before the life beneficiary change.

Faria's conviction was later overturned, and he was acquitted at retrial in 2015. He pointed suspicion at Hupp during his criminal trials and in a lawsuit against Lincoln County officials.

Wood said during his offices re-examining of the case, he was informed by three separate and independent sources that prosecutors asked witnesses to lie on the stand. He also learned that after Faria's acquittal, a destruction order was drafted by the Lincoln County Sheriff's office, which would have destroyed all the evidence in the case had it been executed. As a result, Wood's office requested St. Charles police hold all evidence gathered in the investigation to keep it protected.

None of the actors Wood discussed Monday are currently employed with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. He said his office will conclude its investigation into the investigation and prosecution of Faria by December, and charges could follow. Perjury in a murder case is a Class A felony, and there is no statute of limitations.

"For law enforcement to actually come and out say we believe there was a shoddy investigation and we believe it should have gone the other way, for that to be publicly said means a whole lot to me," said Russ Faria.

In 2016, Hupp was back in the headlines in connection to the murder of Louis Gumpenberger in another county. She entered an Alford plea on a first-degree murder charge. The plea wasn't an admission of guilt but conceded that evidence existed for a conviction. She was later sentenced to life in prison without parole.

+4 GRAPHIC: Photos from scene of Pam Hupp's mother's death raise questions For the first time ever, we are getting a look at the scene of Pam Hupp's mother's death. Investigative Reporter Lauren Trager got pictures from a source tied to the investigation.

Hupp initially claimed she killed Gumpenberger in self-defense when he tried to kidnap her on Aug. 16, 2016. St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said Hupp killed Gumpenberger as part of a complicated plot to distract from the potential re-investigation of Faria's death.

She originally told police that she got out of her car on her driveway in O'Fallon, Missouri, and Gumpenberger pulled a knife and demanded she take him to a bank "to get Russ's money." That was an apparent reference to the insurance money she collected from Betsy Faria's death.

The O'Fallon, Missouri Police Department determined Hupp groomed and lured Gumpenberger to her home by pretending to be a Dateline producer. She offered him money to reenact a 911 call.
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Lee Jun-seok, right, chief of the main opposition People Power Party, shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, during the latter's courtesy call to celebrate Lee's election as the opposition leader. After the meeting, Lee said to reporters that he told Xing he expects China to meet international standards in social systems and democratic values. Yonhap
Construction equipment is used to dig through the mound of debris from the collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building is seen through fencing on July 11, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. AFP-Yonhap



Search crews have discovered an additional four victims of the Surfside condominium collapse, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced Sunday, bringing the confirmed death toll from the June 24 catastrophe to 90 with a remaining list of 31 people feared lost under the rubble.



The newly discovered victims were not identified at the daily media briefing that marked the 18th day of the search effort and the fourth since the county-led operation shifted from rescue mode to recovery. Levine Cava announced July 7 that there was no hope of finding anyone alive in the debris from the 12-story oceanfront condominium tower, a decision that shifted the debris site from a rescue operation run by the county fire department to a death investigation overseen by Miami-Dade Police.



On Sunday, the search effort continued during a mix of light rain and sunshine on a site that now includes both the rubble from the initial collapse and July 4 demolition of the remaining tower. The demolition was planned to prevent more rubble from falling on debris from the collapse, and the pace of the recovery process picked up after the remaining tower fell.



Crews have reached the bottom of some portions of the debris pile from the 12-story building, with Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky saying the latest layers removed over the weekend revealed vehicles from the underground parking garage.



While Levine Cava said 31 people remain unaccounted for, she said that number is not firm. County police investigators continue to try and confirm the whereabouts of some people on the list, while they're confident most were in the building at the time of the overnight collapse.





Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava gives her remarks during the daily morning press conference outside the County's operational center on Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. AP-Yonhap
Steve Garbacz is executive editor for KPC Media Group and editor of The News Sun. His wife attempted to get unemployment this year, and after about three weeks of back-and-forth with the state, she was ultimately denied benefits. Email him at sgarbacz@kpcmedia.com.
SALEM, OR (KPTV)  A suspect in a deadly shooting at a motel last month was arrested in Washington, according to Salem Police Department.

Antonio Julian Soto, 32, was arrested in Pasco by the U.S. Marshals Service and is awaiting extradition to Oregon, Salem police tweeted on Monday.

On June 8, officers responded to the Capital Inn, located at 1875 Fisher Road Northeast, at about 3:30 a.m. after a caller reported shots fired. Officers arrived to the motel and found Davontae Deshawn Smith, 21, of Portland, dead.

Police did not provide any further information.
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures between 95 and 102 degrees possible. * WHERE...Eastern Magic Valley, Raft River Region, the Snake Plain, Arco Desert and the South Hills. * WHEN...From noon to 9 PM MDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
BOZEMAN, Mont. - The Gallatin County Sheriffs Office and the Bozeman Yellowstone International Public Safety Office assisted the FBI in the probable cause arrest of a man accused of sexual assault of a minor aboard an aircraft.

A release from the FBI says 76-year-old Vincent Harry Kopacek of Fredericksburg, Texas was sitting behind a 15-year-old girl on a flight from Austin, Texas to Bozeman.

According to the criminal complaint and court documents, Kopacek inappropriately touched the girl before and during the flight the release said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that, according to criminal complaint and documents filed in support of the complaint, on July 9, the FBI was contacted by an officer with the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport Public Safety Office that the day before, on July 8, a 15-year-old girl had been assaulted while on an aircraft from Austin to Bozeman.

Court documents claim the girl was in a window seat, which was fully upright during the flight, and that Kopacek, who was sitting behind her, reached between the seat and the wall and touched the girls body according to the DOJ.

The victim reportedly documented the alleged abuse with her phone, and after leaving the airport, she reported it to her family, who alerted authorities.

Law enforcement made a probable cause arrest of Kopacek on July 11 on one federal count each of attempted sexual abuse of a minor, abusive sexual contact, and assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction.

Kopacek had an initial appearance on a criminal complaint Monday morning in U.S. District Court in Missoula.

The complaint accuses Kopacek of three federal crimes: attempted sexual abuse of a minor, abusive sexual contact and assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction.

If convicted of the most serious crime, Kopacek faces a maximum 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release according to the Department of Justice.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. & ARVADA, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 12, 2021--

Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC), a leading clean technology integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and the City of Arvada, Colorado today announced the completion of an energy conservation and renewable energy project. Financed by a $4.5 million Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), improvements made across the City of Arvada will guarantee energy cost savings and an overall reduction in energy usage.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005134/en/

Energy upgrades at the Arvada City Hall and 14 other facilities will provide a 21% reduction in total utility costs as a result of the Citys partnership with cleantech integrator, Ameresco. (Photo: Business Wire)

In 2018, the City of Arvada selected Ameresco to implement a number of energy savings measures and infrastructure improvements. Working closely with City staff, Ameresco refurbished a total of 15 facilities and made significant upgrades to those facilities building envelopes, lighting and plumbing systems. The HVAC systems at Arvadas City Hall and Center for Performing Arts were updated, as well. Additionally, photovoltaic systems were installed at five facilities.

Energy procurement optimization strategies helped to reduce utility costs. To see these upgrades to completion, the team utilized a budget neutral financing solution, together with a combination of internal city financing and a capital contribution by the city.

We are thrilled to provide our innovative approach to energy conservation to the City of Arvada, said Louis Maltezos, executive vice president of Ameresco. Our goal throughout the entirety of the process was to implement clean technology solutions that simultaneously offered significant long-term cost savings and advanced the citys passion for increased sustainability.

Through its partnership with Ameresco for a smart approach to decarbonization, the City of Arvada is expected to experience a 6% reduction in annual energy consumption, an 11% reduction in electrical demand and a 21% reduction in total utility costs.

We are excited to have had the opportunity to work closely with Ameresco on this project and further demonstrate our commitment to implementing renewable energy solutions, said Kim Vagher, facilities division manager, City of Arvada.

Construction on the City of Arvadas facilities began in January 2020 and was completed in March of 2021.

To learn more about the energy efficiency solutions offered by Ameresco, visit www.ameresco.com/energy-efficiency/.

About the City of Arvada, CO

Founded in 1870 and incorporated in 1904, Arvada is located in Jefferson and Adams Counties just 10 miles from downtown Denver. The community retains a small-town feel even with its estimated population of 120,000. Arvada enjoys a rich history, quiet tree-lined neighborhoods and a robust mix of business. The City of Arvadas strong civic leadership balances quality of life with an understanding and support of business and economic development. For more information, visit arvada.org.

About Ameresco, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe. Amerescos sustainability services include upgrades to a facilitys energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

The announcement of completion of a customers project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of the companys overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in the companys overall total project backlog. This project was included in our previously reported contracted backlog as of March 31, 2021.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005134/en/

CONTACT: Media:

Ameresco: Leila Dillon, 508-661-2264,news@ameresco.com

City of Arvada: Rachael Kuroiwa, 720-450-1755,rkuroiwa@arvada.org

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MASSACHUSETTS COLORADO

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENERGY UTILITIES ENVIRONMENT

SOURCE: Ameresco, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2021.

PUB: 07/12/2021 08:05 AM/DISC: 07/12/2021 08:06 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005134/en
ROME, JUL 12 - A 19-year-old man was killed in a car crash at Caltagirone in Sicily and another man is believed to have drowned in Venice, both during celebrations of Italy's win over England in the Euro 2020 final as mayhem mingled with joy exploded around the country Sunday night. The 19-year-old, Giuseppe Di Martino, died and four people were hurt in a crash involving a security firm car, two scooters and a motorcycle at Caltagirone as festive motorcades sped through the Sicilian city. A man's body, not yet identified, was found overnight in a rio near Venice's Campo San Polo, clad only in a swimming costume. The apparently middle-aged man did not bear signs of violence. Police think he way have fallen into the canal and drowned during Euro celebrations. An autopsy has been ordered. Meanwhile a man with a criminal record, 42-year-old Matteo Anastasio, was killed at San Severo near Foggia in Puglia while celebrating Italy's win with his six-year-old nephew is fighting for his life in hospital after the hit. Two young people on a scooter shot Anastasio several times and accidentally hit his nephew too, police said. Also during the celebrations, a 26-year-old man was stabbed at Empoli near Florence but is not in a life-threatening condition. Some 15 people were slightly hurt during a wild street party in Milan. (ANSA).
ROME, JUL 12 - Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Monday COVID norms must be respected as Italy fans celebrate its Euro 2020 win. Speaking after thousands of maskless fans danced with joy at the win over England across the country Sunday night and Monday morning, Speranza said masks must be worn "whenever there is a risk of gathering and not respecting distancing. "I urge everyone to respect this rule," he said on a visit to Rome's Gemelli Hospital. Speranza added that vaccines rather than restrictions were the "real weapon" against COVID and said Italy's reaching 26 million people with a COVID green pass was "an extraordinary result". (ANSA).
ROME, JUL 12 - 5-Star Movement (M5S) founder Beppe Grillo and ex-premier Giuseppe Conte have said that they have patched things up and reached an agreement on a new statute for a revamp of the anti-establishment group, heading off the risk of a split. In a joint statement, they said the movement would adopt new, effective instruments for the future up to 2050, with "clear legitimate leadership" of the group. M5S members will get to vote on the changes once the details have been finalized. Conte had agreed to lead a revamp of the M5S after his second coalition government collapsed at the start of the year. Although he was considered close to the movement, he had not previously been part of it. But the Conte-led revamp was close to running aground at the end of last month when the ex-premier and Grillo engaged in a war of words. Conte accused Grillo of being autocratic after the latter said that the ex-premier lacked political vision and managerial ability. This led to speculation that Conte could form a party of his own with the support of many of the M5S's lawmakers. The ex-premier, 56, and Grillo reportedly fell out over changes to the movement's statute, including possible changes to the ban on its elected representatives serving more than two terms, and over the role that the 72-year-old founder would have. The comedian-cum-politician is currently the 'guarantor' of the movement. The Internet-based movement was only founded in 2009 but it fast won support among people disaffected by Italy's traditional parties and it was the individual group that won most votes in the 2018 general election. It has now been part of three coalition governments though and, with the compromises that come with being in power, a signification chunk of its support has fallen away recently. (ANSA).
ORISTANO, JUL 12 - Some 25 children and teenagers were evacuated Monday after a fire at their summer camp near Oristano in Sardinia. "They have all been taken to safety", Abbasanta Mayor Paola Carta told ANSA. (ANSA).
MILAN, JUL 12 - A 75-year-old man stabbed a surgeon in the thigh near Milan after being refused access to t he doctor for an examination, local sources said. The 20cm-long blade injured the doctor's femoral artery but he is not in a life.threatening condition. The incident took place at the Policlinico Hospital at San Donato Milanese. The man has bee arrested. (ANSA).
LEWISTOWN  The last of four people who escaped from the Fulton County Jail in western Illinois last week has been captured, authorities said Sunday.

The Fulton County sheriff's office says Zachary Hart was caught near Canton. Hart, 36, was being held on charges including home invasion, possession of a firearm by a felon and fleeing police. He escaped from jail in western Illinois with Jesse Davis, 35, Cody Villalobos, 26, and Eugene Roets, 23. They were captured Thursday.

Authorities hadn't detailed how the men escaped. Davis was captured in the Farmington area, which is in Fulton County, while Villalobos and Roets were captured in adjacent Peoria County, officials said.

Fulton County deputies learned of the escape Wednesday night after one inmate went missing from a cell block in the jail in Lewistown, about 210 miles southwest of Chicago, authorities said. It was later determined that three others also were missing.

Davis was jailed on charges including methamphetamine possession and possession of a weapon by a felon, while Villalobos faced charges including methamphetamine possession and resisting/obstructing police. Roets faced several charges, including methamphetamine possession and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Derek Edingers craft beers might be inspired by Belgian drafts, but his ingredients are rooted in the Finger Lakes.

Edinger, co-founder of Brewery Ardennes in Geneva, New York, buys hops and grain from nearby farms, and sends his spent grain to local farms to use as animal feed.

Were tied into the local ag ecosystem, said Edinger, who opened the brewery May 19.

Edinger buys from local farms because he wants to appeal to the farm-to-glass trend. But he also has to buy local to meet for the states farm brewery designation.

At least 60% of the hops and other ingredients these breweries use must be grown in state. That percentage will rise to 90% in 2024, according to the New York State Brewers Association.

Farm breweries qualify for reduced licensing fees and tax breaks, and they face less red tape than larger brewing businesses. Edinger said those incentives have increased demand for local hops, a crop that had been largely absent from New York since Prohibition.

Ardennes gets its hops from Peterson Farms in Geneva and Cobblestone Hop Yard in Ontario, New York. The barley comes from Murmuration Malts in Bloomfield. All of these are within a 40-mile radius of Brewery Ardennes.

Local Roots

I think people are really into locally sourced goods, and not just from us, Edinger said. They ask what farms were getting it from, and they want to hear the complete supply chain.

That supply chain includes disposing of the spent grain, a byproduct of brewing.

Like many small brewers, Edinger gives the waste material to local farmers, who use it as mulch or livestock feed.

I think its a big benefit to them getting a free food source, and its a big benefit to us to offload the waste, Edinger said.

Dove Farm in Seneca Falls feeds the spent grain to cattle and pigs. The grain is rich in protein and carbohydrates.

The farmers say their animals know the sound of the grain trailer and all come running, Edinger said.

Edinger himself knows something about raising livestock. He grew up on a 150-head cattle operation.

The brewery is also a family affair. Edingers brother, Corey, was the first employee, and their parents are in charge of groundskeeping.

Its cool to see the band back together, said Edingers wife, Stacey, who co-founded the business and serves as head of hospitality. I dont think his parents thought their grown children would be working together 30 years later on a farm.

The brewery is housed in a former sheep barn on 8 acres. The century-old farm once contained 800 acres but has since been subdivided.

Edinger has been brewing as a hobby for 25 years. He honed his technique until he won a few state and national homebrewing awards.

Ardennes currently serves 13 varieties, all modeled after Belgian beers. Derek and Stacey also designed their menu and seating area in Belgian style.

The namesake Ardennes is a picturesque, forested region in southeastern Belgium. The Battle of the Bulge was fought there in World War II.

There are small towns in the Ardennes region similar to the Finger Lakes, Stacey said. There are small communities that are self-sustaining with a lot of agriculture and hand-crafted goods.

Derek hopes to produce about 400 barrels of beer  approximately 1,000 gallons  in his first year, and eventually scale up to 1,200 barrels. Ten people currently work for the brewery and Edinger hopes to hire two more.
Actor Joe Manganiello left his wife Sofia Vergara with a heartfelt post to celebrate the 49th birthday of the Latina actress. Manganiello took to Instagram to post a short, but sweet message to the love of his life, who was also a judge in America's Got Talent Judge.

The Magic Mike actor posted a series of photos of Vergara looking gorgeous in different outfits. Manganiello also posted a photo of them together, as well as a photo of them kissing.

"Feliz Compleanos al Amor de me Vida!" said Manganiello in Spanish which People reported meaning "happy birthday to the love of my life," in English.

READ NEXT: Naya Rivera Remembered By 'Glee' Cast On the 1st Anniversary of Her Death

Sofia Vergara commented to her husband's heartfelt post saying "Luuu uuuuu" with heart emojis.

Apart from Joe Manganiello who greeted his wife on her birthday, other stars also greeted the "Modern Family" actress, just like her co-star Sarah Hyland. Hyland also took to Instagram in greeting the Latina actress, as she posted a photo of Vergara posing with their other co-stars in "Modern Family."

Hyland greeted the actress calling her "my loves" and said that they are blessed to be living in Sofia Vergara's world. Hyland tagged the actress with emojis, as Vergara responded with heart-eyed emojis on the post.

Sofia Vergara Celebrates Birthday by Posing in Swimsuit

Manganiello's heartfelt post came as Sofia Vergara posted a snap of herself, looking gorgeous in her swimsuit, as she celebrated her special day in her vacation home on the beach, Yahoo! Life reported.

Sofia Vergara showcased her modeling skills as she rocked a purple swimsuit with a yellow scarf tied on her waist, beside an inflatable in the sands.

"Bday day!!" Vergara captioned in her post with the hashtag #casachipichipi.

Apart from celebrating Vergara's birthday, Yahoo! Life reported that the couple also threw a party for their beloved dog, Bubbles. The couple celebrated the Bubble's birthday a day before Vergara's special day.

Vergara posted a snap of their dog wearing a cute outfit with its snout on the pink cake, captioning "its Bubbles bday today!!"

It can be remembered that Vergara and Manganiello added Bubbles to their family earlier this year. However, in an interview, Vergara noted that Bubbles like Manganiello better than her.

Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello Romance

People noted that the couple was first linked up in 2015 after the "Magic Mike" actor admired Vergara in an interview with the outlet for their "Hottest Bachelor Issue."

Cosmopolitan reported that the rumors of them dating sparked in July of 2014 after the pair were seen holding hands while they were on a trip to Miami. In December of the same year, Vergara and Manganiello got engaged on Christmas Eve during a trip to Hawaii. The "Magic Mike" actor was reported to propose to the Latina actress in Spanish.

It can be remembered that Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara exchanged their vows in November 2015 at the Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

READ NEXT: Marilyn Manson Out on Bail After Turning Himself in to Los Angeles Police on Assault Charges

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Our Favorite Sofia Vergara Moments for Her Birthday- From Good Morning America
Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have been great rivals in the world of MMA. Since fans consider them mortal enemies, many people always consider McGregor the bad guy, while Poirier acts as the good one.

One of the reasons behind this is McGregor's attitude towards his opponents. Many knowledgeable watchers know that his taunts, harsh words, and other negative acts are just for showing the fans hyped for his upcoming matches.

This can be seen in many of his bouts. Aside from this, there are also some instances when he trash-talked Dustin Poirier, saying that when their match is over, his opponent will be carried in a stretcher.

He even claimed that he will leave his face "blank" after smashing it so hard, as reported by Yahoo Sports. However, the opposite happened in their match, allowing Poirier to win via TKO. Although McGregor seems to be the bad guy, his nasty leg injury is not something you must celebrate since it can lead to his retirement.

Conor McGregor's Nasty Leg Injury

According to ESPN's latest report, Poirier has the upper hand even at the first round. Within the first minute of their match, the two can be seen checking each other up with soft kicks and small jabs.

READ MORE: WWE Pro Wrestler and Legend Terry Funk in Residential Care, Representative Confirms

However, Poirier suddenly made some clear straights on McGregor's face, which lead him to back off a little. McGregor was also put in the ground by Poirier after he grappled him. They exchange some hits and elbows.

But, since Poirier was on top, he had the upper hand, allowing him to bash McGregor's face continuously. Conor was able to free himself from his opponent's strong lock using his kicks.

McGregor tried to take revenge after releasing some heavy jabs and straights against Poirier. However, something unexpected happened during the match.

When McGregor tried to step back, one of his legs suddenly bends in a very awkward manner. This forced him to lay on the ground. Poirier tried to take advantage of it, but the referee suddenly stopped the fight.

Because of this, Poirier won his match against Conor "The Notorious" McGregor at UFC 264 trilogy fight. As of the moment, the management of McGregor hasn't released any update regarding his serious leg injury. The best thing you can do right now as a fan is a wish for McGregor's quick recovery.

Poirier Taunts Conor After Leg Injury

The Sun reported that Dustin Poirier still taunts Conor McGregor after the leg bending injury. In the video, he can be seen doing the famous "Billy Strut" tease, which Conor also uses in many matches he won.

On the other hand, McGregor said that their fight is far from over while sitting in the cage. This means that you can still expect another great match from these two champs.

READ NEXT: Conor McGregor Says He Wants To Fight Manny Pacquiao Instead Of Dustin Poirier; Will Pac-Man Accept?
Texas Republicans pushed a new voting restriction bill during their special session despite the Democrats' refusal to vote on the said measure.

Republicans seek to prohibit 24-hour polling places, ban drop boxes, and stop drive-thru voting on the new measure this weekend. The first major vote on the proposals is expected this week, according to an Associated Press News report.

Democrats, on the other hand, are calling for a second walkout to prevent the voting restrictions from being pushed forward.

Democrat lawmakers in Texas earlier walked out in May, breaking the quorum.

READ NEXT: Gov. Greg Abbott Defunds Texas Legislature After Democrats Walkout to Block Election Reform Bill

Voting Restrictions Bill

The new set of measures do not include some of the more controversial points that were added to the previous bill in the final hours of the session in May, which included a provision that would restrict voting on Sundays.

The previous measure also stated that it would allow election officials to overturn election results if there are fraud claims, according to an NPR report.

The latest bills that Republicans are pushing forward include a new identification requirement for people voting by mail. It would also not allow election officials from sending a vote-by-mail application to voters who have not requested one.

James Slattery, a senior staff attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, said that voters of color and shift workers were the ones who used most of these methods of voting last year.

Slattery said that considering the ban on those forms of voting would directly affect voters of color.

The bills would also expand partisan poll watchers more authority during the election. They can observe during voting and are prohibited from being removed for violating election law.

Slattery said it would make it harder to control disruptive partisan poll watchers when they are acting aggressively or disrupting voting.

There would be also new criminal penalties and requirements for folks who assist voters at polls or people who assist others planning to vote by mail.

Texas Republicans said that concerns about election integrity should be addressed despite having no evidence of a widespread problem with voting in the state.

State Rep. Travis Clardy, a Republican, said that he does not doubt the legitimacy of elections in the state.

Clardy said that this is a preventive measure for them, adding that it is an issue and it is their job to ensure that it does not cause a problem.

Democrats Walkout

In May, Democrats have walked out in the Texas House of Representatives to block the voting restrictions.

Democratic state Rep. Carl Sherman said that they want more people to participate in democracy, with the bill's case it seems it is not the case.

Democratic House leader Rep. Chris Turner said that he texted members of his caucus telling them to leave the chamber, according to another NPR report.

Gov. Greg Abbott responded by saying that there will be no pay for those who walked out of their responsibilities.

Abbott had threatened to cut off the funding for the Legislature through a veto.

In June, Abbott had objected and disapproved the appropriations for legislative agencies, affecting its staffers, according to a Texas Tribune report.

Turner responded and said that Texas has a governor and not a dictator.

READ MORE: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Says State Will Build Its Own Border Barriers Amid Migrant Influx

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by Mary Webber

WATCH: Texas Democrats Fight Restrictive Voting Bills During Special Session - from MSNBC






A Haitian doctor, with connections in Florida, was arrested, as authorities suspect him as one of the leaders of the assassination plot that killed President Jovenel Moise.

Identified as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, The Miami Herald reported that the doctor marks the third individual of Haitian descent to be arrested by the authorities in connection to the tragic incident that claimed the life of the Haiti president. It can be remembered that two other Haitians, identified as James Solages and Joseph Vincent, who were also from Florida, were also in Haiti police's custody, after turning themselves hours after the killing.

READ NEXT: 4 of Haiti President Jovenel Moise's 'Presumed Assassins' Killed, 2 Arrested by Police

On a Saturday interview, Haiti National Police Chief Leon Charles mentioned Sanon without naming him. Charles noted that the suspects, including the two Haitian Americans, in the assassination of Haiti's chief executive, worked for a company that was based in the U.S. and Colombia. The suspects were reported to work with a high-profile doctor, in a Miami-based CTU security registered in the state of Florida as "Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy LLC."

"I would say that the Haitian [the doctor] recruited CTU and CTU recruited the Colombians. That's the pattern," Charles underscored.

Haiti Police Arrests Haitian Doctor Over President Moise Assassination

Sanon, the Haitian doctor arrested, was reported to live on and off Florida for more than two decades. Although Sanon identified himself as a doctor, The Miami Herald emphasized that there was no medical license for him listed in Florida. He was referred by the court records as a doctor who worked in Haiti and Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, public records revealed that he had more than a dozen of businesses in the state that ranged from medical services, an energy company, and real estate. However, most of Sanon's businesses were inactive.

Moreover, Sanon was also reported to file for bankruptcy, where he was listed as a church pastor at the Tabarre Evangelical Tabernacle, a president of a non-government organization called Organization Rome Haiti, and a president of Radio-Tele Vasco.

His bankruptcy filing also revealed that he has an annual salary of up to $60,000 and debts amounting to more than $400,000. He also switched his address from Brandon to Hollywood, and then to Boynton Beach.

Haiti Suspects Reveal: Plan Was to Arrest President Jovenel Moise, Not to Kill Him

As the investigation for the assassination of President Jovenel Moise continued, Reuters reported, citing people who spoke to the suspects, that the two Haitian Americans said that their mission was not to kill the Haiti president but to serve a 2019 arrest warrant. The suspects alleged that the arrest warrant was from a Haitian investigative judge.

Furthermore, the two Haitian Americans also alleged that they were translators for the Colombian commando unit that had the arrest warrant. However, when they arrived at the scene, Solages and Vincent underscored that they found Moise dead.

It can be remembered that Haiti President Jovenel Moise was assassinated on Wednesday. Reuters mentioned a photo of an x-ray, that surfaced on social media, which was claimed to be Moise's autopsy, revealed that the president's body sustained multiple bullet holes, fractured skull, and other broken bones.

READ NEXT: Haiti President Assassination: Armed Men Fatally Shot President Jovenel Moise at His Home

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Haiti: Wife of Assassinated President Jovenel Moise Speaks Out - From Al Jazeera English
Thousands of Cuban protesters are crowding the streets, calling for the end of the communist dictatorship leading the country.

People marched through San Antonio de Los Banos, which was caught in video footage. Other areas of Cuba are also seeing demonstrations, including Palma Soriano, The New York Times reported.

One woman shouted during a protest that people are dying of hunger. One video showed people looting from one of the government-run stores, which sell wildly overpriced items in currencies most Cubans do not have.

Carolina Barrero, a Cuban activist, noted that it is the biggest popular demonstration to protest the government, which has been leading Cuba since 1959.

READ NEXT: Raul Castro Steps Down as Cuba's Communist Party Leader

Cuba Protests

According to an Aljazeera report, the main cause that pushed demonstrators has been social anger driven by long food lines and a critical shortage of medicines since the start of the pandemic.

Havana is seeing a heavy police presence, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel calling on people who support the Cuban revolution to come out and defend it.

U.S. officials issued statements on social media, extending their support of the demonstrations. The officials had also expressed solidarity with the people of Cuba, Fox News reported.

Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar said that Cuba's regime is shutting off the internet on the island. Salazar further noted that the Castro dictatorship does not want the world to see what is happening in the country.

She added that people should share and stand with the freedom fighters in Cuba.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio called out the mainstream media for not providing extensive coverage in Cuba's protest. Rubio also asked U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to urge members of the Cuban military not to open fire on their own people.

Meanwhile, Diaz-Canel addressed the nation and accused the U.S. of being responsible for the unrest due to the sanctions imposed on Cuba. The Cuban president further noted that provocations would not be tolerated.

Cubans were sharing a Facebook video showing the police's response to the growing unrest across the country, wherein a person is heard saying that the police had been beating the demonstrators, Tampa Bay Times reported.

Aside from the imposed sanctions, the pandemic has also worsened conditions in the country. The Cuban Health Ministry website said the country of 11 million had reported 32,000 active COVID cases as of this writing.

The NY Times reported that the country had recorded 6,923 daily cases and 47 deaths on Sunday, a record-breaking number.

The government noted that only around 15 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Diaz-Canel took office three years ago, who was the first person to take office outside the Castro family.

Raul Castro has handed over the presidency to Diaz-Canel and stepped down as the leader of the Communist Party in April this year.

Diaz-Canel's term was remembered for his effort to increase access to the internet. It helped the public voice out their discontent against him.

READ MORE: Cuba's Communist Party Names Successor to Raul Castro

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WATCH: Pushing for freedom, Cubans Take to Streets of Little Havana - From WPLG Local 10






A surge in COVID-19 cases was reported in 42 states amid efforts of vaccine rollout in the country. USA Today reported that the increase in COVID-19 cases was recorded from the previous week over a seven-day period that ended on Saturday, July 10.

Alaska, Maine, Delaware, Iowa, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Rhode Island were the only states that saw a decline in COVID-19 infections in the same time frame.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded at least 22,569 new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. in the last 24 hours. The organization further noted that the country had at least 301 new death related to the disease.

READ NEXT: COVID-19 Death Toll Hits 4 Million Worldwide as Delta Variant Spreads in Various Countries

COVID-19 Deaths Among Unvaccinated Americans

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky emphasized that more than 99 percent of the COVID-19 deaths in June occurred among unvaccinated people.

Walensky noted that nearly all the COVID-19 deaths in the past six months were related to unvaccinated people in the country.

USA Today reported that the vaccination rate of the country slowed down. CDC revealed that less than half of Americans, amounting to 47.9 percent, were recorded as fully vaccinated.

Despite the COVID-19 deaths in the country, Reuters mentioned that the U.S. was struggling to vaccinate the initial shots among people in some areas as Delta variant becomes the dominant strain in the country.

Pfizer and U.S. Health Officials to Discuss COVID Boosters; Dr. Fauci Says Third Shot is Not Yet Needed

The surge in COVID-19 infections came as pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is set to meet with U.S. health officials on Monday, July 12.

Reuters reported that the company would discuss the need for COVID-19 booster shots as the Delta variant continued to wreak havoc in the U.S.

Among those invited to the meeting were Dr. Anthony Fauci and heads of the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Despite the company's plans to seek authorization on their booster shots, Fauci sounded his disagreement for the third shot of the vaccine against the Delta variant, New York Post reported.

"Right now given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot," Fauci said. Fauci added that the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not feel the need for a booster shot as he cited the data both of the agencies presented.

Despite saying that the booster shots are not needed right now, the White House chief medical advisor did not close the doors for recommending the booster shots in the future.

"This isn't something that we say 'no we don't need a boost right now, the story's ended forever.' No, there's a lot of working going that examines this in real-time, to see if we might need a boost," Fauci said.

Apart from Fauci, other experts also sounded their disagreement with the COVID-19 booster shots, arguing that authorizing the third shots among wealthy developed nations while other nations struggle with their initial vaccination might worsen the vaccine inequity.

READ MORE: Dr. Fauci Addresses Anti-Vaxxers as U.S. Fell Short of President Joe Biden's Vaccine Benchmark

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WATCH: Pfizer, U.S. Officials to Meet on COVID-19 Booster Shot - From Reuters
Over 300,000 acres of land were affected in the series of wildfires across six states in the U.S. western region as of Sunday, July 11.

USA Today reported that the wildfires continue over parts of Oregon, California, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

READ NEXT: California Faces Wildfire as Heat Wave Strikes the Western Region

Wildfires in the West Continue

To date, the biggest wildfire in the region was known to be the Bootleg Fire in Oregon, which accounted for up to 143,607 acres burned.

On the other hand, the Beckwourth Complex fire blazed up to 83,926 acres of land in California. In Washington, the largest wildfire in the state burned at least 46,352 acres.

In Idaho, wildfires burned at least 39,000 acres as of Sunday, July 11, while The Cedar Story Basin Fire in Arizona charred 700 acres. Montana reported cases of wildfires that caused road closures in the state, but the number of acres burned was not detailed.

Details whether there are casualties and the rate of the fire contained in the states of Washington, Idaho, and Montana, was also not provided.

The Beckwourth Complex Fire in California was reported to be eight percent contained. The Bootleg Fire in Oregon and the Cedar Story Basin Fire in Arizona were zero percent contained.

The wildfire in Arizona also left at least two firefighters dead after a plane that responded to the scene crashed on Saturday, July 10.

Apart from burning thousands of acres, The New York Times reported that the presence of wildfires in the west placed pressure on California's electrical system, leading the state to a "Stage 2 power-grid emergency."

Bootleg and Beckwourth Complex Fires Continue to Burn in Oregon

The Bootleg and the Beckwourth Complex fires continued in the states of Oregon and California. The New York Times reported that the Bootleg fire continued to burn the Oregon lands on its fifth day on Sunday. The intense blaze in Oregon escalated on Saturday, prompting firefighters to retreat for their safety.

"There's a concern because of how early this [wildfires in Oregon] is starting, and how far it has grown within a relatively short amount of time," said Medford National Weather Service Meteorologist Charles Smith said, adding that Oregon's fire season just began.

Meanwhile, the Beckwourth Complex Fire has expanded to Nevada, where it was reported to jump a famous highway in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, NBC News reported. The complex fire in California also forced evacuation in Washoe County and destroyed at least 20 homes.

U.S. Forest and Service incident spokeswoman Kimberly Kaschalk noted that "dry condition and winds" were factors for the fire spread in the Beckwourth Complex.

The wildfires in the west happened as the region also faced threats of historic heatwaves. Over the weekend, several areas in the region hit a three-digit temperature, such as the Mojave Desert in California, which reached around 128 degrees on Saturday, July 10.

Palm Springs also hit a record of 120 degrees, while Las Vegas recorded a temperature of 117 degrees on Saturday afternoon.

READ MORE: 2 Earthquakes With Magnitude 6.0 and 4.8, Rattle Central California

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Wildfires Rage in the West as Temperatures Soar Into Triple Digits - From CBS Evening News
Richard Branson was hailed as the first billionaire to fly in space, beating his competitor Jeff Bezos, who also plans to take a trip in the vast skies. Branson flew into outer space aboard the Virgin Galactic rocket on Sunday, New York Post reported.

CNBC reported that Branson was joined with five others, namely Chief Astronaut Trainer Beth Moses, Vice President of government affairs Sirisha Bandla, and Lead Operation Engineer Colin Bennett. Unity was operated by Pilots Michael Masucci and Dave Mackay.

The team departed at around 8:30 in the morning in New Mexico, about 180 miles of Albuquerque.

READ NEXT: China's Space Advancement and Push for Space Dominance Worries NASA Deputy Administrator Nominee Pam Melroy

Richard Branson Experiences Weightlessness in Space with Virgin Galactic Spacecraft

Speaking from the spacecraft's cabin, Branson labeled the spaceflight as a "complete experience of a lifetime." Branson also congratulated all those who created the spacecraft and acknowledged the "hard work" that made them reach the historic event.

"Now looking down at the spaceport, congratulations to everybody for creating such a beautiful plane and all the hard work for getting us this far," Branson said.

Branson and the team took a trip more than 50 miles above the Earth where they experienced weightlessness. The billionaire joined the historic spaceflight to test the customer experience for future space tourists.

"Initially, I thought testing the customer experience was a little bit of an excuse to get me on it. It wasn't... It's so great to get out there [space] and test the customer experience," Branson noted.

Less than an hour after the take-off, the VMS Eve plane released its rocket at an altitude of 53 miles per hour, which was further the 50-mile boundary considered by the United States to be the boundary of Space. The crew was then allowed to unstrap and experience a few minutes of weightlessness.

"Like most kids, I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid, and honestly, nothing could prepare you for the view from space," Branson said after they landed.

The vehicle then returned through the atmosphere in a glide, to land back at the runway of the spaceport at around 9:40 in the morning.

The recent spaceflight where Branson was included was the first mission of Virgin Galactic where all six seats were fully occupied. To date, the company has about 600 reservations of tickets on future flights.

Jeff Bezos Wishes Richard Branson Good Luck on His Space Flight

Ahead of Richard Branson's trip into space, Amazon and Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos wished the Virgin Galactic owner good luck. Bezos took to Instagram as he posted a snap of Branson.

"Wishing you and the whole team a successful and safe flight tomorrow. Best of luck," Bezos captioned in his post. It can be remembered that both the billionaires were caught in a space race, as Branson announced his schedule of flying into space, nine days before Bezos.

However, New York Post reported that Richard Branson has denied that he was trying to beat Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin.

READ NEXT: What to Do When Space Junk Falls on Your House: Laws That Cover Free Falling Objects From Space Pollution

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Richard Branson makes Historic Spaceflight - From ABC News
Vice President Kamala Harris has drawn flak over her comment that it may be "almost impossible" for people in rural communities to have a photocopy of their IDs.

Kamala Harris made the remarks during an interview with Soledad O'Brien for BET News, Newsweek reported.

The vice president commented on the voter ID laws, saying that it could mean well, but it would also mean that people would have to xerox or photocopy their IDs.

She then added that a "whole lot of people," particularly those in rural communities, do not have Kinkos or OfficeMax near them.

"Of course people have to prove who they are, but not in a way that makes it almost impossible for them to prove who they are," Kamala Harris continued.

READ NEXT: Texas Sheriffs Sue Pres. Joe Biden for Restricting ICE's Authority to Arrest, Deport Illegal Immigrants

Netizens React to Kamala Harris' Comment

Some Twitter users had taken offense to Kamala Harris' comment, saying that they had no difficulties making photocopies despite being in rural communities.

A netizen said the vice president's claim was not true and insulting. Former CIA officer Bryan Dean Wright noted that he was among rural Americans who built this country, and they can manage to photocopy their IDs, Fox News reported.

Veteran and Pennsylvania Senate candidate Sean Parnell said no one is buying the said argument against voter ID. Parnell noted that a huge majority of Americans support voter IDs, adding that it should be done.

Jake Schneider, who does communications for Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach, said he grew up in a rural community without an OfficeMax or a Kinkos. However, they still had managed to make photocopies of things on certain occasions.

Other Republican lawmakers also took a jab at Kamala Harris' statement, like Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, who said they live in a rural community, and they are perfectly capable of operating a copying machine.

Kamala Harris also received harsh criticisms for her response to the migrant influx, leading to the current border crisis. She eventually visited the border after her trip to North America's northern triangle, where many migrants come from.

Last month, President Joe Biden announced that he tapped Kamala Harris to lead the White House fight to protect voting rights and expand access to the ballot box, which she particularly asked to lead. Her other task is to fight voting rules passed by Republican-led legislatures in some states.

There were reported tensions between Joe Biden and Harris' teams, Guardian reported. Several West Wing officials reportedly called the vice president's office a "shitshow." However, the White House dismissed the narratives.

Voting Rights Efforts

House Democrats passed the For the People Act in March, seeking to restrict voter identification requirements and require states to register people to vote automatically and offer ballot drop boxes, Washington Examiner reported.

Republicans have criticized the proposed law as a nationalization of election law, which they claim violates the Constitution.

Earlier this week, Kamala Harris announced that the Democratic National Committee is allotting an additional $25 million in its voting rights initiative after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld voting restrictions earlier this month.

The decision is likely to help Republican states fight challenges to voting restrictions in place since the 2020 election.

The high court's conservative majority had upheld the voting limits in Arizona. Meanwhile, a lower court has found it discriminatory under the federal Voting Rights Act.

READ MORE: Kamala Harris' Chief of Staff Shut Out Some Longtime Allies of the Vice President: Report

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WATCH: Kamala Harris Slammed For 'Insulting' Claim Rural Communities Can't - From News Today
A Florida babysitter has been charged with abusing, neglecting, and killing a three-year-old boy who was found dead in a bathtub last month.

Joshua Manns, 25, reportedly left the boy's mom a note saying her child had accidentally drowned in the bathtub while having a seizure. However, an autopsy had revealed that Jameson Nance had been beaten.

Daily Mail reported that the Florida babysitter called the boy's mom while she was at work and told her that Jameson Nance had drowned in the bathtub.

However, when she got to her apartment, she discovered the boy dead in the bathroom, and Joshua Manns was nowhere to be seen. He had also not called for medical assistance.

Authorities said the Florida babysitter also wrote in the letter that no one would believe him, and he did not want to spend his life in prison for something that he did not do.

READ NEXT: Mom of Florida Teen Accused of Stabbing Tristyn Bailey 114 Times Caught on Video Scrubbing Blood off Her Son's Jeans

The Florida Boy's Autopsy

The medical examiner did not find any evidence that the young boy had drowned. Its report said that Jameson Nance had suffered from the battered-child syndrome with week-old injuries.

It includes a broken rib, stab wounds to the head, and brain swelling. Last year, the child also had a broken leg, and the Florida Department of Children and Family Services had investigated a different broken leg two years earlier, Crime Online reported.

Investigators were already examining the "suspicious" injuries, including a burn to the child's arm, shortly before he died.

The law enforcement had searched for more than two weeks to find the Florida babysitter. On June 28, they found Joshua Manns in Georgia and arrested him.

Investigators said the Florida babysitter was trying to escape with the help from relatives to get back to West Virginia, his home state, Meaww reported.

Battered-Child Syndrome

According to a Medicine Net term list, battered-child syndrome is a term used to characterize a clinical condition in children who have been physically abused. It is considered to be a form of child abuse.

Child neglect is considered to be the most frequently reported form of child abuse and the most lethal. Neglect is defined as the failure to give the child the proper supervision and nutritional needs they require. It can also be physical, educational, or emotional neglect.

Physical abuse is the second most frequently reported form of child abuse. It can result from punching, beating, kicking, shaking, or overall harming the child.

The parent or caretaker may not have planned to hurt the child, but the injury could be the cause of over-discipline and physical punishment.

Child Abuse

The total number of reported child abuse victims in the U.S. stands at 656,243 in 2019, according to a Statista report. The most common type of child abuse in the U.S. was neglect.

Child Protective Services is the agency responsible for taking care of children victims of abuse and taking on abuse cases.

Utah had the highest number of completed reports per investigation and alternative response work in 2019, with 165 cases.

In addition, American Indian and Alaska Native kids had the highest rate of child abuse in the U.S. based on race and ethnicity.

READ MORE: Dunkin' Employee in Florida Punches, Kills Elderly Customer Over Racial Slur Confrontation

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect - From WHO Regional Office for Europe






After the University of Southern California conducted an analysis of death reports for individuals who died in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, USC found out that ICE violated its own internal medical care standards in 78% of cases among young and healthy men.

Based on the study which was published in JAMA Network Open, the conclusions were based on the 55 reports on death cases in ICE between 2011 and 2018 that were examined.

Researchers at the University of Southern California found out that many of the deaths were preceded by delayed or inappropriate care and/or inadequate or absent response to markedly abnormal vital signs. In numerous cases, detention facility staff or other detained persons raised concerns regarding the person's health to a superior or staff member before the recorded deaths.

According to USC News, the first author of the study, Molly Grassini, who is a physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, stated that it was possible that these deaths might have been avoided if these concerns had been addressed properly. Grassini added that the ICE medical care team minimized or dismissed the signs and symptoms of critical illness among ICE patients.

The detention centers of ICE have both medical personnel on-site and the ability to transfer patients to nearby hospitals if needed.

Ignoring Warning Signs

Between 2011 and 2018, 71 individuals died while in ICE detention facilities. The study team analyzed ICE death investigation reports of 55 deaths available for review. The death investigation reports consisted of a narrative developed from medical record reviews and interviews with medical and security staff, as well as other detained individuals. Reviews of video footage and security logs were also included among information once available.

The researchers found out 47 deaths were due to medical causes and eight because of suicide. The average age at death of the detainees was at 42.7 years. The individuals were 85.5% men and had lived in the United States. They also have an average of 15.8 years prior to detention and spent a median of 39 days in custody before their death.

The study found out that abnormal vital signs, such as abnormal heart rate and blood pressure, were documented preceding 29 of the 47 deaths from medical causes. The said warning signs were allegedly often ignored which led to the deaths of the individuals.

ALSO READ: COVID -19 Infections Rise In 42 States; Pfizer to Discuss Vaccine Booster With U.S. Health Officials

Biden to ICE: Limit Arrests of Pregnant, Nursing Women

The administration of the U.S. President Joe Biden has directed immigration officers to avoid arresting pregnant and nursing women. Biden also set new guidelines for treatment when women were taken into government custody.

Based on the July 1 memo signed by the U.S. ICE's acting Director Tae Johnson, obtained by The Hill, the agency was directed to house women in an appropriate facility to manage their care.

Johnson wrote in a memo to ICE officers that generally ICE should not detain, arrest, or take into custody for an administrative violation of the immigration laws of individuals known to be pregnant, in postpartum, or nursing. The detention could only be applicable if release would be prohibited by law or exemptions.

RELATED ARTICLE: COVID: Health Official Says People Should Not Have Sex for Three Days After a Jab

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WATCH: Biden Reverses Trump-Era Immigration Policy | Zerlina. - The Choice
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Eau Claire County district attorney to resign

Staff file photo District Attorney Gary King in court on March 3, 2016, for a sentencing. King announced his resignation from the office on Friday.

EAU CLAIRE  Eau Claire County District Attorney Gary King announced Friday that he will resign Aug. 14.

King announced his resignation through his attorney, Hal Harlowe of Madison, after submitting a letter to Gov. Tony Evers. He came under scrutiny after concerns were raised about his conduct toward subordinates and his behavior in court.

I feel it is in the best interest of everyone that I step away and do so in a manner that will allow for as seamless a transition as possible, King said in his letter to Evers.

Co-workers have accused King of sexually harassing a county employee, who filed a complaint against King in February. Kings courtroom behavior has also been under scrutiny.

Sheriff Ron Cramer submitted a report in February after he saw King behaving oddly, and a recent hearing was postponed after a judge ordered King to have a breath test for alcohol and received the results.

King said he decided to resign for three reasons.

First, the best interest of the office is my top priority and supersedes all else, he said.

Second, it would not be possible to return to a productive work environment given some of the statements that have been made during this process as well as the manner in which I have been treated by various individuals, King said.

Finally, he said, that after 10 years of service he could no longer put forth the same time and effort as he previously did.

Working approximately 90 hours a week for the past 10 years was neither healthy nor sustainable, he said. To that end, I have sought professional assistance to address my health.

Evers in June exercised his option under state law to appoint William Ramsey as a commissioner whose duty was to conduct the investigation and hearing concerning the King allegations. Ramsey was assigned to schedule a public hearing on the accusations. Following the hearing, Ramsey would have reported his findings to the governor, who then would have made a determination as to whether there was just cause to remove King from office.

The hearing and investigation will end given Kings resignation. King was re-elected to a four-year term in November. Evers will now appoint a successor.

The governors office could not be reached for comment Friday on the timeline for appointing the countys new district attorney.

Two former prosecutors in Kings office filed complaints with the governor concerning King. King, in his letter to the governor, took issue with the complaints.

It is noteworthy that none of these concerns about my work performance were ever expressed to me by these individuals  not during their time in office, not upon their departure from office, nor in the several months since their respective departures, he said.

In 2020, King said, his office achieved a case clearance rate of 98%.

This achievement was reached despite dealing with a pandemic wherein multiple employees worked remotely and with months of court appearances either canceled or rescheduled, he said.

King expressed confidence in the attorney and support staffs in his office, saying the office is well positioned to continue to do excellent work and seek justice on a daily basis.

During his course of representation of King in this matter, Harlowe said he spoke to people in the district attorneys office and defense attorneys who were familiar with Kings work.

I have learned that his performance as district attorney, his work ethic and his dedication to public service is unimpeachable, Harlowe said. He has always prioritized protecting the office and the public while working to improve the criminal justice system.

Eau Claire County Administrator Kathryn Schauf, who had sought to limit Kings interactions with county employees, said in a statement Friday the county agreed with his decision to step down:

The position of District Attorney carries with it a large responsibility to seek justice for the people of Eau Claire County. As such, and based on the allegations that have been made about Attorney King, we would agree that Attorney Kings decision to step down from his position as District Attorney is the right decision, and the right thing to do to end the ongoing disruption to the work of the employees of the District Attorneys Office and the justice system in Eau Claire County.
RTE has announced a new Saturday night music series hosted by Una Healy and Loah which will debut on screens on Saturday, July 24.

Una Healy and Loah will welcome viewers to enjoy six weeks of glorious evenings of music in the company of some of Ireland's finest performers on The Heart of Saturday Night.

The shows bring together the creme de la creme of performers in Ireland for rousing musical sessions, many of whom have not performed on stage since the beginning of the pandemic. Irish Women in Harmony, Mick Flannery, The Saw Doctors, Soda Blonde, Niamh Regan, Rhiannon Giddens, and many more will entertain viewers from the beautiful surrounds of The Round Room at the Mansion House.

This new summer music series caters to all musical tastes and will celebrate the old, the new, the loved, and the familiar. There will be a wide range of genres represented from pop, folk, rock, classical and traditional.

Each episode in the six-week Saturday night run of shows will feature a segment that pays tribute to and celebrates a national treasure who's no longer with us, with tributes including performances in honour of Phil Lynott, Dolores O'Riordan, Shay Healy, Ronnie Drew & John Prine.

So excited to announce that Ill be on your TV screens every Saturday for the new 6 weeks on @RTEOne co - hosting The Heart Of Saturday Night with the incredible @musicbyloah! We have some incredible talent and cant wait for you all to watch, tune in from July 24th! pic.twitter.com/iJzNpOQB1j July 12, 2021

Speaking ahead of the new series, presenter Una Healy said: "I was so excited to be asked to co-host The Heart of Saturday Night and getting to do it alongside the incredibly talented Loah was a joy. We had such a brilliant time filming and its an experience Ill never forget. I can't wait for everyone to see it."

Her co-presenter, Loah, said: "The Heart of Saturday Night is a musical dream come true. Co-presenting with Una has been a great pleasure and its been wonderful to hear and chat to all the incredible musicians throughout the series. Im honoured to be part of the show and look forward to sharing our joy with the audience!"

The series will include contributions from the likes of Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh from Altan with her family, and sisters Louise & Michelle Mulcahy along with Donal Lunny remembering the celebrated late piper Liam OFlynn.

The show's presenters will each duet with a musical guest - Una Healy will sing with Derek Ryan and Loah will sing with Gavin James for special, one-off performances.
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Participants in this years Relay for Life Kildare have ditched the pandemic blues and come up with fun new ways of raising funds and awareness for cancer research.

Committee member Peter ONeill explains teams are working hard on their events in advance of August 21 and 22 next.

Each team will record these activities and forward to the committee for streaming on the Facebook page during the 24 hours of Relay weekend, he said.

With Relay being virtual again it is more difficult for them as the camaraderie and coming together of whole communities, family and supporters is not possible so their efforts are much appreciated by Irish Cancer Society (ICS) and committee.

Team Bredas Warriors are walking 109.5km during the 24 hours of the event, split into three legs of 36.5km each.

Team captain Alan leads off covering Athy, Suncroft, Brownstown, Kildare and Rathangan. The second leg is Andrew covering Rathangan, Prosperous, Clane, Sallins and Naas. The third leg is Eddie covering Naas, Newbridge, Kilcullen and finishing back in Naas. Team members are army and ex army personnel and will be accompanied by an MP car as safety vehicle, and the Order of Malta. The event has garda approval, added Peter.

Naturally we encourage people to come out and cheer them on and donate.

Team Carolines Crackers have planned a novel wheelbarrow push around Newbridge with a target of 300km with assistance of family and friends walking and recording their distance and give to Caroline to help achieve her target. They are hoping for individual donations of 10 and families, 25.

Team Cairde le Cheile led by captain Sinead White have volunteered a head shave for Sinead herself and her niece in Dunnes Stores taking place on August 14 with support from Peter Marks and Dunnes.

Team Amys Angels led by team captain Cathy Mahon embark on a 5km walk starting from the Church in Curragh Camp on July 25 with donations of 5 individual and 10 per family.

Peter outlined that these are some of the main activities so far and more information will be available on Relay for Life Kildare Facebook page.

Donations can be made by going to Justgiving Relay for Life Kildare.

Finally, there is good news from the Curragh Racecourse who are naming a race in honour of Relay for Life at their meeting on August 21 and committee members will be delightedto attend and make the presentation of the trophy to the winning connections, he said. Teams are still welcome to come forward from all parts of County Kildare especially North and South of the County.

At Relay we will continue to celebrate our survivors, remember those who have lost their battle with cancer and fight back with our efforts to raise funds to enable ICS to maintain its much needed services, he concluded.

For further information contact Peter ONeill at 087 2422380, Lisa Nagle at 086 3914152 or Caroline OSullivan at 087 4499903.
There has been positive progress on the plan to regenerate the historic site of Cassidys Distillery and Brewery in Monasterevin which dates back over 200 years.

Mayor of the local Municipal District, Cllr Kevin Duffy, confirmed that an expression of interest form on the project has been accepted as part the Towns and Village Renewal Scheme under the Government's Project Ireland 2040.

From the 1780s on, Cassidys Brewery and Distillery produced porter, ale and whiskey in a major operation and employed up to 100 people in jobs such as clerks, copper smiths, coopers, carpenters, brewers and distillers.

The ingredients for the liquor  barley, oats and rye  were bought from farmers in the neighbouring district.

Barrels of beer and whiskey was delivered on horse drawn carts to neighbouring counties of Laois and Offaly, Wicklow and Dublin as well to England and the US.

In the 1880s, the site was believed to have been producing 250,000 barrels of whiskey a year.

The operation closed in 1934.

Cllr Duffy said: Over the last year, I have been working with the landowners and Kildare County Council on the proposed regeneration of the Cassidys Distillery and Brewery site in Monasterevin.

The goal is to enhance the town's environment, develop a range of new uses for the site such as commercial, community, cultural, educational and residential, and generate local employment.

Under the Governments Project Ireland 2040, Towns and Village Renewal Scheme, I prepared an expression of interest form seeking funding to commence a masterplan design concept for the site  an initial first step to start the regeneration process.

Its been confirmed that our expression of interest for Monasterevin project fulfils the requirements for the scheme and we are in the process of preparing the main form application."

He added: This is positive news  a small step on what will be a long-term project to regenerate our town centre and create space for a range of new uses for the site and generate local

employment.
The EU Digital Covid Certificate will be issued from today to around 1.9 million people who have been fully vaccinated across the country.

From July 19, Ireland join EU states and begin operating the certificate, which will allow people to travel within the EU and EEA (the EU, plus Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein).

The cert will allow anyone who has been fully vaccinated, has proof of a negative PCR test, or has recovered from the virus in the last six months to travel for non-essential reasons within the EU.

Those who have recovered from a recent Covid-19 infection will not automatically receive a cert. They will have to contact a call centre to request one.

The Department of Health has set up a call centre that will assist people who are having difficulty or have questions about their Covid Cert. Those who receive negative Covid tests will receive their certs from the testing facility.

The certificate will either be issued by email or a piece of paper sent by post, depending on where the receiver got vaccinated.

Those who received their vaccine in a mass vaccination centre will receive their certificate by email and those who got it from their GP, from the pharmacy or in a hospital will receive it by post.

The certificate will come as a single-page document that can be folded into a passport-sized booklet and it will have a QR code on it, which will be scanned in airports and ports.

The cert will include details of the persons vaccination status, test result or recent recovery from Covid-19. In the case of vaccinated people, the cert will include full details of which vaccine they received, how many doses they received, and on what date(s).

Personal information will include the receivers full name, date of birth, and a unique certificate identifier code.
HIGH Court proceedings have been initiated against the decision by the environmental regulator to grant a licence to allow Irish Cement's 10m project in Limerick.

Following an oral hearing in December, the firm secured the green light from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow it to switch away from the use of fossil fuels in the production of cement at its Mungret factory.

Instead, Irish Cement plans to use a mixture of solid recovered waste and used tyres.

The decision represented the final hurdle that Irish Cement needed to clear to begin to operate, having already secured permission to build the storage facilities from An Bord Pleanala.

But the project is unpopular, with more than 3,000 people writing to the EPA expressing concerns at the impact the reforms would have on the local environment.

Irish Cement has long maintained that because any burning would take place at such an extreme temperature, the impact locally would be minimal.

City solicitor Michelle Hayes attended the High Court this Monday to lodge Judicial Review proceedings against the EPA, Irish Cement, the Minister for the Environment and the Attorney General.

"It's a massive case. It's a David v Goliath case, but someone has to do it. I've thought very long and hard about it," Ms Hayes told the Limerick Leader.

The case is expected to be listed before the High Court at the end of this month, she confirmed adding that she has initiated the action on her own behalf.

The deadline to appeal the EPA's decision to grant a licence fall today, eight weeks after the regulator's determination order.
THE Patrick Sarsfield monument in Cathedral Place has been given a much needed renovation.

As the Wild Geese Festival takes place in Limerick, the Garryowen Residents Association set to work on the statue depicting Limericks most famous son.

A feature for generations in St Johns, many people often overlook an assault which took place at Johnsgate in the run up to the signing of the Treaty of Limerick, alongside the defeat of the Williamite Army in Garryowen.

Tom OBrien, of the association said: The monument is as important to the people of this community as the Treaty Stone is to the people of Thomondgate, it not only represents the man himself but also the events that took place. We hope that this is only the beginning of a change of attitude to this wonderful part of our city.

The association has urged Limerick City and County Council to enhance, promote and celebrate the parish.

The area is immersed in history given the old walls of Limerick, the cathedral, the Medieval graveyard, the architecture in St John's Square and the events outlined. There is also great cultural diversity given the local businesses in the locality, Tom added.

On Saturday, his Excellency, the Ambassador of France to Ireland Vincent Guerend visited the statue of Patrick Sarsfield in the area.

Also, there was a mini-market and free gig in the Milk Market by Clare-based band Los Paddys. It was followed in the evening by the inauguration of the Wild Geese Museum in the old St Munchins Church on Kings Island.

Yesterday, cyclists retraced Sarsfields steps to Ballyneety.
THERE are unconfirmed reports this Monday of a holiday accident in which a young Limerick man has lost his life.

The man, in his early 20s, is believed to be from the West Limerick area and it is understood he was on holiday in Greece when he died.

The name of the young man has not yet been released officially as relatives are being contacted. No details about the nature and cause of the accident have been released.

Meanwhile, two other young men are in a critical condition in hospital following Saturday evenings traffic collision outside Abbeyfeale.

The collision, involving two vehicles, occurred shortly after 11.30pm. Two men, both in their early 20s, were taken to University Hospital Kerry where their condition was described as critical. One of them, it is understood, was later transferred to Cork University Hospital for treatment.

A woman in her 20s was also taken to University Hospital Kerry where her condition was described as stable. A fourth male, in his late teens, is also stable at University Hospital Limerick.

Gardai have appealed to anyone who witnessed Saturdays accident to come forward. They are also keen to view any dash-cam footage that passing motorists may have.

Anyone with information can contact Newcastle West garda son 069-20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any garda station.
Large satellites used for TV broadcasting could be quickly and easily repurposed as asteroid deflectors if a space rock were to threaten Earth, according to a study by the European aerospace company Airbus.

The study, part of a mission concept called Fast Kinetic Deflection (FastKD), was commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA), as part of its effort to prepare for an apocalyptic scenario that will certainly happen one day (even though that day might be in a very distant future).

Telecommunication satellites that sit in the so-called geostationary orbit at the altitude of 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) circle Earth at a speed that matches the rotation of the planet, thus appearing permanently suspended above a certain region. These satellites are usually very large, like a small bus. They might weigh 4 to 6 tons, which would give them enough force to affect the trajectory of an approaching space rock.

Still, as Albert Falke, who led the FastKD study at Airbus, told Space.com, it would require maybe 10 such spacecraft hitting a 1,000-foot-wide (300 meters) asteroid within a short period of time to sufficiently change its trajectory to avoid the planet.

Related: Potentially dangerous asteroids (images)

Readily available

"These telecommunication platforms, in addition to being large and heavy, are also built with quite a high frequency," Falke said. "That means we can expect them to be available readily in the integration facilities [of satellite manufacturers]. That's something we can take for granted."

In 2019, for example, 15 geostationary satellites were ordered by commercial satellite operators worldwide, according to SpaceNews .

In the scenario explored by Airbus, if astronomers detect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth, all satellite manufacturers around the world will have to start converting the telecoms satellites they are currently building into anti-asteroid weapons. All of these missions would have to launch within about one month to reach the asteroid at about the same time.

The combined effect of the satellites crashing into the Earthbound rock may change its trajectory by only an inch or two, but that would be enough to nudge it off course and prevent a disaster if done long enough before the expected impact.

"The bottleneck [for the success of such a mission] will be the rockets," Falke said. "We think we could expect about 10 to 15 launches available within one month around the entire globe."

Preparations needed

Airbus chose available technology instead of building a new spacecraft completely from scratch for one simple reason: Astronomers may only spot an asteroid on a collision course with Earth not that long in advance. The deflection mission might take anywhere between six to 18 months to reach its target, which might leave only about six months for the engineers to make the craft ready.

" The detection of asteroids has very much improved over the last decades," Falke said. "There are huge observation programs, mostly pushed by NASA. So all the big asteroids, 1 km (0.6 miles) in size and larger should be known. But of course, there are some which could not be observed in the past because their orbits are six to eight years, and their last close approach may have been before these telescopes were put in place," he added.

It is theoretically possible for a threatening asteroid to be spotted tomorrow, with only months left before a devastating encounter with Earth, Falke added. Some smaller bodies, such as the 2013 Chelyabinsk asteroid, which triggered a shockwave that injured about 1,200 people in Russia, may arrive completely unnoticed.

To be able to execute an Earth-saving mission in orbit, telecommunication satellites would have to be fitted with a special module that enables communication in deep space, as well as navigation and guidance required to approach the asteroid. These modules have yet to be developed. Ideally, they would be built and tested in advance and stand ready in case of an emergency.

"We do need to have concrete plans on how to make this deflection module and put it on the telecommunications platform," Falke said. "Then we need to perform very fast qualification and test activity before putting this deflection system on the launch pad."

Widespread destruction

Humankind, according to Falke, should want to be prepared. If a 1,000-foot-wide (300 m) asteroid, such as that envisioned in the Airbus study, hit somewhere in central Europe, it would cause widespread destruction across the whole continent.

"Such an impact would produce a shockwave and also firestorms and earthquakes," Falke said. "A lot of material would be thrown up into the atmosphere and then come down further away from the impact zone. I think the whole of Europe would have to be evacuated and all the flora and fauna would be destroyed in the months and years after such an impact."

Falke is cautious to say whether an asteroid larger than 1,000 feet (300 m) in diameter could still be deflected using this method. But that's an important question. The asteroid that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs some 60 million years ago is believed to have been at least 6 miles (9.6 km) in diameter.

"If the asteroid becomes larger [than 1,000 feet], it gets more difficult," Falke said. "But the good thing is that such big objects will be known a very long time in advance so we would have time to prepare."

Humankind seems to be in a better position than the dinosaurs. The world's first asteroid deflection experiment is set to take place next year when a NASA mission called DART is expected to ram into a small asteroid moon Dimorphos, which orbits a larger asteroid Didymos. The goal is to change the orbit of 520-foot-wide (160 m) Didymos with a 270-pound (600 kilograms) spacecraft.

The study results were presented at the Planetary Defence Conference 2021

Follow Tereza Pultarova on Twitter @TerezaPultarova. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
If you've ever felt that your dog just seems to "get you" in a special way, you'd be right. Dog puppies have an aptitude for understanding human gestures that isn't seen in their closest relatives, wolves , even when wolf pups are raised by humans, a new study finds.

Dog puppies are born with a knack for reading human gestures, like pointing towards food, even with no specific training. Wolf puppies, on the other hand, don't follow human gestures any more than would be expected by chance.

"Dogs are born with this innate ability to understand that we're communicating with them and we're trying to cooperate with them," study lead author Hannah Salomons, a doctoral student studying social cognition at Duke University in North Carolina, said in a statement .

Related: Why do dogs bury bones?

The findings, published Monday (July 12) in the journal Current Biology , support the idea that the domestication of dogs from wolves changed the way dogs think, the authors said. "This study really solidifies the evidence that the social genius of dogs is a product of domestication," study senior author Brian Hare, a professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, said in the statement.

For the study, the researchers compared the cognitive skills of 44 dog and 37 wolf puppies ages 5 to 18 weeks. The wolf puppies, which were born and raised at the Wildlife Science Center in Stacy, Minnesota, had near-constant human contact starting from shortly after birth  their human caretakers spent most of the day with the wolf pups, fed them by hand and slept with them at night.

Wolf puppies from the Wildlife Science Center in Minnesota, where the testing took place. (Image credit: Roberta Ryan)

In contrast, the dog puppies stayed with their mothers until they were 6 weeks old, and with their littermates until they were 8 weeks old. During this time, they had only short interactions with humans. After eight weeks, the puppies went to live with human families, although most puppies in the study had their cognitive skills tested prior to their adoption.

In one cognitive test, the researchers hid food in one of two bowls, and then pointed toward and looked at the bowl with the food, or placed a block next to it, to give the pups a clue as to where the food was located.

Dog puppies were twice as likely to pick up on the human cues, going straight to the bowl with the food, compared to wolf puppies. And many of the dog puppies followed the cue on their first try, without any specific training.

In another test, the pups were given a container with food that was sealed so that they couldn't open it. Still, the wolf pups typically attempted to open the container on their own, while the dog pups spent much more time making eye contact with humans, looking for help.

The study also found that dog pups were 30 times more likely to approach a stranger compared with the wolf pups, even though the dog pups had comparatively little contact with humans in their early lives.

"With the dog puppies we worked with, if you walk into their enclosure they gather around and want to climb on you and lick your face, whereas most of the wolf puppies run to the corner and hide," Salomons said.

There was no difference between the pups in non-social cognitive tasks, such as memory tests.

The findings support the "domestication hypothesis," or the theory that dogs' wolf ancestors were selected for their friendliness and attraction to humans, and over generations these animals passed down their cooperative genes, eventually becoming domesticated dogs.

"Once attraction replaced fear, inherited social skills were applied toward humans in a new way and early in development," the researchers concluded.

Originally published on Live Science.
What happens in your brain when you recognize your grandmother? In the 1960s, some neuroscientists thought a single brain cell called the "grandmother neuron" would light up only at the sight of your grandmother's face. Almost immediately, neuroscientists began to dismiss the theory  a single neuron could not correspond to one idea or person, they argued.

More than 50 years later, new research in monkeys shows that "grandmother neurons" may exist after all. In a study published on July 1 in the journal Science , researchers found a small area of the monkey brain that responds only to familiar faces. Up to three times as many brain cells in this area responded to familiar faces than to unfamiliar ones. The study follows research showing that certain parts of the human brain respond to specific categories, including one region primarily dedicated to faces. One study even found that individual neurons in different parts of the brain responded only to specific celebrities and landmarks . But few studies had found any part of the brain that reacts specifically to personally familiar faces.

Though the new research did not identify individual cells devoted to a single person, the brain cells the researchers found share some crucial qualities with the theorized "grandmother neuron."

"In some sense, you can say they are grandmother neurons," said Winrich Freiwald, a professor of neuroscience and behavior at The Rockefeller University in New York City, who led the new research. "They have this unique combination of vision and memory."

The researchers examined the temporal pole, a poorly understood area near the bottom of the brain that Freiwald and lead study author Sofia Landi, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle, had identified as one of two areas that might be involved in familiar face recognition in a study published in 2017 in the journal Science . (The previous research was completed while Landi was a doctoral student in Freiwald's lab.)

For the new study, the researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ) to scan the brains of two rhesus monkeys while they looked at images of monkey and human faces mixed with some other images. The brain scans served as a guide so the researchers could place electrodes in two areas of the monkey's brains  one in the temporal pole and one in another area of the brain that responds to faces in general but that past research suggested would not necessarily distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar ones.

These electrodes enabled the researchers to monitor the activity of individual brain cells in the two areas. Brain cells in both areas lit up when the monkeys were shown images of monkey and human faces. But only the temporal pole cells distinguished between personally familiar and unfamiliar ones: When the monkeys saw photos of their pals and relatives, those temporal pole cells lit up three times more than when unfamiliar monkey photos were shown. These neurons barely responded to other faces, including both familiar and unfamiliar human faces as well as unfamiliar monkey faces.

The discovery goes against prevailing wisdom in neuroscience. Generally, scientists believe that diverse areas of the brain must communicate with each other to process information. But this research indicates that "it's one area, this region, and it's there for this one purpose  recognizing people we know," Freiwald said. "That's amazing."

The researchers also obscured the images of faces to varying degrees to see how the brain responses might differ. In the generic face-processing area, more cells gradually responded to the images as it became clearer and clearer that they were faces.But the response from temporal pole cells was different. They responded very little to highly blurred images, but as soon as the clarity reached a certain threshold, many of the neurons responded all at once to familiar faces. The researchers think this effect corresponds to the "a-ha" moment of recognition of a familiar face, say of your grandmother.

When the researchers measured how fast the cells responded, they were surprised to find that there wasn't much difference between the two areas. The general face-processing area, which seems to engage only if an image is a face, responded to faces in about the same time as cells in the temporal pole area responded to only familiar faces. That is "very, very surprising," said Freiwald, because the assumption was that the grandmother neurons would take longer, since the person would first have to identify the image as a face, then associate it with a long-term memory of a specific person.

The new research, though in many ways groundbreaking, comes with limitations. It was done on monkeys, not humans, and only on two individuals. However, Freiwald notes that rhesus monkeys, as highly social primates, are the best animal models to use for a study like this and are thought to have very similar face-recognition processing to humans.

The researchers also don't know how exactly face information is being sent to this temporal pole region. The temporal pole doesn't directly process vision or store long-term memory , and because there aren't known pathways between the temporal pole and these other parts of the brain, the route that information might take to get there is still unknown.

The insight could eventually help people who can't recognize others, said Freiwald. For instance, people with dementia and those born with prosopagnosia, or "face blindness," sometimes can't recognize close friends or even family members, something Freiwald imagines is "crushing."

Freiwald also noted that recognizing a person isn't a purely visual, or even sensory, experience. "There's also almost an emotional quality to it, like 'Huh, I know this person,'" he said. "That is ignited, we think, by this area, but there must be so much more involved in it."

Originally published on Live Science.
Overlaid images of Jupiter's pole from NASA's satellite Juno and NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope. Left shows a projection of Jupiter's Northern X-ray aurora (purple) overlaid on a visible Junocam image of the North Pole. Right shows the Southern counterpart.

Mysterious flares of X-rays from Jupiter's auroras suggest that the giant planet's "northern lights" may possess unexpected similarities with those of Earth, a new study finds.

Auroras, the shimmering displays of radiance known as the northern or southern lights on Earth, are seen above the poles of a number of planets across the solar system. These dancing lights are produced when energetic particles from the sun or other celestial bodies slam into a planet's magnetosphere  the area controlled by a world's magnetic field  and flow down its magnetic field lines to collide with molecules in its atmosphere.

Jupiter's magnetic field is extremely strong  about 20,000 times more powerful than Earth's  and therefore its magnetosphere is extremely large. If that alien magnetosphere were visible in the night sky, it would cover a region several times the size of our moon. As such, Jupiter's auroras are much more powerful than Earth's, releasing hundreds of gigawatts  enough to briefly power all of human civilization.

In photos: Juno's amazing views of Jupiter

Jupiter's mysterious X-ray auroras have been explained, ending a 40-year quest for an answer. For the first time, astronomers have seen the way Jupiter's magnetic field is compressed, which heats the particles and directs them along the magnetic field lines down into the atmosphere of Jupiter, sparking the X-ray aurora. The connection was made by combining in-situ data from NASA's Juno mission with X-ray observations from ESA's XMM-Newton. (Image credit: ESA/NASA/Yao/Dunn)

Jupiter's auroras also emit unusual X-ray flares, ones that originate from electrically charged sulfur and oxygen ions spewed out by Jupiter's volcanic moon Io . Jupiter's X-ray auroras alone each release about a gigawatt, about what one power station on Earth might produce over several days. These X-ray auroras often pulse like clockwork, in regular beats a few dozen minutes long for dozens of hours.

The specific mechanisms driving these flares has long been a mystery. "For more than 40 years, we have been puzzling over what may cause Jupiter's spectacular X-ray aurora," study co-lead author Zhonghua Yao, a planetary scientist at the Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics in Beijing, told Space.com.

To uncover the sources of these flares, researchers used NASA's Juno probe, which orbits Jupiter, to inspect the giant planet's magnetosphere close up on July 16 and July 17, 2017. At the same time, they had the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton telescope, which orbits Earth, remotely analyze X-rays from Jupiter .

The scientists discovered that the X-ray flares are apparently triggered by regular vibrations of Jupiter's magnetic field lines. These vibrations generate planetary-scale waves of plasma  clouds of electrically charged particles  that send heavy ions "surfing" along the magnetic field lines until they smash into the planet's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of X-rays.

Similar plasma waves help generate auroras on Earth. As such, despite Jupiter being so much bigger than Earth in every way  such as greater mass and diameter, more energy, stronger magnetic fields and faster rotation  "it seems like the processes responsible for Jupiters ion aurora and Earths ion aurora are the same," study co-lead author William Dunn, an astrophysicist at University College London, told Space.com. "This hints at a potential universal process for space environments."

It remains unclear why Jupiter's magnetic field lines vibrate regularly. Possibilities include interactions with the solar wind, or with high-speed plasma flows within Jupiter's magnetosphere, the researchers said.

The electrically charged particles the researchers spotted hurtling toward Jupiter's poles may not appear to have enough energy to generate X-ray aurora, "so they need to undergo some extra acceleration on the way," Yao said. "What are those extra acceleration processes?"

The scientists suggested that huge voltages that may exist above Jupiter's atmosphere may accelerate these electrically charged particles "towards the atmosphere with colossal energies," Dunn said. "These probably play a key role."

In the future, Yao suggested investigating other worlds to see if plasma waves might help drive auroras there as well. Similar activity may occur around Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and likely exoplanets as well, with different kinds of charged particles "surfing" the waves, he said.

The scientists detailed their findings online July 9 in the journal Science Advances.

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SPACEPORT AMERICA, N.M.  Virgin Galactic's newly minted astronauts are beyond thrilled following their journey to space on the company's first fully crewed spaceflight.

Sunday (July 11), Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson joined crewmates Sirisha Bandla and Colin Bennett in earning their astronaut wings following the successful launch and landing of the company's Unity 22 suborbital mission. Beth Moses, who also flew aboard the craft, had already achieved astronaut status on a previous flight. The whole crew shared their excitement after returning to Earth, popping Champagne bottles, with Branson even lifting Bandla up onto his shoulders.

"It was just magical," Branson said during the ceremony following the flight, which was Virgin Galactic's fourth rocket-powered spaceflight. "I feel I'm still in space," he added later during a post-launch news conference.

"Welcome to the dawn of a new space age," he added.

Related: Virgin Galactic launches Richard Branson to space in 1st fully crewed flight

More: What to know about Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity 22 launch

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson (right) and the crew of Unity 22 celebrate their successful suborbital launch over Spaceport America, New Mexico after landing on July 11, 2021. Branson's crewmates are: (from left) Colin Bennett, Beth Moses and Sirisha Bandla, all Virgin Galactic employees. (Image credit: Virgin Galactic)

"We've been to space, everybody! " Branson cheered during a post-flight press conference. "So thrilling when a lifetime's dream comes true."

"I think like most kids, I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid and honestly, nothing could prepare you for the view of Earth from space ... We have this incredible Earth," Branson said of his flight. "I'm just taking it all in. It's just unreal."

"I was once a kid with a dream looking up to the stars, and now I"m an adult in a spaceship looking back to our beautiful Earth," Branson said during the news conference. "If we can do this, just imagine what you can do," he added in a comment directed to a group of children at the event.

Branson tweeted out an image of himself taken during the mission with this sentiment later on in the day.

Related: How Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo works (infographic)

I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/03EJmKiH8VJuly 11, 2021 See more

His crewmates were equally overjoyed with their experience. "I couldn't be happier," Bandla said during the news conference. She also shared how happy her parents were for her to accomplish this goal.

"They've heard me say I want to go to space since I was little," Bandla said. "My dad hugged me so hard when I got here my sunglasses shattered ... I couldn't thank them more for their support."

In addition to being exciting for the crew, the mission also went extremely well technically, according to Mike Moses, Virgin Galactic's president of space missions and safety.

"Everything looked perfect in real time. We've looked at the data; weve done our quick engineering walkaround," Moses said during the news conference. "Normally, we take it in the hangar to do that. But the quick walkaround on the ramp [was] perfect. The ship looks pristine  no issues whatsoever."

As part of this test flight, the crew was tasked with evaluating multiple facets of the mission experience, including comfort, research, customer service and more.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson (foreground) and his crew float in weightlessness aboard the VSS Unity spacecraft during their suborbital Unity 22 spaceflight on July 11, 2021. (Image credit: Virgin Galactic)

"I was so honored to test the customer experience," Branson said. "Initially, I thought testing the customer experience was a little bit of an excuse to get me on [the mission]," he said, but he added that he came to see how important it actually was. "It's the little details that matter."

Virgin Galactic's flight came less than two weeks before Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle is set to make a crewed suborbital test flight with its founder, Jeff Bezos, on board. This has sparked questions of a "race" between the two billionaire founders to get to space before the other. However, Branson previously dispelled those rumors and continued to do so after this flight.

"It really wasn't a race," he said. "We're just delighted that everything went fantastically well. We wish Jeff the absolute best, and the people going up with him during his flight."

In the spirit of support among commercial spaceflight companies, Branson added that SpaceX founder Elon Musk showed up to show his support.

"It was great this morning to find Elon in my kitchen at 3 o'clock to come to wish us the best. I'd already been to bed and he still hadn't gone to bed," he said. "So nice of him to come all this way to wish us well." Branson added that Bezos also sent a "goodwill message."

Email Chelsea Gohd at cgohd@space.com or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
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Screen Media has acquired Best Sellers, a comedy with Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza about a pair of misfits that has a literary twist. The deal is for all U.S. rights, and the company plans to release the film theatrically and on-demand in September.

Directed by Lina Roessler (Little Whispers: The Vow), Best Sellers centers on an ambitious young editor (Plaza) who decides to try to save the flailing publishing house her father left her by going on a book tour with the bitter, hard-drinking author (Caine) who helped establish the company several decades and an ocean of booze ago.

Cary Elwes, Scott Speedman, Ellen Wong and Veronica Ferres co-star in the film. The screenplay, written by Anthony Grieco, won a 2015 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting award.

Not since As Good as it Gets have we seen such a mismatched pair take to the road, said Screen Media in a statement. Aubrey Plazas humor and charm paired with Michael Caines endearing curmudgeon-ism really captivated us. We know audiences will be drawn to their improbable friendship as much as we were.

Best Sellers was produced by Jonathan Vanger for Wishing Tree Productions and Pierre Even under Item 7 in Canada, Arielle Elwes, Cassian Elwes and Wayne Marc Godfrey in the U.K., and executive produced by Petr Jakl, Martin Barab, Jere Hausfater, Mark Damon, Hussain Amarshi, Sashi Arnold, Kevin Bernhardt, Paul-E. Audet, Adam Goldworm, and Joe Sisto.

We are thrilled to work with Screen Media on the release of Best Sellers, said the producers of the film. The team there loves this fantastic movie, and we are looking forward to promoting the release alongside them. The pairing of Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza is unexpected but the two of them absolutely shine together on screen. Lina Roessler directed them with a masterful balance of comedy and poignancy. Shes certainly a director to watch.

This film is a tour-de-force for Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza, who brilliantly play off each other throughout this effervescent comedy. But the real kudos go to first-time director Lina Roessler for having the ability to get the most out of these seasoned comedians. She is a fresh young talent with an assured future, said Mark Damon.

The film was funded by Petr Jakl and Martin J. Barabs RU Robot, National Bank of Canada and Telefilm Canada. Foresight Unlimited is handling foreign sales for the film. The deal was negotiated by Seth Needle, Screen Medias SVP of global acquisitions and co-productions, on behalf of the company with Elwes, Barab, and CAA Media Finance representing the filmmakers. Mark Damon of Foresight Unlimited brought the film to Screen Media and facilitated the transaction between the parties.

Screen Medias recent releases include mafia thriller The Birthday Cake starring Shiloh Fernandez, Ewan McGregor, and Val Kilmer, and the comedies Eat Wheaties! starring Tony Hale, and Senior Moment starring William Shatner, Jean Smart and Christopher Lloyd.

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Following his 2016 Un Certain Regard win with The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki, Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen is back in Cannes with Compartment No. 6, and this time, in the main competition. Inspired by Rosa Liksoms book, it follows two strangers on a train to Murmansk, Russia: a young Finnish woman, dreaming of seeing ancient petroglyphs, and a Russian miner.

The action takes place on the train for most of the story. What were the challenges of staying in a confined space?

We departed from St. Petersburg and shot on the train for almost two weeks. But we didnt go all the way to Murmansk, even though that was our first idea.

One obvious reference point was Wolfgang Petersens Das Boot. It might have been easier to shoot in some studio, but it just wouldnt look that convincing. All these corridors and compartments, these are really small places. You work slower, because no one could fit there  except for my DP, J-P Passi, and his assistant. I like to be with my actors and now I had to watch them on the monitor. It brought so much to the film though, this whole claustrophobic tension. But I was happy to get out and shoot on location for a bit.

In your previous film, Oona Airola delivered an incredible performance. And this film features a strong female character.

Seidi Haarla [as lead character Laura] was the first person I cast. In the book, the balance between these two is off. He is taking up all this space, she is so quiet. We wanted to have a stronger female character, right from the start. She is strong, funny, not some fragile girl you should worry about. Thats what I felt was important  I didnt want the viewers to worry that something bad was going to happen, that she would get assaulted. They are locked there together, in this tiny compartment, so your mind starts to wander: Is she going to survive? Is he going to rape her? I wanted them to be equal.

In the book, he felt much more threatening.

When we were still working on the script, we were more faithful to the book. Now, this guy is younger, more approachable. Thats why we changed his name to Ljoha; he became this whole other person. We were free to do that, because Rosa Liksom basically told us to. She said the book is hers, but the film is mine.

Finding these two was the hardest challenge. We were thinking about casting an older guy, between 45 and 55 years old, and I just didnt believe the story! Then, I saw Yuriy Borisov in The Bull at Karlovy Vary. They look like brother and sister, as if they shared the same childhood. Its not your usual love story; its about connection. They understand each other, even without words.

I wasnt sure when this story took place. It was Lauras Walkman and the mention of Titanic that finally gave it away.

The book is set in the 1980s, so we changed that as well. I am happy to hear that you werent sure  thats something we wanted to achieve. There are no smartphones here, so thats one thing. I didnt want her to feel connected to her friends all the time, or that she can Google something. She actually depends on other peoples help.

Also, with a country like Russia, with such a complicated history, once you decide on a specific year, all these political connotations come pouring in. I wasnt interested in that  I was interested in these two people.

Its almost funny, watching this film during the pandemic. Its about people stuck in a confined space, and so relieved after they finally get out.

They closed the borders two weeks before we were supposed to wrap, and we decided to stay in Russia. We worked with a small crew, but we managed to do everything that we wanted. We got very lucky. We actually had to smuggle the last film stock into Finland. The Russian driver took us to the border and there was nobody there. It was like entering a ghost town.

There is this moment in the film when Ljoha asks her about Moscow. She says: There were people, there were parties, laughter and music. And now its all gone. It really hit me. Now, it has more meaning than ever. All these normal, basic things were suddenly taken away from us.

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Its been exactly 20 years since Nanni Moretti won the Palme dOr at Cannes with The Sons Room, a graceful, humane and often surprisingly witty drama about a family regathering itself in the wake of shattering tragedy. Thats a long time ago, and it feels longer by the minute as you watch the Italian writer-directors latest, Three Floors, a film clearly conceived to hit the same bittersweet notes as his 2001 triumph, but scarcely recognizable as the work of the same filmmaker.

Dramatically stilted, cinematically drab and morally dubious at multiple turns, this soapy lather of assorted crises concerning the residents of a single Roman apartment block may come as a crashing disappointment to fans who have been waiting six years for a new Moretti feature. Pedigree alone has secured this misfire a Cannes competition slot and healthy international sales, though we certainly wont be thinking about it in two decades time.

Morettis last film, the minor-key but warmly engaging Mia Madre, embraced all-out melodrama with a certain sense of self-awareness: There was clearly some wry mirroring at play in its study of a filmmaker, played by Margherita Buy, whose personal chaos bleeds into her work. Three Floors keeps the commitment to melodrama (and Buy, amid a large ensemble of familiar Italian faces) but removes the irony, turning uncharacteristically dour as misery and misfortune pile up to a degree that tests patience and credibility. Adapted from the well-regarded novel Three Floors Up by Israeli author Eshkol Nevo, its Morettis first film without an original screenplay, and his signature tone is all but lost in translation.

It starts with a literal crash, as drunk teenage driver Andrea (Alessandro Sperduti) comes careening around the corner of the street his family lives on, knocking a pedestrian dead, before plunging his car through the glass wall of the downstairs neighbors apartment. In the fallout of the accident, his distraught mother Dora (Buy) continues to defend her sons character, despite his refusal to express remorse; his stoic father Vittorio (Moretti), a high-ranking judge, would rather disown the lad altogether.

As for the neighbors, a car barging at speed into their living room somehow isnt the low point of their month. Working parents Lucio (Riccardo Scamarcio) and Sara (Elena Lietti) frequently call on the kind elderly couple across the hall, Renato (Paolo Graziosi) and Giovanna (Anna Bonaiuto), to babysit their young daughter, despite Renatos early signs of dementia. When one such evening ends with Renato and the girl disoriented and traumatized in some local woods, Lucio becomes violently and irrationally convinced that the old man has been sexually abusing his daughter, setting off a decade-long feud between the households.

Somehow, amid these already fraught circumstances, Lucio decides it would be a good idea to sleep with Renatos flirtatious but underage granddaughter Charlotte (Denise Tantucci). Chalk it up as another of the films many perplexing plot points, most of which serve a broad, blunt thesis pitting the stubborn, hot-headed impulses of men versus the saintly, long-suffering benevolence of women, but dont feel rooted in any particularly perceptive understanding of human nature.

The statutory rape subplot is most distastefully handled, heavy on victim-blaming and unearned redemption as Lucio and Charlotte reconsider events over the next 10 years. Yet if only for its wrong-headed, pre-#MeToo sexual politics, this subplot is more luridly compelling than a disconnected, underwritten third strand which finds guileless new mother Monica (Alba Rohrwacher) caught in the middle of a long-term fraternal war between her frequently absent husband Giorgio (Adriano Giannini) and his seductive, disreputable brother Roberto (Stefano Dionisi)  a grudge that rages for years without once threatening to get interesting.

Beyond being centered in the same well-to-do residential complex, not one of these mini-narratives informs or illuminates the other, much less the world around them  which is so vaguely drawn and inhabited that the film could unfold in practically any time or place. Proceedings begin in the year 2010, before lurching forward in two five-year jumps: The maudlin finale, which strains for contrived closure across the board, is apparently set in 2020, though theres no onscreen evidence whatsoever of a certain global pandemic. Perhaps Three Floors really is set in a parallel universe, which would at least provide a fair alibi for much of its peculiar plotting.

Moretti has never been the most extravagant of stylists, though his best films boast a comforting solidity of craft that, aside from the (saving) grace notes of Franco Piersantis elegant classical score, isnt much in evidence here. Michele DAttanasios lensing is beigely perfunctory and televisual; Clelio Beneventos editing does strangely little of interest with the films trisected narrative and timeline. Even the films fine actors feel stuck on autopilot, many of them stranded with characters who dont detectably grow or evolve or even change hairdo in the course of 10 airless years. Renatos broken, Lucios young daughter observes, a little too loudly, of her addled babysitter, in one of the films rare lines aiming for an intentional laugh. Shes right: He kind of is. But arent they all?

Reviewed at Cannes Film Festival (Competition), July 11, 2021. Running time: 119 MIN. (Original title: Tre Piani)

Running Time: Running time: 119 MIN.

Production

(Italy-France) A Fandango, Sacher Film, Rai Cinema production. (World sales: The Match Factory, Cologne.) Producer: Nanni Moretti.

Crew

Director: Nanni Moretti. Screenplay: Moretti, Valia Santella, Federica Pontremoli, based on the novel Three Floors Up by Eshkol Nevo. Camera: Michele DAttanasio. Editor: Clelio Benevento. Music: Franco Piersanti.

With

Riccardo Scamarcio, Margherita Buy, Alba Rohrwacher, Anna Bonaiuto, Denise Tantucci, Nanni Moretti, Alessandro Sperduti, Paolo Graziosi, Stefano Dionisi, Adriano Giannini, Tommaso Ragno, Elena Lietti. (Italian dialogue)

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Laredo police are releasing more information into the barricaded man reported on Wednesday.

Police are saying that Alejandro Vela, 23, had tried to hide in the attic of a home in the 2100 block of Guatemozin Street because he had kidnapped and tortured a 17-year-old girl who called police on him for harboring migrants.

The case unfolded at about 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, when Laredo police officers responded to an emergency call in the 2200 block of Cortez Street. A woman reported that a female asked her for help. The 17-year-old female had visible injuries to her face and mouth, according to the affidavit. The caller mentioned that the teen claimed to have been kidnapped and assaulted by a man at a nearby residence, records state.

The teen stated to police that a man she identified as Alex Pena had her kidnapped at a residence on Guatemozin. Police would later identify Alex Pena as Vela. Officers noticed the teen had bruising and swelling to the left side of her face, and ligature markings on her wrist. She stated that Vela drives a white BMW passenger car and provided an address in the 2100 block of Guatemozin.

The victim told officers at the scene that she was kidnapped by Alejandro Vela because Alejandro Vela was accusing her of calling the police on him for having several undocumented illegal (migrants) concealed at his house at 2105 Guatemozin St., states the arrest affidavit.

She stated she escaped from her captors by jumping out a window and running away from the residence to then seek help, according to court documents. She was then taken to Laredo Medical Center for further treatment.

Kidnapping scene

Officers at the scene learned that the LPD auto-theft task force had executed a search warrant at the residence located at 2105 Guatemozin and found 29 undocumented migrants. Authorities had detained Vela on July 1 after the execution of the search warrant.

Investigators and officers responded to 2105 Guatemozin to conduct a protective sweep and check for any other victims inside the home. But no one answered. Authorities then noticed a white BMW vehicle in the car garage. Police said that next to the vehicle, there was a chair with pieces of cable and bungee cords tied around the armrest of the chair. Below the chair was a tarp spread across the floor, states the affidavit.

Authorities also noticed several pieces of torn blue tape thrown on the floor. Several plastic empty bottle waters and a long piece of cable were also found on the floor of the garage, states the affidavit. A detective then found a lighter fluid container on the corner of the garage. Authorities said they believed the garage was the crime scene for a kidnapping.

As officers were knocking on the rear of the home, a woman identified as Alexa de la Rosa, 18, exited the home wearing only a T-shirt. While conducting a protective sweep, a detective found an empty gun box for a handgun on top of the kitchen table. The detective observed an empty black rifle gun box on the upstairs hallway floor. Authorities also observed two black handgun magazines on the night stand of the upstairs bedroom. Several live ammo rounds and an ammo box were next to the handgun magazines.

Noises in the attic

During the protective sweep, investigators said they heard several noises coming from the attic area in one of the bedroom closets.

In an interview, de la Rosa stated she was asleep on the upstairs bedroom when Vela woke her up. He told de la Rosa that police had the residence surrounded and that he was going to hide in the attic with his handgun in an attempt to elude capture, according to court documents.

In an interview, the teen stated that Vela and de la Rosa kidnapped her at gunpoint. She stated she was with her boyfriend. They then fell asleep in the back seat of her boyfriend's gray Chrysler 200. They were parked outside her boyfriends residence when Vela awoke her. Vela was aiming a gun while he ordered her to get out of the Chrysler 200. Fearing for her life, she complied and was escorted into Velas white BMW sedan, according to the affidavit. She noticed that the driver was her friend, de la Rosa, according to court documents.

De la Rosa drove to the home on Guatemozin while Vela held her at gunpoint. De la Rosa drove into the residences detached car garage.

(The teen) stated that de la Rosa assisted Vela by bringing him a chair, a tarp and tape that were utilized during the course of (the teens) assault, states the affidavit.

Torture

Vela allegedly ordered the teen to sit on the chair at gunpoint. He then tied her using tape, fishing line and wire. Vela used a fishing line and wire to tie her wrist to the chair and used tape to tie her ankles to the chair, according to court documents. The teen was also tied with tape around her abdominal and neck to the chair. Vela then placed a rag on her mount to prevent her from yelling. Vela further told de la Rosa to turn on the volume in the car to avoid anybody from hearing the teens screams, states the affidavit.

(The teen) stated that she was kept tied to the chair for hours while Vela physically assaulted her by punching her, cutting her with an edged instrument and by pouring gasoline and salt on her wounds. (The teen) further stated that Vela had poured gasoline into a Gatorade bottle and had her drink the gasoline, states the affidavit.

Vela punched the teen multiple times in the face while wearing black hard knuckle gloves, causing visible abrasions and bruises to her face and mouth area. The teen added that Vela also used a box cutter to cut her back and pour salt and gasoline on her open wounds, according to court documents.

(The teen) stated that while Vela was assaulting her, he kept yelling and cussing at her and telling her that she was being assaulted for having notified police of his involvement in operating a stash house. (The teen) stated that a week before, she had reported to police that Vela had undocumented persons at his residence that led to the rescue of multiple undocumented persons by law enforcement, states the affidavit.

Meanwhile, de la Rosa would keep watch, laugh and smoke while Vela assaulted the teen. Vela then asked de la Rosa what to do with the teen. De la Rosa allegedly stated that in her opinion, the teen should be killed, according to court documents.

Teen escapes

The teen stated that after hours of being tied up, Vela cut her ties and escorted her to the kitchen area. Vela and de la Rosa then fell asleep. Thats when the teen escaped using a back door and running through the backyard, according to the affidavit. She ran fearing for her life and yelling for someone to help, according to court documents.

A search warrant was obtained for the home on Guatemozin. LPDs SWAT team assisted in the execution of the warrant due to the possibility of Vela hiding inside the attic and being armed with a handgun. Authorities raided the home at about 3:10 p.m. Vela was found hiding inside the attic and was detained without incident, according to court documents. Vela was taken to LPD headquarters for questioning. Vela initially denied involvement in the kidnapping of the teen.

He later stated he was upset with the victim because she had called the police on him for having several undocumented illegal (migrants) concealed at his residence, states the affidavit.

Vela stated that he and de la Rosa were drinking alcohol inside the car garage. He stated he sat on the chair that was in the garage and added that he had placed the tarp on the floor. Vela further mentioned he doused the rag with gasoline to take off a stain from the BMW. Vela claimed he and de la Ro sa went looking for the teen to convince her to take the blame for the discovery of the 29 migrants a week ago, according to court documents.

He denied assaulting the victim or kidnapping the victim, states the affidavit.

An inventory of his BMW yielded 41.2 grams of marijuana, 2.6 grams of cocaine and one tetrahydrocannabinol cartridge, according to police.

Vela and de la Rosa were arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping by terrorize, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one counts of possession of marijuana. Vela was additionally served with warrants for operating a stash house and smuggling of a person.
Residents from all areas of the city have experienced issues related to the boil water notice affecting the area, and many have strong reactions to the ongoing situation with some calling for real changes and even legal challenges.

With the notice continuing until at least Monday at the earliest, people expressed concern over why this continues to happen and how it could affect the most vulnerable in the community.

It's like deja vu all over again, said Martin Garcia, who lives in south Laredo. We have seen this happen already like three times in the past two years, and I think that it shows how the city should be investing more in the infrastructure of the pipeline system of the city and not just on new things and parties that we really dont need at this time. We need stuff to stay safe at home, not stuff to go out.

Rep. Henry Cuellar was among the many voicing their opinion on the issue as he released a statement Saturday.

I have been in close contact with Mayor (Pete) Saenz and City Manager Robert Eads to discuss the ongoing boil water notice. Additionally, my team has been in communication with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the Texas National Guard, to ensure that Laredo residents continue to have access to clean, safe drinking water, Cuellar said. We must learn the root cause of the low chlorine levels that led to the initial boil water notice to ensure this never happens again. I will continue to work with state and local officials to address potential operational errors at local water plants and instill safeguard measures. If you or your neighbors are in need of drinking water, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Another local individual voiced that the water boil notice has caused her alarm when she showers her 2-year-old daughter for fear of her drinking the water.

We cant even put her in her favorite little pool in this heat because of this. Thank God it rained all week, because if not then we would have to decide between putting my child in the pool or making her angry and cry all day, said Claudia Bustamante, who lives in north Laredo. I am also worried that she recently learned how to brush her teeth, and now that she is practicing a lot she constantly wants to do it at the sink next to her dad.

Bustamante said she quickly taught her to use bottled water for brushing her teeth for the meantime because the water had germs. However, she said this is only a temporary fix.

She has quickly adapted just as kids did with the pandemic and other situations that we grownups may take longer to do; however, this should not be the main solution, Bustamante said. We need water back normally and fully, and we need to think about those most vulnerable or those who do not understand what is going on to make sure they practice sanitary safety and do not drink from the water. I just hope pets are also not affected by the water.

Another individual that works in a local medical facility said she is worried whether patients with diseases and illnesses that require them to drink plenty of water are getting the appropriate resources to maintain their health.

I think the bill should be cut short, said Alejandro Medina, who lives in central Laredo and works at a medical facility that conducts dialysis. I believe instead of city officials getting raises, they should pay more attention and get this fixed ASAP and stop finger pointing. Get it together and get this fixed. Its too late to finger point, just fix it.

Medina said he sees how their patients are some of the most vulnerable due to the water crisis.

I believe city officials should stop by dialysis clinics and donate cases of water to them, Medina said. They have a low immune system, mostly on transportation, and I see it first hand they cant afford or dont have rides to be driving to get water. Some of them get dialysis three times a week for four hours a day and come out drained.

Alfonso Poncho Casso, a former councilmember in the 1990s who lives in the downtown area, said this issue is happening because of constant corruption and negligence and not focusing on fixing the issues that truly matter the most to the community. He said the issue has caused the city to lose its credibility.

The truth isnt enough anymore, Casso said. The city government has lost all credibility regarding our water woes due to incompetence and corruption.

Casso, who has also filed several lawsuits against the city for issues regarding corruption, said legal action against the city is also needed for what is happening with the water issues experienced in the area.

Legal action is deemed necessary when the actions, or inaction, of government bodies are so inappropriate or egregious that immediate, emergency action needs to be taken by the legal system, Casso said.

Although some people said they are not sure what measures it will take for the matter to be resolved, they are certain something must be done.

We the people must definitely unite against this matter, because it is one thing to have a boil notice for an area or for a day or two, but to extend it for so long and to see businesses close down because of that shows that if we dont do anything and pressure results, then we might face this once again, Garcia said. I hope people simply voice out their concerns, go to their representatives and tell them that enough is enough.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
An event three decades in the making happened Tuesday as alocal veteran who was buried in Wisconsin was finally laid to rest next to his kin in the local Calvary Catholic Cemetery as the family helped bring him back to the Gateway City.

Fuentes died at the age of 60 and was laid to rest in Racine, Wisconsin. Now 32 years later, Fuentes came to his final resting place Tuesday in a ceremony that featured his surviving family and friends. It also featured military honors as Fuentes was laid to rest next to his late wife, Oralia Z. Fuentes.

Some of the family that attended the event were daughter Sylvia I. (Fuentes) Arredondo, son David Fuentes Jr., daughter-in-law Mayra Fuentes, who was the wife of their deceased sibling Robert A. Fuentes, and seven grandchildren along with other family members from his extended family. Various friends and familiar faces the family had not seen in years were also in attendance.

I feel very, very happy and a little bit emotional that everything worked out so perfect, and thank you to Mother Nature for not raining at the time of the ceremony and everything came out as planned and everything came out good, Arredondo said. So I believe that my dad was part of it too as he just gave us a blessing, and all of the event came out beautiful. It was just in the making. The thought was there for many years, and just being completely honest the time to bring him today was just amazing. We are so grateful, and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to bring him home.

Arredondo believes her father is happy about being back in Laredo as he now resides next to his wife and son. However, for a moment the family feared the weather might disrupt the ceremony as it had rained nonstop the night before.

Last night it poured, and we were so worried because we had some things to still decide about decorations and stuff like that, but we focused on hopefully God being good to us and wished for Mother Nature to be good to us for the morning, and it did turn out to be good, Arredondo said. At that point, it didnt rain, it was clear and it was just perfect.

Other members of the family also expressed great happiness for the event and allowing Fuentes to rest in his birthplace of Laredo.

Fuentes Jr. said he felt much more tranquil knowing his father was back in Laredo. He is heading back to Wisconsin where he works, but he plans to return to South Texas soon when he retires.

Arredondos son was also extremely happy as the burial ceremony landed on his birthday. He said that it was an honor for such an event to happen on his birthday as he still recalls his grandfather.

As for Arredondo, now that she has both parents buried together and so close in Laredo, she plans to visit them each week at the cemetery where she has taken good care of her mother since she died in March.

Every week since my mom passed away, I go visit my mom as I took care of her for 11 years, and even during my day job I had someone take care of her, but then she passed away in March, Arredondo said. I have never stopped going as to me it is very important to remember my mom, and now my dad and my brother, as I continue to remember them. And that is not going to stop. To me, it is very important that you visit your loved ones.

During the ceremony, Arreondo said she saw many friends of the family she had not seen in years.

Fuentes final resting place was in Racine because the family moved a lot due to their fathers career with the Navy as a torpedo man almost always under water and travelling the world as his family describes it. He started in San Diego and at one point moved to Houston. When he retired from the Navy he decided to move to Wisconsin to be close to his mother. While he moved to Wisconsin, most of the children stayed in Laredo and around Texas.

Fuentes was born on Oct. 3, 1928. During his time in the Navy, he served in three submarines which were the U.S.S. Remora, U.S.S. Razorback and the U.S.S. Menhaden. Aside from serving in Korea, Fuentes also served in missions like in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and in Yokosuka, Japan. He earned several medals including one for serving in the Korean conflict and for good behavior as well as being honorably discharged.

His daughter said she remembers how her fathers time in Laredo was often spent helping out people, especially the elderly around town by looking out for their needs.

Arredondo said if she could speak to her father one more time she would tell him how much she loves him, how much she misses him and that he is finally home.

I would tell him that I love him as we always expressed love to him as we were always very close to each other, and of course when he was in the service, and when he retired we still remained all very close and it was always unity, Arredondo said. I would always tell him that I love him.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  The arrest of a failed Haitian businessman living in Florida who authorities say was a key player in the killing of Haitis president deepened the mystery Monday into an already convoluted plot surrounding the assassination.

Haitian authorities identified the suspect as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 62, who once expressed a desire to lead his country in a YouTube video. However, he is unknown in Haitian political circles, and associates suggested he was duped by those really behind the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in an attack last week that critically wounded his wife, Martine, who remains hospitalized in Miami.

A Florida friend of Sanon told The Associated Press that the suspect is an evangelical Christian pastor and a licensed physician in Haiti, but not in the U.S. The associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of safety concerns, said Sanon told him he was approached by people claiming to represent the U.S. State and Justice departments who wanted to install him as president.

He said the plan was for Moise to be arrested, not killed, and Sanon would not have participated if he knew Moise would be assassinated.

I guarantee you that, the associate said. This was supposed to be a mission to save Haiti from hell, with support from the U.S. government.

Echoing those sentiments was the Rev. Larry Caldwell, a Florida pastor, who said he worked with Sanon setting up churches and medical clinics in Haiti from 2000-2010. He doesnt believe Sanon would have been involved in violence.

I know the character of the man, Caldwell said. You take a man like that and youre then going to say he participated in a brutal crime of murder, knowing that being associated with that would send him to the pits of hell? ... If there was one man who would be willing to stand in the breach to help his country, it would be Christian.

Haiti's National Police chief, Leon Charles, said Moises killers were protecting Sanon, whom he accused of working with those who plotted the assassination.

Charles said officers found a hat with the logo of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four license plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence, among other things, in Sanon's house in Haiti.

Twenty-six former Colombian soldiers are suspected in the killing and 23 have been arrested, along with three Haitians. Charles said five suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed.

They are dangerous individuals, Charles said. Im talking commando, specialized commando.

A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official told AP that one of the suspects in Moise's assassination was at times a confidential source to the agency, and that the suspect reached out to his contacts at the DEA after the killing and was urged to surrender. The official said the DEA and a U.S. State Department official provided information to Haiti's government that led to the surrender and arrest of one suspect and one other individual, whom it didn't identify.

Meanwhile, Colombias national police chief, Gen. Jorge Luis Vargas, said that a Florida-based enterprise, CTU Security, used its company credit card to buy 19 plane tickets from Bogota to Santo Domingo for the Colombian suspects. Most arrived in the Dominican Republic in June and moved into Haiti within weeks, Vargas said.

He said that Dimitri Herard, head of general security at Haitis National Palace, flew to Colombia, Ecuador and Panama in the months before the assassination, and Colombian police are investigating whether he had any role in recruiting the mercenaries. In Haiti, prosecutors are seeking to interrogate Herard over the assassination.

Charles said Sanon was in contact with CTU Security and that the company recruited the suspects in the killing. He said Sanon flew into Haiti in June on a private jet accompanied by several of the alleged gunmen.

The suspects' initial mission was to protect Sanon, but they later received a new order: to arrest the president, Charles said.

The operation started from there, he said, adding that 22 additional suspects joined the group.

Charles said that after Moise was killed, one suspect phoned Sanon, who got in touch with two people believed to be masterminds of the plot. He did not identify them or say if police know who they are.

Sanons associate said he attended a recent meeting in Florida with Sanon and about a dozen other people, including Antonio Enmanuel Intriago Valera, a Venezuelan emigre to Miami who runs CTU Security. He said a presentation was made for rebuilding the country, including its water system, converting trash into energy and fixing roads.

He said Sanon asked why the security team accompanying him to Haiti were all Colombians. Sanon was told Haitians couldnt be trusted and that the system is corrupt, the associate said. He said Sanon called him from Haiti a few days before the assassination and said the Colombians had disappeared.

Im all by myself. Who are these people? I dont know what they are doing, the associate quoted Sanon as saying.

Sanon is completely gullible, the associate added. He thinks God is going to save everything.

Sanon has lived in Broward County in Florida, as well as in Hillsborough County on the Gulf Coast. Records also show he resided in Kansas City, Missouri. He filed for bankruptcy in Florida in 2013 and identified himself as a medical doctor in a video on YouTube titled Leadership for Haiti.

However, records show Sanon has never been licensed to practice medicine or any other occupation covered by Florida's Department of Health.

Sanon said in court papers filed in a 2013 bankruptcy case in Florida that he was a physician and a pastor at the Tabarre Evangelical Tabernacle in Haiti. He said he had stakes in enterprises including the Organization of Rome Haiti, which he identified as a non-governmental organization, a radio station in Haiti and medical facilities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

At the time of his bankruptcy, he and his wife reported income of $5,000 per month, and a home in Brandon, Florida, valued at about $143,000, with a mortgage of more than $367,000. A federal bankruptcy trustee later determined they hid ownership of about 35 acres in Haiti from creditors.

Florida records show Sanon started about a dozen businesses over the last 20 years, all of which failed, including ones that appeared related to medical imaging, physical therapy, fossil fuel trading, real estate and veganism.

In a 2011 YouTube video, Sanon denounced Haiti's leadership as corrupt, accusing them of stripping the country of its resources, saying: They dont care about the country, they dont care about the people.

He falsely claimed that Haiti has uranium, oil and other resources that have been taken by government officials.

Nine million people cant be in poverty when we have so much resources in the country. Its impossible, he said. We need new leadership that will change the way of life.

Sanons arrest comes as a growing number of politicians have challenged interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who is currently in charge of Haiti with backing from police and the military.

U.S. officials, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, met Sunday with Joseph, designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry and Joseph Lambert, the head of Haitis dismantled Senate, whom supporters have named as provisional president in a challenge to Joseph, according to the White House National Security Council.

The delegation also met with Haitis National Police and reviewed the security of critical infrastructure, it said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the delegation received a request for additional assistance. She said a potential deployment of U.S. troops remained under review, but also suggested that Haiti's political uncertainty was a complicating factor.

What was clear from their trip is that there is a lack of clarity about the future of political leadership, Psaki said.

U.S. President Joe Biden said he was closely following developments, adding: The people of Haiti deserve peace and security, and Haitis political leaders need to come together for the good of their country.

Meanwhile, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Haiti's request for security assistance is being examined.

The United Nations has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990, but the last U.N. military peacekeepers left the country in 2017.

___

Fox reported from Washington, Spencer reported from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Manuel Rueda in Bogota, Colombia, Mike Balsamo in Washington and Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report.
AUSTIN, Texas - New voting restrictions in Texas moved a step closer to becoming law this weekend after two committees advanced the legislation in a special session, setting up a floor vote in the coming days on a GOP proposal that civil rights leaders say would hurt communities of color.

It was the second effort by Texas Republicans to pass such voting restrictions, after Democrats foiled a first attempt by staging a dramatic walkout in May, denying the Republican-majority legislature a quorum and forcing them to adjourn without voting on the measure. After the walkout, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that he would call a special session later in the year and include the voting legislation.

RELATED: Texas GOP advances voting restrictions as hundreds push back

State GOP lawmakers filed two new bills last week - one in the House and one in the Senate - and debated them in hearings on Saturday. The two bills contain similar provisions, including banning 24-hour voting and ending drive-through voting, both of which were used in the state in the 2020 election to help people vote during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday afternoon, Texas senators voted along party lines, 6-3, to advance Senate Bill 1 out of committee. It's expected to reach the floor for a full chamber vote Tuesday. Early Sunday morning, House committee members voted 9-5 along party lines to advance House Bill 3 after a hearing that lasted all Saturday and overnight into Sunday.

The votes came after hundreds of Texans rushed to Austin, crowded the halls of the state capitol and waited their turn to voice their opinions - most in opposition - to legislation that is now speeding through the legislative process. Referred to as "election integrity" bills by supporters and "voter suppression" bills by opponents, the bills debated in the regular session were tweaked to omit two of the most contentious measures: prohibiting early voting before 1 p.m. on Sundays and making it easier for judges to overturn an election.

Explaining the bill to his colleagues, Republican Rep. Andrew Murr said the main purpose of House Bill 3 was to address election integrity and security, and to establish uniformity in how Texans vote across the state.

"This is a serious attempt to make sure that Texas has good policy in place," Murr said. "I'm confident that we're here because of the electoral process and our constituents trust us, but at the same time, I want them to always continue to believe in that."

Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes, also a Republican, authored the upper chamber's version of the bill and said he had been working on measures to change voting in Texas since 2005.

"We're always refining and trying to improve the process," Hughes said at the start of the senate committee's hearing Saturday. "Unfortunately, this one has become bitterly partisan."

Democrats see the legislation as an attempt to limit the votes of minorities, people with disabilities and senior citizens, because they prohibit or reduce the use of tactics that Democrats say make voting accessible to more people.

TXLEGE: Some Texas Democrats ready to walk as GOP digs in on voting

"Early this morning, Republicans voted to advance a bill to ban 24-hour voting, following an overnight committee hearing that lasted nearly 24 hours," state Democratic Rep. Chris Turner said in a statement. "You just can't make this up: Republicans are passing anti-voter legislation overnight to prohibit Texans from casting a ballot overnight."

Among the many people who addressed lawmakers was Beto O'Rourke, a former Democratic congressman and presidential candidate, who spent hours grinning for pictures with constituents before testifying in both hearings.

"This is already the toughest state in which to vote, bar none," O'Rourke said to senators. "You are now proposing a set of restrictions in this elections bill that is going to make it that much harder for people to participate."

The legislation is a priority for Abbott, who defended the bills in a television interview Sunday and kept repeating that states, not counties, have the power to regulate elections under the Constitution.

On "Fox News Sunday," Abbott claimed that 24-hour voting does not allow for transparency and that drive-through voting violated "the sanctity of the ballot box," since a voter could be influenced by other passengers in the car or by seeing a bumper sticker on another vehicle.

"With regard to the drive-through voting - listen, this violates the fundamentals of the way voting and voter integrity has always been achieved and that is the sanctity of the ballot box," Abbott told "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace. "Are you going to have people in the car with you . . . who may have some coercive effect on the way that you would cast your ballot?"

Abbott also defended issues to be covered in the Texas legislature's special session, after Wallace noted that no bills related to the state's power grid made it to the session despite worries that the grid, which failed in February, could shut down once again during the summer.

- - -

Wang reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Mariana Alfaro contributed to this report from Washington.
Northern Action Group (NAG) supporter Maury Purdy with his cheeky new sign on SH16 aimed to chime with rural ratepayers while tweaking the nose of Auckland Council.

Maury says NAG has plenty of ideas on how to stop north Rodney being milked and urges people to attend its annual general meeting at the Totara Park Retirement Village Hall on Monday, July 19, at 7.30pm.
Joelene MacGillivray with her hazardous pavers petition in Rodney Street.

Slippery when wet  rain can wreak havoc. Trip hazard  broken bricks.

A Wellsford businesswoman is calling for safer footpath surfaces along the towns main street, after a catalogue of trips, slips and falls by pedestrians.

Joelene MacGillivray, who runs GoodTenant Property Management in Rodney Street, has started an online and paper petition, and will make a deputation to this months Rodney Local Board meeting on July 21.

Im sick of seeing people slip or trip on the pavers, she says. Its been an ongoing issue since they laid them. A couple of weeks ago, an old lady took a slip right outside the shop.

Its a massive health and safety issue, and there have been some quite serious injuries.

Joelene says the yellow brick path becomes like a skating rink whenever it rains

Theyre something youd stick round your house, not on a main street, she says. They are such a slippery surface. You see it all the time. I know a lot of locals are fed-up with it.

What wed like to see is the bricks removed and a new surface.

She is calling for anyone who has slipped, tripped or fallen on the Rodney Street pavements to get in touch with her to help illustrate the scale of the problem.

There was a lady a couple of months ago who broke her wrist and suffered a lot of other damage.

Another one had to have an ambulance, and another broke her foot, she says.

Thats only the ones we know about. The more people that come forward with reports, the better.

Joelene says she already has the backing of Wellsford Plus and Rodney Local Board member Colin Smith, and she is seeking the Boards support to advocate to Auckland Transport (AT) for the paths to be fixed.

AT media relations manager Mark Hannan says AT is aware of the issue and is currently looking at what it can do to improve the friction of the footpath surface.

ATs footpaths and walkway guidelines state that AT has an ongoing maintenance programme to address footpath defects and repair works shall be undertaken whenever a trip hazard or other safety issue has been identified.

If anyone has an incident to report, Joelene can be contacted on 027 352 0081 or email checks@goodtenant.co.nz The petition can be found at www.petitions.nz/wellsford_town_pavers_a_health_and_safety_hazard
The Snapshots of the Olympics  a New Zealand Story exhibition opened at the Mangawhai Museum last week.

It tells the story of each of New Zealands gold medal-winning Olympians since the first Kiwis attended in 1912 as part of an Australasian team. It starts with swimmer Malcolm Champion and ends with sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.

Curators Bev Ross and Christine Bygrave visited gold-winning windsurfer Barbara Kendall as part of their research.

She has loaned two Olympic torches and uniform jackets for the exhibition. Ms Kendall formerly had a holiday home in Mangawhai and practiced in the estuary.

Mangawhai local Dave Norris also assisted. He competed in the Olympics in 1960 in the triple jump event and went on to manage the New Zealand Olympic team, before becoming a commentator.

Some other tales in the exhibition include the story of New Zealands first team uniform  a black singlet. It also chronicles the first ever Olympics held in Ancient Greece in 776 BC and the first modern Olympics in 1886.

There is a video documentary featuring Murray Halberg, Peter Snell, John Walker, Mark Todd and Barbara Kendall.

The temporary exhibition coincides with the Tokyo Olympics, which if held as planned in 2020 would have been 100 years since New Zealanders first sent an independent team to the Olympics.

The museum is hosting day programmes during the school holidays along with the exhibition on July 13, 14, 20 and 21.

Local organisations, including Sustainable Kaipara, Mangawhai Shed and Mangawhai Artists will be doing crafts with children.

To enrol, call Mangawhai Museum: on 431 4645.


The Kaipara District Council is unsure how to respond until it completes a feasibility study.

Mangawhais water supply will be owned and operated by private developers if a proposed pipeline project goes ahead.

Mangawhai Central Ltd has approached the Kaipara District Council (KDC) with a proposal to build a pipeline from Langs Beach to Mangawhai, connecting the town to the Whangarei water supply.

The Whangarei District Council would sell water to Mangawhai Central, which would then on-sell the water to houses in the Central development, and other suburbs that connect in the future.

At a Council briefing last week, Deputy Mayor Anna Curnow said the proposal needed to be considered carefully.

It would be unprecedented for a private entity to be the major supplier of water to an entire town, she said.

However, Mayor Jason Smith understands that if the developers gained approval from the Whangarei District Council, KDC would not have a say in the proposal. The only further hurdle, as far as the KDC is concerned, is the application for consent to build the pipe, which would have to be judged within the relevant legal process.

If Council wanted to take control of the project, it would have to build its own pipe. It has already been investigating building a pipeline from Langs Beach, but on a much smaller scale to service a water tanker fill-up station. It approved $100,000 for a feasibility study.

However, there are no funds allocated for a Mangawhai water supply in the KDC 2021 Long Term Plan.

At the meeting, councillors considered that the proposed project would help to ensure water supply security for Mangawhai.

Cr Peter Wethey suggested that Mangawhai Central may surrender its groundwater water take consents obtained from the Northland Regional Council, allowing more take for the wider community.

Mangawhai Central has given Whangarei District Council and KDC until October to sign an agreement.

Mangawhai does not currently have a reticulated water supply.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

View Results
A man who sexually abused two of his then partner's younger sisters several months apart has been jailed for eight years and nine months.

Stephen Lynch (31) raped his then partner's teenage sister after she came to see the baby which his then partner had recently given birth to.

The Central Criminal Court heard that around two months later, Lynch sexually assaulted another of his then partner's younger sisters and also attacked this victim's friend when he tried to prevent the accused man from touching her.

Lynch with an address at Marian Place, Tullamore, Co Offaly, was convicted by a jury following a trial in May 2021 in the Central Criminal Court of one count of rape at this then address of Monksfield, Bealnamulla, Athlone, Co Roscommon, on October 17 and 18, 2015.

He was also convicted by a jury of one count each of sexual assault and assault causing harm at the same address on December 18 and 19, 2015.

Lynch had pleaded not guilty to all of these charges. He has 11 previous convictions, including convictions for assault, threatening and abusive behaviour, intoxication in a public place and no insurance.

Eileen O'Leary SC, prosecuting, told the court that the victims in this case wish to waive their anonymity and want the accused man to be named.

Mr Justice David Keane sentenced Lynch today to eight years and nine months imprisonment for the rape offence, having reduced a sentence of nine years to account for three months the accused man spent in custody previously.

Justice Keane also sentenced Lynch to two years and nine months for both the offence of sexual assault and the offence of assault causing harm. He ordered that all sentences run concurrent to each other for an effective operative sentence of eight years and nine months imprisonment.

Sergeant Paul McNally told Ms O'Leary that in October 2015, Lena Maughan (21) attended at the then address of the accused man in order to see the baby which her sister had recently given birth.

Sgt McNally said Ms Maughan's sister was away from the apartment that night. Ms Maughan had a headache and Lynch gave her two tablets, after which she felt dizzy and like she was drunk.

Lynch brought a mattress into the living room and told her to lie down, also giving her two further tablets. After a few minutes he started taking off her clothes, got on top off her and raped her.

After the incident the victim could not walk properly and her entire body was sore. She did not see Lynch until the following morning, when he told her not to tell anyone, that it was a secret and that she was to act happy around people.

The court heard she had never had sex prior to being raped by the accused man.

Sgt McNally said that in December 2015, Romany Maughan (22) and her friend Cody Dunne (22) stayed over at the same address in order to see the baby. After the baby fell asleep, Ms Maughan decided to go to bed.

Lynch came into the bedroom and began pulling at her legs. She told him to leave and he did after Mr Dunne also came in and was asked by her to get into the bed beside her to protect her.

Lynch returned and said he wanted to get into the bed, doing so despite being told not to. He tried to put his hand on her vagina and kiss her on the lips while she was telling him to stop.

After Mr Dunne prevented him from touching Ms Maughan, Lynch jumped over her, put both knees on Mr Dunne's chest and started choking the victim. Ms Maughan told him to leave or she would call her father and he left the room, telling them both the following morning that it was their little secret.

In her victim impact statement, which was read before the court by counsel, Lena Maughan said she knows she will never be the same person again over how the accused man hurt her and her family for years.

Ms Maughan said she would wake up every night screaming and would be so afraid to sleep because all I could see was him in my dreams. She said that every day and night she kept getting these horrible flashbacks.

She said she would always feel like he would get her again and hurt her again. She said that there is still not a day that goes by that she does not think about this.

Ms Maughan said she still feels him on her skin and still feels like he is watching me waiting to get me.

In her victim impact statement, which was read before the court by counsel, Romany Maughan said the crime has torn her to pieces. She said has never felt so isolated and alone.

Ms Maughan said the crime has left her feeling powerless. She said the doors of her house are always locked when she is alone and she never sleeps in the dark anymore.

In his victim impact statement, which was read before the court by counsel, Mr Dunne said the impacts the accused man has made to his life are devastating.

Mr Dunne said he has suffered immensely socially and psychologically. He said he barely sleeps and spends most nights awake.

He said hopes that when this is over he will be able to reclaim some degree of normality in my life.

Sgt McNally agreed with Delia Flynn SC, defending, that her client joined the army for a five-year period during which he spent seven months in Lebanon.

The sergeant agreed with counsel that her client began abusing alcohol and tablets after being released from a period of time in custody following the allegations being made. He agreed the accused is the father of two children with the sister of the two victims of sexual offences.

Ms Flynn said her client has no relevant previous convictions. She said that other than his time in the army, her client does not have a continuing record of employment as such.

Passing sentence, Justice Keane said the rape offence was aggravated by the victim being 15 and the accused being a mature adult, that the offence was accomplished in part by drugging her and in part by force, and that it has caused considerable harm to the victim.

Justice Keane said there is no credit available for a plea of guilty and the accused continues to deny the offences. He said Lynch has not displayed any remorse, made any apology or undergone any rehabilitation.

He said Lynch did co-operate with the garda investigation by answering questions at interview. He noted that the accused is the father of two children, served five years in the army and has received treatment for anxiety.

Justice Keane backdated all sentences to May 31, last, when Lynch first went into custody following his conviction by a jury.
The Nitrates regulations impose a stocking rate limit of 170kgs of organic N (Nitrogen from livestock), which is the equivalent of less than 2 dairy cows per hectare, on all farms nationally.

Most farming enterprises are extensive in nature and can comfortably operate within this limit.

Approximately 6500 farmers apply for the Nitrates Derogation annually which allows them to stock up to 250Kgs N/Ha.

Roughly an equivalent amount of farmers exceed the 170 limit annually but are not in a Nitrates Derogation. To avoid penalties these farmers must export slurry / FYM to less intensive farms. By exporting slurry they are moving organic N from their farm to another farm thereby reducing their own stocking rate.

This movement of slurry / FYM has to be recorded with the Department of Agriculture each year before 31st of December. Up to now the method of recording this was via a Record 3 form which was signed by both the exporter and importer and contained details of the amount and timing of organic fertilizer moved. This form was then sent to the DAFM for processing.

As of July 1st 2021 paper Record 3 forms via post or email will not be accepted by the Nitrates section of the Department. The system is moving fully online and will work as follows.

 Exporter or their agent will apply on Ag-Food to record movement of slurry / FYM and enter recipients herd number as the importer.

 Importer will get a text from DAFM to alert him / her of the transaction and must then log on to Ag-Food and accept the movement.

 If the importer is not registered for getting text messages from DAFM this is not a problem but the exporter must ensure the importer logs on to accept the movement.

Most slurry is exported early in the year. It is advised to record the movement as soon as possible and avoid a glut of applications later in the year.

Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers. They have offices based in Roscommon Town (Tel: 090 6626166), Castlerea (Tel: 094 9620160) and Longford Town (Tel: 043 3341021), You can find us on Facebook @Teagasc roscommonlongford and twitter @teagascRNLD. Email; RoscommonLongford Advisory@teagasc.ie
Over the decades it was as common as the Irish rain and morning cup of tea, but the daily AA Roadwatch daily traffic and travel reports that were familiar to listeners on a number of radio stations here, have become a thing of the past, as of the weekend gone.

It was part of the travel commute to and from work and was especially useful if you were a driver heading towards the capital or some of the country's larger towns.

In more recent years, roadworks and obstructions also became a more familiar part of the broadcasts.

And in that time it has also launched the careers of many broadcasters and presenters such as Conor Faughnan, Lorraine Keane, Louise Duffy, Doireann Garrihy, Nuala Carey and Louise Heraghty.

AA Ireland started broadcasting traffic reports on RTE Radio 1 in September of 1989.

Commenting on the cessation of the service, Managing Director of AA Insurance, Don Brennan said that as of yesterday, July 10, it would no longer provide AA Roadwatch broadcasts.

"The raft of new GPS technologies and traffic information sources means a wealth of detail is available to motorists from various sources," he said.

"We will focus our efforts on other areas of motoring advice and editorial to add a richer experience to our existing and future customers and members and become the primary source for motoring information with several new multimedia-rich features set to be added in the autumn," he added.
Two Longford breweries have been announced to take part in a nationwide initiative to promote Irish craft breweries with the launch of a new online Irish beer map.

St Mels Brewing Company and Ballymahon's Wide Street Brewing Company are among a number of businesses to row in behind an initiative created to highlight the abundance of quality, independent craft breweries that are located throughout the country and to generate public interest in beer provenance, by linking craft breweries to specific destinations.

The map, which currently has 60 breweries listed is available to view at irishbeer.ie

Similar to wine terroirs in other countries, the Irish Beer Map has the potential to build provenance of Irish beers and to directly link breweries to distinct regions for residents and holidaymakers.

St Mels Brewing Company, located just off the county town's Ballinalee Road, was established in 2013.

Founded by two friends Liam Hanlon and Eoin Tynan, Liam got an internship at Dublin Brewing Company in 2001 whilst in college studying Biotechnology.

Liam went on to study a masters in Brewing and Distilling Science in 2005 and then worked for one of Irelands largest craft breweries from 2006.

"There is a real opportunity to put local beers on the map and our brewery shop is a first step for us in trying to achieve that," said Liam.

"This year we will be investing in our retail space to make it more presentable and interactive for customers."

Wide Street Brewing Company from Ballymahon in Co. Longford was founded in 2019 by Carla Naltchayan and Sean Colohan. The founders were passionate home brewers for years, and regularly visited breweries overseas before deciding to establish their own brewing company.

"We are a destination brewery and are engrained in our local setting, community and micro-flora," said Carla.

"We would be passionate about the term 'beeroir' becoming a reality which is the equivalent of 'terroir' for wine."
Health & Wellness

By Chris Boyle Published: July 12 2021

County continues to over-perform state and national vaccination rates for adults, seniors, youth, Black and Latino residents.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has announced that 80% of adult residents (18+) in Nassau County have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and the County continues to over-perform State and National vaccination rates among Adults, Seniors (65+), as well as among Black and Latino residents.

"I'm proud to share that approximately 80% of adults in Nassau County have now received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, the highest percentage among large Counties in New York State and well above the national average, said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.

According to the State Department of Health, Nassau County has the highest percentage of adult residents (18+) with at least one vaccine dose among all New York State Counties with a population greater than 200,000. 95% of Seniors in Nassau County have received at least vaccine dose, compared to 85% statewide and 88% nationwide. 43% of African American residents age 15+ in Nassau County have received at least one vaccine dose, compared to 38% statewide. 64% of Latino residents age 15+ in Nassau County have received at least one vaccine dose, compared to 59% statewide.

This virus has not disappeared, and as more contagious COVID-19 variants like Delta emerge, getting vaccinated remains the single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting sick or dying from Covid. The County is keeping a vigilant eye on the numbers and external developments, and we continue to encourage eligible residents who haven't gotten their shots yet to roll up their sleeves, said County Executive Curran.

Nassau County has become a national model for COVID-19 vaccination, early on kicking off the We Can Do It, Nassau campaign to build public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. The County ran four successful vaccine distribution centers at Nassau Coliseum, Nassau Community College, LIU Post and the Yes We Can Community Center. The County has worked to distribute vaccines to hospitals and other community providers, partnering with Northwell Health and other medical partners to hold pop-up distribution events targeting hard to reach populations. Nassau also has collaborated with various community organizations like churches and synagogues for pop-up sites to get vaccines in the arms of those most in need.

The County established a designated way for veterans, seniors, and homebound residents to receive appointments. Veterans were able to make appointments through the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency by calling 516-572-6565. A hotline for seniors and the homebound was also created to get shots in the arms of the vulnerable. The Senior/Homebound population can make an appointment by calling 516-227-9590.

Health equity has been a cornerstone of the Nassaus vaccine campaign, and the County has utilizes multimedia, multilingual communication to promote public confidence in the vaccine by emphasizing its importance for returning to normal. The County has reaches tens of thousands of residents through its SMS text system, which provides information about vaccination appointment availabilities in 6 languages. The Office of Health Equity has held multiple webinars with the Countys minority outreach agencies to provide information about the vaccine, including in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and other languages.

In addition, County Executive Curran formed the Nassau County Healthcare Equity Group to combat hesitancy of the COVID-19 vaccine and increase vaccine access for communities of color. The Team is led by Deputy County Executive for Health and Human Services Kyle Rose-Louder, and includes members from the Office of Minority Affairs, Office of Hispanic Affairs, Office of Asian American Affairs, Office of Health Equity, and the Office of Human Services.

For young residents, Nassau County pioneered a first-of-its-kind Student Vaccination Initiative, which vaccinated thousands of eligible students and engaged and trained youth ambassadors to support and encourage peers to roll up their sleeves. The County drew national attention with this program and has been contacted by other Health Departments seeking guidance and detail on the Countys model.

Since Day 1 of the Countys vaccination campaign, our motto has been We Can Do It, Nassau!, and I am beyond proud of our residents for rising to the challenge and getting the job done. said County Executive Curran. Our success has been a team effort, and we owe an eternal debt of gratitude to our Countys medical professionals, frontline workers, Health Commissioner Eisenstein and Nassaus DOH staff, and of course our many volunteers who worked tirelessly to get shots in arms.
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(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers on AIM in London on Monday.







AIM - WINNERS







Goldstone Resources, up 11% at 12.51 pence, 12-month range 5.9p-15.5p. The gold exploration and development company receives approval from the Minerals Commission in Ghana to start irrigation and leaching of ore placed on the heap leach pad at the Homase mine. The company says it remains on track to achieve the target production of 25,000 ounces of gold for the first eight months of production, with first gold pour expected to occur in the third quarter of 2021.







Distil, up 7.4% at 2.47p, 12-month range 1.0p-3.25p. The owner of premium drinks brands says unaudited year-on-year revenue for the three months to the end of June increased by 10% and volumes increased by 15%. Growth in volumes ahead of revenue reflect the partial recovery in licensed sales for Blavod Black vodka, mainly through Europe and Duty Free. "We continue to prioritise expanding our geographical footprint through new and existing export markets," notes Executive Chair Don Goulding.







Science Group, up 5.4% at 421.44p, 12-month range 230p-428.5p. The consulting services provider expects to report revenue in excess of GBP40 million for the six months to the end of June and adjusted operating profit in excess of GBP7 million, an increase of over 40% over a prior year. In addition, the company says Chief Financial Officer Sameet Vohra will be leaving at the end of September. Jon Brett, currently group financial controller, will be appointed as acting group finance director.







AIM - LOSERS







ULS Technology, down 11% at 76.67p, 12-month range 50p-104p. The provider of online B2B platforms reports revenue of GBP16.9 million for the financial year to March 31, down from GBP20.7 million posted the year before, reflecting market standstill in the first two months of the period, caused by Covid pandemic, and slower pick up of the first-time buyer market. The company swings to pretax loss of GBP2.4 million form GBP2.1 million profit the year ago.







Norman Broadbent, down 6.7% at 7.00p, 12-month range 4p-10.98p. The acquisition & advisory services provider says Chief Executive Mike Brennan to step down immediately after five years at helm. Peter Searle, as executive chair, will take over the day to day running of the business until a replacement CEO is found. "After 5 years in post, and as we come out of the pandemic and conditions begin to normalise, this seems a logical time to reflect on what the future holds for me," says Brennan.







By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Photo-Me International PLC on Monday reported a better than initially expected start to the current financial year, with a "promising" return to pre-Covid business conditions.

Photo-Me is an Epsom, Surrey-based operator of instant-service equipment, such as photobooths and self-service laundry.

Revenue for the six months to April 30 was up 3.4% to GBP94.6 million, resulting mostly from reduced restrictions on the movement of people and customers compared with a year ago.

Photo-Me swung to a pretax profit of GBP12.0 million from the GBP24.2 million loss posted in the first half of its financial 2020.

"We have completed a multi-country restructuring programme which has radically reorganised our business areas and our country management. This includes a restructure of operations in the UK, which is expected to return to a cash positive position in the short-to-medium term," said Chief Executive & Deputy Chair Serge Crasnianski.

Photo-Me declared no payout for the half-year, unchanged year-on-year.

Going forward, the company said it intends to continue to focus on new product innovation and diversification of operations "to meet ever-changing consumer needs".

Photo-Me shares were trading 2.7% higher in London on Monday at 73.50 pence each.

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Tate & Lyle PLC will sell a controlling stake in its North American sweeteners division for USD1.3 billion as food ingredients company focuses on healthier products, it announced on Monday.

Tate & Lyle has agreed to sell a controlling stake in a new company and its subsidiaries, comprising its Primary Products business in North America and Latin America and its interests in the Almidones Mexicanos SA de CV and DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio-Products Co LLC joint ventures.

The assets will be sold to KPS Capital Partners LP. Tate & Lyle said it expects to receive gross cash proceeds of USD1.3 billion, resulting in net cash proceeds of USD1.2 billion after adjustments and transaction costs.

Following completion, the company said it intends to return GBP500 million to Tate & Lyle's shareholders through a special dividend and associated share consolidation. Completion is expected in the first quarter of 2022.

Tate & Lyle and KPS each will own 50% of new company - valued at around USD1.7 billion - with KPS having board and operational control.

Tate & Lyle, which started life as a sugar company, now hopes to benefit from what it describes as growing global consumer demand for healthier food and drinks, which has been accelerated by the global pandemic.

"The proposed transaction represents an ambitious and bold step forward for Tate & Lyle. Driven by our purpose, all our people, expertise and investment will be dedicated to growing our global food and beverage solutions business and creating healthier food and drink," commented Chief Executive Nick Hampton.

Tate & Lyle shares were up 1.3% at 772.00 pence on Monday morning in London.

By Will Paige; willpaige@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Exton, PA (19341)

Today

Cloudy. High 77F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Jefferson, GA (30549)

Today

Cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
TRAVERSE CITY  Allegations of child abuse, and confirmed cases, are on the rise, so the Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center is expanding to meet the need for child forensic interviews.

This increasing need for our safe space and trained staff necessitated we add over 2,200 feet to our building so that our intervention specialists could conduct simultaneous child forensic interviews when needed, while also increasing the centers capacity to provide vital counseling and trauma-informed therapy to child victims and nonoffending family members, said TBCAC Board Chair Patricia Warner in a press release. Our new state-of-the-art center is the result of tremendous community support from 35 multidisciplinary partner agencies, as well as the generous financial backing from many foundations, community groups and individual donors who will donate in excess of $555,000 to make this capital project a reality.

The Record Patriot recently published some of the findings from the Kids Count in Michigan report issued by the Michigan League for Public Policy, which included increases in child abuse allegations and confirmed victims in Benzie County since 2010. The 2021 report showed a 29.1% increase in investigated families, and a 112.9% increase in confirmed victims, since the base line study in 2010. The 2020 Kids Count in Michigan study found a 71.8 increase in investigated families, and a 33.7% increase in confirmed victims since 2010.

Manistee County similarly saw an increase in the 2021 Kids Count report, with a 22.1% increase in investigated families and a 50.4% increase in confirmed victims.

Ginger Kadlec, executive director of the Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center, said those numbers could mean a variety of things, and that 2020 was an atypical year when it came to child abuse.

"Last year was really a bit of an anomaly because of the pandemic," Kadlec said. "Child advocacy centers saw the number of forensic interviews drop drastically (as the pandemic shut down schools). We didn't have eyes on the kids. The kids were home from school, and mandated reporters in schools are almost 60% of our reports. I can't even tell you how absolutely huge the role schools play; they are the primary reporting source, across the country."

Kadlec said there was a huge drop of cases reported between February and March, and then a huge spike in the summer months, when people started gathering again.

"Kids were out of the house and families started to leave their bubbles and get together," she said. "Then the number of reports and investigations began to drop again in the fall."

Kadlec said reports and interviews started up again in January, when many kids were back to school permanently.

She also said it was hard to interpret the numbers as a negative or a positive.

"It is hard to tell if child abuse is increasing or if it is just an increase in reporting," Kadlec said. "There is no way to know 100% for certain. It could be a good thing because it means more people are reporting alleged or suspected child abuse."

She did say that during the pandemic, many of the calls were from children themselves, and that allegations of sexual abuse dropped, while allegations of physical abuse rose.

"Home wasn't a safe place for everybody in 2020," Kadlec said. "People were at home, isolated and experiencing the stressors of the pandemic. Family stressors that were already there were intensified."

It was widely reported that cases of domestic violence also rose during 2020. Benzie County Prosecutor Sara Swanson said that her office saw more cases, and that some of those cases were more violent than those seen before.

Kadlec said ideally, a bell curve in the number of child abuse allegations and confirmed cases would indicate things trending in the right direction.

"We'll see an increase of allegations and cases as people take action and stand up for kids," she said. "It will take years to see it trend downward hopefully because there are fewer cases and people and children get the resources they need. Ideally, there would be no need for our services."

Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center provides forensic interviews, advocacy support, and mental health services to children in Benzie, Antrim, Kalkaska, Wexford, Leelnau and Grand Traverse counties, as well as the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

They have trained forensic interviewers who speak with children who may have be experience abuse, as well as non-offending family members. They also educate people on what child abuse looks like and how the process of reporting and investigating works. They also have resources such as mental health services.

Children are interviewed in a safe space, and the interview is recorded, so children do not have to repeat their story multiple times. Partners and members of the advocacy center are multidiscipline, including child protective services workers, law enforcement and prosecutors.
Leonardo Bonucci, fresh after winning Euro 2020 with Italy, starred in the post-match press conference by consuming the sponsored beverages in the media room.

Earlier in the tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo made global headlines after moving the Coca-Cola bottles positioned in front of the players speaking to the media due to his preference of the more healthy option of water.

France's Paul Pogba, days later, moved the beer bottles out of the picture due to alcohol being against his Islamic faith.

However, the Italian defender instead opened a bottle of each of the aforementioned drinks in the post-match celebrations.
McAlester, OK (74501)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 89F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable.
Sen. James Lankford is shown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. The Oklahoma State Republican Party will vote on a censure resolution for Sens. Jim Inhofe and James Lankford at its July 17 State Committee Meeting.
Atlanta, GA (30303)

Today

Mostly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 82F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low near 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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There will be a memorial service held on July 24, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. for Doris (Stainbrook) Bradshaw at Asbury United Methodist Church in Erie. A luncheon in the fellowship hall will follow the service.
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Synergy Community Solar Fund donates three rooftop solar systems to not-for-profits

Recipients will collectively save more than $11,000 a year on their electricity bills

Energy Minister Bill Johnston today announced three deserving not-for-profit organisations that will be gifted a fully-installed rooftop solar system from the State Government.

The three beneficiaries of the Synergy Community Solar Fund in 2021 are: Constable Care Foundation, Maylands; Crossways Community Services, Kelmscott; and Directions Disability Support Services in Maddington.

The Synergy Community Solar Fund is part of the State Government's commitment to making affordable energy more accessible for Western Australian community groups.

Since 2018, Synergy has installed rooftop solar systems for 16 charities totalling over 250 kilowatts of solar power and with a collective energy saving of approximately $81,000.

All shortlisted applicants also receive a free energy audit, including tailored advice around maximising the benefits of rooftop solar and managing energy costs. More than 200 energy audits have been conducted since the fund began.

For more information, visit http://www.synergy.net.au/solarfund

Comments attributed to Energy Minister Bill Johnston:

"I'm delighted to announce the State Government, through Synergy, is making renewable energy more accessible by gifting rooftop solar systems to community groups.

"The McGowan Government is committed to supporting not-for-profits and helping them better manage their energy consumption so that they can redirect their savings into benefiting the wider community."

Comments attributed to Thornlie MLA Chris Tallentire:

"Directions Disability Support Services help people in our community to live as well as possible, supporting them with activities of daily living including medication, personal care, attending appointments, as well as improving social and community access and inclusion.

"Thanks to the Synergy Community Solar Fund, the savings from rooftop solar will enable improvement and expansion of these life-changing services delivered to the community."

Minister's office - 6552 6700
Artificial intelligence could provide healthcare professionals with additional information about COVID-19 patient outcomes. According to a research article published in BMJ Healthcare & Informatics , researchers from the Veterans Affairs Medical center at Washington DC developed an artificial intelligence tool to calculate the risk of death among COVID-19 patients.



Tim Strebel, a computer programmer at the DC VA, has designed this tool in collaboration with VA's National Artificial Intelligence Institute (NAII).

AI tool that took patient's laboratory results along with age, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities showed improved efficacy in predicting death risk from COVID-19

Pilot study with two models of AI tool



Researchers conducted a pilot study using this new tool at 13 VA medical centers. The tool prepares a report with 120-day mortality risk scores for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Two models of the tool were tested of which the first one uses factors like age, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities from the Veteran's electronic health record, and the second one uses the same along with Veterans' lab findings and vital signs evaluated at the time of admission.



The second model showed a significant accuracy in predicting COVID-related mortality. "While a few comorbidities on their own are predictive of mortality, such as diabetes and dementia, we've found that the amount of and severity of comorbidities in a patient is the best way to use them to predict mortality," said Strebel.



Limitations of the AI tool



Although the tool helps predict COVID-related mortality, the study team highlighted the potential risk of bias that can occur while using AI. As an example, Strebel said, "While age is no doubt one of the leading predictors of death, there are always exceptions. Some patients in their 90s survive COVID-19. Conversely, some really young patients die from COVID-19. In those rare cases, our models may show that older Veterans are at higher risk of death than they may actually be simply because of their age." As the tool shows significant accuracy, these limitations can be overcome by taking other factors and laboratory investigations into account.



Apart from this, the team opines that this AI tool could help doctors identify Veterans at high risk of suicide, interpret laboratory findings of cancer patients, and choose the best therapy as per the patient's health condition.







Source: Medindia Researchers conducted a pilot study using this new tool at 13 VA medical centers. The tool prepares a report with 120-day mortality risk scores for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Two models of the tool were tested of which the first one uses factors like age, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities from the Veteran's electronic health record, and the second one uses the same along with Veterans' lab findings and vital signs evaluated at the time of admission.The second model showed a significant accuracy in predicting COVID-related mortality. "While a few comorbidities on their own are predictive of mortality, such as diabetes and dementia, we've found that the amount of and severity of comorbidities in a patient is the best way to use them to predict mortality," said Strebel.Although the tool helps predict COVID-related mortality, the study team highlighted the potential risk of bias that can occur while using AI. As an example, Strebel said, "While age is no doubt one of the leading predictors of death, there are always exceptions. Some patients in their 90s survive COVID-19. Conversely, some really young patients die from COVID-19. In those rare cases, our models may show that older Veterans are at higher risk of death than they may actually be simply because of their age." As the tool shows significant accuracy, these limitations can be overcome by taking other factors and laboratory investigations into account.Apart from this, the team opines that this AI tool could help doctors identify Veterans at high risk of suicide, interpret laboratory findings of cancer patients, and choose the best therapy as per the patient's health condition.Source: Medindia

While Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in health care, this new tool is designed in such a way that the risk of death due to COVID-19 can be predicted earlier by means of using patient details admitted in the healthcare settings.
All of us might not understand Punjabi music but we cant party without it and we certainly can't ignore it. Punjabi songs are the life of every party and even if youre not a Punjabi, youd agree that grooving to Punjabi music is the best.



And when we are talking about Punjabi music, AP Dhillon songs are on everyones playlist these days. From long drives to a house party, we all listen to his music.

Remember the song Bown Munde? Now, this song has a cult fan-following and if you still haven't got tired of this song, chances are you are an AP Dhillon fan.

So, here are 5 AP Dhillon songs that need to be on every Brown Munde playlist 

Excuses

This song was released last year and is still on everyones playlist. This is a fun song and even if you dont get the lyrics, youd want to groove to this one.

Toxic

The beats of this song are next level and should be on every house party playlist. And out of all his songs, this one is many peoples favourite.

Saada Pyaar

This song has around 15,653,058 views on it on YouTube. Now, this is an extremely slow song but youd definitely enjoy it even if youre not going through a heartbreak.

Insane

This song is perfect for a long drive and even for a house party. This song has gone viral and already has around 20,717,579 views on YouTube. The song released this year and is also very popular on social media.

Tareef

If youre someone who follows Instagram reels, then you mustve seen many people making reels on this song. Tareef has been trending on Instagram reels for a long time. The video of the song has around 4.5 lakh views on its YouTube official video.
Although people are loving the trailer of Bhuj: The Pride Of India, there are a few who have noticed the rather over the top dialogues. This may be an indication of how the film might turn out to be.



 Disney + HotStar

Given that this is a Bollywood film, it has to have masala, even though at the end of the day, this is a patriotic film, that does not necessarily need it. Moreover, expecting Bollywood to stay true to real incidents without adding its own colours is naive.



Here are a few of the other things that the makers of Bhuj: The Pride Of India, got wrong, at least in the trailer.

1. Women Were The Real Heroes

 Wiki Commons

First and foremost, the women of the villages surrounding Bhuj, mainly Madhapur, were the real heroes of this story. They rebuilt an entire runway, in record time so that the Indian Air Force could mount an attack. And while they were rebuilding the runway, the Pakistani Air Force was continuously flying over the area, and sometimes, attacking the portions that were rebuilt. All this, in the bone-chilling winters of Bhuj. In contrast, the trailer shows the women rebuilding the runway, for just a few seconds.



2. The Air Station Was Understaffed To Begin With

 Disney + HotStar

The trailer will have you believe that the airbase was housing a lot of people when it was attacked. Again, this isnt accurate. The Bhuj Air Force base was actually understaffed at the time of the attack. Yes, there were some human casualties, but it wasnt nearly as much as the trailer would have you believe. Because the station was understaffed, Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik was struggling to bring the aircraft on the runway to safety.



3. The Unnecessary Masala

From the looks of it, we have Nora Fatehi in the film playing a spy, who ultimately gets martyred. Now, we get the reason behind such an addition to the story and agree that it indeed makes the experience more cinematic. But was it necessary? Was all that masala indeed needed?

4. The Fast & Furious Like Stunts

 Disney + HotStar

Lets not even get started on the stunts that we have seen in the trailer. First of all, back then, the western theatre of the India-Pakistan war saw Pakistan sending their fleet of Sabre aircrafts and Chinese-made MiGs. Indias main workhorse for aerial combats was the Sukhoi Su-7. Irrespective of their expertise in flying these aircrafts, back then, no pilot would have dared to get physically close to another flying aircraft, as they have shown in the trailer.



5. The Plane Crashing Into The Car

 Disney + HotStar

Also, we see Ajay Devgn driving head-on into a crashing plane at a very high speed in a Willys Jeep. Theres no chance that anybody could have survived that. Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, the Air Force officer that Ajay Devgn is playing retired in 1986, almost a decade and a half after the war. Stunts and action sequences are cool and everything, but what are the filmmakers trying to do here?



The bottom line

Bhuj: The Pride Of India will have great numbers, for sure. At the end of the day, this is a patriotic film, that is based on a true story. Filmmakers often take creative liberties and that is fine. We have to ask ourselves though, is it really necessary to do so for a film like this, with a story that is already so gripping? And if yes, to what extent?
A crypto-mining operation in the city of Vinnytsia, Ukraine was discovered where it had 3,800 PS4s and over 500 GPUs being used for crypto-farming. The farm also had 50 processors being used alongside the PS4s and GPUs. The PlayStation 4 may not be the appropriate hardware for crypto-farming since it was developed using technology in 2013.

 Security-Service-of-Ukraine

GPUs have been hard to get a hold of due to the chip shortage during the pandemic and it seems like this particular group depended on last-gen console hardware to get their mining done. Pictures provided by the SSU (Security Service of Ukraine) show that the crypto-miners were using the PS4 Slim variant which was released in 2016, years after the original PS4 console. Its not surprising to see that somebody was able to amass over 3,000 consoles so easily.



While it is hard to determine how 3,800 PS4 Slims performance was for crypto-mining but it was found that the console wasnt sufficient for Ethereum mining. The PS4 Pro uses a lower-powered silicon of the AMD RX 480 which was also not deemed useful for crypto-mining. The PS4 Pro has a slightly higher clocking refresh than the Slim variant.

 Security-Service-of-Ukraine

Having said that, Ethereum mining depends more on memory bandwidth than compute performance. The PS4 Slim manages to do 176 GB/s with its 8 GB of shared GDDR5. Thats 256 GB/s less than desktop computers and 217.6 GB/s of the PlayStation 4 Pro model.



While the consoles dont necessarily have enough memory bandwidth, its clear these miners were using the PS4 Slim for its affordability and availability rather than speed and efficiency. Since there some 3,800 consoles being used, it could be possible the setup may have yielded favourable results.

 unsplash

However, much like many crypto-mining operations, this particular farm was stealing electricity from the Vinnytsia power grid. This means they didnt really have any overheads apart from the hardware cost and power usage wasnt really a big concern.



In total, the Ukrainian authorities seized up to 5,000 pieces of hardware where all of which have been extremely short supply in almost every part of the world.
Billionaire Richard Branson reached the edge of space yesterday and became the first billionaire to do so in the Virgin Galactic Unity 22. The UK entrepreneur flew above New Mexico in the US in the vehicle that the company has been developing for the past 17 years. He called the trip an experience of a lifetime.

Branson became the first space tourism advocate to teach space beating SpaceXs Elon Musk and Amazons Jeff Bezos. The vehicle reached a heft of 84km or about 282,000 feet. However, an official number is yet to be confirmed by Virgin Galactic. Branson was accompanied by three Galactic employees - Indian-born Sirisha Bandla, Beth Moses, and Colin Bennett. The vehicle was flown by its two pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci.



 Virgin Galactic

Richard Branson billed the flight as a successful space tourism experience which he expects to start selling to customers from next year. Some 600 individuals have already paid deposits for tickets that will cost $250,000 (Rs 1,86,21,875).



 Virgin Galactic

These customers will be paying for a chance to reach a height from where they can see the sky turn black and look at Earths horizon as it curves away in the distance. Customers will also be able to experience five minutes of weightlessness during the flight where they can float around inside Unitys cabin.



How The Virgin Galactic Unity Works

 Virgin Galactic

Unity is not exactly a spaceship as it is only a sub-orbital vehicle. This means that the vehicle cannot maintain enough velocity and altitude to remain in space and circle the globe. The vehicle has been designed to allow passengers to see stunning views at the top of its climb. The unity is carried by a larger aircraft up to an altitude of 50,000 ft and is then released.



The Unity then fires up its rocket motor in the back to climb further. The maximum height achievable by Unity is roughly 90km (55 miles, or 295,000ft). Passengers are allowed to unbuckle to float to a window.

Jeff Bezos To Go Higher

 Reuters

Richard Branson will not be the only billionaire who will get to go to space as Jeff Bezos announced last month that he will be also be going on July 20th in Blue Origins New Shepard. Bezos is also reportedly expected to go to a higher altitude than Richard Branson.


Meridian, MS (39302)

Today

Cloudy early followed by heavy thunderstorms this afternoon. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
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In summer 2020, The New York Times coordinated a nationwide project to document the lives of Americans out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved collaborating with 11 other local newsrooms around the U.S. The Messenger-Inquirer was the only newspaper from Kentucky in the collaboration. The resulting collection of stories was published Oct. 23, 2020, in the New York Times print edition and at nytimes.com/outofwork. The following list is the Messenger-Inquirer's local unemployment coverage from that time period; read more by clicking the "New York Times Project" header. Click on "Out Of Work In America" to go to the full
Paducah, KY (42003)

Today

Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially during the morning hours. High 77F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Ambassador of Belarus Y.Lazarchik meets the leadership of Iranian ministries

On July 10-11, 2021, on the occasion of the completion of the diplomatic mission, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Islamic Republic of Iran Yury Lazarchik held meetings with the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade of Iran.

On July 11, 2021, Yury Lazarchik met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif. The parties discussed topical areas of cooperation between Belarus and Iran and prospects for its further development. The Belarusian diplomat noted the urgency of stepping up joint coordinated steps to increase trade between the two countries, as well as deepening bilateral contacts in the field of education, including medical education.

On July 10, 2021, during the meeting of the Ambassador of Belarus with Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade of Iran, Co-Chair of the Iranian part of the Mixed Belarusian-Iranian Commission on Economic Cooperation Alireza Razmhosseini, the interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues related to the development of trade, economic and investment cooperation between the countries and noted the constructive and mutually respectful nature of bilateral relations. A special attention was paid to the preparation for the 15th meeting of the Mixed Belarusian-Iranian Commission on Economic Cooperation in Minsk.

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Top bus drivers named in Small Bus Roadeo competition

Carrie Thompson, Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority, 231-942-7801 Transportation

Fast facts:

- Fifteen Michigan public transit systems competed in the 44th Annual Small Bus Roadeo.

- First-place individual honors went to Roberta Harbaugh, Gladwin City/County Transit.

- First-place team honors went to Gladwin City/County Transit.

July 12, 2021 -- Fifteen public transit systems from around the state competed in the 44th Annual Small Bus Roadeo that was held at the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth on June 25. Drivers competed in individual and team competitions designed to reinforce safe driving habits and professionalism behind the wheel while ensuring passenger safety.

First-place honors in the individual competition went to Roberta Harbaugh of Gladwin City/County Transit. Harold Smith of Gladwin City/County Transit won second place, third place went to Deanna Hughes of Gladwin City/County Transit, fourth place went to Wayne Kinney of Huron Transit Corp., fifth place went to Timm Forth of Huron Transit Corp., and sixth place went to Douglas Ross of Huron Transit Corp. The title of "Rookie of the Year" went to Shelly Harmon of Yates Dial-A-Ride.

Gladwin City/County Transit won first-place in the team competition, with drivers Roberta Harbaugh, Deanna Hughes, and Harold Smith. Huron Transit Corp. won second place, with drivers Timm Forth, Wayne Kinney, and Douglas Ross. County Connection of Midland took third place, with drivers Rodney Burch, Greg Lietz, and Susan Stevens.

The Q'Straint wheelchair securement winner with the best time went to Harold Smith of Gladwin City/County Transit.

Drivers competed for points based on a written test, driving skills on an obstacle course, a test on passenger assistance, and a pre-trip vehicle inspection. The top three winners will represent Michigan by competing in the National Bus Roadeo held at the Community Transportation Association of America's (CTAA) 2022 expo in Louisville, Kentucky.

Top winners received cash prizes and trophies donated by the Michigan Association of Transportation Systems (MASSTrans) and the Michigan Public Transit Association (MPTA). The expenses for the trip to compete in the National Bus Roadeo are provided through federal training funds.

Sponsors of the event include MASSTrans, MPTA, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and commercial vendors.
State Police Employees Honored for Service and Extraordinary Actions

State Police Employees Honored for Service and Extraordinary Actions

Ms. Breanna Moore, MSP Public Affairs Section mooreb12@michigan.gov

During a ceremony this morning, Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. Joe Gasper honored and celebrated approximately 50 department members who have earned promotion, achieved 35 years of service or been awarded recognition by the department's Board of Awards.

In his remarks, Gasper stated, "I remain steadfastly proud of how our members continue to answer the call to serve and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the immense amount of good work being done across our department every day. Over the past year, our enforcement members and other front-line workers have shown up every day committed, prepared and ready to perform the important and critical job of keeping the public safe. And for every in-person worker, there was a member working just as hard in a remote capacity to support our members and the stakeholders we serve."

Traditionally, the MSP holds three employee recognition ceremonies a year to recognize and thank employees for exceptional service. During this most recent ceremony, five special awards were presented, which included two Meritorious Service awards and three Bravery awards.

The Citation for Meritorious Service is awarded for service rendered in the line of duty when a member, because of diligence and perseverance, performs difficult tasks under unusual circumstances and goes beyond that which is normally expected of most members where crime is prevented, life and property is protected, or criminals are apprehended. This award was bestowed on Tpr. Marc Moore of the Cadillac Post for his unwavering determination while investigating the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl that led to the identification of 11 additional underage survivors and D/Sgt. Brian Russell of the First District Special Investigation Section for his leadership and coordination in the investigation into an alleged plot to kidnap the Governor and overthrow Michigan government.

The Citation for Bravery is awarded when a member knowingly performs an act in the line of duty which endangers or exposes him or herself to serious injury and when, because of the nature of the action, a life may be saved, a serious crime prevented, or a person arrested who has committed a serious crime. This award was bestowed upon Tpr. Ryan Codde of the Special Operations Division for his off-duty actions that helped to save the lives of a mother and her two young children when their home caught fire, D/Sgt. Daniel Drewyor of the Monroe Post for his lifesaving efforts during a traffic crash in which he removed an unconscious driver from his vehicle and brought him to safety as the vehicle became engulfed in fire, and MC Ofcr. Jacob Lauer of the St. Ignace Post for his off-duty response to a vehicle fire in which he removed an unconscious and injured driver through a windshield, bringing him to safety and rendering first aid until paramedics arrived.
CANNES, France (AP)  A year after it was first to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch" finally rolled into the French Riviera festival on Monday.

Anderson and the large cast arrived on the Cannes red carpet in a bus, with a grinning Bill Murray sitting shotgun. The film, Anderson's elaborate and fanciful ode to The New Yorker, is perhaps the starriest ensemble playing at the festival this year. At the premiere with Murray were Tilda Swinton, Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson and  in his first Cannes red carpet  Timothee Chalamet.
NORMAN TWP.  A water test conducted in Wellston has found low bacteria levels on Crystal Lake, according to District Health Department #10 officials.

Health department personnel tested three water samples for E. coli bacteria on July 8 after receiving reports of possible fecal contamination over the Fourth of July weekend.

The three samples were drawn from different points within a public swimming area at the northeast corner of the lake, according to Matt Fournier, district supervisor for the departments environmental health division.

Tom Reichard, director of environmental health for DHD#10, had said one of the primary concerns with fecal contamination is the potential risk for E. coli.

The problem with E. coli is severe diarrhea, which typically is bloody and it can lead particularly with the very young and the very old can lead to some kidney damage, he said in a prior interview.

Laboratory results showed samples taken from the lake contained low bacterial levels, Fournier told the News Advocate Monday.

Water is considered unsafe for bodily contact if bacterial levels are detected in excess of 300 CFU (colony-forming units) per 100 milliliters of water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency regulations for recreational water quality.

At Crystal Lake, the samples resulted in 3.0, 6.8 and 8.6 CFU/mL.

Fournier said these results indicate that there was not a contamination event of public health significance.

The results came in very low  (theres) no indication that there was any sort of sewage contamination in the lake, Fournier said.

Fournier said a more likely source of bacteria would come from goose waste.

I had to avoid it when I was taking the sample, but still, it didnt affect the water quality, he said. (People) should not be more concerned with Crystal Lake than any other body of water. Its not elevated in bacteria by any means.

The health department has no additional tests scheduled at Crystal Lake at this time.

Norman Township Supervisor Richard Mobley was informed of the test results on July 9.

I knew our lake was clean, because it is a spring-fed lake, but it was wonderful to hear the person from District Health 10 tell us that the lake was one of the cleanest results that they've had, comparable to Portage Lake, which is much bigger and flushes out to Lake Michigan, Mobley said.

Some residents took to social media last week to express their concern over swimming areas in the lake and nearby public areas, which they said was the site of public defecation and urination.

Residents also raised concerns that there was an insufficient number of public portable toilets available.

A special meeting of the Norman Township board will be held at 6:30 p.m. on July 16 at Norman Township Hall, located at 1273 Seaman Road in Wellston, to discuss potential projects and improvements at Crystal Lake.

SEE ALSO:

Wellston residents raise a stink over unsanitary conditions at Crystal Lake
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BEIJING (AP)  China on Sunday said it will take necessary measures to respond to the U.S. blacklisting of Chinese companies over their alleged role in abuses of Uyghur people and other Muslim ethnic minorities.

The Commerce Ministry said the U.S. move constituted an unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises and a serious breach of international economic and trade rules.

China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard Chinese companies legitimate rights and interests, the ministry's statement said.

No details were given, but China has denied allegations of arbitrary detention and forced labor in the far western region of Xinjiang and increasingly responded to sanctions against companies and officials with its own bans on visas and financial links.

The U.S. Commerce Department said in a statement Friday that the electronics and technology firms and other businesses helped enable Beijings campaign of repression, mass detention and high-technology surveillance against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

The penalties prohibit Americans from selling equipment or other goods to the firms. The United States has stepped up financial and trade penalties over Chinas treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, along with its crackdown on democracy in the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong.

The Chinese government since 2017 has detained a million or more people in Xinjiang. Critics accuse China of operating forced labor camps and carrying out torture and coerced sterilization as it allegedly seeks to assimilate Muslim ethnic minority groups.

The U.S. Commerce Department said 14 companies were added to its Entity List over their dealings in Xinjiang, and another five for aiding China's armed forces.

The Department of Commerce remains firmly committed to taking strong, decisive action to target entities that are enabling human rights abuses in Xinjiang or that use U.S. technology to fuel Chinas destabilizing military modernization efforts," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement posted on the department's website.
Ann Hepfer, who is the health officer for both the Huron County Health Department, and the Tuscola County Health Department, plans to retire in two months.

Hopes are that the COVID pandemic will either be over or under control by fall when Hepfer retires. Whether it is or isnt under control, Tuscola County commissioners have concerns about the future of the department and how much control they have over operations and the selection of a new health officer, and they have expressed concerns over who will take over Hepfer's position.

Advertisements for her replacement have been placed, but response to the opening has been slow.

So far no one in either Huron and Tuscola health departments have been interested in moving up to the head position, and that has commissioners worried.

Commissioner Kim Vaughan, who sits on the Tuscola Health Board, said he read the statute on the issues and feels commissioners can have some influence on the decision.

Hepfer, who was not part of the meeting when commissioners expressed concerns about her replacement, responded later.

She explained that her assistant deputy health officer in Huron County, Mitzi Koroleski, and her assistant deputy health officer in Tuscola County, Christi Villalobos, would have to step into interim roles.

Weve worked together for about 25 years," Hepfer said. "They know what they are doing. The role would be challenging for them. But they would have to do it because they are deputy health officers."

Hepfer is retiring this year after 33 years with the health department. She plans to retire on Sept. 30, because the states next fiscal year starts Oct. 1, but she is willing to stay on if necessary to help out until Dec. 31, or until her replacement is found so her assistant deputies are not pushed into the position.

They dont want it," Hepfer said. "At this point, they are not ready to step into this position. Im not leaving the counties high and dry, and I wont just walk away.

She noted she hopes this information eases their concerns.

Besides a health officer, the two counties share a billing clerk, an environmental health officer, an IT director, a preparedness coordinator, and also a medical director, who is shared with Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola, and Lapeer counties.

The two counties have shared the health officer position since 2005, and it was approved by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Some of the steps in finding a replacement include: the health departments boards would put together an executive committee to conduct the search with representatives from both county commissioners as well as leadership from the board of health.

It would review and interview applicants to present candidates to each board of health. The final choice would be sent to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for its final approval.

County commissioners also have an opportunity to interview the selection.

But, the state has the final say in the selection because they provide most of the funding to operate the agency, and the candidate has to meet certain qualifications, Hepfer explained.
Tuscola County joined the other Thumb area courts in opening its doors to the public again.

According to Tuscola Clerk Jodi Fetting, the courthouse in Caro reopened to the public on Monday, July 12.

However, some judicial business will still be conducted remotely.

The courts will continue to hold some hearings remotely and continue to accept pleadings electronically to reduce the foot traffic inside the courthouse, said Sheila Long, who is the Tuscola County court administrator.

Long noted individuals scheduled for a court matter on or after July 12 should review their notice to appear to know how the court will conduct their hearing.

It is with great anticipation that we are reopening the courthouse to the public, commented Chief Judge Amy Grace Gierhart, who presides over the circuit court.

Reopening the courthouses was the result of updated guidance from the Michigan State Court Administrators Office, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Masks or other face coverings will no longer be required for entry.

However, judges retain the discretion to require individuals in the courtroom to use masks generally or in specific cases, particularly involving persons who are at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID.

Protective measures have been implemented with hand sanitizing stations inside the courthouse.

Also, court officials will continue to monitor local COVID data and adjust plans related to staffing and public access to court facilities, as needed.

The Sanilac County Courthouse opened last week, and the Huron County Courthouse never officially closed during the pandemic.
Much of the focus of residential developers building apartments in Connecticut in recent years has been on the states urban centers: Stamford, New Haven and Hartford  cities with restaurants, services, commuter rail service and entertainment venues, with many of the apartments within walking distance.

But over the past two years, interest has grown in building apartment complexes big and small in New Havens suburbs and beyond. The latest evidence of that trend is The Bradley, a 30-unit apartment complex on Bradley Road in Madison.

The project is scheduled to break ground some time next month and will be built on a 1.5-acre site at 110-114 Bradley Road that once was home to the Tuxis Laundromat and one other business, as well as two other buildings. The complex is a little more than a quarter-mile from the Madison train station, which is served by Shoreline East trains.

Its also a short, two-block walk from the complex to Madisons downtown via sidewalks along Bradley Road and Wall Street.

All four existing buildings are scheduled for demolition, according to Jerry Davis, managing partner of Davis Realty in Madison and the developer of the project.

The project has support in the business community.

Ryan Duques, chairman of the Madison Economic Development Commission, said commission members in January voted unanimously to support the development.

Duques said in a letter to members of the towns Planning & Zoning Commission that the development positions the Town of Madison to further capitalize on our recent Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects, which have included new sidewalks on Bradley Road and renovated Tuxis Walkway, which enhance the connection of Madison Center, Bradley Road our bus stop and the train station.

This development would enable residents to take advantage of our downtown amenities, beaches and access to commuter rail without requiring a vehicle, Duques wrote. Finally, we believe that this development will add vibrancy to our downtown and Madison community overall, helping to ensure long-term sustainability of our commercial base, grand list and robust community.

Luther Turmelle / Hearst Connecticut Media

John Guszkowski, Madisons interim town planner, said The Bradleys 30 units will be spread across three stories.

Guszkowski said the towns master plan has a strong focus on creating a vibrant downtown area as well as offering those who want to live in Madison an alternative to single-family homes.

Madison has a relatively monolithic housing stock, he said. It adds to the level of density (near the center of town) and accessibility with relatively small units, which will increase overall residential and business activity. This is not an option that is presently available anywhere else in the community.

Luther Turmelle / Hearst Connecticut Media

Guszkowski said developing apartment complexes in Madison and other Shoreline communities that dont have municipal sewer systems can be problematic.

Because there is a lack of public infrastructure, sewers, it can be tricky to do, he said. You have find a site where the soils work (for a septic system).

Having to provide septic systems for new apartment complexes such as The Bradley effectively limits how many units can be built, according to Guszkowski.

In a lot of towns without sewer lines you'll see these complexes of 30 units or fewer, he said. Any development that produces more than 7,500 gallons of sewerage per day is reviewed by (the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection). Anything below that threshold is reviewed by the local health officials.

Review by local health officials is considered more desirable because DEEP reviews are lengthy, Guszkowski said.

Luther Turmelle / Hearst Connecticut Media

Demand and demographics

Elsewhere outside cities, Cheshire has several apartment complexes in various stages of development.

One is Hamlet on Highland, an 11-unit luxury apartment complex located across Route 10 from Maplecroft Plaza, which has one of the towns two large supermarkets as an anchor as well as several restaurants. Tenants are expected to begin moving in to the complex this month.

Another Cheshire apartment project is located near the towns northwestern border with Waterbury.

A Stratford-based developer plans to build a 114-unit apartment complex  including 29 units of affordable housing  on the site of a former nursing home on Hazel Drive. The Cheshire Planning & Zoning Commission approved the plan in June 2020.

The Cheshire PZC also earlier this year approved a seven-unit apartment complex approved at the intersection of Higgins Road and Route 10. But John Ricci of Ricci Construction, the developer of the project, has decided to put the 0.69-acre site up for sale.

In Trumbull, the start of construction for 260 market-rate rental units along the periphery of the Westfield Trumbull Mall is imminent, said Rina Bakalar, the towns economic and community development director.

One suburban apartment complex plan that got rejected was in Milford. Dallas-based Centennial, which operates the Connecticut Post Mall, wanted to spend up to $70 million to build a four-story luxury apartment complex on a six-acre tract surrounding what used to be the Sears Auto Center. The Milford Planning & Zoning Commission rejected that plan last summer and revised plan was submitted in May.

Donald Klepper-Smith, chief economist and director of research for New Haven-based DataCore Partners, said the demand for suburban apartments, particularly complexes built along commuter rail lines, will only increase in the coming years.

The labor market in Connecticut is in such a state of flux, it implies the need for flexible housing arrangements, Klepper-Smith said. Right now, people are looking for flexibility in their lives, whether it is financial or logistical. And right now, there is not a lot of inventory along those lines.

As an example of the lack of apartment inventory in cities compared to suburbs, Jed Backus, president of the Guilford-based group New Haven Middlesex Realtors, said a search of the Multiple Listing Service real estate database Friday found 74 apartment units in available in New Haven and two in Madison.

Backus said while the development of suburban apartment complexes is relatively new, there has been a tremendous amount of growth in the market since the 2008 recession.

After the last downturn, some people started to feel that home ownership wasnt all that it was cracked up to be, Backus said.

Another reason for the surge in interest in apartments is demographics, he said.

The largest population group after baby boomer is millennials, and they are in a stage of life where it makes more sense to be living in an apartment, he said. Everything theyre doing in their lives is now happening later than it did for previous generations.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
CLEVELAND (AP)  Drake Bell, the former star of the popular Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh, was sentenced in Cleveland on Monday to two years' probation on child endangerment charges relating to a girl who met him online and accused him of sexual contact after she attended his concert when she was 15.

Jared Drake Bell, 35, of West Hollywood, California, pleaded guilty last month via Zoom to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

Cuyahoga County Judge Timothy McCormick is allowing Bell to serve probation and 200 hours of community service in California.

Bell, via Zoom, spoke briefly before sentencing.

I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong, Bell said. I'm sorry the victim was harmed. It was not my intention.

The victim, who is 19, spoke at length about the damage Bell has done to her life, saying he began grooming her when she was 12. She said she initially felt loved and protected by him during online chats and that his messages became blatantly sexual after she turned 15. She said his remarks made her feel uncomfortable, but she felt trapped because she idolized Bell.

I was definitely one of his biggest fans, said the woman, who allowed her face to appear on Zoom. I would have done anything for him."

The Associated Press does not identify people who say they suffered sexual abuse unless they choose to come forward publicly.

The woman said she and Bell exchanged explicit photos online and that he engaged in sexual conduct with her on several occasions, including at the concert venue in Cleveland and at a hotel. She also called Bell a pedophile and a coward.

Bell's attorney, Ian Friedman, disputed those claims on Monday. He said there were no explicit photos or sexual contact between Bell and the victim and the inappropriate conduct that did occur were reflected in the charges Bell pleaded to last month. Friedman did not detail the inappropriate conduct Bell was acknowledging.

Friedman said the victim attended nine of Bell's concerts after the one in Cleveland. The woman responded by holding up three fingers.

There is already a greater penalty paid by Mr. Bell that others would not face because of his position, Friedman said.

Authorities have said the victim contacted Toronto police in October 2018. Toronto authorities then forwarded its findings to Cleveland police, prompting an investigation.

The attempted endangering children charge relates to the concert where Bell violated his duty of care and created a risk of harm to the victim, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Tyler Sinclair said previously.

Bell and the girl had developed a relationship online several years prior to the concert, Sinclair said. The disseminating harmful material charge concerns Bell having sent the girl inappropriate social media messages, Sinclair said.

McCormick, before delivering Bells sentence, said he heard a lot of serious and disturbing allegations during Mondays hearing, but added that he cant lose focus on what was pled to.

The fact of the matter is your position and celebrity status let you nurture this relationship, McCormick said. You were able to gain access to this child.

Bell, also a singer, began acting as a child, but was catapulted to stardom as a teen with Nickelodeons The Amanda Show and later Drake & Josh, which debuted on the channel in January 2004. The final episode aired in September 2007. Bell and co-star Josh Peck also starred in two Drake & Josh movies.

___

This story has been corrected to show Bell's age is 35, not 34.
MILFORD  A silver lining of last years virtual sand sculpture contest was that anyone in the state  or beyond  could participate in the citys annual tradition.

The event was such a success that the 44th annual competition  to be held July 18  will be a hybrid model of in-person sculpting at Walnut Beach and virtual entries.

The virtual version went so well that we decided we should offer both versions of the contest this year, said Lori Lewis, previous marketing director for the Milford Arts Council. Anyone from anywhere can enter and so were shouting out to creative spirits from Cape Cod to California to Clearwater and even Croatia. Our vision is to see creativity everywhere, so we want everyone to have a chance to build a sculpture on the home beach of choice.

Richard Stephen, sand sculpture contest organizer, said most people who participate are from the Milford area, but some people have come from upstate, New York and Massachusetts.

Stephen said he thinks most of the sculptures will be done at the beach even though the event has a hybrid model.

This is the first year we are doing this so its hard to predict what will happen, he said. I think there will be a few sent in virtually, but the fun of the whole thing really is going down there walking around and looking at all the sculptures.

Before Stephen became a board member of the MAC and started running the event, he participated in the contest and even won some awards. Then he would bring his daughter to the contest, and she started participating in it as well.

The event is becoming more and more for families, said Stephen. It used to be there was a lot more organizations that used to participate and groups of friends, and that still happens, but not as often.

The sand sculpture contest is hosted by the Milford Arts Council and sponsored by Milford Bank and is the longest-standing tradition for the MAC.

Last year, due to COVID, the MAC held the 43rd annual contest entirely virtually. Stephen said people who participated in the contest last year submitted photographs to the MAC to judge.

A lot of people went to the beach and did it on their own, he said. I actually sculpted a rattlesnake on a board in my backyard with sand. So it was interesting, plus people who arent just from Milford could enter more easily because they didnt have to drive down here.

There are different award categories, including for individuals or groups of children up to age 9, which Stephen says is his favorite group to see.

They think more outside the box. Theyre not thinking so much standard fare like a shark or just an octopus, he said. They generally tell more stories... One year there was a kid he was 6 or 7 years old and he did this sculpture that looked like an abstract painting. He started telling me the whole story about what it was. I could tell that he was an up-and-coming artist. He had the artist lingo down and ready.

Other categories in the contest are individuals from 10-to-15 years old, individuals age 16-and-over, friends and groups and lastly families.

When the judges go out, I tell them the most important thing is creativity, he said. You want them to be sort of technically well done, as best as possible, but if its funny or if it says something even in terms of address an issue, whatever it is in terms of creativity and being original, that for me, is the most important thing.

This year, Miss Connecticut 2021 Alexis Volpe will be a special guest judge at the contest, and Stephen said hes going to be a judge as well.

As many people who want to and can find space can participate because its all dependent on the tide. The sand bars that develop sometimes are oddly shaped or are not that large so, it can get somewhat cramped sometimes, said Stephen. But for the most part, theres always room for somebody, and its oddly consistent in terms of how many people end up sculpting something.

But since last year the MAC didnt hold the contest in person, Stephen said there might be more people this year sculpting at the beach.

The MAC is also giving out a $100 online Peoples Choice award. To be eligible, participants need to follow the MAC on Facebook and Instagram, send a picture to info@milfordarts.org by 2 p.m. on July 18 and make a suggested $10 donation to the organization.

In-person awards will be announced at 3 p.m. at Walnut Beach, and the online $100 Peoples Choice award will be announced on the website on Aug. 1.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is calling for $353 million from the latest federal coronavirus relief bill to go toward boosting economic recovery efforts for small businesses and industries that took a hit during the pandemic.

Northam outlined the proposed investments at a news conference Monday, marking the first specific proposal for Virginia's $4.3 billion portion of American Rescue Plan funding he's made public.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP)  A Springfield, Missouri, hospital has opened its sixth COVID-19 ward as the delta virus variant rages in the states southwest region, and St. Louis County and Kansas City health officials also are warning about a sharp increase in cases.

Mercy Hospital in Springfield announced Sunday that it had opened its sixth COVID-19 ward, after the hospital needed only five wards during the height of the pandemic last year, Kansas City Star reported.

Chief Administrative Officer Erik Frederick said the hospital was treating 133 virus patients as of Sunday.

Many local rural communities dont have high vaccination rates, Frederick wrote. They also dont have a hospital. Get sick, come to Springfield. I think thats getting left out of the narrative.

On Monday, the St. Louis County Health Department issued a public health advisory after a 63% increase  1,461 cases  in new COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks. The county is currently averaging 100 newly diagnosed cases per day, St. Louis Public Radio reported.

County Executive Sam Page attributed the rise in cases to the delta variant, which is more contagious than previous variants. He predicted an increase in hospitalizations and deaths in coming weeks and urged residents to be vaccinated.

In the Kansas City area, doctors at the University of Kansas Health System, said health officials need to begin considering possible measures to respond to a rise in cases in the metro area, The Kansas City Star reported.

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the health system, didn't suggest requiring masks in indoor spaces again but said it could become a possibility because of the large number of people who aren't vaccinated in the region, combined with people socializing more often.

The city of Independence issued a public health advisory on Friday in response to increasing COVID-19 cases.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP)  The U.S. State Department announced Monday it is revoking the travel visas of 100 legislators, judges and prosecutors who aided the regime of President Daniel Ortega.

The department said the visa cancellations came in response to the arrests by Ortegas Sandinista government of at least 26 members of the opposition and most potential candidates in the Nov. 7 elections.

The department accused the officials and their family members of having advanced the Ortega-Murillo regimes assault on democracy. That was a reference to Rosario Murillo, Ortegas wife and Vice President.

The measure targets those with responsibility for, or complicity in, the suppression of peaceful protests or abuse of human rights, and the immediate family members of such persons. It prevents those named from entering the United States.

In June, Mexico and Argentina recalled their ambassadors to Nicaragua for consultations, and the Organization of American States passed a resolution condemning the recent arrests of key opposition figures. Those arrested also include opposition leaders, prominent businessmen and former government officials.

Since June, Ortega's government has arrested six probable candidates in the Nov. 7 elections, in which Ortega, 75, is running for a fourth consecutive presidential term.

The government has accused most of those arrested with accepting foreign funding and working for the overthrow of the government. Ortega has characterized a popular uprising in April 2018 that led to months of street protests as an attempted coup with foreign backing.

Legislators, judge and prosecutors have aided Ortega by applying spurious treason and censorship laws to justify the arrest of opponents.

The State Department said: The United States will continue to use the diplomatic and economic tools at our disposal to push for the release of political prisoners and to support Nicaraguans calls for greater freedom, accountability, and free and fair elections.
NEW LONDON  Police are investigating after a man was found shot in the backyard of a home early Saturday.

New London police dispatch received a 911 call reporting a suspicious male in a residential back yard on Vauxhall Street around 1:15 a.m., Capt. Matthew Galante said.
A British paratrooper training with U.S. troops crashed through the roof of a home in California during a July 6 High Altitude Low Opening, or HALO, jump after his parachute failed to fully deploy.

"The soldier received minor injuries and is recovering well," a spokesperson with the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., told Military.com Monday. "The U.K. military always tries to minimise the disruption caused by exercises and continues to be extremely grateful for the support from the local community for critical exercises such as this."

The British embassy didnt disclose which the British soldiers unit, and with which U.S. troops he was training. HALO jumps are usually associated with special operations units. The training was conducted out of Camp Roberts, California, according to a National Guard spokesperson.

Read Next: States Gear Up for Fight to Keep the National Guard Out of War

U.S. Army WTF Moments was first to share images of the incident.

HALO jumps involve exiting an aircraft at an altitude of up to 35,000 feet, but not deploying a parachute until at or below 6,000 feet, according to the U.S. military's 2014 Military Freefall Operations field manual. Jumps are typically conducted that high to hide troops and protect them; at that altitude, planes are out of the range of most anti-aircraft weapons.

"The parachutist experienced issues in freefall and was required to operate his reserve [parachute]," the British Embassy spokesperson said. "Although the reserve deployed, the parachutist did not have sufficient height to land on the allocated drop zone, was significantly disorientated and unfortunately hit a local resident's house."

The British soldier smashed through the roof of a home in Atascadero, California, during the late afternoon of July 6, according to local law enforcement. Preliminary police reports did not note that the incident involved a service member.

All other troops involved in the jump landed safely with no other injuries reported.

"The parachutist was conscious but stunned with complaints of pain but no visible serious injuries," the Atascadero Police Department said in a news release. "The occupants of the residence were not home at the time and therefore were uninjured."

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Proof That Tom Cruise Didn't Fake That HALO Jump in 'Mission: Impossible -- Fallout'
It has been a year since a fire broke out on the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard at Naval Station San Diego. Even after the ship's decommissioning, and at least two separate, ongoing investigations, the public knows little about what sparked the blaze.

Last week, Lt. Katie Diener, a Navy spokeswoman, said that the investigation into the "facts and circumstances" surrounding the July 12, 2020, fire is complete, but the results are being reviewed.

Naval Sea Systems Command directed questions on whether it is conducting a separate investigation back to Diener.

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said, "The Navy is a much better place to go for an answer to that question," when asked about the investigation Monday.

Read Next: A British Soldier Smashed Through a Roof in California in a Botched Training Jump

Several mysteries still surround the fire, including reports of federal agents questioning a sailor in connection with the blaze.

Shortly after the fire was put out, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday wrote in a memo to flag officers and master chiefs that "there were likely other contributing factors, but I won't speculate on that."

There could be several reasons for the silence and delay, according to Mark Nevitt, a former aviator and judge advocate attorney in the Navy, who spoke with Military.com about the investigation. Nevitt is now a professor at the Syracuse University College of Law.

Aside from the usual privacy and national security redactions, Nevitt said that pending criminal charges can delay an investigation.

"If you have a recommendation that is related to training, to readiness, to how watch is done, you don't have the same sort of criminal law due process concerns associated if [you] charge a Navy sailor with a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice," he explained.

Nevitt also noted that the Navy may have already taken some administrative action, "which could be non-judicial punishment," away from the public eye.

"Firing people ... removing people from the watchstand, or having people administratively separated for some kind of underlying administrative misconduct" are all things that could have already occurred, he said.

"It seems likely to me that, if there is a formal court-martial, that would take place following the completion of the investigation and the endorsements by the [Pacific Fleet] commander," Nevitt said.

Jeff Houston, a spokesman for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, said that its investigation into the fire remains ongoing. Houston added that no charges have been filed at this time.

"Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS does not comment on or confirm details relating to ongoing investigations," he said in a statement.

More broadly, Nevitt argues that the wait is understandable given the scope of the incident.

The fire began at about 8:30 am on July 12, 2020, in the ship's "Deep V" lower cargo hold, but it burned for four days, sometimes topping 1,200 degrees.

"As you are aware, the damage is extensive; there is fire and water damage, to varying degrees, on 11 of 14 decks," Gilday wrote in his memo. He added that it left sections of the ship's flight deck warped and bulging.

Teams from across several Navy commands and the San Diego Fire Department were involved in the effort, and 63 people -- 40 sailors and 23 civilians -- were hurt.

Nevitt explained that the review process that the investigation report is under right now can result in one of two outcomes. One possibility is that the commander of Pacific Fleet can endorse it fully -- meaning agree completely with the report. Nevitt added that this "is very rare." Alternatively, the commander, Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, can endorse it with recommendations or he could ask investigators "to look into other things that he thinks is worthy of looking into."

Nevitt said that similar incidents and investigations in the Navy's past could be instructive.

"The Miami's probably your best recent analogy," he said, referencing a 2012 fire aboard the attack submarine while it was in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine.

The command investigation into that incident was completed in May 2013 -- almost exactly a year after the blaze. However, it was not made public until June 2014.

Navy leaders announced in November, four months after the blaze, that the Bonhomme Richard would be decommissioned after determining it would take at least $2.5 billion and five years to fix.

Dismantling of the ship began April 15.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Navy Announces Timeline to Dismantle Fire-Damaged Bonhomme Richard, Sideline 2 LCSs
A U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, was forced to make an emergency landing at Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport in Oklahoma on Monday, according to the service.

The two pilots aboard were able to land the aircraft safely at the airport, roughly 40 miles north of Sheppard, and were not injured, the base said in a statement.

"The aircraft was in the local area conducting training with the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program from Sheppard, which has several routes that go through Oklahoma," the base said. The root cause for the emergency landing is under investigation, officials added.

Read Next: A British Soldier Smashed Through a Roof in California in a Botched Training Jump

Operations at Sheppard -- which oversees both T-38 and T-6A Texan II training -- include specialized undergraduate pilot training for U.S. and foreign allied air forces.

The latest incident comes as the Air Force plans to replace its current Northrop Grumman-made T-38 trainers with the T-7A Red Hawk, made by Boeing Co. However, technical issues have created delays in that program.

Last month, the service declared a setback in determining when the T-7 trainer jet program can go into full production, citing parts shortages due to COVID-19's effect on the global supply chain; initial design delays; and additional required testing.

The decision is now expected in late 2023, roughly 15 months past when they originally expected to make a decision, the service said.

A spokeswoman for Boeing told Military.com it expects a delay of only seven months despite the Air Force's projections.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: New T-7 Red Hawk Trainer Faces Delays over Parts Shortages, Testing
The bill is due.

Those words don't necessarily conjure up a lot of positive mental imagery. In fact, I can follow them to some scary places ... the scale following the holidays, the credit card statement after binge shopping for gifts, a little too much celebration and, yes -- here's where I'm focused -- a downsized paycheck following the payroll tax deferral.

I get it. You didn't have any say in this particular bill. But that doesn't change that it may be coming due in the form of an increased payroll tax obligation to your finances.

As a quick recap: In August 2020, President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum creating an optional deferral of certain payroll tax obligations for employers, effective Sept. 1 through the end of the year. As a result, some American workers, including many government employees and those currently serving in the military, may have seen a 6.2% increase in their paychecks.

"Deferred" is the operative word, however, and it has to be repaid starting in January. While we are still waiting on the final details (and they may vary from employer to employer), the IRS initially issued guidance that the deferred payroll tax would be paid back proportionately out of paychecks from January through April. However, the pandemic aid and government funding bill Trump later signed extended the payback period over the entire year of 2021.

Here are some ideas as you tangle with the potential hangover of coping with reduced take-home pay:

Determine the impact. After last year, we've had our fill of the unexpected. Get a ballpark estimate of how your paycheck will be impacted by reducing your last paycheck in December by around 8% -- that's approximately 2% payback, along with the normal 6.2% payroll tax withholding per pay period. Those currently serving will feel a bit less of a sting as they will be receiving a 3% pay increase this year. In any case, 8% should get you close enough to create a cash flow-coping strategy, assuming you'll be paying the amount owed back over the full 12 months of 2021.

Use the money you already set aside. My hope is that many folks will have to do nothing more than supplement their paycheck with the money they already set aside. When the payroll tax holiday became a reality last fall, there were a lot of voices encouraging prudence. The idea of setting aside the additional income wasn't glitzy but, like so much of the grunt work of being savvy with your money, the payoff is real: No hangover.

Build on your good work with expenditures. The pandemic has brought us all a little closer to our finances. If nothing else, our spending patterns have changed. Likely, we've got a tighter handle on where our money goes each month. Unfortunately, the payroll tax repayment represents yet another challenge. Are there services you can cut back or cut out, habits you can put on hold, or purchases you can put off to help you get to the other side of the recapture? It may take nothing more than a series of small decisions to take spending down a notch in certain areas -- instead of full-scale elimination (fewer streaming purchases comes to mind) -- to get you through the next few months and create momentum to make some lasting change for the good.

Boost your income. In 2020, a lot of folks were creative in their efforts to make side hustles a critical element of coping with the financial implications of the pandemic. That type of effort can be a key element of responding to the impact of the payroll tax repayment. A little extra cash from turning a hobby into income, extra contract work, selling some stuff or something similar could allow you to fill the gap created by the holiday tax hangover.

Reach out. One message that I hope has resonated throughout this incredibly difficult time has been, "Ask for help." That applies here as well. Organizations such as Army Emergency Relief, Air Force Aid Society, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, We Care for America and Coast Guard Mutual Aid are always standing by to assist if you're struggling to make ends meet.

Changing jobs isn't a free pass. Don't forget to account for your employer's responsibility to recapture the uncollected Social Security tax. This could result in a very small last paycheck, a bill, or some other sort of surprise if you leave the military or move on to a new employer. Just remember, there's no free lunch for this holiday. Be sure to check with your employer to understand how this will be handled.

Pivot to normal. If there's a word that I've grown tired of over the last year, it's "unprecedented." On the other hand, despite getting quite a bit of use, I still like "pivot." To me, it conveys a sense of constructive action. And that's how I'll finish this off.

Your repayment period will be over before you know it. After you successfully navigate the last paycheck impacted by the "holiday" that was the payroll tax deferral, you will experience -- at least in terms of what hits your bank account -- the beauty of a "pay raise." As I'm fond of saying, that's money that you aren't spending and can be used to pay down debt or save.

When it arrives, don't miss out on that opportunity.
Any military spouse can check the classifieds, upload a resume, or search a companys website for job listings. So why should a spouse use the Airman and Family Readiness Center when looking for employment?

When I posed that question to Kevin Myers A&FRC employment assistant at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, he stated that familiarity with the area is key in helping spouses find a job.

Related: Does your resume pass the 6-second test? Get a FREE assessment.

Each A&FRC center across the country offers the same or similar assistance when it comes to a quest for employment. Yet each staff has the distinct ability of knowing the geographical job availability within a region. That kind of expertise is hard to find online.

It is easy to find in your local A&FRC center. You can walk into any family support center on any military installation and they will pretty much all look the samechairs and tables, bookcases loaded with self-help material, and lots and lots of pamphlets, flyers, and stapled sheets offering advice. These centers provide the use of computers, fax machines, copiers, quiet locations for phone interviews, and notices of job fairs.

It is the human interaction that can make all the difference. At the Military and Family Resource Center at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, or JBAB, located in Washington, D.C., employment assistant Jacqueline Hayes noted that military installations within the same geographical location share information with each other and have great lines of communication. It all comes down to giving spouses the services they need to find work.

Stationed at a Joint Base? Or at the Pentagon?

What if you are married to an airman but stationed at an Army post? What if the nearest facility is a Navy base? Being an AF spouse at an Army Post doesnt matter, according to the employment assistants at both locations. Services are for families and military, no matter the branch of service, which relates to the JBAB habit of sharing information concerning employment in the D.C. area.

Related: Holding down a job while your spouse is in the military is easier than you might think.

With many service members assigned to the Pentagon, families find themselves somewhat orphanedafloat upon the base-less sea of northern Virginia or Maryland. That is why it is good to know that Fort Myer communicates with Joint Base Andrews, which talks with Fort Meade, which shares with JBAB, which tells Fort Belvior, etc. etc.

Having the centers interconnect to bring you the best chance of employment reveals the dedication behind the employment assistants own careers. Many of the employment assistants have worked together for years, know one another, so doling out information about jobs is second nature and is not seen as competitive.

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A&FRC can also email you a monthly newsletters with calendars offering employment services. Samplings of free classes include franchise ownership, resume writing, applying for a federal job, dress for success, and even meet the employer, where the employer tells you directly how they choose people to work in their business. This can be a great help in your new location before your PCS.

Want to start a small business? Well, there is a class for that, too. A close working relationship with TAP (Transition Assistance Program) is just another tool in their belt to help you find what you are looking for, whether that is a career or a job (yesthere is a class for that).

When you walk into an interview after receiving assistance from a family support center, you represent not only yourself, but how well the employment assistants do their job and so they will do everything in their power to help you and do not want to see you fail.

Use the services available to you. In such a heavily competitive job market, take the time to bring your resume in for review, hone your interview skills, find out what the job market needs in your area, and speak to an employment assistant to give you the best chance for success.

Related: For the latest veteran jobs postings around the country, visit the Military.com Job Search section.

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CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa -- The Department of Defense Education Activity said Thursday that it plans to massively ramp up construction efforts in order to meet its goal of replacing 134 severely aging schools -- 78 percent of its facilities around the world -- before the end of the decade.

So far, only a fraction of those deteriorating schools is in the process of being rebuilt or is factored into drafts of next years federal budget. Meanwhile, 102 schools that have aged beyond repair remain unbudgeted.

In what could be one of its largest facilities overhauls ever, the agency will request about $2.2 billion from Congress over just a two-year period beginning in the fall of 2013 to replace those remaining schools and eliminate a widespread problem of failing building standards before the end of 2019, DODEA Director Marilee Fitzgerald said.

Most base schools in the Pacific, Europe and the United States were built during the Cold War -- some are even pre-World War II -- and are failing physically, according to DODEAs own surveys. The lack of major upgrades over the years has led to deterioration of roofs, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling systems, which are often too costly to fix in a critically aging school.

The price tag for the agencys 2010 plan to replace the old buildings is estimated to top $3.7 billion, according to DODEA, and the bulk of the money must now be requested over the next two years as Congress wrestles with the possibility of mandatory defense cuts.

You talk about the pressures that are there in the [federal] budget. There is a great deal of pressure and concern that these schools meet quality standards, Fitzgerald said. We must not forget that these schools are in this condition because they were neglected over time.

So far, Congress has given DODEA funding over the past two years to renovate 23 base schools, mostly in the U.S. and Europe, and those projects are moving forward. Four stateside projects to replace or renovate schools are now in the contracting phase, according to a program schedule supplied by DODEA.

The agency hopes to receive enough to rebuild another nine as part of the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which is now being hashed out by Congress. Five of those schools are in Japan, with others in Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Kentucky, the program schedule shows.

Fitzgerald said the vast majority of schools are included in the latter half of DODEAs five-year budget plan for the massive renovation project in order to build momentum over time.

There is no question that the out years [of the construction program] are larger, absolutely  the 2014 and 2015 program is a healthy program, she said. We knew at the onset that this would be an aggressive military construction program.

Fitzgerald insisted the agency will not have a challenge securing billions of dollars in federal funding for the work. DODEA Chief of Facilities Mike Smiley said construction of all 134 new schools will be completed by the end of fiscal 2018.

By 2018 the children will be in the seats, Fitzgerald said.

But the Department of Defense faces $500 billion in automatic budget cuts over 10 years beginning in January if Congress does not find a solution to the process known as sequestration.

Fitzgerald said the Office of Management and Budget has so far not released any guidance on how to deal with sequestration, meaning the agency is continuing with its current renovation plans and not factoring in any cuts to future budgets.

Theyll get done, she said. These schools cannot be delayed.
Interviewers often ask challenging, sometimes unexpected questions of admins to see how well candidates respond under pressure and think on their feet. After all, those are skills admins use every day in a busy office and on high-stakes projects.

Some are off the wall, like this question, lobbed at Mary Herrington during her interview for an admin position: "What would you do if I threw this crystal ashtray at your head?" Herrington, now a business consultant, was taken aback. "I looked at him and replied: 'You'd pray you didn't hit me, because I would sue the pants off you, own this company and then fire you without any compensation,'" she says. "He laughed so hard. I was offered the job on the spot and began the next day."

Related: Search for administrative assistant jobs.

But other than keeping you on your toes, what are interviewers for admin positions looking to find out by asking these questions? "Besides looking for an employee who can follow direction and be loyal to the company, it seems most employers are seeking out a workforce who can think on their feet, have a decent amount of self-esteem without being pompous and be independent," says Rose Strong, an administrative assistant to the chief of ob-gyn and an assistant vice president at a hospital in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

To help you prepare for your next admin interview, here are some challenging commonly asked questions and suggestions for how to answer them:

Why Do You Suppose Manhole Covers Are Round?

When Erik Lars Myers of Durham, North Carolina, was asked this question during an interview for an admin position, he wasn't sure what to think. "The first thing I said was, 'Can you repeat that?'" he says.

That request bought Myers some valuable time to puzzle out an answer. "I said, 'So they don't fall in?' which, incidentally, is the correct answer," he says. "It was the only reasonable thing I could come up with."

This question is asked to test problem-solving skills, which come in handy when the network goes down and your boss is hounding you for a report.

Related: Does your resume pass the 6-second test? Get a FREE assessment.

How Do I Rate as an Interviewer?

"You definitely want to find some positives to share," says Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University in Boston. "Tell them what they did well...and maybe find something negative that could be positive, like, 'I wasn't expecting question x, but you really made me think about why that is important to me.'"

Your response shows your ability to be diplomatic as well as your willingness to speak truth to power. These are valuable skills for a trusted admin.

Why Should You Get This Position?

Strong successfully fielded this question by going with her gut. "My response was out of my mouth before I knew it: 'Because I'm smart,'" she recalls. She followed that up by outlining the positions she'd previously had that gave her the necessary skills for the job.

This question allows interviewers to see how you react when put on the spot, which happens to admins all the time, and how confident you are in your abilities.

Who Do You Admire Most and Why?

"The why is typically much more important than the whom," Sarikas says. "So identify someone who has qualities you admire or has done something you aspire to do, and clearly articulate the specific reasons you admire that person. Avoid someone who could be controversial, if at all possible."

With more businesses focusing on culture and fit, this question allows interviewers to see if your values mesh with the company's.

What Are Your Five Favorite Movies?

San Diego-based Angela Watson was interviewing for an administrative support/graphics position with a regional restaurant chain when she got this question. "To show you how paranoid I was, I think I picked something like Schindler's List, Wayne's World, The Big Chill, Silence of the Lambs and Harold & Maude," she recalls. "I was trying to cover all the bases without being too terribly esoteric." You know how many random requests admins get each day, right? This question allows the interviewer to assess how you'll deal with that.

More Answering Strategy

If, after all your preparation, you don't have an answer, Sarikas suggests acknowledging you weren't expecting that question and asking for a minute to think about it. When all else fails, go with your gut.

"This is more about thinking on your feet than having a brilliant answer," Sarikas says. "So don't ask to skip the question or fail to answer it in any way. That's much more negative than a lame answer."

Related: For the latest veteran jobs postings around the country, visit the Military.com Job Search section.

The Next Step: Find the Right Veteran Job

Whether you want to polish up your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area, or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.com can help. Sign up for a free Military.com membership to have job postings, guides and advice, and more delivered directly to your inbox.
The phrase "MBA preferred" gets a lot of play in Monster's online job listings. But what does it really mean? According to the schools that educate them and employers that hire them, MBAs are sought after for their ability to think critically, deal with ambiguity and solve complex problems.

In the broadest sense, the master of business administration degree represents a way of thinking, not just a set of financial skills and business knowledge. When asked why Williams-Sonoma hires MBAs, HR manager Leslie Zurburg says, "We are looking for the 50,000-foot view -- the strategic thinker who takes an analytical approach."

Related: Search for jobs in business.

Operations managers who have risen through the company's ranks are experts at getting things done, Zurburg says. But MBAs from the outside can bring a fresh perspective, like figuring out how to improve key business processes, such as filling catalog orders.

Training Critical Thinkers

An MBA can evaluate a company by looking at its financials, but that's not why employers want them, says Muhammad Abdullah, former director of the MBA program at Charlotte, North Carolina-based Pfeiffer University and now an associate professor of business law. They also ask if the numbers make sense in terms of other realities. The process of earning the degree teaches MBAs to think critically. "That's a vital skill that can help, no matter what happens," says Abdullah.

Critical thinking is not a course per se. But this ability is woven into the MBA curriculum, which relies heavily on the case-study approach. This requires students to evaluate business dilemmas and formulate the best plan of action. According to Abdullah, case studies typically reflect current issues -- that's another advantage of MBA training.

Professional Problem Solvers

John Pantano, cofounder and vice president of sales and marketing at Lawrence, Massachusetts-based Radianse, a startup that develops indoor global-positioning products to help hospitals keep track of patients, doctors and other medical staff, hires MBAs because they have "professional training in problem solving. They know how to frame problems, ask questions and collect data."

Pantano looks for MBA candidates who are ready to answer more than just stock questions. "They have done some research, called a few customers," he explains. "You get a sense of how they might spend their first 60 days on the job, and that is impressive."

At Basking Ridge, New Jersey-based Avaya, which sells enterprise telephony systems, MBA hires are part of the company's strategy to build a leadership pipeline, says Rob LeFever, senior manager of university leadership programs. Avaya likes MBAs for their ability to deal with ambiguity and create changes that help the company compete in the telecommunications On campus recruiting trips, Avaya looks for candidates who demonstrate the ability to maximize talent, enroll others, champion change, look at the big picture and optimize Avaya's interests.

The degree itself is not a guarantee, says LeFever. "Many MBAs have gaps," he explains. "It comes down to the person" and their accomplishments. For example, if an MBA candidate says, "I lead the team that revised the billing process," Avaya recruiters dig deeper. If the process improvement didn't yield a result, the candidate may not make the cut.

MBAs: Not All Alike

"Getting an MBA is a big accomplishment," says Michele Rapp, associate director of graduate student career services at Boston-based Suffolk University. "But once you have it, you still have to compete for jobs. MBA students say, 'I want to interview at [a top consulting firm],' and I tell them, 'That company recruits only from top-10 schools.' You have to be realistic."

Top schools are brand names, agrees Abdullah. When you are competing against a brand name, "the burden of proof is on you," he says, even though core MBA courses remain remarkably similar across different institutions.

Related: For the latest veteran jobs postings around the country, visit the Military.com Job Search section.

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The Town of Milton municipal building on Bombardier Road. The building hosts the office of the Town Manager, among others. The meetings of various town boards and committees, including the Selectboard, are held here.
How to use the mindat.org media viewer

Click/touch this help panel to close it.

Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image)

Controls - all media types

Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device.

Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen.

< and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys.

< and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys.

> in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys.

? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key.

Other keyboard shortcuts:

1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons

Scalebar

If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular.

Controls - Video

Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key.

Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation)

Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys.

The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types.

The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control.

Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images

If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways:

- without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method

- with stereoscope

- with anaglyph glasses.

- on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system)

For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D

To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them.

Controls - photo comparison mode

If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu.

Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder.

Summary of all keyboard shortcuts
Amazon online store suffered a global outage on Monday, including in India, as users tried to place orders but could not access the product detail page.

According to website outage tracker Downdetector, the online store of ecommerce giant suffered an outage that began early Monday morning around 7 am.

While 655 users reported problems with opening website, 23% had issues with log-in and 12% with check-out.

Amazon said that the company was working to resolve the issue.

"Hi guys are you able to see any product details on Amazon India website today. Trying to order a few things but not getting the product details page. Tried a dozen different products same issue! Amazon India broken or a bug?," a user said in a tweet.

In May, Amazon suffered a brief outage in some parts of India, affecting its website and shopping experience for several users. The website was up and running after about two hours of partial outage.

Downdetector showed a massive spike in problems on Amazon.in, mentioning that the most problems faced by the Indians during the outage were logging into the website and checking out.

Last year in November, Amazon Web Services (AWS) which is the Cloud arm of the commerce giant suffered a huge outage in the US region affecting several websites and apps and the recovery took a couple of hours.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
An officer on special duty (OSD) to the Maharashtra chief minister (CM) has been blocking the transfer of a property for over a year, even after the bidder has won and officially paid the full due amount after the formal auction of the property held by Bhandari Cooperative Bank (BCB), alleges Aam Admi Party (AAP).

In November 2011, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had cancelled the licence of BCB and declared it insolvent. The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) has paid claims of Rs54.88 crore to customers of the Bank. The remaining customers/ depositors of the bank approached Bombay High Court (HC) to get back their money. Subsequently, the HC asked the Bank to auction its properties and repay its depositors. The depositors are waiting for their money while the auction process is being blatantly stalled by the CMs OSD.

However, AAP claims that BCB failed to follow the orders of the HC.

In one case, despite the bidder paying the full auction amount, the Bank has not transferred the property, AAP claimed during a press conference. The winning bidder, one Rashmi Upadhyay, was present during the press conference called by Preeti Sharma Menon, national executive member, national spokesperson, and Mumbai Prabhari of AAP.

While sharing documents Ms Upadhyay says she won the auction for the property and has paid the full amount to the Bank.

The documents do suggest that the transfer process has been stalled without any reason but there is no proof to prove the OSDs involvement in blocking the process. It is also not clear why the party has not approached the RBI and raised this concern with the banking regulator.

The documents shared also include the TDS (tax deducted at source) forms of the bidder which show that the property was purchased during the said period. However, the said property has not been transferred to the bidder as yet.

The Party further highlighted that this has happened in several instances; but only one of the bidders has come forward and said that she has paid the whole amount for the property, followed all due processes; and even received a favourable judgement for the property to be delivered after a hearing in front of the minister of state for cooperation.

However, every time that the government agreed to transfer the property, the officials would get a call from the Chief Ministers OSD - Sudhir Naik, who told them that the CM had prohibited the sale. It seems that Mr Naik is misusing his authority and preventing the High Court order from being executed,the Party alleges.

In November 2019, Sai Data Forms represented by Ms Upadhyay responded to an advertisement in leading newspapers for the auction of a property of Bhandari Bank: Combined Units A to F, Arihant Apartments, Bearing CTS No. 42, in Goregaon East. Sai Data Forms participated in the auction, made all the due payments and was hoping to have the property to transferred to them around March 2020.

However, there were extensive delays, initially due to the pandemic, and then due to ridiculous excuses citing technical errors. Sai Data Forms kept pursuing the transfer of the property at the highest level but were always told it has been put on hold by Mr Naik - OSD to the chief minister. In fact in February 2021, after a hearing made in front of minister of state for cooperation Dr Vishwajit Kadam they were given the go ahead in writing, but were later informed by Sampark Dhaokar OSD to the minister, that Mr Naik has blocked the sale, the Party claimed in its release.

Ms Upadhyay then approached Cabinet minister Balasaheb Patils OSD Antosh Patil, who again directed her to Mr Naik.

She finally spoke to Mr Naik who told her that the order to block the transfer of the defunct BCB's properties has come from the CM!

We find it hard to believe that our Chief Minister has any interest in preventing a rightful owner from receiving his/her property. The question is how can a chief ministers OSD use the CMs name to stall a legal proceeding. What is the interest of Mr Naik in the said property or any other property of Bhandari Cooperative Bank,AAP asked while highlighting the serious issue.

It is shocking that bureaucrats can subvert legal proceedings with no checks or accountability. The Party said that this instance is one of many but the other buyers are afraid to come forward.

Ms Sharma Menon sent a letter to the CM Udhhav Thackeray on 5th July detailing these serious allegations. However, she said there has been no response to her letter so far.

Ms Upadhyay has also sent numerous letters to the government.

The Aam Aadmi Party demanded that the CM Uddhav Thackeray should investigate Mr Naiks role in obstructing the auctions of BCB's properties.

We request the Chief Minister to take action against Mr. Sudhir Naik for misusing his name. The beneficiaries of the auctions should be handed over their purchased properties, and compensated for their loses due to the delay. It is urgent and important that the money owed to Bhandari Cooperative Banks depositors, repaid as soon as possible. said AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon.

Ms Sharma Menon also tweeted from her Twitter account, After Bhandari Bank folded HC ordered its properties be auctioned to pay off the depositors. This was done, monies collected from buyers. Under what authority has OSD to @OfficeofUT Sudhir Nayak blocked the transfer of properties to the buyers, and the payment to the depositors.

After Bhandari Bank folded HC ordered its properties be auctioned to pay off the depositors. This was done, monies collected from buyers. Under what authority has OSD to @OfficeofUT Sudhir Nayak blocked the transfer of properties to the buyers, and the payment to the depositors  Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) July 12, 2021

However, when asked by a reporter why they had not approached the RBI regarding this issue, they claimed that cooperative banks come under the 'state governments co-operative ministry'; hence, they were only discussing with the respective ministry in the state government.

It was pointed out by a reporter that while cooperative banks were earlier under the dual regulation of RBI as well as the state government, now cooperative banks have come under the regulation of RBI. Hence, it would have been prudent if they would have approached the banking regulator with an issue of this sort. Ms Sharma Menon acknowledged this and said they would take this suggestion and try to follow up accordingly.
We had mentioned in previous weeks closing report that Nifty, Sensex may try to rally if global cues support. On Monday, the indices opened higher but lost all gains and ended flat. On the NSE, there were 1,179 advances, 840 declines and 76 unchanged.

The trend of the major indices on Mondays trading are given in the table below:

Kitex Garments has decided to invest Rs 1,000 crore in Telangana, days after it decided to withdraw from Kerala citing harassment by state officials.

Avenue Supermarts standalone profit more than doubled to Rs 115.13 crore, due to a low base in the year-ago period.

Equitas Holdings received the Reserve Bank of India's permission to apply for a scheme of amalgamation of the promoter entity with the bank. Ujjivan Financial Services arm Ujjivan Small Finance Bank too would amalgamate with its holding company.

Steel Strips Wheels reported net profit of Rs 51.08 crore in the April-June 2021 quarter, compared to a loss of Rs 38 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. Total income grew over five times to Rs 680 crore from Rs 121 crore YoY.

Hatsun Agro Products commenced commercial production of milk at its Uthiyur plant after the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board granted its consent to operations at the plant.

Maruti Suzuki India announced a price change for hatchback Swift and all CNG variants owing to increase in various input costs.

Ashoka Buildcon won a contract worth Rs 726 crore from NHAI for development of corridor under Bharatmala Pariyojana in the state of Punjab on EPC mode.

Federal Banks managing director and chief executive officer Shyam Srinivasan has been reappointment for another three years.

SJVN bagged a USD 1.3 billion deal from Nepal to develop a 679-megawatt hydropower project in eastern Nepal.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:





The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked banks to send vital staff (bankers working in sensitive positions) on a mandatory surprise holiday for a minimum of 10 days in a single spell every year under the modified risk management guidelines. The new move is an effort to tighten its risk management guidelines. Banks need to follow the revised instructions within six months.

RBI has been periodically updating its risk management guidelines with the intention of reducing fraud. These including having a maker-checker approach and also incorporating a policy of staff rotation. But in the case of the Nirav Modi fraud, at the Punjab National Bank, the concerned employee managed to make fraudulent entries in the Swift system for years before the scam came to light.

"As a prudent operational risk management measure, the banks shall put in place a 'mandatory leave' policy where the employees posted in sensitive positions or areas of operation should be compulsorily sent on leave for a few days (not less than 10 working days) in a single spell every year, without giving any prior intimation to these employees, thereby maintaining an element of surprise," RBI says in its communication.

It says, Banks should ensure that the employees, while on mandatory leave, do not have access to any physical or virtual resources related to their work responsibilities, with the exception of internal or corporate email, which is usually available to all employees for general purposes.

According to a circular of 2011 on 'Findings of Forensic Scrutiny- Guidelines for prevention of frauds', RBI had asked banks immediately put in place 'staff rotation' policy and policy for 'mandatory leave'.

The banking regulator had first issued mandatory leave directives in April 2015 as a part of its efforts to curb fraud. But it had not clearly specified the number of days for the mandatory surprise leave, though it said it could be 'a few days (say 10 working days)'.

The central bank has updated the 'mandatory leave' policy for the employees posted in sensitive positions or areas of operation, and repealed the circular dated 23 April 2015.

Banks have been asked to prepare a list of sensitive positions to be covered under 'mandatory leave' requirements and review the list periodically. The leave would be given without any prior intimation.
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Hazardous heat, with afternoon highs of 95 to low 100s, and overnight lows in the mid-50s to mid-60s. * WHERE...Cascade, Judith Basin, Liberty, Toole, Broadwater and Central and Southern Lewis and Clark Counties. * WHEN...From Noon today to 9 PM MDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
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Major League Baseball has apparently decided that there are 42 too many minor league baseball cities and, according to Commissioner Rob Manfred, after the 2020 season, that will change. There will be a new agreement between the majors and the minors signed and a lot of cities will lose their
GLENSIDE  Through a $2.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation, faculty from Arcadia University, La Salle University, Villanova University, and Saint Joseph's University, along with Mercyhurst University in Erie, will collaborate on how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mat
July 12, 2021

U.S. Launches Another Attempt To Regime Change Cuba

Yesterday saw minor protests in Cuba driven by U.S. regime change dollars and by economic problem caused by U.S. sanctions. They were accompanied by a number of newly created accounts on various social media which posted the same slogans over and over again under the #SOSCuba hashtag.

But soon pro-government protesters turned out in larger numbers than the anti-government protesters. Apart from a few scuffles nothing happened and today everything seems to be back to normal.

I consider the whole thing to have been a trial run for some bigger plans. But the operators behind this must feel disappointed. The turnout on the anti-government side was lousy.

The Guardian headlines:

Thousands march in Cuba in rare mass protests amid economic crisis

I doubt that 'thousands' number as pictures and videos, aside from the usual fakes, only showed small demonstrations of dozens to maybe a hundred.

The Guardian piece includes this picture which seems to show quite a number of people.

The caption says:

Anti-government protesters gather at the Maximo Gomez monument in Havana on Sunday. Photograph: Eliana Aponte/AP

Hmm:

Inaugurated in the mid-1930s, this magnificent monument pays homage to Dominican-born General Maximo Gomez, who became Commander in Chief of Cubas Liberation Army during the Wars of Independence.

'Anti-government' protesters at a national independence monument?

And what are these flags of the 26 of July movement doing with 'anti-government' protesters?

The 26th of July Movement (Spanish: Movimiento 26 de Julio; M-26-7) was a Cuban vanguard revolutionary organization and later a political party led by Fidel Castro. The movement's name commemorates its 26 July 1953 attack on the army barracks on Santiago de Cuba in an attempt to start the overthrowing of the dictator Fulgencio Batista. This is considered one of the most important organizations among the Cuban Revolution.

'Anti-government' protesters?

Really, Guardian? Really???

The dude responsible for the nonsense is quite open about it.

President Biden @POTUS - 15:22 UTC  Jul 12, 2021 We stand with the Cuban people as they bravely assert their fundamental and universal rights, and as they all call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering. Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Protests in Cuba | The White House

Decades of economic suffering in Cuba could be easily ended by the dude above as they are largely caused by 60 years of U.S. sanctions.

This cartoon fits the situation.

Posted by b on July 12, 2021 at 16:11 UTC | Permalink

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The Elyria Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a single vehicle fatal crash July 9 in Rochester Township that left a 61-yea
Alabama is home to one of the last lesbian bars in the US
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Moultrie, GA (31768)

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PHILADELPHIA (AP)  As Brett Roman Williams stood at the Philadelphia Medical Examiners office staring at a photo of his older brothers face, a familiar feeling welled in his chest.

Williams father was shot and killed in 1996, when Williams was 11, and the ebb and flow of grief had washed over him for 20 years. But in 2016, when his brother was killed by gunfire, Williams reached out to a grief counselor for help coping.

Now, Williams serves on the board for the organization where he once sought solace, and he's trying to provide that same kind of support to others. But the demand is far outpacing the supply of counselors because of spiking crime.

With more than 270 homicides in Philadelphia during the first half of 2021, the city has been outpacing the number of murders in 2020, when 499 people were killed, mostly from gunfire  the highest homicide numbers in more than two decades. The number of people injured in shootings has also exploded over the past 18 months.

Williams is chairman of the board for the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia, which provides counseling services to people affected by violence. He said there were 174 people on the waitlist at the end of June, compared with about 30 people at the same time last year.

Hurt people, hurt people. And this is a pivotal moment in Philly, because there are a lot of people hurting in this city right now, Williams said.

Executive Director Natasha McGlynn said that since September, the agency has provided counseling services to 425 teenagers who have lost family or friends, or who have themselves survived gunfire. She said counselors are seeing layers of trauma and revictimization as gun violence increases.

Crime has been spiking nationwide after it plummeted in the early months of the pandemic, with many cities seeing the type of double-digit increase in gun violence that is plaguing Philadelphia. The Biden administration has sent strike forces to Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to help take down gun networks.

Biden has encouraged states to use COVID-19 relief money to hire police or additional counselors. Philadelphia is one of 15 cities nationwide joining a federal effort to expand and enhance community violence interruption programs. Williams' group and others that provide counseling to victims are applying for grants to hire more counselors.

Lynn Linde, chief knowledge and learning officer at the American Counseling Association, said there was already a shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural areas, when the coronavirus hit. Add the economic, emotional and other losses from the pandemic and lockdown, and now waves of gun violence in small and large cities across the country, and Linde says most mental health professionals are stretched to their limit.

Anecdotally, I don't know anyone who has openings ... and there are a lot of mental health professionals who are working extra hours and just burning out," Linde said.

For the counselors at places such as Philadelphia's AVP, who only treat people experiencing trauma and loss from violence, the rise in violent crime is the reason they are stretched thin.

There were more than 1,800 people wounded by gunfire in Philadelphia last year. As the hot summer months that typically bring more gun violence begin, the city has already reported close to 900 gunshot victims in 2021  150 more than the same time in 2020.

Adam Garber, executive director of CeaseFirePA, a statewide nonprofit group working to end gun violence, said people see the homicides above the surface, like an iceberg. All below the surface are the other effects of gun violence: the lifelong injuries, the trauma, the fear that forces parents to keep their children indoors.

We are missing all the damage underneath that is permanently altering the lives of so many people, he said.

Elinore Kaufman, assistant professor of surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia, said there are two times to three times more gunshot survivors than fatalities at her trauma center. Survivors have increased as trauma treatment has improved.

The goal is to help people to survive, and were very good at that part. We get people through that most acute time, Kaufman said. We are not as good at helping people get back to a full and complete life. That part is a lot harder in a lot of ways.

She said the hospital is working on a program to provide patients with a peer mentor to help them connect to programs that offer help including counseling, applying for victims assistance or finding education and a new career if their injuries prevent them from returning to their jobs.

We send people back to situations that were not safe to begin with. And they are traumatized and hurt and probably at a higher risk than they were in the first place, she said.

Latrice Felix's son, Alan Womack, Jr., chose to live in an upscale suburb of Philadelphia, spending most of his time at the gym or with family, in part to avoid the drama and violence he saw in the city.

But Womack, 28, was killed on Feb. 28, 2020, during a fight outside of his gym. Felix signed up for counseling at AVP shortly after her son's death, but was on the waitlist for about six months before someone had an opening.

Womack played Division II basketball at Fisher College in Boston and was a wellness fanatic often training people at the gym. He would FaceTime his mother sometimes 10 times a day and come to Felixs house to steal her good bananas" or just to make sure she was doing OK. He wore nice clothes and cologne even to work out, his mother said.

Womack worked with young people who had been involved in the criminal justice system, attempting to steer them to better choices  something he did for many people in his life. More than 1,300 people came to his funeral, including a friend from college who told Felix that when he was really struggling, Womack had let him sleep in his dorm room and use his meal plan card so he wouldn't go hungry.

Felix has had a hard time with her sons death. She doesnt accept the police determination that the man who shot him was acting in self defense, but there were no cameras in the parking lot.

I didnt want to die. But I didnt want to live either, Felix said.

While she waited for counseling, she shared her grief with friends, and discovered that she knew 20 people who had lost their children to gun violence in and around Philadelphia in 2020. Shes working to raise money to start a grief cafe  a place where people who have lost someone can come and talk about their loved ones, and where they can talk to a therapist.

People think you bury your child and life goes on. But they dont see how sometimes you cant get up out of bed, how you start crying when youre driving down the street for nothing, Felix said. We dont have an outlet. I want to normalize counseling, especially for the African American community, and provide that outlet.

___

This story was first published July 11, 2021. It was updated July 12, 2021, to correct the last name of the chief knowledge and learning officer at the American Counseling Association. She is Lynn Linde, not Lynn Lindy.
Michigan Tech researchers return to the island to discover new insights about the wolves and moose of Isle Royale.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted the in-person wintertime survey of wolves and moose on the island for the first time in 63 years. Consequently, there are no estimates of wolf or moose abundance for 2021, and the next estimates are scheduled in February 2022. But though the Isle Royale Winter Study didnt happen quite as planned, researchers were still able to visit the remote national park in the spring.

Now, fieldwork has resumed and Michigan Technological University researchers have already uncovered new information about these two iconic wildlife populations. In particular, wolves produced at least two litters of pups, and moose appear poised for decline.

In the Isle Royale Winter Study, Michigan Tech researchers share other significant developments about curating the worlds largest moose bone collection, advances in understanding of wolf foraging behavior and the nutritional health of the moose population.

The Isle Royale Wolf Population is Likely Growing

While population estimates are delayed, MTUs research team gleaned enough clues to suggest that the Isle Royale wolf population is thriving.

The 2021 Winter Study details a growing wolf population, while the moose population shrinks. Moose bones, collected over decades, are catalogued, and warming winters play a role in moose nutrition.

We recovered footage of a group of four wolf pups taken in January 2021 by remote cameras at the east end of Isle Royale, said Sarah Hoy, research assistant professor in Michigan Techs College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES). Additionally, observations of tracks and scats left by wolf pups last fall at two different locations suggest that there were probably two different litters of pups living at the east end of the island in September 2020.

There may also have been another litter born at the west end of the island last year. With reproduction figures like that, Hoy and colleagues expect the wolf population to have grown slightly or moderately since the last survey count, so long as there hasnt been an unusually high death rate.

Michigan Tech researchers are currently working with the U.S. National Park Service and other research collaborators to discern death rates and the number of litters produced.

Mark Romanski, biologist and natural resources program manager at Isle Royale National Park, said the National Park Service will use the information collected by MTU researchers, along with information derived from genetic analyses conducted through Kristin Brzeskis conservation genetics lab at Michigan Tech and in collaboration with Jerrold Belant at the State University of New York using remote cameras, to provide a formal wolf population estimate.

We anticipate completing an initial summary of these data in July, Romanski said. Because of constraints placed on field activities during the pandemic, we are especially pleased to have multiple lines of evidence to enumerate the population.

Wolves Are Specialized Foragers

Wolf scientists have long known that wolves are selective when it comes to their prey, preferring easier pickings: the young, the old and the infirm. What has not been known is whether that general tendency varies over time.

"Wolves tackle prey, like moose, that are 10 times their own body size with their teeth, which are only two inches long." Sarah Hoy, research assistant professor

Its a daunting task, as there is a risk that wolves will be seriously injured or even killed by their 900-pound prey. So, its no surprise that wolves tend to prey on moose calves that are smaller and a bit less savvy than adults or on older moose that are in poorer health, Hoy said.

But the proportion of calves or elderly moose in the overall population changes from year to year. MTU researchers wanted to know what wolves do when more vulnerable prey is relatively scarce.

Wolves face a choice: Keep searching for easy but rare prey, or attack the more abundant, healthier moose to save time spent looking for food, which comes with the increased risk of being seriously injured or killed. Turns out wolves prefer less risk  and not just on Isle Royale.

Hoy says classic foraging theory suggests that if predators want more food, they focus on whatever food is most widely available at the time.

However, we found that wolves do not much exhibit that kind of flexibility, she said. Wolf foraging behavior seems driven by minimizing the risks associated with killing large prey, like moose, even when the differences in vulnerability among individual moose might seem relatively subtle compared to when predators are choosing between different prey species.

Doug Smith of the U.S. National Park Service, who spearheaded the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park, and Dan MacNulty of Utah State University, contributed to the report with research that suggests Yellowstone wolves also continue to seek out more vulnerable calves and elderly prey even if it means going hungry for longer stretches.

Weve long known that wolf and moose abundances on Isle Royale exhibit pronounced fluctuations over time, said John Vucetich, CFRES distinguished professor of ecology at Michigan Tech. Now we know that an important contributor to those fluctuations are these dynamic foraging preferences for weaker prey.

Nutritional Stress Stacks the Deck Against Moose

When individuals of a population are in good nutritional condition, they are more likely to survive the year and successfully reproduce. Consequently, understanding the fluctuations in the abundance of a population depends greatly on knowing the nutritional condition of the individuals.

In a good year for moose on Isle Royale, less than 5% of the moose population is in very poor nutritional condition and starving; in a bad year, almost 25% of moose are starving. This observation led researchers to wonder what factors cause the nutritional health of moose to fluctuate so much from each year.

In much the same way that doctors use human urine to identify or rule out certain health issues, MTU researchers combed through three decades worth of data from moose urine samples. Moose urine contains certain metabolites that provide important clues about an individuals health.

Researchers analyzed that data to see how the nutritional condition of moose changed with weather, competition for food and the likelihood of being killed by wolves. The analysis revealed that two-thirds of variation in moose nutritional condition from one year to the next is related to the weather.

We found that the nutritional health of moose was importantly influenced by how hot it is during the summer, and also by how deep the snow is in winter, Hoy said. Moose tended to be more nutritionally stressed during winters with deep snow, which may be because deeper snow makes it more difficult for moose to move around and find food.

Moose also tend to be more nutritionally stressed following a hot summer. Moose can become heat-stressed during hot summers. In response, they start to reduce the amount of food they eat and increase the time spent in thermal refuges, such as in conifer stands.

Additionally, balsam fir, the preferred food of Isle Royale moose, does not grow as well in warm climates. Therefore, after a hot summer there may be less high-quality food available to moose, which could also impact the overall nutritional health of the moose population.

This research has important implications for understanding how moose are likely to cope with a warming climate, Hoy said.

The Isle Royale Moose Population is Likely Declining

Since fieldwork resumed in spring 2021, MTU researchers have made several key observations about the islands moose.

Moose really struggled to find enough food this past winter, Hoy said. Because there have been such large numbers of moose on the island over the last five years and moose ate branches faster than the trees can recover and replace them, the amount of food available to moose during winter has been getting progressively worse each year since 2017.

"Balsam fir saplings, the main winter food source for moose, are in the worst condition ever observed during the 17 years that weve been monitoring them." Sarah Hoy, research assistant professor

During spring vegetation surveys, researchers found that most balsam fir saplings had been browsed so severely that they had either been killed or left with only a few green branches at the west end of the island. Researchers also found the bodies of 13 moose, when in a regular year they would typically find only one to two starved moose.

Ticks Cause Moose to Scratch Off Their Winter Coats

Winter ticks are also worse than usual this year, as evidenced by moose with very little fur left in spring  having scratched or bitten off almost all of their winter coats in an effort to rid themselves of the blood-sucking parasites. This is significant because blood loss to ticks can exacerbate the detrimental effects of food shortage. Despite the mild winter, depleted food supplies and ticks made life harder for the islands moose this year.

In this image from April 2021, an emaciated and nutritionally stressed bull moose  who is also severely impacted by winter ticks  beds down on the island. Image Credit: Sarah Hoy

The impact of wolves on moose over the last year remains unknown, but researchers continue to recover the remains of moose killed by wolves. Learning the full extent of wolf predation on moose will also wait until 2022s winter field season.

The Worlds Largest Catalog of Moose Bones

In addition to the research into wolves preferred prey and moose nutrition, the researchers also collaborated with the National Park Service to modernize the curation of thousands of moose bones, including a large share collected over decades by citizen scientists known as Moose Watch volunteers.

The worlds largest collection of moose bones will be further cleaned, photo-documented and put into a nationwide database of National Park Service biological artifacts at a facility with climate control and fire protection.

It is gratifying to see the National Park Service invest in the long-term preservation of moose bones, and it is almost certain that the scientific value of the collection will increase over time, said Rolf Peterson, CFRES research professor. We have already put it to use in ways never anticipated when the bones were first collected and saved.

The National Park Service provided personnel to develop plans to modernize the curation of moose bones and for a state-of-the-art, multi-park museum storage facility that will eventually house the bone collection. The National Park Service also provides vital funding to support the Michigan Tech students who clean and re-catalog the specimens, and to purchase the supplies and materials they need.

Despite the missed winter research on Isle Royale because of the pandemic, Michigan Techs wolf and moose researchers turned adversity into opportunity, providing further insight for the longest-running predator-prey study in the world.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigans Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.
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VIRGINIA  The Cass County Board is scheduled to meet in regular session at 7 p.m. today at 100 E. Springfield St.

Among the items on the agenda are:
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP)  Wolf pups have been spotted again on Isle Royale, a hopeful sign in the effort to rebuild the predator species' population at the U.S. national park, scientists said Monday.

It's unknown how many gray wolves roam the island chain in northwestern Lake Superior. The coronavirus pandemic forced cancellation of the census that Michigan Technological University experts had conducted each winter for 63 years.

Remote cameras detected four pups on the park's eastern end in January, the researchers said in a new report. The sightings, and additional clues such as previously observed scats and tracks, suggest that two litters were born in the area last year and perhaps another on the western side.

Park officials said last fall that at least two pups likely were born in 2019.

The population was 12 to 14 during the last Michigan Tech survey in winter 2020. The latest births would indicate it is higher now, but some older wolves may have died.

It most likely will be winter of next year before we have firm information, said Sarah Hoy, a research assistant professor and animal ecologist, adding that the presence of young wolves is reason for optimism. Things are definitely looking up.

Scientists with Michigan Tech, the National Park Service and State University of New York will combine available information with genetic analyses to produce a population estimate based on death rates and numbers of litters.

An initial data summary should be finished this month, said Mark Romanski, a biologist and natural resources program manager at Isle Royale.

Because of constraints placed on field activities during the pandemic, we are especially pleased to have multiple lines of evidence to enumerate the population," he said.

Wolves are believed to have migrated to Isle Royale from Minnesota or the Canadian province of Ontario around the middle of the 20th century, crossing about 15 miles (24 kilometers) over the frozen lake surface.

Once established, they began feasting on the park's abundant moose and helped keep the herd from outgrowing its food supply. But wolf numbers plummeted in the past decade, which scientists blamed primarily on inbreeding.

The National Park Service announced plans in 2018 to restore the population, which had fallen to two. Crews took 19 wolves from Minnesota, Ontario and Michigans Upper Peninsula to the island in a series of airlifts. Some have died and at least one wandered back to the mainland but most appear to be settling in.

They're killing moose, starting to function as they should, Hoy said.

The goal is to have 20-30 wolves within three to five years. Officials havent decided whether to bring more in, park spokeswoman Liz Valencia said.

A healthy park ecosystem includes a variety of wildlife and abundant food sources, said Christine Goepfert, Midwest associate director for the National Parks Conservation Association. As wolves bounce back after nearly disappearing from the park, their presence as a predator on the island will help all wildlife and native plants thrive at Isle Royale.

The wolves' decline fueled a moose boom between 2012 and 2019, when the population may have reached 2,000 before dropping to 1,876 last year. It appears to have fallen further since, the report said.

During vegetation surveys this spring, researchers found 15 moose dead from starvation. Balsam fir saplings, their primary winter food source, were in "the worst condition ever observed as moose munched every available branch, Hoy said. Blood-sucking ticks that thrived during the mild winter made things worse.

Also during the past year, personnel with the park service and Michigan Tech organized thousands of moose bones that have been gathered at Isle Royale. They're being cleaned, photo-documented and entered into a database. The collection eventually will be housed in a museum.

It is gratifying to see the National Park Service invest in the long-term preservation of moose bones, and it is almost certain that the scientific value of the collection will increase over time, Michigan Tech wildlife ecologist Rolf Peterson said. We have already put it to use in ways never anticipated when the bones were first collected and saved.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  The head of Haiti's national police announced Sunday that officers arrested a Haitian man accused of flying into the country on a private jet and working with the masterminds and alleged assassins behind the killing of President Jovenel Moise.

Police Chief Leon Charles identified the suspect as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, without giving any personal information about him, though it appears he has been living in Florida. The chief also gave no information on the purported masterminds.

Charles said the alleged killers were protecting Sanon as the supposed president of Haiti, adding that officers found several items at his house, including a hat emblazoned with the logo of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four automobile license plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence with unidentified people.

"We continue to make strides, Charles said of police efforts to solve the brazen attack early Wednesday at Moises private home that killed the president and seriously wounded his wife, Martine Moise, who was flown to Miami and remains hospitalized.

Charles said a total of 26 Colombians are suspected in the killing of the president. Eighteen of them have been arrested, along with three Haitians. He said five of the suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed.

They are dangerous individuals, he said. I'm talking commando, specialized commando.

The chief said police are working with high-ranking Colombian officials to identify details of the alleged plot, including when the suspects left Colombia and who paid for their tickets.

Charles said Sanon was in contact with a firm that provides security for politicians and recruited the suspects, adding that the suspect flew into Haiti with them in early June. The men's initial mission was to protect Sanon, but they later received a new one: arrest the president, the chief said.

The operation started from there, he said, adding that an additional 22 suspects joined the group and that contact was made with Haitian citizens.

Charles said that after Moise was killed, one of the suspects phoned Sanon, who then got in touch with two people believed to be the intellectual authors of the plot. He did not identify the masterminds or say if police knew who they are.

The chief said Haitian authorities obtained the information from interrogations and other parts of the investigation.

It was not immediately clear if Sanon had an attorney.

Sanon has lived in Florida, in Broward County and in Hillsborough County on the Gulf Coast. Records show he has also lived in Kansas City, Missouri. He filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and identifies himself as a doctor in a video on YouTube titled Leadership for Haiti.

In the video, he denounces the leaders of Haiti as corrupt, accusing them of stripping the country of its resources, saying that they dont care about the country, they dont care about the people.

He claims Haiti has uranium, oil and other resources that have been taken by government officials. With me in power, you are going to have to tell me: What are you doing with my uranium? What are you doing with the oil that we have in the country? What are you going to do with the gold?

He also added: This is a country with resources. Nine million people cant be in poverty when we have so much resources in the country. Its impossible. ... The world has to stop doing what they are doing right now. We cant take it anymore. We need new leadership that will change the way of life.

Sanon has posted little on Twitter but has expressed an interest in Haitian politics. In September 2010, he tweeted: Just completed a successful conference in Port-Au-Prince. Many people from the opposition attended. A month later, he wrote: Back to Haiti for an important meeting regarding the election. Pray for me for protection and wisdom.

The announcement of Sanon's arrest was made hours after hundreds of Haitians sought solace in prayer at early Sunday church services as a political power struggle threatened to further destabilize their fragile country.

Roman Catholic and Protestant church leaders asked for calm and told people to remain strong as anxiety about the future grew, with authorities providing no answers or theories about who masterminded the killing by a group of gunmen early Wednesday at the president's home. Martine Moise, the president's wife, was critically injured and was transported to Miami for treatment.

Facing this situation, we will not be discouraged... You must stay and fight for peace, Father Edwine Sainte-Louis said during a sermon broadcast on TV that included a small picture of Moise with a banner that read: Haiti will remember you.

Prosecutors have requested that high-profile politicians including presidential candidate Reginald Boulos and former Haitian Senate President Youri Latortue meet officials for questioning as the investigation continues. Authorities also said they plan to interview at least two members of Moises security detail.

Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph is currently leading Haiti with the help of the police and military, but he faces mounting challenges to his power.

Ariel Henry, whom Moise designated as prime minister a day before he was killed, has said he believes he is the rightful prime minister, a claim also backed by a group of legislators who are members of Moise's Tet Kale party. That group also supports Joseph Lambert, head of Haitis dismantled Senate, as the countrys provisional president.

Haiti, a country of more than 11 million people, currently has only 10 elected officials after it failed to hold parliamentary elections, leading Moise to rule by decree for more than a year until his death.

While the streets were calm on Sunday, government officials worry about what lies ahead and have requested U.S. and U.N. military assistance.

We still believe there is a path for chaos to happen, Haiti Elections Minister Mathias Pierre told The Associated Press.

Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby said on Fox News Sunday that the Pentagon is analyzing the request to send troops to Haiti and that no decisions have been made. He said a team, largely comprising agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, were heading down to Haiti right now" to help with the investigation of the assassination.

I think thats really where are our energies are best applied right now, in helping them get their arms around investigating this incident and figuring out whos culpable, whos responsible and how best to hold them accountable going forward, Kirby said.

The United Nations has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990. The last U.N. peacekeeping mission arrived in 2004 and all military peacekeepers left the country in 2017. But a stabilization group stayed behind to train national police, help the government strengthen judicial and legal institutions and monitor human rights. That mission ended in 2019 and was replaced by a political mission headed by an American diplomat, Helen La Lime.

In addition to helping normalize the country, the U.N. peacekeeping force played an important role after a devastating 2010 earthquake that killed as many as 300,000 people and after Hurricane Matthew in 2016. But U.N. troops from Nepal are widely blamed for inadvertently introducing cholera, which has afflicted over 800,000 people and killed more than 9,000 people since 2010. Some troops also have been implicated in sexual abuse, including of hungry young children.

Laurent Dubois, a Haiti expert and Duke University professor, said questions over Moises assassination could remain unanswered for a long time.

There are so many potential players who could be behind it, he said, adding that the political strength of Pierre, the interim prime minister, is an open question. There is going to be some jockeying for positions of power. That is one big worry.

In Port-au-Prince, resident Fritz Destin welcomed a priest's sermon urging people not to be discouraged.

The country needs a lot of prayers, he said. The violence makes life a little uncertain.''

___

Fox reported from Washington. AP writer Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and AP video journalist Gerardo Carrillo in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report.
SEOUL, South Korea  South Koreas streak of more than 1,000 daily coronavirus cases has reached a week as health authorities scramble to slow a viral surge that has brought Seouls thriving nightlife to a standstill and professional baseball to a halt.

Authorities said Tuesday that more than 800 of the 1,150 new cases are in the greater capital area, where officials have shut down nightclubs and prohibited private social gatherings of three or more people after 6 p.m.

There are signs the virus is spreading beyond the Seoul metropolitan area as the country enters its summer holiday period. Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province are among the major cities and regions that reported dozens of new infections.

South Korea has added more than 13,000 cases this month alone, bringing its total for the pandemic to 170,296, including 2,046 deaths from COVID-19.

___

MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Frances Macron orders all health workers to get vaccinated

 US doses arrive as Nepal struggles to vaccinate population

 Explainer: How will the virus emergency affect the Olympics?

 Pfizer to discuss vaccine booster with US officials Monday

___

Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

___

HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

SYDNEY  Australia has recorded a third COVID-19 death this year.

New South Wales state Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant on Tuesday declined to say whether the man, who was aged in his 70s, had been vaccinated. He died Monday in Sydneys eastern suburbs where the current Sydney cluster began last month.

The New South Wales state government has said Sydneys three-wee-old lockdown is likely to be extended Friday.

A woman in her 90s from southwest Sydney died Saturday, a day after testing positive for the coronavirus. An 80-year-old man died April 12 after becoming infected in the Philippines.

Australia had not previously recorded a COVID-19 death since Oct. 19.

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BOISE, Idaho  Republican state senators in Idaho are discussing the possibility of convening a special session to consider legislation to block three large health care providers from requiring their employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Senate Pro Tempore Chuck Winder said Monday that the senators will meet online Friday amid growing calls for a special session.

Primary Health Group, Saint Alphonsus Health System and St. Lukes Health System last week announced the vaccine requirement ahead of the cold and flu season and as coronavirus variants spread in parts of the U.S.

More than 195,000 cases of coronavirus have been detected in Idaho since the pandemic began, and more than 2,000 people have died from COVID-19.

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OTTAWA  Canada will donate 17.7 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to lower-income countries through the U.N.-backed COVAX program for vaccine sharing.

Federal Procurement Minister Anita Anand said Monday that the doses are excess supply. The timing of the donation has yet to be worked out.

While at the G7 summit last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged Canada would give back 13 million doses it was set to receive through a contract with COVAX, on top of millions of dollars already set aside for the global vaccine effort.

Canada is on track to receive 68 million doses by the end of July, which would be enough to inoculate most Canadians.

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WASHINGTON  U.S. health officials say Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine may pose a small possible risk of a rare but potentially dangerous neurological reaction.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that it has received reports of 100 people who got the shot developing an immune system disorder that can causes muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis.

The reports represent a tiny fraction of the nearly 13 million Americans who have received the one-dose vaccine.

The government said the vaccines most used in the U.S., made by Pfizer and Moderna, show no risk of the disorder.

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ATHENS  Health care workers in Greece will be suspended if they refuse to get vaccinated under a new mandatory policy announced Monday by the countrys prime minister.

Staff at nursing homes will be suspended starting Aug. 16 if they fail to book a vaccination appointment, with a similar policy to follow in September for workers at state-run and private hospitals.

Starting Friday, and until the end of August, all indoor commercial areas, including bars, cinemas, and theaters, will only be available for the vaccinated.

The new restrictions will apply nationwide, including the Greek islands and other key tourism destinations.

COVID-19 infections in Greece have surged since late June, with authorities blaming carelessness at bars and restaurants as well as the spread of the highly infectious delta variant.

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PARIS  French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday ordered all French health care workers to get virus vaccine shots by Sept. 15 and urged all of his compatriots to get vaccinated as soon as possible, to fight resurgent infections that are threatening the countrys economic recovery.

In a televised address, Macron also mandated special COVID-19 passes for anyone who wants to go to a restaurant, shopping mall or several other public places. To get a pass, people must be fully vaccinated, have a fresh negative virus test or have proof they recently recovered from the virus.

The delta variant is driving Frances virus infections back up again, just as the country kicked off summer vacation season after a long-awaited reopening process. Some 40% of Frances population is fully vaccinated but there are pockets of vaccine skepticism.

The country is facing a strong resumption of the epidemic touching all our territory, Macron said, speaking against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. He stopped short of any new lockdown-like measures, saying we have to live with the virus.

He said his centrist French government would declare a medical state of emergency again starting Tuesday, which allows more freedom to impose virus restrictions.

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MADRID  Spanish regions are resorting back to curfews, caps on socialization and nightlife curbs to contain a sharp rise in coronavirus contagion as the fast-spreading delta variant infects mostly the unvaccinated youth.

Catalonia and Valencia, the two regions in the Mediterranean coast with major virus outbreaks, are limiting social gatherings to 10 people and bringing back late night curbs on all activities, while the northern Asturias region on Monday banned bar and restaurant activity indoors.

Propelled by parties to mark the end of the school year and the first summer celebrations, the two-week COVID-19 caseload is currently over three times higher among residents under 30 than the average among the total population.

The closely watched variable rose nationally on Monday to 368 cases per 100,000 residents according to Fernando Simon, who coordinates Spains response to health emergencies.

Simon said that although younger patients typically dont need intensive care treatment, the high number of cases among those under 30 was slowly pushing up the rate of hospital admissions.

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LONDON  All remaining lockdown restrictions in England will be lifted in a week despite a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed Monday. He said it was the right moment to proceed as schools close for summer vacation but urged people to proceed with caution.

Johnson said although risks of the pandemic remain, legal restrictions will be replaced by a recommendation that people wear masks in crowded places and on public transport. Nightclubs and other venues with crowds should use vaccine passports for entry as a matter of social responsibility, he added.

This pandemic is not over. This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family. We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday July 19 to life as it was before COVID, Johnson said.

At that time, all restrictions on social gatherings will be removed and social distancing measures will be scrapped. Nightclubs can reopen for the first time since March last year, and there will no longer be limits on people attending concerts, theaters, weddings or sports events.

As of Monday, 87% of the U.K.s adult population have had their first dose, and 66% have had both doses. At the same time infections have soared in recent weeks, running at over 30,000 new cases daily, driven by the delta variant.

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BERLIN  With COVID-19 cases again on the rise, German officials said Monday said that authorities need a broader focus beyond the countrys infection rate to fully gauge the impact the pandemic is having on the health system and the kind of measures that should be taken.

For much of the past year the incidence rate  how many COVID-19 cases are confirmed per 100,000 people each week  has been key to the governments decisions over what restrictive measures to impose.

The relevance of that figure is increasingly being called into question by those who argue that a sharp rise in new cases  already seen in other European countries such as Britain and the Netherlands  doesnt necessarily mean many more seriously ill patients.

Because the at-risk groups are vaccinated, a high incidence doesnt automatically mean an equally high burden on intensive care beds, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Twitter. The incidence is increasingly losing significance, we now need more detailed information on the situation in clinics.

His ministry said that as of Tuesday, hospitals will need to transmit more data on their COVID-19 patients, including names, the type of treatment and their vaccination status. The government says 58.5% of the population have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 42.6 % are fully vaccinated.

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HARTFORD, Conn.  Connecticut lawmakers will meet on Wednesday to consider whether Gov. Ned Lamonts emergency declarations first issued in March of 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic should be extended again.

The Democratic governor has asked the Democratic-controlled General Assembly to renew his declarations of public health and civil preparedness emergencies through Sept. 30, noting he is only seeking to extend 11 executive orders. Thats compared to a high of more than 300 at one point during the crisis.

He says these orders still needed to protect the public and continue critical measures to provide healthcare access and economic relief and respond to evolving changes, noting theyre narrowly targeted.

The list includes orders requiring face masks in certain settings, providing tenants additional time to repay back rent, and allowing state-owned commuter lots to be used for vaccination clinics - a new initiative thats scheduled to launch on July 30.

Also, he said several federal funding sources for food, housing and other initiatives require emergency declarations to remain in place.

Conservative Republicans have been pushing back on Lamonts request. They contend its unwarranted, given the progress Connecticut has made with curbing the pandemic.

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GENEVA  The head of the World Health Organization called on drugmakers to prioritize supplying their COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries instead of lobbying rich countries to use even more doses, just as some pharmaceuticals are seeking authorization for a third dose to be used as a booster.

At a press briefing on Monday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the massive disparity in vaccines between rich and poor countries means that we are making conscious choices right now not to protect those in need. He said the priority now must be to vaccinate people who have received no doses.

Tedros called on Pfizer and Moderna to go all out to supply COVAX, the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team and low and middle income countries with very little coverage, referring to the U.N.-backed initiative to distribute vaccines globally. Both Pfizer and Moderna have agreed to supply small amounts of their vaccine to COVAX, but the vast majority of their doses have been reserved by rich countries.

Last week, Pfizer said it would seek authorization for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, saying a booster shot could dramatically boost immunity and perhaps help ward off worrisome variants.

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JERUSALEM  Israel has started dispensing third doses of the coronavirus vaccine to individuals with weakened immune systems.

The Health Ministry said in a statement Monday that in light of the rise in new infections in Israel, it was allowing the immunocompromised to receive a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Though much of the country is vaccinated, Israel has seen a steady increase in new cases of coronavirus in recent weeks. Most of the new cases are among children who are not eligible for the vaccine, and the government has pushed for teenagers to go get vaccinated. Most of the newly reported cases are mild.

Israel has vaccinated over 61% of its 9.3 million citizens with at least one dose and almost 56% with two doses, the vast majority with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, since launching its vaccination drive in December.
MADRID (AP)  Authorities in Melilla said on Monday that 119 African men have entered the autonomous city from a group of over 200 who tried to jump over the double fence that separates the Spanish enclave in northern Africa from Morocco.

At least five Civil Guard officers and one of the migrants were injured during the crossing attempt in the early hours of Monday, a spokesman with the Spanish governments delegation in Melilla said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to be named in media reports, said the rest of the migrants were stopped by guards on the Moroccan side of the border.

He said that the migrants are all men from Sub-Saharan African countries. Those who managed to get into Melilla are being tested for the coronavirus at the local migrant processing center and will be quarantined, the official said.

Melilla and nearby Ceuta, Spains other autonomous city on the northern African coast, are seen as springboards into Europe for many Africans fleeing poverty or violence.

Thousands, including hundreds of unaccompanied children, arrived in Ceuta in mid-May amid a diplomatic row between Spain and Morocco over the future of Western Sahara, a territory annexed by Rabat in the 1970s.

By ARITZ PARRA

Associated Press
Pro-EU party in Moldova wins clear majority in election View Photo

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP)  A pro-reform party seeking closer ties for Moldova with the European Union has won a clear majority in the parliamentary election, electoral commission results show Monday.

Sundays election was called by President Maia Sandu, who sought to gain a parliament made up of pro-EU reformists in the former Soviet republic.

The Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, took almost 53% of all votes, compared to the electoral bloc of Communists and Socialists, which took 27%. Only one other party passed the threshold to gain seats in Moldovas 101-seat legislature.

Voter turnout in the nation of 3.5 million people  Europes poorest country, landlocked between Ukraine and Romania  was just over 48%.

Sandu, a former World Bank official who used to lead the PAS, has promised to clean up corruption, fight poverty and strengthen relations with the EU.

After ballots closed Sunday the president said she hopes the election would be the end of a hard era for Moldova.

I hope today will be the end of the thieves reign over Moldova  People must soon feel the benefits of a clean parliament and a government that actually concerns population problems, she said.

In 2014, Moldova signed a deal with the EU on forging closer ties, but high levels of corruption and lack of reform have hindered development in the country, which ranked 115th out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals 2020 Corruption Perception Index.

In last years presidential election, Sandu beat Moscow-friendly incumbent Igor Dodon, the current leader of the Socialists, who campaigned on high social spending, traditional family values and a distrust of closer ties with the West.

Dodon told a news conference Monday that this is democracy, people wanted change, but expressed concerns over the reformists ability to govern the country.

The election, which featured more than 20 parties, was called in April by Sandu after the countrys Constitutional Court abolished a state of emergency that was introduced to handle the coronavirus pandemic.

The pro-Western president was hoping to secure a government she can work to enact reforms.

Vadim Pistrinciuc, executive director of Chisinau-based Institute for Strategic Initiatives, and a former lawmaker, told The Associated Press that the election result is historical.

For the first time a single pro-European party takes a full (parliamentary) majority, he said, but added that if the reformists fail to deliver change, it would bring tremendous disappointment.

Dionis Cenusa, an analyst at the Chisinau-based think tank Expert Group, said that the PAS parliamentary majority is enough to start a huge reform wave.

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Stephen McGrath reported from Bucharest, Romania.

By CORNELIU RUSNAC AND STEPHEN McGRATH

Associated Press
Florida suspect in Haiti president killing deepens mystery View Photo

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  The arrest of a failed Haitian businessman living in Florida who authorities say was a key player in the killing of Haitis president deepened the mystery Monday into an already convoluted plot surrounding the assassination.

Haitian authorities identified the suspect as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 62, who once expressed a desire to lead his country in a YouTube video. However, he is unknown in Haitian political circles, and associates suggested he was duped by those really behind the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in an attack last week that critically wounded his wife, Martine, who remains hospitalized in Miami.

A Florida friend of Sanon told The Associated Press that the suspect is an evangelical Christian pastor and a licensed physician in Haiti, but not in the U.S. The associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of safety concerns, said Sanon told him he was approached by people claiming to represent the U.S. State and Justice departments who wanted to install him as president.

He said the plan was for Moise to be arrested, not killed, and Sanon would not have participated if he knew Moise would be assassinated.

I guarantee you that, the associate said. This was supposed to be a mission to save Haiti from hell, with support from the U.S. government.

Echoing those sentiments was the Rev. Larry Caldwell, a Florida pastor, who said he worked with Sanon setting up churches and medical clinics in Haiti from 2000-2010. He doesnt believe Sanon would have been involved in violence.

I know the character of the man, Caldwell said. You take a man like that and youre then going to say he participated in a brutal crime of murder, knowing that being associated with that would send him to the pits of hell?  If there was one man who would be willing to stand in the breach to help his country, it would be Christian.

Haitis National Police chief, Leon Charles, said Moises killers were protecting Sanon, whom he accused of working with those who plotted the assassination.

Charles said officers found a hat with the logo of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four license plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence, among other things, in Sanons house in Haiti.

Twenty-six former Colombian soldiers are suspected in the killing and 23 have been arrested, along with three Haitians. Charles said five suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed.

They are dangerous individuals, Charles said. Im talking commando, specialized commando.

A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official told AP that one of the suspects in Moises assassination was at times a confidential source to the agency, and that the suspect reached out to his contacts at the DEA after the killing and was urged to surrender. The official said the DEA and a U.S. State Department official provided information to Haitis government that led to the surrender and arrest of one suspect and one other individual, whom it didnt identify.

Meanwhile, Colombias national police chief, Gen. Jorge Luis Vargas, said that a Florida-based enterprise, CTU Security, used its company credit card to buy 19 plane tickets from Bogota to Santo Domingo for the Colombian suspects. Most arrived in the Dominican Republic in June and moved into Haiti within weeks, Vargas said.

He said that Dimitri Herard, head of general security at Haitis National Palace, flew to Colombia, Ecuador and Panama in the months before the assassination, and Colombian police are investigating whether he had any role in recruiting the mercenaries. In Haiti, prosecutors are seeking to interrogate Herard over the assassination.

Charles said Sanon was in contact with CTU Security and that the company recruited the suspects in the killing. He said Sanon flew into Haiti in June on a private jet accompanied by several of the alleged gunmen.

The suspects initial mission was to protect Sanon, but they later received a new order: to arrest the president, Charles said.

The operation started from there, he said, adding that 22 additional suspects joined the group.

Charles said that after Moise was killed, one suspect phoned Sanon, who got in touch with two people believed to be masterminds of the plot. He did not identify them or say if police know who they are.

Sanons associate said he attended a recent meeting in Florida with Sanon and about a dozen other people, including Antonio Enmanuel Intriago Valera, a Venezuelan emigre to Miami who runs CTU Security. He said a presentation was made for rebuilding the country, including its water system, converting trash into energy and fixing roads.

He said Sanon asked why the security team accompanying him to Haiti were all Colombians. Sanon was told Haitians couldnt be trusted and that the system is corrupt, the associate said. He said Sanon called him from Haiti a few days before the assassination and said the Colombians had disappeared.

Im all by myself. Who are these people? I dont know what they are doing, the associate quoted Sanon as saying.

Sanon is completely gullible, the associate added. He thinks God is going to save everything.

Sanon has lived in Broward County in Florida, as well as in Hillsborough County on the Gulf Coast. Records also show he resided in Kansas City, Missouri. He filed for bankruptcy in Florida in 2013 and identified himself as a medical doctor in a video on YouTube titled Leadership for Haiti.

However, records show Sanon has never been licensed to practice medicine or any other occupation covered by Floridas Department of Health.

Sanon said in court papers filed in a 2013 bankruptcy case in Florida that he was a physician and a pastor at the Tabarre Evangelical Tabernacle in Haiti. He said he had stakes in enterprises including the Organization of Rome Haiti, which he identified as a non-governmental organization, a radio station in Haiti and medical facilities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

At the time of his bankruptcy, he and his wife reported income of $5,000 per month, and a home in Brandon, Florida, valued at about $143,000, with a mortgage of more than $367,000. A federal bankruptcy trustee later determined they hid ownership of about 35 acres in Haiti from creditors.

Florida records show Sanon started about a dozen businesses over the last 20 years, all of which failed, including ones that appeared related to medical imaging, physical therapy, fossil fuel trading, real estate and veganism.

In a 2011 YouTube video, Sanon denounced Haitis leadership as corrupt, accusing them of stripping the country of its resources, saying: They dont care about the country, they dont care about the people.

He falsely claimed that Haiti has uranium, oil and other resources that have been taken by government officials.

Nine million people cant be in poverty when we have so much resources in the country. Its impossible, he said. We need new leadership that will change the way of life.

Sanons arrest comes as a growing number of politicians have challenged interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who is currently in charge of Haiti with backing from police and the military.

U.S. officials, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, met Sunday with Joseph, designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry and Joseph Lambert, the head of Haitis dismantled Senate, whom supporters have named as provisional president in a challenge to Joseph, according to the White House National Security Council.

The delegation also met with Haitis National Police and reviewed the security of critical infrastructure, it said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the delegation received a request for additional assistance. She said a potential deployment of U.S. troops remained under review, but also suggested that Haitis political uncertainty was a complicating factor.

What was clear from their trip is that there is a lack of clarity about the future of political leadership, Psaki said.

U.S. President Joe Biden said he was closely following developments, adding: The people of Haiti deserve peace and security, and Haitis political leaders need to come together for the good of their country.

Meanwhile, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Haitis request for security assistance is being examined.

The United Nations has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990, but the last U.N. military peacekeepers left the country in 2017.

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Fox reported from Washington, Spencer reported from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Manuel Rueda in Bogota, Colombia, Mike Balsamo in Washington and Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report.

By DANICA COTO, BEN FOX and TERRY SPENCER

Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israels newly inaugurated president spoke Monday with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a sign of a possible thaw after years of frosty relations between the two former allies.

President Isaac Herzogs office said in a statement that the two leaders emphasized that Israel-Turkey relations are of great significance for security and stability in the eastern Mediterranean and that cooperation had great potential for both countries.

Israel and Turkey were once close regional partners, but relations between the two countries soured in the the past decade. The Turkish government frequently criticizes Israels policies toward the Palestinians.

According to the Israeli Presidents Offices statement, Herzog and Erdogan said that ongoing dialog despite all the differences of opinion was important, particularly for advancing steps toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Herzog took office last week after he was elected by the Knesset, Israels parliament, in a June vote. He spoke Saturday with neighboring Jordans King Abdullah II after Israel and Jordan agreed to initiate negotiations for the sale of water to the Hashemite kingdom.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has put mending strained relations with Jordan as a top priority of the newly instated government.
Biden to talk crime with city, police leaders nationwide View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden will host New York Citys Democratic mayoral candidate and other city and law enforcement leaders from around the country to talk about reducing crime.

Eric Adams, Brooklyn borough president and the likely next mayor of New York, plus Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo are expected to attend the meeting Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans. They were not authorized to speak publicly about the meeting and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Biden will also host Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, Chief David Brown of Chicago and Lt. Anthony Lima of the Newark, New Jersey, police.

Shootings and killings are up around the nation, with local politicians and police struggling to manage the violence that has ballooned since the coronavirus pandemic. But there is a continued push for police reform, revived nationwide with the death of George Floyd, and Biden is trying to work on both simultaneously.

The president recently announced new efforts to stem the tide of violence, but the federal government is limited in what it can do to help localities reduce the spike. His plan focuses on providing funding to cities that need more police, offering community support and cracking down on gun violence and supplying illegal firearms.

But much of Bidens effort is voluntary  centered on encouraging cities to invest some of their COVID-19 relief funds into policing and pushing alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers  often both targets and perpetrators of violence.

Biden will be joined Monday by Attorney General Merrick Garland and other anti-violence experts. The president is expected to talk through the work federal law enforcement is doing to stop the flow of illegal guns, including new strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington to help take down illegal gun traffickers and a new zero tolerance policy for dealers who sell guns illegally.

A federal effort is underway to expand and enhance community violence interruption programs in 15 cities.

Adams, a former New York Police Department captain, is the prohibitive favorite in the general election against Curtis Sliwa, the Republican founder of the Guardian Angels. Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-to-1 in New York City.

Adams won a crowded primary after appealing to the political center and promising to strike the right balance between fighting crime and ending racial injustice in policing.

The Wall Street Journal first reported details of the meeting.

MICHAEL BALSAMO, COLLEEN LONG and JONATHAN LEMIRE

Associated Press
Nepals Supreme Court reinstates dissolved lower house View Photo

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP)  Nepals Supreme Court reinstated the House of Representatives on Monday and upheld the leader of the oppositions claim to be the new prime minister.

The 167-page court order removes Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who had been running a caretaker government until planned elections.

In May, Oli directed the president to dissolve the House of Representatives, Parliaments lower house, and announce new elections later this year. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court by a coalition of opposition parties that said they had the support of a majority in Parliament to form a new government.

The Supreme Court also ruled Monday that the reinstated House of Representatives should meet within a week, when the leader of the main opposition party, Sher Bahadur Deuba, is expected to call a vote of confidence.

There was no immediate comment from Olis office or his aides.

Hundreds of Olis supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court to oppose the court decision.

We are here to protest the unconstitutional decision by the Supreme Court, which was interfering with the affairs of the Parliament and its rights, said one of the protesters, Ramesh Acharya.

The protesters briefly scuffled with riot police who were able to push them back. There were no injuries or arrests.

More protests are likely later in the week because Oli still has significant support among the public.

It is the second time the Supreme Court has reinstated the House of Representatives this year after it was dissolved by Oli.

He had the House of Representatives dissolved in December and called for new elections in April, but that was rejected by the Supreme Court and the lower house was reinstated in February. Oli again had the president dissolve the House of Representatives in May with elections planned for November.

Oli became prime minister in 2018 after the Communist Party of Nepal won a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives. The party, however, has had two splits this year, weakening Olis hold on power.

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA

Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP)  In a gesture of goodwill to the United States, the European Union on Monday put work on plans for a digital tax levy on hold for the moment to concentrate on finalizing the historic tax decision endorsed by the Group of 20 nations over the weekend.

In the face of criticism from U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, the European Commission said its work on the levy that would hit American technology companies would go on ice to allow for smooth cooperation on the political and technical hurdles that still need to be addressed on the G-20 tax decision before the end of October.

We will work together to reach this global agreement, said EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni. "I informed the Secretary Yellen of our decision to put on hold the proposal of the Commission of a digital levy to allow us to be concentrated, working hand-in-hand, to achieve the last mile of this historic agreement.

Finance ministers from the G-20 major economies endorsed a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15%, a measure aimed at putting a floor under tax rates and discouraging companies from using low-rate countries as tax havens.

The global minimum proposal faces political and technical hurdles before it takes effect. Details are to be ironed out in coming weeks at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, followed by a final endorsement by G-20 presidents and prime ministers at an Oct. 30-31 meeting in Rome.

Countries then need to legislate the rate into their own laws. The idea is for countries where firms have their headquarters to tax those companies foreign earnings at home if those earnings go untaxed in low-rate countries. That would remove the reason for using complex accounting schemes to move profits to subsidiaries in low-tax nations, and where the companies may do little or no actual business.

In addition, the EU has also tried to focus on companies that make profits in countries where they have no physical presence, such as through digital advertising or online retail. Countries led by France have started imposing unilateral digital taxes that have hit the biggest U.S. tech companies, including Google, Amazon and Facebook.

The U.S. calls those unfair trade practices, and has threatened retaliation through import taxes.

Germany also focused more on the global corporate tax measures agreed upon than on EU plans for digital taxation.

"The most important step is that we have an agreement on a global minimum tax and that we also have an agreement on how we better tax big high-profitable companies, including those that are active as global digital giants," said German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz. Because of that, he said that not pushing ahead now with EU-only plans "is also a sign that we are really making the progress to get a global agreement.

The European Commission's announcement came as Yellen was meeting in Brussels with eurozone counterparts and high-level EU officials.
DENVER (AP)  Four people have been arrested and more than a dozen weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been seized at a downtown Denver hotel that is close to several events planned in conjunction with the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Officers responding to a tip searched two rooms at the Maven Hotel, a block from Coors Field, on Friday night. Three men and a woman in their 40s were arrested, and two vehicles were impounded to be searched for evidence.

The recovered weapons included several rifles, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

So far, investigators have not found any evidence to suggest the group was plotting a mass shooting or other similar attack, the official said, while cautioning that the investigation is still in its early stages. The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Authorities were called after an employee found the guns in a hotel room, the official said.

The men who were arrested are being investigated for possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and the woman, who has a separate warrant, is being investigated on a drug charge.

We have no reason to believe this incident was connected to terrorism or a threat directed at the All-Star Game, the FBI said in a statement released Sunday. We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players or the community at this time.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Hancock and police Chief Paul Pazen praised the hotel's staff for alerting authorities and sought to ease any concerns that the area around the ballpark is unsafe. They declined to say what, if anything, the suspects were planning to do with the firearms.

We don't know what we don't know. That's what the investigation is all about, Pazen said during a news conference. We need to identify exactly, to the extent possible, why (the) individuals were here in the first place, why (the) proximity to downtown. We dont have those answers.

Coors Field will host the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but festivities have been underway in and around the ballpark and downtown for the past several days.

Police said in a statement that visitors should always be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious or illegal behavior.

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Balsamo reported from Washington, D.C.
MERIDEN  Kelly Lewis was told several years ago that she and her three children would have access to the proposed Yale Acres Community Center that will abut her backyard on Welles Terrace.

We were told wed be part of the neighborhood, Lewis said. Now, I hear they want to buy my house.

The single mother has lived in the Cape Cod-style home at 50 Welles Terrace for 21 years and her children attend Roger Sherman Elementary School. They have a small fenced-in yard and a shed that backs up to property owned by the Meriden Housing Authority, which operates the Yale Acres public housing complex.

After recently finalizing a divorce, the childrens security is Lewiss top priority.

This is their home, she said.

The Meriden Housing Authority Board of Commissioners voted last week to allow Executive Director Robert Cappelletti to enter into negotiations to buy seven properties on Welles Terrace should the proposed Community Center require more land. One property owner agreed to sell for $90,000, Lewis said. But she was among several neighbors who were caught off guard when the authorization was reported in the Record-Journal last week. Her neighbor at 42 Welles Terrace just purchased his home for $160,000 last week.

I feel sorry for him next door, Lewis said.

MHA Board Chairman Neil Ivers said some of the neighbors might not have been approached because the talks couldnt begin in earnest without board approval. Taking property through eminent domain is forbidden.

Edward Siebert, who heads real estate and special programs for the housing authority, said that he has not spoken with Lewis but four out of the seven homeowners are open to selling, and the MHA has verbal agreements with two.

Well do three appraisals and offer them the average, Siebert said.

The community center was always intended to be open to all residents of the city, not just Yale Acres tenants, Siebert added.

The MHA ,and its development arm Maynard Road Corp., just completed $52 million renovations to the 162 post World War II-era townhouses at Yale Acres. Most of the residents are considered moderate income and pay a percentage of their income in rent. There are also some Section 8 tenants, although the exact breakdown was not available. The smaller homes on nearby Welles Terrace and surrounding streets were also built by the Meriden Housing Authority and sold as starter homes.

If all seven properties are sold back to the MHA, it will add roughly two acres to the five acres set aside for the community center and power plant project, officials said.

Siebert said the property buying plan doesnt violate the MHAs mission of providing housing options to all income levels, because its core focus is on affordable housing. The homeowners have the right to refuse any offer and can opt to stay.

When asked if the income levels of tenants living in moderate income housing were similar to the nearby home owners, Siebert replied there were considerable differences.

Tenants eligible to live at Yale Acres have incomes that wouldnt allow them to afford property taxes, insurance and the maintenance required for home ownership, Siebert said.

The Yale Acres Community Center project, with a swimming pool, greenhouse and power generation plant in the basement, could end up costing more than the estimated $26 million, Ivers said.

In April, MHA Commissioner Lawrence Kendzior expressed concern with the length of time that passed without zoning approvals or financing for the Community Center project. Cappelletti explained he was working with the city on the required zoning approvals as well as funding. He added that the MHA was talking with a variety of qualified lenders, including Wells Fargo, and anticipated a firm plan in the fall, according to meeting minutes.

Cappelletti could not be reached for comment for this story.

Lewis and another neighbor are uncertain what the future holds, they said. Lewis fears that if she sold it would not be enough to relocate to a comparable home in the current housing market. The city appraised her home at $110,000, but her neighbor paid $160,000 last week.

Siebert said the new appraisals will reflect current home values. If necessary, the MHA expects to pay between $700,000 and $900,000 for all the properties, Cappelletti told board members last week.

mgodin@record-journal.com203-317-2255Twitter: @Cconnbiz
Editor's note: This story was produced in conjunction with the Latino Communities Reporting Lab.

MERIDEN  When Elizabeth Cancel  mother of 5-year-old Jacob Munoz  learned about the pre-K summer program Adventure is Out There!, she signed him up right away.

She thought it was a good opportunity for him to develop social skills and feels she was right because the boy comes home from the program with a smile on his face each day.

Adventure is Out There! is a free program for Meriden children ages 3 to 5 who missed a complete preschool experience this year or attended pre-K or kindergarten remotely.

The five-week program, offered by Meriden Family Resource Centers, includes field trips, books, crafts, bookbags, t-shirts, food, family tote bags, fitness, a petting zoo, musical activities, karate and more. It started recently at Hanover Elementary School and runs until Aug. 6.

The YMCA will add activities related to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Parenting classes will also be offered.

Cancel, who learned about the program through a friend, said that because of the pandemic, her son had been learning from home, which kept him from socializing. She feels the program will better prepare him for first grade.

Cathy Battista, director of Meriden Family Resource Centers and president of the Connecticut Family Resource Center Alliance, said Adventure is Out There! was designed with the purpose of enhancing the academic and social-emotional experience children lost during the pandemic. Many missed out on learning things like empathy, she added.

They need interaction just like we do, she said. The intent was to at least attempt...to bridge that gap and bring them closer to the place they should be when they go back to school.

There are 62 children enrolled in the program, but Battista said she could have probably filled two schools of children who qualify. As part of the program, children are being screened for child developmental and social emotional issues.

We dont diagnose, we refer to the experts if we see red flags, Battista said. We are all about prevention rather than intervention which usually comes way too late.

A school psychologist and a Spanish speaking staff member, Liz Peralta, are also part of the program.

Peralta sees the benefit of having a Spanish speaker among the staff because there are parents who dont speak English. She said those parents are often afraid to ask for help because of the communication barrier. Peralta helps with translation and connects parents with other types of assistance and information.

Battista said the summer program is also a way to help connect children with the other initiatives offered by Meriden Family Resource Centers.

Adventure is Out There! program costs are being paid by American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the Connecticut Office Of Early Childhood. Battista said that the office offered a total of $3.5 million to Family Resource Centers across the state.

Family Resource Centers  located at John Barry and Benjamin Franklin elementary schools  help families connect with the local communitys social and health services, jobs, parenting classes and more.

To learn more, please visit https://www.meridenk12.org/parents/meriden-family-resource-centers/

ksantos@record-journal.com203-317-2364Twitter: @KarlaSantosCT
Sometimes theres nothing more satisfying than a piping hot bag of McDonalds French fries.

The only thing that can make that greasy goodness taste even better? Snagging them for free, of course.

The fast-food titan announced that it will be doling out free French fries for customers via its new rewards program on July 13, with some even winning free French fries for life.

MyMcDonalds Rewards members will be eligible for the free grub on a new holiday that the company has dubbed World Famous Fan Day, where new members can sign up on the McDonalds app and opt in to rewards and be eligible for an order of free medium-sized fries.

Related: 22 McDonald's Facts That May Surprise You

"We have the best fans in the world who deserve to unlock perks for their loyalty," Alycia Mason, Vice President of Digital Customer Experience & Media at McDonald's USA said in a statement. "That is why we are so excited to bring MyMcDonald's Rewards nationwide and celebrate with all of our guests on World Famous Fan Day. We're eager to repay years of fandom by giving them what they love most about McDonald's  our delicious food  for years to come."

Customers who are seriously Lovin It will also be eligible to win free food for life via a social-media contest.

Beginning on July 13, twitter users can tag McDonalds account and use the hashtag #MyMcDonaldsFanContest and tweet about why they are the most loyal McDonalds fan to be eligible  and knowing McDonalds devotees, the responses are sure to be Super Sized.

The promotion comes in honor of the brands 66th anniversary.

Related: 8 Things McDonald's Can Teach You About Business Success

McDonalds, like many other chains in the food industry, has suffered amid the pandemic with the loss of employees, with one location even reportedly offering free iPhones as an incentive to get people to apply for work.

The brand saw its lowest profit income in 13 years in 2020 and shuttered around 200 locations in the U.S. in the same year.

McDonalds was currently up 25.11% year over year as of late Thursday afternoon.

Related: What People Don't Realize About the McDonald's Strikes

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
The city of Kirby's small-town atmosphere is what many longtime residents like about the San Antonio suburb. The community located along FM 78 is about 8 miles from downtown San Antonio and a short distance from Joint Base-San Antonio Randolph and Fort Sam Houston. Kirby covers approximately 2 square miles and has about 8,664 residents. According to the city's website, Kirby's origins are tied to the construction of the railroad that began in this area around 1890. The city was incorporated in 1955.

Kirby ranks No. 2 out of 10 in Niche's 2021 Suburbs with the Lowest Cost of Living in Bexar County category. Niche collects data from the census, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and other sources to provide consumer information on neighborhoods, K-12 schools, colleges, and more. The agency looks at key factors including, a location's housing, food, and fuel costs, as well as the median tax rates, in an attempt to measure the overall affordability and relative cost of living of an area. Niche researchers also found that 60 % of Kirby residents own their homes while 40 % are renters. The results of this study are available on Niche.com.

Realtor Yvonne Quenstedt, with LTL Realty, said the real estate market in Kirby is booming as it is in most parts of the country. The low housing inventory has resulted in fast home sales nationwide. Quenstedt also said, lately, many of the houses in Kirby's well-established neighborhoods are being sold to investors and turned into rental properties. "The homes that are being sold; a lot were the original residences of retirees." Quenstedt believes the community is shifting from retirees to more young families. Students in this community attend schools in the Judson Independent School District.

ALSO READ: Braun Station: Suburb's friendly, country atmosphere appeals to homebuyers
A 21-year-old man is dead and seven others are injured after a vehicle crashed through a guardrail and crashed into a crowd at a mud racing event in West Texas.

Details of the Texas Mud Racing Accident

According to MySA, the crash occurred in Fabens, Texas, about 40 miles southeast of El Paso and less than a mile from the Mexican border, around 6:30 pm Sunday.

Police said the crash happened just as the race was starting with a truck losing control and crashing into other cars and a crowd of people. Three other vehicles were involved in the accident along with at least eight people.

All eight were transported to the hospital with three of the individuals being listed in critical condition. One of the three critical patients, Willie Valadez Ramirez, died shortly after arriving.

There is an ongoing investigation into the accident. It is unclear if charges will be filed.

Texas Car Accident Statistics 2018

Information provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT):

 There were 12,161 serious injury crashes in Texas in 2018 with 14,908 people sustaining a serious injury.

 There were 701 people killed in crashes occurring in intersections or related to an intersection.

 There were 548 people killed in head-on crashes in 2018.

 There were no deathless days on Texas roadways in 2018.

 There were 940 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes where a driver was under the influence of alcohol. This is 26% of the total number of people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

Contact an Experienced Texas Car Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, contact Thomas J. Henry Law. Our experienced car accident attorneys have experience handling a multitude of injury accidents, no matter how severe the crash or injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages if another driver acted negligently. Our firm has the experienced lawyers and financial resources that you need to achieve the real results you deserve.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Austin serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free case review  attorneys are available 24/7, nights, and weekends. If you cannot make it to our office, we can visit you at your home, in the hospital, or at work.

Thomas J. Henry Law Offices with a Car Accident Lawyer in TX:

 Speak to an Austin car accident lawyer:

- Phone Number: (512) 520-0221 (attorneys available 24/7, nights and weekends)

- Address:4401 West Gate Blvd Suite 200, Austin, TX 78745 (walk-in Monday through Friday)

 Speak to a Corpus Christi car accident lawyer:

- Phone number: 361-254-7873 (attorneys available 24/7 to assist you)

- Address: 521 Starr Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401 (walk-in Monday through Friday)

 Speak to a San Antonio car accident lawyer:

- Phone number: 210-941-2191 (attorneys available 24/7 to assist you)

- Address: 5710 W Hausman Rd, Suite 108, San Antonio, TX 78249 (walk-in Monday through Friday)
Wellie, for once, not reporting on what seemed to be an end of the line ruling in the long-running Mayberry v. KKR can be depicted as astute, as opposed to a combination of dismay and distractions. By yet another turn of adept lawyering, the effort to do some real discovery on what KKR, Blackstone, PAAMCO, and key executives and trustees were up to when they sold underperforming, high fee hedge funds to the clueless Kentucky Retirement Systems has a new lease on life, in the form of filing a new civil RICO.

As youll see from the shaggy dog story of the process thus far, its a welcome surprise that the formidable Michelle Lerach, backed by her consultant/researcher husband and former securities litigation heavyweight, the now disbarred Bill Lerach, are back to continue to their battle to get into discovery with what sure looks like dirty dealings by some of the biggest boys in finance.

Readers may recall that the original Mayberry v. KKR lawsuit targeted not only KKR, Blackstone, and PAAMCO for breaching their statutory fiduciary duties and misrepresenting the risks and returns of customized hedge funds of funds sold to the Kentucky Retirement Systems, but also the likes of Henry Kravis, Steve Schwarzman, and other advisers and Kentucky Retirement System officers.

The Mayberry v. KKR legal team led by Michelle Lerach looked to have been taken out of action by a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling tossing the case without prejudice based on standing. After Mayberry v. KKR had been originally filed, an appellate and a US Supreme Court ruling, combined with Kentuckys adoption of Article III standing rules, meant that there was no basis for defined benefit pensioners to step in and pursue damages that Kentucky Retirement System had failed to seek on its own. The beneficiaries needed to have suffered an actual, as in particularized, loss. Even though the pension plan is only 13% funded, it is still paying benefits in full. Oh, and the state is supposed to backstop it too.

To make a nearly year long story short, plaintiffs counsel tried several routes to revive the claims. The trial court judge, Philip Shepherd, initially rejected all except those related to so-called Tier 3 beneficiaries, who made mandatory payments to a defined contribution plan and did not have a state guarantee of benefits. There are many precedents confirming the view that beneficiaries in defined contribution plans suffer when their account balance suffer; they dont have to wait to experience a shortfall in payout to seek a recovery of damages.

The Kentucky Attorney General, Mitch McConnell protege Daniel Cameron, filed a surprise Motion to Intervene on July 20, 2020. Bear in mind the attorney generals office could have intervened at any time to support the case but oddly chose to now. Its filing was also clearly and wholly dependent on the earlier submissions by the private plaintiffs.

Since Schwarzman and Kravis are both heavyweight Republican donors, and Schwarzman is also a big McConnell backer. So why would Cameron cross his mentors moneybags? First, Cameron needed a good headline; he was taking a lot of heat for not having prosecuted the Brionna Taylor shooting aggressively. Second, Cameron and McConnell may have believed it was worth something to McConnells heavyweight donors to make the case go away on the cheap.particularly if they could create the appearance that the settlement was fair, despite the egregious facts (note that any settlement would be a matter of public record).

Judge Shepherd set the calendar to consider Attorney General Camerons motion to intervene on the same timetable as the claims by the Tier 3 plaintiffs. The Attorney General asked for repeated delays on questionable grounds, like getting the results of a second investigation by the Kentucky Retirement System, to the tune of $1.6 million, up from a budgeted $1.2 million, that has been kept secret and appears to have had zero impact on either the Attorney General or the Kentucky Retirement Systems approach to this litigation. Perhaps that is because the attorney leading the investigation, Regina Calcaterra, never led a pension fund investigation before, and whatever she knows about pensions, she appears to have learned from her mentor, convicted New York controller Alan Hevesi.

Shepherd appeared to be trying to be as even-handed as possible, until he was very much put off by a filing by the plaintiffs counsel questioning Calcaterras past conduct and the process by which shed been engaged.

The next conference was to hear both the Attorney Generals intervention and the Tier 3 filing. As legally experienced readers know, the notion of conflicts of interest is a major issue in representation; multiple parties to a legal matter seldom have perfectly aligned interests. Thats why, for instance, company officers routinely each have their own lawyers, in addition to the company hiring its own counsel, even if all are being sued on broadly similar factual and legal grounds. Yet the Attorney General, in his filing, insisted he would fully occupy the field and represent everybody, even though Kentucky Retirement Systems itself, which is empowered to hire its own counsel, had not designed the Attorney General as its representative. Shepherd, who is normally very astute, appeared to be feigning brain fog when he acted as if he could not wrap his mind around the idea as to why Cameron couldnt properly represent every Kentucky party; there really were some differences in interests. And none of the affected parties had signed a waiver.

Its not hard to think a fix was in. The Kentucky legislature passed a bill over Governor Andy Beshears veto that allowed Cameron to hire Ann Oldfather on a contingent fee basis through a no-bid contract. Oldfather was the original in-state co-counsel who fell-out with lead counsel over conduct of the case  in particular taking a settlement pre-discovery.

Nevertheless much as Shepherds demeanor was a real departure from that of previous hearings, he has consistently maintained that hes deeply frustrated by the many years of legal jousting and want the case to move to the discovery phase. So the reason for his odd posture may not have much to do with political pressure but with not wanting to sit through months and longer of challenges to letting the Tier 3 derivative lawsuit advance in parallel with the Attorney General case. And even if the Lerach effort survived more attack, there would then be arm-wrestling over how to coordinate the two suits.

But as you can see below, Michelle Lerach and her Kentucky co-counsels are back with a private suit, and its hard to see how the Attorney General sticks his paws in it, or alternatively tries arguing that is substantially replicates claims he is making. Weve embedded the filings below. I encourage knowledgeable reader input on the legal strategy.

I dont see how Cameron will want to touch the civil RICO allegations with a ten foot pole. Admittedly, the reason RICO is far more talked about than deployed is RICO sets a high bar: you need to prove a conspiracy. But the way that Kentucky Retirement System acted a lot like a zombie ant with KKR having taken over its brain makes the conspiracy allegation seem plausible.

The second major leg is the breach of fiduciary duty. Fiduciary duty is owed to the beneficiaries, so again it does not seem like a big stretch for the Tier 3 plaintiffs to assert a breach of fiduciary duty directly, as opposed via deficient performance by and on behalf of Kentucky Retirement Systems. Recall that Kentucky imposes extensive fiduciary duty requirements by statute.

I assume there is plenty of consternation in Frankfort and New York City. Good. They deserve to break a sweat, and better yet, finally cough up some serious dough. But I also suspect that the Lerach team is intent on doing at least some discovery, both to force a more generous settlement and expose information that could support other suits.
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Unexamined Life The Baffler

When science breaks bad: A rogues gallery of historys worst scientists Ars Technica

A birds eye view of coal leases on the eastern slopes of Albertas Rockies The Narwhal

How hot is too hot for the human body? MIT Technology Review

Officials across Florida rethink condo inspection policies AP

Death Valley sees its hottest day since 1913 at 130F and 50 million Americans are under heat advisories as blistering temperatures ravage the West Coast fueling wildfires and power outages Daily Mail

Flood watch issued as stormy weather expected to slam NYC again NY Post

A Billion South Asians Face Water Insecurity Due To Warming In The Himalayas India Spend

New cholera vaccine, drink made from GM rice, clears phase 1 human trials: Study in Lancet The Print

Srebrenica genocide survivor: It will happen to us again Al Jazeera

#COVID-19

Class Warfare

32 Angry Consumer Complaints to the FTC About Binance Gizmodo (Richard Smith)

Anthony Constantinou charged in England over 50M Ponzi scheme involving BVI & Cayman Offshore Alert. Richard Smith: Another old story matures. Dubious FX Broker CWM FX Claims Sports Celebrity Scalps, but Princess Anne Remains Unmolested

trying to equate Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos joyrides to The Right Stuff-style space exploration is like something out of a Paul Verhoeven satire, cmon https://t.co/LYY9a84IJY  David Sirota (@davidsirota) July 11, 2021

Biden Administration

Violent Extremists Took Over The US Capitol Long Before January 6 Caitlin Johnstone

States Gear Up for Fight to Keep the National Guard Out of War Military.com (The Rev Kev)

We Have Seen the Deepening of the Anti-Democratic, Anti-Protest Legislative Trend FAIR

Tears, politics and money: School boards become battle zones AP

Trump Transition

Groves of Academe

Marketing and PR Are Corrupting Universities Chronicle of Higher Education

Syraqistan

Colombia

Activism Uncensored: Colombia in Chaos TK News. Matt Taibbi.

Sports Desk

India

China?

Antidote du Jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
(Natural News) China put forward the claim that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic began in the U.S. in a bid to shift the blame away from it. An article in a Chinese state newspaper posited that the virus was already in the U.S. much earlier than the first cases in the city of Wuhan. It also claimed that scientists were threatened for their refusal to espouse the laboratory leak theory of COVID-19s origins.

A July 5 report by the Chinese newspaper Global Times suggested that the U.S. already had COVID-19 cases even before the first cases in Wuhan city were confirmed. It quoted a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that examined more than 24,000 blood samples from all 50 states between Jan. 2 and March 18, 2020.

The study said: The first [COVID-19] positive samples came from participants in Illinois and Massachusetts on Jan. 7 and 8, 2020, respectively, suggesting that the virus was present in those states in late December.

Wuhan University virologist Yang Zhanqiu told Global Times that the NIH study showed that COVID-19 in the US probably emerged earlier than in Wuhan. Given that the U.S. has nearly all the SARS-CoV-2 variants spreading around the world, Yang argued that the coronavirus most likely originated there instead of laboratories in Wuhan city.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the Wuhan coronavirus is most likely transmitted from animals to humans. However, U.S. intelligence recently suggested that SARS-CoV-2 was leaked  either intentionally or accidentally  from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Because of this new development, U.S. President Joe Biden called for a new investigation on the origins of COVID-19.

In a May 26 statement, Biden asked the U.S. intelligence community to redouble [its] efforts to collect and analyze information toward a definitive conclusion on the matter. Prior to this statement, his administration ordered the closure of an earlier investigation on COVID-19s origins led by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

China accused the U.S. of politicizing the lab leak theory

The Global Times report accused the U.S. of politicizing the investigation on the origins of COVID-19. It also accused the U.S. and Australia of putting scientists in the middle of a political storm. According to the paper, top scientists refusing to adhere to the lab leak theory have been subjected to a witch hunt by white supremacists.

It defended National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, alleging that the infectious disease expert has been a target of Republican politicians. The paper cited moves by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) calling for Faucis termination and an investigation of his recently released emails. Because of this growing political pressure, the Global Times article described the NIAID head as being increasingly ambiguous on his rhetoric. (Related: Top Republicans, other conservative figures call on Fauci to resign or be fired.)

It also came to the defense of Peter Daszak, president of the nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance and WHO investigator. The Global Times piece claimed that Daszak is being personally threatened by emails, phone calls and messages on social media by people with far-right and  white [supremacist] leanings. (Related: Peter Daszak still insists Wuhan coronavirus came from wet market despite evidence of laboratory origins.)

Furthermore, the Global Times article alleged that evolutionary biologist Edward Holmes from the University of Sydney faced pressure from the Australian government. Holmes reportedly penned an open letter in April 2020 that said there was no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 leaking from a lab in Wuhan. The article added that he received threatening letters with real bullets due to this assertion.

A source Global Times talked to continued that Holmes was threatened of further crackdowns if he continued expressing opinions on the origins of the virus. They added that due to the pressure Holmes faced, he is unable to carry out normal scientific research work and is undergoing psychotherapy.

However, both Holmes and the University of Sydney denied the claims put forward in the Global Times article. A media adviser for the university emailed the Chinese newspaper after the article was published and refuted the articles content. Holmes himself later emailed Global Times and denied the things written about him in the piece.

Visit CommunistChina.news to read more about Chinas attempts to shift blame away from itself following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

DailyStar.co.uk

GlobalTimes.cn

WhiteHouse.gov
(Natural News) Dramatic floods have inundated 27 provinces and territories in China  with only seven areas spared. Alongside these floods, a total of 17 large rivers in the country have reached past the alarm level. These floods threatened the integrity of Chinas Three Gorges Dam, which has continuously resisted the annual deluges.

Chinese media reports said that nearly 7 million people were affected by the floods. They have washed away more than 6,000 homes and cost the country nearly $2 billion in economic losses nationwide. Twenty-four people were reported dead or missing as a result of the floods. Chinese provinces from the north to the south bore the brunt of the heavy flooding.

More than 42,000 people in the northernmost province of Heilongjiang were affected by the floods, with nearly 20,000 being forced to flee. Local water levels in the city of Heihe in the province meanwhile soared by more than eight feet in recent days. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Heilongjiangs western neighbor, lost more than 12,000 hectares of food crops in just one city.

Southern China was likewise ravaged by intense flooding. A new round of heavy rain battered the southeastern Fujian province since July 5. The ongoing downpour was projected to last until July 8. Jiangxi province, located to the west of Fujian, also reported problems caused by the deluge.

Officials in the city of Yiyang in the southeastern province of Hunan issued a red-level warning for heavy rain on July 5. Authorities in the Chongqing municipality followed suit and announced a level 4 weather warning. Chongqings announcement came amid many houses and roads suffering damage from the floods.

The Epoch Times also reported severe flooding in the southern province of Guangxi, which is located near Vietnam. According to Chinese news outlets, heavy rain fell on the provinces northern and central areas from June 27 to July 2. It subsequently impacted more than a million residents in 46 counties.

The flooding in Guangxi displaced 91,500 residents and killed 16. Ten residents were reported missing as a result of the deluge. Direct financial losses hit 2.9 billion yuan (US$447 million). In response, authorities raised the emergency response level from four to three.

The Three Gorges Dam may reach its breaking point soon

Amid the recent flooding in China, many have asked if the Three Gorges Dam is still sturdy enough to hold back the huge amount of waters from Chinas rivers. Beijing built the dam at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in 1997 to control yearly flooding. However, the 2020 flood season put the dams role in addressing the deluge into question. (Related: China floods reach new high as officials issue grim warnings.)

Back in July 2020, former Chinese Vice Minister for Water Resources Ye Jianchin said that the dam stored 2.9 billion cubic meters of floodwater. However, geologist Fan Xiao countered Yes claim by saying that the dams storage capacity only amounted to less than nine percent of average floodwater. Fan added that the Three Gorges Dam was powerless to address the floods in the Yangtzes middle and lower reaches.

In the same month, Beijing made a rare admission that the Three Gorges Dam deformed slightly following record flooding. Chinese state media outlet Xinhua News Agency quoted the China Three Gorges Corporation in a report, saying that non-structural, peripheral parts of the dam had buckled. The China Three Gorges Corporation handled the management of the dam itself and the hydroelectric power plant underneath it.

Nevertheless, Chinese experts dismissed claims that the integrity of the Three Gorges Dam had been compromised. Hydraulics expert Wang Hao of the Chinese Academy of Engineering said the dam is strong enough to withstand flood impact. China Three Gorges Corporation Hub Management Bureau Director Zhang Shuguang agreed with Wang, saying that nothing could topple the dam in the next 500 years.

According to Zhang, the dam was constructed using a special kind of cement that reacts with water to form a hard matrix. This subsequently bound blocks together into a durable form. He added that being a gravity dam, the Three Gorges dam was designed to hold back water using the weight of the material alone. This allowed the dam to resist the horizontal pressure of floodwater pushing against it.

Zhang further remarked that each section of the dam would remain stable and independent of any other section, even if the structural integrity of one portion was undermined. However, such a situation had not yet occurred  as Zhang said that not one of the 12,000 sensors fitted throughout the dam had ever flashed red on the central control panel. (Related: Buckling Three Gorges Dam in China is just fine, claims CCP.)

Visit Collapse.news to read more about the floods in China and how they threaten the Three Gorges Dam.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

TheEpochTimes.com

Reuters.com

AsiaTimes.com
(Natural News) Music legend Eric Clapton is speaking out about the horrors he is now having to endure thanks to his Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination.

In the following interview, Clapton reveals how the injection severely damaged his body, possibly forever. He explains how he is unsure what will happen with his upcoming fall tour if he is unable to use his hands as normal (watch around the 12:47 mark):

I lost the use of my hands for about three weeks, so I thought I was in real trouble, Clapton says. And it was about that point that I was invited by Robin Monotti to talk about it because it was easy to say yes because Ive realized that I wasnt the only one who was suffering adverse reactions.

While Clapton is once again able to use his hands, they still do not function anywhere close to normal. He is now forced to wear special gloves to protect them from hot and cold sensations.

I cant touch anything cold or hot, I have to use these (gloves) otherwise my hands will begin to burn and theyll stay burnt all day, he laments. Whether or not I have gigs to do in the autumn, I know maybe vitamin D will help. Theres not much else that does other than being really careful.

Clapton wants his fans to stop fighting about vaccines

All of this happened after Clapton received his second injection of one of the mRNA vaccines from either Pfizer or Moderna. Clapton was just following the science, and this is what happened to him.

Figuring out how he is going to play shows in the future has been a real challenge, not only because of the damage to his body but also the fractured mindset of his fans, some of whom support all injections and others of whom are skeptical of what the needles might do to them.

It is clear that Clapton suffered a serious adverse event from his covid injection, which is why he is now seeking a medical exemption from all future boosters or whatever else might come along in the name of science.

Not everyone agrees with Claptons perspective, of course, including mainstream news outlets that are saying he now holds an anti-vaccination stance.

To expect Clapton to embrace vaccines after what he has had to endure is lunacy, but that seems to be the overarching mindset of the pro-vaccine cult. Ones family members could all be in the grave from an injection and the pro-vaccine cultist would still line right up to get whatever new injection the government is pushing to support science.

Clapton appears to be done with all that, and is hopeful moving forward that people will learn to stop grappling over injections and instead support one another regardless of their stance on vaccination.

mRNA is not a vaccination, wrote one commenter at Citizen Free Press.

This is a mass experiment to help forward what they see as promising technology to cure disease, or its a more nefarious device for depopulation. Take it and know there is no going back, no cure. Maybe they can fix you in 10 years with more mRNA jabs.

Another pointed out that he believes Clapton is the greatest guitarist of all time and that whatever his political affiliation, he wishes Clapton the best.

The only thing Eric is guilty of is trusting government, any and all governments, this person wrote. I hope he recovers and I sincerely wish him well.

More related news about vaccine damage from Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) injections can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

CitizenFreePress.com

NME.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued at least $119,000 worth of fines against airline passengers accused of refusing to wear a face mask during flight.

One passenger who flew Allegiant Air on Feb. 27 from Provo, Utah, to Mesa, Ariz., was fined $10,500 for allegedly refusing to wear his mask properly, meaning over the nose and mouth.

Flight attendants instructed him seven separate times to wear his facemask properly, and each time he moved it off of his nose after the flight attendant walked away, a press release from the FAA explains.

When told that he needed to cooperate and provide information to fill out a passenger disturbance report, he argued with the flight attendant, refused to provide his identification, said he would continue to pull his facemask down, and claimed that it was fine just over his mouth.

After the flight touched the ground, the passenger allegedly walked up to the flight attendant in question just as she was about to open the door to the cabin and supposedly touched her.

The man was being aggressive about the facemask policy, according to the FAA, which claims the flight attendant then started to cry. The FAA says it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior, calling it unruly and dangerous.

When will the Chinese Virus tyranny end?

At least eight other passengers have similarly been fined by the FAA this past year under similar accusations. In many of the cases, passengers consumed alcohol they brought onto the plane and proceeded to assault other passengers or flight crew.

All in all, the FAA has issued $119,000 worth of fines this past year, ranging from $7,500 per incident up to $21,500.

Since the beginning of the year, the FAA says it has received 3,271 reports of unruly passenger behavior. Of these 2,475 involved passengers who allegedly refused to wear a mask correctly as demanded by Tony Fauci, Joe Biden, and the rest of the plandemic crew.

During the same timeframe, the FAA has proposed more than $682,000 in fines against unruly passengers, including todays cases, the FAA says.

In Iowa, a man is having to serve 10 years in prison for supposedly assaulting a mask Nazi who was harassing him in a parking lot.

In that case, the unmasked man was approached by a masked busybody who demanded that the unmasked man cover his nose and mouth to help flatten the curve. This resulted in a confrontation that left the unmasked man culpable for crimes, even though he was the victim.

Instead of minding his own business, the masked man assaulted the unmasked man and provoked him. And yet the justice system sided with the masked man since everything is now completely upside-down in the new normal.

Even though it has repeatedly been shown that masks do nothing to stop the spread of germs  this is in addition to causing harm and overloading the wearers body with carbon dioxide (CO2)  the government under Beijing Biden continues to demand that everybody wear one while flying.

Until this comes to an end, many Americans are refusing to fly. Under normal circumstances, this would have the effect of eventually causing the airlines to drop their tyrannical policies due to declining business.

Thanks to corporate handouts from the government, however, airlines and other businesses continue to go right along with the Chinese Virus tyranny.

Not wearing a little piece of cloth over your face is not causing trouble, wrote one commenter at The Hill.

Its not even keeping you safe as you have been told and is probably even detrimental to the spread of the Wuhan chimera as mask wearers believe they have magic safety powers and continually touch their faces while adjusting those dirty, virus filled, snot rags.

More related news stories about Chinese Virus oppression and tyranny can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheHill.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Virologist Dr. Robert Redfield said he thinks the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) was modified by Chinese scientists before it leaked out of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in Chinas central Hubei province. The former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added that the COVID-19 viruss ability to jump from an animal to a human is not biologically plausible. While earlier reports claimed that the pathogen came from bats, newfound evidence suggests it originated in the WIV lab, which has sparked an ongoing debate.

Redfield doubled down on his belief of the lab leak theory in a June 15 interview with Fox News contributor Dr. Marc Siegel. He said that the viruss ability to spread rapidly has never been seen in other coronaviruses. And while most coronaviruses can cross over from animals to humans, zoonosis usually occurs at a much slower pace than what was seen with the Wuhan coronavirus.

I said before that I didnt think it was biologically plausible that COVID-19 went from a bat to some unknown animal into [humans], and now had become one of the most infectious viruses. Thats not consistent with how other coronaviruses have come into the human species, said Redfield, who suspects that the COVID-19 virus, although unintentionally leaked, had undergone genetic tweaks.

Theres an alternative hypothesis that it went from a bat virus [and] got into a laboratory, where  it was taught [and] educated. [It then] evolved  [and] became a virus that could efficiently transmit [from] human to human, explained Redfield.

According to Siegel, Redfield had a hunch that the Wuhan coronavirus leaked from the WIV laboratory as early as January 2020. However, the White House Coronavirus Task Force at the time was focused on what was happening in country.

Former President Donald Trump and his supporters received criticism for espousing the lab leak theory in 2020. Just recently, President Joe Biden ordered the closure of a state department investigation led by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the possibility. But as evidence supporting the theory came to light, Biden himself announced a new 90-day investigation on the matter.

Redfield criticizes Fauci and the World Health Organization

In his interview with Siegel, Redfield also took a swipe at infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. Redfield compared the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to a dog holding on tightly to a bone with his insistence on COVID-19s natural origins.

Other individuals  Tony Fauci, for example  would prefer to support that it evolved from nature. I think Tony is holding on to this [theory] tightly. Why would that be? Sometimes, scientists bite into a bone on a hypothesis. Its hard for them to move on, the former CDC director commented.

True enough apparently, as recently publicized emails from the infectious disease expert showed his staunch support of the coronaviruss natural origins theory. One email sent to him back in January 2020 warned that the COVID-19 virus appeared to be possibly engineered upon closer scrutiny  a warning Fauci seemed to have dismissed, as the NIAID director never once mentioned this information in any of his interviews. (Related: Immunologist tells Fauci that Wuhan coronavirus looks engineered  as early as January 2020.)

In his email to Fauci, Kristian Andersen, an immunologist at the Scripps Research Institute in California, wrote: On a phylogenic tree, the virus looks normal and the close clustering with bats suggest [they] serve as the reservoir. [One] has to look really closely at all the sequences to see that some of the features potentially look engineered. Andersen also said that he and other scientists found the Wuhan coronaviruss genome inconsistent with expectations from [the] evolutionary theory.

Faucis firm denial of the possibility that the COVID-19 virus was engineered is also clear in another correspondence sent by World Health Organization (WHO) investigator Peter Daszak. In an April 2020 email, Daszak thanked Fauci for publicly insisting that COVID-19 had natural origins. I just wanted to say a personal thank you  for publicly standing up and stating that the scientific evidence supports a natural origin for COVID-19 from a bat-to-human spillover, not a lab release. (Related: Email: Researcher who funded Wuhan lab admitted to manipulating coronaviruses, thanked Fauci for dismissing lab leak theory.)

Aside from Fauci, Redfield also took a swipe at the WHO, which he claims was highly compromised by China. He slammed the global health body for not cracking down on the communist country and letting Beijing dictate the terms of its probe into the origins of COVID-19. I think [the WHO is] highly compromised. Clearly, [it was] incapable of compelling China to adhere to the treaty agreements  on global health.

Redfield ultimately acknowledged that he should have pushed harder for the CDC to be permitted inside the WIV laboratory when the virus first emerged. Redfield was appointed as CDC director in 2018 and was replaced by Dr. Rochelle Walensky in January 2021 after President Biden assumed office.

Visit Pandemic.news to read more stories about the COVID-19 viruss origins.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

FoxNews.com

TheNationalPulse.com

Summit.news
(Natural News) An Indonesian scientist who led the clinical trials of Sinovacs Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine in the country succumbed to the disease. Multiple Indonesian news outlets reported the death of Novilia Sjafri Bachtiar on July 7. She joined the list of Indonesians dying from COVID-19 caused by the Delta or B16172 variant despite being inoculated with the CoronaVac vaccine.

A report by kumparanNEWS directly mentioned Novilias death due to COVID-19, which a Kompas report seconded. The latter mentioned that she died after receiving treatment at a hospital in Bandung city, located in the western portion of Java Island. Meanwhile, Sindonews quoted an official of state-owned drug manufacturer PT Bio Farma who said Novilia had been buried according to COVID-19 protocols.

Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir posted a message on social media mourning the huge loss of Novilia. He said in his message: She was [the] lead scientist and head of dozens of clinical trials done by Bio Farma, including COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in cooperation in Sinovac. [The vaccine] has been produced and injected into tens of millions [of] people in Indonesia as part of our effort to be free from this COVID-19 pandemic.

Thohir did not give the cause of Novilias death in his post. Meanwhile, Bio Farma did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Novilias passing. The scientist was in her early fifties at the time of her demise.

According to independent data group Lapor COVID-19, 131 health workers have died since June  including 50 in July. Most of these health workers got the two-dose CoronaVac vaccine as part of the countrys mass vaccination program. But these deaths have put the effectiveness of the Sinovac shot in preventing COVID-19 hospitalization and death into question.

Indonesias health minister: Blame the virus, not the vaccine

The Sinovac vaccine saw widespread use in a number of Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. The archipelago kicked off its mass vaccination program in January 2021 using the Beijing-based companys vaccine candidate. (Related: Indonesia, which has the second-worst COVID-19 outbreak in Asia, is now the testing ground for a Chinese vaccine.)

Novilias death came as COVID-19 deaths in Indonesia reached record highs. On July 2, Indonesia recorded 25,830 new daily infections alongside 539 deaths. Five days later on July 7, it reported 34,379 infections and more than 1,000 daily deaths. The B16172 or Delta variant first identified in India was responsible for this latest wave of infections and deaths.

Last month, Sinovac Biotech spokesman Liu Peicheng told Reuters that preliminary results showed the vaccine exhibiting a three-fold neutralizing ability against the Delta variant. The results were based on blood samples from individuals who got the CoronaVac vaccine. Liu added that a booster shot following the two-dose regimen could quickly elicit a stronger and more durable antibody reaction against the Delta variant.

The Indonesian minister of health later defended Indonesias use of the Sinovac vaccine amid the wave of infections and deaths. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on July 2 that the recent COVID-19 surge in the country ought to be blamed on the Delta variant. He told reporters that it was wrong to blame the vaccine for the spike in cases as other countries that used other vaccines also experienced them.

Budi said in a webinar held by the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club: The issue that we are facing is not about the difference efficacy between vaccines, it is primarily because of the Delta variant. It hits every country, so nobody is safe. (Related: Post-covid vaccine illness wave spreads to Indonesia.)

The health minister added that while the number of infections is increasing drastically, vaccination using the Sinovac shot reduces the risk from severe to mild, and from mild to asymptomatic. Budi continued: The number of deaths in the second wave, compared to the first in terms of percentage, is actually fewer.

According to Budi, Indonesia was not solely depending on the Sinovac shots to inoculate its entire adult population of 181.5 million. But he noted that the Chinese drug manufacturer was the only one that committed to quickly delivering the vaccines it promised.

AstraZeneca failed to meet their commitment to deliver 50 million doses by the end of the year because of whatever problem they have had. [So] they are only able to send 30 million doses by this year, and the rest next year, he said.

Aside from AstraZeneca, Budi said that Indonesia expected four million doses of Modernas mRNA vaccine sent by the U.S. He added that the first delivery of 50 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine orderd by the archipelago  to be used on children 12 to 17 years old alongside Sinovac  will arrive in August.

Visit Pandemic.news to read more stories about Sinovac and other COVID-19 vaccines.

Sources include:

News.Yahoo.com

TheJakartaPost.com

Reuters.com

SCMP.com
(Natural News) Chicagolands Lake County has created a new Community Health Ambassador Outreach Door Knocking Project to Increase COVID Vaccine Acceptance manifesto that instructs Joe Bidens vaccine brownshirts about how to break the law in order to convince the hesitant to get injected for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

Since China Joe fell way short of his Independence Day goal of vaccinating at least 70 percent of America for the Fauci Flu, his regime is now aggressively deploying volunteers to help educate the public about the benefits of getting jabbed for Chinese Germs.

At this point, maybe half of the country, at best, has gotten either one or two doses of a Fauci Flu shot, and the federal government would prefer that figure to be much higher. Beijing Biden is thus taking matters into his own hands with a new door-to-door vaccination campaign.

Ignore no soliciting signs, Lake County is telling its brownshirt volunteers. Youre not soliciting! Youre offering critical information and resources. What you are doing is not illegal.

The document goes on to instruct the Biden Brownshirts to knock and then back up to avoid getting within six feet of residents. Some people might still be living in a perpetual state of Fauci Fear over the Wuhan Flu, despite the plandemic being fully over at this point.

Use your script, the document further instructs about how to approach the vaccine hesitant.

This will give you the basics. Once you get comfortable with it, feel free to make it sound more like you as long as all the key information is there. Make clear up front that the building has let you in and youre from the health department.

Biden Brownshirts told to create lists of who still needs a vaccinated

If someone is angry or rude in response to being approached at their home about taking an experimental, DNA-modifying injection, then the Biden Brownshirts are being told to just brush it off and move on to the next house.

The caveat is that those who just say no to these dangerous experimental drugs are being put on lists, just like what happened in the former Soviet Union.

Report on your work! the Lake County vaccine hawks are being told about how to canvass the area.

Be sure to fill out the Doorknocking Spreadsheet with the counts of who still needs a vaccine, who is already vaccinated, who needs more info, etc. This is important information that the Health Department is relying on!

Why the health department needs this information remains unknown, but we can guess that it has something to do with later phases of the Chinese Virus injection program that will be even more aggressive at trying to convince the hesitant to get injected.

The average American, meanwhile, seems to be in a mindless stupor, pretending as though all is well when everything is clearly not well. This country is sick with a contagious virus, and that virus is complacency.

Full-scale medical fascism is blooming before our very eyes, and just because the masks are coming off, many seem to be accepting this heinous new normal as if it was somehow the old one.

The Soviets were the ones who went through entire apartment blocks in entire towns and cities, rounding people up at gunpoint to ship off to certain death in gulags by the tens of millions, one of our own commenters wrote about how this all mirrors what the Bolsheviks did in the former Soviet Union.

More of the latest news about the Biden Brownshirts vaccine compliance program can be found at Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

LakeCountyIL.gov

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Corrupt Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, with the help of Michigan State Police (MSP), is launching a crusade against people accused of making false claims about the 2020 election being fraudulent.

At the request of the Republican-led Senate Oversight Committee, Nessel and MSP say they have accepted the challenge, agreeing to look into folks accused of personally profiting from claims made against the integrity of the 2020 election.

Sen. Ed McBroom and his colleagues have been probing election claims for nearly eight months now, claiming they found no evidence of widespread systemic fraud in the Michigan election. This contradicts claims made by Donald Trump that he was robbed of a victory.

The GOP-led committee urged Nessel, a Democrat, to investigate those who have been utilizing misleading and false information about Antrim County to raise money or publicity for their own ends.

Antrim County supposedly conducted a hand recount that found no evidence of fraud, and yet it remains in the crosshairs of many who say that ballot machines were rigged to hand votes for Trump to Joe Biden.

While the Senate Oversight Committee report does not name any specific individuals whom it says are complicit in spreading lies about the 2020 election being fraudulent, reports point to names like attorney Matthew DePerno and former state Sen. Patrick Colbeck.

Both of these men led a pro-Trump effort post-election to discredit, as the mainstream media puts it, the 2020 election. They also blasted the committee itself, launching an online petition to censure Sens. McBroom, Lana Theis and John Bizon.

No one has free speech if theyre committing a crime, and committing fraud is a crime, McBroom announced from his Upper Peninsula farm.

We found circumstantial, but substantial, evidence that some people were committing fraud and extorting people for money. Its possible that were wrong, but we didnt have the tools, the expertise or the mechanisms to explore that issue further.

Establishment Republicans shamelessly defend sham Biden presidency

After losing a recent lawsuit against Antrim County, DePerno launched an election fraud defense fund that has already raised some $384,000 for further inquiry into Bidens theft of the state of Michigan.

Colbeck, meanwhile, is accusing McBroom and the other Republicans on the committee of weaponizing the government against those who disagree with their assessment of election fraud.

While Colbeck charges a fee for access to some of the election fraud evidence on his website, he says that this is not profiteering. Colbeck has grossed about $30,000 from his website, half of which goes towards expenses.

Thats what I was living off of for seven months, Colbeck says. We want to get some truth out about this election.

The committee, meanwhile, says it conducted an extensive probe into the election fraud claims, only to determine that there is no proof of dead people voting, or that fractional voting took place as claimed.

There was also no ballot dump in Detroit, the committee decided, even though some precincts in the city showed greater than 100 percent voter turnout.

Our clear finding is that citizens should be confident the results represent the true results of the ballots cast by the people of Michigan, a committee report declares.

The committee strongly recommends citizens use a critical eye and ear toward those who have pushed demonstrably false theories for their own personal gain.

Nessel, as you may recall, was sued back in 2019 for maintaining an illegal thought criminal database to track the movements and activities of conservatives and Christians throughout the state of Michigan.

More of the latest news about the fraudulent 2020 election can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

BridgeMI.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Early in July, 163 Year 12 students from St. Josephs College Hunters Hill (SJC) in Australia received the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine due to an undetermined error.

Some were upset that the students were vaccinated before those on the countrys list of high priority groups like the elderly, but not many people are worried that the students are now at risk of heart inflammation, a negative side effect associated with the Pfizer vaccine.

Student mass vaccination was an error

Australian authorities placed Aboriginal citizens and residents from the Torres Strait, a body of water between mainland Australia and New Guinea, wherein 38 islands are inhabited by a native population, on a high priority groups list for receiving coronavirus vaccines.

People on the priority list include:

Indigenous people aged over 16

Citizens aged 40 to 60

Individuals with disabilities

Those receiving elderly care

Individuals working in health or quarantine frontlines

People with disabilities and household contacts

Administrators of SJC, a private Catholic school founded by Marist Brothers in 1881, initially consulted the local health authority in New South Wales (NSW Health) about sending Aboriginal students older than 16 for vaccination.

A spokeswoman explained that due to an unspecified error, 163 boarders in year 12 were also vaccinated [at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital]. Sydney Local Health District apologizes for this error, she concluded.

NSW Health didnt clarify how the error was made but sources, who asked for anonymity since they were not authorized to speak about the matter, revealed that SJC asked about vaccinating Indigenous year 12 students and that it was also invited to send all boarders along for the event.

Ross Tarlinton, SJCs principal, said that the school approached the Sydney Local Health District back in May to ask if students could get vaccinated since many live in the country or are Aboriginal and the proposal was approved by NSW Health.

Acknowledging that the college does not determine vaccination priority, it welcomed the opportunity to offer the vaccine for students given the approvals provided and for the reasons listed above, added Tarlinton. He also said that SJC continues to encourage and support members of its community to get vaccinated as soon as they can.

The SJC students received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine before the holidays. They will receive their second dose early in term three.

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is linked to heart inflammation

Tarlinton didnt discuss the dangers linked to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, such as myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle.

The dangers dont stop there, and the vaccine is also linked to another negative side effect: Pericarditis or inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart.

According to the Childrens Health Defense, from Dec. 14, 2020, to June 25, 2021, there have been a total of 411,931 adverse events linked to coronavirus vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reports that there have been at least 7,000 deaths among that number. The CDCs Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) revealed that there have been 186,196 adverse events for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with 2,403 deaths and 16,139 serious events within that time period.

Additionally, younger participants in the experimental trial of mRNA vaccine technology have been experiencing more cases of myocarditis, especially those aged 30 years and younger. Younger volunteers have experienced heart inflammation within days or weeks after receiving mRNA vaccines. (Related: At least 18 young people in Connecticut developed heart problems after taking coronavirus vaccine.)

The CDC admits heart inflammation link to coronavirus vaccines

Back in June, the CDC admitted a possible link between mRNA gene therapies and the heart condition in young adults and adolescents, especially males and after receiving the second dose.

According to data from the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, before June 24, 1,200 people between 16 to 24 were diagnosed with either myocarditis or pericarditis getting at least one dose of an mRNA vaccine.

For example, 18-year-old Isaiah Harris from Arkansas reported that he suffered from myocarditis within 48 hours of receiving his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

On a podcast, Harris told Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. that he experienced severe chest pains after receiving his second.

Harris added that several hours after attending his community college graduation, he started experiencing breathing difficulties. He was then hospitalized and he suffered a heart attack while waiting for at least six hours for treatment.

Harris spent four days in the hospital before being discharged with medication to help reduce the swelling in his heart. Harris lamented that the hospital staff who treated him would not acknowledge his condition was anything to do with the vaccine.

Instead, the staff said that the condition was caused by a virus that he was infected with and not the dangerous vaccine. Harris said that he thought he was required to get vaccinated since he plans to enter medical school.

He added that he gave in and got vaccinated, especially since there was a lot of pressure on Americans to get vaccinated, even if they didnt want to do so for the greater good, as claimed by Big Pharma. However, before inoculation, he believed there were no negative side effects to worry about, yet his experience proved otherwise.

Visit VaccineInjuryNews.com to learn more about the many harmful side effects linked to different coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

SMH.com.au 1

SMH.com.au 2
(Natural News) If Facebook continues to allow sex traffickers to use its platform to recruit victims, then members of the public are free to sue the tech giant, the Supreme Court of Texas has ruled.

Social media is not a lawless no-mans land, the Court decided, siding with prosecutors that Facebook is being negligent by failing to do more to stop sex traffickers from using its platform to commit sex crimes.

We do not understand Section 230 to create a lawless no-mans-land on the Internet in which states are powerless to impose liability on websites that knowingly or intentionally participate in the evil of online human trafficking, the Courts majority declared.

As we reported, Facebook is a hotbed of criminal activity for sex perverts, as is Twitter. In fact, the consortium of social media is a cesspool of pedophilia and other human rights violations.

For many years, Silicon Valley has argued that it has no obligation or legal right to police content  unless, of course, it supports conservative causes  because of the Communications Decency Act (CDA).

That is now being challenged, however, as the justice system is finally catching up to the machinations of Big Tech, which involves actively policing political content while sanctioning sex crimes against minors.

Holding internet platforms accountable for words or actions of their users is one thing, and the federal precedent uniformly dictates that section 230 does not allow it, the Texas Supreme Court further ruled.

Holding internet platforms accountable for their own misdeeds is quite another thing. This is particularly the case for human trafficking.

You can read the full court ruling at this link.

Facebook says its looking into next steps for how to proceed as a company now that sex trafficking victims can sue

Since sex trafficking represents a large segment of Facebooks user base, the company has indicated that it will have to brainstorm next steps for how to proceed as a company.

Were reviewing the decision and considering potential next steps. Sex trafficking is abhorrent and not allowed on Facebook, a Facebook spokesperson told Fox News.

We will continue our fight against the spread of this content and the predators who engage in it.

Facebook has long argued that Section 230 of the CDA protects it from all liability, no matter how it bends and manipulates the rules to bolster left-wing causes at the expense of right-wing free speech.

Conservatives have for years been censored on Facebook, and all the while sex perverts have been roaming free on the platform targeting children and other innocents.

Victims of sex trafficking can now move forward in suing Facebook for damages under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, which was approved back in 2009.

The 2020 Federal Human Trafficking Report  you can read it here  says that at least 59 percent of all human trafficking recruitment in 2020 took place on Facebook.

This makes Facebook by far the most frequently referenced website or app in public sources connected with these prosecutions, which was also true in 2019, the report explains.

Facebook wont allow President Trump to use its platform but sex traffickers can use it, wrote one commenter at The Epoch Times about Facebooks hypocrisy.

Sue them into oblivion and charge them for abetting terrorism, rape, torture  crimes against humanity, wrote another.

Oh  suppression, falsification under oath, violation of the Communications Decency Act, and a violation of the [Section] 230 exemption. I have never used their site in 25 years. It has become a conduit for crime and denying the users of this utility of their privacy.

More related news about Facebook can be found at Evil.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com

TxCourts.gov

TraffickingInstitute.org
(Natural News) The United Kingdoms top drug regulator has quietly added inflammation of the heart as a possible side effect of taking the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) added inflammation of the heart (myocarditis or pericarditis) to its list of side effects that may occur after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. As of press time, the MHRA still has not put out a formal announcement regarding this change.

Stephen Matthews, a health editor for the MailOnline, noted that heart inflammation was not listed as a potential side effect until sometime during the first week of July.

The MHRA insisted that heart inflammation is still an extremely rare occurrence, and even if a vaccinated person does experience it, it will be typically mild. The agency and many British cardiologists continue to insist that the benefits of getting either the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccines still clearly outweigh the risks of getting the virus.

The MHRA made the change after it conducted a review of 111 suspected cases of heart inflammation in the country that were allegedly linked to either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

The agency noted that it only investigated cases involving the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. It did not have sufficient evidence to recommend anything regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The cases of heart inflammation were most common among younger men and usually occurred within 10 days after they received the second dose of the vaccine.

The announcement warned healthcare workers handling vaccinations to be alert to the signs and symptoms of pericarditis and myocarditis. It also wanted vaccinated individuals who notice these symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.

The symptoms of heart inflammation the MHRA pointed out include the onset of chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations and arrhythmias.

Dr. June Raine, chief executive of the MHRA, announced the review results and the agencys recommendations. But she also added that the cases were mild and that the risk of heart inflammation was very rare.

The changes to the MHRAs recommendations come several months after the regulator shrugged off initial concerns regarding heart inflammation. This followed after Israel reported multiple cases of heart inflammation following injection of coronavirus vaccine doses.

Recognition of heart inflammation as side effect completely changes debate on child vaccinations

Health experts in the U.K. said the addition of heart inflammation to the list of side effects for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines completely changes the countrys debate regarding vaccinating children. People under 18 years old in the U.K. are already discouraged from getting the British-made Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because of its own links to deadly blood clots in young people. (Related: Young adults and adolescents are suffering heart inflammation caused by COVID-19 vaccines  cases skyrocket to at least 200 TIMES MORE than expected by CDC.)

Both the British government and vaccination policy experts in the U.K. have already expressed their hesitation to allow children to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss said the Joint Committee on Vaccination and immunization would not recommend vaccinations for anyone in the U.K. under 18 years of age.

The risk of death [from COVID-19 in children] is one in a million. Thats not a figure Im plucking from the air, thats a quantifiable risk, said Calum Semple, a member of the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.

Academics in Britain are also questioning whether it is a good idea to give coronavirus vaccines to children. Some of these academics are looking at the data that strongly suggests that children are relatively safe from the direct effects of COVID-19.

Dr. Elizabeth Whittaker, a consultant in pediatric infectious diseases at Imperial College London, said her data suggests the coronavirus vaccines would need to be proven to be very low risk. This is the only way anybody can justify giving the vaccines to all healthy children.

Whittakers warning followed a study she was involved in that showed only 25 young people in England died from COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic. This number represents just 0.005 percent of all infections in the country. Furthermore, 19 of the deaths were in children with underlying health conditions that made them more vulnerable to the virus.

Learn more about the dangerous side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines by reading the latest articles on Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

CityAM.com

Gov.uk

TheGuardian.com

News.Sky.com
(Natural News) A growing number of companies in the healthcare industry are instituting Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates. Many more are expected to mandate the experimental vaccines once they are given full approval.

Public health experts estimate that the Food and Drug Administration will give at least one of the coronavirus vaccines in circulation in the United States full authorization by September at the earliest. Corporations are already gearing up to enforce vaccine mandates for their employees as soon as full authorization comes.

But even without full authorization, many health systems and other healthcare companies have already resorted to giving their employees an ultimatum: Take the experimental COVID-19 vaccines or get fired.

The Houston Methodist Hospital system in Texas has already made headlines for firing over a hundred employees who refused to take the coronavirus vaccines.

Unfortunately, the vaccine mandates in the healthcare industry are having an immediate effect.

Back in May, Benchmark Senior Living, the largest assisted living network in New England with over 6,000 employees, announced its vaccine mandate. Thanks to the threat of unemployment, the proportion of vaccinated staffers jumped from 56 percent in May to 73 percent at the beginning of the month. The company plans to have everyone vaccinated by the end of the month.

Trinity Health Corporation, a Michigan-based health system that serves patients in 22 states with its workforce of 117,000 employees has also mandated vaccines. It said employees must present proof of vaccination by Sept. 21. Those who fail to do so will be terminated. (Related: 3 Largest hospital systems in Massachusetts implement vaccine mandate, nearly 130,000 workers affected.)

The University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine) has required its 44,000 employees to get vaccinated by Sept. 1. P.J. Brennan, the hospital systems chief medical officer, said there will be consequences for remaining unvaccinated after the deadline.

Its naive to think at this point that more education or information will change peoples minds, he said, threatening to fire workers who dont follow the mandate.

This is gaining momentum in the country, said Kevin Sowers, president of the John Hopkins Health System. The hospital system announced its own vaccine mandate last month. Sowers said most academic medical centers like Penn Medicine and the John Hopkins system are considering how theyre going to roll it out with their workforce.

Healthcare industry still divided over vaccine mandates, thousands of workers remain unvaccinated

Despite the proliferation of vaccine mandates in the healthcare industry, many people are still standing up for their freedom to choose whether to take the vaccine or not.

As of June 25, the most recent data from the federal government shows that thousands of workers in hospitals with vaccine mandates remain unvaccinated.

Thats a personal decision, said Ellen MacInnis, an emergency room nurse at St. Elizabeths Medical Center in Boston. MacInnis is vaccinated but is against any kind of mandate.

LaTricia Blank, a former ultrasound technologist for Houston Methodist, was fired for refusing to get vaccinated. She sued the hospital for its vaccine mandate. She said she does not trust the vaccines.

For an employer to threaten a job, that is coercion, said Blank. For an employer to offer bonuses, thats coercion.

Dr. David Priest, an executive with Novant Health, warned that vaccine mandates could alienate workers in the healthcare industry. Just because you work in healthcare doesnt mean youre immune to the cultural and political influence of the community where you live, he said.

Mark Barnes, former associate health commissioner for New York City, predicted that the vaccine mandates will spread to other sectors such as the financial services and light industry sectors. Were going to see more vaccine mandates by large organizations of all kinds as the months go by, he said.

Learn more about the push to mandate vaccines in workplaces all over the country by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

NBCChicago.com

Bloomberg.com

WSJ.com
TRI-CITIES, WA - Tri-City Regional SWAT team were sent to three police standoffs in the tri cities over the last 24 hours.
Days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance, indicating vaccinated students and teachers do not need to wear masks, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday he needs more time to decide whether to lift the mandate when schools reopen in the fall.

Look, I thought we were out of the woods three weeks ago, then we saw this delta variant. We saw how fast it could spread within a community of unvaccinated people. Give us another two or three weeks, Lamont said Monday when asked about the states requirements.

Lamont said he has been meeting with educators, his administration and speaking with other governors about how to address whether students should wear masks in classrooms next year.

Lamont appeared to agree with the CDCs guidance that students under the age of 12, who are not eligible for a vaccine, still wear a mask in the classroom.

My inclination for that age group, until we can get them vaccinated, is to wear the mask a little longer, Lamont said.

The CDC guidance that eases mask recommendations for students comes as Connecticut continues to see low overall infections from the virus. On Monday, the state reported the positivity rate for new tests over the weekend was 0.61 percent. Hospitalizations increased by 10 patients for a total of 35.

Easing recommendations for students also follows a broader message from the CDC guidance that those who have received their vaccines are safe to no longer wear masks in most circumstances. The school-based guidance does recommend students to wear masks on public transportation, such a school buses.

Absent guidance from the state, some school districts have already started to formulate plans for the coming school year that call on all students to wear masks in classrooms. But many are waiting to see what the state will require.

Both the states education and health departments are closely assessing the recent guidance from the CDC, officials said.

Were working with CT DPH to review this guidance and will be assessing Connecticuts current and future guidance for schools in light of the CDC recommendations, said Peter Yazbak, a spokesperson for the states education department.

This latest much-anticipated guidance from the CDC about school mask requirements comes as a growing number of school-aged children have been vaccinated. The most recent state statistics show that 48 percent of children age 12 to 15 have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 65 percent of children age 16 and 17 have received at least one shot.

Guidance from the CDC has served as a foundation for decision-making for state and local officials since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. However, state officials have broken from the CDCs recommendations in the past, especially as it relates to the schedule for vaccine administration.

While Connecticut has largely lifted all COVID-19 restrictions, the issue of whether children will need to wear masks in school has drawn significant attention. In recent weeks, state officials have pointed to concerns over the delta variant as they weigh options for the next school year.

The variant, still not considered by top state health officials to be the dominant strain in Connecticut, is believed to be much more transmissible than other strains that have been in circulation for months.

While vaccine numbers have been slowly increasing for a portion of school-aged children, those under the age of 12 are still not eligible.

While vaccine makers Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are researching the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for children this age, the Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve its use for this age group.

In a joint statement last week, the states education department and Department of Public Health used the recent CDC guidance as an opportunity to stress the importance that more eligible children get vaccinated.

Our children benefit most from in-person learning, and our priority of a safe return to in-person instruction this fall can be achieved by remaining vigilant on what we know works. In that light, we want to remind educators and parents with children 12 and up that getting vaccinated remains the leading public health prevention strategy to protect against COVID-19, the statement read.
Dr. Richard F. Zarilla, Ph.D., 84, of Douglassville, Amity Township, Pennsylvania, passed away on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at The Keystone Villa at Douglassville. Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Alfred and Cecilia (Saletra) Zarilla. Richard was a lifelong learner
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monday told the Delhi High Court that it has given in-principle approval for setting up a small finance bank which will take over the scam-hit PMC Bank soon.

A bench of Justices D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh granted time to the RBI to file an affidavit on the development in the matter and listed the case for further hearing on August 20.

Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, representing the RBI, submitted that it has given in-principle approval to Centrum Finance Services Ltd to set up a small finance bank which will take over Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank very soon as the process in near completion.

He said this will ease the trouble faced by the bank's customers who are unable to withdraw their money.

The court was hearing an application by consumer rights activist Bejon Kumar Misra seeking directions to the RBI to consider other needs of PMC Bank depositors such as education, weddings and dire financial position, not just serious medical emergencies as being done at present.

The application was filed in Misra's main PIL seeking directions to the RBI to ease the moratorium on withdrawals from the PMC Bank during the coronavirus pandemic.

Advocate Shashank Deo Sudhi, representing Misra, submitted that more than five dates have been given to the authorities and the hard earned money of the depositors has not been released.

At least senior citizens be allowed to withdraw their money up to Rs 5 lakh as they are suffering from hardship and the depositors are unable to withdraw their own money.

The high court had earlier said that according to the Supreme Court's decision on withdrawal of money by depositors of PMC bank for exigencies, exceptions can be carved out for urgent medical and educational requirements.

The court had asked the depositors, whose needs have been highlighted before the court in a PIL, to once again approach the RBI-appointed administrator of PMC bank giving details of their financial needs along for medical or educational reasons within three weeks.

RBI had earlier argued that while it sympathises with the plight of the depositors, everyone would have some or the other financial emergency; and if Rs 5 lakh was released to all, as provided in case of medical emergencies, the bank would be in difficulty and depositors would not get their entire deposits back.

RBI had said it was trying to keep the bank functioning in the interests of the depositors and had floated an expression of interest for investing in it and has received some bids.

The PMC Bank has been put under restrictions, including limiting withdrawals, by the RBI, following the unearthing of a Rs 4,355-crore scam.
By PTI

MUMBAI: New farm laws will ultimately help farmers get better returns as the legislations provide for competition by allowing them to sell their produce to even corporates like Reliance and ITC for good prices, Chief Economic Advisor K Subramanian said on Monday.

The farm laws were cleared by Parliament last year but the Supreme Court, in January 2021, suspended their implementation amid protests by farmers. The farm laws is a step towards improving the incomes of small and marginal farmers, Subramanian said.

Critics of the laws have been questioning the manner in which the bills were passed and alleged that the reform will help big businesses by corporatising farm activities.

Subramanian said the insistence on selling goods only at Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) markets dented farmers' realisations because the buyer who acted as an intermediary had an upper hand in the trade due to factors like it being a perishable commodity or the costs involved in coming to the market again.

"The farm bill provides for competition so that the small and marginal farmer can go to the intermediary and say if you are not going to provide a good price, I can go and sell it to someone else. That someone else could be ITC, Reliance or Farm Fresh," he added.

Speaking at an event to celebrate the foundation event of Nabard, he said these entities will compete for farmers' produce, which will ensure that a farmer, especially a small and marginal farmer, will get the adequate value of the produce.

The presence of the APMC Acts, which the farm laws seek to do away with, can be traced back to the needs of 13th-century conqueror Alauddin Khilji to feed his big army, Subramanian said, adding that a farmer gets only up to 15 per cent of the value of a commodity with the intermediary making the most.

Subramanian, an academic-turned-policy advisor, added that competition has always helped the final consumers and producers, pointing to sectors like banking, mutual funds, telecom and airports as success stories.

He also said the rich farmers do not face the same troubles as small and marginal farmers when it comes to selling goods because of their ability to invest in storage infrastructure apart from being better networked.

Apart from the APMC laws, the farm reforms also do away with the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, which do not distinguish between legitimate storage and hoarding of an agri commodity, he added.

Subramanian said the provisions were being used for perverse outcomes, which is visible through the fact that there were over 80,000 raids with only under 2 per cent of them being prosecuted, and its core motive of stabilising prices was not achieved at all.

"The small and marginal farmer has been losing out and his state has not improved significantly despite over 75 years of independence," he said, claiming that the laws along with the agricultural infrastructure fund will be of help.

The laws will increase farmers' incomes, enable more innovation and push growth in the agricultural sector significantly, he noted.
Rajas Kelkar By

Express News Service

Consumer technology is fast becoming a way of life in India and everywhere in the world. Zomato, a consumer technology company that delivers food to subscribers, goes public later in the week.

This column is not about making a recommendation to you about the public offer. You need to speak to a registered financial advisor about that. The idea is to nudge you to take advantage of the information and strengthen your defences against investment risks. There is a wealth of information in the offer document filed by the company that you could use to enhance your knowledge about a new sector. There are several interesting facts mentioned in the paper.

What lies ahead

The prospectus highlights the outlook for the food delivery business. There are about 4 to 5 crore online delivery users in India compared to 9 to 12 crore in the US and 43 to 45 crore in China. Only 43 per cent of people in India have access to the internet.

ALSO READ: Zomato's Rs 9,375 crore IPO to open on July 14 for subscription

That is nearly half of the US and two-thirds of China. That becomes the addressable market. In that context, the market penetration of food delivery is only 9 per cent in India. In the US and China, it is 36 and 56 per cent respectively. That means there is scope for growth in the business.

When companies grow business, they generate cash that helps them further expand the reach for their goods and services. Investors choose to discount future growth and pay the price they get today for an equity share.

ALSO READ: Can Zomato shift food consumption demography?

In the absence of profits, the way to measure the companys performance is by watching the trend in monthly active users or MAU on the app. They have to grow steadily every quarter. The other metric for the food delivery business is the gross order value or GOV. It means the total monetary value of the orders, including taxes, customer delivery charges, and all discounts, excluding tips.

The challenges

Investing in a company like Zomato comes with risks, just like any other business. The prospectus lists over 60 risk factors. Just like it is supposed to highlight prospects that would make you invest, the prospectus must also mention risks associated with the business. The company faced significant challenges in 2020-21. The first quarter of the year was the worst-ever in terms of GOV for the company. However, the company reported the best quarter in December 2020, the prospectus said. The pandemic is not over yet. People are reluctant to visit restaurants and order food as they used to in the past due to hygiene issues.

Consumer tech companies like Zomato usually focus on revenue growth and do not focus on profits in the early stage of development. With an increasing commitment of prominent private equity investors, the company has diluted equity. That means it has to work harder to earn profits in the future. The market is lucrative but very competitive. It will not be easy to compete profitably. That is because there are no significant entry barriers. A global player with more capital can challenge Zomato.

What next

Besides Zomato, there were reports that Paytm, Indias biggest payment app, would go public. The beauty of these companies going public is that investors would know more about these new growth sectorslike how they do business and create value. There are already many prominent, influential investors who have invested in the past in these companies, waiting to exit. These businesses are not capital intensive. They go for IPO or a public issue, usually to offer an exit route to influential investors. They would also add considerable weight to the market value of shares traded in India. Considering the potential, companies like Zomato would continue to grow revenue.

As an investor, the bet you take should come after you figure out if you can benefit when these companies turn in the profit. Sooner than later, they may get into benchmark indices like the Sensex or the Nifty. That is what drives a lot of long-term investors like mutual funds and pension funds to invest.

(The author is editor-in-chief at www.moneyminute.in)
S Lalitha By

Express News Service

BENGALURU : After spending money from their own pockets and revamping the canine park in Domlur, dog lovers are disappointed as Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) led the park down to a path of decay.

Locals are of the opinion that efforts are being made to convert the park into something else. Dr Hemant Agrawal, pediatrician and Founder of Domlur Dog Park Club recalls the initial days, when he removed pieces of removing glass from the plot along with animal rights activist V K Ilango.

Tracing the ups and downs the park went through, he said that the park became a favourite of dog lovers in the surrounding area. It was open 24x7. We had a play area and arrangements were also made for poop disposal among other amenities, he said. By August 2019, BBMP closed it down with the promise of upgrading it.

After insisting for a long time, the park was again opened on November 1, 2020. A week after the launch, BBMP closed it again by removing the amenities installed, he added. Ravindra, Executive Engineer (Projects-East), BBMP told TNIE, We need to get an official order from horticulture department to convert it into a dog park.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ma Subramaniam, inaugurated GEM Laparoscopic & Robotic Institute for Hernia and Abdominal Wall Reconstruction at GEM Hospital Chennai, which is a comprehensive speciality centre for hernia care.

Congratulating the doctors on opening a speciality care centre for hernia, he said, Hernia is a most common surgical problem affecting all age groups and most commonly the labourers and agriculture workers.

Laparoscopic repair reduces recurrence, recovery is faster and helps in early return to routine work which is very important to daily labourers for their day today living. I appeal to GEM Hospital to provide guidance and training on new laparoscopic surgical techniques to surgeons in government service. Government of Tamil Nadu will provide Laparoscopic treatment for the public through Comprehensive CM insurance scheme.

Dr C Palanivelu. founder and chairman, GM Hospitals, explained the occurrence of hernia and the different treatments. For the first time in India, a comprehensive approach to hernia will be deployed with a hernia specialist, plastic surgeon, anaesthetist, intensivist, pulmonologist and pain specialist at GEM hospital, he said.

Dr S Asokan, CEO, GEM Hospital Chennai spoke of the minimally invasive method while Dr P Senthilnathan, director, GEM Hospital Chennai said that as part of the launch, free hernia camps will be organised regularly in the outskirts of the city to create awareness among people.

For details, contact: 9500200600 or info@geminstitute.in
By PTI

NEW DELHI Actor-activist Deep Sidhu, who is accused of being the key conspirator of the violence that ensued at the Red Fort on Republic Day, appeared before a Delhi court on Monday.

Sidhu and several other accused appeared before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gajender Singh Nagar through video conferencing.

One Mohinder Singh Khalsa moved an exemption application on medical grounds, which was allowed by the court.

The chief metropolitan magistrate directed the police to supply chargesheet to all the accused and listed the matter for further hearing on July 22.

Last month, the court had taken cognizance of the chargesheet in the case and summoned all the accused to appear before it on July 12.

On January 26, protesting farmers had clashed with police during the tractor rally against the Centre's three farm laws and stormed into the Red Fort, hoisting religious flags on its domes and injuring scores of policemen.

According to the Delhi Police, they have electronic evidence to show that Sidhu entered the Red Fort with supporters carrying lathis and flags and provoked the violence.

He was in jail for over two months and released on bail on April 17.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The national capital may witness acute water shortage from Monday. Vice-chairman of Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Raghav Chadha said on Sunday the Haryana administration is not discharging adequate quantities into the Yamuna. The river is one of the largest sources of potable water supply in the city.

The DJB has moved the Supreme Court, seeking directions to Haryana to release the capitals legitimate share.

We are witnessing all-time low water levels in Yamuna as Delhis water share, determined by the court in 1995, withheld by Haryana. The water level at Wazirabad pond should be 674.5 feet. It has come down to 667 feet. The entire river has dried up. Despite orders of the SC, Haryana has stopped the water of Delhi, while the treaty on water had been signed several decades ago, said Chadha.

ALSO READ | Haryana withholding city's legitimate share of water: Delhi Jal Board vice chairman Raghav Chadha

He added that because of the non-availability of enough water, treatment plants (WTPs) are not fully functional. According to Chadha, Chandrawal WTP has been operating at 55 MGD (million gallons a day) capacity against a normal of 90 MGD. Wazirabad and Okhla have been operating at 80 MGD and 12 MGD capacity, as against the normal of 135 MGD and 20 MGD.

The DJB has been supplying 945 MGD of water to city residents this summer against a demand of 1,150 MGD. At present, Delhi has been receiving 479 MGD against 609 MGD from Haryana. Besides, Delhi draws 90 MGD groundwater and receives 250 MGD from the Upper Ganga Canal. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, however, said mismanagement and water mafia were responsible for the water crisis in Delhi. He said an audit should be conducted.

BJP and AAP leaders caught in water spat

Raghav Chadha of DJB and AAP said they are not asking for any donation, but demanding that Haryana obeys a previous court order. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused AAP of running a misleading campaign to malign the Haryana government, which is run by the saffron party.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The New Delhi district administration on Monday withdrew its order directing closure of the popular Janpath market for not following DDMA guidelines after a meeting with the market associations where traders assured it of strict implementation of COVID-19 protocols.

The district administration had on Sunday directed the closure of the market till further orders.

"After the order was issued for closing pedestrian market in Janpath, the district officials held a meeting with them today. It was decided to allow them to open shops with strict implementation of COVID-19 safety measures and other protocols."

"Also, enforcement teams will be deployed permanently to prevent violations of COVID appropriate behaviour," said a senior district official.

It was informed by the representatives of market association of Janpath that they take full responsibility for ensuring COVID appropriate behaviour and implement the direction of DDMA in letter and spirit, the official added.

The district officials directed that circles shall be marked in front of shops for maintaining proper distance for the waiting customers and provision shall mandatorily be made in individual shops for thermal screening of all the customers and staff deployed at the outlets.

"All persons in the market area shall mandatorily wear masks. No shop allottee shall operate outside his allocated shop area. Further, the space outside the shop as well as the common area including pavements shall not be used for commercial purposes."

The number of visitors to the market shall be regulated by the market trader associations as well as by Delhi Police personal deployed in the market.

The entry and exit of the market shall be manned by both the employees of the market associations as well as Delhi Police, the official said.

Manoj Kumar general secretary of Janpath Mini Market Association said, "A meeting was held with New Delhi ADM in which the shopkeepers gave an assurance to strictly follow COVID-appropriate behaviour and were then allowed to resume work.

" Janpath in Delhi's famous business hub Connaught Place in Central Delhi has three market associations including Janpath Traders Association of shops on the main road, Janpath Bhawan Traders Association and Janpath Mini Market Association of small shops and hawkers.

"The issue concerned small shopkeepers and hawkers in Janpath Mini Market."

"Our shops on the main road are following COVID norms and we are very much careful as we realise the seriousness of coronavirus threat," said Toni Chawla, president of Janpath Traders Association.

Delhi was under a lockdown from April 19 to May 30 during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Markets were allowed to open from June 7 under a phased reopening plan of the city government.

Markets in Lajpat Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and parts of Sadar Bazar and Karol Bagh were among those shut in recent weeks by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for violation of COVID-19 norms.

Meanwhile, traders in Connaught Place have written to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal demanding removal of illegal hawkers from the market and shifting them to another place, and alleged that they do not follow the COVID-19 protocols and might act as super-spreaders of the virus.

The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) has also raised the issue with chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) claiming that hawkers are disturbing COVID-19 discipline of the market.

"Connaught Place market, hawkers occupy space in the corridor, people surround them in group reducing walking space in the corridor, and they are the super-spreaders of the virus in the area.

"We would request you to remove all illegal hawkers and legal hawkers should be shifted to another place in the areas, majority of these hawkers have already been allotted space to some other areas in Delhi but they have sublet the same and continuously sitting in CP corridor," the NDTA said in a letter to Baijal.

The NDTA has claimed that merely 70 authorised hawkers are allowed to sit in CP, whereas prior to the lockdown around 289 hawkers were seen occupying space in the corridor of Connaught Place, making "mockery of the guidelines of the DDMA especially in regard to maintaining proper distance".

"If these hawkers are not restricted from sitting in CP, our whole exercise of keeping the market closed for months, conducting vaccination camp and making day-to-day awareness amongst the people will go waste.

The responsibility of making hawkers to follow SOPs is of the Delhi government, Delhi Police and the NDMC and the association will not be held responsible for this," it said.

The Delhi government had on Sunday ordered closure of Janpath market for not following Covid protocols and violating the guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

The order, however, was withdrawn on Monday after issuing strict instructions to the traders and market associations in the area.

"Authorities blame Sadar Bazar and Chawri Bazar markets for intensifying the virus due to crowd in the market, but CP despite being a world renowned market, is always crowded by illegal hawkers, and they are not blamed for spreading Covid as no action is being taken to restrict them because they do not follow SOPs and most of them are not vaccinated.

"We would request you to please take appropriate action against the hawkers in CP under the DDMA guidelines and remove them from CP and ensure that they do not return and occupy space to make place crowded," the NDTA said.

Delhi was under a lockdown from April 19 to May 30 during the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

Markets were allowed to open from June 7 under a phased reopening plan of the city government.

Markets in Lajpat Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and parts of Sadar Bazar and Karol Bagh were among those shut in recent weeks by the DDMA for violation of COVID-19 norms.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A traders' body wrote to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Monday objecting to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority's (DDMA) orders putting the onus for controlling crowds in markets on their respective associations.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said market associations could not be held responsible for maintaining law and order when they didn't have any legal authority.

This was the responsibility of the police and the district administration.

In recent weeks, several markets in Delhi have been shut by the DDMA due to the violation of Covid norms like maintaining social distancing.

In its orders, the DDMA has said that it is the responsibility of the respective market associations to take all measures to ensure that Covid-appropriate behaviour is followed.

In a statement, CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said shopkeepers could only be held responsible for their shops and godowns.

He said, "It (DDMA order) states that it is the responsibility of the market welfare association to control the crowd in markets and (ensure that people) follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

How can a market association handle the crowd and enforce law and order without having any legal authority?" Goyal said the CTI requested Baijal, who is also the DDMA chairman, to withdraw the line from its orders putting the onus for controlling crowds in markets on market associations.

The responsibility of ensuring that Covid guidelines are followed in public places lies with municipal bodies, police and district administration, he said.

"The markets are being made soft targets," he alleged.

Delhi was under a lockdown from April 19 to May 30 during the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

Markets were allowed to open from June 7 under a phased reopening plan of the city government.

The Delhi government ordered the closure of Janpath market for the violation of Covid protocols on Monday.

Earlier, markets in Lajpat Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and parts of Sadar Bazar and Karol Bagh were shut by the DDMA.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government Monday ordered the closure of Janpath Market here for the violation of Covid protocols and for not following the guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), according to an order.

"The Janpath market is, hereby, closed till further orders for violation of DDMA order and for not following COVID appropriate behaviour norms. The Director (Enforcement), NDMC and SHO, Connaught Place are hereby directed to enforce the order with immediate effect and submit a compliance report," the Delhi government said in the order.

Delhi was under a lockdown from April 19 to May 30 during the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

Markets were allowed to open from June 7 under a phased reopening plan of the city government.

Markets in Lajpat Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and parts of Sadar Bazar and Karol Bagh were among those shut in recent weeks by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for violation of COVID-19 norms.
Cynthia Chandran By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ever since a majority of the government hospitals were converted to Covid hospitals, non-Covid patients have had a harrowing time. People coming for rabies shots and treatment at de-addiction centres are among the most affected.

Under the circumstances, the Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital authorities have approached the district medical officer requesting to designate it as a non-Covid hospital from July 15. The General Hospital was converted into an exclusive Covid hospital last August after a spurt in the number of coronavirus cases in the capital. The hospital has 300 beds and during the pre-Covid days at least 3,000 people visited the OP wing daily.

Though the health department had announced about the move, a vast section of people remain unaware of that and visit the hospital. They are being referred to the District Model Hospital at Peroorkada and the Taluk Hospital at Fort. A 40-year-old woman bitten by a dog was recently rushed to the General Hospital only to be told that rabies vaccination does not happen there.

I was in terrible pain and bleeding profusely. Amid heavy rain, I was then rushed to the Fort Hospital. It would be good if the General Hospital caters to other emergency services too, the woman from Kattakkada told TNIE.General Hospital Superintendent Dr Padmalatha said that she has given a proposal to District Medical Officer K S Shinu to revert the hospitals status to the pre-Covid times from July 15.

The OP wing should be able to function from that day. But the surgical block will have to be fumigated and other preparations made before attaining normalcy. Hence, it may take one more week for it to start functioning fully, said Dr Padmalatha.

People suffering dog and cat bites or scratches prefer government hospitals as the outpatient ticket costs just Rs 5. Besides consultation fees, private hospitals charge Rs 1,500 or more for a single vial of immunoglobulins with four doses required normally in a period of one-and-a-half months.

Apart from the General Hospital, the Mental Health Centre at Peroorkada too has been converted into a Covid hospital. Dr L Anil Kumar, the superintendent at the Mental Health Centre, said that psychiatric patients, both Covid positive and negative, are admitted there.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The Mumbai civic body has sealed a wing of a building in south Mumbai in which Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty resides after a fifth person from that wing tested positive for coronavirus, a senior official said on Monday.

He said the 'A' wing of the 'Prithvi Apartments' located on Altamount Road was sealed on Saturday after a fifth person from that wing tested positive for coronavirus last week.

"But no one from the Shetty's family tested positive," he added.

"The entire building hasn't been sealed. Only one wing is sealed. Another wing has no cases," said Prashant Gaikwad, assistant municipal commissioner, D ward, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

He said the first patient was found in the wing five to six days back.

Hence, the wing will be reopened in the next few days, once that patient recovers.

Thereafter, only the floors with COVID-19 patients remain sealed.

Meanwhile, Shetty tweeted that no Delta variant of coronavirus was found in his building.

"Wow! Must say that fake news spreads quicker than any virus. People, pls don't spread panic. There's NO 'Delta Variant' in my building society. Just one COVID+ case & the patient is recuperating at Breach Candy hospital. The others are currently negative & self quarantined," Shetty tweeted.

The Shettys live on the 18th floor of the Prithvi Apartment.

"My building is safe and the family is fine. One wing has a notice up but NOT entire building sealed as being misreported. My mother, my wife Mana, #Ahan, #Athiya & my staff; as well as the entire Bldg are fine & thank U for your good wishes. Sorry folks no #DELTA," he added.

As per the BMC's revised guidelines issued in April, a building is sealed and declared a micro-containment area if five COVID-19 cases are found.

Mumbai on Monday reported 478 new coronavirus cases and nine fresh fatalities, taking the tally of infections to 7,28,174 and the toll to 15,636, as per the BMC.

According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) updated data, with the addition of 478 cases, the COVID-19 tally rose to 7,28,174, while the death toll increased to 15,636.

This is the third time since the beginning of July that Mumbai has reported less than 500 COVID-19 cases and under 10 fatalities for the second time.

On July 5 and 6, the city had reported 489 and 453 new COVID-19 cases, respectively, and nine fatalities on July 7.

Generally, the city reports a lesser number of new infections at the start of week as the number of tests conducted on weekends goes drops as compared to other days.

The civic body said in the last 24 hours, a total of 27,827 tests, the lowest in July so far, were conducted for detecting coronavirus, taking their cumulative number to 75,62,401.

Since the start of July, the daily number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the city has been over 30,000.

On July 9, as many as 39,000 tests were carried out in the city.

According to the BMC, the number of discharged patients outnumbered the new cases on Monday.

With 701 patients discharged from hospitals during the day, the number of recovered cases climbed to 7,03,077.

Mumbai has COVID-19 recovery rate of 96 per cent, BMC officials, adding the city has 7120 active cases.

According to the officials, Mumbai's average doubling rate of COVID-19 cases has reached 926 days, while the average growth rate of cases between July 5 and July 11 was 0.07 per cent.

The count of containment zones in slums and chawls has reduced to just five, while the number of sealed buildings is 63, the civic body said.

The financial capital of the county had reported the highest-ever 11,163 COVID-19 cases on April 4, while the most deaths in a day during the second wave - at 90 - were recorded on May 1.
By PTI

PESHAWAR: Legendary Indian thespian Dilip Kumar was not just an actor but an institution and people like him are born once in a century, Pakistan's Senator and the 98-year-old Bollywood icon's nephew Mohsin Aziz said on Monday.

At a condolence meet in the memory of Kumar, the Pakistani lawmaker threw light on his life, career, character and his attachment with Peshawar where he was born.

Kumar, who was born on December 11, 1922 at his ancestral home in Qissa Khawani Bazaar area of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, died at a hospital in Mumbai last week after prolonged illness.

His original name was Yousuf Khan.

"Actors like Kumar are born once in a century. He was not just an actor, but an institution," Senator Aziz said.

IN PICTURES | Dilip Kumar (1922-2021): A tribute to 'The First Khan'

He was a thorough gentleman and down to earth person who won hearts of thousands and millions of people through his hard work, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader said at the meet organised at his house here.

He was a great social worker and contributed generously for humanity, Aziz said.

In 1998, the Pakistan government honoured Kumar with the 'Nishan-e-Imtiaz' - the country's highest civilian award.

Pakistan's top leadership and people showed their adulation for the legendary actor last week, with President Arif Alvi describing Kumar as "an outstanding actor, a humble man, and a dignified personality".

"Sorry to see Dilip Kumar (Yusuf Khan) depart from his worldly abode. An outstanding actor, a humble man, and a dignified personality. Condolences to the immediate family and his huge family of admirers. May his soul rest in peace," he tweeted.

Condoling Kumar's death, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he can never forget his generosity in helping to raise funds for a trust to set up cancer hospitals in his mother's memory.

"Saddened to learn of Dilip Kumar's passing.

I can never forget his generosity in giving his time to help raise funds for SKMTH when (the) project launched.

This is the most difficult time - to raise (the) first 10% of the funds & his appearance in Pak & London helped raise huge amounts," Khan tweeted.

"Apart from this, for my generation Dilip Kumar was the greatest and most versatile actor," he said.

Often known as the Nehruvian hero, he did his first film 'Jwar Bhata' in 1944 and his last 'Qila' in 1998, 54 years later.

The five-decade career included 'Mughal-e-Azam', 'Devdas', 'Naya Daur', and 'Ram Aur Shyam', and later, as he graduated to character roles, 'Shakti' and 'Karma'.

The actor is survived by his wife Saira Banu.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that Beijing not observing agreements has led to the disturbance of the foundation of India-China ties.

I would say for the last 40 years we had a very stable relation with Beijing. China emerged as the second-largest trade partner. But for the last one year, there has been a lot of concern about the relationship because China has not observed agreements that it had signed up to when it came to our border, the minister said in response to a question on China-India relations at the Primakov Institute of World Economy & International Relations in Moscow.

Jaishankar arrived in Moscow for a three-day visit and is expected to hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov later in the day. The leaders will discuss bilateral issues and the deteriorating Afghan situation following the US departure of US troops.

On a question on the possibility of nuclear arms race between the two countries, Jaishankar dismissed it saying the evolution of the Chinese nuclear program has a much larger dynamic than India. I dont believe there is a nuclear arms race between India and China. China became a nuclear power in 1964, India in 1998.

On relations with Russia, Jaishankar said that there is no doubt that relations between the two countries was among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War. Russians will surely recall the ups and downs in their ties with the United States, Europe, China or Japan, or for that matter, Turkey and Iran. On their part, objective Indians would also recognize that this was the case with them as well, he said.

Where the India-Russia bilateral ties are concerned, there have been changes  even issues  from time to time. The paradox though is that precisely because it has held so steady, this relationship is sometimes taken for granted. The case for its constant nurturing is therefore as powerful, if not more, than with the more volatile ones.

India, Iran discuss situation in Afghanistan

Jaishankar discussed the Afghanistan situation with the Iranian leadership during a stopover in Tehran en route Moscow. The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. They also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan... Both sides discussed joint connectivity initiatives in the region including Chabahar, the MEA said.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Congress leaders on Monday reiterated their demand to contest the Mumbai civic elections, due early next year, independently.

The Congress is part of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra along with the NCP.

AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra HK Patil on Monday held talks with former ministers, ex-chief ministers, and leaders who contested the 2019 Assembly polls on the Congress ticket to discuss the preparations for the elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) controlled by the Shiv Sena.

A senior Congress leader said the party leaders who had contested the last Lok Sabha elections didn't turn up at the meeting.

"Patil heard the views of leaders who said the Congress should contest alone as it is a local boy election and workers need to be accommodated. He urged the Mumbai unit and all leaders to work unitedly and ensure that the party wins maximum seats," the leader said.

He said Patil held discussions with office-bearers on how to strengthen the Congress in the Konkan region, from Palghar to Sindhudurg, the home turf of BJP MP and Union minister Narayan Rane.

Elections to ten municipal corporations including Mumbai, 27 Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samities in their areas are due early next year.

In the 2017 BMC elections, the BJP had made giant strides by giving a tough fight to the Sena which scraped through to retain the civic body.

The Shiv Sena on Monday welcomed the Centre's decision to create the cooperation ministry saying Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been given the additional charge of the new portfolio, will do a "good job" as he had been part of the cooperative movement in Gujarat.

An editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana' also said that there is not much difference in the field of politics and the cooperative sector, and that "everything happens as per convenience".

Notably, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who is the architect of the Sena-headed Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, on Sunday said the Centre cannot interfere in the state's cooperative sector.

"If Amit Shah has decided to develop and expand the cooperative sector then there is no need to be disturbed. Attempts are being made to create fear among people that Shah will dig out old cases of leaders of the Congress and NCP and launch inquiries and will form a government in Maharashtra through 'cooperation'. However, saying so is like defaming Shah," the editorial said.

The Sena said Shah will do a good job as he had worked as an "activist in the cooperative movement in Gujarat before joining politics".

"There is not much difference in the field of politics and the cooperative sector in terms of qualities like good and bad, true and false, moral and immoral. Everything happens as per convenience. Finally, everyone is the same in politics," it said.

The Central government recently carved out a new ministry for cooperation, which earlier was a small department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Amit Shah on Saturday said the government is determined to make cooperatives and all cooperative institutions more empowered.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: Forty-nine-year-old Mukesh Hissariya, who has been credited for arranging more than 240 cremations of covid-19 victims in Patna, is one of the 100 people chosen to feature in Dettol products as a 'protector'.

Hissariyas photo has been used on Dettol pouches and bottles as a 'CoVID-19 Protector' with a description of a person who risked his life to perform funerals for those who succumbed to the virus.

Mukesh Hissariya is awarded Dettol Salutes as Our protector for his extraordinary efforts to help the people of India during extremely testing times of the pandemic, a certificate provided to him by Dettol read.

Also known as 'the blood man of Bihar' for arranging many blood donation camps in the state, Hissariya facilitated cremations for 96 victims in 2020 and 145 of them this year and helped their bereaved kin at various cremation ghats in the city.

He is associated with the Maa Vaishno Devi Seva Samiti in Patna and conducted a series of charitable services for the poor people, children suffering from thalassemia, and also organising group weddings for people who cannot afford it.

Among the 145, 52 were those whose family members requested him through video calls to arrange cremations at ghats. My volunteers acted and ensured the proper cremations amid Vedic mantras recited by hired pundits, We had also hired barbers, four labourers for taking the bodies of Covid patients to the ghats, and one shopkeeper for providing items required for cremation rituals, Hissariya said.

He, with monetary support from donors in Patna also built the first non-commercial blood bank in the state at the cost of Rs 6 crore, which will provide free blood to HIV and Thalassamina patients from October 1 this year.

He added that weddings of 488 girls from poor families have been arranged in the last 10 years under the banner of Maa Vaishno Devi Seva Samiti.

On Monday, he will be attending the weekly Junta Darwar of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to suggest ways for treatment of Thalassemia patients and children in the state.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: BJP MPs will introduce private members' bills on population control and uniform civil code in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament, according to information from the secretariats of both Houses.

The private members' bill on population control comes close on the heels of the law commission of BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in the country, putting up a draft bill on the issue on its website, inviting suggestions from the public till July 19.

BJP Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Ravi Kishan and Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan Kirori Lal Meena are scheduled to introduce the private members' bills on population control and uniform civil code respectively in the very first week of the Parliament session which is starting from July 19.

A bill introduced by a member other than a minister is known as a private member's bill and there is little possibility of it becoming a law without the government's support.

The proposed legislations on population control and uniform civil code, issues that usually trigger heated polemics in the country, are in line with the BJP's ideological agenda.

Opposition parties have criticised the BJP's moves in this regard, claiming that they are aimed at targeting one specific community, while the BJP has accused them of pursuing appeasement politics.

According to the details available with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats, Kishan and Meena will get an opportunity to introduce their respective private members' bills on July 24, which was decided through the lottery system.

A notice for a similar bill on population control has also been given by BJP MP in Rajya Sabha Rakesh Sinha.

The proposed legislations on population control emphasise on deincentivising couples having more than two children, by making them ineligible for government jobs and subsidies on various facilities and goods given by the government.

The draft UP population control bill says people having more than two children will be debarred from contesting local bodies polls, applying for government jobs or receiving any kind of subsidy.

Similar legislation is under discussion in another BJP-ruled state Assam.

Meanwhile, Vishva Hindu Parishad, a member of the ruling BJP's ideological family, has objected to the one-child policy norm of the draft population control bill in UP, saying it is likely to further increase the imbalance between different communities and contract the population as well.

"The preamble of the bill states that this is a bill, inter alia, to stabilise the population and promote the two-child norm. The Vishva Hindu Parishad agrees with both objects," the organisation's working president, Alok Kumar, said in a letter to the Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission (UPSCL) on Monday.

However, Sections 5, 6(2) and 7 of the bill, which incentivise public servants and others to have only one child in the family, go "well beyond the said objects", he said.

Asked about the bill he intends to introduce, Sinha said population growth has been ringing an "alarm bell" for the country and asserted that a central law is "most required" as it will be applicable across the nation.

The unchecked population growth needs to be regulated, he said.

Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a critical intervention in the debate over the issue during his speech on August 15, Sinha said that Modi had called for a balance between resources and population.

The discourse over the issue should not be seen through caste and religious angles, Sinha said.

According to PRS Legislative, no private members' bills have been passed by Parliament since 1970.

A total of 14 such bills have received Parliament's nod.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: The meeting of Tejashwi Yadavs political aide Shayam Rajak with beleaguered LJP leader Chirag Paswan in Delhi on Saturday has led to many political observers asserting that it was now almost a settled fact that the two Young Turks would come together in Bihar.

They argue that the combine of Tejashwi and Chirag along with the leaders of other Mahagatvandhan allies, including CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar, is preparing to take on the Nitish Kumar-led NDA in the state. Incidentally, both Tejashwi and Chirag have made it clear about their opposition to the JD-U chief.

Chirag is now left with no other option but to align with a potent ally. Sooner or later, he will have to join hand with the anti-Nitish Kumar political front to take on the Bihar CM in politics, said Arun Kumar Pandey, a seasoned political observer. The duo coming together will certainly pose challenge to JD-U in particular and BJP in general, he added.

But Dr RK Verma, another political analyst, asserted the merger of LJP and RJD is unlikely because of both the young leaders are ambitious. But they can together out of political compulsion or because of political gain under one umbrella. And if it happens, their alliance will be not be easy to tackle.

Meanwhile, there is another talk that Chirag may later join the Mahagatvandhan in order to establish a place in the state after the split engineered by his uncle Pashupati Paras.

A day before meeting Chirag, Rajak spoke with RJD president Lalu Yadav in New Delhi in which the latter is said to have provided tips to bring Chirag into the Mahagatvandhan. On his part, Rajak described the meeting as personal, saying that he has a personal relationship with the family of late LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tabled the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill 2021 on the first day of the Budget Session of Assembly on Monday.

Approved recently by the state cabinet for introduction in the House, the Bill seeks to ban the transport of cattle to and fro the state as well as within the state to thwart smuggling to Bangladesh.

Provided that the state government may exempt certain places of worship or certain occasions for the slaughter of cattle other than calf, heifer, and cow for religious purposes

No person shall transport or offer for transport or cause to be transported any cattle without a valid permit from any place of another state through Assam to any place outside the state of Assam, any place within the state of Assam to any place outside the state of Assam where the slaughter of cattle is not regulated by law, the Bill reads.

It also states that no person shall transport or offer for transport or cause to be transported any cattle from any place of another state to any place within the state, slaughter whereof is punishable under this Act.

ALSO READ | Assam cattle law: Meghalaya fears choking of supply

Further, the Bill states that no person shall transport or offer for transport or cause to be transported any cattle from any place within the state to any other place within the state, slaughter whereof is punishable under this Act.

The Bill adds that competent authority may issue permits for the transport of cattle for agricultural or animal husbandry purposes.

A lot of people consume beef in the Christian-majority states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The Meghalaya government has already expressed its concern over the possible choking of supply.

Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma recently said his government would approach the Centre if the Assam cattle law affects the people and the economy of Meghalaya.

We will take all steps needed to make sure supply is not affected by the Assam law, he said.

The beef business helps thousands of people eke out a living in Meghalaya. Cattle, procured from states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, are transported to Meghalaya through Assam.
By PTI

CHANDIGARH: Accusing Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal of distributing funds to the Akalis, Congress legislator Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Monday urged party leader Rahul Gandhi to take disciplinary action against him.

This comes amid efforts by the party leadership to end factionalism in the party unit in the poll-bound state.

"Punjab's finance minister is busy distributing people's money to the Akalis who ruined Punjab. This plan to weaken Congress and strengthen Akali Dal by @MSBADAL has been running for months. It is a request to @Rahul Gandhi that his resignation should be taken immediately after taking disciplinary action," said Warring in a tweet.

Earlier on his Facebook post, he said that he was saddened to know Badal had been handing over cheques of Rs 15 lakh to the Akalis.

He even shared pictures of persons whom money was given and said they were members of the same Akali Dal whom Badal had left and then joined the Congress.

"The Congress party gave you everything then why are you stabbing the party in the back," he alleged.

He reminded Badal that supporting the Akali Dal while being in the Congress will "destroy" his political life and the people of Punjab would never forget this.

He further alleged that his working as a finance minister in the last four years "forced" every section of Punjab to protest against the Congress government.

Punjab minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, while tagging Warring's tweet, said, "The Congress can never have any understanding with Akali Dal which has destroyed Punjab from roots. Still, if there is any perception, it should broken."

Warring had been raising questions over the functioning of Badal in the matter of release of funds.
By PTI

DEHRADUN: The Indian Medical Association's Uttarakhand chapter has written to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami requesting him to cancel the Kanwar Yatra this year for public safety in view of a possible third wave of COVID-19.

Drawing the Chief minister's attention to the warnings of medical experts about a third wave of the pandemic in a letter, the IMA's state secretary Amit Khanna asked him to not allow the proposed Kanwar Yatra to go ahead.

The fortnight-long yatra that begins with the onset of the month of Shravan around July 25 and goes on till the first week of August sees crores of Kanwariyas from neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh gathering in Haridwar to collect the holy waters of the Ganga.

The yatra had been cancelled last year too due to the first wave of COVID-19.

"We request you to disallow the proposed Kanwar Yatra in July-August, 2021, as the third wave of Covid pandemic is ready to knock on the doors of this country according to several specialists," Khanna said on behalf of the IMA in the letter.

Reminding the Chief Minister how people went off guard after the first wave and paid a heavy price for it in the form of a stronger and more fatal second wave, the IMA Secretary asked Dhami to take all these things into consideration and take a positive decision in the interest of the state and the country as a whole.

"After the first wave, we went off-guard and did not follow the guidelines of the central government delineated for this pandemic which was a gross negligence on our part and consequently lost several of our kin in the second wave," the IMA official said.

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the carelessness in following COVID protocol, Khanna said adding that the government should not allow devotees to enter the state learning from previous failure.

Dhami, who met central ministers including PM Modi in Delhi over the past few days, has already said that though the Kanwar Yatra is connected with the religious sentiments of people saving lives is the state government's topmost priority.

"Even the gods will not want people to die. The priority at the moment is saving lives," he told reporters in Delhi on Sunday when asked whether or not the yatra will be held.

However, a final decision on giving go-ahead will be taken in consultation with neighbouring states including UP, Haryana and others, Dhami had said.
By PTI

HYDERABAD: A senior physicist, who was pro-vice chancellor of University of Hyderabad and has thoroughly analysed the COVID-19 pattern in India, said on Monday that the third wave appeared to have set in on July 4.

Dr Vipin Srivastava, who has developed a method to observe the pattern of the number of cases and deaths for the past 463 days, said July 4 appears to be similarto what it was during the first week of February this year when the second wave was said to have set in.

According to his analysis, whenever there is a crossover from an increasing trend to a decreasing trend in daily deaths or vice versa, the Daily Death Load (DDL) fluctuates 'wildly'.

"We had such wild fluctuations in DDL,starting at the end of the first week of February though the daily deaths were on the order of 100 or even less and we were rejoicing that the pandemic was over! But what was in store was so devastating. A similar behaviour is beginning to show since July 4," he told PTI.

With 37,154 new coronavirus infections, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,08,74,376, while the total recoveries crossed three crore, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.

The toll climbed to 4,08,764 with 724 fresh fatalities.

The ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths were due to comorbidities.

"Let us hope and pray that DDL stays negative," Dr Srivastava said.

He said the bottom line was that having suffered a devastating second wave, people and administrations need to be extremely cautious and that any suspicion of the onset of a new wave should be treated with utmost care.

He however, said even a large negative DDL is not good because that indicates that the number of new cases added in 24 hours is catching up with the number of patients recovering during the same period.

Positive values of DDL are always "undesirable" as they are associated with the increasing number of deaths in 24 hour periods, the physicist said.

Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has surpassed 38 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

More than 37.03 lakh doses were administered on Monday, as per a provisional report till 7 pm.

The ministry said 16,61,804 first doses and 1,40,806 second doses were given to beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 on Monday.

Cumulatively, 11,41,34,915 people in the age group of 18-44 have received their first dose and 38,88,828 have received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive in the country.

Eight states -- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra -- have administered more than 50 lakh first doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the age group of 18-44 years, the ministry said.

Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have vaccinated more than 10 lakh beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, it added.
By PTI

JAIPUR: COVID-19 inoculation sessions were not conducted in at least 25 of Rajasthan's 33 districts on Monday due to vaccine shortage, an official said.

"The state had only 10,000 doses on Monday. So, vaccination sessions could not be conducted in about 25 districts of the state," Health Secretary Siddharth Mahajan said.

Rajasthan will receive eight lakh doses on Monday night and this will be consumed in the next two days, he said.

Mahajan said that the state had demanded 1.5 crore anti-Covid vaccine doses for July, but the Centre allocated 65 lakh doses.

The officials said that a large number of people need to be vaccinated for the second dose in July for which adequate supply is required.

Rajasthan has also written to the Centre to give the vaccine doses allocated to private hospitals to the state government, Mahajan said.

According to the health department, from June 21 to July 8, the state had received 31.63 lakh vaccine doses from the Centre.

During this period, 48 lakh people were vaccinated against the coronavirus and among the doses administered, were also those which the state had purchased on its own expense.

On July 9, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in a letter to the Union health minister had urged the Centre to not only increase vaccine allocation, but also to allocate Rajasthan's full quota, which also includes vaccines for private hospitals, to the state government.

Currently, daily vaccination is limited to the extent of supplies received from the central government, he had said.

The daily average of vaccine doses received, since the start of the vaccination drive for 18 years and above, has been around two to three lakh only, Gehlot said.

In Rajasthan, over 2.63 crore people have already received their first dose, and out of these, over 46 lakhs have received the second dose.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: In a major set back for India, the Dominica High Court has granted bail to fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, allowing him to travel to Antigua and Barbuda for treatment of his neurological condition, local media there reported.

The high court has granted a consent order by Choksi's legal team and the state's lawyer, permitting Choksi to go to Antigua, where he has been staying as a citizen since 2018 after he left India, after depositing Eastern Caribbean Dollars 10,000 (approximately Rs 2.75 lakh as per exchange rate) as bail money to seek medical attention from a specialized neurologist, Antigua Breaking News reported.

The court has also stayed the ongoing trial before a magistrate for his alleged illegal entry into Dominica on May 23, till his return, it said.

"Dominica courts finally upheld the rule of law and rights of a human to be treated in the medical facilities of his choice. And, all attempts by various agencies did not bear fruits. There is a solace in saying that all clever foxes end up as fur coats," Choksi's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told PTI.

While seeking bail, Choksi had attached his medical reports, including those of his CT-scan, which showed "mildly worsening hematoma".

Doctors have recommended an urgent review of his medical condition by a neurologist and a neurosurgical consultant.

"The services are not currently available on the island. All courtesies extended to him would be greatly appreciated," the CT scan report dated June 29 signed by doctors Yerandy Galle Gutierrez and Rene Gilbert Veranes of the Princess Margaret Hospital of Dominica said.

Choksi has alleged that there is "some collusion" between Indian and Dominican authorities.

Citing documents obtained by him, the diamantaire has told the high court that Joint Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anurag had sent a letter to Dominica on May 25, a day after he was held, seeking his deportation to India at an early date.

"I am surprised and curious that the Indian authorities came to find out so soon that I was being detained in Dominica and issued that document with such swiftness. This confirms my belief that there was some collusion between Indian and Dominican authorities," Choksi said.

Citing a letter on social media, Choksi has alleged that on May 25 the Dominica minister of national security and immigration declared him a prohibited immigrant.

He has alleged that prior to making the decision to declare him a prohibited immigrant, the minister did not tell him that he was considering doing so and did not give him an opportunity to be heard.

"In any event I did not voluntarily enter the Commonwealth of Dominica and verily believe that the said letter fails to take into account my being kidnapped and brought to Dominica or the fact that I am a citizen of Antigua. I am surprised that the minister moved so fast to make that declaration. I only arrived forcibly in Dominica on May 24, 2021," Choksi said.

The high court order has come as a major jolt to Indian efforts to bring back Choksi, wanted in the Rs 13,500-crore scam in the Punjab National Bank, from Dominica, where he was held for illegal entry after his mysterious disappearance from Antigua and Barbuda.

His lawyers had alleged that he was abducted from Antigua and Barbuda in an elaborate plot hatched by men of Indian origin and a mystery woman named Barbara Jabarica who had befriended him during last six months.

After news of Choksi being held in Dominica surfaced, India rushed a team of officials led by CBI DIG Sharda Raut to make every effort to bring Choksi back on the basis of a Interpol Red Notice against him.

His lawyer in London Michael Polak, who filed a complaint with the Scotland Yard, said Choksi was removed from Antigua and Barbuda, where as a citizen he enjoys rights to approach the British Queen's Privy Council as a last resort in cases on his citizenship and extradition to Dominica where these rights are not available to him.

India's effort to bring Choksi back was unsuccessful as his lawyers moved with unprecedented agility to file a habeas corpus petition before the Dominica High Court which was admitted for hearing.

Their swift legal manoeuvres coupled with investigation into circumstances of his disappearance from Antigua blunted attempts of India to get Choksi deported from Dominica.

The high court directed Choksi to face trial before a magistrate court for illegal entry and was denied bail.

However, he was kept at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital considering his medical condition.

The CBI did not offer any comments on the development.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Convoys of farmers from different parts of Punjab have started their journeys towards Delhi to take part in planned protests outside the Parliament House during the monsoon session, a statement by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said on Monday.

"We already announced plans to stage protests during the monsoon session of Parliament starting July 22."

"Dozens of caravans from different districts including Ludhiana, Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Barnala, Ropar, Fazilka and Faridkot have left already started for Singhu and Tikri Borders," said the umbrella body of over 40 farmers unions which are agitating since November to press for the scrapping of the three new agri laws and seeking a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP).

It also reiterated its intention of sending a warning letter to the opposition parties by July 17 to raise their voice in Parliament for the rights of the farmers.

"Then, every day during the monsoon session of Parliament from July 22 till the end of the session, five members from each farmers' organisation, totalling at least 200 farmers, will protest outside Parliament," SKM said.

The government, which has been projecting the laws as major agricultural reforms, has offered to bring amendments but has ruled out their scrapping.

The SKM also said that protests against the BJP leaders were continuing in Punjab.

"Today, a rally was organised against BJP leader Harjeet Grewal at Dhanola of Barnala district."

"After gathering at Dhanola's Dana Mandi, the protesters reached Dhanola Bazaar chanting slogans for repeal of the Black Farm Laws and enactment of a law guaranteeing MSP," the statement said.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), an influential farmers' group in north India, on Monday dissolved its executive councils and cells in Uttar Pradesh.

The BKU's national executive took the decision in view of an ongoing review of the union, but a revamped UP executive would be formed soon, its media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said.

"All executive councils of BKU in Uttar Pradesh, including the men's, women's and youth wing, besides district and zonal cells, have been dissolved," Malik said in a statement.

Except for BKU's UP unit president Rajveer Singh Jadaun, all other office bearers of all cells have also been relieved of their charges, he said.

"On the basis of the review in the organisation, all the committees will be formed again soon," Malik added.

The BKU, led by its president Naresh Tikait, is part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of various farmer unions protesting against the three contentious farm laws at Delhi's borders since November 2020.

BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait is leading the union's hundreds of supporters at Ghazipur on the Delhi-UP border for nearly eight months now.
Sidharth Mishra By

Express News Service

The departure of Dr Harshvardhan from the Ministry of Health last week earned him sympathies from the most unusual quarters the leaders belonging to Congress party. Former Union minister Jairam Ramesh in a tweet said the Lok Sabha member from Chandni Chowk had been made a scapegoat for monumental failures at the highest level nowhere else.

The Congress leader also said the former health minister is a good man. The head of media cell of Congress party, Randeep Surjewala indirectly defended Vardhan saying the National Disaster Management Authority, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was responsible for the criminal mismanagement of Covid-19. These comments obviously were made to embarrass the Prime Minister and not in any genuine sympathy for a good man as Ramesh would prefer calling Vardhan.

These comments may or may not have embarrassed the Prime Minister but must have given a cause for introspection to the former health minister. Vardhan as health minister in Modi 2.0 government has been unduly harsh on the Opposition which was rightly trying to raise the issue of the pandemic. As early as February last year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had tweeted, The coronavirus is an extremely serious threat to our people and economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously.

Timely action is critical. To which Vardhan had responded with a comment laced with sarcasm rather than seriousness and sagacity. This year too, when the second wave of coronavirus was peaking, Vardhan did not take kindly to a letter by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to his successor suggesting a roadmap to fight the pandemic.

Instead of Modi, it was Vardhan who replied and that too very caustically saying, History shall be kinder to you Dr Manmohan Singh ji if your offer of constructive cooperation and valuable advice was followed by your leaders as well in such extraordinary times! What followed in the subsequent days was a government plan to fight the pandemic which drew liberally from the note sent by the economist-statesman to the Prime Minister.

The agitated and the rude demeanour of Vardhan during the past two years was for sure not in sync with his carefully cultivated image over the past three decades of an affable person. From earning epaulets of Swasth Vardhan (one who makes you remain healthy) from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to being dropped from Narendra Modi government for his failure as health minister has brought Vardhan for once face-to-face with political trough. His political journey so far has been of surfing on a political high-tide with minor setbacks here and there.

For almost quarter of a century, Vardhan lived with the halo of being the man responsible for eradication of polio from the country. This would now get overshadowed by his failure to efficiently handle the scourge of Covid. There could be merit in Jairam Rameshs claim of failures at the highest level but it cannot be ignored that Vardhan as the health minister was a crucial clog in the anti-Covid machinery of the central government. If at all he did not have his way in the manner the pandemic was being managed, as is being suggested by the Congress leaders, Vardhan could have flagged it as did his senior Cabinet colleague Nitin Gadkari.

As health minister and a politician with a credible track record, Vardhans word would have carried weight. He, however, chose to be part of the plan which included despicable espousing of medicines from Ramdevs stable, which were tom-tommed to be cure for the virus. Both the plan and the concoction failed to deliver, and now Vardhan is paying the price for it. There is a saying, you cant have the cake and eat it too. Harsh Vardhan chose to be part of the plan, defending it stoutly and sometimes rudely in the public domain, so where is the scope for any sympathy on being unseated for the failure of the plan.

SIDHARTH MISHRA

Author and president, Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Driven by acute poverty, the locals of an Assam village are selling off their kidneys.

The racket came to light when some people of Dakshin Dharamtul village in Morigaon district nabbed an agent, along with three others, and handed them over to the police. Some 30 people from the village are believed to have sold off a kidney each so far.

About half a dozen villagers came on record to say they sold off their kidneys. Some took the step to repay loan. Some did it for the treatment of family members. The villagers are mostly farmers and daily wagers and they have been badly affected by the pandemic.

Some people, who sold off kidneys, said they were taken to Kolkata where they underwent surgeries. The police confirmed the racket.

Two people, including a woman, have been arrested. The woman is in police custody, Morigaon SP Aparna Natarajan told The New Indian Express.

She said the police did not have any specific information on the number of people who had sold off their kidneys. She said the police were talking to the villagers and collecting details.

We have shared some details with the state authorisation committee for organ transplantation which is the competent authority to approve any kind of organ transplantation. Our investigation is on, the SP added.

The alleged agent, Lilimai Bodo from Guwahati, was nabbed when she had visited the village two days ago in search of prospective kidney sellers. On learning about her presence in the village, an aggrieved family zeroed in on her. The family had not received the promised amount from her.

The accused would lure the poor people with Rs 4-5 lakh but deduct up to Rs 1.5 lakh as commission, locals said.

Krishna Das had sold off a kidney to repay the bank loan. She was promised Rs 4.5 lakh by the agent but she received Rs 3.5 lakh. I had to sell it off to run my family. My husband has been down with illness for long and I had to repay the bank loan, the woman said.

Srikanta Das, another villager, had received Rs 3.5 lakh although he was promised Rs 5 lakh. I sold off a kidney for my sons treatment. I had no other option, Das said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Indian Consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sharif is operational and officials are closely monitoring the situation, sources said on Monday, a day after India evacuated diplomats and security personnel from its Kandahar consulate in the wake of intense fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs had clarified on Sunday that the consulate in Kandahar continues to operate through local staff members.

"Both the Consulates are functional and operational. There is no change in status. We are closely monitoring the situation and developments," an official source here said when asked about the Indian consulates in Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif in view of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

There were reports that at least two foreign missions in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, have closed their operation due to the escalating violence in the region.

According to officials, India had evacuated around 50 diplomats and security personnel from its consulate in Kandahar in a military aircraft.

Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Sunday that India-based personnel have been brought back for the time being from Kandahar in view of the intense fighting near the city and that New Delhi is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in Afghanistan.

India's move to bring back its Indian staff came in the midst of growing global concerns over the Taliban fighters rapidly seizing control of a large number of areas in Afghanistan, triggering huge security concerns.

There were reports that a sizeable number of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists are also operating in the Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

Afghanistan witnessed a series of terror attacks in the last few weeks as the US looked to complete the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by August-end, ending a nearly two-decade of its military presence in the war-ravaged country.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Tajikistan on July 13-14 to attend the SCO Council meeting of Foreign Ministers and the Contact Group on Afghanistan which will review the worsening security situation in that country amidst speedy return of American forces to the US.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are also expected to attend these meetings.

While Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral talks with foreign ministers of some participating countries on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meet, there was no official word on any bilateral interaction or pull aside with Pakistan or China.

Announcing Jaishankar's visit, the external affairs ministry said the foreign ministers' conference will also assess the preparation for the upcoming meeting of SCO Council of Heads of States on September 16-17 in Dushanbe, and exchange views on current international and regional issues.

During the visit, the external affairs minister will also attend the meeting of the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan on July 14.

This meeting will also see the participation of the Afghanistan government, the MEA said.

The SCO contact group meeting on Afghanistan assumes significance as it comes amidst growing global concerns over the Taliban fighters rapidly seizing control of a large number of areas in Afghanistan, triggering huge security concerns.

There were reports that a sizeable number of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists are also operating in the Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

India has evacuated around 50 diplomats and security personnel from its consulate in Kandahar in a military aircraft in the wake of intense fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants.

Afghanistan has witnessed a series of terror attacks in the last few weeks as the US looked to complete the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by August-end, ending a nearly two-decade of its military presence in the war-ravaged country.

India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan.

It has already invested nearly USD three billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country.

India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

Jaishankar's visit to Tajikistan comes at the invitation of Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, MEA said, adding that the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting will discuss the achievements of the organisation as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its formation this year.

The minister is also expected to travel to Uzbekistan for a connectivity meet after the Tajikistan trip, sources said.

The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: Amidst growing pro and against political rhetoric a day after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath launched the state's new population control policy, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Monday differed that only law can control population.

He said that the population control cannot be achieved only by enacting a law unless women are educated and made aware on it.

Quoting Bihar's model of population control through education to women and girls, Nitish said that only through education and awareness, fertility rate can decrease and hence leading the control of population in natural way.

Speaking to the media after attending the weekly program called "Junta Ke Durbar Me Mukhyamantri", Nitish Kumar categorically said, "Other states can do what they want to do but we believe that population cannot be controlled by law alone. Unless women are educated, it is not possible to control the population."

In fact, within the NDA, the JDU is treading cautiously on the population control issue at a time when it has decided to contest the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections either alone or in alliance with BJP over 200 seats.

Nitish, who makes more often than not shrewd indirect political comment on any controversial issue, said that education amongst women and girls has helped a lot in checking fertility rate in Bihar, which once had higher than other states.

Quoting an example of China, Nitish Kumar said: "A policy of one child was brought in for population control in China. But today everyone knows what is the situation there. It has now come from one to two child policy. So, by improving the level of education among women and awareness, the fertility rates can be controlled."

"When women are educated and awareness increases, the fertility rate automatically decreases. And surveys have proven this theory as correct. The fertility rate has been found to be low in matriculation and inter-educated women in Bihar," he stressed substantiating his opinion.

In Bihar, he said that adequate attentions are being paid on girl's education and the results have come out encouraging in checking fertility.

"Of late, the fertility rate in Bihar has come down to 3 per cent from what it used to be earlier about 4 per cent. We understand that the fertility rate will start declining after 2040 leading to population control," he said, adding that the population start being controlled by 2040 with the fall in fertility rate

after massive awareness among women and girls.

In between all this, Kumar sarcastically said that sometimes educated people also produce more children as an exception indirectly hinting towards Lalu Prasad Yadav family somewhere in gestures.

Upon being asked about the remarks made by the Delhi High Court regarding the Uniform Civil Code, Nitish Kumar avoided commenting on the matter by saying "Why shouldn't liquor be banned across the country."

Nitish Kumar has started the "Junta Ke Darbar Me Mukhyamantri" weekly program again after five years. It was the first of this program when Nitish Kumar was speaking to the media on the sideline of it.

At a time when chief minister Nitish Kumar stressed upon the need of enhancing education among women and girls for effective control of population instead of just making a law alone, senior leader of JDU Upendra Kushwaha in Motihari speaking to the media, termed the Uttar Pradesh population control policy a welcome initiative.

"There must be a matter of population control because the way the population is increasing, naturally if it is not controlled, then no matter how much development happens, people will not be able to get the full benefits of it," Kushwaha told the media.

He also said that wherever (upon being asked about UP population law), the initiative is taken on population control, it is welcome. On being asked, will the Bihar government make such policy; Kushwaha said: "The government has to work on what will happen in Bihar whenever required."
By Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Politics has started in Uttar Pradesh over Sundays arrest of two alleged al-Qaeda operatives from Lucknow.

Remarks by two former CMs -- Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati -- over the arrests of the two men by the UP Polices anti-terror squad (UP ATS) have kicked up a row in the state, where assembly polls are slated early next year.

Just when the ATS search operation was underway in two separate parts of Lucknow on Sunday, Yadav was questioned by journalists about the state government and police claims of having foiled a major terror plot. He replied, Mai Uttar Pradesh ki Police aur khaaskar BJP ki sarkar par bharosa nahi kar sakta (I dont believe UP Police and particularly the BJP government in the state).

A day later, the BSP president Mayawati on Monday tweeted questioning the timing of the arrests. If the UP Police's claim of the two arrested men being linked to al-Qaeda is true, then its a serious issue and suitable action is needed. But no politics should be done behind the action as is being apprehended. As the action has happened when the assembly elections are close, suspicion is bound to arise in minds. If there is the truth behind the action and police claims, then how was the police was ignorant about it for so long -- these questions are being asked by people, and hence the government shouldnt take any action which will lead to restlessness among people.

ALSO READ | Uttar Pradesh ATS arrests two suspected Al Qaeda terrorists, claims major terror plot foiled

Ex-UP DGP and BJP Rajya Sabha member Brij Lal reacted sharply to the SP chiefs remarks. I can understand Akhilesh Yadavs pain which is arising out of the vote bank politics that has always compelled his party to support the Jihadis. I still remember that while being posted as SSP Meerut in 1993, there was an attack on a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) picket on Republic Day, when for the first time RDX and Chinese grenades were used in UP, killing a PAC havaldar. But after Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) came to power, its well known how those arrested and charge-sheeted in that case were saved in 1994. Politics shouldnt be played on this issue by anyone, as it will adversely affect the morale of our police force, the former IPS officer-turned-politician said.

Meanwhile, the two alleged al-Qaeda operatives -- Mihnaz Ahmad and Masiruddin -- who were arrested by the UP ATS from Lucknows Kakori and Mandiyaon areas on Sunday were produced before a special court in the state capital on Monday. The court subsequently sent the duo into ATS custody for 14 days.

Simultaneously, the ATS along with the local police force has been conducting search operations in various other districts, particularly in Kanpur and West UP. According to informed sources, three to four men are being questioned in Kanpur over their possible links with the alleged UP module of the global terror outfit busted on Sunday. The arrested men are believed to have sourced the arms and explosives from Kanpur only.

According to police sources, the busted terror module, which has a network across UP, had planned serial blasts and lone wolf-human bomb attacks across UP before Independence Day, particularly in Lucknow and Agra along with religious places such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Mathura. Several maps and details of recce done by the arrested men and their aides in Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, and Varanasi have been seized.
By PTI

KOLKATA: Much like last year, the traditional gaiety on Rath Yatra was missing in Bengal on Monday as authorities at the much-revered Mahesh temple in Hooghly district cancelled all festivities in the wake of COVID-related restrictions, and ISKCON temples in the city and Mayapur marked the occasion with muted celebrations.

At the Kolkata temple of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which had to put off its 50th year celebrations amid the pandemic-induced curbs, Lord Jagannath travelled in a decorated carcade, along with his divine siblings, as part of the rituals.

No chariot was taken out on the streets, in a departure from tradition.

The cavalcade travelled a distance of three kilometres - from Alfred Road premises to the organisation's office on Gurusaday Road.

In Mayapur, the global headquarters of ISKCON, a makeshift Gundicha temple was set up on the courtyard, where the three deities -- Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Devi -- will be putting up for nine days.

Only 50 servitors and devotees were allowed to pull a chariot in the temple complex during the day.

Similarly, temple authorities in Mahesh performed all rituals, with just a handful of locals visiting the shrine to offer obeisance.

Smaller chariots rolled out on the premises of the temple to mark the journey of the deities to their aunt's place at Gundicha temple.

In accordance with the custom, the 'narayan shila' (sacred stone) at the shrine was taken to another temple, which represented the aunt's house, around a kilometre away.

The ritual was performed by local Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee.

Under normal circumstances, the temple, which had been celebrating Rath Yatra with fanfare for over six centuries, draws thousands of devotees every year.

Early in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent offerings to the deities at ISKCON temple here on the occasion, official sources said.

Taking to Twitter, she wrote, "Warm wishes to all on the auspicious occasion of #RathYatra! I pray to Lord Jagannath for the safety and well-being of all my brothers & sisters.Jai Jagannath."
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Shyam Rajak has met Lok Janshakti Party's Chirag Paswan and later called for him to be part of a united opposition alliance against the BJP-led NDA in Bihar as the Dalit leader looks for his political options after being snubbed by the saffron party.

Paswan has also spoken to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, Rajak told PTI, adding that he should join forces with another young leader Tejashwi Yadav to take on the NDA.

RJD's Yadav is the leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly and had led a spirited fight against the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance in the last year's state polls but had fallen just short of victory.

Rajak, once a close aide of JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and now in the RJD, said his visit to Paswan's house was "personal" in nature but added that political talks take place when politicians meet.

There is a need for building a united anti-BJP alliance over the issues of the interests of Dalit and backward castes, the RJD leader said.

He said Chirag Paswan is the natural heir to his father Ram Vilas Paswan's legacy.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi inducting Paswan's uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, who has joined hands with four other MPs of his party against the son of the late Dalit stalwart, as Cabinet minister in his government, political options for the young LJP leader seem limited.

RJD leaders have been speaking in support of Chirag Paswan and urging him to join hands with the opposition alliance in Bihar.

Though he has no MLAs with him, Paswan's decision to formally break ties with the BJP and join the rival camp will be a psychological boost to it.

Paswan has, however, made it clear that his current priority is to strengthen his party, and he has launched "aashirvaad yatra" in the state for the purpose.

With Bihar having no major electoral battle for quite some time, there is no immediate reason for him to decide on his next course of action.

In his remarks, the Jamui MP has often expressed his anguish at the BJP for not coming to his help during the crisis in his party but has still refrained from attacking its leadership.

The LJP has six Lok Sabha MPs and five of them have elected Paras as their leader in the House.
Pushkar Banakar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Media reports of a secret meeting between Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar and Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar, were quickly denied by the government. This was not surprising as India has traditionally been opposed to the Pakistan-backed militant group and refused to recognise its government in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.

India, like the rest of the world except Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, severed all diplomatic ties with the country during the Taliban regime and had vocally supported the Northern Alliance government. But with large swathes of Afghanistan falling into the hands of the Taliban, forcing India to evacuate its employees from the Kandahar consulate, and with intelligence reports saying the militants could overrun the country within six months to two years of the United States troop pullout, India finds itself in a fix given its huge economic and strategic investments there. (See graphic)

ALSO READ | India evacuates 50 diplomats, security personnel from Kandahar as Taliban captures new areas

So how does India continue to protest its interests in a rapidly changing Afghan scenario? Opinions are expectedly divided but some feel it may not be a bad idea to engage with the Taliban. Moscow-based analyst Andrew Korybko feels Indias best bet is to enter into a dialogue with the Taliban. India must enter into pragmatic discussions with the Taliban, even if secretly at first and perhaps facilitated by Russia. This could help both sides to better understand their new strategic calculations and help reduce the serious mistrust between them, Korybko said.

He said India was the only major actor in the region without public ties with the Taliban. Korybko faulted New Delhi with staking all of its strategy on the current Afghanistan regime, which in turn was predicated on the mistaken prediction that the Pentagon would indefinitely remain in the country. It is in Indias interests to enter into contact with them as soon as possible especially if they eventually return to power in Afghanistan and are cautiously welcomed by the international community for pragmatic reasons, he said.

But talking to the Taliban could mean stepping into a domestic political minefield. The militant group has given India much grief in the past with its role in the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijacking and several attacks on Indian installations in Afghanistan, including the embassy in 2008 that left an Indian army Brigadier and an IFS officer dead.

Engaging the Taliban can invite ridicule from opposition parties and also runs counter to the Bharatiya Janata Partys professed view of being tough on terrorist organisations. It is not that India has never engaged with the Taliban. Their engagement, in whatever capacity, had brought about a solution to the IC-814 crisis. Therefore, it is important for India to engage with the Taliban, more so now as there is a realistic and practical chance that the group might end up governing Afghanistan, said political analyst Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

But public engagement with the Taliban would put pressure on the government to start a dialogue with elements in Kashmir as the Kashmir-Pakistan-Taliban nexus was very much in place even today. It is a very tricky situation for India but I am sure that the highest level of leadership is aware of it. But, it is important that the government does not completely shut its options with the Taliban, Mukhopadhyay said.

Washington-based research associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Kriti Upadhyaya, was more circumspect. There will definitely be ripple effects of the US withdrawal on Indias foreign policy and we have already seen a flurry of activity on the diplomatic side with India reaching out to Iran, Pakistan and Russia, she said.

Upadhyaya felt New Delhi could remain relevant in Afghanistan by continuing development work in non-Taliban controlled areas. India can work with the Hazaras and the Tajiks and finally push for a UN peacekeeping mission in which India can send its own peacekeepers along with others. This is how India can have a presence in the war-torn country, Upadhyaya said.
Pushkar Banakar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A day after India pulled out its diplomats and security staff from its consulate in Kandahar in the wake of the Talibans continued onslaught, government sources said New Delhi might have to close its embassy in Kabul if the situation continued to deteriorate. Though the Afghan capital has not yet fallen to the Taliban, analysts had predicted the militia would capture the city within months of US troop withdrawal.

With the Taliban gaining control of new areas around Kandahar, India on Saturday night evacuated 50 diplomats and ITBP personnel from its consulate in the southern Afghan city. However, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Sunday said the move was temporary and was taken given the intense fighting near Kandahar city.

ALSO READ | Should India shun Taliban? Experts divided

India is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in Afghanistan. The safety and security of our personnel is paramount. The Consulate General of India in Kandahar has not been closed. However, due to the intense fighting near Kandahar city, India-based personnel have been brought back for the time being. I want to emphasise that this is a purely temporary measure until the situation stabilises. The consulate continues to operate through our local staff members, Bagchi said.

According to sources, the diplomats, other staff members and the ITBP personnel were brought back in a special Indian Air Force plane and Pakistani airspace was not used during the operation. Sources said officials are reviewing the highly volatile and fluid situation in the war-torn country on a daily basis and responding to any emerging challenges within 48 hours.

Bagchi said arrangements are being made to ensure continued delivery of visa and consular services through the countrys embassy in Kabul. As an important partner of Afghanistans, India is committed to a peaceful, sovereign and democratic Afghanistan.
By PTI

BALLIA: Uttar Pradesh BJP working committee member Ram Iqbal Singh on Monday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government over the violence in the recently held elections for block panchayat heads and said the BJP is no longer a party with a difference.

Speaking to reporters here, Singh said, "This is not the BJP of Ataljee (late Atal Bihari Vajpayee). We used to know the BJP as a party with a difference. But now, we have deleted this."

"Now, there is no difference between the principles of the BJP and other parties," the former MLA said.

Singh accused the BJP of committing irregularities in the panchayat elections.

"The incident with a woman in Lakhimpur Kheri reminds us of Draupadi's 'cheerharan' (disrobing). Using unethical means can fulfil the ambitions only for a few days, but not in the long run," he said.

Singh also referred to the poll violence in Etawah in which a police official was slapped by BJP workers amid violence during the elections.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, alleging that the BJP misused power to "trample" on democracy in the elections.

In a Facebook post in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said that despite the "massive violence" during the block panchayat chief polls Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and UP Chief Minister Adityanath hailed the victory attributing it to their policies.

But, the BJP including the prime minister, remained silent on the "violence and hooliganism" during the elections, the Congress general secretary in-charge Uttar Pradesh said.

The people of the state saw the "violence and hooliganism" perpetrated by BJP workers and were angered by it, she said.

Priyanka Gandhi listed several incidents to claim that the violence was perpetrated by BJP workers to secure victory.

She alleged that by misusing power, the BJP tried to "crush democracy with its jungle raj" in these elections.

The Congress leader also alleged that in the Badpura block of Etawah, Superintendent of Police (SP), City, Prashant Kumar was slapped by BJP MLA Sarita Bhadauria's workers, dozens of rounds were fired and the SP was heard saying on camera that the BJP workers had brought bombs.

Weapons, sticks and inflammable substances have been recovered from the vehicle of BJP candidate's supporters in the first block of Sitapur, she claimed, adding that a young man has also been arrested.

BJP leaders created a ruckus outside the Shivgarh block complex of Rae Bareli, she alleged.

During the nomination on July 9 in Pasgawan block of Lakhimpur district, BJP supporters did not allow a woman candidate of the opposition party to file her nomination and her as well as her proposer's sari was pulled and they were beaten up, Priyanka Gandhi alleged.

In her post, she also cited several other instances of violence and intimidation during the polls.

BJP leaders and workers resorted to violence in at least more than 50 places in the election in which the victory was hailed by the prime minister and chief minister.

The law and administration remained a mute spectator, Priyanka Gandhi said.

Everyone, including the prime minister and the chief minister, know that there is a lot of resentment among the people due to their anti-people policies in UP, she said.

"Now they have tried to hide their failure through kidnappings, shootings, bombings, beating police personnel, abusing power and mistreating women," she alleged.

"But the question is, did the prime minister, who was congratulating BJP workers, not know how his workers pulled women's saris and beat them up?" Priyanka Gandhi said.

"Did the BJP's exploits of bombs, bullets and stone-pelting happen under the supervision of the prime minister, the chief minister," she asked.

She also asked whether the BJP knows that its last days are near, and is therefore busy tearing apart democracy through violence.

The BJP on Saturday claimed victory on 635 of the total 825 seats of block panchayat chiefs in Uttar Pradesh, where the local bodies elections were held amid incidents of violence with the opposition alleging misuse of official machinery by the ruling party.

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Monday demanded "strict action" against an Uttar Pradesh government official for assaulting a journalist in Unnao district of the state last week.

"Concrete steps" should be taken to improve the environment for independent journalism in Uttar Pradesh, the guild said in a statement, adding that it was "deeply disturbed" by "the continuing trend" of heavy-handedness by the authorities in the state with respect to journalists and the media.

The statement noted that Chief Development Officer Divyanshu Patel assaulted Krishna Tiwari in Unnao on July 10 when the journalist was covering polling for the block pramukh elections.

The officer later apologised to the journalist for the incident.

"In a video that has gone viral on social media, Krishna Tiwari, a local journalist, is seen being beaten up by Divyanshu Patel (CDO), as well as reportedly some BJP workers," the Editors Guild said.

The guild termed the incident "highly condemnable and actionable", and said even though that CDO apologized to the journalists, the attitude of heavy-handedness by the administration is hurting the democratic rights of the media, which becomes all the more crucial given that the state goes into polls next year.

"EGI demands strict action be taken against the official and that concrete steps be taken to improve the environment for independent journalism in the state," it added.

The editors body said the latest incident of assault on a journalist by a state authority has come against the backdrop of "increased persecution" of journalists in Uttar Pradesh, "as the administration has punished, penalized, and incarcerated journalists in an effort to intimidate them from freely reporting on crimes, state excess, and the management of the pandemic".

Siddique Kappan, a journalist who was arrested while reporting on the rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Hathras in October 2020, continues to remain in jail under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, "despite several appeals by the family and the civil society to afford him a fair trial and treatment," the EGI added.
By PTI

KOLKATA: Contending that the Centre's "irregular" supply of COVID-19 vaccines has slowed down the inoculation drive in West Bengal, a senior health department official on Monday said that the state government was finding it difficult to evenly distribute the doses among its 23 districts.

Bengal, which has received 2.30 crore doses thus far, has vaccinated over 1.77 crore people with the first jab, and more than 62 lakh residents with both the shots, he noted.

The state has spent Rs 59 crore to procure 18 lakh doses on its own, he said.

"West Bengal's inoculation process is moving at a snail's pace, the reason being irregular supply of doses by the Centre. If this trend continues, the drive will come to a halt at one point in time," the official told PTI.

He further asserted that the state has the capacity and infrastructure to vaccinate at least five lakh people every day.

"In UP and Bihar, health officials are sitting idle with vaccines at the camps. The situation here is just the opposite. We are not getting enough doses. We could have easily inoculated several lakh more people in our state if the supply had been smooth," he underlined.

According to the official, the government was having a tough time distributing the vaccines evenly.

"If we release vaccines for the districts in the northern part of the state then the drive gets hit in south Bengal. We have to plan the programme in accordance with the supply. Those waiting for the second dose are being given priority," he said.

Bengal occupies the "third spot" in the country when it comes to administering the second dose, the official claimed.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to send at least three crores vaccine doses to the state to ensure a smooth inoculation programme.

Banerjee recently said that the PM has not responded to her request.

Meanwhile, as many as 885 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported from West Bengal on Monday, pushing the caseload to 15,13,014, a health department bulletin said.

The COVID-19 death toll went up to 17,927 with 11 more fatalities.

While there were no COVID-19 deaths reported from North 24 Parganas district on Monday, the city registered only one death, the bulletin said.

The state now has 14,531 active cases and 14,80, 556 patients have recovered thus far, including 1,244 in the last 24 hours.

In the last 24 hours, 45,287 samples have been tested for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, 1,93,811 people have been inoculated in the state on Monday, an official of the health department said.
Express News Service

MUMBAI/LUCKNOW/CHANDIGARH/PATNA/KOLKATA: Whether the opposition parties allegations that the setting up of a cooperation ministry, headed by home minister Amit Shah, is an attempt to undermine federalism is well founded or not is debatable, but it could give a leg-up to the Bharatiya Janata Partys attempts to make inroads in cooperative sectors where it is not very strong.

Generally, cooperative societies are influenced by whichever party is in power in a state. For instance, in Maharashtra, the Congress and the NCP dominate them, while the BJP has been a latecomer. Gujarat has over 81,000 cooperative societies, which benefitted the Congress for decades but are now being controlled by the BJP. Assembly polls are due in the state late next year.

The political influence of cooperative societies stems from their enormous size and spatial coverage in the rural hinterland. Maharashtra has over 2 lakh cooperative societies with a membership of 50.5 million.

The influence also comes from their financial clout. Take for instance the recent scam in the Punjab and Maharashtra cooperative banks, the fraud is estimated at over Rs 4,000 crore. Many feel it could be game on in cooperative societies.

MAHARASHTRA

The state has more than 200 cooperative sugar factories whose annual turnover is around Rs 35,000 crore while the cooperative milk federation and allied businesses annual turnovers are collectively more than Rs 40,000 crore.

A political observer said the BJP has not been able to dismantle the stranglehold of the Congress-NCP in the cooperative network. The cooperative sector is the soul of NCP chief Sharad Pawars politics.

He said the BJP is heavily dependent on urban voters, who could be drifting away because of the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. If the BJP wants to come back to power then they have to find a new territory, the cooperative sector is one of them, he added.

Sanjeev Babar, a former CEO of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Federation, said the cooperative sector ensures a steady flow of money to farmers and enables him to purchase seeds, start a business and pay for childrens education. Farmers get a loan at reasonable rates and their interests are protected.

The chairmen or directors of sugar factories handle large amounts of funds. So, when the Congress-NCP was in the opposition, the core rural vote remained loyal to their political leaders, Babar said.

The cooperative sector has nurtured several politicians, starting from the late chief minister Vasantdada Patil and incumbent deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

UTTAR PRADESH

The cooperative sector has largely been a fiefdom of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadavs family. Its association with the sector started in 1977, when Yadav was the cooperative minister. During his three tenures as the CM, Yadav either kept the cooperative portfolio to himself or allocated it to younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav.

But it was in September 2020 that the SPs stranglehold on cooperatives started declining. The BJP entered the sector in a major way with its candidates sweeping the polls for the UP Cooperative Land Development Bank, responsible for agricultural credit, by winning 293 of the 312 seats unopposed.

PUNJAB

The state societies are either controlled by the ruling Congress or the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal. The BJP stands nowhere, nor does it appear that it can influence the sector. An insider said the ruling political party ensures that their supporters are members of these societies.

An official said cooperative banks with 802 branches offer loans worth around `12,000 crore to farmers. The Punjab State Cooperative Development Federation has had politicians as its head. They include late CMs Darbara Singh, Zail Singh and Beant Singh, who was also a director of the Central Corporative Bank, Ludhiana.

WEST BENGAL

The Left Front in its 34-year rule never gave cooperatives much importance as they already had a strong cadre base in the rural areas. But Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, after wresting power in 2011, realized that cooperatives might be a useful tool to reach out the rural electorate. In 2013, she declared cooperative societies would not be empowered to attach the property of farmers defaulting in loan repay. The creation of the cooperation ministry seems to be the BJPs attempt to gain a foothold in rural parts by using the cooperative financial structure as a tool, said a TMC leader.

MADHYA PRADESH

The cooperative sector was largely dominated by the Congress till 2003 but after the BJPs return, its people started replacing the Congress, particularly in the credit, distribution of agricultural inputs and marketing sectors.

It was during senior cabinet minister Gopal Bhargavas tenure as cooperative minister between 2013 and 2018 that not only did the sector expand, but the BJP influence grew by leaps and bounds. A few months after toppling the Kamal Nath government, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government passed the Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, to allow MPs and MLAs to become chairmen and vice-chairmen of cooperatives.

BIHAR

There are 34 state level cooperative orgainsations in handloom, dairy, agriculture, fertilisers, seeds and fisheries and they have an annual turnover of about Rs 30,000 crore. Till 2005, the Lalu Prasad-led RJD had a strong influence on these societies. With the power shift, the JD-U, BJP and others have made inroads into them.
By PTI

JAMMU: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said on Monday that she will not contest elections until both the constitutions of India and the erstwhile state are made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.

"Personally, it (abrogation of article 370 and 35-A) is a very emotional for me. I contested the first election taking oath under the constitutions of India and state. I took both flags in my hands. Until both constitutions will not be (existing) together (in J-K), I have said I will not personally contest elections," the former chief minister told reporters here.

Replying to a question on contesting elections and becoming a chief minister, she said the PDP has several capable people and not just Mehbooba Mufti alone.

Mufti also criticised the Jammu and Kashmir administration over its decision to sack sons of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin from government services, saying "you can't hold a child responsible for the actions of his father until and unless you have a proof".

"I have said this again and again, you can capture a man but not an idea. You've to address the idea, as Vajpayee ji did. Witch-hunting, criminalisation of dissent is taking our nation back," she added.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration had sacked 11 of its employees, including sons of the Hizbul Mujahideen chief and two from the police department, for allegedly working as over ground workers for terrorist organisations, officials said on Saturday.

Mufti said that the Gupkar alliance, which was formed on two main issues of abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, has remained strong and united as aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir are attached to it.

"It seems the only motive behind the abrogation was to loot J&K. Let us start from sand mining (by giving contract to outsiders). First Jammu was called city of temples, now they want to make it city of liquor. Those contracts too were given to outsiders. People from outside are being given top positions at Chenab Valley Power Projects. Our water and electricity are going outside," she told reporters here.

Replying to a question about the agenda of the Gupkar alliance, she said, "Gulpkar alliance has remain strong and united as aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir are attached to it. The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has nothing to do with any action or statement of any alliance party in individual capacity. The PAGD came into existence on two issues - Article 370 and 35-A."
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The apprehensions of a long haul along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have started manifesting on the ground as the Chinese forces have been creating permanent structures in areas wherever the Peoples Liberation Army troops are deployed. This comes after the Indian Air Force Chief confirmed that the Chinese are improving their air infrastructure.

Sources in the security establishment said that the Chinese have been creating permanent structures, including those required for defences and habitation of the troops. In view of the Chinese move, India has also been building permanent defences and structures for habitation but these will take some time, added the source.

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria had said in the first week of July that China had strengthened its infrastructure and improved the efficiency of its air operations. Since May 2020, the PLA has moved its soldiers along the LAC at several points, forcing the Indian army to counter the Chinese move with its own deployments. Although there has been disengagement of troops and equipment from the north and suth banks of Pangong Tso since then, the standoff continuing in areas like Hot Spring, Gogra Post and Depsang.

Defence Analyst Maj-Gen (retd) S B Asthana calls it a furtherance of the Chinese incremental encroachment strategy. China, in the overall design under incremental encroachment strategy, is trying to enforce the infra development and its claim along its perception of LAC and in that context, is trying to settle down villages and make permanent structures so that over a period, its claim gets strengthened.

We should also improve our infrastructure along our perception of LAC and also make permanent structures and settle down villages so that the Chinese dont succeed in their game plan, he suggested as a counter move. India has ramped up road-building along the LAC and has also mobilised the troops with more than 50,000 personnel stationed in eastern Ladakh to thwart any move by the PLA men.
By PTI

MUMBAI/NAGPUR: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has sought to suggest the state government is keeping an eye over his movement and claimed that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Shiv Sena and the NCP feel the ground was slipping from beneath their feet due to his party's growing influence.

As his 'under watch' statement created a controversy, Patole on Monday claimed wrong information was being spread through the media and asserted there was no dispute among MVA allies and the Congress was being deliberately targeted.

Reacting to Patole's suggestion that his movement was being tracked, the NCP, which handles the home deparment, said his claim was based on incomplete information, while the Shiv Sena asserted that all was well in the ruling alliance.

Wading into the row, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and deputy CM Ajit Pawar should give explanation on the allegations made by Patole.

It all started with a speech the state Congress president gave in Lonavala, a hill station around 125km from Mumbai, during the weekend.

Speaking at a meeting of party workers in Lonavala, Patole said the Congress is resurrecting itself in Maharashtra and this has caused disquiet among the Shiv Sena and the NCP.

The MPCC did not name the two MVA partners while making a reference about them in his speech.

The Congress is part of the three-party Shiv Sena-led MVA government.

He also sought to hint that the government is keeping an eye on his activities.

"Every morning at 9, intelligence report is submitted to the chief minister and the home minister on what is happening in the state. The Congress is resurrecting itself and the report is making the ground beneath their feet slip away. I am here in Lonavala but the report will go to them," he said.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra govt sets up panel to probe phone-tapping allegations made by state Cong chief Nana Patole

Patole later told a Marathi news channel that his statement hinting at tracking of his movement has been misconstrued.

"I have not made any comment that the state government is keeping a watch on me. My allegations were against the Centre," he said.

Meanwhile, the NCP said the allegations of Patole that he was under watch of the intelligence department were based on incomplete information.

Addressing a press conference, NCP spokesperson and minority affairs minister Nawab Malik said the police have a special department to report movements of important leaders, their meetings, political programmes and agitation.

This has been the long-standing practice irrespective of which party or alliance is in power.

Relevant information is collected and a comprehensive report is submitted to the home department and the chief minister, he said.

"If Patole is unaware of this process, he should consult former CMs of the Congress - Ashok Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan," Malik said.

The NCP minister said if Patole doesn't want police 'bandobast' (security arrangement) for himself or leaders of his party, he should make an application and the home minister would take a decision on that.

Congress leader and minister Balasaheb Thorat said, "I don't know what he (Patole) meant. He would be in a better position to explain."

Shiv Sena leader and minister Eknath Shinde sought to downplay Patole's remark and said the MVA was working well.

"The Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance was working fine," he added.

Asked by journalists in Nagpur whether the Maharashtra CM or the deputy CM will be speaking to him over his controversial statement, Patole said, "I will feel good talking with them."

"There is no dispute between us and if anyone is trying to create dispute through the media, it will be resolved through discussions. I will certainly like to talk to the CM and the Deputy CM," he said.

He said the Congress is becoming people's party in Maharashtra and the BJP is losing ground and hence "wrong news reports" are being circulated against his organization.

"I want to tell that the MVA government will complete its full 5-year term. The BJP, from the day MVA government came to power, has been saying that this government will fall."

"But, the government has completed almost two years and their intentions have not been successful. Hence, wrong news is being circulated," said Patole.

Answering a query on the Congress's future plan, he blasted the BJP, the main opposition party in Maharashtra.

"The Congress is fighting across the country and in Maharashtra it is protesting over the price rise issue for the last four days. The Congress is getting a huge support from people. The BJP has taken a note of it and hence with the help of the media, it is creating a picture of dispute between MVA allies. There is no dispute between the three parties," Patole said.

To a query whether some state Congress leaders are disappointed with him and are complaining to the central leadership, Patole said, "Our leaders are going to Delhi for their respective work."

"The Congress is being targeted and a particular person is being targeted, which means that person is becoming important in Maharashtra. People's support for the Congress is growing. There is no rift in the Maharashtra Congress and the party is working unitedly," he said.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis said in Nagpur that Patole' s statement indicates that the NCP and the Shiv Sena were uncomfortable with the Congress's claim of its growing popularity.

ALSO READ | Won't react to small people: Pawar on Maharashtra Congress chief's remarks on nephew Ajit

"Nana Patole' s statement indicates that the NCP and the Shiv Sena are afraid of the Congress's announcement of re-establishing itself on its own and hence they are keeping a watch on him. Now, the CM and the deputy CM should tell why they are so afraid, and why they are keeping a watch on him, " said Fadnavis.

Fadnavis was speaking to reporters after visiting the family of a Nagpur resident, Manoj Thawkar, who was allegedly beaten up by police and subsequently died.

Police have denied the allegation.

"This incident is very serious, wherein a handicapped youth is beaten up with sticks just because he was not wearing a mask. I have seen the videos of eyewitnesses who claimed he was beaten up in public and again at a police station," the former CM said.

"It means this death occurred due to the police beating," he said and demanded action against the erring police personnel. The BJP on its part will give Rs 2 lakh assistance to the victim's family," Fadnavis said.
By PTI

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government has further eased the COVID-19 restrictions by allowing cinema halls to operate with 50 per cent strength and restaurants with the full capacity in the wake of a significant dip in the cases, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday.

Until now, cinema halls remained closed and restaurants were being operated with 50 per cent capacity, officials said.

"COVID-19 situation is now under control in Madhya Pradesh. Coronavirus cases fell to 18 while active cases stand at 296. There are no COVID-19 cases in 44 districts of the state. Now on, a maximum of 100 people will be allowed to attend wedding ceremonies while 50 people can attend funerals," Chouhan said in a statement.

He said cinema halls can now function with 50 per cent capacity while restaurants are allowed to operate normally with 100% capacity.

Similarly, markets can now be opened till 10 pm, he added.

Until now, a maximum of 20 people was allowed to participate in funerals and 50 persons in marriage ceremonies, officials said.

Similarly, the markets were allowed to open till 8 pm.

Chouhan held a review meeting with officials during which he told them to be alert on the projected third wave of the pandemic.

"The cases are not coming down in Maharashtra and Kerala. The cases are also rising in southern and North-East states. It is suspected that the cases may rise in the month of August. But we are committed to flattening the third wave," the CM said.

On Monday, Madhya Pradesh reported 18 fresh coronavirus cases, which pushed its infection tally to 7,90,193, state health officials said.

The health department did not release COVID-19 death figures and active cases in the state for the second consecutive day on Monday.

With 72,134 new tests, the total number of samples tested for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh so far reached 1.30 crore.

Coronavirus figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 7,90,193, new cases 18, death toll 1,0506, recovered 7,80,735 (no change), active cases (not disclosed), number of tests so far 1,30,19,105.
The two-decade war in Afghanistan will be analysed from multiple angles in the years to come and mostly will be classified as a huge strategic failure on the part of the US and its allies. The inability of a superpower to turn things around and erase Afghanistans reputed title Graveyard of Empireswill probably be seen as a failure of leadership, strategy and international cooperation to bring peace to a stricken land. The US defeat in Vietnam, classified by Richard Nixon as a campaign where strategic objectives were met, and the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan were both events of the Cold War. The adversaries then were clearly ranged against each other in terms of near-conventional conflict situations. The US failure in Afghanistan, however, is a virtual submission to the will of non-state actors who had limited resources to boot. A separate exploration of that domain will be made in due course once clarity on the current military situation is available.

In the last seven-eight years, a series of efforts were made to strengthen the anti-Taliban forces of the National Unity Government and provide assurance to the world that it could hold on and govern. An Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution was often quoted by experts as the ultimate counter. None of this seems to have worked, although some yet claim that its too early to write off anyone in the emerging fight. The Afghan National Army (ANA) and National Police, in all over 3,00,000 strong, have not been short on courage. They have taken an average of almost 8,000 fatalities per year battling out the Talibans various offensives in the last couple of years and this has been despite the air support provided by the US from within Afghanistan. The question most of us have been asking is whether the ANA has the capacity to battle on its own. The answer to this, even way back in 2013, was in the negative. Why were they not facilitated to achieve the capacity that was envisaged for them? It is because no one trusted their ability to fight with and secure the advanced military equipment that would have been made available to them. It was perceived that most of this equipment would fall into Taliban hands and facilitate it to take its fight to the allies. India was often urged to provide some heavy weapons, ammunition and helicopters. We have an enduring and positive relationship with the ANA and our political and diplomatic relationship with the Government of Afghanistan could not have been better. We trained Afghan officer cadets and soldiers in large numbers, provided weapons and even a few helicopters and used the soft power route to build the relationship with the peopleeventually becoming a nation that the Afghans trusted the most. However, there was little that India could do in terms of provision of additional heavy weaponry in the face of an eventual relationship with the Taliban (catering to the contingency of it coming to power) or the safety and security of the US forces and its allies should these weapons fall to the Taliban.

Its not just the absence of heavy weapons; the government forces can still make a fight of it provided they have sound advice, some air support and assured logistics backing. They do not seem to have any of these. The Taliban too is not following the traditional tactics of targeting the urban centres. They appear to be aiming to first get hold of a maximum number of rural districts and cut off supply lines to the urban areas. An eventual suffering of the people and their displacement as refugees or internally displaced people should be expected, probably in large numbers, creating a humanitarian crisis of its own. Turbulence and chaos will unnerve the government and assist the Taliban, which is seeking just that.

The US responded to the terrorist attacks on 9/11 with a revenge-seeking military operationEnduring Freedomand launched what came to be known as the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Neutralising Osama bin Laden, the perpetrator of 9/11, was a moral victory for the US but little else seems to have been achieved. Even a limited analysis will indicate that the US is perhaps making the same mistake it did in Iraqa premature conflict termination. In the case of Iraq, it kept its eyes off the radar too thus enabling the rise of the Islamic State (IS), which continues to be a seasoned player even today. Withdrawing after 20 years may not necessarily be considered premature conflict termination by many. However, it is the comparative effectiveness of the US presence in the last many years that should be questioned. After the surge in strength of deployment grudgingly accepted by Barack Obama, it has always been a reluctant presence. This was amply evident to the Taliban, which knew ultimately it was a question of stamina.

Its a little late in the day for the US to make amends. The arrangement with the Taliban is an incomplete and unreliable one. The US perceives that the vacuum in Afghanistan could be filled by the Ashraf Ghani-led government in arrangement and agreement with the Taliban. But this is misconceived. Civil war conditions are already in the making and 120 districts are now under Taliban control. When the Taliban takes full control, despite the talks underway in Tehran between the Afghan factions, is a matter of time. There appears to be no agreement for an air base in Pakistan from where some US air support operations (including drones) could be launched to strengthen the resistance of the ANA. The ANA until it lasts out should get air support from the US fleet in the North West Indian Ocean.

The campaigns by the Soviets, and the US and its allies in Afghanistan started with big-time conventional operations and dwindled to the sub-conventional. The willingness to fight big long enough, addressing all areas simultaneously, holding territories captured and building the social and economic sectors with the help of the international community was the concept to follow. In all this, the one sensible decision that stands out was the Indian governments unwillingness to take the bait for deployment of the Indian Armed Forces in Afghanistan. You can expect to hear a lot more on Afghanistan from me in the days ahead.

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)

Former Commander, Srinagar-based 15 Corps. Now Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir

(atahasnain@gmail.com)
India should have learnt its lessons from the two Covid-19 waves, the first with the less transmissible founder virus variant extended over a period of over 10 months and the second with highly transmissible variants including Delta (B.1.617.2) that caused four times the number of confirmed infections and deaths (actual numbers are probably many times higher) in four months. These overwhelmed our healthcare system. The second wave was more aggressive because we let our guard down and permitted large gatherings without insisting on Covid-appropriate behaviour.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur has predicted an imminent third wave. It is high time that we, as a nation, took stock of the situation and acted quickly and decisively to avert or minimise a third wave.

The question now before us is not whether India will have a third wave, but whether we have plans in place to prevent one. What should we do by way of comprehensive and meticulous planning?

The 16 January 2021 roll-out of vaccines met with vaccine hesitancy (due to lack of public education) initially and shortage (due to lack of advance purchase plans) laterboth factors resulting in inadequate inoculation cover. The Union governments move to centralise purchase of vaccines and distribute them free through the states will improve equitable availability; despite all this, in the last six months, as of July 10, only 7.7% of Indians have received two doses and 32.1% a single dose; it may take many more months before we have adequate (60-80%) vaccination cover of the population to avert the risk of a third wave. What are our other options?

Right from the onset of the pandemic, we had an effective, readily available but grossly under-utilised toolthe social vaccine. Its effective deployment could have minimised the impact of the second wave. It is never too late; if we deploy this effectively now, we can hope to mitigate the impact of any emergent, more infectious, even vaccine-resistant viral variantsin other words, a potential third wave.

Effective implementation of the social vaccine requires giving out authentic information, educating the entire population, involving all stakeholders and communicating through all available platforms. We literally need to go on a publicity blitzkrieg and convey the message, Adopt Covid-appropriate behaviour. Additional messages on vaccine safety and efficacy should be included. This exercise is best done in each panchayat and ward nationwide.

We should avoid crowds at all costs, especially as the Delta variant can be airborne in enclosed spaces. The number of people inside enclosed spaces should be strictly restricted; open-air markets should be encouraged along with everyone wearing a mask and maintaining a physical distance of at least an arms length.

Public gatherings in enclosed spaces and public transport should only be allowed with adequate cross-ventilation, with air-conditioners switched off and everyone wearing a double mask. Mandatory requirement of vaccination and Covid-appropriate behaviour for entry into enclosed public facilitiestransport, shopping areas, malls, meetings and places of worshipwill surely curtail spread of coronavirus infection.

The vaccination and Covid status (active or recovered) of each person is Aadhaar-linked. Our software professionals must quickly develop an internet-based app to verify vaccination status and Covid-infection status of any given individual using a laptop or smartphone at the entrance to enclosed public facilities; those without a mask should buy one (made available at entry) and wear it properly before enteringnot to forget hand sanitisation.

The recent bold step by Arunachal Pradesh to permit entry only to vaccinated people can be emulated by other states to protect their population.

Urban India, well-connected by transport, nationally and internationally, has borne the brunt of this pandemic so far. Rural India, with ~65 % of Indias population, has been less exposed to the virusthe more remote the village, the greater the proportion of vulnerable subjects. It makes eminent sense to accelerate vaccination from periphery to Centre. Well-equipped mobile vans to take vaccines to remote rural areas is a priority. Vaccination without prior registration enables non-tech-savvy rural folk to access jabs readily. Regulatory agencies should quickly license one or more vaccines to permit ready access to the jabs for everyone at any time.

Bridging studies on vaccination in children should be quickly completed, analysed and, once safety is assured, universal Covid inoculation for children adopted. Online schooling should continue until children can be vaccinated at camps in schools before rejoining physical classes. Prioritised vaccination of disadvantaged rural school childrenfor whom access to online education is impossiblewill enable their early return to schools, access to midday meals, education and school-health programs, all vital for their well-being.

Reversible contraception should be advised for newlywed couples till both partners are fully vaccinated before pregnancy. Households with pregnant women should scrupulously adopt Covid-appropriate behaviour. Counselling to overcome vaccine hesitancy and inoculating all pregnant women with vaccines considered safe in pregnancy are necessary steps.

Antenatal clinics, ultrasound scan centres and labour rooms should be safe for pregnant women; effective Covid-prevention steps should be in place along with routine thermal screening and RT-PCR/rapid antigen testing, triage of pregnant women with fever in a separate designated area till Covid-test reports are available and segregation of non-Covid pregnant women from those with Covid to prevent cross-infection.

Emerging evidence that men, the elderly and those with comorbidities who are at highest risk of developing serious disease have reduced immune response to both natural infection and vaccination points to a research prioritywill a third dose of an appropriate vaccine enhance their protection from serious disease and death?

Systematic ongoing studies to identify new mutational variants is mandatory, with a special focus on any region showing a rapid increase in epidemic momentum.

If we do all this, with will and wisdomand only if we do all this as a nationwe can be confident and avert even the remote probability of a third wave.

Dr M S Seshadri

Medical Director, Thirumalai Mission Hospital, Ranipet

Dr T Jacob John

Former Professor of Clinical Virology, CMC, Vellore

(mandalam.seshadri@gmail.com, tjacobjohn@yahoo.co.in)
Months before the election season begins, the Uttar Pradesh Law Commission released a draft population control Bill that seeks to incentivise families with a maximum of two children. By implication, it intends to penalise couples with more than two children by barring them from applying for government jobs as also contesting local body elections and restricting their eligibility for state-run welfare schemes. Though the draft immediately ran into a fusillade of protests from the opposition, there was nothing wrong with the proposal per se. UP is the most populous state in the country with a gross fertility rate of 2.7, according to the National Family Health Survey 4, so it makes good sense to proactively control its population growth. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Red Fort address in 2019, raising small families is itself a form of patriotism. However, the timing of the draft made the intention obvious.

That the priorities of a party in a state preparing to go to polls in eight months will be different as compared to those in another state where elections ended a few months ago is a given. It explains why Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wants a gradual rollout of the two-child policy in his state, while his UP counterpart Yogi Adityanath appears to be in a hurry to push it through. The draft UP law is open for public comment only till July 19, and Minister Mohsin Raza said on record that it will subsequently be passed by the Assembly. Remember both states have sizable Muslim populations. Parallelly, Adityanath announced a new population policy to cut the fertility rate to 1.9 by 2030.

Given his governments sense of urgency, the population law in the making can be expected to become an important talking point for the BJP during the UP Assembly polls, just as the triple talaq Bill was a much debated legislation in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Taken together with the love jihad law that is already in place in UP, the political discourse could get toxic. Its up to the BJP to convince people that the new law would be religion agnostic and applied evenly. Then alone would its slogan of sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas carry conviction.
Bandhavi Annam By

Express News Service

GUNTUR: Swashbuckling entrepreneur Richard Branson hurtled into space, along with Sirisha Bandla, who was born in Tenali of Andhra Pradesh, and four others aboard his own winged rocket ship on Sunday in his boldest adventure yet, beating out fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos.

The nearly 71-year-old Branson and five crewmates from his Virgin Galactic space tourism company reached an altitude of about 53 miles (88 kilometers) over the New Mexico desert 'enough to experience three to four minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth' and then safely glided back home to a runway landing.

"Seventeen years of hard work to get us this far," a jubilant Branson said as he congratulated his team on the trip back. Before her space odyssey, Sirisha signed the logbook as 'Astronaut 004'.

Glad to know that Sirisha Bandla became the second India-born woman to fly into space. Her achievement will motivate many more young girls in India & abroad to take up challenging careers. Heartiest congratulations to Sirisha Bandla, her parents and mentors! pic.twitter.com/ncGPiH07i9  Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) July 11, 2021

Sirisha, who grew up in Houston since she was 5-year-old, became the third Indian origin woman and the first Telugu to fly into space after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. Rakesh Sharma was the other Indian, who made it to space.

Sirishas grandfather Dr Bandla Ragaiah, a resident of Piduguralla in Guntur district, who watched the live stream of Virgin Galactic Unity 22 spaceflight launch, said, "I'm so happy that I got to experience the journey of my granddaughter into space as an astronaut for the first time. All day I was a bit anxious and wished that she would return safely along with her fellow crew members. Her dream is to enter space. Today, watching her pursuing her dream is a moment of great joy for me and I'm so happy and proud of her."

"I congratulate her and the entire team for their safe journey and making it possible for more people to enter space in the near future. I wanted to say that, if we give everything we have, we can definitely achieve our dream, even if it is space," an elated Dr Ragaiah added.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated Sirisha on her successful flight to space and said it is a proud moment for AP. "The trajectory of the 34-year-old aeronautical engineer has been amazing as she has reached great heights," he said.

Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan also congratulated Sirisha for her historic journey into space. Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu said her achievement will motivate many more young girls to take up challenging careers. "I am so incredibly honoured to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all," Sirisha tweeted days before the flight.

"When I first heard that I was getting this opportunity, it was just... I was speechless. I think that probably captured it very well. This is an incredible opportunity to get people from different backgrounds, different geographies and different communities into space," she said in a video posted on the Twitter handle of Virgin Galactic on July 6.
Chetana Belagere By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: With the Covid-19 death toll in Karnataka touching 35,434 on July 6, the state topped among the four southern states. Karnataka also stands second in the country, after Maharashtra, which saw 1,23,136 deaths. Statistics released by the State War Room show that patients aged 50-80 years accounted for almost half the total number of deaths in the state, since the pandemic set in.

While experts on Death Audit Committees attribute the reasons to limited testing, reluctance to visit hospitals due to social stigma, high cost of healthcare, late reporting and role of variants, doctors say the increase in deaths also point to many victims having diabetes and cardiac issues, and not even being diagnosed with the disorders until Covid-19 hit them.

Many patients who came into ICUs had undiagnosed lung diseases, heart issues, diabetes and malnutrition-related conditions. I think this also contributed to, and played a vital role in claiming lives, says Dr CN Manjunath, Director, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.While Maharashtra recorded the highest number of deaths, Tamil Nadu recorded 33,059 deaths, Andhra Pradeshs toll is 12,870 and Kerala saw 13,818 deaths. Rajasthan recorded 8,941 deaths, the least among 10 states with a high death toll.

However, some doctors argue that when looking at deaths in a geographical area, one has to see the total number of cases detected. If more people are tested in a particular area, the case fatality rate -- number of deaths divided by total cases tested -- will give the actual death rate, for comparison among states. Meanwhile, patients aged 61-80 years have accounted for half the total deaths in the state since the start of the pandemic. Data released till July 6 shows 10,165 people aged 60-69 died in Karnataka, 7,774 were 50 to 59 years old, and 6,872 people aged 70-79 died due to Covid-19.

According to Dr Satyanarayana Mysore, HOD, Pulmonology, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, the deaths also depend on the kind of strain -- H or L type -- which plays a role in determining fatality rate. Though there is no research on which predominant strain was present in Karnataka, we have noticed that patients with hypoxia and oxygen-related issues had H type of virus, and those with severe lung infections had the L type. The L strain of coronavirus was more prevalent in Wuhan, China. If the same L type was present in our state, it could be the reason for high number of deaths, say doctors. The emergence of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the state, and increase in Covid infections also plays a major role.

Dr Ravindra Mehta, Chief of Pulmonology, Critical Care, Apollo Hospitals, says, The second wave hit Karnataka with great velocity, and the state did not have the facilities and infrastrcture which other states enjoyed. For instance, Mumbai did not have shortage of resources, but Karnataka saw a massive shortage of oxygen, medicine, equipment and infrastructure. The second wave was very rapid and ferocious, and the cases overwhelmed the healthcare system, and could have also contributed to an increase in deaths.

However, experts warn that further deaths can be prevented by ensuring that people follow appropriate behaviour, to avoid further virus mutations. Preparation for future waves by testing enough, ramping up vaccination and upgrading health infrastructure will play a major role in avoiding deaths. Also, lessons learnt during earlier waves should not be forgotten, said Dr Mehta.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: All other south Indian states are aggressively wooing investments by Kitex, said the group's chairman and managing director Sabu M Jacob. He said Kitex is in talks with the industries ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

It is a golden opportunity for Kitex and we are getting attractive offers from all states. On Monday, the Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister called me up and requested a meeting. The minister said he will arrange a meeting with the Chief Minister. He assured that all our requirements would be discussed and said Andhra wants Kitex in the state, Sabu told The New Indian Express.

He said Telangana Industries Minister K T Rama Rao was more like a CEO than a minister. The minister has a good understanding of the industry and has a solution for any issue we raise. He offered government help to install a waste treatment plant. The other offers included discounts in state GST and 10-year licence. While Tamil Nadu offered 5 percent interest on investment for 6 years, Telangana offered us 8 percent interest for 8 years, said Sabu.

ALSO READ: How KITEX saga exposes Kerala's business-unfriendly image

He said all states are offering Rs 700 to Rs 950 crore returns for an investment of Rs 1,000 crore in 8 to 10 years. Regarding allegations that Kitex does not have the resources to implement a Rs 3,500 crore project, Sabu said people are assessing Kitex considering the finances of Kitex Garments alone.

We have nine companies and we have enough resources to make the investment. We are considering projects in Karnataka, Andhra and Tamil Nadu. We are considering shifting our aluminium and spices divisions to these states, he said.

Regarding the marketing of kids' garments to be produced in the new units, Sabu said Kitex does not have competitors in the sector. We are exporting 10 lakh pieces of kids garments from our Kerala facility. This is the maximum capacity of our facility. We have been dominating the particular segment and there are no competitors. So increasing the export volume will not be an issue, he said.

Sabu said nobody from the Kerala government has called him to discuss the issue. "There were no inspections after we raised the issue. If there is more harassment, we will consider shifting the existing units to other states. Other states have offered to bear the cost of shifting if we are ready to migrate, he said.

Meanwhile, Kitex's share price recorded a 14 percent rise on Monday.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) nabbed a Tanzanian national with 4.64 kg of heroin when he arrived at Kochi airport on a flight from Dubai in the early hours of Monday. This is the second incident in the last month in which heroin was seized from an African visitor at Kochi airport.

The arrested person was identified as Ashraf Mtoro, 32, who started his journey from Zanzibar in Tanzania and was holding an e-medical attendant visa. He arrived from Tanzania via Dubai by a flight that arrived in Kochi at around 2.45 am.

"After immigration clearance, the passenger was handed over to DRI officials who recovered the 4.64 kg narcotics concealed inside his check-in trolley bag. The seized contraband looked like frankincense. The passenger will be produced before the court after initial test kit reports. The samples have been sent to a laboratory for further confirmation about the narcotic product," sources said.

Ashraf was directed to stay at a hotel in Kochi and take the train route to New Delhi where he had to hand over the consignment. "It is a New Delhi-based racket that is behind the deal. The drugs were handed over to the passenger by an unidentified person in Tanzania. He also doesn't know the person to whom the consignment has to be delivered," sources said.

Last month, a Zimbabwean national carrying heroin was intercepted by the Narcotics Control Bureau at Kochi airport. NCB officials said as heroin smuggling routes through the land border with Pakistan have been curtailed, air routes are preferred by smugglers.

"As airports like New Delhi and Mumbai are on the alert against smuggling of heroin, the rackets are using other airports to sneak in drugs. The heroin originates from Afghanistan where opium is illegally cultivated. Later, the contraband reaches Pakistan, and is processed as heroin before being smuggled into India. Attempts were made to smuggle heroin via the sea route and major seizures were made this year including from the coast off Kerala," the sources said.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The presence of Zika virus was confirmed in three more persons including a one-year-old child in the district on Sunday. A 46-year-old man who sought treatment at a private hospital and a 29-year-old nurse from the same hospital are the others who were diagnosed. Their samples were confirmed at a lab in Coimbatore. So far, 18 cases of Zika virus have been reported from the district, the first being that of a pregnant woman who was diagnosed on Thursday. This was followed by 13 more cases among healthcare workers in a private hospital the next day.

READ HERE | Zika virus explained: How is it spread & why pregnant women should take extra caution?

Following the first incident, the health department collected 17 samples and all of them turned negative. From the 27 samples of the second batch, one of them turned positive on Saturday. The latest three that turned positive are from the eight samples sent as the third batch.

Meanwhile, the health department has set up Zika testing facilities at medical college hospitals (MCH) in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Thrissur and Kozhikode, after procuring 2,100 testing kits from the National Institute of Virology, Pune. The Thiruvananthapuram MCH received 500 triplex kits that can detect dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus, besides 500 singleplex kits that can be used only for detecting Zika virus. Alappuzha NIV received 500 singleplex kits and Thrissur and Kozhikode MCHs received 300 singleplex kits each.

Health Minister Veena George said Zika testing will be expanded to more government labs when more test kits become available. The Public Health Lab will soon have the facility, she said. There are 27 government labs with RT-PCR testing facilities in the state.The department has drawn up an action plan to fight the mosquito-borne disease with a special focus on pregnant women, as the disease is considered to have severe impact on pregnant women especially during the first four months into the term. Hospitals have been directed to conduct Zika tests on people with symptoms such as fever, rashes and body pain, said the minister.

Zika is detected using blood and urine samples through the RT-PCR test. NIV Pune has recommended the use of blood samples. Five milliliters of blood of a suspected Zika-infected person will be collected and the serum will be separated from it for conducting the test. Up to eight hours will be required to get the results. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is performed to detect genetic material from a specific organism, in this case the Zika virus. If the PCR test is to determine Covid, nasal swabs are used.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: Kitex Group chairman and managing director Sabu M Jacob on Sunday said he wont invest a single rupee in Kerala anymore. He said the Telangana government gave them a grand welcome during their two-day visit and that they would soon finalise the procedures for making an initial investment of Rs 1,000 crore there.

Sabu Jacob, meanwhile, said he would not respond to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans statement that the current issue raised by Kitex was an attempt to bring disrepute to the state and should be seen as something done with an ulterior intention.

I will not respond to the chief ministers statement. My conscience does not allow me to invest even a rupee anymore in the state. In fact, we should thank three MLAs and an MP of the Congress who showed us how to save crores of rupees in business by moving to another state, Sabu told reporters at the Kochi airport on his return from Telangana.

We were given a grand welcome in Telangana. The company will finalise the investment process in the next two weeks, he said, adding that the trip was an opportunity to understand the offers and incentives given to industries by other states to attract investment.On a query whether he was ready for talks with the Kerala Government, he said he was always open for talks, but none from the government had approached him so far.

Even if they had sent a clerk, I would have held discussions. I am happy I could employ thousands of people in Kerala with the Kitex project. Even if we set up units in Telangana or any other state, I will give a job to any Keralite who approaches me there, said Kitex chairman and MD Sabu M Jacob. He has called a press meet on Monday to give details of his visit and his firms investment plans in Telangana.
T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Within an hour of creating big expectations about his entry into politics again, actor Rajinikanth doused the speculations quickly by asserting that he would never enter politics.

The actor further stated that the Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM) would be dissolved and continue as a fans club - Rajinikanth Rasigar Narpani Mandram.

"Due to various situations, our wish to launch a political party did not fructify. Also, I don't have any intention to enter politics in future too. As such, the RMM will be dissolved and it will continue to function as Rajinikanth Rasigar Narpani Mandram," Rajinikanth said in a statement here after holding discussions with the district secretaries of the RMM here.

Actor #Rajinikanth decides to dissolve Rajini Makkal Mandram.



Says, he is firm on his decision not to enter politics.



Rajinikanth Rasigar Narpani Mandram will continue to function.@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/7DQyOxnSum  S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) July 12, 2021

The actor further said "After my announcement that I could not enter politics in December last, questions like what is the status of the Mandram and its duties have been lingering in the minds of the office bearers of Madram as well as my fans. It is my duty to clarify these issues."

The actor recalled that Rajinikanth Rasigar Narpani Mandram was converted into Rajinikanth Makkal Mandram with a view to launch a political party and many new posts in the Mandram besides many wings were also created.

Ahead of his meeting with RMM office bearers, the actor said there were questions among the Mandram office bearers and his fans about whether he would enter politics or not in future and that he would clarify these issues after consulting them. This created a lot of expectations as to whether he was reconsidering his options for entering politics.

On December 29, 2020, in a three-page statement, Rajinikanth expressed regret and said it pained him to make such an announcement not to enter politics after having said he would contest the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2021.

With profound regret I say that I will neither be launching my political party nor entering politics. Nobody can understand my pain in making this decision, the actor added.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: What started as a mere buzz on social media by BJP-affiliated handles became a hot political topic on Sunday, with almost all major parties in the State denouncing the idea of creating a new Union Territory of Kongu Nadu by bifurcating Tamil Nadu.

While DMK leaders made public statements, an AIADMK spokesperson, when contacted, categorically said such ideas should be nipped in the bud. Even BJP leaders distanced themselves from the idea and said there was no such proposal. But they remained wishywashy by claiming that if people wish for a bifurcation, it is the duty of the Union government to execute it.

They did not elaborate on why the issue was raised when there was no such popular demand from the people of the region. A report in a Tamil daily, which triggered the issue by its claim about the purported idea of the Union government, too did not cite any source for its information.

It claimed the Modi government developed the plan because it was angered by DMK leaders recent use of the term Ondriya Arasu to refer to it. Its just a news item that appeared in a daily, BJP treasurer SR Sekar told reporters at Tirupur, adding that the party has no such plans.

However, he added that the BJP would discuss idea of Kongu Nadu in due course. BJP State legislature party floor leader Nainar Nagenthran, in Tirunelveli, gave an ambiguous reply to reporters. There are so many nadus in Tamil Nadu  Valla Nadu, Varusha Nadu, Vazha Nadu etc.

Can all these be made separate States? But we have to keep in mind developments in the past. Andhra Pradesh was divided into two States. Uttar Pradesh was divided. If the people want the State to be bifurcated, it is the duty of the government.

No one can divide Tamil Nadu: DMK

DMK leader Kanimozhi had said, Tamil Nadu is now under a safe government. So there is no need for the people to harbour such worries. No one can bifurcate the State. A DMK spokesperson did not mince words when asked for a comment. BJPs aim is to give away the resources of Tamil Nadu to the North Indians. In Kongu region, North Indians now have a strong economic base in various areas and the workforce in Tirupur area is also from North India. But this idea will never fructify, said Constantine Ravindran. He also said it was a move to divert the attention from the Centres failures on issues such as the fuel price hike.

AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Satyan said, Any thought process hinting at division or separation from Tamil Nadu is highly condemnable and wrong. There will be no second thought on this. Any party that advocates such an idea should be severely dealt with by the law. Even bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh ultimately affected the people of both States. AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran said the motive behind the idea was to divide Tamil Nadu on caste lines and was just an adoption of the divide-and-rule policy of the colonial British.

However, Best Ramasamy, of Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam, a party which had of late not seen any political success, said, Since 2010, we have been demanding Kongu Nadu for industrial growth in the area, which has been extensively contributing to the States economy.

Meanwhile, BJP legislative party leader Nainar Nagendran in Tenkasi said that no one needs to fear about the bifurcation of Tamil Nadu.

(With inputs from Coimbatore/Tenkasi)

VCK chief lashes out at BJP

Nagapattinam: VCK General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan here on Sunday said that the BJP is trying to divide the State using caste and communal politics. He was here to inaugurate an MLA office in Nagapattinam. What is the need to divide Tamil Nadu? The BJP is trying to project the demand of caste/religious fanatics and regressive individuals as the peoples demand and use it to their advantage. We will defeat the BJP in the General Elections, he said. On the ministerial berth to L Murugan, he said the BJP insulted Murugan by removing him from the post of BJP state president.
OMJASVIN M D By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: An unprecedented crowd of around 1,500 people from various parts of the city thronged the state secretariat here on Monday following an unconfirmed message on social media and a few newspapers that Chief Minister MK Stalin would be receiving petitions from the public to redress their grievances.

Just after the social media message, Information Department officials on Sunday night told reporters that there is no such move or programme scheduled for the Chief Minister on Monday. However, people started arriving at the secretariat early in the morning. The Chief Minister who chaired an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu issue came to know that a large number of people were waiting for him. Following this, on his way home, Stalin got down from his car and received petitions from some of those waiting at the Secretariat. CM Cell officials received petitions from the rest of the people gathered.

The CM had earlier announced the creation of a new department 'CM in your constituency' that will address people's grievances within 100 days. But now the public were under the impression that the CM was meeting them himself. Beginning from the entrance of the secretariat, the crowd stretched as far as the end of the RBI subway with residents from various parts of the city and even suburbs patiently waiting to meet him.

Civic activist David Manohar, who reached the secretariat at 7 am and waited for a long time, said, "I came to meet the CM on an issue concerning encroachment of a part of my land. Though I had raised the issue with many officials and filed RTIs, no action has been taken."

Prem Chander, a resident from Pallavaram, also said that he visited the secretariat to hand over a petition regarding a land dispute. "The local officials did not help," said Chander. Priyadharshini, a solid waste management activist from the OMR, said, "I am facing threats from local politicians when I try to expand solid waste management work in the Pudupakkam panchayat. I also wish to bring to the notice of the Chief Minister some more issues."
By PTI

BEIJING: A defiant China on Monday dismissed the 2016 verdict of the international tribunal on the South China Sea, rejecting its claims over the area as a piece of "waste paper" and brushed aside US' fresh backing for the judgement as a "political farce" to smear Beijing.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian's remarks came as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) claimed to have "expelled" US Navy destroyer USS Benfold which sailed through the South China Sea (SCS), coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the verdict to assert freedom of navigation.

Without authorisation from the Chinese government, the US guided-missile destroyer illegally trespassed into China's territorial waters and the PLA Southern Theatre Command organised maritime and aerial forces to track and monitor it and warned it away, Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson of the command, said in a statement.

The US has been periodically conducting such naval and aerial missions through the SCS to challenge China's claims.

ALSO READ: India supports freedom of navigation in South China Sea, reiterates Rajnath Singh

On the fifth anniversary of the international tribunal on the SCS, which had delivered a stunning blow to China's expansive sovereignty claims over the all-important sea trade route, the Biden administration upheld the previous Trump-era backing to the tribunal verdict.

In a stern warning to China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said that any attack on the Philippines by Beijing would draw Washington's response under a mutual defence treaty with the Philippines.

Reacting to Blinken's statement, Zhao told a media briefing here that "the ruling is illegal, null and void and a waste paper".

"China will not accept or participate in this tribunal, will not accept or acknowledge this ruling," he said, reiterating that Beijing will continue to exercise its control over the area in the SCS.

"The sovereignty and rights of China on the SCS will not be affected by the ruling and China will not accept any assertion or act based on this ruling," Zhao said.

He termed the tribunal as a "political farce", saying the US was the "culprit and manipulator of this farce" to smear China.

"This time the US uses the fifth anniversary of the ruling to hype the SCS issue. This political attempt is clear," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

On Blinken's threat to invoke a bilateral defence treaty with the Philippines if Beijing attacks Manila, Zhao accused the US of abusing the bilateral military agreements with Cold War mentality "to use force on China which exposes their strong power logic and hegemonic attempts".

On July 12, 2016, the tribunal struck the worst blow to China's claims over almost all of the SCS, saying its much-touted nine-dash line has no legal basis.

The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the 'nine-dash line', the five-judge tribunal appointed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) based in The Hague adjudicating on the petition filed by the Philippines had said.

Striking down the core of China's claims over the 90 per cent of the SCS based on historic rights, the Tribunal concluded that, "to the extent China had historic rights to resources in the waters of the SCS, such rights were extinguished to the extent they were incompatible with the exclusive economic zones provided for in the Convention (UN Convention on the Law of Seas -- UNCLOS)".

The Tribunal also noted that there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or their resources, as claimed by Beijing.

For decades, China -- which boycotted the tribunal questioning its legality -- has been asserting that its emperors discovered the islands hundreds of years ago and have been exercising control over the area throughout history.

But its claims came into conflict with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan as they hardly have Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) provided by UNCLOS, which Beijing declined to recognise.

Five years on, Beijing not only remained defiant but also consolidated its claims over the area, building artificial islands backed by military installations fitted with missiles and an airport.

China has also managed to silence the Philippines, which won the case with offers of billions of dollars of investments, with its President Rodrigo Duterte maintaining a steady silence amidst a decisive build up by China in the region.

Endorsing the stand of his predecessor Mike Pompeo, who was the US Secretary of State under the presidency of Donald Trump, Blinken said: "nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea."

He charged China of continuing "to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway."

"We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defence commitments," Blinken said.

It was a shift from the Obama administration's policy according to which maritime disputes between China and its neighbours be resolved peacefully through UN-backed arbitration.

In his lengthy response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao said that Blinken's statement disregards the historical merits and objective facts on the SCS issue, deliberately stokes disputes on sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, sows discord among regional countries and undermines regional peace and stability.

He said countries outside the region should respect efforts made by the regional countries in the SCS.

"China will unswervingly safeguard its sovereignty and security", Zhao said, highlighting China's talks with regional countries to resolve disputes.

He also rejected the US allegations of China's threat to the freedom of navigation.

"With the joint efforts by China and regional countries for a period of time, the SCS maintained its smoothness and security and no vessels were obstructed, security threatened. The statement by the US that the freedom of navigation (is) threatened cannot hold water," Zhao said.

He also accused the US of stepping up air and naval reconnaissance missions over the SCS.

"Since the beginning, this year the US conducted nearly 2,000 close reconnaissance missions in China's waters and airspace and more than 20 times of large-scale maritime drills," he added.
By PTI

KATHMANDU: Nepal on Monday received over 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the US at the time when the country is facing a severe shortage of the jabs.

This is the first consignment of the single-shot vaccine Nepal has received.

The US provided 1,534,850 doses to Nepal through the COVAX scheme, the global COVID vaccine equity scheme.

US Ambassador Randy Berry handed over the vaccines to Health Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha on Monday.

Today we're giving Nepal enough #JNJ COVID19 vaccines via #COVAX to fully vaccinate 1.5 million people, Berry wrote on Twitter after handing over the vaccine to Nepal.

I'm proud that the US is the largest single-country donor of #COVID19 assistance to Nepal.

This gift, on behalf of the American people, has the singular goal of saving lives, Berry added.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli conveyed sincere gratitude to the Government and the people of Nepal to the US Government for providing the generous support of vaccines.

Health Minister Shrestha said on Monday that the American vaccine will be given to people aged 50 to 54, the Kathmandu Post reported.

The arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will complement Nepal's vaccination drive amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is a big respite for Nepal, which is struggling to secure enough doses to inoculate its populationaround 72 per cent of the total.

Nepal started its vaccination drive with the 1 million doses of Covishield, the AstraZeneca type vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, which were gifted to Nepal by the Indian government.

Of the 2 million doses Nepal bought from the Serum Institute, only 1 million doses were shipped, the report added.

The Johnson & Johnson doses arrived days after 8 million doses of Vero Cell, a double-shot vaccine manufactured and developed by Sinopharm, were brought in from China, the report said.

The consignment was part of 4 million doses Nepal has bought from China.

China has already provided 1.8 million doses of Vero Cell under grant assistance, the report added.

Nepal's coronavirus caseload reached 699,088 with the detection of 1,831 new cases in the last 24 hours, the ministry said on Sunday.

Of the total cases, 619,894 people have recovered so far.

The countrywide COVID-19 death toll increased to 9,382 with 20 more fatalities.
By PTI

KATHMANDU: Nepal has signed a USD 1.3 billion deal with India's hydropower major Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to develop a 679-megawatt hydropower project in eastern Nepal, the second mega venture undertaken by India in the neighbouring Himalayan nation.

The single largest foreign investment project, based on the 2017 cost estimates, is located between Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur districts in eastern Nepal, according to a press release issued by the Investment Board Nepal.

The 679-megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower project is the second mega project undertaken by India after the USD 1.04 billion 900-MW Arun-3 hydroelectric project.

A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed by the Investment Board of Nepal Chief Executive Officer Sushil Bhatta and SJVN Chairman and Managing Director Nand Lal Sharma in Kathmandu on Sunday, according to the Investment Board Nepal.

According to the board, the developer needs to complete the detailed project report of the project and submit it for approval at the board within two years from the agreement date.

The project will be developed under the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model.

Speaking as the chief guest during the signing in ceremony, Nepal Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel expressed commitment to extend necessary cooperation and support on behalf of the government to expedite and fast-track the development of the project.
By PTI

KATHMANDU: In a landmark verdict, Nepal's Supreme Court on Monday directed President Bidya Devi Bhandari to appoint Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister by Tuesday and reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives for a second time in five months.

A five-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana issued the verdict stating that President Bhandari's decision to dissolve the lower house upon a recommendation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was an unconstitutional act, delivering a major blow to the veteran Communist leader who was preparing for snap polls.

The bench issued a mandamus to appoint Deuba as the Prime Minister by Tuesday.

Deuba, 74, has served as the prime minister on four occasions.

The court also ordered summoning new session of House of Representatives at 5 PM on July 18.

Chief Justice Rana also said that the bench has concluded that party whip does not apply when lawmakers take part in the voting to elect new Prime Minister as per Article 76(5) of the Constitution.

The bench comprising four other senior most justices -- Dipak Kumar Karki, Mira Khadka, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai -- had concluded hearings in the case last week.

President Bhandari had dissolved the 275-member lower house for the second time in five months on May 22 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19.

Last week, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for mid-term elections despite the uncertainty over polls.

As many as 30 petitions, including one by the opposition alliance led by the Nepali Congress, were filed against the dissolution of the House by the President.

A petition was filed by the Opposition parties' alliance with the signature of 146 lawmakers demanding reinstatement of the lower house of Parliament and appointment of Deuba as the prime minister.

Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

On February 23, the apex court reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, in a setback to embattled Prime Minister Oli who was preparing for snap polls.

Oli, who is currently heading a minority government after losing a trust vote in the House, has repeatedly defended his move to dissolve the House of Representatives, saying some leaders of his party were attempting to form a "parallel government".
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GREENWICH  NicholsMD of Greenwich, a dermatology boutique, presented Chief of Police James Heavey with a donation of nearly $1,500 for the Greenwich Police Department Scholarship Fund.

I am proud to donate to the Greenwich Police Department Scholarship Fund in celebration of 125 years of keeping our town, community, and children safe, said Dr. Kim Nichols, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon as well as the founding director of NicholsMD. She presented Heavey with the check on July 1.

The GPSF was the beneficiary of a percentage of product sales in June at NicholsMD of Greenwich, which provides high-level concierge care and non-surgical, innovative skincare solutions.

The fund, which grants scholarships to qualifying students of town police officers, relies on the support of individuals as well as businesses.

The Greenwich Police Department is proud of the partnerships it has created with the Greenwich community, including our local businesses. They always stand ready to help when asked, and we are very appreciative of the communitys support of our scholarship fund, Heavey said.

In the 2020-21 school year, the GPDSF funded 26 scholarships. The fund traces its roots to 1962, when three scholarships were awarded. Applicant must be full-time students and maintain an academic GPA of 2.75 or better.

For more information or to become a sponsor of GPDSF, call 203-622-7844 or visit www.gpdscholarshipfund.org.

The Greenwich Police Department Scholarship Fund Benefit Car Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug 28 at Town Hall. (The rain date is Aug. 29.) Admission is free. The show will include classic, antique, custom and exotic cars; motorcycles; vintage fire trucks; and military vehicles. There will be a DJ, food trucks and more.

Greenwich Symphony honors Teen Talent contest winners

Over 60 talented young musicians participated in the Greenwich Symphonys Teen Talent Contest via live Zoom auditions before a panel of nine judges.

Judging was done over four days and recorded so that judges could review the performances.

The winners of the High School $500 Prize are: Aniketh Arvind, piano, a ninth-grader at Hackley School, Tarrytown, N.Y.; Stephanie Chang, piano, a 10th-grader at Greenwich High School; and Sadie Goodman, flute, a 10th-grader who is homeschooled in South Salem, N.Y.

The winners of Middle School $300 Prize are Evan James Lee, cello, an eighth-grader at Scarsdale Middle School in New York; Jordan Pak, viola, an eighth-grader at Ardsley Middle School in New York; and Teresa Wang, piano, an eighth-grader at Weston Middle School.

The middle school honorable mentions went to Matthew Wang, Aran Basu, Elliott Levine, Marshall Franz, Andrew Xu and Rachel Horn.

The high school honorable mentions went to Kay McIlhenny, Ayush Maini, Benjamin Sheppard, Madison Chueka, Alex Pak, Iris Araki, and Adrian Pascual.

Local residents earn degrees from Connecticut College

Two students from Greenwich were awarded bachelor of arts degrees from Connecticut College in New London on May 23. They were among the 380 members of Connecticut Colleges Class of 2021.

Alexander Charles Bologna earned a degree in economics and physics, and Charlotte Grace Harding earned a degree in psychology.

UMass Lowell names local student to Deans List

Nicole Pergjini of Greenwich, who is majoring in biology, was named to the Deans List at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

Local students honored at Baylor University

Three local students were named to the Deans Academic Honor List for the spring 2021 semester at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

The honored students are Benjamin Rana of Cos Cob, a students in the College of Arts & Sciences; Daniel Bradford Bourgeois of Old Greenwich, a student in the School of Engineering & Computer Science; and Mark Alexander Bourgeois of Old Greenwich, a student in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Honored students must earn a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.70.

Area residents named to Deans List at Quinnipiac

A number of local students were named to the Deans List for the spring 2021 semester at Quinnipiac University in Hamden.

The honored students are Joseph ODonoghue of Cos Cob; Katherine Gannon of Old Greenwich; Alyssa Biondo of Greenwich; Joseph Caridi of Greenwich; Andrew DAutilio of Greenwich; Madison Deblasi of Greenwich; Julia Dinota of Greenwich; Emma Duryea of Greenwich; Brianna Fiorito of Greenwich; and Christyna Stagg of Greenwich.

To qualify for the Deans List, students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.5.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday that Iowa will cover the cost of troopers sent to Texas to fight crime along the U.S. border with Mexico, confirming the state would fund the mission after the release of agreements showing the effort would come at no cost to Texas."

Since Reynolds announced June 24 that she would join other Republican governors in sending forces to the border, her administration has argued Texas could later reimburse Iowa for expenses under a multi-state compact. However, Iowa's assistance agreements released to The Associated Press on Monday stated that Texas and Arizona asked other states to absorb the associated costs with this mission for the good of the country.

Iowa is donating this resource, according to the agreements, signed by the director of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management on July 2 and released by the department under the open records law.

Later Monday, Reynolds was asked at a news conference in Nebraska who would pay for the deployment, and she acknowledged the costs would fall to her state.

That will be a state function," Reynolds said. We sat down with the commissioner before we sent them down to make sure we felt that they could not only handle the safety of the citizens of the state of Iowa but have the resources to go down there, and they assured us that they did.

Reynolds spokesman Pat Garrett had said earlier Monday there still was a chance Texas could eventually reimburse some costs. When asked whether the governor was confirming that Iowa would pay, he responded by text: The governor did say that. The final costs themselves yet to be determined per what DPS said.

Reynolds, speaking at the Tri-State Governor's Conference in South Sioux City, Nebraska, with Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, provided more details about the troopers' mission.

Reynolds said Iowa sent 29 troopers and that they arrived in Del Rio, Texas, a few days ago. She said they would stay for 16 days.

They include road troopers, members of an Iowa State Patrol tactical team that responds to high-risk situations, command staff and an investigator, according to the documents released to the AP.

Ricketts said he has sent 25 troopers to Del Rio to help with law enforcement. A Nebraska State Patrol spokesman said officials there also have not finalized funding for their contribution to the effort.

Noem said she sent 50 National Guard members who are helping with observation posts and coordinating with border control officers to help secure the southern border.

Noem has said she would use a $1 million donation from a Republican donor to send National Guard troops. In a speech to a conservative audience Sunday, she criticized governors who sent officers to the border, saying it was irresponsible to shortchange law enforcement.

Theyre needed at home, she said, adding that National Guard units were better trained for the mission.

Garrett said Iowa has ruled out the use of private donations.

Iowa Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Debbie McClung said Monday that discussions about payment structures are ongoing. The cost of the mission is unknown.

Reynolds announced the deployment last month, responding to requests for assistance from the GOP governors of Texas and Arizona through the interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact. She said Iowa has no choice but to act to help secure the border, citing drugs, human trafficking and violent crime that affect all 50 states.

Its believed to be the first time Iowa state police officers have been sent on an out-of-state mission since Iowa joined the compact in the 1990s. Several other Republican governors have pledged to send law enforcement in response to the requests, including in Florida, Idaho and Ohio.

Iowa also has 30 soldiers from the Iowa National Guard providing assistance to law enforcement at the border, Reynolds said.

The documents released Monday show Texas has requested 434 state troopers, 75 investigators and six tactical teams from other states.

Iowa troopers will not bring their patrol cars and instead will team up with Texas state troopers and Texas Rangers, although one investigator planned to drive an unmarked car from Iowa, the agreements state.

All the officers will also need hotel rooms. They will, however, bring their own equipment including uniforms, handguns, rifles, ammunition, body armor and other gear.

McClung has said the deployment  5.3% of the departments 552 sworn officers  would not compromise the departments ability to provide public safety services to Iowans. She has compared the scope of the assignment to annual summertime deployments for officers to patrol the Iowa State Fair and a popular statewide bicycle ride.

Their deployment comes amid rising traffic fatalities on Iowas highways that the Iowa State Patrol said last month was caused by excessive speeding and other reckless driving.
Among those guest narrating this week's trip down memory lane: three FBI agents who helped bring down the Unabomber and three former Illini who didn't see their coach's retirement announcement coming.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 62F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Columnist

Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an East Room event on troop withdrawal from Afghanistan at the White House on Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
Modern medicine has helped us overcome many diseases which once killed millions of people worldwide each year. Over the course of the 20th century, stronger and more effective drugs and treatments have been developed which have helped us live healthier and longer lives. However, the pathogens we seek to fight also evolve to overcome our treatments. This article will discuss the rise of antimicrobial resistance and superbugs, and what this means for medical science in the 21st century.

MRS. Image Credit: royaltystockphoto.com/Shutterstock.com

Antimicrobial Resistance  An Overview

Infections caused by pathogenic microbes are historically one of the leading causes of death and have caused numerous epidemics and pandemics throughout human development. Even routine, minor infections which would these days be survivable killed scores of people every year. This period of history, which lasted largely until the mid-20th century, has come to be known as the pre-antibiotic era. Many other treatments did exist, but they could be more deadly than the infections they treated.

However, there is now an unfolding medical disaster worldwide  antimicrobial resistance. This occurs when viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites evolve to negate the effects of antimicrobial drugs. This leads to drugs becoming ineffective against common infections and the use of ever-more-powerful classes of drugs which can have negative side effects for the patient. With the rise of antimicrobial resistance, we risk entering the post-antibiotic era.

Several major factors cause the development and spread of drug-resistant microbes. These include misuse and overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and medicine, poor infection and disease control, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, industrial runoff, and lack of awareness and legislative enforcement. Resistance occurs naturally via multi-generational genetic adaptation and mutations in pathogens, some of which can arise spontaneously, as well as the passing of genetic information between strains. It is a natural defense mechanism of microbes.

What are Superbugs?

Superbugs are microbial strains that have become resistant to the drugs used to treat them. They present major roadblocks to the effective treatment of common ailments and have resulted in several well-publicized hospital-based outbreaks in recent years. According to the CDC, these strains infect more than 2.8 million people in the US per year and kill more than 35,000. And its not just healthcare settings  strains have been found circulating in communities, posing a major health risk.

A recently developed database of the genes which lead to antibiotic resistance found that there are 20,000 potential r genes (resistance genes) of 400 different types. The good news is that very few of these exist as functional resistance determinants in pathogenic strains. Still, the rise of superbugs is relentless.

Several strains of bacterial superbugs exist and are in circulation in the population. The main strains include:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Carbapenem-resist Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter

E. coli H30-RX

MRSA, which causes skin infections (serious infections can lead to pneumonia and bloodstream infections) is arguably the most well-known of all the superbugs due to media coverage of recent outbreaks in healthcare settings. The H30-RX strain of E. coli is now one of the main causes of bacterial infections worldwide in women and elderly people. The infection has been found to be healthcare-related.

There are now strains of tuberculosis, once easy to treat with common antibiotics, which are now resistant to the most powerful anti-TB drugs on the market. To put into perspective how much of a threat this poses, by the 1800s TB had killed nearly 1 in 7 of all the people who had ever lived up until that point. Nowadays, it kills about 350 people in the UK every year. But this could all change if these resistant strains of superbug become more widespread in the future.

How Can the Spread of Superbugs be Avoided?

As superbugs adapt and proliferate, they pose a real danger of becoming the dominant strains in society, making the post-antibiotic era a reality. This will in turn lead to hospitalizations and deaths from what in recent years have been easily treatable medical conditions. However, there are ways that the spread of these microbial strains can be controlled. These include:

Limiting the use of antibiotics in the agriculture industries to the treatment of sick livestock only, and not using them as growth factors for animals.

Stopping the practice of overprescription and misuse by medical professionals.

In the case of patients, using prescribed antibiotics correctly by only taking them as directed, not sharing them, and finishing a prescribed course of antibiotics.

Improving access to clean water for drinking and hygiene.

Proper sanitation in vulnerable communities and developing countries.

Washing hands and not sharing towels and hygiene products.

Proper infection control in healthcare settings.

Awareness campaigns by governments and public health bodies.

Implementing robust policies at a local, national and international level to combat antimicrobial drug resistance and superbugs.

In Conclusion

Whilst the outcome of this ongoing health crisis is uncertain and superbugs are becoming more prevalent, there is hope to be found. Research is ongoing into these strains and research may provide data on them that can inform future classes of drugs and therapeutics. The best method we currently have to combat the rise of superbugs lies in mitigation and infection control. To avoid entering the post-antibiotic era requires individuals, healthcare professionals, industry, governments, and international bodies to work together.

References:
Researchers in Israel have conducted a study showing that the use of Pfizer-BioNTechs coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine appears to be safe and effective among patients with cancer.

To our knowledge, this study is the first to prospectively characterize the serologic status, immunogenicity, and safety of the BNT162b2 vaccine in a cohort of patients with solid tumors who are receiving active anticancer therapies, writes the team from the Rambam Health Care Campus, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, and the Technion-Integrated Cancer Center, in Haifa.

While the efficacy and safety profiles of COVID-19 vaccines have previously been demonstrated in phase 3 studies, the team says patients with cancer were not adequately represented in these trials.

Owing to the recommendation to prioritize high-risk populations for vaccination, further data are warranted, says Irit Ben-Aharon and colleagues.

As reported in JAMA Oncology, the teams prospective cohort study of more than 230 cancer patients found that administration of Pfizer-BioNTechs BNT162b2 vaccine appeared to be safe and achieved satisfactory levels of antibodies (seropositivity) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)  the causative agent of COVID-19.

Although there was a pronounced lag in antibody production among the cancer group, compared with among healthy controls, seroconversion occurred in most cancer patients following the second dose and any adverse events reported resembled those reported among healthy individuals.

Cancer patients may be at risk of more severe COVID-19

Some studies have shown that patients with cancer may be at risk for more severe COVID-19, with metastatic cancer, hematologic malignant neoplasms, and lung cancer reported as the major risk factors.

However, other studies have reported no such additional risk among cancer patients, compared with the general population.

Regulatory agencies approved the BNT162b2 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech based on a phase 2/3 trial of more than 43,500 participants who received two doses of the vaccine separated by a 21-day interval.

However, although cancer had not been an exclusion criterion in the trials, the use of cytotoxic therapy or systemic corticosteroids throughout the study were considered as such in the pioneer study, says Ben-Aharon and colleagues.

Mass immunization with BNT162b2 began in Israel in January 2021

In December 2020, the vaccine was approved for use in Israel and a mass immunization program was initiated on January 10th, 2021. Healthcare workers and high-risk populations, including patients with cancer, were prioritized as the first in line for vaccination.

Although real-world data regarding vaccine effectiveness are emerging depicting a positive outcome in the general population, there is a paucity of data regarding the efficacy and safety in the population of patients with cancer, say the researchers.

Despite this lack of data, several professional organizations have recommended vaccination of patients with cancer, with guidelines encompassing all cancer patient populations, irrespective of treatment type, adds the team.

What did the researchers do?

As mass vaccination of high-risk populations was launched in Israel from January 10th, 2021, the researchers enrolled and followed up vaccinated cancer patients during their routine visits to the Division of Oncology of Rambam Health Care Campus between January 15th and March 14th, 2021.

The study cohort included 232 patients with solid tumors who were receiving active treatment following a first or second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine and 261 age-matched healthcare workers who served as controls.

Serum samples were collected after each vaccine dose and questionnaires were administered regarding sociodemographic factors and adverse reactions.

A regulatory agency-approved assay was used to assess anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in samples collected before the second dose (more than 10 days after the first dose) and in samples collected 14 days after the second dose.

What did the study find?

Of the 232 patients receiving cancer treatment, 132 were men (57%) and the mean age was 66 years (age range 25 to 88).

Of the 261 control participants, 118 were men (45%) and the mean age was 59 years (age range 25 to 81).

Most of the patients (74%) had metastatic disease and the most common cancers were gastrointestinal (27%), genitourinary (21%), lung (19%), and breast (18%).

The treatment protocols being followed were chemotherapy among 58%, biological agents (35%), and immunotherapy (36%), with some patients receiving more than one treatment type.

After the first vaccine dose, 29% of the cancer patients were seropositive, compared with 84% of the controls.

However, seroconversion occurred at higher rates in the cancer cohort following the second dose, with the seropositivity rate reaching 86%.

The adverse events reported by cancer patients were similar to those previously reported by healthy individuals.

What did the authors conclude?

The team says that the BNT162b2 vaccine appears to be safe, with satisfactory levels of seropositivity in patients undergoing treatment for cancer, although protection may occur later, compared with healthy individuals.

The researchers also say the results imply that a potential intention to decline a second vaccine by some jurisdictions owing to a shortage of vaccines warrants reevaluation of unique populations, such as patients with cancer, in view of lagging immunogenicity.
A new report published in the journal Science Translational Medicine estimates that potentially 16.8 million Americans were infected but not officially diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by July 2020. In addition, the results suggest there were nearly five undetected coronavirus cases for every diagnosed coronavirus infection in the first six months of the pandemic.

Younger people had the most undiagnosed coronavirus infections, likely because coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is less severe compared to older adults. Based on the results, researchers from the National Institute of Health (NIH) suggest coronavirus infections were more widespread than previously indicated by diagnostic testing eluding to more infection-induced immunity than what was previously thought.

The team writes:

These data are of great importance as we consider the impact vaccination may have on the future course of the pandemic and plan for current and future available vaccines to be administered. In addition, these data can also help us to better assess the public health measures taken during the pandemic and how to take the best approaches forward during any future public health emergencies.

Blood sample collection

To determine the total number of people infected in the population, the researchers collected blood samples from people across the United States, advertised online through the NIH. Recruitment occurred from April 1, 2020, to August 4, 2020.

About 8,058 adults who had been undiagnosed with COVID-19 donated their blood and filled out a clinical questionnaire for the study. Researchers then analyzed the number of antibodies specific for SARS-CoV-2 in the blood serum.

While participant sampling was representative of the U.S. population, the team did acknowledge that their sample population skewed toward people who were more highly educated, had higher employment rates, and had better healthcare access than the general U.S. population.

Seropositivity in undiagnosed American adults

About 304 study participants were seropositive, making up 4.6% of undiagnosed adults with SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S. population. They estimated that for every diagnosed COVID-19 infection, there were 4.8 more cases left undiagnosed.

Among seropositive participants, 36.51% were IgG+, IgM+, IgA+ , 28.29% were IgG+ IgM IgA+, 17.11% were IgG+, IgM, IgA, 13.16% were IgG+ IgM+ IgA, 4.28% were IgG IgM+ IgA , and 0.66% were IgG, IgM+ IgA+, wrote the team.

The regional area appeared to influence seropositivity rates. Participants from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions showed the highest rates of seropositivity. In contrast, the Midwest had the lowest seropositivity rate.

Urban areas had higher seropositivity at 5.3% than rural areas with a 1.1% seropositivity rate.

People who were 18 to 44 years had the highest seropositivity at 5.9%, with females being higher than males.

Seropositivity in undiagnosed adults was the highest among African Americans at 14.2%. Asian adults had the lowest seropositivity rate.

Other factors associated with low seropositivity rate included those who worked from home, had a previous vaccination for influenza or pneumonia, and health conditions that can worsen COVID-19 infection, such as heart disease, diabetes, and skin cancer.

On the other hand, participants who reported that they were previously exposed to someone with SARS-CoV-2 tended to have higher seropositivity.

As of July 2020, an estimated 4.79 COVID-19 infections were left undiagnosed for every identified COVID-19 case.

With the rapid SARS-CoV-2 transmission in mind, the researchers suggest this leads to about 16.8 million undiagnosed adults by July 2020. The official count in July 2020 was 3.5 million COVID-19 cases in the United States.

The research team concludes that the U.S. may have had more people with temporary immunity after recovering from natural infection than previously predicted. However, more long-term studies on immunity in the U.S. population are needed to fully understand how long immunity from natural infection lasts compared to the vaccine, how infection-induced immunity affects the vaccine response, and whether herd immunity is feasible in controlling SARS-CoV-2.

Study limitations

Selection bias is a concern as participants volunteered rather than being randomly selected for the study. This calls into question whether the study cohort was representative of the general U.S. population.

In this study, participants were more likely to be well-educated and have access to healthcare. Future studies with larger samples sizes would help in making more detailed and potentially more accurate estimates.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
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(Newser)  Thousands of Cubans protested in the streets Sunday in what the New York Times calls an "astonishing" display of dissent in the repressive country. The demonstrations were Cuba's largest in nearly three decades, as anti-government protesters railed against food and medicine shortages and high prices against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AP reports. "Our children are dying of hunger!" shouts one woman in a video clip circulating. Another one shows protesters overturning a police car.

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Police broke up a demonstration in the capital city of Havana after protesters started throwing rocks. At least 20 marchers were taken away by police at that point. The pandemic has heightened the economic crisis in Cuba as tourism dollars stopped coming in. Many have been unable to work due to months-long lockdowns, and it often takes hours in line to purchase basic food items. Celebrities were supporting protesters with the hashtag #SOSCuba on social media, and an official in the Biden administration tweeted support. (Read more Cuba stories.)
(Newser)  The head of Haiti's national police announced Sunday that officers arrested a Haitian man accused of flying into the country on a private jet and working with the masterminds and alleged assassins behind the killing of President Jovenel Moise. Police Chief Leon Charles identified the suspect as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, the AP reports. Sanon, a Haitian in his 60s living in Florida who identifies himself as a doctor, has accused the leaders of his homeland of corruption, per another AP story. Charles said Sanon was in contact with a firm that provides security for politicians and recruited the suspects in the killing. He said Sanon flew into Haiti on a private jet accompanied by several of the alleged gunmen, and that the alleged killers were protecting Sanon as the supposed president of Haiti.

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The gunmens initial mission was to protect Sanon, but they later received a new order: arrest the president, Charles said. The operation started from there, he said, adding that an additional 22 suspects joined the group and that contact was made with Haitian citizens. A total of 26 Colombians are suspected in the killing of the president. Eighteen of them have been arrested, along with three Haitians. Charles said five of the suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed. Charles said that after Moise was killed, one of the suspects phoned Sanon, who then got in touch with two people believed to be the intellectual authors of the plot. He did not identify the masterminds or say if police knew who they are.

(Read more Haiti stories.)
(Newser)  That prosecutors used DNA evidence to convict a criminal isn't too surprising. But in this casea firstthe DNA came from a tree, reports the Seattle Times. A jury in Tacoma, Wash., convicted 39-year-old Justin Wilke last week of illegal tree harvesting in Olympic National Forest, per the Kitsap Sun. A forest fire that prosecutors say he started also doomed him. Authorities say that Wilke and a small crew would go into the forest looking for figured maple, which is particularly valuable because it's used to make musical instruments. They would cut down maple treesillegal in a national forestthen sell them to a local mill with paperwork forged to say the wood came from private land, say prosecutors. In August 2018, however, they say Wilke tried to remove a wasp nest from the base of one such tree by burning it off.

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That started a massive fire, known as the Maple Fire, that burned more than 3,000 acres, prosecutors say in court documents cited by the Washington Post. While investigating the fire, investigators spotted the stumps of illegally cut trees, then used DNA from the stumps to identify timber illegally sold by Wilke. "The DNA analysis was so precise that it found the probability of the match being coincidental was approximately one in one undecillion (one followed by 36 zeros)," prosecutors said. It's the first time tree DNA has been used in a federal criminal trial. A fellow tree thief pleaded guilty and received a 30-month sentence. Wilke opted for a trial and now faces up to 10 years at his October sentencing. He was convicted of theft of public property and trafficking in unlawfully harvested timber, though the jury didn't convict him on charges of actually starting the forest fire. (Read more DNA evidence stories.)
(Newser)  For nearly three years, Army Gen. Austin "Scott" Miller has been in command of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, which NBC News reports is longer than anyone else in that role. Now, Miller is set to step down from his post on Monday, in what NBC and other outlets call a "symbolic end" to the 20-year involvement of the US military in that region. Miller will officially hand off command of US Forces Afghanistan in a military ceremony to Marine Gen. Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie, who helms US Central Command and who will oversee the remainder of the operation from CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Fla., per the Washington Post. About 650 US troops will remain in Kabul to protect the US Embassy there, while a few hundred more will assist with security at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

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Most of the other 2,500 to 3,500 troops that had been stationed in Afghanistan left the country by the start of this month, ahead of President Biden's original plan to see a complete withdrawal by Sept. 11. The formal end to the military mission there is Aug. 31. Both the Post and Reuters note that as the larger-scale operation in Afghanistan wraps up, Taliban insurgents are making moves to overthrow the country's government. Last week, the Taliban claimed it now has control over 85% of the nation, though that hasn't been confirmed. Reuters notes about 2,400 US troops have died over the span of the war, America's longest. As for Miller, 60, defense officials say he'll likely retire. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  Last month, Brayden Morton put up a frantic message on Facebook. "Please share and help me," he pleaded in a June 18 post. "A blue older model Ford truck just pulled up behind my house and took Darla." Darla is Morton's 3-year-old Chinese shar-pei, and she was stolen right from his gated backyard as he was working in his home office in Cranbrook, British Columbia. The story has a happy ending in more ways than one, for Morton, Darla, and hopefully the young woman who stole his dog. "I immediately started running after them," Morton, 35, tells the Washington Post of the day he watched the truck speed away with Darla. Morton contacted the police and posted on social media about Darla's abduction and a reward, noting, "It honestly felt like my world had just come crashing down on me." Two days after his Facebook post, he received a call, a crying young woman on the other endand she had Darla. Morton agreed to meet up with her at a local gas station to get his dog.

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Morton, a recovering drug addict who now runs the Find the Right Rehab service, sensed the "bawling" woman across from him had addiction issues, and they started swapping stories. She said she'd been homeless for years and relying on sex work to survive, and that she and two others had stolen Darla, planning to sell her for the cashthat is, until the woman saw Morton's Facebook post and told him "she couldn't live with herself" if she didn't return the dog. Instead of turning the woman over to police or handing over the $6,000 or so in reward money"I know if I give you this money, I'm going to hear about you dead in the next day or two," he told herMorton used the funds to partially pay for her stay in a 90-day residential rehab program, with the rest of the money hopefully to come from donations and government funding. "Hopefully it sends the message as people we need to be there for each other," Morton said in a follow-up Facebook post, per Upworthy. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
(Newser)  Pfizer says it plans to meet with top US health officials Monday to discuss the drugmakers request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, per the AP. The company said it was scheduled to have the meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and other officials Monday, days after Pfizer asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months. Pfizers Dr. Mikael Dolsten said last week that early data from the companys booster study suggests peoples antibody levels jump five- to 10-fold after a third dose, compared to their second dose months earlierevidence it believes supports the need for a booster. On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci didn't rule out the possibility but said it was too soon for the government to recommend another shot.

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Fauci said the CDC and the FDA did the right thing last week by pushing back against Pfizer's assertion with their statement that they did not view booster shots as necessary at this time. Fauci said clinical studies and laboratory data have yet to fully bear out the need for a booster to the current two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson regimen. Right now, given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot, he said. That doesnt mean we stop there. ... There are studies being done now ongoing as we speak about looking at the feasibility about if and when we should be boosting people. Israel, meanwhile, is offering Pfizer booster shots to people with weakened immune systems, per the Guardian.

(Read more Pfizer stories.)
(Newser)  Police say a gang dispute resulted in a fatal shooting in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon, with the victim's age causing double-takes. Jaryan Elliot was only 13, reports WABC-TV. NYPD Chief Rodney Harrison tweeted that Jaryan was the "intended target." Police and witnesses say a gunman emerged from a car about 3pm and shot Jaryan multiple times as he stood outside Angels Cafe. The boy stumbled into the cafe but could not be saved, reports the Daily News. "He was just a baby!" a cafe employee tells the newspaper. Police have not arrested any suspects or shed light on a motive beyond saying it was "gang-related." City Councilman Oswald Feliz, who represents the neighborhood where the shooting took place, tweeted that "we cannot and will not continue to lose our children."

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The NYPD had logged 765 shootings in the city as of June 13, up from 555 at this time last year, reports the New York Times. Democratic nominee for New York mayor Eric Adams, who made public safety the linchpin of his campaign, will meet with President Biden at the White House on Monday to discuss ways of curbing gun violence, per the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, a vigil with candles and handwritten messages went up about the building where Jaryan lived. A 20-year-old who knew him said he had spoken with Jaryan shortly before the shooting. "I told him, 'Be safe,'" he recounts to the Times. (Read more Bronx stories.)
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(Newser)  Last Friday, the Dutch prime minister waved away criticism that easing pandemic restrictions in the Netherlands was a bad idea. On Monday, he apologized. Mark Rutte, the PM, and Hugo de Jong, the health minister, insisted last week that relaxing coronavirus at the end of June was the right call. Then cases started to rise, Politico reports. Lockdowns were lifted June 26, and once Dutch bars and restaurants reopened, cases jumped astronomically, from 1,000 in a week in late June to 7,000 in a single day last week, Reuters reports.

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"Partly because of the Delta variant, infections are rising very fast," Rutte said. He explained that with the information he had from experts at the time, relaxing restrictions looked possible. We made an error of judgment there, we regret that, and apologize for that." He also apologized for the tone and content of the Friday press conference, Netherlands News Live reports. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
(Newser)  The Florida resident accused of orchestrating the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenal Moise intended to install himself as leader, police suggested Sunday. Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, "arrived by private plane in June with political objectives" and recruited the alleged assassins through a private security firm, said Leon Charles, Haiti's national police chief, in announcing Sanon's arrest. Sanon, who was born in Haiti but has been based in Florida for around 20 years, appears to have long sought to lead the country, the New York Times reports. In a 2011 "Dr. Christian SanonLeadership for Haiti" video on YouTube, he accused the country's leaders of plundering its resources. "We need new leadership that will change the way of life, he said.

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A now-defunct "Haiti Lives Matter" website described Sanon as part of a team "chosen to lead Haiti" and listed members of his "transitional government," including academics and a member of the country's United Nations delegation, reports the Washington Post. One person named on the site told the Post they had never heard of Sanon and don't know why their name was listed. "The whole thing is stupid. Youre not going to become president like this," the person said, adding that they hadn't lived in the country for years and have "zero intention of going to Haiti. Especially with my name now on a website." Police say that after Moise was killed, one of the suspects contacted Sanon, who then contacted two people police describe as "intellectual authors" of the assassination, the AP reports. (Read more Haiti stories.)
(Newser)  "Jared Drake Bell is a pedophile and that is his legacy," a woman who said the Nickelodeon had groomed her since she was 12 told a sentencing hearing in Ohio Monday. Bell, who pleaded guilty last month to attempted child endangerment and disseminating material harmful to juveniles, could have faced prison time, but the court sentenced him to a year of probation, CNN reports. He was also ordered to serve 200 hours of community service and to have no contact with the victim, who is now 19, reports NBC. The 35-year-old Drake & Josh star will not be required to register as a sex offender.

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The woman said she had exchanged texts of a sexual nature with Bell after meeting him online. She attended one of his concerts when she was 15. "The pain that the defendant has caused me is indescribable, and it worsens every day, the woman told the court Monday, per NBC. Being used by somebody who meant the world to me has left me feeling more hurt than I have ever been before." She also accused Bell of sexually assaulting her on two occasions, though Bell's attorney told the court those allegations "not only lack supporting evidence but are contradicted by the facts learned through extensive investigation." The actor apologized and admitted his conduct was "wrong." "I'm sorry that the victim was harmed in any way but that was obviously not my intention," he said. (Read more Drake Bell stories.)
(Newser)  Londre Sylvester had just received an electronic monitor and was walking from the Cook County Jail when two vehicles pulled up. Several men got out and opened fire, striking Sylvester 64 times, Chicago police said. The gunmen then drove away in different directions, WMAQ reports. Sylvester, 31, was pronounced dead at a hospital. Two other people were wounded in the Saturday night shooting: a woman, 60, who was hospitalized after being shot in the knee, and a woman in her 30s whose mouth was grazed by a bullet.

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Police said Sylvester appeared to be the target, per the Chicago Tribune. Sylvester, who police said went by "KTS Dre" as a local rapper, had been held since July 1 on a reported bond violation involving a felony gun case last year. On Friday, he posted $5,000 bail. Police said that they found 59 shell casings in the area and that there are surveillance cameras in the area. Police counted 64 shots that hit Sylvester, in the head and elsewhere, but added that an autopsy will be conducted. (Read more shooting stories.)
(Newser)  Unable to block the measures with their votes, Democratic legislators are leaving Texas rather than see new election laws passed. "Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans' freedom to vote," they said Monday in a statement. Enough lawmakers were leaving Monday afternoon to prevent a quorum, the Texas Tribune reports, most of them on their way to an airport to board one of two planes bound for Washington, DC. They planned to press Democratic members of Congress to approve legislation protecting voting rights. Their statement said they're calling on Congress to approve two bills "to protect Texansand all Americansfrom the Trump Republicans nationwide war on democracy," per Politico.

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The Republican House speaker in Austin did not say specifically how the party would respond to the Democrats' absence, though he promised to use "every available resource under the Texas Constitution and the unanimously-passed House rules to secure a quorum." The rules allow the speaker to order the chamber's doors to be locked and the sergeant-at-arms to go after members who've left. But neither happened earlier this year, when Democrats walked out for the same reason. Barring a breakthrough, the Democrats will have to stay gone for weeks to miss the special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott. Vice President Kamala Harris praised the Democrats on Monday, citing their "extraordinary courage and commitment." Before leaving, the party's House members stressed the urgency to Congress. "We are living on borrowed time in Texas," their statement said. (Read more voting rights stories.)
Dark blue is the color of ribbon traditionally associated with colon cancer awareness. Alaska Natives have one the highest recorded incidences of colorectal cancer in the world. Among Alaska Natives, precancerous polyps start developing earlier and are more common than in the non-Native population. Metro Creative
Now on display, this watercolor by Point Hope artist Ken Lisbourne shows the spirit of cooperation and the roles of different family members during the bowhead whale harvest. The Inupiaq have hunted the bowhead for thousands of years and continue to today.
The 116-year-old Ballaine House in Seward home to Frank Ballaine, brother of the founder of Seward, John Ballaine. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Incoming students and their parents glance up at the Gruening Building while taking a tour of campus during the UAF New Admit Day for incoming students Friday morning, June 14 2019.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks with the media outside the Westmark Hotel after meeting Thursday, June 10, with the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of Kevin Goodman, Office of the Governor
Gerrit Butler is taking on a new role with the Fairbanks Police Department. In June, he joined the Investigations Unit as acting detective.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Generally cloudy. High 73F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrains foreign policy is based on several basic pillars such as laying the foundations for regional and global peace, security and stability, and strengthening the protection of human rights.

It is also committed to achieving sustainable development goals, as well as providing comprehensive protection for the environment.

This was emphasised by Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani during yesterdays media briefing organised by the National Contact Centre in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A number of columnists and opinion writers attended the event, along with Dr Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, and Yousef Al Binkhalil, CEO of National Contact Centre, Tawfiq Ahmed Al Mansour, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Consular and Administrative Affairs, and a number of editors-in-chief of local newspapers.

Minister Al Zayani delivered a speech in which he affirmed that the Kingdom adopts a moderate and balanced foreign diplomatic policy that takes into account the strategic interests of the country and ensures the achievement of security, stability and prosperity in the region.

He noted that this policy is based on Kingdoms objectives to preserve Bahrains leading position as a partner in peace and progress under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and with the continuous follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

One of the most important grounds on which Bahrains foreign policy is based is adherence to and respect for state laws and international treaties and charters, building friendly relations that serve common interests with other countries, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and resolving disputes by peaceful means, in addition to ensuring that everyone enjoys security and stability, Dr Al Zayani emphasised.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani spoke about the importance of the agreement and joint action to achieve and consolidate peace in the region.

He pointed out that the desired peace in the Middle East is based on a number of pillars, foremost of which is the solution of the Palestinian issue.

Bahrain stands firm on this issue as it calls to solve it in accordance with the principle of the two-state solution, the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

Dr Al Zayani affirmed Bahrains position on addressing the danger of the Iranian nuclear programme.

Bahrain wants a safe region in which peace and stability are achieved and where everyone of different races and creeds coexist, in

Bahrain's position in this regard is also consistent, stressing that the statement of Al-Ula Summit includes a number of obligations, including the protection of a countrys sovereignty and their full stand in the face of everything that violates national and regional security.

It also include intensifying media coordination, and holding bilateral meetings to deal with the causes that led to the crisis between Qatar and other countries in the region.

Minister Al Zayani noted that Bahrain sent two invitations to Qatar to meet for talks and settle disputes, but it did not respond.

He also stressed that the Kingdom continues to promote human rights protection in implementation of the royal directives.

His Excellency pointed out that the Council of Ministers had recently approved the signing of a declaration of intent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bahrain to provide technical support in the preparation for the National Human Rights Plan, which aims to enhance capacity-building and national expertise in the field of human rights.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Lower Criminal Court sentenced a Bahraini man to two years in prison for insulting the judicial authority on social media platforms.

The Public Prosecution revealed earlier that it had received an official request from the judicial authority to criminally investigate the defendant after he published a video on social media and it included insults against the judicial authority. As a result, he was summoned up and was questioned.

The accused admitted to sharing the video but denied he intended to insult the judicial authority. He said that his aim was to raise awareness of cases published in newspapers. The defendant had been accustomed to inappropriately comments on verdicts issued by courts. He published videos on his social media accounts that included insults said inside courtrooms.

He also deliberately hurled false accusations against the authority, the Public Prosecution said in their closing argument.
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NEWTOWN - Elected leaders unanimously approved a three-year tax break package to encourage an Ohio-based distributor of automotive, electrical, and chemical supplies to establish its northeast headquarters in the former Hubbell factory off Route 25.

The company, Kimball Midwest, has already bought the 40-acre factory closed by Hubbell for $4.4 million, and plans to invest an as much as $2 million more on repairs and improvements.

Of the 30 new jobs the distribution center would bring, most positions would be filled locally, a company executive told leaders last week.

This is a big win for Newtown, said Wes Thompson, chair of Newtowns Economic Development Commission. This is a really good company with a lot of integrity.

It was Thompson and the EDCs support for Kimball and its tax break request that started the public process in mid-June, when Thompson likened the company to the Amazon of the industrial business sector.

The company, whose customers include the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, stocks 50,000 products in four warehouses. Newtown would be its fifth.

During a joint meeting of Newtowns Board of Selectmen and Legislative Council last week to vote on the business incentive, Thompson told elected leaders that Kimball made key contributions in the towns where its other warehouses are located.

In response elected leaders on both boards unanimously approved a 30-percent break on Kimballs real estate taxes, to be applied after the companys investments, which would save the company an estimated total of $16,000 over three years.

It marks the second time since March that Newtown has given a tax break to an out-of-state family-owned company to redevelop an abandoned industrial site.

In March, Vermont-based RV dealer Country Camper received a seven-year tax break to convert the former 23-acre Georgia-Pacific distribution center on South Main Street into a $7 million showroom and service center.

The latest tax break deal comes at the same time that Newtown is negotiating in private with a commercial developer over a 14-acre parcel of town-own property off Interstate 84s Exit 10. The town says it would be suitable as a corporate headquarters, a research and development facility, or a campus of buildings.

Plans by Kimball to retrofit the 140,000-square-foot industrial facility off Route 25 that Hubbell closed in 2019 are less extensive than Country Campers plans for the Georgia-Pacific site, said George Benson, Newtowns planning director.

Kimballs plans include an environmental cleanup, parking lot improvements and repaving, interior demolition, roof repair and interior renovations to create warehouse and office space.

Brendan McCurdy, associate director of purchasing for Kimball, said during the joint meeting of Newtown leaders last week that the company expected to be operating out of the building sometime next year - either late in the first quarter or early second quarter.

McCurdy was not immediately available on Monday to clarify.

There is never complete certainty until a company moves in, but we have a high confidence level that they like Newtown, Thompson said. We are a very welcoming town and they got the message that we are a good town to work with.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
Federal guidance stating vaccinated students and staff dont need to wear masks in schools hasnt clarified what local districts will do.

School districts in the Danbury area are waiting for the states recommendations on indoor mask-wearing in the fall.

Well make our informed decision based on that, said Lorrie Rodrigue, superintendent in Newtown, where the education board voted last month to require masks for unvaccinated adults who work with students and to ask unvaccinated volunteers to wear a mask when working with kids.

The state postponed a Tuesday morning meeting on school health and safety to July 20 to review the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a message sent to districts.

The guidance released Friday states unvaccinated educators and students who are not eligible for the vaccine should wear masks, in addition to emphasizing in-person learning as a priority. Mask are seen as an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Following and enforcing those recommendations may be challenging, educators and parents said.

I dont see that would be feasible in a school environment, said Sarah Amaral, a Brookfield parent with with 12- and 15-year-old sons.

She questioned how schools would identify unvaccinated students and the effect it would have on them.

Would they have to wear a wrist band? said Amaral, one of about 150 Brookfield parents who are part Unmask Our Kids CT, a coalition of families who have called for an end to mask mandates in schools.

Masks are required indoors during summer school under the governors executive order, which expires July 20. The governor has asked for his emergency powers to be extended until Sept. 30.

Therefore, at this time, the district continues to await the state's mandates, recommendations, and guidance before making any adjustments or updates to school opening plans, Brookfield Superintendent John Barile said in an email.

Superintendents in Bethel, New Fairfield, Ridgefield and Easton-Redding-Region 9 are taking a similar approach.

At this point, we plan to begin the year with masks until we receive additional guidance, New Fairfield Superintendent Pat Cosentino said in an email.

Newtown does not plan to ask families and staff about their vaccination status, although they are encouraged to volunteer that information, Rodrigue said.

Bethel Superintendent Christine Carver said she plans to remind families that its not too late for their children to get vaccinated before school starts. Families are urged to volunteer their students vaccination status.

It helps (to) know whether in contact tracing, mask wearing, she said. Theres a lot of good reasons itd be good for the school to know that.

About 300 to 400 Bethel students were vaccinated through clinics organized through the schools, but other children were likely vaccinated elsewhere, she said. Carver expects nearly all employees are vaccianted.

Opposition to masks

Sara Coffey has delayed re-registering her incoming first-and-second-grade children in Brookfield schools until she knows whether masks will be required.

She noted research has shown that in-school transmission of the virus is rare and that most children have milder symptoms than adults.

Were at such a different place this year than we were last year, she said.

Jenna Schettino, a Brookfield mother of two daughters, argued parents should decide whether to mask their children. As a middle school social studies teacher in New York, she said its harder to read masked students emotions and facial expressions.

It has definitely hindered the personal connections we have with students, she said.

Masks may affect students, largely younger children, educationally, Carver said. For example, younger students learning letters and sounds cant look at their teachers mouth, she said.

Its difficult to hear people, she said. It also prevents people from talking because its so much of an effort to speak because you have to raise your voice. I definitely think it does have an impact instructutionally. It makes collaboration more difficult.

Masks are uncomfortable for students, especially in the heat, Schettino said. After a bus ride in 90-degree weather, her 7-year-old daughter described feel like she were drowning, she said.

Amaral said her 12-year-old son had headaches because of his mask. In the spring, pollen would stick to the mask, aggravating his allergies.

He was afraid to say anything because hed be labeled as a possible COVID (patient) and hed be sent home, forced to take a test, so hed suffer through it, she said.

Coffey said her 7-year-old son got headaches, too, and her 6-year-old daughter didnt like masks either.

It was pretty bad this year, she said. There were breakdowns before school. (They said) I dont want to go to school. I dont want to wear a mask. I cant breathe in this mask.

Angela Caes, a Redding mother of two elementary-aged students, said shes putting her trust in the school district.

I trust science and the guidance of the CDC and our team in Redding, she said. I think the schools did a very good job of keeping my children safe so I look to them to continue that.

Caes has talked to her children  ages 5 and 9  and found the most important thing is for them to be in school.

My happy little children just want to go back to school, she said.

If I were to ask my daughter if she would like to learn virtually or wear a mask, I can tell you every time she would say, No problem Ill deal with it [ wearing a mask], she added.

Shayla Colon contributed to this report.
DANBURY  Jake Windas parents were naval aviators. His mom flew helicopters, while his dad flew fighter jets.

I kind of had that in my blood, said Windas, who will be a senior at Immaculate High School next year.

But he was unfamiliar with a compass rose  a navigational tool pilots have historically used  until his adviser on his Eagle Scout project told him about a scout who had painted one at a California airport.

Windas jumped on the idea for his Eagle Scout project, leading an effort to paint a compass rose at Danbury Municipal Airport.

The compass rose at the Danbury airport had faded seven to nine years ago, and Mike Safranek, the airport administrator, had wanted to paint a new one. He was thrilled when Windas contacted him.

I thought this was the greatest thing, he said. It was like the meeting of the minds.

Historically, pilots used these compasses on the ground to calibrate the devices in their aircrafts.

But due to the technology of our era, its not as useful anymore, Windas said. Its really just a symbol.

Windas compass rose is not certified because it could not meet the litany of federal requirements, Safranek said.

There are metal materials and high-voltage wires under the ground that would throw off the accuracy of the compass, he said.

Its pretty darn close, but it cant be certified because of all the metal structures in the ground, Safranek said.

Still, the compass was painted in the tower tie-down south section of the airport, which is the perfect place for it, he said.

Its a ceremonial compass rose, which is just as good, he said. It looks absolutely beautiful.

The compass rose is 60 feet in diameter and 30 feet in radius, Windas said. It has 12 points every 30 degrees. This includes the four cardinal points  north, east, south and west.

Windas went above and beyond on the compass, Safranek said. The scout put 92 hours into the project and needed to seek Danbury City Councils approval for it.

Various local businesses donated supplies, while about 20 to 30 friends, family and other scouts helped paint the rose on a Saturday in April.

Among those who helped were members of the Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots. This organization volunteers to paint compass roses and other identifications on airports, according to its website.

The paint is meant to withstand the weather and should last for several years, Windas said.

When it was done, it looked very good, he said.

Windas needs to pass a final review Monday night to become an official Eagle Scout.

Basically from the beginning, I wanted to be an Eagle Scout, said Windas, who is in Troop 52 and was in Cub and Boy Scouts for about 10 years. For me, it was either go huge or go home, all the way or nothing. That excitement spurred me on.

After high school, he looks to join the U.S. Naval Academy or U.S. Airforce Academy and hopes to fly there.

If I dont and Im maybe free one day and have some time, Ill probably get the license anyway, he said.
RIDGEFIELD  A music festival honoring Danbury-born composer Charles Ives is coming to town for its first full summer of programming since before the pandemic.

The Charles Ives Music Festival forges educational opportunities with world-class concert experiences to provide two weeks of music, artistic exploration and activities.

The program, which launched in late 2019, is based out of the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra and run by local composer Paul Frucht. As its artistic director, Frucht envisioned a high-level chamber music program that would benefit students of all ages.

The core element of the program is to bring in phenomenal young performing artists that hold principals in major orchestras ... and have them work with students for a week, he said. We have the artists embedded directly into the group, playing with the students, which is a great way for them to learn.

CIMF offers educational programs for youth and adult musicians. The first gives students a chance to perform with faculty artists in chamber music groups and the CIMF Orchestra, while the second is a chamber-centric program for adults.

CIMF is geared toward improving students musicianship and (giving) them an orchestral experience, but its also a social program, Frucht said. The energy is really special.

This summer, roughly 70 area musicians are participating in the educational programs, which will be held at First Congregational Church in Ridgefield.

Recent Ridgefield High School graduate Dmitri Volkov is one of seven student composers in the youth program. And although hes been playing the violin since he was 5, CIMF was the first place he was able to try his hand at composing.

The faculty artists, he explained, Give you feedback on different aspects of the playability of (a) piece and how it works on (an) instrument. I dont play cello or harp, and theres no better way to learn how to compose for the instruments than working directly with those who do play them.

Volkov is working on a piece that will be performed by faculty artists at CIMFs concert on Aug. 6.

These people have incredible musicality  theyre the best of the best  and to get your piece performed by them is already a rare enough circumstance, he said. Its really unrivaled in my experience.

The title of the concert series, The Promise of Living, recognizes a movement from Aaron Coplands The Tender Land. The opera takes place on a Depression-era farm in the Midwest and follows a multi-generational family searching for hope and meaning amid challenging circumstances.

Today, this story feels as timeless and relevant as ever, Frucht said. Ideally, art challenges people to think more deeply about themselves and the world around them, to help them find meaning in life, and perhaps hope. (Our) series of concerts (is) about (the) various aspects of life that make it worth living.

Frucht also noted the significance of the festivals namesake and how Ives deviated from the traditions of his peers to create compositions audiences had never heard before.

At the time many American composers were writing in a style meant to invoke or imitate what people were doing in Europe, he said. Ives took folk music that he heard in his community  in Danbury, Redding and Ridgefield  and put it directly into his music. Its for and about the community itself.

The series includes five live concerts focusing on the work of American composers and kicks off at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum on July 31.

For the complete schedule and ticket information, visit charlesivesmusicfestival.org

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP)  Robert Fox and his new friend, Stephanie, both share a love of music, amusement parks and animals.

The two have become pen pals and written letters to each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fox, an 87-year-old Army veteran and a resident of TerraBella assisted living in Spartanburg, and Stephanie, 15, have shared stories with each other.

Stephanie recently asked Fox about his first love. In her letter she asked, please share a story about your first love.

I told her about my wife, Fox said. She was 15, and I was 17 and already in the Army by then. I told her about what life in the military with a wife and three young boys was like. We lived in Hawaii and Italy, but I was stationed other places like Japan and Korea, places she couldnt go. Having to leave my family was hard because I worried about them, but it was what I had to do then.

Fox said it was important for the residents of TerraBella to receive letters from pen pals during the pandemic because the assisted-living facility wasnt allowed to have visitors. Many assisted-living residents felt isolated and alone when their families and friends werent allowed to visit.

Fox said he remembers serving as a mail clerk in the Army during the Korean War and seeing the disappointment in the soldiers faces when they didnt receive letters from home. Fox wrote a friend in his hometown of Inman and asked if he could encourage people to become pen pals to soldiers in Korea.

His friend, Jim Everhart, later sent him an excerpt from the Inman Times, with a small advertisement he ran in the newspaper asking locals to become pen pals with soldiers.

Home Instead Senior Care helped to organize the current letter-writing campaign. The Spartanburg company provides personal care, companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and other services to seniors.

And for Audrey Martin, director of Community Relations for Home Instead, this included doing its part to help decrease that loneliness that so many local seniors have felt during the pandemic.

So far in Canada and US over 7,000 pen pal letters have been delivered to seniors, Martin said. Different franchises can opt in to distribute the letters to the community. Thats where Home Instead came in. We delivered over 100 letters to seniors in the Spartanburg community.

HOW DO YOU BECOME A PENPAL WITH A SENIOR?

Becoming a pen pal is simple. Members of the community can submit letters, photos or video messages at readytocare.com/penpals to create a meaningful connection with a senior. They can also nominate a senior to receive a letter  or even request a letter themselves  by contacting info@readytocare.com.

Home Instead will handle everything else, from vetting to delivery. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to involve children in the letter-writing experience as well.

TerraBella resident Peggy Henthorn, 87, received her first letter about a month ago from a young girl named Allie from Arkansas. Allie included a photo of herself in the letter asked how Henthorn was handling the pandemic.

Henthorn hopes to write back to Allie soon, but shes still recovering from the aftereffects of having COVID-19 a few months ago.

She says the months of not having any visitors was difficult for the residents, but the staff did what they could to make things better for them, such as planning weekly events and activities for the residents to enjoy.

I enjoyed getting this letter from Allie and hope to write back to her soon, Henthorn said.

Brooke Hargett, director of Health and Wellness at TerraBella, says the residents are elated when they receive a letter from someone and are especially intrigued when the letters come from different parts of the country.

It has definitely boosted morale, Hargett said. One of our favorite letters was from a single mother of a toddler. How they were home along and isolated during the pandemic. Two completely different generations and circumstances, but our resident really identified with her. With the isolation, not being able to go anywhere. Just feeling alone in so many ways.
For the past several months, Twitter has been in a prolonged face-off with the Indian government over its new amendments in the IT rules. The company has been under immense criticism from the Centre over its alleged failure to comply with the new IT rules in India.

After months of to and fro, Twitter on Sunday appointed a local grievance Officer of India and published a transparency report which is mandatory for all social media sites according to the new Information Technology (IT) laws of the country.

This move comes after the Delhi High Court on Thursday, 8 July, refused to allow any interim protection to the micro-blogging site and allowed the centre to act against any violation of the new IT rules. For the past several months, Twitter has been in a prolonged face-off with the Indian government over its new amendments in the IT rules. The company has been under immense criticism from the Centre over its alleged failure to comply with the new IT rules in India.

Twitter has now appointed Vinay Prakash as its Resident Grievance Officer for India and the announcement was made through the official website. The micro-blogging site has also produced its first compliance report, titled India Transparency Report.

The transparency report provided information on its proactive monitoring efforts for the period of May 26 to June 25 and the company said that it has removed 133 URLs over several content complaints, which includes abuse and harassment (36 URLs), defamation (87), impersonation (1), misinformation/synthetic or manipulative media (1) and privacy infringement (6). However, the company has yet not taken any action on complaints around sensitive adult content.

In addition to the above data, we processed 56 grievances which were appealing Twitter account suspensions. These were all resolved, and the appropriate responses were sent. We overturned seven of the account suspensions based on the specifics of the situation, but the other accounts remain suspended, it said, without giving specific details. The redressal report also said to have suspended 18,385 accounts for child sexual exploitation and 4,179 accounts for terrorism-related activities globally.

Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital ethics Code) rules 2021 was recently enforced in India which regulates the functioning of new media portals, publishers and OTT platforms. According to new IT rules, social media and streaming platforms will be required to take down disputable content and appoint grievance redressal officers based in the country to deal with online content picked out by authorities and courts and assist in the investigation.
China is making significant attempts to make inroads into South Asian dominance and the latest one is the Chinese attempt of establishing China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center.

Political and geopolitics observers are of that opinion that the Beijing-led poverty alleviation Centre is part of Chinese attempts to expand its influence and countervail New Delhis influence in Nepal. China is making significant attempts to make inroads into South Asian dominance and the latest one is the Chinese attempt of establishing China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center in Chongqing City on Thursday.

Of the eight members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), five have joined hands with the Beijing-led initiative making its counterparts India, Bhutan and the Maldives are easily noticed by their absence.

Diplomats and security experts asserted that the initiative launched by Beijing is to counter and stall India as it aims to build Chinas inroads into the region. Dinesh Bhattarai, former foreign relations advisor to two prime ministers and ambassador to Geneva told media that he saw this development as some kind of geostrategic significance and hidden meaning and propaganda behind the formation of this center.

Also Read: EAM Jaishankar to meet Uzbek, Tajik leaders; Move to counter Taliban?
Several independent popular vloggers with considerable to huge following have been releasing content favouring China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Vlogs refer to videos of persons sharing their lifestyle, opinions and other information of a general nature. They are basically the videographic versions of the blogs that are created in a textual form.

A good chunk of these vloggers are on YouTube, a platform that often marks suspected and confirmed state-owned news and information broadcasters as such, but fails to do so in the case of independent youtubers. These propaganda peddlers have ties to Chinese media and sometimes even work in trust with them.

Some of the vloggers working in cohort with China ar Barrie Jones, Jason Lightfoot and father-son duo Lee and Oli Barrett. These individuals deliberately try to cover up Chinese wrongdoings in front of their Western audiences. Initially, their vlogs used to range around their personal life but over time, they have begun churning out Chinese propaganda, denouncing the harsh treatment of Uyghur Muslims and arguing that the Wuhan lab leak theory is false. Chinese bots also help increase their reach by subscribing to their channel and liking their videos.

Despite Chinas claims of being a free and open nations that promotes freedom of speech (according to the Constitution of 1982), its propaganda machinery and zero tolerance of criticism is laid bare. Recently, an independent journalist by the name of Zhang Zhan was arrested and sentenced to 4 years in prison for investigating the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.
State utility regulators have tentatively rejected a request by Connecticut Water to raise customer rates by 20 percent.

Instead, members of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority voted Monday to allow the Clinton-based utility to raise rates by 0.74 percent. Connecticut Water serves more than 360,000 customers in 60 towns.

The PURA ruling in the Connecticut Water case was a draft decision. The final ruling in the case is scheduled for July 28. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said following Mondays ruling by PURA that he supports the agencys decision.

Connecticut consumers have shouldered the burden of relentless rate increases over the past eight years, Tong said in a statement. We pay way too much for utilities and I thank PURA for digging deep to find savings for Connecticut families and consumers who cannot absorb further increases to their cost of living,

Connecticut Water has not sought a general rate increase since 2010.

Dan Meaney, a Connecticut Water spokesman, said officials at the utility are reviewing the PURA draft decision on its rate application.

The company has no comment on the draft at this time , Meaney said. Customers can be assured that the 200+ employees of Connecticut Water are committed to the companys vital public health and safety mission: delivering a reliable supply of safe drinking water to families and communities across the state, ensuring fire hydrants have a robust water supply, and being good stewards of the environment.

In legal briefs filed with PURA in May, Tong said Connecticut Waters request for a rate increase contains multiple unnecessary and excessive costs that could be removed or reduced to entirely eliminate the need for any rate increase.

Connecticut Water is seeking a 10.4 percent return on equity for its shareholders as part of the rate increase request, according to Tong. He said if such a rate of return were granted, it would be higher than any other regulated utility statewide.

PURA reduced the rate of return, or profit, to 9 percent, which Tong said is in line with other regulated utilities. That change, if approved in PURAs final ruling, would save ratepayers almost $6 million, he said.

Tongs brief also opposed use of ratepayer funds for executive bonuses, lobbying costs, consultant fees, and other costs traditionally partially or fully covered by shareholder funds.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration announced a new warning for the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine on Monday, saying the shot has been linked to a serious but rare side effect called Guillain-Barre syndrome, in which the immune system attacks the nerves.

About 100 preliminary reports of Guillain-Barre have been detected in vaccine recipients after the administration of 12.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States, according to a companion statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which monitors vaccine safety systems with the FDA. Of these reports, 95 were serious and required hospitalization, the FDA statement said. There was one death. Neither agency provided details about the death.

The cases have largely been reported about two weeks after vaccination and mostly in men, many aged 50 and older, according to the CDC. Most people fully recover from Guillain-Barre.

The warning on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be the latest blow to a shot that had been eagerly anticipated because of its ease of use - it requires only a single dose, which makes it especially helpful in immunizing harder-to-reach populations and regions. But the vaccine has been plagued by problems, including massive stumbles at its U.S. manufacturing plant.

The latest development comes at an especially fraught moment, as the highly transmissible delta variant sweeps the country and fuels an increase in coronavirus cases in many states. And the new warning could complicate the Biden administration's efforts to ramp up inoculations in areas where skepticism regarding coronavirus vaccines remains high and the vaccine rate is low.

Available data do not show a pattern suggesting a similar increased risk of Guillain-Barre with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. More than 321 million doses of those vaccines - developed with a technology different from what is used to make the Johnson & Johnson vaccine - have been administered in the United States.

The Guillain-Barre cases are expected to be discussed as part of an upcoming meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the agency said.

Although the available evidence suggests an association between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and increased risk of Guillain-Barre, "it is insufficient to establish a causal relationship," the FDA said.

Guillain-Barre syndrome usually occurs at a rate of about 60 to 120 cases each week, according to CDC data. While the cause is not fully understood, it often follows infection with a virus, including influenza, or bacteria. Each year in the United States, an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop the illness.

People older than 50 are at greatest risk. About two-thirds of people who develop the syndrome experience symptoms several days or weeks after they have fallen ill with diarrhea or a lung or sinus illness.

Federal health officials have repeatedly emphasized that the benefits of the coronavirus inoculations far outweigh potential risks. The FDA said it had evaluated the available information for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine "and continues to find the known and potential benefits clearly outweigh the known and potential risks," the agency said.

Johnson & Johnson declined Monday to comment.

Reports of Guillain-Barre in vaccine recipients are rare, the CDC said, "but do likely indicate a small possible risk of this side effect following" the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Reports of the syndrome were made to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, an early warning safety network run by the CDC and the FDA. It collects information about possible side effects or health problems after vaccination. The system looks for unusual or unexpected patterns that require a closer look. Anyone can report a reaction or injury.

Experts said the latest news about the Johnson & Johnson shot may complicate vaccination efforts, especially in parts of the country where rates remain under 50%.

Jeanne Marrazzo, director of infectious-diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said the absolute risk of Guillain-Barre remains so rare that "it should not deter people from getting vaccinated," she wrote in an email. If people are concerned, they can still get a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine with no risk, adding: "This news does not provide an excuse to remain unvaccinated!!!!"

But the expected warning on the Johnson & Johnson shot "quite possibly" will make it harder for health-care providers to persuade people to roll up their sleeves, Marrazzo said.

"When a person is hesitant to get a vaccine, any additional safety signal, even if very rare, just adds to their own database that fuels their reluctance," Marrazzo wrote.

Paul A. Offit, a pediatrician and director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, said he did not think the latest news will make much difference because the U.S. vaccination effort has "hit a wall." The Biden administration has already done "as good a job as we could possibly hope for on how to mass produce, mass distribute and mass vaccinate" the country, Offit said.

Now, Offit said, it's time for the next step: the government needs to compel vaccination. The Supreme Court has already ruled twice that public health authorities can take these measures in the face of outbreaks, he said. Without such a step, the virus is "going to continue to mutate, continue to create variants" and result in another surge in late fall and winter, he said.

Just three months ago, federal officials paused use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after it was linked to another rare side effect - severe blood clots. That pause was lifted within days after an extensive safety review by the FDA and the CDC, and a warning was added to the vaccine's label.

The vaccine also has been hobbled by production problems at Johnson & Johnson's subcontractor, Emergent BioSolutions, the only U.S. manufacturer of the vaccine. The Baltimore plant was shut down in April after federal officials discovered millions of doses had been contaminated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was also being made there.

Johnson & Johnson had to throw away the equivalent of about 75 million doses of the vaccine because of the problems at the Baltimore plant. About 40 million doses have been released for use. In response to the contamination, the Biden administration removed AstraZeneca manufacturing from the plant and put Johnson & Johnson in direct control of vaccine production there. But Emergent has not received authorization from the FDA to resume manufacturing the Johnson & Johnson product.

Other vaccines also have been associated with rare adverse events. The FDA in late June decided to add a warning to the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines about extremely unusual cases of myocarditis - heart inflammation - in some young adults and teens after vaccination. Federal health officials said there was "a likely association," and that the problem appears most likely to occur in young men after they receive two doses of the vaccine.

The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services, together with 15 of the country's leading medical and public health organizations, issued a joint statement in June saying they "strongly encourage everyone 12 and older" to get the Pfizer and Moderna shots because the benefit of vaccination far exceeds potential harm.

In June, the American Neurological Association reported that two studies published in the journal Annals of Neurology had found 11 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome two to three weeks after vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The cases, which were from England and India, involved an unusual variant of the disease that caused severe facial weakness, the organization said. An accompanying editorial described a similar case involving a Boston man who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Vaccine safety officials in Europe have recommended that a warning be added about Guillain-Barre to the AstraZeneca vaccine. But the European safety committee said that while cases have been reported following vaccinations, "at this stage the available data neither confirms nor rules out a possible association with the vaccine."

The FDA revised its Johnson & Johnson fact sheet, urging vaccine recipients to seek immediate medical attention if they develop weakness or tingling, especially in the legs or arms, that worsens and spreads to other parts of the body; difficulty walking; difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing; double vision or inability to move eyes; or difficulty with bladder control or bowel function.

In 1976, there was a small increased risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome after people received the swine flu vaccine, which was a special shot for a potential pandemic strain of the influenza virus. A National Academy of Medicine review in 2003 found that people who received the 1976 swine flu vaccine had an increased risk of Guillain-Barre, with about one additional case for every 100,000 people who received the swine flu vaccine. The reason for the link remains unknown.

The CDC monitors for Guillain-Barre syndrome each flu season. The agency says the data on an association between the seasonal influenza vaccine and the illness varied from season to season. When there has been an increased risk, it has consistently been in the range of one or two additional cases per 1 million flu vaccine doses administered. Studies also suggest it is more likely that a person will get Guillain-Barre after getting the flu than after vaccination, according to the CDC.
NEW HAVEN  Former Chief of Police Anthony Campbell Jr. is no stranger to gun violence: The deaths of two close family members years ago were part of what prompted him to go into law enforcement  and during his years as chief he went to countless funerals of people gunned down on city streets.

But Campbell, now an assistant chief at the Yale University Police Department after retiring from the New Haven force in 2019, is ready to scream from the mountaintops to get gun violence the attention it needs in the wake of his familys latest tragedy:

His own younger brother, Devin Campbell, was shot multiple times and killed June 28 at about 7:30 p.m. in New York Citys Harlem, where Campbell grew up.

Campbells family buried Devin Campbell, 32, a twin who was the youngest of six children, on Friday  and as is the case with many urban families of color in the United States of America, it wasnt the first such tragedy to strike the family.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Its just one of those things that ... when youre 16 years older than your little brother and youre in law enforcement, you never think that youre the one whos going to get that call, said Anthony Campbell, whose extended family previously lost two other members to gun violence.

Chief Campbell learned of his brothers death in a call from his cousin, Harrison Campbell, as he was walking out of New Haven Police Headquarters, with a cupcake in his hand, after attending a retirement celebration for his successor, recently retired Chief of Police Otoniel Reyes.

He said hes been told that his brothers shooting was caught on security cameras.

Aside from the personal loss, the manner in which Campbells brother died  shot multiple times as he arrived to visit his uncle Dale Chop Campbell, who lives in the Grant Houses on 125th Street near Amsterdam Avenue in Harlem and helped raise Devin Campbell after his father passed away in 1995  stung Chief Campbell.

Courtesy of Anthony Campbell / Contributed photo

It also echoed two past family tragedies: when Campbells cousin, Kevin Campbell, then 23, was shot and killed in a parked car in Harlem back in 1991  and then, two years later, when his uncle Stanley Campbell was shot several times and killed.

The time in which I grew up in Harlem was a time when gun violence was just non-stop, Campbell, who was back at work Monday, said in a phone interview. A lot of the reason that my family poured so much time and money into my education was to save me from that.

Campbell said his little brother, lovingly nicknamed Fat Boy, wasnt perfect and had had some issues back in the day. But he served his time and had moved beyond them and gotten his life back on track.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

In later years, he was an entrepreneur, who produced music and clothing lines, also working at a hospital at one point. He was a big guy  muscular, but real big. But he was a teddy bear, Campbell said. He was all about providing for his family, including his wife, Terry, whom he married in 2013, and stepson, TJ.

Devin was the type of man who never forgot where he came from, Campbell said.

The terrible thing about Devins death is that Devin was a twin, he said. His sister, Devon, lost her twin brother. Seeing her at funeral, she was devastated.

Campbells father, Anthony Campbell Sr., died in 1995. His mother is alive and living in Atlanta.

If anything, losing his little brother is pushing Chief Campbell to do more.

I dont care if it takes me another 10-15 years, if I have to scream from the mountaintops ... but weve got to do something about it, Campbell said of the growing, nationwide problem of gun violence, which has seen homicide levels spike across the country during the coronavirus pandemic.

Catherine Avalone / Catherine Avalone /New Haven Register

This has been going on forever, and right now, were heading backwards, Campbell said. He recalled the sky-high homicide rates in New York City, New Haven and other Connecticut cities and across the country in the 1980s and 1990s.

Thats the problem. Its normalized  not just in our communities, but in our society, said Campbell, a graduate of Yale University and the Yale Divinity School who also teaches at the divinity school.

In order to make a serious dent in gun violence, We have to address this in the same way that we address the pandemic, in the same way that weve begun to address the opioid crisis, Campbell said. Societys too comfortable with it ... We have to break that cycle.

Im fortunate. Im a person of faith ... and I know my faith in God is going to get me through this, Campbell said. ...But when you really look at the victims, the families of these homicide victims, many of them dont have what I have ... and we have to do something to make sure it stops.

Its terrible  the gun violence in Hartford, in New Haven, in New York City and elsewhere, he said. And everywhere it happens, Its Black and brown people who are the victims, Campbell said.

As a chief, I always would go to the funerals of homicide victims, and nine times out of 10, those victims looked just like me, he said.

Anthony Campbell / Contributed photo

Gun violence is ripping through these families, ripping through these communities, he said. ... I was lucky to have a father and a family who said, We need to get him out of here.

For Campbell, as he moved up in law enforcement and ultimately was named acting chief and then chief, It was one of the most joyous feelings in 2017 to have one of the lowest levels of homicides in New Haven ... and then in 2018 having the lowest number of shootings since we began keeping records, he said.

...It feels good saving lives, and if we could get everyone to feel that way  not just people in law enforcement and social work  I think we could do it again, Campbell said.

To me, the fact that we did it in the past demonstrates that if we put our focus and our energy into it, we can do it again, he said.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media file

Anthony Campbell was a New Haven police officer for 21 years. He was chief for two years and acting chief for a year before that. He retired in 2019 as a result of proposed changes in police retirees health coverage, then joined the Yale police force as an assistant chief.

Campbell graduated from Yale in 1995. He earned a masters in divinity from Yale in 2009.

Devin Campbells death was one of several shootings reported across New Yorks five boroughs the night he died. Eight others were injured in the violence, according to the New York Post.

Anthony Campbell shared his familys loss on Facebook the morning of the funeral.

Today the Campbell family will be burying my younger brother, Devin Campbell who was only 32 years old when he was murdered in my hometown New York City, Chief Campbell wrote.

As a Police Chief I have always made it a point to attend the funerals of those who were murdered in New Haven while I was the Chief because I wanted the family to know that they were not alone, he wrote. Well today as I head to New York, I will not be alone as my beautiful wife Stephanie will be at my side and my boss and friend, Chief Ronnell Higgins will be driving us to the funeral and 5 members of the Yale Police Honor Guard will be there to support me and my extended family.

Anthony Campbell Jr. / Contributed photo

As a person of faith I know that I will see Devin again but it is so comforting to have my New York family, my aunts and uncles and sisters and cousins to share the burden of grief and its truly comforting to have the support of my brothers and sisters in blue to lift my spirits during this time, Campbell wrote.

Please pray for the entire Campbell family especially Devins wife Terry, Campbell wrote. Rest In Peace baby brother until we meet again. The Peace of Christ be with you always.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
WESTPORT  A lawsuit filed in state Superior Court in Bridgeport last month makes multiple allegations against state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg  who recently announced he was running for First Selectman of Westport  including that he misrepresented his background, used cronyism and quid pro quo to secure his nomination and made defamatory statements against those who opposed him.

The suit was filed by Westport resident and Democratic Town Committee member Kristan Hamlin and named Steinbergs campaign chairperson Lisa Newman as a co-defendant. Both Steinberg and the attorney representing Newman said the suit lacked merit and accused Hamlin of playing politics.

The 45-page lawsuit poses multiple charges against Steinberg, starting with the allegation that he misrepresented his career in marketing. The lawsuit alleges that Steinberg advertises on the professional networking site LinkedIn that he has worked as a marketing executive for JPS Marketing for the past 14 years.

That assertion is entirely false, the suit claims.

It goes on to say that a review of corporate registrations filed with the Connecticut secretary of the state shows that there is no such entity by the name of JPS Marketing or JPS plus any name that is registered in the state as associated with Steinbergs name or for which he works.

The document states that Steinbergs fraudulent misrepresentations about his professional background constitute a fraud on the voters and volunteers who supported his state representative candidacy, and his First Selectman candidacy. It further claims that Steinberg has not worked in marketing during the past fourteen years, because his previous conduct with employers has rendered him unemployable in the marketing profession, because he cannot secure a good reference from his last or previous employer.

The lawsuit also claims that Steinberg and Newman engaged in nefarious tactics to secure his nomination. The document includes a lengthy section alleging that Steinberg conspired with Melissa Katz-Kane to get Steinberg the first selectman nomination.

According to the suit, Kane wanted Steinberg to run for first selectman so that she could run for his state representative seat.

Steinberg therefore conspired with Kane to enter into a corrupt deal, in which Kane would use her influence on (Westport DTC Chair Ellen) Lautenberg to appoint a Nominations Committee weighted in Steinbergs favor, the suit alleges. If nominated and elected for First Selectman with Kanes help, then Steinbergs state representative job would open up.

According to the suit, Newman told Hamlin that Lautenberg had told Newman they should choose Steinberg to become the first selectman candidate so his job would be free for Kane. The suit alleges that Newman told Hamlin in 2020 that, if she would forgo running for the DTCs executive committee, Lautenberg would put her on the nominations committee. Hamlin allegedly agreed to the arrangement.

However, the suit goes on to say that Newman later wrote Hamlin a text message that she had already concluded that Steinberg was a nightmare as a candidate and could never win against the predicted Republican candidates, Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore.

In light of that and other alleged critical statements Newman made against Steinberg, Hamlin purportedly expressed enthusiasm for two other candidates who submitted their names for the first selectman race.

Hamlin alleges in the suit that, upon hearing that she spoke favorably of the other candidates, Lautenberg removed Hamlin from the nomination committee.

The suit goes to on to detail other ways in which Steinberg, Newman and others allegedly undermined the democratic process in Westport. It accuses Steinberg of falsely claiming he was the DTC-endorsed candidate for first selectman, and accuses of him making defamatory statements about Hamlin, including that she was spreading lies about him and was out to get him.

Plaintiff has in fact worked tireless and selflessly over fourteen years to promote all DTC candidates and has never taken any action ever to destroy any DTC candidates, the suit states.

The suit alleges that Newman made defamatory statements against Hamlin as well. Hamlin is seeking damages in excess of $15,000 and is seeking a jury trial on the matter.

Newmans attorney, Joshua Koskoff, said in a statement Friday that the suit asserts no cognizable legal claim and that he would ask that the case be dismissed.

The case seems to have been born from a bruised ego and is filled with personal attacks and disparagements, rather than facts supporting a viable claim for defamation, Koskoffs statement read.

Steinberg said Friday he believed that the suit was without merit.

We all know that politics has an ugly side, he said. Kristan has made it clear she plans to impede my campaign. Using the legal system to do it is just plain wrong.

Hamlin referred comment to her attorney William Lalor, who said multiple people complained to the Democratic State Central Committee about the DTCs actions.

Plaintiff and others complained about the rules violations and were retaliated against, Lalor said in a statement Friday. The DTC had just confirmed the Plaintiff in January as Chair of Communications Strategy, but when she complained about corrupt processes, that all changed.

The photo accompanying this story has been updated to reflect that Jonathan Steinberg is a Democrat.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Lawsuits filed Monday in California seek potential class-action damages from Dow Chemical and its successor company over a widely used bug killer linked to brain damage in children.

Chlorpyrifos is approved for use on more than 80 crops, including oranges, berries, grapes, soybeans, almonds and walnuts, though California banned sales of the pesticide last year and spraying of it this year. Some other states, including New York, have moved to ban it.

Stuart Calwell, lead attorney in the lawsuits, argued that its effects linger in Central Valley agricultural communities contaminated by chlorpyrifos during decades of use, with measurable levels still found in his clients' homes.

Lawyers project that at least 100,000 homes in the nations largest agricultural state may need to dispose of most of their belongings because they are contaminated with the pesticide.

We have found it in the houses, we have found it in carpet, in upholstered furniture, we found it in a teddy bear, and we found it on the walls and surfaces, Calwell said. Then a little child picks up a teddy bear and holds on to it.

All that needs to be cleaned up, he says, because its not going away on its own.

State records show 61 million pounds of the pesticide were applied from 1974 through 2017 in four counties where the lawsuits were filed, Calwell said.

Officials with Dow and its affiliated Corteva Inc. did not immediately respond to telephone and email requests seeking comment.

Corteva stopped producing the pesticide last year. The Delaware-based company was created after a merger of Dow Chemical and Dupont and had been the worlds largest manufacturer of chlorpyrifos. The company has said it believes the product is safe and said it stopped production because of declining sales.

Scientific studies have shown that chlorpyrifos damages the brains of fetuses and children. It was first used in 1965 but was banned for household use in 2001.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is weighing whether to ban the product or declare it safe, including for infants and children. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April ordered the EPA to make a decision after studying the product for more than a decade. The Trump administration had halted the rule-making process.

The lawsuits were filed on behalf of people in Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties, though Calwell said they are a precursor to seeking class-action status. Aside from Dow-related companies, they name various farming companies they say applied the chemical near the plaintiffs' homes.

In each case, the plaintiffs are parents suing on behalf of children who suffer from severe neurological injuries that the lawsuits blame on their exposure to the chemical while they were in the womb or when they were very young.

Aside from nearby spraying, the lawsuits say the parent, relatives or others in frequent contact with the child worked in the fields or packing plants and became contaminated with the chemical that they passed on to the child.

Calwell filed related lawsuits last fall on behalf of farmworkers who his firm said spent years marinating in the pesticide.

The first of those related lawsuits blames chlorpyrifos for causing autism, cognitive and intellectual disabilities in a now-teenager born in 2003.

The teen's father worked spraying pesticides on farm fields and his mother packed what the lawsuit says was chlorpyrifos-covered produce in a facility surrounded by fields treated with the pesticide, often applied by aerial spraying.

Calwell similarly sued Monsanto for damages he alleged it caused to homes in Nitro, West Virginia, with its use of dioxin to make the defoliant known during the Vietnam War era as Agent Orange.

That case settled for $93 million, with Monsanto paying to decontaminate 4,500 homes, a fraction of those that he alleges in California will require more extensive decontamination followed by medical monitoring.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP)  A South Carolina woman who admitted to helping swindle an elderly Wichita-area widow out of more than half a million dollars in a romance scam is due to be sentenced Monday in Sedgwick County District Court.

Kathy Heistand, 68, pleaded guilty in May to the mistreatment of an elder person and theft.

An arrest affidavit said a 74-year-old recently widowed Kansas woman was contacted on Facebook in 2020 by someone who said his name was Victor Patrick and claimed to be a man working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Texas. The two developed an online romance, The Wichita Eagle reported.

Patrick said he'd be with the widow as soon as he retired, but meanwhile he needed money, and he asked the widow to send money to Heistand, who would give the money to Patrick.

The widow sent six cashiers checks payable to Heistand for a total of $532,000. The widow's financial institutions warned her it was a scam but she didn't believe it. During the investigation Heistand said she didn't know Patrick and that the widow sent her money as part of a business arrangement.

The Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office is recommending five years of probation with 61 months in prison if Heistand violates probation, records show.

The DAs office said it is recommending probation because Heistand had a lesser role in the fraud against the victim, she helped in the investigation. Paying restitution to the victim while on probation outweighs the benefit of sending the 68-year-old to prison.

The district attorneys office plans a Monday news conference to discuss the prominence of romance scams in the Wichita area, according to a news release.
NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday called on the Justice Department to investigate the National Rifle Association for bankruptcy fraud, saying the financially stable gun-rights group abused the system when it sought bankruptcy protection in the wake of a New York lawsuit seeking to put it out of business.

A judge rejected the NRA's bankruptcy case in May, ruling the nonprofit organization had not acted in good faith. NRA leaders made clear that the organization was in its strongest financial condition in years and was seeking bankruptcy protection so it could changes its state of incorporation from New York to gun-friendly Texas.

Schumer, a New York Democrat, said the NRA's continued heavy spending on advertising criticizing proposed gun control measures and the nomination of gun control lobbyist David Chipman to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives are further evidence that its bankruptcy filing was inspired by legal, not financial, concerns.

They recently told the judicial branch of government that they are bankrupt after the lawsuit by Tish James, and at the same time theyre saying theyre bankrupt, theyre spending millions of dollars on ads to stop universal background checks, Schumer said, referencing New York Attorney General Letitia James. That demands an investigation by the Justice Department.

The Justice Department declined comment.

Late Sunday, NRA counsel William A. Brewer III accused Schumer of promoting a false narrative.

The NRA pursued a financial reorganization for one reason: to streamline its financial and legal affairs. The truth is, the proceedings in question confirmed what the Association disclosed from the outset  the NRA is financially solvent, and the filing in Texas was part of its long-term plans to effectively serve its members," Brewer said in a statement. Although the bankruptcy court did not believe the filing was for a proper bankruptcy purpose, it specifically did not find the NRA acted in bad faith.

The organization filed for bankruptcy protection in January, months after James sued the NRA, seeking its dissolution over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures. That lawsuit is ongoing.

In dismissing the NRAs bankruptcy case, Judge Harlin Hale wrote that it appeared less like a traditional bankruptcy case in which a debtor is faced with financial difficulties or a judgment that it cannot satisfy and more like cases in which courts have found bankruptcy was filed to gain an unfair advantage in litigation or to avoid a regulatory scheme.

Schumer, speaking to reporters Sunday, highlighted a $2 million advertising blitz the NRA announced in April, aimed at fighting gun control proposals, while the bankruptcy case was still pending. The organization said it was placing ads on TV and digital platforms, sending out mailers and holding town hall meetings in at least 12 states.

In West Virginia, Schumer said, the organization spent $250,000 on TV ads encouraging people to call U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, and tell him to reject Chipmans confirmation. Chipman, a former ATF agent, has worked as a policy adviser at an organization that supports gun control.

How can you say youre bankrupt at the same time you have millions of dollars to spend on ads throughout the country trying to prevent universal background checks fundraising and other things that will stop the killings on the streets? Schumer said.

The bottom line is the NRA shot itself in the foot when they declared bankruptcy and still have millions of dollars, he said.

___

On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Michael Balsamo at twitter.com/mikebalsamo1 and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Texas Republicans advanced bills Sunday that would make voting harder in a state that already has some of the nation's toughest restrictions after hundreds spoke against the proposals  with some waiting to speak for almost 24 hours.

Republicans made clear they intended to advance a new election bill  which would prohibit 24-hour polling places, ban drop boxes and stop drive-thru voting  this weekend, with a first major vote on the proposals expected this week. That timeline is pushing some Democratic lawmakers toward calling for a second walkout to again stop the restrictions from moving forward like they did in May when they broke quorum.

Texas is among several states with GOP-controlled statehouses where Republicans have rushed to enact strict voting laws in response to former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. A second walkout by Texas Democrats  which some are describing as their best, if not only option  would mark a high-stakes escalation of their efforts to deny Republicans a major priority, and in turn, put more pressure on President Joe Biden to act on voting at the federal level.

Beto O'Rourke, the Democratic former Texas congressman who is considering challenging Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022, said he has already offered help, saying he was ready to raise money "literally to feed and house the legislators if they go that route.

Should we stick around? Hell no. For what? Democratic state Rep. Jarvis Johnson said. There's nothing being done in earnest. There's nothing be done with the utmost respect for one another.

For weeks, Democratic leaders in the Texas House have said they are not ruling out another revolt, but have also expressed hope of weakening the bill during the 30-day special session. Johnson, however, believes a large number of his colleagues are ready to deny Republicans a quorum for a second time, though most continue speaking cautiously.

You may know my next move, but you can't stop it. You never knew when Mike Tyson was going to throw the uppercut, but you knew he was going to throw it," he said.

Another walkout may merely buy more time: Abbott could keep calling more 30-day special sessions until voting measures are passed. Paychecks for nearly 2,000 Capitol staffers could also be on the line, because Abbott vetoed funding for the legislative branch following Democrats' late-night walkout. He has signaled he will restore that funding this summer  if lawmakers are around to put a bill on his desk.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the elected head of the governing body for the county where Houston is located, said Abbott was extorting lawmakers to get the legislation passed. Hidalgo said she was would support Democratic legislators breaking quorum again to block the bill's passage.

It is very important to me to recognize voting rights should be above politics, Hidalgo said. We can do that with all manner of issues, but not voting, not democracy.

Nacal Tate, who volunteers with the NAACP chapter in Collin County in the Dallas area, said she woke up at 4 a.m. Saturday to drive several hours to Austin to testify against the proposed voting restrictions. Tate said that meant missing her grand niece's birthday party, but that it was worth the sacrifice. Some of the provisions, if they become law, would affect senior citizens, like herself, and others who receive help at the polls due to proposed penalties for voting volunteers who make a mistake.

It is a suppression of our constitutional rights, Tate said.

The last time Texas Democrats left the state to deny a quorum was 2003, when they decamped to Oklahoma and New Mexico to try to block new GOP-drawn voting maps. They were gone more a month, but ultimately, Republicans passed a new redistricting plan.

The versions of the revived voting changes passed Sunday by a House panel  at 7:30 a.m., almost 24 hours after debate began  and by a Senate committee later that afternoon no longer include two of the most contentious provisions: prohibiting Sunday morning voting, when many Black churchgoers go to the polls, and language that would have made it easier for a judge to overturn elections.

Hundreds of opponents packed overflow rooms at the Capitol and waited for hours to testify. It was the biggest turnout against a bill this year in Texas, where COVID-19 concerns have dampened crowds.

___

Acacia Coronado is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Students of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state on Monday, embarked on a protest over an...

Students of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state on Monday, embarked on a protest over an increase in school fees.

The protest, it was gathered, grounded academic activities in the institution for some hours.

It was further gathered that the university recently announced an increase of more than 75% increase in the school fees for the fresh students in the 2020/2021 academic year.

The freshers who are indigenes of the state were mandated to pay the sum of N90,000 from the initial N53,000 while non-indigenes are to pay the sum of N120,000 respectively.

All returning students were to pay the same amount they paid last session which is N53,000 for indigenes and N73,000 for non-indigenes of the state.

It was gathered that the protesters who blocked the main entrance of the institution at Ikot Akpaden campus maintained a peaceful disposition.

The students displayed placards of various inscriptions such as, NANS demands immediate reversal of school fees, #OccupyAKSU, mother of all protest, among others.

One of the students who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent in Uyo that it was unfair for the University Authorities to increase school fees with the prevailing harsh economic realities in the country.

The country is going through serious economic hardships occasioned by the COVID-19, and for the school authorities to come up with a hike in school fees at this time is very encouraging the source said.

Another student who identified herself as Ella said the students will resist every attempt to increase school fees at any given opportunity.

Meanwhile, the institutions director of Information, Mr. Akaniyene Ibanga, could not be reached as at press time as he never responded to calls put across to him by journalists.
Haitis national police on Sunday announced the arrest of the suspected mastermind of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. ...

Haitis national police on Sunday announced the arrest of the suspected mastermind of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Recall that Moise, 53, was shot dead at his residence in Port-au-Prince in the early hours of Wednesday. His wife Martine was seriously injured and taken to Florida for treatment.

Although the reasons for the attack remain unclear, a Haitian doctor living in the U.S. state of Florida was arrested, police chief Leon Charles said at a news conference.

The suspected killers called him after the attack and evidence was found in his flat, Charles said.

The 63-year-old doctor recently arrived in Haiti on a private plane to seize the presidency, he said.

He allegedly hired Colombian mercenaries through a private Venezuelan security firm based in Florida.

The doctor is the third U.S. resident of Haitian origin and the 21st person overall to be detained as a suspect in the case.

The other two also reportedly lived in Florida.

Police have said 26 Colombian mercenaries were involved in the murder overall, three were killed, 18 suspects were in detention and police were seeking the remaining five.

High-ranking U.S. officials who are expected to help with the investigation met with Charles on Sunday.
Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspect arrested in connection with the death of Michael Ataga, CEO of Super TV, has denied killing him. Ataga ...

Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspect arrested in connection with the death of Michael Ataga, CEO of Super TV, has denied killing him.

Ataga was found dead days after checking into an apartment with the suspect in Lekki, Lagos.

The suspect had fled the scene of the crime until she was arrested at her fathers house in Yaba, Lagos.

When she was paraded by the police in June, the 300 level student of the University of Lagos had said she killed him while he was trying to force himself on her.

She had sought forgiveness, saying she did not want to die.

I regret killing Mr Ataga. I dont know what my future holds but I dont want to die. Please, I dont want to die because of this case. I have not killed before.

I totally regret everything I did and I am sorry. Mr Atagas family, I am deeply sorry for what I did. If I had my life back, I wouldnt do anything like that. I am deeply sorry and I hope you forgive me, Chidinma had said at the time.

But in a video which is currently in circulation, Chidinma said she knows nothing about Atagas death.

I didnt injure anybody. I dont know who must have come into the apartment, and did that I dont know who that person is. I dont know what happened. I did not kill him, the suspect said.

She, however, admitted that they spent time together, drinking and smoking before he died.

Chidinma claimed that she was not inside the apartment at the time he was killed.

Watch video:
The South-west Governors Forum has proposed the conversion of the six geopolitical zones into federating units. The governors made t...

The South-west Governors Forum has proposed the conversion of the six geopolitical zones into federating units.

The governors made the proposal in a document presented to members of the national assembly from the south-west, as part of the review of the 1999 constitution, THISDAY reports.

The document dated July 5, 2021, is titled Proposals for the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended): Presentation by South-West Governors Forum.

The governors proposed an amendment to section 3(1) and (3) of the constitution.

Section 3(1) of the 1999 constitutions states that there shall be 36 states in Nigeria but the governors proposed that the section be amended as a federation consisting of six geopolitical zones constituted from the states.

At independence in 1960, Nigeria had three regions  northern, western, and eastern.

However, states were created out of the regions and the six geopolitical zones were delineated during the regime of Sani Abacha, late head of state, in 1993.

We propose that Section 3(1) be amended as a federation consisting of six geopolitical zones constituted from the states. The federating units or regions are divided into the following geopolitical zones: North-West Zone, North-Eastern Zone, Middle  Belt Zone, South-East Zone, South-South Zone, South-West Zone and the Federal Capital Territory, the proposal reads.

Section 3(6) be amended to provide for a number of local governments or such autonomous administrative units to be created by the respective federating units or states, the criteria of which shall include population, taxable capacity, ethnoreligious or other cultural and social affinities.

Section 7 of the constitution be amended to include an additional (sub)section prohibiting the dissolution of elected local government councils.

This will be in compliance with the Supreme Court decisions in ALGON v. Oyo State Government; AG Plateau State & Others v. Goyol & Others; Governor, Ekiti State v. Olubunmo & Others.

The governors also proposed that section 8 (5) and (6) be removed so that local government creation will be the exclusive duty of state governors.

Section 8(5) and (6) should be expunged. Section 8 (1) and (2) provides for the procedures for creation of state while Section 8(3), (4), (5) and (6) provides for the procedure for creation of local governments, the forum added.

However, Section 8(5) and (6) should be expunged to make local government creation the exclusive duty of the state government.

The governors also sought the removal of section 29(4)(b), which confers adulthood status on a married under-18 woman.

Section 29(4)(a) and (b) contradict each other. While (a) says full age means the age of 18 years and above, (b) says any woman who is married shall be deemed to be full of age. This reinforces child marriage which negates the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 and the Childs Rights Act 2003, which outlaws child marriage.

The governors also want the states to be in charge of mineral resources within their territories.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that about 18 per cent of passengers that arrived in Lagos through Murtala Mohammed A...

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that about 18 per cent of passengers that arrived in Lagos through Murtala Mohammed Airport cannot be traced for their compulsory COVID-19 quarantine as was advised by the Federal Government.

The governor made the remark on Sunday while giving an update on the coronavirus pandemic situation in Lagos State as COVID:19 third upsurge looms.

Sanwo- Olu said between May 8, 2021, and July 7, 2021, a total of 50,322 passengers arrived in Lagos through the Murtala Mohammed Airport but they could not be traced.

Of the 50,322 passengers, 18 per cent could not be reached by EKOTELEMED because of the provision of either wrong numbers or wrong Nigerian contact details to be reached on, the Chief Incident Commander said.

He noted that it was the responsibility of every passenger to ensure that they provided the right details that would enable officials reach them for proper monitoring.

The governor vowed to sanction passengers who would subsequently violate the directive citing the fear emanating from the fresh rise in cases and deaths.

Going forward, passengers that do not provide the right details, including a phone number they can be reached for monitoring and an address for isolation, will face serious sanctions, including fines and imprisonment according to our Lagos State Coronavirus Law of 2021.

As dictated by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), passengers from red-listed countries (India, South Africa, Brazil and Turkey) are required to observe mandatory isolation.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
LAKE CHARLES - Louisianas newest food trail has the quirky name No Mans Land: Gas Station Eats.

No Mans Land was one of the names for a buffer zone between U.S. and Spanish territories for about 13 years after the Louisiana Purchase.

The Gas Station Eats food trail is starting with three stops in each of seven southwest Louisiana parishes, The American Press reported.

+11 Hitting the Andouille Trail? What to know, what to get The Andouille Trail covers a range of traditional butcher shops, grocery stores and restaurants around the River Parishes, the heartland for L

The 450-mile route runs through Calcasieu, Allen, Beauregard, Sabine, Natchitoches, Vernon and DeSoto parishes.

Stops range from the South Beau Dairy Barn in the Beauregard Parish community of Longville to French Market Express, which offers meat pies, plate lunches, yam cakes, cookies and pies in Natchitoches.

There's also an Exxon station in Natchitoches, Big Thicket BBQ in DeRidder, a Shop-A-Lott in Mansfield and another in Many, Anacoco Mercantile, and a Grab N Geaux in Lake Charles.

Several stops offer fried boudin balls and whole sausages such as boudin and andouille. Others have fried fish, burgers, sandwiches  and in Zwolle, tamales.

All are in the seven-parish area known as No Man's Land and the Neutral Strip from about 1806 until a treaty in 1819 established the Sabine River as the boundary between the United States and what later became the state of Texas.

The No Man's Land tourism website says part of the reason the boundary wasn't clear was that it had been a contested area since the 1790s.

+24 On the Andouille Trail, exploring a River Parishes obsession link by link With a hint of fall in the air and the cane standing tall in the fields all around his butcher shop La Bon Boucon, Lester Folse knew he was in

Moreover, to a large degree Spain governed the region with a blind eye, issuing land grants and allowing squatters and all manner of self-directed settlers, such as Native Americans who lost lands during the French-Indian War, to settle there in order to thwart American expansion, the website states.

It said both nations agreed to pull troops from the area until boundaries were decided.

Slow to be settled, and marked by a pivotal moment in history, the Neutral Strip region exhibits a culture colored by several pockets of diverse folk groupslike Native Americans, remnants of early Spanish colonies, Scots-Irish pioneers, African Americans, and otherswho fiercely hold on to their traditions and notions of identity, the website says.
Jillian Duran worked in all sorts of restaurants in her home state New York, from burger stands to Chinese restaurants in lower Manhattan to Michelin-starred restaurants including Public in New York City and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in the village Tarrytown. She moved to New Orleans in 2015 and was a pastry chef at Maypop when the pandemic shut down the restaurant industry. She started her ice cream business Rahm Haus last June and currently sells exotic sweet and savory flavors in scoops and pints from a counter inside Courtyard Brewery. Rahm Haus also supplies signature flavors to restaurants including Mopho, Maypop, Piece of Meat, Plume Algiers and others.

Gambit: How did you get interested in desserts?

Jillian Duran: I went to a technical school for pastry in Long Island, but during the recession the housing market collapsed and I was like, I need a job. So, I started working at a taco restaurant. I have done everything: bakeries, burger shops, ice cream, pastry. I worked in Chinese restaurants in New York City. I worked for Tom Colicchio in the Hamptons  I was in charge of dough production and ice cream production at Topping Rose House.

My style as a pastry chef has been influenced by every place I have worked and every chef I have worked under. At One if by Land, Two if by Sea in New York City, the pastry chef was Kevin Chen. He was 21 years old, but he was an amazing pastry chef. He was like, Here, try all these things and make all these things.

Gambit: How did you start Rahm Haus?

D: (When the shutdowns began) I lost my salaried position. I went on unemployment, but that took two months, and my lease was up so I lost my apartment. I moved out of New Orleans to North Carolina and lived in my aunts basement on a farm for two months. I went home to New York, because I had worked as a private chef in New York in the summertime, but that job got canceled. My stuff was still here, so I ended up coming back in June.

Some people told me that pop-ups were becoming really big, and as a New Yorker, I was like, Im going to do bagels. Then for some reason I thought that would be difficult. I was like, Ill do ice cream, because I really love ice cream and I used to work in wholesale ice cream production for about six years. I sent a message to chef Mike (Gulotta of Maypop) and said, The kitchen is closed. Can I rent it from you? He said, You can use the kitchen for free, and well buy ice cream from you. So I used my unemployment money to start Rahm Haus.

During the pandemic, people were bored and looking for something to do. I would put up (Instagram) posts that were like, Hey, I have this. I also did free delivery. It used to take me two days to do deliveries. I had so much ice cream, I was like, How am I going to get rid of it? People were getting into the repetition of coming to pick up ice cream every Saturday and Sunday, and I started offering scoops.

Gambit: Why did you focus on unique flavors?

D: My goal at Rahm Haus is like, Why are we eating mint chip? There are so many other things that are better or just as good. We do a mint chip right now, but its a mint and curry leaf chip. Its mint and curry leaf that are locally grown and its reminiscent of mint chip, but it has a different background flavor. Its so good, but its hard to put your finger on it.

We have Black and Gold, which is black garlic with local honey with honeycomb candy bits covered in dark chocolate. I love pushing the savory aspect of sweet. I have always thought dessert shouldnt be last. It should all flow together, because it can work and it can make sense. I think it comes from my background in fine dining, where theres granita on top of things and intermezzos and mixing temperatures and mouthfeel and that kind of thing. I was used to making a tomato ice cream. Thats great when its in a dish with five other components, but when someone is just sitting down and eating it, how do I restructure it? Instead of coming on a plate, its coming in a pint, and they need to get that one bite all the time.

When I started Rahm Haus, I wanted to focus on making the smoothest ice cream because thats important to me  that full-fat mouthfeel. My first ice cream was peach, and it was just peach and no additives in it. But a year later, we change the menu every week, and I realized most people like stuff in their ice cream. One of our top sellers is Thai Tea and Cookies. Its Thai tea ice cream with Oreos and house-made rye-miso chocolate chip cookies.

I think its important that people try the ice cream. Some of the flavors are so unusual or unfamiliar that people tend to be a little standoffish before they try it.

For more information, visit rahmhausicecream.com.

Nikki Thompson started the nondairy ice cream venture Hood Cream Nikki Thompson started making her own ice cream during the pandemic. Though she moved to New Orleans six years ago to work as an interior desi

Abby Boone started Lucy Boone Ice Cream during the pandemic Abby Boone loved to bake while growing up in Iowa and pursued a pastry specialty at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis, Mi
Facing dozens of accusations of sexual assault and misconduct against children and young adults going back decades, the National Federation of the Blind is creating a new $250,000 fund for survivors to help pay for therapy services.

Members of the organization voted to set up the fund July 10, at the conclusion of NFBs annual convention.

The Survivor Assistance to Facilitate Empowerment (SAFE) fund will serve as a dedicated financial resource for providing therapy support to survivors of incidents where the Federations Code of Conduct is known to have been violated, according to the resolution, which was adopted.

The NFBs Board of Directors will oversee the fund, including determining who will be eligible to receive money from the fund and how that process will work. They will also be in charge of ensuring that survivors are not retaliated against for accessing money from the fund.

The Board of Directors unanimously advanced the measure in June.

Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech University, also in Ruston, has announced it will update the terms of its partnership with LCB after several former students alleged sexual and emotional abuse by staff and students at the NFB-affiliated training center for the blind.

+10 Months after National Federation of the Blinds abuse scandal, survivors want accountability More incidents of abuse and misconduct have been uncovered, with little in the way of accountability or systemic change.

Louisiana Tech will require LCB to report to them any incidents of misconduct involving LCB staff, volunteers or Tech students that could impact the program and update them on policies and training, according to Tonya Oaks Smith, a spokesperson for the university.

Additionally, Louisiana Tech students participating in programming at LCB will agree to a code of conduct and the university is creating an advisory board to review LCBs operations, policies and procedures relevant to Tech on a yearly basis.

Between 2014-2019, Louisiana Tech paid LCB more than $230,000 as part of its immersion program, during which university students sit in on LCB training programs. LCB founder Joanne Wilson also created the universitys Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness  where students learn how to teach blindness skills  forming a longstanding partnership between the two institutions.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Pfizer says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials Monday to discuss the drugmaker's request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine as President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser acknowledged that "it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely" that booster shots will be needed.

The company said it was scheduled to have the meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and other officials Monday, days after Pfizer asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months.

+4 One of the riskiest regions for a COVID outbreak in America includes 29 Louisiana parishes The northern half of Louisiana has been identified as one of the most vulnerable areas in the U.S. to a coronavirus outbreak and an area that 

Pfizer's Dr. Mikael Dolsten told The Associated Press last week that early data from the company's booster study suggests people's antibody levels jump five- to 10-fold after a third dose, compared to their second dose months earlier  evidence it believes supports the need for a booster.

On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci didn't rule out the possibility but said it was too soon for the government to recommend another shot. He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA did the right thing last week by pushing back against Pfizer's assertion with their statement that they did not view booster shots as necessary "at this time."

Fauci said clinical studies and laboratory data have yet to fully bear out the need for a booster to the current two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson regimen.

"Right now, given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot," he said. "That doesn't mean we stop there. ... There are studies being done now ongoing as we speak about looking at the feasibility about if and when we should be boosting people."

He said it was quite possible in the coming months "as data evolves" that the government may urge a booster based on such factors as age and underlying medical conditions. "Certainly it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely at some time, we will need a boost,'' Fauci said.

+2 200 campers sent home after 2 test positive for COVID, stomach virus spreads at Covington camp Camp Abbey, a sleepaway camp for kids in Covington, closed early on Thursday after two COVID-19 cases and a stomach virus with fever and vomiting spread through the facility, officials said.

Monday's planned meeting between Pfizer and U.S. health officials was first reported by The Washington Post.

Currently only about 48% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Some parts of the country have far lower immunization rates, and in those places the delta variant is surging. Last week, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said that's leading to "two truths"  highly immunized swaths of America are getting back to normal while hospitalizations are rising in other places.

Fauci said it was inexplicable that some Americans are so resistant to getting a vaccine when scientific data show how effective it is in staving off COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, and he was dismayed by efforts to block making vaccinations more accessible, such as Biden's suggestion of door-to-door outreach.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., agreed Sunday that there is a vaccine resistance in Southern and rural states like his because "you have that more conservative approach, skepticism about government."

Describing his efforts to boost vaccinations in his state, which is seeing rising infections, Hutchinson said "no one wants an agent knocking on a door," but "we do want those that do not have access otherwise to make sure they know about it."

How door-to-door canvassing became the 'heartbeat' of Louisiana's COVID-19 vaccination campaign When Lakeisha Brown knocks on doors to talk about the coronavirus vaccines, she anticipates tough conversations. Oftentimes, folks are confuse

The grassroots component of the federal vaccination campaign has been in operation since April, when supplies of shots began outpacing demand. It was outlined and funded by Congress in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in March and overwhelmingly is carried out by local officials and private sector workers and volunteers.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., blasted opposition to vaccination efforts from some GOP lawmakers as "absolute insanity." He said House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California and others in the party need to speak out against "these absolute clown politicians playing on your vaccine fears for their own selfish gain."

Fauci appeared on CNN's "State of the Union," ABC's "This Week" and CBS' "Face the Nation"; Hutchinson spoke on ABC, and Kinzinger was on CNN.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine may pose a "small possible risk" of a rare but potentially dangerous neurological reaction, U.S. health officials said Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement it has received reports of 100 people who got the shot developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune system disorder that can cause muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis.

+4 One of the riskiest regions for a COVID outbreak in America includes 29 Louisiana parishes The northern half of Louisiana has been identified as one of the most vulnerable areas in the U.S. to a coronavirus outbreak and an area that 

That number represents a tiny fraction of the nearly 13 million Americans who have received the one-dose vaccine. Most cases of the side effect were reported in men  many 50 years old and up  and usually about two weeks after vaccination.

The CDC said it would ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to review the issue at an upcoming meeting. J&J didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The government said the vaccines most used in the U.S., made by Pfizer and Moderna, show no risk of the disorder after more than 320 million doses have been administered.

Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks some of its nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis that typically is temporary. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop the syndrome each year, according to the CDC.

Vaccines historically provide broad protection with little risk but come with occasional side effects just like other drugs and medical therapies. The three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. were each tested in tens of thousands of people, but even such huge studies can't rule out extremely rare side effects.

+2 200 campers sent home after 2 test positive for COVID, stomach virus spreads at Covington camp Camp Abbey, a sleepaway camp for kids in Covington, closed early on Thursday after two COVID-19 cases and a stomach virus with fever and vomiting spread through the facility, officials said.

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have been monitoring side effect reports submitted by physicians, drugmakers and patients to a federal vaccine safety database.

Guillain-Barre can be triggered by a number of infections, including flu, cytomegalovirus and Zika virus. But there have been rare cases in which people develop the disorder days or weeks after receiving certain vaccines.

J&J's vaccine was highly anticipated because of its one-and-done formulation and easy-to-ship refrigeration. But early on, it was linked to another rare risk, of blood clots, and the company hasn't been able to produce as much as expected because of problems at a Baltimore factory that helps make the shots.

How door-to-door canvassing became the 'heartbeat' of Louisiana's COVID-19 vaccination campaign When Lakeisha Brown knocks on doors to talk about the coronavirus vaccines, she anticipates tough conversations. Oftentimes, folks are confuse

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Bollinger Shipyards LLC has christened the Holland, an ocean transport barge it built for General Dynamics Electric Boat to support the construction and maintenance of the United States Columbia Class Ballistic Missile submarines and Virginia Class fast attack submarines.

General Dynamics Electric Boat is the prime contractor on the design and build of the Columbia Class submarine, which will replace the aging Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarines.

Bollinger was selected in November 2019 to construct the Holland, a 400-by-100-foot ocean transport barge. The concept and contract design was performed by the Bristol Harbor Group in Rhode Island, while Bollinger performed the detail design engineering in Louisiana at its Lockport facility and construction at the Bollinger Marine Fabrication facility in Amelia.

The Holland will play an integral role in our mission to design and deliver the Columbia class, the nations top strategic defense priority, said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat.

The barge is named for submarine designer John Holland, who laid the foundation for modern submarine construction.

Bollinger Shipyards is pleased to partner with General Dynamics Electric Boat to help meet the expanding needs of the United States Navy, said Bollinger President and CEO Ben Bordelon.
A woman was killed and multiple people were injured in five separate shootings across New Orleans, according to the New Orleans Police Department said. Police are also investigating a handful of burglaries and robberies.

The several crimes reported occurred between 7 a.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday, according to authorities.

At about 5:40 p.m. Sunday, a woman was found dead inside a house in the 1800 block of Saint Anthony Street in the Seventh Ward. Police said she was shot multiple times, but didn't provide additional details on the investigation.

In the French Quarter, a 32-year-old man told police he was beaten up by three unknown women at Bourbon and Iberville streets at about 3:10 p.m. Sunday. They took his wallet after assaulting him, police said.

Here are more major offenses reported to the New Orleans authorities since 7 a.m. Sunday:
Despite saying recently that his administration would "move forward" from a dispute about the process the City Council used to pass this year's $73 million budget, Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn this week urged the council to join him in seeking an Attorney General's opinion about it.

The fight over the budget, which revolves more around the process of adopting the budget than the budget itself, has been ongoing since June 14. On that day, the council held a special meeting at which they added two amendments to the 2021-2022 budget they had adopted 11 days earlier  one for employee pay raises and another to create a new position to advise the council on budget and legal matters.

Zahn and members of his administration argued at the June 14 meeting that the council's reconsideration of the budget in effect created a new budget that required a period of public comment. The meeting featured some heated words between Zahn and the council and in one case, a member of his own administration. City Attorney Leigh Roussel, a Zahn appointee, accused the administration of "ambushing" her with opinions from outside attorneys.

Controversial City Council meeting left Kenner with two budgets. Which one are they using? A new Kenner budget went into effect July 1  with a pay raise for city employees and a new position to advise the council on legal and budget

Roussel argued that the council could legally reconsider the budget. She later recused herself from the squabble, saying representing the mayor and the council was a conflict of interest.

Zahn has said consistently that he doesn't oppose raises for city employees and that he was willing to add the new position into the budget. And on July 2, the day after the city's fiscal year began, Chief Administrative Officer Deborah Foshee said the city was "moving forward" with the budget the council approved on June 14.

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Five says later, Zahn wrote a letter urging the council to join him in consulting the Attorney General's office for future guidance.

"While it is tempting to ignore this problem, we are not doing the people's business if we do so," he wrote, noting that disharmony between the two sides could hurt the city's chances of luring new projects to Kenner.

"Let's work together and get this resolved," he wrote.

Zahn's letter came the same day five members of the council, in a separate letter, objected to the publication of the city's budget book, which included a letter noting the procedural questions and highlighted the two amendments.

"We request that you and your administration refrain from making statements that there are two budgets and honor the budget as passed on June 14, 2021," the letter says. Councilmembers Mike Sigur and Glenn Hayes did not sign the council's letter.
Norman, OK (73070)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Harrisburg, Pa. - The states Department of Human Services issued a reminder to Pennsylvanians that assistance is available through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

The program can help those who have been affected by COVID-19, and are facing eviction to pay past due or upcoming rent, utility bills, and other costs necessary to retain safe housing.

The department also wanted to reminded residents that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are enforcing a final extension of the federal moratorium on evictions through July 31, 2021.

Those who are experiencing housing instability or who are at risk of eviction shouldn't wait until the moratorium ends to start an ERAP application.

Having a safe, stable place to call home is foundational to good health and overall well-being. The CDCs eviction moratorium has been critical in helping people stay housed and avoid a wave of evictions and homelessness as Pennsylvania and the nation experience continued economic insecurity, but we must prepare for what may come when the moratorium ends, said Meg Snead, acting secretary of the Department of Human Services.

I urge any Pennsylvanian who is having trouble paying rent or utilities or who is concerned about losing their home to not wait and apply for ERAP today. This program is here to help, but please do not wait until you are in an especially difficult or desperate situation to start your application," the secretary continued.

Households may be eligible for up to 18 months of assistance to cover past-due or future rental and/or utility payments.

The amount of a households monthly rent or utility bills does not preclude eligibility, however, the amount of ERAP assistance provided to a household is determined by program administrators at the county level.

Assistance may be provided to a tenant for future rental payments, and for unpaid rental or utility arrears that were accrued on or after March 13, 2020 on a residential rental property.

Counties may choose to provide additional assistance to eligible households if funds remain available.

Either tenants or landlords can apply for this assistance, but a tenant does not need a landlords permission to apply and use this assistance. This program is an opportunity to help ease circumstances for both parties, so both landlord and tenants are strongly encouraged to work cooperatively to secure this stabilizing assistance.

To qualify for assistance, a household must be responsible to pay rent on a residential property and meet each of the following criteria:

One or more members of the household has qualified for unemployment benefits, had a decrease in income, had increased household costs, or experienced other financial hardships during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic

One or more members of the household can show a risk of housing instability or homelessness

The household has an income at or below 80 percent of the area's median income

Applicants must supply the following information:

Head of household's personal information

Income information for household members age 18 and older

Rental lease and amount owed

Landlord's name and contact information

If applying for utility assistance, applicants must provide utility expenses and provider information

About two-thirds of Pennsylvania counties have partnered with DHS to make ERAP applications available to their residents online.

The remaining counties opted to accept applications from county residents through their own application process.

Residents of all counties can visit COMPASS for information on how to apply for ERAP, including residents of counties that have developed their own process.

If a person tries to apply through COMPASS but indicates that they reside in one of the 22 counties with its own application, they will be provided with information about how to apply, including a link to the county application if available.

For too many Pennsylvanians, this crisis has destabilized financial situations and further strained resources for those already living at or near the poverty line  forcing them to choose between meeting basic needs, paying for housing or utility costs, and keeping their families safe, Snead added.

According to Snead, ERAP has the potential to stabilize the lives of millions of Pennsylvanians in vulnerable housing situations and provide a reprieve to the residential rental industry and utility providers."

For more information on ERAP, promotional materials, program data, and to learn how to apply.

"This is our opportunity to invest in our long-term economic recovery and prevent a wave of evictions and homelessness that will create yet another public health crisis that could persist beyond the pandemic. Please do not wait  apply today," Snead added.

The ERAP was created through Act 1 of 2021 and expanded in the 2021-2022 state budget with over $1 billion in assistance available.

An additional $498 million in rental assistance was directly allocated to Pennsylvanias largest counties by the federal government, making a total of $847 million available to support renters and landlords feeling the strain of economic insecurity across Pennsylvania.
Towanda, Pa. Richard Adam Wood, 27, of Towanda was charged with a second-degree felony after failing to register under Megans Law for a yearly update.

Wood, who is currently being held at the Bradford County Prison in lieu of $35,000 bail, will face Judge Todd Carr at 9 a.m. on July 28 for a preliminary hearing.

Wood is required to register under Megans Law every year after being convicted for corruption of minors and indecent assault in 2011 and then sexual abuse of children in 2014.

Docket Sheet
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 538 PM EDT Sun Jul 11 2021 PAZ005-006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>036-045-049-050-056-063>065- 122000- McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin- Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Southern Clinton-Union- Snyder-Perry-Cumberland-Adams-York- 538 PM EDT Sun Jul 11 2021 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 372 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds are possible Monday afternoon and evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service State College PA 623 PM EDT Sun Jul 11 2021 The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Central Centre County in central Pennsylvania... South central Clinton County in north central Pennsylvania... * Until 715 PM EDT. * At 622 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Milesburg, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * This severe thunderstorm will be near... Bald Eagle State Park around 640 PM EDT. Blanchard around 700 PM EDT. Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Howard and Beech Creek. For those driving on Interstate 80, this includes areas between the Snow Shoe and Lock Haven exits, specifically between mile markers 149 and 157...and from mile markers 168 to 176. This includes Route 220 from near Lamar on I-80 to near Mackeyville on I-80. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. If on or near Bald Eagle Reservoir, get away from the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 15 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

Tornado Warning

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED Tornado Warning National Weather Service State College PA 616 PM EDT Sun Jul 11 2021 The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Northwestern Centre County in central Pennsylvania... West central Clinton County in north central Pennsylvania... * Until 645 PM EDT. * At 616 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Karthaus, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This dangerous storm will be near... Keating around 640 PM EDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service State College PA 555 PM EDT Sun Jul 11 2021 The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northeastern Clearfield County in central Pennsylvania... Northwestern Centre County in central Pennsylvania... Southeastern Potter County in north central Pennsylvania... Southeastern Cameron County in north central Pennsylvania... Northwestern Clinton County in north central Pennsylvania... * Until 630 PM EDT. * At 555 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Stevenson Dam to 7 miles west of Kettle Creek State Park to 9 miles southeast of Hicks Run to near Karthaus to near Lecontes Mills, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Severe thunderstorms will be near... Stevenson Dam around 610 PM EDT. Kettle Creek State Park around 620 PM EDT. Keating, Tamarack, Cross Fork, Westport, Ole Bull State Park, Renovo and South Renovo around 630 PM EDT. Other locations impacted by these severe thunderstorms include Driftwood. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

Flood Advisory

Flood Advisory National Weather Service State College PA 537 PM EDT Sun Jul 11 2021 Cameron PA-Clearfield PA-Clinton PA-Elk PA-Potter PA- 537 PM EDT Sun Jul 11 2021 The National Weather Service in State College has issued a * Flood Advisory for... Northern Clearfield County in central Pennsylvania... Cameron County in north central Pennsylvania... Northwestern Clinton County in north central Pennsylvania... Elk County in north central Pennsylvania... Southern Potter County in north central Pennsylvania... * Until 745 PM EDT. * At 537 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 1.5 inches have already fallen in the Advisory area over the past few hours, and up to an additional inch of rain is expected over the next 30 to 60 minutes. * Some locations that will experience flooding include... St. Marys, DuBois, Clearfield, Ridgway, Johnsonburg, Cameron, Wharton, Coudersport, Curwensville, Emporium, Penfield, Hyde, Plymptonville, Rockton, Force, Benezette, Hicks Run, Truman, Medix Run and Elk River. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Local

Perfect storm: An opioid menace like never before

FILE Rome Police Chief Denise Downer-McKinney (right) talks with Georgia Bureau of Investigation chemistry section manager Deneen Kilcrease before a presentation on Georgia's opioid epidemic at the Rome Rotary luncheon Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Theres no real profile for the victims. They dont appear to fit into any particular economic, racial or ethnic grouping.

The rising numbers of opioid overdoses seem to hit everyone, says Dr. Dan McCollum, an emergency medicine physician at Augusta University Medical Center. It hits all economic strata.

Even age is no longer the factor it used to be. Overdose patients coming into ERs are increasingly middle-aged and older, as compared to youthful drug users in past decades, he said Friday.

Were seeing a great deal of fentanyl being used, he added. The scary thing is that is hits so fast. It can stop your breathing so quickly.

The opioid overdose stats have jumped statewide, alarming public health and medical experts.

Georgia saw a big jump in opioid-related overdose deaths last year, fueled by a doubling of the number of fatalities involving fentanyl, according to data from the state Department of Public Health released last week.

Overall, opioid overdose deaths rose by 36% in 2020. And those increases have continued in the early months of this year, with fentanyl again a major driver.

The COVID-19 pandemic has played a large role in the overdose spike, experts say.

The pandemic has created a perfect storm for the opioid crisis, said Hannah Cooper of Emorys Rollins School of Public Health.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid thats 50 times more potent than heroin. It is a prescription drug that is made and used illegally, and is commonly found at the street level in counterfeit pills or powder form. Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs.

Just about everything, from cocaine to meth to heroin, has fentanyl and (its derivative) carfentanil in it, Neil Campbell, executive director of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, said Friday. There are some really dangerous chemicals out there that are killing people.

The areas of the state with the highest rates of opioid deaths last year include Northwest Georgia, the East Central district based in Augusta, and the Cobb/Douglas health district in metro Atlanta.

This year, a high number of emergency room visits related to opioid overdoses have come in other areas as well, including Macon/Bibb County and Carroll County in west Georgia.

Suspected overdoses in Chatham County numbered 368 in 2020, but this year, from Jan. 1 to April 19, there have already been 336 suspected overdoses, the Savannah Morning News reported.

I dont think that there is any overwhelming demographic for drug use or overdose. It attacks all, Chatham Emergency Services CEO Chuck Kearns told the newspaper. Its nondiscriminatory.

The spike has occurred nationally as well. The CDC reported that more than 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020, the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period.

While overdose deaths were already increasing in the months before the pandemic, the CDC said, the latest numbers suggested an acceleration of overdose deaths as the virus spread.

Cooper, who is Rollins Chair of Substance Use Disorders at Emorys Rollins School of Public Health, said fentanyl had already become more widespread than ever when COVID hit.

Because of the pandemic shutdowns, she said, that availability of the dangerous drug was coupled with a decrease in access to drug treatment and social services.

In addition, Cooper said, the pandemics shock to the economic and social systems helped lead to isolation, creating depression and anxiety, which can increase drug use.

She called for wider access to Naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, and to test strips for users to detect whether fentanyl is present in a drug.

Drug treatment services, Cooper added, should be available on demand, and the problem of homelessness should be addressed.

The opioid crisis is creating tremendous suffering in our communities, she said. Georgia is trying to mount more of a response to overdoses, Cooper added.

Addictions appear to be rising across the board, she and others say. McCollum said hes seeing an increase in alcohol-related problems as well.

Were seeing a great deal of suicidality, he said. Were going to have to approach (the crisis) from multiple directions.
Rome, GA (30161)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Rome, GA (30161)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Jul 12, 2021 KRR

Actress Kangana Ranaut has started shooting for her film Dhaakad in Budapest. She shared a glimpse of her look in the film, which is directed by Razneesh Ghai, on social media on Sunday.

On her Instagram story, Kangana wrote: Making of the most vicious of them all Agent Agni with my dream team.

The "Queen" actress will be seen as Agent Agni in her upcoming movie. The films first schedule was shot in Madhya Pradesh.

Kangana also has films such as Thalaivi, period drama Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda and Tejas in the pipeline. Click the Movie button below for more info:

Dhaakad

Kangana Ranaut Pictures
Students Build Skills for the Clean Energy Economy in 2021 Collegiate Wind Competition

July 12, 2021

Following a years worth of work and two weeks of virtual presentations showcasing wind energy innovations from 13 competing teams, the Pennsylvania State University claimed first place overall in the U.S. Department of Energys (DOEs) 2021 Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC).

Johns Hopkins University won second place, and California Polytechnic State University won third. Students presented to a remote panel of judges June 210, and the competition wrapped up with a series of virtual events on June 11.

The CWC aims to prepare students from multiple disciplines to enter the wind energy workforce by providing real-world technology experience. This years contest met that goal, with 173 students from a range of disciplines including engineering, economics, and architecture.

Preparing Todays College Students for Tomorrows Workforce

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) facilitates the Collegiate Wind Competition, a DOE-funded workforce development program. Since 2014, the CWC has helped college students merge academic coursework with hands-on learning, connect with industry leaders, and prepare for jobs in the wind energy workforce.

The 2021 CWC teams competed in three contests:

The Turbine Prototype Contest. Teams designed a model wind turbine. The Project Development Contest. Teams developed a site plan and cost-of-energy analysis for a 100-megawatt wind farm. The Connection Creation Contest. In this contest, new for 2021, teams conducted outreach with the wind industry, their local communities, and local media outlets.

Each year, the competition identifies a new challenge that addresses wind industry needs and helps students broaden their skills. The 2021 challenge was to research, design, and build a turbine for deployment in uncertain times, with a significant degree of unknown risks and delays. NREL competition organizers developed the 2021 challenge with the variabilities of both the coronavirus pandemic and the real world in mind.

The teams embodied this challenge as they prepared for the 2021 competition and during the event itself, said Elise DeGeorge, competition manager at NREL. They anticipated alternatives to shared laboratory space and in-person meetings, planned for supply chain disruptions, and used digital tools to present their work. By doing so, they learned to plan ahead, practice active risk management, and adapt quicklyessential skills for the wind industry and beyond.

Virtual Events and New Features Enhance 2021 Competition

In addition to the team presentations, the 2021 competition featured several other online events designed to complement the competition experience. These events included tours of NRELs Flatirons Campus, an industry networking event, and a student-led poster session.

The Pennsylvania State University earned the highest combined score over three contests in the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition. The team also won the Project Development Contest. Photo courtesy of the Penn State Wind Energy Club

Also new for the 2021 competition was the addition of two learn-along teams: the University of ColoradoBoulder and the University of Wyoming. These teams were not eligible for awards but submitted many of the same deliverables and received feedback on their work from competition judges. This format allowed students from these schools to experience the competition and establish a deeper understanding of the wind industry.

Watch highlights from the 2021 Collegiate Wind Competition.

The 2022 Collegiate Wind Competition is scheduled for May 1619, 2022, at the American Clean Power Associations CLEANPOWER 2022 Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas.

DOE plans to issue a request for proposals for the 2023 Collegiate Wind Competition in fall 2021.
Best-selling author and CNN television personality Lisa Ling will receive the Storyteller of the Year Award next month from 1455 Literary Arts in Winchester.
Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of The Almanac of American Politics.
Five local banks have renewed pledges to finance transit-oriented development near South Shore Line stations in conjunction with the Double Track and West Lake extension projects.

Horizon Bank, Peoples Bank, First Financial Bank, 1st Source Bank and Centier Bank have pledged two years ago to try to collectively lend up to $25 million for new development that would enhance the quality of life in Northwest Indiana. The banks have reiterated their support as work on the project begins.

Northwest Indiana has a game-changing opportunity to capitalize on the expansion of the South Shore rail line, said Mike Schneider, commercial market president at First Financial Bank. There is an exciting, ambitious vision for the future of Northwest Indiana that no single municipality, or business, or economic concern can drive on their own. Collaboration is key and to that end, it is our hope that our bank group can be leaders for mutually beneficial partnerships.

The Northwest Indiana Regional Opportunities Council, a sister organization of One Region that consists of CEOs in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, is spearheading the effort.
On the same property is Tosis, a fine dining restaurant serving Northern Italian cuisine that has been the place to go for a lavish meal for 82 years now. Their hours dont overlap, so youll have to make your way to Bit of Swiss early in the day and make a reservation for dinner in the evening.

As you head to or leave from either place, make a stop down the road at the Glenlord Beach Park. The name doesnt really match as theres no beach there or access to the water. The park is just a small grassy patch with one picnic table and a grill, but there is an overlook where you can sit back and just take in the lake breeze and look out over the water  or if you time it right, see a nice sunset. It's a nice spot to bring a picnic lunch to eat as you listen to the waves crash against the rocks below and are soothed by the sounds of the water.

If you want to visit a quiet beach that isnt full of people, you can check out Grand Mere State Park if you are up for a hike. Only accessible by walking trails that are less than a mile, you can hike some beautiful dune land and explore a half-mile of shoreline with beautiful views of Lake Michigan.
In New York, for instance, freelancers must buy a paid leave policy within 26 weeks of becoming an independent worker. If they buy a policy outside that window, they will need to pay the premiums for two years before they have access to the benefits. They must also have a disability plan or an insurance carrier to qualify for the program. Other states have shorter waits or none at all, but most are still laden with red tape and require freelancers to pay into their plans for a certain period.

On a more positive note, the monthly premiums for these plans are relatively low. Most are calculated as a small percentage of the workers freelance income, usually between 0.5 and 3 percent, said Sherry Leiwant, a co-president of A Better Balance, an organization that advocates for paid leave.

They are so much less expensive than any disability insurance plans youre going to find on the private market, she said.

So lets say I planned my life impeccably (ha!) and started paying into New Yorks family leave program for independent workers two years ago. Starting this week, I would be eligible to tap into those benefits, which would provide 67 percent of my average weekly income for up to 12 weeks. Thats certainly better than what Im actually doing (and what most people do), which is to work as much as possible until my due date and then live off savings during my leave.

The takeaway is that if youre a freelancer and live in a state that offers one of these paid leave programs, its never too early to explore your options, Ms. Leiwant said.

If you think youre going to have a baby at some point, you can do the math and decide whether its going to be worth it for you to opt into a program, she said. These plans also cover varying degrees of non-child-related family and medical leave, so even if youre definitely not going to have children, they can come in handy.

Still, many independent workers dont bother, and its easy to see why. When youre starting out as a freelancer, there are so many costs that you have to consider, Mr. Espinal said.
This, in Texas, is against the law  and punishable by a severe sentence, at least for those who knowingly violate this election law. Rogers claims that he didnt knowingly do so, but it doesnt matter: He is a Black man with a criminal history, a perfect boogeyman and scapegoat to help illustrate a virtually nonexistent problem of voter fraud.

On Wednesday, the day before the Texas Legislature was to convene in a special session called by the governor to pass a draconian voter suppression bill that Democrats had blocked in the regular session by walking out, authorities in Texas made a huge splash by arresting Rogers. The New York Times last week interviewed one of Rogerss lawyers, Tommy Buser-Clancy, a senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, and reported that Rogers could face upward of 40 years in prison  20 years for each charge, according to Mr. Buser-Clancy, who added that Mr. Rogerss past criminal record meant that the sentence could be even higher.

This entire case is an abomination. Rogers became the straw man for their special session.

But the history of pursuing Black people for voter fraud is long. It is a form of terror as a deterrent. It is a scare tactic aimed at the Black people who intend to vote and for the benefit of the white electorate nervous that their electoral power and supremacy is in retreat. According to their logic, the determinative white vote and white voice is in danger not because of shifts in values and demographics, but because of deceit and chicanery. As such, they must pass laws to crack down and ensure the purity of the vote. They dont want to bolster the vote, but to bleach it.

This is not the first time that Texas has targeted a Black person for voter fraud.

As The Times reported in April:

On Election Day 2016, Crystal Mason went to vote after her mother insisted that she make her voice heard in the presidential election. When her name didnt appear on official voting rolls at her polling place in Tarrant County, Texas, she filled out a provisional ballot, not thinking anything of it. Ms. Masons ballot was never officially counted or tallied because she was ineligible to vote: She was on supervised release after serving five years for tax fraud. Nonetheless, that ballot has wrangled her into a lengthy appeals process after a state district court sentenced her to five years in prison for illegal voting, as she was a felon on probation when she cast her ballot.

The Black vote is targeted for suppression in all sorts of ways: requiring IDs that Black voters are less likely to have, restricting the times and places at which ballots can be cast, purging voter rolls and preventing those convicted of crimes from casting ballots.

As NPR reported Friday, Those critics also say these laws also disproportionately impact people of color. There were almost 160,000 people in Texas prisons in 2016, according to research from the Sentencing Project, a criminal justice reform group. More than 490,000 Texans were on probation or parole in 2017, and Black Texans were four times more likely to be incarcerated than white Texans, the group said.
A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed outside a cafe in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon in what police officials said they believed was a gang-related attack that targeted the boy.

Shortly after 3 p.m., a dark sedan drove down East 187th Street, in the Belmont section of the Bronx, where the boy was standing outside Angels Cafe, according to the police. A gunman got out of the vehicle and started shooting, hitting the boy once in the chest and once in the leg, a police spokesman said.

One witness at the scene, about a block west of the Bronx Zoo, said he had heard about eight rounds being fired, WABC-TV reported. The boy stumbled inside the cafe after he was shot, The New York Daily News reported. He came in, fell and died in the restaurant, a worker at the restaurant named Jennifer told the newspaper. We didnt see what happened, though, she said.
The countrys lead prosecutor has also begun looking into what role Haitian security forces may have had in an operation that killed the president and wounded his wife but harmed no one else in the household or in the presidents security retinue.

On the streets in Haiti there is widespread skepticism of the official government line, with many wondering how the assailants got through such a fortified compound defended by Haitian security forces with no other deaths.

And in Colombia, some family members of the detained Colombians say the men went to Haiti to protect the president, not kill him, adding to the many murky and often contradictory claims surrounding the assassination.

Mauricio never would have signed up for such an operation, said Ms. Romero, 43, no matter how much money he was offered.

Colombia, which has suffered decades of internal conflict, has one of the best trained and best funded militaries in Latin America, long aided by the United States. Because of this, Colombians veterans are highly sought after by global security companies, which have deployed them as far away as Yemen and Iraq, sometimes paying each person up to $3,000 a month  a substantial sum when compared to salaries of several hundred dollars a month they could expect in Colombia.

Mr. Romero had joined the military in his 20s, at a time when left-wing guerrillas and paramilitary groups terrorized much of Colombia. By the time he retired in 2019, he was a first sergeant who had served all over the country and had earned the distinction of expert lancer, a specialized training for elite troops similar to the U.S. Army Ranger program.

Ms. Romero described her husband as a stickler for rules. If you do things right, he used to say, life will go well. He was adjusting to civilian life, she said, and sometimes said he missed the camaraderie and sense of purpose he got from the military.
There would be no revolutions here, and no memorials either, just a restoration of the ancien regime: an orchestra playing what it has long played, and playing it pretty well. Beethoven it would have to be, and the Fifth Symphony, too  the Beethoven of triumph over disaster, of the human spirit, indomitable.

Near enough, at least. Surely it will take time for players, even of this quality, to form a collective again, to fill out their sound, to find the attack and the togetherness that mark the best ensembles. An improvement from Saturday night was already audible on Sunday, in a peppy run-through of Dvoraks Sixth Symphony.

Before that, there were slack moments in the Beethoven, bars when balances were set aside in pursuit of sheer exuberance, passages that were allowed to drift by a conductor who has seemed to grow more standoffish as an interpreter since his arrival in Boston in 2014.

But the effect was still potent, surprisingly not so much for the impact of the whole, but for glimmers of the players set free: the clarinet of William R. Hudgins, so mellow, such a balm; the flute of Elizabeth Rowe, so unusual in its woodiness; the trumpet of Thomas Rolfs, so rousing at full stretch.
Haitis turmoil deepens

Haiti is feverishly searching for answers after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise last week, while the public remains skeptical of official narratives. Here are live updates.

The police have arrested a Haitian-born doctor based in Florida, Christian Emmanuel Sanon. The national police chief indicated that he believed Dr. Sanon, 63, was plotting to assume the presidency, but offered no explanation for how the doctor could possibly have taken control of the government.

Haitian officials have also implicated at least 20 Colombians, describing them as centerpieces of a well-organized plan carried out by foreign mercenaries. Officials say Dr. Sanon hired a private Florida security company that recruited at least some of the Colombians. But their role in the killing, if any, is murky.

Colombia is investigating several trips that one of Moises top security aides made to Bogota in the months before the assassination. Haitis lead prosecutor is also investigating what role Haitian security forces may have had in the killing. Many wonder how the assailants got through such a fortified compound defended by Haitian security forces with no other deaths.
Ms. Petrou and her husband, Basil, had been advising Wall Street executives and regulators for decades. (She recently wrote a book on monetary policy driving inequality.) They had thought a lot about mixed public-private markets during the mortgage finance crisis. Inspired by green bonds  publicly-backed loans that since 2007 have created a $750 billion private market in sustainability projects  they started working on the idea that became BioBonds.

Its a lifeline, Attila Seyhan, the director of translational oncology operations at Brown University and a former Pfizer scientist, said of the idea. He said his colleagues were similarly intrigued.

Unlike with grants, researchers would need to repay BioBonds loans. Still, getting no-strings funding is a constant struggle, Dr. Seyhan said, and there is an enormous amount of frustration about lack of alternatives.

He believes university business units will get creative to make BioBonds work. There will be losses, he said. But if 1 percent succeeds, you pay off the losses. This is how drug development works.

Many schools already encourage scientists to find money outside of grants with which to pursue their ideas. Increasingly, scientists say they have to think like venture capitalists, keeping commercialization in mind when they design clinical trials so that they are able to raise money from private companies to fund them.

Theres a recognition now that even if we discover something, universities now have to help researchers transition to commercialization, says Dr. Richard Burkhart, a surgeon and researcher at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Currently, his work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, but he is working with the Technology Ventures team at his institution on trying to commercialize his work.

While grants are preferable, they arent abundant. Dr. Burkhart believes BioBonds bonds may help scientists and institutions navigate the difficult translational space.
The presence of PFAS in oil and gas extraction threatens to expose oil-field employees and emergency workers handling fires and spills as well as people who live near, or downstream from, drilling sites to a class of chemicals that has faced increasing scrutiny for its links to cancer, birth defects, and other serious health problems.

A class of man-made chemicals that are toxic even in minuscule concentrations, for decades PFAS were used to make products like nonstick pans, stain-resistant carpeting and firefighting foam. The substances have come under scrutiny in recent years for their tendency to persist in the environment, and to accumulate inside the human body, as well as for their links to health problems like cancer and birth defects. Both Congress and the Biden administration have moved to better regulate PFAS, which contaminate the drinking water of as many as 80 million Americans.

Industry researchers have long been aware of their toxicity. But it wasnt until the early 2000s, when the environmental attorney Rob Bilott sued DuPont for pollution from its Teflon plant in Parkersburg, W.Va., that the dangers of PFAS started to be widely known. In settlements with the E.P.A. in the mid-2000s, DuPont acknowledged knowing of PFASs dangers, and it and several other chemical manufacturers subsequently committed to phase out the use of certain kinds of the chemical by 2015.

Kevin A. Schug, a professor of analytical chemistry at the University of Texas at Arlington, said the chemicals identified in the FracFocus database fell into the PFAS group of compounds, although he added that there was not enough information to make a direct link between the chemicals in the database and the ones approved by the E.P.A. Still, he said it was clear that the approved polymer, if and when it breaks down in the environment, will break down into PFAS.

The findings underscore how, for decades, the nations laws governing various chemicals have allowed thousands of substances to go into commercial use with relatively little testing. The E.P.A.s assessment was carried out under the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, which authorizes the agency to review and regulate new chemicals before they are manufactured or distributed.

But for years, that law had gaps that left Americans exposed to harmful chemicals, experts say. Furthermore, the Toxic Substances Control Act grandfathered in thousands of chemicals already in commercial use, including many PFAS chemicals. In 2016, Congress strengthened the law, bolstering the E.P.A.s authority to order health testing, among other measures. The Government Accountability Office, the watchdog arm of Congress, still identifies the Toxic Substances Control Act as a program with one of the highest risks of abuse and mismanagement.

In recent days, whistle-blowers have alleged in The Intercept that the E.P.A. office in charge of reviewing toxic chemicals tampered with the assessments of dozens of chemicals to make them appear safer. E.P.A. scientists evaluating new chemicals are the last line of defense between harmful  even deadly  chemicals and their introduction into U.S. commerce, and this line of defense is struggling to maintain its integrity, the whistle-blowers said in their disclosure, which was released by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a Maryland-based nonprofit group.
When John Singletons first film, Boyz N the Hood, was released on July 12, 1991, it immediately made him a household name in many Black communities across the country. The movie was so well received that my mother decided to take me to see the film in the theater.

This was a big deal.

I was only 10 years old, but, despite my mothers reluctance to let me watch movies with sex scenes, she explained that it was important that I experience Boyz. After the credits rolled, I understood why.

Ostensibly the story of three friends, Tre, Ricky and Doughboy, growing up in South-Central Los Angeles, it showed how white supremacy set the conditions that ended in neighborhoods devastated by crime and, ultimately, violence. Not many white people are featured in the film, but the impact of whiteness on Black life permeates the screen.
We have already parted with too much. We held a beloved fathers hand as he left this world, and now we cant just send his prized tool chest off into the void. The things handed down in our families dont hold a lot of monetary value but contain plenty of pining, the Kentucky novelist Silas House wrote in a recent blog post. Theyre the stuff of family history.

The logical thing would be to discard some of our own belongings to make room for the things we want to keep from the loved ones we couldnt. The trouble with that logic is that these are the things our own children grew up with. It feels impossible to carry off the makings of the world that made them, especially when they are so close to needing it again themselves. But where to put it all?

Reader, we stored it. Like my mother before me, I found myself standing at the top of the abyss and flinging my treasures into a place where I might reasonably expect never to see them again.

This solution will surprise no one who has weathered a divorce, downsized after the children were grown, or watched new-minted adults pack up their first apartments to ride out a pandemic at home. It will especially surprise no one who has moved to a new city or driven the blue highways of Americas heartland, where new self-storage facilities keep popping up like mushrooms after a week of rain. Even in rural places with few actual homes, smack in the middle of nowhere, there are now more teeny-tiny warehouses than you would believe, all for belongings that wont fit anywhere else.

Self-storage thrives when people experience change, and Covid disrupted norms across all generations, Drew Dolan of DXD Capital told The Wall Street Journals Esther Fung last week. Little wonder that self-storage is now a $40-billion-a-year industry, with more than 10 percent of American households paying to store their stuff someplace besides where they live. The units themselves occupy some 1.9 billion square feet, with an additional 43.6 million square feet planned or under construction.

We might not be able to take it all with us, but we can sure keep it in climate-controlled safety, waiting for whatever we think were waiting for, even if what were waiting for is too elusive or too far out of reach to be named.

In the age of Marie Kondo, it would be easy to see all this stuff as a moral failing, the sign of a fatally materialist worldview. In time I, too, may come to recognize our rented 10x10 storage unit, this receptacle for emotional need, as an exercise in self-delusion. But somehow I dont think that will happen. I think Ill always remember what it meant this year to try to save whatever I could save from a time when the world kept taking and taking and taking.
When it comes to Haiti, Joe Bidens instincts are right: The best the United States can do is to do as little as possible  and, if possible, a bit less.

What the U.S. owes Haiti is what its already giving: legal and forensic aid to investigate last weeks assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Two Haitian Americans reportedly participated in carrying out the plot. Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian-born doctor based in Florida, has been arrested in Haiti on allegations that he ordered the assassination to make himself president. Former Colombian soldiers suspected of belonging to the hit squad had been hired by CTU Security, a firm based near Miami and run by a Venezuelan emigre.

But if U.S. authorities can help Haiti establish the facts about Moises murder, they cannot help the country change the facts that led up to it  the endemic corruption, rampant lawlessness and institutional decay that have long crippled Haiti, and that make nearly every form of foreign assistance not only useless but also harmful.

That starts with the military intervention that the interim prime minister, Claude Joseph, requested of Washington. The U.S. has a history of sending troops to Haiti, from the long occupation begun by Woodrow Wilson to Bill Clintons invasion on behalf of the demagogic priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide to briefer intercessions by George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
I was sitting inside the dark, yak-hair tent of a nomad family in Ladakh, in the Indian Himalaya. Outside, some scruffy sheep searched for greenery among the cold and barren moonscape, and large raptors circled in the thermals. As we huddled around the hearth, the old man handed me a small glass of salty, yak-butter tea.

There were wolves here two nights ago, he told me through a translator. This time I chased them away, but they will come back again and try and get at my sheep. Its happening more and more.

Everything about being a herder is getting more difficult, he added. Maybe my sons wont want to continue this life. My wife and I might be among the last of the nomads here.
From the moment U.S. coronavirus cases emerged in the Seattle area and then devastated New York City last spring, sweeping predictions about the future of city life followed. Density was done for. An exodus to the suburbs and small towns would ensue. Transit would become obsolete. The appeal of a yard and a home office would trump demand for bustling urban spaces. And Zoom would replace the in-person connections that give big cities their economic might.

The pandemic promised nothing short of the End of Cities, a prophecy foretold by pundits, tweets and headlines, at times with unveiled schadenfreude.

If the past year has laid bare many underlying forces in society, this was another one: a deep-rooted discomfort  suspicion, even  about urban life in America. But now city sidewalks are returning to life, pandemic migration patterns have become clearer, and researchers have dispelled early fears that density is a primary driver of Covid-19. So it is perhaps a good time to ask: What is so alluring about the perpetually imminent End of Cities?

Why wont that idea itself die?

In America, it has been like a virus strain mutating to the moment: Surely disease will kill cities, or congestion will, or corruption, or suburbanization, or fiscal crises, or technology, or crime, or terrorism, or this pandemic (unlike all the pandemics that came before it).
Good morning.

In recent weeks, dangerous heat has killed hundreds of people in Oregon and Washington, endangered workers across the region and strained Californias power grid.

It has also exacerbated the slow-moving natural disaster already punishing the West: the drought.

Late last week, Gov. Gavin Newson formally urged all Californians to reduce their water use by 15 percent. Its not a mandate, but it underscores the harsh new reality were facing.

Even though residents and big urban water agencies got much better at cutting water use during the last major drought, from 2012 to 2016, the situation now is dire enough to warrant such a broad plea.

Newsom also expanded the states drought emergency so that it encompasses 50 of the states 58 counties, including Santa Clara, which is the most populous county in the Bay Area.
A Johnson & Johnson warning

The F.D.A. is planning to warn that Johnson & Johnsons coronavirus vaccine can lead to an increased risk of a rare neurological condition known as GuillainBarre syndrome, according to people familiar with the decision.

My colleagues Sharon LaFraniere and Noah Weiland report that the Biden administration could announce the new warning as early as Tuesday. European regulators may soon follow suit. (No link has been found between Guillain-Barre syndrome and the coronavirus vaccines developed by Pfizer or Moderna, which rely on a different technology.)

Out of nearly 13 million Johnson & Johnson doses administered in the U.S., federal officials have identified roughly 100 suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which occurs when the immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and occasional paralysis.

Although the chances of developing the condition are low, they appear to be three to five times higher among recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine than among the general U.S. population. Most people who develop the condition fully recover from even the most severe symptoms.
The database indicates only one possible death of a recipient of the Johnson & Johnson shot from Guillain-Barre syndrome. But the man, a 57-year-old from Delaware, had also had a heart attack and a stroke in the past four years, raising questions about what led to his death in April.

Even though it requires only one dose and is easier to store than Pfizers and Modernas vaccines, Johnson & Johnsons shot has played only a minor role in the U.S. inoculation campaign. That is partly because a plant in Baltimore that was supposed to supply most of the doses in the country was shut down for three months because of regulatory violations. The factory, operated by Emergent BioSolutions, a subcontractor, has been forced to throw out the equivalent of 75 million doses because of suspected contamination, significantly delaying deliveries to the federal government.

At the same time, demand for the shot plummeted after the safety pause in April. At that time, 15 women in the United States and Europe who had received the Johnson & Johnson shot were diagnosed with the clotting disorder; three died. The C.D.C. has now confirmed 38 cases of the disorder.

Regulators and federal health officials warned that women younger than 50, in particular, should be aware of the rare but increased clotting risk. In the nearly three months since the pause ended, only about five million people in the United States have taken Johnson & Johnsons shot, and state officials report that people are much more wary of it. Millions of doses that have been distributed by the federal government are sitting unused and will expire this summer.

Alex Gorsky, Johnson & Johnsons chief executive, said last month that he was still hopeful that the vaccine, which has been used in 27 countries, would help contain the pandemic overseas. The company has promised up to 400 million doses to the African Union. Separately, Covax, the global vaccine-sharing program, is supposed to receive hundreds of millions of doses.

Studies have showed that the Johnson & Johnson shot protects people against more contagious coronavirus variants, including the Delta variant, and is highly effective at preventing severe Covid-19, hospitalizations and death.

The Food and Drug Administration shares jurisdiction over vaccines with the C.D.C., but it is solely responsible for issuing product warnings. The Guillain-Barre cases will be discussed in an upcoming meeting of a committee of outside experts who advise the C.D.C., the agency said.
KABUL, Afghanistan  The top American general in Afghanistan stepped down on Monday, a symbolic moment as the United States nears the end of its 20-year-old war and Taliban fighters sweep across the country.

At a muted ceremony at U.S. and NATO military headquarters in Kabul, Gen. Austin S. Miller ended his nearly three-year term as commander. His duties will be filled by two officials. Rear Adm. Peter G. Vasely, a former member of SEAL Team 6, will take charge of the security mission at the United States Embassy in Kabul. He will report to Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the head of the militarys Central Command, who will take over the broader military mission in Afghanistan.

Its important to me to say farewell, General Miller said. The ceremony, which lasted less than an hour, was attended by high-ranking Afghan officials, including Abdullah Abdullah, who is leading peace negotiations. Our job is now not to forget, General Miller said.

General McKenzie, who arrived in Kabul on Monday, spoke afterward, assuring those present that the Americans were not abandoning the Afghan people in such dire times.
The Senate returns to a complicated agenda, seeking to pass infrastructure and other economic priorities. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, has been working to prepare a pair of bills addressing infrastructure and other Democratic economic priorities. We are proceeding on both tracks very well, he said. Credit... Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times The Senate returned to Washington on Monday after a two-week recess facing a pile of complicated legislative work and key deadlines looming in the push to enact President Bidens far-reaching economic agenda. Democratic leaders have mapped out a monthlong sprint for senators, warning them to prepare for late nights, weekend work and even the cancellation of part of their beloved August recess to set up final passage of their priorities in the fall. The House does not return until next week, but will face a similar time crunch when it does. Their goal is to simultaneously advance two hulking bills before the summer break: a bipartisan investment in roads, bridges, high-speed internet and other infrastructure projects; and a far larger and more partisan package that would include tax increases on corporations and the rich to fund an expansion of the social safety net and programs to fight climate change. If successful, the July sprint would set up Congress to pass both bills into law when it returns to work in September. We are proceeding on both tracks very well, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said on Sunday. I was on the phone all weekend talking to all kinds of different people and legislators about moving forward on those tracks, as well as with the White House and the president, and were moving forward. But given the sheer ambition of the legislation  the two bills together could spend $3 trillion or much more  and Democrats narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, the task will not be easy. One or both bills could stall or fall apart as Democratic leaders try to placate both a group of moderate Republicans and Democrats who struck a rare bipartisan agreement on traditional infrastructure spending, as well as their more progressive Democratic members, who are pushing for a more ambitious package focused on education, child care, taxes, health care and the environment. After reaching an agreement to spend $579 billion in new money on infrastructure projects last month, the bipartisan group of senators spent much of the extended July 4 recess turning their framework into real legislation that they believe can win 60 votes in the Senate and pass the Democratic-led House. Key Senate committees are expected to begin moving parts of that bill this week, and Mr. Schumer has said he expects a vote by the full Senate before leaving in August. It remains to be seen if he can consolidate the votes needed to pass it. Work on the other legislative package, which Republicans have signaled they will oppose, is progressing more slowly. Democrats are prepared to pass it using a budget maneuver known as reconciliation that would allow them to get around a Republican filibuster. But that means the party will most likely have no votes to spare in the Senate, and its moderate and progressive wings will have to reach agreement on what to include and how much to spend. Senator Bernie Sanders, the Vermont progressive who is chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, is pushing for up to $6 trillion in spending, and told The New York Times last week that a proposal by moderates to spend one-third of that or less was much too low. Those differences will have to be resolved quickly. Mr. Schumer wants the Senate to hold a vote on a budget resolution mapping out the reconciliation spending before the Senate leaves town. Action in the House could follow. Read more

Rob Portman, Ohio Senator, is optimistic a bipartisan infrastructure deal will prevail. Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, left, meeting with President Biden and a bipartisan group of Senators to discuss infrastructure at the White House last month. Credit... Pete Marovich for The New York Times Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio and a three-decade veteran of Washington, helped lead the bipartisan negotiations that produced an infrastructure deal that has been endorsed by President Biden. But that may have been the easy part. Now, it will be up to Mr. Portman and his colleagues to write the bill, set to provide nearly $600 billion in new federal spending, and shepherd it through the narrowly divided and deeply polarized House and Senate to Mr. Bidens desk. With five Republicans publicly on board with the compromise, at least five more would need to join all 50 Democrats for the measure to have the 60 votes necessary to advance in the Senate. Mr. Portman spoke recently with The New York Times about his early, negative experience working with Mr. Biden this year on a virus relief bill, why he trusts the president now and why he thinks Republicans should support the bipartisan infrastructure deal even though they oppose the much bigger spending bill Democrats plan to jam through. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. You mentioned that theres a lot of people that agree on what core infrastructure is, but are you confident that will translate to the votes you need for this deal? Yes, I think its a compelling framework, which says that we should focus on core infrastructure. And both sides made compromises as to how much to spend. Republicans wouldve wanted to spend less, as an example, on passenger rail or transit. Democrats wouldve wanted to spend more on areas like green technology or electric car companies. But we were able to find that middle ground, and I think theres an enormous amount of support for that, both in Congress and, more importantly, in the country. People want to see our infrastructure be improved. Theyre tired of waiting in traffic during their rush hour commute. Theyre tired of the bridges, like some in Ohio, that are well beyond their usefulness and causing a lot of inefficiency in the economy, because of the bottlenecks that they represent. People are tired of worrying about lead pipes. So theres a strong interest in coming up with a way to provide funding for these long-term assets like bridges and roads and water systems, and doing it in a smart way. And I think thats why this is likely to  at the end of the day  prevail, despite some of the ups and downs. Its very popular because its something people know is needed. Read more

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Walking a fine line, Biden balances confronting crime and supporting police reform. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:18 - 0:00 transcript Biden Hosts Meeting on Gun Violence Prevention President Biden met at the White House on Monday with leaders including Attorney General Merrick Garland and New Yorks Democratic mayoral nominee, Eric Adams, to discuss ways to combat rising gun violence. Weve been at this a long time, a long time, seems like most of my career Ive been dealing with this issue. Well, theres no one-size-fit-all approach. We know there are some things that work. And the first of those that work is stemming the flow of firearms used to commit violent crimes. And weve talked, you and I have talked about this before. And it includes cracking down on holding rogue gun dealers accountable for violating the federal law. It includes the Justice Department creating five new strike forces to crack down on illegal gun trafficking in the corridor supplying weapons to cities of New York, from New York to the Bay Area. Secondly, supporting local law enforcement with the federal support they need. Our strategy provides including funding for law enforcement through the American Rescue Plan for states, cities, and to be able to hire police and pay them overtime in order to advance community policing. Third, our plan invests in community violence and intervention. We what we want to do is when we know we utilize trusted community members and encourage more community policing, we can intervene before the violence erupts. President Biden met at the White House on Monday with leaders including Attorney General Merrick Garland and New Yorks Democratic mayoral nominee, Eric Adams, to discuss ways to combat rising gun violence. Credit Credit... Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times President Biden said on Monday that Americans owed law enforcement and community leaders big time as he met with mayors and police chiefs from some of the nations largest cities, sending a clear signal to progressives in his party and Republican critics that he would crack down on crime. In a meeting at the White House, Mr. Biden urged the local officials to invest in police departments and establish community-based programs that could help rebuild trust between people of color and law enforcement. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland also attended the meeting, For Mr. Biden, the meeting was part of an increasingly urgent effort by the White House to demonstrate that the president is aggressively confronting gun violence as homicides rise in cities across the country and Republicans accuse his administration of being soft on crime. The president has called on Congress to pass measures that would close background-check loopholes, restrict assault weapons and repeal gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits, but his call for a bipartisan gun control effort is stalled. Last month, Mr. Biden called on states and local governments to use money from the American Rescue Plan to hire more police officers and beef up enforcement. But the get-tough language is tricky for Mr. Biden, who risks alienating liberals in Congress and voters who are pushing for criminal justice reform after police killings of Black people last year. Some of the most vocal Democrats in Congress continue to demand that lawmakers defund police departments that employ racist tactics and instead invest in education, mental health or other social services. Among those at Mondays meeting was Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president who won the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in part by making public safety a centerpiece of his campaign. By inviting Mr. Adams, who is heavily favored to win the general election in November, Mr. Biden is showing a desire to strike the same balance that Mr. Adams, a former New York City police captain, did in the primary  satisfying liberals on reform efforts but also demonstrating that he will do something about what the president called the first responsibility of democracy: to keep each other safe. Mr. Bidens plan, which he reiterated on Monday, includes urging communities to use $350 billion in funds from his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package to surge hiring at departments as well as support more community-focused organizations. Americans are concerned about Mr. Bidens handling of crime. A Washington Post-ABC News poll released this month showed that just 38 percent approved, 48 percent disapproved and 14 percent offered no opinion. Michael D. Shear and Read more

Monthly payments to families with children will begin, but the programs future is in doubt. Students at a summer program in New York this month. Nearly nine in 10 children will qualify for the new monthly payments under an expanded version of the child tax credit. Credit... Jose A. Alvarado Jr. for The New York Times If all goes as planned, the Treasury Department will begin making a series of monthly payments in coming days to families with children, setting a milestone in social policy and intensifying a debate over whether to make the subsidies a permanent part of the American safety net. With all but the most affluent families eligible to receive up to $300 a month per child, the United States will join many other rich countries that provide a guaranteed income for children, a goal that has long animated progressives. Experts estimate the payments will cut child poverty by nearly half, an achievement with no precedent. But the program, created as part of the stimulus bill that Democrats passed over unified Republican opposition in March, expires in a year, and the rollout could help or hinder President Bidens pledge to extend it. While the government has increased many aid programs during the coronavirus pandemic, supporters say the payments from an expanded Child Tax Credit, at a one-year cost of about $105 billion, are unique in their potential to stabilize both poor and middle-class families. America is dramatically behind its industrial peers in investing in our children, said Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey. Among Americas 74 million children, nearly nine in 10 will qualify for the new monthly payments  up to $250 a child, or $300 for children under six  which are scheduled to start on Thursday. Those payments, most of which will be sent to bank accounts through direct deposit, will be half of the years subsidy. The rest will come as a tax refund next year. Mr. Biden has proposed a four-year extension in a broader package, called the American Families Plan, but the programs fate may depend on whether Democrats can unite and advance it through the evenly divided Senate. The unconditional payments  what critics call welfare  break with a quarter century of policy. Since President Bill Clinton signed a 1996 bill to end welfare, aid has gone almost entirely to parents who work. Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, recently wrote that the new payments, with no work required, would resurrect a failed welfare system, and provide free money for criminals and addicts. A few conservatives, however, support subsidies for children, on the theory they might boost falling birthrates and allow more parents to raise children full-time. Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, has proposed a larger child benefit, though he would finance it by cutting other programs. Read more

Biden says U.S. stands with Cuban protesters, as lawmakers from both parties join in. Video People in Cuba took to the streets to protest the countrys economic crisis and the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic, in one of the largest demonstrations in decades. Credit Credit... Eliana Aponte/Associated Press President Biden on Monday called on the Cuban government to heed the demands of thousands of citizens who took to the streets on Sunday to protest power outages, food shortages and 60 years under harsh rule by the Communist Party. The Cuban people are demanding their freedom from an authoritarian regime, Mr. Biden said at the White House. I dont think weve seen anything like this in a long, long time. Or quite frankly ever. He added that the United States stands firmly with the people of Cuba, as they assert their universal rights, and we call on the government to refrain from violence or attempts to silence the voice of people of Cuba. Democrats and Republicans alike spoke out in support of the astonishing street demonstrations in Cuba, a country known for quashing dissent. Remarkable scenes emerged around the nation on Sunday, with thousands of Cubans taking to the streets in a surge of protests not seen in nearly 30 years. Shouting phrases like freedom and the people are dying of hunger, protesters overturned a police car in Cardenas, 90 miles east of Havana. Another video showed people looting from a government-run store  acts of open defiance in a nation with a long history of repressive crackdowns on dissent. Cubas president, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, spoke out on national television on Monday, calling the demonstrations a consequence of an underhanded campaign by Washington to exploit peoples emotions at a time when the island is facing food scarcity, power cuts and a growing number of Covid-19 deaths. Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, invoked his familys Cuban history in predicting the leadership of the island would resort to violence against protesters but would ultimately fall. This regime has brutalized and denied freedom to generations of Cubans, forcing many including my family to flee or be murdered, he said in a statement on Monday. He said the regime will be consigned to the dustbin of history. Representative Nicole Malliotakis, Democrat of New York, who is a daughter of a Cuban refugee, urged Mr. Biden not to return to President Obamas failed strategy with Cuba, according to a statement from her office. Mr. Obama and the Cuban leader Raul Castro agreed to normalize relations in 2014, thawing travel and commerce restrictions, and leading to the removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. I hope this is the beginning of real change toward freedom and democracy on the island, Ms. Malliotakis said. Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, also of Cuban heritage, issued a series of tweets on Sunday and Monday, and called the demonstrations a leaderless, grassroots & nationwide movement. The anger has been building up for months & its just getting started. Inevitably, American politics also entered the picture. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, tweeted, President Biden: freedom in Cuba needs you now. Dont be AWOL. And Mr. Rubio scrawled over a White House statement by Mr. Biden to scold him for what Mr. Rubio portrayed as a delayed and incomplete statement on Cubas authoritarian regime. You forgot something, Mr. Rubio wrote, adding socialist and communist to describe Cuban leadership. The protests in #Cuba began over 24 hours ago



And you forgot something  pic.twitter.com/5oeLVPtUGY  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 12, 2021 Oscar Lopez, Ernesto Londono and Read more

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Texas Democrats fled the state to thwart Republican legislation to restrict voting. A private plane waiting for the arrival of Democrats from the Texas legislature at the Austin airport on Monday. Credit... Eric Gay/Associated Press Texas Democrats fled the state on Monday in a last-ditch effort to prevent the passage of a restrictive new voting law in the Republican-controlled legislature, heading to Washington to draw attention to what they portray as a damaging assault on the right to cast a ballot. The group left Austin in midafternoon on a pair of chartered flights, then called on the nation to do more to protect voting rights in a news conference after their arrival in Washington. We are here to fight, said Representative Joe Moody, who represents El Paso. We just hope we arent alone. An official involved with the effort said at least 51 of the 67 Democrats in the Statehouse had signed on, enough to prevent Texas Republicans from attaining a quorum, which is required to conduct state business. But the Democrats move also lays bare their limited options in a legislature where the Republicans hold the majority in both chambers. Parliamentary procedures and efforts to add amendments can delay the process but not derail it, and leaving the state to prevent a quorum, Republicans said Monday, would ultimately fail as well. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:57 - 0:00 transcript Harris Praises Courage and Commitment of Texas Democrats Vice President Kamala Harris praised Texas Democrats ongoing efforts to prevent passage of a new restrictive voting law by the Republican-controlled state legislature. On Monday, the group headed to Washington to draw attention to what they view as an attack on voting rights. I do want to first start by making a statement about the legislators in Texas who are showing extraordinary courage and commitment. I met with them when many of them traveled to Washington, D.C., we sat down and had an extensive conversation in the Roosevelt Room in the White House. And I applaud them standing for the rights of all Americans, and all Texans, to express their voice through their vote unencumbered. They are leaders who are marching in the path that so many others before did when they fought and many died for our right to vote. And Ill say this later in my comments, but I do believe that fighting for the right to vote is as American as apple pie. It is so fundamental to fighting for the principles of our democracy. Vice President Kamala Harris praised Texas Democrats ongoing efforts to prevent passage of a new restrictive voting law by the Republican-controlled state legislature. On Monday, the group headed to Washington to draw attention to what they view as an attack on voting rights. Credit Credit... Nicole Hester/The Grand Rapids Press, via Associated Press Its just delaying the inevitable, said Representative Briscoe Cain, a Houston-area Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee, describing the Democrats move as political theater. The bill is among the most expansive and sweeping efforts to restrict voting in a state that already ranks as one of the most difficult in the country to cast a ballot, with Democrats and voting rights groups contending that passage of the bill threatens the very democratic foundations of the state. The move comes just one day before President Biden is scheduled to deliver a major speech on voting rights in Philadelphia. Activists have been imploring the administration recently to address the issue with more urgency. David Montgomery contributed reporting from Austin, Tex. Reid J. Epstein and Read more

Six months after the Jan. 6 siege, the Capitol Police force faces multiple crises. Officer James Blassingame of the Capitol Police says he still avoids certain hallways at the Capitol, struggles with feelings of guilt and routinely has flashbacks of fighting off the violent mob. Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times Half a year after the assault on the U.S. Capitol, the 2,000-member police force charged with protecting Congress finds itself at perhaps its biggest crossroads in its nearly two-century existence. Its work force is traumatized and overworked as its ranks have been hollowed out by a flood of departures. The agency is facing possible furloughs as it teeters on the brink of running out of funding as overtime costs outpace its budget for salaries. It has been besieged by criticism by members of both parties for the stunning security failures that allowed the assault to occur. And on top of it all, its officers have become the target of conspiracy theories by Republican lawmakers who, following Mr. Trumps lead, have suggested that a Capitol Police officer premeditated the killing of Ashli Babbitt, a rioter who was shot steps away from the door to the House chamber. As the mob pushed its way through the Capitols Crypt on Jan. 6, Officer James Blassingame was slammed back against a stone column and nearly overrun. He saw hate in the eyes of the rioters, hoisting Trump flags and Make America Great Again hats, as they urinated on the walls where American icons have served and called him racist slurs. Legitimately, I did not think I was going to make it home, Officer Blassingame, 40, and a 17-year veteran of the Capitol Police force, said in a recent interview. He did survive, but the horrors of Jan. 6, when supporters of President Donald J. Trump violently breached the Capitol, had a profound effect on Officer Blassingame. He was injured in the head and back. He avoids certain hallways at the Capitol, struggles with feelings of guilt and routinely has flashbacks of fighting off the violent mob. And his personal trauma mirrors a broader crisis within the U.S. Capitol Police, which is badly damaged, demoralized and depleted six months after the attack. We have people retiring like crazy; we have people quitting, said Officer Blassingame, who filed a lawsuit with another officer against Mr. Trump for damages for their physical and emotional injuries. I have friends of mine who have literally come in and quit. They dont even have jobs. The agency says more than 70 officers have retired or resigned since the Jan. 6 attack, which cost the lives of two members of the force who battled the rioters: Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who died from a stroke, and Officer Howard Liebengood, who took his own life. Officials say the departure rate is slightly higher than normal, but Gus Papathanasiou, the chairman of the of the Capitol Police union, said he believed the rate was far worse than was being disclosed. Read more

U.S. officials tell Pfizer that more data is needed for a decision on booster shots. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:25 - 0:00 transcript Seriously Disappointing: W.H.O. Criticizes Booster Vaccines Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O. director general, called on wealthy countries not to order Covid booster shots while most countries are still struggling to give their residents initial vaccines. While many countries havent even started vaccinating, and another country has already vaccinated majority of its population, the two doses and now moving to a surplus, which is the booster. Its really not only disappointing, its seriously disappointing. And high-income countries who are vaccinating their population significantly are starting to see Covid-19 pandemic as if its not their problem. That is dangerous. You have seen it and everybody is seeing it now. High-income countries are starting to say, we have managed to control it. Its not our problem. And there will be two problems on this: One, Im not sure if they are out of the woods, and I dont think theyre in control. Instead of Moderna and Pfizer prioritizing the supply of vaccines as boosters to countries whose populations have relatively high coverage, we need them to go all out to channel supply to Covax, the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, and low- and middle-income countries, which have very little vaccine coverage. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O. director general, called on wealthy countries not to order Covid booster shots while most countries are still struggling to give their residents initial vaccines. Credit Credit... Christopher Black/World Health Organization, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Representatives of Pfizer met privately with senior U.S. scientists and regulators on Monday to press their case for swift authorization of coronavirus booster vaccines, amid growing public confusion about whether they will be needed and pushback from federal health officials who say the extra doses are not necessary now. The high-level online meeting, which lasted an hour and involved Pfizers chief scientific officer briefing virtually every top doctor in the federal government, came on the same day that Israel started administering third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to heart transplant patients and others with compromised immune systems. Officials said after the meeting that more data  and possibly several more months  would be needed before regulators could determine whether booster shots were necessary. The twin developments underscored the intensifying debate about whether booster shots were needed in the United States, at what point and for whom. Many American experts, including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, President Bidens chief medical adviser for the pandemic, have said that there is insufficient evidence yet that boosters are necessary. Some, though, say Israels move may foreshadow a government decision to at least recommend them for the vulnerable. Pfizer is gathering information on antibody responses in those who receive a third dose, as well as data from Israel, and expects to submit at least some of that to the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks in a formal request to broaden the emergency authorization for its coronavirus vaccine. But the final decision on booster shots, several officials said after the meeting, will also depend on real-world information gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about breakthrough infections  those occurring in vaccinated people  that cause serious disease or hospitalization. And any recommendations about booster shots are likely to be calibrated, even within age groups, officials said. For example, if booster shots are recommended, they might go first to nursing home residents who received their vaccines in late 2020 or early 2021, while older people who received their first shots in the spring might have a longer wait. And then there is the question of what kind of booster: a third dose of the original vaccine, or perhaps a shot tailored to the highly infectious Delta variant, which is surging in the United States. It was an interesting meeting. They shared their data. There wasnt anything resembling a decision, Dr. Fauci said in a brief interview Monday evening, adding, This is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle, and its one part of the data, so there isnt a question of a convincing case one way or the other. A spokeswoman for Pfizer said in a statement: We had a productive meeting with U.S. public health officials on the elements of our research program and the preliminary booster data. With less than half of the U.S. population fully vaccinated, some experts said that the country needed to remain focused on getting all Americans their first dose. The Food and Drug Administrations most important task, they said, is to increase public confidence by granting full approval to the coronavirus vaccines in use, which for now are authorized on an emergency basis. At this point, the most important booster we need is to get people vaccinated, said Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University in Atlanta. Within the Biden administration, some fear that if Americans are convinced that coronavirus vaccines provide only short-lived immunity before requiring a booster, they will be less likely to accept a shot. But those concerns could fall by the wayside if data from Israel, expected in the next several weeks, shows conclusively that immunity wanes after six to eight months, significantly raising the risks for older people or other vulnerable populations. The administration convened Mondays session in response to last weeks announcement by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, that they were developing a version of their vaccine that targets the Delta variant, and reporting promising results from studies of people who received a third dose of the original vaccine six months after the second. The new data is not yet published or peer-reviewed, but when the companies announced that they would submit data to the Food and Drug Administration for authorization of booster shots, it caught the Biden White House by surprise. In an unusual joint statement Thursday evening, hours after the Pfizer-BioNTech announcement, the F.D.A. and the C.D.C. pushed back. Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Read more

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But compared to past aid debates, opposition has so far been muted. A few conservatives support childrens subsidies, which might boost falling birthrates and allow more parents to raise children full-time. Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, has proposed a larger child benefit, though he would finance it by cutting other programs.

With Congress requiring payments to start just four months after the bills passage, the administration has scrambled to spread the word and assemble payment rosters.

Families that filed recent tax returns or received stimulus checks should get paid automatically. (Single parents with incomes up to $112,500 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 are eligible for the full benefit.) But analysts say four to eight million low-income children may be missing from the lists, and drives are underway to get their parents to register online.

Wherever you run into people  perfect strangers  just go on up and introduce yourself and tell them about the Child Tax Credit, Vice President Kamala Harris said last month on what the White House called Child Tax Credit Awareness Day.

Among the needy, the program is eliciting a mixture of excitement, confusion and disbelief. Fresh EBT, a phone app for people who receive food stamps, found that 90 percent of its users knew of the benefit, but few understand how it works.

Half say, Im really, really ready to get it, said Stacy Taylor, the head of policy and partnerships at Propel, the apps creator. The others are a mix of Im worried I havent taken the right steps or Im not sure I really believe its true.
We all knew he was going to steal, said one attendee, Jacinda LeJeune. But he told us he was going to do it.

Edwin Washington Edwards was born on Aug. 7, 1927, in rural Avoyelles Parish, near Marksville, the son of Clarence and Agnes (Brouillette) Edwards. His father was a half-French Creole Presbyterian, his mother a French-speaking Roman Catholic.

Like many 20th-century politicians from Avoyelles, Mr. Edwards assumed he had Cajun ancestry, but he may have had none. His father was descended from a family in Kentucky that arrived in Louisiana during the Civil War. Nevertheless, he was raised in the tradition of Cajuns, descendants of French settlers expelled from Nova Scotia by the British in 1755. He preached in a Protestant evangelical church as a youth, and he joined the Navy Air Corps toward the end of World War II.

Mr. Edwards graduated from Louisiana State Universitys law school and began practice in Crowley, La., in 1949. Elected to Crowleys City Council in 1954, he joined the vanguard of a new movement in state politics. Northern Louisiana, mostly conservative, had long dominated state races with money from its oil fields. But freewheeling southern Louisiana was recording surges in voting populations and prosperity from offshore oil and gas discoveries.

Fluent and articulate in English and Cajun French, Mr. Edwards went to the State Senate in 1964 and held a seat in Congress from 1965 to 1972. He won his 1971 race for the governorship as a reformer with heavy support from Southern Cajun, Creole and Black voters. In his first year in office, he appointed his wife, Elaine, to the United States Senate to replace Allen J. Ellender, who had died.

He had married Elaine Schwartzenburg in 1949; they had four children, Anna, Victoria, Stephen and David, and divorced in 1989. She died in 2018. He married Candace Picou in 1994. At his behest they were divorced in 2004, while he was in prison. In 2011, after his release, he married Trina Grimes Scott. She was 32; he was 83. She gave birth to a son, Eli, two years later.

In addition to his wife and their son, Mr. Edwards is survived by his children from his first marriage, 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Other finance ministers indicated that the delay was another sign of progress.

Its very, very good that we are now going to the next step, discussing how we will implement this at the European Union and that the European Union is deciding not to go with its own proposal to the public today, Olaf Scholz, Germanys finance minister, said as he entered the meeting.

The E.U. digital levy proposal faced a difficult path to becoming law in Europe, but the prospect of a new proposal that could be construed as a tax that targets American companies would have been another distraction for the fragile negotiations.

The United States has already been angered by other digital taxes that countries like France, Italy and Britain have enacted, which are separate from the new proposal. More than a dozen countries have enacted or announced plans in recent years to move forward with their own digital taxes.

The Biden administration has asked countries to immediately drop their digital taxes and has prepared retaliatory tariffs on a wide swath of European goods, including cheese, wine and clothing. As part of the global tax negotiations, countries have said they are willing to do so in exchange for additional tax on the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises, those with profit margins of at least 10 percent, that would be based on where their goods or services were sold, even if they had no physical presence there.

France, Europes biggest proponent of a digital tax, had no comment Monday. Its finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, had said during the weekend that France would legally commit to withdrawing its digital services tax only after an agreement was in effect, which is unlikely to happen before 2023.

In remarks at the meeting on Monday, Ms. Yellen emphasized the importance of a close relationship between the United States and the European Union and underscored the importance of the global tax agreement that she has been helping to broker. She argued that a deal over a global minimum tax would help European nations make important investments in their economies and reduce inequality.

Long-run fiscal sustainability is critically important, which is one of the reasons why we need to continue working collectively to implement a global minimum tax of at least 15 percent, in line with the commitment the G20 made just days ago, Ms. Yellen said. We hope all E.U. member states will join the consensus and the European Union will move forward on this issue at E.U. level.
Texas seems poised, absent another walkout by Democratic legislators, to become the latest Republican-controlled state to pass a sweeping legislative agenda placing new barriers to the ability to cast a ballot. That comes on the heels of a major Supreme Court ruling this month further weakening the one enforcement clause of the Voting Rights Act that remained after the court nullified its major provision in 2012. The decision arrived as advocacy groups were pressing lawsuits against restrictive voting laws enacted in roughly a dozen Republican-controlled state legislatures.

One more arrow has been taken out of the quiver of voting-rights plaintiffs to strike down these new laws passed since the 2020 election, said Nathaniel Persily, an election-law scholar at Stanford. And its not like they had all that many arrows in the quiver to begin with.

Roughly a dozen Republican-controlled states passed laws this past spring restricting voting or significantly changing election rules, ostensibly in response to President Donald J. Trumps false claims that voter fraud cost him the November election. Many made it harder to vote early or by mail, banned or restricted drop boxes, shortened early or absentee voting periods or gave more leeway to partisan poll watchers. Some laws made it easier to replace local election officials with partisans, something voting rights advocates say might make it possible even to invalidate or sway election results.

Atop that, Republican filibuster threats have bottled up the flagship effort by congressional Democrats to counter such restrictions  a sweeping overhaul of federal election laws and a beefed-up revision of the Voting Rights Act. Despite controlling the Senate, Democrats have failed to unite behind a change in filibuster rules that would allow them to pass the legislation with a simple majority vote.

That is a painful reversal for Democrats, who had labeled the bills their top priority, and for Mr. Biden, who said a year ago that strengthening the Voting Rights Act would be his first task in the White House. It also has far-reaching ramifications: The election-overhaul bill would set minimum standards for ballot access, potentially undoing some provisions of the newly enacted laws, and ban gerrymandering just as states begin drawing new boundaries for House seats and local political districts.
WASHINGTON  Whatever else might be said about the curious lawsuits filed last week by former President Donald J. Trump, in which he accused three big tech companies of violating his First Amendment rights by denying him access to their platforms, it is fitting that he sued in Florida.

The state has long been on the cutting edge, and on the losing end, of efforts to force private companies to publish political messages to which they object.

Almost 50 years ago, the Supreme Court struck down a Florida law that would have allowed politicians a right to reply to newspaper articles critical of them. And late last month, a federal judge in Florida blocked a new state law that would have imposed large fines on some tech companies (but not those that own theme parks in the state, like Disney) that willfully deplatform a candidate for office.

Together, the two decisions, one from the Nixon era and the other issued on June 30, demonstrate that the lawsuits Mr. Trump filed in Miami on Wednesday against Facebook, Twitter and YouTube face steep odds. The First Amendment applies to government censorship and not private activities, courts have said, and it protects publishers editorial judgments, including ones that decline to give politicians a forum.
Washing ones hands after using the bathroom is a universal recommendation, for good reasons. Its been shown to reduce the incidence of diarrhea by as much as 40 percent. The coronavirus can be transferred through stool, and a single gram of human feces can contain a trillion germs.

Chances are your parents and teachers taught you to wash your hands before eating. I often recall an amusing interchange I witnessed at a friends house years ago. When she called her 4-year-old son in for supper and told him to wash his hands, he went straight to the kitchen sink. Not there, in the bathroom, the exasperated mom said, to which the boy replied, Is this a sink, or isnt it?

The Jewish tradition calls for hand-washing before the blessing that starts a meal, and during the Passover Seder, hands are washed twice: once before eating the bitter vegetable dipped in salt water and again before blessing the matzo. The Talmud states: Any food that is dipped into a liquid requires washing of the hands before it is eaten because the liquid could become contaminated and transfer a noxious organism to the food.

Muslims, who are told they must be clean before presenting themselves to God, also perform ritual hand-washing. Each hand (among other body parts) is supposed to be washed three times before prayers.

Surgeons, however, most likely win the hand-washing award these days. Surgical gloves did not exist when the 19th century surgeon Joseph Lister, whose name was co-opted by the product Listerine, demonstrated that preoperative disinfection was the key to preventing infections in surgical wounds. Hand-washing with soap and warm water, often with a brush, for five minutes became an accepted protocol at the end of the 1800s.

However, the introduction of sterile gloves did not render thorough hand cleansing by surgeons irrelevant. After surgery, some 18 percent of gloves have been shown to have tiny punctures that are not noticed by surgeons more than 80 percent of the time. And when an operation lasts two hours, more than a third of the surgeons gloves are likely to have holes.

Thus, anyone likely to touch the surgical field is supposed to scrub up to the elbows and under every fingernail for five minutes to reduce the risk of contamination. The goal is to eliminate microorganisms that inhabit the hands and inhibit the growth of bacteria under the surgeons gloves.
But some Cuban activists in the United States, including those who oppose the embargo, were quick to challenge that narrative.

Theres no food, theres no medicine, theres nothing, and this isnt a product of the American embargo, which I do not support, said Ramon Saul Sanchez, president of the Movimiento Democracia advocacy group in Miami. He noted that the embargo does allow Cuba to buy food from the United States, though restrictions on financing present significant barriers to the amount.

Cubas fragile economy has been battered by American sanctions, but also by financial mismanagement and a severe drop in tourism because of the pandemic, depriving it of a vital source of the foreign currency that it depends on for a wide array of the islands needs. The government has also had to contend with the economic collapse of its closest regional ally, Venezuela.

Do you know what its like not to be able to buy my child food from the store? said Odalis, a 43-year-old homemaker in Havana, who asked that her last name be withheld for fear of reprisals by the government. People are fed up with the abuse of power. We are desperate.

In the first five months of this year, the number of international travelers to Cuba fell nearly 90 percent compared with the same period in 2020, according to the Cuban national statistics agency. The price of goods has also soared, with inflation skyrocketing some 500 percent and still increasing, according to Pavel Vidal Alejandro, a former Cuban central bank economist who is now an economics professor at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia.

The situation is very, very serious, said Mr. Vidal, noting that official numbers for inflation are not available. High inflation is something that always causes a lot of social unrest.

Cuba suffered excruciating hardships after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the islands powerful backer, ultimately forcing it to open up its economy to tourists and, ever so slowly, to some private business and property ownership.
KABUL, Afghanistan  The top American general in Afghanistan stepped down on Monday, a symbolic moment as the United States nears the end of its 20-year-old war and Taliban fighters sweep across the country.

At a muted ceremony at U.S. and NATO military headquarters in Kabul, Gen. Austin S. Miller ended his nearly three-year term as commander. His duties will be filled by two officials. Rear Adm. Peter G. Vasely, who recently served as operations director for the Defense Intelligence Agency, will take charge of the security mission at the United States Embassy in Kabul. He will report to Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the head of the militarys Central Command, who will take over the broader military mission in Afghanistan.

Its important for me to say farewell, said General Miller, who is expected to retire after a 38-year career in the U.S. Army. The ceremony, which lasted less than an hour, was attended by high-ranking Afghan officials, including Abdullah Abdullah, who is leading peace negotiations. Our job is now just not to forget, General Miller said.

General McKenzie, who arrived in Kabul on Monday, spoke afterward, assuring those present that the Americans were not abandoning the Afghan people in such dire times.
KATHMANDU, Nepal  Nepals highest court on Monday stripped the prime minister of his duties and reinstated the Parliament that he had dissolved twice in recent months, opening a new chapter in the messy political conflict that has stagnated governance in the midst of a severe Covid crisis.

It wasnt immediately clear if the courts ruling would put to rest the latest political drama in the countrys turbulent transition to democracy since the monarchy was dissolved in 2008. Opposition leaders welcomed the ruling, calling it a victory for Nepals Constitution. But supporters of the recent prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, immediately poured onto the streets with black banners in protest, indicating that they would not accept the decision.

The Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional Mr. Olis move in May to dissolve the Parliament for a second time and call for early elections when his leadership was in question. In an indication that Mr. Oli had deprived the opposition of a chance to form a government when they had enough support, the court ordered Mr. Oli replaced as prime minister by Sher Bahadur Deuba, the leader of the opposition.

The court cannot appoint the prime minister. Appointing someone as prime minister is purely a Parliaments business, said Rajan Bhattarai, an adviser to Mr. Oli.
Covid News: France Orders Health Care Workers to Get Vaccinated U.S. officials tell Pfizer that more data is needed for a decision on booster shots, while Israel is allowing those with weakened immune systems to get them. Follow our latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

France orders health workers to be vaccinated to stave off another wave. President Emmanuel Macron of France during a televised address on Monday. The fast-spreading Delta variant already accounts for about half of new infections in the country. Credit... Ludovic Marin/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Hoping to combat a possible new wave of coronavirus infections, President Emmanuel Macron of France on Monday announced new vaccination requirements, including mandatory inoculation for health care workers and proof of immunization or a recent negative test to enter restaurants and cultural venues. But it was highly uncertain whether the measures would be enough to avoid a fourth wave of the virus powered by the fast-spreading Delta variant, which already accounts for about half of new infections in France. Mr. Macrons announcement came just three days after nightclubs reopened for the first time in 16 months, which many believed had symbolically signaled the completion of Frances protracted efforts to emerge from the pandemic. But the new measures dashed hopes of a return to a prepandemic normal and of a smooth summer vacation season. In a televised address, Mr. Macron spoke of a strong resurgence of the epidemic that would require France to redouble use of a key asset: vaccines. He announced that he wanted to pass a law that would require all health workers to get vaccinated by Sept. 15 and that the goal was now to put restrictions on the unvaccinated rather than on everyone. The law is likely to pass this summer as most political parties are in favor of mandatory vaccinations for health care workers. After Mr. Macrons address, the French health minister, Olivier Veran, said on French television, Starting Sept. 15, if you are a health care worker and youre not vaccinated, you wont be able to work and you wont be paid. Starting July 21, anyone entering a cultural venue or an amusement park will also need to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test for the virus, Mr. Macron said. The requirement will be extended in August to restaurants, shopping centers, hospitals, retirement homes and long-distance transportation. France will also start charging money for some virus tests, which until now were free, to encourage vaccination rather than increased testing, Mr. Macron said. Although none of the new measures compared to the severe restrictions that were imposed from early 2020 through last month  France has experienced three national lockdowns, nighttime curfews and forced shutdowns of all nonessential businesses  they were aimed at reminding the French that the pandemic was not over. For several days, the authorities had warned that the Delta variant was spreading fast and could hamper the countrys reopening. Some 4,300 new coronavirus infections were reported on Sunday, compared with 2,500 daily cases just a week earlier. That could become 6,000 cases in a week, 12,000 cases in 15 days and rise to 20,000 or more in early August if we dont act, Mr. Veran told the French broadcaster Radio J on Sunday. Despite the rise in cases, hospitalizations have so far not increased. In a report released last week, Frances scientific council  a government body that Mr. Macron set up last year to advise him on coronavirus issues  said that, given the fast-spreading Delta variant, the epidemic cannot be controlled unless 90 to 95 percent of people are vaccinated or infected. So far, less than 10 percent of the total population has been infected and about 36 percent have been fully vaccinated. Studies suggest that vaccines remain effective against the Delta variant. The government aims to get two-thirds of people fully protected by the end of August, but public demand has dwindled in recent weeks because of vaccine hesitancy and a growing sense among many people that the virus is no longer a threat. On Monday, Mr. Macron stopped short of making vaccinations obligatory but added that such an option may be considered, depending on the evolution of the situation.

U.S. officials tell Pfizer that more data is needed for a decision on booster shots. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:25 - 0:00 transcript Seriously Disappointing: W.H.O. Criticizes Booster Vaccines Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O. director general, called on wealthy countries not to order Covid booster shots while most countries are still struggling to give their residents initial vaccines. While many countries havent even started vaccinating, and another country has already vaccinated majority of its population, the two doses and now moving to a surplus, which is the booster. Its really not only disappointing, its seriously disappointing. And high-income countries who are vaccinating their population significantly are starting to see Covid-19 pandemic as if its not their problem. That is dangerous. You have seen it and everybody is seeing it now. High-income countries are starting to say, we have managed to control it. Its not our problem. And there will be two problems on this: One, Im not sure if they are out of the woods, and I dont think theyre in control. Instead of Moderna and Pfizer prioritizing the supply of vaccines as boosters to countries whose populations have relatively high coverage, we need them to go all out to channel supply to Covax, the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, and low- and middle-income countries, which have very little vaccine coverage. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O. director general, called on wealthy countries not to order Covid booster shots while most countries are still struggling to give their residents initial vaccines. Credit Credit... Christopher Black/World Health Organization, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Representatives of Pfizer met privately with senior U.S. scientists and regulators on Monday to press their case for swift authorization of coronavirus booster vaccines, amid growing public confusion about whether they will be needed and pushback from federal health officials who say the extra doses are not necessary now. The high-level online meeting, which lasted an hour and involved Pfizers chief scientific officer briefing virtually every top doctor in the federal government, came on the same day that Israel started administering third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to heart transplant patients and others with compromised immune systems. Officials said after the meeting that more data  and possibly several more months  would be needed before regulators could determine whether booster shots were necessary. The twin developments underscored the intensifying debate about whether booster shots were needed in the United States, at what point and for whom. Many American experts, including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, President Bidens chief medical adviser for the pandemic, have said that there is insufficient evidence yet that boosters are necessary. Some, though, say Israels move may foreshadow a government decision to at least recommend them for the vulnerable. Pfizer is gathering information on antibody responses in those who receive a third dose, as well as data from Israel, and expects to submit at least some of that to the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks in a formal request to broaden the emergency authorization for its coronavirus vaccine. But the final decision on booster shots, several officials said after the meeting, will also depend on real-world information gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about breakthrough infections  those occurring in vaccinated people  that cause serious disease or hospitalization. And any recommendations about booster shots are likely to be calibrated, even within age groups, officials said. For example, if booster shots are recommended, they might go first to nursing home residents who received their vaccines in late 2020 or early 2021, while older people who received their first shots in the spring might have a longer wait. And then there is the question of what kind of booster: a third dose of the original vaccine, or perhaps a shot tailored to the highly infectious Delta variant, which is surging in the United States. It was an interesting meeting. They shared their data. There wasnt anything resembling a decision, Dr. Fauci said in a brief interview Monday evening, adding, This is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle, and its one part of the data, so there isnt a question of a convincing case one way or the other. A spokeswoman for Pfizer said in a statement: We had a productive meeting with U.S. public health officials on the elements of our research program and the preliminary booster data. With less than half of the U.S. population fully vaccinated, some experts said that the country needed to remain focused on getting all Americans their first dose. The Food and Drug Administrations most important task, they said, is to increase public confidence by granting full approval to the coronavirus vaccines in use, which for now are authorized on an emergency basis. At this point, the most important booster we need is to get people vaccinated, said Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University in Atlanta. Within the Biden administration, some fear that if Americans are convinced that coronavirus vaccines provide only short-lived immunity before requiring a booster, they will be less likely to accept a shot. But those concerns could fall by the wayside if data from Israel, expected in the next several weeks, shows conclusively that immunity wanes after six to eight months, significantly raising the risks for older people or other vulnerable populations. The administration convened Mondays session in response to last weeks announcement by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, that they were developing a version of their vaccine that targets the Delta variant, and reporting promising results from studies of people who received a third dose of the original vaccine six months after the second. The new data is not yet published or peer-reviewed, but when the companies announced that they would submit data to the Food and Drug Administration for authorization of booster shots, it caught the Biden White House by surprise. In an unusual joint statement Thursday evening, hours after the Pfizer-BioNTech announcement, the F.D.A. and the C.D.C. pushed back. Sheryl Gay Stolberg and

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The F.D.A. will add a warning about a rare nerve syndrome to J.&J.s vaccine, but regulators found the risk was low. Boxes of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine in Shepardsville. Credit... Pool photo by Timothy D. Easley The Food and Drug Administration is planning to warn that Johnson & Johnsons coronavirus vaccine can lead to an increased risk of a rare neurological condition known as GuillainBarre syndrome, another setback for a vaccine that has largely been sidelined in the United States because of manufacturing problems and a temporary safety pause earlier this year, according to several people familiar with the plans. Although regulators have found that the chances of developing the condition are low, they appear to be three to five times higher among recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine than among the general population in the United States, according to people familiar with the decision. Federal officials have identified roughly 100 suspected cases of Guillain-Barre disease among recipients of the Johnson & Johnson shot through a federal monitoring system that relies on patients and health care providers to report adverse effects of vaccines. The reports are considered preliminary. Most people who develop the condition recover. Its not surprising to find these types of adverse events associated with vaccination, said Dr. Luciana Borio, a former acting chief scientist at the F.D.A. under President Barack Obama. The data collected so far by the F.D.A., she added, suggested that the vaccines benefits continue to vastly outweigh the risks. The database reports indicate that symptoms of Guillain-Barre developed within about three weeks of vaccination. One recipient, a 57-year-old man from Delaware who had suffered both a heart attack and a stroke within the last four years, died in early April after he was vaccinated and developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, according to a report filed to the database. The Biden administration is expected to announce the new warning as early as Tuesday. The F.D.A. has concluded that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing severe disease or death from the coronavirus still strongly outweigh the risk, but it plans to include the proviso in fact sheets about the drug for providers and patients. European regulators may soon follow suit. No link has been found between Guillain-Barre syndrome and the coronavirus vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, the other two federally authorized manufacturers. Those rely on a different technology. Nearly 13 million people in the United States have received Johnson & Johnsons shot, but 92 percent of Americans who have been fully vaccinated received shots developed by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. Even though it requires only one dose, Johnson & Johnsons vaccine has been marginalized by manufacturing delays and a 10-day pause while investigators studied whether it was linked to a rare but serious blood clotting disorder in women. That investigation also resulted in a warning added to the fact sheet. The new safety concern comes at a precipitous moment in the nations fight against Covid-19. The pace of vaccinations has slowed considerably just as a new, more contagious variant called Delta is spreading fast in under-vaccinated areas. Federal health officials are worried that the news could make some people even more hesitant to accept the vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, even though well over 100 million people have received those vaccines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost one-third of the nations adults remain unvaccinated. The Biden administration has shifted away from relying on mass vaccination sites and is now enlisting community workers in door-to-door campaigns, supplying doses to primary care doctors and expanding mobile clinics in an attempt to convince the unvaccinated to accept shots. Sharon LaFraniere and

England will lift most Covid restrictions on July 19, Johnson says. Video Prime Minister Boris Johnson said England will lift coronavirus restrictions starting July 19 as planned. Cases in England continue to rise and the highly contagious delta variant is more widespread. Credit Credit... Jeremie Souteyrat for The New York Times With coronavirus infections surging yet again, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday urged Britons to keep wearing face masks in crowded, indoor spaces even as he promised to unlock Englands economy next week and lift almost all virus-related restrictions. Mr. Johnsons admonition on masks, while not compulsory, represents the latest swerve from a government that delayed the imposition of several lockdowns and then promised the irreversible lifting of restrictions, culminating in what British tabloid newspapers called freedom day. Having delayed that moment once, Mr. Johnson on Monday confirmed plans to proceed with the removal of most legal curbs in England on July 19, allowing pubs and restaurants to operate at full capacity and nightclubs to open their doors. Curbs on the number of people who can meet indoors, generally limited to six, will also be lifted. Despite the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the government believes that Britains successful vaccination program has weakened the link between cases and hospital admissions. The government now argues that there is no better time to end lockdown restrictions than in the summer when the virus tends to spread more slowly and schools take a vacation break, eliminating one source of transmission. Still, the landmark once hailed boldly as freedom day by libertarian lawmakers is now being given much more cautious billing by the government as Britain records around 30,000 cases a day, a number that the health secretary, Sajid Javid, on Monday said could climb to 100,000 during the summer. Whether we like it or not, coronavirus is not going away, Mr. Javid said in Parliament. The government decision to recommend the continued use of face masks in crowded indoor spaces is a shift, in tone at least, from a week ago when Mr. Johnson outlined his thinking at a news conference. When asked then whether he would wear a mask, he said, it would depend on the circumstances, before clarifying later that he would wear one on a crowded train. On Monday, Mr. Johnson struck a decidedly cautious tone. I cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough, he said at a news conference. This pandemic is not over. This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family. We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday, 19 July to life as it was before Covid. Mr. Johnson added that the government strongly recommended that people wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces such as on public transportation. The government plans to work with organizers of large indoor events to encourage the use of certification for those who have been vaccinated or recently tested. Mr. Johnson said he wanted a gradual return to the workplace rather than a mass move back to offices next week. And Britains border restrictions would remain in place, including hotel quarantine for those arriving from countries deemed to be in the highest risk category. Nonetheless, Mr. Johnson argued that delaying the full reopening of the economy would merely postpone any surge in infections to the fall, when schools return and colder weather gives the virus a natural advantage. So he wants to replace an era of government diktat with one of growing personal responsibility as people learn to live with the virus and use common sense to protect themselves. Stephen Castle and

Israel allows those with weakened immune systems to get a third Pfizer-BioNTech shot. Patients waiting to receive a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Monday at the outpatient clinics of the Cardiovascular Centre at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, Israel. Credit... Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Israels Ministry of Health on Monday issued guidelines for administering a third shot of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine to people with compromised immune systems, citing the rising infection rate in recent weeks as well as growing evidence that such people do not develop sufficient antibodies after two doses. The ministry released a list of those now eligible for a third shot, prioritizing heart, lung and kidney transplant recipients followed by others with weak immune systems including cancer patients. Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv began giving third Pfizer shots to dozens of heart transplant recipients on Monday afternoon, an hour after receiving a green light from the Ministry of Health. Its really urgent to do it now, Prof. Galia Rahav, the head of the Infectious Disease Unit and Laboratories at the Sheba Medical Center, said in a video statement, citing the rise of the Delta variant. The hospital said it would be testing and tracking the recipients of the third shot for research purposes. Israel initially led the world with a rapid vaccination campaign and 57 percent of its population is fully vaccinated. But the arrival of the highly contagious Delta variant has brought a rise in daily infections, up from single digits a month ago to an average of 452 cases per day. About 58 percent of the 81 Israeli Covid-19 patients currently hospitalized are vaccinated, according to Israeli Ministry of Health data. Studies suggest that vaccines remain effective against the Delta variant. Health care providers in France have been giving a third dose of a two-dose vaccine to people with certain immune conditions since April. The number of organ transplant recipients who had antibodies increased to 68 percent four weeks after the third dose, up from 40 percent after the second dose, one team of French researchers recently reported. In the United States, there has been no concerted effort by federal agencies or vaccine manufacturers to test this approach so far.

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U.S. doctors had to ration a last-resort Covid treatment, forcing stark choices. ECMO, short for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from a patients blood before pumping it back in. Credit... Victor J. Blue for The New York Times Throughout the pandemic, wrenching scenes have played out across the United States as doctors found themselves in the unfamiliar position of overtly rationing a treatment. But it was not ventilators, as initially feared: Concerted action largely headed off those shortages. Instead, it was the limited availability of ECMO  which requires expensive equipment similar in concept to a heart-lung machine and specially trained staff who can provide constant monitoring and one-on-one nursing  that forced stark choices among patients. Patients died because they could not get ECMO, said Dr. Lena M. Napolitano, co-director of the Surgical Critical Care Unit at the University of Michigan. This spring, she was overwhelmed with requests to accept patients considered good candidates for ECMO. We could not accommodate all of them, she said. Doctors tried to select individuals most likely to benefit from ECMO, a last-resort treatment that can mechanically substitute for badly damaged lungs. But dozens of interviews with medical staff and patients across the country, and reporting inside five hospitals that provide ECMO, revealed that in the absence of regional sharing systems to ensure fairness and match resources to needs, hospitals and clinicians were left to apply differing criteria, with insurance coverage, geography and even personal appeals having an influence. Its unsettling to have to make those kinds of decisions, said Dr. Ryan Barbaro, a critical care physician in Michigan and head of an international registry of Covid-19 patients who have received ECMO  short for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation  about half of whom survived hospitalization. Close to 8,000 patients worldwide have received ECMO to date, including nearly 5,000 in North America. Despite the progress the United States has made against the coronavirus, some doctors are still having to ration ECMO, which is offered in less than 10 percent of hospitals. Its something were balancing every day, said Dr. Erik Eddie Suarez, a cardiovascular surgeon at Houston Methodist. If the hospital accepts too many Covid patients for ECMO, he said, we cant do cardiac surgery, because some of those patients also need the treatment.

South Asian migrant workers are stranded as they wait for vaccines. A vaccination center in Dhaka, Bangladesh, this month. Credit... Allison Joyce/Getty Images The pandemic has been a cruel blow for thousands of migrant workers in South Asia who are out of work or unable to return to their jobs abroad. Countries like Bangladesh, India and Nepal rely heavily on migrant workers, who send billions of dollars home each year. But over the past year, many have lost their jobs and been forced to return to their native countries. Others still have jobs or have found new ones, but are struggling to make travel arrangements to take up the posts. The lack of Covid-19 vaccines has compounded the problem, with many countries requiring migrant workers to be inoculated to avoid quarantine or sometimes to enter at all. Ajay Sodari, a migrant worker in Kathmandu, Nepal, who needs to be vaccinated before he can start his job in South Korea, said, I spent four years studying the Korean language, to get selected as a qualified worker in language tests and sign a labor agreement with the company. He said that he had spent thousands of dollars to meet the employment requirements but that the pandemic had shattered my dream. The lack of vaccines has been most acute in Bangladesh and Nepal, both of which planned to source most of their doses from neighboring India until New Delhi stopped vaccine exports this spring to prioritize its own citizens. In Bangladesh and Nepal, only about 3 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, according to a New York Times database. In Nepal, where inward remittances account for a quarter of gross domestic product, migrant workers were not among the priority groups in initial phases of the vaccination campaign, which favored older adults, frontline health workers, security personnel and government officials. As many as 35,000 migrant workers are stuck in Nepal despite obtaining final work permit approval from the countrys government, according to the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies. The group says that most countries have stopped recruiting workers from Nepal because they are not vaccinated. In Bangladesh, there are at least 90,000 migrant workers waiting to get vaccinated before they can start their jobs abroad, said Shahidul Alam, director general at the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training, a government agency. Mr. Alam said that Bangladesh was stepping up its vaccination efforts among migrant workers, including with the introduction of an app. In the last seven days, at least 45,000 workers registered in the app, and the vaccination for them is already started, he said on Thursday. The workers situation is complicated by the fact that their destination countries sometimes require certain vaccines. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Kuwait, two of the most common destinations for Bangladeshi migrant workers, recognize the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine, which Bangladesh now largely relies upon for mass inoculation. To help the stranded workers, the government in Bangladesh is giving them the Pfizer vaccine at seven health facilities in Dhaka, the capital, using some of the 106,000 doses received through the Covax global vaccine-sharing program. Mr. Alam said that the workers would also receive some of the 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine received from the United States this month in partnership with Covax. In India, which has the worlds largest migrant population at nearly 18 million, vaccine shortages are worse in some states than others. The southern state of Kerala is home to the greatest number of migrants in India, with nearly four million Keralites living abroad. Though the state has recently prioritized vaccination for migrants, many said they had been stranded in India for months, unable to return to their jobs and worried their visas would expire. Hanees Babu, 52, has been waiting in Kerala for nearly nine months to return to Kuwait, where he owns a business selling automotive lubricants. He has received both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but that is not necessarily the end of his problems. His vaccine certificate lists the name of the vaccine as Covishield, as it is known in India, which can cause confusion in other countries. The Delhi High Court recently directed the central government to consider including the AstraZeneca name on vaccination certificates to make it easier for people to travel abroad. The Kerala state government is already issuing vaccination certificates that say AstraZeneca, but they have to be applied for separately. Several people seeking to travel abroad said that having two different vaccination certificates made the process more difficult and had led some countries to stop processing visa applications from India completely. Shalini Venugopal Bhagat reported from Goa, India; Bhadra Sharma from Kathmandu, Nepal; and Saif Hasnat from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Shalini Venugopal Bhagat, Bhadra Sharma and

Janet Yellen calls for accelerating vaccination worldwide to help economic recovery. Janet L. Yellen, the Treasury secretary, speaking on Sunday in Venice. What happens in any part of the world affects all other countries, she said. Credit... Andrea Merola/EPA, via Shutterstock Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said on Sunday that she was concerned that coronavirus variants could derail the global economic recovery and called for an urgent push to vaccinate more people around the world. Her comments, made at the conclusion of a gathering of the finance ministers of the Group of 20 nations, came as the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus was driving outbreaks among unvaccinated populations in countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Portugal. We are very concerned about the Delta variant and other variants that could emerge and threaten recovery, Ms. Yellen said. We are a connected global economy. What happens in any part of the world affects all other countries. Many cities and countries have started to declare victory against the pandemic, easing restrictions and returning to normal life. But Ms. Yellen warned that the public health crisis was not over. She said that the worlds top economic officials had spent much of the weekend in Venice discussing how they could improve vaccine distribution, with the goal of getting 70 percent of the world inoculated by next year. Ms. Yellen noted that many countries had been successful in financing the purchase of vaccines, but that the logistics of getting them into peoples arms were falling short. We need to do something more and to be more effective, she said. The spread of variants has started to dampen optimism about the trajectory of the recovery. Analysts at Capital Economics said last week that they planned to lower their economic growth outlook for the year to below 6 percent. The divergence across economies is intensifying, Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the I.M.F., said on Saturday. Essentially, the world is facing a two-track recovery. The I.M.F. executive board approved a plan last week to issue $650 billion worth of reserve funds that countries could use to buy vaccines and to finance health care initiatives.

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Indias pandemic response varies from one village to the next. Processing residents for vaccination in Dautai, a village in Indias most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Credit... Saumya Khandelwal for The New York Times GARH MUKTESHWAR, India  When a devastating second wave of Covid-19 infections reached Indias countryside this spring, the village of Khilwai took immediate action. Two testing centers were set up, and 30 positive cases were isolated. The outbreak was contained with just three deaths. It was a different story in the two villages on either side of Khilwai. Testing remained limited. The local health center in one village had been closed, its staff sent away to a larger hospital. The coronavirus spread, and at least 30 people in each village died with Covid-19 symptoms. But even as the three villages in Indias most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, diverged in their handling of the coronavirus, they have been united in another way: a vaccine hesitancy that is prevalent throughout India and threatens to prolong the countrys crisis. The combination of an uneven virus response  a reflection of huge inequality in resources and the vagaries of local attitudes  and a struggling vaccination campaign has left officials warning of a third wave of infections when the second has at best only leveled off. Any sense of rapid relief like the one now prevailing in the United States is unlikely anytime soon. Just 5 percent of Indias 1.4 billion people are fully vaccinated, while about 20 percent have had a first dose. That gives the country insufficient protection against the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, which first surfaced in India. At the same time, the country continues to report tens of thousands of new infections and close to 1,000 deaths each day, numbers that are almost certainly an undercount. Resigned talk of a third wave is indicative of how virus fatigue, and the catastrophic toll of hundreds of thousands of people in the last wave, have resulted in a new definition of acceptable loss. Mujib Mashal and

Fox News hosts smear Covid shots, despite outbreaks among the unvaccinated. Laura Ingraham at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md., in 2019. Credit... Pete Marovich for The New York Times Back in December, before the queen of England and the president-elect of the United States had their turns, the media mogul Rupert Murdoch received a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Afterward, he urged everyone else to get it, too. Since then, a different message has been a repeated refrain on the prime-time shows hosted by Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham on Mr. Murdochs Fox News Channel  a message at odds with the recommendations of health experts, even as the viruss Delta variant and other mutations fuel outbreaks in areas where vaccination rates are below the national average. Mr. Carlson, Ms. Ingraham and guests on their programs have said on the air that the vaccines could be dangerous; that people are justified in refusing them; and that public authorities have overstepped in their attempts to deliver them. Mr. Carlson and Ms. Ingraham last week criticized a plan by the Biden administration to increase vaccinations by having health care workers and volunteers go door to door to try to persuade the reluctant to get shots. Going door-to-door? Ms. Ingraham said. This is creepy stuff. Mr. Carlson, the highest-rated Fox News host, with an average of 2.9 million viewers, said the Biden plan was an attempt to force people to take medicine they dont want or need. He called the initiative the greatest scandal in my lifetime, by far. Served up to an audience that is more likely than the general population to be wary of Covid vaccines, the remarks by Mr. Carlson and Ms. Ingraham echoed a now-common conservative talking point  that the government-led effort to raise vaccination rates amounted to a violation of civil liberties and a waste of taxpayer dollars. The comments by the Fox News hosts and their guests may have also helped cement vaccine skepticism in the conservative mainstream, even as the Biden administrations campaign to inoculate the public is running into resistance in many parts of the country. Public health experts have said that a strong vaccination effort is critical for the United States to outrun the virus, which has killed more than four million people worldwide and continues to mutate.

Chinese vaccines are pledged to be shared with countries in need, a vaccine initiative says. Workers unloaded boxes containing the Janssen vaccine in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Monday. Credit... Narendra Shrestha/EPA, via Shutterstock The Gavi Alliance announced Monday that it had signed its first agreements to buy coronavirus vaccine from two Chinese companies, Sinopharm and Sinovac, providing for deliveries of 110 million doses within three months, with options for bigger deliveries later this year and in the first half of 2022. Gavi, the public-private partnership that is overseeing Covax, the program to donate vaccines to poor countries, said that Sinopharm would contribute 60 million doses between July and October, with an option to provide 60 million more in the last quarter of 2021 and 50 million more doses in the first half of 2022. Sinovac would deliver 50 million doses, Gavi said, by the end of September, with an option for Covax to receive 150 million more doses in the last quarter of the year and 180 million doses in the first half of 2022. The agreements, combined with donations pledged by the United States and other Group of 7 countries, will give a boost to Covax. It was set up to help the poorest countries gain access to vaccines, but it has struggled to gain a footing, as world leaders and vaccine manufacturers have prioritized sending doses to populations in wealthy nations. China kicked off its vaccine diplomacy campaign last year by pledging to provide a shot that would be safe and effective at preventing severe cases of Covid-19, and dozens of countries are using Covid vaccines from China. Some of the countries that have experienced fresh virus outbreaks despite high inoculation rates, though, relied on Chinese-made vaccines. During a news conference Monday, World Health Organization officials supported the addition of the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines to the Covax portfolio, and expressed confidence in the efficacy of the vaccines. But as concerns grow about more transmissible variants as well as about the waning immunity provided by the Sinovac vaccine, Thailand said on Monday that health care workers who had received the vaccine made by Sinovac would also be inoculated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech shots to give them greater protection. About 3.4 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally but the vast majority have gone to wealthy countries. Covax, since its launch in February, has shipped 107 million vaccine doses to 135 countries. About 70 percent of these doses have gone to poorer countries; the other 30 percent have gone to wealthier nations paying their own way. Gavi said that it is now on track to deliver nearly 1.9 billion doses in 2021. It said that it will reach its target of two billion doses distributed in early 2022, instead of by the end of this year. Covax supplies only W.H.O.-approved vaccines, and Gavi noted that it had approved an emergency-use listing for Sinopharm in May and for Sinovac in June, clearing the way for rapid delivery of the vaccines. Covax signed an agreement with a third Chinese vaccine manufacturer, Clover, at the end of June, for a total of 414 million doses. Covax said that 64 million doses would be available in the last quarter of the year. Clover, however, is still awaiting W.H.O. emergency-use listing, creating uncertainty over when Covax will be able to start delivering the vaccine. Lauren McCarthy contributed reporting.

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Malta will allow only fully vaccinated visitors, a unique move for an E.U. nation. A beach in Comino, Malta, on Sunday. The countrys government said that most of the people who tested positive for the coronavirus recently were foreign nationals who had not been inoculated. Credit... Joanna Demarco/Getty Images Malta will ban visitors over the age of 12 from entering the country starting Wednesday unless they are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the first country in the European Union to impose such restrictions. The small archipelago between Sicily and Libya, with a population of half a million, has the worlds highest proportion of fully vaccinated residents, about 70 percent, and about 74 percent have received one dose, according to data compiled by The New York Times. But as the highly contagious Delta variant spreads rapidly across Europe, coronavirus infections are increasing in Malta, with an average of 58 new cases a day, according to the Times data. Chris Fearne, the Maltese health minister, announced the latest measures at a news conference on Friday after new virus cases had doubled every day since the previous Monday, according to Reuters. We will be the first E.U. country to do so, but we need to protect our society, he said of the introduction of the restrictions. Starting Wednesday, the Maltese authorities will require vaccination certificates issued 14 days after the final dose. Documents issued by Malta, the European Union or Britain will be recognized. Children ages 5 to 12 must have a negative PCR test for Covid-19, while children under 5 are exempt. All children must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult with an authorized vaccine certificate. The government said on Friday that the rise in coronavirus infections showed very clearly that the countrys vaccination efforts were working, as most of the people who tested positive were foreign nationals who had not been inoculated. The restrictions were implemented to err on the side of caution to protect the countrys unvaccinated population, the government said. Heres whats happening around the world: On Monday, two regions of Spain moved to reintroduce restrictions amid a surge in virus cases. Catalonia, the northeastern region which includes Barcelona, announced that bars would close early and private gatherings limited to 10 people as it grapples with the highest infection rate in the country. The number of patients hospitalized for Covid-19 in Spain has more than doubled in the past two weeks to nearly 1,100 people. In eastern Valencia, a court permitted the reintroduction of a nighttime curfew in the 32 municipalities that have the highest infection rates.

At least 39 people were killed and more than 20 injured in a fire at a coronavirus hospital in Nasiriya in southern Iraq , health officials told the Reuters news agency on Monday. Health crews carried charred bodies out of the burning hospital while many patients were coughing from the rising smoke, a Reuters reporter at the site of the fire site said. The state-run Iraq News Agency cited health ministry officials as saying that search operations at the al-Hussain coronavirus hospital were continuing after the fire was brought under control.

Greece has mandated Covid vaccinations for some health care workers and announced restrictions as a rise in cases threatens its vital summer tourism season, Reuters reported. Nursing home staff will need to get vaccinated immediately, while health care workers will have to be vaccinated starting Sept. 1, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. Only vaccinated customers will be allowed indoors in bars, cinemas, theaters and other enclosed spaces, he said.

BioNTech on Monday announced a deal to provide 10 million doses of its vaccine to Taiwan , easing a serious shortage there and ending months of deadlock with China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory. The vaccines will be purchased, then donated to Taiwans government, by two of the islands most prominent corporations  Foxconn, a major assembler of iPhones; and TSMC, which makes the cutting-edge chips in Apples latest devices  in conjunction with the YongLin Foundation, a charity.

Thailand said on Monday that health care workers who had received the vaccine made by Sinovac of China would also be inoculated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech shots to give them greater protection. Thailand is the latest foreign government to indicate doubts about the Sinovac vaccine. On Friday, Indonesia said it would offer the Moderna vaccine as a booster to health care workers who had received the Sinovac vaccine.

Officials in Sydney, Australia, warned on Monday that the citys lockdown could be extended as an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus showed no signs of slowing down. Sydney entered lockdown more than two weeks ago after an airport limousine driver contracted the virus, which then spread rapidly. On Monday, officials reported 112 new cases, the highest one-day total yet in an outbreak that has grown to 678 cases since it began in mid-June. Aina J. Khan and

Some people are permanently marking the pandemic with tattoos. Rachael Sunshines pandemic-inspired tattoo. Credit... Rachael Sunshine While the pandemic may be a time many people want to forget, others are doing the opposite and getting tattoos to commemorate their experiences. Some are marking where they spent the year or a lesson they learned from the turmoil. Some Covid-19 survivors are getting tattoos that remind them they are alive and have strength. Others are getting tattoos to memorialize those they have lost. Jonathan Valena, a tattoo artist known as JonBoy who works out of the Moxy Times Square hotel in New York City, said he had seen a surge in requests for Covid-related designs in the aftermath of the pandemic. When these clients come into Mr. Valenas studio, they are ready to talk. They tell me their stories, and I am there to listen, he said. I have that time with them when they can unload, and its pretty special. Rachael Sunshine, 44, who lives in Coxsackie, N.Y., has a degenerative nerve disease, which put her at a high risk for getting a serious case of the virus. Against the odds, she survived Covid-19 not once but twice, she said. The virus damaged her heart, and she then survived heart surgery as well. On May 26, her birthday, she went to Cape Cod, Mass., to celebrate surviving and got a tattoo of a heart surrounded by coronavirus spike proteins, which is the logo of Survivor Corps, a group that connects Covid-19 survivors. People are like, Why do you want this constant reminder of what you went through? she said. I tell them I already have constant reminders. I have scars from getting heart surgery. I have to take medicine. I still cant walk down the street normally. I am still battling it, so this is my warrior badge. When people 10 years from now talk about Covid, I am going to say, I beat it. After such a heavy year, some people are opting for more lighthearted tattoo options. Katie Tompkins, 28, works for a medical lab in Warren, Mich., and saw firsthand how serious and costly this pandemic was. But instead of focusing on the negative, she decided to try to bring some humor to the situation and get a tattoo of toilet paper on the inside of her left elbow. I have such memories walking into the store and there being bare shelves everywhere because everyone was stockpiling toilet paper, she said. It was just insane.

A lockdown in Sydney, Australia, looks likely to be extended. A ferry dock in Sydney, Australia, on Monday. The city entered lockdown more than two weeks ago after an airport limousine driver contracted the virus, which then spread rapidly. Credit... Loren Elliott/Reuters Officials in Sydney, Australia, warned on Monday that the citys lockdown could be extended as an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus showed no signs of slowing down. The city, Australias most populous, entered lockdown more than two weeks ago after an airport limousine driver contracted the virus, which then spread rapidly. On Monday, officials reported 112 new cases, the highest one-day total yet in an outbreak that has grown to 678 cases since it began in mid-June. We are at an absolutely critical phase of this disease, said Gladys Berejiklian, premier of the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney. Although Ms. Berejiklian did not say whether the lockdown would be lifted on Friday as scheduled, she stressed that it was contingent on minimizing the number of people who were moving about while infectious. All of us want to get out of this lockdown, Ms. Berejiklian said. Its up to all of us to see that number of exposures in the community go down. Though Australia has been relatively successful in managing the virus through strict border closures and contact tracing, only about 9 percent of the countrys population is fully vaccinated, and the rapid spread of the Delta variant is a major concern. Studies suggest that vaccines remain effective against the Delta variant. On Monday, citing the outbreak, Sydney officials said that the AstraZeneca vaccine would be made available to people as young as 40. That is a break from national health guidance, which recommends the AstraZeneca shots only for those over 60 because of blood clotting concerns. For younger people, the guidance is to use the Pfizer vaccine.

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BISKUPIEC, Poland  During more than 10 years of tramping through fields and forests with a metal detector, a Polish treasure hunter has found the wreckage of an American-made Sherman tank, the scabbard of a French sword used by a soldier in Napoleons army, a Prussian helmet and many other relics of Europes bloody past.

In November, however, he made a discovery that has startled even scholars steeped in the ebb and flow of European warfare and left them wrestling with a tantalizing question: How did a cornfield in northeastern Poland come to hold silver coins minted more than 1,100 years ago and nearly 1,000 miles away by the medieval rulers of what is now France?

One theory, promoted by a Polish archaeologist leading the hunt for an explanation, is that the silver coins date from one of Europes earliest and most traumatic episodes of armed extortion  when an invading Viking army laid siege to Paris in 845, and had to be paid off with more than two tons of silver to prevent it from destroying the city.

The Vikings  Scandinavian warriors greatly feared because of their unruly habits and military prowess  later systematized what became an elaborate protection racket in the 11th century by imposing taxes in England known as Danegeld, tribute payments in return for safety.
Israels Ministry of Health on Monday issued guidelines for administering a third shot of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine to people with compromised immune systems, citing the rising infection rate in recent weeks as well as growing evidence that such people do not develop sufficient antibodies after two doses.

The ministry released a list of those now eligible for a third shot, prioritizing heart, lung and kidney transplant recipients followed by others with weak immune systems including cancer patients.

Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv began giving third Pfizer shots to dozens of heart transplant recipients on Monday afternoon, an hour after receiving a green light from the Ministry of Health.

Its really urgent to do it now, Prof. Galia Rahav, the head of the Infectious Disease Unit and Laboratories at the Sheba Medical Center, said in a video statement, citing the rise of the Delta variant. The hospital said it would be testing and tracking the recipients of the third shot for research purposes.
As is often the case in such trials, I doubt the convicted will actually serve close to the full sentence, said Robert Richer, a former C.I.A. chief for Middle East operations.

The case was based largely on intercepted messages between Prince Hamzah, Mr. Awadallah and Sharif Hassan that discussed trying to foment protests among tribal leaders angry over corruption and government policies that have cut into their livelihoods. According to prosecutors, the aim was to destabilize the kingdom to give Prince Hamzah more power.

There is also a significant Saudi connection. Mr. Awadallah is an American and Jordanian citizen who was also granted Saudi citizenship after becoming close to leaders in Saudi Arabia. Sent as Jordans envoy to the kingdom, he later became an economic adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.

After Mr. Awadallahs arrest, senior officials including the Saudi head of intelligence rushed to Jordan to press the kingdom to release him. Jordan, a resource-poor country that is reliant on foreign aid, was able to resist after assurances of support from the White House, according to Bruce Riedel, a former senior intelligence officer.

Jordanian authorities initially declared a gag order on the arrests and then leaked information about the charges to pro-government publications.

If something happens to me in Jordan would the Saudi officials come to my help? the charge sheet quoted Prince Hamzah as asking Mr. Awadallah.

Mr. Awadahllahs family originally comes from the East Jerusalem suburb of Silwan, where Israeli forces have been carrying out demolitions of Palestinian homes. After emigrating to the United States, his father worked as a driver for a limousine firm catering to Arab clients, according to several Jordanians who know the family.
The pandemic has been a cruel blow for thousands of migrant workers in South Asia who are out of work or unable to return to their jobs abroad.

Countries like Bangladesh, India and Nepal rely heavily on migrant workers, who send billions of dollars home each year. But over the past year, many have lost their jobs and been forced to return to their native countries. Others still have jobs or have found new ones, but are struggling to make travel arrangements to take up the posts.

The lack of Covid-19 vaccines has compounded the problem, with many countries requiring migrant workers to be inoculated to avoid quarantine or sometimes to enter at all.

Ajay Sodari, a migrant worker in Kathmandu, Nepal, who needs to be vaccinated before he can start his job in South Korea, said, I spent four years studying the Korean language, to get selected as a qualified worker in language tests and sign a labor agreement with the company. He said that he had spent thousands of dollars to meet the employment requirements but that the pandemic had shattered my dream.
Colombia has one of the best-trained militaries in Latin America, and because of this, Colombian veterans are highly sought after by global security companies. They deploy them to faraway places like Yemen and Iraq, often paying far more than they could expect to earn in Colombia.

Some 20 Colombian veterans also made it in recent weeks to somewhere far closer to home: Haiti. Now, at least two are dead and at least 18 are in custody, accused of involvement in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Haitian officials have cast the Colombians as centerpieces of a well-organized plot carried out by foreign mercenaries to kill Mr. Moise, but critical questions remain about what they were really in Haiti to do.

The countrys lead prosecutor has begun looking into what role Haitian security forces may have had in an operation that killed the president and wounded his wife but harmed no one else in the household or in the presidents security retinue.
A Russian man was given a 3.5-year suspended prison sentence for tormenting his neighbors with loud horse neighing and stomping noises every night, for over two years.

47-year-old Yuri Kondratyev is famous in his home city of Nizhny Novgorod, after making national headlines for mentally torturing the neighbors in his apartment building for over two years. The unemployed man, who lives alone ever since his wife left him, started harassing his neighbors in 2018. Annoyed by the noises one of his neighbors kids were making during the day, Yuri started exacting his revenge on the whole building at night. At first, he started playing loud rock music for hours, and at one point switched to recordings of horse neighing and stomping.

Photo: christels/Pixabay

After trying to reason with Kondratyev, his neighbors started filing complaints about him to police and other local authorities, and even tried to have him committed to a mental hospital. At one point, the 47-year-old got a certificate from a psychiatrist about his impeccable mental health, made copies of it, stuffed them into the neighbors mail boxes and continued playing his horse noises at night.

Russian media reports that over 80 complaints were filed against Yuri Kondratyev between April of 2018 and December 2020, and he was even fined several times, but he never bothered paying those fines, instead continuing to torture his neighbors with the bizarre horse noises.

It was only in December of last year that Kondratyev was detained by police and a criminal case was opened against him under Article 117 of Russias Criminal Code, which refers to victims endure mental and physical suffering. He did not admit his guilt during the trial, despite the ample evidence against him, in the form of neighbors statements and fines issued over the last couple of years.

On July 9th, Yuri Kondratyev was given a suspended prison sentence by the court. This case was first in Russian history, as this was the first time someone was charged under Article 117 for disturbing their neighbors. In most cases, they were merely fined. Granted, he was probably the first to ever play loud recordings of horse neighing too



If having a neighbor like Yuri sounds unbearable, try living in the same building with someone who plays Giuseppe Verdis La Traviata on loop every day for 16 years.
Chinese media recently reported the shocking case of a 13-year-old daughter who was found by fishermen on a deserted island, where her parents had taken her as a bizarre form of re-education.

This weekend, police in Weihai City, Chinas Shandong Province, were notified by local fishermen about the presence of a young girl on a small deserted island, about a kilometer from the mainland. The girl had allegedly approached them claiming that she had been taken to the island against her will by her parents, and begged them to take her back to shore. Upon reaching the island, police found the girl and her parents, and learned that their presence there was a strange form of teaching the 13-year-old girl about hardship and adversity.

Photo: Simon/Pixabay

The girls parents explained that she was a rebellious and spoiled child who had dropped out of school and would barely come down from her room to eat. They felt that she was wasting her potential, so after trying to reason with her, they decided that it was time for desperate measures.

After talking with a survival expert who agreed to accompany them on their mission, the couple decided to take their 13-year-old daughter to a nearby deserted island to stimulate her potential by forcing her to survive in harsh conditions. Only things didnt really go according to plan, as instead of trying to learn the abilities needed to survive, the girl snuck away when her parents werent paying attention and signaled some fishermen, begging them to come rescue her and take back to the mainland.

I cant stand it! They forced me to survive on this deserted island, the girl allegedly told the fishermen. We only have water and biscuits. They cant even start a fire. Can you take me back to shore?

After being found be the police, the girls parents initially refused to leave the island, arguing that they had come prepared with necessary supplies and even a survival expert, and insisting that they wanted to continue their strange re-education program. They had been on the island, and the father was already impressed that his girl had been able to find and communicate with the fishermen, when before she would barely say a word to them, let alone anyone else.



In the end, the family was persuaded by police to leave the island and return to their mainland home.
Epicenter, a technology startup hub in Stockholm, Sweden, has been offering employees the chance to have a small microchip implanted in their hand, ever since 2015. So far, 150 of its 3,000-strong staff have taken bosses up on their offer, and they couldnt be happier with their decision.

Implantable microchips the size of a grain of rice have been around for a while now, but they are usually used as virtual identification plates for pets, or as tracking devices for deliveries. Up until a couple of years ago, when Epicenter started offering its employees the chance to have them implanted into their hands, these tiny devices had never been used to tag humans on a large scale. For many people, having a chip inserted into their body sounds like something out of a dystopian future, or, at the very least, raises privacy questions, but the 150 Epicenter employees who have had them implanted say the technology just makes their life easier.

Photo via Pinterest

Instead of tracking their whereabouts at all times, collecting information about how much they work, or any sinister monitoring data of any kind, these implants are simply designed to help employees get around the workplace easier. No more having to keep an access card on them to open doors, operate company printers or order lunch at the cafeteria. With the chip, all they have to do is wave their hand in front of the scanner and magic happens.

The biggest benefit I think is convenience, Epicenter co-founder and CEO, Patrick Mesterton, told the Associated Press. It basically replaces a lot of things you have, other communication devices, whether it be credit cards or keys.

Photo: Biohax/Facebook

The microchip implantation has become sort of a tradition at Epicenter, ever since Mesterton himself had his inserted in his hand, two years ago. The company offers this option to its employees, for free, and holds parties whenever someone decides that they want to become a rudimentary cyborg.

The procedure is quick and relatively painless. Jowan Osterlund, a self-described body-hacker from Biohax Sweden, visits Epicenter whenever a new employee want to join the cyborg club, and injects the tiny chip into the flesh right next to the thumb. It apparently feels like a quick injection and theres hardly ever any blood involved.

Photo: Biohax/Facebook

We already interact with technology all the time, Epicenter employee Hannes Sjoblad told the BBC, in 2015. Today its a bit messy  we need pin codes and passwords. Wouldnt it be easy to just touch with your hand? Thats really intuitive.

We want to be able to understand this technology before big corporates and big government come to us and say everyone should get chipped  the tax authority chip, the Google or Facebook chip, Hannes added, convinced that this way he will be able to question the way the technology is implemented from a position of much greater knowledge.

Photo: Biohax/Facebook

For some Epicenter employees, getting implanted is all about convenience, others just think its a cool way to experience the future before it happens, and some dont even want to hear about it. Asked if he was considering getting implanted, one young man said absolutely not.

The microchips may be popular at Epicenter, but not everyone is thrilled about this practice. Ben Libberton, a microbiologist at Stockholms Karolinska Institute, said that its a question of how advanced the microchips will become.

The data that you could possibly get from a chip that is embedded in your body is a lot different from the data that you can get from a smartphone, he told AP. Conceptually you could get data about your health, you could get data about your whereabouts, how often youre working, how long youre working, if youre taking toilet breaks and things like that.

For now, the chips used by Epicenter are based Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the same type used in contactless cards. They are passive, meaning they contain information that other devices can read, but cannot read information themselves.
There I was thinking journalists and politicians took all the flak and abuse online. Immunologists are on the list now and Tony Holohan as Chief Medical Officer (CMO has been up for shaving since last summer.

Dr Holohan was seen as somewhat of a father figure for the nation last year at the outset of the pandemic. No one liked the restrictions or losing their jobs, but we accepted it. The first lockdown served as a pause for society. We were all in it together, or so we were told, but once the novelty wore off, we turned on our health chiefs - at least on social media.

Politicians are always in the firing line for criticism and that's par for the course, but on social media, it goes too far. The same goes for journalists. Tony Holohan has fallen into that category and now every day he advises caution or issues a warning about the Delta variant, he is lambasted by online commenters.

The comments section under an online national newspaper article about Tony Holohan issuing a Delta variant warning and urging young people to 'hold firm' until they were vaccinated became a vitriolic cesspit. The vast majority of these comments were critical of the Chief Medical Officer, while a small but significant number were downright disgusting.

One claimed "that man is only happy when he's scaremongering people. Sick of him," while another labelled him "Dr Death" and someone who "loves the sound of his own voice." They were bad enough but it got worse with two different commenters calling him "a parasite." Another said: "Why has he not resigned, surely seeing the whole country hate you would do it for me."

Imagine sitting in your GP's surgery with a doctor telling you you had to give up drink, or smoking or sun holidays or anything for the benefit of your health and you turn around and call him or her a parasite because you don't like their advice. That's what's happening with Tony Holohan. It is a by-product of the faceless nature of social media where people say things they wouldn't dream of saying to someone's face.

There appears to be a feeling out there that Dr Holohan is getting some sort of kick keeping indoor dining closed or asking young adults to hold firm and avoid gathering in crowds indoors until they are called for their vaccine.

This is a man who buried his wife earlier this year and after a break has returned to work for our country. There is no doubt that lives have been saved over the last 18 months because of his public health advice to the government. We've had over 5,000 deaths but could have endured many more had it not been for his expertise and guiding hand. On the one occasion the government pushed back against his and NPHET's advice in the name of a "meaningful Christmas," it was a disaster. Nursing homes were eviscerated and we all lost loved ones. Every town and village in Ireland was hit.

Dr Holohan didn't say 'I told you so,' he just kept doing his job and advising the government on rectifying the situation. We again endured as a people with an extended lockdown but it was for a common good. Goodwill seemed exhausted after 2020 and that is understandable but it doesn't mean Tony Holohan deserves to be sacrificed before some sort of online firing squad. Many of us were blinded by our own self-interests. I too have cursed NPHET and the government over this pandemic and their handling of it. I haven't always agreed with the restrictions or measures but one thing I don't doubt is that Tony Holohan has the best interests of the country and our people at heart.

Some on social media seem to have an opposing view and have painted Tony Holohan as some sort of villain in all of this. That's what is happening now as he tries to steer Ireland away from the clutches of the Delta variant as it races across Europe. Every online post that mentions his name or shows his photograph is set upon by hateful me feiners; people who look at the small picture and think a pub is more important than an extra patient in ICU, or their precious package holiday should come above protecting our nurses and doctors from another surge in hospital admissions.

Of course, these people are reading this and readying themselves to launch into a tirade about the vaccine rollout and how the link between cases and hospitalisations and serious illness has been broken. The death rate of the Delta variant is lower in populations with an advanced vaccine programme like ours and therefore we should shrug our shoulders at it and let the pubs and the planes play ball.

The health chiefs like Tony Holohan have said the link between cases and serious illness and death has been weakened but not broken. Only half of our population is fully vaccinated and while that's positive, the Delta variant can still undo much of that work. The other half of the population, although younger, are still at risk from this more transmissible strain and susceptible to variants we don't even know about yet. Why risk one of those taking hold and maybe being resistant to our vaccines?

What Tony Holohan is doing that people don't like is looking at the big picture. While we look at the UK and think how great it would be if we could eat indoors and gather in crowds like they are for Euro 2020 matches, Tony Holohan is watching and wondering if that a risk worth taking. Maybe it is, and perhaps we'll regret our prudence in time but isn't it better to tread softly until we know we're on solid ground?

I can understand the frustration. I'm frustrated. This virus is still impeding our freedoms. It's not enjoyable to always be looking over your shoulder or worrying while watching the news every evening, but that's our reality. We also need to look outside our bubble in Ireland and realise large swathes of the globe are not vaccinated at all and could be brewing vaccine-resistant variants that might one day land on our shores.

This isn't the scaremongering the media and the CMO are so often accused of. It's about being prepared and acting responsibly. None of that is consolation for people still out of work or publicans unable to open fully. We can all complain about delays in vaccine passports and digital certs and all the rest of it, but other countries in Europe have rushed and got it wrong. Why can't we get it right? Isn't it better to wait and do that than plough on regardless?

It would appear not among some on social media. I've also heard the anti-Tony Holohan and NPHET rhetoric in normal conversation. We're rebellious by nature in Ireland but sometimes with zero regard for the consequences. No matter how much reason you try to bring to a social media pile-on, you will always be overwhelmed with wanton hatred and misinformation. It is a virus all of its own and for that, there is no antidote.
Green Restoration Ireland (GRI), a cooperative founded in 2019, has launched a new European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture (EIP-Agri) to develop baseline studies with a pilot cohort of 30 farms with peat soils in the West Offaly catchments of the Silver, Camcor, and the Little Brosna rivers.

This is a farmer-science led program, says project coordinator and Birr resident, Eimhin Shortt, we are inviting farmers interested in farming for nature, water-quality, and soil improvements to work with us and our research partners in pioneering new methods of managing converted peatlands and regenerative approaches to land management here in Ireland.

The EIP-Agri program is called Farm:Carbon and has issued call letters to farmers on peat soils across key focus areas around peatlands within the three catchments earlier this week. With a budget of 1.1million euro the program will be continuing into early 2023 and will involve a collaborative approach with diverse partners at the local, national, and international levels. The focus will be on improving livelihoods for farmers at all scales by creating payment-for-results streams for the secondary production of ecosystem services as public goods, including avoided greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration, water quality improvements, and enhancing aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.

The Farm:Carbon project is a unique chance for farmers in this area to pilot new methods of farming and pave the way for their fellow agricultural colleagues. With help and guidance from the team, farmers will have the capacity to steer the ship in making effective yet practical changes to their everyday work, resulting in a positive outcome for both the land being farmed and in turn the livelihoods of farmers, both today and into the future, said Rachel Feely, Project Officer, Farm:Carbon.

The work will begin with a whole-farm survey of the lighthouse farm sites to identify biodiversity and habitats on site, measure the carbon stock in peatland areas and also identify health and safety issues. In farming terms, this translates to simple practices combined in the right way, specific to site-specific conditions, or the right measure in the right place.

The wide range of measures and practices supported by the programme include planned grazing, peatland conservation and rewetting, paludiculture, multi-species swards, cover cropping, min and no-till systems, nature-based water management solutions, hedgerow and habitat establishment, riparian woodlands, agroforestry and buffer strips. Before and after scientific monitoring will determine what improvements are achieved by the different measures.

We wrote our proposal in the last quarter of 2020, and were awarded in early 2021. By April the EU announced the launch of the Carbon Farming initiative, an EU-wide results-based-framework, that sets out conditions for the creation of carbon farming schemes across the European Union. We really couldnt be coming into this work at a better time, Eimhin continued.

Farmers have been led by short-term policies that have created perverse incentives for land management practices that are damaging the living fabric of the countryside, and contributing to the loss of nature, and to ongoing damage to communities and the climate. We are inviting farmers to take work with us, towards developing nature-friendly practices and through these - better policies, rewarding more than simple production outcomes by incentivising improvements to water quality, carbon sequestration/storage, and better habitat stewardship for biodiversity.

Project manager and one of Green Restoration Ireland's founders Dr. Douglas McMillan, an ecologist, and environmental management systems specialist with a background in peatland restoration notes the importance of peat soils and how we work with them.

He said: Ireland has over a million hectares of degraded peatlands emitting millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and about 300,000 hectares of this are farmed peatlands, mainly pasture. While we will be working on all aspects of the farm, the primary focus of the EIP is on the peatland areas so we will be investigating a range of options from rewetting to paludiculture (wet agriculture) to partial resetting. We are really looking forward to collaborating with farmers and our partners to find practical solutions to ensuring the long-term sustainability of these farms.

On July 16th at 7.30pm, the Project Team will host an introductory webinar, launched by Offaly's Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, and which will feature a range of short presentations from GRI and its project partners including Dr. Brendan Dunford of the Burren Beo Trust, Donal Sheehan, founder of the BRIDE (Biodiversity Regeneration In Dairying Environment) EIP, Per Eric Mellander, Chief Scientist with the Agricultural Catchments program, advisor David Webster with the water based agricultural advisory service ASSAP, Margaret Keegan from the Local Authority Waters program LAWPRO.

This recalibration in our relationship with peatlands will create a more robust and sustainable agriculture that financially supports those who work the land. Were committed to developing a dynamic that enhances agricultural inheritance and ensures the future prosperity of Irish farming for the new green economy. This new direction will take us down old paths with once familiar sensations, where the call of the curlew heralds the morning, Eoghan Connaughton, Project Officer, Farm:Carbon said.

For more information see www.farmcarbon.ie, email EIP@farmcarbon.ie or call (089) 2324012.

The project team would like to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Agriculture, the personnel of the Locally Lead Section, our partners in LAWPro and all of our wider project network for their foresight and persistent support in bringing this project to fruition here in the midlands.
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Graveside services for Paulette West will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, July 21, at Silent City Cemetery in Monroe; followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am, at Church of the Nazarene in Pella.
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SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  Washington state on Friday became the second state in the Pacific Northwest in as many days to announce emergency rules that provide farmworkers and others who work outdoors more protection from hot weather in the wake of an extreme heat wave that is believed to have killed hundreds of people.

The announcement comes a day after Oregon approved what advocates call the nation's most protective emergency heat rules for workers and as temperatures are spiking again this week in parts of the U.S. West, though not as severely as the end of June. The heat is making it difficult to fight wildfires in parts of a region struggling with a historic drought tied to climate change.

The heat experienced in our state this year has reached catastrophic levels," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said. The physical risk to individuals is significant, in particular those whose occupations have them outdoors all day.

Washingtons new rules take effect Tuesday and update existing mandates that are in place from May through September, when the state's multibillion-dollar agricultural industry relies on tens of thousands of farmworkers to tend and harvest crops such as apples, cherries, hops and asparagus.

Under the emergency rules, when the temperature is at or above 100 F (38 C), employers must provide shade or another way for employees to cool down and ensure a paid cool-down rest period of at least 10 minutes every two hours.

The state already required employers to provide every outdoor worker with at least a quart of drinking water per hour, offer safety training on outdoor heat exposure and respond to any employee with symptoms of heat-related illness. A new requirement is that the water must be cool.

The onus is on businesses under heat rules in Washington, Oregon and California, where Del Bosque Farms owner Joe Del Bosque was monitoring his workers Friday and into the weekend, when he was expecting temperatures above 110 F (43 C) in the Central Valley.

If we see it gets too hot and its a danger to them, we will shut down the operation and send them home, he said.

Del Bosque also said he educates workers who pick and pack melons on his farm about preventing heat illness and provides plenty of cool water and shade to rest.

The scramble to protect workers follows a heat wave that hit the Northwest and British Columbia at the end of June and broke all-time heat records in places like Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

An immigrant from Guatemala who was part of an outdoor crew moving irrigation lines at a Oregon plant nursery was among those who died in the heat wave. Nearly 200 deaths have been blamed on the heat in Washington and Oregon, while authorities in British Columbia say hundreds of people there may have died.

The record-high temperatures were caused by what meteorologists described as a dome of high pressure worsened by human-caused climate change, which is making such extreme weather events more likely and more intense.

Last month was the hottest June on record for the contiguous United States, smashing the record set in 2016 by nearly a degree, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday. The unheard-of extreme heat in the Pacific Northwest at the end of the month was a main driver as the country averaged 72.64 degrees Fahrenheit (22.58 Celsius) for June, beating the old record of 71.76 F (22 C). The 20th century average for June is 68.4 F (20 C).

Usually records get beaten by one- or two-tenths of a degree, but thats a wide margin, NOAA climate scientist Ahira Sanchez-Lugo said. That is pretty remarkable.

While there is natural variability always involved, our climate is changing, she said.

Eight states  Arizona, California, Idaho, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Utah  had their hottest June, while six more had their second hottest. NOAA records go back 127 years.

The recent heat wave is a reminder that extreme temperatures can be a real danger in the workplace. With more hot weather on the way, were taking action now, said Joel Sacks, director of the Washington state Department of Labor & Industries.

Its rules are similar to increased protections that Oregon adopted Thursday, but that state went further. Once the heat index rises above 90 F (32 C), employers in Oregon must ensure effective communication between workers and supervisors so employees can report concerns and must ensure employees are observed for alertness and signs of heat illness.

At 80 F (27 C) or above, employers must provide sufficient shade and an adequate supply of drinking water.

Agricultural-rich California adopted the nations first rules requiring shade and water for farmworkers in 2005 following 10 heat-related deaths  four of them farmworkers  in a two-month period.

The regulations have since been beefed up, requiring employers to provide shade when temperatures rise above 80 F (27 C) and 15-minute breaks in the shade each hour when temperatures rise higher. Employers also must provide cool drinking water in easily accessible locations, toilets and hand-washing facilities. When its hot, many work in the middle of the night.

___

Associated Press Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C., and video journalist Terry Chea in Firebaugh, California, contributed to this report.
Editor's note: This is the first installment in a new Midland Daily News weekly series called "STEM Stars," which features local secondary students who are Chief Science Officers (CSOs). These students, in grades 6-12, serve as STEM ambassadors and a liaison for STEM opportunities in their communities.

This week will feature Ava Nelson, a senior from H.H. Dow High School.

When and why did you become a Chief Science Officer?

I became a Chief Science Officer in eighth grade because I have always been interested in STEM, but up until this opportunity, I didn't have many instances where I could do anything with that passion.

My principal approached me and said that SVSU was starting a new program for middle and high school students and the focus was STEM exploration and leadership development. He thought I would be a good fit for the program, and I leaped at the opportunity to be part of this new program.

At the time, my main STEM interests were astronomy and math, because I wanted to have a career as an astrophysicist. Since then, and due to my experiences with the CSO program, I have shifted my STEM interests more toward environmental science and sustainability. Due to all the amazing STEM professionals and environments we get to experience at our cabinet meetings, I had the chance to really learn and develop my interests revolving around STEM.

What does it mean to you to be a CSO?

To me, being a CSO means having a chance to make a difference. One of my favorite quotes is, "Every day, we have the choice to live or to just exist." I think that this program gave me the opportunity to actually live and see my ideas unfold right in front of me.

For me specifically, especially earlier on in the program, being a CSO meant getting to educate others, especially younger kids, on STEM and the amazing things that come from it. I absolutely loved seeing the kids' eyes light up when they saw an experiment happen in front of them and then getting to answer the thousand questions that come immediately after.

However, now my idea of being a CSO has shifted to a wider perspective of getting to make a difference in people's lives, even if it is only one. When showing an experiment, even if only one person finds it interesting, I count it as a win. However, when hundreds gather to see it happen and are amazed, that is just about the best feeling in the world, knowing that those people will walk away with a new perspective on STEM and its importance.

What do you enjoy about being a CSO so far?

After five years of being in the program, four being in person and one being completely virtual, I can definitely say that I love any time the entire Great Lakes Bay Region can all get together.

I really missed the Leadership Training Institute (LTI), where I usually get to meet all the new CSOs and reconnect with past CSOs, and especially the cabinet meetings where we would get to explore the most fascinating companies and learn from STEM professionals.

All of these things were still enjoyable online; however, it definitely wasn't the same, and I am very excited to get back to those activities this year! One of the other things that I enjoy about being a CSO is how it stretches me to be a better person, grow my skills, and build confidence.

Two years ago at our LTI, I was "voluntold" to help teach one of the main courses, Action Planning, alongside Jake Lounsbury, the director of Global Partnerships. I was terrified to do this; however, I did it and had a blast! I ended up helping with it again last year, and I am planning on helping with the course again this year as well.

The program has also just made me more confident in general and helped me come out of my shell. In my first year, I would strictly only talk to the other CSO from my school; however, now I find myself getting excited before LTI and cabinet meetings because it is a chance for me to talk and meet the new CSOs.

One of the newer things that I love about the program is my involvement with CSO International. This past year, I was chosen as a Michigan representative to speak during the monthly town hall meetings, where we share what our region has been doing. I love hearing what all the other regions have accomplished, but it has also been an amazing way to meet more CSOs and make friends around the world!

I now have friends not only all over the US, but also the world! I was also able to make friends around the world by being involved in the CSO International EE (Equity for Everyone) Committee, a DEI committee to build training to better educate CSOs.

What is your action plan?

For the first three years of being in the program, my action plan was called "Flight Night." I wanted to create an event that was for elementary students and focused on STEM topics that would be interesting to them such as airplanes, flight, and space.

I also wanted to partner with a community organization to create something that could be replicated beyond just a single event. As I started to plan, I was informed that the Experimental Aviation Association and some others over at Barstow Airport here in Midland wanted to find ways to use their newly created educational area.

The first event was for Siebert Elementary, then Adams Elementary, and lastly for Central Park Elementary. During these events, we would have an array of activities for the kids to explore and enjoy, all revolving around space and aviation. There were multiple booths with hands-on activities and crafts.

We also had many professionals there to explain different aspects of aviation, such as the parts of a plane, or the science behind flight, or how pilots communicate with the airport. There were also different aircraft on the ground for the kids to see; these varied throughout the different flight nights; for one, there was a gyrocopter; for another, there was a medical flight helicopter, and there was also a crop duster.

Lastly, throughout the entire event, there were always planes doing cool tricks in the air and doing landings and take-offs for the kids to see. For each of these events, I also had some of my fellow students volunteer to run some of the activities. This past year, however, I couldn't host another flight night due COVID, so I had to think not only of a new action plan, but also of one that was completely virtual.

That is how I ended up on going with a more marketing and outreach action plan with my blog. I realized that for the past four years, we as Midland CSOs have been doing absolutely amazing things, but for the most part, people didn't know that it was CSOs who were leading them. So I decided to write a blog explaining who we are, what we do, and our importance. I submitted that to the Midland Public School Communique, and just hoped that maybe a few people would read it. However, it seems that it got a bit more traction than I was expecting, which is absolutely amazing because the more people who know about us and the importance of STEM, the better!

This year, I am unsure of my action plan. I want to get the flight nights back up and running, and hopefully pass it along to a younger CSO so that it can continue on once I graduate. I also want to continue the general education aspect of STEM, similar to the blog I wrote this past year. I am thinking of interviewing STEM professionals about their careers; I am currently deciding whether I want to continue the blog format and make a website, or go for the youtube video/podcast route. Luckily, I still have some time to decide!

What first got you interested in STEM?

I have been interested in STEM my entire life, especially science, specifically astronomy. I think this has a lot to do with my parents, who are also very interested in STEM, so I just grew up in a STEM environment. My mom was always interested in biology and agriculture science, while my dad worked in medicine and I loved hearing about his days at work. So ever since I was little, I loved learning and reading about science and space.

Why is STEM education so important?

I think STEM education is so important because STEM surrounds everything we do. No matter your career or path in life, every single aspect of your life has some small aspect of STEM. Due to this, I think that it is very important to teach kids what STEM is, how it helps us evolve as a society, and how it will impact us in the future.

I think that the younger you start educating kids about STEM, the earlier you can spark their interest and get them hooked on the idea of liking STEM. That way, it can grow and snowball as they get older. The need for more STEM careers is growing rapidly, so the more kids we can get interested in different STEM aspects, the better!

What are some aspects of STEM that you feel many people aren't aware of or don't understand?

I feel as though engineering is a very misunderstood aspect of STEM. I think that many people are aware that engineering exists and that it is a growing career. However, I do not think that people, especially kids going into college, truly understand the fundamentals of engineering. Up until a few years ago, I was one of the people who didn't understand what it was at all, and still now I am trying to better my understanding.

I think because there is such a wide variety of engineering types, that it can be difficult to pin down a solid explanation. The best way that I can describe it is that engineers use a combination of math and different sciences to design and build new technologies. I think that the best way to explain this, especially to younger kids, is that engineers problem-solve. They take an issue and figure out a solution using science and math.

What do you like doing in your free time?

In my free time, I love reading and could honestly sit and just read for hours. I also have been trying to get better at crocheting since I learned during the pandemic when there was nothing else to do. Lastly, like most teenagers, I love to hang out with friends and watch movies/TV.

What are your career aspirations?

I am unsure of what exactly I want to do for a career; however, I do want to study environmental science and sustainability at college. Hopefully, through that I can discover some other career options that spark my interest; however, currently I am looking at careers in policy or with working with businesses to better their sustainability standards.

What person or people inspire you and in what way?

My mom is a huge inspiration to me. She works in a male-dominated work space but doesn't let that affect her, as she makes sure to get the same respect from everyone. That is a huge inspiration to me because most STEM work fields currently are dominated by men, so no matter what STEM career I go into, I will likely be in a similar experience.

My mom is also a big inspiration for me because one of her core values is kindness. I think that one of the main things that is missing from the world currently is empathy and kindness. And ever since I was little, she has always taught me that you should always try to make someone's day, even if it is just smiling at a stranger in the store. Lastly, my mom inspires me because of her love for learning. That is another thing that I have picked up from her, but she is always trying to not only better herself, she also just likes to learn about all sorts of things.
The Midland County Sheriffs Office is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that killed a 67-year-old Farwell man.

The crash took place on westbound US-10, just west of the M-30 off ramp in Lincoln Township at approximately 6:45 p.m. on July 9.

The sheriff's office investigation indicates that Rickie Bielicki was driving his maroon 2007 Harley Davidson FLHT Classic motorcycle westbound on US-10 when he suddenly veered to the right and drove off the highway just west of the M-30 exit ramp. Bielicki crashed and was ejected from the motorcycle.

Bielicki was pronounced dead at the scene. It is suspected he had a medical issue which caused him to leave the roadway and crash. Bielicki was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

While there is no evidence to indicate that alcohol or drugs may have been a factor in this crash, the office is waiting for toxicology reports for a final determination.

Midland County Sheriffs Office personnel were assisted at the scene by the Michigan State Police and their Third District Accident Reconstruction Team, Lincoln & Jerome Township Fire Departments, and Mid-Michigan EMS.
The president of Guatemala vowed Monday to crack down on demonstrators complaining of mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic and protesting delays in shipments of Russias Sputnik vaccine.

A crowd of about 300 protesters gathered Saturday in the main square of the capital to demand the resignation of President Alejandro Giammattei for his failure to obtain enough vaccine.

On Monday, banners appeared on several streets in Guatemala City demanding Giammattei resign.

Referring to the protests, Giammattei said: We are going to limit this type of thing. I think this is enough already.

These people are spreading the virus and causing more problems, that is what they want and they are spreading it through a series of illegal demonstrations, he added.

Giammattei signed a deal for 16 million doses of the two-dose Russian vaccine, and paid 50%, or almost $80 million, up front. But only about 550,000 Sputnik doses have arrived so far.

About 1.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine have been donated by the United States. But with just over 2 million doses, Guatemala doesn't have nearly enough for its 17 million people.

Opposition legislator Andrea Villagran said it was unacceptable that the government was focusing its efforts on limiting protests rather than containing the pandemic.

What he really wants is to quash freedom of expression, Villagran said. If he really wanted to address the issue of the pandemic, there are other mechanisms they are not using, like ensuring that malls, restaurants and tourist spots comply with (sanitary) measures.

So far, Guatemala has registered almost 320,000 coronavirus cases and 9,721 COVID-19 deaths.
CHISINAU (AP)  A pro-reform party seeking closer ties for Moldova with the European Union appeared to be heading to a clear majority in Sundays snap parliamentary elections, according to early results.

The election was called by President Maia Sandu, who sought to gain a parliament made up of pro-EU reformists in the former Soviet republic.

Voter turnout in the nation of 3.5 million people  Europes poorest country, landlocked between Ukraine and Romania  was just over 48%.

Sandu, a former prime minister who used to lead the pro-reform Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, promised to clean up corruption, fight poverty and strengthen relations with the EU.

I hope today will be the end of a hard era for Moldova, Sandu, a former World Bank official, wrote online after polls closed. I hope today will be the end of the thieves reign over Moldova ... People must soon feel the benefits of a clean parliament and a government that actually concerns population problems.

Moldova signed a deal in 2014 with the EU on forging closer ties, but high levels of corruption and lack of reform have stunted development in the country, which ranked 115th out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals 2020 Corruption Perception Index.

In last years presidential election, Sandu beat Moscow-friendly incumbent Igor Dodon, the current leader of the Socialists, who campaigned on high social spending, traditional family values and a distrust of closer ties with the West.

Dodon said Sundays vote could decide whether there will be peace and order in the country or permanent conflict and chaos.

Dionis Cenusa, an analyst at the Chisinau-based think tank Expert Group, told The Associated Press that a parliamentary majority for PAS would mean critical anti-corruption (efforts) can be implemented without resistance from parliament or the executive.

This will also mean that dialogue with the EU and other Western partners will increase their assistance for the internal reforms in the country, he said.

Voters chose between more than 20 parties, but the early results suggested that only three had won enough support to enter the countrys 101-seat legislature. Votes for parties that don't meet the parliamentary threshold will be distributed among the parties that did.

The election was called in April by Sandu after the countrys Constitutional Court abolished a state of emergency that was introduced to handle the coronavirus pandemic.

For Ilinca Mazureac, a third-year biology student at Harvard University, a PAS victory would mean "hope after so many disappointments in the previous elections.

With a clear pro-European majority in the parliament and a very skilled president, I am very optimistic about the future of my country, she told AP. I hope that the new majority will start by tackling corruption in the justice system so that people can finally regain trust in the authorities..

Vadim Pistrinciuc, executive director of Chisinau-based Institute for Strategic Initiatives, and a former lawmaker, told AP that a PAS win would mean immediately a much better relationship with the EU.

Radu Magdin, an analyst at Smartlink Communications, said that with great power and great expectations, comes great responsibility.

PAS got, in the year when Moldova turns 30 (since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991), the highest score for a pro-EU party ever," he said.

"Swift and decisive action in the health, economy, and judicial fields is key.
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP)  An anti-elite party appeared to be the winner of Bulgaria's parliamentary election, the country's central electoral commission said on Monday, with nearly 99 % of the ballots counted.

Results showed the There is Such a People party of popular TV entertainer Slavi Trifonov earning 23.9% of the vote, edging out the center-right GERB party of former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov by a mere 0.2%.

Four other parties have made it into the 240-seat chamber including the Socialist Party with 13.5 %, the liberal anti-corruption group Democratic Bulgaria with 12.6 %, the ethnic Turkish MRF party with 10.7 % and the center-left alliance Stand Up! Mafia Out! with 5 %.

With official results still pending, Trifonov said that his party wouldn't seek to form a coalition but would take political responsibility and propose to Parliament a minority government of his own.

International observers said on Monday that fundamental freedoms were generally respected in the poll.

These elections have taken place amid persistent public mistrust in the political establishment, mostly stemming from widespread allegations of corruption and an unsuccessful attempt to form a government following the elections in April, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe official Artur Gerasymov said.

The snap elections were held just three months after an inconclusive vote and again produced a fragmented parliament that will struggle to form a viable governing coalition. They also marked a further drop in support for Borissovs GERB party, after the current caretaker government made public allegations of widespread corruption during his rule.

NATO and EU member Bulgaria has been repeatedly criticized for not tackling corruption and for deficiencies in the rule of law and media freedom.

The anti-corruption campaign of Borissovs opponents was additionally boosted by the sanctions the U.S. Treasury imposed last month against several Bulgarian public officials and business leaders for corruption.

The new parliament is expected to convene for its first session next week.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Andrew Mullin.

Wednesday, July 7

11:59 p.m.  A 33-year-old Flint male was stopped for an equipment violation at Lee Township location. It was later determined the male did not possess a valid Michigan driver's license. The male driver was issued a citation for driving with a suspended license and released. A report has been forwarded to the Midland Prosecuting Attorneys Office for review. The vehicle was turned over to a 31-year-old female passenger who possessed a valid license.

10:00 p.m.  A deputy conducted a traffic stop at a Jerome Township location. A 61-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested for operating while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license and no insurance. The male was lodged at the Midland County Jail and a report is being sent to the prosecutor's office for review.

8:10 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence regarding a verbal argument between a husband and wife. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a 50-year-old female and her 55-year-old husband who advised they were arguing over the male accidentally dropping his new cell phone. Both parties were calm and cooperative, and it was determined they would remain separated for the night.

6:55 p.m.  Officers responded to an opiate-related drug overdose on Morningside Drive.

4:56 p.m.  A deputy investigated a hit-and-run that occurred at a Porter Township location. The vehicle was gone on arrival.

3:43 p.m.  Deputy dispatched to a Larkin Township residence reference a threats complaint. A 51-year-old female and her 27-year-old daughter reported a 55-year-old female was threatening them through text messages. All parties were contacted, advised to block each other, and cease all future contact. All parties agreed to leave each other alone.

10:55 a.m.  Officers responded to a case of larceny on West St. Andrews Road.

9:35 a.m.  A 43-year-old Jerome Township male reported an unknown suspect broke into his truck and stole around $300 worth of property.

8:32 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to U.S. 10 in Jerome Township for a vehicle fire. The female driver was able to get out of the vehicle without any injuries. Jerome Township Fire Department put out the fire.

3:42 a.m.  A 41-year-old Jerome Township male was arrested for domestic violence after assaulting his 49-year-old girlfriend. The woman sustained minor injuries. The man was lodged at the Midland County Jail.

Tuesday, July 6

11:13 p.m.  Deputies assisted the City of Midland Police Department with an assault investigation at a Jerome Township location. A 33-year-old male was later arrested by the City of Midland Police Department for an assault that occurred within the City of Midland.

9:54 p.m.  A deputy responded to a single vehicle PDA that occurred on a Jerome Township roadway. The driver was issued a citation.

9:41 p.m.  A silver sedan pumped $16.03 in fuel without paying at a Warren Township gas station. No plate info was obtained.

9:20 p.m.  Deputies responded to an Edenville Township residence to keep the peace while a 39-year-old female resident gathered her personal belongings to move out of the home. During the time the female was packing her items up, she told deputies she was sexually assaulted approximately one month ago by the 42-year-old homeowner while she was temporarily staying with him. The female left the residence to stay with a friend. A report will be sent to the prosecutor's office for review.

9:02 p.m.  A 49-year-old male reported his firearm was stolen from his residence. The approximate value of the stolen firearm is $450.

8:06 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to help a suicidal juvenile. A deputy spoke with a 30-year-old Gladwin male, who advised his 11-year-old Edenville Township daughter had made suicidal statements. The male was advised of his options in how to handle his daughter's comments. The male reported his daughter was yelled at by her 28-year-old mother during the same incident.

6:38 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of Wheeler Street and Jefferson Avenue.

5:55 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of North Saginaw Road and Eastman Avenue.

5:26 p.m.  An unknown subject drove away without paying for $15 in gas from a Sanford gas station. The clerk advised the incident was not intentional, and the male driver was seen leaving in a silver/grey Dodge Grand Caravan. An incorrect plate number was obtained.

3:43 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to Jasper Township after it was reported a vehicle stolen out of Southeast Michigan was in the area. Deputies searched the area, but the vehicle was gone on arrival. Prior to deputies clearing the call, they were advised the car was last pinged in Gratiot County. The info was turned over to that jurisdiction.

1:37 p.m.  Officers responded to a domestic verbal situation on Wyllys Street.

11:28 a.m.  Officers responded to a three-vehicle accident in the area of Eastman Avenue and West Wackerly Street.

10:57 a.m.  While patrolling Warren Township, a deputy came upon a disabled vehicle in the lane of travel. The deputy stayed on scene until the vehicle was removed by a tow truck at the 52-year-old Warren Township female owner's request.

4:03 a.m.  Officers responded to an attempted suicide on Dublin Avenue.

1:27 a.m.  Deputies assisted Midland County Jail deputies transport an inmate to the Mid-Michigan Medical Center for medical treatment.

12:06 a.m.  Officers responded to an OWI and injury crash in the area of U.S. 10 and Ashman Street.
Accra, Ghana (PANA)  A modern road interchange financed by the African Development Bank Group has opened in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, amid hopes the new infrastructure will help reduce road fatalities, ease mobility and spur trade within Ghana as well as with its neighbours
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The plenary session of the Libyan House of Representatives (Parliament) has suspended debate on the state budget for 2021 until Tuesday, a new postponement that reflects the differences between MPs on the finance law
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The appointment of the governing body of the High Commission for National Reconciliation in Libya is close, the official spokesperson of the Presidential Council, Najwa Wahiba, told reporters here Monday
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The High State Council in Libya has called on the House of Representatives (Parliament) to resume dialogue based on the results of the Hurghada dialogue in Egypt to reach a consensus on the constitution
BLOOMINGTON  A Chicago man was sentenced to probation in McLean County after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine.

Samuel P. Gentry was charged in April with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver between 1 and 15 grams of cocaine and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, a class 4 felony. Count one  a class 1 felony  was dismissed.

Gentry was sentenced to 30 months of probation and three days in jail, but he was given credit for three days served in jail.

He was released from the McLean County jail April 5 on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond.

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BLOOMINGTON  The mask requirement for schools was lifted Friday, but many Central Illinois school districts are still weighing options.

Its going to take us a little bit of time to work through, said Barry Reilly, superintendent at Bloomington District 87.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidance for schools on Friday to indicate staff and students who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks inside school buildings. The Illinois Department of Public Health adopted these guidelines as well and echoed the CDCs emphasis on the importance of vaccinations.

The CDC is right: vaccination is the best preventive strategy, said IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike. As school board members, parents, teachers and superintendents plan for a return to in-person learning in the fall, we strongly encourage those who are not vaccinated to continue to mask. IDPH is proud to fully adopt school guidance issued by CDC, which is based on the latest scientific information about COVID-19.

The guidance for COVID-19 prevention also states those who are not vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors, but people do not need to wear them outdoors.

The CDC also recommends layered prevention strategies, which include maintaining at least 3 feet of physical distance between students in classrooms, testing, ventilation, frequent handwashing, contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, staying home when sick and other measures.

Officials are closely watching cases linked to the highly contagious delta variant. Additionally, COVID outbreaks also have been reported at several summer camps, including one in Illinois. Overall, new confirmed cases has increased more than 60% over the past two weeks, from an average of about 12,000 a day to around 19,500, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The administrative team and school board leadership at District 87 will be working on their plans in the next week or so, which aligns with the districts closest neighbor, McLean County Unit 5.

A spokesperson for Unit 5 said they were pleased to receive the updated guidance, but we still have several questions that need to be addressed.

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Superintendent Kristen Weikle and the board will be reviewing the CDC recommendations in order to share information with parents and staff members as soon as possible.

Laura ODonnell, superintendent at Olympia schools, said the administration has not yet determined how the updated guidance will be applied.

We need time to study the recommendations and then discuss as a board, she said. The next school board meeting is July 26.

The Catholic schools in the McLean County area await direction from the Diocese of Peoria Office of Catholic Schools, said Sean Foster, principal at Central Catholic.

Though no action has been taken, Lisa Taylor, superintendent at Heyworth, said she will be making a recommendation to the school board at a special meeting on July 21, that we make masks optional for students and staff and that we respect everyones choices.

Per her recommendation, masks would be optional for all, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.

Were looking forward to having as normal a school year as possible,  and we will continue to prioritize students and staff safety and health, Taylor said, noting she appreciates that this updated guidance offers districts more flexibility and local control.

Taylor said the schools will continue their clean and disinfecting practices and have hand sanitizer available.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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Forty-seven people were shot this weekend, 10 of them fatally  fewer than half the number of people shot during the long Fourth of July holiday, according to Chicago police and records maintained by the ChicagoTribune.

There were 10 people killed between 4 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Monday, including two people who were shot outside a Clark gas station around 3:10 p.m. Saturday in the 6100 block of South Ashland Avenue in Englewood. Two men, ages 20 and 33, had been sitting in the gas station parking lot when someone inside a dark-colored vehicle shot at them, police said.

The older man was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center at 3:38 p.m., while the younger man  who, according to data from the Cook County medical examiners office was 19, not 20  was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:24 p.m.

Between 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday there were two separate attacks that each left three people shot, one fatally, according to authorities.

Those six people, including the two who died, were among a total of 14 people shot in less than 14 hours, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, police said. Three of the 14 people died.

Among those shot in the triple shooting just before 9 p.m. was rapper Londre Sylvester, who police said suffered as many as 64 gunshot wounds when he was attacked in the 2700 block of West 27th Street, across the street from the Cook County Jail, shortly after he was released.

Those injured also include a man who suffered a graze wound after Chicago police officers were called to a report of an assault in progress in the 2600 block of West Devon Avenue in West Rogers Park at 7:22 p.m. Sunday night. Police said he had a knife; he also was Tased by a second officer.

In other shootings:

A woman, 43, was shot by someone in a vehicle while she said in the passenger seat of a parked van in the 3800 block of West Adams Street in the East Garfield Park neighborhood around 12:20 a.m. Monday morning, police said. She suffered gunshot wounds to the back and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition.

A 25-year-old man was shot in the back and right leg while in the passenger seat of an SUV by someone in another vehicle at 12:10 a.m. in the 3100 block of South California Avenue in the Little Village neighborhood. The driver of the SUV struck two vehicles and fled on foot. The man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and listed in fair condition, police said.

A man, 21, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and listed in good condition after being shot at 12:01 a.m. Monday in the 10300 block of South Beverly Avenue in East Beverly, police said. He suffered a graze wound to the back.

Around 8 p.m. Sunday night, a man, 45, was shot in the head, neck and abdomen in the 2000 block of East 71st Street in the South Shore neighborhood, police said.

Police said he was taken to Jackson Park Hospital, where the Cook County medical examiners office said he was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m. He had not been identified as of Monday morning.

A man, 28, was shot in the thigh near an alley in the 7500 block of the South Essex Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood by someone in an unknown vehicle around 7:15 p.m. The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said.

Two other men, 20 and 31, were shot near an alley in the 7900 block of South Manistee Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood by an occupant of an unknown vehicle around 7:15 p.m. The 20-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the knee and the 31-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the hand, police said. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and listed in good condition.

Around 5:30 p.m., a 36-year-old man was shot in the thigh while near a sidewalk in the 1100 block of West 57th Street in the Englewood neighborhood, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.

A 55-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the chest in the 8600 block of South Lowe Avenue in the Gresham neighborhood around 4 p.m. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and listed in critical condition, police said. No one is in custody for the shooting and officials are investigating.

Chicago police did not hold a news conference about the weekend violence Monday as it typically would because Superintendent David Brown was in Washington D.C. for a meeting with President Joe Biden, officials said.

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John Hanlon said Anthony Porter's case and exoneration in 1999 played a significant role in ultimately abolishing the death penalty in Illinois.

The former executive director of the Illinois Innocence Project housed at the University of Illinois Springfield, Hanlon said the case also led to a governor's commission that made recommendations for a number of statutory legal changes.

John Hanlon

Porter, whose conviction led to a 17-year stay on Death Row and who came within hours of execution, died last week in Chicago. He was 66.

Porter's case led in part to former Illinois Gov. George Ryan halting executions in the state.

In 2003, Ryan declared a moratorium on executions in 2003 and before leaving office cleared death row by commuting the death sentences of more than 150 inmates to life in prison.

Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty in 2011.

Hanlon consulted with Porter and his family in Chicago in 2013 after the conviction of an alternate suspect in the 1982 double murder case began to unravel.

Porter's case was "absolutely pivotal," Hanlon said, on a number of fronts.

"It's a great innocence case," said Hanlon, who also worked for the Illinois Appellate Defender. "There's a total lack of physical evidence (against Porter) and you have one witness who the police interrogated for a lengthy time and his statement changed after that, not so shocking."

A last-minute motion for a stay of the execution was filed and allowed by the Illinois Supreme Court, Hanlon said, but the request wasn't based on Porter's innocence claims, but rather that he wasn't mentally fit to be executed.

Porter's defense had raised a competency hearing in 1995 and results showed that Porter had an IQ of 51.

"There is very strong law that a death sentence cannot be carried out on a person who does not understand what is happening," Hanlon said. "There had been no competency proceedings addressed to that question. When the case went back, that's when the innocence evidence was further developed."

Alstory Simon of Chicago later confessed to the crime during an investigation by a team of journalism students from Northwestern University. Simon was later convicted and sentenced to 37 years in prison.

Simon's conviction later came into question when he recanted his confession, claiming a private investigator working with the Northwestern students duped him.

Simon was released from prison in October 2014.

Because of innocence cases like Porter's, standards for defense attorneys and judges assigned to death penalty cases were stepped up, Hanlon said. Two defense attorneys were assigned to death penalty eligible cases and attorneys had to become members of a special capital trial bar.

Hanlon, who previously worked for the state appellate defender doing direct appeals and post-conviction work notably in the case of Rolando Cruz, returned to the agency to work in a special capital trial division that had been set up in 2000.

The governor's commission led to other changes, such as videotaping interrogations in big ticket cases, and laws regarding preservation of criminal evidence.

Theodore Gottfried of Springfield, a member of the governor's commission and the head of the state appellate defender, said "there's no question that Porter's case affected Gov. Ryan. That's probably one of the reasons he had our committee."

Ryan, who later pardoned Porter, told The State Journal-Register in 2018 that the case "caused something inside me to shift" on the death penalty.

"This was a case that focused (Ryan's) attention on this issue, added Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at UIS. "It's important for him."

Public opinion was evenly split on the death penalty, Redfield said, around the time of Porter's exoneration. While there were moral and religious components to the issue on both sides, there was another dimension that to the discussion, Redfield said.

"You were at a time when you had exonerated more people than you executed (in the state)," Redfield pointed out. "So there was this sense of how well (is the state) doing it and how effectively.

"There becomes an effectiveness argument. Are we trusting the system to be perfect in an area where you want it to be perfect if you're going to end up executing someone?"

Hanlon, who became the executive director of the Illinois Innocence Project in 2011 until retiring several weeks ago, said he was asked to consult with Porter and his family about any potential legal issues that might arise during the period of time when Simon's conviction was being questioned.

That led to at least one meeting Porter, though Hanlon later relinquished that role to another Chicago attorney.

Hanlon said the death of Porter is a time for reflection.

"We now know so much more about the system put so many innocent people in prison over the years in our state and across the country," he said. "The number of acknowledged fully innocent people is just over 2,800 according to the National Registry of Exonerations.

"And that's just high-level cases."

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"This decision was made after an exhaustive review and analysis of all of the factors involved in our ability to take a flight this year. Based on the current protocols and restrictions, we believe that we will not be able to provide our veterans the full flight experience in a safe, healthy and comfortable manner," said Joan Bortolon, the group's president.

The organization provides veterans with free trips to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials.

The National Honor Flight organization suspended flights through Aug. 15 in response to concerns about COVID and restrictions. The July 20, Aug. 14, Sept. 14 and Nov. 9 trips had previously been cancelled.

"Our veterans deserve the best. We don't want to fly just because we can, we want to fly when we can do it well and with full honors for our veterans. We hope we will be able to resume flights in 2022," Bortolon said.

Those seeking additional information should call (217) 473-2540, (217) 585-1219 or (217) 652-4719.

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Photo: (Photo : Mary Clavering/Young Hollywood/Getty Image)

A warrant of arrest was issued for former NCIS actress Zoe McLellan after she allegedly kidnapped her son, Sebastian, 8, as claimed by her ex-husband, Jean-Pierre Gillain, a.k.a. JP Gillain.

Gillain has told the Los Angeles court that he has not seen nor spoken to his boy since 2019. The father, who is also an actor, believes that McLellan and her son are living somewhere in New Orleans.

However, the actor's lawyers are still not certain of his ex-wife's whereabouts as she has gone off the grid and disappeared. The lawyers also alleged that McLellan, who has appeared in two seasons of the long-running hit drama series NCIS, has behaved in the same manner before.

Read Also: Scarlett Johansson Fondly Calls Daughter Her 'Shadow' Amid Second Pregnancy

In 2017, the actress took Sebastian to live with her in Toronto, where she was filming the Netflix series Designated Survivor. She did not inform nor asked her ex-husband of her plans to let the boy live with her in another country.

In late 2020, Gillain shared a photo on his Instagram to inform his followers that his ex-wife has "disappeared" with his son. The arrest warrant was issued in May 2021.

Cleared of Accusations

However, in 2018, amid a challenging custody battle, the Los Angeles court previously cleared McLellan of "abducting" her child and bringing Sebastian to Toronto. The judge in the case said that the mother did not take her son in bad faith as it was a necessary choice because she had to work in Canada. The judge also indicated in the ruling that both parties were aware she would have to fly out of America for work when she landed the role in the series.

Gillain's lawyers argued that Sebastian, then five years old, might not have a stable home life while living with his mother because he is usually left to the caretaker as the actress filmed long hours. The actor also tried to modify his child support payments because the mother and son moved out of the country, and he was not willing to pay for his son's private school fees in Canada.

However, the judge said that there had been no instances of domestic abuse while the boy was under the care of a nanny. Gillain was also told to continue paying $4,000 a month, regardless of Sebastian's living arrangement and studies abroad.

McLellan and Sebastian did not stay long in Toronto because Designated Survivor was canceled shortly afterward.

Charges Against Dad

In January 2020, Gillain landed in jail for four months after he was accused of abusing his son while he was still living in New Orleans. However, the charges of first-degree rape with aggravated crime against nature were dropped after the courts found no concrete evidence to convict the actor.

Related Article: Gigi Hadid Reveals Reason for Asking Paparazzi to Blur Daughter's Face

The incident allegedly happened after Gillain's separation from McLellan. The couple married in 2012 but divorced in 2016 after two years of living apart. At that time, Sebastian spent his time separately with both parents. The actress said that the charges against her ex had nothing to do with their dispute over Sebastian's custody.

Meanwhile, McLellan hasn't had any TV appearances since 2019, further sparking her disappearance. Gillain remains active on social media and recently appeared in HBO's Westworld.
Paris, TN (38242)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High around 80F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Rim Country is home to the largest stand of ponderosa pine trees in the world. But the majestic beauty of the forest can also be extremely dangerous. The region's two newspapers, The White Mountain Independent and Payson Roundup have teamed up to produce Catastrophe: A Forest in Flames - a six months-long, in-depth series that will focus on how the largest and deadliest wildfires in Arizona history happened, what has been done since then, and what could be done to have a healthier forest. We believe we have the responsibility of educating the community on the vital issues facing the forests, and take that role seriously.
Fidelity Bank has introduced the Fidelity Edwapa Account to provide customized financial services for self-employed individuals and sole proprietors. The account is accessible to individuals operating within both the formal and informal business sectors.



The Fidelity Edwapa account comes with enhanced features and benefits tailored to fit the unique business needs of self-employed individuals and sole proprietors.



These include free insurance cover worth up to GHS 48000, free inter-account transfers, a bundled monthly service fee, free subscription to Fidelity Banks various e-banking platforms as well as access to competitively priced loans.



Remarking on the Fidelity Edwapa Account, Nana Esi Idun-Arkhurst, Fidelity Banks Divisional Director for Retail Banking, said, The Fidelity Edwapa account is specifically designed to provide self-employed individuals with a bespoke suite of financial, banking, and advisory services to enable them to manage their finances and grow their businesses. One of the distinctive features of this account is the fact that both sole proprietors with registered businesses and those trading in their personal names, qualify to enjoy the benefits of the Fidelity Edwapa account.



Godfred Attafuah, Director, Channels & Sales, Retail Banking at Fidelity Bank, further explained the insight that led to the conception of the Fidelity Edwapa account, Several surveys continue to indicate that self-employed individuals and sole proprietors contribute immensely to the growth of the economy yet most of the banking products and services available on the market are not designed with their particular business needs in mind. Having noticed this gap, we set out to extend our product line with the addition of custom-made offers that meet the needs of this influential yet often neglected business segment.



This undertaking birthed the account which has now evolved into the Fidelity Edwapa account with an expanded scope of benefits and features for our target clients.



It also underscores Fidelity Banks commitment to Ghanas financial inclusion agenda.



Fidelity Banks introduction of the Fidelity Edwapa Account forms part of the Banks Together Were More brand promise that views success as a collaborative effort among key stakeholders working together towards a greater good. In this instance, Fidelity has proven that supporting self-employed individuals, it can help grow their businesses which will ultimately contribute to the economic growth of the nation.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Ghana has settled the $42 million debt it owed Nigeria Gas Company (N-Gas), making it possible for the two countries to start on a fresh page.



The settlement of the debt, among other things, enhances the countrys quest to use clean fuel for its power generation and gives the two countries an opportunity for further discussions going forward.



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of N-Gas, Mr Aliyu Aminu, said settling the debt was a testament of the Ghana governments commitment to deepen its long-standing relationship with the company and Nigeria.



At a meeting with Ghanas Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Mr Aminu commended the leadership of the minister, saying, Since he took office in March, the Nigerian petroleum company has experienced a deeper collaboration with the Ministry of Energy.



He said it was a great relief that N-Gas debt of $42 million had finally been settled, adding that We are confident the relationship between Nigeria Gas and Ghana would continue to thrive under your tenure as minister.



For his part, Dr Opoku Prempeh expressed the governments commitment to key partnerships with all stakeholders and that the Ministry of Energy was resolved to work assiduously in that direction.



The payment of this legacy debt was crucial because it provides the basis for a clean state for fresh negotiations which are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, Dr Opoku Prempeh noted.



He expressed the hope that the current synergy was a sign of good future between Ghana and Nigeria with regard to gas and its role in Ghanas development, the minister urged N-Gas to continuously improve the reliability and integrity in their service delivery.



Background



The accumulation of the debt owed N-Gas started in 2014 due to the inability of VRA to pay the company.



By the end of 2016, the accumulated total debt stood at $169 million.



However, in 2017 through strategic government intervention programmes such as ESLA, tranches of payments were made to the company.



Ghana at the Committee of Ministers meeting in Lome, Togo, in December 2020 made a commitment to settle the remaining debt this year and, therefore, on the back of that, on assumption of office, Dr Opoku Prempeh ensured full payment was made.











Source: graphiconline.com









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Cargill has initiated a scheme dubbed the Cargill Schools Project to build new schools for the people of Adjei Kojo, a fishing community in the Tema West constituency.



Cargill over the week held a sod-cutting ceremony to commence the construction of the schools.



The colorful event was graced by the Chief of Staff, Madam Frema Akosua Osei-Opare, the Deputy Minister of Education, John. Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Michael Okyere Baafi, the US and Dutch Ambassadors, Her Excellency Stephanie S. Sullivan and His Excellency Ron Striker, the MP for Tema West, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, and other dignitaries from the other five project communities across the country.



In 2019, Cargill Inc. outlined its plan to build six schools in Ghana - five in cocoa-producing districts and one in Tema.



This Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aligns with the Cargill Cocoa Promise - the company's strategic plan to improve the incomes and living standards of farmers and their communities while growing cocoa sustainably.



The project will be executed in partnership with CARE International, comprising of three primary schools, two kindergarten blocks, and one junior high school block, in the communities of Fahiakobo, Lines, Fojourkrom, Juabo, Afofiekrom in the Western North Region and Adjei Kojo in the Tema West constituency, close to Cargills processing facility.



The aforementioned communities are among those with the most pressing educational infrastructural needs as identified through PROSPER - Cargills needs assessment project with CARE International.



The project is one aspect of the overall CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) approach which mainly focuses on access to education, health, nutrition, and economic empowerment. As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cocoa-growing communities, prevent child labor and invest in education, the Cargill Schools Projects new facilities will provide an estimated 700 children with access to education.



The Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour reiterated his office commitment to support the Cargill Schools building project.



He highlighted the readiness of his office to deploy qualified teachers to the schools once they have been completed.



Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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Parliament on Friday constituted a nine-member Adhoc Committee to investigate the procurement contracts between the Government of Ghana and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and one other for the supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines.



Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin is the chairman of the committee, and Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member on the Health Committee is vice.



The rest of the members are Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, Chairman of the Health Committee; Mr Bernard Ahiafor, MP for Akatsi South; Mr Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, MP for Asante-Akim Central, Mr Ernest Norgbey, MP for Ashaiman; Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, MP for Techiman North; Ms Sheila Bartels, MP for Ablekuma North; and Mr Farouk Aliu Mahama, MP for Yendi Constituency.



Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced the names of the members of the Ad hoc Committee to the House.



He said the terms of reference of the Committee was to determine whether or not the transaction for the procurement and supply of the Sputnik V vaccine between the Government of Ghana (GOG) represented by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Al Maktoum S.L Group qualifies as international Business or Economic transaction under Article 181(5) of the Constitution, and if so, whether it was subjected to prior approval of Parliament.



Also, the Committee is to determine the procurement process that was followed and the propriety of same and the prices of the vaccines as well as determine whether the services of the middleman were procured in the transaction and if so, having propriety regard to the relevant laws.



Additionally, the Committee is to ascertain the cost of the vaccines and the justification of the cost vaccines, and whether the transaction guaranteed value for money for Ghana.



Moreover, the Committee is to determine whether or not any consideration was passed from the GOG to the middleman, suppliers, or any other person.



Furthermore, for the Committee to determine or not the Ministry of Health misled Parliament during the consideration of the transaction for the procurement of the vaccine.



The Committee also to inquire into any other matters connected to the purchase and supply of the Sputnik V vaccine in the agreement between the GOG and the private office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L Global.



Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu in a comment suggested that the Ad hoc Committee should have been a committee of eight members reflecting the size of each caucus.



He said the Minority Side has no problem with Mr Afenyo Markin, Chairing the Ad hoc Committee with Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh as his Vice-Chairman.



The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah who was in the chair commissioned the Ad hoc Committee and ask them to report to the House in three weeks.

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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Haiti's Senate has elected its leader Joseph Lambert as the interim successor to assassinated president Jovenel Moise.



"I express my humble gratitude to the political institutions that support me," Lambert wrote on Twitter on Friday evening.



He said he wanted to pave the way for a democratic transition of power.

Presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for September in Haiti.



However, the Senate - the upper house of the Haitian parliament - has not had a quorum since January 2020. It was therefore initially unclear whether Lambert would actually be able to take office.



Because a general election scheduled for October 2019 was cancelled, partly due to violent protests against Moise, there are only 10 out of 30 senators whose terms have not expired.



There is no one left in the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies.



Eight of the 10 senators voted for Lambert, and two abstained, according to media reports.



There has also been considerable confusion over the role of interim prime minister following the shock assassination at Moise's home.



It was to be the neurosurgeon Ariel Henry, whom Moise had appointed to the post on Monday.

Henry's swearing-in ceremony, planned for Wednesday, was however cancelled after the killing.



Claude Joseph, the foreign minister and former interim prime minister who was set to be replaced by Henry, declared himself acting interim head of government.



As such, he has given speeches to the nation, signed decrees and held talks with representatives of foreign governments in recent days.



Moise was attacked and shot dead at his residence on Wednesday night. His wife Martine was seriously injured. She is being treated in the US.



According to the Haitian police, 28 foreign mercenaries carried out the murder: 26 Colombians and two US-Americans of Haitian origin.



So far, 20 suspects have been arrested and three killed. The background to the crime is still murky.



Moise, in office since 2017, was extremely unpopular. He was accused of corruption, links to brutal gangs and autocratic tendencies.



Opposition parties had already appointed a Supreme Court judge as interim president in February because, in their view, Moise's term had expired.



Protests have repeatedly paralyzed Haiti over the past three years. Most recently, bloody fighting between gangs for control of parts of the capital drove thousands of people to flee.

Source: Mexico City (dpa/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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Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has won the country's delayed elections with an overwhelming majority, the election board said on Saturday.



The board said Mr Abiy's Prosperity Party won 410 out of 436 seats, giving him another five-year term in office.



However, a fifth of the country failed to carry out voting overall due to insecurity and logistical problems.



Polls were not held in the war-torn Tigray region, where many thousands are living in famine conditions.



Another round of elections has been penned for 6 September in the affected areas, but a date has not been confirmed for Tigray.



The election had already been delayed due to the pandemic.



Mr Abiy, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, described the vote as a "historically inclusive election" in a statement on Twitter.



A new government is expected to be formed in October. However, there are concerns about the election's integrity.



Opposition parties had complained that a government crackdown against their officials had disrupted their plans to prepare for the election.



Berhanu Nega said his party, Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice, had filed more than 200 complaints after observers in a number of regions were blocked by local officials and militiamen.

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.

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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor on Friday inaugurated the newly reconstituted 50-member Ashanti Regional Lands Commission with a call on members to, as a matter of urgency, put in their maximum support and effort to accelerate the needed reforms in land administration.



He said the move, will help boost public confidence in the Lands Commission and push further the socio-economic development agenda of the country.



The Minister explained that, Our quest to transform our national economy, to bring about the much-needed development and prosperity, cannot be achieved if we fail to anchor an effective land administration.



He also bemoans the encroachment on the Barekase and Owabi Dams, which serves as the main sources of water for the Kumasi township and its environs, some of the encroachers have resorted to the use of poisonous chemicals in the water bodies, dumping of refuse, and deforestation among others.



The Sector Minister reiterated his directive to the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission and the CEO of the Forestry Commission to take immediate steps and reverse the situation in the region, adding that, "I expect this to be rectified in a matter of weeks and not months."



He also thanked the outgone members of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission for their dedicated service and congratulated the New Chairman and members of the Commission on their appointment to the very important office.



The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah said, most landowners in the region do not have valid land titles and called on the Lands Commission to facilitate public education on the need for landowners to have their title registered after securing allocation notes.



In a speech read on his behalf, he commended the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission for their sterling performance within the last four years stating that, "I am reliably informed that the turn-around time for land Service delivery in the region has significantly reduced.



Asokore-Mamponghene and Representative of the Asantehene, Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah pledged the support of Nananom to the Lands Commission and government and called for education on the New Land Act particularly for Nananom in the region to help solve some of the land-related challenges.



The Ashanti Regional Chairman, Nana Nsuase Poku-Agyeman III, on behalf of the Regional Lands Commission, expressed his appreciation to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the government for the opportunity given them to serve.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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

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The Ho Central Police have arrested some 35 tricycles in an exercise to bring sanity to road networks in the Municipality.



Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Alex Yeboah, the Municipal Commander, who briefed the Ghana News Agency after the exercise, said the riders and operators of the tricycles were involved in road abuses and sometimes linked to criminal activities.



He said the riders continued to commit road infractions against other road users with the exercise targeted at stemming the growing culture.



He said some minors were identified as riders, who flagrantly abuse the road regulations with many without license or documents to engage in commercial activity.



ASP Yeboah said the Police had authorized those arrested to produce relevant documentation or be prosecuted according to the law.



He entreated owners of the tricycles to avoid using minors, promising that the Police would clamp down on them.

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.

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The Trades Union Congress has called on President Akufo-Addo to use all the powers accorded him by the Constitution of Ghana to stop the payment of the salaries to his wife and the wife of the vice president immediately, until they are assigned official duties and responsibilities.



In a statement issued on Sunday (11 July) and signed by the general secretary, Dr Yaw Baah, the TUC also called on the president to ensure that all such payments made to his wife and the wife of vice president are refunded immediately.



Ghanaians appreciate what the first and second ladies are doing to support womens rights, childrens rights and other noble initiatives towards social and economic development of our country. But neither the Constitution of Ghana nor the laws of the land assign them any official duties and responsibilities.



 even if the Ntiamoa-Baidus Committee recommended the payment of such salaries, it is simply not right for anyone who has not been officially assigned duties and responsibilities in the public service to receive monthly salaries, the statement said.



The committee probably sought to rationalise or regularise allowances which were being paid already. Hence its recommendation to convert such allowances into salaries. But you cannot regularise or rationalise the payment of salaries which have no basis, the statement added.

Source: asaaseradio.com









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

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The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has distributed 15 million hybrid cocoa seedlings to farmers across the country to increase yields.

About 75,870 cocoa farmers have benefited from the distribution exercise through a public private partnership arrangement involving the Cocoa and Forestry Initiative (CFI) and Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) last year as part of a sustainable cocoa production and farmers livelihood programme.



The Technical Director in-charge of Forestry at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Mr Musah Abu-Juam, made this known when he addressed a delegation of Swiss diplomats, led by the Swiss Councillor for Environment, Energy, Transport and Communications, Ms Simonetta Sommaruga, and the Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana, Mr Philipp Stalder.



Also present was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo.



The delegation visited a farm and a cocoa processing facility  Yayra Glover Limited, producers of organic products from cocoa beans, and a three-hectare cocoa farm with over 3,000 tree stocks belonging to Mr Justice Bediako and Fairafric, a chocolate producing company at Amanase in the Suhum Municipality in the Eastern Region.



Rehabilitation of farms



Mr Abu-Juam said about 11,000 hectares of cocoa farms had been rehabilitated within the same period, whereas 226,000 hectares of degraded forest areas were restored with cocoa farms to enhance yields.



He said the CFI, which was a commitment between the leading producers of cocoa beans in the world, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, and 35 chocolate and cocoa producing companies, had designed three programmes to improve cocoa production and preservation of the vegetation in the two countries.



They are forest protection and restoration; sustainable cocoa production, and farmers' livelihoods, and community and social inclusion.



Irrigation



Addressing the press after the visit, Mr Aidoo said the government had begun piloting irrigation projects to ensure an all-year round production of cocoa across the country.



He said the cocobod had also started some initiatives to process at least 50 per cent of cocoa beans locally in line with a directive by the President.



The CEO further said the country was practising an integrated farming system where cocoa was mixed with other crops, and urged cocoa farmers to continue practising the organic farming system to ensure the integrity of the countrys cocoa in the international market.



Commendation



The Swiss Councillor, Ms Sommaruga, lauded Ghana for embarking on organic cocoa production which products, she said, were largely approved and demanded in Switzerland and other parts of Europe.



She entreated the government and cocoa producers to continue adhering to the campaign against climate change by promoting a "zero deforestation" programme which, she said, was one of the key initiatives the Swiss government was championing.



The programme is aimed at preserving vegetation and environment and ensuring the sustainability of the cocoa value chain. It is being implemented by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of Switzerland and the Government of Ghana.





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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Ghanaians will soon be able to use the Ghana Card as a passport for travelling across the globe, the National Identification Authority (NIA) has said.



The NIA has begun talks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) to get two separate certifications to make the move to the Ghana Card a reality.



Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, the executive secretary of the NIA, who announced this move during an interview with Asaase FM Monday (12 July), said: We had a beautiful meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Friday. We are talking about the modalities for getting two things done.



One is the onboarding of the passport, data integration with the Passport Office and also even how you get to use the Ghana Card to travel. I indicated that the Ghana Card is a powerful tool. It already has an electronic passport on it which is valid for travel within West Africa.



Attafuah added: The conversation we had with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NITA is to get the appropriate certification and International Standardisation Organisation certification and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) certification, so that the Ghana Card itself can be a valid passport for travel to Europe, the American countries.



He also revealed that his authority is poised to begin registration of Ghanaians abroad for the Ghana Card. There are about 55  Ghanaian missions abroad. We are going to work with the missions to register through the ministry to register Ghanaians abroad.



We are going to do so using staff, as we are required by the laws of these missions.



So we will train them, provide the equipment, and they will carry on with the business of registering Ghanaians abroad, Attafuah said.







Source: asaaseradio.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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One person was killed and six others sustained injuries after a tipper truck rammed into him at the Ashaiman Toll Plaza on Monday, July 12, 2021.



The deceased, Isaac K. Koomson, 53, a hearing impaired man was employed as a cleaner at the toll plaza was said to be involved in his usual routine of sweeping when the tipper truck with registration number GG 3542- 20 carrying gravels crashed into him after hitting and destroying one of the six toll booths.



A hearing impaired man, Graphic Online learnt, did not hear the screams of danger by onlookers and was crashed by the truck.



The deceased and six others who sustained injuries were rushed to Tema General Hospital for medical attention.



Doctors initially said he risked losing both legs and an arm due to the severity of the crash but Koomson gave up the ghost a few minutes to midday



Lost of control



Eyewitness alleged that the driver might have lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure. As a result, it smashed into a salon car ahead of it whose drivers had stopped to pay the toll. Aside from the damage caused to the tollbooth, two vehicles including a saloon car whose driver and two passengers also sustained some injuries were damaged beyond repair.



A newspaper vendor at the toll booth who gave his name as Kwadwo Amoah told Graphic Online that he saw the vehicle approaching the toll plaza with top speed and all he could see was it had crashed into the concreate barrier and collapsed the structure.



Preliminary Investigation



The Tema Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent William Asante told journalists that all the seven people injured at the scene were taken to the Tema General Hospital for treatment, adding that the police has opened an investigation into the accident.



Meanwhile initial investigation conducted by the Police MTTD indicated that at about 06:30am on Monday, a suspect driver Isaac Osei, 37, of Kasoa was driving Howo Sino Truck with registration number GG 3564-20 loaded with gravels from Dawhenya towards Kaneshie.



The police said at the Tema Toll Plaza, the truck knocked down Mr Isaac Koomson, a cleaner at the booth and crashed into the said booth which had Mr Ernest Antwi as the attendant injuring him in the process.



The truck subsequently ran into the rear portion of a Nissan Saloon car with registration number GG 5401-15, driven by Mr Emmanuel Arthur, with two female passengers on board.





The Police said the concrete booth fell on a Mercedes Benz Actros Truck with registration number GE 7873-18, driven by Mr Emmanuel Agyei, who had stopped to pay the toll.



The three vehicles suffered various degrees of damage.



According to the police, four persons who sustained injuries in the accident were rushed to the Tema General Hospital for treatment.



The police later visited the injured persons, namely Rebecca Woode, 33, and Mary Eduah, 22, who were on board the saloon car as well as the Toll booth attendant at the Accident Centre of the Tema General Hospital.



Meanwhile, the driver of the truck has been arrested and the accident vehicles impounded for further investigation.





The accident led to a halt in operation at the toll plaza for about two hours and other workers who could not stand the sight of their injured colleagues were left distraught. Some of the workers, who later commenced operations, were spotted sobbing and crying. Supervisors at the facility declined to comment about the accident.



Critical condition



The Medical Director of the Tema General Hospital, Dr Richard Anthony, said seven persons, five males and two females were brought to the facility on Monday morning following the accident.



He said of the seven, two including the deceased were in critical condition while the other five were stable. He said one of the female patients was a pregnant woman but she was stable.



According to Dr Anthony, the doctors were working around the clock to save the lives of the victims.



We are doing our best to save the individuals. Our surgeons are all struggling to save lives, he said



Dr Anthony said some of the victims were traumatised while others had aberrations, at least minor injuries, while others were in shock adding that all the victims were being assessed by the doctors.







Source: graphiconline.com









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As demand for summer travel kicks into high gear, Ghanaian travellers have more to look forward to with popular destinations opening up for travel. Emirates is helping Ghanaian travellers get the most out of their summer holidays with special fares to Dubai and popular cities across the Emirates network ahead of summer to make the most of their holidays.



Special fares starting from Economy USD620 Istanbul, USD631 Athens, USD680 Dubai; Business from USD1998 Beirut, USD3199 New York & Washington, USD4740 Dubai, for all classes will go on sale from today, 12 July until 26 July, for travel until March 2022. Emirates customers can also enjoy extra baggage allowance for an additional bag for travel to and from Dubai. Passengers also benefit from a My Emirates Pass, providing exclusive savings at over 450 restaurants, spas, retailers and much more in Dubai, with up to 50% off, as well as double tier Skywards Miles.

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Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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Member of Parliament(MP) for Suame constituency, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has hit back at critics who think the loan agreement for the purchase of cars for MPs is a 'misplaced priority'.



A number of critics especially on social media have described as 'misplaced' a loan agreement for the purchase of vehicles for Members of Parliament (MPs).



Two loan agreements for the purchase of the cars for the MPs and the Members of the Council of State; $28 million and $3.5million respectively were laid before Parliament on Wednesday by the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare on behalf of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.



The two agreements which has been referred to the Finance Committee for consideration is expected to be approved this month.



The Majority leader who was speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' queried why no one raises issues with the purchase of vehicles for Ministers and other government appointees but only MPs.



"So does it mean the MPs shouldn't go for a loan to buy cars or they shouldnt get cars to work with at all," he asked the critics.



"The state already buys two cars for Ministers; a saloon car and 4x4, give them drivers, give them fuel, service the cars; all at the expense of the state. The same applies to the Justices, no one complains . . . but when it comes to MPs . . . what we wanted was for government to treat the MPs the same as MMDCEs and Ministries department and agencies, the judiciary and the executive . . ."



Landcruisers



Answering to why the MPs opted for Landcruiser and not any other car, the Majority leader said, "even though there are other options, the Landcruiser is more robust".



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









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Former Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Okoe Boye has admonished his party to be awakened to the tactics of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in pitching Ghanaians against the government's decision to pay salaries to First and Second Ladies.



Parliament has officially approved the payment of salaries to wives of the President and Vice President.



However, the government's decision has been condemned by some members of the general public.



With some arguing for and against the decision, a member of the NDC, Sam George has threatened court action against the decision.



Sam George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, argued; ''As far as I am aware there was no arrangement for that, the President's wife and the vice President's wife are not article 71 holders.



"I am a Member of Parliament, I personally do not subscribe to that, whether it is an NDC President or an NPP President, your wife is not a Public Officer, you wife is your wife. Are we also going to say that the Spouse of the Chief Justice , the spouse of the Speaker must also be paid? Where do we draw the line. Already they get allowances, they get protection from the state at the expense of the taxpayer and I don't have a problem with that.''



Discussing the issue on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Dr. Okoe Boye stated that the NDC has developed a strategy that is defeating the purpose for the Parliamentary approval of the First and Second Ladies' salaries.



According to him, the NDC is waging an ''emotional war'' and so called the NPP to counteract the opposition's cunning ways in order to help Ghanaians comprehend the significance of the government's decision.



''..what I have realized that the NDC is waging an emotional war, our response sometimes must be an emotional strategy. When I say 'emotional strategy', we can consider options like coming out to tell Parliament that get a bill and now cancel everything so that we listen to the kind of comments that will come from their wives'', he said.



He expounded that the opposition party has decided to ''target the hearts of people'', therefore the NPP ''must be conscious and quickly adjust ourselves, because on the books, everything is right. It went to Parliament...but they're targeting people on their heart and, as a psychologist, I know when the hearts of people are targeted; it's difficult to get them to appreciate reasoning''.











Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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Chef Luc Doucet of the Black Rabbit Restaurant in Moncton is shown in this handout image. Eleven restaurants have been given notice to stop serving raw or undercooked meat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Canadian flags are seen on the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council as tourists take photos on Parliament Hill before Canada Day, in Ottawa on June 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A police officer reacts as he arrives for the funeral of Toronto Police officer Jeffrey Northrup in Toronto on Monday July 12, 2021. Police say that Const. Northrup was killed in a deliberate act while investigating a robbery in the parking lot at Toronto City Hall last week. A 31 year old man has been charged with first degree murder. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
A group of about 25 residents of Cuban heritage and others gathered at the Farmers Market parking lot in Logansport on Sunday to show their support for the people of Cuba. Many young people took part in the Sunday protests in Havana, which disrupted traffic until police moved in after several hours and broke up the march when a few protesters threw rocks.
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The emergency room at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Missouri, U.S., on Monday, June 28, 2021. President Biden set a goal for 70% of American adults to get at least one Covid-19 shot by July 4. Despite ample vaccine supplies he missed that target, largely because the government has struggled to give away shots in rural, deeply conservative regions that are bastions of support for his predecessor. Photographer: Liz Sanders/Bloomberg via Getty Images
VIENTIANE  Laos hopes to continuously strengthen the traditional Laos-China friendship based on their shared ideal of socialism, Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, has said.

Extending congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Thongloun told Xinhua in a recent interview that the Lao party, government and people feel greatly pleased to see that the Chinese party, government and the brotherly Chinese people have made great achievements.

Chinas leapfrog development results in rising influences in the world and (it is) becoming a model for the worlds socio-economic development, the president said.

The CPC has been unswervingly following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, pushing forward the industrialization and modernization of the country, which presents important references for the Lao party and government, and provides inexhaustible impetus for the causes to defend and build the country in Laos, said Thongloun.

He stressed that the CPC has led the Chinese people to score a complete victory in the fight against poverty and to realize its first centenary goal  building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

In the face of the COVID-19 epidemic in early 2020, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, personally took charge of the national response, which has achieved effective containment of the virus and the quick resumption of production activities, Thongloun added.

The series of Chinas brilliant achievements have fully demonstrated the great advantages of the leadership of the CPC and the socialist system, Thongloun said, adding that China has become an example of success for developing countries around the world, including Laos.

Noting that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Laos and China, Thongloun said the two sides have seen their traditional friendship continuously develop during the 60 years, with cooperation in various fields deepened, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, throughout which the two parties, countries and peoples have also built high-level mutual trust.

The Lao side will actively implement the agreements and consensus reached by the two parties and the two countries, deepen the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future, and strengthen the cooperation with China in the international community to promote regional and world peace, cooperation and development, he noted.

We firmly hold the belief that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, the Chinese dream of (great) national rejuvenation will be realized, Thongloun said.

On the remarkable occasion of the CPCs centenary, Thongloun said he wishes China success in achieving its second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and achieving national rejuvenation.

Comments
WSOP Europe Schedule Released; Nearly 12M Guaranteed Across 15 Bracelets

July 12, 2021 Jason Glatzer

After a two-year hiatus, the World Series of Poker Europe will return to King's Resort, located on the German border in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.

The festival will feature 15 WSOP gold bracelet events with 11,550,000 in guaranteed prizes from Nov. 19 to Dec. 8 with buy-ins ranging from 350 to 50,000.

This is not all, as King's Resort has also announced the return of the WSOP Circuit with the festival boasting 17 WSOP gold ring events with 3,640,000 in guaranteed prizes from Aug. 12 to Sept. 14. This means that King's Resort will award at least a guaranteed 15,190,000 between the two festivals combined.

In addition to that, the WSOP is already awarding online bracelets with 33 WSOP Online Series bracelets on tap at WSOP.com from July 1-31 for players located in Nevada and New Jersey with another 33 bracelet events scheduled for the rest of the world at GGPoker from Aug. 1-31, which will overlap the WSOP Circuit at King's Resort.

This is all on top of the 88 gold bracelets for the traditional World Series of Poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas from Sept. 30 to Nov. 23.

King's Resort couldn't be any more thrilled about the return of the WSOP to Rozvadov.

"After the difficult year 2020, we are excited to give the players what they deserve and have been waiting for, the biggest tournament series in Europe with the biggest guarantees," said Kings Resort owner Leon Tsoukernik in a press release. "We are looking forward to giving top service and hospitality for all poker players as per Kings Resort standards."

The WSOP is also thrilled about the WSOP Europe returning to King's Resort for the fourth time.

"We cant wait to return to Kings Resort for the 2021 WSOP Europe and bringing bracelets back to Europe," said WSOP Director Gregory Chochon. "Kings Resort has become the center of the poker world in Europe and its the best place for a poker reunion all players can celebrate."

Leon Tsoukernik thrilled about King's Resort hosting the WSOP Europe for the fourth time

Check out the PokerNews WSOP 2021 hub The latest news, satellites, and more can be found here. Bookmark it now! CLICK HERE

WSOP Europe Main Event Guarantees 5 Million

The highlight of the WSOP Europe is easily the WSOPE NLH 10,350 Main Event boasting a mouth-watering 5 million guarantee from Dec. 3-8.

The WSOP Europe Main Event was last hosted in 2019 when 541 entries created a 5,139,500 prize pool to surpass the 5 million guarantee. Alexandros Kolonias defeated Claas Segebrecht in heads-up play to win the coveted WSOP gold bracelet along with a massive 1,133,678 top prize.

Read More: Alexandros Kolonias Wins the 2019 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event (1,133,678)

Alexandros Kolonias Wins the 2019 WSOPE Main Event

Other WSOP Europe Highlights

In addition to the Main Event, three other WSOP Europe events also boast seven-figure guarantees including one that should be on the mind of every value hunter in the WSOPE NLH Colossus, which boasts a 1 million guarantee for just a 550 buy-in on Nov. 24-30.

The high-stakes poker community will be pleased to learn that two events with bigger buy-ins than the Main Event in the WSOPE 25K NLH Platinum High Roller featuring a 1 million guarantee on Nov. 29-30 and the WSOPE 50K NLH Diamond High Roller with a 2,000,000 guarantee on Dec. 2-3.

In addition, the first event on the schedule also should turn some heads with the WSOPE 2021 NLHE Opener offering up a generous 400,000 guarantee for a 350 buy-in on Nov. 19-22, while the WSOPE 1,350 Mini Main Event also will witness a huge prize pool thanks to a 600,000 guarantee.

While most of the schedule does incorporate no-limit hold'em, there are also events in pot-limit Omaha, short deck hold'em, and 8-game.

2021 WSOP Europe Schedule

Date Event # Event Buy-in Starting Stack Guarantee Nov. 19-22 1 WSOPE 2021 NLHE Opener 350 20,000 300,000 Nov. 20-23 2 WSOPE Pot Limit Omaha 8-Max 550 25,000 200,000 Nov. 21-25 3 WSOPE Mini Main Event 1,350 100,000 600,000 Nov. 24-25 4 WSOPE 2K Pot Limit Omaha 2,000 50,000 200,000 Nov. 24-30 5 WSOPE NLH Colossus 550 25,000 1,000,000 Nov. 25 6 WSOPE NLH Classic Freezeout 1,000 30,000 150,000 Nov. 25-26 7 WSOPE PLO/NLH Mixed 1,650 40,000 200,000 Nov. 26-27 8 WSOPE Short Deck 2,500 50,000 200,000 Nov. 27-28 9 WSOPE 5K Pot Limit Omaha 5,000 100,000 150,000 Nov. 29 10 WSOPE NLH Bounty Hunter 1,100 30,000 200,000 Nov. 29-30 11 WSOPE 25K NLH Platinum High Roller 25,000 500,000 1,000,000 Nov. 30 12 WSOPE NLH 6-Max 1,650 40,000 200,000 Dec. 1-2 13 WSOPE 8-Game Mix 2,000 50,000 150,000 Dec. 2-3 14 WSOPE 50K NLH Diamond High Roller 50,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 Dec. 3-8 15 WSOP NLH Main Event 10,350 100,000 5,000,000

WSOP Circuit Event Highlights

One might think of the WSOP Circuit as a summer warm-up of things to come in the autumn, but the schedule is impressive in its own right.

The WSOP Circuit NLH 1,700 Main Event on Sept. 10-14 will be one of the biggest live poker events over the summer with a tasty 1 million guarantee and plenty of satellites in the plans for players to get in much cheaper than the 1,700 buy-in.

The WSOP Circuit 250 Mini Main Event on Aug. 25-30 could turn out to be the highest value tournament of the summer with 500,000 guaranteed for just a 250 buy-in, while the WSOP Circuit NLH 550 MonsterStack also boasts a 500,000 guarantee on Sept. 2-6.

Meanwhile, the WSOP Circuit 330 NLH KENTA Bounty Hunter is a new tournament on the schedule and serves up a 400,000 guarantee.

Those over 50 years of age will be allowed to play the 20,000 guaranteed WSOP Circuit 250 NLH Seniors Event 50+ on Aug. 24, while the following day will feature the 10,000 guaranteed WSOP Circuit 250 NLH Ladies Event on Aug. 25.

2021 WSOP Circuit King's Resort Schedule

Date Event # Event Buy-in Starting Stack Guarantee Aug. 12-16 1 WSOP Circuit NLH 2021 King's Opener 200 25,000 300,000 Aug. 17-18 2 WSOP Circuit NLH 6-Max 440 40,000 50,000 Aug. 18-23 3 WSOP Circuit NLH KENTA Bounty Hunter 330 30,000 400,000 Aug. 24 4 WSOP Circuit NLH Seniors Event 50+ 250 25,000 20,000 Aug. 25 5 WSOP Circuit NLH Ladies Event 250 25,000 10,000 Aug. 25-30 6 WSOP Circuit NLH Mini Main Event 250 50,000 500,000 Aug. 29-30 7 WSOP Circuit NLH FiftyStack 660 50,000 100,000 Aug. 30 8 WSOP Circuit PLO Bounty Hunter 550 40,000 50,000 Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 9 WSOP Circuit Mixed NLH/PLO 550 40,000 50,000 Sept. 1-2 10 WSOP Circuit Omaha Hi/Lo Pot Limit 440 40,000 50,000 Sept. 2-6 11 WSOP Circuit NLH MonsterStack 550 100,000 500,000 Sept. 5 12 WSOP Circuit 7-Card Stud Limit 440 30,000 10,000 Sept. 6-7 13 WSOP Circuit PLO 6-Max 440 40,000 50,000 Sept. 7 14 WSOP Circuit 5-Card PLO 1,100 50,000 50,000 Sept. 7-8 15 WSOP Circuit PLO 2K 8-Max 2,000 100,000 200,000 Sept. 8-9 16 WSOP Circuit NLH 3K 8-Max 3,000 200,000 300,000 Sept. 10-14 17 WSOP Circuit NLH Main Event 1,700 50,000 1,000,000

Head to the King's Resort website for more information about the WSOP Circuit and WSOP Europe, rates on hotels, and more.
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COLUMBIA  A Columbia Police Department officer is being investigated by his department over displaying the sticker of a far-right extremist group on his personal vehicle parked in the city lot.

Someone walking past the employee lot of the department's metro station at 1800 Main St. noted a black SUV displaying a sticker representing Three Percenters, part of a far-right, anti-government militia movement.

The person who saw the sticker sent photos of the vehicle to Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook on July 7 and received a response from agency spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons that someone would be in touch.

The officer was found to have the sticker on his personal vehicle and immediately removed it after talking to commanders, Timmons told The Post and Courier. The agency didn't identify the officer.

The officer has been taken off patrol and placed on administrative duty while the agency's professional conduct office investigates, Timmons said.

"As explained to the complainant, we take this matter very seriously," Timmons said in an email July 9.

The man who alerted police to the sticker, who The Post and Courier agreed not to identify over concerns of retaliation from those associated with the movement, said he spoke with a police lieutenant who told him police were reviewing the officer's hiring process, social media activity, arrest records and are talking with other officers as part of a probe into possible bias because of the association with the group.

The man said the issue raises questions about whether other officers were aware of and approved or tolerated the officer's association with the Three Percenters and how a sworn officer could be trusted to fairly police all residents while affiliated with a movement that has been labeled a public safety threat. Canada placed the Three Percenters on its terrorist list in June, according to news reports, citing indictments of those associated with the movement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

In a statement, the S.C. Black Activist Coalition, a network of Black advocacy groups throughout the state, said it was "alarmed and appalled." The Three Percenters are associated with racist intimidation efforts and white nationalist movements, the activists group said.

"The Columbia Police Department should now see the urgency in educating its officers and affiliates of widely known paraphernalia that circulates within these groups," the statement said. "Such associations are a dereliction of duty and direct threat to public safety."

Columbia Police came under scrutiny in May after a Black artist, John Sims, was detained in the apartment at 701 Center for Contemporary Art where he was an artist-in-residence. Police detained Sims after noting an open door to the building in the early morning hours of May 17.

The incident spawned a rally in protest at the Statehouse and drew an apology from Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin.
FOREST ACRES  An out-of-the-way crossing over Gills Creek is set for an upgrade as part of earmarked funding in the state budget.

Forest Acres, a city of about 10,000 people near Columbia, owns the small bridge on Forest Lake Place, a road running parallel to Forest Drive behind a string of businesses. The bridge is closed periodically due to structural repairs and engineers have told city leaders the crossing will eventually have to be replaced.

The project to replace the bridge could cost in the neighborhood of $1 million, a big undertaking for a city with a modest annual budget. But it just got a big boost with $500,000 in state money requested by Rep. Kirkman Finlay, R-Columbia.

While there's not a firm timeline, the planning and design will begin soon and the bridge will need to be replaced within the next few years, City Administrator Shaun Greenwood said.

"We'll look at all different aspects for how we can make it the most efficient and safest it can be," Greenwood said.

The budget request was part of more than $150 million in earmarks state lawmakers included in the state's 2021-22 spending plan. The list includes $9 million to expand the Columbia Convention Center; $500,000 for a Columbia section of the Palmetto Trail bike and walking path; and $400,000 to the Renaissance Foundation for work to preserve historic Bethel AME Church as a cultural arts center and civil rights museum.

Gov. Henry McMaster vetoed the list and said lawmakers didn't adequately tell taxpayers why they're paying for the projects. The General Assembly overrode the veto to include the money in the $10.8 billion budget for the next fiscal year that began July 1.

The Forest Acres bridge might not seem to be particularly well-traveled or important to the traffic pattern in the area. But during historic flooding along the Gills Creek watershed in 2015, Forest Drive was impassable over Gills Creek and the nearby bridge on Forest Lake was the only way for drivers to cross without going around the city, Greenwood said.

The bridge also serves to allow drivers to cut from Lakeshore Drive to Trenholm Road and alleviate traffic on four-lane Forest Drive, he said.

Flooding didn't cause the bridge any significant damage. Large vehicles have damaged it over time, though the bridge has posted size limits. The city has replaced support columns on the bridge and regularly monitors the structural integrity to ensure its safety, Greenwood said.

The bridge neighbors a half-acre property the city plans to turn into a public square, with a waterfront deck and stage, splash pad, outdoor seating and lawn.
To many South Carolinians, the only mayonnaise that matters when it comes to slathering two pieces of white bread and stacking tomato slices and a sprinkle of salt on top is Duke's with its eggy thickness and zip-tang punch of flavor.

The history of the popular Southern mayonnaise brand began right here in the Palmetto State more than a century ago. An enterprising woman named Eugenia Duke started selling sandwiches coated with her homemade mayonnaise to soldiers stationed near Greenville.

By 1919, she was vending more than 10,000 sandwiches a day. But that legacy pales in comparison to the one jarred with a yellow lid and produced nationwide. She sold her sugar-free mayonnaise recipes to C.F. Sauer in 1929, who opened the first Duke's factory on the banks of the Reedy River in downtown Greenville. And well, the rest is history.

Duke's uses abound in the kitchen. The United States' most popular condiment (yes, it beats out ketchup) can be used to concoct everything you'd find at a Lowcountry picnic, from coleslaw to pimento cheese to chicken salad. Even cake and muffin fans have known for a century that baking secrets reside in the mayonnaise jar.

And why not lean into a good thing? That's what Butcher & Bee and The Daily are doing with their recent Duke's mayonnaise collaboration that has developed into a summer menu series, prominently featuring the classic bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.

Butcher & Bee will be offering three different takes on a BLT utilizing Duke's original and new flavors, like bacon and tomato and cucumber dill mayonnaise.

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Chef Rick Ohlemacher, who hails from Ohio, was introduced to Duke's when he lived in Chicago. After moving to Charleston, he realized it was the only real option. Butcher & Bee sous chef Alston Smithers convinced him of that with tales of his family's annual trips to the Greenville store to visit the beloved brand's origins.

"Every year, he made an egg salad sandwich at the Greenville store," Ohlemacher said with a chuckle. "Duke's is everywhere here, and mayonnaise in general is used in more of a celebratory way."

If by celebratory he means not sparingly, then it's true. The restaurant that typically tries to use all local ingredients makes exceptions for some regional products that need to be ordered in bulk.

So while the tomatoes (almost 300 pounds ordered just last week) for the BLTs are being provided by Lowland Farms on Johns Island and the brioche bread is being made in-house, the mayonnaise is Duke's.

There will be a vegetarian BLT with carrot bacon marinated in a molasses and bacon-flavored brine and a crab BLT with Old Bay seasoning and brioche, along with a classic BLT. They'll be available as long as tomatoes are in season, said Ohlemacher.

Over at The Daily, chef Jacob Hunter will also be serving up a BLT along with a Japanese-style smooth and fluffed-up egg salad made with Duke's.

"There are some very commercial things that are just transcendent into fine dining," said Hunter. "I think Martin's potato rolls and Duke's mayonnaise are two of them."
WILLIAMSTON  When Peyton Money was 5 years old, a family member was born prematurely. She wanted to help.

Michelle Money, Peytons mother, said she and her husband had to figure out how a kid could help in that situation.

The Money family learned that some premature babies have a faster rate of recovery, and have a higher chance of going home, when they are provided with a stuffed animal. Michelle and Peyton found patterns online to create their own.

The Anderson County 10-year-old and her great-grandmother Dorothy Lockard, 91, have now made more than 500 stuffed octopuses together to send to hospitals in South Carolina and nationwide.

I got my crochet hook out and started going, Lockard said.

Out of that grew Peytons organization, Octopus for Premies, which recently won The Diana Award, established in 1999 by a British charitable organization to honor Princess Diana. It is given to those between the ages of 9 and 25 who are making an impact in their communities.

On June 28, Peyton and ore than 300 other young people worldwide joined the 49,000 that have been recipients of the award since its creation more than 20 years ago.

I was so happy because I am the youngest American to win it," Peyton said. "I thought it was awesome because I was like, 'I'm probably not going to win this because of how young I am.' And sure enough, I did win."

Lockard is happy she gets to help Peyton with the project.

It's been a godsend for me because I can't do too much," Lockard said. "At least I'm doing something that helps somebody. So it works out very well."

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Lockard was the one who did most of the crocheting at the beginning since Peyton was young when the project started.

Peyton would help in ways that she could, Michelle said.

Peyton helps with stuffing and sewing, and loves to pick the yarn colors at the store. She has learned to do more over time.

Peyton was recognized by Gov. Henry McMaster for Octopus for Premies and visited Columbia earlier in June to accept the honor.

Community service is not new for Peyton. At the Haywood Mall Build-a-Bear, she and her friend Delaney make bears at a discounted price and send them to a childrens hospital in Columbia for the winter holiday. Along with others, she helped sew and donate masks during the pandemic. She also collected more than 750 books to give to the Literacy Association in Greenville.

Currently, Peyton and her family are making 25 octopuses to send to a hospital in California.

I often say I don't know where she came from," Michelle said of Peyton. "She just shines.
Greenville County officials now say they will accept a decision by the South Carolina Supreme Court that ruled the countys telecommunications fee and a portion of its roads maintenance fee invalid.

This marked a change from the countys plan since the ruling was announced June 30. The county has 15 days to appeal the decision from when the order was issued.

County Council Chairman Willis Meadows said he took an informal poll of council members on how to proceed and the council decided not to appeal the court ruling. County Attorney Mark Tollison said county leaders had strongly considered asking the court to rehear the case but eventually decided against that plan after evaluating the case.

In a unanimous decision, the states highest court ruled that Greenville Countys $14.95 annual telecommunications fee and a $10 hike in its road maintenance fee did not meet the states definition of user fees since they don't provide a service to those who pay the fee that was not available to others.

Greenville County has collected those fees since 2018 and county leaders have said since the ruling came out that the county likely must refund those fees.

Robbie Childs, an attorney who represented three state lawmakers who sued the county in the case, said he planned to ask the court to ensure the county refunds those collected fees. Greenville County estimated it would have collected about $7 million this coming fiscal year from those fees alone.

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County leaders are now tasked with deciding how to refund millions to residents who paid the fees. Every vehicle registered in the county was charged the road maintenance fee, while property owners paid the telecommunications fee.

Officials must also fill a gap in the budget created by the court ruling. One councilman, Steve Shaw, suggested the county could dip into its $55 million reserve fund to help close its budget gap and to issue refunds.

Meadows said the county was in good shape financially and its residents would not suffer any loss in key services like road paving or public safety despite the unexpected revenue loss.

As it stands, the countys original $15 road maintenance fee that began in 1993 is not impacted by the court decision, which specifically cited just the later increase to that fee. Greenville County projects it will collect about $9 million from that fee in the coming year.

The courts decision has left counties and cities across the state to scrutinize fees charged to residents for services. Many counties have similar road maintenance fees. State associations that lobby on behalf of counties and cities have said they will seek a legislative fix to state law in the coming session that would make the fees valid.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High 88F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
MYRTLE BEACH  As election season begins to pick up Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune might have to share the spotlight with Gene Ho, a former campaign photographer for President Donald Trump.

While the candidates raised similar amounts during the three-month period ending June 30, about $9,300 each, Bethune heads into the summer with a bigger bank account.

Additionally, candidate Tammie Durant has not yet filed a statement of economic interest form or any candidate campaign disclosure forms.

Bethune has $104,642 cash on hand versus Ho who has $20,415, according to records filed with the S.C. Ethics Commission.

A majority of Ho's 175 donations during the past quarter came from outside of South Carolina  arriving from places as close as North Carolina and to states as far away as Arizona and Utah, according to state campaign data. His average contribution was $54.

Bethune did not receive as many donations, but eight of her 13 donors from April to June contributed the maximum of $1,000 allowed. Her average contribution was $720. Ho did not receive any $1,000 donations in the past quarter.

Ho spent close to $400 during this election period, while Bethune spent more money than she gained.

In March, Bethune had a kick-off event at Grand Strand Brewing to announce her reelection campaign, where she spent close to $3,000 for the event. Additionally, Bethune paid $7,500 to Lexington-based Starboard Communications, a political consulting firm owned by Walt Whetsell.

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Bethune, who originally ran in 2017 beating beating three-term incumbent John Rhodes, is the first female mayor of Myrtle Beach.

I love my job, Bethune said during her campaign kick-off. We still have a lot to get done and I want to be a part of that.

Efforts to reach Ho were not successful July 11.

The remaining mayoral candidate and political newcomer Durant who has not filed any forms, despite spending or receiving the allotted amount.

A campaign disclosure form has to be submitted once a candidate receives or spends more than $500, and Durant, a former police officer, previously confirmed that her campaign had met that threshold.

Efforts to reach Durant were not successful July 11.

The non-partisan mayoral race will take place November 2. Election applications will open August 19 and candidates have to submit their candidacy by September 3, Spokesperson Mark Kruea confirmed.
Catholic priests often say they need three things to celebrate mass: bread, wine and the Bible. Yet, Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, said amid the COVID-19 pandemic a fourth plank had been added to that list  people.

Dolan along with Robert Guglielmone, bishop of Charleston, led a special Mass on July 11 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist celebrating the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlestons 200th anniversary  a celebration that was postponed a year because of the pandemic.

Im sure youve probably talked to priests who will tell you how spooky and how eerie it was to offer mass in an empty church, Dolan said. When the people arent there, youre missing something essential.

This time last year, the Cathedral was hosting services at 25 percent capacity, Maria Aselage, a spokeswoman for the diocese, said.

Today, Aselage said approximately 425 people pressed into the pews of the cathedral to attend service in person.

Dolan and Guglielmone said the number of attendees are reflective of the growing Catholic population in Charleston, which increased from 10,000 to approximately 350,000 in the last 200 years, according to the diocese.

Dolan said he felt encouraged by the Catholic presence in Charleston.

Sometimes we're tempted to get a little down in the dumps and discouraged, Dolan said. We hear bad news throughout the world and society and culture. We even hear bad news about the church, we have to admit that. And then you see the excitement and the passion and the commitment, the generosity of these people  It leaves you exhilarated.

Among those who attended Mass were Mayor John Tecklenburg and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

At the service, Evette presented Guglielmone with the Order of the Palmetto.

The Order of the Palmetto is an award given to citizens of South Carolina for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national or statewide significance.

The bishop expanded the word of God into our prisons, Evette said, in recognizing contributions Guglielmone has made toward South Carolinians. It was one of the first things we talked about when I was thinking about running for lieutenant governor. We talked about how to educate, because at that point we could not bring wine into our prisons and we as Catholics cannot have mass without wine.

Guglielmone was surprised to have been given the award.

It's really not so much an honor for me firstly but an honor for the diocese, Guglielmone said. And it's nice to know that someone recognized the good people of God in the diocese of choice.

John England was the dioceses first bishop. He launched the churchs Catholic Miscellany periodical and created the Seminary of St. John the Baptist, which is today the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

At the time of its formation, the dioceses jurisdiction included North Carolina and Georgia. The jurisdiction now covers all of South Carolina and is the seventh-oldest Roman Catholic Diocese in the United States.

Throughout the past two centuries, it has established more than 30 diocesan high schools, private high schools and parochial schools. It also oversees Catholic Charities, which conducts food distribution, financial assistance and other services to those in need.
Creek Point subdivision on James Island has never had an issue with flooding. Despite this fact, the city of Charleston has dug massive ditches that have damaged our yards, lowered our property values and damaged the roots of several large trees.

Through many emails and phone calls and speaking at City Council meetings, our neighborhood was successful in getting the digging stopped.

The damage, however, had already been done.

We need Matthew Fountain, the director of stormwater management for the city, to come see what we are dealing with.

Our neighborhood has become an unsafe place for our children and senior citizens. And the beauty of our neighborhood has been destroyed.

The city thought that brochures showing gentle sloping swales were a way to appease us. But ditches that are 3 feet deep will never become those.

Several driveways have been undermined, which will lead to cracking and possible damage to cars.

We have repeatedly appealed to Mayor John Tecklenburg to fix these problems, but we have been told the city has no intentions of putting pipes in our ditches. We should not have to bear the expense of fixing the mess the city made. Many homeowners feel helpless as to where to turn next.

City officials say they hear us, but with all due respect, they are not listening.

DEBORAH RODGERS

Putney Court

Charleston

Thanks, Trident Literacy

We are senior citizens who have come to the United States from another country. At Trident Literacy Association, we have found a place to learn English where we feel comfortable and blessed.

At Trident Literacy, we have found teachers and administrators who motivate us to learn through their patience, sense of caring and compassionate way of teaching.

The teachers take care of us, and we have a sense of peace about being here.

Our teachers are like family to us, and we are grateful for their instruction as well as their emotional support.

At times. we have felt like giving up our class time because of our many other responsibilities, such as health appointments and church work, but when we think about the experiences we have in our English classes, we are encouraged to press on.

At Trident Literacy, different cultures come together in classes, and our wonderful teachers welcome all, offering patience and encouragement.

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MARITZA GALLARAGA

GONZALO GALLARAGA

Rivers Avenue

North Charleston

Execute SC inmate

The June 27 commentary by Steve Schonveld questioned whether South Carolina is willing to execute a convicted murderer.

Richard Moore was convicted in 2001 for the 1999 murder of a Spartanburg convenience store clerk.

Hes been sitting on death row for 20 years.

Apparently, there was no question as to his guilt. He entered the store with a gun, intent on robbing it with the implied threat of physical harm to the clerk if he did not comply with Moores demands.

The clerk attempted to defend himself and was killed in the process.

Mr. Moore needlessly took the life of an innocent human being and was sentenced to death. After exhausting his constitutionally guaranteed rights of appeal, he is finally in line to have his sentence carried out.

What I find interesting is that the author only mentioned the murder victim in the description of the crime. The victim had a family and friends who must have suffered through this profound loss, yet he is unnamed. Meanwhile, Mr. Moore, according to the author, is remorseful and a changed man. Im sure he is after 20 years in prison.

Here is my suggestion. If South Carolina officials find a way to execute Mr. Moore, then do it in my name.

KEVIN HILDRETH

Law Lane

Mount Pleasant
COLUMBIA  Gov. Henry McMaster is beginning his 2022 reelection bid with a wide financial advantage over his potential opponents, but Democrats Joe Cunningham and Mia McLeod have begun raising the resources they'll need to compete.

With the backing of the national Republican Governors Association and former President Donald Trump, McMaster led the pack of gubernatorial candidates from April through June, raising about $891,000 to bring his campaign war chest to more than $1.7 million, according to new filings.

Among the new hopefuls in the race, Cunningham, the former Charleston congressman, got off to the fastest start, hauling in about $642,000 in just the first two months of his campaign after launching it toward the end of April. He spent $206,000 of it, leaving him with $437,000.

Meanwhile, McLeod, a state senator from Columbia, raised $104,000 in her first month in the race after jumping in more recently, at the beginning of June. She spent just $6,000, leaving her with $98,000 left over.

In addition to raising the most, McMaster also spent the most during the second fundraising quarter of 2021, doling out $233,000.

The new figures offer the first snapshot of the resources the three major candidates bring to the table in the early days of the race, with just less than a year until the expected primaries and about 16 months until the general election.

More direct comparisons will be available after their first full quarters in the race in October.

Several lesser-known candidates have also filed paperwork indicating their intentions to seek the governor's seat, including Democrat Gary Votour and Republican Mindy Steele, though none have raised any significant funds to begin building competitive campaigns.

Though far from determinative, money can be a revealing early barometer of candidates' strengths given the expensive nature of modern campaigning. Significant resources will be necessary closer to the election to run the type of media operations needed to make voters more familiar with the candidates.

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South Carolina Republicans note that even after raising a record-shattering $130 million in 2020, Democrat Jaime Harrison still lost to Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. But Graham also raised more than $100 million for his own campaign in what became the most expensive Senate race in history.

A governor's race is not expected to attract anywhere near that kind of money, but the candidates are outpacing the fundraising rate from this time in the 2018 cycle.

A key question in the months to come will be whether McMaster faces any serious GOP primary threats. Greenville businessman John Warren, who took McMaster to a runoff in 2018, and state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey of Edgefield are considering challenges to the incumbent.

If McMaster does not draw strong Republican opposition, that would mean he would not need to spend as much money until later in the race, allowing him to continue stockpiling for the general election.

Cunningham and McLeod, on the other hand, are expected to be locked in a competitive primary, forcing them to spend more of their resources for the right to become the Democratic nominee.

The candidates have taken different approaches to campaigning in the early days of the race, too.

McMaster has remained largely focused on his day-to-day role as governor. Cunningham has crisscrossed the state to begin a 46-county tour, while also unveiling several policy stances, including most recently legalizing marijuana. McLeod has mostly held private events so far since launching her campaign in Columbia.

On the fundraising front, McMaster's campaign touted the 3,700 contributions to his campaign as the largest number of donors an incumbent governor has ever had. Cunningham noted that his early haul is the most a Democratic challenger for South Carolina governor has raised in their first quarter in the race.
Guam is just a few short days away from the planned lifting of pandemic restrictions. If 80% of adults become fully vaccinated by July 21, res Read more
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Discussion about critical race theory have popped up on the state, county and local level.
It's a topic in mostly post-secondary academia but has been pulled into a controversy at a lower level where it would not normally be taught.
The Star Tribune editorial board seeks to formulate Early lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. On its news and opinion pages since March 2020 the paper has served with rare exception as a voice of hysteria concerning the virus and cheerleading for Governor Walz. It might be interesting to have them formulate early lessons of their coverage and punditry.

On this occasion the editors use one Andy Slavitt to look back and draw lessons learned from the pandemic. Last month Slavitt stepped down as a temporary senior advisor to the COVID-19 Response Coordinator in the Biden administration. Now he is the author of the book Preventable. He seeks to deliver his wisdom to the masses. Lessons learned according to Slavitt and the Star Tribune include the following:

Slavitt also turns a critical eye to the rest of us, and accurately wields the word selfishness. Many descendants of those who sacrificed to win World War II have lost sight of the collective good, resulting in resistance to mask-wearing and risky behavior fueling viral spread. Lets face it: the pandemic showed us some of our ugly and we should think about starting there, Slavitt wrote. The book provides a sensible list of reforms to address the public health weaknesses COVID revealed. Among them: replenishing the national stockpile of protective medical gear; a new agency that forecasts disease spread in the same way as the National Weather Service; clear guidelines for airport quarantining, and creating a center of excellence for diagnostic testing. But Slavitt also adds bigger, blue-sky challenges such as ensuring paid medical leave for workers, affordable housing, livable wages, national broadband and tying health insurance to existence  not employment. Slavitt is skeptical about their chances, but the save the next life philosophy requires all of us to keep trying. If we count on just the technical stuff to save us, Slavitt said in an interview referring to narrow pandemic-specific reforms, and dont learn the bigger lessons and act on them, I think were making a big mistake.

By contrast with the editors of the Star Tribune, Kevin Roche deems Slavitt a member of Minnesotas own Axis of Evil for his role in the pandemic. Kevin responds to the Star Tribune editorial in his Healthy Skeptic post The Axis of Evil strikes again. Kevin has followed Slavitts contributions to the public health debate and finds that Slavitt has distinguished himself thusly:

[T]he ongoing prize winner has been Andy Slavitt, an unredeemable failure at getting anything right for the entire course of the epidemic and a person who actually tried to profit from his position by shilling for a supposedly superior mask. Andy has unfortunately displayed zero humility or self-awareness in regard to his abysmal performance. And now he has shared his vast store of epidemic wisdom with us in the form of a book called Preventable. If it reflected his actual knowledge, the tome would consist of a title page and nothing else. Unfortunately for some people arrogance and ignorance abound in equal and great quantities. (Here is a hilarious side note, the books proceeds will be donated to charity. What will they ever do with all those pennies?)

Here is the heart of Kevins response:

The biggest lesson of the epidemic, which fortunately many Americans seem to have taken to heart, is that you cant trust experts or politicians, and you cant believe anything they tell you about the data or science. YOU NEED TO TRUST YOUR OWN ABILITY TO GET THE FACTS AND REASON OUT THE TRUTH. Our supposed public health experts, most of whom are lifetime government bureaucrats who couldnt get or keep a job in private industry (yes, this means you Dr. Fauci), have repeatedly promoted suppression measures which anyone who looked at the research and who was thoughtful would reject. Build and be guided by models that arent close to representing reality. Close schools, when there is no risk to children and they are minor transmitters. Recommend massive testing programs that dont slow spread but do generate false and low positives that force people to wrongly quarantine. Use PCR testing results that are essentially worthless in determining who is actually infectious. Over-attribute hospitalizations and deaths to CV-19 and terrorize the population about how scary this virus is. Close businesses and cause enormous and disruptive unemployment. Push social distancing that makes no difference, endorse plastic barriers that make no difference, and most of all, turn masking into a religion when the only actual research shows masks make no difference to community spread. And on and on, with one stupid, incredibly destructive recommendation after another. Mr. Slavitt claims that a big problem in management of the pandemic was selfishness, that we all should accept whatever nonsense comes from the experts like him, wear our pointless masks, lose our jobs, watch our kids go backwards socially and educationally and endure mental illness, miss needed health care, watch frail loved ones die alone. All while Mr. Slavitt and his millions sit in a lovely home in a lovely neighborhood and worry about nothing. He says the pandemic showed us some of our ugly and we should think about starting there. He must have been looking in the mirror when he wrote those words. What is really repulsive is self-important know-nothings trying to lecture the rest of us.

Kevin concludes: Instead of a hagiography, Andy Slavitt and his ilk should be pilloried and banned from the public forum. I pray that someday there will be a real investigation into how the epidemic was handled and that these hectoring merchants of doom and ruination get what they so richly deservea good tarring and feathering.

Yesterday our friends at RealClearPolitics posted a link to the Star Tribune editorial in its featured editorial lineup. It is still there as I write this morning. Many readers will see it there. It badly needs the counterpoint that Kevin provides.
Earlier today, demonstrations against Cubas Communist dictatorship broke out across the island. The New York Times, long an apologist for Castros tyranny, acknowledges the current reality:

Shouting Freedom and other anti-government slogans, hundreds of Cubans took to the streets in cities around the country on Sunday to protest food and medicine shortages, in a remarkable eruption of discontent not seen in nearly 30 years.

Heh. Yes, Freedom is an anti-government slogan. The Times, though, is pretty much always on the side of government, especially when the government is socialist.

The people are dying of hunger! one woman shouted during a protest filmed in the province of Artemisa, in the islands west. Our children are dying of hunger! One clip circulating on Twitter showed protesters overturning a police car in Cardenas, 90 miles east of Havana. Another video showed people looting from one of the much-detested government-run stores, which sell wildly overpriced items in currencies most Cubans do not possess. In a country known for repressive crackdowns on dissent, the rallies were widely viewed as astonishing.

Is a preference cascade beginning in Cuba? If so, the Communist tyranny could fall with breathtaking speed. But after 60 years, it is hard to be optimistic.

The Miami Herald has a sympathetic account of todays protests:

In an unprecedented display of anger and frustration, thousands of people took to the streets Sunday in several cities and towns in Cuba, including Havana, to call for the end of the decades-old dictatorship and demand food and vaccines as shortages of basic necessities have reached crisis proportions and COVID-19 cases have soared.

***

Cuba is in the throes of its worst economic contraction in over three decades, as chronic inefficiencies and paralyzing bureaucracy have gradually eroded the countrys production capacity, including the essential food and agriculture sectors.

COVID-19 has added to Cubas woes:

Now Cuba is struggling to control transmission of the coronavirus and has been setting record highs almost daily in the past few weeks. Cuba decided to make its own COVID-19 vaccine and didnt seek to buy shots from other countries. But plans to immunize the population with a homegrown vaccine have been plagued by delays.

Like the fact that they dont have any syringes.

The Havana Times tries to put a positive face on Cubas travails. It is all the Americans fault, of coursealthough why, if Communism is a superior system, its survival should depend on the capitalist U.S., is never explained.

As noted above, Cuba has developed its own COVID vaccine. Whether it works or not I have no idea, but the immediate problem is that Cuba has no way to administer the vaccine because it lacks syringesa classic socialist problem:

To date, some 6 million doses of the Abdala vaccine have been administered (three are needed to complete the treatment). But now, their vaccination efforts are hampered by a shortage of syringes.

***

Global Health Partners (GHP) reported that Cuba is in need of about 20 million syringes of which GHP has already supplied 4 million. Out of respect for Cubas international medical contributions, that puts most wealthier countries to shame, I am calling on everyone to donate to help with the syringe shortage and Cubas medical efforts. You can donate through Global Health Partners. Here is the link to the fundraising page: https://ghpartners.org/syringes4cuba/

Cuba has a population of around 11 million, so the 20 million syringes for which the Communist regime has gone begging represent about two for each resident. Global Health Partners, by the way, is a left-wing organization that is headquartered in New York and left over from some earlier decade:

Global Health Partners (formerly Disarm) was founded in 1976 as a gun control group working to ban private ownership of handguns and require licensing of all rifles and shotguns. Our early efforts led to the creation of the National Coalition to Ban Handguns. In the 1980s, GHP expanded to build broader opposition to nuclear weapons and the Strategic Defense Initiative. We were an early, persistent advocate for a reduction of the bloated military budget and the redirection of government resources to education, the alleviation of poverty, and other pressing human needs. GHP was also a prominent critic of Washingtons support of repressive regimes in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Throughout El Salvadors long civil war, we worked to end U.S. military aid and support for the right-wing death squads, and helped build the movement to cut off U.S. support for the contra war in Nicaragua.

Like every socialist country, Cuba is a basket case with a stark contrast between a small but almost unbelievably rich ruling elite and a vast, impoverished population. Maybe the time has finally come when the people of Cuba can throw off the Communist yoke and rejoin the world. We can only hope so.
Kto szuka: Nordea Bank Abp SA Oddzia w Polsce Stanowisko: Trade Finance Customer Officer Lokalizacja: odz odzkie

Wymagania stawiane pracownikowi:

Would you like to develop in the Trade Finance area? We are now looking for a Trade Finance Customer Officer to proceed with all interesting activities connected with Letter of Credit settlements.



In Nordea, we know that great customer experiences require a team that leads the way in first-class service and operations. Were more than just a Nordic bank, were one of the largest employers in Poland. With us, youll work with skilled, international teams in a bright, modern office.The lively and collaborative atmosphere offers plenty of opportunities to learn and grow as you build your career with us.

About this opportunity

Welcome to the Letter of Credit Operations team. We add value by delivering best possible quality to our customers. We are a part of Trade Finance Department responsible for the Letter of Credit product (documents checking and handling payments). As Trade Finance Customer Officer youll play a valuable role in effecting payments, creating improvements, new solutions and collaborating with us and our Nordic stakeholders.



What youll be doing:

getting familiar with Trade Finance business

processing Letter of Credit payments, financings, claims

enhancing the process and quality to improve process performance

working with multiple stakeholders in the Nordics

having a chance to further develop in Letter of Credit area

Youll join a team of motivated, self-driven and talented people. The role is based in odz.

Who you are

Collaboration. Ownership. Passion. Courage. These are the values that guide us in being at our best  and that we imagine you share with us.



To succeed in this role, we believe that you:

have an eye for details

have an ability to work both independently and in a team environment

have a structured and disciplined way of working

are self-driven and have can do attitude

Your experience and background:

preferably experience with payments-related tasks (nostro bookings, international payments, investigation)

fluency in spoken and written English (at least B2 level)

If this sounds like you, get in touch!

Firma oferuje:

Next steps





Submit your application no later than 07/28/2021.

At Nordea, we know that an inclusive workplace is a sustainable workplace. We deeply believe that our diverse backgrounds, experiences, characteristics and traits make us better at serving customers and communities. So please come as you are.

Please include permit for processing personal data in CV as following:

In accordance with art. 6 (1) a and b. Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) hereinafter GDPR. I agree to have: my personal data, education and employment history proceeded for the purposes of current and future recruitment processes in Nordea Bank Abp.

The administrator of your personal data is: Nordea Bank Abp operating in Poland through its Branch, address: Aleja Edwarda Rydza Smiglego 20, 93-281 odz. Your personal data will be processed for the recruitment processes in Nordea Bank Abp. You have a right to access your personal data, right to rectify and right to delete. Disclosing the personal data in the scope specified by the provisions of Polish Labour Code from 26 June 1974 and executive acts are mandatory. Providing personal data is necessary to conduct the recruitment processes. The request for the deletion of your personal data means resignation from further participation in recruitment processes and causes the immediate removal of your application. Detailed information concerning processing of your personal data can be found at:





We reserve the right to reply only to selected applications.

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The Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN) says it has signed an agreement with some firms in the potato value chain to boost its production in the country.

The National President of POFAN, Daniel Okafor, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna.

We have signed agreements with some firms to boost potato production in Nigeria in order to meet local and foreign demands, Mr Okafor said.

He said that 280,000 registered farmers in the country are into the cultivation and processing of potato.

Mr Okafor added that a lot of farmers were into the cultivation of the produce because of its economic and health benefits.

Potato flour can be used to bake cake, bread and biscuits. Potato can also be used to make juice, puree and chips, while the peels can be used to make animal feeds, he said.

ALSO READ: Enugu residents turn to potatoes as yam prices skyrocket

The POFAN president said that potato and its leaves could be eaten raw and use to make tea and salad, adding that it contains high-level vitamin `A which help to build the immune system.

He appealed to the federal government to intensify efforts in tackling the current security challenges to enable farmers to go to their farms.

Our farmers cannot go to their farms because bandits and kidnappers are occupying forests across the country. No farmer has the capacity to dare them except government because they kill, rape, kidnap farmers and seize farm produce, he said.

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Mr Okafor also appealed for government to assist the farmers with inputs in order to boost production.

(NAN)
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The Oyo State government has recorded the more dangerous Delta variant of the coronavirus infection.

This is coming a few days after Nigerias capital city, the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), recorded the first case of the variant.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) described the variant as deadlier and most transmissible.

A statement issued on Sunday night by the chief press secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde of the State, Taiwo Adisa, warned the residents against letting down the guards to dangerous consequences.

The statement reads in part: This strain has been associated with high transmission, increased severity of infection and outcomes.

As such, this is to warn that the virus is still very much within the society.

It warned residents of the state to continue to comply with all advisories aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus.

Travellers warned

Meanwhile, the state has advised all Nigeria-bound travellers to comply strictly with the travel protocols, urging them to present themselves for testing and mandatory seven-day isolation.

The statement added: It would be appreciated if all in-bound travelers from overseas maintain the mandatory seven-day isolation and subsequent testing before mingling with the populace.

In addition, residents are enjoined to seek medical care and avail the opportunity of free testing whenever theres any feeling of unwellness.

O.Y.O protocol

The state also reemphasised its Oyo Own Policy, which strengthens the need for the residents to take ownership of the precautionary measures and protect themselves against any infection.

The Own Your Action (OYA) initiative of the State Government should be seriously considered by adhering to the guidelines of wearing nose and mouth masks in public gatherings, washing of hands with soap and water and use of hand sanitisers, among others, adding that; Vigilance on the parts of both the Government and the people will surely go a long way in stemming the transmission of this disease within the State.
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One of the 475 students who graduated from the American University of Nigeria (AUN) on Saturday is Mary Katambi.

Ms Katambi bagged a Bachelors degree in Accounting seven years after she narrowly escaped from the grips of murderous Boko Haram terrorists who stormed her school dormitory in Chibok in 2014 and trucked away 276 girls.

She said she escaped by sneaking out of the camp of the terrorists and trudging through the forest back to her village. A few months later, Ms Katambi and 24 other colleagues, who either escaped from the terrorists or were released, arrived at AUN and were admitted for a foundational programme specially created for them by the university.

In 2016, after passing her school certificate and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), she was admitted for a degree in accounting, with a full scholarship provided by AUN.

On Saturday, Ms Katambi, dressed in a red academic gown and a red cap, beamed with smiles and those familiar with her strides said there were new steps in her steps as she marched to the podium to receive her certificate from AUN President, Margee Ensign.

I am so proud of her, Ms Ensign told PREMIUM TIMES hours after the ceremony. She demonstrated strength, resilience and character. She taught us all how to survive and thrive in the face of adversity. She showed us that even if we go through trauma, theres always a way out. She and her colleagues are our heroes.

AUN Founder, Atiku Abubakar, also praised Ms Katambis staying power. Mary Katambi, Im proud that seven years after your release from Boko Haram captivity, youve beaten the odds to graduate with a degree in accounting from the American University of Nigeria. The best years are still ahead of you, the former Nigerian vice president said in a post on his Facebook page.

The post was accompanied by photographs Mr Atiku took with the new graduate at the commencement ceremony.

Now out of school, what next for the budding accountant? Ms Ensign said she offered Ms Katambi a job at AUN but that she declined, saying after seven years, she would like to venture out of Yola, where her university is based, to experience life elsewhere.

Ms Katambi described her academic journey in AUN as incredible. I cant even describe how I feel now, she told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone on Sunday morning. Its such a big honour. Im really grateful and excited at the opportunity I was given to study at AUN. I also cannot forget my Boko Haram ordeal and how God brought me out.

On her next plans, she said she would immediately proceed for national service after which she would start a business she was already working on. She said she will also do a masters degree in her field along the line.

I dont want to be looking for a job, she said. I want to run a business and create jobs for Nigerian youth.

When asked what kind of business she would be starting, she laughed and then said it was premature to disclose that information.

The extremist Boko Haram sect had on April 14, 2014, abducted Ms Katambi and 275 other girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok. A presidential committee said 57 of the girls immediately escaped from their abductors.

When the President Muhammadu Buhari administration came to power in 2015, it began negotiation with the Boko Haram sect. That yielded the release of 21 of the girls in October 2016 and another 82 in May 2017.

Not much has been heard of the remaining 112 girls, although the Federal Government says it is still working on getting them released.
A mild drama ensued at the home of the Atuches in Ikoyi, Lagos, on the evening of May 3, 2011.

Nearly a dozen operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arrived at the palatial home of Francis Atuche, the former managing director of Bank PHB, to arrest the bank chief and his wife, Elizabeth. They were told the couple had travelled out of the country.

But the officers, relying on their intelligence, thought otherwise.

After forcing their way into the house to conduct a search, they found Mrs Atuche. Her husband, however, had gone into hiding.

A week later, the EFCC declared Mr Atuche wanted over money laundering allegations amounting to 8.6 billion. He was also accused of using his wifes company to steal depositors funds totalling over 100 million.

The banker turned himself in two days later.

The arraignment

On May 17, 2011, the EFCC arraigned Mr Atuche on two separate charges before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court.

In the first charge, Mr Atuche, the then managing director of Bank PHB, allegedly conspired with Funmi Ademosu, a director in the bank, to steal N4.2 billion which were part of the proceeds from the sale of 241,579,284 units of Afribank shares and joint property of Caverton Helicopters Ltd and Bank PHB. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the criminal code laws of Lagos State, 2003.

In the second charge, Mr Atuche allegedly conspired with another bank director, Lekan Kasali, to steal N7.2 billion which they fraudulently described as loans to Cogipar Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC said all the offences were committed between April and September 2008.

On the same day, Elizabeth Atuche was arraigned before another judge, Lateefah Okunnu, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. She was accused of fraud totalling N11.4 billion being property of Bank PHB Plc by fraudulently converting the proceeds of several illegal loans for the acquisition of 337,500, 000 units of Bank PHB Plc shares on behalf of Ghazali Yakubu Investment Ltd. and AFCO Associates Limited.

During Mrs Atuches bail hearing, her lawyers pleaded for the judge to allow her to remain in EFCC custody to enable her three young children to visit her regularly. The judge declined the request, ordering that she be remanded in prison until she fulfils her bail conditions: two sureties who must deposit N100 million and also possess a landed property worth N25 million in Lagos.

In June 2011, the EFCC amended the charges against the Atuches. The couple were re-arraigned before Mrs Okunnu on a 27-count charge bothering on conspiracy to commit felony and stealing of N25.7 billion belonging to the bank. The amended charges alleged that Mr Atuche, his wife, and Ugo Anyanwu, a former chief financial officer of Bank PHB, used some of the stolen funds to purchase 140,625,000 units of Bank PHB shares on behalf of Guesstrade Services and Clearville Business Support.

They also allegedly used part of the money to purchase 112,500,000 units of Bank PHB share.

The offences, according to the EFCC, were committed between November 2007 and April 2008.

In their defence, the defendants adduced 16 reasons why the charges against them should be quashed. They told the judge that the EFCC had filed a similar charge at the Federal High Court in Lagos. They also told the judge to restrain the anti-graft from preferring new charges against them because being the creation of a federal legislation, the EFCC has no right to prosecute them under the Lagos State Criminal Code.

Kemi Pinheiro, counsel to the EFCC, argued that the commission has powers under the statute creating it to prefer a charge and prosecute alleged offenders without delegation.

He further said the charge filed by the EFCC against the defendants at the Federal High Court was different from the one they are facing at the Lagos High Court.

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My Lord can look at the counts filed at the Federal High Court and the one filed here to see whether they are similar or not, said Mr Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

While that of the Federal High Court has the names of 14 companies, 11 of those companies are not here. They are not the same.

The judge granted Mr Atuche a N150 million bail with two sureties, in like sum, who must be gainfully employed and resident in Lagos, and one of them must be a member of the Board of Directors of a bank or other reputable firm, with its head office either in Lagos or Abuja.

The judge barred Mr Atuche from travelling abroad until the end of his trial, without the leave of the court. He is also to report on the first working day of every month to the EFCC office.

Done with the proceedings before Justice Okunnu, the EFCC lawyers moved to Justice Onigbanjos courtroom where they asked the judge to recuse himself from the trial of Mr Atuche and the two bank directors. According to Mr Pinheiro, the judge in a ruling weeks earlier had claimed there were similarities between the charges before him and the ones before the Federal High Court.

The prosecuting authority is extremely perplexed and disturbed by these statements and believes that these comments give an inclination to the courts mind in respect of the substantive charges, Mr Pinheiro said.

In view of the disturbing comments, our clients have lost confidence in the ability of the judge to hold the scale of justice in the pending charge.

The EFCCs request was, however, declined by Inumidun Akande, the Chief Judge of Lagos State.

The trial

Mr Atuches trial before Justice Okunnu began on July 6, 2011, after the judge dismissed the defence lawyers application for a stay of proceedings.

One of the prosecutions witnesses was Rauf Bello, a representative of First Registrars Nigeria Limited, who said Mr Atuche used about a dozen companies to purchase 1.6 billion units worth of Bank PHB shares worth N27.7 billion while he was the managing director.

Mr Bello, who was subpoenaed by the court, said the dividend warrants of the shares were collected by the banks secretary. He added that the dividend made by the companies from the shares purchased was over N790 million.

Another witness, Elizabeth Ebi, the managing director of Futureview Financial Services, claimed Bank PHB unknowingly credited her account with a N10.9 billion loan.

The next prosecution witness, Ifetayo Obi, told the court she was instructed by Mr Anyanwu, the third defendant, to transfer over N10 billion to Futureview Securities, Falcons Securities, and other accounts. She said the transfer was made without the traditional customer instruction.

Normally it is supposed to come with customer-signed instruction, said Ms Obi, a staff of Bank PHB.

So I reported to my immediate boss, Kingsley, who took the mail and said he would get back to me. He later came back with the same document signed by the bank Chief Financial Officer. So when I received the go-ahead from my divisional director, we carried out the instruction.

The court later admitted in evidence cheques, which ran into billions of naira, in the names of Futureview Limited, Resolution Securities Limited, Falcon Securities Limited, and Petosan Nigeria Limited. The funds were used to buy Bank PHB shares during a public offer in 2008.

In her testimony, Phillipa Ulasi, a former chief credit officer of Bank PHB, said Mr Atuche granted N14.3 billion loans to some companies without the approval of the banks board. According to the EFCC, the Bank PHB boss had granted loans to Futureview Securities (N3.5 billion), Extra Oil Ltd (N3.9 billion), Trajeck Ltd (N3.5 billion), Resolution Trust and Investment Ltd (N3.3 billion), and Petosan Oil and Gas Limited (N4 billion).

It was my responsibility to make credit presentations to the board when requested by customers for recommendation and approval. I did not receive any memo from the board concerning the said loans, Mrs Ulasi said.

In March 2012, Mr Atuches lawyers filed an application seeking to stop the EFCC from presenting additional evidence in the trial. The judge dismissed the application.

On July 9, 2012, Justice Onigbanjo, who is also hearing one of Mr Atuches cases, granted the bank chief permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, between July 17 and September 7, 2012.

When trial resumed in September, the EFCC presented documents that appeared to show Mr Atuche releasing N35 million and N10 million as tithes to St. Monica Catholic Church, Ibusa, and St. Augustine Catholic Church, both in the bank chiefs native Delta State. The trial was, however, stalled for weeks after Bolaji Ogunsola, the witness who allegedly made the claim, said he received death threats from people in Delta State.

After calling 12 witnesses to give oral evidence and subpoenaing six others to tender documents, the prosecution closed its case on March 4, 2013.

The defence thereafter filed a no-case submission where they urged the court to discharge Mr Atuche because the testimonies of the prosecutions witnesses were riddled with contradictions.

One witness said hoax loans were granted. The other said they were regular loans. It is the burden of the prosecution to provide explanation for these contradictions, Anthony Idigbe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to the Atuches, said.

For Mrs Atuche, the lawyer said there is no evidence from the witnesses linking her to the charges.

The only evidence is that she is a shareholder in Gazali Yakubu Investment Limited and the wife of a bank managing director, Mr Idigbe said.

Sylva Ogwuemor, counsel for Mr Anyanwu, also told the court to discharge his client because there was no sufficient evidence to warrant him standing trial.

There is no evidence to support the charge of stealing because the third accused did not benefit from the transactions, the lawyer said.

His only offence was signing papers and sending e-mails which were his legitimate duty as the chief financial officer of the bank.

The EFCC opposed the applications, noting that Mrs Atuche owned 80 per cent of Gazali Yakubu shares and was also a majority shareholder in Afco Associate Ltd., which received some of the funds.

The judge dismissed the defendants no-case submission and ordered them to open their defence.

The prosecution has enough evidence before me, about 12 witnesses have been called, and 272 exhibits have been presented before the court by the prosecution, the judge said.

The defence

The defence opened their case with Pat Utomi, the chairman of the board of Bank PHB, as its first witness.

In his testimony, Mr Utomi said Mr Atuches trial was due to plans by some public officials to take over his bank.

I was told that if Atuche was removed, that it will be acceptable to CBN and Bank PHB will be left intact. The person that told me is the current CBN governor (Lamido Sanusi). He was a very good friend of mine until recently when these injustices were being carried out, Mr Utomi said.

He said the bank failed the CBNs Stress Test following the refusal of the board to comply with Mr Sanusis directive.

Mr Utomi also said the loans granted by Mr Atuche were approved by the board of directors.

The EFCC countered Mr Utomis testimony by saying as board chairman, he also got loans from the bank, part of which he used to fund his 2007 presidential election campaign.

Mr Utomi denied the claim.

In October 2013, Justice Okunnu fined Mr Atuches lawyers for wasting the time of the court. The two lawyers were absent on a day scheduled for hearing because they were delivering lectures. The judge also granted Mr Anyanwu permission to travel to the United States, between October 7 and 21, for a medical check-up.

Mr Atuches lawyers returned to the court on December 3 to file an application for the dismissal of the charges against their client. The move came after a Court of Appeal in Lagos struck out a theft charge instituted against a former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Okey Nwosu, and some others. The appellate court held in Mr Nwosus case that the Lagos High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the charge because it emanated from capital market transactions. The court held that a case associated with the capital market should be handled by the Federal High Court.

Mrs Okunnu dismissed the application and adjourned for the continuation of trial.

In March 2014, Mr Atuches lawyers filed an application for a stay of proceedings on the grounds that they have a pending case at the court of appeal.

Again, the judge dismissed the application.

For much of the court days in 2014, proceedings were stalled by power outages in courtrooms.

Mr Atuche, however, took to the dock in mid-2014 and said hed never stolen in his life.

I am a Catholic. I cannot be a thief. I was baptised in the church and before I left primary school, I have started receiving Holy Communion which I do every day, he said while being led in evidence by his lawyer.

I cannot receive Holy Communion when I am not in the state of grace. I cannot be a thief because God has been gracious to me.

Temporary reprieve

The Atuches got a temporary relief in June 2015 after the high court, in response to the decision of the court of appeal that the charges are capital market issues, dismissed the charges against the defendants for lack of jurisdiction. The court also directed that the case be reassigned to a different judge.

The EFCC swiftly appealed the decision, arguing that most of the charges against the defendants bordered on stealing and conversion of depositors funds to personal use.

The Atuches victory was, however, short-lived.

In 2017, the Supreme Court overturned the court of appeals decision and ordered that Justice Okunnu, who had already listened to 18 witnesses in the case, resume the trial. The apex court held that the court of appeal failed to give reasons why the case should be reassigned to a new judge.

Justice Ejembi Eko, who read the unanimous decision, held that the decision of the appellate court was perverse, noting that transferring the case to a new judge would have required that it starts afresh.

Neither Justice Lawal-Akapo nor Justice Okunnu was accused of any wrongdoing by the parties to the case to warrant the transfer of the case to a new judge entirely, he said.

The case returned to Justice Okunnu and on June 16, the judge convicted Messrs Atuche and Anyanwu.

Reading her judgement that lasted for 12 hours, Mrs Okunnu upheld the arguments of Mr Pinheiro, the EFCC counsel, that the N25.7 billion was stolen, not loaned, as argued by Mr Atuche.

The judge held that the first and third defendants did not debunk the evidence of the prosecution that the loans were used to purchase shares.

They rather contended that the monies granted as loans could be used for whatever purposes.

Mr Atuches wife, however, was discharged and acquitted.

Before the judge read out her sentencing, she gave the convicts an opportunity to speak.

In pleading for leniency, Mr Atuche said that as a professional banker and chartered accountant, he did not want to become a convict.

I pray that God will place in your heart to be kind, he told the judge.

I plead from the bottom of my heart. Im extremely sorry, today will be a turning point in my life, Im very sorry.

The judge sentenced Messrs Atuche and Anyanwu to six years in prison each.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday threatened to issue a warrant for the arrest of a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, over her failure to appear in court for her corruption trial.

Inyang Ekwo, the judge, said he will order the ex-ministers arrest if she fails to appear for the trial on October 19 slated for her arraignment in an alleged N5 billion fraud case.

Ms Oduah, now a senator representing Anambra North Senatorial district in the Senate was billed to be arraigned on Monday on 25 counts, but she was not in court along with the 4th defendant.

32 prosecution witnesses readied for trial

At Mondays proceedings, Hassan Liman, the prosecuting lawyer, told the judge that all the defendants had been served with the charges as earlier ordered. He expressed displeasure that the former minister was again, not in court without any excuse.

Mr Liman revealed that 32 witnesses had been assembled to testify against Ms Odua and eight others in order to establish the fraud charges against them.

The judge while fixing October 19 for the arraignment of the former minister and kick start trial, warned the absentee defendants to be in court on the date or have bench warrant of arrest issued against them.

Backstory

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the scheduled arraignment of Ms Oduah, alongside Chinese construction giant, CCECC, and six others, charged with laundering funds to the tune of N 5billion, was stalled in February.

The arraignment was initially stalled on February 9 due to the non-service of the charges on the defendants.

Although most of the defendants were subsequently served, the prosecuting counsel, Hassan Liman, informed the judge at the February 22, 2021 proceedings that the prosecution still could not serve two of the defendants  Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, and Tip Top Global Resources Ltd.

Mr Liman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the EFCC, then applied to the court to have the two defendants served through their last known addresses.

The judge granted the application, ordering that service to be effected within 14 days of this order.

But Mr Ekwo also reminded the prosecution that they had taken two of the five adjournments they were entitled to under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

When Mr Liman tried to explain away the prosecutions lapses leading to the two adjournments as a mere pre-trial issue, the judge said, You ought not to file when you were not ready.

One of the co-defendants is Gloria Odita (2nd defendant), who is said to be an aide to Ms Oduah when she was Minister of Aviation, and company secretary of Sea Petroleum & Gas Company (SPGC) Limited, a firm founded by the former minister.

The rest are, an employee of SPCG and aide to Ms Oduah, Nwobu Nnamdi (3rd defendant), Chukwuma Chinyere (4th defendant), Crystal Television Limited (7th defendant), and Sobora International Limited (8th defendant).

The 9th defendant is CCECC Nigeria Ltd, the Nigerian subsidiary of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) established by the Chinese government to execute international contracts and economic cooperation.

Charges

This newspaper had reported how the EFCC on December 17, 2020 filed 25 counts accusing the defendants of laundering various sums of money totaling about N5,052,415,984 between February and June 2014.

The agency accused them of conspiracy to commit money laundering, transferring, taking control and taking possession of proceeds of fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering and opening anonymous bank accounts.

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Specifically, the prosecution alleged in two of the 25 counts that Ms Oduah and Ms Odita opened anonymous Private Banking Nominee dollar and naira accounts with First Bank, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 11(4) (a) of the same Act.

PREMIUM TIMES review of the charges showed that CCECC Nigeria Limited allegedly transferred over N2.5 billion into the naira account of Private Banking Nominee between March 31 and June 6, 2014.

In seven of the counts where CCECC is indicted singly and along with Ms Oduah and Ms Oditah, the company was accused of conspiring with the women to commit money laundering, and directly transferring to Private Banking Nominee account various sums of money totalling N2,583,385,246 which it reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: fraud

The prosecution alleged for instance in Count 17, that CCECC Nigeria, on various dates between March 5, 2014, and May 30, 2014 in Abuja directly transferred the sum of N868409,349.00 from your account with Zenith Bank Place to Private Banking Nominee Account 2024414450 domiciled with First Bank Plc, which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: fraud
The Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has dismissed two of its top officials who were suspended nearly a year ago for initiating investigations against Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu.

The Director and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Modibbo Tukur, notified the two officials of their dismissal in separate letters sent to them on June 29, PREMIUM TIMES was reliably told by insiders, who have also raised concerns about the legitimacy of the NFIU boss action.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mohammed Mustapha, the associate director, Intelligence and Investigation, and Fehintola Salisu, associate director, Compliance and Analysis, were suspended by Mr Tukur in August 2020 for initiating the probes against Mr Abubakar, a former Vice President , and Mr Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State.

Although both Messrs Abubakar and Tinubu are big guns in the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC), respectively, both men are believed to be eyeing the presidency in the forthcoming 2023 elections.

Mr Tukur levelled other allegations against the two senior NFIU officials, but initiating separate investigations against the two politically-exposed persons appeared to be the driving force for the action taken against them.

According to him, Mr Mustapha wrote to the Inspector-General of Police and the Chair of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Mr Abubakar without authorisation in violation of his standing directive.

He had added that launching such investigation was not part of Mr Mustaphas departmental briefing.

On Ms Salisus role in the former Vice-Presidents case, the NFIU Director stated in a document relied on by PREMIUM TIMES for the previous report, she claimed to have minuted the request on the investigation of Atiku Abubakar to Mustapha AbdulRahman (Mr Mustapha) who went ahead to write IGP and the EFCC Chairman directly, all without approval while I was actively on duty as the Head of Agency.

Mr Tukur also alleged that Mr Mustapha sent a request to the United States of America based on an old Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) case against Mr Tinubu.

Significantly, after his suspension, it was discovered that he initiated a request to the U.S on Bola Ahmed Tinubu which he extracted from an old case of CCB, he had stated.

In 2011, during the then President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, the CCB accused Mr Tinubu of breaching Nigerias code of conduct law by operating foreign accounts while serving as Lagos State governor between 1999 and 2007.

The case was eventually dismissed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Accusing Mr Mustapha of violating procedure, the NFIU Director said his approval as the CEO of the agency was not sought before the move to initiate a probe against Mr Tinubu was initiated.

Outcome of investigation

Insider sources , who are privy to the goings-on at the Nigerias number one financial intelligence agency, told our reporter that Mr Tukur had queried, suspended and ordered the probe of the two officials August 11, 2020, for their roles in initiating investigations against Messrs Abubakar and Tinubu, among other allegations.

He said in the letters seen by our insider sources that they were given the opportunity to defend themselves in line with the principle of fair hearing.

The investigative committee recommended the dismissal of the two officials, Mr Tukur was said to have written in his letters of dismissal sent to them.

He also specifically accused Mr Mustapha of conniving with an unnamed staff member of the agency to enjoy full salaries and benefits during the period of his suspension.

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Our source said the NFIU who alleged that such conduct is both criminal and prosecutable in the service, demanded that he make a full refund to government.

Mr Mustapha was also directed to return all NFIUs property in his possession immediately.

Our reporter reached to Mr Mustapha and Ms Salisu for their comments in vain. They did not answer calls or respond text message enquiries sent to them on the matter.

Background

A law firm, C. Chris Ekemezie & Associate, had sent a petition to Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) , accusing Mr Tukur of various infractions including alleged unexplainable suspension of two of the agencys staff members.

In the petition, later dismissed, the petitioner alleged that the two staff members were suspended for trying to profile a politically- exposed person from his (Mr Tukurs) state.

Mr Tukur, in his response to the petition, defended his action taken against the officials, but also raised other sundry allegations against the officials.

Concerns over legitimacy of officials dismissal

Many insiders and close observers of the NFIU have raised concerns about the legitimacy of Mr Tukurs action dismissing the two officials, who are just a notch below the CEO in the hierarchy of the agency.

Mr Mustapha and Ms Salisu are the remaining legacy staff members of the NFIU in the directorate cadre of the countrys foremost financial intelligence body.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the other four associate directors only came on board after the re-establishment of the unit through the new NFIU Act which came into force in 2018.

It is against the norm of global financial intelligence bodies for member Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) to take actions such as disciplining staff members in a manner that appears to be politically-motivated, experts in the field have told our reporter.

Dismissing staff members, top directors at that, in connection with moves to investigate politically exposed persons, is definitely not global intelligence bodies will frown on, one of them said.

In addition to that, some insiders have punctured the dismissal for being arbitrarily done.

Section 7(3) of the NFIU Act 2018 gives the agency the power to make staff regulations to provide for staff disciplinary procedure and remunerations.

But three years down the line since the coming into force of the Act, the regulations meant to be issued with the approval of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and other appropriate authorities have yet to see the light of the day, insiders say.

The implication is that the Director takes disciplinary actions in the agency at his whims and caprices.

The public service rules that can also fill in the gap in the absence of the NFIU staff regulations were also not followed in the case of the two NFIU officials, because it confers only on the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) the exclusive power to dismiss any officer in the public service, PREMIUM TIMES analysis shows.

Rule 030307 of the Public Service Rules enumerated the strict procedures that must be followed for an official in the public service to be dismissed by the Federal Civil Service Commission.

The procedure stipulated in the Rules begins with issuing a query to the officer stating the grounds for the proposed disciplinary action against him or her.

The officer will be expected to respond in writing, within the period specified in the query.

If the officer submits his/her representations and the Federal Civil Service Commission is not satisfied that he/she has exculpated himself/herself, and considers that the officer should be dismissed, it shall take such action accordingly.

Should the officer however fail to furnish any representations within the time fixed the Rules say, the Commission may take such action against the officer as it deems appropriate. This could be a breach Mr Tukur hid under

But it goes further to state that If upon considering the representations of the officer the Commission is of the the opinion that the officer does not deserve to be dismissed from the Service but deserves some other punishment, it shall impose on the officer such punishment as it considers appropriate.

It adds that where necessary, the Commission may set up a board of inquiry which shall consist of not less than three persons one of whom shall be appointed chairman by the Commission.

The members of the board are to be selected with due regard to the status of the officer involved in the disciplinary case and to the nature of the complaint which is the subject of inquiry.

The findings of the board, if it decides that the officer be dismissed, must be approved by the commission for the dismissal to take effect. If not approved, the officer must be immediately reinstated.

The rules provide that the disciplinary procedure must be completed within 60 days.

Contrary to the provisions of the rules, the procedure for the dismissal of the two NFIU officials started and ended between him and the agencys investigative committee.

No regulations were cited in the letters of dismissal sent to the officials.
A total of N4.8 (4,870,350,000) billion has been allocated to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to monitor WhatsApp messages, phone calls, text messages, among others.

Of the figure, N1.93 billion was earmarked for WhatsApp Intercept Solution and N2.93 billion for Thuraya Interception Solution  a communications system used for monitoring voice calls or call-related information, SMS, data traffic, among others.

This was contained in the supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly last Wednesday.

The lawmakers had approved and passed a supplementary budget of N982 billion (982,729,695,343) for the 2021 fiscal year, against the N895 billion proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari  indicating an increase of about N87 billion.

While N123.3 billion was fixed for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, N895 billion was earmarked for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2021,

Another N45 billion was approved for foreign aid/loans.

This budgetary allocation comes amidst several attempts by the federal government to limit freedom of expression in the country  an act many have described as a means to gag the media.

It comes barely a month after the federal government suspended the operation of Twitter in the country on June 4.

Besides, the National Assembly, particularly lawmakers at the House of Representatives, are in the process of amending several media bills with the aim of regulating the media.

Some of these bills include the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act and the Press Council Act.

The Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had in June asked the House of Representatives to include internet broadcasting under the control of the NBC.

He said all online and internet broadcasting entities should be included in section two (c) of the bill  which gives powers to the NBC to receive, process and consider applications for the establishment, ownership of radio and television stations including.

I want to add that internet broadcasting and all online media should be included in the bill, Mr Mohammed said at a public hearing.

Similar proposals are contained in the Press Council Amendment bill. And the bills, if passed with the recommendation of Mr Mohammed, online media entities will have to get approval from the NBC before operating.

Many have opposed and rejected the proposed amendments, describing the prescriptions as draconian, ill-advised and an attempt to gag the media on all fronts.

In protest of the proposed amendments, major newspapers on Monday, published the same headlines calling on the National Assembly to halt the amendments. It was sponsored by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria.

Information Blackout: This is what the National Assembly wants to achieve with the NPC and NBC (media) amendment bills, read the front pages of papers like Punch, Vanguard, the Nation, Daily Sun and the Guardian.

There were also previous attempts to control the social media space via bills introduced by two Niger senators at the Senate.

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More details of the budget

In the supplementary budget seen by PREMIUM TIMES, N11.48 billion was also allocated to the Defence Headquarters for the purchase of ammunition and another N15.8 billion for the purchase of vehicles and generators.

While the Nigerian Army headquarters got N37.6 billion for ammunition, N14.8 billion for arms and N 48.6 billion for vehicle requirement.

Another N96.5 billion was given to the agency for payment for purchase of defence equipment. The equipment was, however, not clearly stated.

In the same vein, the Nigerian Navy was given N36.5 billion for arms and ammo requirement and N140.7 billion was allocated to the Nigerian Air Force for additional aircraft requirement.

Under the budget of the Department of State Security, a total of N6.5 billion was earmarked for the construction of multipurpose gatehouses and installation of integrated security systems of the National Assembly.

While N1 billion was approved for constitution review, N6.7 billion has been allocated for procurement and installation of new oxygen plants nationwide and repairs of oxygen plants in hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory.

The federal government had said the budget is specifically meant to enhance the capacity of the military and paramilitary agencies to tackle the various security challenges in the country.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, admonished relevant committees of the upper legislative chamber to carry out oversight and ensure that the funds are properly utilised.
The front banners of major newspapers in Nigeria on Monday bore a picture of an individual with a sealed mouth.

Information Blackout, read the caption that ran with the picture. Its not just against the media.its about societys right to know, your right to be heard.

The message is a joint release from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

It is expected to be the chyron on television stations, the jingles on radio stations and the lead graphics on online media.

This is a pushback by media organisations in the country against the Buhari governments brazen attempt to regulate social media and censor the press through controversial media bills at the National Assembly.

The controversial bills are the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) Act amendment bills.

The former sought lawmakers cooperation to include all online media among the media organisations the government seeks to be able to censor.

Existing censorship on broadcast stations persists, and instances, where the stations are ordered to stop the broadcast of programmes the government feels uncomfortable with, are rife. Heavy fines are imposed at will when there is an alleged breach.

The latter gives the president the right to appoint the chairman of the board of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC). It also empowers the president to appoint all other members of the board upon the recommendation of the information minister.

I stand resolutely by the NUJ, NGE and NPAN in its campaign against information blackout as represented by the NPC and NBC (Media) Act amendment Bills, a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, wrote on Facebook Monday evening. Freedom of the press and access to information is the oxygen of democracy and must never be compromised.

Attempts At Stifling Free Speech

Since coming to office, the Buhari administration has made clear its preference for controlling, or possibly, silencing the media. Mr Mohammed, a lawyer and former spokesperson for the ruling All Progressives Congress, has led the effort to actualise that mandate.

Mr Buhari ran a repressive military dictatorship in the early 1980s and his government jailed journalists and critics, and enacted draconian anti-press decrees.

As a candidate seeking to return a civilian president, Mr Buhari claimed he had become a reformed democrat.

His governments initial attempts to regulate social media through a bill at the National Assembly fell flat largely due to public backlash. The government has now clawed back its resolve through the newly introduced controversial media bills.

Mr Mohammed says it is the practice across the world. However, PREMIUM TIMES has shown his narrative is flawed as most of the countries Nigeria seeks to emulate are ranked poorly in the press freedom and on the human development index.

In June, the government banned Twitter after the social media platform deleted President Buharis post, and threatened to prosecute Nigerians who continued with its use. The administration has refused to reverse the decision despite public backlash and international condemnations. It, however, later admitted it lacked the legal backing to go after Twitter users.

Rights groups and activists have criticised the governments move to regulate the media and have demanded greater transparency in government.

The National Assembly should not enact any law that will deny press freedom, the executive director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, told PREMIUM TIMES in June.

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The public should know that an assault on the media is an assault on them. Its not a media battle alone, it is for everyone, Mr Arogundade added.

A coalition of civil society organisations including Amnesty International and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) also lashed at the bills in a recent statement.

The Nigerian authorities have continued to propose laws to regulate the social media, and restrict the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom, including through legislative bills popularly known as the Hate Speech Bill and The Social Media Bill which both provide severe punitive sanctions such as the death penalty in some cases, for social media users convicted of crimes provided under them.
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The Nigeria Governors Forum Secretariat (NGFS) has commiserated with the government and people of Kaduna State over the death of former Deputy Governor, Barnabas Bala.

Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the Head, Media and Public Affairs, NGF Secretariat, commiserated with the the government and people of the state in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Bello-Barkindo said the death of Mr Bantex got to the forum secretariat as a rude shock.

He said the forum particularly condoled with the governor of the state, Nasiru el-Rufai, who Bala served diligently during his first term in office between 2015 and 2019 until he resigned to contest in an election for the position of senator.

He said although Mr Bala suffered a prolonged illness, he was a man the NGF secretariat held in very high esteem and wished he had recovered from an illness to continue the good work that he left the office of then deputy governor to pursue.

Bantex was a good representative of Kaduna state with all its political complications, having led the people of Southern Kaduna in all representative and participatory capacities through the Local Government system and Constitution Review Committees, eventually becoming a deputy governor.

In the words of el-Rufai, Bantex served his state with all sincerity apart from giving the much-desired hope to the downtrodden in the state.

Bantex contributed fully to the debates at the NGF whenever he represented el-Rufai during which he displayed full comprehension of all the intricate issues at meetings.

He would always give the Kaduna State Perspective to debates as if the governor himself were present, Mr Bello-Barkindo said.

He quoted the NGF Director-General Asishana Okauru as saying that the forum would miss Mr Bantexs deep and incisive interventions.

He prayed God to grant the family of the former deputy governor the fortitude to bear the great loss as we all know how much they love him as theirs but also know that God loves him best.
The Edo State Government has downplayed the reported rift between it and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II over the proposed return and storage of the 1,130 stolen artefacts belonging to the state.

The position was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie on Monday.

The Oba had asked the Federal Government to temporarily take custody of 1,130 stolen Benin artefacts when they are repatriated from Europe amid the controversy surrounding where the artefacts will be housed.

The Benin Palace and the Edo State Government have disagreed over where the artefacts will be housed.

While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.

The artefacts were looted during the invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British.

In the statement, the state government said it has always acted transparently and in consonance with existing federal and state laws in all matters relating to the proposed return of the artefacts and monuments.

Governor Godwin Obaseki also said he would continue to make efforts to secure a private audience with His Royal Majesty to discuss his concerns.

The Governor also ordered that on no account should anyone, whether in government or acting independently, engage in disrespectful exchanges and/or altercation with our revered Royal Majesty and the Benin Royal Palace.

While appreciating the federal government, the state government assured that it would work with all the interested parties to ensure the eventual return of the artefacts.

Read full statement below:

Benin artefacts: Obaseki will continue to engage His Royal Majesty to secure final return

The attention of the Edo State Government (EDSG) has been drawn to the widely publicized media statement issued by the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Omo NOba NEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.

It is concerning that the statement appears to have created the impression that there is a major conflict between the interests of the EDSG and His Royal Majesty with regards to the laudable national milestone of having our highly valued artefacts returned home to Nigeria.

The Government of Edo State and the Governor have always acted transparently and in consonance with existing Federal and State laws in all matters relating to the proposed return of the artefacts and monuments.

The actions of the government thus far on this issue have been driven by selfless, patriotic considerations and in the best interest of Edo State and Edo people.

The Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has displayed and will continue to display immense respect for our traditional institutions and therefore will continue to make efforts to secure a private audience with His Royal Majesty to discuss his concerns.

The Governor has consequently ordered that on no account should anyone, whether in government or acting independently, engage in disrespectful exchanges and/or altercation with our revered Royal Majesty and the Benin Royal Palace.

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Governor Obaseki, meanwhile, expresses his gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and other officials of the federal government for their patriotic and tireless efforts that have brought us to the verge of this eagerly anticipated achievement which has remained elusive for over a century.

While thanking and congratulating the Federal Government, the President, the Minister, the Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin and all stakeholders who have contributed to the successes so far recorded in this endeavor, the Governor assures that he will continue to work assiduously with all local and international stakeholders for the eventual and final return of these valued records of our great and glorious heritage back to Benin City for the benefit of ALL Edo people, Nigerians and the black race.

Osarodion Ogie Esq.

Secretary to the Edo State Government
A civil society organisation, Centre for Social Justice Equity and Transparency (CESJECT), has called for the immediate arrest of a former finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, for forging her NYSC certificate.

This was contained a statement by its Executive Director, Kolawole Johnson, on Monday.

PREMIUM TIMES had in an exclusive report exposed Mrs Adeosuns failure to participate in the one-year national youth service scheme.

The report revealed how Mrs Adeosun forged an exemption certificate many years after graduation which she presented as a substitute for a passing-out certificate.

Her official credentials obtained by PREMIUM TIMES showed that the minister paraded a purported NYSC exemption certificate, which she said was issued in September 2009, granting her exemption from the mandatory service on account of age.

In what appears to be a reprieve from a court on Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Mrs Adeosun did not breach any law by being appointed to the ministerial position in 2015 without participating in the NYSC scheme.

Although Mrs Adesosun forged her NYSC certificate to be appointed minister, the issue of forgery was not brought before the court as the federal government has refused to prosecute her for that.

Taiwo Taiwo, the judge, held that Mrs Adeosun, as of the time she graduated from a United Kingdom university at 22 in 1989, was a British citizen who was not qualified to participate in the scheme.

Reacting to the judgment, the group accused the former minister and her alleged conspirators of trying to soil the reputation of the NYSC as a scheme.

It said before her resignation, Mrs Adeosun admitted forging the NYSC certificate that she was using and had no moral ground to continue in public office after which she was sneaked out of the country to avoid being arrested by security agencies.

The group said it was appalling to realise that someone who forged her way into a very sensitive position as minister of finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could be treated with levity instead of prosecuting her.

Read full statement:

Centre for Social Justice Equity and Transparency (CESJECT)calls for the immediate arrest of Kemi Adeosun for forgery

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency received the news of the fictitious judgement that freed Mrs Kemi Adeosun, ex- Finance Minister in the first term of President Muhammadu Buhari with mixed feelings.

It will be recalled that in 2018 Kemi Adeosun was accused of forging her NYSC certificate and that led to her resignation as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Before her resignation she had admitted forging the NYSC certificate that she was using and had no moral ground to continue in public office which led to her resignation. She was subsequently sneaked out of the country to avoid being arrested by security agencies which irked the anger of many Nigerians till date.

Recently Nigerians had begun to see the hands of the conspirators that sneaked her out of the country to avoid arrest rearing its head again. Kemi Adeosun appeared from the blues and was seen launching a foundation in Nigeria. As if that was not enough, a few days ago Nigerians woke up to the rude shock of a court judgement vindicating her complicity in the forgery and possession of fake NYSC certificate days after her showmanship in Lagos.

All these took place in connivance with her conspirators in high places who are bent on soiling the reputation of the NYSC as a scheme, re-write our status as regards to Nigerian citizenship and the rule of law as applicable to all citizens of the country.

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Its quite appalling to realize that someone who had forged her way into a very sensitive position as Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic could be treated with levity instead of persecuting her to establish our sovereignty and show the world that we are a country guided by the rule of law.

CESJET wishes to draw the attention of Kemi and her handlers to the recent happenings in neighbouring South Africa where a former President is currently languishing in prison for contempt of court. Kemis status doesnt in any way equate to the office which Comrade Jacob Zuma once held in that country and could be tried yet our own cannot be made to account for her acts and deeds. This is a shame on all Nigerians.

The Director General of the State Security Service and the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force should immediately put her into custody to obtain her statement and trial before a court of law.

We wonder how a court could delve into the said judgement that vindicated someone who has confessed to forgery just to set a negative precedent and the bastardization of our judicial system. Especially in an incident that has been well thought out to humiliate the people of Nigeria that have been hurt by her actions.

Her comments after the fictitious judgement expose her stubborn tenacity towards the crime she admitted to have committed and hence has the audacity to maneuver our judicial system with a glaring bizarre.

The pain of Nigerians occasioned by Kemi Adeosun who was clearly not qualified to manage our economy but yet forged her way into such an enormous position cannot be ignored. This is why the Board of CESJET joined other men of good conscience to call for her immediate arrest and persecution for forgery, a crime she has already confessed to in order to appease the conscience of the good people of Nigeria for the pain they have been subjected to by her actions.

We call on well-meaning Nigerians and Patriots to rise up as statesmen and protect the institutions that have made us who we are as a nation, especially the judiciary to avoid these kinds of embarrassing judgements emanating from our judicial system which are ridiculing the Nigeria judicial system before the international community.

We therefore give a Grace of 48 hrs for Kemi Adeosun to be arrested to face persecution for a crime she has already admitted to have commit to avoid a mass action of Nigerians against the judicial system of this country or Mrs Kemi Adeosun should honorably surrender herself to the law enforcement authorities and face persecution.

Thank you

Kolawole Johnson

Executive Director

CESJET

11/07/2021.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned four defendants for fraud involving over N900 million Point of Sale (POS) transactions.

A statement by the commission said Naankang Dawan was arraigned along with his companies  Taen Nigeria Ltd, Lataen Engineering Ltd  and Moruf Tunji Olukanmi, at the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State.

Wilson Uwujaren, EFCCs spokesperson, who signed the statement, said the defendants were arraigned on 31 counts of conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining N908, 108, 974.52 by false pretence.

The commission alleged that Mr Dawan who inherited some companies including a petrol station from his family, connived with some staff members of First Bank, including Moruf Tunji Olukanmi (fourth defendant), to defraud customers using a POS terminal allocated to him.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them before the trial judge, D. V Agishi, the statement said.

READ FULL STATEMENT

EFCC Press Release

EFCC Arraigns Four for N900m POS Fraud in Jos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today July 12, 2021 arraigned Naankang Dawan, his companies: Taen Nigeria Ltd, Lataen Engineering Ltd alongside Moruf Tunji Olukanmi before Justice D. V Agishi of the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State on a 31-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining N908, 108, 974.52 (Nine Hundred and Eight Million, One Hundred and Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Four Naira and Fifty Two Kobo) by false pretence.

Naankang Dawan (first defendant), who allegedly inherited some companies including a petrol station from his family, connived with some staff of First Bank, including Moruf Tunji Olukanmi (fourth defendant), to defraud costumers using a Point of Sale (POS) terminal allocated to him.

Count two of the charge reads, That you, Naankang Dawan being the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Taen Nigeria Limited, Taen Nigeria Limited, Doyin Adesanya (at Large), Samuel Temitope Falese (at large), Ebenezer Oni Kehinde (at large) and Mariam Babatunde Olabisi (at large) between October 2017 to November 2017 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, manipulated First Bank of Nigeria Plc Point of Sale (POS) terminal issued to Taen Nigeria Limited and by so doing fraudulently credited Tean Nigeria Limited account Number: 2025956973 domiciled with First Bank Nigeria Plc with the sum of N908,108,974.52 (Nine Hundred and Eight Million, One Hundred and Eight Thousand , Nine Hundred and Seventy Four Naira and Fifty Two kobo) only and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 30(1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel Benjamin Manji asked for a trial date and that the suspects be remanded at the Correctional Centre pending trial.

But defence counsel, A.G Yirvoms informed the Court of a pending application for the bail of his clients.

Justice Agishi adjourned the case till July 26, 2021 for consideration of bail application and October 6, 2021 for trial.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

12 July, 2021

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President Muhammadu Buhari Monday at State House, Abuja, received the governors of Cross River and Zamfara States, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The new APC members, Governors Ben Ayade and Bello Matawalle, were accompanied to the event by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Party and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State who is Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, and Governor Muhammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State.

President Buhari handed the flags of the party to the two Governors, raised their hands aloft, and declared:

This is one of the happiest times for us in this party. For you to have the courage to leave your constituencies speak a lot. I wish Nigerians will reflect about it.

I congratulate you for leaving your constituencies for our great party. We lost many states at the last election, which is unusual for a ruling party. But we did it to prove that we are a tolerant group. We wanted to demonstrate that we respect individuals.

We emphasized that we respect our people. That was why we insisted on free and fair elections. Leaders should show honesty and respect for their followers.

President Buhari, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, added that the coming of the two governors to the APC was very important to the party.

He added, To be principled and identify your objectives is a great quality that should endear us to our people. Your people will respect you more for having the courage to come to APC at your own time. Nobody forced you, but you believe it is the best way to serve your people. I value your decision.

Governor Mai Mala Buni said the governors joined the APC in appreciation of the good works President Buhari was doing for the country, and also announced that ward, local government and state congresses of the party would start from July 31, 2021.

He said the congresses were shifted for one week, because the initial dates clashed with Sallah festivities.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, presented its sixth prosecution witness in the corruption trial of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi,

Benedict Agweyi, the commissions forensic documents examiner and acting director of forensics , testified at the Federal High Court in Lagos about a signature analysis he carried out in respect of the case.

A statement by the EFCCs spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said the witness also narrated to the trial judge, Ayokunle Faaji, how he carried out the forensic examination on some documents bearing the signature of interest.

The statement did not indicate whose signature was analysed by Mr Agweyi.

The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Akpobolokemi, who was the DG of NIMASA between 2010 and 2015, and three others for 22 counts of money laundering involving about N8.5billion.

He is being prosecuted alongside Emmanuel Atewe, a retired major-general, who is a former Commander of the Joint Military Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, and two other staff members of the agency, Kime Engonzu and Josphine Otuaga.

The defendants have all denied the charges.

Mondays hearing

Led by the prosecution counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, at Mondays hearing, Mr Agweyi told the court that he received a letter of request with some documents attached for forensic examination, comparison and report from the office of the Deputy Director of Operations, EFCC, Lagos Office on April 25, 2016

He said, There were two categories of documents attached, including disputed documents marked X1 to X12, and known specimen handwriting and signatures marked as A1 to A8; B1 to B6, and C1 to C13.

They were for me to determine whether or not, the known specimens were the ones on A1 to A8, B1 to B6 and C1 to C13.

Mr Agweyi said he used three methodologies, bearing in mind three principles in signature analysis, in his work on the documents.

According to him, no two writers share the same unique combination of handwriting characteristics.

Analysis methodologies

He further told the court that On the basis of this, I used the first methodology, which was a simulation of the various categories of writings, using a pencil, a handheld magnifier, a piece of paper and my naked eyes.

This methodology enabled me to identify certain characteristics among which include the commencement and terminal style of the writings; the letter forms and structural forms of the writings and the connecting strokes, among others.

The second methodology was a stereo-microscopic analysis using a Leica stereo microscope, which enabled me to analyse the different categories of writings under magnification ranging from the original sizes to over 20 times the original sizes of the writings.

This enabled me to identify microscopic features including line formation, the direction of pen movement, and the speed of the writing in absence of tremor among others.

Testifying further, he told the court that he used a third methodology, which was a video spectra comparative analysis with the aid of the VSC 5000.

According to him, This enabled me to further compare the disputed and known specimen handwritings under magnification. It enabled me identify the existence or non-existence of characteristics that are similar or otherwise.

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Report of analysis

When asked by Mr Suleiman what he made out of his analysis, he said, On the conclusion of my analysis, I reduced my findings into a report dated 7 May, 2016 and my opinion was to the effect that the authors of the known specimens and signatures on the documents marked A1 to A8 and B1 to B6 also made the signatures on the disputed documents marked X1 to X12 and the authors of the known specimen and handwriting marked C1 to C13 also made the handwriting and signatures marked X1 to X10.

He, thereafter, identified his report, which was already before the court as Exhibit G series.

I have no personal interest in this matter; and during the analysis, I never knew the names of those involved other than what was on the face of the documents, he said.

The case was adjourned till July 13, 2021.

Charges

One of the counts against the defendants reads, That you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu, and Josphine Otuaga sometimes in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the sum of N8,537,586,798.58 property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges, thereby prompting the commencement of their trial.

It will be recalled that the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, in 2018, discharged and acquitted Mr Akpobolokemi of a set of fraud charges involving N2.6 billion.
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed a three-member caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in Zamfara State.

The party disclosed this in a statement by its interim national secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, on Monday in Abuja.

Members of the committee are Hassan Gusau, a former senator, (Chairman), Muntari Anka and Abdullahi Shinkafi (Secretary).

This comes about two weeks after Governor Bello Matawalle defected to APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Some federal and state lawmakers also left to join the APC in apparent solidarity with the governor.

At the ceremony to welcome Mr Matawalle to the party in Gusau, the interim national chairman of the APC, Governor Mala Buni of Yobe State, had said the governor would be the new leader of the party in the state.

Read the full statement:

APC appoints 3-member committee to run its affairs in Zamfara State

The Governor Mai Mala Buni-chaired All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary and Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) has constituted a three-member committee to run the affairs of the party in the state.

Committe Members

Senator Hassan Mohammed Gusau  *Chairman*

Muntari Ahmed Anka  Deputy Chairman Professor Abdullahi Shinkafi  Secretary

The step followed the recent positive development in the Zamfara State Chapter of the party and the approval by the CECPC to dissolve the leadership structure of the party organs in the State.

The CECPC hereby strongly appeals to those directly affected by this action to show understanding and consider this a sacrifice made for the growth of the party.

The party assures all concerned that it shall ensure that inclusiveness, fairness and transparency are maintained (which are the composite ethos of our party) by the new leadership on all fronts.

The party, once again, congratulates H.E Bello Matawalle, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State as he leads his State into the fold of the Progressives.

Together, we shall win!

SIGNED:

Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe Ph.D

National Secretary,

Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)

All Progressives Congress (APC)
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A pro-democracy organisation, Democracy and Public Interest Initiative (DPII) on Monday threatened to sue the federal government if it fails to prosecute a former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, for forgery of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) exemption certificate, within two days.

The group, in a statement by its legal officer, Abdullahi Ahmad, urged the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest and prosecute Mrs Adeosun for forgery.

We by this notice urge the police to immediately and within two days proceed with the prosecution of the former Minister of Finance, the investigation haven been completed.

Failure to do so we will be compelled to approach the court with a prerogative writ of mandamus praying it inter alia to compel the police and the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute her for the alleged offence, the statement read in part.

Background

Mrs Adeosun resigned as finance minister in September 2018 following PREMIUM TIMES report revealing that she tendered a forged NYSC certificate as part of her credentials for her appointment in 2015.

The report revealed that Mrs Adeosun who never observed the one-year mandatory national youth service, had procured the forged certificate purporting that the NYSC exempted her from the scheme.

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a civil case, ruled that Mrs Adeosun did not breach any law by being appointed to the ministerial position in 2015 without participating in the NYSC scheme.

Taiwo Taiwo, the judge, held that Mrs Adeosun, as of the time she graduated from a United Kingdom university at 22 in 1989, was a British citizen who was not qualified to participate in the scheme.

The judge added that when she returned to Nigeria and became a Nigerian citizen at over 30 years old, she was no longer eligible to participate in the NYSC scheme.

Mr Taiwo ruled that NYSC certificate was not a requirement for Mrs Adeosun to be appointed as a Nigerian minister or contest state or national assembly elections.

The judge, however, did not review the forgery of the NYSC exemption certificate.

Mrs Adeosun celebrated the judgment as a mark of vindication but was silent on the forgery allegation.

A lawyer, Dele Ogun, who said he is Mrs Adeosuns brother, also denied the forgery allegation on her behalf and threatened to sue PREMIUM TIMES for libel.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Monday welcomed the legal team set up by the Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, to monitor the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

But the AGF also described the monitoring as unnecessary expressing hope that the group would be open-minded and guided by the rule of law in the process.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has welcomed the formation of legal team by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to monitor the proceedings at the trial of the self-acclaimed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, which is in line with the doctrine of the right of fair hearing rooted in Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a statement by Mr Malamis spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, read in part.

Binta Nyako, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja where Mr Kanu is being prosecuted on charges of treasonable felony, fixed July 26 for continuation of Mr Kanus trial.

The statement however added that, It is hoped that the unnecessary legal monitoring group will come with open-mind and guided by nothing but the rule of law in the process so as to convey the judgment of the court as may eventually be delivered to their people in various languages and dialects of the members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo communities and the entire Nigerians.

Controversial arrest

Mr Malami had on June 29 announced the rearrest of Mr Kanu and his return to Nigeria about four years after fleeing from his treasonable felony trial.

The IPOB leader who holds dual citizenship in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, fled Nigeria in September 2017 after soldiers invaded his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Abia State, during an anti-Biafra military operation in the South-east region.

Mr Kanu was on bail granted him by the Federal High Court in Abuja where he was being prosecuted over his separatist activities when he fled the country.

Mr Malami, announcing the return of Mr Kanu to Nigeria on June 29, said recent steps taken by the Federal Government saw to the interception of the fugitive Kanu on Sunday, June 27, 2021.

He refused to give details of how and where Mr Kanu, known to be residing in the U.K. was arrested.

The U.K. government has since clarified that he was not arrested in its territory, but media reports, his lawyers and family members, have indicated he was controversially arrested in Kenya.

The government produced him before the trial court in Abuja on June 29 with the judge ordering his remand in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) and adjourning his trial till July 26.

Buhari respects rule of law, Kanu will get justice

Meanwhile, the AGF, reacting to Ohanezes position on the matter, said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government respects the rule of law and does not advocate for the breach of law.

He therefore promised that Mr Kanu would get justice in his trial with or without the Ohanezes monitoring team.

Hence, with or without the so-called monitoring group, justice will be adequately served to Nnamdi Kanu in compliances with the enshrined provisions of the law, the statement added.

The AGF also said this was the demonstration of their recognition of belonging to Nigeria and succumbing to the rule of law while maintaining their stance that they were not averse to the trial of Nnamdi Kanu.

In similar vein the group showed a mature departure from mindset of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra when Ohanaeze said they do not support the use of any form of violence while channeling concerns and presenting demands.

By urging the youths to be law-abiding and sheath their sword as well as asking them to try to obtain voters card to enable them contribute to national development, the position of Ohanaeze becomes glaringly constitutional and commendable.

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West Africas verification and fact-checking platform, Dubawa, is set to launch a new country office in Sierra Leone.

The launch will take place on July 13, 2021, at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown.

A project of the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) with a core mandate to restore the eroding trust of newsrooms, Dubawas mission is to institute a culture of truth and verification in public discourse and journalism through strategic partnerships between the media, government, civil society organisations, technology giants and the public.

We are super excited at this development, which is one element in the broad mission of Premium Times strategy to help deepen the primacy of ethics in governance, in policy making and in journalism within the ECOWAS subregion, the Executive Director of PTCIJ, Dapo Olorunyomi, said in a statement.

As part of activities for the official launch, Dubawa will also train journalists and bloggers in fact-checking skills, digitals tools, right to information laws and data journalism.

Currently, Dubawa has been holding successful annual fellowships for journalists, fact checkers and researchers in The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone to equip fellows with skills in fact-checking and verification in combating the widespread regime of misinformation in the West African sub-region and to also contribute to knowledge around information disorder in the subregion.

First launched in Nigeria as the countrys first indigenous fact-checking platform in 2018, Dubawa expanded its programme to Ghana in 2019 and Sierra Leone in 2020 in a bid to promote accountability and democracy across the West African region. Dubawa currently also has a presence in Liberia and the Gambia.
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Royal Dutch Shell has given up its struggle to move a Niger Delta oil spill case, involving thousands of the regions residents, from the UK to Nigeria, Bloomberg said Monday.

The decision comes on the heels of two recently lost suits for Shell. In January a Dutch court directed the supermajor to pay compensation to residents of its operational base in the countrys far south for an oil spill action, a couple of decades ago.

Members of Nigerias Ogle and Bile communities numbering around 40,000 said the energy giant and its local unit, SPDC, are both accountable for oil contamination in the Niger Delta since the 1980s.

The push gained notability under the leadership of community organiser and environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed by the Nigerian government in 1995.

Shells lawyers failed to return to the High Court of England with the position that the trial, half a decade old, would be better decided in Nigeria, said parties in the suit, stating that SPDC will now be part of the lawsuits filed in England against Royal Dutch Shell.

In February, the UK Supreme Court said in a pivotal trial of the possibility of Shells parent company being sued in English courts for activities of its Nigerian operation.

Nevertheless, it allowed Shell to argue that it was better to leave any action against SPDC to courts in the West African nation. With SPDCs inclusion in the UK trials, more documents on Shells operation in Nigeria are likely to be made public.

Bloomberg quoted Daniel Leider, an attorney representing the claimants as saying in a statement that this is a significant win for the affected communities because it means they can finally bring their case to trial.

Shells oil contamination remains in their drinking water, land, and waterways, and still no clean-up has taken place, Leider said.

The firm said that it cleans up any environmental damage, irrespective of what causes it.

Royal Dutch Shell plc has a horrific history in Nigeria, where a number oil spills it partly blames on sabotage, has prompted it to re-evaluate its future there.

CEO Ben van Burden told shareholders in May that the balance of risks and rewards associated with our onshore portfolio is no longer compatible with our strategic ambitions.

The company had earlier this year announced a move to become net-zero in respect of carbon emissions by 2050.
A former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has advocated the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to reflect a single term rotational presidency.

Mr Ekweremadu made the call on Monday in Lagos while speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch Law Week 2021 with the theme The Nigeria of Our Dreams.

He said he had long advocated a single presidential term of five or six-years.

This will help us circumvent the distractions, manipulations, divisiveness, and excesses that come with quest for a second term of executive offices.

It will as well ensure that power rotates more frequently among the various sections and groups.

If people are sure that it will get to them, the struggle for it by various sections will be less desperate.

Besides, it is better if every President or Governor understands that he or she has only a single term to begin and complete all his or her good works, he said.

Mr Ekweremadu said this model had worked for some Latin American democracies in the 1970s when they faced similar challenge of excessive contestation for power.

He said some Latin American countries adopted the model for a fixed period of time and had since reverted to two presidential terms after their democracies stabilised.

Some others such as Mexico still operates a single term of six-years, he said.

Mr Ekweremadu, who represents Enugu West Senatorial Distrct, noted that a regions access or lack of access to political power affected public attitude and sense of belonging in governance and democracy.

He said there was nothing to prove that sections of Nigeria that produced presidents or military Heads of State were better off than those that had not.

Save the patronage enjoyed by a privileged few, rotational presidency is nevertheless imperative in our African environment where ethno-religious and sectional sentiments are still high.

So, in the higher and long-term national interest, it is time to revisit and entrench the idea of rotational presidency.

This idea was first muted in Nigeria by the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in his 1995 Independence Anniversary speech, he said.

Also speaking, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joe-Kyari Gadzama, called for the devolution of some centralised powers between the Federal, State and Local Governments.

He said the centralised nature of powers of government under the federal system had stood against the equal and progressive development of states and local government areas.

It also stands against the effective exploration of the resources in Nigeria for development purposes.

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I believe that the need to devolve some of the powers vested at the centre will also serve the interest of government in providing Nigerians with the opportunity to succeed.

He said that to achieve this, some items must be moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

Mr Gadzama noted that a list of items to be undertaken solely by the local government should be introduced by the constitution to be called the residual list.

The SAN said the general legislative limitation for local government which was contained in Section 4(7)(a) of the 1999 constitution should be deleted.

(NAN)
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Former Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani, has formally stepped aside from the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

His decision to step down was made known in a letter addressed to the PRP Ward Chairman, Ward 6, Tudun Wada, Kaduna State and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES.

In the letter dated July 9 and signed by him, the ex-lawmaker said the notice takes effect on the date indicated.

He, however, did not state the reason for his decision to leave nor the party he would eventually join.

I wish to formally notify you of my decision to step aside from the Peoples Redemption Party. This notice takes effect from today.

I hope we shall continue to relate in the spirit of our struggle, our shared history and our common ideological principles. Accept the best wishes of my highest regards, the letter read.

Mr Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the eight assembly, had joined the PRP on October 23, 2018. He joined the party three days after he left his former party, All Progressives Congress.

He said it had become impossible to continue to cohabit with reactionaries and their perfidious and inimical style of politics referring to the APC which he said preferred to live in a Cottage of Honour than a mansion of shame.

Sani is now free from the toxicity and infamy APC existentially represents. We left the APC for the emperors and their lackeys a statement from the lawmaker in 2018 read.

The lawmaker had in 2019, announced the opening of a non-profit centre  Africa Centre for Freedom, Peace and Development.

He had described the centre as a think-tank and advocacy platform that will focus on key areas of democracy, peace and development in Africa as a continent and Nigeria in particular.

It is, however, not clear if Mr Sani has plans to return to the National Assembly or any other political office anytime soon
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Kajuru residents Monday evening besieged the palace of their emir, Alhassan Adamu, following news that he has regained freedom from kidnappers

The eldest son of the emir, the Madakin Kajuru, Musa Alhassan, told BBC Hausa that the emir returned home alone Monday afternoon.

We were all at home when we saw him approaching us inside the house alone, Mr Alhassan said.

He said the emir came back without his wives and others that were kidnapped with him at his palace on Sunday.

It is not clear whether a ransom was paid as it was earlier reported by Daily Trust newspaper that the kidnappers demanded N200 million for the release of the emir.

As they got wind of his return to the palace, residents trooped to the palace in to celebration the development.

Mr Adamu and 13 others were kidnapped in the early hours of Sunday in Kajuru town, headquarters of Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

According to Daily Trust, one of the emirates kingmakers said the bandits reached out to them to demand N200 million.

According to him, negotiation was ongoing.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported the abduction of the traditional ruler on Sunday.

A resident, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on the development, said, the whole community is in celebration mood.

 We are happy our king is released. We pray the remaining of his family members return safely.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday said he would not be a party to any bill that sought to gag media practitioners.

Mr Gbajabiamila made the assertion at an award ceremony tagged Recognising Good Governance and Legislative Excellence in the Face of Adversity, in Abuja.

The speaker was reacting to calls to expunge the Press Council Bill which sought to regulate activities of media practitioners.

I will not be part of any bill that will seek to gag the press, no bill will come to the floor of the house that seeks to gag the press because the press is supposed to be the voice of the people.

However, there is press freedom and there is freedom of expression; it is important for Nigerians to listen to one another and understand each other so that we can make progress as a nation.

There is nowhere in the world where freedom of expression in absolute, freedom of expression is limited to the extent that it does not affect another persons freedom.

That is made abundantly clear in the Constitution itself. If you go to section 45, it states the freedom of expression you have is limited for sake of security, it is written in black and white.

Mr Gbajabiamila, however, said he was worried because whenever the National Assembly tried to make laws with the best of intentions, everybody descended on the parliament even without asking questions.

The speaker said he had directed proponent of the Press Council Bill to engage stakeholders and resolve grey areas, but the report he got was that they wanted the bill thrown out completely.

He said NGOs, religious bodies, social media and professors in the universities did not want to be regulated, saying that everybody just wanted to have a free range.

Mr Gbajabiamila said that people wanted good governance, but do not want to be regulated, stressing that regulation was a key component of good governance.

We cannot let every institution run amok, the executive is regulated, the judiciary to a large extent is regulated, the legislature is regulated; institutions are meant to be regulated, there is not one institution that is above the law.

Especially an institution that is meant to be the fourth Estate of the Realm, whose utterances or writing can make or break even a government, he said.

The speaker said that if the key sector refused to be regulated, there may be crisis, saying that as a result of media content, marriages have broken, businesses destroyed, countries ruined.

Earlier, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT branch, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said that gagging the media might not augur well for the nations democracy.

He said that all Nigerians were beneficiaries of the struggles against dictatorship in the country.

According to him, when politicians fled, the journalists had nowhere to run so they stayed back, went underground to brave the odds.

Media houses were closed, some of us paid the supreme price so that democracy can thrive.

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If we survive dictators in the past, I persuade that we will survive every attempt to stifle or repress to gag and to place a stranglehold on the constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press and expression in this country, he said.

Recipients of the awards of excellence included, Mr Gbajabiamila, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Governor Diri Douye of Bayelsa and Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

Others were, Governor Umara Zulum of Borno, Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and Central Bank Governor (CBN) Godwin Emefiele among others.

(NAN)
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, ordered, on Monday, that a N1 billion libel suit filed against Lauretta Onochie, President Muhammadu Buharis personal embattled assistant on new media, will continue with or without her defence on October 18.

The suit was instituted against Ms Onochie by the senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, Peter Nwaoboshi, alleging that Ms Onochie defamed him by accusing him of fraud via her Facebook and Twitter handles last year.

Mr Nwaoboshis lawyer, Andrew Abogede, noted Ms Onoiches absence from court, while addressing the judge, Yusuf Halilu, on Monday.

The lawyer said Ms Onochie stayed away from court despite the fact that the courts order for substituted service on her had been complied with and hearing notices duly served on her.

He then urged the court to allow the claimant to proceed with the case.

Ruling

In his ruling, the judge held that there was clear evidence in the courts file that the defendant was duly served with the originating processes and hearing notice.

The defendant has a choice of attending court and cannot be forced to be in court. Once service is effected on a defendant, such a defendant has a choice whether to attend court or not, the judge said in response.

However, a defendant is bound by the decision of the court once there is evidence of service on him (her).

I have seen that the defendant has been served and we cant continue to wait for her. The defendant shall be put on notice on the next hearing date, Mr Halilu said.

The judge, thereafter, ordered the claimant to serve hearing notice on the defendant through substituted means and adjourned the case to October 18 for hearing.

The suit

Mr Nwaoboshi said in his suit that Ms Onochie maligned him by claiming in her social media posts that he cornered Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) funds meant for execution of contracts.

He said the alleged defamatory statements were contained in an article she posted/published on her Facebook page (Lauretta Onochie) captioned, NDDC- THE CHICKEN COMES HOME TO ROOST on June 8, 2020.

Prayers

The claimant is urging the court to declare that the defendants post/publication of June 8, 2020, posted/published on her Facebook page Lauretta Onochie captioned: NDDC: The Chicken Comes Home To Roost, amounts to libel.

An order of this Honourable Court awarding the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (one billion naira) only, to the claimant as general damages against the defendant.

An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, her agents, servants, privies and any other person howsoever described, acting for and on her behalf, from further publishing/posting any other false and damaging publication in respect of the claimant.

Controversial INEC nomination

Meanwhile, Ms Onochie is one of Mr Buharis nominees as National Commissioner of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) awaiting the outcome of Senates screening exercise.

Her nomination for the top INEC job has been widely condemned due to her clear partisanship and a number of controversial claims many of them fact-checked to be untrue against opposition members.

Mr Nwaoboshi, who recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the time Ms Onochies statement he complained about was said to have been posted on social media.

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The Nigerian constitution clearly prohibits partisan persons from being appointed to hold INEC positions. Some civil society groups have filed a suit to stop her appointment to the sensitive position in the electoral body.

During her screening by the Senate last week, Ms Onochie said she resigned her membership of the ruling APC in 2019.

Her denial fell short of other pieces of evidence have emerged linking her to the party up till 2020.

A suit a libel suit she had initiated in 2016 in which he claimed to be a member of the APC and active in politics is still pending before a judge of the FCT High Court.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that she appeared in court in respect of the suit to adopt her statement on oath in February 2020, when she again declared to stand by her claims contained in it.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, on Monday dismissed as false, reports that the terrorist group, the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), is now in charge of the state.

He said this when he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the planned repatriation of over 200,000 Nigerians displaced by insurgency and residing in Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the closed door meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mr Zulum said the reports were not verified.

On the reported election of governor for Borno by the terrorist group, Mr Zulum dismissed the report, saying the claim remains unauthenticated, Im fully in charge of the state.

It would be recalled that a report had emerged about three weeks ago, claiming that members of ISWAP had appointed Abba Kaka as the governor of Borno, under a new restructured leadership by an interim council.

Mr Zulum, however, dismissed the report, saying: We are yet to validate the authenticity of this report that ISWAP has appointed a governor in Borno State.

So, as the governor of the state, I think its not right for me to speak on something that I dont have full knowledge of. This report is not authenticated. You have just seen somebody writing something in one of theI think its on Facebook or something like that.

Youre a journalist and I think we have to prove reports beyond reasonable doubt, before commenting on such reports.

As far as Im concerned, Im the governor of Borno State and I dont have any information that we have another government in the state. Yes. And Im very much in charge.

Repatriation

Mr Zulum also disclosed that the state government would on November 27 commence the repatriation of the displaced Nigerians, who were willing to return home because of the improved security situation in Borno.

I came to brief the president on the plight of Nigerians that are living in the Republic of Chad, Cameroun and Niger, especially the indigenes of Borno State, numbering over 200,000.

Now that we have started witnessing gradual return of peace to Borno, these people of Borno taking refuge in neighbouring countries are willing to return home.

Therefore, Borno state government has fixed a date of Nov. 27, 2021 for the commencement of their repatriation process, especially to two Local Government Areas of Abadam and Guzamala.

So, I came to solicit for the support of the President with a view to ensuring a hitch-free repatriation exercise.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs with its agencies; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Refugee Commission, as well as the North-East Development Commission and the Borno State government have the capacity to shoulder the responsibility for the exercise, he said.

Modalities are already being put in place to ensure the safety of the returnees, Mr Zulum said.

He said the Chief of Army Staff and heads of other security agencies had given assurances of adequate protection for the communities, where the returnees would reside.

(NAN)

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To get it right and for our democracy to flourish, our laws should reflect the will of the people and strengthen our democratic process. Our leaders, especially lawmakers, should realise that many of the laws they make today would go beyond their tenures, and even their lifetimes. So, it becomes imperative that the process of law-making should be covertly and overtly patriotic and devoid of partisan, ethnic or primordial sentiments.

Traditional wrestling in the southern part of Nigeria is intriguing and exciting. To the uninitiated, it would appear that there are no rules, but to those who understand it, there are standard rules that govern it. The electoral system in Nigeria is like the traditional wrestling common to most parts of Nigeria. To non-Nigerian observers, they could place a bet that rules do not govern elections in the country, but to politically discerning persons, they see rules governed by regulations that are observed in the breach. Everything Nigerian is unique, though often not properly documented as a model  Nigerian English, Nigerian Jollof rice, Nigerian movies, Nigerian democracy and maybe now the Nigerian Electoral Act.

Free and fair elections are the bedrock of every functional democracy, ensuring that government authority derives from the will of the people. It is crucial to put rules and regulations in place, that would guide elections to ensure they are free and fair. These laws usually take into consideration the socio-economic and political contexts of a particular environment. What would work in Sokoto may not work in Shokoto. Agreed, no law is perfect, and none would completely curb electoral malpractices. Human beings, especially political actors, always have the ability and ingenuity to develop strategies to undermine a rule, however iron cast it looks. Subverting an election is not entirely an African or Third World thing.

Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria has been experimenting with different sets of laws meant to enhance the process and credibility of our elections. The latest chapter of this tinkering is the proposed Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2020, currently in consideration at the National Assembly. There are speculations that the original recommendations of the Joint Technical Committee, co-Chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) committee in the Senate and Honourable Aisha Dukku of Electoral Matters Committee in the House of Representatives, may have been tampered with, especially the provisions on the electronic transmission of results and limits to political campaign finance.

According to some of the members of the Joint Technical Committee, Clause 50(2) of the Committees report gave INEC the power to determine the procedure for conducting elections, including if it chooses, the electronic transmission of results. The members expressed shock, like the rest of the country, that its report was apparently tampered with, and words have been substituted in the said Clause 50(2), which now outlaws the transmission of election results by electronic means in an outright manner. The disputed Clause 50(2) has now been made to read, as follows: Voting at an election under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedures determined by the commission, which may include electronic voting provided that the Commission shall not transmit results of the election by electronic means.

The Southern Governors Forum, in its meeting held last week in Lagos, rejected the removal of the electronic transmission of results clause from the Electoral Bill, as well as the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.

The hue and cry of Nigerians over the purported attempt to exclude electronic voting and transmission of results from our electoral law have been deafening. And there is palpable fear amongst Nigerians that were this to succeed, it may mean that the 2023 general elections will be characterised by the flaws that have become the recurring decimal in Nigerias polls since 1999.

The electronic transmission of election results has been an issue in Nigerias elections for some time now. The opponents of this measure have cited, amongst other issues, the poor state of our infrastructure and the ability of hackers and fraudsters to manipulate results when they are transmitted electronically. They point out that the electronic voting process was never part of the Electoral Act of 2010, as amended, and that even the card reader has never been part of the Act.

If the above insertion of the strange clause 50(2), outlawing the electronic transmission of results, passes, the implication is that we are on a backward movement. The original idea behind INEC adopting the electronic transmission of results, as seen in the past Edo election, is to advance our electoral process to electronic voting. E-voting is no rocket science, and in this age of invention, we do not need to re-invent the wheel. Developed countries such as United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, and developing countries like India, Venezuela, and the Philippines, have all adopted and are using the full compliments of e-voting. On the other hand, paper ballots, manual counting, manual collation, and the hand carrying of results represent some of the most significant challenges that have affected the sanctity of elections in our part of the world and made a mockery of democracy. It leads to a lot of contestations and creates a dilemma in terms of whose result is original. The e-compilation and e-transmission of results will strengthen our faith in the electoral system and, by extension, democracy. After all, the essence of democracy is the sanctity of votes. If the ballot is open to contestation, then it does not breed trust.

The contentious nature of our elections has made Nigerians question if they represents the wishes and aspirations of our people. Any act that further depletes trust in the electoral system is an invitation to anarchy and may lead to the death of democracy as we know it today. Due to contentions about the nature and authenticity of election results, the courts now play a more significant role in deciding who is the winner of an election, denying the people the right to free choice. In recent times in our country, the courts gave some judgements that put people in office who, in the real sense, did not participate in the electoral process. A rejection of the electronic transmission of results and a return to the manual mode of transmission is a return to everything wrong with elections in Nigeria. For all we care, we might, as well, legalise electoral violence, ballot paper snatching, the stuffing of ballot boxes, writing of results in individual homes and multiple results, if we are to go back to manual and analogue electoral practices and processes.

The hue and cry of Nigerians over the purported attempt to exclude electronic voting and transmission of results from our electoral law have been deafening. And there is palpable fear amongst Nigerians that were this to succeed, it may mean that the 2023 general elections will be characterised by the flaws that have become the recurring decimal in Nigerias polls since 1999. Some Nigerians perceive it as an elite conspiracy to ensure that Nigeria fails as a country.

I interprete the clause seeking to exclude the electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Bill 2020 as setting the grounds for cheating in future elections, as we saw in some states in 2015 and 2019. If there is anything we owe the future generation of Nigerians, it is an electoral system representing their aspirations and allowing them to elect the kind of leaders they want. Nigeria should be on the same page with other civilised countries where the electronic transmission of results means that each stage of the electoral process is as transparent as possible. For most of us, even the accreditation of voters should be electronic, to curb the ongoing issues of multiple voting or overvoting.

when only the Federal High Courts are allowed to adjudicate on pre-election matters, we are likely to have an ugly situation where many cases would linger for a while, whilst waiting to be taken care of within the short period. And if we put judges under undue pressure to give judgments to meet up with time, this would lead to half-baked litigations and unsound pronouncements by the judges.

The second issue is the excessive monetisation of the electoral process. The proposal before the National Assembly is to move the limit of campaign expenditure for the presidency from N5 billion to N15 billion; the governorship from N1 billion to N5 billion; the Senate to N1.5 billion; House of Representaives to N500 million; State House of Assembly and Area Council Chairmanship to N50 million. The real challenge is in the monitoring of this expenditure cap and enforcement of the provisions of the relevant law when there is a breach. A clear case of the negative impact of monetisation in our politics can be seen in the alleged bribery of INEC officials to the tune of N360 million in the 2015 elections by a south-south governor. He did this knowing fully well that these corrupt officials can easily manipulate the system to his advantage. If electronic electoral processes are adopted, these types of assault on our electoral system will be minimised, if not completely eliminated. For many Nigerians, some of the manual processes in our elections are susceptible to manipulation, so there should be electronic accreditation using the card reader backed by law, the electronic counting of votes, electronic transmission, and the electronic collation of results.

Another area of concern is the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court. Understandably, the proponents of this rule want to reduce election-related litigation in the interest of our political class and our courts, which are currently overstretched. Many politicians in Nigeria suffer from the double jeopardy of losing elections after spending so much but equally of bleeding cash through endless litigation. A critical look at this provision of the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act will conclusively show that leaving the jurisdiction on electoral matters solely with the Federal High Court would not be the best for the country. It is a fact that most of the election cases in the country are time-bound and must be concluded within a brief period. As such, when only the Federal High Courts are allowed to adjudicate on pre-election matters, we are likely to have an ugly situation where many cases would linger for a while, whilst waiting to be taken care of within the short period. And if we put judges under undue pressure to give judgments to meet up with time, this would lead to half-baked litigations and unsound pronouncements by the judges.

Also causing some rumpus in the proposed bill is the removal of INECs power to review results declared under duress or in contravention of electoral laws and guidelines, as contained in section 65 of the proposed legislation. For many political analysts, INEC is to review results declared under duress to reduce the level of electoral malpractices that have become so common in our country, which demeans our electoral process and discredits our fledgling democracy.

This proposed clause in the legislation would require serious scrutiny as it has pros and cons. Forcing an electoral official to declare result under duress is a criminal offence; however the real challenge is in the enforcement of laws against criminality. We had a case in the last election in Imo State where an INEC Returning Officer lamented before the press that a Senatorial candidate had allegedly kidnapped him and forced him to announce his acceptable result. This example is quite deplorable and abhorrent.

To get it right and for our democracy to flourish, our laws should reflect the will of the people and strengthen our democratic process. Our leaders, especially lawmakers, should realise that many of the laws they make today would go beyond their tenures, and even their lifetimes. So, it becomes imperative that the process of law-making should be covertly and overtly patriotic and devoid of partisan, ethnic or primordial sentiments. Like the wrestling in the southern part of Nigeria mentioned earlier, electoral engagement rules must be clear to all, both the initiated and uninitiated. Electronic voting and transmission of the results are necessary and should be added to the Electoral Act.

Dakuku Peterside is a policy and leadership expert.
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It has become imperative to once again provide you an update on the coronavirus pandemic situation in Lagos State, and our ongoing response as a State Government.

Starting around the end of March, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos State began to wind down, and we began to enjoy some reprieve from the worst effects of the virus. This allowed us to further open-up the economy to allow the start of the journey towards full normalcy in our lives and the pursuit of livelihoods, after what has been a very difficult year.

The enemy is formidable  and opportunistic. It will only go as far as we allow it. Having triumphed over the first and second waves of the pandemic, we must now find within ourselves new reserves of energy to quell this emerging third wave before it snowballs out of control. Let me assure us all that victory over COVID-19 is much closer today than at any other point in our recent history. But we must persevere to see this victory.

Regrettably, in spite of the hard work and dedicated efforts towards sustaining the return to normalcy, over the last three months, we are now finding ourselves at what appears to be the start of a potential third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Lagos State.

From the beginning of July, we started to experience a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1 per cent at the end of June to its current rate of 6.6 per cent as at July 8. The rapid increase within a week gives great cause for concern. Also, within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at our isolation centres increased from an average of 1 per cent to 6 per cent. This is the new and disturbing reality that now confronts us.

But we must not be demoralised by this. We must instead resolve that we will not leave any stone unturned in our bid to effectively mitigate the third wave of this pandemic in Lagos State. As you all know, Lagos has been the epicentre of the pandemic since the start, and the way we manage it here has a significant impact and reverberating effect on the national outlook and outcomes. So, Nigeria is counting on us in Lagos State to be resolute in our stand against the virus.

We will continue to test aggressively. We will also focus on sequencing the samples we are collecting to ensure we are detecting and keeping track of the different variants in circulation. It is only by testing and sequencing comprehensively that we can collect the data required for informed decision-making.

Epidemiology Update

As at July 7, Lagos State had recorded a total of 60,202 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of this number, 55,135 have recovered in-community and 770 are currently being managed actively in-community. Over the course of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, about 4,382 patients have been admitted into our various COVID-19 care centres in Lagos, with 357 registered fatalities. In all, we have tested 563,679 samples in Lagos State since the pandemic started. Today we have 30 accredited testing centres, 26 private and four public health laboratories in the State; a significant improvement in capacity over the course of the past year.

Accredited Health Facilities

Let me make it clear that outside of the health facilities accredited for the management and treatment of COVID-19, and the EKOTELEMED programme, no other health facilities, whether public or private, are permitted to admit or attend to COVID-19 patients.

The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) is providing monitoring and surveillance and has been mandated to apply heavy fines and other punitive measures on all facilities found to be in violation of this.

Lagosians should desist from patronising non-accredited COVID-19 treatment centres and proprietors should also ensure that all suspected and confirmed cases are referred appropriately.

As of today, however, the percentage of residents of Lagos who have received two doses of the vaccine stands at a mere 1 per cent. We recognise that this is not adequate, and given the imminent third wave, and our priority to reduce COVID-19 related deaths, we are exploring all avenues possible to ramp up access to vaccination, so as to reach our herd immunity target of at least 60 per cent COVID-19 vaccination coverage

Vaccine Distribution and Access

One of the major tenets of our mitigation strategy against the third wave is our vaccination campaign, similar to those in other parts of the world. It has been observed by various credible studies that those who have received their vaccines have demonstrated significant resistance to the effects of the virus, with fewer associated complications and deaths.

As of today, however, the percentage of residents of Lagos who have received two doses of the vaccine stands at a mere 1 per cent. We recognise that this is not adequate, and given the imminent third wave, and our priority to reduce COVID-19 related deaths, we are exploring all avenues possible to ramp up access to vaccination, so as to reach our herd immunity target of at least 60 per cent COVID-19 vaccination coverage of the population of Lagos State. We are confident that we will be getting a second batch of vaccines very soon, to kick-start the second phase of vaccinations.

Travel Protocols for in-Bound Passengers

Between May 8 and July 7, a total of 50,322 passengers of interest arrived in Lagos via the Murtala Mohammed Airport. Of the 50,322 passengers, 18 per cent could not be reached by EKOTELEMED because of the provision of either wrong numbers or wrong Nigerian contact details to be reached on.

It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure they provide the right details for us to reach them for proper monitoring. Going forward, passengers that do not provide the right details, including a phone number they can be reached for monitoring and an address for isolation, will face serious sanctions, including fines and imprisonment, according to our Lagos State Coronavirus Law of 2021.

Sanctions Against Quarantine Defaulters

As dictated by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), passengers from red-listed countries (India, South Africa, Brazil and Turkey) are required to observe mandatory isolation. So far, we have successfully isolated 2,386 passengers in Lagos State. Of this number, 15 per cent have absconded.

The following sanctions are being recommended and have already been meted out to defaulters:

 For Foreigners: Revocation of their Permanent Residency, and deportation; and

 For Nigerians: Prosecution to the full extent of the Lagos State COVID-19 Law.

Religious Activities

Greater vigilance is required at this time in our churches and mosques and other places of religious worship. Even as we are pleased that religious houses are now open for worship, after the lengthy closures of 2020, we must not allow ourselves to be carried away by the illusion that all is now back to normal. This is especially critical, as Sallah approaches, in a little over a week from now.

The festivities will no doubt bring people together in large numbers and create conditions that can sadly cause the spread of the coronavirus. We must not allow this to happen.

After almost 18 months of daily confronting this virus, it is understandable that many are tired and want their old, pre-pandemic lives to return. Unfortunately, we do not have a choice in this regard, and fatigue is not an option. We cannot afford to be tired, frustrated or distracted.

For this reason, we are mandating full compliance with all protective protocols. Compulsory use of masks in all public places, social distancing, temperature checks, provisions for hand-washing and sanitisers, and a maximum of 50 per cent occupancy in enclosed spaces.

Resisting Pandemic Fatigue

Whilst both the Federal and State Governments have a huge role to play in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the responsibility of managing the third wave ultimately belongs to all of us.

Without the cooperation of the public at large, we stand the risks of losing both lives and livelihood, on a devastating scale. Therefore, I would like to once again reiterate that this is not the time to get tired or complacent. Instead, we must be re-energised to battle this invisible and seemingly relentless enemy.

After almost 18 months of daily confronting this virus, it is understandable that many are tired and want their old, pre-pandemic lives to return. Unfortunately, we do not have a choice in this regard, and fatigue is not an option. We cannot afford to be tired, frustrated or distracted.

The enemy is formidable  and opportunistic. It will only go as far as we allow it. Having triumphed over the first and second waves of the pandemic, we must now find within ourselves new reserves of energy to quell this emerging third wave before it snowballs out of control. Let me assure us all that victory over COVID-19 is much closer today than at any other point in our recent history. But we must persevere to see this victory. We must maintain our vigilance, even as we ramp up the vaccination coverage.

At this point, I would like to thank all the members of the Incident Command Structure for their resilience in the management of this never-ending pandemic, and also the Federal Government, through the Presidential Steering Committee, for all their support and collaboration.

Lagos State will continue to work with all our partners, across government and the private sector, to ensure that we permanently triumph over this virus. We will not rest until this is achieved.

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos, is the States COVID-19 Incident Commander.
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A Badagry Magistrates Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced a 40-year-old unemployed graduate, Lawrence Akpato, to two weeks of community service for stealing two telephones valued at N100,000.

The police charged Mr Akpato with a two-count of criminal stealing and breach of the peace.

Magistrate Lazarus Hotepo sentenced the defendant after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

He said the unpaid work would last for two hours each day for 14 days.

Mr Hotepo dismissed the charge of breach of public peace for lack of evidence.

The magistrate warned the convict to desist from crimes and be of good behaviour.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that the convict committed the offences on July 2, at the Okokomaiko Police Station, Lagos.

Mr Adeosun, a police inspector, noted that the convict stole a Samsung and Tecno phones valued at N100,000 at the Okokomaiko Police Station, belonging to one John Afolarin, a sergeant.

He said the convict also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 287 and 168 of the Criminal Code, Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Mr Akpato pleaded for mercy, adding that his four children would suffer if he was jailed. (NAN)
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Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 73F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Global automotive camera shipments are expected to surpass 300 million units by 2025, reaching $25B in revenue according to separate studies by Yole Developpement and Global Market Insights . Industry growth will continue to be fueled by increasing concerns regarding vehicle and passenger safety across the globe coupled with accelerating technological advancements in camera-based advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In parallel, trucks are making great progress towards autonomy as their large size provides a better platform for computing and an improved field of view for sensors. Unfortunately, vision  the most widely deployed component of the overall perception stack - is still hampered by performance issues in low light and poor weather conditions making SAE Levels 2 and above more challenging to support. In fact, urban car crash fatalities and fatality rates have been rising for over a decade in the United States.

Algolux's computer vision and image optimization solutions address the mission-critical issue of safety for ADAS and autonomous vehicles. Algolux is the first company to use computational imaging to design algorithms that treat the camera as part of the overall perception stack; a bold departure from the traditional siloed approach. This leads to the resolution of harsh cases such as low-light, low contrast, and obstructions for object detection, imaging, and geometric estimation. In addition, using physical camera models reduces training data needs by an order of magnitude. This results in Algolux technologies outperforming commercial solutions by as much as 60 points in mean average precision (mAP).

"We are thrilled to be taking this next step in the company's trajectory and to do so with the trust and support of outstanding investors. Algolux is actively engaged with leading OEMs, Tier 1s, and Tier 2s globally. The consistent theme is a desire from customers to significantly improve the performance of their driving and parking vision systems in even the most challenging real-world situations," said Allan Benchetrit, Algolux CEO.

"We fully expect that computer vision systems will be an increasingly important part of the future safety and functionality of vehicles, and a necessary complement to other sensors like LiDAR and Radar," said Louis Rajczi, Partner at Forte Ventures. "We understand that these camera systems must function in extremely challenging environments (low light, poor weather, glare) and believe Algolux has developed a world-class solution that provides exceptional performance in these types of conditions."

"We are proud to work with Algolux and to support its growth and innovation plans. Our participation demonstrates our desire to back Quebec businesses in strategic industries that are ready to drive economic development. We are confident that Algolux, which already stands out as a leading AI provider in the advanced vehicle market, will succeed and make its mark, both here at home and around the globe," said Guy Leblanc, President and CEO of Investissement Quebec.

Recently named to the 2021 CB Insights AI 100 List of the world's most innovative artificial intelligence startups, Algolux will use this funding to achieve the following three goals:

Accelerate adoption of Algolux's award-winning products across mobility markets

Grow its engineering and customer enabling teams to scale worldwide support

Expand to additional vertical markets enabled by camera applications

As part of the funding round, Louis Rajczi, Partner at Forte Ventures, and Alistair Mitchell, President at Generation Ventures have joined the Algolux Board of Directors. Alan MacIntosh, Board Partner at Real Ventures, will be moving to a Board Observer role.

Algolux is also announcing the appointment of Matthias Schulze as Vice President Europe and Asia. Schulze, an ADAS veteran with over 20 years of management experience, will help accelerate Algolux's go-to-market strategy. Most recently, he served as VP, Technology Management at Visteon. Prior to that, he spent over 29 years at Daimler AG in leadership positions related to autonomous driving, ADAS, and telematics. Mr. Schulze's long record of collaboration with the European Commission, the German Federal Ministries of Economics and Technology and of Education and Research, as well as the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport in Japan makes him the ideal fit to help Algolux expand its footprint in Europe and Asia.

About Algolux

Algolux is a globally recognized computer vision company delivering the industry's most robust and scalable perception for all conditions, addressing both existing cameras and new designs through cloud-based tools and embedded AI software.

Named to the 2021 CB Insights AI 100 List of the world's most innovative artificial intelligence startups, the company was founded on groundbreaking research at the intersection of deep learning, computer vision, and computational imaging. Our computer vision and image optimization solutions address the mission-critical issue of safety for automotive ADAS, autonomous vehicles, fleets, autonomous mobile robots, and smart city traffic video analytics.

Algolux is headquartered in Montreal, with offices in Palo Alto and Munich.

Learn more at algolux.com

For the latest news on Algolux, follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter and YouTube .

About Forte Ventures

Forte Ventures is a multi-stage venture capital firm that collaborates and co-invests with corporate strategic partners in technology companies across diversified industry sectors throughout the U.S. and Canada. Focus areas include Information Technology, Insurance Tech, Financial Tech, On-Demand Tech/Services, Mobility, IoT, Cybersecurity, and Industrial Technology. Initial investments generally range between $2-5 million and typically include participation from leading corporate strategic partners as co-investors. Forte Ventures has offices in Atlanta and Silicon Valley. For more information please visit www.forteventures.com.

About Drive Capital

Drive Capital is a Columbus-based venture capital firm that is focused on investing in the world's next generation of market-defining companies. The firm started in 2013 and raised more than $1B of funds to invest in startups solving important problems in large markets. Drive is an investor in more than 40 companies outside of Silicon Valley, including Root Insurance, Duolingo, Cyclica, ApplyBoard, and KOHO. Visit www.drivecapital.com to learn more.

About Investissement Quebec

Investissement Quebec's mission is to play an active role in Quebec's economic development by spurring business innovation, entrepreneurship and business acquisitions, as well as growth in investment and exports. Operating in all the province's administrative regions, the Corporation supports the creation and growth of businesses of all sizes with investments and customized financial solutions. It also assists businesses by providing consulting services and other support measures, including technological assistance available from Investissement Quebec  CRIQ. In addition, through Investissement Quebec International, the Corporation also prospects for talent and foreign investment and assists Quebec businesses with export activities.

About GM Ventures

GM Ventures invests in automotive-related start-ups that are developing advanced technology to be implemented in General Motors' vehicles, manufacturing facilities and operating businesses. We focus on key technologies that support our mission to drive innovation and impact the future of mobility.

About Castor Ventures

Castor Ventures enables MIT alumni to invest together in ventures connected to MIT alums. Castor Ventures raises a fund each year among accredited MIT alums, providing investors with portfolio of 20-30 companies diversified across sector, stage, and geography, co-investing alongside top venture firms. Castor Ventures is part of a family of funds under Alumni Ventures Group, one of the most active venture firms in the world. The fund is private, for-profit, and not affiliated with MIT.

About Nikon-SBI

Nikon and SBI Investment Co., Ltd. have jointly established a private fund to invest in venture companies to create new business, promote nurturing of such businesses, and realize business synergies as a mid/long-term plan. Nikon is deploying this new fund not only to existing businesses but also to pursue fresh business opportunities by investing in venture companies that can possibly play a future role, with a focus on Japan and North America as well as European and Asian countries.

About Generation Ventures

Generation Ventures is the venture arm of Generation Capital, a family office based in Toronto, Canada. Through Generation Ventures, they fund leading VCs in Canada, the US, and China, and make a commensurate amount of direct investments. Generation Ventures is managed by a multidisciplinary team that supports their active investment posture.

About Intact Ventures

Founded in 2016, Intact Ventures is the venture arm of Intact Financial Corporation and is focused on investing in companies redefining the insurance industry through innovative business models and new technology. Intact Ventures invests in Series A and Series B companies with early-stage financing.

Media Relations, Max Leblond - Marketing Manager, Algolux, 514-589-3933, max.leblond@algolux.com

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1571390/Algolux_Algolux_Closes__18_4_Million_Series_B_Round_for_Robust_C.mp4

Related Links

www.algolux.com



SOURCE Algolux Inc.
LONDON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Denmark is the simplest jurisdiction to invest in globally, according to the Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI), a report by TMF Group, a leading professional services firm. Norway and Sweden are just below the UK, ranking 51st and 52nd respectively out of 77 where Finland ranks 42nd .

The study analyses rules, regulations, tax rates, penalties, and compliance issues across 77 jurisdictions, accounting for 92% of the world's total GDP and 95% of net global FDI flows. In total, 292 indicators are tracked annually, offering data on key aspects of doing business, including incorporation timelines, payroll and benefits, as well as staying compliant.

The report finds that the Nordics is an attractive region for setting up and operating a business. Reasons include all four countries allowing organisations to make tax payments from foreign bank accounts. Additionally, opening a bank account from abroad takes between one and three months compared to up to six in The Netherlands.

There are differences within the region that explain the different rankings. When incorporating a business, a single body needs to be notified in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and two in Finland. The average time for incorporating private companies in Denmark is only one day, while in Norway and Sweden it can take up to three weeks, and up to one month in Finland.

When a company is setting up a local entity the number of authorities notified may vary. Denmark is the only Nordics jurisdiction where all relevant bodies are notified automatically. This means there is no need for manual filings with business authorities and the tax administration. Digital fluency, the possibility to submit important documentation in English, and the government's commitment to translating online services, are some of the other reasons that Denmark is the most business-friendly jurisdiction in the world.

Niels Didrich Buch, TMF Group's Head of Nordics, commented: "The overall placement of the Nordic countries is certainly satisfying. At a closer look, Denmark's ranking has been consistent throughout the years: it is a country that has heavily invested in digitalising its services, besides making them easily accessible to foreign speakers by translating them into English. The minimum level of bureaucracy required for multinationals is an expression of the very pragmatic and business-oriented attitude of the country. These factors, coupled with the attention to high living standards, make Denmark a strong candidate for business willing to start their expansion in the Nordics region".

Top and bottom ten 1. Brazil 68. Mauritius 2. France 69. El Salvador 3. Mexico 70. The Netherlands 4. Colombia 71. United States 5. Turkey 72. British Virgin Islands 6. Indonesia 73. Curacao 7. Argentina 74. Ireland 8. Bolivia 75. Cayman Islands 9. Costa Rica 76. Hong Kong 10. Poland 77. Denmark

For further information, please contact:

Giampaolo Arghittu, Global External Communications Manager, TMF Group

giampaolo.arghittu@tmf-group.com

T: +44 7983314989

Daniel Resendes, External Communication Executive, TMF Group

daniel.resendes@tmf-group.com

T: +55 11 9 7477 5453

About TMF Group

TMF Group is a leading provider of critical administrative services, helping clients invest and operate safely around the world. Our 9,100 experts and 120 offices in 85 jurisdictions worldwide serve corporates, financial institutions, asset managers, private clients and family offices, providing the combination of accounting, tax, payroll, fund administration, compliance and entity management services essential to global business success.

We work with 60% of the Fortune Global 500 and FTSE 100, and almost half the top 300 private equity firms, covering sectors as diverse as capital markets, private equity, real estate, pharmaceuticals, energy and technology.

TMF Group  we make a complex world simple.

www.tmf-group.com

SOURCE TMF Group
BOGOTA, Colombia, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spanish technology company Lleida.net (BME:LLN) (EPA:ALLLN) (OTCQX:LLEIF) has signed a three-year contract with Bancolombia (BVC:PFBCOLOM) (NYSE:CIB), one of Latin America's leading banks, to provide it with registered electronic signature services.

Grupo Bancolombia has more than 14 million customers, is Colombia's largest bank, and has a market share of 20 per cent of the Colombian banking market.

From now on, Grupo Bancolombia will use Lleida.net's services to sign contracts with collaborators, suppliers and clients, and expects to use them in the future to process product contracting, credit and collection management reliably.

The signing has been done through the subsidiary of the listed company in Colombia, Lleida SAS.

"Colombia has always been one of the main target countries in our international growth and expansion strategy. Signing of this important agreement with Bancolombia will allow us to serve one of the region's major players," explained Sisco Sapena, CEO and founder of Lleida.net.

The Spanish traded corporation - which provides services to banks such as Wizink, Bankinter, Banco Pichincha or Compartamos Financiera in Peru - has been working on a pilot basis with Bancolombia since March 2021.

The company, whose subsidiary in the American country dates back to 2014, expects this contract to represent 25 per cent of its total operation in the country in three years.

Similarly, Lleida.net has been granted three patents by the Colombian authorities and is the official provider of registered electronic contracting and notification services for 4-72, Colombia's postal services company.

In total, the company has already accumulated more than 200 patents granted by authorities in 64 countries worldwide.

Among the countries that have recognized the company's innovations are, in addition to the United States, the European Union and all its member states, Colombia, China and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Lleida.net was listed on the current BME Growth in 2015 and on Euronext Growth in 2018. At the end of 2020, it was listed on the OTCQX Best Market index in New York.

A few days ago, the company announced its intention to buy the electronic signature company Indenova, exceeding seven million euros. This company, precisely, has a team of 20 people in Colombia and has been operating in the country for years, which will further consolidate Lleida.net's operation in the region.

Contact:



The Paloma Project

Media, rpl@thepalomaproject.com

+356-7946-7486

SOURCE Lleida.net
Commenting on the occasion, QNB Group CEO, Mr. Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa, said: "We are pleased to announce the official opening of our first branch in Hong Kong, one of the most attractive markets in the world. As part of our Group's strategy to expand into strategically located markets with excellent infrastructure and a business friendly environment, we are planning to continue diversifying our sources of revenue and profit, particularly in the MEASEA markets."

As a newcomer to the market, QNB seeks to position itself as a reputable foreign bank to customers with trade and investment flows between Hong Kong, the Middle East, Africa, and Mainland China.

The Branch aims to facilitate cross border business with a range of corporate banking products and services, treasury and investments, foreign exchange solutions, syndication strategies, and project financing.

Hong Kong is the gateway for the Group's clients to Mainland China and wider Asia. It is a major trade hub accounting for USD 1,077.5 billion in imports and exports.

The Branch will work closely with the Group's global network, and particularly the Singapore branch and Shanghai representative office. It will advise QNB's clients in China on their outbound growth through Hong Kong as a base and will link with Singapore to cover South East Asia region.

In its keenness to become a leading bank in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia, the Group's presence in Hong Kong reflects its commitment to develop a successful market expansion strategy, through in-depth insight and understanding.

It is worth mentioning that QNB already has a presence in Asia, through branches in Singapore and India, a subsidiary in Indonesia, and representative offices in China, Vietnam and Myanmar.

The QNB Group's presence through its subsidiaries and associate companies extends to more than 31 countries across three continents, providing a comprehensive range of advanced products and services. The total number of employees is more than 28,000 operating through 1,000 locations, with an ATM network of more than 4,600 machines.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1571422/QNB_Group_Head_Office.jpg



Contact:

Hissa AlSowaidi

[email protected]

+974 44975725

Related Links

https://www.qnb.com



SOURCE QNB Group
MUMBAI, India, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ACS, Industries & Mines Dept., Govt. of Gujarat, Dr. Rajiv Kumar Gupta, on his visit to Dholera, along with the members of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, interacted briefly with the officials at Dholera and reviewed the infrastructural development and various ongoing projects in India's largest greenfield smart city.

Shri Hareet Shukla, IAS. Managing Director, Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd (DICDL) demonstrated the role of Dholera which will be significant in benefitting the potential business, creating a host of investment opportunities in the upcoming global integrated multi-modal logistics hub of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor. The discussion with the Hon'ble ACS highlighted the growth trajectory of the greenfield Industrial smart city's operational efficiency and various initiatives implemented to promote Ease of Doing Business and adoption of technology to improve the efficiency and quality of business at Dholera.

During the visit, Additional Chief Secretary, Dr. Rajeev Kumar Gupta, IAS, said, "The development of a greenfield industrial smart city at Dholera is an urban development vision to improve business and investments being sustainable and innovative. The city's holistic approach in the use of ICTs, the efficiency of urban operation, and the utilization & integration of new technologies is key to the creation of a truly industrial smart city that will meet the needs of present and future businesses."

On his visit to Dholera, the Hon'ble ACS briefly interacted with the industry members of the GCCI, State Bank of India, Torrent Power, and Tata Power and emphasized the smart city's self-sustaining and automated eco-system, where its economic growth will be driven by industrialization, utility, logistics infrastructure and social infrastructure including education, healthcare, and other public amenities.

Commenting of the delegates and leadership visit at Dholera, Shri Hareet Shukla, IAS, Managing Director, Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd (DICDL), said, "We are thankful to the Hon'ble ACS for his peerless industry insights and anticipate to learn and discuss the growth vision of Dholera. We would also like to thank all the industry leaders and delegates from the GCCI and look forward to associating ourselves and adding extensive value to the potential business."

On Dholera's world-class infrastructure and multimodal connectivity, Shri Natubhai Patel, President, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, observed, "Dholera with its dedicated freight corridors, ports, international airport, and six lane expressways will make business and investments sustainable, efficient, economical and convenient. With the development of upcoming logistics Parks and Mega Industrial Parks at Dholera, it is an excellent choice for national and global companies looking to expand in the Indian market. Dholera has already become a key location for massive investment hub and is on course to become one of the finest greenfield industrial smart cities."

Shri Hemant Shah, Sr. Vice President, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "Dholera with its renewable, resistant & smart energy is industry ready, making it favourable for business. Its technological innovation will positively impact economic growth that contributes to urban development, making the city more livable and responsive. Furthermore, with its sustainable and resilient futuristic infrastructure, Dholera has huge investment potential for manufacturing and heavy industries."

Dholera, with its robust infrastructure, has already become a key location for massive business as well as urban development as the region is envisioned to be a building block of global Gujarat.

About Dholera

The Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) is a major Greenfield Industrial Hub planned and located approximately 100km south of Ahmedabad and 130km from the State Capital Gandhinagar. The project as envisaged will be the first initiative from National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) to create a linear zone of industrial clusters and nodes to be developed in the influence area of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).

DSIR has been planned over an extensive area of land measuring approximately 920sqkm and encompassing 22 villages of Dholera Taluka in the Ahmedabad District. This will be by far the largest of investment nodes planned along the influence of DFC in the DMIC region. This node is strategically located between the industrial cities of Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat and Bhavnagar urban agglomerations. The nearest international airport is at Ahmedabad and Government of Gujarat through the Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL) has plans to develop another international airport in the north-east of the proposed investment region. NICDC Limited with support of DSIRDA, plan to create an economically and socially balanced new-age City with world class infrastructure and highest quality-of-life standards and sustainability in the urban form. This new age city aims to have a sustainable urban transportation system within and mobile/ efficient regional connectivity with neighboring cities and the rest of the country.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Mumbai:

Rudranil Sengupta

Tel: +91 7045464142/ +91 9004667447

e-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE The Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- All Real Nutrition is a health food company nestled in the heart of Kerry, Ireland. The brand is committed to using the resources of its home country  such as grass-fed milk and Atlantic Sea salt  to create quality snacks that make a genuine impact on its customer community. From protein to fiber, low sugar, whole food ingredients, and iconic Irish dairy, the brand's protein bars answer a plethora of health needs for consumers from all walks of life.

All Real Nutrition was created out of a desire to create a protein option that was as healthy as it was effective, as tasty as it was satisfying. In other words, the brand was aiming to create a health food snack that could compete in a market saturated with synthetic ingredients and unhealthy, sugar-filled alternatives.

This desire led company founder Niall Harty to embark on an ambitious journey. This started with hundreds of different experimental takes on a protein bar that only used natural ingredients, many of which were sourced right from the local lush green farmland and nearby Atlantic Ocean. Among other things, dates, nuts, honey, and grape juice were added to the mix. Critically, the formula was also centered on grass-fed Irish milk (the same ingredient used in Kerrygold Butter) as well as sea salt that was harvested from the Atlantic.

Each trial brought the nutritional entrepreneur closer to his goal of the perfect all-natural protein bar. Eventually, Harty was joined by his co-founder Ross McDowell, and the pair of intrepid food warriors continued to test hundreds of further iterations of the formula. When the new partners finally landed on their ideal ingredient combination, they found that they had created what amounted to the ultimate natural snack bar. Their creation was a convenient appetite pleaser that boasted a swiss army knife-like bevy of benefits.

All Real Nutrition protein bars are soft, smooth, and delicious  largely thanks to the silky texture provided by the Irish milk. At the same time, they manage to deliver a nutritional punch that includes a whopping 20g of protein per serving. They also hit daily fiber requirements all while utilizing less than 12g of natural sugar per bar.

This amalgam of assets makes All Real Nutrition's protein bars a genuinely healthy snack solution that can answer many different needs. They can sate a snacky craving, fuel the recovery from a workout, or even function as a full-blown meal replacement.

The brand's growing selection of flavors has taken its home country by storm, as vendors have continued to sign on and stock its products in increasing numbers. All Real Nutrition is also capitalizing on its growing momentum by expanding to the vast US health food market, where hungry consumers are likely to welcome the incoming snack with open arms.

About All Real Nutrition: The All-Real Nutrition brand was officially launched in late 2020 after years of development. The company operates out of Kerry, Ireland where it has made its mark as the premier natural protein bar in the region.

Please direct inquiries to:

Conan Pittman

(954) 624-7246

[email protected]

SOURCE All Real Nutrition
NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amini LLC announced that the Appellate Division, First Department affirmed an award of summary judgment in favor of its client, GLCA Securities, LLC ("GLC"), against AGC Networks, Inc. ("AGC") for breach of contract, and further affirmed GLC's entitlement to its attorneys' fees for pursuing the lawsuit.

GLC and AGC entered into an agreement whereby GLC provided financial advisory and investment banking services to AGC with respect to its acquisition of a third-party entity. Over the course of several months, GLC advised AGC on the financing of the transaction, culminating in a successful $82 million acquisition. However, AGC refused to pay the financial advisory fees owed to GLC under their Agreement.

Represented by Lita Beth Wright and Noam Besdin of Amini LLC, GLC successfully moved for pre-discovery, partial summary judgment in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, avoiding the time and expense of the discovery process and securing judgment on liability against AGC. The court further awarded GLC its attorneys' fees and expenses pursuant to the agreement's indemnification provision. The Supreme Court did not reach a determination as to the amount of GLC's damages, however, referring calculation of that amount to a special referee.

AGC appealed both the liability finding and the award of attorneys' fees to the Appellate Division. GLC cross-appealed, arguing that while the award of partial summary judgment and attorneys' fees should stand, the trial court had erred in referring the calculation of GLC's damages to a referee because the calculation of that amount was straightforward under the Agreement and did not require a hearing.

In May 2021, the Appellate Division affirmed the lower court's grant of partial summary judgment to GLC and its entitlement to attorneys' fees and expenses for enforcing the parties' agreement. GLC also won its cross-appeal, with the Appellate Division vacating the trial court's reference of the damages calculation to a special referee, and ordering the trial court to enter judgment in GLC's favor pursuant to the terms of the contract.

In announcing the Appellate Division's decision, Lita Beth Wright of Amini LLC said, "We are pleased by the Appellate Division's decision. Our goal was to achieve a successful result for GLC and to ensure not only that GLC's rights to its hard-earned advisory fees were enforced, but that they were enforced as swiftly and cost-effectively as possible."

About GLCA Securities, Inc.

GLCA Securities, Inc. is a leading independent investment banking advisory firm focused on senior-level expertise, long term relationships and objective guidance. With approximately 50 investment banking professionals and offices in New York, Denver and San Francisco, GLCA Securities, Inc. provides conflict-free advice on mergers & acquisitions, capital raising and financial restructurings.

About Amini LLC

Amini LLC represents clients nationally in complex commercial disputes. The firm has prosecuted and defended a wide variety of claims involving contracts, bankruptcies, trade secrets, trademarks, corporate control, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder rights, business valuation issues, employment, covenants not to compete, business torts and professional malpractice.

Contact:

For Amini LLC:

Melissa M. Krantz

Krantz and Company

917-653-6716

[email protected]

SOURCE Amini LLC
Anomalous gold and arsenic values have been returned from initial auger (Hilti) drilling of tills located up the interpreted glacial flow direction from gold-bearing boulders on the Rotjarnen claim (Figure 2). Gold values ranged from below detection limit to 110 parts per billion ("ppb") whilst arsenic values, an important pathfinder element in orogenic gold systems, ranged from below detection limit to 40 parts per million ("ppm"). A follow-up auger drill program will be initiated in late-July to continue exploration efforts to the northwest, towards an area where historical scout drilling appears to have targeted gold deposits within a major flexure in a regional structural corridor.





A detailed review of historical scout drilling completed approximately 5km to the NW of the gold-mineralized boulder field at Rotjarnen is underway (Figure 3). A total of 15 scout holes were completed between 2003 and 2013 by third-parties and targeted gold mineralization in a major regional flexure interpreted from airborne magnetic data. Drilling intersected calc-silicate alteration and anomalous gold values in meta-greywacke, although the low tenor of the gold mineralization intersected (best intercept reported as 3m @ 0.19 grams/tonne Au) suggests that the source of the boulder field was not located.





@ 0.19 grams/tonne Au) suggests that the source of the boulder field was not located. Regional reconnaissance-level Bulk Leach Extractable Gold ("BLEG") sampling continues over the remainder of Southern Gold Line, with >50% of the property having been covered to date. The BLEG sampling program will assist with the prioritization of areas for further detailed field evaluation and potential drill target definition.





Planning for a high-resolution drone magnetic survey over key target areas on the Southern Gold Line property is also well advanced.





Experienced local geologist Louise Lindskog has been appointed to manage Capella's exploration programs at the Southern Gold Line.

Eric Roth, Capella's President and CEO, commented today: "I am very pleased to be reporting these positive exploration results from our Southern Gold Line project, in addition to welcoming Louise Lindskog aboard as manager of our exploration activities going forward. Our summer 2021 work program will include further auger drilling at Rotjarnen, where we continue to vector in to the source of the gold-mineralized boulders, as well as regional reconnaissance programs over the remainder of the district-scale property. Given the large property size and the need to complete systematic exploration programs, this will be a busy summer for the field crews and is expected to lead to the definition of targets for discovery drilling in 2022."

Figure 1. Location of the Southern Gold Line claims in northern Sweden, with the three key target areas (Faboliden North, Faboliden South, and Rotjarnen) indicated.

Figure 2. Initial Hilti auger drill line (together with gold values) and the location of the gold-mineralized boulder field, together with the interpreted direction of glacial flow at Rotjarnen. Image background contains regional magnetic data.

Figure 3. Historical drill holes located approximately 5km NW of the gold-bearing boulder field and within a major regional flexure clearly identifiable from airborne magnetic data.

About the Southern Gold Line Project

The Company's Southern Gold Line project is located 100 km WSW of the regional administrative centre of Skelleftea in north-central Sweden, and consists of 500 square kilometres (50,000ha) of mineral claims located in the immediate vicinity of Dragon Mining Ltd's Faboliden development project and Svartliden gold mine1. Further to the north of Svartliden lies Agnico Eagle/Barsele Minerals's Barsele gold deposit (0.3Moz Au Indicated Resource and 2Moz Au Inferred Resource; Source - Barsele Minerals Inc. NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate dated February 21, 2019).

The Southern Gold Line concessions cover areas with similar geologic and structural settings to known gold deposits within the broader Gold Line belt (orogenic gold deposits located at, or near, granitoid-greenstone contacts). Host rocks to the gold mineralization are Paleoproterozoic in age.

Reconnaissance sampling and mapping programs are underway over the entire claim block, with Bulk Leach Extractable Gold ("BLEG") samples having been collected across portions of the licenses and showing multiple areas with enrichment of gold in stream sediments. Auger drilling is also underway on the southern Rotjarnen claim - where gold mineralized boulder trains have been identified on surface - and is expected to continue through summer 2021.

The Company acquired its 100% interest in the Southern Gold Line Project from EMX Royalty Corp (NYSE:EMX; TSXV:EMX) in late-2020.

1 References made to nearby mines and analogous deposits provide context for the Southern Gold Line project but are not necessarily indicative that the project hosts similar tonnages or grades of gold mineralization.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC)

Analytical work for auger geochemical samples is carried out by the independent ALS Laboratory Group ("ALS"; ISO/IEC 17025:2017). Auger samples are received and then prepared at ALS's facility in Mala (Sweden) using method PREP-41 (where samples are dried at <60oC and sieved to -180 micron/80 mesh), before being sent to their Loughrea (Ireland) laboratory for analysis using the low-level Au-ST43 method (gold by aqua regia extraction with ICP-MS finish). ALS's internal QAQC program is complemented by the Company's own internal blank/standard/duplicate program which includes every 30th sample being a field duplicate together with the regular insertion of blanks and certified gold standards.

Qualified Persons and Disclosure Statement

The technical information in this news release relating to the Southern Gold Line project has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101, and approved by Eric Roth, the Company's President & CEO, a Director, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Roth holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Mr. Roth has 30 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation.

On Behalf of the Board of Capella Minerals Ltd.

"Eric Roth"

___________________________

Eric Roth, Ph.D., FAusIMM

President & CEO

About Capella Minerals Ltd

Capella is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of quality mineral resource properties in favourable jurisdictions with a focus on high-grade gold and copper deposits. The Company's copper focus is currently on the discovery of high-grade VMS-type deposits within 100%-owned, district-scale land positions around the past-producing Lkken and Kjli copper mines in central Norway. The Company's precious metals focus is on the discovery of high-grade gold deposits on its 100%-owned Southern Gold Line Project in Sweden, in addition to its active Canadian Joint Ventures with Ethos Gold Corp. at Savant Lake (Ontario) and Yamana Gold Inc. at Domain (Manitoba). The Company also retains a residual interest (subject to an option to purchase agreement with Austral Gold Ltd) in the Sierra Blanca gold-silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

Field activities are ongoing on all projects, with the primary focus being to advance priority targets through the permitting process and onwards to drilling and discovery.

The Company also holds marketable securities in Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSXV:CERT; 833,334 common shares) and Ethos Gold Corp. (TSXV:ECC; 2 million common shares), providing Capella shareholders with indirect exposure to both exploration and operational success by these Companies.

Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of Capella, including the timing, completion of and results from the exploration and drill programs described in this release. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Capella in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Capella's most recently filed MD&A. Capella does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Capella Minerals Limited

Related Links

www.newdimensionresources.com


TEMPE, Ariz., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MaxorPlus has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by Arizona Top Workplaces Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and connection.

"We are proud to have our Tempe office honored as 2021 Top Workplace," said Jen Gallego, President, MaxorPlus. Tweet this MaxorPlus is a 2021 Top Workplace! Maxor National Pharmacy Services Company

"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."

"We are proud to have our Tempe office honored as 2021 Top Workplace," said Jen Gallego, President, MaxorPlus. "Our team showed great strength, compassion, and spirit during the past year of uncertainties and unique circumstances. They always put our members and clients first, and they showed amazing compassion and resiliency throughout it all. Thank you, Team Tempe, for always bringing your best every single day."

About

At MaxorPlus, we make pharmacy benefits work better for allleading to lower costs, better health and increased satisfaction. Our solutions deliver improved outcomes to our clients and members by building stronger connections, creating personalized health experiences and providing award-winning service. You can be confident that you've chosen the best pharmacy benefits partner for your business and for your members.

About Energage

Making the world a better place to work together.

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

SOURCE MaxorPlus; Maxor National Pharmacy Services, LLC

Related Links

www.maxor.com


STOCKHOLM, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bambuser today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Relatable  a Bambuser company ("Relatable") has entered into multiple new agreements for the provision of creative influencer marketing services. The agreements, signed with an American multinational computer software company and a European pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatological treatments and skin care products, have a total contract value exceeding $2.2 million (approx SEK 19 million).

Under terms of the agreement with the computer software company, Relatable will provide creative services to the company in several regions across the U.S. and Europe. The total contract value exceeds $1.7 million. The deal with the pharmaceutical skincare company covers services in Europe and carries a value of $500 thousand.

Said Kalle Mobeck, CEO of Relatable, "These new agreements are a testament to the trust that we've built with some of the world's largest brands. We've got some truly groundbreaking ideas, and now, as part of Bambuser, we are bigger, stronger and in the best position to service large, global accounts."

The acquisition of Relatable, first announced on May 17, 2021 and completed by May 31, 2021, strategically brings together core competencies and proprietary technologies for Live Video Shopping and influencer marketing. As a result, brands and retailers can better leverage livestream shopping at scale and drive business results.

This is information that Bambuser AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was sent for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out below, on 12 July 2021.

Contact information

Corporate Communications, Bambuser AB | +46 8 400 160 00 | [email protected]

Certified Adviser

Erik Penser Bank AB | +46 8 463 83 00 | [email protected]

ABOUT BAMBUSER

Bambuser is a software company specializing in interactive live video streaming. The Company's primary product, Live Video Shopping, is a cloud-based software solution that is used by customers such as global e-commerce and retail businesses to host live shopping experiences on websites, mobile apps and social media. Bambuser was founded in 2007 and has its headquarters in Stockholm.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/bambuser/r/bambuser-enters-into-multiple-new-agreements-totalling--2-2-million,c3383652

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Bambuser
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dover (NYSE: DOV) announced today that it will release second quarter 2021 earnings at 6:00 a.m. Central time (7:00 a.m. Eastern time) on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Later that morning, Dover will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Central time (10:00 a.m. Eastern time) to discuss these results.

To participate on the conference call, please dial 1 (866) 882-5865 (domestic) or 1 (678) 894-3017 (international), reservation number 3881296. Due to the expected number of callers, please dial in at least 15 minutes before the conference is to begin and ask to be connected to the Dover teleconference.

A link to the live audio webcast will also be available on the company website at dovercorporation.com. An audio replay of the conference call will be available from 12:00 p.m. Central time, July 20, until 10:59 p.m. Central time, August 3, by dialing 1 (800) 585-8367 (domestic) or 1 (404) 537-3406 (international). The access code is 3881296. Additionally, a replay link of the webcast will be archived on Dover's website for 90 days.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of approximately $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Fueling Solutions, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Refrigeration & Food Equipment. Dover combines global scale, operational agility, world-class engineering capability and customer intimacy to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 60 years, our team of approximately 24,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.

Investor Contact: Media Contact: Andrey Galiuk Adrian Sakowicz Vice President  Corporate Development Vice President  Communications and Investor Relations (630) 743-5039 (630) 743-5131 [email protected] [email protected]



SOURCE Dover

Related Links

http://www.dovercorporation.com


"The digital footprint of consumers continues to grow, and brands leaning into this evolution are the ones driving growth," said Kosta Kartsotis, Fossil Group Chairman and CEO. "Holly's extensive leadership and expertise in driving customer-centered digital transformations for retail brands during her time with McKinsey & Company will help Fossil Group cement itself as a digital-first retailer."

Holly brings more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing and retail to Fossil Group. In her previous role as a Partner at McKinsey & Company, she led the Omnichannel and Customer Experience practice for Retail in North America, advising global consumer companies on driving profitable growth. She brings a deep knowledge of customer-centered transformations, focusing on e-commerce and omnichannel growth, digital marketing, loyalty and CRM.

"What I am most excited about in joining Fossil Group is the company's orientation toward digital. More than a transactional focus, this is an opportunity to meaningfully grow and deliver on the promise of the company's brands," said Mrs. Briedis. "That, combined with the opportunity to work alongside a tremendously talented set of colleagues, makes me very excited to join Fossil Group."

In addition to her professional work, Holly is passionate about educational equity. She has served on the Board of Directors for both KIPP Miami and KIPP Texas Public Schools for the past six years. She was also a founding member of LaunchU, a Chicago-based educational nonprofit focused on improving college prospects and educational opportunities for underserved youth. She is also a graduate of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and received her undergraduate degree, with honors, from the University of Michigan.

About Fossil Group, Inc.

Fossil Group, Inc. is a global design, marketing, distribution and innovation company specializing in lifestyle accessories. Under a diverse portfolio of owned and licensed brands, our offerings include fashion watches, jewelry, handbags, small leather goods and wearables. We are committed to delivering the best in design and innovation across our owned brands, Fossil, Michele, Misfit, Relic, Skagen and Zodiac, and licensed brands, Armani Exchange, Diesel, DKNY, Emporio Armani, kate spade new york, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, PUMA and Tory Burch. We bring each brand story to life through an extensive wholesale distribution network across approximately 150 countries and 500 retail locations. Certain press release and SEC filing information concerning the Company is also available at www.fossilgroup.com

SOURCE Fossil Group, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.fossilgroup.com


VANCOUVER, BC, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - GoldMining Inc. (the "Company" or "GoldMining") (TSX: GOLD) (NYSE American: GLDG) is pleased to announce the results of updated Mineral Resource estimates ("MREs") on each of its 100% owned Titiribi Project ("Titiribi") and its La Mina Project, both located in Antioquia, Colombia.

Highlights:

Titiribi

Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 5.54 million ounces gold, and 1,061.2 million pounds of copper (434.6 million tonnes grading 0.40 g/t gold and 0.11% copper) (see Table 1);

Inferred Mineral Resources of 3.15 million ounces gold and 212.6 million pounds of copper (241.9 million tonnes grading 0.40 g/t gold and 0.04% copper) (see Table 1);

La Mina

Indicated Mineral Resources of 0.66 million ounces gold, 1.60 million ounces of silver and 150.5 million pounds of copper (28.2 million tonnes grading 0.73 g/t gold, 1.76 g/t silver and 0.24% copper) (see Table 2); and

Inferred Mineral Resources of 0.29 million ounces gold, 0.77 million ounces silver and 81.2 million pounds of copper (13.6 million tonnes grading 0.65 g/t gold, 1.76 g/t silver and 0.27% copper) (see Table 2);

Global Mineral Resources

Pursuant to the updated MREs, GoldMining's global aggregate of Mineral Resources totals (see Table 3 for details):

16.24 million ounces gold equivalent in the Measured and Indicated categories; and



16.17 million ounces gold equivalent in the Inferred category.

Alastair Still, CEO of GoldMining, commented: "We are very pleased to announce these updated Mineral Resource estimates for Titiribi and La Mina, both of which have been estimated using contemporary metal prices and cost assumptions. With estimated gold equivalent resources of 7.88 million ounces in the Measured and Indicated category and 3.62 million ounces in the Inferred category, this estimate re-affirms Titiribi's standing as a significant gold-copper deposit in our portfolio. At the same time, the updated estimate for La Mina provides a clearer view of the potential of the high-grade gold-copper porphyry deposits at La Cantera and the Middle Zone as we execute our previously announced preliminary economic assessments and refine plans for work programs in the second half of this year."

Mr. Still continued: "Our acquisition strategy has created a leading portfolio of exploration and development stage holdings (Titiribi, La Mina and Yarumalito) in the mid-Cauca belt, which is emerging as an attractive region for major mining companies as evidenced by recent investments by Newmont, Agnico Eagle Mines, Wheaton Precious Metals, and Zijin Mining. Additionally, as a result of the proximity of Titiribi and La Mina, located only 17 km apart, we believe we are positioned to capitalize on potential synergies and scale as we continue to advance our projects.

Our global gold equivalent Mineral Resources of approximately 16.24 million ounces in the Measured and Indicated categories and 16.17 million gold equivalent ounces in the Inferred category are an industry leading foundation upon which we will execute our plans to build additional value."

Titiribi Updated Mineral Resource Highlights:

Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 5.54 million ounces gold, and 1,061.2 million pounds of copper (434.6 million tonnes grading 0.40 g/t gold and 0.11% copper) (see Table 1);

Inferred Mineral Resources of 3.15 million ounces gold and 212.6 million pounds of copper (241.9 million tonnes grading 0.40 g/t gold and 0.04% copper) (see Table 1);

Compared to the prior reported estimate completed in 2016, which was not pit-constrained:

Indicated Mineral Resource tonnage has increased by 55.6%, while metal content for gold and copper has increased by 23.1% and 51.5% respectively due to changes in cut-off grade and metal price parameters;



Inferred Mineral Resources tonnes have increased 16.4%, while metal content for gold and copper have increased by 3.1% and 172.9% respectively due to changes in cut-off grade and metal price parameters;

The updated MRE utilizes a pit shell to constrain resources and takes into account updated operating cost assumptions and updated metal price assumptions, including US$1,600 /oz gold and US$3.25 /pound copper; and

/oz gold and /pound copper; and A total of 270 diamond drill holes, totaling 144,779 metres, have been drilled at Titiribi with 184 diamond drill holes, totaling 106,250 meters drilled at Cerro Vetas, NW Breccia, and Chisperos, the deposits which host the MRE.

The updated MRE for Titiribi utilized a 0.30 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade for near-surface mineralization. The MRE was pit constrained to establish reasonable prospects of economic extraction with an optimized pit shell using maximum pit slopes of 50. Cut-off grades were established by using an assumed US$1,600/oz gold price and copper price of US$3.25/pound copper; average metallurgical recoveries of 83% for gold and 90% for copper; average mining costs of US$1.60/tonne waste and, US$1.70/tonne ore; and average processing and general and administrative costs of US$6.80/tonne processed. Ordinary kriging was used to estimate gold and copper into blocks measuring 5 x 5 x 5 metres in dimension. Copper is included in the block models and MRE for Cerro Vetas, and although present at Chisperos and NW Breccia, it was not included in the resource estimate or cut-off grade estimations for these deposits.

Table 1: Titiribi Project Mineral Resource Estimate1-5 (effective date: June 14, 2021)

Deposit



Grade Contained Metal Cut-off Tonnes Gold Silver Copper Gold Eq Gold Silver Copper Gold Eq (g/t) (Mt) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) (Moz) (Moz) (Mlbs) (Moz) Measured Resources Cerro Vetas 0.30 85.00 0.39 - 0.15 0.62 1.06 - 285.60 1.69 Indicated Resources Cerro Vetas 0.30 254.40 0.35 - 0.14 0.56 2.86 - 775.70 4.57 Chisperos 0.30 60.40 0.48 - - 0.48 0.94 - - 0.94 NW Breccia 0.30 34.80 0.61 - - 0.61 0.69 - - 0.69 Total Indicated

349.60 0.40 - 0.10 0.55 4.49 - 775.70 6.20 Total Measured & Indicated

434.60 0.40 - 0.11 0.56 5.54

1,061.20 7.88 Inferred Resources Cerro Vetas 0.30 124.90 0.31 - 0.08 0.42 1.23 - 212.60 1.69 Chisperos 0.30 44.20 0.45 - - 0.45 0.64 - - 0.64 NW Breccia 0.30 72.80 0.55 - - 0.55 1.29 - - 1.29 Total Inferred

241.90 0.41 - 0.04 0.47 3.16 - 212.60 3.62

Notes: 1. Metallurgical recoveries are: 83% for Au, 90% for Cu. 2. The Au Equivalent equations are: AuEq (oz) = Au (oz) + Cu (lbs) *0.0022026 3. The specific gravity for each lithological domain ranges from 2.76 to 2.99 g/cm3 based on over 7,000 drill core specific gravity measurements. 4. Cut-off for Cerro Vetas is g/t gold equivalent; Chisperos and NW Breccia cut-offs are g/t Au. 5. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Titiribi hosts several gold-copper exploration targets in an historic gold mining district located in the Department of Antioquia about 70 kilometers southwest of Medellin, Colombia. Titiribi comprises a single mining concession covering an aggregate area of approximately 3,919 hectares.

The Titiribi Mineral Resources are hosted within the Cerro Vetas-NW Breccia-Chisperos complex as a bulk tonnage gold and copper porphyry deposit directly related to several interconnected Cerro Vetas diorite porphyry centers but also hosted in the immediate contact aureoles and adjacent breccias. Chisperos hosts intrusive and contact aureole mineralization. Mineralization hosted in the Cerro Vetas diorite porphyry is disseminated and fracture controlled. The principal metallic minerals are native gold, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and magnetite.

A second style of mineralization is gold-only mineralization developed in diatreme breccia in the NW Breccia and Chisperos zones. At NW Breccia, a separate diorite plug hosts gold and copper mineralization while the diatreme breccia hosts both gold-only and gold-copper mineralization. Similar to the NW Breccia, Chisperos hosts gold-copper mineralization in diorite plugs and dikes, gold-only mineralization in diatreme breccia, but also hosts substantial epithermal, lower-temperature generally gold-only mineralization (with sphalerite) within parallel to sub-parallel mineralized zones that are both stratigraphically and structurally controlled and hosted in a sedimentary-volcanic rock sequence.

The MRE disclosed herein for the Titiribi Project was prepared by Dr. Robert E. Cameron, Ph.D., MMSA 01357QP of Behr Dolbear and has an effective date of June 14, 2021.

The MRE updates and replaces the prior historic MRE of the Company contained in its technical report titled, "Technical Report on the Titiribi Project, Department of Antioquia, Colombia" dated effective September 14, 2016.

La Mina Updated Resource Highlights:

Indicated Mineral Resources of 0.663 million ounces gold, 1.602 million ounces of silver and 150.5 million pounds of copper (28.2 million tonnes grading 0.73 g/t gold, 1.76 g/t silver and 0.24% copper) (see Table 2);

Inferred Mineral Resources of 0.287 million ounces gold, 0.772 million ounces silver and 81.2 million pounds of copper (13.6 million tonnes grading 0.65 g/t gold, 1.76 g/t silver and 0.27% copper) (see Table 2);

Compared to the prior reported estimate completed in 2016, Indicated Mineral Resource tonnage has increased by 0.3%, while metal content for gold and silver have decreased by 0.8% and 0.3% respectively and copper has increased 0.2%;

Compared to the prior estimate reported in 2016, Inferred Mineral Resources tonnage has increased 9.1%, while metal content for gold, silver and copper have increased by 9.5%, 9.8%, and 9.8% respectively;

The estimate has been updated with metal prices of US$1,600 /oz gold price, US$21 /oz silver, and US$3.25 /lb copper;

/oz gold price, /oz silver, and /lb copper; The MRE utilizes pit shells to constrain resources at the La Cantera and Middle Zone deposits;

The total La Mina Project area comprises a database of 106 drill holes totaling 36,694 metres with 80 drillholes and 27,130 metres drilled within the two deposit block models at La Cantera and Middle Zone; and

The Mineral Resource estimate incorporates only La Cantera and Middle Zone prospects and does not include the La Garrucha prospect located approximately 800 m to the east.

Table 2: La Mina Project Mineral Resource Estimate1-6 (effective date: July 6, 2021).

Deposit



Grade Contained Metal Cut-off Tonnes Gold Silver Copper Gold Eq Gold Silver Copper Gold Eq (g/t) (Mt) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) (Moz) (Moz) (Mlbs) (Moz) Indicated Resources La Cantera 0.25 18.02 0.86 2.05 0.32 1.33 0.50 1.19 125.59 0.77 Middle Zone 0.25 10.22 0.50 1.26 0.11 0.67 0.16 0.41 24.94 0.22 Total Indicated

28.25 0.73 1.76 0.24 1.09 0.66 1.60 150.53 0.99 Inferred Resources La Cantera 0.25 12.03 0.69 1.84 0.29 1.12 0.27 0.71 78.19 0.44 Middle Zone 0.25 1.60 0.39 1.17 0.09 0.53 0.02 0.06 3.06 0.03 Total Inferred

13.63 0.65 1.76 0.27 1.05 0.29 0.77 81.25 0.46

Notes: 1. The Mineral Resource for La Mina is an in-pit constrained resource calculated using a Whittle-Pit algorithm with "reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction" using the following assumptions: 2. Metal prices of US$1600/oz Au, US$3.25/lb Cu and US$21/oz Ag;

Royalty of 2% NSR;

Pit slopes are 50 degrees;

Mining cost US$1.76/t, Processing cost US$8.10/t and G&A costs of US$1.00/t.



3. Metallurgical recoveries are: 90% for Au, 90% for Cu, and 30% for Ag. 4. Gold-equivalent grades were calculated using the following formula: AuEq = Au (g/t) + [Cu(%)} x {%Recoverable Cu / %Recoverable Au} x {Cu Price/Au Price} x 22.0462 x 31.1035] + [Ag (g/t) x {Ag Price/Au Price}]. 5. A density of 2.7 tonnes per cubic metre was used for tonnage estimates for La Cantera and 2.65 tonnes per cubic metre for Middle Zone. 6. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

The La Mina property consists of two concession contracts and two concession contract applications covering 3,210 hectares located in the Department of Antioquia, Republic of Colombia, some 51 km SW of Medellin. The Mineral Resource for La Mina incorporates the La Cantera and Middle Zone porphyry deposits located within 400 m of each other. La Cantera and Middle Zone constitute two of the four drill-tested mineralized porphyry intrusive and breccia bodies on the La Mina property. In both deposits, the intrusive centers are characterized by a series of porphyry stocks and related breccias that together make up porphyry copper-gold deposits.

Geologic volumes were used to constrain the estimation. Mineralization was estimated using the Inverse Distance Squared ("ID2") estimation technique for Middle Zone. Hard boundaries were also set such that only composites matching the respective lithology could be used as part of the estimation. Based on variography, ordinary Kriging was used to estimate grades in the block model at La Cantera. Gold, copper and silver grades were estimated into the block model. For each estimation run the block selection was restricted to within the respective lithology group. Hard boundaries were also set for estimations to restrict samples used; only samples matching the respective lithology group could be used for grade estimation. Grade capping of each metal has been used to limit high grade outliers for both deposits.

The MRE disclosed herein for the La Mina Project was prepared by Scott Wilson, C.P.G, of Metal Mining Consultants Inc. and has an effective date of July 6, 2021.

The MRE updates and replaces the prior historic MRE of the Company contained in its technical report titled, "NI 43-101 Technical Report: Belhaven Copper and Gold Inc, La Mina Project, Antioquia, Republic of Colombia" dated effective October 24, 2016.

Table 3: GoldMining Inc. Global Mineral Resource Estimate1-15.

Deposit Cut-off4 Tonnes Grade Contained Metal Gold Silver Copper Gold Eq Gold Silver Copper Gold Eq (g/t) (Mt) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) (Moz) (Moz) (Mlbs) (Moz) Measured Resources Titiribi5 0.30 85.00 0.39 -- 0.15 0.62 1.06 -- 285.6 1.69 Yellowknife6 0.5/1.5 1.18 2.12 -- -- 2.12 0.08 -- -- 0.08 Total











1.14 -- 285.6 1.77 Indicated Resources Titiribi5 0.30 349.60 0.40 -- 0.10 0.55 4.49 -- 775.7 6.20 Yellowknife6 0.5/1.5 12.93 2.35 -- -- 2.35 0.98 -- -- 0.98 Sao Jorge7 0.30 14.28 1.55 -- -- 1.55 0.71 -- -- 0.71 Cachoeira8 0.35 17.47 1.23 -- -- 1.23 0.69 -- -- 0.69 Whistler9 $10/t $25/t 118.20 0.51 2.19 0.16 0.79 1.94 8.33 422.0 2.99 La Mina10 0.25 28.25 0.73 1.76 0.24 1.09 0.66 1.60 150.5 0.99 Crucero11 0.40 30.65 1.01 -- -- 1.01 0.99 -- -- 0.99 Almaden12 0.30 43.47 0.65 -- -- 0.65 0.91 -- -- 0.91 Total











11.38 9.94 1,348.2 14.47 Measured and Indicated Resources Total











12.52 9.94 1,633.8 16.24 Inferred Resources Titiribi5 0.30 241.90 0.41 -- 0.04 0.47 3.16 -- 212.6 3.62 Yellowknife6 0.5/1.5 9.30 2.47 -- -- 2.47 0.74 -- -- 0.74 Sao Jorge7 0.30 17.58 1.27 -- -- 1.27 0.72 -- -- 0.72 Cachoeira8 0.35 15.67 1.07 -- -- 1.07 0.54 -- -- 0.54 Whistler9 $10/t $25/t 316.98 0.46 1.58 0.10 0.63 4.67 16.06 711.4 6.45 La Mina10 0.25 13.63 0.65 1.76 0.27 1.05 0.29 0.77 81.2 0.46 Crucero11 0.40 35.78 1.00 -- -- 1.00 1.15 -- -- 1.15 Almaden12 0.30 9.15 0.56 -- -- 0.56 0.16 -- -- 0.16 Boa Vista13 0.50 8.47 1.23 -- -- 1.23 0.34 -- -- 0.34 Surubim14 0.30 19.44 0.81 -- -- 0.81 0.50 -- -- 0.50 Yarumalito15 0.50 66.27 0.58 -- 0.09 0.70 1.23 -- 129.3 1.50 Total











13.49 16.83 1,134.5 16.17

Notes: 1. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant issues. 2. The above global resource estimate table is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent the viability of any project on a standalone or global basis. The exploration and development of each project, project geology and the assumptions and other factors underlying each estimate, are not uniform and will vary from project to project. Please refer to the technical report for each respective project, as referenced herein, for detailed information respecting each individual project. 3. All quantities are rounded to the appropriate number of significant figures; consequently sums may not add up due to rounding. 4. Gold cut-off based on g/t for all projects except Cerro Vetas (Titiribi) which uses g/t gold equivalent and Whistler, which is based on a NSR US$/t 5. Notes for Titiribi: Please see GoldMining Inc. Press Release dated July 12, 2021 for further information. 6. Notes for Yellowknife: Based on technical report titled "Independent Technical Report Yellowknife Gold Project Northwest Territories, Canada" with an effective date of March 1, 2019, and amended and re-stated on June 9, 2021 which is available at www.sedar.com under GoldMining's SEDAR profile. 7. Notes for Sao Jorge: Please see GoldMining Inc. Press Release dated June 1, 2021 for further information. 8. Notes for Cachoeira: Based on technical report titled "Technical Report and Resource Estimate on the Cachoeira Property, Para State, Brazil" with an effective date of April 17, 2013 and amended and re-stated October 2, 2013, which is available at www.sedar.com under GoldMinings SEDAR profile. 9. Notes for Whistler: Please see GoldMining Inc. Press Release dated June 21, 2021 for further information. 10. Notes for La Mina: Please see GoldMining Inc. Press Release dated July 12, 2021 for further information. 11. Notes for Crucero: Based on technical report titled "Technical Report on the Crucero Property, Carabaya Province, Peru" with an effective date of December 20, 2017, which is available at www.sedar.com under GoldMining's SEDAR profile. 12. Notes for Almaden: Based on technical report titled "Technical Report: Almaden Gold Property, Washington County, Idaho, USA" with an effective date of April 1, 2020, which is available at www.sedar.com under GoldMining's SEDAR profile. 13. Notes for Boa Vista: Based on technical report titled "Technical Report on the Boa Vista Project and Resource Estimate on the VG1 Prospect, Tapajos Area, Para State, Northern Brazil" with an effective date of November 22, 2013, which is available at www.sedar.com under GoldMinings SEDAR profile. 14. Notes for Surubim: Based on technical report titled "Technical Report on the Rio Novo Gold Project and Resource Estimate on the Jau Prospect, Tapajos Area, Para State, Northern Brazil" ("Surubim Project") with an effective date of November 22, 2013, which is available at www.sedar.com under GoldMinings SEDAR profile. 15. Notes for Yarumalito: Based on a technical report titled "Technical Report: Yarumalito Gold-Copper Property, Departments of Antioquia and Caldas, Republic of Colombia" with an effective date of April 1, 2020, which is available at www.sedar.com under GoldMining's SEDAR profile.

GoldMining will file updated technical reports for each of the Titiribi and La Mina projects within 45 days of the date hereof. Such reports will include additional information regarding the projects and the above MREs for each project.

Qualified Persons

Robert Cameron, Ph.D., of Behre Dolbear, who is independent of the Company, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information herein regarding the Titiribi Project.

Scott Wilson, C.P.G., of Metal Mining Consultants Inc., who is independent of the Company, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information herein regarding the La Mina Project.

Paulo Pereira, P. Geo., President of GoldMining Inc. has supervised the preparation of this news release and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained herein. Each of Dr. Cameron, and Messrs. Wilson and Pereira are Qualified Persons as defined in NI 43-101.

Notice to Readers

There is no certainty that any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted into a Mineral Reserves estimate. Disclosure regarding Mineral Resource estimates included herein have been prepared by the Company in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for public disclosure by issuer of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") generally applicable to U.S. companies subject to the SEC's disclosure requirements. For example, the terms "Indicated Mineral Resource" and "Inferred Mineral Resource" are defined in NI 43-101 by reference to the guidelines set out in the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. These definitions differ from the definitions in the disclosure requirements promulgated by the SEC. Accordingly, information contained herein or in the Company's descriptions of its projects may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies reporting pursuant to SEC disclosure requirements.

About GoldMining Inc.

GoldMining Inc. is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold assets in the Americas. Through its disciplined acquisition strategy, GoldMining now controls a diversified portfolio of resource-stage gold and gold-copper projects in Canada, U.S.A., Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of GoldMining with respect to its long-term strategy, proposed work and other plans and expected timing of PEAs and other reports for its projects. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which GoldMining operates. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: delays to plans caused by restrictions and other future impacts of COVID-19 or any other inability of the Company to meet expected timelines for planned project activities, including the timing of proposed PEAs and work programs; the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, fluctuating metal prices, proposed studies may not confirm GoldMining's expectations for its projects, unanticipated costs and expenses, risks related to government and environmental regulation, social, permitting and licensing matters, and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future. These risks, as well as others, including those set forth in GoldMinings Annual Information Form for the year ended November 30, 2020, and other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

SOURCE GoldMining Inc.

Related Links

www.goldmining.com


Top Web, User experience, graphics, logo, Illustration, print, Digital, Packaging Design at GoodFirms Tweet this

It's important to understand for the website owners that their website's design should reflect their brand, products, and services. Having a website design that expresses the cohesive brand of business makes it easier to navigate and provides a better experience for potential customers.

Online businesses might be aware that the users are very picky these days; they won't be pleased with only compelling and engaging content. That's why most companies are taking the assistance of the best web designers that can create user-friendly and responsive website designs that work quickly and look great.

At present, there is a huge demand for excellent web design services, and there is increased competition. It has made it challenging for the service seekers to meet the right partner. Therefore, GoodFirms.co has revealed the list of Top Web Design Companies globally known for providing intuitive & responsive UI/UX design for your website.

Take a Sneak Peek at List of Top Web, User experience, graphics, logo, Illustration, print, Digital, Packaging Design at GoodFirms:

Top Web Design Companies:

Unified Infotech, Caveni Digital Solutions, 3 Media Web, SmartSites, Bachoo, The Creative Momentum, LLC, Page Traffic Inc., Uplers, Brights, CodeBright.

https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/platforms/top-web-design-companies

Top User Experience (UX) Design Companies:

Brights, Cirkle Studio Pvt. Ltd., Seven Dynamic, Digints, FLuper Ltd, UIG Studio, Deventure, The Story Web Design & Marketing, Divami Design Labs, Design Den.

https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/services/top-web-design-companies/user-experience

Top Graphic Design Companies:

AMR Softec, Webdesign Discovery, Mandy Web Design, Auxesis Infotech, Technoloader, Siddhi Infosoft, Raindrops InfoTech, BMG Media, Boostbase Group, Mobcoder.

https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/services/top-web-design-companies/graphic

Top Logo Design Companies:

Next Big Technology (NBT), Webby Central, Designs Guru Studio, Sam Web Studio, Dedicated Developers, Netmaxims Technologies Private Limited, Xtreem Solution, Terasol Technologies, SEO Daddy Company, SAG IPL.

https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/services/top-web-design-companies/logo

Top Illustration Companies:

Lighthouse, CV Infotech, OTAKOYI, TechScooper, Socialkraft, Hashe Computer Solutions, Thames Infotech, Specscale, iCoreThink Technologies, BPS IT & WEB SERVICES PVT. LTD.

https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/services/top-web-design-companies/illustration

Top Digital Design Agencies:

WebFX, UPQODE, Master Creationz, Deventure, The NineHertz, Ateam Soft Solutions, Web Design Sun, Peiko, Chapter247 Infotech.

https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/services/top-web-design-companies/digital

Best Print Design Companies:

CV Infotech, Hashe Computer Solutions, Xonest Technologies Private Limited (OPC), Max Jaar, J2TMedia Web Solutions (OPC) Pvt. Ltd., V2STech Solutions Private Limited, Walkwel Technology, Phelix Info Solutions, Afritech Media, Rackron Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/services/top-web-design-companies/print

Best Packaging Design Companies:

Boostbase Group, Maven Cluster, Socialkraft, BrandLume, Pixelfly Innovations Pvt Ltd, Max Jaar, Mrmmbs Vision, Unicorn Technologies, Rackron Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Speedy Web Work.

https://www.goodfirms.co/directory/services/top-web-design-companies/packaging

Internationally recognized GoodFirms is a maverick B2B research, ratings, and reviews platform. It builds a bridge for the service seekers to associate with the most excellent partners. The research team of GoodFirms evaluates each firm through several qualitative and quantitative measures.

The research mainly includes three main factors that are Quality, Reliability, and Ability. Further, these components are subdivided into numerous metrics, such as verifying the past and present portfolio of each agency, years of experience in the expertise area, online market penetration, and reviews from clients.

Focusing on overall research, every agency is assessed and provided with a set of scores that are out of a total of 60. Hence, according to these points, all the firms are indexed in the list of top development companies, most excellent software, and varied sectors of industries.

Moreover, GoodFirms supports the service providers by asking them to engage in the research process and show evidence of their work. Thus, grab an opportunity to Get Listed for free in the list of top companies as per the categories. Obtaining the position at GoodFirms among the best service providers helps firms to expand their reach to new prospects globally, increase their productivity and sales.

About GoodFirms:

GoodFirms is a Washington, D.C. based research firm that aligns its efforts in identifying the most prominent and efficient web designing companies that deliver results to their clients. GoodFirms research is a confluence of new age consumer reference processes and conventional industry-wide review & rankings that help service seekers leap further and multiply their industry-wide value and credibility.

Rachael Ray

(360) 326-2243

[email protected]

SOURCE GoodFirms

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CHICAGO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Military Sensors Market By Platform (Airborne, Land, Naval, Munitions, Satellites), Application, Type, and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Rest of the World) - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market size is projected to grow from USD 9.9 Billion in 2021 to USD 13.2 Billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2021 to 2026. The military sensors market is growing at a significant rate across the world, and a similar trend is expected to be observed during the forecast period. Increasing demand for battlespace awareness among defense forces, ongoing advancements in MEMS technology, increasing use of UAVs in modern warfare, and increasing focus on weapon system reliability are fueling the growth of the military sensors market.

Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=267608019

"The gyroscope sub-segment is projected to lead the military sensors market from 2021 to 2026."

The introduction of MEMS-based gyroscopes has been a major point of innovation in the gyroscope technology. An increase in demand for high performance inertial navigation systems (INS) has fueled the growth of gyroscopes in military sensors market. The military aviation industry, which is one of the key consumers of inertial navigation systems, has been a major reason for the market growth and is expected to be a key driver for the global market. The increased adoption of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the defense sector will also play a major role in market growth. In June 2019, the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded a USD 4.4 million three-year contract to Vector Atomic (US) for the MDA Hypersonic Defense Component Technology program to design a micro-flatpack accelerometer-gyroscope sensor that will use hybrid integrated photonics. The company will develop and test a low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) navigation-grade gyroscope-accelerometer capable of navigating under severe acceleration, shock, and vibration characteristics of a hypersonic missile interceptor.

"Based on application, electronic warfare segment will register the highest growth from 2021 to 2026."

Significant technological advancements and integration of sensors and electronics in military equipment are resulting in a shift towards multilayered defense systems, which is expected to drive the electronic warfare segment in military sensors market during the forecast period. Adding to these factors, the increase in the use of UAV systems and the need for ground surveillance and communication jamming serve as opportunities for the electronic warfare segment. In March 2021, BAE Systems secured a USD 58 million contract to begin low-rate initial production of an electronic warfare system for F-15s to protect pilots from advanced threats coming over the electromagnetic spectrum. The contract scope includes multispectral sensors and countermeasures, signal processing, microelectronics and algorithms to deliver radar warning, situational awareness, geolocation, and self-protection capabilities.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Military Sensors Market"

200  Tables

44  Figures

256  Pages

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=267608019

"The North America is projected to lead the military sensors market from 2021 to 2026."

Significant investments in R&D activities for the development of advanced military power solutions by key players and increased demand for lightweight and energy-efficient sensors are some of the factors expected to fuel the growth of the military sensors market in this region. The US is expected to drive the growth of the North American military sensors market during the forecast period, owing to easy access to various innovative technologies and significant investments being made by manufacturers in the country for the development of improved health monitoring and warfare sensors. Several developments have taken place in the field of military sensors in the region.

Major companies profiled in the report include Honeywell International (US), TE Connectivity (Switzerland), Raytheon Technology (US), Lockheed Martin (US), Thales (France), Bae Systems (UK) among others.

Related Reports:

Aircraft Sensors Market by Connectivity, Platform (UAV, EVTOL, Fixed, Rotary), Sensor (Pressure, Temperature, Speed, Proximity, Gyro) Application (Engine, Door, Environmental Control), End Use (OEM, Aftermarket), Region - Global Forecast to 2025

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]

Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/military-sensor-market.asp

Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/military-sensor.asp

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasha Vosk, an expert on photorealism, just released a book that is unlike anything on the market. 400 YEARS OF NEW YORK HISTORY: A PICTORIAL GUIDE: Book 1: NEW YORK as NEW AMSTERDAM in the 1600s lets readers feel as though they had stepped back in time to experience the sights of New York City's past in a way that ordinary drawings, diagrams and photographs could never do.

Sasha Vosk Sasha Vosk

"Photorealism is a great way to bring history alive," says Vosk. "Whether you are teaching or learning American history or simply interested in New York's origins, or if you are planning a visit to this must-see metropolis, 400 Years of New York History: A Pictorial Guide will become your most welcomed companion."

Already translated into eight languages, the book represents the first of several cities in his Vosk Time Travel Series. The eBook is also available here, while the paperback edition can be purchased at Bookazine wholesalers, WORD Bookstores and https://vosktimetravelguide.com/book-formats/.

He chose New York to debut the series because of the role the city has played in the country from colonial times until today, for its cultural and financial influence and its popularity as a tourist destination.

In an interview, Vosk can talk about:

The rich history that lies buried beneath New York skyscrapers.

skyscrapers. The city's role in finalizing and celebrating the Constitution.

The city's political role as the first U.S. capital.

The "firsts" that took place in New York , among them the Erie Canal  U.S.'s western expansion, and Brooklyn Bridge.

, among them the Erie Canal  U.S.'s western expansion, and Brooklyn Bridge. How New Amsterdam's Netherlands roots influenced the young country on a path toward religious tolerance.

Praise for 400 Years of New York History

"If you've ever wondered how New York City became the financial and cultural center of the world, this is the book you've been looking for."  Charles Gehring, Ph.D., world's foremost authority on the Dutch period of New York's history, director, New Netherland Research Center

"Advanced computer graphics, complex 3-D terrain modeling, together with astute and highly accurate historical research have been brought together by Sasha Vosk to reconstruct the environment and daily life of the people of 17th century Dutch New Amsterdam. I love it!"  Joel W. Grossman, Ph.D., principal investigator and principal author of the archeological investigation in Lower Manhattan

"As a New York City principal, I believe a resource of this nature will benefit New York City student grades 5-8 especially in e-book format."  Maria Musullo, principal, MS 577

"Through the proposed photo-like images, the book will transport readers back in time. It's a significant step up from what's available now."  Andrew Luan, owner of New York Tour 1 and other New York travel brands

About Sasha Vosk

Sasha Vosk is a Brooklyn-based writer, director, and muralist who immigrated to New York 40 years ago from Russia. He has also been a stand-up comic, an Emmy-award-winning film producer ("Billy Crystal: A Midnight Train to Moscow"), Russian cultural festival promoter, and a producer of the Moscow Circus' worldwide tours. He is a New York history buff and has more than 30 years' experience using photorealism in illustration and mural work.

Availability: New York City, nationwide by arrangement and via telephone

Contact: Sasha Vosk, (347) 225-2574; [email protected] ; https://vosktimetravelguide.com

SOURCE Sasha Vosk
OSAKA, Japan, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., has obtained biomass certification for superabsorbent polymers produced by its subsidiary Nippon Shokubai Europe N.V. (hereinafter "NSE") from ISCC (*1) (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification), with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104641/202106286867/_prw_PI1fl_3PVDbDGH.jpg

Image: Diagram of the mass balance method

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104641/202106286867/_prw_PI2fl_hiQ001ch.jpg

SAP, the key material for disposable diapers, is mainly made from acrylic acid produced from propylene. NSE produces both acrylic acid and SAP. NSE has recently obtained ISCC PLUS certification (mass balance method (*2)) from ISCC for the production of SAP utilizing acrylic acid produced from biomass-derived propylene. NSE will establish a system to supply bio-based SAP in response to customers' requests. The quality of bio-based SAP is equivalent to that of conventional petroleum-derived products, and the use of bio-based SAP will contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions throughout the product life cycle.

In addition to bio-based SAP, Nippon Shokubai is engaged in the research and development of sustainable SAP that contributes to the reduction of environmental impact, such as biodegradable SAP and recycled SAP, which is separated from used disposable diapers and restored to almost the same level of functionality as new ones. The company will contribute to realizing a sustainable society by promoting these research and development activities.

Corporate outline of NSE

Company name: Nippon Shokubai Europe N.V.

Established: February 1999

Location: Antwerp, Belgium (headquarters and plant)

(headquarters and plant) Representative: Tomiyuki Sawada , President

, President Capital: 193 million Euros (100% owned by Nippon Shokubai)

(100% owned by Nippon Shokubai) Business: Production and sales of acrylic acid and SAP

Number of employees: 189 (as of September 30, 2020 )

Photo1: SAP Plant

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104641/202106286867/_prw_PI3fl_5D3Z0sjb.jpg

Photo2: Aerial view of NSE site

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104641/202106286867/_prw_PI4fl_5Z38gekp.jpg

Notes:

(*1) ISCC(International Sustainability and Carbon Certification): ISCC is one of the world's largest certification organizations, and is widely recognized in Europe and other parts of the world. It has a track record of more than 4,000 certifications in over 100 countries for sustainable raw materials, such as biomass and waste plastics, and recyclable products.

(*2) Mass balance method: When biomass-derived raw materials and petroleum-derived raw materials are mixed, the ratio of the biomass-derived raw materials used is assigned as the biomass ratio of the specific end product. For example, if 30% of the propylene used in the production of acrylic acid and SAP is bio-based propylene and the rest is petroleum-based propylene, the mass balance method can be applied to allocate 30% of the bio-based propylene to SAP. Therefore, biomass-derived and petroleum-derived raw materials can be manufactured up to completion of the final product without distinguishing between them, and the extent of contribution to reducing CO2 emissions during the life cycle of the product can be shown.

About Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan, President: Yujiro Goto)

Since 1941, Nippon Shokubai has developed its business with unique catalyst technologies. Nippon Shokubai has supplied, for example, ethylene oxide, acrylic acid, automobile catalysts, and process catalysts. Among these, its global market share of superabsorbent polymer is currently the largest in the world (according to the company's research in 2020). Nippon Shokubai is a global chemical company operating under its corporate mission of "Providing affluence and comfort to people and society with our unique technology."

https://www.shokubai.co.jp/en/

SOURCE Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.

Related Links

https://www.shokubai.co.jp/en/


MIAMI, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

-Cruise Line Recognizes 100 Exceptional Educators Across U.S. and Canada-

Norwegian Cruise Line announced its 100 Norwegians Giving Joy contest winners who have each won a free cruise and are now in the running to win up to $25,000 for their school. The Company will reveal the top three Grand Prize winners during Norwegians Giving Joy Awards event streaming live on Aug. 19, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT at www.NCLGivingJoyLivestreamEvent.com.

- Awards Ceremony Streams Live on Aug. 19, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT at www.NCLGivingJoyLivestreamEvent.com -

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 54-year history of breaking boundaries, today announced the 100 winners of its "Norwegian's Giving JoyTM" contest which recognizes extraordinary teachers across North America who bring joy to the classroom.

The 100 educators won a seven-night cruise for two and have the flexibility to select a sailing through summer 2023 on voyages embarking from U.S. and Canadian ports. To enhance the prize and reward students as well, the Company is awarding the Grand Prize winner a $25,000 donation for his or her school, while the second and third place winners will receive a $15,000 and $10,000 donation respectively for their schools. Recipients of the donations will be announced during Norwegian's Giving Joy Awards event on Aug. 19, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. The ceremony will be open to the public and can be streamed live at www.NCLGivingJoyLivestreamEvent.com and Facebook.

The Company is encouraging all students, teachers and communities to watch and cheer on the deserving educators and applaud them for their perseverance and unwavering dedication, especially during the last 16 months. To highlight the NCL experience, viewers tuning in will enjoy Broadway and West End caliber performances from "The Choir of Man" and many surprises along the way.

"After such a challenging year, we are so happy to provide these unsung heroes a well-deserved cruise vacation," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We have heard phenomenal stories about how these selfless educators are going above and beyond and it couldn't be more inspiring."

Norwegian's Giving Joy contest drew support for teachers all across the U.S. and Canada, with winners from Alabama, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

To learn more about the 100 winners and their heart-warming stories, click here.

For more information about the Company's award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

SOURCE Norwegian Cruise Line

Related Links

http://www.ncl.com


Real-world study expands access to MDMA-assisted therapy for patients with PTSD and concurrent disorders and will provide data on a regulated model for MDMA-assisted therapy

VANCOUVER, BC, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Numinus Wellness Inc. ("Numinus" or the "Company") (TSXV: NUMI), a mental health care company advancing innovative treatments and safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies, is pleased to announce that Health Canada has cleared the MAPS-sponsored single-arm, open-label safety and feasibility study evaluating MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study is being pursued in collaboration with MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) , a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) , the leading developer of MDMA-assisted therapy training programs, treatment protocols and research.

"We are thrilled that Health Canada has issued its No Objection Letter allowing this important study to proceed and, in doing so, potentially advance Canada toward a legal, regulated system for MDMA-assisted therapy," said Payton Nyquvest, CEO of Numinus. "At Numinus, we are focused on expanding patient access to psychedelic-assisted therapies such as MDMA for PTSD, and we are gratified that our study will provide safety and outcome data to regulators to support integration of this treatment into mainstream mental health care."

This study has advanced through the pre-implementation stage at Numinus' Vancouver clinic and has now received the required federal regulatory approval. Study preparations are now transitioning into the final stages of training staff, importing medication and obtaining ethical approval to allow the recruitment of participants according to COVID-19 public health protocols. During the study, research, medical and therapist staff at Numinus will collect data on the safety and effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy to inform Health Canada and support making MDMA-assisted therapy available to individuals living with PTSD in Canada.

Through the collaboration and study activities, Numinus seeks to create access for patients with no other treatment options and establish the physical, human resource and other infrastructure required to scale up access to MDMA-assisted therapy if federal approvals are ultimately in place.

"As research into MDMA-assisted therapy grows, it is critical that we develop data on outcomes from a diverse, real-world array of clinical environments," said Amy Emerson, CEO of MAPS PBC. "Clinical studies conducted for the purpose of regulatory approval often address research questions focusing on safety and efficacy of the treatment. This collaborative demonstration study with Numinus will build upon MAPS-sponsored multi-site studies which enrolled some Canadian participants and will provide new and comprehensive information about the effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy for populations with PTSD and concurrent disorders."

Dr. Devon Christie, Numinus Medical and Therapeutic Services Director, will serve as the study's Qualified Investigator and as a study therapist. Dr. Christie is a family physician with a focus in multidisciplinary pain management and a certified Relational Somatic Therapist. She is MAPS-trained in the delivery of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.

"Health Canada should be recognized for its ongoing leadership through its support of this study," said Dr. Christie. "At our Vancouver clinic, we have spent months establishing the physical, technical, clinical and human resource infrastructure needed to move the study forward and ultimately foster greater access to MDMA-assisted therapy."

New trial builds on strong MAPS Phase 3 results

In May 2021, MAPS announced results from its Phase 3 randomized clinical trial that confirmed the substantial efficacy and safety of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD under the MAPS protocol. The trial demonstrated that 88% of participants who received three controlled and supervised MDMA-assisted therapy sessions experienced a clinically significant reduction in symptoms, with 67% no longer qualifying for PTSD diagnosis in comparison to 32% of participants randomized to placebo. Study participants had PTSD diagnoses from a range of causes, including combat-related events, accidents, abuse, sexual harm and developmental trauma.

Note

The safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy is currently under investigation. It has not yet been approved by Health Canada or the FDA, does not work for everyone, and carries risks even in therapeutic settings. These statements are no guarantee of future Health Canada or FDA approval or availability of MDMA-assisted therapy. These statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from projections.

Health Canada recommends open-label pragmatic clinical trials when drug manufacturers anticipate exceptional demand for a drug, "to meet the needs of patients not eligible for enrollment in other pivotal trials" ( Special Access Program for Drugs: Guidance document for industry and practitioners, Published 2020-10-14 ). This program is not related to the U.S. FDA's Breakthrough Therapy designation nor the Expanded Access Program, sometimes referred to as "compassionate use."

About Numinus

Numinus Wellness (TSX-V: NUMI) helps people to heal and be well through the development and delivery of innovative mental health care and access to safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies. The Numinus Wellness model - including psychedelic production, research and clinic care - is at the forefront of a transformation aimed at healing rather than managing symptoms for depression, anxiety, trauma, pain and substance abuse. At Numinus, we are leading the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into mainstream clinical practice, and building the foundation for a healthier society.

Learn more at numinus.ca , and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including acquiring and renewing federal, provincial, municipal, local or other licences and any inability to obtain all necessary governmental approvals, licences and permits to operate and expand the Company's facilities; regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including federal and provincial legalization of psychedelic therapies, due to inconsistent public opinion, perception of the medical-use of psychedelics, delays or inefficiencies or any other reasons; any other factors or developments which may hinder market growth; the Company's limited operating history and lack of historical profits; reliance on management; the Company's requirements for additional financing, and the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; the need to secure and maintain corporate alliances and partnerships, including with research and development institutions, customers and suppliers; the development and implementation of medical protocols and treatment standard operating procedures for the use of psychedelic therapies; the Company's goals to develop and implement partnerships with research organizations and other key players in the integrative mental health industry; the Company's ability to successfully withstand the economic impact of COVID-19; the medical benefits, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of psychedelics; the approval and/or success of compassionate access clinical trials; the cultivation and harvest of Psilocybe mushrooms; and the availability of trained personnel and medical professionals. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Numinus Wellness Inc.

Related Links

https://numinus.ca/


John Reing, Chief Human Resources Officer John Reing has been named chief human resources officer (CHRO). In partnership with sector and corporate leadership, Reing will be responsible for developing and executing the company's integrated human resources strategy, including talent acquisition and management, total rewards, leadership development, and employee relations.

Most recently Reing was a partner within PwC's Organizational and Workforce Transformation Practice where he advised the company's global clients across a broad spectrum of human resources- and talent-related topics in order to maximize value creation.

Earlier he served as the executive vice president and chief human resources officer for CSRA (now part of GDIT), a global information technology provider with more than 20,000 employees supporting the critical missions of customers across the defense, intelligence, homeland security, mission support, civilian, and health IT markets.

Reing served in senior HR, compensation, and consulting leadership positions with SRA, BAE Systems, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the Hay Group earlier in his career.

He earned his bachelor's degree in business, HR, and finance from DeSales University and participated in executive leadership programs at Oxford University's Said Business School and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.

Rebecca McHale, Chief Information Officer

Rebecca McHale has been named chief information officer (CIO). In this role, she will be responsible for leading Peraton's digital transformation, providing the advanced technologies and IT solutions needed to support the strategic and operational objectives of the company, and serving as the senior IT advisor to Peraton's executive leadership team.

Most recently McHale was the chief information officer and formerly the chief information security officer for Booz Allen where she had executive responsibility for delivering secure technology and solutions to enable the business and advance the digital experience for the firm's users.

Earlier in her career McHale was the CISO for Blackboard, Inc., a global educational technology and services company, and held leadership roles in cybersecurity and IT infrastructure with Novetta and CSRA.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Science in discrete mathematics and computing applications from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Lori Ellis, Chief Procurement Officer

Lori Ellis has been named chief procurement officer (CPO). In this role she will serve as a strategic partner to Peraton's business sectors and have executive responsibilities for all aspects of the Procurement organization including procure to pay, strategic sourcing, and vendor management. Ellis will also serve as the executive sponsor of the company's veterans employee resource group.

Most recently she served in the same capacity within the heritage Peraton organization. There she was responsible for leading efforts to drive improved and sustainable supply chain efficiencies, establishing robust and transparent metrics in support of customer requirements and procurement best practices, and successfully negotiating many major strategic and enterprise service agreements.

Prior to joining Peraton she served as vice president, Procurement for SAIC where she led the company's efforts to meet its financial and growth objectives by maximizing the value received from suppliers and partners.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration and operations management from Auburn University.

"As we focus on positively differentiating Peraton across key markets our ability to attract, develop, and retain the best talent; deliver resilient, scalable, and transformative digital solutions to our customers and employees; and ensure a robust, secure, and sustainable supply chain becomes increasingly more important," said Stu Shea, Peraton's chairman, president, and CEO. "Each of these incredible leaders brings a competition-tested set of skills and diverse backgrounds along with proven records of performance that will be critical as we collectively work to achieve our goals."

ABOUT PERATON

Peraton drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted and highly differentiated national security solutions and technologies that keep people safe and secure. Peraton serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies across the intelligence, space, cyber, defense, civilian, health, and state and local markets. Every day, our 22,000 employees do the can't be done, solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit Peraton.com/News and follow Peraton on LinkedIn for news and updates.

SOURCE Peraton

Related Links

https://www.peraton.com


CHICAGO, July 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Provi ( www.provi.com ), the fastest-growing ecommerce marketplace for the beverage alcohol industry, announced today its official launch into the Tennessee market in partnership with Lipman Brothers, the first distributor of wine and spirits in Tennessee.

Provi's eCommerce marketplace provides a sense of transparency into the entire alcohol beverage supply chain. From suppliers to distributors to bars and retailers, Provi aims to help businesses better serve customers. When signing up for Provi, these early adopters are making a commitment to placing the needs of their customers at the forefront of the ordering process, while providing the ability to position their brands more effectively.

"As Provi enters the Nashville market, we couldn't be more excited to do so alongside Lipman Brothers, a pioneer distributor in the area," said Provi CEO, Taylor Katzman. "This partnership and expansion speaks to our continued commitment of building and investing in our relationships with local distributors. It has always been our intent to ensure seamless online ordering, further modernize processes and streamline connections  all to the benefit of our entire industry."

Through the integration of Provi as an online ordering platform, Lipman Brothers has the unique opportunity to provide their customers with an easier way of purchasing alcohol. During a time when sales representatives are stretched thin, or cannot be physically present, Provi not only offers product accessibility but also elevates the level of support provided to Lipman Brothers' customers.

"As one of Tennessee's leading beverage distributors, we pride ourselves in providing the highest level of service to our customers," said Lowell Goodman, President and COO at Lipman Brothers. "Lipman Brothers is thrilled to partner with Provi to meet the demands of our retailers by delivering an enhanced, more convenient ordering experience especially during a time when our customers are having to do more, with less."

To celebrate Provi's partnership with Lipman Brothers, and the platform's expansion into Nashville, Brown-Forman (Jack Daniel's) will be making a donation of $6,500 to the Nashville Predators Foundation to provide aid for local families in need. Additionally, Provi and Lipman Brothers have partnered to donate $5,000 to Tennessee Action for Hospitality in support of the community they serve.

About Provi ( www.provi.com )

Founded in 2016 in Chicago, Provi is the fastest growing B2B eCommerce marketplace for the beverage alcohol industry. Currently active in 30 states, Provi's digital marketplace grants retailers a robust, contactless platform to place all of their orders 24/7 and improves communication and efficiency for retailers, distributors, and suppliers.

SOURCE Provi

Related Links

http://www.provi.com


GREENBELT, Md., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Season three of "NASA's Curious Universe" podcast debuts July 12, and will explore the wild and wonderful places on our home planet and beyond.

This summer, Host Padi Boyd, a NASA astrophysicist, guides listeners through NASA's missions, projects, and people. Season three visits a wide range of tour stops along NASA's journeys in science and spaceflight, and each episode is an invitation to an adventure with a NASA expert.

Listeners will traverse the Antarctic ice sheets with climate scientists, go "planet-hunting" with exoplanet researchers, and spend a day living and working in space with NASA astronauts. New episodes will be released every Monday through August 30.

NASA's Curious Universe first debuted in March 2020 and has previously released 15 episodes focused on a range of topics, from asteroids to solar science. In February 2021, the show became the first podcast to feature microphone-recorded audio from Mars , collected by NASA's Perseverance rover during landing.

NASA's Curious Universe is for everyone and doesn't require any prior knowledge of NASA or its missions. First-time explorers welcome!

Find the NASA's Curious Universe trailer now on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Soundcloud.

Discover all of NASA's podcasts at: nasa.gov/podcasts

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

https://www.nasa.gov


NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ShardSecure, the world's most innovative provider of data security and privacy with Microshard technology, announced today that they have closed an oversubscribed, pre-Series A funding round of $2.5 M led by EPIC Ventures, with significant participation from existing investors Industrifonden and cybersecurity luminary Tom Noonan.

ShardSecure's valuation has doubled since the company closed an initial seed round one year ago, and their funding to date now totals $4.5M. "We are pleased to announce this latest funding round led by EPIC Ventures," said ShardSecure CEO and Co-founder, Bob Lam. "EPIC has a strong track record of identifying technology that provides cutting edge solutions to pressing problems in a range of verticals. Over the past year, rising adoption of ShardSecure's Microshard technology has proven enterprise customers are hungry for a new approach to providing true defense in depth for data at rest, and we are thrilled to be partnering with EPIC, Industrifonden and Tom Noonan to further revolutionize the data security landscape."

EPIC Co-founder and Managing Partner, Nick Efstratis added, "EPIC invests in companies with a competitive advantage based in technology, and that have a team of strong founders with the industry expertise and vision to deliver on that innovative edge. ShardSecure's Microshard technology provides a disruptive and critical new element to the modern data security implementation. We look forward to working with the ShardSecure team to drive positive change in the data security space and to make it safer and easier than ever to embrace public cloud."

ShardSecure's production customers already include some of the world's largest companies in technology and investment management, with deployments in biotech and commercial banking as well. "It's clear that this is where the industry is headed," commented Ed Amoroso, CEO of TAG Cyber and former Chief Security Officer at AT&T. "Cloud security controls have typically focused on the risks of unauthorized access through the normal access channels, but little has been done to provide proper controls for back-end access to cloud-hosted data. By eliminating the sensitivity of data through Microsharding, ShardSecure provides critical additional security controls to address these vulnerabilities not covered by legacy solutions."

Since announcing general availability less than one year ago, ShardSecure has made significant advancements for their Microshard solution, offering support for both structured and unstructured datasets, and performance upgrades including a streamlined deployment process that can be completed in under fifteen minutes. ShardSecure has built out its sales force to include senior enterprise sales coverage in the U.S. Northeast, West and South, and has signed reseller relationships with Red River, DC Consulting and FiveSky. The ShardSecure product offering is now available on AWS Marketplace as well.

Learn more at shardsecure.com, at the upcoming webinar Microshard Technology vs. the Software Supply Chain Attack, or visit the team at Black Hat 2021 in Las Vegas.

About ShardSecure

Headquartered in New York City, ShardSecure is the world's most innovative data security company, disrupting the data privacy and security market with Microshard technology  the only solution capable of breaking data into single-digit bytes and distributing across cloud locations without sacrificing performance.

Microsharding provides zero data sensitivity for cloud-stored or on-prem data, and can be used with or without encryption to provide true defense in depth. Led by veteran cybersecurity entrepreneurs and investors, ShardSecure works with some of the world's most successful companies in healthcare, financial services and technology to ensure ultimate data privacy and compliance, while making data migration to the cloud more secure and faster than ever.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE ShardSecure

Related Links

https://www.shardsecure.com/


AUSTIN, Texas, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (NYSE: INN) (the "Company") today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the 110-guestroom Residence Inn by Marriott Steamboat Springs for $33.0 million through its joint venture with GIC. The Company funded its 51% interest in the joint venture acquisition using approximately $17 million of cash on-hand. Additionally, the Company still has nearly $425 million of total liquidity and over $150 million of current investment capacity permitted under credit facility amendments to pursue future investment opportunities.

About Summit Hotel Properties

Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded hotels with efficient operating models primarily in the Upscale segment of the lodging industry. As of July 12, 2021, the Company's portfolio consisted of 73 hotels, 61 of which are wholly owned, with a total of 11,398 guestrooms located in 23 states.

For additional information, please visit the Company's website, www.shpreit.com, and follow on Twitter at @SummitHotel_INN.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "approximately," "believe," "could," "project," "predict," "forecast," "continue," "plan," "likely," "would" or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and can include future expectations, future plans and strategies, financial and operating projections or other forward-looking information. Examples of forward-looking statements include the following: the Company's ability to realize financial and operational synergies; projections of revenues and expenses or other financial items; descriptions of the Company's plans or objectives for future operations; forecasts of EBITDAre; and descriptions of assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing expectations regarding the timing of their occurrence. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, not all of which are known to the Company and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the state of the U.S. economy, supply and demand in the hotel industry, and other factors as are described in greater detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Unless legally required, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For information about the Company's business and financial results, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC, and its quarterly and other periodic filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no duty to update the statements in this release to conform the statements to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations.

SOURCE Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.shpreit.com


NANJING, China, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 12, Suning.com released the announcement of the resolution of the board meeting, and considers Mr. Huang Mingduan, Mr. Xian Handi, Ms. Cao Qun, and Mr. Steven Zhang, for the company's non-independent directors, and serves the same period from the shareholders meeting until this year's board of directors term expires. Among them, Mr. Huang Mingduan is a non-independent director candidate nominated by Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., the Phase II of Jiangsu New Retail Innovation Fund (limited partnership) has two seats, one is Mr. Xian Handi, the other is Ms. Cao Qun; Mr. Zhang KangyangSteven Zhang) is a non-independent director nominated by Mr. Zhang Jindong.

In the announcement, the Board of Directors received a resignation letter from Mr. Zhang Jindong, Mr. Sun Weimin, Mr. Meng Xiangsheng, and Mr. Yang Guang, applying to resign from the positions of the directors of the company and members of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors. According to the "Shenzhen Stock Exchange Rules", "Company Bylaws" and other related regulations, the resignation letter of Mr. Zhang Jindong, Mr. Sun Weimin, Mr. Meng Xiangsheng, and Mr. Yang Guang took into effect the date of delivery of the Board. After the reselection of the Board of Directors is completed, the composition of the company's Board of Directors is more diverse, the directors of the strategic shareholders will actively lead with their own professional experience in strategic management, operations management, and investment management, and further promote the company's continuous, stable and healthy development.

With the improvement and upgrade of governance structure, Suning.com will become a new socialized enterprise for the market. Previously, Suning.com introduced a new round of strategic investment. On July 12, Suning.com announced Zhang Jindong and the person acting in concert, Suning Holdings Group, and Suning Appliance Group Co., Ltd. have transferred 16.96% of the shares to the Phase II of Jiangsu New Retail Innovation Fund, completing the introduction of a new round of strategic investment.

According to the announcement, the Phase II of Jiangsu New Retail Innovation Fund is based on Nanjing Xinxing Retail Development Fund, Huatai Securities Co., Ltd., Alibaba, Haier, Midea, TCL, Xiaomi, and other industrial investors as limited partners to form a consortium. The Phase II of Jiangsu New Retail Innovation Fund follows the marketization and legalization principles, and actively supports Suning.com's smooth and healthy development.

The meeting also approved the proposal of appointing Mr. Zhang Jindong as the honorary chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, and continued to use his experience in strategic coordination and development planning to provide guidance for the company's high-quality development, and better guarantee the company's continuous, healthy and stable development.

As the founder of Suning.com, Mr. Zhang Jindong has always been the company's core leader since its establishment. He has a rich practice of corporate management, industry experience, and proactive thinking, leading the company to seize the historic opportunities of industry development, and be brave to change and innovate, and has made an outstanding contribution to the company's development and growth.

According to the announcement, Mr. Zhang Jindong's dedication during his tenure has laid a solid foundation for the company's sustainable development. The Board of Directors expressed heartfelt thanks to Mr. Zhang Jindong for his important contributions to the company's high-quality development, and hopes he will continue to contribute his thinking for the development of the company.

SOURCE Suning Group
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Montgomery County, Maryland, home of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and more than 480 life sciences companies, continues its momentum as a magnet for new life sciences development with a major surge in leasing and investment. With rising demand and just 5.2% availability for the county's existing lab space, an additional 1.6 million square feet (SF) of lab space is in developmentjoining the current 10.6 million SF of total lab inventory already in Montgomery County.

The anchor of the 4th largest life sciences hub in the United States, Montgomery County's I-270 corridor's life sciences leasing is increasing at a rapid pace, including companies like MaxCyte, TCR2, Vigene Biosciences, On Demand Pharmaceuticals and Adaptive Phage Therapeutics. According to Pete Briskman, Executive Managing Director of JLL, price is a major factor: "Compare our rents to the top three. We are nearly half what those rents are in Boston and San Francisco. There's a reason why people want to come here."

Funding and science breakthroughs on the rise

The pandemic put an international spotlight on Montgomery County, as many local companies including Novavax, Qiagen, Altimmune and Emmes took the lead on COVID-19 vaccines, therapies and testing. In 2020 alone, close to $8 Billion in federal, private and foundational funding was invested in life sciences companies with a Montgomery County presence for coronavirus vaccine research and other immunotherapeutic developments. Four of the top 10 recipients of Operation Warp Speed for coronavirus vaccine research are in Montgomery County.

Life science breakthroughs extend beyond the pandemic: three Montgomery County companiesSupernus, United Therapeutics and Auriniawere responsible for developing 17% of FDA-approval pharmaceuticals in the first quarter of 2021.

The ideal combination of assets draws life science companies to Montgomery County, "the Immunology Capital Next to the Nation's Capital." From competitive rents to a highly educated workforce to access to capital to the presence of top federal health agency headquarters and labsdevelopers enjoy the necessary tools to build new properties, expand portfolios and fuel success in the designated scientific areas of their tenants.

Speed to market

Getting things done faster is another key factor in the county's life science growth. Montgomery County recently approved a consolidated approval process, ensuring that the speed to market for developers and others is much faster than in previous years. Douglas M. Firstenberg, a Principal at Stonebridge, notes that a project that could have taken three years could now be cut in half.

Federal Realty's VP of Development, Jay Brinson, also supports the county's new efforts. "The county has been great to work with, especially over the last couple of years. They get it. I have found the leadership at Montgomery Planning and DPS [Department of Permitting Services] very accommodating to achieve necessary goals in a certain timeline."

Brinson notes that Federal Reality has also been paying close attention to the tremendous growth of life sciences in the county and is working with Scheer Partners to develop 935 Prose at Pike & Rose, an amenity rich lab facility to accommodate early-stage clinical manufacturing companies and R&D operations. The proposed building capitalizes on the bustling mixed-use location of Pike & Rose, with walkable retail, restaurants and office space.

Hub for leading federal health agency headquarters

Montgomery County's life sciences companies also have unique access to the world's largest researcher of human health. The NIH, which includes the National Cancer Institute, is at the forefront of conducting the basic research necessary to enable the next clinical breakthroughsand it's located in Montgomery County, Maryland. So is the FDA, the world's largest regulator of drugs and vaccines. Proximity to these powerhouse agencies offers life science companies opportunities for relationship-building and real-time access to the latest developments and research.

Firstenberg cites "tremendous growth and immediate opportunities for many companies here" as developers look to take advantage of a location near NIH and FDA. "The reality of the pandemic is it brought tremendous focus to Montgomery County as the global immunology capital," says Firstenberg.

A focus on middle stage company growth

GlenLine Investments and its primary investors collectively have a 20-year track record in developing life science spaces. Led by Managing Principal Scott Nudelman, GlenLine has several properties in Montgomery County including TwinLabs, the former home of a decommissioned National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) research facility, adjacent to the Twinbrook Metro and HHS headquarters. GlenLine is significantly renovating the existing space and will deliver 80,000 SF this summer, targeting middle stage companies, a need the developer sees as particularly strong.

"Once you outgrow incubator space or are standing up a first location in the U.S. and prefer an independent environment but are not yet ready for a 10 to 15-year commitment, we have put in the lab infrastructure to let those companies plug in and start working on their science immediately," said Nudelman.

Building on spec in a hot life science market

In response to bio growth, the Matan Companies, under the Progress Labs name, has started construction in Germantown at what will become Milestone Innovation Park. Fronting the I-270 stretch of Montgomery County, the 532,000 SF life science offering will add much needed bio-manufacturing space to the heart of the area's bio corridor. Delivery is slated for summer 2023. "This is not a simple rebranding or office conversion," said Mark Matan of the Matan Companies. "We are going to deliver three next-generation biomanufacturing and research buildings."

Matan is also delivering 500,000 SF of spec bio-manufacturing space in two buildings at 700 N. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg, site of the former Leidos campus. Construction is underway on that project as well and is expected to deliver in late 2022.

Taking over existing manufacturing spaces

Other companies are taking smart advantage of existing facilities. The first building of the new Novavax Vaccines Innovation Campus and global headquarters in Gaithersburg is a prime example of an adaptive reuse; it was originally built for a high-tech communications equipment company. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. is the owner of a 170,000 SF Class A lab/manufacturing/office building which Novavax is currently renovating. Utilizing local speed-to-market, the building will be delivered in early 2022.

"The investment by local developers in these projects demonstrates how quickly the demand is rising for life sciences companies looking to locate, expand and grow in Montgomery County," said Benjamin H. Wu, MCEDC President and CEO. "The county is fast becoming an international Immunology Capital, drawing companies from across the country and around the world. Global leaders choose the area for our highly educated workforce and proximity to NIH and the FDA."

The place to develop and commercialize products

Hundreds of cell and gene therapy, vaccine and other immunotherapeutic-focused companies have already located in Montgomery County, where they can rapidly develop and commercialize products. Several novel treatments for lupus originate here, as did the first gene therapy for sickle cell disease (NIH), and the first cell therapy for COVID-19 (Cartesian Therapeutics). Other developments include Macrogenics' FDA-approved breast cancer medicine; MaxCyte's technology for cell therapy development; and Novavax's promising coronavirus vaccine and influenza candidates.

Access to talent, innovation and capital

Montgomery County companies have access to more than 40,000 life science workersexceptional talent to shape the workforce. The county ranks number one for percentage of residents with a masters, Ph.D., or other advanced degree among counties with over one million people.

A recently launched Memorandum of Understanding between the county and academia, including the University System of Maryland and Montgomery College, will provide new opportunities for students to gain workplace experience and participate in cutting edge research.

At universities in the area including University of Maryland, College Park, Georgetown, George Washington, Johns Hopkins and Howard, there is an uptick in STEM degrees awardednearly a 30% increase from 2015 to 2019.

Access to capital is always top of mind in choosing a location. "Our tenants love the access to capital available, which has jumped 800% in Maryland within the last five years, from $100 million to $800 million," said JLL's Pete Briskman, noting Montgomery County companies make up most of Maryland's life sciences funding recipients.

International companies are joining the Immunology Capital

The strong position of Montgomery County attracts companies from around the world. International companies with a U.S. headquarters or a major presence in Montgomery County, Maryland, include Aurinia (Canada); Autolus, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (U.K.); Qiagen (Germany); Nobelpharma (Japan); Genetron and Tasly Pharmaceuticals (China); GMED (France); and Macrogen (South Korea).

They'll soon have more company. Multiple real estate developers are taking advantage of the long-term opportunities for investment and expansion in Montgomery County's life sciences space. It's a good bet, as their tenant companies can find the entire pipeline for immunology innovation hereand a richly diverse community with access to three international airports, great parks, cultural amenities and award-winning schools that enroll students from 157 different countries. From local to global, a wide array of immunology companies can attest to the many important reasons to call Montgomery County, MD home.

About MCEDC

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the official public-private economic development organization representing Montgomery County, Maryland. Created in 2016, MCEDC is led by a Board of Directors of business executives. Its mission is to help businesses start, grow and relocate in Montgomery County by helping them gain access to top talent, business and market intelligence and prime locations. For more information, visit our website. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Contact:

Kristin O'Keefe

VP of Communications & Marketing, MCEDC

240-641-6703

[email protected]

SOURCE Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation

Related Links

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Starting July 11, and continuing through the beginning of Sept., HOPE worldwide will work through its network member, HOPE Foundation in India, to provide bags of food for 2,500 families (approximately 10,000 individuals) in and around the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Pune. The more than a weeks' worth of food supplies for families will be purchased from local vendors in India and assembled by HOPE Foundation staff and volunteers. The volunteers will then deploy to the various communities to distribute the much-needed resources to parents and children.

In a recent study, it was found that approximately 85% of the respondents in Delhi had not earned any income from their main occupation since the pandemic began spreading throughout India, leaving families with little to no food options. In Delhi, one of the community distributions will be with the Village of HOPE for leprosy patients where 700 families will be served.

Ian Correa, CEO of HOPE Foundation, who was very instrumental in its creation said, "The Village of HOPE was founded in 1993 and today it continues to strengthen the community helping to provide homes for those with leprosy and also education, job training, small business loans and free medical treatment."

And as Dave Malutinok, president of HOPE worldwide explains, "Our mission at HOPE worldwide is to partner with our neighbors in need and strengthen communities to inspire greater hope in our world. We're grateful to be able to partner with Teleperformance and Feed the Children to strengthen people in India who've been impacted by COVID-19 by providing love and support."

Previously, HOPE worldwide and Feed the Children have partnered in the U.S. to distribute food and essentials for disasters in Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee and California as well as for COVID-19 relief in Indiana, Illinois, and California. Their partnership in India will allow both nonprofits to expand their reach to serve many more families with short-term relief and long-term recovery solutions like job training.

Teleperformance has been a long-time partner of Feed the Children, supporting its various education and disaster response initiatives through the donations it receives from its employees. Teleperformance then takes these gifts and empowers its employees to select humanitarian projects that they want to fund.

"The people of Teleperformance in India are fully committed with our charitable partners to bring relief to people in this great time of need," said Aditya Arora, CEO of Teleperformance India. "We thank our employees from all over the world for their charitable contributions, and both Feed the Children and HOPE worldwide for bringing aid to the most vulnerable people across India at a time when it is needed the most."

The plight India is currently experiencing is one that Teleperformance's staff felt compelled to address. Teleperformance's CEO has also made a generous personal donation to Feed the Children. Both his generosity and that of his employees has played a significant role in how Feed the Children fights global childhood hunger and poverty.

"India holds a very special place in all of our hearts, and it is home for many thousands in our Teleperformance global family," said Daniel Julien, Teleperformance Chairman and CEO. "I respectfully ask everyone to help in the continuing fight against both COVID-19 and hunger in India and all around the world. Please know your direct efforts and donations are literally saving lives."

"It is only through partnership that we can reach at-risk families and respond to critical emergencies," said Travis Arnold, president and CEO of Feed the Children. "Through our partnership with Teleperformance and HOPE worldwide, we can support the most vulnerable during these difficult times, providing much-needed food and essentials."

Visit feedthechildren.org/disaster-response to learn more about how Feed the Children works with a vast network of community and corporate partners to provide disaster response around the word.

About Teleperformance

Teleperformance (TEP  ISIN: FR0000051807  Reuters: ROCH.PA  Bloomberg: TEP FP), the global leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management, serves as a strategic partner to the world's leading companies in a wide variety of industries. Its customer care, technical support, customer acquisition, consulting & analytics, digital integrated business service solutions and other high-value specialized services ensure consistently positive customer interactions that are reliable, flexible and intelligent. The company has established the highest security and quality standards in the industry and uses proprietary deep learning technology to optimize flexibility on a global scale.

The group's 300,000 employees, spread across 80 countries, support billions of connections annually in 265 languages and enhance the customer experience with every interaction. In 2018, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 4,441 million (US$5,256 million, based on 1 = $1.18).

For more information: www.teleperformance.com.

About HOPE worldwide

HOPE worldwide is an international charity that changes lives through the compassion and commitment of dedicated staff and volunteers to deliver sustainable, high-impact, community-based services to the materially poor and needy. Today HOPE worldwide serves more than 1.5 million people annually on every inhabited continent. After 30 years, HOPE worldwide continues to be an organization dedicated to serving, teaching, healing and loving communities made vulnerable due to poverty, disease or disasters. Together we can inspire greater hope in our world.

To learn more about HOPE worldwide visit hopeww.org. Connect on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter and TikTok for the most current news on programs around the world.

About Feed the Children

At Feed the Children, we feed hungry kids. We envision a world where no child goes to bed hungry. In the U.S. and internationally, we are dedicated to helping families and communities achieve stable lives and to reducing the need for help tomorrow, while providing food and resources to help them today. We distribute product donations from corporate donors to local community partners, we provide support for teachers and students, and we mobilize resources quickly to aid recovery efforts when natural disasters strike. Internationally, we manage child-focused community development programs in eight countries. We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships.

Visit feedthechildren.org for more information.

SOURCE Feed the Children
TOLEDO, Ohio, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Toledo Edison, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) electric company, has been recognized by residential customers as a trusted and top performing utility in customer satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study evaluating the performance of electric, natural gas and combination utilities across the country.

Escalent, a consumer research firm, named Toledo Edison to its 2021 Most Trusted Utility Brands list within the Cogent Syndicated Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement: Residential study, which is based on a nationwide survey of more than 76,000 residential customers of the 140 largest U.S. utility companies. Survey feedback is used to determine a Brand Trust Index score that rates customer focus, community support, communications effectiveness, reliability, environmental dedication and company reputation.

Customer trust in utility companies spiked to the highest score ever on Escalent's utility Brand Trust Index  706 on a 1,000-point scale. Toledo Edison earned a score of 713 and was recognized among the top 38 most trusted utilities.

"Our team's commitment to customers extends far beyond the delivery of safe and reliable electricity, and it's an honor to be recognized by Escalent after what has been a challenging year for everyone," said Rich Sweeney, regional president of Toledo Edison. "We were glad to be able to help our customers get back on their feet by temporarily suspending service shutoffs, offering additional financial assistance programs and supporting community organizations that help those impacted by the pandemic, all while delivering the power our customers depended on more than ever as they worked and learned from home."

The study found that utilities that focused on communications about customer programs, community partnerships during the pandemic and environmental efforts saw the highest increase in customer satisfaction and trust last year. Utilities that offer digital options, like an online account portal and customer support on social media, were rated more favorably by customers.

"Starting active conversations with customers on how their utility can partner with and support them throughout the challenges faced this past year has strongly positioned utilities as trusted energy advisers and great corporate citizens," said Chris Oberle, senior vice president at Escalent. "The most trusted utility brands include utilities that are making a positive impact on their customers, communities and financials."

From the start of the pandemic, FirstEnergy and its electric companies continued to deliver uninterrupted service to customers while prioritizing the health and safety of customers and employees by implementing safety protocols for field crews, utilizing personal protective equipment and following social distancing guidelines. Customer service teams continued to handle customer inquiries from remote workstations.

The FirstEnergy Foundation also infused $2 million into the communities served by its 10 electric companies to provide timely assistance to families and organizations impacted by the pandemic. In 2020, the Foundation accelerated approximately $1.5 million in matching contributions to 116 United Way agencies throughout the company's six-state territory to help support vital health and human services organizations during the pandemic. Additionally, the FirstEnergy Foundation donated $500,000 to 42 local food banks and hunger centers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland, which included $25,000 for the Toledo Northwest Ohio Foodbank.

Beyond the support the company provided throughout the pandemic, Toledo Edison offers the following resources, services and programs year round:

Online Account Management  The company is committed to making it simple for customers to manage their monthly bill and view payment history and energy usage in one place at www.toledoedison.com. With the online portal, customers can start, stop and transfer service, and sign up to receive electronic bills.

The company is committed to making it simple for customers to manage their monthly bill and view payment history and energy usage in one place at www.toledoedison.com. With the online portal, customers can start, stop and transfer service, and sign up to receive electronic bills. Bill Assistance Programs  Customers can explore a wide variety of options to maintain their electric service during financial hardship, including manageable payment arrangements and needs-based assistance programs. We encourage them to visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist or contact 1-800-447-3333 for more information on these programs.

Customers can explore a wide variety of options to maintain their electric service during financial hardship, including manageable payment arrangements and needs-based assistance programs. We encourage them to visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist or contact 1-800-447-3333 for more information on these programs. 24/7 Power Center  Toledo Edison customers can visit www.firstenergycorp.com/outages to view an outage map for around-the-clock service restoration updates. Customers can also report outages and other power issues from this website or view important information on staying safe through a power outage.

Toledo Edison customers can visit www.firstenergycorp.com/outages to view an outage map for around-the-clock service restoration updates. Customers can also report outages and other power issues from this website or view important information on staying safe through a power outage. Social Media Support  Through Toledo Edison's Facebook and Twitter accounts, customers can learn more about how the company operates, view timely updates during severe weather, engage with a customer service representative and receive a variety of energy-related tips to stay safe and comfortable in all types of weather.

Through Toledo Edison's Facebook and Twitter accounts, customers can learn more about how the company operates, view timely updates during severe weather, engage with a customer service representative and receive a variety of energy-related tips to stay safe and comfortable in all types of weather. Energy Efficiency Programs  Toledo Edison offers a variety of resources to help customers make their homes and businesses more energy efficient, while keeping them comfortable, which can be found at www.energysaveOhio.com.

Toledo Edison serves more than 300,000 customers in northwest Ohio. Follow Toledo Edison on Twitter @ToledoEdison or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ToledoEdison.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


PALO ALTO, Calif., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wurl, the world leader in powering streaming TV, has been certified by Great Place to Work as one of Fortune's Best Places to Work: Small & Medium Workplaces.

Wurl, which has 126 employees, has staff members in California, Florida, New York and England.

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver marketing-leading revenue and increased innovation. For Wurl's certification, employees were surveyed using Great Place to Work's flagship assessment, the Trust Index and its Culture Brief.

"At Wurl, we actively cultivate a work environment that welcomes diversity and inclusion. Our business is focused on innovation, which thrives in businesses that encourage and reward active collaboration. Everyone has a fundamentally important role in our success," said Jessica Wallen, Head of Human Resources, Wurl. "We are very proud and pleased to be among some incredible companies certified as one of the best places to work."

Ninety-nine percent of Wurl's employees said that when they joined the company, they were made to feel welcome. Ninety-seven percent of employees at Wurl say it is a great place to work compared to 59% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company.

Wurl joins a distinguished list of certified companies, including Adobe, Asana, Gong and Curology.

About Wurl

Wurl, the world leader in powering streaming TV, interconnects over 1200 streaming channels from the world's top content companies with the leading streaming distribution services in over 50 countries. The Wurl Network platform helps leading studios such as A+E Networks, AMC Networks, Bloomberg, BBC Studios, CNN, and Reuters, deliver programming to the biggest streaming platforms, including Amazon IMDb TV, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Rakuten, Twitch, and VIZIO, while maximizing monetization. Reaching over 250 million connected TVs around the globe, Wurl makes it effortless for content companies to build and track global distribution for branded linear channels, live events, and on-demand programming to manage and monetize their ad inventory. Wurl is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Wurl is hiring! For more information, see: https://www.wurl.com/work-at-wurl/

SOURCE Wurl

Related Links

https://www.wurl.com/work-at-wurl/


LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Transitioning from providing care for your loved ones to assistance options such as senior living can be difficult. Dedicated Daughters is a platform offering support and care for caregivers throughout the challenges one experiences when making decisions for their aging parents.

Through a virtual support group, dedicated daughters will offer informatory sessions as well as an opportunity to share personal stories. Building a community for those who are considering senior living options for their parents will make the mentally and emotionally difficult process more comfortable.

Sandra Durbin has been working with families to help provide love and care for their aging parents for over twenty years. As Dedicated Daughter's moderator, she is able to expand her efforts to assist caregivers everywhere. She will lead a zoom meeting biweekly where caregivers will come together in a structured forum to share their stories. Each session will have a theme that targets a specific aspect of the journey. Periodically, Sandra will also host guest speakers such as Medicaid experts and Estate planners.

Each family dynamic is individual and unique. However, you are not alone! Dedicated Daughters support group will provide a place for caregivers to connect, feel heard, seek advice, share concerns and look for solutions.

Register to become a dedicated daughter (or son) and participate in one of Dedicated Daughters connection sessions beginning in July.

To learn more, please visit http://dedicateddaughters.com.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dedicated-Daughters-100193442296172

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dedicateddaughters/

SOURCE Dedicated Daughters

Related Links

https://dedicateddaughters.com/


LAUSANNE, Switzerland, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ActLight, the Swiss technology firm known for its best-in-class signal-to-noise ratio photodiodes, announced today that it has signed the second service agreement based on its Single Photon Sensitivity technology with a leading company in the sensors market.

'This agreement is the natural continuation of the customer project started in 2020 and successfully completed earlier this year. We are very pleased to continue the joint activities with a market player of this caliber and to add value to their technology roadmap,' said Serguei Okhonin, Co-founder and CEO at ActLight. 'The adoption of Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) array in 3D sensing applications is today a growing reality and the markets are demanding performance improvements (e.g. pixel scaling, higher QE at near IR and higher performance/costs ratio). ActLight technology is developed to address these specific needs and, thanks to its unique features such as tunable sensitivity, low voltage and digital read-out, is perfectly suited to become the sensing solution of reference for 3D systems used in smartphones, cars and other mainstream products.`

'The 3D sensing market will reach US$15 billion by 2026 (1),' commented Richard Liu, Technology & Market Analyst at Yole Developpement. 'This market is showing a substantial growth with a 14.5% CAGR (2), mainly supported today by the smartphone rear side applications. The 3D sensing market is developing rapidly and offering great business opportunities. In addition to the smartphone application, automotive ADAS (3) are set to be a big 3D sensing application. Recently, the impressive growth of electric vehicles with very high intelligence and ADAS brings LIDAR adoption forward.'

1. Source: 3D Imaging and Sensing  Technology and Market Trends report, Yole Developpement, 2021

2. CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate

3. ADAS: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

About ActLight SA

ActLight SA, the start-up company founded in 2011 and based in Switzerland, focuses on the field of CMOS photonics by developing a new type of photodetector, the Dynamic PhotoDiode (DPD). Being a fabless company, ActLight specializes in the Intellectual Property (IP) of this area and operates primarily in the IP licensing business model.

The patented CMOS-based photonics technology allows the substantial improvement of the efficiency and accuracy of various light sensing applications, such as Time Of Flight (TOF) based range meters, vital signs monitoring, 3D/2D cameras and much more. ActLight operates in the Internet of Things (IoT) market, with a focus on mobile and wearable devices, healthcare/medtech, autonomous driving, drones and robotics.

More info about ActLight available at http://www.act-light.com

Contact:

Roberto Magnifico

+41792108313

[email protected] or

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/886177/ActLight_Logo.jpg

SOURCE ActLight SA
MAITLAND, Fla. and WEST COLUMBIA, S.C., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery has announced that effective today, West Columbia, SC-based Palmetto Dermatology  the practice of Dr. Jeffrey K. Smith  has joined its brand family of approximately 140 offices nationwide and become its second South Carolina location.

Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery

Dr. Smith, who is a board certified dermatologist, has special expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer and has performed more than 10,000 advanced Mohs micrographic skin cancer procedures. He purchased Palmetto Dermatology in 2008 from Dr. Fred McElveen, and today his clinical team includes board certified dermatologists Dr. Katherine Thompson and Dr. Joshua Black, and Certified Physician Assistants Vicki Roberts, Michelle Evans, Benjamin Addy and Kennah Brearley.

"It is with great excitement that we welcome Dr. Smith, his talented team and the patients of Palmetto Dermatology to the Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery family," said CEO Brian Griffin. "They have a strong legacy of clinical excellence and dedicated patient care and share our commitment to providing comprehensive dermatologic care in a safe, welcoming environment which elevates each patients' experience."

"Dr. Smith's skills as a Mohs Surgeon and dermatologist, the unique skillset of his entire team, and their reputation for excellent patient care are the perfect fit for our vision of how we wanted to move forward in expanding our South Carolina footprint," said Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery's Founder & Executive Chairman Dr. Matt Leavitt. "We look forward to many years of sustainable growth in the region."

"We are confident our practice will continue to flourish with the support of Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery," said Dr. Smith. "As a physician-led organization, they understand the importance and challenges of running a patient-focused medical practice. By giving us greater access to infrastructure, technology, research, and bench strength, we will be able to spend less time on back-office paperwork and more time focusing on what we do best and love the most  taking care of our patients.

"The transition will be seamless for our patients, who will continue to see their trusted dermatologists and clinicians in our practice located at 3574 Sunset Blvd in West Columbia."

Dr. Smith received his undergraduate degree in engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He completed his residency program in Dermatology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

Dr. Thompson received her undergraduate degree in biology from Towson State University in Baltimore and her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed her residency in Dermatology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

Dr. Joshua Black received a Bachelor of Arts (French) and a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from the University of South Carolina Honors College. He then earned his medical degree from MUSC in Charleston, completed his internship in Internal Medicine at the Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and his residency in Dermatology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where he served as chief resident.

"We look forward to working closely with Advanced Dermatology's regional and executive leadership and joining them in bringing tomorrow's innovations in dermatology home to South Carolina," said Dr. Smith.

ABOUT ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY AND COSMETIC SURGERY

With more than 140 offices in 14 states, Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery is one of the nation's premier providers of practice management services to dermatologists and has partnered with more than 50 practices since 2012. They are committed to providing comprehensive and unparalleled dermatologic and aesthetic care in a welcoming and engaging environment, seeking to make each patient experience unique while adhering to superior patient safety and privacy standards. They strive to combine the best of the art of medicine with the latest advances in research and technology in formulating individualized treatment plans for patients to achieve a unique, desired, and aesthetically pleasing result.

Advanced Dermatology's mission is to increase access to high-quality dermatologic care by providing exceptional business support services to practicing dermatologists.

To learn more about Advanced Dermatology or to inquire about opportunities to partner with us, visit www.AdvancedDerm.com.

Contact

Sheryl Garelick

352.255.9731

[email protected]

SOURCE Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
NOIDA, India, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive overview of the Aesthetic Medicine market is recently added by UnivDatos Market Insights to its humongous database. The Aesthetic Medicine market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data from various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Aesthetic Medicine market. The Aesthetic Medicine market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the Aesthetic Medicine market at the global and regional levels. Aesthetic Medicine market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2021-2027 to exceed US$ 19 billion by 2027.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://bit.ly/2TRLZdJ

Market Overview

Aesthtetic procedures are constantly increasing, majorly among the female population. Both surgical and non-surgical aesthetic interventions are most popular in the 36-50 age group. The next most common age group undergoing aesthetic medications is 51 to 64 years age group. The most common reasons for this growup of population to go for these procedure because they undergo pregnancy and childbirth and want to reduce their signs of aging. The most common procedures in this age group are breast surgery, tummy tuck and liposuction. Skin Surfacing is another popular treatment among this age group which includes reducing acne scars, sunspots, fine lines, and wrinkles. The most common procedure for the 51-70 age group is liposuction with about 60,000 procedures done per year.

COVID-19 Impact

The whole world economy came to a still during the coronavirus pandemic. Many industries suffered deep loss from the Covid-19 impact and will take some time to recover. A recent survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons among 1,000 US women, indicated that 11% of the participants were more interested in plastic surgery or non-surgical procedures now, compared to the pre pandemic situation. This figure was even higher with women who had already undergone plastic surgery before. 35% of the women who already had an aesthetic procedure before were willing to spend even more on minimally invasive aesthetic treatments in 2021. This surge is demand is probably because the surgeons' offices are closed sine a year or offered only limited services, thus causing a surge in the demand now.

Ask for Price & Discounts @ https://bit.ly/2TRLZdJ

Aesthetic Medicine market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated.

By Procedure Type, the market is primarily segmented into

Invasive Procedures

Breast augmentation



Liposuction



Nose reshapin



Tummy tuck

Non-invasive Procedures

Botox injections



Chemical peel



Laser hair removal

The breast augmetnation segment generated revenue of US$ XX billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period to reach a market valuation of US$ XX billion by 2027F.

By Product, the market is primarily segmented into

Facial Aesthetic Products

Body Contouring Devices

Breast Implants

Hair Removal Devices

Skin Aesthetic Devices

Others

Amongst Product, the breast implants segment was valued at US$ XX billion in 2020 and is likely to reach US$ XX billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of XX% from 2021-2027.

By End-User, the market is primarily segmented into

Clinics, Hospitals, and Medical Spas

Beauty Centers

Home Care

Amongst End-User, the Clinics, Hospitals, and Medical Spas segment was valued at US$ XX billion in 2020 and is likely to reach US$ XX billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of XX% from 2021-2027.

Aesthetic Medicine Market Geographical Segmentation Includes:

North America (the U.S, Canada , and Rest of North America )

(the U.S, , and Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , France , Spain , Italy , UK, and Rest of Europe )

( , , , , UK, and Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , Australia , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

( , , , , and Rest of ) Rest of the World

Based on the estimation, the North America dominated the global Aesthetic Medicine market with almost XX% revenue share in 2020.

Ask for Report Customization @ https://bit.ly/2TRLZdJ

The major players targeting the market includes

Allergan

Galderma Laboratories

Merz Pharmaceuticals

Alma Lasers

Johnson & Johnson

Anika Therapeutics

Lumenis

Cynosure

Cutera

Solta Medical

Competitive Landscape

The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Aesthetic Medicine market. The leading players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition.

Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include:

What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Aesthetic Medicine market?

Which factors are influencing the Aesthetic Medicine market over the forecast period?

What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Aesthetic Medicine market?

Which factors are propelling and restraining the Aesthetic Medicine market?

What are the demanding global regions of the Aesthetic Medicine market?

What will be the global market size in the upcoming years?

What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies?

We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs.

Request for full report- https://bit.ly/2TRLZdJ

About UnivDatos Market Insights

UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients.

Contact

UnivDatos Market Insights

Pawnendra Pawan

Client Development Lead

Ph: +91-7838604911

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://univdatos.com/

SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights
MELBOURNE, Australia, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Research conducted by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment has found a general shortage of sheet metal trades workers and a regional shortage of structural steel and welding trades workers. There were also shortages within the construction trades cluster. Reports from two consecutive years found a labour market shortage of qualified plumbers, preceded by three years of identified recruitment difficulties.

AIO

When considering engineering labour hire, Melbourne companies may no longer find the skilled workers required. The common wisdom of learning to manufacture what you don't have does not seem to apply in a context where quality trades have been lost. AIO says one approach is to start with people and to manufacture their skills so that they can fill the manufacturing and trade jobs of the future.

Companies like AIO are taking a multi-faceted approach to the skills shortage. In addition to acting as an engineering labour hire agency , Melbourne businesses can turn to AIO for recruitment and training services.

By committing to providing quality, end to end workforce solutions for the engineering, construction, fabrication, manufacturing, and maintenance industries, AIO is tackling the Victorian skills shortage head-on.

With ongoing recruitment drives for sheet metal workers in metropolitan Melbourne and MIG welders in regional areas, AIO aims to position itself amongst the engineering recruitment agencies Melbourne organisations can rely on to fill the current skills shortage and the jobs of the future.

Workers will fill these roles once they have the necessary skills. The Department of Education, Skills and Employment report on sheet metal trades workers found that there were many cases where employers found qualified applicants, but few suitable applicants. With 86% of qualified applicants considered unsuitable, employers reported that they faced challenges filling vacancies with suitable workers and many resorted to undertaking multiple recruitment rounds.

To undertake successful engineering recruitment, Melbourne businesses should look for labour hire and recruitment agencies who carefully screen for suitable qualifications and the interpersonal skills and work ethic that employers are searching for.

AIO undertakes comprehensive candidate screening, so that Victorian companies can experience a hassle-free labour and recruitment process.

Related Images

aio.png

AIO

AIO

SOURCE AIO Contracting
OSLO, Norway, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Clean Hydrogen today published results for the second quarter and first half of 2021, showing the company has taken decisive steps towards realizing its ambition to accelerate clean energy by producing clean hydrogen safely and affordably.

"In just a few months, we have established projects and prospects with net capacity of more than 1.7 GW in Norway, Chile and Uruguay, so we are heading steadily towards our 2030 target of reaching 5 GW net installed capacity," said Knut Nyborg, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Clean Hydrogen.

Highlights in the second quarter included:

Maturing the Herya project together with partners Yara and Statkraft, to develop a green ammonia facility located at Yara's fertilizer plant. Remove about 800,000 tonnes CO2 p.a.

Completing feasibility study and concept phase for the Berlevag project together with Varanger Kraft and establishing a joint venture company. Utilizing local wind resources, the Berlevag project has the potential to decarbonize shipping in the Arctic.

Signing Memorandum of Understanding with CapeOmega and, as announced separately today, Shell, to jointly develop the Aukra Hydrogen Hub in Norway .

. Building the Aker Clean Hydrogen organization by recruiting talent from Aker companies and externally.

Financial result and outlook

Revenue for the first half of 2021 was NOK 1 million and operating loss was NOK 60 million, reflecting costs related to the start-up of the company, building the organization and developing the global projects and prospects. In addition, the company had costs related to the operational development including standardization, digitalization, project execution model and supply chain. The cash balance at the end of the period was NOK 2 828 million.

Hydrogen has the potential to replace fossil-based solutions across several industries, from transport to agriculture. Market fundamentals, reflected in recent record high prices for ETS quota prices, remain supportive of further growth. The ETS price has risen 170 percent to more than 58 euros per tonne in the past 12 months.

"We are maturing dialogues with large offtakers, infrastructure companies and renewable energy providers and expect to grow our pipeline as well as existing prospects and projects over the coming quarters," said Nyborg.

The company today also published its first-half report, which is attached and available on akercleanhydrogen.com.

Aker Clean Hydrogen will present the results in a live webcast, followed by a Q&A session, today at CET 0930 via:

https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20210712_4

Media contact:

Ivar Simensen, +47 464 02 317, email: [email protected]

Investor contact:

Christian Yggeseth, mob: +47 915 10 000, email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-clean-hydrogen/r/aker-clean-hydrogen--second-quarter-results-2021,c3383421

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Public/20795/3383421/ab76e53128c6a419.pdf ACH Q2 2021 https://mb.cision.com/Public/20795/3383421/a41357afbc32b4f5.pdf Aker-Clean-Hydrogen-1H2021-report

SOURCE Aker Clean Hydrogen
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Irish health food brand All Real Nutrition is partnering with the non-profit Plastic Bank to prevent over eighty US tons of plastic from entering the oceans  and that's in the year 2021 alone. The David versus Goliath effort comes as a piece of the burgeoning enterprise's robust sustainability efforts, which already include low food miles, compostable packaging, and monitoring manufacturing electricity, waste, and water usage.

Ever since its inception, All Real Nutrition has been focused on three things. These are summed up in the company's slogan "Real food. Real people. Real impact." The first two items are addressed via the company's popular line of natural protein bars. These are relentlessly developed to provide stellar nutritional value while still competing with the taste of synthetic, sugary alternatives.

While All Real Nutrition's products stand on their own merits, the company has achieved a unique level of synergistic success through its additional commitment to making an impact. The team behind the brand is sincerely focused on making a difference for the growing customer community that it serves. This has already been demonstrated through various executive decisions, including going plastic-free with its product packaging and adhering to the strictly sustainable standards of the Origin Green Ireland program.

While these efforts have helped All Real Nutrition operate responsibly at home, though, the company is taking its community-focused sustainability message abroad through its latest decision to support the non-profit PlasticBank. The social enterprise is invested in removing plastic from oceans in many of the worst-affected regions around the globe. The organization employs local labor at a premium (often as much as 40% higher than their normal income) to help remove pollution from the water.

Every All Real Nutrition sale contributes to this effort, with each bar equating to two bottles being removed from the water. Never one to shy from a fight, All Real Nutrition has committed to the ambitious goal of keeping 3.75 million bottles from polluting the water in the remainder of 2021 alone. This step is just the beginning of a long-term solution. And yet, for All Real Nutrition, it's just one more small way that they can improve the lives of their customers and the world that they all share together.

About All Real Nutrition: All Real Nutrition was officially launched in late 2020 and is headquartered in Kerry, Ireland. The company prides itself on creating natural health foods that utilize resources from Ireland's highly-esteemed agricultural community and are contained in plastic-free packaging.

Please direct inquiries to:

Vincent Takemura

(954) 904-7240

[email protected]

SOURCE All Real Nutrition
BOGOTA, Colombia, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury river cruise innovator AmaWaterways today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Metropolitan Touring, South America's leading tour operator, to introduce a new river cruise experience in Colombia. This is the first luxury river cruise line to sail the Magdalena River, an alliance brings together the remarkable in-depth destination expertise of Metropolitan Touring and the industry's leading team of river cruise experts at AmaWaterways.

Starting in December 2023, guests will be immersed in unique experiences on shore as well as on board a new custom-built, all-suite, eco-friendly river cruise ship. The new ship and cruise program will incorporate years of design experience from AmaWaterways' President and Co-Founder Rudi Schreiner  affectionately known as the 'Godfather of River Cruising'  plus Metropolitan Touring's decades of expertise in expedition cruising in the Galapagos Islands.

Guests will be able to choose between two seven-night itineraries with pre- and post-cruise land programs exploring the magnificent Magdalena River and delving into Colombia's vibrant cultural and natural heritage. Accompanied by a skilled team, which will include a wellness manager on-board, river cruise travelers on the Magdalena River will enjoy in-depth connections with local nature, wildlife, culture, flavors and people, as well as activities such as kayaking, hiking and birdwatching.

"Drawing on each company's expertise, AmaWaterways and Metropolitan Touring have together created a unique river cruise and land program that will immerse travelers in the beauty of the 'River of a Thousand Rhythms'," said Camilo Calderon, General Manager of Metropolitan Touring Colombia. "Our guests will enjoy the modern comforts of an upscale river cruise ship, with exclusive experiences and unparalleled service, hallmarks of both companies, to the very heart of Colombia's soul."

This project will help to promote Colombia as the perfect destination for international travelers, as the country has been working to adapt to new global travel trends. That is why today the South American country shows its best attributes through its new narrative, "Colombia, the most welcoming place on Earth", a manifesto created to strengthen its global positioning and recognition as an ideal business and tourism destination.

"Colombia is taking great steps to contribute to the reactivation of tourism through projects such as this on the Magdalena River. This is one of the most important developments in the Colombian tourism industry in recent years. Thanks to the work of both public and private sectors, soon travellers from all over the world will be able to explore Colombia's most important river, living truly unique experiences", explained Flavia Santoro, president of ProColombia, the government entity in charge of promoting international tourism, foreign direct investment, non-mining exports and the country brand.

Specific itineraries are currently being developed with more details anticipated in the coming weeks.

To learn more about the river cruise, visit www.metropolitan-touring.com/colombia/rio-magdalena.

MEDIA NOTE: Hi-res images can be found here.

About Metropolitan Touring

Founded in 1953 by a group of young and visionary entrepreneurs, Metropolitan Touring has become Ecuador and South America's leading tour operator. The company creates sustainable, authentic experiences for explorers across Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, with three ships and one hotel in the Galapagos Islands, and two hotels on Ecuador's mainland. Metropolitan Touring constantly seeks out new and captivating experiences for curious travelers in Latin America's iconic destinations, focusing in particular on Colombia with its stunning natural and cultural diversity. In 2017, Metropolitan Touring became a carbon neutral company, offsetting all its emissions by protecting biodiverse and endangered forests in the Andean Choco bioregion, declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2018.

www.metropolitan-touring.com

About AmaWaterways

A family-owned company celebrating 19 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 25 ships sailing in Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and Egypt. Led by experienced river cruise co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, the company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique "twin balconies;" its wellness activities including a wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveler; and its award-winning diningincluding The Chef's Table specialty restaurant as well as complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.

www.amawaterways.com

SOURCE Colombian Government Trade Bureau

Related Links

procolombia.co


CALABASAS, Calif., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) today announced that the Company will release its second quarter 2021 financial and operating results on Thursday, August 5, 2021, after the market closes. The Company will host a conference call on Friday, August 6, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review second quarter results, discuss recent events, and conduct a question and answer period.

Live conference call





Toll free number: (877) 451-6152 (for domestic callers)



Direct dial number: (201) 389-0879 (for international callers)



Passcode: Not required



Simultaneous audio webcast link: www.americanhomes4rent.com under "Investor relations"



Conference call replay





Toll free number: (844) 512-2921 (for domestic callers)



Direct dial number: (412) 317-6671 (for international callers)



Passcode: 13721357#



Webcast link: www.americanhomes4rent.com under "Investor relations"



Date accessible through: August 20, 2021

About American Homes 4 Rent

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high-quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of March 31, 2021, we owned 53,984 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states.

Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at http://www.americanhomes4rent.com.

Contacts:

American Homes 4 Rent

Investor Relations

Nicholas Fromm

Phone: (855) 794-2447

Email: [email protected]

American Homes 4 Rent

Media Relations

Megan Grabos

Phone: (805) 413-5088

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent

Related Links

https://www.americanhomes4rent.com


TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Artel Electronics LLC ("Artel"), Central Asia's leading home appliance and electronics manufacturer and one of Uzbekistan's largest companies, has received a first-time Fitch rating of "B" with a stable outlook. Artel therefore becomes the first private manufacturing company in Uzbekistan to be assigned a rating from one of the "big three" international rating agencies.

In its publication, Fitch praised Artel's "leading domestic market position," "expected strong funds from operation" and "successful and long-term cooperation" with internationally renowned original equipment manufacturers. The rating follows a rigorous assessment of the company's financial and commercial position, and provides an independent benchmark of the its reliability as a borrower.

Recent business reforms in Uzbekistan have enabled the country's leading companies to restructure, access international financing opportunities and explore foreign markets. Capitalising on this, Artel Electronics has been successfully revising its existing processes to follow international best practice in financial reporting and ESG. This includes the introduction of a professional supervisory board and the audit of the company's consolidated IFRS accounts for the last three years by Deloitte.

Bektemir Murodov, CFO, Artel Electronics LLC, stated:

"We are delighted to have received our first rating from Fitch today. This moment follows months of hard work by the team at Artel as we work to align ourselves with the best global standards of corporate governance.

"The rating will help us deepen our cooperation with our partners, access new forms of financing, and is the natural next step towards entering international capital markets."

Artel was founded in 2011 with limited product lines. Since then, the company has grown to produce a wide range of household appliances and electronics, with over 10,000 employees operating in all regions of Uzbekistan. Artel currently exports its products to over 20 countries throughout the CIS and the Middle East, and the company is also the regional partner of Samsung and Viessmann.

For further information, please visit: www.artelgroup.org.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1571830/Artel_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Artel Electronics

Related Links

https://artelgroup.org


Astanza Laser was founded in Houston in 2010. Under new ownership, Astanza relocated its headquarters to Dallas, TX, in 2015. Already an established laser tattoo removal brand, Astanza then partnered with Asclepion Laser Technologies to expand into the world of aesthetics and introduce laser hair removal, skin resurfacing, vascular lesion removal, and more to its product line .

New Look Laser College , Astanza's training entity, still dominates as the world's leading laser tattoo removal training program and has certified countless students who have gone on to start their own successful laser businesses.

David Murrell, president and CEO of Astanza Laser, said he's proud of the strides Astanza has made so far and is excited for what's to come. "We couldn't be more thrilled and honored to win these awards. Our team works hard to deliver exceptional service across the board, and I'm extremely proud to be recognized for our hard work," Murrell said.

Astanza's core values truly reflect the mission of the company.

While all three awards are incredible recognitions, Murrell said if he had to choose which award he is most proud of, it would be the "Best Laser Company to Work For" award. "Earning this award shows our team takes our core values seriously and truly appreciates the time spent and efforts made. I couldn't be more proud of our Astanza family."

About ASTANZA:

Astanza is the leader in lasers for tattoo removal, hair removal, and additional aesthetic procedures. In addition to delivering cutting-edge medical laser devices such as the Duality, Trinity, MeDioStar, and DermaBlate systems, Astanza offers its customers a complete range of training, marketing, and business consulting services to achieve success in this growing field.

Astanza Laser is headquartered in Dallas, TX, with customers throughout North America and Europe. For product, investor, or press information, call (800) 364-9010, or visit https://astanzalaser.com. Connect with Astanza on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

About Aesthetic Everything:

Aesthetic Everything is the largest network of aesthetic professionals in the world.

VANESSA JULIA FLOREZ

CEO AND FOUNDER

AESTHETIC EVERYTHING

[email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/aestheticeverything1/

https://madmimi.com/s/5f43f11

SOURCE Aesthetic Everything

Related Links

https://aestheticeverything.com


COLUMBIA, Md., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, announced today that Astek Diagnostics Inc. (Astek), a Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) portfolio company was accepted into the Y Combinator (YC).

"It felt surreal to be chosen to participate in YC," said Mustafa Al-Adhami, CEO, Astek. "It is incredible when your idols become your mentors and we are so grateful for the chance to learn from them."

TEDCO announced today that Maryland-based Astek Diagnostics Inc. was accepted into the Y Combinator. Tweet this Astek Diagnostics is building a platform (Eugris) that guides physicians in prescribing appropriate antibiotics for patients with bacterial sepsis in one hour.

Astek, located in Baltimore, is a University of Maryland, Baltimore County spinout that is building a platform (Eugris) that guides physicians in prescribing appropriate antibiotics for patients with bacterial sepsis in one hour. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that affects more than 1 million patients a year in the United States and even more patients around the globe and is one of the leading causes of death. For patients suspected of sepsis or septic shock, rapid initiation of the correct antibiotic therapy is crucial: Every hour of delay increases mortality by 7-8%. A proof-of-concept prototype of the Astek diagnostic platform has been verified using commercial blood and archived clinical samples. The Eugris is projected to launch in the market 2023.

"We're excited to work with Mustafa as he develops Eugris. Sepsis -- which is the leading cause of death in US hospitals -- is an incredibly important problem to tackle and we're impressed with the progress he's already made to validate the technology," said Surbhi Sarna, YC.

YC is a startup accelerator, based in San Francisco, working with companies to refine their pitch to investors. A highly competitive program, the YC has an approximate 3% acceptance rate. After a three month long program, the startups present their companies at the final Demo Day. Y Combinator has invested in over 3,000 companies including Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, Reddit, Instacart, Docker and Gusto. The combined valuation of YC companies is over $300B.

"Astek received a $165,000 in grants from the MII Technology Assement Phase to derisk the technology followed by a $150,000 investment through MII's Company Formation Phase in 2020. We couldn't be more pleased to see their successes continue through this valuable program," said Dr. Arti Santhanam, executive director, TEDCO's MII. "We always want to see our portfolio companies taking the initative to continue to grow and the Y Combinator program is going to be invaluable to the future growth of this Maryland start-up."

To learn more about the Y Combinator program, visit https://www.ycombinator.com/.

For more details on eligibility and application requirements and to view MII's 2020 Annual Report please visit www.tedcomd.com/MII.

About TEDCO

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

Media Contact

Tammi Thomas

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, TEDCO

[email protected]

SOURCE TEDCO

Related Links

tedcomd.com


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning on July 12, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill ( www.BajaFresh.com ), the fast-casual Mexican food chain, is launching three new menu options featuring Impossible meat made from plants. The lineup of Impossible dishes  which taste and cook like beef will be available at participating stores nationwide.

The three Impossible varieties include:

Delicious Impossible meat made from plants is now available at Baja Fresh locations nationwide. Tweet this Three new menu options featuring Impossible meat made from plants.

Impossible Taco Combo  three tacos with warm, soft, grilled corn tortillas filled with delicious Impossible meat made from plants topped with shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, Baja salsa, and cotija cheese. Served with a side of black or pinto beans and Baja rice.

Fuego Impossible Burrito  Melted jack cheese, guacamole, black beans, delicious Impossible meat made from plants, Diablo salsa, Six Chiles salsa, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, shredded lettuce and sour cream.

Impossible Bowl  Baja rice topped with roasted veggies, delicious Impossible meat made from plants, sour cream, avocado, pico de gallo and tortilla strips.

Guests can also "Make It a Meal" by adding a regular-sized drink and pronto queso or pronto guacamole to any entree.

"We are thrilled to announce that Impossible Foods is coming to Baja Fresh locations nationwide," said Aubrey Caruth, senior director of marketing at Kahala Brands, parent company of Baja Fresh. "Many of our guests have been asking for plant-based protein options and we know Impossible is loved by meat eaters and vegans alike, so it was a natural decision for us to include it on our menu."

About Impossible Foods

Based in California's Silicon Valley, Impossible Foods makes delicious, nutritious meat and dairy products from plants  with a much smaller environmental footprint than meat from animals. The privately held company was founded in 2011 by Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at Stanford University and a former Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Investors include Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, Google Ventures, Horizons Ventures, UBS, Viking Global Investors, Temasek, Sailing Capital, and Open Philanthropy Project.

About Baja Fresh

Baja Fresh has been an industry leader in serving fresh, traditional fire-grilled Mexican food for over 30 years. Founded in 1990, Baja Fresh has grown to approximately 100 franchised restaurants across the U.S. In 2016, Baja Fresh became a Kahala Brands concept, with Kahala Brands being one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of nearly 30 fast-casual and quick-service restaurant concepts with approximately 3000 locations in roughly 35 countries.

SOURCE Baja Fresh
WESTPORT, Conn., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BHMS Investments, LP, through affiliated funds ("BHMS"), completed a material investment in King Insurance ("King" or the "Company"). Founded in 1974, King is a full-service insurance brokerage firm that provides a broad array of property & casualty as well as employee benefits solutions. Having completed seven acquisitions over the last year, the Company has expanded across Florida. BHMS' investment will primarily be utilized to continue King's acquisition growth in the southeastern U.S. and beyond.

Kevin L. Angelis, Managing Partner of BHMS, said, "Insurance distribution, and specifically retail brokerage, continues to be an attractive industry for us and we believe there to be considerable runway for aggregation. We are excited to partner with Chad King and look forward to working alongside him and the Company's team to continue King's growth."

BHMS has served as the first institutional investor in three similar insurance brokerage aggregation strategies: The Hilb Group ("THG") from 2011  2015, PCF Insurance Services ("PCF") from 2017 - early-2020 and currently with Inszone Insurance Services, LLC ("Inszone") since mid-2020.Over the four-year span of BHMS' investment, THG completed seventeen acquisitions across nine states, establishing the foundation for the agency to reach its present status as a top 20 insurance brokerage in the U.S. Similarly, over a three-year span, PCF completed twenty-one acquisitions across ten states, catapulting the agency on its way to its current top 30 insurance brokerage status. In its first year of partnership with BHMS, Inszone has completed eleven acquisitions in the western U.S., doubling in size to become a top 100 insurance brokerage.

"BHMS fit perfectly as a partner as we look to enter our Company's next stage of growth," said Chad King, Chief Executive Officer and continued significant shareholder of the Company. "We are thrilled to partner with them, and their experience and relationship set within the insurance brokerage industry will greatly accelerate our acquisition momentum."

Anthony S. Recine, Managing Director of BHMS, said, "King's acquisition track record, reputation in the brokerage community as well as Chad's expertise and leadership serve as an ideal fit for our firm's mandate. We are excited to invest alongside Chad and we look forward to a rewarding partnership."

About King:

Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, King is a full-service insurance brokerage firm which provides a broad array of property & casualty and employee benefits solutions. Additional information can be found at www.king-insurance.com.

About BHMS:

BHMS Investments, LP is a private investment firm focused on the North American middle market. The firm was founded in 2010 and is based in Westport, Connecticut. BHMS invests in a wide variety of control and structured equity opportunities ranging from consolidation strategies to conventional leveraged buyouts. The firm focuses on industries in which it has deep experience and relationships including Business & Insurance Services. BHMS is currently deploying capital from its most recent fund, which it closed in January 2021. Additional information can be found at www.bhmsinvestments.com.

For further information contact:

Chad King Kevin L. Angelis King Insurance BHMS Investments, LP Chief Executive Officer Managing Partner 352.415.8237 646.481.6214

SOURCE BHMS Investments, LP

Related Links

http://www.bhmsinvestments.com


OKLAHOMA CITY, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Peak Dispensary, an Oklahoma City, OK based chain of medical cannabis dispensaries, is excited to announce the company's CEO, Blake Cantrell, has been appointed to OMMA's Food Safety Standards Board. FSSB, more often referred to as the OMMA Advisory Board, is comprised of state officials, experts, and OMMA-licensed cannabis industry representatives.

The OMMA Advisory Board is appointed by Oklahoma Dept. of Health Commissioner Lance Frye, along with input and recommendations from OMMA Director Williams. The Advisory Board plays a key role in providing recommendations and insight to OMMA officials regarding rules governing the cannabis industry. During the rulemaking process, the Advisory Board gives crucial input as to how the proposed OMMA rules will  or won't  achieve their intended objectives in real-world application.

On the Board, Mr. Cantrell will have the opportunity to revise and make suggestions on regulations that directly affect Oklahoma's cannabis industry. "I'm honored and excited to have been appointed to the OMMA Advisory Board," said Mr. Cantrell. "OMMA receiving input from actively operating cannabis business owners during rulemaking is absolutely essential. It's encouraging that OMMA selected an Advisory Board which includes cannabis-industry professionals. I am truly humbled by this opportunity to help shape a better regulatory framework for our industry and for our state. With the right structure, I'm confident that Oklahoma can stay on the leading edge of what will ultimately be a multi-billion dollar industry in the near future."

About The Peak: The Peak Dispensary is an Oklahoma City based chain of locally-owned medical cannabis dispensaries. The Peak operates four dispensaries in the OKC metro area, with a brand new location in Moore opening this summer. To learn more, visit thepeakok.com or contact [email protected].

The Peak Edmond Dispensary, 925 W. I-35 Frontage Rd, Ste. 124, Edmond, OK 73034

The Peak 36th Street Dispensary, 3653 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73112

The Peak Quail Springs Dispensary, 3000 West Memorial, Suite 118, Oklahoma City, OK 73120

The Peak Bricktown Dispensary, 222 W. Sheridan Ave, Ste 2, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

The Peak Moore Dispensary, 705 SW 19th St, Suite 180, Moore, OK 73160 (Opening Summer 2021)

The Peak Dispensary

Corporate Office

[email protected]

405-534-0005

SOURCE The Peak Dispensary

Related Links

http://www.thepeakok.com


As executive vice president and CFO of the largest private health plan in Massachusetts and one of the largest independent, not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in the country, Santangelo is responsible for all financial, investment, real estate, actuarial and underwriting activities related to the financial management of nearly $8 billion in annual revenue and more than 2.8 million members.

Appointed as CFO in 2016, the first woman to hold the position in the company's 84-year history, Santangelo has ensured Blue Cross has remained financially strong while operating in an intensely competitive and highly regulated heath care marketplace. This year, Santangelo steered the company through some of the most challenging times in its history, playing a vital leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Andreana's expert stewardship of Blue Cross' financial health over the past five years has allowed us to better support our members, customers, clinical partners, employees, and the community," said Andrew Dreyfus, president and CEO of Blue Cross. "Her leadership has been more important than ever as she has helped the company overcome myriad challenges amid the uncertainty and volatility created by the pandemic. We are proud of her for receiving this well-deserved honor."

"I am excited and grateful for this honor," said Santangelo. "This recognition is a testament to the incredible work done by everyone at Blue Cross to navigate the challenges of the past year. As we continue to learn, adapt and move forward, I remain committed to doing my part to maintain Blue Cross' position as a leader in the health care industry and a pillar of the community."

In a video recorded for the Boston Business Journal, Santangelo notes her background inspired her success. Her family arrived in East Boston from their native Italy when she was seven. She learned English through a Boston Public Schools immersion program and went on to graduate as the salutatorian from East Boston High School before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Santangelo joined Blue Cross in 2003 as a vice president and senior actuary before becoming the company's chief actuary, with responsibility for pricing, informatics, reserving, and financial forecasting.

Santangelo serves as co-executive sponsor of Blue Cross' AzuLatinx employee resource group, helping to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workforce. She also serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of New England and the board of directors for Brockton-based HarborOne Bancorp, Inc.

This year's BBJ CFO of the Year awards will be held virtually on July 14.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable and equitable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.BlueLinks for Employers

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Related Links

http://www.bluecrossma.com


CHICAGO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) announced today that the Blue Door Neighborhood Center (BDNC) locations in Pullman, Morgan Park and South Lawndale are now open for in-person wellness classes and services. Blue Door Neighborhood Centers offer no-cost programming focused on physical, mental and social health, and are open to everyoneboth BCBSIL members and non-members alike.

The first BDNC opened in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood at 756 E. 111th Street in April 2019. The Morgan Park location, at 11840 S. Marshfield Ave. began offering virtual services starting in August 2020 and the South Lawndale Center, at 2551 W. Cermak Road, started operating virtually in September 2020.

"We didn't let the COVID-19 pandemic stop us from offering much-needed services at a time when people needed it most  opening our Morgan Park and South Lawndale centers in a virtual environment to bring programming right into people's homes when they couldn't come in-person," said Laron Taylor, director of BCBSIL's Blue Door Neighborhood Center program. "Now we're so excited to connect face-to-face while building on our commitment to ensuring hyperlocal access to resources that impact the health of our communities."

Overall, Blue Door Neighborhood Centers provided more than 700 virtual and outdoor opportunities since the start of the pandemic continuing to engage community members on-line and through socially-distant, outdoor events, such as our recent vaccination events, produce-box giveaways, pop-up fitness classes and Earth Week plant distributions.

With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and increased access to vaccinations, multiple live events are planned at each center to celebrate Reopening Week July 12  16, including fitness demonstrations, meet & greets with our staff, senior-focused events, pop-up farmers markets and giveaways. Go to BlueDoorCenterIL.com for details.

Each Blue Door Neighborhood Center will also be hosting a Block Party with free, family-centered back-to-school fun designed to engage and empower residents to take control of their health:

BDNC Pullman Block Party Saturday, July 17, 2021 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

BDNC Morgan Park Block Party Saturday, August 21, 2021 11a.m. - 3 p.m.



Pullman and Morgan Park events will feature:

Live DJ

Food & treats

School supplies (first come, first served while supplies last)

South Shore Drill Team and 40+ Double Dutch teams

Low-impact fitness demos and activities for the entire family

Community resource fair focusing on primary care

City of Chicago resources

resources Educational resources focused on mental health and financial literacy

BDNC South Lawndale Block Party Saturday, September 18, 2021 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Featuring:

Live music

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Care Van 

Ballet Folklorico

Balloon artist

Cooking demonstrations

Free produce boxes (first come, first served while supplies last)

Latin Fusion dance demonstrations

The centers are open in-person Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Note that no health care services or treatment are offered by BCBSIL at the Blue Door Neighborhood Centers. Virtual programming will continue to be offered Monday through Friday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.  2 p.m. All BDNC locations are closed on Sunday. Details on all class offerings and other event information is available at BlueDoorCenterIL.com.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is committed to expanding access to quality, cost-effective health care to as many people as possible in Illinois. BCBSIL is dedicated to innovation and exploring, nurturing and activating future possibilities to make the health care system work better for our members and our communities. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

Related Links

http://www.bcbsil.com


SAN FRANCISCO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While boards of directors are eager to return to in-person meetings, a new trend has emerged: many will incorporate virtual meetings in their long-term strategy. According to a new report from board governance software and services leader Boardspan, boards are now moving to a hybrid model, interspersing in-person and remote meetings with greater comfort.

Boardspan's Back to the Boardroom report, based on a June 2021 survey of 78 board members across the country from all industry sectors, also reveals that nearly all boards will have met in person by the end of Q1 2022, despite some concerns about their leadership's preparation ahead of such meetings.

"Board members are genuinely looking forward to returning to the boardroom," said Abby Adlerman, CEO of Boardspan. "Nearly 18 months of virtual meetings has meant missing out on important face-to-face interactions that significantly influence effective board dynamics, alignment and collaboration. Nonetheless, boards have shown their adaptability and a material number are embracing new meeting strategies going forward."

Some key report highlights:

While less than 20% of boards have met in person in the first half of 2021, 100% of respondents expect to have met by Q1 2022.

One-quarter of the boards surveyed have already adopted a hybrid approach with virtual and in-person board meetings, while one-third will move committees to a hybrid meeting model.

Nearly 90% of boards are planning new safety protocols or reserve the right to do so

Three-quarters of respondents felt satisfied with how preparations to return are being handled although one-quarter are dissatisfied with leadership's actions, thus far.

For important questions that board members should consider as they move back to the boardroom and the complete survey findings, read the full report here.

About Boardspan

Boardspan is the leading provider of digital governance solutions for boards across all sectors. Our cloud-based assessments, dashboards, benchmarking analytics and governance education programs complement our board search and advisory services to deliver a holistic approach to governance. Boards of all sizes and stages rely on Boardspan to deliver analytics, insights and outcomes that improve their effectiveness and performance. Clients include KKR, The Kellogg Foundation, Ingersoll Rand, Farfetch, McAfee, Beyond Meat, Box, e.l.f. Beauty, Satellite Healthcare and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

For more information:

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SOURCE Boardspan

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NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Key takeaways

Transformation or large-scale initiatives in the works CEOs check off key DEI efforts as "completed" or 2021 priorities Fortune

Seventy-seven percent of CEOs say they expect their organization's growth to be strong over the next 12 months.

More than half of CEOs say that innovation/new products or application of technology will be a top-three driver of business success, and the vast majority consider cybersecurity moderately or highly relevant to their CEO agenda.

More than 80% of CEOs intend to increase spend on technology modernization over the next 12 months, and nearly three quarters say they are undergoing or preparing for digital and workforce/talent transformation.

Talent is the biggest challenge that CEOs say they face today.

Why it matters to CEOs

The Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey series tracks perspectives and actions of CEOs from the world's largest and most influential companies. The survey gives key insights into CEOs' priorities, challenges and expectations across a diverse set of industries, including technology, finance and health care.

Overview

In January, CEOs described 2021 as the year of hope. Six months later, the latest results from the "Summer 2021 Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey" appear to show that their hope has evolved into bold plans for growth, innovation, digital transformation and workforce/talent transformation. Also on their agenda is strong attention to sustainability, continued progress on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and elevated concern for cybersecurity and all things talent.

Growth expectations

CEOs recognize the emerging trends and expectations that will be important for their business and have quickly pivoted their priorities and objectives to align with new realities. Presently, 30% of CEOs expect their organization's growth to be "very strong" over the next 12 months, while 47% expect "strong" growth, and 23% anticipate "modest" growth. No CEOs surveyed expect weak growth, signaling that the larger business community is more confident of their organization's position relative to the uncertainty of 2020.

What do CEOs expect to fuel their organization's business success over the next 12 months? When asked to pick their top three drivers, more than half of CEO respondents give roughly equal credit to innovation or new products and the application of technology (such as digital transformation or artificial intelligence). Nearly 4 in 10 expect accelerated or pent-up consumer demand to drive business success this year, and 1 in 3 CEOs expect to reap the benefits of increased operational efficiencies (e.g., hybrid workforce).

Digital transformation and innovation

In examining how the pandemic impacted strategic objectives, operations and expectations, the report shows that CEOs plan to divert more money to those areas which they deem crucial to their business success. Nearly 3 in 4 CEOs say their organizations are undergoing or preparing for digital transformation. Consistent with that priority, 4 in 5 CEOs expect their organizations to increase the level of spending in technology modernization and more than two-thirds of CEOs plan to increase spending on artificial intelligence. Not surprising given the increased emphasis on technology, 86% of CEO respondents say that cybersecurity is moderately or highly relevant to their agenda.

Key quotes

"CEOs are optimistic about the year ahead, expecting strong growth fueled by innovation and pent-up consumer demand. Key to achieving their growth goals will be an intense focus on sustaining the momentum of their digital transformations, as well as optimizing new workplace models to attract and retain a world-class workforce. All things tech and talent will dominate the CEO agenda throughout 2021 and beyond." Joe Ucuzoglu, chief executive officer, Deloitte US

"Technological transformation remains top of mind for CEOs as they emerge from the pandemic lockdown, and the battle for talent; cybersecurity; diversity and inclusion; and climate change also remain high on their agendas. While three quarters of the CEOs acknowledge that corporate taxes are likely to rise, tax and public policy don't seem to be first-order concerns." Alan Murray, chief executive officer, Fortune

Workforce transformation

With technological advancement and digital disruption in mind, CEOs are setting their sights on multiple possibilities for transforming their organizations. But their desired outcomes may only be achievable with a transformed workforce: one that is even more highly skilled, diverse, agile, and engaged and prioritizes well-being and purpose more than ever before.

When asked about the biggest challenge they face today, CEOs named one above all others: talent, in nearly every form. Attracting, hiring, retaining, developing, growing and engaging talent; succession planning; the war for talent; and more constituted one out of every four responses. Likely with that focus in mind, 57% of CEOs anticipate increased spending on upskilling or reskilling their workforce over the next 12 months, and 71% of CEOs say their organization is undergoing or preparing for workforce/talent transformation (second only to digital transformation, at 74%). Just under half of CEOs say that employee sentiment is a top-three factor in deciding whether to take a stand on social or societal issues.

Integral to talent is DEI. In June 2020, 62% of CEOs said they planned to make policy changes in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. In January 2021, the CEO commitment to DEI still appeared strong. At that time, 94% of CEOs agreed that DEI was a personal strategic priority, 90% of CEOs agreed that their organization aspired to be an industry leader in DEI, and 72% of CEOs planned to disclose DEI metrics to the public. Fast forward to June 2021, and CEOs are already claiming victory on a few items. More than half of CEOs say that they have completed the following: building DEI into their strategic priorities/goals as CEO; incorporating DEI into corporate strategy, not just talent strategy; setting measurable targets for progress towards DEI goals as an executive team; and disclosing DEI metrics to their employees.

Methodology

Fielded between June 1-7, 2021, 110 CEOs representing more than 15 industries answered 13 questions intended to explore their expectations, thoughts and priorities for the next 12 months. Surveyed CEOs include Fortune 1000 leaders, Global CEOs, and CEOs who attend Fortune events.

Check out the full report here: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/chief-executive-officer/articles/ceo-survey.html.

Connect with us on Twitter @DeloitteUS or on LinkedIn @Deloitte.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 7,000 private companies. Our people come together for the greater good and work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today's marketplace  delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthier society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Building on more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's more than 330,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

SOURCE Deloitte

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HOUSTON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) ("Cabot" or the "Company") announced today that it plans to host its second quarter 2021 earnings conference call on Friday, July 30, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). The Company plans to issue a press release reporting its second quarter 2021 financial and operating results earlier that morning.

To access the live audio webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of Cabot's website at www.cabotog.com. A replay of the call will also be available on the Company's website.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading independent natural gas producer with its entire resource base located in the continental United States. For additional information, visit the Company's website at www.cabotog.com.

SOURCE Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation

Related Links

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Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19

The cancer monoclonal antibodies market will witness a neutral impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase in 2021 as compared to 2020.

With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renew phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal.

This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to:

Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in.

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Download the Post-Pandemic Business Planning Structure

Key Considerations for Market Forecast:

Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior

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Related Report on Healthcare Industries:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Drugs Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Autoimmune Drugs Market by Therapy Area and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Top 3 Cancer Monoclonal Antibodies Market Participants:

Amgen Inc.

The company offers BLINCYTO, which is blinatumomab, bispecific CD19 directed CD3 T cell engager, indicated for the treatment of B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Relapsed or refractory B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The company also offers Vectibix, which is a fully human monoclonal antibody specific to the epidermal growth factor receptor used for the treatment of wild-type RAS metastatic colorectal cancer.

Astellas Pharma Inc.

The company's product brands include XTANDI, Prograf, Betanis Myrbetriq BETMIGA, and others. The company by working jointly with Seattle Genetics develops and offers Padcev drug to treat locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer.

AstraZeneca Plc

The company generates revenue by developing and manufacturing pharmaceutical products. It offers IMFINZI, which is a human immunoglobulin G1 kappa monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction of PD L 1 with the PD 1 and CD80 molecules used for the treatment of lung cancer and bladder cancer.

If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE! Get report snapshot here to get detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown:

https://www.technavio.com/report/cancer-monoclonal-antibodies-market-industry-analysis

Cancer Monoclonal Antibodies Market 2021-2025: Segmentation

Cancer monoclonal antibodies market is segmented as below:

Type

Naked Monoclonal Antibodies



Conjugated And Bi-specific Monoclonal Antibodies

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



ROW

The cancer monoclonal antibodies market is driven by an increase in demand for ADCs and a strong R and D pipeline. In addition, awareness and initiatives taken by vendors and the government are expected to trigger the cancer monoclonal antibodies market toward witnessing a CAGR of over 8.23% during the forecast period.

Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of cancer monoclonal antibodies market, Request Free Sample @ https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR45482

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

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

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Report: www.technavio.com/report/cancer-monoclonal-antibodies-market-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio

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CANNES, France, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a presumed political jab, the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival spread straw on the red carpet in the feet of author and political commentator Iveta Cherneva, at the Cannes red carpet premiere of the movie Stillwater, starring Matt Damon, on Thursday. Photo: https://mobile.twitter.com/IvetaChern...

The symbolism of the straw on the Cannes red carpet is still unclear. One interpretation is the suggestion of a "strawman".

"Just as I reached the red carpet on Thursday to see Matt Damon's new movie, the French authorities searched my car and shut the trunk loud. This is happening at the Cannes red carpet. The organizers spread straw in my feet at the spot on the red carpet where I posed the photographers. What are the French trying to tell me?," Cherneva wondered.

Iveta Cherneva is a critic of French President Emmanuel Macron. She has criticized him in political commentary for calling NATO "brain-dead" and for suggesting that Bulgarians in France are criminals.

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2019/11/14...



https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2019/11/10...



Despite having tickets, Cherneva was blocked and barred from attending two afterparties that follow the Cannes red carpet premieres, including the afterparty of the opening ceremony.

"I had purchased tickets but I was barred last minute from attending not one but two afterparties. It was obvious. I believe all of this was political," Iveta Cherneva said.

The BEF ticket agency confirmed in writing with the author that she was barred from Matt Damon's afterparty due to her "public activities".

Cherneva is also a critic of the US government, including President Biden, US Secretary of State Blinken and FBI director Christopher Wray.

The Chopard cocktail party at the Hotel Martinez rooftop on 10 July was not any different. "The party was a total disappointment; there were no A-list celebrities, no performers and no media and photographers," Cherneva said. The organizer, Chopard's co-president and creative director, Caroline Scheufele was spotted wearing a T-shirt and tights. She walked around barefoot, sitting on the floor from time to time to feed her dog food from the guests' tables. Video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0lYioRi...

"It was a total joke. There was something wrong with the Cannes Film Festival this year," Iveta Cherneva added.

Cherneva is in Cannes to comment on Oliver Stone's new movie "JFK" premiering on 11 July to reveal new facts about the coverup of the murder of the American president JFK. Stone's theory supported by facts is that the US establishment including the CIA and the Pentagon murdered Kennedy and covered up the conspiracy with the help of the FBI and the White House. The movie cannot find a distributor in the United States due to its controversial and ground-breaking nature.

SOURCE Iveta Chernevas Press Office
CHICAGO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlton W. Lenoir, Sr., has been named Executive Director of the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund (CTPF or the Fund). His appointment will be effective on August 2, 2021. Lenoir was the Chief Benefits Officer at Illinois Teachers' Retirement System for the last five years. A national search was conducted by EFL Associates.

Carlton Lenoir, Sr.

A results-oriented pension fund professional with over 32 years of executive and operational experience, Lenoir began his CTPF career as an Active Accounts Counselor and worked his way up to a management position. He went on to hold leadership roles with public pension plans in Georgia and Illinois. His experience includes all phases of public pension fund administration, including the implementation of three enterprise-wide pension administration systems over an l8-year period.

A graduate of Chicago Public School (CPS) Whitney M. Young High School, Lenoir earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from American Intercontinental University and a J.D. from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School. He completed the Executive Leadership Development Program at the University of Georgia Leadership Institute, earned a Retirement Plan Administrator Certificate (RPA) from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits & Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and recently completed his Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) certification.

CTPF Board of Trustees President Jeffery Blackwell stated, "The Trustees are pleased to welcome Mr. Lenoir back to the Fund. He has dedicated his career to public service and has extensive experience administering public pension funds. His senior level financial experience coupled with his institutional knowledge, operational expertise, strategic background, and collaborative style will serve the Fund well." Blackwell continued, "It has been an honor to serve as the Interim Executive Director of the Fund during this transition period. It has always been my priority to ensure the stability and success of the Fund. Mr. Lenoir has a tremendous skillset, and I am confident that he is the right leader to carry us forward and continue this important work."

"I have always had a desire to serve the public school system. It is where I got my start and that played a major role in my career development. When I left CTPF in 2005, I believe it was to prepare for this opportunity," stated Executive Director Carlton W. Lenoir, Sr. "I deeply understand and appreciate the need to protect and enhance the future economic well-being of members and beneficiaries through best practices in management, investments, and member services."

A national search for a permanent Executive Director commenced after the departure of Executive Director Charles A. Burbridge in October 2020, who announced plans to return to Georgia. Board of Trustees President Jeffery Blackwell became Interim Executive Director in March 2021, following the January 2021 retirement of Deputy Executive Director Mary Cavallaro.

About CTPF

Established by the Illinois state legislature in 1895, CTPF celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2020. The $12.9 billion Fund, the oldest in Illinois, manages members' assets and administers benefits. The Fund serves more than 89,000 members and provides pension and health insurance benefits to more than 28,000 annuitants. About 90% of CTPF members, including 83% of annuitants, live in Illinois. CTPF makes $1.4 billion in annual pension payments in Illinois, which help generate $2.0 billion in total economic impact and supports more than 13,270 jobs in the State.

PRESS CONTACT:

Michelle L. Holleman

Director of Communications

[email protected]

312.604.1234

www.ctpf.org

SOURCE The Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund

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Consistently ranked among the strongest brands in the world, according to Brand Finance, Ferrari's presence adds some power to the region's car scene. The newly renovated, 15,500 square foot facility will provide an immersive customer experience complete with state-of-the-art amenities including a 12x18 foot digital display wall, atelier design studio and customer lounge. The 2,500 square foot experiential showroom will prominently feature the latest models and the 5,700 square foot service center is equipped with five service bays and the area's only Ferrari-authorized technicians.

"We are both proud and humbled, as a family-owned Minnesota-based business, to represent the iconic Ferrari brand in Minneapolis. Both existing and future Ferrari customers can rest assured they will get the very best levels of customer service they may already have become accustomed to in purchasing and servicing their vehicles across our other dealerships," said Chase Hawkins, President & CEO at Carousel Motor Group.

"We are pleased to welcome the Pohlad Companies represented by the Carousel Motor Group to the Ferrari family, and wish Chase and his team much success in representing the Ferrari brand in this vibrant and important market where we have an established and loyal client base", said Matteo Torre, President of Ferrari North America.

Twin Cities Performance will be open for sales Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The service and parts departments will be open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The all-new Ferrari store is along the premium auto corridor at 9191 Wayzata Boulevard. For more information visit www.minneapolis.ferraridealers.com or call (763)-330-1080.

About Carousel Motor Group

Carousel Motor Group is an operating company of the Pohlad Companies, a diverse group of businesses united by a proud legacy of creating value and opportunities for our employees, businesses and communities. Formed in May 2008, Carousel Motor Group operates eight Twin Cities automotive dealerships, including Twin Cities Performance, Coon Rapids Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Audi Minneapolis, Audi St. Paul, BMW of Minnetonka, Chevrolet North Branch, Porsche of St. Paul, and Porsche of Minneapolis. To learn more, visit www.carouselmotorgroup.com.

SOURCE Carousel Motor Group
ROCKVILLE, Md. and MIAMI, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ceros Financial Services announced that it has appointed Cosme Ordonez as Managing Director, Investment Banking Healthcare. Dr. Ordonez, who has more than 20 years of experience in capital markets, equity research and investment banking, will be involved with due diligence of corporate finance and capital raising activities for Ceros Capital Markets.

Ceros focuses on investment in emerging medical technology and medical device companies, with an emphasis on start-ups in South Florida. Dr. Ordonez will work closely with Ceros' Miami office, said Mark Goldwasser, CEO of Ceros Financial Services.

"Cosme comes to us with extensive credentials and deep experience spanning both finance and medicine, as well as familiarity with early-stage companies. He is also multi-lingual, fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, which will facilitate our team's research and investment advice for LatAm investors and companies. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to pursue strategic investments in promising and disruptive medtech start-ups," Goldwasser said.

Prior to Ceros, Dr. Ordonez was Managing Director, Senior Biotechnology Analyst at National Securities Corp. Previously, he served with Noble Capital Markets, where in his most recent position he led the Life Sciences Equity Research team. He joined Noble as a Managing Director on the Healthcare Investment Banking team, assisting emerging biotechnology companies to raise capital through private and public offerings.

Dr. Ordonez was the co-founder of Ciclofilim Pharmaceuticals, a startup biotech based in San Diego. Previously, he was Director of Healthcare Investments at Difference Capital, a merchant and venture capital investment bank.



Dr. Ordonez has a Doctor in Medicine degree and a Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine from McGill University and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. As an equity research analyst he achieved top rankings form Brendan Wood International and Starmine. Dr. Ordonez has published on numerous topics in the areas of oncology, virology and immunology. He holds Series 79, 7, 86 and 87 FINRA licenses.

Ceros is targeting to raise $100 million over the next twelve months for investment in early-stage medical technology and medical device companies, Goldwasser said. In the past 14 months, Ceros has completed about $65 million in transactions in the medtech sector.

Earlier this year, the firm co-led a $96 million financing round for Fort Lauderdale-based Memic Innovative Surgery to support commercialization of Memic's Hominis robotic-assisted platform, which features miniature humanoid-shaped robotic arms designed to replicate a surgeon's motions. Other Ceros investments include OrthoSensor, which has developed a sensor-assisted device used during knee surgery that sends real-time data to an operating room monitor, assisting surgeons' decision-making; Dermasensor, which designs non-invasive tools that use machine learning and spectroscopy to evaluate skin lesions for cancer; and Insightec, which uses guided focused ultrasound equipment for non-invasive brain surgery.

About Ceros Financial Services, Inc.

Ceros Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC (www.cerosfs.com) offers a comprehensive asset management and mutual fund suite for financial advisors. Ceros services include RIA custody, hybrid advisors, corporate RIA, mutual fund advisory and distribution, and an outsourced trade desk. In addition, Ceros Capital Markets, a division of Ceros Financial, is a digital and traditional platform for the distribution of primary offerings in medical devices and secondaries in unicorns via Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).

Investing in the securities markets involves risk, including loss of principal. Private Placements are not appropriate for all investors. Most if not all investments in Private Placements are illiquid and many such investments are speculative in nature. Investing in a Private Placement can result in a significant risk of loss of principal. Risk factors for private offerings are listed in the Private Placement Memorandum; and should be read carefully prior to investing.

SOURCE Ceros Financial Services, Inc.

Related Links

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BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CORE  ( Children of Restaurant Employees ), a national non-profit organization that provides financial help to food and beverage employees with children, is launching its Summer of Hope campaign. The campaign is a month-long initiative, spanning from July 12 to August 15, and encourages nationwide generosity. Achieving the target goal of $50,000 enables CORE to provide even more grants to food and beverage employees with children during times of personal crisis.

In coordination with the Summer of Hope launch, CORE updated its website with the first glimpse at its re-branding initiative, which includes the CORE Hopeful palette, a bright color palette symbolizing CORE's hope to help food and beverage industry families. The new branding reflects who is at the center of the organization's heart - food and beverage employees with children.

CORE knows that restaurants are the cornerstones of our communities, so the impact of Summer of Hope goes well beyond a simple charitable donation. When families are awarded CORE grants, the funds may cover rent or mortgage, utilities, childcare, prescriptions, medical supplies, and more. With over half of grantees being single parents - a CORE grant can provide stability for a family.

"When it comes to giving, every dollar counts. While $5 may seem like a small amount to many, collectively and as an industry community, we can make a real impact in the lives of restaurant employees with children who face a qualifying circumstance," stated Sheila Bennett , Executive Director of CORE. "Summer of Hope is an opportunity for people to serve individuals that serve them every day and use the power of generosity to make a positive difference. We are grateful to our longstanding partner Jose Cuervo Tequila and thrilled to welcome new partner PepsiCo to the CORE family of supporters for the Summer of Hope campaign."

Week of Service

CORE will be celebrating the final week of the Summer of Hope campaign with a Week of Service. The Week of Service is an opportunity for people nationwide to rally together to bring awareness to food and restaurant employees about the services available to support them. During the week of August 8-15, 2021, participants are encouraged to choose a date to distribute CORE Back of the House posters featuring information about the non-profit's programs to five of their favorite local restaurants. These posters can be ordered via a link at COREgives.org, or stop by CORE's headquarters on August 9 for a quick bite and pick up Back of the House posters before going out in the community to distribute! Participants can post an image on their social media with #COREGives for a chance to be featured on CORE's social media platforms.

"Raising awareness is just as critical as raising funds. We want food and beverage employees in our community to know that help is available for them when they need it," added Bennett. "We call upon the general public to bring flyers to their favorite eateries across town, so food and beverage employees know to turn to CORE when facing a crisis."

CORE awards grants throughout the year to families that face a health crisis or natural disaster, in all 50 U.S. States, with the average grant amount being $2,600. CORE is thankful to our presenting sponsor Jose Cuervo Tequila for its continuing support. To keep up with CORE's Summer of Hope fundraising efforts, visit www.COREgives.org to learn about the organization, donate or apply for relief.

About Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE)

CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees, a national 501(c)3, is dedicated to serving food and beverage service employees with children when either the working parent or child is navigating through medical diagnosis, illness, injury, a death, or impacted by a natural disaster. Founded by food and beverage service industry veterans, CORE helps hospitality service employees with children bridge the financial gap when either the parent or child deals with a health crisis or natural disaster. Since 2013, the organization has grown into a nationally recognized non-profit that has helped over 1500 families in 50 states, including DC and Puerto Rico. For grant qualification, to apply or to refer a family for grant consideration, please visit COREgives.org.

About Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo is a Mexican family-owned brand since 1795 and the largest producer of tequila throughout Mexico and around the world. Utilizing craftmanship handed down through 10 generations of the Cuervo family, the Jose Cuervo portfolio of tequilas includes Jose Cuervo Especial, the world's best-selling tequila, Jose Cuervo Tradicional, the original 100% agave tequila, Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia, Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita, Authentic Jose Cuervo Margaritas, Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix and Playamar, a tequila-based hard seltzer. For more information, visit www.cuervo.com.

Trademarks owned by Becle, S.A.B. de C.V. 2021 Proximo, Jersey City, NJ. Please drink responsibly.

###

Media Contact:

Brianne Barbakoff

[email protected]

786-605-9228

SOURCE Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE)

Related Links

https://coregives.org/


NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exhale Wellness , with their customer-oriented and quality centric ethos, is a hemp company that provides consumers with the best delta-8 products on the market . So Exhale Wellness launched their dab concentrates post 710 Day.

Delta 8 wax Delta-8 products

Only recently has the 7/10 day turned into a traditional day for cannabis lovers. It first started when Washington legalized weed, which helped normalize the use of THC and CB extracts, and made them more readily available on the market. To promote this, Hemp companies like Exhale Wellness have tremendously helped, offering great sales on their products.

Before legalization, it was dangerous to make cannabis oils, as it can be a highly combustible process. There were also no safety regulations or quality assurance, so people did not know what they were taking. However, Exhale Wellness changed this by providing quality Delta-8 products that are all lab tested. All products produced by Exhale are created from natural hemp and do not contain any preservatives.

In addition, their Delta-8 shatters , which are concentrated dabs, are tested by a third party and do not have any additives or preservatives in them. So you do not have to worry about buying synthetic or fake dabs when using Exhales products. This week, they have a huge sale on their official site.

People are simply in love with Exhale Wellness's THC products. Heck Wm, a consumer from New York, loves the Delta-8 Dabs from Exhale. He claims, "Dabs are so much better with Delta-8 THC. I would sometimes feel paranoid when taking other dabs, since I wasn't sure what was in them. But with Exhales products, I smoke up with a clear head, knowing all their products are made from natural ingredients. Their customer service is pretty great too; my order usually arrives in less than two days. Even if there is ever a problem, they always resolve it in no time. I 100% recommend Exhale Wellness to anyone looking to initiate themselves into the world of cannabis."

Exhale Wellness is best known for its premium Delta-8 products . With products ranging from gummy bears to THC cigarettes, Exhale has it all. In addition, the organization guarantees quality assurance, and gives customers a full spectrum of Delta-8 products that other companies cannot compete with. With the big sale going on, this is the best time for anyone to stock up on Delta-8 products and find out for themselves.

Contact:

Sean Mendis

85271343544

[email protected]Com

SOURCE Exhale Wellness
LEHI, Utah, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DigiCert, Inc ., the world's leading provider of TLS/SSL and PKI solutions, today announced that it is now issuing Verified Mark Certificates, compliant with the BIMI standard and available for purchase at scale via DigiCert CertCentral , DigiCert partners and at www.digicert.com . VMCs issued by DigiCert enable companies to add their trademarked logos to emails they send to their customers to increase recognition, open and engagement rates and brand impressions, while bringing greater trust and transparency to email via DMARC. Gmail now recognizes VMCs and displays company logos in the user's inbox .

Paired with the required DMARC enforcement, VMCs are a critical step in a series of security measures that help strengthen email security, build trust in the inbox and help users associate the brand logo with the company they expect to communicate with. VMCs:

Allow companies to place a verified, trademarked logo alongside their email.

Enable customers to see the sender's brand in the inbox of their mobile client before opening the email.

Provide marketers an affordable way to achieve more brand impressions.

"Validating identity and demonstrating trust are hallmarks of DigiCert's business," said DigiCert Senior Director of Business Development Dean Coclin. "With BIMI and VMC from DigiCert for DMARC-verified domains, organizations can now demonstrate to their customers a higher level of email security. DigiCert VMCs not only help reduce instances of spam and spoofing customers receive, because of the DMARC requirement, but they also enable organizations to go beyond displaying default email addresses to increase engagement rates and display their brands more prominently."

VMCs are available as part of the BIMI standard, which seeks to increase adoption of DMARC as a key email security mechanism. By utilizing VMCs secured by DMARC, organizations demonstrate their commitment to email security and protection of customer privacy. DMARC compliance provides robust security against spoofing and phishing attacks, helping organizations better secure their emails to protect users and brands from costly abuse. Email clients leverage DMARC, an internet standard for authenticating domains to help ensure that email comes from the domain specified.

As an authorized provider of VMCs, DigiCert's leading validation and issuance teams now provide the company and logo verification required for BIMI, following a one-year pilot with the BIMI Working Group. Several prominent companies participated with DigiCert in the Gmail BIMI/VMC pilot and are excited about being able to display their logos in email inboxes. DigiCert has also partnered with Valimail to streamline DMARC compliance for companies wanting to use VMCs.

"BIMI and VMC are a significant win for customers and brands of all sizes. DMARC ensures customers don't get spoofed email from the brands they trust, and BIMI ensures brands get increased impressions, open rates and brand trust," said Seth Blank, Chair of the AuthIndicators (BIMI) Working Group and Chief Product Officer at Valimail. "We're thrilled to have DigiCert's help in bringing VMC and BIMI to the world."

"BIMI authenticates emails using DMARC, a key protection against email phishing, spoofing and other attacks," explained Gareth Mandel, CEO of eharmony. "We worked closely with our IT department to make sure our organization enforced DMARC so that VMCs could be installed and display our verified logo. Our partnership on this project has even further strengthened the connection between our CRM and IT teams."

"With the display of validated brand logos and DMARC enforcement, VMCs improve email security and increase open rates," said Ikko Furuki, CEO of Cybervision Hosting Co., Ltd. "Users can have confidence in knowing which company is sending them the email, which we feel will help protect our customers and increase their loyalty. With the global support of DigiCert and Gmail, we will soon be able to offer VMC in the regions where we do business."

DigiCert VMCs are available today at any scale via DigiCert CertCentral, DigiCert partners or digicert.com . CertCentral offers automation for organizations to issue, discover, renew and revoke certificates, to drive innovation of manageable, enterprise-scale security. Its intuitive user interface and API-first approach enable easy certificate management at scale. CertCentral customers have access to DigiCert's global support staff for quick validation and support in 11 native languages in their local time zone as they work to understand and deploy VMCs.

Companies can start today adding their logo to their emails by visiting DigiCert Verified Mark Certificates.

Additionally, DigiCert has prepared several materials to enable a smooth process:

About DigiCert, Inc.

DigiCert is the world's leading provider of TLS/SSL, PKI and security solutions that enable digital trust for data, devices, code, documents and users. DigiCert is modernizing the way PKI is managed with the DigiCert ONE platform. DigiCert ONE reimagines PKI to address all certificate-based security use cases with flexible, scalable and automated workflow managers, including the award-winning TLS certificate manager, CertCentral . Nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and 98 of the 100 largest global banks choose DigiCert for its digital transformation solutions, including for securing 5G and the post-quantum computing age, and for its five-star customer support. For the latest DigiCert news and updates, visit digicert.com or follow @digicert .

SOURCE DigiCert, Inc.

Related Links

www.digicert.com


WASHINGTON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning his week-long visit to Washington, His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash highlighted the strength and continuity of the UAE-US partnership while intensifying cooperation on pressing global challenges like climate, COVID, and nuclear proliferation.

"The US and UAE are close friends and important allies who share the same outlook for a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East," said HE Dr. Gargash, diplomatic advisor to UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, "The UAE will work with the US and other allies to pursue diplomatic solutions to our shared challenges."

In briefings with senior Biden Administration officials, Members of Congress, and foreign policy analysts, HE Dr. Gargash will reinforce the UAE's firm commitment to de-escalation and diplomacy in a common quest for a more peaceful and prosperous region. Now representing the UAE before a fourth US President, UAE Minister of State and Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba will join Dr. Anwar throughout his visit.

HE Dr. Gargash and US officials will also consider ways to deepen cooperation in order to resolve conflicts and address pressing global challenges, such as climate change, global COVID-19 vaccine distribution and economic recovery efforts. Along those lines, increasing bilateral trade and investment is a key priority for the UAE, which is already the US' largest export destination in the Middle East, and a significant investor in the US.

His visit to Washington will be the first by a senior UAE diplomat since the signing of the Abraham Accords last fall, which normalized UAE relations with Israel. HE Dr. Gargash will discuss ways to strengthen and expand upon the accords with his US counterparts.

On Thursday, HE Dr. Gargash, the former UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, will speak at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Assistant Minister for Political Affairs Lana Nusseibeh will join HE Dr. Gargash at the event to announce a new diplomatic training initiative with SAIS.

Media Contact:

Lamiyae Jbari

[email protected]

202 243 2464

SOURCE Embassy of the United Arab Emirates

Related Links

http://www.uae-embassy.org


NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Global has issued a timely report on the current state of the intermodal chassis market one year after freight traffic reached its lowest level of the ongoing pandemic. The report is accompanied by an industry primer developed to assist lenders in better familiarizing themselves with the import and export logistics of containerized freight.

Q2 2021 Intermodal Chassis Market Update - authored by Derek Brennan and Brendan Corboy of Hilco Valuation Services - explains that while there was a notable lull in the chassis market during Q1 and Q2 2020, recovery was swift in the second half of the year with performance finishing nearly as strong as it did in 2018, preceding the introduction of industry tariffs.

"Midway through 2021, the challenge for providers has become how to effectively forecast demand and maintain the flexibility to adjust capacity in order to remain competitive and profitable," says Brennan. "We're seeing U.S. chassis providers pivoting to operating models that include private, proprietary pools to better serve customers who want and need to ensure that they have chassis precisely when and where they need them as the market recovers," adds Corboy. "Large IEPs have also been investing significantly in both new and refurbished chassis this year."

The report also points out that while intermodal volumes could grow by 8% overall in 2021, a downward shift is likely to occur beginning in third quarter 2021 as more North American consumers return to restaurants, bars and vacationing, resulting in somewhat less discretionary spending on goods that require transport. This slowing effect may be somewhat mitigated, however, by typical year-end holiday shipping.

To obtain a copy of the report or schedule an interview with either Derek Brennan or Brendan Corboy, contact Karen Bubrowski Marketing Director at [email protected].

About Hilco Global : Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com) is a privately held diversified financial services company and the world's preeminent authority on maximizing the value of assets for both healthy and distressed companies. Hilco Global operates as a holding company comprised of over twenty specialized business units that work to help companies understand the value of their assets and then monetize that value. Hilco Global has a 30-year track record of acting as an advisor, agent, investor and/or principal in any transaction. Hilco Global works to deliver the best possible result by aligning interests with clients and providing them strategic insight, advice, and, in many instances, the capital required to complete the deal. Hilco Global is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has 600 professionals operating on five continents.

SOURCE Hilco Global

Related Links

www.hilcoglobal.com


SCHAUMBURG, Ill., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, the Emergency Nurses Association announced a record 33 emergency departments will be honored as recipients of the ENA Lantern Award  the only award dedicated to recognizing emergency departments.

"It's exciting to see a record number of emergency departments being recognized for their incredible work," said ENA President Ron Kraus, MSN, RN, EMT, CEN, ACNS-BC, TCRN. "Each and every emergency nurse at these EDs should be proud of elevating the profession, their hospital, and their care for patients. I look forward to celebrating them at Emergency Nursing 2021."

The ENA Lantern Award recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate excellent practice and innovative performance through leadership, education, advocacy and research. When an ED applies, it's encouraged to share stories that highlight their commitment to care as well as initiatives that improve the well-being of nursing staff. Applications are reviewed and selected by the ENA Lantern Award Committee.

This year's recipients were recognized for many accomplishments, including efforts to improve patient mortality from severe sepsis and septic shock; better clinical outcomes and quality of life for stroke patients; and developing efficiencies for the triage process during high patient volume times.

The 2021 ENA Lantern Award recipients are:

Adventist Health White Memorial Emergency Department  Los Angeles, California

Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department  Downers Grove, Illinois

Allegheny Health Network Jefferson Hospital Emergency Department  Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania

Boston Children's Hospital Emergency Department  Boston, Massachusetts

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Emergency Department  Atlanta, Georgia

Children's of Alabama Hospital Emergency Department  Birmingham, Alabama

Cohen Children's Medical Center Emergency Department, Northwell Health  New Hyde Park, New York

Cook Children's Medical Center Emergency Department  Fort Worth, Texas

Denver Health Medical Center Adult Emergency Department  Denver, Colorado

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital Emergency Department  The Woodlands, Texas

Inova Loudoun Hospital Adult Emergency Department  Leesburg, Virginia

Inova Loudon Hospital Cornwall Emergency Department  Leesburg, Virginia

Inspira Medical Center Elmer Emergency Department  Elmer, New Jersey

Lankenau Medical Center Emergency Department, Main Line Health  Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

North Shore University Hospital Emergency Department, Northwell Health  Manhasset, New York

Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital Emergency Department  McHenry, Illinois

Overlook Medical Center, Summit Emergency Department, Atlantic Health System  Summit, New Jersey

Pennsylvania Hospital Emergency Department, The University of Pennsylvania Health System  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Phelps Hospital Emergency Department, Northwell Health  Sleepy Hollow, New York

Rady Children's Hospital Emergency Department  San Diego, California

Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Emergency Department  Virginia Beach, Virginia

South Shore University Emergency Department, Northwell Health  Bay Shore, New York

St. Elizabeth Healthcare Covington Emergency Department  Covington, Kentucky

St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood Emergency Department  Edgewood, Kentucky

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center Emergency Department, Catholic Health Services of Long Island  Roslyn, New York

Suburban Hospital Emergency Department, Johns Hopkins Medicine  Bethesda, Maryland

Sutter Health Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department  Modesto, California

Torrance Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department, Cedars-Sinai  Torrance, California

TriHealth Bethesda Butler Emergency Department  Hamilton, Ohio

University of California, Davis Emergency Department  Sacramento, California

Wellspan York Hospital Emergency Department  York, Pennsylvania

Wellstar Paulding Emergency Department  Hiram, Georgia

Wolfson Children's Emergency and Porter Family Trauma Center  Jacksonville, Florida

The 2021 ENA Lantern Award recipients will be recognized at Emergency Nursing 2021  ENA's annual conference  in its Hall of Honor. Each emergency department's award-winning efforts will be highlighted in ENA's member magazine, ENA Connection. Learn more about the Lantern Award here.

About the Emergency Nurses Association

The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With more than 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines, and guides emergency healthcare public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.

ENA Media Contact:

Dan Campana

Director of Communications

847-460-4017

[email protected]

SOURCE Emergency Nurses Association

Related Links

https://www.ena.org


ISLANDIA, N.Y., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- There's nothing more fun than the addition of sprinkles  especially on top of a classic snack like brownies! Expanding its line of perfectly sized and individually wrapped desserts, Entenmann's Minis introduces new Minis Sprinkled Iced Brownies to its portfolio. Featuring a fudgy consistency, layer of chocolate icing and, of course, colorful sprinkles, the brownies are perfect to enjoy as a dessert or for snacking on-the-go. The new product is the latest addition to the Entenmann's Minis product lineup, which consists of a delicious variety of baked goods that are known and loved, including donuts, crumb cake, apple pie and more.

Entenmann's Minis Sprinkled Iced Brownie

"At Entenmann's, we're always looking for big  and mini  ways to bring some fun to snack time," said Catherine Danielowich, Brand Manager at Entenmann's. "We're thrilled to celebrate the latest release of Minis Sprinkled Iced Brownies and are confident that our fans will love them as much as we do."

To celebrate the sweet release just in time for National Sprinkle Day on July 23, the brand is giving away Entenmann's Minis Sprinkled Iced Brownies to its fans through the Entenmann's Minis Sprinklefest Giveaway! From July 11 through July 25, fans can visit www.MinisSprinklefest.com and complete the simple entry form for a chance to be randomly selected to win one of 5,000 free boxes.

For official rules and more information on the Entenmann's Minis Sprinklefest Giveaway, visit www.MinisSprinklefest.com. For more information about Entenmann's Minis products, visit www.Entenmanns.com.

About Entenmann's Bakery

Entenmann's history dates back more than 120 years to 1898 when William Entenmann opened his first bakery in Brooklyn, New York. By the 1960s the company was selling delicious donuts throughout the New York metropolitan area; by the 1970s it began selling nationwide. Today, Entenmann's markets over 100 different baked goods in the U.S., producing more than one billion donuts annually  one of which is the #1-best-selling classic Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donut introduced in 1973.

About Bimbo Bakeries USA

Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 20,000+ U.S. associates operates more than 50 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Artesano, Ball Park, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Little Bites, Marinela, Mrs Baird's, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann and Thomas'. BBU is owned by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world's largest baking company with operations in 33 countries.

SOURCE Entenmann's Minis

Related Links

https://www.entenmanns.com


COLUMBIA, Md., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) announced today that it has become the first affordable housing organization to join the Well Living Lab Alliance, a global network of organizations committed to improving human health and well-being in indoor environments.

The Well Living Lab, founded as a collaboration of Delos and Mayo Clinic, combines the expertise of building, health and behavioral sciences to conduct human subject studies in simulated and real-world settings. Since opening its facility adjacent to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in 2016, the Lab has conducted 20 studies, with several more currently underway.

"Enterprise and the Well Living Lab are an ideal match. We share the same commitment to promote health and well-being: Enterprise with our deep experience designing, advocating for and operating green affordable homes and the Lab with its groundbreaking research to improve indoor environments," said Priscilla Almodovar, president and chief executive officer, Enterprise. "We are honored to join the other members of the Alliance to bring the ideas, innovations and possibilities of the Lab to scale across the globe."

Enterprise brings to the Alliance significant experience working to improve health and wellness in affordable housing. In 2005, Enterprise created the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, the first national standard for green affordable housing. Today, 27 states and Washington D.C. require that affordable housing developments receiving public funds comply with the Criteria. Since 2020, Enterprise has partnered with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a Well Living Lab Alliance member, to enable developers to jointly certify buildings to WELL and Enterprise Green Communities standards. In addition to its work nationwide to scale innovative programs, invest in affordable homes and advocate for good public policy, Enterprise owns and operates 13,000 affordable homes and provides resident services for 22,000 people.

"The Well Living Lab is delighted to have Enterprise join the Alliance," said Barbara Spurrier, executive director, Well Living Lab, and executive vice president, Delos. "Enterprise's commitment to affordable housing and housing-based research to ensure the health and well-being of its residents aligns directly with the work of the Well Living Lab. We look forward to exploring opportunities to conduct field-based research to advance our respective missions together."

As a Well Living Lab Alliance member, Enterprise will join nearly two dozen other organizations committed to improving indoor environments to benefit residents, including: Essentia, HB Reavis, Hines, HKS, HOK, IBM, IWBI, Milliken, Panasonic, Sino-Ocean Group, Structure Tone, 3M, Ford Motor Company, Harrison Street, Johnson Controls, KB Home, Noaber Foundation, RMZ Corp, Shimizu Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric, and Withings.

About the Well Living Lab

The Well Living Lab, founded as a collaboration of Delos and Mayo Clinic, is dedicated to identifying how indoor environments impact human health and well-being. It conducts scientific research with human subjects in a simulated real-world environment and shares practical findings that can be applied to improving indoor spaces where people spent approximately 90 percent of their time. The lab has 5,500 square-feet of sensor-rich, reconfigurable space in downtown Rochester, Minnesota. Learn more at welllivinglab.com.

About Enterprise Community Partners

Enterprise is a national nonprofit on a mission to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging for all. To make that possible, we operate the only organization designed to address America's affordable housing crisis from every angle: we develop and deploy programs and support community organizations on the ground; we advocate for policy on a nonpartisan basis at every level of government; we invest capital to build and preserve rental homes people can afford; and we own, operate and provide resident services for affordable communities. All so that people not only make rent, they build futures. With this end-to-end approach, 40 years of experience and thousands of local partners, Enterprise has built and preserved 793,000 homes, invested $61 billion in communities and changed millions of lives. Join us at EnterpriseCommunity.org.

SOURCE Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.

Related Links

http://EnterpriseCommunity.org


To celebrate the new flavor, Estrella Jalisco is teaming up with modern media company, Tastemade , and a lineup of award-winning chefs to introduce 'Michelada Mondays,' a chance for fans to win prizes and enjoy delicious new recipes. It's our way of turning the worst day of the week into the best day of summer  and after the year we've all had, we deserve all the celebrations we can get!

As part of 'Michelada Mondays,' Estrella Jalisco is commemorating our return to togetherness by encouraging people to take time off. Over the next few months, Estrella Jalisco will pay five lucky fans to take a Monday off work  and deliver a Michelada-inspired feast curated by Tastemade partner, TV star and cooking competitor, Chef Maria Mazon. Winners will also receive exclusive access to a virtual cooking class hosted by Chef Mazon. Ready to win a Monday off? Follow @EstrellaJalisco and comment on this Twitter, Facebook or Instagram post using #MicheladaMondays and #Giveaway starting today.

"After the last year and a half, we could all use an extra reason to celebrate. From my experience, when Mexican families come together in the summer, ice cold micheladas are always in the mix," says Chef Maria Mazon. "I'm so happy to be partnering with Tastemade and Estrella Jalisco to kick off 'Michelada Mondays' and deliver the perfect pairings for micheladas. It's a great excuse to kick back and take some time with the people you love over good food and drinks."

But don't fret if you don't win the contest! Estrella Jalisco is giving fans everywhere the chance to create their own 'Michelada Mondays' at home with help from Tastemade. Together, they've developed a collection of michelada-inspired recipes and are offering a complimentary three-month trial of Tastemade+ , a subscription video-on-demand service featuring ad-free, premium lifestyle programming. Fans will be able to access the recipe content and trial by scanning the QR code on the back of all Classic Michelada cans. Recipe content, along with other co-branded programming, can also be found at https://www.tastemade.com/estrella-jalisco/ anytime and across Tastemade and Tastemade Espanol social channels throughout the summer.

"Expanding our canned michelada lineup with the Classic Michelada was all about bringing it back to the basics, and this summer that means reconnecting with the people who matter most in our lives," says Jayden Kahl, Senior Director, Estrella Jalisco, at Anheuser Busch. "The Classic Michelada is the flavorful addition you'll want at your family barbecues, game days and summer brunches all season long."

"We are excited to partner with Estrella Jalisco to celebrate the vibrancy of Hispanic culture through rich storytelling and flavorful recipes," says Jeff Imberman, Head of Sales & Brand Partners at Tastemade. "With co-branded packaging that unlocks an extended free trial of Tastemade+, as well through premium programming across our Tastemade and Tastemade Espanol social and streaming channels, we are delighted to bring value and a one-of-a-kind experience to Estrella customers this summer."

You can find the Classic Michelada in 25oz cans at your local retailer and sold on your favorite e-comm delivery platforms. Be the first to try the tasty new recipes and learn more about 'Michelada Mondays' by following along at @EstrellaJalisco.

About Estrella Jalisco

Born in the cultural capital of Guadalajara, Jalisco over 100 years ago, Estrella Jalisco is a refreshing, traditional lager increasingly becoming a Mexican favorite among cerveza aficionados. Estrella Jalisco is best enjoyed in a wide-top pilsner glass and can also be found as ready-to-drink micheladas in mango, pina and tropical chamoy flavors for a flavorful spin on a Mexican classic. Launched in the U.S. in 2015, Estrella Jalisco believes a more colorful world is a brighter world which is why the brand made a $1M commitment to brighten 100 communities across the U.S. by 2025. Join us in celebrating a colorful life and discover what makes Estrella Jalisco a true, authentic Mexican beer at www.EstrellaJalisco.com .

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities, and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America's most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA, and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook , and Instagram.

About Tastemade

Tastemade is a modern media company that engages a global audience of more than 300 million monthly viewers on all major digital, mobile, and streaming television platforms, streaming 2.5+ billion views each month. We create award-winning video content and original programming in the categories of Food, Travel, and Home & Design that we share with an engaged, passionate, and global community. Tastemade has won a host of awards and accolades for its innovation and original programming, including three James Beard Awards, two Emmy Awards, and was most recently recognized as one of Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies" in 2021. For more information, visit Tastemade at: www.tastemade.com.

Tastemade on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest | TikTok

Contact:

Laura Alito

[email protected]

Allison Wilson

[email protected]

SOURCE Estrella Jalisco

Related Links

http://www.EstrellaJalisco.com


Each profile is free to view and packed with high-quality insights, providing businesses with detailed company information. Users can take advantage of these insights to identify, target, and connect with the right companies who provide eye care services. This company information includes employee insights, company competitors, the impact of emerging trends and challenges, the latest news, and more.

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BizVibe's platform contains 10M+ company profiles, spanning across 200+ countries, categorized into 40,000+ products and services. There are 600+ company profiles related to eye care services on BizVibe, covering 10+ related categories. Each company profile contains detailed insights dedicated to helping procurement and sales teams find trusted suppliers and target sales prospects.

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About BizVibe

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Contact

BizVibe

Jesse Maida

Email: [email protected]

+1 855-897-5880

Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/

SOURCE BizVibe

Related Links

https://www.bizvibe.com/


Late last year the Air Force announced a goal to reduce time to design new aerial platforms from a decade+ down to a single year, by scaling up the utilization of simulation in design and testing to an unprecedented level. They coined the phrase 'ECreate Before You Aviate' to describe the opportunity to design, build, and test countless designs before building the physical system. Rather than "fly before you buy," digital engineering and management allows the AF to reduce the real-world learning curve, the need for physical prototyping, and modifications between production blocks.

Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said "Digital engineering isn't an option  it's essential. It's faster, it's cheaper, it's better."

The problem is that numerous simulation packages used for aerodynamics, structures, combustion, and more  and the High Performance Computing (HPC) systems that run them  are each considered PhD-level specialties.

Last year, Air Force Acquisition Chief, Dr. Will Roper said "Every new program will begin as an Esystem wars will be won and lost based on how well we digitally design."

But there aren't enough experts with this kind of training! Enter MSBAI, and their autonomous system for engineering simulation. MSBAI have demonstrated GURU setting up simulations in minutes that used to take humans hours. The Air Force selected their winning proposal to AF Digital Engineering Pitch Day, entitled GURU Owns the Modeling and Simulation Tech Stack, and the excitement doesn't stop there! It's not just the Air Force in need of a transformation in digital engineering. The White House's May 2021 American Jobs Plan proclaimed:

"Despite pioneering the technology, the United States is behind in the race to manufacture electric vehiclesit is time for ...the U.S. to lead in EV manufacturing, infrastructure, deployment, and innovation."

MSBAI's CEO, Allan Grosvenor, responded to the call, saying

"Simulation is regularly used by only about 1% of engineers, and the Air Force chose us to make it 100%. We think we can do the same for the EV race!" The electric vehicle market is projected to reach $5 trillion in the next decade.

AFWERX is expanding technology, talent, and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capability. afwerx.com

MSBAI is a privately held small business located in Los Angeles, CA, developing the cognitive AI assistant for engineering: GURU.

Contact:

Allan Grosvenor, CEO

[email protected]

310-954-2049

References:

https://breakingdefense.com/2020/12/space-force-will-boost-reliance-on-commercial-sats-gen-raymond/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI5_LSI04vE&t=2362s

https://www.airforcemag.com/roper-reveals-ngad-has-flown-but-doesnt-share-details/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/18/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan-supercharges-the-future-of-transportation-and-manufacturing

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/gm-spend-electric-vehicles-add-battery-plants-78312274

SOURCE MSBAI

Related Links

http://msb.ai


WASHINGTON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Research Council is pleased to announce that Pastor Andrew Brunson has joined FRC as Special Advisor for Religious Freedom. For 23 years, Andrew and Norine Brunson dedicated their life to the mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Turkey by planting churches, starting a house of prayer, training Christian leaders, and providing aid to refugees. In October 2016, Andrew Brunson was falsely accused of terrorism and held for two years in Turkish prisons. Following a worldwide prayer movement and significant political pressure from the U.S. government, he was dramatically released in October 2018. Brunson, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, joins FRC at a critical time, as the persecution of Christians continues to increase around the world.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins stated:

"In a world that is growing increasingly hostile to Christian beliefs, it is important that followers of Christ are prepared to stand firm in their faith. We must also defend the fundamental human right of religious freedom with confidence in the Lord as we show compassion toward all people. We are honored to welcome Andrew Brunson to the FRC team to help us in our vital mission of protecting and advancing religious freedom both at home and abroad."

Andrew Brunson, FRC's Special Advisor for Religious Freedom, added:

"During my imprisonment in Turkey, Family Research Council advocated for my release and encouraged many to pray for me. I am glad that I can now join with FRC to do for others what was done for me. It's very much on my heart to encourage those who are facing persecution."

For more information on FRC's efforts to promote religious freedom around the world, visit: frc.org/irf.

SOURCE Family Research Council

Related Links

http://www.frc.org


PORTLAND, Ore., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Fluoroscopy Equipment Market by Product (Fluoroscopy Devices and C-Arm) and Application (Orthopedic, Cardiovascular, Pain Management & Trauma, Neurology, Gastrointestinal, Urology, General Surgery, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212028" According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global fluoroscopy equipment market generated $4.07 billion in 2020, and is estimated to garner $6.50 billion by 2028, witnessing a CAGR of 4.8% from 2021 to 2028.

Download Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11567

Drivers, restrains, and opportunities-

Surge in prevalence of diseases such as pain management and trauma, gastrointestinal disorders, urological disorders, and other conditions and advantages of FPDs over other image intensifiers fuel the growth of the global fluoroscopy equipment market. On the other hand, exposure to radiation and adoption of refurbished diagnostic imaging systems hinder the market growth. However, rise in demand for data integrated imaging systems is expected to offer an array of opportunities in the future.

Covid-19 Scenario:

Patients in hospitals and clinics for non-Covid conditions has been extremely reduced to limit the contact with people and avoid cross-contamination.

Many diagnostic procedures through fluoroscopic equipment have been suspended and the spaces have been made to available for Covid-infected patients and necessary equipment. Also, limited availability of hospital staff is another factor for suspension of procedures.

Nevertheless, the diagnostic procedures needing fluoroscopic equipment have been conducted only in severe conditions or extreme cases.

The fluoroscopy devices segment held the highest market share-

Based on product, the fluoroscopy devices segment held the largest market share, holding nearly three-fifths of the total market share in 2020, and is expected to maintain its dominant status throughout the forecast period. In addition, this segment is also projected to manifest the largest CAGR of 5.3% from 2021 to 2028. This is attributed to increased preference of the fluoroscopic devices for the diagnostic purposes.

Enquiry for Short-term and Long-term Impacts of COVID-19 at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/11567

The cardiovascular segment to lead the trail throughout the forecast period-

Based on application, the cardiovascular segment held the highest share in 2020, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the global fluoroscopy equipment market, and is estimated to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is owing to the increasing incidences of cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, the orthopedic segment is expected to cite the highest CAGR of 7.1% from 2021 to 2028. The surge in incidences of orthopedic conditions worldwide is the major factor that drives the growth of the segment.

North America region to hold the highest revenue share-

Based on region, North America accounted for the largest market share in 2020, with around two-fifths of the total share, and is projected to maintain its lead in terms of revenue by 2028. This is due to surge in incidences of chronic diseases such as orthopedic conditions, cardiovascular diseases and other applications in 2020. At the same time, Asia-Pacific is projected to manifest the largest CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. This is attributed to the rising incidences of cardiovascular diseases in Asia-pacific region.

Leading market players-

ADANI Systems Inc.

Canon Medical Systems

Agfa-Gevaert Group

Hitachi Ltd.

GE Healthcare

Shimadzu Corporation

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation

Siemens Healthineers

Ziehm Imaging GmbH.

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We have also published few syndicated market studies in the similar area that might be of your interest. Below are the report title for your reference, considering Impact of Covid-19 Over This Market which will help you to assess aftereffects of pandemic on short-term and long-term growth trends of this market.

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
TORONTO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) ("Frontera" or "the "Company"), the majority shareholder of CGX Energy Inc. (TSXV: OYL) ("CGX") and joint venture partner in the Petroleum Prospecting Licenses for the Corentyne and Demerara blocks offshore Guyana (the "Joint Venture"), announced today, an update on the activities related to the Corentyne block.

Exploration:

The Kawa-1 well, the Joint Venture's commitment well on the Corentyne block, is expected to be spud between August 1-15 and reach total depth in approximately 85 days. The primary target for the Kawa-1 well is a Santonian age, stratigraphic trap, interpreted to be analogous to the discoveries immediately to the east on Block 58 in Suriname. The Kawa-1 well is located in the northeast quadrant of the Corentyne block approximately 200 kilometers offshore from Georgetown. The water depth is approximately 355 meters (1174 ft) and the expected total depth of the Kawa-1 well is 6,575 meters (21,700 ft).

As previously announced, Kawa-1 will be drilled by the Maersk Discoverer, a sixth-generation semi-submersible drilling rig currently working in Trinidad for another operator. CGX Resources Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of CGX and operator of the Corentyne block, has secured all necessary contracts to drill Kawa-1.

Gabriel de Alba, Chairman of Frontera, commented:

"We are pleased to continue to advance our activities in one of the world's most important new oil and gas blocks in the last decade. We look forward to providing further details as soon as possible."

Orlando Cabrales, Chief Executive Officer of Frontera, commented:

"There has been excellent progress by CGX to advance the substantial exploration opportunities in one of the world's leading offshore basins. With the Kawa-1 spud window established, drilling and support contracts secured and operational activities underway, I look forward to safely and efficiently improving our understanding of the potential of the Corentyne block over the coming months."

About Frontera:

Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public Company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 39 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.

If you would like to receive News Releases via email as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe.

Advisories:

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that Frontera believes, expect or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding exploration and development plans and objectives with regards to the Kawa-1 well, including drilling plans) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of Frontera, as the case may be, based on information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the need to obtain regulatory approval; the ability of the Joint Venture to successfully explore and develop the offshore blocks, and to fund such exploration and development and the impact thereof of unforeseen costs and expenses; changes in equity and debt markets; perceptions of the prospects and the prospects of the oil and gas industry in the countries where the Company operate or have investments; and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's annual information form dated March 3, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Frontera disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Frontera believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements applicable to it are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation

Related Links

www.fronteraenergy.ca


Riding the FV43U's popularity and hot sales record, GIGABYTE continues its triumphant run, launching two other 4K gaming monitors with the HDMI 2.1 support as well. The 32-inch AORUS FI32U and the 48-inch AORUS FO48U are arriving shortly. In addition to the advanced hardware specs, these two 4K displays offer the perfect mix of resolution and size that PC and new-gen console gamers have long been waiting for when seeking a 4K gaming monitor.

Being one of the fastest, most responsive 4K gaming monitors, the FI32U focuses on PC gamers who are rocking top-shelf graphics cards, like an RTX 3080 to make smooth 4K gaming a reality. This 32-inch monitor is currently the only 4K gaming monitor hitting the market now that packs in HDMI 2.1 and SuperSpeed IPS up to 144Hz/1ms GTG, guaranteeing buttery smooth 4K gaming in beautiful colors and contrast at the same time.

Targeting the new-gen console players, the big-sized FO48U is the world's first 48-inch gaming monitor featuring a premium OLED panel. Devices like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X can take full advantage of its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to unleash the latest 4K/120Hz gaming performance. The FO48U is also equipped with the soundbar-caliber Space Audio to further immerse gamers in their favorite gaming worlds.

4K Pro Gaming On. For more details about the GIGABYTE AORUS 4K display lineup and their strong gaming feature sets, please visit: https://www.aorus.com/monitors/4k

SOURCE GIGABYTE
SAO PAULO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and B3: GOLL4), ("GOL" or "Company"), Brazil's largest airline, today provides an Investor Update on its expectations for the second quarter of 2021. The information below is preliminary and unaudited . The Company will discuss its 2Q21 results in a conference call on July 29, 2021.

2Q21 Commentary GOL expects a Loss Per Share (EPS) and a Loss Per American Depositary Share (EPADS) for 2Q21 of approximately R$3.25 1 and US$1.23 1 , respectively.

EBITDA 2 margin for the second quarter, excluding non-operating and non-recurring expenses, is expected to be 16% to 18%, a decrease in relation to the margin for the quarter ended in June 2020 (28% 2 ).

Passenger unit revenue (PRASK) for the 2Q21 is expected to be approximately 17% lower year-over-year. GOL anticipates unit revenue (RASK) to be 33% lower when compared to 2Q20. Daily sales ended the quarter at around R$21 million, representing a 200% increase over the end of 1Q21. At 85%, GOL's load factor continues to effectively match supply with demand.

Non-fuel unit costs (CASK ex-fuel) for 2Q21, excluding non-operating and non-recurring expenses, are expected to decrease approximately 55% 2 compared to 2Q20 reported CASK ex-fuel, primarily due to four times higher ASKs and the 1% appreciation of the Brazilian Real versus the US dollar. Fuel unit costs (CASK fuel) are expected to increase by approximately 54% year-over-year, mainly due to an 82% increase in the average fuel price, partially offset by the higher fuel efficiency consumption of MAX aircraft and by the BRL appreciation versus USD.

GOL's financial leverage, as measured by the Net Debt 3 /LTM EBITDA ratio, was approximately 11x at the end of June 2021. The Company amortized around R$800 million of total debt in the quarter, including R$420 million of financial debt and R$310 million of aircraft lease debt. The Company also settled the R$744 million payment to the minority shareholders of Smiles Fidelidade S.A.

Total liquidity at the end of the June 2021 was R$1.7 billion, comprised of R$1.0 billion in cash and investments and R$0.7 billion in receivables. Including the financeable amounts of deposits, GOL's liquidity sources total approximately R$3.7 billion. This is consistent with the Company's liquidity levels throughout the pandemic.

GOL plans to increase its 3Q21 capacity by approximately 80% over 2Q21, in anticipation of stronger seasonal demand.

In 2Q21, Gross Global Scope 1 emissions were approximately 281.6 thousand metric tons of CO 2 , a 42% reduction versus 1Q21, while Total Fuel Consumed was 32.3 thousand liters per RPK, 6% lower compared to 1Q21. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions per Flight Hour were around 8.5 tons of CO 2 , stable versus the 1Q21.

Preliminary and Unaudited Projections 2Q21 Domestic Routes Served (average) / % of 2019 Average Operating Fleet / % of 2019 Net Operating Revenues (R$ BN) / % of 2019 Load Factor EBITDA Margin2 EBIT Margin2 Capex (R$ MM) Net Cash Burn (R$MM/day)4 Other Revenue (cargo, loyalty, other) Average fuel price per liter Avg. exchange rate / End of 2Q21 exchange rate Gross Global Scope 1 emissions (000 m t CO 2 ) Total Fuel Consumed (1,000 liters per RPK) Greenhouse Gas Emissions/Flight Hour (t CO 2 ) Passenger unit revenue (PRASK) Operating CASK Ex-fuel2 Domestic Demand  RPK Domestic Capacity  ASK Domestic Capacity  Seats Total Demand  RPK Total Capacity  ASK Total Capacity  Seats 2Q21 ~126 / 87% ~55 / 50% ~1.0 / 31% 85.1% 16% - 18% 8% - 10% ~54 Neutral 15% of revenues R$3.38 - R$3.44 R$5.32 / R$5.00 ~281.6 ~32.3 ~8.5 2Q21 vs. 2Q20 Down ~17% Down ~55% Up ~345% Up ~310% Up ~328% Up ~344% Up ~307% Up ~327%

1. Excluding gains and losses on currency and Exchangeable Senior Notes.

2. Excluding non-operating expenses and depreciation related to fleet idleness and personnel-related costs of approximately R$914 million in 2Q21 and R$918 million in 2Q20.

3. Excluding Perpetual Notes and Exchangeable Senior Notes.

4. Excluding payment of interest on financial debts.

Investor Relations

[email protected]

www.voegol.com.br/ir

+55(11) 2128-4700

Media Relations

Becky Nye, Montieth & Company

[email protected]

About GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.

GOL is Brazil's largest airline, leader in the corporate and leisure segments. Since its founding in 2001, it has been the airline with the lowest unit cost in Latin America, which has enabled the democratization of air transportation. The Company has a strategic alliance with Air France-KLM, in addition to making available to Customers many codeshare and interline agreements, bringing more convenience and ease of connections to any place served by these partnerships. With the purpose of "Being First for Everyone", GOL offers the best travel experience to its passengers, including: the largest inventory of seats and the most legroom; the most complete platform with internet, movies and live TV; and the best loyalty program SMILES. In cargo transportation, GOLLOG delivers parcels to various regions in Brazil and abroad. The Company has a team of 15,000 highly qualified airline professionals focused on Safety, GOL's number one value, and operates a standardized fleet of 127 Boeing 737 aircraft. GOL's shares are traded on the NYSE (GOL) and the B3 (GOLL4). For further information, visit www.voegol.com.br/ir.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this press release has not been subject to any independent audit or review and contains "forward-looking" statements, estimates and projections that relate to future events, which are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release including, without limitation, those regarding GOL's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, future developments in the markets in which GOL operates or is seeking to operate, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "will", "may", "project", "estimate", "anticipate", "predict", "seek", "should" or similar words or expressions, are forward-looking statements. The future events referred to in these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, many of which are beyond GOL's control, that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding GOL's present and future business strategies and the environment in which GOL will operate in the future and are not a guarantee of future performance. Such forward-looking statements speak only as at the date on which they are made. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents undertakes any duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, professional advisors and agents make any representation, warranty or prediction that the results anticipated by such forward-looking statements will be achieved, and such forward-looking statements represent, in each case, only one of many possible scenarios and should not be viewed as the most likely or standard scenario. Although GOL believes that the estimates and projections in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove materially incorrect and actual results may materially differ. As a result, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Measures

To be consistent with industry practice, GOL discloses so-called non-GAAP financial measures which are not recognized under IFRS or U.S. GAAP, including "Net Debt", "Adjusted Net Debt", "total liquidity" and "EBITDA". The Company's management believes that disclosure of non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors, financial analysts and the public in their review of its operating performance and their comparison of its operating performance to the operating performance of other companies in the same industry and other industries. However, these non-GAAP items do not have standardized meanings and may not be directly comparable to similarly-titled items adopted by other companies. Potential investors should not rely on information not recognized under IFRS as a substitute for the GAAP measures of earnings or liquidity in making an investment decision.

SOURCE GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.
SOUTH COAST METRO, Calif., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden State, an investment advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, is pleased to announce its expansion into New Mexico with the addition of Denise Herrell. After leaving Level Four Advisory Services, Ms. Herrell chose Golden State as her RIA for the flexible and efficient business strategies offered. Golden State allows their advisors to operate their businesses under the DBA of their choice, so location can be outside the California border without issue. Golden State's alignment with LPL Financial simplified Ms. Herrell's conversion to Golden State and allowed her to maintain the current business model she had in play and continue to provide her clients with the service they have come to value from her. Located in Ruidoso, and having learned early the value of a dollar, saving and that hard work, honesty and integrity do payoff, she focuses on retirement and estate planning with quality investments, planning and valuable time in the market.

"As we continue to grow our national footprint, we are excited about the addition of Denise Herrell our first firm in New Mexico. Denise comes to us with a diverse career history that transformed her into the financial advisor she is today and adds a wealth of experience to the Golden State team," says Daniel R. Catone, Founder and CEO of Golden State.

About Golden State

The Golden State family of companies ("firm"), comprised of Golden State Wealth Management, Golden State Equity Partners and Golden State Asset Management, are investment advisers registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission The firm is located in 11 states supporting clients in 45 states. The initial company was founded in 2013 by a group of executives who collectively contribute over 50 years of industry experience and has partnered with advisors serving over $1.3 billion in advisory assets. Golden State's infrastructure provides an extensive support network through with the option for advisors to operate under their own DBA. The firm offers compliance oversight, dedicated transition support, a Turnkey Asset Management Program, mergers and acquisition support, a digital advice platform, and marketing and technology resources. The Golden State family of companies maintain business alignments with LPL Financial, the nation's largest independent broker/dealer, Raymond James, TD Ameritrade Institutional and Charles Schwab, some of the nation's largest independent custodians, who provide comprehensive tools and research necessary in today's complex markets.

Recognized as one of Orange County's largest RIAs, Golden State's flagship office is located in South Coast Metro, California. With a goal to continue expanding offices across the country, Golden State is committed to creating an atmosphere that benefits both advisors and their investors. For more information about Golden State, visit www.teamgoldenstate.com.

As of April 2021.

As reported in Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2021, based on total revenue.

As reported in Orange County Business Journal, June 1, 2021, based on assets under management.

Media Contact:

Matt Catone

714-900-1194

[email protected]

SOURCE Golden State Wealth Management

Related Links

http://www.teamgoldenstate.com/


Now through August 31, 2021, families are encouraged to download a Dream Big, Little Fish Coloring Sheet & 'Dream Cloud ' where kids can color, decorate and share their dreams via social media using #DreamBigLittleFish and tagging Goldfish Swim School for chances to win fun prizes. Additional Dream Big tools include words of affirmation, at-home 'vision' boards, goal setting tools and more.

Prizes will include special guest cameo videos of encouragement, Goldfish swag packs and custom gifts to help kids actualize their dreams. The grand prize winner will receive six months of free swim lessons, a cameo video from brand ambassador and World Champion Swimmer Ryan Murphy who is in Tokyo this summer, swag items and signed memorabilia, in addition to a $500 custom gift to celebrate the child's BIG dream.

"We believe in making a BIG deal about ALL of life's accomplishments, so kids keep feeling confident, motivated and inspired," said Chris McCuiston, CEO and co-founder of Goldfish Swim School. "We're so excited to launch this campaign and see the creativity and imagination of kids around the world. After all, they're our next generation of scientists, educators, champion athletes and changemakers. This is just one small way we can help parents keep raising dreamers, believers and achievers. So, to children everywhere, we say: Dream Big, Little Fish."

Throughout the campaign, Goldfish Swim School will be announcing 'Weekly Wednesday Winners' on social media along with the grand prize winner on September 8, 2021. Each winning family will be contacted directly via social media to coordinate prize details and set kids on the path to achieving their dreams.

"Goals. Milestones. Aspirations. Dreams. Whatever you call them, children are swimming in a pool of wonder and possibility," said Dr. Molly O'Shea of Birmingham Pediatrics + Wellness Center and official pediatrician of Goldfish Swim School. "Parents play a big role in helping children to believe and achieve their dreams by giving them the tools and courage to take that first step - to work hard and to make their dreams come true. As a mom and a pediatrician, I always recommend bringing enthusiasm to the table when kids are talking about their dreams, which is why I'm so excited about this campaign. It's a fun way to engage your kids in goal setting, inspiring and motivating them to dream big."

With all schools committed to operating Safer. Stronger. Together. , Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years, teaching children how to be safer in and around the water. Each school offers swim lessons and programs using a proprietary philosophy, The Science of SwimPlay, to build life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment. Each school's number one focus and main priority is always the same  educating children on water safety while teaching them how to swim and respect the water.

To download Goldfish Swim School activities, please visit https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/activities/.

For more information on Goldfish Swim School, please visit https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/ .

About Goldfish Swim School

Founded by husband and wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. Classes are offered by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly and fun environment using their research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Goldfish Swim School was established in Birmingham, Michigan in 2006, and opened its first franchise location in 2009. Recently, the brand was recognized by Entrepreneur in its Franchise 500 ranking, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious List, and Inc. Magazine's Top 5000. Goldfish Swim School is currently in the process of expanding franchise opportunities throughout North America, with more than 120 schools open, and an additional 130+ in development in more than 30 states and Canada.

Media Contact: Kelly McNamara, Fishman PR, 847-945-1300, [email protected]

SOURCE Goldfish Swim School
Investment Community Teleconference Set for August 10, 2021 at 8 a.m. ET

TORONTO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Hydro One Limited (TSX: H), the largest electric transmission and distribution utility in Ontario, plans to release its second quarter financial results the morning of August 10, 2021 before North American financial markets open. A summary of the results will be distributed by newswire and the complete MD&A and financial statements will be posted at hydroone.com/investors and www.sedar.com.

Hydro One's management will host a teleconference with the investment community at 8 a.m. ET that same morning to discuss the results and outlook. Those wishing to listen to the teleconference should access the live webcast on the Investor Relations Events and Presentations section of Hydro One's website at www.hydroone.com/investors. A rebroadcast of the teleconference will be available following the call at the same link.

Those members of the North American financial community wanting to ask questions during the call should dial 1.866.221.1674 at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time and request Hydro One's second quarter results teleconference, conference ID 7394638 (international callers should dial 1.270.215.9604). Other interested parties and media are welcome to participate on a listen-only basis.

Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)

Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.4 million valued customers, approximately $30.3 billion in assets as at December 31, 2020, and annual revenues in 2020 of approximately $7.3 billion.

Our team of approximately 8,700 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2020, Hydro One invested approximately $1.9 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services.

We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association.

Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com; www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Hydro One Limited
Inceptio's cooperation with DFCV and Sinotruk was started in 2019, respectively. Through close collaboration with industrial partners and strict compliance of the V-Model vehicle development process, Inceptio and its OEM partners have made numerous top rankings in the AD field. Specifically, the first ever vehicle-level full-redundancy control-by-wire chassis in the heavy-duty truck industry is designed by Inceptio and OEMs, with integrated international and domestic Tier1 resources. It allows multi-redundancy in its steering, braking, and power systems.

At this conference, Inceptio also presented its automotive-grade hardware suite for mass-produced truck models, including LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, camera, GPS/IMU, computing platform, gateway, T-Box, IVI-Box, etc. All these auto-parts have passed the strict engineering, development, and production certification, as well as electrical, mechanical, environmental, and electromagnetic tests, thus being reliable and durable throughout a lifecycle of 1.5 million kilometers of a heavy-duty truck.

Following the completion of the Cold Test during winter in Heihe City, Inceptio has performed the accelerated durability test for its AD trucks, and will soon carry out the Hot Test on durability in Hainan. In May 2021, Inceptio obtained China's first ISO26262 ASIL D certificate of AD truck development process for functional safety.

Full-stack development of mass-produced AD technology at new heights

Following its release in March this year, Inceptio's Xuanyuan system has picked up its pace to upgrade the core algorithms and software programs. Xuanyuan can accurately identify small objects in driving scenarios even in cases of obstructions or sparse point cloud inputs. This system is empowered by the "asymmetric 3D neural network module algorithm" based upon Inceptio's 3D point cloud semantic segmentation, which was ranked first on the SemanticKITTI leaderboard. Inceptio's FEAD (Fuel Efficient Autonomous Driving) algorithm which targets heavy-duty trucks is also proved compatible with more vehicles and road conditions.

With a computing power up to 245 TOPS, Inceptio's self-developed on-board computing platform's CPU and neural network accelerated computing power are significantly ahead of the industry. The platform also supports a wider array of advanced AD sensors, up to 12-channel 4K HD cameras and 10-channel+ 1000/100 Base T1 Ethernet, as well as a built-in GNSS sensor, always staying ahead of its peers in the industry. Currently, the demo parts have passed the electrical, electronic, and electromagnetic compatibility tests and are qualified for mass production.

As of today, Inceptio's AD functions and features cover 500+ typical ODD (Operation Design Domain) scenarios. Through continuous optimization via simulation, closed and open road tests, the algorithm upgrades to deal with various highway operating conditions or complicated weathers. Inceptio will soon complete the joint acceptance testing for the AD truck C-Sample.

According to Julian Ma, Founder & CEO of Inceptio Technology, only through full-stack self-development for mass production will we maintain a long-term competitive edge as an autonomous driving company. Inceptio Technology is the forerunner of realizing automotive-grade mass production of AD trucks and safe operations on complicated open roads. It is now accelerating to be the leader in AD technology.

SOURCE Inceptio Technology

Related Links

https://www.inceptio.ai/


InsightFinder , founded by Dr. Helen Gu, a system machine learning expert, helps companies like Dell, Credit Suisse, and China Mobile to detect system anomalies without thresholds, predicting severe incidents hours before they happen, and automatically pinpointing root causes. Customers report four to six hours of downtime reduction per incident and tens of thousands of dollars in cost savings monthly.

To support increased market demand, the company today announced a two million dollar investment from leading venture capital group Fellows.Fund, alongside the founder of a $100B+ software company, Silicon Valley Future Capital, Eastlink Capital, Brightway Future Capital and more than a dozen executives at Facebook, Uber, Pinterest, Amazon, and Airbnb. According to Alex Ren, Fellows.Fund Managing Director, "InsightFinder's groundbreaking approach was vetted by the experts in the field, and the Fellows' network and connections are poised to foster the company's success."

The company also announced it recently closed a deal with NTT DATA, the Japanese multinational information technology service company headquartered in Tokyo. NTT DATA will use technology from InsightFinder to help its customers reduce downtime for critical systems. Additionally, InsightFinder extended its existing partnership with Apprendis, makers of the Inq-ITS e-learning platform.

InsightFinder is also expanding its leadership team to include new Chief Revenue Officer, John Whittington. John has over 25 years of enterprise software sales experience. He co-founded BlueStripe Software and grew the business to a successful exit to Microsoft. According to John, "I've helped introduce monitoring technology to enterprise customers for nearly three decades and have never seen a stronger product than InsightFinder or a market more poised for disruption."

About InsightFinder

InsightFinder is an AI-first system of intelligence for IT operations that uses patented unsupervised machine learning to detect anomalies in machine data, predict incidents, and automate root cause analysis. The platform and patent portfolio are based on 15 years of research conducted by Dr. Helen Gu, founder and CEO, with support from IBM, Google, and National Science Foundation. Organizations like Dell, Credit Suisse, and China Mobile use InsightFinder to automate systems management across logs, metrics, traces, and changes.

Media Contact

Erin McMahon

[email protected]

203-470-3909

SOURCE InsightFinder

Related Links

https://www.insightfinder.com/


NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iStar Inc. (NYSE: STAR) announced today that it will release its financial results for the second quarter 2021 on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, prior to the opening of the market.

The Company will host an earnings conference call reviewing these results and its operations beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET. This conference call will be broadcast live and can be accessed by all interested parties through iStar's website, www.istar.com, in the "Investors" section.

The dial-in information for the live call is:

Dial-in: 844.867.6169 International: 409.207.6975 Access Code: 2952269

A replay of the call will be archived on the Company's website. Alternatively, the replay can be accessed via dial-in from 1:00 p.m. ET on August 3, 2021 through 12:00 a.m. ET on August 17, 2021 by calling:

Replay: 866.207.1041 International: 402.970.0847 Access Code: 2859281

* * *

iStar Inc. (NYSE: STAR) is focused on reinventing the ground lease sector, unlocking value for real estate owners throughout the country by providing modern, more efficient ground leases on institutional quality properties. As the founder, investment manager and largest shareholder of Safehold Inc. (NYSE: SAFE), the creator of the modern ground lease industry, iStar is using its national investment platform and its historic strengths in finance and net lease to expand the use of modern ground leases within the $7 trillion institutional commercial real estate market. Recognized as a consistent innovator in the real estate markets, iStar specializes in identifying and scaling newly discovered opportunities and has completed more than $40 billion of transactions over the past two decades. Additional information on iStar is available on its website at www.istar.com.

SOURCE iStar Inc.

Related Links

http://www.istar.com


"We are extremely excited to welcome Karma Israel to the Karma family as we continue growing our global retail network," said Joost de Vries, Karma's Vice President of Global Sales and Customer Experience. "Metro Motor gives us entry in the growing electric vehicle market in the Middle East as we ramp up sales of our GS-6 Series luxury sedan."

In addition to Karma Israel, Karma Automotive welcomed new retailers in Nashville Tennessee and Bellevue Washington in 2021.

"It is our honor to have Metro Motor join the Karma dealership network and introduce Karma EVs to clients in this fast adapting and growing Israeli market," said Mr. Tomer Komerov, the CEO of Metro Motor. "Israelis will no longer be able to buy new gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles after 2030. Working together with Karma, we are confident that we are providing the best-of-the-best electric vehicles that our clients desire to have."

Karma Israel, Metro Motor Marketing (1981) Ltd. is located at 18 Atirey Yeda St. Kfar Saba, Israel, and can be reached online at https://www.metro.co.il/ .

For more on Karma Automotive and the global retail network, please visit http://karmanewsroom.com .

ABOUT KARMA AUTOMOTIVE

Karma Automotive, founded in 2014, is a southern California based producer of luxury electric vehicles. Headquartered in Irvine, California with a production facility located in Moreno Valley, Karma sells vehicles via its dealer network in North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East. Karma's Innovation and Customization Center, which opened in 2017 offers world-class engineering, design, customization, and manufacturing services along with electrification platforms. Karma's Revero GT, Green Car Journal's 2020 Luxury Green Car of the Year, is an electric vehicle powered by dual electric motors that embodies Karma's goal of offering leading technology with a luxury experience. In 2021 Karma announced the GS-6 Series which include both an extended-range series hybrid EV and their first-ever all-electric vehicle. Every Karma vehicle is created with unparalleled individual care and craftsmanship.

For more information, visit www.karmaautomotive.com, or www.karmanewsroom.com .

KARMA AUTOMOTIVE SAFE HARBOR DISCLOSURE

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and include Karma Automotive's expectations. Forward-looking statements typically can be identified by the use of words such as "will," "expect," "believe," and similar terms. Although Karma believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the automotive industry, competition in certain markets, the volatility of battery prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in government regulation of markets and of environmental emissions, and our ability to achieve the expected benefits and timing of our electric vehicle projects. Karma Automotive undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause Karma's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect Karma Automotive's future results.

SOURCE Karma Automotive

Related Links

www.karmaautomotive.com


With two fully outfitted exam rooms and state-of-art ultrasound equipment, the Denver mobile clinic offers full-service fertility assessments and patient care throughout a fertility cycle, including morning monitoring and physician consultations. The mobile clinic has the same award-winning design of Kindbody's signature retail locations, all of which provide preconception through postpartum care in convenient, tech-enabled spaces.

As both a fertility benefit manager and direct provider of high quality care, Kindbody leverages proprietary technology to deliver a seamless patient experience and clinical excellence at lower costs. In addition to its mobile clinics, retail locations, and telehealth offering, Kindbody has a robust partner network of 300+ clinics worldwide.

The Denver mobile clinic is part of Kindbody's growing fleet of mobile care units designed to increase accessibility to fertility and family-building services. The innovative mobile solution allows the company to enter new markets with speed and efficiency, while enabling easy access to onsite care for employers and employees. "We know the most important factor for fertility patients is time," said Kindbody President, Annbeth Eschbach. "Our mobile fertility clinic has allowed us to quickly enter and serve the Denver employer and patient population."

The Denver mobile and retail locations will be led by Dr. Malgorzata "Gosia" E. Skaznik-Wikiel, a board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist who completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School and fellowship at the University of Colorado. Most recently, Dr. Skaznik-Wikiel served as an Assistant Professor and Fertility Specialist at the University of Colorado Denver, serving thousands of local Denverites over her seven years there.

"Kindbody's philosophy and mission strongly align with my own philosophy of patient care," said Dr. Skaznik-Wikiel. "I believe that everyone, regardless of background or economic status, deserves easy access to fertility education, comprehensive care, and affordable treatment options. Kindbody is changing the future of reproductive care for the better. Their holistic model and convenient location in Cherry Creek North fill a major need in Denver."

Denver is Kindbody's fourth new market opening in 2021 and tenth in total, with 13 locations scheduled to open by year-end, including Orlando, Denver, and Minneapolis. The company already owns and operates locations in Austin, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Princeton, with a dozen additional openings in 2022. The news of Kindbody's mobile expansion in Denver comes on the heels of its $62 million Series C fundraise.

To kick-off the launch of the Denver mobile fertility clinic, Kindbody will be offering complimentary fertility hormone AMH tests and consultations from 8am to 5pm MST on Tuesday, July 13th. Nearly 400 AMH appointments for opening day have already been booked, reflecting the demand in the market, with walk-ins accepted per availability. To schedule an appointment at the Denver mobile clinic, visit kindbody.com/book-appointment-denver .

About Kindbody

Kindbody provides fertility, gynecology, and family-building services at 300+ locations including mobile clinics, signature clinics, and partner clinics. With a mission to deliver a more welcoming, inclusive experience for all, Kindbody leverages proprietary technology to enable high-touch care and superior outcomes at lower prices. Founded in 2018 by CEO Gina Bartasi, Kindbody has raised a total of $122 million in funding from leading investors including Claritas Capital, Perceptive Advisors, GV (formerly Google Ventures), RRE Capital, Rock Springs Capital, TQ Ventures and NFP Ventures. Its leadership team is rounded out by President, Annbeth Eschbach; Chief Financial Officer, Meredith Whitney; Chief Business and Legal Officer; Shilpa Patel; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lynn Westphal; Chief Commercial Officer, Cindy Gentry; Founding Physician, Dr. Fahimeh Sasan; and, Chief Technology Officer, Richard Forsythe.

Media Inquiries:

Rebecca Silver

[email protected]

855 KND BODY

SOURCE Kindbody

Related Links

https://www.kindbody.com/


ATLANTA, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kroger's Atlanta division and members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1996 in Atlanta and Savannah ratified new labor agreements on July 7 and July 8.

"The Kroger organization has invested more than $800 million in wage increases nationally in the last three years and is committed to continuing to invest significantly in associates' pay in 2021," said Tim Massa, Kroger's senior vice president and chief people officer. "Kroger is a place where you can come for a job and stay for a career. A key driver for Kroger is talent development, and we are committed to investing in our associates."

The Kroger Atlanta division is investing over $300 million in wage increases across four years in these agreements with its associates in Atlanta and Savannah.

"We are pleased that we could reach an agreement with our Atlanta and Savannah associates and support them as well as our company. These new agreements provide significant pay increases, affordable and comprehensive health care, and continued investment in our associates' pension fund," said Tim Brown, president of the Kroger Atlanta division." These agreements come after thoughtful and productive work by both the company and the union bargaining committees. I want to thank our associates for voting to ratify these two agreements and for the excellent service they provide for our customers every day."

"After months of diligent work by UFCW Local 1996's bargaining committee, our union members voted overwhelmingly to approve these contracts in Atlanta and Savannah," said Steve Lomax, President and International Vice President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1996. "We are excited to show the influence that essential workers can have in their workplaces to provide for higher wages, including comprehensive health care benefits and a pension. When workers and their union can come to the table together with a company to find solutions, everyone benefits."

The UFCW Local 1996 agreements cover over 22,000 associates working at 170 stores in Greater Atlanta and Savannah.

About the Kroger Atlanta Division

The Kroger Family of Companies (NYSE: KR) has been serving communities across the U.S. for more than 135 years. Kroger's Atlanta division operates food stores, pharmacies, fuel centers, and offices in Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta. We are dedicated to Our Purpose: To Feed the Human SpiritTM while creating a world with Zero Hunger | Zero Waste.

About United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1996

UFCW Local 1996 represents workers in grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, health care, and other industries. Our members serve our communities in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina. You can learn more at www.UFCW1996.org.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Related Links

http://www.kroger.com


After a monumental year in public safety, Mark43 will continue to invest in its vision of data-driven public safety across the U.S. and abroad.

NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark43 , the leading cloud-native public safety software company, today announced $101 million in Series E funding led by The Spruce House Partnership and Tiger Global Management. The Radcliff Companies, Australia's 29th Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and former Lord Mayor of Sydney Lucy Turnbull also participated in this round. They joined Goldman Sachs, General Catalyst, Spark Capital, HighSage Ventures, and Avenir Capital in backing Mark43's vision for the future of government technology. To date, the company has raised a total of $257 million to address the rapidly changing public safety market.

Mark43 is the platform of choice for major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Washington D.C, San Antonio, and Seattle. In partnership with its customers, Mark43 will utilize the funding to develop new products that support community well-being and foster dialogue between public safety agencies and the communities they serve. Mark43 will also dedicate significant resources to amplifying technology's role in helping public safety be more data-driven and adaptive to today's challenges.

"Public safety in the United States is evolving more quickly than ever," said Scott Crouch, CEO and co-founder of Mark43. "With this new capital and key public policy hires, we can continue delivering technology that improves the safety and quality of life for all."

In keeping with this mission, Mark43 welcomed Ganesha Martin as its Vice President of Public Policy and Community Affairs. Martin is a change agent working at the intersection of diversity, law, and police reform. Her new role centers on uplifting police and citizen voices to create sustainable, structural change. Previously, Martin served as the Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice in Baltimore and led Community Affairs and Compliance at the Baltimore Police Department.

"Mark43 is working to solve one of the most salient and nuanced challenges in American society today," said Ben Stein, co-founder of The Spruce House Partnership. "Taking a differentiated, thoughtful approach to public safety, Mark43 has solidified its leadership in both the domestic and international public safety technology markets. We are honored to partner with Scott and the Mark43 team and to be a long-term, supportive partner as they continue to develop technology and software that will make communities around the world safer."

The company will also continue to grow its international presence after signing a contract with the New South Wales Police Force in Australia , the third-largest police force in the English-speaking world. As the first vendor to implement a cloud-native platform with an international police agency, Mark43 will build on that momentum by establishing a new office in the United Kingdom and expanding the company's Toronto office to support its presence in Canada.

With over 120 public safety agency customers across the U.S. and abroad, the company recently launched Mark43 RMS Essentials to address the largest and most underserved portion of the public safety market: agencies of 50 or fewer sworn personnel. Additionally, the company has continued to expand the capabilities of its platform, announcing its ability to support agencies using Microsoft Azure in addition to Amazon Web Services.

About Mark43

Mark43 builds the world's most powerful public safety CAD, RMS, analytics, and property and evidence platform while providing industry-leading customer care. Public safety has changed in the last 30 years. Technology vendors haven't. Mark43 provides a refreshing, proven, enterprise implementation experience and product for over 120 public safety agencies of all sizes, with a special competency for major agencies. The cloud-native products are built only with the most modern technologies and are constantly updated, guaranteeing that the platform always outpaces the rest of the market. For more information, visit www.mark43.com .

About The Spruce House Partnership

The Spruce House Partnership was founded in 2005 and focuses solely on partnering with exceptional founder CEOs as long-term and supportive investors in both public and private companies.

PR Contact

Solange Pittet

[email protected]

SOURCE Mark43

Related Links

https://www.mark43.com


NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the market research firm P&S Intelligence, global market for medical disposables is forecasted to generate revenue around $90 billion by 2030. The surging geriatric population, increasing incidence of chronic diseases, soaring occurrence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), and mushrooming healthcare expenditure are the major factors fueling the expansion of the global medical disposables market.

The COVID-19 pandemic has augmented the demand for disposable medical supplies. This is ascribed to the growing usage of single-use syringes, gowns, needles, and surgical face masks by healthcare professionals and general citizens, on account of the fact that these items provide protection from communicable diseases such as the COVID-19 infection. Moreover, the enactment of guidelines, that mandate the use of face masks across the world, by the World Health Organization (WHO) is also fueling the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), thereby driving the advancement of the medical disposables market.

Get the sample copy this report @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/medical-disposables-market-outlook/report-sample

Depending on type, the medical disposables market is classified into blood collection consumables, glucose monitoring strips, diagnostic catheters, radiology consumables, dialysis consumables, smart syringes, infusion products, prefilled syringes, hypodermic products, intubation & ventilation supplies, nonwoven medical supplies, sterilization consumables, incontinence products, wound care consumables, surgical nonwoven products, infection management products, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices, and exudate management products. Out of these, the nonwoven medical supplies category dominated the medical disposables market in 2020, and it is predicted to retain its dominance in the forthcoming years as well.

The medical disposables market is also divided, on the basis of application, into cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, and urology categories. Out of these, the cardiovascular category dominated the market in 2020, due to the surge in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases around the world. According to the WHO, these diseases are responsible for the deaths of 18 million people every year.

Browse detailed report with COVID-19 impact analysis on Medical Disposables Market Research Report: By Type (Glucose Monitoring Strips, Blood Collection Consumables, Diagnostic Catheters, Dialysis Consumables, Radiology Consumables, Infusion Products, Smart Syringes, Prefilled Syringes, Intubation & Ventilation Supplies, Hypodermic Products, Sterilization Consumables, Nonwoven Medical Supplies, Incontinence Products, Surgical Nonwoven Products, Wound Care Consumables, Infection Management Products, Exudate Management Products, NPWT Devices), Application, End Use  Global Industry Revenue Estimation and Demand Forecast to 2030 @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/medical-disposables-market-outlook

The end use segment of the market includes hospitals, assisted-living centers & nursing homes, clinics/physician offices, research institutes, and ambulatory surgery centers. Out of these, the hospitals category dominated the market, because of the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, increasing requirement for point-of-care (POC) diagnostic procedures, and surge in the demand for glucose monitoring systems.

Geographically, the medical disposables market was dominated by North America in 2020, because of the high government expenditure on healthcare and the existence of several major market players and a large geriatric population in the region.

Make enquiry about this report @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=medical-disposables-market-outlook

Many major market players are focusing on product innovation in order to provide better offerings and gain an edge over their rivals. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Medtecs USA's MEDTECS surgical face mask for use in healthcare facilities by medical practitioners in May 2021. This mask provides a protective barrier to particulate matter and liquids and protects medical professionals from large particles and respiratory droplets, which transmit the COVID-19 virus from one person to another.

Some of the major global medical disposables market players are Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic plc, Abbot Laboratories, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA., and General Electric Company.

Browse More Reports

Global Market For IVF Devices and Consumables - Presently, Europeans account for the highest usage of IVF, on account of the high awareness about personal and maternal health, rapid adoption of technologically enhanced products, and high reimbursement ratios for such procedures.

Global Market for Prefilled Syringes - Globally, Europe contributed the highest revenue to the prefilled syringes market in 2020, because of the high incidence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes in the region.

About P&S Intelligence

P&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.

Contact:

Prajneesh Kumar

P&S Intelligence

Contact: +1-347-960-6455

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com

SOURCE P&S Intelligence
PARIS, July 12, 2021 /CNW/ -- Moet Hennessy and Campari Group are pleased to announce the formation of a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with the purpose of investing in Wines & Spirits e-commerce companies and build a European e-commerce pure player in this growing category.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8924651-moet-hennessy-and-campari-group-to-partner-in-a-joint-venture/

As part of this partnership, Campari will be contributing its stake in Tannico to the JV. Tannico focuses on online sales of wines and premium spirits under the Tannico brand with a share of around 30% of this segment. Tannico also owns a majority stake in Ventealapropriete.com, a major e-commerce platform for the sale of premium wines and spirits in France. Tannico and Ventealapropriete.com have complementary business models, territories and capabilities in terms of technology, marketing and logistics and generated pro-forma aggregated sales of over 70 million in 2020.

The joint venture between Campari and Moet Hennessy aims at building a premium pan-European e-commerce player for the benefit of all wine and spirits brands and their European consumers. The combined business will be led by a seasoned management team led by Marco Magnocavallo, current CEO of Tannico, who remains a key minority shareholder in the business.

"This partnership represents a significant step forward in our global e-commerce development strategy. While e-commerce was already a growing channel for wines and spirits, the global pandemic has triggered a significant acceleration. We are delighted to be partnering with Campari Group and Tannico to create a premium pan-European Wines & Spirits e-commerce player."  Philippe Schaus, President & CEO, Moet Hennessy

"We are very pleased to partner with Moet Hennessy to become a premium pan-European Wines & Spirits e-commerce player through Tannico. After the completion of Tannico's first transformational step with the acquisition of Ventealapropriete.com, thanks to this agreement, the new partnership aims to continue to grow, further strengthening its footprint and expertise in the online retailing of spirits & wines."  Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO Campari Group

"With the joint backing of Moet Hennessy and Campari, Tannico will have the firepower to consolidate the fragmented European e-commerce sector and offer a qualitative, sizeable and integrated route to market option catering to the needs of all its wines and spirits suppliers"  Marco Magnocavallo, CEO Tannico

The creation of the JV, which foresees the sale of 50% of the JV's equity capital by Campari to Moet Hennessy for a cash consideration of 25.6 million, is expected to be finalized after the completion of all customary regulatory requirements.

About Moet Hennessy

Moet Hennessy, the Wines and Spirits Division of LVMH, regroups twenty-five Maisons, many of which have been around for centuries, while others are just starting their journey. Its vision is to lead the future of luxury Wines and Spirits from nature to communities.

Located in the most prestigious terroirs around the world, Moet Hennessy has unique savoir-faire from winemaking to art de vivre, hospitality, and brick-and-clicks retail management to craft exceptional experiences for consumers.

For many years, with the ambition to pass on a better world to future generations, Moet Hennessy has been committed to the Living Soils Living Together program structured around four key commitments: Regenerating our Soils, Mitigating our Climate Impact, Engaging society, and Empowering our People. Moet Hennessy is proud to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive working environment for all.

Ao Yun, Ardbeg, Armand de Brignac, Belvedere, Cape Mentelle, Chandon, Chateau d'Esclans, Chateau Galoupet, Cheval des Andes, Clos19, Cloudy Bay, Dom Perignon, Eminente, Glenmorangie, Hennessy, Krug, Mercier, Moet & Chandon, Newton, Numanthia, Ruinart, Terrazas de los Andes, Veuve Clicquot, Volcan de mi Tierra, Woodinville.

About Campari Group

Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities. Global Priorities, the Group's key focus, include Aperol, Campari, SKYY, Grand Marnier, Wild Turkey and Appleton Estate. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Campari Group's growth strategy aims to combine organic growth through strong brand building and external growth via selective acquisitions of brands and businesses.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group operates 22 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 22 countries. Campari Group employs approximately 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM) have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001.

For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com/en. Please enjoy our brands responsibly.

About Tannico

Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur and digital native, Marco Magnocavallo, and his partners, today Tannico offers a catalogue of over 15,000 labels from 2,500 wineries, and the world's largest selection of Italian wines. Tannico leverages five pillars: technology, innovation, passion, vision and courage. The company has revolutionized the distribution network, removing the middlemen to accelerate the delivery process and ensure an optimal consumer experience.

With 90% of its business B2C, Tannico's e-commerce platform is intuitive and straightforward, offering a variety of services ranging from the assistance of a Personal Sommelier to dedicated content for connoisseurs and enthusiasts, such as a rare wines and collectables section. The platform additionally provides wine courses, video tutorials and a mobile app. In the B2B arena, Tannico offers services to wineries professionals in the hospitality industry.

About ventealapropriete.com

Ventealapropriete.com a leading French online wines and spirits retailer offering high-quality products at competitive prices. All the wines sold on Ventealapropriete.com are tasted and selected by a committee composed of Olivier Poussier, the World's Best Sommelier (2000), Christian Martray, Head sommelier of Albert 1er in Chamonix, and Alaric de Portal, a true afficionado.

The site offers a vast selection consisting of both established brands and rising newcomers. After being voted "Best Customer Service" for two consecutive years by Capital Magazine, Ventealapropriete.com was ranked the 5th Best E-commerce Site among peers across industries.

Press Contacts :

Moet Hennessy

Jean-Christophe Laizeau

Email [email protected]

Tel. +33 6 24 86 25 40

Campari Group

Enrico Bocedi

Corporate Communications Director

Email. [email protected]

Tel. +39 02 6225680

Drink responsibly.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1388256/Moet_Hennessy_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Moet Hennessy
PARIS, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Moet Hennessy and Campari Group are pleased to announce the formation of a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with the purpose of investing in Wines & Spirits e-commerce companies and build a European e-commerce pure player in this growing category.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8924651-moet-hennessy-and-campari-group-to-partner-in-a-joint-venture/

As part of this partnership, Campari will be contributing its stake in Tannico to the JV. Tannico focuses on online sales of wines and premium spirits under the Tannico brand with a share of around 30% of this segment. Tannico also owns a majority stake in Ventealapropriete.com, a major e-commerce platform for the sale of premium wines and spirits in France. Tannico and Ventealapropriete.com have complementary business models, territories and capabilities in terms of technology, marketing and logistics and generated pro-forma aggregated sales of over 70 million in 2020.

The joint venture between Campari and Moet Hennessy aims at building a premium pan-European e-commerce player for the benefit of all wine and spirits brands and their European consumers. The combined business will be led by a seasoned management team led by Marco Magnocavallo, current CEO of Tannico, who remains a key minority shareholder in the business.

"This partnership represents a significant step forward in our global e-commerce development strategy. While e-commerce was already a growing channel for wines and spirits, the global pandemic has triggered a significant acceleration. We are delighted to be partnering with Campari Group and Tannico to create a premium pan-European Wines & Spirits e-commerce player."  Philippe Schaus, President & CEO, Moet Hennessy

"We are very pleased to partner with Moet Hennessy to become a premium pan-European Wines & Spirits e-commerce player through Tannico. After the completion of Tannico's first transformational step with the acquisition of Ventealapropriete.com, thanks to this agreement, the new partnership aims to continue to grow, further strengthening its footprint and expertise in the online retailing of spirits & wines."  Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO Campari Group

"With the joint backing of Moet Hennessy and Campari, Tannico will have the firepower to consolidate the fragmented European e-commerce sector and offer a qualitative, sizeable and integrated route to market option catering to the needs of all its wines and spirits suppliers"  Marco Magnocavallo, CEO Tannico

The creation of the JV, which foresees the sale of 50% of the JV's equity capital by Campari to Moet Hennessy for a cash consideration of 25.6 million, is expected to be finalized after the completion of all customary regulatory requirements.

About Moet Hennessy

Moet Hennessy, the Wines and Spirits Division of LVMH, regroups twenty-five Maisons, many of which have been around for centuries, while others are just starting their journey. Its vision is to lead the future of luxury Wines and Spirits from nature to communities.

Located in the most prestigious terroirs around the world, Moet Hennessy has unique savoir-faire from winemaking to art de vivre, hospitality, and brick-and-clicks retail management to craft exceptional experiences for consumers.

For many years, with the ambition to pass on a better world to future generations, Moet Hennessy has been committed to the Living Soils Living Together program structured around four key commitments: Regenerating our Soils, Mitigating our Climate Impact, Engaging society, and Empowering our People. Moet Hennessy is proud to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive working environment for all.

Ao Yun, Ardbeg, Armand de Brignac, Belvedere, Cape Mentelle, Chandon, Chateau d'Esclans, Chateau Galoupet, Cheval des Andes, Clos19, Cloudy Bay, Dom Perignon, Eminente, Glenmorangie, Hennessy, Krug, Mercier, Moet & Chandon, Newton, Numanthia, Ruinart, Terrazas de los Andes, Veuve Clicquot, Volcan de mi Tierra, Woodinville.

About Campari Group

Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities. Global Priorities, the Group's key focus, include Aperol, Campari, SKYY, Grand Marnier, Wild Turkey and Appleton Estate. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Campari Group's growth strategy aims to combine organic growth through strong brand building and external growth via selective acquisitions of brands and businesses.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group operates 22 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 22 countries. Campari Group employs approximately 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM) have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001.

For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com/en. Please enjoy our brands responsibly.

About Tannico

Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur and digital native, Marco Magnocavallo, and his partners, today Tannico offers a catalogue of over 15,000 labels from 2,500 wineries, and the world's largest selection of Italian wines. Tannico leverages five pillars: technology, innovation, passion, vision and courage. The company has revolutionized the distribution network, removing the middlemen to accelerate the delivery process and ensure an optimal consumer experience.

With 90% of its business B2C, Tannico's e-commerce platform is intuitive and straightforward, offering a variety of services ranging from the assistance of a Personal Sommelier to dedicated content for connoisseurs and enthusiasts, such as a rare wines and collectables section. The platform additionally provides wine courses, video tutorials and a mobile app. In the B2B arena, Tannico offers services to wineries professionals in the hospitality industry.

About ventealapropriete.com

Ventealapropriete.com a leading French online wines and spirits retailer offering high-quality products at competitive prices. All the wines sold on Ventealapropriete.com are tasted and selected by a committee composed of Olivier Poussier, the World's Best Sommelier (2000), Christian Martray, Head sommelier of Albert 1er in Chamonix, and Alaric de Portal, a true afficionado.

The site offers a vast selection consisting of both established brands and rising newcomers. After being voted "Best Customer Service" for two consecutive years by Capital Magazine, Ventealapropriete.com was ranked the 5th Best E-commerce Site among peers across industries.

Press Contacts :

Moet Hennessy

Jean-Christophe Laizeau

Email [email protected]

Tel. +33 6 24 86 25 40

Campari Group

Enrico Bocedi

Corporate Communications Director

Email. [email protected]

Tel. +39 02 6225680

Drink responsibly.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1388256/Moet_Hennessy_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Moet Hennessy
SONOMA COUNTY, Calif., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Murphy-Goode , the Sonoma County winery that launched " A Really Goode Job " nationwide job search in March 2021, is pleased to announce that 17 finalists have been selected to continue their quest for their dream jobs in the wine industry. As announced in June 2021, Murphy-Goode will select not one, but two, candidates to earn $10,000 salary per month, live rent-free in Healdsburg for one year, and receive a year's supply of Murphy-Goode wine.

Over 7,000 applicants from across the country went above and beyond to pitch Murphy-Goode their dream jobs. From comedy to movie parodies to original songs and raps, applicants showcased a diverse range of passions, creativity and expertise that would make them really Goode employees. After reviewing every application in detail, Murphy-Goode is pleased to announce the following "A Really Goode Job" finalists are now one step closer to turning their dreams into reality:



Adam Bowles  Little Rock, AR

 A.J. Kirsch  Berkeley, CA

Alle Baldwin  Nashville, TN

 Casey Satori  Dover Plains, NY

Charlene "Charlie" Cooper  New York, NY

Ikenna Okeke  Birmingham, AL

Isis Daniel  Washington, D.C.

 Lauren Goldenberg  Alameda, CA

 Lindsay Perry  Austin, TX

 Emmanuelle "Manny" Estrella  Hollywood, FL

Matt O'Brien  Los Angeles, CA

 Matthew Horn  Encino, CA

 Roosevelt Johnson  Marana, AZ

 Stacie Huckeba  Nashville, TN

 Veronica Hebbard  Orlando, FL

 Vivian Tran  Montclair, CA

William "Bubby" Randall  Omaha, NE

In late July, Murphy-Goode will welcome the finalists to Healdsburg, where candidates will complete a variety of in-person interviews, giving them the opportunity to further demonstrate their personalities, passions, and everything else that makes them the ideal candidates for "A Really Goode Job." While in Healdsburg, the finalists will also have the opportunity to experience California wine country firsthand and meet with Murphy-Goode winemaker Dave Ready, Jr., who the selected candidates will shadow for the first few weeks of the job. The two winners will be selected in early August.

First launched in 2009, "A Really Goode Job" became a revolutionary campaign to create a real job opportunity in the wine industry at a time of economic distress and high unemployment. Today, as the country faces a new set of challenges, creating access and viable career opportunities is more important than ever. Murphy-Goode cast the net wide and launched the job search to find candidates from across the country who want to follow their passion and land their dream job in the wine industry.

For those interested in following along on the finalists' journey, follow Murphy-Goode on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter at @MurphyGoodeWine.

About Murphy-Goode Winery

Welcome to the Goode life. Founded in Sonoma County in 1985 in a spirit of love and friendship by Tim Murphy, Dale Goode and Dave Ready Sr., Sonoma County's own Murphy-Goode Winery crafts some of California's best wines without taking itself too seriously. The story lives on today under the Jackson Family Wines portfolio, continuing a tradition based on a shared appreciation of friendship, hard work, a wicked sense of humor and, of course, a good bottle of wine. Murphy-Goode offers high quality wines from some of California's great growing regions with the approachable and inviting attitude of Sonoma County. Murphy-Goode is never pretentious, is often irreverent and is about having fun. Because of its consistent quality, the brand has become a favorite wine for consumers everywhere. For more information, www.MurphyGoodeWinery.com , and follow Murphy-Goode on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter at @MurphyGoodeWine.

SOURCE Murphy-Goode Winery
NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the rising prevalence of security breaches and network attacks, rapid digitization in various industries, and mushrooming network traffic volume, the demand for the optimization of the network infrastructure is rising sharply. This is, in turn, propelling the expansion of the global network telemetry market. Furthermore, the rising adoption of network telemetry solutions by various enterprises such as Telefonica S.A. and the rapid advancements being made in related technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) are also generating a huge demand for network telemetry services and solutions. Due to these factors, the global network telemetry market value rose to $200 million in 2020, and it is predicted to grow even more during 20212030, according to the market research firm P&S Intelligence.

Due to the imposition of lockdowns by the governments of several countries to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the demand for network telemetry services and solutions is shooting up, as network telemetry is associated with networking and many businesses are working from home because of the pandemic.

Get the sample copy this report @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/network-telemetry-market-insights/report-sample

The network telemetry market is categorized into cloud service providers, telecom service providers, and managed service providers, based on end user. Out of these, the telecom service providers category dominated the market in 2020, and this category is also expected to exhibit rapid expansion during the forecast period. This is credited to the rapid adoption of network telemetry solutions by various telecom service providing companies such as Telefonica UK Limited to optimize and manage their network infrastructure.

The network telemetry market is also divided into services and solutions category, depending on component. Between these, the service category will demonstrate faster growth during the forecast period. This is ascribed to the skyrocketing demand for training, consultation, and maintenance services, on account of the rapid advancements being made in technologies such as AI, burgeoning requirement for optimized network infrastructure, and ballooning adoption of network telemetry solutions by businesses.

Browse detailed report with COVID-19 impact analysis on Network Telemetry Market Research Report: By Component (Solutions, Services), Organization Size (Large Enterprises, SMEs), Deployment Mode (Cloud, On-Premise), End User (Telecom Service Providers, Cloud Service Providers, Managed Service Providers) - Global Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030 @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/network-telemetry-market-insights

North America held the largest share in the network telemetry market during the historical period (20152020), and it will exhibit huge expansion throughout the forecast period as well. This is attributed to the existence of several industry players in the region such as Arista Networks Inc., Pluribus Networks Inc., and Juniper Networks Inc. Furthermore, the increasing competition between industries and the rapid adoption of advanced technologies such as IoT and AI are also fueling the growth of the market in the region.

The players in the network telemetry market are increasingly getting into partnerships to bolster their position in the industry. For example,

In February 2021, Forescout Technologies Inc., which is a provider of enterprise of things security solutions, launched a partnership with Arista Networks Inc. to provide more-effective and faster zero-trust defense for organizations. Forescout incorporated its eyeSegment solution with Arista CloudVision, which is the core management platform of the new multi-domain Macro-Segmentation Service Group (MSS Group) solution architecture of Arista.

Make Enquiry Before Purchase at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=network-telemetry-market-insights



In October 2019, Juniper Networks Inc. and Telefonica UK Limited entered into a partnership with each other, with the former becoming the latter's strategic network internet protocol (IP) partner. With the help of this partnership, Juniper Networks Inc. aims to develop a secure and automated cloud-enabled network infrastructure called Fusion Network.

Cisco Systems Inc., Arista Networks Inc., Juniper Networks Inc., Mellanox Technologies Ltd., Barefoot Networks Inc., Pluribus Networks Inc., Solarflare Communications Inc., Marvell Semiconductor Inc., Netronome Systems Inc., and VOLANSYS Technologies Pvt. Ltd. are some of the major global network telemetry market players.

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Optical Networking and Communication Market Insights - The emergence of the internet of things (IoT) and machine to machine (M2M) technologies will drive the optical networking and communication market at 6.2% CAGR during 20202030. The market stood at $16.9 billion in 2019 and it is expected to reach $32.8 billion by 2030.

MVNO Market Insights - Geographically, Europe is expected to lead the MVNO market in the coming years. The presence of a large number of MVNOs and high average net revenue per user (ARPU) are the most-important elements driving the European region's market growth.

About P&S Intelligence

P&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.

Contact:

Prajneesh Kumar

P&S Intelligence

Contact: +1-347-960-6455

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com

SOURCE P&S Intelligence
The new line  which translates to "Bertolli of Italy"  allows consumers to take a culinary journey to Italy through the delicious dishes they create right at home. The new Bertolli d'Italia sauces reflect the founder, Francesco Bertolli's appreciation for the simple pleasures in life: from uncomplicated food that contains only the highest-quality ingredients to the joy of connecting with friends and family around the table.

"With consumers cooking at home more than ever, home chefs are looking to elevate their meals with premium and approachable grocery items," said Megan Frank, vice president marketing at Mizkan America, Inc., maker of Bertolli sauces. "The full Bertolli d'Italia line is made from a bounty of premium ingredients, pledging the same commitment to simplicity and quality that Francesco Bertolli prided himself on when he first opened his shop in Tuscany in 1865."

Today, more than 150 years later, the brand is still committed to bringing authentic Italian culinary expertise to mealtime. "That's why Bertolli d'Italia Sauces contain no artificial colors, no added sugar and are crafted with high-quality ingredients using the Tuscan Way to lock in layers of flavor that bring a range of mouthwatering dishes to life," added Frank.

NEW Bertolli d'Italia Sauces are available in four delicious varieties  Marinara, Creamy Rosa, Alfredo and Four Cheese Alfredo. Bertolli d'Italia red sauces retail for a suggested price of $3.99 per 24.7-oz. glass jar and Bertolli d'Italia white sauces retail for a suggested price of $4.49 per 16.9-oz. glass jar. The pricing of the sauces will vary slightly based on retailer and location. For tasty recipes made with Bertolli d'Italia Sauces, visit and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

About the Bertolli Brand

Founded in the small Tuscan town of Lucca, Italy, the Bertolli name has been at the heart of Italian cooking and eating for more than 150 years with the world's favorite premium sauces. At the heart of the Bertolli brand is a commitment to quality, dedication to leveraging the natural goodness of ingredients and a tradition of providing outstanding and flavorful food. Bertolli's time-honored heritage relies on crafting artisan sauces inspired by the Tuscan way of cooking  using a few key, quality ingredients, cooked lightly with Mediterranean olive oil, to lock in layers of flavor. For more information, plus delicious recipes and tips on bringing the Bertolli brand experience home, visit www.Bertolli.com. You can find the latest news at Facebook.com/Bertolli and on Twitter @Bertolli, Instagram @Bertolli_US and Pinterest.com/Bertolli.

About Mizkan America, Inc.

Based in Mount Prospect, IL, Mizkan America, Inc., is a subsidiary of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company that has been Bringing Flavor To Life for more than 200 years. As one of the leading makers of condiments and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America maintains 17 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty-Asian and food-ingredient trade channels. Since 2005, Mizkan America has seen dramatic growth and their portfolio now includes a wide variety of vinegars, Italian and Asian sauces, peppers, cooking wines, wine reductions, sushi seasoning, salad dressings and mustards. Mizkan America brands include: RAGU, Bertolli, Holland House, NAKANO, Four Monks, Barengo, Mitsukan, Tres Hermanas, Nature's Intent, World Harbors and Rio Luna. Mizkan America is also the exclusive distributor for Angostura Bitters in North America. For more information about Mizkan America, please visit: www.Mizkan.com.

About The Mizkan Group

The Mizkan Group is a privately held, international food manufacturer, headquartered in Handa City, Japan, with a heritage that spans more than 200 years. Always guided by the company's Two Principles (Offer customers only the finest products; and Continuously challenge the status quo), the Mizkan Group offers a line-up of well-known international brands under the Mizkan umbrella and is a leader in the liquid condiment category. The Mizkan Group has operating facilities around the globe in places including: Japan, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. More information about the Mizkan Group can be found at: www.Mizkan.com.

Contact:

Lauren Mintzer

[email protected]

847-347-5554

SOURCE Mizkan America, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.mizkan.com


WASHINGTON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new foundation, "Catmosphere," was launched today with the mission of saving the lives of Big Cats and their critical ecosystems. Through public awareness campaigns and other efforts, Catmosphere will engage in global outreach to amplify the work of Panthera, the only organization in the world that is devoted exclusively to the conservation of the 40 species of wild cats.

Catmosphere was created by Reema Bandar Al Saud, who in 2019 became the first female Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America. Her expertise in fundraising and organizing global events will support and help expand Panthera's comprehensive conservation efforts, so that, as a collective, they can secure a future for Big Cats.

In making her announcement, Princess Reema said, "Catmosphere is a catalyst for change. Its campaigns and activations are launched to build momentum globally around Big Cat conservation. I first understood the threat to the future of Big Cats when I learned about Panthera's work in Saudi Arabia with The Royal Commission for AlUla, where they are researching the status of the Arabian Leopard in the Kingdom, with a view to forging a path for its recovery in the region."

Relying on the expertise of the world's premier cat biologists, Panthera develops and implements strategies to study and protect the seven species of Big Cats: cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards and tigers. Panthera partners with local and international NGOs, scientific institutions, local communities, governments around the globe and citizens who want to help ensure a future for wild cats.

In announcing their partnership, Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, Founder & Chairman of the Board of Panthera said, "As Panthera celebrates its 15 years of impact-driven cat conservation, it is simply an honor to be supported by Catmosphere  a fantastic new initiative led by Princess Reema, who enjoys a longstanding and highly distinguished track record in mass-participation and inclusive campaigns that bring about change."

"As wild cat enthusiasts dedicated to protecting all 40 species and their landscapes, we are always delighted to welcome new partners  especially such brilliant and effective ones. Combined with Panthera's unique reach, Catmosphere's exciting new vision, vast network spanning multiple sectors, and wealth of experience in leading consequential campaigns undoubtedly will generate a needle-moving and lasting contribution towards securing the future of big cats globally."

Catmosphere will harness the public- and private-sector experience of its team to forge new, innovative relationships with international brands, institutions, non-profits and governments, as well as localized communities of Big Cat supporters and conservationists. Through initiatives that transcend international borders, Catmosphere's global mass-marketing capabilities will assist Panthera in its important mission to preserve the most imperilled large cats.

Princess Reema indicated that Catmosphere will achieve its objectives through several strategic initiatives launching in 2021 and beyond.

"In 2021 we are launching our first campaign, Catwalk, a global mass-participation activity taking place on 6 November," she said. "It forms a bridge between cat conservation, the environment, and active lifestyle, and brings together my own past experiences in campaign curation. I'm excited to work with different stakeholders all around the globe to map a path for scalable, inclusive campaign delivery that demonstrates how igniting a movement locally can result in meaningful change, ensuring the wellbeing and continuation of Big Cat populations, globally."

About Catmosphere

Launched in 2021, Catmosphere is a foundation created to activate innovative engagement and storytelling around Big Cat Conservation. Catmosphere's awareness-raising campaigns are positioned to amplify the work of Panthera, the only organization globally that is devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world's 40 wild cat species and their ecosystems. Utilizing the expertise of the world's premier cat biologists, Panthera develops and implements strategies to study and protect cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards and tigers and the 33 small cat species and their vast landscapes.

SOURCE Catmosphere

Related Links

https://catmosphere.org/


TORONTO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Newtopia Inc. ("Newtopia" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEWU), a tech-enabled habit change provider focused on disease prevention, is pleased to announce the appointment of Roger Poirier, CFA to the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately. With Mr. Poirier's appointment, Newtopia has expanded its board to include five directors. Mr. Poirier has more than three decades of capital markets, finance and M&A experience and will serve on Newtopia's Audit Committee.

Mr. Poirier is the Founder of Whiteshell Group Inc., a Toronto-based merchant bank with a focus on venture capital and mid-market private and public companies. Prior to founding Whiteshell, Mr. Poirier was a co-founder of Cormark Securities, an institutional equity boutique in Toronto, where he held various senior positions over an 18-year period. Most recently, he was Managing Director, Investment Banking and held internal roles, including Deputy Chair - Risk Committee and member of the Audit Committee.

"We are excited to welcome Roger to our Board of Directors," said Jeff Ruby, Founder & CEO, Newtopia. "Roger's extensive capital markets experience will be a great complement to, and will round out, our Board's current roster of expertise. I anticipate that Roger will add significant value to Newtopia as we continue to expand our innovative habit change platform across North America."

"I am honored to join Newtopia's Board of Directors," said Roger Poirier. "Newtopia's focus on slowing, reversing and preventing the onset of chronic disease is a critical component of reducing insurer costs and driving the overall improvement of employee health. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow directors and expanding awareness of the company's unique habit change platform as Newtopia continues to grow and expand."

To learn more about Newtopia's corporate governance policies and review the Company's full list of directors, please visit the Corporate Governance section of Newtopia's investor website at investor.newtopia.com.

About Newtopia

Newtopia is a tech-enabled habit change provider focused on disease prevention and reducing the cost of care for health insurers. As a provider of whole person care, we prevent, reverse, and slow the progression of chronic disease while enriching mental health, resilience and overall human performance. Newtopia's programs leverage genetic, social, and behavioral insights to create individualized prevention programs with a focus on type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and weight. With a person-centered approach that combines virtual care, digital tools, connected devices and actionable data science, Newtopia delivers sustainable clinical and financial outcomes. Newtopia serves some of the largest nationwide employers and health plans and is currently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSXV: NEWU). To learn more, visit newtopia.com, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, and forward looking statements, within the meaning of applicable United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), which reflects management's expectations regarding Newtopia's future growth, results from operations (including, without limitation, future production and capital expenditures), performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "predicts", "projects", "targets", "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "anticipate" or "does not anticipate", "believe", "intend" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect Newtopia's current views and intentions with respect to future events, based on information available to Newtopia, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. While forward-looking statements are based on data, assumptions and analyses that Newtopia believes are reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results, performance or developments will meet Newtopia's expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance and financial condition of Newtopia to differ materially from its expectations. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, the estimated cost savings to plan payers associated with the use of Newtopia's platform by plan members, the potential cost of care reduction for other Medicare risk-bearing entities, the continued engagement with Newtopia's platform by plan members, clients continuing to offer Newtopia's platform pursuant to agreements entered into, statements relating to Newtopia's business plans and outlook. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee and are based on a number of estimates and assumptions management believes to be relevant and reasonable, whether actual results, performance or developments will meet Newtopia's expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance and financial condition of Newtopia to differ materially from its expectations. Certain of the "risk factors" that could cause actual results to differ materially from Newtopia's forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation: the termination of contracts by clients, risks related to COVID-19 including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, economic activity, financing, supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession; and other general economic, market and business conditions and factors, including the risk factors discussed or referred to in Newtopia's disclosure documents, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com including Newtopia's final long form prospectus dated March 30, 2020.

Should any factor affect Newtopia's in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward- looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, Newtopia does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release, and Newtopia undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Newtopia Inc.

Related Links

www.newtopia.com


, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas remains the top energy-producing state in the nation and a pacesetter in renewable energy, and the fourth annual D CEO Texas Energy Awards brings executives in oil, natural gas, wind, and solar together to recognize the shared impact and leadership of Texans across all forms of energy production.

The awards are presented in partnership with research institutes and professional associations from East Texas to the Permian Basin and Panhandle.

Willie Hornberger, partner at Jackson Walker, helped establish the awards program with D CEO and has guided its growth and evolution. "Years ago, some jumped to the conclusion that oil, natural gas, and renewable energy executives were competitors and couldn't work together," Hornberger said. "Now, our partner organizations are leading the way in bringing all the players to the table to celebrate our shared progress and advance the conversation on how all forms of energy production are critical to continue Texas' dominance in the world."

"Texas energy leaders recognize that everyone benefits when all forms of production work together," said Christine Perez, editor of D CEO Magazine. "We are excited to join with our partner organizations to tell the stories of collaboration across the energy industry."

Amarillo energy developer Jonathan Grammer is a sponsor of this year's program and has seen firsthand the interdependence of oil, natural gas, and renewable energy. "I believe that we're all working toward a better future," Grammer said. "Texas leaders recognize that energy production is not either-or. It's both-and."

Past honorees include Trevor Rees-Jones of Chief Oil & Gas, Joseph Wm. Foran of Matador Resources, Kelcy Warren of Energy Transfer, and Doug Dormer of Cardinal Midstream.

"Oil and natural gas are the engines of American jobs, the economy, and ongoing, constantly improving environmental successes," said TXOGA President Todd Staples. "The U.S. is now a net energy exporter, and a diverse energy portfolio will ensure we can continue powering progress around the world. We're glad these awards help us lead the conversation that all forms of energy production are important to our success."

Karr Ingham, executive vice president of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, said that as the nation and world emerge from the pandemic, energy producers are remaining optimistic. "Our industry is resilient and determined," Ingham said. "We're going to continue to need the contributions of all producers as we support the recovery of Texas, the nation, and the world."

"The Texas oil and natural gas industry is a cornerstone of our state economy, generating a direct GDP of $278 billion per year and supporting more than 2.3 million Texas jobs," said Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO). "We are proud to partner with D CEO to recognize leaders in the energy sector that are driving growth and innovation for the benefit of our state and industry."

"Forecasts of real post-Covid economic growth are continuing, and a rebound in the energy sector will help drive that growth," said Paul Moorman, managing director in investment banking at Stephens Inc. "Capital is being deployed across all types of energy, including oil, gas, and renewables, and Texas has been a leader in that balanced approach."

Brian Matlock, National Energy and Natural Resources Leader for BKD LLP, said that Texas will continue to be a leader across all types of energy production. "Texas is the center of the nation's energy production, and we're seeing that Texas will remain well-positioned as a focus of investment in oil, gas, and renewable energy."

The awards will also recognize innovation as an important catalyst for the energy industry, according to Bruce Bullock, director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University. "We are proud to remain a partner on these awards as they continue to celebrate leaders who are preparing for the energy industry of tomorrow," Bullock said.

Title sponsors of the awards program are Jackson Walker LLP, BKD LLP, Icon Global Group, and Stephens Inc. Signature sponsors are Mercer, Texas Mutual, and Whitley Penn.

Partner organizations are the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies, Dallas Young Professionals in Energy, the Energy Management Program at the University of Texas at Dallas, Financial Executives International, the Maguire Energy Institute at SMU, the North Texas Commission, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TXCPA), TXCPA Dallas, TXCPA Fort Worth, TXCPA Permian Basin, TXCPA Wichita Falls, TXCPA South Plains, the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA), and Women's Energy Network  North Texas.

Nominations are due July 16 . The program will honor executives in upstream, midstream, energy services & technology, renewable energy, and energy finance, as well as the private equity firm of the year and the financing or capital deal of the year. An Excellence in Innovation and Sustainability award will be presented, along with Rising Star and Lifetime Achievement awards.

The program is open to all industry players from East Texas to the Permian Basin who have strong North Texas ties. For more information and to submit a nomination, click here. Winners and finalists will be featured in the November issue of D CEO magazine and recognized at a private awards event this fall.

If you have questions about the awards or nomination process, please contact Kelsey J. Vanderschoot, associate editor, at [email protected] or 707-758-0697.

Contact: Ben Alexander

817.334.7293

[email protected]



SOURCE Jackson Walker LLP

Related Links

www.jw.com


ATLANTA, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PureCars, a leading martech and advertising intelligence provider for automotive retailers and marketers, today announced its acquisition of shopping personalization (DXP) and fintech platform, truPayments, further solidifying its commitment to helping dealers thrive by expanding its martech and services suite to include personalized payment shopping. PureCars' best-in-class tech optimizes media buys to achieve lower ad costs per unit sold and per RO, resulting in increased profitability for dealerships. truPayments' tech converts shoppers earlier in the buying process, further reducing advertising costs for dealerships, while providing an improved buying experience for their customers. PureCars is backed by Diversis Capital Partners and Stage 1 Ventures.

truPayments, LLC is a financial technology company with deep roots in eCommerce and the Automotive Industry, providing digital retailing solutions to automotive, powersports and RV dealerships, as well as lending institutions. With solutions that include shop-by-payment and trade-in tools, truPayments empowers shoppers with personalized, relevant payment information to create more frictionless online buying experiences. Lender data integrations ensure every quoted payment is accurate, whether the customer purchases online or in store. By providing consumers with a more practical shopping experience, truPayments generates more qualified leads for dealerships.

The acquisition of truPayments will add even more payment data to PureCars' already massive data warehouse, enabling dealers to serve payment-relevant ads to shoppers, and convert those shoppers to buyers, earlier in their buying journey, further reducing dealer ad costs per unit sold. Dealers will be able to more quickly and efficiently match in-market shoppers with their inventory at exactly the right payment.

Furthermore, while the industry grapples with inventory shortages, pairing vehicle acquisition campaigns with an accurate trade tool that quickly shows consumers the equity in their trade will give dealers a more profitable, less competitive vehicle acquisition option to auctions, which can eat into margins with transport and other associated fees.

"Automotive shoppers today expect more from dealerships at every stage in the buying cycle," said Jeremy Anspach, CEO of PureCars. "In order to give dealerships a leg up on new disruptive competitors that bypass the dealership, but offer much more limited services, dealerships need innovators like PureCars to help them deliver smoother, more intuitive experiences to shoppers as their expectations continue to rapidly evolve. The unification of PureCars' martech and truPayments' fintech represents an organic evolution for both companies that will result in even greater cost efficiencies for our dealers and partners, as well as superior shopping experiences for the customers they serve."

"The opportunity to directly integrate martech with shopping personalization and digital retailing is groundbreaking." said Tarry Shebesta, CEO at truPayments. "The synthesis of the underlying data and technology sets the stage for us to have a significant positive impact on the car buying process for consumers, as well as the advertising and retailing experience for dealerships."

About PureCars & truPayments

PureCars is dedicated to helping dealers and the automotive industry thrive with its advanced martech, advertising insights and portfolio management platform. Only PureCars has PURE Intelligence, giving dealers and automotive marketers a competitive edge with information that is PURE: Proven, Understandable, Relevant and Essential. PureCars' industry-leading tech leverages data and insights to make smarter media buys that result in lower ad costs per unit sold and per repair order. Since its founding in 2007, PureCars has achieved great success by combining martech with digital merchandising and market analytics tools to provide dealers and partners with best-in-class solutions that increase efficiency and profitability.

PureCars's acquisition of truPayments, a leading financial tech provider that makes it easier for consumers to obtain near penny perfect payment information earlier in the shopping process, further solidifies its commitment to helping dealerships boost engagement, earn more gross per unit sold and increase ROI.

PureCars is a certified digital provider for 15 OEMs in the U.S. and 1 in Canada, compliant with 40+ brands and serves 65 of the top 100 dealer groups in North America.

Learn more at www.purecars.com

About Diversis Capital

Founded in 2013, Diversis is a software and technology focused private equity fund that invests in lower middle-market companies, targeting situations where it can add unique value in helping a company reach the next level. With a collaborative approach to investing, its Operating Partners and Strategic Advisors work alongside management teams to help build successful organizations positioned for long-term growth.

Media Contact: Chris Tofalli | Chris Tofalli Public Relations, LLC | 914-834-4334 | www.diversis.com

About Stage 1 Ventures, LLC

Stage 1 Ventures, LLC was founded in 2005 and has invested over $200M in 22 late-stage growth companies. Stage 1 does a combination of primary and secondary investing as well as seed investing. Stage 1 looks for high growth companies that are led by passionate entrepreneurs in ag-tech, cloud, mobile, auto, consumer and enterprise software spaces.

SOURCE PureCars

Related Links

http://www.purecars.com


BETHESDA, Md. and SILVER SPRING, Md., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Xchange, a leading provider of quantum-safe solutions, partnered with Priseda, the private and secure data company, to bring its groundbreaking Phio Trusted Xchange (TX) key delivery system to the Priseda Private Digital Network  a fully managed, national private network built for client resiliency. The strategic partnership makes Priseda one of the first managed services providers to offer quantum-safe security solutions as part of its offering.

The Priseda backup and recovery network is used by leading systems integrators, commercial businesses, and government agencies to ensure mission-critical data is continuously protected against natural disaster, cyberattacks, or other business disruptions. Quantum Xchange will provide a quantum-safe encryption architecture to secure the Priseda Network, and the data communications of its clients, with the strongest form of encryption available.

Phio TX from Quantum Xchange is a simple architecture overlay that leverages an out-of-band symmetric key delivery technology to supplement native encryption with an additional key-encrypting-key (KEK) transmitted independent of the data path and through a quantum-protected tunnel. The unique solution can be deployed today to overcome the inherent vulnerabilities of Public Key Encryption (PKE)  mainly the key and data traveling together  and the quantum threat at once with no distance or delivery limitations. Users can easily increase quantum protection levels at any time with no interruptions to the network or business. Moreover, the crypto-agile technology works across any network media i.e., satellite, fiber, copper or wireless.

For Priseda's federal clients and agency partners that must meet government mandates such as Section 3 of the White House Executive Order for Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity or for those following the emerging role of quantum technologies for security and defense via NATO Article 5, Phio TX helps avoid system obsolescence and capital-intensive rip and replace scenarios by delivering a future-proof solution for protecting data from whatever threat awaits.

"With cyberattacks increasing in volume and sophistication, harvesting attacks happen now, and the age of quantum computing fast approaching, organizations must ramp up cyber defenses and resiliency efforts," said Robert Henley, CEO of Priseda. "We are pleased to work with Quantum Xchange to deliver our clients a dynamic, quantum-safe solution for future-proofing the security of their data as it travels across the Priseda Network. Together, we offer businesses and agencies a smart evolved approach that minimizes operational overhead and infrastructure costs and keeps data protected today and in the quantum future."

Phio TX is superior and differs from other quantum security solutions on several fronts, most notably:

Phio TX is FIPS-validated and vendor agnostic. It can be dropped into any crypto infrastructure for immediate, quantum-safe protection today.

Phio TX is the only solution to support quantum keys from any source  Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Quantum Random Number Generated (QRNG) keys, or a combination.

Phio TX can deliver quantum-enhanced encryption keys across any network media that can carry TCP/IP v4 or v6 traffic. This includes fiber, satellite, 4G, 5G, or copper.

With Phio TX quantum key transmissions are not limited by distance and can be delivered point to multipoint.

Phio TX shores up the vulnerabilities of modern key management practices including weak entropy, keys and data traveling together, and minimal key rotation  to provide users with an instant and infinitely stronger cybersecurity posture.

Phio TX is available in a variety of deployment options, i.e., physical appliance, cloud, or edge device/VPN to meet an organization's business and budgetary requirements.

About Priseda

Priseda  the Private, Secure Data company  provides managed IT solutions to a variety of commercial and government customers throughout the United States. The Priseda Private Digital Network is a fully managed, national private network that provides uncommon network resiliency to its clients  from media conglomerates to public utilities  that require resilient connectivity and IT operations for mission critical services. Priseda is headquartered in the Washington, DC metro from its Silver Spring, MD office and has locations in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Albuquerque and Phoenix. To learn more about Priseda, visit https://go.quantumxc.com/rd-priseda-ws-home.

About Quantum Xchange

Quantum Xchange gives commercial enterprises and government agencies the ultimate solution for protecting data today and in the quantum future. Its award-winning key delivery system, Phio Trusted Xchange (TX), is uniquely capable of making existing encryption keys quantum safe and supports both post-quantum crypto (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for true crypto agility and quantum readiness. To learn more about future-proofing your data from whatever threat awaits, visit QuantumXC.com or follow us on Twitter @Quantum_Xchange #BeQuantumSafe.

SOURCE Quantum Xchange
"To say that I think the childcare situation in the US is a problem is an understatement. It is one of the greatest barriers in the pursuit of an equal and equitable society. My belief, and Recursion's belief, is that employers have a responsibility to be part of the solution," said Recursion Chief People Officer Heather Kirkby. "I just emerged from what I call the 'chaos years' of being a working mother with my youngest turning six. I'm proud to work for a company that's willing to commit to supporting working parents in such a meaningful way."

Bright Horizons, the country's largest provider of employer-sponsored child care, will provide child care for Recursion employees' children from infancy through five years old. Opening a child care center for employees has been a long-standing goal for the company. Co-Founder and CEO Chris Gibson, PhD, personally faced challenges in finding reliable child care early in his career. A lack of access to child care providers nearly forced him to choose between becoming a stay-at-home father or starting Recursion, until an opening serendipitously became available at his local Bright Horizons child care center.

Recursion previously announced plans to open a center in the second half of 2020, which were delayed as a result of the pandemic. Bright Horizons' 7th Annual Modern Family Index Report shows increased stress levels and concern among parents surrounding their children's development and wellbeing as an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, making accessible daycare even more important during the transition back to in-person work. Accompanying the official opening of its child care center, Recursion is proud to have joined the TIME'S UP Care Economy Business Council . The CEBC is a coalition of large corporations, small businesses, entrepreneurs and investors working to shift the cultural narrative around who is responsible for care.

Recursion aims to provide access to affordable, dependable and convenient child care as a benefit for working parents. Helping employees solve the childcare puzzle is an essential ingredient to building a diverse workforce, which is one of Recursion's greatest commitments in pursuit of achieving its audacious mission. Accessible child care also helps to create equity among employees, and encourages a sense of belonging. According to various studies, only 4 to 6 percent of U.S. employers offer child care centers or programs, whether subsidized or unsubsidized (see the Society for Human Resource Management) . Utah also ranks as one of the three most difficult states for child care access , setting Recursion apart as an employer that understands the unique challenges that working parents face in Salt Lake City.

"Recursion's decision-making process for building a child care center underscores the environment facing all employers  they continue to need to support working parents so they can be their most productive selves at work," says Bright Horizons Chief Executive Officer Stephen Kramer. "The pandemic may have paused the mobilization of their child care center, but it ultimately served to amplify the fact that parents need high quality early education and care for their children regardless of where they work. Recursion, like many leading employers, has long recognized that an investment in child care is a critical investment in their workforce and in the future. The past year and a half has only served to bring that into sharper focus. We are proud to partner with Recursion in supporting their working parent employees and helping to develop the next generation."

About Recursion

Recursion is a clinical-stage biotechnology company decoding biology by integrating technological innovations across biology, chemistry, automation, machine learning and engineering. Our goal is to radically improve the lives of patients and industrialize drug discovery. Central to our mission is the Recursion Operating System, which combines an advanced infrastructure layer to generate what we believe is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing proprietary biological and chemical datasets. We combine that with the Recursion Map, a suite of custom software, algorithms and machine learning tools that we use to explore foundational biology unconstrained by human bias and navigate to new biological insights. Learn more at www.recursion.com , or connect on Twitter and LinkedIn .

About Bright Horizons

Bright Horizons is a leading global provider of high-quality child care and early education, back-up care, and workplace education services. For more than 30 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. We operate approximately 1,000 child care centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and India, and serve more than 1,300 of the world's leading organizations. Bright Horizons' child care centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs, including tuition program management, education advising, and student loan repayment, help employees succeed at each life and career stage. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com .

Press Contact

Jenna Barbari - Communications Coordinator

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact

[email protected]

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains information that includes or is based upon "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide our expectations or forecasts regarding future events. You can identify these statements by the fact they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They may use words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, forward-looking statements include statements relating to intended future actions; plans with respect to clinical trials and preclinical activities; prospective products or product approvals; future performance or results of anticipated products or technology; expenses; our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property protections and financial results; in addition to other topics. Any or all of our forward-looking statements here or elsewhere may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements and from expected or historical results. Many such factors will be important in determining our actual future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. In particular, you should read the discussion in the "Risk Factors" section in our Prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 16, 2021 and in our periodic filings with the SEC. Other factors besides those listed could also adversely affect the company. We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements (except as may be otherwise noted) speak only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. You are advised to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports to the SEC.

SOURCE Recursion
ROME, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ReiThera Srl, a biotech company dedicated to the technology development, GMP manufacturing and clinical translation of genetic vaccines and medicinal products for advanced therapies, today announces the preliminary safety and immunogenicity data from the Phase 2 clinical "COVITAR" trial with GRAd-COV2, its novel COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

The trial's Independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (independent Committee for the evaluation of safety) and the Steering Committee (Scientific Committee for the evaluation of efficacy) recommended the continuation of the clinical development of the GRAd-COV2 vaccine following a recent review of the data.

The study, which was conducted in 24 clinical centers in Italy, enrolled 917 volunteers over the age of 18; 25% of subjects were over the age of 65 and / or with conditions associated with an increased risk of severe disease in case of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Volunteers were randomized in three regimens (1:1:1), receiving either a single vaccine dose followed by a placebo dose, or two vaccine doses, or two doses of placebo, with a three-week interval between the two administrations.

As agreed with the independent advisory boards and the competent regulatory authorities, ReiThera unblinded the trial participants at the two-month check-up stage following the administration of the first dose, to allow those who had received the placebo to take part in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The safety profile and the immune response to vaccination with GRAd-COV2 confirm what was observed in the Phase 1 clinical study. In particular, the vaccine was well tolerated at the first, and even better at the second administration. Adverse events, mostly mild to moderate and of short duration, were mainly related to pain and induration at the site of injection, fatigue, muscle pain and headache. There were no vaccine-related serious adverse events.

Antibody responses (seroconversion) against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were achieved in over 93% of the volunteers at three weeks after the first dose, reaching 99% after the second dose. Five weeks after the first vaccination, the titer of both spike-binding and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies was comparable to that measured in a reference group of patients recovering from COVID-19 infection.

"We are very excited about the preliminary Phase 2 data from our COVITAR trial," said Roberto Camerini, MD Reithera Medical Director. "Our vaccine candidate confirmed its excellent safety and good immunogenicity profile in a large cohort. ReiThera reaffirms its commitment to the fight against COVID-19 in the face of pressing global demand for additional vaccines. The Phase 3 program, based on a non-inferiority design with a primary immunological endpoint in comparison with a viral vectored vaccine already marketed, has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency and other important regulatory agencies. We hope to be able to start Phase 3 trial as soon as possible."

"Adenoviral vector vaccines induce more potent and persistent cell-mediated responses than other vaccine platforms, due to the activation of T lymphocytes against the spike protein, as we confirmed in our Phase 1 study of our candidate vaccine GRAd-COV2. We and others have shown that, unlike antibody immunity, T lymphocyte responses do not lose potency against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Therefore, in the context of current and future epidemics, vaccines with this property could prove to be important weapons in offering protection from COVID-19, alone or in heterologous combination with other vaccine platforms," adds Stefania Capone, Head of Preclinical and Clinical Immunology unit at ReiThera.

About GRAd-COV2

GRAd-COV2, the candidate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 recently developed by ReiThera, is based on a novel and proprietary replication-defective simian (gorilla) adenoviral vector (called GRAd) encoding the full-length coronavirus spike protein (GRAd-COV2). The spike protein enables the coronavirus to enter human cells.

Simian adenoviral (SAd) vectors have been extensively used as delivery agents for genetic vaccine candidates against multiple infectious diseases, including Ebola and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), in different populations, including elderly and infants enrolled in early and late stage clinical trials to date. Preclinical and clinical evidence have demonstrated that ReiThera's vaccine technology is safe and induces robust cellular and humoral immune responses.

ReiThera's novel GRAd vector belongs to species C adenovirus that are considered the most potent vaccine carriers and has low seroprevalence in humans. This means that GRAd vaccine immunogenicity is not hampered by pre-existing anti-human adenovirus antibodies.

About ReiThera Srl

ReiThera Srl is a biotech company dedicated to the technology development, GMP manufacturing and clinical translation of genetic vaccines and medicinal products for advanced therapies. The company's management and scientific teams have developed a highly innovative technological platform based on simian adeno-vectored vaccines against several infectious diseases, such as RSV and Ebola.

ReiThera is led by an experienced management team that has worked together for many years in previous successful enterprises, including Okairos (acquired by GSK), and has a long-standing expertise in scalable processes for viral vector manufacturing, supported by a cGMP facility inclusive of filling suite and quality control laboratories. ReiThera is also part of a pan-European consortium focused on the development and large-scale manufacture of an adeno-viral vector vaccine against COVID-19.

ReiThera has its headquarters, R&D laboratories and GMP facilities in Rome, Italy.

For further information see: www.reithera.com

Media Contacts:

ReiThera Srl

Antonella Folgori, Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]



MEDiSTRAVA Consulting  International Press

Sylvie Berrebi, Mark Swallow PhD

+44 (0) 7714306525 / +44 (0) 7903737703

[email protected]

Comin & Partners  Italian Press

Giorgia Bazurli

+39 349 2840676

[email protected]

SOURCE ReiThera Srl
Early in her career, with JPMorgan Chase and its predecessor organizations, Ms. Just established herself as a proficient underwriter of commercial, corporate, and securitized transactions, taking on roles of increasing responsibility and managing multi-billion-dollar transactions. Following her 17-year tenure at JPMorgan, Ms. Just changed her focus to community banking and broader credit risk management. She served as Senior Credit Officer at First Chicago Bank & Trust, a $1.1 billion community bank, and was responsible for integrating and streamlining the credit functions of its merged predecessor banks. At Northern Trust, Ms. Just managed Loan Review and led the Global Compliance Testing functions. She also served as the lead credit officer responsible for the $8.5 billion retail credit portfolio at TCF Bank. More recently, Ms. Just managed the ALLL function at Bank of Montreal, and during the pandemic worked as a credit portfolio manager for a new financial technology firm.

Ms. Just obtained her MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University with concentrations in Finance and Strategy, and her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Loyola University of Chicago with a concentration in Marketing.

Commenting on her new appointment, Ms. Just stated, "Santa Cruz County Bank is known in the industry as a well-managed bank with exceptional financial ratings. I'm honored to join the executive team and look forward to contributing to the bank's growth and continued success. As a former competitive sailor, I am drawn to the Monterey Bay area and am very excited to become part of the local community."

Krista Snelling, President and CEO commented, "We are excited to welcome Susan as Chief Credit Officer and as a valued member of our Executive team. Susan's extensive background in credit risk, her well rounded experience in portfolio management and knowledge in regulatory compliance are essential for managing the increasing complexity of a loan portfolio for a growing bank of our size. We look forward to Susan's contributions to the Bank and the communities we serve."

Ms. Just is based out of the Bank's headquarters in Santa Cruz.

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK

Santa Cruz County Bank was founded in 2004. It is a top-rated, locally-owned and operated, full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. The bank has eight branchesAptos, Capitola, Cupertino, Monterey, Santa Cruz (2), Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Santa Cruz County Bank is distinguished from "big banks" by its relationship-based service, problem-solving focus and direct access to decision makers. The bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley and a top USDA lender in the state of California. As a full-service bank, Santa Cruz County Bank offers competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals; including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment and treasury management. True to its community roots, Santa Cruz County Bank has supported regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local not-for-profit organizations.

Santa Cruz County Bank stock is publicly traded on the OTCQX marketplace under the symbol SCZC. Stock purchase orders may be placed online, through a brokerage firm, or through Market Makers listed in the Investor Relations section of the bank's website. For more information about Santa Cruz County Bank, visit www.sccountybank.com.

This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank

Related Links

http://www.sccountybank.com


NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BusPatrol today announces a new partnership with the City of Niagara Falls and the Niagara Falls City School District to improve school bus safety.

The safety program is set to go live on September 1. All 100 buses in the Niagara Falls City School District will benefit from the BusPatrol platform, which provides advanced technology to help reduce stop-arm violations and improve student safety.

BusPatrol school bus safety program protects students at bus stops

The technology, installation, and maintenance are offered at zero cost to the District. Revenue generated from citations will be used to fund the installation and maintenance of the technology over a five-year term. The hardware and software suite includes stop-arm cameras, 4G LTE connectivity, DVR and storage devices, cloud-managed 360-degree safety cameras (interior, windshield, rear-view, and sideload cameras), and GPS and telemetry solutions.

The school bus safety program will change driver behavior in Niagara Falls and reduce the number of times drivers illegally pass stopped school buses. According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA), children are most vulnerable as they step on and off the school bus. Drivers that ignore school bus stopping laws and blow past stopped school buses put these children at risk.

In the fall of 2019, Niagara Falls City School District conducted a pilot program with BusPatrol to identify the risk of stop-arm violations. Two school buses were illegally passed an average of 30 to 40 times per day. As well as this, data published by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee suggests that school buses are illegally passed 50,000 times a day in New York State.

"The safety of our children is paramount," Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie said. "During a trial period of time, with only two buses having cameras, far too many cars illegally passed stopped buses. This program will send a strong message that the safety of children on and around buses must be taken very seriously."

City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino emphasized the need for better stop-arm enforcement, saying: "Reviewing the findings of the pilot program, the need for additional safety measures became imperative."

He added: "The City is continuing its commitment to working together with the school district in finding the right partners for programs like this that increase safety throughout our community."

Jean Souliere, CEO and Founder of BusPatrol, said: "BusPatrol is proud to partner with the City, School District, and Transportation Department to ensure local students are safe as they travel to and from school."

He continued: "Our safety programs are proven to reduce the number of illegal passes by up to 30% YOY. We look forward to inciting a similar change in driver behavior in Niagara Falls, and helping the city to put safety first."

You can find more information about BusPatrol at www.buspatrol.com.

Press contact: Kate Spree | [email protected]

Related Images

buspatrol-school-bus-safety.jpg

BusPatrol school bus safety program protects students

BusPatrol school bus safety program protects students at bus stops

SOURCE BusPatrol
HAMILTON, Bermuda, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill" or the "Company") (OSE: SDRL, OTCPK:SDRLF) and the Issuer announce, further to the announcement made by Seadrill and the Issuer on July 2, 2021, the successful completion of the consent solicitation process (the "Consent Solicitation") to amend certain terms of the indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of July 2, 2018, and as amended and supplemented by that certain first supplemental indenture dated as of March 11, 2019, related to the Issuer's outstanding 12.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the "Notes").

The Consent Solicitation expired at 5 p.m., New York City time, on July 9, 2021.

Approximately 80% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes consented to the proposed amendment. The Issuer has entered into a supplemental indenture (the "Second Supplemental Indenture") related to the Notes, effective July 9, 2021. The amendment permits the Issuer to use the Net Realization Proceeds (as defined in the Indenture) as of the date of the Second Supplemental Indenture that have not previously been deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds" to fund reorganization expenses of the Issuer and to advance funds by way of loan or other investments in the form of debt to SeaMex Ltd., its successors, and its and their respective subsidiaries to meet their ongoing operating and administrative needs, including operating disbursements, personnel costs, personnel taxes, direct and indirect taxes, debt service, and other costs and expenses.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security. No offer, solicitation, or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

About Seadrill

Seadrill is a leading offshore drilling contractor utilizing advanced technology to unlock oil and gas resources for clients across harsh and benign locations across the globe. Seadrill's high quality, technologically advanced fleet spans all asset classes allowing its experienced crews to conduct its operations from shallow to ultra-deep-water environments. The company operates 43 rigs, which includes drillships, jack-ups, and semi-submersibles.

Seadrill is listed on the Oslo Brs and OTC Pink markets. For more information, visit https://www.seadrill.com/.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes forward looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Contact:

[email protected]

020 3745 4960

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

SOURCE Seadrill Limited
NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Selene Holdings ("Selene"), a leading residential mortgage servicer and real estate services platform, today announced that Katie Brewer and John Vella have joined the firm as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Revenue Officer, respectively. Selene is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pretium, a specialized investment management firm focused on real estate, mortgage finance and corporate credit with more than $20 billion in assets under management.

Ms. Brewer and Mr. Vella bring a strong mix of differentiated skillsets that will enable Selene to strategically grow its operating platforms through the enhancement of the firm's business infrastructure and strategic revenue channels. The Selene team looks forward to integrating Ms. Brewer as the lead driver of top-line and bottom-line business objectives, and to welcoming Mr. Vella as the firm's first CRO, to continue to build on the momentum across Selene's existing client base and sales pipeline.

"We are pleased to welcome John and Katie to our growing team at Selene," said Joe Davila, President and CEO of Selene. "Their extensive knowledge and decades-long relationships as leaders within the mortgage servicing, real estate servicing and investment banking industries will help us to reinforce our footprint in the residential credit ecosystem and enhance our high-touch client and consumer-driven approaches. We could not be more excited to have them at the market-facing forefront of our strategic growth journey."

In her new role, Ms. Brewer will oversee the operation and execution of Selene's multiple lines of business, including mortgage servicing, due diligence and insurance brokerage. She will report to and partner with President and CEO Joe Davila, as well as the broader team, in maximizing Selene's operational output and delivering on the company's strategic goals. Before joining Selene, Ms. Brewer served as Senior Vice President of Valuation Services at Radian, where she spearheaded the development of the mortgage insurance provider's expanding product capabilities and optimized the strategic delivery of client solutions. Prior to this role, Katie served as the Chief Operating Officer of Green River Capital.

"It is a privilege to have the opportunity to collaborate with the extremely talented team here at Selene to lead and support the firm's rapid growth through its expanding business lines, robust client roster and flexible infrastructure capabilities," Ms. Brewer remarked. "I am excited to provide best-in-class mortgage loan services to our valued homeowners and to deliver on and exceed client expectations across the real estate value chain."

John Vella will be responsible for growing the Selene platform through strategic sales, product development, marketing and client management efforts. He will report to and partner closely with President and CEO Joe Davila to further refine Selene's strategic approach to drive winning solutions for both clients and homeowners. Before joining Selene, Mr. Vella served as Chief Revenue Officer for Altisource, where he led revenue generation and client management for the mortgage and real estate solutions provider and raised capital by providing services and technologies to lenders, originators, servicers and real estate investors. Prior to this role, Mr. Vella managed large servicing and origination platforms for leading banks and mortgage companies.

Mr. Vella said, "Selene's differentiated approach to residential mortgage servicing means the firm is well positioned to grow its market share and meet the robust demand that is being driven by an exceptionally strong housing market. I am excited to join the team and to help deliver on Selene's aggressive multi-service growth strategy, anchored by its hallmark specialty servicing offering, to a broader range of valued clients and stakeholders."

About Selene Holdings

Selene Holdings was founded in 2007 and is the parent company of Selene Finance LP, Selene Title, Selene Diligence and AMC Insurance of Texas. Selene Finance is a servicer of non-performing, re-performing, REO and performing mortgage loans. Selene Holdings' additional subsidiaries provide component products and services across the real estate and mortgage life cycles. Selene employs approximately 500 employees across five offices and remote locations. For more information visit www.seleneadvantage.com .

About Pretium

Pretium is a specialized alternative investment management firm focused on U.S. residential real estate, residential credit, and corporate credit. Pretium was founded in 2012 to capitalize on secular investment and lending opportunities arising as a result of structural changes, disruptions, and inefficiencies within the economy. Pretium has built an integrated analytical and operational ecosystem within the U.S. housing, residential credit, and corporate credit markets, and believes that its insight and experience within these markets create a strategic advantage over other investment managers. Pretium's platform has more than $25 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2021 and employs approximately 2,500 people. Please visit www.pretium.com for additional information.

Media Contacts

Prosek Partners

Mike Geller / Josh Clarkson / William Szczecinski

646-818-9018 / 646-818-9259 / 912-344-7423

[email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Selene Holdings

Related Links

http://www.seleneadvantage.com


KRAKOW, Poland, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Selvita (WSE: SLV) - one of the largest preclinical contract research organizations in Europe, announced today the initiation of the construction of its own research centre in Krakow. The Company signed an agreement with the General Contractor  PORR S.A., which will be responsible for the execution of the investment.

The new facility will add much needed research capacity and allow for scale-up of business operations as well as expansion of services offer.

The total net value of contract amounts to EUR 19.1 million. The completion of the construction is expected at the turn of 2022/23. Selvita Research Centre will be created in the neighborhood of the current company HQ. At the heart of the new Selvita facility will be an array of laboratories incl. medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, cell & molecular biology, ADME/DMPK, in vivo pharmacology and analytical chemistry. The new facility will have a potential to accommodate approximately 250 employees.

Creation of the own laboratory-office complex is one of the key elements of Selvita's Development Strategy for 2020  2023 which assumes further organic growth supported with acquisitions. Selvita has secured financing for the investment, including a EUR 9.3 million grant and a EUR 14.3 million bank loan.

"Our goal is to continuously grow and strengthen our position on the global CRO market. Expansion of our laboratory infrastructure and scope of services will bring us closer to achieving it. This is the reason why we decided to invest in our own research facility. The mixed operational model including both rented and proprietary research space, is a standard among reputable global CROs, as it increases the reliability of a partner," comments Dariusz Kurdas, Chief Financial Officer at Selvita.

"Execution of this investment will allow us not only to increase the scale of operations and extend our offer but also to gain a competitive edge through introduction of new technologies and services in the area of drug discovery and development into our offer," adds Kurdas.

Selvita currently operates in several locations, with 6,000 m2 of research facilities located in Krakow and Poznan, Poland, as well as 6,000 m2 in Zagreb, Croatia, following the acquisition of Fidelta. The construction of the new building will give Selvita access to an additional 10,000 m2 of space, including approximately 4,000 m2 of laboratory-office space.

About Selvita [SLV]

Selvita is a preclinical Contract Research Organization providing multidisciplinary support in resolving the unique challenges of research within area of drug discovery, regulatory studies, as well as research and development. Selvita is also a major shareholder in Ardigen  a bioinformatics company harnessing advanced Artificial Intelligence methods for novel precision medicine. In January 2021, Selvita acquired 100% of shares in Fidelta d.o.o., substantially expanding its scope of drug discovery services in infectious diseases, inflammation, and fibrosis and building a competitive advantage in areas such as DMPK, in vivo pharmacology, and toxicology. Selvita was established in 2007 and currently employs almost 800 professionals, of which over 40% hold a Ph.D. title. Selvita is headquartered in Krakow, Poland, with a second research site in Poznan, Poland, while Fidelta is located in Zagreb, Croatia. Selvita's international offices are located in Cambridge, MA, and San Francisco Bay Area, in the U.S., as well as in Cambridge, UK. Selvita is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE: SLV). For more information, please see www.selvita.com.

SOURCE Selvita

Related Links

http://www.selvita.com


DUBLIN, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Silicone Resins Market by Type (Methyl, Methyl Phenyl), Application, End-use Industry (Automotive & Transportation, Building & Construction, Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, Industrial) and Region - Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global silicone resins market is estimated to be USD 4.8 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 6.3 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2021 to 2026.

The growth is due to the growing demand industrial, construction and automobile and other applications throughout the world. The silicone resins are widely used for paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants and elastomers applications. The increasing demand from industrial segments, automotive & transportation and building & construction is boosting the demand for silicone resins.

Methyl Silicone Resins is expected to be the fastest-growing type in the silicone resins market during the forecast period

Methyl Silicone Resins is the fastest-growing type segment in the silicone resins market. Methyl Silicone Resins are widely used in topcoats to provide protection to the surface exposed to weather and high temperature. It accounted for a share of about 42.4% of the silicone resins market, in terms of value, in 2020.

Elastomers is expected to be the fastest-growing application in the silicone resins market during the forecast period

Elastomers is the fastest-growing application segment in the silicone resins market. Rising number of automotive & sealants, building & construction and industrial end-use industries will drive the demand for silicone resins in the insulating glass application. It accounted for a share of about 40.4% of the silicone resins market, in terms of value, in 2020.

Industrial is expected to be the fastest-growing end-use in the silicone resins market during the forecast period

Industrial is the fastest-growing curing type segment in the silicone resins market. The growth in this segment is attributed to increased use of silicone resins in various applications, such as paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants and elastomers, among others. It accounted for a share of about 20.4% of the silicone resins market, in terms of value, in 2020.

APAC is the largest market for silicone resins

APAC is the largest and market of silicone resins, with China being the major emerging market. APAC accounted for the largest share of the silicone resins market in 2020. The market in the region is growing because of increased foreign investments because of cheap labor and availability of raw materials. The growing demand from automobile industry, government proposals to improve manufacturing and rising capital intensive construction, coupled with the increase in demand from industrial, automotive & transportation and building & construction end-uses. It accounted for a share of about 52.3% of the silicone resins market, in terms of value, in 2020.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Silicone Resin Market

4.2 Silicone Resin Market, by Region

4.3 APAC: Silicone Resin Market, by Country and End-use Industry

4.4 Silicone Resin Market: by Major Countries

5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.2 COVID-19 Economic Assessment

5.3 Market Dynamics

5.3.1 Drivers

5.3.1.1 Range of Properties Catering to Specific End-uses

5.3.1.2 Increasing Demand in Paints & Coatings Industry

5.3.1.3 Wide Use in Electronics & Electrical Industry

5.3.2 Restraints

5.3.2.1 Stringent Government Regulations to Hinder Market Growth

5.3.3 Opportunities

5.3.3.1 Increasing Use of Hybrid Resins in Reinforcements

5.3.3.2 Technological Advancements Help Overcome Integration Challenges

5.3.4 Challenges

5.3.4.1 New Emission Goals of US and Canada to Affect Demand

5.3.4.2 Health and Safety Issues

5.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.5 Value Chain Analysis

5.6 YC & YCC Shift

5.7 Ecosystem Map

5.8 Regulatory Analysis

5.9 Trade Analysis

5.10 COVID-19 Impact

5.11 Technology Analysis

5.12 Case Study

5.13 Pricing Analysis

5.14 Scenario Analysis

5.15 Range Scenarios of Silicone Resin Market

5.15.1 Optimistic Scenario

5.15.2 Pessimistic Scenario

5.15.3 Realistic Scenario

5.16 Patent Analysis

6 Silicone Resin Market, by Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Methyl Silicone Resins

6.2.1 Wide Use due to Excellent Thermal Stability Property

6.3 Methyl Phenyl Silicone Resins

6.3.1 Increasing Demand from Paints & Coatings Industry to Boost Market

6.4 Others

6.4.1 Multiple Applications of Modified Silicone Resins

7 Silicone Resin Market, by Application

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Paints & Coatings

7.2.1 Versatility of Silicone Resins to Boost Market

7.3 Adhesives & Sealants

7.3.1 Rising Demands in Building & Construction Industry Affects Market Positively

7.4 Elastomers

7.4.1 Increasing Use in Electrical & Electronics Products Expected to Drive Demand

7.5 Others

7.5.1 Wide Use in Household Appliances, Plant Equipment, Flame Retardants and Electrical Insulation

8 Silicone Resin Market, by End-use Industry

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Automotive & Transportation

8.2.1 Increasing Use of Silicone Resins in Automobiles Expected to Drive Market

8.3 Building & Construction

8.3.1 Growing Demand for Surface Treatment and Waterproofing Applications

8.4 Electrical & Electronics

8.4.1 Multiple Applications of Silicone Resins in Electrical & Electronics Products to Boost Market

8.5 Healthcare

8.5.1 Growing Use of Silicone Resins in Medical Devices and Implants to Boost Market

8.6 Industrial

8.6.1 Increasing Use of Silicone Resins as Binders in Industrial Coatings to Boost Market

8.7 Others

8.7.1 Rising Use in Personal Care and Textile Industries to Push Market

9 Silicone Resin Market, by Region

10 Competitive Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.1.1 Overview of Strategies Adopted by Key Silicone Resin Manufacturers

10.2 Market Ranking

10.2.1 The Dow Chemical Company

10.2.2 Evonik Industries AG

10.2.3 Shin-Etsu Chemicals Co. Ltd.

10.2.4 Kaneka Corporation

10.2.5 Wacker Chemie AG

10.3 Revenue Analysis of Top Market Players

10.4 Market Share Analysis

10.5 Competitive Leadership Mapping

10.5.1 Star

10.5.2 Emerging Leader

10.5.3 Pervasive

10.5.4 Participant

10.5.5 Competitive Benchmarking

10.6 Competitive Leadership Mapping of SMEs (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises)

10.6.1 Progressive Companies

10.6.2 Responsive Companies

10.6.3 Starting Blocks

10.6.4 Dynamic Companies

10.7 Market Evaluation Framework

10.8 Competitive Scenario

11 Company Profiles

11.1 Major Players

11.1.1 Wacker Chemie AG

11.1.1.1 Business Overview

11.1.1.2 Products/Solutions/Services Offered

11.1.1.3 Recent Developments

11.1.1.4 Analyst's View

11.1.1.4.1 Key Strengths/Right to Win

11.1.1.4.2 Strategic Choices

11.1.1.4.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats

11.1.2 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd.

11.1.2.1 Business Overview

11.1.2.2 Products/Solutions/Services Offered

11.1.2.3 Recent Developments

11.1.2.4 Recent Developments

11.1.2.5 Analyst's View

11.1.2.5.1 Key Strengths/Right to Win

11.1.2.5.2 Strategic Choices

11.1.2.5.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats

11.1.3 Elkem ASA

11.1.3.1 Business Overview

11.1.3.2 Products Offered

11.1.3.3 Recent Developments

11.1.3.4 Recent Developments

11.1.3.5 Analyst's View

11.1.3.5.1 Key Strengths/Right to Win

11.1.3.5.2 Strategic Choices

11.1.3.5.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats

11.1.4 The Dow Chemical Company

11.1.4.1 Business Overview

11.1.4.2 Products Offered

11.1.4.3 Recent Developments

11.1.4.4 Recent Developments

11.1.4.5 Analyst's View

11.1.4.5.1 Key Strengths/Right to Win

11.1.4.5.2 Strategic Choices

11.1.4.5.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats

11.1.5 Momentive

11.1.5.1 Business and Financial Overview

11.1.5.2 Products/Solutions/Services Offered

11.1.5.3 Recent Developments

11.1.5.4 Recent Developments

11.1.5.5 Analyst's View

11.1.5.5.1 Key Strengths/Right to Win

11.1.5.5.2 Strategic Choices

11.1.5.5.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats

11.1.6 KCC Corporation

11.1.6.1 Business Overview

11.1.6.2 Products/Solutions/Services Offered

11.1.6.3 Recent Developments

11.1.6.4 Recent Developments

11.1.6.5 Analyst's View

11.1.6.5.1 Key Strengths/Right to Win

11.1.7 Evonik Industries AG

11.1.7.1 Business Overview

11.1.7.2 Products/Solutions/Services Offered

11.1.7.3 Recent Developments

11.1.7.4 Recent Developments

11.1.7.5 Analyst's View

11.1.7.5.1 Key Strengths/Right to Win

11.1.8 Kaneka Corporation

11.1.8.1 Business Overview

11.1.8.2 Products/Solutions/Services Offered

11.1.8.3 Recent Developments

11.1.8.4 Analyst's View

11.1.9 Innospec Inc.

11.1.9.1 Business Overview

11.1.9.2 Products Offered

11.1.9.3 Recent Developments

11.1.9.4 Analyst's View

11.1.10 Zhejiang Runhe Silicone New Materials Co. Ltd.

11.1.10.1 Business Overview

11.1.10.2 Products Offered

11.1.10.3 Recent Developments

11.1.10.4 Analyst's View

11.2 Other Players

11.2.1 Siltech Corporation

11.2.2 CHT Group

11.2.3 Power Chemical Corporation

11.2.4 Advanced Polymer, Inc.

11.2.5 Kanto Chemical Co. Inc.

11.2.6 Sivance LLC

11.2.7 Genesee Polymers Corporation

11.2.8 Elkay Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.

11.2.9 AB Specialty Silicones

11.2.10 Shenzhen Anpin Silicone Material Co. Ltd.

11.2.11 Anhui Feidian Advanced Materials Co. Ltd.

11.2.12 Supreme Silicones

11.2.13 Iota Silicone Oil (Anhui) Co. Ltd

11.2.14 KIP Chemicals Co. Ltd.

11.2.15 Tangshan Sunfar New Materials Co. Ltd.

12 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yz3k54

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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DUNEDIN, New Zealand, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Net Carbon Zero Certified* Beef, Regenerative Agriculture and the elimination of coal by 2030; Silver Fern Farms has committed to several bold initiatives to drive its vision of being the world's most successful and sustainable grass-fed red meat company.

Silver Fern Farms Co-Chair, Rob Hewett, said it was after a significant amount of work and with real satisfaction the company was in the position to make these commitments publicly.

"We have set targets to stretch us, but we are ready for the challenge. If anything, we are committed to investing to accelerate our progress to achieve these significant milestones early."

"Companies face competing pressures to drive decarbonization, invest to serve the consumer's future needs and deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders as they seek to forge their own path to address the challenges we collectively face."

"Today we have announced our path, and in doing so we have committed to a clear vision of who we want to be and how we are going to get there."

"Our company's strong financial performance over recent years and its robust balance sheet underpin our confidence to take these bold steps," Mr. Hewett said.

The key Silver Fern Farms commitments are:

Launching its first range of Toitu Net Carbon Zero Certified* Beef in the United States in late 2021

in late 2021 Committing to a 'Regenerative' future

Ending coal use in its processing plants by 2030

Joining the International Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) by the end of 2021

Mr. Hewet said the announcement was made in front of Silver Fern Farms shareholder-suppliers at its annual farmer conference in Wellington on Friday, July 9th.

"Silver Fern Farms is committed to supporting our farmers to contribute to these goals, through knowledge transfer and market-led incentives. This is because we believe there is great opportunity to leverage this leadership position in our markets via our strong brand and customer partnerships," Mr. Hewett said.

Silver Fern Farms Chief Executive, Simon Limmer, said Silver Fern Farms is committed to going above and beyond the minimum required to protect the environment.

"We want to embed sustainability into our brand promise. This demands not merely doing less harm, but doing greater good by ultimately enhancing the eco-systems we operate in."

"Consumer concerns are increasing with respect to soil health, emissions, biodiversity, agricultural intensity, water quality, and the resilience and sustainability of the current food system."

"Alongside this, the global regulatory environment and community expectations are demanding that each of these areas are addressed by corporates and producers."

"There is only one direction of travel for our industry and Silver Fern Farms wants to be out the front leading," Mr. Limmer said.

Mr. Limmer said Silver Fern Farms has shaped its capital investment program in recent years to support its sustainability goals. This includes investment in transitioning from using coal to using electricity and biomass, smart lighting, hot water system management and overall water use reduction.

In 2021, Silver Fern Farms will continue that investment, including investing in co-funded projects with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority to halve Silver Fern Farms' coal consumption by 2023 and reduce by two-thirds by 2025.

"Across our processing plant network there is still significant investment to be made to get all plants to where we want them to be. This will take time, but the required investment is a key part of our short-to-medium term financial planning."

"Now we have made those commitments our challenge is to keep the momentum going and keep reporting back on progress to all of those with a stake in our progress as we step towards a climate-positive future," Mr. Limmer said.

Business Contact:

Matt Luxton, Director of Sales, USA

T: +64 3 474 6599

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Reid Whelan, SweeneyVesty New York

[email protected]

T: +1 212-256-8155 M: +1 646 389 5066

SOURCE Silver Fern Farms
"At SNHU, we know students are faced with many obstacles on the path to their degree, and the global pandemic has created even more barriers for underserved learners worldwide," said Paul LeBlanc, University President and CEO, SNHU. "The world has changed significantly over the past ten years, but our commitment to affordability has never wavered. This tuition freeze will help keep higher education within reach for thousands of students across the globe at a time when they need it most."

After a five-year tuition freeze on campus, SNHU radically reduced campus tuition to offer a tiered tuition rate of just $15,000 per year or $10,000 per year starting in the fall of 2021, which aligns more closely with its online tuition rates. This reimagined campus-based experience will provide more affordable, flexible and accessible pathways to higher education for students and families.

"Applying to SNHU was the best decision that I had ever made," said Jesus Suarez '21, who recently completed his BA in Graphic Design and Media Arts. "I didn't think I could afford school, and my advisor was my best friend through a journey that was unbelievable."

SNHU is also committed to helping students keep costs down and borrow smarter. In 2020 alone, through its financial literacy efforts, SNHU's Student Financial Services team helped more than 5,500 learners reduce their loans by more than $23 million by teaching the importance of smart borrowing habits. The SNHU Online Bookstore has also saved learners more than $2 million by decreasing the cost of course materials, increasing the selection of e-books and renegotiating prices with publishers while foregoing commissions.

In addition to the reimagined campus programs, SNHU also formed new partnerships and launched updated programs to expand access to affordable credentials over the past year.

SNHU teamed up with Kenzie Academy in March 2021 to expand access to affordable, in-demand microcredentials. Following the acquisition, Kenzie and SNHU launched a software engineering upskilling program to help learners prepare for the post-COVID-19 workforce with a direct path to high-paying jobs and rewarding careers.

Earlier this year, SNHU debuted a redesigned and more affordable online MBA program aimed at developing flexibility in a rapidly changing job market. Tuition for the revised program was cut by 16% and gives learners the opportunity to earn certifications while completing their MBA in less than a year.

In July 2021, SNHU expanded existing graduate nursing programs by launching a suite of updated, highly competitive and career-focused online MSN degree programs to offer more affordable and flexible tracks for nurses looking to further their careers in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry.

SNHU also remains committed to putting education in the hands of some of the most underserved people in the world, bringing U.S.-accredited degrees to refugee learners in Rwanda, Lebanon, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa through its Global Education Movement (GEM).

"There is talent in every culture and every people," said LeBlanc. "But there is distressingly a lack of equal opportunity and access to higher education, and this is part of what we're trying to address."

About Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with an 88-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 150,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. Recognized as the "Most Innovative" regional university by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner. Learn more at www.snhu.edu.

SOURCE Southern New Hampshire University

Related Links

http://snhu.edu


$50M in combined support from federal, provincial and municipal governments of Taiga's Mass-Production Facility for electric snowmobiles, watercrafts, battery packs and powertrain systems in Shawinigan, Quebec .

in combined support from federal, provincial and municipal governments of Taiga's Mass-Production Facility for electric snowmobiles, watercrafts, battery packs and powertrain systems in . Utilizing cutting-edge technology, the most advanced high-volume electric powersport production facility in the world is expected to begin operations in second half of 2022.

Once fully operational, the facility will have an annual production capacity of up to 80,000 units and 3 gigawatt-hours in battery pack and module production.



SHAWINIGAN, QC, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Taiga Motors Corporation ("Taiga") (TSX: TAIG), a leading manufacturer of electric off-road vehicles announced today the raise of a combined $50M in support of the Shawinigan Mass-Production Assembly Facility.

The project and development represent an investment of approximately $125,17 million. Taiga will benefit from support by all levels of governments to a combined $50 million ($10 million in federal funding, $30 million in provincial funding, and $10 million in municipal funding.) With the development of the new facility, Taiga predicts that it will accelerate production of its off-road vehicle platforms and powertrains while simultaneously optimizing and automating the battery production. Given the company's approach of clean-sheet engineering of power units and vehicle platforms, this new manufacturing capability will have direct impact on off-road vehicle transportation and the environment.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honorable Francois-Philippe Champagne, the Minister of Finance and Minister of Economy and Innovation, Mr. Eric Girard, the Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Solidarity, Mr. Jean Boulet, and the City of Shawinigan Mayor, Mr. Michel Angers, made the announcement today, accompanied by Mr. Samuel Bruneau, CEO and co-founder of Taiga.

A Milestone for Taiga and Off-Road Electrification

An industry first for electric powersports, the facility will employ a vertically integrated and modular approach, leveraging the proprietary software and hardware technology platform commonalities across vehicle builds for increased economies of scale and reduced development times for new vehicles.

Advancements in automated manufacturing have allowed Taiga to innovate in electric powertrain production processes that will drive down costs to accelerate electrification in the off-road sector. The highly advanced high-volume powersport production facility is expected to become operational in the second half of 2022 with manufacture of Taiga personal watercrafts and snowmobiles, alongside built-in flexibility for new off-road vehicles as they are brought to market. In parallel with vehicle production, the Shawinigan facility is capable of an annual production of three (3) gigawatt hours in battery modules and packs.

Shawinigan is a growing dynamic Canadian electrification hub and supports a robust supply chain network across Quebec. The projected is expected to create 370 high quality jobs and to develop a local supply chain of materials and components.

Quotes

"Our government is supporting the country's businesses as they become global leaders in the manufacture of green vehicles, creating dependable jobs. Taiga Motors' arrival in the Mauricie region is a key part of our efforts to enable the region to participate fully in the economic recovery by showcasing local talent. Our government will continue to support businesses so they can participate in efforts to build a clean-growth economy, including by investing in the manufacture of carbon neutral vehicles."

 The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Member of Parliament for Saint Maurice Champlain and Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"Innovation is at the core of our government's priorities, and we proudly support projects such as the one by Taiga Motors, which will contribute a cleaner environment. By driving a new 100% electric sector of activity in Quebec, the project is fully in line with our recovery plan for a sustainable, green, and innovative economy. Taiga Motors' values also align with our priorities around electrifying transportation, the fight against climate change and structural regional economic development. By leveraging this innovative project in Shawinigan, we are also investing in the well-being of future generations."

 The Honourable Melanie Joly, Member of Parliament for AhuntsicCartierville, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CED

"Taiga has the potential to position itself advantageously in the growing market for electric vehicles. Its project is in line with our desire to invest in this manufacturing sector to ensure Quebec's transition to the electrification of transportation. This is how we will achieve our greenhouse gas reduction objectives and build a new, greener, more prosperous and sustainable economy."

 Eric Girard, Minister of Finance and Minister of Economy and Innovation

"The popularity of electric vehicles is growing rapidly worldwide. Taiga, which specializes in recreational vehicles, has everything it takes to position itself advantageously in the market. By building its new plant in the Mauricie region, the company will be able to benefit from our stimulating business environment and our qualified workforce to pursue its growth."

 Jean Boulet, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for the Mauricie region

"Taiga has been a source of pride in the Mauricie region since its creation in 2015, at the Centre d'entrepreneuriat Alphonse-Desjardins in Shawinigan. This avant-garde company is now shifting into high gear with this ambitious project. The establishment of its new plant in Shawinigan will allow our region to further develop its expertise in the transportation electrification sector and will contribute to a strong boost to the Mauricie economy."

 Marie-Louise Tardif, Member for the Laviolette-Saint-Maurice and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (Forestry)

"This factory will allow Taiga to become the first Canadian EV manufacturer to integrate both automated powertrain assemblies and electric vehicle platforms under one roof for greatly increased efficiency. Thanks to the financing provided by the federal, provincial and municipal governments, we will be able to rapidly increase manufacturing capacity while continuing to drive innovation so that Quebec and Canada can remain leaders disrupting the global powersports market towards a more positive future of outdoor exploration without compromise."

 Samuel Bruneau, CEO and Co-Founder, Taiga

About Taiga

Taiga is a Canadian company, founded in 2015, that is reinventing the powersports landscape with breakthrough electric off-road vehicles. Through a clean-sheet engineering approach, Taiga has pushed the frontiers of electric technology to achieve extreme power-to-weight ratios and thermal specifications that outperform comparable high-performance combustion powersports vehicles. The first models released include a lineup of electric snowmobiles and personal watercraft to deliver on a rapidly growing recreational and commercial demand for those who are seeking better ways to explore the great outdoors without compromise. For more information, visit https://www.taigamotors.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with regards to the anticipated performance of the Shawinigan Facility, the expected production times and customer demand for Taiga's products. Forward-looking statements generally, but not always, can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "objective", "may", "could", "would", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecasts", "project", "seek", "anticipate", "believes", "should", "plans" or "continue", or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events and the negative of any of these terms. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the effective functioning of the configurator, further supply chain disruptions, and the impact of such disruptions on ability to fulfil orders, and those described under "Risk Factors" in the final non-offering prospectus dated March 26, 2021, of Taiga (formerly Canaccord Genuity Growth II Corp.).



Forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are based on information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements.

All forward-looking statements included in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and except as required by applicable law, Taiga does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Taiga Motors Corporation

Related Links

https://taigamotors.ca/


GREENSBORO, N.C., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE:SKT), a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers, announced today that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.1775 per share, payable on August 13, 2021, to common shareholders of record on July 30, 2021.

About Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) is a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers that owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 36 centers. Tanger's operating properties are located in 20 states and in Canada, totaling approximately 13.6 million square feet, leased to over 2,500 stores operated by more than 500 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 40 years of experience in the outlet industry and is a publicly traded REIT. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tangeroutlets.com .

Investor Contact Information





Cyndi Holt Jim Williams SVP Finance and Investor Relations EVP, CFO and Treasurer 336-834-6892 336-834-6800 [email protected] [email protected]



Media Contact Information





[email protected]



SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.

Related Links

www.tangeroutlet.com


HYDERABAD, India, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanla Platforms Limited, India's largest CPaaS provider, today announced that it will release unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, following the close of market on Thursday, July 22, 2021. Tanla will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss the financial results.

Conference call details:

The conference call will begin at 5.30 PM IST on July 22, 2021. Interested parties may listen to the call by dialing +91 22 6280 1141 / +91 22 7115 8042, or if outside India, by dialing toll free number UK 08081011573, USA 18667462133, Hong Kong 800964448, and Singapore 8001012045. The live audio webcast link would be available on Tanla website.

In order to express login, pre-registration link is as below: https://services.choruscall.in/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=7080494&lin kSecurityString=196dd15dae

An audio replay of the conference call will be upload on Tanla website by 9.00 AM on July 23, 2021, and the transcript will be uploaded subsequently. To hear replay, the interested parties may go to the investors section of Tanla website.

About Tanla:

Tanla Platforms Limited (NSE: TANLA; BSE:532790) transforms the way the world collaborates and communicates through innovative CPaaS solutions. Founded in 1999, it was the first company to develop and deploy A2P SMSC in India. Today, as one of the world's largest CPaaS players, Tanla processes more than 800 billion interactions annually and about 62% of India's A2P SMS traffic is processed through its distributed ledger platform-Trubloq, making it the world's largest Blockchain use case. Tanla touches over a billion lives carrying mission critical messages, meeting the needs of the world's largest customers. Tanla Platforms Limited is headquartered in Hyderabad, India and is expanding its presence globally.

SOURCE Tanla Platforms Limited
The training kicked off this month for educators, and as part of that training, a member of the F&G actuarial team will lead a webinar educating participants on what actuaries do and how they define risk. The competition will be open to eligible Title 1 students who will then have the opportunity to compete in the Modeling the Future Challenge in September.

Since its 2016 launch, over 2,000 students nationwide have participated in the Modeling the Future Challenge. The Challenge helps students to predict how current and future innovation could change industry, actuarial science and society at large. The Challenge gives students the opportunity to research emerging industries, learn from leading businesses and consult with actuaries to conduct detailed analyses of future impacts. It also supports educators in helping students connect mathematics and data science to real-world careers. By making math engaging and demonstrating its power to open new opportunities, the Challenge helps educators inspire and motivate students to want to learn how they can solve real-world problems while also learning about sought-after STEM careers.

"We are so grateful to F&G for its support of The Actuarial Foundation's Modeling the Future Challenge Title 1 Student Support Program," said Jason Leppin, CFRE, Executive Director. "Teachers and students need the individualized training, community building, and mentorship this transformational grant will provide to underserved students. F&G's commitment means more students will have access to hands-on, real-world competition-based learning."

"Actuarial science is at the core of our business, and this partnership represents a meaningful, unique platform to provide opportunities for new and diverse talent to enter this important and rewarding field," said Sean O'Connell, SVP and Chief Product Officer at F&G. "F&G is honored to be part of this exciting and important pilot program that helps to increase and expand opportunities and inclusion to students who are traditionally underserved. What an amazing way to bring the actuary community together to engage and train educators ready to inspire and motivate these talented students."

Any school or student wishing to participate in the 2021-2022 Modeling the Future Challenge can visit www.mtfchallenge.org to learn more.

About The Actuarial Foundation

The Actuarial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a philanthropic institution for the actuarial industry in the United States. The mission of the Foundation is to enhance math education and financial literacy through the talents and resources of actuaries. The Foundation's vision is an educated public in pursuit of a secure financial future. Further information is available at: actuarialfoundation.org

About F&G

F&G is part of the FNF family of companies. F&G is committed to helping Americans turn their aspirations into reality. F&G is a leading provider of annuity and life insurance products and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, please visit fglife.com.

Contact: Holly Monahan

The Actuarial Foundation

847-706-3659

[email protected]

SOURCE The Actuarial Foundation

Related Links

https://www.actuarialfoundation.org/


HOUSTON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE: HHC) announced today that it will release 2021 second-quarter earnings on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, after the market closes and will hold its second-quarter conference call on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company's earnings release will be posted to the Investors section of the Company's website prior to the conference call.

To participate in The Howard Hughes Corporation's second-quarter earnings conference call, please dial 1-877-883-0383 within the U.S., 1-877-885-0477 within Canada, or 1-412-902-6506 when dialing internationally. All participants should dial in at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time, using 9284753 as the passcode. A live audio webcast will also be available on the Company's website (www.howardhughes.com).

In addition to the dial-in options, institutional and retail shareholders can participate by going to app.saytechnologies.com/howardhughes to submit questions to Say prior to the Earnings Call. Shareholders can email [email protected] for any support inquiries.

A taped replay of the call can be accessed 24 hours a day through September 5, 2021, by dialing 1-877-344-7529 within the U.S., 1-855-669-9658 within Canada, or 1-412-317-0088 when dialing internationally, using the passcode 10150079.

About The Howard Hughes Corporation

The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country's preeminent portfolio of master planned cities and communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including: the Seaport in New York; Downtown Columbia, Maryland; The Woodlands, The Woodlands Hills, and Bridgeland in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin, Las Vegas; and Ward Village in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Howard Hughes Corporation's portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative place making, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. The Howard Hughes Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC. For additional information visit www.howardhughes.com.

Media Contact

The Howard Hughes Corporation

Cristina Carlson, 646-822-6910

SVP, Head of Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Investor Relations

The Howard Hughes Corporation

Correne Loeffler, 281-929-7700

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE The Howard Hughes Corporation

Related Links

http://www.howardhughes.com


WASHINGTON and DALLAS, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Keeping with its commitment to provide comprehensive export compliance support to U.S. and international companies, Torres Law, PLLC launched Torres Trade Advisory, an audit, risk, and trade compliance advisory firm.



"Torres Trade Advisory will allow us to boost our collaboration with companies across the industry," said Olga Torres, Founder and Managing Member of Torres Law, "working with them to resolve the broad range of legal and non-legal challenges they face on a daily basis: compliance with import laws, export controls, and economic sanctions, analyzing and mitigating risks, ensuring continuous operations around the globe, and more."



Torres Trade Advisory's guidance is focused on helping businesses respond to six distinct challenges:

Corporate Investigations and Due Diligence . Torres Trade Advisory will draw upon the extensive experience of Torres Law to help companies achieve regulatory legal compliance and manage risk: leading fraud and corporate investigations, guiding companies through the Voluntary Self-Disclosure process, conducting M&A compliance due diligence, and developing and implementing effective internal compliance programs.

. Torres Trade Advisory will draw upon the extensive experience of to help companies achieve regulatory legal compliance and manage risk: leading fraud and corporate investigations, guiding companies through the Voluntary Self-Disclosure process, conducting M&A compliance due diligence, and developing and implementing effective internal compliance programs. Operational Compliance . The advisory firm will provide short- and long-term operational assistance to help companies minimize business lifecycle disruptions with compliance specialists with extensive experience auditing compliance procedures, leading internal investigations, developing risk management strategies and processing improvement plans, and other business-critical issues.

. The advisory firm will provide short- and long-term operational assistance to help companies minimize business lifecycle disruptions with compliance specialists with extensive experience auditing compliance procedures, leading internal investigations, developing risk management strategies and processing improvement plans, and other business-critical issues. Political and Regulatory Developments . Torres Trade Advisory will help clients find certainty in an uncertain world with highly relevant global intelligence, economic insight, and innovative solutions that allow companies to navigate the maze of global regulatory challenges while anticipating  and overcoming  regulatory roadblocks.

. Torres Trade Advisory will help clients find certainty in an uncertain world with highly relevant global intelligence, economic insight, and innovative solutions that allow companies to navigate the maze of global regulatory challenges while anticipating  and overcoming  regulatory roadblocks. Customs Risks & Compliance . Torres Trade Advisory will provide peace of mind to clients across the full spectrum of customs risk and compliance issues: securing supply chains, meeting customs and import laws, satisfying government agency conditions and requirements, identifying red flags and threats, conducting import reviews, implementing comprehensive training programs, and more.

. Torres Trade Advisory will provide peace of mind to clients across the full spectrum of customs risk and compliance issues: securing supply chains, meeting customs and import laws, satisfying government agency conditions and requirements, identifying red flags and threats, conducting import reviews, implementing comprehensive training programs, and more. Cybersecurity Issues . Torres Trade Advisory will help businesses develop and implement defensive cybersecurity practices and procedures, assess risks, and identify cyber protection weaknesses, and allow for quick responses to malicious attacks, data breaches, and other incidents including coordination with relevant government regulatory agencies.

. Torres Trade Advisory will help businesses develop and implement defensive cybersecurity practices and procedures, assess risks, and identify cyber protection weaknesses, and allow for quick responses to malicious attacks, data breaches, and other incidents including coordination with relevant government regulatory agencies. Economic Sanctions & Export Controls. Our staff will guide businesses of all sizes through the constantly evolving patchwork of rules that govern trade across international borders, allowing our clients to meet head-on the challenges of doing business in today's global marketplace.

"We're excited to be able to broaden our support of our clients," said Torres. "Companies face export compliance issues every day that don't require legal guidance, and Torres Trade Advisory will help them respond to those challenges with appropriate solutions."



Torres Trade Advisory will have offices in Washington, D.C. and Dallas, Texas, and can be reached by phone at 877-977-9250 and via email at [email protected]. The company's website is www.torrestradeadvisory.com.



About Torres Trade Advisory



Torres Trade Advisory, Inc. is an international trade and national security advisory firm committed to guiding industry through the challenges of cross border transactions involving import laws, export controls, economic sanctions, foreign investment, forensic and litigation issues, global operations, and other regulatory matters.



Our team has long and varied experience solving audit, risk, and compliance problems as import and export managers, security facility officers, ITAR empowered officials, cybersecurity experts, trade attorneys and advisors, paralegals, and others.



Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12876198



Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Torres Law
WILMINGTON, Mass., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF), a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniforms, workwear, and facility service products for businesses, recently held their 20th annual Founder's Day companywide, an annual event that celebrates the life, memory, and business values of company founder Aldo Croatti.

On July 9, thousands of employees from UniFirst's 260-plus locations took time to honor the man who first started the now $1.8 billion international uniform service and supply company in 1936, when it was based out of an old horse barn in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Founder's Day has been a yearly UniFirst event following the passing of Mr. Croatti in 2001, typically held with in-person celebrations at UniFirst locations from coast to coast. The company held a virtual event in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but with restrictions beginning to lift across the nation and across the company, a collective decision was made to hold a hybrid event in 2021. Employees from the company's hundreds of locations, including UniFirst headquarters in Wilmington, MA, enjoyed a day full of food and activities before participating in a virtual celebration later in the day.

This year's Founder's Day revolved around the company's ongoing rebranding initiative, including a presentation about the UniFirst brand and the evolution from Mr. Croatti's initial visions for the company to where the company is today. As always, Founder's Day was also used as an opportunity to reinforce Mr. Croatti's (and UniFirst's) Core Values of Customer Focus, Respect for Others, and Commitment to Quality.

"Our dedicated UniFirst family members continually embody the vision and values of my father, and that was especially apparent over the past year," said Mr. Croatti's daughter and UniFirst Executive Vice President, Cynthia Croatti. "Our employees have shown that, regardless of the circumstances, they will always deliver to help our customers, our communities, and our UniFirst family remain safe and productive."

During this year's Founder's Day, each UniFirst location named its Employee of the Year (EOY)the person who best exemplifies the company's aforementioned Core Values. Each EOY was presented with an award and a gift of recognition, as well as a bonus paid day off, and the EOYs have their names engraved on commemorative plaques that are on permanent display at their respective local UniFirst locations. The company also announced the recipients of their two higher-education scholarships, The annual Aldo Croatti Scholarship and the Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship programs. The former, awarded in honor of its namesake, assists children of UniFirst staff members in their academic pursuits. The latter, presented in recognition of the longtime president and CEO who passed away in 2017, offers assistance to full-time UniFirst employees who enroll in undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited college or vocational/technical school in the areas of information technology (IT), sales leadership, or business administration/leadership.

About UniFirst

Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, as well as the delivery of facility service programs. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also provides first aid and safety products, and manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products; and with 260 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 14,000 employee Team Partners, the company outfits more than 2 million workers each business day. For more information, contact UniFirst at 800.455.7654 or visit UniFirst.com .

SOURCE UniFirst Corporation

Related Links

https://unifirst.com


CHICAGO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Well Intervention Market by Service (Logging and Bottomhole Survey, Tubing/Packer Failure and Repair, Stimulation), Intervention (Light, Medium, Heavy), Application (Onshore, Offshore) Well (Horizontal, Vertical) Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Well Intervention Market size will grow to USD 9.3 billion by 2026 from USD 7.6 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period. The rising number of mature fields in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, along with rising primary energy demand from the Asia Pacific are the driving factors for the Well Intervention Market, globally. The well intervention activities are fundamental requirements while well completion, production, and well abandonment, which creates opportunities for growth of the market.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1099

The light intervention segment is expected to dominate the Well Intervention Market, by intervention type, during the forecast period.

Light well intervention is carried out using wireline, slickline, or coiled tubing units. These are generally done to service the downhole equipment such as pumps or valves and to gather bottom-hole temperature, flow, and pressure data. The increasing capital expenditure trend from upstream operators to optimize the production of oil & gas from the existing wells is the driving force for the light intervention market during the forecast period.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Well Intervention Market"

241  Tables

60  Figures

313  Pages

View Detailed Table of Content Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/well-intervention-market-1099.html

The sand control services segment is expected to be the fastest-growing Well Intervention Market, by service, during the forecast period.

The sand control services segment, by service, is estimated to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The sand control intervention services are carried out in regions with high sand infiltration when the formation is loosely packed, and the chances of sand intrusion in the well from the producing zone are higher, creating problems related to production. Hence, remedial intervention is carried out by either placing sand screens, frac packs, gravel packs, inflow control devices, resin injection, or high-rate water packs near the perforation. The demand for sand control services is robust worldwide, with high growth of unconventional and subsea oil and gas field developments. Such factors propel the growth of sand control operations in the Well Intervention Market.

North America likely to emerge as the largest Well Intervention Market

In this report, the Well Intervention Market has been analyzed for six regions, namely, North America, South & Central America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. According to the IEA, the US is determined to become the net exporter of energy by 2021 and to fulfill this objective; the oil production is being increased across the nation. Moreover, the US is the top explorer and producer of shale oil and gas. The old oil & gas fields in the Permian Basin and Bakken Ford require the intervention operations to enhance the productivity of the wells. Thus, North America dominated the Well Intervention Market during the forecasted period.

Make an Inquiry: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=1099

To enable an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes the profiles of some of the top players in the Well Intervention Market.

Some of the key players are Schlumberger (US), Halliburton (US), Weatherford International (US), Baker Hughes (US) and NexTier Oilfield Solutions. The leading players are adopting various strategies to increase their share in the Well Intervention Market.

Browse Adjacent Markets: Energy and Power Market Research Reports & Consulting

Browse Related Reports:

Coiled Tubing Market by Fleet (Operator, Region), Service (Well Intervention Service (Well Completions & Mechanical Operations, Well Cleaning & Pumping Operations) Drilling Service, Others), Application (Onshore, Offshore), Region - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/coiled-tubing-market-804.html

Sand Control Solutions Market by Location (Onshore, Offshore), Application (Cased hole, Open hole), Well Type (Horizontal, Vertical), Type (Gravel Pack, Frac Pack, Sand Screens, Inflow Control Devices, Others), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/sand-control-systems-market-75221369.html

Offshore Decommissioning Market by Service (Well Plugging & Abandonment, Platform Removal, Conductor Removal) Depth (Shallow, Deepwater) Structure (Topsides, Substructure) Removal (Leave in Place, Partial, Complete), and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/offshore-decommissioning-market-20319591.html

North America Well Intervention Market by Service (Logging & Bottomhole Survey, Tubing/Packer Failure & Repair, Stimulation), Type (Light, Medium, Heavy), Application (Onshore, Offshore), Well Type (Horizontal, Vertical), Country - Forecast to 2024

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/north-america-well-intervention-market-105974250.html

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MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

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Strontium89 Chloride USP is used for the treatment of painful skeletal metastases caused by cancer

Q BioMed Inc ( ) revealed that it has struck an exclusive license agreement with authorized Europe and Middle East distributor Clionix for the distribution and sales of the companys metastatic bone pain drug Strontium89.

The New York-based biotech said that under the terms of the agreement, Clionix has received exclusive rights to distribute Strontium89 in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Romania, Egypt, Kuwait and Pakistan.

Q BioMeds commercialized flagship drug candidate is Metastron, which it purchased from GE Healthcare, to treat metastatic bone pain. The drug is administered intravenously once every three months as an alternative to opioid analgesics. The company also has a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved generic version called Strontium89 Chloride USP, used for the treatment of painful skeletal metastases caused by cancer. Common primary tumors that metastasize to the bone include prostate, breast, and lung, as well as others.

In the Strontium89 pivotal trial, as many as 79% of patients had pain relief with Strontium89, and twice as many patients treated with Strontium89 had no pain for three months compared with placebo. In addition, new pain sites were less frequent in patients treated with Strontium891,2, said the company.

Over ten million people around the world suffer from pain associated with metastatic cancer in the bone and may benefit from Strontium89, according to the company. For nearly two years, there has been little to no access to this vital therapy. Clionix and Q BioMed will work together to increase the awareness of doctors and patients to the availability of Strontium89, said the company. Q BioMed said it is actively pursuing full regulatory and marketing approval for Strontium89 in these markets, as well as in other markets worldwide.

In a statement, Q BioMed Chief Commercial Officer Kristin Keller said: "We are very happy to collaborate with Clionix and bring Strontium89, a viable treatment for patients suffering from painful skeletal metastases caused by cancer to these markets. We are actively working to ensure that Strontium89 is accessible to patients everywhere and to extend its relevance and use thorough additional clinical study."

Meanwhile, Clionix General Manager Hasan Ozcan noted that as the distributor is focused on providing radiopharmaceuticals in the region, it is happy to partner with Q BioMed and bring Strontium89 to doctors and patients.

Strontium89 Chloride is administered once every three months via injection, and patients can be re-treated if needed. In view of the delayed onset of pain relief, typically 7 to 20 days post-injection, administration of Strontium-89 Chloride injection to patients with very short life expectancy is not recommended, noted the company.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
Systematic sampling has returned up to 5.87 g/t gold with an average of 3.06 g/t over 4m

Lucky said its exploration team has continued with geological mapping and sampling at Wayka

Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:LKY) has received sample assay results from its ongoing work at the Wayka epithermal gold discovery at its 100%-owned Fortuna property in Ecuador.

In a statement, the company said systematic sampling has returned up to 5.87 grams per ton (g/t) gold with an average of 3.06 g/t over 4 metres (m).

Wayka lies along an elevated ridge that trends northeast with elevations ranging from about 3,600m to 3,700m above sea level and is bound to the East by the El Buitre Porphyry and to the West by the Emma Porphyry.

Lucky said its exploration team has continued with geological mapping and sampling at Wayka. Terraspec analyses of rock samples taken from the southern zone of Wayka has outlined an area of advanced argillic alteration, the higher temperature alteration minerals, with outcrops of vuggy silica that measures about 800m by 1,000m and remains open to the south.

At the southern part of the advanced argillic zone, the company said a panel sample returned 4.15 g/t gold. This sample was identified to be part of a breccia structure, a 'feeder' which is comprised of millimetric up to centimetric subrounded fragments of quartz and diverse lithic fragments in an aphanitic silica-rich ground matrix with stains of goethite and limonite.

In addition, a nearby area of siliceous outcrop was targeted for systematic sampling.

Lucy said the first field visit has sampled systematically 4m across a partially exposed siliceous outcrop and one of the samples returned up to 5.87 g/t gold from a siliceous volcanic breccia which is believed to be a 'feeder' with an elongated geometry. The attitude, width, and continuity of this structure are currently being determined by field crews.

The average gold grade across 4m (includes wall rock) averages 3.06 g/t gold and for the breccia structure of 3m averages 3.50 g/t gold.

As geological work at Wayka continues, Lucky said it anticipates its understanding of the mineralized system to improve as more detailed work is completed. At present, Wayka has been observed to remain open in all directions.

"The team's work at Wayka continues to confirm the potential of the system, said Lucky CEO Francois Perron.

We have now begun to take systematic rock samples depending on the outcrop exposure. It is very encouraging to find the system goes up to more than 5 g/t gold and that every meter sampled near this feeder has a grade that is greater than 1 g/t gold including the rhyolite wallrock. It is still early days, and our work is also focused on understanding the scale of the surface expression. Once more information including geophysics is gathered, we will prioritize how this area will be drilled."

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
Moscow, July 12 : Russia logged 25,033 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours as the Delta variant continues to spread, taking the nationwide tally to 5,783,333, the official monitoring and response centre said on Sunday.

The number of recoveries in Russia increased by 17,382 to 5,200,219, according to the centre.

The national Covid-19 death toll rose by 749 to 143,002 as the country battles the surging Delta variant, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Moscow, Russia's worst-hit region, reported 5,410 new cases, taking its total to 1,429,238.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Johannesburg, July 12 : The South African police said that they have arrested 62 people on Sunday in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Province as people protested against the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma started serving his 15 months jail for contempt of court from last Wednesday. People in his hometown KwaZulu-Natal started looting shops, burning trucks and blocking roads calling for his release, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The protests spread to Gauteng, where the economic centre Johannesburg and administrative capital city Pretoria located, on Saturday and Sunday.

In Johannesburg many people chanting slogans in support of Zuma marched in Johannesburg city centre calling for Zuma's release. Shops closed and there was little movement in town.

"62 people have been arrested as the police continue to respond to opportunistic criminality emanating from violent protests over the weekend in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng province," said Spokesperson for the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) Col Brenda Muridili.

"The police are working closely with their respective local Metro police departments, have heightened visibility and remain on high alert in response to incidents of opportunistic criminality and violent protests in the two provinces over the weekend," she added.

She stated that they arrested people who were looting businesses and barricading roads in Johannesburg's Jeppe and Alexandra townships.

Muridili said that in another instance about 800 people attacked police, resulting in the shooting of police officers who have now received medical attention in hospital.

"A warning is issued to those circulating inflammatory messages, inciting violence and lawlessness, that they refrain from doing so. The possibility of criminal charges being instituted against such persons cannot be ruled out, particularly in the event of injury or death that may come as a result of any operational response by the security forces to these incidents of violence and opportunistic criminality," she said.

Muridili said that they are investigating the death of a 40-year-old man who was shot in Johannesburg's Bramley.
Kabul, July 12 : Afghan government forces have recaptured Yaftal-e-Payan district in the northern Badakhshan province, forcing the Taliban insurgents to flee, deputy spokesman for Interior Ministry Ahmad Zia Zia said.

The government forces launched counter-offensive against Taliban fighters in Yaftal-e-Payan district, forcing the insurgents to flee after suffering casualties, Xinhua news agency quoted Zia as saying on Sunday.

Taliban militants have reportedly captured 10 districts including Yaftal-e-Payan in Badakhshan province over the past couple of weeks.

In the meantime, fighting between government forces and the Taliban militants, for the control of Kuran-wo-Munjan district of Badakhshan, has been continuing for the past four days.

According to a local official, at least 30 militants have been killed or injured over the past 24 hours.

Confirming the fighting in the restive Kuran-wo-Munjan district, the spokesman for Badakhshan provincial government Nik Mohammad Nazari told Xinhua on Sunday that "17 insurgents including some foreign nationals" have been killed and some 20 others injured since Saturday.

Government forces have also recaptured Aliabad district in the northern Kunduz province, forcing the militants to flee, according to locals.

Since the start of pull-out of US-led forces from Afghanistan on May 1, Taliban militants have reportedly captured more than 170 districts.
July 12 : Janhvi Kapoor has set the internet on fire with her latest post. Lately, the young actress has been causing a stir on the internet with her stunning pictures. From donning athleisure clothing to sultry minis, the Dhadak actress has left her fans in complete awe.

On Sunday evening, Janhvi dropped a series of her pictures in a beige coloured sultry bodycon dress. Looking drop-dead gorgeous, the young actress can be seen posing for a photo shoot. In one picture, she can be seen posing with her hand in her hair, and in the others, she is seen striking different poses. Janhvi shared the pictures with a heart and a weird emoji in the caption. In the day, the actress was spotted outside a Mumbai studio in the same dress. She was there to film an episode of Social Media Star with Janice. Janhvi also obliged the paparazzi outside the studio and posed for them.

Fans loved the post and took to the comment section to shower her with heart-eyes and fire emojis. Her cousin and aspiring actress Shanaya Kapoor also dropped heart-eyes and fire emojis. One fan wrote that Janhvi looked like Kylie Jenner, an American model. "Hello kyliee!" the fan wrote. "You are looking gorgeous," another commented. "You deserve the crown of Miss World," wrote another.

Janice Sequeira, anchor and digital creator, who hosts the show Social Media Star with Janice, shared a video on her Instagram handle from todays shoot. The BTS video featured Janhvi with YouTuber Kusha Kapila, where they are seen prepping for the show and rehearsing a dance sequence.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Janhvi is yet to resume work after the Maharashtra government lifted the lockdown in the state. The actress was recently seen in Hardik Mehtas horror comedy film Roohi alongside Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma. The film was released in theatres amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The actress will be next seen in Good Luck Jerry and Dostana 2.
July 12 : Kartik Aaryans maternal grandfather passed away on Sunday. Kartik remembered his nanu and paid an emotional tribute to him. The Pati Patni Aur Woh actor took to social media and shared his childhood picture with his grandfather, while he penned an emotional note.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Kartik shared a throwback picture from his child, in which a young Kartik can be seen in his Nanus lap, wearing a red outfit. "Hope I get your swag some day. RIP Naanu," Kartik captioned his post. Kartik's industry colleagues offered their condolences on the post. His Pati Patni Aur Woh co-star Bhumi Pednekar dropped folded hands emoji, while Huma Qureshi wrote RIP. Nimrat Kaur also sent in condolences.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kartik Aaryan will next be seen in Ram Madhvanis Dhamaka, where he will essay the role of a journalist. He will also be seen sharing screen space with Kiara Advani and Tabu in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The actor will reported play the lead in Ala Vaikunthapuramuloo remake. He will also star in Hansal Mehtas next, where he plays an Air Force pilot.

Ananya Panday pays tribute to her grandmother

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Kartiks Pati Patni Aur Woh co-star Ananya Panday's grandmother, Snehlata Panday, mother of actor Chunky Panday, passed away. The actress took to Instagram to share old pictures with her dadi and wrote, "Rest in power, my angel. when she was born the doctors said she wouldnt live beyond a few years because of a defected heart valve, but my Dadi lived and how. She worked every day up until the age of 85, going to work at 7 am in her block heels and red streaked hair. She inspired me every single day to do what I love and Im so grateful to have grown up basking in her energy and light. She had the softest hands to hold, gave the best leg massages, she was a self proclaimed (and very politically incorrect) palm reader and never ever failed to make me laugh. The life of our family. Youre too loved to ever be forgotten Dadi - I love you so much."

Many Bollywood celebrities visited Ananya Pandays house to pay condolences. From Ishaan Khatter, Malaika Arora, her sister Amrita Arora and brother-in-law Shakeel Ladak were seen at the residence. Karisma Kapoor and her daughter Samara, Shatrughan Sinha and his wife Poonam Sinha also paid condolences.
Varanasi, July 12 : Even as Uttar Pradesh undertakes a massive tree plantation drive, a retired scientist and river engineer from the Banaras Hindu university (BHU) has warned against "unscientific plantation of trees which could aggravate flood threat".

Professor U.K. Chaudhary, in a letter sent to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has urged him to caution concerned officials against unscientific tree plantation in flood zones.

Explaining his point, Chaudhary said: "Nature provides the hair in the body of humans and in that of different creatures at the specific location in a specific manner for a specific purpose. Its growth is based on internal and external conditions of the location of the body and for specific purposes.

"Similarly, the plantation in the river body where we live either in flood plain or in basin, requires the specific knowledge of boundary conditions of soil (anatomy), its form and location (morphology) and ground and surface water (dynamics). If these conditions are not met in the case of tree plantation in the flood plains, the results may be disastrous." He further explained that the plantation in river flood plains may either enhance the sedimentation or erosion and may cause the drastic change in river morphology and dynamics.

"It may enhance the amplitude of flood height and may cause the erosion of vast areas of land. Thus, plantation in wrong locations may intensify flood and meandering," he warned.

The flood plain of the river is demarcated on the land from where the slope of the land is instantaneously increased and meets the river.

With this slope criteria, the flood plain of the convex bank, the sand bed side, falls in between 0.5 to 4 times of the minimum average width of the river. And the concave bank, the city side bank, is 0.1 to 1.0 times the width.

He said that there must not be a plantation on the sand bedside flood plain because the high turbulence of the flood will be dissipated by plants and deposition of sand will be at a higher rate causing the rise in pressure drag forces.

Thus, he said, the plantation will enhance the flood height.

Further, the plantation should also be restricted in the first half portion of the concave bank, city bank side.

For example, in Varanasi, the plantation will intensify the sedimentation on Ghats of the Ganga from Nagwa to Dashashwamedh Ghat.

This is because this region exists in the zone of diverging streamlines.
Dhaka, July 12 : Three high-explosives were defused and two members of the Neo-JMB banned militant outfit were arrested in Bangladesh's Narayanganj district by a specialised unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), a top official said here.

This was confirmed to IANS on Sunday night by Md Asaduzzaman, chief of the DMP's Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit.

Three back-to-back explosions rocked the area during the operation between 10.45 p.m. and 11.06 p.m.

One of the arrested Neo-JMB members was identified as Abdullah Al Mamun, who had led several militant attacks on law enforcement and other professionals, officials told IANS on Sunday night.

Mamun, also known as 'Debit Kinara' and 'Akin Al Bengali', used to work as a Muezzin in a mosque and also worked in an orphanage, said police.

He confessed living in a den where the IS-inspired outfit Neo-JMB used to make IEDs.

Based on his confession, the CTTC team raided the mosque in in Mirabazar, Arraihazar upazila, and seized a huge amount of chemicals and raw materials used for making the remote-controlled IEDs.

Rahmat Ullah Chowdhury, Additional Deputy Commissioner of the DMP and head of CTTC's bomb disposal unit, said Mamun had confessed during primary interrogation after his arrest that he used to make IEDs.

Mamun was also working in an orphanage hiding his identity.

Last May, the Neo-JMB militants left a remote-controlled IED next to the traffic police box at Siddhirganj in Narayanganj.

The bomb disposal team of the CTTC defused it.

CTTC officials have said that the IED was made by Mamun in the den.

The identity of the second arrested militant has not been revealed.
Lucknow, July 12 : The Chief Minister's helpline in Uttar Pradesh has proved to be a boon for the needy during the corona pandemic.

The helpline has resolved complaints of more than 54.5 lakh people.

During the second wave of corona, a total of 26,96,832 infected people, living in home isolation or hospital isolation, have been provided assistance by the helpline, giving information about health and other problems.

According to the government spokesman, the Chief Minister's helpline call centre was started two years ago.

The helpline receives 35,000 calls daily, mainly about departmental schemes, status of complaints. Around 5,000 complaints are registered daily and about 50,000 outgoing calls are made by the helpline workers.

"During the corona period, the helpline inquired about the well-being of callers even after the RT-PCR or antigen test report of the infected came negative. Not only this, it also informed the district administration about whether the infected got free medicine kits or not. The helpline also asked 1,30,010 ASHA workers in rural areas how many medicine kits they had distributed and informed the department," the spokesperson said.

The helpline spoke to around 83,000 Anganwadi workers about distribution of medicines and ration. Apart from this, information was also being sought from them about the list of children who lost their parents during the Covid.

The helpline spoke to 48,914 gram pradhans about antigen tests of symptomatic persons, vaccination to prevent Covid and also appealed to people to follow the guideline to protect them from Corona.

The helpline also took information from 52,840 ration shop dealers about the distribution of ration to the beneficiaries and their e-pass machine and battery failure or internet problem, if any.

The spokesperson said that about 60,000 to 70,000 surveillance committees are being contacted daily from the Chief Minister's helpline centre to find out if they have called up home isolated infected persons or persons in hospital isolation. Feedback of people's satisfaction and dissatisfaction is also being taken after redressal on the registered complaints.

Feedback about government schemes is also being taken. The people, in general, are informed of the availability of government facilities for CT scan, dialysis and other pathology tests.

Feedback was also sought about free distribution of sweaters, uniforms and textbooks given to children studying in government schools.
Mumbai, July 12 : Writer Niren Bhatt wrote two stories -- "Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa" and "Spotlight" -- in the anthology "Ray", which was based on short stories of iconic filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Bhatt says he had initially visualised late actor Irrfan Khan in the role of Musafir in "Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa". Eventually, Manoj Bajpayee played the character.

The segment "Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa" is based on the short story "Barin Bhowmik-er Byaram", and it features Gajraj Rao, Raghubir Yadav and Manoj Phawa along with Bajpayee.

"It is a little sensitive thing and I am opening my heart here. I want to be honest with what I have in mind. Firstly, no one would doubt when I say that Manoj bhai is one of the finest actors that the Indian film industry has currently. But, when I started writing -- visualising Musafir, his body language, how he speaks and every other detail, in my mind Irrfan (Khan) bhai was there. Imagine he is mouthing those beautiful Urdu lines in his andaaz -- that Irrfan Khan magic! By the time I finished writing Irrfan bhai left us. For me, it was like a piece of my heart was broken. Emotionally, somehow I could not get him out of my mind because when I conceived Musafir, I was visualising Irrfan bhai," Bhatt told IANS.

"Having said that, Manoj bhai and Gajraj Rao have taken the story to the next level with their performance. I wanted Manoj Phawa and Raghu bhai to play those parts but they were veteran actors so initially, I asked (director) Abhishek (Chaubey) if it would be right to approach them. But I must say (casting director) Honey (Trehan) and Abhishek together brought everyone on board and eventually in 'Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa' we have all the great actors in the same story!" he gushed.

As the original story of Ray was set in a certain time, Bhatt faced the challenge of contemporising it for the series.

"The challenge was to create the world of the story because it was a short story of 10 pages. Now, even though it was a short film for us, with that little story we could not have made it of that duration. Also, I must mention that the main challenge of creating the world was, we had to externalise it, whereas it is actually an internal story that happened in the mind of Barin babu. So, I tried to approach it by creating a world where every element plays a character, whether it is the rail compartment, Arbastani chai, the entrance of the hakim, and also the shop that I created called Rooh-safa, where they literally go and clean their souls," said Bhatt.

He added: "I wanted to redeem these characters because otherwise both the characters are kleptomaniac in the story. So, even though I kept the core of the story, I have given a different ending. It is an adaptation in which I brought a new interpretation." "Ray" streams on Netflix.

(Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhuti.b@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, July 12 : Reversing its earlier decision, the global chess body FIDE has reinstated India's Ravindra Dongre as its President for Asian Zone 3.7 and removed the nominee of All India Chess Federation's (AICF) nominee Ajay H Patel.

The newly elected AICF's body got its General Body's ratification in February this year for the nomination of Gujarat State Chess Association President Ajay Patel as the country's nominee for the Zone 3.7 position.

The Zone 3.7 position was held by Dongre.

"Mr. Patel's elevation as President of Asian Zone 3.7 will be a big boost for chess in India as the World Chess Federation granted special zone status for the country," AICF had then said.

"The AICF had written to FIDE about revoking my nomination and the fresh nomination of Ajay Patel. The Fide on its part immediately accepted that and removed my name from its website and uploaded Ajay Patel's name," Dongre told IANS.

Objecting to FIDE's move, Dongre wrote to the global chess body.

"I wrote a letter to the FIDE President citing its own rules on the circumstances a person can be changed for the post. The FIDE then referred the matter to its Constitutional Commission which deliberated the matter and decided in my favour," Dongre said.

Dongre said only the FIDE General Assembly can change a Zonal President and AICF should have sufficient reason to recommend the change.

"FIDE's legal advisor had asked several questions. FIDE wanted to know whether I had resigned from the post and to which I had answered in negative," Dongre added.

Subsequently, FIDE amended its website uploading Dongre's name and picture in the place of Patel's.

"It is a clear loss of face for AICF. The AICF officials had unnecessarily put Ajay Patel into an awkward position because of their poor understanding of FIDE rules," Dongre said.

For Patel, this is the second time his name and picture were removed by FIDE from its website.

In 2020, FIDE had updated the AICF page on its website by uploading the names and the pictures of Ajay H. Patel, President, Bharat Singh Chauhan, Secretary, Naresh Sharma, Treasurer, M. Arun Singh, Joint Secretary and Vipnesh Bharadwaj, Vice President.

It was done after the electoral officer had rejected the election nomination papers of rival factions for not filing them in person.

As the nomination papers of Patel and others were found proper, they were declared elected unopposed.

The matter went to the Madras High Court which had ordered repoll.

As the election of AICF office bearers was in the courts, FIDE in order to remain neutral and not support any faction decided to temporarily delete data on the president's position then.

And this time around Patel's name was uploaded and removed by FIDE.

In the election held for AICF office bearers early this year, Patel did not contest for the President's post to accommodate Sanjay Kapoor who had then switched over to Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan's side.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, July 12 : Amazon online store suffered a global outage on Monday, including in India, as users tried to place orders but could not access the product detail page.

According to website outage tracker Downdetector, the online store of ecommerce giant suffered an outage that began early Monday morning around 7 am.

While 65 per cent users reported problems with opening website, 23 per cent had issues with log-in and 12 per cent with check-out.

Amazon said that the company was working to resolve the issue.

"Hi guys are you able to see any product details on Amazon India website today. Trying to order a few things but not getting the product details page. Tried a dozen different products same issue! Amazon India broken or a bug?," a user said in a tweet.

In May, Amazon suffered a brief outage in some parts of India, affecting its website and shopping experience for several users. The website was up and running after about two hours of partial outage.

Downdetector showed a massive spike in problems on Amazon.in, mentioning that the most problems faced by the Indians during the outage were logging into the website and checking out.

Last year in November, Amazon Web Services (AWS) which is the Cloud arm of the commerce giant suffered a huge outage in the US region affecting several websites and apps and the recovery took a couple of hours.

-IANS na/
Bhubaneswar, July 12 : President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted people on the occasion of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, and prayed for the good health of all.

Modi wrote on Twitter: "Greetings to everyone on the special occasion of the Rath Yatra. We bow to Lord Jagannath and pray that his blessings bring good health and prosperity in everyone's lives. Jai Jagannath!" Tweeting in Hindi, President Kovind also wished everyone happiness and good health. He said: "I wish that with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the lives of all the countrymen remain full of happiness, prosperity and health." Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also wished that the Covid-19 pandemic would end soon with the blessings of the deities. He prayed for the happiness, prosperity and well-being of all.

Image Source: IANS News

Union Home Minister Amit Shah prayed that Lord Jagannath may shower his blessings on everyone and fill everyone's life with good health, prosperity and good fortune.

"Hearty greetings to all the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra. May Mahaprabhu Jagannath shower his blessings on everyone and fill everyone's life with good health, prosperity and good fortune. Jai Jagannath!," Shah tweeted.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswasbhusan Harichandan, BJP President J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw and many senior leaders greeted people on this occasion.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Thiruvananthapuram, July 12 : Sohan Roy, a Keralite marine professional based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will on Monday receive the prestigious Better World Fund Unity Award which spreads the message of responsible mining across the globe.

Roy will get this award for directing the documentary "Black Sand", which is based on environmental degradation and unscientific mining methods adopted in Alappuzha's Alappad region.

The list of previous years' award winners include the Prince of Monaco Albert II; Hollywood actors like Forest Whitaker and Sharon Stone; and German filmmaker Wim Wenders Roy will become the the first Indian to be honoured with the award.

Roy is known for his directorial Hollywood movie "DAM 999" which contended for the 2011 Oscars and received five selections in three categories.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Beijing, July 12 : Heavy rainstorms have affected more than 500,000 people in China's Sichuan province, prompting authorities to upgrade the alert level for nationwide torrential downpours to orange and also raised emergency response.

In Sichuan, the rainstorms have battered the province since July 9, causing waterlogging in cities, inundating farms and fields and cutting off parts of roads, Xinhua news agency quoted local authorities as saying on Sunday.

The extreme weather has led to the evacuation of nearly 110,000 people in seven cities in the province, causing a direct economic loss of 1.77 billion yuan ($274 million).

No deaths or missing people have been reported.

The cities of Dazhou and Guang'an in the province have activated the highest alert for flood prevention.

In its latest update on Sunday, the China Meteorological Administration said heavy rainfall and rainstorms are expected in Beijing, Tianjin as well as parts of Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong provinces until 8 p.m. on Monday.

The southwestern part of Beijing and central part of Hebei are expected to see downpours of up to 280 mm, said the administration, warning that he aforementioned regions will also experience thunderstorms and strong winds.

Local meteorological authorities in Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong and other areas that might be affected were urged to activate or adjust their emergency response levels based on local conditions, while strengthening weather monitoring and forecast.

It was estimated that the heavy rain might cause floods in 14 small and medium-sized rivers, including the tributaries of the Qujiang in Sichuan and Hanjiang in Shaanxi.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters have dispatched three working teams to Shanxi, Hebei and Beijing to assist local authorities.
New Delhi, July 12 : The Supreme Court on Monday cancelled the bail of a man from Rajasthan, accused of conspiring to murder his Keralite brother-in-law, who was shot dead in front of his pregnant wife in an alleged case of honour killing.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana set aside a Rajasthan High Court order that had granted bail to the accused. The top court order came on an appeal challenging the high court order filed by the wife of the deceased, Amit Nair, who was shot at point-blank range.

The bench said: "We are of the view that the order passed by the high court should be set aside. We direct the respondent to surrender before the district judge." In 2017, the wife's parents, and two other men allegedly barged into the couple's home and shot Amit, while attempting to take the wife back to her parents' house.

The wife was six months pregnant at the time.

Mukesh Chaudhary, the brother-in-law, is facing trial for offences under Sections 302 (murder), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 120B (conspiracy).
Gandhinagar, July 12 : In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra encompassing 19 kilometres was taken out in Ahmedabad on Monday amid a curfew on the route with only five vehicles, including three chariots allowed.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani performed the ancient ritual -- 'Pahind Vidhi', cleaning the way for the chariot by using a golden broom, thus marking the commencement of the 144th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad.

Before the annual Rath Yatra started, Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed the "Mangla Aarti" (auspicious ritual to pay obeisance to Lord) of the deities in the temple at 4 a.m.

The Rath Yatra is taken out every year on the auspicious day of Ashadhi Bij, the second day of Ashadh month, as per the Hindu calendar.

This was for the fifth time in a row that CM Rupani has carried out the Pahind ritual. The deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and the Gujarat Minister of Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja were also present at the Lord Jagannath temple in Jamalpur.

"Due to the corona outbreak, this year's Rath Yatra has been planned following the Covid-19 protocols. After having a 'Darshan' of the Lord, I prayed that may the Lord free the country and state from the corona outbreak. We pray that things return to normalcy as soon as possible," the CM said.

The Gujarat CM also congratulated and greeted the Kutchi community who are celebrating the beginning of their New Year.

Looking at the current situation of corona times, the Gujarat government has decided to permit this year's conventional Ahmedabad Rath Yatra with a provision of curfew on route and ban on Prasad distribution and the yatra to be carried out in a limited way in place of the earlier giant processions.

Although the entire 19 kilometre route has been retained, the timings have been curtailed to finish the yatra in five hours. The yatra will end at 12.30 p.m. but the curfew on the route will continue til 2 p.m.

The Rath Yatra has been allowed with only five vehicles consisting of 'Nishan', 'Danka', three Raths of the Lord, brother Balram and sister Subhadra and the Mahant/Trustee's vehicle. The entire route was effected with a curfew imposed till the conclusion of the Yatra.

Khalasi youths, who conventionally pull the three Raths, were vaccinated and permitted only after RT-PCR negative results. A total of 60 youths have been permitted to pull the three chariots.

For the second time in its 144-year history, Ahmedabad's renowned event was held without the accompaniment of troupes, tableaux and public participation in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Last year too the Rath Yatra was allowed in a symbolic manner, where it only circumvented inside the temple premises.

Traditionally, the procession, led by chariots, would start early in the morning from the 400-year-old temple and return by late evening. It used to take a one-hour break at Saraspur for lunch.

Lakhs of people used to gather along the route on 'Ashadhi Beej' every year to catch a glimpse of the decorated elephants and tableaux moving around in some 100 trucks.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Phnom Penh, July 12 : Cambodia reported 26 landmine and explosive remnant of war (ERW) casualties in the first half of 2021, down 32 per cent compared with 38 per cent over the same period last year, a report has revealed.

During the January-June period this year, eight people were killed and 18 others were either injured or maimed, Xinhua news agency quoted the report releaded by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authorities (CMAA) on Sunday as saying.

They victims comprised 23 men, one woman, and two children, the report added.

Regional and internal conflicts from the 1960s to late 1998 had left Cambodia as one of the most mine and ERW affected countries in the world.

An estimated 4 to 6 million landmines and other munitions were left over from the almost three decades of conflicts.

According to the report, from 1979 to June 2021, landmine and ERW explosions had claimed 19,805 lives and either injured or amputated 45,141 others.

As of June this year, the Southeast Asian nation had cleared 2,221 square km of contaminated land, destroying some 1.1 million landmines, 25,603 anti-tank mines and 2.9 million ERWs, the CMAA said.

It addied that more than 3.3 million households totalling 7.19 million people have benefited from the cleared land.

CMAA's First Vice President Ly Thuch has said the country is committed to clearing all types of landmines and ERWs by 2025 and to achieve this, the country needs a total budget of $377 million.
Amaravati, July 12 : Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy have hailed Indian American Sirisha Bandla's space flight.

"It was a proud moment for the state as the Guntur-born Bandla flew on Virgin Galactic space flight," said Reddy on Sunday night.

He said the trajectory of the 34-year-old aeronautical engineer has been amazing and reached great heights.

Harichandan wished her all success. "I wish her all success, who (Bandla) is the first Telugu girl and third Indian origin woman to head to space," said the Governor.

Bandla's grandfather Venkat Narasaiah savoured her space moment at his home in Tenali.

Narasaiah and his wife Rama Devi took care of Bandla during her childhood before she emigrated to the US.

Expressing his happiness, Narasaiah said that he never thought Bandla would travel to space but said she is a very brave girl.

On Sunday, Bandla briefly flew into space and safely returned to earth in the Virgin Galactic mission, along with Richard Branson and others.

She played the role of researcher experience during the flight.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Riyadh, July 12 : Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and visiting Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq held a negotiation session in the planned cross-border city of Neom, according to state media.

In a report, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said that during the session on Sunday, the two leaders reviewed ties and cooperation in various sectors between the two countries.

The session was held following the Sultan's arrival to the Kingdom earlier in the day on an invitation by King Salman, reports Xinhua news agency.

This is the first visit by an Omani leader in more than a decade.

The two-day visit aims to strengthen relations and cooperation in various fields for the interest and steady progress of the peoples of the two countries, the SPA report highlighted.

Following the session, the two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a Coordination Council over the countries' stances in various issues.

Also in the day, the two country's Commerce Ministers also met to discuss ways to promote bilateral trade and investment opportunities.
Kolkata, July 12 : The construction of the West Bengal Assembly Museum, which was stalled after the Army claimed the land to be under Kolkata's Blue Zone, finally resumed and is likely to be operational by the end of this year.

The idea borrowed from the Kerala Assembly will showcase the rich heritage and rare documents pertaining to the state In 2015, the Trinamool Congress, after coming to power for the first time decided to set up a museum inside the Assembly premises and the much-hyped inauguration ceremony was held within the Assembly premises in 2017. But a few days after the construction work started it had to be stopped because of the Army's objection. The land, according to reports, falls under Kolkata's Blue Zone owned by the Eastern Command of the Army and no new construction is allowed in this zone.

According to senior officials of the Assembly, the 2000 sq. ft museum will come up beside the canteen within the Assembly premises. The museum will display sculptures of state leaders who have contributed to building the nation as well as members of the legislative Assembly, starting with the late B.C. Ray. Fibre glass representations of art forms of different states and foreign countries will also be on display.

There will be papers related to the eve of 1947 when the province was partitioned into West Bengal and East Pakistan, and the West Bengal Legislative Assembly was constituted with 90 members representing the constituencies that fell within the area. A history of the Assembly covering the first meeting after Independence, on November 21, 1947, will also be compiled. Works of painters like Jamini Roy and Abanindranath Tagore will also be on display.

A senior officer of the state Assembly said the state PWD department is in the process of completing the construction work as early as possible.

"The basic construction work is over. Once the interiors and association assignments are completed, the state PWD department will hand over the same to the Assembly authorities," he said, adding that the museum will feature a separate auditorium where the Assembly's in-house programmes will be conducted.

Officials, however, are totally tight-lipped on the cost of the project. "Only the Speaker is authorised to speak on this subject," an official said.
Chennai, July 12 : In line with his earlier decision of not entering Tamil Nadu politics, superstar Rajinikanth on Monday announced reconversion of Rajini Makkal Mandram into Rajinikanth Fans Welfare Mandram.

In a statement issued here, Rajinikanth said there is a necessity to clarify the status of Rajini Makkal Mandram after announcing the decision of not entering politics.

The actor's fan club -- Rajinikanth Fans Welfare Mandram was converted into Rajini Makkal Mandram, a political outfit, when he had announced his plans to get into Tamil Nadu politics.

According to Rajinikanth, owing to changed circumstances he was not able to enter politics and has no plans to do that in future.

He requested the office bearers of Rajini Makkal Mandram to dissolve it and function as Rajini Fans Welfare Mandram without aligning with any other organisation.

Citing Covid-19 pandemic and his own health, the actor backed out of entering active politics last year end.

On December 31, 2017, Rajinikanth had announced his decision to float a political party to practice 'spiritual politics' and contest all 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu in 2021.

The actor then had said that his entry into politics was a "compulsion of time" since the country's politics had gone wrong.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Tel Aviv, July 12 : Israel's security cabinet has decided to cut millions of dollars from tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA), according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

The security cabinet on Sunday decided to deduct 597 million shekels ($183 million) from funds that were supposed to be transferred to the PA, reports Xinhua news agency.

The cabinet said the funds are equal to stipends paid by the PA to the families of Palestinians jailed in Israel or killed while carrying out attacks against Israel.

According to a report prepared by the Defence Ministry and submitted to the cabinet, the PA transferred 597 million shekels to families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

"These funds will be frozen on a monthly basis out of the payments that Israel transfers to the Palestinian Authority," the cabinet said.

Israel says the stipends "encourage" Palestinians' attacks against Israelis but the Palestinians say these are welfare payments for needy families.

In July 2018, the Israeli Parliament passed a law to deduct from tax revenues an amount equal to what the PA pays to families of prisoners.
New Delhi, July 12 : The Supreme Court on Monday gave a petitioner a week's time to study new IT Rules in connection with his plea to restrain social media platforms from carrying Islamophobic content and also seeking a direction to the CBI or NIA probe against Twitter, and its users involved in putting out "inflammatory posts".

Advocate Khaja Aijazuddin, petitioner-in-person, submitted before the top court that Telangana High Court asked him to come here. He added that I have prayed for developing guidelines for social media companies so that content does not hurt religious sentiments.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana told the petitioner, "This issue was forgotten...why do you want to rake up these issues again? There are a number of other petitions pending in this court." Petitioner insisted that his plea has raised important issues in connection with posting of the inflammatory posts and hashtags against a particular religious community on the social media platforms.

The Chief Justice replied: "Have you examined the recent IT rules. It takes care of it".

The petitioner replied that rules never say it takes care of content pertaining to religion, and it is not mentioned in IT rules 2021.

The Chief Justice asked, "Where are the latest rules?" The petitioner submitted that I have not filed, but Twitter had stated rules were framed where due diligence was to be observed by intermediaries.

The Chief Justice said: "Please show us the latest rules and show us it is not there. Do your homework..have you made a representation to the government".

The court asked the petitioner to go through the new IT rules and come back to it. After a brief hearing in the matter, the top court has posted the matter for further hearing next week.

The plea sought direction from the top court to direct the appropriate agency, i.e., the CBI or NIA, to conduct investigation against Twitter and its users who were involved in inflammatory posts.

The plea also sought directions to the Centre to frame guidelines as envisaged under the provisions of IT Act, 2000, pertaining to hate messages against any religious community, including Islamophobic posts on various Social Media platforms.

The petition was filed by Aijazuddin in the backdrop of the reportage by media on the Tablighi Jamaat incident in New Delhi, Nizamuddin as an alleged cause for the spread of coronavirus.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, July 12 : Three suspected terrorists of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been nabbed from Kolkata's Haridevpur area.

The three were picked up from a rented flat in Haridevpur on the western suburbs of the city on Sunday evening.

They were identified as Mikhail Khan, Rabiul Islam and Naziur Rahman, all hailing from Gopalgunj, home district of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Police said the three were staying in Kolkata for a few months on pretext of medical treatment of a relative.

"But they were actually raising funds and trying to recruit local Muslims for jihadi actions," said an officer of Kolkata Police special task force.

Bangladesh intelligence has confirmed the identity and affiliations of the three arrested.

An intelligence official in Dhaka told IANS that the three would surely have links with other JMB activists active in West Bengal and south India. "So it was necessary to launch follow-up operations based on leads these three may provide." Bangladesh has long expressed worries about their Islamist terrorists escaping into India, specially into West Bengal, some of whom return to the country to launch attacks.

Indian and Bangladesh have developed close intelligence cooperation in the last decade as part of Hasina's determined bid to stamp out terror and not allow its soil to be used for terror strikes against India.

Some top JMB leaders like Abu Musa have been arrested in West Bengal, but few like Salahuddin Salehin are still at large.
New Delhi, July 12 : Pentagon officials are monitoring the Taliban's sweeping advances in Afghanistan "with deep concern" and are encouraging its partners in Kabul to "step up" and defend their country amid the pullout of American forces, spokesman John Kirby said.

With the Taliban claiming to have taken control of 85 per cent of Afghanistan, which the US government officials dispute, Kirby told Fox News on Sunday that the Pentagon was "not unmindful" of the situation.

"We're certainly watching with deep concern, the deteriorating security situation and the violence which is of course way too high, and the advances and the momentum that the Taliban seems to have right now," he said.

As per the report, Kirby said that the Pentagon officials were working with the Afghan military "to encourage them to use the capacity and the capability that we know they have, and we know that they know how to defend their country".

He stated that Afghanistan's capacity and capabilities included a "very capable" Air Force and "very sophisticated" Special Forces that can help defend the country from the Taliban resurgence.

"This is a time for them to step up and to do exactly that," Kirby said of their Afghan partners.

With the US Central Command estimating that more than 90 per cent of the withdrawal process is complete, Kirby said that even though the American troops won't be supporting Afghanistan on the ground, Washington will continue to support the country and its people.

"We are not walking away from this relationship," Kirby said.

"We're going to continue to support them from a financial perspective, logistical perspective and certainly aircraft maintenance." The US pullout from Afghanistan comes after 20 years of Washington's longest-running war.

More than 2,400 US troops have died and nearly 21,000 others wounded.

During the 20-year period, American troops trained more than 300,000 Afghan military members and security forces to help them combat the threat of the Taliban.
Jaipur, July 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to lightning in parts of Rajasthan. Rs 50,000 would be provided to the injured, Modi said in his tweet.

Lightning created havoc on late Sunday evening when at least 22 people including 9 children died after they were struck by lightning.

Of these, 11 deaths were reported in Jaipur, when some tourists, who had gone out for an outing at Amer Fort on Sunday late evening to enjoy the pleasant weather, were struck by lightning.

Also, 4 children died in Kota and 3 in Dholpur. Apart from this, 3 deaths due to lightning were reported from different districts of Rajasthan, confirmed officials.

Earlier, in Garda village of Kanwas area of Kota district, 4 children, who had gone to graze cattle, died after lightning struck them.

Three other children died due to lightning in Kudinna village of Dholpur district. They too had gone to graze the goats. A young man died due to lightning in Daulatpur village of Sawai Madhopur.

Apart from this, three more people died due to lightning at different places in the state. Chief Minster Ashok Gehlot has expressed condolences over these deaths.

The state government has also announced compensation to the next of kin of the deceased.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
in a speech on July 8, US President Joe Biden announced that the American military would complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan by August 31, nearly two weeks before his earlier deadline of September 11. The US pullout from Afghanistan, will end the US longest overseas war, which cost the lives of around 2,300 troops and $825 billion monetarily, is a result of the February 2020 agreement that the former Donald Trump administration negotiated with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar.

In his latest speech, Biden strongly defended his decision to pull US military forces out of Afghanistan, saying the Afghan people must decide their own future, rather than sacrificing another generation of Americans in an unwinnable war. Biden called on countries in the region to help bring about an elusive political settlement between the warring parties. He said the Afghan government should seek a deal with the Taliban to allow them to coexist peacefully.

And this is what has proved to be the red herring amongst the neighbouring and regional countries. Most of the countries have reacted in a guarded manner over the advances of the Taliban forces in Afghanistan since May, who now controls 162 districts in Afghanistan.

In reality the chaotic and unpredictable conditions in Afghanistan will have a significant impact on the regional geo-politics. For starters, the Iranians have started fishing in the troubled waters by inviting the Taliban leadership for talks in Tehran.

Iranian initiative The Taliban-Iranian talks began in January this year, as part of Iranian efforts to broker peace between the Afghan government and other factions. The latest round of intra-Afghan talks began on July 7 by a speech from Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who warned that the continuation of conflicts between the government and the Taliban will have "unfavourable" consequences for Afghanistan, noting that a return to the intra-Afghan negotiations is the "best solution".

Earlier, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, had said that Taliban is part of the reality in Afghanistan and they are also talking to the Afghan government. During the recent meeting, Zarif discussed the prospect of Afghan people forming an all-inclusive government, including Taliban.

Pakistan's alarm Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan in an op-ed in The Washington Post on June 9 sounded hurt by the accusations of the government in Kabul naming Islamabad as inciting violence in the country.

He further wrote that he would like Pakistan to be "a partner for peace in Afghanistan", which may have ideated from the Indian outreach to the Taliban.

UK's concern The UK it seems is more worried about the presence of Al Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) elements in Afghanistan and not with the Taliban advances. Alex Younger, former head of the MI-6, has cautioned about the terrorism threat to Britain rising, following the US withdrawal and has further said the threat from terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and IS would grow if the UK turns its back on Afghanistan.

But the UK's Chief of Defence Staff, General Nick Carter, who served several command tours in Afghanistan, believes the Taliban leadership may have learned from their earlier mistakes. He maintains that if the Taliban expect to share power, or seize it, then they will not want to be seen as international pariahs. Wiser heads amongst the Taliban, especially those who attended the recent peace negotiations, may well argue for a clean break with Al Qaeda in order to secure international acceptance.

India's Outreach Indian officials recently met with the Taliban delegation in Doha. This marks a marked policy shift in India's approach to Afghanistan and Taliban. Besides showing maturity of the policy makers and strategists, the move may accelerate the transition from a non-existent relationship to the inception of a diplomatic engagement, whilst acknowledging Taliban as a critical component of future Afghanistan.

Though Indian policy makers will also be worried about the security threat from the pro-Taliban Pakistani outfits, yet they may have weighed the advantage of engaging with the Taliban and also considered that in future the Taliban might be able to assert pressure on forces inimical to India.

India has always called for "an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled process", and as such, the strategic move to engage with Taliban broadly demonstrates a regional security imperative for India and its efforts to minimise Islamabad's influence.

Taliban psyche: American view The Americans have always wondered what fuels the Taliban to fight against a huge military machine despite the odds. Though in reality this has not led to any effort to try to understand the Taliban's psyche and their commitment.

However, an American, Carter Malkasian has tried to discuss this in his new book "The American War in Afghanistan: A History". Malkasian analyses the Taliban advantage in inspiring Afghans to fight. He opines that their call to fight foreign occupiers, steeped in references to Islamic teachings, resonates well with Afghan identity and psyche.

He says that for Afghans, jihad, more accurately understood as 'resistance' or 'struggle' than the caricatured meaning it has acquired in the US, has historically been a means of defence against oppression by outsiders, part of their endurance against invader after invader. The Taliban were able to tie them-selves to religion and to Afghan identity in a way that a government allied with non-Muslim foreign occupiers could not match.

The very presence of Americans in Afghanistan trod on a sense of Afghan identity that incorporated national pride, a long history of fighting outsiders and a religious commitment to defend the homeland. The Taliban's ability to link their cause to the very meaning of being Afghan was a crucial factor in America's defeat.

He further says that the Taliban exemplified something that inspired, something that made them powerful in battle, something tied to what it meant to be an Afghan. They cast themselves as representatives of Islam and called for resistance to foreign occupation. Together, these two ideas formed a potent mix for ordinary Afghans, who tend to be devout Muslims but not extremists.

Now, with the Taliban overrunning districts in the north, they will likely press their attack, further emboldened by US departure over the next few weeks. Afghan soldiers and police will suffer from the same morale problems that have plagued them for two decades. Provincial capitals and Kandahar or Mazar-e-Sharif are likely to fall, possibly within a year. After that, Kabul itself will be in danger. The capital may hold, at least for a while, but the government and its allies will struggle to survive, with little chance of regaining what has been lost.

The world it may seem is bound to sit at the same table with Taliban, once they embrace political identity and become part of the political establishment, and this may mark a peaceful future for Afghanistan.

(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs, interfaith and current affairs. The views expressed are personal)
Bengaluru, July 12 : At a time when the country is facing vaccine shortage, a local MLA from Rajarajeshwari Nagar (R R Nagar) in Karnataka has been accused of diverting vaccines from hospitals to his private office.

RR Nagar BJP MLA N. Munirathna has also been accused of making it compulsory for the people to get tokens with his photo and name written in bold letters after they are vaccinated at his office.

Talking to IANS, Kusuma Hanumantarayappa, a Congress leader alleged that BJP MLA Munirathna has turned the government vaccination programme into a BJP vaccination one.

"When people go to Public Health Centre (PHC), they are welcomed with no stock boards and are asked to go to MLA's office for vaccination. It is compulsory to collect tokens distributed by his followers, without which they are turning away people," she alleged.

"This is happening throughout the constituency. We are planning to file a complaint on this and we are in the process of consultation and collecting evidence," she said.

"Vaccines should have been available for people free of cost at government facilities. But, now they have come to a position where they are made to obtain tokens and get vaccination," she added.

"There is no stock of vaccines at government hospitals. How are they available at MLA's office?," Kusuma questioned. She has shared the pictures of tokens given to people on her social media accounts.

She has attacked the BJP Karnataka unit for turning the vaccination drive into a political gimmick.

Vijay Kumar, Chief Engineer, BBMP Rajarajeshwari Nagar division, refuted all allegations of government vaccines being diverted to MLA office. "He must be giving it through sponsorship. We have been told to prioritise giving vaccines for those residing in the wards," he explained.

MLA Munirathna clarified that vaccination is being done at his office as it is convenient to all. He further stated that only voter identity cards are being asked to confirm that they are local residents.
Neo-JMB Top militant 'Major Osama' and 4 of JMB arrested -seized huge IED making chemical in Bangladesh. Image Source: IANS News

Dhaka, July 12 : Five members of the Neo-JMB banned militant outfit were arrested in Bangladesh by a specialised unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), a top official said on Monday, adding that IED-making materials were also seized during multiple raids.

Md Asaduzzaman, chief of the DMP's Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, told IANS that while three of the militants were arrested on July 8, the remaining two were held on Sunday.

The militants who were arrested on Sunday evening were identified as IED maker Abdullah Al Mamun alias 'David Killer', and Major Osama alias Naeem, a militant trainer.

According to the CTTC chief, Naeem was also a bomb-making instructor and used to lead the prayers at a mosque.

The raids were carried out on Sunday night at a militant hideout in Araihazar, Narayanganj district, where officials also defused three IED bombs, Asaduzzaman said, adding a huge quantity of explosives were seized from the den.

The second raid on a house at Kazipara also in Narayanganj ended at around 4 a.m. on Monday.

Many books on jihadi literature, IED -making equipment and remotes were recovered during the operation, Asaduzzaman told IANS.

Last May, the Neo-JMB militants left a remote-controlled IED next to the traffic police box at Siddhirganj in Narayanganj.

The bomb disposal team of the CTTC defused it.

CTTC officials have said that the IED was made by Mamun.
New Delhi, July 12: The newly formed ministry of co-operation will be closely watched as it is expected to chalk out guidelines soon that are expected to provide a conducive environment for more such organisations to come up and make the existing ones more efficient. The ministry, under the aegis of Home Minister Amit Shah, will essentially look into ways to expand the co-operative sector across all other segments to ensure that the "aam admi" is benefited, sources said.

The focus is likely to be on ways in which co-operatives can access finances and technology.

The ministry will also play a catalyst in modernising the sector.

The co-operative movement, which has traditionally been existent in India for decades, is yet to modernise and become more organised, they said. Besides, there is no of uniformity of rules guiding the co-operatives, which can either come under the ambit of state governments or central.

Co-operative organisations are owned by the grassroot people who are employed as well as those who use the services. Essentially, they have a common goal of creating wealth while ensuring equal distribution.

"The ministry will help in bringing the co-operative movement back in focus and it is time that this model of business is used to spur growth of the people down the line," an analyst said.

"For the first, the co-operative sector has been given due attention. The sector is key to economic development of India and we must look at it in a holistic manner to make it more robust and efficient," RS Sodhi, managing director Amul told India Narrative.

The dairy brand Amul, which is headquartered in Gujarat's Anand is a success story as far as the co-operative movement - managed by the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd-- goes but India has failed to multiply such co-operative brands.

Sodhi added that co-operatives in India are primarily restricted to the agriculture, housing or banking sectors. "Why can't we, for example, have cooperatives in other sectors such as restaurants or in case of taxi and other transport services, which are driven by brands such as Uber and Ola," Sodhi said. He also added that the cooperative movement is a growth driver for "Bharat" more than India.

The Amul chief also said that there are multiple co-operatives which exist in more than one state.

"There is a need to create a framework for co-operatives to expand across the country. The ministry will act as a nodal point and will help in ensuring equitable distribution of profits," he added.

Meanwhile, Shah has already held a meeting with the chiefs of several so-operatives including the National Cooperative Union of India, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) and Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED).

A statement issued by the government said that the ministry will help deepen Co-operatives as a true people-based movement reaching upto the grassroots. The ministry will work to streamline processes for 'Ease of doing business' for co-operatives and enable development of Multi-State Co-operatives (MSCS).

A government official also said that while India presses the pedal on economy in the post Covid phase, efficient management of co-operatives in multiple sectors can boost income levels, especially for people in the grassroot level.

However, much of this will depend on implementation.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thiruvananthapuram, July 12 : Angry traders having their business establishments at Kozhikode, launched a massive protests on Monday and clashed with the police on the streets.

"We want to live, who will pay our debts. This cannot go on indefinitely," were the cries of protests that rendered the air at the once busy Kozhikode Mitayi Therevu (Sweet Street).

Joining the protesters were the Youth Congress activists and with both these groups out on the streets, the police also got into their act and started arresting them under the violation of Covid lockdown rules.

As per the Covid protocol in the state, shops can open depending on which category (A, B, C, D) they belong to based on the test positivity rate of each local body.

"As of now, Saturday and Sunday are total lockdown and apart from that, places are categorised. We feel these are totally unscientific. There has to be an end to our misery as life has to go forward. If these are the ways things are going forward, not many will be left. This has to change, if not, suicides will increase," said an angry group of protesters.

Hearing about the protests spilling on to the streets, local Minister A.K. Saseendran, in charge of Forests and one who hails from Kozhikode, assured that things will be looked into, while the state Local Body Minister M.V. Govindan also promised the traders that he will see how things can go forward.

"See, we are only following the basic rules that have been laid down. According to the rule of law, the protesters have been arrested and let out on bail. We can only do this," said a top police official at Kozhikode.

However, the leader of the traders body T. Nasirudhin said, Monday's protest was not one under their organisation and it was a natural one.

"These days it's difficult to contain the members of our body. The Muslim festival of Eid-Ul-Adha is round the corner and it's natural for all traders to get some business and hence shops should be allowed to open," said Nasirudhin.

Kerala has been caught badly in the Covid pandemic and close to 23 per cent of the new daily Covid cases are from the state and the active cases are over one lakh and hence the state government is continuing with such strong lockdown measures.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, July 12 : Many Afghans who hoped that the Taliban would reform their extreme views amid ongoing talks with the Afghan government and the US troop withdrawal have been disappointed by the new severe restrictions imposed on the local population in some of the districts recently captured by the militant group, a media report said.

Several residents of Balkh, a district in Balkh that is located 20 km north of the provincial capital, Mazar-e-Sharif, confirmed to the Voice of America (VOA) that the Taliban have distributed leaflets, ordering locals to follow strict rules that are similar to those they imposed on Afghans when they last governed the country from 1996 to 2001.

"They want to impose the restrictions that were imposed on women under their rule," said Nahida, a 34-year-old resident of Balkh district, adding that the restrictions targeting women include "not leaving our houses without a male companion and wearing hijab".

Nahida, who requested to be identified by her pseudonym due to safety concerns, said the group's new restrictions will be difficult for women to follow "since many of them are the breadwinners of their families and they have to work outside".

According to the Afghan government, about 30 per cent of the civil servants are now women who were not allowed to work outside their homes during the Taliban's rule.

Another resident of Balkh, who requested anonymity, said "salons were ordered not to shave or trim beards" when the Taliban controlled the district last month.

"It is possible that they impose more restrictions. In some of the mosques, during the Friday sermons, Mullahs say that the Sharia law should be implemented," another Balkh resident told VOA.

In several districts of Takhar, Badakhshan, and Kunduz provinces that came under Taliban control recently, local reports claim the group issued similar restrictions on women and forced men to grow beards.

The acting US Ambassador in Kabul, Ross Wilson, in a tweet last week, warned that the Taliban's growing violence violated human rights and triggered fears that "a system this country's citizens do not support will be imposed" .

The report quoted Heather Barr, a senior Human Rights Watch researcher in Asia, said that reports about the Taliban recent crackdown on women and media were "not very surprising" since her organisation's investigation has found that "the Taliban's policies are not that different from what they were in 2001" .

It is "very concerning indeed for human rights", Barr told VOA, adding that "some of these abusive attitudes are actually intensifying as they are feeling triumphant in gaining control of more and more territory" .

The watchdog group in a report last year said although the Taliban, at least at the leadership level, have portrayed themselves as having reformed their hardline views, they have continued to impose extreme restrictions enforced by the militants.

This scepticism was also shared by Sher Jan Ahmadzai, the director of Centre for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska, the report said.

"There is no evidence to substantiate their claims that they have changed their tactics of dealing with the local populace in the areas of their control," said Ahmadzai.

He added that local reports from the areas under the Taliban show the militants have forced residents to feed them and forced the women not to venture out of their houses without their partners or relatives from their families.

"It is difficult to confirm such posts by independent organisations because they are not allowed to report from areas under the Taliban openly," Ahmadzai said.

Nawbahar, the only FM radio station in Balkh district, was forced to broadcast Taliban's 'Tarani' (chants) and anti-government messages instead of music when the militants entered the district last month, according to local journalists.

"It is against the freedom of expression," lamented Abdul Aziz Danishjo, a journalist in Mazar-e-Sharif, who said the Taliban had forced Nawbahar editor and other staff to go to the radio station and start broadcasting "what the Taliban want".

Nai, a local media watchdog, has reported that nearly 20 radio stations have ceased broadcasting in Afghanistan's northern provinces due to the Taliban's restrictions and ongoing fighting.

Some local journalists view the Taliban crackdown as a major blow to journalism in Afghanistan, a country ranked by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) at 122nd out of 180 nations for violations against journalists.

The report said Mohammad Yaqoob, a local journalist in Balkh province, said the growing violence and Taliban restrictions mean many parts of Afghanistan will be cut off from the rest of the world, making it harder to monitor the human rights violations.

"As a journalist, I would say that the Taliban and the government should follow the media laws," Yaqoob said.

Yaqoob added that the warring parties should not impose their views on the local radio stations in the areas that come under their control.

The RSF charges that violence against journalists and media outlets has increase "significantly" despite of peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
Kathmandu, July 12 : In a dramatic move, the Nepal Supreme Court on Monday overturned Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Olis decision to dissolve the House and issued an interim order to reinstate it, while also ordering President Bidya Devi Bhandari to appoint oppsotion Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as the new premier.

A five-member constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana issued the rulingstating that President Bhandari's decision to dissolve the House of Representatives upon a recommendation of Oli was "an unconstitutional act".

The court also ordered the President to appoint Deuba, who had presented his majority during the election process on May 24, as the new Prime Minister by Tuesday evening.

The bench further ordered the summoning of a fresh session of the House on July 18.

Prime Minister Oli had dissolved the house on May 21 and declared snap elections on November 12 and 19.

This is the second time that the apex court has decided in favour of reinstating the House during Oli's tenure.

Earlier on December 20, 2020, Oli had dissolved the House and the Supreme Court reinstated it on February 25, 2021.

Major political parties besides Oli's Communist Party of Nepal-UML, have welcomed Monday's decision.

After failing to secure a trust vote on May 10, Prime Minister Oli was re-appointed as per Article 76 (3) of the Constitution in his capacity as the parliamentary party leader of the largest party in the House.

Oli, however, opted not to seek a vote of confidence from the house as per Article 76(4) and recommended to President Bhandari to initiate a new government process as per the Article 75 (5).

President Bhandari, on May 20, asked the members of the House to stake their claim to the new government by 5 p.m. the other day.

Deuba and Oli laid claim to the prime ministerial position.

Deuba claimed to have the support of 146 lawmakers, while Oli said he had the backing of 153 MPs.

President Bhandari, however, dismissed both the claims and dissolved the House on May 22 as recommended by the meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Following the dissolution, more than two dozen writ petitions were filed seeking the restoration of the House and issuing an order that Deuba be appointed as the new Prime Minister.
New Delhi, July 12: At 1.45 p.m. on August 10, 2012, retired Deputy Superintendent of Police Abdul Hamid Bhat of Mominabad Batmaloo, Srinagar, was coming out of Masjid-e-Bilal after performing his Friday afternoon congregational prayers. An unidentified terrorist took out his AK-47 rifle and shot dead 60-year-old Bhat, the father of three daughters.

Notwithstanding their preoccupation with the security arrangements for the Independence Day ceremonies, Inspector General of Police SM Sahai, DIG Ahfadul Mujtaba and SSP Srinagar Ashiq Hussain Bukhari worked hard to identify and arrest Bhat's killer. On 21 August 2012, they arrested Constable Abdul Rashid Shigan of the same Batmaloo neighbourhood who spilled the beans during his sustained interrogation.

Posted in the Jammu and Kashmir Police's most sensitive Security Wing, which is supposed to protect hundreds of the terrorists' perceived targets-Police and civil officers, judges, journalists, politicians including Ministers and legislators-constable Shigan confessed not only the retired Dy SP's murder but also several others attacks and assassinations. His victims included retired Inspector of J&K Police Telecommunication Wing, Shabir Ahmad, and Assistant Sub Inspector Sukhpal Singh.

Shigan also admitted to an attack on Ali Mohammad Sagar, then Minister of Law and Rural Development. Even as the Minister survived, one of his National Conference (NC) workers got killed. He owned several attacks on security forces, including the one on a local Army camp. In one of his grenade attacks, he had left 13 CRPF personnel injured in downtown Srinagar.

One of his attacks was straight on the Civil Secretariat, the highest seat of power in the State. In one of his unsuccessful attacks in close vicinity of his residence and the Security Wing offices, he also targeted SHO of Batmaloo Police Station, Inspector Nazir Ahmad. Nazir was present when IGP Sahai made Shigan's revelations public at a Press conference on 22 August 2012.

Shigan revealed that, while being paid his monthly salary from the J&K Police, he operated as a commander and spokesperson of Kashmir Islamic Movement (KIM), a front for the formidable Hizbul Mujahideen, under the code names of Omar Mukhtar and 'General Usman'. A large quantity of arms and ammunition, including three AK-47 rifles, four pistols and one grenade-launcher, were seized at his hideout.

The investigation revealed that Shigan had been actively associated with the militants before his appointment as a constable in the J&K Police. He not only managed to get a job in the Police but also the CID clearance. He was arrested several times but each time released by one or the other judge on bail. Senior officers in the J&K Police shut eyes to his past and parallel terrorist activities and placed him in the Security Wing. He served a term as Personal Security Officer (PSO) with the then SSP of Bandipora.

Even after admitting to multiple attacks and assassinations, Shigan managed to escape from the administration of justice with the help of a well-knit support structure in the politics and establishment. After he managed yet another release, he was allowed to join back as a constable in the J&K Police without legal resistance from the government. In several years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, he remained in the ranks of the J&K Police.

Shigan is among the eleven employees of the J&K Government whose services were terminated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on charges of their involvement in anti-national and subversive activities last week. Even as many in the Union Territory do not justify the action against some dismissed employees-particularly the teacher Razia Sultan of Khiram Anantnag-Sinha's crackdown has left the separatist-terrorist ecosystem within the establishment perplexed. Many of Shigan's ilk now fear similar or even more stringent action against them.

Razia Sultan comes from a Jamaat-e-Islami family whose father once contested the Assembly elections as a candidate of the Muslim United Front, in 1987. He was kidnapped and shot dead allegedly by the counterinsurgent Ikhwanis in 1995. Subsequently, the J&K Government granted the job of a teacher as 'compassionate appointment' under rules to Razia. The Police dossier calls her a sympathiser of the outlawed Dukhtaraan-e-Millat.

"This terrorist's (Shigan's) manipulation in grabbing a Police job, his repeated escapades and reinstatements without resistance from the law enforcement agencies explains a near-total breakdown of the system. Highly placed politicians, including Chief Ministers, Ministers, MLAs and MPs, besides senior bureaucrats and officers in the J&K Police and civil administration, have been part and parcel of the separatist-terrorist ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. They have been enjoying top positions and prize postings with nobody questioning their open patronage to the saboteurs and moles like Shigan", said a retired officer.

"Termination of services alone is not enough. LG must set up a high powered commission and make accountable all the officers, bureaucrats and politicians who have shielded and helped these saboteurs and got them into the government systems through backdoor. There must be arrests and prosecutions of the Director and Secretary rank officers and their equals in Police", the retired officer added. He narrated how the "separatist-terrorist ecosystem" ran an orchestrated campaign against Bhat, then Sub Divisional Police Officer of MR Gunj in downtown Srinagar, for proceeding against the stone-throwers in the street turbulence of 2010.

"A group of the detained stone-pelters was encouraged to level charges of sodomy and other atrocities against the Police officers not soft towards the urchins. SDPO Bhat was subjected to character assassination. They didn't rest until they got him killed, 18 months after his retirement from service".

Not everybody related to the separatists and the terrorists could be a saboteur but their preponderance in the institutions, including Police and judiciary, has a bearing on the morale and confidence of the officers discharging their duties conscientiously.

Even as more than 2,000 personnel in the J&K Police have laid sacrifice of life in the last 31 years of the armed insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, around a thousand have been indulged in treason. "It is a long list from Ali Mohammad Dar alias Burhanuddin Hijazi to Naveed Mushtaq and DSP Davinder Singh. Dar was later killed as Hizbul Mujahideen's operational chief in an encounter. Naveed and Davinder are in jail. But many like Shigan are back in Police or waiting for their renistatement", said a senior officer in J&K Police.

The officer mentioned the names of 14 prominent separatist leaders, militants and ex-militants-including a former JKLF chief commander Javed Mir, Hizb chief Salahuddin, two top separatist lawyers, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and a number of senior Hurriyat leaders-whose family members were holding key positions in different layers of the government. "You name a separatist or a terrorist, I'll name his wife, brother, son or grandson who has been inducted into the government and promoted to top positions, often unlawfully".

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Panaji, July 12 : The Bombay High Court in Goa on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the state-based Hindu organisation Sanatan Sanstha, which had challenged the blocking of three pages on Facebook.

The Court order said that the petitioner had been unable to point out any provision under the Information Technology Act, 2000, vis a vis maintaining a page on the popular social media site, without agreeing to its contractual terms.

In an order, a division bench comprising Justices M.S. Jawalkar and M.S. Sonak also said that the relief sought by the petitioner was based on "sketchy and unclear pleadings".

"Even, otherwise, Mr. (Shirish) Punalekar (counsel for Sanatan Sanstha) was unable to point out any provision under the Information Technology Act, based on which the petitioner could insist on maintaining a Facebook page on the platform provided by Respondents No.3 (Facebook India Online Services) and 4 (Facebook Inc.), without agreeing to be bound by the contractual terms that may have been proposed," the order said.

The Sanstha had moved the HC to challenge the blocking of three pages on Facebook, which were established several years back.

The petitioner had claimed that the pages had been blocked by Facebook because they clashed with the "community standards" of the social media site.

In his petition, Sanatan Sanstha counsel Punalekar had claimed that the right to edit and block pages on Facebook "seriously prejudice the petitioner's right to equal treatment and the Petitioner's right to freedom of speech and expression.

Counsels of Facebook had said that the matter raised before the HC was "in the realm of contract and if at all the petitioner has any grievance, the petitioner will have to seek redressal before any appropriate forum which is empowered to adjudicate the disputes between the two private parties.

The High Court bench, however, maintained that the matter was to state policy and said that "it is normally not for this Court to direct the Government to establish a mechanism to regulate the social media platform or provide some active, fast and cheap grievances redressal forum, as suggested by the petitioner", while dismissing the petition.

"Based on the sketchy and unclear pleadings in this matter, however, there is no case made out for grant of any declaratory relief in this petition," Court also said.
New Delhi/Patna, July 12 : A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrived in Bihar's Darbhanga railway station to probe the case of an explosion in a parcel bag on June 17 and questioned several people.

According to NIA sources, a six-member team of the anti-terror probe agency arrived at Darbhanga station and met with several officials of the Government Rail Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the parcel officials.

The source said that the agency team spoke to the officials of the railways in length about the explosion on June 17.

The NIA has arrested four persons in connection with the case. They included -- Imran Malik and Mohammad Nasir Khan (both brothers) and members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from Hyderabad arrested on June 30; Mohammad Salim Ahmed aka Haji Salim and Kafil aka Kafeel, both residents of Uttar Pradesh's Kairana arrested on July 2 from Kairana.

The agency had on last Wednesday said that preliminary investigation had revealed a trans-national conspiracy hatched by top operatives of the proscribed terror outfit LeT to execute terror acts across India and cause large-scale damage to life and property.

The NIA had said that acting under the directions of Pakistan-based handlers of Lashkar, Khan and Malik had fabricated an incendiary IED and packed it in a parcel of cloth and booked the same in a long-distance train from Secunderabad to Darbhanga.

The anti-terror probe agency also pointed out that this was aimed at causing an explosion and fire in a "running passenger train", resulting in huge loss of lives and property.
July 12 : Tiger 3 is back on track as many other films. The lead actors of the Yash Chopra Films, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, will reportedly resume shoot on July 23. Work on the Salman Khan starrer was halted abruptly in April this year due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thereafter, producer Aditya Chopra instructed to dismantle the expensive set at the SRPF Grounds in Goregaon as it was partially destroyed due to Cyclone Tauktae.

Now, after Salman has wrapped up his forthcoming film Antim: The Final Truth, he is all set to start shoot for the big-budget spy thriller Tiger 3. After the entire cast and crew have received at least the first dose of the vaccine, the makers have reportedly given the go-ahead for the first schedule of shooting. The team will resume work on a two-week schedule from July 23. The shoot will start at the Yash Raj Studios in Andheri. Reportedly, on the first day, only Salman and Katrina will shoot.

Tiger 3 is the third installment of the Tiger franchise. The original film Ek Tha Tiger was directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Yash Raj Films. It was released in 2012. Its sequel, Tiger Zinda Hai was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, and was released in 2017. In both the earlier films, Salman and Katrina played the leads. Tiger 3 will be helmed by Maneesh Sharma, and will also star Emraan Hashmi as the antagonist.

Tiger 3 will be reportedly shot in Austria, Morocco, Turkey, Russia, as well as the United Arab Emirates. The overseas shoot will, reportedly, take place in a 50-day plus schedule. It is also reported that Salman and the crew will jet off on August 12, while Katrina will join them later. In a later schedule, Emraan will join Salman.

Earlier it was reported that to create larger-than-life action sequences, the producers are planning to bring on board a number of action directors from varied backgrounds. Tiger 3 is slated to release in 2022.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 12 : Angry Congress students and youth activists alleging favouritism and violation of all norms, launched a protest on Monday over the appointment of Poornima Mohan in the Malayalam Lexicon department at the Kerala University.

She is the wife of R. Mohanan, who is Officer on Special Duty at the office of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

On Monday morning, the protesters broke into her room and shouted slogans.

A helpless Poornima said she has done no wrong and she had applied for the deputation post after seeing the notification.

"I was called for the interview and I got the job. I have done no wrong," said Poornima amidst shouting of slogans.

The issue surfaced after the 'Save University Campaign Committee' complained to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan that she was a Sanskrit teacher with the Kalady Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, who was appointed the editor of the Malayalam Lexicon, which was in total violation of qualification guidelines.

The complaint is -- how come a Sanskrit teacher can be appointed after ignoring qualified Malayalam professors of the university, which they say is against the statute of the University, as only persons proficient in the language are eligible.

But the Kerala University, however, has pointed out that the appointment was made by a selection committee of experts.

Those who sat in this chair in the past includes scholars in Malayalam like Sooranad Kunjan Pillai, B.C. Balakrishnan and P. Somasekaran Nair.

This post comes with a monthly perks of Rs 2 lakh.
New Delhi, July 12 : The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a Bihar government appeal challenging a Patna High Court judgment, which set free 13 people convicted in the infamous in Senari massacre in 1999.

A bench comprising of Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari admitted the appeal by the Bihar government for consideration and asked the state to serve notice on all acquitted accused persons.

Out of 13 accused, 10 were sentenced to death by trial court in the two-decade old massacre of 34 upper-caste persons by cadre of banned Maoist Communist Centre (MCC).

The state government in its appeal said the prosecution which found favour with the trial court, was that the accused belonged to the lower caste extremist outfit MCC and had carried out the vicious attack against unarmed and defenceless members of the upper caste.

The attack was carried with a view to establish their supremacy and it was a fallout of the unfortunate caste-based conflicts that ravaged the state during a dark period of its history.

"The case of the prosecution is supported by a total of 23 witnesses out of which 13 are eyewitnesses who lost their near family in the mass carnage and includes 3 injured witnesses," said the state government in the appeal filed through advocate Abhinav Mukerji.

In May 2021, the high court had set aside the judgment of a trial court and acquitted 13 accused. The state government argued the findings of the high court are contrary to the evidence placed on record and the law declared by this Hon'ble Court on various principles of law. "It is submitted that the High Court discarded the testimony of the 13 persons who are eye-witnesses including injured witnesses of the event primarily on erroneous grounds," the state government contended.

In November 2016, the Jehanabad district court had sentenced 10 persons to death and awarded life imprisonment to three others, and acquitted 23 others, due to lack of evidence.

According to the prosecution on March 18, 1999, alleged MCC members forced 34 people, belonging to the upper caste Bhumihar community, to line up near a temple at Senari village and killed them by slitting their throats and shooting them.

The state government submitted that the evidence clearly proves that the accused persons were present and actively participating in the carnage and specific acts also stood ascribed to them.
Bengaluru, July 12 : Despite the higher number of Covid-19 cases reported along with the Zika virus scare in neighbouring Kerala, the Karnataka government is resuming bus services to the state from Monday.

Passengers will have to carry a negative RT-PCR test report obtained within 72 hours prior to travel or a vaccination certificate of having received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine as per the guidelines of the Karnataka government.

Students, businessmen, among others who travel on a daily basis to the state from Kerala should get tested every 15 days and must carry the RT-PCR report along with them.

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate buses from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Putturu and other places based on the requirement.

The KSRTC in a press release said this decision has been taken for the convenience of the people. The KSRTC had stopped inter-state bus services due to the lockdown.
Kochi, July 12 : Estranged Kerala businessman Sabu Jacob, who leads Kitex business house, is in no mood to relent in his attacks on the investment atmosphere in his home state, after getting a red carpet welcome at Telangana.

"This Single Window Clearance is a thing of the past and in Kerala, it is like the frog in the well. Lot of things have changed and Kerala is yet to understand or fathom it and continues to brag about the Single Window Clearance which is available for investors," Jacob told the media, after returning from Telengana, whose response he termed "something unbelievable".

He dismissed the statement that Kerala is favourable for investment.

"Lot of investors here are driven to the wall and have even committed suicide, unable to carry forward with their business. If we continue to be haunted, we will wind up our entire operations in Kerala and move elsewhere," he added.

He noted that though they have been in business in Kerala for the past 53 years, had they been in some other states, their growth would have been manifold.

Jacob and his six-member team, who returned from Telangana after flying out in a private jet chartered by the state government, had announced that they will invest Rs 1,000 crore to set up an apparel manufacturing unit in the Kakatiya Mega Textiles Park (KMTP) at Warangal there after having a few rounds of discussions with Telangana Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao and senior officials.

Jacob blew his top after he claims he was haunted and hunted by numerous government departments in the past one month, but this charge has been flatly denied by both Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and State Industries Minister P. Rajeev.

"I don't think we need to reply to baseless destructive comments and the best policy is to remain silent, as it will be of no good to Kerala," said Rajeev.

Kitex Garments, the second-largest children's apparel manufacturer in the world, after a series of raids by various state government agencies, announced the scrapping of the Rs 3,500 crore project for which it had signed a memorandum with the Kerala government at the 'Ascend Global Investors Meet' in Kochi in January 2020.

As part of the project, an apparel park was to be opened in Kochi, besides the establishment of industrial parks in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Palakkad.

Kitex fell on the wrong side of the political establishment in Kerala after Jacob floated a political outfit named 'Twenty 20' -- which was earlier registered as a non-profit organisation -- and wrested power in the Kizhakkambalam panchayat in Ernakulam district.

In the recent Assembly elections, Twenty 20 contested six seats but could not win any.

Jacob has gone on record to state that the Kerala government is not providing any subsidy, including for power, noting that it is all profit for the state government and there is no professional interest being envisaged by it.

He had also alleged that things are at the mercy of the local level leaders here, and even an upper division clerk in the state can scuttle the prospects of an industrialist.

Kerala is lagging behind in industrial growth and the attitude of the rulers and the bureaucracy is the reason behind this, he had said.

Jacob and his establishment saw 11 teams of officers from various departments raiding the company in the past one month. The company employees were also grilled for hours.

It was then that Jacob had announced that he will move out of the state, following which offers poured in from nine states.

Even while the present controversy is continuing in Kerala, the share value of Kitex continues to rise and after his arrival in Telangana and his announcement of investment there, it, in a matter of two days, rose by Rs 28 to touch Rs 168.
Kabul/New Delhi, July 12 : Islamabad wants a negotiated agreement in Afghanistan as it fears that an outright Taliban takeover would galvanise Pakistani jihadists, the Wall Street Journal reported.

For two decades, a large part of the Pakistani security establishment rooted for the Taliban in the Afghan war.

Now that the Taliban are taking over vast tracts of the country and seem to be on the cusp of seizing power, panic is spreading through Pakistan's halls of power, the WSJ said.

Ever since the 2001 US invasion ousted the Pakistani-backed Taliban regime in Kabul, Pakistan's powerful military has unofficially provided carefully calibrated support to the group, allowing Afghan insurgents to operate from its territory.

Pakistan wanted to bolster the Taliban as a counter to the influence of its enemy India in Afghanistan and to have a potent proxy there after a US departure, the report said.

Formally an American ally since 2001, Pakistan's government denies backing the Taliban, but says it has some limited influence over the group.

With the Taliban sweeping through a third of Afghanistan's districts following the US military withdrawal and surrounding the country's major cities, Pakistani authorities have to grapple with the unintended consequences of their policies.

The report said a total takeover by the Taliban or a new civil war in Afghanistan would backfire against Islamabad's national interests, senior Pakistani officials say.

"We are so closely intertwined with Afghanistan, ethnically, religiously, tribally, that whenever there is civil war, Pakistan gets sucked in automatically," said Pakistan's former Defence Minister, Lt Gen Naeem Lodhi (retd).

"Civil war (in Afghanistan) is the last thing that Pakistan would like to happen," the WSJ said.
Patna, July 12 : After a five year break, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar resumed his Janata Darbar on Monday to hear grievances of the common man, but the first day turned challenging for the chief minister due to some unexpected incidents.

A woman who came to the Janata Darbar claimed that her gold chain along with Jetia (Pendant) was snatched by an unidentified woman when she was entering the Darbar hall, which is inside the CM's residence.

The woman came to the Janata Darbar with a complaint related to property. She narrated her story to the chief minister and before leaving she told him that her gold chain was stolen when she was entering the Darbar hall.

When Nitish Kumar heard this, he was shocked for a moment. He immediately asked Patna district magistrate Chandrashekher Singh and DSP Secretariat to investigate the matter. Both the officers immediately rushed to the Darbar hall to identify the woman snatcher.

On day one of the Janata Darbar, a large number of women came to the CM's residence with their complaints. Besides, several complaints of student credit cards also reached Nitish Kumar.

Student Credit Card, which comes under SAAT Nischay Yojana (SNY), is one of the dream projects of Nitish Kumar to provide government funds to students for their studies.

The complainants claimed that they have not received funds after 2018-19. They said the state government changed some norms and allowed only those students to avail this facility who study in particular educational institutions in the state. Due to this, a large number of students are being deprived of government fund and are unable to continue their studies for the last two and a half years.

Complaints regarding encouragement funds (Protsahan Rashi) for students also came before the chief minister. Two female students claimed that they have passed the graduation level examination in 2018 and 2019 but one of them has not received encouragement funds from the state government.

The Nitish Kumar government has a policy to provide an encouragement fund of Rs 25,000 to girl students who pass class 12 examination and Rs 50,000 to those who clear graduation.
Amaravati, July 12 : Andhra Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary V. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy on Monday lashed out at Prakasam district Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLAs and called their letter to chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy an act opposing Rayalaseema and furthering the alleged fake propaganda of Telangana.

"TDP MLAs from Prakasam district have written the letter furthering the fake propaganda of Telangana and in opposition to Rayalaseema," said Reddy.

He was referring to the letter written by Addani MLA Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Kondapi MLA Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy and Parchur MLA Elurui Sambasiva Rao.

The trio said they were writing the letter on behalf of Prakasam district farmers and people and claimed that both Telangana and Rayalaseema lift irrigation projects at Srisailam are detrimental to Prakasam district.

However, the BJP leader said that a letter like this at the moment is a shameful act and lashed out at Telangana for acting in a way which is dangerous to Andhra Pradesh.

Training his guns at the Andhra government, Reddy alleged that the government is not acting against Telangana to safeguard its business and political prospects.

"We will join the masses and start a movement for water resources," he said, questioning if there was a water resources department in the state.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are engaged in a bitter war of words over water projects in either states with both terming them as illegal. Already, Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has written several letters to the Centre on the issue and has complained against Telangana.

He complained that Telangana's unilateral siphoning of water from Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar and Pulichintala reservoirs will jeopardise the drinking and irrigation needs of Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts, including Chennai city's drinking water requirements.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said Telangana continues to blatantly violate the provisions of the APR Act, 2014, acting in a whimsical manner with utter disregard to the operational protocols and directions of Krishna River Management Board.

Though power generation is incidental to irrigation needs, he complained that Telangana has started utilising Srisailam reservoir waters for power generation from the very first day of the water year which started on June 1, well below the minimum draw down level (MDDL) of 834+ ft.
Lucknow, July 12 : The two alleged terrorists, arrested by the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad from the outskirts of Lucknow on Sunday, were produced in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate on Monday and were sent on 14 days' police custody.

The ATS had sought police remand in order to further the investigations and track down the other accomplices in the terror plot.

Meanwhile, ATS units have been conducting raids in various districts and sources said that over a dozen persons had been detained for questioning.

Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Avanish Awasthi said: "Raids are underway across the state to arrest the remaining accomplices. We have decided to provide more resources and manpower to the Anti-Terrorism Squad." Security has been increased in Ayodhya, Mathura, and Varanasi after maps of shrines in these holy places were found from the house where the two alleged terrorists, Maseeurddin and Minhaz Ansari, were staying.
Lucknow, July 12 : More than 3,500 big industrialists have acquired land in Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) areas, spread across 51 districts over the last four years since the Yogi Adityanath took charge and have set up factories worth of Rs 11,500 crore.

The factories, which are to be built on UPSIDA land, will provide employment to around one lakh people.

Some of these manufacturing units have already been completed and have also started production at their plants while construction of some others are underway.

The officers of UPSIDA are working on new projects to bring more investment to the state.

According to the government spokesperson, the projects include setting up of a Mega Leather Park in Unnao and a Perfume Park and a Perfume Museum in Kannauj.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that such schemes will increase investment in traditional industries and help popularise leather products of Unnao and spread fragrance of Kannauj's perfumes across the world.

The Mega Leather Park of Unnao, will be spread over an area of 42 acres. With the establishment of this park at a cost of about Rs 550 crore, leading leather products manufacturing companies will set up their factories and boost leather business.

Similarly, the Perfume Park and the Perfume Museum are expected to restore the pristine glory of Kannauj's traditional perfume and enhance perfume business through installation of state-of-the-art technology.

Kannauj's traditional perfume industry is in dire straits today due to the absence of latest technologies and its neglect under previous governments.

It is noteworthy that the artificial perfume companies and traditional perfume business have been badly hit in Uttar Pradesh due to lack of resources.

With the construction of the Perfume Park, people traditionally working in the perfume industry will get an opportunity to carry forward their ancestral legacy and not abandon it for lack of potential for growth while leading companies will come forward to set up their factories in Kannauj.

The Perfume Museum will help promote the state's heritage of making pure and natural perfumes across the world and also boost local perfume business.

However, UPSIDA is not just promoting investment in leather or perfume business, but in many other areas as well.

Significant industries that are coming up include ITC Ltd. at Sandila area of Hardoi, Varun Beverages Ltd. (PepsiCo), Berger Paints Ltd., Green Ply Industries Ltd., British Paints Ltd., Webly Scott Ltd, Kribhco Fertilizer Ltd. at Shahjahanpur, Plastic Pack Ltd. at Kanpur, SMS G Ltd. at Barabanki (Coca-Cola) and Vaughan Wells Limited that are establishing their units in Agra.

Apart from this, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, more than a thousand industrialists have acquired UPSIDA land to set up their factories in the state in the last one year.

British company, AV Mori, is prominent among the companies that have shown keen interest in setting up units in Uttar Pradesh. The company has got land in Chitrakoot and Pilibhit to set up its factories.

Similarly, Hindustan Unilever has acquired land at Sumerpur in Hamirpur, Triveni Almira at Kursi Road in Barabanki, Forever Distillery at Gorakhpur, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation at Badaun and Inox Air Products Limited at Rae Bareli to set up their factories.
Mumbai, July 12 : Model-actor-fitness enthusiast Milind Soman and his wife Ankita Konwar celebrated their third wedding anniversary on Monday.

Taking to Instagram, Milind shared pictures with his wife. He wrote: "Happy 3rd anniversary @ankita_earthy, miss you every moment you crazy thing #love." Ankita penned a note on Instagram: "Everyday is an adventure, a new anniversary of something and another valentines day with you. 3 years since we had our magical wedding in that little forest in Spain, barefoot, in front of a waterfall. Being with you is like experiencing magic, firsthand! You're the water to my earth. Shaping me, nurturing me, growing with me. I'm grateful for this bond we share, every single living minute. Always and forever #ultreia #foreverlove #forbetterorforworse #insicknessandinhealth." Milind and Ankita had tied the knot in Spain in July, 2018.
New Delhi, July 12: Although the Pakistani military establishment makes public statements about not having any "connections" with top leaders of the Taliban and Islamabad says it is not in favour of the Taliban forcibly taking over Kabul, in reality the situation is quite different.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid came out in full support of the Taliban's advance in Afghanistan on Sunday when he told Pakistani media that the "good Taliban" were advancing and gaining power in Afghanistan.

"It is important, not only for Pakistan, but the entire region to initiate talks with the Afghan Taliban," Pakistani daily The Nation quoted the minister as saying. The Minister said the Talibans are part of Afghanistan and like all Afghans, they do have the right to "choose" their government.

The good Taliban and the bad Taliban theory has been Pakistan's hypocritical strategy towards heavily-armed militant groups fighting either in Pakistan or Afghanistan. Pakistan's all-pervasive security services, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI), is reported to have close links with the Afghan Taliban. The ISI has long been obsessed with the idea that controlling Afghanistan would give Pakistan the "strategic depth" needed to challenge its main adversary, India. A Taliban regime in Kabul is the best guarantee for that.

Sheikh Rashid is not alone in cheering Taliban's "victories" in Afghanistan. Maulana Fazlur Rehaman, president of Jamait Ulema e Islam (JUI) and chief of Pakistani Democratic Movement (PDM) was seen celebrating at a political rally last week.

"After the US withdrawal, the situation is changing in Afghanistan. Inshallah, Taliban will be victorious," Rehaman declared. Rehman is a pro-Taliban Pakistani politician. Ironically, while he is fighting for democracy in Pakistan, he is also praying for a strong Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

On Friday, a number of people on motorbikes and in cars were seen in a viral video on social media, chanting slogans in favour of Taliban on the main University Road near Hayatabad of Peshawar. Some people were also seen carrying Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan flags. The people in the video were said to be returning after attending a funeral in Regi.

Senior opposition leader of Pakistan People's Party Farhatullah Babar took to twitter to condemn the incident.

"Dead bodies of Pakistanis fighting in Afghanistan brought back for burial. Taliban regrouping in ex-tribal districts. Apologists raise Taliban flags and slogans in broad daylight in a provincial metropolis," Babar said.

"Taliban seem supported by proxies to secure military victories enough to negotiate a favourable political settlement but not enough to overrun the country militarily. Their backers may take pride in devising a calibrated policy. But this calibration has ruined two generations," he added.

Last month, in an interview to an Afghan news channel, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quereshi denied that there were Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan and said most of their leaders "are in Afghanistan." When asked specifically about the presence of Quetta and Peshawar Shuras, or councils, he denied the existence of such institutions in Pakistan and said he "has been hearing of these terms for decades now." But a few days later Imran Khan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid contradicted his cabinet colleague by openly saying that families of Afghani Taliban militants live in various regions, including Islamabad's famous areas, and are sometimes treated in local hospitals.

"Sometimes, the bodies of their soldiers are brought to hospitals, and sometimes they come here for treatment," Rashid told Pakistani Channel Geo TV.

Pakistan is clearly aiming to increase its influence in Afghanistan and play a greater role in the region to checkmate India.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Chennai, July 12 : The Victory Flame to commemorate the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 war against Pakistan reached Kanyakumari, the southern tip of peninsular India on Sunday evening, said the Defence Ministry.

The Golden Jubilee celebrations to commemorate the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 war commenced in December last year.

Four Victory Flames were lit from the eternal flame of the National War Memorial and one each is being carried to the four cardinal directions through the cities and villages of the 1971 war veterans and Veernaris (war widows).

According to an official statement, war veterans were invited and honoured in the presence of district civil administration.

Retired Corporal Michael Antony shared his experience in the 1971 war.

The event was organized by Indian Naval Station (INS), Kattabomman, adhering to all Covid-19 safety protocols.
Bengaluru, July 12 : Karnataka Congress remains a divided house as the state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar and opposition leader Siddaramaiah yet again differed on illegal mining issue raised by Independent MP Sumalatha.

Siddaramaiah stressed that an investigation should be done, while Shivakumar maintained that there are no reports of illegal mining in the region.

Siddaramaiah, who is touring Badami constituency in north Karnataka, on Monday stated that the government should be verifying the facts on the allegations made by Independent MP Sumalatha Ambareesh. "She has made allegations that JD(S) leaders are carrying out illegal mining endangering safety of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam. The matter should be investigated," he said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress President D.K. Shivakumar had earlier said that the issue of illegal mining did not come up at all. "No one spoke on the issue of illegal mining when I was district in charge minister of Mandya district and it did not come up when I was holding irrigation portfolio," he said.

"The mining is being done 15 to 20 kilometers away from the dam, it does not make any difference. It is not in good taste to create panic among the public. He further stated that it is a sensitive issue and no one should take cheap publicity," he said on Sunday.
Shimla, July 12 : The Central government on Monday deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh led to flashfloods in upper Dharamsala in Kangra district, washing away parked cars and partially damaging houses.

Two persons have been reported missing after heavy rain in the district.

Reviewing the ground situation in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on the phone, assuring him that an NDRF team will be deployed to handle any exigency.

He said the Centre will provide all assistance needed to tide over the crisis.

Dharamsala, nearly 250 km from the state capital Shimla, recorded precipitation of 184 mm, the highest ever during this monsoon. The damage to property was reported in villages located in the vicinity of McLeodganj, the political, cultural and spiritual hub of the Tibetan diaspora.

More than 10 cars, most of them belonging to tourists, were washed away in Bhagsunag.

Elsewhere in Kangra, three houses and five shops located along a seasonal rivulet in the Gaggal area were damaged by gushing water. The damage to property was largely due to encroachments on rivulets, officials told IANS.

Claiming there was no cloudburst in the district, Deputy Commissioner Nipun Jindal said Boh village in Shahpur sub-division has been cut-off after massive landslides and a rescue operation is underway.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director Manmohan Singh told IANS that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was recorded at many places in Kangra district. The rainfall was widespread across the state.

Palampur in Kangra district recorded 155 mm rain, the highest in the state, while it was 48 mm in Dalhousie, 10 mm in Shimla and 55 mm in picturesque tourist resort Manali.

The Chief Minister expressed grief over the loss of life and property due to heavy rain.

He directed the district authorities to ensure speedy relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. He urged the local people and tourists to refrain from going near the river banks to avoid any untoward incident.

The weather bureau has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in the state till Wednesday.

The southwest monsoon arrived in Himachal Pradesh on June 13 in its earliest onset in the past 21 years. Its normal arrival in the state is June 26.
New Delhi, July 12 : Smartphone brand iQOO on Monday said it has sold over 25 million devices globally.

The company also announced 'iQOO Quest Days' from July 13 to July 16 where, the consumers in India will be able to get up to Rs 4,000 off on iQOO 7 series and iQOO Z3 smartphones.

"We aim to focus on bringing joy and excitement to our consumers by providing them with unique experiences. iQOO will always adhere to its original mission and continue its relentless pursuit for technological advancement and excellence," said Gagan Arora, Director- Marketing, iQOO India.

iQOO7 series has been one of the most power-packed and dynamic smartphones launched this year. The series offers Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 series processor coupled with an Intelligent display chip, 66W Flash Charge, 120Hz AMOLED Display, 48MP OIS Main Rear Camera, Liquid Cooling system and more.

The iQOO Z3 is a future-ready 5G smartphone, packed with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G 5G Mobile Platform.

Both the iQOO 7 series and iQOO Z3 have been manufactured at Vivo's Greater Noida facility.

Priced at Rs 19,990 for the 6GB+128GB, Rs 20,990 for the 8GB+128GB and Rs 22,990 for the 8GB+256GB variant, iQOO Z3 5G is available on Amazon.in and iQOO.com in two colour options -- Ace Black and Cyber Blue.
Gurugram, July 12 : The Gurugram police have filed an FIR against a teenager for allegedly making provocative comments at a mahapanchayat held in Pataudi on July 4, police said on Monday.

This teenager had allegedly opened fire at a group of anti-CAA protesters in Jamia in Delhi last year also.

The FIR has been registered based on a complaint submitted by a resident of Jamalpur village in Gurugram under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Pataudi police station on Sunday," said a senior police officer.

In his speech at the mahapanchayat, the teenager allegedly called for attacks on the Muslim community.

The teenager had also encouraged the crowd to abduct Muslim women and "warned" those with a "terrorist mindset" that if he can "go to Jamia in support of CAA", "Pataudi is not very far for him".

A purported video of the speech was shared widely on the social media.

"The complainant stated that on July 4, mahapanchayat was organized at the Ramleela Ground, Pataudi, where a man gave quite a provocative speech which could have caused riots and disturbed the law and order situation and this speech was inciting religious sentiments," the police said.

The complainant had also shared social media platform links of the speech.

The mahapanchayat, which took place last Sunday, had been organised to discuss religious conversion and 'Love Jihad'.

The Jamia incident had taken place on January 30, 2020, when the teenager brandished a gun at the protesters and shouted slogans. One student had been injured in the incident and an FIR had been registered against the accused under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder).
Hyderabad, July 12 : Superstar Mahesh Babu's upcoming Telugu film "Sarkaru Vaari Paata" is back on the floors, as shooting resumed here on Monday.

According to the production team of the film, after finishing the first schedule in Dubai the team has started its next schedule now with key scenes featuring lead the pair being shot.

The film's poster, which was released earlier had receieved a positive response on social media.

"Sarkaru Vaari Paata" will see Keerthy Suresh as the protaganist alongside Mahesh Babu. The film, which is directed and written by Parasuram Petla, also stars Vennela Kishore and Subbaraju. The film's music is by Thaman SS.

Besides this film, Mahesh also awaits the release of his debut production venture "Major", which will shoot its last schedule this week. The film directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka is a biographical drama based on the life of 26/11 martyr Sandeep Unnikrishnan. The film stars actor Adivi Sesh in the lead role.
Hyderabad, July 12 : L. Ramana, who resigned as the Telugu Desam Party's Telangana unit President last week, joined the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Monday.

Ramana took the TRS membership from party's Working President K. T. Rama Rao at the Telangana Bhavan.

He, along wit his followers, will be formally admitted into the party at a meeting on July 16 in the presence of Chief Minister and TRS President K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Ramana, a former minister in united Andhra Pradesh, and a former MP, had resigned from the TDP on July 9. He had sent his resignation to TDP's national President N. Chandrababu Naidu.

After receiving the TRS membership, Ramana said he decided to join the TRS at the invitation of Chandrasekhar Rao. He told reporters that he wanted to participate in the development of the state.

Ramana, who had been leading the TDP in Telangana since the formation of the state in 2014, said under the leadership of KCR, he would work to strengthen TRS and for the welfare of the peoples, especially the backward classes.

"I will use my vast experience of last 27 years to work for the state and the party," he said. He feels that the political situation in Telangana has changed and the TRS is the only party which can safeguard the interests of the state.

Ramana later called on ministers Koppula Eswar and E. Dayakar Rao. They are understood to have discussed party affairs and the government schemes. Ensuing by-election to Huzurabad Assembly constituency is also believed to have figured in the discussion.

Ramana had met KCR on July 8 to express his willingness to join the TRS. The Chief Minister reportedly assured him that he will be given due recognition and political opportunity. He is likely to be nominated as the TRS candidate for the Legislative Council elections that are due in a couple of months.

He was one of the few leaders remaining in the TDP in Telangana. Several top TDP leaders switched loyalties to the TRS during the last seven years.

Ramana, a two-time MLA, had served as Minister for Textiles and Handlooms in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 1994-96.

He was also elected to Lok Sabha from Karimnagar in 1996.
Ranchi, July 12 : This year Rath Yatra could not take place in Jharkhand as the state govt had denied permission for it.

In the wake of coronavirus the state government has this year also denied the permission to organise the Rath Yatra at the historic Jaganathpur Temple.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged the people to offer prayers to Lord Jaganath in their homes. He said that due to coronavirus this year also the Rath Yatra is not being organised.

He said that due to the pandemic the government is taking some tough decisions. He said that the pandemic has orphaned children while many people have lost their lives. The Chief Minister said that for the sake of the people the government was forced to close the educational institutions, shops were closed and entry from other states was stopped.

The Chief Minister said that he himself is pained when the Rath Yatra is not taken out but when the present will be safe then only the future will be safe. He said that when the people will be safe then only the state and the county will remain safe.

Acting president of Jaganathpur Mandir Nyas Samiti had sent a application to the state government seeking permission to organise the Rath Yatra in a traditional manner. However citing the reason of Covid-19 the state government has denied permission, apart from that permission has been also denied to organise the Mela at Mausi Badi.

After permission was granted to organise the Rath Yatra in Puri preparations had also commenced in Ranchi in full swing to organise the Rath Yatra with the temple management having got the chariot repaired and painted.
New Delhi, July 12 : Reliance Jio topped the subscription chart for April as it added over 47.56 lakh users during the month.

With this addition, Jio's subscriber base has increased to over 42.76 crore users, showed data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Bharti Airtel added over 5.17 lakh users during the month under review, taking its subscriber base to over 35.29 crore.

Vodafone Idea, on the other hand, eroded its subscriber base by over 18.10 lakh users to more than 28.19 crore.

State-run BSNL also witnessed a decline its user base by nearly 13.05 lakh to 11.72 crore.

"Total wireless subscribers increased from 1,180.96 million at the end of March-21 to 1,183.11 million at the end of April-21, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.18 per cent," said the TRAI statement.

Wireless subscription in urban areas increased from 64.52 crore at the end of March 2021 to 64.5.6 crore at the end of April 2021 and wireless subscription in rural areas also increased from 53.57 crore to 53.74 crore during the same period. Monthly growth rates of urban and rural wireless subscription were 0.06 per cent and 0.32 per cent, respectively.

Most of the service areas showed growth in their wireless subscribers during the month of April 2021.

"Out of the total wireless subscribers (1,183.11 million), 997.37 million wireless subscribers were active on the date of peak VLR in the month of April-21. The proportion of active wireless subscribers was approximately 84.30 per cent of the total wireless subscriber base," said the TRAI statement.
Itanagar, July 12 : Seven undertrial inmates fled from East Siang district jail in Arunachal Pradesh by spraying chilli, salt and pepper powders on the jail guards, police said on Monday.

A police official said that a massive search operation has been launched to nab the escaped prisoners immediately after the undertrial jailbirds escaped from the jail located in district headquarters in Pasighat on Sunday night.

Five jail guards were injured in the attack. Around 100 prisoners are lodged in the district jail in East Siang district in eastern Arunachal Pradesh which shares borders with Assam.

The seven fleeing prisoners have been identified as Abhijit Gogoi, Taro Hamam, Kalom Apang, Talum Panying, Subhash Mandal, Raja Tayeng and Dani Gamlin.
Mumbai, July 12 : With the threat of a third wave of Covid-19 looming large, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday directed the formation of a 'Task Force for Industry'.

The Task Force for Industry would be monitored directly by the Chief Minister's Office to ensure that the state's economic cycle and industrial production continues unhindered even during the pandemic situation.

"Maharashtra has set an example for the whole country when industries continued to operate without hindrance even during the Covid-19 pandemic last year," Thackeray said, addressing an online meeting of top corporates and industry honchos.

Some of the prominent personalities present at the meeting were representatives of the CII, Uday Kotak, Jane Karkada, Niranjan Hiranandani, Harsh Goenka, Salil Parekh, Neel Raheja, Anant Goenka, Baba Kalyani, B. Thiagarajan, Anant Singhania, Banmali Agrawala, Nikhil Meswani, Ashwin Yardi, Rashesh Shah, Keshav Murugesh, Bharat Puri, Asim Charania, Sunil Mathur, Sanjeev Singh, Naushad Forbes, D.K. Sen, Sulajja Firodia-Motwani, Sharad Mahindra, among others.

Thackeray pointed out that the state was fully geared to combat the potential 'third wave' with oxygen production and stocks, planning mass vaccination of industrial workers, continuing the economic cycle despite tightening of restrictions, arrangements for temporary field accommodation for employees in the company premises, and other measures.

State Industry Minister Subhash Desai, Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, Additional Health Secretary Pradeep Vyas and other top officials discussed various aspects of tackling the upcoming health scenario on the government side.

Thackeray pointed out that currently around 1,300 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen is produced daily in the state which is expected to be scaled up by more than double if the coronavirus challenges increase.

He urged all the corporates to get their employees and workers vaccinated on a mass scale, especially since private hospitals have been given stocks of around 25 per cent Covid-19 vaccine doses by the Centre.

The CM also called upon small and big enterprises to continue safe production by creating a 'bio-bubble system' within the Covid protocols and plan out shifts to avoid crowds without increasing stress on any facility.

Thackeray cautioned however that in view of the new Delta strain, more vigil must be maintained, and pointed out that many countries have started re-imposing public restrictions on a large scale.

Vyas said that in the first wave, the state had 20 lakh cases, while in the second wave, the figure had more than doubled to 40 lakh in barely 2 to 3 months, and said the speed of the next (third) wave is anticipated to be much higher with increasing number of infections in western and coastal Maharashtra.

The corporate heads assured the state government of their fullest cooperation to ensure that the virus doesn't affect industrial production or industrial precincts.
San Francisco, July 12 : Andhra Pradesh-born Sirisha Bandla on Sunday touched the edge of space with three others, including Virgin Galactic's billionaire CEO Richard Branson.

Bandla vaulted into space on Sunday on board VSS Unity 22. After the successful spaceflight, Branson carried the Indian-American on his shoulders while celebrating their flight to space, at Spaceport America in New Mexico.

"I am kind of still up there but it's so glad to be here. I was trying to think about a better word than incredible but that is the only word that can come to my mind... Seeing the view of Earth is so life-changing but also the boost the rocket motor kicking in. The whole trip to space and back is just amazing," Bandla was quoted as saying to NBC News.

Astronaut 004 Bandla, accompanied by Branson and two other crewmates and two pilots touched the edge of the space in the 90 minute trip.

During the space flight, Bandla was scheduled to conduct experiments designed by the US government's pioneer space agency, NASA involving plants in microgravity.

Bandla, the Virgin Galactic Vice President for Government Relations, is an astronautical engineer by training.

"I am so incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all," Bandla said in a tweet last week.

Bandla became the fourth astronaut of Indian descent.

She is the third Indian American in space after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Pandya Williams and the fourth person of Indian descent -- the first being Rakesh Sharma, who flew on a Soviet spacecraft.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy hailed Bandla's space flight.

"It was a proud moment for the state as the Guntur-born Bandla flew on Virgin Galactic space flight," said Reddy on Sunday night.

He said the trajectory of the 34-year-old aeronautical engineer has been amazing and reached great heights.

Harichandan wished her all success. "I wish her all success, who (Bandla) is the first Telugu girl and third Indian origin woman to head to space," said the Governor.

--IANS rvt/vd

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New Delhi, July 12 : The Supreme Court on Monday cancelled the bail of a man from Rajasthan, accused of conspiring to murder his Keralite brother-in-law, who was shot dead in front of his pregnant wife in an alleged case of "honour killing".

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana set aside a Rajasthan High Court order that had granted bail to the accused.

The bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, said: "We are of the considered opinion that the order dated December 1, 2020, passed by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Bench at Jaipur, impugned herein is not sustainable. The same is accordingly set aside and the bail granted to respondent No. 2 is cancelled." The top court order came on an appeal challenging the high court order filed by the wife, Mamta Nair, of the deceased, Amit Nair, who was shot at point-blank range.

The bench said: "We, therefore, direct the respondent No 2 Mukesh Chaudhary to surrender before the court of upper District and Sessions Judge, Jaipur City. We make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case and the trial court shall consider the case being uninfluenced by any of the observations herein." The High Court, at the time of passing the impugned order, has taken note that 17 witnesses out of 47 have been examined so far.

"It is not in dispute that at this point in time 21 witnesses have been examined and thetrial is proceeding. Taking into consideration the nature of the offence, it is appropriate that the trial be concluded at the earliest," the bench noted.

The top court ordered that the trial court should make all efforts to conclude the trial and dispose of the case as expeditiously as possible but in any event not later than one year from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, assisted by advocate-on-record Nupur Kumar, appeared for the petitioner and opposed the bail granted to Chaudhary. "This is a blatant case of honour killing of the husband of a woman who married against her family's wishes," Jaising had submitted.

In 2017, the wife's parents, and two other men allegedly barged into the couple's home and shot Amit, but Mamta was protected by neighbours. The wife was six months pregnant at the time. Mukesh Chaudhary, the brother-in-law, is facing trial for offences under Sections 302 (murder), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 120B (conspiracy) of the IPC.
New Delhi, July 12 : A painter, playwright and poet who practiced medicine for decades, Mumbai-based artist Gieve Patel smiles that for him all these art forms may not necessarily "complement" each other.

He feels that in some ways, he was "compelled" to engage with them all. "Yes, each of them allows me to engage with a particular zone of experience. Sometimes these 'zones' overlap. But most often not," he tells IANS.

Patel, whose work ('At Kala Ghoda: Lovers in Summer Time') is part of the group show 'Call Me By Your Name' (July 21-August 13) curated by Udit Bhambri at Vadehra Art Gallery, says it is about the 'un'-self-conscious expression of love between a man and a woman on the public pavements of the Kala Ghoda precinct of Mumbai.

"It is summer, so they are lightly clothed. They are so-called 'pavement dwellers', and that is their home. All other details that I wished to include in the painting -- stray dogs, cars, etc -- disappeared one by one as the painting progressed. The yellow drench of the summer remained. And in the far background, the presence of the colonial buildings that line this precinct." Though a self-taught painter, Patel feels that the late Akbar Padamsee was instrumental in shaping him, and not just as an artist. "Meetings with him were instructive, amazing, baffling, hilarious, irritating, rewarding, great moments of learning about art, and also about how to get on in the world." The lockdowns owing to the pandemic did not really affect his work except some slowing down due to housework. "The 'suffocation' is something we have all had to experience. I guess we learn to cope with it." It was at the age of 50 that the artist decided to look at your boyhood experiences with 'painting a well'. He feels that after the experiences as a youngster of looking into a well in his native village in Gujarat, painting that experience was the next step.

"It involved allowing oneself to recall the exquisite beauty of it all, but also the humble ordinariness. And then, how to translate that visual moment onto a two-dimensional canvas." One looks down into a well and strains his neck up to observe the clouds -- Patel's 'Clouds' drawings received much attention. Talking about the usage of delicate crockwell nibs and pencils for those drawings, he says, "Croquil nibs are so vulnerable, so your line acquires these qualities from the pen itself. And pencil too is unassertive. That helps." Currently working on human figures, and wells, for Patel, entering the studio is akin to 'shutting the world away' -- getting away from plumbing problems, electricity bills, shopping for essentials. "I spend a lot of time doing 'nothing' in the studio. I read or listen to music. And then, from time to time, I take a sly look at the work on the easel. I should feel ready to meet it," concludes the artist.
New Delhi: Union cabinet minister Dharmendra pradhan took charge as Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday, July 08, 2021. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/ IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Union cabinet minister Dharmendra pradhan took charge as Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday, July 08, 2021. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/ IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, July 12 : The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2021 exam will be conducted across the country on September 12 following the Covid-19 protocols. The application process for NEET (UG) 2021 will start from 5 p.m. on Tuesday through the website(s) of the NTA, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday.

Pradhan said that during the NEET exam on September 12, all the rules to prevent Covid will be followed.

He said, "To ensure social distancing, the number of cities where the examination will be conducted has been increased from 155 to 198. The number of examination centres will also be increased from 3,862 centres used in 2020." To ensure adherence to Covid protocols in NEET (UG) 2021 examination, face masks will be provided to all candidates at the examination centres. Time slots during entry and exit, contactless registration, proper sanitization, seating with social distancing etc will also be ensured.

In view of the current Covid situation, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has made a complete plan for the conduct of this examination. The Union Health Ministry has also been consulted in this regard.

Some students want more chances in NEET as well. But NEET (UG) exam will be conducted only once. As per a specific procedure, the Ministry of Education will conduct the NEET eligibility cum entrance test only once.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Ministry of Education, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, conducts the eligibility cum entrance test 'NEET' for undergraduate programme in Medical Sciences.

The NEET exam will be conducted for admission to various medical colleges under the new National Education Policy.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, July 12 : The Delhi Congress has alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal government indulged in a Rs 4288 crore fraud in the purchase/maintenance of 1000 DTC buses.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, party State President Anil Kumar said that, "the Arvind Government had indulged in a Rs 4288 crore scam. He said that whereas for the purchase of 1000 low-floor buses, the total cost was Rs 875 crore, four times the cost of the buses, i.e Rs 3413, would be given for the maintenance contract which will, surprisingly, commence even before the three-year warranty period lapses." Anil Kumar said that if the Modi Government does not order, within 24 hours, a wide-ranging probe into the corruption involved in the purchase of 1000 buses by the Aam Aadmi Party Government for the Delhi Transport Corporation, then Delhi Congress will approach the CBI and the Central Vigilance Commission with the relevant papers to hold a thorough probe and bring the guilty to book.

He said that the Delhi Congress also demands an FIR against the guilty on the basis of the findings of the three-member probe panel constituted by the Lt. Governor.

Kumar said that the probe committee, constituted by Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, had recommended that a Rs 3,413 crore, 12-year Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for the proposed 1,000 low-floor buses awarded by the Delhi Transport Corporation be scrapped. In its 11-page report, the committee observed that the evaluation criteria adopted by the DTC "seems to have been flawed".

Anil Kumar said that the committee only probed five points related to the maintenance contract, instead of going into the entire tender process in a detailed manner.

The Congress leader said that when the Congress relinquished power in Delhi, there were 6000 DTC buses in operation, and under the regime of the Arvind Government, the number has come down to just 2600 buses, with only 18,000 buses plying on a daily basis, though he had promised to strengthen the DTC fleet to 11,000 buses.
Mumbai, July 12 : Bollywood actor Jimmy Sheirgill has opened up about his experience of shooting amid Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions. He shot his new film, the thriller "Collar Bomb", in between lockdowns.

"We shot the film after the first lockdown and just when things were beginning to open up, but we didn't let our guard down. We stayed in a safety bubble and followed all the strict protocols including regular screening and testing. This helped us pull through despite multiple scenes in the film that required us to be in close proximity with each other," Jimmy said.

He added: "Under normal circumstances, the film would have been completed in 35 to 45 days but due to the restrictions, it took over 60 to 65 days." The film explores director Dnyanesh Zoting's favourite neo-noir genre through a study of human impulses and motivations around a crime.

Zoting added: "The film needed certain backdrops -- be the forests, a school, or the details of a hill town -- to indicate the perfect mix of action and mystery. Thankfully, everything fell in place. I am also excited that Jimmy Shergill is returning to the cop avatar after many years with 'Collar Bomb'. It was wonderful to shoot the film with him regardless of the challenges we faced." The film was shot across different locations in Nainital, Chail and Shimla, and included crowd scenes, extensive interactions between actors and action sequences.

"Collar Bomb" airs on Disney+ Hotstar VIP and Disney+ Hotstar Premium. It stars Asha Negi, Rajshri Deshpande and Sparsh Shrivastav among others.
Mumbai, July 12 : Actress-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt took to social media on Monday to celebrate her film 'Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin' completing 30 years of its release. The film had hit theatres on July 12, 1991.

Pooja turned nostalgic while talking about the film in an Instagram post and also said the subject was "risky".

Sharing throwback photographs from the shoot of the film, the actress wrote: "#30yrs of #dilhaikemantanahin today. The images have faded with time. The feeling the film still evokes stands the test of time. Gratitude to #GulshanKumar for backing my father's vision and bankrolling a film that most Industry experts considered very risky considering it was about a woman who runs away from home to marry a man and then runs away from the 'mandap' to marry another man, that too with her father's blessings." "#DHKMN is more than a film. It is a feeling. It is nostalgia. It is innocence. It is love & longing, for a time we have all lived, dreamed in and lost. Which is why it belongs more to the people and audiences who proved yet again that they are far more forward and expansive than the film industry experts by accepting it with all their heart and ensuring it sustains 30 yrs later. The audience is wise. The audience is gracious. The audience is kind. So thank you, all of you. For tying your adolescence, youth, love and memories to this film. I bow to you, and I love you. Each of you!" she added expressing gratitude.

Directed by Pooja's father Mahesh Bhatt, "Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin" also featured Aamir Khan, Anupam Kher and Tiku Talsania in key roles.
Mumbai, July 12 : Hours after levelling serious allegations that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were keeping tabs on him, state Congress President Nana Patole suddenly backtracked, claiming he was "misinterpreted" by the media and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

Addressing a party meeting in Lonavala, Patole had said that every morning, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister get a report on his schedules, meetings, agitations, discussions, and other things, etc from the Home Department.

While the Sena-NCP rejected his allegations outright, BJP leaders said that Patole's comments prove that the Congress is "isolated and insulted" in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Patole said that ever since the Congress started talking of self-reliance and fighting future polls independently, the ground has shifted form under the feet of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. "What's wrong if I talk of building and strengthening the party?" he asked.

"The system is not allowing me to live peacefully. My phone is being tapped. Wherever I go, whatever I speak, a report is sent to the CM, Deputy CM and state Home Minister. Some people are unhappy that the Congress is growing in strength," said Patole.

Even as his statements created a flutter in state political circles, especially the MVA allies Sena-NCP, the BJP hit out, saying there "is deep sense of mistrust among the 3 ruling allies", Patole rescinded his utterances.

On Monday evening, Patole blamed sections of the media and the BJP for misinterpreting his words as he was referring to the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

"False news is being circulated by the Opposition about me. The MVA government is stable and will continue it full term," Patole declared.

In the past couple of months, Patole's calls to go alone in the upcoming civic bodies' elections after six months and future Assembly and Parliament polls, have irked the Sena and the NCP.

Sena's Kishore Tiwari, who has MoS status, flayed the Opposition for attempting to divide the MVA partners on this issue and reiterated that the Thackeray-regime has done "an excellent work" in 18 months, so the BJP will not succeed in dislodging it for the next 25 years.

NCP national Spokesperson and Minister Nawab Malik responded by pointing out that what Patole referred was routine government procedures of which he was perhaps unawares, and advised him to consult ex-CMs of his own party.

"The State Intelligence Department (SID) keeps details on movements of VVIPs, senior political leaders of all parties, union leaders and other prominent persons for security reasons. It anyone doesn't want security they can inform in writing and the Home Department will look into it," Malik asserted.

Hoping to exploit the situation, BJP Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said Patole's statement is an indicator of "the extent of distrust among the MVA partners".

His counterpart in the Council, Pravin Darekar, said there is "some unrest among the Sena-NCP after Congress said it will contest futures polls independently".
New Delhi, July 12 : Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar lost the "blue tick" badge from his Twitter profile for a brief period on Monday.

The verification badge was, however, restored later.

Experts suggest the removal of the blue tick was due to the change in user name effected by Chandrashekhar after he took over as a Minister of State.

He has changed his Twitter user name to @Rajeev_GoI from @rajeev_mp.

The Rajya Sabha MP for Karnataka was appointed the Minister of State for IT after the latest reshuffle of the Council of Ministers last week. Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha is the new Minister for Electronics and IT.

The loss of blue tick initially created confusion among several social media users as it was perceived to be a voluntary and abrupt action from Twitter's end. However, Twitter's policy clearly states that changing the username would result in losing the badge by users.

Apprehensions were fuelled as amid the tussle between Twitter and the Union government over the new IT rules, last month, the then IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was denied access to his Twitter account for almost an hour over alleged violation of the US' Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Although, he was subsequently allowed to access the account, taking to India-made micro-blogging platform Koo, Prasad had called the action by the Twitter as "a gross violation of the IT guidelines".

A Twitter spokesperson had then confirmed that it had temporarily restricted access to Prasad's Twitter account due to a DMCA notice, and said that the company responds to valid copyright complaints.

The US-headquartered micro-blogging platform was seen to be in loggerheads with the Indian government over the new IT rules, although eventually it has largely complied to the norms. As required under the norms, it has filed its first grievance redressal report, wherein the company said that it has suspended 22,564 accounts for "child sexual exploitation and non-consensual nudity" and "promotion of terrorism".

Further, Twitter has also appointed Vinay Prakash as its Resident Grievance Officer (RGO) for the country.
Gurugram, July 12 : A woman was allegedly confined in Ballabhgarh (Faridabad) for nine days and raped by four men. The culprits are yet to be nabbed, the police said on Monday.

The rapists let the woman go after nine days of confinement, following which she informed her family members about the incident.

The victim approached the police on July 10 and filed an FIR.

The victim stated in her police complaint that a man called Chintu of her village asked her to meet him on June 30 near a temple located in her village.

When the woman reached there Chintu was present, thereafter another man Sanju reached there in his car and the duo took her to Faridabad.

"During this I asked for water from them. They offered me water laced with some intoxicating substance. After consuming this I fell unconscious and when I came back to my senses I found myself confined in a room," the victim told the police.

In the night two men named Kuldeep and Deepak came into the room. Later all the accused raped her in turn at gunpoint and also injected and gave her suspicious pills for nine days, she said.

They even recorded an objectionable video and threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone. The accused also forced her to make fake calls to her house that she is well, she told the police.

During the confinement, the four men raped her every day and dropped her at Ballabhgarh bus stand on July 8, from where she called her family members. She went to the police station on Sunday.

A case of rape was filed with Sohna Sadar police station.

"We are investigating the matter and a hunt is on to arrest all the accused persons," Umesh Kumar, station house officer of Sohna Sadar police station told IANS.
New Delhi, July 12 : Amid talks of change in the organisation of the Congress in Uttarakhand, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday held consultations with leaders of the state, as the party has to appoint new legislature party leader and a new state president.

Rahul Gandhi met Harish Rawat, Navprabhat and Karan Mahara on Monday to discuss the issue of party organisation in the state. State in-charge Devendra Yadav was also present during the meeting.

The point of discussion was, that after the demise of Indira Hridayesh, who can be the leader in the state assembly and who could lead the state organization.

Former Congress minister Navprabhat did not divulge the details of the meeting with Rahul Gandhi but said, "its a consultation process within the democratic setup of the party." Congress leaders are said to have discussed regional balance in the state which has dominant two regions -- Kumaon and Garhwal. While Brahmins and Thakurs are dominant in the state, Scheduled caste has sizeable population.

Apart from Navprabhat, Kishore Upadhyay, Bhuwan Kapri and Prakash Joshi are strong contenders for the state president, while Pritam Singh is tipped to be the Congress legislature party leader of the state.
New Delhi, July 12 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has appealed to party workers to help the people affected in the flash floods and cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand in this difficult time. I appeal to Congress workers in all affected areas to lend a helping hand. Please stay safe." The Central government on Monday deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh led to flash floods in upper Dharamsala in Kangra district, washing away parked cars and partially damaging houses.

Two persons have been reported missing after heavy rain in the district.

Reviewing the ground situation in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on the phone, assuring him that an NDRF team will be deployed to handle any exigency.
HELSINKI, Sept. 20, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Google CEO Sundar Pichai attends a joint press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne (not in the picture) in Helsinki, Finland, on Sept. 20, 2019. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said here on Friday that the Image Source: IANS News

London, July 12 : Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai has warned that free and open internet is under attack globally and several nations are restricting the flow of information.

In an interview with the BBC, he said that many countries are restricting the flow of information, and the model is often taken for granted.

He didn't refer to China directly but said: "None of our major products and services are available in China." Pichai made it clear that the responsibility of steering the future of the internet should not be an onus of an individual "but rather a collective think tank that plots the course forward while taking into account the foundational pillars of the free internet".

He said that artificial intelligence is more profound than fire, electricity or the internet.

"I view it as the most profound technology that humanity will ever develop and work on. You know, if you think about fire or electricity or the internet, it's like that. But I think even more profound," he was quoted as saying in the report.

In an executive order signed last week, US president Joe Biden called for the restoration of net neutrality regulations.

"Big providers can use their power to discriminatorily block or slow down online services. The Obama-Biden Administration's FCC adopted 'Net Neutrality' rules that required these companies to treat all internet services equally, but this was undone in 2017," the order read.

In the order, "the President encourages the FCC to restore Net Neutrality rules undone by the prior administration."
Chittoor, July 12 : Andhra Pradesh police from Chittoor district swooped on a red sanders smuggler, seizing 243 logs valued at Rs 6.2 crore.

"Around 7 p.m. on Sunday, police swooped on Imran Khan at a godown in Bommanapalli near Hosur and seized red sanders logs weighing 8.2 tonnes," said a police official on Monday.

Khan (29) hid the logs in a godown belonging to one Ravi.

According to the police, in the wee hours of Saturday, a person was arrested in a red sanders smuggling case.

On interrogation, he spilled the beans on Khan from Bengaluru.

With this information, a team of Chittoor police went looking for Khan at several places such as Bengaluru and Hosur to finally nab him.

Khan confessed to police that the logs were sawed in Seshachalam forest and moved to Bengaluru for onward smuggling to Delhi and Mumbai.

Police arrested the accused under IPC Sections 379, 447 and others, including AP Forest Amendment Act 2016 and Section 55 (2) read with Sections 3, 4 and 6 of Biological Diversity Act 2002.

They also seized two cars, one electronic weighing machine, tape, two cell phones and Rs 6,000 cash.
Srinagar, July 12 : As Covid infection continues to decline in J&K, no death was reported in the UT on Monday after four months.

Officials said 448 patients -- 228 from the Jammu division and 220 from the Kashmir division -- were discharged from different hospitals after recovery, while 155 new cases -- 42 from Jammu division and 113 from the Kashmir division -- were reported.

So far, 318,848 people have been infected with coronavirus in J&K out of which 311,782 have recovered, while 4,357 have succumbed.

A total of 31 cases of black fungus have also been reported so far.

There are 2,709 active cases in J&K out of which 1,226 are from the Jammu division and 1,483 from the Kashmir division.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, July 12 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday said that it has arrested three ISIS cadres from Jammu & Kashmir in connection with its probe into the ISIS 'Voice of Hind' (VOH) case.

An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror probe agency has arrested Umar Nisar, Tanveer Ahmad Bhat and Rameez Ahmad Lone all residents of Anantnag in Jammu & Kashmir in connection wit the case on Sunday.

The NIA carried out searches at the premises of the arrested accused and recovered large number of incriminating documents, multiple digital devices and T-shirts with ISIS logo. The official said that preliminary examination of the seized material and examination of the accused persons revealed that they are active cadres of ISIS and have been using cyberspace to propagate inciting material by the online magazine (VOH).

The official said that on Monday, the agency carried out searches at two more locations in Anantnag on the basis of the revelations made by them and recovered a number of digital devices and other materials. The NIA had registered a case on June 29 this year under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and UA(P)A Act in connection with the conspiracy of the proscribed terrorist organisation ISIS to radicalise and recruit impressionable youth in India to wage violent jihad against the Indian state.

ISIS terrorists operating from various conflict zones along with ISIS cadres in India, by assuming pseudo-online identities, have created a network wherein ISIS related propaganda material is disseminated for radicalising and recruiting members to the fold of ISIS. In this connection an India-centric online propaganda magazine - 'Voice of Hind' (VOH) is published on monthly basis with an aim to incite and radicalise impressionable youth.
Shimla, July 12 : The central government on Monday deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh led to flashfloods in Kangra district, where 10 locals were reported missing and one has died.

In upper Dharamsala, at least 10 parked cars, largely of tourists, were washed away and houses were partially damaged in Bhagsunag.

Reviewing the ground situation in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on the phone, assuring him that an NDRF team will be deployed to handle any exigency.

He said the Centre will provide all assistance needed to tide over the crisis.

Dharamsala, nearly 250 kms from the state capital Shimla, recorded precipitation of 184 mm, the highest ever during this monsoon. The damage to property was reported in villages located in the vicinity of McLeodganj, the political, cultural and spiritual hub of the Tibetan diaspora.

Kangra Senior Superintendent of Police Vimukt Ranjan told the media that one body was recovered from the debris in Boh village in Shahpur subdivision of the district where 10 villagers reportedly went missing in flashfloods.

"We don't have exact information on casualties. The extent of casualty and damage to the property will be known after the rescue workers reach the site," he said.

Deputy Commissioner Nipun Jindal said all the access to the village has been snapped due to landslides.

Elsewhere in Kangra, three houses and five shops located along a seasonal rivulet in the Gaggal area were damaged by gushing water. The damage to property was largely due to encroachments on rivulets, officials told IANS.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director Manmohan Singh told IANS that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was recorded at many places in Kangra district. The rainfall was widespread across the state.

Palampur in Kangra district recorded 155 mm rain, the highest in the state, while it was 48 mm in Dalhousie, 10 mm in Shimla and 55 mm in tourist resort Manali.

The Chief Minister expressed grief over the loss of life and property due to heavy rain.

He directed the district authorities to ensure speedy relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. He urged local people and tourists to refrain from going near the river banks to avoid any untoward incident.

The Pathankot-Mandi highway has been blocked for traffic due to landslide at several places and minor damage to a bridge near Manali.

The weather bureau has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in the state till Wednesday.

The southwest monsoon arrived in Himachal Pradesh on June 13 in its earliest onset in the past 21 years. Its normal arrival in the state is June 26.
Gurugram, July 12 : In a joint effort, the Gurugram and Hisar units of the special task force (STF) of the Haryana Police have arrested three wanted criminals carrying a collective reward of Rs 1.55 lakh, police said on Monday.

Of those arrested, one was carrying a Rs 1 lakh bounty and two others had a reward of Rs 45,000 and Rs 10,000.

The reward had been announced by the Haryana and Delhi Polices.

Sukminder Singh, the spokesperson of the STF informed that in the first operation, the STF Hisar unit had nabbed wanted criminal Ashok alias Dat from Assam on Sunday, who was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh.

Similarly, the STF Gurugram unit arrested dreaded criminal Umesh Kumar alias Luv from Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The accused was carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 announced by the Haryana police and Rs 20,000 by the Delhi police. While Ajay was arrested from Faridabad, carrying a reward of Rs 10,000 announced by the Haryana Police.

"All the arrested criminals were involved in multiple cases of murder, attempt to murder, loot, snatching and Arms Act which they had committed in Delhi and NCR region," the spokesperson told IANS.
New Delhi, July 12 : The Congress leadership is consistently failing to resolve the infighting in state units of the party, as per the IANS-C Voter Live Tracker.

After the Punjab and Haryana unit of Congress, now infighting is being witnessed in party's Chhattisgarh unit as well and 48.33 per cent respondents said the Congress leadership is consistently failing to resolve the infighting in state units of the party.

The sample size of the survey is 1,225. CVoter NewsTracker Surveys in India are based on a national representative random probability sample as used in the globally standardised RDD CATI methodology, covering all geographic and demographic segments across all States. This daily live tracker survey is based on interviews of adult (18+) respondents across all socio-economic segments. The data is weighted to the known census profile. The standard margin of error: +/- 3 per cent at National trends and +/- 5 per cent at Regional/Zonal trends with 95 per cent confidence level.

Tremors are being felt in Chhattisgarh over the issue of a change in leadership. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel met party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday and after the meeting said, that when the high command asks that someone else should be made Chief Minister, it will be done as per their wish.

Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo, whose supporters are pushing for change, has maintained that the issue of Chhattisgarh Chief Ministership is to be decided by the Congress leadership and party President Sonia Gandhi as it is their prerogative.

Infighting is also rampant in the Haryana unit of the Congress, where supporters of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda have stepped up pressure to remove Kumari Selja as the state President and appoint him to the post.

Sources say the former Chief Minister wants free hand in the state affairs and also is upset with growing clout of Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his bete nore Navjot Sidhu are caught in a tussle in Punjab.

After Sidhu met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi separately, there is speculation that Priyanka Gandhi has suggested Sidhu's name as the Punjab Congress chief. However, Amarinder Singh and some of the other factions in the party are not accepting this formula.

Sources said that Punjab leaders may accept him as the Working President, but not as a full-fledged state unit chief as the Chief Minister is keen on having a non-Sikh face as the state Congress President.
New Delhi, July 12 : Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Vice-Chairman Raghav Chadha on Monday claimed that the water levels of the Yamuna river at the Wazirabad barrage are the lowest since 56 years.

During an inspection to take stock of the water situation at the Wazirabad pond on Monday, Chadha claimed the Haryana government has not been releasing at least 120 MGD (million gallons per day) water that is due to Delhi.

"The water treatment plants in Delhi are operating at a reduced capacity because of a less discharge of raw water from Haryana. Yamuna has dried up so much that it can be used as a playground. The water levels at the Wazirabad barrage have not been so low since 1965," Chadha claimed in an official statement.

Delhi is a landlocked city and relies on its neighbouring states for water supply. Uttar Pradesh supplies to Delhi a share of the Ganga water and Haryana of the Yamuna water. Delhi also gets water from Punjab through Bhakra Nangal.

Even if the water level in the Yamuna goes down by a foot, it causes havoc in the capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said, adding that it has gone down by 7.5 feet as Haryana has withheld Delhi's share of water and the BJP-led Haryana government must return to Delhi its rightful share of 120 MGD water.

"With folded hands, I plead with the Haryana government, please give the citizens of Delhi their rightful share of water. The Supreme Court had ordered you to supply this water on legal grounds. You have to supply it on humanitarian grounds as well," DJB vice chairman added.

The DJB moved the Supreme Court on Sunday seeking directions to Haryana to release the capital's legitimate share of water.

The DJB has been supplying 945 MGD of water to the city residents this summer against the demand of 1,150 MGD.

According to DJB, at present, Delhi is receiving 479 MGD water as against 609 MGD from Haryana. Besides, the city draws 90 MGD groundwater and receives 250 MGD water from the Upper Ganga Canal.

With Haryana withholding 120 MGD water, the Yamuna has completely dried up and the operational capacity at various treatment plants has reduced by 40 to 50 per cent, Chadha said.

He said the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant (WTP) has been operating at a 55-MGD capacity against the normal 90 MGD. Similarly, the Wazirabad WTP and the Okhla WTP have been operating at 80-MGD and a 12-MGD capacity against their normal capacity of 135 MGD and 20 MGD, respectively.

Water supply has been hit in central Delhi, south Delhi, west Delhi and the NDMC area where important institutions, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister's residence and foreign embassies are located, Chadha said.
New Delhi, July 12 : In a relief to fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, the Dominica High Court on Monday granted him bail on medical grounds.

Choksi's lawyer Vijay Agarwal told IANS: "Yes, Choksi has been granted bail on medical grounds." Choksi, who had gone missing on May 23 from Antigua and Barbuda, sparking a massive manhunt. He was later captured in Dominica and is facing charges of entering the country illegally.

Choksi had filed a case in the high court of Dominica, seeking to quash the proceedings against him alleging that his arrest was "dictated" by representatives of the Indian government.

The case was filed against the Immigration Minister of the Caribbean nation, its police chief and the investigating officer of the case.

Choksi pleaded that the decision to charge him for illegal entry violated the law and, accordingly, was null and void.

He has been kept at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital while awaiting an outcome in his illegal entry case.

Choksi's lawyer has alleged that their client was kidnapped and forcibly taken to Dominica.

He is wanted in India by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.
New Delhi, July 12 : The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to the city government on a petition challenging the Delhi Excise Policy 2020-2021 and for issuing tenders for grant of 32 zonal licences for retail vends of liquor.

Hearing the petition filed by Readymade Plaza India Private Ltd, the court asked the Delhi government to submit its reply by August 9. However, the court refused to pass any interim order in the case.

The petition filed before the court argued that the new excise has completely eliminated existing retail vendors.

"Respondents divided Delhi in 32 zones, having 9-10 wards in each zone, for the purposes of issuance of liquor licence. Respondents have also introduced a new category of zonal licence - L-7Z, whereby holders of these licences shall run the retail vends. The scheme of the impugned Excise Policy is such that one L-7Z licence for each zone shall be granted and the licence holder has to mandatorily run 18 retail vends," reads the petition.

The petitioner further argued that the policy will lead to a complete monopoly of the few.

"One of the conditions is that an entity can have a licence for two zones, which means effectively the entire Delhi shall come in the hands of big 15 entities. Thus, the object of the new policy is to encourage cartelisation instead of effective competition," the petition further read.

Responding to this, the Delhi government said a stay on new excise policy would impact a revenue loss of Rs 3,500 crore.

"This amount of Rs 3,500 crore that will be collected through excise duty will enable the funding for several welfare schemes run by Delhi government. This would help many, who have suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic," the Chief Minister Office (CMO) said in a statement.

The Delhi government also claimed that the new excise policy was implemented only after due diligence by the government, and accepted by the liquor industry.

"The liquor lobby wants that the policy be quashed by the court, by hook or by crook," the CMO added.
Aizawl/Silchar : , July 12 (IANS) As the Assam-Mizoram inter-state border row continued, the Mizoram government on Monday claimed that the crops of Mizo farmers had been destroyed by Assam police and demanded adequate compensation by the Assam government.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday told the state Assembly that 1,777 hectares of land in three districts of southern Assam had been encroached by Mizos.

Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana said that last week crops of some Mizo farmers had been destroyed at Buarchep (in Kolasib district) by Assam police and he strongly condemned it.

The Home Minister also said that the adequate compensation must be given by the Assam government to the affected Mizo farmers and that the government of Mizoram would follow up this demand.Lalchamliana said that additional Mizoram police forces have been deployed to the affected areas to quell the public fear and ensure a sense of normalcy.

He said Chief Minister Zoramthanga would convene an all-party meeting on July 14 in Aizawl to discuss the inter-state border issue and the representatives of NGOs and the church leaders would be present in the meeting.

Assam Chief Minister Sarma said in order to free the encroached land from Mizo encroachers and for protection of land and citizens of Assam residing in Assam-Mizoram border all other preventive measures including patrolling, area dominations have been taken up.
New Delhi, July 12 : The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Harsh Vardhan Lodha to continue on boards of the listed companies of the M.P. Birla Group, which also includes the Birla Corporation.

The top court declined to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order, which dismissed contempt petitions against Lodha continuing as a director and chairman in companies of the group.

A bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hrishikesh Roy refused to hear an appeal by Arvind Kumar Newar against the high court order and sent the case back to the high court with instructions to dispose of the pending pleas expeditiously by March 31 next year.

Newar's plea argued that the high court ignored over 2.37 lakh votes cast against the reappointment of Lodha and decided the case in his favour.

A battery of senior advocates -- Kapil Sibal, P. Chidambaram, K.V. Vishwanathan, and Janak Dwarkadas - appeared for the Birlas and Newar, and submitted that the high court is completely wrong in dismissing the contempt petitions.

Senior advocate Sibal, representing Newar, argued that Lodha shouldn't have continued as director and chaired board meetings of Birla Corporation and its listed companies. Sibal added he is a minority shareholder and was bleeding the group companies.

The group companies headed by Lodha are the Birla Corporation, Universal Cables, Vindhya Telelinks and Birla Cable. Sibal argued that high court said he has to comply with its order, but he hasn't.

"I am not interested in contempt or sending him to jail but I want him to be removed," he submitted.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan and advocate Sumeer Sodhi, representing Vindhya Telelinks Ltd, contended a direction be issued that all the pending appeals before the high court are heard in four weeks.

Senior advocate Darius Khambata, representing Lodha, said high court's single-judge verdict on September 18 last year declined to interfere with the resolutions passed at the annual general meetings of the four companies, where his client was reappointed as director by an overwhelming majority.

The division bench of the high court on April 22, dismissed contempt petitions filed against the continuance of Lodha as director and chairman in various group companies.

The high court is hearing a probate application by Harsh Vardhan Lodha, whose late father R.S. Lodha had claimed Priyamvada Devi Birla bequeathed her estate, which comprised the M.P. Birla Group, to him through a will. This probate by Lodhas application has been challenged by the Birlas. After the death of Priyamvada Devi Birla in 2004, Lodhas and Birlas have locked horns in a legal battle over the control of the M.P. Birla Group.
New Delhi, July 12 : Nepal Telecom has been subjected to a terrible "cyber attack" from China. Chinese hackers have attacked Nepal Telecom and stolen the call details of all Nepali users.

By hacking the Oracle Glass Fish Server used by the telecom company, the Chinese hackers have stolen all the call details of Nepalis.

According to technical experts, the hackers used 41 Tactics of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) and 71 Tactics of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) and backdoor weapons.

Hackers have been seen taking CDR data from telecom servers to APT 41 and APT 71. It has also been found that the data stolen from the telecom server has been kept on the dark web for sale. The CDR call data record of the telco was put for selling on June 29.

Nepal Telecom has shut down its server to subdue the higher threat, several local media reports.

NTC spokesman Rajesh Joshi said: "We have not deciphered the identity of the hackers. We switched off the server to save our data after we received information of a possible interference into our server." Apparently, Chinese hackers gained access to Oracle GlassFish Server operated by NTC and collected Call Data Records (CDR). However, the telco claims its call data are safe, NepaliTelecom.com said.

NTC Managing Director Dilli Ram Adhikari says the company's main server is secure. Speaking to reputed outlets, he said: "Hackers might have breached into a dated server of CDMA. The company's team of expert technicians are looking into the matter to trace the culprits. Our main server is protected by a highly secure firewall and remains safe." NepaliTelecom.com said China has often well-guarded the company on a state level which has encouraged them to launch attacks on foreign companies over the years. This led to believe that the Chinese may have been behind this attack on NTC.

The infamous Tag-22 has hacked and even put on sale telecom-related data belonging to countries such as Taiwan and the Philippines.

The report said China has often incurred the wrath of foreign states for a supposedly encouraging state-level breach which it has categorically denied. For now, there is no proof that the Chinese group was behind the group but the leads hint there.

Hacking into telecom means a huge swatch of user data would be vulnerable for sinister use. NTC will have to be more cautious in the coming days to protect user data in the future.
New Delhi/Washington, July 12 : The US on Monday gifted 500,000 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to Bhutan to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

As per a statement issued by the US Embassy in New Delhi, 500,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine gifted from the United States arrived at Paro International Airport in Bhutan on Monday.

The vaccine doses were donated by the U.S. government and the American people as part of the Biden-Harris administration's global efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement said.

"The United States is proud of our longstanding friendship with Bhutan and its people," said Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Atul Keshap.

"Supporting Bhutan's efforts to provide safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to its people demonstrates the United States' leadership in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world." The arrival of the Moderna vaccines is the latest example of the United States' efforts to support Bhutan as it combats the spread of COVID-19, the statement said.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government has provided Bhutan more than $1 million to strengthen the country's healthcare system, contributed technical assistance, and increased laboratory testing capacity.

In addition, the U.S. government has donated essential health equipment to Bhutan, including 110 oxygen cylinders, more than 17,000 N95 masks, medical machinery and vehicles, and 15 state-of-the-art ventilators which are in use at hospitals throughout the country.

The embassy quoted President Joe Biden's statement, "In times of trouble, Americans reach out to offer help and to offer a helping hand. That's who we are. We're going to help lead the world out of this pandemic, working alongside our global partners."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, July 12 : Sudhir Gupta, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur, has said that at the age of becoming a grandfather, Aamir Khan is looking for a third wife.

The politician, known for making bizzare comments, spoke to reporters on Sunday on the occasion of World Population Day.

"Aamir Khan left his first wife Reena Dutta with two children, Kiran Rao with one child and now, at the age of becoming grandfather, he is looking for a third wife," CNN-News 18 quoted the BJP leader as saying.

"Those who claim that people like Khan have no brains for job other than selling eggs' were correct," he added.

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, who have a son Azad, recently announced their separation. The two, in a video had asked everyone to pray for them and that both of them would happily co-parent their son.
Guwahati, July 12 : Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Monday asked the Army to take adequate steps to prevent smuggling from neighbouring Myanmar, officials said.

An official of Assam Raj Bhavan said that the Assam Governor during a meeting with top Army officials at Raj Bhavan mentioned about the illegal smuggling of arms, gold, drugs and liquor through Myanmar via Moreh (Manipur) and requested Indian Army to play a more dominant role in combing the inter-state movement of such contraband especially through Nagaland.

Lt. Gen Manoj Pande, General-Officer-Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Kolkata and Lt. Gen Robin Khosla, Tezpur-based General-Officer-Commanding of 4 Corps on Monday called on the Assam Governor and discussed the security situation along the international border and in the northeastern states.

An official statement of Raj Bhavan said that the Governor enquired about the security situation and Army's presence in Upper (eastern) Assam districts -- Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Golaghat and Charaideo.

Mukhi also enquired about recent abduction by ULFA (Independent) militants of the three employees of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation from the exploration sites in eastern Assam.

The Governor appreciated the perfect coordination between Assam Police, Indian Army and other security forces deployed in the state.

Mukhi also mentioned about the recent state level security review conducted by him and appreciated the efforts made by all security agencies including Assam Police, Indian Army, Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Central Reserve Police Force.
Chennai, July 12 : Continuing her outreach to party cadre, AIADMK's former General Secretary V.K.Sasikala has advised a party worker to take Covid-19 vaccine jab and wear a mask.

Sasikala, a close aide of party supremo, late J.Jayalalithaa, and having strong clout in AIADMK before she was jailed in the corruption case and sidelined in the party, has been interacting with AIADMK party officials over phone in the recent times.

Some of the phone recordings are shared with the media.

In one of the phone recordings that was shared on Monday, she was heard advising a party cadre to take the second Covid-19 vaccine shot without fail and also wear a mask.

To another party worker, Sasikala said as a woman, she can take all others along with her.

She assured to all that she would visit their district and see them all once the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Kolkata, July 12 : Trinamool Congress Mongalkote block president Ashim Das was killed at Lakuria in Mongalkote area in West Bengal's East Burdwan district late on Monday night.

According to initial reports, the incident happened at 9.30 p.m. when Das was going home from Kashemnagar to Mongalkote on his motorcycle. On his way near Lakuria some people called him and when he stopped his motorcycle he was shot from very close range.

Das was rushed to the hospital where he died. The incident triggered panic among the people in the area. Senior police officers including the SP of East Burdwan district rushed to the spot to investigate the murder.

Though Trinamool Congress blamed it on the BJP but local BJP leaders claimed that it was a result of Trinamool Congress' internal differences.
New Delhi, July 12 : The Centre's Rs 4,148 crore project to build 16 National Highways connecting Manipur with the rest of India and neighbouring countries started on Monday.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for these 16 projects covering total length of 298 kms.

The projects will provide all weather connectivity to Manipur with the rest of the country as well neighbouring countries. They will boost agricultural, industrial and socio-economic progress of the region. These will also facilitate health care and emergency service to the remotest of the areas and generate employment and self-employment opportunities.

Inaugurating the projects in Imphal, Gadkari said projects worth Rs 5,000 crore have also been sanctioned for the state, the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) will be completed within six months, and the work will start in a year's time.

The Minister said that the expansion of highways in the state will be recommended under the Bharatmala Phase ll. He said that the Prime Minister is giving highest priority to the northeast and road infrastructure will contribute in development of Manipur and make it socially and economically strong.

He stressed that water, power, transport and communication are the four most important things for development of industry, for generating employment and eradicating poverty.

Noting that Manipur is a very beautiful state with immense potential for tourism, Gadkari sought the cooperation of all the stakeholders for resolution of problems and completion of projects in a time-bound manner.
New Delhi, July 12 : After being trolled for faulty predictions about the monsoon arriving in Delhi, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a clarification here on Monday on the advancement of southwest monsoon.

"The delay in monsoon advance was mainly due to (i) no formation of low pressure area over Bay of Bengal, (ii) No presence of monsoon trough at mean sea level near Delhi, (iii) 5-6 Western disturbances moved west to east across North India which dominated over the monsoon easterlies," it said.

The Met Department said Southwest Monsoon continued its advance over the country till June 13 in association with favourable atmospheric circulation and a low pressure system over Bay of Bengal after the onset of monsoon over Kerala on 3rd June.

Moisture laden easterly winds have led to increase in cloudiness and relative humidity. It also led to revival of monsoon over the region and occurrence of fairly widespread rainfall activity over east Rajasthan, HP, Uttarakhand, J&K and scattered rainfall over Punjab and west Rajasthan. However, it did not cause significant rainfall activity over Delhi even though, there was rainfall activity over neighbouring places around Delhi.

Such kind of failure by numerical models in prediction of monsoon advance over Delhi is rare and uncommon, IMD said.

By June 13, it covered most parts of the country except northwest India. On June 13, numerical weather prediction (NWP) models suggested the favourable conditions with moist lower level easterly winds reaching to northwest India which may help further advance of monsoon into most parts Madhya Pradesh; remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh; Delhi; Haryana and Punjab during subsequent 48 hours. Accordingly, a press release was issued indicating likely advance of monsoon into Delhi by June 15.

On June 14, however, weather analysis based on satellite and NWP model consensus indicated approach of a trough in mid-latitude westerly winds, leading to weakening of easterly winds over northwest India. Due to adverse influence of this mid-latitude westerly winds, further advance of monsoon into remaining parts of northwest India including Delhi was not expected. Accordingly, IMD issued an updated press release indicating that further advance of southwest Monsoon into remaining parts of northwest India including Delhi would be slow and delayed. However, this development of interaction with westerlies could not be anticipated by the weather prediction models.

Since June 20, there has been no further advance of monsoon due to weak/break monsoon conditions.

On July 5, IMD said that monsoon would advance into remaining parts of West Uttar Pradesh, some more parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and Delhi around July 10.

Accordingly, the moist easterly winds have spread into northwest India. After July 8, easterly winds at lower levels were established along the foothills and from July 9 onwards easterly winds were established over planes of northwest India.
Bhubaneswar, July 12 : The chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra reached Gundicha temple before the scheduled time on Monday.

All rituals, starting from Pahandi Bije of the three deities, to pulling of chariots, of the annual Rath Yatra were completed much before the scheduled time and in a very spiritual atmosphere.

In view of Covid-19 pandemic, the festival was conducted without any participation of devotees. Only 'Sevayats' (servitors) pulled all three holy chariots.

Adorned with 'tahias' (giant floral crowns), chants of "Jay Jagannath", the three deities along with Lord Sudarsan were brought out of the sanctum sanctorum in the Dhadi Pahandi procession to their chariots parked before Srimandir.

Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati accompanied by his disciples and servitors offered prayers to the deities on their respective chariots. Following this ritual, Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Dibyasingh Deb arrived in his royal palanquin and carried out the Chhera Panhara ritual, the ceremonial sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom, amid chanting of hymns by the priests.

All three chariots reached Gundicha temple much before the scheduled time, said Puri collector Samarth Verma.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik watched the live telecast of the Ratha Yatra on TV at his office.

The chief minister thanked everyone including servitors, Puri district administration, temple administration, health department and police personnel for smooth conduct of the world famous festival. Patnaik also thanked the people of Puri for their cooperation.

The world-famous Rath Yatra was viewed by millions around the world. Tight security arrangements have been put in place for smooth completion of the Yatra. Excluding Puri, the Rath Yatra was not conducted at any place in the state due to Covid-19 restrictions.
New Delhi, July 12 : Reliance Jio continued to widen its subscriber base in April and was the only telco in Delhi to add new subscribers during the month.

It added nearly 1.68 lakh subscribers in the national capital in April taking its total users to more than 1.99 crore.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, on the other hand, saw a reduction in their subscriber base by 88,234 and 86,331 in April to over 1.63 crore and 1.61 crore, respectively, in Delhi.

Further, Reliance Jio also topped the nationwide subscription chart for April as it added over 47.56 lakh users during the month.

With this addition, Jio's subscriber base across the country has increased to over 42.76 crore users, showed data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Bharti Airtel added over 5.17 lakh users during the month under review, taking its subscriber base to over 35.29 crore.

Vodafone Idea, on the other hand, eroded its subscriber base by over 18.10 lakh users to 28.19 crore.

State-run BSNL also witnessed a decline in its user base by nearly 13.05 lakh to 11.72 crore.

"Total wireless subscribers increased from 1,180.96 million at the end of March-21 to 1,183.11 million at the end of April-21, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.18 per cent," said the TRAI statement.

Wireless subscription in urban areas increased from 64.52 crore at the end of March 2021 to 64.5.6 crore at the end of April 2021 and wireless subscription in rural areas also increased from 53.57 crore to 53.74 crore during the same period. Monthly growth rates of urban and rural wireless subscription were 0.06 per cent and 0.32 per cent, respectively.

Most of the service areas showed growth in their wireless subscribers during the month of April 2021.

"Out of the total wireless subscribers (1,183.11 million), 997.37 million wireless subscribers were active on the date of peak VLR in the month of April-21. The proportion of active wireless subscribers was approximately 84.30 per cent of the total wireless subscriber base," said the TRAI statement.
New Delhi, July 12 : After UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled the draft population control bill, Congress leader Salman Khurshid said the state should tell how many "legitimate or illegitimate" children ministers have.

While other opposition parties have termed it as an election gimmick, commenting on the draft bill Khurshid said the state government should share how many "legitimate and illegitimate children" its ministers have.

Khurshid said, "Politicians should declare how many children they have. I will also declare how many I have and then it should be discussed." The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh has unveiled its new policy on population control for 2021-30 on the occasion of the World Population Day on July 11.

The Chief Minister has called for a community-centric approach to population control so that better facilities may be made available to the people and the state can be developed properly.

"Poverty and illiteracy are major factors for population explosion. There is also a lack of awareness about population in certain communities and we therefore need community-centric awareness efforts," he said.

According to a government spokesmen, the state's total fertility rate is 2.7 per cent currently whereas it should ideally be less than 2.1 per cent.
New Delhi, July 12 : Newly-appointed Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday met Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash and other senior officials of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to expedite the rural broadband project 'BharatNet'.

The meeting comes days after the Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha took over as the Telecom Minister.

In a tweet, the ministry said: "Telecom Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw took an introductory meeting today with Secretary (Telecom) and other senior officers of @DoT_India at Sanchar Bhawan New Delhi for expediting BharatNet project in rural parts of the country." The government has given a renewed push to the project with the public private partnership (PPP) mode. On June 30, the Union Cabinet approved the revised implementation strategy of BharatNet through PPP mode in 16 states.

The revised strategy also includes creation, upgradation, operation, maintenance and utilisation of BharatNet by the concessionaire who will be selected by a competitive international bidding process.

The estimated maximum viability gap funding approved for the above PPP model is Rs 19,041 crore.

The Cabinet also accorded an in-principle approval for extending BharatNet to cover all inhabited villages in the remaining states and Union Territories.

The much ambitious project has been running behind schedule. According to the data on the site of Bharat Broadband Network Ltd, 1,73,079 'gram panchayats' have been connected with optical fibre and 1,60,076 panchayats are service ready as of June 18, 2021.
New Delhi/Lahore, July 12 : Police have decided to expand the scope of murder probe of model Nayab Nadeem in Lahore by including her close friends in the investigation as well, Geo TV reported.

Nayab, a Lahore-based model, was found dead at her residence in Lahore's Defence B area on Sunday.

The 29-year-old model was strangulated, police had said, adding that unidentified men had also subjected her to torture. Nayab lived alone at her residence.

Police said the murderer had taken the slain model's phone with him and had escaped from the backside of the house, the report said.

"After (scrutinising) the phone details, her close friends have been included in the investigation," said police.

Police delved into details of the case, revealing that her body was found on the floor inside her residence and that the model had been strangled.

"The deceased had returned to Lahore from Dubai recently," confirmed police, adding that her body had been handed back to her relatives after conducting a postmortem.

Police said the suspect, after killing her, tried to paint it as a rape-and-murder crime, Geo TV said.

Police said they had filed a case on the complaint of Nayab's stepbrother Mohammad Ali, who stated that he had found her body lying on the floor when he came to visit her.

Police said there were marks on her neck, while the Punjab Forensic Science Agency experts had also arrived at the murder site to collect samples from the crime scene.

Police had said there are no signs that indicate a robbery had taken place in the house, police had said.
Guwahati, July 13 : At least 3,439 militants of different outfits have surrendered in Assam since 2016 and the state government has been holding talks with 11 extremists outfits, including the ULFA (Pro-talk faction), Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday.

Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, while replying to a question in the state assembly said that till July 6, 1,306 arms, 20,722 different ammunition, 89 bombs, 599 grenades and 121.72 kg of explosives have been seized while 748 arms and 19,299 ammunition were deposited by the surrendered insurgents.

The Chief Minister said that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) are currently banned outfits while the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) group is also active.

The state government under the Central government's Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme for the northeast militant outfits has taken special initiatives to rehabilitate the militants who surrendered to the government and gave up the path of violence.

Skill development training are being imparted to 1,800 surrendered militants and out of them, 1,192 have been provided Rs 1 lakh to take up some livelihood projects.

Sarma said that his government is currently holding talks with 11 militant outfits, including the ULFA (Pro-talk), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), United Kukigam Defence Army (UKDA), Hmar People's Convention- Democratic (HPC-D), Adivasi People's Army (APA) and the All Adivashi National Liberation Army (AANLA).

Replying to another question, the Chief Minister said that 29,948 posts of various levels of Assam Police are lying vacant, including 15,248 vacancies since 2016.Out of the 15,248 posts lying vacant since 2016, 4,537 have to be filled up through promotions in future, he added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, July 13 : With farmers seeking higher price for their land to build Anubahva Mantapa at Basava Kalyan in Karnataka's Bidar district, the acquisition process halted, an official said on Monday.

"As farmers are demanding higher rate for their land, the acquisition process has halted," admitted the official after state Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa approved the Basava Kalyana Development Board action plan.

The action plan envisages building the mantapa in 101 acres of land at Basava Kalyan in the state's northern region, about 740 km from Bengaluru.

While philanthropists donated 11 acres of land free, the district authority acquired only 21 acres so far and the remaining 69 acres is yet to bought from farmers.

The Mantapa is being built at Basavakalyan taluk where the 12th century social reformer and poet Basavanna had set up the academy of mystics, saints and philosophers of the dominant Lingayat community.

The state government has earmarked Rs 500 crore for the mantapa project, including Rs 200 crore in this fiscal (2021-22).

"The chief minister has directed the district officials to acquire the remaining land (69 acres) after negotiating the compensation with the farmers," said the official.

As part of the regional development, 76 of the 134 civil works have been completed and the remaining 58 works are pending.

"Soil testing on the site and other works are in progress. The authority has been told to finalise the detailed project report after completing the land acquisition process," said the official.

Known as the champion of equality, Basavanna introduced the concept of Anubhava Mantapa (hall of spiritual experience), where men and women from all walks of life were allowed to discuss spiritual and mundane issues without restraint.

The mantapa worked to build a vibrant casteless, creedless society with full of human values propagated through vachanas.
Policyholders can get cheaper coverage by making smart selection and improving their skills. said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Carinsurancehints.com has released a new blog post that presents 10 ways to get cheaper car insurance. For more info and free quotes, visit https://www.carinsurancehints.com/10-ways-to-make-car-insurance-cheaper/

Drivers should understand that many rating factors are under their control. By making smart choices, they will get better prices. Insurance companies recommend the following:



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Adjust deductibles. Increasing the deductibles will help drivers get cheaper full coverage. Make sure to adjust deductibles to a maximum sum that can be paid anytime.

Drop full coverage on older cars. If the car is older than 10 years, keeping full coverage will make the owner overpay for coverage. A cars value usually decreases over time.

Keep a clean driving record. Avoiding traffic violations and accidents is a good way to keep premiums under control. Seek ways to expunge older traffic violations. Insurance companies offer a no-claim bonus for every year in which the driver did not commit or has been involved in an accident.

Drive a safe car. A car with a good safety rating will be easier and cheaper to insure. Look for annual crash-test ratings and NHTSA safety rankings.

Install extra safety and anti-theft devices. This will improve the safety rating and will significantly lower the comprehensive car insurance premiums. Plus, it will help police officers recover the stolen cars.

Enroll in a defensive driving course. Insurance companies can offer or suggest a defensive driving course. The client will improve his driving skills and will get a discount.

Scan the insurance market periodically. It is recommended to get car insurance quotes at least once every 6 months and check the average premiums costs. Being permanently aware of the average costs will help drivers to avoid overpaying. Some insurance companies practice a marketing tactic called price optimization.

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For more car insurance info, money-saving tips and free online quotes, please visit http://www.carinsurancehints.com/

Carinsurancehints.com is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
Were all very excited to be gathering in person again for the 2022 Symposium, said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at the iaedp Foundation.

The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation (iaedp) announces the extended deadline of July 30, 2021 for Proposals for its 2022 annual Symposium slated for March 24-27, 2022 in Orlando, Florida at the Omni Championsgate.

The 2022 Symposium will be the first live and in-person for iaedp since 2019. The iaedp Symposiums for both 2020 and 2021 were successfully conducted virtually.

Were all very excited to be gathering in person again for the 2022 Symposium, said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at the iaedp Foundation.

At iaedp, our goal is to always provide training to as many healthcare professionals as possible in order to build and develop skills and knowledge about eating disorders, said Harken.

The iaedp Foundation asks that healthcare professionals submitting proposals for 2022 include experiential or interactive components in their presentations. Preference is given to unique presentations offered for the first time.

More information about all aspects of the iaedp Symposium can be found at iaedp.com.

About iaedp Foundation

Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions.
We are confident that the OREF/AAOS Clinical Research Gaps Fund will build momentum and that our collaborative efforts will help promote the highest quality of musculoskeletal care for the patients we serve.



The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) announced today that Scott A. Rodeo, MD, FAAOS, of the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City has been awarded the first OREF/AAOS Injectable Orthobiologics of Knee Osteoarthritis Grant. Dr. Rodeo, who is an Attending Orthopedic Surgeon and Clinician-Scientist at HSS, with appointments in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery (Sports Medicine Institute) and the Research Department (Tissue Engineering, Repair, and Regeneration Program), will serve as principal investigator for the study, PRP Treatment of the ACL-Injured Knee to Decrease the Risk of PTOA.

Funding for this grant was made possible through the OREF/AAOS Clinical Research Gaps Fund with contributions from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and individual donors.

The $50,000 grant is the first to be awarded as part of a strategic partnership between OREF and AAOS which aims to help narrow the gap between clinical research funding and prioritized clinical research needs in musculoskeletal care, including orthobiologics. The partnership identifies areas of clinical research for which there is a need for increased, targeted funding to evaluate the effectiveness of various orthopaedic interventions and ultimately improve the quality of care for patients. A request for applications (RFA) is expected to be published in November 2021 for the second grant to be funded through this partnership.

We are excited to fund the first grant in what we hope will be a long-term partnership to close gaps in our clinical knowledge of how to treat musculoskeletal issues that adversely affect both the patient and society, said Richard F. Kyle, MD, FAAOS, OREF president. The physical and economic burden of musculoskeletal disease is enormous, but without a clear understanding of the problem and the resources to explore potential solutions, that burden will grow unchecked.

Together with our partners at OREF, we look forward to the research that Dr. Rodeo and his team will conduct through this grant, said Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, AAOS president. There is great interest in the potential of novel treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. This particular study of the use of an injectable orthobiologic, PRP, of a common knee ligament injury may lend insight into treatments to either prevent or minimize the later development of osteoarthritis of the knee. The Academy is delighted to participate in this inaugural research endeavor. We are confident that the OREF/AAOS Clinical Research Gaps Fund will build momentum and that our collaborative efforts will help promote the highest quality of musculoskeletal care for the patients we serve.

For more information about the AAOS investment orthobiologics, visit AAOS.org/quality. Donors interested in earmarking funds to further enable AAOS-prioritized clinical research needs within musculoskeletal healthcare may contribute to the OREF/AAOS Clinical Research Gaps Fund. Go to oref.org/aaoscpg to make a secure online donation.

ABOUT THE ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization committed to improving lives by supporting excellence in orthopaedic research. OREF is dedicated to being the leader in supporting research that improves function, eliminates pain, and restores mobility, and is the premier orthopaedic organization funding research across all subspecialties. Visit oref.org or follow OREF on Twitter.

ABOUT THE AAOS

With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the worlds largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level best treat patients in their daily practices. The AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments and related musculoskeletal health care issues and it leads the health care discussion on advancing quality.

Follow the AAOS on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Body balm is very common holistic remedy in Cambodian households and is becoming more common in western culture. Inspired by the desire to help the Cambodian people in their time of need, Thayvie Balm was created by Heartland Hemp Inc in partnership with Save Cambodia.

Formulated with 100% natural ingredients, including CBD, Thayvie Balm is a multipurpose vegan balm that supports overall wellness. It aims to awaken the senses and self-empowerment, as well as promote peace of mind. Its a safe way to enhance your overall well-being and contribute to a good cause.

Cambodia has a beautiful, rich culture, and a history that has faced endless centuries of carnage and destruction, says Thayvie Sinn, Founder of Save Cambodia. The duality, combined with unfaltering and insidious invasions, have divided the Cambodian people and left them displaced, in hiding, or inescapable indoctrination. Thayvie Balm is meant to activate peoples yearning to overcome darkness and seek for justice, which is currently dormant within them. The creation of this product is also to awaken their self-empowerment, which awakening is the key to liberation.

A portion of the profits goes toward Save Cambodias Stand to Rise initiatives and were so pleased to be spreading the word with the help of AsSeenOnTV.pro.

"Thayvie Balm has multipurpose benefits," says Doug Scott, Executive Producer at AsSeenOnTV.pro. "From headaches to cramps to insect bites, it provides targeted pain relief."

As part of its DRTV campaign with AsSeenOnTV.pro, Thayvie Balm has appeared in 30 second spots nationwide, featuring the original Shark himself, Kevin Harrington. AsSeenOnTV.pro is comprised of an award-winning team of producers, writers, videographers, and editors as well as industry veterans dedicated to finding the latest, most innovative products and ideas, and putting them on the DRTV map.

About AsSeenOnTV.pro

Headquartered in South Florida, AsSeenOnTV.pro is a full-service production, branding, and marketing company that specializes in direct response television, short- and long-form commercials, and brand building. Based out of a 25,000+ sq ft, state-of-the-art studio, the companys creative team handles every aspect of production from script to screen to airing. For nearly two decades, AsSeenOnTV.pros veteran staff of writers, producers, videographers, and editors has amassed more than 50 Telly Awards, thousands of prestigious clients, and over $20 million in television placements.

About Kevin Harrington

As the inventor of the infomercial, founder of As Seen on TV, and one of the original Sharks on Shark Tank, Kevin Harrington has worked with some of the worlds biggest celebrities and launched some of the best-selling DRTV campaigns in history. Since producing his first 30-minute infomercial in 1984, Harrington has been involved in over 500 product launches that have resulted in over $5 billion in sales. Now, in his latest venture with AsSeenOnTV.pro, Harrington is on the hunt for the best new products and ideas, bringing them to homes everywhere through personalized DRTV campaigns featuring the Shark.

For more information on Thayvie Balm, please visit http://www.SaveCambodia.org or http://www.ThayvieLine.com.
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International elected its 2021-2022 officers during its Board of Governors meeting held virtually today.

The Board of Governors of BOMA International elected:



Mark Dukes, BOMA Fellow, CCIM, RPA, Vice President, Asset Management, Physicians Realty Trust, Atlanta, as Chair and Chief Elected Officer for 2021-2022;

Randal L. Froebelius, BOMA Fellow, P.Eng, President and General Manager, Equity ICI Real Estate Services, Inc., Toronto, as Chair-Elect;

Robert M. Six, BOMA Fellow, Chief Executive Officer, Zeller, Chicago, as Vice Chair; and

Murray Greene, BOMA Fellow, CPM, RPA, SMA, President and Chief Operating Officer, Greene Commercial Real Estate Group, Inc., Hollywood, Florida, as Secretary/Treasurer.

Mark Dukes is vice president of Asset Management at Physicians Realty Trust, where he oversees all operations for a 190-building portfolio of healthcare assets located across 30 states. His core responsibilities include asset management, property management, client relations and customer satisfaction. Dukes is a past president of BOMA/Georgia, where his efforts earned him the 2016 BOMA/Georgia Huey Award and the 2016 BOMA Southern Region Member of the Year Award. He was named a BOMA Fellow in 2018. Prior to his 2019-2020 term as Vice Chair and 2020-2021 term as Chair-Elect, Dukes served a two-year term on BOMA Internationals Executive Committee. He has also served as chair of BOMA Internationals Asset Management Committee and, most recently, as chair of BOMA Internationals Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

As founder, president and general manager of Equity ICI Real Estate Services, Inc., Randal Froebelius provides property management, project management and development services to a client portfolio that includes office, life sciences, industrial, retail and residential properties. In his more than 30 years of specialized real estate experience, Froebelius has represented BOMA on all levels, previously serving as chair of both BOMA/Toronto and BOMA Canada and as a member of BOMA Internationals Executive Committee prior to his 2020-2021 term as BOMA Internationals Vice Chair. He is chair of BOMA Internationals Standard Methods of Floor Measurement Committee and vice chair of the International Council. In 2018, Froebelius received a Chairs Award from both BOMA International and BOMA Canada, and he was named a BOMA Fellow in 2019.

Bob Six has more than 35 years of experience in commercial real estate, 20 of which he has spent with Zeller. As chief executive officer, Six oversees all property management, leasing, development and investment activities for the firms more than 10 million-square-foot portfolio. Six previously served as president of BOMA/Chicago, where he remains an active member, and he serves as an advisor to the current Board of Directors. Prior to being elected president of the BOMA North Central Region in 2020, Six served four years as regional vice president and three years as treasurer. He has been involved in several BOMA International committees, including the Finance Committee, Government Affairs Committee and Industry Defense Fund Oversight Committee. Six is a member of BOMA Internationals National Advisory Council (NAC) and he was named a BOMA Fellow this past spring. He also recently completed a two-year term on BOMA Internationals Executive Committee.

Murray Greene is the founder, president and chief operating officer of Greene Commercial Real Estate Group. In his more than 35 years of commercial real estate experience, Greene has managed portfolios stretching across all property types. Throughout his decades-long BOMA membership, he has served as president of BOMA/Miami-Dade, BOMA Florida and BOMA Southern Region. Greene previously was a member of BOMA Internationals Executive Committee and has held leadership positions for numerous BOMA International committees, including the Nominating Committee and Awards Committee. In 2019, he was selected to serve as the first chair of the Board of Managers for the Commercial Real Estate Certification Institute (CRECI), an independent certification body created by BOMA International and BOMI. Greenes passion for education is reflected in his role as an instructor for a variety of industry courses and workshops for BOMA members throughout the years. He is a member of the 2012 inaugural class of BOMA Fellows.

About BOMA International

Founded in 1907, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is a federation of U.S. local associations and global affiliates. The leading trade association for commercial real estate professionals for more than 100 years, it represents the owners, managers, service providers and other property professionals of all commercial building types, including office, industrial, medical, corporate and mixed-use. BOMA International is the partner individuals in the commercial real estate industry choose to maximize value for their careers, organizations and assets. Its mission is to advance a vibrant commercial real estate industry through advocacy, influence and knowledge. Learn more at http://www.boma.org.
Since 2019, CareSource, a national leader in nonprofit healthcare, has worked with Appriss Insights to further continuity of coverage for justice-involved individuals. The collaboration has helped CareSource improve coordination between the healthcare and criminal justice systems, consistently identify individuals entering and exiting incarceration and potentially reduce recidivism through seamless reinstatement of coverage. The case study is available on the Appriss Insights website.

CareSource excels at leveraging data to create better health outcomes for our two million members, said Jonas Thom, Vice President of Behavioral Health at CareSource. Accurate, real-time data enables us to identify individuals entering and exiting incarceration so we can best meet their needs.

Appriss Insights provides consolidated incarceration data from more than 60 full-service jails and smaller holding facilities across the region. Medicaid coverage can be temporarily suspended when beneficiaries become incarcerated and then restarted upon release. This eliminates lapses in care and reduces recidivism by better supporting individuals reentering society.

By cross-referencing CareSource member information with Appriss Insights expansive and timely criminal justice data, CareSource gains unparalleled insight into the needs of the formerly incarcerated, said Brian Matthews, President of Appriss Insights. "We are excited about the important steps CareSource has taken to improve health outcomes and look forward to our continued partnership."

Of the adult Medicaid members served by CareSource each year, more than 50,000  or approximately one in 12  have been booked into a local jail at least once. Through this partnership, CareSource has been able to identify roughly 7,000 justice-involved members per month, of which:



Approximately 55% have a substance use disorder and/or a severe mental illness;

Approximately 25% have at least three severe and chronic physical medical conditions;

Approximately 10% of adult women in the sample are pregnant or have been pregnant in the past year.

Incarcerated individuals experience disproportionate health risks compared to the general population, and 15-25% suffer from mental health illnesses. They are also not eligible for Medicaid coverage, complicating their reintegration into the community upon their release and increasing the likelihood of recidivism. For those released from prison, recidivism rates to state prison are more than 30% within three years, and rates for reincarceration in local jails are over 50%. A single recidivism event can cost taxpayers more than $150,000, taking funds away from other economically promising opportunities.

About Appriss Insights

Appriss Insights delivers breakthrough data and analytics solutions to reduce people-based risk, mitigate fraud and meet compliance mandates. As the nations most comprehensive and trusted source of risk and criminal justice intelligence, we offer timely, reliable insights through vertical partners on AI-driven, SaaS-based cloud architecture. Guided by our mission of Knowledge for good, we enable commercial enterprises and government agencies to build trust and safety while improving operational efficiencies. To learn more, visit http://www.apprissinsights.com.

About CareSource

CareSource is a nonprofit, multi-state health plan recognized as a national leader in managed care. Founded in 1989, CareSource administers one of the nations largest Medicaid managed care plans and offers a lifetime of access to care through health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare Advantage, and dual-eligible programs. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, CareSource serves 2 million members in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face navigating the health system and is transforming health care with industry-leading programs that improve the health and well-being of our members.

For more, visit http://www.caresource.com, follow @caresource on Twitter, or like CareSource on Facebook.
The Chemico Group received the 2021 Excellent Performance Award from Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA), for a fourth year. (Photo credit: Chemico) This award acknowledges the cost savings and process efficiencies our team consistently deploys as well as the robust, collaborative relationship that Chemico has cultivated with Toyota over many years, said Leon C. Richardson, President, and CEO, Chemico Group.

The Chemico Group, the largest veteran and minority-owned chemical management supplier, received the 2021 Excellent Performance Award from Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) during its Annual Supplier Business Meeting held virtually late April. The award recognizes Chemicos on-site chemical management activities at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky facility. Chemico was one of several indirect supplier companies that received Awards of Excellence or special recognition. This signifies the fourth supplier award Chemico has received from the global automaker.

We are truly honored that our supplier performance has been recognized by Toyota Motor North America for a fourth year, said Leon C. Richardson, President and CEO, Chemico Group. This award acknowledges the cost savings and process efficiencies our team consistently deploys as well as the robust, collaborative relationship that Chemico has cultivated with Toyota over many years.

In years 2019 and 2020, Chemico was bestowed the Excellent Performance Award for Distributors from TMNA and received Toyotas Superior Award for Distributors in 2017. The chemical management company received the Honeywell Innovation award in 2019, was recognized as a General Motors Supplier of the Year for seven consecutive years (2010  2017) and earned supplier diversity recognition from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Richardson was named MBE Luminary of the Year in December 2020 by the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. Chemico was named MBE of the Year from the National Minority Supplier Development Council in 2018.

About Chemico Group

Founded in 1989, the Chemico Group is the largest veteran-owned, minority-owned chemical management firms in the nation. The Group specializes in integrated solutions for the entire chemical lifecycle  from procurement to on-site inventory management to environmentally conscious disposal. A leader in chemical products and distribution, Chemicos vast network of suppliers and specialty manufacturers provides customers a wide variety of chemical solutions. The companys broad portfolio is used in customer facilities across the automotive, aerospace, electronics and healthcare industries and the defense sector. Chemico Group is comprised of two distinct business entities -- Chemico LLC (chemical management) and Chemico Systems (chemical products and distribution). With 50 locations and more than 450 employees across the U.S. and Mexico, the company is poised for significant growth. For more information, visit http://www.thechemicogroup.com.
Making friends is such an exciting part of childhood. I really wanted to find a way to emphasize how our individual differences can make our relationships with others more exciting and adventurous.

Childrens author Colby Becknell Hardison has published a delightful picture book that follows the charming story of Sammy Skunk and Rocky Racoon  two friendly critters who cross paths on a farm and spend a blissful day playing, eating, and enjoying their budding new friendship.

In Animal Acres, Hardison uses the story of Sammy and Rocky to illustrate to children the wonderful things individual uniqueness can bring to relationships. Sammy and Rockys friendship encourages kids to take a chance on making new friends, even if it feels hard at first. Animal Acres was originally inspired by Hardisons experience watching his cats befriend local wildlife after a drought limited the critters access to natural resources and sent them looking for food and water on his property.

Making friends is such an exciting part of childhood. I really wanted to find a way to emphasize how our individual differences can make our relationships with others more exciting and adventurous, Hardison said. I also want to help ignite a love of the environment in young people, as Ive long been passionate about animal rescue and rehabilitation. There is an entire world of wildlife and nature just waiting to be discovered if only we took the time to enjoy it.

Ultimately, Hardisons book reminds readers that every person has a special something that they can bring to their relationships with others, allowing them to cultivate rich, diverse, and dynamic friendships as they grow up. Animal Acres also encourages kids to slow down, absorb the magic of nature, and take time to observe all the wonderful creatures that can be found on adventures outside.

This is a very cute story about how a raccoon and a skunk become friends, a reader wrote in a five-star review of the book on Amazon.

Animal Acres

By Colby Becknell Hardison

ISBN: 978-1-6641-3874-2 (sc); ISBN: 978-1-6641-3873-5 (e)

Available through Xlibris, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon

About the author

Colby Becknell Hardison enjoys working in the field of animal rescue and rehabilitation. Hardison has several years of experience doing volunteer work with wild and domestic animals, and he has managed a small sanctuary in his hometown of Vernon, Texas. In addition to working with the local wildlife population, Hardison has also rehabilitated and rehomed several stray cats and dogs. He was first published at age 17 and was nominated to the Phi Theta Kappa honor fraternity in college before eventually obtaining his bachelors degree in metaphysical sciences. To learn more, please visit http://www.animalacresfarm.com.

General Inquiries, Review Copies & Interview Requests:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Danielle Grobmeier

480-648-7557

dgrobmeier@lavidge.com
Grandmother Edna Williams speaks about fabrid art and history on July 17 at the 11/30 Visitors Center. Pillow Talk is displayed as part of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Centers Let The Journey BeginPeople, Places, Possibilities.

Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites the public to A Conversation with Grandmother Edna: Fabric Artist and Storyteller on July 17 at 1 PM in the Great Room of the 11/30 Visitors Center, on the square in Chambersburg PA. Visitors can enjoy more than a dozen quilts and pillow covers, created by Grandmother Edna and learn how she expresses herself through art to tell stories of her life and Americas history. The art, called Pillow Talk is on display in the lobby of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Centers.

Williams hails from Baltimore and is displaying at the 11/30 Visitors Center through the Franklin County Visitors Bureaus relationship with the African American Historical Association of Western Maryland.

I reach back to move forward. It is the only way to grow, said Grandmother Edna. Her Pillow Talk display includes stories that connect directly to her mother, father, and grandmother as well as highlight her meetings with poet Maya Angelou and actor Harry Belafonte. Others tell stories related to enslavement and civil justice. Williams believes storytelling is a means to connecting people and endorses the importance of history stating, Why create a mountain when you can cross a hill.

Pillow Talk is displayed as part of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Centers Let The Journey BeginPeople, Places, Possibilities. In addition to the storytelling quilts of Grandmother Edna, the exhibit looks at the quest for freedom from the earliest European settlers to the importance of the Pennsylvania Constitutions Environmental Amendment.

A Conversation with Grandmother Edna is free and open to the public. Following the presentation, Grandmother Edna will offer a quilting and storytelling activity to participants who want to learn a little more. To reserve seating, please register here. A Conversation with Grandmother Edna is presented by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau as part of the July 17 Chambersburg Comes To Life Celebration, which includes the living history portrayal and light show depicting the 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg.

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore Franklin County PA and enjoy trails of history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods, and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive from Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Discover more and plan a visit at ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or by contacting 866.646.8060.


Havis's New Suite of Swivel Arm Mounts The computing devices still need rugged mounts, but those products dont need to support 10-plus pounds of gear anymore. With our Swivel Arm Mounts, weve come up with a solution thats loaded with features but does it in a lighter and more compact package.

Havis is pleased to launch a new suite of Swivel Arm Mounts. These rugged solutions are ideal for lightweight devices and limited space applications. Offering optimal device placement for both the driver and front passenger seats, their tension hold design protects occupants and equipment in quick maneuvers and crash situations. The Swivel Arm Mounts allow for easy adjustment and maintain positioning without a locking feature.

The mobile office environment changes regularly, and the prevalence of smaller, lighter computers has played a big part, said Brett Young, National Sales Manager for Public Safety at Havis. The computing devices still need rugged mounts, but those products dont need to support 10-plus pounds of gear anymore. With our Swivel Arm Mounts, weve come up with a solution thats loaded with features but does it in a lighter and more compact package.

The Swivel Arm Mounts feature die-cast aluminum arms that offer strength and durability. With an overlapping design and multiple arm lengths, smooth movement is achieved with a six to a twelve-inch range of extensions. The Swivel Arm Mounts also include a built-in tilt swivel mounting plate with AMPS and VESA 75 hole patterns for quick connections to popular products.

There is a variety of ways to attach the Swivel Arm Mounts to vehicles. They can mount directly to flat surfaces like the top of consoles or on the side of a console when paired with a Side Pole Mount. A dedicated material handling mount is available, and there are a number of adapter plates that allow for attachment to Havis poles and accessories.

Whether its heavy-duty work trucks, forklifts, or yard carts, tablets and handhelds are powering business, said Mike Mercier, Energy Services Sales Manager at Havis. This new line of Swivel Arm Mounts pairs nicely with tablets that need a keyboard mount and is a great option for mounting handhelds or pairing them with their essential peripherals.

ABOUT HAVIS

Havis, Inc., is a privately held, ISO 9001:2015 certified company that manufactures in-vehicle mobile office solutions for public safety, public works, government agencies, and mobile professionals. For more than 80 years, the Havis mission has been to increase mobile worker productivity with industry-leading products that are built to the highest safety and quality standards and are designed with comfort in mind. Havis is dedicated to responsible intellectual property management and fosters ongoing innovation. Its patent and trademark portfolio demonstrates a commitment to consistently researching and developing unique products and solutions for mobile industries around the world. Havis currently employs more than 300 people, with headquarters in Warminster, PA, and additional locations in Plymouth, MI, and globally. For more information on Havis, please call 1-800-524-9900 or visit http://www.havis.com.
Housecall Pro launches Trade Academy to help secure a future in the trades for the next generation of Pros. For many young people, the trades are a lucrative alternative to the traditional college path, and not enough people know that.

Housecall Pro, a software platform used by over 20,000 home services companies to run their business, launches Trade Academy (http://www.tradeacademy.com) to help secure the future of the next generation of tradespeople.

Trade Academy focuses on delivering value to trade school students, job seekers, and home service business owners alike. The site is a free resource that hosts industry-specific job boards where home service businesses can create an employer profile, post open job listings, and search resumes of qualified candidates in their area.

When we talk to our customers, we consistently hear that hiring skilled tradespeople is their biggest pain point, says Ian Heidt, President & Cofounder of Housecall Pro. We are committed to helping those looking for employment get training and find sustainable, high-paying careers. For many young people, the trades are a lucrative alternative to the traditional college path, and not enough people know that. 

At WD-40 Company, were about solving problems, and were committed to giving trade professionals the tools and training they need to get the job done right, says Garry Ridge, Chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company. Were pleased to partner with Trade Academy and support its mission to bridge the gap between home service business owners and qualified employees by creating a dedicated space for people looking to hire and get hired in the skilled trades.

Along with a job board that is highly specialized to each trade, the site releases weekly blog posts and resources to support job seekers and employers alike. Topics range from interview questions, to trade school costs, to job description templates, and much more.

We got a qualified candidate who applied, interviewed and hired within days of posting our job technician job opening on the job board, says Chris Barker, owner of Elevation Mechanical. It was the easiest time weve ever had hiring a new tech.

In addition to the job board and hiring resources, Trade Academy is launching a trade school scholarship fund totalling $25,000 for the 2021-2022 school year. Initially open to candidates in the HVAC/R industry, students planning to enter HVAC/R trade school are eligible to win one of ten $2,500 scholarships to use towards their education.

In this day and age, young people are often told that going to college for a four-year degree is the only path to success and wealth. This is one of the biggest reasons for the huge labor shortage in the skilled trades. The Trade Academy scholarship fund aims to tackle that shortage and encourage more young people to start a career path that will persevere through the economys ups and downs.

There simply arent enough young people entering the trades these days, which is contributing to the labor shortage, says Brian Ciciora, CEO of TrueWerk. I see business as a platform for advancing humanity, not just profiting from it, and we are proud to offer our support to Trade Academy. TrueWerk will be decking out all scholarship recipients with brand new work wear as they start their technician careers.

The skilled trades are the backbone of the economy and Trade Academy, along with its founding sponsors Housecall Pro, WD-40, and TrueWerk, are dedicated to playing their part in filling the labor shortage and empowering the next generation of technicians and business owners. Visit http://www.tradeacademy.com to set up an employer profile, job seeker profile, or apply for the scholarship today.

About Housecall Pro

Housecall Pro is a top-rated, all-in-one business solution that helps over 20,000 home services companies work simpler and grow smarter. With easy-to-use digital tools for scheduling and dispatching jobs, managing payments, automating marketing efforts, and more, Housecall Pro helps Pros efficiently manage every aspect of their business all in one place. The Housecall Pro platform is available through a mobile app and web portal for Pros across the United States and Canada. Founded in 2013, Housecall Pro has been championing Pros through streamlined solutions and strong community support for over seven years.

About WD-40 Company

WD-40 Company is dedicated to creating positive lasting memories by developing and selling products that solve problems in workshops, factories and homes around the world. The Company markets a wide range of maintenance products and homecare and cleaning products under the following well-known brands: WD-40, 3-IN-ONE, GT85, X-14, 2000 Flushes, Carpet Fresh, no vac, Spot Shot, 1001, Lava and Solvol.

About TrueWerk

Truewerk began with the belief that we could make todays workers safer, more comfortable and sharper looking by creating workwear using modern materials, greater attention to detail and a stronger connection to the job-site. Founded on a simple but strong belief that business should be a platform for advancing humanity  not just profiting from it  Truewerk seeks to support, educate and inspire customers to be stronger and smarter than the job at hand. truewerk.com
HUNGRYs commitment to supporting local, independent chefs allows companies to create employee dining programs that are exciting, convenient, and diverse.

HUNGRY is helping America return to the office.

After fifteen months spent pivoting to chef-centric pop-ups, virtual cooking experiences, and meal delivery services, the celebrity-backed chef network is once again supplying curated food experiences through in-person office catering and pop-up restaurants in commercial office buildings.

Employers everywhere are eager to bring their employees back to the office and a key part of their strategy is food, said HUNGRY Founder and CEO Jeff Grass. At HUNGRY, we believe in a radically different approach to traditional office fare. By opting for a marketplace model with special access to hundreds of top, local chefs, we can supply high-quality, authentic cuisine that you cant get anywhere else.

HUNGRYs commitment to supporting local, independent chefs allows companies to create employee dining programs that are exciting, convenient, and diverse. With HUNGRY, businesses can incentivize their staff as they return to the office through an infinite variety of options that fulfill any type of craving.

Though offices have not been back in person for long, HUNGRYs clients are already raving about its return.

Before COVID, my team at Appian used HUNGRY for most of our catering needs, said Rebecca Rosalia, workplace experience manager at Appian Corporation, Now that we're getting more people back into the office, we are happy we get to use HUNGRY again. On the day of the first delivery from HUNGRY a few weeks ago, I heard one of my coworkers speaking excitedly to someone in the lobby. I looked out, and saw one of our long-time and favorite Catering Captains. We were so happy to see his familiar face and to know we were in excellent hands!

After innovating during the pandemic, HUNGRY continues to support thousands of clients across Boston, New York City, Philadelphia,Washington, DC, Atlanta, Dallas, and Austin who are returning to work.

Our goal is to play a major role in strengthening office culture, especially now, when people are yearning for a better way to work in a group setting, said Grass.

All HUNGRY meals are prepared and cooked in offsite, food-safe commercial kitchen environments. HUNGRY exercises extreme diligence at every stage of the catering process, using masks, sneeze guards, and social distancing markers to adhere to the highest standards in food safety.

To learn more about HUNGRY, visit https://tryhungry.com

###

ABOUT HUNGRY

HUNGRY was founded in 2017 by serial entrepreneurs Eman Pahlavani, Shy Pahlevani and Jeff Grass as a revolutionary platform engaging the $60 billion business and events catering market. The technology-enabled marketplace provides curated experiences to groups and businesses throughout the US via catering, chef pop-ups, snack packs, virtual cooking experiences, and food delivery services.

Notable investors in HUNGRY include Jay-Zs Marcy Venture Partners, Kevin Hart, Usher, Todd Gurley, Bobby Wagner, Ndamukong Suh and celebrity chefs Tom Colicchio and Ming Tsai. Through its partnerships, HUNGRY has donated more than half a million meals to people in need. The company also promotes environmental waste reduction through its Food Solutions programs.

HUNGRY is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has rapidly growing operations in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, New York City, Austin and Dallas. For more information, visit tryhungry.com.
An engaging lifestyle, reimagined dining, clever use of space and appropriate staffing can give residents and customers options to maintain their health, sense of well-being and life satisfaction. Those elements make a community very attractive to a person who looks for value, choice and autonomy.

Where can older adults find an engaging lifestyle that is cost-effective and sustainable? The senior living organizations that offer both housing and services for people 65 years and older have an answer: develop communities that offer a bountiful lifestyle for a middle-class income while being equally cost-effective and sustainable for organizations.

The new model of communities will reach the large group of "middle income" older adults-those who are not wealthy but above poverty and low-income levels-through the combination of residence, amenities and services structured around the dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental, vocational.

To frame the model, aimed at middle-income boomers (born 1946-1964) and their elders, International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) convened over 70 industry thought leaders at the ICAA Forum, May 2021. The results of the meeting are captured in the ICAA Forum report, Wellness attracts the middle-income market, available at https://www.icaa.cc//listing.php?type=white_papers

"The social isolation that occurred during the pandemic gave people a lot of time to think about what they value and how they want to live," says Colin Milner, founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging. "Like everyone else, older adults became acutely aware of how much they missed getting together with friends and family or attending in-person events. Isolation also forced many of us to recognize how our lifestyles affect our mental and physical health. The new middle-income community is intended to answer that need for social connections."

As the attributes of a wellness-centered community for the middle-income market developed during the ICAA Forum, demographics and psychographics, economic considerations and revenue potential focused the following strategies:

--Value and choice fuel the decision-making of people with middle incomes. They will expect a range of lifestyle experiences and dining options selected from an a la carte menu.

--Residents will be engaged in developing the activities available at the property or coordinated with the larger community; many will likely work part-time or full-time because of desire or need. This added income helps make their lifestyles at the middle-income community possible.

--The built environment will be comfortable and age-friendly rather than elegant, with common spaces easily adapted to different uses and regular access to the outdoors.

--To respect older adults' desire to be independent, residences will be large enough to entertain family and friends. Smaller buildings and cottages were suggested.

--As a neighborhood within a larger community, whether urban or rural, residents will access restaurants, libraries and services in the larger community while local nonresidents will pay fees to utilize the food service and other amenities on the property.

--Some staff will be replaced by technology, whether because of sensor systems, robot deliveries or productivity tools. Wellness-oriented staff members will facilitate interactions and guide residents and customers to health-promoting choices; investment in staff compensation and training will influence recruitment and loyalty.

--Dining and food services will be configured to accommodate residents and patrons from the larger community. Flexible pricing plans for dining will be available for residents, with bistros and coffee shops providing casual options.

--Nursing care and assistance for people with a higher level of disability may not be offered, replaced by reliable technology for telemedicine and referrals to local providers. Or, residents will be able to receive assistance in their apartments or at a clinic on site, paying privately for the care.

An engaging lifestyle, reimagined dining, clever use of space and appropriate staffing can give residents and customers options to maintain their health, sense of well-being and life satisfaction. Those elements make a community very attractive to a person who looks for value, choice and autonomy.

"Providing a wellness lifestyle is the secret to meeting the needs, aspirations and expectations of the aging population," believes Milner at ICAA. "The executives who discussed the middle-income market opportunities recognized that they cannot return to business-as-usual, and that lifestyle and wellness offerings are expected by the boomer and middle-income populations. Wellness delivers the brand promise."

The complete results of the ICAA Forum May 2021, are available in the report, Wellness attracts the middle-income market. The report can be downloaded at https://www.icaa.cc//listing.php?type=white_papers

The ICAA Forum was sponsored by Humana, PepsiCo, Morrison Living, iN2L, Matrix, Keiser, NuStep and LivBrite Today.

About the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)

http://www.icaa.cc

ICAA is a professional association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry and supports professionals who aspire to develop wellness cultures for adults over 50. This support includes creating wellness environments, programs and services. The association is focused on active agingan approach to aging that helps older adults live life as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellnessand provides its members with education, information, resources and tools. As an active-aging educator and advocate, ICAA has advised numerous organizations and governmental bodies, including the US Administration on Aging, the National Institute on Aging (one of the US National Institutes of Health), the US Department of Health and Human Services, Canadas Special Senate Committee on Aging, and the British Columbia (Canada) Ministries of Health and Healthy Living and Sport.

For more information or questions: Contact: Colin Milner, CEO, ICAA

Toll-free: 1-866-335-9777 (North America)

Telephone: 604-734-4466; cell: 604-763-4595

colinmilner@icaa.cc
As the development transitions through pre-IND to clinical phases, there are a variety of cellular assays and clinical applications that support the drug development process.

In the immuno-oncology space, the regulation of the immune system is paramount in the development of a successful therapeutic. This webinar will showcase assays to evaluate cellular pathways of immune cells, T-cells, and macrophages while highlighting functional and immunogenicity assays developed in support of current and emerging therapeutics. The speakers will outline how in vitro methods mimic the tumor environment to measure therapeutic functionality.

Register for this webinar to hear the speakers highlight how in vitro models are essential at critical phases of development to support lead candidate selection or generate data for evaluation in an exploratory clinical phase. As the development transitions through pre-IND to clinical phases, there are a variety of cellular assays and clinical applications that support the drug development process.

Join expert speakers from ImmunXperts, a Nexelis Company, Sofie Pattijn, CTO and Co-Founder and Thibaut Janss, Lead Scientist in a live webinar on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 9am EDT (2pm BST/UK).

For more information, or to register for this event, visit Immuno-Oncology: Functional Assays for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors as Emerging Therapeutics.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/


We are honored to receive The Great Place to Work certification and Im most proud that 100% of our employees eligible for the survey participated in this great outcome. That level of participation alone is a statement of our culture of unity and inclusion. - Dan McCall, CEO, Influitive

Influitive Corporation, a leading provider of customer advocacy, community and engagement software, has been certified as a Great Place to Work after a thorough, independent analysis conducted by Great Place to Work Institute Canada. This certification is based on direct feedback from employees, provided as part of an extensive and anonymous survey about their workplace experience.

I am inspired every day by the collaborative and supportive way our employees work together at every level in the company, said Dan McCall, Chief Executive Officer at Influitive. We are honored to receive The Great Place to Work certification and Im most proud that 100% of our employees eligible for the survey participated in this great outcome. That level of participation alone is a statement of our culture of unity and inclusion.

A great workplace is about the level of trust that employees experience in their leaders, the level of pride they have in their jobs, and the extent to which they enjoy their colleagues," said Nancy Fonseca, Senior Vice President of Great Place to Work Canada. Our data shows that great workplaces benefit from stronger financial performance, reduced turnover, and better customer satisfaction than their peers. What's more, work environments with trust at the foundation are ripe for innovation, agility, resilience and efficiency."

About Influitive

Influitive works with forward-thinking marketers and digital businesses who want a better way to engage customers and mobilize advocates to increase referrals, references, reviews, case studies, and more. Our easy-to-use SaaS platform combines industry-leading customer advocacy tools, expert services, and training with intelligent automation, gamification, and personalization features that drive extreme engagement and customer growth at scale. Leading brands such as Adobe, Cisco, IBM, HPE, SoFi and Mountain Dew rely upon Influitive to help foster collaboration, build trust and deepen relationships with customers for top-line growth and bottom-line profits. Visit influitive.com to learn more.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, Great Place to Work recognizes Canadas Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Visit us at http://www.greatplacetowork.ca or find us on Twitter at @GPTW_Canada.
We are excited to drive visibility and awareness to the talent acquisition leaders and teams that carried companies through this time and who continue to fill positions quickly and build candidate relationships.

Lever, a leading Talent Acquisition Suite, announced its first-ever, Rise Awards as part of their annual customer conference, Lever Ascend. The Rise Awards recognizes and celebrates employees, employers, and organizations committed to excellence in talent acquisition.

Over the past year, companies have navigated distributed work, hiring freezes, layoffs, accelerated growth, and so much more, said Nate Smith, co-founder and CEO of Lever. We are excited to drive visibility and awareness to the talent acquisition leaders and teams that carried companies through this time and who continue to fill positions quickly and build candidate relationships. We believe its important to highlight the innovations being made in talent acquisition, and were excited to recognize the creativity teams have harnessed during a difficult year.

Lever is powering The Rise Awards, but will feature a panel of judges, including Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research, Steve Smith from Starr Conspiracy, and Dean Delpeache, Director, Talent & Diversity at Fiix Software, and Madeline Laurano, Founder at Aptitude Research.

The submissions open starting today, with a deadline of Friday, August 20. Nominations are open to customers and external organizations, regardless of industry, size or market presence. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of experts for categories including: candidate experience, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), candidate relationship management (CRM), HR technology and talent operations innovation, talent attraction, onboarding programs, Talent Acquisition team achievements, and Rising Stars.

Top talent can work wherever, but earning this award further proves that you've created an amazing team and elevates your employer status.

All winners will be officially announced on Tuesday, September 15th at Levers virtual customer conference, Lever Ascend. For more information on The Rise Awards and Lever Ascend, visit the event website here.

About Lever

Lever is a leading Talent Acquisition Suite that makes it easy for talent teams to reach their hiring goals and to connect companies with top talent. Lever is the only platform that provides all talent acquisition leaders with complete ATS and robust CRM capabilities in one product, LeverTRM. The Lever Hire and Lever Nurture features allow leaders to scale and grow their people pipeline, build authentic and long-lasting relationships, and source the right people to hire. Lever Analytics provides customized reports with data visualization, see offers completed and interview feedback, and more, to inform strategic decisions between hiring managers and executives alike.

Our platform also enables companies to hire with inclusivity in mind, helping eliminate any hiring bias. Lever supports the hiring needs of over 3,800 companies around the globe including the teams at Netflix, Atlassian, KPMG, and McGraw-Hill Education. For more information, visit https://www.lever.co.
Sister Mary Lou with students on the last day of school in 2019. It has been an honor to serve and gain the trust of our families over these last 39 years," Sister Carol says. "Because of our faithful staff, volunteers and supporters, I know Mercy Center will remain as our miracle on Main Street for many more years to come.

Mercy Center is pleased to welcome the Members of the 11th Legislative District and Councilpersons of the City of Asbury Park at a ceremony declaring July 14th as Mercy Center Day and to recognize the extraordinary work of Sister Carol Ann Henry and Sister Mary Louise Miller.

Mercy Center staff will be joined by State Senator Vin Gopal and Assembly members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey, as well as the City of Asbury Park Councilpersons Eileen Chapman and Yvonne Clayton. Mercy Center invites the community to show their support by tuning in at 10am on Mercy Centers Facebook page to witness the proclamation, share and post stories or memories on social media using #mercycenterday, or celebrate its work with an act of kindness, a reflection or prayer.

Sisters Academy of New Jersey, an all-girls middle school, opened in 1997. Sister Mary Lou took the helm as Principal in 1999. After 22 years of dedication to educating the girls in the greater Asbury Park community, Sister Mary Lou retired as Principal of Sisters Academy on June 30, 2021. She has touched the lives of so many students and their families. Under her tenure, 100 percent of girls who have attended Sisters Academy have also graduated high school, totaling more than 300 students breaking the cycle of poverty. Sisters Academy welcomed Mrs. Elena Malinconico as their new Principal on July 1, 2021.

The Sisters have worked closely to build Mercy Center into what it is today. Driven by the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concerns, Sister Carol and Sister Mary Lou have always believed that education is the best tool to break generational poverty.

During the early 1980s, Sister Carol traveled to Asbury Park and discovered that many were without food. She began passing out groceries from the trunk of her car and founded Mercy Center in 1986 as a food pantry. After 39 years as Executive Director, she has grown the non-profit into a full, comprehensive social service agency.

Mercy Center now operates an Emergency Services Program, the Family Resource Center and Sisters Academy of New Jersey. Each of these programs raises people out of poverty by empowering, enriching and educating them. Sister Carols exceptional leadership has changed the lives of many in our community, with an emphasis on women and children. She has served the City by the Sea loyally and is set to retire in the near future. The Mercy Center Board of Trustees will announce her successor upon the completion of their search.

As she plans for the leadership transition, Sister Carol says, It has been an honor to serve and gain the trust of our families over these last 39 years. Because of our faithful staff, volunteers and supporters, I know Mercy Center will remain as our miracle on Main Street for many more years to come.

Mary Beth Radke, Chair of Mercy Center Board of Trustees, is confident that Mercy Center will build upon her vision of empowering, enriching and educating the people the agency serves. Sister Carol has had an extraordinary journey, said Radke. We have all been blessed and are grateful for the all-encompassing ministry she started. We thank Sister Carol for answering Gods call and we will continue to do Gods work that we have witnessed throughout her 39 years of service.

Mercy Center Day will launch Mercy Centers formal celebration series of Sister Carol. This includes the announcement of the Sister Carol Ann Henry Founders Campaign, an opportunity for the community to join the organization in carrying on her mission and vision to making meaningful change in Asbury Park. Funds will support Mercy Centers programs, including Emergency Services, the Family Resource Center and Sisters Academy of NJ. To learn more about Sister Carols story, hear testimonials of her impact and obtain details on the Founders Campaign, please visit https://www.mercycenternj.org/sistercarol.

About Mercy Center

Mercy Center, founded by the Sisters of Mercy, provides programs and services that empower, enrich and educate people facing socio-economic challenges to realize their full potential, with a special emphasis on women and children. To learn more, visit http://www.mercycenternj.org.
"Main Street Middletown is proud of this project because heritage tourism fosters economic development and job creation resulting with Middletown as a better place to live and work. - Becky Axilbund, Main Street Middletown Director

Main Street Middletown, MD Inc. is a recipient of a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Grant for $44,000 for the rehabilitation of 19 West Main Street, Middletown, Maryland. Main Street Middletown applied for these funds which support heritage tourism related project and activities that draw visitors and expand economic development and tourism related job creation.

Main Street Middletown Director, Becky Axilbund states we are proud of this step we are taking as an organization. Rehabilitating 19 West Main Street is important locally, as so many residents have fond memories of not just the building, but the business that Larry Bussard and his father built. Rehabilitating the barbershop into a Welcome Center will once again be a place to welcome folks in through the front door, learn about Middletown, and leave with a smile. Instead of a haircut, we want to provide visitors and residents with information about our downtown businesses, our history, our local events, walking tours, and other fun things to see and do in Middletown and the Valley. On a broader scale, Main Street Middletown is proud of this project because heritage tourism fosters economic development and job creation resulting with Middletown as a better place to live and work.

Main Street Middletown, MD Inc. is a local 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the sense of place, quality of life, and economic vitality of the Middletown Community. Main Street Middletown strives to bring together all aspects of the community - citizens, businesses, and government, as well as county and statewide partners to revitalize, preserve, promote, and support the historic downtown area. To learn more about Main Street Middletown and our programs, projects, and volunteer opportunities, please visit http://www.mainstreetmiddletown.org.
Meridian Clinical Research Acquires Sterling Research Group of Cincinnati, Ohio Meridian and Sterling collaborated closely for decades. Our teams also share a strong cultural overlap. We believe in Sterling and the incredible potential we have as a united team. - Nicole Osborn, Founder and CEO of Meridian

Meridian Clinical Research, a leading multi-specialty investigative research network, has acquired the assets and operations of Sterling Research Group. The acquisition includes Sterlings three sites in Cincinnati, and expands Meridians footprint to 27 sites nationwide. Effective immediately, Meridian will operate Sterlings sites at the following three locations:



Mt. Auburn: 2230 Auburn Avenue, Level B, Cincinnati, OH 45219

Springdale: 375 Glensprings Drive, 2nd Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45246

Downtown (MidWest Eye Center): 2055 Reading Rd., Suite 330, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Meridian and Sterling collaborated closely for decades, said Nicole Osborn, Founder and CEO of Meridian. Our teams also share a strong cultural overlap. This is a competitive industry with a long memory  our reputation is only as great as our people. We believe in Sterling and the incredible potential we have as a united team.

Serving the greater Cincinnati area for more than 20 years allowed Sterling to build a strong reputation within the community, said Donna Percy, RN, BSN, President of Sterling. Cincinnati will soon find that Meridian will further the clinical research excellence Sterling founded, while also expanding benefits to our participants and to the research studies we support.

Meridian and Sterling are longtime members of Platinum Research Network, and the leadership teams of both companies expect systems and best practices to be integrated smoothly. Osborn said Meridians acquisition of Sterling will expand its vaccine and general medicine studies, while adding a new therapeutic capability in ophthalmology. The acquisition was made in part to satisfy greater client demand, said Osborn. Were committed to growing in a sustainable way. Sterlings high performance and high standards enable us to meet Sponsor and CRO demand for more Meridian sites in geographically distinct areas.

All of Sterlings employees are expected to join Meridian, and the company intends to hire more people in Cincinnati to fill additional roles. Clients of Meridian and Sterling can expect business as usual, along with enhanced capabilities and access to a larger investigative site network.

Since May 2020, Meridian has enrolled more than 7,000 people into COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, including research programs for the COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorization. In May and July 2020, Meridian Principal Investigators enrolled the first U.S. participants into Phase 2 and 3 COVID-19 vaccine trials. The company continues to support COVID-19 vaccine trials for expanded populations.

Meridian was founded in Omaha in 1999, and has enrolled more than 50,000 participants into clinical trials. Sponsors and CROs interested in partnering with Meridian should email bdteam@mcrmed.com.

To learn more about studies at Meridian visit mcrmed.com, or visit mcrmed.com/careers to learn more about open positions at Meridian.

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ABOUT MERIDIAN CLINICAL RESEARCH, LLC

Meridian Clinical Research partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to research new drugs, medical devices, and diagnostics that could improve human health and wellbeing. Founded in 1999, Meridian is a multi-specialty site network headquartered at its dedicated research center in Omaha, NE, and conducts Phase I-IV studies at investigative sites nationwide. Meridian supports research across numerous therapeutic areas and excels in high-volume vaccine trials. For more information, visit mcrmed.com.

ABOUT STERLING RESEARCH GROUP, LTD

Sterling Research Group is a clinical research group in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company has more than 40 employees committed to upholding best practices in clinical research and exceptional patient satisfaction. Sterling is led by industry veterans and its team includes ACRP-certified clinical research coordinators and dedicated support staff. The company strives to serve the people of Cincinnati and the surrounding communities, while providing comfort and convenience to patients. Learn more about Sterling at sterlingresearch.org.
Omnie Integrated Services Inc., an innovative, industry-leading omni-channel customer service platform, has partnered with Crocodile Wear, a Vancouver-based retailer that helps you stand out with confidence while accentuating your exotic style.

Omnies leading platform which focuses on program growth, automation, and delighting customers, is in a strong position to transform the way Crocodile Wear engages its customers. With this white-label solution, customers are supported before, during, and after purchase through 6 different contact channels, 24 hours/day.

By utilizing Omnie's comprehensive platform and highly skilled agents, Crocodile Wear can re-distribute resources to focus on growth, further developing the companys overall experience, and strengthening the brand.

The process of integrating Omnies solution into our business has been a breeze. We were also impressed with Omnies commitment to helping us meet business objectives through customized reporting. said Moe Hosny, Co-Owner of Crocodile Wear.

Crocodile Wear is a fascinating brand retailing an extensive collection of exotic products that helps you stand out, said Jordan Brown, Founder of Omnie. Its crucial that we provide an experience that matches the customers expectations through live support, while constantly improving the program through actionable insights and automation. We are delighted to partner with Crocodile Wear as they continue to bring these incredible product designs to life.

About Crocodile Wear

Fashion is a choice. We make it exotic.

Our focus has always been on helping you stand out with confidence while accentuating your exotic style. We work with hundreds of suppliers across the globe to bring you the absolute best and most exotic fashion accessories in the market. With us, you will find the trendiest croc-embossed and other exotic styles that will, most definitely, make you stand out.

About Omnie

Omnie is driven by a mission to make premier customer service and leading technologies available to businesses of all sizes. Changing the way brands communicate with their customers, the Omnie platform supports voice, SMS, email, contact form, live chat and social media. For digital communications, Omnie offers both live chat and automated customer support via its proprietary software, Omniebot. With clients in the United States, Canada, and Europe, Omnie provides customer service to brands all verticals including eCommerce, health & wellness and hospitality.
Its crucial that we service our clients where they live so we can strengthen our relationships with them.

Codup, a leading custom software vendor and full-cycle development service provider announced the launch of a brand-new office in Houston, Texas to further accelerate the companys growth and expand their reach and presence across the globe.

This new office in Houston apart from their previously established offices located in their hometown of Karachi, Pakistan is a critical milestone for the Development Agency and will help accommodate its rapid growth.

This new office, centrally located in Houston, will help us service our clients in a better way and level up our customers experience with us, said Asim Bawany, CEO Codup. Its crucial that we service our clients where they live so we can strengthen our relationships with them.

Houston, a bustling city center, is home to 23 fortune 500 companies and many small and medium sized businesses. Our new office, centrally located in Houston means we can reach those innovative businesses and empower them with robust digital solutions that will help these businesses thrive, said Adam Bawany, COO Codup.

Codup, a full-cycle Development Agency is powered by the vision to empower businesses and brands with digital solutions that can make them more resilient and profitable. In their 8 years in business, Codup has crossed many milestones and has grown substantially from a 2-member team to a 100-member squad. They have formed partnerships with many other agencies and software providers like Freshworks, Zoho, and Twilio and have worked for leading brands like Dyson, Stitch Fix, Steelcase, and AireBeam.

Having our presence in the US in addition to our presence in Pakistan will help us better serve our US clients, removing language, time-zone, and physical-distance barriers from our deals with these clients, said Asim.

For more information or to get in contact with a Codup representative in your region, contact: support@codup(dot)co

About Codup

Codup is a leading Software, Web, and eCommerce Development Agency that empowers forward-thinking companies with customized and targeted digital solutions that are built to help companies accelerate growth and drive ROI. ECommerce being one of their specialty areas, they have worked with countless brands, and helped companies launch and scale their stores on platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento.

From helping new brands build their self-service eCommerce channels to helping fast-growing companies overcome challenges with targeted solutions, Codup has been consistent in delivering superior experiences to clients around the globe.
"We are so grateful for the generosity of CSX who has stepped up for a third consecutive year, through their Pride in Service program, to help us serve these very deserving military families at a time when the stresses of military life have hit them very hard." Margi Kirst, CDO, Operation Homefront

As families nationwide prepare for the start of another school year, CSX will join Operation Homefront for the third consecutive year to distribute more than 1,400 backpacks and essential school supplies to military children in Jacksonville, Florida; Clarksville, Tennessee; and Fayetteville, North Carolina as a part of Operation Homefronts annual Back-to-School Brigade (BTSB).

As part of Operation Homefronts mission to build strong, stable and secure military families, the Back-to-School Brigade program is supported by CSX to ensure military families start strong and stay strong this back-to-school season and beyond. For many of our nations military families, summer is a time of uncertainty as this is when they frequently relocate from one duty station to the next. The overwhelming transition to new communities, new careers and new schools, compounded by the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, takes a huge toll on military families. Its even more important this year to help them alleviate the burden of buying school supplies for their children, which will help unlock funds for other critical needs.

The Back-to-School Brigade is Operation Homefronts nationwide effort of collecting school supplies and backpacks that are later distributed to the children of military families as well as to all ranks of wounded, ill or injured veterans and their families. This annual program is sponsored by national partners Dollar Tree, SAIC and Lockheed Martin. During this years campaign, Operation Homefront will distribute its 450,000th backpack, saving families over $50 million in back-to-school expenses since the program began in 2008.

This years Back-to-School Brigade events will be delivered in a drive-through format, adhering to all federal, state and local COVID-19 guidelines.

We need to support the families of those who sacrifice their lives for our safety, said Bryan Tucker, vice president of corporate communications at CSX. At CSX, serving those who serve is at the core of our mission and we are proud to help deliver school supplies to military children, easing at least one potential stress for their families. We partner with Operation Homefront and other organizations that support military families through our community investment initiative, Pride in Service. "

"We are so grateful for the generosity of CSX who has stepped up for a third consecutive year, through their Pride in Service program, to help us serve these very deserving military families at a time when the stresses of military life have hit them very hard, said Margi Kirst, chief development officer of Operation Homefront. Not only does CSX commit valuable resources to meet the needs of our military families, but their employees also dedicate their time to volunteer and are truly committed to helping military families start strong in their communities and stay strong for their families throughout their journeys.

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About Operation Homefront

Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive  not simply struggle to get by  in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 90 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves Americas military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.

About Start Strong, Stay Strong

Operation Homefront launched Start Strong, Stay Strong, a national brand campaign in March 2021. The initiative brings much-needed attention to the dedicated service of our military families and the support that Americans can provide to build the stability, connections and comfort these families deserve to start strong in their communities and stay strong throughout their journeys. #StartStrongStayStrong. Find out more at operationhomefront.org/startstrongstaystrong.

ABOUT CSX

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nations economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nations population resides. It also links more than 230 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at http://www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).
The 2021 Honda Civic Sedan is one of the vehicles that is part of the Certified Dream Deal Sales Event! Very well-qualified customers can take advantage of 0.99% APR financing for up to 36 months.

Drivers in the Vineland area who have been looking for a certified pre-owned vehicle can take advantage of the Certified Dream Deal Sales Event that is happening now at Rossi Honda. Very well-qualified customers can take advantage of 0.99% APR financing for up to 36 months. This offer is good now through Aug. 31 and it is available on all 2017-2021 Honda Certified Pre-Owned Civic, Accord and HR-V models.

Individuals who would like a vehicle that offers more space than a traditional sedan might want to take a closer look at the 2021 Honda HR-V. It is available in four trim levels which include the LX, Sport, EX and EX-L. There are two different cargo capacities based on which drivetrain option is chosen. When the 2021 Honda HR-V has 2WD, it will have 24.3 cubic feet behind the second row of seats and 58.8 cubic feet behind the first row of seats. When the crossover is equipped with AWD, it will have 23.3 cubic feet behind the second row of seats and 57.6 cubic feet behind the first row of seats.

When it comes to vehicles keeping its passengers safe, the 2021 Honda Civic Sedan and Accord stand out from the crowd. They both come standard with Honda Sensing Safety and Driver-Assistive Technologies. The systems that are included are a Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning.

Potential customers who would like to learn more about the Certified Dream Deal Sales event that is happening now at Rossi Honda can visit https://www.rossihonda.com/. Individuals who would like to speak with someone from the dealership can do so by calling 856-692-1700. Finally, for those who would like a more personal experience, Rossi Honda is conveniently located at 1517 South Delsea Drive.
SGF Colorado is now scheduling patients at its Denver and Colorado Springs offices. These physicians believe in a patient-centric care model that addresses patients' very individual and personal set of needs, a core belief of SGFs as well. The natural synergy of joining forces as SGF Colorado provides a tremendous advantage to patients in need of fertility care."

Shady Grove Fertility (SGF), a leading provider of comprehensive fertility services and IVF, is proud to announce that SGF Colorados Denver and Colorado Springs offices are open to patients. The opening of SGF Colorado marks the practices first introduction to the Colorado community in addition to its locations throughout FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, VA, D.C., and Santiago, Chile.

At the helm of SGF Colorado are former University of Colorado Advanced Reproductive Medicine (CU ARM) physicians Shona Murray, M.D., Alex Polotsky, M.D., Cassandra Roeca, M.D., and Nanette Santoro, M.D. In addition to providing patient care, Drs. Murray, Polotsky, and Roeca will provide training to the University of Colorado Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship program.

Among the many reasons we are excited to bring on Drs. Murray, Polotsky, Roeca, and Santoro is because it allows us to formally connect with providers who share similar values and goals, says Eric A. Widra, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, SGF. These physicians believe in a patient-centric care model that addresses patients' very individual and personal set of needs, a core belief of SGFs as well. The natural synergy of joining forces as SGF Colorado provides a tremendous advantage to patients in need of fertility care.

SGF Colorado Fertility Services and Labs

SGF Colorado offers comprehensive fertility services, including:



in-person and virtual physician consultations,

diagnostic testing,

low- and high-tech treatment options such as intrauterine insemination (IUI),

in vitro fertilization (IVF),

donor egg treatment,

egg freezing,

fertility preservation for people with cancer,

and LGBTQ+ family building.

The Denver location is home to physician offices for patient consultations, transfer rooms for embryo transfers and IUI procedures, and endocrine and andrology laboratories, as well as cycle monitoring services, such as bloodwork and ultrasound. Plus, the space will be equipped with a state-of-the-art embryology laboratory and ambulatory surgery center with five recovery bays and an operating room.

The Colorado Springs location is home to physician offices for patient consultation, intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures, endocrine and andrology laboratories, as well as cycle monitoring services, such as bloodwork and ultrasound.

With one in eight couples of reproductive age needing fertility care, SGF Colorado offers an expansive insurance network as well as unique financial programs for self-pay patients.

Most notably, Colorado-area patients now have easier access to SGFs hallmark Shared Risk 100% Refund Guarantee Program. The guarantee program, which has enrolled more than 25,000 SGF patients, offers patients the reassurance they will either take home a baby or receive a full refund. More than 82% of patients take home a baby.

SGF also provides income-based and military discounts, to name a few, as well as an exclusive financing partner, Fertility Finance.

SGFs expansion into Colorado also enhances access to their renowned donor egg treatment and gestational carrier programs. SGF is home to one of the largest donor egg treatment programs in the nation with more than 8,000 babies and counting to its credit. A unique feature of SGFs program, the practice recruits and medically, psychologically, and genetically prescreens all prospective, ready-to-cycle egg donors prior to listing them on the SGF donor registry.

Get to Know the SGF Colorado Medical Team

Dr. Murray is board certified in OB/GYN and board eligible in REI. She earned her medical degree from Queens University in Kingston Ontario where she remained for her residency in OB/GYN. Dr. Murray then headed to the United States to pursue her fellowship in REI at the University of Kentucky.

Its long been my commitment to put patients on the most direct path to a baby, explains Dr. Murray. My decision to join the SGF Colorado team was made simpler by their long-standing commitment to evidence-based medicine, and to their sense of professional collaboration. Patients benefit from a network of strongly affiliated, connected physicians who stay in frequent communication and unite under the same mission, to advance the standard of care.

Dr. Polotsky is board certified in OB/GYN as well as REI. He earned his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. Upon completing his residency in OB/GYN at New York Presbyterian Hospital  Weill Cornell Medical Center, he returned to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine for his fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility REI. While there, he subsequently earned his Master of Science degree in Clinical Research.

I am incredibly proud to continue in my role teaching our next generation of REIs, while at the same time joining the SGF family, shares Dr. Polotsky. My respect for SGF spans many years as Ive long admired their ability to increase access to care through exclusive financial programs, their commitment to innovation, and their delivery care model that seeks to always put patient needs first."

Dr. Roeca is board certified in OB/GYN and board eligible in REI. She earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She then started her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Womens Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital to complete residency in OB/GYN. She then returned to the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus where she completed her fellowship in REI.

SGF is known as a pioneer in many ways, shown through their commitment to research, innovation, and education. I am proud to be joining a practice of this caliber, home to award-winning physicians who continuously and safely push the envelope and offer the very finest in care, shared Dr. Roeca.

To schedule an appointment with an SGF Colorado physician, call 720-778-3810, or complete this brief online form.

About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF)

SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 85,000 babies born and 5,000+ 5-star patient reviews. With 40 locations, including new locations in Colorado and Norfolk, VA, as well as throughout FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, VA, D.C. and Santiago, Chile, SGF offers patients virtual physician consults, delivers individualized care, accepts most insurance plans, and makes treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including 100% refund guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. SGF is among the founding partner practices of US Fertility, the largest physician-owned, physician-led partnership of top-tier fertility practices in the U.S. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com.
Asda Sites Energy Saviings Our profit margins have not been touched yet these small changes behind the scenes can make a big difference to our overall carbon footprint

One of the UKs largest supermarket chains has successfully slashed its carbon footprint dramatically by taking steps to optimise energy efficiency across nine chilled distribution centres (CDCs). By installing Stars Ethos software over the last four and a half years, which monitors refrigeration plant performance 24/7, Asda has saved 5GWh on energy costs and over 1,100 tonnes of CO2e across the sites optimised with Ethos software.

With the help of Star Refrigerations data monitoring business, Star Data Analytics (SDA), and City Facilities Management, Asda has reduced its energy consumption by 35% since 2010.

Asda has also signed up to the cold chain sectors Climate Change Agreement (CCA)  a UK government incentive for business in energy intensive industries.

Andrew Dodson, Energy Bureau Manager at City Facilities Management said, This project has highlighted how cross-company collaborations can work successfully. Both Star and City Facilities Management offered specific expertise to Asda to help it achieve its vision of vastly reducing its carbon footprint. By investing in preventative maintenance, data monitoring and energy performance optimisation of its cold stores, Asda is now reaping the financial rewards too.

The Ethos software was first installed in Asdas Bedford chilled distribution centre with impressive results. In four years of monitoring the plant and making recommendations to improve efficiency, the site reported energy savings of 556,000 kWh and also saved 760 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

Brian Churchyard, Building Model, Engineering, Energy & Innovation Senior Manager at Asda, said We have made tangible reductions in energy use throughout our chilled depots whilst continuing to run our business as usual with no disruption, and have not decreased our capacity requirements resulting in reduced operational costs improving like-for-like profit margins. These changes behind the scenes also reduce your overall carbon footprint.

Ethos is a bespoke data driven analysis software designed by a team of award-winning senior refrigeration consultants, field engineers and software engineers. It collects data from refrigeration plants in real time and the cloud based software then compares actual operating performance with a computer model of theoretical performance at the given ambient conditions and operating temperatures.

This comparison of actual performance with the digital twin, highlights any energy gap and enables the SDA team to identify problems and suggest corrective actions to reduce energy usage and meet environmental goals.

Live data is provided through a digital dashboard which conveys the performance clearly. Alerts are sent to plant owners and maintenance contractors when irregular equipment behaviour is detected. Additionally, a spending chart within the Ethos dashboard allows customers to see at a glance how much money is being spent running the refrigeration plant.

With the UK following many other countries around the world by introducing legislation to decarbonise by 2050, all businesses need to have a plan to reach net zero. Innovative software such as Ethos can offer large gains when it comes to reducing energy usage and cutting carbon footprints.

Star Refrigeration has decades of expertise in natural refrigerants and can offer advice on the development and implementation of energy and carbon reduction strategies, including the use of modern low carbon refrigeration technology, preventative maintenance programmes and data monitoring and performance optimisation of refrigeration plants.

To find out more about how Ethos helped Asda achieve significant carbon savings go to: https://www.star-ref.co.uk/case-studies/asda/
"Teaming up with Bryson and The Facilities Group will deepen our resources to improve our customer's experience" - Jack Fabrique

Founded in 1995, Excel Building Services (Excel) is a national provider of janitorial and facility management services. With locations in California and New Jersey, Excel has the unique ability to service the entire United States through defined operational processes. Excel specializes in servicing distribution and logistics centers, multi-site retail locations, single and multi-tenant commercial office buildings, industrial and manufacturing facilities, healthcare, and many others. Jack Fabrique, President of Excel, was looking for a industry partner with more resources to enrich the Excel legacy and continue expansion across the country. Teaming up with Bryson and The Facilities Group will deepen our resources to improve our customers experience and allow our employees room for career growth, Fabrique stated.

The Facilities Group, consisting of six brands, now services more than 22,000 locations across the country. We are excited to join forces with Excel and partner with the leadership team to improve The Facilities Group customer service experience and add a significant west-coast presence, stated Bryson Raver, Chief Executive Officer of The Facilities Group.

Adding Excel to The Facilities Group family, makes it the sixth completed transaction in the last seventeen months at The Facilities Group. Excel joins one of the fastest growing national providers of facilities maintenance and janitorial services in the United States, with additional acquisitions expected in 2021.

The Facilities Group  The Facilities Group partners with premier local, regional, and national facility maintenance providers, while maintaining brand legacy and driving high powered technology to provide the best-in-class service experience. For more information, please visit http://www.thefacilitiesgroup.com

Revolent Capital Solutions is a Tampa-based private investment enterprise founded and capitalized by entrepreneurs. We seek family and founder owned businesses looking for liquidity, while providing ownership opportunities for management teams and an ecosystem designed to foster organic and acquisitive growth. Revolent is distinct because we intentionally built our enterprise to be the catalyst for long-term advancement of companies and its stakeholders driven by our experience, capital, and professional network. We combine a long-term hold period, with a flexible approach to investing, tailored to meet the needs of both entrepreneurs and senior management teams. For more information, please visit http://www.revolentcapitalsolutions.com.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning can effectively complement existing approaches to data synthesis and evidence generation. When used well, they can then enhance the efficiency of clinical development and commercialization programs, and help innovative therapies reach patients sooner.

International HEOR and RWE research organization Genesis Research is presenting an interactive webinar and Q&A at 11am ET on Thursday 15 July on How artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can be incorporated across the product lifecycle to better identify and extract the evidence you need.

Vast volumes of medical literature are published each year and the process continues to accelerate. Whether scientists in the pharmaceutical industry need answers to specific questions or are undertaking a systematic literature review, identifying and extracting evidence accurate can be time-consuming and expensive.

This webinar discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) can alleviate the burden: allowing scientists to review the breadth of the literature while minimizing the effort required to secure results.

Chris Pashos Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Genesis Research and a former vice president at both Takeda and AbbVie, will be discussing the data needs intrinsic to developing a new medicine and describing how efficient evidence generation can yield positive decisions by regulators, health technology assessors, and the medical community that provide value and improve patient well-being.

Im very pleased to contribute to this webinar, says Chris. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can effectively complement existing approaches to data synthesis and evidence generation. When used well, they can then enhance the efficiency of clinical development and commercialization programs, and help innovative therapies reach patients sooner.

In the second part of the webinar, Matthew Michelson Ph.D., President, Genesis AI, will describe how artificial intelligence supports evidence development. He will also introduce EVID AI, Genesis Researchs in-house AI-powered database and machine learning platform, explaining how it can be incorporated into everyday processes to support evidence needs through a collaboration of human expertise and ground-breaking technological innovation.

A live video Q&A and discussion will follow, with the speakers answering questions submitted by the audience via live chat.

This free online event takes place at 11am ET / 4pm BST / 5pm CET on Thursday 15 July.

To find out more or to register, individuals should visit http://www.genesisrg.com/#/webinar

Notes:

Chris Pashos

Chris Pashos Ph.D. is the Chief Scientific Officer at Genesis Research, focused on RWE generation, patient-centric research, and other aspects of Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) to support product evaluation, from drug discovery through development and commercialization. Chris has extensive experience in multiple therapeutic areas, including hematology/oncology, cardio-metabolic diseases, urology, rare diseases, neuroscience, immunology, and womens health. He has designed and implemented prospective observational studies (patient registries) involving hundreds of thousands of patients. His experience also includes numerous analyses of existing databases, interactive economic models, and surveys to obtain data on the use of health care services.

Matt Michelson

Matt Michelson Ph.D. is the President of Genesis AI at Genesis Research. A computer scientist with an extensive background in information extraction, record linkage, machine learning and data mining, Matt and his team developed a unique platform called EVID which generates evidence by ingesting the entire primary literature of peer-reviewed articles, pulling out the salient data points and blending these results across innumerable combinations to generalize customized summaries in seconds. Matt and his team are building the largest database of therapy evidence in the world and continue to explore ways in which different data sources can be absorbed to answer complex research questions.

About Genesis Research:

Genesis Research is an international HEOR and RWE research organization that supports the life sciences industry. As a leader in evidence strategy, development and communication, the company also supports life sciences clients with meta research, economic modelling, data analytics, scientific writings, outcomes simulation, strategic and tactical HEOR, market access strategy and evidence life cycle management.

Genesis Research have unique level of expertise in creating technological solutions:



Their patented EVID AI platform is the largest, most comprehensive, AI-powered database of literature-based results in the world, with nearly 80 million data points. It revolutionizes formal projects, such as literature reviews, as well as optimizing the identification and extraction of data to answer specific questions on any given day.

Focusing on a specific disease, the Landscape Evidence Overview (LEO) tool provides a continuous literature tracking and presentation platform that allows our clients to stay on top of the latest literature and how new data changes precedents in the evidence base.

The Evidence and Value Access platform (EVA) is an advanced data repository and value demonstration platform that supports integrated product plan development and cross functional interaction.

Genesis Research also lead the industry in designing interactive data dashboards and data portals. The organizations dashboards utilize data visualization techniques to transform and extrapolate value from complex technical data into communicable insights, while its web-based data portals collect and present uniform data on a patient population defined by a particular disease, exposure, or condition.

A Rallyday Partners portfolio company (Rallydaypartners.com), Genesis Research has offices in Hoboken, USA and Newcastle, UK.

For more information, please visit http://www.genesisrg.com or http://www.linkedin.com/company/genesisresearch
New Podcast, 'We Interrupt This Broadcast: Before It Was History, It Was News,' Debuts July 20, 2021 "Not only do people remember where they were when a momentous story broke, they remember who reported it to them, and who talked them through it. - Brian Williams

It is said that breaking news is the first draft of history. We Interrupt This Broadcast: Before it was history, it was news marks the first time the stories of these historical events are told exclusively by the broadcasters and TV journalists whose work created those drafts in real-time.

Created by Joe Garner, author of the eponymous New York Times Best-Selling Book, this 12-episode audio docuseries launching July 20, 2021, celebrates the crucial role broadcast journalism has played throughout our nations history.

Hosted by legendary broadcaster Bill Kurtis and narrated by NBCs Brian Williams, each episode unfolds with the brisk pace and tone of a thriller while presenting an in-depth look into the reporting of, and reaction to, events that have since become benchmarks in history. The contributors are a Whos who in broadcast journalism. Along with the thrilling broadcast news audio, exclusive, rare, and never-before-heard recordings are woven throughout each episode.

The docuseries, produced by i4 Media Ventures, LLC, will be presented over six seasons. Each season is comprised of 12 episodes, all published simultaneously: 10 episodes in each season are based on events that occurred in the broadcast era and two are based on seminal moments that occurred in early American history (such as the passing of the 19th Amendment) and dramatized as if reported by broadcast journalists. Each episode concludes with the journalists offering candid and critical analysis on how they and their fellow reporters covered the event.

None of us lucky enough to have these anchor jobs got into the business for the perfectly average Tuesday in August, notes Williams, who is an executive producer as well as narrator of the podcast. While I have nothing against Tuesdays in August, we measure ourselves, our talent and ability, by how we work without a net. The rush to the studio and the need to describe and explain breaking news in real time. Calm becomes a critical commodity -- awareness of how the world works helps, and that includes a working knowledge of politics, history, aircraft, weapons, geography and about a dozen other subjects.

Not only do people remember where they were when a momentous story broke, Williams added, They remember who reported it to them, and who talked them through it.

Kurtis, an acclaimed documentarian, 30-year veteran of CBS News, and host of the podcast, said, I have spent a good deal of career reporting and analyzing these world-changing events and I am pleased to participate in this project, which amplifies and hones in on the very important work that broadcast journalists do to ensure the news is reported quickly, accurately, and fairly.

Season One features the following landmark moments in American and world history:



Oh, the Humanity!  the Hindenburg disaster (May 6, 1937)

about to embark up on a great crusade  D-Day Invasion (June 6, 1944)

In Dallas Texas, three shots were fired  JFK Assassination (November 22, 1963)

One Small Step  Apollo 11 Moon Landing (July 20, 1969)

The president was [not?] hit,  President Reagan shot (March 30, 1981)

Can we all get along?  L.A. Riots following the Rodney King verdict (April 29, 1992)

Princess Diana has died  The Death of Princess Di (August 31, 1997)

Shots fired at Columbine High School  The tragedy at Columbine (April 20, 1999)

Nobody knows for a fact who has won Florida  The 2000 presidential election (November 8, 2000)

This has to be deliberate  9-11: America Under Attack (September 11, 2001)

Band of rebels on a killing spree (dramatization)  The Nat Turner slave uprising of 1831 (August 21, 1831)

Tennessee House gives women the right to vote  The passing of the 19th Amendment (June 4, 1919)

We Interrupt This Broadcast is available now for preview on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play and wherever listeners get their podcasts. You can find a trailer at this link.

We Interrupt This Broadcast is being represented for ad and sponsorship sales by New York and Los Angeles-based Crossover Media Group Sales (http://www.crossovermediagroup.com).

About Joe Garner

Dubbed the Ken Burns of the written and recorded word by talk legend Larry King, Joe Garner is a veteran radio industry executive, narrator, host and producer, as well as a multiple New York Times bestselling author. His seminal multimedia book, We Interrupt This Broadcast, innovatively pairing audio, photographs and text, has sold more than one million copies and has for two decades served as a go-to chronicle of Americas broadcast history. The We Interrupt This Broadcast docuseries podcast is the maiden project of i4 Media Ventures, LLC, co-founded in December 2020 by Garner, Ron Hartenbaum and Scott Calka.
At Woolpert, we take the latest technology laser scanning a step further by merging multiple AEG technologies to accurately document, preserve and enhance a wide range of structures.

Woolpert has been contracted by Preservation Parks of Delaware County to provide architecture, engineering and geospatial design services to convert Delaware Countys Bicentennial Barn into a four-season event center. The 230-acre McCammon Creek Park site is less than 20 miles north of Columbus. The roughly 85 acres surrounding the barn will support park district events, banquets, weddings, meetings and reunions.

The Bicentennial Barn was one of 88 barns, one for each county, featured as part of the 200th anniversary of Ohios statehood in 2003. The two-story, 4,800-square-foot structure was built in 1910 and is visible from Interstate 71. The barn will be moved within the park and refurbished to become the parks centerpiece.

Well do a scan of the barn, zip a drone around it to get a good look, and come up with a design that works well for the event center and that showcases the historical significance of the barn, Woolpert Architect and Program Director James Dobrozsi said. The surrounding park will have a farm-themed playground, a park shelter, a restroom facility and walking trails that will loop around the pond and the perimeter, pulling it all together. Its a beautiful valley out here, and it will make a gorgeous event site.

Woolpert will provide programming and master planning for the event center, incorporating parking lot and roadway improvements, utility design and routing, survey and site grading, stormwater management and landscape architecture. For the renovation of the barn, the firm has enlisted the services of Rudy Christian, one of the worlds leading timber frame experts. Christian will ensure the barn remains historically accurate while gaining the modern amenities essential to the event center, like restrooms, a kitchen, an elevator and an HVAC system.

Woolpert Geodetic Surveyor and Phase Manager Jason Kail will conduct the 3D laser scan of the inside and outside of the barn to generate a point cloud representing its precise physical structure before it is moved. He will merge that information with data collected via unmanned aircraft system to create a digital twin of the barn.

With the digital twin, the barn can be deconstructed and then reconstructed at its new location to preserve its historical integrity, Kail said. At Woolpert, we take the latest technology laser scanning a step further by merging multiple AEG technologies to accurately document, preserve and enhance a wide range of structures.

Once moved, the barn will have an outdoor patio and reception area, which will complement the beauty of the park. Woolpert Senior Landscape Architect Bruce Rankin said the barn will be positioned to take full advantage of the assets of the site, which are considerable.

There are opportunities that allow for continuous discovery and creative exploration as you move around the park. There are gently rolling fields with a valley off to one side, a pond hidden behind a grove of trees on the other, and a hierarchy of pedestrian and bike trails throughout, Rankin said. All this will revolve around the barn. With a barn like this, you can walk in and it will be talking to you, sharing its history. Its a visceral experience. We are here to provide the resources to help the barn and the landscape tell its story, and it is a beautiful story to tell.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is an ENR Top 150 Global Design Firm, recently earned its fifth-straight Great Place to Work certification and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been Americas fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has over 1,100 employees and 42 offices in three countries. For more, visit woolpert.com.
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Business Spotlight highlights company anniversaries beginning with the 10th anniversary and in five-year increments after that. To submit a Business Spotlight, go to readingeagle.com and click Money on the Main Menu, then click on the Business Spotlight form. All information in the story was submitted by the company. The Reading Eagle reserves the right to edit submitted copy for style, clarity and length.
President Biden implores us that climate change is an existential threat to humanity. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry preaches to us that [t]he climate crisis as a whole is a national security threat because it is disruptive to the daily lives of human beings all over the world. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warns us that in 2030, the world is going to end  if we dont address climate change.

Hold on to your wallet. The Lefts global warming Chicken Littles insist that the sky is falling but dont want you to know six key facts.

First, in his new book Unsettled, Obama Administration Department of Energy chief scientist Steven Koonin shows that the models relied upon by the Left to predict future global warming are so poor that they cannot even reproduce the temperature changes in the 20th century.

If these models cannot reproduce past temperatures already known when the models were developed, how can they possibly reliably predict temperatures decades into the future?

Second, Koonins book also documents that the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes own analysis indicates that any negative economic impact that global warming eventually may have will be so modest that it warrants no action.

Third, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the UN IPPC do not claim that a link has been established between global warming and natural disasters.

In 2020, the NOAA stated: it is premature to conclude with high confidence that increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations from human activities have had a detectable impact on Atlantic basin hurricane activity, and changes in tropical cyclone activity  are not yet detectable.

The UN IPPC, the Wall Street Journal reported, says that it too lacks evidence to show that warming is making storms and flooding worse.

Fourth, as the earths temperature has risen, natural disasters have become far less deadly.

Since 1920, the planets temperature has risen by 1.29 degrees Celsius and world population has quadrupled from less than two billion to over seven and half billion  yet EM-DAT, The International Disaster Database, reports that the number of people killed by natural disasters has declined by over 80 percent, from almost 550,000 per year to less than 100,000 per year.

Fifth, some of the worlds best scientists believe that global warming will be beneficial rather than harmful.

In 2017, a group of eminent scientists  such as Richard Lindzen of MIT and William Happer of Princeton  wrote that [o]bservations [over the last] 25 years  show that warming from increased atmospheric CO2 will be benign.

Carbon dioxide, they noted, is not a pollutant but a major benefit to agriculture and other life on Earth.

Sixth, global warming saves lives. A study published in 2015 by the British medical journal The Lancet found that cold kills over 17 times more people than heat.

This study by 22 scientists from around the world  which examined over 74 million deaths in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States in 1985-2012, the largest dataset ever collected to assess temperature-health associations reported that cold caused 7.29 percent of these deaths, while heat caused only 0.42 percent.

And small changes in the temperature matter: moderately hot and cold temperatures caused 88.85 percent of the temperature-related deaths, while extreme temperatures caused only 11.15 percent.

We must not let the Left bully us into draconian action with unfounded claims of a looming climate catastrophe. Know the facts. Global warming is not a problem.
AMAC Exclusive Over a year ago, in May of 2020, school superintendents from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles convened for an event hosted by Harvard University's Public Education Leadership Project. With management gurus at the Harvard Business School offering their wisdom two months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the stage was set. This was the [...]
If your child didnt attend school regularly last year, Randi Weingarten is likely the reason why. No wonder why the American Federation of Teachers boss has launched a soft-focus rehabilitation campaign in the media. Her p.r. people are working overtime to make us forget that no single public actor has done more to hurt kids, and education overall, in the last year.
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Good morning, its Monday, July 12, 2021. On this date in 1984, I was on the floor of the Moscone Center in my hometown of San Francisco when Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale asked convention delegates to approve his choice of a running mate -- a little-known congresswoman from Queens.

I know what it takes to be a good vice president -- I was once one myself, said Mondale, in a rare bout of immodesty. I looked for the best vice president, and I found her in Geri Ferraro.

New York Rep. Geraldine Ferraro was not the most qualified female running mate Mondale could have chosen: That distinction probably belonged to Rep. Patricia Schroeder, the Colorado Democrat who had been instrumental in forcing party elders to expand the demographic waters of their normal pool of candidates. Yet, Schroeder was on the convention floor that night, too, cheering along with the rest of the delegates and party luminaries.

America is not just for some of us, Mondale said. Our Founders said in the Constitution: We the People. Not just the rich, or men, or white, but all of us. Our message is that America is for everyone who works hard and contributes to our blessed country.

It took another 36 years, but Pat Schroeders vision -- and Fritz Mondales promise -- came to pass in the person of Kamala Harris. Anniversaries such as this one serve as reminders to take a step back from the daily details of politics (and our partisan differences) and look at the big picture. Irrespective of your political leanings, Vice President Harris not only fulfills Walter Mondales promise to his political party, but the promise of Americas founding. Yes, it took a long time to get here, but its something to celebrate -- notwithstanding the noisy posturing by malcontents on the ideological fringes of the political spectrum.

On that admittedly preachy note, Id point you to our front page, which aggregates, as it does each day, columns and stories spanning the political spectrum. Todays lineup includes Karol Markowicz on teacher unions (New York Post); Jania Hoover on the importance of teaching African American history to all kids (Vox); Abigail Shriers case study on how conservatives can get things done (Substack); and Harold Meyersons look at NYC mayor-apparent Eric Adams (American Prospect). We also offer a complement of original material from RCP reporters and contributors, including the following:

* * *

White House Needs to Explain Its Voting Rights Strategy. Bill Scher writes that the president is at odds with most of his party over the need to pass the For the People Act.

RCP Takeaway. In the latest podcast, we discuss the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, critical race theory, and the New York mayoral race.

Biden Backs Teacher Unions, CRT Curricula. Phil Wegmann reports on the administrations decision to wade into the growing culture war over critical race theory.

Texas Congressman Embodies Nations Divide Over Vaccines. Phil has this interview with Rep. Chip Roy.

Lina Khans Plan for Big Tech Faces Big Obstacles. At RealClearPolicy, Olive Morris warns that the FTC head will need to better equip the agency if it pursues her antitrust agenda.

Bidens End-of-Semester Report Card. At RealClearEducation, Lance Izumi considers the presidents spending policies impact on student well-being and achievement.

Assessing the Hype Over Electric Vehicles. At RealClearEnergy, Robert Bryce explains why EV sales, though growing, account for just 2% of all U.S. auto sales despite purchasing incentives.

Why We May Be Dependent on Processed Cereals. RealClearScience editor Ross Pomeroy spotlights a study on whats become the chief source for many Americans micronutrients.

* * *

Carl M. Cannon

Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics

@CarlCannon (Twitter)

ccannon@realclearpolitics.com
Last week Vice President Kamala Harris announced that, to counter the spate of restrictive voting measures which have been enacted in several Republican-controlled states, the Democratic National Committee would spend $25 million on tools and technology to register voters, to educate voters, to turn out voters, to protect voters.

In remarks at Howard University, Harris said, People say, Whats the strategy? to which she answered, We are going to assemble the largest voter protection team we have ever had sure to ensure that all Americans can vote and have your vote counted in a fair and transparent process.

Strikingly, Harris did not mention as part of the strategy enactment of the For the People Act, the voting rights legislation Democrats passed in the House but cannot get around the filibuster in the Senate. After Harris Howard speech and a West Wing meeting with President Biden, voting rights advocates were not soothed. There is no substitute for federal legislative action, said Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center for Justice. Several demanded Biden use his bully pulpit more aggressively. Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund said, I told the president: We will not be able to litigate our way out of this threat to black citizenship. We must have the president use his voice.

Democratic members of Congress are also pressuring Biden to not only push for the voting rights bill, but also a weakening of the filibuster in order to pass the bill. In an interview with Politico, House Majority Whip James Clyburn said Biden should pick up the phone and tell [Sen.] Joe Manchin, Hey, we should do a carve-out of the filibuster, which means forbidding the tactic when legislation is on the Senate floor related to constitutional rights.

The White House and the most of the rest of the Democratic Party have differing strategies on voting rights, because they appear to be operating on a different set of premises. This is an existential crisis for democracy and the party that is defending democracy, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, arguing that the Democratic Party needs the For the People Act. But according to reporting by The Atlantics Ron Brownstein, the Biden administration doesnt have the same sense of impending doom. Although White House officials consider the laws offensive from a civil-rights perspective, he wrote, they do not think most of those laws will advantage Republicans in the 2022 and 2024 elections as much as many liberal activists fear."

Brownstein interviewed one anonymous White House official, who noted Bidens ability to navigate the voting laws in 2020. Show us what the rules are and we will figure out a way to educate our voters and make sure they understand how they can vote and we will get them out to vote, said this Biden aide.

As Ive written previously, recent history  Barack Obamas reelection, Democratic takeover of the House in 2018, Bidens victory and the Democratic takeover of the Senate in 2020  supports the White House view; Democrats can and have overcome Republican-backed restrictive voting laws. In particular, academic research shows that strict laws requiring ID to vote have outright backfired on Republicans by firing up the Democratic base.

However, to acknowledge that Democrats have the capacity to outmuscle and outfox Republicans is to acknowledge that modern attempts at voter suppression have been too feeble to doom our democracy. The Republican intent behind restrictive election laws may be nefarious, but the impact to date has been negligible.

Such analysis is completely out of sync with the perspective of most activist Democrats, who have convinced themselves that Republicans are building a suppressive election law regime that harks back to the era of Jim Crow. In turn, Biden and his team have chosen to not provoke intra-party tension by openly and forcefully challenging the narrative deeply held by most rank-and-file Democrats.

While it is certainly understandable that Biden doesnt want sow dissension in his own party ranks, we are seeing the downside with failing to correct flawed narratives. No party leaders were willing to challenge the assumptions held by most party members, walk them through the available data, and explain how Democrats can still get their voters to the polls regardless of what Republican state legislatures pass.

Most Democrats believe passage of the For the People Act is essential to the fate of their party and democracy itself. If White House officials believe passage is not essential, but isnt willing to explain why, confusion and demoralization among the Democratic rank-and-file would appear inevitable.

Democrats face an uphill battle in 2022, as the presidents party almost always loses more than a few House seats in a midterm election and the Democratic margin in the House is a scant five seats. And control of the Senate is on a knifes edge as well. If Democrats are to make history and keep their congressional majorities, their ranks cannot be demoralized. Its time for the Biden administration to talk straight to the Democratic base.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 07/11/2021



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[ Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Tiffany and Ronald are still together now or if the couple has split up.]

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So are Ronald and Tiffany still together now or is the couple broken up and divorcing?

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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.

couple Tiffany Franco and Ronald Smith are always fighting on Season 6 of : Happily Ever After?, so did the couple's relationship last or did they split up? Are Ronald and Tiffany still together now and what do spoilers reveal about their current relationship?Tiffany was a 27-year-old from Frederick, MD, and Ronald was a 29-year-old from South Africa when they starred on : The Other Way's first season in 2019.Tiffany accepted a marriage proposal from Ronald despite his faults and mistakes -- including Ronald having a criminal record as well as a serious gambling addiction that led to a six-month rehab stint in South Africa.Once Ronald changed his ways and sought therapy, Tiffany moved her eight-year-old son Daniel to South Africa on a Tourist Visa so they could be a family, but she wasn't convinced it was going to be a permanent move.Tiffany and Ronald got married during her trip, but due to financial constraints and Tiffany deciding South Africa was not a safe place for her kids to grow up, she decided to return to the U.S. and give birth to the couple's daughter there.Tiffany thought the best way to be with Ronald and to make her whole family happy would be to apply for a spousal visa so Ronald could move to the U.S.After giving birth to the couple's daughter Carley in Summer 2019, Tiffany revealed on Part 1 of : The Other Way's Tell-All special -- which aired in October 2019 -- that life in the U.S. was "so much harder" than she could have ever anticipated without her husband by her side.Tiffany said Ronald had also become "very hot and cold" about their plans for him to move to the United States.Ronald had allegedly told Tiffany that he didn't want to waste money trying for another visa -- given he had been denied a K-1 visa before due to his criminal record -- but then Tiffany revealed she went ahead and applied for a spousal CR-1 visa for Ronald."The last time Ronald and I were physically together, it was eight months ago," Tiffany explained, "and I am all alone -- left to face everything and be responsible for everything. Ronald, right now, is not emotionally supportive and he's not financially supportive."Tiffany said Ronald never offered to send money for clothes or diapers, and so she met with an attorney, Christopher Role."I have moments when I wonder if this marriage is right for me," Tiffany confessed. "Ronald doesn't know this, but I think I want a divorce."Tiffany lamented she was feeling miserable every day and had reached "a breaking point" and feared there was "no other choice but to get divorced" because things might only get worse once Ronald arrived to the U.S.But Ronald insisted he was making "small strides" and "ends meet" by doing odd jobs such as painting rooms for people. He said he was doing the best he could.Suddenly, Tiffany revealed to Ronald on Zoom she had decided to cancel her family's plane tickets to South Africa. Tiffany said it wasn't fair she was always paying for things and if Ronald wanted to see her and the kids, he'd cough up the dough.Ronald said it was "unbearable" to miss milestones in Carley's life and watch her grow up through a computer screen, and the pair got into "a huge heated" fight over the canceled tickets.Tiffany ultimately used the money as a down payment for a new apartment so she and the kids could move out of her mother Maggie's house. She was also putting her own happiness first for once.But once Tiffany and Ronald fell back into a good place in their relationship after a lot of arguing, Tiffany received an email she had been waiting on "for years" informing her that Ronald's visa application to come to the United States had been approved and they'd be able to move on to the interview phase of the process.Ronald gushed over videochat about being "overwhelmed" -- happy and scared at the same time -- but Tiffany fell just under the income requirement to be able to completely take care of Ronald financially upon his entrance into America.Tiffany therefore asked her father Carlos to be Ronald's co-sponsor because she said she was "not willing to do this long-distance thing anymore."Carlos agreed to co-sponsor Ronald even though Ronald has a record, including a drug possession charge. Ronald, however, had his charges withdrawn and was never convicted of anything.Tiffany later met with an immigration lawyer to discuss Ronald's upcoming interview at the Embassy in South Africa for the spousal visa, which was in the approval stage.Ronald was told he only had one chance to get it right or else he and Tiffany would have to wait years to go through with this process again. While Ronald videochatted with the lawyer, he was sitting back on a couch and vaping.Ronald also made light of having been arrested five or six times.Tiffany watched Ronald essentially bomb the interview during a practice round with the lawyer. Tiffany explained that Ronald rambled on when asked "yes" or "no" questions and didn't seem to take things seriously.Tiffany left the meeting more worried than ever, and the lawyer predicted Ronald would have a 50/50 chance of getting his spousal visa approved.Tiffany called Ronald after the meeting and reminded him that he needed to shape up and take things seriously, but Ronald pointed out how Tiffany and the kids could always move to South Africa and live with him."I don't know if Ronald is purposely sabotaging the visa, but I do think that he's a little more careless with it because in his mind, if it doesn't work out, we can still move over there -- which is his backup plan and so he's not that scared," Tiffany explained."For me, I'm terrified because I know I'm not going there. So for me, if he fails that interview, that's it and there's no backup plan. He still thinks he has a safety net, and he doesn't."Ronald then asked Tiffany to visit him in South Africa with the kids for the Christmas holiday and stay for three months. Maggie was disappointed when she discovered Ronald had grunted about being asked to pay half of his family's plane tickets.Maggie laughed about Ronald being "a joke," and she told Tiffany to use her trip to South Africa as a test run to figure out whether she really wanted to be with Ronald forever and have him move to the United States permanently.Tiffany wanted to see that Ronald was saving money, working, prioritizing his family, and being responsible in South Africa.Tiffany had set high expectations for Ronald and their future together, but she still apparently purchased open-ended plane tickets.As Tiffany and the kids traveled, Ronald was working on turning his garage into a room just for Daniel so he would have some privacy and space. Ronald didn't want Daniel to have to sleep on the couch and be uncomfortable.Ronald planned for Tiffany and the kids to file an extension on Tiffany's Tourist Visa after three months so that they could stay in South Africa an additional three months. The other option was for Ronald's visa to get approved so he could fly back to the United States with his family."The fact of the matter is, if Tiffany doesn't want to move to South Africa, I will force her to. I'm not going to be away from my kids again that long," Ronald admitted.Ronald ultimately had an emotional reunion with his family, especially when Daniel jumped into his arms.Tiffany was used to staying with Ronald's mother, so she didn't know what to expect from Ronald's own place. She worried about walking into a total "bachelor pad," but Tiffany was actually very impressed and said it was so much better than what she had expected.Daniel also seemed thrilled to walk into his own room that was painted royal blue and had a TV. Tiffany could see Ronald's effort and love "for sure" since he had built a room just for his son."My family is on the line, possibly spending Christmas with me in South Africa -- and maybe staying longer," Ronald said in a confessional with Tiffany by his side."So if that's what it's going to cost, I will do it. At the end of the day, I don't think you're going to stay, I KNOW you're going to stay. You just don't know it yet."But during Tiffany's first day in South Africa, Tiffany noticed Ronald had nothing to eat in his refrigerator. Tiffany said Ronald had six eggs, a bottle of hot sauce and one beer in his apartment.Tiffany complained that Ronald had spent all of his money on building Ronald his own room instead of buying groceries to be able to feed his wife and children.Ronald said he was going to do whatever it takes to make Tiffany and his family happy and comfortable in South Africa, but he ended up being $50 short when it came to the $250 grocery bill -- and Tiffany seemed frustrated and upset to have to step in and save the day once again.Tiffany was exhausted from her travels and also hoped Ronald would step up and help her out more with the kids. She thought it was "annoying and upsetting" how Ronald wasn't offering to assist her.Tiffany threatened Ronald by saying if he didn't make her stay easy and enjoyable, she'd be taking the kids back to America for the Christmas holiday.Ronald felt Tiffany was dangling a carrot in front of his face like he's a donkey and said Tiffany's words really hurt his heart.But the couple eventually got over their fight and Ronald told Tiffany that he'd give her whatever she needed from him.Tiffany and Ronald have apparently broken up again and are heading towards divorce after Ronald lashed out at Tiffany for allegedly lying about his spousal visa and Tiffany in turn accused her husband of emotional abuse.It appears the couple got into a fight on their daughter Carley's July 3, 2021 birthday based on cryptic social-media activity -- including Tiffany cropping Ronald out of a family photo in one of her uploads -- and then everything came to a head on July 6.Tiffany began a stream of posts on Instagram Stories on Tuesday by writing, "You think things are messy? They are about to get a whole lot messier."Tiffany, a mom of two, went on to share alleged emails and Instagram DMs from Ronald in which the South Africa native insisted he's "done" with his marriage to Tiffany and threatened to expose her on social media.Ronald allegedly told Tiffany that he could find someone "better" who will treat him "right" and "won't lie.""F-ck you for that... I'm gonna block you again... I already threw everything out of the house... [I] hope you find pleasure in what you did. I'm literally nauseous thinking about you now lol... I'm free now, thank you [for] lying... I won't respect you for sh-t again," he allegedly wrote to his wife."If I see my kids ever again [that's] up to you. Are you going to visit me with them? F-ck no, stay away from my place. You're just like your mom now! Single, have kids, no dads, and likes to lie but demands respect. Get real, Tiffany. Watch social media, [going to] hit you hard!"Tiffany wrote on the alleged screenshot that she "won't stay quiet anymore."Ronald allegedly continued, "I do not want to know nothing about you. I don't want to hear about you; all I want is my kids. I'm done with you, you can move on. I move on. Let's do that. You can say I'm cheating [but] you are the one lying about the visa."Ronald seemingly suggested Tiffany had yet to follow through with the visa paperwork to move him from South Africa to the United States.Ronald allegedly continued in his messages to Tiffany, "You are worthless, you are not worth being loved. You are useless as a woman, as a wife."Tiffany called Ronald's messages "more abuse" and wrote on Instagram Stories, "Emotional abuse leaves scars that you'll never see. I've gone through enough for a whole life together and I've had to stay quiet."Tiffany also posted an alleged email from Ronald that read in part, "You wouldn't have felt lonely... if you did the visa or if you move to South Africa, but no, you decided you wanted to lie to me about the visa and same time you refused to move to South Africa just so that I can be with my family."He allegedly wrote, "You took me for a big, big ride. You made me change my life. You made me put things on hold... I got rid of people for you and I regret it so much. I regret everything I did for you... The only thing that I'm happy about from you [is] my kids, nothing else. I'm sorry, it is what it is.""I'm glad you moved on," he allegedly added. "I'm happy for you. I hope you get someone... that can love you again because from my eyes, sorry, I literally can't wait for sunrise only [to[ get this divorce thing done. But until then, you are free. I promise you, you are free."Ronald allegedly complained that he'd probably lose his children from this situation and hopes Tiffany is "delighted" about that."In my eyes, you are nothing... You never, never, never, never have the opportunity to be in my arms again... It's here where we draw the line," Ronald allegedly lashed out.Ronald appeared to threaten Tiffany by saying he'd "exploit" her "like never before" and show her "lies and manipulation" and the way she allegedly played him.For Ronald's part, he fired away at Tiffany by sharing a post on his own Instagram Stories, asking his followers for a "lawyer in the [United States]" so he could receive "advice and costing on [a] few things," according to In Touch Weekly.Ronald also reportedly said on Instagram Live of Tiffany, "She basically told me everything is submitted, everything is done, I'm going to be with my family soon.""I found out she lied. I lost my sh-t and you know what? She says I treated her bad," he claimed."Let me just calm down for a second because I'm so upset thinking she played me for a fool and she literally made me believe I'm going to be with my family soon. She's complaining she's alone and she's doing everything by herself, but she lied about the visa. Literally, she lied."Tiffany went on to write to her followers on Instagram Stories that she doesn't regret any decisions in her past because she acted with an open heart."Not everyone has the same heart. Some people choose to take advantage of those they see as [weak]. I cannot see where everything stands at the moment, but what I will say is, if anyone speaks to you this way, it is a reflection of who they are, not who you are," Tiffany explained."Don't ever be silent. You can survive it and get out of it. Love should NOT HURT. I am not perfect and I have made mistakes, but I will never again allow anyone to make me feel this way again."Things have taken a dramatic turn since June 2021, when the couple's relationship appeared to be thriving.Tiffany wished Ronald a Happy Father's Day on social media in a sweet post."For almost 5 years now you've been Papa bear, through the ups and downs A constant reminder of why are you are the love of my life is the amazing love you have for our kids," Tiffany captioned a slideshow of family."You embraced Daniel in a way that I can't actually explain... I love you have for him makes me so proud. The kids adore you. I adore you. Today is entirely your day, to celebrate the amazing dad you are and how even more amazing you are becoming every day."Tiffany continued, "I love seeing the man who once was the center of attention and the party animal turn into the guy who lets everyone go have their parties so you can walk off to the side and play toys with the kids. I am grateful, I am blessed, I am proud. You are truly a blessing to us.""From the bottom of all of our hearts we love you with all of us and we wish you the best Father's Day! Sidenote..." she concluded.And Ronald commented on the post, "Thank you my love. Love it its beautiful thank you thank you thank you love you sooo much youre my everything and you and the kids complete my life."At the time, Tiffany also confirmed she had gone under the knife for weight loss surgery and said Ronald had been supporting her emotionally, according to In Touch.And in a May 24 Instagram Live session, Tiffany conducted a makeup tutorial and dropped a sly quick comment about how she had just traveled to see Ronald again in South Africa."It's from when I was on the airplane coming here from South Africa. My skin got super dry and it just got really messed up," Tiffany said, before flashing a big know-it-all smile.Tiffany also said during the video, "I wish Ronald was on here so he could help me [answer questions] while I'm doing my makeup, but he is busy!"And on May 18, Tiffany and Ronald went Instagram Live together, with Tiffany posting their conversation on her account's page.Tiffany captioned their session, "Definitely getting a divorce. Definitely getting a divorce," but she added a crying-laughing emoticon to her post to suggest she's joking.Tiffany jokingly asked Ronald when he'd be signing the divorce papers, and Ronald explained with a big smile that he didn't have a pen.Tiffany was all giggles as she and Ronald sang love songs to each other and teased one another.And on April 4, 2021, Tiffany confirmed she still loved Ronald.Ronald posted a beautiful tribute to Tiffany's son Daniel, whom Ronald also considers and calls his son.In addition to complimenting the young boy on his maturity, cleverness and being well-mannered, Ronald wrote, "I just really hope that the connection we have I hope it never dies as you get older now I'm proud to have you as my son but also I'm a bit sad not being able to be there to celebrate it with you."Ronald added of Tiffany, "Tell your mom @tiffanyfrancosmith its your yes day and make the best of it... you know what i mean my boy! love your dad."Tiffany actually commented on Ronald's post, "Aw love you. I'm showing him."However, Tiffany and Ronald have broken up and gotten back together before.Ronald and Tiffany announced they were "separating" in January 2020 and seemed to be headed for a divorce.Tiffany accused Ronald of "adultery" and manipulation and claimed he had suffered multiple relapses of the gambling addiction he had once sought treatment for before in a rehab facility.On January 28, 2020, Tiffany told her Instagram followers in regards to her marriage "some things are just irreparable," and Ronald claimed on social media at the time he'd be "filing for divorce in South Africa" after a year-and-a-half of marriage."Tiff only tried to do good, not really control me but more protect me from wrong [people], places and temptations, and the more I think about it now, it makes sense..." Ronald wrote on Instagram during."She was more the victim and I'll admit here I was a dick to her at times, worrying about me, me, me and not looking after her feelings or needs."But rumors of a reconciliation began to swirl on March 5, 2020 when Ronald posted adorable snapshots of Tiffany and himself seemingly in South Africa together.In March 11, 2020 Ronald uploaded a selfie of the couple as well as a photo in which they were embracing in front of a fountain during a date night at Monte in Gauteng, South Africa.Ronald then flat out confirmed the next day his marriage to Tiffany was back on and thriving in the comments section of his Instagram post."Hope the rumors are true and y'all found your way back to one another!!" one person wrote."Yes," Ronald replied.When an Instagram user asked Ronald to "please work it out" with Tiffany, Ronald responded with, "We are good."One person mentioned, "I thought they got divorced," and Ronald wrote back, "Guess not," with a smiley face.And finally, one fan wrote, "Happy you're back together," to which Ronald replied, "Yes."Tiffany revealed on a May 2020 episode of : Self-Quarantined that she was waiting for Ronald to get approved for a spousal visa so he could move to the United States."We got married over a year ago, but we only applied for his spousal visa four months ago. The coronavirus has affected the whole process of the visa. This virus is stopping everything, including my family being together," Tiffany told the cameras.On top of the distance and coronavirus "craziness," Tiffany said there were trust issues in her relationship but she and Ronald were working with a counselor to get past them.Tiffany and Ronald then reunited for the holidays in December 2020 after a tumultuous year.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson discussed how it felt to finally have their delayed Disney film Jungle Cruise near release Monday on Good Morning America.

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Jungle Cruise, which is coming to theaters and Disney+ with premier access on July 30, was originally set to open in July 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's sort of surreal but thrilling because this movie really captured our hearts so for it to be seen finally is so awesome," Blunt told GMA.

"It's really exciting, too, because you can feel certainly here in America that people are going back to theaters," Johnson added.

The duo also discussed their chemistry together.

"It's the funniest dynamic in the world in the film and it sort of mirrors that in life," Blunt said.

Blunt and Johnson will be searching for the legendary Tree of Life in the film, based on the classic Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme park ride of the same name.

Co-stars include Jesse Plemons, Edgar Ramirez, Jack Whitehall and Paul Giamatti.
SmartLess hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett are bringing their podcast on tour in 2022.

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The actors will celebrate the first anniversary of the podcast with a North American tour.

"Hello, gang. We are very excited to be hitting the road with our 'SmartLess Tour Live.' It's all because YOU, our devoted fans, have asked for it," they wrote Monday on Instagram.

The tour will begin Feb. 2 in Toronto, Ontario, and end Feb. 12 in Los Angeles.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time, with pre-sale to begin Saturday at 10 p.m.

The SmartLess podcast "connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity." Bateman, Hayes and Arnett launched the podcast in July 2020.

Here's the full list of dates for the SmartLess tour:

Feb. 2 -- Toronto, Ontario, at Massey Hall

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Feb. 4 -- Boston, at Boch Center Wang Theatre

Feb. 5 -- Brooklyn, N.Y., at Kings Theatre

Feb. 8 -- Chicago, at The Chicago Theatre

Feb. 9 -- Madison, Wisc., at The Orpheum Theater

Feb. 12 -- Los Angeles at The Orpheum Theatre
Netflix announced the new series Cooking with Paris on Monday. The Paris Hilton cooking show will premiere Aug. 4.

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The Hilton hotel heiress executive produces and hosts the series from her own kitchen. The Netflix announcement said Hilton will also showcase kitchen wardrobe and welcome her celebrity friends as guests.

Hilton posted a YouTube video "Cooking with Paris" on Jan. 13, 2020. It has over five million views and inspired the six episode half-hour show.

The 40-year-old Hilton, who celebrated her birthday Feb. 17, became a reality TV star co-starring with Nicole Richie on The Simple Life from 2003 - 2007. She hosted the competition series My New BFF and Paris Hilton's British Best Friend in which the winner got to be her best friend.

In last year's documentary This Is Paris, Hilton revealed that her social and television persona was a character she created after enduring abuse as a child.

Hilton also released an album in 2006. The single, "Stars Are Blind," was recently featured in the film Promising Young Woman. As an actor, Hilton appeared in films such as House of Wax, Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Hottie and the Nottie.
Paramount+ announced that The Offer began production on Monday. The Offer is a scripted series about the making of The Godfather.

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A 30-second video plays Nino Rota's iconic theme song from The Godfather over sepia tinted shots of the script title page. Writers Nikki Toscano and Michael Tolkin based the series on producer Albert S. Ruddy's memories of making the film.

Toscano and Tolkin area also executive producers. Miles Teller plays Ruddy in the series.

Matthew Goode plays producer Robert Evans, whose experiences at Paramount were the basis of his book and documentary The Kid Stays in the Picture. Dan Fogler plays Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola.

Burn Gorman plays Gulf and Western founder Charles Bluhdorn. The company owned Paramount in the '70s.

Colin Hanks plays Gulf and Western executive Barry Lapidus. Giovanni Ribisi plays Joe Colombo, creator of the Italian-American Civil Rights League, which was involved in The Godfather.

Juno Temple plays agent/manager Bettye McCartt. The series is filming in Los Angeles, Calif.

The Godfather was based on Mario Puzo's novel. The 1972 and its 1974 sequel won Best Picture and many additional Oscars.

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The Godfather Part III was released in 1990. Last year, Coppola re-released the third film as The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone in a re-edited form.
TRAVERSE CITY [mdash] Lee Harrison Gardner, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2021, surrounded by his wife and children. He was born on Nov. 18, 1950 to the late Polly Isabel (Harrison) and Stephen Vandergrift Gardner. Wife Candy (Smith) has been the love of his life for o
FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 file photo Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, speaks during a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The U.N. human rights chief on Monday urged countries to enact a wide range of reparations measures as part of efforts to address the legacies of slavery, colonial rule and racial discrimination.
Athens, GA (30605)

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Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 86F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

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Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Editor's Note This is part one of a five-part series focusing on posts from individuals who shared their reported experiences with sexual assault and misconduct on Twitter in summer 2020. This movement coincided with the nationwide protests for racial justice and took place in multiple university communities on Twitter, including the University of Georgia. The Red & Black reached out to multiple individuals who shared posts and had knowledge of the movement in the UGA Twitter community as well as those accused during the movement. For details on the reporting process see How We Got This Story. We do not share the specifics of any account posted on Twitter as we are unable to independently confirm the stories. This series focuses on some of the broader issues highlighted by the movement. To protect privacy, we are using pseudonyms for four people quoted in this series: Veronica, Crystal, Erin and Matthew. This series deals with topics related to sexual assault. The Red & Black has compiled a list of national, state and local sexual assault helplines.

When Erin, Crystal and Veronica opened Twitter last June, their lives froze for nearly 48 hours.

Post after post, scroll after scroll, they saw students and alumni from the University of Georgia share their personal experiences with a subject the three women related to: sexual assault and misconduct.

In less than three days in June 2020, at least 59 reports of sexual misconduct were posted by people in the UGA Twitter community, according to The Red & Blacks records. Of these reports, at least 47 involved assault or rape.

29 alleged perpetrators

were named in the movement, according to The Red & Black's records.

Within the few days of this social media movement, these three women decided they would share their own experiences as well.

It honestly doesnt feel real, Veronica said as she reflected on last summer. I have these very vivid memories of what  Ive been calling in my head the aftermath of coming forward. Like sitting in my bedroom, just sweating and panicking and not believing that I did this.

But this movement would only last two to three days. In that span, at least 29 individuals were accused of sexual assault and misconduct in the UGA Twitter community, according to The Red & Blacks records of the tweets.

The movement started with people at various universities, including UGA, sharing the ages they said they were assaulted. It developed into some individuals sharing their reported experiences. In some of these posts, students and alumni said they were coerced or intoxicated and therefore unable to give consent.

The Red & Black compiled records of the tweets, including posts shared within the UGA Twitter community or retweeted by anonymous accounts associated with the community.

According to these records, at least 50 individuals in the UGA Twitter community shared their reported experiences with sexual assault and misconduct or ages they said they were sexually assaulted. They also shared warnings against alleged perpetrators.

Editor's Note The actual number of reports shared during the short-lived June 2020 movement is likely higher because some students and alumni may have posted on private Twitter accounts.

At least one post made by a person in the UGA Twitter community reached over 700 likes and almost 300 retweets.

Eventually, this morphed into some naming their alleged perpetrators on either personal accounts or through anonymous accounts specific to the UGA Twitter community, including posts about being assaulted and harassed by acquaintances, student athletes and members of Greek life.

It was really just insane to me how many stories that were coming out from different people in the UGA community because really, once again, it isnt something that people talk about in the open, Erin said.

Erin said she was looking for a sense of closure and hoped her own post would show others they werent alone. Posts like Erins helped Veronica come to terms with her own reported experience with assault, which led to her post.

It was almost a way to tell all my friends without the emotional exhaustion of sitting everybody down and hearing their individual reactions because thats really exhausting, Veronica said.

Veronica said she wanted to warn and protect her peers from her alleged perpetrator. Like Erin, she said she wanted to convey the different ways sexual violence can manifest, such as sexual coercion.

After seeing multiple tweets, including Veronicas, that mentioned experiences with sexual coercion, Crystal said she began to process her own reported experience with sexual violence.

Seeing people that you know be so open and honest about what they went through made me feel like, maybe this is time for me to process and share what I went through, Crystal said.

Along with closure and personal healing, these women also wanted some form of accountability. Veronica called it a moment of reckoning.

But against their expectations for the movement, nothing happened. The reckoning they hoped for never took place. The justice they and other participants of the movement called for never came. More than a year later, theyre still waiting.

Its sad because I think so many survivors came forward and then when we realized were coming forward en masse, we were like, Surely theres going to be some kind of action, some kind of accountability, Veronica said. But now, there wasnt. Nothing happened. Nothing happened, like, that is the most shocking and disappointing part of it all.

Breaking down the movement

The short-lived movement at UGA was not isolated. Multiple university communities across Twitter had their own discussions surrounding sexual assault and misconduct. These were in-part facilitated by anonymous accounts that allowed students to submit their reports and names of their alleged perpetrators.

Student and alumni communities from colleges, such as the University of Michigan and the University of Florida, had anonymous accounts where students could submit their reported experiences.

In Georgia, accounts were created for students at multiple universities including Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University and UGA.

My first reaction was just like, shock and then relief that these victims had a platform to tell their stories on, UGA junior Erica Degue said.

As the movement progressed, at least three anonymous accounts were created for the UGA community. The accounts were called @ugasafespace, @uga_safespace and @ugasubmissions.

The first  @ugasafespace  was the most active, where at least one post received at least 278 retweets and 236 likes. However, within just a few days, all three accounts disappeared or became inactive as criticism and legal threats mounted.

While the accounts used UGAs name in the handles, neither the university nor any of its official organizations ran the accounts or endorsed them.

Black women students and alumni were first to start the movement among the UGA Twitter community last June. This took place during a time when protests for racial justice around the country were led by Black women.

My first feeling about it [the @ugasafespace account] was a positive feeling, Caleb Saffo, a UGA class of 2016 alumnus, said. Black women are the pillar of the Black community and they dont always receive the same protection they give out.

One of the main focuses of the protests last summer was violence committed against Black women, as seen with Breonna Taylor. This led to the #SayHerName hashtags online and chants during the protests.

Additionally, during the protests and on social media, Veronica said the conversation surrounding Oluwatoyin Salau, a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, also contributed to the dialogue of protecting Black women. Last June, Salau shared on social media her story about being sexually assaulted. Within that same month, she was murdered.

Racism creates additional barriers for survivors when it comes to reporting their assaults. For Black women survivors, reporting comes with numerous concerns as police, hospitals and other authorities have a history of not believing Black women. This creates a huge barrier for trust and reporting.

Kayla Trawick, a UGA class of 2021 alumna, said Black women are stereotypically seen as strong, a view that can be damaging when it comes to these women experiencing sexual assault.

Were so strong. We cant be touched, Trawick said. And then if we are touched, who do we go to? Who do we go to? Because in a Black community, weve conditioned ourselves to be so strong because thats the only way you can survive.

Black women survivors whose perpetrators are Black men bear another burden of deciding whether they should report in a system where Black men are abused by authorities. Additionally, because there are so few Black men at UGA, Veronica said some of these women might be afraid to report their perpetrators, especially those who are well known.

The anonymous Twitter accounts helped provide women with an outlet to be heard while also protecting their identities, individuals The Red & Black interviewed said.

This is a person who is running this page, who was like, No, Im listening to you. I believe you, Black women of UGA, and Im going to help tell your stories, and we dont have to sit here and debate about what proof you have or what evidence. All you have to do is tell me your story, and I will help you get it out there, Veronica said.

With the movement on Twitter, Black women created a space to share their reported experiences with sexual assault and misconduct. This space was expanding to other communities at UGA when the @ugasafespace account was taken down leading to a downturn in personal posts in the community as well.

But if the page is still up today, I feel like it would have been a lot bigger and been kind of centered around all races, instead of just focused in the Black community, Erica Degue said.

An unsustainable account

The Red & Black notified UGA of this series in November 2020. Reporters provided the university with an opportunity to comment on last summers Twitter movement and answer any questions related to this series.

In his response, UGA spokesperson Greg Trevor did not explicitly acknowledge specific allegations on social media from last summer. However, Trevor cautioned it would be irresponsible to publish as fact any unsubstantiated social media allegation. The statement also listed resources at UGA for survivors of sexual assault.

Based on The Red & Blacks records of the tweets, reporters submitted records requests for majority of those named during the movement last summer to the UGA Police Department, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and UGAs Equal Opportunity Office, which handles cases of harassment and discrimination.

The requests to UGAPD and ACCPD included but were not limited to requests for reports involving rape and sexual battery.

Only one police report was found by UGAPD that listed an accused as a suspect, however, since the accuseds name was too common, The Red & Black was unable to determine if the individual in the report was the same as the one accused on Twitter.

The records requested from EOO were for any finding letters from investigations involving any of the accused. EOO produces these letters as a summary when they close an investigation.

For two of the names, UGA said they could neither confirm nor deny the existence of any records due to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). For every other name, UGA said no records were found.

The results of these requests support the national trend of how underreported sexual assault is. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 34% of rape and sexual assault victimizations were reported to the police in 2019. This was the lowest percentage for all violent crimes reported to the police that year.

Erin said that when it comes to reporting, taking to Twitter is a lot less official than reporting to authorities and the consequences that come with that.

There's just not a lot of cases where the survivor gets the proper reparations for what happened to them, Erin said

Nevertheless, even Twitter had its limitations. While the movement at UGA took off in a matter of hours, it also came to an end within a couple days for the anonymous accounts. The @ugasafespace account was taken down after at least one accusation was retracted by the account holder who said the post was potentially false. It is unclear whether the account was taken down by the owner or Twitter.

The account did not appear to have a verification process, which increased the potential for false accusations and threats of libel lawsuits. Alleged perpetrators denied claims made against them. Other individuals on Twitter, some claiming to know the accused, tweeted in support of the alleged perpetrators as well.

Erin said she thought that although it was short-lived, it was still useful in raising awareness of these experiences and helping some individuals like herself receive closure. She said the movement also showed how nuanced sexual assault and misconduct can be.

There are some permanent psychological consequences to these things, Veronica said. These are not one-off unfortunate experiences; these are not like bad dates. These are traumatic experiences thats scarring these women and these survivors, in general, for life.

After the accounts boiled over, Crystal deleted the Twitter app from her phone and only checked the platform on her computer. She didnt download the app again until months later.

Was the good even sustainable? Crystal said. Its almost as if nothing happened.

Jacqueline GaNun contributed to fact-checking this series.
Editor's Note This is part five of a five-part series focusing on posts from individuals who shared their reported experiences with sexual assault and misconduct on Twitter in summer 2020. This movement coincided with the nationwide protests for racial justice and took place in multiple university communities on Twitter, including the University of Georgia. The Red & Black reached out to multiple individuals who shared posts and had knowledge of the movement in the UGA Twitter community as well as those accused during the movement. For details on the reporting process see How We Got This Story. We do not share the specifics of any account posted on Twitter as we are unable to independently confirm the stories. This series focuses on some of the broader issues highlighted by the movement. To protect privacy, we are using pseudonyms for four people quoted in this series: Veronica, Crystal, Erin and Matthew. This series deals with topics related to sexual assault. The Red & Black has compiled a list of national, state and local sexual assault helplines.

Crystal said she didnt process her assaults from years ago until the movement on Twitter in June 2020. She said both instances involved sexual coercion, a fact that she did not understand and repressed until she confronted her reported experiences last summer.

I didnt feel like my story mattered or it wasnt as severe as what anybody else went through or it didnt really click that it was assault for me, Crystal said. It was coercion, so thats not really seen as rape a lot of times.

Sexual coercion is defined as unwanted sexual activity that happens when you are pressured, tricked, threatened or forced in a nonphysical way, according to the Office on Womens Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

11 reports of coercion among tweets

When it comes to sex, lines can become blurred where actions can move from consensual to nonconsensual, Erin said.

It becomes very hard to decide, Oh, was it my fault, or did I do something to make this happen to me? That was a lot of the cases I saw [on Twitter]. It takes a lot of time for people to realize what happened to them, Erin said.

The conversation on Twitter looked at the multiple forms and nuances of sexual assault and misconduct, specifically the issue of defining and understanding consent. However, while many posts were met with support, there were some that were met with criticism and overall suspicion when it came to the anonymous account.

I think a lot of people were so suspicious of the page and so suspicious that there are a lot of comments like, Oh, all of a sudden everybodys coming forward? All of a sudden everybody got assaulted? Veronica said.

Linnea Ionno is the director of adult services at The Cottage, which is a sexual assault and childrens advocacy center in Athens. She said people often have a particular view of a perpetrator and dont realize they can have families, friends or partners who could commit sexual assault.

I think it always comes as a shock to folks when they learn that somebody has been a perpetrator and usually, their first reaction might be to deny it or not believe it, Ionno said.

Defining consent

Veronica noted that some of the most outspoken critics of the movement were men, who challenged the definitions of both consent and sexual coercion. These comments from individuals in the UGA Twitter community revealed that former and current UGA students may not know what consent is.

It was mostly men who were saying that [and] theres a lot of guilt in that because I think you understand that the definition of rape, the definition of assault, is perhaps broader than you thought it was, and maybe you realized youre a rapist, too, Veronica said.

At least 11 reports of sexual assault and misconduct posted by individuals in the UGA Twitter community or the anonymous account said their perpetrators used physical force, according to The Red & Blacks records of the tweets.

At least 11 reports involved coercion. Some of the reports involving force or coercion also mentioned alcohol or drugs.

We have seen cases over the years in which coercion or begging have played a role. Coercion is of particular importance because it can be an element of force that is required in Georgias rape statute," said Shannon Parker, a sergeant in the special victims unit which oversees cases of sexual assault for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

Kayla Trawick, a UGA class of 2021 alumna, said it isnt enough for a sexual partner to simply say the word yes. She said there must be a point of enthusiastic consent, where both partners clearly state they want to engage in sexual activity.

If you have to get someone to say yes, its not a yes, Veronica said.

According to a 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, one in six women and one in 10 men experience sexual coercion in their life. However, as Crystal said, some survivors do not realize that these experiences are rape and assault as they, too, may not understand the broad scope of consent.

The 11 reports involving coercion detailed instances where individuals were repeatedly pressured into sexual activity. Some also said they were manipulated by the alleged perpetrator and/or repeatedly contacted by alleged perpetrators for sex despite saying no multiple times.

Institutional responsibility

Being able to understand and define consent is part of a larger conversation surrounding sex education.

Giordana Diaz, an Athens therapist, said shes worked with multiple counselors in the county and state on how to enhance the current sex education curriculum. Diaz said the main issue is the lack of detail and safe space for students.

Instructors and the curriculum cant be afraid to ask the deep and scary questions. They need to talk about alcohol, examples of coercion and how to treat your partner, Diaz said. Were not teaching them enough.

About 86% of UGAs 2019 undergraduate class were Georgia residents, meaning they have likely been subject to the sex education courses in Georgia schools.

According to a December 2017 analysis from the CDC, Georgia law does not address education on contraception; parents have the authority to opt-out students from sex education curriculum; and abstinence is a required topic in sex education.

State law does not specify whether sex education must be medically accurate, taught by trained instructors or follow national standards and recommendations.

In most cases, Diaz said teens are taught to either fear or know very little about sex, sexual assault or consent. By the time they are college students, both men and women know very little about when and how to ask for consent, leading to larger issues.

As incoming freshmen, UGA students are required to complete the Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates training online, formerly known as Haven, which teaches students about rape and sexual assault. But that may not be enough.

They make us do that little module when we first come into college about sexual assault and drinking, Erin said. That doesnt do anything because people just skip through it and they just get it done just to get it done.

While simple modules are efficient and easy, Diaz said universities should be responsible for providing year-round consistent education.

Erin said shed like to see the university provide survivors with a platform in events, on campus and social media. Its not enough for the university to quote from books or experts  survivors should be speaking about their experiences and the importance of consent, Erin said.

Because even if you dont want to be listening to [these] things, if these things are kind of forced into your face, theres no way for you to avoid it completely, and it plants that little seed, Erin said. It might be able to deter someone from doing that [assault] in the future.

Like Veronica, Erin said that sometimes people do not genuinely realize what is or is not consensual. If a student was never taught the range of consensual and non-consensual instances, then they wouldnt be able to apply that to their own experiences with sex, she said.

Diaz said conversations around consent and explicit examples of what not to do remain taboo topics in many institutions and settings. This creates a dangerous situation for college students who are ignorant to consensual and non-consensual acts.

Students need to learn and trust the university when it comes to sex education and sexual assault, Diaz said.

However, both Crystal and Erin said they did not have faith in UGA to be able to change things for the better. They said the university has not shown enough effort or action to protect and give a platform to survivors about sexual assault.

They [UGA] cant just be talking about sexual assault when sexual assault happens, they need to be continuously talking about it, Erin said.

Jacqueline GaNun contributed to fact-checking this series.
Williamston, NC (27892)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 89F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Greenville, NC (27833)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High around 90F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with occasional light rain during the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
TORRINGTON  The candidates statement was met Monday with applause and cheers.

My name is Stephen Ivain, and I want to be your next mayor. he said.

Ivain spoke Monday as he announced his candidacy for the citys top seat during a press conference in front of City Hall.

Incumbent Elinor Carbone, a Republican, was elected in 2013. Much of her focus has been on economic development, improved tourism, and bringing more residents and businesses to the downtown area.

In his statements, Ivain said the current administration isnt doing enough.

I want to make a better climate for our shops and restaurants and improve our local economy, Ivain said. With the current administration, our mill rate has gone up to 46, one of the highest in the state. Im convinced Torrington can do better  a lot better.

I want to give back, and assure a bright future for our community, he said. I want to be your next mayor.

The Torrington Republican Town Committee announced Friday that Carbone, along with City Clerk Carol Anderson and Treasurer Dan Farley are running for reelection this fall.

In response to the news that she would have an opponent in November, the mayor said, It is always in the best interest of the voters to have a choice. With competition there is a more robust discussion of issues.

City Council members Sharon Waager and Paul Cavagnero and Board of Education Chairwoman Fiona Cappabianca said they were happy to see Ivain step up to run for office.

Im delighted, Waagner said. He has a focus on business, and wants to reduce our mill rate and our taxes.

Cavagnero said, I think hell be a great candidate, because he understands our problems really well. A new approach will prove to be very effective for Torrington.

He has a keen sense of business thats really been lacking, and needed, in Torrington, Cappabianca said.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman George Craig was also excited about Ivains bid for election.

I ran for mayor two years ago, and I lost, but it was still a great experience for me, he said. Weve been looking for a good candidate, and Steves heart is in Torrington, as a third-generation resident. He has a vision to lower our taxes with industry and an improved business approach ... We have the right guy for mayor.

Ivain, a senior business manager, described himself as a pro-business, fiscally responsible Democrat who will run on policies designed to reduce taxes and improve the quality of life in the city.

Torrington has lost business to other Connecticut cities for years, Ivain said. Under my administration, we will implement an economic development plan that will help local businesses to grow and will also attract new businesses to town. ... We will achieve this by making City Hall responsive and efficient, and by working at all levels to get resources for our city, to solve problems, and get things done.

Ivain said he wants to build on the momentum created by the support for building a new school for the middle and high schools. He said the vote in favor of investing in the citys children and future generations says a lot about how the people of Torrington believe in themselves.

Audrey Blondin, a member of the Democratic State Central Committee and a Torrington attorney and business owner, praised the town committee for their choice. They did a fabulous job  the city has a wonderful candidate, she said. There are lots of issues that continue to face Torrington; but the best is yet to come.

Ivain pledged to improve the quality of life in the city by working with state and federal officials to refurbish the four state parks located within the city limits. He recently toured the John A. Minetto State Park with state Rep. Maria Horn, D-Salisbury, and a small group of people who wanted to see for themselves how trails and waterfront access have been neglected, and to discuss how government funds may be accessed to improve them, he said.

Ivain earned a bachelor of science in mathematical science from Connecticut College and has more than 25 years experience as a senior business manager at Fortune 500 companies in Connecticut and Massachusetts, he said. As a leader of teams, I know how to set goals, manage budgets, meet deadlines and achieve results. I am determined to deliver on the promises I make to the people of Torrington, he said.

Ivain said he comes from a family of immigrants.

My grandparents immigrated from Europe in the early 1900s and my grandfather worked in the factories that made Torrington famous as an industrial hub, he said.

He eventually bought 100 acres of farmland on the west side of Torrington, Ivain said. He lived the American dream. I believe Torrington still offers hard-working people an opportunity to realize their dreams.
100 years ago  1921

Sixty-three members of the Delphian Society and their guests held an outing at the Schuylkill Country Club.

75 years ago  1946

A West Market Street, Pottsville, woman was bound and gagged by two men who entered the house by the way of the kitchen door with robbery as their motive.

50 years ago  1971

Barbara Duffy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Duffy, RD2 Pottsville, attained a perfect 4.0 average for the spring semester at Penn State University.

25 years ago  1996

Hometown soon will be getting a new industrial building and 50 new jobs to start. A third tenant should begin building at the Tamaqua Industrial Development Enterprises (T.I.D.E.) Industrial Park in the next few weeks, the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp. announced Thursday. The 40,000-square-foot building, SEDCO President Frank J. Zukas said at its monthly meeting at The River Inn, will house Tran Western Polymers, a California plastics maker.
POTTSVILLE  The Mr. Anthracite Natural and Mr. Coal Natural bodybuilding competition returned Sunday to recognize bodybuilders from the coal region.

Warren Egebo, contest promoter, said it was great to be back in the Pottsville Ramada Inn after last years event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its really powerful to be back here after COVID, and for the competitors who had to work out in their homes when they couldnt go to the gym, Egebo said. Its a celebration of the coal region and these hardworking men, who would certainly be fit to be in the mines.

Egebo said this years competition had the largest number of competitors, with 16 contestants from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York.

Some have been working out for years, while some just started in the past year and a half, Egebo said.

The contest is held by the National Gym Association, and contestants must train without the use of drugs to be eligible. They are judged in weight classes and overall categories.

Taking home the top awards and pro cards to move on to future competitions were Mr. Anthracite Tony Diana, of Clarks Summit; Mr. Coal Jeffrey Harrison, of Webster, New York; and overall mens physique Timothy Williams, of Baltimore, Maryland.

Richard Widmer, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, won awards for best abs and best poser.

During the program, Egebo also presented an award to David A. Lucas Jr., of Hegins, in memorial of Lucas parents, Lorraine and David Lucas Sr., who died in a car accident last year.

Egebo said Lucas Sr. was a member of the Independent Coal Miners Association and presented his hard hat and pick axe at the first Mr. Anthracite competition in 2013.

Lucas Jr. presented the Mr. Anthracite and Mr. Coal awards, with commemorative hard hats and pick axes.

Egebo, who was the former pastor of Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hegins, and St. James Lutheran Church, Pitman before retiring to Green Bay, Wisconsin, said it was fun to be back in Pottsville, the coal capital of the anthracite region, for the contest.
POTTSVILLE  Volunteers worked Sunday morning to beautify the Oheb Zedeck Cemetery on Peach Mountain Road.

The cleanup of the Jewish cemetery was sponsored by the Schuylkill County Historical Society as part of the organizations recent effort to tend to local cemeteries.

Diana Prosymchak, society executive director, said they have also cleaned Presbyterian Cemetery in Pottsville and plan to do Mount Laurel Cemetery next.

This is the first year weve started doing this, so were hoping it takes off, she said.

The cleanups began in an effort to improve the conditions of local cemeteries for visitors, Prosymchak said.

We have a lot of people coming from out of state to do research on their genealogy, and they get upset about the conditions of the cemeteries, she said.

At the Oheb Zedeck Cemetery, volunteers focused on cleaning the gravestones and cutting overgrown weeds and vines.

The trees have played havoc on the cemetery, and the stones need to be cleaned, Prosymchak said. I dont think they ever have been cleaned.

Debbie Reed, of Orwigsburg, said she started to learn about grave and monument cleaning in the past year and a half out of an interest in history and time spent visiting cemeteries.

She said she has cleaned graves of relatives and people she knows, but she was glad to be cleaning tombstones of people who might not have anyone to care for them.

Many families have died out or moved away, Reed said. This is how theyre remembered.

Prosymchak said the city water authority provided a water buffalo tank with water to use to clean the stones. Volunteers sprayed the stones and used brushes and scrapers to remove dirt and mold.

Reed also brought D/2 biological solution, a chemical solution used to clean gravestones and monuments. She said the solution can be sprayed on stones after they are scrubbed, and it restores them over time.

I found my third great-grandparents in Odd Fellows Cemetery, who had marble monuments, Reed said. In less than a year, they looked brand new.

Some gravestones in the cemetery had rocks placed on top of them. Dolores Delin, of Orwigsburg, said in Jewish tradition, people would leave a note with a stone on top of the grave after visiting.

Over the years, they no longer wrote the note, but they do visit and leave the stone, she said.

Delin, whose husband is buried in Oheb Zedeck, said she was glad to see the volunteers taking care of the cemetery.

Its a wonderful thing theyre doing here, she said.
I would like to comment on the Seltzer fireworks. They were fantastic. I hope everyone appreciated them. They were beautiful. Thank you very, very much.

Seltzer



I want to congratulate the Levy family for standing their ground against that school district to protect their rights under our wonderful Constitution. Good job.

Mahanoy City



If the Schuylkill County commissioners would help the old people fix their houses we wouldnt have as many blighted properties or houses that need to be torn down. Come on guys, help the old people out already.

Girardville



So let me get this straight. North Schuylkill School District is once again raising taxes during a pandemic, plus they are getting excess funds from the federal government for COVID relief. So tell me, is this incompetence or corruption? Either way, the school board needs to go, as we need someone who is cognizant of the financial concerns of county residents.

Ringtown



North Schuylkill School District raising taxes once again. Thanks for nothing, Dave Argall.

Frackville



This is to David Argall, the governor of Pennsylvania and all the rest of the politicians: We are sick and tired of changing the clocks every year. Dont they realize how depressing it gets at quarter to five to be dark? Leave Daylight Saving Time all year-round.

Shenandoah Heights

Pottsville, your rant against Democrats on abortion denies the fact that Republicans had total control of Washington, Congress, presidency and Supreme Court during the first two years of Trump and their primary focus was ending Obamacare, which enabled poor people to have health care. Republicans are not a right to life party, either.

Mahanoy City



With some of this money that the Shenandoah Valley School District will be getting, they should fix the track. The track is deplorable for the children to run on. And use some of the rest for the sporting complexes.

Shenandoah



After hearing all the talk about the vaccine hesitancy and the health threat associated with not being vaccinated, why not give final approval for the existing unapproved vaccines, which tens of millions have already received since December 2020? I believe having an approved vaccine would go a long way in eliminating vaccine hesitancy.

Pottsville
After his death on July 7, 'Tragedy King' of Bollywood Dilip Kumar left a gaping hole in the hearts of many fans and admirers from across the country and overseas. After numerous media personalities paid their respects to the late actor, one family member from Pakistan paid a heartfelt tribute to him. Talking about his career and personal life, the tribute resonated with many fans of the late actor.

Dilip Kumar's Nephew Mohsin Aziz's tribute

Following his death, a condolence meeting was organized in Dilip Kumar's memory where his nephew Pakistan's senator Mohsin Aziz spoke fondly of his career, life, interests and his attachment to his hometown in Pakistan. Talking about his uncle, Dilip Kumar, nephew Mohsin Aziz said, 'He was a thorough gentleman and down to earth person who won hearts of thousands and millions of people through his hard work'. He commended his work in social service and the generosity he presented towards humanity.

Dilip Kumar's ancestral home in Pakistan, Peshawar is situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Born in a family of twelve children, Yusuf Khan left his home to move to Pune after differences with his father. The actor became the only Indian citizen to be awarded Pakistan's highest civilian award- 'Nishan-e-Imtiaz'.

More on tributes to Dilip Kumar

Pakistan's Senator Mohsin Aziz was not the only one paying their respects to Bollywood's superstar as many politicians and Pakistani media personalities paid tribute to Kumar Sahab's work and contribution to the cinema world. The President of Pakistan Arif Alvi took to his Twitter to send his condolences by writing, "An outstanding actor, a humble man, and a dignified personality. Condolences to the immediate family and his huge family of admirers".

Sorry to see Dilip Kumar (Yusuf Khan) depart from his worldly abode. An outstanding actor, a humble man, and a dignified personality. Condolences to the immediate family and his huge family of admirers. May his soul rest in peace.       Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) July 7, 2021

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan also paid his respects by recalling the time the late actor raised funds to set up a cancer hospital in his mother's name. He wrote, "Saddened to learn of Dilip Kumar's passing. I can never forget his generosity in giving his time to help raise funds for SKMTH when (the) project launched". He also lauded the actor's contribution as an artist.

Saddened to learn of Dilip Kumar's passing. I can never forget his generosity in giving his time to help raise funds for SKMTH when project launched. This is the most difficult time - to raise first 10% of the funds & his appearance in Pak & London helped raise huge amounts.  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 7, 2021

Apart from this, for my generation Dilip Kumar was the greatest and most versatile actor.  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 7, 2021

(Inputs from PTI)

IMAGE- DILIP KUMAR'S TWITTER & SENATOR MOHSIN AZIZ'S FACEBOOK

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An eagle-eyed space-watcher recently spotted at least ten small black objects hovering right below the International Space Station (ISS). While sharing a video on YouTube, UFO hunter "Mr MBB333" said that he believes that NASAs live feed captured the UFOs forming up in a circle above the Southern Atlantic Ocean. He shared a screenshot of NASAs live stream, which showed the orb-like objects moving past the camera.

This is a screengrab from the International Space Station above the South Atlantic, at around 8.30am. Ten unknown objects travelling with the space station above the planet Earth, MBB333 said in the clip.

Since shared, the clip has prompted UFO fans to dash to the USS live feed before sharing their thoughts on the objects. One user said, I just checked the ISS cameras and those little specks are still there. What it looks like to me is there's a whole bunch of Black Knight probes, said another. Looks like the Space Force academy was training in multiple groups, jokingly wrote third. Wow! These are fascinating! So interesting how varied they are in size and speed, added fourth.

US intelligences UFO report

Meanwhile, the sighting comes as the US government has officially weighed in on apparent UFO activity off the coast of America. Last month, the Pentagon released a much-anticipated report in which officials said that they studied more than 140 military UFO sightings or what the government called unidentified aerial phenomena. The report said that some incidents could be the result of technical errors in sensors or observers. It also added that the UAP reported: probably do represent physical objects since they were registered across multiple sensors.

The intelligence officials were only able to identify a large, deflating balloon with high confidence. The others remain unexplained, the report read. The officials, however, drew few other conclusions and instead highlighted the need for better data collection about whats increasingly seen by Democrats and Republicans as a national security concern.

(Image: Pixabay)

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.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) raids continued to the second day in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA has conducted raids in two more locations in Anantnag linked to ISIS terror activities. J&K police, CRPF and other intelligent forces are conducting the interrogations over terror activities and funding.

The house of a student is raided who had been studying in Parihaspora along with one more from Achabal area of South Kashmir.

Speaking on the raids, SP Vaid, former J&K DGP, said, "Raids are conducted pertaining to all the terror activities in J&K. This action must have been taken earlier. Terror funding must be crushed".

Social media and other online activities are being misused by the terror group to attract youth towards terror activities.

Previous raids in Anantnag

A day after two unidentified terrorists were neutralized in Kashmir's Anantnag district, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday morning conducted multiple raids linked to terror funding in the district. The NIA has detained over five people with links to terrorist activities. This also comes in the backdrop of the Jammu and Kashmir administration that terminated 11 government employees including two sons of the most wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin for their alleged involvement in terror-funding activities. Syed Salahuddin is also the founder of Hizbul Mujahideen.

The latest raids by the NIA started in the early hours of Sunday and apart from Anantnag, few parts of Avantipore districts were also searched by the Central Agency. The NIA was assisted by CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir police. Sources also informed that these raids are in connection with the ISIS module that was aimed at radicalized youth of the valley through various contents including magazines published by the terrorist organization.

Delhi Court orders charges against 4 terrorists over terror funding cases

Observing the prima facie reports, a Delhi court on Friday ordered to frame charges against four terrorists over alleged connections with a terrorist organization- Hizbul Mujahideen. The charges pertain to terror funding cases against Mohd Shafi Shah, Talib Lali, Muzzafar Ahmad Dar and Mushtaq Ahmad Lone. Moreover, the case also includes commander Syed Salahuddin with allegations of entering into a larger conspiracy of waging war against India.

Another case under section 20 of UAPA has also been filed that is charged for the offences of raising funds and distributing it for terrorist activities. The Patiala Court bench presided over by Judge Parveen Singh noted that the funds were received from Pakistan to carry out terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir. The court order also marked that illegal funds were utilized to assist injured, arrested terrorists and for families of killed terrorists.
In another successful encounter by the J&K police, on Sunday, July 11, a terrorist carrying harmful weapons was arrested. He is identified as a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist smuggling weapons to the Jammu valley.

Jaish terrorist nabbed with weapons

A Jaish terrorist named Muntazir Manzoor was nabbed with weapons airdropped from Pakistan. The J&K police have recovered weapons including grenades and a pistol.

According to the sources, the terrorist was getting information and directions from Pakistan regarding which weapon to be delivered to which location and at what time.

He was caught under the special operation team of the Jammu and Kashmir District Police.

Pakistan's dirty tricks continue

In reference to the recent arrest of a Jaish terrorist, as per the sources, Pakistan is pushing small weapons from across to evade monitoring by agencies as well as to carry out targeted killings in Kashmir. He was regularly getting directions from Jaish E Mohammed handlers sitting in Pakistan about the timing of weapon dropping and from where the consignment was to be picked".

Speaking to Republic TV, Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu, Chandan Kohli said, After some apprehensions and specific inputs regarding bid of smuggling weapons, a high alert was issued across Jammu on Sunday and mobile vehicle checking nakas were laid at more than a dozen places. Similarly, signal a team of police laid a mobile vehicle checking naka at Purmandal Modh under the jurisdiction of Gangyal police station when a truck JK13E 0211 was signalled to stop for frisking. The driver of the vehicle however tried to avoid the checking by sharing excuses which developed suspicion after which the vehicle was put to thorough frisking.

Earlier on June 27, a 5kg of IED was recovered from a Lashkar terrorist found around 2-3 km away from the Jammu airport. He was arrested after the security forces found him carrying the explosives. This was reposted after the multiple blasts that occurred in the premises of the technical area of the Jammu airport on the same day. Two blasts were heard within a gap of 5 minutes, the first blast sound is captured in the CCTV at 1.37 am while the second at 1.43 am.

(Image credit: PTI)
The Tamil Nadu government is undertaking steps to avoid any chance of a Zika virus infection in the state. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Monday has said that Zika virus had not yet been detected in the state. Earlier, the state had upped the scrutiny for people travelling into the state from Kerala.

No cases of Zika virus detected in the state so far. People coming into the state from Kerala are being screened for the virus, the TN Health Minister said. The M.K. Stalin-led state government had earlier on Saturday, July 10, had ordered the vehicle checking to be intensified at the Tamil Nadu- Kerala border after the Zika virus outbreak was announced. According to reports, the TN government is in tight vigil and has added vehicle checking personnel at 14 strategic points and check posts at Walayar and Meenakshipuram.

Currently, an e-pass is mandatory for those entering the district from Kerala since the spread of Covid-19. Meanwhile, the state of Tamil Nadu witnessed a fall in daily COVID cases. Chennai reported no new cases in the last 24 hours. The district witnessed zero covid deaths on Sunday for the first time in months.

Zika virus in Kerala

The state of Kerala was put on alert following the Zika virus outbreak on Friday. In quick response, the Centre had rushed a team of experts to monitor the situation and aid the state government in the management of the cases. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the virus infection was not unexpected as it is spread by the Aedes Aegypte mosquitoes. He said that the state has strengthened its vector control units.

Health Minister Veena George on Sunday confirmed three new cases of Zika virus in the state. Among the new Zika virus patients, two sought medical care in the hospital and one is a hospital employee. The state government, which is struggling to manage its daily COVID cases, is currently in plans to contain it before further spread.

What is Zika Virus

The Zika virus was first identified in monkeys in Uganda, in 1947, then in humans in 1952. The first major outbreak happened at the Island of Yap back in 2007. Brazil, later in 2015, had a large Zika virus outbreak causing 1600 children to be born with microcephaly. There have also been sporadic cases over the years in Africa. The state of Kerala is now facing a major threat from the virus caused by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

(With inputs from agencies)

IMAGE: PTI
In a recent update concerning the fire breakout in the PVC market of Tikri Kalyan, Delhi, the situation was under control in the beginning but has now spread to the nearby plots. The rescue operation is still underway.

The current update of the massive fire break out

Explaining the rescue operations deployed at the spot, one of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) officials said, "Nearly 40 vehicles are deployed at this spot. Initially, the fire blaze was under control but due to unlikely weather and increased winds, adjoining plots are also under fire risks".

He added, "This is a 10-acre area. Two factors are fueling our troubles. One is the wind and the other is the materials of the road connecting the plots".

"The roads are also vulnerable to catch fire due to which fire is easily spreading from one plot to another", he said.

Tiki's fire incident

On Sunday, July 11, a massive fire broke out at an open godown in the Tikri Kalan area.

Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Service (DFS), said, "A call was received around 8.35 pm about a fire in PVC market. The fire is mainly in an open godown which is spread over a large area. No casualty was reported so far".

Bangladesh Factory fire

On July 8, a fire broke out at the five-story Hashem Foods Ltd. factory in Rupganj, outer premises of the capital Dhaka. A large amount of black smoke was observed reaching the sky.

A police official had said that the incident has lead to the death of at least 52 people, many of whom were trapped inside by an illegally locked door.

Debashish Bardhan, a deputy director of the Fire Service and Civil Defense, had said that workers were trapped inside the factory as the emergency exits were locked when the fire broke out. According to Bangladeshs factory laws, a factory cannot lock its exit when workers are inside during production hours.

The factory is a subsidiary of Sajeeb Group, a Bangladeshi company that produces juice under Pakistans Lahore-based Shezan International Ltd. According to the groups website, the company exports its products to a number of countries including Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Bhutan, Nepal and nations in the Middle East and Africa.

As of Saturday, July 10, eight people were arrested regarding the incident.

(Image credit: PTI/REPRESENTATIVEIMAGE)
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has sent 400 pineapples to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a return gift. Earlier last week, Bangladesh Prime Minister had sent 300 kgs of Haribhanga mangoes to the Tripura CM.

Token of courtesy by Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb

Tripura State Government on Friday after receiving the 300 kgs of Haribhanga mangoes from Bangladesh as a goodwill gift had said that it would send the state fruit 'Queen pineapple' as a return gift. The pineapples are brought from a bordering village, Ampi in the Gomati district in Tripura. Committing to his statement, Tripura Government has gifted around 400 pineapples to Bangladesh.

Talking to the media, Udot Jha, Second Secretary to Indian High Commission at Chittagong said, "The goodwill gesture by Tripura Chief Minister towards Bangladesh and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will further cement the friendship and long-standing ties between the two nations."

"I would like to thank the Tripura government and the Chief Minister for their goodwill gesture", he added.

Meanwhile, T K Chakma, Director of Industries and Tourism department of Tripura government expressed that Tripura and Bangladesh have a strong relationship and there is a huge scope for the enhancement of import-export trade and medical tourism sector.

Gift by Bangladesh to India and its neighbouring states

Previously, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had gifted Haribhanga mangoes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers of its neighbouring Indian states including Tripura and West Bengal. The Tripura CM on receiving the mangoes thanked PM Hasina over the telephone. It is being said that Bangladesh plans to send mangoes to more of its neighbouring states, majorly the North-Eastern states.

Now the pineapples will be handed over to Udot Jha, who will be handing it over to the Bangladesh Prime Minister.

Tripura is known as a state of pineapples and grows around 2 lakh pineapples every year in different districts of the state. The pineapple farms are run by the government as well as some are privately owned. The state cultivates two different types of pineapples - Queen and Kew from May to September.

(Source: ANI)
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested two terrorists associated with the Al-Qaeda and is set to produce them before the court on Monday. The operation is still underway across UP to nab the associates of the arrested terrorists. In addition, it was also learnt that the terrorists used to visit Kanpur in order to recruit more individuals in the module. Moreover, the module that was busted is being termed as the 'Do it yourself' (DIY) module that was formed in order to carry out terror attacks in India.

Terror module busted by UP ATS

According to reports, the network of the module is said to be big as the police have informed that more arrests are expected in the case. The ATS is interrogating 3 persons from Kanpur while raids are also underway in other districts including Sambhal where one person is expected to be arrested. Moreover, a link to Saharanpur has also been found out by the authorities investigating the case.

The arrested terrorists used to visit Kanpur regularly to meet a person and hold regular meetings. So far, the ATS has recovered several maps of areas around the Ram Mandir site. In addition, maps of Kashi, Mathura and Gorakhpur have also been recovered by the ATS. Following this, a high alert has been raised in Uttar Pradesh and security detail has been strengthened near Kashi, Mathura and Ayodhya.

As a part of additional measures, a high alert has been raised near the Nepal border and checking has been enhanced. In addition, the police is also expected to push for remand custody of the arrested terrorists. Moreover, family members of the arrested persons are also being questioned by the authorities.

'Terrorists were in touch with foreign handlers through Telegram'

Reports further revealed that the terrorists were in touch with their foreign handlers through Telegram. Therefore, their WhatsApp and Telegram chats are being monitored by the investigating authorities. Among other things that the ATS has seized includes laptops, documents including papers that were burned. So far, it is being learnt that the arrested terrorists were in touch with other persons from various districts of Uttar Pradesh.

'Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists planned serial attacks in Lucknow': UP ATS

The two individuals were arrested by the UP ATS after a raid at their home in Lucknow's Kakori area. In a statement, ATS said that they got information about Al-Qaeda terrorist Umar Halmindi who used to recruit youths to carry out terrorist operations in India. As per the ATS, terror-module Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) was set up to carry out the attacks.

"The chiefs of Al Qaeda's UP module are Minaz, Masiruddin, Shakeel. They got instructions from Halmindi to plan serial blasts, human bombs, at various places in Uttar Pradesh and iconic/populated places of Lucknow before August 15." the ATS informed

The ATS also arrested Minaz Ahmed, a resident of Ring Road, Dubagga, Lucknow. During the raids, IED, pistol, explosive materials were recovered. Another team of ATS raided Masiruddin, a resident of Sitapur Road, Lucknow. Large quantities of explosives were recovered from his house, the ATS said. In addition, Jammu and Kashmir police have also been informed after the development and links with terror activities in Kashmir has also come forward. The latest development in Uttar Pradesh comes amid the backdrop of NIA raids conducted on Sunday morning in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district after two terrorists were neutralised. The NIA detained five people over terror links.
Kolkata, Jul 11 (PTI) Four Bangladeshi women, who claimed to have been working as domestic help in Maharashtra, were apprehended by BSF near the international border in West Bengals North 24 Parganas on Sunday when they were illegally attempting to cross over to the neighbouring country A BSF statement said, after being challenged by the border guards near the Jeetpur border outpost at 2.30 am, the four women hid in a jute field.

The four people, in the age group of 23-40 years, were caught as the border guards cordoned off the jute field and carried out a combing operation, the statement said.

During interrogation, the women admitted they were going back to Bangladesh with help of an Indian tout, who remains at large.

While three of them hailed from Jessore district, the fourth woman is from Narail district. PTI SUS MM MM

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The Kolkata Police's Special Task Force (STF) nabbed three terrorists linked to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from south Kolkata's Haridevpur area on Sunday afternoon. The three suspected JMB terrorists were living in a rented accommodation for a few months in the middle-class locality, raising concern among the locals. They were nabbed following a tip-off, a senior police officer said.

The Kolkata Police STF have found Jihadi literature from their possession and their Facebook accounts have been analysed. V Solomon Nesakumar, joint CP of Kolkata Police STF revealed that the terrorists were using their social media accounts for radicalising Muslims and fuelling terrorist activities in India.

A handwritten diary containing names and numbers of important JMB members were also found in possession of the nabbed terrorists, he said. Investigation has started and the accused will be presented before the court on Monday, said Nesakumar.

Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists nabbed in Lucknow

The incident comes just hours after the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) thwarted a major terror attack by apprehending two terrorists linked to Al Qaeda, from the Kakori area of Lucknow. The terrorists reportedly planned serial blasts in various iconic places of Lucknow and across UP before Independence Day on August 15. According to sources, several high-profile politicians including MPs from the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) were on the terrorists' hit-list.

Explosives such as pressure cooker bombs, pistol guns, semi-manufactured time bombs, and 6-7 kgs of explosives manufacturing materials were recovered from the nabbed terrorists.

"The chiefs of Al Qaeda's UP module Minaz, Shakeel had they planned serial blasts, human bombs at various parts of UP and iconic places of Lucknow before August 15. To execute this, Minaj Ahmed, resident of Ring Road Dubagga in Kakori and Naseeruddin resident of Sitapur Road, Lucknow were playing important roles. Their other accomplices are also involved in the operation. Terrorist activities could be executed anytime by them," UP DGP Prashant Kumar informed.

He added that a case is being registered by ATS and accused will be soon produced before the court.
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that a red alert has been issued in the entire state in view of the current situation in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu. This latest development comes after Uttar Pradesh Police and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday, July 11 arrested 2 terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda, who were planning serial blasts in Lucknow before Independence Day.

Madhya Pradesh: 'Red alert issued in entire state'

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said, "These people have been identified. They are suspected of SIMI or people related to Al Qaeda. I have given instructions to teh DGP to immediately issue an alert in the entire state of Madhya Pradesh."

Uttar Pradesh: ATS cracks down on major terror module in Kakori

In a major crackdown for Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) two terrorists, linked to Al Qaeda, from the Kakori area of Lucknow were arrested. According to the on-ground information accessed by the Republic Media Network, explosives such as pressure cooker bombs, pistol guns, semi-manufactured time bombs, and 6-7 kgs of explosives were recovered and certain high-profile politicians including MPs from the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) were under the scanner of these terrorists. The Uttar Pradesh police have scheduled an official press conference and it is expected to be presided over by ADG law and order, Prashant Kumar regarding the matter.

According to sources, the ATS team has been monitoring activities in the Kakori area for the past one week after receiving a tip-off from a neighbour. The terrorists were reportedly going to execute their actions within three days however UP ATS successfully executed their plan. Currently, more than 100 cops are present at the spot and security forces have decided to question every individual living in and around the area. On-ground data mentioned that the house where the ATS team is currently conducting search operation belonged to three suspects identified as Shahid, Siraj and Guddu.

Moreover, the Jammu and Kashmir police have also been informed regarding the major development and connections with terrorist activities in the valley has also come forward. A detailed report will be shared with media outlets in the evening when the press conference is conducted by the state security officials. Currently, the search operation is underway. A Delhi court on Friday, July 9 had also ordered to frame charges against four terrorists over alleged connections with a terrorist organization- Hizbul Mujahideen.

Terror-funding cases raided by NIA

The latest development in Uttar Pradesh comes at the backdrop of National Investigation Authority(NIA) raids that were conducted on Sunday morning in Kashmir's Anantnag district and two unidentified terrorists were neutralized. The NIA had detained over five people with links to terrorist activities. This also comes in the backdrop of the Jammu and Kashmir administration that terminated 11 government employees including two sons of the most wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin for their alleged involvement in terror-funding activities. Syed Salahuddin is also the founder of Hizbul Mujahideen.

(Image: ANI, PTI)
Amid the ongoing opposition against the centre's move of privatizing Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, all political parties in Andhra Pradesh, except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Jana Sena Party (JSP) have decided to unite against the decision.

Opposition To Move Dharna To Delhi on Aug 2-3

The opposition parties on Monday, July 12, decided to stage a Dharna in the national capital to oppose the centre's privatization plan on August 2-3.

In a meeting held in Vijayawada, the opposition passed a resolution and has opted to ignite the agitation further. As reported by the news agency ANI, CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna said, "A round table meeting of several parties has made a resolution against the privatization of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The meeting organized by the Communist Party of India (CPI) opined that the agitation should be taken to Delhi. The round table meeting decided to take part in a Dharna called by trade unions at Delhi on August 2-3.

The Communist Party of India state secretary added, the central government has decided to privatize Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Visakhapatnam (popularly known as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant) more than five years ago. All parties in Andhra Pradesh except BJP and its ally party JSP have been opposing the move.

The move was opposed by five parties including -- Congress, TDP, CPI, CPM, AAP and other mass organizations of union workers. The alliance of the opposition also raised the demand to the state government to lead an all-party delegation to Delhi and even sought their direct participation in the Dharna.

"Ruling YSRCP has passed a resolution in the Assembly. Trade unions and labour unions have been agitating since the past five months at the Steel Plant. But the Union government is going ahead with the privatization process. On July 8, the central government has decided to appoint financial, legal and technical advisors for fastening the process of privatization of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant", said K Ramakrishnan to ANI.

Resistance Intensified with DIPAM's latest decision

The resistance intensified on Thursday, July 9 when the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) decided to hire legal and transaction advisors to plan the roadmap for privatization. The decision faced backlash as agitating workers and union leaders staged an impromptu sit-in protest for over two hours, some of the workers were not even allowed to enter the plant.

A (PIL) was also filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday challenging the Central governments decision of privatization. The High Court issued notices to both State and Central governments.

Image: PTI
By the end of August, Australia would have withdrawn its supporting soldiers from Afghanistan due to competition from the US operation, bringing an end to its 20-year presence in the war-torn country.

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said that Australia's last supporting forces have been brought back to the country. Dutton has emphasised that their military objective would be completed in conjunction with the US and that they will participate in any additional campaign directed by the US.

Australia has sent 39,000 troops to Afghanistan in the last two decades

Since 2001, the Australian Defence Force has been tasked with "containing the threat of international terrorism," initially through Operation Slipper and then through Operation Highroad. Over the last two decades, Australia has sent 39,000 troops to Afghanistan as part of US and NATO-led operations against the Taliban and terrorist organisations.

Only 80 troops were recently commissioned to protect the Kabul-based embassy and carry out diplomatic missions across the country. Australia declared in April that it will withdraw all of its troops since the US had agreed to stop its military commitment by September 11, a timeframe that has now been pushed back to August 31.

Among the 39 thousand soldiers that Australia had sent, 41 of whom were killed, and its aerial troops had left the country in 2013. In the southern Helmand province, Australian personnel have been accused of war crimes. As incidences of suicide have increased among soldiers sent to Afghanistan, Australian servicemen who have returned home have asked their government to conduct an investigation. In Australia, an investigation into possible war crimes is also underway. The military and police are also looking into allegations that elite Special Air Services personnel in Afghanistan committed several war crimes.

Other countries also withdrew their soldiers

Earlier this year, numerous countries, including Germany and China, withdrew their soldiers from Afghanistan. India withdrew some of its embassy personnel from Kandahar on Sunday. Given the impending end of US army withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban have been conquering newer districts and areas at a breakneck pace, while Afghan government forces have fled from a number of locations.

(Inputs from ANI)
Bulgaria's early election ended without a clear winner, the central electoral commission said on Monday with 95% of the ballots counted.

The center-right GERB party of former prime minister Boyko Borissov has a razor-thin majority over its main contender, an anti-elite party called There is Such a People established by popular TV entertainer Slavi Trifonov.

The GERB party has won 23.91% of the votes, while Trifonov's party gained 23.66%, but the remaining 5 percent are votes from abroad who voted mostly for Trifonov in the previous poll. Four more parties have passed the 4% threshold and will enter the 240-seats chamber.

The snap elections were held just three months after a previous, inconclusive vote and produced again a fragmented parliament that will struggle to form a viable governing coalition.

Locals in Sofia spoke of uncertainty about these results and the future of Bulgaria.

Newspaper vendor, Petko Simeonov felt politics in the country "are not good at all" and expressed that he did not have "good expectations" for moving forward.

Sofia resident, Elka Dragieva was hoping for a coalition between like-minded parties and finished by saying a third election would be "superfluous."

In a first reaction to the outcome, Slavi Trifonov said his party will not enter a coalition, but rather propose a minority government after it receives the mandate.

They also marked a further drop in support for Borissov's GERB party, after the current caretaker government made public allegations of widespread corruption during his rule.

All this leaves Borissov without real chances to return to office for a fourth term, regardless of whether his GERB party finishes first in the election, because most political groups have rejected the idea of cooperating with the ex-ruling party.

NATO and EU member Bulgaria has been repeatedly criticized for not tackling corruption and for deficiencies in the rule of law and media freedom.

IMAGE: AP

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Voter apathy dominated Bulgaria's early election on Sunday, raising the prospect of yet another fractured parliament that will struggle to form a viable governing coalition.

The Central Election Commission said voter turnout was around 30% by 5 p.m., almost 10% less than in previous elections.

Some 6.7 million people were eligible to cast ballots for 240 lawmakers in the parliament.

At the end of the voting day, before any official results were announced, no party appeared ready to claim the victory.

Political analysts, however, were unanimous that there are no options for former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov to return to office for a fourth term, regardless of whether his GERB party finishes first in the election, because most political groups have rejected the idea of cooperating with the ex-ruling party.

Tomislav Donchev, chief of GERB election headquarters, spoke to reporters saying that he was positive about the election outcome.

"Today's result also means that despite all efforts to distort the election result, to mislead Bulgarian citizens, Bulgarian democracy is still alive," he said.

Bulgaria, which belongs to both the European Union and NATO, has been repeatedly criticized for not tackling corruption and for deficiencies in the rule of law and media freedom.

IMAGE: AP

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday met with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, during a visit to Berlin.

Zelenskyy's visit comes as Kyiv remains locked in a tense tug-of-war with Russia following the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula - a conflict that has killed more than 14,000.

Ukraine is also concerned that the prospective Russian-built Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline running under the Baltic Sea to Germany would deprive it not only of transit fees for pumping Russian gas to Europe, but also erode its strategic importance and weaken it politically.

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Slovenians voted on Sunday in a referendum on changes to the country's water management law, in a test for the government of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa.

Jansa's government approved the amendments in March but ecologists have pushed through the referendum, saying the changes threaten the environment and water quality.

The issue has sparked a heated debate in the small European Union country of 2 million people known for its stunningly beautiful Alpine scenery and as a nation of nature-lovers.

The right to water was enshrined in the country's constitution in 2016.

At the centre of the dispute is a provision regulating construction of buildings, including hotels, shops and restaurants, close to the sea, rivers or lakes.

While the government insists it has actually tightened the rules and enabled more water and flood protection funds, opponents claim the regulations favour the interests of private investors and would limit public access to water, and jeopardize its quality.

"Slovenia will not give up its nature and environment and access to it" said Uros Macerl, an NGO activist for environmental group, Eko Krog.

The water dispute has reflected heightened political tensions in Slovenia where Jansa's government has faced accusations of curbing democratic and media freedoms in the traditionally liberal nation.

Jansa also has faced EU scrutiny over his populist ways as Slovenia took over the bloc's six-month rotating presidency earlier this month.

For the referendum to succeed, a majority of those who voted and at least one fifth of around 1.7 million eligible voters - around 340,000 - must reject the water law amendments.

Early voting in care homes and several polling stations has drawn a record number of more than 84,000 citizens, suggesting high public interest in the topic.

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The United Stated donated 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Nepal, which is struggling to give coronavirus jabs to its population.

US Ambassador Randy Berry told reporters at Kathmandu Airport on Monday that the single-shot vaccines were a gift through the COVAX facility and were enough to protect 1.5 million people of Nepal.

The US is also donating vaccines to several other Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Nepal's health minister said the shots would be given to people between the ages of 50 and 54.

Though situated between India and China, which are among the biggest producers of vaccines, Nepal has been struggling to obtain doses.

Nepal began its vaccination campaign in January, but less than 3% of its population has been fully inoculated.

The campaign stalled after India was hit by a devastating coronavirus outbreak and cut off exports of Indian-made vaccines, including 1 million doses which Nepal had already paid for.

Since then, China has donated 1.8 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine and is selling Nepal about 4 million more doses this month.

Nepal faced an outbreak in April which prompted authorities to impose a two-month lockdown.

That brought down the number of cases, but an easing of restrictions now is raising concern about a new outbreak with so few people vaccinated.

Thousands of people also cross the border with India every day without health checks to seek work there or return home.

There are official checkpoints on the main routes across the 1,800-kilometer (1,125-mile) border, but it is easy to walk across much of the unguarded portion.

We are very likely to be hit by a third wave of COVID-19 because we have a very porous border and only a small number of people have received the vaccine, said Dr. Rajan Pandey of Bheri Hospital in the border city of Nepalgunj, 360 kilometers (225 miles) southwest of the capital, Kathmandu.

In May, the city was the first in Nepal to be hit by the new outbreak and the hospital was overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. Patients lined up outside its doors and many were turned away or treated in ambulances or in corridors.

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Indonesia on Monday ordered four foreign tourists to leave the resort island of Bali after violating health protocols as the country endures a devastating wave of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths.

A Russian who tested positive for the coronavirus upon her arrival in Bali last Thursday was recaptured that night after she escaped mandatory isolation at an appointed hotel, said Jamaruli Manihuruk, who heads the Bali regional office for the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.

She has been placed in an isolation facility in Balis capital, Denpasar, and will be deported as soon as she recovered from the virus, Manihuruk said.

Three others were accused of defying mask mandates in public after being found unmasked in a raid last Thursday in the Kuta tourist area to enforce health protocols and prevent more infections, he said.

The travelers from the United States, Ireland and Russia were placed in a detention room at the immigration office while waiting for their flights to their countries later Monday.

Indonesia has been hit hard by the virus, fueled by travel during the Eid holiday in May, and the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus first found in India. Overall, the Southeast Asia country has reported more than 2.5 million infections and nearly 67,000 fatalities from COVID-19.

The most recent surge prompted new lockdown measures last month, particularly on Java, Indonesias most populated island, and on the tourist island of Bali.

Bali has recorded more than 55,300 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, including 1,634 deaths.

Under the new emergency measures, authorities in Bali toughened its mask mandate to impose a fine of 1 million rupiah ($70) for foreigners who did not use masks properly and to deport those who did not wear masks. Previously, foreigners were given guidance to use masks properly, were fined for a first offense and were deported after a second offense.

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Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani has called on the Taliban to lay down their arms, saying they are causing huge damage to the country.

"If every day around 200 to 400 to 600 Afghans die, who will benefit from it? If buildings are burnt and every other infrastructure which we build? Let me tell you what happened in Arghandab, three bridges which were constructed for about 50 million dollars, they (Taliban) destroyed and around 1,000 houses were bombed," he said to a gathering of supporters in Khost.

The Taliban have made rapid gains across the north of Afghanistan in recent days, as US forces continue their departure from the country.

The insurgents now claim control over more than a third of the 421 districts and district centers across Afghanistan.

They have also captured several border crossings with Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, opening up potential revenues for the Taliban and cutting key transportation routes. The Islam Qala border crossing with Iran was the latest to fall to the Taliban, on Thursday.

Ghani also questioned the insurgents' motives for carrying on the fighting.

"Let's ask a couple of questions to the Taliban. First, who are you fighting for? Are you fighting for Afghanistan, or you want Afghanistan to be under control of others?" he asked during the session on Saturday.

In meetings in Iran and in Russia, Taliban leaders have championed their victories, claiming exaggerated territory, even as they say they are not looking for a military victory.

The February 2020 agreement the Taliban signed with the United States reportedly says the insurgent force would not militarily capture provincial capitals.

Yet some provincial capitals, like Kandahar to the south, are under siege.

The U.S., Russia, China and even Afghanistan's neighbor Pakistan, where the Taliban leadership council is headquartered, have all warned the Taliban against trying for a military victory.

The Taliban have been told they won't get recognition and they can count on being an international pariah if they make a military play for power.

The Taliban, however, tells the AP it is the Afghan government, that has stymied negotiations that would include leaders on both sides of the conflict.

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Thailands immunisation strategy against dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic includes administering a shot of AstraZenecas viral vector vaccine followed by Sinovacs coronavirus vaccine. Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters on July 12 that if the plan is implemented, it would mark the first publicly announced mix and match of Chinese vaccine and a Western-developed shot. The lawmaker also revealed that the notable move is to increase the protection against the highly transmissible variants.

Referring to the coronavirus variant first detected in Indonesia, Charnvirakul told the reporters that the vaccine cocktail will be administrated on Thai people to improve protection against the Delta variant and build a high level of immunity against the disease.

His remarks came as Thailand and neighbouring countries like Indonesia report breakthrough infections among healthcare professionals and frontline workers who received Sinovacs shot. Reportedly, most Thai medical professionals were given the Chinese vaccine after February with AstraZeneca jabs arriving in June.

Thailand sets curfew for the capital Bangkok

Meanwhile, officials on July 9 announced a seven-hour long curfew along with other restrictions for Thai capital Bangkok and nine other provinces to stem the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases and deaths. As per The Associated Press, people living in Bangkok and five nearby provinces in the far south are required to stay indoors from 9 PM to 4 AM, not hold any gatherings of over five persons and avoid non-essential travels.

Thai Deputy Health Minister Satit Pitutacha also announced on Friday that the said restrictions would come into effect on July 12 and will be reviewed after two weeks. Additionally, the shopping centres in the greater Bangkok area will be shut down except only for businesses such as supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, takeout food and other essential services. The restrictions were announced due to the increasing number of coronavirus infections and deaths. The latest wave of COVID-19 in Thailand is spurred by the emergence of the Delta variant coupled with a staggering vaccination drive. On Friday, Health authorities said 9,276 new cases of coronavirus pushing the total to 317,506 since the pandemic began last year.

IMAGE: AP/Pixabay


In a major blow to caretaker PM KP Sharma Oli, the Nepal Supreme Court reinstated the House of Representatives for the second time in nearly 5 months. The Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JBR that includes Justices Deepak Kumar Karki, Mira Khadka, Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada, and Ananda Mohan Bhattarai were hearing a slew of pleas challenging Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari's move to dissolve Parliament and declare mid-term polls. Most importantly, it directed that Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba must be appointed as the PM within two days

The opposition alliance had filed a plea in this regard comprising the signature of 146 parliamentarians. Notably, Bhandari had dissolved the House after finding the claims of both Oli and Deuba unsatisfactory based on the signatures submitted. Earlier, the Nepal SC quashed the recent appointment of 20 Ministers amid concerns whether a caretaker PM can make such sweeping changes in the Cabinet.

Nepal's Supreme Court orders appointment of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister within two days  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 12, 2021

Political instability in Nepal

With 121 seats, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) is the largest party in the 275-member House of Representatives. On the other hand, the Nepali Congress, the CPN-Maoist Center of ex-PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal also known as 'Prachanda'and the Janata Samajbadi Party have 63, 49 and 34 seats respectively. The rivalry between the Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal camps in the CPN-UML camps escalated to the extent that the Nepal President dissolved the Parliament on December 10, 2020, and set the ball rolling for fresh elections.

While the country's Supreme Court reinstated the Parliament in February, the Nepal PM escalated the feud by suspending Nepal and other senior leaders close to him for 6 months. Amidst the turmoil within the ruling party, Oli finally decided to seek a vote of confidence on May 10. However, he was dealt another blow as the CPN-Maoist Center withdrew its support, reducing the government to a minority. Thereafter, he lost the confidence motion after securing just 93 votes in the session attended by 232 lawmakers.

Whereas 124 members voted against the motion, 15 others stayed neutral. Though the CPN-Maoist Center decided to back the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML rival faction and Janata Samajbadi Party showed hesitancy in the formation of an alternative government. Although Oli was back at the helm of affairs, he received a setback on May 20 as his candidate for a seat in Nepal's Upper House- Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa lost to a candidate fielded by the CPN-UML rival faction. Moreover, the nation's SC issued an interim order restraining 7 members of the Cabinet from discharging their ministerial responsibilities.

Defecting to the PM's party from the CPN-Maoist Center, they had been disqualified from Parliament. This compelled him to not seek a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives. Following this, Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari gave another opportunity to political parties to bid for the Prime Minister's post by 5 pm on May 21. A day later, she took recourse to Article 76(5) which paves way for the dissolution of the Parliament and fresh polls if no one is able to garner the support of a majority of the lawmakers.
Belgian researchers found a deadly combination of coronavirus that killed a 90-year-old woman who had contracted both the alpha variant, which first surfaced in the U.K. and the beta strain, first found in South Africa. According to a report published in the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, the elderly woman who hadnt been vaccinated possessed both the virus probably from separate people.

Woman infected with 2 variants, likely infected from separate people

The published report noted that the woman was first tested positive for coronavirus in early March after she fell ill numerous times following which she had been taking medical treatment at her home. The report said that she died five days after her condition worsened following a collapse of her respiratory organs. Subsequently, when the researchers tested the samples, it was revealed that the woman had both strains of the deadly COVID-19. However, it is not yet clear whether the co-infection played a role in her rapid deterioration.

Co-infection is a 'new normal' in medical science: Researchers

According to the researchers, this was not the first case when the person got infected with two strains simultaneously. In an unpublished report, the researchers have claimed that Brazilian scientists reported two cases of COVID-19 co-infection. It has also found evidence of people becoming infected with multiple strains of influenza.

"It can be concluded that the cases suggest co-infection might be more common than currently known," noted a report published in the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.

Drugmakers rushing to test booster shots to fight double strains

According to Anne Vankeerberghen, the lead author of the study and a molecular biologist from OLV Hospital in Aalst, Belgium that the global occurrence of detection of both the virus is limited due to lack of knowledge and the process to identify co-infections with whole-genome sequencing. With these kinds of instances, eyebrows have been raised over the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Also, with a steep rise in the cases of Delta variants in the UK, Indonesia and other countries, the vaccine makers are rushing to test their shots against the newer versions of the deadly virus. Some countries are even working on whether to offer additional vaccine shots to safeguard the people.
At a meeting with US regulators in the coming weeks, Pfizer Inc. will seek clearance to start delivering an updated third booster shot that it manufactured to neutralize the highly contagious Delta variant, first identified in India in December. The B.1.617.2, the deadliest SARS-CoV-2 mutation so far, is on the way to becoming the dominant strain worldwide.

In an attempt to make its jab work highly effectively against B.1.617.2 induced COVID-19 infections, Pfizer (PFE.N) and partner BioNTech (22UAy.DE) plans to ask US FDA and Europes EMA to authorize the booster dose, apparently the third shot of the vaccine. The news of the meeting was first reported by the US broadcaster Washington Post, who found out from the sources that talks are scheduled between US health regulators and Pfizer for the weeks ahead.

In an effort to stay ahead of the virus, we are preparing an updated version of the Pfizer-BioNTech #COVID19 vaccine based on the #DeltaVariant and may start clinical studies as early as August 2021. Learn more about our efforts: https://t.co/P0XmAGrxlt pic.twitter.com/5WscyTJ0Vc  Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) July 8, 2021

The pharmaceutical company plans to start clinical trials in August of the updated version of its vaccine that works against the emerging variants with greater efficacy and would better protect against the Delta variant. The US CDC, FDA, and National Institutes of Health, however, have been at odds with Pfizer saying that it is essentially, still too soon. Based on the evidence to date, both Pharma company BioNTech and Pfizer as well the health regulatory bodies have been drawing their own conclusions about the urgent need for approval for a third booster vaccine.

A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role, CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC in televised remarks during an event with CVS Health.

CDC at odds with Pfizer

CDC in fact rolled out a joint statement on behalf of health regulators saying that the Americans who have been fully vaccinated against COVID19 do not need a third booster shot at this time.

Americans who have been fully vaccinated against #COVID19 do not need a booster shot at this time. FDA, CDC, and NIH are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary. Read full CDC/FDA statement. https://t.co/njQ4dLv8dW  CDC (@CDCgov) July 9, 2021

Pfizer, however, has been pushing the "encouraging data" for emergency approval, stating that a third booster shot would be necessary at least 6 months after the initial vaccination. Earlier studies have pointed that the two doses regime of the vaccine produced antibodies that effectively neutralized the variant or made the otherwise severe symptomatic infection asymptomatic in case of breakthrough infections. Although, Pfizer argued the previous research in an official statement, saying, The companies anticipate that a third dose will boost those antibody titers even higher, as it pointed to evidence from Israel. Pfizer also stated that it will publish "more definitive data soon.
In a major crackdown over using the United States originated produce against Uyghur civilians and providing the supply of modern technology to Russia and Iran, President Joe Biden led-US administration sanctioned at least 34 Chinese companies, said Commerce Department on Friday. According to the statement released by the US Commerce Department, all those companies who were sanctioned are involved in activities contrary to the US foreign policy and national security.

#NEWS Commerce Department Adds 34 Entities to the Entity List to Target Enablers of Chinas Human Rights Abuses and Military Modernization, and Unauthorized Iranian and Russian Procurement https://t.co/2jrjZ1Szd6 @BISgov  U.S. Commerce Dept. (@CommerceGov) July 9, 2021

Chinese firms play a key role in Uyghurs suppression

The Department further said that fourteen companies that have their headquarters in China were involved in suppressing the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the northwest Xinjiang region. It noted that these Chinese firms played a major role in continuing the Beijing "genocide and crimes against humanity." The statement also claimed that at least five companies that were barred from establishing any business with the US organisations, were involved in acquiring lasers and other technology to modernise the Chinese military.

Sanctioned organisations providing technology transfer to Russian military

The statement also added that seven were blacklisted for their involvement with the Russian military while eight organisations were sanctioned for consigning US technology to Iran. The Chinese government since 2017 has detained a million or more people in the northwest province of Xinjiang. Critics accuse China of operating forced labour camps and carrying out torture and forced sterilization there as it allegedly seeks to assimilate Muslim ethnic minority groups.

Biden calls Russian President; asks to crack down on Russian cybercriminals

Today, President Biden spoke with President Putin about the ongoing ransomware attacks by criminals based in Russia. President Biden reiterated that the U.S. will take any necessary action to defend its people and its infrastructure in the face of this continuing challenge. pic.twitter.com/J3wlCCdn3a  The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 9, 2021

Earlier on Friday, President Biden, in a conversation with Putin in a phone call said that he must take action against cybercriminals acting in his country and that the US reserves the right to defend its people and its critical infrastructure from future attacks. In his call with Putin, besides reiterating the need for Russia to take action and that the U.S. stands ready to act in response, Biden also emphasized that he is committed to continued engagement on the broader threat posed by ransomware, the White House said.

I made it very clear to him that the United States expects when a ransomware operation is coming from his soil even though its not sponsored by the state, we expect them to act if we give them enough information to act on who that is, Biden said.

(With inputs AP)
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Officials are increasingly calling on students and teachers to inform on each other over comments banned under the draconian law.

A member of the University of Hong Kong student union cleans the Pillar of Shame, a monument commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, June 4, 2021.

One year after the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed a draconian national security law on Hong Kong, academic freedom is on the wane, students and faculty told RFA in recent interviews.

Staff on the University of Hong Kong (HKU) campus tore down posters and messages left on the university's "democracy walls," student publications Campus TV and Undergrad reported on Sunday.

Photos posted to social media showed posters bearing the words "Resist, Hongkongers!" and "never forgive the Hong Kong police," being ripped from walls.

According to Campus TV, Dean of student affairs Sampson Tse was present during the operation, government broadcaster RTHK reported.

From the national security law's implementation on July 1, 2020 to the end of the year, the city's education bureau said it received more than 260 malpractice complaints against faculty members in Hong Kong's universities.

Many of the complaints were linked to accusations of fomenting social unrest, and more than 160 complaints were substantiated, leading to three teachers being struck off, with letters of reprimand and written warnings issued to the others, the bureau said.

Many complaints against teaching staff at all levels of education are made anonymously, on the grounds that the teacher's behavior in some way "endangered national security" under the law, which criminalizes public comments that are critical of the Hong Kong and Chinese governments.

Chief executive Carrie Lam recently also called on parents, school principals, teachers, and pastors to "carefully observe" the behavior of the young people around them and to report any "illegal actions."

Yip Kin-yuen, convenor of the HKU Alumni Concern Group, said the current emphasis on informing against academic staff is highly divisive.

"There are many other ways [to change behavior], including providing training and assistance, referral services, or bringing in experts to help," Yip told RFA. "If a teacher can be reported at any time, this will cause a great deal of mistrust between teachers and students."

His comments came amid a row at the HKU over a now-withdrawn statement by student leaders in which they expressed mourning at the suicide of a protester on the anniversary of the July 1 handover after he stabbed a police officer outside the Sogo department store.

Hong Kong police commissioner Raymond Siu said any words of support for acts considered terrorism by the government would in themselves break the national security law.

"Prosecutions will be laid if there is any evidence, and we will seek advice from the Department of Justice if needed," Siu said.

Ties with student unions cut

Arthur Li, chair of the HKU governing board has also said he would welcome a national security probe into the student union council, and the university would see whether the council members should be expelled, local media reported.

Four members of the HKU student union council -- which has apologized for the motion -- have resigned amid the row.

Staff at HKU had yet to respond to a request for information on the resigned student union council members at the time of broadcast on July 9.

Two Hong Kong universities have already cut ties with their student unions, with the HKU accusing the students' union of becoming "a platform for political propaganda" following its involvement in recent protest movements.

The union had strongly opposed the appointment of two mainland Chinese scholars as vice presidents, saying that they would help to assert CCP control over the city's oldest university.

The university has stopped collecting membership fees on behalf of HKUSU and is reclaiming facilities once used by the student body.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) severed ties with its student union Syzygia on Feb. 26, banning the union from using university facilities or staff and accusing it of failing to clarify "potentially unlawful statements and false allegations."

Politicians, activists targeted

A draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from July 1, 2020 has targeted dozens of pro-democracy politicians and activists for "subversion" after they organized a primary election in a bid to win more seats in the city's legislature.

The law bans words and deeds deemed subversive or secessionist, or any activities linked to overseas groups, as "collusion with foreign powers," including public criticism of the Hong Kong government and the CCP.

Former Syzygia president Issac Lam said it was unprecedented for a university leader like Arthur Li to welcome a national security investigation into the activities of students.

"I would describe it as horrifying," Lam said. "This means I can be threatened by high-level university leaders just for caring about current affairs and for expressing my opinions?"

"I think the whole thing is unbelievable," he said. "The freedom of expression we once enjoyed at university and in academic circles is no more."

He said the calls for investigation will likely escalate on Hong Kong's higher education campuses.

"It's clear that this is going to become a major theme of life in Hong Kong under the current regime," Lam said. "Professors will get reported, and maybe we'll have surveillance cameras in primary and secondary schools to monitor the actions of teachers and students alike?"

A prominent pro-democracy group, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said over the weekend it was letting go all staff, after the authorities banned its annual candlelight vigil for victims of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre for two years running.

The move was in response to the "deteriorating political situation," the group said.

Group spokesman Leung Kam-wai said the remaining members wouldn't give up its work, however.

"The Alliance has been evaluating the political situation," Leung said. "We can only take it one step at a time, because we can't predict how the red lines will shift."

"All we can do is to stand firm and carry on mourning June 4, 1989," Leung told RFA.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The move reflects a yawning gap between revenue and expenditure in everywhere but Shanghai, analysts say.

Cash-strapped local governments across China are ordering teachers and officials to pay back bonuses as plummeting tax revenues start to bite in the wake of economic damage wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic, RFA has learned.

Civil servants and teachers at public institutions in Henan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong provinces were recently charged 20,000 yuan each in repayments for the first quarter of 2021, while being informed that all bonuses had been suspended indefinitely.

The move comes amid growing calls from the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to tighten the public purse-strings.

On June 7, the Nanchang water resources bureau in the eastern province of Jiangxi ordered state employees to repay their bonuses within 10 days, while authorities in Dexing city have ordered teachers to repay bonuses to their schools.

Teachers' bonuses in Jiangxi's Dexing typically amount to 20,000 yuan per quarter, not including an annual bonus, bringing the overall amount to more than the basic salary of most teachers.

Li Qiao, a scholar based in Jiangxi's Jingdezhen city, said the repayment demands indicate that the government is undergoing something of a fiscal crisis.

"Regardless of the authorities' claims of 'bumper harvests' of economic growth, closed-down shops and businesses are everywhere, and there is unemployment, while the pandemic is still under way," Li told RFA.

"That is bound to take a toll on tax revenues, and financial difficulties are inevitable," he said. "Reductions in bonuses and other benefits are already happening."

Civil service bonuses have been suspended in Shanghai, Jiangxi, Henan, Shandong, Chongqing, Hubei and Guangdong, according to Weibo posts from people living in those places.

Government employers in Guangdong's Chaozhou city were ordered at the beginning of this month to stop paying out housing subsidies and performance-related bonuses, according to one post.

Three days later, the government in Shanwei city followed suit.

Salaries for low-ranking civil servants, primary and secondary school teachers on paper typically range from 2,000 to 4,000 yuan a month, with the government handing out a wide range of child support payments, mortgage rebates and other benefits to top them up.

The Jiujiang Bank, based in Jiangxi, recently starting offering refund loans to state employees who can't afford to pay back their benefits.

Chengdu-based writer and independent researcher Tan Zuoren said similar announcements are being made in many places across China.

Bonuses canceled or taken back

"Performance bonuses for civil servants are being canceled or, in some cases, they are being chased for repayment, and bonus payments already issued will have to be repaid," Tan told RFA.

"There are many reasons for this fiscal tightness," he said. "Tax revenues will definitely have fallen since the start of the pandemic ... while spending has increased, leaving a big gap between revenue and expenditure."

According to official figures, that deficit rose by 30 percent in the first half of 2020, with local government debt skyrocketing by 3.4 trillion yuan.

Only Shanghai reported a fiscal surplus during that period, while all of the other cities, regions and provinces returned a deficit.

Henan, Sichuan and Yunnan all reported fiscal deficits of more than 250 billion yuan apiece.

"The government would never take the decision to cut civil service bonuses lightly," Li said. "In the first half of last year, only Shanghai managed to break even, while everywhere else was in deficit."

"When the government says we all need to tighten our belts, there's a reason for that," he said.

Premier Li Keqiang first warned of such belt-tightening in his 2020 annual government work report to the National People's Congress (NPC).

Citing "unprecedented" economic challenges sparked by the pandemic, Li called on governments at all levels to tighten their belts and commit to negative growth in spending, while reducing "non-urgent and non-essential" expenditure by half.

Finance minister Liu Kun told the NPC that the central government in Beijing would boost funds transferred to local governments by 12.8 percent to counter the economic fallout.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The ruling CCP is targeting property prices in sought-after school districts in a bid to encourage couples to have more children.

Students walk along a playground at an elementary school in Qingdao, in China's eastern Shandong, province on May 11, 2021.

Authorities in more than 10 Chinese cities and provinces have brought in new measures to cool residential property prices since last year.

School admissions in China are made on the basis of the residential address of the family applying for the school place, sending prices of apartments near high-performing schools skyrocketing in some areas, official media reported.

Since last year, authorities in Zhejiang, Sichuan, Nanjing, Shanghai, Beijing, and Chongqing have all announced measures to curb rising residential prices in school districts.

Some areas have sought to dilute the impact on home prices by awarding school enrollment rights to families who rent apartments in school districts, not just to those who buy.

Some districts in China have sought to slash applications by raising the bar for parents, requiring families to have owned property in the district for several years prior to the application.

Prices near Beijing's fifth-ranking Zhongguancun No. 3 Primary School jumped by around 31 percent in the space of a single year, while apartments in Yuetan district near another top school come with a markup of nearly 60 percent compared with comparable properties elsewhere, Bloomberg cited online property data as showing.

Prices for housing in the most popular school districts in Shanghai rose by an average of 20 percent in the space of one year, it cited Urgan Surveyors as saying.

CCP general secretary Xi Jinping's comments in March to the effect that property prices in school districts are fueling educational inequality appear to have spurred momentum to address the issue at local level.

China's Politburo announced on April 30 it would move to dampen speculation in properties in school districts, the first time the issue has been discussed at such a high level of government.

Authorities in Beijing's Xicheng district, home to a number of popular schools, have announced they will be delinking property locations from specific schools, with families only entitled to register at one school in any given district, without specifying which one.

Some parents in the district have been informed that they won't be able to register at their preferred school, and will instead be allocated a different school in the same area, the Chinese Business Network reported.

Prices of 60-square-meter homes have fallen from 10 million yuan to 9.2 million in the past few days following the news, it said.

Wang Yeqiang, director of the Institute for Urban and Environmental Stuties at the Chinese Academy for Social Sciences in Beijing, said the measures are likely to be highly effective.

"Every wave of residential price increases starts with increases in school district housing," Wang told RFA. "It acts as a bellwether of market-wide price increases."

"[These policies] will have to stabilize school district housing speculation and rein in investor demand," Wang said.

Political scapegoat

Independent scholar Si Ling said the real estate market is something of a political scapegoat in China.

"There is a lack of clear and transparent policy explanations regarding the various allocation policies linked to housing in school districts," Si told RFA.

"Many commercial organizations are currently speculating about the governments intentions regarding school district boundaries, and what the next governments policy direction will be," he said.

He said the policy was sending a strong signal to the real estate sector to rein in hot money.

"[It's saying that they] must be more cautious in this area of their business, as there may be restrictions on venture capital inflows, and even maybe foreign capital inflows," Si said.

But he said the policies don't address the root cause of the issue.

"The root cause of this phenomenon around school district housing is that there is a huge divide between urban and rural China, with the most advanced medical technology and educational resources concentrated in the cities," Si Ling said.

"It is only in recent years that the Chinese government has realized that this problem is having an impact on social stability," he said.

The Politburo recently also considered a slew of measures aimed at encouraging people to have up to three children, including housing incentives.

Among the support measures planned by the government to tackling a low fertility rate and an aging population include improvements to prenatal and postnatal care, a universal childcare service, and reduced education costs for families.

China's fertility rate stood at around 1.3 children per woman in 2020, compared with the 2.1 children per woman needed for the population to replace itself.

But raising children in China is a costly business, with parents stretched to find money for even one child's education.

While state-run schools don't charge tuition until the 10th year of compulsory education, they increasingly demand nominal payments of various kinds, as well as payments for food and extracurricular activities.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
From the beginning, Beijing announced that it would not accept nor participate in the arbitration.

Protesters demonstrate outside the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, on July 12, 2016, ahead of the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the dispute between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea.

On the fifth anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitrations ruling, the lawyer who advised the Philippine government against Chinas excessive claims in the South China Sea suggests there should be renewed international efforts and a new legal case. But countries in the region are treading carefully.

It was a beautiful summer day in The Hague, recalls Jonathan London, a Leiden University scholar who has been watching South China Sea issues for over a decade.

But it was also surreal, because there was an important judgment to be handed down relating to a conflict on the other side of the world.

After three years, an arbitration case brought by the Philippines against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was about to end with a ruling that could have a major effect on the increasingly heated dispute across one of the worlds most important trade routes. Known as PCA Case No. 2013-19, it marked the first time any nation had challenged China over its maritime sovereignty, an action pitting a Southeast Asian U.S. ally against a rising superpower.

Outside the palatial building of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the stately Dutch city, small crowds started gathering in the morning. First a group of Filipinos waving placards and chanting, "China out of Philippine waters," then some journalists and TV crews. This all changed after about an hour, when a large tour bus pulled up. Several dozen middle-aged and elderly mainland Chinese stepped out and began chanting loudly too, explains London, who was at the site.

Across the Atlantic in Washington, D.C., Paul Reichler -- a partner at the law firm Foley Hoag and the lead counsel for the Philippines -- arrived in his office at 4:45 a.m. only to find his team had already gathered in anticipation. The arbitral ruling was due to arrive by email, half an hour before it was announced to the public.

And then came the exhilarating moments when the legal team read through the pages of the decision.

It was extremely exciting to run through the details: What have they decided on that? And that? Oh my God, have we won that too? Reichler laughs. It was too early in the morning to pop the champagne though.

Historic ruling

On that day, July 12, 2016, the arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines on most of its submissions and rejected Chinas claim of historic rights to vast areas in the South China Sea using the so-called nine-dash line that stretches deep into maritime Southeast Asia.

China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims over the area thought to be rich in natural resources. The South China Sea is also a major shipping route that carries one third of global maritime trade.

Philippines vs China - The rulings:

* China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights by operating in the latters exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

* Chinas land-reclamation activities in the South China Sea had caused severe harm to the coral reef environment.

* All of the high-tide features in the Spratly Islands are legally rocks that do not generate an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. The Spratly Islands cannot generate maritime zones collectively as a unit.

* There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line.

While I had anticipated the ruling, I was still struck by its gravity. An international court has categorically and comprehensively rejected as illegitimate the claims of a major power, London said. The principle underlying the case was simple: the historical record offers virtually zero support for Beijing's claims.

The victory exceeded our expectation, agreed Marites Vitug, a leading Filipino journalist and author of Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China.

We only hoped to win on the single issue of the nine-dash line but we won on most of the issues. A group of activists took to the streets in Manila to celebrate with flowers and balloons. There was also a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy.

But our mood was somehow dampened by the reaction from the secretary of foreign affairs [Perfecto Yasay Jr]. He gave a very short statement, he didnt even smile but looked really sad, like he was attending a funeral! said Vitug.

Many think that President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office less than two weeks before the arbitration award, preferred a soft landing approach, seeking to appease China with a quiet, restrained response instead of exuberant celebrations. The case had been submitted in 2013 under the administration of Dutertes predecessor, and Duterte was seeking a less acrimonious relationship with Beijing.

Secretary Yasay was not the only one who was not cheerful after hearing the tribunals decision.

The Chinese mainlanders [outside the arbitration court] were muted, quietly filed back onto their bus and disappeared, London recalled.

China's reaction

China quickly rejected the ruling. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on the day that the Chinese people will not accept the result.

From the beginning, Beijing announced that it would not accept nor participate in the arbitration. In a 2014 position paper, China argued that the dispute between China and the Philippines, as well as other countries in the region, was not subject to arbitration because it was ultimately a matter of sovereignty which was outside the tribunals jurisdiction.

Chinese legal experts insisted that the case initiated by the Philippines was null and void. Up to the present day, theres a noted reluctance across Chinese academia to discuss the arbitration in any depth.

Last year, in remarks at the Munich Security Forum, President of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies Wu Shicun stated that, China and the Philippines have reached consensus on shelving the decision of the South China Sea arbitration since the second half of 2016.

Duterte, who is expected to leave office in 2022, is believed to have sought to deal with Beijing unilaterally in the hope of securing Chinas support and investment.

Fishermen sort their catch after arriving on the coast of Masinloc, in the province of Zambales west of the Philippine capital Manila in this picture dated May 28, 2021. Masinloc is a fishing community heavily impacted by the Chinese taking over the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground that is within Manila's exclusive economic zone. (Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews)

Chinese expert Wu, however, recognized that there are people in the Philippines who keep pressuring the Duterte government on handling the disputes with China in line with the ruling. He warned that the legal debate over the South China Sea will be intensified again.

The 2016 ruling has not stopped China from stepping up deployments of its coastguard, fishing fleets and navy in the South China Sea, including from its military bases in the Spratly Islands.

In January this year, Beijing adopted a Coast Guard Law that provoked much concern and criticism from Chinas neighbors.

Most recently in March, hundreds of Chinese fishing boats encroached on Whitsun Reef inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Effective legal tool

However, in the longer term, attorney Paul Reichler, from Foley Hoag, argues that the arbitration award provides an authoritative determination of the law, particularly of the legal obligations and rights for China and the Philippines.

The legal regime of the South China Sea has been established, he said.

The Philippines, by deciding to approach China unilaterally rather than multilaterally, let the gas out of the tires. But it doesnt change the fact that the vehicle is there, the engine is working, you only need to put on new tires for it to run again.

There are hopes that following the award thered be a coalition of countries which share the same interest and commitment in upholding the rule of law in the South China Sea. It can still happen, Reichler said.

He suggested that part of the multilateral approach should include a new case brought by a group of states to reinforce the 2016 award and apply it in a broader context beyond that of just between China and the Philippines.

Another main claimant in the South China Sea -- Vietnam -- does not rule out the possibility of submitting its dispute with China to international court or arbitration.

In 2014, Hanoi filed a statement supporting the Philippines in bringing China to the international tribunal, at the same time rejecting Chinas claims and reiterating its own claims in the South China Sea.

Vietnam and other countries should uphold the outcomes of the 2016 award in order to resolve problems in accordance to international law, said Pham Quang Vinh, former Vietnamese ambassador to the United States.

We have a case ready but how to proceed depends on the circumstances.

Another former senior Vietnamese diplomat, who has been studying the issue, is skeptical.

Unless there is a major shift in the region, caused by Chinas violations, there wont be any legal case. Hanoi is inclined to pursue a policy of non-aggression and is very keen to maintain the status quo [in the South China Sea].

He also warns that it will be difficult to rally support within the region for a joint legal proceeding, not least because most countries dont want to antagonize China.

In recent years, dozens of households in Ly Son island district (Quang Ngai) have made cages and rafts for coastal aquaculture, raising lobsters, groupers and other seafood to serve markets in Vietnam's central provinces and for export. Photo: RFA

Malaysia, another claimant in the South China Sea, issued a weak 200-word statement on the arbitration award despite the fact that the ruling against Chinas nine-dash line effectively benefits Malaysia in its maritime arguments.

The situation in South China Sea is very fluid and dynamic, explained Jalila Binti Abdul Jalil from the Centre for Ocean Law and Policy at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia.

The ruling has enriched jurisprudence on issues concerning South China Sea. But stability is a different gamut and jurisprudence is just one of the angles, she said.

However, Malaysia did, at the end of 2019, make a new submission of an extended continental shelf claim to the United Nations -- a move that might have been encouraged by the 2016 tribunal findings.

Similarly, in 2020 its neighbor Indonesia submitted a note verbale to the U.N. secretary-general challenging Chinas maritime claims.

The quest for a rules-based order in the Western Pacific and globally has gained increased urgency with China's expansionist posture and aggressive conduct, especially in the Western Pacific, but in other world regions too, London said.

Whether Vietnam, or any other country, is prepared to pursue legal proceedings is unclear. What is clear, is that there would be strong international support for such a case.

For decades, the U.S. did a disservice to the world by voting against the international law of the sea as part of efforts to protect U.S. interests and dominance. Now it is in the United States' interest, and that of the world, to insist on agreement to and enforcement of a rules-based order governing the seas, he said.
MINSK -- Jailed former Belarusian presidential contender Viktar Babaryka has been transferred to a penal colony less than a week after he was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges.

Babaryka's defense team tried to visit him in a Minsk detention center on July 12, but were informed that their client had been sent to serve his prison term to the Correctional Colony No. 1 in the eastern city of Navapolatsak.

Babaryka's verdict and sentence were pronounced on July 6 by the Supreme Court, which found him guilty of bribe-taking and money laundering.

Usually after trials, convicted and sentenced individuals stay in detention centers for months before their appeals are considered by upper courts. But because the Supreme Court tried Babaryka, he had no avenue of appeal.

Babaryka and his supporters have condemned the Supreme Court trying him and his co-defenders, saying it was done to deprive him of his right to appeal.

He and his lawyers have insisted that the case against him was politically motivated.

Babaryka, the former head of the Russian-owned Belgazprombank, was arrested in June 2020 as he was trying to register as a candidate to run against authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka in a presidential vote critics and observers say was massively rigged.

Three days before Babaryka's arrest last year, Belarusian authorities took control of the bank and detained several top executives on charges of tax evasion and money laundering.

Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent.

Lukashenka was declared the victor of the August 2020 election, triggering protests by tens of thousands of Belarusians who say the vote was rigged. The demonstrations lasted for months as Belarusians demanded Lukashenka, in power since 1994, step down and hold fresh elections.

Security officials have cracked down hard on the demonstrators, arresting thousands and pushing most leading opposition figures out of the country.

Several protesters have been killed in the violence and rights organizations say there is credible evidence of torture being used against some of those detained.

Lukashenka denies voter fraud and has refused to negotiate with the opposition led by Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who supporters say actually won the August election.

The European Union, United States, Canada, and other countries have refused to recognize Lukashenka, 66, as the legitimate leader of Belarus and have slapped him and senior Belarusian officials with sanctions in response to the "falsification" of the vote and postelection crackdown.
The European Union's top diplomat has suggested further sanctions could be on the table after Lithuanian officials urged the bloc to slap a new round of punitive measures on Belarus and its strongman ruler, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, for sending a flood of illegal migrants across its border and into the Baltic state.

At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on July 12, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell agreed that Minsk was using migrants as a "weapon" in its dispute with the bloc.

"We need to be very strict with the regimes that are using these sorts of weapons, first of all with sanctions," Landsbergis said.

Vilnius says Lukashenka's regime is trying to pressure the 27-member bloc in response to the sanctions it imposed following the forced diversion of a Ryanair commercial flight to Belarus to arrest an opposition blogger and his girlfriend.

Without providing evidence, Lithuanian EU lawmaker Rasa Jukneviciene told the July 12 meeting that Belarus and Russia were behind human-smuggling networks that were being aided by Iran to get people to the Lithuanian border.

Belarus and Russia have rejected such accusations.

Lithuania has been one of the staunchest critics of Lukashenka, calling for a robust EU response against his regime. On July 5, Lithuania granted the Belarusian democratic opposition led by Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya official status in the EU country.

"When refugees are used as a political weapon...I will talk to my colleagues in order for the European Union to have a common strategy," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on July 12 as he arrived in Brussels for a meeting with his EU counterparts.

Last week, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said Belarus had been offering migrants flights to Minsk, citing documents found on at least one migrant who had reached Vilnius.

Borrell said after the meeting that the European Union should consider expanding the economic sanctions that were imposed on Belarus last month.

"To use migrants as a weapon, pushing people against the borders, is unacceptable," Borrell said.

Hundreds of people have crossed into Lithuania since Lukashenka said in May that his country would no longer prevent migrants from crossing its western border into the EU.

Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent.

The European Union's border guard agency, Frontex, said on July 12 it will send additional personnel to conduct interviews with migrants to gather information on criminal networks involved in the flow of people, while Vilnius said last week that it had started construction of a 550-kilometer razor-wire barrier on its border with Belarus.

"The situation at Lithuania's border with Belarus remains worrying. I have decided to send a rapid border intervention to Lithuania to strengthen EU's external border," Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri said in a statement.

In the first week of July, Lithuanian authorities recorded more than 800 illegal crossings at its border -- much of which runs along heavily wooded areas -- with Belarus, according to Frontex.

Separately, Lithuania on July 12 announced that it will open a new camp in the town of Dieveniskes on its southeastern border with Belarus to house 500 illegal migrants.

Dieveniskes is situated in a pocket of Lithuanian territory that is almost completely surrounded by Belarus. It is connected to the rest of the country by a 2.5-kilometer-wide isthmus.

With reporting by Reuters, FP, AP, and dpa
SOFIA -- Results from Bulgaria's snap parliamentary elections show a neck-and-neck race between former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's GERB-led coalition and the anti-elite party called There Is Such a People (ITN).

With almost 99 percent of the ballots counted, TV entertainer Slavi Trifonov's ITN is leading by a razor-thin margin, with 23.91 percent, compared to GERB's 23.69 percent of the vote.

Trifonov, 54, announced plans to try to form a cabinet, which analysts say is a risky move that puts pressure on his potential partners and is difficult to assess.

Complicated negotiations that could last for weeks are likely to follow.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) had 13.5 percent, while the liberal, Western-leaning grouping Democratic Bulgaria had 12.56 percent.

The mostly ethnic Turkish-backed Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) had 10.66 percent, while Stand Up! Get Out! -- a new, center-left alliance launched by former Ombudsman Maya Manolova -- was at 5.03 percent.

About 6.7 million people were eligible to vote for members of the 240-seat parliament.

International observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said on July 12 that the elections "were competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected."

"Despite the short time frame for preparations, the establishment of a new Central Election Commission and the expanded use of voting machines, the elections were generally well administered," said Elona Gjebrea Hoxha, the head of the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

"However, with the broadened use of these technologies, there will also be a need for further voter education, in order to increase proficiency and confidence in election voting technology," Hoxha said.

The parliamentary elections were held just three months after a previous, inconclusive vote.

A third election might also be an option, but in such a case Sofia may face more difficulties in accessing the European Union's multibillion- euro coronavirus recovery package.



Bulgaria is the EU's poorest member and perceived as one of its most corrupt. The campaign did little to allay that perception.

New allegations of misuse of government funds by administrations led by Borisov's GERB sapped support for the party in the run-up to the vote. In all, 23 parties and coalitions were vying for seats in the parliament.

Asked ahead of the election, President Rumen Radev said he wanted a government that was more attentive to Bulgarians' needs: "a state that belongs to, and works in, the public interest, not for hidden circles."

"I strongly hope that the parties will approach their work much more constructively and much more responsibly, in order to meet the expectations of the citizens," he said after casting his ballot.

Borisov, who has led the government three times, has found success in previous campaigns through a combination of populist rhetoric and pro-Western slogans.

But massive street protests last year sparked by accusations that Borisov and his government were protecting oligarchs, refusing to reform the judiciary, and suppressing freedom of speech finally took their toll on the 62-year-old's popularity.

An April 4 vote ended in a stalemate with no party able to cobble together a majority coalition.

Radev in May installed an interim government that opened investigations into alleged corruption, including accusations that dozens of opposition politicians were illegally wiretapped before the April election.

Caretaker officials also alleged that billions of dollars of public funds were funneled to certain private companies through a process that lacked transparency.

Bulgaria, which is also a member of NATO, has been chided by its Western partners over corruption and backsliding on the rule of law and a free press.

In Transparency International's 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index, Bulgaria ranked 69th, tied with Romania and Hungary as the worst in the EU.

Final official results are expected on July 15.

Todd Prince contributed to this report from Washington, D.C. With reporting by Reuters and AFP
The United States has repeated genocide allegations against China over its treatment of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and members of Xinjiang's other indigenous, mostly Muslim, ethnic groups.

The message came alongside additional sanctions warnings against Burma, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan over ethnic cleansing in their respective conflicts.

All were contained in materials sent by the Biden administration as part of the State Department's annual report to Congress on the prevention of genocides and atrocities.

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"This administration will defend and protect human rights around the world, and recognizes the prevention of atrocities is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility," the Biden administration's materials said.

China has been under international criticism and hit with sanctions for detaining more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities for political reeducation in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

China insists such camps are "vocational education centers" aimed at helping people steer clear of terrorism.

The State Department report says Chinese officials' abuse includes imprisonment, torture, enforced sterilization, and other persecution.

The previous administration of President Donald Trump first accused Chinese authorities of perpetrating a genocide against the Uyghurs and other groups.

President Joe Biden's White House has followed suit and joined the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada in slapping sanctions on Beijing.

The report quoted on July 12 noted that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly reaffirmed the accusation that "the People's Republic of China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs, who are predominantly Muslim, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang."

Last week, the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on officials from EU member states to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics due to China's human rights abuses.

With reporting by AP
TBILISI -- A session of Georgia's parliament has been disrupted after opposition journalists entered the building and scuffles broke out between members of the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition parties.



They incident erupted after a noon deadline for Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and his government to step down passed on July 12.

The deadline had been set by protesters in response to the death of a television channel cameraman who was severely beaten while covering the Tbilisi Pride parade last week.



Amid the scuffles, opposition lawmakers Tinatin Bokuchava, Khatuna Samnidze, and Anna Natsvlshvili, along with a noted civil rights activist, Elena Khoshtaria, placed the flags of Georgia and the European Union on the podium and demanded the resignation of the government.



The session resumed more than hour later after security officers managed to force the journalists and opposition lawmakers out of the building.



A day earlier, thousands rallied in front of parliament in Tbilisi after Pirveli television cameraman Lekso Lashkarava was found dead at home, six days after he was brutally attacked and beaten by anti-LGBT protesters in the Georgian capital.

WATCH: Georgian police seized the corpse of a TV cameraman who was injured on July 5 from his Tbilisi apartment, despite his family's refusal of a state-led forensic autopsy and examination.

The demonstrators said they will resume their street protests on July 12 if Gharibashvili does not meet their demands.



The incident has highlighted the sometimes violent animosity toward sexual minorities in the strongly conservative Caucasus nation.



Gharibashvili, who has described the death as "a tragedy," accused the thousands of anti-government protesters demanding his administration's resignation of "conspiracy."

"This is another failed conspiracy against the state that was masterminded by anti-state and anti-church forces," Gharibashvili said at a government session earlier on July 12.



"They tried to use this mans tragedy to achieve their political goals," he added, noting that four suspects in the attack on Lashkarava had been detained and stressing that "any type of violence cannot be accepted."



Lashkarava, 37, was one of nearly five dozen journalists and other media workers who were attacked on July 5 when hundreds of people took to the streets of Tbilisi to block a planned LGBT parade.



Two RFE/RL reporters were among those injured.

The chaos, which included mobs scaling the building where the organizers of the Tbilisi Pride parade have their headquarters, drew criticism from press advocates and foreign governments.



Many have squarely blamed Gharibashvili, who, the morning of the scheduled parade, said it was inappropriate to hold the event because it would create a confrontation and was "unacceptable to a large segment of Georgian society.



The Georgian Orthodox Church had also called on its supporters to gather against the Pride march.



Diplomatic missions from 18 countries and the European Union condemned the violence and called on the Georgian government to protect peoples constitutional right to peacefully gather.
Washington has said that it will issue no ultimatums on the window for a seventh round of talks on Iran's atomic activities but added a warning over potential "nuclear advances" in the meantime.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said that only Tehran can say when the talks -- begun in an effort to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement abandoned by Washington three years ago -- will continue.

"We're not imposing a deadline on these talks," Price said, "but...we are conscious that as time proceeds Iran's nuclear advances will have a bearing on our view of ultimately returning to the JCPOA."

President Joe Biden came to office in January pledging to pursue a return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which traded an end to UN and other sanctions for checks on sensitive Iranian nuclear activities.

That deal was signed six years ago this month by Iran and the five permanent UN Security Council members (Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States) plus Germany and the European Union but abandoned by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 and U.S. sanctions reimposed.

Six rounds of talks in Vienna have reportedly made progress but yielded no final deal.

The United States and European powers warned Iran last week that its latest uranium-enrichment efforts could imperil those negotiations.

Hours earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran intended to enrich uranium to 20 percent -- a move that takes it a step closer to developing materials that could be used to make a nuclear weapon.

Tehran has consistently denied it is pursuing nuclear weapons but the IAEA and Western intelligence have accused it of lying and obfuscating in the past.

Based on reporting by Reuters
Pro-Western President Maia Sandu's party has scored a clear victory in Moldovan snap parliamentary elections that Western observers called "smooth" and "peaceful," a result likely to weaken Russia's influence in the country.



With nearly all ballots counted from the July 11 elections, Sandu's center-right Action and Solidarity (PAS) had just under 53 percent of the vote, while its main rival, former President Igor Dodon's Moscow-friendly Socialists and Communists (BECS) bloc, had a little more than 27 percent.



PAS appears poised to win some 63 seats -- an outright majority in the 101-seat parliament and almost double the 32 mandates projected for BECS -- a result that will help push one of Europe's poorest countries away from Moscow's sphere of influence and toward closer integration with the European Union.

A joint observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament hailed the vote as "competitive and well-run" despite some shortcomings.

"Moldova's early parliamentary elections were well managed amidst an improved legal framework and voters were offered a wide choice of alternatives, but concerns over the impartiality of the election authorities undermined trust while inadequate campaign finance rules left potential breaches unaddressed," PACE said in a statement characterizing the assessment.

It cautioned that "further improvements are needed, particularly to legislation dealing with complaints and appeals, as well as campaign finance oversight."

"Today, a new process begins," said Ditmir Bushati, special coordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission. "We now look forward to working closely with our colleagues in the new Moldovan parliament to find solutions to the shortcomings we have identified and deliver concrete results for the people of Moldova."

Moldova's election commission said that more than 48 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. Some 3.2 million people, including a sizable diaspora abroad, were eligible to vote.



Earlier vote results showed that PAS won a vast majority of diaspora ballots, as expected. More that 212,000 Moldovans -- almost half of them under 40 -- voted abroad.



Partidul Sor, the party of convicted businessman Ilan Shor, was only the third party to enter parliament, with 5.75 percent of the vote. Shor was convicted of fraud and money-laundering. He denies any wrongdoing.



Parties needed to receive at least 5 percent and coalitions need 7 percent to enter parliament.



Sandu's supporters celebrated at her campaign headquarters in the capital, Chisinau.



"I hope that today will be the end of a difficult era for Moldova. I hope that today will be an end to the rule of thieves over Moldova," Sandu said in a Facebook statement.



Sandu also thanked members of the Moldovan diaspora, who turned out in large numbers at voting stations across Western Europe, and vowed to strengthen Moldova's institutions and rule of law.



"We need strong institutions that will respect and safeguard the people's free choice," she wrote.

Official estimates say more than 1 million Moldovans have left the country in search of a better life.



Sizable Moldovan diasporas can be found in Western Europe, Russia, and Romania, with which Moldova shares a common language and culture.



Sandu pledged that the party will try to form a government as soon as possible after the final count of votes.



Earlier, when she cast her vote in the capital, Sandu told reporters that she had "voted for an honest parliament to work with, for a parliament that will appoint honest people, competent people."



The 49-year-old Sandu, a former World Bank economist who also served briefly as prime minister, has become "a symbol of change" for many in the country.

The election commission chief said no serious violations were reported during the July 11 vote. But Dodon told reporters late on July 11 that he would "decide whether to protest the election results" after investigating possible violations.

A win by Dodon's BECS and other Moscow-friendly parties would have meant a further boost for Russia's influence in the former Soviet republic sandwiched between EU member Romania and Ukraine.

The early elections were the result of a lengthy political battle following Sandu's runoff victory over Dodon in November on a reform and anti-corruption ticket.



Sandu, whose reforms had been constantly blocked by a parliamentary majority elected in 2019 and aligned with Dodon, dissolved parliament in April and triggered early elections.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
CHISINAU -- Moldovan President Maia Sandu declared victory for her pro-Europe party after the nations snap parliamentary elections, a result likely to weaken Russia's influence and push Europe's poorest country toward further integration with the continent.

With 97 percent of the vote counted early on July 12, Sandu's center-right Action and Solidarity (PAS) party was leading with nearly 49 percent of the vote.

The PAS's main rivals from the Electoral Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BeCS), led by the Kremlin-backed former President Igor Dodon, had about 30 percent. Nearly 20 parties and coalitions split the rest of the vote.

AFP reported that, as the early votes were announced, Sandu's supporters celebrated at her campaign headquarters in the capital, Chisinau.

"I hope that today will be the end of a difficult era for Moldova. I hope that today will be an end to the rule of thieves over Moldova," Sandu said in a Facebook posting.

Earlier, when she cast her vote in the capital, Sandu told reporters that she had "voted for an honest parliament to work with, for a parliament that will appoint honest people, competent people."

In pre-election polls, the PAS and the Socialist-Communist coalition were each forecast to get up to 37 percent of the vote, although most surveys had Sandu's bloc coming out with the most seats in parliament, possibly with a majority of 51.

The party of businessman Ilan Shor also appears close to winning seats in the parliament.

Parties must receive at least 5 percent and coalitions need 7 percent to win seats in the 101-member assembly.

"There is no more intrigue. Sandu's party will get the majority," Alexei Tulbure, a political analyst and the country's former ambassador to the United Nations, was quoted by AFP as saying.

The 49-year-old Sandu, a former World Bank economist who also served briefly as Moldovas prime minister, has become "a symbol of change" for many in the country, Tulbure added.

The election commission said more than 48 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. Some 3.2 million people, including a sizeable diaspora abroad, were eligible to vote.

Earlier vote results showed that PAS won a vast majority of diaspora ballots, as expected.

Dodon told reporters late on July 11 that he would "decide whether to protest the election results" after the voting was analyzed and possible violations were investigated.

The chief of the country's electoral commission said no serious violations were reported during the July 11 vote.



A win by the Russia-friendly Electoral Bloc and other Moscow-friendly parties would have meant the maintaining of close ties with Russia fostered by Dodon, whose fellow Socialists in parliament have stymied Sandu's reform program.

"Only our team is able to end the chaos in the country, ensure the social protection of people, restore the economy, and strengthen statehood," Dodon said last week.

The snap elections were the result of a lengthy political battle following Sandu's runoff victory over Dodon in November.

That vote was also seen as a referendum on Moldova's future, but the Socialist-controlled legislature continued to exert its influence, including boosting the body's power by voting to transfer control of intelligence agencies from the president to parliament.

The move was met in December with mass protests calling for early elections, followed later that month by the resignation of the country's pro-Russia prime minister and his cabinet just before Sandu's inauguration.

After Sandu's attempts to replace the prime minister were exhausted, parliament was dissolved in April and the snap elections were set in motion.

With reporting by AFP
Mikhail Alfyorov, an opposition blogger in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, has been charged with inciting hatred and discord over his video about the arrest of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny in Moscow on his arrival from Germany in January.



On July 11, Alfyorov's mother, Lyudmila Alfyorova, told the OVD-Info group that monitors arrests and trials of rights defenders and opposition activists that her son was detained on July 5 and spent four days in pretrial detention.



On July 9, a court in Kemerovo transferred the blogger to house arrest until September 1.



Alfyorov, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, was fined twice last year for using anti-Putin slogans and insulting police.



His video about Navalny's arrest was placed online on January 19, two days after Navalny was apprehended at a Moscow airport on his return to Russia from Germany, where he received life-saving treatment for a poisoning attack in Siberia in August.



Navalny blames the poisoning with a Soviet-style chemical nerve agent on Putin and Russia's security services. The Kremlin has denied any role in the poisoning.



In February, a Moscow court ruled that, while in Germany, Navalny had violated the terms of parole from an old embezzlement case that is widely considered to be politically motivated. He is currently serving a 2 1/2 year sentence at a prison in the Vladimir region.



Navalny's incarceration sparked numerous protests across Russia which were violently dispersed by police.
Taliban fighters in northern Afghanistan have reached the borders of Central Asia and there is a familiar sense of urgency in the three countries in the region with an Afghan frontier: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Familiar because the Taliban have occupied many of the northern Afghan districts bordering Central Asia before, more than 20 years ago, and much of the response seen in the Tajik, Turkmen, and Uzbek capitals resembles the moves they made in the late 1990s.

And yet, much has changed since then also.

Refugees

On July 7, the independent Tajik news agency Asia-Plus reported more than 1,000 Afghan refugees had crossed into Tajikistans eastern Gorno-Badakhshan region, fleeing the fighting between advancing Taliban forces and government troops in Afghanistans neighboring Badakhshan Province.

Barely two weeks earlier, Yodgor Fayzov, the head of that sprawling Tajik region, ordered local officials to prepare for the arrival of up to 10,000 refugees, though he warned that number could climb to as high as 30,000.

This is neither surprising nor an exaggerated figure.

In late September 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul and continued its drive northward.

On April 26, 1997, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (then called Rakhmonov) was hosting the head of Russias Federal Border Service, Andrei Nikolaev, and Rahmon said some 100,000 displaced people had fled to the border of Tajikistan.

The Tajik Civil War, which started in 1992, was coming to an end and on June 27, 1997, the government and its battlefield opponents signed a peace agreement.

The appearance of the Taliban in Afghanistan played a role in hastening the two sides -- pushed by mediators from Russia, Iran, and the UN -- to end the war.

More than 50,000 Tajik citizens, at least, had fled the fighting and crossed into Afghanistan during those five years. Among those 100,000 refugees Rahmon mentioned were several thousand citizens of his country.

The Tajik government needed the full force of its military for the battles inside Tajikistan at that time.

Russian border guards -- with some help from a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping force that included troops from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan -- were tasked with defending the Afghan border.

As peace took root, Tajik troops were gradually deployed to the Afghan border, joining the Russian border guards who ended up staying there until 2005.

In late September 2000, Tajik Security Council Secretary Amirkul Azimov warned there were again some 100,000 Afghan refugees massing along the border with Tajikistan attempting to escape the fighting.

Rahmon said Tajikistan would not accept any Afghan refugees and, until those 1,000 Afghan refugees crossed into Tajikistan on July 4-5, 2021, none ever did.

Afghan refugees had also crossed into Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the 1990s.

Some 800 crossed into Turkmenistan in November 1996, and about 8,000 in June 1997, all of whom Turkmen authorities sent back after a few days.

WATCH: Taliban Seizes Civilian Homes In Kandahar As Government Forces Fight To Defend City

Most were from Afghanistans Badghis Province, where on July 7, 2021, reports said the Taliban had captured all the provinces districts and a fierce battle for control of the provincial capital, Qala-e Naw, was being fought.

There were already an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 Afghan refugees in Uzbekistan by 1994, but Uzbek authorities gradually sealed off the countrys relatively short 160-kilometer border with Afghanistan.

When the Taliban first approached the Uzbek border in 1997 and in August 1998 when they seized areas that border Uzbekistan, Uzbek officials did not allow Afghan refugees to cross.

So far, the only Afghan civilian refugees reported to have crossed into Central Asia are those in eastern Tajikistan.

For now, displaced Afghans in the north are gathering in Tajik camps not far from the areas they abandoned to escape the fighting.

But the camps are short of food, water, and medical care, and many people often have to live together in cramped rooms and tents. If this dire situation continues, it is only a matter of time before some try to cross northern borders, looking for better temporary conditions in neighboring countries.

Soldiers And Paramilitaries

Unlike the late 1990s, this time the Tajik and Uzbek governments are contending with the Afghan government troops trying to flee the fighting in Afghanistan.

On June 21, when Taliban forces took the border post at Shir Khan Bandar, 134 Afghan soldiers fled into Tajikistan.

By July 5, Tajik authorities said 1,037 Afghan soldiers in total had crossed into Tajikistan and were being allowed to stay for humanitarian reasons," but on July 7 Afghanistans National Security Council said some 2,300 Afghan soldiers had been sent from Tajikistan back to Afghanistan, many via plane to Kabul.

On June 23, Uzbek troops stopped 53 Afghan soldiers and members of paramilitary forces who attempted to cross into Uzbekistan and sent them back.

On June 26, three Afghan soldiers tried to cross into Uzbekistan, and the next day 44 others showed up at the border.

All were sent back to Afghanistan.

WATCH: 'They Would Cut Us Into Pieces': Afghan Civilians Flee Taliban Attacks In Kunduz

The Tajik and Uzbek governments did not have such a problem 20 years ago because the Afghan government they recognized was that of President Burhanuddin Rabbani and the only government forces were the fighters under the command of Rabbanis defense minister, Ahmad Shah Masud.

They controlled only limited areas in northeastern Afghanistan along Tajikistans border and Masuds stronghold in the Panjshir Valley. Tajikistan did allow Masud to evacuate several warplanes to Kulob and Masud and Rabbani were frequent visitors to Tajikistan.

Uzbekistans government supported ethnic Uzbek Afghan field commander Abdul Rashid Dostum, and while he fled through Uzbekistan in August 1998 when the Taliban defeated his forces, Dostums forces stayed in northern Afghanistan to wage a guerrilla campaign.

Taliban Ties

In the late 1990s, the Tajik and Uzbek governments were openly hostile toward the Taliban, while Turkmenistan, guided by economic interests in exporting its natural gas and brandishing its policy of neutrality, engaged with the Taliban, even allowing the group to open a representative office in Ashgabat.

Turkmenistan still touts its policy of neutrality, but something has clearly changed.

Turkmenistans first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, was able to deal with the Taliban and the Afghan group was undoubtedly pleased to have one Central Asian neighbor staying out of Afghan internal politics.

Niyazovs successor as president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who was practicing dentistry when the Taliban were neighbors in the late 1990s, seems less successful in relations with the Taliban.

Three Turkmen border guards and three Turkmen soldiers were killed in separate incidents along the Afghan border in February and May 2014, and it appeared the Taliban were behind those attacks, though the Turkmen government never admitted they occurred.

There has been information since then about other Turkmen soldiers and border guards being killed along the Afghan border.

Turkmen authorities have not commented about those reports.

But after the 2014 incidents, the Turkmen government started paying more attention to the countrys armed forces and purchasing weapons from several countries.

Turkmen authorities called up reservists in January 2019 to fortify positions along the Afghan border, and at the start of July 2021, Berdymukhammedov reportedly ordered more forces sent to the border area, including warplanes, tanks, and artillery, though officials later denied moving tanks and cannons to the border.

It seems clear Berdymukhammedovs government is not as confident in benign relations with the Taliban as Niyazovs government was, though a Taliban delegation did visit Ashgabat in February 2021 and again on July 11.

Tajik authorities have been quiet as the Taliban captured territory that took it up to their border. Tajik officials do not speak much about the Taliban.

But Tajik authorities have not invited Taliban representatives to visit, nor sent any officials to third countries to meet with Taliban representatives.

Uzbekistan probably currently has the best ties with the Taliban.

Uzbekistan hosted a Taliban delegation that visited for several days in August 2019.

Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov has met with Taliban representatives in several countries over the course of the last few years and it was Kamilov who was meeting with Taliban representatives in Pakistan in 2000 and 2001.

After Dostum fled in 1998, Uzbek authorities gradually and grudgingly came to accept the fact that the Taliban was its neighbor.

In October 2000, President Islam Karimov said Tashkent is ready to recognize any government in Afghanistan, even if it is the Taliban government. It doesn't matter whether we like that government or not.

The Uzbek governments primary concern was the presence of militants from a homegrown group called the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) who had found refuge in northern Afghanistan and from which they crossed through the mountains into southern Kyrgyzstan in the summer of 1999 and again in the summer of 2000 when they also went to eastern Uzbekistan.

It is groups such as the IMU that the Central Asian governments fear, far more than an unlikely attack from the Taliban.

There are now several militant groups in northern Afghanistan with citizens of Central Asia in their ranks.

Back To The First Plan

Following the recent Taliban advances, Uzbekistan conducted tactical military exercises near the Afghan border in late June. On July 7, Uzbek troops conducted joint exercises with Russian troops in Uzbekistans Samarkand Province and Tashkent is sending additional forces to the Afghan border.

In October 1996, Uzbekistan moved elite forces to the Afghan border and sent more troops in August 1998 after the Taliban captured Mazar-e Sharif.

Some 23 years later, Tajikistan on June 26 put its forces near the Afghan border on heightened alert and on July 5 the Tajik government called up some 20,000 reservists to strengthen forces along the approximately 1,360-kilometer frontier with Afghanistan.

Elements of Russias 201st Division, which is stationed in Tajikistan, conducted military exercises on July 6 involving attack helicopters and tanks, specifically in response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

Also on July 6, representatives of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) visited the Tajik-Afghan border area.

The following day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Russian troops based in Tajikistan and the CSTO would prevent any aggressive encroachments against our allies."

In February 1997, Russian Defense Minister Igor Rodionov met with his Central Asian counterparts (except the Turkmen defense minister) in Tashkent and said the Russian government was prepared to step in to protect the southern borders of the CIS.

Over the next few years, Russian troops regularly conducted joint military exercises with all the Central Asian countries except Turkmenistan in Russia and Central Asia.

It seems all of the parties near Afghanistan's northern borders are well aware of the events that occurred in the late 1990s and 2000s in the war-torn country and are carefully preparing for a possible return to power of the Taliban and all of the possible ramifications.

Radio Azadi contributed to this report
ASHGABAT -- Taliban representatives have visited Ashgabat and held talks with Turkmen Foreign Ministry officials as the militants continue major offensives in northern Afghanistan, raising concerns in the neighboring former Soviet republics of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The Taliban's spokesman in Qatar, Mohammad Nayeem, told RFE/RL by phone on July 11 that the Taliban delegation visited Ashgabat at Turkmenistan's invitation.

According to Nayeem, the sides discussed "bilateral economic and political ties between the two nations, as well as issues of security and borders."

He did not elaborate.

Several sources close to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry told RFE/RL that the talks were held on July 10 and the Taliban delegation was led by the chief of the Taliban's political office in Qatar, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai.

"The Turkmen side, which invited the Taliban for talks, asked Taliban representatives to keep the talks in Ashgabat a secret. The Turkmen side did not want to irritate the official authorities in Kabul. The major issues discussed at the talks were about not attacking [Turkmen territory] and blocking the possible flow of refugees," one of the sources, who was not authorized to talk to the media, told RFE/RL.

Meanwhile, a senior official at a Turkmen security agency told RFE/RL earlier that more troops from an army garrison near the city of Mary were being sent to bolster border guard units along the Turkmen-Afghan border. Mary is about 400 kilometers north of Serhetabad, a major border crossing with Afghanistan.

In Ashgabat, some reservists were being summoned to military recruiting posts and being told to stay on alert for possible quick deployment, the official said. The orders are so far not nationwide and limited to Ashgabat, he added.

The Turkmen government, which is tightly controlled and highly secretive, has made no announcement of the Taliban delegation's visit to Ashgabat and increased security. Law enforcement officials, meanwhile, have increased warnings to ordinary Turkmen against the use of virtual private networks, or VPNs, which are illegal but widely used to circumvent government restrictions on the Internet.

In Mary, whose population is believed to be around 100,000 people, local officials have begun organizing patriotic lectures for public service employees.

On July 10, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting reports by some Russian media about the ongoing situation within the country and the deployment of Turkmen troops along the border with Afghanistan.

"Thanks to the brotherly ties between the two neighboring countries and their peoples, the Turkmen-Afghan border is a border of friendship and cooperation," the Turkmen Foreign Ministry's statement said.

Turkmenistan shares an 800-kilometer border with Afghanistan, where the security situation has deteriorated sharply as Taliban fighters advance on provincial centers and even some border crossings.

Hundreds of Afghans, including soldiers and local police, have reportedly fled into other neighboring Central Asian countries.

Tajik officials last week announced they were sending an additional 20,000 troops to their country's border in response to the Taliban offensive. On July 5, the border guard service reported that more than 1,000 Afghan troops had crossed into Tajikistan over the previous 24 hours.

U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged that the withdrawal of U.S. forces will be completed by the beginning of September. With that deadline nearing, the Taliban has unleashed an offensive and now controls about one-third of the 421 districts and district centers in Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, U.S. forces vacated their largest base in Afghanistan at Bagram, north of Kabul.

The rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces, and the Taliban battlefield successes, are stoking concerns that the Western-backed government in Kabul may collapse.
ASHGABAT -- Turkmenistan is facing an unprecedented population decline, with only about 2.8 million people -- or less than a half of what the government says -- living in the country in 2021, three different officials told RFE/RL.

The government in Ashgabat put the country's population at 6.2 million early last year.

But a preliminary survey ahead of the planned census in 2022 found that the number of people living in Turkmenistan was between 2.7 million and 2.8 million earlier this year, the three sources said.

The officials, who are involved in the census preparations and data analysis, spoke on condition of anonymity over safety concerns in the secretive, tightly controlled state.

They said that an exodus of people from Turkmenistan, a falling birthrate, and rising mortality figures amid plummeting living standards are among the main reasons behind the shrinking population in the Central Asian state.

"We went door-to-door to count the population, and also used additional methods, such as getting the number of conscripts in the army, school graduates, university students, children registered in kindergartens, prison populations, data from migration agencies on arrivals and departures, and registry office records on birth and death figures," one of the officials said.

The sources said the results of the survey might differ slightly from the official census, but they say the difference would be insignificant.

The officials described the findings as "shocking," although the demographic crisis in Turkmenistan has been known for some time.

The last census in Turkmenistan took place in 2012, but the government didn't release the results.

In May 2019, multiple sources in Ashgabat told RFE/RL that nearly 1.9 million people left Turkmenistan between 2008 and 2018 either for permanent residency abroad or for permanent work outside the country. The figures didn't include Turkmen labor migrants working abroad.

At the time, the sources -- familiar with the situation -- put the country's population at slightly more than 3.3 million people.

A devastated economy, rampant unemployment, and a repressive authoritarian government are responsible for driving people to live in Russia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan -- the three main countries where people have emigrated seeking to resettle.

Trying To Stop The Stampede

Before the pandemic, RFE/RL correspondents in Ashgabat reported long lines of people applying for visas at the Russian and Uzbek embassies. The process slowed due to the border closures and travel restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020.

Despite the pandemic, 2,451 Turkmen received Russian passports and 2,271 others obtained permanent residence in Russia in 2020.

During the same period, about 87,200 Turkmen citizens received residency permits in Turkey.

Hundreds of thousands of Turkmen traveled to Turkey every year before the pandemic, taking advantage of the visa-free travel agreement between the two countries. Most of them didn't return home.

The exact number of Turkmen living in Turkey is unknown. Many are thought to be there illegally with expired Turkmen passports.

To stop the exodus, Turkmen authorities have often removed up to 50 percent of the Turkmen passengers on Istanbul-bound flights.

Many Turkmen planning to move to Russia complained that they were unable to obtain documents required to leave the country. They said Turkmen officials would simply refuse to issue the documents in an apparent attempt to curb migration from the country.

"The rise in migration from Turkmenistan began in 2013-14, which coincided with the onset of the economic crisis in the country," one of the officials told RFE/RL.

The crisis has since deepened in Turkmenistan, with food shortages and price hikes.

Most of the population depends on state-owned grocery stores that offer affordable staple foods. Supplies at such stores are limited and people often wait for hours for the shops to receive new stocks.

The revenue from the country's abundant energy resources has only benefited a small circle of government elites and not trickled down to the common people. Widespread corruption only adds to the people's misery.

Many Turkmen don't have access to adequate health care, especially in rural areas where dilapidated hospitals lack modern medical equipment and even good sanitation.

At the same time, the government deprives people of their most basic rights and freedoms, restricting their access to the Internet, banning social media, and clamping down on free speech. The state also controls all media and does not allow opposition political parties.

Amid financial and social hardships, mortality figures began to go up and the traditionally high birthrates began to drop over the past decade, the sources said. "In 2019, the death count in Turkmenistan was between 5,000 and 6,000 a month. But in 2020, the monthly figures rose to 8,000 and 10,000 at its peak," one of the officials said.

The rise in mortality could also be attributed to COVID-19 cases in the country, despite the government's claim that Turkmenistan has remained coronavirus-free and has not had a single death from the coronavirus, despite evidence to the contrary.

The government doesn't publish mortality statistics. But even by official estimates, the birthrate in Turkmenistan has been steadily falling in recent years.

If the fertility rate drops below 2.1 children per woman, it means a country's population has begun to shrink. In Turkmenistan, it went into negative territory with -0.5 in 2014 and continued to fall, with -3.2 in 2020.

In comparison, the populations in the other four Central Asian countries have been rising. Tajikistan recorded the highest population growth rate in the region, with more than 2 percent between 2015 and 2020, according to United Nations figures. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan came in second with 1.4 percent growth, followed by Kazakhstan with a 1.1 percent rise during the same period.

Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RL's Turkmen Service
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has sought to assure Kyiv that Ukraine will remain a transit route for natural gas even after completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline linking Russia to Germany.

Ukraine and the United States have opposed Nord Stream 2's construction under the Baltic Sea, which will allow Russian suppliers to bypass land routes through Ukraine and thus deprive it of billions of dollars in transit fees.

"Ukraine is and will remain a transit country even once Nord Stream 2 is completed," Merkel told a press conference in Berlin on July 12 alongside visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Germany has refused to halt the project, arguing that it is a commercial venture and a sovereign issue.

Critics have said it will increase German dependence on Russian energy supplies and make Berlin more susceptible to Russian influence.

"There are big worries about this on the Ukrainian side, and we take those seriously," Merkel said, adding that Germany would do "everything we can" to guarantee the key revenue source for Ukraine.

The State Department announced in May that it would place sanctions on neither the pipeline's Russian-owned operator, Nord Stream 2 AG, nor its CEO, Matthias Warnig, who is regarded as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking in Berlin, Zelenskiy reiterated that Nord Stream 2 posed "a potential security threat to Ukraine and the region."

Merkel said Germany would strive to keep Russian gas flowing through Ukraine "in the future."

"That's what we promised Ukraine," she said, "and I keep my promises and I think any future German chancellor will as well."

The controversial project is likely to figure prominently in talks at the White House on July 15 when Merkel meets U.S. President Joe Biden.

It will be Merkel's first visit to Washington since Biden took office in January.

Merkel, now in her fourth term, will step down after German national elections in September.

But on July 12 Merkel expressed doubt the upcoming talks with Biden would resolve the disagreement between Berlin and Washington over Nord Stream 2.

"I don't know whether the papers will be fully finalized, so to speak. I believe rather not," Merkel said, adding that "these will be important talks for developing a common position."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 23 reiterated warnings about Nord Stream 2 during meetings in Berlin with Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

Blinken said he and Maas agreed that concrete steps were needed to "ensure that Russia cannot use energy as a coercive tool directed at Ukraine or anyone else in Europe."

With reporting by AFP, dpa, and AP
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With parliamentary elections just over two months away, the wave of coronavirus cases and deaths rolls on and the Russian state continues to struggle to vaccinate the populace. Moscow correspondent Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Painted in the 1950s, the above mural was under fire for the lack of diversity depicted, and URI recently decided to preserve the image and include a description of life during that time, rather than get rid of it. Photo courtesy of URI.
Signs against medical waste facilities were erected in East Greenwich earlier this year when news broke that a medical waste incinerator was planning to move in at the towns border.
Members of the Stephens Independent Artillery and the Kingston Reds demonstrate during an event at the Gen. Nathanael Greene Homestead on Sunday, July Fourth
Editor's Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in the 1860s and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. The books are available from Lintern for $25 a set, tax and shipping included. Each book is about 120 pages written for intermediate readers (4th grade) with local illustrations. Volume I is Amelia Changes Her Tune. Volume II is Isaac and Wolf Paw Find Their Home. Volume III is Autumn Keeps Her Secret. Volume IV is Mr. Gamble Starts a School. Volume V is Jacob Blows his Horn. Volume VI is Cassie Fights the War. Volume VII is Emilene Adopts Her Family.

Knock it, Smokey. Start us off, one of the Mansfield players shouted as the teams hurler strolled up to the strikers box.

Were only two down; lets get em back, another called.

Smokey called for a low pitch, but missed the first pitch. He called for another low pitch and took better aim, swatting it, but right to the shortstop.

Thats all right, Bull will get things going. Clobber it, Bull! Ice Wagon shouted as he picked up his stick to be ready to follow Bull.

They have me batting after Ice Wagon, Jacob told David. They say I am a good contact striker, that I just need to put the ball in play and see what happens. I guess they think because I run fast, Ill get on a lot.

What do you think? David asked.

I think I better put the ball in play, and run like the dickens, Jacob said, and then they both jumped up as Bull struck a blow that towered into the outfield, between the center and left fielders. He charged around first and pulled up at second.

Thats what we want to see, Smokey shouted. Now, bring him in Ice.

Ice Wagon Burns stepped up on the left side of home plate and called for a high one. All the players backed up a few steps and the people sitting on the ground in deep right field stood up, anticipating a need to either get out of the way of the ball, or get into the way of the opposing right fielder.

Sure enough, the Mansfield first basemen hit a high fly ball into right field, and while the right fielder had to step into the crowd a few rows, no one tried to interfere, and he caught the ball with both hands, to the amazement of the fans nearby, and to the disdain of those farther away, as they thought someone should have pushed him a bit to let the ball bounce.

Still, Bull had the presence of mind to wait on second until the ball was caught, then ran to third before the outfielder could get it back.

I bet that right fielder cant feel his hands, either, David thought. Now Jacob has to bring him in.

Come on, Jacob, uh, Kid, David shouted.

Just a one-bagger, Kid.

Little one, Kid.

Put it in play, Kid.

Counting on you, Kid.

Jacob walked up to the right side of the plate, tugged on his hat, hitched his belt, wiped his hands on his shirt and stared at the hurler, calling for a low one.

The first throw hit in front of the plate. Fortunately for Cincinnati, the catcher caught it before it squirted away, because Bull was charging down the third base line, and had to stop and hurry back.

The next throw was right where Jacob wanted it, and his swing was strong but did not get all of the ball. The ball trickled to the hurler, who had no trouble tossing it to the first baseman.

Three hands dead, the referee called, the only thing he had said that inning.

Dont worry, kid, were only down by two. Well get them next inning, Birdlegs said as he trotted past Jacob to right field.

End of the first inning: Cincinnati 2, Mansfield 0.

+ + +

Glad you could join us, Jacob, Cassie said. With your base ball practice, I wasnt sure you would be able to play.

Well, David is sounding good on the banjo, but I dont want to miss our family tradition, especially since Tim arranged for a piano for you.

Emilene and I have been working on a special version of Beethovens Ode to Joy, fiddle-style. You can join in, if you think you can keep up, Grace announced.

The youngins be takin over the band, Sis, Jacob said.

Bout time, Cassie replied. Im an old, married woman now.

Whose husband did not expect to be moving a pianoforte tonight, after a long day of fixing shingles, Martin piped up, as he and Philip squeezed the instrument through the front door of the Costins grocery store.

Main Street was already filling with people who stood along buildings, sat on barrels and boxes and steps, leaned against hitching posts and peeked out of windows on the second floor of many of the storefronts.

The five began playing with their traditional, Ol Dan Tucker, in honor of their friend Dan Emmitt, and then Go Tell Aunt Rhodie, which got the onlookers dancing in the middle of the street. Soon, townspeople were gathering from all over, anticipating this regular event.

Tonight, the whole Zimmerman family was there  Mama Autumn and Father Levi; big brothers, Philip with his wife Julianne, and Nathaniel and Levi Jr.; Cassie with Martin, and her twin brother, Jacob, and the chosen ones  Emilene, Grace, and David.

It was the monthly summer outdoor concert in front of the Costin store, by the Zimmerkinder Band, a good tradition that started from a bad situation, four years earlier.

The piano was an addition two years ago, when Tim Costin realized what a good draw the band concerts were for customers. Miss Cole, the piano teacher upstairs, offered him one that a former student was trying to give away, and while it may take up more room than a little grocery store should allow, Tim liked to brag about being the birthplace of the Zimmerkinders.

After a couple more dances, and a patriotic singing by everyone of My Country Tis of Thee, Jacob raised his hand and declared to the crowd:

We dedicate this concert to the Mansfield Independents Base Ball Club which a week from today will meet the Cincinnati Red Stockings out at the Leesville Road field of battle and will whip them good. Come all and see.

With that, the band struck up a lively version of Turkey in the Straw, and the heels were kicking up dust up and down Main Street and east and west on Third Street.

A block down the hill, a man in a black suit stood in front of the Wiler House, hands on hips, frowning at the crowd that was not visiting his restaurant.
Real-estate developer William Barber moved to Mansfield in 2017 from Alaska. With three companies under his belt, he needed to build a personal relationship with a bank that was willing to do whatever it took to work with him.

Unfortunately, it wasnt so easy in the beginning. He bought a nine-unit multi-family property and when speaking to some local banks in the area, they would not give him a chance because he wasnt from around the area. At one point he even traveled down to Columbus to find a bank.

I had to go through a third party lender on a property that should have been no problem getting a loan on, Barber said.

After a long period of frustration, Barber received a referral from Chris Dirt Excavation to give a call to Travis Smith, a commercial banker at First Federal Community Bank.

Chris and Travis have had a long-term relationship business for the last 15 to 20 years and he's like, man, youve got to give them a chance, they're willing to work with you, Barber said.

Barber was not disappointed. After his first meeting with Smith, he completed the project. Smiths communication, flexibility and availability were all good signs that pointed Barber toward banking with First Federal for the long haul.

 I can get a hold of Travis anytime I want. It doesn't matter what time of day or what time of night, and I don't have to go through 50 different loan officers or wait on the line to call to get a hold of one guy I'm trying to talk to, Barber said. Smith helps Barber mostly with refinancing in his company, Alaska's General Contractor. As cash buyers, Barber and his employees try to work with a bank that's willing to work with them to do cash-out refinance or a line of credit. Now, after joining First Federal, Barber can buy the properties he wants, use cash out-refinance or pull out a line of credit in 30 to 60 days. He also has a fulfilling and trustworthy relationship with a local bank that understands the market. Their understanding of what the actual value is is huge, Barber explained. And its because they're local. They understand the market, where a lot of times I couldn't get a whole lot of local banks to understand the market because they weren't really involved in it as much.

Travis, in particular, is who I work with mostly, and he's extremely personable, Barber continued. At First Federal, theyll do just about anything they can within their power to make sure that you get the deal through. To learn more about the services First Federal Community Bank has to offer, check out their website for more information or call 419-562-7055.
MANSFIELD -- The Richland County Workforce Summit on Aug. 2 is the place for business and education leaders to network, partner, and develop opportunities for students to explore workforce pathways.

"We will be discussing work based learning and how it creates a forum for new ideas and partnerships," said Clint Knight, director of workforce development for Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development.

The event will be at the Mid-Ohio Conference Center. Registration starts at 11 a.m. and the event will conclude at 1:30 p.m.

Knight said participants will hear about the new work-based learning pathway to graduation, and how it can lead young people towards skills and habits that ensure their success in the workplace.

This can lead to young people being more prepared to directly enter the workforce when they graduate from school, Knight said.

Keynote speaker Richie Contartesi will discuss the importance of being a leader by pioneering outside the box educational practices.

"Hes spoken to over 450 schools, and works to help adults understand the younger generation, and help the younger generation understand themselves," Knight said.

Cost for the event is $12, which includes a box lunch.
MANSFIELD  A county-wide COVID-19 public health assessment failed to garner enough responses to provide a holistic view of Richland Countys Black and Brown community.

Richland Public Health (RPH) conducted a COVID-19 needs assessment of the Black and Brown Community in April 2021 to identify the needs and concerns of racial and ethnic minorities living in Richland County.

An executive summary of the survey results states that with 16,112 Black or Brown residents in Richland County, RPH needed to collect at least 376 assessments for the results to be considered generalizable. RPH collected a total of 160 assessments April 12 and April 30, but only 123 met participation criteria.

In order to be used for the needs assessment, the respondent needed to be 18 years or older, live in Richland County and identify as a Black or Brown community member.

I think it is clear where theres work to be done in this community, like when I look at the response rates, said Deanna West-Torrence of the North End Community Improvement Collaborative. The fact that we had so few responses is concerning.

Despite the low response rate, West-Torrence called the survey a step in the right direction.

I think it's a great indicator of the disconnect that there has been and I commend (Dr. Julie Chaya, director of health education/promotion) for even doing this, for reaching out to the Black and Brown community in this way, she said.

I think that the health department and providers being aware of some of the perspectives of the Black and Brown community will be good. They can address those in future outreach efforts.

Javar Jackson, chief operations officer at Third Street Family Health Services, said he wasnt alarmed by the low response rate.

It's kind of expected for a survey not to meet its target, but it does make you want to inquire of what went well, what went bad and then what do we need to do to pivot in order to get more outcomes, he said.

I think it was a step toward getting an answer and shows that the health department does want to address determinants of health, both specific to COVID and then others," Jackson said.

The survey was conducted in light of national data showing COVID-19 case rates, hospitalizations and deaths are higher among Black, Hispanic, Latino and Native Americans are more likely than their white counterparts.

It was very important for us to ask minorities in our own community what they were experiencing, explained Chaya. National data is helpful, but our local needs must drive our community efforts.

Chaya said the assessment was designed to gather information that could guide Richland Public Healths work moving forward, especially in terms of building county-wide vaccine confidence.

Gauging the public's needs not only allows RPH to better focus its work, it also makes the health department more competitive in seeking grants for specific community needs.

"If we would like grants funds to address community needs in the future, we need higher participation rates in activities such as needs assessments, focus groups, programs, etc," Chaya said.

Upcoming assessments such as the 2021 Richland County Community Health Assessment (CHA) will seek to understand the health needs of the entire community.

"A high participation rate in the CHA also helps us demonstrate need for funding, programming, etc. and makes us more competitive in grant application processes," she added.

The assessment was conducted in partnership with the Black and Brown Coalition, Community Action Partnership, Destination Mansfield Richland County, The Friendly House, Maddox Memorial Church of God in Christ, the Richland County Foundation, Mansfield Richland County Public Library, Mansfield Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program, Minority Health and Wellness Project, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC), OhioHealth, Richland Area Chamber of Commerce, Richland COVID Vaccination Initiative, Third Street Family Health Services, the YMCA and WeAct.

Richland Public Health and the Richland County Foundation spent $3,000 to advertise the needs assessment over the course of nearly three weeks in an effort to get responses.

Advertising techniques ranged from social media to radio to print media. Posters, fliers and paper copies of the assessment were handed out at churches, community centers, events, food pantries and barbershops. There were also prize drawings for those who completed the survey.

Pastor Aaron Williams of Maddox Memorial Church of God in Christ encouraged people to take the survey by making paper copies and telling others how to take the survey online.

Although past experience may have left a measure of distrust and disenfranchisement, there are yet people and agencies willing to help, Williams said while advocating for the survey. We can help by telling them where we need the resources directed.

Williams attributed the low response rate to a longstanding lack of trust between the medical community and Black and Brown residents.

If there are people who are trying to help and they need information in order to do that, then we should do our best to try to help by providing that information, he said.

Our issue has been historically, people say they are going to do something and then they don't do it. When people dont necessarily believe that they're going to have the resources promised to them, theres the problem," Williams said.

Rebuilding that trust will take time. Williams cited the lack of regular medical care facilities and COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the North End as an obstacle.

The disproportion of services was beyond evident with regard to where the vaccine was distributed, he said. Besides my church, which resides on the far northwest of the North End west of Trimble Road, and the Friendly House, to my knowledge, there has been no vaccination clinic on the North End side of town.

Richland Public Health vaccinated about 100 people at a vaccine drive-thru clinic at Maddox Memorial on May 20, Chaya said.

Chaya said the health department will be hosting a vaccine clinic and health fair on July 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church.

Located at 91 Marion Avenue, the church falls right on the southern boundary line of the North End (as defined here by NECIC).

Williams believes building that trust will require health care providers and public health officials being more present in the communities they wish to serve.

Being a face for the people, shaking hands or showing yourself in public in some way or form -- that grassroots thing goes a long way, he said.

A year of social distancing and virtual communication hasnt helped outreach efforts.

When we communicate, we have a hard time hearing the inflection in peoples voices. We dont see the expression on peoples faces, he said.

Williams suggested a community forum where Black and Brown residents could express their concerns may be helpful.

Richland Public Health will be following up on the assessment with focus groups. These focus groups will discuss the survey results and the development of programs, resources and initiatives for Richland Countys Black and Brown community moving forward.

Community members interested in participating in a focus group can contact Jill Hartson at 419-774-3542 or jhartson@richlandhealth.org.

What did the needs assessment find?

The majority of survey respondents (77.2 percent) identified as Black or African American. Seventy percent of respondents were women.

The survey asked respondents about their confidence in various institutions as well as their knowledge of the COVID-19 virus and vaccine.

The survey found that only 61 percent of respondents were confident in the local medical community, but a greater percentage (72.4 percent) expressed confidence in their primary care provider.

At the time the survey was conducted, 35 percent of the respondents had gotten the vaccine. An additional 34.1 percent said they would not get the vaccine; 22.8 percent said they were unsure.

Other key findings included:

79.7 percent said they were confident with their knowledge of the virus.

67.5 percent said they were confident with their knowledge of the vaccine.

43.1 percent said they were not confident in their local government; 38.2 percent said they were; 15.4 percent said were not confident or unconfident.

52 percent said they were confident in the COVID-19 scientific community; 26 percent said they were unconfident.

51.2 percent said they were confident in Richland Public Health; 21.1 percent said they were unconfident.

36.5 percent said they were unconfident in the local economy, compared to 29.3 percent of confident respondents and 31.7 percent who were neither.

Almost 70 percent of respondents said free transportation service to and from vaccination appointments would not make the vaccine more accessible to them or those they cared about; 23.6 percent said it would.

The survey found that the most frequented sources of information about COVID-19 vaccines across all age groups were the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and Richland Public Health. Social media was a primary source of information for those ages 18-44.

This challenged prior assumptions by public health officials.

Prior to the assessment, the assumption was social media and leaders in the faith community largely influenced vaccination decisions, the report stated. However, amongst all age groups represented in this assessment, the national, state and local public health resources were the most frequented. This could be attributed to the higher education level of respondents.

To read the full Richland County Black and Brown Community COVID-19 Needs Assessment Executive Summary, visit www.richlandhealth.org/richlandbb.
The monument of Robert E. Lee is removed on Saturday, July 10, 2021 in Charlottesville, Va. The removal of the Lee and Jackson statues comes nearly four years after violence erupted at the infamous Unite the Right rally.
Rocky Mount, NC (27804)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers across Indiana are learning ways to incorporate lessons about sustainable energy into their classrooms through intensive weeklong boot camp experiences taking place the next two weeks on campus.Teachers in grades 4-12 who use sustainable and alternative energies in their curriculum are participating in either of two free workshops July 11-16 or July 18-23. The camps are provided through the institutes Portal Resource for Indiana Science and Mathematics (PRISM) program , with support from the Duke Energy Foundation and Rose-Hulman alumni Becky and Frank Levinson.Through classroom sessions, teachers will learn about energy conservation practices, solar and wind energy, hydropower, lighting systems, the U.S. power grid, and coal and natural gas combined-cycle power plants  and how they can integrate these principles into their classroom curriculums. Rose-Hulman professors providing instruction are Andy Mech , emeritus professor of mechanical engineering; Jenny Mueller , associate professor of civil and environmental engineering; Rebecca Bercich , assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Robert Bunch, retired professor of physics and optical engineering.Teachers also will work together on hands-on sustainable energy projects, like windmills and solar- and fuel cell-powered cars, and visit alternative energy providers throughout Indiana. These field trips include Duke Energys power plant in Cayuga; wind farms in Benton County; Northern Indiana Public Service Companys power plant near West Terre Haute; Hoosier Energys power plant near Merom, Indiana; and Indianapolis Ben Davis High School and Area 31 Career Center. An online meeting is planned with Emily Kahren, an information technology service leader with Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., a Carmel-based regional electric transmission company.Upon completion, teachers will receive a kit of materials for laboratory activities and earn 45 professional growth points toward their Indiana teachers license renewal.Support from the Duke Energy Foundation and the Levinson family has made the boot camps free for the teachers. Rose-Hulman is providing single-occupancy rooms and meals on campus. The July 18-23 session is still accepting teacher applications. Contact PRISM teacher liaison Bob Jackson at jackson2@rose-hulman.edu Since late 2002, the PRISM program has provided interactive digital learning tools and professional development workshops for Indiana teachers in STEM areas. Learn more at the PRISM website
(diamonds.net) - A recent global meeting of the Kimberley Process (KP) ended in controversy as Chinese delegates allegedly clashed with a representative of nonprofit organizations on the issue of conflict diamonds. Attendees from China interrupted a closing statement by Shamiso Mtisi, the coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition, after he criticized the countrys approach to the matter, Mtisi claimed this week. Part of the Chinese delegation left the Zoom meeting in protest, according to another participant. Speaking at last months intersessional, Mtisi singled out China, India and Angola for failing to make progress on the KPs definition of conflict stones, a central point of debate within the KP.
Rutland, VT (05701)

Today

Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Showers this evening becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Stoneham - Barbara Hill Millett, age 93 of Stoneham, MA passed away on July 12, 2021. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend. She was the daughter of Frederick Thayer Hill and Ruby Choate Hill, and grew up in Waterville and Rockland, ME. She attended Colby College whe
Danvers, MA (01923)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Cloudy skies this afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 63F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Rosario H. Torres, also known as Abuela Rosario, is a volunteer foster grandparent at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Santa Fe. She also is a judge for the bilingual seal student presentations. Listening to stories and struggles to attain the seal sparked her interest in seeing that this program begin in pre-K. To learn more, visit icpesantafe.org/take-action .
Residents of Point Roberts, Washington hoped a visit from Gov. Jay Inslee and other elected officials last week would mark the end of their hardships, but say instead their circumstances remain unchanged.

[The governors] visit to meet with key community stakeholders was a welcome relief for residents and business owners of Point Roberts, hopeful that he would deliver good news to the community after 16 months of border closures have left the community stranded and struggling to survive, the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce wrote in a news release. But no such message was delivered.



Point Roberts, officially part of Whatcom County, is a 4.8-square-mile exclave home to approximately 1,000 residents. It sits just below the 49th parallel on the Tsawwassen peninsula and is only accessible by land through Canada. Residents there say last years closure of the U.S.-Canada border in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has upended their lives and decimated their economy.

Google Maps

The governor visited the exclave Friday along with U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Medina), state Reps. Sharon Shewmake and Alicia Rule, and Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu.



One of their stops was at the International Marketplace, the communitys only grocery store. The marketplace has been bleeding money trying to keep its doors open since the border closed  roughly 85% of the spending in Point Roberts is done by Canadians  and announced last month it was in danger of closing permanently. Following that announcement, the governor funneled $100,000 in state dollars to the store to help keep it afloat.



Owner Ali Hayton, while appreciative of the gesture, said the money is a temporary fix to a larger problem.



Although well-intended and greatly needed, this is a Band-Aid solution on a gaping wound, and I hope Governor Inslee was able to see just how bad the situation is here, Hayton said in the release. We need to address the root cause of the current problems in Point Roberts  our small population alone cannot support our businesses, and the businesses we have cannot provide the needs of the residents of Point Roberts. The borders need to be reopened.

Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images

The northern border is controlled by the federal governments in the U.S. and Canada. Governor spokesperson Tara Lee said Inslee has sent letters to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging an immediate full or partial reopening of the border. She also said Inslee has discussed the issue with British Columbia Premier John Horgan, but no action resulted from the talk.



Lee said Inslee will continue advocating for the borders reopening following Fridays visit.



We heard loud and clear that the border closure is difficult for the community as they rely so heavily on Canadian visitors for revenue especially in the summer, she said in an email. The visit confirmed what the governor has known, but he appreciated hearing from the people in the community. He will continue to push for reopening from the federal governments.



Its unclear whether the ban on nonessential travel between the U.S. and Canada will extend beyond the July 21 deadline. If it does, Point Roberts residents hope easements like those made for other exclaves in North America will be made for them. In Hyder, Alaska, for example, exclave residents can cross the border into Canada to buy essential items.



If the border is not reopened and no exceptions are made, residents in Point Roberts say the outlook for their community is grim.



Until that time, we continue on a downward trajectory, and weve already bottomed-out, said Brian Calder, the president of the chamber of commerce, in the news release. It is difficult to understand just how bleak our situation is unless you are here.
BUCHAREST (AP)  The first 150,000 doses of a planned 500,000-dose batch of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine arrived in Moldova's capital Monday as part of a donation from the United States that will help the former Soviet republic tackle the pandemic.

The U.S.-made J&J vaccine, which requires only one dose for full protection, is part of the U.N.-backed COVAX program that is shipping coronavirus vaccines to poor countries to help combat the global pandemic.

After the vaccine arrived in Chisinau, President Maia Sandu wrote online: I urge you to get vaccinated. The danger of getting sick hasnt passed yet, and life and health are priceless.

Sandu thanked the U.S. for the donation and said the vaccine will help save lives and reduce the force of the pandemic.

Moldova, which is Europe's poorest nation landlocked between Ukraine and Romania, has so far administered more than 800,000 vaccine doses. But only 313,000 people have received the necessary doses to be fully inoculated against the coronavirus  about 11% of the country's 3.5 million people.

The first J&J batch arrived a day after a snap parliamentary elections in Moldova that saw the pro-reform Party of Action and Solidarity decisively win with nearly 53% of the votes, against 27% for its rival bloc of Communists and Socialists.

The pro-Western president said Moldovans must mobilize and in solidarity, get vaccinated.

The U.S. Embassy in Moldova has said that it has so far donated more than $4 million (3.3 million) of pandemic-related assistance to the small nation. Neighboring Romania has also donated COVID-19 aid to the country.

Since the pandemic began, Moldova has reported more than 257,000 coronavirus infections and more than 6,200 deaths from COVID-19.
AMMAN, Jordan (AP)  A Jordanian state security court on Monday sentenced two former officials to serve 15 years in prison over an alleged plot against the Western-allied monarchy involving the half-brother of King Abdullah II.

Bassem Awadallah, who has U.S. citizenship and once served as a top aide to King Abdullah II, and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family, were found guilty of sedition and incitement charges. They are alleged to have conspired with Prince Hamzah, the kings half-brother, and to have sought foreign assistance.

Awadallah's U.S.-based lawyer slammed the verdict, saying there had been a complete lack of due process and that his client had suffered inhumane treatment, including beatings and psychological torture. Lawyers for both defendants said they would appeal the verdict.

They two men were swept up in a wave of arrests in April and Hamzah was placed under house arrest. The rare public rift at the highest levels of the monarchy sent jitters across the region and exposed deep-rooted economic and social challenges in the country, which has long been seen as a bastion of stability.

Hamzah denied the allegations in video statements released in April after he was placed under house arrest, saying he was being silenced for speaking out against corruption and poor governance. The royal family later said it had resolved the dispute with Hamzah, whose exact status is unknown but was never formally charged.

Abdullah is expected in Washington on July 19, when he will be the first Arab leader to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House. Jordan is a close U.S. ally in the Middle East and is seen as a key partner in eventually reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Lt. Col. Muwafaq al-Masaeed, a military judge, announced the verdict following a closed-door trial that consisted of just six hearings. The two were sentenced to 15 years for each of two felonies, but the judge said only one sentence would be imposed on them.

The court had denied requests by Jordanian defense lawyers to call witnesses, and prosecutors only shared purported transcripts, but not audio, from surveillance of the alleged plotters.

Reporters were only allowed to watch the proceedings on a video feed set up in a tent outside the heavily guarded courthouse. The two defendants, handcuffed and wearing blue prison uniforms, were escorted into the building by masked members of the security forces.

Michael Sullivan, a former federal prosecutor hired by Awadallah's U.S.-based family, said the fix was in from the moment his client was arrested.

Bassems so-called trial was conducted by a secret military court where he was denied the opportunity to refute any of the prosecutions evidence and he was not allowed to call witnesses who would provide exculpatory evidence on his behalf, he said.

Sullivan, a former U.S. attorney for Massachusetts and former acting director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said his client had been held in solitary confinement for almost 100 days. He said his client's meetings with his Jordanian lawyer almost always occurred in the presence of prosecutors.

He called on the U.S. to seek Awadallah's release, saying this proceeding and Jordans mistreatment of our client has violated every international standard for justice and human rights.

The prosecutors office at the state security court denied the trial was unfair, saying Awadallah was given due process in line with Jordanian law and was not mistreated in any way. It said Awadallah only raised the torture allegations as the verdict neared.

Awadallah, who also holds Jordanian and Saudi citizenship, served as head of the royal court and government minister in Jordan. He has extensive business interests in the Gulf and has advised Saudi Arabias powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on attracting foreign investment. The Awadallah family urged the Biden administration to call for his release.

___

Krauss reported from Jerusalem.
Eloise (Byrd) Campbell age 89, of London, Kentucky, passed away on Saturday, July 3, 2021 at her residence. She was the mother of Sandra Kay Burkhart and husband Donnie of London, Kentucky, Steven Mark Campbell and wife Geri of Hebron, Kentucky, Timothy D. Campbell and wife Martha of Lexingt
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Awaiting state guidance, teachers consider how divisive concepts law will affect lessons

Sentinel file photo by Mia Summerson Tom White, right, of the Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College, speaks to Keene High School students and community leaders gathered in Central Square on June 27.

For a history teacher, Ryan Richmans assignments are often firmly rooted in the present day.

Every week, students in Richmans world history class at Timberlane Regional High School receive a simple assignment: find an event in the news, bring it to class, and be prepared to discuss its connections with the past.

The results vary, but a clear theme emerges.

Nine times out of 10, they are stories about oppression, Richman said. Theyre stories about exclusionism. Theyre about the Rohingya genocide, theyre about the Uyghur genocide, which are going on right this second. Theyre about Black Lives Matter.

The class gets to work, connecting the conflicts of today to historical patterns of conquest, subjugation, and oppression.

Its the kind of instruction that could now run into problems. A new update to the anti-discrimination laws in the state budget prohibits instruction that one race, gender, or class is inherently advantaged or superior to another, or that one group is consciously or unconsciously oppressive.

Richman has no idea whether it will affect his class, or that instruction. Many of his peers dont either.

Meanwhile, teachers in New Hampshire are awaiting advice from the Department of Education on how to interpret the states new anti-discrimination law  and how they should be designing their curricula around it.

Guidance is expected soon. The department is planning to release a technical advisory to teachers sometime this week, Commissioner Frank Edelblut said in an interview last week.

That advisory will aim to delineate exactly how the new teaching prohibitions will apply in the classroom, Edelblut said. The Department of Education passed it over to the state Attorney Generals Office for final review last week, Edelblut said.

My goal is that its going to be a useful technical advisory so that people can feel comfortable and theres not some ambiguity around what somebody should or shouldnt be talking about, Edelblut said.

But some teachers wonder how helpful any guidance will be as they attempt to navigate a law that could have professional consequences if they misinterpret it.

Under the new law, any violation of one of the new requirements by a teacher shall be considered a violation of the educator code of conduct that justifies disciplinary sanction by the State Board of Education.

The upshot: Beyond sparking a lawsuit against a school, teachers in violation could land in personal trouble and have their credentials threatened.

The Department of Education does not plan to change the states educator code of conduct  which helps the Board of Education make disciplinary decisions  to meet the new law. I dont anticipate that well need to update the code, Edelblut said in the interview.

Without a change to that code, teachers are left to interpret the departments guidance and the law itself.

The inquiry method

The new teaching law comes as social studies classes have embraced new teaching methods. Gone is the strategy of rote memorization of dates and battle names. In its place is a model by which students lead discussion of thorny historical issues, and use research to arrive at their own conclusions.

Known as the inquiry method, the approach means teachers veer away from providing direct answers to difficult questions, instead asking questions to help provoke suggestions from students themselves.

Instead of telling kids what caused the Civil War, you give students the evidence, and you say, What do you think caused the Civil War?  said Kelsie Eckert, a social studies teacher at Moltonborough Academy and the current board president of the N.H. Council for the Social Studies.

One approach used by many teachers is four corners debates. In her classes, Eckert might pose a provocative question  such as, Should the United States have dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?  and divide the classroom into four physical corners.

Corner one might adhere to popular history: Yes, dropping both bombs was the only way to win World War II. Corner two might have an alternate view: No, America should have stopped after the first bomb. Corner three: No, the country should have used diplomacy and invited Japanese diplomats to observe a controlled detonation. Corner four: No, the military should have resorted to a ground invasion.

Thrown into a thorny decision, students start by picking a corner. Members of each corner are given an opportunity to explain their position and entice others to join. By the end some classmates may end in different corners than they started through persuasion and interaction.

Facilitated well, the technique can be powerful, a way for students to hone analytical skills and connect the dots from previous readings and lessons to form arguments.

Richman uses it to teach world history, asking fundamental questions about power and government that students can answer using global examples.

But exactly how the new teaching prohibitions might affect an open discussion or debate is unclear.

Supporters of the law say it doesnt prevent those debates or nuanced discussions, arguing the intentions of the law have been misinterpreted. So long as no student feels singled out as being an inherent oppressor due to their race, gender, or class, conversations can be freewheeling, they argue.

Opponents warn that teachers might steer clear of open-ended discussions to avoid student insinuations that indicate one race or class systemically oppresses another  or shut it down prematurely.

My gut reaction is I dont really like the law because its not promoting discussion of ideas, said Eckert, who is leaving K-12 education this fall and taking a role as professor of social studies education at Plymouth State University. ... Youre promoting a whitewashed version of American history and American government.

Sometimes, all students migrate to one corner of the classroom on a particular topic, Eckert says. On those days, Eckert might walk to an empty corner herself and argue the counter point to drum up discussion.

They arent her personal views  she may be playing devils advocate or presenting a hypothetical. But Eckert still worries about it. What if a teacher is misinterpreted?

Because classroom teaching styles  and school management  can vary from school to school, Eckert said she isnt sure how the law might be uniformly enforced. Often there are no other adults in the classroom to witness instruction. Those interpretations could make a difference.

Are my students going to be turning me in? she said.

Bystanderism

To Richman, the new law is built on a fallacy that the past can be cleaved from the present.

In order to discuss the historical oppression of a particular group, the most effective launching point for a teacher can be the present day, he said. Thats where the current events assignments come in.

You cant understand the crisis in Gaza if you dont understand the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said. You cant understand why paramilitary groups in Africa are active and using the tactics they use if you dont understand imperialism in the 19th century. You cant understand why Russia is so authoritarian if you dont understand the history of Eastern Europe. And so you cant understand the present day world, and your role in it, if you have no frame of reference.

But talking about oppression in the past can at times come uncomfortably close to suggesting that certain groups are systemically advantaged over others in the present day. That kind of instruction is not allowed under the law, but it could come up organically from the students during their assignments, posing a test for instructors, Richman said.

As a final exam question, Richman often includes a passage from Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesels speech on bystanderism during his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, and asks the students to connect it to a present-day issue. Most of the students  even the conservative ones  draw on racial oppression in the United States.

Bystanderism permitted the Nazis to do exactly what theyre doing, and bystanderism plays a role in all aspects of oppression, Richman says. Theyre making those connections, and to pretend that our students arent smart enough to realize that, I think isnt just a disservice. I think it is an insult.

As they wait for the guidance, some teachers are evaluating how they teach. But Richman, whos taught for 18 years, says hes sticking to his current methods.

I wont be intimidated, he said. I wont be badgered into whitewashing the experience that my students deserve. So if I get in trouble, I welcome it.

Still, the new law could affect the behavior of younger or newer teachers with fewer protections, he added.

Under New Hampshire law, public school teachers have a five-year waiting period before they can achieve tenure. Before a teacher reaches that threshold, school districts can choose not to renew their contract without strongly stated reasons.

Teachers that are newer, that are more concerned about making sure that they have their jobs and they have a livelihood, are going to feel the most pressure to kowtow to this political manipulation of curriculum, Richman said. Not talking about anything that could potentially ruffle any feathers at the expense of the students.
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Dr. Jorge A. Caballero went viral on Twitter when he announced his resignation from Stanford University. The former clinical instructor says Stanford repeatedly passed him over for career advancement after he spoke up about racial bias in the residency selection process in 2014. His inspiration? Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, who recently declined an offer of tenure at the University of North Carolina  which had been delayed when a conservative donor had objected to her hire. On this episode of the Fifth & Mission podcast, Caballero chats with host Cecilia Lei about what it means to push back on historically white institutions, and what led him to step away from medicine.
When the Supreme Court authorized unlimited political spending by corporations in the Citizens United ruling in 2010, it offered assurances that the public would still learn who was giving money to political candidates, because campaign finance laws required disclosure of major donors and their contributions.

As Justice Anthony Kennedy put it in a section of the ruling upholding disclosure requirements, This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions.

That was then. This is now, when campaign finance laws may be newly vulnerable after the court found a California donor disclosure law unconstitutional.

The law that the court overturned in a 6-3 ruling July 1 involved contributors to charitable organizations, not office-seekers. Their identities were to be disclosed, not to the general public, but to a unit at the state attorney generals office that investigates charitable fraud and misappropriation and that is required to keep the names confidential.

But the majoritys rationale  that compelled disclosure exposes donors to potential threats and harassment, and thus violates their constitutional right of freedom of association  could conceivably be applied to major political donors, whose names are made public under federal law.

As Justice Sonia Sotomayor put it in a dissenting opinion for the courts three liberals, the courts analysis marks reporting and disclosure requirements with a bulls-eye.

The court expresses great concern that disclosure laws lead to harassment and therefore chilling of association and speech. That will make it much easier to challenge disclosure laws, said Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean at UC Berkeley who has argued a number of cases before the Supreme Court.

UC Irvine Law Professor Richard Hasen, an authority on election laws, said the ruling could be used to challenge not only campaign finance disclosure laws, but also the laws that limit the size of individual contributions to federal candidates and campaign committees.

The court may have made it easier for undisclosed donors and big money to influence election outcomes, Hasen said in a column for the New York Times.

The law now requires federal candidates to identify everyone who gives them more than $200 in an election cycle  although there is a loophole for dark money raised by nonprofit organizations, which can collect and spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns without disclosing their donors.

Donors to federal campaigns, for president or Congress, can contribute up to $2,800 to individual candidates and $36,500 per year to party committees. The limits for donors in California, governed by state law, are $4,900 to legislative candidates and $32,400 to candidates for governor, with no limits on contributions to ballot measure campaigns.

But legal analysts said the court has quietly changed its standards for evaluating disclosure requirements.

In the past, said Matt Coles, a law professor at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, the court required donors to show a realistic fear that they would face retaliation if their names were revealed. In the Citizens United ruling, for example, Kennedy said the conservative organization that filed the suit offered no evidence that its donors had ever faced harassment or threats.

The majority in the California case abandoned that requirement, Coles said, and instead relied on claims by two charitable nonprofits that their donors could face retaliation, shifting the burden to the state to justify recording their names. As Chief Justice John Roberts put it in the majority opinion, The risk of a chilling effect on (freedom of) association is enough to claim a violation of constitutional rights.

In addition, said Lloyd Mayer, a Notre Dame law professor, the court has made it harder for the government to justify making contributors names public.

Mayer noted that Roberts, in striking down Californias disclosure requirements for charitable donors, said the state had failed to show that disclosure was narrowly tailored to achieve a precise goal, a demanding standard the court has previously used in racial discrimination cases. By contrast, Mayer said, the Citizens United court merely required the government to show that disclosure of campaign contributors served an important government interest, informing voters about candidates financial supporters.

The new test opens the door wider to new challenges to donor disclosure requirements, Mayer said in an article on the Law360 website.

The assessment has not been unanimous. The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed arguments supporting conservative mega-donors that challenged the California law on charitable contributions, called the ruling a victory for individual rights and said it posed no threat to laws requiring disclosure of political donors.

The decision does not undermine disclosure requirements in campaign finance, where the court has long ruled that they are valid means to inform the public and fight corruption, said ACLU attorney Brian Hauss.

But the issues are actually quite similar, said Ann Ravel, a lecturer at UC Berkeley Law School and former chair of both the Federal Election Commission and Californias Fair Political Practices Commission.

As in the charity case, where the state said it needed the identities of major donors to make the regulatory process fair and transparent, the goal of the campaign finance law is an equal playing field in campaigns, full disclosure so the public can know whos behind the communications in political ads, Ravel said.

Even if most voters dont examine lists of major campaign contributors, the press does, Ravel said, and if the press doesnt have access to that information, its going to totally change the political process.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
The Oakland Coliseum is no longer mobbed with people waiting for vaccinations, but on the other side of Interstate 880 hundreds of cars still line up three times a week for free food distribution from the Alameda County Food Bank.

Even as the pandemic subsides and many return to work, the need for food assistance remains extraordinarily high throughout the Bay Area, according to anti-hunger organizations. People who were living paycheck to paycheck pre-pandemic faced even deeper financial holes during several months of joblessness, and many continue to struggle. It could take years for them to regain their financial footing. Across the San Francisco metro region, 6.2% of people faced food scarcity  defined as sometimes or often not having enough to eat  during June 9-21, according to the U.S. census.

There is no vaccine for hunger, said Keely Hopkins, a spokesperson for the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. It does not go away immediately. We are concerned about the future with this level of need.

The sheer cost of living in the Bay Area already had many people close to going hungry, but food banks saw demand spike starting in April 2020 when shelter-in-place orders threw hundreds of thousands out of work. The food banks ramped up to provide about twice as much food as before  and now they continue to operate at almost the same elevated levels.

Even once people go back to work, they are still struggling to make ends met, said Michael Altfest, a spokesperson for the Alameda County Food Bank. Some may have worked two jobs and now have one. Some may have to stay home until in-person school resumes. People are still stretching at the end of the month, worrying about how to feed their families, cutting back a little here and there.

San Jose resident Susan Castellanos, 34, a single mom of two, fits that profile. During almost a year of unemployment, she regularly went to a church drive-through run by Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, the food bank for San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

The amount of food they give is a lot, she said. They give us meat, milk, eggs, a lot of vegetables and fruit. My son loves cucumbers; he really enjoyed it when he saw all the cucumbers.

Castellanos found a new full-time job a couple of months ago and juggles it with prerequisite courses for nursing school.

Getting groceries is a very fundamental thing when you have kids, she said. Right now Im working, but I still feel the necessity to go and get food from Second Harvest. That way I can use the food money for other stuff my kids need or to pay my mom to take care of my kids while I work.

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley now serves 500,000 people a month, double its pre-pandemic numbers.

When we surveyed our clients in January, 57% had less than $100 in savings, said Leslie Bacho, CEO of Second Harvest. You can imagine how vulnerable that would feel to have so little financial cushion.

Oaklands Shiloh Church, which runs a distribution site for Alameda County Food Bank, more than tripled its food program over the past year. It is now serving about 550 families a week compared with 150 pre-COVID.

The face of hunger is changing, said Jan Renee Turnbull, executive assistant at Shiloh. Its (now) working families who can use that extra help especially with COVID and all the uncertainties over jobs.

Food banks went into crisis mode during the pandemic.

On top of the huge surge in demand, they had to change how they distributed food.

Most previously ran farmers-market-style pantries, where clients could select what they wanted. With fears of contagion, they switched to boxed groceries, which are more labor-intensive to assemble. Pickups switched to no-contact drive-throughs with groceries loaded into clients car trunks. Most food banks added deliveries for homebound seniors, another labor-intensive change. Many are continuing drive-throughs as an efficient way to get groceries to the huge numbers of people seeking help, but they also are starting to resume pantries.

Volunteering initially declined because people didnt want to do in-person activities, and many food banks turned to the National Guard for help at their warehouses.

During the pandemic, striking images of throngs of people seeking food assistance helped galvanize community support, but now the issue is no longer in public consciousness.

Hunger is fading back as an unseen issue, said Hopkins from the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Weve seen a drop-off in volunteer numbers. We hope that now that offices are reopening, corporate volunteers will re-emerge and fill the gap.

Likewise, donations rose during the crisis  from people, foundations and government grants  but food banks need them to stay elevated to keep up with the high demand.

Were concerned about people understanding that even when it feels like things are more normal and more people are going back to work, many people will continue to struggle, said Second Harvests Bacho. We dont anticipate that need for our services will go down.

Even as the pandemic subsides, other crises arise that will add to demand, such as the annual wildfire season.

Food banks view themselves as second responders and are especially cognizant that crisis fallout continues, especially for vulnerable populations, even once the initial emergency subsides, said Altfest from Alameda County.

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is already playing an active role in emergency response related to the recent fires in Siskiyou, Shasta and Trinity counties, shipping truckloads of food to the area, said spokesperson Diana Brennan. Its preparing for other crises, by stocking key inventory items, including pallets of ready-to-eat food and water, and more than 10,000 kitchen-free boxes with ready-to-eat meals and snacks.

When we built this facility eight years ago, we thought we took into consideration many years of growth; however, the pandemic hit, and we quickly began to outgrow our space, said Rachelle Mesheau, spokesperson for the Redwood Empire Food Bank, which serves Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties from its Santa Rosa location. Capacity remains a challenge. We are looking at more efficient ways to move the massive amounts of food coming through our facility, which has been putting a lot of strain on our resources  facility, the equipment and staff.

The other main food safety net, CalFresh, also saw an increase in pandemic-era demand that has continued with about 24% more Bay Area residents now receiving the benefit than in January 2020. CalFresh, the states version of food stamps, has strict income limits  its available only to people making less than 200% of the federal poverty limit, so a two-person household cant gross more than $2,874 a month, for instance  which restricts the number of people it can help.

Its not new in the lives of low-income people to have their entire stability threatened because their car breaks down or child care falls through, but to have it happen to so many people at one time was a systemic surge we never saw before, said Tracey Patterson, senior director for social safety net at Code for America, a nonprofit that created online support for CalFresh applicants. Fractures between programs in the social safety net were exacerbated.

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Her group is now working to make sure beneficiaries dont drop off CalFresh benefits when they have to submit six-month reports to say their income is unchanged. Peoples need is still there, she said.

East Palo Alto resident Linda Juarez, a widow, lives with her daughter, age 11, and earns $16 an hour working at Jack in the Box. When the pandemic started, the fast-food restaurant cut her hours from full time to just 12 or 20 a week.

Shes been getting help from both Second Harvest food bank and monthly CalFresh benefits.

For me it was wonderful because I dont have any more worries for food, she said in Spanish through an interpreter. I can save money for other expenses in my home. I am grateful because it is helping a lot in my life.

Altfest from Alameda County Food Bank sees one silver lining from the crisis.

The pandemic made a lot more people aware of our services, he said. Food banks werent reaching everyone they could have before this. Now once people go back to work and are still struggling at the end of the month, they know there is a resource so they dont have to decide between their grocery bill and their utility bill.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
After thrilling diners with wood-fired pupusas as an Oakland pop-up for nearly two years, Popoca has secured a permanent space for its modern Salvadoran eats.

The new restaurant will see Popoca expand its repertoire by also operating as a daytime cafe, featuring Central American pastries and coffee, and a late-night bar with tropical cocktails and small bites. Its taking over an old bowling alley at 3525 Fruitvale Ave. in Oaklands Dimond District, as first reported by Berkeleyside.

The newly renovated 2,300-square-foot space is like a clean slate for Popoca chef Anthony Salguero and partner Brandi Brown, formerly of Filipino favorite FOB Kitchen. They plan to make a wood-burning hearth the focal point of the restaurant, where diners can watch Salgueros team slap down pupusas made with fresh masa. The dining room will sit about 40 people, plus 20 more on a parklet outside when the restaurant debuts, hopefully by spring 2022.

They hope to capture the tropical vibe of El Salvador without making it a gimmicky theme, inspired by time Salguero has spent at his grandparents house.

I love the feel of it. It almost feels like Cuba in the 1960s, he said. It feels very light and refreshing.

Michael Short/Special to The Chronicle 2020

Fans of Popoca can expect to continue seeing traditional Salvadoran dishes and techniques showcased in new ways. Some planned dishes are currently being tinkered with during pop-ups, such as elote loco. In El Salvador, the grilled corn is often coated in cheese and a thick, caramelized Worcestershire sauce. Salguero swaps out the Worcestershire for a more complex salsa negra that he makes with more than 30 ingredients.

The late-night bar menu will lean on fun snacks like aciento, traditionally a pork rind paste rubbed onto a tortilla with lime. Popocas version, currently on the pop-up menu, is like a crispy pork butter on a fresh, thick tortilla, plus punchy pickles for balance. Cocktails will likely use ingredients that are already staples in Popocas kitchen, such as pineapple, chocolate, sesame seeds and dried chiles.

The restaurant will also see new dishes that dont make sense for the pop-up because of time constraints or pricing. While Popoca already makes impressive refried black beans, for example, Salguero is excited to showcase some of the more than 20 ways you can commonly find beans in El Salvador. His favorite refried bean method is to fry the black beans very, very slowly, until all of the moisture evaporates. He adds duck fat, or olive oil for a vegetarian version, until the result resembles a slab of bean butter.

Its almost like toast and butter, but tortilla and black bean, Salguero said. Its very Salvadoran.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Michael Short/Special to The Chronicle 2022

In addition to the daytime cafe, Salguero and Brown are putting regular pop-up nights into the business plan. After all, Popoca and FOB Kitchen both emerged as pop-ups.

Its really important for us to keep that full circle and make sure we stay connected to creators who are getting their start, Brown said.

Until then, Popoca will continue popping up at Degrees Plato, 4251 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, on Sundays and Mondays.

Popoca. Opening spring 2022. 3525 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland. www.popocaoakland.com

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com
Pressure is mounting on the Food and Drug Administration to grant full approval for COVID vaccines, a move that could spur millions more Americans to get vaccinated  including thousands of Californians whose employers or universities plan to mandate the shots once the FDA approves one.

It usually takes the FDA at least several months to approve vaccines once an application has been filed. The agency hasnt specified when it expects to approve one or more of the three COVID shots beyond saying it is working as quickly as possible to review applications.

Pfizer and Moderna began their applications in May and June, respectively. The applications were submitted and reviewed on a rolling basis that involved first filing a license request and then submitting data to support it. Both companies have sought priority review, which would mean the FDAs goal is to make a decision on approval within six months of receiving completed applications.

Both vaccines are currently available under the FDAs emergency use authorization designation, a fast-track review process invoked during public health emergencies. The third shot available in the U.S., made by Johnson & Johnson, is also available under emergency use authorization. The company has not applied for full approval.

Some infectious disease experts say theres already so much safety and efficacy data on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines  hundreds of millions of people around the world have gotten them, with few adverse outcomes  that the FDA should approve them now, or at least be transparent about its timeline. They say with the delta variant spreading and mini-surges popping up in many parts of the country, FDA approval is the only strategy left to boost vaccinations fast.

Were talking about tens of millions of people potentially getting vaccinated within a short time after this goes through, said Dr. Eric Topol of Scripps Research in La Jolla (San Diego County), who has served on FDA advisory committees and wrote a recent New York Times opinion piece urging the agency to grant approval quickly. Theres no other strategy we have to get our vaccinations up right now. Weve tried everything else  lotteries, beer, pizza, marijuana. What else can you do? This is it.

Approval would clear the way for workplaces and schools to mandate shots, since some major employers and universities say they will require vaccinations only after FDA approval. That includes the city of San Francisco, which employs about 35,000 people, and the California State University system, which has 56,000 faculty and staff members. CSU, which is still finalizing its plan, will also apply the mandate to its 486,000 students who plan to be on campus.

Approval would be most immediately felt first by schools and workplaces, which will then lead to people rushing to get (vaccinated) so they can work or go to school, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease physician at UCSF. Its people who wouldnt have gotten it if there werent a stick from their employer or school.

Its unclear how many people who work for San Francisco and CSU would have to get vaccinated once FDA approval comes through. San Francisco has done employee surveys that indicate 55% of workers have been vaccinated as of June; 5% are unvaccinated and the status of the remaining 40% are unknown.

But those figures rely on self-attestation and are not a comprehensive accounting of whos been vaccinated. The city should know more by July 29, the date by which it has requested employees report their vaccination status, said Mawuli Tugbenyoh, chief of policy for the San Francisco Department of Human Resources.

Similarly, CSU has done informal surveys at some of its campuses but does not have system-wide data on the vaccination status of all employees and students, said CSU spokesman Mike Uhlenkamp.

A growing number of entities are not waiting for FDA approval to require vaccinations for employees and students, including the University of California and Stanford University. And San Francisco, under a new health order issued last week, will require anyone who works in a hospital, nursing home, jail or shelter in the city to get vaccinated by Sept. 15.

Most groups that are mandating vaccination allow exemptions for religious or medical reasons.

Aside from people who would have to get shots under employer or school mandates, FDA approval could give those still on the fence assurance that the vaccines are no longer considered experimental. About 30% of unvaccinated adults in the U.S. say theyd be more likely to get the shot if it was approved, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey.

I hope that it does strengthen and shore up confidence in the vaccines for those people who havent been vaccinated, said Stanfords Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, who has served on FDA review committees. But whether or not itll change peoples minds is hard to say.

There is not much precedent for vaccines getting emergency use authorization followed by full approval. The first vaccine in the U.S. to get emergency use authorization was for the H1N1 flu during the 2009 pandemic, said Maldonado.

Other commonly used vaccines in the U.S., such as the shingles vaccine and all childhood vaccinations, have full FDA approval and did not have to be granted emergency use because they were not developed in the middle of a pandemic, or because there were treatments for the diseases the vaccines sought to prevent, according infectious disease experts.

To get emergency use authorization, Pfizer and Moderna had to submit safety and efficacy data collected over a two-month period after clinical trial participants got their second shot. For full approval, the companies must present more data from a longer period of time. The review is more thorough and includes inspecting the companies manufacturing plants.

Topol, of Scripps, said he doesnt want the FDA review to be hasty but thinks the agency should be more forthcoming about where things stand with the approval.

The pressure has to mount on them to come out and talk to the public, be transparent, he said. I dont want it to be done improperly. I want it to get done right and as quickly as it can be done.

Maldonado said the FDA is doing what its supposed to do.

If they move too fast or cut corners or dont complete all the analysis, that erodes trust in the process, she said. I think theyre moving at the pace they need to be moving at.

Chronicle staff writer Erin Allday contributed to this report.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)  The pandemic forced last years Green Bay premiere of Rescue Story: Saving Companion Animals to go makeshift drive-in style in a church parking lot, but it didnt keep Milo from walking the red carpet.

With a stretch limousine as a backdrop, the dog with a face cameras love  one brown eye and one blue  posed for photos at the by-invitation showing in October. He had come a long way, both literally and figuratively, from being surrendered as a puppy in Texas to finding a home in Green Bay. Somewhere in between, he became a film star.

His is one of many stories told in the full-length documentary about the challenges and triumphs of companion animal welfare as seen through municipal shelters, pet stores, nonprofit organizations, animal sanctuaries and prisons. Among the rescue groups prominently featured is Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill shelter with the main sanctuary in Marion and its Green Bay Adoption Center in Ashwaubenon.

Rescue Story will have its first local public screening July 22 at the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported.

The project from Conscious Content Collective and Appleton-based Shaman Motion Pictures was filmed at both of HEAs locations as well as other organizations across the country. HEA founder and president Amanda Reitz and her brother, Marcus Reitz, director of the nonprofits branding and marketing, also traveled to Corpus Christi, Texas, in 2019 for filming that included Peewees Pet Adoption World & Sanctuary, Nueces County Animal Control and Corpus Christi Animal Care Services.

HEA has a partnership with Peewees, often bringing animals to Green Bay for adoption to help ease overcrowding in shelters in Texas. Its there that HEA and the film crews first met Milo, or Holler as he was named when he arrived at Peewees as an owner surrender. Little was known about his backstory, but he was likely surrendered because of an owned pet that wasnt spayed and then had puppies, Marcus Reitz said.

Holler was transported to Wisconsin and adopted through HEA, where he now lives as Milo with a family in the Green Bay area. Hell make a special appearance at the Ashwaubenon screening.

One of the themes of Rescue Story is to show the connectedness of animal welfare when it comes to reducing the number of shelter animals that are euthanized each year, an estimated 1.5 million, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Dogs that are given second chances are shown enriching the lives of veterans and first responders with PTSD as trained service dogs with 4 Paws 2 Freedom, or helping children to improve their reading confidence at libraries through a program called HALO Angel Ears.

The 65-minute film shines a light on the tireless efforts that go on daily to get to those happy endings but also reminds audiences that pet overpopulation is not without sadness.

As pet parents and pet adopters and people who love animals in our community, generally what we experience is the outcomes and all the happy and easy parts and the stuff that just seems to happen so seamlessly, but behind the scenes theres so much work that goes into making this happen, Marcus Reitz said. The filmmakers did an incredible job of making the problem understood, but in a way that really demonstrates the forward progress of this movement and the hope that really rests on the future.

Since its release last year, Rescue Story has received a multitude of accolades at virtual film festivals in the United States and abroad in India, Spain, the Netherlands and elsewhere. It has earned seven wins and nine official selections, said Kimberly Resch, a co-founder of Conscious Content with Brian Ross.

The hope is that the film gets people to see the bigger picture of animal overpopulation and inspires them to help in their own communities.

Its a much bigger picture than just the animals were talking about, Amanda Reitz says in the film. How we treat the animals in our community is how we end up treating each other. If we dont care about those animals then we also dont care about each other and the people that are surrounding us on a daily basis. Its time that we all take a look at how we invest in those animals in our community, because that will show us how were going to invest in each other.

A camera crew films Amanda Reitz, founder of Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary, in 2019 in Corpus Christi, Texas, for the documentary Rescue Story: Saving Companion Animals. The film will screen July 22 at the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center.

HEA will use the screening at 7 p.m. July 22 as the kickoff of its third annual Hour of Love fundraiser, in which individuals, families, businesses or other groups sign up to spend an hour cuddling cats and dogs at HEA and share their experiences via photos, social media posts, texts and phone calls to pet lovers they know to encourage donations.

Donations made during Hour of Love, beginning with the Rescue Story screening and ending at midnight July 24, will be matched $2 to $1. HEA hopes to secure $100,000 in matching funds (its currently at $70,000) by the time the event begins to reach its goal of raising $150,000 in honor of its 15th year, Marcus Reitz said.

The screening of Rescue Story is free, but registration is requested at houroflove.org. People will be able to register on-site if seats are still available the evening of the screening.
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP)  Nepals Supreme Court reinstated the House of Representatives on Monday and upheld the leader of the oppositions claim to be the new prime minister.

The 167-page court order removes Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who had been running a caretaker government until planned elections.

In May, Oli directed the president to dissolve the House of Representatives, Parliaments lower house, and announce new elections later this year. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court by a coalition of opposition parties that said they had the support of a majority in Parliament to form a new government.

The Supreme Court also ruled Monday that the reinstated House of Representatives should meet within a week, when the leader of the main opposition party, Sher Bahadur Deuba, is expected to call a vote of confidence.

There was no immediate comment from Olis office or his aides.

Hundreds of Oli's supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court to oppose the court decision.

We are here to protest the unconstitutional decision by the Supreme Court, which was interfering with the affairs of the Parliament and its rights, said one of the protesters, Ramesh Acharya.

The protesters briefly scuffled with riot police who were able to push them back. There were no injuries or arrests.

More protests are likely later in the week because Oli still has significant support among the public.

It is the second time the Supreme Court has reinstated the House of Representatives this year after it was dissolved by Oli.

He had the House of Representatives dissolved in December and called for new elections in April, but that was rejected by the Supreme Court and the lower house was reinstated in February. Oli again had the president dissolve the House of Representatives in May with elections planned for November.

Oli became prime minister in 2018 after the Communist Party of Nepal won a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives. The party, however, has had two splits this year, weakening Oli's hold on power.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday that deterring the use of tax havens will let countries compete on economic fundamentals  instead of by offering ever-lower tax rates that deprive governments of money for infrastructure and education.

Yellen spoke after finance ministers from the Group of 20 major economies endorsed a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15%, a measure aimed at putting a floor under tax rates and discouraging companies from using low-rate countries as tax havens.

This deal will end the race to the bottom, she said at a news conference after the end of the meeting in Venice.

Instead of asking the question: Who can offer the lowest tax rate?, it will allow all of our countries to compete on the basis of economic fundamentals  on the skill of our workforces, our capacity to innovate, and the strength of our legal and economic institutions.

"And this deal will give our nations the ability to raise the necessary funding for important public goods like infrastructure, R&D, and education."

The global minimum proposal faces political and technical hurdles before it would take effect. Details are to be ironed out in coming weeks at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, followed by a final endorsement by presidents and prime ministers of the Group of 20 at an Oct. 30-31 meeting in Rome.

Countries would then need to legislate the rate into their own laws. The idea is for headquarters countries to tax their companies' foreign earnings at home if those earnings go untaxed in low-rate countries. That would remove the reason for using complex accounting schemes to move profits to subsidiaries in low-tax nations where the companies may do little or no actual business.

The U.S. already has such a tax on overseas profits, but the rate is below the 15% minimum. Congressional Republicans have expressed opposition to President Joe Biden's proposal to raise the rate on overseas corporate profits to 21% to help pay for infrastructure and investments in clean energy. The Democratic president has only a narrow majority in Congress.

Three European Union countries that took part in talks over the minimum tax have refused to endorse the proposal. Ireland, Hungary and Estonia could obstruct adoption in Europe, where tax matters at the EU level require unanimity. Ireland, whose low tax rates are part of its pro-business economic model, has said its 12.5% headline rate is a fair rate.

The tax proposal would also give countries the right to tax part of the profits of big global companies that earn money in their jurisdiction but have no physical presence. Examples would include online retailing and digital advertising.

Some countries, led by France, have already started imposing such taxes on U.S. tech companies such as Google and Amazon. The U.S. considers such taxes to be unfair trade practices and has threatened retaliation through tariffs on imported goods. Under the tax deal, countries would drop those taxes in favor of a single global approach.
Last week, New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones announced that she would decline an offer of tenure from her alma mater, the University of North Carolina. Her decision followed months of public turmoil stemming from an influential donors efforts to nullify UNCs initial offer of a chaired faculty appointment with tenure, over reported objections to her Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of systemic and structural racism in the United States.

As I read Hannah-Jones statement explaining her decision, her story felt all too familiar: a person of color in academia with exceptional credentials denied a professional opportunity due to a powerful individuals biased preference.

I know the story well because I was in closed-door meetings at the Stanford School of Medicine where such prejudice was exercised. Ive seen first-hand how it is justified and reinforced by warped definitions of the very notions of fairness and impartiality. I, too, was surreptitiously cast into an academic nether realm by my alma mater for speaking against injustice.

And so last week I resigned.

Like Hannah-Jones, I do not come from a wealthy and connected family. We emigrated from Mexico when I was just 6. Growing up, I slept on more floors and sofas than I can remember. I worked hard to reach Stanford as an undergraduate, to stay as a medical student and to return as a physician. Like Hannah-Jones, I am indebted to the mentors who helped me along the way and to my alma mater for affording me the opportunity to become a change agent. And yet, like her, I made the mistake of believing that my alma mater was sincere in its public commitment to enlightened multiculturalism.

As an undergrad, I was afforded opportunities to tutor underprivileged children. I helped manage a free clinic during medical school. But all that changed as I rose through the ranks in the anesthesia department, starting in 2011. Meetings with the research oversight panel felt like tribunals where I was made to defend my interest in racial and ethnic health disparities. I struggled to convince the department to support my efforts to recruit BIPOC candidates to join our residency program.

Nevertheless, I was on track for a successful career in academic medicine.

By early 2014, I was a chief resident at one of the top anesthesiology programs in the nation and as close as you can get to a slam dunk candidate for a tenure-track junior faculty position. I had the Ivy-plus pedigree, national recognition and several research publications  including two that were accepted for publication in top anesthesia research journals. My committee appointments and leadership in professional societies were the icing on the cake.

I was set  until I stood up to a relic of the pre-Civil Rights era known as the Match.

In its own words: The Match is a private, non-profit organization established in 1952 at the request of medical students to provide an orderly and fair mechanism for matching the preferences of applicants for U.S. residency positions with the preferences of residency program directors.

In reality, the Match is an anticompetitive mechanism that amplifies biases.

Nearly all residency slots at Stanford and in the U.S. are assigned through this service. And yet a recent study demonstrated how Black applicants are increasingly denied residency spots in highly competitive specialties. It illustrated how the Match operates as the moderator in a game of musical chairs that opts to keep chairs open rather than allowing Black applicants to take a seat.

Last week, Tulane Universitys accreditation was placed on probation in response to allegations of rampant racism and sexism. Despite this news, the candidates who were matched in this program are contractually obligated to serve at least one year, locking them into this toxic environment.

Tulane is currently under the microscope, but virtually every medical training program leverages the Match to justify an inherently unfair process.

That includes Stanford Medicine.

My department ranked its preferred candidates using an opaque proprietary formula developed by our chair. While the composition of our selection committee checked all diversity boxes, the conversations started and ended with our chairs impression of the candidates.

I was allowed into the residency selection committee in the fall of 2013. By that time, hundreds of applicants had already been screened out via a separate, internal process. I had volunteered to be a part of that process, but was told it was not worth the hassle of training me to review applications. The Match allegedly lacked the ability to create new accounts with the appropriate permissions, which meant one person did the majority of the screening herself.

After weeks of unsuccessfully advocating for BIPOC candidates who I felt were unfairly docked for any number of subjective reasons ranging from professionalism to commitment, I decided to go to the mat for an obviously gifted candidate. This person was exceptional in every way except for one: They had an above average (but not exceptional) standardized test score. I pushed hard and suggested that our process discriminated on the basis of race/ethnicity  and supported my position by citing published research. (Later research would reveal that using test scores as a screening tool, as we were, unfairly discriminates against racial/ethnic minorities.)

The points I made compelled our residency program director to intervene, and we matched the candidate. That BIPOC candidate shot to the top of their class and finished their training several years ago.

But this victory for diversity would be the beginning of the end of my academic career at Stanford.

From that point forward, the department provided the bare minimum in terms of resources. And it showed. I failed to secure research grants, which hinge on strong letters of departmental and institutional support. I no longer had those.

I watched as less experienced candidates were recruited for roles within my area of expertise. I pivoted into an adjacent subject area, and then watched as a directorship was tailor-made for someone less accomplished.

Ive spent the last seven years struggling to advance beyond an entry-level faculty appointment at a medical school that publicly touts multidisciplinary research and brands itself as a beacon of multicultural excellence. I learned the hard way that when Stanford made public commitments to training diverse leaders that would become change agents, it never intended for those leaders to effect change at Stanford itself.

Im sharing my story publicly because things need to change. Anything short of an overhaul will lead to a mass exodus of BIPOC talent, as is already happening at Tulane.

Stanfords Board of Trustees must finally adopt the recommendations made by the schools Commission on Justice and Equity months ago. I hope to see congressional scrutiny of federal spending on medical training programs that pay lip service to diversity and inclusion, but fail to take concrete steps to root out systemic discrimination in its own ranks. The U.S. Department of Justice should also scrutinize the Match and the medical licensing industry for normalizing prejudice in exchange for monopolistic control over multimillion-dollar revenue streams, which enrich its board members at the expense of inclusion.

Above all, I hope my story resonates with others who find themselves in similar positions.

You are not alone. Dont make the same mistake I did: If you are not feeling valued, dont get lulled into believing that you are not valuable. Demand your worth, and never sell yourself short.

Jorge Caballero is a Mexican American physician, engineer and health equity advocate. His work has informed congressional action and his analyses on COVID-19 disparities have been featured by San Francisco Chronicle, Axios, ABC News and the Wall Street Journal.
George Rose/Getty Images

The residents of a family home in Atascadero, Calif. weren't at home last Tuesday afternoon, which was fortunate as that's when a British parachutist crashed through their roof and landed in their kitchen.

"The parachutist was conscious but stunned with complaints of pain but no visible serious injuries," the Atascadero Police Department said in a statement. "Atascadero Emergency Dispatch received multiple reports on a parachutist who fell without a full chute deployment in the 9500 block of Via Cielo. Atascadero Fire and Police responded to the area and located the parachutist who had fallen through the exterior and interior roof of a residence."
A raging fire in southern Oregon disrupted transmission lines and is limiting the flow of electricity from the Pacific Northwest to California and other states.

The Bootleg Fire burning in Klamath County tripped off transmission lines on Friday and again Saturday, reducing power supplies to the California Independent System Operator, the agency that manages the state's power grid, by as much as 3,500 megawatts.

In response to the power lines being obstructed by the blaze, as well as ongoing high temperatures and a growing demand for electricity, the California ISO issued a statewide Flex Alert for July 12 to lessen the burden on the state's electrical grid. Residents are encouraged to conserve power from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The ISO also relayed a restricted maintenance operations requiring generators to delay any planned outages for routine equipment maintenance in order for all available resources to be transferred to the grid.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Saturday to secure additional power to help maintain grid stability through the weekend.

The Bootleg Fire is tearing through heavy timber in the Fremont-Winema National Forest and private land just north of the towns of Sprague River and Beatty. It was 153,535 acres with no containment as of Monday morning.

The blaze that sparked July 6 is threatening 1,926 residences (935 of them primary residences) in and around the communities of Sprague River, the Sycan Estates subdivision, Bly and Beatty, according to a report from Federal Emergency Management Agency posted on Twitter. It's also threatening roads, bridges, utilities, infrastructure, recreation and businesses.

The fire burned aggressively Friday and Saturday, and firefighters finally started to slow its spread amid favorable conditions Sunday.

"The smoke from yesterday shaded the fire today, which greatly moderated fire behavior," fire behavior analyst Forrest Ownbey told the Northwest Incident Management Team 10. "The shade kept temperatures a little lower and relative humidity a little higher, which resulted in far less fire growth than yesterday.

Operations chief Bruce Meyer added that with the moderated fire behavior today, firefighters were able to make greater progress toward containment compared to yesterday when their safety was highly compromised.
This article, Forget overpopulation, many countries are running out of young people. Now what?, originally appeared on CNET.com.

"Population problem" has always been synonymous with overpopulation, but the trendlines in many societies suggest the problem will soon be too few people, thanks to access to birth control, greater availability of education, increased affluence and women entering the workforce. Now what?

"It's important to think about population decline not as necessarily good or bad. What it is is a big shift," says Damien Cave, the Sydney bureau chief for the New York Times and author of a fascinating story on the problem of global population decline. "It depends on how we manage it. There are benefits, but there are also significant challenges in terms of how economies work and how societies work."

Cave points to the fact that many entitlement programs are based on young people paying a career's worth of taxes to fund the programs for retirees. Those political outcomes might change if older people become a larger share of the voting populace.

Countries including Hungary, China, Japan, and Sweden are at the leading edge of this lower fertility trend. "It started 40 to 50 years ago in some of the richest countries in East Asia and Europe," says Cave. Even countries associated with high birth rates, like India and Mexico, have seen those trend lines at least flatten. The US is somewhat immune to thanks to its historically robust flow of immigration, which offsets lower birth rates.

But no matter the country, Cave says turning the tide won't be easy. "The challenges of having children have become greater. Data show that people would like to have more children but it's seen as too expensive and too difficult." The question is, will a society decide that funding programs to support births is in its interest when weighed against the better-known issues that arise from population growth?

Damien Cave shared a wealth of insights into the new population bomb with CNET's Brian Cooley. Hear their entire conversation in the video above.

Now What is a video interview series with industry leaders, celebrities and influencers that covers trends impacting businesses and consumers amid the "new normal." There will always be change in our world, and we'll be here to discuss how to navigate it all.
This story was originally published on October 10, 2020.

Im sitting in the back of my friends car. Hes in the passenger seat and his partner is behind the wheel. A phone leans against the dashboard playing a new Lady Gaga music video. Nobody's gonna heal me if I don't open the door, kinda hard to believe, gotta have faith in me, the pop star sings in Stupid Love. Life is good.

We get out of the car and walk to a bar in the Mission to continue our night of drinking and dancing. Just as we arrive at the bars front door, I check my phone and see the time. Its 11:45 p.m. and I realize Im about to miss the last East Bay-bound BART train of the night. The fun is officially over.

I bid my quickest possible adieu to my friends and I begin to run. Mind you, Im running in my pair of knee-high brown boots with three-inch chunky heels. Five minutes later, I arrive at 16th Street and Mission Street only to encounter a red stoplight, keeping me from the BART station across the street. I catch my breath. The stoplight turns green and the race resumes.

I scurry down the staircase to the underground station, pull out my Clipper card, and pass through the turnstiles. I make it to the humid train platform to see on the overhead monitor that the last Antioch BART train is minutes away. The train arrives, the doors open, and I enter. I made it.

That was back in February of 2020, and it wasnt my first Cinderella-esque BART experience. As a recent college graduate who studied and worked in San Francisco while living in the East Bay, all facets of my life revolved around the last midnight BART train headed east. Always chasing it, always dreading it.

Even at midnight, a BART station was hardly ever empty. On any given night, I would look around and see people of all ages waiting for the last train. I would always wonder if any of them had run here after seeing one of their favorite artists live in concert at a local venue. Or maybe they were finishing a late shift at work or had just treated themselves to a rare late night out.

Ive seen it all: A stern woman sitting next to her daughter-in-law, who drunkenly detailed how her sister had been involved in a hit-and-run; a man laying down on two seats as a makeshift bed; and, of course, train car performances consisting of aerobatics, rapping and the occasional bongo drum duo.

The last BART train of the night is as close as Ill ever get to riding a haunted ship. I see other people on the train, but sometimes I wonder if theyre really there. The silence is humbling and even reassuring, especially after the euphoric high of not missing the train. Not even the infamous screeching of the train tracks can bother me.

The lighting in a midnight train car always felt dimmer, like the type of lighting that a horror film would have if the scene was a hospital in the middle of the night. Fluorescent, but slightly dead.

This nightly routine was worth bearing because of everything San Francisco had given to me. It gave me my very formative college years, it gave me my first career-related job, and it gave me a set of friends on whom I still depend today.

To be a non-San Francisco resident of the Bay Area not only means that you dont live in San Francisco, but it also means that San Francisco lives with you. Whether it be through tech and gentrification jokes, stories about human feces on the streets, or the infamous cost of living, San Francisco is a part of our lives.

The desire I had to live in San Francisco was something I could not afford to contemplate. Literally. For so long I had thought of San Francisco as the city I would always belong to, but that would never belong to me. The city was where I could be, but never where I could live.

So when the first shelter-in-place order was enacted in the Bay Area in March of 2020, my life as I once knew it hit a hard reset.

I was halfway through my final semester as a college undergraduate student. What was supposed to feel like a new beginning had started to feel like the ending of endings. Now there is no midnight BART train to take me home.

I watched as my once lively classroom discussions devolved into virtual ramblings from peers who didnt want to participate, much less be perceived at home through webcams.

My social life went from buzzed platonic sleepovers, sweaty raging nightclubs and Dolores Park picnics to group text chats, sporadic virtual calls and an above-average amount of existential rants with all of us now hundreds of miles apart.

I abruptly stopped going out five days a week for 12 hours per day, nearly always arriving home past midnight. My body went from sitting in classrooms, flirting with strangers, wearing intricate outfits, drinking alcohol for more than just its taste, to sitting at the same place doing the same thing at the same time every day.

But then a revolution happened.

The first time I dared to take BART into the city again was in early June of last year, after nearly three months of sheltering in place.

The murders of Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and countless other Black people led to global protests against systemic racism and police brutality. I was heading once again to Dolores Park, but not for any picnic.

The hundreds of other masked attendees and I gathered together in the name of social justice, police reform and abolition, and to respect the lives lost to ignorance. It didnt matter how any of us got to the park that day; what mattered was that we were there and that we showed up.

On my commute home, I was filled with a sense of purpose I had begun to think I would never feel again.

I realized it doesnt matter whether I live in San Francisco or not, as long as Im going into the city to do what I believe is right, be it attending a protest, hanging out with friends or going to college. I'm looking forward to the day when I can once again sit back and enjoy the journey between the familiar and the unknown.

Whenever the midnight train went through the Transbay Tube, the underwater rail tunnel connecting San Francisco to Oakland, it was enveloped in an even greater sense of darkness. All I could see out the windows was the pitch black of the tunnel. But the train always surfaced in West Oakland, where I would see the lights from houses and streetlights that brightened my journey home.

Sometimes there is more than one light at the end of every tunnel.
NEW YORK (AP)  Nordstrom says it's acquiring a minority interest in four fashion brands owned by a British company called Asos as the department store chain aims to attract more customers in their 20s.

The brands Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT were purchased by Asos in February after their previous owner and British fashion empire Arcadia Group filed for bankruptcy in late 2020. The financial terms weren't disclosed.

As part of the agreement, announced Monday, Asos will retain operational and creative control of the Topshop brands. But Nordstrom will now have the exclusive retail rights for Topshop and Topman in all of North America, including Canada, and own a minority stake globally. The Seattle-based retailer will also become the only store presence for these brands worldwide. And customers will also be able to pick up Asos.com orders at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores starting this fall.

The investment paves the way for the potential of a wider strategic alliance between Asos and Nordstrom, according to a company release.

Nordstrom has been the exclusive distributer of Topshop and Topman in the U.S. since 2012 when the department store retailer became the first to bring the brand to the U.S. market.

Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer at Nordstrom, said in a statement that this acquisition offers the opportunity to work with them to reimagine the wholesale/retail partnership."

Bringing the Asos brands, including Topshop and Topman, to our customers allows us to create newness and excitement for this dynamic customer segment," Nordstrom said.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Two men convicted in the 2019 kidnapping and slaying of a real estate agent in Minnesota were sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Cedric Berry and Berry Davis, both 42, were found guilty in Hennepin County District Court last month in the death of 28-year-old Monique Baugh. Prosecutors say she was lured to a phony home showing in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove. She was found shot to death in a Minneapolis alley.
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)  About 40 homeless people who had been scheduled to lose their pandemic-related emergency hotel rooms in Vermont on July 1 are seeking to be verified as having a disability, allowing them to stay longer.

Late last month, a federal court judge signed an agreement, extending the emergency housing for two weeks for some people to show they can remain eligible. That came after Vermont Legal Aid sued the state, alleging the changes violate Vermont law and have a restrictive definition of what qualifies as a disability. About 700 people were expected to lose their hotel rooms on July 1.

The state has extended the hotel voucher program 84 days for families with children, the disabled, pregnant women and other vulnerable people, and gave $2,500 checks to those no longer eligible. Families with children and some disabled households may be able to stay longer.

So far, 37 people who were no longer eligible on July 1 have attested that they have a disability while they work to get paperwork from a medical provider, Nicole Tousignant of the Vermont Department for Children and Families said Monday.

Vermont spent $79 million on the hotel vouchers program, housing up to 2,000 households on some nights, but the program is not financially sustainable and the state has expanding housing eligibility from before the pandemic, officials said.

The state is investing $120 million to create more permanent and shared-housing arrangements while also encouraging shelters to reopen and expand, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Smith has said.

THE NUMBERS

Vermont reported eight new cases of the coronavirus on Monday for a total of more than 24,480 cases since the pandemic began.

Monday's number includes cases reported over the weekend.

Five people were hospitalized, including one in intensive care, according to the Vermont Department of Health.

The Associated Press is using data collected by Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering to measure outbreak caseloads and deaths across the United States.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Vermont has risen over the past two weeks from 4.57 new cases per day on June 26 to 5.43 new cases per day on July 10.
BERLIN, N.H. (AP)  An all-terrain vehicle operator has suffered serious injuries in a crash in Jericho Mountain State Park, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said.

The Massachusetts man was negotiating a downhill turn on a trail when the ATV hit a rock. That resulted in him losing control of the machine and rolling over Sunday afternoon, officers said.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Rhode Island continues to rise, and is now up to $3.03, AAA Northeast said Monday.

The current per-gallon average price is 2 cents higher than a week ago and 90 cents more than it was one year ago, AAA said. Rhode Islands average gas price is 11 cents lower than the national average.
It began with an unmarked, unremarkable box tucked in a corner of a garage in California. Inside, under miscellaneous letters and old high school yearbooks, was a smaller shoe box. Inside that, under old coins and a numismatist pamphlet, lay the 240-year-old diary of sailor John Claypoole, a Revolutionary War prisoner of war and later the third husband of the flagmaker known as Betsy Ross.

"It was wrapped in a piece of paper that said, 'John Claypoole diary to be handled with great care,' which was sort of funny we found it in a paper shoe box in a box in this garage," recalled Aileen Edge, who with her husband uncovered the priceless item in her mother's Marin County home in June 2020.

In the journal, Claypoole describes his capture by the British while a privateer at sea, being charged with high treason for "being found in arms and in open rebellion" against the king, and his time at Old Mill Prison near Plymouth. He wrote about the hardships of life in captivity; about another inmate's escape attempt that ended with the man being shot; about watching, in March 1782, as "M. Joseph Ashburn departed this life after an illness of about a week which he bore with amazing fortitude & resignation."

At the time of his death, Joseph Ashburn was married to Betsy Ross. Her first husband, John Ross, had also died during the war.

The diary predates Claypoole's relationship with Ross, so she is not mentioned in it. But the document, and a Claypoole family Bible found around the same time, gives perspective to Ross's place in the nation's founding, said Philip Mead, chief historian and curator at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution, which put both items on exhibit during the July Fourth weekend. While a transcription of Claypoole's diary has existed for years, this is proof that what it contained is correct.

"This really taps into the profound sacrifices she and her family made to create the United States. Whether she created the first flag or not, she certainly helped create the country," Mead said. "It's crucial to have the original documents because they are the only unimpeachable sources. It wasn't that we didn't know about these great sacrifices, but this confirms it."

Two entries in the Claypoole Bible, which has never been documented before, further emphasize the family's commitment to the American experiment. The first notes the Ross-Claypoole union: "John Claypoole and Elizabeth were married the 8th day of May in the year of our Lord 1783 and in the 8th year of Independence of the United States of America."

The second entry records the birth of a son to John Claypoole's sister: "Alexander Trimble son of James and Clarissa Sidney Trimble Born the 20th of March 1783, 12 minutes before ten o'clock PM (being the day that Hostilities ceased between the United States of America and Great Britain, after a long and cruel war.)"

"The fact that they give Christian year and the years since independence shows how sacred the country had become to them through their many sacrifices," Mead said. "Betsy Ross herself didn't leave much in the way of personal testimony so we have to get at her thinking by reading the words of people close to her or learning about her business from the surviving invoices or accounts."

It's not written in the diary - which only covers Claypoole's time as a POW - but historians generally believe that Ashburn spoke often of his wife and at his death asked Claypoole to deliver her a message. Thus when Claypoole was back in Philadelphia, one of the first things he did was visit Ross. They married eight months later and remained so for more than 30 years.

Growing up in Marin County, Calif., Aileen Edge always knew she was a direct descendant of John Claypoole and Betsy Ross, who was formally known as Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole when she died in 1836 at age 84.

Edge's mother, Claire Canby Keleher, was the famous flagmaker's great-great-great-granddaughter and fiercely proud of her family's role in the nation's birth.

"I used to brag about it in school: 'I'm related to Betsy Ross,'" said Edge, 59, of Redmond, Wash. "I can totally remember sharing that with a great thrill."

Keleher taught her two children to fold a piece of fabric and, with one snip of her scissors, create a five-pointed-star, as Ross allegedly did when she persuaded George Washington that it was superior to the six-pointed star he'd wanted on the flag. She proudly displayed one of Ross's sewing tables in their California home. She held an annual celebration of Ross's Jan. 1 birthday with other descendants. When Edge met the man she would marry, her mother noted that it was fate: He'd been born on June 14: Flag Day.

Last year, as Keleher's health declined, Edge and her husband, Dave, began visiting more frequently. On each trip, they'd attempt to sort some of the many boxes and papers her mother kept.

"She always seemed to be the one who ended up with the family items, especially if someone passed away," Edge said.

Keleher died on July 14, 2020. Donating the book to the Museum of the American Revolution in the names of Keleher and her late brother, Wilbur Wood Canby, seemed like the natural thing to do. A sea chest belonging to John Claypoole had been given to the museum in 2019 by another branch of the family. The items, once kept together, would be reunited after more than two centuries apart.

"My brother and I talked about if one of us kept it, we'd just wrap it up and keep it safe and what's really gained by that?" Edge asked. "Our mom loved history so much, she would have wanted it to be in a museum. She was so proud to be a descendant of Betsy Ross."

Some important details of who Betsy Ross was and what she did during the American Revolution remain murky. The story that appears in elementary school books holds that in 1776, Gen. George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army, went to Ross's shop in Philadelphia with a sketch for a new flag.

She accepted the commission but made one significant change to his design: changing the 13 six-pointed stars he'd wanted to use to five-pointed stars because they were easier for her to make.

The building where Ross reportedly lived and rented shop space when she sewed that first flag still stands today. "Betsy Ross House" is now a museum where someone dressed as Ross tells that story, while expanding it to note that Ross made musket cartridges in her upholstery shop and was nicknamed "the Little Rebel" because of her passion for patriotism.

Those who doubt the first flag story note there are no diaries, newspaper accounts or letters showing that Washington sought out Ross's skills or that the pair knew each other. There's no mention of Ross in founding documents. Her connection to the flag was unknown until her grandson wrote a book about the family's story in the 1870s.

Supporters say that Ross's grandson had no reason to lie and that he presented sworn affidavits from family members testifying they'd grown up hearing the family tale.

In 2014, curators at Washington's Mount Vernon estate found a receipt for bed furnishings paid to a Mr. Ross of Philadelphia dated 1774, proving Washington and Ross were acquainted. Betsy Ross may also have met Washington while worshiping at Christ Church after she was "read out" of her Quaker meetinghouse in part because of her support for the war.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, who originated the phrase "well-behaved women seldom make history," has long dismissed the first flag story, but she's excited by the information found in the Claypoole Bible and diary.

"I love the fact that the emphasis now is not on a piece of needlework or an artifact but on the person and the larger context that the American Revolution required sacrifices," she said. "What's important is seeing Betsy Ross as a symbol of the multiple ways ordinary people, male or female, White or non-White, made a difference."
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Sunday upheld a Trump-era rejection of nearly all of China's significant maritime claims in the South China Sea. The administration also warned China that any attack on the Philippines in the flashpoint region would draw a U.S. response under a mutual defense treaty.

The stern message from Secretary of State Antony Blinken came in a statement released ahead of this weeks fifth anniversary of an international tribunals ruling in favor of the Philippines, against Chinas maritime claims around the Spratly Islands and neighboring reefs and shoals. China rejects the ruling.

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the ruling last year, the Trump administration came out in favor of the ruling but also said it regarded as illegitimate virtually all Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea outside China's internationally recognized waters. Sundays statement reaffirms that position, which had been laid out by Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea," Blinken said, using language similar to Pompeo's. He accused China of continuing "to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway.

The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea, he said, referring to Pompeo's original statement. We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments.

Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty obligates both countries to come to each other's aid in case of an attack.

Prior to Pompeo's statement, U.S. policy had been to insist that maritime disputes between China and its smaller neighbors be resolved peacefully through U.N.-backed arbitration. The shift did not apply to disputes over land features that are above sea level, which are considered to be territorial in nature.

Although the U.S. continues to remain neutral in territorial disputes, it has effectively sided with the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, all of which oppose Chinese assertions of sovereignty over maritime areas surrounding contested South China Sea islands, reefs and shoals.

China reacted angrily to the Trump administration's announcement and is likely to be similarly peeved by the Biden administration's decision to retain and reinforce it.

We call on (China) to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small, Blinken said in the statement,

China has rejected the tribunal's decision, which it has dismissed as a sham, and has refused to participate in arbitration proceedings. It has continued to defy the decision with aggressive actions that have brought it into territorial spats with Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia in recent years.

As last year's statement did, Sunday's announcement came amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over numerous issues, including the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, Chinese policy in Hong Kong and Tibet and trade, that have sent relations plummeting.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea and routinely objects to any action by the U.S. military in the region. Five other governments claim all or part of the sea, through which approximately $5 trillion in goods are shipped every year.

China has sought to shore up its claims to the sea by building military bases on coral atolls, leading the U.S. to sail its warships through the region on what it calls freedom of operation missions. The United States has no claims itself to the waters but has deployed warships and aircraft for decades to patrol and promote freedom of navigation and overflight in the busy waterway.
Sixty years before Juan Moras Florida condo building came crashing down, killing him and at least 89 others, he was among hundreds of Cuban exiles who signed up for a covert, CIA-funded operation to overthrow Fidel Castros Soviet-backed dictatorship.

Moras dream of restoring democracy in his homeland took him from military training at a Guatemalan jungle camp to the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, where he was captured and then crammed into a decrepit, rat-filled Cuban prison for 20 months, friends once imprisoned with him told The Associated Press.

Authorities on Friday identified the remains of 80-year-old Juan A. Mora, also known as Juanito, recovered from the rubble of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside. Others killed included his wife, Ana, and their adult son, Juan Mora Jr., who worked in Chicago and had been staying with his parents when their 12-story building suddenly pancaked on June 24.

Mora Sr. was a much-liked figure in the Miami area Cuban-American community, once active in the Bay of Pigs Veterans Association and the Bay of Pigs Museum it houses, museum board member Humberto Lopez said Friday. Mora was always trying to help, organizing events, writing editorials about the invasion and emailing with other members of the veterans group, Lopez recalled.

Lopez said he and the loquacious Mora were close for the past decade, and described his wife as charismatic.

Ana Mora had worked as assistant to the president of a prestigious Catholic high school in Miami, Belen Jesuit Prep, from which the couples son had graduated, said another family friend, Johnny Lopez de la Cruz, president of the museum and veterans association.

Mora Jr. was a manager for Morton Salts road salt business in Chicago, according to a close friend there, Matthew Kaade, who graduated with him from Loyola University in Chicago in 2011.

Lopez de la Cruz said Mora Sr. also had two daughters from a prior marriage. Another friend, Humberto Diaz Arguelles, said Moras first wife died of cancer.

Mora Sr. was part of a band of Cuban exiles funded by the CIA late in the Eisenhower administration to help counter Soviet influence and missiles placed in Cuba. The volunteers were sent to training camps in Guatemalas jungle in 1960 and early 1961. The force came to be known as Brigade 2506  the ID number of the first casualty, a man who fell off a cliff during a training accident, said Diaz Arguelles, who trained at one of the camps with Mora.

They lived in tents, eating food that was sometimes spoiled and drinking river water as they learned to use machine guns, grenades, bazookas and mortars.

We were so convinced about what we were doing to go free Cuba that nobody complained, Diaz Arguelles remembered.

He said Mora, a radio operator in the brigade's Battalion 3, was lively and popular and always talking about every subject you can think of.

When training ended in April 1961 and the fighters headed to Cuba, they realized they werent getting the help theyd been promised by the U.S. military, including aerial support and a navy armada, Diaz Arguelles said. Roughly 1,400 men were transported from a Nicaraguan port in rusty merchant cargo ships to the Bay of Pigs on Cubas southern coast, then had to climb down ropes in the dark to board 18-foot aluminum boats from Sears and reach the beach  while under fire, because Castro had learned of the invasion in advance.

There was no time to get scared, said Diaz Arguelles, whose boat sank after hitting a reef, forcing him to swim ashore with a mortar tube and two boxes of ammo.

President John F. Kennedy, who authorized the mission barely three months into his term, had canceled a second planned airstrike after U.S. support for the April 17, 1961, invasion became known, according to the JFK Library.

After three days fighting the overwhelming Cuban force, hiding in swamps and running out of ammunition, water and food, more than 100 members of the 2506 Brigade had been killed. Diaz Arguelles and about 20 invaders were surrounded by Cuban troops and taken to Castillo del Principe, or Castle of the Prince, a huge military fort in Havana. There Diaz Arguelles again met Mora, who like him had been captured.

Diaz Arguelles said the prison was deteriorated and full of fungus, and they had to sleep on the floor with rats running over them at night. Their meager food had rats and cockroaches in it, and contaminated water left the men sick and weak.

Lopez also was imprisoned there and spent about eight months in the same cell with Mora, who was then moved elsewhere in the prison.

Nearly 1,200 prisoners eventually were returned to the U.S. in exchange for $53 million in food and medicine, according to the JFK Library. The Brigade 2506 survivors were flown to Florida just before Christmas 1962 and reunited with whatever family they had there.

Diaz Arguelles said he and Mora both got jobs and worked their way through college.

The men had drifted apart for years but reconnected after retirement. Diaz Arguelles recalled Mora had owned a business selling hurricane-proof windows and doors for at least a decade, and said they last spoke a couple months ago, naturally about the Bay of Pigs veterans group.

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Follow Linda A. Johnson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LindaJ_onPharma.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto reported raising almost $2.8 million over the past three months as she gears up to run for reelection next year.

The Democrat's campaign said Monday that she ended June with $6.58 million in her campaign account. Of the $2.8 million she took in from April through June, 95% of the donations were contributions of $100 or less, according to her campaign.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP)  A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit in which a Baltimore attorney accused the Southern Poverty Law Center of defaming him in articles highlighting his ties to a neo-Nazi group.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected Glen K. Allen's claim that his membership in the National Alliance, once the nation's largest neo-Nazi group, wasn't a matter of public concern.

The panel noted that Allen was involved in a white supremacist organization while he was defending the city of Baltimore against a lawsuit brought by a Black man who claimed he was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 19 years in prison.

The city fired him as an attorney for its law department after the Alabama-based SPLC published an August 2016 article that described Allen as a well-known neo-Nazi lawyer and noted his work on the Black man's lawsuit. The article also included copies of receipts for Allen's National Alliance dues payments and presented evidence of his attendance at a Holocaust Revisionist Conference.

In 2017, the law center published a hate map that included a photograph of Allen bearing the caption, Exposing Racists Who Infiltrate Public Institutions.

Allen sued the law center and two of its former employees, Heidi Beirich and Mark Potok, in 2018. He appealed after U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake in Maryland threw out the case in 2019.

The 4th Circuit judges concluded that the First Amendment protected the law centers publication of information about Allen from documents that it obtained from a former National Alliance accountant who secretly scanned the records.

Allen claimed the accountant sold the documents to the SPLC for more than $5,000 and that the law center knew the documents were stolen when it bought them. The appeals court rejected his claim that the SPLC illegally interfered with a confidentiality agreement between the accountant and the National Alliance.

The appeals court panel agreed with Blake that Allen could not challenge the SPLCs tax-exempt status in the Maryland district court. His lawsuit against the SPLC also included racketeering claims that the 4th Circuit rejected.

The panel also rejected Allen's claim that the SPLC misused its tax-exempt status to raise money and reach a wide audiences for its publications, including the articles about him.

This proposed causal link between Allens injury and the SPLCs tax burden is tenuous at best, 4th Circuit Judge Barbara Milano Keenan wrote.

Allen said in an email Monday that he is disappointed in the decision. He said the issues raised in his lawsuit are important ones, especially in our increasingly polarized society, and merited more than a superficial unpublished opinion.

In his appeal, Allen said his defamation claim does not depend on the SPLCs description of him as a neo-Nazi or a racist. But he argued that the SPLC falsely accused him of being unethical and incompetent as an attorney by describing him as infiltrat(ing) the citys law department. The appeals court panel concluded that the challenged statement was non-actionable hyperbole.

Allen said he and his attorney havent decided whether to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

Other organizations and individuals have sued the SPLC over its articles about far-right extremism and its hate group labels.

In 2019, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., dismissed a lawsuit that accused law center leaders of trying to financially destroy the Center for Immigration Studies by labeling it as a hate group. In 2018, a federal judge in Virginia ruled that the First Amendment protected a charity tracking websites use of the law centers hate group labels.

The founder of the far-right Proud Boys sued the law center in February 2019 for labeling the organization as a hate group. That federal case is still pending in Alabama and has remained dormant since November 2019.

In 2018, the law center apologized to a London-based group, Quilliam, and its founder, Maajid Nawaz, and agreed to pay $3.4 million in an out-of-court settlement after labeling them as anti-Muslim extremists.
MIAMISBURG, Ohio (AP)  Local health officials are reporting a COVID-19 outbreak among people who attended a church retreat in Ohio several weeks ago.

Dayton and Montgomery County public health officials said more than 800 people attended the Baptist Church retreat at Camp Chautauqua in Miamisburg from June 27 to July 3. The retreat included attendees and churches from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.

Officials said at least 30 cases among attendees living in Ohio and Kentucky have been identified so far.

Health officials said camp and event organizers haven't provided contact information for attendees, so authorities are asking anyone who may have attended to contact them or their local health department.

The outbreak demonstrates that the COVID-19 virus is still circulating and continues to make people sick, said Dr. Michael Dohn, medical director for Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  Cultural and humanities nonprofits in Rhode Island are sharing nearly $1 million in federal coronavirus funding to help them recover from the pandemic, officials said Monday.

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities have announced a collaborative partnership to distribute the funds, from the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities.

The grants, called the RI Culture, Humanities and Arts Recovery Grants, are designed to assist nonprofits with general operating support to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from pandemic-related hardships.

Organizations focused on the Black, Indigenous and people of color population as well as nonprofits with annual budgets under $500,000 will be prioritized.

The arts, culture and humanities communities are an important economic driver in our state. These funds from the American Rescue Plan, through the National Endowments for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, deliver critical investments in this sector supporting its recovery and full return, Gov. Daniel McKee said in a statement.

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DATA

The Rhode Island Department of Health on Monday reported 90 new cases of the coronavirus and one additional virus-related death over the past three days.

The department does not update its data on weekends.

The state transmission rate remained in the moderate category, even though the number of new cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days rose to 16.2 from 14 the previous week.

The single death over the weekend, reported Saturday, was the state's first virus-related fatality since June 29.

The number of people in the state who have now been fully vaccinated is nearly 643,000.
MADRID (AP)  Spanish regions are bringing back curfews as well as restrictions on socializing and nightlife to contain a sharp rise in coronavirus infections as the fast-spreading delta variant races through the country's unvaccinated young people.

Catalonia and Valencia, two Mediterranean coast regions with major virus outbreaks, are limiting social gatherings to 10 people and restoring late night restrictions on all activities, while the northern region of Asturias on Monday banned indoor bar and restaurants operations.

Fuelled by parties to mark the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, Spain's two-week COVID-19 caseload is now over three times higher among people under 30 than the average. The closely watched variable rose nationally on Monday to 368 cases per 100,000 residents, according to Fernando Simon, who coordinates Spains response to health emergencies.

Simon said although younger patients typically dont need intensive care treatment, the high number of cases among under 30s was slowly pushing up the rate of hospital admissions.

We are not recording an increase in mortality  and we hope that we dont reach there, he told reporters.

Simon said the impact of the delta variant, which spreads faster than the original virus, is not as crucial as people dropping their guard against the virus.

We are doing things that probably entail a high risk of contagion," he said. No matter whether it's this variant or another one, the risks we take would lead to an increase in transmission.

Spain has fully vaccinated more than 21 million people or 46% of its total population. But only roughly 600,000 of those are under 30, the next target group for vaccine jabs.

Since lifting a national state of emergency in May, regional authorities trying to keep the spread of the virus at bay have sought court authorization for adopting restrictions that curtail basic freedoms. That has led to varying results.

While judges on Monday rejected plans by the northern Aragon region to close nightclubs, a Valencia high court authorized the 10-person limit on meetings there and a 1 a.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew in 32 towns. The targeted towns, including the regional capital, were labeled high risk after the regions 2-week caseload jumped from fewer than 50 new cases per 100,000 residents last month to more than 250 currently.

In Catalonia, where authorities over the weekend described the surge of new cases as explosive, an uptick in hospitalizations, including among few dozen patients who had received two doses, has caused concern.

All bars, restaurants and cultural venues must now close at 12:30 a.m. and eating and drinking in the streets is banned, the regional government announced Monday, recommending local authorities to also restrict the regions popular beaches. The measures need to be authorized by a judge.

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Follow all AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
When dawn broke Sunday in Death Valley, Calif., the low temperature was a sweltering 107.7 degrees, the highest recorded in North America. By the late afternoon, the mercury had swelled to a blazing 128.6 degrees. The combination of the two produced the highest daily average temperature observed on the planet: 118.1 degrees.

The astonishingly hot temperatures occurred amid a punishing heat wave in the West, focused between interior Oregon, Central Valley in California, and southern Nevada. Intensified by human-caused climate change, the heat wave is fueling fast-moving wildfires and only slowly abating.

Sunday's probable world record daily average temperature of 118.1 degrees was registered at the Stovepipe Wells weather station in the northern part of Death Valley National Park. It is separate from the more frequently referenced temperature measurements at Death Valley's Furnace Creek, located about 18 miles to the southeast. Furnace Creek is home to the highest maximum temperature recorded on the planet: 134 degrees, set July 10, 1913.

Sunday morning's low of 107.7 degrees at Stovepipe Wells marked the second highest minimum temperature observed worldwide, only trailing the coastal city of Quriyat, Oman, which never dropped below 108.7 degrees on June 26, 2018.

The afternoon high that day in Stovepipe Wells of 128.6 was its highest on record (since 2004). It was actually hotter in Furnace Creek on Friday and Saturday, where the temperature soared to 130 and 129.4 degrees, but somewhat lower minimum temperatures resulted in less searing averages compared with Stovepipe Wells. (Low temperatures at Furnace Creek on Friday and Saturday were 104 and 99 compared with Stovepipe Wells's 108 on Sunday.)

News of Sunday's record-setting average temperature at Stovepipe Wells was first posted on Twitter by Thierry Goose, who monitors internal weather data from Canada, and corroborated by both Maximiliano Herrera, an expert on world weather extremes and Etienne Kapikian, a forecaster with Meteo France.

While any significant record-setting temperatures in Death Valley since Friday are preliminary and require validation from the World Meteorological Organization, the measurements at Stovepipe Wells are probably legitimate as they were produced from the U.S. Climate Reference Network, considered the gold standard for weather observation. The network relies on high quality instruments which monitor weather in stable, undisturbed locations, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Temperatures are computed based on the output of three independent thermometers.

The record-setting 24 hours in Stovepipe Wells on Sunday capped a blistering three-day stretch in Death Valley, which began with the 130-degree high at Furnace Creek on Friday. It equaled the 130-degree mark set in August in Furnace Creek and, if confirmed, would mark the planet's highest temperature since at least 1931.

Only two other known measurements have been higher: The 134-degree reading from Furnace Creek in 1913, and a 131-degree reading from Kebili, Tunisia, set July 7, 1931.

But Christopher Burt, an expert on world weather extremes, questions the legitimacy of both of those measurements. He called the 1913 Furnace Creek reading "essentially not possible from a meteorological perspective" and wrote that the 1931 Tunisia reading has "serious credibility issues."

In other words, the 130-degree readings set at Furnace Creek both Friday and last year, if validated, may be the highest pair of reliably measured temperatures observed on Earth.

Even if you accept the 1913 high temperature, the daily average temperatures this year and last year at Furnace Creek are hotter because of much higher minimum temperatures. On Friday, when the high was 130 in Furnace Creek, the low was 104. But in 1913, when the high was reportedly 134, the low was a much milder 85.

The exceptionally high temperatures in Furnace Creek have also been notable for their longevity. They reached 126 on Wednesday and Thursday, before peaking at 130 on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, they climbed to 129.4 and 127.9. Monday's forecast again calls for highs to reach the high 120s. The low in Furnace Creek hasn't fallen below 99 degrees since Tuesday.

The hot and exceptionally dry weather has created tinderbox conditions for the rapid spread of wildfires. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 59 large blazes are burning in a dozen states, 11 of them in California and Oregon. Smoke from wildfires in the West and British Columbia spread over "most of the western half of the U.S.," according to the National Weather Service.

As of early Monday, the Bootleg Fire in southwest Oregon had burned more than 153,000 acres, the blaze doubling in size daily between Friday and Sunday.

The fire had made electricity transmission into California unreliable, and the state's grid operator urged consumers to conserve energy on Monday.

Temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will remain above normal in the Southwest and California's Central Valley but will back off gradually from record-setting territory.

Toward the middle of the week, the heat dome, or zone of high pressure responsible for the sweltering temperatures, is forecast to weaken while the summer monsoon strengthens. This will bring some much-needed rain in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and western Colorado, all of which are enduring extreme to exceptional drought conditions.

However, long-range computer models show potential for another intense heat wave in the West building by next weekend, focused on the central and northern Rockies, which could bring more exceptionally high temperatures.

The heat wave afflicting the West is the third in just over three weeks, after the "unprecedented" Pacific Northwest event at the end of June. and a record-setting blast in the Southwest in the middle of the month; together, they vaulted the nation to its hottest June on record. The heat wave in the Pacific Northwest was made at least 150 times as likely by human-caused climate change, according to a panel of scientists.
The old Nicaraguan revolutionary, with his receding hairline and the goatee that he had finally let turn grey, spoke calmly into the camera as police swarmed toward his house, hidden behind a high wall in a leafy Managua neighborhood.

Decades earlier, Hugo Torres had been a guerrilla in the fight against dictator Anastasio Somoza. In 1974, hed taken a group of top officials hostage, then traded them for the release of imprisoned comrades. Among them was Daniel Ortega, a Marxist bank robber who would eventually become Nicaraguas authoritarian ruler.

And on this Sunday in mid-June, amid a clampdown to obliterate nearly every hint of opposition, Ortega had his old savior arrested.

History is on our side, Torres said in the video, uploaded onto social media. The end of the dictatorship is close.

But recent history is not on Torres side. In the last few months, the growing ranks of dictators have flexed their muscles, and freedom has been in retreat.

The list is grim: a draconian crackdown in Nicaragua; bloody repression in Myanmar; a tightening grip by Beijing on Hong Kong.

The backsliding of democracy, though, goes back far before 2021, with a long string of countries where democratic rule has been abandoned or dialed back, or where democratically elected leaders make no secret of their authoritarianism.

2020 was another year of decline for liberal democracy, said a recent report from the V-Dem Institute, a Sweden-based research center. The world is still more democratic than it was in the 1970s and 1980s, but the global decline in liberal democracy has been steep during the past 10 years.

It wasnt supposed to be like this.

The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw country after country transition to democratic rule. The Soviet Union collapsed. Eastern European nations controlled by Moscow became independent. In Latin America, decades of military dictatorships gave way to elections. A wave of democratization swept Africa, from South Africa to Nigeria to Ghana.

We had the largest number of democracies that ever existed in the world, said Sheri Berman, a political science professor at Barnard College, Columbia University.

But within just a few years the cracks began to show.

Maybe the world was just too optimistic.

It takes a lot to make democracy work, said Berman.

Hard times and turmoil are mothers milk for authoritarians.

Russias experiment with democracy, for example, was short lived after the collapse of the Soviet Union. A plunging standard of living, a weak leader in Boris Yeltsin, thug businessmen and budding oligarchs fighting for control of state-owned businesses opened the way for Vladimir Putin.

Then came the financial crisis of 2007-2008, which rippled around the world. In the U.S., banks teetered on the verge of collapse. In the European Union, Americas troubles helped lead to a debt crisis that sucked in country after country.

Those financial troubles, combined later with the political firestorms of the Trump administration and angry negotiations over Britains exit from the European Union, made liberal democracy look risky.

The more attractive the U.S. and Europe looks, the better that is for the folks fighting for democracy, said Berman. And the opposite is also true.

Frustration has grown, with a 2019 Pew Research Center survey of 34 countries showing a median of 64% of people believing elected officials dont care about them.

Today, a man like Viktor Orban can look attractive to many voters.

Orban, the Hungarian prime minister who returned to power in the wake of the financial crisis, feeding on an electorate that distrusted the traditional elite, spoke proudly of leading an illiberal democracy.

He now talks about Hungarys system of national cooperation, a process that has hobbled the court system, re-written the constitution and given immense power to himself and his party. The countrys media is largely now a pro-Orban machine.

Rival parties are sometimes fined to the brink of bankruptcy.

The world has a string of such leaders. Some are outright authoritarians. Others are in the sometimes-foggy political wilderness between a solid democracy and a one-party state.

Theres Putin in Russia and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey. Theres Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines.

The pandemic has sped up a democratic decline in Africa, scholars say, with elections postponed or opposition figures silenced from Ethiopia to Zimbabwe.

But in a world where democracy is often swimming against the political tide, scholars also see some good news. It just requires a longer view of history.

Eighty years ago, there were perhaps 12 fully functioning democracies. Today, the Democracy Index put out by the Economist Intelligence Unit says there are 23 full democracies, and nearly half the planet lives in some form of democracy.

Then there are the protesters, perhaps the most visible sign of a thirst for democratic rule.

Thousands of Russians flooded the streets earlier this year after opposition leader Alexei Navalny was imprisoned. Neighboring Belarus was shaken by months of protests sparked by the 2020 reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko, which were widely seen as rigged. Political protests are common in Poland and Hungary.

Such protests regularly fail. The demonstrations in Russia and Belarus, for instance, ended with heavy-handed crackdowns.

But political scientists say even suppressed protests can be important political sparks.

Plus, sometimes they succeed.

In Sudan, 2019 mass protests against the autocratic president, Omar al-Bashir, led to his military ouster. The country is now on a fragile path to democracy.

In a recent report, the U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House, saw hope in the European Unions sanctions against the Belarusian regime and in how exile Central Asian journalists and bloggers are continuing their work. Meanwhile, in Hungary, Orban is facing a surprisingly united opposition.

Some scholars also see hope in the way President Joe Biden has reached out to Americas longtime European allies, reversing the approach of the Trump administration.

Bidens recent trip to Europe, said Torrey Taussig, a scholar of authoritarianism and great power politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, was an attempt to rally Americas democratic partners against authoritarianism.

So maybe that old, arrested Nicaraguan revolutionary does have reason for optimism.

These are the desperate blows of a regime that feels itself dying, Torres said in the video before his arrest.

Maybe. As summer wore on, he remained in prison.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles will soon turn its operations back to pre-COVID-19 normal conditions. That means DMV buildings will return to full capacity, among other changes.

The Delaware State News reports that the changes will be made Tuesday after Gov. John Carneys state of emergency declaration is lifted.
TIRANA, Albania (AP)  A former British judge on Monday accused the European Union's legal watchdog in Kosovo of political meddling in many trials aimed at subverting Kosovar Albanians.

Malcolm Simmons made the accusation against the EU's Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, or EULEX, during a digital call with Kosovar lawmakers.

Simmons resigned from EULEX four years ago and has since accused the organization of trying to bring down part of the Kosovar political class."

A statement from the Kosovo Parliament said that Simmons claimed political intervention in many trials, and that he would release more details only if the lawmakers launched an investigation.

Five former Kosovar war commanders, including a former president and parliamentary speakers are on trial at The Hague for crimes related to a 1998-1999 war that Kosovar's waged for their independence from Serbia.

But according to the statement, Simmons had accused EULEX of having no interest in investigating war crimes against Kosovo's Albanian population that were committed by Serbs. Simmons also claimed that the files of the Serbs suspected of committed the war crimes have been sent to Serbia.

EULEX rejected the accusations, insisting that it has never handed any war crime cases to Serbian prosecutors nor did it give up authority over investigative files and cases" and challenged Simmons to provide proof.

Malcolm Simmonss statement in the Assembly today is a collection of ill-conceived and unsubstantiated conjectures, untruths and personal opinions, the EULEX said in a statement emailed to the Associated Press. It also called Simmons' remarks a deliberate disinformation campaign" aimed at discrediting the mission.

Simmons was a judge with the mission since 2008 and its chief judge since 2014 until he resigned in 2017.

EULEX said Simmons' accusations were a reflection of his dissatisfaction" with the outcome of three investigations EU authorities in Brussels conducted against him that were forwarded to U.K. authorities for further action.

Simmons failed to cooperate with the investigation team and didn't provide evidence to support his claims, said EULEX. A U.K. court had also dismissed his claim.

In 2017 Simmons told Frances Le Monde newspaper that he resigned because neither Britain nor the EU supported calls to investigate corruption in the Kosovo program.

The 1998-1999 war left more than 10,000 people dead  most of them ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, and more than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for. The fighting ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian troops.

Kosovo, which is dominated by ethnic Albanians, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by many Western nations but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China.

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Follow Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini
BALTIMORE (AP)  Federal enhanced unemployment benefits will continue in Maryland at least through August, the state labor secretary testified Monday during a hearing related to two lawsuits seeking the continuation of the benefits.

News outlets report that Labor Secretary Tiffany Robinson told a Baltimore judge that federal benefits, including supplemental $300 weekly payments, would continue because the federal government requires 30 days notice to opt out. The Biden administration notified Robinson that if Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill denies an injunction forcing Maryland to continue the programs, the state must go through the 30-day period again.
Texas statehouse Democrats are camping out in Washington to try and block the GOP's sweeping elections overhaul bill that makes it harder to vote in the state. A similar move successfully killed an earlier version of the bill on the last day of the legislative session in late May, and lawmakers are hoping for a repeat during the 30-day special session called by the state's Republican governor, Greg Abbott.

Here's an explanation of what the Democrats are trying to do, and how likely it is to work.

WHAT'S THE GOAL?

Democrats have two main objectives. First, they hope to deprive the Legislature of a quorum  the minimum number of representatives who have to be present for the body to operate. Without a quorum, the Legislature can't vote on the voting proposal  or other GOP-backed bills on abortion, transgender athletes and teaching about racism in U.S. history  and nothing will pass.

The second goal has probably already been achieved  drawing attention to the Republican push to tighten Texas voting laws. Many Democrats in Congress have hoped their own sweeping elections bill making it easier to register and vote nationwide could counter pushes in the opposite direction in Texas and several GOP-controlled states. Texas state Democratic lawmakers have been pleading for that bills passage in Washington for weeks. But congressional Democrats so far have been reluctant to change Senate filibuster rules to overcome GOP opposition in that chamber and allow it to pass with a simple majority.

HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?

A minority party walking out of state legislatures to block a bill's passage is rare, but has plenty of precedent.

One of the more dramatic instances occurred in Texas in 2003, when 50 Democratic state lawmakers bolted to Oklahoma to block a Republican redistricting proposal that would cost Democrats five seats in the House of Representatives. That move inspired Wisconsin Democrats eight years later to go to Illinois to stop a Republican bill targeting government workers' unions. Indiana Democrats followed the same playbook that year to try to stop a right-to-work bill there. Republicans have tried it, too. In 2019, 11 GOP legislators in Oregon left for Idaho, blocking a Democratic bill fighting climate change.

DOES THIS EVER WORK?

Not often. In 2003, Texas' then-Republican governor, Rick Perry, called a special session. Democrats fled again, this time to New Mexico, but eventually came back and the redistricting plan passed. Wisconsin Democrats were also unable to stop the GOP bill stripping public sector unions of collective bargaining rights  the Republicans amended the measure so it didn't need a quorum to pass  and the fugitive lawmakers returned after three weeks in Illinois. In Indiana, Republicans eventually withdrew the right-to-work bills. But they passed them the following year, with no walkout.

Oregon is one exception: Democrats eventually withdrew their climate bill, but it was not guaranteed passage even before the GOP flight to Idaho.

In Texas, you could say Democrats won the first round with their walkout last month. When Republicans who control the legislature tried to rush a revised elections bill through at the final hour, Democrats walked out and the session ended and the bill died. But Abbott called them back last week for a special session and this one lasts a month. It will be much harder to run out the clock.

That's in part because lawmakers are people, too  with families to feed and mortgages to pay. Extended stays in other states tend to drain household budgets, not to mention political goodwill with voters. In some cases, they can be threatened with losing their state legislative pay or even potentially be sued, as Oregon's Democratic governor threatened to do to the absent GOP lawmakers. Abbott has already docked lawmakers' pay.

Abbott has other cards to play. He said Monday he would continue to call special sessions, until Democrats relent. He also threatened to arrest the lawmakers once they return.

WHY GO TO WASHINGTON?

Generally, state lawmakers head to neighboring states to avoid the police at home. Home-state police can be empowered to round up the AWOL lawmakers and force them to fulfill their legal duty to be present for the legislative session. In Texas, for example, House rules say that any members absent during a quorum call can be sent for and arrested by a simple majority vote of those present. The House sergeant-at-arms is empowered to carry this out.

In May, the Texas Democrats didn't have to travel out of state because they only needed to gum up the statehouse floor for a couple of hours to kill the bill before the midnight deadline. They will need to stay off the floor for far longer this time.

The decision to fly to Washington highlights Democrats' secondary goal of winning attention for their cause. The move will put them in front of the national media and Democratic powerbrokers so they can intensify their push for federal action on voting.

HOW IS THIS LEGAL?

It really isn't  state lawmakers are generally required to attend their legislative sessions. But walkouts have been used almost like the filibuster in the U.S. Senate  as a way for a minority to grind things to a halt.

Ironically, the Texas Democrats will be agitating for Democrats in Washington to end the filibuster, at least for election bills.
BUHL, Idaho (AP)  A far-right extremist group whose members took part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol participated with a float in a July 3 parade in the south-central Idaho town of Buhl.

The Times-News reports that Proud Boys members were among about 100 floats in the Sagebrush Days parade that went through the center of town.

The Buhl Chamber of Commerce runs the parade but wouldnt comment specifically about the Proud Boys taking part.

At this time the Buhl Chamber (of) Commerce will not feed into any negative propaganda," the group said in a statement to the newspaper. "The Buhl 2021 Sagebrush Days parade saw 90 plus entries who celebrated in a courteous and civil manner. The Buhl Chamber takes pride in welcoming all participants, while giving them the opportunity to celebrate our great nation.

Chamber officials in a later email told the newspaper they were looking into the process for reviewing parade entries.

On Jan. 6, the Proud Boys met at the Washington Monument around 10 a.m. and marched to the Capitol before then-President Donald Trump finished addressing thousands of supporters near the White House.

The insurrectionists who descended on the Capitol briefly disrupted the certification of President Joe Bidens win and sent terrified lawmakers running for their lives.

About two dozen members or associates of the neo-fascist Proud Boys have been charged in federal court with offenses related to the Jan. 6 riots.

Twin Falls County, where Buhl is located, overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the presidential election.

In Buhl, men accompanying the Proud Boys float wore black and yellow shirts while carrying an American flag and a black flag with the yellow letters P.B.

I was surprised as anyone else to see that particular float go by, said Buhl City Councilman Michael Higbee.

Idaho has a history of far-right groups. The neo-Nazi group Aryan Nations was based near Hayden Lake in northern Idaho starting in the 1970s. It eventually was bankrupted in a lawsuit brought by local activists and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Its compound was seized, and supporters dispersed.

Jen Schneider, the interim associate dean and professor in Boise State Universitys School of Public Service, said the appearance of Proud Boys in an Idaho parade could be connected to the presidential election and the events at the U.S. Capitol in January.

We have a long history of right-wing extremism in Idaho, and nobody would disagree they have been emboldened the last few years, Schneider said.
The old Nicaraguan revolutionary, with his receding hairline and the goatee that he had finally let turn grey, spoke calmly into the camera as police swarmed toward his house, hidden behind a high wall in a leafy Managua neighborhood. Surveillance drones, he said, were watching overhead.

Decades earlier, Hugo Torres had been a revered guerrilla in the fight against right-wing dictator Anastasio Somoza. In 1974, hed taken a group of top officials hostage, then traded them for the release of imprisoned comrades. Among those prisoners was Daniel Ortega, a Marxist bank robber who would become Nicaraguas elected president and later its authoritarian ruler.

And on this hot Sunday in mid-June, amid a weekslong clampdown to obliterate nearly every hint of opposition, Ortega had his old savior arrested.

History is on our side, Torres said in the video, which was quickly uploaded onto social media. The end of the dictatorship is close.

But history -- at least recent history -- is not on Torres side. In the last few months, the growing ranks of dictators have flexed their muscles, and freedom has been in retreat.

The list is grim: a draconian crackdown in Nicaragua, with laws that now let the government paint nearly any critic as a traitor; a military takeover in Myanmar, with bloody repression that the United Nations says has left more than 850 people dead since Feb. 1 and more than 4,800 arbitrarily detained; a tightening grip by Beijing on Hong Kong, the semi-autonomous enclave where activists and journalists have been harassed and imprisoned under a sweeping national security law.

In mid-June, Hong Kongs last remaining pro-democracy newspaper shut down operations after police froze $2.3 million of its assets and arrested five top editors and executives, accusing them of foreign collusion.

Why does it have to end up like this? asked an Apple Daily graphic designer, Dickson Ng.

The backsliding of democracy, though, goes back far before 2021, with a long string of countries where democratic rule has been abandoned or dialed back, or where democratically elected leaders now make no secret of their authoritarianism.

2020 was another year of decline for liberal democracy, said a recent report from the V-Dem Institute, a Sweden-based research center. The world is still more democratic than it was in the 1970s and 1980s, but the global decline in liberal democracy has been steep during the past 10 years.

Countries like Sweden, Germany and the United States can seem like democratic outliers in a world increasingly dominated by authoritarian leaders.

Its an open question if we as a democratic grouping can push back against the Russias or the Chinas of the world and `win the 21st century, said Torrey Taussig, a scholar of authoritarianism and great power politics at the Harvard Kennedy School. Can the democracies rally to push back against this authoritarian tide that weve seen resurgent?

It wasnt supposed to be like this.

The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw country after country transition to democratic rule. The Soviet Union collapsed amid Mikhail Gorbachevs attempts at political and economic reform. Eastern European nations that had long been controlled by Moscow became independent. In Latin America, decades of military dictatorships gave way to elected governments. A wave of democratization swept across Africa, from South Africa to Nigeria to Ghana.

We had the largest number of democracies that ever existed in the world. It was unparalleled, said Sheri Berman, a political science professor at Barnard College, Columbia University. It seemed that liberal democracy was the way of the future.

But within just a few years the cracks began to show.

Maybe the world was just too optimistic. Democracy is messy.

It takes a lot to make democracy work, said Berman. Getting rid of the dictators is not the end. Its the beginning.

As a result, many scholars arent too surprised when countries like Nicaragua or Myanmar stumble into authoritarianism. Both are very poor, with little history of democracy.

Hard times and turmoil are mothers milk for authoritarians.

Russias experiment with democracy, for example, was short lived after the collapse of the Soviet Union. A plunging standard of living, a weak leader in Boris Yeltsin, thug businessmen and budding oligarchs fighting for control of state-owned businesses opened the way for Vladimir Putin.

Then came the financial crisis of 2007-2008, which began in the U.S. and rippled around the world. In the U.S., banks teetered on the verge of collapse and top officials worried about another Great Depression. In the European Union, Americas troubles helped lead to a debt crisis that sucked in Greece, Ireland and other nations that needed outside economic bailouts.

Those financial troubles, combined later with the political firestorms of the Trump administration and years of angry negotiations over Britains exit from the European Union, made liberal democracy look risky.

The more attractive the U.S. and Europe looks, the better that is for the folks fighting for democracy, said Berman. And the opposite is also true.

Frustration has grown, with a 2019 Pew Research Center survey of 34 countries showing a median of 64% of people believing elected officials dont care about them.

Today, a man like Viktor Orban can look very attractive to many voters.

Orban, the nationalist Hungarian prime minister who returned to power in the wake of the financial crisis, feeding on an electorate that distrusted the traditional elite, spoke proudly of leading an illiberal democracy.

He now talks about Hungarys system of national cooperation, a process that has hobbled the court system, re-written the constitution and given immense power to himself and his party. The countrys media is largely now a factory producing pro-Orban content.

Rival parties are regularly investigated by government auditors and sometimes fined to the brink of bankruptcy.

We have replaced a shipwrecked liberal democracy with a 21st-century Christian democracy, Orban proudly told lawmakers after a landslide 2018 election victory.

The world has a string of such leaders.

Some are authoritarians of varying degrees of power, from Putin in Russia to Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey to Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines. Others are in the politically foggy wilderness between a one-party state and a solid democracy, like Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who runs the ruling party in Poland and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whose father ruled the country for three decades and turned it into an affluent city-state.

The pandemic has sped up a democratic decline in Africa, scholars say, with elections postponed or opposition figures silenced from Ethiopia to Zimbabwe.

But in a world where democracy is often swimming against the political tide, scholars also see some good news. It just requires a longer view of history.

Eighty years ago, there were perhaps 12 fully functioning democracies. Today, the Democracy Index put out by the Economist Intelligence Unit says there are 23 full democracies, and nearly half the planet lives in some form of democracy.

Then there are the protesters, perhaps the most visible sign of a thirst for democratic rule.

Thousands of Russians flooded the streets earlier this year after opposition leader Alexei Navalny was imprisoned. Neighboring Belarus was shaken by months of protests sparked by the 2020 reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko, which were widely seen as rigged. Political protests are common in Poland and Hungary.

Such protests regularly fail. The demonstrations in Russia and Belarus, for instance, ended with heavy-handed crackdowns.

But political scientists say even suppressed protests can be important political sparks.

Plus, sometimes they succeed.

In Sudan, 2019 mass protests against the autocratic president, Omar al-Bashir, led to his ouster by the military. The country is now on a fragile path to democracy, ruled by a transitional government.

In a recent report, the U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House, saw signs of hope in the European Unions sanctions against the Belarusian regime, exile Central Asian journalists and bloggers continuing their work from overseas, and the way a string of eastern European governments have slowed business ties with China, concerned about transparency and national security. Meanwhile, Hungary's Orban faced surprisingly united opposition.

Some scholars also see hope in the way President Joe Biden has reached out to Americas longtime European allies, reversing the approach of the Trump administration.

Bidens recent trip to Europe, said Taussig, the Harvard Kennedy School scholar, was an attempt to rally Americas democratic partners against the authoritarian tide.

So maybe that old, arrested Nicaraguan revolutionary does have reason for optimism.

These are the desperate blows of a regime that feels itself dying, Torres said in the video before his arrest.

Maybe. As summer wore on, he remained in prison.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  One of Minnesotas oddest, perhaps coolest, and definitely historically underappreciated fish  the gar  is about to get some love.

The ong, slender, toothy and prehistoric-looking fish will, for the first time ever in the state, be protected in ways similar to other gamefish, the result of a bit of an outcry on social media following a series of mass killings that some saw as wantonly wasteful. In a legislature divided starkly along partisan lines, Minnesotas gar species found bipartisan support.

Officials say they arent sure exactly what restrictions theyll place on catching and killing gar, but the move carries a growing awareness of changing attitudes toward native fish that humbly live on the opposite end of the piscatorial spectrum from celebrated fish like walleye and bass, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

The much-larger environment and natural resources bill approved by both the House and Senate and contains one brief reference to gar: The commissioner must annually establish daily and possession limits for gar.

That simple sentence has gar advocates  and yes, there are a few  celebrating.

This is a fantastic move for conservation of these underappreciated species, said Solomon David, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Nicholls State University in Louisiana. More on point: David is a gar researcher and ambassador, having done his dissertation on gars of the Great Lakes region, and is the principal investigator at the universitys Gar Lab, which, yes, is hashtagged #GarLab on social media.

Most states dont have anything for gar, he said.

Its true. Most states, including Minnesota, consider any gar, which are native to North America, as a rough fish with no limits for how many you can kill, of any size, any time of year. Its a legacy of the ignorance of European-centric thinking when America was settled and at various times has applied to native trout and muskellunge  vaunted species today.

Todays Minnesota rough fish include suckers, bowfin, the native carp-looking (but not a carp) buffalo, and freshwater drum, as well as gars. Such fish have virtually zero protection from being killed, be it by hook and line, archery or pitchfork-looking spears through the ice.

Two species of gars (some say gar is the plural, and the rules have waivered) are native to Minnesota, the longnose gar and shortnose gar. They slide along the backwaters of the large river systems and for years havent gained much attention. Anglers occasionally catch them, but their bony mouths tend to resist hooks. A small subculture of fly anglers target them with essentially tassels of yarn that get tangled in their teeth.

The larger of the two, the longnose, can live for up to 40 years; the official state record, caught in the St. Croix River in Washington County, measured an impressive 53 inches, weighing in at a slender 16 pounds, 12 ounces.

Brad Parsons, director of fisheries for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, acknowledges the agency isnt exactly sure how healthy gar populations are in the state.

We assume so, but we honestly dont know, Parsons said. Still, the idea of any native fish being regulated as if it has no value has always irked Parsons, a veteran fisheries biologist who spent decades studying the tapestry of native fishes in the upper Mississippi River in Minnesota.

These are really cool fish, he said. At the DNRs pond at the State Fair, its the paddlefish and longnose gar that get the most attention.

When he took over the DNRs Fisheries Division several years ago, he began a slow campaign to change things. This years fishing regulations contains a half-page section urging anglers to show rough fish some respect.

The eelpout, or burbot, recently was taken off the rough fish list and declared a game fish, much to Parsons pleasure.

But the DNR had nothing to do with starting the new gar protections.

That began as a backlash to a video posted to YouTube by some Minnesota ice fishermen who were spearing gar through large holes in the ice  a legal pastime called darkhouse spearing that is generally practiced for northern pike, but also legal for rough fish and harmful invasive species.

The video, which has since been removed from YouTube, showed 82 dead gar laid across the ice. The spearers said modern technology, including sonar, helped them target the fish. The incident caused an outcry  especially because law enforcement officials determined that the massacre was legal because the fish were not literally discarded, but used in some fashion, likely donated for fertilizer, as is done with non-native common carp.

Similar incidents have garnered backlash elsewhere, including Oklahoma bowfishermen killing and throwing overboard more than 1,000 gar in one outing. Its the flip side of publicly posting wildlife exploits on publicly viewable websites.

David has been one of those raising a stink.

These are native apex predators that serve a great role in our ecosystem, he said in a recent interview. Instead of of pitching them in a field and justifying it as fertilizer, we should view these fish in the context of other predators.

For example, David said that, while this hasnt been established, its possible that gar could prove valuable in controlling invasive carp marching up the Mississippi River because gar often favor shallow backwaters, even when oxygen is low, and could be the only predator of young carp in such waters.

The situation caught the attention of some lawmakers and Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, DFL-Roseville, introduced the measure.

Initially, several Democratic lawmakers wanted to take it further, classifying gar as a gamefish, but that idea lacked enough Republican support to advance. The comprise that resulted will require that the DNR set daily and possession limits for gars  a move that, practically speaking, allows them to be as protected as game fish.

Parsons said even though the DNR had nothing to do with the initiative, the DNR is more than happy to do that. He said the next task is to talk with researchers, gar anglers and other interested parties to try to figure out what those limits should be.

We really havent gotten into it yet, Parsons said. I would doubt there would be closed seasons, but we absolutely could see some limits.
BERLIN (AP)  With COVID-19 cases again on the rise, German officials said on Monday said that authorities need a broader focus beyond the countrys infection rate to fully gauge the impact the pandemic is having on the health system and the kind of measures that should be taken.

For much of the past year the incidence rate  how many COVID-19 cases are confirmed per 100,000 people each week  has been key to the government's decisions over what restrictive measures to impose.

The relevance of that figure is increasingly being called into question by those who argue that a sharp rise in new cases  already seen in other European countries such as Britain and the Netherlands  doesn't necessarily mean many more seriously ill patients.

Because the at-risk groups are vaccinated, a high incidence doesn't automatically mean an equally high burden on intensive care beds, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Twitter. The incidence is increasingly losing significance, we now need more detailed information on the situation in clinics.

His ministry said that as of Tuesday, hospitals will need to transmit more data on their COVID-19 patients, including names, the type of treatment and their vaccination status.

The government says 58.5% of the population have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 42.6 % are fully vaccinated. The number of shots administered daily has dipped slightly in recent days, raising concerns that vaccine lethargy or even outright refusal to get vaccinated could hamper efforts to achieve so-called herd immunity.'

Germanys disease control agency said last week that the country should aim to vaccinate 85% of people ages 12-59 and 90% of people over 60 to prevent the delta variant causing a strong resurgence of coronavirus cases this autumn and winter.

The Robert Koch Institute on Monday reported 324 new coronavirus cases and two deaths in the past day, taking the death toll since the start of the pandemic to 91,233.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said tracking case numbers was still important and Germany is closely watching the situation in countries such as Britain, Spain and the Netherlands, which have eased restrictions only to see infections shoot up.

(The vaccine campaign in Germany) is luckily progressing well, but we're not sufficiently protected yet against the possibility that the numbers really rise strongly again, he said.

Seibert added that it was important to curb new cases in order to prevent the rise of a new virus variant against which current vaccines would be less effective.

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Follow all AP stories on the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/coronavirus-pandemic.
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP)  The Capital One Tower, a 22-story building that has stood tall over Lake Charles for nearly 40 years is still empty nearly a year after Hurricane Laura's 150-mph winds knocked out windows up and down the building last August.

The American Press reported Saturday that the building's owner, Los Angeles-based real estate firm Hertz Investment Group, has been working with its insurance company, Zurich, since Laura made landfall. In a statement, the chairman of Hertz said it has been a slow and arduous process."

As soon as were able to complete this process, well be able to move forward," Zev Hertz told the newspaper.

The 358,000-square foot tower had 73 tenants before the hurricane but now it is not able to be occupied. Many of the windows are boarded up.

Hurricane Laura was a powerful, Category 4 storm when it made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, and was still a Category 4 storm when the center passed near Lake Charles an hour or two later, according to the National Hurricane Center's report on the storm. The report said the hurricane was directly responsible for 47 deaths in the United States and Hispaniola as well as $19 billion in damage in the United States.

Then, about six weeks later, Hurricane Delta made landfall just a few miles from where Laura had hit, bringing further damage to the region.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter told the newspaper that the city would like to see the Capital One Tower repaired and back in use but also doesn't want the building sitting in disrepair for months on end.

As iconic as it is, and as much as it pains me to say this, I would much rather it be torn down than sit in that state for an extended period of time, Hunter told the newspaper.

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This story has been edited to correct the name of the building. It is the Capital One Tower, not Capitol One Tower.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Iowa voting rights activist Deidre DeJear said Monday that she is considering a run for Iowa governor.

DeJear announced the formation of an exploratory committee and a tour of seven Iowa cities this week to discuss the idea with Iowans. The tour begins at a Des Moines hair salon, then moves on to Clinton, Davenport, Muscatine, Burlington, Fort Madison and Ottumwa.

It doesnt matter if you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or someone who has given up on politics. Everyone deserves a listening ear and a seat at the table. In these divided times, its more important than ever to unite as Iowans," she said in a statement.

DeJear won the Democratic nomination for Iowa secretary of state in 2018, becoming the first Black person to be nominated by a major political party for a statewide office in Iowa. She was defeated in the general election by incumbent Republican Paul Pate.

She turned to fighting for voter rights, saying in a December 2018 letter to supporters that her commitment to protect the right to vote is stronger every day.

DeJear volunteered to work for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign in Iowa. Obama endorsed her in the 2018 race for secretary of state, and she was Iowa chairwoman for Sen. Kamala Harris presidential campaign. After Harris left the race, DeJear endorsed Elizabeth Warren in February 2020.

DeJear, who was born in Jackson, Mississippi, moved to Iowa to attend Drake University in Des Moines and stayed after graduation. In 2008, she founded Caleo Enterprises, a company specializing in marketing and project development for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Iowa's Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has not yet formally announced her intention to seek reelection but is expected to do so soon. The first woman elected governor in Iowa, Reynolds has held office since 2017,

In June, Iowa Rep. Ras Smith launched his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor. He is serving his third term representing an area of Black Hawk County that includes his hometown of Waterloo.
NEW YORK (AP)  A New York judge was sympathetic Monday to horse trainer Bob Bafferts claims that his May suspension by the New York Racing Association  after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test  was unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon at a Brooklyn hearing repeatedly pressed a lawyer for the racing association to explain why the suspension was issued before Baffert was given a chance to defend himself.

Henry Greenberg, arguing on behalf of the racing association, said Baffert will get a hearing after the association announces the length of his suspension by Aug. 11.

Isn't that a little too late?" the judge asked, noting that the duration will be announced months after he was suspended. The problem I have, counsel, is that he was suspended and it's up in the air.

She said the racing association attacked his credibility as it issued the suspension, but never gave him the chance to speak on his own behalf about what happened.

How does that comply with due process? the judge asked.

At another point, Amon said: You just sent him a letter saying, 'You're out,' with no due process whatsoever.

Greenberg repeatedly said the NYRA, which operates Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga Race Course, took the action to protect the integrity of the sport.

He said the association had to act fast because the Belmont Stakes, the third prong of horse racing's Triple Crown, was fast approaching in early June.

The lawyer noted that the Kentucky Derby test was the fifth time in the past year that a horse trained by Baffert tested positive for drugs.

Rarely in the history of the sport has there been such a confluence of drug positives involving so prominent a trainer, association lawyers wrote in court papers.

In Baffert's lawsuit last month seeking to get the suspension lifted, the Hall of Famer contended he was suspended without any prior notice and was not told the duration or terms of the suspension or any New York state law or regulation he might have violated.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Amon did not immediately rule.

Arguing on Baffert's behalf, attorney W. Craig Robertson III said it was unfair of the racing association to suspend his client without the completion of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding what he called the alleged test on Medina Spirit.

Robertson said it was possible that traces of betamethasone were found in the horse's system as a result of an ointment applied to the horse to treat a skin rash three weeks before the race. The unregulated ointment, he said, contained betamethasone.

Churchill Downs suspended Baffert for two years after an additional drug test of Medina Spirit confirmed betamethasone in the horses system. Baffert cannot enter any horses in the Kentucky Derby or other races at the storied Louisville track through the spring of 2023.

Robertson contended that the New York suspension would be the death knell to Baffert's training business because New York's Saratoga Race Course, which reopens Thursday, is a pivotal stop for a young horse destined for greatness.

He said a top horse farm in Kentucky had already taken two prize horses from Baffert's care and another producer of elite horses was considering finding another trainer if Baffert cannot enter horses in New York races.

Outside court, Baffert and his lawyers declined comment after the hearing.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin's race for attorney general is heating up, with Democratic incumbent Josh Kaul officially launching his reelection bid and a Republican challenger reporting a record-high amount of fundraising for this point in the campaign.

Kaul quietly launched his reelection bid Saturday night, holding a small invite-only event at a Madison park and announcing his plans to seek a second term on Twitter. News organizations were not invited or told of the event beforehand. Kaul tweeted an image from the gathering, which was attended by about 50 people, on Saturday.

Kaul has been raising money and hiring campaign staff, so the official announcement was not a surprise. Two Republicans, University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Ryan Owens and Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, are also running. Owens and Toney will face each other in an August 2022 primary.

Owens announced on Monday that he had raised $304,000 since getting into the race in April. He had $250,000 cash on hand. Owens adviser Zack Roday said Owens did not lend his campaign any money, a move sometimes made by candidates to inflate their fundraising totals.

Owens' fundraising is the largest amount ever reported raised for an attorney general candidate in their first filing. The previous high was $194,000 by Republican Brad Schimel in 2013. He went on to win in 2014, but Kaul beat him in 2018.

The amount Owens raised is also more than any incumbent attorney general has collected in the first-half of a non-election year. Schimel raised $298,000 in the first six months of 2017.

Neither Kaul nor Toney have announced their fundraising to date. Kaul had about $234,000 cash on hand through the end of last year. Thursday is the deadline for candidates to file reports covering the first half of the year.

Kaul was first elected in 2018. In an interview Monday, Kaul said he was proud of his record on public safety, protecting the environment, election integrity and eliminating a backlog of rape test kits.

Prosecuting the most serious offenses is my priority as attorney general," Kaul said.

Kauls first term has been marked by contrasts with his Republican predecessors. Kaul has advocated for stricter gun laws including universal background checks, joined lawsuits against prescription drug companies, withdrew Wisconsin from a lawsuit challenging the federal health care law and worked to eliminate the states backlog of untested rape test kits. Hes also joined Democrats in calling for redistricting reform and fair election laws. Kaul defended Wisconsins election after the results were challenged by former President Donald Trump.

We are going to keep standing up to defend the will of the voters in our elections," Kaul said.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  The leaders of two now-closed Indiana online charter schools are accused in a new lawsuit of defrauding the state of more than $150 million by padding their student enrollments and inappropriately paying money to a web of related businesses.

The lawsuit announced Monday by the Indiana attorney generals office comes nearly two years after Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy shut down amid a state investigation that found the two online schools improperly claimed about 14,000 students as enrolled between 2011 and 2019, even though they had no online course activity.

The lawsuit seeks repayment of about $69 million it claims the schools wrongly received in state student enrollment payments. It also seeks $86 million that officials say the schools improperly paid to more than a dozen companies linked to them by common business officers or relatives and did so with little or no documentation.

This massive attempt to defraud Hoosier taxpayers through complex schemes truly boggles the mind, state Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, said in a statement.

A state audit linked much of the misspending to Thomas Stoughton, who headed the online schools from 2011 to 2017, and who owned or had business associates that operated about a dozen companies that received school payments. An attorney for Stoughton, BJ Brinkerhoff, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

It is unclear how much of the money the state could recover. Shortly after the two schools, which had a shared administration, closed in August 2019, a notice from their then-attorney to creditors taped to the Indianapolis office door for the schools said they had no funds and no assets.

The lawsuit, however, casts a wide net with a total of 13 venders and 14 people who were officials at the schools named as defendants.

The States claims arise from systematic violations of a position of trust ... misappropriation and diversion of public funds, the lawsuit said.

The attorney generals office said it had referred the case to federal and state agencies for possible criminal violations. A federal grand jury subpoena to the schools was included in documents released in 2019, but FBI spokeswoman said Monday she could not comment. The U.S. attorneys office in Indianapolis didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.

Indiana Virtual School was formed in 2011 soon after a Republican-driven state education overhaul that expanded the availability of charter schools, which are privately operated but receive taxpayer funding, and launched the states private school voucher program.

Republicans who dominate the state Legislature rejected complaints from Democrats after the fraud allegations emerged that responsibility rested with lax state regulations. GOP leaders argued it was difficult to legislate against criminal intent.

Democratic Rep. Ed DeLaney of Indianapolis said he was only surprised by the scale of the apparent fraud and that he had little hope of the state recovering much money. He said the state had provided flimsy supervision.

We need to learn from this, DeLaney said. You know if you give vast sums of money to people who are allowed to act outside of public view, they might take advantage of it.

The schools reported an enrollment of about 7,200 students before state education officials cut off funding in 2019 based on preliminary audit findings of the enrollment padding.

Officials in Indiana have disagreed about oversight responsibilities between the State Board of Education, the state Department of Education and the Daleville Community Schools, a district of about 1,000 students near Muncie, which was the charter authorizer for the two online schools.

State auditors cited the Daleville district for a lack of meaningful oversight and monitoring. District officials, however, maintained the district played no role in the erroneous enrollment reports and didnt have access to data about the online schools students until 2018 because of concerns about federal student privacy laws.
LAKE WALES, Fla. (AP)  A central Florida man shot his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in a bar before fatally shooting himself, authorities said Monday.

Kevin Cooper, 41, of Lake Wales, Florida, had been harassing his ex-girlfriend with calls, upset that she had ended their relationship and begun seeing another man, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  State police have identified the man shot by a Salem police officer over the weekend in northeast Salem.

Officers responded at about 11:20 p.m. Friday to a domestic violence call involving 23-year-old Arcadio Castillo III, of Salem, who was allegedly armed with a knife, The Statesman Journal reported.
A Florida man who was part of a white supremacist prison gang when he served time for attempted murder pleaded guilty Monday to joining the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, and will be released from jail this week after serving six months for his role in the Jan. 6 riot.

Michael Curzio, who has been locked up since Jan. 14, is the first of more than 500 people charged with federal crimes in the Capitol attack to be sentenced to time behind bars. He was sentenced to six months after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge, but gets credit for the time already served and will be released on Wednesday.

Curzio was arrested in Summerfield, Florida, for the Jan. 6 riot less than two years after he was released from a Florida prison in 2019 after serving an eight-year sentence for attempted murder. Court records from Florida show that he shot the boyfriend of his former girlfriend in a fight at her home.

Prosecutors pointed to his criminal record to keep him behind bars after his January arrest even though he faced only misdemeanor charges in the riot. Authorities wrote in court documents that Curzio was part of a violent white supremacist gang called the Unforgiven when he was behind bars in Florida and has tattoos with Nazi imagery.

On Jan. 6, Curzio was part of a crowd near the door to the House atrium that refused orders to leave, authorities say. His attorney said Monday that his sentence was "harsher than it should have been because of his criminal record.

He didnt attack anybody. He didnt break anything. He was just walking around the building like a lot of other people were," attorney A. Eduardo Balarezo said in an interview.

Curzio's lawyer wrote in court documents arguing for his release from jail that his client joined the Unforgiven in order to survive in prison after being attacked several times by other inmates. His lawyer wrote that Curzio is no longer associated with the gang but doesn't have the funds to remove the tattoos.

It is notable that on January 6, 2021, Mr. Curzio did not go to the Capitol in the company of any gang members; he did not wear any gang colors; he did not give a Nazi salute; he did not have any posters with Nazi insignias. In short, his presence at the Capitol had nothing to do with his prior gang affiliation, Balarezo wrote in April.

Curzio is the second defendant to be sentenced for the Jan. 6 riot. The first person to be sentenced is an Indiana woman who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. She was ordered to serve three years of probation, perform 120 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution.

More than a dozen defendants have pleaded guilty, including two members of the Oath Keepers militia group who admitted conspiring with other extremists to block the certification of Joe Bidens victory.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Medicare on Monday launched a formal process to decide whether to cover Aduhelm, the new Alzheimer's drug whose $56,000-a-year price tag and unproven benefits have prompted widespread criticism and a congressional investigation.

A final decision isn't likely until next spring, said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, although an initial ruling could come in six months. Currently Medicare is making case-by-case determinations on whether to cover the medication, which is administered intravenously in a doctor's office.

Medicare's announcement came on the same day that Democratic leaders of two House committees asked drugmaker Biogen to turn over reams of documents on how it developed and priced the drug, and on its dealings with government officials at the Food and Drug Administration.

Although pricey drugs are now fairly commonplace, the recent approval of Aduhelm prompted an unusually intense backlash. The FDA went against the recommendation of its outside advisers in granting the approval, and the beleaguered agency has since curtailed the recommended use of the drug and requested an investigation by an independent watchdog into its dealings with Biogen. Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress are moving legislation authorizing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure signaled that neither politics nor cost will be part of Medicare's evaluation.

We want to consider Medicare coverage of new treatments very carefully in light of the evidence available," Brooks-LaSure said in a statement that acknowledged the toll of Alzheimer's disease on patients and their families. "Our process will include opportunities to hear from many stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups, medical experts, states, issuers, industry professionals, and family members and caregivers of those living with this disease.

A 30-day public comment period began Monday, followed by two hearings to solicit a range of views. The agency's decision will hinge on whether the evidence for Aduhelm meets a legal requirement that covered services, medical devices and medications be reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, intensified their scrutiny of the drug's approval.

Two committees in the House asked Biogen to hand over documentation on a number of issues surrounding the development of Aduhelm, including unusual contacts between company executives and FDA regulators.

Biogen and the FDA reanalyzed Aduhelms data together after the companys studies suggested the drug was ineffective at slowing mental decline. The collaboration ultimately led to the FDA granting conditional approval for the drug, against the advice of its outside experts.

In particular, the lawmakers ask Biogen to turn over details about a company initiative dubbed Project Onyx, to persuade FDA to approve Aduhelm.

Last week, the FDA asked the governments independent watchdog to investigate unusual interactions between some FDA staffers and Biogen. That included reports of at least one off the books discussion between a Biogen executive and the FDAs top Alzheimers drug reviewer.

Meetings between drug industry representatives and the FDA are normally carefully scheduled and documented. The FDAs acting commissioner, Dr. Janet Woodock, asked the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services to probe whether the agencys dealings with Biogen violated any government rules.

Another large part of the lawmakers' request involves documents detailing how Biogen arrived at the drugs price, pegged at roughly $56,000 for the typical patient. The drug requires monthly IVs and the dosage is based on a patients weight.

The committee chairs noted that a nonprofit think tank focused on drug pricing pegged the drugs actual value at between $3,000 and $8,400 per year, based on its unproven benefits.

While the company has claimed this price is fair and substantiated by the value it is expected to bring, an independent analysis determined that a fair price for Aduhelm would be a small fraction of Biogens price, said committee chairs Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Rep. Frank Pallone.

Maloney heads the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Pallone heads the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The letter instructs Biogen to turn over the information by July 26.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Mississippi hospitals in rural areas will receive nearly $13 million in federal funding to help fight the coronavirus, according to a news release.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is giving $12,918,800 through its Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program to 50 small rural hospitals in the state, according to the release from the White House. Hospitals can use the money to expand access to testing in rural areas as well as for other coronavirus mitigation efforts needed in their communities.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  The Missouri Attorney Generals Office on Monday said it believes longtime inmate Kevin Strickland is guilty of killing three people in Kansas City and should remain in prison, despite several other prosecutors saying they believe he is innocent.

Assistant Attorney General Andrew Clarke argued in a motion filed Monday that Strickland, 62, was given a fair trial in 1979 and has worked to evade responsibility for the Kansas City killings since then, The Kansas City Star reported.

Also Monday, Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman set an evidentiary hearing in Stricklands case for Aug. 12-13. Horsman will hear arguments from Stricklands lawyers and the attorney generals office before deciding whether to free Strickland.

When the attorney generals attorneys said the quick time frame could be a burden on the office, Horsman noted that Strickland has been sitting in prison since before I was born.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced in May that her office believed the evidence used to convict Strickland in 1979 has since been eviscerated. Federal prosecutors, Jackson County's presiding judge and members of the team that convicted Strickland agreed he should be exonerated.

When the Missouri Supreme Court declined in June to hear Strickland's case, his attorneys refiled the case in DeKalb County, where Strickland is imprisoned.

Strickland, who was 18 at the time, was convicted in the April 25, 1978, deaths of John Walker, 20, Sherrie Black, 22, and Larry Ingram, 21.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office argued in Monday's motion that police said Strickland had offered Cynthia Douglas money the day of the killings to keep her mouth shut, which Clarke called a tampering campaign by Strickland.

The Jackson County prosecutor's office said Douglas, the only eyewitness to the killings, later recanted her identification of Strickland before she died in 2015. Her family has signed affidavits for Strickland's attorneys saying Douglas wanted Strickland released from prison.

But the attorney generals office said Douglas alleged recantation in an email does not name Strickland and the judge cant know if Douglas sent the email, let alone absent coercive pressure. Douglas also did not sign any affidavits while she was alive, Clarke noted.

Two men who later pleaded guilty in the murders, Vincent Bell and Kilm Adkins, have said in affidavits and interviews with The Star that Strickland was not with them and two other accomplices during the killings.

The statements from Bell and Adkins are not new evidence and, even if they were, the two are inherently unreliable, Clarke argued in the motion.

Schmitts office also said Strickland told police if he had been with Bell that night, he would have been shooting because, I love to shoot my gun, Im a good shot and I love to kill people. Strickland, the detectives alleged, said if they let him go, they better draw first next time or he would kill them.

Jackson County prosecutors have said those statements, which Strickland denied making at trial, did not prove Strickland was involved in the killings. They suggested someone not involved in the crime  who stayed in Kansas City while the others fled to Wichita  would be more likely to make aggressive statements to police.

Strickland has paid a steep price for associating with Bell, Adkins and T.A., (another suspect in the case) for mouthing off to police, and for trying to be cool in helping his older neighbor Bell, Baker and Nelson wrote in a letter outlining the prosecutors offices review of the case.

If Strickland is not released by Aug. 28, Jackson County prosecutors said they plan to file a motion then asking a Jackson County judge to exonerate him. Thats when a bill, which Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has not yet signed, would allow local prosecutors to seek to free prisoners they have deemed innocent.

Parson could also pardon Strickland but he has said he's not convinced Strickland is innocent.

___

This story has been corrected in the 9th paragraph to show the familys affidavits say Douglas, not Bell, wants Strickland to be released.
PHOENIX (AP)  The bodies of an unusually large number of migrants who died in Arizona's borderlands are being recovered this summer amid record temperatures in the sun-scorched desert and rugged mountains.

An increase in migrant deaths also has been noted in Texas, and rescues are up throughout the border with Mexico.

The nonprofit group Humane Borders, which maps the recoveries of bodies in Arizona using data from the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office in Tucson, said 43 sets of human remains were found in the state's border region last month  the hottest June on record for Phoenix. Forecasters say highs in Phoenix, where temperatures last month regularly soared above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius), tend to be similar to those in Arizonas Sonoran Desert north of Mexico.

Not all 43 of those people died in June, but at least 16 had been dead for just a day and another 13 for less than a week when they were found, said Humane Borders mapping coordinator Mike Kreyche. The group's figures include all bodies recovered of people believed to have been migrants and are higher than the number of deaths reported by the Border Patrol, which only counts those it handles in the course of its work.

Kreyche noted that the 127 sets of remains found during the first half of this year are far higher than the 96 bodies recovered during the same period last year. This year's six-month recovery toll also is higher than that of all of 2017, when 123 sets of remains were found near Arizona's border with Mexico.

Exposure is the most commonly listed cause of death.

Texas officials say they also have seen an increase in migrant deaths this year.

The Brooks County Sheriff's Department in southern Texas last month reported 36 migrant deaths in the first five months of 2021, more than all of last year.

The growing number of recovered bodies comes as border officials warn of increased dangers as temperatures soar this summer.

Although most migrants now cross through Texas, decades of enforcement there and in California pushes many others into hostile areas of Arizona where water and food is unavailable.

The U.S. Border Patrol's Yuma Sector gathered reporters this month just feet from the U.S.-Mexico border at the Colorado River to emphasize the risks migrants take crossing the Sonoran Desert.

The desert is vast and treacherous. When you cross illegally, you put yourself in incredible peril, Sector Chief Patrol Agent Chris T. Clem told journalists. And our hot season is just beginning.

Humanitarian groups like Humane Borders, the Tucson Samaritans and No More Deaths leave water jugs and other provisions in remote parts of southern Arizona in hopes of saving lives in a region where more than 3,700 migrant deaths have been documented since 2004. But many migrants never find the water tanks or jugs after getting lost.

Rescues have been up, keeping the Border Patrol's specialized search and rescue units and air and marine operations busy.

The Border Patrol's El Centro Sector in eastern California reported Monday that its agents had rescued three migrants suffering from heat-related illness in the Jacumba Wilderness near Ocotillo in two separate events on July 1.
GALLOWAY, N.J. (AP)  A New Jersey middle school vice principal who was filmed tossing a cup of beer at people who had been recording his wife's rant against an apparent transgender woman's use of a public restroom is suing them for defamation, asserting he never said a word about transgender issues.

Michael Smurro, a vice principal at Neptune Middle School who has been on leave without pay since shortly after the April incident at an outdoor restaurant in Galloway Township, has filed a civil suit against four people who are suing him and his wife over the incident.

In his countersuit, Smurro accuses Carolyn DiPietro, Christopher Benino, and Robert and Debra Harris of defamation, and false light invasion of privacy, claiming in the latter charge that the defendants made public statements accusing him of something he did not do.

Defendant Michael Smurro himself never uttered a word to the plaintiffs or anyone that disparaged transgendered individuals, or in fact any individuals, his attorney Alexander Schachtel wrote in court papers filed earlier this month. Plaintiffs repeatedly alleged, stated, or implied that (Michael Smurro) had made a transphobic speech or rant, or had leveled bigoted comments towards themselves, when (he) had never actually stated or uttered any such thing.

The attorney also wrote in court papers that the identity of the person who used the restroom has never been determined and it also remains unknown if that person was in fact transgendered or was instead a man who had decided, for whatever reason, to use the ladies room.

Schachtel told The Associated Press on Monday that the civil suit against Smurro is groundless because the people who filed it did not suffer any harm.

Michael is being sued because his wife made comments that offended the sensibilities of the plaintiffs, Schachtel said. "Michael and Lisa Smurro have the right to their opinions and the right to voice them in public, even if some may find them disagreeable. No one should have their livelihood threatened for expressing an opinion. When this story went viral, Michael and Lisa Smurro were viciously attacked and defamed on social media. There was much outrage and little search for the truth. We hope to set the story straight.

David Shanies, the lawyer for those suing Smurro, replied, "Some people, when they find themselves in a hole, climb out of it. Other people continue to dig deeper and deeper. Anybody who watches the videos and hears (Lisa Smurro) scream 'She's a man! She's a man!' can make their own judgment about whether she's talking about seeing someone she thought was a man as opposed to a transgender woman."

The Smurros and people who say they were hit with beer from his cup when he threw it in their direction have filed criminal complaints in municipal court alleging harassment. That case is pending.

The footage from the outdoor restaurant shows Lisa Smurro complaining at length about a person she apparently believed was a transgender woman using the womens bathroom. New Jersey law prohibits discrimination based on gender identify and permits people to use public restrooms that correspond to their gender identity.

The footage shows that when the couple became aware someone was filming, they got up and walked over. Lisa Smurro continued to complain and a woman at the table replied: Please take your hate elsewhere.

Michael Smurro then tossed the contents of a cup of beer at occupants of the table.

Here you go, pal, he says on the video. There you go.

Smurro's countersuit claims his career and reputation have been damaged, perhaps irreparably, noting that Neptune school administrators received 80 voicemail messages demanding disciplinary action against Smurro in just three days after the case was publicized.

___

Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC
OCEAN CITY, Miss. (AP)  A coastal city is asking a judge to reconsider a ruling to tear down a condominium development and says they will go to the state Supreme Court if the ruling isn't revised.

Local media report that last Friday the alderman from Ocean Springs held a meeting and unanimously asked Jackson County Judge Robert Krebs to reconsider a ruling Krebs made earlier in the week ordering that The Sands development be torn down in 60 days.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  Gov. John Carney has signed an order that will lift the state of emergency imposed more than a year ago because of the coronavirus.

The order signed Monday lifts the state of emergency Carney declared in March 2020 at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
MADRID (AP)  Authorities in Melilla said on Monday that 119 African men have entered the autonomous city from a group of over 200 who tried to jump over the double fence that separates the Spanish enclave in northern Africa from Morocco.

At least five Civil Guard officers and one of the migrants were injured during the crossing attempt in the early hours of Monday, a spokesman with the Spanish government's delegation in Melilla said.
EVERETT, Mass. (AP)  A standoff just outside Boston ended early Monday when police shot a man who was advancing on officers with what was described as a sword, authorities said.

The man was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive, according to an emailed statement from the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
ROME (AP)  Pope Francis will spend a few more days in the hospital following his July 4 intestinal surgery to optimize recovery and rehabilitation treatment and therapy, the Vatican said Monday.

The Vatican had originally said Francis could be released from Romes Gemelli Polyclinic by the end of last week. In its latest update Monday, the Vatican said he had completed his post-operative treatment but would remain a few more days to optimize medical and rehabilitation therapy.

Surgeons removed half of Francis colon on July 4 for what doctors said was a severe narrowing of the large intestine.

The 84-year-old appeared for the first time in public since the surgery on Sunday, looking in good form as he delivered his weekly prayer from the 10th floor hospital balcony. He used the occasion to call for free health care for all.

Francis scheduled the surgery for July, when he typically suspends all public and private audiences and takes some time to rest. Even as he recovers, plans are going ahead for an autumn of travel, including confirmation Monday from the Scottish church that Francis hopes to make a quick trip to Glasgow to attend the COP26 climate conference in November.

In a statement, a spokesman for the Scottish Bishops Conference said bishops had written to Francis to assure him of a warm welcome in Scotland and were delighted to hear that he does hope to attend and would be glad to meet with them in Glasgow.

The climate conference is due to take place Oct. 31-Nov. 12, but Francis is only expected to go for a very short time, the bishops said, explaining that his visit consequently wouldn't include a full program of pastoral gatherings that are normally part of a foreign papal trip.

The Vatican hasnt confirmed Francis participation in the Glasgow gathering, though Francis has made environmental concerns a cornerstone of his papacy. The Holy See has confirmed he plans to visit Hungary and Slovakia in September, the only other confirmed trip on his agenda so far this year.

Francis had reason for high spirits Monday: His native Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 to win the Copa America, and his adopted Italy won the European Championship after prevailing over England in a penalty shootout late Sunday.

The Vatican said the pope, who grew up as a fan of Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo, shared the joy" for the victories of both national teams and repeated his belief about the importance of sporting values and the need to accept any outcome, including loss.

The Vatican statement quoted Francis as saying only this way, confronting the difficulties of life, you can always put yourself in play, fighting without giving up, with hope and faith."
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP)  Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a longtime Alabama sheriff accused on theft and ethics charges, but news outlets and the public were barred from attending jury selection.

News outlets report that potential jurors reported for jury selection for the trial of Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, but the public and the media were barred from attending the proceedings at the Limestone County Event Center.

WHNT reported that a court bailiff for retired Judge Pamela Baschab told reporters attempting to access the proceedings that the judge wanted to make sure jurors were comfortable and wouldnt be bothered by media. The station said jury selection has been public in other high-profile trials in the area including that of a police officer accused of murder.

Blakely faces a dozen felony counts alleging he stole campaign donations, got interest-free loans and solicited money from employees.

He has pleaded not guilty and announced plans to seek an 11th term in office if acquitted. While state law doesnt require the removal of a sheriff under indictment, a conviction would result in his automatic ouster from office.

In office since 1983, Blakely is currently the states longest-serving sheriff. Court officials summoned roughly five times as many potential jurors as normal, about 500 people, because Blakely is so well known in the area, news outlets reported.

Prosecutors have tried to tie charges that Blakely took money from public and campaign accounts to claims that Blakely drinks and gambles in out-of-state casinos. While the defense argued that such evidence is aimed at harming the sheriffs reputation, a judge ruled previously that jurors would be allowed to hear it.

Meanwhile, Baschab barred the defense from presenting evidence to show that other public officials have done the same thing as Blakely without being charged. In a brief order, she agreed with prosecutors who claimed that an everyone is doing it and the state is picking on me defense cant be presented to jurors.

Because past or present conduct of others is irrelevant to a determination of Blakelys guilt or innocence, any evidence about them is inadmissible, prosecutors from the state attorney generals office argued in court documents.

Attorneys have subpoenaed dozens of potential witnesses for the trial, which was delayed several times for reasons including the pandemic.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Human remains that were discovered during a search for a missing Wisconsin couple are those of the husband, the Dane County Medical Examiner said Monday.

Authorities said the remains found Thursday night in the town of Cottage Grove are those of Bart Halderson, 50, of Windsor. The cause of death was listed as homicidal violence including firearm injury."
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  Rhode Island's governor signed into law Monday two bills focused on gun safety.

The bills signed by Democratic Gov. Daniel McKee ban so-called straw purchases of firearms and prohibit bringing a gun onto school property.

It makes sense to create laws to keep guns out of the hands of people who cannot and should not possess one, he said at a State House ceremony with top lawmakers and state officials. It makes sense to ban guns on school property and on school buses.

The straw purchases ban prohibits the purchase, transfer or sale of a firearm to someone who is legally prohibited from possessing one. It also toughens penalties for lying on a firearms purchase application or license to carry it.

The second bill bans anyone from bringing a gun onto school property except in certain cases, including if they're with school security or retired from law enforcement.

Carrying firearms in schools increases risk, not safety," Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat who sponsored the bill, said in a statement. There have been dozens of examples of mishandling and accidental discharge of firearms in schools across our nation."

Both measures had the support of state Attorney General Peter Neronha.

Gun violence is having devastating effects in Rhode Island and across the country," he said in a statement. My office aggressively prosecutes hundreds of gun crimes every year, and yet plainly there is more we can and must do.

Proposals that gun control advocates wanted that did not pass the legislature included a ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity gun magazine clips.

Opponents had strongly opposed any gun measures proposed by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly during the legislative session, which lawmakers recently wrapped up.

They called on state leaders to invest more in programs to help youths in cities avoid resorting to gun violence.

An email seeking comment was left Monday with the Rhode Island 2nd Amendment Coalition, the state affiliate of the NRA. The organization had on its website expressed opposition to both measures.

The signing came the day after a shooting death in Providence, the city's 12th homicide of the year.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  San Francisco saw an increase in shootings in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, and a slight uptick in aggravated assaults like those seen in viral videos that have drawn national attention, the city's police chief said Monday.

But retail robberies have declined despite brazen thefts caught on video, Police Chief Bill Scott said.

Scott said there were 119 shootings in the first half of the year, compared to 58 in 2020. The number includes both fatal and nonfatal shootings.

Were almost double where we were in the last two years, and that is a huge concern, Scott said.

The increase in shootings in San Francisco follows a trend in many major cities throughout the country. Shootings are up from the same period last year in Chicago; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Houston.

President Joe Biden on Monday met with Democratic city leaders to discuss ways of addressing the surge in shootings across the nation. Biden is limited to what he can do at the federal level, but he promised to support efforts on the local level to combat crime.

To help address the rise in gun violence in San Francisco, the police department is building relationships with community members and partnering with the California Partnerships for Safe Communities, a coalition of organizations that identify people who are at risk of becoming a crime victim or a perpetrator and who work with families to prevent crime, Scott said.

But while some cities are in the national limelight for a spike in shootings, San Francisco has been garnering national attention for brutal attacks on Asian people and brazen daytime robberies at retail stores.

In May, two elderly Asian women were stabbed as they waited for a bus in downtown San Francisco and the attack was caught on video. It was the latest in a series of attacks against Asian Americans in the city and nationwide since the start of the pandemic last year.

In a robbery caught on video last week at a Nieman Marcus in Union Square, 10 people went in, snatched designer purses, and ran out to waiting cars.

That video followed another one of a man filling a garbage bag with items inside a San Francisco Walgreens as people recorded him with their cellphones.

Videos drive perception, Scott said. When you see people getting robbed, when we see elderly victims in our city getting robbed, and those videos go viral, you think, Oh, my goodness. Things are out of control.

The chief used the news conference to push for more officers amid a national movement to cut police funding in the wake of the George Floyd killing. He said the San Francisco Police Department has a shortage of 400 officers.

Scott said research shows robberies go down when more officers are in the streets because people are less likely to rob people when they see officers nearby.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed promised last summer to reallocate $120 million from law enforcement to the Black community. But the budget agreement reached between the mayor and the Board of Supervisors on June 30 increases the police budget over the next two years to account for salary increases, hires to maintain staffing levels and new equipment, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

On Monday, Breed did not address the issue of police funding, but praised officers for their work.

When you come to San Francisco and commit a crime, you will be arrested, she said.

In the last six weeks, more officers have been reassigned to patrol the Mid-Market and Tenderloin neighborhoods, both magnets for drug dealers and drug users, and robberies have already decreased by about 38%, Scott said.

Robberies have been declining in the city since 2018, when there were 1,553 robberies in the first half of the year. In comparison, there have been 1,123 robberies reported in the same period this year, Scott said.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina is asking for public input on whether state leased Wildlife Management Areas should be open for hunting on Sundays.

The Department of Natural Resources has an online survey up until July 28 as well as four public hearings planned across the state over the next two weeks.
LOS ANGELES  A melee broke out at Rep. Katie Porter's district town hall meeting on Sunday, with her backers scuffling with supporters of former President Donald Trump who were loudly interrupting the congresswoman as she spoke.

Porter, a Democrat from Irvine, California, said that the acts of the protesters were premeditated and that all attendees had been given the opportunity to ask questions.

"It is disappointing that a small but vocal group of attendees, who advertised a 'confrontation rally,' created unsafe conditions at a planned family-friendly event," Porter said in a statement. "While I absolutely respect their right to disagree, their disturbance disrespected all the families who attended and were ready to engage in a thoughtful, civil and safe way.

"My team and I are evaluating next steps, but my promise to Orange County families is that I will continue to hold town halls and to be in conversation with them."

Porter was referring to an Instagram post by Nick Taurus, who says he is running against her in the midterm election. On Thursday, he invited supporters to join him at the town hall to "CONFRONT KATIE PORTER!"

"Katie Porter is a far-left ideologue supported by Bay Area academics, the billionaire class and foreign lobbies!" he wrote in the post. "Her America Last policies are awful for the 45th district and we intend to voice our displeasure."

Taurus was among the people involved in the scuffle; he declined to comment to the Los Angeles Times.

The fracas occurred shortly after Porter began speaking to a crowd of a few hundred people at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine. It was her first in-person town hall since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am so excited to be here with you all today. Thank you everyone for coming out to express your opinion," she said. "This is an outdoor activity; we have a lot of wind. So I'm going to ask that everyone, regardless of your views, try to keep your voices down and be quiet so we can have a conversation."

She added that as a mother of three, she had often worried about finding child care so she could attend such events, so she had directed her team to make the event family-friendly. Her staff handed out popcorn, snow cones and pocket copies of the Constitution to children.

"I'm really excited to have kids here with us today, and I want this to be a very family-friendly environment, even as we talk about the hard issues," Porter said.

As she spoke, a handful of protesters shouted "Carpetbagger Katie!" and "Corrupt Katie Porter." They continued to interrupt her as she spoke about climate change, COVID-19 vaccinations and other topics.

Porter supporters, who made up the bulk of the crowd, tried to drown out the protesters by chanting "Katie! Katie! Katie!" or screaming "Shut up!" A few confronted protesters, resulting in punches being thrown and men falling to the ground. Porter rushed to the scuffle, wrapping her arms around an elderly woman near the scrum.

Officers from the Irvine Police Department intervened and separated the factions. Sgt. Karie Davies said one Porter supporter was arrested but released on a citation, and officers took a report of assault and battery. Injuries "sounded minor," she said.

Porter's congressional district is expected to be hotly contested in next year's midterm election as Republicans try to regain control of Congress. The affluent district includes Irvine, Tustin, Villa Park, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest and Rancho Santa Margarita, as well as parts of Anaheim, Orange, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo and Trabuco Canyon.

Porter, a 47-year-old attorney, flipped this onetime Republican stronghold in 2018, becoming the first Democrat to represent the district, then won reelection last year by seven points. Still, her election performance trailed that of President Joe Biden, which is partly why she is among the Democratic House incumbents being targeted by national Republicans in next year's midterms.

GOP officials argue that Porter, a darling of progressives, is too liberal for her swing district.

"Katie Porter and Democrats' socialist agenda has caused everyday goods to cost more, created a border crisis and led to a rise in violent crime," said Torunn Sinclair, spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "It will cost her reelection."

No prominent challengers have emerged to run against Porter.

Whoever ultimately challenges her could face a tough fight. Porter, a protege of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is a prodigious fundraiser and has drawn national attention because of her sharp questioning of corporate leaders and government officials and her use of whiteboards to explain complex policy.

After the rally ended, Taurus led a chant of "America first! America first!" and asked members of the audience if they were from America.

Kathleen Ripley, 35, winced as she watched. The Irvine resident supports Porter, though she is critical of the congresswoman, saying she wished she would talk about college debt. But Ripley left the town hall distressed by the spectacles she had witnessed that afternoon.

"It's upsetting," she said. "But there is no point in talking to them. They literally had a chance to put in questions just like all the rest of us ... but instead they decided to be disrespectful and shout over the congresswoman and everybody else here."
OTISFIELD, Maine (AP)  The Seeds of Peace camp is getting underway for the first time since the pandemic  but without the international flavor.

Mondays flag-raising ceremony marks the start of the first of two sessions this summer involving teenagers from the United States. The session features campers from New England and the New York City area.
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP)  Slovenia's right-wing prime minister has brushed off opposition calls for his government to resign in the wake of a referendum in which voters overwhelmingly rejected proposed changes to a water management law seen as harmful to the environment.

Janez Jansa's government approved the amendments in March but ecologists forced a referendum amid claims that the proposed legislation would threaten the environment and diminish water quality.

State election authoritied said that 86,6% of voters voted against the changes. The turnout for Sunday's referendum was the highest since 2007 for such a vote in Slovenia - 46.15% - which is seen as reflecting high public interest in the issue.

Some analysts and opposition parties said the referendum result was a defeat for Jansa's government and a signal that it has lost its legitimacy to govern. Opposition leaders also called for early elections.

Late on Sunday, Jansa dismissed opposition pressure, saying that there should be no drama. Posting on Twitter, he cited previous, failed referendums that hadn't resulted in any government's fall.

The gist of the water issue is a provision regulating the building construction including hotels, shops and restaurant that are close to rivers, lakes or the sea.

The issue has sparked a heated debate in the small European Union nation of 2 million people known for its stunningly beautiful Alpine scenery. The right to water was enshrined in the countrys constitution in 2016.

The government insisted that it has tightened construction regulations and provided more funds for water and flood protection. But opponents said the regulations favor the interests of private investors, have limited public access to water and jeopardized water quality.

An association of taxi drivers on Monday said they gave free rides to some 800 care home residents so they could vote. The referendum also drew much interested from Slovenias environmentally aware young people, local media said.

The water dispute reflected heightened political tensions in Slovenia, where Jansas government has faced accusations of curbing democratic and media freedoms in the traditionally liberal nation.

Slovenia currently holds the European Unions rotating six-month presidency.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  As federal officials debate investing billions of dollars in broadband access, South Dakota is planning to invest $100 million as it struggles to extend reliable internet service to every corner of the state.

Data reported by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader on Monday suggests that many South Dakota schoolchildren and adults who worked from home during the pandemic struggled with sub-par access to high-speed internet, particularly in the states poorest and/or least populated counties.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Teachers in Sri Lankan government-run schools withdrew from online teaching Monday to protest the detention of union leaders and others in quarantine centers under pandemic laws.

Schools in Sri Lanka remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic and lessons are conducted online.

Eleven education trade unions said in a statement that three union leaders and many others were illegally detained at the quarantine centers after being arrested at protests last week. They said the leaders and other protesters were pushed inside vehicles and taken away to the quarantine centers as they walked out of courtrooms after having been released on bail.

Priyantha Fernando of the Ceylon Teachers' Union said 242,000 teachers and 16,000 school principals joined Monday's strike action.

Fernando said the union leaders had protested against a proposed law which they say will lead to privatization and militarization of universities. Also at issue are salary disputes that have remained unresolved for over 23 years, he said.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the main professional body for lawyers, wrote to the police chief expressing concern that the right to peaceful protests is being violated using health guidelines, while the guidelines themselves do not prohibit indoor or outdoor protests.

It also wrote to the director general of health services asking him not to allow health guidelines be misused against peaceful protesters.

Law and Order Minister Sarath Weerasekara told Parliament that the protesters violated the rules and police will continue to arrest violators in the future.

There are 4.3 million students enrolled in schools but many are unable to join online lessons because they do not have access to electronic devices or internet service.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Las Vegas police say a man who crashed his car into a gas station died while in their custody.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the incident occurred Sunday morning at a Sinclair gas station.
WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. regulators on Monday added a new warning to Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine about links to a rare and potentially dangerous neurological reaction, but said its not entirely clear the shot caused the problem.

The Food and Drug Administration announced the new warning, flagging reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune system disorder that can causes muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis. Health officials described the side effect as a small possible risk" for those getting the shot.

The action comes after the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed reports of about 100 people developing the syndrome after receiving the one-dose vaccine. Almost all of were hospitalized and one person died, the FDA said.

Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs when the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks some of its nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis that typically is temporary. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop the syndrome each year, according to the CDC.

The number of cases reported in connection with J&J's vaccine represents a tiny fraction of the nearly 13 million Americans who have received the one-dose shot. Most cases were reported in men  many 50 years old and up  and usually about two weeks after vaccination.

J&J said in a statement it has been discussing the reports with the FDA and other health regulators around the world.

The CDC said it would ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to review the issue at an upcoming meeting.

The government said the vaccines most used in the U.S., made by Pfizer and Moderna, show no risk of the disorder after more than 320 million doses have been administered.

The new warning will be included in pamphlets given to people getting the J&J shot. They should seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms, which include tingling sensations, trouble walking and double vision, the FDA said.

Vaccines historically provide broad protection with little risk but come with occasional side effects just like other drugs and medical therapies. The three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. were each tested in tens of thousands of people, but even such huge studies cant rule out extremely rare side effects.

The CDC and the FDA have been monitoring side effect reports submitted by physicians, drugmakers and patients to a federal vaccine safety database.

Guillain-Barre can be triggered by a number of infections, including flu, cytomegalovirus and Zika virus. But there have been rare cases in which people develop the disorder days or weeks after receiving certain vaccines.

J&Js vaccine was highly anticipated because of its one-and-done formulation and easy-to-ship refrigeration. But early on, it was linked to another rare risk, of blood clots, and the company hasnt been able to produce as much as expected because of problems at a Baltimore factory that helps make the shots.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
MOSCOW (AP)  U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope on Monday that climate change talks could act as a springboard to help reduce escalating tensions between the two rivals nations.

Kerry met Lavrov as part of his four-day visit to Moscow as tensions continue to complicate the two countries' bilateral relations. Kerry is the highest-ranking official from President Joe Biden's administration to visit Russia so far.

Lavrov said that Russia attaches great importance" to the issues of climate change and will continue to cooperate with other nations on these issues.

Russia's top diplomat said Kerry's Moscow visit sends an important and a positive signal for development of our bilateral relations, for alleviating the tension, and establishing substantive and professional work in the areas where we can find a common denominator.

Kerry said he believed there was space for Russia and the U.S. to collaborate on this (climate change issues) and perhaps to be able to open up some better opportunities on other issues, as we do cooperate on this.

The U.S. official said climate change is as important a challenge as any the two men had negotiated in the past such as nuclear weapons.

We spent years, you and I, negotiating on worse. We negotiated on chemical weapons, we negotiated on nuclear weapons. I would say to you without any reservation, this is absolutely as critical, as compelling, as urgent an issue, as any of those others, Kerry said.

The U.S. follows China as global leaders in climate-damaging emissions of coal and petroleum fumes. But Russia, the world's No. 4 because of its dependence on coal for power generation, is an outsize contributor to climate change relative to the size of its economy and population.

Kerry, former Secretary of State in the Obama administration, is encouraging other governments to commit to tough targets to cut emissions ahead of a U.N. global climate summit later this year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin took part by video in Bidens April climate summit. But the Russian leader's government has set only unambitious goals for cutting emissions as the waste from burning fossil fuels heats up the planet.

Kerry's trip comes as the two nations spar over ransomware attacks blamed on gangs linked to Russia, putting Biden under domestic pressure to punish Russia over the hacking.

Bidens administration has sought cooperation with U.S. opponents and competitors on climate despite sometimes hostile relations on other matters.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Utah health officials announced Monday that the governor's previous assertion that the state had reached its goal of vaccinating 70% of adults by July Fourth was false because of a data error.

Republican Gov. Spencer Cox issued an apology to state residents for the mistake on Monday, about a week after he publicly celebrated Utah surpassing its goal of 70% of all adults getting at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The governor said the mistake was a result of simple human error.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  Attorneys for New Hampshire's state-run youth detention center are suggesting that a man who claims he was physically and sexually assaulted by multiple counselors as a teen was partially responsible for at least some of the alleged abuse.

David Meehan sued the Sununu Youth Services Center, the agencies overseeing it and half a dozen former employees in January 2020 alleging that he endured near daily beatings and rapes in the late 1990s at what was then called the Youth Development Center. More than 300 men and women later came forward with similar allegations spanning six decades, but a judge dismissed their class action lawsuit in May, and their attorney is now preparing hundreds of individual lawsuits like Meehans.

The attorney generals office, representing the youth center, filed its first response to Meehans lawsuit late Friday night, citing Meehans contributory negligence as a defense. Without elaborating, it also said some of Meehans claims are barred because the staff's actions were justified or excused as necessary to maintain order and to protect the safety of the facility, its staff and residents.

Contributory negligence is nothing more than the states way of saying that I am to blame for the horrendous torture, rape and abuse I endured at the hands of their systems, institutions and employees, Meehan, 39, said in a phone interview Saturday. These people were allowed to do the unthinkable and get paid for it, and now theyre being protected, while me and my family suffer.

In addition to physical and sexual abuse, Meehan also alleges that he was repeatedly held in solitary confinement and denied an education. The state didnt specify which claims it was referring to, and Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Ramsey declined to comment Sunday.

In its written response, the state denied Meehans broad accusations that negligence in hiring, training and supervising workers led to abuse and that it failed to either properly investigate allegations or remove perpetrators. It also denied that officials intentionally concealed information from law enforcement.

With regards to Meehans specific abuse allegations, however, the state repeatedly said it lacked sufficient information to either admit or deny the claims. For example, the state confirmed that Meehan asked to see a nurse in 1998, but neither confirmed nor denied his account that the nurse told him his bruised face and broken nose appeared self-inflicted. It confirmed his trip to the hospital after another incident, without admitting or denying that he had passed out on a softball field during a violent rape.

Meehans attorney, Rus Rilee, called the states defense shocking and insulting to Meehan and other victims.

The states position that David contributed to his own abuse  beatings, rapes and solitary confinement  and that the abuse was in some way justified, is quite simply appalling, Rilee said Saturday. To blame any survivor, let alone a child, for the sexual and physical abuse they suffered is disgusting, and the state should be ashamed of itself.

Rilee represents more than 300 men and women who say they were physically or sexually abused as children by 150 staffers from 1960 to 2018, including gang rapes, being forced to fight each other for food and being locked in solitary confinement for weeks or months. The recently-adopted state budget calls for closing the center by March 2023 and replacing it with a much smaller facility.

Criminal charges have been brought against several of the staffers Meehan accused of abuse. While one division of the attorney generals office has been defending the state against the lawsuit, the criminal division launched a broad investigation into the center and its operations in 2019, and 11 former staffers were arrested in April. Three of them were charged with sexually assaulting Meehan and one was charged with serving as a lookout. But in its response to the lawsuit, the state said it lacked sufficient information about those allegations.

The Associated Press does not identify victims of sexual assault unless they choose to identify themselves publicly, as Meehan has done. He argues there is plenty evidence to back up his claims.

Theyve had more than enough time to investigate and figure out whos telling the truth and whos not telling the truth, he said. They know. Theyre just looking for a way out.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  The West Virginia Department of Education has a new program to encourage students, teachers and staff to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.

The I Got Vaxxed Competition will award $5,000 each to a high school, a middle school and an elementary school for having the highest percentage of eligible people vaccinated, the department said in a news release Monday. The winners will be announced the week of Oct. 3.
CASPER, Wyo. (AP)  A Wyoming sheriff's deputy helped rescue two women who were hanging onto tree branches after the inflatable raft they were in popped and sank in the North Platte River over the weekend.

Five people were floating down the river on Saturday when the raft was punctured, the Natrona County Sheriff's Office said. None of them were wearing life vests. One person swam to shore and two others made their way to an island.
PLEASANTON (BCN)

An extensive search is underway on Sunday in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, where authorities are looking for a man who didn't return from a run Saturday in the hills.

Philip Kreycik, 37, parked his car near the Moller Ranch staging area about 11 a.m. and told his wife he was going for an hourlong run in the East Bay Regional Park, Pleasanton police said.

Kreycik's wife reported him missing at 2 p.m. Saturday. An avid runner with no known health conditions, Kreycik is described as White, with a thin build and brown hair and eyes. He is presumed to be wearing running attire.

Kreycik is an avid distance runner with no known health conditions, police said.

Pleasanton police officers and personnel from East Bay Regional Park police, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol are using drones, fixed-wing aircraft, off-road vehicles, and search and rescue teams to locate Kreycik.

The park remains open for visitors, police said.

Anybody with information about Kreycik's location is asked to contact the Pleasanton Police Department at (925) 931-5100.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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REDWOOD CITY (BCN)

A 36-year-old man suspected of having unlawful sex with a juvenile was arrested last week after he and the girl allegedly tried to board a plane bound for Amsterdam at San Francisco International Airport, police said.

Dylan Raymos first came to the attention of Redwood City police after someone called the department on June 1 to report a couple had set up camp in a city park and were having sex in public view, police said Monday.

Officers found Raymos and the juvenile victim and an investigation eventually led to Raymos' arrest on June 15 in Menlo Park. The suspect was ordered in court to have no contact with the victim, and Raymos posted bail and was released from custody on June 19.

On July 7, SFO airport security contacted Raymos as he and the victim allegedly tried to board a plane for Amsterdam. He was arrested again, on suspicion of violating a restraining order, and booked into San Mateo County Jail on $5 million bail.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Detective De La Cerda at (650) 780-7697 or the Redwood City Police Department's tip line at (650) 780-7110.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
When I began my career as a travel writer 15 years ago, travel writing anthologies were full of single dudes romping around the world without a care or commitment. At the time, I was a young woman raised by a single father  a dad who had given up a lot of that carefree adventure to be my parent. This essay (by writer Matt Villano) about divorce, family and one mans love for Las Vegas is an antidote to those tired storylines.

For my first act as a single dad, I traveled from the Bay Area to Las Vegas for a tattoo

But sometimes you just need to skip town for the day, take a mini-hike through a new-to-you piece of impossibly beautiful Northern California and (maybe, if youre lucky) drink something delicious as a reward. Our not-outdoorsy correspondent, Susana Guerrero, knows how to do it:

This 45-minute Bay Area hike through a 110-year-old farm ends at a winery

Sadly, the big travel news in recent weeks has been a bit of a drag. The places we all want to go are crowded, air travel is miserable, rental cars are in short supply, and tourists are behaving badly everywhere we look. Its weird out there. Thankfully, Tahoe editor Julie Brown is here to help us make light of some of the oddities of this late-pandemic travel era.

Billionaires on hydrofoils and other weird things I encountered in Tahoe on the Fourth

For those times when you really need to get away from the crush of humanity on the move, Brown has you covered there as well.

It is possible to escape the crowds in Lake Tahoe. Here are five hikes to get away from it all.

For those considering a trip to Hawaii, the advice has typically been to book a rental car before buying plane tickets or reserving a hotel. But Jeanne Cooper, a writer based on the islands, offers some alternatives.

Hawaii has a severe rental car shortage. Here's what you can do instead.

Travelskills is curated by travel editor Freda Moon. You can contact her at Freda.Moon@sfgate.com.
In December, I moved back to San Francisco, a move made more manageable by the fact that the pandemic pushed rents down across the city. I was lucky to snag a two-bedroom apartment for about the same price as a one-bedroom prior to the pandemic.

Now, rents are steadily creeping back up, and I worried that my landlord would raise my rent come December to match the increased market rates.

My fears are partially grounded in reality, according to Nils Rosenquest, a San Francisco attorney and landlord-tenant specialist.

I asked Rosenquest in what scenarios my rent could go up when my annual lease ends later this year, and he offered words of both warning and comfort.

Heres the lowdown: If you live in a rent-controlled unit in San Francisco (those built in June 1979 or earlier), your landlord can only increase the rent by up to 0.7% for the year.

Most rentals in San Francisco are protected by rent control (about 60%). Single-family units, commercial buildings and rentals built after 1979 are not.

If your unit is not rent-controlled, you could be in trouble once your lease is up.

If you are not covered by rent control, whenever your rental period is up, the landlord is allowed to take you to the market rate, Rosenquest said.

The market rate for a one-bedroom is currently $3,265, Apartment List reports. Rents in the city dropped by a staggering 26.6% from March 2020 to January 2021, according to Apartment List, but since January, theyve been steadily rising  by more than 17%. Pandemic pricing is officially over, the website declared in June.

There are some exceptions Rosenquist cited. If you had a COVID issue and the landlord promised to reduce your rent during the pandemic, the landlord is entitled to return the rent to its previous value.

They do have to jump through some hoops to make it legal, Rosenquist said, namely, ensuring the decrease and reason for the reduction are in writing.

On the other hand, if the landlord decreased your rent during the pandemic to match market values, that reduction is considered permanent  at least until your annual lease is up.

Lastly, Rosenquist noted that if there is a statewide declaration of emergency still in effect at the time of your lease renegotiation, there is an anti-price gouging law that we think would apply.

During a state of emergency, youre not allowed to raise the price on goods and services more than 10%. That applies to renting as well. The question, Rosenquist said, is how long does it apply? As long as there is a declaration of disaster going? Beyond that period? That remains to be seen.

Rosenquist did mention that theres an argument that if your unit is not covered by rent control and your landlord hikes the rent so absurdly to force someone out, it might be illegal.

I dont know of any court cases that have tested that yet, but it is on the books.

If you need support or have questions regarding your rental unit, you can reach out to the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, the San Francisco Tenants Union or the Rent Board of San Francisco.
Think of your favorite moment in Hollywood history that involves a beach. Maybe its Sandra Dee riding the waves in 1959s Gidget, or Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello splashing around in Beach Blanket Bingo in 1965. Maybe you remember James Garner as Jim Rockford living in a trailer on the beach in The Rockford Files when the show ran from 1974 to 1980. Or maybe its more recent: the final scenes of 1993s Indecent Proposal, say, or basically anything that ever happened on Baywatch, or, if your entertainment is limited to a constant loop of kids movies, the time SpongeBob leaves his pineapple under the sea to emerge onto a pristine beach in the 2015 SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.

All of these iconic scenes happened at Paradise Cove, a secluded stretch of spotless sand in well-heeled and perpetually busy Malibu. The beach, which is famous for its gorgeous views and comparatively uncrowded pier, draws thousands of visitors a week, but is also notorious for being the most unfriendly-to-the-public public beach in Southern California.

With all this intrigue and historical allure, I had to go seek it out.

Paradise Cove is two distinct things: Its a secluded beach (with some of the best surfing in Malibu) that has been a source of tension between residents and visitors for decades. Its also Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, a beachside restaurant dripping with Hollywood history where you can have lunch with your feet in the sand and one eye on the ravenous seagulls flying just overhead.

Kevin Lacy/Special to SFGATE

The cafe is a curiosity, a must-stop for tourists or locals with family in town, both because of its location and its food: enormous portions of seafood and classic California beach fare. The calamari appetizer is a full pound of squid, and its guacamole comes in what looks like the worlds biggest margarita glass. And, in keeping with its throwback beach bar vibe, fruity cocktails are served inside hollowed out pineapples and watermelons.

The restaurant has inside seating, but its two huge outdoor patios  one directly in the sand  are what set it apart. This beach, after all, is contested territory. While the public should have unrestricted access, according to California law, the people who live there  generally second homeowners in the park of multimillion-dollar trailers  would prefer no one know theyre allowed to go.

The beach is enticing precisely because its privately maintained, with things you dont find on state-run beaches, like lifeguards so knowledgeable and invested theyll come up to you not only to let you know the tide is coming in, but which direction its going to go on the beach, and where (in my case, about 8 feet diagonally up and to the left) you should move your blanket and chair to stay dry.

Its seclusion and easy parking has also made it a favorite of Hollywood studios for more than a half-century. Beyond the movies and television shows filmed there, the Beach Boys shot the cover of their Surfin Safari album at Paradise. Madonna and Britney Spears have both filmed music videos on the beachs pristine sand. And some of Marilyn Monroes most iconic photographs happened at Paradise Cove, recreations of which  along with many other silver screen moments  decorate the walls of the restaurant.

Kevin Lacy/ Special to SFGATE

In the past, the company that owns the trailer park has implemented measures, both legal and not, to discourage people from finding their way to the beach. In 2014, Paradise Cove Land Company was cited by the California Coastal Commission for posting signs banning surfing, and for having the propertys pier blocked off by a locked gate. In 2016, the company came under scrutiny for charging a $20 daily beach membership fee, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Kevin Lacy/ Special to SFGATE

An official from the Coastal Commission used the fee as an example of the crafty ways that owners of beachfront property discourage people from using the beach in front of their homes. People think of gates and fences, Andrew Willis said in the article, but there are other ways to chip away at access  fake garages, access fees, no parking signs. The commission levied fines of more than $11,000 per day until Paradise Cove Land Company complied, which they now have. But unhappy customers who paid for access filed a class action suit the same year.

In a way, all of this is understandable. People pay a lot of money to have property near Paradise Cove. If I could pony up $4.4 million dollars for a two-bedroom, two-bath property such as the one currently listed at 221 Paradise Cove Road, I might want to restrict beach access, too. Then again, if I had $4.4 million dollars, I definitely would not spend it on what the listing describes as a mobile home  even if it did have all of the benefits of Paradise Cove living, including a clubhouse, gated entry and direct beach access.

Kevin Lacy/Special to SFGATE

Whatever Paradise Cove wants you to think, the beach is free and open to the public. If youre able to find parking on the Pacific Coast Highway, you can walk down the slope, past the restaurant, to the sand without paying a dime. Parking in the lot is $35 on weekdays and $50 on weekends, though its just $8 and $10, respectively, if you spend $30 at the restaurant. (Theres a four-hour limit.)

Theres another way to experience Paradise Cove, too  by renting a palapa, a little section of sand with beach furniture fenced off by sea grass, for $500 per weekday or $600 per day on the weekend.

The afternoon I spent there last week was relatively uncrowded and an unquestionably pleasant time. I walked the coastline, around the tidal pools, to the wreck of a huge sailboat where surfers and swimmers paddled out to climb the rigging and explore the ship. Still, I looked at those palapas with envy, doing mental math I should not have been tempted to do. The thought of having my own tiny piece of Paradise Cove  and the temptation to keep other people away from it  was more enticing than I would have thought.

Kevin Lacy/ Special to SFGATE

Kevin Lacy/ Special to SFGATE

Kevin Lacy/ Special to SFGATE

Kevin Lacy/ Special to SFGATE
You are now listening to the sounds of the New Generation. A podcast created for those who desire a new way of gaining information rather than reading a traditional newspaper. In our show we will discuss everything from sports, pop culture, politics, and local news. To stay up to date on our latest episodes every week be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service. And dont worry, we keep it short.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Dozens of left-leaning organizations are asking Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to schedule a new vote this month on Democrats' sweeping voting and elections bill, a top priority for the party that Republicans blocked from debate last month.

In a letter sent to the New York Democrat on Monday, the groups urged him to once again bring the bill to the Senate floor. But this time, they are asking Senate Democrats to weaken filibuster rules, which require 60 votes to advance most legislation, and push the measure through on a party-line basis, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tiebreaking 51st vote.

The only thing standing in the way is the outdated and abused filibuster, states the letter, which was signed by roughly 90 different groups, including the good-government group Common Cause, Our Revolution, the League of Conservation Voters, the Communications Workers of America union and MoveOn.

The letter is one piece of a broader summer campaign to pressure congressional Democrats to change the filibuster and pass their voting bill, which they've touted as a powerful counterweight to an effort in Republican-controlled states to adopt new voting restrictions.

Congressional offices have been flooded with calls, and numerous rallies have been held.

On Monday, a group of Democratic state lawmakers from Texas, where a special session of the legislature is underway to enact voting restrictions, fled the state for Washington, D.C. Their aim was twofold: to deny Texas Republicans a quorum needed to conduct business and to shine a light on the state-level efforts.

Last week, a group of civil rights activists met with President Joe Biden about the issue and publicly called on the White House afterward to get more involved.

There is absolutely growing pressure across the country to eliminate the filibuster as a weapon (Senate Minority Leader Mitch) McConnell can use to block progress, said Eli Zupnick, a spokesperson for the group Fix Our Senate, which advocates for filibuster changes and helped organize the letter.

They face a tough road ahead. There isn't enough support in the Senate Democratic caucus to eliminate the filibuster, with moderate Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema among those opposed, but most are open to changing the Senate's rules. Without changing the filibuster, it is unlikely that Democrats will be able to advance the bill in the face of unified Republican opposition.

Biden's White House has characterized the issue as the fight of his presidency. But Biden, too, opposes eliminating the filibuster.

"The Presidents view continues to be aligned with what he has said in the past, which is that he has not supported the elimination of the filibuster because it has been used as often the other way around, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.

Meanwhile, the window to pass and implement the bill before the 2022 midterm elections is closing.

Democrats took unified control of Washington in January and made passing the voting bill a top priority. Their measure, known as the For the People Act, would touch on virtually every aspect of how elections are conducted, striking down hurdles to voting that advocates view as the civil rights fight of the era, while also curbing the influence of money in politics and limiting partisan influence over the drawing of congressional districts.

Schumer has said multiple times that failure to pass the measure is not an option."

But the bill languished in the Senate for months after swiftly passing the House. Republicans, who universally oppose it, argue it is overreach that would bring about a massive federal intrusion into the way states conduct elections.

The group behind the letter echoed Schumer's calls for action.

We agree with your repeated promise that failure is not an option when it comes to voting rights, the letter states. To ensure progress in the face of partisan obstruction, we, the undersigned organizations, urge you to hold another vote on voting rights legislation like the For The People Act before the August recess.
I got in my car this afternoon, and quite literally couldnt breathe. The heat this year has been stifling, to say the least, and as I drove a
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President Joe Biden has asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban or limit employment-related noncompete agreements as part of an executive order he signed on July 9.

The order includes 72 initiatives across many federal agencies and aims to "promote competition in the American economy, which will lower prices for families, increase wages for workers, and promote innovation and even faster economic growth," according to a fact sheet released by the White House.

Employers generally use noncompetes to discourage employees from taking valuable trade-secret information to competitors, but lawmakers have sought to ban noncompetes with hourly workers in the retail and restaurant industries. Limiting employer use of noncompetes will make it easier for workers to change jobs and help raise wages, the White House said. The order also aims to limit occupational licensing requirements that may make it harder for workers to find employment when they move to a different state.

Michael Wexler, an attorney with Seyfarth in Chicago, noted that policies targeting noncompete restrictions on hourly and lower-wage workers have been sweeping across the country in recent years. "However, businesses and most stateseven the most employee-friendly statesstill recognize the need for restrictive covenants supporting the investment of time and resources by businesses to develop trade secrets and customer relationships which are vital to maintaining innovation, developing new products and actually protecting existing employees."

We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other trusted media outlets.

Removing Barriers to Competition

The White House said barriers to competition drive down wages. "When there are only a few employers in town, workers have less opportunity to bargain for a higher wage and to demand dignity and respect in the workplace." Among other directives, the order encourages the FTC to ban or limit noncompete agreements, ban unnecessary occupational licensing restrictions and, along with the Department of Justice, strengthen antitrust guidance. No regulations have been issued yet.

(The White House)

States Typically Regulate Noncompetes

Noncompetition agreements and other employment contracts traditionally have been regulated through state law. California, North Dakota and Oklahoma have banned noncompete agreements in most circumstances, and nearly a dozen other states prohibit such agreements with low-wage earners. A broad federal rule would likely be challenged by businesses.

(NPR)

Protecting Confidential Information

Somewhere between one-quarter and nearly one-half of private-sector workers are subject to some kind of noncompete agreement, according to a study from the Economic Policy Institute. Proponents of eliminating the clauses argue that noncompete agreementswhich bar workers from accepting new employment in their field or industry for a certain period, often a year or more after they leave an employerreduce competition among businesses and stifle workers' job mobility and wage growth. The clauses were first introduced to prevent upper-level employees from taking trade secrets to rival businesses but have since proliferated to low-wage and low-skill workers.

Many businesses have legitimate reasons for requiring workers to sign the agreements, and individualized assessments of the agreements that consider the industry and the geographical location should be conducted instead of an outright ban, said Beth Milito, senior legal counsel at the National Federation of Independent Business.

"Should noncompetes be limited  employers would have to consider new ways to protect their customer relationships, financial investments, business goodwill and confidential information," said Ana Dowell, an attorney in the Atlanta office of Ackerman.

(SHRM Online)



President Supports PRO Act

The White House noted that the executive order aligns with Biden's call for Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives approved in March. If enacted into law, the bill would be the most expansive labor relations legislation since the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935.

The legislation would, among other provisions:

Weaken right-to-work laws in 28 states by permitting unions to require workers at unionized companies to pay dues. Currently, employees in right-to-work states may choose not to pay union dues.



Greatly expand the definition of "employee" and almost expunge the concept of independent contractor.

Make it easier to establish that two or more employers are joint employers.

Prohibit class-action waivers in arbitration.

Expand damages under the NLRA.



The House also passed the PRO Act last year, but no action was taken in the Senate.

(SHRM Online)


New Delhi: Popular Electric Car bike maker RattanIndia-Revolt may soon unveil a second set of flash sale of its motorcycles soon.

A tweet from Revolt Motors hinted that a sale could be as soon as 15th July 2021.

In its previous flash sale announced a month ago, the company managed to sell inventories worth Rs 50 crores in under a day.
"Our businesses ensured that we returned close to Rs 9,500 crore to you, our equity shareholders. This is a 166 per cent increase in profit after tax on a year-on-year basis," Adani said at the annual general meeting of his group.

A few weeks ago, Adani stocks slipped in the red after a news report spread theory on freeze of investor accounts lying in Mauritius. That week crores of investor wealth was eroded. Adani himself saw a dip in his personal valuations. After the harakiri on markets, Adani stated that the investor account was untouched.

The three Mauritius funds owned $6 billion worth of shares across Adani stocks.

Adani referred to the freeze reports as "reckless and irresponsible".

He also said, "Unfortunately, some of our small investors were affected by this twisted narrative which seemed to imply that companies have regulatory powers over their shareholders and that companies can compel disclosure."

At the AGM, Adani called the six listed entities which were named in the Mauritius freeze theory as beacons of market leadership, having adaptive management and built on institutional profitability.

In fact he extolled the milestone set forth by these firms. "The performance of our listed entities propelled our portfolio to cross 100 billion dollars in market capitalisation in the very first week of this new financial year (starting Apri 2021)," he said. "This valuation milestone is a first for a first-generation Indian company."

"Our growth journey is just starting, and this is manifested in the performance of all six of our listed entities that produced results significantly above the market indexes," he added.

For the financial year ended March 31, 2021, the consolidated EBITDA (or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for the listed portfolio was over Rs 32,000 crore, registering a year-on-year growth of 22 per cent.

Adani also claimed that his company had the highest scale and reach in the business of ports. "No other company in the world runs a port business of such scale and reach," he added.

Much like RIL, the Adani AGM also focussed on the greener aspects. Investors were informed that Adani Green Energy had become the largest solar company in the world in 2000. And last month, following the acquisition of SB Energy's 5-gigawatt portfolio, it reached a target of 25 GW a full four years ahead of schedule.

"Whatever businesses we are now in  seaports, airports, logistics, natural resources, thermal and renewable power generation, transmission, distribution, data centres, defence, agri and food, real estate, city gas utilities, and several others  I believe all of them are individually high growth businesses but, even more importantly, every one of them has adjacencies within themselves as well as new sectors we can move into," he said.

At the time of writing this story, Adani Enterprises, the flagship stock traded down by 0.67 percent to quote 1,421 per share on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

With agency inputs


The factories, which are to be built on UPSIDA land, will provide employment to around one lakh people.

Lucknow: More than 3,500 big industrialists have acquired land in Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) areas, spread across 51 districts over the last four years since the Yogi Adityanath took charge and have set up factories worth of Rs 11,500 crore.

Some of these manufacturing units have already been completed and have also started production at their plants while construction of some others are underway.

The officers of UPSIDA are working on new projects to bring more investment to the state.

According to the government spokesperson, the projects include setting up of a Mega Leather Park in Unnao and a Perfume Park and a Perfume Museum in Kannauj.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that such schemes will increase investment in traditional industries and help popularise leather products of Unnao and spread fragrance of Kannauj's perfumes across the world.

The Mega Leather Park of Unnao, will be spread over an area of 42 acres. With the establishment of this park at a cost of about Rs 550 crore, leading leather products manufacturing companies will set up their factories and boost leather business.

Similarly, the Perfume Park and the Perfume Museum are expected to restore the pristine glory of Kannauj's traditional perfume and enhance perfume business through installation of state-of-the-art technology.

Kannauj's traditional perfume industry is in dire straits today due to the absence of latest technologies and its neglect under previous governments.

It is noteworthy that the artificial perfume companies and traditional perfume business have been badly hit in Uttar Pradesh due to lack of resources.

With the construction of the Perfume Park, people traditionally working in the perfume industry will get an opportunity to carry forward their ancestral legacy and not abandon it for lack of potential for growth while leading companies will come forward to set up their factories in Kannauj.

The Perfume Museum will help promote the state's heritage of making pure and natural perfumes across the world and also boost local perfume business.

However, UPSIDA is not just promoting investment in leather or perfume business, but in many other areas as well.

Significant industries that are coming up include ITC Ltd. at Sandila area of Hardoi, Varun Beverages Ltd. (PepsiCo), Berger Paints Ltd., Green Ply Industries Ltd., British Paints Ltd., Webly Scott Ltd, Kribhco Fertilizer Ltd. at Shahjahanpur, Plastic Pack Ltd. at Kanpur, SMS G Ltd. at Barabanki (Coca-Cola) and Vaughan Wells Limited that are establishing their units in Agra.

Apart from this, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, more than a thousand industrialists have acquired UPSIDA land to set up their factories in the state in the last one year.

British company, AV Mori, is prominent among the companies that have shown keen interest in setting up units in Uttar Pradesh. The company has got land in Chitrakoot and Pilibhit to set up its factories.

Similarly, Hindustan Unilever has acquired land at Sumerpur in Hamirpur, Triveni Almira at Kursi Road in Barabanki, Forever Distillery at Gorakhpur, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation at Badaun and Inox Air Products Limited at Rae Bareli to set up their factories.


Hero Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd has raised Rs 220 crore in Series B funding round led by Gulf Islamic Investments (GII).

The funding round also witnessed the participation of OAKS.

A company statement said that it will direct this investment towards the objective of further supporting the electric vehicle industry and ecosystem.

Avendus Capital was the exclusive financial advisor to Hero Electric on the transaction.

Hero Electric will allocate this investment towards expanding production capacity, consolidating market position to strengthen market leadership, investing in futuristic technology, and grow footprint across India-like markets.

To achieve the vision of exponential growth and double sales every year, the company plans to make significant additions to its manufacturing capacity by setting up multiple plants over the next couple of years.

It will also focus on India-centric, flexible, and cost-effective innovations that will drive the growth of electric mobility which is in line with making India the EV hub of the world, it said.

"The electric vehicles market has undergone tremendous change over the last few years since we raised our first round of funding. The policies are extremely conducive for the growth of the segment and despite the pandemic, the company is poised to grow at over 2X from the last fiscal," Hero Electric Managing Director Naveen Munjal said.

He added that the company aims to sell over 10 lakh units per year in the next couple of years.

"This round of investments which is a first of a larger scheme will help expand our manufacturing capacities, increase R&D spends that will enable us to continue to launch innovative products to disrupt the category. Hero is committed to its mission of No Emission and build a sustainable future that is electric."

GII founding Partner and Co-CEO Pankaj Gupta said: "We are delighted to be a part of the growth journey of India's market-leading electric vehicles pioneer - Hero Electric - through our latest round of investments under India Growth Portfolio II."

As a sustainability conscious and visionary investor, GII has observed the growing role of electric vehicles in mitigating environmental pollution and the opportunities it presents in India, one of the world's most populous countries and an important investment destination in the firm's global strategy, he added.
To take a break or while planning a vacation we all prefer to travel across the country or even overseas. But, the iconic entrepreneurs have opted for space travel. Over time humans have been efficient enough to mould technology according to their requirements and have endeavoured to travel to space, horsy on technology. Resultant, billionaires namely Richard Branson, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos are on the race to space with their specially developed programmes that has even assured to make the voyage affordable for commoners. Indeed, technology has aided a lot in reducing the cost, also, the above mentioned three billionaires are striving to cut down the cost of space exploration.

What Induced Space Travel?

Being inspired to enter the private space race after watching the Apollo 11 mission 50 years ago and watchingNeil and Buzz land on the moon. Jeff Bezos states that referring to the 20 July 1969 landing linking Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Since then Ive been dreaming and getting ready for this for a long time. He adds, We humans have to go to space if we are going to continue to have a thriving civilisation. Were in the process of destroying our planet. We have guided robotic probes to every planet in the solar system; this is the good one. We have to preserve this planet. We can do that using the resources of space.

However, after nearly 50 years China, India and Europe are examining the USs once-dominant position, and within the US, amid numerous dozen private entities, three significant private players are dominating the space tourism and exploration sector i.e Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic, Elon Musks SpaceX, and Bezoss Blue Origin.

Also, space mining is likely to be a Multi-trillion dollar industry. However, this era has given us the opportunity to work on the business opportunities of the 21st century. We have conquered earth for thousands of years for one reason: gold, oil and many other valuable raw materials. Now that earth has been mined almost our entire planet, the target moves to new resources. Iconic entrepreneurs, such as Bezos and Musk, understand like no other that their present exponential growth was just the warming up if they are able to coin of the biggest business trends called space mining. Thus, space tourism has turned to be a perfect way to cover up for the final strategic plan for monetizing the hell out of space mining. Prior to new laws could stop innovation. Hence, entrepreneurs know that now is the time for radical space strategies thinking.

However, presently there are already 10 large, private firms working on ways to extract raw materials from asteroids and near-Earth planets. These include Kepler Energy and Space Engineering, Deep Space Industries, and Moon Express. Things have changed, now three types of asteroids have been recognised for mining and the two most desirable contain valuable metals such as gold, platinum, and rhodium. Massachusetts Institute of Technology research reveals that one single 500-meter-wide platinum-rich asteroid is worth $2.9 trillion. that makes 174 Earths annual platinum mining output.

Three Players Dominating Space Tourism

Space Flights

Richard Branson, Virgin Group Founder has sent passengers to space and his space-flight company Virgin Galactic. The company had originally initiated to commence commercial passenger space flights by sending 500 people in 2014. Although, the attempt was unsuccessful post the SpaceShipTwos crash in California killing one of the co-pilots. The plane had burst into pieces and dropped in Californias the Mojave Desert.

Richard had believed that the Virgin Galactic space programme will be ready by 2018. After all the struggle, Richard reached the edge of space and safely turned to Earth, a trip that marks a turning point in the entrepreneurs multidecade effort to aid create a space-tourism industry.

The space trip that Richard and five other crew members completed on July 11, 2021, on a Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. The company intends to begin its commercial service next year, costing the passengers hundreds of thousands of dollars each for such flights. The test flight was targeted at evaluating systems and the passenger experience, as well as to deliver additional validation of its safety. Vehicles developed by private space companies have been tested a fraction of the number of times compared with the planes used by airlines.

The British entrepreneur and five crew members traversed one threshold of space, uphill 53.5 miles above the Earths surface.

Mars Mission

SpaceX founder Elon Musks mission plans to send a human by 2026 to the Red Planet is being viewed as the most ambitious among other missions to reach Mars. These missions arrive after several operations over the decades have proved the presence of water ice on Mars and therefore kindling expectations that a human landing is possible there.

Elon said that while talking about the first crewed mission to Mars which according to him is expected to take place in 2026. Scientists and researchers have expressed their concerns over Mars missions. They warned of numerous challenges such as cosmic radiation, dust storms and lack of oxygen and water.

Space Tourism

Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin, a private spaceflight firms offers space tourism services. The company is evolving technologies that would lower the costs dramatically so that people can afford space travel. It is creating fool proof arrangements to gain peoples trust and reliability.

Jeff has linked barnstormers with an intention would pull an extraordinary stunt with their aircraft, with space travel where rocket launches would promote space tourism through entertainment. Since its launch, Blue Origin was very secretive about its plans and emerged from its self-imposed silence only post 2015. In September 2020, Blue Origin proclaimed its plans to build New Glenn, its orbital launch vehicle that would airlift people to low-Earth orbit destinations and further.
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TikTok and Snapchat may hog the social media limelight but for a cohort of creators the longstanding platform YouTube is proving far more lucrative, with over 200 Australian YouTube channels recording more than 1 million subscribers.

Cooking star Marion Grasby says she is now more well known for her YouTube channel Marions Kitchen, in which she posts videos of herself cooking, than for her breakout role on Masterchef Australia.

My company started as a food company in 2010 and we were solely food producing kits for Coles and Woolworths in Australia, Grasby says. Then just over three years ago we decided to do videos on YouTube to promote our products and it just went ballistic from 45,000 subscribers to 1.3 million.

Marion Grasby says YouTube is the flywheel for her business. Credit:Claudio Raschella Photographer

Grasby says Marions Kitchen is now a food media company which happens to produce products and gets about 48 million views a month across platforms, which she compares to Sevens breakfast television show Sunrise which has an average audience of 450,000 per morning or around 13.5 million viewers a month.
A man has been charged with high-range drink-driving and fined for breaching COVID-19 health orders after allegedly crashing into five cars in Sydneys inner west in the early hours of Monday.

Police received reports of a Ford Ranger damaging five parked cars at the intersection of Livingstone Road and Hill Street in Marrickville about 2.40am.

Officers intercepted the vehicle and allegedly found a 36-year-old man in the drivers seat. He was arrested and taken to Newtown police station where he allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of .207, more than four times the legal limit.

In addition to the drink-driving charge, he was also charged with failing to comply with public health orders by not having a reasonable excuse to be away from home.

His licence was suspended, and he will appear at Newtown Local Court on Monday.
Congratulations are in order for Tony Abbott. The former prime minister is now a grandfather.

Tony Abbott is now a grandfather. Credit:John Shakespeare

His daughter Frances - who is married to Olympic rower Sam Loch - gave birth to a son, Ernest Loch, on Sunday.

Frances is the second of Abbotts three daughters and has been living with her hubby in the US city of Portland, Oregon where she is a fitness instructor and Loch works for the international sports giant Adidas. They became engaged two weeks after meeting and married three months later.

Loch, a Yale graduate who formerly worked for Nike, couldnt help but gush as he made the birth social media official in a post showing the beaming mother clutching her new sprog.
If youve seen or read about the Sydney shock tactic ad in The Sydney Morning Herald, then the reality is you probably arent the target audience for it. That campaign is speaking to an audience that in the advertising industry wed call complacents  that is, people who dont follow any news channels, dont consider COVID-19 much of a threat, and even when its in the community, have a shell be right mentality about potentially catching it and sharing it with their friends and family.

Going down the messaging strategies that might work for you or me about community protection wont cut through. Instead, it needs to go for a base human value  physical comfort, and our drive to protect it.

The governments confronting COVID ad is trying to get to populations traditional media doesnt reach.

And saying COVID is painful and you wont like it might be what it takes for people who arent taking this health crisis seriously to do so.

The ad has been fairly criticised because some executional elements are not factually accurate, but ultimately, persuasive advertising isnt about showing the truth, its about being selective in the truth you show and dramatising that to get people to do what they wouldnt before.
A self-described citizen journalist tweeting cynical and cranky stock market gossip is not, in the eyes of the law, a journalist, the Federal Court has ruled.

Stock trader-turned-mining investor Tolga Kumova is suing New Zealand man Alan Davison over posts under his Twitter account, Stock Swami, that the former rich-lister says defamed him.

Tolga Kumova was named on the Financial Reviews young rich list in 2017, reporting his net worth was $95 million. Credit:Eddie Jim

Mr Kumova, a former New Century Resources board member, claims Mr Davisons tweets imply he was engaged in insider trading and manipulating the stock market. Mr Davison denies his tweets meant that and is fighting the lawsuit using the defences of contextual truth and justification.

In a rare test of what legal protection guerilla journalists have for their sources, Mr Davison invoked problematic journalistic shield laws in an effort to prevent Mr Kumova from forcing him to reveal who provided him information behind some of the Stock Swami tweets.
Did you head into the city today? Not so long ago, about a million people would have answered yes to this question. Pre-pandemic, the City of Melbourne was the fastest-growing municipality in the country, with a daily influx of workers, shoppers and tourists who piled in to work and play in what was ranked among the worlds most liveable cities. A large chunk of this daily migration was office workers, who came in from the suburbs, spent between eight and 10 hours a day in town, bought their lunch at city cafes and stepped out in the evening for dinner, drinks and sometimes a show.

The seismic impact of the coronavirus pandemic stopped this way of life in its tracks. The crisis closed borders, brought public health orders to keep people at home and led to a general unease about using public transport.

Crowds in Bourke Street Mall on Sunday. The CBD still faces a long road to recovery, research shows. Credit:Luis Ascui

We adapted virtually overnight to our new circumstances. Hundreds of thousands of people began working at home and the city, which for many years had been nurtured into a social, cultural and economic powerhouse, fell quiet.

As we move further into our second year of living with COVID-19, it seems increasingly likely that many of the changes that happened so rapidly in 2020 are here to stay. The Age reported on Monday the results of a survey of the nations 50 largest companies, a large majority of which believe a hybrid work model, whereby time is split between the home and the office, will endure long after the danger of the pandemic has passed.
The roof was ripped off a building in WAs South West but Perths suburbs remained relatively unscathed as a cold front hit the state on Monday morning.

The cold front, which started to cross the coast about 4.30am, was described as a once or twice-a-year weather event by the Bureau of Meteorology.

A severe weather warning is still in place from the south coast stretching up to Jurien Bay, forecast to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous surf conditions.

Perth had 9.6 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours before 9am this morning and 33 people called for help for minor damage across the state, according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
In findings we have received dismissing our complaints, A&CA has simply cited the response from the content producer. It seems at times that if the ABC employee responsible for the report is happy with their work, so is A&CA.

Its Audience and Consumer Affairs unit, or A&CA, is responsible for assessing complaints. While it is a separate unit, it is still very much part of the ABC.

Anyone who feels the ABC has breached its code may formally complain. However, they may be surprised to find who decides if the ABC has met its standards. The ABC does.

The ABC, with its multi-platform presence across television and radio stations and the internet, is our nations most prominent source of news and current affairs. Being taxpayer-funded, it has a code of practice which prescribes required standards of journalistic professionalism, under self-explanatory headings such as accuracy and impartiality.

In fact, A&CA rejects almost all complaints. Of 6057 complaints in 2019-20, it upheld, in whole or part, only 6 per cent of those it investigated.

A case in point was the May 27 Q&A episode that in part covered the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. Its panel included pro-Palestinian activist Randa Abdel-Fattah and lawyer Jennifer Robinson, who has represented Palestinians at the International Criminal Court, but no equivalent advocate for Israel. According to the program, that perspective was to be given by federal government MP Dave Sharma, a former Australian ambassador to Israel. However, Sharma was there to discuss political matters, and was balanced by ALP MP Ed Husic, who also called for recognition of a Palestinian state.

Yet A&CA dismissed complaints that this imbalance blatantly breached the code requirement that the ABC not unduly favour one perspective over another, stating Israels acting ambassador was invited to participate. (He was invited merely to sit in the audience and maybe ask a question.) It insisted Sharma provided the necessary balance.

In 2015, the Radio National program Earshot featured two unrelentingly one-sided, anti-Israel documentaries, produced and narrated by an ABC producer who, as the program subsequently admitted on its website, was also an activist in anti-Israel movements. A&CA dismissed complaints about demonstrably false claims by saying they were, for example, opinion rather than a statement of fact capable of independent verification, and as such, it cannot be tested against the ABCs accuracy standard. Furthermore, dismissing complaints about bias, A&CA made the Orwellian finding that the belated acknowledgement of the producers activism on the website and audio program contributed to the overall impartiality of the program.

The ABC code of practice is, by necessity, open to interpretation, but A&CA sometimes takes interpretation to extremes. For example, the code requires a diversity of perspectives be presented over time. Other A&CA responses we have received  such as that to the mentioned Earshot case  rather than defending the program in question, have simply cited other programs that have included an alternative view. This suggests a program can exclusively present one side of an argument as long as, somewhere on the ABC at some time, part of the opposite argument also gets air time.
~ Writes to Minister seeking collaboration ~



Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has written to Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel encouraging a collaborative initiative to establish a Central Kitchen to service the countrys breakfast program for children and possibly a lunch program in the future.

Emmanuel used the opportunity at the recently held debate on the country 2021 budget to approach the Minister with the idea. He stressed to the Minister that a long-term more sustainable approach is much better than the short-term remedy of throwing money at the recurring problem. When the money runs out, we are back to square one, he said, adding that the Minister seemed very receptive of the proposal.

All over the world, including the Caribbean, central kitchens are becoming a more popular option for governments looking to streamline and expand their school breakfast or lunch operations whatever they may be. The central kitchen I proposed will provide healthy, sustainable, fresh, and local food to all schoolchildren in need of a good breakfast, the MP said.

He explained that the idea of a Central Kitchen is straightforward: One location where all breakfast meals are prepared and shipped out to schools in the early morning hours. Preparing and shipping out for same-day service is efficient in terms of delivery at that time of day (no traffic) and also for food safety reasons.

The venue will house a large, well equipped and well-staffed central kitchen with employees trained to cook or prepare meals from scratch and supervised by a culinary school graduate perhaps from NIPA or Sundial, would at long last enable us to produce and serve the kind of healthy, locally grown, freshly prepared breakfast meals our students need for optimal health and learning.

MP Emmanuel said the construction could be a creative one using out-fitted containers in an attractive setup complete with a modern kitchen. We really do not need to re-invent the wheel, there are several successful and similar programs. Employment is also created and contributions from local food producers will be central, MP Emmanuel said.

One thing is for certain  the well-being of our lowest-income students, who make up the majority of those needing school meals, cannot and should not be left to the availability of funds that have to be re-directed in the countrys budget. A central kitchen will depend on public-private partnerships or grants that bring money into the breakfast program rather than putting the financial burden entirely on government or schools/school boards, the MP explained.

He continued: I believe that the private sector would jump at the opportunity to fulfill their corporate citizen role by assisting our children and, by extension, their abilities to learn without worrying about a good meal to start the day. The program could eventually branch out to even offer hot lunches. I will throw my full effort behind this project by encouraging potential private sector partners to participate.

The MP recommended as a first step the commissioning of a feasibility study. He said a feasibility study will explore the broader impacts a central kitchen could have on the entire community. Economic, environmental, and social impacts will be estimated for local farmers, businesses, restaurants, and other institutions that can contribute. He said such a feasibility study is a low-cost approach to help understand the potential benefits.

Your Ministry has the resources and personnel to get this done and I am committing my time and that of my team to assist. I am not one to see a problem and keep doing the same things over and over and expect different results. We must embrace final solution approaches in addressing the countrys long-standing challenges. This particular challenge regards the children of St. Maarten and it behooves us to overcome this challenge with a creative and sustainable final solution. They deserve no less. I look forward to future discussions and actions on this proposal, the MP concluded.

Click here for the letter sent to the Minister of ECYS.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As of July 10th, there were five (5) persons who tested positive for COVID-19. There were no recoveries today. The total active cases are now at twenty-two (22). The total number of confirmed cases is two thousand six hundred thirty-eight (2638).

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are monitoring eighteen (18) people in home isolation. Four (4) patients are hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at thirty-four (34).

The number of people recovered since the first case surfaced on St. Maarten remains at two thousand five hundred eighty-two (2582). Twenty-seven (27) people are in quarantine based on contact tracing investigations carried out by CPS.



The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour (VSA) Airport Health Team in collaboration with Health Care Laboratory Sint Maarten (HCLS) have tested 3, 304 travelers arriving at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), while CPS tested 35, 043 people throughout the community. As the numbers continue to fluctuate, CPS will continue to actively execute its contact tracing measures.

Minister Ottley would like to thank everyone who came out to this weekend's vaccination pop-up clinics. Together we can accomplish our goal of herd immunity.
Simpson Bay:--- Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines officially launched its first route network with non-stop flights to St. Maarten from Miami and Orlando, Florida at the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on Saturday, July 10, 2021. The air service will embark on weekly flights on Saturdays using an Airbus 320 with a seating capacity of 186. This venture serves as a part of Frontiers growing network out of South Florida.

Minister of Tourism Ludmila de Weever stated, Today marks another celebration for St. Maarten as we welcome two Frontier Airlines flights from Florida. More than 300 passengers arrived from Miami and Orlando, Florida on an affordable flight. For that, we are forever grateful for all the hard work done by the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau and the collective team at the airport from the management of PJIAE to the baggage handlers. St. Maarten welcomes you with pleasure to our safe and friendly island.

A delegation from the Dutch and French Ministry of Tourism, SXM Airport Managing Board, and the core representatives of the St. Maarten Juliana Airport Handlers gathered to eagerly welcome the crew and passengers of the inaugural flights.

This is a happy day and we are extremely pleased to bring additional economic benefit to St. Maarten through the establishment with our new Frontier Airline partners. Miami has become such an increasingly important part of our route hub network and, as PJIAE N.V. continues to grow, along with the number of destinations we serve, it made perfect sense for our team and tourism stakeholders to also establish a connection out of Orlando, said Airport CEO, Brian Mingo.

With new gateways opening this gives an opportunity for destination St. Maarten to be able to target new areas in Florida as well as other surrounding regions in the US. This is definitely a positive development for the tourism industry, stated Tourism Director May-Ling Chun.

International Sales Manager for Frontier Airlines, Alfredo Gonzalez stated, This is an exciting day! Starting a new route is always exciting but starting a route to an island as beautiful and diverse as St. Maarten is just amazing. What Frontier Airlines tries to do is connect people from both directions who want to see their friends and relatives. We want to see people getting on these flights with low-fares done right with the greenest airline in America.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Soualiga Employers Association (SEA) is calling upon the Government of Sint Maarten to show some more leniency towards the business community and primarily so to our local Small Medium Enterprise (SME) category of businesses. SEA thinks that with leniency that should include tax holiday/exemption for local businesses for defining a period, couple with improved facilitation as it relates to immigration and labor processes for the business sector would serve as a stimulant towards increased economic activity.

SEA has taken note, that the current guidelines and requirements for businesses to obtain tax holidays do not cater to our SME sector and in particular our local businesses. Some of these requirements include incorporation requiring an investment minimum of Naf 250,000; Must cater to cater to the hospitality sector or promote a visit to St. Maarten by foreign nationals with an investment minimum of Naf 1,000,000. Given the aforementioned, SEA is appealing to the authority and in particular the Ministry of Finance to amend these stipulations so that our wide-ranging businesses which comprise 85 percent of our total business sector can also have a fair chance of applying for some sort of relief as it relates to tax exemption. In SEA's opinion, an exemption for a minimum of 6 months would go a very long way for our SME sector, both new and existing.

As an employers association representing a wide spectrum of our community, SEA joins the call as many other institutions that include the Chamber of Commerce that has been calling for not just the establishment of businesses but also measures that would certainly ensure their growth and development. This call is extended to the assistance of even our various Taxi Associations where measures should be put in place that they can be formally recognized as a business so that certain facilities can be afforded to them.

With the requested measures, especially that of the tax exemption, SEA firmly believes this would create economic activity and have a positive effect. Thereby creating more businesses for which businesses can now re-invest and stimulate employment.
PHILIPSBURG:---The examination class for the school year 2020-2021 for the St. Maarten Academy PSVE, attained a 97% pass rate at the end of their examination period. Guided by the theme, SOAR: The World Awaits You, of the total of 33 students who completed the examination period, 32 met the passing criteria for the 2020-2021 school year.

At the PBL level, 23 of the 24 students passed, representing a 96% pass rate, with the valedictorian for this level being ManHing Zheng Feng from class B4C. Students at the PBL level were organized into three classes: B4A mentored by Mrs. Kavel Wilson, achieved a pass rate of 88%; B4B mentored by Mrs. Tania Gordon earned a 100% pass rate, while B4C with Ms. Petromella Layne as its mentor, attained a 100% pass rate.

One class represented the PKL level, P4A, which achieved a 100% pass rate, under the mentorship of Ms. Exzira Caines, and with the valedictorian sport for this level being shared by two students, namely, Eibian Henriquez Torres and Mary Medrano Nova.

Regarding the subject-specific PBL level achievement, the best graduating English student was Kyle Lake, for Dutch the top students were Melissa McCall and ManHing Zheng Feng while for Mathematics and Economics, Dsean Diaz captured the top spot in both subjects. ManHing Zheng Feng was also the best graduating student for the subjects Spanish and Administration and Commerce, while Jobson Clenor earned the top spot for French, Melissa McCall for Cultural Artistic Formation (CAF) and for Physical Education, the students who earned the highest grade were Yorlenny Arrindell and Kyle Lake.

Considering the PKL subject-specific achievement, the top performer for English was Evanny Roberts, for Dutch the student was Priscilla Morris while for Mathematics and Economics this student was Eibian Henriquez Torres. The highest achiever for Spanish and Administration and Commerce was Mary Medrano Nova, for French Tyler Percival, for Cultural Artistic Formation (CAF) the top spot went to Hopeton Somers, while for Physical Education two students earned this award: Mary Medrano Nova and Hopeton Somers.

These achievements were recognized when the school hosted its school leaving exercises on June 29th, 2021, for the class of 2021 using a modified approach to adapt to the new normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Principal Mrs. Lavern A. Nelson indicated that This achievement for the class of 2021 was because of the effort of the entire village over a 4-year period, with specific focus being in the pre-examination and examination years. The realities of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated that staff, students and their parents/guardians had to confront among other things, stress given the demands of multimodal learning over multiple teaching and learning platforms and fears about their health and safety given the pandemic, yet grasp the opportunities embedded in our new normal. The importance of the village cannot be denied! Therefore, hats off to the village who made this achievement possible: God, our School Board, the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE), Subject Teachers, Mentors, Student Care Department, Parents/Guardians, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport and its various divisions, everyone who contributed to this achievement in the face of the odds. Thank you! 

The former students of the CXC Class of 2020, who achieved a 100% pass rate at the first sitting of Mathematics and English at the CXC examinations in August 2020, were also recognized with their CCSLC Certificates at the school leaving exercises on June 29th. The former students concerned were: Kemar Brooks, Oceandre Clarke, Santa Confinante Jimenez, Jeremiah Flanders, Harry Goguette, Jade Gordon, Jordani Labady, Calvin Lumaine, Jeremy Page, Jervons Rogers, Abigail Stevens, Adrian Vaerie, and Tyreke Woodstock. Oceandre Clarke was valedictorian, followed by Kemar Brooks. Santa Confinante Jimenez and Calvin Lumaine received top spots at the regional level for CXCs CCSLC Mathematics.

The FAVE School Board, through its Chair Mr. Roland Duncan, Esq., and Management through the schools Principal Mrs. Lavern A. Nelson join with staff and students in congratulating the class of 2021 and the CXC Class of 2020.

Parents/guardians or interested persons may learn more about the St. Maarten Academy PSVE by calling 548-4821 or by visiting the schools Facebook page St. Maarten Academy PSVE
SABA:--- Four very happy families received the keys to their new homes in St. Johns on Thursday, July 8, 2021. It concerns four restored social housing units of the Own Your Own Home Foundation (OYOHF) which were rebuilt after a fire.

At the time of the fire several years ago, the building consisted of two units, known as St. Johns number 3 and 4. A complete reconstruction of the houses took place in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations (BZK), the Planning Bureau of the Public Entity Saba (OLS), and the Dutch housing corporation Bazalt Wonen (formerly Woonlinie).

In the reconstruction plans, it was decided to add another floor to the building in order to create two additional units, which is welcome news for the families who are on the waiting list and in need of affordable social housing.

The four families were overjoyed and even a bit emotional as they received the keys from Commissioner of Social Affairs Rolando Wilson and Maarten Koster of Bazalt Wonen together with OYOHF representative Eviton Heyliger. The OYOHF will manage the four units. The Planning Bureau of OLS did the project management.

The units on the ground floor are made of concrete and have three bedrooms each. The two units on the first floor consist of a wooden, sturdy, hurricane-proof structure. These units each have two bedrooms. The homes have a new kitchen, bathroom, and a magnificent view from the balcony. Each of the four units has its own cistern.

The project suffered some delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of manpower in the construction sector.
~demanding respect and proper workspace for Territorial police.~

MARIGOT:--- Workers of the Collectivity of Saint Martin chained the doors of the Collectivitys building as they gather in a protest action that is supported UNIT 978 and its leader Albert Blake. In a statement, Blake said the COM workers have had enough since they are all being disrespected by the President of the COM.

Blake said the issue has been ongoing for the past 3 weeks after they realized that the Police Territorial Building have been invaded and taken over by the Director-General Services (DSG). Blake said that while the Police Territorial has been waiting for a comfortable workspace the DGS services moved into the newly renovated building which they equipped leaving the Police Territorial in an uncomfortable workspace at another location. The police territorial was left to work in deplorable conditions, an area that is smelly. We are behind the bus station and the area is filthy and smells awful on a daily basis. Blake said the new set of DGS workers who recently came to work on St. Martin segregated themselves, they do not mingle with the COM workers, besides that, they are not respectful since he said they are smoking in and out of the offices and are placing their feet on top of the desks as if they are at home.

Blake further explained that when they took their grievances to the President of the COM who would constantly make excuses for the DGS agents while promising to address the matter but in fact, the President does not. The union representative said that just recently they saw one of the agents entering the Presidents office with a lit cigarette in his hands. He said if the President of the COM is tolerating this behavior how could the workers demand respect from the DGS agents. He credited the COM workers for the actions they took on Monday. He said on Friday the Police invaded their former workspace that was invaded by the DGS agents. He said a meeting was held on Friday and the President suggested that the Police Territorial move to an area next door to Credit Mutuel which they declined. Blake said that the new location is far worst than the one they are currently occupying. There is pigeon poop and sewage pollution there, at least 3 other services refused to utilize that location and the police territorial will not give up its building that was built in 1989 by Mayor Albert Fleming. The police need to be in close proximity of the COM.

Blake said the President has been undermining the police territorial because he went to another unit that does not represent the police. He made clear that the Police will not leave the building that was built for the police.

Blake further explained that on Wednesday last week the DGS removed all the furniture from the building giving them an empty workspace, while the President promised that the building would have the necessary furniture for the Police to function.

Blake said that the actions will continue until the President addresses the matter fully which includes the departure of the DGS and her agents.
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Medford, NJ (08055)

Today

Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High 83F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 68F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
STAMFORD  One year ago protesters crowded Latham Park, occupying the space for a week to demand reforms in the Stamford Police Department. On Sunday a small group returned to the scene to reflect on what has  and hasnt  changed.

In October 2019, Stamford resident Steven Barrier died while in police custody. Last summer, as racial justice and civil rights protests spread across the country, it was Barriers name that served as the rallying cry in Stamford.

I think we absolutely made some progress because a lot more people are aware of Steven Barriers case and what happened to him, said event organizer Nicole Pleasants, one of six who gathered Sunday in Latham Park to discuss the civil case Barriers mother, Valerie Jaddo, has filed, and what more needs to be done.

I know a lot of people didnt know before and we have been able to help Valerie find the right lawyer to file the complaint, Nicole Pleasants said.

We brought so much light to this case, adder her sister Samantha. I feel personally connected to Steven because I have my own mental health issues and Im terrified of what might happen if I had a mental health issue and the police were called to my house.

Both Pleasants sisters wore t-shirts bearing Barriers photo and their groups name: Justice for Steven Barrier.

Officers had responded to Barriers home on a report of a domestic violence incident and a foot chase between him and police reportedly ensued. According to the state medical examiners office, Barrier died after suffering a heart attack and the states attorney said there were no signs of injury on his body or evidence a taser was used when police took him into custody.

Barriers family has repeatedly called for more information about the case to be released while insisting he should have been brought to the hospital and not the police station after he was taken into custody.

In March, Jaddo filed a wrongful death claim against the city, the Stamford Police Department and four officers. She said her son was suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other conditions and needed psychiatric care. In her suit, Jaddo accuses the officers of using excessive force and inhuman treatment due to the color of his skin and mental condition.

On July 11, 2020  amid a national movement of protests and encampments  protesters descended on Latham Park and set up 20 tents.

They called for a demilitarization of the Stamford Police Department, for money budgeted to the police to be allocated to other human services needs, for more transparency about internal police investigations and for mental health care reform at Stamford Hospital.

After a week, the self-described Latham Abolition Camp left the park after they were told by the police they would be arrested if they did not. No arrests were made at what was a peaceful, week-long occupation.

Police had said the protesters were violating city ordinances by camping in the park. The protesters insisted they did not need a permit because they were expressing their First Amendment rights but ultimately dispersed without incident.

Subsequent protests in the city, though, did result in injuries, including one in August 2020 where both protesters and police officers reported being hurt.

Both Pleasants sisters said they doubted the police would change their response tactics or how the city funds the police.

Nicole Pleasants said when it comes to the police budget, not enough of it goes to training, which is critical for better response to incidents like Barriers.

As women we should see that and as white women we should see that, Samantha Pleasants said. As white women its important for us to be here beside the people of color in our community. Were allies.

Stamford resident Brian Merlen also attended Sundays small gathering.

This is a very personal issue to me, Merlen said. Look at all the mental health calls that have gone wrong in the state of Connecticut. This isnt just about Fairfield County. Its systematic and if we had a mental health response team we wouldnt have these deaths.

In the wake of Barriers death, the city has implemented new mental health-related initiatives, including a social worker embedded in the police department and increased crisis intervention training for officers.

Looking back, Nicole Pleasants said they were glad they did it.

I think it was really empowering, she said. It felt good. For the first time in my life I felt a sense of community. I felt like I was actually helping people.

Nicole Pleasants said it went beyond advocating for Barrier. It was also the experience of the encampment, such as setting up some tents for homeless people and sharing meals with them.

It really did create a sense of community, said another attendee, Maria Altamura. We might not have known each other for very long or even at all when it started but I felt safe there and we were able get Stevens name out there.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
DARIEN  The newly crowned Miss Connecticut USA visited Darien and brought with her a message of empowerment.

Amanda Torchia, 25  a Waterbury resident who pursued her own dream to take that title after being named runner-up in the competition the two previous years  stopped by the Darien Depot Youth Center Friday to meet everyone and plan a more formal visit in the fall.

As part of her outreach work, Torchia is seeking to empower young women and share her own experience to help inspire them to pursue their dreams.

She said, If Im going to win this title, I want to put it to good use, said her mother, Melissa Torchia. For her its more meaningful than just showing up.

With both her parents first-generation immigrants, Torchia  who intends to ultimately open up her own yoga and Pilates studio one day  struggled in her formative years with issues of feeling different, low self-esteem and loneliness.

Coming from an immigrant family, I never felt good enough, said Torchia, who earned a business degree from St. John Fisher College. I always felt out of place, so growing up I felt so, like, Whats wrong with me?

Yet Torchia discovered her voice and confidence through her competition experiences, which initially began when she was just 9 years of age.

Competing I gained an understanding of who I was.  Its all about the confidence building, she said.

While she had not planned to do more than a meet and greet with some of the Depot staff, her informal introduction served to inspire several of the young people in attendance.

Shes honestly really relate-able to all of us, said Brianna Cintron, 14, one of several attendees who appeared to thorough enjoy the dialogue with her.

Torchia said her mother, who grew up in Afghanistan, played a big part in inspiring her to strive for her dreams.

It actually influenced her a lot, Melissa Torchia said, because a lot of the opportunities that are offered here, I didnt have those opportunities to take advantage of.

She said shes never forced or even encouraged her daughter to do anything that wasnt already in Torchias heart, but noted that pageant participation was something that really drew her interest.

In November she will be competing for the Miss USA title.

I love how she talks about following your dreams and becoming whatever you want, said Ashley Clarke, 14, whose own interests center on dance.

A member of the Depot staff, Clarke said Torchia will be an excellent speaker to address the Girls Night Out group there, probably some time in the fall.

Itll be cool if she comes to one of the meetings, she said, noting an appreciation for her easy-going quality and friendly demeanor.

Janice Marzano, program director, said Torchias serendipitous connection with the Depot looked like it would be a great fit.

She can show them that theres nothing that you cant do if its in your heart, she said.
NEW HAVEN  When no one would hire hairstylist Kathy Moura fresh out of technical high school, salon owner Pio Imperati took the chance and gave her a chair at his iconic Pio of Italy Hair Studio.

Fifteen years later, Imperati has given Moura another big break: he sold his legendary Westville business to her for only $1, and now, at age 79, hes working for her.

That makes her the first person in her family to ever own a business, and thats exciting, she said.

We grew like a family.  Thats how he treats everyone who walks into the salon, Moura said of Imperati. Any person who works here, he wants you to flourish and become something of yourself.

While Moura will pay rent to Imperati, there normally is a charge in the tens of thousands of dollars to purchase a salon for the equipment, supplies and, most of all, clientele.

And what a whopping clientele it is. Imperati has been in business for some 56 years in various locations and forms, beginning as a barbershop in 1965. The salon is located at 1118 Whalley Ave.

Imperati, who lives in Orange with his wife, Carol, said Moura has been a model employee.

Shes a good hairdresser, a good barber, shes very nice, Imperati said. I sold it to her for $1 so we would remain friends.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Now hes an independent contractor working for her and, at almost 80, has no plan to retire.

Imperato will continue to style hair four days per week so he can take care of his regulars  some dating back to the beginning  and even hopes to pick up new clients.

You get up in the morning and you dont feel so good. I go to work and then I feel alive, Imperati said. My customers are my friends. The salon is relaxed.

Joseph Patton has had his hair cut by Imperati since he was 16  when flat-top haircuts were all the rage and Imperati was working for another barber.

Im a lifelong Westville resident and ... a lifelong Pio client, Patton said. Its not the quality of the haircut, but more the relationship, the camaraderie.

Patton said theyre like family and hell never forget that Imperati gave him a free haircut and shave the day before his wedding in 1970.

Imperato immigrated here from Furore, Italy, in 1962 when he was 20, following others in his large family.

He had been a barber since age 15 but needed to take a test to become licensed to cut hair here, so he went to night school to learn English.

Imperato started in business with a small barbershop, but later went to hairdressing school because laws at that time required barbers to close earlier than salons and he wanted to stay open later.

The best part about styling hair, he said, is the personal interaction.

I like people. Ive been privileged all these years to meet some beautiful people, Imperati said. Patton said Imperati is concerned, empathetic, friendly.

At one point in the business early evolution, he had a little barbershop with a salon next-door where wife,also a stylist, styled womens hair. She was a hairdressing instructor when he met her, but not his instructor.

Eventually they opened a unisex salon. Carol Imperati eventually lessened her role when they started a family. The couple has two sons and a daughter.

Imperati said it was important for him to give his children educational opportunities that he never had.

Imperati emphasized that coming to this country was a complicated process.

Moving from one country to another country is not very easy, he said. This country has treated me good. Anyone who comes from another country knows its hard.

Imperati said hes grateful for his many friends and customers of all nationalities, all religions, all colors.

There have been rocks in the road, but Im blessed with the friends I have, he said.

Moura, 32, a Naugatuck resident, said she couldnt find a job after her training at Emmett OBrien Technical High School because no one would hire me because I didnt have any experience.

She finally called her teacher for help and was given Pio Imperatis phone number.

The couple gave her a tryout/shadowing experience, then hired her.

They became like family and Moura learned hair replacement, as well, a large part of the business.

Moura said she loves her career.

Its always something different every day. Its never the same, she said.

Customer Debbi Sepulveda of Westville has been going to the salon for 30 years and said even if she did not live near the salon she would travel to have Moura cut and color her hair.

I can honestly say in the 30 years I have gone to Pios and had the experience of several stylists I never had a bad experience, she said. The atmosphere is always warm and friendly. Pio, along with his staff, treat you like family.

Moura said she was nervous at first about taking over the business but feels more confident with her old boss there to help guide her.

Hes got my back. Im confident were going to build it to the sky, she said.

As for Imperato, hes happy, too, to have reached another life goal.

Eventually, it was a dream of mine come true to be able to turn the salon over to someone worthy, he said.
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP)  A shipment of 1.5 million doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine donated by the United States arrived Monday in Nepal, which is struggling to inoculate its population against the coronavirus.

Today's delivery of the single-dose vaccine means that this single donation is enough to protect over 1.5 million people in Nepal," U.S. Ambassador Randy Berry said at Kathmandu airport.

The U.S. is also donating vaccines to several other Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Health Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha said the shipment, obtained through the U.N.-backed COVAX vaccine facility, would be given to people between the ages of 50 and 54.

Though situated between India and China, which are among the biggest producers of vaccines, Nepal has been struggling to obtain doses.

It began its vaccination campaign in January, but less than 3% of its population has been fully inoculated. The campaign stalled after India was hit by a devastating coronavirus outbreak and cut off exports of Indian-made vaccines, including 1 million doses which Nepal had already paid for.

Since then, China has donated 1.8 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine and is selling Nepal about 4 million more doses this month.

Nepal faced its own coronavirus outbreak in April which prompted authorities to impose a two-month lockdown. That brought down the number of cases, but an easing of restrictions now is raising concern about a new outbreak with so few people vaccinated. Thousands of people also cross the border with India every day without health checks to seek work there or return home.

There are official checkpoints on the main routes across the 1,800-kilometer (1,125-mile) border, but it is easy to walk across much of the unguarded portion.

We are very likely to be hit by a third wave of COVID-19 because we have a very porous border and only a small number of people have received the vaccine, said Dr. Rajan Pandey of Bheri Hospital in the border city of Nepalgunj, 360 kilometers (225 miles) southwest of the capital, Kathmandu.

In May, the city was the first in Nepal to be hit by the new outbreak and the hospital was overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. Patients lined up outside its doors and many were turned away or treated in ambulances or in corridors. Even doctors and nurses fell sick.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  Volvo Trucks North America says some striking workers crossed picket lines Monday at a southwestern Virginia factory as the company plans to restart production.

Spokesman John Mies wouldn't say how many United Auto Workers members went inside the factory in Dublin, Virginia, near Roanoke. But he said in an email that it will take a few days to get assembly lines back up and running at the plant, which employs 2,900 UAW workers.

Union members at the heavy truck assembly plant have voted down three tentative contract agreements reached with local union negotiators, with the most recent rejection coming on Friday. They initially went on strike in April.

UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg said about 10 workers crossed the lines Monday morning, in addition to a handful of union workers who had gone to work earlier. He said he didn't have exact numbers. Rothenberg said that in any strike, a small number of workers cross picket lines.

Workers will vote again on the third agreement Wednesday. Our final offer is on the table," Mies said in an email Monday.

The recalcitrant strikers could be a sign that workers feel more emboldened because employers are having a hard time finding skilled workers.

Theres less fear of never finding another job, and that does mean that the gamble for the membership is not as severe, said Arthur Wheaton, a labor expert who teaches at Cornell Universitys Worker Institute.

While workers may not find a job quite as good as the one they have at Volvo in southwestern Virginia, they could be thinking: If they fire us or replace us, how many people have the skill set to build these heavy trucks? ... Theres not a lot of us around. And we think youre gonna have to pay us.

Volvo could take a risk by hiring permanent employees to replace striking workers because the new workers may not be at the same skill level, he said. They arent just building a little tiny golf cart. These things are huge, and they have a lot of parts to them.

On Friday, Volvo trucks said in a statement that it would implement terms of the third agreement, reached with local union leaders on July 1. Returning employees would get the agreement's wages and benefits.

A copy of the third agreement shows workers with one year of experience would start at $20.60 per hour, progressing to a top wage of $30.92 when the contract ends in 2026.

In a video message posted to Facebook on Sunday, the president of the UAW local at the plant urged workers not to go back to their jobs.

Basically theyre trying to break our union, telling people to cross the line, Matt Blondino said.

Blondino said that a majority yes vote Wednesday would send workers back to the plant for production on July 19. Most would get a sign-on bonus of $2,000.

If members vote to reject the deal, Blondino said they would have to wait for the company to respond. If Volvo sets a date for workers to return after Wednesday's vote, then the union can file an unfair labor practices charge with the National Labor Relations Board, he said.

Kristin Dziczek, senior vice president at the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank, said the NLRB under President Joe Biden is more likely to look favorably on a union complaint than the board under former President Donald Trump.

She also said the company could try to hire replacement workers, although that might be hard in a climate where employers are having trouble finding employees.

The workers really do have more power than they would have had even a year ago, she said. Theres lots of jobs. And theyve got a president and NLRB that will back them.

The previous contract, reached in 2016, was to expire in mid-March. Negotiations began in February. Workers went on strike from April 17 to 30 and returned to work as they were voting on the first agreement. But members rejected that offer in May.

The company announced another six-year tentative agreement later that month, but it was rejected June 6.

The UAW has said previously that workers had concerns about health care, wages, health and safety issues, working conditions, plant shift operations, contractual time off and wage progression.

Volvo says the 1.6 million-square-foot (nearly 150,000-square-meter) Dublin plant is the largest manufacturer of Volvo trucks in the world. It is one of the largest private sector employers in the region, with about 3,300 employees, 2,900 represented by the UAW.
"I hike my goats with people  this is my job. Kristen Sassano Gills story lives up to that intriguing Facebook teaser. Along with her daughter Elena, Gill has created a thriving COVID-inspired venture that integrates their goats and adventurous guests on guided hikes. They also bring the goats as surprise or star guests for childrens birthday parties and other gatherings, and welcome visitors to their Got Your Goat farm in Washington Depot to romp and play with our babies. Booking central for all the caprine fun is the Got Your Goat Facebook page. (This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.)

You hike with goats; whats that all about?

My whole thing with goats is the goats themselves are hikers. Thats what mountain goats do. When we had only three goats [now 22], we used to live in a house next to a blue trail and they would hike with me every day. It was obvious they loved hiking as much as I do.

So how did that become a business venture?

At the beginning of COVID, we had eight to 10 goats, and one of them had a complicated birth with two giant twins and a little baby. Everybody watched on livestream over Easter weekend during COVID. We raised little Thumper on a bottle, and he almost died. Around the same time, my daughter Elena turned 16 and she wanted to have a life instead of being so cooped up. I love hiking with goats and my daughter wanted to do birthday parties with goats. So we started the business, Got Your Goat, to host birthday parties with our goats here, bring our goats to parties, and take people hiking with our goats.

Kristen Sassano Gill

People like hiking with goats?

People love it. Its usually families who cant get their kids to hike looking for an innovative way to get them outdoors. The first person who signed up for a hike with the goats brought her 12-year-old daughter, Finley. The mom loves hiking and the daughter doesnt. So we went for a hike in North Salem not far from where they live in Westchester. While we were hiking, I said, Finley, maybe you could help me out and get the word out. This weekend we have a public hike at Steep Rock in Washington. She came up with the hashtag #finleygoating. Ive probably had 100 people come through from Pelham because of this kid. Ive seen them a bunch of times now. The business has morphed into people who havent experienced goats connecting for that aspect, or people who love goats connecting to experience hiking with them.

How does people hiking with goats work exactly?

Goats are extremely friendly and social. They believe people are part of their herd, so it works for them. Getting out and moving and being in the woods are some of the best things we can do for our mind, body and spirit, and its really healthy for the goats. The thing thats most important about hiking with goats is to keep moving forward. Goats are browsers, so they eat a lot of different things. So if you stop, they get distracted and start eating. Ive had to teach them how to drink from a stream because they have a fear of water, and when youre hiking theres no water bottle for a goat. They dont like rain, so the only thing that stops them is rain.

Kristen Sassano Gill

What about the logistics? How do you get the goats to hikes and parties?

I can transport 12 goats in my Ford Edge. We call it the Goatmobile now. It belongs to the goats. I had to get a Honda Civic to have a peoplemobile. So now I have a peoplemobile that doesnt smell like goats and a goatmobile that doesnt get great gas mileage but is sturdy and I can get 12 goats in it. I put them in the back. Originally I put them in the seats but they would crawl all over the car. When we show up at a surprise party and I open the back hatch and eight goats pile out, people go gaga about it.

Where are the goats favorite places to hike?

Because were in Washington Depot we do tend to go to Macricostas, a Steep Rock Association preserve where the pinnacle overlooks Lake Waramaug. The problem is theres a lot of mountain laurel, which is toxic to goats. White Memorial in Litchfield is great for them, but I like to have a climb. The Housatonic Range Trail in New Milford and Gaylordsville is my go-to if I think I have decent hiking people with me, and when I have people from Westchester I go to Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem. Then theres a little waterfall hike at the Brian Tierney Preserve in Roxbury. People really dont know about it. Ive been all over the state. Ive met people at Wadsworth Falls in Middletown, and Ive met people at Hammonasset Beach in Madison.

Kristen Sassano Gill

What comes next for you and Elena?

My goal with the business long term is to franchise it. There was a recent article about goats being the next dog, so its really just a natural.

This article originally appeared in Connecticut Magazine. You can subscribe here, or find the current issue on sale here. Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest and greatest content from Connecticut Magazine delivered right to your inbox. On Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Generally cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 60F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Ogden jazz icon Joe McQueen may be gone, but his memory and legacy live on. One physical reminder of his life, McQueen's lifelong home at 3158 Grant Ave., has now become available for sale. The house received extensive remodeling, but as investor Richard Casperson has said, "Joe's energy is 
People are anxious to return to the skies and seas again after being cooped up throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carl Beardsley Jr., executive director of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, has been encouraged by some recent trends.

The 14,853 passengers who flew out of the airport in May represented more than half the departures in May 2019, the first time the airport hit 50% of a pre-pandemic monthly total.

It hasnt changed overnight, but its certainly moving in the right direction and were seeing some good things on the horizon, Beardsley said.

Beardsley noted vacationers have accounted for a big portion of the recent clientele.

They make up probably 80% of the travelers who are going in and out of AVP, he said. Thats not to say there arent some business travelers  they just arent as frequent as what we used to see a year and a half or two years ago.

Beardsley noted the Pittston Twp. airport hasnt been as affected by staffing shortages hitting airlines.

Southwest Airlines customers have struggled with thousands of delays and hundreds of canceled flights over the past three weeks due to computer problems, staffing shortages and bad weather.

American Airlines has also trimmed its schedule through mid-July.

There was a lot of talk from American in particular that they were going to have to scale back because of issues of pilots or aircraft availability, but we havent seen anything here, Beardsley said. For the most part, the flights have been running. It isnt as bad as we thought it was going to be.

John Madden, executive vice president of Travelworld, has also noticed the increased demand for vacations.

Its definitely picking up tremendously and people are starting to book cruises, he said. Im as optimistic as Ive been in a long time. Its getting better every day.

Nina Waskovich, vice president for brand and membership at AAA North Penn, added the organization is seeing an increase in members booking and inquiring about future travel.

While the cruise industry hasnt completely rebounded from the pandemic, Madden believes better days are ahead.

I wouldnt say its anywhere near normal, but people are feeling much more secure, he said. This past weekend, we had a couple ships cruise from the United States. Were getting more and more bookings and next year is going to be a boom in my opinion.

Madden has experienced a few hitches from the shortages at airlines, but said there havent been any significant issues.

Unfortunately, Ive have a couple problems, but nothing major, he said. American has been a little bit of an issue. But if they cancel a flight, theyre rebooking on the first available one so it hasnt been too bad.

Madden anticipates another big rush for trips in the coming months as customers look forward to 2022.

I think its going to be the busiest Ive seen it since pre-pandemic in the fall booking for next year, he said.

He also feels the cost for cruises is going to rise as more people take to the water.

Now is the time to book because the prices are still very competitive, Madden said. I think as it gets closer there is going to be great demand and the prices are going to go up.
To cruise or not to cruise? To safari or stay put? To fly  perchance to hang glide or kite surf into some un-Instagrammed country. So goes the great moral dilemma now lurking in the travel and tourism industry, perhaps the beating heart of global consumerist extravagance. Now that our year-plus fast is close to over, shall we commence gorging once more?

In 2019, according to an industry trade group, the world spent about $9 trillion  nearly a tenth of global gross domestic product  on tourism. It was the 10th consecutive year of growth in travel and expansion looked endless.

Heedless success was the industrys main problem. If you traveled anywhere during the summer or two before the COVID-19 pandemic, you werent alone; across the world, officials wrestled with the civic and environmental costs of overtourism. Each summer, armadas of cruise ships would spew stinking streams of people and pollution into the worlds beloved port cities. At Disneyland, wait times for the hottest rides stretched to two hours  which was at least better than on Mount Everest, where overcrowding on some of the mountains most dangerous spots created deadly queues and effectively turned the summit into the worlds highest garbage dump. A New York Times art critic called on the Louvre to take down the Mona Lisa, who had grown so thickly thronged with Instagramming bucket-listers that she was now, he wrote, a black hole of anti-art who has turned the museum inside out.

Exploration is an ancient and sometimes even noble human endeavor, and as the virus abates, those of us fortunate enough to be able to entertain such possibilities are yearning to make up for lost vacationing. The global economy may depend on the rapid rebirth of tourism. Travel was, of course, one of the industries hit hardest by the pandemic. Tens of millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in economic activity are riding on its return to normality.

But that would be a mistake. Tourism should not return to anything like its old, profligate normal. The pandemic has presented the world with an opportunity to reset how we tour this planet, and we should reach for it.

Some places are doing so. In Amsterdam  a city of fewer than a million residents that was mobbed by more than 21 million visitors in 2019  leaders are considering new regulations for the citys famous red-light district and cannabis shops, which locals say attract too many rowdy crowds. Calanques National Park, in southern France, has started a demarketing campaign to dissuade online influencers from talking up the place. But I fear that many countries will find it difficult to keep tourism at bay. Already, in the name of quick economic rehabilitation, politicians and companies are pushing for a hasty return to the ways of the past, and then some. Some European countries have reopened to tourists from the United States, and airlines are clamoring for the Biden administration to reciprocate by opening America back up to the world.

Let us not be so hasty. In planning for the future of travel, all of us  travelers, people in the travel industry and the governments that regulate the business  would be wise to follow the careful travelers most reliable maxim: Go slow.

We should exercise caution not just because the virus remains very much still out there; its also because, in the years before the virus, tourism grew unsustainably and to excess, driven less by sincere wanderlust than preening digital self-regard. Technology hadnt just made travel very cheap but had also cheapened it. Glorious Instagram sunsets blinded us to the enormous planetary costs of travel. The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimated that tourism accounted for about 5% of the worlds human-produced carbon emissions in 2016. Another study found that from 2009-13, tourism was responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and that the industry is growing fast enough to outstrip its meager efforts to decarbonize.

It is in the travel industrys own long-term interest to curb these costs; a world suffering from serial climate disasters is not a very pleasant place to tour. Yet for years the tourist sector has been largely allowed a free pass for its environmental devastation.

I have written already about how the pandemic should prompt a rethinking of air travel. This is most true in the business world. Sure, theres something magical about meeting face to face, but in an age of pretty good videoconferencing, there isnt magic enough to justify the extreme environmental costs of routine flight. But flying is so carbon intensive  your share of the emissions from a single round-trip trans-Atlantic flight is almost enough to wipe out the gains you might get from living car-free for a year  that its worth considering limiting leisure plane trips, too. Some people can afford to travel to Europe every year, maybe even several times a year. Im not one for flight shaming, but that level of indulgence ought to earn some measure of social opprobrium.

Cruises present an even better target for radical reform, if not outright prohibition. The early days of the pandemic highlighted the cruise industrys vulnerability to contagion, but getting disease under control should be just the first step for this most polluting of conveyances. According to one study, a midsize cruise ship can emit as much particulate as 1 million cars. One cruise company alone, Carnival, was responsible for 10 times as much sulfur oxide as that emitted by the roughly 260 million passenger cars on European roads in 2017, a 2019 analysis found.

This week I called Rick Steves, the travel writer and tour operator, to ask about the future of travel on a warming planet. For most of his life, he visited Europe at least once a year. Last summer was the first time in decades that he didnt go, and hes staying home again this year.

Steves told me that time at home has given him a new perspective on travel  both its liberating psychic possibilities and its heavy costs.

Ive gained an appreciation for the fragility of the environment and the importance of people and nations to not be afraid of each other but work together, he told me. Like the battle against climate change, fighting the pandemic required coordination among politicians, scientists, regulators and businesses around the world. That kind of coordination is fostered by the trust and empathy gained by global travel, Steves said. The rub is that travel itself is worsening the crisis  and because the industrys impact has been so loosely policed by the worlds governments, it has little incentive to make difficult changes to its operations.

To mitigate the environmental cost of his European travel business, Steves has turned to carbon offsets. For each of the 30,000 or so passengers the company takes to Europe in an ordinary year, the company contributes $30 for environmental initiatives meant to curb the costs of climate change. Many airlines now offer passengers the chance to pay for emissions offsets.

But because all these programs are voluntary, their impact seems limited. And at the moment, there is little political incentive to impose new regulations on struggling travel companies.

In May, the Senate unanimously passed a bill allowing cruise ships to return to Alaska. The House quickly passed it, too, and when it got to his desk, President Joe Biden signed it. The law, he tweeted, would support Alaskans by allowing large cruise ships to return to the state this summer.

The law made no mention of the environment. Neither did the president.

FARHAD MANJOO is a columnist for The New York Times.
The death of ambassador George Ciamba represents a "great" loss for the Romanian diplomacy, the head of the foreign affairs committee of the Deputies Chamber, Biro Rozalia, said on Monday.

"I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise, much too early, of the ambassador George Ciamba. We bid farewell to a special man, a great professional, who dedicated his entire career to our country's interests, for which he was recognized and appreciated, at home and by the international community. His Excellency, who was Romania's ambassador to Greece, through his diplomatic activity that spanned three decades, substantially contributed to the important moments of Romania's Euro-Atlantic journey, among which I want to mention the successful coordination of our country's mandate at the presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is a great loss for the Romanian diplomacy," reads a press release of the committee, signed by Biro Rozalia.

On behalf of the foreign affairs committee of the Deputies Chamber, she sent sincere condolences to the mourning family and all those who were close to him, Agerpres informs.
The Republic of Moldova's pro-European direction is becoming explicit and very clear, now that President Maia Sandu's Action and Solidarity Party has won the snap parliamentary elections this Sunday by a strong margin, Deputy Prime Minister and USR PLUS Co-Chairman Dan Barna said today.

"When the citizens decide to turn out to the polls, the Republic of Moldova's pro-European direction becomes explicit and very clear. I congratulate PAS, I congratulate President Maia Sandu on this extraordinary result that reopens the chance of the Republic of Moldova to come closer to what the European Union means and to become a partner, an actor and a member of this European construction that has been ensuring peace and development in Europe for so many years now," Dan Barna said on Monday at the end of the USR PLUS meeting, agerpres reports.

The Deputy Prime Minister reminded that the EU has a 600-million-euro recovery package ready for the Republic of Moldova, which was conditioned on certain reforms, and announced that the USR PLUS MEPs are making all the necessary efforts for this development resource to be set at Moldova's disposal.
George Ciamba "contributed substantially to the important moments of Romania's Euro-Atlantic path" through his devoted diplomatic activity for over three decades, a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs.

The MAE states that the diplomat, who was Romania's ambassador to Greece, "will remain in the history and memory of Romanian diplomacy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

George Ciamba passed away on Sunday.Member of the Romanian Diplomatic and Consular Corps since 1990, George Ciamba held multiple leadership positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including that of Secretary of State and Minister Delegate for European Affairs, in 2019, when he coordinated Romania's first Presidency of the Council of the European Union, agerpres reports.As Secretary of State, he managed portfolios such as multilateral and global affairs (2003-2005), European affairs (2012-2016), bilateral and strategic affairs in the Euro-Atlantic area (2017-2018), contributing to the promotion of Romania's role in international organizations, as well as to the development of Romania's bilateral relations with European states.As ambassador, he represented Romania in Turkey (1999-2003) and Greece (2005-2012 and later in 2019). At the same time, between 2001 - 2003 he was the Permanent Representative of Romania to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.
Prime Minister Florin Citu said, asked if the coalition could be broken due to the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania's (UDMR) refusal to accept the solution coming from the Government regarding the Section for the Investigation of Justice Crimes (SIIJ), that the solution must be found in Parliament.

"These things must be discussed now and the solution must be found in Romania's Parliament. The Romanian Government has adopted a bill to abolish the SIIJ. The Ministry of Justice must support Parliament and the coalition must find a solution to get over this moment," Citu said in a press statement, agerpres reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna said on Monday that as long as there is no solution in the ruling coalition to disband the SIIJ, a special session of Parliament is "premature and dysfunctional".
The results of the snap parliamentary elections that took place on Sunday in the Republic of Moldova are "excellent" and represent "a victory for democracy," Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said in Brussels on Monday.

"I will make a brief presentation of the results for my colleagues and the High Representative and an assessment of the importance of these excellent results, I would said," the head of Romanian diplomacy asserted before joining the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states.

"This is a victory for democracy, the Republic of Moldova citizens' stance in favor of the strengthening of the rule of law, of strong democratic institutions in their country and for streamlining and accelerating the fight against corruption. About 53 percent for pro-European and pro-reform action (PAS) stands for a great victory in the Republic of Moldova," he said."Romania is looking forward to working with the new pro-European and pro-democratic, pro-reform government, it continues to work with the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, who has a very clear reform agenda and will now find a good partner in the Government to carry through this reform process. We believe that the implementation of this reform agenda, in line with the European Union Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova, is the only guarantee of the country's development and the prosperity of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova," minister Aurescu said, agerpres reports.Thus, "Romania will continue to stand by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova so that they fulfill their pro-European aspirations and go on the path of reforms".
President Klaus Iohannis offered congratulations to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova following Sunday's snap parliamentary elections, as well as Moldovan President Maia Sandu for her "courage, perseverance and vision".

"Congratulations to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova for their civic spirit and clear choice for reforms, rule of law and European integration! Congratulations, Maia Sandu, for your courage, perseverance and vision! Romania will be at the side of the Republic of Moldova, supporting its reform process and European course!," Iohannis wrote on Twitter on Monday.

Moldova's main pro-European party, Maia Sandu's center-right Action and Solidarity Party, scored a clear victory in Moldova's July 11 snap parliamentary elections, show the preliminary results presented by the Central Electoral Commission after the count of the ballots in 99.58 percent of the polling stations.
Leader of the UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania) Deputies Csoma Botond on Monday told that the Minister of Justice, Stelian Ion, has a "totally unacceptable" attitude and "he is sliding into Stalinism," because "he believes that he is in possession of the absolute truth," while Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna has also "joined this delirium, his own position being, in fact, a toxic one., Agerpres informs.

He claimed that the modification submitted to the Senate by the UDMR MPs does not exclude the abolition of the Section for Investigating Crimes in Justice (SIIJ).

According to Csoma Botond, UDMR wantsthe fight against corruption to continue, but within a legal framework, labeling as "false" the idea that the "great reform" in the justice field in Romania would depend on the return of the powers to investigate magistrates to the DNA (National Anti-corruption Directorate).

"I have often had the impression that the Minister of Justice is a kind of Jacobin, but now, slowly but surely, he is sliding into Stalinism, in my opinion. Anyone who has a different opinion than his becomes, according to the most sinister totalitarian tradition, some kind of a deviant, who commits a crime of opinion and, of course, in the minister's opinion, this crime of opinion goes against Romania's interests," said the UDMR leader.

Also, in the UDMR leader's opinion, "Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna has "joined this delirium and talks about toxicity and stuff like that."

"We [UDMR -editor's note] want the fight against corruption to continue, but at the same time we want this fight to take place in a well-defined legal framework, in which there are certain guarantees, guarantees that do not allow repetition. It is a false idea that the success of the fight against corruption or the great reform of the judiciary in Romania would depend on the return of powers regarding the investigation of magistrates to the DNA. In Romania it is not among the magistrates, but the great corruption is in another area of the society and this is very well known. (...) I think that Mr. Barna's approach is toxic," said Csoma Botond.

The Minister of Justice, Stelian Ion, stated that SIIJ could not be abolished before, because UDMR was, at the time of the establishment of the section, collaborating with PSD. They [UDMR - editor's note] also voted for the establishment of the SIIJ, they voted for the Iordache version of the Justice Laws, they voted for the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. Once this chapter is closed, we will try to create something new and I hope that they will change their attitude towards justice and the fight against corruption," the minister told Prima TV private television broadcaster on Sunday.

On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna said that as long as there is no solution in the ruling coalition to abolish the Section Investigating Crimes in Justice, a special session of Parliament would be "premature" and "useless." "The UDMR modification that is currently facing the Senate committee is one that does not abolish the SIIJ. It only moves the special section dedicated to magistrates to the General Prosecutor's Office. We cannot afford, as a state, to send this message of reform as a joke, through which, instead of abolishing the SIIJ, we simply change the label on the door and the address on the business card and move a special section dedicated to magistrates to the General Prosecutor's Office. (...) The idea proposed by UDMR , this toxic modification, (...) is unacceptable," Barna said, after the meeting of the National Bureau of USR PLUS (Save Romania Union - Freedom, Unity, Solidarity Party).
Romanian MEP Victor Negrescu said on Monday in Sibiu that thew Social Democratic Party (PSD) welcomes Maia Sandu's party's victory in the parliamentary elections and will support the European course of the Republic of general election, it is important to mention that. We are glad that the Republic of Moldova continues on its European path. The Social Democratic Party has always supported this European path for the Republic of Moldova and we really wish that the Republic of Moldova will move further in that direction (...) and in the future the Republic of Moldova and the citizens of the Republic of Moldova will benefit from our support to achieve this ideal of approaching the European Union and why not, perhaps, in the future to join the European Union. We will see what happens next, but it is important that this route is maintained," MEP Victor Negrescu told a news conference, Agerpres informs.

The main pro-European party in Moldova, the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), won the general election on Sunday by a landslide, according to preliminary results posted by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), after counting votes from 99.58% of the polling stations.
President Klaus Iohannis on Monday signed the decree based on which he awarded the Battle Flag to the Central Military Emergency University Hospital "Dr Carol Davila," according to a press release of the Presidential Administration, Agerpres informs.

The head of state also awarded the Battle Flag to the Maritime Hydrographic Directorate and the 56th Frigate Flotilla Command.
Prime Minister Florin Citu on Monday had a meeting at the Victoria Palace with a World Bank delegation led by Anna Bjerde, Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, in which he presented, among other things, the reforms undertaken by the Government regarding pensions and salaries in the public system.

According to a press release of the Government sent to AGERPRES, the Prime Minister presented the pension reform - ensuring fiscal sustainability and equity in this system, as well as the salary reform in the public system, underscoring the need to strengthen the connection between salary and performance.

The head of Executive thanked the World Bank for its cooperation and support in carrying out reforms, especially in the social field: education and health.

Citu added that, during this period when he is also the interim Minister of Finance, his most important reforms and objectives are the reform of state companies, the modernization of the fiscal administration, e-Invoicing, but also the National Development Bank.

"The Prime Minister also specified that the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) projects will focus on the digitalization of the public sector, but also on the green economy. At the same time, the Prime Minister appreciated the World Bank's support for the two PNRR projects," the statement said.

According to the same source, the World Bank congratulated the Government for the expected economic growth in 2021, Romania being among the few countries in which the economic contraction from 2020 would be fully recovered this year.

At the same time, the delegation congratulated Romania for the anti-COVID vaccination process, reads the same press release, agerpres informs.
Prime Minister Florin Citu declared on Monday, that the budget amendment will be presented in the ruling coalition, but the decision on how the funds will be allocated belongs to the Government.

"Of course we will present it in the coalition, just as we presented the budget last year in the coalition - it is normal - or the budget allocation for this year. But the decision and the way the money will be allocated will be made by the Government and it is not made on political criteria. This is the Romanian people's money, from their taxes and they will always be allocated on the principle of transparency and efficiency. This money will go where it will have the largest yield in the economy," the PM said, in a statement given to the press.

The chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Ludovic Orban, declared on Friday evening that the budget amendment will have to be made with PNL's and the coalition's agreement. Asked if the amendment needs to be made by PM Florin Citu, who is interim with the Ministry of Finance, or by the future Finance Minister, Orban replied that this needs to be made with the agreement of PNL and the coalition, agerpres reports."The budget rectification needs to be made with the agreement of the PNL and the PNL leadership. Furthermore, with the coalition's approval. The amendment, just like the state budget draft law, are being debated in both the party and the coalition and will be the fruit of the decisions made until now in the coalition," the liberal leader said.PM Florin Citu gave assurances on Monday during the debut of the the General Assembly of the Association of Municipalities in Romania, that budget amendments will be made within the Romanian Government, and "not in the party", as long as he will hold the position of Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Florin Citu congratulates the citizens of the Republic of Moldova on the "pro-European path they will take", after the results of the early parliamentary election on Sunday, agerpres reports.

"I congratulated [President, ed. n.] Maia Sandu today [Monday, ed. n.] on the historic result that the Republic of Moldova achieved in the early election. I congratulate the citizens of the Republic of Moldova for the pro-European path they will take. I assure them that Romania is with them in this reform process," Florin Citu wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.

The main pro-European party in the Republic of Moldova, the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), of President Maia Sandu, won the early parliamentary election held on Sunday, according to preliminary results presented by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), after the counting of votes from 99.58 pct of the polling stations.
Prime Minister Florin Citu gave assurances on Monday, at the beginning of the General Assembly of the Association of Romanian Municipalities, that the budget rectification will be made within the Romanian Government, "not within the party", as long as he holds the position of prime minister, agerpres reports.

"No budget rectification will be carried out within the party, as long as I am Romania's prime minister. All these things will be done in the Romanian Government, without any political criteria," Citu specified.

He stressed the need for all mayors to get involved in order to draw European funds, including those from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)."This government is different. That is why I am here today to assure you that I need everyone, all mayors and all county council presidents to develop Romania. The 76.2 billion euros from European funds and the PNRR need to be implemented by everyone, by all the mayors, by all the presidents of the county councils. We need all the resources to draw this money," the prime minister said.
Prime Minister Florin Citu declared on Monday, ahead of participating in the General Assembly of the Association of Municipalities in Romania, that there is no danger that mayors will not receive money for ongoing projects.

"There is no danger. We are here to develop Romania, not just some localities," Citu said in a statement to the press.

He mentioned that he supports the allocations from the global income tax towards the local authorities, but highlighted that it is important that at the level of city halls the necessary reforms are completed, agerpres reports."Together with all the mayors we are developing Romania and I'd like to hear from them what their projects are. During the previous meeting we listened to their grievances, but I also had a few wishes as well, especially regarding the reform in the local administration. We were about to look at the staff spending, other expenses, to see how we can improve things, but of course, they know it very well, I supported them last year when it was about allocating from the global income, worth 64%. I will continue to support them and we will discuss about how we can share this money. It will be a concrete, practical discussion," Citu said.
The fierce battle inside the National Liberal Party (PNL) for the position of national chairman brings to light serious truths for Romania, said on Monday Chairman of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee of the Chamber of Deputies Ciprian Serban of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).

He explained that recently dismissed Minister of Finance Alexandru Nazare revealed that the Citu government had officially requested, all the way back on June 15, a new delay for the submission of Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

"No one in the government has told anything to the public in that regard. The prime minister, currently electioneering, and the minister of European investment and funds must urgently give explanations about the latest developments in PNRR. Has Romania officially requested a new delay? Till when? What are the reasons for the repeated failures to receive the approval of the European Commission?" MP Ciprian Serban wrote on Facebook.

He called the situation premeditated misinformation.

"The so-called continuous process of consultation with the European Commission, which would be meant to settle divergences, is in fact only the expression of governmental impotence and incompetence. The prime minister and Minister Ghinea must come before Parliament with all their correspondence with the European Commission on PNRR! We have come to hunt down internal scandals in the right-wing governing coalition to discover more and more lies and misery of the Citu government! I am urging Prime Minister Florin Citu to return to the government and work to the benefit of Romanians! Romanians do not need to be dragged into the ludicrous campaign launched to hunt for the position of party president, while Romania is lagging behind in Europe sinking deeper into an economic and social abyss caused and perpetrated by a government totally divorced from reality and the national interest," wrote Serban.
Romania congratulates the citizens of the Republic of Moldova for their vote and welcomes the victory achieved by the reformist and pro-European forces in the early parliamentary elections on Sunday and appreciates that the election result "is a victory of democracy, marking a decisive step towards a European Republic of Moldova, a process that Romania has always supported and will continue to support, unreservedly," a release by the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) in Bucharest reads.

"The citizens of the Republic of Moldova have clearly expressed themselves, through their vote, in favour of consolidating the rule of law, accelerating and streamlining the fight against corruption and building strong, truly European democratic institutions that work for their benefit," the release sent to AGERPRES on Monday adds.

The MAE emphasizes that "efforts to advance towards the European path, especially by implementing the reforms included in the Association Agreement with the European Union, remain the only guarantee of ensuring the development of the Republic of Moldova and prosperity for all its citizens."Moreover, Romania "expresses the hope that as soon as possible a Government will be shaped to support the pro-European approach and to continue, in a sustained manner, the reform processes"."As before, Romania will be with the Republic of Moldova on this path based on the Bilateral Strategic Partnership for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova and the language, culture and history community, including the continuation of projects for the direct benefit of citizens and in support of the European agenda of the Republic of Moldova," the MAE release adds
In a statement, Cedric the Entertainer (Cedric Antonio Kyles) said: Since I was a little boy huddled up next to my grandmother, television has always been my reliable friend, so it is an enormous honor for me to host this years Emmy Awards. Throughout the roller-coaster of a year that we have all lived through, television has helped us stay connected as a society like never before. It not only entertained us, but as it always has, it helped to open our eyes, educate us, and hopefully brought about a better understanding of who we are as a people. I cant wait to take the stage to celebrate all of the great shows and performances that made us laugh, cry, dance and sing over the past year.
Joe Holleman Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Joe Holleman 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

A conservative talk-radio battle is coming soon to a listening device near you.

Starting Monday, NewsTalkSTL will hit the airwaves at 101.9 FM, with an on-air roster peppered with familiar local voices and one rising star on the syndicated circuit.

When people tune in theyll hear voices that they know and trust talking about the issues that impact their city. said Jeff Allen, co-owner and programming boss of the new station.

Because the station uses a translator to get on the air at 101.9 FM, the actual call letters are not the standard digits: Its K270BW.

Now you see why we went with NewsTalkSTL, Allen said.

The station, which is locally owned and not part of any chain, seems poised to compete for the conservative audience now being served by KFTK (97.1 FM).

Allen was the longtime program director of KFTK, until he was let go in 2018 after the station was bought by Entercom Communications (now Audacy), which also owns KMOX (1120 AM) and several other frequencies.

Longtime STL radio sales executive Joe Rusch is the managing partner of the station, which will operate under the corporate name of Epic STL.
The statements from Bell and Adkins are not new evidence and, even if they were, the two are inherently unreliable, Clarke argued in the motion.

Schmitts office also said Strickland told police if he had been with Bell that night, he would have been shooting because, I love to shoot my gun, Im a good shot and I love to kill people. Strickland, the detectives alleged, said if they let him go, they better draw first next time or he would kill them.

Jackson County prosecutors have said those statements, which Strickland denied making at trial, did not prove Strickland was involved in the killings. They suggested someone not involved in the crime  who stayed in Kansas City while the others fled to Wichita  would be more likely to make aggressive statements to police.

Strickland has paid a steep price for associating with Bell, Adkins and T.A., (another suspect in the case) for mouthing off to police, and for trying to be cool in helping his older neighbor Bell, Baker and Nelson wrote in a letter outlining the prosecutors offices review of the case.
TROY, Mo.  Pamela Hupp, the woman serving a life sentence for killing a mentally and physically disabled man in 2016, was charged Monday in the death several years earlier of a longtime friend.

Prosecutors in Lincoln County said at a news conference Monday that they will seek the death penalty for Hupp in connection with the 2011 killing of Elizabeth Betsy Faria.

I do not take lightly the decision to pursue the death penalty, but this case stands alone in its heinousness and depravity such that it shocks the conscience, Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood said.

Wood said greed was the motive in Farias killing, telling the Post-Dispatch earlier that he believes Hupp persuaded Faria to place a $150,000 life insurance policy in Hupps name days before her death.

Hupp then stabbed Faria 55 times to make the murder seem motivated by rage, staged the crime scene and led investigators to suspect Farias husband, Russell Faria, Wood said.

He said Hupps commission of the murder for money as well as other factors, such as the number of stab wounds and her staging of the crime scene, would be aggravating factors that would support the death penalty if shes convicted.
The new law creates an Electric Vehicle Task Force, which will analyze and make recommendations regarding the impact of electric vehicle use on transportation funding by Dec. 31, 2022.

The added money comes at a time when the federal government also is primed to send more transportation dollars to the state, potentially resulting in a road building boom.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said last week that his chamber may work into August to pass a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan sought by President Joe Biden.

Parson said every dollar counts when it comes to the states road and bridge system.

Transportation drives our economy, Parson said. We still have a long way to go to fix all the bridges in need of repair or replacement and address our backlog of unfunded needs. But by working together we can continue to steadily invest in infrastructure.

He is scheduled to sign the legislation Tuesday at the Village Square Shopping Center parking lot in Hazelwood. The location is at the northwest corner of Lindbergh Boulevard and Interstate 270, where a $278 million upgrade is underway between James S. McDonnell Boulevard and Bellefontaine Road.
Among residents in their teens, 20s and 30s, the infection rate is four to five times that of residents in their 70s, Page said. And the infection rate among Black residents is five times that of white residents.

The delta variant of COVID-19 has become the most common strain of the virus in the U.S., accounting for 51.7% of cases here, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And the Midwest has the highest rates of the strain in the country, with the variant accounting for 80.7% of COVID-19 cases in the region that includes Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.

The delta variant has been associated with symptoms of the common cold. The county has advised residents  vaccinated and unvaccinated alike  to immediately seek testing if they experience symptoms, including headache, sore throat, cough or fever.

Do not assume that these symptoms could be a summer allergy, Page said.

In southwest Missouri, Mercy Hospital Springfield on Monday had 134 patients with COVID-19, surpassing the hospitals winter peak of 113, seen on Dec. 28, according to a spokeswoman.
FLORISSANT  Former state Rep. Betty Thompson, a leader and trailblazer in St. Louis County, died Sunday of complications from diabetes, her husband said. Thompson was 81.

Thompson, a longtime resident of University City, began her political career as a councilwoman there. Thompson served on the council for 18 years.

A Democrat, she was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in a special election in 1997, representing part of St. Louis County in the 72nd District. She won elections for two-year terms to the House in 1998, 2000 and 2002.

Thompsons husband, Jack Thompson, said the couples 62nd wedding anniversary would have been next month. They were living in Florissant. Betty Thompson had open heart surgery three years ago, and recently was having difficulty with diabetes, her husband said. She was hospitalized for complications from diabetes and died at Barnes-Jewish Hospital on Sunday, he said.

She was a giving person and would give everything she had to a person in need, Jack Thompson said Monday. Soon after we got married, a lady got evicted across the street and all her furniture was sitting out front. Betty paid her rent for three months and didnt tell me.
In fact, the government agents in question include one Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiologist, who arrived in Springfield on Wednesday to work on genetic sequencing, and one communications specialist whos coming next week to help local officials address vaccine hesitancy.

Run for your lives, because an epidemiologist walks among us?

All this because President Joe Biden said, We need to go community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood, and oftentimes, door to door  literally knocking on doors  to get help to the remaining people.  Were going to put even more emphasis on getting vaccinated in your community, close to home, conveniently at a location youre already familiar with.

Door-to-door outreach will only happen where thats what the community wants, the White House has said. But of course, that hasnt kept Parson and other Republicans from putting politics ahead of public health.

Because it was Tuesday, Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene responded with another vile Nazi comparison, tweeting, covid is a political tool used to control people. People have a choice, they dont need your medical brown shirts showing up at their door ordering vaccinations.
The men design the quilts with individual children in mind, embroidering their first names on the corner. For volunteer Rod Harney, its an attempt to let these children know that they havent been forgotten.

You see the names of these kids in foster care; you see a 1-year-old or 2-year-old, and it kind of breaks your heart, said Harney, who learned to sew in his seventh-grade home economics class. But that lets us know were human still. You cant express enough how it feels to do it.

Harney recently put the finishing touches on a quilt for an 18-year-old boy who will soon age out of the foster care system.

Edged in crushed velour, the quilt features a grizzly bear that appears to be gazing through a window  to show the teenager the world is at your front door, Harney explained. He spent more than 100 hours on it, carefully embroidering each square with geometric designs.

Once finished, each quilt is packaged with a handmade hat, along with school supplies and toiletries donated by other inmates at South Central.

Jim Williams is now designing an orange-and-seafoam green quilt for a 4-year-old boy. With every one sent off, he said, he feels a deep sense of accomplishment.

For a foster child, they dont get a lot; theyre in a home that may or may not really make them feel like part of the family, Williams said. So when I see this quilt laid out here on the table, I get emotional. I really do.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, St. Louis Public Radio.
Dr. Randall Williams resigned on April 20 as director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. His successor remains to be named. Missouris current interim director is neither a physician nor a public health expert.

Americas largest physician organization, the American Medical Association, has evidence-based qualifications that the general public should be aware of when it comes to choosing the next full-time Department of Health and Senior Services director.

Capable and qualified leadership is needed. The recent resurgence of the coronavirus has again placed Missouri into a public health crisis, especially in some rural areas. Those made ill are almost exclusively citizens who have chosen to remain unvaccinated.

Health care resources in some Missouri regions are currently stretched to, or beyond, the breaking point. The Post-Dispatch noted on Wednesday that CoxHealth in Springfield was providing care for 95 coronavirus patients, nearly all of whom were unvaccinated. CoxHealth Chief Executive Steve Edwards was reported to have put out a plea for help from respiratory therapists.
These and other provisions could indeed foster more competition in the economy, but because its an executive order, its scope is limited. It cant take on the biggest competitive issue in the economy right now: the stranglehold of the Big Tech sector by a few mammoth players. The challenges of that issue were dramatized last month when a federal judge threw out two antitrust lawsuits against Facebook that had been brought by the Federal Trade Commission and more than 40 states.

The plaintiffs alleged the social-media giant holds a monopoly over social networking. The judges rejection of that argument was less an exoneration of Facebook than an illustration of the inadequacy of the nations antitrust laws to address issues unique to the modern tech sector.

For example, one measure of traditional antitrust violations is whether customers get hit with inflated pricing  but Facebooks users generally dont pay anything at all, since the networks business model is primarily advertising-based. The judge noted that factor as a difficulty in proving an antitrust claim against the company. Reformers counter that when social-media companies lack adequate competition, users can face harm in non-financial ways, including the misuse of private information.

The point of the pending legislation is to update antitrust laws to recognize those kinds of factors so customers who get fed up with a given platforms performance have viable competitors to consider. Thats the very essence of open competition, and it should garner bipartisan support.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
A major obstacle to a negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinians is a series of bad decisions by the UN and nations that have long donated money to sustain the Palestinians in their efforts to establish their own state or destroy Israel. The first, and most damaging mistake was made in 1948 when the UN granted Palestinian refugees a unique status as the only refugees who could legally maintain their refugee status for generations.

The second UN error was a more common one; ignoring the misuse of foreign aid by Palestinians to support a failed terrorist campaign against Israel that is still underway and sustained by foreign aid.

These two UN errors are the cause of Western efforts to obtain a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians continually failing because of Palestinian refusal to give up demands that Israel cannot accept and continue to exist. This wasnt just the fault of the UN, it was compounded by a major error in judgement by the Arab states (Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon) during the first Arab-Israeli War of 1948-49. These Arab countries sought to exterminate the new Israeli state and failed. But during that brief war the Arabs urged Palestinians to flee the area so that their Arab allies could defeat the Israelis without harming Palestinians. That was the first of six (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, and 2006) Arab-Israeli wars that failed to destroy Israel. The last one had a lot of help from Iran and at that point many Arab states began to seriously reconsider their relationship with Israel. By 2020 a growing number of those Arab states were recognizing Israel diplomatically and including Israel as an ally in the growing Arab-Iran conflict. By then Arab states acknowledged the obvious; that most Israelis were visibly and ethnically Arab. Most Israeli Arabs are Jewish but 20 percent of Israeli citizens are Moslems or Christians, the descendants of Palestinians that did not flee Israel during the first war.

In 1948 the Arabs living in Israel were not called Palestinians but simply Arabs and many of them had recently moved from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to find work in the booming economy created in what became Israel. Many of the Jewish emigrants were from Europe, survivors of the Nazi effort to exterminate all Jews in Europe. These migrants were better educated and entrepreneurial than Jews from Arab nations and all were welcome. A Jewish majority state called Israel was not welcome.

Over the next half century more Arab states found it preferable to at least tolerate the existence of Israel, which had become the most economically and militarily powerful state in the region. In the 1960s the Arab refugees began to call themselves Palestinians in reference to a mythical state of Palestine that never existed. Neither did the state of Israel because the independent Jewish state disappeared nearly 2600 years ago when the Jewish majority area occupying what is now Israel became a province of larger empires, the last being Roman in 6 AD. What is modern Israel ceased to be a majority Jewish area after the second Jewish rebellion against Rome in 136 AD, which resulted in most Jews fleeing or being enslaved by the Romans. Some remained, but as a minority. Islam showed up 500 years later, recognizing Jews and Christians as people of the book meaning Islam claimed to be the successor the Judaism and Christianity. This has caused problems ever since. The Turkish Ottoman Empire was run by Moslems but had a more tolerant attitude towards non-Moslems. The Turks took control of what used to be Israel in the 1500s and welcomed Jews expelled from Christian countries. While most settled in what is now Turkey, others returned to what is now Israel. The concept of enough Jews returning to the former Jewish state, began in the 19th century. The Ottomans tolerated this because the Jews were more entrepreneurial, and so paid more taxes than the Moslem Arabs already there. There was some violent resistance to the returning Jews, but the Ottomans backed Jewish immigration until the Ottoman Empire fell in 1918.

In the 1920s and 30s Britain and France organized local governments in most of the Middle East before World War II began. What is now Israel was still under British control during World War II because of the disputes between Jews and Arabs over which part of the area should be part of an Arab state and which a new Jewish state. This led to Arab demands that there be no Jewish state, even in Jewish majority areas. That was resolved by the 1948 war. After the 1967 war Israel took control of more Arab majority areas, especially the West Bank and Gaza.

At the time Iran was one of the few Moslem majority states in the region to recognize Israel, 1950, with Turkey doing so shortly thereafter. Jordan and Israel made peace after the 1967 war and Egypt did so in 1979. It would be 40 years before other Arab states did the same. Before that Israel had established informal relationships with many Arab states, especially Morocco and the UAE. One reason for this move towards Arab recognition of Israel was the failure of the Palestinians to make peace despite ample opportunities to do so. There were major efforts in the 1990s to work out a peace deal and Israel offered a two-state deal in 2000 that many Palestinians were willing to accept. Palestinian radical groups declared such a deal unacceptable and Palestinian leaders who backed the offered deal were threatened by the radicals if they did not join the opposition. This was nothing new and for over a thousand years radicals were able to block peace deals with non-Moslems. The Ottomans and Iranians did not tolerate the threats from the radicals, but the radicals never disappeared and were particularly troublesome in Arab majority nations.

The Palestinians have always insisted that any peace deal depended on Israel recognizing "right of return without discrimination." That means that the descendants of the 600,000 Palestinians who fled the newly formed Israel in the late 1940s, could return to Israel and get all their abandoned family property back. Israel would also have to pay compensation. While some of the seven million Palestinian descendants would not return, enough could to change the demographic composition of Israel, turning it into a country with an Arab majority. This, for both the Palestinians and Israel, is the equivalent of "destroying Israel."

Currently fewer than ten percent of the original refugees are still alive and about sixty percent of the descendants are registered with the UN as Palestinian refugees, usually in order to qualify for benefits, which automatically includes the right-to-return. Those who have not registered are those who have established themselves in another country, usually not a Moslem majority one because the right-of-return gives the Moslem majority states an excuse not to grant Palestinians citizenship.

Destroying Israel is something many, now most Palestinian factions want to accomplish, and Israel refuses to go along. Getting around this obstacle has proved very difficult, as the Palestinian public endured decades of Palestinian (and Arab) media messages insisting that the right of return was an essential part of any peace deal. Westerners long believed that money (a bribe) might make this problem go away. That was never practical because the real problem is the Arab decision in the late 1940s to not offer citizenship to any Palestinian refugees. The other Arab states insisted that Palestinian refugees must remain stateless, preferably living in refugee camps while receiving food and other aid from largely Western donors.

In 1948 an equal number of Jews were expelled from Arab countries. All these Jewish refugees found new homes, most of them in Israel. Because of the right of return and Moslem nations refusing to grant Palestinians citizenship, just giving the Palestinian refugees a few hundred billion dollars would not be sufficient. They need citizenship somewhere, either in the country where they are currently refugees, or in the West. Undoing this old UN error became a formidable obstacle to a negotiated peace.

Another seemingly intractable problem blocking any serious negotiations is the refusal of many radical Palestinian organizations to even consider recognizing Israels right to exist. This hardline attitude came from Islamic conservatives who wanted all Moslem majority states to be ruled by Sharia (Islamic law) and preferably by Islamic clergy, not laymen. One of the earliest groups advocating this was the Moslem Brotherhood, which emerged in Egypt during the 1920s. Soon there were chapters in most Moslem majority areas. The Palestinian chapter, Hamas, appeared in 1987 in Gaza as part of religious revival in Arab countries that had been sidetracked by socialism after World War II. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 and declared that Israel did not exist and was an illegal entity. The more secular Fatah, which controlled the West Bank, was forced to go along because in Palestinian politics the radicals always get their way, or else. It took nearly a decade for the West, and most Arab states to recognize this reality. There was another major problem that was long ignored; that the Palestinians were diverting an increasing amount of foreign aid to encourage and reward terrorist acts against Israel. For a long time, Arab states tolerated this and Western donors pretended it didnt exist. The growing availability of evidence showing up on the Internet documented the scam, which depended on praising the diversion of aid money in Palestinian Arab language media while denying it existed in the non-Arab, especially English language versions of their media that appeared on the Internet.

For over a decade it had been an open secret in the Arab world that no true Palestinian wants anything to do with peace talks. For example, in 2010 the Palestinian ambassador to Lebanon described the goals of the current peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel as a stage in the process by which Israel would be portrayed as an illegitimate state and that a growing number of Western nations would accept this. The Palestinians compared this process to the one that isolated South Africa. The official Palestinian objective is not to make peace with Israel, but to destroy Israel and drive all Jews from the Middle East. This sort of thing is reported regularly in the Arab language press, much less so in the non-Arabic translations of Arab media.

For years the official goal of peace talks with Israel, often involving the United States, was to work how to establish an independent Palestinian state. Israel went along with American demands, but the Palestinians never did. That's why these peace talks tend to go nowhere. Since Hamas took control of Gaza, a growing number of Palestinians in the West Bank openly opposed peace talks, a concept always maintained by Islamic radical groups like Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which contains 40 percent of Palestinians living in territory Palestinians agree is part of any Palestinian state. Hamas never participated in peace talks and demanded that Fatah do the same. Hamas and Fatah controlled media both talk of destroying Israel, not making permanent peace. Any peace deals are described as strictly tactical moves, to further the ultimate goal of wiping Israel off the map. Palestinian maps have been doing that for decades and trying to coerce the rest of the world to emulate that, without limited success.

For over two generations, it has been Palestinian policy to preach the destruction of Israel, not coexistence. Increasingly, since the 1990s, Palestinians have been indoctrinated with anti-Semitic propaganda, which encourages the young to become suicide bombers and terrorists. This is a very public campaign, and the terrorist killers are showered with praise in the Palestinian, and often Arab, media. In the Palestinian territories, there are hundreds of places (streets, squares, buildings) and events named after terrorists. Anyone who has killed an Israeli is a hero, and anyone who died trying is worthy of admiration. This goes beyond honoring "war heroes." The propaganda campaign portrays Palestinians as in a life-or-death struggle with "the Zionist entity" as Palestinians began to call Israel. Since God is on their side, the Palestinian propaganda pushes the idea that it's only a matter of time before Israel is destroyed. It's tough to negotiate a peace deal when one side has this attitude.

It was only in the last few years that other Arab states have come to admit that such negotiations are pointless, especially since the UN granted Palestinians refugees a unique status

The UN approval of right of return was also accepted by the many foreign NGOs (non-governmental organizations) that, along with the UN, administered the foreign aid that has sustained these permanently stateless descendants of the original Palestinian refugees.

These NGO attitudes are not unique to the Palestinian situation but are common wherever NGOs administer foreign aid in hostile areas. NGOs tend to have their own ideas of how to handle the situation and the NGO attitudes are often at odds with the locals as well as the foreign nations that provide the cash and goods needed to deal with the mess. One mess often leads to another as the three principals (NGOs, locals and donors) clash over what to do and how to do it. The main problem is there is more to be done than anyone is willing to pay for. To make matters worse, there are always disagreements, sometimes violent over how to apply the aid.

A major problem has been the reluctance of donors to support relief operations in many areas where too much of the aid was stolen or unable to reach the people most in need. NGOs have no solution, or at least not one that will either turn off the donors (and their donations) or upset the locals, resulting in more violence and chaos.

Hamas is a classic example of this and NGOs and foreign news organizations operating in Gaza are subject to very effective threats if they do not go along with the diversion of aid to support attacks against Israel. NGOs are increasingly feuding with each other about how to handle the growing money shortages these situations create. The demand for contributions to buy food and other aid supplies has been increasing faster than donor nations, who supply most of this money, are willing to provide. This is in large part because of growing problems with a lot of the aid being stolen by local bandits and corrupt officials or diverted to other uses by NGOs.

There are other problems as well. Increasingly people in the places where NGOs deliver aid complain about the NGOs being more concerned about their own safety and comfort than in making the lives of the locals better. But it's not as simple as that. There are also disagreements within the NGO community about how to handle delivering aid in areas swarming with bandits, Islamic terrorists and other bad actors. The NGOs that continue to send people to these dangerous areas complain that many NGOs that used to be there with them are now snagging a lot of aid money and moving to some well-guarded urban area and spending the aid money on studies, seminars and research into how to achieve peace and prosperity via diplomacy, negotiation and creative financing. The NGOs still out in the field consider this growing interest in this new non-contact with the people needing the aid a craven cop-out and diversion of desperately needed funds from buying food and emergency services for people.

The NGOs are trying to keep this dispute from becoming a public debate as they all agree that putting these issues into the news would probably reduce contributions even more. NGOs are, for the most part, charitable organizations that take money from individuals, organizations and governments and use it for charitable work in foreign countries. The Red Cross is one of the oldest, and best-known NGOs, dating back to the 19th century. In the mid-20th century, the UN became the largest NGO. Now there are thousands of NGOs trying to survive in disaster zones that will not tolerate them at all unless the NGOs become part of the problem. Gaza is a glaring example of that and the West Bank is moving in the same direction.
Egypt is threatening war with Ethiopia over management of Nile River water. The dispute has been going on since 2011, when Ethiopia began construction of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt has a much larger and better equipped military than Ethiopia and spends twenty times as much each year on its armed forces. That does not mean the Egyptian military threat to Ethiopia is decisive.

Invading Ethiopia is no easy matter. Many have tried and none have succeeded, at least not for long. Egypt made an attempt in 1874 and failed spectacularly. Italy did worse in 1895, when their better trained, equipped and prepared force thought they could overwhelm the Ethiopian defenders, which still depended on poorly armed (compared to Italy) tribal militias. The Italians were defeated and humiliated. They tried again in 1935, prepared more thoroughly and were briefly successful. Italy first established colonial governments in southern Somalia and Eritrea, both of them bordering landlocked Ethiopia, then negotiated agreements with Britain and France to support efforts to curb growing German military power in return for freedom to do whatever they wanted in Africa, where Italy had also colonized Libya. When it became clear that Italy was assembling 100,000 troops in Somalia and Eritrea supported by modern artillery, tanks and aircraft, there were international protests that did not stop Italy from advancing into Ethiopia in October 1935 without declaring war. The Italians planned to use surprise, speed and ruthless violence against any armed or civilian resistance they encountered. It took six months to defeat the Ethiopian military opposition and in early May Italy captured the capital, Addis Ababa, in central Ethiopia. The Ethiopian emperor and his family fled and Italy declared Ethiopia part of its East African possession which included Eritrea and southern Somalia. Armed resistance continued for another year and civilian unrest was not quelled until 1939. Over 350,000 Ethiopians were killed, most of them civilians. Italian losses were about 10,000 dead. The Ethiopian emperor made impassioned pleas for Western assistance that were not answered until World War II broke out in late 1939, with Italy now allied with fascist Germany.

Britain also held part of Somalia and quickly moved forces there to halt any Italian moves. By 1940 British forces had cut off Italian forces in Ethiopia. The exiled Ethiopian emperor helped organize a paramilitary force that, after the British invasion force neutralized the Italian defenders, escorted the emperor into Addis Ababa in May 1941, four years after he had fled to avoid capture by the advancing Italians.

After World War II, in which Italy switched sides in 1943 and joined the allies, Italy signed a reparations agreement, acknowledging war crimes in Ethiopia and paid $310 million (in current dollars) reparations. Italy used chemical weapons against the Ethiopians and massive reprisal attacks on Ethiopian civilians who continued to resist. The Italians destroyed 2,000 churches in Ethiopia, a majority Christian nation for nearly 2,000 years. The Italians also destroyed over 500,000 homes and 13 million cattle, sheep, horses and camels.

Egypt is mindful of all this and threats of war on Ethiopia over the GERD project probably does not involve an invasion of the entire country. It also does not include an attack on the nearly complete and partially filled reservoir of the GERD dam because that would cause an enormous flood downstream in Sudan and into Egypt. GERD is more important to Ethiopia than Egypt and is costing $5 billion, which is seven percent of Ethiopian annual GDP. With the completion of GERD and its electricity generating capacity, Ethiopia will finally be able to bring electrical power to over half of Ethiopians who do not have it. GERD will control the flow of the Blue Nile, the major tributary of the Nile, supplying 85 percent of the Nile River that supplies 90 percent of the freshwater for 140 million Egyptians and Sudanese.

War over how GERD will manage water flow to Egypt and Sudan is a threat to Ethiopia, but not a major one and Ethiopia knows it. Ethiopia is a difficult country to invade and even more so now that the Blue Nile water is in play. This has a lot to do with Ethiopian stubbornness in resisting Egyptian attempts to dictate terms on how the GERD will manage the huge quantity of water in its reservoir and when water is released. Military action by Egypt and Sudan is a threat but one that has costs for Egypt and Sudan in the long run. Its one of those intractable situations that desperately needs a solution. There has been progress in working out a compromise but that has been slow going and unpopular in Ethiopia and Egypt. Sudan is caught in the middle because Sudan only recently overthrew a dictator who had ruled the country as an Islamic state that was backed by Iran. Sudan has patched up relationships with the West in order to get economic aid and some assistance in resolving the GERD dispute. The continued flow of Nile River water is a matter of life or death for Egypt, which finds its options seriously limited by practical realities.

Currently Egypt is trying to demonstrate some serious military threat capability against the dam, especially since GERD is located on the Blue Nile River that eventually flows through Sudan and is 20 kilometers, cross country, from the Sudan border. From the beginning of construction there has been a large military presence around the GERD and that force will apparently remain after construction is complete. While getting to GERD is easier than reaching Addis Ababa, the Ethiopians are aware of the vulnerability.

With that in mind, during late 2020 Egypt and Sudan participated in a week of joint military exercises. Egyptian Air Force aircraft and army commando forces are participating in the exercise. This military cooperation is all about the GERD project. A month earlier Egypt and Ethiopia and Sudan held peace talks but failed to agree on how to resolve their GERD disagreements. Egypt calls the dam a threat to Egypts existence.

Earlier in 2020 Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia thought they had reached an agreement on GERD operation and the distribution of Nile River water. A decade ago, Egyptian concern for its downstream water rights led to sharp diplomatic protests and war threats. The early 2020 agreement addressed issues like filling the GERDs reservoir, policies regulating water release during droughts and procedures for handling emergencies related to the dam. The Americans held a meeting in the United States that they believed determined joint responsibility for managing drought crises. The U.S. has good relations with Egypt and Ethiopia while Sudan wants the U.S. to remove it from the Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list, which was later done. This American brokered deal was described as final. That turned out to be optimistic. A couple of thorny issues remained unsettled. Ethiopia claimed Egypt dropped its demand that Ethiopia guarantee Egypt 40 billion cubic meters of water annually. Egypt claims it did not and could not drop that demand. The GERD reservoirs fill rate is another issue. Egypt argues that if the GERDs reservoir fills too quickly it will reduce the Nile Rivers flow and thus limit the Egyptian Aswan High Dams electrical generation capability. Egypt wants seven years for the initial fill. Ethiopia wants to fill it in four years. Once filled, GERDs reservoir will serve as a hedge against drought for all three nations. GERD will also supply electrical power to a region running from Kenya and Uganda through South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.

Water Wars like this are threatened in many parts of the Middle East and Eurasia. This one, involving the Nile River and long delayed economic progress for Ethiopia is probably one of the worst of these disputes. Settling it peacefully will provide useful lessons for similar disputes elsewhere.
FILE PHOTO: A Huawei logo is seen at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Shanghai, China February 23, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song

By David Shepardson

(Reuters) -Chinese telecommunications company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and U.S. group Verizon Communications agreed to settle a pair of lawsuits alleging patent infringement, the companies both said on Monday.

The confidential settlement came days into a trial that opened in one of the two lawsuits last week. Huawei and Verizon filed joint motions to dismiss both cases and Verizon's counterclaims late on Sunday in two U.S. courts in Texas.

In February 2020, Huawei sued Verizon alleging the company used a dozen Huawei patents without authorization in areas such as computer networking, download security, and video communications, seeking an unspecified amount of compensation and royalty payments.

Verizon said it was "happy with the settlement reached with Huawei involving patent lawsuits. While terms of the settlement are not being disclosed, our team did an outstanding job bringing this protracted matter to a close."

Huawei said in a statement it was "pleased that Verizon and Huawei reached an agreement that ends the companies patent litigation. The terms of the agreement are confidential."

The company noted it "holds more than 100,000 active patents worldwide, including about 10,000 U.S. patents."

Verizon had last year had filed counterclaims against Huawei, claiming the Chinese company violated Verizon patents.

Huawei said in 2020 it was "simply asking that Verizon respect Huawei's investment in research and development by either paying for the use of our patents, or refraining from using them."

Huawei has been a flashpoint in the U.S.-China relationship for several years. The United States placed the company on an economic blacklist in 2019 over what it said were national security concerns.

In June 2019, Reuters reported that Huawei told Verizon it should pay licensing fees for use of more than 230 Huawei patents and was seeking more than $1 billion.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Blake Brittain and Karen FreifeldEditing by Mark Potter and Jane Merriman)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 12, 2021) - CGX Energy Inc. (TSXV: OYL) ("CGX" or "the Company"), today announced an update on the activities related to its offshore exploration blocks, deep water port project and on the results of the CGX Annual General Meeting. CGX and Frontera Energy Corporation ("Frontera") (TSX: FEC), the majority shareholder of CGX, and its joint venture partner (collectively, the "Joint Venture") in the Demerara and Corentyne blocks, also separately announced an update on activities related to the Corentyne block.

Exploration:

The Kawa-1 well, the Joint Venture's commitment well on its Corentyne block, is expected to be spud within the August 1st to 15th time period and reach total depth in approximately 85 days. The primary target for the Kawa -1 well is a Santonian age, stratigraphic trap. The Kawa-1 well is located in the northeast quadrant of the Corentyne block approximately 200 km offshore from Georgetown. The water depth is approximately 355 meters (1,174 ft) and the expected total depth of the Kawa-1 well is 6,575 meters (21,700 ft).

As previously announced, Kawa-1 will be drilled by the Maersk Discoverer, a sixth-generation semi-submersible currently working in Trinidad for another operator. CGX Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CGX and operator of the Corentyne block, has secured all necessary contracts for the drilling of Kawa-1 and is now commencing operational activities to meet the targeted spud window. The current cost estimate to drill and evaluate Kawa-1 is between approximately US $80-$85 million, which CGX expects to finance from one or more options that are currently being considered by the Company.

Drilling Team

The Company has assembled a highly-qualified and experienced team for the drilling campaign, which includes:

 Kevin Lacy (41 years' experience with Chevron, BP, Talisman - former Global Drilling Manager with Chevron and Talisman) as Drilling Director;

I Todd Durkee (33 years' experience with Anadarko and Kerr McGee - last role VP Deep Water Drilling with Anadarko) as Senior Drilling Advisor;

I Karlin Costa (40 years' experience with Noble, Cobalt, BP and ConocoPhillips - last role Director Offshore Wells - Noble) as Senior Drilling Superintendent;

I Jonathan Shipley (35 years' experience with Apache, Devon, ConocoPhillips - last role DW Operations Superintendent with Apache in Suriname) as Senior Drilling Superintendent;

I Rick Ysa (30+ years' experience with Repsol, Chevron, Devon, Kerr McGee - last role Drilling Project Manager Americas with Repsol) as Senior Drilling Engineer;

I Marcus Summers (30 years' experience with ExxonMobil, Noble, Amoco - last role Senior DW Drilling Engineer, ExxonMobil) as Senior Drilling Engineer;

I Brad Koskowich (30+ years' experience with Repsol, Nexen, CNR, Suncor) as Senior Health Safety and Environment Advisor.

The Company's Vice President of Operations, Michael Stockinger has over 40 years of E&P drilling operations experience. Mr. Stockinger has held various senior level positions at large oil and gas companies including Anadarko Petroleum, Kerr-McGee and ConocoPhillips. He has significant operational experience offshore Guyana and has drilled multiple wells in the Basin, most recently the Eagle-Tertiary Well (EGT-1) in 2012 for CGX on its Corentyne Block.

Infrastructure:

Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Grand Canal Industrial Estates Inc ("GCIE"), the Company has been engaged in civil works related to the construction of the Berbice Deep Water Port ("BDWP") on 30 acres of land on the eastern bank of the Berbice River, adjacent to Crab Island. Currently, work is on-going on the access road and connecting bridge, relocation of utilities and major construction of the site along the Berbice River. Construction of the wharf platform and access trestle are currently scheduled to begin in September 2021. The facility is designed to have a wharf platform of 220m length and 30m width, accessed by a 50m trestle. An approved dredging program is intended to ensure continual unencumbered access to supply and cargo vessels. Depth is targeted to be maintained at a 7 m (23 ft) low-tide draft within the berth area and access channel that leads to the BDWP pier. The Company also owns and operates a 16 acres laydown yard in Berbice at Bramfield. This facility, located along the main Corentyne Highway, is fully permitted and operational as a logistics base and will also service the BDWP, which is located 3.2 km from the Bramfield Logistics Yard. The capital cost for the project to 2023 is currently estimated at US $70 million, with a further expansion to construct heavy lift and fabrication facilities being contemplated.

Work is on schedule for the operationalization of the offshore oil and gas support shore base by mid-2022 and for the operationalization of containerized cargo, agricultural cargo and specialized cargo terminal by the end of 2023.

The BDWP intends to service growing offshore demand in the oil and gas sector and significantly shorten supply routes, simplify logistics, and reduce cost and operational risk. Travel time from the BDWP to offshore fields is approximately 12 hours compared to approximately 2.5 days to regional ports currently used by operators. The BDWP port will enable provisioning of operators and vendors in territorial waters of both Guyana and Suriname.

The Company commissioned an independent market assessment study for the BDWP, conducted by Maritime & Transport Business Solutions ("MTBS") of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. According to the MTBS marketing report, the BDWP is expected to service the demands of 1 offshore well in 2022 following start-up; growing to 7-12 offshore wells / year beginning in 2023. The BDWP is positioned to play a leading role in the expansion of the oil and gas sector in Guyana and Suriname. The MTBS report predicts revenue generation from 2022 related to offshore oil and gas services reaching approximately US $37 million by 2025 and steadily increasing thereafter. The life-cycle of a producing field requires support, consumable supplies, equipment and services.

The BDWP's containerized, specialized and agricultural cargo operations are targeted to be fully operational by the end of 2023. The MTBS marketing report predicts that by 2030, the port will handle over 835,000 tons of cargo, with 64% of this related to the export of rice. Approximately 30 - 50% of the rice grown in Guyana is produced in regions 5 and 6 and the BDWP will provide important support to this industry and service its expected growth. The BDWP report predicts revenue generation from the cargo handling operations of the port to reach approximately US $28 million by 2025 with steady growth predicted, reaching approximately US $37 million by 2030.

The Company also commissioned MTBS to prepare a financial model for the BDWP, with inputs from GCIE as well as other advisors and consultants such as Aqua & Terra Consultores Asociados S.A.S and SRKN'gineering and Associates Ltd. The financial model predicts that the payback year for the project is 2025 with an above industry average net present value and internal rate of return values.

This is a transformative project for the enablement of local content in the oil and gas industry and for the transformation of the country's agricultural and commercial sectors.

Gabriel de Alba, Co-Chairman of CGX, commented: "We are pleased to continue to advance our activities in what we believe is one of the world's most important new oil and gas blocks in the last decade. The CGX team has worked tirelessly to reach this point in coordination with all our stakeholders. We look forward to providing further details as soon as possible."

Professor Suresh Narine, Executive Co-Chairman of CGX, stated: "I am incredibly proud of our team as we reach such an important exploration milestone for our organization. I am equally proud of the progress we have made in the development of the Berbice port, which reflects the focus we have on the broader opportunities for the people and businesses of Guyana."

Annual and Special Meeting Voting Results

At the annual and special meeting of shareholders (the "AGM") of the Company on Wednesday June 30, 2021, each of the six director nominees directors set forth in the Company's management proxy circular dated May 18, 2021 were elected as directors of the Company. Messrs. de Alba, Mills, Narine, Tribukait and Zoback were re-elected to serve as directors of the Company. Veronique Giry was also elected to act as a new director of the Company, replacing Duncan Nightingale who did not stand for re-election. The directors achieved an average approval vote of 99.8% from shareholders. The detailed results of the vote are set out below:

Nominee Outcome of Vote Voted Voted (%) Gabriel de Alba Approved For: 216,536,353

Withhold: 170,949 99.9%

0.1% Veronique Giry Approved For: 216,525,517

Withhold: 181,785 99.9%

0.1% Dennis Mills Approved For: 216,524,163

Withhold: 183,139 99.9%

0.1% Suresh Narine Approved For: 215,177,009

Withhold: 1,530,293 99.3%

0.7% Hermann Tribukait Approved For: 216,515,056

Withhold: 192,246 99.9%

0.1% Mark Zoback Approved For: 216,528,533

Withhold: 178,769 99.9%

0.1%

Veronique Giry has over 30 years of experience in the global oil and gas industry. Ms. Giry currently serves as Director, and Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ISH Energy Limited in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Ms. Giry's career has included senior management roles at the Alberta provincial energy regulator and Total Exploration & Production where she has held roles in Latin America, Canada, Asia, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Ms. Giry also sits as a volunteer on the board of Alliance Francaise of Calgary. Ms. Giry earned a Master's of Science in Engineering, a degree from the Ecole Centrale de Paris, France, with a major in Mechanics. Ms. Giry is currently a director of Frontera.

"We are very pleased to welcome Ms. Giry to the CGX team," commented Professor Narine, Executive Co-Chairman of CGX. "Veronique's extensive knowledge and experience in oil and gas will greatly assist CGX as we position to execute on our exploration and development targets over the next two years. I would also like to sincerely thank Mr. Nightingale for his contribution and service as a Director."

About CGX

CGX is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the Guyana-Suriname Basin.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that CGX believes, expect or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding exploration and development plans and objectives with regards to the Kawa-1 well, including drilling plans, and the development of the BDWP and its future usage) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of CGX, as the case may be, based on information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the need to obtain any required regulatory approval; the ability of the Joint Venture to successfully explore and develop the offshore blocks, and to fund such exploration and development and the impact thereof of unforeseen costs and expenses; changes in equity and debt markets; perceptions of the prospects and the prospects of the oil and gas industry in the countries where the Company operates or has investments; and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's annual information form dated May 5, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, CGX disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although CGX believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements applicable to it are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

For further information, please contact: Tralisa Maraj, Chief Financial Officer at (832) 300-3200.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/89978
SHANGHAI, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Greater China and other parts of Asia, today announced that it has entered into a strategic commercial partnership with Tencent, one of the world's largest technology companies, to explore novel ways to optimize meaningful digital engagement with patients and healthcare providers.

"As part of our preparations to become a commercial organization, we are focused on establishing key partnerships and building an offering of innovative and comprehensive technology solutions to engage and connect patients, healthcare providers, payers and other key stakeholders across the industry," said Kerry Blanchard, MD, PhD, CEO of Everest Medicines. "This partnership with Tencent, a global technology powerhouse, is a critical part of our overall commercial strategy as it will enable us to leverage the power of digital transformation, technology and data to strengthen our market position and ensure patients and healthcare providers in Greater China have greater access to the information and medicines they need."

As part of this partnership, Everest Medicines will explore a number of capabilities and potential solutions with Tencent, including ways to engage patients and healthcare professionals in disease awareness, particularly in various cancers, kidney diseases and severe infectious diseases, which tend to disproportionately impact people in the Greater China region and have limited treatment options, resulting in significant unmet medical need. In addition, the Companies will consider options to build a one-stop patient management ecosystem that spans disease management, from diagnosis to treatment and outcomes, as well as look at ways to leverage artificial intelligence and business intelligence tools to better identify customer profiles and improve treatment adoption.

About Everest Medicines

Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Greater China and other Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record of high-quality clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations both in China and with leading global pharmaceutical companies. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of eight potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules, many of which are in late stage clinical development. The Company's therapeutic areas of interest include oncology, autoimmune disorders, cardio-renal diseases and infectious diseases. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com

About Tencent

Tencent uses technology to enrich the lives of Internet users. The communication and social services, Weixin and QQ, connect users with each other and with digital content and services, both online and offline, making their lives more convenient. The targeted advertising service helps advertisers reach out to hundreds of millions of consumers in China. Our FinTech and business services support our partners' business growth and assist their digital upgrade. Tencent invests heavily in talent and technological innovation, actively promoting the development of the Internet industry. Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China, in 1998. Shares of Tencent (00700.HK) are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/everest-medicines-announces-strategic-commercial-partnership-with-global-technology-company-tencent-301331234.html

SOURCE Everest Medicines
High Demand & A Global Shortage Investors Should Be Watching This Niche Gas on 07/13/2021. Learn More
Buy Photo Sgt. David Sigdestad, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, shows off an 85-pound bomb suit at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Friday, July 9, 2021. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan  Members of the explosive ordnance disposal unit at this base in western Japan recently showed off their skills to local media with a demonstration of high-tech robots and a low-tech detonation.

Bad weather, including lightning, canceled a large, controlled detonation Friday on nearby a practice range called Target Island. Instead, an EOD technician blew up a small package, which produced a small pop, for more than a dozen reporters, mostly Japanese, during the annual demonstration.

Our mission is the protection of personnel and property aboard the air station and throughout the local community, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Russell, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadrons EOD officer-in-charge, told Stars and Stripes at the event.

Buy Photo Staff. Sgt. Keith Lowe, an explosive ordance disposal technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, operates a robot at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Friday, July 9, 2021. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

Staff. Sgt. Keith Lowe, an EOD technician for Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, operated two robots, one large and one small, and showed off their ability to grab and move objects.

Approximately 50 percent of the Marines in Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron come from other units such as Marine Aircraft Group 12, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171st and Combat Logistics Company 36th as part of the Fleet Assistance Program.

Another EOD technician, Sgt. David Sigdestad, demonstrated how people in his line of work don an 85-pound bomb suit, which consists of numerous layers of Kevlar, plastic and foam to protect the wearer from the force of a blast.

EOD conducts controlled detonations at Target Island, a restricted area five miles offshore from the air station.

Buy Photo Teams practice explosive ordnance disposal on Target Island, a restricted area five miles from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

We try and get to the island to train at least once a month, Russell said. Our training aboard Target Island is to maintain proficiency which is a very perishable skill set.

One unique EOD capability is inerting, or rendering a piece of ordnance safe for another purpose, he said. The team basically disassembles the item, takes the explosive material from it and then reassembles the item for use as a training aid.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 was a busy year for Iwakuni EOD, which disposed of about 200 pounds of munitions, Russell said.

There were Japanese munitions found during dredging operations for a construction project south of Hiroshima over the past three months we have had three to four incidents pop up to recover the unexploded ordnances, he said.
WASHINGTON  Marines and civilian employees for the service who lie about their vaccination status so they can remove their masks in public could be punished, the service said in updated coronavirus precaution guidance.

Service members and civilian employees who misrepresent their vaccination status may be subject to appropriate adverse administrative or punitive actions, the Marine Corps said in its guidance issued Friday.

It was the first time that the Marines provided guidance on how to enforce adherence to a Pentagon policy issued May 14 that lifted the mask mandate for all fully vaccinated troops and personnel.

The guidance did not specify the kinds of punishments that could be issued if Marine Corps personnel are found not to be complying with the rules.

While vaccinated Marines were allowed to drop their masks nearly two months ago with the Pentagon policy, the service-specific guidance explained how the Marine Corps could ensure compliance.

Marines who are not fully vaccinated must continuously wear their mask outside their homes, according to the regulations, and service members who forgo masks must be prepared to show proof of vaccination status.

Commanders have the authority to verify vaccination status of service members, according to the guidance.

For civilian employees, supervisors must have a reasonable basis to believe the unmasked person has not been vaccinated based on reliable evidence such as firsthand knowledge of voluntary employee statements, according to the guidance.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Curtis A. Rice, sergeant major for 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, receives the COVID-19 vaccination on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 15, 2021. (Quince Bisard/U.S. Marine Corps)
Buy Photo A police cruiser from Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, is seen in May 2020. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan  A U.S. Navy sailor charged with drunken driving after an accident on a Yokohama expressway in May could also face a marijuana charge.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Elijah Oneth, stationed at Yokosuka, was indicted Wednesday by the Yokohama District Public Prosecutors Office on a charge of driving while intoxicated, a spokesman for the office told Stars and Stripes on Friday.

Police on Friday referred a report to prosecutors alleging that Oneth also violated Japans Cannabis Control Law, a police spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone that day.

In Japan, prosecutors, not police, file criminal charges against the accused. Some government officials in Japan customarily speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

Police found about one gram of a liquid extract containing the active ingredient in marijuana in Oneths car following the accident, the police spokesman said.

Police say the sailor caused a multivehicle accident by driving the wrong way on the Bayshore Route of the Shuto Expressway around 1:55 a.m. May 16.

Police recommended prosecutors indict Oneth on the cannabis charge because cases involving drugs are serious crimes, the police spokesman said.

The sailor told police that a friend sent him the liquid for personal use from the United States by international mail, according to the spokesman.

After the accident, Oneth told police he drove to Tokyo by himself that night and had been drinking in his car, the police spokesman said. Police referred a case of suspected drinking and driving to the prosecutors office without making an arrest.

The Kanagawa newspaper reported June 30 that liquid containing cannabis was found in the sailors vehicle after the crash and in the ambulance that took him to hospital. The police declined to comment on the allegation at the time, citing the ongoing investigation.

The sailor was treated at a local hospital and the occupants of the other vehicles did not seek medical care at the scene, Yokosuka Naval Base spokesman Randall Baucom wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes on June 30.

Baucom said the Navy is cooperating with police.

The Navy takes all allegations involving misconduct of our Sailors very seriously, he said.
An image of the diary of John Claypoole, third husband of Betsy Ross. (David Edge)

It began with an unmarked, unremarkable box tucked in a corner of a garage in California. Inside, under miscellaneous letters and old high school yearbooks, was a smaller shoe box. Inside that, under old coins and a numismatist pamphlet, lay the 240-year-old diary of sailor John Claypoole, a Revolutionary War prisoner of war and later the third husband of the flagmaker known as Betsy Ross.

"It was wrapped in a piece of paper that said, 'John Claypoole diary to be handled with great care,' which was sort of funny we found it in a paper shoe box in a box in this garage," recalled Aileen Edge, who with her husband uncovered the priceless item in her mother's Marin County home in June 2020.

In the journal, Claypoole describes his capture by the British while a privateer at sea, being charged with high treason for "being found in arms and in open rebellion" against the king, and his time at Old Mill Prison near Plymouth. He wrote about the hardships of life in captivity; about another inmate's escape attempt that ended with the man being shot; about watching, in March 1782, as "M. Joseph Ashburn departed this life after an illness of about a week which he bore with amazing fortitude & resignation."

At the time of his death, Joseph Ashburn was married to Betsy Ross. Her first husband, John Ross, had also died during the war.

The diary predates Claypooles relationship with Ross, so she is not mentioned in it. But the document, and a Claypoole family Bible found around the same time, gives perspective to Ross place in the nations founding, said Philip Mead, chief historian and curator at Philadelphias Museum of the American Revolution, which put both items on exhibit during the July Fourth weekend. While a transcription of Claypooles diary has existed for years, this is proof that what it contained is correct.

"This really taps into the profound sacrifices she and her family made to create the United States. Whether she created the first flag or not, she certainly helped create the country," Mead said. "It's crucial to have the original documents because they are the only unimpeachable sources. It wasn't that we didn't know about these great sacrifices, but this confirms it."

Two entries in the Claypoole Bible, which has never been documented before, further emphasize the family's commitment to the American experiment. The first notes the Ross-Claypoole union: "John Claypoole and Elizabeth were married the 8th day of May in the year of our Lord 1783 and in the 8th year of Independence of the United States of America."

The second entry records the birth of a son to John Claypoole's sister: "Alexander Trimble son of James and Clarissa Sidney Trimble Born the 20th of March 1783, 12 minutes before ten o'clock PM (being the day that Hostilities ceased between the United States of America and Great Britain, after a long and cruel war.)"

"The fact that they give Christian year and the years since independence shows how sacred the country had become to them through their many sacrifices," Mead said. "Betsy Ross herself didn't leave much in the way of personal testimony so we have to get at her thinking by reading the words of people close to her or learning about her business from the surviving invoices or accounts."

It's not written in the diary  which only covers Claypoole's time as a POW  but historians generally believe that Ashburn spoke often of his wife and at his death asked Claypoole to deliver her a message. Thus when Claypoole was back in Philadelphia, one of the first things he did was visit Ross. They married eight months later and remained so for more than 30 years.

Growing up in Marin County, Calif., Aileen Edge always knew she was a direct descendant of John Claypoole and Betsy Ross, who was formally known as Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole when she died in 1836 at age 84.

Edge's mother, Claire Canby Keleher, was the famous flagmaker's great-great-great-granddaughter and fiercely proud of her family's role in the nation's birth.

"I used to brag about it in school: 'I'm related to Betsy Ross,'" said Edge, 59, of Redmond, Wash. "I can totally remember sharing that with a great thrill."

Keleher taught her two children to fold a piece of fabric and, with one snip of her scissors, create a five-pointed-star, as Ross allegedly did when she persuaded George Washington that it was superior to the six-pointed star hed wanted on the flag. She proudly displayed one of Ross sewing tables in their California home. She held an annual celebration of Ross Jan. 1 birthday with other descendants. When Edge met the man she would marry, her mother noted that it was fate: Hed been born on June 14: Flag Day.

Last year, as Keleher's health declined, Edge and her husband, Dave, began visiting more frequently. On each trip, they'd attempt to sort some of the many boxes and papers her mother kept.

"She always seemed to be the one who ended up with the family items, especially if someone passed away," Edge said.

Keleher died on July 14, 2020. Donating the book to the Museum of the American Revolution in the names of Keleher and her late brother, Wilbur Wood Canby, seemed like the natural thing to do. A sea chest belonging to John Claypoole had been given to the museum in 2019 by another branch of the family. The items, once kept together, would be reunited after more than two centuries apart.

"My brother and I talked about if one of us kept it, we'd just wrap it up and keep it safe and what's really gained by that?" Edge asked. "Our mom loved history so much, she would have wanted it to be in a museum. She was so proud to be a descendant of Betsy Ross."

Some important details of who Betsy Ross was and what she did during the American Revolution remain murky. The story that appears in elementary school books holds that in 1776, Gen. George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army, went to Ross shop in Philadelphia with a sketch for a new flag.

She accepted the commission but made one significant change to his design: changing the 13 six-pointed stars he'd wanted to use to five-pointed stars because they were easier for her to make.

The building where Ross reportedly lived and rented shop space when she sewed that first flag still stands today. "Betsy Ross House" is now a museum where someone dressed as Ross tells that story, while expanding it to note that Ross made musket cartridges in her upholstery shop and was nicknamed "the Little Rebel" because of her passion for patriotism.

Those who doubt the first flag story note there are no diaries, newspaper accounts or letters showing that Washington sought out Ross skills or that the pair knew each other. Theres no mention of Ross in founding documents. Her connection to the flag was unknown until her grandson wrote a book about the familys story in the 1870s.

Supporters say that Ross grandson had no reason to lie and that he presented sworn affidavits from family members testifying theyd grown up hearing the family tale.

In 2014, curators at Washington's Mount Vernon estate found a receipt for bed furnishings paid to a Mr. Ross of Philadelphia dated 1774, proving Washington and Ross were acquainted. Betsy Ross may also have met Washington while worshiping at Christ Church after she was "read out" of her Quaker meetinghouse in part because of her support for the war.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, who originated the phrase "well-behaved women seldom make history," has long dismissed the first flag story, but she's excited by the information found in the Claypoole Bible and diary.

"I love the fact that the emphasis now is not on a piece of needlework or an artifact but on the person and the larger context that the American Revolution required sacrifices," she said. "What's important is seeing Betsy Ross as a symbol of the multiple ways ordinary people, male or female, white or non-white, made a difference."
South Dakota National Guard Soldiers from the 153rd Engineer Battalion of Huron greet Gov. Kristi Noem at Barnes Canyon Camp during Golden Coyote training exercise in Custer State Park, S.D., June 14, 2019. Noem announced Tuesday, June 29, 2021, that she will join a growing list of Republican governors sending law enforcement officers to the U.S. border with Mexico. (Breanne Donnell/Army National Guard)

When Gov. Kristi Noem, R, announced recently that she would send 50 South Dakota National Guard soldiers to Texas at the expense of a private donor, criticism was swift. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a fellow Republican, said Noem had set a "bad precedent." Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said the Guard was being used as a "private militia." A South Dakota Republican state lawmaker wondered if the Guard was being used as "hired mercenaries," and a historian at the South Dakota National Guard Museum told the Associated Press that "this kind of floors me."

What the critics weren't able to say was that Noem broke the law. Perhaps the most disturbing thing about her action was that it was probably legal. If Americans don't like the message that sends, they will have to close the loopholes that make it possible to place decisions about when and where to use military forces into the hands of billionaire donors like the one funding Noem's mission.

Private donations per se are not so much the issue. Both the federal government and the South Dakota state government accept private donations. For those who feel as if they don't pay enough in taxes already, the Treasury has created a process that allows private individuals to make donations to the federal government. Those donations have totaled more than $60 million since 1996. Treasury data shows the public also contributed $33.6 million over the past 10 years to reduce the public debt.

But the federal government's use of private donations for a military deployment could be a violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits agencies from spending funds in excess of what has been appropriated by Congress, or from accepting voluntary services except under an emergency. In practice, this means that the process of donating to the federal government is severed from questions of how federal funds are allocated and employed, so that no private donation of this kind runs the risk of dictating a federal act.

It's not clear, however, whether use of private funds like this is illegal in South Dakota.

As governor, Noem is commander in chief of the National Guard when it is not called into federal service. And she is not alone in answering the call by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, to send troops to the southern border - as of this writing, six state governors have deployed their forces. But what role did the $1 million offer from the foundation funded by Willis and Reba Johnson, Republican megadonors based in Tennessee, play in Noem's decision? Was it the Johnsons' idea, or was it hers? Linking the deployment directly to the donor's offer created the appearance that it was not only paid for but that it was bought at the donor's behest.

Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department opened the door for states to send National Guard troops under gubernatorial control into other states even without receiving that state's permission. Constitution Project scholar Steve Vladeck wrote at the time that this created an "ominous precedent" of pitting red state and blue state troops against each other.

Add private funding to that equation, and it's easy to see how dangerous Noem's precedent could be.

Imagine a scenario, for example, in which wealthy donors pay for the California National Guard to fight wildfires around Malibu while the rest of the state burns. Equally troubling would be the use of a privately funded Guard unit deployed to surround or protect an assembled group that is supported or opposed by a governor and like-minded state leaders.

Money in politics already creates significant corruption concerns. This South Dakota deployment seemingly places decisions about where we use force and why up to the highest bidder.

All this is reminiscent of the days when private American individuals conducted their own foreign policy campaigns by raising private military forces to overthrow governments, a practice known as filibustering. William Walker became the most famous filibuster when he, along with his private army of 60 recruits, landed in Nicaragua. Walker declared himself president and ruled the country for nearly a year, from 1856 to 1857, before being overthrown by a coalition army led by Costa Rican forces. This and several similar efforts were undertaken during the antebellum era to expand slavery.

More than 160 years later, it's concerning to see private interests co-opting genuine military forces to achieve their own policy ends.

Addressing the use of private donors will most likely require legislation. Reforms could include limiting such donations when they are used to send the Guard across state lines, or restricting interstate deployments to a narrower set of emergencies, like natural disasters.

It may also require reconsidering emergency exceptions for private donations, as the definition of the word emergency continues to be politicized and open to future abuse. Any proposals would have to be carefully constructed to not compromise states' rights or undermine the ability of neighboring states to provide assistance and support when real threats to public health and safety exist.

Even if Noem wasn't influenced by her out-of-state megadonor, her decision highlights broader constitutional concerns raised by Abbott's call for state aid at the border. The Constitution assigns Congress the responsibility of naturalization and regulation of commerce between countries. Numerous court cases since the Constitution's ratification have established the federal government's authority over immigration matters, placing border security squarely within the purview of the federal government - not the states.

Mandy Smithberger is the director of the Center for Defense Information at the Project on Government Oversight.
BEIJING  Chinas military said it chased a U.S. warship out of a disputed area of the South China Sea on Monday after Washington warned an attack on the Philippines might activate a mutual defense treaty.

Beijing affirmed its claims to portions of the sea that also are claimed by Southeast Asia governments. It rejected the Biden administrations declaration of support Sunday for an international tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines that threw out most of them.

China is increasingly assertive about pressing its territorial claims, which are fueling tension with neighbors including Japan, India, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Peoples Liberation Army said it sent ships and planes after the USS Benfold entered waters claimed by Beijing around the Paracel Islands.

Chinese forces warned them and drove them away, the military said on its social media account.

The islands are Chinas inherent territory, the PLA said. The actions of the U.S. military have seriously violated Chinas sovereignty and security.

The U.S. Navy, in a statement by the 7th Fleet Public Affairs office, rejected the Chinese statement as false but gave no details of a possible encounter with PLA forces.

The Benfold carried out the operation in accordance with international law and then continued on to conduct normal operations in international waters, the statement said.

The Chinese statement was the latest in a long string of PRC actions to misrepresent lawful U.S. maritime operations and assert its excessive and illegitimate maritime claims, the Navy statement said.

On Sunday, the Biden administration affirmed its support for the 2016 tribunal ruling that rejected Chinas claims outside its internationally recognize territorial waters.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Beijing of intimidating its Southeast Asian neighbors and threatening navigation through an important global waterway.

Blinken warned that an attack on Philippine vessels or aircraft would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments. A 1951 treaty obligates Washington and Manila to come to each others aid in case of an attack.

The panels ruling was a political farce, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian. He said Chinas territorial claims have sufficient historical and legal basis.

China firmly deplores and rejects the wrongdoings of the United States, Zhao said at a regular news briefing.

A U.S.-based expert said Monday that swarms of Chinese vessels anchored in a disputed area of the South China Sea have dumped human waste and wastewater for years, causing algae blooms that have damaged coral reefs and threatened fish in an unfolding catastrophe.

Satellite images over the last five years show how human waste, sewage and wastewater have accumulated and caused algae in the atoll, internationally known as Union Banks, said Liz Derr, who heads Simularity Inc., a software company creating artificial intelligence technologies for satellite imagery analysis.

At least 236 ships were spotted in the atoll on June 17 alone, she said at a Philippine online news forum on Chinas actions in the South China Sea.

Chinese officials did not immediately react to Derrs assessment of the environmental damage, but have said in the past that they have taken steps to protect the fisheries stock and the environment in the South China Sea.
Buy Photo Gen. Scott Miller, left, hands command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie at a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, July 12, 2021. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

KABUL, Afghanistan  Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie took charge of the remaining U.S. forces in Afghanistan during a ceremony Monday, relieving the longest-serving U.S. commander as the militarys withdrawal nears its end and Taliban forces continue their attacks throughout the country.

McKenzie took over from Army Gen. Austin Scott Miller, whose nearly three years in command made him the longest-tenured leader since the war began in 2001.

McKenzie attempted to reassure Afghan officials at the ceremony that the U.S. will continue to help Afghanistan, even after most troops leave.

Its not the end of the story, rather its the end of a chapter, McKenzie said. You can count on our support in the dangerous and difficult days ahead.

Miller thanked U.S. allies for their service, noting that most have already left the country. Only the flags of the U.S., the United Kingdom and Turkey remained flying Monday at former NATO Resolute Support headquarters, which is now part of the U.S. Embassy complex.

Miller also called for the Taliban to pull back on fighting.

We can all see the violence thats taking place across the country, Miller said, adding that the fighting makes a negotiated settlement difficult.

The plan to transfer authority to McKenzie, who leads U.S. Central Command, had been announced by Pentagon officials earlier this month.

Buy Photo Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie speaks at a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, July 12, 2021, during which he took command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan from Army Gen. Scott Miller. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie, left, sits near Gen. Scott Miller in Afghanistan on Monday, July 12, 2021. (J.P. Lawrence/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Gen. Scott Miller, left, speaks with Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the Afghanistans High Council for National Reconciliation, on July 12, 2021. The two were speaking at a ceremony at which Miller relinquished command of United States Forces-Afghanistan and NATOs Resolute Support mission. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Army Gen. Scott Miller, right, sits next to Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie at a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, July 12, 2021. Miller relinquished command of United States Forces-Afghanistan and NATOs Resolute Support mission to McKenzie. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

The change in leadership from Miller to McKenzie is part of the drawdown, reflecting a smaller U.S. force presence in Afghanistan, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

More than 90% of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is complete, CENTCOM said. It will be concluded by the end of August, President Joe Biden said last week.

McKenzie will have the authority to conduct counterterrorism operations against threats to America from Afghanistan, he said at the ceremony. He will also be charged with developing plans to provide besieged Afghan forces with logistical, financial and technical support after U.S. troops leave.

The Pentagon also approved a new command for American forces who will protect diplomats after the U.S. military drawdown ends.

The Kabul-based command will be led by Rear Adm. Peter Vasely, a two-star Navy SEAL. The troops at the embassy also will help with security requirements at the capitals Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The force will also offer continued advice and assistance to Afghan national defense and security forces, and support counterterrorism efforts, Kirby said.

Miller, 61, played a key role in a historic 2020 peace deal with the Taliban and has overseen a U.S. drawdown amid rising violence among Afghans.

Under the Army generals command, transparency about U.S. actions in the war shrunk while territory under Taliban control grew to reach the highest level since the U.S. arrival nearly 20 years ago.

The former leader of Joint Special Operations Command escaped death in an attack in Kandahar weeks after he assumed command. The attack killed powerful provincial police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq and wounded several others, including Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smiley.

Miller repeatedly admonished the Taliban to reduce their violence around the country. Although the fighters largely refrained from attacking foreign troops following the 2020 peace agreement, they ramped up attacks on Afghan government troops. Afghanistan now stands at risk of civil war, Miller told reporters last month.

Stars and Stripes reporters Phillip Walter Wellman and Caitlin Doornbos contributed to this report.

J.P. Lawrence J.p. Lawrence reports on the U.S. military in Afghanistan and the Middle East. He served in the U.S. Army from 2008 to 2017. He graduated from Columbia Journalism School and Bard College and is a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines.
Dina Covaliu of Rockville, Md., displays the Israeli flag on Sunday near the Capitol. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

WASHINGTON  Hundreds of people stood outside the U.S. Capitol on Sunday wearing blue hats that said "#NoFear" as they called for unity among Jewish people and their allies to stand against a rising number of antisemitic incidents across the country.

The event, called "No Fear: A Rally In Solidarity with the Jewish People," drew speakers including Elisha Wiesel, a business executive and son of Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, and Meghan McCain, a daughter of the late GOP senator John McCain of Arizona. Many attendees held Israeli flags as they stood in the heat.

It comes after reports that antisemitic incidents in the D.C. region rose to an all-time high in 2020, according to the Anti-Defamation League, a group that has tracked such reports since 1979. Nationally, the organization said the 1,242 reports of harassment in 2020 represents an increase of 10% over 2019, while reported acts of vandalism and assault declined by 18% and 49%, respectively.

"We are here today because we care deeply and profoundly about Jewish life and Jewish values," Wiesel told the crowd. "We can disagree, even passionately, without being divided. We can even disagree on Israel  the issue that our enemies rejoice in seeing it become a wedge for us in this country."

The event also drew attendees from outside the Washington region who said they have witnessed a rise in antisemitism. Saul Guberman of New York said he attended the rally with a friend, David Kerner, after seeing social media posts about the event.

"I worked in Manhattan, and I can tell you that Manhattan used to be a very pro-Israel and pro-Jewish place, and it's not as much anymore," Guberman said. "I get a lot of antisemitic comments."

Kerner said a synagogue near his residence in New York was recently found with a bullet inside that had come through the glass. An event like that "hasn't happened in a long time," Kerner said.

Natalie Rozet, 28, was standing in the crowd Sunday afternoon, holding an Israeli flag. She walked from her home in the District to participate in the rally because she said there's been "a huge rise" in antisemitic attacks rooted in a misunderstanding of the Jewish people and their support for Israel.

While the event and its speakers displayed goals of unity, there was a brief moment of tension.

Two people with signs that read "Palestine = occupation" got into disagreements with attendees who were critical of the viewpoint. Before the first speaker took the stage, a woman followed a group of Orthodox Jews, yelling at them, "Shame on you!" before D.C. police intervened and asked her to step away.

Attendees noted a connectivity among those who came, with people laughing as they stood in the shade. A Holocaust survivor using a walker shared her story with attendees.

"It's heartening to see so many people come out," Kerner said. "It's a cross-section of the Jewish community and non-Jews expressing solidarity."

As the event came to a close, the organizer asked everyone to stand together. In unity, hundreds of voices sang in front of the Capitol, "I'm a Jew and I'm proud."
The Corp of Cadets march out of the barracks in May for a change-of-command ceremony at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. (Parker Michels-Boyce/For The Washington Post)

They marched out of their castle-like barracks and onto the crisp green parade field to the sounds of drums, trumpets and bagpipes. Minutes later, the cadets at Virginia Military Institute stood at attention in their uniforms of white pants and gray coatees.

On a sunny Friday in May, the corps was poised to mark a first in the 182-year history of the nation's oldest state-supported military college: anointing a female student as their top military commander.

Kasey Meredith, a rising senior from Pennsylvania, strode past photographers and positioned herself next to the college's superintendent, retired Army Maj. General Cedric Wins, the institute's first Black leader. Then, Wins handed her VMI's white battle flag and the two clasped the colors, signifying the corps' change of command.

But the stirring image of Meredith becoming VMI's first female regimental commander belied the misogyny she and other female cadets have endured since women were first admitted to the school in 1997 after a legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

In the six weeks since her appointment was announced, Meredith, an international studies major with plans to commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps next year, had been the object of derision by VMI students on Jodel, a widely used anonymous social media app where female cadets are routinely dismissed as "shedets" or "sheeds."

The posters on Jodel accused VMI officials of selecting Meredith out of "bull---t politics" or as "a publicity stunt" to appease state-appointed investigators examining racism and sexism at the college.

Photos were uploaded to the app with her head scratched out or with an egg superimposed over her face. A joke about her engaging in a sex act with her significant other got more than 50 upvotes.

Meredith, who declined an interview request, seemed unfazed and confident on the day she took charge of the corps.

"It's amazing to be the first female," she told the Roanoke Times. "It's amazing to give that type of incentive to younger generations who are coming to VMI."

Kasey Meredith, center, stands next to Superintendent Cedric Wins, left, as she is installed as the first female leader of the VMI Corps of Cadets. (Parker Michels-Boyce/For The Washington Post)

But those young women won't find VMI  where men make up 87% of the school's 1,698 cadets  an easy place to navigate, according to the independent investigation by the law firm Barnes & Thornburg that was released two weeks after Meredith's achievement.

The investigation found that sexism on the Lexington campus  which received $19.3 million in state funding for fiscal 2021, along with $33 million toward a new aquatics center  may be just as serious a problem as racism.

At a college where sexual contact between cadets on campus is forbidden, "sexual assault is prevalent at VMI yet it is inadequately addressed by the Institute," the report said. Fourteen percent of female cadets surveyed by the law firm reported they'd been sexually assaulted at VMI and 63% said another cadet had confided being sexually assaulted.

"Many female cadets reported a consistent fear of assault or harassment by their fellow male cadets," the report warned. "Many female cadets also feel that assault complaints are not or will not be taken seriously by the VMI administration or that a cadet will suffer retaliatory consequences for reporting them."

These were damaging findings for a school whose identity revolves around its strict honor code and touts its policy of expelling any student caught lying, cheating, stealing or tolerating those who do.

But a VMI spokesman defended the school, pointing to passages in the report where "many women expressed pride in VMI" and in their treatment by male cadets and that praised the college's handling of sex assault and harassment allegations.

VMI's policies barring discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation are "well written and easy to understand," the investigation found. The college's Inspector General's office has "robust procedures" for investigating complaints, and its Title IX records "reflected a competent and compliant investigation and adjudication process."

In a statement to The Washington Post, VMI's spokesman said: "All reports of sexual assault and harassment are handled by VMI with the utmost urgency, in accordance with federally-approved policy, and in the best interest of the cadet who makes the report."

For this story, The Post spoke to more than a dozen women who attended VMI, graduated, or still go there about what they've experienced. The vast majority have been enrolled within the past two years. Nearly all spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from college administrators, fellow cadets or VMI's powerful alumni network. Several said they were sexual assault victims. The Post's policy is not to identify such victims in most cases.

In the interviews, they described an atmosphere of hostility toward women, with constant ridicule at their expense on Jodel, and an expectation of backlash from male cadets if they reported incidents in which they've been groped or raped.

One upperclasswoman said she was raped in January in the barracks, where men and women live side by side, by a male cadet who'd been a friend. But she didn't feel comfortable alerting VMI police or school officials, though she said she trusts VMI's Title IX office to properly investigate assaults. Mostly, she said, she feared retribution from male cadets and a reflexive defense of the perpetrator as "a good guy."

"They would think I am trying to get him in trouble. They'd say, 'Hey, think about this guy's commission, and the life you're about to ruin,' " she said. "But what about me? I was assaulted, and I'm dealing with the trauma."

A second female cadet told The Post she was molested her freshman year in 2019 by an older student inside a campus building.

"He came up behind me and started kissing me and groping my butt and crotch, and I kept saying no the entire time," she recalled.

She said she filed a complaint with the Title IX office, but that the male cadet only received a combination of demerits, campus confinement and penalty marching tours.

A school official discouraged her from pushing for more punishment, she said, telling her: "Just a reminder, you know he is a couple months away from graduation."

The official also said, " 'Are you sure he knew you didn't want to do this?' That made no sense. Why would have I reported the case if I wanted to kiss him?"

She said the male cadet was allowed to stay at school. "It just made me really anxious seeing him," she said. "I was still afraid of it happening again."

Members of the class of 2021 march to the change of command at VMI, where men make up 87% of the school's 1,698 cadets. (Parker Michels-Boyce/For The Washington Post)

One bright spot, she said, was VMI's counseling center. A woman who worked there "validated my concerns and made sure I knew what happened wasn't my fault," the cadet said. "She gave me good ways to cope. She told me not to make eye contact with him and that I should remain assertive and confident."

A third woman, who graduated from VMI in 2019, said she was attacked her freshman year in her barracks room. She'd invited a friend, a fellow freshman, over to her room for help with some homework. He raped her instead.

"I kept saying, 'Please stop.' I kept saying, 'We're not allowed to do this,' " the woman said. "After it happened, I shut down for a week" before telling classmates and then VMI's commandant staff what happened.

"But then no one from the school ever got back to me," she said. "And I never followed back up. I was embarrassed. It was so close to the end of the school year. By then, I just wanted to move on."

The worst part, she said, was that same male cadet tried to attack her the next academic year while she was on a jog. She was running down a large hill on campus, she said, and suddenly he emerged running behind her, grabbing and ripping her shirt.

"I think he thought he was being funny and joking around," she said. "But I ran up the stairs behind barracks and I went to my room. I don't think I've ever run so fast."

The male cadet, she said, wound up leaving VMI shortly after the beginning of their junior year.

  

In its investigation into VMI, Barnes & Thornburg found that while the school "conducts extensive sexual assault training," male cadets "treat it as a joke and an opportunity for misogynistic humor, without consequence."

Asked about this finding, the school said it could not respond to "the many unconfirmed, anecdotal allegations throughout the report." Its spokesman added, "VMI expects each cadet to participate in the required Title IX training with as much, if not more, seriousness as they would approach their academic classes."

Attacks trigger ridicule, too. In March, VMI issued a federally mandated Clery Crime Alert to the campus about a male cadet who allegedly "inappropriately touched several females" inside the barracks.

The incident quickly became fodder on Jodel for sexist jokes about "the sheed diddler" and bitter commentary about the presence of women at VMI.

Jodel is so popular at VMI that the school mentions it by name in its Blue Book of cadet regulations, warning students that "anonymously targeting" others via such apps is "abhorrent." In its statement, VMI said that the First Amendment protects "much of the speech" on Jodel and that it's "nearly impossible" to identify the users, though the campus police would try to do so if students violated state or federal laws while posting on the app.

But comments denigrating women aren't limited to Jodel. During the college's talent show in March, a male cadet performed a stand-up comedy routine in which he joked about sexual misconduct at VMI, according to three students who were in the audience.

Two said that VMI's commandant, Bill Wanovich, laughed and clapped at the end of the student's set.

Cadets at VMI in May. (Parker Michels-Boyce/For The Washington Post)

"This was getting applause from the commandant?" said one male cadet who just graduated and spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. "It felt like we were in the twilight zone. We didn't know what to do."

Wanovich, whose tenure as commandant was marred in 2017 after he posed in an offensive Halloween photo on campus, just retired from VMI.

In an interview, he denied laughing or clapping or giving his approval in any way. Wanovich also said the cadet-comedian did not joke about sexual misconduct but instead called female cadets during his routine "sheeds" and described women as tough or manly.

The cadet's routine, Wanovich said, was reported to school officials for potential Title IX violations and to the cadet equity association, a student group that investigates incidents of discrimination and sexual harassment. He added that the student was punished almost immediately: He lost his rank and was given a written reprimand, a punishment of campus confinement and penalty marching tours.

Some women who heard about the stand-up routine after the talent show were furious that VMI officials sat in the audience without halting him.

"I was upset when I heard about it," said one Black female student. "That cadet was making fun of something that could have very well happened to me."

She described racism and sexism as "equally bad at VMI. They're both systemic. The word here is entitlement."

White men arrive at VMI with a sense of superiority over women and people of color, she said, and the school confirms it instead of challenging it.

Another Black woman at VMI said she considers the racism on campus "a harsher problem," but that incidents of men ridiculing women are more frequent.

Complaining about the atmosphere often feels futile, the women say.

The female cadet who decided not to report her rape in January said she did register her concerns about the college's misogynistic culture to VMI's commandant staff.

"But when I did, one official questioned whether I belonged here," she said. "The person said, 'If we keep changing the rules here to make people feel comfortable, this school isn't going to be what it is anymore.'"

The investigation into the climate at VMI noted that it is the only school among Virginia's public or private nonprofit universities where students can be punished for a drug or alcohol offense that comes to light during a report of sexual assault.

Elizabeth Dobbins Moskowitz displays an unloaded weapon when she was a 20-year-old sophomore at Virginia Military Institute. (Courtesy of Elizabeth Dobbins Moskowitz)

In an interview with The Washington Post, Virginia Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, said VMI pushed to be exempted from the sexual assault legislation he proposed in 2020. It was designed to make it easier for victims at public and private colleges in Virginia to come forward by offering them immunity from drug and alcohol offenses.

VMI was so opposed that its superintendent at the time, retired Army Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III, visited Helmer in Richmond.

VMI already had a policy of offering amnesty for minor disciplinary infractions, such as drinking, in connection with reports of discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual misconduct. But not for drug offenses. In practice, though, the college says, no student in recent memory who has reported  or cooperated into an investigation of  a sexual assault has been denied amnesty.

Peay told Helmer that drugs posed a far more serious threat to student discipline than sexual assault, the lawmaker said.

When reached by The Post, Peay hung up the phone.

The House passed the bill without an exemption for VMI. But the state Senate granted it in its version of the legislation, using language that avoided naming VMI.

As the two legislative bodies negotiated, Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr. (R-James City), a 1968 VMI graduate, told Helmer that he and his colleagues wouldn't pass the bill without the VMI carve-out, Helmer said. A spokesman for Norment did not return messages for comment.

Helmer said he didn't want to risk losing a law that could help so many sexual assault victims. But he did extract one concession: VMI's exemption would be spelled out in the law's final language.

Next year, Helmer said, he plans to introduce legislation to strip VMI of its exemption.

  

She didn't want her father to hear the testimony about her sexual assault so the VMI cadet asked him to wait outside the Rockbridge County courtroom during the June 9 sentencing of her attacker.

Boris Rodrigo Lopez, 23, a former VMI student from Northern Virginia, had already pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual battery and breaking and entering for the September 2019 attack.

She'd been sleeping alone in her barracks room when she woke up and found him there, according to court testimony and the VMI police report. She told him to leave, then fell back asleep. But when she woke again, the police report said, he was on top of her. She struggled, telling him, "Stop" and "I don't want this" and "You are hurting me."

When he finally left, she testified at his sentencing, "I was just ... crying and crying and crying."

She reported the assault to police and went to the hospital for a forensic examination. Rodrigo Lopez was arrested about a week later.

Though she has remained at VMI, the assault has destroyed her sense of herself, she told the court. She's no longer certain that she wants to join the military after graduation. She has no interest in forging new friendships, she said, because she's lost her trust in strangers.

The past year at VMI, she said, was especially difficult because she served as a Title IX adviser to a freshman who was going through her own assault case. "And mine is still not done," she said. "It doesn't go away. Ever."

Her mother testified that her daughter suffered a panic attack during an ROTC weekend field training exercise after the assault and "just like that, she felt that she could no longer lead soldiers."

The mother also confirmed her daughter's earlier testimony: She wouldn't let her child go to The Citadel, a rival military college in South Carolina, believing VMI was safer for women.

"Little did I know," the mother said, "that I sent her to the wrong place."

Between 2017 and 2019, VMI reported 14 rapes, one of them statutory; 14 incidents of "forcible fondling" and four cases of stalking. By comparison, during those same years, The Citadel reported seven rapes, along with one case of fondling and one incident of stalking.

VMI's spokesman said the college's "higher number of reports reflects the accessibility" of its reporting procedures.

"At VMI, one reported rape or sexual assault is one too many and until that number remains at zero, we will continue to find new ways to address the challenge," the college said in a statement.

At his sentencing, Rodrigo Lopez said he could not remember much about the attack because he'd been so intoxicated that night  he'd downed beer and three flasks of alcohol, he said.

"I'm very sorry for how she feels right now. ... I hope she can forgive me," Rodrigo Lopez testified, "but I know it's going to take time for that."

Megan Smith gets castigated by male upperclassmen in August 1997 as women participate for the first time in the start of VMIs infamous rat line. (Nancy Andrews/The Washington Post)

Jared Moon, the commonwealth's attorney for Rockbridge County and the City of Lexington, argued for a 10-year prison sentence for Rodrigo Lopez. "It takes a special kind of girl, woman, to go to VMI," Moon said, where the "vast, vast majority of your classmates" are male. "He took something from her. He took a lot from her that night."

Rodrigo Lopez's attorney, Ben Thurman, argued for a "substantial period of supervised probation with a large suspended sentence," saying this was Rodrigo Lopez's first criminal offense in an "otherwise spotless record."

But Moon told the judge that Rodrigo Lopez had been accused of two Title IX "possible violations" at VMI. "Both allegations involve him touching women without their consent," the prosecutor said.

Though he'd never been criminally charged in those Title IX investigations, Rodrigo Lopez "seems to acknowledge" his guilt in one Title IX case, which also involved alcohol, Moon said. The other alleged transgression, Moon said, lacked witnesses and the claim was determined to be "not substantiated."

VMI declined to address whether Rodrigo Lopez's prior Title IX cases were investigated by the campus police and why they did not result in criminal charges. In general, the college said, victims "are always encouraged to pursue charges both through the school and through the police," but "their wishes guide whether the school pursues charges" against alleged perpetrators.

In the end, Rockbridge County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Russell handed Rodrigo Lopez a five-year sentence, crediting him for pleading guilty and sparing the female cadet from a trial and cross-examination. But Russell also criticized VMI, which, just nine days earlier, had been condemned by the state-ordered investigation for its "sexist culture."

"It's a sad day for Virginia Military Institute," the judge said. "I see the investigating officer from the VMI police department here in the courtroom. Can't help but feel a little disappointed that someone from the administration at VMI did not attend this hearing to listen to the recounting of the behavior in the barracks. That kind of reflects poorly on an institution that I respect."

  

VMI fought a long legal battle to keep women from being admitted after a Northern Virginia high school student objected to being excluded on the basis of her gender. The Justice Department sued on her behalf in 1990.

In a landmark majority opinion written 25 years ago by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the justices declared that the college's barring of women was unconstitutional, a ruling that meant it had to admit women or give up state funding. (The ninth justice, Clarence Thomas, recused himself because his son was a VMI student at the time.)

About a decade after going co-ed, VMI found itself the target of a federal Education Department investigation examining whether its culture and policies were sexist and hostile toward female cadets.

When the Associated Press wrote about the federal probe in 2009, it quoted a senior, Elizabeth Dobbins, who defended the school.

"I don't think there's a male model here," she said. "There's a military model."

Now Elizabeth Dobbins Moskowitz, who graduated from VMI in 2010 and works as an attorney for the federal government, regrets those remarks.

She said she served as a cadet captain who helped out with the college's public affairs and marketing and felt that her support would make her feel better accepted by the school. It didn't.

One time, she and a small team of male cadets had to spend a few days hiking in the woods as part of a training exercise. "On the first day, we set off," she recalled, "this male cadet turned to me out of nowhere and said, 'There's no Title IX in the woods.' I was shocked. I didn't even know how to respond, so I didn't." The most harrowing moment she faced was when a male cadet  the son of a former prominent VMI official  threatened to murder her. Once, she remembered, she woke up in the middle of the night and found him in her room.

"He looked at me in the eyes and said, 'I am going to kill you, and you're going to die,' " she recalled. "Another time, he wrote my name on a pumpkin and stabbed the pumpkin to pieces with a bayonet outside my barracks room while I watched."

She said she reported his behavior to school officials, but nothing happened. She suspects his father's status as a former VMI official insulated him from punishment.

In May, she messaged him on Facebook.

Elizabeth Dobbins Moskowitz, a 2010 graduate of VMI, says she was threatened and heckled by male cadets when she attended the school. (Parker Michels-Boyce/For The Washington Post)

"Do you remember when you wrote my name on a pumpkin and stabbed it with a bayonet outside of my barracks room while I watched?" she asked. "I wish you hadn't done that to me."

According to a screenshot of their exchange, the man wrote back, saying, "I wish I hadn't either. I think about it a lot. ... I don't regret much about VMI cause despite all the racism and militarism I learned much," he said. "I regret treating you the way I did. ... I really hope you can forgive me."

Last month, Moskowitz traveled from her California home to Lexington. She wanted to see Kasey Meredith become VMI's first female regimental commander.

Despite their age difference, Moskowitz felt a bond with the rising senior: Meredith plans on commissioning into the Marine Corps, just as Moskowitz had done 11 years ago.

Watching Meredith take command, Moskowitz said she felt a rush of pride and hope. A month later, she joined the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees, which helps raise and invest money for the college. It's a way, Moskowitz said, to have an impact on the climate at her alma mater.

"I wouldn't go to VMI again for college," she said, "and I wouldn't want my daughter to do it, either  unless the school changes."

After the change-of-command ceremony, Moskowitz and other graduates got to meet Meredith at a reception for female graduates. They gave her a congratulatory card, plus a copy of the 2000 book, "Breaking Out," which explores VMI's first year of co-education.

Moskowitz asked Meredith if she, too, had been heckled while in command of male cadets. Meredith, she said, recounted how she'd been booed recently by some men.

"She didn't say anything more about it. She didn't need to," said Moskowitz. "I told her I understood. I assured her life will be better after VMI."

"The outside world is better," she recalled telling Meredith. "Just stick it out."
Retired Lt. Col. Louis Frazier Martin and Sgt. Albert W. Cooks salute during Martin's 104 birthday celebration in Chesterfield, Va. on July, 3, 2021. Also pictured is Martin's daughter Sheila Martin Brown. (Kristi K. Higgins/Progress-Index)

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (Tribune News Service)  Retired Lt. Col. Louis Frazier Martins front lawn was packed with well-wishers to help him celebrate his 104 birthday.

On July 3, Martins surprise party kicked off with a car caravan assembly spearheaded by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore National Alumni Association. The procession paraded past Martins Roosevelt Avenue residence near Virginia State University in Chesterfield County.

Martin who was told that he was going to a restaurant said, I didnt expect all this.

Sheila Martin Brown, proud being Martins daughter, shared some words about her father.

I have been inspired by his example of service to the community, said Brown who resides with her dad. Hes a wonderfully strong family man. Hes just always been a believer.

Brown stated that her dad has raised more money from individuals locally than she did while serving as a councilmember in Atlanta.

This is a special, special occasion, said friend Starrie Jordan of Ettrick. Hes been a model citizen for all of us in this community to follow. If I keep doing what hes doing, maybe I can make it to 104.

According to Jordan, Martin walks every morning.

He has a lot of determination, added Jordan. I hope I inherited whatever Dad is made out of, said Brown.

He has meant so much to our community here as you can see by the turnout. said neighbor and friend Anna Bradley who invited The Progress-Index to attend Martins celebration. There are numerous groups here to honor him.

The event was attended by his loving daughter, family, friends, Westminster Presbyterian Church [ Petersburg] members, neighbors, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity members, University of Maryland [formerly Princess Anne College] Alumni, and others.

Betty Berry who has known Martin since 1968 expressed how Martin and his late wife Mariah were like family and always good to her.

Hes like a brother to me, said Berry who gave Martin his first kiss of the day ... on the cheek. Ill be 89 in August; Im the second oldest woman at our church.

On behalf of the U.S. Army and the Vietnam Veterans who honor all of the WWII veterans, Sgt. Albert W. Cooks presented Martin with the following Army memorabilia: WWII medallion, face masks, WWII hat, and coffee mug.

A guest from the crowd shouted, He likes black coffee ... no sugar, no cream.

Were so proud that hes here at 104, said Cooks who saluted Martin. Lieutenant Colonels ... guess what? In those days, he wasnt respected, but I tell you one thing ... hes getting the respect today.

Eastern Region Director of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. J. R. Reeves presented Martin with a proclamation that included the following:

WHEREAS, Retired Lt. Col. Louis F. Martin was born on July 3, 1917, in Princess Anne on Marylands Eastern Shore, a fraternal twin, were the eldest of 12 siblings, six of whom have since passed away.

WHEREAS, the former Army logistician and Colonial Heights resident overcame tough life-changing obstacles like the lack of educational opportunities for African-Americans of the early 20th century, the Great Depression and the segregation of colored troops serving their country during World War II.

WHEREAS, in 1935, Lt. Col. Martin found his way into a five-year work-study program at his parents alma mater, Virginias Hampton Institute. Like his father, he chose agriculture  one of the few college majors available to black male students.

WHEREAS, in 1936, Lt. Col. Martin along with his brother Walter decided to transfer to a college near home so they could finish their education and make it possible for their younger siblings to have the same opportunity.

WHEREAS, on May 14, 1939 on the campus of Princess Anne College, in Princess Anne, Maryland, Lt. Col. Martin became a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Mu Chapter.

WHEREAS, in March of 1941, at age 23, was drafted. It started a lineage of military service in his family. All five of his younger brothers eventually joined various branches of the armed forces. His twin sister Lourene completed a 22-year hitch as an Army nurse.

WHEREAS, his career spanned decades, taking him from military service to earning a Masters degree, to marrying the love of his life where they were blessed to birth a lovely daughter.

This is our oldest living member in the entire fraternity, announced Chris Reyes.

Martin also received an official honorary UMES Southeastern Virginia Alumni Chapter life membership.

Martin overcame tough life-changing obstacles like the lack of educational opportunities for African-Americans of the early 20th century, the Great Depression, and the segregation of colored troops serving their country during World War II.

However, its not those types of moments he chooses to dwell on. The spry centenarian focuses on the positive things he can do for his community. At 104, Martin continues to provide leadership in Chesterfield County as an election official.

Negative thinking does not move you forward. I dont feel like anybody owes me anything. Over my lifetime I took advantage of every opportunity I could. I worked hard, slept well, and ate and drank in moderation, Martin stated to Lesley Atkinson with Fort Lee Public Affairs in a 2016 P-I story. I followed my parents in their religious beliefs. My father built a cubicle under the step for his Bible study. He took the family to church and sang in the choir. He was a leader at home and in his profession. I cant sing, but I never miss church or Bible study. I like to think Im a reflection of my dad.

After 29 years, Martin retired from the U.S. Army Reserves, and he was employed as an associate professor of horticulture and extension specialist at VSU until he retired in 1982.

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(Screen capture from Bradenton Herald video.)

BRADENTON, Fla. (Tribune News Service)  During World War II, Paul R. Atherton survived a mine blast that sank his troop ship at Espiritu Santo in the Pacific. He was wounded by artillery fire at Anzio in Italy and again while crossing the Rhine River into Germany.

In the Vietnam War, a Viet Cong bombing of the Brinks Hotel in Saigon wounded him and about 60 others. Two Americans died in the blast.

Most recently, the retired Army colonel survived a bout of COVID-19 that floored him for about six weeks.

For someone who has had more than his share of brushes with death, Atherton, who turns 100 on July 15, remains remarkably fit and mentally sharp. He exercises and swims daily, and still drives his car.

And, be warned, his sharp sense of humor is locked and loaded at all times.

What we are doing is celebrating the second anniversary of my 50th birthday, he said.

After a military career of more than 30 years, he and his wife, Virginia Rose, moved to Bradenton in the early 1970s, where he worked as a real estate broker and appraiser before retiring in the late 1990s.

So, whats the secret for such a long, healthy and successful life?

The answer can be found in his long marriage to his wife Ginny, who lost her life to cancer in 2010.

Her foot prints are all over my careers in the military and the real estate brokerage/appraisal business, he said.

Since Ginnys death, his daughters Nancy Atherton and Sandy Atherton, and other family members have embraced and supported Paul.

Its a godsend having family members around, he said.

Grandson John Holder, 50, was inspired to join the Army by his grandfathers example.

Grandpas stories sold me right into it, Holder said of his own 20-year career that included a deployment to Iraq. Our whole family is nothing but military.

Holders wife, Melissa, marvels at Paul Athertons mental agility and memory.

He is so sharp, she said, adding she feels blessed to have Paul in her life, especially since her own grandparents died when she was young.

He is the first one I have had the honor to call granddad, she said.

Paul Atheron joined the Army National Guard in 1939 in Vermont. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, his Guard unit was federalized and sent to Camp Blanding, Fla., for training. Later his unit trained at Camp Shelby, Miss., and Fort Ord, Calif., before being sent to the Pacific with the mission of augmenting American fighters on Guadalcanal.

But while putting into port at Espiritu Santo in 1942, the ship, the S.S. President Coolidge, hit two mines and sank. While there was little loss of life among the 5,000 troops on board, all of their supplies and equipment were lost.

The captain tried to run the ship ashore, and succeeded partly. The ship sank in about 50 minutes with minimal loss of life, Atherton said. Atherton spent the next six months on Espiritu Santo where dysentery and dengue fever were common afflictions, along with an occasional Japanese bombing attack.

While on the island he learned he had been accepted into Army Officer Candidate School. He returned to the United States by ship and graduated from OCS at Fort Benning, Ga., in 1943 as a second lieutenant, what some called a 90-day wonder.

Initially assigned to Italy, he took part in the battle for Anzio, where he was wounded by exploding artillery. He was subsequently reassigned to joining the fighting in France.

In March 1945, Atherton won a battlefield promotion to first lieutenant for leading his patrol in combat against German defenders in Ostheim, France.

In the recommendation for promotion, the commander of the Seventh Infantry Regiment reported that Atherton led three platoon members across the Fecht River to locate enemy positions and defenses in advance of a planned attack. The intelligence he gathered was used with great success when his battalion attacked across the river two days later.

The recommendation also describes in detail an action of Jan. 25, 1945, when Atherton led his platoon in an attack on Bennwihr, France, closing with this statement:

Leading his assault squad through point-blank hostile rifle fire that barely missed him, Lt. Atherton cleared approximately 15 buildings and captured no less than 40 prisoners within a two-hour period.

Atherton missed the end of the war, being seriously injured in an artillery attack while crossing the Rhine River. He worked himself back into shape during the next year and was allowed to continue his military career.

In the early days of his Army service, he met the beautiful Virginia Rose Greenwood of LaCrosse, Wisc., and married her after a whirlwind romance. His parents didnt know about the marriage until they showed up together at their home.

But it was one of those marriages when the couple just knew that it was right.

It was a marriage that would take them into some harrowing days after World War II in Austria, which was then occupied by Russia and the other allies after the German defeat, as well as other assignments around the United States and the world.

In 1964, he was assigned to Vietnam, and was in the Brinks Hotel, when the Viet Cong, disguised as Republic of Vietnam soldiers, drove a car packed with explosives into the hotel parking compound. The bomb, detonated by timer, collapsed several floors of the hotel.

News agencies around the world carried reports of the Christmas Eve attack on the hotel, which was primarily used for officer quarters. The bombing served as statement by the Viet Cong that they could attack anywhere and no one was safe.

Athertons photo appeared in Life magazine, showing him stumbling out of the rubble, his face covered in blood. For a few days, Athertons family feared that he had perished in the attack.

Atheron recalled that he was in his room preparing to meet Bob Hope, who was in Vietnam to entertain troops, when the car bomb exploded.

The blast knocked Atherton out and sent him to the hospital for the night. Hope visited him there, got his home address and sent a nice note to Athertons family.

In 1969, the Army notified Atherton that it was preparing to send him to Vietnam for a second tour.

He told us he had his orders and it was up to us whether he went to Vietnam or retired, his daughter, Nancy Atherton, recalls.

The news was cause for a family meeting around the dining room table. Ginny and her girls sent Paul out of the room while they debated their future.

My mother didnt want him to return to Vietnam, but she would never try to stop from doing something he felt he needed to do. She honored this country as much as he did, Nancy Atherton said.

Paul returned to Vietnam for his second tour and returned safely home in 1970. In 1973, he retired from the Army and the family moved to Bradenton.

Ginny was a classic military wife, supporting her husbands career while rallying her children through frequent moves and reassignments.

Every time we moved we were excited about it because of her, Nancy said.

Melissa Holder recalls that Paul would never say he got a promotion.

He would say we got promoted, she said

Paul said that his daughters were supportive of his career and the frequent moves.

Many kids would rebel if they frequently had to leave their school and their friends. My girls were always very supportive, he said.

His many awards and decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, three awards of the Bronze Star Medal, and three awards of the Purple Heart.

In addition, the The United States Army Officer Candidate Schools Alumni Association installed Paul in its Hall of Fame in recognition of his distinguished career.

Looking back on his career, spent primarily with the military police, rather than the infantry, is a humbling experience, he said.

I was given the honor of commanding troops from the squad level to the brigade level during my career, he said.

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WASHINGTON  A new court decision, if it holds, would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide billions of dollars in education benefits to more than 1 million post-9/11 veterans.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided Thursday that veterans who qualify for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill for multiple periods of military service should be allowed to draw benefits from each. Since the newer Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective in 2009, the VA has limited veterans to benefits from one program, not both.

Under the ruling, veterans who qualify for both programs would be eligible to use one year of benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill program on top of the three years of tuition and housing assistance available through the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case and what it means for our countrys veterans, said Timothy L. McHugh, the attorney on the case. An estimated 1.7 million post-9/11 era veterans could benefit from this ruling, so it is truly an impactful decision for those who have bravely served.

The court upheld the ruling from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, which also ruled against the VAs interpretation of the law. The VA could next try to take the case to the Supreme Court. It was uncertain Monday whether the department would continue to appeal.

If the VA doesnt appeal, the new ruling could go into effect in time for the fall semester.

The case, Rudisill v. McDonough, focused on Jim Rudisill, an Army combat veteran. Rudisill served in Iraq and Afghanistan and qualified for the Montgomery GI Bill and the newer Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Rudisill wanted to use his education benefits in 2015 to attend Yale Divinity School and become an Army chaplain. The VA restricted Rudisill to three years total of educational benefits, and he was not permitted to use the extra year he could get from using both GI Bill programs.

Rudisill was unable to attend divinity school and has since aged out of the Army. Hes now a special agent with the FBI.

The military has a variety of financial assistance programs to help fund service members educational pursuits. (WILLIAM WISEMAN/U.S. AIR FORCE)
Army Pvt. Warren G.H. DeVault (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)

(Tribune News Service)  Five years ago, Rhea County, Tennessee, resident Bill DeVault got a phone call from the U.S. Army looking for a DNA sample.

Crazy, right?

Well, buckle up.

The U.S. Army and its team of scientists in the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency were studying the remains of unresolved American losses during World War II near Hurtgen, Germany, where Bills uncle, Pvt. Warren G. Harding DeVault, was believed to have been killed.

DeVault was a decorated infantryman, earning the Bronze Star and several marksmanship honors before being killed on Nov. 20, 1944, in a fight with the Nazis in Hurtgen. The ongoing fighting made it impossible to recover his remains.

When the war ended, the American Graves Registration Command was charged with investigating and recovering as many of the missing American personnel as possible from Europe, but had no luck identifying DeVaults remains.

But further examinations led the accounting agency to a set of unidentified remains, known as X-5429, near Neuville. So, the call to Bill DeVault.

After unearthing the grave of X-5429, some DNA and dental analysis, the answer was revealed last September, a couple of weeks before what would have been the uncles 100th birthday.

Last fall I got a phone call, Bill said at a Memorial Day gathering in Rhea County that was posted on the Rhea County magazine Facebook page. This gentleman from the Army told me they had now recovered his remains  after 76 years.

Bill said his father Emmett and his two brothers and two brothers-in-law all joined the military at the same time, at the start of World War II. Emmett served in the Navy in the Pacific; Bills four uncles all served in Europe.

They said they would return the remains at any time at our convenience, but we agreed that since at that time the COVID was in full steam right then we agreed to put it off, Bill recounted to the crowd in May.

Before his remains were identified, DeVaults name was listed on the Walls of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery in Margarten along with all the other Americans missing from World War II. Now that his remains have been identified, the traditional rosette which signifies those recovered will be placed next to his name to show he has been accounted for.

The funeral will be Aug. 14, and according to the Coulter Garrison Funeral Home, which will be handling the service, more details are to come.

After offering the ultimate sacrifice for his country, the public will be welcomed as the community pays its respects and says goodbye to DeVault, more than three-quarters of a century after his death.

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Sullivan, IN (47882)

Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 62F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
A capital grant, confirmed as part of Tauranga City Councils Long Term Plan, will see the Bay Oval cement its status as a premier cricket venue, according to the grounds general manager.

The grant, totalling $1.72 million, will go toward funding for the completion of the grounds pavilion, event day toilets, a generator shelter and broadcast towers.

We were pretty delighted to be recognised and to receive a grant, says Bay Oval Trust general manager Kelvin Jones.

It has been a long road toward finding a few components to finish what we have started here.

Cricket in the Bay of Plenty is arguably enjoying an all-time high.

New Zealand are now World Test Champions, helped by the performances of Tauranga-born captain Kane Williamson and other locally based players such as Trent Boult and Neil Wagner.

The Bay Oval will also host the opening game of the Womens Cricket World Cup next March and with that in mind Kelvin believes the funding boost is timely.

A little bit of the impetus has been the Womens World Cup which we are hosting in March next year.

It is certainly nice to put your best foot forward when you have got a major event going out to the world.

Kelvin explains that up to 90 portaloos have been needed for big events whilst the generators, essential for running the floodlight system, are currently uncovered and literally rusting away.

Money provided will help installation of toilet blocks as well as covers for the generators.

As well as improving on those factors, the funding will go toward completing the pavilion.

Our pavilion was only ever half done, he says.

There is a big gap in the middle.

It is just going to be fantastic. Every international cricket ground in New Zealand, well the world, has lounge facilities and space for officials and workers whereas we have not had that until now.

But we already think we are a top three venue in the country but this is really going to put us right up there.

The capital grant equates to a third of the overall funding needed for the proposals, with the debt to be retired over a period of up to 11 years.

With the improvements, Kelvin believes that the Bay Oval can start to generate its own funding as the venue continues to grow in stature and reputation.

Importantly it is also going to enable us to drive a little bit of revenue so we dont have to keep going back to councils or funders for money, he states.

We can actually get to that point where we are standing on our own two feet, which is pretty rare in itself for a venue like this. So I think that is a bonus and something that the council saw.
BayTrust is committing $1 million worth of funding over the next three years to the effort to restore the badly degraded Te Waihi estuary that was once a main food bowl for the coastal Bay of Plenty.

Unimpeded farm development and intensification of land use over time has led to the estuarys gradual decline.

Its now considered one of the five most polluted estuaries in New Zealand.

Shellfish gathering is permanently banned because faecal coliform concentrations are 430 per cent higher than whats considered safe, and native plants, fish and birds are all struggling to survive.

An incorporated society called Wai Kokopu was formed late last year to work with landowners, tangata whenua, environmental groups and the wider community to restore the ecological health of the catchments three main rivers and streams - Kaikokopu, Wharere and Pongakawa  and ultimately, the Waihi estuary itself.

A key strategy is to encourage large-scale native retirement of riparian corridors, wetlands and steep erosion-prone land to mitigate sediment, phosphorus and E.coli. runoff into the receiving waterways.

Te Waihi estuary is now the fifth most polluted in NZ.

BayTrusts substantial grant will help Wai Kokopu get the community actively involved in planting and restoration efforts including weed and pest control.

Were also keen to establish a taonga plant nursery where well grow special coastal and estuarine plants, explains Group Project Manager Alison Dewes.

They will be native plants that are endangered and need special nurturing.

Wai Kokopu is hugely appreciative of the $1 million grant.

It will create a step change in how we can resource and include the community in our programme of restoration work. We received $1.5m funding from MPI in February to work with farmers to promote land environment planning and management. This BayTrust funding will go towards the physical restoration work required to implement those plans which is going to help bring our community together.

Wai Kokopus efforts will also complement the regional council and the Governments one billion trees programme and other funding sources that are available to help farmers retire vulnerable land near waterways.

Its not cheap  it costs around $10,000 to $15,000 a hectare to retire land and put it into native plantings and do the necessary pest and weed control to maintain it, Dewes explains.

Volunteers help replant natives along Te Waihi estuary.

Te Waihi estuary catchment comprises 34,000ha in total and runs from the mountains just below the Rotoruas Lakes to the coast at Pukehina.

The catchment has around 80 dairy farms, 220 orchards, and 50 drystock properties, along with forestry, and rural communities.

Dewes says support for the project is high as people recognise that something must be done to protect the ecological and water quality.

Local farmers will donate the areas of land to be retired and funding is also being sought from other sources to help fulfil the projects long-term goals.

An increasing number of landowners are contemplating taking advantage of the generous funding available to retire sensitive land as they begin to implement their land environmental plans. The win-win of this approach is that it also coincides with the requirement for farmers to have greenhouse gas budgets done and work out how they will sequester carbon for offsetting, if it is required in some cases.

"This is all working towards cumulative benefits for both farmers, their business performance, the replenishment of the whenua, and receiving wai, and the overall community desire for cleaner and healthier waterways.

People who are keen to get involved in upcoming planting and restoration projects can sign up to become a member of Wai Kokopu online at www.wai-kokopu.org.nz and follow the groups Facebook page for updates.

Plans are currently in place to replant over 100ha this year to kick the programme off and fence around 10,000m of riparian corridors that lead to the estuary.

Another goal eventually is to provide more access for people into this beautiful area by creating bush walks and extending the cycleway that leads from Okere Falls into the upper Kaikokopu river.

Te Waihi estuary.
Wellington

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Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is coming says a leak, which points out to its August 11 launch date, bringing a lot of what the South Korean company has to offer in terms of tech.

The next showcase of Samsung was unexpected to be in the coming month, and it would bring the rumored Z Fold 3, a new Galaxy Watch, a new Galaxy Buds, and more.

This would be massive to Samsung, and it would signify a lot about the upcoming products that they would release in the future.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Leaks

According to verified Twitter user Evan Blass (@evleaks), the Galaxy Unpacked showcase event for the tech company would take place on Wednesday, August 11. It was not revealed whether it would be another virtual event or it would be a face-to-face actual happening, only that it would happen in the next month.

Not much was revealed about the event and other specifics, only the different tech to launch by August 11, as brought by the showcase.

The Galaxy Unpacked leak was first spotted by Tech Times via the Korean Herald and indicated the new devices from Samsung to expect on this coming launch. This debunks the initial event date of August 3, which was something people were expecting.

Despite people being surprised by the news, Samsung can also hold out as many showcase events as they can, and not only Apple could do this.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy's Vapor Chamber to Come Back Despite Smartphone Cooling Solution Decline in 2020

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3

Blass tweeted a series of GIFs that show the next Galaxy Z Fold 3 that would be released by August, exposing all the angles and sides of the device to show its specifications and first look. Here, the Z Fold 3 was also said to be having the famed S Pen stylus, which would help in drawing and better controls when using the foldable device.

On the other hand, a Z Flip 3 and Z Flip 3 Lite are also coming, and these foldable devices would soon have new color schemes of black, green, and white. Moreover, the device is speculated to be released with either the Android 11 or already with the Android 12. However, the latter is still in beta testing mode, hence its slimmer possibilities.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

This device would be a "Galaxy Watch 4" according to the leak, and it would sport a black, gray, and white color scheme for its body. What this device would bring is rumored to be the new operating system it developed with Google, the One UI for smartwatches.

The new user interface would help it better to integrate with the Android smartphones of Samsung, which run the same UI.

Samsung Galaxy Buds

The last to be leaked by Blass is the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, which would all have the same "Ice White" color scheme, and only to differ on its internal colors for specific shades of the Bluetooth device. It was initially reported by Tech Times that it would release this year according to leaks, having Active Noise Cancelling, and other nifty features of modern wireless earbuds.

Related Article: Samsung Launches Smart Plus TV on the Web for Free, with More Contents Added

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci of the NIAID has opinions about the COVID-19 Booster shots, which points out that it is not yet an essential need at this time. It was initially been a massive talk in the past week, especially as Pfizer and BioNTech are ramping up their production and application for an FDA approval.

Soon, a briefing would take place where the CDC and Pfizer would address the important details about the COVID-19 booster doses on Monday, July 12. This would make mention of everything the public has to know, especially its needs and necessity for the vaccine.

COVID-19 Booster Shots: CDC, FDA Thinks it's Not Essential

The essentials of a specific thing or object are shown by the urgency of its need in a occasion, time, or place, and this is something which the CDC and Dr. Anthony Fauci share in their recommendations. This pertains to COVID-19 booster shots, which Pfizer is already keen to have the US Food and Drug Administration approved by August.

Having an additional layer of protection against COVID-19 is certainly a pro for people, particularly those who are already fully vaccinated, as they are said to still be at risk for infection. The Delta variant has dealt a massive toll against the country, which has led people to distrust the vaccine, as it could still infect despite receiving dosages.

The Delta variant has increased risk, and indeed this is where boosters might go handy. However, that is something the CDC and FDA do not agree with, particularly on the recent joint statement they released. Here, the health agencies think that it is not an essential need as of the moment, but would continue studying it for its soon application.

Read Also: CDC School Guidelines 2021: Face Masks Required for the Unvaccinated, Reopening is a Go this Fall

Fauci: Booster is Not Yet Needed

On the other hand, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the NIAID also lines up with what the CDC and FDA think about the booster shots. According to WFLA, Fauci thinks that this is something that Americans do not need at the moment. What the agencies and experts think best for the country is to focus its efforts on getting those low rates up, and vaccinate the people that remain unjabbed.

The elusive Delta variant has caused a massive problem for the country, despite being originally looking at positive results and on its way back to "normal" where masking is not a requirement for the vaccinated. The problem at hand has pushed people to rethink their safety, especially as the notorious variant has plagued the country for another rise.

Will Pfizer Still Develop the Booster?

There is no doubt that this is Pfizer's next step in bringing immunity to the people, especially as Big Pharma has already set its efforts in creating the booster.

The booster shot is on its way to having it approved by the FDA for August, meaning that it may have already been done, and is only awaiting its submission to the agency.

Related Article: New Vaccine for COVID Can Be Inhaled

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tesla car owners complained about an unusual problem that happened in their electric vehicles. Lately, issues about rodents gnawing the EVs have become widespread across the country. However, instead of covering the significant number of damages that happened, the automaker denied the owners the help.

Physician Shares Her 'Rat Problem' Story

According to The New York Post on Sunday, July 11, one of the complainants who voiced out her concern about her problem with the rodents was the Manhattan resident, Sarah Williams, 41. The physician has been using the 2018 Tesla Model 3 to go to her job since she bought it.

The problem arose with the malfunctioning air conditioner and she discovered an unusual animal when the repairmen opened it. After checking for the possible damage, the men found a rodent in the glove compartment.

Williams said that the animals have bitten the internal wires of her Tesla car. According to some people, what made the rodents more interested in it was the soy used in insulation. Some said that the oil should have been used instead of it.

After asking Tesla to cover the potential damage in William's EV, there was no help sought after. She said that it has cost her more than $5,000 in repairs. The vehicle underwent repairing for more than a month, according to Williams.

"Most auto manufacturers use the soybean vs. oil in their wire insulation for newer vehicles because it is less expensive and better for the environment. The use of this material would not be considered a 'defect' in design or use... Considering there are too many factors outside of Tesla's control we cannot cover this under a warranty or repair," Tesla Service Advisor Jose Solis replied to Williams via email, The Post reported.

Read Also: TeslaCam, a Special Dash Cam Helps Authorities to Track Down Person Who Shot Model Y [VIDEO]

Soy-Based Wiring Could Be The Problem

In a previous article written by Car and Driver, the soy wiring issue has been around for many years. Apparently, Elon Musk's company was not addressing the grave concerns of many electric vehicle owners. The company said that the incident was borne out of the rats' natural instinct that's why it won't be considered as "their" problem.

In an interview with Chicago Sun-Times in June, Japanese company Honda said that the problem with the rodents chomping down electrical wires has been "long-established" especially that it also happens at home and other places.

According to an inventor from the United Kingdom, Toby Bateson, they have been hearing the news from many Tesla owners. The issue has given them some attention. Last 2020, there were approximately 150 Tesla owners who called him for help regarding the rodents.

RatMat, the product that Bateson sells has been used to bar rodents from penetrating the narrow spaces where the electrical wirings are located.

Rodent Problems Have Been Escalating

Bloomberg reported in April that New York City's 311 hotlines had encountered an 80% surge in March. From 2,395 in 2019 in the same month, the numbers of the complainants increased to 2,906.

Back in April, Canadians complained about the beavers chewing internet cables.

According to Pest.co.uk, the pandemic has impacted the rodents' habit of finding their food. Since many establishments have been closed, the animals struggle to find food in empty buildings like offices.

Related Article: Tesla Releases FSD Beta 9 to Public, Says It 'Must Be Used with Additional Caution'-Why?

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
With many rural areas within the U.S lacking access to consistent, high-speed broadband, for decades, the private and public sectors have been struggling to find the means to supply Fiber to the Home (FTTH) and wireless connectivity for users and businesses in less populated areas.

This may be changing, and quickly, to some degree as a result of the economic recovery legislation and related funding that is designed to help American businesses and people get back to school, back to work, and back to better than before the crippling COVID-19 pandemic.

With access to affordable, reliable, and fast connectivity, industries across the country can modernize their factories, taking advantage of IoT and automation, while hospitals can add real-time telemedicine services. Schools can improve how to deliver education, from early childhood to post-doctorate experiences, government agencies can improve public safety and reduce operating expenses, growers can take advantage of precision agriculture solutions, and environmental protection initiatives can be accelerated when more data can be collected and acted upon.

One of the biggest breakthroughs when it comes to delivering connectivity and broadband for all and doing so in such a way that new business models can emerge that radically improve economics is the upcoming release of Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS) free spectrum, a cellular mode that functions between licensed and unlicensed connectivity.

CBRS is made up of 150 MHZ of the 3.5 GHz band that reaches 3.7 GHz, with some frequencies meeting the Priority Access License (PAL) criteria and others meeting the General Authorized Access (GAA) criteria.

Typically, exclusive rights to the band have been held by satellite ground stations and the U.S. Navy. However, after being authorized by the FCC on January 27, 2020, priority licenses were made available and auctioned off on June 25 to carriers building better and more effective broadband networks capable of supporting 5G, improving the offerings from service providers.

Formed in May 2019 by a variety of companies, including C-Spire, the Rural Broadband Consortium was devised to address the issues barring providers from offering high-quality broadband to rural and remote communities.

As the nations sixth-largest wireless provider, C-Spire partnered with some big names, including Microsoft and Nokia, to establish the Rural Broadband Consortium, and through pooling resources, they were able to find new approaches to solving the broadband gap while also aiming to create new business models that regional fixed and wireless broadband providers and utilities can use to enhance adoption in rural areas.

Mississippi-based C-Spire is inspired by their own state in which almost half of the three million residents live in rural areas, and a staggering 28% lack broadband connectivity. A 2017 study by the Mississippi State University Center for Technology Outreach stated that the states lack of broadband access and slow internet speeds resulted in rural counties losing millions of dollars annually in prolonged economic benefits.

Other companies are also entering the playing field, bringing different approaches to unleashing the value of the release of spectrum in a few months, including several companies who are focused exclusively on enterprise networking by making it possible for organizations to build and operate their own private 5G networks.

Celona, for example, explains they are rolling out an end-to-end solution that meets the connectivity needs of A.I. and edge-compute powered apps in the enterprise, two mega-applications they say will ultimately the heroes of our story.

Like JpU, a company that has implemented dozens of solutions in the U.S. and abroad, Celona is building an ecosystem of hardware, software, engineering, system integration, and go-to-market partners, including IoT and Industrial IoT solution companies MVNOs and others.

CBRS is a game-changer, said Jonathan Schwartz, CEO at JpU, whose focus across verticals including manufacturing, transportation, energy, education, and utilities has driven their go-to-market strategy, said, were taking efficiency to the next level, bringing high performance, resilient and affordable broadband to both outdoor and indoor environments. This is ideal for the corporations involved as the CBRS band offers significantly improved network capabilities compared to traditional networks. With the new spectrums made available, the CBRS band can benefit enterprises with mobile networks that can be built within hours. These 5G networks can be used to address some of the largest networking challenges faced by traditional wireless service providers and their business customers.

Common benefits of approaches like those from Celona, JpU, and other non-traditional companies include reduced latency, minimalized interference, greater security, faster speeds, and consistent availability  with no wires needed.

Our next-era network has advanced routing and continuity built into a software and cloud-based platform, giving enterprises complete control of indoor and outdoor connectivity with a management interface that is easy for I.T. and O.T. teams to use, Schwartz said. Not only are 5G enterprise networks simpler to build, operate and scale, they are less complex and therefore less costly. The OPEX business model is parallel to cloud services, requiring no cabling infrastructure, no vendor lock-in given the open RAN architecture, and more choice especially when it comes to edge computing and edge applications.

Schwartz said there are also opportunities for government agencies to become service providers as neutral host models become more popular. A municipality  a group of municipalities  counties and even state-wide consortiums can now build their own private 5G networks to support services for the public as part of digital-physical infrastructure modernization and generate substantial new revenues which enrich the communities they serve. We are in discussions with visionary leaders who understand the new calculus  investment in 5G private networking as a service with a return on that investment that could reduce taxpayers burdens for decades to come. The innovation is not only in technology but in financial models.



Schwartz also said JpU is working with leaders in the U.S. who see the tight connection between access to private 5G and innovation, for example, start-ups who are inventing better ways to grow food, reduce energy and water consumption, and create new jobs. With access to secure, fast, and affordable wireless broadband everywhere  including the most rural locations  there are no challenges Americans cant tackle, and the impact of making this available across the country will not only assist in the recover but will light the way for long-term prosperity.

Edited by Luke Bellos
[Report file] 'Nano Bullying' of the Korea Institute of Nanotechnology... I'll break it down as fine as nano and torment you
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Zalee Gail Day-Smith was a talkative, smart 14-year-old from a rural corner of southwest Louisiana who dreamed of going to Harvard University, becoming a lawyer and a judge, and one day making the criminal justice system fairer for more people, her father said.

But Day-Smith's dreams were abruptly snuffed out in a tragic explosion and fire on Feb. 28 at an oil tank battery a few hundred feet from her mom's house in the Ragley community between DeRidder and Lake Charles.

State Police investigators believe Day-Smith frequently hung out on the Urban Oil and Gas tank battery. She was on top of the first tank that exploded on Feb. 28, throwing her into the air and killing her, a report says.

Her death prompted the state Office of Conservation to propose rules that would require tank batteries close to homes, schools, churches and roads to have security fencing, warning signs and other protective measures to keep people from getting onto the flammable, hazardous equipment.

+2 Friends, colleagues grieve after young Lafayette ER nurse dies from COVID complications A nurse at Ochsner Lafayette General has died from complications from COVID-19, according to social media posts from friends and co-workers.

The proposed safety changes in Louisiana come nearly 10 years after the U.S. Chemical Safety Board warned that oil batteries in rural areas posed a unique and dangerous attraction for teens and even young adults living among the nation's wide-open spaces. The board recommended warnings and other steps to limit public access.

In Louisiana, for instance, the tank batteries are usually set up in far-flung rural areas. They collect the oil and waste salt water, often from a handful of production wells.

The Chemical Safety Board found 26 instances between 1983 and 2010 where people were killed in explosions among the more 800,000 oil tank batteries in the nation.

In those incidents, 44 people were killed and 25 injured. All of the victims were 25 years old or younger.

"They have proven to be a tempting venue for young people looking for a place to gather, and socialize," the CSB wrote in the September 2011 report. "Activities where an ignition source is introduced into the tank, or even the presence of static electricity or lightning, can cause hydrocarbon vapors in the tanks to ignite and explode."

The report and its safety recommendations were directed to regulators in Mississippi, Texas and Oklahoma, as well as industry and fire safety groups. They have led to mixed changes to some safety rules, primarily in Mississippi.

The state Office of Conservation doesn't currently track oil tank batteries individually and couldn't say how many were in the state. But it's likely thousands based on the nearly 27,000 active oil wells on the state land.

Day-Smith's father, Maxwell Smith, has begun to advocate for the changes in Louisiana even as he has struggled to adjust to the idea that his daughter has died.

"Someone that's that close to you. Your brain refuses to let go and admit she's never coming back," he said. "It's like a bad dream that you live in, for however long. It could be the rest of your life."

Smith and other family contend the Urban Oil and Gas tank battery behind her mother's home had no warning signs, fence or gate to keep his daughter or anyone else from getting on the oil tanks.

Day-Smith's family provided photographs and a video of Day-Smith sitting on the tank by herself and with friends. She is standing on an access ladder that appears to have no gate or fencing.

Day-Smith and her twin brother split time living with their father in DeRidder and mother in Ragley. Their mother had been living in a trailer near the tank battery for about a year at the time of the explosion, family members said.

Day-Smith and other kids in the area congregated on the tanks without any understanding of its dangers, Smith alleged, though exactly why is a point of debate.

Aerial video of site of fatal oil tank battery explosion in Ragley, La. This aerial video provided by Louisiana State Police through a records request shows the scene of an oil tank battery explosion on Feb. 28, 20

Her older half-sister, Mattisun Miner, an incoming senior at South Beauregard who roomed with Day-Smith at their mother's home, said she thinks Day-Smith just liked being on the elevated tanks that overlooked the area to think.

Miner said she doesn't recall any of her neighbors indicating the tank battery posed a risk and said lots of people crisscrossed past the tanks and even took pictures on them.

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"We've always hung out by it," Miner said.

In the days after the explosion, the State Fire Marshal's Office concluded that Day-Smith's presence near the tanks was a contributing factor in the blast, without saying how.

That investigation is still pending, but the state troopers have finished theirs and provided a redacted copy of their investigate reports to The Advocate after a public records request.

State Police investigators and local law enforcement collected several allegations surrounding the circumstances leading up to the explosion on Feb. 28, including a claim that an unnamed youth, who does not appear to be Day-Smith, had been lighting fires near the tanks.

Troopers also received a claim that Day-Smith was dropping things in one of the tanks through an unsecured hatch -- a claim her father disputed -- and that at least one witness saw other youths running from the tanks at the time of the explosion.

Capt. Nick Manale, spokesman for Louisiana State Police, said investigators didn't reach any conclusions on those claims and didn't issue citations or fines in connection with the investigation.

"Conflicting witness statements and lack of evidence could not lead to a definitive cause of the ignition and explosion," Manale said.

Troopers said they would evaluate new information if it became available. Urban Oil officials expressed their sympathies for the Day-Smith's death and defended their safety record but declined to offer further comment.

Oil firm's plan to abandon 1,700 Gulf of Mexico wells could mean 'environmental disaster,' say rivals A Houston oil company that grew into one of the largest producers in the Gulf of Mexico before going bust last year is planning to abandon hun

Whatever was the spark, the explosion at the tank battery was massive.

Though the last of the two oil wells that the battery had served was shut and stopped production a year earlier, the oil tanks still held a combined 190 barrels of oil, according to State Police and conservation officials.

One witness was working in his backyard and said he saw the first, fullest tank explode "with a fireball underneath it and went 20 (feet) in the air, when the shock wave knocked me off my feet backwards."

Smith, 58, who has spent a career working in oil and gas, bristles at the idea that some have tried to lay the blame on his daughter. He says that none of this would have happened if the tanks been fenced off.

He said it doesn't make sense that swimming pools must be fenced off to avoid dangers to children but not oil field sites with volatile chemicals.

Patrick Courreges, spokesman for the Louisiana Office of Conservation, said agency officials weren't aware of the CSB's 2011 report on tank batteries until after the Feb. 28 explosion, but they have used its recommendations as a basis for the proposed regulatory changes.

It's not immediately clear how widely the CSB directly provided its report to the nation's numerous industrial regulators, but CSB publishes its reports online.

The proposed Louisiana rules have not yet been put out for public notice and comment because they are awaiting a fiscal estimate, Conservation officials said. The process could take until the fall to enact the rules, depending on comments. But The Advocate obtained a copy of the rules and shared them with Urban Oil and the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association.

LOGA officials said they are working with the state office to "come to a reasonable solution on this matter."

"The incident that led to this proposed rule change was a tragedy but is not an ongoing or regular occurrence within our industry," said Stephen Lewerenz, the LOGA spokesman. "We are committed to working with the government on common-sense reforms to make industry practices safer."

Conservation officials said they couldn't recall an explosion in recent memory in Louisiana before the Feb. 28 blast, but the 2011 CSB report documented three in Louisiana over nearly 30 years, two in 2001 and one in 1990.

Among the proposed rules changes, one would allow the state to start individually tracking the oil batteries, which have been treated in the past as part of a well's infrastructure, Conservation officials said.
AMITE CITY  An Amite City councilman indicted in January on a slew of felony election fraud charges pleaded guilty Monday to one misdemeanor count after striking a deal with the district attorney.

Emmanuel Zanders III, an eight-year District 3 councilman and former Amite City Mayor Pro Tem, will resign from his council seat as part of the deal.

Zanders, 52, initially faced eight felony counts of violating Louisianas election integrity laws. Attorney General Jeff Landry announced those charges at the height of Republican accusations of voter fraud after former President Donald Trump's election loss.

Zanders earned a third term on the council on Dec. 5, 2020 when he won a runoff election by 19 votes over local businesswoman Claire Bel.

The Tangipahoa Parish Registrar of Voters contacted the Secretary of State's office in October after noticing some voter registration forms had been submitted with fraudulent addresses, Landry said at a January press conference in Baton Rouge announcing Zanders charges.

Investigators from the attorney generals office later found two addresses for separate, vacant lots in Amites District 3  one had had six people registered to vote and the other had 16 people registered at the second, the attorney general said.

Landry said Zanders "purposefully manipulated citizens," having them sign their voter registration form before he later filled out the address on his own.

Anything other than one-for-one votes distorts our election process, and those who wish to distort an election process in this manner are breaking the law and betraying their fellow citizens," Landry said in January.

Some officials in Amite City, though, saw the spectacle surrounding the indictment of Zanders as part of a play by Landry and Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin to use the 4,400-person town for political gain.

The charges against Zanders were announced after several weeks in which President Donald Trump amplified unfounded claims that he had lost the election because of fraud. Landry's press conference was on Jan. 6  the day supporters of Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol trying to halt certification of the election results.

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"I think theyre using the town here," longtime Amite councilman Jonathan Foster told The Advocate after Landry announced the charges. "Going through these press conferences and all of that, I figure they must be bored.

Amite city councilman arrested on election fraud allegations, Louisiana attorney general says Amite City Councilman Emmanuel Zanders has been arrested and charged with election fraud, the attorney general's office said Wednesday.

External politics did not inform how the 21st Judicial District Attorneys Office approached plea negotiations in the case, District Attorney Scott Perrilloux said Monday. Perrilloux said the councilmans lack of a prior criminal record and the expediency factor" of his resignation, which will allow someone new to join the Council, informed prosecutors' decision to reduce the charges.

The District Attorney thanked the offices of the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for investigating the case.

Zanders is set to be sentenced July 28. If he fails to tender his resignation from the Council before then, he risks the felony charges he initially faced being reinstated, judge Charlotte Foster said in Monday's hearing.

Charles told Foster that her client has prepared his resignation and will submit it to the Secretary of State's office in the coming days.

Zanders declined to comment on his plea deal Monday, deferring to his defense lawyer.

Charles, who is an NAACP staff lawyer but is representing Zanders as his private counsel, said she hopes the spectacle Landrys office created around Zanders case wont deter Black voters in Tangipahoa Parish from heading to the polls in the future.

We still want Black voters to feel encouraged to come vote, Charles said. We dont want to discourage that participation.
The Times-Picayune and The Advocate filed suit Monday against the Louisiana State Police, asking a judge to review redactions the agencys lawyers made to public records related to troopers involved in the violent 2019 death of Black motorist Ronald Greene.

The records at issue are those of Master Trooper Kory York, one of 15 State Police employees whose employment records were requested on March 23.

State Police initially balked at the request and said the records sought would be voluminous  approximately 9,000 pages; that the newspaper would have to pay roughly $2,250 to review them; and that providing them would be a slow process.

+8 Black lawmakers back 'top-to-bottom' federal probe into abuse, coverup at Louisiana State Police Black state lawmakers on Tuesday called on the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a full investigation into systemic violations of constit

The newspaper negotiated a compromise with Faye Morrison, a former in-house lawyer for State Police, to provide the records of a single trooper to see whether the request for the remaining troopers records could be narrowed. That trooper was York.

Nearly three months after the original request, State Police provided the York records, but they were heavily redacted, with page after page completely blacked out.

The redacted material included substantial portions of a disciplinary letter addressed to York, who was suspended for 50 hours without pay for his role in the Greene matter. Most of the letter was blacked out.

Two Louisiana state police troopers fired last week, months after excessive force arrests Two Louisiana State Police troopers were fired last week, months after both were arrested and accused of using excessive force against Black s

York was among the troopers who responded to the scene where Greene crashed after a high-speed chase. York turned off his body camera before arriving at the scene, but other body camera footage showed him dragging Greene by his shackles and shouting expletives at him repeatedly, telling the prone man to lay on your f---ing belly like I told you!

State Police redacted other records on various grounds: because they contain personal financial or health information, or are part of an ongoing criminal investigation. The newspaper is only seeking information related to Yorks disciplinary and service history.

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The newspaper, represented by attorney Scott Sternberg, argues that the redactions to the York records are overly broad and inconclusive, and that reporting on the Greene case  which has received national attention  is of the utmost public interest.

State Police unit involved in Ronald Greene's death under broader internal investigation BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  The same Louisiana State Police unit whose troopers stunned, punched and dragged Ronald Greene on video during a deadl

While public bodies may keep secret records that document an ongoing criminal investigation, the newspaper is arguing that Louisiana law has established that that precedent does not allow State Police to simply place an otherwise public record into a criminal investigation to avoid producing it.

That appears to be the agencys tactic with the York disciplinary letter, Sternberg says.

The actions of our State Police are the subject of national interest following Ronald Greenes horrific death, Sternberg said. The taxpayers of our state deserve to know what our state police knew about their troopers, and when they knew it.

This is a much larger story than just Trooper York  but it starts with ensuring we can review the records of this trooper with minimal redaction to get to the bottom of the story.

+3 How much did John Bel Edwards know of Ronald Greene's fatal arrest? Advocates want answers As the focus of Ronald Greenes death in a brutal 2019 encounter with Louisiana State Police turns from wrenching video images of his arrest i

Greenes death, and a number of other incidents involving violence against Black motorists by officers from Monroe-based Troop F, are under investigation by the FBI. Louisianas Legislative Black Caucus this week pushed for a broader pattern or practice investigation by the Department of Justice, which, if conducted, could result in a consent decree requiring reforms at the states top law enforcement agency.

The lawsuit asks that a judge review the unredacted records and determine which portions of Yorks file should be kept secret.

The suit, filed in the 19th Judicial District, names Col. Lamar Davis, head of the State Police and its custodian of records, as the defendant. Davis is an appointee of Gov. John Bel Edwards. The case has been assigned to Judge Chip Moore.
It was 1991, and the eyes of America were on Louisiana - and not in a good way.

David Duke, a former grand wizard in the Ku Klux Klan and a Republican state representative from Metairie, finished second in the gubernatorial primary, leaving then-Gov. Buddy Roemer, a fellow Republican, in third place and out of the money.

Duke would face Edwin Edwards, a Democrat who had already served three earlier terms as governor, acquiring along the way a reputation for chicanery, in the runoff. The election became a referendum of sorts on racism, with many vocal Edwards opponents -- and national Republicans -- saying it was crucial to vanquish Duke because of his noxious views.

The contest attracted broad attention, which meant some debates were televised nationally. In this clip, shown on C-SPAN 2, Edwards delivers a three-minute closing statement in which he compared his record of public service to that of Duke, and urged voters not to let Duke "make a mockery of Louisiana."

The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Watch the clip below, courtesy of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. Can't see the video? Click here.
Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin sheds tears discussing how to form an emergency election plan during the coronavirus pandemic, August 2020.
A Louisiana National Guardsman died in a car crash in McAllen, Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border on Saturday morning, according to authorities.

Spc. Bernard Creque, 25, of Lake Charles, was walking in the 2700 block of W. Frontage Road at about 3:30 a.m. when he was hit multiple times by two cars, a Texas news station reported.

He was deployed there, but off-duty at the time of the fatal wreck.

I was saddened to learn of the death of Spc. Bernard Creque who dedicated his life to serving & protecting our state & nation through the Louisiana National Guard. #lagov  John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) July 12, 2021

Police said they have identified the two vehicles involved in the deadly crash, and the investigation is ongoing.

"I was saddened to learn of the death of Spc. Bernard Creque who dedicated his life to serving and protecting our state and nation through the Louisiana National Guard, said Governor John Bel Edwards in an emailed statement. He tragically lost his life while deployed with his unit, and we will forever be grateful to him. Please join me and Donna in praying for his father, mother, family, hometown of Lake Charles and fellow soldiers.

Lake Charles news in your inbox Once a week we'll send you the top stories we find in the Lake Area e-mail address * Sign Up

Enlisted in the Louisiana Army National Guard in 2012, Creque was deployed to the border for "security and surveillance," according to reports. He was part of the 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade.

BRPD officer, National Guardsman dies after Syria deployment; 'a true American hero' On the second Sunday in May, children, spouses, nieces and nephews pick up their phones to give well wishes to women across the world. But whe

Creque is the third National Guardsman to die during a deployment in recent months. None of the deaths have been considered combat related.

Casey Hart, 42, died after suffering a heart attack on a run while deployed in Syria. He was also a corporal in the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Spc. Joshua S. Robinson, 22, died at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, in a non-combat related incident, according to a Department of Defence release.
Elon Musk told a court that Teslas more than $US2 billion ($2.67 billion) acquisition of SolarCity in 2016 wasnt a bailout of the then-failing solar provider and got combative with the attorney for plaintiffs on the first day of trial testimony in a legal fight over the deal.

At the start of whats expected to be a two-week trial in Wilmington, Delaware, Musk responded to a question from his own lawyer by saying he definitely did not have any sway over the companys board when it approved the SolarCity deal. Shareholders suing the Tesla chief executive officer claim he got the company to essentially rescue another firm that he also controlled.

At one point, Musk said he has tried very hard not to be the CEO of Tesla, but I have to or frankly Tesla is going to die. Musk has been the CEO of the company since 2008.

Elon Musk said in court that he definitely did not have any sway over the companys board when it approved the SolarCity deal. Credit:AP

Musk, wearing a black suit and tie, stayed cool during three hours of testimony on Monday, local time. He was first questioned by his own attorney, Evan Chesler of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
Leading economists say a JobKeeper-style wages subsidy which keeps struggling businesses connected to their workers would be the best way to support the economy during Sydneys lockdown.

The JobKeeper program has been credited with helping the economy to make a rapid recovery from last years deep recession, in large part because of the way it retained links between employees and employers.

The lockdown has hit key sectors of the NSW economy hard. Credit:Jessica Hromas

University of NSW economics professor, Richard Holden, said a wage-subsidy scheme similar to JobKeeper is exactly what we need to combat the economic disruption caused by the present Sydney lockdown.

Maintaining that connection between employers and employees was really crucial last year, he said.
Epidemiologists have demanded a national approach to contain the highly transmissible Delta variant as they warn more infectious types of COVID-19 emerging overseas will continue to punch holes in every deficiency of the countrys pandemic response.

As infectious disease experts around Australia implored NSW to immediately enforce stage-four restrictions to contain a rapidly growing outbreak of the Delta variant, epidemiologists said our reliance on states responding to outbreaks independently was putting the entire country at risk.

Melburnians wearing masks around South Melbourne Market in June. Credit:Wayne Taylor

The head of the epidemiological modelling unit at Monash University, James Trauer, said the emergence of the Delta variant in Australia and the worrying situation unfolding in NSW, where 112 new cases were reported on Monday, showed just how enormous the holes are in our national approach.

We desperately need a national strategy, Professor Trauer said. Right now, Delta is punching holes in every deficiency in our strategy. It is a really, really dangerous situation in NSW. Im really worried about whats happening in NSW ... and for the rest of the country.
The founders of Australias first women-only mental health hospital say women are avoiding treatment because they feel unsafe in mental health wards housing both genders at a time when the pandemic has driven family violence and serious mental health issues to record highs.

Sharon Sherwood, Cabrinis chief of mental health and outreach services, said feeling at risk in mixed wards was causing women to miss out on urgently-required medical care.

Sharon Sherwood, Cabrinis chief of mental health and outreach services (left), and Cabrini chief executive Sue Williams. Credit:Eddie Jim

A lot of women dont get help because the thought of having to go into a shared mental health space makes them feel unsafe, Ms Sherwood said. The increase in domestic violence has reinforced the need for gender-specific mental health care.

Cabrinis 30-bed centre, Australias first women-only mental health hospital, will specialise in the treatment of depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction and offer gender-targeted therapies. The private hospital will open in September and offer stays of up to 10 days.
Victorias COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said the two positive cases announced on Monday were among a family of four in the City of Hume. Three members of the family flew into Melbourne from Sydney on July 4 on a red permit, meaning they were required to self-isolate for 14 days and get tested, while a fourth drove back to Melbourne on July 8. Health authorities do not believe either the flight or Melbourne Airport is a risk because the three family members tested negative to the virus on July 6, two days after disembarking. The two showed symptoms on Saturday and subsequently returned a positive result on Monday morning. Mr Weimar said the family, who had not been identified as close contacts of the Sydney outbreak, was helping authorities map their route to identify potential exposure sites.

Meanwhile, two removalists were confirmed to be positive after being in Melbourne for two days to deliver furniture in the City of Hume, in Melbournes north, and pick up another load in the City of Maribyrnong, in the north-west. Families were at home in both locations and are now isolating. The removalists later drove to South Australia before returning to NSW. Test results from the two families are expected to be returned on Tuesday. Loading Mr Weimar said the public health team was concerned about the movements of the removalist crew, who stayed overnight in Victoria on July 8, but who had not yet provided accurate information to contact tracers on their movements. When asked if he was concerned the men had not followed the rules, Mr Weimar said: Absolutely.

The individual stories are not quite tying up at the moment, he said. Mr Weimar said NSW Health had contacted one of the removalists on July 9, when they were in South Australia, to identify them as a close contact of another case. Victorias public health team has been interviewing the trio, but Mr Weimar indicated the process had been complex and challenging. Victorian health authorities on Monday night named a supermarket in Craigieburn, a petrol station in Broadmeadows and an apartment complex in Maribyrnong as new exposure sites. Coles at Craigieburn Central has been identified as a tier-1 exposure site. Anyone who attended the supermarket between 5.28pm and 6.38pm on July 10 must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days. The broader Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre was listed as a tier-3 site.

Metro Petroleum at Broadmeadows was listed as a tier-2 site. Anyone there between 1.19pm and 2.04pm on July 11 should get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result. The Ariele Apartments complex on Thomas Holmes Street in Maribyrnong has been listed as a tier-1 site between 1pm and midnight on July 8 and as a tier-2 site from July 9 to July 12. Nine News reported late on Monday night that the apartment building had been placed into lockdown. Two other Tier 1 sites were added late on Monday night - both in the Victorian town of Ballan about 80 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. The first site is a Mobil service station on the Western Freeway on July 8, between 5pm and 7pm. The exposure site includes the shower and bathroom facilities.

The second site is a McDonalds on the Western Freeway on the same date and at the same times as the service station. Anyone who was at these sites is asked to get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days. Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said that even if the removalists had infected either of the two families they visited, the worst case would mean they had been infectious for a couple of days in the community, and we wouldnt have more than one generation of spread, which we did before last months lockdown. Its still absolutely manageable even if the virus did stay with any of those family members after the drivers left, she said. Public health expert Maximilian de Courten said the Victorian incidents illustrated the flaws in Australias effective elimination strategy against increasingly infectious strains such as the Delta variant.

Professor de Courten, director of Victoria Universitys Mitchell Institute for education and health policy, said considering the Delta strains potency, I wouldnt put money on Victoria staying virus-free over the next four weeks. Coupled with low vaccination rates and nationwide fatigue that made it harder for governments to enforce lockdowns and restrictions, Professor de Courten said states and territories had become a sitting duck for outbreaks. Victorias COVID-19 situation by numbers There have are 8019 active red zone permits in Victoria, all issued to people coming from Sydney and rest of NSW

744 of those were issued in the 24 hours before Monday morning

Authorities have made 400 home visits to red zone arrivals in the past few days

80% of people with red zone permits have returned initial negative tests

Two people in a four-person family who live in the City of Hume have tested positive after arriving from NSW.

Two people from a three-person removalist crew tested positive after returning to NSW from a trip to Victoria. They visited the City of Hume and Maribrynong before driving to South Australia

Victoria has four exposure sites listed on the health department website, as of 7.30pm Monday. Its the same with quarantine  there is always a risk and therefore its a matter of time until an event occurs. The only real protection is complete hard borders, where nobody leaves their city or even their house. As a free, functioning society we cannot do that, he said. An additional 90 police officers were sent to the NSW-Victorian border on Monday, joining 260 police who were sent to the border at the end of June when Victoria first designated Greater Sydney as a red zone. Victoria Police said it plans to have officers patrolling the border for at least another month.

Six fines have been issued for breaches of coronavirus restrictions in the past fortnight, including one to a man who had been in a NSW red zone and was not isolating. Meanwhile, the NSW government has allowed people in their 40s and 50s to book in for the AstraZeneca vaccine at NSW Health clinics. Those in hard-hit local government areas have been told to call their GPs to try to bring forward their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Of the states 63 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, 25 are under 55 and 14 are under 35. There are 18 people in intensive care, four of whom are ventilated. On Monday, South Australian authorities announced that a 72-year-old woman died after contracting the rare blood-clotting disorder associated with the AstraZeneca vaccination. SA Premier Steven Marshall said the woman had received her first AstraZeneca vaccination on June 24 and was admitted to hospital on July 5 after becoming unwell.
What we need people to do though is to comply with the obligations in those permits, which includes youre in virtual isolation when youre in Victoria, you need to wear a mask, you need to be socially distant, you need to stay in your cab at all times, and youre not doing five hours of removalist work in an apartment building. So, were concerned about that, and thats part of the conversation were having. Mr Weimar said he understood one of the two infectious removalists was a primary close contact of another positive coronavirus case in Sydney. But Mr Weimar stressed that authorities had a good grip on the information theyd been provided about the cases so far. He was pleased with authorities response to the removalists infections, given theyd identified two different families whod been exposed to them and two places theyd travelled through on their way from Victoria to Adelaide.

Mr Weimar said 21 exposures had been confirmed at the Mobil service station, and 34 at the Ballan McDonalds. He said the removalists dealt with only one man while they were at the Maribyrnong home and he had tested negative, as had his family and the Craigieburn family. All were in quarantine. The apartment building in Maribyrnong, in Melbournes north-west, that is in lockdown. Credit:Eddie Jim All 78 apartments in the mans complex, though, had been put into lockdown, with residents informed on Monday night they had to quarantine for 14 days. It is very confronting, of course, to be advised late on a Monday evening that youre now in 14 days of isolation, Mr Weimar said.

We have set aside additional testing capacity at the showgrounds [for the residents]  and well be working with them over their isolation period providing the kind of  wraparound support that you would expect us to do. Mr Weimar stressed that nobody at the apartment complex had so far tested positive for coronavirus. Western Public Health Unit has sent residents of the complex a letter, telling them if they were in the residential part of the complex during the exposure period on July 8 they had to immediately isolate, get a COVID-19 test and quarantine for 14 days. The public health assessment has identified a risk of transmission in the apartment complex, and that any person who was inside any residential parts of the building from 1pm on Thursday, July 8, may be at risk of developing COVID-19 infection, the letter said.

The letter noted the residential part of the complex includes the residential foyer or lobby, stairwells, the lift, residential floors and the car park. The removalists would have spent some time in those areas. Acting Chief Health Officer Dan OBrien said Victoria had faced outbreaks from interstate before, and they still posed the biggest risk to the state. We obviously remain very concerned about our inbound risks from interstate. Weve now had four incursions from NSW in recent weeks, and our COVID outbreaks in May and June are also linked to interstate incursion.

Mr Weimar confirmed two people who were meant to be isolating under a red-zone permit after returning from NSW werent at home yesterday when health authorities checked in. Tuesdays new case, the City of Hume family member, came after three members of the family flew into Melbourne from Sydney on July 4 on a red permit, meaning they were required to self-isolate for 14 days and get tested, while a fourth drove back to Melbourne on July 8. Health authorities do not believe either the flight or Melbourne Airport is a risk because the three family members tested negative for the virus on July 6, two days after disembarking. The three family members who tested positive to coronavirus in Victoria have 13 household primary close contacts, all of whom have tested negative, authorities say.

The positive cases  two parents and a child  have been in isolation with a fourth family member. Two of the family members were announced as positive coronavirus cases on Monday, and the third family member was announced as positive on Tuesday. Mr Weimar said during Tuesdays COVID update authorities had identified more than 300 contacts of the family through contact tracing. All of those people had been contacted. We suspect  the fourth member who is currently negative may also turn positive in the coming days, Mr Weimar said. People who didnt enter the residential part of the building and only went into a commercial space on the ground floor are not classified as having visited an exposure site.
Ignoring public health orders to isolate and get tested within 48 hours of a venue being listed as an exposure site is punishable by 12 months imprisonment or a fine up to $50,000.

Health authorities conceded the return to normal came as 65 people, or 2.3 per cent of those identified as casual contacts of a positive case, had failed to come forward for testing as of Friday.

After two million West Australians were plunged into lockdown over a northern suburbs outbreak, health authorities are yet to track down 65 casual contacts for testing. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola

Sunday marked 14 days  or one full incubation period  since a known coronavirus case was in the community, leading the state government to relax restrictions back to pre-lockdown life.

Up to 65 people who potentially came into contact with a COVID-positive case in Perths northern suburbs in late June are yet to present for testing despite being in breach of the law.

However, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre head Ben Scalley, said the remaining untested casual contacts were in the lowest risk sub-category, with some not having had any direct contact with a positive case.

Essentially we normally know these people are not in the higher risk category of people who have had a bit of interaction or who have been near an infected person, theyre normally someone who has just sort of been in the vicinity and they may not have even been there at the exact same time as the person, he said.

We would normally do things like ring them a few times and try and find them, we look for other contact information in case weve got the phone number wrong, we might look for next of kin, we might send them a text message, or if its through a workplace, we try and go through their workplace to get hold of them - so theres lots of different ways we try still but as we are less worried about them, we dont push through legal mechanisms to make them get tested.

The Mindarie cluster, first detected on June 27, uncovered six cases  two being casual contacts who caught the virus through fleeting contact at a brewery and gym.

Dr Scalley said CCTV from the brewery had failed to find the moment when the clusters initial case, a woman who returned from Sydney, likely infected a man also at the venue having dinner.
Teachers, school staff and aged care workers in the Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas will have access to priority vaccinations from Friday.

Almost 10,000 teachers from 236 schools across those regions can access a new vaccine hub opening at Fairfield Showground which will target both priority groups. Almost 3000 non-teaching school staff from across the hotspots will also be eligible.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday said the groups would move to the front of the vaccine queue, as NSW recorded 112 new cases mainly in Sydneys south-west and south-east.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian addressing the media on Monday. Credit:James Brickwood

Ms Berejiklian also announced that the AstraZeneca vaccine will now be available for people aged over 40 at NSW Health vaccination clinics and pharmacies.
It will be similar to the federal government payments ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 offered to small and medium businesses in March last year as a cash flow boost so employers could pay staff and bills. The payment was calculated as a proportion of a companys tax withholdings for salary and wages in the belief it would act as an incentive to retain staff. It was free of tax, did not require new application forms and was paid through the Australian Taxation Office. While the government followed the cash flow boost with the larger JobKeeper scheme within weeks, federal ministers have been adamant the wage subsidy will not be reinstated after running for a full year at a cost of about $90 billion. While it will be offered to companies in the greater Sydney area at first, it will be available on the same terms to employers in other regions, states and territories that suffer extended lockdowns that last for more than two weeks.

The federal government is also working on ways to encourage more NSW workers to apply for its COVID-19 disaster payment, with only 110,000 people lodging an application for payment since Sydneys latest lockdown started. The disaster payment gives people who would have worked more than 20 hours in the week of a lockdown $500, and those who would have worked fewer than 20 hours $325. They no longer need to have less than $10,000 in the bank or shares, after the federal government last week axed the liquid asset test. Mr Morrison said a cash flow boost, introduced last year before JobKeeper was available, injected more than $10 billion directly from the Commonwealth Government to support NSW businesses. One of the most effective measures in addition to the income support was the cash flow boost that was put in place, Mr Morrison told Sky on Monday.

Businesses, particularly hospitality venues, in Sydney, as well as the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, have been pleading with the NSW government for urgent financial help. Loading Ms Berejiklian said on Monday the NSW government understood the need for financial support for workers, especially casual and permanent part-time staff from Sydneys worst-affected areas. Thats something we are looking at as well in terms of the package we are going to announce, thats on the table, I want to stress that, Ms Berejiklian said. We do not want anyone to have a reason for having to go outside the home unless its absolutely necessary. Let me make that very clear. So the package we will announce will have that at top of mind.

Applications for NSWs first round of business grants of between $5000 and $10,000 will open on July 19, prompting criticism from some businesses that the money would not arrive quickly enough to help. Loading Ms Berejiklian said that announcement was made on an assumption that the lockdown would last two weeks. Obviously what we announce in the next few days will have a line of supporting businesses potentially for a longer period depending on how long the lockdown lasts, Ms Berejiklian said. First and foremost what is important to us is the health and wellbeing of our citizens. That includes not only keeping them safe from COVID, but also making sure they dont feel the financial stress of what were asking them to do.
Once [a pier] loses that commercial power it seems to just be seen as a piece of infrastructure around the bay. But these things take on a new life in terms of their social value  its a place to walk along and appreciate the sea. The pier is the jewel in the crown, its the focal point for everyone. For the past three years, Parks Victoria has been unable to meet its key targets to maintain jetties, piers and other bay assets in average to excellent conditions, according to an analysis of state budget papers. Mornington Peninsula locals are fighting to save the Flinders pier. Credit:Jason South The government has set a target of 80 per cent maintenance, but last financial year Parks Victoria achieved 70 per cent. In the year before, the agency fell well below its target at just 66 per cent. In 2018-19 Parks Victoria achieved 75 per cent. The agency has attributed this to age and storm impacts. It also said many of the piers it managed were rebuilt in the 1970s and were now at the end of their life.

FutureFish Foundation director David Kramer, who also works with the state government on its fishing policies, said if Parks Victoria had adequately maintained the piers and jetties over the years, including by replacing ageing piles and planks in a timely fashion, the structures would not deteriorate to a point of no return. Parks Victoria is calling it end of life  too bad, so sad, Mr Kramer said. I am really concerned because every day that goes by and theres no maintenance, a lot of piers will just disappear. The longer it goes on, the more its going to cost to restore these assets. Its like if you dont build a freeway today, its going to cost a lot more down the track. The Victorian government said it expected more than 30 million visits to piers and jetties this financial year  or as many as 35 million were it not for COVID-19 rules restricting peoples movements  according to the most recent budget paper. Sandringham MP and opposition spokesman for fishing and boating Brad Rowswell has written to Fishing and Boating Minister Melissa Horne and Treasurer Tim Pallas about urgently repairing Hampton pier.

In a speech to Parliament in May, he said if the government failed to provide appropriate information to the community, it should get ready for a whole new wave of pier pressure. This is indeed the calm before the storm. Loading Mr Rowswell told The Age: Whats really disappointing is that the Andrews Labor government has no plan to fix the plethora of piers and jetties that have fallen into disrepair on their watch. Their only answer is to lock people out with temporary fencing rather than getting on with the job of fixing them. Labor need to get off their backsides and tell Victorians how they plan to fix these important community assets. If they dont, they have failed. A government spokesman did not respond to detailed questions about plans for Hampton pier but said Parks Victoria was undertaking a broader planning piece for Sandringham Harbour with the City of Bayside.

Were investing significantly in upgrading a number of piers and jetties, in addition to our annual maintenance program, through the Building Works economic stimulus initiative, including for Portarlington, Queenscliff South, Altona, Middle Brighton, Tooradin and Rye piers, as well as a $50 million redevelopment of St Kilda pier, a government spokeswoman added. This years budget also delivered $2.5 million to establish and map the strategic priorities for future investment. We will continue supporting port managers in prioritising the repair and renewal of local ports to deliver a safe and sustainable network for all Victorians to enjoy. There is no publicly available list of piers or jetties that are in disrepair or have been closed for maintenance, but Mr Kramer has identified the Black Rock, Hampton, Mornington, Queenscliff, Flinders and Williamstown piers, as well as two piers in Warneet, as closed. And he predicts the Portsea pier, which is being battered by ferocious waves, will be next. Theyre just sitting there neglected, fenced off  theres no plan and no funding to fix them, he said. Its almost part of the Victorian culture now to go for a walk on a pier  its a pretty unique experience. We have a pristine bay. Port Phillip Bay has never been better  commercial netting has ceased, scallop dredging has ceased. Port Phillip is in the best condition it has been in our generation  why cant Victorians be allowed to go on a pier and see that?
Johannesburg: South Africa deployed soldiers to quell violence that erupted following the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, after days of riots left at least six people dead.

Police said disturbances had intensified as Zuma challenged his 15-month prison term in the countrys top court.

The judgment in the case has been reserved.

Looters outside a shopping centre alongside a burning barricade in Durban, South Africa. Credit:AP

Smoke swirled from burning buildings as items from ransacked shops lay strewn by the side of the road in Pietermaritzburg in Zumas home province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Washington: Pfizer says it will meet with top US health officials to discuss the drugmakers request for federal authorisation of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine as President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser acknowledged that it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely that booster shots will be needed.

The company said it was scheduled to have the meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and other officials on Monday (US time), days after Pfizer asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months.

Pfizers Dr Mikael Dolsten said last week that early data from the companys booster study suggests peoples antibody levels jump five- to 10-fold after a third dose, compared to their second dose months earlier  evidence it believes supports the need for a booster.

Dr Anthony Fauci has cautioned that the booster shot is not yet needed. Credit:AP

On Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci didnt rule out the possibility but said it was too soon for the government to recommend another shot. He said the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA did the right thing last week by pushing back against Pfizers assertion with their statement that they did not view booster shots as necessary at this time.
Washington: A 62-year-old Texan who waited seven hours to cast a vote while on parole is facing the threat of 40 years jail for breaking state election laws.

Hervis Earl Rogers from Houston was arrested last week and charged with two counts of illegal voting for casting a ballot in 2018 and again last year while still on parole. He could get 20 years for each. Texas is one of 16 US states where felons lose voting rights in prison and on parole.

Texas man Hervis Earl Rogers, who says he waited for a lit bit over six hours at a polling center in Houston to participate in Super Tuesday last year, was arrested and charged this week with two counts of illegal voting. Credit:Montgomery County Sheriffs Office

Rogers, convicted of burglary in 1989 and 1995, became a national celebrity for queuing for so long in the Democratic primary in March 2020. He said at the time: It is insane, but its worth it. The case against him has been brought by Ken Paxton, the states Republican Attorney-General and an ally of former president Donald Trump.

He was also one of several prominent Republicans who challenged President Joe Bidens victory in the presidential election and has been assiduous in pursuing alleged voting irregularity cases.
The Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child reopen at the Lyric Theatre a little earlier than expected, with a new return set for November 12 instead of November 16. As previously announced, the previously two-part drama will now be condensed into one evening.

Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was written by Thorne and directed by Tiffany. The original two-part event has been "boldly restaged as one singular performance by the award-winning creative team for its return to North America." Further details, including cast, are forthcoming.

The single-evening edition of the show will be presented only in North America, with a premiere at the Curran in San Francisco set for January 11, 2022, and a Canadian premiere in May 2022 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Broadway tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 12, 2021. San Francisco tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 21. Productions in Melbourne, London, and Hamburg will continue in the original two-part format.

In a statement, producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender said"Given the challenges of remounting and running a two-part show in the US on the scale of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and the commercial challenges faced by the theatre and tourism industries emerging from the global shutdowns, we are excited to be able to move forward with a new version of the play that allows audiences to enjoy the complete Cursed Child adventure in one sitting eight times a week."

The Tony-winning play's creative team includes Imogen Heap (composer), Steven Hoggett (movement director), Christine Jones (scenic designer), Katrina Lindsay (costume designer), Neil Austin (lighting designer), Gareth Fry (sound designer), Finn Ross and Ash Woodward (co-video designers), and Carole Hancock (hair, wig, and makeup designer).
It was love at first sound. The first day that Lee Roy Reams sang for Jerry Herman, he blasted forth with that happy, hopeful tenor of his, "Out there! There's a world outside of Yonkers"

Startled, Herman jumped out of his chair and stopped him right there. "That's the voice!" he shouted with genuine astonishment. "That's the voice I hear in my head when I write!"

This is still a primal memory for Reams: "Whether he meant it or not, I don't knowmaybe he said it to everybodybut he did say that to me. I was so flattered by that, I cannot tell you."

Carol Channing had engineered this instant click. She knew Reams as a co-star in her musical, Lorelei. One fine day in 1978, she phoned him. "I want you to play Cornelius Hackl in my revival of Hello, Dolly!' she told him. "Unfortunately, you have to pass Jerry Herman, but that doesn't matter, darling. You got the part." He did, too. In 1995, when she revived the show again, he got upgraded to director-choreographer and used Gower Champion's original staging. By the time he last saw Herman in 2019, he'd taken over the title role for a run in drag in Boca Raton.

An hour-long love offering to the late composerwarm reminiscences, punctuated by 11 of his songshad a sold-out lift-off June 28 at Feinstein's/54 Below. Accompanied by Alex Rybeck, Reams faced his first post-pandemic audience, so it was nice to have friends for first-nighters (Karen Akers, Klea Blackhurst and a couple of Chorus Liners, Baayork Lee and Donna McKechnie).

He may not have been readily recognizable to others. The world's oldest living male ingenue had, during this eternity between gigs, turned into a silver fox, with lots of snow on top.

"Since I wasn't working, I thought this pandemic was a perfect time to find out what's under all that," he said. "I never knew what it looked like. It's an adjustment. I don't quite know who this person isI'm so used to having dark hairbut it's easier to keep, so I think I'll leave it like this."

On July 13, at 7 pm, he'll take the show from the top again, hoping to get in "If He Walked into My Life" (with special female lyrics by Herman) and "I Am What I Am," the gay anthem from La Cage aux Folles. The latter contains Herman's personal favorite lyrics: "I am what I am / I don't want praise, I don't want pity / I bang my own drum / Some think it's noise, I think it's pretty."

The show opens with a song inspired by Herman's mother. She was baking a fancy cake when her teenage son wandered into her kitchen and asked whose birthday it was. "Nobody's," she answered. "It's today." Even then, the composer-to-be knew a song cue when he heard one.

Lee Roy Reams as Dolly Levi at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton

( Amy Pasquantonio)

"Jerry started out to be an architect but wrote songs as a hobby for a summer camp his parents ran," Reams relays. "His mother liked them enough to find a friend who knew a friend who was friend of Frank Loesser. She set up a meeting so her son could display his musical gifts. When he was done, Loesser declared, "You're wasting your time in design school. You're a songwriter."

"Jerry and I were both mama's boys," Reams admitted. "He adored his, and I adored mine. We loved talking about them. The sad thing about Jerry's is that she never saw his Broadway success. She set him up for it but died before all that happened. She only knew his camp songs."

After college, Herman got a job playing cocktail piano at a Greenwich Village bar, often doing his own songs. These caught the ear of a regular customer, who saidlike in the movies"I'm a Broadway producer, and you're going to do my next show." Then, he promptly sent Herman to Israel for an atmosphere soak so he could compose Milk and Honey, his first Broadway show.

David Merrick saw Milk and Honey and thought it "just a Jewish operetta," but Herman scored a meeting anyway. Merrick gave him Michael Stewart's script to Hello, Dolly! on a Friday and told him to come in Monday with four songs. Three of the four made the show (one was Reams' audition song, "Put on Your Sunday Clothes"). Merrick actually said, "Kid, the show is yours!"

Dolly dovetailed into Mame, whose positive enthusiasm was on a par with Herman's. Dear World, Mack & Mabel, and The Grand Tour, which followed, were not hits, but they weren't hurting in gorgeous songs. Show Seven, La Cage aux Folles, was luckier. He exited with a hit.

Songs like "The Best of Times Is Now" and "I'll Be Here Tomorrow" explode with his buoyant optimism. "They were his mantra, what he lived by. He was Mickey & Judy putting on a show."

It was announced Reams would replace George Hearn as Zaza on Broadway and he'd put in a week of rehearsal when producers opted to close La Cage aux Folles rather than move it to the Mark Hellinger. Reams made up for that with a vengeance by starring in a Paper Mill production, a San Jose production, a summer stock tour and the tenth anniversary tour.

Herman also provided Reams and his partner of 50 years, Bob Donahue, with a home-away-from-homein Connecticut. "He transferred his house up there to us, and we had it a couple of decades. Then, when Bob died, it was just too much. I didn't like being up there by myself.

"The last time I saw Jerry, he wasn't well enough to see 'Dolly'' in Boca Raton, so I went to see him on my day off. He was in a wheelchair then, but he still had that happy attitude. He was smiling and optimistic and sharp as a tack. We spent the afternoon talking and laughing."
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich speaks at a Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, news conference in Phoenix where he announced consumer fraud lawsuits against e-cigarette makers Juul Labs and Eonsmoke. The Republican said both firms used deceptive marketing of flavored products with high nicotine content to hook young people.
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Tim Gruver is a politics and public policy reporter. He is a University of Washington alum and the recipient of the 2017 Pioneer News Award for Reporting. His work has appeared in Politico, the Kitsap Daily News, and the Northwest Asian Weekly.
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Gov. Ron DeSantis, of Florida, watches the foursome matches during the Walker Cup golf tournament at the Seminole Golf Club on Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Juno Beach, Fla.
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Kentucky Auditor Mike Harmon speaks to the media about an audit of the state Administrative Office of the Courts on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Frankfort, Ky.
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State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx, speaks to state legislators during a public hearing on sexual harassment in the workplace Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, in Albany, N.Y.
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Maryville downtown branding proposals due Tuesday

Courtesy of the Blount Partnership Downtown Maryville buildings are iconic structures that represent the citys past and, with an upcoming downtown branding project in the works, its future. Courtesy of the Blount Partnership Preserved advertisements on the Condry Building in downtown Maryville are part of the citys historical identity, a potentially important factor for local leaders as they consider a branding project for the downtown area. Downtown Maryville area

Maryville government is ready to do business with a branding company as it seeks to build an identity for the steadily growing downtown district.

The city opened its request for proposal (RFP) as the 2021 fiscal year closed out and now the time for companies to submit a proposal is nearly over.

Vendors interested in bagging the project can submit proposals no later than 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 13.

City and business leaders spent a few months crafting language about exactly what they wanted from vendors.

According to the RFPs purpose statement, downtown Maryville needs a brand to help with name recognition both locally and outside the region through use of a consistent message.

Name recognition and consistent messaging break down into a 10-page execution that involves logos, taglines, promotional campaigns, research projects, relationship-building with city leaders, competitor analysis and much more.

Downtown is where the history of Maryville begins, Toi B. Brown said in a statement promoting the RFP. Brown is general manager of Broadway Social on East Harper Avenue and one of a city-created team to develop the RFP. As the heart of the community, it is vital that we invest in its continued growth and revitalization.

What the RFP considers that heart of the community to be is not only the array of older buildings along Broadway Avenue between South Washington Street and U.S. Highway 321.

Downtown, they say, captures the Blount County Public Library, the Blount County Courthouse, the Maryville Municipal Building and just east of South Washington Street.

What will a new brand do to this area?

Thats part of what the project strives to figure out. A lot of the push, however, has to do with economic growth.

Recently a new influx of investment, rehabilitation and various types of business and investment into the downtown area has been a catalyst for tremendous growth, the city said in a statement addressing a need for branding. The city is responding to the businesses and interested citizens in the area to assist in ensuring the downtown is properly positioned to sustain current occupancy and create new tenants and owners so that downtown can grow into its potential.

After Tuesday, leaders will take stock of vendors who want to tackle the branding project and select the most qualified candidate, according to the statement accompanying the RFP.

Before Maryville government shouldered this project and its cost, it was a Maryville Downtown Association (MDA) initiative. But COVID-19 changed things, which is why the city will now foot the branding bill.

The two groups already work hand-in-hand on a regular basis and this effort wont be any different.

There is a lot to do downtown now compared to a decade ago, City Manager Greg McClain said in a statement. We look forward to assisting the MDA with a consistent brand message that can be used to bring people from out of town to shop, dine, engage services, and learn more about opening businesses and developing in the downtown area. Many communities have gone through the branding process and have seen tremendous results and we know this will help position downtown to attract even more economic growth and vitality and pay in dividends.

Visit maryvillegov.com/branding to see the RFP and related documents.
Dick Polman, a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes at DickPolman.net. Email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com.
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Hello, Monday!

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East Los Angeles: A man was fatally wounded in a Sunday night shooting in the 5700 block of Whittier Boulevard. Arriving deputies found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper body. The Eastsider

Los Feliz: The L.A. Fire Department transported a man and a woman in critical condition to a hospital following reports of a shooting on Sunday afternoon. The LAFD responded to a call at 2:30 pm in the 1900 block of Rodney Drive, said department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. An LAPD spokeswoman said the shooting was believed to be related to a domestic dispute but had no other details. Reports on Citizen said the shooting took place inside an apartment building but those details could not be confirmed.

Silver Lake: A 61-year-old man died Saturday afternoon after falling about 30 feet from the Sunset Boulevard bridge over Myra Avenue. The death was under investigation as a suicide, authorities said. The Eastsider

Garcetti: President Joe Biden has nominated Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti to become U.S. ambassador to India. It could be several months, however, before the Senate confirms the nomination. Before he became mayor, Garcetti represented City Council District 13, which includes Atwater Village, Echo Park, Silver Lake and other neighborhoods. The Eastsider

Raman Recall: A petition for the recall of Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who represents Los Feliz and a portion of Silver Lake, has been approved for circulation. But now organizers need to collect more than 27,000 signatures in less than four months to put the recall on the ballot. The Eastsider

Fireworks Injuries: The number of people who were treated for fireworks-related injuries by city paramedics rose this year to 36 from 25 last year (East LA is not included in these figures). More than half of those injured this year between July 2-6 needed to be transported for medical treatment. Daily News

Real Estate Monday

Construction has begun on a 76-unit affordable housing complex in Boyle Heights; plans have been filed for a six-story, 17-unit apartment building on Manzanita Street in Silver Lake; and the city has to sell back "Highland Park City Hall" to its owner after failing to comply with eminent domain rules. These and more items in Real Estate Monday.

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Eastside Citizen

Items of interest in this week's public meetings:

Boyle Heights: Plans for park space under the new 6th Street Bridge and an environmental impact report will be discussed during a virtual meeting.

East Hollywood: The Cultural Heritage Commission will decide whether to consider two historic landmark nominations for the former Ozawa Japanese boarding house and the Obayashi Employment Agency on Virgil Avenue. A "yes" vote would start the review process. Items 6 & 7

Echo Park: An Echo Park Lake Cafe is on the agenda of the Recreation & Parks Commission Task Force on Concessions.

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14 People Shot Overnight in Chicago, Including 3 Fatalities

By Talia Soglin and Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas

From Chicago Tribune

CHICAGOChicago police overnight were called to two separate attacks, each of which left three people shot, one fatally, according to authorities.

Those six people, including the two who died, were among a total of 14 people shot in less than 14 hours, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, police said. Three of the 14 people died.

A man was killed and two women were shot not far from the Cook County Jail in Little Village late Saturday, according to police. Officers were called to the 2700 block of West 27th Street at 8:50 p.m. where they found three people had been shot, according to a police media notification.

The 31-year-old man had been walking with a woman, 60, when two unknown individuals exited a vehicle  and fired shots, striking them both, according to the statement. No description of the shooters was available, a police spokesman said Sunday morning.

The woman was shot in the knee and she was taken by ambulance to Stroger Hospital, where she had been listed in good condition, officials said.

The man suffered gunshot wounds to the face and chest. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m. The Cook County medical examiners office had not identified the 31-year-old as of Sunday morning, but preliminary data from the medical examiners office says the victim was located at 2701 S. California Ave., also near the jail but in a different location. A police spokesman said he could not explain the different addresses.

The third person, a 35-year-old woman, suffered a graze wound to her face and she was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition. Police said she had been walking in the area when the shots were fired.

Hours earlier, in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood, three people in their 20s were shot, one fatally, as they stood on the sidewalk in the 1800 block of South Paulina Street around 6 p.m., police said.

A 26-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds to the neck and head and was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:33 p.m., according to medical examiners office data.

The two other people, a man and a woman, both were shot in the shoulder and they were taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

The third person who was killed was shotalong with another man who had been in critical conditionas they stood in the 2100 block of South Oakley Avenue in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood around 3:45 a.m. Sunday, police said.

A 22-year-old man was shot in the chest and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:15 a.m., according to medical examiners office data.

A 25-year-old man was shot in the head and he had been in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital. Both men may have been shot by an occupant of a black sedan, police said, but provided no additional description of the shooter.

In other shootings:

A 40-year-old man was shot in the leg while standing in an alley in the 400 block of South Wabash Avenue in the Loop shortly before 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The gunman fled south on foot, police said. The man shot was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.

Police discovered a man, 54, with a gunshot wound to the head in a gangway in the 2100 block of South Fairfield Avenue in the Little Village neighborhood early Sunday around 3:55 a.m. The man was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. Police said there were no witnesses to the shooting.

A man, 34, was injured in a drive-by shooting while walking in the 100 block of East 115th Street in the Roseland neighborhood around 11:35 p.m. The man was shot in the groin by someone in a dark-colored sedan, police said. He was dropped off at Roseland Community Hospital in fair condition.

In the Lawndale neighborhood, a man was driving in the 4000 block of West 16th Street when a man in a passing black vehicle shot him in the chest around 10:30 p.m., police said. The man then drove himself to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was in fair condition.

At 10 p.m., a 22-year-old man who was walking in the 800 block of East 82nd Street in the East Chatham neighborhood was shot in the stomach by a man who exited a black Chrysler 300. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition, police said.

Also around 10 p.m., a 23-year-old woman was outside on a porch in the 6800 block of South Justine Street in the Englewood neighborhood when shots fired from down the street grazed her arm. Police said the woman was in good condition and refused medical treatment.

2021 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
2 Election Integrity Bills Advance in Texas Legislature, Target People Who Are Trying to Steal Votes

The GOP-controlled Texas Legislature moved closer to passing several voting measures that had prompted Democrat lawmakers in May to stage a walkout.

During a special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott, Republicans over the weekend worked quickly to advance several voting bills during oversight hearings.

On July 11, a state House committee voted to advance a bill that would bring back a number of voting integrity-related proposals that didnt pass during the previous session, which ended May 30. Later that day, Senate lawmakers advanced their version of the voting legislation in a committee vote.

State Sen. Bryan Hughes, the Republican sponsor of one of the bills, said debate over the measure is now bitterly partisan but argued that most of the security measures in Senate Bill 1 [the voting measure] are not aimed at individual voters.

By and large, individual voters are trying to vote. Theyre trying to do the right thing, he said, according to KWTX. We want them to do that. The security measures in this bill, by and large, are directed at vote harvesters or folks who are trying to steal votes.

State Democrat lawmakers again deployed the argument that the legislation is designed to target minority groups with more restrictions, including curbing drive-thru voting and 24-hour balloting, which were used amid the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Republicans have long denied claims that the bills unfairly suppress minorities voting rights.

Were going to make it harder for communities of color, for individuals with disabilities, for individuals where English isnt their primary language, and for seniors to vote and to have access to the ballot box, even though the elections were a resounding success, said state Rep. John Bucy, a Democrat, according to the station. When I think about legislation Im going to file, [I consider] what problem in this state do I want to solve, so Im trying to figure out what problem is this bill trying to solve.

Texas-based activist groups also decried the voting measures that are making their way through the legislature. Some activists and protesters were seen holding signs on July 10 in the state Capitol building.

Republicans said over the weekend that they would attempt to set up a full floor vote to advance the legislation.

If the Texas House and Senate pass the voting bills, theres a very strong likelihood that Abbott, a Republican, would sign them into law. Before the special legislative session was called, Abbott told media outlets last month that hes focused on several items, including voting reform, banning critical race theory, and barring biological males from competing in womens sports.

Even Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives  agree that as it concerns mail-in ballots, that is an area where improving the mail-in ballot system is a way to achieve greater election integrity, the governor told Fox News on July 11. So what Texas is doing is were making it easier to vote by adding more hours in early voting than we have in current law, but also making it harder to cheat with regard to mail-in ballots.
2 Men Die in Homebuilt Aircraft Crash in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore.Two men from Albany, Oregon, were killed when a homebuilt trike aircraft they were in crashed near Millersburg on Friday night.The Linn County Sheriffs Office said the crash happened before 9 p.m. in a field behind Deciduous Avenue. When they arrived on scene they found the pilot, 57-year-old Charles Kizer and his passenger 49-year-old Matthew Irish dead at the scene, KOIN reported.

They were flying in a North Wing Trike, a two-seater, motorized glider-type aircraft. The sheriffs office said there were witnesses of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration has been called to help investigate.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday that it was an unregistered, homebuilt trike aircraft and they were responding to the scene to investigate the crash.

A trike is an ultralight aircraft composed of a robust hang-glider and a powered tricycle.
A blood-soaked sheet sits among evidence markers following a shooting where three people were shot at the Wentworth Gardens housing complex in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago on June 23, 2021. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

40 Shot, 11 Killed in Chicago Weekend Violence

A total of 40 people were shot, 11 of them fatally, across 33 incidents in Chicago over the recent weekend, according to the citys police department.

The shootings took place between July 9 at 6 p.m. and July 11 at 11:59 p.m., police said.

The spate of violence started at 6:21 p.m. on July 9, when a 39-year-old male on a sidewalk in the 11000 block of South Vernon Avenue was shot by a person in a vehicle that pulled up beside him. The victim was rushed to the University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition and later died.

About an hour later, a male victim of unknown age was shot by another person on the sidewalk in the 600 block of West 80th Street. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Also on July 9, a 28-year-old was transported to Christ Hospital after being struck in the left shoulder while driving in the 8000 block of South Marshfield Avenue, and a 59-year-old man was hit by a gunshot while walking on South Blue Island Avenue and taken to a hospital in fair condition.

Five shootings took place before 3:30 a.m. on July 10, including a 33-year-old man hit in the leg by a gunshot who drove himself to Mount Sinai Hospital; a 30-year-old man struck in the abdomen and leg by shots fired from a passing car; and a 36-year-old woman who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the arm while inside her vehicle. All of those victims survived their wounds.

Also on the morning of July 10, a 23-year-old man suffered wounds to his right calf and buttocks on the 7800 block of South Marshfield, after a person approached him and fired shots; a 35-year-old male was struck by a gunshot while in a vehicle on South Homan Avenue and taken to the hospital in serious condition; and a 36-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition when someone came up to him on the sidewalk on West Chicago Avenue and fired shots.

In the early afternoon of July 10, a 31-year-old male shot around the same time on South Merrion Avenue, was pronounced dead; a 26-year-old male took himself to Roseland Hospital in good condition after suffering gunshot wounds to both of his legs; a 40-year-old male was hit after getting into an altercation with a person in an alley in the 6700 block of South Langley Avenue, and later listed in critical condition; and a 37-year-old male was wounded by gunfire when a vehicle pulled alongside his car at the intersection of Harrison and Cicero Avenues.

Shootings continued throughout July 10 and July 11, with multiple people dying from their wounds.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a press conference at the Richardson Middle School in Chicago on June 14, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

No one was taken into custody in connection with any of the shootings, according to police records. The department, which didnt respond to a request for further comment, said that detectives are investigating the crimes.

The office of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The previous weekend, which was capped off by July 4, saw 100 people shot, 18 of whom died.

The weekend violence occurred ahead of President Joe Bidens planned meeting with Chicago Police Chief David Brown and other officials from violence-ridden cities, including New York, according to the White House.

Shootings and murders have skyrocketed in major U.S. cities since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with statistics indicating another jump this year if current trends continue.

Biden, who has taken some executive action to try to combat the crime wave, will discuss his administrations comprehensive strategy to reduce such crimes, the White House stated.

Lightfoot and others have called for more restrictive federal gun laws amid the violence.

Chicago has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country.
A European Union flag held by an activist outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Oct. 23, 2019. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

After G7 Pledge, EU Seeks to Rival Chinas Belt and Road With Own Infrastructure Plan

BRUSSELSEuropean Union foreign ministers agreed on July 12 to launch a global infrastructure plan linking Europe to the world; a next step after deals with India and Japan and a similar pledge by the Group of Seven richest democracies.

Suspicious of Chinese President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative to link Europe to Asia via infrastructure in a bid for greater influence, the EU set out a formal path for an ambitious connectivity plan starting in 2022.

We see China using economic and financial means to increase its political influence everywhere in the world. Its useless moaning about this; we must offer alternatives, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters at a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels.

It is important that the European Union  coordinates them very closely with the United States, he said.

The EU has already signed partnerships with Japan and India to coordinate transport, energy, and digital projects linking Europe and Asia. Both Tokyo and Delhi are worried about Chinese largesse that officials say makes poorer countries beholden to Beijing because theyre forced to take on large debts.

Through development banks, first-loss guarantees to private companies, and by offering Western government know-how, the G7, whose leaders met in England in June, also want to provide more transparency in infrastructure partnerships.

Montenegro, a member of the NATO military alliance and an aspirant to join the EU, is the highest-profile casualty of Chinese debt, Western officials say.

Montenegro borrowed nearly $1 billion from China in 2014 to fund a 25-mile stretch of road, an amount that threatens to bankrupt the country. It is now negotiating with Western banks to swap or refinance the debt, Reuters reported this month.

The EU strategy, called A Globally Connected Europe, makes no mention of China. Luxembourgs veteran Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn cautioned today about making China an adversary, noting that, every year, German carmakers sell more vehicles in China than in Germany.

But one EU diplomat involved in drafting the strategy said the eight-page document had China written all over it.

Since 2013, China has launched construction projects across more than 60 countries, seeking a network of land and sea links with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Beijing denies any intention to project power and has said the infrastructure corridor focuses on the needs of ordinary people.

By Robin Emmott & Sabine Siebold
Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems move through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2021. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)

As China Deploys S-400 Air Defense on Indian Border, India Set to Buy Same Despite Possible US Sanctions

News Analysis

NEW DELHIChina has deployed the Russian S-400 air-defence system in its airbases in Xinjiang and Nyingchi in Tibet. Both these air bases are just across the de facto border with India in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, two Indian territories that China claims. Experts said this deployment is to intercept Indias maneuvers and to keep India under check.

Chinas deployment of the S-400, which is built for intercepting missiles or even aircraft, seems to be geared towards preventing any bold moves by Indiaprobably like New Delhis surgical strike in Balakot [in February 2019] whereby Indian planes briefly entered Pakistani airspace [to attack militant camps], Kashish Parpiani, a fellow at Mumbai based Observers Research Foundation told The Epoch Times over the phone.

Procurement of the S-400 system is liable to American sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that has already been applied against Turkey and China.

Yet, India is determined to proceed with a $5.2 billion deal with Russia of the same, and the deliveries are set to start in September. Experts said Chinas deployment ahead of the procurement of the same sanction-prone defense system by India is also to pressurize India to expedite the procurement, thereby inviting sanctions.

It would thus possibly create enduring friction between India and the United States as it did between Turkey and the United States, which would be in Chinas interest.

But it is credible to assume that the Chinese calculation may be to have India fast-track procurement of S-400 from Russiawhich could in turn only exacerbate tensions in the bilateral dynamic between India and the U.S., said Parpiani whose expertise includes U.S.-India bilateral ties, U.S. grand strategy, and U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific.

S. Chandrashekhar, a former scientist with the Indian Space Research Organization whose work covered all parts of the programsatellites and rockets, as well as the applications of space technology, including especially remote sensing, told The Epoch Times in an email that Chinas deployment of S-400 can also be seen as defensive.

Though of course if you have a good defense you can also launch an attack against a weaker opponentIndia would appear weakerso in a sense, it is a warning to India to back off against any aggressive action it might take at the LAC (Line of Actual Control or the de facto border between India and China), said Chandrashekhar.

Parpiani said that one of the reasons why theres no complete cessation of tensions between India and China since the past two years, particularly since the bloody conflict of Galwan in Ladakh in June 2020 is because both sides are looking to establish an acceptable equilibrium. For India particularly, the motivation is also to not let the LAC become another LOC.

The LOC or the Line of Control is the highly volatile military control line between India and Pakistan and Parpiani meant India wont want the LAC to be militarized the way the LOC is.

While Indias first military team visited Russia in January this year to train on S-400 defense systems, Parpiani said that the Chinese deployment of the same on the Indian border indicates that China wants India to keep its security calculus more northward and continental.

Army basedrather than India expanding its role southward or a southeastward, with a Navy-focused security calculus, he said adding that an India investing its defense resources on its navy would be a big threat to Chinas designs in the Indian ocean.

A rocket launches from an S-400 missile system at the Ashuluk military base in southern Russia on Sept. 22, 2020, during the Caucasus-2020 military drills gathering China, Iran, Pakistan, and Myanmar troops, along with those from ex-Soviet Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)

Geopolitics Around S-400

Satoru Nagao, Ph.D., a non-resident fellow with the Washington DC-based Hudson Institute told The Epoch Times that India has an older version, the S-300, and India wants to upgrade its air defense system to a more capable one.

S-300 is very old now. In 1990, there was the Gulf War. The U.S. used Patriot Missile PAC-2. Indeed Russian version of this PAC-2 is S-300. Now the U.S. has PAC-3 but its a completely different system, said Nagao. The evolution of S-300 and S-400 is completely different, he said, and India owning an older version is no advantage.

S-400 can attack 6 targets at the same time. S-400 has 400 kilometers of range, and it can detect old-type stealth jets. Compare this with S-300 which cant deal with so many targets. S-300 range is 100-150 kilometers, he said.

India needs a surface-to-air missile defense system like S-400 but the United States hasnt prepared one and India decided to buy S-400 from Russia, said Nagao. Russia is currently developing the S-500 which the Chinese are waiting to buy, as per media reports.

S-400 can deal with planes and cruise missiles but their capability to deal with ballistic missiles is limited. PAC-3 is developed against ballistic missiles. If India needs to buy U.S. missile [defense system] instead of S-400, STANDARD missile is proper but very expensive, said Nagao. The United States is suggesting India buy the STANDARD missile, Nagao said, which is anti-ballistic and also has anti-satellite capacity.

This is not a bad idea. But for India, the cost of S-400 is attractive, said Nagao. The S-400 can be mobilized on cars, but STANDARD is bulky and cant be operated on cars, he said.

Chandrashekhar said in the past century the military aircraft and the missile technology targeting them have evolved togetherand when the air attack technology becomes very advanced, the defense also becomes complicated.

So these missile and air defense systems today like the S-400 are mobile, after firing a salvo they move so that they cannot be targeted. Their range have [sic] increased so that they can reach and destroy the target far away, said Chandrashekhar whos currently a visiting professor at Indias National Institute of Advanced Studies.

S-400 is an advanced air and missile defense system that can defend high-value installations, he said.

In a special report titled Indias Purchase of S-400: Understanding the CAATSA Conundrum published on Feb. 25, Parpiani along with Nivedita Kapoor and Angad Singh said theres no alternative to the S-400 that can serve Indias needs.

From the Indian Air Force perspective, there is no alternative system capable of serving its long-range air defense requirements, from the standpoint of either capability or cost. The ability of the S-400 to constrain the adversarys air operations even within their own airspace is unmatched by typical Western systems offered up as analogues, the trio said adding that the low-cost factor also matters because the Indian air force has limited modernization funding.

The concerns of the United States go beyond the CAATSA and Russian arms sales, according to Parpiani, Kapoor, and Singh.

The presence of advanced systems such as the S-400 among U.S. allies will clearly impede certain technology transfers and joint operations, as evidenced by the immediate suspension of F-35 deliveries to NATO ally Turkey, even before sanctions under CAATSA came into force. Turkey has also been removed from the multinational F-35 development and production program, they said.

In the U.S.-India case, where the countries are not formal allies, the S-400 will nevertheless place constraints on some contours of what the U.S. envisions for the future of the U.S.-India defense relationship. 

The S-400 air defense system from Russia is activated for testing at the Turkish Air Forces Murdet Air Base in Ankara, Turkey, on Nov. 25, 2019. (Getty Images)

Will India Get CAATSA Waiver?

Parpiani said till date the United States has not imposed any CAATSA sanctions against India for the procurement of S-400 and theres a strong possibility that India will get a waiver.

As per waiver provisions under Section 231 of CAATSA, if the country in question, chiefly India, Vietnam, or Indonesia, holds high significance in Americas foreign and security policy goals in the Indo-Pacific, a waiver may be granted, said Parpiani.

There is a strong case for India to receive a waiver on account of its significance in the Indo-Pacific calculus and a gradual reduction in Indias import of Russian weapons.

Though President Joe Biden has yet to make a statement on the issue, there are two grounds on which India deserves a CAATSA waiver, according to Parpiani.

First, India has a good record with respect to reducing its dependence on Russian arms. Comparing Indian procurements in the two periods of 2009-2013 and 2013-2017, Indias import of Russian arms has declined. Whereas import of American arms has increased by over five hundred percent, he said.

A waiver for India under CAATSA however will not go well with China because it has been subjected to sanctions for buying the same air defense.

This issue can prove to be a major impediment in India-U.S. defense trade and interoperability if the U.S. imposes sanctions on India, he said.
Audio Engineer Recalls Work With President Reagan

What was it like to meet and work with President Ronald Reagan? Kristian Solem, 66, a California recording/mastering engineer, talked to The Epoch Times about his memories of recording an audiobook for the 40th U.S. president in 1990.

Speaking My Mind was a Simon & Schuster audiobook collection of Reagans major speeches during the course of his political career. Solems job was to sit with the president and record his introductions to each speech, which gave them context. They spent the better part of a day together. The speeches included one at Berlins Brandenburg Gate before the Eastern Bloc collapsed in 1991, a speech after the Challenger disaster, and a speech after the release of Beirut hostage David Jacobsen, the last two having taken place in 1986.

Can you pass a Secret Service background check? was how Solem got the news from Simon & Schuster of his presidential assignment. He had no doubt earned the book publishers trust by previously recording celebrities like Gilda Radner, Ned Beatty, Richard Chamberlain, Leonard Nimoy, and George Takei.

Reagans post-presidency offices were located in a Century City high rise near Beverly Hills. After being searched and escorted by Secret Service agents, Solem was led through an anteroom into an imposing round, windowless room with red walls. On the walls were life-size photographs of Reagan with [former Soviet Union leader Mikhail] Gorbachev, [former UK Prime Minister Margaret] Thatcher, [former French President Francois] Mitterrand and [former Chancellor of Germany Helmut] Kohl. The effect of being surrounded by these images was awe-inspiring, Solem said. Everywhere you turned, they followed you.

Solem was then led into a conference room where he began to set up his recording equipment. A side door opened and men in suits took up positions as Reagan entered the room. A reception line formed.

You look like a young man who spends a lot of time out of doors, the president said when it was Solems turn in line. Solem, an accomplished rock climber at the time, said he loved the mountains. Well, did you hear about those two hikers in Alaska who found themselves between the mother grizzly bear and her cubs? joked Reagan. One of the hikers took off his heavy boots and put on his running shoes. The other said to him, You cant outrun that bear. No, answered the friend, but I can outrun you.'

In addition to Reagans humor, Solem made other discoveries about the former president that were not widely known or publicized. For example, he was an exceptional reader who could record the first chapter of the audiobook, and subsequent chapters, on the first take.

Even the best actors and authors I have worked with rarely get through more than a few paragraphs before stumbling and having to do a pickup, so this was amazing, said Solem.

Reagan was also a skilled writer. When the president encountered a phrase during recording that he said, read well but did not speak well, he was his own rewrite man. He took out a clean sheet of paper and rewrote the offending section. The meaning was unchanged, but the language was much better. I realized then that unlike most politicians, the president had written the chapters himself, Solem said.

Shocked at Media Treatment of the Late President

In 1994, Reagan told the American public in a handwritten letter that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. Solem said he was shocked and offended at how quickly major news outlets spun a narrative that the president had been impaired during his last years in office.

Solem said it was media depictions of the presidents illness that made him reject the liberal politics with which he was raised.

One example of the deprecations was a book written by CBS News Lesley Stahl, Solem said. Stahl wrote in the 2000 memoir that when she encountered the president as a White House correspondent in 1986, Reagan didnt seem to know who I was. He gave me a distant look with those milky eyes and shook my hand weakly. Oh, my, hes gonzo, I thought. I have to go out on the lawn tonight and tell my countrymen that the president of the United States is a doddering space cadet.

Stahl did not limit her remarks to the former presidents cognition but included an additional attack on his physical aging. Reagan was as shriveled as a kumquat. He was so frail, his skin so paper-thin. I could almost see the sunlight through the back of his withered neck, she wrote.

The retroactive bashing of Reagans cognitive abilities was not just gratuitous and mean-spirited, it was flat-out wrong, Solem said. I worked with him, the president, years after the negative characterizations of his performance and he was so alert and sharp it was amazing, said Solem. His charisma was so powerful it filled the room. It was unlike anything I had experienced before. He reached out and grabbed me by my brain.

In 1992, three years before his letter disclosing his Alzheimers diagnosis, two years after I worked with him for a full day and six years after Stahls pronouncements, President Reagan spoke, as a private citizen, at the Republican National Convention. The speech was so remarkable that even the Washington Posts Bob Woodward, not a friend of conservatism or Reagan, called it flawless. Had he miraculously turned back the hands of time, or were the media fabricating his impairments?

An Airline Disaster, Captured on Tape, Raises Questions

On Aug. 31, 1986, Aeromexico Flight 498 from Mexico City to Los Angeles was hit by a private plane and crashed into the LA suburb of Cerritos. Sixty-seven people on the planes and 15 on the ground lost their lives.

Within days, Solem said, reporters opined that the Mexican pilots skill and discipline were the reason behind the tragedy. On the basis of no evidence, so-called journalists speculated that the flight attendants had been in the cockpit distracting the pilots and that there may even been partying. This didnt pass the smell test for me even before the medias treatment of Reagan, but like most air disasters, this vanished from the news cycle before the facts were known. Much of the public was left with the impression that the crash was the fault of an incompetent crew. A Mexican crew.

Three years later, Solem was contacted by an attorney for Aeromexico who was in possession of the cockpit voice recorder tape from Flight 498 which the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had called unplayable.

An NTSB official had issued a statement, soon after the crash, that the tape was damaged irreparably due to the poor condition of the aircrafts recorder; that it was folded and twisted and would not play, and that the damage pre-dated the crash. When Solem saw the tape however, it was clear that this wasnt the case. The tape appeared normal. However, when coming off the reel it broke every so often. A separate problem entirely.

The restoration was successful. Interactions between the air traffic controller and the pilot or co-pilot could be heard, dispelling media charges of distraction or error. More disturbingly, the co-pilot suddenly yelled Ay Cabron! in Spanish and This cant be! in English.

At that same moment, from the mic in the passenger compartment, screams of the terrified passengers could be heard as they rode the upside-down diving aircraft to their deaths. Instantly, it ended. From then on, I kept that track muted. Hearing it once was enough, said Solem.

To verify the accuracy of the tape transcript, two Aeromexico pilots who had flown with the Flight 498 pilots were brought in to audit the tapea traumatic deed for them, said Solem. When the case finally went to court, a jury absolved Aeromexico and found the private plane and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) culpable for the accident.

The coverage of the crash of Aeromexico flight 498 began my deep suspicion of anything I saw or heard from the mainstream news outlets, Solem said. Media coverage of President Reagans Alzheimers diagnosis sealed the deal. People suffered from both examples of misreporting.

Post Sound Engineering

Despite his successful career as a recording/mastering engineer, Solem first love was rock climbing. It was his identity until he was sidelined by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the brain. Today he focuses his time on writing and photography.

Since he first started recording public figures, the music and recording businesses have dramatically changed. The main reason, said Solem, is the introduction of digital distribution. With songs selling for as little as ten cents, record companies do not have the big budgets they once did. Musicians used to give concerts to sell their CDs; now they make recordings to drive their concert revenue.

Solem is writing a book about his life, spectacular rock-climbing career, and special moments like having a chance to record Reagan.
People wait to be register their information before being vaccinated at the Royal Exhibition Building COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Melbourne, Australia on May 28, 2021. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Australia Still Has a Long Journey Before Reaching Herd Immunity: Expert

One of Australias leading medical research institutes specialising in COVID-19 has said the country still has a long way to go before achieving herd immunity.

Modelling (pdf) from the Burnet Institute on the Victorian second wave suggested the vaccination threshold should be around 60-80 percent of the population, assuming the vaccines have 50 percent efficacy at preventing infection.

However, according to statistics from Our World in Data, as of Monday, only around 2.2 million Australians have been fully vaccinated, or 8.8 percent of the nation.

The modelling report concluded that Australia is unlikely to achieve herd immunity due to the publics low confidence in the vaccine and the emergence of new COVID-19 strains, which are increasingly infectious.

Although the federal governments roadmap out of lockdown did not mention herd immunity, it also pointed to the possibility that the country will not open its borders until two-thirds of the population are vaccinated.

Herd immunity, also known as population immunity, occurs when a large portion of a community becomes immune to a disease, either through infection or vaccination, making the virus not spread easily.

According to the World Health Organisation, scientists around the world are still working to find and develop treatments for COVID-19, with research being carried out on Ivermectinwhich costs under $10 a tabletand other drugs that are currently yet to be recommended by the United Nations body for use despite showing promise for use as prophylactics. Meanwhile, Remdesivir, which costs over $4,000 for five days of treatment, has been approved for use as a COVID-19 treatment in the United States.

The Burnet Institute recommended that public health measures such as QR check-ins, social distancing, and wearing masks remain necessary even with high vaccination rates as it is not yet clear the extent to which the emergency use vaccines have been able to prevent transmission.

A nurse administers the AstraZeneca vaccine to a woman at the Sydney West COVID Vaccine Centre on May 7, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Dr. Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist at Griffith Universitys Center for Environment and Population Health, told The Epoch Times that Australia has a long journey to go before reaching the vaccination threshold.

Lets say after we achieve the threshold of 80 percent or 90 percent of the total population fully vaccinated; then we still need to see if the vaccines are protecting people from transmission, Budiman said.

This is something we still need to see in the real world because without vaccine efficacy, theres no such thing of herd immunity.

He estimated it would take around two years to achieve herd immunity and one year to reach the optimal vaccination rate, which is about 200 to 500 vaccine doses per day.

The epidemiologist also noted that getting the vaccines alone will not secure a ticket back to normal life, although it can provide more protection.

Of course, the vaccines themselves do not 100 percent guarantee that you will not be infected and that you wont transmit COVID-19 to others when you got infected, he said.

It means we need public health measures because vaccination is not the sole strategy.

Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are seen at Gold Coast University Hospital in Southport, Australia, on Feb. 22, 2021. (Nigel Hallett-Pool/Getty Images)

However, scientists are questioning whether achieving the herd immunity threshold can spell the end of the virus, considering the complexities and challenges of the pandemic.

Were moving away from the idea that well hit the herd-immunity threshold and then the pandemic will go away for good, epidemiologist Lauren Ancel Meyers, executive director of the University of Texas, told the science journal Nature.

The journal noted that factors such as the spread of new variants, limited efficacy and side effects of the vaccines, lack of data on how long the immunity can last, uneven speed and distribution of vaccine rollout, are believed to be challenging the idea of achievable herd immunity.

Australias confidence in the vaccine has also been dropping due to concerns over the vaccines side effects, such as the rare blood clotting linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine and heart inflammation linked to the Pfizer and Moderna shots.
Former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agent and Giffords Law Center senior policy adviser David Chipman (R) testifies before U.S. House Judiciary Committee during a hearing on assault weapons in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 25, 2019. Chipman is President Joe Bidens nominee to head the ATF. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Biden ATF Nominee Aiming the Wrong Way

Commentary

Over the long July Fourth weekend in Chicago, a city that boasts some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, 100 people were shot, including 18 fatally. Among those injured or killed were two police officers and five children 13 years old or younger.

Its almost certain that overworked and underappreciated Chicago homicide detectives wont close all or even most of these cases.

But the priorities of President Joe Bidens nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) seem not to be aimed at the spiraling murder spree let loose by nationwide riots attacking law enforcement, either in Chicago or in 50 other major U.S. cities.

Indeed, Bidens pick of David Chipman, a senior policy adviser of the gun control group known as Giffords, to lead the ATF suggests that gun controlnot crime-fightingwill be the agencys top priority.

In particular, Chipman appears to be fixated on law-abiding gun owners rifles instead of violent offenders.

As my colleague Aidan Johnston with Gun Owners of America has pointed out, during Chipmans confirmation hearing, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked him, Is a law-abiding gun owner a threat to public safety? Chipman responded that law-abiding gun owners can go on to commit violent crimes. Technically, perhapsbut how many do?

The answer is striking: One peer-reviewed study in Sweden in a refereed journal found that 1 percent of the studied population of 2,393,765 individuals accounted for more than 60 percent of all convictions. Those individuals were more likely to have a personality disorder, violent crime conviction before age 19, drug-related offense, history of nonviolent criminality as well, substance use disorder, and/or a major mental disorder.

So in the context of this study, at least, its these few individualspersistently violent and often mentally unstable criminalswho are the greatest threat to public safety. Law-abiding gun owners keep firearms in part to protect themselves and their families from those criminals. Thats even more true as rioters demand that U.S. cities defund the police, and both parties collaborate to release criminals ever earlier from prison.

Yet Chipman seems to be targeting the guns we use to protect ourselves, not guns in the hands of criminals who use them to attack each otherand us.

And which guns is Chipman aiming at in particular? At the same hearing, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) asked Chipman for his definition of an assault rifle. Chipman highlighted a definition the ATF has used, a semiautomatic rifle capable of accepting a detachable magazine with a round greater than a .22 caliber.

Cotton replied that he was amazed, since that definition would basically cover every single modern sporting rifle in America today.

And remember, even if you banned and confiscated all rifles, youd only be removing the weapon used in less than 10 percent of all murders. In fact, more people are killed by others hands and feet than by rifles. Mass amputation, it turns out, would have a greater effect on the murder rate than a so-called assault weapons ban.

Not to mention the number of lives saved by people using rifles such as the AR-15, Americas most popular rifle. Thats the same firearm, for instance, used by Stephen Williford to confront and stop a mass murderer in Southerland Springs, Texas.

Now, what does Chipman want to do with these firearms? He was pressed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on just this point:

You dont just want to ban the manufacture of those rifles, you dont just want to make it illegal to sell those rifles, but you want to actively have government go after the people who currently possess firearms, and if they dont register and submit to all of the onerous restrictions of the National Firearms Actpresumably, confiscate their weapons?

In response, Chipman doubled down.

I prefer a system where the AR-15 and other assault weapons are regulated under the National Firearms Act.

So the short answer is yes: Chipman wants to confiscate these weaponsunless millions of gun owners subject themselves to the enormous costs, privacy intrusions, and illegal registration of firearms under the NFA.

In laymans terms, Chipman would regulate virtually every single modern sporting rifle in America today in the same manner as machine guns, and this from law-abiding owners who commit almost none of the violent crime increasingly plaguing our country.

Every U.S. senator should ask the question: What would Chipmans unconstitutional gun control do to protect the residents of Chicago, or other violence-plagued cities run by anti-gun elitists?

I believe the answer is: virtually nothing.

The Senate should defeat Chipmans nomination and send a message that Biden should target violent criminals, not law-abiding gun owners.

John Velleco is the executive vice president of Gun Owners of America, a national grassroots lobbying organization with more than 2 million members and supporters.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines Coming to Taiwan, Chinese Agent Says

TAIPEIThe Chinese sales agent for Germanys BioNTech SE said on Sunday it had signed a deal to provide 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan, part of a drawn-out and highly politicized process for the island to access the shots.

Taiwans government has tried for months to buy the vaccine directly from BioNTech and has blamed the Chinese regime for nixing an agreement the two sides were due to sign earlier this year. The Chinese regime denies the accusations.

Last month, facing public pressure about the slow pace of Taiwans inoculation program, the government agreed to allow Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Taiwans Foxconn, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), to negotiate on its behalf for the vaccines, which would be donated to Taiwans government for distribution.

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd, which has a contract with BioNTech to sell the COVID-19 vaccines in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, said in a statement that the shots would be sold to TSMC and Gous charity foundation via Fosuns Hong Kong subsidiary and a Taiwanese medical firm.

Fosun quoted BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin as saying the company was very grateful to be able to also supply the Taiwanese people with vaccine doses manufactured in Europe.

Vaccine Drama

However, both TSMC and Foxconn referred Reuters to their statements earlier on Sunday in which they said they were still in the middle of the contract signing process.

The Fosun statement referred to the Taiwan region, terminology favored by the Chinese regime to assert its sovereignty claims rather than imply the island is a separate country.

The Chinese regime claims the island as its own, despite the fact that Taiwan is a de facto independent country, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution.

There was no immediate response from Taiwans government.

BioNTech, which developed the vaccine jointly with Pfizer, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

TSMC and Foxconn are major Apple suppliers.

The BioNTech vaccine drama has transfixed Taiwan and dominated headlines. A major Taiwanese Buddhist group, the Tzu Chi Foundation, is also trying to buy the shots.

The Chinese communist regime has repeatedly said that if Taiwan wants the vaccine, it has to respect commercial rules and do it through Fosun.

Germanys government has also been involved, saying it has been helping in the direct talks between Taiwan and BioNTech.

Taiwan has millions of vaccines on order, mainly from AstraZeneca and Moderna, while the United States and Japan have together donated almost five million doses to the island to help speed up vaccinations.

Around one-tenth of Taiwans 23.5 million people have received at least one of the two-shot regimen, though Taiwans own relatively small domestic coronavirus outbreak is now largely under control.

By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
FDA to Add Warning About Neurological Disorder Linked to Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

100 reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome have been confirmed so far

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 12 said it will add a warning label to Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine that it is linked to a rare neurological disorder known as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), while J&J confirmed it is in discussions with federal agencies.

The FDA is announcing revisions to the vaccine recipient and vaccination provider fact sheets for the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine to include information pertaining to an observed increased risk of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) following vaccination, an FDA spokesperson told The Epoch Times on July 12.

The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks, the agency said.

That determination was made based on an analysis of Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting (VAERS) data which found there have been 100 preliminary reports following vaccination with the Janssen vaccine after approximately 12.5 million doses administered, the spokesperson said. Of these reports, 95 of them were serious and required hospitalization.

As of now, the FDA noted, although available data suggest there is an association between the J&J vaccine and an increased risk of GBS, this is insufficient to establish a causal relationship.

The spokesperson added that the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines dont present a similar risk.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the CDC told The Epoch Times that the federal health agency is monitoring reports of GBS.

Every year in the United States, an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop GBS, said a CDC spokesperson, adding that it is typically triggered by a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. Most people fully recover from GBS.

According to the CDC, GBS is a neurological disorder in which the bodys immune system damages nerve cells and causes muscle weakness. In some cases, the disorder can cause paralysis, says the Mayo Clinic, which noted that most people with the condition must be hospitalized.

J&J, in a statement on Monday, confirmed it has been in discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulators about rare cases of the neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, that have been reported following vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

The chance of having this occur is very low, the statement added, and the rate of reported cases exceeds the background rate by a small degree.

GBS has been linked as a rare side effect to various vaccines, including one that was developed to combat the swine flu in 1976, according to the UK National Health Services website.

Earlier this year, the CDC and FDA recommended halting usage of the J&J vaccine after reports of blood clots emerged among some individuals who had received it. Weeks later, the two agencies said that the vaccine could again be used, but with an FDA warning.

This pause was essential to our ability to inform the public, inform physicians, and acquire more data for presentation and for analysis, Dr. Jose Romero, chairman of the CDCs Committee of Immunizations, said in April. The vote was 104 in favor of recommending the vaccine to adults who are 18 or older. There was one abstention.

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

J&J hasnt responded to a request for comment by press time.
Chinese Regime Prevents Expats in Indonesia From Returning to China

The Chinese regime is attempting to block expatriates from returning to China following a surge of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

The surge has reportedly been caused by the Delta variant that originated in India. Many people in Indonesia have been inoculated with Chinese-made vaccines, but have still become infected with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19.

After the Indonesian government announced more stringent pandemic-related restrictions, the Chinese Embassy in the country tightened its rules to prevent Chinese expats from returning to their native country. A large number of flights to China have been canceled, leaving more Chinese citizens stranded in the COVID-19-stricken country.

One Chinese man, who was in Indonesia for business, has revealed the difficulty of his journey back to China.

Zhang Liang (a pseudonym), the director of an electrical appliance company in Foshan, Guangdong Province, told the Chinese Epoch Times that he went to Indonesia on June 12 for a three-day business trip. However, he was sent to a five-day quarantine in a hotel right after he got off the plane in Indonesia. He rebooked his return flight to China for June 22 to Nanning, in Guangxi Province.

According to Zhang, its now required that two days before returning to China, people have to go to two hospitals designated by the airline for double virus testing. If the results meet requirements, they are then required to upload them to the Chinese Embassys website and submit various required information to obtain a green health QR code before boarding a flight to China.

Zhang was tested on June 20 and uploaded the results, applying for a green health code on June 21.

Despite me submitting all the materials, I still received a red code, meaning that I could not return to China, Zhang said.

On June 22, Zhang called the Chinese Embassy and got a response telling him that he must be quarantined in Indonesia for 14 days before he could return to China. He had to change his flight ticket to June 29.

On June 27, he did the double testing again and received qualified results on June 28. However, when he applied for the green health code, he still got a red code. The reason given to him by the embassy was that he should be retested a week later.

China has canceled flights from Indonesia to China.

On June 27, they canceled three flights. As a result, more than 100 Chinese people were stranded at the airport that day. They were all miserable. The cancellation was so sudden. I was panicked at the time, Zhang said.

Zhang called the Chinese Embassy again, asking why he couldnt return to China. The answer provided by the embassy was that due to the COVID-19 surge in Indonesia, the embassy had tightened the policy for Chinese expats to return.

The check-in hall at the newly opened terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, early on Aug. 9, 2016. (Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images)

Out of caution, Zhang rebooked on two flights: one for Nanning on July 6 and the other for Fuzhou on July 8if one of the flights was canceled, he could still get on the other one. He was able to board the July 6 flight and is currently in a 21-day quarantine at a hotel in Nanning.

Zhang said that after returning to Foshan from Nanning, he will have to undergo isolation at home for seven days. It will be August when he can return to work normally. It will be two months from the start of the three-day business trip before he will be able to return to normal life. The flight bookings and quarantines cost him 46,000 yuan ($7,600). Luckily for him, it was paid for by his company, he said.

Zhang also revealed that the flight he took on July 6 turned out to be the last one allowed into China. From July 8, all flights into the country have been temporarily halted. Its unknown when theyll resume.

The Chinese people stranded over there have little hope to come back home, he said.

Despite the CCP virus originating in Wuhan, China, the communist regime has attempted to shift the blame for the outbreak, now blaming travelers for bringing variants of the virus into China.

During the outbreak in Wuhan last year and in India in late April, other countries were attempting to help their citizens return home. By contrast, China took measures to prevent Chinese expats and students studying abroad from returning to China.

Chinese citizens check in to their Air China flight to Beijing, at Los Angeles International Airport, on Feb. 2, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chinese Embassy in the United States has published the CCPs policy and a lengthy article to explain it on its official website in Chinese, calling on Chinese people currently overseas to not go back to China.

Do not travel unless essential or urgent, the article says.

Chinese expats were also encouraged to build a steel great wall to prevent foreign import and domestic resurgence of COVID-19. The website also directed expats to think for the greater good for the country instead of personal well-being on the website.

So far, Chinese vaccines havent been approved for use by the United States or the European Union, and are also excluded from the EUs digital vaccination pass program. The regime has announced retaliatory measures, denying entry to travelers who havent been inoculated with Chinese vaccines and not recognizing vaccination with non-Chinese vaccines. The measures have prevented the return of many overseas Chinese citizens.

Gu Xiaohua and Li Jing contributed to the report.
Lin Wood (L) speaks at a press conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2021. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images) Lawyer Sidney Powell (R) speaks at a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington on Nov. 19, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Court Mulls Whether to Sanction Sidney Powell, Lin Wood

A federal judge on July 12 heard arguments for and against sanctioning lawyers in an election case, including Sidney Powell and Lin Wood.

U.S. District Judge Linda Parker, an Obama nominee, was asked to sanction lawyers in King et al. v. Whitmer et al., with defendants charging that plaintiffs attorneys failed to dismiss their case when it became moot and that counsel should have known that the claims were frivolous but pursued them nonetheless.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, both Democrats, are the defendants in the case, in which plaintiffs alleged massive election fraud and multiple violations of state and federal law in the 2020 election.

In a contentious six-hour hearing, the judge and lawyers continually cut each other off and protested loudly about whether the attorneys should be sanctioned.

Parker read portions from affidavits filed in the case by experts such as Russell Ramsland Jr., whose firm examined voting machines in Antrim County, Michigan, where election officials falsely reported that Democrat Joe Biden received thousands of votes more than Republican Donald Trump before twice correcting the skewed results. Parker repeatedly expressed concern that lawyers didnt meet their duty to conduct minimal vetting of expert affidavits.

There is a responsibility, there is a duty that counsel has to make sure that when youre submitting an affidavit, a sworn statement  that you have reviewed it, that you have done some minimal due diligence, she said.

The attorneys, as well as their representative, Donald Campbell, said they reviewed many of the filings before they were filed, speaking with most of the experts, and asked the judge multiple times to hold an evidentiary hearing at which the experts could answer questions.

Parker rejected those requests and said she was focused on examining actions by counsel. She wondered why lawyers waited until after the presidential count was certified to bring the case, which sought decertification of the results and an order to impound all voting machines and software in the state for expert inspection.

Lawyers said they had to wait until certain actions unfolded, including certification, to file the case. It was filed two days after the Nov. 23, 2020, certification.

Howard Kleinhendler, one of the lawyers, said hed spoken to Ramsland multiple times before the affidavit was submitted and asked the expert whether he was sure the filing was correct before it was lodged.

David Fink, representing the city of Detroit, an intervening defendant, called for sanctions and hoped the attorneys would be barred from practicing in the Eastern District of Michigan.

These lawyers should be punished for their behavior, he said.

Powell spoke last, asserting that the hearing itself was unusual and reflective of how election integrity cases have gone in the wake of the 2020 contest.

The very fact that we attached 960 pages of affidavits reflect how seriously we took this matter, she said. This is one of the proceedings that leaves the American public with no confidence in the judicial system.

Wood said he didnt expressly give permission to place his name on the suit and that he wasnt aware of the case until after it was filed, though he had told Powell he was available to be counsel on cases if he was needed. Powell said that the filings were the responsibility of her and Kleinhendler. She and other lawyers said they stood by the affidavits and the suit, which was dismissed.

Parker said she would make her decision on another day, asking some of the lawyers to file briefs further outlining their arguments.

Parker dismissed the suit in December 2020. An appeals court and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn the ruling.
U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell at the Federal Defense Ministry in Berlin, Germany, on Nov. 8, 2019. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

CPAC: Richard Grenell Urges Federal Action Over Alleged Unmasking of Tucker Carlson

Former Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Richard Grenell on July 10 said federal action should be taken against the individual or individuals who allegedly unmasked the identity of Fox News host Tucker Carlson to the National Security Agency (NSA).

Speaking on Saturday at a Conservative Political Action Conferences (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, Grenell said two violations were potentially committed, based on the claims from Fox News host Carlson.

Carlson claimed Wednesday during his popular cable television show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, that his identity was unmasked by the NSA, which conducts surveillance on foreign targets, after he attempted to schedule an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said he only told his executive producer about the plans because he figured that any kind of publicity would rattle the Russians, and make the interview less likely to happen.

The television host claimed that he was informed by a whistleblower that the NSA intended to leak his emails to media outlets in an attempt to paint me as a disloyal American, a Russian operative (Ive been called that before), a stooge of the Kremlin, a traitor doing the bidding of a foreign adversary.

Read each sentence carefully. https://t.co/B3EzYj14PH  Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) June 30, 2021

There is a process, Grenell said on Saturday of the allegations. Somebody asked who this U.S. person was. And they went through the process of unmasking, and then somebody came in and said to this person  its Tucker Carlson from Fox News. That should have never been shared with anybody.

There are two violations there, Grenell said. And somebody should lose their security clearance, and possibly be prosecuted.

In the course of monitoring communications with foreign officials, the conversations of U.S. citizens are at times incidentally collected by intelligence agencies. The identity of these people is usually redacted in transcripts or intelligence reports if theyre not the subject of surveillance. Unmasking refers to the process of revealing the name of the U.S. citizen.

By law, I should have been identified internally merely as a U.S. journalist, American journalist. Thats the law, Carlson said. But thats not how I was identified. I was identified by name. I was unmasked. People in the building learned who I was.

Grenell said that if the allegations are true, the individual could face federal prosecution.

The NSA denied that it had been spying on Carlson in an attempt to take this show off the air, after the cable television host initially on June 28 accused the agency of having monitored his electronic communications and accessing some of his personal emails.

Tucker Carlson has never been an intelligence target of the Agency and the NSA has never had any plans to try to take his program off the air, the NSA said in a statement.

NSA has a foreign intelligence mission. We target foreign powers to generate insights on foreign activities that could harm the United States, the agency added. With limited exceptions (e.g. an emergency), NSA may not target a U.S. citizen without a court order that explicitly authorizes the targeting.

Carlson on Wednesday demanded that NSA Director Gen. Paul Nakasone and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines immediately explain who asked for his identity to be unmasked.

The NSA has declined to comment on Carlsons latest remarks.

Russias foreign affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has described the ordeal as a very strange story and an example of Russia being portrayed in a negative light by the United States.

Allegedly, Tucker Carlson wanted to interview the President of Russia and therefore came to the attention of the special services, she said in a post on her Telegram social media channel.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, has requested a probe into Carlsons allegations, Axios reported.
Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter Inc., testifies at a hearing to examine foreign influence operations' use of social media platforms before the Intelligence Committee at the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 5, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Critics Accuse Twitter of Minimizing Cuban Protests in Trending Section

Twitters moderators were accused of minimizing the impact of the thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets against the Cuban communist regime over the weekend.

People are helping to spread awareness on the impact of COVID-19 in Cuba as cases hit an all-time high in the country, Twitter said as a description of the protests on Sunday night and Monday morning.

Several Republican leaders accused Twitter of attempting to mischaracterize the protests as being about COVID-19 rather than them being against the communist regime, highlighting videos of Cuban demonstrators holding American flags, chanting freedom, and calling for the end of the regime and its leader Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is also head of the Cuban Communist Party.

Thousands took to the streets in various parts of Havana and other cities and shouted Diaz-Canel step down and shouted repressors at security forces who were deployed.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Twitters description is not unexpected.

Surreal but not surprising, Rubio wrote on the platform. Twitter, he added, says this is all about COVID awareness in #Cuba. Ignores this is really about how socialism is a disaster & always leads to tyranny, despair and suffering.

Protests in #Cuba arent simply about shortages,' the senator added. Socialism promises guaranteed food, medicine & income if you give up your freedom When, as always, it fails to deliver you dont get your freedom back Thats why the protestors are chanting Libertad.'

Human Rights Watchs Jose Miguel Vivanco told the Washington Post that the protests are pretty massive and likely encompass a number of issues.

My sense is that this is a combination of social unrest based on a lack of freedoms, and COVID, and economic conditions. The lack of access to electricity. The blackouts.  People are screaming for freedom, he told the paper.

It comes as Cubas economy contracted 10.9 percent last year, and 2 percent through June of 2021. The resulting cash crunch has spawned shortages that have forced Cubans to queue for hours for basic goods throughout the pandemic.

On Monday morning, Diaz-Canel said the protesters were vulgar criminals who he claimed had attacked police and looted stores. A day before that, he called on all the revolutionaries in the country, all the Communists, to hit the streets wherever there is an effort to produce these provocations.

Some witnesses said that on Sunday in central Havana, pro-regime groups and police officers clashed with the anti-government demonstrators.

Thats when things got tense and violent, Noel Alonso Ginoris, 26, told the Post. I saw one man very close to me, an older man in a blue pullover. They threw him to the ground, tied his hands and arrested him because he shouted Freedom,' he added.

The Epoch Times has contacted Twitter for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.
DeSantis: Disrespected Police Officers Can Relocate to Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on July 12 that police officers from around the United States are welcome to relocate to Florida for a better workplace culture if they feel disenchanted.

I do think you will see; I think youve already seen. But there are people in these police departments in various other parts of the country who, if they can get a job in Florida, they want to come to Florida to be able to do it, he said, according to local media. Because the culture is better, and they understand theyre going to be supported much more resolutely [in] what they do.

DeSantis referenced rampant anti-police protests last year following the death of George Floyd, arguing that the lack of support for law enforcement has caused crime rates to spike. Some city governments moved to cut funding to their police departments in the face of left-wing calls to defund the police.

Some cities such as Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Portland, Oregon, cut police funding in the wake of the demonstrations and riotsalthough some municipalities recently have begun to pledge additional funding to departments.

Make no mistake: the reason that you have such huge spikes in crime in many parts of the country is because of not standing up for law enforcement, having weak policies where youre letting people out, and youre not prosecuting people who are committing habitual offenses, the Republican governor said. That is clearly causing disastrous consequences.

Thousands of people take part in a demonstration to defund the police in support of Black Lives Matter in Toronto, on June 19, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

The governors comments come amid a wave of retirements and resignations in police and sheriffs departments across the United States. Recruitment is also down across departments.

An analysis by The Epoch Times last month revealed that the top three police departments in the countryNew York City, Los Angeles, and Chicagohave lost thousands of officers since 2019. Other cities have seen significant declines in their law enforcement ranks.

Over the past two years, the LAPD has lost about 600 officers, which reportedly has been blamed on a government hiring freeze implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the City Councils move to cut the departments budget by about $150 million amid defund the police calls.

In Chicago, 646 officers resigned or retired in 2020, while as of April 30, 330 have left the department, the analysis shows.

New York hasnt fared much better, either, with retirements spiking to 2,600 last year from 1,509 in 2019, an NYPD spokesperson said. An additional 350 NYPD officers have exited this year, as of May 15.
People take part in a demonstration against the regime of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on July 11, 2021. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Down With Dictatorship: Thousands of Cubans Demonstrate Against Communist Regime

The regime is shutting off the internet, says Florida Congresswoman

Thousands of Cubans took to the streets on Sunday in a number of cities to protest against human rights abuses, a lack of freedom, and a worsening economic situation in the communist-ruled country.

Videos uploaded to social media appear to show demonstrations in a number of towns and cities, including the capital, Havana, on Sunday. Protesters, chanting in Spanish, said they werent afraid of the regime led by Miguel Diaz Canel, and said they wanted access to COVID-19 vaccines and an end to the regime.

It comes amid reports of gas, electricity, and vaccine shortages across the Caribbean island nation. Some analysts noted online that Sundays demonstrations are the first time that so many had protested the government since the Maleconazo uprising in 1994, which prompted a number of Cubans to leave the country by boat to the U.S.

Shouts of down with the dictatorship, freedom, and homeland and life were also heard during the demonstrations, according to footage uploaded online.

During different live broadcasts across Facebook, thousands of people can be seen marching through the streets of cities like San Antonio de los Banos, Guira de Melena, and Alquizar, reported South Floridas WTVJ-TV.

Spontaneous street protests breaking out in several cities in #Cuba right now with chants of #NoTenemosMiedo (We Are Not Afraid) Frustration with the dictatorships incompetence,greed & repression is mounting rapidly pic.twitter.com/eSAr8Xrxpf  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 11, 2021

I just walked through town looking to buy some food and there were lots of people there, some with signs, protesting, local resident Claris Ramirez said by phone. They are protesting blackouts, that there is no medicine, she added, reported the Reuters news agency.

In response to the demonstrations, Diaz-Canel echoed an often-repeated claim by other Marxist governments and blamed the protests on a foreign smear campaign initiated by the United States.

The order of combat is given, the revolutionaries take to the streets, he said on a state-run radio and television network, apparently ordering his security forces to disperse the demonstrators.

A policeman stands while watching police cars overturned in the street in the framework of a demonstration against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on July 11, 2021. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is of Cuban descent, chronicled the protests on Twitter.

Spontaneous street protests breaking out in several cities in #Cuba right now with chants of #NoTenemosMiedo (We Are Not Afraid), he wrote in a tweet. Frustration with the dictatorships incompetence,greed & repression is mounting rapidly.

Here come the Communist repression squads in #Cuba Still largely being ignored so far by US corporate media outlets. pic.twitter.com/ldprYCmk46  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 11, 2021

The Senator also appeared to take note of security forces that were deployed.

Here come the Communist repression squads in #Cuba  Still largely being ignored so far by US corporate media outlets, Rubio wrote.

Florida Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, the daughter of Cuban exiles, said that Diaz-Canels regime is now shutting off internet on the island.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, also the son of Cuban exiles, whose city has a significant Cuban diaspora, called for an American-led intervention.

Cubans are worthy and ready to rule themselves without tyranny, Suarez said during a press conference. It can end today and it must end today. The implications of this moment can mean freedom for millions of people in the hemisphere, from Nicaraguans and Venezuelans and so many more.
Dying Man Holds Hands With Wife of 60 Years for the Last Time: Ill Love You Forever

A terminally ill man had his dying wish granted when paramedics overheard him talking about his beloved wife of 60 years. The pair had been separated by sickness for almost two months as his wife was undergoing treatment in a nearby care home.

Paramedics made an on-the-spot decision to take a detour while returning from the hospital, allowing the elderly Aussie to hold his wifes hand one last time.

Cancer patient Danny Rowland was being driven by three paramedicsAllan, Samantha, and Joshuato his Torbanlea home in the Fraser Coast region of Queensland after hed been hospitalized because his medical equipment at home had some complications. Suspecting that the end was near, Danny spoke of his wife, Shirley, to their son Ricky in the back of the ambulance, 7 News reported.

Facing the end of his battle with cancer, a courageous Danny took solace in the fact he was leaving on his terms; in his own Torbanlea home and surrounded by family, the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) shared on Facebook. There was one piece missing, however  Shirley.

The QAS said the stoic patient had already accepted that a conversation months ago may have been his last chance to speak to his partner of six decades. But for Allan, Samantha, and Joshua, this simply wouldnt do.

Shirleys care home was only a short detour from their route to Torbanlea; thus the paramedics sought permission to make a quick stop. Wheeling Shirleys bed to the entrance of the care home to rest beside her husbands, staffers allowed Danny and Shirley a few precious moments together.

They took photos of the couple, hand in hand. Danny then passed away at home days later with his dying wish fulfilled.

I really think Dad was hanging in to say that last goodbye to Mum, Ricky told 7 News, adding that his fathers last words to his soulmate were, Oh well Shirl, Ill see you later on. And if I dont, just know that Ill love you forever.

Queensland couple Danny and Shirley Rowland, married for six decades, were reunited before Dannys death. (Courtesy of Queensland Ambulance Service)

The moving story was shared on Facebook and has since garnered 15,000 reactions, amassing heartfelt comments along the way. Many netizens celebrated the enduring love between Danny and Shirley whilst many others praised the paramedics for having the heart to reunite them one last time.

One commenter hailed the paramedics as superheroes, adding, Thank you for being so human to this elderly gentleman and his wife.

What a beautiful act of kindness and compassion! added another. You went well beyond your duties.

On July 5, Ricky and his sister, Karen Bellert, paid a visit to the paramedics at the Maryborough ambulance station to say thanks. The whole family is just so grateful, said Ricky. It meant the world to them to have that one last moment together.

QAS wrote, A missing piece put into place thanks to an act of compassion, patience and humanity.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Muslim Brotherhood's senior member Mohamed El-Beltagi sits behind the bars during a court session in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 2, 2018. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo/Reuters)

Egypt Upholds Death Sentence for 12 Senior Muslim Brotherhood Figures

CAIROEgypts highest civilian court on Monday upheld death sentences for 12 senior Muslim Brotherhood figures over a 2013 sit-in which ended with security forces killing hundreds of protesters, judicial sources said.

The ruling, which cannot be appealed, means the 12 men could face execution pending approval by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. They include Abdul Rahman Al-Bar, commonly described as the groups mufti or top religious scholar, Mohamed El-Beltagi, a former member of parliament, and Osama Yassin, a former minister.

Many Muslim Brotherhood figures have been sentenced to death in other cases related to the unrest that followed the militarys ousting of Brotherhood president Mohamed Mursi in 2013, but the Court of Cassation ordered retrials.

Protesters against the Muslim Brotherhood (F) throw rocks towards supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Nasr City district in Cairo, Egypt, on Nov. 22, 2013. (El-Shorouk newspaper/Sabry Khaled/AP Photo)

Mondays ruling relates to a mass trial of hundreds of suspects accused of murder and incitement of violence during pro-Brotherhood protests at Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo in the weeks after Mursis overthrow.

In September 2018, an Egyptian criminal court sentenced 75 people to death and issued varying jail terms for more than 600 others. Many defendants were tried in absentia.

Forty-four of those sentenced to death appealed to the Court of Cassation. Thirty-one had their sentences changed to life in prison, while death sentences were upheld for 12 others.

A final defendant, the senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam el-Erian, died in prison in Cairo in August 2020. Mursi died in prison in 2019.

The court also upheld jail terms for many other defendants including a life sentence for Mohamed Badie, leader of the outlawed Brotherhood, and a 10-year jail term for Mursis son Osama, the judicial sources said.

By Haitham Ahmed
FBI Tells Americans to Report Family Members and Peers in Tweet, Gets Blowback

The FBI is receiving criticism for a tweet it posted on July 11 that suggests Americans should monitor family members and peers for signs of mobilization to violence and report suspicious behaviors in an effort to prevent extremist activities.

Family members and peers are often best positioned to witness signs of mobilization to violence. Help prevent homegrown violent extremism. Visit https://go.usa.gov/x6mjf to learn how to spot suspicious behaviors and report them to the #FBI, the tweet read. It also included two photos of an individual highlighted in red accessing a computer.

Within the tweet is a link to a government booklet (pdf) written in 2015 regarding signs that someone might be considering violence, but the publication mainly pertains to Islamist terrorist organizations including ISIS and al-Qaeda.

It is important to consider the totality of circumstances when observing potential indicators, as some factors may increase the risk of extremist violence in a given situation, the booklet says, adding that some factors include an individual who has an inability to cope with changes or perceived failures in relationships, school, or career.

A history of violence (e.g., domestic violence or violence toward animals) and unstable mental state; social isolation or inability to join with or relate to others; and a possession of, access to, or familiarity with weapons or explosives should be flagged, the FBI wrote.

Certainly, behaviors exist and are noted in this booklet that would be troubling regardless of ideological motivation and may warrant contacting law enforcement. However, this booklet is focused on individuals or groups that are inspired or enabled by foreign terrorist organizations, including but not limited to ISIS, al-Qaida, and their affiliates and allies, the document said.

Richard Grenell, a former acting director of national intelligence, wrote that the FBIs tweet is outrageous because the agency has a growing credibility problem and this type of sinister snitching is clearly unhelpful. Several Republican lawmakers also criticized the tweet, saying the FBI is encouraging Americans family members to spy on one another.

In both Cuba & China, they also ask children to spy on their parents, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wrote.

Rep. Dan Bishop (R-Texas) wrote: These people protected Hillary, abused NSA surveillance databases against Americans, used known, unreliable DNC-funded propaganda to spy on Trump, perpetuated the Russia hoax, & lied to the FISC repeatedly. And now they tell you that you should spy on your family.

Its not clear if the FBI posted the tweet in reference to the Biden administrations campaign against domestic violent extremists or the longstanding intelligence operations against Islamist terror groups. Officials at the agency didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment by press time.
Federal Financial Assistance Expected to Aid Struggling NSW Businesses

The Australian federal government is preparing to expand its financial support measures for New South Wales (NSW) as COVID-19 cases in Sydney reached over 100 today.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg discussed how to broaden the federal governments financial assistance with their NSW counterparts in a call over the weekend after small businesses in Sydney go back to providing limited services without the safety net of JobKeeper that was available during the previous lockdown in NSW.

Frydenberg has previously ruled out bringing back JobKeeper as an option after he rejected NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottets letter requesting the reinstatement of the wage subsidy.

The two levels of government had previously agreed to a deal where the federal government would provide financial assistance to individuals, while the state would support businesses.

A food delivery worker rides in the central business district of Sydney as Australias largest city, entered a two-week lockdown to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant on June 26, 2021. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

However, as the daily case numbers continue to climb, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has admitted that the latest one-week extension of lockdowns is likely to be extended again, adding more stress to business owners.

I dont think it is helpful talking about scenarios at this stage but  it is not likely, in fact, almost impossible, for us to get out of lockdown on Friday, Berejiklian told reporters on Monday. But we will be able to provide you further information as soon as that comes to hand.

Perrottet said the state government would spend $1.4 billion to aid small businesses who are struggling under lockdown, then added that the government would need to do more in the face of a longer lockdown period.

We are currently working on another package to complement what weve already put there and continue constructive discussions with the Commonwealth government about any support that they might be able to offer our businesses, Perrottet told Sky News Australia on Sunday.

The Commonwealth is expected to announce an assistance scheme for NSW businesses and individuals after the Expenditure Review Committee discuss the issue on Monday. The result will likely be an assistance scheme on a nation-wide scale rather than one targeted for Sydney.

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) is calling for very clear indications and guidance from the government, emphasising that confusing messages were not being helpful.

Lets face it, small businesses are wearing the financial burden of this [lockdown], COSBOA interim CEO Alexi Boyd told ABC radio. Its never pleasant to let people go or tell people theyre not going to be able to work. So all of this is just a compounding effect for the stress.
Frederick Douglass Versus the 1619 Project

Commentary

How amusing it is to see the advocates of critical race theory (CRT) and the 1619 Project vehemently deny that their philosophy is even being taught in elementary and secondary schools. Most recently, teachers union president Randi Weingarten insisted that CRT is merely a subject of discussion in law schools and the legal community, not in the public school system.

Hogwash! Parents wouldnt be mobilizing against CRT if they didnt witness its divisive propaganda being dumped on their children. Ironically, we have the COVID lockdowns to thank for this. Ordinarily, parents arent exposed to what their children are being taught in school. But with online instruction, they can pop into their kids room and go, Theyre teaching him WHAT?

If CRT and its ideological cousin the 1619 Project really arent being taught in schools, why would the teachers unions and the left worry about them being banned by state legislators? That would be like states banning unicorns. This is absolutely no problem, since there are no unicorns. Of course, the reason the unions and the left are up in arms is because CRT and the 1619 Project are being widely taught, and the state laws would curb these forms of indoctrination.

Taking a somewhat different approach, Gillian Brockell wrote a recent article in The Washington Post implying that CRT and the 1619 Project represent the very mainstream of American history, and that the great abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass would have been on board with their core premises. Frederick Douglass had nothing but scorn for July Fourth, her headline reads. The Black abolitionist spoke for the enslaved.

The article, however, like CRT and the 1619 Project, tells only half of the story. Lets follow its narrative in some detail. Brockell recalls Douglasss famous July 4 address (pdf), delivered in Rochester, New York, to the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society. The first part of the speech does indeed support Brockells account, because Douglass gives a savage indictment of how American independence looks to a black man.

This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine, Douglass says. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me by asking me to speak today? Douglass here is not speaking for himself. After all, he had escaped slavery in Maryland 14 years earlier. He was not a man in fetters. Douglass, however, was speaking from the point of view of the slave, his former self.

What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? Douglass continues. I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all the other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety and hypocrisya thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.

Already one can see Douglasss speech as a masterpiece of rhetoric, each phrase building on the previous one, almost like a wave gathering force before crashing down on the audience. Yet as the speech moves on, Douglass makes a sharp and surprising turn. Far from denouncing the Fourth of July, far from scorning the Declaration of Independence as a charter of hypocrisy, far from blaming the Constitution for making an unholy pact with slaverythis is precisely what the critical race theorists do todayDouglass roundly affirms the founding as a glorious liberty document that launched forces in operation that must inevitably work the downfall of slavery.

Brockell has read Douglasss speech. She knows about this turn in Douglasss rhetoric. But she downplays it, quoting only a small part and suppressing the rest, and presenting even this tidbit as a sort of postscript, rather than the central point which Douglass was making. Why? Because the tidbit and its larger context completely undercuts her argument. Lets probe deeper into what Douglass said.

Douglass argued in the tradition of Abraham Lincoln, who famously argued that in affirming the equality clause of the Declaration of Independence, the founders meant simply to declare the right, so that the enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit. Lincoln and Douglass were both instruments of that enforcement. They helped realize the principles of 1776 and 1789.

Douglasss pointand Lincolns toois that there are two traditions in America: a tradition of enslavement and oppression, but also a tradition of emancipation and freedom. Both men regarded the Declaration of Independence and even the Constitution as part of the latter tradition. They also identified the Democratic Party with oppression and the Republican Party with freedom. Heres a later remark by Douglass: The Republican Party is the ship; all else is the sea.

By contrast, CRT holds that theres a single tradition, only enslavement and oppression, no genuine emancipation or freedom. Thats why the 1619 Project says virtually nothing about Douglass, and even Martin Luther King Jr. is barely mentioned. Its credo is that racism is built into the DNA of America not just from the founding but also from the countrys very beginning in 1619. So the deceit of the 1619 Project and CRT is that both exaggerate one tradition, conceal its association with the Democratic Party, and suppress the emancipation tradition and its inevitable association with the Republican Party.

Douglass ended his speech on a patriotic note that vividly contrasts with the way he began, and shows why he had no problem, in the end, with celebrating the Fourth of July and what it represented. Of the Constitution, Douglass later said, Abolish slavery tomorrow, and not a sentence or syllable of the Constitution needs to be altered. Thats because the document gives no support, no sanction, to slavery.

Douglass of course knew that the founders who approved the Constitution allowed slavery to continue beyond 1789, but his argument is that this compromise was necessary to get a unionthe very union that would have the power to bring about the end of slavery. Slavery, Douglass concluded, is merely the scaffolding to the magnificent structure, to be removed as soon as the building was completed. Indeed, the founders delivered the deadliest blow upon slavery that could be practically given at a particular time.

Dinesh DSouza is an author, filmmaker, and daily host of the Dinesh DSouza podcast.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor visits the Barker Inlet Power Station in Adelaide, Australia, on Nov. 4, 2019. (AAP Image/Kelly Barnes)

Future Success of Australian Workforce at Risk From New Maths Curriculum: Minerals Council

The Australian mining industry is concerned that the newly proposed curriculum poses a risk to the prosperity and future success of the workforce.

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) is calling on the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to strengthen the curriculum of STEM subjects.

The minerals industry needs the best and brightest students with a broad and deep understanding of the world around them to achieve more sustainable and socially valuable outcomes, said MCA CEO Tania Constable. Supporting continued success and growth requires a fit for purpose and contemporary national curriculum to support future operational, technical, and professional careers.

Constable says the draft curriculum changes are poorly considered and only serve to weaken the national education criteria.

She also raises concerns about the existing skills shortages in the industry and the need to grow the future workforce.

As Australia recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the skills and training needs of both the industry and the future minerals workforce will require close attention, including retraining, and reskilling entrants from other industries affected by COVID-19, Constable said.

ACARAs draft for early learning in maths places a greater emphasis on problem-solving and less on rote learning.

New Curriculum Dealt Another Blow As Peak Body Withdraws Support

In April, five of Australias education bodies for STEM learning, including the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI), signed a joint statement Why Maths Must Change (pdf), which endorsed the direction of the new curriculum.

Instead, the abilities to problem-solve, mathematise, hypothesise, model are all skills that add worth to acquired knowledge, the statement reads. Mathematics learning cannot sit in silos that focus on content and procedures. Instead, it must be something that gives the knowledge purpose.

However, on Thursday, AMSI withdrew their support for the draft and instead voiced its numerous concerns about the changes.

While some AMSI members welcomed a stronger emphasis on problem-solving and inquiry, there was considerable concern that this emphasis comes at the expense of mastery and fluency, AMSI Director Professor Tim Marchant said. Mastery of mathematical approaches is needed before student problem solving can be effective.

In its submission, AMSI said it did not support several changes where the teaching of key mathematical concepts had been delayed or removed.

These changes include pushing back the teaching of how to tell the time from year 1 to year 2, learning to solve linear equations from year 7 to year 8, and the removal of solving linear equations with algebraic fractions in year 10 because it was not essential.

Our expectations for Australian students in the 2020s should not be lower than what was being achieved by the cohort of maths students from 20 years ago, the AMSI submission said, referring to the fact that the performance of students in the PISA exam has declined by 33 percentaround one year of schoolingsince 2003.
Haitian Police Arrest US-Based Doctor as Assassination Suspect

A Haitian-born doctor based in Florida, who is believed to be a central suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, was arrested on July 11.

Moise was killed early on July 7 during an overnight attack at his home in Port-au-Prince.

National Police Chief Leon Charles announced the arrest of Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a 63-year-old doctor, during a press briefing on July 11. Sanon is the third Haitian-born individual with reported ties to the United States to be arrested.

Moise was shot dead by what Haitian authorities have described as a unit of assassins formed of 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans. The presidents wife, Martine, was also wounded in the attack, and was taken to Miami for treatment.

The killing of Haitis president comes amid growing chaos in a country already enduring gang violence and political instability.

He arrived by private plane in June with political objectives and contacted a private security firm to recruit the people who committed this act, Charles told reporters, noting that the firm was a U.S.-based Venezuelan security company called CTU.

The initial mission that was given to these assailants was to protect the individual named Emmanuel Sanon, but afterward the mission changed, the police chief added.

A three-minute YouTube video dated Aug. 18, 2011, with the description Dr. Christian SanonLeadership for Haiti, appears to paint the doctor as Haitis potential leader. In the clip, the speaker, which appears to be Sanon himself, describes Haitis leaders as corrupt.

With me in power, you are going to have to tell me, What are you doing with my uranium? the speaker says in the clip. What are you going to do with the oil that we have in the country? What are you going to do with the gold?

We need a new leadership that will change the way of life.

Charles told reporters that Sanon wanted to take over as president, but didnt elaborate beyond saying his motives were political, Reuters reported. He added that one of those in custody had contacted him upon being arrested.

Sanon, in turn, contacted two other intellectual authors of the assassination, Charles said.

The mission of these attackers was initially to ensure the safety of Emmanuel Sanon, but later, the mission was changed  and they presented one of the attackers with an arrest warrant for the president of the republic, Charles said.

Haitian police have arrested 18 Colombians and three Haitian Americans, including Sanon, over the murder, Charles said. Five Colombians are still at large and three were killed, he added.

The Miami Herald reported that the detained Colombians said they were hired to work in Haiti by Miami-based company CTU Security, run by Venezuelan emigre Antonio Enmanuel Intriago Valera.

Charles indicated that CTU had been used to hire at least some of the Colombian suspects, but gave no details.

The Herald also reported that four members of Moises security detail have been removed from their posts. Theyve been asked to report daily to internal affairs, and were requested for questioning.

Moise was shot 12 times in the upstairs bedroom of his home at around 1 a.m. on July 7. His wife, who was also seriously injured in the attack, has claimed that he was shot dead in one blink of an eye.

They riddled my husband with bullets without even giving him a chance to say a word, she said in an audio message in her first account of the ordeal, accusing the suspected assassins of murdering her husband in order to gain control of Haiti so that there is no transition.

We cant let the country go astray, she said.

Political Unrest

Unrest in Haiti has intensified in recent months. Moise, who was elected by a narrow margin in 2016, only took office in 2017, due to unrest. Opponents argued that his term legally ended in February, but he refused to leave office, saying that his term should end later because he was delayed in assuming office.

Before his death, Moise was pushing for a referendum to overhaul Haitis constitution, with proposals that included restructuring the government.

He said the revisions were to streamline the countrys divided government by removing the position of prime minister, and replacing it with a vice president who answers to the president. It would also eliminate the Senate, replacing it with a single legislative body elected every five years.

Although Moises approach had received backlash, many Haitians say a new constitution is needed.

We need a system that works, Moise had told The New York Times in a telephone interview in March. The system now doesnt work. The president cannot work to deliver.

The 1987 Constitution enshrined many gains, but has had its day, he said in a Twitter post in March. We must have the courage to adopt another which, through futuristic arrangements, will lead Haiti to a more balanced political regime less likely to cause instability.

Reuters contributed to this report.
President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House on July 8, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

Hear Their People: Biden Calls on Cuban Communist Regime to Listen to Protesters

President Joe Biden said on July 12 that the Cuban communist regime should respect the rights of its people amid historic demonstrations, coming a day after thousands of protesters took to the streets in several cities demanding greater freedoms and an end to the regime.

The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected, Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.

Thousands took to the streets in parts of Havanaincluding the capitals historic centerand other cities. Their shouts of Diaz-Canel step down and calling for freedom, were referring to dictator and Communist Party chief Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Special forces vehicles, with machine guns mounted, were seen throughout the capital, and the police presence was heavy even long after most protesters had gone home by the 9 p.m. curfew in place due to the pandemic.

In one area of Havana, protesters took out their anger on an empty police car, rolling it and then throwing stones at it. Elsewhere, they chanted repressors at riot police.

A policeman stands while watching police cars overturned in the street in the framework of a demonstration against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on July 11, 2021. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden also said the United States stands with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime.

Diaz-Canel, in the midst of protests, blamed the demonstrations on U.S.-backed social media campaigns and called for his supporters to confront them, according to remarks he gave on state-run media broadcasters.

Republican lawmakers called on the White House to provide more assistance to the Cuban people.

The American people stand squarely with the men and women of Cuba and their noble fight for liberty, and the Biden administration must unequivocally and forcefully tell the world as muchimmediately, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stated on July 12.

And Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said that the administration should have spoken out sooner.

The people of #Cuba bravely take to the streets against 62 years of socialist tyranny, he wrote on Twitter. 12 hours later President @joebiden @POTUS has yet to say a word about it.

Some Republicans have also accused Twitter and Biden administration officials of trying to downplay or mischaracterize the protests as being related to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines.

Reuters contributed to this report.
An unmanned spacecraft is seen during a presentation to the media by members of Israeli non-profit group SpaceIL and representatives from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), at the clean room of IAI's space division in Yehud, Israel, on Dec. 17, 2018. (Amir Cohen/Reuters)

Israeli Lunar Landing Venture Says It Secures $70 Million for 2024 Launch

JERUSALEMAn Israeli space group is on course to make its second attempt at an unmanned lunar landing in 2024 after securing $70 million in private funding for the mission.

The SpaceIL organisation said on Sunday that Patrick Drahi, a Franco-Israeli billionaire and controlling shareholder of Altice Europe, would donate the funds along with SpaceIL chairman Morris Kahn and South African businessman Martin Moshal.

Israel in December said it would try another unmanned lunar landing in early 2024 after its first attempt ended in 2019 with the dishwasher-sized Beresheet (Hebrew for Genesis) craft crashing due to what engineers described as a technical failure on final approach.

I plan to do everything that is within my power to take Israel back to the moon, Kahn said.

The new project, named Beresheet 2, will involve launching two landing craft and an orbiter that would circle the moon for years, conducting experiments and collecting data on behalf of school students.

The non-profit SpaceIL said the pledged funding comprises most of the $100 million cost of the project and gives a high probability for meeting the 2024 launch timetable.

It said Beresheet 2 planned to break several space records, including the double landing, with one of the craft setting down on the far side of the moon. Only China has carried out a far side soft landing, in 2019.

The two Israeli landing craft would be the smallest ever launched into space, with each weighing 120 kilograms (264.5 pounds) with fuel and 60 kgs without fuel.

During the motherships five-year mission, it will serve as a platform for educational science activities in Israel and worldwide via a remote connection that will enable students to take part in deep-space scientific research, SpaceIL said.

SpaceIL is leading the project in collaboration with the Israeli Space Agency, Ministry of Science and Technology and Israel Aircraft Industries.

By Steven Scheer
A researcher works inside a laboratory during the development of the Italian ReiThera COVID-19 vaccine, in this undated handout photo in Rome, Italy. (ReiThera/Handout via Reuters)

Italian COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Strong Immune Response in Mid-Stage Trial

MILANItalys hopes of producing its own COVID-19 vaccine were given a boost on Monday when local biotech firm ReiThera said its vaccine candidate showed a strong immune response and no major side effects in intermediate Phase II clinical trials.

The vaccine, called GRAd-COV2, induced an antibody response against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in over 93 percent of volunteers three weeks after the first dose, reaching 99 percent after the second dose, the company said in a statement.

However, ReiThera needs at least 60 million euros ($71 million) to fund final Phase III trials and was dealt a blow in May when a state audit court rejected a plan to pump public funds into the company.

ReiThera said on Monday that two independent advisory boards had recommended advancing GRAd-COV2 into Phase III studies, but did not give an update on funding.

A researcher works inside a laboratory during the development of the Italian ReiThera COVID-19 vaccine, in this undated handout photo in Rome, Italy. (ReiThera/Handout via Reuters)

The company has held early stage talks about potentially supplying its vaccine to the European Union, which has been looking to diversify supplies and boost production of shots within the bloc.

Our vaccine candidate confirmed its excellent safety and good immunogenicity profile in a large cohort, ReiThera medical director Roberto Camerini said, adding the company hoped to be able to start Phase III trials as soon as possible.

The Phase II study, which was conducted in 24 clinical centres in Italy, enrolled 917 volunteers over the age of 18, 25 percent of whom were over the age of 65 and had conditions associated with an increased risk of severe disease in case of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Volunteers were randomized in three regimens, receiving either a single vaccine dose followed by a placebo dose, or two vaccine doses, or two doses of placebo, with a three-week interval between the two administrations, the company said.

Adverse events, mostly mild to moderate and of short duration, were mainly related to pain and induration at the site of injection, fatigue, muscle pain, and headache. There were no serious vaccine-related adverse events, it added.

By Emilio Parodi
Judicial Watch Asks Court to Order USPS to Disclose Social Media Snooping Documents

A nonprofit government watchdog is suing in federal court to force the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to produce copies of documents on its tracking of social media posts about planned political protests.

The suit, filed by Judicial Watch in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is based on the groups April 28 U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and the failure of USPS to respond by the required deadline.

In its original request, Judicial Watch asked for all documents related to multiple aspects of the governments activity that is reportedly known as the Internet Covert Operations Program (ICOP), including:

All records from Jan. 1, 2020, to the present identifying criteria for flagging social media posts as inflammatory or otherwise worthy of further scrutiny by other government agencies.

All records from Jan. 1, 2020, to the present relating to the ICOP database of social media posts.

All records and communications from Jan. 1, 2020, to the present between any USPS official and any official from the FBI or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding ICOP.

All social media posts flagged under ICOP and forwarded to other government agencies.

Any analyses outlining USPS authority to monitor, track, and collect Americans social media posts.

All records concerning justifications for USPS to monitor, track, and collect Americans social media posts.

All records of communication sent to and by Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale from Jan. 1, 2020, to the present concerning ICOP.

Did the Biden administration weaponize the United States Postal Service to improperly spy on Americans? Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement announcing the suit.

A USPS spokesman didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment on the Judicial Watch suit.

The USPS program first came to public attention earlier this year when its existence was reported by Yahoo News. As The Epoch Times then reported, the revelation prompted a request from a group of House Republicans to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

If the reporting is accurate, ICOP raises serious questions about the federal governments ongoing surveillance of, and encroachment upon, Americans private lives and discourse, House Oversight ranking member James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Judiciary ranking member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), along with 30 other Republican lawmakers, wrote to DeJoy.

According to the bulletin, ICOP recorded the locations and times of protests. Social media websites Parler and Telegram are mentioned by name, described as right-wing leaning platforms on which people were coordinating events. Analysts with the USPS law enforcement arm were told to keep an eye out for inflammatory postings and share them with other government agencies.

The type of amorphous, broad mandate under which ICOP is allegedly operating is particularly troubling because it is unclear why the USPS, of all government agencies and the only one devoted to the delivery of Americans mail, is taking on the role of intelligence collection, the lawmakers wrote.

The Republicans asked DeJoy for a members-only briefing on the program, which was subsequently provided. Not long after the GOP members request, the oversight committees chairman, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) joined with Comer in a request to USPS Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb for a comprehensive analysis of the program and its uses.

Maloney and Comer encouraged Whitcomb to examine the USPSs justification for expanding ICOP from its uses in drug interdiction to general surveillance of political expression and protest planning on social media.

The IG also was asked to retrieve answers from USPS to these questions:

What vendor does USPIS use to search publicly available information? What information is the vendor storing about searches and results, and how is this information secured? What is the total awarded value of the contract, and what are USPISs obligated costs under the contract? When was the contract initiated, and when does it terminate?

Comer told The Epoch Times on July 12 that the United States Postal Inspection Services use of the Internet Covert Operations Program to spy on the First Amendment rights of the American people raises serious concerns and must be investigated.

The Kentucky Republican said he is pleased the Inspector Generals office agreed to investigate the use of this program and we look forward to reviewing its findings. We must ensure the American people have transparency about how this program has been used and how [USPS] will install safeguards to prevent abuses from happening again in the future.

Congressional correspondent Mark Tapscott may be contacted at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis looks on during a joint news conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, in Berlin on March 17, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool/Reuters)

Lithuania Says Belarus Is Using Illegal Immigrants as a Weapon

BRUSSELSThe European Union should consider imposing more sanctions on Belarus because Minsk is flying in immigrants from abroad to send them illegally into the bloc, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Monday.

His government accuses Belarusian authorities of sending hundreds of mainly Iraqi illegal immigrants across the border into Lithuania, an EU member state.

Lithuania began building a 550-kilometer (320-mile) razor wire barrier on the border with Belarus on Friday, a move that EU foreign ministers were due to discuss in Brussels.

When refugees are used as a political weapon  I will talk to my colleagues in order for the European Union to have a common strategy, Landsbergis said as he arrived for the meeting.

He suggested the immigrants were being used as a means of pressure on the EU, which has imposed a series of sanctions on Belarus since a disputed presidential election last August that was followed by a police clampdown on street protests.

We need to be very strict with the regimes who are using these sorts of weapons, first of all with sanctions, when these sorts of hybrid attacks are used against the European Union, Landsbergis said.

He said the EU should draw up a fifth package of sanctions, following blacklistings of Belarusian officials that began as a response to the presidential election but now seek to punish wider abuses. Lukashenko has denied electoral fraud.

Last month, the EU imposed broad economic sanctions on Belaruss main export industries, and on banks and finance, to try to hit sources of revenue for President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994.

EU leaders were outraged when Belarusian authorities intercepted a passenger plane flying between Athens and Vilnius on May 23 and arrested a dissident journalist and his girlfriend who were on board.

Lithuanias foreign ministry has told Reuters it will propose a gradual expanding of the economic sanctions.

The EU border guard agency Frontex said on Monday it would send additional officers, patrol cars, and experts to talk to illegal immigrants to gather information on criminal networks.

The situation at Lithuanias border with Belarus remains worrying. I have decided to send a rapid border intervention to Lithuania to strengthen EUs external border, Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri said in a statement.

In the first week of July, Lithuanian authorities recorded more than 800 illegal border crossings at its border with Belarus, according to Frontex.

While in the first half of the year most illegal immigrants came from Iraq, Iran, and Syria, the agency said, nationals of Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, and Senegal accounted for the majority of arrivals in July.

By Robin Emmott and Sabine Siebold
Live Q&A: YouTube Deletes CPAC Video On Trump Lawsuit; Trump Says Looking Forward to Deposition

Donald Trump spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas on June 11, and a video uploaded by CPAC on Trumps announced lawsuits against big tech was deleted by YouTube, which claimed it violated the companys terms of service. Trump, meanwhile, stated recently that he is looking forward to depositions in his class action lawsuit against Google, Facebook, and Twitter over censorship.

In this live Q&A with Crossroads host Joshua Philipp, well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience.

Were being heavily censored by Big Tech. Our solution? Create our own independent platform free of censorship.

Join us today on EpochTV. Weve got a country to save: http://epochtv.com/Crossroads

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London on June 14, 2021. (Jonathan Buckmaster/Daily Express via PA)

Lockdown in England Ends on July 19

All legal restrictions in England related to COVID-19 except self-isolation will end as of July 19, the government has confirmed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement during a televised briefing on July 12, after Health Secretary Sajid Javid updated Parliament.

Ministers concluded that the four tests set for unlocking, the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence that vaccines are causing a reduction in hospital admissions and deaths, that infection rates dont risk a surge in admissions, and that no new variants of concern throw progress off track, are being met, allowing the final step out of the restrictions to proceed as planned.

On July 19, mandatory rules on mask-wearing, social distancing, and restrictions on the number of people gathering will be replaced with guidance, which people are advised to follow.

There wont be a mandatory COVID-status passport, but the government will be encouraging businesses and large events to use certification in high-risk settings, Javid told MPs.

The government will also publish guidance for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and details of a review it plans to conduct in September to assess preparedness for autumn and winter.

The ministers urged people to act with caution and personal responsibility as the number of COVID-19 cases is rising rapidly.

We could reach 100,000 cases a day later in the summer, Javid said.

Speaking at the briefing along with Johnson, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said the current wave is rising at a similar rate as last autumn. The number of new hospital admissions is, however, much lower than it was last year. Whitty said it is growing at a slower, exponential rate. Meanwhile, the mortality rate has had a slight uptick.

Ministers said there would never be a perfect time to unlock.

To those who say why take this step now? I say if not now, when? Javid said. There will never be a perfect time to take this step because we simply cannot eradicate this virus.

He said the governments approach is about balancing the harms that are caused by COVID with the undeniable harms that restrictions bring.

PA contributed to this report.
Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District emergency personnel gather at the scene of a mass casualty incident near Downtown 9 in Show Low, Ariz., on June 19, 2021. (Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District/File via AP)

Man Dies After Driver Strikes Cyclists in Arizona Race

PHOENIXA cyclist has died after he was struck by an Arizona driver who plowed his pickup truck into a group of people participating in a bike race, authorities said.

A 58-year-old man died of his injuries Saturday, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said Monday. No other information about the victim was immediately released.

The accused driver, Shawn Michael Chock, 36, was indicted last week on nine counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count each of fleeing an accident and unlawful flight.

Seven bicyclists were injured June 19 when Chock sped into a crowd gathered for the annual 58-mile Bike the Buff race in Show Low, a mountain city about three hours northeast of Phoenix, authorities said. Witnesses described seeing the bodies of cyclists flying left and right.

The driver then hit a telephone pole, and backed out of the crowd as cyclists pounded on the trucks windows, screaming for him to get out, witnesses said. He then drove down the road, turned around and headed back toward the cyclists before driving away, witnesses said.

Police caught up with Chock outside a nearby hardware store and shot him. Chock was hospitalized in Flagstaff until his release July 2. He remains jailed in Navajo County.

This June 19, 2021, photo provided by the Navajo County Sheriff Office shows suspect Shawn Michael Chock. (Navajo County Sheriff Office via AP)

Hunter T. Lewis, an attorney representing Chock, did not immediately respond Monday to messages by The Associated Press seeking comment.

Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon said he is expecting more charges to be filed in the wake of the mans death.

Once we have received all the law enforcement reports we will receive to determine if any new charges are appropriate to bring, Carlyon said.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is overseeing the investigation.

By Terry Tang and Felicia Fonseca
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan drives off the third hole tee during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit, Mich., on July 1, 2021. (Carlos Osorio/AP Photo)

Matsuyama Among 3 More Players to Withdraw From British Open

ST. ANDREWS, ScotlandThree more players withdrew from the British Open next week at Royal St. Georges, a growing list that includes Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, who was concerned about practice time and travel.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and former British Open champion David Duval also withdrew Sunday. That brings to 13 the number of players who had been planning to play but withdrew.

Matsuyama tested positive for the coronavirus during the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week in Detroit and has been self-isolating. He remains symptom-free, though subsequent tests have come back positive.

Im feeling fine but havent been able to practice in preparation for the Open, Matsuyama said in a statement released by the R&A. Combining that with the difficult travel to the U.K., my team and I have decided its best to withdraw to ensure everyones safety.

Watson had to withdraw after he said he was in close contact with someone who had a positive COVID-19 test.

While I am vaccinated and have passed the required pre-travel COVID test, not enough time has passed for me to comfortably join the charter flight and risk exposure to the other players and personnel on board, Watson said in a statement on Twitter.

The R&A did not say why Duval chose to withdraw. He won the British Open in 2001 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

Harold Varner III, Brendan Steele and John Catlin, the Californian who plays exclusively on the European Tour, have taken their spots in the field.

Seven players from the top 75 in the world ranking will not be Royal St. Georges, with Matsuyama (No. 18) the highest ranked.
A woman, whose son was infected with HIV, wears a face mask bearing the words "Blood products infect us with AIDS," as she cries during an AIDS awareness event on the World AIDS Day held at Beijing's south railway station on Dec. 1, 2009. (Andy Wong/AP Photo)

Medical Disasters: Made in China

Commentary

On July 8, the reported global death toll from COVID-19 topped 4 million. With more and more scientists beginning to warm to the idea that a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, may be the potential cause of the pandemic, its timely to remind ourselves of the medical catastrophes that have emerged during the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) rule over China.

A Pervasive Culture of Bribery

Imagine topping your high school and winning a place at a prestigious Chinese university such as Peking, Tsinghua, or Fudan.

Once youve finished your undergraduate degree, you decide to pursue a postgraduate degree overseas in the United States, the UK, or Europe, like so many top scholars.

You come home to China and think that your Ivy League postgraduate degree, coupled with work or internship experience, will get you the job of your dreams.

This is the expectation of many haigui, which directly translates to sea turtle in Mandarin, a term referring to a returning Chinese student from overseas.

Doctors looking at a lung CT image at a hospital in Yunmeng County, Xiaogan city, in Chinas Hubei Province on Feb. 20, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

The dream ends and the reverse culture clash begins when their potential employer insists upon receiving a hongbao or red packet filled with cash. Having no cash on hand isnt a problem, youre told. Instead, the employer can deduct a percentage of your monthly wage going forward.

This bribery culture is common in Chinese medical institutions, where even patients have to pay hongbao to receive priority or adequate care. Whether you are a highly trained physician or a patient, youre competing for a coveted position against thousands of individuals.

Recently, a number of haigui have taken matters into their own hands in the most gruesome fashion. On July 5, an employee of the Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute named Liu slit the throat of his manager.

On June 7, Wang Yongzhen, the CCP secretary of the School of Mathematical Sciences at Fudan University in Shanghai, was stabbed to death by Jiang Wenhua, a colleague who worked in the same department.

Both Liu and Jiang claimed that they carried out the acts over grievances at work.

However, the vast majority of haigui simply suck it up, whether it be by paying bribes, receiving bribes, or acting unethically. Ultimately, they just want to find a means to earn a living and provide for their family.

Careless Blood Donations Spread HIV

In 1991, in the province of Henan, Dr. Wang Shuping was assigned to work at a plasma collection station.

At the time, many locals sold their blood to local government-run blood banks for money. It wasnt long before Wang realized that the station posed a huge public health risk.

Poor collection practices, including cross-contamination with blood-drawing devices, meant many donors were infected with hepatitis C from other donors.

Hemophiliac protesters, all of whom contracted HIV from infected blood products, wear surgical masks as they demonstrate during an AIDS-awareness event on World AIDS Day at Beijings south railway station on Dec. 1, 2009, to call for better government support for HIV/AIDS victims in China. (AFP/Getty Images)

When she alerted her superiors of the need to change procedures, she was told that it would be too costly to do so. She would later be forced from her job.

In 1995, Wang discovered an even bigger scandal when an HIV-positive donor donated blood at four different clinics.

She alerted superiors of the need to conduct HIV testing across all blood stations in the province, but again was told that doing so would be too costly.

Wang took it upon herself to buy testing kits and tested more than 400 samples from donors.

She found that 13 percent of donors were HIV-positive.

Rather than own up to this grave error, the Chinese Ministry of Health fired her and dragged their feet on testing all donors until 1996. As a result, thousands more Chinese residents were subsequently infected with the deadly virus.

Systemic Organ Harvesting

Former surgeon and ethnic Uyghur Enver Tohti revealed (pdf) recently that in 1995, when he was just a budding young medical professional, he was asked by two chief surgeons if he wanted to do something new and wild. The task he was given was to remove the liver and kidneys from a person who was in his 30s, unshaved with long hair, and dressed in civilian clothes.

The man had been shot by a police officer, with the bullet penetrating his right chest.

The testimony given by Tohti was a glimpse into the dawn of the organ transplant industry in China, where organs were illegally harvested from prisoners and used to supply a vast industry, including transplant tourism.

Chinese doctors carry fresh organs for transplant at a hospital in Henan Province on Aug. 16, 2012. (Screenshot/Sohu.com)

According to the China Organ Harvest Research Center, 1 million organ transplants may have taken place since 2000.

Chinese officials claim that the country performs about 10,000 transplants per year, but that annual figure is easily surpassed when the activities of a few hospitals are counted.

Based on minimum capacity requirements set by the Chinese authorities, the 164 hospitals in China approved to conduct transplants are each allowed to carry out 70,000 transplants per year.

This translates to more than 1 million transplants since 2000 for approved hospitals. However, this is far from the full picture. In 2007, more than 1,000 hospitals applied for permits to perform transplants (pdf), suggesting that the industry may have grown.

At the heart of these disasters lies the simple truth that communist regimes place zero value on human life.

The CCP has profited immensely from its persecution and mass murder of groups such as Falun Gong, Christians, Uyghurs, Tibetans, and democracy activists.

Despite these harrowing crimes, some political and business leaders in Australia still call for more dialogue, engagement, or diplomacy with the CCP, while criticizing the governments firm stance on the Chinese regime.

We shouldnt be fooled by these overtures and need to see clearly where closer ties with a murderous regime would ultimately lead us.

Tshung Hui Chang is a company director and has deep experience in the financial services industry across the Asia-Pacific region. Hes fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, English, and Bahasa. Chang has written and spoken extensively about the interference and influence activities of the Chinese Communist Party in Australia. Chang is a contributor to the upcoming book Trump, COVID and the WorldAustralia Edition (Unchain Australia).

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Children arrive in line using physical distancing before getting their picture taken at picture day at St. Barnabas Catholic School during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scarborough, Ont., on Oct. 27, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

More Research Confirms Risk of COVID-19 Death, Serious Illness Extremely Low in Children

The risk of death or severe illness from COVID-19 in teenagers and children is extremely low, according to three new studies from the UK.

The studies provide the most detailed analysis to date on the impact of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus on children and confirm earlier findings for those aged 18 and younger: that theyre at very low risk of becoming severely ill or dying from the disease.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool, the University College of London, the University of York, and the University of Bristol published their pre-print studies, which are in the process of being peer-reviewed, online on July 8. Two of the studies analyzed the risks of severe illness and death from COVID-19, while one focused only on deaths.

The preliminary findings will be submitted to the World Health Organization and the UKs Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, which is still considering whether to expand the use of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 12 to 17 in the country. All four COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the UK are only for people aged 18 and older.

Russel Viner, a senior author on two of the studies and a professor of adolescent health at the University College Londons Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said the findings will inform shielding guidance for young people as well as decisions about the vaccination of teenagers and children, not just in the UK, but internationally, according to a statement.

While the studies didnt include information specific to the effects of the Delta variant, theres currently no evidence that it causes more severe disease or death in children.

Although this data covers up to February 2021, this hasnt changed recently with the Delta variant, said Dr. Elizabeth Whittaker, senior clinical lecturer in pediatric infectious diseases and immunology at Imperial College London. We hope this data will be reassuring for children and young people and their families.

Deaths Rare, Mostly in Children with Underlying Health Conditions

In the study that focused only on deaths, researchers analyzed Englands national databases, including the mandatory National Child Mortality Database, to identify all children under the age of 18 who have died as a result of COVID-19 between March 2020 and February 2021.

During the first year of the pandemic in England, of the 3,105 children who had died from all causes, 61 were children who had tested positive for the CCP virus.

But after differentiating between those who died of SARS-CoV-2 infection and those who died of an alternative cause but coincidentally tested positive, the researchers determined that only 25 of the 61 children had died of COVID-19 in a population of more than 12 million children.

This equated to a mortality rate of about two in a million.

SARS-CoV-2 is the scientific name for the CCP virus that causes the disease COVID-19.

Montenegrin schoolchildren wearing protective masks to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 in Podgorica, on Sept. 30, 2020. (Savo Prelevic/AFP via Getty Images)

Of the 25 children who died with COVID-19, 15 had a life-limiting condition, 16 had multiple comorbidities, and 19 had an underlying chronic health condition.

The researchers found that the comorbidity group at highest risk [for death] were those with complex neurodisability, who comprised 52 [percent] of all deaths in children who died of COVID-19.

Those young people at higher risk are those who are also at higher risk from any winter virus or other illnessthat is, young people with multiple health conditions and complex disabilities, Viner said. COVID-19 does, however, increase the risks for people in these groups to a higher degree than for illnesses such as influenza (seasonal flu).

Only six of the 25 COVID-19 deaths24 percentappeared to not have underlying health conditions.

In addition, the researchers found no deaths in children with an isolated diagnosis of a respiratory condition such as asthma, Type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome, or epilepsy.

However, the researchers noted that during the same time period studied, there were 124 deaths from suicide and 268 deaths from trauma, emphasizing COVID-19 is rarely fatal in children and teenagers.

Underlying Health Conditions Increase Risk of Severe Illness

A different study, this one examining 81 existing studies assessing risk factors for severe illness and death from COVID-19 among young people, found that pre-existing health conditions and severe disabilities increased the risk of severe disease.

Children who had heart or neurological conditions, more than one medical condition, or were obese were at higher risk. However, the absolute risks were still small, even when compared to children without comorbidity.

Its important to remember that the risks are very low for all children and young people, said Lorna Frasier, professor of epidemiology at the University of York and senior author of the study. Even when we found higher risks for some groups with severe medical problems, these risks were still very small compared to risks seen in adults.

Pediatric surgeon Dr. Rachel Harwood, lead author of the study, emphasized that obesity is linked to more severe cases of COVID-19 in children.

Our meta-analysis found similar risk factors to the other studies, although we also found that obesity increased the risk of severe COVID-19 illness, something weve known for some time in adults but is only now becoming evident as an important risk in children and young people too, she said.

Hospitalizations Remain Low Overall

In a third study (pdf), which examined risk factors for death and intensive care admission, researchers concluded that children and teenagers were at a very low risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19 or PIMS-TS [pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome-temporarily associated with SARS-CoV-2].

Researchers found that, of the 5,830 children admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, 251 were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in England during the first year of the pandemic, up until the end of February. This equated to children having a one in approximately 50,000 chance of being admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 during that time.

Within the same period, more than 367,000 children were admitted to the hospital for other causes.

Of those 251 admitted to the ICU, 91 percent had an underlying health condition or comorbidity. Those at greatest risk were children with multiple medical conditions and neurological disorders.

This pattern is described in previous work, and is consistent with our meta-analysis of the published data, where each increase in the number of pre-existing conditions was associated with increased odds of PICU [pediatric intensive care unit] admission and death for COVID-19, the authors wrote.

The authors also found that 309 children were admitted to the ICU with PIMS-TS, a rare inflammatory condition in children due to COVID-19, equating to an absolute risk of one in 39,000.

It is reassuring that these findings reflect our clinical experience in hospitalwe see very few seriously unwell children, Whittaker said.

CDC Still Recommends Masks for Unvaccinated Students

A day after the studies were published online, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidance on how to prevent COVID-19 in K12 schools, saying that cloth masks and physical distancing of three feet were still recommended for students who arent fully vaccinated when indoors.

Other preventative measures recommended by the CDC include the promotion of vaccines among students, screening tests to identify those who are infected, improving ventilation, contact tracing, and proper hand hygiene.

Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC stated, noting that the promotion of vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports.

COVID-19 vaccines have been recommended for adolescents aged 12 to 15 years in the United States since May.

Max Zito, age 13, is inoculated by Nurse Karen Pagliaro at Hartford Healthcares mass vaccination center at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn. on May 13, 2021. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

In June, the CDC continued its recommendation of emergency use-approved messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccines to everyone 12 years and older, despite higher than normal reports of heart inflammation in young men following an mRNA vaccine. The CDC cited that the benefits of the vaccine outweighing the risk of heart inflammation as its reason for doing so.

The one-size-fits-all approach, rushing to vaccinate healthy children and teenagers without adequate safety and efficacy data, has been concerning to some doctors and parents, as the risk of severe illness or death is extremely low for that age group. Young children havent been reported to be superspreaders of the CCP virus.

Viner, in an opinion piece published in The Guardian, said that public health officials should wait until there are enough safety data before vaccinating healthy teenagers.

I believe it is reasonable to now offer to vaccinate teenagers with chronic diseases and medical conditions that make them more vulnerable. As for healthy teenagers, lets first use our vaccine supplies to raise adult vaccination levels as high as possible, provide boosters for the elderly and fulfill our promises to provide vaccines for poorer countries. Then, we should vaccinate healthy teenagers once we have adequate safety databut for this we must wait, he wrote.

The CDC didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on whether its recommendations also apply to children who have recovered from COVID-19 and have natural immunity.
Nearly Half of US Cosmetics Contain This Toxic Chemical

Chemicals common in personal care products persist in the environment and jeopardize long-term health

Cosmetics and personal care products have often tested positive for toxic chemicals. Now, a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Notre Dame has found that more than half of common U.S. cosmetics tested contain high levels of industrial compounds associated with various health conditions, including cancer.

One chemical found in an alarming number of products from popular stores such as Target, Ulta, Sephora, and Bed, Bath and Beyond was fluorine, which is part of the alphabet soup known as perfluorinated chemicals, historically abbreviated as PFC. Perfluorinated chemicals include perfluorocarbons and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS, but also referred to as PFOA and PFOS.

PFAS are sometimes referred to as the Teflon chemicals or forever chemicals since they do not break down in the environment. They are used by manufacturers to make products water-, oil-, grease- and stain-resistant. They are also found in firefighting foam.

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, there are more than 4,700 PFAS chemicals in existence and the number continues to rise as the industry invents new forms. Prompted by pressure from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), DuPont and 3M voluntarily phased out two of the thousands of PFAS chemicals, PFOS and PFOA, in the early 2000s.

While these two chemicals are no longer manufactured in the United States, documentation from the FDA reveals that phased out doesnt necessarily mean not being used anywhere. In fact, there are limited ongoing uses of PFOS, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says:

Although PFOA and PFOS are no longer manufactured in the United States, they are still produced internationally and can be imported into the United States in consumer goods such as carpet, leather and apparel, textiles, paper and packaging, coatings, rubber, and plastics.

This means that although the manufacture of these toxic chemicals may have stopped in the United States, they still can arrive back in the country via products made elsewhere. And, when it comes to cosmetics, the three-year study at Notre Dame, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, clearly indicates that the problem of PFAS chemicals in makeup is an ongoing issue, including a lack of labeling.

Forever Chemicals Found in Nearly Half of Cosmetics Tested

To assess the potential environmental burden of PFAS in makeup, researchers from the university purchased 231 cosmetic products in eight categories commonly purchased throughout the United States and Canada. The categories included lip, eye, face, and eyebrow products and foundations, mascaras, and concealers.

The researchers purchased cosmetics from stores in Indiana and Michigan and tested them for fluorine. Although the ingredients lists didnt show PFAS by name, the scientists found that a number of products had precursors of the harmful chemicals in them, including fluorine:

56 percent of foundations and eye products

48 percent of lip products

47 percent of mascaras

Many of the products that tested positive were also labeled long-lasting or wear-resistant. The researchers didnt name the specific cosmetic companies, instead calling the issue widespread.

Fluorine is a PFAS chemical that contaminates the water supply and can bioaccumulate in the body. The researchers also found that the products tested positive for alcohol, methacrylate, and phosphate esters that are precursors to PFAs, also known to be harmful to human health.

The presence and amount of these chemicals was concerning. Just as important was the revelation that only one of the products tested listed PFAS chemicals on the ingredient label. Graham Peaslee was the principal investigator. He told a journalist from The Washington Post:

We were shocked to see how much is in some of these products.  Theres no way for an average consumer to read a label and understand whats in the product they just purchased. They cant trust the label and that can be fixed.

Senate Bill Proposed to Ban PFAS in Makeup

In June 2021, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced a bipartisan bill that would require the FDA to ban all PFAS chemicals in cosmetic products. The bill is called the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act. Collins and Blumenthal believe that Americans should be able to trust that the products they are applying to their hair or skin are safe.

The act is intended to direct the FDA to issue a rule that bans the intentional addition of PFAS in cosmetics. Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group (EWG) said in a press release from Collins:

Toxic forever chemicals have no place in personal care products. PFAS have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer and harm to the reproductive and immune systems. EWG applauds Senator Collins for introducing the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act. Once again, Senator Collins is making the safety of cosmetics and other personal care products a top priority.

Collins has introduced other legislation in the past alongside Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Together, they have championed the Personal Care Products Safety Act, which was introduced in the Senate over four terms.

The act was a sweeping bill written to reform the regulation of personal care products and empower the FDA to review ingredients. The FDA would have been given authority to inspect factories and records and to require recalls of dangerous products. Cosmetic companies would also have been charged with providing $20.6 million annually in fee revenue.

The first time it was introduced in the House in 20132014, Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), sponsored the legislation. The most recent reintroduction to Congress was during the 20192020 term. In each term, the bill was defeated.

The new No PFAS in Cosmetics Act has a more finite mandate to ban a specific chemical in cosmetic products. Without the added fee structure and additional power given to the FDA in past legislation, this may be the inroad needed to start protecting consumers.

Janet Nudelman, director of the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, said, It is beyond outrageous that PFAS chemicals that are contaminating our drinking water and threatening human health because of their links to breast and other cancers, reproductive harm, and endocrine disruption are hiding in the beauty and personal care products women use every day.

Food Packaging and Drinking Water Are Contaminated

Unfortunately, one common belief is that if a product is released on the market and sold to the public it must be safe. In 2020, 33 scientists signed a consensus statement to plead with lawmakers to take swift action to reduce exposure to plastics in food packaging. In it, they included 1,200 peer-reviewed studies to support their statement. One of those plastics is PFAS.

Nearly 10 years ago there were 6,000 authorized chemicals that could be used in food packaging. Jane Muncke of the Food Packaging Forum, and one of the consensus statement contributors, states that the latest number is nearly 12,000.

The Environmental Defense Fund has written about the FDA process that led to the acceptance of plastics in contact with food. They have clarified a few misconceptions:

Manufacturers claims that anything in contact with food, such as PFAS, must be reviewed before being marketed and sold. In fact, manufacturers use a loophole in the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) rule meant to exempt common ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda, to bypass FDA review of their chemicals.

The FDA requires in-depth toxicology studies before allowing chemicals in contact with foods on the market. In reality, all a company has to do is provide the chemical, toxicological, and environmental data it has.

Manufacturers data sheets are clear and concise. On the contrary, in an EDF review of 31 applications accepted by the FDA, the amount of information varied, but the toxicity data were consistently poor.

The FDA continually reviews product safety. The truth is once a food contact substance is allowed, there is no process to evaluate further evidence the chemical may be dangerous, and the agency has no duty to reassess the decision.

These dangers are also reaching your drinking water. The EWG commissioned a test in dozens of U.S. cities which showed contamination had been dramatically underestimated. EWG scientists believe the family of PFAS chemicals may be detectable in all major water supplies in the U.S., almost certainly in all that use surface water.

EWGs tests also found chemicals from the PFAS family that are not commonly tested for in drinking water, they wrote.

A collaboration between Consumer Reports and The Guardian analyzed the water supply of 120 people who volunteered to send in water samples from around the United States. The group represented a cross-section of each of the EPAs 10 jurisdictional regions. The analysis showed that of the 120 water samples, 118 had high levels of PFAS or arsenic, as well as detectable levels of lead.

According to the report from Consumer Reports, filtration systems exist that can clean the contaminants, and yet, they are not being uniformly used by community water systems.

An analysis published by the EWG showed there were 2,337 sites in 49 states with known PFAS contamination. Unfortunately, while evidence continues to mount demonstrating forever chemicals are hazardous, the EPA is unwilling to protect consumer health. According to the EWG: [The EPA] recently released a so-called PFAS action plan, but it is woefully inadequate. The EPA plan will not address ongoing sources of PFAS pollution, will not clean up legacy pollution, and will not even require reporting of toxic PFAS releases.

Frightening Levels of Forever Chemicals Found in Breast Milk

In one study published in Environmental Science & Technology, researchers analyzed PFAS in a group of breastfeeding women in the United States. The data were gathered from a cross-section of socioeconomically and geographically diverse groups of women and yet showed PFAS contamination in all samples.

The samples showed levels ranging from 50 parts per trillion (ppt) to more than 1,850 ppt in womens breast milk. Even though there are no set standards for breast milk yet, as a comparison, the Environmental Working Group advises a target for drinking water at 1 ppt and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommends 14 ppt for PFOS (a component of PFAS) in childrens drinking water.

Evaluating the effects on infants is difficult. Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a co-author of the study and pediatrician with the University of Washington, told a reporter from The Guardian that studies in older children and adults have shown these chemicals damage the immune system and create hormonal disruption. This is particularly problematic for infants as their immune system is not yet mature.

Evidence from the study also suggested the challenge with PFAS bioaccumulating in people is getting worse. As reported in The Guardian, when data from the current study were compared to one spearheaded by the EWG in 2005, the researchers found there was an increase in the amount of new-generation PFAS in breastmilk.

How to Avoid Toxic PFAS Chemicals

In May 2015, more than 200 scientists from 40 countries signed another consensus statement called the Madrid Statement. The scientists warned about the potential harmful effects of PFAS, including associations with liver toxicity, adverse neurobehavioral effects, hypothyroidism, and obesity.

They recommended avoiding all products containing PFAS. Youll find more additional helpful tips in the Environmental Working Groups Guide to Avoiding PFCS. Here are several items to avoid:

Pretreated or stain-repellant treatments: Opt out of treatments on clothing, furniture, and carpeting. Clothing advertised as breathable is typically treated with polytetrafluoroethylene, a synthetic fluoropolymer.

Products treated with flame retardant chemicals: This includes furniture, carpet, mattresses, and baby items. Instead, opt for naturally less flammable materials such as leather, wool, and cotton.

Fast food and carry out foods: The containers are typically treated.

Microwave popcorn: PFAS may be present in the inner coating of the bag and may migrate to the oil from the packaging during heating. Instead, use old-fashioned stovetop non-GMO popcorn.

Nonstick cookware and other treated kitchen utensils: Healthier options include ceramic and enameled cast iron cookware, both of which are durable, easy to clean, and completely inert, which means they wont release any harmful chemicals into your home.

Personal care products containing PTFE or fluoro or perfluoro ingredients: The EWG Skin Deep database is an excellent source to search for healthier personal care options.

Unfiltered tap water: Unfortunately, your choices are limited when it comes to avoiding PFAS in drinking water. Either you must filter your water or get water from a clean source. Although you may think that opting for bottled water is safe, its important to realize that PFAS are not regulated in bottled water, so theres absolutely no guarantee that itll be free of these or other chemicals.

Bottled water also increases your risk of exposure to hazardous plastic chemicals such as bisphenol A, which has its own set of health risks. Most common water filters available in supermarkets will not remove PFASs. You really need a high-quality carbon filtration system.

Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com. An osteopathic physician, best-selling author, and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health. This article was originally published on Mercola.com.
Dozens of people calling for stopping the vote count in Pennsylvania due to alleged fraud against President Donald Trump gather on the steps of the State Capital in Harrisburg, Penn., on Nov. 5, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Pennsylvania Legislators Pledge Transparency in Drawing New Congressional District Maps

Pennsylvania voters are invited to, for the first time, help the Pennsylvania Legislature draw new congressional district maps.

Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Kerry Benninghoff, State Government Committee Chairman Seth Grove, and state Rep. Wendi Thomas, also Republicans, announced on Monday a series of hearings to be held in July, August, and October across Pennsylvania seeking public feedback on where the district lines should be drawn. Theyve also launched a website offering the public a place to draw and submit their own maps.

The people of the Commonwealth, for the first time, will be able to give their input on how the seats are drawn, Thomas said in a statement. They will be able to make their suggestions in person at a series of hearings or online. In these divisive political times when many people have lost faith in their political systems, its critical that we open the system as much as possible.

Benninghoff said that at both the state and federal levels, the House Republican Caucus has been committed to a process to draw new district lines in a way that preserves the ideal of one person, one vote. Districts are to have the same number of people across the country so U.S. House members are representing equal numbers of constituents.

The coming slate of hearings, the publicly accessible website, and the ability for Pennsylvanians to submit their own maps and communities of interest clearly makes this effort the most transparent Congressional redistricting in Pennsylvania history, Benninghoff said in a statement. The work that will be put into this by the House State Government Committee shows our caucus commitment to a process-oriented approach that is reflective of the peoples voice.

Congressional Districts are remapped once a decade, the year after the census, except in Pennsylvania, where the lines were unexpectedly redrawn in February 2018 under order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as part of a lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters and individual voters. They complained Pennsylvanias 2011-drawn congressional map was unfairly gerrymandered, fracturing counties and municipalities into many pieces to create districts with a minority of Democratic voters that would favor Republicans.

In addition to changing the map in time for the 2018 Congressional election, there was a failed effort at the time to change the way redistricting is done in Pennsylvania. Redistricting activists called for a citizen advisory board plus members of each party to draw the map as a team.

As it stands, leadership in the legislatures majority party draws proposed congressional maps that become a bill to be passed by the state House and Senate and signed by the governor. In 2011, the map was passed in about a week by the then Republican-led legislature and governor.

Pennsylvanias current Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is likely to veto any map not to his liking. If the legislature and governor cant get a map passed, it would ultimately go back to the Supreme Court. This gives Republicans incentive to draw an agreeable map said Patrick Beaty, legislative director for Fair Districts PA, a Democrat-leaning group that has advocated for revised districting laws.

We are encouraged by the announcement that they will have a more transparent process this time. That is an improvement, Beaty told The Epoch Times. We are proposing these kinds of reforms are put into law for the future.

Pennsylvanias congressional map will be reduced from 18 to 17 districts, shrinking the states voice in the U.S. House by one seat in 2022. Since peaking at 36 seats in 1910, Pennsylvania has lost U.S. House seats after every census.
An armed Haitian Army troop guards the entrance of the General Directorate of the police where the suspects of the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moise are detained, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on July 10, 2021. (Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters)

Pentagon Says US Team Going to Haiti to Assess Needs

WILMINGTON, Del.A team of U.S. security and law enforcement experts is traveling to Haiti to determine what assistance Washington can provide following the assassination of the Haitian president last week, the Pentagon said on Sunday.

Today, an inter-agency team largely from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are heading down to Haiti right now to see what we can to do help in the investigative process, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told Fox News Sunday.

Thats really where our energies are best applied right nowin helping them get their arms around investigating this incident and figuring out whos culpable  and how best to hold them accountable, Kirby said in the interview.

President Joe Biden will be briefed by the team when it returns and then make decisions about the way forward, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters separately.

Haiti has sought U.S. aid in securing the country and investigating the attack that killed President Jovenel Moise on Wednesday at his Port-au-Prince home and plunged the impoverished island nation further into turmoil. Haitian authorities have said two Haitian Americans were among the suspected assassins.

The late president of Haiti Jovenel Moise (R) arrives with the first lady Martine Moise (L) for the official ceremony of Haitis 10th earthquake anniversary in Port-au-Prince, on Jan. 12, 2020. (Chandan Khann/AFP via Getty Images)

It was not immediately clear how long the U.S. team would remain in Haiti. The administration official said on Sunday that Washington would also consult with its regional partners and the United Nations.

The United States has so far rebuffed Haitis request for troops, while the United Nations would need Security Council authorization to send armed forces.

Kirby said: Were analyzing it just like we would any other request for assistance at the Pentagon. Its going through a review.
Petition to Recall Socialist Los Angeles Councilwoman Approved for Circulation

A draft petition to recall a socialist Los Angeles councilwoman has been approved.

The petition to recall Councilwoman Nithya Raman was approved on July 9, the Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk confirmed to The Epoch Times.

The petition must garner 27,405 valid signatures of qualified registered voters of Council District 4, which Raman represents, to be presented to voters. That number reflects 15 percent of registered voters in the district.

The deadline for filing the petition is Nov. 4.

Recall organizers accuse Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of enabling crime by working to cut funding to the police and supporting homeless encampments, which have expanded exponentially in the district since she was sworn into office in January.

Organizers describe themselves as a district-wide coalition of residents demanding a return to sanity in CD4.

Ramans office didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

I love the people and the neighborhoods of this district. Thats why I ran to represent it. I invite the organizers of this recall to work with me on making it an even better place to live, work, and raise our children, she said in a previous statement to news outlets.

Raman told Jacobin magazine last year about her political affiliations.

Im a registered Democrat, but Im a member of DSA locally and pretty much my entire platform very much overlaps with what DSA has been fighting for here in LA, she said at the time.

My politics is one that looks at, particularly in a city like Los Angeles, where the market has failed to accommodate or create housing for residents that they can afford and where our market has failed to meet the needs of our residents locally and making sure that were filling those gaps.

Socialism is considered a preliminary step in the implementation of communism, often relying on ideas and policies that are implemented more fully in a communist system.

Los Angeles Councilman Mike Bonin is also facing a recall effort from constituents upset about his response to homeless people in his district, as is Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon for allegedly failing to protect communities.
A sign for Pharmaceutical company Pfizer Incorporated headquarters is displayed on 42 Street in New York, on Oct. 20, 2009. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

Pfizer, Health Officials to Discuss COVID-19 Boosters on Monday

WASHINGTONCOVID-19 vaccine maker Pfizer will meet with federal health officials as soon as Monday to discuss the need for a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine as it prepares to seek authorization, the company said on Sunday.

The meeting comes days after the drugmaker and its partner BioNTech SE announced plans to seek U.S. and European regulatory approval for a third dose of their COVID-19 shot amid the spread of variants and data they said showed heightened risk of infection six months after initial inoculation.

That push prompted a quick response from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), saying Americans do not need a booster right now.

On Monday, Pfizer is scheduled to meet with representatives of the FDA, a company spokesperson said. The meeting was first reported by the Washington Post.

Representatives for the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser who also directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as well as the heads of the National Institutes of Health and the CDC were also among those invited to the briefing, which could move to another day, according to the Posts report.

Fauci, in several television interviews on Sunday, said health officials were not dismissing the possible future need for boostersespecially as breakthrough infections among those who have been vaccinated have emergedbut that more data is needed for any formal recommendation.

Theres a lot of dynamic things going on right now, he told ABC News This Week program.

There are studies being done now ongoing as we speak about looking at the feasibility about if and when we should be boosting people theres a lot of work going on to examine this in real time, he added on CNNs State of the Union.

Despite the FDA and CDCs statement, that doesnt mean that were not very, very actively following and gathering all of this information to see if and when we might need it and if and when we do, well have everything in place to do it.

European officials have said vaccines currently seem protective against variants. Canada has also said it is monitoring variants and the possible need for boosters.

While some scientists have also questioned the need for booster shots, others have said they could be beneficial for the elderly and other vulnerable populations, although it is unclear when they would be needed.
Home Secretary Priti Patel speaking in the House of Commons, London, on March 15, 2021. (House of Commons/PA)

Plans to Ban White Supremacist Group the Base in UK

The Government is taking steps to ban another white supremacist group in the UK.

The Home Secretary wants to outlaw The Base as a terrorist organisation.

Priti Patel is asking Parliament to proscribe the extreme right-wing terrorist group The Base, a predominantly US-based militant white supremacist organisation seeking to establish a white ethno-state, the Home Office said.

According to the department, the group was first formed in 2018 and shares many of its aims and ideologies with Atomwaffen Division and its alias, National Socialist Order, which was proscribed earlier this year.

The Base has celebrated and promoted the use of violence in an attempt to establish a fascist, white ethno-state by means of a race war, and members are known to have engaged in weapons and explosives training, the Home Office said.

Its founder has also published a series of videos under his alias covering topics including lone wolf activity, advocating guerrilla warfare, and leaderless resistance.

In January 2020, alleged members of the group were arrested in the US, having been under FBI surveillance for months.

The proposal will now be debated and, subject to approval, come into force later this week.

This would make it a criminal offence to be a member of or invite support for the group, with those found guilty facing up to 14 years in prison since maximum sentences were increased under the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021.

Ms Patel said: We continue to take robust action against evil white supremacist groups, who target vulnerable people across the world to join in their hateful ideologies and their sick promotion of violence.

I am committed to making it as difficult as possible for these organisations to operate in the UK, both by banning them and increasing the penalties for membership or support, in order to protect the public and our national security.

The Base would become the fifth such group to be proscribed in the UK, and one of three to be banned in the last year.

By Flora Thompson
The Governor of the Bank of France, Francois Villeroy de Galhau delivers a speech at the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) in Paris on Sept. 18, 2018. (Francois Guillot/AFP via Getty Images)

Post-Pandemic Public Debt Cannot Be Cancelled, Says ECBs Villeroy

PARISThe governor of Frances central bank on Friday told President Emmanuel Macron that the countrys heavy public debt, bloated by spending to safeguard jobs and growth during the pandemic, posed a challenge to the economy but could not be cancelled.

In his annual letter to the president, Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau said easing the debt burden would need time, economic growth spurred by investor-friendly reform and more efficient public spending.

Cancelling the debt is not an option, the governor wrote.

Villeroy said this did not mean fiscal austerity.

It is about striving for stability, first fiscal stability, by excluding tax increases and also cuts that we cannot finance, and secondly stability in the volume of public spending, he continued.

France went into the pandemic with public debt at 100 percent of national output, exceeding the euro zone average, and is projected to close 2021 at close to 120 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, the government forecasts a public deficit of 9.4 percent this year.

The European Commission has said it will suspend borrowing limits for EU governments for a third year in 2022 to aid the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

The Stability and Growth Pactthe set of fiscal rules designed to stop EU countries spending beyond their meansneeded amending in a way that neither abandoned the pacts core principles nor remained fixated on an outdated cap, Villeroy said.

The definition of sustainable debt has evolved, he wrote.

The governor reaffirmed his view that the pandemic recovery remained stronger than anticipated a year ago, forecasting a 10 percent growth over 2021 and 2022 combined, and said it should not be significantly impacted by the spread of the new Delta variant of the coronavirus.

In mid-2021, the bottleneck on growth is in fact not due to insufficient spending but with the reappearance, already, of difficulties with recruitment, the governor said. There is hardly any reform more important than those that increase the quantity and quality of labour in the market.

By Richard Lough
The triplets Aria, Sienna, and Lilah were born in a high-risk pregnancy after their mother, Christine Taala, suffered three miscarriages. (Courtesy of Christine Taala)

Preemie Triplets Born After 3 Miscarriages and High-Risk Pregnancy Are Now Thriving

A Florida mom was in disbelief on learning she was expecting triplets after losing three babies to miscarriages.

Back in November 2018, Christine Taala of Miamialready a mom to a preteen and a newborn babywas extremely worried, thinking how she was going to care for five kids, and she feared the worst.

Yet her mothers comforting words that it might be Gods way of giving her back the three babies she had lost assured her to courageously proceed with her pregnancy.

Today, Christines triplets are a testament to hope.

Things happen for a reason, we dont know exactly why they happen, but eventually we will know why, Christine told The Epoch Times in an interview.

Christine Taala (C) with her husband Talmage, and their five daughters. (Courtesy of Christine Taala)

Christine, 35, met her husband Talmage, 37, hiking in Las Vegas in late 2015. The couple got engaged in April 2016 and married the following year.

During the period between December 2015 and March 2017, Christine had two miscarriages. She gave birth to their first daughter, Mila, in January 2018. Yet in August the same year, the new mom was hospitalized, pregnant again, and miscarrying.

Still grieving her third miscarriage, news of her spontaneous triplet pregnancy in November 2018 was hard to take in. At 10 weeks pregnant, her doctor suggested a fetal reduction to increase survival odds. Her pregnancy was high-risk, but Christine couldnt reconcile with losing one of her babies.

Christines ultrasound scan showing triplets. (Courtesy of Christine Taala)

With the moral support of her mother, Christine gradually regained hope and believed that the divines planned her to be a mom of triplets for a purpose. She had an epiphany: her babies were neither a punishment nor a test, they were her reason to be.

Christines case was a rare double pregnancy from two separate eggs; identical twins A and B were conceived a week after baby C, who was a fraternal child.

To add to the excitement, Christine, her husband, and her 11-year-old and 9-month-old daughters learned in a special gender reveal held at Walt Disney World that they would be welcoming three baby girls.

Christine Taala (R) with her husband Talmage, and two daughters during the triplets gender reveal surprise at Walt Disney World in 2018. (Courtesy of Christine Taala)

All seemed well until Christines perinatologist noticed baby A had stopped growing. Sharing an umbilical cord with baby B, she wasnt getting enough nutrients.

After a procedure to rectify the blood flow at Childrens Hospital of Texas, Christine held on until March 28, 2019, before going into labor at 26 weeks. She gave birth the following day with the help of a team of 25 experts. All three babies were whisked to the NICUone needed to be resuscitated and two were intubatedwhile Christine was held back to recover from a fever.

Nervous and excited, she saw her baby girls for the first time three days later.

We had to wash our hands and then we approached each incubator, she said. I was terrified to touch them, they looked so fragile, their bodies were pure bones and skin.

Talmage with two of the triplet babies. (Courtesy of Christine Taala)

The triplets first 15 days in the NICU were the scariest days of Christines life. Baby A had a hole in her heart and hemangiomas in her liver, baby B had a less severe hole in her heart, and baby C had a stage 4 brain bleed. Christine became a WebMD master, researching everything.

Doctors prognoses were pessimistic until the babies took a turn for the better three weeks in. The little fighters began to gain weight and their oxygen levels normalized.

For 103 days, the hospital was the familys second home. Until finally, on July 2, 2019, two babies went home, followed closely by their sister.

Christine and Talmages triplet baby girls in July 2019. (Courtesy of Christine Taala)

After so many months of stress, Christine, a healthcare worker, suffered PTSD. The tripletsAria, Lilah, and Siennasuffered episodes of sleep apnea and one caught a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), sending them briefly back to the hospital.

Christine said that trying to balance work, kids, schedules, meals, diapers, and screaming toddlers was the second most challenging thing. Prioritizing to look after their baby girls, Talmage joined in to help his beloved wife, and the family found its equilibrium.

My husband, I think, was made to be a triplet dad! she said. He can stay calm when I am falling apart  I truly think we have learned to be a team, as this is no one-parent job.

Watching her affectionate trio grow up together is the highlight of triplet parenting for Christine. Her thriving girls, now toddlers, confirm her theory that everything happens for a reason.

I am a firm believer of that saying as I look at all the ups and downs we went through, she said. Somehow it made us stronger human beings, but also stronger parents and a couple.

Christine now blogs about mom life and parenting triplets on Instagram.

The triplets are these miracle babies, she told The Epoch Times. You see the girls today, they push every step of the way. I see how accomplished they are, how proud that they learn a new task or skill each day. They are our heroes!

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Pro-China Samoan Interim Prime Minister To Appear Before Court As Election Crisis Continues

Samoas caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is set to appear before the countrys Supreme Court on Monday for refusing to follow orders issued by the court in May to open the nations Parliament.

Tuilaepa and three colleagues refused to open the countrys Parliament for a swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and her opposition party FAST on May 24. The FAST parliamentarians then held an impromptu swearing-in ceremony outside Parliament House which Tuilaepa declared was an act of treason and the highest form of illegal conduct.

Tuilaepa, who is known for his pro-Beijing stance, has refused to admit that he and his party the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) lost the pacific islands April election.

Samoan Prime Minister Elect Fiame Naomi Mataafa speaks during the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 18, 2013. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

RNZ reports that the Supreme Court hearing will decide the extent of Tuilaepas role in the blockade of Parliament and whether criminal contempt applies to his actions.

The political upheaval has also been compounded by Samoas head of state, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, throwing his support behind the HRPP party and refusing to accept any court decision. Instead, in a statement (pdf) on July 5, he accused the countrys judicial branch of trying to usurp his authority.

[The courts] have shown flagrant disregard, and disrespect, of the powers of the position of the head of state, Tuimalealiifano said in a statement. I read it as a direct threat to the legal authority, powers, and integrity of both the office of the head of state and that of the parliament of the independent state of Samoa.

However, the actions of HRRP and Tuimalealiifano have created a potential pathway for FAST and Fiame to be legally instated as the governing party after the Supreme Court noted it would reconsider its decision to declare the impromptu parliamentary swearing-in of the FAST government illegal if the July 5 session of parliament was not held.

Tuimalealiifano did not open Parliament on July 5.

Samoas Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Great Hall Of The People in Beijing, China on Sept. 18, 2018. (LINTAO ZHANG/AFP via Getty Images)

If the court does choose to make the impromptu swearing-in legal, Fiame, who shot to international prominence for stating she would scrap a Chinese-backed port development in Samoa because it was excessive, will become the first female leader of the nation.

Meanwhile, both Australia and New Zealand have urged all parties to come together and allow for the formation of a government.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja, in a joint statement, said that Australia acknowledges that the court ruling did not prevent convening the Parliament and urged everyone to cooperate.

We urge all parties to cooperate, with a view to convening the parliament and enabling the formation of a government, the statement said.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne (R) and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pose for a photograph in Auckland, New Zealand on April 23, 2021. (Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she and Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta had discussed the recent developments in Samoa and said they both believe the decision of the Supreme Court needed to be upheld, reported RNZ.

There are obviously some deadlines for the convening of Parliament that are looming, and we continue to meet and talk about New Zealands position, Ardern said.

The New Zealand prime minister also said she would discuss Samoas situation with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna, who was visiting Wellington this week.
Moldova's President Maia Sandu speaks to the media after casting her vote in a snap parliamentary election, in Chisinau, Moldova, on July 11, 2021. (Aurel Obreja/AP Photo)

Pro-EU Party in Moldova Wins Clear Majority in Election

CHISINAU, MoldovaA pro-reform party seeking closer ties for Moldova with the European Union has won a clear majority in the parliamentary election, electoral commission results show Monday.

Sundays election was called by President Maia Sandu, who sought to gain a parliament made up of pro-EU reformists in the former Soviet republic.

The Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, took almost 53 percent of all votes, compared to the electoral bloc of Communists and Socialists, which took 27 percent. Only one other party passed the threshold to gain seats in Moldovas 101-seat legislature.

Voter turnout in the nation of 3.5 million peopleEuropes poorest country, landlocked between Ukraine and Romaniawas just over 48 percent.

Sandu, a former World Bank official who used to lead the PAS, has promised to clean up corruption, fight poverty, and strengthen relations with the EU.

After ballots closed Sunday the president said she hopes the election would be the end of a hard era for Moldova.

I hope today will be the end of the thieves reign over Moldova  People must soon feel the benefits of a clean parliament and a government that actually concerns population problems, she said.

A woman casts her vote in a mobile ballot box, in Chisinau, Moldova, on July 11, 2021. (Aurel Obreja/AP Photo)

In 2014, Moldova signed a deal with the EU on forging closer ties, but high levels of corruption and lack of reform have hindered development in the country, which ranked 115th out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals 2020 Corruption Perception Index.

In last years presidential election, Sandu beat Moscow-friendly incumbent Igor Dodon, the current leader of the Socialists, who campaigned on high social spending, traditional family values, and a distrust of closer ties with the West.

Dodon told a news conference Monday that this is democracy, people wanted change, but expressed concerns over the reformists ability to govern the country.

The election, which featured more than 20 parties, was called in April by Sandu after the countrys Constitutional Court abolished a state of emergency that was introduced to handle the coronavirus pandemic.

The pro-Western president was hoping to secure a government she can work to enact reforms.

Vadim Pistrinciuc, executive director of Chisinau-based Institute for Strategic Initiatives, and a former lawmaker, told The Associated Press that the election result is historical.

For the first time a single pro-European party takes a full [parliamentary] majority, he said, but added that if the reformists fail to deliver change, it would bring tremendous disappointment.

Dionis Cenusa, an analyst at the Chisinau-based think tank Expert Group, said that the PAS parliamentary majority is enough to start a huge reform wave.

By Corneliu Rusnac and Stephen McGrath
This photo illustration shows the logo of Reddit on a mobile phone in Arlington, Virginia on January 29, 2021.(Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Reddit Expands Into Australia

Social news aggregator and discussion forum Reddit has opened its Australian office as part of an ongoing international expansion push.

The physical office, located in Sydneys harbourside Barangaroo precinct, will house a team tasked with expanding the companys community engagement and advertising push.

One expert says the company could be a tough competitor to incumbents Facebook and Google.

Australia is the fourth largest market for Reddit, which already boasts 52 million active daily users globally. The expansion follows the establishment of offices in Canada in March and the United Kingdom last year in September.

Its most popular thread in the country, r/Australia, has around 700,000 members.

Currently, Australians spend 31 minutes per day on average on the platform and contribute 158 million posts. Around 62 percent of users are aged between 18 to 34, and 28 percent between 35 to 49.

The Reddit logo on a smartphone on July 12, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Reddit also claims that 40 percent of its users are not on Twitter, 20 percent are not on Facebook, 23 percent are not on Instagram, 51 percent are not on Snapchat, and 70 percent are not on TikTok.

The company hopes that this differentiating factor, along with the younger age bracket of its users, will appeal to advertisers.

Weve been fortunate to experience strong organic growth from our Australian user base in recent years, and with this comes a significant opportunity to level-up our local offering in a more focussed and nuanced way, Jen Wong, Reddits chief operating officer, said in a statement published on the companys blog.

From building out our highly engaged Australian communities to finding homes for local brands on the platform, this launch is just the beginning of our investment in the market and key to our wider international vision as we continue to scale Reddit at pace.

Reddit is a cultural phenomenon and a great platform for brands wishing to connect with customers, fans, and advocates who influence brand loyalty and purchase decisions, said advertising agency UMs U.S. Chief Digital Officer, Joshua Lowcock.

As an Australian ex-pat living in New York, I have seen first-hand the success clients have had working with Reddit, he said in a statement.

Rob Nicholls, associate professor of regulation and governance at the University of New South Wales, said it was a logical step for Reddit to expand, and that the platform had a unique offering.

The users of Reddit do not overlap neatly with Twitter or the Facebook offeringswhich include both Facebook and Instagram. This means that they represent a potentially new base to which advertising can be targeted, he told The Epoch Times.

The proposition to advertisers will be that the Reddit subgroups already identify key interests of the group members and that the advertising will be associated with moderated content, he added.

This has the potential to be quite compelling in a crowded, but risky sector.

Nicholls said Reddit could also offer more transparency around programmatic advertising optionsessentially automated digital advertising formats that can target consumers based on interests.

For example, advertising stockbroking services on r/AusFinance is likely to offer a far more precise target than other advertising platforms, he said.
Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) is seen at the Conservative Partnership Institute in Washington on July 27, 2020. (Brendon Fallon/The Epoch Times)

Republicans, Democrats Unified Against Big Tech: Rep. Buck

Curbing Big Techs enormous power is the rare issue that has strong support from both Democrats and Republicans, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said.

Its a fascinating issue because Democrats dont like these Big Tech companies for one set of reasons and Republicans dont like them for another set of reasons, but were unified in not liking themand anytime that happens, you can pass legislation, Buck, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee of Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law, told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders.

Buck and Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline (D-R.I.) last month announced a bipartisan agenda that seeks to hold Big Tech companies accountable for anti-competitive conduct.

Five pieces of legislation unveiled by a group led by the pair include bills that would bar conduct deemed discriminatory by the companies, prohibit acquisition of competitive threats, and promote competition by making it easier for businesses to enter the digital space.

Cicilline argued at the time that the unregulated tech monopolies have too much power over our economy.

They are in a unique position to pick winners and losers, destroy small businesses, raise prices on consumers, and put folks out of work. Our agenda will level the playing field and ensure the wealthiest, most powerful tech monopolies play by the same rules as the rest of us, he said in a statement.

#BigTech: "We can't just say I don't like this antitrust solution because it doesn't do enough on #Censorship. We've got to[be] pushing in every area."@RepKenBuck on his push for a suite of bipartisan antitrust bills to reign in big tech. #CPACTexas @CPAC pic.twitter.com/hNMjz7NcWN  Jan Jekielek (@JanJekielek) July 11, 2021

Buck noted that Google controls approximately 94 percent of online searches in America, giving them a unique ability to influence what users see when they attempt to learn about various subjects.

If Google, and they did, change their algorithm six months before the election, and that change benefited Joe Biden and harmed Donald Trump, and when you when you change an algorithm like that you are affecting millions of votersand Im not saying they changed millions of votesbut what they did was when people searched, they would find bad articles on Donald Trump higher and good articles on Joe Biden higher in their search results. That tends to impact public opinion, Buck said.

Google program manager Ritesh Lakhar told Project Veritas, a journalism nonprofit, last year that he agreed that a search for Trump turned up mainly negative news while a search for Biden brought up primarily positive results.

Its skewed by the owners and the drivers of the algorithm, Lakhar said at the time.

Robert Epstein, senior research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, meanwhile, discovered that vote reminders just before the 2020 election went to liberals, not conservatives, for at least four days.

Amazon also wields tremendous power, having the ability to buy developing products at a low price or creating a facsimile that they can promote more by adjusting where it appears on pages on its website, Buck added.

Google and Amazon, as well as other Big Tech companies, have disputed many assertions about the power they hold.

Google said in a statement last year, for instance, that it competes fairly in a fast-moving and highly competitive industry. A Facebook official said a few months later that the company face[s] competition in every aspect of our business. And a federal court last month dismissed the federal governments antitrust cases against Facebook.

Buck also addressed critics who say the most pressing issue concerning Big Tech is censorship.

I think its really important that we have an all-of-the-above strategy. The biggest challenge with these companies is stopping censorship and increasing competition. And I believe that if wejust like we have in cable TV, where we have five or six different choices, we know that some of them are biased, but they dont censorand if we have five or six different choices of search engines, or five or six different choices of social media platforms, as conservatives, we will benefit from it, Buck said.

Im all in favor of dealing with the censorship issue, dealing with the privacy issue. But at the same time, we have to make sure that we deal with the antitrust issues, the monopoly issues, and encourage competition in the marketplace.
Rescue K9 Locates Man Trapped Under Rubble After Building Collapse in Washington DC, Leads Rescuers to Him

As firefighters responded to a five-story condominium collapse in Washington D.C. on July 1, a man who was trapped under the rubble owes a debt of gratitude to mans best friend.

Kimber, the 8-year-old search and rescue K-9 who assisted at the scene (on Kennedy Street in northwest D.C.), was able to pinpoint the man, buried under three stories of rubble and debris and unable to move for over 90 minutes, AP reported.

D.C. Fire and EMS Department rescuers could hear him but couldnt find him, until Kimber led the way and zeroed in on his location. Crews then worked desperately using saws and other equipment to cut through wood and free him from the wreckage.

He suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a D.C. hospital.

Additionally, four other menall five were construction workers whod been working on the buildingwere found, none with life-threatening injuries, and were brought to the hospital.

The mans rescue represents Kimbers first-ever successful location of a victim; some dogs go their entire careers without finding a person.

Kimber, a FEMA certificated K-9, is specialized in locating still-living victims in disaster situations and can discern between a live scent and deceased scent. Using her keen nose, she can pinpoint victims far faster than humans can, allowing rescuers to focus their efforts more efficiently. Her nimble agility allowed her to dart under the rubble to locate the man.

The dog is a force-multiplier, firefighter Chris Holmes told CBS. So, where we would have to have people hand-dig or search physically, the dog can sense with its nose where the victim is.

And not only sense where the victim is, but let us know if a victim is alive or deceased. So the dog is looking for live, concealed human scent, and thats what she did today.

Officials stated they did not know what caused the collapse, though a neighbor described hearing several loud booms as it happened, CBS reported.

Meanwhile, Kimber had received praise from officialsthough a hearty good girl and a doggy treat are probably reward enough.

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South Africa Deploys Army to Quell Unrest Linked to Zuma Jailing

JOHANNESBURGSouth Africa deployed soldiers on July 12 to quell the violence that erupted in the wake of former president Jacob Zumas jailing, after days of riots left at least six people dead.

Police said that disturbances had intensified, and 219 people were arrested as the controversial ex-leader challenged his 15-month prison term in the countrys top court.

Smoke from burning buildings swirled in the air as items from burgled shops lay strewn by the side of the road in Pietermaritzburg in Zumas home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

The sporadic pro-Zuma protests that broke out when he handed himself over last week have quickly escalated into looting and arson, mainly in KZN, but also in Gauteng, the province in which Johannesburg, the countrys largest city, is located.

Opportunistic criminals appear to be taking advantage of the anger some feel over Zumas incarceration to steal and cause destruction, police said.

Stick-wielding protesters march through the streets in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 11, 2021. (Sumaya Hisham/Reuters)

A statement from the military noted that pre-deployment processes had started, following a request for assistance from a government intelligence body. But a Reuters cameraman in Pietermaritzburg said he saw armed soldiers already in the streets.

The rand, South Africas currency, dropped sharply and was trading down 1.5 percent against the U.S. dollar at 6:30 p.m. local time.

President Cyril Ramaphosa would address the nation about the violence at 6 p.m. GMT, his office said.

Any confrontation with soldiers risks fuelling claims by Zuma and his supporters that theyre victims of a politically motivated clampdown by his successor, Ramaphosa.

Zuma, 79, was sentenced late last month for defying a constitutional court order to give evidence at an inquiry investigating high-level corruption during his nine years in office, which came to an end in 2018.

The decision to jail him resulted from legal proceedings seen as a test of post-apartheid South Africas ability to enforce the rule of law, including against powerful politicians.

In a virtual hearing on July 12, Zumas counsel asked the constitutional court to rescind his jail term, citing a rule that judgments can be reconsidered if made in the absence of the affected person or containing a patent error. But legal experts say Zumas chances of success are slim.

Brazen Theft

Footage shot by Reuters in the Katlehong township in Gauteng showed police firing rubber bullets at looters to disperse them.

At the Jabulani Mall in Soweto, looters carrying armfuls of stolen goods brazenly walked past TV cameras.

Liquor stores were among those affected, as the sale of alcohol is currently banned under COVID-19 restrictions designed to ease pressure on hospitals, as were shops of companies like pharmacy group Clicks and food retailers Pick n Pay and Shoprite.

As of morning on July 12, the bodies of four people had been foundat least two with gunshot woundsin Gauteng, intelligence structure NatJOINTS said. Two deaths had occurred in KZN. All six were being investigated.

Ramaphosa said on July 11 there was no justification for violence and that it was damaging efforts to rebuild the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governing African National Congress (ANC) said on July 12 that the poor would bear the brunt of the destruction, as critical public services had been disrupted and several small businesses had been destroyed.

A supermarket burns as protests continue in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on July 12, 2021. (Rogan Ward/Reuters)

The movement of freight out of Durban Ports container terminal was disrupted, while a logistics executive who asked not to be named said he had taken all 300 of his trucks transporting metals, such as copper and cobalt, off the roads. The mining industry body the Minerals Council said that some shipments out of the Richards Bay port had been delayed.

Zumas imprisonment marks a significant fall from stature for a leading figure in the ANC.

He was once jailed by South Africas pre-1994 white-minority rulers for his efforts to make all citizens equal before the law, but for many, his reputation is now tarnished after a string of sleaze and graft scandals.

The corruption inquiry that Zuma has refused to cooperate with is examining allegations that he allowed three Indian-born businessmen, Atul, Ajay, and Rajesh Gupta, to plunder state resources and peddle influence over government policy. He and the Gupta brothers, who fled the country after Zumas ouster, deny wrongdoing.

Zuma also faces a corruption case relating to a $2 billion arms deal in 1999, when he was deputy president. He also denies the charges in that case.

By Tim Cocks and Alexander Winning
One of many counterfeit identification cards seized by police after an undercover investigation revealed a forging operation in Brooklyn, New York. (Courtesy of the Office of the District Attorney, Kings County)

Southern California Men Face Sentencing in Document Mill Case

LOS ANGELESTwo San Fernando Valley men face federal prison terms July 12 for participating in a document-trafficking ring that created and sold counterfeit United States passport cards, Social Security

cards, drivers licenses and other documents.

Carlos A. Hernandez, 44, of Granada Hills, pleaded guilty in February to one federal count each of conspiracy and being a felon in possession of firearms, and Miguel J. Guerrero, 23, of Van Nuys, pleaded to one count each of conspiracy and producing false identification documents, according to the U.S.

Attorneys Office.

The government is asking the judge to sentence Hernandez to two-and-a-half years behind bars and Guerrero to two years.

A third defendant, Nestor Perez, 32, of Van Nuys, also pleaded guilty to two federal charges, and is scheduled for sentencing on July 19 in Los Angeles federal court.

The three men admitted their roles in the five-year scheme in which they worked to produce false identification documents that appeared to have been issued by the United States government, and drivers licenses purporting to be from multiple states, including California, Wyoming and Pennsylvania.

Hernandez took orders, some by text message, from customers seeking specific false identification documents. His co-defendants then manufactured and stored the fake IDs at a Van Nuys apartment used solely to produce counterfeit documents, prosecutors said.

After the fake IDs were ready, Hernandez notified customers and arranged for pickup times and places, usually in the parking lots of restaurants or pharmacies, in exchange for cash.

On Jan. 7, at the Van Nuys residence, the defendants were found in possession of 21 U.S. passport cards, 68 Social Security cards, five Lawful Permanent Resident cardscommonly known as green cardstwo Employment Authorization Document cards, 135 drivers licenses, 11 foreign identification documents for Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Peru, and about 1,000 fraudulent authentication seals, court papers show.

Hernandez was also found in possession of $40,000 in cash at his home, prosecutors said.
People protest in front of the Capitol in Havana, Cuba on July 11, 2021. (Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo)

State Department Official Criticized for Depicting Cubas Anti-Communism Protest as a COVID-19 Demonstration

A State Department official was criticized for describing Sundays anti-government protest in Cuba as an assembly against COVID-19 cases, deaths, and medicine shortages.

Peaceful protests are growing in #Cuba as the Cuban people exercise their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising COVID cases/deaths & medicine shortages, Julie Chung, the Acting Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, wrote on Twitter Sunday.

One of the biggest anti-government demonstrations erupted in Cuba on Sunday. Thousands of protestors marched on Havanas Malecon promenade and other cities, chanting Freedom, Enough, and Unite.

Video shows Cuban protestors were chanting Liberty on the street, according to The Post Millennial.

Republicans and conservatives widely criticized Chungs statement.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called Chungs statement ridiculous.

Its now almost 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Its now been over 12 hours since over 32 cities in Cuba, brave people, have taken to the streets to protest against Communist, Marxist evil tyranny, Rubio said in a video clip uploaded on his social media account.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 21, 2021. (Graeme Jennings/AFP via Getty Images)

This is not just about COVID, Rubio continued. Of course, COVID has a role to play, but this began well before COVID. These people are frustrated. They want to live in a normal country. They dont want to have their kids getting on rafts and having to leave the country in order to lead normal lives.

So why cant the State Department, why cant the White House just say it clearly? This is not about COVID, this is not about anything else. This is about freedom. Say it, Rubio added.

Are you serious!? Theyre protesting a corrupt communist regime! They want freedom. Its not about COVID. You are embarrassing, Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, wrote on her personal Twitter on her personal account.

They are really doing it, guys, conservative commentator and author Candace Owens also took to Twitter. [President] Joe Bidens filthy administrationwhich is working with China to bring communism to Americais pretending the eruption in Cuba is over Covid-19 and not over the EVIL communist regime.

Do not forget this moment, Owens added.

The State Department didnt immediately respond to a request from The Epoch Times for comment.

We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cubas authoritarian regime, Biden said in an issued statement on Monday morning. The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected. The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.

Chung changed her tone in a new post on Monday.

Cubas people continue to bravely express [a] yearning for freedom in the face of repression, Chung wrote. The Cuban people have waited long enough for Libertad!

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A laboratory technician works on samples from people to be tested for coronavirus at the "Fire Eye" laboratory in Wuhan in China's Hubei Province on Feb. 6, 2020. BGI Group, a genome sequencing company based in China, said the lab is able to test up to 10,000 people per day for the virus that causes COVID-19. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Stop Chinas Gene Harvesting

The first in a 3-part series on Beijing's genetic data collection

Commentary

In this three-part series, Anders Corr criticizes Chinas harvesting of womens genetic information on a global scale. Part I details the harvesting by BGI Group, a Shenzhen-based company that is the object of U.S. government warnings. The companys gene harvesting, through prenatal tests, yields gigabytes of data used by the Chinese military for research that singles out the Uyghur and Tibetan minorities, sounds close to eugenics, and could facilitate the next generation of gene-targeted bioweapons. Part II gives the history of BGI, including its collaboration with a Harvard professors private company, set up to send genetic data to Hong Kong. Part III reveals a Harvard students virtual internship at BGI, and legal strategies for protecting American genetic data from finding their way into Chinas military research facilities. The United States and allies should immediately end the sharing of genetic data with China, which doesnt share its genetic data with foreigners. Harvard should likewise end its irresponsible cooperation with BGI, a Chinese company that is engaged in unethical science, and that is the subject of U.S. government warnings.

Do you hear that sound? Its the black hole called China, sucking up the worlds most sensitive data.

The latest report about Chinas efforts to weaponize data comes from a Reuters investigation into the regimes military partnership with BGI Group, a company that does prenatal genetic testing on women globally. Chinas military extracts this data and feeds it into its own research, which could include the development of genetically targeted bioweapons.

According to the Reuters report on the Chinese company, Large genomic datasets can be used to design disease therapies, yet they also expose genetic vulnerabilities in a population; an adversary could exploit a susceptibility to disease in a targeted genetic attack, a report to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence by science and medical experts warned last year. BGI researchers have already used womens genetic data to discern differences in viral susceptibility between Chinese and European populations.

This is only the beginning.

China continues to surprise us in the depth and speed of its technological advancements, increasing control over global industries, and ability to leverage power to spread its genocidal policies and practices. The United States and its allies should immediately take stronger action against the regimes global collection of genetic data, given its propensity for weaponization.

Millions of women in 52 countries around the world are taking the test, called a Non-Invasive Fetal TrisomY (NIFTY) diagnostic, without necessarily reading the fine print. The test is marketed in 13 European Union countries, such as Spain, Germany, Denmark, and Poland, as well as in Britain, Australia, Canada, India, Pakistan, and Thailand. Globally, 8.4 million women have taken the test.

BGI also has COVID-19 testing labs in 30 countries that it plans to turn into labs for reproductive health screening. Reuters confirmed that genetic data on at least 500 foreign women are stored in the China National GeneBank. This may only be a small snapshot.

The company consent forms seen by Reuters reportedly state that the womens data may be shared with Chinese authorities for Chinas national security or national defense security reasons. Conversely, China has since 2015 restricted foreign researchers from accessing the gene data of Chinese citizens.

The Chinese company, called BGI Group, has known links to Chinas military, and a U.S. subsidiary called CGI. Such a link, not to mention the continued enabling of Chinas economy and technological development, makes it irresponsible for the United States and allied democratic governments to allow the harvesting of womens genetic data by the Chinese military and its state-controlled corporations.

According to Reuters, the Chinese military is working to improve population quality, which sounds an awful lot like eugenics, the reprehensible science of breeding super-humans that are more desirable according to the state. Eugenics was used in the 1940s by the Nazi state, including through genocidal policies against Jewish, gay, gypsy, and disabled people. Given advancements in genomics research, eugenics has troubling new applications that are now being explored in China.

1951: Julian Huxley (18871975). Huxley was a fervent advocate of eugenics, the idea of improving humanity by removing undesirables from the racial gene pool. (Baron/Getty Images)

One BGI study crunched Chinese womens data in a military supercomputer that singled out Tibetan and Uyghur minorities to find links between their genes and their characteristics, according to Reuters. Reuterss Kirsty Needham and Clare Baldwin reported that the Chinese researchers were able to trace genetic distinctions between the countrys dominant Han Chinese ethnic group and minorities including Uyghurs and Tibetans.

In 2018, BGI co-founder and President (now Chairman) Wang Jian said publicly that BGI employees are not allowed to have babies that suffer from birth defects.

If there is a birth defect, it is a humiliation for all 7,000 of our employees, he said. It would mean we are swindling the public.

A paper from 2019 based on BGI research used womens genetic data for the study of how Uyghur genes changed their response to drugs. China has systematically collected Uyghur genetic data, and multiple Uyghurs in Xinjiang concentration camps reported being forced to take drugs that made them feel ill.

The United States sanctioned two BGI subsidiaries in 2020 for Chinas abusive DNA collection and analysis schemes to repress its citizens. That wasnt enough.

Nazak Nikahktar, former undersecretary of industry and security during the Trump administration, wrote that There seems to be a lack of real understanding among policymakers that genetic data can and are, today, being weaponized against us by adversaries. We are only at the beginning of comprehending where science will take us and the horrors that science of this magnitude has the potential to unleash.

Anders Corr has a bachelors/masters in political science from Yale University (2001) and a doctorate in government from Harvard University (2008). Hes a principal at Corr Analytics Inc., publisher of the Journal of Political Risk, and has conducted extensive research in North America, Europe, and Asia. He authored The Concentration of Power (forthcoming in 2021) and No Trespassing, and edited Great Powers, Grand Strategies.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Supreme Court Asked in Emergency Application to Lift Air Travel Mask Mandate

A passenger prevented from boarding a Southwest Airlines flight has filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court seeking a preliminary injunction against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over its mandate requiring travelers to wear face coverings.

This is an authoritarian policy that has no basis in law and has to come to an end, Washington resident Lucas Wall told The Epoch Times in an interview.

Wall is fully vaccinated, but says he refuses to wear a face covering because doing so precipitates a feeling of panic and claustrophobia.

Ive been stranded at my mothers in Florida because I dont own a car, and I rely solely on public transportation. And Ive essentially been banned from every single mode of public transportation, Wall said. But Ive been hearing from hundreds of other Americans who are in the same boat where they have medical conditions, whereby they cannot tolerate wearing a mask, and they have been thrown off planes.

There are probably tens of millions of Americans such as myself, who cant or wont wear a face mask for various medical and other reasons, who are essentially banned for using all forms of public transportation anywhere in the country right now because of this overzealous and illegal federal transportation mask mandate.

The legal action comes after Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican and medical doctor who has had COVID-19, promised to file a bill to eliminate the mask mandate on airplanes.

When the Senate returns to session, I will be introducing an immediate repeal of the mask mandate on planes. Enough! Time to stop this farce and let people travel in peace! he wrote on Twitter on July 8.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on April 30 that it was extending through Sept. 13 the face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter buses and rail systems.

People who have been fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, are still required to be masked while using such transportation networks, consistent with CDC guidelines. The original face mask mandate took effect on Feb. 1. The TSA stated that the existing civil penalty fine structure, which starts at $250 and rises to $1,500 for repeat offenders, would remain in place for those who violate the face covering requirement.

The application, filed by Wall, who is representing himself, with the Supreme Court on July 12, is known as Wall v. CDC. In addition to the CDC, the other named defendants are the Departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and the Department of Transportation, as well as the TSA and President Joe Biden.

Wall is also suing other airlines, accusing them of discriminating against passengers like him who cant wear masks because of medical conditions.

The application goes to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who sits as circuit justice for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, which covers Florida. Wall, who is self-employed, also filed a lawsuit with a federal district court in Florida after he was denied boarding for a Southwest Airlines flight from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale on June 2.

Wall said in the document that he wants the court to grant him a preliminary injunction to stop the Federal Defendants from enforcing the Federal Transportation Mask Mandate (FTMM) nationwide, which he argues violates federal law, including the Constitution.

I have been illegally restricted from flying during the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic because of my inability to wear a mask, especially since the FTMM took effect Feb. 1, 2021.

Southwest refused to grant me a mask exemption even though I submitted the required form stating my Generalized Anxiety Disorder makes it impossible for me to tolerate wearing a face covering  when I booked my ticket May 31.

TSA would not allow me to pass through the security checkpoint at Orlando airport, because Southwest had not endorsed my boarding pass as being mask-exempt.

Time is of the essence, Wall argues in his application.

I respectfully ask for relief no later than Friday, July 16, because I have a flight booked to Germany on Saturday, July 17, to visit my brother and his wife, noting that he has already postponed the planned trip twice because he hasnt been able to obtain preliminary injunctive relief from the District Court or the 11th Circuit.

If this Court does not grant me relief, I will have to cancel this and another upcoming trip to Seattle  until at least September because the District Court has indicated it will not even consider providing any relief until then.

Approached for comment, Southwest Airlines responded to The Epoch Times by email.

We dont have any commentary to offer here.

Acting U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.
Police stand at the scene of a shooting that happened in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn on July 16, 2020 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Teenager Fatally Shot in NYC Gang-Related Incident

A 13-year-old was fatally shot during a gang-related incident on Sunday afternoon in the Bronx, according to the New York Police Department.

The teenager was the intended victim of the incident, according to NYPD Chief Rodney Harrison. The NYPD could not provide an update on the incident as of Monday morning and told the Daily Caller News Foundation that an investigation is ongoing.

Earlier today, at approximately 3:15 P.M., there was a gang-related shooting in the 48 Precincts Belmont section of the Bronx, Harrison said in a tweet. The shooting led to the death of a 13-year-old who was the intended target.

A gunman reportedly opened fire on the teenager in front of a cafe, Luis Mercado told a CBS affiliate. The teen sustained gunshot wounds to his chest and leg before he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, CBS2 reported.

When the third one came, I hit the floor, and I didnt get up until it was over, and then  I called 911, Mercado told CBS2.

No arrests were made in connection with the fatal shooting Sunday night and the NYPD had not released information about potential suspects, according to CBS2.

A 16-year-old was injured in a shooting at approximately the same time in a separate incident in Brooklyn, CBS2 reported. Nearly 800 shooting incidents resulting in around 920 victims were recorded in NYC as of July 10, up from 612 incidents and 750 victims during the same period last year.

By Kaylee Greenlee

From The Daily Caller News Foundation

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
The Texas State Capitol by night in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 18, 2009. (Kumar Appaiah via Wikimedia Commons)

Texas Democrats Plan Walkout to Block GOPs Election Overhaul Bill: Party Chairman

Democrat lawmakers in Texas will walk out in a bid to deny Republicans the quorum they need to convene a special legislative session called by the governor as GOP lawmakers seek to pass an election overhaul bill.

Several news outlets on Monday cited anonymous sources for the planned walkout, but it was confirmed by Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa on Monday in a statement.

Today, by breaking quorum to block [Gov. Greg] Abbotts attacks on voters, Texas Democrats are making history, Hinojosa said in the statement. After Abbott dragged lawmakers back to the Capitol for his suppression session, Democrats are fighting back with everything weve got.

Several Democrat lawmakers in the House confirmed the walkout and stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans freedom to vote, reads a joint statement from Democrat Texas Reps. Chris Turner, Rafael Anchia, Nicole Collier, Garnet Coleman, and Dean Senfronia Thompson.

Democrats on May 30 employed a similar tactic and staged a walkout of the state Capitol, denying Republicans the ability to pass two election bills. Abbott, a Republican, then announced he would convene a special legislative session to pass the voting measure as well as measures targeting bail and critical race theory.

In a strongly-worded statement on Monday, Abbott said Democrats decision inflicts harm on the very Texans who elected them to serve and said the lawmakers are leaving undone issues that can help their districts and our state as they fly across the country on cushy private planes.

The governor was apparently responding to anonymously sourced reports some state Democrats would be flying to Washington D.C. on chartered flights.

Mondays decision came as a Texas state House committee on Sunday voted to advance a bill that would bring back a number of voting integrity-related proposals that didnt pass during the previous session. Later that day, Senate lawmakers advanced their version of the voting legislation in a committee vote.

Republicans have described the two voting overhaul bills as necessary to combat irregularities and fraud.

By and large, individual voters are trying to vote. Theyre trying to do the right thing, Republican State Sen. Bryan Hughes said, according to KWTX. We want them to do that. The security measures in this bill, by and large, are directed at vote harvesters or folks who are trying to steal votes.

In comments to Fox News on Sunday, Abbott said the election bills are an attempt to [make] it easier to vote by adding more hours in early voting than we have in current law, but also making it harder to cheat with regard to mail-in ballots.
(L) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott arrives for his COVID-19 press conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on March 29, 2020. (Tom Fox-Pool/Getty Images) (R) Matthew McConaughey attends HISTORYTalks Leadership & Legacy presented by HISTORY at Carnegie Hall in New York on Feb, 29, 2020. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for HISTORY)

Texas Gov. Abbott Taking Matthew McConaughey Very Seriously as Possible 2022 Gubernatorial Candidate

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on July 11 that hes taking actor Matthew McConaughey very seriously as a potential challenger for governor in the 2022 election.

Abbott, a Republican, is up for a third term and has already secured the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Hollywood actor McConaughey isnt yet officially a candidate, but said in March that hes giving it serious consideration.

It doesnt matter what the name is, I take everybody very seriously, and it shows, Abbott told Fox News Sunday. I will tell you two things, and that is if you look at my polling numbers, they are very, very strong. In addition to that, I have $55 million in the bank already, and Im a very aggressive fundraiser.

His remarks followed a poll by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler that showed the Republican governor with a lead of just one point over McConaughey. It found that 39 percent of registered voters in the Lone Star State back Abbott, while 38 percent of respondents said they would back the actor over Abbott.

So, I will have the resources and the backing of a lot of people across the state of Texas to ensure that whoever decides to run against me, we will be able to win, the governor said.

The same poll shows that Abbott holds a 12 percent lead over potential Democratic candidate Beto ORourke, who has yet to rule out a gubernatorial bid.

In announcing a potential run for governor in March, McConaughey, whose home state is Texas, said he would adopt an aggressively centric approach if he were to run.

I would say, as far as running, Im not until I am. So my decision hasnt changed, because Im still not. Am I giving it honest consideration? Yeah, the actor told the Austin American-Statesman in March. Id be a fool not to. And its an honorable consideration. I still have to answer the same question for myself and my family: Honestly, is that the truest and best category for me to be most useful? Im ready to step into a leadership position in this next chapter of my life, but I dont know that thats in politics.

He said at the time that politics is a broken business and portrayed himself as a free agent who could bring an outsiders perspective to the political arena.

Meanwhile, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Allen West, a Republican who until recently had served as chairman of the Texas Republican Party, has said hes also a candidate.

Then-Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington on Feb. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Endorsing Abbott for reelection on June 1, Trump, in a statement circulated by his Save America political action committee, praised the governors policies on the U.S. southern border, the Second Amendment, and election integrity.

Greg Abbott is a fighter and a Great Governor for the incredible people of Texas, the former president said. No Governor has done more to secure the Border and keep our communities safe than Governor Abbott. Greg is a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and has made Texas a Second Amendment Sanctuary State.

In response, Abbott said Trump is a great friend of Texas.

I am proud of the work we have done together to secure our border, bring more jobs to Texas, and protect the freedoms that make America and Texas greatand we are just getting started. I thank President Trump for his leadership, and I will continue to fight for the values that make Texas the greatest state in America, Abbott said in a statement the same day.
The Attempt to Standardize Corporate Profits Taxes: Globalist Politics Versus Sound Economics

Commentary

If you arent already cynical about politics, an examination of the politics underlying the tentative agreement of 130 national governments to harmonize their laws regarding how much to tax the profits of multinational enterprises (MNEs) provides plenty of reasons to be cynical.

First is the hypocrisy that, at a time when the Biden administration is accusing the largest American corporations of being too insulated from competition, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is colluding with foreign officials to severely limit competition between governments. Numerous federal employees (paid by our taxes) are collaborating with bureaucrats of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (a multilateral agency whose major funding comes from our tax dollars) to find ways to raise American taxes.

Your tax dollars at work, as the rueful saying goes.

The fact is that just as businesses compete for consumers by (among other things) lowering prices, so governments have competed to attract MNEs to domicile in their jurisdictions by imposing lower corporate tax rates. We can see this dynamic in the United States today, where nine states are in the process of cutting taxes, and net migration trends show taxpayers relocating from high-tax to low-tax states.

The problem for the United States in recent decades is that the U.S. government has had a top corporate profits tax rate higher than that of most other countries. This has induced some formerly U.S.-based corporations to redomicile in jurisdictions with lower tax rates. Politicians and ideologues on the left have fumed about this alleged injustice.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry resorted to scorched-earth rhetoric, invoking the name of our countrys most infamous traitor, blasting CEOs who moved offshore as Benedict Arnold CEOs. Similarly, President Barack Obamas secretary of the treasury, Jack Lew, implored companies to practice economic patriotism and stay put. This is like asking the chicken youre about to behead to stop squirming. CEOs who moved corporate headquarters overseas werent anti-American, they were simply discharging their fiduciary responsibilities to try to thrive in a competitive global marketplace. Its no more unfair for corporations to take steps to minimize their tax bill than it is for you and me to do so by claiming the exemptions, deductions, and credits available to us.

Instead of driving American businesses away with relatively confiscatory tax rates, Obama should have done what President Donald Trump didlower corporate tax rates and treat businesses as allies, not adversaries. The right approach is to convey to businesses the traditional American message: We welcome your presence here and invite you to earn as much as you can in service to consumers.

In his zeal to undo everything Trump did to strengthen the U.S. economy, Biden wants to raise the corporate tax rate. Knowing that doing so independently of other countries would render U.S. MNEs less globally competitive and that it might trigger a new rush of American businesses either moving or parking overseas profits offshore, the Biden team has been trying to get foreign governments to agree to put a floor under their own corporate tax rates.

Yellen has frequently described the decades-long trend toward lower corporate tax rates as a race to the bottom. While its been a slow-motion race, the word bottom is somewhat appropriate, since the bottom tax rate is zero, and corporate profits taxes were generally moving in that direction. While race to the bottom has an obviously negative connotation, from an economic standpoint, the lower the corporate tax rate, the better.

The optimal and most economically fair and rational corporate profits tax rate is zero. As an economist, Yellen surely knows that corporations dont pay taxes; people do. Corporations merely act as unpaid tax collectors for the government. Corporate taxes are shifted forward in the form of higher prices to consumers and also shifted backward to the employees and owners of the business.

A 2017 Tax Foundation article has copious economic literature detailing how the majority of corporate profits taxes are actually paid for by employees in the form of lower wages and benefits. This helps to explain why wages rose so strongly in the wake of Trumps corporate tax cut.

For Democrats, advocating higher taxes on corporate profits is a matter of political expediency, not sound economics. Calling on large, hugely profitable companies to pay their fair share is effective political demagoguery. It fools average citizens into thinking that their own tax burden is lighter, even though its ultimately workers, consumers, and owners who pay every penny of that tax. Also, politicians know that indirect taxes are easier to sell to the public than direct taxes. Corporate taxes are indirecttheyre paid by citizens to the government through an intermediary entity, the business. Personal income taxes, by contrast, are directtheyre paid by the citizen directly to the government.

Corporate profits taxes are known to economists to be a very inefficient type of tax to collect. They cause economic distortions, and the costs of compliance impose a deadweight burden on businesses. Critics constantly complain about the unfairness of some corporations paying higher rates than others due to various exemptions, deductions, reporting rules, and so forth, and theres some validity to this criticism. Theres only one truly just ratea rate whereby every corporation would pay the same tax rateand that rate is zero.

One question I have about the tentative agreement is whether the higher U.S. tax revenues that Team Biden is hoping to bring in might be offset by the concessions that the United States has to make to induce other governments to swear off lower corporate tax rates. The most notable of these concessions so far is to grant permission to European governments to tax lucrative mega-giant high-tech companies, such as Apple, Google, and Facebook.

I wonder if new foreign taxes on those American MNEs will result in a net loss of revenues that Uncle Sam hopes to collect from those companies. At a time of increasingly gigantic federal deficits, wouldnt it be counterproductive to divert possible U.S. taxes to foreign governments? Not knowing the details of the tentative agreement or what its final terms will be, its possible that this potential revenue loss will be averted, but its an angle worth looking at closely.

Not that its a realistic political possibility, but what would happen if the corporate profits tax were abolished? The big spenders in Washington obviously would have to make a choice between replacing the lost revenues with other taxes (probably higher personal income taxes on all but poor people) or reducing spending. Good luck with that!

Lest you jump to the false conclusion that Im a corporate shill, let me suggest, as a starting point for budgetary reform, an end to the several hundred billion dollars per year of corporate subsidies and other forms of cronyism currently contributing to our bloated federal deficit. When you press progressives on that issue, however, they find a way to justify business subsidies. And the last thing the progressives want to do is to rein in their spending extravaganza. I doubt they would have the courage to take the direct tax route and propose higher income tax rates. Its more likely that they would expect the Federal Reserve to monetize the spending.

What we have here with this plan to establish a new globalist code for taxing MNEs is yet another triumph of political expediency over sound economics. As a learned economist, Treasury Secretary Yellen knows that corporate taxes are highly problematic and that squelching competitioneven between governmentsdecreases overall prosperity. She also knows, as the previous chair of the Federal Reserve System, that a primary mandate of the Fed is to boost employment, yet she advocates chipping away at Trumps corporate tax cut that gave a pronounced boost to employment. She surely isnt doing her successor, Jerome Powell, any favors by calling for higher corporate taxes.

How do we explain such strange goings-on? It all stems from the fact that, as secretary of the treasury, she must do the presidents bidding. She reminds me of a long-ago treasury secretary, Salmon Chase. While serving as secretary under Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War, Chase dutifully sold Congress on the need for a fiat currency (the famous greenbacks) to help finance the war. After the war, in 1870 while serving as chief justice of the Supreme Court, Chase cast the deciding vote that ruled greenbacks to be unconstitutional. Different job, different priorities.

Id like to think that Yellen is taking the positions shes taking as a loyal lieutenant of the president, rather than as an economist. It really doesnt matter, though. What does matter is the damage thats being done by runaway spending and economically unsound policies.

Mark Hendrickson, an economist, recently retired from the faculty of Grove City College, where he remains a fellow for economic and social policy at the Institute for Faith and Freedom.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Prospect of a Woke Military | Counterculture

In this episode of Counterculture, Danielle affirms the principles of American exceptionalism and argues that these are the principles that the military should be encouraging and teaching. Instead, the military is teaching a poisonous ideology, dividing one soldier from another and purging conservatives for their political views. Danielle interviews retired Gunnery Sergeant Jessie Jane Duff about the perils of a woke military.

About the Show

Counterculture with Danielle DSouza Gill is a timely, hard-hitting show that exposes the important political and cultural issues of our time. The show will provide an against-the-grain critique of the prevailing leftist, progressive, socialist culture and offer thoughtful and practical alternatives to it. Danielle leaves no stone unturned. Coming from the perspective of an intelligent, young, conservative woman, Danielle explains and equips us with the ways we can fight back. In the words of Danielle, We are the Counterculture.

About Danielle

Danielle DSouza Gill is a young author, commentator, and rising star in the conservative movement. She is the host of the Epoch Times show Counterculture with Danielle DSouza Gill. A graduate of Dartmouth College and the author of two books, The Choice: The Abortion Divide in America, and YGod: An Intelligent Discussion on the Relevance of Faith, she has topped the charts on Amazon and reached #1 in the categories of abortion, civil rights, and health care, shaping the abortion debate moving forward. Her articles have appeared in Newsweek, The Daily Caller, American Greatness, and others. She has spoken at various conferences including Faith and Freedom, has also filmed videos for PragerU, has been a Turning Point USA ambassador, and has appeared on various TV and radio networks including Fox News, One America, Newsmax, and Salem Radio. She was the youngest advisory board member of Women for Trump, a coalition supporting Donald J. Trumps campaign.

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People take part in a demonstration against the communist regime of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on July 11, 2021. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Top Republican Official: Democrats Just Ceded Florida for Foreseeable Future Over Cuban Protests

Several Republicans over the weekend accused the Biden administration and Twitter of attempting to minimize demonstrations in Cuba against the communist regime, arguing that they will use recent statements by White House officials against them while campaigning in southern Florida.

Thousands of Cubans were seen taking to the streets in a rare protest against the regime, demanding freedom, liberty, and morewith some even carrying the American flag.

Julie Chung, the acting Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of States Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, wrote that the protests were primarily focused on the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, although the tweet wasnt signed off with her initials.

Peaceful protests are growing in #Cuba as the Cuban people exercise their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising COVID cases/deaths & medicine shortages, Chung wrote on Twitter. We commend the numerous efforts of the Cuban people mobilizing donations to help neighbors in need.

Christian Ziegler, Vice Chairman of the Florida Republican Party, said Chungs response was an attempt to mischaracterize what the demonstrations were about, arguing they were against the Cuban communist regime.

Ziegler told Chung on Twitter: Well I will be adding this gem into my GOP stump speeches across Florida. May even need to print it out when I visit Southeast Florida. They were already heading this way, but Democrats just ceded Florida for the foreseeable future.

A policeman stands while watching police cars overturned in the street in the framework of a demonstration against Cuban communist leader Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on July 11, 2021. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Southern Florida has a significant Cuban diaspora, with many having arrived in the United States during mass exoduses from the island nation over the past several decades.

Cuban-Americans across S.E. Florida are nervous for their family & friends, but also celebrating them for rising up AGAINST Communism and FOR Freedom, Ziegler added in a tweet. Hey Joe  The American flags carried in protests across Cuba represent FREEDOM, not COVID.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) also commented on the tweet, calling it ridiculous.

People in Cuba are protesting 62 years of socialism, lies, tyranny & misery not expressing concern about rising COVID cases/deaths, Rubio wrote. Why is it so hard for @potus & the people in his administration to say that?

Meanwhile, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan wrote on Twitter that the administration supports freedom of expression and assembly across Cuba, and would strongly condemn any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters who are exercising their universal rights.

Later, Chungs account took issue with Cuban dictator Miguel Diaz-Canels calls to combat.

We stand by the Cuban peoples right for peaceful assembly, she posted. We call for calm and condemn any violence.

The protests erupted amid Cubas worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, its old ally, and a record surge in coronavirus infections, with people voicing anger over shortages of basic goods, restrictions on civil liberties, and the authorities handling of the pandemic, according to reports.

Thousands took to the streets in various parts of Havana including the historic center, their shouts of Diaz-Canel step down, referring to the leader.

The Epoch Times has contacted the State Department for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A woman photographs the interior of the Toyota concept car Fine-Comfort Ride at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Canada, on Thursday, February 14, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov)

Toyota Ends Donations to Targeted Republican Lawmakers After Lincoln Project Ad

Japanese automaker Toyotas Political Action Committee (PAC) announced on July 8 it will end its policy of giving financial contributions to U.S. lawmakers who objected to the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election, after the anti-Trump PAC, the Lincoln Project ran an ad slamming the company for donating to those Republican lawmakers.

In fact, in 2021, the vast majority of the contributions went to Democrats and Republicans who supported the certification of the 2020 election. We understand that the PAC decision to support select Members of Congress who contested the results troubled some stakeholders, Toyota PAC said in an emailed statement.

We are actively listening to our stakeholders and, at this time, we have decided to stop contributing to those Members of Congress who contested the certification of certain states in the 2020 election.

The Members of Congress that Toyota is referring to are about a dozen GOP senators and dozens of House representatives who objected to the results of the Nov. 3, 2020, elections. The objection process is lawful under the Constitution and similar objections have been lodged by Democratic lawmakers in recent presidential elections.

When asked by The Epoch Times if the company was concerned about pushback from Trump voters, Toyota said it had no further comment.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) objects to the certification of votes from Pennsylvania in the House Chamber during a reconvening of a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Lincoln Project Launches Ad Against Toyota

The anti-Trump PAC, the Lincoln Project, launched an ad on Thursday attacking Toyota for donating to Republicans who they say are supporting anti-democratic forces that breached the Capitol building on Jan. 6 during the joint session of Congress while 2020 election was being certified.

Americas free-market democratic system has been good for companies like Toyota for a long time, so why would Toyota support politicians who tried to overthrow the very system thats been so profitable for them.  Toyotas given more money than any company to the seditious politicians who voted to overturn the 2020 election results, said the narrator in the ad funded by the Lincoln Project.

Toyotas number one at finding ways to financially reward the very party that took our nation to the brink on January 6 helping finance a movement that violently sought to take votes away from American customers, not to mention Toyotas own employees, and its time to call Toyotas corporate leadership. If they dont reconsider where they send their money, Americans will reconsider where we send ours, the narrator says.

The commercial followed a June report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington that showed Toyota had given a total of $56,000 since Jan. 6 to those GOP members.

The Lincoln Project said in a Thursday press statement that the ad attacking Toyota is the first in a series that will be run against companies that donate to GOP members who objected to the 2020 results, and will air on mainstream media outlets.

The Lincoln Project has announced a new strategy to take on the sedition caucus and its enablers, turning its efforts against corporations who are lavishing massive campaign donations on Republicans who tried to overturn the 2020 elections and who now seek to cover up the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Toyota, featured in The Lincoln Projects first ad in this series has given [$56,000] to 37 Republicans who fought to overturn the certification of the 2020 election after pledging not to do so, The Lincoln Project said.

The Lincoln Project PAC is run by current and former Republicans who officially endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president and worked to prevent the reelection of former President Donald Trump.

During the 20192020 election cycle, the group raised more than $87 million and spent more than $81 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The Lincoln Project put out aggressive, blunt ads to capture the attention of Democrat strategists, some of whom said the groups Republicans were battling harder against Trump than some Democrats.
Truth Tellers: Henri Amiels Ardent Invitation to Converse With God

How far can words reach? While celebrities like Victor Hugo, Henry James, George Meredith, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky were firing their volleys of prose at the world, an obscure Swiss professor, Henri Amiel (18211881), sat in his quiet room and wrote: In the important questions of life we are always alone. Our deepest inner thoughts cannot be understood by others. The best part of the drama that goes on deep in our souls is a monologue, or, better to say, a very sincere conversation between God, our conscience, and ourselves.

This very sincere, very beautiful conversation, approaching the outermost frontiers of word and reason, is made available to us by way of his work Amiels Journal: The Journal Intime of Henri Frederic Amiel, which was not intended for the eyes of the world. It documents the writers development as a human being from his 26th year until his death at 59.

This volume stunned Europes highest circles when it became public.

An abridged version, numbering 600 and some pages, garnered from a stunning 17,000 pages of manuscript, was published by close friends shortly after his passing. The work initially took Europe by storm and was celebrated in the highest intellectual circles, translated into the major languages, talked about, written about, argued about, until it abruptly fell out of fashion and into virtual oblivion some decades later.

Its first lines contain a confession: I am not free! I lack the strength to carry out my will. His will, in this case, was to chronicle and order his thoughts. Discipline might have been difficult, as there are sometimes extended lapses between entries, but Amiel certainly did not fail in persistence. Slowly, patiently, he describes the outer world in which he moved, and reveals as well a marvelous inner world, full of wonder, compassion, love of truth, and, most of all, an ardent love of that great mystery to whom he prayed, and whom he called God.

The World Without

Traditional European society in Amiels time was, as it had been for centuries, a scene of strife, class struggle, and injustice, despite its facade of prosperity and order. The earlier writers he most admired condemned it. Blaise Pascal (16231662) railed against it in Pensees. He asked us to Look around. What do the worlds people think about it? They think about wealth and power; but they do not think at all about what it is to be human. Immanuel Kant (17241804) asked, How can people be happy if they are not educated to have high morals?

Amiel thought that only one thing was needed: to be what we ought to be, to accomplish our mission and our work. We have in ourselves an oracle which is always waiting, conscience, which is nothing else than God in us. The truth of this observation is perhaps something we can hold fast to today. Surely the only good any of us can bring about comes from our own minds and hearts, our knowing ourselves. Whether it might influence a few people or a multitude is none of our affair.

The World Within

Amiel was gentler than Pascal and Kant, choosing to hope for better things through future generations, notably from childrenfresh additions of innocence and purity, which fight against the end of mankind and against our spoiled nature, and against our complete immersion into sin. There is hope as well, and perhaps even consolation, in our passing on the collected wisdom of the great seers and, more importantly, by being an example, by living a just and kind life.

To combat the spoiled nature and the lies of our own time, we have a certain recourse: telling the truth ourselves, especially to ourselves. Let us be truthful, Amiel wrote. This is the mystery of rhetoric and virtue, this is the greatest mystery, this is the highest achievement in art, and the major law of life.

Our modest Swiss professor challenged the immorality of his world by trying, as best he could, to live a moral life himself. Civilization is first of all a moral thing. Without truth, respect for duty, love of neighbor, virtue, everything is destroyed. The morality of a society is alone the basis of a civilization.

He resisted the rampant materialism and vanity around him by living a spiritual life. Throughout the journal, he cites both the wisdom of the East and the wisdom the West. Holy men of all nations, of all ages, all agree that the Kingdom of God is within. Amiel wrote: I feel intensely that man, in everything he does, or is able to do that is beautiful, great, good, is only the organ and vehicle of something or someone higher than himself. This feeling is religion. The religious man observes with a thrill of sacred joy the phenomena of which he is the intermediary, without being the origin of them.

A scene from the Book of Revelation on a dome fresco, 1733, by Paul Troger. Abbey church, Altenburg, Lower Austria. (Wolfgang Sauber/CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Birth of a Soul

It is the single soulnot government, not societythat brings humankind to a better place. It is the work within that imperceptibly changes the world without. Amiel says: The process of life should be the birth of a soul. This is the highest alchemy, and this justifies our presence on earth. This is our calling and our virtue. When the soul matures, it bears its own miraculous harvest, the ability to see all things in God, to make ones own life a voyage toward the ideal, to live with composure and gratitude, sweetness and courage.

Such a way of life has been the quiet, humble work of the great and the small that has gladly, patiently, been carried out over centuries. It is the living out of the prayer said in so many ways, in so many tongues, by all people of all faiths, Thy kingdom come. It will be answered in Gods time.

Raymond Beegle has performed as a collaborative pianist in the major concert halls of the United States, Europe, and South America; has written for The Opera Quarterly, Classical Voice, Fanfare Magazine, Classic Record Collector (UK), and The New York Observer. Beegle has served on the faculty of the State University of New YorkStony Brook, the Music Academy of the West, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. He has taught in the chamber music division of the Manhattan School of Music for the past 28 years.
A pedestrian walks by a Now Hiring sign outside of a Lamps Plus store in San Francisco, Calif., on June 3, 2021. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Unemployed Oklahomans Could Receive $1,200 in Back-to-Work Incentive

The state of Oklahoma will offer $1,200 to thousands of citizens who have returned to work since the CCP virus pandemic in a back-to-work incentive.

With employers in all sectors now hiring, assistance to families, job seekers, and employers must be prioritized as we continue to build a more prosperous Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement (pdf). Therefore, now is the time to provide for a workforce initiative.

The Back-to-Work Initiative program requires Oklahomans to return to work and the first 20,000 people who meet several requirements could become eligible for a one-time payment of $1,200.

To qualify, Oklahomans need to be able to show an active unemployment claim from one of the first two weeks in May, a government statement (pdf) from the initiative reads.

Workers also must have accepted, and worked, at a job position in the state for six consecutive weeks of either one full-time or two part-time positions of 32 hours or more per week. The incentive payment will be made after workers complete the sixth week of employment.

The program will last several monthsor until 20,000 people have received the incentive. The duration for the paystub submission period will be from June 28 until Sept. 4, officials said.

We believe the incentive can help people who havent returned to work because theyre caring for young children or older family members, Jerrod Shouse, the states National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) director, told The Center Square.

Its too soon to know what impact ending the federal unemployment supplement is having, but were hopeful it will encourage more people to re-enter the workforce.

Shelley Zumwalt, CEO of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, told the media network that businesses in the state are facing an unprecedented labor shortage after they were hit by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

According to NFIBs latest job report, 46 percent of small business owners nationwide have positions they cant fill and many industries were only able to hire about half of the workforce they need to be able to properly run their business.
Wilfrid Laurier University Prof. David Haskell says universities ideals, particularly in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, are informed by social justice or critical theory, which is rooted in Marxist thought. (The Canadian Press/Geoff Robins)

Universities Social Justice Agenda Falsely Labels Whites and Christians as Oppressors, Says Professor

Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is a top issue for many Canadian universities, but an outspoken professor says such tolerance is not extended to some students and professors who are excluded with impunity due to being perceived as oppressors.

When the universities say that theyre promoting diversity and inclusion, they really are not telling the truth, David Haskell, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, told The Epoch Times.

Haskell, who has been a professor in the faculty of liberal arts at Lauriers campus in Brantford, Ont., for the past 15 years, explains that diversity is promoted as being related to immutable qualities such as the colour of peoples skins or their sexual orientation, but it doesnt include ideological diversity.

There are certain groups that are not welcome  whether it is whites, or heterosexuals, or Christians, [whom] they have untruthfully categorized as oppressors. They dont want to have the diversity when it includes those groups.

Haskell has been a vocal defender of free speech at Laurier, along with Will McNally, a professor at the universitys Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. Last June, after the administrations public claim in the wake of the death of George Floyd that Laurier was rife with systemic racism, the two penned a public letter noting that the concept comes from critical race theory and could have a negative impact on academic freedom at the school.

The ideals of the university, particularly within the arts, the humanities, and the social sciences, are now informed by social justice, or also critical theory, and this critical theory is actually rooted in Marxist thought, Haskell says.

Karl Marxs idea was that there are the economically privileged and the unprivileged, or the economic oppressorthe capitalistand the economically oppressedthe proletariat. However, Haskell notes that the designation has since changed.

In Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the majority culture up until a few decades ago was white, and at least in terms of the culture, Christian. The movement that were seeing now, the social justice movement, has removed the economic designation as the oppressor and made it a cultural designation.  So if you are a part of this class that was the majority culture, then you are the oppressor.

The problem with this view is that it is generalizing within groups because there will be whites who experience disadvantage the same way as people of colour do, he said.

Wilfrid Laurier University Prof. David Haskell. (Courtesy of David Haskell)

Haskell pointed to empirical data showing that many Asian-Canadians are doing better than white Caucasians both financially and in educational advancement.

According to Statistics Canada data from the 2016 census, among non-immigrant South Asian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Canadians of all education levels across different fields of study, aged 25 to 64, each of those groups had a 2015 average employment income of between around $59,300 and $66,800, compared to $56,384 from non-immigrants not considered members of a visible minority group.

Asian Canadians are not oppressing the Anglo-Saxon or the Caucasian Canadians, theyre not doing that. Its simply that there are different choices being made. It goes to the level of the individual, Haskell said.

People at the university in the social justice movement are trying to say that a difference in outcome equals discrimination, and thats just a complete logical fallacy.

He says research by U.S. economists Thomas Sowell, who is a senior fellow on public policy at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution, and the late Walter Williams of George Mason University also concluded that its personal decisions rooted in cultural factors that lead to different outcomes, not racism.

However, they were heavily criticized for producing research that contradicted the prevailing political narratives.

Both Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams are black men, but they were berated and vilified by many people in the progressive movement of the United States, Haskell said.

This betrays [universities] false claim that theyre interested in diversity. When someone who is a person of colour speaks against the ideology that the left favours, they no longer consider that person of colour a representative of diversity.

In a similar example, Rima Azar, an associate professor of health psychology at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, was suspended in May without pay for essays shed written on her blog arguing that Canada is not a systemically racist country. Azar is an immigrant from Lebanon.

Russell Nieli, a lecturer at Princeton Universitys politics department, is the author of Wounds That Will Not Heal, an essay that reviews some of the leading social science research on racial preference policies. His research has shown that racial preference policies such as affirmative action tend to reinforce negative stereotypes about their intended beneficiaries and lead to divisions in society.

Nieli put forward the principle of reciprocity norm as a way for society to become more harmonious, productive, and prosperous, without racial tension.

Reciprocity norm says basically, I wont favour my kin and clan if other people dont favour their kin and clan. Well have a system that we all consider fair and just and leads to greater harmony, he said during a 2013 conference titled The Battle Over Racial Preferences.

Haskell says that as soon as a group is allowed to have extra entitlements, the whole thing falls to pieces.

I do not in any way think that white people should have extra benefits, he said. I want to just see everyone treated the same under the law.
US, Philippines Call on CCP to Abide by International Law on 5th Anniversary of Landmark South China Sea Ruling

The United States on July 11 called on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to abide by international law in the South China Sea on the fifth anniversary of a landmark ruling by an arbitration tribunal repudiating Chinas vast territorial claims in the region.

Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea. The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) continues to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on July 12.

We call on the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small.

Five years ago today, the Philippines scored an important victory for the rule of the law in the South China Sea. The United States stands by its allies and partners in defending their maritime rights and standing up for freedom of the seas.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) July 12, 2021

Chinawhich lays claim to most of the waters within a so-called nine-dash line of demarcation thats contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnamreiterated on July 9 that Beijing didnt accept the 2016 ruling by the international tribunal at The Hague.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., in a statement on July 12, compared the arbitral tribunals ruling to the North Star that will keep us on course in the present, and that will point us back to the right direction in the future.

The Philippines firmly reject[s] attempts to undermine [the ruling], or erase it from law, history and collective memories, he said, adding that the ruling is final, and that it constitutes a milestone in the corpus of international law.

Blinken also repeated a warning to China that an attack on Philippines armed forces in the South China Sea would trigger a 70-year defense accord between the United States and the Philippines.

We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, Blinken said in his statement.

That article of the treaty says in part that each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price urged the CCP in a statement to cease its provocative behavior, and demonstrate respect for the rights of all countries, big and small.

On the anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Decision, the U.S. again calls on the Peoples Republic of China to abide by international law, cease its provocative behavior, and demonstrate respect for the rights of all countries, big and small. https://t.co/1Si83jqDls  Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) July 12, 2021

The Philippines has filed 128 diplomatic protests over Chinas activities in contested waters since 2016, and coast guard and bureau of fisheries vessels have conducted sovereign patrols in the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles from its coast.

On July 11, Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo said on her weekly radio show that the country must continue to defend its sovereignty amid Chinese incursions into the countrys EEZ.

There are many effects to us, but the most affected are small fishermen, whose source of livelihood is in our seas, she said, according to the Manila Bulletin. Their experience is that they are working within our exclusive economic zone, but they are being thrown out, their catch are taken.

Meanwhile, Global Affairs Canada said in a statement that its particularly concerned by Chinas escalatory and destabilizing actions in the region.

It is imperative that all parties in the region demonstrate restraint and avoid taking action unilaterally, as this would exacerbate tensions and threaten regional stability, the statement reads.

Freedom of the seas is an enduring interest of all nations and is vital to global peace and prosperity, Blinken said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Chinese 100 yuan notes and U.S. one dollar notes in Beijing on Jan. 6, 2017. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images)

US Should Ban Chinas Digital Yuan: Investment Manager Kyle Bass

The communist regime in China is going to use its new state-controlled digital currency as a Trojan horse to project its authoritarianism all over the world, warns hedge fund manager Kyle Bass, and it could become a cancer plaguing the United States if it isnt banned.

Imagine a currency that almost has a mind of its own, Bass said in a recent interview for EpochTVs American Thought Leaders.

It knows your account data, it knows your birthday, your Social Security number, where you live. It actually knows your spending proclivities and how you spend it.

[Beijings] hope is to have a massive influence around the world to really leapfrog where they are today into a much stronger position economically and also giving them more control.

Bass, founder and chief investment officer of Dallas-based Hayman Capital Management, was referring to the digital yuan, a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that Beijing began researching in 2014 and rolled out pilot tests for in four cities in 2020.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has ambitions of being the first in the race between governments to roll out a digital currency. On July 8, Chinas central bank, the Peoples Bank of China, announced an expansion of its tests, saying that the digital yuan will be tested during the 2022 Winter Olympics Games in Beijing.

The Chinese regime hasnt been hesitant to speak of its motives behind its digital currency. On June 30, Chinas hawkish state-run outlet Global Times reported that the digital yuan could weaken the U.S. dollars role in global currency settlements.

Bass warned that once individuals predominately use the digital yuan, they could become targets of Chinese influence and coercion.

So imagine if you and I were sitting here in this interview, and I said something negative about the Chinese Communist Party and I had accepted the digital yuan as payment, they could just turn it off or they could restrict my ability to buy a plane ticket to China, Bass said.

They could influence me the same way they influence their own people if they had their hooks into me enough, if I had enough digital yuan.

Bass said he doesnt foresee digital yuan being a global reserve currency anytime soon, but its increased use in settling cross-border transactions would be worrisome.

Currently, the Chinese currency, renminbi, only makes up a small fraction of cross-border payments, according to data from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT), which is a cross-border payment messaging network for more than 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries and regions.

As of January, the U.S. dollar accounted for more than 38 percent of global payments, followed by the euro with more than 36 percent, according to SWIFT (pdf). Meanwhile, China stood at 2.42 percent, an increase from 1.88 percent as of December 2020.

China could force companies to adopt the use of the Chinese yuan if they wanted to invest in China, Bass said. Meanwhile, countries could also be forced to make a switch, particularly those that have signed up to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

BRI is the Chinese regimes multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure scheme launched in 2013 to expand its trade and political influence throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe. Critics have argued that BRI has put developing countries into debt traps.

They can force its use, and imagine what kind of stranglehold they will have over the world if they hold all of our capital that way, Bass said.

Fundamentally, its the nature of the CCP that makes the digital yuan a threat, according to Bass.

The Chinese Communist Party is the largest existential threat to the rules-based order thats ever existed, he said. The regime is so good at exploiting every crack, every nook, every cranny of opportunity and openness that our society affords them.

I think that we should ban the [Chinese digital] currency and not allow any of it to be handled in the United States. I know that sounds hyperbolic, but if you just think all the way through this, you cant have a little bit of cancer. You either have cancer, or you dont have cancer. And I believe we cant allow U.S. corporations or individuals to transact in the [Chinese] CBDC.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), speaks during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on April 21, 2021. (Graeme Jennings/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

US Should Not Allow Predatory Chinese Firms Like Didi to Take Advantage of American Investors: Sen. Rubio

Chinese companies should no longer be allowed to list on U.S. exchanges and take advantage of American investors in light of the recent debacle involving ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing following its debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), according to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Didis woes began on July 2, just two days after its initial public offering (IPO) on the NYSE when Chinese regulators ordered it to stop accepting new users pending a cybersecurity review. Authorities have since ordered the removal of the app from all mobile stores in the country, citing data collection-related national security concerns. This was then expanded to over 25 additional apps operated by the firm.

The crackdown battered Didis stock. Its share price, which had previously risen to above $16, dropped sharply below its initial $14 IPO price to under $12 as of Monday, erasing billions of dollars in shareholder value.

The decision to allow a totally unaccountable Chinese corporation like Didi Chuxing to list was disastrous from the start, Rubio, who earlier had tried to get the firms IPO blocked, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement.

The senator described Beijings clampdown, which came with little warning and was light on detail, as an intentionally opaque decision. It provides yet another reason we cannot allow these companies, which have no meaningful independence from the political whims of the Chinese government and Communist Party, to list on our exchanges and take advantage of American investors, Rubio added.

Rubio and other critics have long sounded the alarm on the risks posed by Chinese companies listed on American exchanges. These firms pose an enormous threat to U.S. investors, according to Rubio, because they are often controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and are shielded from U.S. oversight.

U.S. regulators have been unable to inspect audit firms based in China for more than a decade. The Chinese regime has prevented audit inspections of China-based companies, citing national security and privacy as reasons for noncompliance.

Didis sudden collapse in value underscores what a black box all these Chinese companies are, but even if the stock suddenly surged, American investors would have no way to ascertain its real financial strength, Rubio said.

Sending a Message

The CCPs crackdown on Didi is part of a broader struggle  between Chinese capital markets and Western capital markets, Jim Rickards, an economist and lawyer, told The Epoch Times.

The idea that every China tech company can go list on the New York Stock Exchange is effectively over, said Rickards, also author of The New Great Depression: Winners and Losers in a Post-Pandemic World.

According to a report by South China Morning Post, Chinese regulators had suggested to Didi weeks before its scheduled IPO that it should delay its public listing and conduct a self-examination of network security. But Didi, whose investors include Apple, American ridesharing firm Uber, Japans SoftBank, and Chinese internet giant Tencent, opted to go forward with the IPO anyway.

Anne Stevenson-Yang, co-founder and research director of J Capital Research, told The Epoch Times Didi is paying the price for not heeding the regulators demands. Beijing is making sure that people know that it has to be with their blessing, or else not at all, said Yang, who is also the author of China Alone: The Emergence from and Potential Return to Isolation.

Rickards likened the clampdown to a public execution.

Its like bringing someone in front of a firing squad and inviting the public to witness it, he said. You get rid of one bad actor in the view of the communists, but you really send a message to everybody else, heres whats going to happen to you if you dont do what we say.

The author said that the losses experienced by American investors would be viewed by the CCP as a welcome byproduct of its crackdown.

Theyre kind of collateral damage, Rickards said, referring to investors in the Didi IPO. Its a little bit of a sweetener for the Chinese to say, okay, not only do we wreck this company, send a message to the rest, but we caused a lot of losses among Western and developed economy stockholders.

Risky Business

Didi is not the first Chinese company to suffer the wrath of the CCP.

Late last year, the regime scuttled the massive planned IPO of Ant Group, the fintech affiliate of Alibaba, when regulators announced an investigation into its lending practices days before it was due to list in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The tech giant found itself in the regimes crosshairs after Alibaba founder Jack Ma publicly criticized Chinese financial regulators in an October speech in Shanghai. The once-high flying entrepreneur had made few public appearances since then.

Since October 2020, the share price of NYSE-listed Chinese tech firm Alibaba has declined to less than $210 from more than $310. Regulators in April slapped the tech giant with a $2.8 billion fine over antitrust breaches.

Investors need to be aware of the risks associated with investing in Chinese companies, and apply an appropriate discount, Stevenson-Yang said.

The United States has recently tightened oversight over Chinese firms listed on American exchanges.

In March, the U.S. securities regulator began a rollout of rules to exclude foreign companies from U.S. exchanges if they did not comply with U.S. auditing standards. The move would remove Chinese firms from U.S. exchanges if they fail to comply with U.S. auditing standards for three straight years.

Then-President Donald Trump also banned U.S. investments into a list of Chinese companies owned or controlled by the Chinese military, an action that has since been endorsed and expanded by the Biden administration.

Taking Action

Rubio said that Congress needs to take further action to protect Americans from the risks posed by Chinese companies, especially given that Wall Street seems totally uninterested in tackling this problem on its own.

He highlighted that many Americans are unknowingly being exposed to such risks through passive investment funds that benchmark against global indices that include Chinese stocks.

Global stock-index providers such as MSCI and FTSE have added Chinese stocks to their global and emerging markets indices, allowing billions of dollars of U.S. investment to flow into Chinese equities.

Rubio in May introduced the Index Provider Transparency and Accountability Act which he said would introduce much needed reforms to empower everyday investors whose retirement savings are manipulated by the unregulated and unaccountable index providers.

The senator urged policymakers to wake up to the huge vulnerability created by the openness of our capital markets to predatory Chinese firms, which have no independence from the authoritarian regime in Beijing.

Didi did not return a request for comment.
Jeroen Weimar of DHHS at a press conference in Melbourne, Australia on Oct. 14, 2020. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Victoria Records 2 Cases of COVID-19 From Family Returning From NSW

Two members of a Melbourne family have tested positive after returning from NSW on red zone permits.

The states COVID Commander Jeroen Weimar said three of the family of four from the City of Hume arrived on July 4 by air and the other returned by car on July 8.

They all initially tested negative, but two became symptomatic and were tested on Sunday, with the results coming back positive on Monday.

Contact tracers are also on high alert after at least one member of a three-man removalist crew who travelled through Victoria and SA from NSW tested positive for the virus.

Another family from Whittlesea in Melbournes north who had contact with the COVID-infected removalist has so far tested negative.

They relocated to Victoria from interstate and tested negative on July 9.

Weimar said the family remain in isolation and will be tested again on Monday.

Contact tracers are working to establish the removalists movements. However, it is believed he travelled from Sydney to Melbourne via the Hume Highway and worked at several homes in the city before travelling to SA.

NSW Health alerted Victorias authorities late on Sunday night.

Removalists are permitted workers under the states border permit system.

It comes after Victoria recorded its 12th day of no locally acquired cases with the state effectively shut the border to NSW and the ACT overnight, declaring them red zones under the travel permit system from 11.59 p.m. on Sunday.

NSW reported 112 new local cases on Monday, its highest daily total since the Bondi cluster emerged on June 16.

Queenslanders Told to Come Home

Meanwhile, the Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczukhas has told residents in NSW to return home while they still can, warning Sydneys coronavirus crisis could force her to close the border with little notice.

Currently, the premier of the sunshine state has opted to keep the border open.

But shes been direct with Queenslanders who are south of the border, saying shes dealing with a volatile situation that could see Queenslanders shut out if the virus spreads from Greater Sydney into regional NSW.

My message to Queenslanders is if you are in those areas, come home. I cant be any clearer, she said on Monday.

Sydney residents have been told theres next to no chance their lockdown will end as scheduled on Friday.

The state had 112 new local COVID-19 cases on Mondaythe highest number since the current outbreak began. At least 46 of those cases were out in the community while they were infectious.
We must reclaim the right to be wrong and to change in order to risk putting ourselves out there to air our opinions in the marketplace of ideas. (Gerd Altmann/Pixabay.com)

We Have Lost the Humility to Change

Commentary

Ive put myself in a precarious position early in my career. At 20 years old, several publications have afforded me the platform to have a voice in the national conversationnot because Im an expert of any sort, but because they recognized the importance of broadening the generational dialogue.

For this Im hugely grateful, but it comes with one problem: Anyone who has ever been 20 years old knows that human beings change and grow as we agea lot. I do my best to maintain a curious and open mind, but I dont yet have a totally solidified worldview.

As such, there are already moments I regret in my short career. At times Ive looked back and wished Id worded a point more artfully; other times more conversation and information has changed my vantage point entirely. Now, all of that is immortalized in print. But Im okay with it because I maintain the humility to change.

Culture is always in flux, ideally progressing toward a more robust understanding of truth and justice. Change is a beautiful thing. Even in very recent history, we have changed our minds dramatically. A great example is the acceptance of gay marriage; even Obama campaigned against it in his 2008 presidential bid.

If history has taught us anything, its that all eras have their misguided practices and beliefs. Many of our revered Founding Fathers were also slaveholders, after all. Today, were most certainly in the midst of our own cultural missteps, but entirely unaware as were swept up in the temporal tides.

Were most definitely all going to change as the dialogue progresses, both personally and societally. But theres a roadblock in our way: Our culture has lost the humility to do so.

The rise of cancel culture is symptomatic of this inability. Our society has become obsessed with applying defamatory labels to individuals with any unorthodox beliefs. We tarnish them forever as racist, sexist, or whatever -ism is coming next. Frequently, the cancel culture mobs resurrect artifacts to nail their targets, oftentimes digging up old tweets from years before.

But doing so makes the assumption that people are static, unchanging entities. Furthermore, it permanently attaches ideas to individuals. As such, our culture attacks bad people rather than bad ideas.

This practice favors orthodoxy and lends itself to an us-versus-them mentality. As such, it undermines the classically liberal ideals that lay at the foundation of our nation and free societies. If we hope to continue to progress, as individuals and as a society, this must stop. Dialogue and open expression are the only paths to truth.

We must reclaim the right to be wrong and to change in order to risk putting ourselves out there to air our opinions in the marketplace of ideas. Tarnishing one another, as is the present cultural norm, will get us nowhere. Rather, diverse perspectives meeting through dialogue and debate will foster well-considered progress.

We must afford tolerance of differences and lend forgiveness for mistakes. As a society, we must reclaim the humility to change. That means sometimes admitting we were wrongafter all, nobody has a perfect track record. We will all be better for it; through personal progress comes societal progress.

This is precisely why I, as I turn 21 years old, am confident putting my ideas out in the open. The only path to truth is conversation, and its an honor to be in the midst of the national dialogue. I engage, not with the conviction that Im right, but with the knowledge and humility in knowing I will change.

Rikki Schlott is a writer and student based in New York. As a young free speech activist, her writing chronicles the rise of illiberalism from a Generation Z perspective. Schlott also works for The Megyn Kelly Show and has been published by The Daily Wire and The Conservative Review.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Signage for facemarks and gloves are seen at an entrance to a Priceline Pharmacy in Melbourne, Australia on July 20, 2020. (AAP Image/James Ross)

Wesfarmers Lobs $687M Takeover Bid for Australian Pharmaceutical Retail Group

Retail and hardware conglomerate Wesfarmers has lobbed a $687 million surprise takeover bid for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, which owns the 420-strong retail chain Priceline Pharmacy.

The bid was announced on July 12 and includes an 18.7 to 20.5 percent premium on the share price of the group.

APIs executive board noted (pdf) that its portfolioincluding health, beauty, and skincare businesseswas attractive and well-positioned for growth, particularly via online sales channels.

Sales from the groups physical clinics have taken a battering from COVID-19 lockdowns, which has driven customers online.

Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott said if the bid were successful, API would form the foundation of a new healthcare division within the conglomerate, from which it could further expand.

The combination of Wesfarmers and API is a compelling opportunity to capitalise on APIs strengths and positioning in these markets while drawing upon Wesfarmers capabilities in retail and distribution, our strong balance sheet, and our willingness to invest in our businesses for growth over the long term, he said in a statement.

Wesfarmers supports the community pharmacy model, including the pharmacy ownership and location rules, and considers APIs relationships with its community pharmacy partners to be one of its key strengths, he added.

Wesfarmers currently owns major Australian retail brands Kmart, Target, Officeworks, and Bunnings.

Rob Nicholls, associate professor of regulation and governance at the University of New South Wales, said Wesfarmers was eyeing off potential growth in the health sector domestically.

The shift of vaccine manufacturing onshore, and supply chain problems in the sector, suggests that API could be seen as having an upside if pandemic or epidemic conditions last for a significant period, he told The Epoch Times. The same is true if there is a shift to local supply for other pharmaceutical products.

Nicholls noted there were unlikely to be any issues with the Australian competition watchdog or potential supply chain vulnerabilities because, despite Wesfarmers size, its existing portfolio does not overlap with the health sector.

So, supply chain vulnerability is an important issue but strengthens Wesfarmers hands in this regard, he said. In my view, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will take some interest in this bid but there are no obvious red flags.
Guns confiscated by the Santa Ana Police Department are displayed for a press event in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 11, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

White House Creates Gun Trafficking Strike Force for Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif.The White House announced July 12 that the U.S. Department of Justice launched a gun trafficking strike force in Los Angeles to prevent guns coming across state lines from areas with weaker gun laws.

The funding for the strike forceswhich will also be in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and the Bay Areacomes from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, according to the White House. The strike forces will work to combat gun violence by targeting firearms that enter from other states with less restrictive gun laws.

Los Angeles, like other cities across the U.S., has experienced an increase in shooting violence and homicides amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 22, the number of shooting victims in 2021 had increased by 50 percent compared to the same period last year.

At that time, a total of 651 people had been shot in Los Angeles year-to-date, compared to 434 last year, and the city was averaging about 27 shooting victims per week, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore told the Police Commission.

The city has had 162 homicides in 2021 as of June 22, compared to 129 homicides during the same period in 2020. Overall violent crime has increased by 4.3 percent in 2021, but reported sexual assaults and robberies have decreased.

The Department of Justices gun trafficking strike force initiative is part of a larger strategy to combat gun violence, including through $350 billion in financial support to states and local governments to hire more officers and fund community violence intervention programs, summer employment and educational opportunities and other investments that are proven to reduce crime.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks during the Climate Action 2016 Summit at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2016. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

White House Signals a Push for Green New Deal Measures Through Budget Reconciliation

The Biden administration will be pushing a separate bill with climate change priorities not covered in the bipartisan infrastructure bill through the budget reconciliation process, such as mandating U.S. power companies supply zero-carbon electricity, according to a memo from two top Democrat aides.

As President Biden has noted, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework leaves out critical initiatives on climate change that he proposed as part of his Build Back Better agenda, the memo reads. That is why he intends to work with Congress through the budget process to pass additional legislation that will position the U.S. to combat climate change, create good-paying, union jobs, and win the clean energy future.

While a group of Republican and Democrat lawmakers is negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure deal with President Joe Biden, Democrats say the package does address their climate priorities, including achieving 100 percent carbon-free power by 2035.

Progressives of the Democratic party want to achieve zero emissions by moving to all renewable and nuclear power.

Some of Bidens climate priorities are in the bipartisan bill, which may get enough Republican votes to pass in the Senate, but many others will need to be in a separate bill destined for budget reconciliation. The budget reconciliation process will allow Democrats to pass the legislation with zero Republican support.

The memo was sent out by National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and senior adviser Anita Dunn.

The climate priorities in the separate infrastructure bill include giving tax breaks to businesses and consumers who invest in clean energy technologies, and sending a market signal that brings additional private investment off the sidelines and into modernizing our electric grid through an Energy Efficiency and Clean Electricity Standard.

McCarthy and Dunn say $10 billion will be needed for mobilizing the next generation of conservation and resilience workers and the bill will also expand clean energy tax credits.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he thinks the bipartisan infrastructure bill might pass the Senate but Republicans will not support the broader bill because of the impact on the national debt.

There is a portion of it, $1 trillion, that we have a chance to move forward with on a bipartisan basis, said McConnell on July 8 during a speech to the Kentucky chamber of commerce. However, he pointed out that Democrats plan to spend up to $5 trillion in total.

They plan to come with one more reconciliation proposal to finish up the rest of what they would like to do, which will include $3.2 trillion in tax increases, said McConnell adding that the Democrats want to increase the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent and they plan to increase the capital gains tax, both of which GOP oppose.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks about his opposition to S. 1, the For The People Act in Washington on June 17, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

And if theres anything left to reach the $5 trillion, theyd add that to the national debt as well. So, let me just sum it up by saying this is going to be a hell of a fight, McConnell added. This is a fight worth having, this is not the right thing to do for the country. I dont think they have a mandate to do it. And all of this is going to unfold here in the next few weeks. First, well get a sense of whether the infrastructure bill comes together and can pass on a bipartisan basis, and then second well be confronting this other package that they will have no margin for error to pass in a 50-50 Senate.

During a July 7 interview with MSNBC, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg praised the bipartisan infrastructure package but said if GOP members dont vote in favor of the climate priorities and broader infrastructure provisions in a separate bill, Democrats will use reconciliation to push it through.

Again, this bipartisan infrastructure framework represents the biggest investment we have seen in generations in American infrastructure in many ways, on many subjects, the biggest investment in American history, but we know we got to do more and if we have to do that part, without Republican votes, so be it, said Buttigieg.

In addition to clarifying the White Houses intent to use the budget reconciliation process, McCarthy and Dunn also praised the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

The Framework contains transformational investments in clean energy, water, and power infrastructure, climate resiliency, and more, the memo states. The Framework also includes the largest federal investment in history to modernize and expand transit and rail networks across the country, which would improve access to sustainable transportation while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The bipartisan deal makes huge investments in clean water infrastructure, eliminating legacy pollution by reclaiming abandoned coal mines and capping oil wells, investing in public transit and the electric grid. The memo says the bipartisan bill will also put billions into climate change disaster prevention, like wildfires, and create a first-of-its-kind Infrastructure Financing Authority that will leverage billions into clean transportation and clean energy, water, distributed energy resources, and retrofits of residential, commercial, and municipal buildings.
White House Urges Cities to Use COVID-19 Relief Funds to Combat Crime

White House officials are directing officials in states across the nation to utilize COVID-19 relief funding to try to combat rising levels of crime, including shootings and homicides.

President Joe Bidens recently unveiled strategy to combat crime has at its core a partnership with cities and states, giving them historic levels of federal funding and a range of tools to address the multifaceted challenge of gun violence, Susan Rice, assistant to the president for domestic policy and head of the Domestic Policy Council, and two other officials wrote in a memorandum.

In particular, the strategy uses the American Rescue Plans $350 billion in financial support and clear guidance to provide state, local, territorial, and tribal governments the money they need to put more police officers on the beatincluding hiring above pre-pandemic levels in communities experiencing an increase in gun violence associated with the pandemicas well as the other resources, training, and accountability they need to engage in effective community policing.

The Biden administration has made clear that the funds, ostensibly allocated to mitigate fiscal effects stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, can be used for evidence-based community violence intervention programs, summer employment and educational opportunities, and other investments that we know will reduce crime and make our neighborhoods safer, the memo states.

State and local governments have already used the funds to add more police officers, invest in violence intervention programs, and acquire anti-crime technology such as gunshot detection systems. Albuquerque, New Mexico, paid $450,000 to recruit new officers and spent $3 million to expand the detection system; Philadelphia invested $1.3 million in violence prevention programs; and Tucson, Arizona, plans to spend at least $7 million to bolster public safety.

The memo was sent to local and state officials across the nation.

Police investigate the scene of a shooting in Brooklyn in New York City on June 23, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Major cities and other locales have experienced higher levels of crime since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the surge has continued in many areas.

In New York City, for instance, the number of murders was tracking almost 11 percent higher as of the end of June than during the same time period the previous year. Los Angeles has seen a 24 percent increase year-to-date from 2020 as of July 3.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who secured the Democratic nomination in New Yorks mayoral race, ran on an anti-crime platform that explicitly rejected progressive calls to defund the police. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa also pledged to better tackle crime if elected.

Rising crime is caused in part by anti-police sentiments supported by many politicians, said Maria Haberfeld, professor and chair of the Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College.

Crimes are committed when there is a will, a target, and an absence of guardians. In the aftermath of the anti-police rhetoric that swept the country in the past year, many officers retired or left the profession and many of the ones who stayed are deterred by various anti-police actions like the move to eliminate qualified immunity or serious constraints on their ability to use justified force, she wrote in an email.

There are always those who want to commit crimes and plenty of targets out there. What keeps the statistics lower is the presence of motivated police officerswell, we lost plenty of those in the past year, she added. In addition, the more liberal laws passed in the recent years like the bail reform in NY emboldened the criminal actors even further.

Biden met with Adams; Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser; San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo; and police officials from cities across the country on July 12 to discuss his comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence and violent crime, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington ahead of the meeting, which was held at the White House.
Members of the public receive a dose of a COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine inside a temporary vaccination center set up at the Emirates Stadium, home to the Arsenal football club, in north London on June 25, 2021. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO Is Working on Digital Wallet to Store Vaccination Certification: Official

A World Health Organization (WHO) official said that the organization is working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine digital wallet and is also seeking to increase the distribution of an international certificate for those whove been vaccinated.

Dr. Michael Ryan, an Irish epidemiologist who is head of the WHO health emergencies program dealing with COVID-19, made the remarks during a daily news briefing on July 12 in Geneva.

We have encouraged countries that want to, they may use the international certificate for vaccination and prophylaxis  that requires other countries to recognize that certificate of vaccination, Ryan said, adding that WHO is working to increase the distribution of the paper versions of her international certificate of vaccination prophylaxis, and also developing a digital wallet that could be used for the same purpose.

The organization, he said, will provide more detailed data standards for individual countries to generate their own digital vaccination certificate, but that does not get around the policy issues around which vaccines are recognized within that system that that is essentially an international policy issue between countries.

Ryan didnt provide details about the digital wallet, which sparked concern and criticism on social media on July 12 about whether such an international vaccine passport-style system could be implemented by WHO for travel.

WHO officials didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Vaccine passports have been panned by civil liberties and human rights groups, who have said such centralized systems could violate individuals privacy. Some Republican lawmakers said passports would create a two-tier society, of unvaccinated and vaccinated individualswith unvaccinated individuals being denied services or even their rights.

Among those critics include the left-leaning American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which wrote a blog post saying there is a lot that can go wrong with vaccine passports.

Its likely that such requests will become over-used as people get asked for credentials at every turn, the group wrote in late March. While there are legitimate circumstances in which people can be asked for proof of vaccination, we dont want to turn into a checkpoint society that outlasts the danger of COVID and that casually excludes people without credentials from facilities where vaccine mandates are not highly justified.

Several Republican-led states have either passed laws or implemented executive orders barring the use of vaccine passports by local or state government offices, while places including Florida have implemented bans on private businesses from doing so.

Officials in the Biden administration said several months ago that they arent pushing for a federal vaccine passport mandate. Last week, however, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration wouldnt intervene if businesses use them.

Thats not currently the role of the federal government, Psaki told reporters. There are a number of private sector entities, universities, institutions, that are starting to mandate, and thats an innovative step that they will take and they should take. Thats notand were not taking issue with that.

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
NORWALK  The percentages of vaccinated Norwalk residents differ vastly across its neighborhoods, according to city data.

Graphics depicting vaccination rates by census tract, or neighborhood, for Norwalk were included in Mayor Harry Rillings weekly coronavirus update released Friday. One of the four graphics showed the average vaccination rates for each neighborhood, while the other three showed the average rates for residents by age group.

Norwalks Woodward area had the lowest overall vaccination rate, with an average between 50 and 59 percent, while Norwalk Center had the highest with more than 90 percent, the data showed.

Weve been using this data internally for some time, but this week is the first time weve shared it externally, city spokesman Josh Morgan said Friday.

Common Council member Diana Revolus, who represents District B where Woodward is located, declined to comment.

Common Council member David Heuvelman, who represents Norwalk Center, said he attributes that areas high vaccination rates to the Health Department and the community partners, including the Norwalk Community Health Center, Community Health Centers Inc. and Norwalk Hospital. Norwalk Center encompasses the citys historic downtown, Mathews Park, the Norwalk Green and City Hall.

Kadeem Roberts, another council member representing Norwalk Center, did not respond to a request for comment.

Everybody has worked very diligently to not get the people to come to the vaccine, but we took the vaccine to the people, to the neighborhoods, Heuvelman said. One discussion we were having was how do we get the vaccine into all populations and members of the community. The leaders stepped up, the faith leaders, community leaders, we got vaccines out to the people.

Heuvelman said while he does not know why Norwalk Center rose above the rest of the city for vaccinations, he was proud and heartened when he learned of its vaccinate rate.

The next most-vaccinated regions were Silvermine, Strawberry Hill and Rowayton, according to the data.

While mobile vaccination clinics took place throughout the city, weekly vaccination clinics were held in the Bow Tie Cinema in South Norwalk, Calf Pasture Beach and Veterans Park, Morgan said.

In response to the data, the city organized a weekly vaccination clinic Fridays in July from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Benjamin Franklin School on Flax Hill Road, and Wednesday nights in July from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Maritime Aquarium. The Wednesday clinics offer Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, vaccines while the Friday clinics offer Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, Morgan said.

We are at a point now where we need to bring vaccines into the community  neighborhood by neighborhood and block by block  to reach people where theyre at, Morgan said. Its why we launched a vaccine site at Ben Franklin School this week, have had pop-up clinics at the SoNo Collection, Stews, the beach, and other busy gathering points.

Citywide, more than 66 percent of Norwalkers have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the data. For the 65-and-older age group, 100 percent of Norwalk residents received at least one vaccine dose, according to the data.

City officials meet weekly with the Vaccine Equity Partnership Fund, which includes the Norwalk Health Department.

We are always discussing where clinics are being held, where we can allocate more resources, and how we can improve communication and outreach, Morgan said. Our community health workers are handing out flyers and distributing information throughout the city.

The city has more than 11,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 224 Norwalkers have died from the virus since the pandemic began. Between June 20 and July 3, the citys positivity rate was 0.8 percent, while the states positivity rate was about 0.8 as well, according to the data.

We are continually thinking of strategic and creative ways to reach more people in the community, Morgan said. Our goal is to make getting vaccinated as convenient and easy as possible.

Behind Stamford, Norwalk has the second-highest vaccination rate among the states six largest cities, the data shows.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
EDWARDSVILLE  Dr. Patrick Shelton began his first day as District 7 superintendent of schools on July 1.

Shelton brings to the district over 25 years of experience in education on both the teaching and the administrative sides as well as longstanding relationships with the community. From working in nearby school districts to enrolling his children in District 7 schools, Shelton has established several connections in the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area and hopes to continue to strengthen those relationships to better serve District 7.

The peoples love for District 7  its such a neat melting pot of homegrown Edwardsville people with transplanted Edwardsville people, I think everyone values and has investments in the public schools, he said.

He believes the most important aspects he will bring to his administration are stakeholder input and strategic planning.

Shelton, originally from Indiana, attended Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, before becoming a k-12 music teacher in Staunton, Illinois. He held positions as a teacher, principal and curriculum director in Illinois for 16 years. He later worked in the Parkway School District in St. Louis County for 10 years, and most recently served as the assistant superintendent of elementary education in Lees Summit, Missouri.

In 2008, Shelton and his family moved to Edwardsville where his son attended Liberty Middle School, his daughter attended Cassens Elementary School and his youngest daughter entered kindergarten at Goshen Elementary School.

There are a lot of opportunities that a community like Edwardsville has for kids, Shelton said. And I appreciate the diversity. Being a university town, we attract people from all walks of life, and I think thats really unique to the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area.

After several years of working in Missouri schools, Shelton is excited to be working in the same community he lives in, again. He said many of his former Staunton students attended Southern Illinois Univerity Edwardsville (SIUE) and now live in the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area with children of their own in District 7 schools. Not only that, but Shelton attended SIUE for his masters, specialist and doctorate degrees. While attending, he became acquainted with several current and retired District 7 administrators, long before he thought about joining the district.

Relationships are very important, theyre the first layer of everything we do, he said. We all benefit when we partner together.

He is looking forward to re-establishing or strengthening his prior District 7 relationships as he works in District 7 and the surrounding community. Shelton warned that he will not always be found at his desk in the Hadley House administration building, as he enjoys being out in the community.

Being able to rub shoulders with people we have a positive impact on every day, nothing bad ever comes from that, he said.

I think thats one of the most important things Im going to do is form relationships, he added. Not just within the district but with our community stakeholders outside of the district, too.

Shelton said community members and teachers can expect to have their voices heard.

I dont have the perspective of everyone, he said, expressing the importance of including the community in discussions. And our board doesnt have the perspective of everyone. From keeping up with technology and keeping facilities up to date to maintaining budgets and financial stewardship, the diversity that makes Edwardsville so unique also makes community input invaluable.

He also stressed the importance of strategic planning and how he intends to focus on not only improving the district, but maintaining the implementations put in place. For example, he expressed the importance of implementing technology in the district.

With Covid, if you didnt see the need before, you see it now, he said.

But technology is always changing. While the plans for the district currently involve providing devices for all middle school students by January 2022 and a five-year plan to implement technology within other levels as well, Shelton said most technology is on a five-year cycle. Therefore, the district must also be prepared to replace what they implement, now. This strategic planning will continue across all decisions District 7 makes.

Even before July 1, Shelton was already planning ahead for the future of District 7. While last Thursday marked the official start of his position, Shelton has been attending every other board meeting, having one-on-one discussions with the board and principals and working with former superintendent Dr. Jason Henderson since March. Henderson resigned last November after being hired in 2019.

Dr. Henderson was a great partner for transitioning with, Shelton said. He made the process go smoothly and, according to Shelton, while July 1 was Sheltons official first day, he said there was no hoopla or stress to the day.

It felt like just another day, he said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden will host New York City's Democratic mayoral candidate and other city and law enforcement leaders from around the country to talk about reducing crime.

Eric Adams, Brooklyn borough president and the likely next mayor of New York, plus Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo are expected to attend the meeting Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans. They were not authorized to speak publicly about the meeting and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Biden will also host Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, Chief David Brown of Chicago and Lt. Anthony Lima of the Newark, New Jersey, police.

Shootings and killings are up around the nation, with local politicians and police struggling to manage the violence that has ballooned since the coronavirus pandemic. But there is a continued push for police reform, revived nationwide with the death of George Floyd, and Biden is trying to work on both simultaneously.

The president recently announced new efforts to stem the tide of violence, but the federal government is limited in what it can do to help localities reduce the spike. His plan focuses on providing funding to cities that need more police, offering community support and cracking down on gun violence and supplying illegal firearms.

But much of Biden's effort is voluntary  centered on encouraging cities to invest some of their COVID-19 relief funds into policing and pushing alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers  often both targets and perpetrators of violence.

Biden will be joined Monday by Attorney General Merrick Garland and other anti-violence experts. The president is expected to talk through the work federal law enforcement is doing to stop the flow of illegal guns, including new strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington to help take down illegal gun traffickers and a new zero tolerance policy for dealers who sell guns illegally.

A federal effort is underway to expand and enhance community violence interruption programs in 15 cities.

Adams, a former New York Police Department captain, is the prohibitive favorite in the general election against Curtis Sliwa, the Republican founder of the Guardian Angels. Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-to-1 in New York City.

Adams won a crowded primary after appealing to the political center and promising to strike the right balance between fighting crime and ending racial injustice in policing.

The Wall Street Journal first reported details of the meeting.
DETROIT (AP)  A federal judge considering whether to order sanctions against some of former President Donald Trump's lawyers spent hours Monday drilling deeply into details about an unsuccessful lawsuit that challenged Michigan's 2020 election results.

The lawsuit alleging widespread fraud was dropped after the judge found nothing but speculation and conjecture that votes for Trump somehow were destroyed or switched to votes for Joe Biden, who won Michigan by 2.8 percentage points.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the city of Detroit now want a raft of attorneys, including Trump allies Sidney Powell and L. Lin Wood, to face the consequences. It's one of the few efforts to wrench fines or other penalties from dubious post-election lawsuits across the U.S.

At its peak, Monday's court hearing attracted more than 13,000 people watching the live video.

U.S. District Judge Linda Parker repeatedly asked what lawyers did to assure themselves that allegations from Trump voters about fraud appeared legitimate. No one raised a hand in many instances. At other times, they said affidavits from people in counting centers simply were intended to reinforce reports by their election experts.

If you have not asked the minimal questions, I find that problematic, Parker said of the affidavits. I'm trying to determine the level of inquiry.

David Fink, an attorney for Detroit, a Democratic city where Trump's allies had alleged election irregularities, said there was no due diligence by lawyers.

They had a duty to investigate, Fink said. Unfortunately this kind of case is going to make people around the world believe that lawyers can say or do whatever they want and it doesnt have to be true, they dont have to inquire."

There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Indeed, election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well, and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of six Republican voters who wanted Parker to decertify Michigans results and impound voting machines. The judge declined in December, calling the request stunning in its scope and breathtaking in its reach.

Powell, based in Dallas, said little until the last two minutes of the hourslong hearing Monday. She took full responsibility for the lawsuit and compared the legal fight to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision that outlawed racial segregation in schools.

It is the duty of lawyers and the highest tradition of the practice of law to raise difficult and even unpopular issues, Powell said. The fact that there may have been even adverse precedent against us does not change that fact."

The sanctions hearing, she added, is one of the proceedings that leaves the American public with no confidence either in our election system or in our judicial system.

Wood's name was on the lawsuit, but he insisted he had no role other than to tell Powell that he would be available if she needed a seasoned litigator.

Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, also a Democrat, want the state to receive at least $11,000 in legal fees. Detroit is asking the judge to disgorge any money that lawyers have collected through a post-election fundraising campaign. The city also wants lawyers to face disciplinary hearings in their respective states.

I reject the mantra that we did this as a publicity stunt. We did not, Howard Kleinhendler, another architect of the lawsuit, told the judge.

Don Campbell, an attorney representing the lawyers, said sanctions would be inappropriate.

The fact is that folks doubted this election. It happens, Campbell said. Folks doubted the 2000 election, Bush versus Gore, and I grew up as many of us did hearing the rumors that were more than doubts about the 1960 election. ... This case was driven by doubts arising from the eyewitness accounts and the statistical evidence."

The judge asked for more briefs and didnt indicate when she would make a decision on possible penalties.

In New York, Rudy Giuliani has been suspended from practicing law because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Trumps election loss.

___

Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez
LONDON (AP)  All remaining lockdown restrictions in England will be lifted in a week despite a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed Monday. He said it was the right moment to proceed as schools close for summer vacation but urged people to proceed with caution.

Johnson said although risks of the pandemic remain, legal restrictions will be replaced by a recommendation that people wear masks in crowded places and on public transport. Nightclubs and other venues with crowds should use vaccine passports for entry as a matter of social responsibility," he added.

This pandemic is not over. This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family. We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday July 19 to life as it was before COVID, Johnson said.

The final stage of easing England's lockdown means that all restrictions on social gatherings will be removed and social distancing measures will be scrapped. Nightclubs can reopen for the first time since March last year, and there will no longer be limits on people attending concerts, theaters, weddings or sports events.

Earlier, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it was the right time to allow Britons a chance to return to normal life. The government's decision balances the harms brought by COVID-19 and damage done by continued restrictions, he said.

Javid told Parliament that Britain's successful vaccine rollout means that nine out of 10 adults in the U.K. now have antibodies against the virus. The government is on track to meet its target of offering all adults a first vaccine dose by July 19, the day when all remaining lockdown restrictions, including mandatory mask-wearing, are to be lifted.

As of Monday, 87% of the U.K.'s adult population have had their first dose, and 66% have had both doses. At the same time infections have soared in recent weeks, running at over 30,000 new cases daily, driven by the delta variant.

Javid said while new infections could reach 100,000 a day later in the summer, two doses of the vaccine offer effective protection against serious illness from the virus and officials believe the surge in cases will not put unsustainable pressure on hospitals.

Waiting any longer to lift restrictions will risk having the virus spread peak in the autumn and winter, when children return to school and hospitals are most likely to be overwhelmed by seasonal infections, Javid and Johnson said.

There will never be a perfect time to take this step, because we simply cannot eradicate this virus  whether we like it or not, coronavirus is not going away," Javid said.

Many of the infections have occurred among younger people who have yet to receive a first dose of vaccine. The government has no plans yet to offer vaccines to children under 18.

The British government believes that the vaccine rollout has mostly severed the link between infections and those needing hospitalization. The numbers of people requiring hospitalization or dying from COVID-19 have stayed low and broadly stable, though they have been edging up in recent days.

Still, concerns over the rapid increase in cases has piled pressure on the government to take a more cautious approach over lifting restrictions.

Jonathan Ashworth, the health spokesperson for the opposition Labour Party, said Javid's plan was akin to pushing his foot down on the accelerator while throwing the seat belts off. And Stephen Griffin, associate professor at Leeds University's school of medicine, called the move an irresponsible gamble.

I am dumbfounded by the notion that public health can be left to individual choice when, in the case of infectious disease it is, in fact, the epitome of collective responsibility, Griffin said. Government messaging on restrictions currently amounts to an outright oxymoron by urging caution whilst simultaneously allowing all guidance to be lifted.

Peter Openshaw, a member of a group that advises the government on new and emerging respiratory viruses, said it was vital to keep some protective measures in place, such as wearing masks.

I really dont see why people are reluctant to wear face coverings, it is quite clear that they do greatly reduce transmission," he told BBC radio. Vaccines are fantastic but you have to give them time to work."

The British government, which enforced one of the longest lockdowns in the world, has lifted restrictions for England in a series of steps that began with reopening schools in March. The fourth and final stage was delayed last month to provide time for more people to be vaccinated amid the rapid spread of the delta variant.

Other parts of the U.K.  Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  are following their own, broadly similar, road maps out of lockdown.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at:

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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Bangkok businesses seek financial relief

BANGKOK: Business operators in the capital are calling for financial relief measures, including a debt moratorium and new loans with relaxed conditions, to help small and medium enterprises cope with COVID-19.

COVID-19Coronaviruseconomics

By Bangkok Post

Monday 12 July 2021, 09:03AM

A jewellery vendor arranges wares at a stall surrounded by empty shops in Siam Square on Sunday. Photo: AFP

The request was made ahead of Mondays meeting of the governments economic team called by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, reports the Bangkok Post.

Members of the team are expected to consider an economic relief package for businesses affected by the partial COVID-19 lockdown and curfew imposed for at least 14 days starting today.

Expected to be included is financial compensation for people and businesses who stand to lose income during this period.

Some businesses have complained they are being asked to shut down temporarily when relief is not yet at hand.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) asked the government to consider relaxing lending regulations so financial institutions can examine other factors, not only credit information from the National Credit Bureau, when considering a loan application, said Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the TCC.

Mr Sanan was speaking after a virtual meeting with Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister, and the Finance Ministry, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, the Bank of Thailand, and the Office of the SMEs Promotion.

Aside from better access to financial resources, these business operators also need additional financial measures, including a debt moratorium, to help ease the burden of repaying current debts, said Mr Sanan.

He was citing opinions compiled from previous discussions with entrepreneurs, financial institutions and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

As for the governments current stimulus measures, the TCC basically agrees with the idea of injecting money into the economic system, he said.

However, some adjustments to these measures may be needed to improve their efficiency.

In phase 3 of the Khon La Khrueng (Half-Half) co-payment scheme, the government should double the maximum subsidy to B6,000 per person, from B3,000 now.

Meanwhile, to further help things along, the complicated terms and conditions of the Ying Chai Ying Dai e-voucher cashback scheme should be removed, Mr Sanan said.

The cashback scheme should instead be transformed into a project similar to the Shop Dee Mee Khuen tax deduction programme.

This offers a tax deduction for individual taxpayers of up to B30,000 when purchasing goods or services, he said.

The TCC also called for a digital vaccine passport programme that would help the governments plan to expand its tourism reopening scheme to cover other tourist destinations.

This follows the launch of a pilot programme in Phuket earlier this month, he said.

Mr Supattanapong agreed with the digital vaccine passport proposal and immediately assigned Tossaporn Sirisamphan, the chief adviser to the prime minister, to seek further discussions on the idea.

Meanwhile, the Medical Device Control Division, which is under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will today propose that the FDA and Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul approve a plan to make COVID-19 rapid test kits available over the counter, a source said.

Costing B300-B400 each, these kits would help improve public access to tests as many people are still waiting in long queues to be tested, including some overnight stays in front of a city temple.

The TCC also urged the government to make rapid COVID-19 test kits available at an affordable price so consumers can test themselves, Mr Sanan said.

Better access to COVID-19 tests would benefit the governments outbreak containment effort, as infected people would be promptly separated from non-infected ones for better safety and treatment, he said.

We need to speed up the containment of the outbreak in Bangkok, the countrys economic centre and an important [place] in the governments country reopening plan, Mr Sanan said.

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) yesterday recorded 9,539 new COVID-19 infections and 86 deaths.

The CCSA is reportedly monitoring a total of 127 clusters of infections in Bangkok.

Of the 127 clusters, one was recently identified as a community in Ratchathewi district where 70 new infections had been detected, said Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the CCSA.

As of Saturday, 93,284 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered, bringing the total to 12.4 million doses, he said.
Phuket officials: Prepare for new entry requirements, or go home

PHUKET: Phuket officials this morning warned all people intending to travel to Phuket to prepare to be refused entry onto the island from Thursday (July 15) if they cannot satisfy the new entry requirements.

COVID-19Coronavirushealth

By The Phuket News

Monday 12 July 2021, 01:18PM

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew issued the new requirements through a provincial order yesterday (July 11).

The new requirements will come into effect on Thursday (July 15) and remain in effect until July 31.

The new requirements do not apply to children under 6 years old traveling with parents.

Arrivals from Red or Dark Red zones

From Thursday, all arrivals from red or dark red-zones must be fully vaccinated (or received one injection of the AstraZeneca vaccine) at least 14 days before arriving, or they must have been discharged from hospital from recovering from COVID-19 no more than 90 days before arriving.

However, from thursday, they MUST ALSO provide evidence that they tested negative for the virus through an RT-PCR test or a Rapid Antigen Test no more than seven days before travelling to Phuket.

There will be no exceptions, said Lt Col Kraisorn Chomchuen of the Wichit Police who was on duty at the Phuket Check Point yesterday (July 11). Of note, Wichit subdistrict has the highest number of local infections on the island, with 107 infections since Apr 3.

The mandatory test requirement will apply to all people arriving from the 10 dark red highest control and restricted areas and the 24 red highest control provinces, listed in the provincial order as:

Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Suphan Buri, Saraburi, Chainat, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Udon Thani, Prachinburi, Sing Buri, Lop Buri, Samut Songkhram, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chon Buri, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima, Tak, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Krabi and Ranong.

Arrivals from Yellow or Orange zones

For people who start their journey to Phuket from the remaining zones or provinces designated as yellow or orange COVID-control areas  including Phang Nga  the same rules of entry currently in effect today will still apply after Thursday.

As such, all arrivals from yellow or orange zones must be fully vaccinated (or received one injection of the AstraZeneca vaccine) at least 14 days before arriving, or they must have been discharged from hospital from recovering from COVID-19 no more than 90 days before arriving.

Alternatively, instead of proving the above, they may provide evidence that they tested negative for the virus through an RT-PCR test or an Antigen Test no more than seven days before travelling to Phuket.

COMPLY OR GO HOME

Lt Col Kraisorn explained that there are about 2,000-3,000 vehicles coming through the Phuket Check Point onto the island every day.

We have found some arrivals who did not meet the entry requirements [currently in effect], and we did not let them onto the island, he said.

We also needed to explain to them about the necessity to strictly follow the rules, he added.

We just had two women who came by bus who had received their vaccination injection less than 14 days before arriving, he said, citing one example of people being refused onto Phuket.

For arrivals who come by bus but do not meet the requirements, we have officers from the Phuket Land Transport Office [PLTO] to help them find any vehicle to return home, Lt Col Kraisorn noted.

From July 15, we need to check documents for both vaccination and test results for arrivals from 34 provinces [the 10 dark red and 20 red zone provinces]. We are ready to check them strictly, Lt Col Kraisorn assured.

Please closely follow updates on the entry requirements and prepare yourselves before coming, otherwise you will not be allowed to enter the island, he said.

An officer from the Phuket Public Health Office [PPHO] stationed at the checkpoint explained, Please make sure that you take an RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen test  not an antibody test  because we accept only the two testing methods.

Some people presented their antibody test results and were denied entry to Phuket, and we needed to tell them to have a new test somewhere, the officer said.

An officer from the PLTO noted, Most of those who have been denied entering Phuket are those who have received an vaccination injection of AstraZeneca less than 14 days before arriving.

For bus passengers, we have told bus companies to inform and examine their customers before selling tickets. However, right now buses from Bangkok, Betong, Khon Kaen and Pattaya have already been suspended, he added.
Phuket suffers another COVID death, three more Sandbox infections

PHUKET: Phuket has suffered another death attributed to COVID-19, bringing the total number of fatalities attributed to the disease to eight since the latest wave of infections hit the island on Apr 3.

COVID-19Coronavirushealthtourismeconomics

By The Phuket News

Monday 12 July 2021, 11:03AM

The death was marked in the daily COVID situation report issued by the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) for yesterday (July 11). No details of the death have been provided.

UPDATE: Dr Kusak confirmed this morning that the three new cases were a 45-year-old Myanmar national who arrived among a family of seven, a 28-year-old African who came with two friends, and a 13-year-old Swiss who arrived with family.

PPHO Chief Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon revealed on June 30 that the seventh COVID death in Phuket was that of a 72-year-old man who had been in hospital for two months. The man had died sometime in the preceding week, Dr Kusak noted.

According to the daily report for July 11, issued just after 6pm yesterday, Phuket officials also marked three new COVID-19 infections among Sandbox tourist arrivals.

The three were among 159 arrivals who had their second test yesterday, bringing the total number of Sandbox tourists who have tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving on the island to six. The Phuket Sandbox scheme opened on July 1.

Among the six cases, one man from the UAE tested positive on his first test on arrival, while the other five were found to be COVID positive on their second test on Days 6-7 of their stay.

According to the Phuket Sandbox daily report issued this morning, 651 new arrivals landed in Phuket on six flights yesterday. Of those, 650 arrivals tested negative for COVID while the test results of the remaining one arrival have yet to be released, said the report. No reason was given for the delay of the one persons test results.

The PPHO also marked two local infections on the island yesterday, bringing the total number of people infected in Phuket since Apr 3 to 787.

The 787 does not include six people infected outside Phuket but brought to the island for treatment, or two foreigners who have been recorded as being infected outside the country.

All Phuket Sandbox arrivals who test positive after landing in Phuket are also not included in the total number of infections on the island, despite testing negative immediately after landing at the airport but testing positive after their first week on the island.

Of the 787 cases recognised since Apr 3, 720 have been released from hospital care while 73 patients remain under medical care and supervision.

The PPHOs updated map showing the locations of infections across the island since Apr 3 reported as follows:
Dave Grohl explained how the cover came to be.

We've been going down to our studio every day and filming things and recording things, and this one day we had our list of things we were supposed to do and it said, 'Record a cover song for Jo.' And while we were having this conversation, somebody said, 'Hey, have you seen that BEE GEES documentary?' And I was like the last person on earth  the only person that hadn't seen it! So I was, like, 'Why don't we just do a BEE GEES song?' And someone was just, like, 'Okay how do you wanna do it?!' And I said: 'Well, let's do it like the BEE GEES.'"

We started recording the instrumental track, and then I thought, 'Okay, well, I'm gonna go out and sing it' and let me tell you, I have never, ever in my life sung like that, but it was the easiest song I have ever sung in my entire life! I sang the song, and it was like six minutes and I was done. I should have been singing like this for the last 25 years!'

The tracklisting for Hail Satin is below:

Side A - The Dee Gees:

01. You Should Be Dancing

02. Night Fever

03. Tragedy

04. Shadow Dancing

05. More Than a Woman

Side B - Live At 606:

01. Making A Fire

02. Shame Shame

03. Waiting On A War

04. No Son Of Mine

05. Cloudspotter
DETROIT (AP)  As the world increasingly focuses attention on climate change, Roland Busch, the CEO of Siemens AG, says his company is well-positioned to help manage the challenges.

Munich-based Siemens specializes in making buildings, factories and railroads more efficient through digitalization and automation. And its medical unit includes technology that could lead to faster treatments for stroke patients.

Siemens has predicted 5% to 7% annual revenue growth for the next three to five years, based largely on its expectation that demand for its products involved in energy efficiency will steadily increase. Siemens' stock is up roughly 14% this year. And 13 of 21 industry analysts who follow it give the company a buy rating, according to FactSet.

Busch, who became CEO in February, has been with Siemens for more than a quarter-century.

The Associated Press spoke recently with him about energy savings, manufacturing efficiencies, medical imaging and the the future of rail travel. The interview was edited for clarity and length.

___

Q: The United States and other countries are emphasizing efficient buildings as one way to fight climate change. Is that what's fueling much of your growth predictions?

A: We talked about our core markets, 440 billion euros, growing 4% or 5%. These are already markets driven by sustainability as well as automation and digitalization, which is, I think, where all the stimulus money goes. Why would you invest in old stuff when you really can stimulate the new? Your new administration has clear targets to expand or defend technology leadership against others, eventually China. We can contribute. We have very strong software business in the United States. A very strong footprint in building technologies.

___

Q: How would a consumer benefit from factory automation?

A: Let me start with the automotive industry. If you are building a combustion engine and a hybrid-electric battery vehicle at the same factory, you have to manage all the variants as products are personalized. We help with either the software of the automation or the personalization (with many combinations of options). A second example is what we do in terms of pharmaceutical. We help them bring the vaccinations to market in shorter time, but also ramp up faster. A new mutant comes, a new kind of vaccination is needed, to make it fast. One day you produce a vaccination for COVID, another one for whatever kind of disease you want to fight.

___

Q: How does Siemens help make vaccines faster?

A: You create a digital twin of your products. You're simulating what your products look like. GSK is a pharmaceutical company that provides raw material to vaccination providers. They have to do a lot of tests and different mixes. We simulated that with them, so they could really shorten time to market by 20% or even more. We make a different twin of your manufacturing and look at how to get rid of bottlenecks in assembly lines, how to automate manufacturing. Once you simulate it, you don't need to try it and change it again. You do it right the first time, wrap up your manufacturing fast.

___

Q: How does Siemens make a building more efficient?

A: Something like 70 percent of the energy consumption is still in buildings. Heat goes through the roof. If you cover your roof properly, most of the job is done. You have automation technology, which is using every device that you have in a smarter way. The next big thing is the decentralized energy system. You combine it with rooftop photovoltaic (solar cells), eventually a (natural) gas engine, which provides energy for a campus with a lower energy footprint. Battery storage, fitting the whole thing with renewables. Its meaningless to cool a building if theres nobody in it. We have a software company which is managing buildings. You just gear it for the needs of the people who are currently in the room or who are going to be in the room.

___

Q: You make high-speed rail and transit system rail cars. Do you see growth, given decreased mass transit ridership due to the coronavirus?

A: Operators who run public transport see this whole thing coming back as life gets normal. Its a problem currently but that will fade away. Any large city without public transport, it will not function. We discussed whether we would put money into the next generation of high-speed trains. We have prototypes running. This may be one of the finest trains Siemens has ever built. It runs about 300 kilometers (186 mph) an hour. It has the highest efficiency. It has an aerodynamic profile. It works with different propulsion systems, is lightweight. Eventually you will see less and less national cities connected by flights. Wherever you have a good one-to-one connection with a high speed train, you can eliminate flights totally. We have a good business, globally. I do believe that has a good future.

___

Q: You've said you can use medical imaging to cut stroke treatment costs in half. How would you do that?

A: There are some cities where if you have a stroke, you're better off. A person has a stroke, so an ambulance comes, brings you to a hospital. You get a scan. Then you need a specialist for surgery. Very often the person doesnt sit at the hospital closest to where the person has a stroke. So you either put the person in a helicopter or you fly the surgeon to the hospital. This takes another half an hour, hour. If every second counts, thats a problem. A startup we acquired is doing high-precision surgery by joystick. One hundred miles apart, you have the best surgeon working with good equipment, which also ensures that you have a very precision movement. That cuts the time substantially. I think they are working on getting an approval for some of the procedures. It will take a couple of years.
The ship Ever Given has finally been allowed to leave the Suez Canal and head to Europe. It was sitting idle in the Great Bitter Lake for months where the adventure left a great bitter taste in the crews mouths.

A Hollywood studio has already secured the rights to the movie Escape from Suez. It will involve the usual butchering of the truth including a Delta Force Team from the US securing its release at night with bullets flying everywhere. It also has some Nazis thrown in for some more historical innacuracy. The public will eat it up.

The details were a little fuzzy on the terms negotiated for the release of the Ever Given, but it reportedly involves the owners of the boat providing some untraceable cash in a suitcase, throwing in a token tugboat for Egypt and promising never to darken their waters again.

In the months since the grounding some new details have emerged. Evidently, when a ship traverses the canal two Egyptian pilots come aboard to assist in the transitting process for a sizable, non-negotiable fee. But despite their titles, these pilots dont do anything more than give recommendations to the captain and it is the captain who is really steering and commanding the vessel. Well there you have it. Theyre nothing but a couple of annoying, overpaid backseat drivers. No wonder it got stuck.

The two pilots claim they are the best ones in all of Egypt (despite having little or no experience), did nothing wrong and werent responsible for the grounding of the Ever Given. When pressed by the media as to how such unqualified people as they got their jobs, they simply shrugged their shoulders and suggested reporters ask their uncle Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, leader of Egypt.

Experts are still unsure of what caused the accident in the first place. However, an audio recording recently surfaced of the moments just prior to the grounding of the ship in March where you can hear the voice of the captain saying something like, Hold my beer and watch this!

Once free of the Suez Canal, the Ever Given will attempt to traverse the Mediterranean Sea without getting stuck again. If the ship runs aground there, I suggest the crew declare a full mutiny and make the captain walk, no, run the plank.

The next challenge of the Ever Given is making it out of the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar (which isnt very straight) where the continents of Europe and Africa are separated by a mere 8 miles at one point. Thats kind of narrow for the hundreds of ships that traverse it each day and night. Any bets on the Ever Given messing that up too?

And finally if the ship decides to make a return trip from the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea and gets stuck again, that will undoubtedly infuriate the Egyptians beyond imagination. In other words if they dont make it into the Red Sea, thatll make the Egyptians see red.

Joe Crawford is a longtime Alton resident who writes weekly columns for The Telegraph. He can be contacted at crawfordjo@aol.com.
TUESDAY, JULY 13

Jersey County Fair Parade: 6 p.m., Downtown Jerseyville. Theme is Groovy Nights at the Jersey County Fair.

All Night Carnival Rides: 6-11 p.m., Jersey County Fair, 100 W. Fairground Ave., Jerseyville.

Jersey County Fair Talent Show: 8:15 p.m., Jersey County Fair, 100 W. Fairground Ave., Jerseyville.

Youth Movie Night: 5 p.m., NCG Cinema, 160 Alton Square, Alton.

Dominiques Hip Hop Class (4-13 years old): 6 p.m., YWCA of Alton, 304 E. 3rd St., Alton.

Dude Bro Duo at Fast Eddies Bon Air: 6-10 p.m., Fast Eddies Bon Air, 1530 E. 4th St., Alton.

Matt & Anthony Tuesday Series at Fast Eddies Bon Air: 6-10 p.m., Fast Eddies Bon Air, 1530 E. 4th St., Alton.

Heartland Prairie Hike: 5:30-7 p.m., Gordon Moore Park, 4550 College Ave., Alton.

Secret Agent Spy Camp: 9 a.m.-noon ages 5-8 and 1-4 p.m. ages 9-12, Jacoby Arts Center 627 E. Broadway, Alton. Begin with spy initiation training, complete top-secret art crafts and projects, and create gadgets for your missions with quirky materials like coffee, shoe-print printmaking, and invisible ink.

Lewis and Clark Board of Trustees Meeting: 6 p.m. public hearing at 5:45 p.m., Trimpe ATC, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey.

Camelot Cribbage Club at Camelot Bowl: 6 p.m., Camelot Bowl, 801 Beltline Rd, Collinsville. Occurs every Tuesday. For more information, call Phill at 618-288-7910.

Jersey County Farmers and Artisan Market: 4-7 p.m., Outrageous Outdoors parking lot, 902 S. State St., Jerseyville. Every Tuesday until Sept. 28

For information about Al-Anon Meetings, call 618-463-2429. To find more helpful meeting, visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14

Jersey County Fair Queen Pagent: 7 p.m., Jersey County Fair, 100 W. Fairground Ave., Jerseyville.

All Night Carnival Rides: 6-11 p.m., Jersey County Fair, 100 W. Fairground Ave., Jerseyville.

Sightseeing Cruise on the Spirit of Peoria: 9-11 a.m., 1:30-3:30 p.m., The Loading Dock, 401 Front St., Grafton. Admission: Adult $27.50, Senior $25.30, Child $15.40, Group $20.

Lunch Cruise on the Spirit of Peoria: Noon-2:30 p.m., The Loading Dock, 401 Front St., Grafton. Admission: Adult $27.50, Senior $25.30, Child $15.40, Group $20.

Queen of Hearts Drawing: 7-9 p.m., American Legion Post 648, 14258 Scenic Hill Dr, Grafton.

D-Lux Duo at Fast Eddies Bon Air: 6-10 p.m., Fast Eddies Bon Air, 1530 E. 4th St., Alton.

Al-Anon Meeting: 9:15 a.m., First Baptist Church Room 107 (ring buzzer), 201 S. Moreland Road, Bethalto.

Al-Anon Meeting: 7 p.m., Upper Alton Baptist Church and Preschool, 2726 College Ave., Alton. For more information, call 618-463-2429. To find more helpful meeting, visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS): 9 a.m. weigh-in; 9:45 a.m., meeting immediately follows the weigh in until 10:30 a.m., First Christian Church, 160 E. Lorena Ave., Wood River. Complimentary first meeting. For more information or if you intend to attend call Virginia at 259-7343.

Al-Anon Meeting: 7 p.m., Holy Family Community Center (Basement), 2606 Washington Ave., Granite City. For more information, call 618-463-2429. To find more helpful meeting, visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org.
OFALLON  The next blood drive hosted by HSHS St. Elizabeths Hospital and Impact Life will be on Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the SLU Conference Room on the fourth floor of the OFallon Health Center at 3 St. Elizabeths Blvd., OFallon, Illinois.

Anyone attending the drive should park near the hospitals Outpatient entrance and enter the building using the Outpatient entrance, which is noted with a blue Outpatient sign to be screened. Additional directional signs will be posted to lead guests to the conference room.
ALTON  Researchers have confirmed at least two bull shark sightings in the Mississippi River over the last 100 years.

In both cases, bull sharks managed to swim upstream past St. Louis  more than 1,160 river miles from the Gulf of Mexico where they are normally found  according to paleontologist Dr. Ryan Shell and WVU Potomac State College librarian Nick Gardner.

According to the two, bull sharks have been caught in the are at least twice: once in 1937 and again in 1995. They are one of the few shark species known to swim into freshwater and have been known to travel substantially inland in tropical freshwater in Africa, Asia, Australia and South America.

When it comes to the Mississippi River, however, most sightings are found downstream from the Arkansas-Louisiana state line.

The researchers found numerous accounts of bull sharks this far north in the Mississippi River, but were left with only the two sightings after ruling out hoaxes and misidentifications.

In 1937, a five-foot long bull shark was caught by two fishermen at Alton. This is the farthest inland a shark has been known to travel within the Mississippi River. Other investigators have studied the case and concluded it was verifiable.

The other sighting, less commonly known, was in 1995 when a bull shark was found caught in a grate at the Rush Island Power Station near Festus, Missouri.

The 1937 sighting seems to be the cause for people jumping to a bull shark identification whenever they think theyve spotted a shark on the Mississippi, said Gardner.

In most cases, we found that if it wasnt an outright hoax, it was never a bull shark, he said. More often it was a case of a shark being caught in the Gulf that was dumped from a boat, or a total misidentification of a freshwater fish.

Some sightings were determined to be mere fabrications  including reports of bull shark teeth being found in Minnehaha Creek in Minnesota in 2005. The researchers said that report started as an April Fools joke and spread across the internet before being reported numerous times by news outlets as factual.

The persistence of the Minnehaha Creek story is a lesson unto itself on how unreliable information can spread online, said Gardner. This project really intrigued me as a model for how fake news can mislead and appear credible and I think it deserves further study. Weve written up the biology side, but not the sociology side.

Shell and Gardner said they couldnt rule out bull sharks ability to traverse into the upper Mississippi River basin, noting that factors often cited as possible barriers, such as temperature, could not be substantiated.

Instead, we found that bull sharks actually have a wide tolerance for different temperatures, said Shell.

He said the researchers are left with more questions than answers.

We dont understand how physical barriers like dams and locks play a role, if at all, or what may motivate the sharks to move upstream, Shell said. We can answer what, when, and where that sharks did this, but not how or why.

They said bull sharks appear to exhibit cryptic behavior such as swimming along the bottom during the daytime. They also noted water visibility is generally poor along much of the Mississippi River. Locks dont seem to halt similarly sized fish such as gars or sturgeons from moving up the Mississippi River, they said, and bull sharks seem to navigate locks just fine elsewhere in the world.

Its easy to dismiss these cases as one-off events, Shell said. But that ignores the interesting question of how these animals evaded detection and got so far upstream in the first place.

The researchers also also reviewed archaeological and fossil records, but didnt find much evidence.

Often the archaeological reports of shark teeth dont provide useful sketches or photographs, if any at all, and effort is not made to identify them convincingly to the species level, Shell said.

They noted that shark teeth are not unusual in many archaeological sites and apparently were desirable for indigenous trade.

The researchers findings appear in the July issue of Marine and Fishery Sciences.

Our research has left us with more questions than answers, Gardner said. So our hope is to start a dialogue around bull shark behavior and encourage others to join us in exploring the problem.

Shell is a paleontological resources assistant for the U.S. Forest Service in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He has previously taught at the University of Dayton and Wright State University. His research includes vertebrate fossil and subfossil records throughout the Midwest, for species as diverse as bobcats and rattlesnakes.

Gardner is a librarian at WVU Potomac State College in Keyser, West Virginia who teaches library instruction and provides reference assistance for students. In his spare time, he collaborates with other researchers on scientific topics.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Swarms of Chinese vessels have dumped human waste and wastewater for years in a disputed area of the South China Sea, causing algae blooms that have damaged coral reefs and threatened fish in an unfolding catastrophe, a U.S.-based expert said Monday.

Satellite images over the last five years show how human waste, sewage and wastewater have accumulated and caused algae in a cluster of reefs in the Spratlys region where hundreds of Chinese fishing ships have anchored in batches, said Liz Derr, who heads Simularity Inc., a software company creating artificial intelligence technologies for satellite imagery analysis.

At least 236 ships were spotted in the atoll, internationally known as Union Banks, on June 17 alone, she said at a Philippine online news forum on China's actions in the South China Sea, which Beijing has claimed virtually in its entirety.

When the ships dont move, the poop piles up, Derr said. The hundreds of ships that are anchored in the Spratlys are dumping raw sewage onto the reefs they are occupying.

Chinese officials did not immediately react to Derrs assessment of the environmental damage, but have said in the past that they have taken steps to protect the fisheries stock and the environment in the South China Sea. Aside from the Chinese, Vietnamese forces have also occupied some coral outcrops in Union Banks, which is also claimed by the Philippines, although it has no presence in the vast atoll.

Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Eduardo Menez in Manila said the findings would have to be assessed and validated by Philippine authorities before a decision on whether to lodge a protest against China could be made.

This is a catastrophe of epic proportions and we are close to the point of no return, Derr said.

She warned that schools of fish, including migratory tuna, breed in the reefs that are being damaged and could cause fish stocks to considerably decline in an offshore area that is a key regional food source.

Separately, Chinas military said it chased a U.S. warship out of another disputed area of the South China Sea on Monday after Washington warned an attack on the Philippines might activate a mutual defense treaty.

Beijing affirmed its claims to portions of the sea that also are claimed by Southeast Asia governments. It rejected the Biden administrations declaration of support Sunday for an 2016 international tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines that threw out most of them.

China is increasingly assertive about pressing its territorial claims, which are fueling tension with neighbors including Japan, India, Vietnam and the Philippines.

China's Peoples Liberation Army said it sent ships and planes after the U.S.S. Benfold entered waters claimed by Beijing around the Paracel Islands.

In March, Philippine authorities spotted more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels at Whitsun Reef, in the northeastern periphery of Union Banks, and demanded that China withdraw them from the area. China ignored the demand for weeks, while continuing to assert the reef is its own territory.

The Philippines argued that Whitsun Reef lies well within an internationally recognized stretch of waters where it has exclusive rights to exploit fisheries, oil, gas and other sea resources. It cited the international tribunal's 2016 ruling that invalidated Chinas vast claims to the waterway on historical grounds and unanimously upheld the Philippines' sovereign rights to the so-called exclusive economic zone.

A few hundred protesters held a noisy rally Monday in front of the Chinese Consulate in Manila to mark the fifth anniversary of the ruling, which China ignored and continues to defy. The protesters lashed out at President Rodrigo Duterte, who has nurtured closer ties with Beijing, for refusing to aggressively demand that China comply with the landmark ruling.

___

Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report.
Lessons and laughter filled classrooms normally silent in July. Laptops sat untouched, and no one needed to hit the unmute button before speaking.

Across the region this month, many districts reopened classrooms and brought students together to help recover from learning loss because of the pandemic. Using federal COVID-19 funding, the districts seek to boost the skills students lost over months of virtual or hybrid instruction and get them ready for the fall. Some districts limited programs to the students with the greatest academic needs, while others opened classrooms to all. Other districts offer virtual-only summer learning, with students taking pre- and post-assessments to assess progress.

After an unprecedented school year, summer learning has never looked like this.

More than a dozen Scranton students, who will start second grade in the fall, sat on the floor at John G. Whittier Elementary School last week. Using plastic cups and wooden sticks, the students built towers together. Because of virtual learning and in-person restrictions, the students had not worked closely with other students in school since kindergarten.

Its really nice to be in person, doing things like this with them, said teacher Theresa Kerrigan. Especially with the younger kids, its most meaningful to them.

Down the hall, students practiced letter sounds, repeated multiplication facts and danced while counting to 100.

In Scranton, more than 600 students  565 in elementary schools and 57 in secondary schools  are spending Mondays through Thursdays this month in class.

Its great to see the children back in the school, excited about learning and doing hands-on learning, said Danielle Call, a West Scranton High School teacher who is coordinating the summer academy.

The full extent of learning loss experienced because of the pandemic remains unclear. Many districts plan assessments in the fall to gauge individual student needs. Over the last 15 months, the state allocated $423 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to the 37 school districts in Northeast Pennsylvania. The latest, through the American Rescue Plan, will give area districts $263 million. Of that, at least 20% must be spent on helping students overcome the learning losses of the last year, including by funding summer learning programs.

At Lakeland Elementarys Scott campus, about 50 students are spending four weeks in the summer skills bootcamp.

Im happy and excited, said Hailey Hernandez, 9. Im meeting more friends.

After learning about constellations last week, the students modeled their own by using miniature marshmallows and toothpicks  an activity one teacher referred to as snacking and crafting.

What we hope is that they obviously learn some important skills, but also have fun, Principal James Pivirotto said. We want them to have fun learning and building on coming back to school.

In another classroom, students designed their own food trucks, including menus and budgets.

It was hard being home, said Michael Barucky, 11. This is helpful for school next year.
HARRISBURG  Unemployed Pennsylvanians and their advocates are bracing for the return of work-search requirements, fearing the overburdened system is not yet equipped to handle another change.

Beginning Sunday, people seeking unemployment must attest that they applied for two jobs and completed a work search activity, like attending a job fair or posting a resume on a recruiting site, the week prior. The requirement will also apply to those in the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which expanded benefit eligibility to business owners, freelancers and independent contractors.

For unemployed Pennsylvanians, the requirement could create more hurdles to navigate a system riddled with inefficiencies that has left some without benefits for weeks or months. Advocates fear that some unemployed residents dont know about the impending change, leaving them vulnerable to being denied assistance.

Adding in yet another piece of the puzzle for (the Department of Labor and Industry) to monitor and measure seems like it is going to inject more delay, more bureaucratic red tape into a process that is already overwhelmed, said Melissa Evans, attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services in Pittsburgh.

The people that are most affected by this are the people who are living at or below the poverty line.

Unemployment in Pennsylvania was 6.9% in May, according to the most recent estimate, down from a peak of over 15% in April 2020. The American economy added over half a million jobs in May, but thousands of positions in Pennsylvania remain unfilled. Dozens of county chambers of commerce signed a letter to the state legislature in May urging officials to reinstate the work-search requirement.

Alex Halper, director of government affairs at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said that while unemployment is a critical safety net for people out of work, it makes sense to ensure people are searching for work while receiving those benefits.

Employers are absolutely in the midst of a workforce crisis, Halper said. Addressing it will require really a multi-faceted approach, and no single policy is going to completely solve it.

But the rocky rollout of Pennsylvanias new unemployment system and fears of insufficient outreach about the change are fueling concerns. Instead of pushing more people to apply for unfilled jobs, some experts think the requirement may only serve to create an additional roadblock for struggling unemployed Pennsylvanians.

Julia Simon-Mishel, an attorney specializing in unemployment compensation at Philadelphia Legal Assistance, said that most of her clients are already searching for work  and the reinstated requirement wont force them to do anything they werent already doing.

Her clients worry the change could make it harder to navigate the system, resulting in a delay in receiving benefits.

We are still hearing daily from people who cant figure out something with the (unemployment) system, Simon-Mishel said. If they have a payment that looks like it didnt come when it was supposed to, its a day late, they are having a panic attack because they are so anxious about having this money cut off.

The Department of Labor and Industry rolled out a new unemployment claims system in early June that has been marred with problems for claimants who ran into numerous glitches.

Laura Aboud, an instructional designer from Philadelphia, lost her job in December 2019, just months before the pandemic hit. She picked up part-time work during the pandemic but filed for unemployment some weeks to supplement the lost income from her full-time job.

Aboud said she faced roadblocks receiving her benefits  on Friday morning, she received money from claims that date back a month and was finally able to pay back money she borrowed for her expenses. She fears the new system hasnt been adequately tested, potentially leading to problems rolling out the work-search requirement.

Though Aboud just landed a nine-month contract job, ongoing troubles with the system pose a challenge for the thousands of Pennsylvania workers still facing unemployment.

Some in that group might not even realize the requirement is returning, said Deborah Steeves, an attorney at Legal Aid of Southeastern PA.

Sarah DeSantis, spokesperson for the Department of Labor and Industry, said in a statement that the agency has been raising awareness via direct messages to claimants, social media and online outreach. Legal Aid of Southeastern PA has been trying to get the word out, too, through workshops, social media, and information on its website.

But often, when Steeves mentions the reinstated requirement to a client, its news to them. She said many are not working because theyre caring for children while school is out, complicating their work search. Finding a job might mean securing accessible and affordable child care, which isnt an easy feat.

Some people seeking unemployment are exempt from the work-search requirement, but those with child-care obligations are not listed in an FAQ published by the department.

Im afraid that (unemployed) people are just not well-equipped at this particular time, Steeves said.

Evans, of Neighborhood Legal Services, estimates that around 85% of her clients have not received unemployment benefits that they have filed for. While that proportion likely doesnt represent Pennsylvanias total unemployed population, she says the number points to the scope of the problem within the system. She thinks that adding the work-search requirement back in might be premature while so many are still unable to receive their benefits.

I have lots of clients who are six, seven months out from a date of termination, who are still waiting for a notice of termination as to whether or not they will be receiving unemployment compensation benefits, Evans said.

Extended federal benefits made business owners and self-employed Pennsylvanians eligible for unemployment, but theyll be subject to the same work-search requirements as other claimants, potentially forcing those workers to apply for jobs outside of their field.

How does a business owner apply for two jobs? Steeves said. Are they really thinking they need to put in an application for McDonalds?
Six years after Scranton Patrolman John Wilding died chasing after robbery suspects, lawmakers are again set to consider a bill to make such a flight a felony.

Called Officer John Wildings Law, the bill, introduced by state Sens. Marty Flynn and John Yudichak, would make it a felony should someone get hurt or die during a foot pursuit with police, according to a joint statement from the two lawmakers Monday, the anniversary of Wildings death. Otherwise, the proposed violation  evading arrest or detention on foot  would be graded as a misdemeanor if a person knowingly and intentionally flees on foot from a public servant attempting to lawfully arrest or detain that person, according to the bill.

He worked hard to protect Scranton, yet our law fell short in protecting him, said Flynn, D-22, in a statement announcing the bill, adding it honors his legacy and the awful tragedy that could have been prevented if a law was in place to prohibit fleeing from an officer by foot.

The bill previously was introduced, most recently in 2020, by former state Sen. John Blake. It unanimously passed the state Senate Judiciary Committee but did not advance further. However, after advocates and officers gave feedback, the bill this session includes language creating a separate felony offense should a police officer be injured during a pursuit, said Flynn and Yudichak.

In previously opposing the proposed law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania argued it creates a duplicative and unnecessary offense that is dangerously ill-defined and which could end up being used to punish protestors exercising their First Amendment rights.

This offense could make every protestor who flees from the police subject to criminal charges, wrote Elizabeth Randol, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, in an October memo.

Carly Simpson, a spokeswoman for Yudichak, said they are familiar with the position of the ACLU and would look into it over the course of the year.

Were happy to meet with them and see what we can do, she said.

Wilding, 29, died July 12, 2015, after helping pursue three 17-year-old armed robbery suspects, who initially fled in a vehicle until it crashed into a low concrete wall on Lafayette Street near North Main Avenue, prompting them to scatter on foot. Wilding hopped a wall while trying to assist other officers in the chase and fell 10 to 15 feet. The three teens  Tanner Curtis, Isiah Edwards and Nasiir Jones  were arrested and pleaded guilty in August 2017, to robbery and third-degree murder and were immediately sentenced to nine to 18 years in prison.

I dont want another mother to feel the same way I have felt since that day, said his mother, Mary Wilding, in a statement.

Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell, who has supported the bill, said fleeing from arrest in a vehicle is a crime but no such law exists when the pursuit is a foot chase, even though it could end in tragedy.

I think it puts a face ... to some of the peril that police officers face on a day-to-day basis, Powell said. While his loss is tragic, this bill is a step in the right direction.

The current bill is before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Treyci Callahan wants to make sure area Purple Heart recipients receive proper recognition.

The Tunkhannock womans son, Shane VanOrder, received a Purple Heart after suffering injuries in the Middle East. He died Aug. 16, 2020, after which the military sent her letters detailing some of the things his troop has done. She said she was amazed.

I never realized the sacrifices that military members really make to protect us, Callahan said. I wanted to do something to honor Purple Heart recipients all throughout the county, so I started doing some research.

After learning through the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs that Pennsylvania is considered a Purple Heart Community, and that individual areas can also be recognized as such, she went to work on trying to make Wyoming County a Purple Heart Community.

The requirements are to have a declaration signed by the county commissioners and have at least one Purple Heart recipient living in the community.

I have had contacts with the commissioners and they have been more than willing to help with trying to make this happen, Callahan said. Im really excited I have been able to get the ball rolling on this. I think it would be great for the community.

Callahan has taken to Facebook trying to find Wyoming County Purple Heart recipients so they can be properly recognized. She said she has heard from 20 families so far, and some of the stories have tugged at her heart.

One gentleman I talked to on the phone was a World War II veteran who said about how no one has really asked about his story, and I find that really sad, Callahan said. Our veterans go through so much, and we need to be able to properly recognize them.

Callahan wants to hold a ceremony honoring the medal recipients, and have some of them share their stories with the public.

Im looking to have some of the living recipients put together their stories, so that I can possibly put together a book to put at the historical society, Callahan said. I think that would be a really cool project, along with a ceremony in the future.

As word of Callahans mission spread, she began to receive messages from people asking if they can help, including contact from non-Purple Heart recipients directing her to families of deceased medal recipients.

Those who know a Wyoming County Purple Heart recipient, living or deceased, can message the information to Treyci Callahan on Facebook.

Im hoping to hear from as many recipients as possible, Callahan said. I really think this could be a great benefit to our community, and give our veterans the recognition they deserve.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The price of your favourite takeaway could increase in the coming months with one restaurant boss saying the cost of importing ingredients is rising weekly.

As This is Money has pointed out since last summer, container chaos at Britain's ports has had a detrimental hit on many businesses who rely on imports - and the problem appears to be worsening.

One small business owner in Essex says the cost of a container coming through Felixstowe from the Far East is now being billed at $17,000 - a price that has rocketed since the start of the pandemic.

The potential rise in takeaway costs is down to these delays at the ports and higher prices, according to an investigation by Foodhub.

Brexit: Takeaways in the UK could be struggling due to the cost of ingredients increasing

One takeaway owner has said that key ingredients such as flour, chips, chicken and cheese have risen in price, hitting his business hard.

Phil Adams, who is the general manager at Tiger Bike in Stoke-on-Trent, says despite the price hikes, the business simply didn't have the choice of removing these four key items from the menu, as this would have inevitably hit impacted sales.

Whilst some may question why it would not be possible to get these items from the UK, most of the materials largest come from overseas.

The raw materials for Cheese largely come from Denmark whilst pizza market flour has a large amount of Canadian wheat in it which means, by the time it has been transported to the UK, the price has increased due to rises in transport costs.

Similarly, chicken predominantly comes from Poland, Holland, Romania and Belgium whilst chips normally come from Holland, Belgium and Germany.

Across the board, transport costs have played a big part in these cost increases.

Phil said: 'We had no choice. We just had to carry on and pay the increased cost, as I'm sure the vast majority will have done. Prices changed in a matter of hours and days. Demand became higher, supply lower.'

Phil said that 90 per cent of his customers order chips and, unfortunately, this was the biggest cost rise and the highest risk of being unavailable.

'How many people will realistically order from a takeaway that has run out of chips, or hiked their price dramatically? Could you imagine KFC running out of chicken, again?'

'A huge amount of our food is imported, and we simply could not risk disappointing the volume of customers we serve.

'Our suppliers were ultimately at the mercy of their suppliers. The chain goes upwards. Ultimately, we come second to last on that chain. Only our customers suffer after us if we can't guarantee a supply.'

Phil Adams, General Manager at the Tiger Bite takeaway, says there has been difficulties

Phil Adams, General Manager at the Tiger Bite takeaway in Stoke on Trent, said: 'Since leaving the EU, we have seen price increases in flour, chips, chicken and cheese, which are four of our most heavily ordered items.

'The main problem was the lack of information we had prior to this, as it just made forward planning impossible.

'Our food cost on a standard week increased pretty much week by week and availability became increasingly more challenging.'

But it is not just the increasing cost of ingredients that is the problem as the delays at ports that took place over Christmas last year have also crippled the supply chain.

'If a business doesn't have a core item available, you lose a whole order of 15 to 20, not just the 2 portion of chips. Overnight your business has the potential to slip away.'

Due to this loss of supply, Tiger Bite, had no choice but to delay any investment into new equipment for its business.

Additionally, Phil made the difficult choice not to recruit any more team members in order to protect the income of his existing workers.

Another blow to the supply chain could come in the form of a lack of HGV drivers, which are not among the list of eligible skilled occupations, meaning they are currently excluded from skilled work visas.

The Road Haulage Association has reported there has been a drop of around 15,000 UK drivers, relating to Eastern European drivers leaving the UK at the start of Brexit.

The economic climate has also not helped the vulnerable position of the nation's takeaways as, during lockdown, many people were put on furlough, meaning that they simply did not have the money to invest in increased takeaway prices.

Phil said 90% of his customers order chips and, unfortunately, this was the biggest cost rise

However, things could have been much worse for the nation's takeaways over the past year.

Phil said: 'In hindsight, the fact the restaurant dine-in business was closed probably made things just about bearable.

'Had everyone in hospitality been in full trade, I'm almost positive many takeaways would have folded, as their buying power simply can't match that of the huge high street chains.

'Ultimately, through the pandemic and lockdown, it is the local takeaways that have catered for the masses. Only supermarkets or stores of a similar nature, managed to stay open. The impact of Brexit could have had far worse consequences.'

However, looking forward, it is thought there could be more problems to come.

Ardian Mula, chief executive of Foodhub, said: 'Feedback from our partners has been that they have been caught in the perfect storm during the last few months.

'The national lockdown has unequivocally saved the livelihoods of many takeaway owners, and while we are proud to have been supporting the public during this time, the industry cannot rely on this for much longer.

'If these price increases remain, or even increase further as we continue to come to terms with the implications of leaving the EU, it's highly likely that takeaways will start passing on some of these increases to customers  it just wouldn't be sustainable to absorb them in the current climate.'

Ibrahim Dogus, Chair of the British Takeaway Campaign said: 'Small takeaways like ours have found that the increased cost of importing ingredients has skyrocketed, which has a serious knock-on effect.

'If we want to keep the ovens hot inside our local favourites, more needs to be done to make sure the change in import rules doesn't hamper the smallest businesses at the end of the supply chain.'

Phil added: 'In November and early December, we effectively wrote off any profit and invested our money into ensuring we had enough stock to cover the Christmas period if the ports weren't to reopen, but many businesses will not have been able to do the same.'

'Unpredictable price rises and change could make life for takeaways and the food industry more difficult in the near future.'

This is Money has previously reported on the difficulties British businesses which sell and transport imported goods have faced.

We revealed surcharges and higher shipping costs imposed by some of the world's largest shipping lines have fed through into higher costs for businesses, and potentially consumers.
Goldman Sachs could become the latest firm to offer graduate workers a six-figure salary, as it considers bumping up pay to keep pace with rivals.

The Wall Street bank offers UK investment bankers who come in straight from university in their early 20s total compensation of 86,000. This includes 50,000 of fixed pay, and a further chunk in bonuses.

But the US bank is under pressure to give entrants a pay rise, after rivals including Citigroup, JP Morgan and Barclays raised comparable fixed salaries for their American recruits to $100,000 a year, or 71,941, before adding on bonuses.

Goldman Sachs is under pressure to offer graduate workers a pay rise, after rivals raised comparable fixed salaries for their American recruits

The move would make Goldman, which employs around 6,000 bankers in London, one of a growing number of businesses paying graduate workers a six-figure salary.

Swathes of the Citys most competitive law firms offer newly qualified lawyers well over 100,000 each year.

US titan Kirkland & Ellis pulls workers in with the promise of a 148,039 salary, while Freshfields, one of Londons so-called Magic Circle firms, offers 100,000, according to the Chambers Student guide.

US tech giants from Google to Microsoft are also renowned for forking out more than $100,000 (72,000) for the salaries of entry-level software engineers.

Estimates from Levels.fyi, a site which sources pay data from those working in the industry, peg the starting salary for a graduate software engineer at Google at 94,340 compared to 80,144 at Microsoft.
A bruising drop in earnings at Plus 500 showed the boom in amateur trading that took hold during the pandemic has begun to fizzle out.

In a trading update the FTSE 250 online trading platform said turnover sank by 38 per cent to 250million in the six months to June.

Plus 500 and its peers saw profits skyrocket last year as ordinary people tried to take advantage of topsy-turvy markets and commodity prices.

Slowdown: Online trading platform Plus500 said turnover sank by 38 per cent to 250m in the six months to June

The prices of stocks and raw materials such as oil went into freefall in February last year when it became clear Covid had spread around the world.

They mostly rebounded later in 2020  prompting another flurry as individual traders tried to cash in on the rise.

Plus 500s profits last year rose by 175 per cent to 380million and it saw a staggering 82m customer trades placed  up from 35m the year before.

Plus 500, which works in 50 countries, has been bracing itself for the boom in business during the pandemic to wear off and earlier this year launched a share trading platform Plus 500 Invest in a bid to attract new customers and keep the ones who had recently signed up for the first time.

The move will also help wean the Israel-based company off its dependence on controversial contracts-for-difference (CFD) products, which regulators have cracked down on in recent years.

CFDs allow investors to make high-risk bets on the price of shares, currencies or other assets.

But authorities have introduced stricter rules on the amount of money amateur traders can borrow from brokers to bet on market movements, which hit profits.

Also in the first half, the trading platform was rebuked by investors over plans to hand a one-off bonus worth almost 1million to finance chief Elad Even-Chan after he cut the companys tax bill significantly.

And in March it appointed world-renowned economist Jacob Frenkel  the former chairman of investment bank JP Morgan and ex-Israeli central bank chief  as its chairman.

While retail trading platforms are suffering now that markets are stabilising, figures from Charles Stanley suggest traditional wealth managers are faring better.

The amount of funds it oversees rose by 6 per cent to 27billion in the first quarter, which ended on June 30. Revenues rose by 8 per cent to 46million.
Ministers were under pressure last night from MPs on both sides of the Commons to intervene in the private equity feeding frenzy.

The flood of deals in recent weeks has led to a backlash over fears that British workers and suppliers will pay the price for firms' pandemic plundering.

Last night a Tory MP broke ranks to demand a Government inquiry into the role of private equity in British business, while the Labour Party backed the Mail's campaign by calling for tighter rules on foreign takeovers.

The flood of private equity takeovers in recent weeks has led to a backlash over fears that British workers and suppliers will pay the price for firms' pandemic plundering

Buyout firms have announced 113 deals for British companies in 2021 with a combined value of 23.3billion, the fastest pace of dealmaking since 2007, leading to widespread fears over UK jobs, pensions and suppliers.

In the past few days alone, Smiths Group, a FTSE 100 company, has entered advanced talks to sell its medical division, and Tate & Lyle has begun a break-up after private equity swooped to buy its sweetener division.

And last week it emerged that buyout group Advent International was circling Ultra Electronics, which makes cyber-security systems and parts for Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

Pressure: Shadow business minister Ed Miliband MP

Morrisons is also at the heart of an intense bidding war that has raised serious concerns over the future of jobs and the supermarket's 3,000 farmer suppliers.

The backlash has forced Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to meet Morrisons boss David Potts this week to demand he explain his rationale for backing the 6.3billion bid from a consortium headed by Fortress private equity.

Earlier this month MPs on the business committee wrote to the competition watchdog to question whether it has sufficient powers to investigate big private equity deals such as Morrisons.

The rush of activity this week has led MPs to call for action. Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake said: 'We need to have a closer look at this and see if there is a better way of making sure important British assets like Morrisons are fairly treated.

'Establishing a commission and undertaking an inquiry in this area would be a very useful thing to do.'

Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband said: 'The Government must stand up for British businesses and not simply abdicate its responsibility in the face of takeovers.

Too often we have seen great British businesses pawned off and picked apart by firms more interested in what's in their pocket tomorrow than the success of the business.'

Growing backlash: Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will meet Morrisons boss David Potts this week to demand he explain his rationale for backing a 6.3bn private equity-backed bid

The Labour Party will today call for the Government to strengthen its powers to intervene in takeover attempts of British businesses.

Ministers have powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 to intervene in acquisitions if national security, media plurality, public health or the stability of the financial system are threatened.

But they have stood by while strategic assets, such as air-to-air refuelling firm Cobham, are sold.

The law also excludes firms such as Morrisons, despite its vital role in keeping shelves stocked and preventing food riots at the height of the pandemic.

Private equity companies often load their target company with debt, cut staff or conduct sales and leasebacks on assets to maximise their profits.

During the pandemic 40,000 jobs were lost on the High Street at companies targeted by private equity firms.

The Mail is campaigning to curb the worst excesses of the private equity industry, by forcing companies to be transparent, pay fair tax and curb short-termism.
Tifton, GA (31794)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 89F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
CUMBERLAND  Dora Mae Arnold, 72, passed away Monday, July 12, 2021. In accordance with her wishes, her body was cremated. Memorial services will be held at later date. Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., is entrusted with arrangements.


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Thomasville, GA (31792)

Today

Morning sunshine will give way to isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High 89F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
CORE Launches Summer of Hope Along with First Glimpse at New Branding
FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2017 file photo, a memorial for the victims of the shooting at Sutherland Springs Baptist Church includes 26 white chairs, each painted with a cross and and rose and placed in the sanctuary, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. A federal judge ruled Wednesday, July 7, 2021, the U.S. Air Force was "60% responsible" for the attack at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs because it failed to submit Devin Kelley's criminal history into a database, which should have prevented the gunman from purchasing the weapon used in the attack. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Webster Groves, MO (63119)

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Top finance officials representing most of the world's economy have backed a sweeping revision of international taxation that includes a 15% global minimum corporate levy to deter big companies from resorting to low-rate tax havens.

Finance ministers from the Group of 20 countries endorsed the plan at a meeting Saturday in Venice.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the proposal would end a self-defeating international tax competition in which countries have for years lowered their rates to attract companies. She said that had been a race that nobody has won. What it has done instead is to deprive us of the resources we need to invest in our people, our workforces, our infrastructure.

The next steps include more work on key details at the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and then a final decision at the Group of 20 meeting of presidents and prime ministers on Oct. 30-31 in Rome.

Implementation, expected as early as 2023, would depend on action at the national level. Countries would enact the minimum tax requirement into their own laws. Other parts could require a formal treaty. The draft proposal was approved July 1 in talks among more than 130 countries convened by the OECD.

Italy hosted the finance ministers meeting in Venice because it holds the rotating chair of the G-20, which makes up more than 80% of the world economy. The event also attracted around 1,000 protesters under the banner We Are The Tide, an umbrella group of environmental and social justice activists, including opponents of large cruise ships and the hordes of tourists they bring to the lagoon city. A small group scuffled Saturday with police after breaking away from an approved demonstration area.

The U.S. already has a minimum tax on overseas earnings, but President Joe Biden has proposed roughly doubling the rate to 21%, which would more than comply with the proposed global minimum. Raising the rate is part of a broader proposal to fund Biden's jobs and infrastructure plan by raising the domestic corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%.

Yellen said she was very optimistic that Bidens infrastructure and tax legislation will include what we need for the United States to come into compliance with the minimum tax proposal.

Republicans in the Congress have expressed opposition to the measure. Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the top Republican on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, has blasted the OECD deal, saying, This is an economic surrender to China, Europe and the world that Congress will reject.

The international tax proposal aims to deter the world's biggest firms from using accounting and legal schemes to shift their profits to countries where little or no tax is due  and where the company may do little or no actual business. Under the minimum, companies that escape taxes abroad would pay them at home. That would eliminate incentives for using tax havens or for setting them up.

From 2000-2018, U.S. companies booked half of all foreign profits in seven low-tax jurisdictions: Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Singapore and Switzerland.

A second part of the tax plan is to permit countries to tax a portion of the profits of companies that earn profits without a physical presence, such as through online retailing or digital advertising. That part arose after France, followed by other countries, imposed a digital service tax on U.S. tech giants such as Amazon and Google. The U.S. government regards those national taxes as unfair trade practices and is holding out the threat of retaliation against those countries' imports into the U.S. through higher import taxes.

Under the tax deal, those countries would have to drop or refrain from national taxes in favor of a single global approach, in theory ending the trade disputes with the U.S. U.S. tech companies would then face only the one tax regime, instead of a multitude of different national digital taxes.

___

McHugh reported from Frankfurt, Germany.
SCHENECTADY  Maria Perreca Papa, whose family founded Perreca's Bakery in 1913, is under contract to buy the next-door former home of the restaurant Cornell's in Little Italy, a move that brings together names that have helped define Italian food in the Electric City for nearly 190 years combined.

The 13,600-square-foot Cornell's building, at 39 N. Jay St., is under contract for $450,000, said Papa, who owns the bakery with her brother Anthony Perreca Papa and since 2009 has owed the restaurant More Perecca's, in a building adjoining the bakery, with a silent partner. The Perreca's address is 31-33 N. Jay, separated from the Cornell's building by a parking lot owned by Perreca's. Papa and her silent partner are buying the Cornell's building, she said.

READ MORE: Capital Region restaurants opened, closed or coming soon

Papa said she is negotiating to purchase the name and rights for the last two years of menus for Cornell's in Little Italy, in the hope of reviving the Cornell's brand. It would be a distinct and separate operation from Perreca's, she said. Cornell's closed at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020, with the owners saying they were unable to adapt to the takeout-only model then dictated by the state.

Located on Van Vrankern Avenue for 60 years, Cornells Restaurant moved to the Little Italy neighborhood in 2003; its current owners bought it from the daughter of the founder in 2011 and renamed it Cornells in Little Italy. Cornell's owners  former Daily Gazette publisher Jack Hume, his wife, Connie, and business partner George Ryon  could not immediately be reached for comment.

A fall opening for Cornell's is projected, likely in October, because infrastructure investment needs to be made into the building, Papa said, and she also wants to focus on the return of the annual Little Italy street festival in September, canceled last year because of the pandemic.

"There's no hurry to get (Cornell's) open. It's more important to do it right," she said.

For the latest updates, visit the Table Hopping blog, or sign up for the Table Hopping newsletter.

"My dad used to tell stories about stopping in at Cornell's when it was on Van Vranken, delivering his bread, dipping it in their sauce with meatballs that was on the stove and chit-chatting with Mrs. Cornell," Papa said. Perreca's Italian bread, famed for its thick, crisp crust and pillowy interior, is made in a coal-fired oven that, according to lore, has rarely fully cooled down between baking sessions over its 108-year history.

Papa said plans for the Cornell's building including possible conversion of the rear banquet room into an upscale pizzeria with authentic Neapolitan-style pies.

She said, "You know, when it's got that great char on it, and some people say, 'This is burnt!' and you say, 'No, it's Napoletana!'"
Disneyland fans have been vocal about annual passes being the single most desired thing thats missing from the 2021 Disneyland experience, but Fast Passes are a close second. Still, no one knows when they will return to Disneyland. A perk that had been available pre-pandemic that didnt return when Disneyland reopened in April, Fast Passes allowed park guests to bypass long standby queues for some rides by giving them a return window and access to a shorter line.

But if the news coming out of Disneyland Paris this week is any indication, the return of Fast Passes at Disneyland could also mean another substantial implementation of added costs to the park experience.

On July 6, Disneyland Paris announced a fee-based Fast Pass system called Premier Access. Under this new system, guests will be able to purchase entry to Fast Pass queues individually, per ride. Depending on which ride youre purchasing Premier Access for, that access could cost between 8 euros and 15 euros per ride depending on how busy the park is that day.

As part of our ongoing commitment to provide guests with a range of options to optimize trip planning, guests can choose to purchase Disney Premier Access on the Disneyland Paris app when it launches this summer, said a press release from Disneyland Paris. This optional digital service allows guests to enjoy the ability to skip the regular queue line for some of our most beloved attractions.

Its a revolutionary  and unusually expensive  new upgrade-based Fast Pass system. If it works, it could mean things are about to get even more costly at Disneyland in Anaheim, too.

Since Disneyland reopened, the Disney Company has not been shy about its aggressive financial strategy, which has involved charging top-tier prices for limited experiences and implementing unprecedented ways to charge guests money, like a never-before-seen $60 upgrade to the new Spider-Man ride in the recently opened Avengers Campus attraction in Disney California Adventure. It is certainly not outside the realm of possibility that Disneyland in Anaheim would follow its Paris counterparts lead and implement a per-ride system.

Before Disneyland closed in March 2020, the park had been offering a MaxPass ticket upgrade. For $20 per ticket per day, people could pre-book their Fast Passes via the Disneyland app, rather than walking to each ride, inserting their park tickets into the Fast Pass machine and getting whatever return time was available at that moment. Even with the upgrade, though, there were limitations on availability and how many passes you could use per day.

It's possible that Premier Access will solve that problem. Paid upgrades at Disneyland Paris are available on Autopia, Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Peter Pan's Flight, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquee de Remy and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Guests can only hold one Premier Access pass at a time, but the new system could alleviate the issue of having to choose only a few rides for accelerated access. Theoretically, if youre willing to pay individually to skip each line, you should be able to do that as many times per day as you want.

With prices between $9 and $18 per Premier Access pass, you could easily spend hundreds of dollars extra per person per day in the park if you were inclined to upgrade your wait experience. For visitors who are only at Disneyland Paris for one day  admission can reach $140.41 for a single-day Park Hopper ticket  the added cost may be worth it to ride as many rides as possible.

Disney has faced a difficult year financially due to the pandemic, Carly Terzigni wrote for the Disney fan blog AllEars.net, but tacking on fees for a popular service that used to be included in your admission could be a new pain point for many guests.

With the exception of the MaxPass, Fast Passes have been free since they debuted in 1999. Disneyland Paris is still offering free Standby Passes, which will seemingly function like the old Fast Passes  theyre free to use and can be activated during certain periods of the day, subject to availability and dependent on day-to-day needs in the parks, according to that same news release from Disneyland Paris. The difference is that the Standby Pass will only be available to use when wait times exceed certain levels for certain rides. There is no way to book them in advance if the pass is not currently being used for that experience.

We are always looking for ways to improve the guest experience, said Juliette Bron, vice president of digital and data at Disneyland Paris, in that release. The return of Standby Pass, the introduction of Disney Premier Access and each new digital enhancement across our parks and hotels is part of our commitment to provide innovative products and services that take into consideration ongoing feedback and not only meet but exceed the expectations of our guests. Guests expect seamless experiences more and more, and with technologys evolution, we have an opportunity  and a responsibility  to match their expectations.

One expectation that has been true of a Disney visit this year: Costs are going up, and even with Disneylands recently announced California resident discount ticket, a park day is becoming harder and harder to afford.
BERLIN (AP)  Esther Bejarano, a survivor of the Auschwitz death camp who used the power of music to fight antisemitism and racism in post-war Germany, has died at 96.

Bejarano died peacefully in the early Saturday at the Jewish Hospital in Hamburg, the German news agency dpa quoted Helga Obens, a board member of the Auschwitz Committee in Germany, as saying. A cause of death was not given.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas paid tribute to Bejarano, calling her an important voice in the fight against racism and antisemitism.

Born in 1924 as the daughter of Jewish cantor Rudolf Loewy in French-occupied Saarlouis, the family later moved to Saarbruecken, where Bejarano enjoyed a musical and sheltered upbringing until the Nazis came to power and the city was returned to Germany in 1935.

Her parents and sister Ruth eventually were deported and killed, while Bejarano had to perform forced labor before being sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1943. There, she volunteered to become a member of the girls orchestra, playing the accordion every time trains full of Jews from across Europe arrived.

Bejarano would say later that music helped keep her alive in the notorious German Nazi death camp in occupied Poland and during the years after the Holocaust.

We played with tears in our eyes, she recalled in a 2010 interview with The Associated Press. The new arrivals came in waving and applauding us, but we knew they would be taken directly to the gas chambers.

Because her grandmother had been a Christian, Bejarano was later transferred to the Ravensbrueck concentration camp and survived a death march at the end of the war.

In a memoir, Bejarano recalled her rescue by U.S. troops who gave her an accordion, which she played the day American soldiers and concentration camp survivors danced around a burning portrait of Adolf Hitler to celebrate the Allied victory over the Nazis.

Bejarano emigrated to Israel after the war and married Nissim Bejarano. The couple had two children, Edna and Joram, before returning to Germany in 1960. After once again encountering open antisemitism, Bejarano decided to become politically active, co-founding the Auschwitz Committee in 1986 to give survivors a platform for their stories.

She teamed up with her children to play Yiddish melodies and Jewish resistance songs in a Hamburg-based band they named Coincidence, and also with hip-hop group Microphone Mafia to spread an anti-racism message to German youth.

We all love music and share a common goal: Were fighting against racism and discrimination, she told the AP of her collaborations across cultures and generations.

Bejarano received numerous awards, including Germanys Order of Merit, for her activism against what she called the old and new Nazis," quoting fellow Holocaust survivor Primo Levi's warning that it happened, therefore it can happen again.

While addressing young people in Germany and beyond, Bejarano would say, You are not guilty of what happened back then. But you become guilty if you refuse to listen to what happened.

She also didn't shy away from criticizing present-day German officials, such as when tax authorities canceled the charitable status of the country's biggest anti-fascist organization. The decision was later reversed.

In a letter of condolence to her children, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote that Bejarano had experienced first-hand what it means to be discriminated against, persecuted and tortured, and lauded her educational work.

We have suffered a great loss in her death, he added. "She will always have a place in our hearts. 

___

Kirsten Grieshaber contributed to this report.
A cross-country Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride will make stops at the homes of the mother of Army Sgt. David Fisher of Watervliet, who was killed in the Iraq war, and retired Army Sgt. Raymond W. Warlikowski Jr. of Melbourne, Fla, with ties to Schenectady, a veteran of four tours in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Scores of motorcyclists and their riders will stop and pay tribute to Gold Star Mother Jean Kirschenheiter (Warlikowski's mother) at the Rotterdam Elks Lodge at 1152 Curry Road at 11:30 a.m. on July 25, and Gold Star Mother Vickie DeAugustines (Fishers mom) home at 130 Route 9P, Saratoga Springs at 1 p.m. also July 25.

Fisher was killed on Dec. 1, 2004 while on patrol in Baghdad while serving with the New York Army National Guards Delta Company, 1st Ballston, 101st Cavalry Regiment. He had enlisted in the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy before being assigned to the 101st Cavalry.

Warlikowski Jr. served for 20 years before military retirement and battled PTSD. He died two years later on Aug. 28, 2016.

Capital Region motorcyclists and riders are welcome to gather at DeAugustines home to pay tribute and join the ride for part of rest of national journey. Motorcyclists and riders who want to participate should contact Suzanne MacDaniel, Fishers aunt, at (518) 416-3401 for information.

The motorcyclists will make stops at other Gold Star Mothers home along the national tour. Other stops will be at Burlington, Vt., July 25; Concord, N.H., July 26; Littleton, N.H., July 27; Bangor, Maine, July 28; Biddeford, Maine, July 29 and 30; Waltham, Mass., July 31 and Aug. 1; Milford, Conn., Aug. 2; Jim Thorp, Pa., Aug. 3; York, Pa., Aug. 4; Hagerstown, Md., Aug. 5; and the Sheraton Pentagon City, Arlington, Va., Aug. 6-8.

Each day participants are briefed before departure at 8:30 a.m. for a more than 200-mile trek that ends about 6 p.m. Meals and rest stops as well as overnight accommodations are planned.

As our ride procession makes its way across the United States it make scheduled stops at the homes of our fallen service members, says Warren Williamson of Brownsville, Ore., executive director of Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Northwest. These scheduled stops are what we refer to as Fallen Soldier Home Visits. At each home we visit we present the surviving family with our Memorial Plaque of Distinguished Service to graciously recognize the sacrifice of their fall hero to and remind them their fallen service member hasnt been forgotten.

The annual national ride actually began on July 2009 at Eugene, Ore.

"Oregon had close to 120 services members killed in action," Williamson said. "To me, that was a huge number considering there arent any military installations in our state. So, I wanted to do something to make a difference, to leave a mark, to let our Gold Star families know there are still good people out there that care and love them. Thats when our Fallen Soldier Home Visits were originally created. Now our mission has grown nationwide, which allows us to honor fallen service members from every corner of the country.

During the 11 years Williamson and others have been doing this mission, he said, they had the privilege of visiting and honoring more than 800 Gold Star families. When this ride comes to a close on Aug. 8 at Arlington National Cemetery, we will have honored a total of 75 fallen service members (this year) while traveling through 18 different states.

Editor's note: This story has been updated. The Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride will stop at the Elks Lodge in Rotterdam at 11:30 a.m. on July 25 to honor the memory of Army Sgt. Raymond W. Warlikowski Jr. and in tribute to his mother, Jean Kirschenheiter, who will be present.


Q: At the intersection of Old Niskayuna Road, Osborne Road and Loudon Road (better known as Route 9 & Route 378), the lights are causing a jam. The traffic coming from Osborne to meet Route 9 is given a green light, only to be stopped at a red light immediately after going through. The drivers back up traffic all the way to the light on Osborne and beyond (blocking Old Niskayuna Road as they do, which is illegal and unsafe) because there is only room for a few cars ahead and the light at Route 9 doesn't allow them to proceed. Meanwhile, there is a line of cars sitting at a green light wondering why they aren't moving. This is not a matter of waiting just a few seconds before a change in the light, this is a drawn out minute or two wait for the lights to cycle to a point traffic can pass freely from Osborne across Route 9. Why have the light green when the traffic ahead can't move? This has been like this for years. The lights need to be synchronized to allow for traffic to flow east/west from Osborne while the north/south Route 9/Old Niskayuna Road traffic is stopped.

T. Jetter, Troy

A: The New York state Department of Transportation has adjusted the traffic signals to allow concurrent eastbound green phases on Osborne Road at both the Old Niskayuna Road and Route 9 approaches, according to Bryan Viggiani, public information officer.

In the long term, he added, DOT engineers will review the overall operation of the traffic signals at the intersection to see if any further adjustments are necessary.

Route 4: Starting Monday, July 12, Route 4 between Route 43 and Sunset Boulevard will be reduced to a single alternating lane controlled by flaggers Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Expect a significant disruption in traffic flow while the Town of North Greenbush is conducting paving.

CDTA: The Capital District Transportation Authoritys Saratoga Summer Trolley will return starting July 14 and run through Labor Day. The free trolley will operate Wednesday through Sunday each week from noon to 10 p.m. Stops include the Saratoga Race Course and Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The CDTA is also launching an electric scooter program this summer. Scooters will be available at racks throughout the Capital Region and cost 25 cents per minute, plus a $2 fee to unlock, using a mobile app. They will be available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Airline fees: The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a rule that would require airlines to refund fees for checked bags that are delayed more than 12 hours for domestic flights and 25 hours for international flights. The rule would also require refunds for other services, including advance seat selection and Wi-Fi, if customers pay for them but they are not provided.

Currently, passengers are entitled to a checked bag fee refund if their bags are lost. Airlines are also required to refund fees for services not provided only due to an oversale situation or flight cancellation.



Have a question about transportation in the Capital Region? Email gettingthere@timesunion.com and include your name, town and phone number or tweet @abigail_rubel.
LOS ANGELES  Bill Hutchinson, a prominent Dallas-area developer who stars in the reality TV show Marrying Millions, has been charged in Orange County with rape and sexual assault involving two teenage girls, the district attorney said Friday.

Hutchinson, 63, was charged with one count of rape of an unconscious person and five misdemeanors counts of nonconsensual touching, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the multimillionaire developer, who owns a home in the Emerald Bay community of Laguna Beach, court records show.

Prosecutors say Hutchinson sexually assaulted two 16-year-old girls while they were vacationing with him in April in California. He raped one of them on April 1 and sexually assaulted the other four times during that trip, the district attorney said. He then returned to the property a second time with one of the girls and committed a sexual battery on her, according to court documents.

Attorney John Manly, who represents one of the girls, said that she was 16 when she was assaulted but that she met Hutchinson when she was 15 through one of his daughters.

The Orange County charges come on the heels of Hutchinsons arrest Wednesday in Texas on suspicion of sexual assault involving a 17-year-old.

According to an affidavit in that case, the 17-year-old reported the incident to police in early June and alleged that Hutchinson provided her and other minors with alcohol and let them smoke marijuana at his Highland Park, Texas, home in May.

The teen told investigators she woke up and Hutchinson was touching her without her consent.

He has been charged in that case with inappropriate touching, including massages and groping, a second-degree felony under Texas law.

Anyone who knows me in this city knows that I am not capable of assault, sexual or otherwise, Hutchinson said in a statement following his release in Texas on a $30,000 bond. Hopefully all of my colleagues and friends will give me the benefit of the doubt until I prove my innocence in court.

According to the Texas affidavit, which was obtained by the Dallas Morning News, investigators obtained video of another teen stating that Hutchinson had displayed similar behavior with her at his home in Laguna Beach.

Hutchinson, the founder of Dallas-based real estate firm Dunhill Partners, has been featured on Lifetimes Marrying Millions, which follows wealthy people as they pursue romantic relationships with partners who are far below their income level  or age. In the show, Hutchinson is engaged to 23-year-old Brianna Ramirez, whom he met at a Tex-Mex restaurant in Dallas where she was a hostess. He has been married twice before and has six children.

Hutchinson told the Dallas Morning News in a 2019 story that he did not feel his age. I dont feel like a grandfather, and I dont even like being called a grandfather, he said. I dont want to fit that role for a long time.

Hutchinson could not be reached for comment Friday. If convicted of all charges in Orange County, he faces eight years in state prison and 2 1/2 years in jail.
BALLSTON SPA  An unformed plan to distribute tens of millions in federal pandemic relief in Saratoga County has the potential to negatively impact at least one project - and caused some friction among Board of Supervisors officials from the county's largest municipalities.

Sybil Newell, the executive director of RISE Housing and Support Services, was hoping the county would commit $400,000 from Saratoga County's $44 million American Rescue Plan Act funding for a planned 60-unit building on Dominic Drive in Ballston. She said the support is necessary as pandemic delays have pushed up building costs from $12.5 million to $14 million, leaving her with a $1.5 million gap. Moreover, she said it's vital to get a commitment as soon as possible.

In order to get ground broken before winter, which will increase the prices even more, we are trying to find additional sources," Newell said. "Also, with COVID, the populations that we serve, the people who live in affordable housing and need supportive housing has been disproportionately impacted. There is such a huge need, we feel its urgent to get this project underway as soon as possible.

Saratoga Springs Supervisor Tara Gaston supports the idea of using federal rescue plan funds to help RISE. She discussed the agreement with her fellow supervisors to grant the request at a July 1 meeting of the countys Health and Human Services Committee, for which she was chairperson at the time. She urged fellow supervisors to commit to RISE as the money is in the bank.

But the conversation turned tense after her efforts were dismissed in what Gaston said was "clearly coordinated." She then tried to assert her authority as chair, asking Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett and Board Chairman Todd Kusnierz to hold off on further discussion of the federal funds because others were waiting to address the committee. Barrett, however, continued to talk. And Kusnierz took offense, saying, "you are blocking me from commenting?"

Afterward, Kusnierz removed her from her chairmanship, as well as the committee.

Gaston said she feels that because she was made chairperson of the committee, that there was an expectation that she would fall in line with what other supervisors from the large-town coalition would want. She said she felt disrespected by being talked over when she was trying to run the committee.

The large-town coalition, which includes supervisors from Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Malta and Saratoga Springs, is a minority of the board - but they have a weighted vote, so they can override anything the small town supervisors support. Gaston is also one of only two Democrats on the 23-member Board of Supervisors.

Kusnierz shrugged off any significance tied to Gaston's removal. He said there's no breakdown in his large-town coalition.

Its not uncommon to make changes in government-appointed leadership positions on a regular basis, Kusnierz said. It happens on the federal level, it happens at the state level, it happens in the local government level. And this is no different, as we work to ensure we best meet the needs of the residents of Saratoga County.

Moreover, he said, the supervisors from the larger municipalities are working more closely with the smaller towns.

I think there is a higher level and a better working relationship, if you will, with colleagues in smaller towns, Kusnierz said. I would like to work with any supervisor willing to move the county forward.

Gaston said that's what she thought she was doing. "It's more than slightly frustrating," she said.

Meanwhile, Barrett said that the county cannot help RISE as it does not have a mechanism in place to distribute the federal funds.

We need a centralized, equitable funding process with an application that can accept requests for proper vetting, Barrett said. I dont think its a good system to get all of these requests from different committees, different organizations, without a fair and equitable process that we can point people toward.

Kusnierz said the board will discuss a process at the August board meeting.

However, there are other avenues for RISE to raise funds. Ballston Supervisor Eric Connolly said that the town has already agreed to a tax abatement program for RISE and will discuss with the Town Board on Tuesday the possibility of committing $100,000 to the affordable and supportive housing project. However, he said the town has not received any money yet from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Newell said RISE was only looking for a commitment of $400,000 and not for an immediate infusion of cash.

The funds do not need to be given until they are needed, and should our funding gap close due to a decrease in the costs of materials, RISE would return any unused amount, Newell said.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP)  Local school boards around the country are increasingly becoming cauldrons of anger and political division, boiling with disputes over such issues as COVID-19 mask rules, the treatment of transgender students and how to teach the history of racism and slavery in America.

Meetings that were once orderly, even boring, have turned ugly. School board elections that were once uncontested have drawn slates of candidates galvanized by one issue or another.

A June school board meeting in Loudoun County, Virginia, that dealt with transgender students and the teaching of critical race theory became so unruly that one person was arrested for disorderly conduct and another was cited for trespassing.

In Rapid City, South Dakota, and Kalispell, Montana, nonpartisan school board races devolved into political warfare as conservative candidates, angered over requirements to wear masks in schools, sought to seize control.

In Pennsylvania, a Republican donor is planning to pour $500,000 into school board races.

Were in a culture war, said Jeff Holbrook, head of Rapid City's Pennington County GOP.

In South Carolina's Lexington-Richland school system, a new majority of board members upset over pandemic restrictions forced out the superintendent, Christina Melton, who had pushed to keep a mask requirement in place through the end of the academic year. She had been honored just weeks earlier as the states superintendent of the year.

Melton broke into tears at a meeting in June as she offered her resignation. A board member also quit that day, complaining the body decided behind closed doors to force Melton out and avoid a public vote. The board censured the departed member at its next meeting.

Now were known as the district with the crazy school board, said Tifani Moore, a mother with three children and a husband who teaches in the district.

Moore is running for the empty board seat and promises to tamp down the political split, which she worries has crippled the board.

Its so thick, even the kids feel it, she said.

School boards are typically composed of former educators and parents whose job, at least until recently, mostly consisted of ironing out budgets, discussing the lunch menu or hiring superintendents.

But online meetings during the pandemic made it easier for parents to tune in. And the crisis gave new gravity to school board decisions. Parents worried their children were falling behind because of remote learning or clashed over how serious the health risks were.

I saw over and over again frustrated parents, thousands of parents, calling into their board meetings, writing letters and getting no response, said Clarice Schillinger, a Pennsylvania parent who formed a group called Keeping Kids in School.

She recruited nearly 100 parents to run in November for school boards across Pennsylvania. While the group coalesced around pushing for schools to fully open, its candidates have also sought to bar the teaching of critical race theory, which among other things holds that racism is embedded in Americas laws and institutions

Schillinger said the group is split 70-30 between Republicans and Democrats. But its priorities are unmistakably conservative. She said it is trying to counter the sway teachers unions have over school boards: Its really less government  thats what this comes down to.

Paul Martino, a venture capitalist who donates to Republican candidates and pledged a half-million dollars to the movement and the creation of a statewide political action committee, said the new PAC will support candidates committed to keeping schools open no matter what, even if there is the dreaded fall COVID surge.

Conservative slates of candidates elsewhere across the country have also set their sights on school boards.

In Rapid City, four recently elected school board members will hold a controlling vote on the seven-member body, which oversees the education of roughly 14,000 students. In an area where Trump flags still fly, the four candidates for the usually nonpartisan board secured an endorsement in the June election from the local GOP.

In previous elections, seats on the board were often filled in uncontested elections. But this year, the campaigns turned into political battles, complete with personal attacks.

Critical race theory is not a part of the Rapid City school curriculum. But that didnt stop candidates from making it a central issue of the campaign.

I believe with all my heart this is how they are going to slip socialism and Marxism into our schools, newly elected member Deb Baker said at a campaign event.

Curt Pochardt, who was unseated as the school board president in the election, said he worries the new partisan dynamic will hurt students education.

It doesnt help kids when theres tension on a school board," he said.

Education experts warn that school boards are squandering time that could be spent tackling issues such as recruiting teachers, ensuring students have internet access at home or improving opportunities for youngsters with disabilities.

Every time were not talking about those issues and were talking about something else thats divisive and it may not be happening at all  or at least not to the level its being portrayed  is lost opportunity for what we really need to be focused on, said Chip Slaven, chief advocacy officer for the National School Boards Association.

In Kalispell, one losing school board candidate who campaigned against mask mandates made it clear he is not finished.

I am the barbed spine of the jumping cholla cactus, Sean Pandina told the board in May. Im the cholla in your flesh that you cannot remove. Im comfortable with losing the election because I have latched on and am not going away.

___

Associated Press reporters Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina and Iris Samuels in Helena, Montana contributed. Samuels is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
TROY  After leading the city police department through one of its most turbulent years in 2020, Chief Brian Owens was saluted with a walkout ceremony Monday.

I gave my all, said Owens, who took command of the department in February 2018.

Owens recited the demands that leading the department placed on him, and the rewards in responding to the challenges. Last year, Troy police investigated 14 homicides, as well as dealt with the push to reckon with police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's murder.

When Owens became the citys top cop he was viewed as a calming and healing force for a department that was still reeling from public outrage over its handling of Sgt. Randall French's fatal shooting of Edson Thevenin during an April 2016 DWI traffic stop. There was also a disciplinary investigation of four members of the department drug unit, known as the Firearms Interdiction and Narcotics Suppression Unit.

At the time, Mayor Patrick Madden said he wanted Owens to restore community policing and trust between the department and the neighborhoods. Owens was seen as representing a new generation of leadership as he was 20 years younger than the retiring department leaders.

He has been a responsible leader both within the department and the wider community, Madden told the crowd Monday assembled on Sixth Avenue outside police headquarters for the ceremony. Not all might have agreed though. Leaders in the Black community, for example, criticized the city's Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Report for ignoring the concept of systemic racism.

Owens thanked retired Police Chief Nicholas Kaiser and retired Police Commissioner Anthony Magnetto for mentoring him.

Chief Owens is a class act. He was the right person at the right time when he was selected to lead the Troy Police Department three years ago, Magnetto said.

Brian led by example and this served him and the Troy Police Department well throughout his 23-year career, Magnetto said.

Months before Owens was promoted to chief, he had considered retiring while he was still a captain. Magnetto and other law enforcement leaders spoke to him, delivering a message that he was the frontrunner to replace then Chief John Tedesco when he stepped down. This year, Owens considered retiring from Troy to become the Watervliet police chief. Owens said he will take the month off before seeking other opportunities.

Owens will be replaced by Deputy Chief Daniel DeWolf, who will be sworn in Thursday. Assistant Chief Christopher Kehn will assume DeWolfs rank. The city is waiting for a new civil service list before selecting a new assistant chief.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  Approvals for companies to drill for oil and gas on U.S. public lands are on pace this year to reach their highest level since George W. Bush was president, underscoring President Joe Bidens reluctance to more forcefully curb petroleum production in the face of industry and Republican resistance.

The Interior Department approved about 2,500 permits to drill on public and tribal lands in the first six months of the year, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data. That includes more than 2,100 drilling approvals since Biden took office January 20.

New Mexico and Wyoming had the largest number of approvals. Montana, Colorado and Utah had hundreds each.

Biden campaigned last year on pledges to end new drilling on federal lands to rein in climate-changing emissions. His pick to oversee those lands, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, adamantly opposed drilling on federal lands while in Congress and co-sponsored the liberal Green New Deal.

But the steps taken by the administration to date on fossil fuels are more modest, including a temporary suspension on new oil and gas leases on federal lands that a judge blocked last month, blocked petroleum sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and cancellation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.

Because vast fossil fuel reserves already are under lease, those actions did nothing to slow drilling on public lands and waters that account for about a quarter of U.S. oil production.

Further complicating Bidens climate agenda is a recent rise in gasoline prices to $3 a gallon ($0.79 a liter) or more in many parts of the country. Any attempt to limit petroleum production could push gasoline prices even higher and risk souring economic recovery from the pandemic.

Hes walking the tightrope, said energy industry analyst Parker Fawcett with S&P Global Platts, noting that Keystone and ANWR came without huge political costs because they were aimed at future projects.

Those easy wins don't necessarily have huge impacts on the market today, Fawcett said. He is definitely backing off taking drastic action that would rock the market. ... What youre going to see is U.S. oil production is going to continue to rebound.

Haaland has sought to tamp down Republican concern over potential constraints on the industry. She said during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing last month that there was no "plan right now for a permanent ban.

Gas and oil production will continue well into the future and we believe that is the reality of our economy and the world we're living in, Haaland told Colorado Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn.

Interior officials declined further comment on permits issued under Biden.

Under former President Donald Trump, a staunch industry supporter, the Interior Department reduced the time it takes to review drilling applications from a year or more in some cases, to just a few months.

Companies rushed to lock in drilling rights before the new administration. And in December, Trumps last full month in office, agency officials approved more than 800 permits  far more than any prior month during his presidency.

The pace dropped when Biden first took office, under a temporary order that elevated permit reviews to senior administration officials. Approvals have since rebounded to a level that exceeds monthly numbers seen through most of Trumps presidency.

The data obtained by AP from a government database is subject to change because of delays in transmitting data from Interior field offices to headquarters.

If the recent trends continue, the Interior Department could issue close to 6,000 permits by the end of the year. The last time so many were issued was fiscal year 2008, amid an oil boom driven by crude prices that reached an all-time high of $140 per barrel that June.

Decisions on about 4,700 drilling applications remained pending as of June 1, which means approvals are likely to continue at a heavy pace as officials work through a backlog left over from the Trump administration, said Fawcett, the industry analyst.

Environmentalists who share the administrations goals on climate have expressed growing frustration as prospects for a ban on drilling fade. They contend the administration could take executive action that would stop further permits but has caved to Republican pressure.

Every indication is they have no plans of actually fulfilling their campaign promise, said Mitch Jones, policy director for the environmental group Food & Water Watch. The result of that will be continued and increasing development of fossil fuels on public lands, which means more climate change.

Economists and other experts have been skeptical about how much impact a permit ban would have. Companies simply could shift onto private and state lands and keep drilling, said University of Chicago deputy dean Ryan Kellogg.

The administration's defenders say it's being pragmatic in the face of a Senate split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans and questions over whether the government could legally stop drilling on leases already sold to companies.

That's meant forgoing a drilling ban in hopes of getting bipartisan support for a huge infrastructure package that includes clean energy incentives and other measures to address global warming.

It's the long game. ... You've got to appease some of those oil and gas state senators, said Jim Lyons, who was deputy assistant Interior secretary under Barack Obama and is now an environmental consultant. It means jobs back home for thousands of workers. You can't just pull the plug overnight.

___

Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter: @MatthewBrownAP
CASPER, Wyo. (AP)  Wyoming is making a bid to land the headquarters of the National Rifle Association.

Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Ed Buchanan asked the firearms advocacy and lobbying organization in a letter released to the public Tuesday to relocate to Wyoming from Fairfax, Virginia.

The two Republicans in the GOP-dominated state sent the letter June 18 and as of Tuesday hadn't heard back from the group, state officials told the Casper Star-Tribune.

The letter cites Wyoming's lack of taxes and gun regulations as reasons it would be a good home for the NRA.

We have permitless carry, the castle doctrine, anti-financial discrimination laws, permitless purchase and possession for rifles, shotguns and handguns, no registration requirements and several other pro-Second Amendment laws on the books, the letter reads.

Guns are popular in Wyoming and the Legislature has sought to ease gun rules further. Wyoming is home to several firearms manufacturers including Magpul and Weatherby.

The NRA already has indicated it plans to move to Texas. The group attempted to file for bankruptcy in January but a judge dismissed the request, finding it was not filed in good faith.
I will stop your narrative. That was part of the message recently from Saratoga Springs Assistant Police Chief John Catone when he accused social justice activists of dividing the community by focusing on racism in policing. A few days later, the citys mayor appeared to take that message to heart.

Mayor Meg Kelly objected last week at a City Council meeting when people in attendance made noises of agreement during public comments. As the Rev. Joe Cleveland was denouncing the assistant chiefs diatribe, Ms. Kelly stopped him to address the audience.

If you are going to be Uh-huh' and making remarks, we are going to have you removed, Ms. Kelly said.  You can leave and I have the police out there. Not only did she threaten to clear the room, she even briefly adjourned the meeting when the public wouldnt leave.

Stop your narrative, indeed.

When people are angry, they want to be heard. A mayors goal should be to open a dialogue and dial down tensions. Ms. Kelly  who is not seeking reelection  showed poor leadership: To focus on peoples delivery instead of their message is an insult.

It was also culturally insensitive. As Rev. Cleveland noted after the meeting, public speaking in front of a Black audience has its own traditions. Words of affirmation from listeners arent interruptions, theyre validations that one voice is speaking for many.

To put it mildly, this is not the way to rebuild trust, nor to perform one of the first obligations of responsive, representative government: Listen when people petition for a redress of their grievances. Hopefully, Ms. Kellys successor will get that.

Cambridge gets it wrong, again;

New York needs a rule on mascots

Twenty years ago, then-state Education Commissioner Richard Mills asked  but did not order  school districts to stop using Native American mascots. Local remedies should be exhausted first, he said in April 2001.

Consider them exhausted.

A state that draws its strength from its diversity, that advocates for the rights of the marginalized, should not allow school districts to reinforce stereotypes.

Stereotypes will remain on full display in the Cambridge Central School District, where the school board voted 3-2 Thursday night to reverse an earlier vote to end the use of the Indian mascot. The reversal was made possible by an election that shifted the boards majority to a pro-mascot faction.

In keeping the mascot, the board majority opted to disregard a plea by the National Congress of American Indians to stop using the imagery, which it views as a cultural appropriation. And yet somehow, board members and others in favor of the mascot insist this act of disrespect is done respectfully, and say the issue just isnt black and white.

Well then, the state should make it crystal clear. Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn have a bill to ban schools from using Native American mascots, logos or names. Lawmakers should recognize the offensiveness of this outdated practice, stand up for New Yorks values, and pass it.
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union

Steven Sanders commentary ("Gov. Cuomo, make insurance industry pay its fair share," June 30) regarding insurance coverage of early intervention services misses the mark. Since 2013, health plans have been covering medical services related to early intervention. The legislation he discusses would increase the states "covered lives" assessment on insurance by $40 million to pay for educational and developmental services that have been the responsibility of the state and municipalities.

The "covered lives" assessment is one of several health insurance taxes that adds more than $5 billion annually to the cost of coverage for consumers, employers and union benefit plans, and amount to well over $1,000 to premiums for the average family in New York. The legislation he references will add to those costs by requiring payment for non-healthcare services. Further, it would do nothing to improve the quality or efficacy of services provided to children or assure they are evidence-based.
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union

There is a shortage of workers as can be seen by the "help wanted" signs for restaurants, retail stores and fast food joints. These businesses surely want to be fully staffed to serve their customers and to make a profit. There, the commodities are food, drinks and other consumer products. But there is an industry that deals in a much more precious commodity and that is called care." These are the non-profit agencies in New York state that provide care to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. The stakes are high because the care that is provided is for the most vulnerable citizens who require specialized programs, services, supports and, most important of all, staff.

The direct care field for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities is in disproportionate crisis due to years of underfunding by New York state. Now, a rising minimum wage threatens to deliver the knock-out blow to an already beleaguered industry.
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 81F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
With the Pleasantville, Oil Heritage and Titusville Oil Festivals coming up, are you planning on attending any?

You voted:
Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of Ahmed Jibril, the leader of a breakaway Palestinian faction whose group carried out attacks in the 1970s and 1980s against Israeli targets was laid to rest in the Syrian capital of Damascus
Jack Turner (left) is escorted into district court in 2019. Turner is awaiting trial in connection to a 2019 double murder in Randolph Township. He was in Crawford County Court on Wednesday.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is calling for $353 million from the latest federal coronavirus relief bill to go toward boosting economic recovery efforts for small businesses and industries that took a hit during the pandemic
[July 12, 2021] accessiBe Launches National Television Campaign Focused On Web Accessibility

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- accessiBe , the market leader in web accessibility, today announced that it is launching its first national TV ad campaign focused entirely on web accessibility, making it the first time the issue will be addressed on national TV. Written and produced by a team that includes a wide range of people from the disability community, the ad features only participants with disabilities. The unstoppable actors, all of whom have accomplished incredible achievements ranging from winning a medal in the Paralympics, to performing on Broadway, to raising a family, include Aimee Copeland, Emily Kranking, Kyle Maynard, James Clingman, and more. Debuting in markets across the U.S. beginning on July 12, 2021, the 60-second ad will broadcast nationwide on prime time channels for eight weeks. "People with disabilities aren't limited by their limitations, they're limited by an inaccessible web. They are unstoppable. I am unstoppable. We are unstoppable," said Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer of accessiBe, who is blind himself. "For this reason, I am honored and excited to have worked so closely on the creation of this campaign. In addition to bringing awareness around an impotant topic, I hope that it also brings a sense of empowerment to members of the community."



"Despite web accessibility being a critical topic, especially as people continue to do almost everything online, conversations around it have not yet entered the mainstream TV world. At accessiBe, we believe this has to change," said Shir Ekerling, CEO of accessiBe. "'The Unstoppable' campaign aims to open the hearts and minds of business owners to acknowledge the importance of web accessibility." accessiBe is dedicated to solving web accessibility problems through advanced technology, tools and services, and ultimately achieving its vision of making the internet accessible by 2025. The ad follows accessiBe's recent announcement of the upcoming launch of accessFind, a nonprofit initiative designed in partnership with leading disability-focused organizations to provide the first search engine created for end-users with disabilities.

About accessiBe

accessiBe was established as an innovative AI-powered web accessibility solution that makes websites accessible, automated, and affordable. Founded in early 2018, accessiBe's proprietary technology scans and modifies websites' behavior in real time, to be accessible for people with disabilities and compliant with the ADA and WCAG 2.1. Further accessiBe's widgets allow users with disabilities to customize their independence based on their individual needs and preferences. Today, accessiBe is a full accessibility hub providing solutions for businesses at all sizes with services and tools that enable everyone to take part in helping making the internet accessible and inclusive. accessiBe's founding team has deep domain expertise in the field of website creation and manual accessibility and created the technology in close partnership with users who have vision impairments, epilepsy, motor impairments and cognitive dysfunctions. To learn more, please visit: accessibe.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/accessibe-launches-national-television-campaign-focused-on-web-accessibility-301331096.html SOURCE accessiBe

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[July 12, 2021] Actalent Launches as an Engineering and Sciences Services and Talent Solutions Company

HANOVER, Md., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Actalent, an engineering and sciences services and talent solutions company, today announced its launch as a new brand and independent Allegis Group operating company. Actalent brings together two established businesses with decades of experiencethe engineering and sciences arm of Aerotek, founded in 1983, and EASi, an engineering and sciences services company founded in 1981 and acquired by Allegis Group in 2005. Actalent supports engineering and sciences initiatives that advance how companies serve the world. With almost 40 years of experience, Actalent gives clients access to specialized experts that drive scale, innovation, and speed to market. With its global headquarters in Hanover, Md., Actalent serves more than 4,500 clients in the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe with 5,000 employees and 27,500 engineering and sciences consultants. "Expertise in the engineering and sciences fields are crucial to meet the constant demands of our changing world," said Chad Koele, president of Actalent. "At the same time, competitive pressure is increasing the importance of talent management and retention across the services industry. This intersection is where we excel. As an independent engineering and sciences-focused company, we're highly specialized and uniquely suited to solve our clients' business problems. That specialization also enables us to be better career advisors to our talent and offer them more varied and quality opportunities that keep them challenged and engaged." Actalent's engineering and science expertise includes capabilities in product and manufacturing engineering, environmental, architecture and civil engineering; power and utilities; construction management; systems and software; laboratory sciences; healthcare; and clinical research. Three lines of businesscontract talent, managed talent and engineering and sciences servicesenable distinct solutions that help clients solve their business challenges.



"With decades of experience from our Aerotek and EASi roots, we understand engineering and sciences talent like no one else," said John Flanigan, vice president of strategic operations at Actalent. "The way we care for our consultants is a key differentiator. We believe in getting to know people over time and being a trusted career advisor so that every project a consultant works on advances their personal and professional goals. Establishing Actalent is an investment in the unique needs of our engineering and sciences talent." The Actalent name highlights how talented professionals are at the core of the company's work, and the true north of its organizational strategy. The brand's logo and tagline underscore that Actalent is the bridge between people and what is possible.

"Launching Actalent is a very special and historic milestone, but our brand is just a framework for our actions," continued Koele. "We look forward to serving our consultants, clients and our colleagues with a deep level of care, service and expertise as we write the next chapter of our business' evolution as Actalent." In early 2020, Aerotek realigned its operations into three distinct business units reflecting its core areas of expertise. A year later, the business units are separating into three independent companiesActalent, Aerotek and Aston Carter. In the U.S., Actalent is an operating company of Allegis Group. In Canada, Actalent will operate as a division of Aerotek ULC. For more information, please visit actalentservices.com. About Actalent (formerly Aerotek's Engineering and Sciences divisions and EASi)

Actalent connects passion with purpose. We're supporting critical engineering and sciences initiatives that advance how companies serve the world. With almost 40 years of experience, our scalable engineering and sciences services and talent solutions provide the expertise our customers need to achieve more. Actalent's global footprint and flexible delivery models ensure access to specialized talent where and when you need it. Follow us on LinkedIn and learn more at actalentservices.com. Actalent is an operating company of Allegis Group, the global leader in talent solutions. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/actalent-launches-as-an-engineering-and-sciences-services-and-talent-solutions-company-301331482.html SOURCE Actalent

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[July 12, 2021] Adviser to Ave Maria Mutual Funds Hires Director of Strategic Planning

Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. (the Firm), investment adviser for the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, has seen an incredible growth of interest in the morally responsible investment (MRI) strategies presented in the Ave Maria Mutual Funds. In order to satisfy the demand among advisors and their clients, the Firm has hired an industry professional with a deep understanding of the needs of advisors who also aligns with the principles and culture of the organization. Robert M. Geppner has joined Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. as Director of Strategic Planning, having recently retired from Franklin Templeton Investments where he crafted an illustrious 34-year career. Bob has worked in all facets of intermediary distribution, beginning his career as a wholesaler in 1987 and advancing to Executive Vice President - Head of National Sales. In his new role with the Firm, Bob will further cultivate relationships with financial advisors across the full spectrum of distributors. George P. Schwartz, CFA, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "Bob is a tremendous addition to our Firm. We are confident that with his industry expertise and his reputation for integrity, he will expand the presence of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds within the broker dealer community." Geppner will report to Michael J. Schwartz, Executive Vice President - Institutional Sales, who added, "I am excited to work with a such an accomplished professional as Bob and I'm sure he'll contribute significantly to the expansion of our family of Catholic mutual funds." Bob Geppner commented, "The interest in 'Impact Investing' has focsed a spotlight on MRI and I hope to leverage my experience to significantly expand the placement of our family of Catholic mutual funds."



About Ave Maria Mutual Funds Ave Maria Mutual Funds is the largest family of Catholic mutual funds in the U.S. with nearly $3.0 billion in assets under management. The six no-load funds invest in companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Catholic Church. The two largest funds are the $1 billion Ave Maria Growth Fund (Ticker: AVEGX) and $950 million Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (Ticker: AVEDX). For more information about Ave Maria Mutual Funds, call 1-866-AVE-MARIA (866-283-6274) or visit www.avemariafunds.com.

About Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser. Founded in 1980, the Firm is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan with a branch office in Ave Maria, Florida. In managing the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, investments are made only if companies meet the Funds' financial and moral criteria. As such, returns may be lower or higher than if decisions were based solely on investment considerations. The Funds' method of security selection may or may not be successful and the Funds may underperform or outperform the stock market as a whole. All mutual funds are subject to market risk, including possible loss of principal. For more information about Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., visit www.schwartzinvest.com. Request a prospectus, which includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other information that you should read and consider carefully before investing. The prospectus can be obtained by calling 1-866-283-6274 or it can be viewed at www.avemariafunds.com. Distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors LLC. 12966406-UFD-6/9/2021 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005017/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Amplifon Hearing Health Care (AHHC) Receives Full URAC Health Utilization Management Accreditation

Amplifon Hearing Health Care (AHHC) recently received full URAC Health Utilization Management (HUM) accreditation, becoming the first hearing health care organization in the country to achieve this recognition. HUM accreditation demonstrates an organization's commitment, and ability, to prevent unnecessary costs, ensure accessibility, quality and timeliness of care, and certify adherence to compliance regulations. URAC's accreditation is also recognized by nearly every state and federal government, as it evaluates organizations against a strict set of established and evidence-based measures. "This gold-standard recognition means consumers, our partners and our nationwide network of hearing care providers can count on us like never before," said Guillaume Bonniol, senior vice president of Amplifon Hearing Health Care. "We are incredibly excited to have achieved this accreditation and are proud of what it represents for our organization and our entire team." After more than a year of preparation, foundation building and assessment, AHHC's full accreditation began July 1. Alongside the HUM accreditation, AHHC also received NCQA accreditation in 2020, a recognition of its achievements in the credentialing and network management space. For more information onAmplifon Hearing Health Care, visit its website at https://www.amplifonusa.com/home. For more information on URAC's Health Utilization Management accreditation process and standards, visit its website at urac.org.



About Amplifon Americas Amplifon Americas, a division of Amplifon Group, is a leading provider of hearing health care solutions in the U.S. and Canada. Headquartered in downtown Minneapolis, Amplifon Americas is made up of nearly 900 employees dedicated to serving the diverse needs of its customers through four unique and independent brands: Miracle-Ear, Elite Hearing Network, Amplifon Hearing Health Care and Amplifon Canada. Together, its mission is to empower people with hearing loss to rediscover all the emotions of sound. Amplifon Americas strives to improve lives, relationships and communities through a powerful combination of leading-edge technology and high-quality care.

About Amplifon Hearing Health Care Amplifon Hearing Health Care connects people and resources to improve the lives of people with hearing loss by partnering with health care organizations to administer hearing benefits. As an independently owned and operated organization, Amplifon's products and services improve health, increase satisfaction and lower costs for health plan partners. Amplifon's full-service model includes member advocacy, claims processing, eligibility management, and reporting. With a steadfast commitment to delivering an exceptional experience, Amplifon's solutions make high-quality hearing health care affordable and accessible. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005670/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Argos Edge offers first fully comprehensive one-stop DRP solution

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyberint has today launched next-generation Digital Risk Protection platform, Argos Edge, a fully SaaS based solution, to provide real-time responses to cyber threats coming from beyond the traditional security perimeters. Unlike other solutions, Cyberint's holistic and integrated approach combines external Attack Surface Monitoring (ASM), advanced threat intelligence, extensive phishing detection as well as social media and brand abuse monitoring. The different modules work together to infuse and enrich the Argos Edge platform, identifying and remediating weaknesses that other solutions cannot detect seamlessly and continuously. This unique capability makes Argos Edge the most comprehensive and effective all-in-one digital-risk-protection (DRP) platform on the market to date. Argos Edge redefines the digital risk protection space by constantly collecting, analysing, and classifying threat intelligence from the widest variety of sources, tracking cybercriminals in the dark and deep web, criminal forums, market places, social media platforms, instant messaging, file sharing repositories and more. Pin-pointed targeted alerts such as those provided by Argos Edge are known to reduce false positives by 99%, providing the optimum combination of External Attack Surface Mapping of Digital assets, including cloud assets and Threat Intelligence. Argos Edge focuses on generating proactive and targeted alerts allowing organizations to take immediate steps to mitigate those incoming threats which pose the greatest potential risk whilst also receiving up-to-date proactive information about global, regional, and vertical threats that may cause a potential breach. Argos Edge includes one of the most extensive leaked credentials databases, which is comprised of: fusing breached databases, analysis of phishingkits and highly effective InfoStealers malwares C&C, helping to reduce the risk from this most common attack vector. The leaked credentials database is also highly effective to B2C organizations helping to reduce account takeover of their customers.



The new platform also enables users, via a state-of-the-art user interface, to immediately use the pin-pointed alerts as well as integrate them into SIEM, SOAR and ticketing systems like IBM QRadar and Palo Alto's Cortex XSoar and others for swift dissemination and remediation. Argos Edge's unique built-in investigation tool, Forensic Canvas can uncover the relationships between disparate data points, pivot on any IoC and leverage the massive data lake that Cyberint collects 24/7 to build a quick and up-to-date picture of any threat.

"Only by constant analysis of hundreds of millions of data points of threat intelligence and an ongoing monitoring of their external attack surface can organizations counter the threat actors' constantly evolving threat landscape." says Cyberint CEO Yochai Corem. The Argos Edge platform also comprises numerous additional features that enable users to extend their security perimeters to include phishing, social media and fake application takedown support, external source code monitoring and fraud detection capabilities. With this launch, organizations now have the capabilities to protect themselves from more than seventy-five different business risks lurking beyond the perimeter, such as fraud, phishing, malware, data leakage, vulnerabilities, brand, social media risks and more. Users now also have modular options allowing for full flexibility in licensing the platform. Organizations can benefit from Cyberint's deep expertise in specialised services such as Virtual Humint, deep cyber investigations and interaction with threat actors to identify possible weaknesses. "With Argos Edge, "I have a level of assurance and trust that they are always there for me. The feeling that they always have my back is invaluable has given me the confidence that we have enough visibility and can be proactive in dealing with different cyberthreats." -Mark Frogoso, CISO at GCash. For further information or to speak with Cyberint, please contact: Tony Glover

TGPR

Email: tonyglover@tgpr.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)7502-150-975 Reuben Braham

Cyberint

Email: reuben@cyberint.com

Tel: +972-52-350-0791 About Cyberint: Cyberint provides Digital Risk Protection and Threat Intelligence. We believe in making the digital world a safer place to conduct business, by protecting our customers from cyber threats beyond the perimeter. Cyberint provides targeted insights into threat actor activity, brand protection, phishing attacks, data leakage, and exploitable attack surfaces. Cyberint serves leading brands worldwide including Fortune 500 companies across industries such as finance, retail, ecommerce, gaming, media, and more, with proprietary Argos Edge technology enriched by dedicated cyber and intelligence analysts. www.cyberint.com | sales@cyberint.com | blog.cyberint.com

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[July 12, 2021] Carry Protocol to Launch the Digital Wallet Integrated with South Korea's Largest Loyalty Point Platform

SEOUL, South Korea, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- South Korea's Blockchain Project Carry Protocol announced on the 9th that it has released the "Carry Wallet" equipped with the crypto deposit function and real-life rewards. Carry Wallet is the first Carry token (CRE) Enabled Service, and it supports deposit and withdrawal of Carry Token (CRE) and CRE staking. Uses can stake CRE tokens in Carry Wallet to receive rewards that can be claimed across merchants using Dodo Point in Korea. Consumers can now stake digital assets to receive rewards such as coffee and ice cream in the real world.



Carry Wallet differentiates itself from other DeFi platforms by providing rewards that consumers use in their daily lives. This makes Carry more relevant for everyone and bridges the gap between the crypto world and the offline world. Carry's prime focus is simplicity and usability - subsequent updates to the app will enable staking features much more simpler to understand and will expand on the range of goods and services users can receive. The beta version of the Carry Wallet will be available for the Korean market. "It isn't about whether blockchain will change the way we live, play and work - it is about when. Our goal is to make Carry the first example of digital assets being relevant in the real world for everyday consumers", Richard Choi, CEO of Carry Protocol commented on the launch of Carry Wallet. He also added, "we will prove product-market fit in Korea, a great test bed for all things digital, and upon successful scaling, we will expand to the rest of the world."

About Carry Carry Protocol is a blockchain project aiming to be the first cryptocurrency to be widely used by everyday consumers in the offline market. To appeal to the masses, the team is partnering with the largest players in South Korea to kickstart deployment and accelerate growth, including Dodo Point, Korea's largest loyalty service for offline stores with +22,000 offline merchants as clients and +25 million users in Korea and Japan. SOURCE Carry Protocol

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[July 12, 2021] Deadline Reminder: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Reminds Investors of Looming Deadline in the Class Action Lawsuit Against DiDi Global Inc. (DIDI)

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming September 7, 2021 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased DiDi Global Inc. ("DiDi" or the "Company") (NYSE: DIDI): (a) American Depositary Shares ("ADSs" or "shares") pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with the Company's June 2021 initial public offering ("IPO" or the "Offering"); and/or (b) securities between June 30, 2021 and July 2, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors suffering losses on their DiDi investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com. DiDi purports to be the world's largest mobility technology platform. The Company claims to be the "go-to brand in China for shared mobility," offering a range of services including ride hailing, taxi hailing, chauffeur, and hitch. On or about June 30, 2021, DiDi sold about 316.8 million ADSs in its IPO for $14 per share, raising nearly $4.5 billion in new capital. On July 2, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China ("CAC") stated that it had launched an investigation into DiDi to protect national security and the public interest. It also reported that it had asked DiDi to stop new user registrations during the course of the investigation. On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.87, or approximately 5.3%, to close at $15.53 per share on July 2, 021, on unusually heavy trading volume.



Then, on Sunday, July 4, 2021, DiDi reported that the CAC ordered smartphone app stores to stop offering the "DiDi Chuxing" app because it "collect[ed] personal information in violation of relevant PRC laws and regulations." Though users who previously downloaded the app could continue to use it, DiDi stated that "the app takedown may have an adverse impact on its revenue in China." On July 5, 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that the CAC had asked the Company as early as three months prior to the IPO to postpone the offering because of national security concerns and to "conduct a thorough self-examination of its network security."

On this news, the Company's stock price fell $3.04 per share, or 19.6%, to close at $12.49 per share on July 6, 2021, on unusually heavy trading volume. By the commencement of this action, the Company's stock was trading as low as $12.06 per share, a nearly 14% decline from the $14 per share IPO price. The Registration Statement was materially false and misleading and omitted to state material adverse facts. Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that DiDi's apps did not comply with applicable laws and regulations governing privacy protection and the collection of personal information; (2) that, as a result, the Company was reasonably likely to incur scrutiny from the Cyberspace Administration of China; (3) that the CAC had already warned DiDi to delay its IPO to conduct a self-examination of its network security; (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, DiDi's apps were reasonably likely to be taken down from app stores in China, which would have an adverse effect on its financial results and operations; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects, were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. If you purchased or otherwise acquired DiDi ADSs pursuant or traceable to the IPO and/or securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than September 7, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff if you meet certain legal requirements. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005210/en/

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[July 12, 2021]

DevonWay Announces Agreement with IT Distributor immixGroup

SAN FRANCISCO, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DevonWay, a leading provider of SaaS software products for Asset, Work, Quality, and Safety Management, today announced its relationship with IT distributor immixGroup, an Arrow Electronics company. Under the agreement, immixGroup will carry DevonWay products and services on its GSA, NASA SEWP, and other local, state, and federal contract vehicles.

immixGroup is a value-added distributor that helps technology companies do business with the government. Government agencies trust immixGroup to provide reliable access to a wide range of enterprise software and hardware products through their preferred contracts and business partners.

"Our relationship with immixGroup will help us to better and more efficiently serve our governent and federal contractor customers," said Chris Moustakas, DevonWay's CEO. "We look forward to a long, fruitful collaboration."







With the addition of DevonWay, immixGroup gains a vendor relationship that provides best-of-breed operational excellence solutions to many Department of Energy sites, including the Department of Energy's Hanford Site, Idaho National Laboratory, N3B Los Alamos, two of the three National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) labs, and many more.

About DevonWay

DevonWay software for Asset, Work, Quality, and Safety Management enables high-risk and complex organizations to operate more efficiently and safely. Available in the cloud or on premise, DevonWay products collect, manage workflows for, analyze, and report on operational data while ensuring compliance to regulations and standards. Combining out-of-the-box production readiness with no-code configurability, DevonWay products meet customers' unique requirements with enterprise-grade security and scalability. For more information, please visit www.devonway.com.

Contact: Chenise Leveriza, cleveriza@devonway.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/devonway-announces-agreement-with-it-distributor-immixgroup-301328992.html

SOURCE DevonWay
[July 12, 2021] DIDWW and M247 collaborate for global Unified Communications

DUBLIN, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The rising importance of digital business transformation has fueled the demand for unified communications and innovative cloud solutions all over the world. DIDWW , a global telecoms operator that offers premium quality VoIP services, has partnered with M247 , a leading provider of unified communications and cloud solutions. This partnership will strengthen M247's position as a local partner with a global reach for telephony and dialtone services. Holding a solid footprint in the UK, USA, and Germany, M247 empowers businesses to unlock the full potential of unified communications with its superfast connectivity network and flexible hosting and cloud solutions. This new partnership will enable M247 to further expand its business globally and use efficient, reliable and fully compliant DIDWW voice services and extensive coverage. In addition, M247's extended reach is supported by DIDWW immense inventory of international DID numbers and the powerful outbound SIP trunking solution that provides full local reachability. The new collaboration opens up a great opportunity for M247 to expand across new countries and regions with full access to local numbering. DIDWW unique solutions will enable M247 to offer their customers quality-assured call termination, automated rovisioning of direct routing, as well as direct routing add-ons with compliant call recording and call reporting.



M247's Group Product Manager for Unified Communications, Darren Hogan, commented, "We are delighted to be working with DIDWW for our global Microsoft Teams Direct Routing product. We have witnessed increased demand for our digital telephony solutions, which offer customers the benefit of using a single supplier for service, billing and in-country numbering services. Working with DIDWW in this space adds credibility and scale to our emerging voice services portfolio." Artur Kopcik, Strategic Client Relations Manager at DIDWW, added, "We are proud to become partners with M247 and are looking forward to providing them with a wide range of local numbers on a global level. Our high-quality voice services will enable M247 to expand and efficiently service its enterprise customers in numerous countries."

About DIDWW DIDWW is a platform for telecommunication professionals with full self-service access and real-time provisioning, APIs and all the necessary building blocks for achieving the ultimate control over voice and SMS services. The company offers the largest fully compliant international coverage of local, national, mobile, toll-free voice and SMS-enabled virtual phone numbers, two-way local and global SIP trunks, access to local emergency services, flexible capacity options, free global number portability, a number selection tool, and more. DIDWW delivers premium quality services to thousands of operators worldwide through a private and fully geo-redundant network with mission-critical reliability and guaranteed SLAs. Their customers enjoy advanced solutions coupled with a unique service experience and superior value, all driven by a highly motivated team of professionals. To learn more about DIDWW, please visit https://www.didww.com/ . About M247 M247 is a global technology partner for growing businesses, specializing in the delivery of cloud, unified communications and connectivity built on a resilient global infrastructure, currently accessed by over 10,000 customers across 110 countries. The M247 portfolio aims at bringing together service innovation and robust technology partnerships, with the goal of enhancing the business transformation journey of enterprise-level organisations in the new digital economy. Our solutions are driven by customer and market demand, and the need for automation and optimisation of technology, operations and costs, data management and networking. We aim to deliver an end-to-end service and support function across our core solutions in cloud, unified communications, and connectivity. To learn more about M247, please visit https://m247.com/ . Press Contact: Vilija Simkiene

Marketing Department

vilija.s@didww.com

+1 (212) 461 1854 www.didww.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/didww-and-m247-collaborate-for-global-unified-communications-301331503.html SOURCE DIDWW

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[July 12, 2021] DreamBox Learning Appoints Key Executives in Record Growth Year

DreamBox Learning, the company on a mission to radically change the way the world learns, today announced the appointment of five new executives across key functions of the business. Lakshmi Nidamarthi joins the company as Chief Product Officer, Ronit Peled as Chief People Officer, Dr. Jason Sinquefield as Senior Vice President of Sales and Partnerships, Michael Savitz as Senior Vice President of Operations, and Tracy Kleine as Vice President of Marketing. These leaders join a high performing executive team at DreamBox during a year of unprecedented growth - a year which validated the long-term DreamBox vision and strategy and further established the company as best-of-breed in the industry. As school district demand for proven, personalized learning technology experiences its largest boom in history, these executives join the DreamBox team in time for a school year in which educators are ready to leverage the skills, knowledge, and connectivity gained during the pandemic. They are charged with delivering on the company's winning strategy of providing customers with rich and engaging personalized content, embedded formative assessment, robust data and analytics capabilities, and value-added services to accelerate student learning. "All of these proven leaders bring something unique to the DreamBox team, and to the market we passionately serve. They are deeply committed to unlocking the learning potential of all students - regardless of race, gender, or zip code, and redefining personalized learning in classrooms everywhere," said Jessie Woolley-Wilson, President and CEO of DreamBox Learning. "As DreamBox enters a significant new phase of growth, we believe that leveraging diversity across our executive team and the entire company will continue to empower us to build empathetic and impactful solutions for our customers." Lakshmi Nidamarthi joins DreamBox as the Chief Product Officer to lead the product vision, user experience, and product marketing teams. Nidamarthi joins DreamBox from Amazon, where she was instrumental n developing and launching inspiring new products, including the Amazon Kindle, and scaling them globally. She holds several patents for her inventions at work. Nidamarthi brings deep SaaS (News - Alert) experience that will enable DreamBox to drive efficiencies and scale operations and innovation across the organization.



Ronit Peled joins DreamBox as Chief People Officer to scale the team while fostering DreamBox's mission-driven and diverse culture. Peled drives organizational design and development, cultural transformation, senior leadership and executive development, merger and acquisition best practices, and scaling of the People team and operation. Prior to DreamBox, Peled served as the Global Head of People and Culture at OpenMarket (News - Alert) . Peled was a key contributor to the organization's high growth, connecting highly diverse global teams together around common goals. Dr. Jason Sinquefield joins DreamBox as Senior Vice President of Sales and Partnerships, where he will lead the global sales organization encompassing inside, field, and strategic sales teams. As part of the executive team, he will shape strategy and innovation to accelerate revenue growth and learning impact for students everywhere. Sinquefield is a former educator and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership. He joins DreamBox after serving as Head of Sales for LEGO Education.

Michael Savitz serves as DreamBox's Senior Vice President of Operations, responsible for managing the conversion of long-range strategy into annual operating plans. He oversees various revenue growth and operational scaling priorities, including venture integration. Savitz previously served as Vice President and General Manager of Education Services at Blackbaud Inc, where he was responsible for consistent delivery of double-digit revenue growth and expanding margins for the $50 million training business. Prior to leading Education Services, Savitz was Chief Operating Officer for Blackbaud's International Markets Group. Tracy Kleine joins DreamBox as Vice President of Marketing to drive the strategic vision and strategy for the company's brand and communications initiatives. Kleine, who began her career as a teacher and later earned her master's degree in education, has held marketing leadership positions at high-growth SaaS organizations including Brightbytes and Teaching Channel, and has worked extensively in edtech marketing at companies including Math Solutions, LeapFrog SchoolHouse, and Pearson. DreamBox Learning Math is currently used by nearly 5 million students and 200,000 educators in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. To learn more about DreamBox, visit https://www.dreambox.com/. About DreamBox Learning DreamBox Learning, founded in 2006 in Bellevue, Washington, is the only K-8 digital math program powered by students, built by and for educators, and independently proven to positively impact student achievement. DreamBox dynamically adapts and differentiates in real time based not only on students' answers, but also on how they solve problems. Along with actionable reporting and tools that empower differentiation for all learners, DreamBox gives teachers content-specific professional development and provides administrators with insights about how all students are progressing. The company's pioneering platform has won more than 40 top education and technology industry awards and is used by 200,000 teachers and nearly 5 million students in all 50 states and throughout Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit http://www.dreambox.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005252/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Ecological protection and economic development balance, green economy guards colorful Guizhou

GUIZHOU, China, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Huanqiu.com: The rolling hills are reflected by the sunlight and the green waves are rolling. The river flows through the city and over the grass. The birds are singing in the bamboo forest, and the shopping malls in the town are bustling with people. The breath of life is rushing to the distance. Information from Guizhou Province shows that at present, the forest coverage rate in Guizhou has reached 61.51%, the air quality rate in cities above the county level has reached 99.4%, in addition, the water quality rate of outbound sections of major rivers is 100%. As the first batch of national ecological civilization experimental areas in China, Guizhou's green economic development model proves that economic development and ecological sustainable development can be a win-win situation. As a "Guizhou mode" of China's green development, Guizhou has implemented the construction of a "Beautiful China" with practical actions, and at the same time sent a green "visit card" to the world to convey Guizhou's ecological civilization construction and economic development experience. To further unravel the mystery of the development of ecology and economic in Guizhou, a journalist from Huanqiu.com went to Guizhou to have an interview. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Guizhou take the overall situation with high-quality development, vigorously promote the "four wheels" of new industrialization, new urbanization, agricultural modernization, and tourism industrialization. A good ecology has become a green driving force for sustainable development. Poverty and backwardness once plgued the people of Guizhou deeply. "Poor mountain nest" used to be the label of Guizhou. However, in 2020, the GDP of Guizhou reached 1.78 trillion yuan, an increase of 4.5% year-on-year, and the growth rate is 2.2 percentage points higher than that of the country. It has been in the forefront of the country for 10 consecutive years, achieving synchronous promotion of economic, social, and ecological benefits.



In 2019, Guizhou proposed to develop 12 advantageous agricultural industries in accordance with local conditions. According to statistics, the agricultural industrial revolution in 2019 drove the 1.118 million poor people in Guizhou to increase their income. Guizhou, located in the subtropical zone, has a warm and humid climate and a high altitude, making it the best place to grow square bamboo.

Square bamboo industry is a characteristic industry for the development of green economy in Guizhou Province, and it is also a characteristic forest product. In 2021, Guizhou build a new square bamboo base of 169,100 mu (1 mu = 666.67 square meters), with a total area of 4.919 million mu, making it the largest square bamboo area in China. There are four bamboo industry counties with more than 500,000 mu in the province, and Chishui has become one of the three counties (cities) in China with a bamboo forest area of more than 1 million mu. Successfully created the square bamboo industrial belt of Dalou Mountain, Wuling Mountain, Chishui River and Qingshui River. The conversion of farmland to forests in Tongzi County has become a typical case in the ecological economy of Guizhou Province. With the development of the Internet and transportation, the square bamboo of Tongzi County is sold all over China, and the brand of "Hometown of square bamboo Shoots in China" is deeply rooted in the hearts of the consumers. Feng Li, a villager in Tongzi County, Guizhou Province, told to the journalist of Huanqiu.com:"Our family has achieved poverty alleviation by planting square bamboo. Now that the square bamboo has entered the harvest period, the annual income per mu is more than 2,800 yuan. In addition to the living expenses of the family, we can also have savings." He said. According to villagers, Guizhou Province is still promoting the development model of the square bamboo industry of "company + cooperative + farmer". "My family's more than 10 mu of land has been used to develop the square bamboo industry this year. The government has led us to grow it. We are assured and confident to do a good job. Not only can we work in the seedling, planting, and management stages to increase our income, but we can also share dividends after generating benefits." Villager Hongli Wang said. Keshu Cheng, the branch secretary of Santai Village, Chumi Town, Tongzi County, said: "In the past, our bamboo shoots were relatively poor in yield and quality, but now they are very different. After low-efficiency forest improvement, our village's square bamboo production has been improved year by year, and people's income is increasing." Tongzi County has outstanding performance in bamboo base construction, processing technology, and market sales. From 2018 to 2020, 570,000 mu of square bamboo be newly built, and the annual output will increase from 16,000 tons in 2016 to 50,000 tons now. High-end production lines such as sulfur-free drying, instant bamboo shoots, boiled bamboo shoots, quick-frozen fresh bamboo shoots, and others have created the square bamboo brand. In 2020, the county will sell 18,000 tons of square bamboo shoots with sales of 190 million yuan. In addition to square bamboo, Camellia oleifera, Chinese prickly ash and saponins are also characteristic forestry industries in Guizhou Province. Through the development of characteristic forestry, Guizhou Province has not only achieved economic benefits, but also built a good ecological environment. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ecological-protection-and-economic-development-balance-green-economy-guards-colorful-guizhou-301326622.html SOURCE Huanqiu.com

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[July 12, 2021] EDP, TechnipFMC and Partners Join Forces to Develop a Concept Study for Green Hydrogen Production From Offshore Wind Power

EDP, TechnipFMC (NYSE: FTI) (PARIS: FTI) and other research partners are joining forces to develop a conceptual engineering and economic feasibility study for a new offshore system for green hydrogen production from offshore wind power, called the BEHYOND project. The study will include innovative integration of equipment for the production and conditioning of green hydrogen and infrastructure that allows for its transportation to the coast. The goal is to create a unique concept that can be standardized and implemented worldwide, allowing for large-scale hydrogen production. BEHYOND brings together global players in energy, EDP and TechnipFMC, with the CEiiA research center - Center for Engineering and Development, WavEC Offshore Renewables, and the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN). The joint development will allow the consortium partners to position themselves in the hydrogen value chain, developing new business models and creating engineering solutions, new products and services for the hydrogen sector, worldwide. This consortium will strengthen cooperation between Portugal and Norway and increase Portugal's competitiveness in the growth of the "blue economy." The BEHYOND project was selected for support by the Blue Growth Programme of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (EEA Grants). EDP, through the participation of EDP NEW and EDP Inovacao, is the project coordinator and the entity responsible for the implementation of several phases, namely the strategic evaluation of the offshore wind-to-hydrogen market, the definition of viable business cases and the technology roadmap to reach commercial maturity. Each member of the consortium brings specific competences that are complementary: EDP brings expertise in the development of offshore wind and in the implementation of innovative and complex projects, such as the WindFloat, a pioneer floating offshore solution.

TechnipFMC brings its extended history in subsea engineering, expertise developed on its Deep Purple green hydrogen project, and essential system integration abilities.

CEiiA has extended its experience of developing complex structures for sectors, including aerospace into the marine environment, and has competencies in systems, electronics, and connectivity.

WavEC Offshore Renewables is a R&D consultancy encompassing all marine renewable technologies, and a reference institution in the field in Europe.

USN is applying systems engineering techniques to gain early understanding of the needs of the overall systems, reducing risks in the latter phases. "The BEHYOND project will allow EDP to acquire the required know-how to enter new markets with clear synergies with our core activities. Green hydrogen produced from renewables is likely to become a key lever in the world's decarbonization effort while mitigating the variability of offshore renewables and enhancing energy system's flexibility. But we need to act now, in collaboration with the best technology and R&D partners, to address all the main technical and business challenges. For this reason, we are very enthusiastic to partner with TechnipFMC, a leader in the offshore sector with a growing sustainability vision and demonstrated engineering expertise. Moreover, by leading the BEHYOND project, EDP is anticipating a key trend and preparing the company for the future of energy," said Ana Paula Marques, executive board member of EDP. Hydrogen is a strategic area in the global development of clean energies and in which EDP aims to invest worldwide. By leading the BEHYOND project, the company is anticipating, leading the key trend and contributing to a sustainable future. Jonathan Landes, President, Subsea at TechnipFMC, said, "We have the skills and expertise to contribute value to this study from our decades of experience in subsea, as well as the knowledge we have built during our ongoing Deep Purple green hydrogen project. The BEHYOND study also fits with our longer-term ESG goals. The involvement of a company with EDP's strong market position demonstrates the increased focus and interest in the evolution of offshore hydrogen technology, as well as its potential to help meet the world's long-term energy needs." About hydrogen Hydrogen will be central to the future of the energy sector, decarbonizing sectors that are hard to electrify while mitigating the technical and economic impacts of intermittent renewable energy. These aspects will both be crucial to achieving the zero-emission social target. According to the European Hydrogen Strategy, the need for green hydrogen production in Europe will grow substantially and could account for 24% of energy demand in 2050, which will require the large-scale development of hydrogen-producing renewable energie solutions, both domestically and offshore. In this context, the production of offshore hydrogen has aroused more and more interest as a solution able to take advantage of natural resources, such as the abundant wind on the high seas, thus mitigating congestion on the electricity grid on land and providing a more economical means of transportation to the land.



NOTES FOR EDITORS About EDP

EDP (listed in Euronext Lisbon) is a Portuguese integrated energy utility employing more than 10.000 people, with a global presence in a total of 19 countries. EDP is a major multinational energy company, producing, distributing, trading and selling energy (electricity and gas) worldwide. EDP has become a reference in renewable energy sector through EDP Renewables and is one of the largest wind energy operators. EDP NEW - Center for New Energy Technologies, founded in 2014, is a subsidiary of the EDP Group dedicated to research and development in the energy sector. Its mission is to create possibilities to lead the energy transition, with a strong focus in technology demonstration projects funded through competitive R&D programmes notably Horizon 2020. EDP NEW is organized in 5 knowledge areas each representing a future innovation pillar for the EDP Group: Interoperable Smart Energy Grids, Positive Energy (News - Alert) Communities, RES technologies, RES integration and Flexibility and Digital Energy. Energy Communities, RES technologies, RES integration and Flexibility and Digital Energy. For further information, please visit https://www.edp.com/en/edp-new#about-us EDP Inovacao S.A. is a fully owned subsidiary of the EDP Group and has the mission to promote value-adding innovation across the energy value chain. EDP Inovacao promotes technology demonstration projects and venture capital investments in the clean energy area. About TechnipFMC TechnipFMC is a leading technology provider to the traditional and new energy industries, delivering fully integrated projects, products, and services. With our proprietary technologies and comprehensive solutions, we are transforming our clients' project economics, helping them unlock new possibilities to develop energy resources while reducing carbon intensity and supporting their energy transition ambitions. Organized in two business segments - Subsea and Surface Technologies - we will continue to advance the industry with our pioneering integrated ecosystems (such as iEPCI, iFEED and iComplete), technology leadership and digital innovation. Each of our approximately 20,000 employees are driven by a commitment to our clients' success, and a culture of strong execution, purposeful innovation, and challenging industry conventions. TechnipFMC uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. To learn more about how we are driving change in the industry, go to www.TechnipFMC.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @TechnipFMC. Important Information for TechnipFMC Investors and Securityholders Forward-Looking Statement This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "believe", "estimated" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. For information regarding known material factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results, please see our risk factors set forth in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which include our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of our forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. About WavEC WavEC is a Portuguese non-for-profit Expert Consultant with a strong R&D background in marine renewable energy with an offer structured in six areas: complex systems engineering, environmental monitoring & impact assessment, strategy & policy advise, offshore logistics & infrastructures, instrumentation & data acquisition, site & project development. WavEC is a co-founder and member of the Board of Ocean Energy Europe and provides the Management of the IEA's Ocean Energy Systems ( OES (News - Alert) ). WavEC has developed over 30 EU funded R&D projects in the last 10 years and has coordinated 6 of these and has provided services to more than 30 international companies in the same period in its areas of operation. For further information, please visit www.wavec.org About CEiiA CEiiA is a Portuguese non-for-profit Product Development and Engineering Center created to contribute to a new model of economic and social development based on high added value products and services developed in Portugal. CEiiA employs about 250 engineers that develop and operate products and services for the urban mobility, aeronautics, and ocean & space sectors. CEiiA's expertise is based on mechanical design and engineering, aerodynamics, electronics, software development and systems integration, as well as prototyping and testing. In the ocean sector, CEiiA has been developing projects in the area of underwater robotics, marine structures and control systems for aquaculture as well as digital solutions for science and industrial applications. CEiiA supports the United Nations Global Compact being a founder of the UN Sustainable Ocean Business Platform and an active member in the implementation of the SDGs. For further information, please visit www.ceiia.com About USN University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) is the fourth largest university in Norway. The University is based at eight campus located in South Eastern Norway. USN's ambition is to contribute to research-based developments in working life and society. The Systems Engineering Industry Master program at Campus Kongsberg offers expertise in development of complex systems and systems of systems. The students work 50% at a company while they are enrolled in the program. This allows the students to apply the Systems Engineering methods in their professional environment. More than 170 students have graduated from the program since the start in 2006. FINANCING About EEA GRANTS Through the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are partners, in the internal market, of the Member States of the European Union. As a way of promoting a continuous and balanced strengthening of the economic and trade relations, the parties of the European Economic Area Agreement have established a Multiannual Financial Mechanism, known as the EEA Grants. The EEA Grants aim to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe and to strengthen bilateral relations between these three countries and the beneficiary countries. For the 2014-2021 period, a total contribution of 2.8 billion has been committed to 15 beneficiary countries. Portugal will benefit from a budget of 102.7 million. For further information, please visit: eeagrants.gov.pt View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005660/en/

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[July 12, 2021] First Abu Dhabi Bank and State Street Announce Strategic Alliance

First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC (FAB) and State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT) today announced a new strategic alliance that leverages FAB's regional securities services expertise, incorporating the largest direct custody network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and State Street's global strength and capabilities. The alliance will create a full-service enterprise offering for institutional investors in the region. It will provide MENA investors with extensive reach into more than 100 markets around the world, an unrivalled product range servicing all major listed and unlisted asset classes, delivered by in-country client service teams in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt. Clients will have access to State Street's full suite of front, middle and back office capabilities, in addition to its extensive data management and analytics solutions, which seamlessly integrate with FAB's regionalised suite of securities services products, local expertise and regional direct custody network. Hana Al Rostamani, Group Chief Executive Officer of FAB, commented: "The Middle East investment landscape is distinctive with some of world's largest sovereign wealth funds alongside a diverse range of private investment institutions. These investors require access to sophisticated investment tools and solutions across both their MENA and global investments. The alliance between FAB and State Street creates a unique platform, delivering leading capabilities across the entire investment value chain that cater for the characteristics of regional and global investments. We are excited to showcase how this will elevate investment servicing in the region." Ron O'Hanley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of State Street, commented, "This partnership between FAB and State Street presents a unique proposition for MENA investors and those who invest in the region. Clients are looking for financially secure and operationally resilien partners who can manage the non-core elements of their business, helping to deliver operational efficiencies, reduce costs, mitigate risks and navigate complex regulation. They also desire to access global best practices and scale and a partner who understands the local challenges and constraints they face, and one who has the flexibility to seamlessly adapt to these changes. By leveraging the best of both global and regional expertise offered by the collaboration of our two organisations, we will provide a truly customised and flexible service model that proactively drives innovative solutions to meet our clients' needs."



About First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) FAB is the UAE's largest bank and one of the world's largest and safest financial institutions. FAB's vision is to create value for its employees, customers, shareholders and communities to grow stronger through differentiation, agility and innovation.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the bank's international network spans five continents, providing global relationships, expertise and financial strength to support local, regional and international businesses seeking to do business at home and abroad. FAB is a trusted adviser and regional partner to major institutions, emerging companies and individuals seeking to do business in the UAE, the MENA region and beyond. As an engine of growth for the region, it helps customers to thrive and grow stronger by managing risk, providing access to capital and facilitating trade flows across developed and emerging markets. With total assets of AED 941 Billion (USD 256 Billion) as of March-end 2021, FAB is rated Aa3/AA-/AA- by Moody's, S&P and Fitch, respectively, the strongest combined ratings of any bank in the MENA region. The Bank has been ranked by Global Finance as the Safest Bank in the UAE and the Middle East, and the 32nd Safest Bank globally. The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks 2020 list, measured by Tier 1 capital, ranked FAB as number one in the UAE, second in the Middle East and #85 across the globe - in addition to ranking the bank #109 by assets in the same list. FAB is also a regional sustainability leader, and a constituent of MSCI ESG Leaders and FTSE4Good EM indices. About State Street Corporation State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $40.3 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $3.6 trillion* in assets under management as of March 31, 2021, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 39,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's website at www.statestreet.com. * Assets under management as of March 31, 2021 includes approximately $60 billion of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.  2021 State Street Corporation - All Rights Reserved 3666347.1.1.AM.INST View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005455/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Guizhou Is Carrying out Ambitious Action to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

GUIYANG, China, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, in December 2015 and entered into force in November 2016. In the same spirit, China will strive to take actions and promote the improvement of global climate governance. It demonstrates that China is a responsible major country and is making important contributions to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Guizhou has been carrying out ambitious climate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, the local government has been actively building a clean, low-carbon and efficient energy system. To be specific, Guizhou has built a new power system and developed wind power and photovoltaic power generation industries. The number of wind power companies has increased frm 21 in 2016 to 42 in 2020, and that of solar power companies has grown from only one in 2016 to 33 in 2020. Moreover, Guizhou's clean energy generating capacity reached 78.93 billion kilowatt hours, and carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 61.54 million tons in 2020.



During China's 14th Five-Year Plan period, Guizhou will vigorously develop a new energy industry, take advantage of existing hydroelectric power stations to promote the construction of million-level photovoltaic bases in Bijie, Liupanshui, Anshun, etc. The province will also strengthen the construction of renewable energy power infrastructure, and increase the level of renewable energy power consumption. In addition to building a new energy system, Guizhou also uses abundant forestry resources to carry out carbon sinks projects, enabling poverty alleviation and ecological construction. Based on scientific calculation methods, the government helps local poor villages sell the carbon dioxide absorbed by each tree as a product to the whole society. All the funds are then remitted to the corresponding owners of the trees, which ensures income growth.

Wu Zhiliang, a villager in Datang Village, Congjiang County said to the journalist of Huanqiu.com, "In the past, I hoped that the tree could grow up quickly and then be used to repair houses. Unexpectedly, after taking care of trees, I can also make money." Last year, Wu joined the local Carbon Sink Project, which has become a source of his income. At present, Guizhou has set up the carbon sink projects for 10,337 households in 588 villages in 18 counties, developed 4.126 million carbon sink trees. The annual sales of carbon sinks have reached 41.26 million kilograms. During China's 13th Five-Year Plan period, Guizhou has developed an environmental strategy, implemented large-scale ecological actions especially comprehensive management of rocky desertification and soil erosion. Guizhou has also continuously promoted Eco Forum Global Guiyang to become an important international platform. In the past five years, Guizhou has controlled 5082 square kilometers of rocky desertification and 13,300 square kilometers of soil erosion, completed 10.15 million mu of farmland to forests. As of 2020, Guizhou's forest coverage rate has reached 60%, and the total number of world natural heritage sites ranks first in the country. Additionally, the local government actively advocates a green lifestyle, and continues to carry out low-carbon theme activities such as "Guizhou Eco Day" and "Energy Conservation Promotion Week". Guizhou also accelerates the construction of green families, schools and communities, and establishes a green consumption incentive mechanism. "To fight the tough battle of carbon emissions, Guizhou must actively and scientifically respond." Yin Xiaofen, member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Congress, and first-level inspector, said to Huanqiu.com, "Guizhou should integrate the concept of pollution reduction and carbon reduction when making relevant plans." SOURCE Huanqiu.com

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[July 12, 2021] Halo Technology Group Announces 2 Strategic Acquisitions: ARIA Technologies and Solid Optics

IRVINE, Calif., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Halo Technology Group ("Halo" or "Halo Group"), the world's largest independent manufacturer of fiber optic transceivers and high-speed cabling, announced today it has completed two acquisitions to broaden its product portfolio and strengthen its global presence. Halo acquired ARIA Technologies ("ARIA"), an industry leading designer, manufacturer, and provider of fiber optical connectivity solutions headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Halo also acquired Solid Optics, a global provider of fiber optic transceivers, high-speed cabling, and passive and active networking technology headquartered in Almere, Netherlands. "We are thrilled to add the incredibly talented teams from ARIA Technologies and Solid Optics to the Halo Group," said Matt McCormick, Chief Executive Officer of Halo. "Our mission has been clear since the beginningto bethe global leader in optical solutions and deliver exceptional value to our customers. With the addition of ARIA and Solid Optics, we enhance our global footprint, particularly in key markets such as Germany and France, and further strengthen our product offerings, as well as our technical and commercial capabilities."



ARIA's commitment to innovation and product performance has been transformational in the data center and the telecommunications industry. Solid Optics has a strong presence in Europe with a diverse, long-term customer base and deep expertise across a full range of optical solutions. These acquisitions, together with the Skylane Optics acquisition announced earlier this year, strengthen Halo's ability to meet the optical solutions needs of any customer across the globe. "Coupled with Halo's strong organic growth, these acquisitions demonstrate that Halo is the growth platform of choice in the third-party optoelectronics industry," said Al Aguirre, Chairman of the Halo Group Board of Directors.

About Halo Technology Group

Created by London-based Inflexion Private Equity Partners, Halo Technology is a multinational corporation headquartered in Irvine, California. As the world's largest independent provider of optoelectronics, it develops and markets mission critical optical networking solutions including transceivers, multiplexers, ROADMs, EDFAs, and high-speed cabling. Since 1999, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Halo has served over 40,000 customers globally. With operations in the US, UK, Continental Europe, China, India, and Brazil, Halo serves the networking needs of a broad spectrum of enterprise, service provider, and telecommunications clients in over 60 countries. About ARIA Technologies

ARIA is an industry leading designer, manufacturer, and provider of fiber optic connectivity products located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The ARIA product offering includes fiber cable assemblies, rackmount enclosures, wall mount enclosures, and fiber optic and copper-based network components. About Solid Optics

Established in 2006, Solid Optics is a global provider of compatible transceivers, high-speed cabling, multiplexers, and OADMs, serving data centers, service providers, telecommunications providers and commercial organizations throughout UK, Europe, and the US. Supplying more than 1,600 customers throughout Europe and the US, Solid Optics has built a stellar reputation for innovative products and comprehensive engineering services. Media Contact:

Claire Lin

claire.lin@halotechnology.com

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[July 12, 2021] Helping Address COVID-19 Learning Loss: TD launches 4th Annual TD Ready Challenge

Applications are open until August 26 for eligible organizations in Canada and the United States which are developing solutions to address disproportionate learning loss as a result of COVID-19 TORONTO and CHERRY HILL, N.J., July 12, 2021 /CNW/ - To help address predicted learning loss for students in grades K  12, TD announced today that applications are now open for the 2021 TD Ready Challenge. This year, TD is seeking to support eligible not-for-profit and charitable organizations which are developing innovative solutions to address predicted learning loss in math and reading for disproportionately impacted students in grades K-12 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $10 million CAD in grants are available to eligible organizations in Canada and the U.S. Research predicts that remote and virtual learning may disproportionately increase learning loss among students who do not have consistent access to technology, a private space, and/or teacher supervision, including: Students from low-income households

Students with limited access to internet

Indigenous and Racialized students

Students with disabilities



$30 million CAD to help respond to pressing societal issues tied to several TD Ready Commitment interconnected drivers of change. TD will be accepting grant applications until August 26, 2021. For complete details about this year's Challenge, please visit td.com/readychallenge.

Quotes

"Learning loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is not only an important challenge facing a number of communities today, but one that could impact society for generations to come. This year's TD Ready Challenge is focused on helping to support eligible organizations aimed at closing that gap by providing innovative, scalable solutions to help these students catch up and keep up."  Shelley Sylva, Head of U.S. Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank . "There is an urgent need to address pandemic-related learning loss for children that have been most disadvantaged by the disruption of elementary and high school education across North America. One of the best ways to help ensure future success for children is to support their education. That is why TD has supported the TD Summer Reading Program, early literacy programs and the Grade One Book Giveaway for many years. This year's TD Ready Challenge is another way for us to help make a positive contribution towards addressing the pandemic-induced learning gaps and help strive to provide affected children with the opportunity to feel confident about their future."  Naki Osutei, Associate Vice President, Social Impact (Canada), TD Bank Group. About the TD Ready Commitment

TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (U.S. $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to help open doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow  Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/tdreadycommitment. SOURCE TD Bank Group

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[July 12, 2021] Hypersonic Technology Startup Velontra Taps Retired U.S. General as its Inaugural President

DAYTON, Ohio, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Retired Major General Craig Whelden has been named the inaugural president of Velontra, a startup with the mind power to accelerate America's development of hypersonic technology. His military career began with the U.S. Army where he once held the distinction as the youngest general in the Army. Combined with an additional nine years as a member of the Senior Executive Services (SES) with the U.S. Marine Corps he has led thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and civilians in a storied 40-year military career. "General Whelden is a strategic thinker who is able to parlay his four decades of significant leadership and service into further assisting our nation in developing aeronautical and military power," says Velontra CEO Robert Keane. "He has the insights, relationships, and military knowledge to enable Velontra to thrive in a race against time as China and Russia rev up their development of unmanned hypersonic technology." General Whelden is the author of, "Leadership: The Art of Inspiring People to Be Their Best." The book rose to #1 on Amazon's International Best-Seller List and has won four national book awards. He is also a global Fortune 500 speaker. "I was drawn to Velontra because this talented group posssses proven scientific knowledge and an extraordinary talent for taking start ups toward award-winning heights," said Whelden. "I have no doubt that this group can produce what our nation needs quicker, more efficiently and more cost effectively than many larger firms. As the clock ticks, I want to be associated with those who know how to use their past experience in the military and in science to make things happen for the benefit of our great nation. There is no reason why we can't be a leader in hypersonic technology  with both military and commercial application."



Whelden joins CEO Rob Keane, a 10-year Force Recon Marine awarded for valor in combat who has worked as an aerospace engineer, and CRO Zachary Green, a former Marine and multiple award-winning entrepreneur. Rounding out the leadership team are Chief Technology Officer Joel Darin, one of the nation's foremost authorities on jet engine afterburners, and Mark Longenecker, an acclaimed Harvard-educated attorney focused on mergers, acquisitions and startups who serves as Velontra's chief legal officer.

Velontra's goal is to regain America's military and aerospace dominance. While U.S. airlines have been in the news for ordering planes that travel up to twice the speed of sound, hypersonic speed is at least Mach 5 or five times the speed of sound. The company currently has offices in Ohio and South Carolina. For more information on how Velontra is changing the narrative on hypersonic technology, visit www.velontra.com. CONTACT: Laura Kroeger at (513) 236-7864 or 314105@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hypersonic-technology-startup-velontra-taps-retired-us-general-as-its-inaugural-president-301331408.html SOURCE Velontra

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[July 12, 2021] IGEN's CEO Provides Progress Update On Key Initiatives For 2021; Positioned For Growth And Market Leadership

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IGEN Networks Corporation (OTCQB: IGEN, CSE: IGN), a leading innovator of software services for the consumer and commercial automotive industry, today provides a progress update on key initiatives along with the CEO's assessment of opportunities for growth. IGEN's Driver Telematics Signature Patent: Patent No. 11,037,378 was issued from the U.S. Patent Office on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. This U.S. patent becomes enforceable on the day of issuance. The DTS Patent is a method and system designed to create a unique signature of driver performance, driver habits, and risk assessment of driver maneuvers. The market opportunity for IGEN is to establish a standard of measurement for driver risk and behavior regardless of the type of vehicle or source of the data (e.g., smartphones, vehicle-based GPS systems, and artificial intelligence). The DTS Patent will reduce what the insurance industry refers to as "rating-errors" equating to loss of revenue for the insurer from not having an accurate assessment of driver performance and policyholder misinformation. According to the most recent studies published by Insurance Journal, the cost of rating errors exceeded $15B in 2010 with approximately $8B attributing to missing information on driving habits. IGEN Networks and T-Mobile for Business Co-branded Medallion GPS for Light Commercial Fleets: The launch of Medallion GPS through T-Mobile Business SMB channels is a unique offering based on IGEN's NextGen platform. Medallion GPS is optimized for Light Commercial Fleets or vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of no more than 3.5 metric tons. Light Commercial Fleets represent the least penetrated market segment using fleet solutions with an estimated 6M new vehicles produced annually in the US. Medallion GPS offers an easy-to-use fleet solution at significantly lower costs for the Light Commercial Fleet owner. Fully tested and qualified for the T-Mobile Business channels, Medallion GPS revenue contributions are expected for the second half of 2021. County Executives of America brands IGEN's Fleet Solution: County Fleet Management is based on IGEN's NextGen platform optimized for Light Commercial Fleets. There are over 700 Counties that work with the County Executives of America representing an estimated 350,000 Light Commercial and Passenger vehicles across the US. A key aspect of the County Fleet Management offering is IGEN's DTS Patent providing the capabilities to measure driver habits, driver safety, and risk assessment. Many of the Counties are self-insured which makes it compelling for Counties to use County Fleet Management Services enabled through IGEN's DTS Patent. Initial trials are expected with 3-5 Counties for the second half of 2021 as Federal funding is made available. IGEN Launches Industry's First Consumer Brand Product "FamlyShield" to protect Young Drivers:



From date of launch in April 2021, 18,000 households located in Orange County, Southern California, Dallas, Texas and Tampa Bay, Florida have received direct-mailings combined with social media campaigns launched across platforms that include Facebook, Google, YouTube, and Gmail. Online conversion rate for the initial campaigns is expected to reach 2-3% penetration level. Further marketing campaigns are planned along with establishing a mainstream online purchasing channel. IGEN signs Sales & Marketing Agreement with Michigan Credit Union League Service Corporation (MCULSC): Michigan Credit Union League Service Corporation (MCULSC) is a Credit Union Service Organization offering IGEN's CU Trak product and services to Michigan Credit Unions and their members. To-date much of the sales activities to Credit Unions in Michigan State and across the US markets were curtailed by COVID as many of them operated with limited access. Post-COVID trends are looking very promising with the increase in membership loans for car purchases supported by Federal subsidy programs. Revenue contributions from the sale of CU Trak to Credit Unions in both Michigan State and across the US are expected to increase several-fold during the second half of 2021.

In summary, CEO Neil G. Chan stated, "Despite the challenges of the pandemic and its impact on our primary markets, we were able to focus on creating new products and channels in anticipation of new growth opportunities. We see more car loans, especially in pre-owned vehicle segments, an increase in actuarial risks with drivers and autonomous driving technologies, and significant Federal Government support to Counties across the US with the new administration. IGEN is positioned to participate in these market trends during 2021 and beyond." About IGEN Networks Corporation IGEN Networks Corporation creates software services for the consumer automotive and commercial asset management industries enabling their customers to better manage their assets and protect their families. IGEN is a fully reporting company in both Canada and the United States. It is publicly traded on the OTCQB under the symbol IGEN, and listed on the CSE under the symbol IGN. For more information, please visit: www.igennetworks.net Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities law. The terms and phrases "goal", "commitment", "guidance", "expects", "would", "will", "continuing", "drive", "believes", "indicate", "look forward", "grow", "outlook", "forecasts", "intend", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by IGEN in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that IGEN believes are appropriate in the circumstances, including but not limited to statements regarding investment liquidity, financing options and long term goals of the Company, general economic conditions, IGEN's expectations regarding its business, customer base, strategy and prospects, and IGEN's confidence in the cash flow generation of its business. Many factors could cause IGEN's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to competition; IGEN's reliance on key personnel; IGEN's ability to maintain and enhance its brand; and difficulties in forecasting IGEN's financial results, particularly over longer periods given the rapid technological changes, competition and short product life cycles that characterize the mobile application industry. These risk factors and others relating to IGEN that may cause actual results to differ are set forth in the under the heading "Risk Factors" in IGEN's periodic filings with the British Columbia Securities Commission and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on IGEN's forward-looking statements. IGEN has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Contact:

Neil G. Chan

IGEN Networks Corporation

Email: info@igennetworks.net

Call us: +1 (855) 912-5378 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/igens-ceo-provides-progress-update-on-key-initiatives-for-2021-positioned-for-growth-and-market-leadership-301328943.html SOURCE iGen Networks Corp.

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Imperial to hold 2021 Second Quarter Earnings Call

(TSE:IMO, NYSE American: IMO) Brad Corson, chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Dave Hughes (News - Alert) , vice-president investor relations, Imperial Oil Limited, will host a 2021 Second Quarter Earnings Call on Friday, July 30, following the company's second quarter earnings release that morning. The event begins at 9 a.m. MT and will be accessible by webcast.

During the call, Mr. Corson will offer brief remarks prior to taking questions from Imperial's covering analysts.

Please click here [https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/k22sqghu] to register for the live webcast. The webcast will be available for one year on the company's website at www.imperialoil.ca/en-ca/company/investors.







Source (News - Alert) : Imperial

After more than a century, Imperial continues to be an industry leader in applying technology and innovation to responsibly develop Canada's energy resources. As Canada's largest petroleum refiner, a major producer of crude oil, a key petrochemical producer and a leading fuels marketer from coast to coast, our company remains committed to high standards across all areas of our business.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005006/en/
[July 12, 2021] KCAS Bioanalytical and Biomarker Services Welcomes Dr. Greg Veltri as Scientific Director of Biopharmaceutical Services

KCAS Bioanalytical and Biomarker Services (KCAS), a laboratory services focused contract research organization (CRO) is pleased to announce the expansion of their Biopharmaceutical Services team. Dr. Greg Veltri joins KCAS as a Scientific Director of Cell Based Development Technologies. Dr. Veltri's role at KCAS will be to provide vision, leadership, and scientific expertise to expand the flow cytometry capabilities to support BioPharma clients' Cell and Gene Therapy development programs. He has dedicated over 20 years of his scientific career to the advancement of the field of flow cytometry within top tier academic, healthcare and commercial organizations. Throughout his career, Dr. Veltri has successfully mentored and trained many exceptional scientists as well as advanced the field of flow cytometry through the development of innovative flow cytometry acquisition and analysis software as well high-parameter spectral analyzer/flow cytometry instrumentation. "Adding Dr. Veltri to our scientific team is a very exciting development and we at KCAS look forward to supporting his team as we continue to invest in the business. He will be an invaluable asset to KCAS as he is considered a thought-leader in the design, optimization, and validation of high-parameter flow cytometry assays within the field of oncology," stated Jeff Hester, Ph. D., Sr. Director, Biopharmaceuical Services.



"I'm extremely excited to work with this team. As Scientific Director, I hope to take my years of experience to help grow and develop the cytometric and cellular group to the next step with advanced instrumentation and cellular analysis. By doing so we will be able to take high parameter cytometric data to answer disease/treatment, or cellular functionality in just one tube in an efficient and highly reproducible manner," stated Dr.Veltri. Dr. Veltri joins KCAS from Sony Biotechnology, based in Bothell, Washington, where he was the Head of Biological Sciences. There he was responsible for vision, leadership and oversight of all biological research programs and was a key contributor to the development of world class spectral flow cytometry instruments. Dr. Veltri earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Ashley University, London UK.

About KCAS KCAS Bioanalytical and Biomarker Services, an Integris BioServices, LLC Company is a rapidly growing company that provides comprehensive GLP / GCP compliant development services from early discovery support through product registration and beyond. KCAS provides a truly differentiated approach as one of only a select few CROs offering both large and small molecule development with extensive capabilities and expertise to its clients who are looking for both scientific expertise and excellent customer service. KCAS' headquarters is in Shawnee, Kansas in the Kansas City metro area. Visit www.kcasbio.com for more information about the Company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005770/en/

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[July 12, 2021] LAKELAND COLLEGE CREATES ENGAGING AND SUCCESSFUL TRADES PROGRAMS ONLINE

Kitchener, Waterloo, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global learning technology leader D2L announced today that longtime client Lakeland College launched online courses for a number of their trades programs, all of which are powered by D2L Brightspace, and have seen great success. Striving to inspire lifelong learning through experience and excellence, and transform the future through innovation, Lakeland College encourages students to take charge and participate in shaping their own education. Students can leverage a variety of instructional methods from face-to-face, blended, and distance learning to realize their educational goals, become career-ready, or enhance their professional skill set for career advancement. Lakeland College provides a unique, hands-on learning approach, even in an online learning environment. Powered by Brightspace, Lakeland College brought their automotive and engineering programs online and created fully online courses for parts technicians. Thanks to the Brightspace platform, instructors have made rich use of the technology to create state-of-the-art online courses. With technology enriching the entire experience, instructors were able to turn their focus to building connections with students to ensure no student fell behind. Leading the way for online courses in the trades industry, Lakeland College shatters all doubts that hands-on training can be successfully delivered online. Technology is the base that upholds the student experience, and when that technology like Brightspace works for you, instructors can focus on student interaction says Susan Werner, Academic Technology Facilitator at Lakeland College. For example, we had a student in British Columbia who completed our parts technician ourse on his cell phone in an extremely remote location, and after completion, his work provided him with an increase in pay for upskilling himself. This is one example of how our online course can change lives, and I couldnt be prouder.



As we prepare for our annual Fusion conference this month, were celebrating our customers and the ways in which they are changing the world, says April Oman, Senior Vice President, Customer Engagement at D2L. Lakeland College is a clear example of where technology supports deeper human connections between students and instructors. Were thrilled to see how our platform is changing lives and creating opportunities for students everywhere. ABOUT D2L BRIGHTSPACE

D2L Brightspace is a cloud-based learning platform built for people who care deeply about student success and helping to prepare them for what comes next.



It gives faculty across your institution tools theyre going to love, makes it easy to support exceptional student experiences in the classroom or fully online. D2L Brightspace is designed in close collaboration with clients around the world  building a pedagogically rich set of features to improve engagement, retention and learning outcomes. It also makes it easier to do assessments and give feedback.



D2L Brightspace is worry-free with 99.99% reliability. Its highly accessible and looks beautiful on any mobile device, making it easier for educators to reach every learner.



D2L Brightspace has won multiple industry awards, including the #1 LMS Technology for next-generation online teaching and learning. To learn more, visit D2L for Higher Education. ABOUT D2L D2L is transforming the way the world learns  helping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with clients all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person. Our more than 950 global employees are dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than where they found it. Learn more about D2L for K-12, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com. D2L MEDIA CONTACT Christine DAngela

Director, External Strategic Communications, D2L Corporation

pr@D2L.com Twitter: @D2L  2021 D2L Corporation. The D2L family of companies includes D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L Asia Pte Ltd, and D2L Brasil Solucoes de Tecnologia para Educacao Ltda. All D2L marks are trademarks of D2L Corporation. Please visit D2L.com/trademarks for a list of D2L marks.



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[July 12, 2021] Leavenworth Capital Launches First Actively Managed Crypto-asset Strategy

Leavenworth Capital, Inc. is proud to announce its launch as an asset management firm specializing in cryptoassets aimed at serving individuals, RIA's, financial advisors and institutional investors seeking an actively managed cryptocurrency strategy. Leavenworth Capital claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS)1. Leavenworth's flagship strategy, the Leavenworth Digital Growth Strategy, was incepted in 2020, and is one of the earliest adopters of GIPS in the cryptoassets space, a globally recognized framework for performance measurement and presentation. With over 25 years of combined experience in the financial services and technology sectors, Leavenworth designs, develops, and manages institutional-grade separately managed accounts ( SMA's (News - Alert) ) that invest in cryptoassets, including Bitcoin. Equipped with a team of experienced and knowledgeable investment professionals, the firm understands the intersection of cryptoassets, blockchain and asset allocation, which allows Leavenworth to work alongside individuals and investment professionals with the collective goal of adding diversification and providing strong risk-adjusted returns for client portfolios over the long term. Jack Shepherd, Leavenworth's founder and CEO, brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the new venture, having previously worked at Thornburg Investment Management, Deutsche Bank, and Jensen Investment Management. Most recently he was a Vice President at Transamerica (News - Alert) . In his new role, he will oversee the strategic leadership and overall management of the firm. "We are excited to offer the industry's first actively-managed cryptoasset strategy for investment professionals at a time when the majority of solutions available are passively managed, one-size-fits-all Bitcoin-only funds," says Shepherd. "The Leavenworth Digital Growth Strategy is a strategy that isn't trying to exclusively hold Bitcoin, but instead aims to beat Bitcoin." The firm's investment team is led by Ranjan Grover, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager for Leavenworth Capital. He has a PhD in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona and has a 14-year career in the high technology industry. Ranjan brings a deep understanding of blockchain technology and its use cases in financial services and portfolio construction. Actively managed comprehensive cryptocurrency funds are extremely rare in today's investment climate and with most investment vehicles ofered today, their clients don't actually own the underlying asset.



"The phrase, 'Not your keys, not your coins' is one of the more commonly used expressions in the nascent world of cryptocurrencies," says Grover. "By utilizing our investment strategy our clients actually own the underlying assets, meaning they have the option to own their own private keys. In a world where there are only 21 million Bitcoin with about 18.75M in circulation, we believe that individuals should own their cryptocurrencies and not just have an investment in an ETF or a closed-end fund." Having rights to your keys gives investors the option to take their assets and put them in cold storage without having a taxable liquidation. It also allows investors to pursue other yield opportunities such as cryptoloans where you use your crypto as collateral.

Led by Grover, Leavenworth Capital has developed the ability to provide clients with investment solutions that aim to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns using the firm's four-step investment process. "The LDGS Investment Process ensures that we stick to a predictable method. Only those cryptos that meet our strict investment criteria shall be considered for inclusion into our portfolio. As the cryptocurrency world evolves, our model will adapt and give us a good understanding of the current crypto marketplace and we will be ready to act so alpha generative investment opportunities aren't overlooked," says Grover. The safety and security of client assets is Leavenworth Capital's number one priority. To keep clients' investments safe as the emerging crypto markets develop, Leavenworth Capital partners with the industry's leading institutional grade custodians. Leavenworth Capital utilizes Gemini as its custodian. Gemini is a fiduciary and qualified custodian under New York Banking Law and is licensed by the State of New York to custody digital assets. Gemini Custody is regularly audited and subject to the capital reserve requirements and compliance standards of a traditional financial institution. With industry leading multi-layer protection protocols in place, Leavenworth clients can have the peace of mind that the existing security measures that are being taken care of at the highest levels of the US Governments Security Ratings. "With more and more crypto asset products in circulation and a number of other investment products awaiting approval, as one of the first asset managers in this space, we feel honored to be a part of this important digital transformation," says Shepherd. About Leavenworth: Leavenworth Capital, Inc. is an employee-owned investment boutique that manages crypto assets for individuals, institutions, RIA's & financial advisors. Leavenworth's clients range from industry experts to those just beginning to explore the asset class. The firm was built to manage the digital asset portion of investment portfolios. With over 25 years of combined experience in the financial services and technology sectors, Leavenworth designs, develops and manages institutional-grade SMA's that invest in crypto assets including Bitcoin. The team of experienced and knowledgeable investment professionals understand the intersection of crypto assets, blockchain and asset allocation which allows Leavenworth to help its clients navigate the cryptoasset world one portfolio at a time. To receive additional information regarding Leavenworth Capital, including GIPS-compliant performance information for Leavenworth Capital's strategies and products, contact Jack Shepherd at 503.607.7090 or write Leavenworth Capital, 525 3rd Street, Lake Oswego, OR 97034 or jack@leavenworthcapital.com. Disclosures GIPS is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein. 1 GIPS is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005228/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Mednow Invests in Life Support Mental Health Inc. and Signs Non-Binding Letter of Intent to Acquire Complementary Medical Operation

Mednow Inc. ("Mednow" or the "Company") (TSXV:MNOW; OTCQB:MDNWF), Canada's on-demand virtual pharmacy, is pleased to announce the Company has signed an investment agreement (the "Investment Agreement") to acquire an equity interest in Life Support Mental Health Inc. ("LSMH"). Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, Mednow invested $500,000 for an initial equity interest of 9%. Mednow has agreed to invest an additional aggregate total of $1,000,000 in two separate tranches to potentially bring its equity interest to approximately 18% upon LSMH's achievement of certain milestones. Mednow's strategy is to develop a digital interdisciplinary model of care. Anchored in pharmacy and supported by telemedicine, other complementary health care services are planned to provide a full spectrum health care ecosystem. The Company intends to continue to build a holistic approach to patient care. "Mental health services are a logical extension of our platform and this investment is a first step towards providing mental health solutions to our client base. Mednow's investment in LSMH will act as a catalyst to support the establishment of these health and wellness services," said Karim Nassar, Chief Executive Officer. LSMH is a medical technology company focused on bridging the gap between medical and mental health professionals through clinical support in the assessment and triage of mental health issues. LSMH will use the proceeds of Mednow's investment to further develop its Mental Health Check platform, enhance its service offering and drive revenue growth. Letter of Intent to Acquire a Medical Operation Mednow is also pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent to acquire a medical business (the "Medical Operation") based in Ontario by way of a purchase of all the issued and outstanding shares of the Medical Operation. The consideration for the shares shall be paid in cash and is expected to have an earn-out aspect. Once a binding agreement is executed, the Medical Operation is expected to add complementary services and contribute to Mednow's growing user base. Subject to approval from the board of directors of the Company and the Company's completion of due diligence, Mednow and the vendors intend to enter into a definitive agreement. About Mednow Inc. Mednow is a healthcare technology company offering virtual access with exceptional care. Designed with access and quality care in mind, Mednow.ca provides virtual pharmacy services with convenience and through an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare that is focused on the patient experience. Pharmacy services include free at-home delivery of medications, a user-friendly interface for easy upload, transfer and refill of prescriptions, access to healthcare professionals thrugh an intuitive chat experience, a specialized PillSmart system that packages prescriptions and vitamins by date and time, as well as access to telemedicine.



To learn more, follow Mednow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, as well as visit www.mednow.ca/. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information, including statements relating to: the expectation that the investment in LSMH will contribute to the Company becoming a comprehensive healthcare platform, the expected terms of the acquisition of the Medical Operation, and the intention of the Company and the vendors to execute a binding agreement for the Company to acquire the Medical Operation. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release, including that the investment in LSMH will contribute to the Company becoming a comprehensive healthcare platform, the terms of the acquisition of the Medical Operation will be as anticipated by management of the Company, and the Company and the vendors will execute a binding agreement for the Company to acquire the Medical Operation on the timeline and terms as expected by management of the Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation, that the investment in LSMH will not contribute to the Company becoming a comprehensive healthcare platform, the terms of the acquisition of the Medical Operation will not be as anticipated by management of the Company, and the Company and the vendors will not execute a binding agreement for the Company to acquire the Medical Operation on the timeline and terms as expected by management of the Company or at all, and other risk factors set out in the Company's final long form prospectus dated February 26, 2021 available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005212/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Netcapital Inc. Portfolio Company Deuce Drone Launches Food Delivery Service by Drone

Netcapital Inc. (OTCQX: NCPL) announced that portfolio company Deuce Drone successfully completed a live demo of their app and drone delivery services, signaling that they will be prepared to launch revenue-generating flights in the next few weeks. The company hosted the event at the BB&T Financial Centre in Mobile, AL, where Deuce Drone has an exclusive contract to conduct lunch delivery services by drone between the office complex, which has more than 300 people onsite daily, and the nearby Legacy Village shopping center. "This demo was the culmination of testing, preparing, and conducting dry runs to make sure operational procedures were running smoothly. We've now begun fine-tuning our software and will be ready to launch sustained revenue-generating flights at the centre in the coming weeks," said Ed Fienga, COO of Deuce Drone. "We're extremely proud of our team, as our engineers worked hard to make this day possible. We're also excited about the potential to bring our service to other customers and clients, whether businesses or individuals," Fienga shared. The Deuce Drone team was joined by several notable community leaders for the demo, including Representative Jerry Carl, the CEO of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, staff from Senator Tommy Tuberville's office, and representatives from Innovation Portal, a local incubator that recently invested in the company. Local Fox 10 News and Alabama.com covered the event. "We're thrilled to see Deuce Drone's continued success, and look forward to the official launch of their service," said Cecilia Lenk, Netcapital Inc. CEO. T learn more about Deuce Drone and their services, please visit deucedrone.com



About Deuce Drone: Deuce Drone is developing technology and services to provide last mile delivery for "brick and mortar" retailers by enabling drone shipment from existing stores. Leveraging clients' current infrastructure, we design, build, and operate drone delivery systems, transforming retail stores into customer fulfillment centers. Deuce Drone provides a cost-effective, technology-driven solution for same-day delivery that allows retailers to compete with major e-commerce players.

About Netcapital Inc.: Netcapital Inc. is a fintech company with a scalable technology platform that allows private companies to raise capital online and provides private equity investment opportunities to investors. The company's consulting group, Netcapital Advisors, provides marketing and strategic advice and takes equity positions in select companies with disruptive technologies. The Netcapital funding portal is registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission ( SEC (News - Alert) ) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a registered national securities association. The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005098/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Nomu Pay completes acquisition of first Wirecard APAC entities

SINGAPORE, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nomu Pay, a Finch Capital funded company, today completed two transactions to acquire Wirecard Payment Solutions Malaysia and Wirecard Payment Solutions Hong Kong, and announced the appointment of Peter Burridge as Group Chief Executive Officer, to be based in Singapore. The acquisitions and appointment are part of Nomu Pay's high-level strategy to create a market-leading unified payments company focused on high-growth customer segments in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe. Nomu Pay is in the process of closing several other transactions related to different Wirecard entities in the Philippines, Thailand and Turkey. Following these deals, Nomu Pay will be active in five countries, with access to markets of 300 million people and a GDP equal to that of India. Peter Burridge joins Nomu Pay group as Chief Executive Officer with more than 30 years of management and leadership experience at rapid growth technology companies. He specialises in strategic management and global growth of financial technologies companies. Before joining Nomu Pay, Mr. Burridge was President of Hyperwallet, the leading payout platform for on-demand and collaborative economy companies, where he guided the organisation through a successful recapitalization, followed by global expansion and the ultimate sale of the business to PayPal. Peter has also previously served in leadership roles at Oracle, Siebel, and Travelex Global Business Payments. Mr. Burridge will lead Nomu Pay's team across the region inthe areas of corporate and business development, market entry, establishment of operations, licensing and compliance.



Other new hires to complete the senior management team are being made. Owen Burke was appointed to the role of Finance Director, based in Dublin, Ireland. Mr. Burridge says: "Nomu Pay is an innovator with the vision of transforming the payments landscape across Asia-Pacific and EMEA. The payments ecosystem has transformed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and merchants and financial players are committed to innovation. This provides us with a unique opportunity and we are committed to achieving growth alongside our clients by bringing the latest payments technology to market."

Radboud Vlaar, Managing Partner of Finch Capital, comments: "We are very pleased with the first closings and very excited that Peter joins us as CEO. We are committed to supporting Peter and his team to provide the funding and help needed to accelerate the growth and establishment of the company in key markets." About Nomu Pay Nomu Pay is a newly established company that through its subsidiaries will provide state of the art unified payment solutions to help its clients accelerate growth in large high growth countries in Asia, Turkey and the Middle East region. NOMU Pay is funded by Finch Capital , a leading European and South East Asian Financial Technology investor. About Wirecard in Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand With the acquisition of Citibank's merchant acquiring portfolio and prepaid card services business in 2017, Wirecard provides financial institutions and regional merchants in Asia Pacific with a wide variety of payment and issuing processing as well as fraud management solutions. Catering to the specific needs of regional merchants across a broad spectrum of industries, the acquired entities are connected to major financial institutions and local payment schemes in Asia Pacific, and hold issuing and acquiring licenses from major payment and card networks. The APAC entities provide both business customers and consumers with a constantly expanding ecosystem of real-time value services built around innovative digital payments using an integrated B2B2C approach. About Finch Capital Founded in 2013, Finch Capital's mission is to fund and support the entrepreneurs creating products that shape the future of finance. Finch Capital's team of 12 investment professionals are entrepreneurs (e.g. Adyen, Deliveroo, Deepmind) and investors (e.g. Accel, Atomico, Egeria) with deep industry backgrounds (e.g. Facebook, Google and McKinsey&Co), located across offices in Amsterdam, London and Jakarta. Its track record includes AccountsIQ, Aylien, BUX, Brytlyt, Fixico, Fouthline, Goodlord, Grab, Hiber, ScalingFunds, Twisto and ZOPA. Finch Capital produces original research including the State of European Fintech and the Fintech sector post Covid-19. For more information see www.finchcapital.com . SOURCE Nomu Pay

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[July 12, 2021] Nonstick Cookware Market Estimated to reach US$ 28.1 Bn by 2027, Rising Health Consciousness for Low Fat Cooking Fuels demand, TMR

- A driving force for the use of nonstick cookware is the increased usage of social media for marketing and promotions of such items and recipes linked to it - Rising consumer purchasing power and consistent availability of new products to lead to nonstick cookware market to expand at healthy 4.1% CAGR from 2019- 2027 ALBANY, N.Y., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonstick cookware refers to a surface-engineered utensil designed to lower the hazard of food products sticking to it. Cookware with a nonstick coating helps to saute food items without adhering to the pan, which is likely to support growth of global nonstick cookware market in the years to come. Nonstick surfaces are often used to describe polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated surfaces with a well-known "teflon" trademark. Nonstick coatings such as enamelled iron coated, Ceramic Coating, Anodized Aluminum coated, Teflon coated and others have been marketed as well as sold in the twenty-first century. This industry is rapidly changing due to technological advancements and changing customer tastes. Businesses have always made an effort to keep track of new advancements and breakthroughs, such as electric cookware and smart kitchen appliances, in this field. Manufacturers, for example, are offering specialised cookware for frying poultry, fish, and other types of meat, as meat demands well-coated cookware. Such innovations in the field are estimated to encourage growth of the global nonstick cookware market over the analysis timeline, from 2019 to 2027. Strong expertise with attention to detail makes our market research reports stand apart. Request a sample - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=32549 The global nonstick cookware market is expected to grow at a rate of 4.1% CAGR from 2019 to 2027, reaching around US$ 28.1 Bn through 2027. Nonstick cookware can be customised to meet specific needs, which may include colour, size, and form. As some cuisines need a specific type of pot, one that uses less oil and warms up rapidly to save time. Request the coronavirus impact analysis on Nonstick Cookware Industry - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=32549 Key Findings of Market Report Increasing Consumer Awareness about the Benefits of Nonstick Cookware to Raise Demand



smart kitchen appliances. Nonstick cookware has a number of benefits including easy cleanup and the use of less fuel when cooking. Many of the promotions, inventions, and recipes linked to cooking are given as a result of increased usage of social media, which is likely to act as a driving force for the use of nonstick cookware. In addition to that, use of sophisticated technology induce users to choose nonstick cookware rather than traditional cookware. During the forecast period, these factors are likely to fuel the expansion of the global nonstick cookware aftermarket. Thicker Coatings of Ceramic to Provide Longer Lifespan to Nonstick Cookware Items In the realm of nonstick cookware, ceramic is a relatively recent material. It is often regarded as the most ecologically friendly and the safest choice available. PFOA and PTFE are not present in ceramic material. Ceramic cookware is a relatively young technology, with considerable improvements in quality in the recent years. Ceramic coatings are becoming thicker as companies add more sheets of the material. Longer lifespans are associated with thicker coatings. However, global sales of ceramic coating are being driven by growing demand for toxin-free products. One of the best examples of a contemporary household appliance is ceramic coated electric cookware. This cookware is powered by electricity, as the name implies. Electric nonstick cookware usage is expected to rise because of expanding urban populations and an ever-increasing middle class in developing nations like India and China.

Request For Discount On Nonstick Cookware Industry Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=32549 Nonstick Cookware Market: Growth Drivers People who live in cities regard kitchenware mostly as a lifestyle item and, as a result, acquire nonstick cookware, which is more expensive than conventional cookware. The demand for energy-saving, smart nonstick kitchen appliances is being driven by a shifting consumer trend toward technology-driven, smart items.

One of the biggest examples of a contemporary household appliance is electric cookware. Electric nonstick cookware usage is expected to rise because of expanding urban populations and an ever-increasing middle class in developing nations. Nonstick Cookware Market: Key Competitors Farberware Licensing Company, LLC

Calphalon (Newell Brands LLC)

Conair Corporation & Hawkins Cookers Limited

TTK Prestige limited

Gibson Brands, Inc.

Bradshaw International, Inc. Nonstick Cookware Market: Segmentation Material Teflon coated

Anodized Aluminum coated

Ceramic Coating

Enameled Iron Coated Distribution Channel Online

Offline Consumer Goods and Services Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Stay Updated on the Latest Trends in Consumer Goods & Services Market @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/consumer-goods-market-reports-7.html About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact

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[July 12, 2021] North Sky Capital Welcomes Lucy Fan to Sustainable Infrastructure Team

North Sky Capital ("North Sky"), a pioneer in impact investing, is pleased to announce that Ms. Ying Lucy Fan has joined the firm as Vice President. "We've known Lucy for many years and are delighted to welcome her to the North Sky team," said Scott Barrington, North Sky's Chief Executive Officer. "She brings considerable expertise in sustainable infrastructure investing, most recently in battery storage project development." Lucy joins North Sky from Peak Power, an Ontario-based battery storage developer where she has served as Director Commercial Operations and Transactions since 2018. Previously, she was a Senior Associate at New Energy Capital, where she worked for more than four years with Adam Bernstein, who is now North Sky's head of sustainable infrastructure. While at NEC (News - Alert) , Lucy and Adam acted as sub-advisors to North Sky's 2010 and 2015 vintage infrastructure funds. "We're thrilled to be working again with Lucy," said Adam Bernstein. "She brings a highly specialized skill set of development, operating and investing experience relevant to our specific middle market infrastructure sector." Lucy previously worked closely with Adam and North Sky Managing Director Mike Pohlen on the firm's highly successful investment in FLS Energy. Dale Freudenberger, who served as CEO of FLS Energy, joined North Sky in March as Operating Partner.



"I am excited to be working again with Adam, Dale, Mike and the rest of the North Sky team," said Lucy, who holds a BA in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "I am eager to add my recent experience with battery storage project development to the firm's expertise in investing in middle market clean energy, waste and water infrastructure projects." About North Sky Capital

North Sky Capital is a pioneer in impact investing in the United States. Now in its 21st year, North Sky has deployed more than $1 billion across more than 120 impact investments on behalf of its nine impact funds. The Firm's active investment strategies focus on impact private equity (secondary strategy) and sustainable infrastructure (direct strategy) investments that support positive environmental and social impact while targeting market rate investment returns. Since 2010, North Sky's sustainable infrastructure funds have deployed approximately $630 million in 33 middle market infrastructure investments across the clean energy, waste and water sectors in North America. Based in Minneapolis with additional offices in Boston and New York, North Sky is one of the most active impact investment managers. For more information, visit www.northskycapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005021/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Puppet Expands Educational Offerings with Launch of Puppet Practice Labs

PORTLAND, Ore., July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Puppet , the industry standard for infrastructure automation, launched Puppet Practice Labs, a series of short, step-by-step challenges using a browser-based sandbox to help students work through code and immediately see results. The free, ongoing education series is geared to practitioners who want to learn how to automate and manage their infrastructure and application workflow anywhere using Puppet technologies.

Unlimited choices and the growth of cloud have led to complex enterprise environments. Increasingly, businesses are looking to infrastructure automation technologies like Puppet to help manage and automate this complexity in a simple and continuous manner. According to Gartner , the COVID-19 pandemic has hastened digital adoption leading to more than 58% of workforces reporting skill transformations since the onset of the pandemic. Introduced to meet this demand, Puppet Practice Labs provides practitioners hands-on experience with the code right in the browser. Current course offerings include: Bolt Basics on Linux

Build a Bolt Inventory Fileon Linux

Install and Explore the Puppet Agent on Linux





Puppet makes automation software because we believe people have better things to do. Weve built these courses to be accessible and outcome driven, so people can get the skills they need to do their job more efficiently and safely through automation, said Nikki McDonald, senior manager of technical education at Puppet. With more than 40,000 organizations using Puppet, and the demand growing for engineers, administrators, developers, architects, and managers with Puppet experience, there are so many opportunities for us to have a positive impact on peoples day to day and enhance their skills to help fuel their careers. Puppet Practice Labs is a new series on Puppet Compass, which serves as a gateway to the educational content and documentation built by Puppet and the external Puppet community. Puppet Practice Labs give practitioners the opportunity to discover how Puppet can help teams modernize, manage, and bring into compliance their hybrid infrastructure through continuous automation without requiring them to download or pay anything.

Additional Resources Learn more about Puppet

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About Puppet

Puppet helps enterprises modernize and manage their infrastructure with the solutions to automate anywhere, reliably scale, and integrate compliance and security across hybrid infrastructure. More than 40,000 organizations  including more than 80 percent of the Global 5000  have benefited from Puppets open source and commercial solutions to ensure business continuity, optimize costs, boost compliance and ensure security, all while accelerating the adoption of DevOps practices and delivery of self-service. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Puppet is a privately held company with offices in London, Belfast, Singapore, Sydney and Timi?oara. Learn more at puppet.com . Media Contact

Zibby Keaton

Head of External Communications at Puppet

zibby.keaton@puppet.com



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[July 12, 2021] Shift Technology Recognized as the Winner of 2021 Microsoft France Industry Award Partner of the Year

PARIS and BOSTON, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shift Technology, a provider of AI-driven decision automation and optimization solutions for the global insurance industry, today announced it has won the France Industry, and been named a finalist for the Financial Services, 2021 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology. "We have worked hard to build a company that helps insurers drive innovation and transform the policyholder experience," stated Jeremy Jawish, CEO and co-founder, Shift Technology. "Being recognized among more than 4,000 companies from around the world for the value we deliver i incredibly rewarding and a testament to the efforts of the entire Shift team."



The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoft-based solutions during the past year. Awards were classified in various of categories, with honorees chosen from a set of more than 4,400 submitted nominations from more than 100 countries worldwide. Shift was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in financial services. "I am honored to announce the winners and finalists of the 2021 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards," said Rodney Clark, corporate vice president, Global Partner Solutions, Channel Sales and Channel Chief, Microsoft. "These remarkable partners have displayed a deep commitment to building world-class solutions for customersfrom cloud-to-edgeand represent some of the best and brightest our ecosystem has to offer."

About Shift Technology

Shift Technology delivers the only AI-native decision automation and optimization solutions built specifically for the global insurance industry. Addressing several critical processes across the insurance policy lifecycle, the Shift Insurance Suite helps insurers achieve faster, more accurate claims and policy resolutions. Shift has analyzed billions of insurance transactions to date and was presented Frost & Sullivan's 2020 Global Claims Solutions for Insurance Market Leadership Award. For more information, please visit www.shift-technology.com. Contacts:

Rob Morton

Corporate Communications

Shift Technology

+1.617.416.9216

rob.morton@shift-technology.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shift-technology-recognized-as-the-winner-of-2021-microsoft-france-industry-award-partner-of-the-year-301331159.html SOURCE Shift Technology

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[July 12, 2021] Southern Orthodontic Partners Adds Three Strong Practices in Q2

Southern Orthodontic Partners (SOP) closed partnerships with three practices in the second quarter of 2021. The new practices were in key strategic target markets for SOP - Greater Houston, Texas and Central Virginia - bringing SOP's footprint to three total practices in both geographies. New partners include Dr. James "Jim" Hanigan and Dr. Daniel Johnson of Hanigan + Johnson Orthodontics (Houston, TX), Dr. Diana Almy of Fredericksburg Orthodontics (Fredericksburg, VA), and Dr. Larry Scarborough of James River Orthodontics (Henrico, VA). These additional partner practices in both Texas and Virginia align with SOP's infill or "land and expand" strategy to create density with leading practices in attractive markets. This connectivity enables SOP to deploy operational resources efficiently to bolster growth, doctor connectivity, and team development. Recently celebrating its two-year anniversary since the company was founded in the summer of 2019, SOP has now grown to 11 partner practices with 22 doctors and 22 locations across five states throughout the Southern United States. Hanigan + Johnson Orthodontics, a two-doctor practice with three locations outside of Houston, TX, joined in May 2021. Since 2000, the brand has been well-renowned in its community for high customer satisfaction and loyalty, evidenced by their 5-star average rating across more than 550 reviews. They have significant growth plans with SOP to capitalize on their strong existing business and new growth areas of Houston, including a near-term doctor addition and the opening of a fourth location. "In an industry that is predominately single doctor owners, having Jim and Daniel onboard, who have built a 50/50 partnership, has additional strategic relevance. Hanigan + Johnson have also built a great template and success formula for opening their locations and will now marry that with SOP's marketing and operational excellece to allow this to happen quicker, faster and with more ease," shares John Nelson, CEO of Southern Orthodontic Partners.



Dr. Almy joins as the first female partner in the SOP network. She will also be a member of the SOP Associate Leadership Charter, working alongside Emily Leonard, SOP Chief People Officer, and Dr. Scott Blackman, SOP Founding Doctor, to help our focus on creating an exceptional experience for the next generation of doctors. Fredericksburg Orthodontics is an exceptionally strong practice that experienced significant growth in 2020 despite the COVID pandemic. The Fredericksburg team has achieved VIP Diamond Plus Invisalign status and received numerous accolades including 2021 Top Dentist by Virginia Living Magazine and 2021 Best of the 'Burg'. Dr. Almy projects significant impacts of the future partnership, "I have always felt so blessed to be an orthodontist and business owner and now by partnering with SOP, my journey and blessing continues with what I predict will be the most sought-after OSO in the industry due to the incredible team and vision present at SOP."

The most recent addition to SOP, James River Orthodontics, is a highly innovative and consumer-friendly practice, recognizing several awards as a top provider in Richmond, including "Best of Virginia" and "Top Orthodontist" by Richmond Magazine for nine years running. James River Orthodontics is two-doctor, single-location practice led by Dr. Scarborough and Dr. Wyatt Loflin. The practice is a Diamond Plus Invisalign provider and in the top 1% of all practices across the country in terms of Invisalign volume. Current SOP Partner Doctor, Bart Weis of Charlottesville Orthodontics compliments the addition of the neighboring practice, "James River Orthodontics is exactly the kind of partner we looked forward to building a collaborative network with here in Virginia. We have quickly built an exceptionally strong and exciting partnership in Virginia with whom we can share best practices and grow even stronger." "My team and I are thrilled to work alongside the SOP team and doctors to leverage resources and best practices for continued development and improvement. We are very proud of how JRO has grown over time and I am confident SOP will help my practice stay on the cutting edge of the changing marketplace. I couldn't be more excited for this next chapter and to help take SOP to the next level," noted Dr. Scarborough. About Southern Orthodontic Partners

Based in Nashville, TN, Southern Orthodontic Partners provides strategic, operational and administrative support to orthodontic professionals, enabling clinicians to focus on providing the highest quality of clinical care. Partner doctors maintain their brand and local autonomy while benefiting from investments in growth, technology infrastructure and human capital. SOP aims to be the premier orthodontic services provider in the South by partnering with doctors who are committed to providing the highest level of clinical care and a first-class customer experience. More information about Southern Orthodontic Partners can be found at www.southernop.com. About Shore Capital Partners

Shore Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on microcap investments within the Healthcare, Food and Beverage, Real Estate, and Business Service industries. Shore supports management partners with capital, business development expertise, and industry knowledge to accelerate growth, fund acquisitions, and generate value for shareholders. Shore targets investments in proven, successful private companies with superior management teams, stable cash flow, and significant growth potential, including organic growth and growth through industry consolidation. Shore has $1.2 billion of equity capital under management through various investment vehicles. For more information, please visit www.shorecp.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005712/en/

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[July 12, 2021] State-of-the-art SAP Connector Brings Transparency to Business Processes Running in SAP

MELBOURNE, Australia and BOCHUM, Germany, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apromore and GBTEC join forces with SAP integration specialist Arvato Systems to develop a state-of-the-art process mining solution to increase transparency of business processes running on SAP systems. The connector enables the automatic execution of prebuilt data pipelines to extract, transform and load transactional data from SAP S/4HANA and its predecessor SAP ERP ECC 6.0 into Apromore Enterprise Edition and GBTECs BIC Process Mining by Apromore. Enterprises now have an easier way to discover, analyze and optimize key business processes running on SAP.

Gregor Greinke, CEO of GBTEC, said, "More and more customers focus on the digitalization of their processes, structures and services. ERP systems such as SAP in particular benefit from a data-driven management of their processes. With many years of SAP excellence and over 400 SAP experts around the world, Arvato Systems is the right partner to intelligently link process mining and SAP." SAP interface offers standard transfers for important end-to-end processes as well as highest IT and data security

The connector supports end-to-end processes such as order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and record-to-report. The modules are easy-to-use, highly configurable and meet the highest security standards. They can be flexibly deployed on-premises or on the cloud, and support a range of SAP client customizations, significantly reducing the time-to-value for process mining initiatives on top of SAP. These modules are complemented by custom performance dashboards built on top of Apromore/BIC Process Mining to enable managers to keep track of all relevant performance indicators for their key processes. Prof. Marcello La Rosa, CEO and Founder of Apromore, said, To date, many businesses using SAP are still struggling to truly understand the nature of their own processes. Without this intimate understanding, any digital transformation, SAP S/4HANA migration or operational excellence initiative, is destined to fail. Enterprises needed a new secure connector for SAP that could cope with all sorts of SAP customizations without getting mired in lengthy integration pojects. Now customers can combine the power of SAP with Apromores unique process mining algorithms to identify concrete improvement opportunities in their current processes and simulate interventions before jumping into implementation.



Arvato Systems VP Becker sees great added value for SAP users around the world

GBTEC and Arvato Systems have been working together for many years in the area of process management. Over the past ten years, the partners have successfully implemented more than 100 projects. Oliver Becker, Ph.D., Vice President at Arvato Systems said, "We have valued GBTEC as a partner for process-based digitalization for many years. Enterprises that want to better understand their SAP processes, design them efficiently and make them fit for the future will benefit from this new integration capability. With intelligent process recognition and analysis, complete processes can now be created almost completely from automation, saving companies time and money at every step of the process."

For more information about the connector, to book a demo or conversation, please see https://apromore.org/sap. About GBTEC Software AG

GBTEC Software AG is a specialist for business process management, digital transformation, business intelligence and integrated risk management. The company successfully combines consulting and software development under one roof. With BIC Platform, a suite for the digitalization in companies, GBTEC offers an innovative, holistic, powerful software for process and IT-system optimization. Its customers include organizations from different sectors, such as companies listed on the DAX, larger medium-sized enterprises as well as public authorities. Further information: https://www.gbtec.com. About Arvato Systems

Global IT specialist Arvato Systems supports major companies through digital transformation. More than 3,000 staff in over 25 locations epitomize in-depth technology expertise, industry knowledge and focus on customer requirements. Working as a team, we develop innovative IT solutions, transition our clients into the Cloud, integrate digital processes and take on IT systems operation and support. As a part of the Bertelsmann-owned Arvato network, we have the unique capability to work across the entire value chain. Our business relationships are personal; we work with our clients as partners, so that together we can achieve long-term success. arvato-systems.com About Apromore

By providing the finest and most accessible process mining experience, Apromore enables business leaders to quickly visualize and analyze their business processes for transformation or optimization. The result of over a decade of extensive research and innovation from leading universities, Apromore is the only organization offering both an open-source community edition as well as a fully maintained enterprise-grade processing mining solution. For more information, visit: www.apromore.com Media Contacts: Tamarie Ellis, Apromore Global Marketing Director: tamarie.ellis@apromore.com; +64-21-818-009 Heather Racicot, Apromore PR: heather.racicot@apromore.com, +1 360.632.5616



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[July 12, 2021] Suning.com Announced the Board of Directors Will Be Reorganized and Hire Zhang Jindong as the Honorary Chairman

NANJING, China, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 12, Suning.com released the announcement of the resolution of the board meeting, and considers Mr. Huang Mingduan, Mr. Xian Handi, Ms. Cao Qun, and Mr. Steven Zhang, for the company's non-independent directors, and serves the same period from the shareholders meeting until this year's board of directors term expires. Among them, Mr. Huang Mingduan is a non-independent director candidate nominated by Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., the Phase II of Jiangsu New Retail Innovation Fund (limited partnership) has two seats, one is Mr. Xian Handi, the other is Ms. Cao Qun; Mr. Zhang Kangyang(Steven Zhang) is a non-independent director nominated by Mr. Zhang Jindong. In the announcement, the Board of Directors received a resignation letter from Mr. Zhang Jindong, Mr. Sun Weimin, Mr. Meng Xiangsheng, and Mr. Yang Guang, applying to resign from the positions of the directors of the company and members of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors. According to the "Shenzhen Stock Exchange Rules", "Company Bylaws" and other related regulations, the resignation letter of Mr. Zhang Jindong, Mr. Sun Weimin, Mr. Meng Xiangsheng, and Mr. Yang Guang took into effect the date of delivery of the Board. After the reselection of the Board of Directors is completed, the composition of the company's Board of Directors is more diverse, the directors of the trategic shareholders will actively lead with their own professional experience in strategic management, operations management, and investment management, and further promote the company's continuous, stable and healthy development.



With the improvement and upgrade of governance structure, Suning.com will become a new socialized enterprise for the market. Previously, Suning.com introduced a new round of strategic investment. On July 12, Suning.com announced Zhang Jindong and the person acting in concert, Suning Holdings Group, and Suning Appliance Group Co., Ltd. have transferred 16.96% of the shares to the Phase II of Jiangsu New Retail Innovation Fund, completing the introduction of a new round of strategic investment. According to the announcement, the Phase II of Jiangsu New Retail Innovation Fund is based on Nanjing Xinxing Retail Development Fund, Huatai Securities Co., Ltd., Alibaba, Haier, Midea, TCL, Xiaomi, and other industrial investors as limited partners to form a consortium. The Phase II of Jiangsu New Retail Innovation Fund follows the marketization and legalization principles, and actively supports Suning.com's smooth and healthy development.

The meeting also approved the proposal of appointing Mr. Zhang Jindong as the honorary chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, and continued to use his experience in strategic coordination and development planning to provide guidance for the company's high-quality development, and better guarantee the company's continuous, healthy and stable development. As the founder of Suning.com, Mr. Zhang Jindong has always been the company's core leader since its establishment. He has a rich practice of corporate management, industry experience, and proactive thinking, leading the company to seize the historic opportunities of industry development, and be brave to change and innovate, and has made an outstanding contribution to the company's development and growth. According to the announcement, Mr. Zhang Jindong's dedication during his tenure has laid a solid foundation for the company's sustainable development. The Board of Directors expressed heartfelt thanks to Mr. Zhang Jindong for his important contributions to the company's high-quality development, and hopes he will continue to contribute his thinking for the development of the company. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/suningcom-announced-the-board-of-directors-will-be-reorganized-and-hire-zhang-jindong-as-the-honorary-chairman-301331538.html SOURCE Suning Group

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[July 12, 2021] TAAL Announces Support of Security of the Bitcoin SV Blockchain

TORONTO, July 12, 2021 /CNW/ - TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. (CSE: TAAL) (FWB: 9SQ1) (OTC: TAALF) ("TAAL" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated blockchain infrastructure and service provider for enterprise, announced today that TAAL will contribute its resources in support of the Bitcoin Association's mandate to build a regulation-friendly ecosystem that fosters lawful conduct while encouraging digital currency and blockchain innovation. Bitcoin Association (for BSV) is not-for-profit, Switzerland-based global industry organisation that underpins the Bitcoin SV blockchain, one of the main competing chains of Bitcoin and the one whih follows the original Bitcoin design. The Association provides the Bitcoin SV Node software and other infrastructure tools for the network.



TAAL is a proud advocate of the Bitcoin Association and the Bitcoin SV Infrastructure team, who provide key software for and help maintain the network that powers the solutions and services we deliver to our clients. The Bitcoin Association issued a statement on July 8, 2021 notifying its members and the public of an attack against the Bitcoin SV network, warning that a malicious actor has recently been carrying out block re-organisation attacks on the Bitcoin SV (BSV) network, which appear to be intentional acts in an effort to mask the illegal double-spending of coins. A thorough investigation is under way, and the Bitcoin Association is committed to pursuing any legal action (including reporting to appropriate law enforcement agencies) required to halt such activity.

TAAL supports the Bitcoin Association and the BSV ecosystem in a zero tolerance policy against illegal activity on the Bitcoin SV network and efforts to suppress and bring to account any malicious and illegal activity initiated by third parties. TAAL, as a responsible BSV network participant, will continue to work with the Association and other industry participants, including by contributing resources with a view to maintaining a healthy, stable and secure ecosystem for application development and enterprise adoption. About TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. delivers value-added blockchain services, providing professional-grade, highly scalable blockchain infrastructure and transactional platforms to support businesses building solutions and applications upon the BitcoinSV platform, and developing, operating, and managing distributed computing systems for enterprise users. Visit TAAL online at www.taal.com The CSE, nor its Regulation Services Provider, accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Taal Distributed Information Technologies Inc.

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[July 12, 2021] Tauriga Sciences Inc. Introduces Two Innovative Topical Products: CBD Infused Sunscreen Spray and Acai Fragrance Moisturizing Lip Balm

NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: TAUG) (Tauriga or the Company), a New York based diversified Life Sciences Company, today introduces its two newest, innovative, topical products: CBD infused Sunscreen Spray & Acai Fragrance Moisturizing Lip Balm. These two products are being manufactured, under the following brand name: Tauri-Sun. The Company is continuing to augment its Topical offerings, to complement its diverse and innovative CBD & CBG edibles products. Tauri-Sun 30 SPF, CBD Infused, Sunscreen Spray 30 Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

Easy to Use Spray On Delivery System

Infused with 200mg CBD Isolate

Air Travel Friendly  3 oz. Container

Hypoallergenic

Environmentally Conscious  Reef Friendly Tauri-Sun 30 SPF, CBD Infused, Acai Fragrance Moisturizing Lip Balm 30 Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

Infused with CBD Isolate

Dermatologist Tested In other news, the Company has listed an additional product on Amazon.com (Amazon). The Companys crisply apple flavor Tauri-Pet dog treat is now available, for sale, on Amazon. The Company is in the process of listing many additional products on Amazon, which (in some instances) may require some modification(s) of the packaging and labeling. Link to Crispy Apple Tauri-Pet Product, For Sale on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tauri-Pet-Crispy-Apple-Premium-Treats/dp/B098R85496/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Tauri-Gum&qid=1626049843&sr=8-4 Enhanced Tauri-Gum Product Line ABOUT TAURIGA SCIENCES INC. Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (TAUG) is a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, engaged in sevral major business activities and initiatives. The company manufactures and distributes several proprietary retail products and product lines, mainly focused on the Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) Edibles market segment. The main product line, branded as Tauri-Gum, consists of a proprietary supplement chewing gum that is Kosher certified, Halal certified, and Vegan Formulated (CBD Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Mint, Blood Orange, Pomegranate), (CBG Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Peach-Lemon, Black Currant), (Vitamin C + Zinc Infused Tauri-Gum Flavor: Pear Bellini), (Caffeine Infused Tauri-Gum Flavor: Cherry Lime Rickey), & (Vitamin D3 Infused Tauri-Gum Flavor: Golden Raspberry). The Companys commercialization strategy consists of a broad array of retail customers, distributors, and a fast-growing E-Commerce business segment (E-Commerce website: www.taurigum.com). Please visit our corporate website, for additional information, as well as inquiries, at http://www.tauriga.com



Complementary to the Companys retail business, is its ongoing Pharmaceutical Development initiative. This relates to the development of a proposed Pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum, for nausea regulation (specifically designed for the following indication: Patients Subjected to Ongoing Chemotherapy Treatment). On March 22, 2021, the Company announced that it had Converted its U.S. Provisional Patent Application (filed on March 17, 2020) into a U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application. The Patent, filed with the U.S.P.T.O. is Titled MEDICATED CBD COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURING, AND METHODS OF TREATMENT. On December 18, 2020 the Company disclosed that it had entered into a Master Services Agreement with CSTI to lead the Company's clinical development efforts. The Company is headquartered in Wappingers Falls, New York. In addition, the Company operates two full time E-Commerce fulfillment centers: one located in Montgomery, Texas and the other in Brooklyn, New York.

DISCLAIMER -- Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which represent managements beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are often indicated by using words such as may, will, expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, believes, or plans, and may include statements regarding corporate objectives as well as the attainment of certain corporate goals and milestones. Forward-looking statements are based on present circumstances and on managements present beliefs with respect to events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or that may occur with different consequences or timing than those now assumed or anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as are not guarantees of general economic and business conditions, the ability to successfully develop and market products, consumer and business consumption habits, the ability to consummate successful acquisition and licensing transactions, fluctuations in exchange rates, and other factors over which Tauriga has little or no control. Many of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in the Risk Factors section of Taurigas Form 10-K and other periodic filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Tauriga assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Contact: Tauriga Sciences, Inc.

4 Nancy Court, Suite 4

Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Seth M. Shaw

Email: sshaw@tauriga.com

cell # (917) 796 9926

Company Instagram: @taurigum

Personal Instagram: @sethsms47

Twitter: @SethMShaw

Corp. Website: www.tauriga.com

E-Commerce Website: www.taurigum.com



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[July 12, 2021] Volante Technologies Wins Best Real-Time Payments Solution at the PayTech Awards in their fourth award win of 2021

NEW YORK and LONDON and DUBAI, UAE and MEXICO CITY, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Volante Technologies , the global leader in cloud payments and financial messaging, today announced their latest win, taking the Best Real-Time Payments Solution category at the 2021 PayTech Awards. The PayTech Awards are now in their fourth year and recognise excellence and innovation in the finance and payment industry worldwide and provide an additional industry endorsement. Volante's cloud-native payments solutions are inherently real-time and 24x7 and give financial institutions the freedom to evolve past the limitations of legacy technology enabling them to respond faster to change, adopt new standards such as ISO 20022 and deliver the benefits of modern payments capabilities to their end customers. Led by FinTech Futures' Editor in Chief, Tanya Andreasyan, eleven judges from the world of financial services, banks, and fintech selected Volante Technologies' cloud native payments product as the Best Real-Time Payments Solution. Volante also achieved Highly Commended in the Best Cloud Payments Solution category. Volane has been a pioneer in the area of instant/real-time payments (RTP) since 2017 with its collaboration with BNY Mellon providing the bank with the core technology to enable the first real-time payments in the US. In addition to BNY Mellon, Volante has also recently enabled two Saudi banks to go live on the new local Saudi RTP network; one of these banks subsequently initiated the first end-to-end real-time payment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.



Vijay Oddiraju, CEO, Volante Technologies, said, "While real-time payments present an ideal opportunity for financial institutions to get ahead of the competition by bringing new customer experiences to market, most banks are being held back by legacy technology which makes them unable to capitalise on this opportunity. Volante integrates with existing systems so banks are able to achieve all their modernisation objectives, benefit from increased business resiliency, reduced operational and infrastructure costs, and deliver greater innovation for their customers." Tanya Andreasyan, Editor in Chief, FinTech Futures, and a PayTech Awards Judge, said, "Volante Technologies' real-time payments solution is a worthy winner  it has an impressive client base and enables high-impact business outcomes for its users, whilst providing benefits such as faster onboarding and regulatory compliance. Winning a PayTech Awards Excellence in Tech category is a valuable recognition and endorsement by the industry."

About Volante Technologies

Volante Technologies is the leading global provider of cloud payments and financial messaging solutions to accelerate digital transformation. We serve as a trusted partner to over 100 banks, financial institutions, market infrastructures, clearing houses, and corporate treasuries in 35 countries. Our solutions and services process millions of transactions and trillions in value every day, powering four of the top five corporate banks, 40 percent of all U.S. commercial bank deposits, and 70 percent of worldwide card traffic. As a result, our customers can stay ahead of emerging trends, become more competitive, deliver superior client experiences, and grow their businesses through rapid innovation. To learn more, visit www.volantetech.com . Follow us at linkedin.com/company/volante-technologies and twitter.com/volantetech . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1123969/Volante_Technologies_Logo.jpg

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[July 12, 2021] VTEX Announces Launch of Initial Public Offering

NEW YORK, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VTEX, a software-as-a-service digital commerce platform provider for enterprise brands and retailers, the leader in accelerating the digital commerce transformation in Latin America and expanding globally, today announced the launch of its initial public offering of 19,000,000 Class A common shares. The offering consists of 13,876,702 Class A common shares offered by VTEX and 5,123,298 Class A common shares offered by VTEX's selling shareholders. VTEX also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,850,000 shares of Class A common shares from VTEX. The initial public offering price is expected to be between $15.00 USD and $17.00 USD per Class A common share. VTEX intends to list its Class A common shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "VTEX". The offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether, or when, the offering will be completed or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. VTEX intends to use the net proceeds from the initial public offering for general corporate purposes. VTEX will receive no proceeds from the sale of Class A common shares by the selling shareholders. J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities are acting as global coordinators for the proposed offering. KeyBanc Capital Markets, Morgan Stanley and Itau BBA are acting as joint bookrunners for the proposedoffering.



The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, by telephone at 1-866-803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com;

11717, by telephone at 1-866-803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, by telephone at 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; or

10282, by telephone at 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; or BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com. A registration statement on Form F-1 relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold and offers to buy may not be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About VTEX

VTEX provides a software-as-a-service digital commerce platform for enterprise brands and retailers. Our platform enables our customers to execute their commerce strategy, including building online stores, integrating and managing orders across channels, and creating marketplaces to sell products from third-party vendors. Founded in Brazil, we have been a leader in accelerating the digital commerce transformation in Latin America and are expanding globally. Our platform is engineered to enterprise-level standards and functionality, and we are trusted by more than 2,000 customers with over 2,500 active online stores across 32 countries to connect with their consumers in a meaningful way. Contacts - Edelman for VTEX

LATAM

Regina Carapeto

regina.carapeto@edelman.com

+55 11 97217-2031 US

Julia Fisher

Julia.Fisher@edelman.com

+1 646 301 2968 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vtex-announces-launch-of-initial-public-offering-301331496.html SOURCE VTEX

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[July 12, 2021] Women's Entrepreneurship Accelerator Joined Generation Equality Forum for Gender-Responsive Procurement Panel & Commits to Action Coalitions

The Women's Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA), a leading driver for increased women's economic participation, joined the Generation Equality Forum in Paris (June 30-July 2) through the "Drivers of Change" Program. 26 years after the Beijing Declaration, the Generation Equality Forum, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France, is the "most critical moment in a generation to invest in gender equality and accelerate momentum for women's safety, leadership and economic opportunity1. 50,000 people virtually engaged in the Forum which gathered 1,000 commitment-makers, recorded $40 billion of investments for gender equality in support of a 5-year plan to act for equal across 7 areas of action. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005178/en/ The Women's Entrepreneurship Accelerator hosted a panel titled "Building a Transformative Strategy for Gender-Responsive Procurement," aiming at creating awareness of the disproportionately complex and interconnected barriers on women's entrepreneurship and promoting gender-responsive procurement strategies. (Graphic: WEA) On July 2, the Accelerator hosted a panel titled "Building a Transformative Strategy for Gender-Responsive Procurement," aiming at creating awareness of the disproportionately complex and interconnected barriers on women's entrepreneurship and promoting gender-responsive procurement strategies. Globally, 1 in 3 businesses are owned by women2, yet women win only 1% of the procurement spend of governments and large corporations3. Speakers shared insights and concrete advice substantiated by their own journey on how to implement inclusive procurement strategies. Launched in 2019, the Women's Entrepreneurship Accelerator is a multi-partner initiative designed to inspire, educate, and empower women entrepreneurs around the world. The mission of the Accelerator is to eliminate barriers for women entrepreneurs through four Pathways of Empowerment: Education, Funding, Advocacy, and Participation. With no qualifying barriers to participate, the global initiative, incepted by Mary Kay Inc., is a strategic collaboration developed in consultation with five United Nations agencies. "We believe that gender-responsive procurement can make an enormous impact which accelerates the inclusion of women-owned businesses throughout the supply chain," said Julia Simon, Chief Legal & Diversity Officer at Mary Kay Inc. "The Accelerator encourages the public and private sectors to make inclusive procurement a priority and drive the systemic change that women need. Supporting women entrepreneurs is critical for sustainable growth." Simon was one of the panelists featured during Gender Equality Forum's Gender-Responsive Procurement discussion. She was joined by Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International andJamila Belabidi, Purchases Director, Global Women Economic Empowerment & Global Innovation, Procter & Gamble. Sonia Dridi, journalist & Washington DC correspondent for France 24 and Europe 1, moderated the session.



"It's a $93 trillion global economy, but women continue to be invisible as suppliers of products and services in our global value chains," said Vazquez. "This massive market failure must be corrected with urgency so that more women can contribute to and benefit from inclusive economic prosperity and job creation in support of SDG5." "At P&G, our focus on gender equality is foundational and integrated into our business, as such, we are committed to spending $10 billion with women-owned and women-led businesses by 2025," said Jamila Belabidi, Purchases Director, Global Women's Economic Empowerment & Global Innovation at Procter & Gamble.

At the event, WEA also joined four of the Generation Equality Action Coalitions through policy, programmatic, and advocacy commitments: Economic Justice and Rights; Feminist Action for Climate Justice; Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality; and Feminist Movements and Leadership. The Accelerator also committed to empower 5 million women by the end of 2030 by alleviating the main economic and social roadblocks faced by women entrepreneurs. The Accelerator's participation in the Generation Equality Forum Action Coalitions is just the latest in a series of steps taken by the organization to raise awareness of women's equality post COVID: On March 16, 2021, Deborah Gibbins, Mary Kay's Chief Operations Officer, joined the UN Global Compact Target (News - Alert) Gender Equality meeting on behalf of the Accelerator. Gibbins highlighted data freshly released by the World Bank revealing that on average across the world, women have three quarters of the legal rights of men. She challenged companies to take a stand against legal discriminations and advocate for reform to close the gaps so that women can achieve their full potential. The event brought together over 5,000 people from the business sector, the United Nations, member states, and civil society organizations from over 100 countries, with 75% of the participants representing the private sector.





meeting on behalf of the Accelerator. Gibbins highlighted data freshly released by the World Bank revealing that on average across the world, women have three quarters of the legal rights of men. She challenged companies to take a stand against legal discriminations and advocate for reform to close the gaps so that women can achieve their full potential. The event brought together over 5,000 people from the business sector, the United Nations, member states, and civil society organizations from over 100 countries, with 75% of the participants representing the private sector. On March 24, 2021, on the sidelines of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65), the Women's Empowerment Accelerator hosted a panel titled: "Women Leading Economic Recovery Through Entrepreneurship," with five UN agency partners. The collective highlighted the need for public-private sector partnerships to help shape an enabling ecosystem for women entrepreneurs. On June 15-16, 2021, at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit, Gibbins spoke at the "Women in Sustainability: Innovating in a Man's World" main stage session advocating for women entrepreneurs as the role models needed by the economy and the society and emphasizing the critical mission of the Accelerator: "Women entrepreneurship will play a key role in the successful pandemic recovery. This is why the mission of the Women's Entrepreneurship Accelerator is so timely. And, this is why women entrepreneurs need a framework of this magnitude," said Gibbins. The annual Summit convened virtually more than 25,000 leaders from business, government, the UN, and civil society, to take stock of the state of progress and to drive collective action towards alleviating climate crisis, global pandemic, economic disparities, and social inequalities. About the Women's Entrepreneurship Accelerator The Women's Entrepreneurship Accelerator is a multi-partner initiative designed to inspire, educate, and empower women entrepreneurs around the world. The mission of the Accelerator is to eliminate barriers for women entrepreneurs around the world through Four Pathways of Empowerment: Education, Funding, Advocacy, and Participation. With no qualifying barriers to participate, the global initiative incepted by Mary Kay Inc. is a strategic collaboration developed in consultation with five United Nations agencies: UN Women, International Labour Organization (ILO), International Trade Centre (ITC), UN Global Compact (UNGC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Accelerator aims to economically empower 5 million women by the end of 2030. Learn more at https://www.we-accelerate.com/ 1 https://forum.generationequality.org/home

2 World Bank (2020). Enterprise Surveys, World Bank Gender Data Portal cited by World Bank Blogs (2020) Women entrepreneurs needed - stat!

3 Vazquez and Sherman (2014). Cited by UN Women (2017) The Power of Procurement: How to source from women-owned businesses. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005178/en/

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[July 11, 2021] Certificates of Completion were give to students who successfully completed the HR module covering JustLogin software training

SINGAPORE, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Back in January 2019, JustLogin and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) signed a Letter of Collaboration (LOC) to collaborate in the field of Human Resource education and training, using JustLogin's HR software for competency development of ITE students and staff. The first batch of students successfully completed the HR module covering JustLogin software training and received Certificates of Completion at a small hybrid ceremony in June 2021. The collaboration between JustLogin and ITE is mainly on: Providing JustLogin's HR software to all students and staff from ITE's School of Business & Services and working with staff to create case scenarios to facilitate learning.

Training of ITE staff to support the development of a curriculum that integrates JustLogin's HR software into the learning and assessment.

Promoting trained ITE students for job opportunities. "ITE and JustLogin have been working in partnership to create authentic learning opportunities for students to apply their skills in using Human Resource software in a relevant and realistic setting. This has helped to expand their knowledge in the areas of digitalising most aspects of the human resource function," said Alvin Goh, Director, School of Business & Services, ITE College West. During the training that took place from July to December 2020, stuents gained hands-on skills in payroll and leave management using a live JustLogin software setup. The training involved the simulation of real-life scenarios in generating payroll and calculating leave adjustments.



"Students took pride in managing the whole payroll process and generating employee pay slips independently via the system. They better understood the importance of accuracy in inputting for payroll and its implications," Mervyn Foo, Senior Lecturer, Business Administration, ITE College West shared. Attending the ceremony virtually, Kwa Kim Chiong, CEO, JustLogin, shared with students, "Every company in Singapore needs someone to run payroll and administer leave. These days, most companies use HR software to automate these processes. These are not easy tasks and companies will be looking for someone with experience to handle such matters. Having completed the training and with a certificate to show, it will put you in an advantageous position when you apply for HR jobs."

The students will be embarking on their internships soon before graduating in December 2021. JustLogin will also be helping to promote the students to customers who may be looking to recruit HR Executives to administer their JustLogin system. JustLogin and ITE are also in the process of renewing the LOC to continue this programme for future batches of business students. About JustLogin JustLogin is an Employee First Human Resource (HR) cloud platform that provides innovative technologies for businesses to manage their people operations. JustLogin's HR platform provides a full suite of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) including payroll, leave, attendance, expense and people. The platform helps businesses automate their manual processes, allowing them to focus on their people and productivity. JustLogin also helps employers build positive employee engagement through enabling excellent employee experiences in the moments that matter. The company envisions a better working life for all, by continuously solving HR problems with beautiful products, driven by intuitive design and innovative technology. JustLogin is a pre-approved solution vendor under the SMEs Go Digital programme by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore. The company has been recognized with industry awards including Best HR Management System and Best Payroll Software at the HR Vendors of the Year Awards. Headquartered in Singapore, the company also operates in Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit https://justlogin.com . SOURCE JustLogin

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[July 11, 2021] Tricor Group Signs a Sale and Purchase Agreement to Acquire NZGT Holding Company Limited Expanding Corporate Trust Business and Broadening APAC Footprint Covering New Zealand

HONG KONG, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tricor Group (Tricor), Asia's leading business expansion specialist, has signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire NZGT Holding Company Limited (NZGT Holdings) together with its wholly owned subsidiaries The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Limited (Guardian Trust) and Covenant Trustee Services Limited (Covenant) from Complectus Limited. The sale is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Tricor is the largest pure-play corporate services platform in APAC, serving over 50,000 client entities across its 21-market footprint. A positive move for Guardian Trust and Covenant, this proposed acquisition will see the group and its New Zealand clients benefit from Tricor's significant financial backing, global best practices, and innovative product and service offerings. Guardian Trust and Covenant are the leading provider of corporate supervisory services with over NZ$250 billion in funds under supervision, and has operated in New Zealand for over 125 years. Guardian Trust and Covenant will continue to grow its team and capabilities through further investment by Tricor Group. The entire team will remain with the business and benefit from opportunities this global alignment offers. Day to day operations remain unchanged. Tricor's Global Corporate Trust business will operate and serve clients across 5 global markets including Hong Kong SAR, Beijing, Singapore, UK and New Zealand. Perpetual Guardian, the private client services businessof Complectus, does not form part of this acquisition and will remain 100% New Zealand-owned.



Lennard Yong, Tricor Group CEO, said: "We're excited to welcome Guardian Trust and Covenant to the Tricor family and have been very impressed with the local management team led by NZGT Holdings CEO Harry Koprivcic. The addition of Guardian Trust and Covenant to Tricor's corporate trust business practice will enable us to enhance our client proposition and offer market-leading trust solutions in New Zealand and across Australasia and Asia-Pacific." Harry Koprivcic, CEO of NZGT Holdings, said: "Our decision to join forces with Tricor is strongly driven by the firm's global reputation and recognized strength in corporate services. Sharing in Tricor's service-oriented approach and benefiting from their investment, we will continue to grow our team and capabilities to support the delivery of our market-leading supervisory and trustee services to the New Zealand market."

For more information, please contact: HONG KONG SAR (GROUP OFFICE)

Sunshine Farzan

Tricor Services Limited

Group Head of Marketing & Communications

Tel: +852 2980 1261

Email: Sunshine.Farzan@hk.tricorglobal.com NEW ZEALAND

Laura Air

Alexander PR

Group Account Director

Tel: +64 21 259 3242

Email: laura@alexanderpr.co.nz About Tricor Group Tricor is the leading business expansion specialist in Asia, with global knowledge and local expertise in business, corporate, investor, human resources & payroll, corporate trust & debt services, fund administration and strategic business advisory. Tricor provides the building blocks for, and catalyzes every stage of clients' business growth, from incorporation to IPO. Tricor has had a rapid expansion through organic growth and development as well as partnerships, mergers and acquisitions. The Group today has over 50,000 clients globally (including 20,000 clients in Mainland China), a staff strength of over 2,800 and a network of offices in 47 cities across 21 countries / territories. Our client portfolio includes over 1,800 companies listed in Hong Kong SAR and Mainland China, ~600 companies listed in Singapore and Malaysia, and more than 40% of the Fortune Global 500 companies, as well as a significant share of multinationals and private enterprises operating across international markets. In March 2017, Permira became the controlling shareholder of Tricor, alongside management. Visit: www.tricorglobal.com About Complectus Complectus was established in 2014 and is the dominant and most innovative fiduciary services group in the New Zealand market. About Guardian Trust and Covenant Guardian Trust has a market-leading position and is experienced in all aspects of corporate trust work. They are the leading provider of corporate trustee services to the New Zealand market. Guardian Trust has been recognized by KangaNews as the leading provider of trustee services by being awarded the New Zealand Trustee of the Year for four years running. SOURCE Tricor Group

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[July 12, 2021]

Low-carbon development reflects the ecology of Guizhou

GUIYANG, China, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Huanqiu.com:

According to the 2015 Paris Agreement, all countries need response to the threat of climate change, keep the global average temperature within 2 degrees Celsius from the pre-industrial level, and work hard to control the temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To explore the role of Guizhou in Green and Low-carbon Development, a journalist from Huanqiu.com went to Guizhou for an interview.

As one of the first batch of ecological civilization experimental areas in the country, Guizhou is actively building a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. Clean energy accounts for 52.9%, which is 8.1 percentage points higher than the national average.

In addition, Guizhou Province is developing the wind power and photovoltaic power generation industries. Guizhou's new energy installedcapacity exceeded 15 million kilowatts in 2020, with 78.93 billion kilowatt hours of clean energy generated, and carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 61.54 million tons.







Guizhou Province has actively explored a new model of "Internet + ecological construction + targeted poverty alleviation" in recent years. Through a single-plant carbon sink targeted poverty alleviation project in the province, the annual sales of carbon sinks amounted to 41.26 million kilograms, and the annual tradable carbon sinks amounted to 12.378 million yuan.

The journalist of Huanqiu.com interviewed Zhiliang Wu, a poor household in Datang Village, Guizhou Province. He joined the single-plant carbon sink precision poverty alleviation project. Recently, carbon sinks have been sold, and funds have been put into special bank accounts.

"In the past, I only hoped that the tree would grow up quickly so that it could be used to repair the house. I didn't expect that taking good care of the tree could make money now," Zhiliang Wu said.

In the face of global climate and environmental issues, Guizhou Province's achievements in ecological construction and low-carbon development have become a model and backbone for China.

SOURCE Huanqiu.com
[July 12, 2021] Electric Vehicle Car-Shopping Experience Varies by Brand: Pied Piper "Omnichannel PSI for EVs" Reports Chrysler Brand Ranked #1, Followed by BMW and Mini

Stellantis NV's Chrysler brand ranked highest in the 2021 Pied Piper Omnichannel PSI for Electric Vehicles (EVs) Auto Industry Study, which answered the question, "What happens when EV customers shop for a vehicle by first visiting the brand's website, or a dealership website, and then visiting a dealership in person?" BMW was ranked second of the twenty-one battery electric or plug-in hybrid EV brands evaluated, followed by BMW's Mini brand. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210711005010/en/ 2021 Pied Piper Omnichannel PSI for Electric Vehicles (EVs) Auto Industry Study (Graphic: Business Wire) How customers shop completely changed in the late 2000s with widespread acceptance and use of smart phones. As an example, in 2007, the year the iPhone (News - Alert) was introduced, online retailer Amazon did $15 billion in sales. Last year, Amazon's revenues exceeded $300 billion, and today customers almost always begin their shopping online, even if they eventually visit a store in-person. More recently, brands that traditionally relied only on in-person sales have embraced new online digital retail tools. For the auto industry this has meant the appearance of "Buy Now," or "Buy from Home" buttons on brand and dealer websites, along with other online digital retail tools like inventory search, payment calculator, trade-in value estimator, test-drive request and others. This new approach to shopping and purchase, which combines and integrates the online and in-store experience, is called "Omnichannel Selling," and for the auto industry it results in the following customer path: A customer moves from a brand website

to a dealership website and start of communication with the dealership,

to visiting the dealership in-person,

and the customer may then go back home again and back onto the websites before committing to buy either online or back at the dealership in person. For 21 different auto brands selling EVs, Pied Piper measured whether heir customer's omnichannel path was intuitive, simple to use, and easy to navigate, as well as effective at showcasing products and making it easy to purchase. Measurements from the following four subcategories were combined into a brand score out of 1,000 points:



Brand Website - Useful Digital Retail Tools Provided (11% total score): Were useful online digital retail tools provided for the customer? Top brands: Jeep, Chrysler, Nissan, Mini, Subaru Brand Website - Ease of Transition to Local Dealership (7% total score): Could customers on the brand website easily transition from viewing a desired vehicle over to communicating with a local dealership to take the next step? Top brands: Hyundai, Ford, Mitsubishi (News - Alert) , Kia, Porsche Dealership Response to Website Customer Inquiries (38% total score): Did the local dealership quickly respond to website customer inquiries? Top brands: Subaru, Chrysler, Toyota, Porsche, Volvo Dealership Sales Effectiveness In-Person at Dealership (44% total score): Did the dealership employees and in-dealership processes build upon what the customer has already accomplished online, to provide a seamless, consistent, efficient, and effective customer experience in-person at the dealership? Top brands: Audi, Tesla, Chevrolet, Porsche, BMW Pied Piper measured dealer response to EV website customers by submitting customer inquiries through a combination of brand websites and local dealership websites, asking a question about a vehicle in inventory, and providing a customer name, email address and local telephone number. Pied Piper then evaluated how the dealerships responded by email, telephone and text message over the next 24 hours. Pied Piper also sent in-person "mystery shoppers" into EV dealerships nationwide, measuring how effectively the dealership interacted in-person, as well as whether the dealership acknowledged and built upon the online shopping that the customer had already completed. "The shopping path from website to dealership plays an even more critical role for EV customers," said Fran O'Hagan, President & CEO of Pied Piper. "EV customers need to understand how they can benefit from EV ownership, and two-thirds of these customers are first-time EV buyers." Pied Piper's Omnichannel PSI for EVs study shows that EV customers today find much variation in helpfulness between brands along their shopping path. Only by paying careful attention to all four subcategories of omnichannel selling will auto brands and their dealers be able to sell effectively to today's customers.

2021 is the first year for the Omnichannel PSI for EVs Auto Industry Study, but Pied Piper has been providing other motor vehicle industry benchmarking studies since 2007. The 2021 Omnichannel PSI for EVs Auto Industry Study (U.S.A.) was conducted between January 2021 and May 2021 by completing a combination of website inquiries and in-person sales effectiveness measurements for a sample of 3,101 dealerships nationwide representing all major EV brands. Examples of other recent PSI studies are the 2021 PSI-Internet Lead Effectiveness (ILE) U.S. Motorcycle/UTV Industry Study (Harley-Davidson brand was ranked first for dealer response to web inquiries), and the 2019 "PSI for EVs" U.S. Auto Industry Study (Tesla brand was ranked first for selling EVs in-person). Complete PSI industry study results are provided to vehicle manufacturers and national dealer groups. Manufacturers, national dealer groups and individual dealerships also order PSI evaluations-in-person, website or telephone-as tools to measure and improve the omnichannel sales effectiveness of their dealerships. For more information about how Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI) measurement and reporting is used to improve performance, go to www.piedpiperpsi.com. About Pied Piper Management Company, LLC Founded in 2003, Pied Piper Management Company, LLC is a Monterey, California, USA company that helps brands & manufacturers improve the omnichannel performance of their retail networks. Go to www.piedpipermc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210711005010/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Fortifying India against the 3rd wave of Covid-19

Introducing India's largest end-to-end Covid Resource Hub at www.support4covid.com, an initiative by Imagility LLC BENGALURU, India, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In anticipation of the third wave of the Covid pandemic, countries like India are in a position to be better prepared by learning from past experience and being in a state of resource readiness. The Covid Resource Hub joins hands to help India being better prepared for the upcoming and dreaded 3rd wave. The Covid Resource Hub is the largest collaborative App in the world, which consolidates all resource information in one place. Anyone can access real-time vaccination and other resource information through India's largest end-to-end Covid Resource Hub (www.support4covid.com). The data is pulled from GOI's CoWin App & various other reliable sources, all over India. Anyone can search for available beds, ICUs, ventilators, oxygen cylinders, life saving medicines like Remdesivir, etc. in ay region and find valuable information within minutes that may help save a life. NGOs, volunteers, and other organizations can use this app to enter information in one place, verify it and work with providers, to organize and work effectively, in order to make a difference.



Durga Rao, Founder & CEO, Imagility LLC, is determined to help the citizens of India being prepared and he quoted, "During the second wave, Covid-19 triggering a national emergency in India, we made the decision to utilize technology we had developed and repurpose it for the crisis at hand and any additional waves that come after. Our teams pulled together to support people through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, government sources, and public health providers. We built an online community app for providing accurate information of medical and hospital resources, fighting misinformation, supporting individuals across the nation with the only goal - To Save Lives." The app has been instrumental in helping the users fight the war with Covid effectively. Srikanth, one of the users, quoted, "Staying away from home, in a different city, I was able to get a hospital bed for my uncle in Hyderabad through https://support4covid.com/ and this got him the right care at the right time. This helped us greatly at the time of need. I choose this site for all Covid related information & recommend everyone to use it."

Covid Resource Hub at www.support4covid.com is created by Imagility LLC (www.Imagility.co), a start-up company in the immigration space that has recently launched their product in the US market. This App was built by the team in a week, using their expertise, experience and technology, to help as much as possible to deal with the Covid situation. The purpose of creating the app was to help people access resource information during dire need, to Make ONE effort, to Save and Give Life, for No one to be left behind. Media Contact :

Bharat Khosla,

bharat@upstreamgs.com

Associate Director Product Marketing

Imagility LLC

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[July 12, 2021] Break the Ceiling Touch the Sky 2021 Middle East Edition to be Held in Dubai, UAE, Live on Sept 28, 2021

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd (HORP) today announced that Dubai, UAE has been selected as the location for the 2021 Middle East Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky - the success and leadership summit for women which will be held as a hybrid (live and virtual) summit on Sept 28, 2021. The summit will bring together the Middle East's best leaders and Companies who can access cutting-edge, cross-industry knowledge and mentoring on leadership, success and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at a fraction of the cost of other expensive training programs. HORP also announced the search for the "50 Best Male Champions for Gender diversity & Inclusion in the Middle East" with several being available as mentors at the 2021 Middle East Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky. Diversity & Inclusion champion Companies Coca-Cola and Fine Hygienic Holding have once again taken the lead as early sponsors of the Middle East Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky. AMCHAM Dubai, AMCHAM Abu Dhabi and The Singapore International Chamber of Commerce will serve as the official Industry partners for the summit and their members will enjoy discounted delegate pricing to join this summit. Sponsor packages are now open. Claudia Navarro, Vice President Marketing Eurasia & Midle East at The Coca-Cola Company shared, " Diversity & inclusion is close to our hearts. We strive to create a work environment that empowers, educates and inspires both cultural and gender diversity across all levels of the organization. We believe that diversity is a precursor to a culture of empathy, and innovation. We are happy to partner with Break the ceiling touch the sky  which will give participants an opportunity to learn from others, share best practices, network with peers and chart their own individual courses for success."



Commented James Michael Lafferty, CEO of Fine Hygienic Holding, "In 2018 we joined the Break the ceiling touch the sky movement via a partnership with the summit in the Middle East and in Singapore. Inspired by the many sharings of success on gender diversity in particular we made rapid progress, going from zero women leaders on our senior management team to over 30% in just a few months. We have step-changed our business results. Learning and sharing across industries on Diversity & Inclusion is a critical part of our game plan for success and we are proud to be a Platinum sponsor of the 2021 Middle East Edition of the summit  a forum at which we know we will once again be inspired by many other great companies and will also be able to share our progress and best practices." The 2021 Middle East Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky is an important pillar of the global Break the ceiling touch the sky network with editions in the Middle East, North America, Europe, India, China, Africa, ANZ, and Singapore. The summit supports HORP's MISSION 2029 FOR A BETTER WORLD  the 10 year action plan to quintuple the number of Female CEOs in the worlds 500 largest Companies (from 14 in 2020 to 70 in 2029) and to double the number of Male CEOs in the same group actively investing in gender diversity & inclusion.

Concluded Anthony A. Rose, Chairman and CEO, House of Rose Professional and best-selling author of the book Break the Ceiling, Touch the Sky: success secrets of the world's most inspirational women which inspired the summit: "We are delighted to announce the search for the "50 Best Male Champions for gender diversity & inclusion in the Middle East." Gender diverse Companies across the world are delivering better financial results, growing better leaders and delivering better business. Recognizing the male leaders walking the talk on gender equality in business in the Middle East is also important to support the UAE's continued drive for gender equality." To access sponsorship and delegate packages for the 2021 Middle East Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky visit www.houseofroseprofessional.com House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd (HORP). is a global leader across the Talent , Training and Transformation businesses and has since mid 2014 enabled and inspired over 20000 women leaders to greater success via Break the ceiling touch the sky. For news media/business inquiries contact:

Anthony A. Rose, House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd.

Email: anthony@houseofroseprofessional.com SOURCE House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd.

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[July 12, 2021] Houlihan Lokey Acquires Baylor Klein

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, has acquired boutique advisory firm Baylor Klein as it continues to grow its Corporate Finance business in Europe. Founded in 2008 by Managing Director Tim Leach, Baylor Klein specialises in providing M&A and corporate finance advisory services to the multinational and independent owners of household, beauty, and personal care (HBPC) assets globally. The transaction signed and completed on 8 July. Jay Novak, Global Head of the Consumer, Food & Retail (CFR) Group, commented, "The Baylor Klein acquisition further expands our global CFR Group and specifically adds deeper expertise to the already robust HBPC sector activity, led in North America by Managing Director Susan Roddy." "As with all our acquisitions, the Baylor Klein team embodies and shares with Houlihan Lokey a number of important cultural traits, including a steadfast dedication to its clients and a track record of success that confirms genuinely deep and superior sector expertise," said Scott Adelson, Houlihan Lokey's Co-President and Co-Head of Corporate Finance. "They are true leaders in their field, and we think they will be a fantastic addition to our outstanding CFR team." As part of this transaction, Baylor Klein's team of five advisory professionals led by Tim Leach will join Houlihan Lokey's European Corporate Finance business in London, bringing the global CFR team to more than 70 financial professionals



"We are proud of what Baylor Klein has achieved over the past 13 years, and we are excited to be joining a firm with such an outstanding reputation in the consumer, food, and retail sector," said Mr. Leach. "As well as its true global reach and unrivalled private equity relationships, Houlihan Lokey prides itself in its best-in-class sector knowledge, and we look forward to bringing a new dimension to its coverage of the HBPC market." "We have known Tim for many years and are delighted that he and the team are bringing their market-leading expertise to the firm. Our European CFR team continues to enjoy tremendous success, having advised on 26 transactions over the past year, and the addition of this new practice area in Europe is the next chapter in the growth of our business," added Shaun Browne, Co-Head of UK Corporate Finance at Houlihan Lokey and Head of the firm's CFR Group in Europe.

Houlihan Lokey's CFR Group provides M&A advisory, private capital raising, debt and equity financing, restructuring services, financial opinions, valuations, and distressed services for hundreds of consumer, food, and retail companies. Its clients range from early-stage businesses and midsize companies to large, publicly traded corporations. This is the sixth acquisition that Houlihan Lokey has made in Europe in the past six years, following the acquisitions of McQueen Ltd. and Leonardo & Co. in 2015; BearTooth Advisors and Quayle Munro in 2018; and Fidentiis Capital in 2019. The firm now has more than 260 bankers in Europe, up from 80 in 2014, including 180 in Corporate Finance. Houlihan Lokey and Baylor Klein acted as their own advisors on this transaction. About Houlihan Lokey Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm's commitment to client success across its advisory services. Houlihan Lokey is the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past six consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past seven consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 20 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by Refinitiv. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005271/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Phoenix New Media to Hold 2021 Annual General Meeting on August 12, 2021

BEIJING, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE: FENG), a leading new media company in China ("Phoenix New Media", "ifeng", or the "Company"), today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders at Sinolight Plaza, No. 4 Qiyang Road, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, People's Republic of China on August 12, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Holders of record of ordinary shares of the Company at the close of business on July 12, 2021 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual general meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of the Company's American depositary shares ("ADSs") who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying Class A ordinary shares must act through the depositary of the Company's ADS program, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. The notice of the annual general meeting, which sets forth the resolutions to be submitted to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting, is available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://ir.ifeng.com, among others, the board of directors (the "Board") proposes to elect Mr. Yusheng Sun as a director of the Company after Mr. Keung Chui retires from the Board at the annual general meeting to be held on August 12, 2021. The Board has also resolved to appoint Mr. Sun as the chairman of the Board and the appointment will be effective after the election of Mr. Sun as a director of the Company. Mr. Sun, aged 61, is the Executive Director, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Phoenix Media Investment (Holdings) Limited, the Company's parent company. Mr. Sun had served in China Central Television for more than 30 years. He was the vice president, deputy editor-in-chief and director of the news centre. He has accumulated extensive experience and good reputation in the television broadcasting industry. He was awarded the "Top Ten Outstanding Youth in China" in 1995. Mr. Sun was the awardee of the State Council Special Allowance and was elected as the vice president of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union ("ABU") in 2017, the first Chinese national to become a senior official in ABU. Mr. Sun is a part-time professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at the Tsinghua University. He graduated from Jilin University with a bachelor's degree in economics and holds the professional qualification of senior editor granted by the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television, China. His book "Te Years" has a profound influence on the academic and media fields, and is a designated extracurricular reading for many journalism college students.



Shareholders may obtain a copy of the Company's 2020 annual report, free of charge, from the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://ir.ifeng.com/, or by contacting Phoenix New Media Limited at Floor 16, Sinolight Plaza, No. 4 Qiyang Road, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, People's Republic of China, attention: Qing Liu, telephone: +86 (10) 6067-6000, email: investorrelations@ifeng.com. About Phoenix New Media Limited

Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE: FENG) is a leading new media company providing premium content on an integrated Internet platform, including PC and mobile, in China. Having originated from a leading global Chinese language TV network based in Hong Kong, Phoenix TV, the Company enables consumers to access professional news and other quality information and share user-generated content on the Internet through their PCs and mobile devices. Phoenix New Media's platform includes its PC channel, consisting of ifeng.com website, which comprises interest-based verticals and interactive services; its mobile channel, consisting of mobile news applications, mobile video application and mobile Internet website; and its operations with the telecom operators that provides mobile value-added services. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "likely to," "may," "plan," "will" or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based largely on current expectations and projections of Phoenix New Media and its management about future events and financial trends that management believes may affect Phoenix New Media's financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of Phoenix New Media or its management, are forward-looking statements. Phoenix New Media also may make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms 20-F and 6-K in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. A number of factors could cause Phoenix New Media's actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's growth strategies, including without limitation strategies to grow particular products or services; the Company's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; expected changes in the Company's revenues, including in components of its total revenues, and cost or expense items; the Company's ability to continue and manage the expansion of its operations; and changes in general economic and business conditions in the People's Republic of China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its registration statement on Form F-1, as amended, and its annual reports on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this press release. Phoenix New Media does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries please contact: Phoenix New Media Limited

Qing Liu

Email: investorrelations@ifeng.com ICR, Inc.

Robin Yang

Tel: +1 (646) 405-4883

Email: investorrelations@ifeng.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/phoenix-new-media-to-hold-2021-annual-general-meeting-on-august-12-2021-301331341.html SOURCE Phoenix New Media Limited

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[July 12, 2021] Tencent Cloud and Boston Consulting Group Announce Strategic Alliance

HONG KONG, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Enterprises around the world have been strengthening international collaboration in order to boost economic recovery in the post-pandemic era. Leveraging the innovations, resources and advantages of both parties, Tencent Cloud today announced its strategic alliance with globally renowned Boston Consulting Group (BCG), carrying out cooperation in a range of areas, including finance and retail, to help enterprises in their digital transformation. In the future, the cooperation will be extended to Asia Pacific and around the world to jointly explore the development of localized digital solutions. Amid the pandemic, leaders of every industry are exploring ways to bolster the digital transformation of enterprises. However, the transformation requires professional consulting agencies to advice on many aspects such as corporate strategy, business model and organizational transformation, among others. It also requires strong technical service providers to offer solutions based on new technologies such as cloud computing, big data, AI and IoT, to enable the launch of digital projects. Under the alliance, Tencent Cloud and BCG will carry out cooperation in various fields, including finance and retail, together to facilitate digital transformation in enterprises, and to provide enterprise architecture design for enterprises' access to the cloud. In addition, talent has been a key element in digital transformation  together, both parties will offer staff enablement solutions, moving employees' work and training online through tools such as Tencent Cloud's AI, Tencent Agile roduct Development (TAPD) and WeCom, to enhance collaboration, efficiency and creativity of employees.



In the future, the alliance between Tencent Cloud and BCG will be extended to Asia Pacific and the global market. Being one of the top five global cloud service providers, Tencent Cloud's infrastructures have already covered 27 geographic regions on five continents. Since April 2021, Tencent Cloud has launched new data centers in Bangkok in Thailand, Jakarta in Indonesia, Singapore, Tokyo in Japan, among others, offering more localized services to local enterprises. As a global top management consulting services company which has established for more than 50 years, BCG is proud to add Tencent Cloud into its growing ecosystem of alliances. In 2020, BCG was recognized as a pioneer in the digital business transformation service industry by Forrester, an international authoritative research institution. Recently, it has been ranked as a leader in digital strategy consulting services industry by IDC. Apart from the launch of digital centers in San Francisco and Paris, BCG has also launched a digital center in Shenzhen, providing governments and enterprises in the Greater China, Asia Pacific as well as global customers with consulting services on digital solutions.

In the post-pandemic era, as every industry around the world is accelerating their digital transformation journey, the internet infrastructure in the Southeast Asia region is still being developed. Many enterprises are in need of technical support provided by cloud providers in their digital transformation. Leveraging the innovations, resources and advantages of both parties, Tencent Cloud will join hands with BCG to strengthen their cooperation in the international market, providing digital solutions to meet local needs, and ultimately helping to boost economic recovery. About Tencent Cloud Tencent Cloud is Tencent's cloud services brand, providing industry-leading cloud products and services to organizations and enterprises across the world. Leveraging its robust data center infrastructures around the world, Tencent integrates cloud computing, big data analytics, AI, Internet of Things, security and other advanced technologies with smart enterprise scenarios. At the same time, we provide a holistic smart enterprise solution for sectors including finance, education, healthcare, retail, industry, transport, energy and radio & television. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tencent-cloud-and-boston-consulting-group-announce-strategic-alliance-301331366.html SOURCE Tencent Cloud

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[July 12, 2021] enVista Acquires HCM Systems, Inc. to Expand Automation Capabilities

enVista, a global software, consulting, managed services and automation solutions firm, optimizing and transforming both physical and digital commerce, today announces the acquisition of long-time partner HCM Systems, a systems integrator, specializing in customized, complex and highly integrated conveyor hardware and software, controls, robotics, accessory equipment, installation and systems management for manufacturing and distribution-centric organizations. The acquisition was completed July 1, 2021. Headquartered in Chicago, HCM has grown from a single line conveyor distributorship into one of the most diversified leaders in complete material handling integration with an extensive range of automated solutions. Mike Kasperski, SVP of Automation at enVista, said, "Demand for automated solutions has never been greater due to surging ecommerce demands, coupled with ongoing labor shortages. enVista and HCM's combined expertise across process optimization, labor management, facility design, engineering, robotics and systems selection and implementation will optimize manufacturing and distribution operations and accelerate time to value. This acquisition also strategically expands HCM's and enVista's global growth, client base and revenue opportunities." enVista CEO, Jim Barnes, said, "This acquisition is strategic in nature, strengthening enVista's position as the only physical and digital commerce solutions provider in the market. We look forward to bringing HCM's capabilities into enVista's enterprise suite of solutions and adding their talented team to ours." enVista's comprehensive DC Optimization and Automation solutions include process optimization, workforce management, facility design/build, engineering, robotics proof of concept and implementations, systems selection and implementation and more. Chrlie Hillebold, President of HCM Systems, said, "My grandfather founded HCM in 1962. As the third-generation owner/operator, it has been vitally important for me to strategically grow HCM in a way that best serves our clients and associates and honors our company's heritage of client service. As a long-term partner of enVista, we have had the opportunity to work side-by-side with their leadership and project teams and observe their talent, integrity, passion and commitment to delivering client results. We are very proud to officially join enVista. This move will bring added value to our HCM client base that will benefit from a single solutions partner to solve their complex supply chain and commerce challenges, and our associates will certainly benefit from expanded professional growth opportunities. I am excited for what the future holds for our combined organizations."



enVista brings a dedicated team of robotics, labor management, facility design and systems implementation experts to help clients project and model an optimal approach to both distribution center labor productivity and automation. With nearly 20 years of experience in supply chain strategy, operations and systems implementation, enVista delivers exceptional results for its clients and has helped dozens of world-leading brands determine how to optimize existing facilities and design/build greenfield facilities to meet long-term objectives. Visit our website for more information on enVista's Automation Consulting and Integration Practice or to learn more about enVista.

About HCM Founded in 1962, HCM Systems has evolved from a single line conveyor distributorship into one of the region's most respected system design, sales and service companies. HCM's core competencies are projects involving conveyor, conveyor control, WCS to WMS data processing, high speed pick & pack applications, palletizing systems, end of the line packaging systems, and bar code scanning. Headquartered in Chicago, HCM works to help customers keep a competitive edge with its system-wide range of product offerings that will fully fit any application or budget. https://www.hcmsystems.com/ About enVista: enVista is a global software, managed services and consulting solutions firm, optimizing and transforming physical and digital commerce for the world's leading manufacturers, distributors, 3PLs/LSPs, and omnichannel retailers. enVista uniquely optimizes and transforms physical and digital commerce - optimizing supply chain efficiencies to drive cost savings, and unifying commerce to drive customer engagement and revenue. These comprehensive capabilities, combined with enVista's market-leading Unified Commerce Platform, Enspire Commerce and the firm's ability to consult, implement and operate across supply chain, transportation, IT, enterprise business solutions and omnichannel commerce, allows mid-market and Fortune 100/5000 companies to leverage enVista as a trusted advisor across their enterprises. Consulting and solutions delivery are in our DNA. Let's have a conversation. www.envistacorp.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005151/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Auxly on a Hot Streak Heading into a Summer Packed with New Products

TORONTO, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX - XLY) (Auxly or the Company), a leading consumer packaged goods company in the cannabis products market, is excited to present its product line-up for a summer season filled with brand-new offerings and inspired flavours across multiple categories, including dried flower, vapes, edibles, oil, capsules and concentrates.

Todays announcement comes as the Company is experiencing success with its previously announced strategic expansion into the dried flower market, including the introduction of dried flower offerings under its Back Forty brand. Auxlys Back Forty Pine Kush launched in March and it has quickly become one of the most popular flower brands in Canadai. The success of the Back Forty flower launch has helped Auxly capture approximately 2% of the entire national cannabis flower market (dried flower and pre-rollsii) for the month of June. The Company is delighted with its early success in a segment (dried flower) that accounts for nearly 75% of all Canadian cannabis sales to-date this quarter, or more than $2 billion in sales annuallyiii. With its leadership position in cannabis 2.0 products and the added success of dried flower sales, Auxly has achieved a 5.2% share of the national market for the month of June, as confirmed by Headset Canadian Insights. Further, the Company has moved up to the #6 position among Canadian Licensed Producers for the month of Juneiv. Now, Auxly looks ahead to a summer 2021 lineup designed to delight Canadian cannabis consumers and capture even more of the dried flower market, including exciting new cultivars under the Back Forty brand and the launch of Back Forty pre-rolls. Through a focused strategy built on deep consumer insights and executional excellence, we are proud to continue to grow our market share and make a successful entry into the dried flower segment, said Hugo Alves, CEO of Auxly. We are excited to continue introducing new products that are responsive to our consumers needs, including a more robust line-up of dried flower and pre-roll offerings under our Back Forty and Kolab brands. Canadians deserve something special after a year and a half of pandemic life, and we wanted to make sure our brands rose to the occasion, said Andrew MacMillan, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Auxly. Our team of product developers and marketing experts have leveraged consumer insights this summer to bring a suite of high-quality and unique cannabis products that we believe will continue to drive sales and gain meaningful market share for Auxly. Heres a look at the new products Canadian cannabis consumers can look forward to this summer from Auxlys in-house brands Kolab Project, Back Forty, Foray and Dosecann. More information about these product launches will be announced over the coming weeks. The following products will be available across Canada: Flower & Pre-rolls: Back Forty Animal Mints and Wedding Pie flower. Organically grown, Animal Mints and Wedding Pie are exceptional strains with high THC potencies. These new cultivars will land in the Back Forty where consumers find a better experience for less.

and flower. Organically grown, Animal Mints and Wedding Pie are exceptional strains with high THC potencies. These new cultivars will land in the Back Forty where consumers find a better experience for less. Back Forty 40s pre-rolls. 40s are machine-rolled straightjoints manufactured with state-of-the-art pre-roll technology for a consistent, quality pre-roll that burns evenly with enhanced airflow and flavour. Back Forty 40s will launch with Back Fortys new organically grown strains Animal Mints and Wedding Pie.

pre-rolls. 40s are machine-rolled straightjoints manufactured with state-of-the-art pre-roll technology for a consistent, quality pre-roll that burns evenly with enhanced airflow and flavour. Back Forty 40s will launch with Back Fortys new organically grown strains Animal Mints and Wedding Pie. Kolab Project x Robinsons Growers Series Purple Kush. This summer crossover sees Robinsons heavy hitting Purple Kush joining the popular Kolab Project Growers Series, providing cannabis enthusiasts with Robinsons superior quality cannabis uplifted by the Kolab Project Growers Series platform.





Edibles: Kolab Project 132 Series Live Resin Black Cherry Punch soft chew. A broad-spectrum experience, Canadas first live-resin soft chew includes aromatic Black Cherry Punch live resin with cherry and floral undertones.

soft chew. A broad-spectrum experience, Canadas first live-resin soft chew includes aromatic Black Cherry Punch live resin with cherry and floral undertones. Back Forty Smores chocolate. Back Fortys first edible captures the iconic Canadian campfire treat by combining the flavours of marshmallow, graham crackers and, of course, chocolate. Kolab Project 232 Series maximizes the flavour and natural expression of the plant for a true-to-strain experience across multiple categories. This summer, Kolab Project puts Slurricane in the spotlight in the following categories:

Vapes : 1g Live Terpene 510 vape cartridge. Slurricane joins Ice Cream Cake and Black Cherry Punch  both newly launched in the Ontario market.

: vape cartridge. joins Ice Cream Cake and Black Cherry Punch  both newly launched in the Ontario market. Concentrates: Fans of Kolab Projects best-selling THCA Diamonds will be excited to learn that the brand is issuing a new installment with the Slurricane strain.

Oils & Capsules: Dosecann expands its offerings featuring Auxlys exclusive, proprietary Ahiflower Seed Oil and CBD this summer. CBD Omega Lemon Lavender oil and CBD 50 Omega capsules combine high-potency, broad-spectrum cannabinoids with Ahiflower for a sustainably sourced, plant-based, non-GMO source of essential Omega 3 and 6.

In addition to the above national product launches, Auxly is making the following unique edible products available to select provinces. More information about the distribution of these products will be announced in coming weeks: Back Forty Sour Grape and Sour Cherry soft chews. These vegan soft chews join Smores as the inaugural edibles for Back Forty, in flavours that recall simpler times.

and soft chews. These vegan soft chews join Smores as the inaugural edibles for Back Forty, in flavours that recall simpler times. Foray Strawberry Milkshake White Chocolate. Nothing says summer like a strawberry milkshake. Perhaps Forays tastiest edible yet, Strawberry Milkshake White Chocolate is a fresh take on an old-fashioned favourite, perfectly blended to create and rich and creamy mouthfeel, bursting with delicious berry flavour and notes of white chocolate. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Hugo Alves CEO i In the countrys largest market, Ontario, Back Forty Pine Kush in 28g units was the #5 dried-flower SKU in the quarter ending June 30, 2021 (source: OCS sales data, as of July 1, 2021); in British Columbia, Back Forty dried flower was the sixth best-seller for Q2, 2021, capturing approximately 3% of the retail market (source: Headset Canadian Insights, British Columbia dried-flower sales, by brand, as of July 1, 2021).

ii Headset Canadian Insights, Total Canadian Cannabis dried-flower and pre-roll sales, as of July 1, 2021

iii Source: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/cannabis-canada-weekly-canadians-bought-2b-of-dried-flower-last-year-1.1591442 iv Headset Canadian Insights, Total Canadian Cannabis sales, as of July 1, 2021 About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF) Auxly is a leading Canadian cannabis company dedicated to bringing innovative, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the wellness and adult-use markets. Auxly's experienced team of industry first-movers and enterprising visionaries have secured a diversified supply of raw cannabis, strong clinical, scientific and operating capabilities and leading research and development infrastructure in order to create trusted products and brands in an expanding global market. Learn more at www.auxly.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @AuxlyGroup; Instagram: @auxlygroup; Facebook: @auxlygroup; LinkedIn: company/auxlygroup/. For more information please contact:

Scott Campbell, 647-402-4957, press@auxly.com Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes but is not limited to: the successful production and launch of current and future Company products; the Companys execution of its product development, commercialization strategy, and expansion plans; the ability of the Company to maintain and grow its market share; the relevance of the Companys proposed products; consumer preferences; political change, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis and cannabis products; and competition and other risks affecting Auxly in particular and the cannabis industry generally. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release including, but not limited to whether: there is acceptance and demand for current and future Company products by consumers and provincial purchasers; and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which Auxly operates will remain the same. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. In addition, this release may contain forward-looking information attributed to third party sources, the accuracy of which has not been verified by Auxly. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Auxly does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below:



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[July 12, 2021] Global and China China New Energy Vehicle Power Electronics Market Report 2021: IGBT Market, Overview of Automotive Power Electronics, Motor Controllers, Automotive Power Supply

DUBLIN, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global and China New Energy Vehicle Power Electronics Industry Report, 2021" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. As the electric vehicle market is developing rapidly, new energy vehicle power electronics see a lucrative development opportunity



According to EV Sales, the global electric vehicle sales volume soared by 249% year-on-year to 392,000 units in April 2021. As the electric vehicle market is developing rapidly, new energy vehicle power electronics see a lucrative development opportunity. New energy vehicle power electronics generally include motor controllers (including inverters) and automotive power supplies (automotive chargers and DC/DC).



I. Motor Controller Market 1. BYD leads the highly competitive motor controller market



Benefiting from the rapid development of China's local new energy vehicle brands, Chinese local motor controller vendors led by BYD have obvious advantages in the motor controller market. In 2020, BYD still ranked first with a market share of 13.6%; among the top 10 companies, 7 are Chinese local vendors, except two foreign companies Tesla and Nidec as well as UAES, a Sino-foreign joint venture.



2. Motor controllers are developing towards integration and high voltage

Electronic control is developing towards integration, and three-in-one drive system will become the mainstream



Motor controllers gradually develop from a single function to multi-functional integration, and the integration of motors and electronic control has become a major trend, among which three-in-one electric drive system will become the mainstream. In 2020, China's passenger car three-in-one electric drive system shipments exceeded 500,000 sets, accounting for about 37% of motor controller shipments.



At present, most companies still focus on two-in-one electric drive system, and companies including Bosch, BYD, Inovance, and JJE have launched three-in-one electric drive system. In 2020, Tesla, BYD, XPT and Nidec together accounted for 82.1% of the total sales volume.



The DriveONE three-in-one electric drive system launched by Huawei has the peak power density of 3kW/kg, marking the highest level in the industry, higher than Bosch eAxle which boasts 1.67 kW/kg. In the future, with the efforts of local vendors represented by Huawei and BYD, the gap between local companies and international vendors will gradually narrow.

Huawei's DriveONE Three-in-one Electric Drive System



SiC motor controllers are expected to replace IGBTs



As the core components of motor controllers, IGBT modules account or about 45% of the total cost. In 2020, the global new energy vehicle IGBT module market valued approximately USD850 million. However, high-priced automotive IGBT modules have severely compressed the profit margins of electronic control companies and even automakers.







Compared with silicon-based IGBT power devices, SiC power devices feature advantages such as smaller size, lower weight, higher power density, longer cruising range, less controller loss, better thermal conductivity, and higher temperature resistance. Therefore, vendors represented by Delphi and BYD have begun to deploy SiC motor controllers which are expected to replace IGBTs in the future.



II. Automotive Power Supply Market





In Chinese new energy vehicle power supply market, there are mainly four types of players:



Foreign-funded companies mainly target joint venture automakers, while local companies support independent brands. Thanks to the relatively higher sales volume of local new energy vehicles, local companies have a certain advantage in the automotive power supply market. In 2020, there were 6 local companies among the top 10 companies in Chinese new energy vehicle charger OBC market, with the combined market share of 66%.



At present, automotive power supply products are mainly developing towards integration, high power, and bidirectional style.



(1) Integration: By integrating DC/DC, OBC, motors, electronic control devices, etc., the space occupied by the automotive power supply can be reduced, the size of the circuit board, the assembly cost as well as the BOM and PCB cost can be lowered.



(2) High-power: With longer cruising range and higher electrified capacity of electric vehicles, high power like 10kW, 20kW or more will become the mainstream, which is mainly accomplished by the three-phase AC technology. At present, BYD and Shinry have already deployed in this field.



(3) Bidirectional style: Bidirectional DC/DC features high efficiency, small size, and low cost. At the same time, it can also output battery power to the outside, effectively improving power utilization. Two-way automotive chargers can output the electric energy of the battery to realize vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-load, and vehicle-to-grid charging.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Overview of Automotive Power Electronics

1.1 New Energy Vehicle Industry

1.1.1 New Energy Vehicle Development Plan by Country

1.1.2 New Energy Vehicle Development Plan of Automakers

1.1.3 New Energy Vehicle Sales

1.2 Overview of Automotive Power Electronics

1.2.1 Classification of Automotive Power Electronics

1.2.2 Power Supply Architecture of New Energy Vehicles

1.3 Motor Controllers

1.3.1 Classification

1.3.2 Key Performance Indicators

1.4 Automotive Power Supply

1.4.1 DC-DC Converters

1.4.2 Classification of DC-DC Converters

1.5 IGBT Market

1.5.1 IGBT for New Energy Vehicle Motor Controllers

1.5.2 Global New Energy Vehicle Semiconductor Power Device Market Size

1.5.3 Global IGBT Market Share

1.5.4 Distribution of IGBT Industry Chain Companies in China

1.5.5 Automotive IGBT Market Share in China

1.5.6 Comparison of New Energy Vehicle IGBT Vendors



2. Electric Vehicle Motor Controller Market

2.1 Status Quo

2.2 Market Size

2.3 Supply Model

2.4 Competitive Landscape

2.4.1 Comparison of Major Companies

2.4.2 Top 10 Companies by Electronic Controller Sales Volume

2.4.3 Market Share

2.5 Supply

2.6 Development Trends



3. Electric Vehicle DC/DC and Charger Market

3.1 Market Size

3.2 Competitive Landscape

3.2.1 Top 10 Companies by OBC Sales Volume, 2019 VS 2020

3.2.2 OBC Market Share, 2019 VS 2020

3.2.3 Supply

3.3 Development Trends



4. Key DC/DC and Charger Companies in China

4.1 EVTECH

4.2 Shinry

4.3 Tiecheng Information Technology

4.4 Shijiazhuang Tonhe Electronics Technologies

4.5 Luoyang Grasen Power Technology



5. Motor Controller (Inverter) Producers in China

5.1 Shanghai Edrive

5.2 Inovance

5.3 Shanghai Dajun Technologies

5.4 Santroll

5.5 Broad-Ocean Motor

5.6 UAES

5.7 CRRC Electric Vehicle

5.8 BYD

5.9 Zhuhai Enpower Electric

5.10 Shenzhen V&T Technologies

5.11 Fujian Fugong Power Technology

5.12 Chroma ATE

5.13 JJE

5.14 DEC Dongfeng Electric Machinery

5.15 Megmeet

5.16 XPT

5.17 HASCO

5.18 Hefei E-Power Technology



6. Global Motor Controller (Inverter) Producers

6.1 Hitachi Astemo

6.2 Mitsubishi Electric

6.3 Bosch

6.4 Continental

6.5 BorgWarner

6.6 Hyundai Mobis



7. IGBT Suppliers

7.1 Infineon

7.2 StarPower Semiconductor

7.3 BYD Semiconductor

7.4 Fuji Electric

7.5 Semikron

7.6 Denso

7.7 Zhixin Semiconductor

7.8 Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/laded2 Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior 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



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-and-china-china-new-energy-vehicle-power-electronics-market-report-2021-igbt-market-overview-of-automotive-power-electronics-motor-controllers-automotive-power-supply-301331390.html SOURCE Research and Markets

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[July 12, 2021] Hyzon Motors deepens strategic hydrogen mobility partnership with TotalEnergies SE

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyzon Motors Inc. announced today it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE) through its Marketing & Services division. The MoU reinforces the two companies' shared commitment to evaluate and develop hydrogen refueling and vehicle supply solutions for long-haul transport to customers across Europe. Hyzon and TotalEnergies aim to make it easier for fleet owners to transition to renewable hydrogen fuel by combining their existing infrastructure and technology. TotalEnergies, which operates over 15,500 service stations globally, and Hyzon, a leading supplier of hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks, already have hydrogen refueling stations and hydrogen-powered vehicles in operation, respectively. This MoU strengthens the existing commercial relationship between one of the world's largest energy companies and a leading supplier of hydrogen commercial vehicles. TotalEnergies previously made a direct investment in Hyzon through its venture arm, TotalEnergies Ventures in 2020, to help fund the buildout of Hyzon's manufacturing and engineering centers in the United States, Europe and China. TotalEnergies is also a member of the Hyzon Zero Carbon Alliance, a consortium dedicated to accelerating the global development of the hydrogen ecosystem. A first concrete operational step is the announcement of the signature of an additional MoU between Hyzon and TotalEnergies, this time through its French affiliate TotalEnergies Marketing France, which oversees its service-stations network and new mobilities solutions in France. Under this second MoU, the companies will collaborate on developing ecosystems and will secure by 2023 the production of 80 hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks for TotalEnergies' French customers. Starting from trials, Hyzon aims to eventually be able to supply customers with a hydrogen fuel cell truck at total cost of ownership (TCO) parity with diesel-powered commercial vehicles in Europe. "At TotalEnergies, we are convinced that hydrogen is a mobility solution of the future. That is why TotalEnergies Ventures previously invested in Hyzon Motors," said John Wilson, vice president, Gas Mobility at the Marketing & Services division of TotalEnergies. "The anouncement today takes that relationship further, giving the company leverage to expand the reach of hydrogen in the commercial vehicle market in Europe. To achieve our climate ambition of net zero emissions by 2050, together with society, hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks must come to market. We are therefore excited about this partnership with Hyzon." TotalEnergies is a broad energy company active in more than 130 countries with more than 105,000 employees. The company produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. "It's rare to find a company as committed to the energy transition as Hyzon  but we've found that in TotalEnergies. While this is another important development in our relationship, we don't expect it to be the last," Craig Knight, CEO of Hyzon said. "Hydrogen will play a significant role in decarbonizing transport and we look forward to working with one of the world's leading energy companies to deploy hydrogen solutions at scale across Europe. Their relationships, customer base and current infrastructure are a huge asset as we aim to make it as easy as possible for fleet owners to make the switch to hydrogen." About Hyzon Motors Inc.

Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., with U.S. operations also in Chicago and Detroit, and international operations in the Netherlands, Singapore, Australia and China, Hyzon is a leader in hydrogen mobility. Hyzon is a pure-play hydrogen mobility company with an exclusive focus on hydrogen in the commercial vehicle market. Utilizing its proven and proprietary hydrogen fuel cell technology, Hyzon aims to supply zero-emission heavy duty trucks and buses to customers in North America, Europe and around the world. The company is contributing to the escalating adoption of hydrogen vehicles through its demonstrated technology advantage, leading fuel cell performance and history of rapid innovation. Visit www.hyzonmotors.com.



About TotalEnergies SE

TotalEnergies is a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, clean, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people. Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, including those regarding Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation's ("DCRB") proposed acquisition of Hyzon and DCRB's ability to consummate the transaction, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "could," "should," "will," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, DCRB and Hyzon disclaim any duty to update any forward - looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. DCRB and Hyzon caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of either DCRB or Hyzon, including risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Exhibit 99.3 of DCRB's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Feb. 9, 2021, the "Risk Factors" section of DCRB's definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021, and other documents filed by DCRB from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, such as risks related to the ability to convert non-binding memoranda of understanding into binding orders or sales (including because of the current or prospective financial resources of the counterparties to Hyzon's non-binding memoranda of understanding and letters of intent), or the ability to identify additional potential customers and convert them to paying customers. Hyzon gives no assurance that Hyzon will achieve its expectations.

Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

In connection with the proposed business combination, DCRB filed a proxy statement and other relevant documents with the SEC. Stockholders and other interested persons are urged to read the proxy statement and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC because they contain important information about DCRB, Hyzon and the proposed business combination. Stockholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement, as well as other filings containing information about DCRB, Hyzon and the proposed business combination, without charge, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Participants in the Solicitation

DCRB, Hyzon and their directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from DCRB's stockholders in respect of the proposed business combination and the other matters set forth in the proxy statement. Information regarding DCRB's directors and executive officers is available in DCRB's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the annual period ended Dec. 31, 2020, and under the heading "Information About DCRB" in DCRB's definitive proxy statement related to the proposed business combination filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the proxy statement relating to the proposed business combination. Hyzon Motors contacts

For U.S., Europe and Asia media:

Caroline Curran

Hill+Knowlton Strategies

+1 256-653-5811

caroline.curran@hkstrategies.com For Australasian media:

Fraser Beattie

Cannings Purple

+61 421 505 557

fbeattie@canningspurple.com.au For investors:

Caldwell Bailey

ICR, Inc.

HyzonMotorsIR@icrinc.com TotalEnergies Media Relations:

presse@totalenergies.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyzon-motors-deepens-strategic-hydrogen-mobility-partnership-with-totalenergies-se-301329016.html SOURCE HYZON Motors

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[July 12, 2021] Better Announces Acquisition of Trussle Lab Ltd., The UK's Most Innovative Online Mortgage Broker Approving Over GBP 1.1BN in the Last 12 Months to Help Make Getting a Home Faster, Cheaper and Better for Britons

Better HoldCo, Inc. ("Better"), one of the fastest-growing digital homeownership platforms in the U.S., today announced its planned acquisition of United Kingdom-based company, Trussle. The acquisition will help Better enter the GBP 1.5 Trillion (News - Alert) mortgage market in the UK where it will replicate its success in the US. In the United Kingdom, the mortgage process takes months to complete, with consumers paying thousands of points in fees and losing hours to needless frictions, all leading to a large number of Britons giving up on owning their own home and the national homeownership rate falling from 73% to 65% over the last 10 years. "Better eliminates the high financing costs, massive transactional friction, tyranny and mind-numbing bureaucracy that comes with getting a mortgage and buying a home in the UK via a high street bank," said Vishal Garg, Founder and CEO of Better. "We researched the UK market and were surprised to see how we could make it so much better for consumers buying and financing a home for the first time. We found a kindred spirit in the team at Trussle who have developed a platform that we can work alongside to help every Briton own their own home. Making homeownership affordable and accessible for all customers is a key tenet of a well-functioning credit system and we are here to help grow Trussle and make it even better." Trussle is a U.K.-based digital mortgage and insurance broker founded in 2015 that provides high-quality, independent advice to customers who are looking to buy a home or refinance an existing mortgage. The company assesses customer suitability, provides advice on mortgage and protection products and interacts with over 90 lenders to close mortgages for U.K. home owners. Since inception, Trussle has sourced over GBP 2.7bn of mortgage approvals for UK consuers with GBP 1.1bn of that in the last 12 months.



"Better and Trussle were both founded on the understanding that consumers increasingly prefer to use online services to shop for and transact on major life purchases. It is 27 years since the World Wide Web was launched and most consumer industries have embraced it by now but the UK mortgage market is still characterized by analogue systems and processes. This market should not require consumers to apply for a mortgage 5 months before the end of the Stamp Duty holiday." said Ian Larkin, CEO of Trussle. "We are very excited about becoming part of Better, and we are confident that Trussle's future looks brighter than ever as part of a large and growing international organization that shares our commitment to making homeownership more simple, fair and accessible for all." Trussle will accelerate Better's entry into the U.K. market with an experienced management team, local knowledge and foundational mortgage technology for the UK. Trussle captures critical data on customer demand, lender pricing and risk eligibility matrices that will provide valuable insights when analyzed using Better's technology. Bringing together these data and capabilities will provide both organizations with unique strengths identifying underserved market segments and evaluating risk.

Better will enhance Trussle's revenue profile by partnering with it to develop a pipeline of B2B relationships with estate agencies, property developers and financial services companies, invest in customer acquisition and drive attachment rates across product offerings, including insurance and title services (known as "conveyancing" in the U.K.). The terms of the transaction are not disclosed, and is subject to the receipt of customary regulatory approvals in the United States and the United Kingdom. Ian Larkin and the existing management team will continue to lead Trussle following the acquisition. About Better

Founded in 2016, Better is a digital-first homeownership company whose services included mortgage, real estate, title, and homeowners insurance. From its founding in 2016 through 2020, Better funded $30.9B in home loans and provided over $7B in cumulative coverage through Better Cover and Better Settlement Services, the insurance divisions of Better. Better has raised over $400M in equity capital since inception. The company was ranked #15 on CNBC's Disruptor 50 2020 list, as well as being listed in Forbes FinTech 50 for 2020. For more information, follow @betterdotcom. About Trussle

Trussle, the UK's first digital mortgage broker, was founded in 2015 with the mission of making more home ownership dreams a reality. For many the process of buying and financing a home can be complex and disjointed, which often leads to confusion and frustration for homebuyers. Trussle's smart technology combined with human expertise enables Trussle to make faster and more informed decisions, providing customers with greater certainty of securing the right deal. Trussle's relentless focus on customer service has made us one of the highest rated online mortgage brokers on Trustpilot (4.8/5 based on 4,200+ reviews). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005413/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Lleida.net signs three-year contract with Bancolombia, Colombia's leading bank

BOGOTA, Colombia, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spanish technology company Lleida.net (BME:LLN) (EPA:ALLLN) (OTCQX:LLEIF) has signed a three-year contract with Bancolombia (BVC:PFBCOLOM) (NYSE:CIB), one of Latin America's leading banks, to provide it with registered electronic signature services. Grupo Bancolombia has more than 14 million customers, is Colombia's largest bank, and has a market share of 20 per cent of the Colombian banking market. From now on, Grupo Bancolombia will use Lleida.net's services to sign contracts with collaborators, suppliers and clients, and expects to use them in the future to process product contracting, credit and collection management reliably. The signing has been done through the subsidiary of the listed company in Colombia, Lleida SAS. "Colombia has always been one of the main target countries in our international growth and expansion strategy. Signing of this important agreement with Bancolombia will allow us to serve one of the region's major players," explained Sisco Sapena, CEO and founder of Lleida.net. The Spanish traded corporation - whch provides services to banks such as Wizink, Bankinter, Banco Pichincha or Compartamos Financiera in Peru - has been working on a pilot basis with Bancolombia since March 2021.



The company, whose subsidiary in the American country dates back to 2014, expects this contract to represent 25 per cent of its total operation in the country in three years. Similarly, Lleida.net has been granted three patents by the Colombian authorities and is the official provider of registered electronic contracting and notification services for 4-72, Colombia's postal services company.

In total, the company has already accumulated more than 200 patents granted by authorities in 64 countries worldwide. Among the countries that have recognized the company's innovations are, in addition to the United States, the European Union and all its member states, Colombia, China and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Lleida.net was listed on the current BME Growth in 2015 and on Euronext Growth in 2018. At the end of 2020, it was listed on the OTCQX Best Market index in New York. A few days ago, the company announced its intention to buy the electronic signature company Indenova, exceeding seven million euros. This company, precisely, has a team of 20 people in Colombia and has been operating in the country for years, which will further consolidate Lleida.net's operation in the region. Contact:



The Paloma Project

Media, rpl@thepalomaproject.com

+356-7946-7486 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lleidanet-signs-three-year-contract-with-bancolombia-colombias-leading-bank-301331410.html SOURCE Lleida.net

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[July 12, 2021] "Indian Space Program is much developed and more advanced than Chinese" says veteran space scientist Prof. R.S.Vasagam

- Chandigarh University honors Space Scientist Padma Shri Prof. R.S.Vasagam with Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian Space Program - Chandigarh University celebrates 40 years of India's first Communication Satellite-The APPLE Satellite Program CHANDIGARH, India, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Indian Space Program and the research conducted by ISRO is much more advanced that the Chinese Space Agencies as we have indigenously developed the technology and have not been dependent on other countries," said Padma Shri Prof. R.M.Vasagam, veteran Space Scientist and Project Director of APPLE. He was speaking during the 40 years celebrations of APPLE Satellite in Space organized by Chandigarh University. APPLE Satellite happens to be India's first communication satellite which played a foundation role for development of the INSAT and other Communication Satellite by the ISRO. Prof. Mylswamy Annadurai, Space Scientist also known as Moon Man of India, Dr. Manpreet Singh Manna, Chairman IEEE Photonics Society, Dr. L.V Muralikrishna Reddy, President BRICS FEO joined the 40 years celebrations of APPLE Satellite Project in which Aerospace, Mechatronics, Mechanical, Electronics & Communication and Computer Science Engineering students of Chandigarh University also took part. Chandigarh University honored Prof. R.M.Vasagam with Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution in Indian Space Program.



While replying to the question about the competition from China in the field of Space Technology, Prof. Vasagam said, "Chinese youth are spearheading the space missions like Mars Rover, Moon Mission and if India wants to counter the competition from China then its youth have to come forward and choose Aerospace Engineering as their career." He further added that, "Robotics is playing an important role in space technology and in future the field of robotics would be contributing bigtime in the futuristic space exploration missions so pursuing a career in the emerging fields of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Mechatronics will open multiple avenues for Indian Youth."

"In order to remain competitive in the business of Space Technology, India has to offer cost-effective solutions to the countries who do have resources to run a space program but have the ambition to have one to meet the future needs" added Prof. Vasagam. While recalling the memories of the APPLE Project Prof. R.M Vasagam said, "APPLE opened a gateway of opportunities for India as it was crucial to establish the telecommunication network in the country and it also played a role for developing the futuristic communication satellites such as INSAT which placed India amongst the select league of countries having its own bunch of communication satellites." Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai said, "India's space program is doing well and there are various areas such as Remote Sensing, Space Exploration where India is doing much more than China. He further added that, "In the Mars Mission also India succeeded in its first attempt itself in comparison to China. The only difference between India and China Space Programs is the budget allocation and also number of professionals working in the respective countries. In India only 18000 people are working in the space program as compared to more than 2 Lac in China." Speaking on the occasion Dr. Manpreet Singh said, "The launch of APPLE satellite was just the beginning of success of Indian Space Program and if we look today India has successfully launched more than 300 satellites". Prof. R.M Vasegam applauded the efforts of Chandigarh University in the field of Science & Technology especially in Aerospace Engineering as the University is already working on the development of Student Communication Satellite which will be launched into the space by 2022. Recently Chandigarh University has also become the first university of North India to launch a course on Satellite System Design and Building. About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and an autonomous educational institution approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Website: https://www.cuchd.in/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1571747/Prof_RM_Vasagam_CU.jpg

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PC Demand Remained Strong in the Second Quarter Amid Early Signs That Market Conditions May Be Cooling, According to IDC

The surge in PC demand continued through the second quarter of 2021 (2Q21) despite global component shortages and logistics issues. Worldwide shipments of Traditional PCs, inclusive of desktops, notebooks, and workstations, reached 83.6 million units in 2Q21, up 13.2% from the second quarter of 2020, according to preliminary results from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker. Elevated demand for PCs combined with shortages that greatly impacted the supply of notebooks led to desktop growth outpacing that of notebooks during the quarter.

"The PC market's hot streak continued to drive heavy investments from the supply side including the entry of new vendors as well as additional spend from underdogs," said Jitesh Ubrani research manager for IDC's (News - Alert) Mobile and Consumer Device Trackers. "And while the top 5 continue to drive volume, the smaller vendors have helped drive growth by offering unique features or niche designs."

Though annual growth remains quite high, it has begun to taper off as the 13% growth rate in 2Q21 is far lower than the 55.9% growth in 1Q21 and 25.8% growth in 4Q20. "The market faces mixed signals as far as demand is concerned," said Neha Mahajan, senior research analyst with IDC's Devices and Displays Group. "With businesses opening back up, demand potential in the commercial segment appears promising. However, there are also early indicators of consumer demand slowing down as people shift spending priorities after nearly a year of aggressive PC buying."







Top 5 Companies, Worldwide Traditional PC Shipments, Market Share, and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q2 2021 (Preliminary results, shipments are in thousands of units) Company 2Q21

Shipments 2Q21 Market

Share 2Q20

Shipments 2Q20 Market

Share 2Q21/2Q20

Growth 1. Lenovo (News - Alert) 20,005 23.9% 17,407 23.6% 14.9% 2. HP Inc. 18,594 22.2% 18,104 24.5% 2.7% 3. Dell (News - Alert) Technologies 13,976 16.7% 12,010 16.3% 16.4% 4T. Apple* 6,156 7.4% 5,630 7.6% 9.4% 4T. Acer (News - Alert) Group* 6,088 7.3% 5,177 7.0% 17.6% Others 18,795 22.5% 15,551 21.0% 20.9% Total 83,614 100.0% 73,879 100.0% 13.2% Source (News - Alert) : IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, July 12, 2021

Notes:

* IDC declares a statistical tie in the worldwide Traditional PC market when there is a difference of one tenth of one percent (0.1%) or less in the shipment shares among two or more vendors.

Some IDC estimates prior to financial earnings reports. Data for all companies are reported for calendar periods.

Shipments include shipments to distribution channels or end users. OEM sales are counted under the company/brand under which they are sold.

Traditional PCs include Desktops, Notebooks, and Workstations and do not include Tablets or x86 Servers. Detachable Tablets and Slate Tablets are part of the Personal Computing Device Tracker but are not addressed in this press release.

In addition to the table above, a graphic illustrating the worldwide market share of the top 5 Traditional PC companies over the previous five quarters is available by viewing this press release on IDC.com.

IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker gathers detailed market data in over 90 countries. The research includes historical and forecast trend analysis among other data.

For more information, or to subscribe to the research, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or knagamine@idc.com.

About IDC Trackers

IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, company share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly Excel deliverables and online query tools.

Click here to learn about IDC's full suite of data products and how you can leverage them to grow your business.

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.

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All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005235/en/
[July 12, 2021] Quantum Xchange Strengthens Priseda's National Private Network for Resiliency with Advanced Quantum Security

BETHESDA, Md. and SILVER SPRING, Md., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Xchange, a leading provider of quantum-safe solutions, partnered with Priseda, the private and secure data company, to bring its groundbreaking Phio Trusted Xchange (TX) key delivery system to the Priseda Private Digital Network  a fully managed, national private network built for client resiliency. The strategic partnership makes Priseda one of the first managed services providers to offer quantum-safe security solutions as part of its offering. The Priseda backup and recovery network is used by leading systems integrators, commercial businesses, and government agencies to ensure mission-critical data is continuously protected against natural disaster, cyberattacks, or other business disruptions. Quantum Xchange will provide a quantum-safe encryption architecture to secure the Priseda Network, and the data communications of its clients, with the strongest form of encryption available. Phio TX from Quantum Xchange is a simple architecture overlay that leverages an out-of-band symmetric key delivery technology to supplement native encryption with an additional key-encrypting-key (KEK) transmitted independent of the data path and through a quantum-protected tunnel. The unique solution can be deployed today to overcome the inherent vulnerabilities of Public Key Encryption (PKE)  mainly the key and data traveling together  and the quantum threat at once with no distance or delivery limitations. Users can easily increase quantum protection levels at any time with no interruptions to the network or business. Moreover, the crypto-agile technology works across any network media i.e., satellite, fiber, copper or wireless. For Priseda's federal clients and agency partners that must meet government mandates such as Section 3 of the White House Executive Order for Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity orfor those following the emerging role of quantum technologies for security and defense via NATO Article 5, Phio TX helps avoid system obsolescence and capital-intensive rip and replace scenarios by delivering a future-proof solution for protecting data from whatever threat awaits.



"With cyberattacks increasing in volume and sophistication, harvesting attacks happen now, and the age of quantum computing fast approaching, organizations must ramp up cyber defenses and resiliency efforts," said Robert Henley, CEO of Priseda. "We are pleased to work with Quantum Xchange to deliver our clients a dynamic, quantum-safe solution for future-proofing the security of their data as it travels across the Priseda Network. Together, we offer businesses and agencies a smart evolved approach that minimizes operational overhead and infrastructure costs and keeps data protected today and in the quantum future." Phio TX is superior and differs from other quantum security solutions on several fronts, most notably:

Phio TX is FIPS-validated and vendor agnostic. It can be dropped into any crypto infrastructure for immediate, quantum-safe protection today.

Phio TX is the only solution to support quantum keys from any source  Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Quantum Random Number Generated (QRNG) keys, or a combination.

Phio TX can deliver quantum-enhanced encryption keys across any network media that can carry TCP/IP v4 or v6 traffic. This includes fiber, satellite, 4G, 5G, or copper.

With Phio TX quantum key transmissions are not limited by distance and can be delivered point to multipoint.

Phio TX shores up the vulnerabilities of modern key management practices including weak entropy, keys and data traveling together, and minimal key rotation  to provide users with an instant and infinitely stronger cybersecurity posture.

Phio TX is available in a variety of deployment options, i.e., physical appliance, cloud, or edge device/VPN to meet an organization's business and budgetary requirements. About Priseda

Priseda  the Private, Secure Data company  provides managed IT solutions to a variety of commercial and government customers throughout the United States. The Priseda Private Digital Network is a fully managed, national private network that provides uncommon network resiliency to its clients  from media conglomerates to public utilities  that require resilient connectivity and IT operations for mission critical services. Priseda is headquartered in the Washington, DC metro from its Silver Spring, MD office and has locations in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Albuquerque and Phoenix. To learn more about Priseda, visit https://go.quantumxc.com/rd-priseda-ws-home. About Quantum Xchange

Quantum Xchange gives commercial enterprises and government agencies the ultimate solution for protecting data today and in the quantum future. Its award-winning key delivery system, Phio Trusted Xchange (TX), is uniquely capable of making existing encryption keys quantum safe and supports both post-quantum crypto (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for true crypto agility and quantum readiness. To learn more about future-proofing your data from whatever threat awaits, visit QuantumXC.com or follow us on Twitter @Quantum_Xchange #BeQuantumSafe. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quantum-xchange-strengthens-prisedas-national-private-network-for-resiliency-with-advanced-quantum-security-301331047.html SOURCE Quantum Xchange

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[July 12, 2021] How "free" are the Chinese?

BEIJING, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A interview with reporter Xu Ruyi from China.org.cn, on China and America's view on freedom: In the comment section of our last episode, an American user said that they (the Chinese) will never know freedom. Is that really the case? I really have done my homework on this topic. In summary, the freedom in China is more philosophical; it focuses on social connections, and is based on human decency. In contrast, America's freedom is more rebellious; it focuses on individual desires, and is based on human weaknesses. First, freedom or liberty in America originated from struggles and battles  against colonialism and slavery for example. It is probably related to the fact that the people involved had never enjoyed any real freedom in their history  this has made them very sensitive to what they consider their "freedoms". For example, many western media covered protests in America against the imposition of face masks; to a great extent those involved are actually protesting against interference in individual freedom on the part of government. In contrast, in freedom is more like a philosophical state we pursue  it's a result of a magical co-existence between Confucianism, which encourages benevolence and courtesy, and Taoism, which pursuits detachment. So, people will do what they wish without crossing certain boundaries.



Secondly, America places individual freedom and rights first. They do help each other, they do work hard; but individuals come first, and that is an absolute. In China, it's simply not possible to talk about freedom without considering the groups a person belongs to. It's more of a trade-off. For example, if I choose not to wear a face mask during the pandemic, I will alarm the people around me, and if I get infected, I may infect others and add to the medical burden. In this case, I would rather sacrifice some of my own freedom, to protect the greater freedom of others. Thirdly, Americans believe humans are born sinners; Chinese believe in natural kindness. As a result, Americans are skeptical of the intentions and motives of others, whereas Chinese are more likely to believe that their leadership is acting in their best interests. So when there is a requirement for face masks, an American will probably question first whether it represents an intrusion of his or her freedom, while the first thing that comes to a Chinese mind is more likely to be: This must be a scientific way to protect me.

Both Chinese and Americans value freedom, but both have their own definition of what it means. We cannot, in the guise of "universal values", judge something against our own standards, regardless of the other's intrinsic features. Such a one-sided approach means that the value is no longer universal. What's your take? China Mosaic

http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm How "free" are the Chinese?

http://www.china.org.cn/video/2021-07/12/content_77622381.htm View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/how-free-are-the-chinese-301331510.html SOURCE China.org.cn

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[July 12, 2021] ThreatQuotient Advances Industry Threat Intelligence Sharing With Stronger Data Curation Capabilities

ThreatQuotient, a leading security operations platform innovator, is addressing an industry need for more curated and data-driven threat intelligence with the availability of ThreatQ Data Exchange. Built on the foundation of ThreatQuotient's flexible data model and support for open intelligence sharing standards, ThreatQ Data Exchange makes it simple to set up bidirectional sharing of any and all intelligence data within the ThreatQ platform and scale sharing across multiple teams and organizations of all sizes. ThreatQ Data Exchange provides the ability to granularly define data collections for sharing, and easily connect and monitor a network of external systems with which to share data. Data collections are built using the existing Threat Library user interface and allow users to define the groupings of data they want to share, and can incorporate any data available in the Threat Library and are not limited to specific object types or attribute types. These data collections can be used for single connection feeds, reused for feeds to multiple external systems, and also used for internal analysis within the Threat Library and Custom Dashboards. "An analyst's ability to efficiently share focused, curated threat intelligence has a significant impact on the success of their organization's overall security operations. ThreatQ Data Exchange is a powerful new component of the ThreatQ platform and is critical for achieving more control over the collection and dissemination of threat data," said David Krasik, Director of Product Management, ThreatQuotient. "ThreatQ Data Exchange allows our customers to create custom data feeds with their aggregated data to share within and external to their organization. By providing the flexibility to share specific threat data without limitation or worry of exposing data that organizations prefer not to share, ThreatQuotient enables a collective understanding of threats and fosters a safer way to collaborate and share intelligence." Any multi-tiered threat intelligence sharing network where control and monitoring must be available to a global administrator will gain a faster and easier way to operationalize threat intelligence by using ThreatQ Data Exchange. For example:larger government entities with distinct intel teams and missions who continuously collaborate and share relevant intel; MSSPs that provide multi-sector or geo coverage to end customers; and large or medium-sized commercial organizations with a global presence or segmented business units. Individual teams can operate according to their specific requirements and missions, and collaborate with partners without limiting the breadth of data they want to share or leaking data they want to keep private.



A principal cyber security analyst within the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) shares, "ThreatQ has enabled us to organize our Cyber Threat Intelligence into a structured database that lets us use it in ways we previously could not. The consolidation and sharing of information related to each piece of intelligence and the automated ingest of many intelligence feeds has also increased the speed at which awareness is achieved throughout the organization. We continue to pursue new ways to further push the automation and integration of ThreatQ into other security products to further utilize the intelligence we obtain through ThreatQ." Today, the DOD is leveraging the ThreatQ platform to support the warfighter in tackling the vast amounts of data they have access to, understanding relevance and priority, and effectively and efficiently taking action. With ThreatQ Data Exchange, those services can share curated, vetted threat intelligence with their peers across the DOD. Because the exchange is bi-directional and point-to-point, any one of the participating partners has the ability to identify and share threat intelligence in the form of Indicators of compromise and known related indicators to the central aggregation point for distribution to the other partners. The ability to share curated threat intelligence with security counterparts creates a force multiplier for all participants. To learn more about how the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is leveraging ThreatQ Data Exchange, please click here.

ThreatQ Data Exchange is now available for users of the ThreatQ platform. To learn more about ThreatQuotient's award-winning solutions and market-leading capabilities, please visit www.threatquotient.com. About ThreatQuotient ThreatQuotient's mission is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of security operations with a platform that accelerates and simplifies investigations and collaboration within and across teams and tools. Integrating an organization's existing processes and technologies into a unified workspace, ThreatQuotient's solutions reduce noise, highlight top priority threats and automate processes to provide greater focus and decision support while maximizing limited resources. ThreatQuotient's threat-centric approach supports multiple use cases including incident response, threat hunting, spear phishing, alert triage and vulnerability management, and also serves as a threat intelligence platform. ThreatQuotient is headquartered in Northern Virginia with international operations based out of Europe, APAC and MENA. For more information, visit https://threatquotient.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005486/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Guidepost Solutions Welcomes Experienced Investigations Professional

Guidepost Solutions, a global leader in domestic and international investigations, compliance solutions, monitoring, and security and technology consulting, today announced the hire of Jeffrey Cramer as a senior managing director based in Chicago. Cramer is an accomplished investigations and business intelligence professional with more than 20 years of experience. His body of work includes corporate investigations, fraud detection, due diligence, forensic accounting, and regulatory issues, including matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, embezzlement, cyber breaches, proxy fights, security, corporate governance, and background investigations. "Jeff has led complex international investigations around the world and is uniquely positioned to help businesses dealing with sensitive matters and international transactions," said Guidepost CEO Julie Myers Wood. "I am pleased to welcome someone of Jeff's experience and reputation to our team." Cramer as held a number of senior roles, including most recently as managing director at a global consulting firm where he led a team of investigators, forensic accountants, security personnel, and related professionals. He has also served as a senior managing director and head of the Chicago office of a large international investigative company, at which he oversaw multijurisdictional cases.



From 2000 to 2009, Cramer was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. While there, he served as senior litigation counsel responsible for trial strategy and jury arguments in all criminal trials. He has investigated a broad range of cases, terrorist organizations, public corruption, securities fraud, and regulatory and export violations. Cramer had top secret clearance while at the Department of Justice. Cramer spent the first part of his career as a prosecutor in New York City where he prosecuted federal and state trials, led complex investigations into violent and white-collar crimes, including homicides, public corruption, fraud, and money laundering.

Cramer holds a B.S. from the State University of New York at Geneseo, MBA from Northeastern University (News - Alert) , and a J.D. from Temple University Law School. He has earned commendations from the Director of the FBI, the Inspector General for HHS, and the U.S. Secret Service. He has led cases that were awarded the Federal Law Enforcement Investigation of the Year. He has also received numerous awards from the Department of Justice, including the Director's Award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team. About Guidepost Solutions LLC Guidepost Solutions is a leader in domestic and international investigations, compliance solutions, monitoring, and security and technology consulting. We work wherever your needs take us - whether on the ground around the globe - or from one of our offices located in Bogota, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Oakland, Palm Beach, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Singapore, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.guidepostsolutions.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005073/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Golden Matrix Reports Record Revenues of $1.1 Million for the Month of June, and Revenues Exceeding $2 Million in the First Two Months of Its Second Fiscal Quarter

LAS VEGAS, NV, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  Golden Matrix Group Inc. (OTCPK: GMGI), a developer and licenser of social gaming platforms, systems and gaming content, today announced it had achieved record revenues of $1 million in the month of June, and over $2 million during May and June, the first two months of the companys second fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2021. Additionally, June represents GMGIs first month to exceed one million dollars in revenues. Revenues for these first two months are up about 100% on total revenues of $1.05 million recorded in last years second fiscal quarter. GMGIs revenues are derived primarily from licensing fees received from gaming operators located in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region and integrated with the companys state-of-the-art GM-X platform. There are currently 488 operators and 4.6 million registered users across all GMGIs gaming platforms. We are exceptionally pleased by our consistent growth over this past year and our ability to reach one million dollars in monthly revenues, said Golden Matrix CEO Anthony Goodman. We fully expect this momentum to continue through both organic growth and the anticipated acquisition of gaming-related businesses that provide us entry to new vertical markets and are accretive to GMGIs earnings. Mr. Goodman added that "the rollout of the companys aggregate gambling platform (GM-Ag), its newest product offering, is expected to begin during the current month." About Golden Matrix>



Our sophisticated software automatically declines any gaming or redemption requests from within the United States, in strict compliance with current US law.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future development activities and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business and finances in general, including the ability to continue and manage its growth, competition, global economic conditions and other factors discussed in detail in the Company's periodic filings with the Security and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Connect with us:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/GMGI_Group

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goldenmatrixgroup/"

Golden Matrix Group

Contact: Scott Yan

info@goldenmatrix.com

www.goldenmatrix.com



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[July 12, 2021] Axcient's Kaitlyn Langer Honored on the 2021 CRN Rising Female Stars List

DENVER, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axcient, a leader in business availability software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Kaitlyn Langer, Senior Marketing Manager at Axcient, to its 2021 list of Rising Female Stars. This list honors up-and-coming, talented women in the IT channel whose contributions shape the IT channel's future through their leadership, tireless dedication, and innovative ideas.

"We are proud of Kaitlyn's accomplishments, her ideas, and initiatives that are driving business growth for partners," said David Bennett, Chief Executive Officer at Axcient. "Her leadership across marketing and partner engagement set her apart. We look forward to her continued accomplishments to the IT channel." Selected by the CRN editorial team, the 2nd annual Rising Female Stars list is made up of exceptional channel leadership candidates. Honorees are selected for their unique experience, expertise, impact on their partners, and dedication to the IT channel. These women play critical roles in helping their organizations maintain and grow their channel partner programs across many disciplines, including marketing, program management, and partner engagement. CRNs 2021 Rising Female Stars list recognizes professionals displaying an unwavering commitment toward channel growth and excellence. These future leaders are driving tomorrows innovations for todays organizations, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. On behalf of The Channel Company, we congratulate all the honorees. What these women are accomplishing today will define the IT channel for many years to come. The 2021 list of Rising Female Stars will be featred online at www.CRN.com/risingstars.



To learn more about Axcient or sign up for a free trial, please visit www.axcient.com. About Axcient

Axcient is an award-winning leader in business availability software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Axcient x360 empowers MSPs to Protect Everything by combining SaaS Backup, BCDR, and secure File Sync & Share into one platform and experience. Trusted by MSPs worldwide, Axcient protects business data and continuity from events such as security breaches, human error, and natural disasters. For more information, visit www.axcient.com.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn , and Facebook. Media Contact

Amanda Lee

ARL Strategic Communications for Axcient

Email: Amanda.Lee@arlpr.com





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[July 12, 2021] Pax8's Jordan Saylor Honored on the 2021 CRN Rising Female Stars List

DENVER, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pax8, the best place for IT professionals to buy cloud products, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Jordan Saylor, Director of Channel Programs at Pax8, to its 2021 list of Rising Female Stars. This list honors up-and-coming, talented women in the IT channel whose contributions shape the IT channel's future through their leadership, tireless dedication, and innovative ideas.

"Jordan's strategic leadership and keen attention to detail are instrumental in expanding Pax8's education and enablement programs," said Jennifer Bodell, Senior Vice President of Global Channel at Pax8. "She continuously seeks new opportunities to provide partners relevant, innovative, and advanced resources to drive their success with cloud technology. Jordan's dedication and commitment to our partner community are critical to Pax8's growth, and we thank CRN for including her on this esteemed list." Selected by the CRN editorial team, the 2nd annual Rising Female Stars list is made up of exceptional channel leadership candidates. Honorees are chosen for their unique experience, expertise, impact on their partners, and dedication to the IT channel. These women play key roles in helping their organizations maintain and grow their channel partner programs across many disciplines, including marketing, program management, and partner engagement. "CRN's 2021 Rising Female Stars list recognizes professionals displaying an unwavering commitment toward channel growth and excellence. These future leaders are driving tomorrow's innovations for today's organizations," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "On behalf of The Channel Company, we congratulate all the honorees. What tese women are accomplishing today will define the IT channel for many years to come."



About Pax8

Pax8 is modernizing how partners buy, sell, and manage cloud. As a born-in-the-cloud company, Pax8 simplifies the buying journey, empowering its partners to achieve more with cloud technology. The companys technology displaces legacy distribution by connecting the channel ecosystem to its award-winning transactional cloud marketplace. Through billing, provisioning, automation, industry-leading PSA integrations, and pre and post-sales support, and education, Pax8 is a proven disruptor in the market. Pax8 has ranked in the Inc. 5000 for three consecutive years  #68 in 2018, #60 in 2019, and #111 in 2020  as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the US. If you want to be successful with cloud, you want to work with Pax8. Get started today at www.pax8.com. Follow Pax8 on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com/ Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn , and Facebook. Media contact:

John Trent

PR Manager at Pax8

jtrent@pax8.com



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[July 12, 2021] Brian Dillavou Joins Emerging Companies Practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

PALO ALTO, Calif., July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, announced today that Brian Dillavou has joined the firm as a corporate partner in the Austin office. He will be a member of Wilson Sonsini's emerging companies practice, which also recently added Matt Lyons in Austin. Dillavou's hire reflects Wilson Sonsini's continued expansion of its Austin office amid rising demand from technology and life sciences companies and increasing investor activity. Dillavou represents start-ups and emerging growth companies at all stages, from formation and early-stage financings through strategic exits, such as IPOs and mergers and acquisitions. He has particular experience working with clients in the technology, fintech, and life sciences sectors. Dillavou advises start-ups and early-stage businesses on corporate legal issues; venture capital and other financings; stock options and other compensation matters; and M&A and capital markets transactions, including deals involving special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and de-SPACs. He also represents investors and financial institutions in venture financings, M&A, and capital markets transactions, including IPOs and other equity and debt financings. "Austin is very much the active and growing market we expected it to be for technology and life sciences innovators, as well as investors," said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. "Brian's strong base of early-stage company and investor relationships puts him in an excellent position as the newest member of our growing team in Austin. We're very pleased that Brian has joined us and we know his energy and experience will be of immediate value to clients." Wilson Sonsini first opened its Austin office more than 20 years ago. With the most recent partner and associate additions, the office has grown to over 20 corporate attorneysand nearly 35 attorneys overallwho represent clients in growth and established industries, including business services, communications and networking, electronics and computer hardware, internet and media, life sciences, semiconductors, software, energy, financial services and fintech, and venture and growt capital.



"With Brian joining us and our addition of Matt Lyons earlier this year, we are growing our presence, reinforcing Wilson Sonsini's strong local brand, and further strengthening our ties to the innovative companies and sophisticated investors in Austin and other leading technology markets in Texas," said Rob Suffoletta, managing partner of Wilson Sonsini's Austin office. "It's an exciting time in Austin and we are looking forward to Brian becoming part of our success story." Dillavou was previously a partner at Shearman & Sterling, where he was part of the groupled by Matt Lyonsthat founded that firm's Austin office in 2018. Before that, Dillavou worked in Andrews Kurth's Austin office, where he was promoted to partner in 2016. He began his legal career as an associate in Baker Botts' Dallas office from 2007 to 2010.

"I was drawn to Wilson Sonsini's established and unmatched brand where working closely with entrepreneurs, start-ups and leading venture capital firms is built into the fabric of the firm," said Dillavou. "It's exciting to work with a firm that has such a large range of technology-driven clients that are shaping domestic and global markets on a daily basis. I look forward to working with the team in Austin and others across the firm as Wilson Sonsini continues to grow its presence in and around the Austin area. Dillavou earned his J.D., with honors, in 2007, a master's degree in professional accounting in 2004, and a B.A. in business administration, with honors, in 2004 from The University of Texas at Austin. He is admitted to practice in Texas. About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini's services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. As the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, Wilson Sonsini's emerging companies practice (ECP) has represented the technology pioneers associated with virtually every milestone innovation. Examples include DoorDash, Google, Illumina, LinkedIn, Lyft, Netflix, Square, Tesla, and Twitter. By leveraging innovative, first-of-its-kind technology, Wilson Sonsini's ECP has made six decades of experience, top legal resources, and a global network of banks, industry resources, and VCs accessible to early-stage start-ups. For instance, the firm's ECP recently launched Neuron, a new platform that streamlines, automates, and digitizes the typical legal processes along a start-up's journey, from incorporation to exit. Just prior to that, in May 2021, the ECP introduced a new digital hub (ecp.wsgr.com) for start-ups, founders, and VCs to access its legal expertise. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in Austin; Beijing; Boston; Brussels; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brian-dillavou-joins-emerging-companies-practice-at-wilson-sonsini-goodrich--rosati-301331142.html SOURCE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

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[July 12, 2021] Helena Belem Kuly of Attivo Networks Honored on the 2021 CRN Rising Female Stars List

Attivo Networks, the industry experts in preventing identity privilege escalation and detecting lateral movement attacks, is pleased to announce today that CRN  , a brand of The Channel Company, has named Helena Belem Kuly, technology, industry and partner program director, to its 2021 list of Rising Female Stars. This list honors up-and-coming, talented women in the IT channel whose contributions shape the future of the IT channel through their leadership, tireless dedication and innovative ideas. Selected by the CRN editorial team, the 2nd annual Rising Female Stars list recognizes exceptional channel leadership candidates. Honorees are selected for their unique experience, expertise, impact on their partners and dedication to the IT channel. These women are playing critical roles in helping their organizations maintain and grow their channel partner programs across many disciplines, including marketing, program management and partner engagement. With nearly two decades of experience, Kuly is responsible for planning and executing Attivo's global marketing strategy for channel and technology partnerships. She tactfully manages the implementation of channel partner programs and marketing activities along with technology partner campaigns. "CRN's 2021 Rising Female Stars list recognizes professionals displaying an unwavering commitment toward channel growth and excellence. These future leaders are driving tomorrow's innovations for today's organizations," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "On behalf of The Channel Company, we congratulate all the honorees. What these women are accomplishing today will define the IT channel for many years to come." "Helena's recognition by CRN is a testament to her outstanding work as a strategic leader at Attivo Networs," said Carolyn Crandall, CMO of Attivo Networks. "She plays a crucial role in the development of our channel partner program and has a tremendous impact on the work we do to support our regional and global partners. Helena truly is a rising star and an invaluable asset to our organization."



The 2021 list of Rising Female Stars will be featured online at www.CRN.com/risingstars. About Attivo Networks

Attivo Networks, the leader in identity detection and response, delivers a superior defense for preventing privilege escalation and lateral movement threat activity. Customers worldwide rely on the ThreatDefend Platform for unprecedented visibility to risks, attack surface reduction, and attack detection. The portfolio provides patented innovative defenses at critical points of attack, including at endpoints, in Active Directory, and cloud environments. Data concealment technology hides critical AD objects, data, and credentials, eliminating attacker theft and misuse, particularly useful in a Zero Trust architecture. Bait and misdirection efficiently steer attackers away from production assets, and deception decoys obfuscate the attack surface to derail attacks. Forensic data, automated attack analysis, and automation with third-party integrations serve to speed threat detection and streamline incident response. ThreatDefend capabilities tightly align to the MITRE ATT&CK Framework and deception and denial are now integral parts of NIST Special Publications and MITRE Shield active defense strategies. Attivo has 150+ awards for technology innovation and leadership. www.attivonetworks.com. Follow Attivo Networks: Twitter and LinkedIn About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.  2021 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005131/en/

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[July 12, 2021] DeVry University Addresses the Educational and Financial Barriers of U.S. Students Who Need Support in Completing Their Education

DeVry University announced today its new Future-Ready Transfer Scholarship to help make higher education more affordable and earning a degree within reach. Community colleges support 40 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S., but less than 20 percent finish their degree or transfer to a four-year college or university1. Helping students navigate the college environment can help improve these outcomes, and DeVry is creating a pathway that more easily allows transfer students the opportunity to earn their degree. "With our new transfer scholarship, learners can continue with their education or pick up where they left off and earn their associate's or bachelor's degree with a scholarship designed specifically for transfer students," said Elise Awwad, chief operating officer for DeVry University. "This scholarship truly advances our mission to prepare learners to thrive in an educational environment where they can build lasting skills while completing their remaining courses with DeVry University's support, to earn their degree and realize the value of the education they've already started to invest in." Future-Ready Transfer Scholarship DeVry's Future-Ready Transfer Scholarship is a financial award provided to qualifying transfer students that can be used to help cover the cost of tuition. Transfer students can enroll in an associate's degree program with only six transferable credit hours or in a bachelor's program with a minimum of 30 transferable credit hours. Once enrolled at DeVry, students are required to maintain at least nine credit hours per semester in an associate's degree program and 12 credit hours in a bachelor's degree program with a 2.5 cumulative grade point average to maintain their scholarship eligibility. Associate's Degree Qualifying transfer students who enroll in an associate degree program are eligibl to receive $500 during their first eight-week session, and the final six credit hours are paid for at the end of the degree program for a maximum lifetime award of up to $3,584.



Bachelor's Degree Transfer students enrolling in a bachelor's degree program, are eligible to receive $1,000 during the first eight-week session and will receive approximately $6,100 to complete their last 12 credit hours for a maximum lifetime award of up to $7,168.

Alumni Tuition Benefits Recognizing that education is a lifelong process, DeVry is also offering Undergraduate Alumni Tuition Savings for eligible alumni who have graduated from DeVry or Keller and who want to re-enroll to complete a qualifying undergraduate certificate, associate or bachelor's program at DeVry. In addition to this new benefit, DeVry offers tuition savings for alumni enrolling into the university's Keller Graduate School of Management and a Master's Advantage program to help accelerate the degree program. Through DeVry's Family Forward program, family members of DeVry and Keller alumni may also be eligible for tuition savings. At DeVry, students are assigned a student support advisor who advises them on course selection, academic planning, financial aid, graduation requirements and supports them throughout their college journey. "From the moment students enroll, until graduation day and beyond, we're here to support them every step of the way. We help equip our students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today's workplace and the workforce of tomorrow," added Awwad. For more about the Future-Ready Transfer Scholarship. *Students with a prior bachelor's degree or who are awarded a certificate or degree while in bachelor's program are not eligible. About DeVry University DeVry University strives to close society's opportunity gap by preparing learners to thrive in careers shaped by continuous technological change. Founded in 1931, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs onsite and online within six areas of study: Accounting, Business, Healthcare, Technology, Liberal Arts, and Media Arts & Technology. The university is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC, www.hlcommission.org/). To learn more, visit devry.edu 1 Duffin, Erin. (2020, Feb 6). Community colleges in the United States - Statistics & Facts. Statistica. https://www.statista.com/topics/3468/community-colleges-in-the-united-states/#dossierSummary__chapter2 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005491/en/

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[July 12, 2021] Esri Provides Open Access to Key Federal Geospatial Data

Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced that in collaboration with federal agencies, it is opening up access to dozens of high-priority, high-demand national data layers, referred to by government users as National Geospatial Data Assets (NGDA). This development is critical for decision-making in areas of national concern like infrastructure development and disaster response. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005471/en/ Esri opens National Geospatial Data Assets in collaboration with federal agencies. (Photo: Business Wire) The information being made available includes cartographic boundary files and demographic data from the US Census Bureau; National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA); and the National Inventory of Dams (NID) database, managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. "Now, more than ever, it is important for citizen scientists, the academic community, GIS professionals, and app developers alike to have access to authoritative sources of information for their work," said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. "Making this federal data public empowers a wider audience to address the most pressing current challenges such as climate change, disaster relief, broadband access, and racial equity." This new collection of federal maps and apps is now accessible via ArcGIS Online. It includes over 75 national geospatial datasets on dams, bridges, federal public lands, runways, rail nodes, and more, which are regularly updated from federal sources. Those seeking this data can simply access it on the web; an ArcGISuser license is not required. Available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, anyone can use, share, and adapt the data with proper attribution. For interoperable access, these datasets will also be available as both Esri REST services and Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC), API Features. Esri will also be releasing the NGDA datasets through a custom explorer app on the launch page.



"We need to maximize the reach of geospatial data, and that means we should think of everyone as a decision-maker," said Frank Winters, president of the National States Geographic Information Council and executive director of the New York State Geospatial Advisory Council. "When our data reaches thousands or millions of people-to help them decide where to live, buy property, go to school, or start a business-our impact can scale to a point where it moves the dial of our economy. Removing barriers to high-quality spatial data, time and again, results in people using data in ways I could never predict, making interesting and meaningful contributions to their communities." The wider availability of NGDA datasets will benefit the commercial sector as well. Large companies with assets and interests spread throughout the United States, from national retailers and insurance companies to railroads and utilities, need data that cuts across cities, states, and regions. Having high-quality national data on hand will save organizations the time and money required to gather and process them.

Esri's initiative supports the broader vision of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (GDA), which seeks to empower more people to use geospatial data, and breaks down more barriers to interoperability. This is the second dataset this year the company has made available to the public that won't require an ArcGIS license to access. In June, Esri released the first-ever high-resolution (10-meter), 2020 global land-cover map. These open data services are provided through ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, the foremost collection of geographic information from around the globe, including maps, apps, and data layers. To learn more and to explore the new NGDA datasets, visit livingatlas.arcgis.com/esri_ngda_datasets/. About Esri Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations globally and in over 200,000 institutions in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com. Copyright  2021 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, ArcGIS, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005471/en/

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[July 12, 2021] EVisionaries Bring Digital Engineering Revolution

LOS ANGELES, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MSBAI, an Air Force Techstars 2020 company, has been selected for an AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 2 contract in the 20.3 cycle, in which they will adapt their GURU cognitive AI assistant to support the Air Force's digital transformation. Late last year the Air Force announced a goal to reduce time to design new aerial platforms from a decade+ down to a single year, by scaling up the utilization of simulation in design and testing to an unprecedented level. They coined the phrase 'ECreate Before You Aviate' to describe the opportunity to design, build, and test countless designs before building the physical system. Rather than "fly before you buy," digital engineering and management allows the AF to reduce the real-world learning curve, the need for physical prototyping, and modifications between production blocks. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said "Digital engineering isn't an option  it's essential. It's faster, it's cheaper, it's better." The problem is that numerous simulation packages used for aerodynamics, structures, combustion, and more  and the High Performance Computing (HPC) systems that run them  are each considered PhD-level specialties. Last year, Air Force Acquisition Chief, Dr. Will Roper said "Every new program will begin as an Esystem wars will be won and lost based on how well we digitally design." But there aren't enough experts with this kind of training! Enter MSBAI, and their autonomous system for engineering simulation. MSBAI have demonstrated GURU setting up simulations i minutes that used to take humans hours. The Air Force selected their winning proposal to AF Digital Engineering Pitch Day, entitled GURU Owns the Modeling and Simulation Tech Stack, and the excitement doesn't stop there! It's not just the Air Force in need of a transformation in digital engineering. The White House's May 2021 American Jobs Plan proclaimed:



"Despite pioneering the technology, the United States is behind in the race to manufacture electric vehiclesit is time for ...the U.S. to lead in EV manufacturing, infrastructure, deployment, and innovation." MSBAI's CEO, Allan Grosvenor, responded to the call, saying

"Simulation is regularly used by only about 1% of engineers, and the Air Force chose us to make it 100%. We think we can do the same for the EV race!" The electric vehicle market is projected to reach $5 trillion in the next decade. AFWERX is expanding technology, talent, and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capability. afwerx.com MSBAI is a privately held small business located in Los Angeles, CA, developing the cognitive AI assistant for engineering: GURU. Contact:

Allan Grosvenor, CEO

allan@msb.ai

310-954-2049 References: https://breakingdefense.com/2020/12/space-force-will-boost-reliance-on-commercial-sats-gen-raymond/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI5_LSI04vE&t=2362s https://www.airforcemag.com/roper-reveals-ngad-has-flown-but-doesnt-share-details/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/18/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan-supercharges-the-future-of-transportation-and-manufacturing https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/gm-spend-electric-vehicles-add-battery-plants-78312274 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/evisionaries-bring-digital-engineering-revolution-301331682.html SOURCE MSBAI

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[July 12, 2021] DVCon U.S. 2022 Announces Call for Extended Abstracts

GAINESVILLE, Fla., July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2022 Design and Verification Conference and Exhibition United States (DVCon U.S.), sponsored by Accellera Systems Initiative, announces its call for extended abstract proposals. The submission site for extended abstracts will be open July 12 through August 13, 2021. DVCon U.S. 2022 will be held February 28-March 3, 2022, at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, California.

We are thrilled to bring back our presenters, exhibitors and attendees for DVCon U.S. 2022, stated Vanessa Cooper, DVCon U.S. 2022 General Chair. Now in its 34th year, DVCon has become the gathering place for practicing engineers to meet with their peers, share insights and gain valuable, practical knowledge that can be applied to current and future projects. Our steering committee has put together a wide range of suggested paper topics for our 2022 program and we encourage your submissions to help DVCon U.S. continue to be the industrys must-attend design and verification technical conference and exhibition. Suggested Topics for Extended Abstracts

The call for extended abstracts solicits papers and corresponding presentations that are highly technical and reflect real-life experiences and emerging trends in various domains. Submissions are encouraged, but not restricted to, topic areas including: Verification and Validation; Safety-Critical Design and Verification; Machine Learning and Big Data; Design and Verification Reuse and Automation; Mixed-Signal Design and Verification; and Low-Power Design and Verification. Submissions may incorporate the use of EDA tools; FPGA-based designs; the us of specialized design and verification languages; assertions in SVA or PSL; the use of general purpose and scripting languages; applications of the Accellera Portable Test and Stimulus Standard 2.0; applications of design patterns or other innovative language techniques; the use of AMS languages; and IoT applications. Extended abstracts should be between 600-1200 words.



The deadline for abstract submissions is August 13, 2021. More information and guidelines can be found here. About DVCon

DVCon is the premier conference for discussion of the functional design and verification of electronic systems. DVCon is sponsored by Accellera Systems Initiative, an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating design and verification standards required by systems, semiconductor, intellectual property (IP) and electronic design automation (EDA) companies. For more information about Accellera, please visit www.accellera.org. For more information about DVCon U.S., please visit here. Follow DVCon on Facebook, LinkedIn or @dvcon_us on Twitter or to comment, please use #dvcon_us.

For more information, please contact: Laura LeBlanc Barbara Benjamin Conference Catalysts, LLC HighPointe Communications 352-872-5544 Ext. 115 503-209-2323 lleblanc@conferencecatalysts.com barbara@hipcom.com



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[July 12, 2021] eCommerce to Emerge as Mainstream Distribution Channel in Global Automotive Aftermarket by 2025

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 12, 2021 /CNW/ -- Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Global Aftermarket Outlook, 2021, finds that the global automotive aftermarket will gather momentum this year as a slowdown in new vehicle sales due to the impact of COVID-19 and aging vehicle parc will create more opportunities in the aftermarket space. With the availability of vaccines and lockdown lifts, the market is estimated to garner $478.8 billion by 2025 from $362.21 billion in 2020, an uptick at a 5.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Additionally, while the global demand will exceed the pre-COVID levels in 2022, the market will likely increase by 7.1% in 2021, with revenues from online sales in the aftermarket estimated to grow at 14%. China leads the world in terms of innovating with new business models for retail. Its vehicle population is currently only behind North America and is well poised to overtake it, resulting in tremendous demand potential. In Europe, EV servicing and repair is in demand, whereas, in North America, the preference for personal vehicles rather than shared mobility will promote used cars sales. In India, the vehicle Scrappage Policy announced at the beginning of 2021 could boost new vehicle sales and potentially help increase the used and remanufactured parts aftermarket. For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/5y7



"As customers shifted away from using public/shared transport in 2020, sales of used cars witnessed a boom during the same period across regions, thereby presenting potential business prospects for service providers to engage with independent aftermarket manufacturer (IAM) service contracts," said Anuj Monga, Mobility Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "In addition, the increasing proliferation of alternative powertrain vehicles is creating new categories in the parts and services aftermarket and promoting newer business models for fulfillment." Monga added: "Rising customer exposure to digital channels across lifestyle aspects will push aftermarket stakeholders to invest aggressively in digitization beyond parts retail and even workshop services. Market players should further explore building dedicated digital platforms on offline networks offering standardized quality services for a variety of vehicle types, especially in company and retail fleets."

Industry players should look into the following growth opportunities: Online Sales of Replacement Parts and Accessories: To leverage the heightened exposure to their websites, marketplace and pure-play operators will need to deliver higher value to their customers by ensuring delivery and fulfillment.

To leverage the heightened exposure to their websites, marketplace and pure-play operators will need to deliver higher value to their customers by ensuring delivery and fulfillment. ADAS Sensor Recalibration Services: Though most of the demand for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) sensor recalibration services is fulfilled at the original equipment (OE) dealerships, IAM stands a chance in the medium to long term.

Though most of the demand for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) sensor recalibration services is fulfilled at the original equipment (OE) dealerships, IAM stands a chance in the medium to long term. New Product Categories: Aftermarket products and services related to health, wellness, and wellbeing present a sizeable multibillion-dollar opportunity over the next three to four years. Global Aftermarket Outlook, 2021 is the latest addition to Frost & Sullivan's Mobility research and analyses is available through the Frost & Sullivan Leadership Council, which helps organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been 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 Global Aftermarket Outlook, 2021 K61B Contact: Zuzana Zukarnain

Global Corporate Communications

E: zuzana.zukarnain@frost.com

http://ww2.frost.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ecommerce-to-emerge-as-mainstream-distribution-channel-in-global-automotive-aftermarket-by-2025-301331704.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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[July 12, 2021] Cox Communications' Onsite Solar and Battery Energy System Goes Live in San Diego

The solar photovoltaics and battery energy storage project built and serviced by PowerFlex - an EDF Renewables Company is now operating at Cox Communications' corporate office in San Diego, reducing utility costs and improving sustainability at the Federal Blvd site. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005692/en/ Cox (News - Alert) Communications' onsite solar and battery energy storage, designed and built by PowerFlex, goes live at their San Diego corporate office. (l-r: Sam Attisha (Cox), Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, Councilmember Monica Montgomer-Steppe, Chanelle Hawken(Cox). (Photo: Business Wire) As the first solar plus storage project in the country for Cox Communications, the integrated onsite battery storage, carport and roof-top solar installation combined are projected to offset more than 374 tons of carbon each year, contributing to the more than 657,000 tons of CO 2 offset since 2007 by Cox Conserves, Cox Enterprise's national sustainability program. Sam Attisha, Senior Vice President and Chanelle Hawken, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for Cox Communications recentlyhosted City of San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera (District 9) and Councilmember Monica Montgomery-Steppe (District 4) for a tour of the new conservation system.



"I was impressed with Cox's system at their Federal campus and inspired by the companywide commitment to sustainability," said Councilmember Montgomery-Steppe. "Cox Communications' new energy system installation is a perfect example of the transition to our clean energy future. I look forward to seeing more of these systems installed with the roll-out of San Diego Community Power," added Councilmember Elo-Rivera.

"Sustainability and driving positive environmental change are core to the way Cox does business. We're excited our largest California facility is spearheading the use of solar power and battery storage to reduce our carbon footprint in the region," said Attisha. "This solar project will generate almost 20% of the building energy usage and move us closer to our company's goals to send zero waste to landfills by 2024 and to be carbon and water neutral by 2034." Solar reduces utility costs by decreasing energy consumption while the battery storage shifts the solar generation into the evening on-peak period of expensive power. The storage system will also be used to mitigate spikes in energy usage thereby lowering utility demand charges. Michael Robinson, Director of Microgrids and Strategic Market Development at PowerFlex commented, "PowerFlex is proud to deliver an integrated solution to Cox Communications to reduce energy costs and lessen their carbon footprint. The project demonstrates PowerFlex's comprehensive suite of flexible, turnkey solutions to transform any organization into a clean-energy facility." The integrated solar and battery energy storage system will employ EDF's Energy Management System (EMS) using real-time data to perfectly orchestrate all components of the system for optimal results. Cox has long been committed to renewables, as this project is just one of more than 40 on-site solar generation projects Cox implemented across the country. In addition to the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2034, Cox also aims to be water neutral by 2034 and achieve its zero waste to landfill goal by 2024. So far, Cox has invested nearly $140 million in more than 400 projects to get there. About PowerFlex: PowerFlex delivers commercial and industrial customers a full range of turnkey clean energy solutions: solar, storage, smart EV charging, microgrids, and energy management systems. The Company was founded in 2017 by a Caltech research group who developed a patented Adaptive Load Management (ALM) technology to optimize power consumption across a large network of charging stations. PowerFlex Systems was acquired by EDF Renewables North America in 2019, and consolidated with EnterSolar, a leading commercial solar developer, in 2021 to expand its onsite solar offerings. For more information, visit www.powerflex.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. About Cox Communications Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through technology. The largest private broadband company in America, we proudly serve six and a half million homes and businesses across 18 states. We're dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities, and the characteristics that make each one unique. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in 1898 by Governor James M. Cox. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005692/en/

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[July 12, 2021] SHAREHOLDER ACTION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Lawsuit Against Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. and Encourages Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 to Contact the Firm

The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. ("FTA" or "the Company") (NYSE: YMM) for violations of the federal securities laws. Investors who purchased the Company's shares pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's initial public offering conducted in June 2021 (the "IPO"), are encouraged to contact the firm before September 10, 2021. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.



We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com. The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. FTA's apps, Yunmanman and Huochebang, were about to be subjected to a cybersecurity review by the Chinese government. The Chinese government required the Company to suspend new user registration. The Company was directed to complete a "comprehensive self-examination of any cybersecurity risks," and "continue to improve its cybersecurity systems and technology capabilities." Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about FTA, investors suffered damages. Join the case to recover your losses. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005746/en/

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Teledyne Announces Second Quarter 2021 Earnings Webcast Details

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2021 results on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific. A press release with the second quarter financial results will be issued before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.

To access the call, go to www.teledyne.com/investors/events-and-presentations approximately ten minutes before the scheduled start time. A replay will be available at this website for approximately one month starting at 9:00 a.m. Pacific on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.







Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne Technologies' website at www.teledyne.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005771/en/
[July 12, 2021] Fastly Announces Two New Appointments to Board of Directors

Fastly, Inc. (NYSE: FSLY), provider of an edge cloud platform, today announced that it has appointed Paula Loop, previously an assurance partner at PwC and the leader of PwC's Governance Insights Center and Charles Meyers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Equinix (News - Alert) , to its board of directors effective July 8, 2021. These independent director appointments increase Fastly's Board of Directors to nine members. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005819/en/ Paula Loop, new appointment to Fastly's Board of Directors. (Photo: Business Wire) "I am thrilled to welcome Paula and Charles to the Fastly Board as we continue building and delivering a more trustworthy and secure Internet for all," said Artur Bergman, Executive Chairperson of Fastly. "Their expansive experience across consumer, retail, and internet, paired with their deep commitment to Fastly's values, make them exceptionally qualified to serve and further advance our vision of combining edge computing and security together to create the best of the Internet." Paula Loop said, "I am delighted to be joining the outstanding Fastly team. With Fastly's focus on growth and on supporting businesses through their digital transformation journeys, I'm looking forward to leveraging my backgrond in corporate governance on the Board."



Charles Meyers said, "Fastly's leadership position in the market and strong focus on combining edge computing with security makes it an exciting time to help steward the company towards continued growth and further success. I look forward to bringing my experience in scaling high-growth technology companies to the Fastly Board." "After conducting an extensive search, our Committee unanimously recommended Charles and Paula to the Fastly board. We're confident that they will be outstanding independent directors, making the interests of our shareholders and stakeholders a priority," said Aida Alvarez, Chair, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Paula Loop joined PwC in 1983 and most recently served as the Leader of PwC's Governance Insights Center, where she provided guidance to numerous boards. She previously served as PwC's New York Metro Assurance Leader and prior to that as the US and Global Talent Leader. Paula brings expertise in corporate governance, technical accounting, and SEC (News - Alert) and financial reporting matters. She currently serves on the board of Robinhood Markets Inc. and is a member of the Value Reporting Foundation Board. Charles Meyers is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Equinix, the world's digital infrastructure companyTM. He previously served as President, Strategy, Services & Innovation, as well as Chief Operating Officer, after joining Equinix in 2010 as President, Americas Region. Meyers also previously held senior operating roles at Level 3 Communications (News - Alert) and Verisign and was a member of the pre-IPO executive team at Internet Security Systems. About Fastly Fastly helps people stay better connected with the things they love. Fastly's edge cloud platform enables customers to create great digital experiences quickly, securely, and reliably by processing, serving, and securing our customers' applications as close to their end-users as possible - at the edge of the internet. Fastly's platform is designed to take advantage of the modern internet, to be programmable, and to support agile software development with unmatched visibility and minimal latency, empowering developers to innovate with both performance and security. Fastly's customers include many of the world's most prominent companies, including Pinterest, The New York Times, and GitHub. This press release contains "forward-looking" statements that are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us on the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our ability to develop edge computing and security products, our ability to invest in our platform for future growth, and our ability to deliver on our long-term strategy. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are detailed from time to time in the reports Fastly files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on Fastly's website and are available from Fastly without charge. Source (News - Alert) : Fastly, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210712005819/en/

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The COVID comeback may be stalling in Kansas City but this cowtown is ALWAYS in search of more political activists with skill in garnering taxpayer cash.



Credit to the BEST & BRIGHTEST TKC READERS who found this interesting job opening . . .



BikeWalkKC seeks an urban planner to join our leadership team and help us make walking and biking simple solutions to complex problems of mobility, equity, sustainability, health, recreation, livability, and prosperity.



Position Summary



This is a unique opportunity for a planning professional to join a mission-driven nonprofit organization and have a tangible impact on the Greater Kansas City community. The Director of Community Planning is responsible for leading all activities and functions of BikeWalkKC's value-oriented fee-for-service planning program. Duties include project management, planning and programmatic work, business development, and proposal writing.

Read more . . .

Bikewalk KC - Director of Community Planning



You decide . . .


Amid spiking numbers across the nation, the Commander-In-Chief is now taking action and putting pressure on local leaders to confront an American crime wave.



To wit, we ask . . .

CAN PREZ BIDEN CURB KANSAS CITY CRIME?!?!



Obviously he's going to need help and, as usual, there are longstanding local problems that stand in the way.

More to the point . . .



There's a horrific divide betwixt Kansas City's progressive and Democratic Party aligned political leadership vs. police. So encouragement from the Prez will have to overcome this obstacle.



Right now both Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas are feuding with cops and the police board in court . . . Obviously, cooperation in crime fighting is going to be tough.

Still, there's hope here because, at the very least there is recognition of a problem which is the first step in developing a solution.

Nevertheless . . .

Ironically, whilst Prez Biden wants COVID cash to help curb violence across the nation, it's doubtful that "defunding" police by 42 MILLION BUCKS will help reduce worsening local crime numbers. Meanwhile, Mayor Q, his supporters and paid trolls via social media still claim they'll be giving more cash to po-po.

However . . .



THERE'S STILL NO BUDGET FOR MAYOR Q'S POLICE BUDGET 'REALLOCATION' PLAN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC!!!

But I digress . . .

The point here is that amid rising crime the Prez is stepping in across the nation and literally attempting to play peacemaker.

Check the links . . .

Biden to pitch crime plan to local leaders amid wave of gun violence President Joe Biden is set to meet with a group of law enforcement officials, community groups and state and local leaders, including New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Eric Adams, to discuss his plan to address a surge in violent crime in many parts of the country over the past year.

Biden to talk crime with city, police leaders nationwide WASHINGTON (AP) - President Joe Biden will host New York City's Democratic mayoral candidate and other city and law enforcement leaders from around the country to talk about reducing crime. Eric Adams, Brooklyn borough president and the likely next mayor of New York, plus Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo are among those expected to attend the meeting Monday, according to the White House.

Biden administration urging state and local governments to use Covid relief funding to address uptick in violent crime The White House is encouraging state and local governments to use funding from the Covid relief package passed earlier this year to address a summer rise in violent crime as pandemic restrictions loosen nationwide.

Developing . . .
The new variant is giving local parents yet another moment of doubt.



Accordingly, we share a not-so-surprising glimpse of a local mom confused by contradictory reports and looming questions over the ongoing plague.

Read more . . .

Raging Delta Variant Creates New Challenges For Kansas City Parents A weekend visit to the public library is an ordinary trip for most Kansas City families. But for Overland Park resident Nikki Rogers, Saturday marked the first time her children have participated in an indoor activity since the pandemic began. "We really have just now started getting back out a little bit.

Shawnee Mission School District asks parents for back-to-school COVID-19 feedback KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With many Kansas City-area districts roughly a month from returning to school, educators are seeking feedback from parents as the coronavirus pandemic ebbs and flows. , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines that vaccinated students and educators are not required to wear masks in in-school settings.

Developing . . .
Deadly gunfire echoed through an Eastside neighborhood on Sunday afternoon.



Police are actively investigating the fatal shooting . . .

Right now we know that this is, unofficially, the 78th homicide so far in 2021 compared to 99 at this time last year during a historic murder surge. However, the current total outpaces 2019 (74), 2018 (63) and 2017 (76) at this date on the calendar.



Here's the report . . .

Around 4:15 PM officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Kensington on a shooting. Upon arrival they found an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was then pronounced deceased. Initial information received is that there was an argument between two adult males which led to the shooting. The suspect fled the scene. Detectives are currently canvassing the area for witnesses and crime scene personnel are processing the scene for evidence.



Detectives are asking if you have any information, please call the Homicide Unit at 816-234-5043. Or if you would like to remain anonymous you can do so by calling the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Check the links . . .

1 person dead following shooting in the 3000 block of Kensington Avenue KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One person died following a shooting in the 3300 block of Kensington Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The incident happened just after 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. According the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, there was an altercation between the victim and the suspect shortly before the shooting.

Kansas City police investigating homicide in the 3300 block of Kensington KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) --- One person has died following a shooting in the 3300 block of Kensington Avenue in Kansas City. The homicide happened late Sunday afternoon. This is a developing story. Stay tuned to KCTV5 News for more. KCTV5.com is now with you on the go!

One dead after argument, suspect still at large by: Zoe Jones Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One person has been pronounced dead from gunshot wounds after an argument on Sunday afternoon. Police were sent to the 3000 block of Kensington for a shooting. When they arrived at the scene they found an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds.

One man dead after shooting stemmed from an argument Sunday afternoon A man is dead after a shooting on the East Side of Kansas City, Missouri. Police said it stemmed from an argument between two men, but don't know what they were arguing about. It happened on East 30 th street and Kensington Avenue.

Developing . . .


The Kansas Reflector is well-written, professional and very respectable. It's also totally donation backed partisan garbage.

To be fair, pay-for-play coverage is also the future of journalism. Lulz.



And so we share a link to these "resources" if only to prove that Kansas progressives are worried about their future election chances now that sliver fox Anderson Cooper has single-handedly vanquished MAGA with his steel blue eyes and perfect elocution.

Read more . . .

Colyer's narrow miss in 2018 fueling resurgent GOP campaign for governor | Kansas Reflector TOPEKA - Republican Jeff Colyer is confident he would have defeated Democrat Laura Kelly in the November 2018 race for governor. The impediment to a Colyer-Kelly showdown, of course, was that Colyer fell 172 votes short of beating Kris Kobach in the closest statewide GOP primary election in Kansas history.

Jeff Colyer campaigns for Kansas governor | Kansas Reflector In 2018, Republican Jeff Colyer fell 172 votes short of beating Kris Kobach in the closest statewide GOP primary election in Kansas history. He is confident he would have beaten Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat seeking re-election in 2022. Now Colyer is competing against Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the Republican gubernatorial primary for the [...]

You decide . . .
Here's a quick aftermath report on a campaign event that threatens to thwart the ambitions of both Republicans & Democrats . . . But most the Missouri old school, good-old boy GOP.



Like it or not, the "hot date" former Guv and current MAGA dude is garnering some decent publicity and will likely influence the primary.



Take a peek . . .


Irwin Stoolmacher is president of the Stoolmacher Consulting Group, a fundraising and strategic planning firm that works with nonprofit agencies that serve the truly needy among us.
@IsaacAvilucea on Twitter

Isaac Avilucea is The Trentonians main municipal scribe. A two-time prior restraint winner and testicular cancer survivor, he relishes his reputation as the "Mean Girls" reporter that followed his 18-day stay at the now-defunct North Adams Transcript.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com.
York County's three commissioners  two Republican and one Democrat  wrote this week to the Republican state lawmaker seeking the information and raised questions about the legality of his demand, the cost to the county and their lack of staff to complete the project.
Lorraine May Roberts passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 27, 2021. She was a devoted wife and mother and friend to all who knew her. Born on October 7, 1925 to Dorothy Weust and John Henry Ennen of Terre Haute, Indiana. Lorraine graduated from Terre Haute Honey Creek High School. After gr
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Gas Engine Market in North America by End-user, Application, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025
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Over the past day, July 11, eight ceasefire violations by Russian-occupation troops were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in eastern Ukraine.

In particular, the enemy fired grenade machine guns and hand-held antitank grenade launchers near Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk); 82mm mortars  in the area of Novoselivka (16km west of Luhansk); tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns  outside New York (35km north of Donetsk); 82mm mortars and grenade machine guns  in the area of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol); hand-held antitank grenade launchers and under-barrel grenade launchers  near Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the press center of the JFO Headquarters informs.

In addition, the enemy UAVs were seen to cross the line of contact twice in the JFO area.

Ukrainian troops sustained no losses.

The Ukrainian side of the JCCC informed the OSCE SMM about the actions of the Russian-occupation troops, using the established coordination mechanism.

As of 07:00, July 12, no ceasefire violations were recorded. No casualties have been reported.

ol
Berlin has clearly determined its course on Ukraine's transit role and is doing everything in its power.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said this at a briefing on Monday, July 12.

"For us, in connection with Nord Stream 2, it is clear and important that Ukraine remains a transit country for gas. We have campaigned for this and, thank God, we can contribute, together with the European Union, to the signing of a gas transit contract between Ukraine and Russia. Thus, the course has been determined," Seibert said.

He recalled that the gas transit contract, signed at the end of 2019, would be valid until the end of 2024 and envisaged its possible extension until 2034.

Seibert declined to predict how the gas pipeline issue will be discussed at a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the evening of July 12. He added that both leaders would make brief press statements.

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Director General of Motor Sich Vyacheslav Bohuslayev says that $100 million, which he borrowed, should be repaid to Chinese investors by 2026.

The Chinese problem is on the Foreign Ministers table. It is not my problem. I have one problem: to repay the debt. We got a $100 million loan from China and it needs to be repaid in 2026. I have no other relations with the Chinese. What they violated there, what they failed under the previous president Petro Poroshenko  may the relevant bodies deal with it. I have nothing to do with it, Bohuslayev said in an interview with Ukrinform.

He also noted that he supported the President in the need to adopt a law on relations with investors and managers of enterprises of defense significance.

As Bohuslayev noted, he continues to manage the company together with the board of directors and the supervisory board.

As reported, on March 24, President Zelensky enacted the decision by Ukraines National Security and Defense Council to return the Motor Sich enterprise to state ownership adopted on March 11.

Earlier, Ukraine imposed three-year restrictive measures on Chinese citizen Jing Wang and three Chinese-based companies. The sanctions also targeted a company from the British Virgin Islands.

In January, the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed sanctions on China's Skyrizon Aircraft Holdings Limited, an investor in Ukraine's Motor Sich. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the United States wanted to warn exporters that Skyrizon had close ties to the Chinese army.

On August 6 last year, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine announced that it would assess the sale of Motor Sich for compliance with competition law.

On September 4, 2020, Chinese investors in Motor Sich submitted a Notice of Investment Dispute to the Ukrainian Justice Ministry regarding their intention to apply to an international arbitration court to recover $3.5 billion in losses from Ukraine. The working group on pre-arbitration settlement also includes a representative of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine.

It emerged in November that Chinese investors in Motor Sich had hired three law firms for the $3.5 billion lawsuit against Ukraine.

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During a working visit to Germany, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, head of the Christian Democratic Union Armin Laschet.

The candidate for the post of Chancellor from the CDU/CSU bloc thanked the President of Ukraine for the visit to the office of the North Rhine-Westphalia in Berlin immediately after his arrival in Germany. He noted that the President of Ukraine was the first foreign leader to congratulate him on his election as the new head of the CDU, the Presidents Office informs.

Volodymyr Zelensky thanked for the warm welcome and stressed that the most important thing for him was the friendly relations between Ukraine and Germany.

The President noted that Germany was an important partner of Ukraine and expressed hope that the Federal Government would continue its policy of supporting Ukraine.

"It is important for Ukraine that the next Federal Government continues its policy of supporting Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity, promoting the EU's unity on European integration of Ukraine and Ukraine's membership in NATO," he said.

Zelensky noted that more than 60% of Ukrainians support Ukraine's accession to the EU.

As noted, the Head of State informed about the security situation in the region, especially in the context of the concentration of Russian troops and armament along the Ukrainian state border. He also stressed the importance of intensifying the negotiation process to achieve peace in Donbas within the Normandy format and the Minsk process, reads the statement.

The interlocutors paid special attention to the issue of Nord Stream 2. The President of Ukraine stressed that its commissioning poses a direct threat to the energy security of the EU.

In addition, Zelensky and Laschet exchanged views on the further development of trade and economic cooperation and the establishment of an even closer partnership. "Germany is one of the most important trade and investment partners of Ukraine," said the President of Ukraine.

The parties also discussed the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the importance of further practical support from the European Union, in particular Germany, in providing vaccines to the population of Ukraine.

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Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar has welcomed the decision of the Council of the European Union to prolong sanctions against Russia over the destabilisation of Ukraine by six months.

"We welcome the decision of the Council of the EU to prolong sanctions targeting specific economic sectors of Russia over destabilisation of Ukraine until 31 January 2022. Decision was made in light of the fact that the Minsk Agreements aren't fully implemented by Russia," Dzheppar posted on Twitter.

We welcome @EUCouncil decision to prolong sanctions targeting specific economic sectors of #Russia over destabilisation of #Ukraine until 31 January 2022. Decision was made in light of the fact that #MinskAgreements aren't fully implemented by https://t.co/e2FIyk2vUA 1/2  Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) July 12, 2021

She noted that sanctions limit access to EU capital markets; prohibit forms of financial assistance and import/export/transfer of all defence-related material; ban dual-use goods for military use or military-end users in Russia; and access to sensitive technologies that can be used in Russias energy sector.

On July 12, the Council of the EU announced the decision to prolong sanctions against Russia over the destabilisation of Ukraine by six months.

The Council decision follows the latest assessment of the state of implementation of the Minsk agreements - initially foreseen to happen by 31 December 2015 - at the European Council of 24-25 June 2021. In light of the fact that the Minsk agreements are not fully implemented by Russia, EU leaders unanimously decided to roll-over the economic sanctions in place against the country.

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In 2020, Russia continued to violate human rights in occupied Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

This is stated in the Human Rights and Democracy: 2020 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office report, published on the website of the UK Foreign Office.

In particular, the report describes the human rights situation in the occupied Crimea currently occupied by Russia.

As noted, Russia continued to ignore calls to allow international monitoring organisations access to Crimea, and to remove restrictions on their access to non-government-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine, obstructing an independent assessment of the human rights situation.

In Crimea, the de facto Russian authorities continued to persecute minority groups and dissidents, using arbitrary arrests, torture, and intimidation to restrict fundamental freedoms. At least 109 political prisoners remained in detention in Russia and Crimea, including 72 Crimean Tatars, many held in inhumane conditions, subject to torture and ill-treatment, or denied medical care, reads the report.

It is emphasized that the UK provided support to human rights defenders in Crimea so that NGOs could continue to monitor human rights, and seek redress for victims of abuses.

In multilateral fora, including the OSCE, we called for international human rights monitoring missions to be granted vital access to Crimea, the report says.

It is stated that the UK will continue to urge the Russian authorities to implement its international human rights obligations.

The UK will also support the new International Crimean Platform, which will bring together the international community to support the return of Crimea to Ukraine, the report sums up.

In general, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office called the year 2020 a period of challenges. According to the report authors, in addition to serious health consequences, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated negative trends, including the deterioration of human rights and democracy situation in the world.

The Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to increase the effectiveness of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupation regime, and achieve the main goal of the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine.

The Crimean Platform will be launched at the summit on August 23, to which the President of Ukraine invites leaders of many countries.

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Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of North Macedonia Natalia Zadorozhniuk has said that given the experience of this country - the youngest member of NATO - and the state of its armed forces, nothing prevents Ukraine from joining the North Atlantic Alliance over time.

Zadorozhniuk said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

It is extremely important to provide a political solution. Let's be frank: I don't think that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are inferior to the Armed Forces of North Macedonia in terms of professionalism, preparedness, and experience. In this context, special attention should be paid to working with leading NATO countries, finding arguments, the need to convince them that they need us as much as we do. And I'm sure we have enough such arguments. This is the daily painstaking work of all branches of government. Skopje worked very hard with the capitals of the leading NATO states, in particular to get the necessary support from the United States and Germany," the ambassador said.

She also stressed that Ukraine should study more carefully examples of regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.

As a reminder, on March 27, 2020, North Macedonia joined NATO as 30th Ally.

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Representatives of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) and the diplomats of G7 countries have held a meeting to discuss the role of churches in a peacebuilding process, Ukrinform reports with reference to the UCCROs website.

The meeting was held at the invitation of British Ambassador Melinda Simmons in Kyiv on July 9. Among the participants were ambassadors and representatives of embassies of Italy, Norway, USA, Japan, Canada and some other countries.

"Religious figures shared with foreign diplomats the experience of church representatives in the Trilateral Contact Group for a peaceful settlement of the situation in Eastern Ukraine. In particular, they discussed the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the issue of internally displaced persons, the need for more active involvement of the international community in restoring religious freedom and other human rights in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, reads the report.

The participants of the meeting also exchanged views on combating domestic violence. Diplomats stressed the importance of ratification of the Istanbul Convention. In turn, religious leaders voiced some remarks to the convention, stressing the need for practical measures to combat domestic violence.

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) was established in December 1996 as an interfaith institution, aiming to unite the efforts of various denominations to focus on the spiritual revival of Ukraine, coordination of interfaith dialogue in Ukraine and abroad, participation in a legislative process on church-state issues, and the implementation of comprehensive charitable actions.

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Ambassador of Ukraine to Hungary Liubov Nepop has presented the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Fifth Class) to Hungarian philanthropist Miklos Inanci for his outstanding contribution to the development of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations.

According to the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary, since 2016 he has been organizing the rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen who took part in counteracting Russian aggression in the town of Hajduszoboszlo, which has already become a symbol of support and friendship between the two countries.

The embassy thanked him for his continued support and congratulated him on the well-deserved award.

"Today we again remind our partners and friends that the Russian aggression continues. In the last two days alone, we have two killed and three wounded Ukrainian defenders in Donbas. Therefore, it is important to increase pressure on Russia in order to end its aggression against Ukraine, de-occupy Ukrainian territories, and restore peace. We also count on the support of Hungary, the embassy noted.

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WHEN I served in combat in Iraq, I knew I was doing the right thing  fighting for freedom, both for Iraqi civilians and for the folks at home. Back then, I never would have thought wed have to fight so hard for our freedoms  including the freedom to start and grow a business absent untowa
Milledgeville, GA (31061)

Today

Mostly sunny skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
ISTANBUL, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2021 ) :The EU extended economic sanctions against Russia for six more months on Monday, accusing Moscow of destabilizing the situation in Ukraine.

"The Council decision follows the latest assessment of the state of implementation of the Minsk agreements - initially foreseen to happen by 31 December 2015 - at the European Council of 24-25 June 2021," the European Council said in a statement.

"On that occasion, EU leaders called on Russia to fully assume its responsibility in ensuring the full implementation of the Minsk agreements as the key condition for any substantial change in the EU's stance," the statement read.

"In light of the fact that these agreements are not fully implemented by Russia, EU leaders unanimously decided to roll-over the economic sanctions in place against the country," the statement added.

The sanctions that were first introduced in 2014 in response to "Russia's actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine," are now renewed until Jan. 31, 2022.

The economic sanctions limit Russian access to EU Primary and secondary capital markets and also prohibit forms of financial assistance and brokering towards Russian financial institutions, as well as further curtailing Russian access to technologies in oil production and exploration, according to the statement.

"The measures also prohibit the direct or indirect import, export or transfer of all defense-related material and establish a ban for dual-use goods for military use or military-end users in Russia," the statement added.

The bloc has been applying different sanction regimes since 2014, including asset freeze and travel restrictions in response to what it says is the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, along with Moscow's reluctance to fully implement the Minsk agreements meant to establish a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.

The EU also imposed sanctions on four Russian high-ranking officials over opposition figure Aleksey Navalny's arrest, prosecution, and sentencing under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime in March.
Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jul, 2021 ) :The European Commission said Monday it would delay its plan to propose an EU digital tax in order to not jeopardise efforts to secure a global deal on fairer taxation.

After an "extraordinary" breakthrough at G20 talks on Saturday, "we have decided to put on hold our work on a proposal for a digital levy", an EU spokesman said, a day after Washington asked Brussels to delay its tax plan.

Meeting in Venice, G20 finance ministers on Saturday endorsed a plan agreed by 132 countries to overhaul the way multinational companies, including US digital giants, are taxed.

The G20 called on negotiators to swiftly address the remaining issues and finalise the agreement by October.

They approved the result of negotiations at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for a global minimum corporate tax rate of at least 15 percent, and to allow nations to tax a share of the profits of the world's biggest companies regardless of where they are headquartered.

"What is clear is that for us (the OECD deal) is a top priority and this is also the reason why we decided to (delay) our proposal on the digital levy," said EU economic affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni.

"It is very important after such a crisis to have an important agreement on this issue," he added after a meeting between EU finance ministers and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

The European Commission has insisted its new levy plan, that was due to be unveiled later this month, would conform with whatever is agreed at the OECD and would hit thousands of companies, including European ones.

Money raised from the digital tax is intended to help pay for the bloc's 750-billion-euro post-pandemic recovery plan.

Three EU countries -- including Ireland, which has become a European base for a raft of US companies thanks to low tax rates -- have yet to sign up to the OECD agreement.

Big Tech's main lobby in Brussels, the Computer & Communications Industry Association, welcomed the delay to an EU levy that "risks derailing international efforts.""We urge all nations to immediately remove unilateral digital taxes as foreseen in the global framework," added CCIA Vice President Christian Borggreen.
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Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2021 ) :French President Emmanuel Macron announced mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for health staff on Monday as well as a tightening of restrictions to fight a recent surge in cases.

The 43-year-old said in a national address that checks on healthcare and retirement home staff would start in September, while a "Covid pass" system will be extended to restaurants, bars and other public venues from August.
Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jul, 2021 ) :The Spanish tourist regions of Catalonia and Valencia on Monday announced new measures to rein in the growing spread of coronavirus.

Regional leaders in northeastern Catalonia said all public activities must finish at half past midnight, and no more than 10 people will be allowed to gather in private or public places.

"The data are more than worrying, they are frankly very, very bad," Catalonia's public health secretary Josep Maria Argimon told reporters in Barcelona.

The whole of Spain has been facing a "rapid" and "significant" increase in the incidence of the virus for several weeks, with 368 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14 days, said Fernando Simon, the central government's chief epidemiologist.

The latest wave of the disease has hit in particular under-30s who have not been vaccinated, he added.

In the province of Valencia, south of Catalonia, a 1 to 6 am curfew was restored in 32 towns, including the regional capital Valencia, Spain's third largest city after Madrid and Barcelona. All meetings were restricted to six people.

In the face of the increase in Covid-19 cases, neighbouring France last week advised people not to travel to Spain, labelling it a "red zone" country.

Hospital occupancy numbers in Spain are increasing slowly while the death rate is not rising at all, as so many more vulnerable people have been vaccinated, Simon said.

According to the health ministry, 59 percent of Spain's 47 million people have received at least one vaccine dose, while 45 percent have been fully vaccinated.
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Kabul, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2021 ) :The top US general in Afghanistan relinquished command Monday at an official ceremony in the capital, the latest symbolic gesture bringing America's longest war nearer to its end.

At a time when the Taliban are making sweeping advances across the country, General Austin "Scott" Miller -- the highest-ranked officer on the ground in Afghanistan -- handed command to General Kenneth McKenzie, an AFP correspondent at the ceremony reported.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said since environment protection was among the foremost priorities of the present government, tree plantation had very important role in that regard

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2021 ) :Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said since environment protection was among the foremost priorities of the present government, tree plantation had very important role in that regard.

The measures taken by the Government of Pakistan for environment protection were being recognized at international level, he added while presiding over a meeting here regarding the monsoon tree plantation.

Special Assistant to the PM for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam was present in the meeting, which was attended through video-link by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Provincial Minister for Forests Muhammad Sabtain Khan, Special Assistant to the CM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafiq Malik and other senior officers.

Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib was also present in the meeting.

The prime minister was briefed in detail about the targets and strategy of the Punjab Government regarding the monsoon tree plantation. He was told that Punjab would play an effective role in the current monsoon tree plantation.

The meeting was informed that as against a mere 10 million saplings planted during 2016 to 2018 by the previous regime in Punjab, the present government had so far planted millions of saplings and trees in the province.

The provincial forests minister told the meeting that the Forests Department had set six-monthly targets for Greener Punjab.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman briefed the meeting about the tree plantation drive in the Federal Capital.

The prime minister said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province through the billion Tree Tsunami had set an example for others to follow.

He directed for early finalization of the plan regarding tree plantation at divisional and districts levels in the province of Punjab.

The prime minister further directed for the adoption of modern means not only for tree plantation but also for the monitoring of the plantation drive and its results.

He also directed to focus on ensuring the effective participation of Tiger Force, students, civil society as well as public and private institutions in the tree plantation campaign.
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The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the objections on application in Justice Qazi Faiz Issa review case

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2021 ) :The Federal board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the objections on application in Justice Qazi Faiz Issa review case.

According to the details, the FBR had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the objections of the Registrar's Office.

The appeal stated that the decision of the Registrar's Office should be quashed, the objections of the Registrar's Office should be dismissed and the case should be fixed for hearing. The appeal stated that the objections of the Registrar's Office were against the law.

The FBR stated that Justice Farz Isa review case was decided without hearing the FBR.

Sarina Isa could not explain the three properties in London, it added.

The appeal stated that Sarina Isa could not explain the transfer of funds abroad despite several FBR notices.

The FBR prayed before the court that its appeal should be accepted for hearing as a first review appeal and objections of the Registrar Office should be quashed.

It is to mention here that the federal government had also pleaded before the Supreme Court that its Apri 26 majority judgment in the Justice Qazi Faez Isa review case should not be left in the field for being manifestly and patently unjust and against the public interest and public good which defeats the judicial accountability.
The Senate on Monday passed "The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2021" to define 'torture, custody and custodial deaths' inflicted by any person, police or law enforcement agency, under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2021 ) :The Senate on Monday passed "The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2021" to define 'torture, custody and custodial deaths' inflicted by any person, police or law enforcement agency, under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The bill, moved by Senator Sherry Rehman, was also supported by Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari.

Leader of the House Dr Shahzad Waseem said that the government always supported the opposition in legislation in favor of public.

According to the statement of objects and reason of the bill "Custodial torture and deaths" was a world-wide phenomenon inflicted upon individuals irrespective of gender, religion, financial status, or health conditions.

The statement said this type of violation of human rights was alarming in Pakistan where brutal atrocities were perpetuated by police and other law enforcement agencies.

It said Pakistan needed to make torture and custodial deaths criminal as an important step in stemming widespread abuse and exploitation.

The existing provisions of Pakistan Penal Code stipulated penalties for certain acts of torture under related offenses such as "causing hurt to extort confession or to compel restoration of property", " Wrongful confinement to extort confession or compel restoration of property", or provisions governing "criminal force and assault.

" However, these provisions were either vague or not comprehensive enough to be used for criminalizing torture, or custodial deaths.

This amendment in the PPC provided definition for "torture", "Custody", and "custodial deaths" inflicted by any person, police, or law enforcement agency.

Moreover, the custodial deaths were proposed to be dealt under the offense of Qatl e amd (Section 300 of PPC.

The House also referred the four bills to concerned committees for further deliberation.

The bills included the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 [The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2021], the Establishment of Ibadat International University, Islamabad [The Ibadat International University Islamabad Bill, 2021].

The Bill to provide for the regulation of employment of domestic workers in Islamabad Capital Territory [The Islamabad Capital Territory Domestic Workers Bill, 2021] and a Bill further to amend the National Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2012 [The National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill, 2020] were also referred to concerned committee.

The Senate of Pakistan also referred a bill to make amendments in Rule 9 and insertion of Fourth schedule in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of business in the Senate. The bill was moved by Mian Raza Rabbani.
Ahead of the Global Education Meeting on July 13, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on Monday urged the decision makers and governments to prioritize the safe reopening of schools to avoid a generational catastrophe

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2021 ) :Ahead of the Global Education Meeting on July 13, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on Monday urged the decision makers and governments to prioritize the safe reopening of schools to avoid a generational catastrophe.

They said, "It's been 18 months since the COVID-19 outbreak started and education for millions of children is still disrupted. As of today, Primary and secondary schools are shuttered in 19 countries, affecting over 156 million students. This should not go on. Schools should be the last to close and the first to reopen, said a press release issued here.

They further said "In their efforts to limit transmission, governments have too often shut down schools and kept them closed for prolonged periods, even when the epidemiological situation didn't warrant it" and added that these actions were frequently taken as a first recourse rather than a last measure. In many cases, schools were closed while bars and restaurants remained open, the expressed.

"The losses that children and young people will incur from not being in school may never be recouped. From learning loss, mental distress, exposure to violence and abuse, to missed school-based meals and vaccinations or reduced development of social skills, the consequences for children will be felt in their academic achievement and societal engagement as well as physical and mental health. The most affected are often children in low-resource settings who do not have access to remote learning tools, and the youngest children who are at key developmental stages", the told.

The losses for parents and caretakers, they said, are equally heavy and keeping children at home is forcing parents around the world to leave their jobs, especially in countries with no or limited family leave policies.

"That's why reopening schools for in-person learning cannot wait. It cannot wait for cases to go to zero. There is clear evidence that primary and secondary schools are not among the main drivers of transmission. Meanwhile, the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools is manageable with appropriate mitigation strategies in most settings", they said and added, the decision to open or close schools should be based on risk analysis and the epidemiological considerations in the communities where they are situated.

"Reopening schools cannot wait for all teachers and students to be vaccinated. With the global vaccine shortages plaguing low and middle-income countries, vaccinating frontline workers and those most at risk of severe illness and death will remain a priority. All schools should provide in-person learning as soon as possible, without barriers to access, including not mandating vaccination prior to school entry".

"Ahead of the Global Education Meeting on July 13, we urge decision makers and governments to prioritize the safe reopening of schools to avoid a generational catastrophe. Closing schools mortgages our future for unclear benefits to our present. We must prioritize better. We can reopen schools safely, and we must", the also added.
(@FahadShabbir)

QUITO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th July, 2021) The Delta coronavirus variant was found in Ecuador, Health Minister Ximena Garzon-Villalba said on Monday.

"The government has always undertaken preventive measures against any virus variant, as the WHO requires.

Unfortunately, the Delta variant broke into the country's territory," the minister said.

The country has registered 10 cases of the new strain so far, the minister specified.

The Delta coronavirus strain, which is more contagious and resistant to human immunity than others, was first registered in India. It is reportedly becoming the dominant one in the world and provoking new waves of infection.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th July, 2021) The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) said Monday it has filed a complaint with the EU Commission and the EU network of consumer authorities against WhatsApp for pushing users to accept policy updates without explaining the changes.

"WhatsApp has been bombarding users for months with aggressive and persistent pop-up messages to force them to accept its new terms of use and privacy policy. They've been telling users that their access to their app will be cut off if they do not accept the new terms. Yet consumers don't know what they're actually accepting. WhatsApp has been deliberately vague about this and consumers would be exposed to far reaching data processing without valid consent. That's why we're calling on the authorities to take swift action against WhatsApp to ensure that it respects consumer rights," BEUC Director General Monique Goyens said in a statement.

WhatsApp has failed to explain the implications for users' privacy, especially regarding sharing of their data with Facebook and other third parties, the consumer protection body said.

WhatsApp's behavior is made worse by the fact that the policy in question is being reviewed by the European Data Protection Authorities for breaches, it added.

"BEUC's consumer law complaint is separate from this ongoing scrutiny but we also call on the data protection authorities to speed up their investigations. We urge the European network of consumer authorities and the network of data protection authorities to work in close cooperation on these issues," the organization said.

The new policy, which sets out differences between private and business messages, has already been banned in Germany. WhatsApp has claimed that personal messages are as private as ever, while a business that uses WhatsApp could use the content of conversations with clients for marketing.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th July, 2021) The European Union has decided to prolong economic sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2022, the EU said on Monday.

"The Council today decided to prolong the sanctions targeting specific economic sectors of the Russian Federation for a further six months, until 31 January 2022," the EU's press release read.
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EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that Brussels has to be ready to implement sanctions against the Ethiopian government should it try to impede the peace and humanitarian efforts in the conflict-rocked region of Tigray

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th July, 2021) EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that Brussels has to be ready to implement sanctions against the Ethiopian government should it try to impede the peace and humanitarian efforts in the conflict-rocked region of Tigray.

"We should be ready to use restrictive measures where we believe they are justified and necessary in advancing these goals. I believe that the situation in Ethiopia would certainly require that we consider the possibility of all options at our disposal, and the option of restrictive measures, to my understanding, must be on the table," Borrell said at a press conference, adding that the European Union was committed to facilitate the lasting peace in the region.

The hostilities in the province broke out in November 2020 after the Ethiopian government accused the Tigray People's Liberation Front, a local ruling party, of attacking a regional military base to hijack weapons and arm anti-government militia. The area has been occupied by the Ethiopian army since then, resulting in fighting with the rebels.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th July, 2021) New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will chair the so-called Informal Leaders' Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on economy, and the common response to the crisis, on July 16, the organization said on Monday.

The meetings between APEC participating countries are usually held once a year.

"This is the first time in APEC's history that leaders have [agreed to] held an extraordinary meeting at leaders' level, and it reflects our desire to navigate together out of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis," Ardern was quoted as saying by a statement.

She noted that a total of 81 million work places were lost in the participating countries over 2020, marking a record contraction since World War II and emphasizing the importance of speeding up recovery in the region.

The prime minister also said that, while certain efforts have already been made to contain the virus, including the distribution of vaccines and related goods, additional measures will be discussed at the meeting.

"Containing COVID-19 through rapid, safe, and effective vaccination; micro- and macroeconomic policy settings to sustain businesses and workers; and building more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies will all be on the agenda," Ardern explained, adding that "nobody is safe until everyone is safe."

The platform, founded in 1989, unites 21 economies in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani confirmed at a Monday meeting with US special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, Doha's commitment to facilitate the inter-Afghan dialogue to achieve peace, according to a press statement

DOHA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th July, 2021) Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani confirmed at a Monday meeting with US special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, Doha's commitment to facilitate the inter-Afghan dialogue to achieve peace, according to a press statement.

The officials had a meeting in Doha within Khalilzad's visit to the countries of Central and South Asia and the middle East, as attacks by the Taliban (banned in Russia as a terrorist organization) raged in Afghanistan.

"During the meeting, the two sides affirmed the State of Qatar's efforts and role in mediating to achieve stability in light of the ongoing developments in the field, as well as its commitment to encourage dialogue between brothers in Afghanistan and facilitate peace talks until a just and lasting political settlement is reached in Afghanistan," the statement read.

Last week, the US Central Command said the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan was 90% complete. At the same time, Commanding General Austin Miller warned that the country might be on the path to civil war after Washington and its allies are through pulling out their troops.

At the moment, Afghanistan is facing a standoff between government forces and the Taliban, who reportedly took over 85% of the country. Anti-terrorist operations are being conducted across Afghanistan to prevent further takeover.

The inter-Afghan talks began in September of 2020, but the parties were unable reach agreement on key issues, in particular on a ceasefire between the troops.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th July, 2021) The United States has not made any determination whether any atrocities are taking place in the Central African Republic (CAR) as the conflict following the presidential elections in December continues, Acting Assistant US Secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations Robert Faucher said on Monday.

"At this point in the CAR, we haven not made any determination of the atrocities occurring there," Faucher said at a press briefing when asked whether any atrocities are taking place in car today.

Earlier on Monday, the US State Department published a report with predictions of where in the world human rights violations and atrocities are most likely to take place.

The report lists Myanmar, China, Ethiopia, Iraq, Syria, South Sudan as countries with the highest risk of possible atrocities and genocide.

The violence erupted in CAR after the general election in December when opponents of Faustin Archange Touadera, who won the presidential vote, accused him of electoral fraud. Armed clashes carried out by the rebel group Coalition of Patriots for Change then broke out throughout the country. US government and military officials have expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in the country on multiple occasions.
TASHKENT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th July, 2021) Uzbekistan is not considering a return to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and did not receive invitations from its member states, Sherzod Asadov, the spokesman of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, said on Monday.

"We have not received proposals for membership in the CSTO. Plus, our law prohibits the creation of military bases and joining such organizations," Asadov said during a press conference.
(UroToday.com) In the Guideline Session II: Prostate Cancer: cN+ in newly diagnosed patients during the 2021 European Association of Urology meeting, Dr. Guillaume Ploussard, armed with more data, argues against the need for more than ADT as systemic therapy for cN+ prostate cancer. He also provides the guideline point of view on this topic.





His first slide has a diagram which he feels is the most important slide of this talk:

He notes that this depicts the current consensus between EAU guidelines and expert opinion  and basically states that node positive disease should be managed with local therapy and long-term ADT.

He then focuses on the data supporting local therapy. The first is data supporting the use of radiotherapy in the setting of node positive disease. He cites another arm of the STAMPEDE study,1 which compared ADT with radical radiotherapy against ADT alone.

As seen on the right, in the node positive patients, the addition of RT provided significant FFS benefit over ADT alone. This has led to its incorporation into the guidelines.

While similar the Data is lacking for surgery, it can likely be extrapolated. He compares the following two studies to demonstrate the potential benefit of surgery in the setting:

In these two studies, surgery (prostatectomy with LND on the left vs. LND alone on the right) was compared against ADT for node positive patients. The inclusion of radical prostatectomy appeared to confer a survival benefit over ADT alone  and over LND dissection alone!

So, it appears that local therapy is important in this patient population.

As for treatment intensification beyond just ADT, he highlights the James et al. STAMPEDE study,3 the Vale et al.4 meta-analysis, and the Eastham et al.5 B90203 trial to highlight the fact that addition of abiraterone, docetaxel and enzalutamide, respectively, resulted in improved relapse-free survival but not overall survival benefit. They all contributed to additional toxicity without overall survival benefit.

Indeed, at the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2019, there was not unanimous consensus on treatment intensification 

For men with newly diagnosed cN1 M0 prostate cancer who are fit, only 59% voted for intensification. 39% recommended ADT alone while 2% voted for no systemic therapy.

For men receiving adjuvant radiation for pN1 M0 disease, only 34% voted for treatment intensification. 65% suggested ADT alone.

He reminded the audience that the current guidelines in the EAU are to offer patients with cN1 disease a local treatment (either RP with ePLND or EBRT) with long-term ADT. This is a weak recommendation.

His main take-home points are:

1. There is no overall survival benefit from an intensified systemic therapy, only failure free survival

2. The first step to initiate intensification should be any distant metastases on conventional imaging

3. Risk of overtreating the majority of patients and under treating some locally if you intensify systemic therapy

4. Maybe the Abiraterone+RT STAMPEDE N+M0 Sub-group OS analysis (pending) may change this discussion



Presented by: Guillaume Ploussard, MD, PhD, Saint-Jean Languedoc Hospital and Institut Universitaire du Cancer  Oncopole, Toulouse, France

Written by: Thenappan (Thenu) Chandrasekar, MD  Urologic Oncologist, Assistant Professor of Urology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, @tchandra_uromd on Twitter during the 2021 European Association of Urology, EAU 2021- Virtual Meeting, July 8-12, 2021.







References:

1. Parker CC, James ND, Brawley CD, et al. Systemic Therapy for Advanced or Metastatic Prostate cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy (STAMPEDE) investigators. Radiotherapy to the primary tumour for newly diagnosed, metastatic prostate cancer (STAMPEDE): a randomised controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2018 Dec 1;392(10162):2353-2366. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32486-3. Epub 2018 Oct 21. PMID: 30355464; PMCID: PMC6269599.

2. Messing EM, Manola J, Yao et al.; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study EST 3886. Immediate versus deferred androgen deprivation treatment in patients with node-positive prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Lancet Oncol. 2006 Jun;7(6):472-9. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(06)70700-8. PMID: 16750497.

3. James ND, de Bono JS, Spears MR, et al.; STAMPEDE Investigators. Abiraterone for Prostate Cancer Not Previously Treated with Hormone Therapy. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jul 27;377(4):338-351. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1702900. Epub 2017 Jun 3. PMID: 28578639; PMCID: PMC5533216.

4. Vale CL, Burdett S, Rydzewska LHM, et al. STOpCaP Steering Group. Addition of docetaxel or bisphosphonates to standard of care in men with localised or metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analyses of aggregate data. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Feb;17(2):243-256. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00489-1. Epub 2015 Dec 21. Erratum in: Lancet Oncol. 2016 Feb;17(2):e46. PMID: 26718929; PMCID: PMC4737894.

5. Eastham JA, Heller G, Halabi S, et al. Radical Prostatectomy With or Without Neoadjuvant Chemohormonal Therapy in Localized, High-Risk Prostate Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Sep 10;38(26):3042-3050. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.00315. Epub 2020 Jul 24. PMID: 32706639; PMCID: PMC7479762.

6. Gillessen S, Attard G, Beer TM, et al. A. Management of Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer: Report of the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2019. Eur Urol. 2020 Apr;77(4):508-547. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.01.012. Epub 2020 Jan 27. PMID: 32001144.







Read the Opposing Debate:

EAU 2021: cN+ and Systemic Treatment: More than ADT Is Needed as Systemic TTT: Yes!
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The Episcopal Conference of Chad (CET) stresses the importance of including all state actors in dialogue for national unity and reaffirms the Church's commitment to working in the service of unity, justice and peace.

By Vatican News staff writer

Bishops in Chad have called for an inclusive national dialogue that brings together stakeholders in the nations socio-political life to work together toward peace.

In a recent statement, the Chadian Bishops Conference (CET) highlighted that the lack of real and sincere dialogue between Chadian socio-political actors has long plagued national life and is at the heart of current debates.

Need for national dialogue

CET further noted that the sudden April 19 demise of the Chadian president Idriss Deby Itno at the hands of military forces has brought the crises in the north-central African nation to the fore.

The death of President Deby has made this crisis obvious, and this inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation is becoming an urgent necessity in order to enable all the children of Chad to come together and agree on a new social contract that should bind them for the next few decades, the bishops said.

The inclusive national reconciliation dialogue, CET added, is supposed to bring together all the actors in the countrys socio-political life and set up a national transitional council for carrying out the necessary institutional reforms with a view to drawing up a more consensual draft constitution. However, the bishops lamented that this is slow to take shape.

Deby, who ruled Chad for 30 years, was killed while on a visit to the frontlines against a surging rebellion. He had just been announced winner of his fifth presidential election and his death created a vacuum in the countrys political scene.

Following his death, a transitional council of military officers led by Debys son, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, as interim president, has been overseeing the nations 18-month transition period. The council has also published a charter that defines the role of members expected to be appointed to the national transitional council. The charter has been largely rejected by the Chadian political opposition.

The concern of the Bishops

In the statement signed by CET president, Archbishop Edmond Djitangar Goetbe, the Bishops recalled that the first dialogue that gave birth to the fourth republic in 2018, and the other forum in 2020  a recreation of the previous one  have greatly influenced the social fabric and the way Chadians live together. The Bishops, therefore, urge the Chadian authorities in charge of the transition to learn from the lessons and failures of these forums.

More so, CET pointed at the setting up of the committee in charge of appointing the members of the future National Transition Council (CNT), expressing concern that the council does not seem to be representative of all the aspirations of the Chadian people and is already the target of much criticism in its unprecedented form.

The Bishops went on to highlight the urgent need to give the ministry in charge of dialogue and reconciliation a free hand and to give it all the means to organize this national, inclusive and reconciliatory dialogue with a view to setting up a consistent and consensual CNT.

The National Transitional Council, the Bishops insisted, can only be done after a sincere and inclusive national dialogue.

Appeal to the leaders

In the face of the situation, the Bishops appealed to Chads partners to be sensitive to the aspirations of the Chadian people for a qualitative change and for the CMT to keep its promises by bringing this transition to a successful conclusion for peace and stability in our country and in the sub-region.

Concluding, CET reaffirmed the Churchs commitment and availability to contribute in the different phases of the transition in service of the cause of unity, justice and peace for the wellbeing of all Chadian citizens.
The Catholic Church's social arm aims to help Nepal's hospitals with much-needed medical supplies such as oxygen cylinders and protective gear.

By Vatican News staff reporter

The social action arm of the Catholic Church in Nepal has launched a joint effort with US-based Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to provide much-needed medical supplies to the countrys hospitals in the current Covid-19 crisis, UCA News reported.

Helping 20 hospitals

The Caritas Nepal scheme that will run from July to September aims to provide 20 hospitals in 14 districts of Nepal with medical supplies. They include oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, face masks and personal protective equipment including isolation gowns, face shields, shoe covers, safety goggles, surgical head caps, heavy duty gloves, surgical masks, surgical gloves and hand sanitizers.

On Thursday, Caritas Nepal delivered a consignment of medical items to Paropkar Maternity and Womens Hospital in capital Kathmandu. Dr. Sunil Sharma Acharya, a physician of the hospital gratefully accepted the consignment saying the equipment will be utilized by the frontline workers in providing service to the mothers and babies who are fighting for their lives in the Covid ward of the hospital.

Devendra Pokharel, a regional manager of Caritas Nepal, said they believe the equipment will help hospitals that have struggled to serve patients when the second of wave of the pandemic triggered a high rate of infections and patients with severe respiratory problems suffered amid a shortage of oxygen. A similar consignment was handed over to Mechi Hospital in Jhapa district of eastern Nepal.

Health and humanitarian assistance

Since the pandemic last year, Caritas Nepal has carried out a range of assistance programmes for affected communities in 23 districts of the country with funding from partners and donors including the CRS.

Caritas Nepal has established 150 units of hand-washing stations established in rural and urban municipalities, distributed 10,000 units of Covid-19 safety kits (masks, sanitizer, thermal guns, etc.) to individuals, health workers, health posts, quarantine centers and humanitarian workers. It provided food relief to over 7,000 households and more than 24,000 smallholder farming households with agricultural input. In addition, it carried out a Covid-19 precautionary awareness campaign that reached out to 100,000 people.

Hindus make up for more than 81 percent of Nepals population, Buddhists account for 9 percent, Muslims 4.4 percent and Christians 1.4 percent, according to the 2011 census. Nepal has only about 8,000 Catholics but an estimated 3-5 million Protestant and evangelical Christians belong to about 12,000 churches, mostly based in the poor, rural heartland of Nepal.

Nepals Covid-19 situation

The Himalayan nation on Sunday reported 1,237 new coronavirus cases taking the overall infection tally to 655,449, The Kathmandu Post said citing the Ministry of Health and Population. The death toll so far has now reached 9,382. The number of active cases stands at 26,173. Local media say about half the infections and two-thirds of deaths have been registered since the second wave of the pandemic struck Nepal in April.

3% vaccination rate

The government has faced criticisms for negligence and unpreparedness amid a sluggish vaccination drive as the highly contagious Delta variant wreaked havoc in neighboring India. Nepals fragile healthcare system collapsed with hospitals struggling to get beds and oxygen for the overwhelming number of patients.

According to data provided by the ministry on Thursday, 2.61 million Nepalis have received their first doses of the vaccine and 933,868 both doses. This indicates that only about 3 percent of the countrys some 30 million population has been fully vaccinated so far.

Meanwhile, a little over 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine provided by the United States through the COVAX facility, an international vaccine sharing scheme, arrived in Nepal on Monday. This is the first consignment of the single-shot vaccine Nepal has received. Days earlier, 8 million doses of the Chinese Sinopharma vaccine arrived in the country.

Vaccinating as many citizens as possible has been seen as the best strategy that nations around the world are trying to implement to defeat the virus.

Political crisis

Meanwhile, the impoverished South Asian nation has been struggling with a political crisis. President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House of Representatives on December 20 and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). The president dissolved the House for a second time on May 22, announcing snap elections on November 12 and November 19. But on Monday, the Supreme Court intervened and reinstated the dissolved House, delivering a major blow to Oli who is currently heading a minority government after losing a trust vote in the House.
A team of FBI Agents and officials from the US Department of Homeland Security, but no troops, will be visiting Haiti, which is in crisis and turmoil, following the assassination of its President and wounding of its First Lady. Pope Francis on Sunday said he is praying for the country to resume a journey of peace and harmony.

By James Blears

Two of the alleged seventeen assassins detained are US Haitians, and the holders of US Passports. It`s yet to be discovered who`s the mastermind behind the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and the injuring of his wife Martine, who survived and is undergoing treatment in Miami for multiple gunshot wounds.

A group of Haitian Political Parties has signed a document appointing Head of the Senate Joseph Lambert the Interim President and Ariel Henry, who Moise nominated as Prime Minister, less than twenty four hours before he was murdered. But supposedly outgoing Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who declared a fifteen days State of Siege claims to be in charge. Claude Joseph says President Moise was tortured by the ex Colombian soldiers, who gauged out one of his eyes, before they shot him twelve times.

It`s hoped that elections could be held in September, but with the prevailing instability, this seems unlikely, as voters are wary of violence on the streets and what could occur at polling booths.

The unanswered question is just who set in motion this plot, which took at least three months to formulate, trying to wrest control of the Western Hemisphere`s poorest and most troubled nation. A ruthless attempted coup aimed directly against its fragile democracy.
Two senior health experts have warned that Cambodia is at a critical juncture where a further deterioration of the COVID-19 situation could lead to mass transmission and the overburdening of Cambodias already-fragile healthcare system.

The health experts comments come as Cambodia has reported an average of 952 cases a day and 26 deaths since June 28. The scale  both in spread and intensity  of Cambodias outbreak has been hard to assess because the Ministry of Health stopped providing provincial case counts since early May and only a few provincial administrations reveal their case numbers.

Dr. Li Ailan, the World Health Organizations representative to Cambodia, tweeted over the weekend that Cambodias COVID-19 situation was getting worse.

Cambodia is headed toward large-scale community transmission [and] overwhelmed hospital critical care capacity unless all individual [and] social measures are being implemented urgently, responsibly [and] effectively now, Li wrote on social media last Saturday.

The WHO official said Cambodian authorities should take actions to limit travel and to temporarily close all crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces to cut the line of transmission.

The weekly average cases [and] deaths are still increasing. The existing measures are not sufficient [and] new interventions are needed, she said.

The government had introduced a three-color zone system in parts of the country in April and early May, with each zone having increasing levels of restrictions. The red zones  mostly in Phnom Penh and with little movement allowed  were dismally managed by the government with residents complaining of food shortages and lack of income to support families.

Or Vandine, a Health Ministry secretary of state, also took to Twitter on Saturday to issue a dire warning about the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

We are worrying about passing the red line if people [are] still relaxing preventive measures. We must act responsibly together now to revert the situation, she wrote on Twitter.

A large-scale community transmission is in front of us now if less action [is taken] by individual & family, and NPIs [non-pharmaceutical interventions] implementations.

The Health Ministry spokesperson previously told state-run TVK on July 1 that the Alpha strain, first detected in the United Kingdom, was the dominant COVID-19 variant found among patients during the current outbreak.

Authorities have also found cases with the Delta variant of the virus  first detected in India  in imported cases of Cambodian workers returning from Thailand, but local officials and the WHO have said that the highly contagious variant is not circulating among the community.

The spike in cases comes as Phnom Penh health officials announced that more than 99 percent of the capitals adult population, around 1.7 million residents, were fully vaccinated. The vaccination drive used Chinese-made Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines and a much smaller quantity of the Indian-made AstraZeneca vaccine.

As of Monday, 4,996,723 people received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines  nearly halfway of the governments target to inoculate 10 million adults, with 1,710,079 people receiving Sinopharm jabs, 165,608 had AstraZeneca shots, and 3,121,036 were vaccinated using Sinovac.

Last week, the government indicated that it was considering giving residents a third dose but has yet to reveal if it will use Sinovac and Sinopharm for the booster shot.

The two vaccines  which have been approved by the WHO in recent months  have had their efficacies come into question, especially with the emergence of more transmissible and lethal varitants of the novel coronavirus. The United Arab Emirates is giving its residents a third dose of the Sinopharm vaccine, whereas Bahrain and Turkey followed their two-shot regimen with a booster of the U.S.-made Pfizer-BioNTech.

Yok Sambath, another Health Ministry secretary of state, told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport on Saturday, on the sidelines of receiving more vaccines from China, that state health experts were conducting studies on the vaccines effectiveness.

Regarding the effectiveness of the vaccines, like I previously stated, they can protect us from heading into severe illness or death. But if we fail to undertake preventive measures  we are easily transmitting [the virus] regardless of receiving two shots, she said.

The Cambodian Health Ministry has not been transparent about the number of fully vaccinated people that have been reinfected with the disease or if any of these cases resulted in serious symptoms or deaths.

But on Friday, the WHOs Li Ailan defended the effectiveness of the Sinovac vaccine.

All the WHO [emergency use listing] vaccines including Sinovac are still effective, especially to prevent severe disease, reduce hospitalization and deaths. However, no vaccine is 100% protective to date. We know that some people still got infected even after they have been fully vaccinated with #COVID-19, she told VOA Khmer.

Meanwhile it is essential to monitor and learn more about new variants and vaccines efficacy. WHO recommends Cambodia to continue its vaccines rollout as quickly as possible. Cambodia is progressing well towards its vaccines rollout goal and targets.

As the number of active cases creeps up since mid-May, the Health Ministry officially introduced stay-home treatment regimens on Monday for asymptomatic patients. With healthcare facilities strained for beds and resources, officials have had to create makeshift treatment facilities, including one at an abandoned hotel and wedding venues in Phnom Penh.

Health Ministry Secretary of State Ngov Kang said between 75 to 80 percent of the patients are asymptomatic, and Ngy Meanheng, who heads Phnom Penhs Department of Health, said some 1,033 patients had been receiving treatments at home in the capital.

Additional reporting by Sun Narin.
A South African court Monday began hearing an appeal launched by former President Jacob Zuma on his lengthy prison sentence in the wake of violent protests against his imprisonment.

According to Reuters, Zumas lawyers asked the court to release the 79-year-old Zuma partly on the grounds that the Constitutional Court improperly imposed the sentence in his absence.

Zuma reported to a prison facility in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal last week to begin serving a 15-month sentence on contempt of court charges after he failed to testify before a special inquiry looking into wide-ranging allegations of official corruption during his nine years in office, which ended in 2018.

His lawyers are also arguing that he will be at risk of catching COVID-19 while imprisoned.

Zuma has denied the allegation and refused to participate in the inquiry that began during his final weeks in office.

Protests spread from KwaZulu-Natal into the countrys main economic hub of Johannesburg Sunday, with several shops looted and a section of the major M2 highway closed as some protests turned violent. Reuters says television footage showed a mall ablaze in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal.

Police say 62 people have been arrested in connection with riots since Zuma was imprisoned.

The body of a 40-year-old man has been recovered from one of the shops that was set on fire over the weekend, according to police.

President Cyril Ramaphosa called for calm Sunday, urging protesters to demonstrate peacefully.

People have been intimidated and threatened, and some have even been hurt, Ramaphosa said.

Zuma, a prominent anti-apartheid fighter, remains popular despite the allegations of corruption.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police says about 800,000 people have been arrested since last year for violating COVID-19 violations.

According to the state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper, Harare Metropolitan province accounts for most of the arrests with over 236,000 people who were locked up for violating travel restrictions, gathering and failure to wear masks.

The newspaper quoted ZRP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, as saying police arrested 797,961 people for various offenses related to COVID-19 since March last year.

He is quoted as saying, Most of these arrests were for offences in relation to the Liquor Act, Road Traffic Act, operating business offences, violating movement restrictions, gathering offences, failure to wear a mask and other offences.

Bulawayo had 121,168 arrests, Manicaland (98,379), Masvingo (71,263), Mashonaland East (73,861), Mashonaland West (60 895), Mashonaland Central (56,218) and Midlands (39,644), Matabeleland South (23,569) and Matabeleland North (16,123).

Zimbabwe is currently under COVID-19 level four lockdown. Police say more than 4,000 people have so far been arrested for violating regulations since the introduction of the lockdown last week.
Zimbabweans living in South Africa have been urged to stay away from nationwide protests in the country over the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma as some of them have been captured in videos, circulating on social media platforms, looting goods in shops.

In a statement, the International Cross-Border Traders Association (ICTA), led by Dennis Juru advised all foreigners to abstain from protesting against the incarceration of former President, Jacob Zuma.

ICTA said it will ask the South African government to take drastic action against foreigners taking part in the protests and looting.

As an Association we respect the judiciary and it's rulings. We shall ask the South African government to deport any foreign nationals perpetrating protests and looting.

Some Zimbabweans have been captured on videos that have gone viral on WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms looting goods in various shops.

In one of the videos, a Zimbabwean tells people to invade a shop selling an assortment of good, including beer and meat.

The unidentified man says, Come in now. We are at Spigo Warehouse. Dont ask me how much the beer is. There are a lot of goods. Come. There is beer, meat and other commodities.

In another video in which Zimbabweans are in a room with many stolen groceries, an unidentified woman, accompanied by several others, sounds excited about their loot.

She says, There were many things (goods) that I picked up. I dont even know what some of these things are  We are going to another place.

According to Reuters, the Associated Press and Voice of America, some local looters have been captured carrying pig and cow carcasses, live chicken, refrigerators, beer, chairs, lounge suites, sofas, flour, mealie meal, coffins, dildos and other items.

AP reports that six people have been killed in skirmishes between the police and people in Zumas KwaZulu Natal region and Johannesburg. The South African government has deployed troops in KwaZulu Natal to quell the protests, sparked by the incarceration of Zuma, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court.

Zuma declined to appear before a commission led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, probing graft charges laid against him, saying Zondo should recuse himself.
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When you compare states with high vaccination rates to states that are lagging, the difference in the number of people getting Covid-19 is staggering.

Over the past week, states that have fully vaccinated more than half of their residents have reported an average Covid-19 case rate that is about a third of that in states which have fully vaccinated less than half of their residents, according to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas are the only states to have fully vaccinated fewer than 35% of their residents. Average daily case rates in each state were among the 10 worst in the country last week.

Vermont leads the nation with about 66% of its population fully vaccinated -- and while case rates there increased compared to last week, the state still had the lowest case rate in the country last week, with an average of less than one new case per 100,000 people each day.

States that have fully vaccinated more than half of their residents reported an average of 2.8 new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people each day last week, compared to an average of about 7.8 cases per 100,000 people each day in states that have vaccinated less than half of their residents.

"We really need to get more people vaccinated, because that's the solution," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Monday on "CBS This Morning." "This virus will, in fact, be protected against by the vaccine."

Across the country, more than 99% of US Covid-19 deaths in June were among unvaccinated people, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Howard Jarvis, an emergency medicine physician in Springfield, Missouri, told CNN on Monday that his sick patients are all unvaccinated.

"If they're sick enough to be admitted to the hospital, they are unvaccinated. That is the absolute common denominator amongst those patients," he said. "I can see the regret on their face. You know, we ask them, because we want to know, are you vaccinated? And it's very clear that a lot of them regret (not being vaccinated)."

The pace of vaccinations has dropped sharply in recent months. About 246,000 people initiated vaccination each day over the past week, down 88% from the April peak, and about 278,000 people became fully vaccinated each day over the past week, down 84% from the April peak, CDC data shows.

About 56.2% of Americans 12 or older are fully vaccinated.

CDC, FDA looking into risk of nerve complication after J&J shot

Federal health officials are investigating the possibility that Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine might slightly raise the risk of a rare neurological complication known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a spokesperson from the CDC said in a statement to CNN on Monday.

But even if the vaccine does raise the risk, it's still better to get vaccinated, the CDC stressed.

"GBS is a neurological disorder in which the body's immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness or in the most severe cases paralysis. Each year in the United States, an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop GBS; it is typically triggered by a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. Most people fully recover from GBS," the spokesperson said.

"Reports of GBS after receipt of the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) are rare, but do likely indicate a small possible risk of this side effect following this vaccine. Around 100 preliminary reports of GBS have been detected in VAERS after 12.8 million doses of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine administered. These cases have largely been reported about two weeks after vaccination and mostly in males, many aged 50 years and older."

The same pattern is not seen with the other two vaccines authorized in the United States, made by Moderna and Pfizer. The spokesperson said the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices would discuss the matter in an upcoming meeting.

The US Food and Drug Administration updated the label for the vaccine Monday.

"Reports of adverse events following use of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine under emergency use authorization suggest an increased risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome during the 42 days following vaccination," the updated label reads.

'Surprising amount of death' will occur in some US regions from increased cases, expert says

As the Delta variant rapidly spreads, US hot spots have seen climbing case numbers -- and an expert warns a "surprising amount of death" from Covid-19 could soon follow.

The United States is averaging about 19,455 new cases over the past seven days, a 47% increase from the week prior, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And a third of those, CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner said, come from five hot spots: Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Nevada.

"In places like Missouri where ICUs are packed, you're going to see a surprising amount of death," Reiner said Sunday.

At Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, 91% of patients in the intensive care unit are on ventilators and many are in their 20s, 30s and 40s, Chief Administrative Officer Erik Frederick told CNN on Saturday. That is especially concerning, he said, because at the peak last year there were only 40 to 50% of ICU patients on ventilators.

Typically, spikes in Covid-19 cases leads to a rise in death rates three to four weeks later as a small percentage of the infected are hospitalized and deteriorate. "We will start to see an increase in mortality in this country," Reiner said.

What is particularly frustrating for many experts, Reiner said, is that the deaths are "completely avoidable" now that vaccines are available.

"The vaccines we have work really well against this variant. It doesn't need to be this way," Reiner said.

Pfizer to brief the US on boosters

Another concern for many experts as variants spread is whether the population will need boosters for their vaccines.

Pfizer will virtually brief US government officials Monday evening regarding the potential need for booster shots of its Covid-19 vaccine, a company spokesperson and two administration officials confirmed to CNN.

The meeting is seen as a courtesy, and federal guidance on boosters is not expected to change immediately following the meeting, a senior health official said.

Last week, Pfizer/BioNTech reiterated its expectation that people may need boosters to its vaccine in six months to a year, citing waning immunity they are seeing among people who got it. The company also said it would seek emergency use authorization in August from the US Food and Drug Administration for a booster.

But some experts have argued the data is showing boosters are not necessary yet.

"Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time," the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA said. "FDA, CDC, and NIH (the National Institutes of Health) are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary."

Fauci also disputed the need at this time.

"Given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot, a boost, superimposed upon the two doses you get with the mRNA (Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccine) and the one dose you get with (Johnson & Johnson)," he told CNN on Sunday.

Further, World Health Organization leaders asked wealthy countries Monday to hold off on giving booster doses to their residents before people in other countries can even get their first doses.

"Instead of Moderna and Pfizer prioritizing the supply of vaccines as boosters to countries whose populations have relatively high coverage, we need them to go all-out to channel supply to COVAX, the Africa Vaccine Acquisition task team, and low- and middle-income countries, which have very low vaccine coverage," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a media briefing.

Experts weigh whether vaccinations should be mandated

In the United States, the now-dominant Delta variant, which is believed to be more transmissible, has driven the rising case numbers. And the variant has sparked discussions over local vaccination mandates.

Experts say vaccines are key to managing spread. With information changing rapidly, it is important to be smart about how vaccinations are mandated, George Washington University School of Medicine professor Dr. Gigi El-Bayoumi said.

"In states where there are high vaccination rates, that are like 75 or above, it makes sense to loosen up the restrictions. In places where there are not, such as some of the Southern states, it makes sense" to mandate vaccinations, El-Bayoumi said Sunday.

Mandates at the local level are a good idea, Fauci told CNN.

"We're talking about life and death situation. We've lost 600,000 Americans already, and we're still losing more people. There've been 4 million deaths worldwide," Fauci said. "This is serious business."

Fauci expects vaccine mandate hesitancy to lift when vaccines are fully approved, he said.

Right now, Covid-19 vaccines are being administered under emergency use authorizations, which Fauci said has made some people skeptical as to their safety and efficacy. But the amount of data that supports the importance and safety of the vaccines is more than anything experts have seen for an EUA, he said.

"These vaccines are as good as officially approved with all the I's dotted and T's crossed," Fauci said.

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The first day of jury selection for the long-awaited trial against the Limestone County Sheriff wrapped up Monday afternoon. The entire proceedings took place behind closed doors.

Judge Pamela Baschab ruled no one was allowed to watch the jury selection process. Limestone County Circuit Clerk Brad Curnutt told WAAY 31 there is no order from the judge, but media and members of the public are still not allowed inside because that is what the judge wants.

There were two main reasons given for the judge's decision.

First, spacing inside the new veteran museum. Curnutt says the judge was worried a juror might overhear a conversation with information about the case that could compromise the jury.

Now, there have been previous cases where members of the media were put in a separate room with a computer connected to Zoom to watch jury selection and the trial. However, attorney Michael Timberlake explained Limestone County may not have had the proper resources to make this happen outside the courthouse.

The second reason given as to why were are not allowed inside involved security. Curnutt explained there wasn't as much security at the new Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives than there would have been in the courthouse.

The proceedings took place at the museum Monday morning because officials believed they would be seeing a larger group of potential jurors at one time.

More than 500 people were summoned in the case. Attorneys were expecting around 130 people per group. However, many who were summoned were excused making the groups a lot smaller.

Curnutt could not say how big the groups are now, but they're small enough to move all proceedings back to the courthouse. However, media and members of the public were still not allowed inside. We voiced our objections since jury selection is usually open to the public.

"In the absence of some serious or significant issues, trials are a public proceeding and they are open to the public. That has always been the situation, where american jurisprudence favors the public being able to see what happens in a courtroom, so there's not any mystery as to what happens behind closed doors," Michael Timberlake said.

Timberlake says he does believe the majority of the trial will be open to the press.

Even though we aren't allowed inside the courtroom, we have a general idea of what the jury selection process looks like. Timberlake explained both sides are currently interviewing potential jurors to figure out what biases they might have and whether or not they can be a fair juror.

"Both sides are going to try and eliminate the people they think have a predisposition or have already made up their minds or that their biases, their personal biases, are going to be such that it's not going to be fair for the client," Timberlake explained.

We do not know what kind of questions potential jurors are being asked because, once again, the process is closed to the public.
After years of uncertainty with changes to a fatal stretch of road, some Madison county residents are still displeased with some recent updates.

Highway 53 stretches from Huntsville all the way to Ardmore and it's been a topic of conversation among residents and officials.

But, plans are in place to make the road safer.

WAAY-31 learned when the Alabama Department of Transportation is implementing these plans and what people have to say about them.

Many say the intersection of Harvest Road and Highway 53 is dangerous, but ALDOT is looking to make changes but that project won't begin until 2023.

"It is unfortunate that it's going to be 2 years from now. Probably a lot of fatalities are going to happen until then. The main thing we want to see, I want to see, is turning lanes," said Shanae Eden.

Shanae Eden created a petition months ago to get more attention to local government about the issues in Harvest, but these issues have been going on for years:

Fatal car accidents, extreme backed-up traffic and speeding and Chris Barnes agrees with this issue.

"They see a line of traffic going by, people are in a hurry, probably slept late, they don't want to slow down and they're on a feeder road that's coming to 53 that has no traffic signal to control to control a safe entry," he said.

ALDOT plans to widen the highway first, then add more intersections and lastly, turning lanes.

But since the construction isn't set to begin for another two years, both Barnes and Eden are growing impatient.

"53 has got to be widened and widened soon," he said. "We've been hearing in 2 years, in 2 years, in 2 years, and that's been so long ago," she said.

With North Alabama growing at an exponential rate, they both worry about an already congested area becoming even more dangerous.

"Safety is paramount. Safety is everybody's business and everybody's concern. It should be the number one concern the minute you get behind the wheel," said Barnes. "If they can't do the expansion, like they promised us a long time ago, at least help us out with some turning lanes," said Eden.

We've reached out to the Alabama Department of Transportation to see why they are waiting until 2023 to start making these changes and are waiting to hear back.
ATHENS, Ala. (AP) -

A longtime Alabama sheriff accused on theft and ethics charges is set to stand trial nearly two years after he was indicted. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday for Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely.

He has continued to serve despite facing a dozen felony counts alleging he stole campaign donations, got interest-free loans and solicited money from employees.

The 70-year-old Blakely has pleaded not guilty and announced plans to seek an 11th term in office if acquitted. While state law doesnt require the removal of a sheriff under indictment, a conviction would result in his automatic ouster.

FROM EARLIER: https://www.waaytv.com/content/news/Alabama-sheriff-heads-to-jury-trial-next-week-574770791.html

Athens, Ala:

The much-anticipated trial- delayed for more than a year due to the pandemic- for Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely begins next week.

Jury selection could take all next week before opening statements even begin.

Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely

The sheriff faces 11 charges alleging theft and ethics violations. Prosecutors also accuse the Blakely of using his position for personal financial gain.

In court documents, the 10-term sheriff is accused of using official office funds for personal gain and that he gambled while on official business.

In recent weeks, dozens of people received subpoenas to testify in the case that could drag on for more than a month, according to legal experts WAAY 31 reached out to for analysis ahead of the trail starting July 12.

Potential witnesses include current Limestone County Sheriff Office employees, Limestone County leaders, a casino employee and even a local political consultant who worked with Blakely on a recent reelection campaign.

Trent Willis owned Red Brick Strategies, and served as a consultant to Blakely. It is not clear what if any information Willis has related to the case against sheriff Blakley, but legal experts tell WAAY 31 they will be watching for what Willis has to say.

Sheriff Blakely is the longest serving sheriff in the state. He has vowed to run again in 2022 if cleared of the charges against him and remains on the job since pleading not guilty in 2019.

The sheriff is popular in the county, his public position makes finding an impartial jury, a difficult process. For a typical jury trial in the area, 100 potential jurors are summoned, but with this case, 500 summons were sent out to residents.

On July 12, Blakelys legal team and state prosecutors will begin the tedious process of interviewing potential jurors, a process that is expected to take three or four days.

WAAY 31 has confirmed one of the charges against Blakely involves a $4,000 check sent to him from Red Brick Strategies, the company Willis owned.

Since everyone involved in the case is under a judges gag order, more details about the allegations wont likely be available until witnesses take the stand later in the month.

If Blakely is found guilty, the sheriff would lose his post and could face decades in a jail cell.
MIAMI (AP)  Marlins right-hander Pablo Lopez set a major league record by striking out the first nine batters to start a game, pitching Miami past the Atlanta Braves 7-4 Sunday.

A day after the Braves lost star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. to a season-ending knee injury, their hitters had no answers for Lopezs early dominance.

Lopez set the mark on the one-year anniversary of his fathers death.

There were a lot of emotions and mixed feelings out there today. My dad meant so much to me in my progression, Lopez said. Being able to perform and get (that accomplishment) was really cool and really special.

Lopez struck out Ehire Adrianza, Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies each swinging in the first inning. He then fanned Austin Riley, Orlando Arcia and Dansby Swanson also all swinging in the second inning.

In the third, Guillermo Heredia looked at strike three, Kevan Smith went down swinging and Ian Anderson was called out on strikes.

The 25-year-old Lopez broke the mark of eight straight strikeouts to begin a game set by Jim Deshaies in 1986 and matched by Jacob deGrom in 2014 and German Marquez in 2018.

(Pablo) was on a little bit of a mission today, said Miami manager Don Mattingly, who admitted not knowing that his starting pitcher was making history. All I knew is that he punched out nine guys and really stuck with me at the time.

Mattingly knew Lopez was having a special day the first time he glanced over at the left-field scoreboard, where the pitch count was posted.

I look up there and he has 11 strikes in 11 pitches, he said. Thats when you kind of know something big is starting to happen.

Lopez (5-5) threw 30 of his first 35 pitches for strikes. The Venezuelan began the day with 102 strikeouts over 95 innings in 18 starts this season.

I wanted to execute and not leave anything out over the plate to those guys, he said I just wanted to get ahead in the count and use my purpose pitches to set up other pitches.

Adrianza became the first Atlanta hitter to put a ball in play when he grounded out on an 0-1 pitch to begin the fourth. Freeman doubled for the Braves first hit, setting up RBI singles by Albies and Arcia.

Lopez gave up three runs in six innings  after his sensational start, he didnt strike out anyone in his final three innings.

Lopez gave up five hits and walked two, with 65 of his 83 pitches for strikes.

Jesus Aguilar hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Anderson (5-5) as the Marlins ended a three-game losing streak. Jesus Sanchez tripled, doubled and singled and Miguel Rojas had three hits for Miami.

Sanchez, who enjoyed his first career three-hit game, could only marvel at Lopezs historic performance with the rest of the fielders.

Playing in left, Im kind of looking over at the other outfielders and shaking my head like what is going on in there with Pablo, Sanchez said. It was a lot of fun, for sure.

Dansby Swanson hit his 14th and 15th home runs for Atlanta.

We had a little run there (after the first three innings) and I thought we might get back in it, but it didnt happen, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.

Anderson lasted only 2 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits and five walks.
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Decatur, IL (62521)

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Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Years of a light touch approach to technology companies enabled them and their billionaire founders to grow rich, influential and powerful. Too powerful, it seems. Since last year, President Xi Jinpings government has acted to rein in these corporations -- from derailing Ant Groups blockbuster IPO to new rules curbing monopolistic practices across the internet landscape. In March, Xi warned that Beijing would target so-called platform companies that had amassed data and market dominance. This term covers a range of firms that offer services to hundreds of millions, from Didi to food delivery giant Meituan and e-commerce leaders like JD.com Inc. Didis decision to proceed with its U.S. IPO despite reported reservations from Chinas regulators was likely seen in Beijing as another example of how some technology companies viewed themselves as beyond the reach of the Communist Party. The new rules would effectively prevent such an incident from happening again.
Some state lawmakers have been active on the issue, as well. Ramos introduced a bill this year that will require Washingtons Department of Natural Resources to conduct a statewide assessment of urban tree canopy to find where its lacking. The measure, which was adopted by large, bipartisan majorities and signed into law, will also allow the agency to provide technical assistance to local governments for forest management. Half the money must go to underserved communities.
Lavie: Id be remiss not to mention the one that started it all. Stanley G. Weinbaum had a short but distinctive career, dying tragically of cancer at just 33. His short story A Martian Odyssey may read a little awkwardly in places due to its pulp nature  it was published in 1934 in Wonder Stories magazine  but it changed the science fiction field. An astronaut on Mars encounters an alien, but it is unlike any that appeared before. Weinbaums Mars is truly alien, its ecology its own, and his astronaut must puzzle the intricate relationships between creatures and habitats. Goodbye, bug-eyed monsters: Welcome, modern science fiction. Few people get to create something new. Weinbaum did, and has a crater on Mars named in his honor. I recommend The Best of Stanley G. Weinbaum for anyone interested in the history of science fiction.
If such was the case, you need not post it, because everyone will have seen it on the news. Publicly displayed elsewhere, a deceased official would be lying in repose, and one who was not a member of the government would be lying in honor.
The battle is playing out in the suburbs, too. The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday will study a zoning change that would make it possible to install 5G antennas within 30 feet of homes in residential areas, as long as theyre on existing poles or replacement poles in the same locations. Neighborhood resistance has long delayed the move, partly because of purported health fears but also because of aesthetic concerns.
I received threats from Confederate fetishists throughout the years, said Kristopher Goad, a Richmond resident and activist who came to Charlottesville for the occasion. He spoke to some of the construction workers who told him they were nervous. So I can only imagine how much [hatred] a person would receive from being the [one] with the job of removal.
U-Va. officials did not respond to requests for comment Sunday. The Daily Progress reported that the removal of the Rogers Clark statue would take several days and cost about $400,000. The university has not announced what it will do with the statue, although officials said they will confer with students and members of Charlottesvilles Native American community to decide its fate.
At least 25 states led by Republican governors have decided to end the enhanced federal benefits, which Congress created to cushion the blow of the pandemic and funded through Sept. 6. The Maryland Department of Labor has said Hogans order would affect nearly 250,000 people, the majority of whom are gig workers who typically are not eligible to receive unemployment assistance but were given the allowance under changes made by Congress.
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At the time, PBS ombudsman Michael Getler called Woodruffs donation a mistake, but Woodruff publicly pushed back: I will not be put in a position of defending the Clinton Foundation, she wrote then. But in early January 2010, less than one year into President Obamas first term, while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, the tragedy hit and we were told by relief experts that the quickest way to get a contribution to the victims, was through the William J. Clinton Foundation. It had a long-standing involvement in Haiti before the quake. To repeat, my gift was made out to the Haiti Relief Fund, not the general Clinton Foundation.
Israel freezes $200 million in tax transfers to Palestinians: Israel froze nearly $200 million in tax transfers to the Palestinians that it said represented money the Palestinians transferred to the families of attackers last year. Under interim peace deals, Israel collects hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes for the Palestinian Authority. The tax transfers are a key source of funding for the Palestinians. Israel objects to the "martyrs fund," which provides stipends to thousands of families with relatives killed, wounded or imprisoned in the conflict with Israel. The Palestinians say the payments are meant to assist families affected by the conflict.
Biden, who drafted the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994 as a senator and opposed the movement to defund the police last year as a candidate, is in the middle of conflicting impulses in his party. Many want to see widespread reforms in policing and law enforcement, pointing to the number of Black Americans who have been gunned down, often by White police officers. But some worry that going too far on reforms will create grave political risks, especially as crime rises in many urban areas.
The uprising comes as the administration has said it is conducting a Cuba policy review, which has largely consisted of talking with stakeholders and experts, including opposition leaders inside Cuba, about what its policy should be. While Biden pledged during his campaign to go back to the Obama policy of engagement with the communist government, officials have also made clear that human rights will weigh heavily in any decisions they make.
U.S. District Judge Linda V. Parker said she would rule on a request to discipline the lawyers in coming weeks. But over and over again during the more than five-hour hearing, she pointedly pressed the lawyers involved  including Trump allies Sidney Powell and L. Lin Wood  to explain what steps they had taken to ensure their court filings in the case filed last year had been accurate. She appeared astonished by many of their answers.
Nabulsi said Jordan, and especially the southern part of the country where the Shiite tombs are, has suffered economically from the Middle Easts constant turmoil. Today we need every penny we can muster to avoid financial collapse. In these dire circumstances, we simply cannot afford to be selective about the tourists we attract to the impoverished southern cities where most of the holy shrines exist, he wrote.
It remained unclear on Monday where U.S. officials stood on the need for a third shot for vulnerable Americans. While several senior officials believe it will be appropriate to recommend boosters for the elderly and immunocompromised, Pfizer still must receive emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its third dose and a CDC advisory panel must decide whether and to whom to recommend boosters. That process could take several weeks or months.
A critical U.S. ally in counterterrorism operations, the resource-poor monarchy has long been considered a bastion of stability in the region. But in recent years, as reports of high-level corruption have continued to come out and coronavirus restrictions have tightened  exacerbating economic woes already made dire by the influx of Syrian refugees  anti-government demonstrations have grown in Amman and other major cities.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gives his address to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 26, 2012. (Spencer Platt/GETTY IMAGES)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addressing the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday for what was likely to be the last time, denounced military threats against Tehran by uncivilized Zionists and attacked Western leaders as handmaidens of the devil.

But, for all the rhetoric, the Iranian leaders speech was decidedly less provocative  and less notable  than his previous seven appearances at the U.N.

The Iranian leaders U.N. visit comes at a time of heightened tension between Israel, which has warned that Tehran is close to becoming a nuclear power, and Iran, which insists that its nuclear program is peaceful. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday, has urged President Obama to take a more confrontational stance toward Iran and to clarify a set of red lines that would trigger a military response to Irans nuclear developments.

But in a speech that drew heavily on religion and history, Ahmadinejad devoted little attention to the nuclear clash, using his speech to advance Tehrans case for a greater say in world affairs as the new leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, where it is serving a three-year term as chair.

There is no doubt that the world is in need of a new world order and a fresh way of thinking, said Ahmadinejad, whose second and final term expires next year. The current abysmal situation in the world and the bitter incidents of history are due mainly to the wrong management of the world and the self-proclaimed centers of power who have entrusted themselves to the devil.

1 of 37 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  U.N. General Assembly begins annual meeting View Photos The 67th session of the U.N. General Assembly commenced this week, with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon demanding international action to stop the fighting in Syria, telling a somber gathering of world leaders Tuesday that the 18-month conflict had become a regional calamity with global ramifications. Caption The 67th session of the U.N. General Assembly met this week in New York. The conflict in Syria, the potential of Iran developing a nuclear weapon and peace in the Middle East were among the topics of the addresses. Sept. 28, 2012 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, left, and South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan during a trilateral aside the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

Shortly before the speech, the United States said that it would boycott Ahmadinejads address because he had selected a Jewish holy day, Yom Kippur, to deliver it. Israeli diplomats, who do not work on Yom Kippur and who walked out of an earlier U.N. meeting on the rule of law to protest Irans presence, also did not attend.

Several European delegations, who were represented by low-ranking diplomats and who were prepared to coordinate a walkout if provoked, sat through the lengthy speech.

Over the past couple of days, weve seen Mr. Ahmadinejad once again use his trip to the U.N. not to address the legitimate aspirations of the Iranian people but to instead spout paranoid theories and repulsive slurs against Israel, said Erin Pelton, the spokeswoman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations. Its particularly unfortunate that Mr. Ahmadinejad will have the platform of the UNGA on Yom Kippur, which is why the United States decided not to attend.

In his address, Ahmadinejad returned to a familiar theme on the excesses of American power in the world but did not specifically name the United States, instead denouncing big-power domination of the U.N. Security Council, unilateralism, application of double standards, and impositions of wars, instability and occupations to ensure economic interests.

Ahmadinejad made passing reference to some of his more controversial statements  recalling his proposal to conduct a fact-finding mission to investigate the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks  and criticized the United States for killing and throwing the culprit into the sea without trial.

But he ended with a reference to Scripture, saying the Almighty God will deliver the worlds people to a life of peace and security.
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Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes

Binge, on demand



The most extraordinary thing about the fall of Harvey Weinstein may not be how a Hollywood power player got away with what he did for so long, but rather how he got away with it for so long while hiding in plain sight.

Ronan Farrow in Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes. Credit:HBO

In one of the clip packages contained in Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes there is a flash back to 2005 when singer/actress Courtney Love is asked this on a red carpet: Do you have any advice for a young girl moving to Hollywood? Love, without a moments hesitation, replies: If Harvey Weinstein invites you to a private party at the Four Seasons, dont go.

The complex web of reporting that formed around Weinstein in the last decade follows an erratic path. Though this is the story of Ronan Farrows reporting for The New Yorker and, later, his book Catch and Kill, some credit belongs too, in broad terms, to New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who broke the story and shared the 2018 Pulitzer for public service with Farrow. (Twohey and Kantor do not appear in this documentary.)
Brian Patchett had been helping his daughter Trish plan her wedding when he was struck by a car and killed last month.

He had just turned 80, was in good health and had been excited to walk her down the aisle.

Brian Patchett (left) with his daughter Trish, wife Doris and her sister Rita.

Ms Patchett, who had been trying to get home to the Bellarine Peninsula from London for more than 18 months, was finally allowed to return to Australia and see her grieving mum, Doris. She flew into Tullamarine on July 1, two days after her father died.

However, as she sat in quarantine at the Novotel on Melbournes Collins Street, it became apparent her mother was struggling. Mourning her husband of 51 years and caring for her sister with Down syndrome, Doris told Trish she was having chest pains.
Now, 20 countries including the UK, Turkey, France, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ukraine have brought in their own versions of plain packaging legislation. Thousands of Australians still die from smoking-related diseases every year, but the rate of smoking has continued to fall. Data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey estimated about 11.6 per cent of adults smoke daily, down from 12.8 per cent in 2016 and more than half the 25 per cent who smoked in 1991. Plain packaging was not the only reform introduced to help bring down the rate. Taxes on tobacco were upped by 25 per cent in 2010, and then increased by 12.5 per cent each year from 2013 to 2020. Those increases made tobacco excise the fourth largest individual tax collected by the federal government, worth an estimated $15 billion last financial year.

While other factors including a ban on smoking in certain areas has also helped, Professor Melanie Wakefield who heads the centre for behavioural research at the Cancer Council of Victoria and was also on the advisory group to government on plain packaging implementation, said plain packaging has had a measurable impact. Plain packaging accounted for about a quarter of the total decline in smoking prevalence in three years after plain packaging. And so Australia had about 100,000 fewer smokers as a result, she says. Importantly, she says, it has also had an impact on youth smoking rates. In the last national survey, only 5 per cent of secondary school students had smoked in the last week, and that was down by a third from before plain packaging. The law passed in December 2011, and from December 2012 all cigarettes and tobacco products had to be sold in plain packaging, making Pantone shade 448C the only colour of choice for the tobacco industry in Australia.

Loading But it didnt become reality without a fight. Tobacco companies fought against what they and libertarians argued was a nanny state going too far. British American Tobacco Australia ran a national media campaign against it, arguing it would increase smoking rates through a boost to illegally imported and cheaper products. Why should Australians have to potentially foot a huge bill for experimental legislation which has not been adopted anywhere else in the world? chief executive David Crow said in May 2011. Another argument was mandatory plain packaging breached trademark laws and intellectual property rights.

Tim Wilson, who was head of the IPA at the time of the plain packaging legislation, stands by his opposition to it. Credit:Eamon Gallagher Liberal MP Tim Wilson was director of the libertarian Institute of Public Affairs at the time. He argued introducing plain packaging would cost taxpayers up to $3 billion as tobacco companies fought it through the courts. Although the court battles were won by the Commonwealth, Wilson still disagrees with the move. Health activists now talk of replicating plain packaging to other products, like they want higher taxes and sales restrictions and public warning labels. The Coalition was also broadly opposed to it. Liberal backbencher Dr Mal Washer, however, was not shy of supporting the measure, telling The Age at the time he would be voting for the legislation.

Dr Mal Washer (left) lobbied his party, under then-opposition leader Tony Abbott, to support the plain packaging rules. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen I support these reforms unequivocally and whatever my party decides to do, I dont give a shit, he said. Dr Washer spent more than two decades as a GP before joining Parliament and was highly regarded in the party room. He says a number of his colleagues at the time didnt want to see a nanny state, but hed seen first-hand just how harmful smoking could be. I was very determined that we would try and save lives with appropriate packaging, he says. And its made a difference. It has made a big difference.

Loading Professor Daub says the tenacity of Roxon was crucial in helping secure the laws. She declined to be interviewed for this story. Professor Wakefield says its time to revisit and update our tobacco regulations as the industry evolves new marketing strategies to recruit and hold customers. Theres always more to be done because the industry never stands still, its very agile, she says, pointing to gimmicks including crushable menthol capsules in filters as an example, or bonus cigarettes in packs. Loading
A cash flow boost could be offered to small business owners in a federal plan to help companies survive extended lockdowns, reprising a measure that paid up to $100,000 to employers last year.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison named the payment as one of the most effective measures used in the first wave of the pandemic last year, signalling it could be used again.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have been in talks with NSW leaders about the cash flow package. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Changes are also on the agenda to make it easier for people to receive income support through the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, which is worth up to $500 per week and paid directly to individuals.

Mr Morrison is discussing the federal package with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in the hope of announcing the details as soon as Tuesday, subject to work by federal and state officials on Monday night.
Singapore: Australia has plummeted from international standard bearer to a laggard with its approach to the pandemic but the nations beleaguered tourism industry is being told the good times will eventually return.

Speaking on Monday in Singapore, the first stop of his tour of Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and the United States, Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has predicted international tourists will be back in as great a number as before when borders reopen. That is despite other parts of the world gaining an advantage with faster vaccination rollouts allowing travel to resume.

Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan is making five stops on a two-week tour of Asia and the US. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Tehan is in south-east Asia as the Delta coronavirus variant threatens to overwhelm health systems across the region. With Sydney in its third week of lockdown, Australia has attracted renewed attention from abroad for the closed-border tactics to combating the virus that have resulted in more than 30,000 of its own citizens being unable to return home.

The UKs Financial Times on the weekend published an editorial on the fatal flaws in Australias hermit nation strategy, namely the countrys failure to match the pace of other developed countries in procuring vaccines.
Chris Umphlett and his family worked in small ways to help the 12-year-old girl from Honduras  who barely uttered a word when she arrived after crossing the Mexican border alone  feel comfortable in their Michigan home.
Louisville, KY (40203)

Today

A few hit or miss storms and a touch less humid..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a few showers and patchy fog
Louisville Metro Police say Michael Ethington, 44, was last seen on July 6. His family told police he may be in danger, and they fear for his safety.
A woman carries a basin with her belongings at the Petion-Ville market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, July 11, 2021, four days after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
From Peru to Utah, Weber States ESL Program Changes Seamstress Life

July 13, 2021

During the summer wedding season, Romy Ingram spends at least 10 hours a day at her five well-oiled industrial sewing and serger machines on the top floor of her home in Syracuse, Utah. The main floor of her house is for her dressing and showroom. Because she is always looking for ways to better engage with clients, Ingram is improving her English skills by participating in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program offered by Weber State Universitys Division of Online & Community Education.

When I arrived in the United States, I was very emotional and nervous as my English was not very good, said Ingram. One of my biggest goals  one out of many  was to learn English and have my own business in the near future.

The ESL program hosted at WSUs Community Education Center (CEC) opened in 2017 at 2605 Monroe Blvd. in Ogden. It now serves approximately 300 students each year. So far, all have been first-generation immigrants. The 11-week courses are offered in four different levels. Classes meet twice a week for two hours.

Each class focuses on teaching English grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, conversation and listening skills, said Morteza Emami, CEC program administrator. Once students complete the last ESL class at the CEC, they are given an opportunity to take two classes at the LEAP program (Learning English for Academic Purposes), which prepares students for academic classes at WSU.

Students receive substantial scholarship help to take the LEAP classes for credit.

Ingram, a native of Peru, is not one to shy away from challenging situations or self improvement. When she was a 9-year-old living in northern Peru, her mother died. All of the children in her family went to live with different relatives and friends. She got to live with her grandmother.

As a young woman, she left her hometown and moved to Lima to study sewing and clothing manufacturing. She attended a technical school for five years, learning patterns, different stitches, techniques and machines. After she completed her training, she successfully worked as a seamstress for a number of years.

Although Ingram was doing well with her business in Peru, she wanted more for her family and herself. She felt like she and her three children would have more opportunities in the U.S., so she decided to begin the immigration process. When she started her paperwork, she learned that she would be able to bring her two younger daughters with her, but not her son because he was legally an adult. It was important to her that they stay together the best they could, so she and her family made a difficult choice. She would come to the U.S. and work while her children stayed behind in Peru with their father until all of them could come together.

Ingram arrived in Florida and worked as a housekeeper for several years. She knew almost no English and was able to visit her children once or twice a year only. While she was separated from them, she continued to work diligently on her childrens residency applications.

After three years, her children joined her, and they moved to Utah. She then met and married her husband Tony while completing the immigration process. She worked in a grocery store bakery for a few years before being able to restart her sewing business.

When I worked in the bakery, my coworkers and I spoke 75% Spanish. Ingram said.I felt a sense of belonging and community. However, it was very hard work, and I wanted to sew again.

Ingram knew that she would need to improve her English skills to work better with local clientele. She examined her options and learned about WSUs ESL program from an acquaintance. She completed the first course in July 2019. She began her second 11-week class on July 12.

The school was not only accommodating to my busy schedule of a working single mom but also to my budget, Ingram said. I still remember the first day I started my classes. I was so excited and eager to learn everything I could about the English language. I asked many questions, maybe too many, and everyone was so kind and helpful in helping me achieve this dream.

With a better understanding of English and the help of her new stepdaughter, Ingram was able to build a website for her business, M & G Creations and now works on about 20 dresses at times during the prom and wedding seasons.

Learning English is a foundational skill that transforms our student's lives by opening doors for employment and career advancement, said Luis Lopez, CEC director. In a time when immigrants can be judged unfairly, we are proud to show that our residents are looking for opportunities. Weber State University offers the means, and our students the grit. The results are successful students, happier families and a stronger community.

Ingram plans on applying for full U.S. citizenship within the next few months. I am beyond satisfied with the ESL program, she said. It has truly helped me find my very own American Dream.

For more information about Weber States ESL Program, visit this website.

For photos, visit this link.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
What an amazing year for World's Best! This competition has never been as competitive as it was for 2021! The community known competition saw more than 13,000 nominations in round 1 which made up more than 2,300 businesses, people, and places across our community.

CHECK OUT THE WINNERS
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- It's been quite a wet start to the month of July, and as we begin to forget what the sun even looks like, many are wondering how long is this going to last and exactly how rare is it, or how about what's even causing all the rain to begin with?
The Ohio County Sheriff's Office says a Beaver Dam man is facing 27 different charges related to the sexual abuse/rape of juvenile victims.

The sheriff's office said its investigation into 58-year-old Tony Lunsford of Beaver Dam began back in May of 2021 after he was accused of sexually abusing multiple female juveniles over the years.

After the Ohio County Grand Jury met in May, the sheriff's office says Lunsford was indicted on two counts of Rape 1st Degree Victim Under 12 and on 15 counts of Sexual Abuse 1st Degree Victim Under 12.

On Monday, the sheriff's office released new information surrounding the case against Lunsford.

OCSO said Monday that another juvenile victim had come forward, leading to the indictment of Lunsford on 25 counts of Sexual Abuse 1st Degree Victim Under 12 and two counts of Rape 1st Degree Victim Under 12.

Lunsford remains lodged in the Ohio County Detention Center.

The sheriff's office says that this is an ongoing investigation.

Anyone who may have more information on Lunsford should contact 270-298-4445 and ask to speak to Detective Pate.
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New questions are being raised about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Tomislav Jakic

As the date of complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan nears, more and more often we hear comments in which this withdrawal is compared with (literally) the escape of US military forces from the South Vietnam in the seventies of the last century. Even more, as the Taliban, who were the main objective of Nato (and in fact the US) military intervention in Afghanistan are rapidly taking control of all major parts of the country, including the border crossings to several neighboring countries, for example Iran. Washington, as could have been expected, rejects such comparisons, although they are very founded and although it is almost certain that the Taliban will gain control over the whole country after the withdrawal is completed. Just as the communist forces from North Vietnam once took over the south, thus uniting the country in todays Vietnam.

Tomislav Jakic war und ist einer der einflussreichsten Journalisten in Ex-Jugoslawien und in Kroatien. Er beobachtet seit mehr als 50 Jahren die internationalen Beziehungen und war auenpolitischer Berater des kroatischen Prasidenten Stipe Mesic (2000 bis 2010). -  privat

Both in Afghanistan, and in Vietnam the withdrawal of foreign troops was preceded by a yearlong war in which, according to some estimates, more than seventy thousand Afghans and Pakistani were killed, leading to a situation in which today almost 50 percent of the population of Afghanistan is just surviving below the poverty line. In Vietnam everyone in the south who have in any way cooperated with the Americans, suffered, if nothing else than being sent for a long-term "re-education" in special camps. In Afghanistan, those who have cooperated with Nato forces, if only as translators, openly fear for their lives in the country under the rule of the Taliban. In the south of Vietnam, hundreds of people floated for weeks on small boats along the coast, in the vain hope that they will be picked up by their American friends, whose warships will suddenly appear on the horizon. They didnt come.

So wie einst aus Vietnam ziehen sich die US-Truppen nun nach 20 Jahren Krieg auch aus Afghanistan zuruck. -  afp / Romana Manpreet

In Afghanistan, having in mind the example of South Vietnam, people who have worked with foreign forces have no illusions. Thus, a wave of refugees towards neighboring already started, and there is no doubt that this wave will reach Europe as well. The war lasted for twenty years and, the longest war the US waged in its short history. And although President Joe Biden successfully avoids triumphant phrases a typical for George Bush junior, such as: "Mission accomplished," even his milder variant: "Goals achieved" does not corresponds to the truth.

If the goal was to fight against terrorism and Al Queida, then the target was reached in liquidating Bin Laden and breaking up of this organization, meaning that the time for withdrawal from Afghanistan was during the Obama mandate, when Biden was vice president. If, however, the goal was to destroy the Taliban, then the war in Afghanistan, is a total US failure (it would be wrong to say that Americans are the losers, because the biggest loser the people of Afghanistan). And a failure it was. Not only because the eradication of the Taliban failed, but primarily because the Taliban are "American offsprings" (just like Bin Laden), summoned to life and supported both financially and militarily, only to hamper Soviet troops after their intervention in Afghanistan (1979), with the clear aspiration to turn Afghanistan in some sort of "Soviet Vietnam". Yes, the Soviets did militarily intervene after they estimated that the government of the nonaligned Afghanistan could become close to the West. After ten years of fighting they understood that this attempt has no perspective and retreated - organized with a commander-general who was the last to cross the bridge at the border at the rear of his troops (unlike the Americans who escaped by helicopters from the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon and now left Bagram, their largest air base in Afghanistan under cover of night (although they claim to have informed the military forces of the Afghan government which, given the situation on the ground, would be more correct to call the Kabul government, or the government in Kabul .

It is also not true what President Biden claims when he says that the purpose of the American intervention in Afghanistan was not "nation building". Because a profound reform of the Afghan society was something that was considered to be one of the key tasks of Nato forces, since the Taliban pushed the country back to the Middle Ages (which will probably do again now). At the same time, it is forgotten that Afghanistan until the overthrow of King Mohammed Zahir Shah was a relatively advanced Asian country, with this "advanced" referring primarily to the position of women in society and the education system.

"The inclusion of women in social life, schooling of girls is emphasized as a major success of intervention by foreign forces, as if this never existed before in a country that gave a birth to the Prince of Physicians Ibn Sina/Avicenna" - reminds us notable Afghan scholar, prof. Djawed Sangdel. And indeed, it seems as if those forces that have emerged under American greatcoats did not destroyed such Afghanistan. Today, the country is literally devastated by twenty years of war, and the only result of those twenty years, the only thing that has progressed, is the cultivation of poppies, that is, the smuggling of opium.

This author remembers well the conversation of the then Croatian president, Stjepan Mesic with his Afghan counterpart Karzai in which Karzai complained that the Americans are putting him under pressure to destroy poppies farms, arguing that he neither can nor will do this, because in this case half of the country would starve, being stripped of this source of income.

And one more question arises, when we try to analyze the implications of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The intervention in this country which took place soon after the famous attacks on the New York "twins" was conceived as intervention of the Atlantic Pact. And nominally it was. But if one views things, as they really are, it must be admitted that Nato (in this case too) acted as an extended arm of US policy; just as now, as soon as the United States announced its decision to withdraw its troops, and Nato hastily brought the decision to withdraw troops from their member countries too. Pointing up this fact, and it is a fact, that cannot be blurred by any rhetorical figure, we want to say that the member states of Nato, should wisely think twice (at least now, if they have not done this so far), what is the purpose of Nato, precisely what is the purpose of Nato, if it is acting as Washingtons puppet on the string.

We have also in mind the "enthusiastic" sending of troops to the border with Russia, in order to prepare Europe for defense against "Russian aggression". To whom and what goal serves such a Nato, to whom and to what goal does serve the policy of violent overthrow and / or establishment of regimes in other countries, to whom and to what goal does serve the policy of imposing certain social (and economic) framework to countries that want to go their own way, to whom and to what goal does serve the continuation of the anti-Russian hysteria, especially after Biden - Putin summit, which was supposed to open, or at least ajar new chapter in relations between the two countries?

As for Afghanistan - to come back to the beginning of the story - Bidens statement that it is "not necessarily inevitable" that Afghanistan will be conquered by the Taliban after the US (Nato) withdrawal, it is simply hypocritical. It wont be long before reality denies it. But. The US are not giving up their efforts to be present in Afghanistan in the future too. Washington tries "to hire" some allies in the region to take a role in attempt to keep the government in Kabul alive. The term "proxy wars" is nothing new!

To summarize: in Afghanistan, the world will follow a kind of reprise of what happened in Vietnam in the past, so the phrase "already seen" (deja vu) makes a lot of sense. And secondly, no less important, the United States loses its credibility with such moves, in other words, those who are American allies should consider the price of such a "partnership", that is, how much it pays off. And if it pays off at all.
LONDON (AP)  Top officials at the World Health Organization say there's not enough evidence to show that third doses of coronavirus vaccines are needed and appealed Monday for the scarce shots to be shared with poor countries who have yet to immunize their people instead of being used by rich countries as boosters.

At a press briefing, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world's grotesque vaccine disparity was driven by greed, as he called on drugmakers to prioritize supplying their COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries instead of lobbying rich countries to use even more doses. His plea comes just as pharmaceutical companies are seeking authorization for third doses to be used as boosters in some Western countries, including the U.S.

We are making conscious choices right now not to protect those in need, Tedros said, adding the immediate priority must be to vaccinate people who have yet to receive a single dose.

He called on Pfizer and Moderna to go all out to supply COVAX, the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team and low and middle-income countries with very little coverage, referring to the U.N.-backed initiative to distribute vaccines globally.

After a 10-week drop in global coronavirus deaths, Tedros said the number of COVID-19 patients dying daily is again beginning to climb and that the extremely infectious delta variant is driving catastrophic waves of cases.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have agreed to supply small amounts of their vaccines to COVAX, but the vast majority of their doses have been reserved by rich countries. The U.N.-backed effort has faltered badly in recent months, with nearly 60 poor countries stalled in their vaccination efforts and their biggest vaccine supplier unable to share any doses until the end of the year.

Pfizer met with top U.S. officials on Monday to discuss its plans to seek authorization for a third dose. Last week, the company said the booster could dramatically ramp up immunity and perhaps help ward off worrisome variants  even as U.S. health authorities stressed that fully vaccinated Americans are strongly protected and don't need boosters yet.

Both Pfizer and the U.S. government share a sense of urgency in staying ahead of the virus that causes COVID-19, and we also agree that the scientific data will dictate next steps, the company said in a statement late Monday.

It's not unusual for manufacturers to brief regulators before filing new data, and a U.S. government spokesperson said the information is just one piece of evidence authorities will use in deciding if, when and for whom a booster might be necessary.

Britain is also considering a possible booster vaccination plan in the fall, which would likely target those over 50 and the most vulnerable.

But WHOs top experts disputed the need for a booster in fully immunized people.

At this point ... there is no scientific evidence to suggest that boosters are definitely needed, said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHOs chief scientist. Swaminathan said WHO would make recommendations on booster doses if they were needed, but that any such advice has to be based on the science and data, not on individual companies declaring that the vaccines should now be administered as a booster dose."

Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO's emergencies chief, suggested that if rich countries decide to administer booster shots rather than donating them to the developing world, we will look back in anger and I think we will look back in shame.

He said the failure to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity, coupled with rich countries' refusal to share shots with poor countries, was extremely disappointing.

This is people who want to have their cake and eat it," he said. "Then they make some more cake and they want to eat that as well.

Some have called the idea of booster shots morally repugnant, given the increased spread of COVID-19 now being seen in some African countries.

Tom Hart, acting CEO of the ONE campaign, an advocacy group, noted that just 1% of people in poor countries have received even one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

"The idea that a healthy, vaccinated person can get a booster shot before a nurse or grandmother in South Africa can get a single jab is outrageous, he said.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

___

Associated Press writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.
The Stewart Bell Jr. Archives at Handley Library shared this photo of Robert W. Burks (first row, second from left) and 11 other men  possibly fellow Winchester Post Office employees  at an unidentified business occasion. Date estimated as c. 1990s. If you can identify any of the men in the photo, call the archives at 540-662-9041, ext. 17, or email archives@handleyregional.org.
Skateboarding is having a moment.

Once just a popular subculture, the sport has not only become mainstream, its about to hit the big-time as it makes its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics this summer.

And that momentum is being bolstered by female and non-traditional skateboarders who are determined to grow the sport.

The skateboard was invented in California around the middle of the 20th century and although women have long been participants, they have not always been afforded the same visibility as men  and the gap is even more glaring for gender-nonconforming riders.

Canadian LGBTTQ+ pro-skater Annie Guglia will provide a boost not only to the visibility of the sport but also to the women and queer athletes who make up the community. She is a lesbian and will represent Canada as one of 12 skaters to make up the countrys first national skateboard team at the Olympics.

Non-traditional skateboarders have always been part of the culture, even if they havent always enjoyed the same professional opportunities. Indigenous skaters Joe Buffalo and Rose Archie co-founded Nations Skate Youth, a non-profit organization that empowers Indigenous youth through the positive impact of skateboarding. Elissa Steamer is the first female skater to be featured in the Tony Hawk video game franchise, and both queer skater Alexis Sablone and non-binary skater Leo Baker are part of the first-ever U.S. Olympic skateboarding team competing in Tokyo.

While skateboarding has largely been seen as a white boys club of competitions, sponsorships and paycheques, there is growing diversity within the sport. This shift has created more representation for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) and female skaters.

Jaimie Isaac

Jaimie Isaac, a Winnipeg-based Anishinaabe artist and curator and a member of Sagkeeng First Nation in Treaty 1 territory, first started skateboarding in Selkirk when she was 13 years old.

"I had one girlfriend who skateboarded with me and the rest were all my guy friends. That was pretty indicative of the time in terms of the gender ratio of skateboarders," she says. "As much as my guy friends were supportive, Id hear Youre good for a girl. That was something that came up often."

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jacqui Compayre was involved with the Skateboard Coalition of Manitoba, which spoke on behalf of skateboarders in the province. Compayre, who now lives in Toronto, started skateboarding in Winnipeg when she was 14 and fell in love with the sport.

Once Isaac moved to Winnipeg in high school, she skateboarded on the streets and in parkades and parking lots.

"There werent a lot of skateboard parks at the time. This was the mid-90s," she says.

Growing up, Isaac says media representations of the sport all looked the same.

"Magazines would mostly be white dudes. I loved snowboarding and skateboarding videos and I was always excited when they featured a woman," she says. "You didnt see a lot of Indigenous women or men and very rarely would you see people of colour featured in videos. I think that was unconsciously affecting me at the time."

In 2016 Isaac curated the exhibition Boarder X at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, which highlighted elements of skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing from artists of Indigenous nations across Canada. The exhibition celebrates the intersection of culture, art and boarding practices.

"When I thought about the exhibition around Boarder X, I had started travelling quite a bit and meeting like-minded Indigenous artists who were also skateboarders, snowboarders and surfers, and drawing connections in that way," she says.

Isaac was inspired to bring Indigenous artists together and wanted to draw a connection to skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding from the lens of Indigenous people who participate in them. In Boarder X, these practices are vehicles to challenge conformity and stereotypes as well as demonstrate knowledge and relationships with the land.

"I learned respect and reverence for the land," she says. "Surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding share a connection with and a deep respect for land and water."

Boarder X featured Colonialism Skateboards, founded in 2015 by Mike Langan of the Cote First Nation on Treaty 4 territory. The company makes skateboard decks that highlight Indigenous peoples perspectives, history and culture. Langan worked with Cree artist Kent Monkman for the show.

"The collaboration with Kent Monkman gave a history lesson on Indigenous culture and colonialism in Canada," Isaac says. "Its a really incredible company that (Mike) started because hes educating through skateboarding and art."

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Skateboarders Maddy Nowosad (left) and Emilie Rafnson at Riverbend Skatepark last Wednesday. The couple created the zine The Other Skaters to showcase the non-traditional skate community in Winnipeg.

Isaac also worked with skateboarders and artists Peatr Thomas, Hanwakan Blaikie Whitecloud and Graham Constant. They partnered with Vans Canada to build a half-pipe in the WAGs Eckhardt Hall that featured Indigenous skateboarders demonstrating their skills.

The exhibit has toured across Canada; in 2021, it won an outstanding achievement award from the Canadian Museums Association.

Isaac says representation in skateboarding has grown significantly  shes met several groups that focus on Indigenous engagement in sports, including Nations Skate Youth and the Indigenous Life Sport Academy.

"I wish as a youth I had seen more women to be less intimidated, (as well as) more people of colour and more Indigenous people," she says. "I think it would have felt a lot more inclusive."

Now, years after she did her first ollie and frontside 180, its a full-circle moment for Isaac as shes relearning the sport with her eight-year-old son, James.

"Its a huge source of pride to see him skateboarding and having an interest in it," she says. "I started him off snowboarding when he was four and then later he wanted to pick up skateboarding. Now, hes interested in skateboard camps."

For Isaac, its about sharing experiences and education with her son.

"(Skateboarding) is what I grew up with," she says. "Its intergenerational knowledge of sharing what you know and its amazing that I can share it with my son."

Jacqui Compayre

Jacqui Compayre was involved with the Skateboard Coalition of Manitoba, which spoke on behalf of skateboarders in the province, from 2006 to 2011.

"(The coalition) initially started in order to have an organized voice when it came to advocating for skateboarding in the province," she says. "Some important issues really needed skateboarders input  like city-planned outdoor parks or bylaws that needed to be changed."

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Other Skaters zine proved extremely popular: creators Nowosad and Rafnson have sold hundreds of copies.

Compayre, who now lives in Toronto, started skateboarding when she was 14 and fell in love with the sport, using her dads old banana board until she eventually got one of her own. When she was a kid, she didnt know any other girls who skated.

"I loved it but felt out of my element, like I was going against my gender or something," she says. "It can be intimidating to skate with a bunch of guys when youre the only girl. It can be hard to have any confidence, plus, youre being paid more attention to than youd like because youre different.

"All of a sudden youre representing your whole gender and that can be a lot of pressure."

She says those feelings can discourage girls from skateboarding, though it has become more acceptable.

"Im hoping that with more females and female-identifying skaters in the scene, maybe it wont be such a boys club anymore," she says.

Over the years, the conversation around gender in skateboarding has evolved. Female skateboarders have seen increased presence onscreen. The 2019 documentary about young Afghan skaters, Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If Youre a Girl), won an Oscar last year.

Back in the 2000s, Compayre says the skateboarding community lacked representation.

"I could probably count on one hand the number of Indigenous skaters I knew. I could count on two hands the number of female skaters I knew," she says.

To help increase female representation of the sport, Compayre and the Skateboard Coalition of Manitoba worked with the Rugged Riders  a female skate crew  to put on Chicks Flip Out, a female-only skateboarding event held in Winnipeg at The Forks in 2008 and 2009.

"We were able to get female skaters from across Canada, some from the U.S. and one from Australia. The event was important because we really had so few female skaters in Winnipeg at the time," she says. "Chicks Flip Out was a great opportunity for female skaters to feel included and supported. Honestly, just seeing that many females skating in one place at the same time was inspiring."

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Emilie Rafnson (left) and Maddy Nowosad take a break while skateboarding at Riverbend Skatepark last Wednesday.

When Compayre first learned skateboarding was being included in this years Summer Olympics, she had mixed feelings.

"At its roots, skateboarding is kind of this underground, DIY, off-the-beaten-path kind of thing. A non-sport that is now officially being introduced into this massive sport world," she says. "However, Id be a hypocrite if I stayed stuck in that mindset, especially as I was a member of the coalition, trying to help legitimize the culture in the province."

Compayre hasnt lived in Winnipeg for a decade but she says judging from what her skater friends tell her and what she sees on Instagram, the sport continues to diversify.

"There is more of a representation of Indigenous skaters, there are more girls attending sessions at the Edge Skatepark and there is more of a push for inclusivity for (the LGBTTQ+) community," she says. "The trajectory is great and Im hoping more female and non-traditional skaters will continue to find skateboarding, fall in love with it and feel included in the community."

Maddy Nowosad and Emilie Rafnson

Maddy Nowosad met her girlfriend, Emilie Rafnson, at the Edge Skatepark at 333 King St. in 2019  the two started dating four months later. Both skateboarders, they found a community of like-minded girls at the womens and girls skate sessions held on Thursday nights.

"Five years ago at the Edge, there were maybe eight to 10 regular girls that came every Thursday," Rafnson says. "Now, its grown to 25 to 30 regular girls. The non-traditional skate community is really starting to take off."

Both agree that skateboard parks can be intimidating and male-dominated.

"My parents didnt think skateboarding was for girls because we never saw any girls at skateparks," Rafnson says.

Tired of not seeing skaters with whom they identified represented in mainstream skate media and inspired by the women and queer individuals with whom they skated, Nowosad and Rafnson created a publication to showcase their community. The Other Skaters is a zine (pronounced zeen)  a self-published booklet of photos and stories printed in small batches  that highlights their community.

"The Other Skaters was created to amplify the voices and experiences of non-traditional skateboarders in Winnipeg, celebrate these individuals and inspire others to try skateboarding," Nowosad says.

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A sticker for The Other Skaters zine on Emilie Rafnnsons skateboard.

For Nowosad, "non-traditional skateboarders" refers to those who dont fit the white, heterosexual, cis-male (a person who was assigned male at birth and whose gender identity is male) stereotype  this includes anyone in the LGBTTQ+ community. Nowosad recognizes that an individuals identity consists of multiple intersecting factors, including gender expression, race, ethnicity, class and sexuality.

The Other Skaters released its first issue last August. Since then, Nowosad and Rafnson have released two more, one in November and the most recent one in April.

"If you look at typical skateboard magazines, you dont see a lot of women or non-traditional people," Rafnson says. "We created The Other Skaters to give people a place to see themselves and people like them represented in the skate scene."

While skateboarding magazines like Thrasher and Transworld Skateboarding have featured women in their pages, its rare. Thrasher is the longest-running skateboarding magazine with a circulation of about 100,000. Since its inception in 1981, there have been 488 issues but less than one per cent of them have featured women on the cover.

However, visibility and representation is growing. Thrasher recently published the features "The Top 10 Women and Non-Binary Skaters of 2019" and "Honour Roll 2020: The Top Women and Non-Traditional Skaters of the Year."

Nowosad and Rafnson originally planned on printing a handful of copies of their zine to give to friends but the publication surpassed their expectations.

"The response has been amazing. Weve sold hundreds of issues and theyve been mailed internationally," Nowosad says. "Theyre sold in skate shops across Canada."

Nowosad and Rafnson sell their zines for $5 each and all the proceeds go back into the zine and the community.

"We purchase skate supplies and weve recently received donations of used skate parts," Nowosad says. "Weve been putting together boards for people in the community who otherwise might not be able to access boards."

Skateboarding has become a cultural force around the world, spreading from its birthplace in Southern California to communities as far away as South Africa and Afghanistan. Nowosad and Rafnson are excited to see skateboarding represented for the first time at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

"Female and non-traditional skaters dont traditionally get as much recognition. The Olympics is a level playing field that hasnt been very present in the skate scene," says Rafnson. "(The Olympics) will help the scene grow and be a really good way for people to see female and LGBT skaters."

sabrinacarnevale@gmail.com

@SabrinaCsays
WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. regulators on Monday added a new warning to Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine about links to a rare and potentially dangerous neurological reaction, but said its not entirely clear the shot caused the problem.

FILE - In this March 26, 2021, file photo a member of the Philadelphia Fire Department prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site setup in Philadelphia. U.S. health officials say Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine may pose a small possible risk of a potentially dangerous neurological reaction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday, July 12 that it has received reports of 100 people who got the shot developing an immune system disorder that can causes muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. regulators on Monday added a new warning to Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine about links to a rare and potentially dangerous neurological reaction, but said its not entirely clear the shot caused the problem.

The Food and Drug Administration announced the new warning, flagging reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune system disorder that can causes muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis. Health officials described the side effect as a small possible risk" for those getting the shot.

The action comes after the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed reports of about 100 people developing the syndrome after receiving the one-dose vaccine. Almost all of were hospitalized and one person died, the FDA said.

The Johnson & Johnson logo appears above a trading post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, July 12, 2021. Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine may pose a "small possible risk" of a rare but potentially dangerous neurological reaction, U.S. health officials said Monday. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs when the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks some of its nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis that typically is temporary. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop the syndrome each year, according to the CDC.

The number of cases reported in connection with J&J's vaccine represents a tiny fraction of the nearly 13 million Americans who have received the one-dose shot. Most cases were reported in men  many 50 years old and up  and usually about two weeks after vaccination.

J&J said in a statement it has been discussing the reports with the FDA and other health regulators around the world.

The CDC said it would ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to review the issue at an upcoming meeting.

The government said the vaccines most used in the U.S., made by Pfizer and Moderna, show no risk of the disorder after more than 320 million doses have been administered.

The new warning will be included in pamphlets given to people getting the J&J shot. They should seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms, which include tingling sensations, trouble walking and double vision, the FDA said.

Vaccines historically provide broad protection with little risk but come with occasional side effects just like other drugs and medical therapies. The three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. were each tested in tens of thousands of people, but even such huge studies cant rule out extremely rare side effects.

The CDC and the FDA have been monitoring side effect reports submitted by physicians, drugmakers and patients to a federal vaccine safety database.

Guillain-Barre can be triggered by a number of infections, including flu, cytomegalovirus and Zika virus. But there have been rare cases in which people develop the disorder days or weeks after receiving certain vaccines.

J&Js vaccine was highly anticipated because of its one-and-done formulation and easy-to-ship refrigeration. But early on, it was linked to another rare risk, of blood clots, and the company hasnt been able to produce as much as expected because of problems at a Baltimore factory that helps make the shots.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Sunday upheld a Trump-era rejection of nearly all of China's significant maritime claims in the South China Sea. The administration also warned China that any attack on the Philippines in the flashpoint region would draw a U.S. response under a mutual defense treaty.

President Joe Biden waves as he walks from Marine One across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, late Sunday, July 11, 2021, after returning from a weekend in Delaware. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Sunday upheld a Trump-era rejection of nearly all of China's significant maritime claims in the South China Sea. The administration also warned China that any attack on the Philippines in the flashpoint region would draw a U.S. response under a mutual defense treaty.

The stern message from Secretary of State Antony Blinken came in a statement released ahead of this weeks fifth anniversary of an international tribunals ruling in favor of the Philippines, against Chinas maritime claims around the Spratly Islands and neighboring reefs and shoals. China rejects the ruling.

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the ruling last year, the Trump administration came out in favor of the ruling but also said it regarded as illegitimate virtually all Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea outside China's internationally recognized waters. Sundays statement reaffirms that position, which had been laid out by Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea," Blinken said, using language similar to Pompeo's. He accused China of continuing "to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway.

The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea, he said, referring to Pompeo's original statement. We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments.

Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty obligates both countries to come to each other's aid in case of an attack.

Prior to Pompeo's statement, U.S. policy had been to insist that maritime disputes between China and its smaller neighbors be resolved peacefully through U.N.-backed arbitration. The shift did not apply to disputes over land features that are above sea level, which are considered to be territorial in nature.

Although the U.S. continues to remain neutral in territorial disputes, it has effectively sided with the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, all of which oppose Chinese assertions of sovereignty over maritime areas surrounding contested South China Sea islands, reefs and shoals.

China reacted angrily to the Trump administration's announcement and is likely to be similarly peeved by the Biden administration's decision to retain and reinforce it.

We call on (China) to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small, Blinken said in the statement,

China has rejected the tribunal's decision, which it has dismissed as a sham, and has refused to participate in arbitration proceedings. It has continued to defy the decision with aggressive actions that have brought it into territorial spats with Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia in recent years.

As last year's statement did, Sunday's announcement came amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over numerous issues, including the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, Chinese policy in Hong Kong and Tibet and trade, that have sent relations plummeting.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea and routinely objects to any action by the U.S. military in the region. Five other governments claim all or part of the sea, through which approximately $5 trillion in goods are shipped every year.

China has sought to shore up its claims to the sea by building military bases on coral atolls, leading the U.S. to sail its warships through the region on what it calls freedom of operation missions. The United States has no claims itself to the waters but has deployed warships and aircraft for decades to patrol and promote freedom of navigation and overflight in the busy waterway.
Cubans facing the countrys worst economic crisis in decades took to the streets over the weekend. In turn, authorities blocked social media sites in an apparent effort to stop the flow of information into, out of and within the beleaguered nation.

Anti-government protesters march in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, July 11, 2021. As Cubans facing the country's worst economic crisis in decades took to the streets in droves over the weekend into Monday, July 12, 2021, authorities blocked social media sites in an apparent effort to stop the flow of information into, out of and within the beleaguered nation. (AP Photo/Eliana Aponte, file)

Cubans facing the countrys worst economic crisis in decades took to the streets over the weekend. In turn, authorities blocked social media sites in an apparent effort to stop the flow of information into, out of and within the beleaguered nation.

Restricting internet access has become a tried-and-true method of stifling dissent by authoritarian regimes around the world, alongside government-supported disinformation campaigns and propaganda. On the extreme side, regimes like China and North Korea exert tight control over what regular citizens can access online. Elsewhere, service blockages are more limited, often cutting off common social platforms around elections and times of mass protests.

There was no formal organizer of Sundays protests; people found out about the rallying points over social media, mostly on Twitter and Facebook, the platforms most used by Cubans. The thousands of Cubans who took to the streets  protesters and pro-government activists alike  wielded smartphones to capture images and send them to relatives and friends or post them online.

On Monday, Cuban authorities were blocking Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram, said Alp Toker, director of Netblocks, a London-based internet monitoring firm. This does seem to be a response to social media-fueled protest, he said. Twitter did not appear to be blocked, though Toker noted Cuba could cut it off if it wants to.

While the recent easing of access by Cuban authorities to the internet has increased social media activity, Toker said, the level of censorship has also risen. Not only does the cutoff block out external voices, he said, it also squelches the internal voice of the population who have wanted to speak out.

Internet access in Cuba has been expensive and relatively rare until recently. The country was basically offline" until 2008, then gradually entered a digital revolution, said Ted Henken, a Latin America expert at Baruch College, City University of New York. The biggest change, he noted, came in December 2018 when Cubans got access to mobile internet for the first time via data plans purchased from the state telecom monopoly. These days, more than half of all Cubans have internet access, Henken said.

Many Cubans now have real-time, anywhere-you-are access to the internet and the ability to share information among themselves, he added. Since early 2019, this access has facilitated regular, if smaller, events and protests on the island. In response, the government has periodically shut down access to social media, mostly to hide its repressive tactics from both citizens and foreigners, he said.

The Cuban government also restricts independent media in Cuba and routinely blocks access within Cuba to many news websites and blogs, according to Human Rights Watch.

Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, along with a resurgence of coronavirus cases, as it suffers the consequences of U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. The protests now, the largest in decades, are absolutely and definitely fueled by increased access to internet and smartphones in Cuba, said Sebastian Arcos, associate director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Social media posts from within and outside of Cuba are not the root causes of the rebellion, but they are a factor in connecting the desperation, disaffection that exists in the island, said Arturo Lopez-Levy, an assistant political science professor at Holy Names University in California.

Lopez-Levy, who grew up a few blocks from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, said the countrys current leader has embraced the economic potential of digital technology far more than his predecessors, but may have calculated that a large segment of Cubans will accept a temporary internet shutdown if it helps restore order in the streets.

Elsewhere, government internet shutdowns after or ahead of protests have also become commonplace, whether for a few hours or extending for months. In Ethiopia, there was a three-week shutdown in July 2020 after civil unrest. The internet blackout in the Tigray region has stretched on for months. In Belarus, the internet went down for more than two days after an August 2020 election seen as rigged sparked mass protests. Mobile internet service repeatedly went down during weekend protests for months afterwards.

A decade ago during the Arab Spring, when social media was still in its early years and Egypt, Tunisia and other countries in the Middle East faced bloody uprisings that were broadcast on social media, headlines declared the movements Twitter Revolutions" and experts debated about just how important a role social media played in the events. Ten years later, there is no question that social media and private chat platforms have become an essential organizing tool. Restricting them, in turn, is a routine move to suppress dissent. Internet service was disrupted in Cali, Colombia during May anti-government protests.

This year has also seen disruptions in Armenia, Uganda, Iran, Chad, Senegal and the Republic of Congo.

But authoritarian regimes aren't the only ones getting into the act. India routinely shuts down the internet during times of unrest. Toker of NetBlocks said the imposition of internet restrictions in Cuba follows an emerging global pattern and not always in the countries you most expect them, such as a recent Nigerian cutoff of Twitter. On the plus side, he said, the world is much more aware of these incidents because it's easier to monitor and report them remotely.

On Sunday, all of Cuba went offline for less than 30 minutes, after which there were several hours of intermittent but large outages, said Doug Madory of Kentik, a network management company. He said large internet outages were very rare in Cuba until very recently.

There was an outage in January just for mobile service following the 27N protests, Madory said, referring to a movement of Cuban artists, journalists and other members of civil society who marched on the Ministry of Culture on Nov. 27, 2020, demanding freedom and democracy.

Henken said he doesn't believe the government would shut off access for an extended period of time, even though that is its go-to tactic for dissidents and activists.

The problem they have now is that its not a handful of activists or artists or independent journalists  its now a massive swath of the population all throughout the country, he said. "So the genie is out of the bottle. Theyre trying to put it back in.

__

AP Havana correspondent Andrea Rodriguez and AP technology reporter Matt O'Brien contributed to this article.
OTTAWA - The federal government is offering easy financing for the country's beleaguered tourism operators, which the minister in charge says should help companies mired in debt.

Canadian flags are seen on the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council as tourists take photos on Parliament Hill before Canada Day, in Ottawa on June 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - The federal government is offering easy financing for the country's beleaguered tourism operators, which the minister in charge says should help companies mired in debt.

The sector has been among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, as international travel has plummeted and domestic travellers are largely staying close to home.

Even as public health restrictions ease, Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly says the tourism operators she has spoken with feel some anxiety, as July is almost halfway over.

What the government is now offering them is a mix of non-repayable grants of up to $100,000 or no-interest loans of up to $500,000 to finance capital improvements.

And at least one-tenth of the $500 million being rolled out will go to Indigenous tourism operators and organizations for things like workforce training or national projects and be non-repayable grants, responding to funding concerns from that part of the tourism sector.

Joly said the government hopes the money helps businesses in the sector avoid a debt spiral that could end in more companies closing their doors.

"This can be a pivotal moment for the tourism sector. We just need to make sure that the businesses survive," Joly said in an interview.

The budget promised an injection of $1 billion over three years, starting this fiscal year, for the tourism industry trying to rebuild revenues and ready themselves for the day when international travel restrictions ease.

It's why the funding is being aimed at projects that can help tourism operators, many of which are small or medium-sized businesses, find ways to earn more money during shoulder of off-seasons, or better respond to what travellers are looking for in terms of experience and health standards stemming from COVID-19.

"It's being able to deal with the risk right now. But we know that there are lessons learned from the pandemic, and being able to stay open. So in that sense, it is a way to have a longer-term solution," Joly said.

Before that, though, the travel and tourism sector has been looking to the Liberals to detail a border reopening plan and recently pressed to have one long before an anticipated federal election call that would put a pause on most policy-making activities.

The spectre of an election is also casting a shadow over the mounds of ministerial spending announcements that have ramped up with the summer heat.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested last week his government was in no rush to roll back border restrictions, especially for unvaccinated travellers who he said wouldn't be allowed in for some time.

And on the issue of how tourism and festival operators might handle the thorny political issue of vaccine passports, Joly said each jurisdiction in the country has a different approach.

In Quebec, she noted, the provincial government's musing about such a validation document may be an incentive to make sure people get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Federally, though, the focus is on putting the funding in place for the sector to mitigate health risks when foreign travellers are more easily allowed into the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2021.
TBILISI, Georgia (AP)  Hundreds of people protested in Georgia on Monday for a second day in a row, demanding the government of the ex-Soviet nation resign over the death of a journalist who was attacked and beaten by anti-LGBT protesters.

TBILISI, Georgia (AP)  Hundreds of people protested in Georgia on Monday for a second day in a row, demanding the government of the ex-Soviet nation resign over the death of a journalist who was attacked and beaten by anti-LGBT protesters.

Demonstrators gathered in front of Georgia's parliament in the capital of Tbilisi, then went on to rally in front of the headquarters of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Some threw eggs and paint at the party headquarters building and 12 people were arrested.

Cameraman Alexander Lashkarava was found dead in his home Sunday by his mother, according to the TV Pirveli channel he worked for. Lashkarava was one of several dozen journalists attacked last Monday by opponents of an LGBT march that had been scheduled to take place that day in Tbilisi.

Organizers of the Tbilisi March For Dignity cancelled the event, saying authorities had not provided adequate security guarantees. Opponents of the march blocked off the capitals main avenue, denounced journalists covering the protest as pro-LGBT propagandists and threw sticks and bottles at them.

Lashkarava was brutally beaten, and local TV channels showed him with bruises on his face and blood on the floor around him. Media reports say he sustained multiple injuries and had to undergo surgery but was discharged from a hospital on Thursday.

The cause of his death was not immediately clear.

Georgia's Interior Ministry said Monday that Lashkarava could have died of a drug overdose, but his colleagues scoffed at the claim.

I do not trust the Interior Ministry in anything, said Vato Tsereteli, owner of the TV Pirveli channel. Tsereteli tried to meet with lawmakers earlier on Monday but was denied access to the parliament.

Animosity against sexual minorities is strong in the conservative Black Sea nation of Georgia. The Tbilisi Pride group said opponents of the planned march were supported by the government and by the Georgian Orthodox Church. One photo reportedly showed a journalist caught in a headlock by an Orthodox priest.

Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili condemned the violence, but Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili alleged the march was organized by radical opposition forces that he claimed were led by exiled former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
After 2020 brought significant challenges to Winnipegs office real estate market, the arrival of a new year didnt exactly make things any easier.

After 2020 brought significant challenges to Winnipegs office real estate market, the arrival of a new year didnt exactly make things any easier.

The first quarter of 2021 was called by real estate firm CBRE "the most challenging" period to date for the Winnipeg office market, with the vacancy rate downtown rising from 11.3 per cent to 12.9, one of the largest single-quarter movements on record.

CBRE vice-president and managing director Ryan Behie

During the second quarter, the vacancy rate still rose, but only by 0.4 per cent, CBREs second-quarter report said. While that modest increase isnt as calamitous, CBRE vice-president and managing director Ryan Behie said it will take more time for the troubling trend to reverse.

"Its been a challenging first half of the year," Behie said, noting there are some reasons for optimism to be gleaned from recent trends. "Weve experienced the most significant contraction in our office market in over 15 years over the course of six months (with most happening during the first quarter.) And while that slowed (last quarter), most of our submarkets are still heading in the wrong direction."

"We can look at the slowing of that contraction as a good news story," Behie said. "But Q2 didnt solve all our problems."

While the suburban office market shows signs of resilience, downtown there has been approximately 256,000 square-feet of net negative absorption this year to date, meaning that much more space was vacated or put on the market than was leased. Thats directly related to tenants giving up space entirely or downsizing into smaller ones to accommodate a smaller workforce or one working from home, Behie said.

"But, there is a positive theme happening nationally," Behie said, and it has to do with subleasing.

Over the past year, with uncertainty looming, many companies chose to put up their space for sublease, with hopes another tenant would take over, a process which can often take months or years. In general, trends in subleasing are seen as barometers for stability in the market, with a rising rate contributing to rising vacancy rates.

Throughout the second quarter, nationally, nearly one million square feet that businesses had previously put up for sublease was either leased or those businesses cancelled their listings. "Thats businesses choosing not to give up their space," Behie said. While half of that was in Toronto, the sheer volume indicates that corporate Canada has "real intentions" of coming back to the office, with many aiming to do so in the second half of the year, Behie added.

Its a strong sign, Behie said, as is the fact that some companies which downsized at the start of the pandemic are looking into expanding their footprints again.

While not at the same volume as in Toronto, Behie said in the Winnipeg suburban office market, 80 per cent of sublease space was either cancelled or leased during the second quarter, with a notable 12,000 square feet at the Tuxedo Business Park undergoing that change.

"That is a really fantastic, telling sign about the suburban market," Behie said, adding that its the only portion of the citys office market thats seen real growth despite a constrained supply and an upward vacancy rate.

Why? Behie said the suburban market has always displayed strength, with a large amount of new construction preceding the pandemic met with relatively quick lease-up. Though that development hasnt happened at quite the same rate during the pandemic, Behie said the existing inventory has been very stable compared to the downtowns. That likely has to do with both the quality of the available space, the available amenities, and the relative cost.

And while the same impact hasnt been felt in Winnipegs downtown as has been in Toronto, the trend in Ontarios largest city is encouraging for the Manitoba capitals central business area.

On the industrial side, activity has been incredibly strong.

"Robust activity from the warehousing and logistics segments has seen the industrial market fully absorb all the new supply delivered in 2020, which set a six-year record," the quarterly report noted. Net absorption in the second quarter alone totalled 409,000 square-feet, with the bulk driven by a pair of e-commerce fulfilment centres. However, there was significant movement at the small- and medium-scale industrial level as well, Behie noted.

From an industrial perspective, Manitoba had a "very good second quarter," Behie said, driven in large part by the increasing demand for e-commerce.

"Every Canadian city we track saw industrial availability contract in Q2," Behie said. "In markets like Vancouver and to a lesser extent the Greater Toronto Area, there are instances where we cant find the land to build the product fast enough to keep up with the growing demand."

In some instances, he said, developers are actually pre-leasing buildings that are yet to be constructed.

Meanwhile, on the national stage, rental rates are rising quickly, so much so that developers are often reticent to agree to rental rates in advance so as to not lose out down the road.

Those trends arent happening at nearly the same scale in Winnipeg, however, rates remain "buoyant," with newer product raising the average rate accordingly. Since ending 2020 with an average rent of $7.70 per square foot, the net asking rent in Winnipeg was $8.09 by the end of the second quarter, a 5.1 per cent rise.

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca
NEW YORK (AP)  Nordstrom says it's acquiring a minority interest in four fashion brands owned by a British company called Asos as the department store chain aims to attract more customers in their 20s.

Shoppers walk near an entrance to a Nordstrom store at a shopping mall in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. Nordstrom says it's acquiring a minority interest in four fashion brands owned by a British company called Asos as the department store aims to reach out to younger customers. The brand - Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT - were purchased by Asos in February after their previous owner and British fashion empire Arcadia Group filed for bankruptcy in late 2020. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

NEW YORK (AP)  Nordstrom says it's acquiring a minority interest in four fashion brands owned by a British company called Asos as the department store chain aims to attract more customers in their 20s.

The brands Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT were purchased by Asos in February after their previous owner and British fashion empire Arcadia Group filed for bankruptcy in late 2020. The financial terms weren't disclosed.

As part of the agreement, announced Monday, Asos will retain operational and creative control of the Topshop brands. But Nordstrom will now have the exclusive retail rights for Topshop and Topman in all of North America, including Canada, and own a minority stake globally. The Seattle-based retailer will also become the only store presence for these brands worldwide. And customers will also be able to pick up Asos.com orders at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores starting this fall.

The investment paves the way for the potential of a wider strategic alliance between Asos and Nordstrom, according to a company release.

Nordstrom has been the exclusive distributer of Topshop and Topman in the U.S. since 2012 when the department store retailer became the first to bring the brand to the U.S. market.

Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer at Nordstrom, said in a statement that this acquisition offers the opportunity to work with them to reimagine the wholesale/retail partnership."

Bringing the Asos brands, including Topshop and Topman, to our customers allows us to create newness and excitement for this dynamic customer segment," Nordstrom said.
OTTAWA - The federal government is setting new guidelines that work national security considerations into funding criteria for university research in a bid to shield intellectual property from foreign actors.

Francois-Philippe Champagne takes part in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press in Ottawa on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The federal government is setting new guidelines that work national security considerations into funding criteria for university research in a bid to shield intellectual property from foreign actors.

Effective immediately, research projects must undergo a risk assessment as part of any grant application to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) that involves private-sector partners, Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Monday.

The research council will then assess and work to mitigate any risk alongside national security agencies and departments on a case-by-case basis, he said.

The agencies will form a view, and for the partnerships that are deemed high risk, they will not be funded," Champagne said in an interview Monday, citing fields from aerospace to artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Communications Security Establishment  the country's cyberspy agency  will play a key role in the risk assessment, he said.

Security questions around scientific research have drawn renewed attention after two scientists were escorted from the high-security National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg in July 2019 and then fired in January this year.

One of the employees had earlier been responsible for a shipment of Ebola and Henipah viruses to China's Wuhan Institute of Virology, though the Public Health Agency of Canada has said that event is unrelated to their dismissal.

Champagne did not directly address the incident, which involved government employees rather than university researchers, but warned of foreign interference or unwanted knowledge transfer that could contribute to the advancement of foreign militaries or other types of activities  which could harm the national security of Canada."

The framework in play will certainly provide us with tools in order to better assess who our researchers are planning to partner with," Champagne said.

CSIS has warned repeatedly that foreign governments and state-sponsored groups are looking to poach patents and tightly guarded information from Canadian companies and institutions.

Agency director David Vigneault said in February that China is undermining Canada through its efforts to steal valuable technology and silence critics of Beijing's policies.

Champagne, who was previously the foreign affairs minister, was careful not to call out any countries, but he did point to previous CSIS publications.

Its annual report in April highlighted the potential "loss of sensitive and proprietary information or leading-edge technologies" to foreign states such as China and Russia, which continue to target "non-governmental organizations in Canada  including academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society."

A working group composed of three federal departments, two security agencies and eight other organizations representing researchers and universities formed in 2018  before the duo was escorted out of the Winnipeg lab  to promote practices that protect Canadian research data and intellectual property, Champagnenoted.

The working group helped develop the new criteria, dubbed the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships.

The new rules follow similar moves in countries such as the United States and Australia.

Champagne acknowledged that institutions have asked about the possibility of red-tape bottlenecks for researchers whose applications will funnel through spy agencies before receiving a stamp of approval.

The lead-up to the fresh framework, which has roots in workshops on research safeguards dating back to 2016, has helped clear a path for the current guidelines that will steer clear of backlogs, he said.

The Innovation Department plans to expand the new guidelines beyond NSERC's Alliance grant program to all granting councils and the Canada Foundation for Innovation "in the near term."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2021.
TORONTO - Porter Airlines could shake up the Canadian airline industry after announcing plans to launch jet service to destinations in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean with an order for up to 80 aircraft with a list price of US$5.8 billion.

A Porter airlines flight makes its final approach as it lands at the airport Tuesday July 2, 2019 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

TORONTO - Porter Airlines could shake up the Canadian airline industry after announcing plans to launch jet service to destinations in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean with an order for up to 80 aircraft with a list price of US$5.8 billion.

The regional airline says it has signed a deal to become the North American launch customer for the Embraer E195-E2 jet aircraft and plans to offer flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport along with Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

Porter has placed a firm order for 30 planes and 50 purchase right options, and likely received a hefty discount from the list price. It also has the option to convert purchase rights to the E190-E2s.

The new aircraft will not operate from Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport on the city's waterfront where Porter currently offers service on turboprop aircraft.

Its entire fleet of 29 Q400 planes has been grounded for more than a year because of the pandemic and isn't scheduled to resume flying until Sept. 8.

Porter will restart operations in phases, with the initial flights between Canadian destinations. Flights to U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago, New York and Washington D.C. will resume Sept. 17.

"Obviously the last 16 months has been a difficult time for the industry, but out of crisis is often the best opportunity for establishing growth in the future," CEO Michael Duluce said in an interview.

He said the pandemic laid the foundation for the substantial growth plan it will enact midway through 2022 as it enters the recovery phase from the pandemic.

A full list of destinations will be announced in due course, but Deluce sees opportunities to service the southern U.S. as well as the Caribbean and Mexico.

Airline analyst Robert Kokonis, president of airline consulting firm AirTrav Inc., called it a "bold move" that will surely elicit a strong response from Canada's two largest airlines especially as it prepares to land "in the jaws of the dragon at Pearson, which is Air Canada's main base of operations and the second-largest base for WestJet Airlines.

"WestJet and Air Canada are not going to take this sitting down. They're going to put a very robust response on the marketplace because everybody's suffered through the pandemic," he said in an interview.

That's good news for passengers who have seen their options expand with the addition of Swoop, Flair and upcoming addition of Enerjet.

But Kokonis doesn't believe Porter will try to become Sunwing, Transat or Air Canada Rouge by appealing mainly to the leisure crowd. Instead, he expects it will continue to cater to business travellers who have taken advantage of the Toronto island airport's quick access to the country's largest city, in addition to leisure travellers.

Porter's growth has always been limited by available slots at the island airport. Its effort to add jet service was quashed in 2015 when jets were barred.

The airline placed a conditional order in 2013 for Bombardier CSeries planes, now known as Airbus A220. It let that order lapse within the past year and switched to Embraer's latest product after reviewing its expansion plans.

Kokonis said the Embraer plane with 120 to 146 seats is a great option for Porter, which has an extremely strong brand presence and customer base in Eastern Canada.

"It's a very, very bold and decisive market action they're taking and again because this carrier has been grounded more than any other carrier in Canada through the pandemic I couldn't wish that upon a longer suffering group of people and employees, executives and shareholders than this group too," he said.

"And I think they might just have a fighting chance to make it all work."

Deluce said Porter is prepared for whatever reaction the competition might have.

"Porter has always competed in a pretty aggressive environment," said Deluce, referring to Air Canada, WestJet and U.S. carriers.

"Porter has the highest customer satisfaction in Canada and a really well-regarded product. And we revolutionized and changed the way people short-haul travel and now with E2 expansion, we'll be able to broaden our route network across North America and really do the same with longer haul flying than we've done in the short-haul market."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2021.
CHISINAU, Moldova (AP)  A pro-reform party seeking closer ties for Moldova with the European Union has won a clear majority in the parliamentary election, electoral commission results show Monday.

Election officials wearing biohazard suits, for protection against the COVID-19 infection, wait in a hallway to deliver a mobile ballot box to a woman to cast her vote in a snap parliamentary election, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Voters in Moldova cast ballots Sunday in an early parliamentary election that featured sharp choices between pro-Western and pro-Russian factions. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP)  A pro-reform party seeking closer ties for Moldova with the European Union has won a clear majority in the parliamentary election, electoral commission results show Monday.

Sundays election was called by President Maia Sandu, who sought to gain a parliament made up of pro-EU reformists in the former Soviet republic.

The Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, took almost 53% of all votes, compared to the electoral bloc of Communists and Socialists, which took 27%. Only one other party passed the threshold to gain seats in Moldovas 101-seat legislature.

Voter turnout in the nation of 3.5 million people  Europes poorest country, landlocked between Ukraine and Romania  was just over 48%.

Sandu, a former World Bank official who used to lead the PAS, has promised to clean up corruption, fight poverty and strengthen relations with the EU.

After ballots closed Sunday the president said she hopes the election would be the end of a hard era for Moldova.

I hope today will be the end of the thieves reign over Moldova ... People must soon feel the benefits of a clean parliament and a government that actually concerns population problems," she said.

In 2014, Moldova signed a deal with the EU on forging closer ties, but high levels of corruption and lack of reform have hindered development in the country, which ranked 115th out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals 2020 Corruption Perception Index.

In last year's presidential election, Sandu beat Moscow-friendly incumbent Igor Dodon, the current leader of the Socialists, who campaigned on high social spending, traditional family values and a distrust of closer ties with the West.

Dodon told a news conference Monday that this is democracy, people wanted change," but expressed concerns over the reformists' ability to govern the country.

The election, which featured more than 20 parties, was called in April by Sandu after the countrys Constitutional Court abolished a state of emergency that was introduced to handle the coronavirus pandemic.

The pro-Western president was hoping to secure a government she can work to enact reforms.

Vadim Pistrinciuc, executive director of Chisinau-based Institute for Strategic Initiatives, and a former lawmaker, told The Associated Press that the election result is historical.

For the first time a single pro-European party takes a full (parliamentary) majority," he said, but added that if the reformists fail to deliver change, it would bring "tremendous disappointment.

Dionis Cenusa, an analyst at the Chisinau-based think tank Expert Group, said that the PAS parliamentary majority is enough to start a huge reform wave.

Stephen McGrath reported from Bucharest, Romania.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Dozens of wildfires burned across the torrid U.S. West on Monday, but fire agencies reported some progress in corralling the flames and forecasters predicted a gradual decrease in extreme temperatures.

A firefighter sprays water while trying to stop the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, from spreading to neighboring homes in Doyle, Calif., Saturday, July 10, 2021. Pushed by heavy winds amid a heat wave, the fire came out of the hills and destroyed multiple residences in central Doyle. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Dozens of wildfires burned across the torrid U.S. West on Monday, but fire agencies reported some progress in corralling the flames and forecasters predicted a gradual decrease in extreme temperatures.

The fires have forced evacuations in numerous areas with scattered homes and tiny communities where some burned houses and other structures have been observed, but total losses were still being tallied.

The fires erupted as the West was in the grip of the second bout of dangerously high temperatures in just a few weeks. A climate change-fueled megadrought also is making conditions that lead to fire even more dangerous, scientists say.

The National Weather Service said, however, that the heat wave appeared to have peaked in many areas, and excessive-heat warnings were largely expected to expire by Monday night or Tuesday.

The two largest fires were burning forests in northeastern California and southern Oregon, sending smoke across other states.

The Beckwourth Complex, two lightning-ignited blazes, covered about 140 square miles (362 square kilometers) on Northern Californias border with Nevada. Plumas National Forest officials said firefighters successfully contained almost a quarter of the blaze but still expected some extreme fire activity.

Fire consumes homes as the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, tears through Doyle, Calif., on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Pushed by heavy winds, the fire came out of the hills and destroyed multiple residences in central Doyle. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Evacuation orders were in effect for more than 3,000 residents of remote areas of Californias Lassen and Plumas counties and Nevadas Washoe County. Some structures were destroyed over the weekend in Doyle, California, a town of about 600 residents.

A damage assessment team has arrived to validate and assess reports of structures damaged or destroyed, a forest statement said.

In Oregon, the Bootleg Fire covered 240 square miles (621 square kilometers) in the Fremont-Winema National Forest, near the Klamath County town of Sprague River.

After doubling in size at least twice over the weekend, it grew only incrementally Sunday, a sign of some progress, said Rich Saalsaa, spokesman for the Oregon State Fire Marshal.

Its allowed firefighters to build more lines and go on the offensive, Saalsaa said.

Seven homes and 43 outbuildings have been destroyed in an area on the south end of the blaze, Saalsaa said.

Most of these places are not within a community per se. Maybe theyre the same postal zone. But its kind of scattered out there, very remote, Saalsaa said.

Some 1,926 homes were within the current evacuation zone, he said, but he didnt know how many people that includes.

Firefighters were contending with erratic winds, but temperatures were slightly lower.

In central Oregon, a wildfire that started Sunday near the resort town of Sisters doubled in size to 6.2 square miles (16 square kilometers).

The Bootleg Fire disrupted service on three transmission lines providing up to 5,500 megawatts of electricity to California, where the states grid operator asked for voluntary power conservation from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. to ease the strain. The timing coincides with decreasing generation from solar facilities as night falls.

Elsewhere, a forest fire started during lightning storms in southeast Washington grew to 86 square miles (223 square kilometers). It was 20% contained Monday.

Another fire west of Winthrop closed the scenic North Cascades Highway, the most northern route through the Cascade Range. The road provides access to North Cascades National Park and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area.

In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little mobilized the National Guard to help fight twin lightning-sparked fires that have together charred nearly 24 square miles (62 square kilometers) of dry timber in the remote, drought-stricken region.

A new fire broke out Sunday afternoon in the Sierra Nevada south of Yosemite National Park and by evening had exploded over more than 6 square miles (15.5 square kilometers), triggering evacuations in areas of two counties. The fires size, however, remained unchanged early Monday and was 5% contained. A highway that leads to Yosemites southern entrance remained open.

The July heat wave follows an unusual June siege of broiling temperatures in the West, and comes amid worsening drought conditions throughout the region.

Global warming has contributed to the megadrought and is making plants more prone to burning. Human-caused climate change and decades of fire suppression that increases fuel loads have aggravated fire conditions across the West, scientists say.
OTTAWA - A federal judge says the results of Google searches are covered by the law governing how companies handle personal information, a victory for people seeking a digital "right to be forgotten."

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2019, file photo, the logo of Google is displayed on a carpet at the entrance hall of Google France in Paris. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Michel Euler

OTTAWA - A federal judge says the results of Google searches are covered by the law governing how companies handle personal information, a victory for people seeking a digital "right to be forgotten."

Privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien referred the matter to the Federal Court after a man alleged Google was breaching Canada's privacy law by prominently displaying links about him when his name is searched.

He said the articles were inaccurate and disclosed sensitive information about his sexual orientation and a serious medical condition, causing him direct harm including assault, lost job opportunities and social stigma.

The man asked Google to remove the articles in question from the results for searches of his name, but the company declined, suggesting instead that he contact the publishers of the news items.

In her newly issued ruling, Federal Court Associate Chief Justice Jocelyne Gagne said federal privacy law applies when Google indexes web pages and presents search results in response to searches of a person's name.

Gagne cautioned that her ruling does not determine the outcome of the complaint that sparked the reference or the power of the commissioner to recommend de-indexing  removing a link from search results.

The commissioner's investigation of the case, as well as probes of several other complaints related to search results, were put on hold pending the outcome of the court reference.

The issue of a right to de-indexing inaccurate or out-of-date information  the right to be forgotten  will be examined once Therrien resumes investigating, said Tobi Cohen, a spokeswoman for the commissioner.

"Due to the ongoing investigation, we are not in a position to offer further comments at this time."

Therrien had argued the federal law covering private-sector use of personal information includes a right to de-indexing, which entails removing links from search results without deleting the content itself.

This means allowing individuals to challenge the accuracy, completeness and currency of results returned for searches on their name, the commissioner said.

Such challenges should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and decisions to remove links should take into account the right to freedom of expression and the public's interest in the information remaining accessible, he added.

Google had contended the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act doesn't apply to its search engine and that requiring the company to de-index web pages would be unconstitutional.

Google argued the act does not apply in this case because the operation of its search engine is not a "commercial activity" under the law's provisions.

In any event, Google added, the search service is exempt under another provision of the law because it is a journalistic or literary operation, particularly when providing internet users access to news media content and providing news media with access to readers.

Finally, the U.S.-based company said even if the privacy law applies to its search engine and requires de-indexing of search results, that would contravene free expression guarantees in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Gagne noted Google is a for-profit corporation and one of the most successful technology businesses of the modern era.

Its search engine is far and away the most dominant with some estimates suggesting it is used to conduct up to 75 per cent of all internet searches, she wrote.

Most of Google's billions of dollars in revenue comes from advertisers, who pay the company a fee each time a user clicks on an ad in Google search results or takes an action having seen an ad, such as downloading an app, the judge said.

Even if Google provides free services to the content providers and the user of the search engine, it has "a flagrant commercial interest" in connecting these two players, she wrote.

"There is a real trade between Google and the users of its search engine. In exchange for the information displayed in the search results, the users provide a variety of personal information (their location, preferences, interests, consumption patterns, etc.). That personal information is used for profit.

"And, in order to attract the users, Google needs to feed them with the most accurate and customized information they are searching for. Therefore, unless it is forced to do so, Google has no commercial interest in de-indexing or delisting information from its search engine."

She also rejected the notion of a journalistic exemption from the law.

The primary purpose of Google's search engine service is to index and present search results, Gagne wrote.

"This is not a primarily journalistic purpose because although it may facilitate access to information, it contains no other defining feature of journalism, such as content control or content creation. Even though Google returns some journalism in its search results, its search results clearly extend beyond journalism."

The judge did not address the constitutional question, saying it should be examined in the context of a complaint file.

Molly Morgan, a spokeswoman for Google Canada, said the company was reviewing the decision.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2021.
A Winnipeg doctor has surrendered his licence and will not be able to practise again after two female patients levied allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

A Winnipeg doctor has surrendered his licence and will not be able to practise again after two female patients levied allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

Dr. Nihad Nagy William voluntarily surrendered his registration and practice certificate with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba on July 4, according to a decision posted on the college website a day later. The surrender is permanent and irrevocable; William is not permitted to practise in any registered health profession in Canada or elsewhere.

An investigation was sparked after two women lodged complaints with the college in late 2018 and summer 2019. From the onset of the investigation, William agreed to be supervised by a chaperone while working with female patients.

According to the decision, the first woman, called Patient A, lodged a complaint after an incident on Dec. 8, 2018, when she had seen William on a walk-in basis to refill a prescription. The woman alleged William touched her inappropriately, including "pressing his body against her body" and "pressing his face against the area between her buttocks and vagina," according to the decision.

The woman disclosed the incident to another doctor who was duty-bound to report the allegations to the college.

In a second incident on June 4, 2019, the second woman, Patient B, said she had seen William for an examination of eczema on her elbow, and alleged the doctor proceeded to touch her inappropriately, "including putting his arms around her while pressed against her and touching her bare buttocks with his hands," the decisions read.

The woman told a family member about the incident, who then supported her in making a complaint to the clinic and the college.

"The Investigation Committee was mindful that the allegations made by Patient A and Patient B would, if proven, clearly represent serious breaches of Williams responsibility to maintain boundaries and would constitute serious sexual boundary violations," the college wrote in the decision.

"Patient A and Patient B both state they suffered significant emotional harm as a result of Dr. Williams conduct."

William denied all allegations, the college said, adding the allegations were not proven and no findings of professional misconduct had been made. William did, however, agree to give up his registration and practice certificate before a scheduled hearing on June 8, thereby avoiding the need for a hearing.

While both women were prepared to testify if needed, the decision noted the prospect of doing so "caused them anxiety, and both stated that testifying would be a traumatizing experience."

Both women told the college they were satisfied with the resolution, noting their primary concern was "that this could happen to another patient in future."

"Permanent and irrevocable voluntary surrender precludes that eventuality," the college said in the decision.

William, who college records show most recently practised at Rasha Medical Clinic on Pembina Highway, had previously worked in Thompson and Steinbach. He will not be able to apply for a medical licence anywhere in the future, and was ordered to pay the college $25,000 in costs.

The decision to revoke Williams licence is the third case of sexual misconduct aimed at a Manitoba doctor in recent years.

A similar chaperone requirement was placed on Ste. Anne, Man. Dr. Arcel Bissonnette before Bissonnette was formally charged with six counts of sexual assault between 2004 and 2017. The college revoked Bissonnettes licence in November 2020 after the criminal charges came to light.

A year prior, Amir Houshang Mazhariravesh, known as Dr. Amir Ravesh, was convicted of six counts of sexual assault at an Elmwood walk-in clinic. Ravesh was originally charged with 11 counts of sexual assault after complainants began coming forward in 2017. Ravesh was found guilty on six charges in December 2019, and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers
OTTAWA  Some 320 military personnel are back to their normal duties, after helping Manitobans pull through COVID-19.

OTTAWA  Some 320 military personnel are back to their normal duties, after helping Manitobans pull through COVID-19.

"We were happy to be there, and everyone was positive at the end, when we all went home," said Maj. Ian Van Dyke, who oversaw dozens of troops and nurses under the banner of Task Force Bison.

His team arrived in late May to monitor patients and help alleviate pressure on Winnipegs intensive-care wards.

They wrapped up the deployment in the week leading up to Canada Day, as did a separate operation to get a majority of northern and remote Manitobans vaccinated, which had launched in mid-March.

While the number fluctuated, Van Dyke said the Winnipeg hospital deployment involved roughly 40 frontline medical personnel on any given day, including those helping to fly out patients.

Three laboratory technicians also helped run COVID-19 tests at Health Sciences Centre, Grace Hospital and St. Boniface Hospital.

"We had a lot of geographical diversity in where these people came from, and all of them said it was great to help their fellow Canadians out," he said.

About eight people helped with logistics and supervising, most of who are based at CFB Shilo, including himself. Many originally hail from Winnipeg.

"For the people from Shilo it was a case of helping out our neighbours," he said.

A crew of about 12 to 22 personnel helped evacuate ICU patients to hospitals in other provinces. They had capacity for single daily flight, carrying one or two patients to Ontario, Saskatchewan or Alberta.

Those flights occurred May 28 until June 4. The team would go to the hospital to prepare the patient for transport, drive them to CFB Winnipeg, and put them on a bed in a special bio-containment room, which sits inside a large military airplane.

The largest contingent involved between 30 and 32 staff, mostly general duty nurses and medical technicians, who were deployed to what Shared Health calls "alternative isolation accommodation" sites. Those are essentially hospital overflow wards, meant to separate patients based on whether they have COVID-19.

Van Dyke said many of them had a Friendly Manitoba experience, with strangers spontaneously approaching soldiers wearing red crosses on their sleeves, to thank them.

"It was those kinds of interactions that really made the military personnel know that theyre doing a good job, and know that theyre contributing to making the situation better," he said.

Those personnel started with 12-hour shifts, five days a week, which around mid-June became eight-hour shifts, helping out fewer patients. Staff started heading home June 25.

"We could noticeably see over time the situation in Manitoba got better, as that third wave started to be taken care of, and the health measures put in place appeared to be working," he said.

Van Dyke said medical staff mostly treat a military population, and so they learned from helping civilian patients in a provincial healthcare system. "These are experiences they wouldnt get normally, so they were very thankful (as) that will just add to their body of experience."

Separately, First Nations have thanked the 176 military personnel who oversaw a campaign to get COVID-19 vaccines into some of the most remote parts of Manitoba.

That campaign was directed by the Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 Pandemic Response Coordination Team, and broadened in May from adults to include youth aged 12-17.

The campaign helped take Northern Manitoba from one of the regions most vulnerable to COVID-19 spread, to being among the most vaccinated parts of Canada.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
After eight tense days of negotiations, our First Nations and colonial ancestors sat together in a circle at the Stone Fort (Lower Fort Garry), ready to conclude the making of Treaty 1. The date was Aug. 3, 1871, but this was no ordinary signing ceremony.

After eight tense days of negotiations, our First Nations and colonial ancestors sat together in a circle at the Stone Fort (Lower Fort Garry), ready to conclude the making of Treaty 1. The date was Aug. 3, 1871, but this was no ordinary signing ceremony.

It was a sacred pipe ceremony that bound both parties together with the Creator in a covenant that committed to truth, respect, reciprocity, renewal and to abiding by the decisions and agreements made during the meeting times.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A replica of a Treaty Medal No. 1 on display at the Manitoba Museum. It commemorates the Treaty negotiated at Lower Fort Garry in 1871. 170802 - Wednesday, August 02, 2017.

As the sacred pipes were passed from one to another, the parties codified the agreement with the Creator, based on thousands of years of the most sacred Anishinaabe and Swampy Cree customs and traditions. Everyone understood the significance.

"The First Nations of Treaty 1 concluded negotiations having forced concessions from the Crown on two main points," said Aimee Craft, Aninishnaabe/Metis lawyer from Treaty One Territory and associate law professor at the University of Ottawa.

"Firstly, they understood that their way of life would continue and that they would be able to hunt, fish and trap on all of their ancestral lands," she said. "Secondly, they had mapped out two-thirds of the province to be designated as Indian Land. "

SUPPLIED Sacred pipes on display at the Manitoba Museum

The First Nations left the negotiations understanding that both premises were agreed to.

Further, as reported in 1873 by Toronto Globe journalist, Molyneux St. John, who had been on hand for the negotiations, "There is not a shadow of doubt that when they left the Grand Council at the Stone Fort (Lower Fort Garry), they were firmly impressed with the idea that the demands which they had made had been with a few exceptions, granted... So the Treaty was signed, the commissioner meaning one thing, the Indians meaning the other."

From the beginning, the Crown clearly had a hidden agenda.

Surreptitiously, in a satchel aboard the train that headed west to begin the negotiations, the Crown-appointed treaty commissioner had a pre-written agreement, based on the land grab agenda of the new prime minister, John A. MacDonald.

In fact, the text of the Treaty 1 agreement we see today is a carbon-copy of the secretly pre-written agreement that went on to become the Crowns cookie-cutter template for future treaty negotiations. What this written document does not reflect is what was actually discussed and agreed to 150 years ago. It even had to be amended four years later to include a list of the "outside promises" that had been agreed to but never integrated.

"People should put little emphasis on the written agreement which was circulated after the negotiations," said Craft. "It was the oral agreement and commitments made during the negotiations that concluded with the sacred pipe ceremony that accurately represent the true outcomes."

Case in point, she said the phrase we cede, release, surrender and yield up lands are words that simply dont exist in First Nations languages so are irrelevant in this discussion.

An important part of this series on the making of Treaty 1 is understanding the massive implications of the Crown failing to live up to its obligations, which began immediately following Aug. 3.

Had the true promises, spirit and intent of Treaty 1 been fully implemented, First Nations peoples would have been empowered, through their right-to-livelihood, to attend well-funded schools, receive state of the art health care and work in well-paying jobs.

Instead, our right-to-livelihood was systematically stripped away, decade after decade. First the introduction of the Indian Act to govern every minute of our every day, then the imposition of Indian agents to limit and control our movements; our inability to vote or move and the tragedy of the forced removal of our children from our homes which is still raining down on us today.

The cumulative effect of government action to deny First Nations a right-to-livelihood has simply robbed generation after generation of First Nations peoples the wealth that could have been created from our own back, and front, yards.

The cumulative impact is immeasurable and hard to bear when we think what could have been.

But our future is about hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation and about the Canada we can all still create, together. Learning, listening, understanding, and honouring what took place and continues to take place in Treaty 1 Territory is an important start.

Chief Deborah Smith of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation is a member of the Treaty One Nation Governing Council composed of the seven Treaty One First Nations: Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Long Plain First Nation, Peguis First Nation, Roseau River Anishinabe Nation, Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation, Sandy Bay Ojibwe First Nation and Swan Lake First Nation.
Fiftieth anniversaries are traditionally joyous occasions, a time to pop champagne corks and look back on five decades of warm memories.

Editorial

Fiftieth anniversaries are traditionally joyous occasions, a time to pop champagne corks and look back on five decades of warm memories.

For Canadians, however, this years "golden anniversary" of official multiculturalism has become a time for sombre deliberation and reflection, not celebration. The landmark moment comes as Canadians have been forced into a national reckoning over the countrys racist history and a realization that the sins of the past threaten to derail a 50-year-old dream of a brighter future.

Fifty years ago this fall, Canada took a bold step, becoming the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy. In a statement to the House of Commons on Oct. 8, 1971, prime minister Pierre Trudeau announced multiculturalism wasnt just some vague ideal, but an official government policy.

Mr. Trudeau stated that no single culture could define Canada, and that the government accepted "the contention of other cultural communities that they, too, are essential elements in Canada."

The forward-thinking initiative was partly driven by partisan politics, a bid to broaden the Liberal partys appeal with ethnic voters at a time when its support in Quebec was being challenged by the rise of separatism.

It was more a symbolic recognition of diversity than a substantive change in government policy, but it still held out a lofty vision of a Canada in which all cultures would be valued equally. It helped differentiate Canada, a self-styled mosaic in which cultural identities are embraced and encouraged, from the U.S., a giant melting pot where individual cultures must surrender to the American ideal.

Since that vision was unveiled, however, events have made it painfully clear the gulf between aspiration and execution, between golden dream and grisly reality, might now be wider than ever.

The journey toward multiculturalism has been fraught with more peril than anyone could have imagined in 1971, particularly in light of the recent discoveries of the remains of more than a thousand people, many of them Indigenous children, in unmarked graves at former residential schools.

It is easy to become discouraged when headlines regularly remind Canadians they live in a country where sometimes-deadly incidents of anti-Asian and anti-Muslim hate are allowed to flourish, and anti-multicultural groups such as the white-nationalist Proud Boys are able to insinuate themselves into the public conversation.

On June 27, Canadian Multiculturalism Day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement acknowledging that Canada in 2021 has fallen far short of his fathers long-ago vision of a more inclusive and equitable society.

"Every day, far too many racialized Canadians, Indigenous peoples and religious minorities continue to face systemic racism, discrimination and a lack of resources and opportunity," he said.

"The tragic events of the past several weeks are painful reminders that Canada has not always lived up to its ideals, and that many Canadians continue to feel fear and insecurity simply because of the colour of their skin, their background or their faith."

Canadians can be forgiven if they feel there is little to celebrate on the 50th anniversary of Canadas declaration of official multiculturalism. Still, the ideal championed half a century ago should not be allowed to wither and die simply because there is much work yet to be done in all corners of Canadas fragile cultural mosaic.

Deliberation must not devolve into despair. While the ugliness of recent revelations is proof of how hard the journey will be, there is inspiration to be found in the fact we know what is possible if we commit to the difficult task that lies ahead.
Threats against Manitobas top doctor escalated through the third COVID-19 wave to the point law enforcement responded to reports of suspicious activity at his family home.

Threats against Manitobas top doctor escalated through the third COVID-19 wave to the point law enforcement responded to reports of suspicious activity at his family home.

Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin says he has received threatening communications  by email and via social media  daily, if not weekly, as he has guided the provinces pandemic response.

However, as the third wave throttled the province, the issue became more serious.

"I've certainly had a number of threats against me and my family that Ive been in contact with security and the police and have had it followed up," Roussin said Monday.

"Theres been some suspicious activity that (has) been reported to me around my house and things that I've been in contact with law enforcement."

Its the second time Roussin has described some of the harassment hes been subject to throughout the pandemic; the first followed media coverage of threats directed at his counterparts in other Canadian provinces.

Manitoba's top doctor shared his experience, after being asked by media whether he may have been under surveillance by private investigators.

Earlier Monday it was revealed the president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a Calgary-based firm representing seven Manitoba churches in a legal battle against public health orders, had hired private investigators to track a number of government officials.

Roussin said he was not aware of any private investigators looking into his activities.

On at least one occasion, he received a call from police regarding suspicious activity at his home, Roussin said, but declined to share additional details. He was away from the property at the time but his children and spouse were in the residence.

"Its a little bit concerning that way, and again, its understandable that this has had a huge toll on Manitobans. But I dont think that any of us can legitimately accept that threats (against) someone or their family is acceptable, no matter how much you disagree with some of the protections that weve put in place," Roussin said.

"During this third wave, things have been stretching out, so Ive been getting more and more severe ones  ones that have been reported to me that people have seen in social media, that have had some law enforcement involvement in it."

Winnipeg police said they could not comment on whether any investigations were open, or pending, into threats directed at the chief provincial public health officer.

Roussin said seeing threatening messages escalate has been troubling, but as more Manitobans are vaccinated and as public health measures can be eased, he hopes the intimidation tactics will become a thing of the past.

"Manitobans have put us in a spot now that were going to be starting to loosen these restrictions, and thats our path forward to this post-pandemic Manitoba, to this Manitoba where we dont have Manitobans pitted against Manitobans," he said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
OTTAWA - Canada will donate nearly 18 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to poorer countries, but is keeping millions of extra doses of mRNA vaccines for potential boosters as the World Health Organization is urging more generosity to stamp out COVID-19 around the globe.

Vials of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines sit empty on the counter at the Junction Chemist Pharmacy, in Toronto, Friday, June 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

OTTAWA - Canada will donate nearly 18 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to poorer countries, but is keeping millions of extra doses of mRNA vaccines for potential boosters as the World Health Organization is urging more generosity to stamp out COVID-19 around the globe.

"While Canadians continue to lead the world in vaccine administration, we know that the picture is very different in many places around the world," Procurement Minister Anita Anand said Monday. "We also know that this pandemic will not end until it ends everywhere."

She said that after talking to the provinces, the federal government determined these vaccine doses were excess supply, as demand for the AstraZeneca vaccine had been met. She said Canada will donate 17.7 million doses that were supposed to flow into Canada from the United States through an advance purchase agreement with AstraZeneca.

They will be made available to lower-income countries through the global vaccine-sharing alliance COVAX. The timing is still being worked out.

At the G7 last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also pledged Canada would give back 13 million doses it was set to receive through a contract with COVAX, on top of millions of dollars already set aside for the global vaccine effort.

Canada had secured 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through that advance purchase agreement, but demand for that vaccine has dropped drastically as the supply of the mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna has increased.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says mRNA vaccines are preferred over the viral-vector vaccines produced by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, even for people who received AstraZeneca as a first dose.

Viral-vector vaccines are associated with a rare but sometimes fatal blood-clotting disorder, which was found to occur in one in 60,000 AstraZeneca recipients in Canada.

Canada is on track to receive 68 million doses by the end of July, which would be enough to fully vaccinate most of its population of 38 million. Children under the age of 12 are not currently eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.

At Monday's announcement, Anand says 44 million doses of Moderna and 51 million shots from Pfizer-BioNTech are expected to have arrived in the country by the end of September.

The World Health Organization, meanwhile, is pushing vaccine manufacturers to prioritize supplying COVID-19 vaccines to lower-income countries where the novel coronavirus and its variants are still spreading among a largely unvaccinated population.

"The global gap in vaccine supply is hugely uneven and inequitable," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference Monday.

"Some countries and regions are actually ordering millions of booster doses, before other countries have had supplies to vaccinate their health workers and most vulnerable."

It's unclear when, or whether, Canadians will need to get a third dose of vaccine, but it is one reason Anand gave for why there are currently no plans to donate Pfizer or Moderna doses.

"We are still watching the science evolve in this area in terms of the potential need for an additional third shot or boosters, and so we are making sure that we have the supply on hand of these vaccines to be able to serve the needs of Canadians in the short and the long term," she said. "Any decision on the donation of doses needs to be made by the Public Health Agency of Canada in co-ordination with the provinces and territories."

Pfizer said recently it has seen a bit of a dip in antibodies in Israel six months after vaccination and intends to ask the U.S. and Europe to approve giving a booster shot. A Pfizer Canada spokeswoman said it's too early to comment on whether the company will ask the same here.

Health Canada and the federal public health agency issued a joint statement last Friday saying the duration of protection from COVID-19 vaccines is still being studied but current data "shows good immunity in most people out to 9 months after receiving 2 vaccine doses."

The statement said the issue of needing boosters is top of mind for both organizations, and decisions will be based on scientific evidence. In April, Canada announced a deal to get 35 million booster shots from Pfizer in 2022, and another 30 million in 2023, in case they are needed.

"We have ordered way more vaccines than we will need, and we shouldnt leave the excess in warehouses while most of the world does not have enough," said Stuart Hickox, Canadian director for ONE, an international advocacy organization aimed at fighting extreme poverty, in a statement on Monday.

To keep up with its commitment to help vaccinate less wealthy nations, theLiberal government also announced Monday it would match donations Canadians make to a UNICEF fundraising campaign called "Give a Vax," for a contribution of up to $10 million.

David Morley, the head of UNICEF Canada, says the money raised will pay for transportation and some of the other logistical needs to deliver vaccines to people.

International Development Minister Karina Gould says she's heard Canadians want to help be part of the global COVID-19 vaccination effort.

"As Canadians are hearing more about the Delta and the Lambda variant, recognizing that if the pandemic continues to rage in other parts of the world, that's more opportunities for variants and mutations to emerge," she said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2021.

 With files from Mia Rabson
Its not every day a tenant takes their landlord to court and wins.

So when Maiesha Abdelmoula was awarded more than $50,000 in damages in a default judgment after a year and a half of trouble that allegedly involved bedbugs, raccoons, frozen toilets and a break-in, she was surprised to find that, hard as it was, winning her case was the easy part  actually getting the money was where things got tough.

Even though her landlord was ordered to pay her $50,000, he hasnt paid. And more than two years later, shes still waiting.

I dont really know if Im ever going to get my money, said Abdelmoula. Im trying to stay optimistic.

For tenants like Abdelmoula who have been awarded damages, getting the defendant to pay up can be a lengthy process.

I am in awe of how there is so little enforcement in terms of tenant rights, if I had owed my landlord $50,000 in rent, I wouldve been evicted in an instant, wrote Abdelmoula in an email.

Lawyer Benjamin Ries of Downtown Legal Services said once damages have been awarded, the onus of enforcement falls mainly on the winning party, and it can be a frustrating and expensive process.

From the day she moved into the apartment in February 2015, Abdelmoula alleges there were major problems with her top-floor unit, beginning with a frozen toilet and icicles hanging from the bathroom sink. Her space heater tripped the circuit breaker whenever she plugged it in, so she turned on the oven and left the door open and ran a fan in front of it.

Abdelmoula alleges her landlord, Michael Chen, didnt fulfil his duties to take care of these problems, or others that followed.

Chen disputes Abdelmoulas allegations, saying in an email that she is totally lying. He said he had professional inspections done, and he arranged for things to be fixed if a tenant complained.

The ice and electricity were just the beginning, Abdelmoula alleges; there was also a raccoon infestation that wasnt dealt with properly, as well as a break-in. Abdelmoula says her possessions, including a spare key, were stolen, but her landlord wouldnt change the locks.

Chen disputes these allegations, saying there were no signs of a break-in.

The final straw was the bedbugs, according to Abdelmoula  she first noticed the infestation in December 2015. She said she spent the next several months afraid to go to sleep. Her landlord sprayed the unit himself but not the whole house, she said, adding he only brought in a professional months later after she registered a complaint with the city. Chen in an email said two apartments had a professional treatment done.

The bedbugs became a catalyst for a mental health crisis, said Abdelmoula, resulting in her being unable to work.

She moved out in June 2016 and in 2017 sued Chen for a variety of damages in Ontario Superior Court.

In January 2019, in a default judgment, Abdelmoula was awarded more than $50,000 in damages. A default judgment is given when one party fails to do their part in the case; the judges decision notes nobody appeared on behalf of the defendant, nor did he contact the plaintiff or her counsel. The judge wrote that she is satisfied Chen was given notice and an opportunity to respond.

When asked about the judgment and why he hasnt paid Abdelmoula, Chen says he never heard from the Superior Court, and never heard about the judgment.

Once youre at the enforcement stage, you have a couple of options, such as obtaining a writ of seizure and sale or garnishing the debtors wages, said Ries. But to take these steps, you need the right information. For example, you should ensure you know who owns the property  is it the landlord themselves, or a company? If youre wrong about who or what your debtor is, you might be too late to get your money, said Ries.

Toronto lawyer Caryma Sad said its not uncommon for the winning party to have to go after their debtor.

(Sad represented Abdelmoula in her Superior Court case, but is not representing her for the enforcement process. She did not comment on the particulars of Abdelmoulas case.)

Getting a writ of seizure and sale on the property owned by the person owing you money is one option, said Ries. If the property owner tries to sell the property, they will be forced to pay you back first. This could take months, years, or a lifetime, acknowledges Ries. Thats why after a certain period you can ask the court to force the sale of the property.

But Sad said its rare for a property sale to be forced, as the courts arent eager to do it, and its expensive.

Abdelmoula said she has obtained a writ on the property she lived in and attempted to force the sale, but the pandemic has held up the enforcement process. Chen said he is unaware of the writ.

Another option is to garnish the debtors wages, or another source of income, said Ries. Their employer or bank can be made to pay you directly via a notice of garnishment. To do this you need information on their employer or the specific branch where the debtor banks, he said.

The third option, often done before a writ or garnishment, is called a judgment debtor examination. The debtor is called into court for an interrogation under oath, and can be asked questions about their financial details and other things, details which can be used to support a writ of seizure and sale, or a notice of garnishment, said Ries.

Sometimes the examination itself is enough to make the debtor pay up, or to prompt a deal, Ries said.

Sending someone to a collections agency is another option and the most hands-off approach, said Sad. However, the agency will take a cut of the money if they are successful, and success isnt guaranteed.

Not everyone can afford to take these routes, said Ries, especially if the amount owed is relatively small.

The system gives the debtor a lot of chances and time, said Ries  and the onus is on the plaintiff to keep chasing after them.

The question is, why cant you just grab this person and force them to pay?

This process was designed for situations opposite to Abdelmoulas, Ries said: the more powerful party, like a landlord or a credit card company, chasing after an individual who may not be able to pay them. Thats why the process is so forgiving toward the debtor, he said.

In the debtor position its more often a person who also lacks a lot of power, he said.

Ries believes its high time Ontario considered adapting the system, making it easier for people like Abdelmoula to get money owed.

We write our laws as though people are going to follow them, he said.

Rosa Saba is a Toronto-based business reporter for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @rosajsaba
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  The arrest of a failed Haitian businessman living in Florida who authorities say was a key player in the killing of Haitis president deepened the mystery Monday into an already convoluted plot surrounding the assassination.

A woman attends Sunday Mass in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, July 11, 2021, four days after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home. (AP Photo / Matias Delacroix)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  The arrest of a failed Haitian businessman living in Florida who authorities say was a key player in the killing of Haitis president deepened the mystery Monday into an already convoluted plot surrounding the assassination.

Haitian authorities identified the suspect as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 62, who once expressed a desire to lead his country in a YouTube video. However he is unknown in Haitian political circles, and associates suggested he was duped by those really behind the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in an attack last week that critically wounded his wife, Martine, who remains hospitalized in Miami.

A Florida friend of Sanon told The Associated Press that the suspect is an evangelical Christian pastor and a licensed physician in Haiti, but not in the U.S. The associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of safety concerns, said Sanon told him he was approached by people claiming to represent the U.S. State and Justice departments who wanted to install him as president.

The associate said the plan was for Moise to be arrested, not killed. He said Sanon would not have participated if he knew Moise would be assassinated.

I guarantee you that, the associate said. This was supposed to be a mission to save Haiti from hell, with support from the U.S. government.

Haiti's National Police chief, Leon Charles, said Moises killers were protecting Sanon, whom he accused of working with those who plotted in the assassination. He gave no information on the purported masterminds.

Charles said officers found a hat with the logo of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four license plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence with unidentified people, among other things, in Sanon's house in Haiti.

Twenty-six former Colombian soldiers are suspected in the killing and 23 have been arrested, along with three Haitians. Charles said five suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed.

Interim President Claude Joseph speaks during a news conference at his residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, July 11, 2021, four days after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

They are dangerous individuals, Charles said. Im talking commando, specialized commando.

Meanwhile, Colombias national police chief, Gen. Jorge Luis Vargas, said that a Florida-based enterprise, CTU Security, used the company credit card to buy 19 plane tickets from Bogota to Santo Domingo for the Colombian suspects. Most arrived in the Dominican Republic in June and moved into Haiti within weeks, Vargas said.

The Colombians are cooperating with Haitis investigation, Vargas said.

He said that Dimitri Herard, head of general security at Haitis National Palace, flew to Colombia, Ecuador and Panama in the months prior to the assassination, and Colombian police are investigating whether he had any role in recruiting the mercenaries. In Haiti, prosecutors are seeking to interrogate Herard over the assassination.

Charles, Haiti's police chief, said Sanon was in contact with CTU Security and that the company recruited the suspects in the killing. He said Sanon flew into Haiti in June on a private jet accompanied by several of the alleged gunmen.

The suspects' initial mission was to protect Sanon, but they later received a new order: to arrest the president, Charles said.

The operation started from there, he said, adding that 22 additional suspects joined the group.

Charles said that after Moise was killed, one suspect phoned Sanon, who then got in touch with two people believed to be masterminds of the plot. He did not identify them or say if police know who they are.

Sanons associate said he attended a recent meeting in Florida with Sanon and about a dozen other people, including Antonio Enmanuel Intriago Valera, a Venezuelan emigre to Miami who runs CTU Security. He said a presentation was made for rebuilding the country, including its water system, converting trash into energy and fixing the roads.

A woman prays during Sunday Mass at Sacre-Coeur church, in Port-au-Prince, Sunday, July 11, 2021, four days after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home. (AP Photo/Joseph Odelyn)

He said Sanon asked why the security team accompanying him to Haiti were all Colombians. Sanon was told Haitians couldnt be trusted and that the system is corrupt, the associate said. He said Sanon called him from Haiti a few days before the assassination and said the Colombians had disappeared, leaving him alone.

Im all by myself. Who are these people? I dont know what they are doing, the associate quoted Sanon as saying.

Sanon is completely gullible, the associate added. He thinks God is going to save everything.

Sanon has lived in Broward County in Florida, as well as in Hillsborough County on the Gulf Coast. Records also show he resided in Kansas City, Missouri. He filed for bankruptcy in Florida in 2013 and identified himself as a medical doctor in a video on YouTube titled Leadership for Haiti.

However, records show Sanon has never been licensed to practice medicine in Florida or any other occupation covered by the state's Department of Health.

Sanon said in court papers associated with a 2013 bankruptcy case filed in federal court in Florida that he was a physician and a church pastor at the Tabarre Evangelical Tabernacle in Haiti. He said he had a partial stake in enterprises including the Organization of Rome Haiti, which he identified as a non-governmental organization, a radio station in Haiti and medical facilities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

At the time of his bankruptcy, he and his wife reported income from his businesses of $5,000 per month. They reported a home in Brandon, Florida, valued at about $143,000, with a mortgage of more than $367,000. A federal bankruptcy trustee later determined they hid ownership of about 35 acres in Haiti from creditors in their bankruptcy petition.

Florida records show Sanon has started about a dozen businesses over the last 20 years, all of which failed, including ones that appeared related to medical imaging, physical therapy, fossil fuel trading, real estate and veganism.

In a YouTube video nine years ago, Sanon denounced Haiti's leadership as corrupt, accusing them of stripping the country of its resources, saying: They dont care about the country, they dont care about the people.

He falsely claimed that Haiti has uranium, oil and other resources that have been taken by government officials.

Nine million people cant be in poverty when we have so much resources in the country. Its impossible, he said. We need new leadership that will change the way of life.

Sanons arrest comes as a growing number of politicians have challenged interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who is currently in charge of Haiti with help from police and the military.

U.S. officials, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, met Sunday with Joseph, designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry and Joseph Lambert, the head of Haitis dismantled Senate, whom supporters have named as provisional president in a challenge to Joseph, according to a statement from the White House National Security Council.

The delegation also met with Haitis National Police and reviewed the security of critical infrastructure, it said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the delegation received a request for additional assistance, but did not provide details. She said a potential deployment of U.S. troops remained under review, but also suggested that Haiti's political uncertainty was a complicating factor.

What was clear from their trip is that there is a lack of clarity about the future of political leadership, Psaki said.

U.S. President Joe Biden said he was closely following developments, adding: The people of Haiti deserve peace and security, and Haitis political leaders need to come together for the good of their country.

Meanwhile, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Haiti's request for security assistance is being examined.

The United Nations has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990, but the last U.N. military peacekeepers left the country in 2017.

Fox reported from Washington, Spencer reported from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Manuel Rueda in Bogota, Colombia, and Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report.
Spike in COVID-19 cases points to gaps in South Africas response

Preventing new infections and containing the pandemic protects health systems from getting close to collapse.

The numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in South Africa have increased exponentially over the past 12 months. At the beginning of July 2020 the country had 168,000 cases of COVID-19 and 2,844 deaths. A year later, at the start of July 2021, there were over two million confirmed cases and more than 61,000 deaths. These numbers are only a snapshot of the kind of pressure South Africas healthcare system is under. On the one hand, the country needs to drastically increase the number of frontline health workers. And on the other hand, theres not enough money, according to acting health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, to employ medical interns, or even extra medical staff. Laetitia Rispel chaired the ministerial task team responsible for the development of the 2030 National Human Resources for Health Strategy. She spoke to The Conversation Africas Ina Skosana about the countrys COVID-19 response.

How is South Africa coping with the current wave?

The country is not coping. I think the third wave could have been avoided. Theres been a lot of focus on the vaccination programme. Although vaccination is important, you cant look at the vaccination programme in isolation from the overall response to the pandemic.

Things could have been done differently.

First of all, the government declared COVID-19 a national disaster in March 2020. That was an opportunity for the National Department of Health to provide strong leadership for the entire health system. But the national department has either remained quiet, or played a supportive role to the pandemic response in the nine provinces. Consequently, the COVID-19 response has varied across the country. In a crisis like the pandemic, you need strong central leadership and management.

Second, theres been a lot of attention on the ability of hospitals to cope. The first step of any public health response must be prevention. Preventing new infections and community transmission, and containing the pandemic protects health systems from being overwhelmed or getting close to collapse.

By the time hospitals are overwhelmed by people who need admission, it is almost too late. Gauteng is the epicentre of the current surge. The provinces early warning system showed increasing numbers weeks ahead of the surge. Yet very little was done to contain those infections, or prevent a rapid increase.

There has been insufficient involvement of civil society and ordinary community members.

Theres a certain degree of COVID-19 fatigue. But many people still dont understand why non-pharmaceutical interventions  social distancing, hand washing, wearing masks  are important.

What are your biggest concerns?

Theres a chronic under-investment in the health workforce  the pandemic has exposed and amplified this. This is apparent in the reported shortages especially to deal with the people who are seriously ill and need to be admitted.

You can have as many hospital beds as you want. But if you dont have the skilled staff to look after patients, then people wont receive quality care or care at all.

Theres also been a failure to deal with the concerns and fears of frontline health workers. I dont think theres been sufficient attention to the psychosocial and emotional impact of the pandemic on these workers. The potential consequences are physical and mental exhaustion, stress, anxiety, and burnout. This could lead to medical errors, lower productivity, increased absenteeism and higher turnover, thus creating a vicious cycle.

Whats been working?

There are areas of innovation that we should recognise. For example government and South Africans were able to put together, at relatively short notice, significant financial resources. Digital innovation included the COVID-19 Alert App, the early warning system of hotspots or clusters of infections and the ability to get daily updates on COVID-19 infections and deaths.

One of the positive aspects was the whole-of-government approach and inter-governmental structures that were set up. These enabled different government departments and entities to work together, rather than in silos.

The other thing we have to acknowledge is the visible political leadership. There was very decisive leadership from the president at the early stages of the pandemic.

Hospital and district managers, as well as frontline staff, rescued the day. They went way beyond the call of duty. For instance, frontline nurses and doctors had creative ways of keeping communication going with family members who were not allowed to visit patients. There was a newfound public appreciation for frontline nurses and doctors.

I think the institutionalisation of public health measures is an amazing achievement. Wearing masks, handwashing and sanitising were adopted quite quickly. Compliance and enforcement, however, are still key issues.

What should be done?

The first thing is to strengthen and stabilise leadership and management. If people are in acting positions they are less likely to take risks and make tough decisions. Given the speed with which the pandemic is growing, its important to have rapid decision-making.

The second thing is to engage with and involve ordinary people. This can be done through existing community structures. South Africa can build on the experience of managing the HIV epidemic to get public buy-in. People must understand that its only through working together that well be able to prevent new infections, contain the spread of infections, and save lives and protect our future.

The third point is the importance of investment in the health workforce. Without health workers its not possible to fight a pandemic, or have a functional health system.

Finally, its important to act on the data generated by information systems. What is the point of investing in health information systems when you dont respond to the message? The government needs to take swift action at the first signs of hotspots and not wait for infections to spread.

Laetitia Rispel, Professor of Public Health and DST/NRF Research Chair, University of the Witwatersrand. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Message from the Senior Executive Team

We hope that you are holding up during these very difficult times.

We are closely monitoring national developments and particularly the situation in areas surrounding our campuses. We are liaising with the Braamfontein Improvement District and we have placed Campus Protection Services on alert.

We know that many members of our community live, work and/or pass through Hillbrow, the Johannesburg CBD and surrounding areas. We urge you to take extra precautions if you are in these areas and to remain indoors as far as possible. Some of our research and clinical activities in Hillbrow have been affected and we are managing these units and incidents separately.

We condemn the acts of violence and criminality that have taken place in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in recent days and we are hopeful that these disruptions will be contained soon.



Should you require assistance, please liaise with your respective line manager or Head of School. The Office of the Dean of Students is also available to assist students if required.

If you need to, please make use of the following services that are available to you:

Campus Protection Services (numbers at the back of your staff/student card) or call (011) 717-4444 or (011) 717-6666. Please read more about the mySOS App https://www.wits.ac.za/mywits/mysos/ and download it  you dont know when you may need it.

Save this link as a shortcut on your phone - there are several important health and wellness contact details on this page: https://www.wits.ac.za/ccdu/contact-us/.

Confidential counselling services are available for students via the Wits Student Crisis Line on 0800111331 (24/7/365 toll free) or through arrangements made via info.ccdu@wits.ac.za.

Staff and their family members can make use of Kaelos counselling services at no cost by calling 0861635766, by dialling *134*928, by sending a Please call me to 0726205699, or by emailing asknelson@kaelo.co.za.

Take care and keep safe.



SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM

12 July 2021


Wits Scientist elected as a fellow of the International Union of Physiological Societies

The Director of the Wits Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit (CPGRU), Professor Gavin Norton, is one of only 30 fellows to be elected into the prestigious International Union of Physiological Societies (IUPS).

The IUPS is an international organisation that recognises the important contributions made by physiologists to science and health. Professor Norton was announced on the inaugural list of Fellows of the IUPS Academy of Physiology which represents the excellence of physiologists worldwide.

Professor Norton says that he is humbled by his election. "It is the international body that all physiologists recognisem and to be one of only 3 persons in Africa, and 30 in the world, leaves me a little stunned he explains.

In response to his election as one of three Africans to be elected, two of whom are South Africans he says that this is clearly a sign of a healthy nation that is rapidly moving forward. He stresses that this gives Africa and in particular South Africa, the recognition it deserves for its contribution to scientific research and clinical practice.

Although an esteemed internationally recognised researcher himself, Professor Norton credits his research teams contribution as being of tremendous significance. We have uncovered so many aspects about cardiovascular disease in Africa that were quite unexpected and largely went unnoticed, that we believe this work will give Africa a significant advantage in improving many lives, he says.

As an applied physiologist with an interest in the role of aortic dysfunction as the cause of premature cardiovascular events, Professor Norton says he aims to use his appointment to bring focus on the importance of less reliance on checklists in clinical practice as this discourages careful and logical deductive reasoning.

He says that he also believes his recognition through his fellowship election makes an important statement that highlights the impact of cost-effective research to answer basic questions as his research area does. His research is especially critical in a middle-income country where much more can be gained by using our limited resources more carefully.

Reflecting on the influence of his election on the outlook of his research unit, CPGRU, Professor Norton is cognisant of the bigger picture, mindful of the fact that "we are not alone and that ultimately we are contributing to something worthwhile this is a strong encouragement to young scientists who are looking to make their mark on the world.
WHITESBORO, N.Y.  Residents along the Sauquoit Creek in Whitesboro have been evacuated for the second time since Friday due to flooding in the area.

The first evacuation happened Friday morning, and the second order was issued Monday morning around 6:30 a.m. following heavy rain. American Red Cross volunteers are assisting with the evacuations.

Main Street between Yorkville and Victory Parkway was closed Monday morning but has since reopened.

Crews have also been removing trees and debris from the creek since Friday, including under the Route 69 bridge. Whitesboro Mayor Bob Friedlander says this helps prevent bridge damage.

There is a concern on my part that there are other areas in the creek where there are trees that are fallen and they are laying in the creek now and need to be removed, otherwise if we have another high-water event, they are going to float up, come down and slam into these bridges, he said.

Oneida East residency crews removing trees and debris from Thursday storm under the Route 69 bridge in the village of Whitesboro. #DontDriveDistracted through work zones . pic.twitter.com/kj9BWZR32f  NYSDOT Mohawk Valley (@NYSDOTUtica) July 11, 2021

Residents in certain areas of Whitesboro were eligible for a federal buyout program following the 2019 Halloween floods, but Friedlander says the root of the issue still needs to be addressed.

If you move the people and don't prevent the flooding, it is going to continue to happen, said Friedlander. Now, whether they do this buyout, all the people get moved. We don't know. I don't have a crystal ball. I don't know to what extent itll happen. But if there is one resident left down there, theyre going to live in fear of this creek rising and flooding."

A few showers are expected Monday afternoon, and scattered thunderstorms will return Tuesday in Oneida County.
MARCY, N.Y.  The mass vaccination site at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy is one of four state-run sites that will close on Monday, July 19.

As more New Yorkers get vaccinated, the state slowly closing certain mass sites in order to refocus efforts on target areas with lower vaccination rates.

"As our vaccination efforts continue across the state, we are continuing to target communities that have lower vaccination rates and using every tool at our disposal to make the vaccine accessible to every New Yorker," Governor Cuomo said. "In line with this strategy, the downscaling of our mass vaccination sites is proceeding as planned and we are shifting resources to where they are most needed, so we can get more shots into people's arms and defeat this virus once and for all."

The state-run vaccination sites at the following locations will also close Monday: The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, Plattsburgh International Airport and Jones Beach.

The mass vaccination site at the New York State Fairgrounds will remain open, but will relocate to the Arts & Home Center starting Wednesday, July 14.

Oneida County is still holding regular weekly clinics for anyone still looking to get a shot. The schedule is at ocgov.net.
New York State Police arrested two men Saturday in an ongoing investigation into burglaries at seasonal residences in Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties.

Items like guns, generators, tools and others were reported missing from homes and sheds on the properties.

Christopher J. Youngs Jr., 23, of the town of Maryland, and John B. Clark, 27, of the town of Morris, have both been charged with second-degree burglary and criminal possession of stolen property.

State police say both suspects were linked to burglaries reported in Otsego and Delaware counties, and the two were allegedly found in possession of stolen property.

Youngs was remanded to the Delaware County jail on $50,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond; and Clark is being held in Otsego County jail on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

State police say the investigation is ongoing, and more suspects may be arrested.

Anyone with information that may help state police in this investigation can call the Sidney headquarters at 607-561-7400.

Police are also reminding people to write down serial numbers for their guns and other valuable items, which can help authorities locate them if theyre stolen.

Owners of seasonal homes are also asked to check their property in any of those counties to see if items are missing.
UTICA, N.Y. -- July 11th is a date victims and survivors from Bosnia will never forget and local Bosnians hosted a walk to make sure of it.

The walk at MVCC was organized by the Bosnian American Community Association.

July 11th marks the beginning of genocide in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica where in 1995, more than 8,300 civilian men and boys were killed in a United Nations-designated safe zone by Bosnian Serb forces.



Thve Vice President of the BACA, Dina Radeljas, says there are a lot of people who werent around when this all happened so not only should anyone never forget...we still need to teach people that this can and does happen in the world we live in now.

"We have a lot of survivors of mass genocide in the utica area and all kinds of stories and these stories are very important to relay, from one generation to the next, because what happens is if these stories are not told, they are not shared, they disappear and things are not remembered. Srebrenica is not remembered and obviously then everything does in vain. So it is very important to share these stories and raise awareness and educate."

The BACA hopes to make this walk an annual event in Utica.
WHITESBORO, N.Y. -- With heavy rains expected in the viewing area, Whitesboro, Whitestown and State DOT crews are on standby for possible flooding, again.

"It's an ongoing nightmare," says Whitesboro Mayor Bob Friedlander. "Everyone is working their best to solve this."

At this point all the town and village can do is remove existing debris from the Sauquoit Creek and then be on alert in case more comes down stream.

"The town and village are in contact with the Governor's office and the State DOT. We are obviously monitoring the creek very closely after Thursday nights event. I feel like we are being as proactive as possible." says Whitestown Town Supervisor Shaun Kaleta.

The Flood Plain Restoration Program is a 35 million dollar, four step process to assure the safety of the residents affected by flooding.

The four main components are mitigation, buyouts, smarter development and new infrastructure.

"Yes there are plans for projects and benches to be built, and I hope that is 100 percent successful, but in the past that has not alleviated flooding in our village." says Friedlander.

"There's a concern on my part that there are other areas of the creek where trees have fallen and they need to be removed....it's an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed."
The Corn Belt is a region of the Midwestern United States. The region stretches from Missouri and Kentucky in the south to Minnesota in the north, and from Ohio in the east to Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas to the west. As its name implies, the Corn Belt produces much of countrys corn, and has done so since the 1850s. It is considered one of the most fertile regions on Earth. This fertility, however, has lately come under threat by climate change.

History Of The Corn Belt

A cornfield is backed by red barns with several interesting silos in rural Ohio, USA.

Before 1850, American settlers in what became the Corn Belt confined themselves to farming in forested areas or grasslands that were adjacent to woodlands. It was in the forested areas that the Corn Belt began to take shape. The setters used farming techniques learned during the period when Europeans began settling on what is now the eastern seaboard of the U.S. They combined these techniques with those learned from Native Americans. Indeed, corn was first cultivated by the indigenous people of the Americas for seven thousand years before the arrival of European settlers.

From 1850 onward, American farmers expanded their operations into the grasslands of the prairie and Great Plains. At first, the farmers had difficulties farming in these areas, as their know-how and technology were based on experience farming forested areas. In addition, most of the farming that was done by American pioneer settlers was subsistence farming. Commercial farming would come later, when farmers began producing surpluses of corn, and had to figure out what to do with it. These farmers soon learned that they could use the corn to feed their livestock, which was advantageous to them because fatter livestock fetched higher prices.

Corn sculptures at a public park at Ohio. Editorial credit: arthurgphotography / Shutterstock.com

The Corn Belt began to grow rapidly in the second half of the 19th century, as new cultivation techniques suitable for farming on the prairie were developed. New technology, such as the introduction of steel plows, horse-drawn cultivators, well-drilling, and railroads also helped farmers to grow their operations and sell their crops. Todays Corn Belt produces more than 10 billion bushels of corn each year, accounting for at least 40% of the worlds corn production.

The Corn Belt Today

Today, the bulk of the corn that is produced in the U.S. still comes from the Corn Belt. In fact, the region produces 75% of the countrys corn. Data from 2008 shows that half of the corn produced in the U.S. came from four states alone: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Illinois. The state of Iowa is now the leading corn-producing state in the U.S. The cultivation of corn in the Corn Belt is so intense that scientists believe it could be influencing the weather patterns of the region. In fact, a recent study indicated that the presence of so much corn in the Corn Belt is counteracting the effects of climate change. For instance, while the worlds climate has been warming due to climate change, the summer temperature in the Corn Belt has dropped by a full degree Celsius. In addition, rainfall in the region has increased by 35%. Scientists believe that this is being caused by the photosynthesis of all the corn being grown in the Corn Belt, which contributes to more water vapor in the air. Still, the Corn Belt is completely immune from the effects of climate change.

Flooded cornfield in the midwestern United States.

Indeed, climate change has been making one of the most fertile regions on Earth increasingly infertile. Corn and other crops rely on rich, fertile topsoil for the water and nutrients that they need to grow. For a long time, this kind of topsoil was easy find in the Corn Belt. A recent study, however, has shown that about 35% of the region has lost its rich topsoil completely. What is left is carbon-poor layers of soil, which are not good for growing crops. The loss of topsoil causes environmental problems. When it erodes, for example, its nutrient-filled dirt can degrade streams and rivers. It is also estimated that topsoil loss costs the agricultural industry in the U.S. Midwest nearly $3 billion annually.

Since 1935, the U.S. government has taken a number of initiatives to encourage soil conservation and sustainable farming in general. In 1985, for example, a law known as the Farm Bill was passed, which actually paid farmers not to farm ecologically sensitive land for 10 to 15 years. Such economic incentives are rare, however, and since farmers depend on their crops to make a living, they do not have much motivation to use more sustainable farming methods.

Climate change also raises the possibility that the Corn Belt may literally move. The warming climate means that corn production may have to be shifted northwards, where growing conditions will be more suitable. Thus, whereas farms in states like Iowa and Illinois produce much of the corn in the Corn Belt today, a continuing warming trend may make conditions in more northerly states, like Minnesota and the Dakotas, more suitable for cultivation. In general, farmers in Americas Corn Belt will have to change the way they farm in order to adapt to the increasing effects of climate change.
Weather Alert

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a * Flood Advisory for... Carlisle County in western Kentucky... McCracken County in western Kentucky... * Until 1245 PM CDT. * At 944 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms, some of which will repeat over the same areas that have recently, or will have received rainfall already. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. * Some locations that will experience flooding include... Paducah, Bardwell, Lone Oak, Reidland, Barkley Regional Airport, West Paducah, Kevil and Arlington. Additional rainfall amounts of up to an inch, possibly localized higher totals, are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. &&
Family pay tribute to teenager who died in an incident in Rhosymedre yesterday

The family of a man who died in an incident in Rhosymedre yesterday have paid tribute to him.

Officers arrested a local 18-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of Kyle Patrick Walley. He remains in police custody.

Kyles family have said: Kyle, you were just 19, with your whole life ahead of you, our boy; you were caring, loving and kind. You made us laugh, made us smile, you had so much to look forward to: college apprenticeship in September and so much more.

We are absolutely devastated. You will be greatly missed by so many , you had the biggest smile and sense of humour; all the love in the world from Mum, Dad, Lee, Johnathan, Caitlin, Nanna, Aunty and everyone who knew you.

Detective Chief Inspector Alun Oldfield said: I would like to offer my condolences to Kyles family at this extremely difficult time.

The circumstances surrounding this incident have been the subject of widespread social media speculation, and we are aware that many young people may have been affected by this. As such, School Liaison Officers and the Neighbourhood Policing Team are working closely with colleagues at Wrexham Council to offer the appropriate support and reassurance to the local community.

A spokesperson for Wrexham County Borough Council said: Childrens Social Care and the Education department in Wrexham have proactively discussed the need to support any children and young people who may be affected by this tragic event. Education and social care staff will offer emotional support to children or young people when required.

If you have any information that can assist police, you can contact the Investigation Team under Operation Blue Tarragon directly at: http://orlo.uk/76CY7

Earlier today Detective Inspector Chris Bell said: I am aware that highly graphic footage has been widely circulated on social media, and I would caution members of the public from sharing this further. Family Liaison Officers are currently providing support to the victims family, and out of respect, I would like to stress the importance of nothing being placed in the public domain that could cause further distress, or indeed prejudice any potential future trial.

This includes, but is not limited to naming or speculation as to the identity of any individuals connected with this incident.

Police have also commented over a video remaining on social media platforms:

In a separate update local police said officers maintaining a scene preservation in Rhosymedre last night had cause to arrest a male and female from the local area for being Drunk & Disorderly. The female was also arrested for Obstruct Police and the male for Assault Police.

Officers branded it, Totally unacceptable behaviour by these two individuals given the seriousness of the investigation the officers were attempting to preserve.
Local officer celebrated for his outstanding work in Wrexham town centre

A Wrexham officer has been recognised for his outstanding work in the town centre after being awarded North Wales Polices PCSO of the year.

PCSO John Davies received the accolade at North Wales Polices annual Force Awards ceremony, recognising officers, police staff and volunteers for their contribution to policing.

He was praised for the close work he initiated for elderly and vulnerable people throughout the pandemic, which included obtaining funding to deliver Christmas gift packs for those spending Christmas alone.

PCSO Davies was also recognised for catching several offenders on foot patrol, which included one going back to prison after being found to have large knifes and equipment that were to be used for committing burglaries.

On winning the award, PCSO Davies said: Its an honour to receive the award and I would like to thank my colleagues that I work with.

I really enjoy my role and trying to make a difference within communities and to try and make a positive impact on peoples lives.

Wrexham Town Neighbourhood Sergeant, David Smith, said: John is a consummate professional and valued member of our team, and the community of Wrexham.

All officers and staff at the station are all extremely happy for him, and that his outstanding work within the community work has been recognised. Well done John.

Chief Constable Carl Foulkes added: The awards presented recognised a whole host of achievements and I want to congratulate the winners that deservedly won.

The standard, as ever, was exceptionally high and Im continuously reminded by evenings such as last weeks just what an incredible, professional and hard-working organisation I am fortunate enough to lead.

The number of individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond in these unprecedented times is genuinely humbling and as Chief Constable, I want to say a huge well done and thank you on behalf of all our communities.

Our officers, staff and volunteers continue to do exceptional work towards making the streets of North Wales the safest place in the UK, through outstanding performance, dedication, determination and professionalism for which I am very grateful.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner given a taste of what its like to be locked up in a cell

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, paid a visit to see the state-of-the-art custody suite at the Eastern Command and Custody Facility in Llay, near Wrexham.

After being elected in May, Mr Dunbobbin has embarked on a fact-finding mission to get a detailed picture of how the force operates.

In conjunction with Chief Constable Carl Foulkes, hes also launched a survey to consult the public about policing priorities as he prepares to write a new Police and Crime Plan which will serve as a blueprint for North Wales Police.

The facility in Llay, which serves Wrexham and Flintshire, was the most modern police station in the UK when it opened in 2018.

Meanwhile, the antiquated high-rise police station in Wrexham has been demolished to make way for a supermarket and a new town centre station with a public front desk has been opened in the former Oriel Gallery.

The cells in the old station in Wrexham had reached a point where they were no longer fit for purpose.

Mr Dunbobbin was given a guided tour of the custody suite in Llay by custody manager Inspector Kevin Steele.

All 32 cells have natural daylight and the complex is teeming with technology, including more than 160 high definition cameras.

Inspector Steele said: The cells at Llay are light years ahead of the ones in Mold and at the old Wrexham station which have both been decommissioned they are state-of-the-art.

We have some cells for people with limited mobility where they can call for assistance and the beds are higher to allow for any mobility issues.

In another area we have a separate block of cells for vulnerable people, including young people.

People are well looked after here and its a gateway to other services for them, should they need it.

A large proportion of them have complex issues that require intervention from multiple agencies and, if we cant make referrals from custody, we can signpost them in the right direction.

Safeguarding is an important element in our work and every detained person that comes in here is risk assessed and a care plan tailored to their individual needs is put in place.

Inspector Steele also revealed that technology had replaced the need for old fashioned line-ups when witnesses were called to identify suspects.

The VIPER (Video Identification Parades Electronic Recording) room is where the identity parade is formulated when somebody needs to take part in what is an old-fashioned line-up or identity parade.

Its all done on DVD or streamed so that any victims or any witnesses would never have to come face to face with a suspect. Its made life a lot easier for everybody.

According to Mr Dunbobbin, the visit had given him a fascinating and important insight into how a custody suite operates.

He said: The Eastern Command and Custody Facility is only three years old so everything here is right up to date and is fit for the 21st century.

The custody suite is very impressive and the cells are kitted out with integrated high definition cameras.

All of them benefit from natural daylight which is in contrast to the traditional image of dark, dank cells in days of old.

Its clear everything possible is done to ensure that detainees are well looked after and treated with dignity and respect.

This is very important to me and I have a team of independent custody visitors who safeguard the welfare of detainees.

They are volunteers who make unannounced visits to the custody suites here in Llay and in St Asaph and Caernarfon.

The scheme gives reassurance to the detainees that there is somebody looking out for them and it also provides reassurance to their families that they are being well cared for.

The Police and Crime Plan survey is now available at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SMDKY8R for people to complete until Friday, August 20.

Paper copies of the survey are available by contacting opcc@nthwales.pnn.police.uk or 01492 805486. An easy read version of the survey is also available.
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A former Parent Teacher Association president at a Nashville school has been indicted on fraud and theft charges, according to the Tennessee Comptrollers Office.

Tiffany Bell was formerly PTA president at AZ Kelley Elementary School. Investigators determined that Bell stole at least $5,589.18 from the PTA. All of the money was stolen between May and August 2017.

The investigation began after Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and PTA officials reported unauthorized transactions to the Comptrollers Office.

Bell resigned as PTA president in November 2017 after she was questioned by other parents about the unusual activity in the PTA account over the summer.

Investigators said Bell stole the money by using the PTAs debit card to make ATM cash withdrawals totaling at least $4,720. An additional $869.18 was spent when Bell used the debit card to make purchases, which included groceries and other personal items from retailers like Walmart, Kmart and Family Dollar.

In July 2017, Bell deposited $150 of her own money into the PTA bank account; however, a cash shortage of $5,439.18 remained. The AZ Kelley PTA is no longer active.

Investigators are also questioning $271.71 that was used to purchase items from Amazon during the summer of 2017. PTA officials regularly made purchases from Amazon for legitimate purposes. Investigators and PTA officials could not determine if these Amazon purchases were used exclusively for the benefit of the PTA.

Bell was indicted in June 2021 by the Davidson County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $2,500 and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card over $2,500.

Although this organization is no longer active, lessons can be learned from this case, Comptroller Jason Mumpower said in a news release. School support organizations must ensure they provide adequate oversight over all collections and maintain supporting documentation, such as invoices or receipts, for all expenditures.

A court date has not been set for Bell.
Last weeks ruling by the British High Court allowing prosecutors to appeal an earlier judgment blocking Julian Assanges extradition, poses the very real danger that the WikiLeaks publisher will be dispatched to his American persecutors in the not-too-distant future.

The ruling is a microcosm of the Assange case as a whole. As they have for the past decade, the British courts have thrown aside the WikiLeaks founders legal and democratic rights. They have granted a US appeal that is both duplicitous and irregular under conditions in which the entire attempt by the American state to prosecute Assange has been exposed as an illegal frame-up.

The corporate media remains silent, or presents the latest travesty against Assange as fair play. The major political parties in the US, Britain and Australia, which have orchestrated the campaign against the WikiLeaks founder, give their tacit stamp of approval declaring, along with the official politicians who have occasionally voiced concern over Assanges persecution, that the British legal process must be respected.

Julian Assange in Belmarsh Prison in 2019

The US appeal is a damning refutation of those, including among Assanges own supporters, who have peddled dangerous illusions that the US administration of President Joe Biden may drop the prosecution if a sufficient number of moral pleas are addressed to the new occupant of the White House.

The appeal was first issued in the dying days of the Trump administration but it was continued, honed and argued for by Bidens Justice Department. Assange remains in Londons maximum-security Belmarsh Prison and faces the prospect of lifetime incarceration in the US because Biden is determined to press ahead with the prosecution of a journalist and publisher for exposing American war crimes, human rights violations and illegal spying operations.

That is because the Assange prosecution is viewed as a crucial precedent by the imperialist powers for the suppression of dissent and anti-war opposition amid a ratcheting up of the preparations for military conflict, including the Biden administrations threats and provocations against China, and the first signs of a resurgence of working-class struggle.

The appeal also confirms the warnings made by the World Socialist Web Site about Januarys British District Court decision that barred extradition.

Judge Vanessa Baraitser accepted all the substantive arguments of the US prosecutors, including their right to try a publisher under the Espionage Act. Her ruling, prohibiting extradition, was framed in the narrowest terms. Its purpose was to defuse a groundswell of opposition to the prospect of Assanges extradition and to provide the US with ample scope for appeal.

Baraitser ruled that extradition would be oppressive. Assanges compromised health and the conditions of his imprisonment in the US would likely result in his suicide.

The deliberate consequence of that judgment was that there was only a legal sliver between Assange and extradition.

The US has exploited this with its appeal claiming that the conditions of imprisonment would not be so oppressive. It has proposed worthless assurances that Assange would not be held under Special Administrative Measures (SAM), regulations that impose almost total isolation on a prisoner, and that he could serve out his sentence in Australia.

The extradition hearing had heard harrowing testimony about the dire psychological consequences of SAMs and conditions at the supermax ADX Florence prison where they are frequently imposed.

The US arguments, accepted as a legitimate basis of appeal by the British court, were demolished by Stella Moris, Assanges partner and an international human rights lawyer.

In a statement issued on Friday, Moris wrote: Reports about US undertakings are grossly misleading. On any given day 80,000 prisoners in US prisons are held in solitary confinement. Only a handful are in ADX/under special administrative measures. ADX is just one of dozens of self-described supermax prisons in the United States. The US government also says it may change its mind if the head of the CIA advises it to do so once Julian Assange is held in US custody.

With regard to the supposed concession of allowing Julian to serve jail time in Australia, it was always his right to request a prisoner transfer to Australia to finish serving his sentence because he is an Australian. It is no concession at all. There are existing agreements between the US and Australian authorities. What is crucial to understand is that prisoner transfers are eligible only after all appeals have been exhausted. For the case to reach the US Supreme Court could easily take a decade, even two.

What the US is proposing is a formula to keep Julian in prison effectively for the rest of his life. The only assurance that would be acceptable would be for the Biden Administration to drop this shameful case altogether, once and for all. He should not be in prison for a single day, not in the UK, not in the United States, not in Australiabecause journalism is not a crime.

As Moris noted, the US appeal itself reserved the right to impose SAMs once Assange is on US soil. Testimony at the extradition hearing, including from a former US prison warden, established that the imposition of SAMs is essentially extra-judicial, often being introduced at the say-so of the intelligence agencies, and with no genuine means of appeal.

The hearings, moreover, heard evidence of a case in which similar assurances were immediately thrown out the door once extradition was secured. Lawyers for terrorist leader Abu Hamza had argued that his extradition would be oppressive because he would likely be held under SAMs, despite severe health issues, including that he is missing both hands. US prosecutors guaranteed that this would not be the case stating that if he were, it would only be for a short time. Once they had their hands on Hamza, they placed him under SAMs in ADX Florence, where he remains.

Aside from the wilful credulity of the British court, the US assurances contradict affidavits presented by Assistant US Attorney Gordon Kromberg to the extradition hearings which indicated that SAMs would be considered as an option for Assanges imprisonment. Because of this, the High Court would have been within its rights to deem the assurances new evidence, not applicable in an appeal hearing because they were not presented to the lower court where the matter was first heard.

The decision to hear the appeal creates a highly dangerous situation for Assange. Nick Vamos, a partner at the Peters & Peters law firm and a former head of extradition at the Crown Prosecution Service, told the Guardian that the appeal process could proceed quite quickly. He added: Theres also a longstanding history of our courts accepting the assurances from requesting states.

In the immediate future, the decision means that Assange will remain indefinitely imprisoned in Belmarsh Prison, where he has been incarcerated for more than two years. More broadly, the appeal demonstrates that the US government is planning to continue its persecution of the WikiLeaks founder for decades to come.

The suggestion that Assange could serve out a sentence in Australia recalls a scenario outlined by Fred Burton, chief security officer of Stratfor, which is often described as a shadow CIA. In a 2010 email to a colleague, subsequently published by WikiLeaks, Burton said the US strategy against Assange was: Pile on. Move him from country to country to face various charges for the next 25 years. But, seize everything he and his family own, to include every person linked to Wiki.

That strategy was initiated by the Obama administration in which Biden served as vice-president. Obama empanelled a Grand Jury to try and concoct charges against Assange. Parallel with this, his administration was involved in numerous dirty-tricks operations against Assange including discredited Swedish allegations of sexual misconduct.

Only when these extra-judicial operations had succeeded in depriving Assange of his liberty by forcing him to seek political asylum in Ecuadors London embassy, did the Obama administration apparently drop its plans for a formal prosecution.

A report in the Stundin newspaper earlier this month shed further light on the Obama-Biden campaign, demonstrating the extent to which the US collaborated with an Icelandic conman and paedophile Sigurdur Thordarson to violate Icelands sovereignty and frame Assange as a computer hacker, under Obamas administration. This included taking possession of files stolen by Thordarson from WikiLeaks, lying to Icelands government about why FBI agents were flown to the country in 2011, and ferrying the Icelandic criminal around Europe.

Thordarson was later picked up by the Trump Justice Department as it publicly-unveiled charges against Assange in 2019. His claims were prominently featured in a superseding indictment, issued by US prosecutors in June 2020, which is the basis of the extradition request.

Thordarson has now admitted, however, that almost all his testimony consisted of lies proffered in exchange for immunity from US prosecution. The American government thus submitted a false indictment to the British courts.

Baraitsers January judgment, upholding the substantive arguments of US prosecutors, cited Thordarson some 22 times. His claims of hacking, since withdrawn, were presented as proof that the prosecution had met the test of dual criminality, requiring that offences be illegal in both Britain and the US for extradition to be granted.

The dependence of the prosecution case on Thordarsons lies should have meant that it was summarily dismissed. The same is true of well-documented allegations that the CIA illegally spied on Assange, including his privileged discussions with attorneys, when he was a political refugee in the Ecuadorian embassy. Despite all of this, the attempted prosecution continues.

The latest High Court ruling again demonstrates that the fight for Assanges freedom cannot be based upon moral appeals to his persecutors, or any section of the political establishment, from the Biden administration, to the British judiciary, the Australian authorities and the corporate media. All of them nailed their colours to the mast long ago.

The constituency for the defence of Assange and the defeat of state frame-ups is the international working class. It is being propelled into struggle against the very political forces that have pursued Assange as they carry out the homicidal policy of herd immunity on the pandemic, preside over ever-greater social inequality, and escalate their reckless drive to war. Every effort must be made to apprise the working class of Assanges plight and to mobilise it in his defence.
With a Senate investigation implicating a number of military officers in corrupt multi-million-dollar COVID vaccine deals, the Brazilian high command issued an ominous threat last week. In a joint statement, the generals declared that they will not tolerate any frivolous attack against the institutions which defend democracy and the freedom of the Brazilian people.

Emboldened by these threats from the military chiefs, Brazils fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro told his supporters that Brazil may not have elections in 2022, when his term ends. He would claim the right to cancel the elections, he said, if his discredited charges of fraud in the countrys electronic balloting are not addressed through the adoption of his proposed printed ballot backup system.

Such threats from both Bolsonaro and the military command have no precedent in Brazil since 1985, when the military, faced with a mass strike movement of the working class, left power, ending 21 years of US-backed dictatorship. The immediate trigger for these threats is the Brazilian Senates Inquiry Commission (CPI) into Bolsonaros handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than half a million Brazilians. A tumultuous hearing last Wednesday ended with the arrest of the Health Ministrys former logistics director, Roberto Dias.

Brazilian Army commandos. (Credit: Marcos Correa/PR)

Dias imprisonment for perjury was ordered by the CPIs chair, Senator Omar Aziz. He charged the Health Ministry official with lying when he denied holding a pre-arranged meeting in a restaurant in the capital Brasilia with Luiz Paulo Dominghetti, the representative of a US-based medical supply firm. Dominghetti denounced him for demanding one dollar in kickbacks for every jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine being negotiated by the government. Dias claimed he had a casual encounter with Dominghetti, but the CPI was in possession of messages from Dominghettis phone arranging the meeting. At the end of Wednesdays proceedings, Aziz declared he would not allow the CPI to be mocked, and ordered the Senates police to take Dias to jail. He was later released on bail.

In his testimony, Dias denied any wrongdoing, shifting the blame onto the Health Ministrys ex-executive secretary, Col. Elcio Franco, who now works as an aide to Bolsonaros chief of staff, Gen. Luiz Eduardo Ramos. During the testimony, Aziz, informed that Dias was a retired Air Force sergeant, declared: The good ones in the Armed Forces must be very ashamed with some people being featured in the press today, because for a long time, many years, Brazil hasnt seen members of the rotten side of the Armed Forces marred in wrongdoing within the government.

Aziz then proceeded to cite by name a number of those involved in the scandal, including Gen. Eduardo Pazuello, who was health minister for most of the pandemic after two civilian medical experts resigned in protest over Bolsonaros adamant opposition to social distancing and the use of masks, and his promotion of quack cures such as hydroxychloroquine.

Aziz used a common Brazilian expression  the rotten side  which is more commonly applied to the state-controlled military police forces, and refers to tolerance within their high commands for criminal elements involved in extra-judicial killings and organized crime. The Armed Forces are increasingly seen as a pillar of the crisis-ridden Bolsonaro government, which shares political responsibility for the mass death and current social catastrophe in Brazil.

Far from indicting the Armed Forces, however, Aziz intended his remarks as a warning against the threat to Brazilian capitalist stability posed by the open involvement of the military in the crimes of the hated Bolsonaro government. In the same remarks, he contrasted the current scandals with the period of the dictatorship, saying one thing the military was not accused of was corruption  a lie in itself. To emphasize his loyalty to the militarys murderers and torturers, Aziz ended his remarks with a eulogy to the dictators Ernesto Geisel and Joao Baptista Figueiredo, who he claimed died in poverty for being honest.

Nonetheless, the Armed Forces considered Azizs right-wing remarks intolerable. Late Wednesday, the defense minister and the heads of the three branches of the military released a joint statement repudiating the remarks of the CPI president, Omar Aziz as striking the Armed Forces in a vile and frivolous way with a grave, unfounded and above all irresponsible charge. It concluded with the phrase about the military being the institution that upholds democracy and freedom for the Brazilian people. In other words, democracy is something that the Armed Forces alone have the right to to give, and to take away.

On the next day, the threat from the high command was reaffirmed by the Air Force chief, Lt. Brig. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Jr., who said that it was a warning to the institutions of the Brazilian state. It was the only time they would warn Aziz, he said, adding that the military had the legal means to enforce its warnings. The legal means reference echoes the discredited claims made by Bolsonaro and other right-wing figures that article 142 of the Brazilian Constitution allows the president to call out the military against Congress or the Supreme Court in in the event they overstep their authority.

General Baptista specifically named as a victim of Congress former Health Minister General Pazuello, who appointed all the major figures in the scandal. He was ousted under pressure from Bolsonaros supporters in parliament in March, at the height of a second wave of the COVID pandemic, which was claiming 4,000 lives a day. Pazuello, an active-duty general, then violated the military code by joining a political rally in support of Bolsonaro. Dissident generals warned that his going unpunished threatened to create anarchy in the barracks. Pazuello is now Bolsonaros strategic affairs advisor.

The growing threats by the military have been coupled with the renewal of Bolsonaros claims that Brazilian elections are essentially fraudulent and that the 2018 elections were rigged to stop him from winning outright in the first round. Bolsonaro now claims this would justify the suspension of the 2022 elections, if no changes are made to the system.

Bolsonaro is finding himself increasingly cornered by the spiraling economic and social crisis, with growing sections of the ruling class considering him a liability to bourgeois rule. His charges of systemic electoral fraud have been repudiated by every significant political force, including his own congressional base. A number of dissident senior military figures have warned that he will attempt a coup and must be reined in. In the final analysis, Senator Aziz was speaking for such layers.

Nonetheless, the threats from the military expose the advanced preparations for dictatorial rule, whatever Bolsonaros political fate. The driving force behind these preparations is the objective incompatibility, in Brazil and internationally, between the unprecedented growth of social inequality and democratic forms of rule.

Bolsonaros herd immunity policy towards the COVID-19 pandemic, with its horrific toll of 540,000 deaths and millions suffering with the disease, has been the most naked expression of the relentless pursuit of profits by the ruling class, at whatever cost. In taking over the Health Ministry under General Pazuello, the military became the direct enforcers of this murderous policy.

The latest resurgence of authoritarianism was politically prepared by the two decades of rule by the Workers Party (PT), the supposed center of political opposition to Bolsonaro.

The PT endorsed the blanket amnesty granted to the military in exchange for the gradual return to civilian rule. In the four decades that followed, none of the dictatorships crimes, including the murder, torture and disappearance of workers, students and left-wing opponents, were prosecuted. When it finally came to power in 2002, the PT promoted a massive rearmament program under the guise of industrial and technological development, and bloodied the Brazilian Army in foreign interventions in Haiti and other countries under the command of the very generals who are now backing Bolsonaro.

From the outset of the pandemic, the PT demanded that Bolsonaro resign in favor of his vice-president, Gen. Hamilton Mourao, as the least costly way of solving the crisis. When Bolsonaro replaced the entire military command in late March in order to align it with his plans, the entire bourgeois setup, including the PT, welcomed the new commanders, who are now threatening Congress, as the ultimate guarantors of Brazilian democracy.

These political forces, which have have helped create the conditions in which the Brazilian military now claims impunity and the right to overrule the elected government, have responded to the latest crisis with further lies and deceit. The PT, accused the Bolsonaro government of promoting a lack of discipline and insubordination within the military. The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, called a press conference to condemn Bolsonaros threats against elections as anti-patriotic.

The growing sections of the Brazilian ruling class that openly criticize Bolsonaro and are toying with a possible impeachment believe that the conditions for a new dictatorship are not yet in place. Their attempts to subordinate the growing movement of the working class to the capitalist state, including through a possible return to power of the PT in the 2022 elections, has the ultimate goal of creating such conditions.
In what is on track to be a record year of deadly violence in Chicago, Americas third largest city, 104 people were shot over the July 4 Independence Day holiday weekend, 19 fatally, according to local media.

The days leading up to the holiday weekend saw horrific violence, including a one-month-old infant shot in the head while sitting in her car seat, a nine-year-old girl shot in the head while sitting in a car and an eight-year-old girl shot in the arm while in her home.

On July 1, 20-year-old Max Solomon Lewis, a University of Chicago undergraduate studying economics and computer science, was shot in the neck while sitting in an elevated car on the West Side. He died three days later.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/John OConnor)

The entire month of June saw gruesome levels of gun violence. Just in the final weekend of the month, 10 people were fatally shot and 65 others were wounded. Chicago is averaging about one mass shooting per week since 2019, according to the public radio channel WBEZ.

Just halfway through 2021, highway shootings in the Chicago area have reached the total number for all of 2020.

Last month, Good Kids-Mad City marched to City Hall with a group of 30 youth to protest the lack of action on the part of the city government. The protesters demanded that the city call the epidemic of gun violence a public health crisis and declare a state of emergency.

Democratic leaders have responded to the rise in gun violence by demanding that the administration of Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot carry out a crackdown. Different arms of the local government are blaming one another for being insufficiently aggressive in making arrests and imposing long jail sentences.

Lightfoot directed a call for a sense of urgency at the federal level to President Joe Biden during his visit to Illinois last week. Lightfoot assured the media that federal assistance would be coming soon, in the form of a federal strike force.

She told the Sun Times that Chicagos specific needs required talks with federal police agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the US Marshals Service. Lightfoots efforts to bolster the operations of the Chicago police with federal law enforcement agencies began last year under President Trump and are expanding under Biden.

In mid-June, an online webinar was conducted by the United States Conference of Mayors. Mayors from Austin (Steve Adler), Houston (Sylvester Turner), Chicago (Lightfoot), Savannah (Van Johnson) and San Jose (Sam Liccardo) united in a call for increased federal intervention. One week later, President Biden, speaking from the White House, announced new executive and legislative measures to deal with what he called a crime wave and epidemic of gun violence in American cities.

Ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown was questioned for six hours by City Council members about police plans for the weekend. Last year, in the wake of mass protests opposing police violence that were accompanied by some looting, Brown announced a plan for preemptive arrests of youth ahead of the holiday.

Brown has appeared on CNN to boast of the citys progress in ending violent foot pursuits after police shot and killed 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez in a late-night chase last March.

During a recent City Council meeting, Brown blamed modest changes made at the state level, including the elimination of cash bail, for the increase in shootings. He also complained that Cook County judges were handing down lenient sentences.

The Cook County States Attorneys office responded to these accusations with equally reactionary rhetoric, blaming the police for being slow to make arrests. States Attorney Kim Foxx tweeted: Finger-pointing instead of talking honestly about the violence plaguing our city doesnt help bring solutions that make our communities safer. It starts with apprehending those who pull the trigger; police must make an arrest before a case reaches the courthouse door.

Far South Side Alderman Anthony Beale raised the demand for National Guard troops to be deployed to protect the wealthiest area of the city so that local police can return to occupying impoverished neighborhoods. He said, We need to bring in the National Guard to secure the perimeter of downtown and to work along with the police to free up more officers to come from downtown back into the communities, where we can help flood the communities where resources have been taken out of.

The Chicago City Council itself is populated with criminals. Alderman Carrie Austin, the second-longest-serving ward boss, is only the latest elected official to be arrested and charged with bribery. Earlier this year, Patrick Daley Thompson was named in a seven-count indictment for filing false tax returns and lying to insurance officials about $219,000 in loans and other payments hed received.

In January 2019, the citys longest-serving alderman, Ed Burke, was arrested and charged with attempted extortion. In the course of the investigation, Burke, a former Chicago cop, was ordered to remove 23 handguns and rifles from his City Hall and ward offices and turn them over to US Marshals. He currently awaits trial on federal racketeering charges.

None of this comes as a surprise, given the right-wing record of the Democratic Party, exemplified by both Biden and Lightfoot. Lori Lightfoot was the head of the Chicago Police Board, the Chicago Police Department Office of Professional Standards, and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, where she represented the CPD in the lawsuits brought against it.

Biden, then a US senator, was an architect of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Enforcement Act, also known as the Biden Crime Law. It established mandatory sentencing, which contributed to an explosion in the incarceration rate of poor and minority workers and youth. The United States as of 2020 had more than 2.2 million people locked up in state and federal prisons and local jails.

While calls by elected officials for the deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago have taken on a somewhat routine character over the years, the social crisis has dramatically intensified with the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers and youth must take the threat seriously and organize political opposition to the bipartisan policy of police repression.

The pandemic has brought to crisis levels the malignant social inequality in cities all over the US, and opposition to intolerable conditions is growing, indicated most clearly by the strikes currently taking place in major industries. Striking Volvo Trucks workers in Virginia were joined by their brothers and sisters in Ghent, Belgium, who carried out a wildcat walkout last week. Hundreds of Frito-Lay workers have walked out in Kansas City, and 2,500 Cook County health care and janitorial staff are now in the second week of a strike against the exploitative conditions imposed by the county, led by Democratic Party Chairwoman Toni Preckwinkle.

Biden, Lightfoot and other mayors of both big business parties speak for a political establishment that anticipates and fears growing political radicalization and social opposition to the exploitation and misery for the majority of the population at the hands of a capitalist class getting richer with each passing month.

The bipartisan policy in every city and state in the US is to bolster the police, the first-line repressive tool of the state, on behalf of the interests of the capitalist class. Through its representatives in the Democratic Party, the ruling class insists on a social policy thoroughly hostile to the most basic interests of the great majority of Chicagos population, battered by decades of low wages, slashed services and rising household debt.

The strikes by manufacturing and health care workers, and the memory of last years anti-police violence protests, terrify the wealthy and upper-middle classes. Instead of providing any form of social relief, the Democrats promote sectarian racialist politics aimed at confusing and dividing the massive and powerful multiracial and multiethnic working class against itself.

There are two Chicagos, as there are two cities in every major city: one for the wealthy and one for everyone else. A report by University of Illinois at Chicagos Great Cities Institute analyzing data from the 2017 American Community Survey found that approximately 45 percent of young black men in Chicago, ages 2024, were neither working nor in school. Almost 20 percent of Latino men in the same age group were neither working nor in school that same year.

The disinvestment and abandonment of the working class and poor neighborhoods of the south and west sides of Chicago have created the social distress that fuels the everyone for himself mentality and lack of hope for a better future that feed gang activity and recruitment.

The horrific social conditions in Chicago are a direct consequence of decades of Democratic Party rule in the service of the financial aristocracy. The working class must name its true enemy, the capitalist class, represented by both ruling parties.

The striking workers of Volvo, Frito-Lay and Stroger Hospital point to the solution to violence, unemployment and mass inequality: it must come about through the working classs united struggle for socialism. Billions must be appropriated from the banks and corporations. Resources need to be diverted from the military and police to provide jobs, health care and education for unemployed working class youth.
New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian last Wednesday announced that schools in Sydney would begin their first week of Term 3, beginning today, with mostly online learning.

The measure comes amid a worsening COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak and was revealed as part of a one-week extension to the previous two-week semi-lockdown of Greater Sydney, covering approximately five million people.

The Berejiklian government clearly did not want to suspend normal school operations, despite the serious health risks in doing so during the rapid growth of multiple coronavirus infection clusters.

The so-called lockdown itself is inadequate and was belatedly imposed. For more than a week, Berejiklian resisted calls by medical experts for the introduction of emergency measures, allowing the virus to spread across the Sydney area with hundreds of venues on the coronavirus hotspots list. Non-essential workplaces remain open, including every variety of retail store. The interests of big business remain prioritised over public health.

This weeks suspension of normal school operations is also of a limited character. Senior Year 12 students completing practical assignments for their final year examinations will be allowed to attend school for in-person learning. Schools remain open to children not just of genuinely essential workers but to any parents unable to work from home, including those now working in obviously non-essential retail shops. Some government messaging has been broader, with schools declared open for families who need it.

The suspension of normal school operations was triggered by the ongoing growth of daily infection numbers. From a single case registered on June 16, there are now 678 locally acquired COVID-19 infections. A record 112 were announced this morning, with warnings that tallies in the multiple hundreds could be recorded in the coming days.

Berejiklian last week outlined that a week of online learning was required to stop literally hundreds of thousands of adults moving around and interacting with each other inadvertently as they drop kids off and pick kids up.

There is no doubt that the governments move was motivated by fears of triggering further opposition among teachers and school staff, potentially including industrial action outside the control of the teachers unions.

Throughout the pandemic, teachers in Australia and internationally have been regarded by governments and the corporate elite as sacrificial lambs, functioning as child-minders to allow working class parents to attend their workplace and keep profits flowing. Working in run-down crowded classrooms and offices where social distancing is impossible, usually without adequate protective equipment, teachers have been compelled to risk their own health with the possibility of spreading infection to their families.

Sydney teachers anger over the possibility of being forced back into the classroom amid a growing pandemic was expressed on social media.

Many highlighted the unvaccinated nature of most of the teaching workforce. Unlike in other countries, teachers have no priority status. The only school staff vaccinated are those eligible under restricted categories, including those over 40 years. However, nearly half, 47 percent, of teachers are under 40. A lot of those in their 40s have in addition been forced to schedule very delayed vaccinations; many Sydney teachers booked in May but are now waiting until September for their first dose.

One teacher posted online, What are you [the union] going to do about it? I cant actually tell you what youve done for me during this pandemic. Why are you only calling for vaccines now? Giving big speeches about how we are overworked, underpaid and undervalued isnt enough. Hinting towards a strike, not enough. Where is the actual action?

Another wrote, With the current stringent lockdown about not mixing with extended family, how on earth could teachers be expected to attend school, unvaccinated, to look after kids from essential services? Why dont we ever hear the teachers' federation represent us at the press conference. The message is everyone needs to protect themselves, stay indoors with only their household residents except teachers who are sacrificed. Why hasnt the union told the department that all teachers need priority vaccination? I will not be renewing my membership.

The NSW Teachers Federation, together with other teachers unions, welcomed the return to classrooms in 2020 after the first wave of infections. Throughout the pandemic, the unions have relayed official advice to school workers, and insisted that nothing could be done but to follow official directives.

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell recently told the Sunrise television news show that she had been in discussion with the teachers unions over recent weeks and could guarantee that remote learning would only be for this week, even if the lockdown is extended further.

This boast underscores the unions crucial role in policing any dangerous return to school order while community transmission of COVID-19 continues.

Berejiklian has insisted that the short-term remote learning decision had nothing to do with safety within schools. She repeatedly asserted, Schools are a safe place.

This is a patent lie. Over the 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many international studies have contradicted claims that the virus poses minimal risks to staff and to children. Schools have in fact been major vectors for transmission.

In October 2020, a major Israeli health ministry study found children were more likely to contract the virus than adults and could pass it on to others. The Delta variant is even more threatening for children and young adults. In the UK, Public Health England reported in the week ending June 27, 15,000 children tested positive for COVID-19 and 24,000 were absent suspected of being infected by the virus. In Indonesia, by the end of last month, 250,000 children had been infected, representing 12.6 percent of the countrys total cases.

The risk is not only of death but of debilitating long-term physical and psychological symptoms. Again, there is evidence that the Delta variant is riskier for young people. British investigations suggest that about 15 percent of COVID-19 survivors aged between 12-16 are suffering the effects of post-acute COVID-19 or long COVID.

In NSW over the past month, despite the two-week mid-year break, six Sydney schools registered positive cases of COVID-19. Moreover, of the over 600 local cases reported since June 16, many are of school age. Of the 16 people currently receiving intensive care treatment, one is a teenager.

The governments lie that schools are safe is driven by a concern to limit the suspension of face to face teaching, paving the way for the dragooning of unvaccinated teachers and students back into overcrowded schools while widespread community transmission of the disease continues.

Those affected will primarily be working class schools and their communities. Infections are currently highest in south-west and outer Sydney where public schools have long been underfunded and overcrowded. Elite private schools will no doubt use their vast resources to make their own arrangements. One such school, St Josephs College, was recently exposed for having organised the vaccinations of 163 senior students, despite them not being eligible under current criteria.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard attempted to dismiss this episode, angrily snapping during one press conference, There was a mistakemove on!

Teachers and school staff need to take matters into their own hands, for the sake of their safety and that of their families and students. Schools cannot be allowed to resume normal operations amid a dangerous pandemic! The Committee for Public Education (CFPE) has sought to organise coordinated action in defence of the health and safety of teachers, students and school workers through the formation of rank-and-file safety committees in schools, independent of the unions.

This is now more urgent than ever, and we encourage teachers and school staff to contact the CFPE to discuss the necessary actions.

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: @CFPE_Australia
Management at French auto parts maker Faurecia flouted instructions by the local fire department to evacuate the workforce during a fire two weeks ago at its plant in Saline, Michigan, workers have told the World Socialist Web Site.

Workers had earlier reported that many of them had not been evacuated during the fire, which started in a transformer on the plant's roof on the night of June 28. However, the WSWS has now learned that this was in defiance of responders from the Saline Area Fire Department, and that plant managers moved workers to different parts of the building in a bid to cover up its actions.

A worker who was on duty at the time of the fire said, First they told us to go out the back. Then we had to come back in the building and go down stairs. Evidently management was seeking to conceal the fact that people were still inside. Then they told us to go back upstairs and go to a different part of the plant. Then we had to go back to work.

Fire trucks at Faurecia Saline plant (source: Saline Area Fire Department)

Faurecia, the eighth-largest parts supplier in the world with 114,000 employees in 35 countries, acquired the Saline plant in 2012, which used to be operated by Ford Motor company. The company has since become notorious for enforcing a grueling schedule of seven twelve-hour days and compelling workers to come to work during the worst days of the pandemic. Last November, the Saline plant manager issued instructions to supervisors to conceal infections and deaths by COVID-19 from the co-workers of those who had become ill. That provoked workers at the plant to form a rank-and-file committee to monitor safety and begin communicating with co-workers in the shop and at other locations.

The plant employs close to two thousand people producing mostly interior plastic parts like door panels and dashboards for Ford Motor Company, Stellantis, Tesla and other car and truck makers. Workers report that the large quantities of raw plastics, chemical release agents and lubricants which are required for this type of production mean that the plant is especially susceptible to the danger of fire and toxic smoke, and they are outraged that the company and the union would place their lives at risk.

Many are still fuming. Last Saturday, a day shift worker who was at home at the time of the fire, but heard descriptions from her friends who were on site, said, The fire department told them to evacuate. If those chemicals caught fire, the whole place would go out like a bomb. They have no business making us work in those conditions. They do not care whether we live or die.

She went on to decry the role of the United Auto Workers union, which has passed over the event in silence. They didnt say anything. They never do.

Worms in the drinking water at Faurecia Saline plant (Facebook)

A similar incident occurred last November at the Faurecia Gladstone plant in Columbus, Indiana. A fire broke out after propane tank inside the facility exploded in the forklift refueling area, a blast which could be felt from blocks away. One worker was airlifted to a local hospital with severe burns.

However, while workers were evacuated in that case, the plant was back up and running within only a few hours, with the support of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1424.

At the Saline plant last Friday, a worker posted on Facebook the image of worms that appeared in the water fountain when he went to take a drink. I got worms in the water we drink from, he wrote under the photograph. And this is disgusting. Where are the cleaners?

Members of the rank-and-file committee recalled to the WSWS a recent incident when the plumbing broke and sewage seeped out of the floor of the plant. The company did not clear the area to fix the problem. On the contrary, they brought port-a -potties into the plant and forced workers to continue working right by the offal.

None of the water fountains have been taped off, on worker said. Another spoke of the frustration which many workers have over the unsanitary conditions. Send this to Human Resources, and tell the union, and OSHA, health and safety, tell them you'll turn them in if this isn't fixed.

Summing up the attitude of the company to these matters, a member of the Faurecia Saline Rank-and-File Committee said, We are just totally expendable. If we get sick, they will just hire somebody else.
Under the impact of the virulent Delta COVID-19 variant, Fiji is heading towards a health and social disaster on an unprecedented scale.

A new record of 636 cases and six deaths was reported on Tuesday July 6. The next day, 791 infections and three deaths were confirmed, followed Friday by 860 cases and three more deaths. Over the weekend 991 new cases and four deaths were reported across 48 hours.

Among the population of 900,000, there have been 10,512 cases since March 2020. Fiji now has 8,576 active cases in isolation and 55 people have died, all but two of them from the latest outbreak, which began in April.One of the deceased is a 15-year-old.

The seven-day average of new daily cases has increased to 627, with a positivity rate of 16.8 percent and trending upwards.A week ago, Secretary of Health James Fong predicted case numbers could reach 800 a day.

A nurse stands outside Tamara Twomey hospital in Suva, Fiji, Friday, June 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Aileen Torres-Bennett)

According to New Zealand Canterbury University statistician, Michael Plank, based on official figures, Fijis numbers are higher per capita than those in India, at the peak of its outbreak. According to Plank, an outbreak on a similar scale in New Zealand would mean more than 2,500 cases per day.

In the year to March 2021, the Pacific island state managed to largely shut out the virus, recording just 70 cases. The government used the relatively low number to declare Fiji safe for opening up the tourism industry. The Delta variant subsequently entered the country through a quarantine breach.

With the ICU full at the capital Suvas main hospital, the health system is under severe stress and struggling to deal with the escalating number of serious cases. People going into the Suva field hospital are unable to access a ventilator. Fong has declared that officials expect to see more people dying at home. The morgue, which can take 60 bodies, is at full capacity, and families are being urged to collect their loved ones for burial.

With hospitals unable to cope, authorities have sent more than 1,000 COVID-19 infected people back home to self-isolate. Many are going into multi-generational, crowded households.

TVNZ Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver reported on one family with two members who had contracted COVID and was told to isolate at home. Desperate, with no food, a contact within the household had gone out to buy some. This is now a common occurrence. Dreaver said many people were very angry, while others were extremely scared.

In the face of the deteriorating situation, Prime Minister and former military coup leader, Frank Bainimarama, has not resiled from his criminal stance of opposing a full lockdown. In the name of saving the economy, the regime is allowing a range of businesses to remain operational. Retail businesses, restaurants and gyms are all open, on the spurious grounds that minimal safety measures are being followed. People are being told to socially distance and wear masks.

Radio NZs correspondent in Suva, Lice Movono, said: There are a lot of fearful people, so much anxiety and continuing distrust of the government, but the government is not coming out to explain itself very well, and we havent seen our ministers, our Prime Minister, for a very long time now.

In a sign of growing alarm within Fijis ruling elite, deputy opposition leader, Biman Prasad, from the National Federation Party, told Radio NZ that the governments strategy had been an utter failure, and called for a lockdown. He pleaded with the government to listen to health experts and not to rely only on vaccinations.

Officials claim that they now have enough AstraZeneca vaccine supplies from Australia, India and New Zealand to vaccinate the entire population. So far, however, only 59.6 percent of the population has received one jab and 11.2 percent have been fully vaccinated.

Neil Sharma, Fijis Health Minister from 2009-2014, told Radio NZ the nation was crippled, the crisis is mind boggling and a sickening environment to be in. Pointing to a looming social disaster, Sharma noted that about 20 percent of Suvas population lives in poor, crowded conditions. You have six, seven people living in one room. A lean-to shed. So how you separate, how you socially distance, is a problem.

Up to 30,000 people have applied to volunteer relief agencies for help. They are among the poorest, with no savings, surviving for more than two months with no income and no national social protection and struggling to put food on the table. The Fiji Timescited psychotherapist Selina Kuruleca pleading with the government to listen to people because [w]e have a mental health epidemic on our hands.

On Wednesday, the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) called on the government to activate the Disaster Management Committee to address the crisis before systems collapse. Chief executive Vani Catanasiga said the health services and front-liners were overwhelmed, and may not be able to cope much longer.

FCOSS emphasised that the situation was no longer just a health crisis, but a humanitarian crisis with far-reaching and long-term impacts on the well-being of Fijian citizens. There have been two protests from communities in local lockdowns in recent weeks, over access to food. FCOSS, however, has confined itself to a demand that value added tax (VAT) be removed from food, a measure that will do nothing to alleviate widespread food insecurity and hunger.

Facing the prospect of a complete social breakdown and rising popular anger, the government is adopting more authoritarian methods. While absolving the government of any culpability, authorities are blaming ordinary people for failing to comply with warnings, while stepping up enforcement measures.

Last week, 48 people were arrested for failing to wear a mask in public, while more than 1,000 have been arrested for breaching curfews. Along with clamping down on social gatherings, police have been ordered to enforce mask wearing, and ensure that business operators comply with COVID-19 restrictions. Spot fines, ranging from $20 to $4,000, for breaching any of more than 20 offences outlined in public health regulations, are being imposed.

In his first public statement in more than six weeks, on Thursday Bainimarama appeared on television to threaten unvaccinated workers with the sack. Public servants who have not received their first vaccine dose were ordered to take leave and not return to work until they have had one dose by August 15 and been fully vaccinated by November. Private sector employers and workers face a similar directive, with the possibility of non-compliant businesses being shut down. No jabs, no job, Bainimarama bluntly declared.
The Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand is holding a public meeting on Saturday July 17 at 4:00 PM (New Zealand time) to discuss the way forward for bus drivers in Wellington, and the need to build rank-and-file committees. We call on workers and students throughout NZ and internationally to take part in this important discussion. Please register here to attend on Zoom.

The forum will be addressed by members of the SEG in New Zealand and the Socialist Equality Party in Australia, as well as David OSullivan, a member of the London Bus Rank-and-File Committee in the UK. OSullivan was sacked for upholding workers rights to health and safety, during the pandemic, that has killed more than 60 London bus workers, almost 130,000 people in the UK, and more than 4 million worldwide.

NZ Bus drivers in Wellington took a significant stand last month when they voted to reject a sell-out deal backed by the Tramways Union, which would have reduced overtime and weekend rates of pay for workers, who earn close to the minimum wage of $20 per hour. The union sought to pressure workers into accepting the offer, by telling them any industrial campaign for better wages and conditions would be hopeless.

Locked out bus drivers picket on April 23 (Image credit: WSWS Media)

The rejection is part of an emerging rebellion by workers around the world, against the union bureaucracies, which have for decades functioned as adjuncts of the corporations and the state. In country after country, the unions have joined governments and employers in compelling people to work in unsafe conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, with workers in many cases paying for this with their lives. The unions have also helped to impose mass redundancies and attacks on wages and conditions, in response to the economic crisis.

In New Zealand, Jacinda Arderns Labour Party-Greens government is relying on the unions to enforce a wage freeze, while living costs, especially for housing, are sky-rocketing.

The SEGs meeting will discuss the need for new working class organisations: rank-and-file committees that are democratically controlled by workers themselves, completely independent of the trade unions. A committee of NZ Bus workers would seek to break the isolation imposed on the Wellington drivers by the unions, and to unite with other workers throughout New Zealand and internationally, as part of the fight for an International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. This includes public transport workers in Wellington, Auckland and elsewhere at Tranzurban, Uzabus and Transdev, as well as healthcare workers, who recently held a nationwide strike against the governments wage freeze.

The meeting on Saturday will also raise the need for a political break from the Labour Party and its allies, including the Greens, and the building of an international socialist party, as part of the International Committee of the Fourth International. It will discuss the need for a socialist program, including the establishment of a workers government, public ownership of transport and other vital industries, and for billions of dollars to be diverted to improve social services and provide decent wages and conditions.

In opposition to the unions, which seek to divide workers by whipping up nationalism, the SEG in NZ and the Socialist Equality Party in Australia are calling for a joint struggle by workers in both countries. NZ Bus is owned by the Australian-based private equity firm Next Capital, which runs several companies in Australia. These include Lynch Group, which has carried out major attacks on the conditions of workers at its flower processing factories.

We urge workers to read and share this meeting notice, as well as the SEGs statement,  The Wellington bus drivers dispute and the case for rank - and - file committees , and to register to attend the meeting on July 17.

Meeting time in different zones:

New Zealand: Saturday July 17, 4:00 PM

Australia: Saturday July 17, 2:00 PM

India: Saturday July 17, 9:30 AM

United Kingdom: Saturday July 17, 5:00 AM

New York: Saturday July 17, 12:00 AM

Los Angeles: Friday July 16, 9:00 PM
Alice Neel: People Come First, exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, March 22August 1, 2021

Nearly four decades after her death, American painter Alice Neel (1900-1984) has received the major museum retrospective she has long deserved, Alice Neel: People Come First, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Neel painted over the course of six decades, for the most part, until the last 20 years of her life, in relative obscurity. Her vibrant, idiosyncratic portraits are characterized above all by their candor and keen observation, which were at times unflattering but rarely without insight.

Neels Human Comedy, as she thought of her work, was conceived along the lines of French novelist Honore de Balzacs series of interconnected novels (18291848) by that title, which depicted every social class. Through choosing sitters among bohemians in Greenwich Village, the working class in Spanish Harlem, labor activists and Communist Party leaders of the 1940s and 50s and art world figures of the 1960s and 70s, Neel aimed to give a representative portrait of American society in her era.

Two Girls, Spanish Harlem, Alice Neel, 1959, oil on canvas

The most powerful aspect of her paintings, however, tends not to be their representative, but their original quality. Her nudes of pregnant women, in particular, are unprecedented in the history of art. Though pregnant women are obviously a fact of life, their presence for the most part either has gone unnoticed or been ignored in art. So to be confronted, for instance, by Neels Margaret Evans Pregnant (1979), whose subject gazes wide-eyed and grips the too-small taboret upon which she balances with a belly that seems to have taken over her entire frame, is quite unusual. Neels best work has this quality of looking at everyday life anew.

I tried to capture life as it went byart records so much, the feeling, the beliefs, the changes, Neel wrote. One of the reasons I painted was to catch light as it goes by, right hot off the griddle. Now that doesnt mean that the work has to tell about your life, I mean it can be abstract or anything, but the vitality is taken out of real living.

The Met exhibition organizes Neels work into themes: New York City, Home, Counter/Culture, The Human Comedy, Art As History, Motherhood, the Nude, and Good Abstract Qualities. Helpful to a certain extent, this choice of organization by theme at times jumbles Neels work, making it more difficult to discern the overall trajectory of her artistic effort and its development in historically specific phases. Nevertheless, the show is an excellent opportunity to see all aspects of Neels work, from the lesser known watercolors of private moments with lovers, paintings of her children with herself at the easel mirrored in the background, cityscapes from her apartment window, along with the portraits painted in the 1960s and 70s for which she finally achieved recognition.

Margaret Evans Pregnant, Alice Neel, 1978, oil on canvas

Born in 1900, Neel was aware as an adult that her own life spanned a turbulent century, and one can see her life and work developing in sync with it in several phases. As a young woman in the 1920s, she rejected the conventional expectations of her middle-class family in the small town of Colwyn, Pennsylvania, to do the only thing she wanted to do, which was to paint by enrolling at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (now Moore College of Art and Design) in 1921. She then plunged into Havanas burgeoning avant-garde art scene in the late 1920s with fellow artist Carlos Enriquez, the scion of a wealthy Cuban family, whom she met at a summer art workshop and eventually married.

However, upon the couples return to Greenwich Village, the brutal reality of bohemian poverty resulted in the death of her first child from diphtheria. The desertion of Enriquez and his removal of the couples second child to be better cared for by relatives back in Cuba led to suicide attempts on Neels part and her hospitalization in 1930. These experiences give the Well Baby Clinic (1928-1929) and Futility of Effort (1930) a searing personal edge. The former, a cramped scene of frenzied mothers and squirming infants, looks more like an asylum than a place of well-being, while the Matisse-like simplicity of the latter starkly understates the trauma involved in a childs needless death from poverty.

Pat Whalen, Alice Neel, 1935, oil, ink, and newspaper on canvas

While rooted in intensely private experience, Neel considered these works, along with others such as the spare drawing Men from Bleecker Street (1933) and Investigation of Poverty at the Russell Sage Foundation (1933), to have broader significance, reflecting the impact of the Great Depression on masses of middle- and working-class people. She herself developed left-wing views in the 1930s. Futility of Effort was reproduced under the name Poverty in 1936 in the left-wing periodical Art Front and exhibited in 1938 at ACA Galleriesdedicated to showing progressive political American artalongside scenes of evictions and images of railroad workers and political activists.

In 1935, like many artists and intellectuals politically radicalized by the events of the decade, Neel joined the Communist Party USA. She also participated in the Works Progress Administrations easel division, which gave her, along with hundreds of other artists, a much-needed income in the depths of the Depression, in exchange for which she turned in a painting every six weeks. In Synthesis of New YorkThe Great Depression (1933) and Ninth Avenue El (1935), skeletal figures walk under subway tracks and huddle on street corners in grim cityscapes that reflect the influence of both Surrealism and German Expressionism.

In this period, Neel combined making art with political activity in the CP-dominated John Reed Clubs and in the Artists Union. She took part in demonstrations against fascism,which became the subjects of paintings such as Nazis Murder Jews (1936), in which a torch-lit procession of workers carry Communist Party banners.

Ninth Avenue El, Alice Neel, 1935, oil on canvas

And she painted portraits of the labor organizers and Communist Party figures she met, among them Pat Whalen, who led East Coast seamen in a 1934-35 strike. In Neels portrait, Whalen is shown with his fists clenched determinedly on a copy of the Daily Worker.He became part of the gallery of what Neel took to be proletarian leaders, left-wing artists and intellectuals, which grew to include Max White (1935) who wrote novels inspired by artists lives, both real and imagined, and her close friend Phillip Bonosky (painted in 1948), novelist and eventually cultural editor and Moscow correspondent for the Stalinist Daily World.

A burning objective contradiction existed between Neels attachment to (and continued membership in) the CPUSA, on the one hand, and her sympathy for and allegiance to the working class, which Stalinism repeatedly and tragically betrayed, on the other. The Moscow Trials, in which the Bolshevik leaders of the Russian Revolution were executed in the Great Terror; the Stalin-Hitler pact in 1939; and the murder of the co-leader of the Russian Revolution and founder of the Fourth International, Leon Trotsky, in Mexico in 1940 led many artists and intellectuals to leave the party, in many cases renouncing left-wing politics altogether. A few, like Lee Krasner, artist and the wife of Jackson Pollock, allied themselves with Trotsky and the Left Opposition, but then only briefly.

Neel moved with her lover,the Puerto Rican musician and nightclub entertainer Jose Santiago Negron, to Spanish Harlem in 1939. Though the relationship with Negron did not last long, she would live and raise their son Richard and her second son Hartley by Sam Brody, a founder of the leftist Workers Film and Photo League, in the same apartment for the next 20 years.

Hartley, Alice Neel, 1966, oil on canvas

Neel continued to paint in a social realist vein, refusing to abandon what she called the humanism of the human figure in favor of abstraction, which placed her outside the mainstream art world. Her best work from the period, such as T.B. Harlem (1940) and The Spanish Family (1943), balance personal specificityin both cases, the subjects, though unnamed, are her in-lawswith social commentary. In the latter work, her weary sister-in-law holds the family unit together, as does the intertwined iron grill-work behind them, while the three children with their thin arms and sad, inquisitive or side-glancing eyes seem to pull in different directions. The former, of her brother-in-law in his hospital bed after a lung operation for tuberculosis, a prevalent disease in sections of Harlem at the time, resembles that of a Christian saint.

By the end of the 1940s, Neel increasingly asked neighbors, and children in particular, to sit for her, a practice that would become central to her later work. In Puerto Rican Girl on a Chair (1949), Two Girls, Spanish Harlem (1959) and her portraits of Georgie Arce, whom she painted on multiple occasions, she honed her skill at communicating what she observed of the sitter together with a sense of how the sitter wanted to be seen. So, for instance, in Georgie Arce No. 2 (1955), the intent-looking young man tries out a defiant, knife-brandishing pose that may, or may not, be play-acting.

The CPUSA, weakened and discredited by decades of slavish support for Stalins crimes, as well as innumerable betrayals of American workers, was shattered in 1956 by Nikita Khrushchevs Secret Speech, lifting the lid on Stalins monstrous crimes, and the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian Revolution. The party lost thousands of members and was reduced to a bureaucratic shell. Neel maintained affiliation with the party into the 1960s, perhaps out of misplaced loyalty in part and also due to her personal ties with CP leaders like Bonosky and Mike Gold (1894-1967), the leading proponent of the anti-Marxist proletarian literature. Neel painted a portrait of Gold, a staunch Stalinist, in 1952.

By the 1960s and 70s, Neels change in subject matter reflected the general drift of a generation of radicals toward Castroism, black nationalism and feminism. Now in her 60s and 70s, Neel enjoyed a late career blossoming. Ever the bohemian, despite her grandmotherly appearance, she shocked the conventional and even the hip-minded with her frank outspokenness. For a time, she was a darling of the underground art scene around Andy Warhol. She painted the latter looking beatific with eyes closed and baring his scarred and bandaged torso after the attempted murder by unhinged, knife-wielding feminist Valerie Solano.

Self-portrait, Alice Neel, 1980, oil on canvas

Neel continued to paint her remarkable portraits. Irene Peslikis, the feminist activist, for example, sprawls confidently in a chair, even though the painting is given the rather slighting title of Marxist Girl (1972). She did portraits of self-styled Black Muslim nationalist Abdul Rahman (1964), along with Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) leader and ally of Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer (1964).Neel was among the first to paint openly homosexual, transgender and interracial couples. In addition to pregnant women, she painted men reclining as odalisques and power couples in the nude. As she continued through the 1970s, her palette became more colorful, her handling of the figures and compositions even more competent and selective.

Neel also painted portraits of many prominent feminist activists and intellectuals, from Kate Millett for the cover of Time magazine to critic and art historian Linda Nochlin, whose 1971 essay Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? examined the institutional barriers faced by women artists. Neel herself served as a case in point at demonstrations against the Museum of Modern Art for not including more women artists, although one suspects that official reservations about Neel had more to do with her politics and realist style than her gender.

The Metropolitan exhibitions curators and critics, unfortunately but predictably, have seized upon the racial, sexual and gender diversity of her subjects to make it seem that Neel was an early proponent of identity politics, a politics with which, in her lifetime, she explicitly disagreed. Ever willing to discomfit her feminist advocates, an uncomfortable fact that the current shows curators seek to avoid, Neel insisted that injustice has no sex, and one of the primary motives of my work was to reveal the inequalities and pressures as shown in the psychology of the people I painted.

Neel was caught up, like many left-wing members of her generation, in the political disorientation and tragedy produced by the crimes and treachery of Stalinism. In her intimate art work, however, she maintained a ruthless and attractive honesty. Her most insightful portraits remain those of family members, like Hartley (1963), Richard in the Era of the Corporation (1978-79) and the several portraits of her daughter-in-law, Nancy. In one, from 1971, the younger woman is pregnant and, in another, Nancy and the Twins (1971), her subject opens her blouse to nurse two substantial infants, a work again quite unprecedented in its frankness about motherhood.

Culminating in her nude self-portrait at the age of eighty, Neels sharp-eyed, unconventional engagement with her world and times, predicated on a basic hostility to capitalism and a life-long allegiance to the downtrodden, enabled her to realize what she set out to achieve in her work, namely that the vitality is taken out of real living.
Last weeks Hometown Heroes parade hosted by New York City Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio, supposedly celebrating essential workers and the purported end of the COVID-19 pandemic, was a debacle. After weeks of promotion, only a few hundred workers showed up for the parade in Manhattan.

The most notable aspect of the parade was that it was boycotted by thousands of health care workers, teachers and other essential workers, highlighting enormous social and political anger among broad layers of the working class.

Ostensibly aimed at recognizing the many thousands of essential workers who have risked their lives in the pandemic over the last year and a half, the parade was, in fact, an attempt to gloss over the political responsibility of the Democratic Party for the deaths of over 33,000 New Yorkers from COVID-19. Among them were at least 160 New York City transit workers, and at least 87 teachers. As of December 2020, at least 680 health care workers in New York and New Jersey had died of COVID-19.

Bill de Blasio (Credit: Flickr.com/Gage Skidmore)

The parade was also designed to provide an air of legitimacy to the Democrats full reopening policy being spearheaded by the Biden administration in the midst of a worldwide surge of the Delta variant and create a false celebratory atmosphere about the supposed end of the pandemic. In fact, New York is already seeing an uptick in cases. The positivity rate has again risen to 1 percent, with the Delta variant now dominant. As one of the first states that fully endorsed the Biden administrations criminal dropping of mask mandates, New York is also systematically scaling back testing and is encouraging contact tracers to apply for other jobs.

Most essential workers, including health care workers, teachers and transit workers, recognized the parade as a cynical ploy and treated it with the contempt it deserved.

Speaking to the WSWS, several teachers from New York City expressed their social anger and disgust with the parade and the role of the unions. One teacher said, Why would I participate in a parade celebrating victory when hundreds of New Yorkers and THOUSANDS of Americans continue to be infected with COVID-19? She stressed, Workers are still battling COVID and unhoused folks are being thrown into more unsafe conditions during a heat wave to satisfy complaints of the richest people in New York.

A high school teacher in Brooklyn said, That the UFT leadership would take part in de Blasios COVID Victory Parade at the same time as the #deltavariant is increasing exponentially in NYC, [and] overall COVID cases are beginning to increase again, vaccination rates in the city are stagnating and the de Blasio/Cuomo NYC Is Open For Business program is seeding a fall/winter of Delta disease/death should surprise me, but it does not. Short-sighted, insular union leadership is what has allowed political officials to put essential employees at risk throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so.

Another teacher told the WSWS, I did not march because a parade during a pandemic is mind-blowingly ignorant. Our politicians did the same thing in Philly during the Spanish flu of 1918 and, the days thereafter, infections in Philly bloom massively, with sickness and death among civilians increasing 10-fold in just days. I also think the UFT no longer stands up for my rights as a worker or defends my respect as a professional. During this pandemic, I watched as teachers performed above and beyond and simultaneously got vilified by NYC politicians and parentsfor trying not to catch COVID at work and bring it back home to their families and loved ones, over fears of killing them. I am not willing to die for anyones cause, let alone politicians, officials and leaders that refuse to stop distancing themselves out of fear over catching COVIDwhile they simultaneously broadcast zoom meetings telling workers like me it is safe to come back to in-person work.

Anger over the parade among health care workers was running so high that several EMS unions felt it was necessary to officially boycott the parade.

Speaking to the Daily News last week, Liana Espinal, a 36-year-old paramedic, said that de Blasios June 14 announcement of the parade felt like a joke, like a slap in the face. I didnt think it was real. We dont want a parade. We want to be able to take care of our families.

A 28-year veteran paramedic, Carlos Liczano, told the Daily News, I think its bogus. Its BS. Im not going. This is my silent protest. And a lot of my fellow employees feel slighted too by the mayor. What does a parade do for my bills?

During the pandemic, EMS workers had to work mandatory 12-hour shifts. At the peak of the pandemic in the city in the spring of 2020, EMS workers would see multiple deaths during a shift and bring sick patients to hospitals, only to be told that no ventilators or beds were left to treat them. EMS workers who are employed by the city did not even receive hazard pay. Wages for EMS workers are so low that many are forced to take on second and third jobs and some paramedics are forced to live in their cars because they cannot afford rent in the city.

The unions have done absolutely nothing to ameliorate the positions of EMS and other essential workers and their official boycott was largely a desperate effort to save face in front of their angry membership. During the pandemic, the EMS unions helped implement a new schedule that permanently forces them to work longer.

A nurse at Jacobi Medical center told the WSWS that her colleagues either do not know or do not care about the parade and stressed, None of the city workers received hazard pay. None.

In hospitals, tensions are running high. There are acute staff shortages as many workersexhausted, traumatized and angered by the experience of the pandemicare leaving the field. Last week, the WSWS spoke to several workers outside Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, part of one of the largest hospital networks in the country and the world. Many of them expressed support for the strike of St. Vincent nurses in Worcester and spontaneously asked How can I help?

A registered nurse described conditions at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital: A lot of my coworkers have recently resigned. It is sad because they used to love their jobs. They have family and are afraid to not be able to go back to them. It is not only nurses but also doctors. Many were planning to leave the field before the pandemic, but this situation pushed them [to the brink].

The resignations have mostly been recently, right after the peak of the pandemic when you have time to sit down and analyze. At the beginning of the pandemic, everybody was willing to work here. It was hard for us, and we have a relatively good hospital, so I cannot even imagine how it was in rural hospitals. We could not even find gloves here. It was like the perfect horrible storm.

I can assure you that everyone who is in a hospital now is very committed to their careers and their patients. It is a rough situation because you do not want to run away. Youre needed here but youre also needed by your family and you need to decide who needs you the most.

We honestly do not see the end of this. We see all of these countries experiencing surges. It breaks our hearts to see our colleagues in India. We cannot help them. We do not know what is coming. We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. Were just afraid that people are not taking this seriously and the CDC [which has lifted masking guidelines] are not helping. Most of us will not have had time to talk about this. I am just realizing this as I am talking to you.

A resident physician in pathology said, I feel like a cog in the wheelthis is not what I went into medicine for. I went into medicine to really make a change for the better and it does not feel like that is what I am doing now. So much of what I do is dictated by matters relating either to insurance or logistics that do not directly have anything to do with patient care. Everyone working here is very stressed; it is a very tense atmosphere. The nurses are very overstretched; they are overworked, it is not fair to anyone. As you say, it is the whole system, we are wage laborers.
Last Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) abruptly released new guidelines on reopening K12 schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively scrapping all mitigation measures. The guidelines encourage vaccinated teachers and students not to wear masks and promote the full reopening of schools regardless of vaccination levels, even if they cannot guarantee three feet of distance between students.

The guideline changes, which have been universally hailed by the corporate media, the entire political establishment and the teachers unions, amount to the reckless endangerment of millions of children, educators, parents and the broader population. They take place under conditions in which the highly infectious and lethal Delta variant of the coronavirus is already the dominant strain in the US and causing a major surge of infections. Worldometer reported a near-doubling of daily new cases in the US last week, from 15,326 last Tuesday to 27,237 last Friday.

Children under 12, roughly half the school-aged population, are not expected to be eligible for any vaccine until September, meaning that tens of millions of students would be unvaccinated during most of the fall semester if not longer. If fully implemented, the CDC guidelines will ensure that roughly 42 million unvaccinated children are packed into poorly-ventilated school buildings across the US in the coming weeks, creating the perfect conditions for the airborne virus to spread like wildfire.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [Credit: Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP]

Over the past year, the federal government under both Trump and Biden criminally refused to track COVID-19 infections in K12 schools. According to the CDCs own estimates , which the corporate media have covered up, as of May 19 roughly 22.7 million children under 18 years old had been infected with COVID-19, with a large percentage undoubtedly taking place in K12 schools. The new guidelines will vastly expand these figures, causing untold long-term damage to an entire generation. Various studies estimate that between 7 to 20 percent of infected children develop Long COVID in which symptoms linger for months after their initial infection.

Fridays announcement by the CDC marks the latest in a series of unscientific, politically-motivated measures that the institution has enacted on behalf of Wall Street and the Biden administration, as part of the broader ruling class campaign to fully reopen the economy and fabricate the illusion that the pandemic is over.

Interviewed on ABCs This Week, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Anthony Fauci stated, The bottom line is we need to get the children back in school, in-person classes in the fall. Regarding social distancing within classrooms, Fauci added, even though those are the things you want to pay attention to, if you cant implement them, you should still do everything you can with testing do everything you can to keep the in-person classes going.

Speaking on CBS Face the Nation, former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Dr. Scott Gottlieb bluntly stated, I dont think theyre really going to do checking [on vaccination status]. I think whats going to happen is some schools are going to implement mask mandates, others wont, depending on what state youre in.

Indeed, eight statesUtah, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa, Vermont and South Carolinahave already banned the issuing of masking requirements by local school districts. So far, only California has said they plan to continue require masking in schools, although this will likely be curtailed in the coming weeks before districts begin reopening.

The CDCs latest unscientific guidelines have provoked opposition among educators, who have borne enormous stress and suffering during the past year of being forced to return to unsafe classrooms.

Clair, a teacher in Alabama, commented, The CDC has shown us once again that the health and concern for students and teachers are not their priority. They are okay with us dying because they need kids in school so that parents can go to work. No one cared to find out why children were less sick this year. Its because they were largely out of school. If you think theres a teacher shortage now, wait until the Delta variant starts taking lives again. You would think scientists would want to preserve life but the CDC unfortunately has proven to be a political puppet. Teachers, do what you must to preserve your health. Parents, ask the hard questions necessary because your childrens lives are in danger.

Djk Freeman, a teacher in Tennessee, stated, Without any mention of the risk and uncertainty we will face entering classrooms this fall, the CDC states that the priority is for a return to in-person instruction. Despite conflicting information from health agencies regarding the threat of the deadly Delta variant, vaccine effectiveness, and mask protocols even for the vaccinated, state and local governments are being entrusted to determine for themselves the level of safety protocols needed in their communities. What a joke! When antiscience sentiment is running rampant in state legislatures, local health departments are being stripped of their powers, and vaccination rates are barely at 50 percent nationwide, how can we be expected to trust that our leaders will do the right thing when they have already proven they will not? Once again the CDC is placing the health and well-being of the economy ahead of the lives of teachers, students, and families.

In contrast to the hostility of rank-and-file teachers, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and National Education Association (NEA) immediately endorsed the updated CDC guidelines. AFT President Randi Weingarten, who in May pledged to help fully reopen schools this fall, absurdly described the guidelines as grounded in both science and common sense. NEA President Becky Pringle, who recently covered up the deaths and suffering of educators during the 202021 school year at the NEAs convention , voiced her agreement, adding, There is no substitute for in-person learning.

While the CDC guidelines are framed as applying to the fall semester, they were issued during an unprecedented summer school in which major districts across the US have opened their doors to as many students as possible, as part of the broader effort to pressure parents to return to work. Many districts and states will likely invoke the new CDC guidelines to justify their reckless summer school plans. In most districts, huge numbers of teachers have opted out of teaching this summer, meaning that understaffed classrooms will be packed to the brim with students.

In New York City, the largest school district in the US with roughly 1.1 million students, over 200,000 have enrolled in summer school. Despite a teacher shortage, city authorities are actively encouraging more parents to sign up. Setting a precedent for every other city in the country, the district will not offer any virtual instruction options this fall.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second-largest in the US with over 660,000 students, has an unprecedented 100,000 students currently enrolled in summer school. The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) has roughly 15,000 students enrolled in summer school, triple its normal amount. Guilford County Schools in North Carolina has 12,000 students enrolled, roughly 10 times the annual average before the pandemic. Broward County in Florida has roughly five times its normal enrollment this summer, with 45,000 students attending in-person.

As a harbinger of what will transpire in districts across the US this summer and fall, in late June two summer school programs in St. Joseph School District, Missouri, were forced to switch online after COVID-19 outbreaks infected or led to the quarantining of over half of the students in each class. Missouri has one the lowest rates of vaccination in the US, and the Delta variant has spread rapidly throughout the state.

The CDCs abrupt change of masking guidelines and demand that schools fully reopen, which was clearly coordinated with the Biden administration, took place exactly one year after the Trump administration similarly pressed for all schools to reopen. On July 6, 2020, Trump tweeted, SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!! This marked the beginning of a massive campaign to reopen schools in order to compel parents back to work, which escalated under Biden with the fulsome support of the unions. At every turn, this campaign provoked widespread resistance by educators, leading to the growth of rank-and-file committees independent of the teachers unions and both big business parties in states across the US.
The Federal Election Committee has upheld the party status of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) and accepted its participation in the federal elections on September 26. To stand candidate slates in a federal state, 500 signatures from registered voters must be submitted by July 19 in each case.

The decision, taken at the July 9 meeting of the Federal Election Committee, which is composed of a majority of parties already represented in the Bundestag (parliament), is an important success since the committee uses any formal inaccuracy or missing evidence to reduce the number of competitors and thus limit the democratic rights of the people. This year, more political organisations were rejected than ever before.

In the case of the SGP, representatives from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the Left Party felt unable to challenge its party status. The SGP was able to document its extensive political activities over the last four years in detail in a report showing how it fights for a socialist perspective against the right-wing and militarist policies of all the Bundestag parties in workplaces, at universities, during strikes and protests. The German pages of the World Socialist Web Site, published by the SGP, have a wider reach than most other party publications in Germany.

The SGP should be recognised as a party, Federal Election Commissioner Georg Thiel summarised, because it meets the criteria for party status under the Political Parties Act through its state associations, members, participation in Bundestag elections and sufficient evidence of current work in the public sphere.

The unanimous decision of the Federal Election Committee means the SGP can participate in the federal elections with its own candidates. It will give a voice and perspective to the growing opposition to the right-wing policies of the Bundestag parties, as it says in the SGP manifesto. We do not seek to treat the symptoms of a sick system, but advocate the overthrow of capitalism and the building of a socialist society. Together with our sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International, we unite workers across all borders in their struggles against social inequality, fascism and war.

The politics of social inequality and militarism supported by all the parties in the Bundestag are hated among broad sections of society. That is why official politics increasingly take the form of a conspiracy against the people and democratic rights are constantly attacked. This was also evident at the Federal Election Committee.

In total, only 44 of the 87 organisations that had applied for participation were admitted to the election, i.e., just 50 percent. Four years ago, it was 48 out of 63, well over three-quarters. In 2016, the establishment parties introduced a law obliging smaller parties not only to provide evidence of firm stable structures and political activities but also to send complex accountability reports to the Bundestag every year.

This new regulation has now been exploited to ban from the ballot even political parties that have regularly submitted such reports. The German Communist Party (DKP), which was founded in 1968 and has had party status ever since, was deprived of this status by the electoral committee because, although it had submitted the accountability reports correctly, it did not meet the specified deadline.

The DKP is not only barred from taking part in the Bundestag elections but is also threatened with financial ruin, as donations to the DKP will no longer be tax-deductible. It has only four days to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. While the far-right AfD, with its countless illegal party donations, sits on the electoral committee itself, left-wing parties are being excluded because they miss deadlines.

The SGP protested in the strongest terms against the decision to deny the DKP party status. Regardless of our known deep differences with the Stalinist DKP, we defend their democratic right to participate in the elections, SGP Chair Ulrich Rippert said on the sidelines of the committee meeting. The deprivation of party status for the DKP and many other parties, some of which have been operating as parties for decades, is a fundamental attack on basic rights and is unacceptable.

The exclusion of half of the organisations seeking to stand candidates by the Bundestag parties is part of the growing authoritarian structures with which the ruling class is seeking to suppress any opposition to its right-wing agenda. This underlines the need to build the SGP as a revolutionary party that opposes the shift to the right by uniting workers internationally. Support the election campaign of the SGP.
In an unconstitutional attack on the First Amendment and the right to protest, a 19-year-old Utah woman is being charged with a hate crime after allegedly crumpling up and throwing away a Back the Blue pro-police sign in front of a cop.

The Salt Lake Tribune first reported on an affidavit of probable cause submitted by an unnamed Garfield County police officer against the unidentified woman, who was charged last Friday. Local media reports confirm she is officially being charged with criminal mischief with a hate crime enhancement and disorderly conduct. The Class A misdemeanor criminal mischief charge is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

The alleged incident took place last Wednesday at a gas station in the sparsely populated mountain town of Panguitch in south-central Utah. According to the affidavit, the woman threw away the Back the Blue sign in front of the police after they had ticketed her friend for speeding.

A man carries a "Thin Blue Line" flag at a Blue Lives Matter rally in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

I observed one of the friends  stomping on a Back the Blue sign next to where the traffic stop was conducted, crumple it up in a destructive manner and throw it into a trash can all while smirking in an intimidating manner towards me, wrote the aggrieved deputy in the affidavit.

Pro-cop propaganda signs and the thin blue line modified black, white and blue US flag are popular among the far right and fascist elements, many of whom use the signs to signal their allegiance to the police and/or former President Donald Trump. During last summers historic protests against police violence following the police murder of George Floyd, counter-demonstrators and fascist militias frequently displayed Blue Lives Matter flags and signs at protests in an attempt to intimidate and threaten anti-police-violence demonstrators.

After witnessing the intimidating act of a young woman throwing away a cardboard sign, the officer, equipped with a service pistol, a bevy of less-lethal options and the courts, decided to leave his vehicle to confront and question the woman about where she got the disposed of sign.

I stated to [the woman] that our sheriffs office produced those specific signs and that I believed she had acquired it in our community, the cop wrote. The deputy noted in his affidavit that he checked with gas station workers who confirmed it was not their sign.

After being unable to determine where the woman acquired the pro-police sign, the cop proceeded to further question her, writing in his affidavit that she allegedly provided inconsistent stories before stating she found it on the ground.

Due to [the woman] destroying property that did not belong to her in a manner to attempt to intimidate law enforcement, I placed her under arrest, the deputy wrote, adding that she was taken and booked into jail. Due to the demeanor displayed by [the woman] in attempts to intimidate law enforcement while destroying a Pro Law Enforcement sign, the allegations are being treated as a hate crime enhanced allegation.

The Salt Lake Tribune notes that the Utah Code defines intimidate or terrorize as an act which causes the person to fear for his physical safety or damages the property of that person or another. The code further states that the act must be accompanied with the intent to cause or has the effect of causing a person to reasonably fear to freely exercise or enjoy any right secured by the Constitution or law of the state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

The use of hate crime enhancers has had no discernible impact on lowering the incidence of alleged hate crimes. The latest FBI annual Hate Crime Statistics Act (HCSA) report from 2020 showed that there were 7,314 hate crimes reported in 2019, up from 7,120 the year beforeand the highest number since 2008, during which 7,783 such crimes were reported.

However, even these statistics do not tell the full picture. The definition of a hate crime varies from state to state, as 31 states consider hate crimes on the basis of gender while 17 states consider hate crimes on the basis of gender identity.

Furthermore, according to a May Politico analysis, while 45 states have some hate crime laws on the books, 36 states do not have any laws requiring police training for identifying and reporting hate crimes, and 20 states have no laws requiring local and state police to submit hate crime data to the FBI.

While the FBI defines a hate crime as an offense motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity, within the last decade, amid skyrocketing inequality and large scale protests against an unending wave of police violence, Congress and state legislatures have advanced legislation that would add the profession of police, a personal choice, as a protected class.

In May 2016, Louisiana became the first US state to make police a protected class under hate crime laws. Less than five months later, New Orleans police charged a drunk man under the new law for using a racial slur against a police officer after he was already in custody.

In 2018, Crafton, Pennsylvania, police charged a black man with ethnic intimidation after he allegedly called the arresting officers Nazis and the Gestapo, again, after he was already in handcuffs.

The use of hate crime enhancers against the working class to further punish and intimidate is an international phenomena. In the UK, a March 2021 investigation by the BBC and the Law Society Gazette found that while only 7 percent of the 4,636 hate crimes cases recorded by West Midlands Police in the year ending March 2020 involved a police victim, 43 percent of the 711 hate crime cases that ended in charges showed that the police were the victims.

The phenomenon repeated itself in three other districts observed by the researchers. The Metropolitan Police recorded 21,948 hate crimes cases in 2019/20, 4 percent involving police victims, yet of the only 1,762 cases that resulted in charges, 29 percent of those cases involved a police victim. In West Yorkshire, 4 percent of the 8,774 recorded hate crimes cases involved police victims, yet 33 percent of the 694 hate crimes charged had a police victim.

The police function as an instrument of class rule. They do not exist to protect the rights of the working class, they exist to enforce capitalist rights to own private property and to profit. Any attempt to reform the police into protecting those who have been historically oppressed and marginalized through hate crime laws are, at best, misguided and, at worse, further empower the capitalist state.
The Biden administration last Friday adopted further sanctions against China for alleged human rights abuses against the minority Uyghur population in Xinjiang in the west of the country. The punitive measures are part of the escalating US confrontation with China, in which a propaganda campaign of lies and distortions is accompanying a relentless military build-up against Beijing.

The US Commerce Department added 34 companies to its Entities List, which effectively prohibits American citizens or corporations transacting business with those sanctioned. Of those, 14 were Chinese companies that allegedly enabled Beijings campaign of repression, mass detention, and high-technology surveillance in Xinjiang.

Another five Chinese companies were added to the list for supporting Chinas military modernisation programs related to lasers and battle management systems. In addition, eight entities were cited for facilitating the export of US items to Iran and another six for helping to procure US-origin items likely in furtherance of Russian military programs.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (Creative Commons/Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)

The sweeping character of Washingtons unilateral measures is underscored by the Commerce Departments statement, which declared that the entities were added to the list for their involvement in, or risk of becoming involved in, activities contrary to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States.

In other words, the sanctions have been added to further the interests of US imperialism. This includes cynically exploiting bogus human rights campaigns to target countries, in preparation for launching criminal wars of aggression. The phrase or risk of becoming involved makes clear the US imposes its punitive measures on the most tenuous grounds.

Once again, without providing a shred of evidence, the US accused China of committing genocide and crimes against humanity in its treatment of the Uyghurs. While the Beijing regime undoubtedly uses police-state measures in Xinjiang against alleged threats of terrorism and separatism, US claims of genocide are a gross lie. Moreover, its allegations of human rights abuses are based on the highly questionable evidence of right-wing academics and pro-US Uyghur exile organisations.

The US routinely turns a blind eye to the human rights abuses of its allies and strategic partners, such as Saudi Arabia, when it suits its interests. When the Bush administration sought Chinese support for its illegal and brutal invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, it endorsed Beijings own war on terrorism in Xinjiang. Now as it prepares for a showdown with China, the US under Biden, as under Trump, is ramping up its attacks on the Chinese regime with an abrupt about-face on the issue of the Uyghurs.

Last Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with seven Uyghur exiles in what was nothing more than a media stunt. According to a State Department spokesman, the secretary wanted to hear their stories of detention in China, to hear first-hand their impression of the ongoing atrocities in Xinjiang and the internment of a million Uyghurs.

In reality, while Uyghurs are clearly being held in what Beijing calls re-education and training centres, there is no first-hand evidence of the scale of Uyghur detentions. The figure of one million, concocted from dubious second-hand information, is simply repeated endlessly in the US and international media as if it were an established fact.

The latest round of US sanctions against China is a further sign that the Biden administration intends to intensify its propaganda war. It provocatively imposed the previous round of sanctions on Chinese officials in March, just days before Blinken was due to hold his first face-to-face meeting with top Chinese diplomats in Alaska. His blunt denunciations of China before his Chinese counterparts in Alaska were calculated to create a diplomatic row before the TV cameras and ensure that no meaningful dialogue took place.

More than Trump, Biden has sought to enlist US allies and partners in the accelerating war drive against China and ensure that they parrot the propaganda emanating from Washington, including on the alleged abuse of Uyghurs. In the wake of the summit in Alaska, the US, in league with the European Union, Britain and Canada, imposed a coordinated series of sanctions on China, specifically over the Uyghursmeasures that were also endorsed but not implemented by Australia and New Zealand.

Last month, an Australian parliamentary committee recommended the adoption of a global ban on the import of goods made with forced labour. The committee inquiry followed the introduction of a bill by independent senator Rex Patrick calling for a ban on goods from Xinjiang over Chinas alleged use of the forced labour of Uyghurs, in particular in the manufacture of cotton in Xinjiang. The committees report endorsed the legislation and called for further measures against China in collaboration with the US, Britain and Canada.

In Britain, the parliaments foreign relations committee brought down a report last week calling for measures to stop the abuse of Uyghurs, including through a ban on the import of Chinese cotton and solar panels from Xinjiang. It also called on the government to announce that no British officials would attend the Winter Olympics in Beijing, establish special fast-track systems for Uyghur asylum seekers, and ban imports from Chinese technology firms involved in providing surveillance equipment installed in Xinjiang.

The British parliamentary report accused China of using its Belt and Road Initiative, which provides loans for infrastructure projects across Eurasia, to put pressure on many Islamic countries not to speak out against atrocities in Xinjiang. It is part of an emerging US-led campaign to bully and strong-arm countries to fall into line with anti-Chinese propaganda. That Muslim countries have not, in the main, joined in US denunciations of alleged Chinese abuse of the Muslim Uyghurs is clearly regarded as a setback in Washington, and one that must be rectified.

The Washington Post, which has been prominent in propagating the lie of Uyghur genocide, last week took Pakistans prime minister, Imran Khan, to task for lining up with Chinas policy toward the Uyghurs. We have a very strong relationship with China What they say about the programs in Xinjiang, we accept it, Khan said in remarks to mark 100 years since the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. He added that it was hypocritical that other human rights issues were not afforded the same attention.

On Sunday, in response to the latest US bans, the Chinese Commerce Ministry branded Washingtons move an unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises and a serious breach of international economic and trade rules. Without specifying, it warned that China would take necessary measures to firmly safeguard Chinese companies legitimate rights and interests.

Along with the lie that COVID-19 emanated from a virology laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the US intends to exploit its bogus human rights campaign over the Uyghurs as a central element of its anti-China propaganda. Its focus on Xinjiang is not accidental. The region is strategically sensitive for China as it is adjacent to Central Asia and crucial for its Belt and Road Initiative. Washington calculates that turmoil in Xinjiang would weaken China and advance US interests in energy-rich Central Asia.
In a case of calculated political savagery, the state of Texas has arrested a 62-year-old African American man for allegedly voting illegally last year. The Republican administration of Governor Greg Abbott is bringing charges that could put Hervis Earl Rogers in prison for the rest of his life. Rogers was held on $100,000 bail for three days, until the nonprofit Bail Project posted bail and secured his release.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton ordered Rogers arrested Wednesday and charged him with two counts of felony illegal voting for casting ballots in the March 2020 Democratic primary and the 2018 general election, at a time when he was still on parole from a 1995 conviction for burglary. Each count carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years, and as a repeat offender Rogers could face even more jail time.

Rogers was celebrated in the media last year for his determination to vote in the Democratic presidential primary, when he waited in line for seven hours at a Houston polling place at Texas Southern University. He gave interviews to both CNN and a local television station, explaining that he had considered giving up and going home but stayed to do his civic duty.

Hervis Rogers (Photo: Montgomery County)

In what has been described as forum shopping, the state attorney general brought charges against Rogers not in Harris County, where he lives and voted, but in neighboring Montgomery County, which is 90 percent white. Harris County, which includes Houston, is majority nonwhite.

According to his attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Rogers served a prison term for burglary, was paroled in 2004, worked and raised a family until his parole (very lengthy under the barbaric judicial system of Texas) was discharged in June 2020.

There is no indication that Rogers had any idea that he was not allowed to vote, as indicated by his conversations with reporters while he was the last man in line at the polls in March 2020. Texas law requires that the parolee knowingly vote illegally, which his attorneys argued meant he should not have been charged.

The arrest and prosecution of Mr. Rogers should alarm all Texans, said Andre Segura, the legal director of the Texas ACLU, in a statement. He waited in line for over six hours to vote to fulfill what he believed to be his civic duty and is now locked up on a bail amount that most people could not afford. He faces potentially decades in jail. Our laws should not intimidate people from voting by increasing the risk of prosecution for, at worst, innocent mistakes.

Attorney General Paxton, who is spearheading the prosecution, wrote on Twitter: Hervis is a felon rightly barred from voting under TX law. He boasted, I prosecute voter fraud everywhere we find it!

All indications are that it is Paxton, not Hervis Rogers, who should be behind bars. The state attorney general was indicted in 2015 by a grand jury on charges of felony securities fraud for pushing technology stocks to a group of investors without disclosing his own financial interests and failing to register with state regulators.

The case has been tied up in legal disputes over where it should be tried and how much to pay the special prosecutors. In the meantime, Paxton has run out the clock through nearly two terms in office.

Paxton is also under investigation by the state bar association for professional misconduct because of his leading role in filing baseless lawsuits after the 2020 presidential election, seeking to overturn the victory of Democrat Joe Biden.

Besides the obvious purpose of intimidating poor and minority voters and scaring them away from the ballot box, Paxton has timed the charges in this case for definite political reasons. Rogers was arrested on Wednesday, July 7, one day before the opening of a special session of the Texas state legislature summoned by Governor Greg Abbott to enact new restrictions on the right to vote, in the name of election security.

Both houses of the Republican-controlled state legislature took their first steps to advance the legislation over the weekend, with a House committee approving the bill Saturday and a Senate committee doing the same on Sunday. The legislation is likely to be passed by each house later this week.

The main provisions of the bill are aimed at outlawing and criminalizing efforts by Harris County officials last year to provide easier access to voting for working people in that county, the most populous in Texas. The bill would ban 24-hour voting, voting at drive-through facilities and the unsolicited mailing of applications for absentee ballots. The latter were used by millions in the last election because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Election officials who violated the new law would be subject to felony charges and long prison sentences. They would also be barred from interfering with efforts by partisan poll watchers to intimidate voters or disrupt balloting. Republican poll watchers have frequently engaged in baseless challenges to voter participation in heavily Democratic, particularly minority, areas.

The agenda for the special session includes a laundry list of ultra-right issues in addition to the new voting rules. Governor Abbott is seeking to ban the teaching of critical race theory in public schools, restrict morning after abortion pills, ban transgender students competing in high school sports, bar censorship of right-wing voices by social media, and provide state funds to complete sections of Trumps border wall.

The Texas law on election security promotes the fiction of widespread vote fraud embraced by fascistic elements in the Republican Party, above all former President Donald Trump, to explain his lopsided defeat in the 2020 presidential election. Since that defeat, Republican-controlled state legislators have gone on a rampage, introducing nearly 400 laws in 48 states to restrict voter access. Twenty-four of these have already been passed and signed into law.

An earlier version of the Texas law was blocked in May when Democrats walked out at the end of the regular session, depriving the legislature of the necessary quorum. Abbott responded by vetoing the payment of salaries for either state legislators or their staff, and then called the special session.

According to a report in the New York Times, citing the thinking of the Democratic leaders in the state legislature, even this comparatively minor disruptive tactic will not be employed this time, in favor of an effort to pass amendments that might make the antidemocratic legislation slightly less vicious.

The state Democrats were said to be appealing to the Biden administration to push through a federal law overturning such state restrictions, although the White House has largely dropped the issue, offering only a $25 million campaign by the Democratic National Committee to educate voters on how to comply with the new ballot restrictions.

There is widespread popular opposition to the new restrictions, demonstrated by the hundreds who sought to testify against them at the state legislative hearings on the weekend. Republican state legislators, challenged to produce any evidence of vote fraud in Texas, acknowledged that they had none.

Out of 11 million votes cast in Texas last year, fraud charges are pending against 44 defendants, most of them individuals like Hervis Rogers who voted when they were supposedly not entitled to do so. Not a single case involves widespread fraud or ballot-stuffing on the scale that would be required to change the outcome of an election.
The UK Educators Rank-and-File Safety committee held an online meeting Saturday, to outline a response to the pandemic based on science and the need to protect the health, livelihoods and lives of working people. It proposed a programme on which to oppose Prime Minister Boris Johnsons herd immunity policies that have sacrificed 150,000 lives to protect profit.

As the global death toll surpasses four million, public health restrictions are being scrapped in one country after another while more transmissible variants such as Delta spread exponentially.

Alex Dickerson the reception class teacher, left leads the class at the Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Greenwich, London, Monday, May 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Tania Kent, a Socialist Equality Party member, special needs teacher and chairperson of the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, explained the aim of popularising the call made by the International Committee of the Fourth International for the establishment of an International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees to organise the global fight back.

She explained how UK prime minister Johnson had declared, in ending Covid restrictions, I want to stress from the outset that this pandemic is far from over. There could be 50,000 cases per day.

Support group Long Covid Kids reports 59 paediatric deaths due to COVID and 9,000 children with long COVID extending beyond 12 months.

A government that claims to be acting in the interests of children, said Kent, is allowed to oversee the deaths and suffering of young children, with no challenge from what passes as the official organisations of the working class.

Labour Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth has complained that the governments announcement isnt a guarantee that restrictions will endonly what it will look like.

The National Education Union (NEU) released a press statement asking the government, Are there any thresholds on case numbers, or hospitalisation or deaths that mean the DfE would do something different in schools in September? We all know the results of dither and delay.

To call a social crime of unprecedented scale dither and delay, said Kent, exposes the unions as nothing but an arm of the government in imposing social murder. Their main concern is the reopening of schools being jeopardised, not the threat to lives.

The international working class must act to take the response to the pandemic into its own hands, based on the fight for a socialist programme, Kent concluded.

Tomas, a teacher and member of the Socialist Equality Group in Brazil, told the meeting, Yesterday, the government registered 1,500 new deaths, which brought the death rate in Brazil to more than 530,000.

Coupled with economic hardship, this has provoked a wave of social opposition. Over the past month, Brazil has seen three days of massive protests. Hundreds of thousands marched against the homicidal policies of President Jair Bolsonaro's government.

Bolsonaro discouraged the wearing of masks and social distancing; promoted drugs without scientific proof as quack cures; encouraged disobedience of lockdown decrees and sabotaged the vaccination campaign.

In Sao Paulo, Tomas continued, 100 educators and three students died in state schools. Some 3,000 children under the age of 10 have died in Brazil.

A month ago, Sao Paulo's municipal educators unions broke a four-month strike against reopening schools. Two days ago, the state teachers in Minas Gerais declared a strike against the reopening of their schools.

Attendee Warren asked what are the best tactics in the ongoing struggle?

Kent answered, There aren't any quick solutions. We dont diminish tactics, [but] the essential issue is the building of a new leadership and new organisations, rank-and-file committeesthe most effective way for workers to discuss policies that will protect themthe closure of schools and strikes.

Another attendee informed the meeting that despite being double vaccinated with Pfizer, I've recently contracted Covid. I tested myself on the way to a family gathering with older relations and found I was positive before I got there. Being vaccinated doesn't stop you getting and spreading Covid!

David O'Sullivan (WSWS Media)

London bus driver David OSullivan was dismissed from his job for informing his colleagues about their rights under Section 44 during an eruption of COVID cases at his garage. He thanked teachers and educators for the support for the public campaign against my unfair dismissal and the actions I took to uphold my safety and that of my co-workers at Cricklewood bus garage in London.

The reopening of schools in September was a major factor in tragic and preventable deaths of at least 60 bus drivers in London.

Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London are among the guilty. They issued a directive which exempted school children on public transport from social distancing measures and face coverings.

This has been guaranteed by the Tripartite Agreement, which Unite signed with Transport of London and private operators, which placed operational efficiency over the protection of lives.

I joined teachers on the picket line at Oaks Park secondary school in Redbridge, London, taking selective strike action since June 15, demanding the reinstatement of four colleagues dismissed for standing up for safety.

The four teachers invoked Section 44, the right to refuse to work in conditions which present a serious and imminent danger, in opposition to resuming face-to-face teaching.

The strike at Oaks Park shows the readiness to fight but the action has been isolated by the National Education Union.

SEP member Henry Lee, a PhD graduate student, reported, The government announced that from July 19 there will be no restrictions on face-to-face teaching in universities in England, based on the lie that vaccination levels have broken the link between infections and deaths. Students travelling between campuses and homes will spread the Delta variant.

Young people aged 18-20 were offered a vaccine from the middle of June, making it unlikely that a large percentage will be fully vaccinated.

The government and universities concern for the mental health and education of young people is proved a lie by attacks on courses. Scores of universities announced the cutting of arts, humanities, languages and social science subjects which do not line up with the demands of the labour market.

The UCU and NUS unions renounced opposition to the reopening of campuses and attacks on education. The UCU general secretary described opposition to marketisation as a bit niche, and the president of the NUS told students, nobody cares.

The UCU lists a dozen disputes on its website but justified its isolation of these struggles as a tactical question.

Mother of three and former primary school teacher Lucia told the meeting, One in 12 children [have Covid symptoms] for longer than 12 weeks. About eight percent of children may be left long-term disabled. It concerns me that it causes brain changes. The narrative is that children aren't harmed, even though we've had over 750 children admitted to intensive care with PIMS [Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome].

I've been campaigning to improve mitigation measures in school, in particular ventilation. Classrooms don't meet the legal requirements. They far exceed safe limits for the amount of carbon dioxide because theyre densely occupied spaces with limited window openings. Some classrooms can't open windows. CO2 monitoring will help assess the issue, but it won't solve the problem, we need money for air filtration systems.

Addressing Lucias concerns about parents not fully understanding the seriousness of the threat, Kent referred to the massive government and media propaganda that schools are safe, and children do not get COVID.

Parents are not responsible for this situation, she said. Information is important in terms of educating people, making sure that the correct scientific evidence is distributed.

But most parents were forced to send their children to school because they cannot survive without working. You have to tackle all these challengeslike being able to isolate on full pay.

SEP Assistant National Secretary Thomas Scripps made an urgent appeal to join the fight for a mass movement of the working class to free imprisoned journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

We have been discussing how to organise opposition to an enormous crime carried out by governments. A key front in that war has been the battle over the truth.

The US is seeking Assanges extradition and imprisonment for life for his commitment to the truth and exposure of some of the most consequential lies of the 21st century.

To join the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee click here .
The UK government has refused to provide any substantive answers to questions about secret meetings with major arms suppliers to advise them on policy towards Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. These reactionary and corrupt monarchies, notorious for their crushing of all opposition to their policies at home and abroad, are major purchasers of British weapons and military materiel.

An all-party parliamentary committee had accused the government of using public monies to make hidden payments to institutions that have whitewashed human rights abuses in the Gulf, exploding the governments claims to promote human rights on the international arena.

According to the website Declassified UK, in January 2016, Defence Procurement Minister Philip Dunne and junior foreign minister Tobias Ellwood held a secret meeting with a director of Raytheon, a leading US arms manufacturer, as Saudi Arabia rained bombs on Yemen, without declaring the session, as required by the ministerial rules. The meeting only came to light due to the publication in April of former foreign minister Sir Alan Duncans memoir, In the Thick of It: The diaries of a minister.

Conservative MP Alan Duncan in Westminster (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Duncan is a libertarian and former oil trader whose support for the Palestinians and a two-state solution incurred Israels wrath. Israeli diplomat Shai Masot at the embassy in London was caught on camera talking of taking down Duncan.

Duncan said that the Ministry of Defences Gulf Advisory Committee had organised the meeting, which he had attended, to discuss oil prices and future visits to Saudi Arabia by then-Prime Minister David Cameron and others.

After initially denying such a committee existed, ministers acknowledged there was a Gulf Advisory Group, apparently a different body from the equally secretive Gulf Strategy Unit, and that Richard Paniguian, a director of Raytheon from 2015 to 2017, had been invited to the meeting. It was Paniguian who, having spent most of his working life with BP, the giant oil company, headed its delegation to UK trade minister Elizabeth Symons before the invasion of Iraq, when his team told her that Iraqs oil would be of immense strategic advantage. He also helped to obtain lucrative deals with Russia and Libya before going on to run the MoDs arms sales division.

Also in attendance at the 2016 meeting was Symons, now a Baroness and Labour peer, Conservative peer Patricia Morris and former UK military chief Lord Guthrie, whose parliamentary register of interests says he is a director of oil firm Gulf Keystone Petroleum, although Declassified was told he had left the company in 2015.

The government claims to have no record of the minutes of the January 2016 meeting. It simply confirmed that the Gulf Advisory Group had existed for more than two years until September 2018 and that Sir Geoffrey Tantum had also attended the January 2016 meeting. Tantum, a former MI6 controller for the Middle East, is a key adviser to Bahrains King Hamad. Hamad only retained his throne courtesy of Saudi Arabias brutal military suppression of the mass uprising in 2011, targeting the kingdoms majority Shia community, and the imprisonment of at least 1,500 political activists. Hamad has rounded up opposition activists and sent them with regular forces to fight alongside Saudi troops in Yemen. For his contribution to maintaining Britains relations with this despot, Tantum was knighted in 2018.

That the meeting, its attendees and indeed the existence of the Committee were kept secret is because the public are deeply hostile to the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia for use against the people of Yemen and Bahrain, and because its agenda breaches the British governments pledge in 2014 when it signed the Arms Trade Treaty not to sell arms to countries that might use them in violation of international humanitarian law.

Destroyed house in South Sanaa, Yemen. (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Since the start of the war in 2015, the British government has licensed more than 6.8 billion of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. But this is a vast underestimate, with Britains largest arms manufacturer BAE Systems reporting 17.5 billion in revenue from services and sales to Saudi Arabia since 2015. While the Campaign Against the Arms Trade won a legal action in 2019 forcing the government to stop issuing export licences for arms to Saudi Arabia pending a review of how these weapons had been used in the war, the government resumed sales in July last year. Ignoring the mountains of evidence compiled by the United Nations and international aid and humanitarian agencies, it claimed that any violations of international humanitarian law were isolated incidents and proceeded to license a further 1.6 billion sales to Saudi Arabia, while announcing it is to cut its 2021-22 aid to Yemen by more than half.

Further evidence of the governments support for the criminal activities of the Gulf monarchs comes from the recently published parliamentary report, The Cost of Repression, investigating Britains support for the six Gulf States: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. Focusing on the 53.4 million payments made via the Integrated Activity Fund (IAF) that operated between 2016 and 2020, it found that the monies benefited institutions in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia that continue to be implicated in serious human rights and international law violations, adding that the governments mandatory human rights impact assessments are flawed, improperly applied and entirely absent in some cases.

The report accuses the government of being misleading and deceptive and making false statements about the way the funds have been used. Their concern that the government is at risk of complicity in abuses comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson pursues free trade agreements with the Gulf States post-Brexit.

As well as supplying arms, Britain has sent more than 80 Royal Air Force personnel to Saudi Arabia, some working within the command-and-control centre that selects targets in Yemen for bombing and others training the Saudi air force. Special Forces commandos were reported to be operating on the ground. A further 6,200 British contractors work at Saudi military bases, training pilots and maintaining aircraft.

Declassified has also reported that there are up to 30 troops based at Al-Ghaydah airport in Yemens eastern province of Mahra training Saudi forces. Britains ambassador to Yemen Michael Aron, who was repeatedly questioned on Yemens TV over allegations that UK forces had been seen in the east of the country, did not deny the allegations. This flies in the face of the governments claims that it is not a party to the Saudi-led coalitions war in Yemen to restore the hated government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi that was ousted by the Houthi rebel group.

The venal Saudi monarchy, which routinely assassinates its opponents, tortures, imprisons and beheads oppositionists and dissidents, serves as a crucial custodian of Britains geostrategic interests in the energy-rich region and a key partner in Washington and Londons anti-Iranian axis.

According to the World Bank, some 233,000 Yemenis had died by the end of last year, with half the deaths caused by a lack of food or access to healthcare, as well as by the lack of basic infrastructure to provide these services. More than four million people have been displaced in the six years of war, while the horrific social and economic conditions, including a cholera outbreak that has raged since 2016 and the pandemic, have prevented people from returning to their homes. The country is on the brink of famine, with 24.1 million or 80 percent of Yemens population dependent for their survival on aid and 58 percent living in extreme poverty, unable to afford enough food and water or sanitation services.

Speaking at a G20 event on humanitarian aid two weeks ago, David Beasley, head of the UN's World Food Programme (WFP), said Yemen was one of several countries facing a catastrophe without urgent action to address the shortage of food. These are not just numbers, these are not just statistics, these are people with real names, real lives, fragile and literally on the brink of starvation.

Beasley gave voice to the G20s real fears when he added, If we dont address their needs, over the next six to nine months you could have unprecedented famine of biblical proportions, destabilisation of nations and mass migration.
As an acute asthma sufferer, who is also on medication to control hypertension, I have been ultra-careful since Covid-19 first hit South Africa early last year.

I'm also among those fortunate who have been able to continue to earn a living working from home. I seldom go out, unlike the hundreds of thousands of South African taxi and other public transport users who face a heightened risk of contracting the virus.

But early in June, I had no choice: I needed to interview several people for a corruption investigation that I was working on, and my sources would only speak to me in person.

I felt the risk was low as I'd been vaccinated with the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccination six weeks earlier -- enough time to build up immunity to the virus. Nevertheless, I set out well-prepared with a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my pocket. I also wore two tight-fitting masks, each with additional, replaceable filter material inserted in a special pocket, as I normally do on the rare occasions when I go out in public.

At a time when the Delta variant is surging across the globe, someone like me who is vaccinated may be lulled into a false sense of safety, but in South Africa, where vaccinations rates have largely lagged, the threat remains quite high -- and until vaccinations rates increase -- extra precautions are needed.

Arriving for my meeting in Hout Bay Harbour in Cape Town, I found myself in a small room with two other people, neither of them wearing a mask. I was able to position myself about 2 meters -- more than 6 feet -- from them but, as the interview began, several other people, none of them wearing masks, entered the room.

Feeling very uncomfortable I asked, after less than five minutes, if we could continue outside. But it was too late. In those few minutes, despite all my precautions, I now believe I had been infected.

About two weeks later I developed a barking, dry cough and sore throat, and I was sneezing non-stop. I was also breathing with difficulty -- but, because of the vaccination and all my precautions, I convinced myself that it was a bout of flu and decided that all I needed was paracetamol and bed rest.

By the following day, my body was aching as if I'd gone through a few rounds with a professional boxer, and I was literally gasping for breath. My doctor, after a phone consultation, said I should go for a Covid test. He also prescribed cortisone and a very strong antibiotic.

The test was quick and easy, and early the next morning my doctor called to say that I had tested positive. He prescribed additional medication and a variety of vitamins to boost my immune system. He also suggested I purchase an inexpensive battery-operated pulse oximeter to monitor my blood oxygen levels.

Should my breathing get worse, or if my oxygen levels dropped below 94, I should go directly to my closest emergency room as I may need oxygen, or even hospital admission, he said.

Almost miraculously, by the next morning my oxygen levels had improved, and I was able to breathe more easily. I was still feeling unwell, but there was a marked improvement in my condition. I'm now almost fully recovered, although I'm still left with some lingering after-effects of Covid, including fatigue and muddled thinking if I overexert myself.

Nevertheless, I had dodged a bullet with my name on it thanks to the fact that I had been vaccinated. I joined a growing number of people who were infected with Covid-19 despite having been vaccinated. In fact, my doctor said that I was the third of his patients who had been vaccinated and later had tested positive: I and another person had contracted "mild" Covid, and a third who was hospitalized briefly and has since made a full recovery. My doctor believes that the vaccine protected us from the worst of the virus and hastened our recovery.

Once I was feeling better, I posted on Facebook about my experience, intending it as a warning to friends not to let their guards down and to carry on wearing masks even if they have been vaccinated.

What followed surprised me: while many people wished me well, others -- either anti-vaxxers or the vaccination hesitant -- took my experience as proof that Covid vaccinations don't work, rather than having minimized my illness and helped speed up my recovery.

Others messaged me off of Facebook and suggested I take ivermectin -- a drug often used to treat parasites -- which they claimed they, or others they knew of, had used to "sort out" Covid, despite the fact that there is no proof yet that it has any benefit against the virus.

Did I get the Delta variant? It's hard to say for sure, but the highly contagious variant, which has now been detected in at least 85 countries, is rapidly becoming dominant in many parts of the world, including in the United States, where, as of July 3, it was responsible for 51.7% of all new cases of Covid-19, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In South Africa, the official death toll from Covid-19 is now more than 63,000.

By July 7, the Gauteng province accounted for 34.5% of South Africa's total recorded 2,112,336 infections. Delta is now the dominant strain in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, north and east of Cape Town, where I live, and is increasing rapidly in other regions of the country. The Western Cape, the province in which Cape Town is situated, is now "firmly in a third wave," according to Premier Alan Winde.

This deadly third wave has left health services buckling and has led to a new level four lockdown, which includes a total ban on the sale of alcohol, a prohibition of all social, political and religious gatherings, a ban on leisure travel to and from Gauteng and a 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew. It has also seen hospitals in Gauteng rapidly filling up. By the week of July 4, over 90% of private and public hospital beds were full.

On Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation that 4,200 people had died from Covid in the past two weeks and warned that by next week "daily hospital levels are likely to reach the peaks of the first and second waves." He also announced the extension of most of South Africa's level four lockdown for a further two weeks.

The South African government has faced growing criticism over a lack of preparedness to handle a wave driven by the highly infectious Delta variant. But some experts say it was scientists who got it wrong for not foreseeing that Delta could become the dominant strain.

The South African government has also faced been criticized for its slow vaccine rollout compared to neighboring Botswana and Zimbabwe. An analysis of data by the Daily Maverick shows that by the end of May, only 2.5 vaccines had been delivered per 100 people on the continent. A dismal number to say the least. And still, compared to the rest of the continent, South Africa's vaccination rate was lower than its neighbors' rate.

"Whereas South Africa has delivered only 1.6 vaccines per 100 people, Namibia has delivered twice this rate, and Botswana and Zimbabwe more than three times this rate. South Africa accounts for 43% of confirmed Covid-19 deaths but only 3% of vaccinations in Africa," reported the Daily Maverick.

As of July 9, the vaccination rate in South Africa had improved to seven vaccinations per 100 people, according to a CNN barometer tracking worldwide vaccinations. Nevertheless, it still lags behind Botswana -- 11 per 100 -- and cash strapped Zimbabwe -- nine per 100.

The South African health authorities first began with vaccinating health workers, then people over 60, followed by those aged 50 to 59. Acting Health Minister MmaMoloko Kubayi announced on July 9 that it would soon include people in the 35 to 49 age group.

Ramaphosa also told South Africans Sunday that more than 17 million J&J doses would be delivered to Africa starting in late July and that the company had made a commitment for vaccines to be produced under license in South Africa.

But it is too late to help with the third wave of Covid infections, hospitalizations and deaths that has South Africa by the throat.

At a press conference in late June, World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said that "We need a sprint, not a saunter, to rapidly protect those facing the biggest risks. Cases are outpacing vaccinations, leaving more and more dangerously exposed."

This is partially because of vaccine inequality. An Oxfam analysis last September found that "wealthy nations representing just 13% of the world's population have already cornered more than half (51%) of the promised doses of leading Covid-19 vaccine candidates," then still in phase 3 clinical trials.

Without a doubt, the key to saving more South Africans -- and other Africans -- from dying from this deadly virus is getting vaccines to the people at a faster rate. And the US and countries with surplus should send their excess vaccine, as President Joe Biden announced he is doing to Indonesia, also in the throes of a Covid surge.

For me, having previously reported and read widely on Covid, I believed this before, but after my own experience, I'm even more certain.

The-CNN-Wire

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VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has ordered flags in Vigo County to fly at half-staff following the death of Detective Greg Ferency.

According to the governor, flags should be at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday.

Ferency was shot and killed last week outside of the FBI office in Terre Haute.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A fellow officer in Philadelphia uses his artistic talents to honor Detective Greg Ferency.

It's a gift he has given before. It's called a Portrait of Valor.

Forensic Composite Artist Jonny Castro created a digital painting of Detective Ferency.

Castro has created more than a thousand of these portraits for fallen officers. This includes one for fallen Terre Haute Police Officer Rob Pitts, who died in the line of duty in 2018.

Castro typically delivers the portraits to the family members of the fallen officers.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) -- As the Terre Haute Police Department mourns the loss of Detective Greg Ferency, several local law enforcement agencies are coming in to support them.

As of midnight Monday morning, multiple law enforcement agencies across the Wabash Valley have been assisting the Terre Haute Police Department (THPD) with patrolling roads and responding to calls.

Agency representatives told me that they are here to help support THPD and the Ferency family in every way they can.

"We're all a brotherhood. Whether or not we're wearing a blue uniform, a brown uniform, or a green uniform. We're all working together to provide a safe environment for all of our citizens to live in," said Indiana State Police Sgt. Matt Ames.

The Indiana State Police, West Terre Haute Police Department, and sheriff's offices from Vigo, Vermillion, Sullivan, Clay, and Parke counties will help cover Terre Haute until Wednesday morning.

Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse told News 10 that his office knows the drill when it comes to fallen officers all too well.

"Unfortunately, we've been through this a few times before, so it's kind of like we know what's going and what to do that needs to get done to make sure we have that coverage," Sheriff Plasse explained.

According to Sheriff Plasse, law enforcement agencies will be assigned to different districts but will be working together like a "Vigo County unit."

Sheriff John Plasse was the Terre Haute Police Chief when officers Brent Long and Rob Pitts died in the line of duty. He said support from local law enforcement agencies helps THPD and the Ferency family.

"Just doing this - covering the city for calls is being there for Greg and his family and the Terre Haute Police Department because we can't stop what we're doing no matter what's going on. We still have to protect and serve,"

The local law enforcement agencies will begin turning the city back over to the Terre Haute Police Department in phases starting at midnight Tuesday evening.

As for Terre Haute residents who may need help from law enforcement, nothing changes on their end. If they need assistance, call dispatch, and one of the agencies on duty will assist.
SHANNON, Miss. (WTVA) - Companies beyond Mississippi and here at home are trying to hire new workers.

One Lee County manufacturing company needs help to build parts for lawnmowers, BMW automobiles and more.

"It's a great place to work. We've got great benefits," Robert Vail of Grammer Incorporated in Shannon said.

Vail is a first-shift supervisor for the manufacturing company. Holding no degree, he said Grammer gave him an opportunity to grow and move up.

He said Grammer is a place for people who want a job they can stick with for a while.

"Ideas come from anybody in the organization, from the guy that just started, to the people who have been here since we opened," Vail said.

Human Resources Manager Brad Boyd explained Grammer supplies the automotive industry with consoles for cars like BMW and Mercedes.

They also make seating for industrial equipment such as lawnmowers.

"Individuals with no degree, with degrees, freshly out of high school or college," Boyd said.

"Everything, I just love my job," Alicia Montgomery said.

Montgomery began working at Grammer at the end of 2020.

As a team leader, her responsibility includes supervising her team members and making sure they do their jobs correctly.

In addition to working at Grammer, Montgomery is also going to school to earn her degree in communication and journalism. She said her job always keeps her busy.

"I learn something new every day. You know, it's challenging."

Ultimately, Boyd explained that Grammer wants to see its employees grow and improve their skills.

"All they have to say is, 'I would like to try this,' or 'I would like to try a new job,' or 'I would like this career path,' and we can help them achieve those goals," Boyd said.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has relinquished his position at a ceremony in the capital of Kabul, taking the United States a step closer to ending a 20-year military presence that became known as its forever war.

The move Monday comes as Taliban insurgents continue to gain territory across the country.

Gen. Scott Miller handed over command Monday to Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command.

McKenzie, also a four-star general, will operate from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

McKenzie assumes authority to conduct possible airstrikes in defense of Afghan government forces, at least until the U.S. withdrawal concludes by Aug. 31.
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Morgantown, WV (26505)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 82F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable.
Clarksburg, WV (26301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 82F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
The Witcher 3 is Getting New Netflix-Inspired DLC, Xbox Series X|S Version Still on For 2021 Release
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An Obama-era Pentagon official who was at one point under consideration to be President Joe Bidens secretary of defense called for internal regime change in Iran at an event held by a shadowy group designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government until 2012. But she claims she didnt know anything about the groups notorious past when she agreed to appear.

Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy, who heads up a consulting firm upon which the Biden administration has drawn heavily to fill top White House positions, appeared virtually on Sunday at the Free Iran World Summit 2021. The confab was put on by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the diplomatic wing of the Peoples Mojahedin of Iran, or Mojahedin-e Khalq. Known commonly by its Farsi acronym, MEK, the dissident group was put on the U.S. terror list in 1997only to be removed from the list 15 years later with support from disgraced former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

When she agreed to the engagement, Ms. Flournoy was unaware of the affiliation, a Flournoy spokesperson told The Daily Beast. She would not have participated had she known of it, and she refused payment for the engagement once she learned of it. She has no affiliation with the MEK and will never appear at their conference again.

Flournoy is the rare Democratic A-lister whos publicly linked themselves to the MEK, which has historically enjoyed support from right-wing neoconservative allies such as Giuliani, former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton, former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich, retired Gen. Jack Keane, who is a regular on Fox News, and others. On the other side of the aisle, former Vermont governor, Democratic National Committee chairman, and also-ran presidential candidate Howard Dean has made paid and unpaid speeches for the MEK.

[W]hen there is an internal regime change, and a government comes to power that renounces its revolutionary aims and terrorism, the United States will be the first in line to engage it, Flournoy told the summit audience. In the meantime, we must continue to applaud and support the important work of diaspora groups like yours that keep alive the vision of a secular, free, and democratic Iran.

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Matt Duss, foreign policy adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), tweeted, Im tempted to say that this is horrible staff work from Flournoys team in letting her do this, these invitations can often be deceptive, but at this point no former nat sec official really has any excuse for not knowing what the MEK is.

Social media has been abuzz with words of condemnation from journalists and other users who said it was both shocking and embarrassing for Michele Flournoy, former U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, to address the annual summit of the notorious anti-Iran [MEK] terrorist group, Iranian state media crowed.

The speakers list at this years summit included a mixed bag of names, from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

While the MEK began in 1963 as a revolutionary movement agitating for human rights and democracy in Iran, it has more recently been described as a secretive, cult-like group that resembles a militant, Islamist version of the Church of Scientology.

In the 1970s, the MEK staged terrorist attacks inside Iran and killed several U.S. military personnel and civilians working on defense projects in Tehran, according to the State Department, and supported the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in the capital city. In the early 1990s, State says the MEK conducted attacks on Iranian embassies in 13 different countries, demonstrating the group's ability to mount large-scale operations overseas. In June 1998, MEK planted bombs in Tehran that killed three people.

The group also fought against the U.S. in the early stages of the Iraq War. According to the U.S. Armys official history of the conflict, by 2003 the MEK has become an elite element in the Iraqi Army and had fought against Coalition forces in March and April of that year. MEK forces later surrendered to American special operations forces and the U.S.-led coalition provided security for the group members detained in Camp Ashraf facing attacks by Iranian-backed militias. MEK members were subsequently evacuated from Iraq to Albania.

Interviews with MEK dissidents conducted by Human Rights Watch in 2005 included testimony from ex-members about abuses ranging from detention and persecution of ordinary members wishing to leave the organization, to lengthy solitary confinements, severe beatings, and torture of dissident members. A 2009 study by the RAND Corporation alleged that MEK displayed various cult characteristics, such as intense ideological exploitation and isolation, sexual control, emotional isolation, and other such tactics.

In April, Facebook exposed a troll farm run by the MEK. However, the illicit initiative achieved little to no audience visibility, largely failing to gain significant numbers of new followers, according to Facebook.

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Turkish bodybuilder Deniz Saypinar was stopped by the American Airlines staff on 8 July for wearing skimpy clothes (Deniz Saypinar/ Screengrab)

A Turkish bodybuilder and social media influencer was stopped from boarding an American Airlines flight for allegedly wearing too short denim shorts that would disturb families on the plane.

Deniz Saypinar was stopped from boarding a flight from Texas to Miami on 8 July for her denim shorts  that were considered too short  and a small brown tank top. Soon after she was stopped, she took to her Instagram account to vent about the incident.

Ms Saypinar said: You will never believe what happened to me at Texas Airport.

Tearfully she narrated the incident to her one million followers. She talked about how the staff allegedly insulted her when they said she was almost naked.

They literally didnt take me to the plane because they say youre naked and you offend other families, she said.

Ms Saypinar, 26, is a bodybuilder, entrepreneur and social media influencer. The Daily Mail, which first reported this incident, said that she moved from Turkey to Los Angeles to further her bodybuilding career.

She is the first woman from Turkey to have received the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) status. Ms Saypinar is also the first non-US citizen to win the US National Bikini Fitness Competition in 2021, reports said.

On her Instagram, Ms Saypinar said that she had moved to America to experience freedom but was shocked by the ridiculous behaviour of American Airlines staff. She tearfully said: I am not naked.

She continued: I am an athlete, and now I have to wait here until the morning. I like to wear feminine clothes that reveal my femininity, but I never dress in a way that will offend anyone. Im mature and civilised enough to know what I can and cannot wear.

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She added that she didnt deserve to be treated like the worst person in the world for wearing denim shorts. What separates us from animals if humans cant control even their most primitive impulses.

Her followers have supported her. One user said: It is 2021, and there is still a dress code you have to follow to board a plane, of course, only if you are a woman. This is ridiculous.

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Meanwhile, American Airlines, in a statement, said: On 8 July, American Airlines denied boarding for a customer travelling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Miami. As stated in the conditions of carriage, all customers must dress appropriately and offensive clothing isnt permitted on board our flights.

The spokesperson added: The customer was advised of our policy and was rebooked on a subsequent flight. The customer has since arrived in Miami.

Read More

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CANNES, France (Reuters) - Documentary makers and environmental activists including British teenager Bella Lack on Sunday said they hoped to inspire more efforts on climate change, including through several films with hopeful messages presented at the Cannes Film Festival.

The world's biggest cinema showcase is back after a 2020 hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has this year highlighted productions with an environmental focus in a special selection.

The festival, which has attracted people from around the world, including big hitting Hollywood stars like Adam Driver and Matt Damon, has also tried to cut back on waste, using some hybrid or electric cars to shuttle people around and replacing its red carpet, which it used to change three times a day, with recyle-friendly material, organisers said.

The world of film could also be an example in other ways, said 18-year-old activist Lack, who appears in "Animal" along with chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall, in a documentary by Cyril Dion shown at the festival.

"People believe that all young people are terrified and motivated by fear... I've actually been motivated by hope and by imagination," Lack told a news conference. "That's what the cinema industry and Cannes can act as, as a vehicle to catalyse the imagination of adults."

Other films being presented include "Bigger Than Us", produced by Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard and which features young campaigners from Indonesia to Malawi.

Director Flore Vasseur said the activists had pressured the crew to take steps such as cutting out plastic on set.

"This industry does not have an extraordinary track record on this issue," Vasseur said. "We're all on a learning curve, we're all looking for solutions."

The green selection also included French actor and director Louis Garrel's "The Crusade", a fictional comedy about children who sell their parents' jewellery in their quest to save the planet.

(Reporting by Sarah White; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
hero dog finds missing teen

Pennington County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

Take a bow, Tango!

According to KELO, Tango, the search and rescue dog, put their skills to use and helped South Dakota's Pennington County Sheriff's Office find a missing 17-year-old.

The teen's family reported that their child went missing on Saturday around 6:00 p.m. In response to the call, the Pennington County Sheriff's Office worked with the Pennington County Search and Rescue K-9 Team, the U.S. Forest Service, and South Dakota's Game, Fish, and Parks Department to create a search party to look for the teen near Pactola Reservoir.

Even though the search had plenty of manpower, it was a dog who found the missing person. Tango, a trained canine with the Pennington County Search and Rescue K-9 Team, was the first to locate the missing teen and led human searchers to the child, according to a Facebook post from the Pennington County Sheriff's Office.

RELATED: Sheriff's K9 Officer Helps Locate 12-Year-Old Girl Who Went Missing During Tropical Storm Elsa

"Search dog 'Tango' was deployed from the area the teen was last seen and was able to lead searchers to the missing teen who was found safe and unharmed around 9:30 p.m. and reunited with family," the post shared.

Tango isn't the only hero dog hard at work. Earlier this month, Mercy the bloodhound, a K9 officer with a Florida sheriff's department, used her nose to find a 12-year-old girl who went missing during Tropical Storm Elsa. Mercy was able to sniff through thick woods and find the missing child, ensuring her safety.
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We did a few things early on in the summer that we normally dont do, Mogul said. We scheduled a walkthrough with the scheduler so they could see the things we do. Other than that, there was not a heartbeat missed.

Mogul said they received mostly positive feedback from visitors, and that there was a constant aerial display that people wanted. Most of the feedback received was for the execution behind-the scenes.

We get different feedback on things, Mogul said. Our concessions people get feedback from year to year. This year, they chose to do tents in various location rather than just roaming concessions.

The Chamber works with the York Public Works Department and the York Police Department each year to make the events more efficient and friendly for the public.

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I love seeing the smiling faces and seeing the families enjoy something as a part of the community, Mogul said. This is part of why we are here. We have a great community and events like this celebrate that.

This weekend, the Chamber is hosting balloon days and the annual sidewalk sales for the merchants. There will also be a water balloon fight at the end of the weekend.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on early Monday (July 12, 2021) morning performed aarti at Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad before the annual Rath Yatra takes off from the temple. Ahmedabads Jagannath Temple is all decked up ahead of Rath Yatra. According to an ANI report, heavy security has been deployed outside the temple.

Union Home Minister, who is on a three-day visit to his home state Gujarat, took part in Lord Jagannath's rath yatra in Ahmedabad today and will be hosting several programmes later in the day.

Following his participation in Mangla aarti at Lord Jagannath temple, Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Nardipur village of Gandhinagar district to launch several schemes.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Union Minister Amit Shah performs 'arti' at Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad ahead of Rath Yatra pic.twitter.com/QMO94gwem0  ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2021

Meanwhile, the preparations for second consecutive devotees-less Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri had been completed. The administration has imposed curbs across the 3-km long Grand Road from Shree Jagannath Temple to Sri Gunducha Temple where all activities, except medical emergencies, are prohibited.

The reports also revealed that security forces will be deployed on the rooftops of different buildings on both sides of the grand road where the Rath Yatra will take place, in order to ensure that people do not congregate in large numbers to witness the festival from the residential houses, hotels, lodges and guest houses.

Though there were no such restrictions on the people witnessing the Ratha Jatra from rooftops last year, the administration this time banned such practice after it came to the notice that some hotels, lodges and guest houses book rooms with the provision of allowing people to witness the festival from the rooftop.

Additionally, Puri district collector Samarth Verma urged people not to come out of their houses during the curfew period from 8 pm on Sunday till 8 pm on Tuesday and make crowd on the grand road.

He also added that the people will be able to witness the festival on their Television sets as the government and administration has made arrangement to give free of cost feed to different channels and web portals.

(With agency inputs)

Live TV
Guwahati: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in the Assembly on Monday (July 12) that nearly 30,000 posts in various levels of Assam Police are lying vacant, including 15,248 vacancies since 2016.

In a written reply to a query by Bodoland People's Front (BPF) MLA Durga Das Boro, Sarma said a total of 29,948 positions are lying vacant.

Out of the 15,248 posts lying vacant since 2016, 4,537 have to be filled up through promotions in future, the chief minister was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, said 10,711 vacant posts in the police are required to be filled up through direct recruitment and steps are being taken in that direction.

In addition to these, 1,109 fourth grade and 13,591 posts in lower divisions are also lying vacant in the Assam Police, he added.

The process for filling up vacancies through direct recruitment has started after getting necessary approvals from the government, Sarma said.

In a discussion on the police force during the Question Hour, the chief minister said the state government has decided to raise 10 commando battalions, which will have operational jurisdiction near their camps, unlike the existing normal battalions of Assam Police.

Without giving further details, he said that the proposed commando battalions can be posted along the inter- state borders to prevent encroachment and other activities from the other sides.

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New Delhi: Hours after two terrorists linked with Al-Qaeda were nabbed in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, the Bihar Police on Sunday (July 11, 2021) issued an alert in the state.

The Special Branch of Bihar Police and CID informed that all sensitive and state border area authorities have been asked to remain alert.

"Bihar State Police Headquarters issues alert in all districts and railway stations after two al-Qaeda terrorists were arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow," the Special Branch of Bihar Police and CID said.

On Sunday afternoon, two terrorists of the Al-Qaeda-supported Ansar Ghazwatul Hind were arrested from the outskirts of Lucknow. According to senior officials, they were planning explosions, including using human bombs at several places in Uttar Pradesh.

"Minhaz Ahmed and Maseeruddin were apprehended by the state police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and a huge amount of explosive was also seized from their houses," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said during a media briefing.

"They were planning to unleash terror activities before August 15 (Independence Day) in different cities of the state including Lucknow," Kumar added.

He informed that while Minhaz Ahmed is a resident of Lucknow's Dubagga area, Maseeruddin is a resident of Lucknow's Madiaon area.

Kumar stated that both were planning for attacks on the instructions of Umar Halmandi, the head of the Uttar Pradesh module of the Al-Qaeda.

PC by ADG L&O UP and IG ATS.#UPPolice https://t.co/hIrDIShsTd  UP POLICE (@Uppolice) July 11, 2021

(With agency inputs)

Live TV
New Delhi: England suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Italy in the Euro Cup final. But what followed was much more shocking as a violent clash broke out between the fans of England and Italy. The disappointed English fans created a ruckus outside the Wembley stadium. The violence tells a lot about the attitude of the English.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary discussed the pathetic show by the English fans on the streets of London after the loss to Italy and exposed the so-called English civility.

The pictures from London's Wembley Stadium show how the violent clashes between the fans of England and Italy turned the glittering streets of the city into dustbins.

After the match was over, when the Italian fans came out of the stadium, the supporters of England started beating them.

The fans broke the security barriers and entered inside the stadium and even beat up the security personnel. A total of 19 security personnel were injured in the attack and thousands of people entered Wembley Stadium without tickets.

Another important point to note here is that the western media criticized the Kumbh mela in India saying it violated COVID-19 protocol. But when they themselves broke all the rules, their media is silent on it.

Western society considers itself to be the master of etiquette in the world. These people have taught words like Sorry and Thank You to the whole world. From Good Morning to Good Night, from table manners to Birthday Cake, so many things have come from this western civilization.

But the colour of the skin does not decide the character of a person. The post-match violence is proof of that.

Live TV
New Delhi: Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradeshs Dharamsala on Monday (July 12, 2021) led to a flash flood-like situation. Several roadside parked cars were swept away, hotels were damaged following a cloudburst in Bhagsu village near Mcleodganj which caused a flash flood in the area. However, there was no loss to human life.

The incident was triggered after a night of relentless rain. Dharamsala, which is over 250 km from the state capital, recorded the precipitation of 119 mm, the highest ever in this monsoon.

According to a report in IANS, three houses and five shops located along a seasonal rivulet in the Gaggal area were damaged owing to the gushing of water. The damage to the property was largely owing to encroachments on rivulets.

Several horrifying videos were posted by netizens on various social media platforms after the flash floods. Take a look at one such video here:

#WATCH Flash flood in Bhagsu Nag, Dharamshala due to heavy rainfall. #HimachalPradesh

(Video credit: SHO Mcleodganj Vipin Chaudhary) pic.twitter.com/SaFjg1MTl4  ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2021

Additionally, Manmohan Singh, Director of India Meteorological Department (IMD), told IANS that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was recorded at many places in Kangra district. The rainfall was widespread in the state.

Palampur in Kangra district recorded 155 mm rain, the highest in the state, while it was 48 mm in Dalhousie, 10 mm in the state capital and 55 mm in picturesque tourist resort Manali.

The weather bureau has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in the state till Wednesday.

Live TV
New Delhi: India recorded 37,154 new COVID-19 cases and 724 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Monday (July 12, 2021). India's active coronavirus cases have now increased to 4,50,899 and the recovery rate increases to 97.22 percent.

India's total coronavirus caseload has now increased to 3,08,74,376, of which, 4,08,764 have succumbed to the virus, while 4,50,899 are active cases. A total of 3,00,14,713 people have recovered from the COVID-19 infections in the country, out of which 39,649 people recovered from the infection on Monday.

India reports 37,154 new cases in last 24 hours; active caseload at 4,50,899. Recovery rate increases to 97.22% pic.twitter.com/m4uTvMGjQC  ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2021

The weekly positivity rate also remained below 5 percent and is currently at 2.32 percent. Further, the daily positivity rate is at 2.59 percent, less than 3 percent for 21 consecutive days.

The testing capacity in the country has been substantially ramped up with 43.23 crore tests conducted so far. India commenced its COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16 this year. Till date, 37,73,52,501 vaccine doses have been administered so far including 12,35,287 in the last 24 hours

As the countrys daily COVID-19 cases witnesses a downward trend, many states and union territories have issued fresh COVID-19 guidelines, relaxations and restrictions which will come into effect from Monday (July 12, 2021).

Several states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, have decided to start the next phase of unlock process as they witness a steady decline in coronavirus cases, while others, including Haryana, Tamil Nadu, will still remain under lockdown-like restrictions to keep the citizens safe from the virus and prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, the overall global COVID-19 caseload has topped 186.7 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 4.02 million and vaccinations soared to over 3.43 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 33,853,614 and 607,155, respectively, according to the CSSE. In terms of infections, India follows in second place with 30,837,222 cases.

(With agency inputs)

Live TV
New Delhi: In yet another case of caste atrocities, a couple, who was married 28 years ago, was attacked by the relatives of the husband who reportedly belongs to the upper caste. The incident took place in Ron Taluk of Gadag district in Karnataka, which is 385 kilometres from Bengaluru on Thursday (July 8, 2021).

According to a report in a leading news portal, the woman, who was attacked, belonged to the Valmiki community which is classified as a scheduled tribe.

The incident occurred on July 8 in Ron Taluk, roughly 385km from Bengaluru. The husbands relatives had gotten into a fight with the couple, and the wife was injured during the incident. On July 9, we booked a case under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act). Further, the investigation is on, the report quoted a police official from the district as saying.

This shocking incident has come to light when the state has been witnessing an increase in atrocities against marginalized communities.

ALSO READ: Dalit Man mercilessly assaulted by womans relatives over alleged affair in UPs Kanpur

According to the government data, over 2,327 cases of murder, exploitation and other cases on members of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) community have been recorded between April 1, 2020 and Match 31, 2021 in Karnataka. It can be deferred from the data that an increase of 54 percent has been seen in a years time.

The National Crime Records Bureau states that these cases include incidents of murder, exploitation, burns and other crimes against the members of the marginalised community.

The Karnataka governments data also reveals that there were 87 murders, 216 cases of exploitation, 2024 other instances and 3 incidents of fire between April 2020 and May 2021, and the state government has allocated around Rs 2842.38 lakhs as compensation for these crimes.

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Srinagar: The houseboats in the Kashmir valley that are famous all over the world are slowly fading away. The numbers have gone down from 5000 houseboats to just 900. At this rate, it is being feared that they might soon become history.

The rich heritage of houseboats on water bodies of Kashmir Valley has always been a big tourist attraction. The stakeholders have always called it the Jewel of Tourism Industry in the Kashmir Valley. But, more than 40 per cent of houseboats have vanished in the last three decades.

The reason people living on the lake say is that they do not get permission to repair the houseboats. They say that a huge number of repair requests are pending with the government for the restoration of these houseboats and the unending wait has led to a decrease in the numbers of these houseboats.

''There were thousands of houseboats across Srinagar in Dal Lake, Jhelum river, Chinar Bagh, and Nigeen. There was dunga, houseboats and bahach. The reason is that we don't get permission on time, we don't get timber. We have been asking the government for subsidized timber because Kashmir tourism was hit. Before 1989, we never used to ask anything from the government because we had business and now since we don't have much business we are asking for their help. Government should come forward to help the community, there are only 900 houseboats left and many need repair and attention from the government. Otherwise, in the coming days there would be no houseboats, said Tariq Patloo, a houseboat owner.

The houseboat owners said they are being subjected to injustice by the government. They said that thousands of liters of sewage goes into Dal Lake every day, and less than two to three per cent of pollution is caused by houseboats, but the entire blame is put on them.

''There will be a time when our grandchildren will read about the houseboats in books, as none would exist. If there are houseboats in Kashmir, the tourism industry is alive. The way we move the oar while riding a 'shikara' is how we keep the water clean. You should see the old pictures of Chinar Bagh and see how many houseboats there were. Dal Lake has 600 houseboats, Nigeen has 195 and Chinar Bagh has 40 while the river will have 70. Slowly numbers are going down and the day it finishes, tourism will finish too. They come here for Shikara and houseboats. We say with pride that we own houseboats. The government knows and even called it heritage. The future generation would blame us for not saving the heritage, said M Ashraf Badyari.

In 2009, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had banned the repair and renovation of houseboats after the government told the court that houseboats were the main cause of pollution of water bodies in Srinagar. The government had said they are working on a policy to keep the heritage alive.

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New Delhi: A massive fire broke out in PVC market of Tikri Kalan at Delhi-Haryana border on Sunday night. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot as huge blaze spread in the region. According to the fire department, no casualty has been reported so far. The fire department revealed that the fire broke out at around 8:35 pm.

A call was received around 8.35 pm about a fire in PVC market. The fire is mainly in an open godown which is spread over a large area. No casualty was reported so far, said Atul Garg, Director of DFS.

Over 40 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. No casualty has been reported so far, Delhi Fire Service (DFS) officials said.

#WATCH | Delhi: Latest visuals from Tikri Kalan PVC market where a fire broke out in a godown. Fire fighting operation underway. No casualty has been reported so far. pic.twitter.com/Q2qhP4qk1N  ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2021

The fire was categorised in the medium category. Currently, 40 fire tenders are present at the spot. It has been spread in an area of 10 acres including the adjoining area. It might take around 3-4 hours to douse the fire, said Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Dharampal Bhardwaj.

Further details are awaited.

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New Delhi: In a huge relief to Mehul Choksi, the Dominica court on Monday (July 12) granted bail to the absconding businessman and allowed him to travel back to Antigua for his medical treatment.

Choksi, however, will have to return to Dominica, where he is facing illegal entry charges, as soon as he is fit to travel, people familiar with the developments said. The court has asked Choksi to deposit Eastern Caribbean dollars 10,000 as surety for the bail.

"Dominica courts finally upheld the rule of law and rights of a human to be treated in the medical facilities of his choice. All attempts by various agencies did not bear fruit. There is solace in saying that all clever foxes end up as fur coats," Choksi's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said.

India has approached the Dominica High Court seeking to be impleaded as a party in the case filed by lawyers of absconding businessman Mehul Choksi,, whose bail was rejected by the High Court after a five-hour-long hearing, sources said here.

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New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested three members allegedly affiliated with banned organisation ISIS in Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag district on Sunday (July 11).

The agency said that the three namely Umar Nisar, Tanveer Ahmad Bhat and Rameez Ahmad Lone were involved in a conspiracy of ISIS to radicalize and recruit impressionable youth in India to wage violent jihad against the Indian State.

ISIS terrorists operating from various conflict zones along with ISIS cadres in India, by assuming pseudo- online identities, have created a network wherein ISIS-related propaganda material is disseminated for radicalizing and recruiting members to the fold of ISIS, NIA said in a statement.

In this connection, an India-Centric online propaganda magazine the Voice of Hind (VOH) is published on monthly basis with an aim to incite and radicalize impressionable youth, the agency added.

The NIA said they recovered a large number of incriminating documents, multiple digital devices and T-shirts with ISIS logo while searching the premises of the arrested persons.

Preliminary examination of the seized material and examination of the accused persons revealed that they are active cadres of ISIS and have been using cyberspace to propagate inciting material by the online magazine (VOH), it said.

Examination of the arrested accused led to searches on July 12 at two more locations in Anantnag district in which a number of digital devices and other materials have been seized, it added.

Also Read: NIA conducts searches in Meerut, arrests arms trafficker in Khalistani terrorists extortion case

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New Delhi: Days after media reports claimed that Tripura has confirmed over 90 cases of the COVID-19 Delta Plus Variant, the Centre on Sunday (July 11, 2021) refuted such claims. In a press statement, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that there were 152 samples that were sent from Tripura to NIBMG Kalyani for Whole Genome Sequence(WGS).

The random samples were of people tested RT-PCR positive between April and May 2021 and the results revealed that three samples had tested positive for B.1.1.7 (Alpha variant), 11 tested positive for B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and 138 samples tested positive for B.1.617.2 (Delta).

"There was no case of Delta Plus reported among the aforementioned lot of sequenced samples," the Health Ministry said.

Earlier, media reports had claimed that the northeastern state had sent 151 RT-PCR samples for genome sequencing in West Bengal and more than 90 samples were found to be Delta Plus variants.

The news came three days after the Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in all the North Eastern (NE) states. During the meeting, it was noted that out of 73 districts in the country with CPR above 10 per cent, 46 districts are in the NE States, where strict containment measures need to be taken as per extant guidelines.

The NE states were advised to strictly monitor the situation at the district/ city level and take timely corrective measures, wherever any early sign of surge is noticed.

For those districts identified with high case positivity and higher bed occupancy, states can also consider imposing restrictions in a calibrated manner.

Tripura has so far witnessed 68,148 confirmed coronavirus cases, of which, 694 have succumbed to the virus, while 3,961 are active infections.
New Delhi: Yogi Adityanath on Sunday (July 11, 2021) unveiled Uttar Pradesh's new Population Policy 2021-2030, following which the Opposition leaders hit out at the state government. While Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq said that the state government should ban marriages if it wants to stabilise the rising population, his fellow party member ST Hasan said that if there's a need for a law, it should be about having three children.

Shafiqur Rahman Barq also asked that where will the country get manpower in case of war if people are not allowed to procreate.

"It would be better to stop marriages. No one should be allowed to get married for the next 20 years and no children will be born," the MP from Sambhal said.

"Those who will challenge the law of Allah will get finished," he added.

Barq said while China was encouraging its citizens to have more children, India was doing the opposite which might backfire in case of a war.

"A lot of births are taking place in China and you (India) are stopping people from having children. A time will come when we will be very few. If there is a war, then from where will you bring people to fight," he asked.

ST Hasan said that in the coming years, the population of the country will get old.

"There are pros and cons of the larger population. There'll be more vehicles and more fuel tax can be collected from it," the Moradabad MP added.

According to the draft of the population control bill, people having more than two children in Uttar Pradesh will be debarred from contesting local bodies polls, applying for government jobs or receiving any kind of subsidy.

The draft bill, for which suggestions have been invited from the public till July 19, also prohibits promotions in government jobs for such people, while offering incentives to those limiting their children to two.

The draft states that it is necessary to control and stabilise the population of the state for the promotion of sustainable development with more equitable distribution.

The bill also says that because of the state's 'limited ecological and economic resources at hand, it is necessary and urgent that the provision of the basic necessities of human life are accessible to all citizen'.

This is to be noted that if Uttar Pradesh were a country, its 240 million people would reportedly make it the world's fifth-most populous. India, on the other hand, is likely to overtake China as the world's most populous country by 2027.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: Sudhir Gupta, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has stirred a controversy after he said that people like Bollywood actor Aamir Khan play a role in population imbalance in the country.

On the occasion of World Population Day on Sunday (July 11, 2021), BJP MP from Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh) also commented on Aamir Khan's recent divorce and said that he is not bothered about his kids and has started the search for a third wife.

"It's ironical that people like Aamir Khan have a role to play in population imbalance in the country," Gupta was quoted by a news website.

He further added that India hasn't seen an inch of land getting increased while the population of the country has touched the 140 crore mark which is not good news.

"During the partition, Pakistan got a vast portion of the land but comparatively lesser population and that too had forced a large chunk of the population back into India without partaking any land in lieu if the same," he said.

Earlier on July 3, Aamir and Kiran had announced to end their 15 years old marriage. On December 5, 2011, the duo had announced the birth of their son, Azad Rao Khan through surrogacy.

The actor was earlier married to Reena Dutta. Together, the couple has two kids - a son named Junaid and a daughter, Ira.
New Delhi: Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Sunday (July 11, 2021) said that the petrol price is a big problem in the country. During the inauguration of India's first private LNG facility plant in Nagpur, Gadkari said, "The petrol price is a big problem in the country and the people are facing a crucial problem and agitating for that," and added that the consumer will now have the choice at the petrol pump, whether he wants petrol or ethanol.

He stated that the rate of petrol will be more than Rs 110/litre while the rate of ethanol will be Rs 60 per litre.

His remarks come amid the rising petrol prices which on Monday (July 12) saw a hike of 25 to 34 paise. In the national capital, petrol is priced at Rs 101.23 per while in Kolkata, it has reached Rs 101.39 per litre.

Petrol, notably, has also crossed the Rs 100-a-litre mark in several states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

ALSO READ | Govt working to reduce road accidents by 50 per cent before 2024, says Nitin Gadkari

Talking about flex engines, Gadkari said that decision will be taken in three months making it mandatory for automobile manufacturers particularly four-wheelers and two-wheelers to make flex engines. He stated that several countries like the USA, Canada and Brazil already have them and said that the cost of the vehicle will remain the same whether it is a petrol or a flex engine.

During the ceremony, Gadkari also emphasized on the importance of alternate biofuels for diversification of agriculture towards the energy and power sector and said, "In our economy, we are spending 8 lakh crores for the import of petrol diesel and petroleum products which is a big challenge."

He further added that the Centre has designed a policy that encourages the development of imports to substitute cost-effective pollution-free and indigenous ethanol, bio CNG, LNG and hydrogen fuels.

He said the ministry is also constantly working on different alternative fuels.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (July 12, 2021) announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to lightning strikes in parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madya Pradesh during heavy rain on Sunday.

The Prime Minister also announced Rs 50,000 from PMNRF for the people who were injured.

"PM @narendramodi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to lightning in parts of Rajasthan. Rs. 50,000 would be provided to the injured," the office of the Prime Minister tweeted. This tweet was followed by two other similar tweets for the people of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

PM @narendramodi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to lightning in parts of Rajasthan. Rs. 50,000 would be provided to the injured.  PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 12, 2021

The Prime Minister was briefed about the loss of lives and damages due to lightning in parts of Uttar Pradesh. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured.  PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 12, 2021

Saddened by the loss of lives due to lightning in parts of Madhya Pradesh. The State Government will provide all possible assistance to the affected. From the PMNRF, Rs. 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured: PM Modi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 12, 2021

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister had expressed his deepest condolences over the deaths of people due to lightning strikes in several districts of Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, Jaipur Police Commissioner, Anand Srivastava said informed that 29 people were rescued from the Amer Fort area after lightning struck them.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday also announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of those who lost their lives due to lightning strikes in the state. He has also ordered compensation for the injured.

Additionally, at least 38 people were killed in eleven districts of Uttar Pradesh, after being struck by lightning and rain on Sunday evening. Fourteen people died in Prayagraj, five in Kanpur Dehat, three each in Firozabad and Kaushambhi and two each in Unnao and Chitrakoot after lightning struck them.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the chief ministers of eight north-eastern states on Tuesday to discuss the Covid-19 situation amid concerns over the coronavirus numbers in the region.

Official sources said Modi will interact with the chief ministers of Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram via video conferencing, according to news agency PTI.

While most parts of the country have seen a steady decline in the COVID numbers, the northeast region has been a cause of concern with the number of cases either rising or not falling in line with the nationwide trend, experts have noted.

Meanwhile, India recorded 37,154 new COVID-19 cases and 724 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Monday (July 12, 2021). India's active coronavirus cases have now increased to 4,50,899 and the recovery rate increases to 97.22 percent.

India's total coronavirus caseload has now increased to 3,08,74,376, of which, 4,08,764 have succumbed to the virus, while 4,50,899 are active cases. A total of 3,00,14,713 people have recovered from the COVID-19 infections in the country, out of which 39,649 people recovered from the infection on Monday.

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New Delhi: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has suggested the Uttar Pradesh government to remove the one-child policy norm from its draft population control bill, saying it is likely to lead to furthering of the imbalance between different communities and contraction of the population.

The VHP has also asked the Yogi Adityanath government to remove "the anomaly" of rewarding or punishing the child, instead of the parents, from the Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilisation, and Welfare) Bill, 2021.

"The preamble of the bill states that this is a bill, inter alia, to stabilize the population and promote the two-child norm. The Vishva Hindu Parishad agrees with both objects," the organization's working president, Alok Kumar, said in a letter to the Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission (UPSCL) on Monday.

However, sections 5, 6(2) and 7 of the bill, which incentivizes public servants and others to have only one child in the family, go "well beyond the said objects", he said.

"Therefore, we suggest the deletion of section 5, and the consequential sections 6(2) and 7 to avoid the contraction of the population as also the undesirable social and economic consequences of a one-child policy, and also the removal of the anomaly of rewarding or punishing the child instead of the parents," Kumar added.

He also suggested to the UPSCL to reconsider the objective of the bill that seeks to bring down the total fertility rate (TFR) in Uttar Pradesh to 1.7 within a certain time frame.

Placing the draft bill in the public domain recently, the UPSCL has invited suggestions from people.

In his suggestions, the VHP working president said a two-child policy is considered desirable for achieving population stability.

The population in a society stabilizes when the average number of children born to a woman in her reproductive life is marginally above two, he said.

"This happens when the TFR is 2.1. At this level of TFR, on average, there are two children born to replace the two parents and the additional 0.1 child provides for the possibility of some children dying before reaching the reproductive age and similar other wastage," Kumar added.

In a contracting population, he said the ratio between the working-age population and the dependent population gets disrupted.

In an extreme case, the one-child policy would lead to a situation where there is only one working-age adult to look after two parents and four grandparents, he said.

China had adopted the one-child policy in 1980, but had to withdraw it within three decades to get over such a situation, the VHP leader said.

He added that the imbalance between different communities has been "growing" in several states.

"It is becoming alarming in states like Assam and Kerala, where the overall growth of population has declined. In both these states, the TFR of Hindus has declined far below the replacement rate of 2.1, but that of Muslims is 3.16 in Assam and 2.33 in Kerala," Kumar said.

In these two states, one of the communities has thus entered the contraction phase while the other is "still expanding", he added.

"Uttar Pradesh should avoid getting into that situation," the VHP leader said, adding that the one-child policy in the state "is likely to lead to furthering of the imbalance between different communities because they are known to respond differently to the incentives and disincentives related to family planning and contraception".

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested two persons in connection with a case involving an alleged import tax evasion to the tune of Rs 338 crore.

The two accused, who were arrested on Saturday (July 10), have been sent to judicial custody till July 21.

Acting on specific intelligence, the DRI seized a consignment of 100 kg of Gold Potassium Cyanide (GPC) with a declared value of Rs 32 Crores at the Air Cargo Complex in Mumbai last week.

The consignment was being exported to Dubai by a Mumbai-based firm.

The GPC was falsely declared to be the resultant product made from the duty-free import of gold that the Mumbai-based firm was permitted to bring.

However, the exporter never manufactured any products out of the duty-free inputs that it was permitted to import. Instead, it diverted the imported duty-free gold to the domestic market at a profit, by melting and recasting it, thereby violating the rules.

To fulfill, its export obligations under the Advance Authorisation Scheme, the Mumbai-based exporter would procure the GPC from a connected firm based out of Gandhinagar, which was otherwise in the business of Solar Power Energy Solutions.

The Gandhinagar firm had imported this GPC in the previous week from Indonesia by claiming benefits of the 0% duty concessions available under the ASEAN India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA).

The GPC which was exported to Dubai was moved again to Indonesia to be supplied back to Mumbai company through its linked concern at Gandhinagar, thereby demonstrating and establishing a deliberate and illicit cyclical sequence of supply of the same goods, said DRI.

Also Read: Coast Guard nabs two for attempted smuggling of 1.2 tonnes of sea cucumber

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Chennai: Swarnim Vijay Mashal or the Flame of Victory that is being taken across India to honor and celebrate the 1971 War victory, reached the countrys southern-most district of Kanyakumari.

In adherence to COVID-19 protocols, veterans were honored in the presence of the District Civil administration.

The golden jubilee celebrations of the 1971 war victory commenced in December last year. Four victory flames were lit from the eternal flame at the National War Memorial and one each is being carried to the four directions, through the cities and villages of the 1971 war heroes.

It was on Sunday, July 11 that the flame reached Naval Station INS Kattabomman located near Tirunelveli, where it was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honor and received by Station Commanded Captain Aashish K Sharma along with defence personnel, their families and veterans.

Following the Kanyakumari leg, the flame will also be taken to Tirunelveli district, to the houses of Late Sepoy Kasimani and Late Natik Sangili Chelliah who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1971 war. The Veer Naris (war widows) would also be facilitated by the person from INS Kattabomman.

On Wednesday, July 13, the flame will pass through Tuticorin district, where it will be received by the Indian Coast Guard, following which it will be handed over to INS Parundu on its way to Madurai.

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New Delhi: Security has been beefed up in Mathura following the arrest of two operatives of the Al Qaeda-linked Ansar Ghazwatul Hind in Lucknow who were planning to attack several places across the state including the temple town. The police claimed that they were planning to cause disruptions through pressure cooker bombs in Lucknow and surrounding areas before Independence Day.

The two terrorists, identified as Minhaz Ahmed and Maseeruddin, both residents of Lucknow, were arrested on Sunday by the state police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). The network of terrorists was in touch via Telegram and WhatsApp. The police have got their hands on some of their chats.

Following their arrest, ATS conducted multiple raids across different cities of Uttar Pradesh and arrested 12 suspicious people in connection with the case in the last 24 hours. At least three teams of UP ATS in Kanpur arrested two suspects.

According to officials, the terrorists were planning to unleash terror activities on Independence Day (August 15) in different cities, including Lucknow, Mathura, Varanasi, and Ayodhya among others, they said. Maps of different cities, including Mathura, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and places near the Ram Temple have been recovered from the two Al-Qaeda associates. Bomb-making equipment have also been recovered from their possessions.

The Mathura Police have beefed up security at all important places, including Shri Krishna Janmasthan and Thakur Banke Bihari Temple of Vrindavan, a senior officer told PTI. "Security arrangements at all important places are being reviewed and efforts are being made to ensure that there is no lapse of any kind anywhere. Security at all important places, including Shri Krishna Janmasthan complex, and oil refineries, has been increased," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Grover said.

He said, a team of National Security Guards (NSG) closely inspected the security arrangements of Thakur Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. Special police teams are also monitoring the movement of people on the Yamuna Expressway, Agra-Delhi Highway, as well as the towns of Vrindavan, Govardhan, and Barsana, police said.

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New Delhi: The Uttarakhand government on Monday (July 12) extended the ongoing lockdown till July 20 in view of of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. A cap of 50 people has been imposed at weddings and funerals. The restrictions will remain in force till 6 am on July 20, 2021.

The decision comes amid a huge tourist influx at hill stations like Mussoorie and Nainital in the state, raising warning of another wave of infections.

Earlier today, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) also urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to cancel the upcoming Kanwar Yatra to ensure public safety, after having witnessed the devastating rise in infections at Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.

Dhami, who was recently appointed as the Chief Minister of the state, had stated that although the Kanwar Yatra is connected with the religious sentiments of people, saving lives would be the topmost priority of the government.



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New Delhi: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is likely to give emergency use approval to Zydus Cadila for its COVID-19 vaccine for children above 12 years. According to reports in leading news channel, the ZyCov-D is likely to receive an emergency nod from DCGI in the next few days.

ZyCov-D vaccine has been tested on adults as well as children above 12 years of age and the regulatory body experts are satisfied with the results, the officials said.

The preliminary assessment of the application submitted by the company is going on and we have sent it to the SEC for further consideration. The SEC will be meeting in the coming week, representatives of the company will be also asked to make presentations, an official told a leading news channel.

Earlier, the head of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration, Dr NK Arora on July 9, 2021 had said that the vaccination for children will start by September with the Zydus vaccine for 12 to 18-year-olds. Dr NK Arora had also added that the emergency use authorisation for the vaccine is likely to come within weeks.

Dr NK Arora in an interview had said, Covaxin phase 3 trials have started and by the end of September, I think we should be there (begin vaccination). I think sometime in the third quarter or by early January-February we should be able to give it to 2 to 18-year-olds. But trial data for Zydus Cadila for 12 to 18-year-olds will be available even before that.

Zydus Cadilas COVID-19 vaccine, ZyCov-D, is a three-dose, intradermal vaccine which is applied using the PharmaJet needle-free system. ZyCoV-D exhibited robust immunogenicity and tolerability and safety profile in the adaptive Phase I/II clinical trials carried out earlier. Both the Phase I/II and Phase III clinical trials have been monitored by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board, the experts had said before.

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The Indian Army has invited applications for recruitment to the posts of officers under the NCC Special Entry Scheme for both male and female candidates. All the interested and eligible candidates can apply for Indian Army recruitment by visiting the official website of the Indian Army, joinindianarmy.nic.in. The last date for registration is July 15, 2021.

Candidates can find the direct link to apply for Indian Army recruitment 2021 here. Candidates are requested to go through the official notification of Indian Army recruitment 2021 before applying for these posts. A total of 55 vacancies will be filled through this recruitment process.

Indian Army Recruitment 2021: Important dates

Start date for online application- June 16

Last date to apply online- July 15

Indian Army Recruitment 2021: Vacancy details

NCC Male  50 Posts

NCC Female  5 Posts

Indian Army Recruitment 2021: Eligibility criteria

Candidates should have a graduate degree or equivalent from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% marks. They should also have working experience of at least two/three years (as applicable) in the Senior Division/Wing of NCC.

Indian Army Recruitment 2021: Selection process

The selection process consists of shortlisting of candidates followed by an SSB interview. Those candidates who will be shortlisted will be eligible to undergo SSB rounds at the selection center. Candidates will be put through a two-stage selection process. Those who clear Stage I will move to Stage II. Candidates who fail in Stage I will be sent back.

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New Delhi: As the southwest monsoon gathered pace in north Karnataka region, as many as half a dozen persons lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the state since last week. As per the weather agency, north Karnataka has been witnessing heavy downpour since July 6 evening. With monsoon having picked up pace, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu and Shivamogga districts are likely to experience heavy showers.

Orange alert sounded in seven districts of Karnataka

As per the weather department, an 'Orange' alert has been sounded in these seven districts until July 16.

In Bidar district, which has been witnessing unrelenting rain for the past three to four days, a woman and her daughter were struck dead by lightning at Khudavandpur in Bhalki taluk on Sunday. According to the Bhalki police, the incident occurred when Bhagyashree Metre, 32, and her daughter Vaishali, 9, were returning home from their farm.

While in Chitradurga, a three-year-old boy, Lohit and his mother, Savitramma, 33, died after the wall of their house collapsed on them. "Grievously injured, Savitramma has admitted to a private hospital in Davanagere district died in the wee hours of Monday due to injuries, while her husband, Omkarappa, is showing signs of recovery," the Hosadurga police told reporters. The police said that in this episode, an eight-month-old toddler and six-year-old boy of the same family survived unscathed.

On July 6, a couple was washed away in an overflowing stream along with their bike in Kaalvi village. Mallikarjun, 55, and his wife Sumangalamma, 48, residents of Muthkur in Hagaribommanahalli taluk, were returning home after visiting their relatives in Mundargi taluk in Gadag district. Their bodies were found in the stream, after floods subsided, on July 7.

A spell of sharp showers in the early hours of Sunday left many streams and rivulets in spate rendering several villages inaccessible in many parts of north-Karnataka region. Acres of crops in this region have been damaged due to unrelenting showers.

Coastal districts like Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada received bountiful showers on Sunday. The region has been experiencing heavy showers since July 8 evening.

Most parts of north interior Karnataka is expected to witness thundershowers and a yellow alert has been issued to these districts till July 16, the IMD release said.

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New Delhi: Actor Sara Ali Khan recently visited the famous Kamakhya Temple in Assam. Taking to Instagram, Sara, on Sunday, posted a string of pictures of herself standing in front of the temple. She was dressed in a white ethnic suit."#Peace #gratitude #blessed," Sara captioned the post.

Kamakhya temple, which is situated in Guwahati, was closed for many days due to the COVID pandemic. The entry of devotees was reportedly restricted till June 30. In February 2021, Sara had paid a visit to Ajmer Sharif Dargah along with her mother, actor Amrita Singh.

She had even shared a few lovely clicks of herself with mother from her visit, wishing friends, 'Jumma Mubarak'. Meanwhile, on the work front, Sara will be seen sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar and Dhanush in Aanand L Rai's 'Atrangi Re'.
New Delhi: Deepika Padukone's latest social media post is a proof of the fact that the actor is a true-blue yoga lover.

On Monday, Deepika took to her Instagram account and posted a motivational video, wherein we can see an animation of a girl performing different yoga asanas on a yoga mat.

"I love....my yoga mat. That's it. That's the post," she captioned the clip.

Deepika has surely left people inspired through her post about yoga.

"Such an informative post. I will also try to practice yoga," a user commented.

"You know the best how to create awareness about fitness in an interesting way," another one wrote.

Speaking of Deepika's work projects, she will be seen sharing screen space with Hrithik Roshan in 'Fighter', which is touted as India's first aerial action franchise. She is also a part of 'The Intern', which will feature megastar Amitabh Bachchan too.
New Delhi: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranauts most-anticipated biographical film Thalaivi which was earlier set to release on April 23 2021, was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic. But for past few days, rumours have been rife regarding the new release date of the film. The actress has now, however, shunned the reports.

Clearing the air regarding the release of the film, Kangana posted a note in her Instagram story and wrote, No release date has been finalized for #Thalaivi yet, please refrain from rumors, we will release the film as and when cinemas open all across the country."

'Thalaivi' is based on the life of Tamil Nadu's former chief minister, Jayalalithaa.

On the workfront, Kangana will be next seen in Razneesh Ghai's Dhaakad. Apart from that, she also has period drama "Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda" and "Tejas" in the pipeline.

Kangana will also be seen as "Agent Agni" in her upcoming movie. The film's first schedule was shot in Madhya Pradesh.

Kangana will also don the Director's hat for the second time for "Emergency", based on the life of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
New Delhi: The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who often makes her fans gaga over her easy-breezy style and unique fashion statements, has added one more fan to her list.

Well, its none other than Shahid Kapoors wife Mira Rajput.

Yes, you read that right!

Mira, who is an avid social media user, shared a picture of Kate in her Instagram story and gave her verdict on Duchess of Cambridges look from the Wimbledon 2021 Men's Singles Finals.

Sharing her look from the Wimbledon, Mira said, "Less is always more."

For the unversed, Kate Middleton along with her husband Prince William attended the match where Novak Djokovic and Matteo Berrettini competed for the Grand Slam title.

Kate on Sunday was clicked by the paparazzi while she opted for a minimal look as she was seen wearing a pastel colour pink dress with a pair of heels and simple earrings. She completed her look with a floral face mask.

After seeing her simplicity and easy-breezy look, Mira was stunned by her beauty and was seen heaping more and more praises at her.

Mira has a huge fanbase and so in order to keep them updated about her personal life, she often treats them with some interesting tidbits of her personal life.

Shahid and Mira got married on July 7, 2015. They are now doting the parents of two kids - Misha and Zain.
The COVID-19 has badly hit the pockets of the middle class in India. Provident Fund (PF) can be a reliable source of savings for the working class as it provides good long term interests.

PF is a fund that involves contributions from both employers and employees equally and an employee can withdraw a portion of money from the account during emergency or in case of retirement or resignation.

Looking at the grim situation, the EPFO (Employee Provident Fund Organization) has given an option to withdraw a portion of money in the event of the COVID-19 crisis or unemployment.

Similarly, if the person moves jobs, this sum can be transferred from one business to another. An EPF account offers an annual return of 8.5%.

Meanwhile, you can avoid these mistakes while withdrawing money from your PF account:

UAN Seed Bank Account: The UAN (Universal Account Number) must be involved along with the bank account number. If the PF account is not seeded, then you will face difficulties in getting funds. Besides that, the IFSC number given in EPFO records should be accurate.

Incomplete KYC: If there is any incomplete KYC, then you may face rejection. The KYC information must be validated. If you log in to your member e-service account, you may determine if the KYC is complete and confirmed.

Incorrect Date of Birth (DoB): If the date of birth (DoB) registered in EPFO and the birth date registered in the employers record do not match, your request may be rejected.

UAN-Aadhaar link: It is mandatory to link UAN with Aadhaar. If your UAN and Aadhaar are not connected, your EPF withdrawal request may be denied.

Incorrect Bank Account Information: It is important to have correct bank account details. Make sure to fill the account information correctly.

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South Korean smartphone maker Samsung is set to host the Galaxy Unpacked event next month. Ahead of the event, new leaks have revealed the device lineup in GIF images, which includes two new Galaxy foldables, a Galaxy FE phone, two Galaxy Watches and a set of new Galaxy Buds.

According to noted social media leaker Evan Blass, who took to Twitter to announce that the Samsung event is set to take place on August 11.

Blass shared images of Galaxy Z Fold 3 in white, green and black colours. Galaxy Z Fold 3 may support the S Pen stylus.

He also tweeted Galaxy Z Flip 3 in purple, black, gold and green colours.

As per a recent report, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will feature an under-display camera and support the S-Pen stylus. Its next clamshell foldable Galaxy Z Flip3 is expected to have a bigger outer display.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is expected to feature a larger external display of 1.83 inches. It has a dual-camera system, which reportedly includes a 12MP main snapper and a 12MP ultrawide snapper.

The inner screen of the Z Flip3 may feature a punch-hole design with a 10MP selfie camera.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 is rumoured to be powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset.

Both foldable products are expected to have a lighter weight with a cheaper price than their predecessors.

Blass` thread also showed GIFs of a mid-range Samsung Galaxy S21 FE device in four colours.

In another tweet, Blass shared GIFs of two new Samsung watches that are likely to run the joint smartwatch platform by Google-Samsung.

The Galaxy Watch Active 4 may come in 44mm and 40mm sizes.

Galaxy Buds 2 are likely to have active noice cancellation and Blass showed that buds in gray, purple and white colours.

Samsung is yet to make the device lineup or the date of the launch official.



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New Delhi: A chef has created the world's most expensive burger' and it sold for 5,000 euro, which is nearly Rs 4,42,125. The dish has been named 'The Golden Boy'.

Robbert Jan de Veen of De Daltons restaurant in Voorthuizen, Netherlands made an expensive hamburger that costs a whopping 5,000 for a single piece. He even shared an image of the dish on his Instagram page.

According to the official website of the diner, the burger is prepared using Beluga caviar, king crab, saffron, Wagyu beef, Spanish Paleta Iberico, white truffle, and English cheddar cheese. It also has a barbeque sauce that is made with one of the costliest coffee beans in the world, Kopi Luwak.

The bun used in the preparation of the world's most expensive item is made with Dom Perignon champagne dough and topped with gold leaf.

Take a look at the picture of 'The Golden Boy', shared by Robbert Jan de Veen:

"Breaking a world record has been a childhood dream of mine and it feels amazing," Geo News quoted Veen as saying.

A restaurant in Oregon, US had previously in 2011 created the world's most expensive burger at that time, which was priced at USD 5,000 and weighed 352.44 kg.

The burger was sold to Netherlands-based business conglomerate Remia International, reports The National. It was then eaten by Rober Willemse, chairman of the Royal Dutch Food and Beverage Association. The amount collected from the sale was donated to an NGO by Veen.

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SYDNEY: The prospect of an extended lockdown in Sydney loomed on Monday as Australian health officials reported yet another record daily rise in COVID-19 cases for the year, fuelled by the highly infectious Delta variant.

New South Wales state reported 112 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, almost all of them in Sydney, despite the country`s biggest city entering its third week of lockdown. Case numbers have been at record levels for at least three days.

There was, however, a glimmer of light as the number of newly-infected people who were out in the community while infectious dropped to 34 from 45 on Sunday.

State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the progress of that figure in coming days would determine whether Sydney`s lockdown, due to end on Friday, would be extended.

"That`s the number we need to get as close to zero as possible," Berejiklian said during her daily televised briefing. "It is really up to us. The health expert advice will be based on what those numbers look like. I can`t be clearer than that."

Berejiklian said a majority of Monday`s cases were family members or close friends of already infected persons, and pleaded with residents to comply with lockdown rules, which were tightened over the weekend.

Total infections in the outbreak are nearing 700, less than a month since the first was detected in mid-June. Sixty-three people are in hospital, with 18 in intensive care, officials said, while a woman in her 90s became the country`s first COVID-19 fatality this year.

Lockdown measures for Sydney`s five million residents, including school closures and stay-at-home orders, have stoked concerns of a slowdown in the economy, which had returned to pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter.

Debbie Brincat has cut opening hours at the pet store she runs with her husband Andrew in the western suburb of Fairfield to just four hours a day in response to the movement restrictions.

Andrew`s Bird & Pet Palace, which the couple has operated for almost 40 years, took A$150 in sales on Sunday, compared with an average of more than A$3000 ($2,245).

Brincat told Reuters she was "very scared at the moment" and was unsure if the business would qualify for government financial support.

Australia has previously successfully suppressed COVID-19 flare-ups through snap lockdowns, speedy contact tracing and tough social distancing rules. With a total of around 31,200 cases and 911 deaths since the pandemic began, the country has fared better than many other developed economies.

VACCINE CRITICISMS

The Sydney outbreak has put Australia`s sluggish vaccine rollout under the microscope. Only around 11% of Australia`s adult population of just over 20.5 million have been fully vaccinated.

Critics have pointed to confusing public advice as well as vaccine shortages.

Official federal health guidance recommends the locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccine be restricted to people aged over 60 because of blood clot concerns, while the imported Pfizer vaccine is currently limited to people below 60.

However, New South Wales officials on Monday said the state`s vaccination centres and pharmacies would be authorised to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone over 40. NSW officials have also recommended shortening the interval to six weeks between AstraZeneca vaccination doses from the recommended 12 weeks.

Lieutenant General John Frewen, head of the COVID-19 vaccination taskforce, on Monday defended a newly-released advertisement showing a youthful-looking intubated woman in a hospital bed struggling to breathe and urging people to get vaccinated.

"The conditions in Sydney right now we felt warranted that commercial," Frewen said. "It is absolutely confronting and we didn`t use it lightly."
New Delhi: In a dramatic move, the Nepal Supreme Court on Monday (July 12) overturned Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's decision to dissolve the House and issued an interim order to reinstate it. The court ordered Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari to appoint opposition Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as the new premier. As per the court ruling, Deuba, who had presented his majority during the election process on May 24, will be appointed as the new Prime Minister by July 13 evening. This is the second time that the apex court has decided in favour of reinstating the House during Oli's tenure.

A five-member constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana issued the ruling stating that President Bhandari's decision to dissolve the House of Representatives upon a recommendation of Oli was 'an unconstitutional act'. The bench further ordered the summoning of a fresh session of the House on July 18. Prime Minister Oli had dissolved the house on May 21 and declared snap elections on November 12 and 19.

Earlier on December 20, 2020, Oli had dissolved the House and the Supreme Court reinstated it on February 25, 2021.

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New Delhi: Almost thirteen months after the suspension of Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage via Kartarpur Corridor, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) has extended an official invitation to the Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib via the Kartarpur Corridor.

PSGPC president Satwant Singh told media on Monday that he had extended an invitation to both the Akal Takht Jathedar and SGPC president for a pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib via Kartarpur Corridor hoping that the Indian government would reopen the Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage which was suspended in 2020.

Satwant Singh said that despite the reopening of the pilgrimage via corridor by Pakistan, the Indian government was yet to resume the pilgrimage despite considerable improvement in the Covid 19 situation.

Reacting to the PSGPC's invitation SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said that SGPC had expressed gratitude towards PSGPC for extending the invitation to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib. She said she was hopeful that Almighty would fulfill the religious aspirations of Sikhs to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and pay obeisance in near future.

Notably, seventy-two years after Indo Pak portion and unending struggle by Sikh bodies, Kartarpur corridor was inaugurated on November 9, 2019, to facilitate the visit of followers of Sikhs first master Guru Nanak Dev to travel across the border for paying obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib,Kartarpur Sahib, in Narowal district of Pakistan. The Sikhs holy shrine is situated around 4.5 kilometers inside Paksitan from the international border at Dera Baba Nanak in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab.

The Indian government website www.prakashpurab550.mha.gov.in which is used for online booking of the day-long pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistan reads. "In the wake of COVID-19 Pandemic, as a precautionary measure to contain and control the spread of the disease, the travel and registration for Sri Kartarpur Sahib is temporarily suspended from March 16, 2020".

However, about seven months after the suspension of pilgrimage, the Pakistan government unilaterally decided on October 2, 2020, for the reopening of their side of Kartarpur corridor.But India denied reciprocating the gesture due to the prevalent Covid 19 situation.

Pakistans insistence on re-opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is also believed to be due to the financial losses incurred by it since along with pilgrimage Pakistan's source of income has also come to a standstill. Pakistan government has levied a US $20 service fee on every Indian devotee visiting Kartarpur Sahib via the corridor.

PSGPC president Satwant Singh said that PSGPC had also welcomed the statement of Bibi Jagir Kaur wherein she had demanded from the Indian government for the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor.

"We fully support their demand and reassures to make all the required arrangements for the Indian devotees in a befitting manner once they resume the pilgrimage via Kartarpur Corridor," he said.

The PSGPC president also claimed that the Covid 19 situation was totally under control in Pakistan and they were looking forward to an early decision from the Indian government to reopen Kartarpur Corridor for the yatree's.

Here pertinent to mention that Pakistan had refused visa to Indian Sikh pilgrims who were willing to travel to neighbouring country to observed sikh religious functions in the moth of June.

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Kathmandu: In its continuous support to help Nepal fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States on Monday donated 1.53 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines. The United States donated vaccines are being delivered to the Nepali people in partnership with the COVAX global vaccine initiative and UNICEF.

"These vaccines will not only save lives and help Nepal emerge from this pandemic, but they will also help to recover economic losses and regain the opportunity to safely visit with our friends, families, and neighbors," said the United States Ambassador Randy Berry.

Berry said it is a gift and no cost from the American people. "We wont trade shots in arms for political favors. This is about saving lives."

"We are sharing these doses not to secure favors or extract concessions. Our vaccines do not come with strings attached. Our terms are open and transparent: namely, we are doing this with the singular objective of saving lives," he added.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the United States has delivered nearly $70 million in ongoing COVID-19 assistance to Nepal.

"This includes $55 million mobilized by USAID for oxygen cylinders, breathing devices, COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, treatment, personal protective equipment, and infection prevention. The United States Department of Defense has provided over $7.3 million for isolation and disaster camps, oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators and medical equipment and gear for health clinics and health care workers," the US Embassy said in a statement.

The CPN-UML President KP Sharma Oli thanked US President Biden and said, "The US handed over today more than 15,34,850 doses of J&J vaccines to help Nepal fight against COVID-19. I express sincere gratitude to POTUS, the Gov and people of the US for this generous cooperation and solidarity."

The United States has also pledged $4 billion to support COVAX with the purchase and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to 92 low- and middle-income countries.

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